“Even in my sleep I’m still on top of the world”-Dbanj counts his blessings

Culled from my celebrity and i

UPDATE ON MISSING AIR ASIA FLIGHT :Items alleged to resemble parts of AirAsia's flight #QZ8501 spotted in water

Updated map and fact file on Air Asia flight QZ8501 that went missing with 162 people on board. Includes timeline …

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- Indonesia air traffic control (ATC) lost contact with AirAsia flight QZ8501 bound for Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia and carrying 162 people on board went missing on Sunday morning, around an hour after it left Juanda International Airport at 5:35am Indonesia time.
- The plane was over the Java Sea between Belitung island and Pontianak, on Indonesia's part of Kalimantan island, tracked four minutes after its pilot, Captain Iriyanto, stopped responding to ATC. Iriyanto had requested at 6:12am Indonesia time to veer left (this was approved) and ascend to 38,000 feet from 32,000 feet. After Indonesia's ATC informed the pilot at 6:14am Indonesia time of a revised height of 34,000 feet (because flight QZ8502 was cruising at 38,000 feet altitude), there was no response. The plane was then officially declared missing at 7:55am Indonesia time.
-  Search and rescue operations are ongoing with military assets deployed from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and most recently New Zealand scouring both the land and sea area in the northern and eastern parts of Belitung island. Aerial operations on Monday halted as dusk fell, but the hunt continued after nightfall in the Java sea and will expand to west Kalimantan on land, among other areas.
- Two oil slicks within the perimeter were on Monday sighted by a helicopter, but Indonesian national search and rescue chief said they were found to be coral reefs.
We've put together the stories of the passengers and crew on board the plane as well.

Culled from yahoo news

Nigerian minister secretly sells off National Theatre to UAE company?

 

That is what Politicaleconomistng.com is exclusively reporting. Find report below...

Barely one year after Nigerians stopped him from turning the National Theatre into a hotel, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Edem Duke, secretly jetted off the country to the United Arab Emirates, UAE, where he traded off the nation’s cultural pride to Mulk Holding, a diversified UAE-based conglomerate with interests in retail sector and other businesses.

The secret deal which was successfully shielded from the Nigerian media, in spite of a subsisting concessioning arrangement with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, was signed and sealed in December , 2014 between a delegation led by Duke, the General Manager of the National Theatre, Kabiru Yar’Adua and representatives of Mulk Holding, said to be ploughing the sum of $40 million (about N7.5 billion) counterpart fund into the project.

According to GulfAfrica Review, in its December 10, 2014 edition, Sharjah’s Mulk Holdings, a diversified UAE-based business conglomerate, “has announced its entry into the retail sector in West Africa through a $40m joint venture to develop Nigeria’s National Arts Theatre in Lagos into a duty-free shopping centre in partnership with the Suzanne Group.

“The interior of the National Theatre will be redesigned and renovated into a modern duty-free and retail shopping mall. The project will convert approximately 30,000m2 of the existing space in two 15,000m2 phases,” said Kabir Yaradua, CEO of the National theatre.

The report continues: “The National Theatre has been the hub of cultural activities in Nigeria since 1976, and this will kick-start a master re-development programme for this area.”
The report quoted Ambassador of Nigeria to the UAE, His Excellency Bashir Yuguda, as saying: “The National Theatre has been the hub of cultural activities in Nigeria since its establishment in 1976, and this development will compliment and kick-start a master re-development programme designed for this area.”

The National Arts Theatre was originally built for the Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977, and later underwent a controversial privatisation after 2001 under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Fresh plans further anticipate leasing the land around the theatre in a 30-year concession.
Minister of Tourism, HE Edem Duke, noted: “As part of the continuous drive to promote culture and tourism, the federal government is making necessary arrangements to transform the land into a modern mixed-use commercial and business hub of global standards.”

Arif Hafiz, Managing Director of Suzanne Group, praised the “milestone contract” Mulk Holdings as “one of the major global business groups in the UAE”, while Shaji Ul Mulk, chairman, Mulk Holdings, elaborating on the details of the project, noted that is expected to be completed in 2016.
“Mulk Holdings is adopting aggressive strategies to expand its core business, involving serious investment into existing businesses and diversification into sustainable industries,” Ul Mulk added.
According to a report by audit firm Ernst&Young, Africa’s retail and consumer sector received about 17% of all foreign direct investment that came into the continent in 2013.

Mulk Holdings and its joint venture partners own and manage a group of 20 companies with a sector focus on construction and fit-out manufacturing, as well as diversified business interests in trading, commodities, real estate and energy, spread across 48 countries.

Based in Dubai, the Suzanne Group caters to duty free shopping outlets in international airports and seaports, and is a registered supplier of services to the offices of the United Nations.
Though the theatre had been a victim of public sector incompetence, its final descent into the ignoble hall of shame of failed public institutions started in 2001 when the Obasanjo civilian government served notice of its intent to privatize the monument. Converting a public institution into a successful private enterprise has never captured the fancy of Nigerians. Many of such previous attempts at privatization of public institutions have failed and the case of the National Theatre was not different. Between 2001 and now, the theatre has remained a mere ball for government ping-ponging. It is yet to be sold or concessioned, worst still the federal government which is the original owner of the facility is behaving as though it is the least of its worries: unserious.

