N100m Suit: Etisalat replies comedian Julius Agwu

Telecommunication giant, Etisalat Nigeria, has reacted to Julius Agwu’s seven day ultimatum to the company that it should compensate him with the sum of N100 million or risk legal action over “alleged unlawful and unjustified blocking and/or swapping” of his Etisalat GSM phone number 08189555555.



Agwu demanded the compensation through his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, due to what he termed lost of business opportunities and the inconvenience experienced by him during the period.

Keyamo in a letter dated 26 November, 2013 to the company stated that “in the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to accede to our above stated demand within seven (7) days from the receipt of this letter, we shall be compelled to set in motion against you, all legal machineries necessary to obtain legal remedy for our client.”

The letter further stated that the company’s actions of unlawfully blocking and/or swapping of Agwu’s line occasioned loss of business opportunities for him.

Etisalat’s Public Relations Manager, Chineze Amanfo, while reacting to the allegation through an email sent to our reporter, stated that contrary to the reportage of the issue on the blogs and news sites, a SIM swap was performed on the said line after the requester provided the company’s customer care executives with necessary SIM replacement information, in accordance with laid down NCC regulations and process for SIM swap.

She added that the SIM replacement information includes security and personal requirements to the owner, which the requester provided before the swap was effected.

“Subsequently, upon a report made at our office by Mr. Agwu that he is the owner of the line and did not authorize anyone to swap it, our customer care executives promptly restored the line as well as the airtime lost during the swap process.

“Etisalat Nigeria is currently carrying out an internal investigation into the SIM swap incident and will refer the matter to the appropriate agencies for further investigation as may be necessary.

“We wish to assure the general public that Etisalat Nigeria is committed to the protection of the rights of its subscribers and to continue to provide value adding services to its customers.

“We will spare no effort to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged unauthorized SIM swap while encouraging our customers and the general public to protect their personal information at all times,” she stated.
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ESUT, UNN resume on monday despite ASUU strike

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said their academic activities would resume on Monday 2 December, two days ahead of the 4 December deadline given by the Federal Government to university vice-chancellors to reopen their universities. Academic staff who have been on strike since 1 July were also told to back to work before the deadline or consider themselves sacked.


Both ESUT and UNN made the announcement about the resumption in separate statements today.

The Registrar of the UNN, Mr Anthony Okonta, in the statement, stressed that “normal academic activities would resume immediately.’’

The statement directed students who had outstanding examinations for the 2012/2013 session to report to their respective faculties and departments in Nsukka and Enugu campuses.

The ESUT Registrar, Mr Chris Igbokwe, also advised students and academic and non- academic staff to report to the institution on 2 December.

According to the statement, students are advised to return to their campuses at Agbani and Enugu campuses as the second semester examination would commence on Monday, 9 December.

The Federal Government had on Thursday, directed all federal universities to resume work on or before Dec. 4.

The statement, issued by the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, directed the striking members of ASUU, to resume work on or before 4 December or consider themselves sacked.
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ZAMFARA TRAGEDY: Five Dead, Five Injured In Auto Crash

Saturday, November 30, Zamfara State - Five persons have been reported dead at a vehicles' crash scene, after a 10-seat Sharon bus skidded off the road at Tudun-Gara village near Kaura Namoda.


Federal Road Safety Commission's Unit Commander in the area, Alhaji Muktar Fago, reports the tragedy occured at 6.30 a.m., about 10 km into Kaura-Namoda/Sokoto road.

The causes of the accident are burst tyre and over speeding. These factos made the driver to lose control over the vehicle, and it skidded off the road into the bush.

Mr. Fago saud three persons were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died as FRSC officials were conveying them to the hospital. The corpses were deposited at the Kaura Namoda General Hospital.

Another five passengers were taken to Gusau General Hospital for treatment with various degrees of injuries.

Fago said all those involved in the accident were Islamic scholars travelling to Niamey in Niger Republic for the Annual International Preaching in that country.

Fago advised drivers and other road users to drive very carefully, "especially this season, when we record mass movements and increased religious activities."
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Nollywood Ex-Couple in Fierce Legal Battle: Saheed drags Fathia to court for using his name

Few years ago, Saheed Balogun reportedly said he would soon stop his ex wife, Fathia Balogun, from using his name.

Saheed was quoted to have said “She is my ex. As for my name that she is still answering, the deed will be done soon. The Nigerian law says that after three or four years, you can do something about it. If somebody wants to keep my name, what of the new person coming in? This has nothing to do with grudges.”

And now, it looks as if Saheed is set to do something about his threat.

A reliable source informed NE that the actor had taken his ex to court insisting that she drop his name.

Recall also that Fathia had also reportedly boasted in an interview last year, that nobody could stop her from using her name.

Fathia had said, “I laugh, my name is Fathia Balogun and it’s going to remain Balogun; nobody can ever change that and nobody can stop me from answering that name.”

When our source contacted Saheed over the recent development, the actor chose to be evasive.

“I have told you that I don’t like talking about my private life. I will talk about my new project. Go and meet those people telling you about this story,” he said.

Several calls were also made to Fathia Balogun, she didn’t respond. A text message was sent to her, she didn’t respond.

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APC not just about me and Buhari - Tinubu

National leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, declared yesterday that the party is bigger than any individual, including himself and former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.



The APC, according to him, is essentially about Nigeria and the need and commitment to rescue the country from inept leadership.

He spoke to reporters in Abuja on the sideline of the 2012/2013 Call to Bar ceremony of the Nigeria Law School.

‘’The APC is not about Tinubu, Buhari or any of its leaders. It is about the nation and how we can come together and work together to rescue Nigeria from inept leadership. The implication is change,” he said in response to a question about the significance of the five former PDP governors joining APC and the implications for Nigeria.

He added: “We want to change the way things are done by working together and investing our ideas. We must change the way we do things. Imagine from the 60’s till date. The cutlass of the 60s cannot be used for farming now. We need leaders that can think outside the box.’’

Describing Nigeria as a blessed nation with talented youths whose potential must be harnessed for the development of our country, Asiwaju Tinubu said Nigeria needs a democratic revolution that will unleash infrastructural development and massive industrialization.

‘’The lamentations must stop. After so many years of lamentation with action, we must lead the new resolve to rally for the much needed change our country badly needs,’’ Tinubu said, and condemned the posture of the Federal Government to the continued strike by ASUU.

Reacting to the December 4 ultimatum the federal authorities gave the striking lecturers to resume or be fired, he said: “’We are not in a military era. The language used shows a government out of tune with the general feelings of Nigerians.

“Nigeria cannot afford to continue to lose her best brains to the diaspora.’’
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EPL: Ramsey & Flamini fire Gunners seven points clear

Ramsey headed in a pinpoint cross from Mesut Ozil in the 29th minute to put Arsenal ahead, and finished off the victory on a counter-attack in injury time with his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.


The Welshman refused to celebrate these two, though, having started his career at Cardiff, where he made his debut at 16.

In between, Ozil set up the second goal as well, slotting a perfectly weighted pass into the area for the onrushing Mathieu Flamini to hammer into the net in the 86th.

Ramsey headed in a pinpoint cross from Mesut Ozil in the 29th minute to put Arsenal ahead, and finished off the victory on a counter-attack in injury time.