A staff of the theatre told our correspondent that the employees are more confused than anybody. ”We don’t know our fate. Today we hear they want to privatize it and build a 5-star hotel here, tomorrow we hear a different story. This is confusing and it is affecting our morale and commitment because nobody, not even our senior staff can say categorically that this is the true situation of things.
“We believe the management of the theatre is doing this deliberately to give the impression that the theatre cannot function effectively if left in the hand of government. We believe it is a cheap way to arm-twist government to sell the national pride. But some of us have travelled far and wide and we have seen equivalent institutions in other countries being managed by the public sector and they are efficient”.
Political Economist investigation showed that the theatre has become a victim of power play orchestrated by the Tourism Minister, Edem Duke, in concert with the General Manager of the Theatre, Mallam Kabiru Yar’Adua both of whom, stakeholders allege, are intent on disposing of the national monument for peanuts. The Theatre, they argue, was set up by a decree just like the National Troupe and other parastatals of the Ministry of Tourism and they see no reason why it should be sold off on the whims of a minister and a manager. They cited the case of the United States where certain monuments are still held in custody of government.
For instance, the United States government enacted a law in 1846 to support and preserve the Smithsonian Institution and its 19 museums across the country. In UK, the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company are publicly funded theatre outlets and they are still relevant till this day. The case of the National Theatre cannot be an exception, they warned.
The National Theatre has been a victim of government policy flip-flop. The BPE commenced the concession transaction of the National Theatre in 2001 following the conclusion of World Bank-financed diagnostic study and Transaction Advisory service in line with international best practices. The first concession transaction in 2001 led to the pre-qualification of the following prospective concessionaires:

1. Jadeas Trust Consortium, and
2. Lloyd Anderson Investment Limited.

In January 2003, the pre-qualified concessionaires conducted data room and physical due diligence. The transaction was stalled, however, owing to the inability of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to provide relevant documents such as Power of Attorney as well as building and floor plans of the National Theatre.
The BPE did another concession transaction of National Theatre in 2006. Eight Consortia responded when the Bureau advertised for Expressions of Interest. This led to the financial bid opening on May 17, 2007 where Infrastructica Consortium emerged as the Preferred Bidder with a bid price of ₦35, 560, 000,000 and Jadeas Trust Limited as the Reserved Bidder with an offer of ₦28, 902,948,593.23.
Following the approval of the results of the financial bid by the NCP, an offer letter was sent to the Preferred Bidder on May 18, 2007 and a timetable to complete the concession agreement by May 28, 2007 was drawn. Unfortunately, the Preferred Bidder, Infrastructica Consortium, failed to meet the terms of the offer, leading to the termination of the offer. The Reserved Bidder, Jadeas Trust, was thereafter invited for negotiation to pay for the enterprise.

However, the process to conclude the transaction with Jadeas Trust was stalled.
The NCP at its first meeting on January 22, 2013 approved the resumption of the concession transaction by the BPE with a view to bringing it to conclusion. The BPE has consequently invited the reserve bidder, Jadeas Trust Consortium with the offer of N28,902,948,593.23 to present a revised technical and financial proposal. The N28.9 billion bid offer, which is not yet concluded as it will form part of the renegotiation with Jedeas Trust, comprises both Entry fee and yearly lease fees to be paid over a 35-year period. This is different from the investment capital to be based on approved Post Concession Business Development Plan from which the Concessionaire is to recoup its investment and return the enterprise to the Government after 35 years in the event that the concession is not renewed.

The NCP, in line with its practice to carry along ministries whose enterprises are being privatized/concession, also approved that the BPE should invite the Honourable Minister of Tourism & Culture to participate in the NCP’s technical sub-committee that will evaluate the proposal of Jadeas Trust.

Jadeas Trust Consortium has submitted a revised Technical and Financial proposal to BPE. In accordance with NCP’s decision, the BPE has written the Ministry and the Management of National Theatre to send two nominees each to join the evaluation committee that will assess Jadeas Trust Consortium’s Technical and Financial proposal.

The BPE is awaiting the response of both the Ministry and Management of National Theatre for the evaluation of the Technical and Financial proposal to begin in earnest. The result of the evaluation team will be presented to, first the Technical Committee of NCP for consideration before the Technical Committee presents its recommendations to the NCP for approval or further directive.

At the Federal Executive Council’s meeting (FEC) held on Wednesday June 26, 2013 an Inter-ministerial Cabinet Committee was set up to consider the parallel concession transactions being carried out by the BPE and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.
With the new development being spearheaded secretly by the minister, it is not clear what has become of the earlier concessioning arrangement and the status of Jadeas Trust.

Culled from NTA news blog

Wale Gates reacts to VP Sambo’s claim that he lost certificates to fire

Comedian Wale Gates has described claim by PDP vice presidential candidate, Namadi Sambo’s that he lost his certificates to fire as the greatest worst joke of 2014. Namadi Sambo had told Independent National Electoral Commission that his Bachelors and Masters degrees certificates in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was consumed by fire, and had submitted a letter signed by one Alhassan Garba addressed to INEC as an alternative.

Culled from My celebrity andI

Here comes Chief Genevieve Nnaji

Genevieve has been honored as the ‘Eze Ada of Amuzu Nweafor in Mbaise, Imo State. She just shared the great news saying
“STOP#letmeReintroducemyself Chief G.N (MFR) #EzeAda of #AmuzuNweafor #NwaanyiMbaise ”

      Congrats Chief

Photos: A young Angelina Jolie poses topless in old unseen photos

  These pictures  of  young Angelina Jolie posing topless in previously unseen photos was taken many years ago to promote a movie. That was  in 1995 when Angelina was just 19 years old. Hmmn the idea of topless pictures of celebrity has been long in existence

Culled from Splash News

AirAsia Flight From Indonesia to Singapore With 162 Onboard Goes Missing

The Singapore airport said on its website the status of the flight was "delayed". (Reuters Photo)

Jakarta:  An AirAsia flight carrying 162 people from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday, officials in the region and the budget carrier said.

Flight QZ 8501, an Airbus 320-200, lost contact with the Jakarta air traffic control tower at 6:17 a.m. (2317 GMT), Indonesian Transport Ministry official Hadi Mustofa told media.

It had 155 passengers and crew on board, another Indonesian Transport official said.

Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia confirmed its flight had lost contact with air traffic control and said a search-and-rescue operation had been launched.

Mustofa said the plane had asked for an unusual route before it lost contact.

Indonesian media said 149 Indonesians, three people from Korea, and one each from Singapore, Britain and Malaysia were on board.

The flight had been due in Singapore at 8:30 a.m. Singapore time (0030 GMT). The Singapore airport said on its website the status of the flight was "delayed".

The incident comes at the end of a disastrous year for Malaysia's airlines.

National flag carrier Malaysia Airlines lost two aircraft this year.

Its flight MH370 went missing on March 8 on a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board.

On July 17, Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

Culled from Reuters

Music's Winners Of 2014: Taylor Swift, Dr. Dre, U.K. -Zack O'Malley Greenburg,

Recently, Taylor Swift found herself celebrating her 25th birthday in grand fashion: by closing out the annual z100 Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden in front of nearly 20,000 people, including Sam Smith, Iggy Azalea and Calvin Harris. They're all among the music industry's big winners of 2014. 

Culled from Forbes

Toke Makinwa Shares her Amazing 2014 Testimony

There is no doubt Toke Makinwa has had a great year.She got married, her career took off, and her fashion choices are worth commending.She just shared her testimony ‘
Good morning….. As the year is slowly coming to an end, I can’t help but look back on 2014. It has been such an eye opening year. I learnt so much, right from the start and my biggest lesson this year is Change. I saw things change in the twinkle of an eye, God proved himself as my miracle worker, my destiny changer… I met YAWEH. The miracle working God. There were times I didn’t know where help would come from, those times I felt like giving up, God kept me. Thankful, blessed, grown, I’m ready for 2015.
Grateful to all the wonderful people I got to work with this year, the people I got to know better, those who showed me favour, the ones that tried to hurt me but blessed me in the process and all the prayers and kind words from strangers that I call friends. May God give us 2015 and many more years to come.

Culled from My celebrity and i

Xmas: Kaduna Christians, Muslims worship together -Noah Ebije

In an effort to maintain and sustain peaceful co-existence irrespective of religious and ethnic differences, Christians and Muslims in Kaduna yesterday seized the opportunity of Christmas celebration to worship together in a church.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, Head of Christ Evangelical Church, invited members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Kaduna zone, to celebrate the Christmas with members of his church.
Responding on behalf of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Dr. Shu’aibu Musa extended a goodwill message from the Leader of the movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky to the Christian faithful at Christmas, and called for more collaboration to rid the society of religious extremism.
Both Muslims and Christians, he said, were equally oppressed and therefore had a common enemy. He called for closer ties to salvage the society.
However, in his sermon, Pastor Buru said: “Every man and every society expect a saviour at the end of time. Both Muslims and Christians have always been waiting for saviours in the names of Imam Mahdi (AF) and Jesus Christ respectively.
The Christian cleric also pointed out that there was no dispute between Christian and Islamic books on the re-appearance of their two great men at the end of time.
He added: “Until their imminent re-emergence, no politician can salvage this society from its predicament. This is why we celebrate Christmas, we rejoice in anticipation of saviours of the society,” reading from Luke 2: 1-7 to buttress his point, he lamented the senseless killing of innocent people on the basis of religion, saying in reality, people were from the same root and lineage.
He urged Muslims and Christians to reconcile and forgive one another before the re-emergence of the awaited saviours. “If we don’t reconcile now, I live to see how we can be salvaged by Imam Mahdi and Jesus Christ. Though, I am sure Imam Mahdi and Jesus Christ will reconcile us, it is better that we do it now. They are the melting point, so let us please live in peace with one another.”
The presence of Muslims in his church on Christmas Day, he said, should not be out of place, explaining that it was to celebrate and anticipate the re-emergence of the awaited saviours both religions professed. “We call you here not as guests, but as brothers and neighbours,” he stated.
Highlights of the occasion were special song by Malam Rabi’u Tudun Iya on peaceful co-existence, songs of praise and feast.