The win puts Arsenal seven points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea, who both play on Sunday.
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ASUU/FG face-off: Nigerian Students react

These are not the best times for most students of government-owned universities in the country. They have been reacting to the latest happenings. While some support the directive of the federal government, others are against such directive.



“Giving ASUU an ultimatum might just serve to heighten the scepticism of ASUU towards FG’s promises,” Although I am vexed the students are not considered. Mary Scott, 400level student, University of Lagos said.

“Are we back to the military era? Where threat and command language are used?” Maurice David asks on a social media platform.

He said: “I pity this govt that lack sane people in position as ministers. How can government move ten steps backward only at the point of signing agreement? Just at the point the agreement is to be signed government begins to issue fiat and threats to scatter the table. This is shame!”

For Joel Otuyelu, a student of UNILAG “This is a serious sensational movie. I can’t wait for the next episode. How Jona wan turn democracy to autocracy?”

“An agreement is supposed to be honoured if the federal government cannot sign and seal an agreement it reached with ASUU on November 4 2013, then the future of Private universities is bright in this country, ”Akinpelu Tolulope, UNILAG student said.

Tolulope further stated “The goal for ending the strike should not be to save parents anxiety or to take pity on students or to save lecturers’ job or to graduate students: it is to save the university system so that it becomes what it is supposed to be.

“In this, ASUU should not fear an empty threat by the federal government but rather see itself as a vanguard-probably the only active one-dedicated to making the government begin to tread the path of responsible good governance in the administration of tertiary education in Nigeria .”

For Hassan Aliu, an undergraduate, “What we have in this administration are not leaders but bunch of criminals who think we are in the military era. Who think their threat will put fear in ASUU to call of the strike. This shows the insincerity of this government. The question here is that is Jonathan worth to be trusted and called a leader.”

However, Ugwu Henry is of the opinion that ASUU has bitten more than they can chew.

“ASUU has provoked the Federal Government. It is a pity that after so much capitulation by the FG, ASUU is playing with the future of Nigerian students. ASUU has failed to be considerate. Why should one demand for salary when one has failed to work? I honestly hope the FG comes down hard on ASUU and resists any pressure to pay wages not earned.”

In the same vein, Justin Ebaretonbofa has this to say: “Federal govt should do whatever they want. Nigerians are fed up with ASUU. When you ask federal government for anything you don’t expect them to give u 100 per cent of your needs.

“It has never happen that way and it won’t happen now. ASUU is playing politics with the future of students. The lecturers who refuse to resume should be sack and new ones employ. After all there are millions of more qualified PhD holders looking for lecturing job. Haba !”

According to Peremobowei Amakama, “I appreciate the FG directive to ASUU. ASUU has over-stressed the patience of FG and also mortgaging the future of Nigerian youths for their selfish reasons. Let the ones that believe we must move forward resume to class and account for their patriotism to Nigeria.”
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LATEST ON ASUU STRIKE: FG deploys policemen to federal universities to force resumption

The Federal Government has directed the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to deploy policemen to all federal universities in the country in its bid to ensure resumption of academic activities in universities on or before December 4.


It was gathered that this development was disclosed at an emergency meeting the Federal Government held with all vice-chancellors of federal universities at the National Universities Commission building in Abuja on Friday. The Acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, were also at the meeting.
Though Friday’s meeting was held behind closed door, a source at the meeting who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, revealed that the Federal Government directed the IG to draft policemen to federal universities to prevent members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from disturbing some of their members that might want to resume work in line with government’s directive.

The meeting, also discussed other modalities for calling off the bluff of ASUU whose members have been on strike for over five months.

The Friday meeting began at 9am and lasted for two hours. Part of the meeting’s deliberations, also centred on how to recruit new lecturers to fill the space of ASUU members who might refuse to obey government’s directive. Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to call students back to campus on Sunday in preparation for academic activities which should start on Monday.

Wike, had on Thursday ordered lecturers to resume duties on or before December 4 or face being sacked summarily by the Federal Government.

Already Okojie had been mandated to start the process of recruiting new lecturers by placing vacancy adverts in international journals and media.

Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to open registers in their institutions where ASUU members that resume work would sign so that those who failed to resume could be sacked.

It was revealed that the Federal Government was planning to adopt the Ghanaian method where lecturers were asked to re-apply for their jobs after two years of strike.

“Not all lecturers are members of ASUU. Most professors don’t belong to the union, people think every lecturer in public university is a member of ASUU, which is not true. Government means business this time around and it is going to call off the bluff of ASUU,’’ the source explained.

Nigerian universities are currently in need of at least 30,000 lecturers because of acute shortage of lecturers in the university system..

There are also indications that the Federal Government and university lecturers may be heading for a clash as the December 4 deadline given by the Federal Government for the lecturers to return to work is also the date set aside by ASUU to bury a former President of the union, Prof. Festus Iyayi.

Iyayi died in a ghastly auto accident along the Abuja-Lokoja Road when the vehicle in which he was travelling had a collision with the convoy of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State on November 12, 2013.

The former ASUU chairman was on his way to Kano to attend a crucial meeting of the union which was called to deliberate on the Federal Government’s offer to the lecturers.

The Federal Government had claimed it decided to go tough on ASUU because the union made fresh demands in its letter to the government as a condition for calling off the lingering strike action.

ASUU had demanded payment of the four-month salary arrears of its members from July when the strike commenced and the release of N200bn that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to inject into the university system within the next two weeks.

The union also said the agreement reached between it and the Federal Government should be signed by the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Though the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Faggae, refused to pick his calls and also did not respond to a text message sent to him on the latest development, the Enugu State Police Command confirmed that its men had been directed to man universities to quell any protest that might result from the Federal Government’s order on lecturers to resume work on or before Wednesday.

The command told our source that police officers had also been directed to be stationed at the universities to forestall any disturbance from various groups or lecturers on Monday.

“There is no cause for alarm and we are combat ready in the event of any violence or disturbance,” the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed that the police had been mandated to provide security for lecturers that want to resume work against molestation by their other colleagues, who may not want them to do so.

“We are not going to their houses to force them to come and teach in the universities. Even though the Federal Government has taken a stance, we are not in the military rule to molest lecturers,” he said.

But reacting to the latest development, the Chairman, ASUU, UNIBEN chapter, Emina-Monye, said ASUU members were not bothered about government’s latest strategy.

He said, “They can go ahead with that. We are not perturbed. Let them call the police; let them advertise vacant positions and see how many international scholars will want to accept what Nigerian university lecturers are taking- let them go ahead.”

Also, ASUU branch at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said government’s directive was an attempt to waste students’ time.

The UNIUYO ASUU Chairman, Dr. Nwachukwu Anyim, said in Uyo on Friday that Nigeria was no longer in a military era and so lecturers could not be coerced by anybody to work against their wish. He said, We will see how they will come to our homes and force us to resume work.

“Only the Federal Government can tell the world what it has in mind. We have a shortfall of 60,000 lecturers in the university system. If they are advertising this one, it means they must have an idea of where they are going to put them, and they must be people who are going to work without equipment.”

However, the University of Nigeria chapter of ASUU on Friday said its members would not resume work until their demands are met.

The UNN-ASUU also described the Minister of Education, Wike, as a “tout”.