Culled from the sun

Lagos seals Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Infinity Television over tax evasion

A Lagos-based broadcasting station, Infinity Television has been sealed off by officials of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), for owing the state government tax running into millions of naira.
The station, a Direct to Home, is owned by the founder of Believers Love World Ministry, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and located at 16, Moyibat Oyefusi Street, Omole Phase 1, Lagos.The attention of Lagos government was drawn to Infinity Television following the protest staged by workers of the TV station on Tuesday over non-payment of 10 months salaries and non-remittance of their Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax to the appropriate authorities.
Officials of the LIRS stormed the premises of the company yesterday, shut it down and placed a notice on the gate after locking it.
Meanwhile, the workers have threatened to protest to Christ Embassy Church on Oregun Road at the Crossover Night on 31st December, 2014 to demand the payment of their entitlements.
They alleged that the management of the company is planning to lay them off without paying the arrears of their salaries.
“Prior to this time, the staff had been receiving half salaries (for over a year) and by June 2014, salaries have not been paid to date. To worsen the case, the staff were barred from entering the office premises by the chief operating officer, Mr Henry Kifordu,” one said.
“All efforts by the staff to meet with the management proved abortive. Staff taxes and pensions have been deducted for years and were never remitted to appropriate authorities. Infinity TV was finally locked up for tax evasion on 23rd December.”

culled from my celebrity and i

MERRY XMAS

 

Merry Xmas and a prosperous New year, may the blessings of God , through our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and your family.  Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Chioma odunze.com

ACTRESS MERCY JOHNSON LAUDS NIGERIAN EMBASSY

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, lauds the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC after she was well attended to with so much love.
The actress who was shocked at the warm reception disclosed that she was unaware that some good people still existed.
Her social media platform reads “Good morning peeps, again I visited the Nigerian embassy at Washington DC and got great love. Yeah, thanks to all the embassy staffs in DC, am humbled. It’s our month of thanksgiving peeps. thanks again for all the love.”

Culled from My celebrity and i

U.S. retailers likely to just meet holiday sales forecasts: experts-Nandita Bose

Shoppers browse at Marbles: The Brain Store within The Court, King of Prussia Mall, United State's largest retail shopping space, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania in this file photo taken December 6, 2014. REUTERS/Mark Makela/Files

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. consumers have not turned out in force for the final shopping days before Christmas, suggesting that traditional retailers will just meet industry sales forecasts in a season marked by deep discounts and growing encroachment from online rivals led by Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O).
Super Saturday - the last pre-Christmas Saturday, which fell on Dec. 20 this year - failed to make up for spotty performance this season. That included a disappointing Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
"The past weekend will not save this holiday season," said Craig Johnson, president of the retail and consumer product-oriented private equity fund Customer Growth Partners. "But combined with online sales, it would certainly save the year from being a dismal one."    
Johnson said if sales hold up in the next few days and the week after Christmas, retailers may finish close to his company's November and December forecast of 3.4 percent growth in store and online sales. He estimates that Super Saturday weekend sales, which include store and online, rose 2.5 percent to $42 billion this year.
The National Retail Federation (NRF), the leading industry trade body, forecast a 4.1 percent rise in holiday sales this year, including online and store sales. The NRF is hoping to meet its expectations amid falling gasoline prices, lower U.S. unemployment and consumer spending which showed signs of increasing during the first two weeks of December.
Promotions heated up in the past five days but that did not boost store traffic materially, said Keith Jelinek, senior managing director of FTI Consulting.
Most retailers offered an additional 20 to 30 percent off on top of 30 to 40 percent discounts on a wide range of products, Reuters found during a series of visits to three dozen stores in Chicago over the weekend.
Best-sellers during the season included Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iPhone 6, toys based on the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) animated movie "Frozen," and winter clothing such as coats from retailers like Macy’s Inc (M.N) after a cold spell last month.
Home appliances including mixers, coffee makers and food processors from chains like Home Depot Inc (HD.N), Lowe’s Companies Inc (LOW.N) JC Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) and Target Corp (TGT.N) were also particularly popular, industry-watchers said.
WEAKER TRAFFIC
Super Saturday sales rose 0.5 percent to $9.15 billion from $9.1 billion a year ago, according to early estimates by ShopperTrak, which surveys spending at brick-and-mortar stores. This fell short of the firm's $10 billion sales forecast for the day, founder Bill Martin told Reuters.
Analytics firm RetailNext, which tracks specialty stores and large footprint retailers, said sales dropped 8.9 percent over the weekend versus a year ago, and store traffic dipped 10.2 percent. However, customers who did hit the stores spent more. Specialty stores in the United States include chains like Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) and large footprint retailers include Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) and Target.
"Even with this drop in growth, Super Saturday was still better compared to Black Friday," said Shelley Kohan, vice president of retail consulting at RetailNext. "It generated a tad more in terms of sales on slightly less traffic."
Promotions earlier in November took a toll on in-store sales during the Thanksgiving weekend, when total spending fell by 11 percent from a year earlier.
Highly discounted categories like consumer electronics and home improvement, which have had a strong season this year, continued to do well on Super Saturday.
The apparel segment, which has had one of its worst years, also picked up momentum, although not enough to offset slower growth in the past two months.
Experts including Craig Johnson said the growth in apparel is occurring on the back of heavily discounted pricing, so margins this year will be weak in most of the category.
FTI Consulting's Jelinek pointed to a jump in online shopping this past weekend which, he said, will bring relief to retailers with physical stores who also have an online presence.

"The majority of retailers will be flat to negative in their bricks and mortar business but their online sales will show significant double-digit increases. This should boost the overall sales number."

(Additional reporting by Samantha Sunne in New York; editing by Michele Gershberg and Matthew Lewis)

Culled from Reuters

Here Are The Top Issues That Shaped Nigeria In 2014

In whatever slant, year 2014 was shaped by defining moments, as captured by THISDAY politics desk.

Since the January 1, 2012 subsidy removal on petrol, which was followed by nearly two weeks of crippling protest by the mass of the Nigerian people, no other year has had the rare privilege of remarkably standing out. Also since that experience, which a few persons thought was ill-advised, the following years had barely started on promising notes.

The outgoing year was not different either. There was nothing that the year kicked off with to stand it out from the preceding year or indicate that it would usher in a better year.

Save for a few moments that are rather insignificant when situated within the larger context – the outgoing year has recorded more lows than highs, even as it continues to record more of such lows in its last days. For refreshers, some of the low and high points of the year are reviewed below:

The Chibok Fix
Nigerians and indeed the world woke up on April 14, to the shocking news of the abduction of 276 female students at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. The Boko Haram terrorist organisation which operates from the northeastern part of the country soon claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Since then, nothing has changed in the plight of the girls except for the few who escaped from their abductors. Although on October 17, hopes were raised that the girls might be released after the Nigerian army announced a truce between Boko Haram and government forces. The announcement coincided with the six-month anniversary of the girls' capture and followed a month of negotiations mediated in Saudi Arabia by the Chadian President, Idriss Deby. It later turned out a ruse and the girls, from all indications, are spending their Christmas and New Year in captivity.

Nyako’s Impeachment
Former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako was impeached by the State House of Assembly, while his then deputy, James Ngilari voluntarily resigned before the assembly could impeach him along with Nyako. The Assembly accused Nyako of stealing the state funds amongst other allegations.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Umaru Fintiri was immediately sworn in as the acting governor. But Ngilari asked to be sworn in as the substantive governor of the state following the impeachment of Nyako arguing that he did not resign his position as reported and therefore headed to court to declare his purported resignation illegal even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed the election of a new governor for October 11, 2014.

However, on October 7, a new twist was introduced into the Adamawa spectre as just three days to the bye-election the court delivered judgment in the case filed by Ngilari and sacked Fintiri. It immediately declared Ngilari governor. In his ruling, Justice Adeniji said Ngilari did not resign in accordance with Section 306 (1) (2) and (5) of the Constitution.

Ekiti and Osun Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission conducted governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States on June 21 and August 9 respectively. In Ekiti, the result of the election shocked bookmakers as the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi was defeated by former governor Ayo Fayose. However, in Osun State, the incumbent, Rauf Aregbesola survived the opposition onslaught as he defeated his closest rival, the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

In Ekiti, Fayose, according to the electoral body, scored 203, 090 votes to beat Fayemi, who scored 120, 433 votes. Candidate of the Labour Party, Bamidele Michael Opeyemi scored 18,135 votes to come third. In the Osun election, Aregbesola won by a very comfortable margin to secure a second term. His main opponent, Omisore polled 292, 747 votes as against Aregbesola’s 394, 684 votes.
The Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the return of Fayose. But the Osun case is yet to be concluded.

Taraba’s Lingering Drama
Taraba is one of the few states with interesting political developments. Since its governor, Danbaba Suntai survived a plane crash but yet to fully recover, the state has fought battles on different fronts. But a temporary relief came on November 20, when the Supreme Court sacked the acting governor of the state, Garba Umar and reinstated the former deputy governor, Alhaji Sanni Danladi, who was impeached by the Assembly sometime in October, 2012.

In a unanimous judgment, the court held that the impeachment panel set up by the House of Assembly to investigate the allegations against Danladi violated his rights to fair hearing, noting that the panel failed to hear Danladi and snubbed his court papers, which he had served it challenging its composition.

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who delivered the lead judgment set aside the judgments of both the Court of Appeal and the Taraba State High Court, which had dismissed Danaladi’s suit.

Sanusi Emerges Kano Emir
Against the odds, former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was at the time suspended from office on June 8, emerged the new Emir of Kano. This however followed protests in parts of the state by those who were looking in a different direction. Sanusi, who by his appointment is the 14th Emir of Kano, took over from Ado Ibrahim, who died on the throne. As with most contests of this nature, Sanusi’s choice did not go down well with some Kano people, who had expected that the late Emir’s scion, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, would succeed his father.

Insecurity Continues
The unrelenting wave of terror attacks by Boko Haram has continued to heighten the insecurity in the country. With the incessant Bombings that have claimed many innocent lives as well as the abduction of over 200 Chibok School girls, the security situation in the country has continued to generate global concern, outrage and condemnation.

Against this backdrop, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a total war against terrorism, but it appears that the Boko Haram insurgency is unstoppable for now, thereby complicating the security challenges in Nigeria, including the militancy in the Niger Delta, incessant clashes between Fulani Herdsmen and Farmers in the North, ethnic and religious conflicts.

This does not preclude the ‘cold war’ among ethnic nationalities as well as all other forms of violent crimes, banditry, the thriving ‘area boys’ syndrome, gang conflicts, cult uprisings, kidnappings, abductions, robberies, murder/ ritual killings, incidents of mob attacks and lynching of suspected criminals, who sometimes are innocent citizens. Also, police brutality, extra judicial killings and other increasing cases of social vices have compounded the Nigerian security crisis.