The union, however said that it won’t react officially to Wike’s order until President Goodluck Jonathan speaks.

“We have not heard from the President, so we cannot speak officially on the matter. It would be senseless to begin to react to a statement from Wike since he is a tout,” said Dr. Ifeanyi Abada, Chairman of UNN-ASUU.

Abada said that Wike’s order cannot hold and vowed that ASUU would unleash terror if the minister attempts to carry out the order.

“We stopped the late General Sani Abacha, so stopping Wike and these bloody civilians won’t be any problem to us,” Abada vowed.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday described the action of Wike as hasty.

The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents that Wike ought to have considered the circumstances that delayed the leadership of ASUU from getting their resolutions to the government.

Uyot said that ASUU was not able to get the resolutions of the NEC meeting to the Federal Government because of the death of Iyayi.

Reacting to the latest development, Mr Femi Falana [SAN], said President Goodluck Jonathan should call Wike to order in the interest of the education system..

.He said If Wike had familiarised himself with FG/ASUU face-off in the past two decades, even under the defunct military junta, he would have discovered that ASUU members had never been cowed to submission.

He said, “In 1992, the Ibrahim Babangida junta fired all lecturers and threatened to eject them from their official quarters. When the lecturers defied the junta a decree was promulgated which made strike by teachers a treasonable felony. ASUU also ignored the obnoxious decree and called off the bluff of the military dictators. But at the end of the day it became clear to the regime that universities could not be run like military barracks. Hence the junta swallowed its pride, withdrew its empty threats and decided to honour the Agreement which it had rejected.’’

Source: Punch Newspapers
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Low turnout threatens Anambra election

Despite assurances by the Independent National Electoral Commission that today’s supplementary election in Anambra State will be hitch-free, voters’ apathy may mar the election billed to hold in 210 polling units in 15 local government areas of the state.


The apathy, stemmed from the disappointment of voters in the last governorship election held penultimate week and the uncertainty surrounding today’s election.

The uncertainty had also been compounded by calls for the boycott of the supplementary election by major parties and candidates that contested the main election on November 16.

Many of the voters in the areas where the election is scheduled to take place today told newsmen that they were not interested in voting and were also confused because of the popular calls for the boycott of the election.

Some of them said it appeared to them that the winner of the election had already been predetermined by INEC and their collaborators, therefore their going to vote would be meaningless.

Three of the major contestants in the election called for the boycott of the election after INEC failed to cancel the entire election, following complaints that the conduct of the election failed to conform substantially with the requirements of the Electoral Act.

The three candidates are Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Labour Party.

But INEC said it was fully prepared to conduct the election in all the polling units affected in the supplementary election. As at Thursday evening electoral materials had been moved from the INEC headquarters in Awka to the affected local government areas.

The Public Relations Officer of INEC in Awka, Mr. Frank Egbo, said the sensitive materials would be moved to the Super Registration Areas by Friday night, so that early on Saturday, they would be moved to the polling units in readiness for the election.

But Mr. Frank Obi, a community leader from Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area, newsmen that he doubted if the people would turn out to vote on Saturday.

Obi, who said people in his locality did not vote on November 16, said his people would not turn out to vote because they do not believe that the supplementary election would change anything.

“If there is no cancellation, nothing will change. If INEC has accepted that it made errors in the initial election and has apologised, what remains is for them to throw aside the outcome of that flawed election and conduct a fresh one.

“I am not saying that a certain candidate must win or lose. Anybody who is losing should lose gallantly. We do not accept a situation where it has appeared to us that the vote has been manipulated to favour one candidate from outset and they are only trying to use us to validate and legitimise it,” he said.

Meanwhile, heavy security has been mounted in areas where the governorship supplementary election will take place on Saturday in Anambra State.

A visit to the affected wards in Idemili North and Onitsha South Local Government Areas of the state on Friday showed a heavy presence of policemen, who mounted checkpoints. Trucks and Armoured Personnel Carriers and police officials around the locality.

The security beef up came on the heels of the protest by more than one thousand women, who massed around the road to the INEC headquarters, Awka, on Friday, to protest against the holding of the supplementary election.

The women were, however, stopped from proceeding to the gate of INEC by heavily armed policemen who came in six trucks. But they stayed over at Arroma Junction where they sang and called for the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

This came on the heels of an 18-hour restriction placed by the police on vehicular movements in two local government councils.

In separate statements issued on Friday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, named the local governments as Idemili North and Onitsha South.

They said the restriction would begin at midnight on Friday and end at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The police and INEC said the restriction of movement was to ensure a successful and peaceful conduct of the supplementary election. The supplementary election will hold in 160 polling units in Idemili-North while it will take place in 17 polling units in Onitsha-South.

The police and INEC officers warned travellers passing through the state to find alternative routes during the period.

But they, however, said the restriction would not affect movement along federal highways, particularly the Bridge Head end of the Onitsha – Enugu expressway through Onitsha to other parts of the country.

The police statement also warned politicians and other individuals against moving about with security details during the voting exercise, saying that anybody who flouts this order will be arrested and prosecuted.

It said, “These measures are geared toward a hitch-free conduct of election in the state on the aforementioned dates.”

Meanwhile, INEC PRO, has said that election materials are expected to be moved from the Super Registration Areas to the polling units between 5.30 am and 7am on Saturday.

He said INEC has put everything in place to ensure that the election was conducted smoothly.

Election in 210 polling units, where 113,113 voters could not vote on November 16 were cancelled. The Chief Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke, consequently declared supplementary election in those polling units, which cut across 15 local government areas.

Epoke said the Electoral Act required that for a winner to be declared in an election, the difference in the total voting population of the areas where election was cancelled should be less than the difference between the votes scored by the candidate with the highest votes and the votes of the candidate with the second highest votes.

In the Anambra case, the returning officer said the total voting population of the areas in which election was cancelled is 113,113, which is higher than the 79,754 difference between the leading candidate’s votes and the second highest candidate’s votes, the commission had no choice but to declare the election inconclusive.

“The rule guiding this election is that for a winner to emerge, he must have majority of votes cast and the required spread of 25 percent of votes in two thirds of the local government areas.

“We observed that due to many reasons there were a lot of canceled votes that make it difficult for a winner to emerge,” Epoke said.

He said the winner of the election will only be declared after the election has been conducted in areas where the election was cancelled.

Epoke explained that election was cancelled in the respective polling units where they were cancelled for a number of reasons ranging from snatching of ballot materials; delivering of coded ballot materials to wrong collation centres and the non-arrival of election materials at polling units.
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Boko Haram abducting, raping women, girls in North East, says Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch says Islamic extremists in the Northeast are abducting and apparently raping women and girls.


The group,in a report on Thursday, also criticized the federal government for failing to account for hundreds of men and boys rounded up by security forces using emergency powers in the Islamic uprising.

The London-based organization quoted witnesses saying hundreds have died of dehydration, illness and beatings, while many other detainees have been executed.

It quoted commanders of vigilance groups describing the rescue of kidnapped women and girls in attacks on hideouts of the Boko Haram terrorist network. Some were pregnant and others had babies.

It did not spare the Civilian Joint Task Force whose emergence,it said , has “added a worrisome new dimension to the violence.”