The Gale of Defections
The outgoing year witnessed the largest defection of politicians from one party to the other in the contemporary political history of the country. All the political parties have had their own share of defections, either positive or negative. Some have attributed the defections to intimidation and lack of internal democracy in their party, others theirs to poor followership of their parties outside the shores of their region. But generally, many attributed the defections to the level of desperation by politicians in pursuing their ambition. From August till date, the polity has witnessed series of defection that kept mouth wagging.

Some of the prominent defections include the former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who moved from PDP to APC; five governors – Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, Ahmed of Kwara State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State defected from their parties to APC, while Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State also defected from the Labour Party to PDP.

The immediate past governor of Anambra State, Dr. Peter Obi, defected to the ruling PDP. Those who defected along with Obi are Hon Uche Ekwunife, with other APGA House of Representatives members.

Chief Tom Ikim and the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, left the PDP in August this year, citing the pursuit of a “good cause”.

Recently in the House of Representatives, PDP and APC lost five members each. In Oyo State, former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala defected to the Labour Party, while Oluseyi Makinde another PDP aspirant defected to SDP. In Ogun State, APC leader Chief Olusegun Osoba along with Senators, members of the House of Representatives, State Assembly members and Commissioners from the state defected to SDP.

APC Gains Stability
The country’s main opposition party, the APC seemed to have found its rhythm as the party successfully held three conventions. The first was where party officers at the national, state and council levels were elected. The party, at another convention, amended some of its constitutional provisions while it crowned its successful outings with the election of its governorship, state, National Assemblies and presidential standard bearers.

PDP’s Coronation of Jonathan
Unlike the opposition APC, the ruling PDP at its national convention at the Eagles Square adopted President Jonathan as its sole candidate for the February 14 election. The convention also affirmed the choice of Namadi Sambo as his running mate, contrary to fuelled speculations that he might be dropped at the end of the day for political exigencies.

Al-Makura Survives Impeachment
In an attempt to increase its chances in the 2015 presidential election, the PDP was believed to have instigated impeachment in states where the governors were in the opposition APC and considered weak and take-able. An example was in Adamawa State where Murtala Nyako was an APC governor.

Having succeeded at impeaching Nyako, the PDP machine did try to impeach the Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura. But after several months of high wire political bickering, Al-Makura survived the impeachment threat. Although there were fresh moves to revisit the deal – that is yet to work – and the idea is believed to have been jettisoned now by the state lawmakers, who are rather preoccupied with seeking re-election.

National Conference
On the last day of the 2014 National Conference, following the adoption of votes and proceedings for the day, Chief Mike Ahamba, while seconding a motion moved by the Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha, recounted thus: “When we came here, nobody expected us to end this way…We have disappointed the sceptics.”

After several opposition especially from the APC Nigerians at last gathered at the National Conference in Abuja, which was inaugurated by President Jonathan on March 17, to dialogue on how to live as an entity. Although delegates to the conference maintained that it was a success, it remains to be seen what the National Assembly would do with the recommendations adopted by the conference.

Nigeria Turns 100
Nigeria, this year, turned 100 years since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by the British colonial government in 1914. The news was welcomed with mixed reactions. While the government celebrated it and even went ahead to design a new commemorative100 naira banknote to celebrate the milestone, some segment of the country continued to clamour for Nigeria’s disintegration.

The Illegal Arms Deal
Still reeling from the disgrace of failing to rescue the Chibok girls in the eyes of the international community, Nigeria was again ridiculed, this time by the South African Government. Some $9.3 million in cash allegedly belonging to the Nigeria government and reported at the time to have been transported by “two Nigerians and an Israeli” for arms purchase, was seized by the South African Government.

Nearly three weeks after, another $5.7 million, was also confiscated. According to South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority, the monies were seized for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal transactions. In its defence, the Nigerian government said the monies were meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service. The South African Government has since returned the money to the Nigerian government.

The Missing Money
As the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, first made the allegation of missing money through a letter to President Jonathan sometime in 2013. The ensuing allegation and counter-allegation followed into 2014. In 2013, it was first that $49.8bn being part of the proceeds of crude exported by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), between January 2012 and July 2013, had yet to be remitted to the Federation Account.

When he was invited to the Senate to clarify the allegation, Sanusi said the reconciliation of accounts being carried out by the apex bank, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Finance had shown that only $12bn was yet to be reconciled instead of the $49.8bn he claimed was missing from the Federation Account. By 2014, he said it was $20 billion that was missing. Although he was unsure of the exact amount that was missing, by the time he was sacked from office, he maintained that some money remained missing from the federation account.

Phantom Peace Deal
The federal government was taking for a ride another ignoble time. Failing to learn from previous experiences, the government was sold a lie by some group of persons. Eager to bring to an end the attacks by the terrorist group – Boko Haram – Nigeria was deceived into believing that the government of Chad had brokered a peace deal with the terrorists, who were alleged to have promised to release the Chibok girls for their members in a prison swap.

Days, weeks and months have passed and there are no signs of the Chibok girls, neither has there been a ceasefire by the Boko Haram sect. It followed that the persons claiming to have been negotiating on behalf of the terrorists were not members of the group, but imposters bent on defrauding a desperate Nigerian government which desires the return of the missing girls.

Nigerians Get PVC
It was not all bad news. In fulfilment of President Jonathan’s promise that Nigeria would begin to witness one-man-one-vote during elections, the INEC succeeded in making available Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). Even though the exercise was partly dogged by a little controversy, it has largely been successful.
It is based on this that the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at an event in Lagos dispelled the allegation that elections won’t hold next year.

“A lot of the information being spread about elections not holding next year is just rumours and nothing more. What I can guarantee you is that INEC as an electoral body is prepared to conduct the elections in every part of the country,” Jega said, while reiterating the Commission’s earlier promises to conduct a free and fair general election in 2015.

Failed Foreign Help on Terrorism
When the Chibok girls were kidnapped sometime in April by the Boko Haram sect, to many Nigerians, that was the last their families would see or hear from them. The willingness of some countries to assist the Nigerian government in the rescue of the over 200 girls was a relief for the grieving families, at least for a while.

The United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, China Canada, Iran, and Israel, and the European Union (EU), were the countries and international organisation that did make effort in assisting the Nigerian authorities. This is aside the massive solidarity that poured in from countries and notable international personalities.

These countries sent teams of military and law enforcement experts, whose specialties included intelligence, investigations, hostage negotiation, and information sharing and victim assistance. All of these notwithstanding, the girls remain missing till the time of this year end review.

Immigration Job Stampede
It was one of the very sad news of 2014. On March 15, the employment test for recruitment into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) conducted across the country turned out a disaster as stampede at three centres claimed the lives of 16 applicants and left scores injured. While eight people were feared dead during a stampede at the National Stadium, Abuja, five others lost their lives at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, and then another three applicants were also feared dead in Minna.

Nationwide criticism later trailed the action of the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who was pressured to resign or be sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan. Moro was criticised for accusing the applicants of being impatient and causing their own death. The president, it was reported, was under pressure to save Moro’s job. Moro is still a member of the cabinet.

Tambuwal Alters the Equation
If there was ever a time that the ruling PDP was caught in the illusion that it remained the most powerful political party in Africa, that fantasy was questioned with the controversial defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to the APC.
Tambuwal, with his defection, altered the political equation and made the PDP question the shaky foundation upon with they stand. Although the APC even with Tambuwal’s defection still does not have the majority to effect any change in the House, Tambuwal’s action which is a plus for the opposition has managed to put the PDP on its feet.

 

Culled from thisdsy in olu famous

Fayose line up Police Officers for rice & chicken Distribution-olu famous

I think this stomach infrastructure issue is attaining a ridiculous height but sadly, there is too much hunger in the land and nobody is ready to say the truth. Why on earth will a governor line up police officers for such a ridiculous parade? Why not even give it to their boss to share for his men? In fact, it is an offence, from what I know in Police Act, for a policeman to collect gifts from a civilian openly.

These police officers won't be able act reasonable again with this "gift". See more photos:

Beyonce’s dad goes broke; resorts to selling her old pictures,Dvd’s & souvenirs

After being fired by Beyonce in 2011,having two children out of wedlock,Mattew Knowles is now so broke he had to sale some of  Beyonce’s old tour souvenirs and Destiny’s Child band memorabilia over the weekend,
The father-of-four needs the money to pay for the two young love children he allegedly  fathered. He sold  posters, DVDs, tour T-shirts and as at  Monday, Mathew was still selling bins of old things including ‘a giant Beyonce poster for $200, old tour books for $20 and various pieces of House of Dereon clothing,’
Solange’s album, sold for much less at $1.96.

Culled from TMZ

North Korea experiencing severe Internet outages-Eric Tucker

Severe Internet connectivity problems seen in North Korea in wake of Sony hacking attack

North Korea experiencing severe Internet outages

 \

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- North Korea experienced sweeping Internet outages for hours before coming back online late Monday. One computer expert said the country's online access was "totally down."

The White House and the State Department declined to say whether the U.S. government was responsible.
President Barack Obama said Friday the U.S. government expected to respond to the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., which he described as an expensive act of "cyber vandalism" that he blamed on North Korea. Obama did not say how the U.S. might respond, and it was not immediately clear if the Internet connectivity problems represented the retribution. The U.S. government regards its offensive cyber operations as highly classified.
"We aren't going to discuss, you know, publicly operational details about the possible response options or comment on those kind of reports in anyway except to say that as we implement our responses, some will be seen, some may not be seen," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
North Korea has forcefully denied it was responsible for hacking into Sony. But the country has for months condemned the "The Interview," a Sony satirical comedy about a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader. Sony canceled plans to release the movie after a group of hackers made terroristic threats against theaters that planned to show it.

 

North Korea is one of the least connected countries in the world. Few North Koreans have access to computers, and even those who do are typically able to connect only to a domestic intranet. Though North Korea is equipped for broadband Internet, only a small, approved segment of the population has any access to the World Wide Web. More than a million people, however, are now using mobile phones in North Korea. The network covers most major cities but users cannot call outside the country or receive calls from outside.
North Korean diplomat Kim Song, asked Monday about the Internet attack, told The Associated Press: "I have no information."
Ivan Simonovic, the U.N. assistant secretary-general for human rights, told reporters he didn't want to speculate about the nature of the Internet outages but said he hoped it would be "thoroughly investigated."
Doug Madory, the director of Internet analysis at Dyn Research, an Internet performance company, said Monday the problems began over the weekend and grew progressively worse to the point that "North Korea's totally down."
South Korean officials said early Tuesday in Seoul that Internet access to the North's official Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun newspaper were working normally again.