It said: “Civilian Joint Task Force members inform security forces about presumed local Boko Haram activity; the Islamist group then retaliates against both the neighbourhood vigilante group and the broader community.

Daniel Bekele, Africa director at HRW, said: “For a group that claims to be religious, Boko Haram’s tactics are the most profane acts we can imagine.The killing and mutilation of ordinary Nigerians, the abduction and rape of women and girls, and the use of children for fighting are horrifying human rights violations.”

In the course of compiling the report, HRW claimed to have interviewed more than 60 victims, witnesses, medical personnel, members of local rights groups, Civilian Joint Task Force commanders and government officials over nine days in Kano and Maiduguri.

Its words:“Commanders of the Civilian Joint Task Force, working with security forces, said that they had rescued 26 abducted women and girls from a Boko Haram stronghold in Maiduguri and later in Sambisa Forest. Some of the women and girls were pregnant; others had babies. The commanders told Human Rights Watch that a number of the girls had been abducted while hawking wares on the street or working on farms in remote villages. Many girls who were rescued or had escaped were sent off by their families to distant cities like Abuja and Lagos to avoid the stigma of rape or pregnancy outside of marriage, activists said.

“Several witnesses said they saw children in the ranks of Boko Haram during attacks. In Maiduguri, Human Rights Watch researchers saw a video recording of the interrogation by security forces of a 14-year-old boy who described the role he played in Boko Haram operations. Commanders of the Civilian Joint Task Force said they had freed numerous children during a 2013 attack on a Boko Haram base in Sambisa Forest.

“Human Rights Watch also observed children who appeared to be aged 15 to 17 manning checkpoints for the Civilian Joint Task Force in Maiduguri; other witnesses described seeing children manning checkpoints elsewhere in Borno and Yobe states.”

Witnesses described Boko Haram laying siege to towns, villages and highways; looting and burning houses, shops, and vehicles; and executing and decapitating people, some of whom they accused of aiding the Civilian Joint Task Force. In July, the combined efforts of the security forces and Civilian Joint Task Force appeared to have pushed Boko Haram out of Maiduguri. Since then, the group has carried out numerous attacks in the nearby towns of Damaturu, Benisheikh and Gamboru.

Boko Haram’s September 17 attack on Benisheikh, 74 kilometres west of Maiduguri, killed at least 142 people and was the most lethal incident in Borno State since 2010. A man who went to Benisheikh to look for a colleague on the morning after the attack described what he saw at a checkpoint that had been set up by Boko Haram and that was crowded with burned vehicles:

“There were bodies all over… three here, two there, four near the next – all lying face down, dead next to their vehicle. Then I saw a long line of bodies… about 30 of them. But weirdly, one of the trucks was carrying cows which were still alive. Who are these people who kill the human beings, yet leave the cows standing?” he said.

Another witness described seeing about 20 women abducted during the September 17 Benisheikh attack. A health worker in Maiduguri told Human Rights Watch that he attended to a 15-year-old girl who had recently returned home pregnant several months after Boko Haram abducted her.
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Nigeria will overcome her challenges – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan. Friday, expressed optimism in the unity and survival of the country, saying that the present challenges of the nation would strengthen her.



The President spoke at Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state during the funeral of Mrs Paulina Eze, mother of Senator Ayogu Eze.

Jonathan said he was not deterred by challenges confronting Nigeria as according to him “every country in the world has crises and challenges”.

He said: “The world is facing crises including Nigeria. These days once you hear breaking news, its all about crises. I urge clergymen to continue to pray for the country.

The nation has challenge no doubt about that, in the world there are challenges everywhere. When you open the television, they will always talk about crises here and there, there is always breaking news and whenever you hear this breaking news, it is never a good news.

It is always sad, no good breaking news. All the breaking news I have seen for the past period are crises. The world is in crises. We are also having our own share of the crises but I am convinced that with your prayers, the prayers of men and women of this country, God will see us through.”

He asked the family of Eze to emulate the good virtues of their mother, explaining that what was important was not how long one lived but what he/she was able to impact on others.

In his homily, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Revd. Godfrey Onah called on the leaders of the country to be focused.

He said that the present challenges in the country were not insurmountable, adding that it should strengthen the resolve of the people in service of God.

He charged politicians to continue to look unto God especially in difficult situations.

At the ceremony which attracted several Nigerians were Senate President, David Mark, his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Peter Obi of Anambra state and Sullivan Chime of Enugu state.

Also present were National chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh, former Anambra governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former minister of power, Barth Nnaji and several members of the National Assembly among others.

Senator Eze had described his late mother a hardworking and courageous woman saying she brought up her family when the husband died by her dint effort.

Also senator Mark praised God for the life late Mrs Eze lived, saying it manifested in the great age which she attained before departure.
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Nigeria to stop importation of rice, fish, others

Dr Niyi Odunlami, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and rural Development, said on Friday that the Federal Government intended to stop the importation of rice, fish, wheat and tomatoes.



Odunlami spoke as a member of the supervision team visiting staple crops processing zones of the World Bank-assisted Commercial Agriculture Development project in Lagos.

He said that the Federal Government was working in partnership with state and local governments as well as Local Council Development Areas to bring infrastructural development to rural farming areas.

“The Federal Government cannot do it alone; it needs the collaboration of states and local governments as well as LCDAs.

“The rural farming areas need to be developed in terms of infrastructure, so as to reduce or possibly eradicate the importation of what can be produced here, such as wheat, vegetable, rice and fish.

“The fish we import is not different from what we can find in the Nigerian waters,” Odunlami said, adding that there was absolute need to develop staple crop processing zones.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some primary processing zones in the country had been selected as models.

They include Kogi, Kano, Niger, Lagos and Rivers states.

NAN also reports that the supervisory mission commenced work on Nov. 28, with a visit to the Lagos State Integrated Rice Processing Factory, Imota.
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Protests threaten APC alliance with G5 governors

■We’ll take care of all interests –Party

BY ADE ALADE

There is a growing unrest among some leaders and members of the opposition mega party, the All Progressives Congress, in some states whose governors dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to go into an alliance with the APC last Tuesday.

The rumbling, which is capable of causing an implosion within the fast growing party in the coming weeks, if not properly handled, Saturday Sun gathered, is a direct fallout of a

Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed between the national leadership of the APC and the G5 governors through their group, called new PDP. The agreement effectively handed over the leadership structures of the APC in the new member states to the defecting governors at the expense of the already established and existing leaders of the party in the affected states.

States where APC leadership structures have been handed over to their new entrant governors include Adamawa, Kwara, Kano, Sokoto, and Rivers states. Investigations across the five states show that while there may not be any serious contention with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers over the effective take-over of the APC structure in his state, the same thing cannot be said of the remaining four states with strong APC leaders already in place.

The APC national leadership, which is already aware of the growing tension has, however, assured that appropriate mechanisms have been put in place to take care of the integration process and the crisis that may likely ensue.

Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told Saturday Sun that “all groups and individuals will have to make sacrifices i the present circumstance in the overall interest of the nation.”

It was gathered that states where there is likely to be serious problems with protests and

agitations already going on quietly include Adamawa where defecting Governor Murtala Nyako is said to have begun the process of using the APC structure to install his son, Naval Commander Azeez Nyako (retd) as his successor in 2015.The junior Nyako is said to have started holding meetings and dispensing patronage in terms of appointments and cash gifts to youth and women leaders of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC, called the legacy parties that merged to form APC in all the 21 local councils in the state. The same gesture was also said to have been extended to the chair-men and secretaries of the legacy parties across the local government areas.

The development, it was learnt, has been generating serious heat that may lead to an eruption within the APC in the state where a former military governor of Lagos State and the governor-ship candidate of the CPC in the 2011 elections in the state, Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd) has been the rallying point of the party’s leadership.

“If Marwa left the PDP for Nyako after he (Marwa) won the PDP governorship congress in 2011 because he was robbed of that victory by the national leadership of PDP which cancelled the election, how do you expect him or his followers to feel if the APC national leadership comes around again and asked him to allow Nyako have another eight years by installing his son in 2015. It is an issue we cant run away from in Adamawa”, a stalwart of the defunct ACN in the state told Saturday Sun.

Speaking in Yola on Thursday, Governor Nyako debunked the allegation that he mobilized his faction of the PDP to APC, in a bid to have his son succeed him in 2015, saying that neither him nor Abdul Azeez has any interest in contesting for any elective office in 2015 Nyako stated that it was a mere allegation by his detractors to dissuade him from fighting agains impunity and inequity in the PDP.

According to him, his son had repeatedly told him in confidence that he is not excited about any political office, stressing that the most exciting and memorable day in the life of his son was the day he was commissioned at the Nigeria Defence Academy, NDA, as a military office.

Corroborating the position of the governor that Abdul Azeez is not aspiring for the governor-ship ticket of APC, Nyako’s chief press secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Sajoh, debunked the allegations in some quarters that Nyako had offered plots of land and money to members of the legacy parties

.He disclosed that Governor Nyako had often times told members of his cabinet at the state executive meeting that, his son, Azeez has no interest to contest for any elective post in 2015.In Kano State, the situation is the same. The incumbent governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso will have to contend with his predecessor, Ibrahim Shekarau who has held forte as APC leader in the state. “If a governor comes into APC today and wants the structure of the party in his state to be handed over to him, we may have to critically look at it. This is because there are structures on ground in the states before such a governor came in. It is not possible to ignore this reality when you are discussing the terms under which a new person is coming into the party, else there could be confusion,” Shekarau had declared recently following the visit of some national leaders of the APC to some states under the control of seven rebel governors in the PDP to woo them.

The same development is coming up in Sokoto where the incumbent Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako has to contend with the leadership structure already being maintained by his former boss, Dalhatu Bafarawa Bafarawa had given an indication of what to expect when he spoke on the possibility of having Wamakko join APC. “Let him go there and register for his member-ship card at the wards and local government up to the national level. So, there is no shortcut whether G7, G14 or G20, you have to follow the due process,” he said. Bafarawa, who was not at the commissioning ceremony of University of Sokoto, which had General Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and other APC leaders in attendance, said the G-7 governors will not be allowed to use money to take control of the party.

“We don’t want the party to look like the rich people have it. We want to move away from money politics, we want to give the grassroots the right to choose their leaders. That is why we are saying that Wamakko is no different from the G-7,” he added.

It was also gathered that in Kwara, followers of the ACN governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, Dele Belgore are already grumbling over any attempt to deny their candidate a chance to test his popularity at the polls in 2015 when the incumbent, Abdulfatah Ahmed who officially takes charge of the APC leadership in the state in conjunction with his godfather, Senator Bukola Saraki will want to run for another term.

The rumblings notwithstanding, the APC national leadership said it is more concerned about the bigger picture, which is taking over the government at the centre.“For the leadership of the party, what is more important now is the bigger picture of rescuing Nigeria. But to take care of some of the grumblings and protests that may come up in the affected states, we have set up some

committees that will take care of the concerns of our leaders in those states and ensure a seamless integration of the new members. The committee will take care of whatever crisis that may ensue in the ongoing process of integration”, the APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed added.

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Police stop 4,000 protesters calling for cancellation Anambra Election

About 4,000 aggrieved women protesting the plan to conduct the Supplementary election in Anambra State were Friday stopped by security operatives who  said they were acting on  orders from above.

The angry women who described themselves as “Anambra Women” carried posters which inscriptions which read: “INEC rigging, Bad  for Anambra, We no go gree,”” Jega Must go,” “Jega-Jaga must go,”Jega rig Sokoto election, not Anambra,“ “Anambra shall be free,”Cancel Anambra Guber Election  now,”New Election , February 2014,Reject INEC results 2013,” “Cancel Anambra Election, sack Jega.”

The women who sang songs  disparaging INEC officials and the conduct of November 16 governorship election were marching towards INEC headquarters to call for the cancellation, resignation of THE Commission’s chairman , Professor Attahiru Jega and removal of Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State,  Chukwuemeka Onukogu.

They called for conduct of a fresh election just as they said the scheduled  Supplementary election of November 30 march would not hold.

They marched from Aroma junction but were pushed back by the police as they cornered to enter the route leading towards INEC state headquarters  Office. The  police arrived in six trucks to block their way. The women who continued to sing abusive songs  insisted that they and the freedom as provided in the constitution to assembly, associate, and express their grievances, but the police denied them access saying they had no authority to demonstrate.

The women opted to stay put at the Aroma junction while the police kept surveillance for the most of seven hours the women staged the protest.

A spokesperson for the “ Anambra Women” who imply identified herself as an angry voter from Obosi, said the protest was aimed at letting the authorities that the Supplementary election billed to hold Saturday,November 30 this ear would hold .

She stated that what took place on November 16, this year was a charade saying INEC compromised nd sided with a political party and the Presidency to thwart the people’s choice, adding that the rtest as as a result of the fact that an unpopular candidate was being imposed  on the people through selection rather than election.

The women spokesperson stated that in Obosi where she holds from, there as no election, and INEC scheduled to Armoured Vehicles (APC) in addition to 8 trucks loaded with police, army and other security operatives  for just one ward to scare the people .

According to her, INEC announced that election did not hold at Obosi but wondered the ward was not featured as one of the areas where the supplementary election would hold on Saturday
She stated that the women were resist the use of force and intimidating number of police to scare them and achieve an imposition of an unpopular candidate n them as governor.
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Bellview crash: After 8 years, we’re yet to be compensated –Family of late pilot tells court

By LUKMAN OLABIYI

The family members of the late Captain Lambert Imasuen, the pilot of Bellview aircraft Boeing 737-200 that crashed on October 22, 2005, has told National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Lagos that after eight years of the demise of their breadwinner, his employer is yet to fulfill its promise to the family.

The eldest child of the late pilot, Imuwahen Lenita Imasuen revealed this to the court presided over Justice Lawal Mani, while being led in evidence by Yusuf Asamah Kadiri in the suit filed against Bellview Arilines Limited and its directors.

Apart from the company, other defendants in the suit are Kayode Odukoya, Tunde Yusuf, Gabriel Olowo, Emmanuel Ombu, Abisoye Mohammed, Kola Sobande, Chimara Imediegwu and Alex Iheuwa

In her evidence in chief, Imuwahen lamented that despite the express assurances given to her by Bellview Airlines through its company secretary, one Andrew Orji, the company refused to pay the compensation, thereby neglecting the family.

The eldest child of the late pilot narrated their ordeal in the hands of the employer of their breadwinner before they finally decided to file the suit against the company.

Imasuen also tried to tender newspaper publication and email correspondences, which the family exchanged with the airline on the payment of the compensation.

But the defendants’ counsel, Toyin Salice objected to the tendering of the documents as exhibits on the ground that the emails were computer-generated documents which was in variance to Section 84 (4) of the Evidence Act.

Responding, Kadiri urged the court to discountenance the objection and admit the documents as exhibits in the matter.

Kadiri also told the court that he had filed an application to compel the Ministry of Aviation, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Directorate of Air Worthiness to produce the documents at their disposal pertaining to the crash.

Meanwhile, Justice Mani has fixed February 12 and 13, 2014 for ruling and continuation of trial.

In a supporting affidavit of the suit, the claimant (Imuwahen) averred that immediately after the death of her father, she and other family members proceeded to Bellview’s office as was required of the victims of the crash, and they were informed of their entitlement to $100, 000 as compensation for the death of Captain Imasuen as a victim of the air crash.

She recalled that the defendant made an advance payment of $10,000, with the assurance that the balance of $90,000 compensation would be paid upon production of letter of administration of the Estate of the late Captain Imasuen.

However, upon presentation of the said letter of administration, Imuwahen stressed that the defendants refused to pay the outstanding balance of $90,000 despite repeated demands.

The family is, therefore, urging the court to compel the airline to pay the said $90,000 and N82 million damages, as well as the cost of the action and other benefits and entitlement accruing to the Estate of the late Captain Imasuen both as air crash victim and staff of Bellview Airlines.

But the defendants, in their statement of defence, denied admitting to pay the claimant $100,000 compensation, and that there was no time they gave any assurances whatsoever of paying $90,000 balance.

The defendants added that on December 22, 2005, Bellview Airlines benevolently offered to pay the family of the late Captain Imaseun $10,000 to alleviate any hardship occasioned to the family as a result of the crash.

They further contended that the suit was brought in obvious bad faith, and that it should be dismissed with substantial cost.

The aircraft was on its way to Abuja from Lagos when it crashed at Lisa Village area of Ogun State, killing all 117 persons on board.

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Spread of terrorism: Army uncovers Boko Haram’s new tactics

The Chief of Army Staff Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, has advised Nigerians not to panic over speculation of the spread of terrorists into other regions of the country, assuring that security moves were in top gear to monitor terrorists movements just as the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru also alerted Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorists have come out with new tactics to circumvent security measures put in place towards curtailing their activities in the North East.



The new methods according to General Attahiru include resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east.

He however stressed that the Army has been responding swiftly through effective combat patrols both on air and land.

General Attahiru said: “While the onslaught on the violence extremist organisation continues, the insurgents have devised methods to circumvent the new security measures by resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east” he said.

”Equally, our troops have responded appropriately through effective combat patrols both on land and air in order to dominate the area of operations,” he stated.

Describing the United States’ designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO) as a step in the right direction, he noted that the Nigerian Army has continued to carry out “full spectrum counter-insurgency operations, with emphasis on both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to shape the operational environment in the north east”.

”Currently, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air force had carried out simultaneous offensive operations. Based on these operations, insurgents were successfully cleared from some camps in SambisaForest, BitaVillage in Damboa Local Government as well as Gujba in neighbouring YobeState. Many insurgents were killed and large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered,” the Army spokesman said.

In the same vein, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division Garrison, Major General Ahmed Jubrin expressed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to combat terrorism and other security challenges in the country.

Addressing the soldiers, General Jubrin who was represented by the Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, Brig.-Gen. Patrick Akem, said at the end of the 2 Brigade “Inter Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition,” which ended in Benin City, yesterday, said that the exercise was geared towards combat readiness, as much as confidence building for men of the Nigerian Army.

According to him, “all these are geared ensuring that the desire of the Chief of Army Staff to build capacity in a manner that will position us to tackle the challenges we are facing currently. We have done this not only to create awareness but to give confidence to the nation that indeed we are training and we are able to tackle the challenges that we are facing.

Chief of Army Staff in Lagos

Speaking in Lagos while commissioning the remodeled headquarters of the Nigerian Army Engineers Complex, at Bonny cantonment , Victoria Island, Ihejirika noted that attempt by some insurgents to

spread from the North eastern region of the country to other regions have met brick-wall following their subsequent arrests, adding that the Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in providing equipment and logistics to enable troops carry out their duties”.

He said, “The spread should not cause panic. We monitor their movement and the exposure on them is beefed up in the North East in particular and in other parts of the North and the tendency is not for them to fret down wards.”

What we are trying to do is to build new cells in the new areas particularly for those of them that are unrepentant.a

We have a common understanding with the SSS ,the police and other sister services to continue to monitor them and they are being arrested”.

Commending the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers for turning giving its head quarters a structural face lift, Ihejirika noted that the initiative and courage to undertake such project was in line with his vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a force that would meet the demands of the present challenges as well as remain relevant in national development.

According to him, “ this giant strides entailed a lot of sacrifice, integrity and on the part of the commander and his officers and soldiers. It is a proof that the transformation agenda of the president, commander- in chief of Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan is being imbibed by some commanders in the Nigeria Army.”

He therefore,urged other commanders to emulate such,even as he encouraged the Commander, officers and soldiers of the Corps to strive more to improve upon the standards attained, noting that any organisation that is not growing is dying. here is still room for improvement particularly in support for the Nigeria Army operations in the North East where we have made progress the Army Headquarters in the face of limited resources and other competing needs.
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Keshi shocked over FIFA ranking

Coach Stephen Keshi has said he is shocked that Nigeria slipped in the latest FIFA rankings despite some impressive results lately. Nigeria dropped three spots in the world rankings – from 33 to 36 – in the November FIFA Rankings.

The African champion beat Ethiopia 2-0 in a 2014 World Cup play-off to qualify for the tournament finals on a 4-1 aggregate, last month.

Nigeria was also forced to a 2-2 draw by four-time world champion, Italy, in a friendly in London.

But rather than enjoy a better ranking it slipped at a time the latest rankings are expected to be considered in next week’s 2014 World Cup draws in Brazil.

“I am shocked (by the latest rankings). We won the Africa Cup of Nations this year, qualified for the World Cup and four-time world champion, Italy, held us to a draw, so I am surprised,” remarked Keshi.

However, Keshi said he will continue to lead the Eagles to victory.

“We should continue to win and make Nigerians proud because that is what is most important to me and Nigerians,” he said.

“If we remain where ever we are in the ranking and keep winning and Nigerians are happy, then I am happy.”

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PDP plans punishment for rebel govs, lawmakers who left for APC

Rattled by the defection of five out of its seven aggrieved governors to the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has scheduled an emergency meeting for next Monday.



A source learnt in Abuja, on Thursday that the party’s leadership at the meeting would determine the fate of the rebel governors.

It was further gathered that the emergency meeting would among other things, decide on what punitive measures to be taken against the governors and lawmakers, who are likely to join them.

Sources close to the party told our correspondents that the party was afraid there could be mass defection of the PDP National Assembly members to the APC.

Investigations also revealed that the National Working Committee of the PDP at the meeting would discuss how it would not lose its majority status in the National Assembly to the APC.

It was learnt that the meeting was specifically put in place to brainstorm on the movement of the governors to the APC because the weekly NWC meeting traditionally holds on Wednesdays.

One of our correspondents gathered that the leadership of the PDP had been considering how to curtail the movement of any lawmaker elected on the platform of the party to the opposition.

A source in the party said, “We are going to consider all the legal options before deciding on punitive measures for the governors and lawmakers that defect to the APC.

“Nothing is on the table yet, but I can assure you that the PDP will hit back. One of the punitive measures we will consider is impeachment of the governors and how feasible it is. By Monday, we will unfold our strategies. Also, we must ensure that the PDP does not become a minority party in the National Assembly.”

When contacted, the National Publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, confirmed to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Thursday, that the PDP was indeed planning to hold the meeting on Monday.

He also said that the issue of the rebel governors would form part of deliberations.

According to him, the meeting will, among other things, discuss issues affecting the party in general and other recent developments in the polity including the defection of some of their governors.

Metuh, who also spoke on the issue of the threat by some lawmakers to defect from the PDP, said that the national leadership of the PDP had implicit confidence in the leadership of both houses of the National Assembly to maintain the party’s positions.

He said, “Well on the issue of Amaechi and the other governors who have defected, there is an emergency meeting of the NWC to discuss all matters on Monday.

“On the issue of the lawmakers, the leadership of the two houses of the National Assembly are PDP members. The leaders are capable and are loyal. We have confidence in them. They have not shown any cause for doubts. They are loyal party members who can be relied upon at any time. All I can tell you is that we are going to discuss all the issues.”

When contacted, the Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso said he was not bothered about his position as governor.

This, he said, was because the struggle he and his colleagues were involved in was a struggle to salvage democracy and not about any individual.

Kwankwaso spoke to newsmen through his Director of Press and Public Relations, Baba Dantiye, via telephone on Thursday.

He said, “Let’s wait and see what happens on Sunday (after the meeting with the President). It’s not a matter of seat; it’s the issue of rescuing democracy and the nation.”

Our source also tried to find out if the deputy governors of the affected states would also defect to APC, but most of them could not be reached for comments.

Although the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Umar Ganduje could not be reached for comments, a source close to him confided in one of our correspondents that he had implicit confidence in the governor.

The source said, “You know His Excellency, the Deputy Governor is a close confidant of the governor. Politically they have been on the same page and will continue to be.”

The Spokesperson of the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday declined to respond to the question on whether the Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, would be willing to vacate his office as a result of his defection to the APC.

He said Ahmed was not in town, adding that he was the only person who could respond to such an issue.

“We have no response to the question. The governor is not in town. He is the only person that can respond to such a question,” Akorede said.

Meanwhile, a former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that he is ready to work with anybody in the state because politics is about people.

The clarification became necessary as the APC in its power sharing deal on Thursday said the defected governors would be in charge of party machineries in their states.

Shekarau who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Relations, Sule Ya’u Sule said, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, welcomes everyone into the APC family, politics is about people.

“The only thing is that, no member of the party should be treated like a second class citizen. There should be justice and fairness to all.’’
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27 lawmakers back Amaechi’s defection to APC

From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

The 27 pro-Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly have pledged their unwavering support to the governor on his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The declaration was made on Friday by Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt.

Kwanee  justified Governor  Amaechi’s defection, saying that his continued stay with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have been a disservice to Rivers people.

He said that the decision was in the best interest of the state, and the lawmakers would give him the desired support.

“We are with him for the decision he has taken so far. As it relates to the House, we are aware of the relevant sections of the law as relates to, and we will confine and ensure that we do not flout the law, when we also move with the governor. So, rest assured that we are with the governor.”

Kwanee, who represents Khana Constituency II in the Assembly, reminded Rivers people that the governor  was  pushed to the wall and he endured all the persecution because the president comes from his extraction.

Speaking on the dissolution of the Obio/Akpor Local Government, Kwanee stated that the lawmakers were in support of the governor.

The deputy speaker said  Governor Amaechi exercised his constitutional power, saying that aggrieved persons could seek redress in court.

He further said that Rivers people had suffered a lot under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership.

The lawmaker pointed out the case of Soku oil field, which was ceded to Bayelsa State, the security helicopter acquired by Rivers government with approval of Federal Government, which was denied entrance into Nigerian air space and the Rivers aircraft that was grounded by the Aviation Ministry were for political reasons.

Continuing, Kwanee said that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, which affected the state, particularly the Ogonis, was treated with disdain, and many other things acruing to the state from the federation were denied by the Federal Government.

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Anambra supplementary governorship elections: APC, PDP, LP to boycott poll

A massive moral and legal burden hangs over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today as it insists on proceeding with the controversial supplementary governorship election in Anambra State.


Dr. Chris Ngige,the candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC), Mr.Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party (LP) and Comrade Tony Nwoye, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) have opted out of the supplementary poll.

They are demanding outright cancellation of the November 16 election, which they said was characterised by fraud.

The candidate of APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, has however endorsed the conduct of the election.

Mr. Ubah has already gone to court to challenge the legality of the supplementary election.

He says Supplementary election is not known to the 1999 Constitution.

He has secured an order for accelerated hearing in the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

His counsel, Mr.Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday drew the chairman’s attention to the “processes filed in that action” and for him to “respond to these processes not later than the 6th of December 2013.”

He said: “You would have noticed that amongst the processes is a Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction restraining you from conducting any further election in Anambra State with regard to the office of the Governor of the State,until the court has had an opportunity to review the legality of your pre-election processes towards that election.

“It was for the reason of the urgency and importance of this action that the Federal High Court ,on 28th November 2013, made an order to abridge the time within which you and other Defendants may file your responses to both the application for injunction and the originating summons.The court also granted accelerated hearing of the matter by adjourning the hearing to 9th December, 2013.”

The court order and the pendency of both the motion and substantive suit, Fakunle said, “have activated the doctrine of lis pendens.”

He added: “The doctrine of lis pendens precludes you from taking any steps in furtherance of your planned supplementary or other election in Anambra State with regard to the office of governor of the state until the Court has determined the application for injunction and the legality of your pre-election processes and the planned supplementary election itself.”

He asked for the postponement of today’s supplementary election to “avoid a situation whereby you would have foistered a fait accompli on the court and the court in response will therefore be constrained to void everything you have done including the outcome of the proposed supplementary election.”
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I GO SAVE: I’m ready for marriage now

By TONY OGAGA ERHARIEFE

The first thing that strikes you when you meet comedian, I Go Save (Otaghware Otas Onodiayeke), is his dapper looks. Dressed in a designer sky blue coloured blazer with matching blue pants and an impeccable white shirt, his side buds are neatly trimmed and success it would seem is oozing out of his every pour as his carriage spells confidence. From humble beginnings in Warri, Delta State, I Go Save has risen to be one of the frontline comedians from Nigeria alongside Gandoki, I Go Dye and Akpororo to mention a few.

And with over 18 years experience in the business of making people crack up with laughter, I Go Save has surely come a long way. And when he speaks, it is with the confidence of a Wafarian who knows his onions. He reveals that after all the hopping and running around, he’s no longer on the market as he’s set to get hooked for good! “Yes I am in a relationship right now but I can’t talk about my lover because I don’t want to mention her name in the media.

However I can tell you that I love her so much; we’re both crazy over each other and that means that presently I’m not searching. I have found somebody I love so very much,” I Go Save declared in an exclusive chat with The Entertainer in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, during the Abuja edition of Julius Agwu’s Crack Ya Ribs comedy show, held at the Transcorp Hilton on October 1.

 

So, when is he getting married?

The rib cracker’s features split in a grin, displaying a perfect set of white teeth as he responds: “Very very soon, in fact, sooner than you could imagine,” he says adding that the reason why he fell for his better half is because she’s God fearing, brilliant, bold, has a great sense of humour, is very natural and is a great communicator.”

 

In the beginning

Born to a family of eight kids, I Go Save’s journey into comedy began when he was a student of Hussey College, Warri, Delta State. He revealed that as early as his secondary school days, he was already involved in comedy as a mock news caster for his school adding that both his mum and dad are a very humorous pair so he definitely inherited the gift of comedy from the both of them.

Recounting how he came into comedy, he says the gift of making people crack up with laughter has always been down his alley: “I don’t really remember how I started. I had a football team those days and I was also the commentator of the team. People found me very funny but I started making money from comedy in the mid 1990s.“I never knew I could make money from comedy.” I Go Save confesses, “I Go Dye and I were doing mock news on Delta TV with Terry Martins and Tunde Omonode and we were all over Warri. As comedy metamorphosed into stand up comedy, we also joined the trend because if you don’t go with the trend you just fizzle out.”

 

Challenges

Today he bestrides the comedy scene like a colossus smiling to the bank on a regular basis. However, back in the day when he dabbled into comedy as a career path, his parents, especially his dad kicked against it because his father believed he would end up a poor man. He always insisted that only a sound Western education could deliver his son from poverty and a bleak future.

“They never liked it especially my dad,” recalls I Go Save, “my dad is one man that loves education so much. He actually thought comedy was going to disrupt my education which was his sure free antidote to poverty. He wanted me to study a professional course like Medicine, Law and Accountancy.

 

Turning point

I Go Save stuck to his guns and before long, the cool cash was rolling in. However, the turning point came for his father when he got admission to study at Auchi Polytechnic. Recalling those years, I Go Save continues: “When I got admission to Auchi Polytechnic, he just let me be myself because I was already making money for myself and paying academic bills not just for myself but also my younger ones so my dad just allowed me be. After I graduated there were no jobs but thank God I was already an entrepreneur.”

After graduation in 2003, I Go Save had his national call of duty in Lagos in 2005 and ever since he has never looked back. Today he stands tall among Nigeria’s galaxy of comedians.

 

Giving back

18 years after, I Go Save says he’s made a fortune from comedy and is happily empowering youths through his talent hunt programme designed to discover and promote  fresh talent both in music and comedy. “We are giving back verbally, socially and financially and we are trying our best. We are also helping other people develop their talent by making them know that they can do something on their own and become entrepreneurs rather than wait for jobs that may never come. “I have my show where I discover five up-and-coming comedians and five up-and coming-musicians; it’s my own way of empowering youths. We are also speaking and talking and our leaders are listening and hearing but they are not acting but we are watching,” he adds on a humorous note.

 

Secret to success

With so many years of experience under his belt, what are his success tips for youngsters who want to take to comedy? “Hard work, prayers, humility and love your neighbour as yourself and never hesitate to show love to those that need it. Entertainment goes with everything good; money, women and booze but you must learn how to interpret and relate with these things. Most times, artistes miss-interpret them and end up frustrated!”

 

Warri, Nigerian capital of comedy

“Warri is the home of comedy,” declares I Go save who reveals that he was bread and buttered in Warri. Picking his words carefully like a lecturer lecturing his student, the rib cracker says: “Everyone in Warri is a comedian one way or another. Even the old mamas and papas are not left out and it’s because of the uniqueness of Warri Pidgin English. Before we say anything people are already laughing because our Pidgin English is unique. “Little wonder most comedians today are from Warri. Warri has given birth to a whole generation of comedians like Alibaba, I Go Dye, Gandoki and Akoproro to mention a few. Today even comedians that are not from Warri behave and talk like Warri people; that shows how much infectious our culture is,” he adds laughing and beaming with smiles. Could we say that Warri is the capital of Nigerian comedy? “Exactly, to a great extent I will say yes to that,” he quips.

 

Dreams

“My brother you know that in this country if you have dreams, the country will kill your dreams. We are not dreaming but just working hard putting one or two things together to double our Naira,” he says as we both share a laugh. I Go save has a word for his fans that have supported him these last 18 years. He says he is sincerely grateful for their support for without them, he wouldn’t be here today: “I love you; keep praying for me and keep supporting what we do and we won’t let you down. Thanks for the love and appreciation. Thanks for paying your hard earned money to watch me. And for those who always beg for tickets, we also appreciate you because we believe that one day you will buy as well. God bless you all,” he concludes on a humouorous note.

The post I GO SAVE: I’m ready for marriage now appeared first on The Sun News.

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Ex-football star discovers the 3 kids he fathered all his life were not his biological children

The former Anderlecht star is battling serious marriage problems after discovering that all three children he has fathered all his life are not his biological children


Former Ghanaian superstar, Nii Odartey Lamptey has spent his entire marriage life without knowing all three kids he has been fathering are not his real children, goal.com reports.

The 38-year-old after sensing marriage infidelity on the part of his wife proceeded to conduct a DNA test only to realize the kids are not his biological children.

The woman claimed the former Anderlecht and Aston Villa player was the one who suggested an artificial insemination after realizing he was infertile.

According to reports, Lamptey has suspected his wife of infidelity for several years but decided to stay in the marriage out of love and the chain of businesses they own together.

A source close to the FIFA U-17 world champion revealed to goal.com (Ghana) that he (Lamptey) had on several occasions “fought” with his wife to bring about a change in her life.

Lamptey, who owns Golden Lions Soccer Academy and Glow Lamp International School is now heading to court for a divorce after over 20 years of marriage.
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Supplementary election: INEC announces restriction of movements in Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the restriction on human and vehicular movements in two local government areas in Anambra during Saturday’s supplementary governorship election.


A statement from the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, in Awka on Friday named the local governments as Idemili North and Onitsha South.

It also said the restriction would begin at midnight on Friday and end at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the statement, the restriction was to ensure a successful and peaceful conduct of the supplementary election.

It warned travellers passing through the state to find alternative routes during the period.

The statement also warned politicians and other individuals not to move about with security officials and appealed for total compliance with the directive.

It warned that “anybody who flouts this order will be arrested and prosecuted.

“These measures are geared toward a hitch-free conduct of election in the state on the aforementioned dates.”

The supplementary election will take place in 210 polling units in the state.

They include 160 polling units in Idemili North, 17 in Onitsha South, four in Oyi, six in Anambra West, one in Aguata, three in Ayamelum and one in Anambra East.

The other polling units are one in Anaocha, two in Awka North, one in Awka South, two in Ekwusigo, one in Idemili South, three in Ihiala, two in Nnewi South and four in Orumba North.

The election of Nov. 16 and the rescheduled exercise in Obosi on Nov. 17 which were declared inconclusive gave rise to Saturday’s exercise. (NAN)
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