 

A South Korean army soldier walks near a TV screen showing an advertisement of Sony Picture's &q …

Another Internet technology service, Arbor Networks, which protects companies against hacker attacks, said its monitoring detected denial-of-service attacks aimed at North Korea's infrastructure starting Saturday and persisting Monday. Such attacks transmit so much spurious data traffic to Internet equipment that it becomes overwhelmed, until the attacks stop or the spurious traffic can be filtered and discarded to allow normal connections to resume.
Given North Korea's limited connectivity and lack of Internet sophistication, it would be relatively simple for a band of hacktivists to shut down online access, and it should not be assumed that the U.S. government had any part, said Dan Holden, director of security research at Arbor Networks.

"Anyone of us that was upset because we couldn't watch the movie, you could do that. Their Internet is just not that sophisticated," Holden said.

Madory said one benign explanation for the problem might be that a router suffered a software glitch, though a cyber-attack involving North Korea's Internet service was also a possibility. Routing instabilities are not uncommon, but instead of getting better, as one might expect, "it's getting worse, getting progressively degraded," Madory said.

"This doesn't fit that profile," of an ordinary routing problem, he said. "This shows something getting progressively worse over time."

Culled from AP

Dakore Akande so lovely in her Christmas Pictures

In the spirit of Christmas, Dakore shared her lovely picture. Is she not a beautiful woman. Enjoy..............

Buhari a Semi-illiterate? See His Full Educational Qualifications

A Rejoinder to 'Semi-Illiterate' PDP Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo by Dr. M.K. Hassan
I was shocked to read a press statement from Wadata Plaza issued by a so called Professor Wale Oladipo, secretary of the PDP, saying that General Muhammadu Buhari is a semi illiterate jackboot. It is no wonder that our education system has fallen so low, else how can one explain a professor making such a statement? How did Wale Oladipo become a professor to start with? It is quite astonishing that he can say this. The professor doesn’t seem to understand the basic rudiments of learning and what it means for one to be literate or not.

Buhari attended the best military schools in the world. In case the professor doesn’t know, Buhari graduated as a military officer (Lieutenant) in Royal Military Academy, Aldeshot UK. He attended the Defense College India. Col Buhari attended the US Army War College Carlisle in Pennsylvania from 1979 -1980 and earned his command as a Brigadier General. The respected General Collin Powel attended the same school in 1976 to become Brigadier General. Some of Buhari’s classmates include General Beltson, General Thomas P Carney, General Bill Matz, General David E.K. Cooper etc. all of them are alive and can be reached and they will give glowing tributes of the man, Buhari, they know as their classmate.

The curriculum at the U.S. Army War College earns one a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies and that is what Buhari has.

Anyone interested in verifying Buhari’s academic credentials can write the school instead of reading jargon from a deranged Wadata Plaza Professor of Politics of Destruction Party (PDP). I have checked Google Scholar hoping that Prof. Wale Oladipo’s name and publications will show up and nothing is showing up, that says a lot about him as a Professor than Buhari as a retired decorated General who served his country so well and has not claimed any scholarship.

For somebody to claim that a graduate of such a prestigious school is semi-illiterate, means something is very wrong with that person’s brain. By all academic and military standards, Buhari’s education is superb and the best any general can get in the world. Therefore, for Wale Oladipo to claim Buhari is semi-illiterate speaks volumes about his understanding of what education is even all about. The unlearned professor thinks education is about earning paper degrees only, and even if it was the case, Buhari has them from the most respected military institutions in the world.

General Muhammadu Buhari has the kind of military strategic education and experience to deal a decisive blow on Boko Haram and end the insecurity challenges facing Nigeria. Buhari is the only army officer with the opportunity to command 3 out of 4 Nigeria’s army divisions as a GOC.

In 1983, when rebels from Chad took over our land, seizing more than 19 villages (much like what the Boko Haram is doing now), Major General Buhari led a successful operation as the GOC to push back the Chadian rebels and reclaim our territory.

In 1984, when the Maitatsine sect decided to declare war on Nigeria like what Boko Haram is doing now, Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari wasted no time in crushing them. Boko Haram is a descendant of the Maitatsine sect with the same extremist ideology and anti-western education philosophy. It is surely President Buhari that will be able to handle them: eliminating these terrorists when he comes to power like he did before. Muhammadu Buhari as a captain fought in the Congo Civil War and won the Congo Medal. He was there during our civil war to bring peace and keep Nigeria one. That is true patriot: a man that gave his life to another country not only his fatherland.

Since the goons in Wadata Plaza have started the literacy debate, it is very appropriate to ask them that they produce Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Ph.D thesis and publications in renowned journals. Goodluck’s speeches, attitude, and interviews with international media don’t portray him as a Ph.D holder. His past interview with Christiane Amanpour was quite embarrassing; he couldn’t even make eye contact with her. Nigerians are eager to read his thesis and publications.

In conclusion, it is obvious to all Nigerians that the PDP government and its illiterate professor are only interested in playing dirty politics with the lives and properties of Nigerians. Nigerians now need Buhari, a man with international military education and experience, a seasoned administrator with zero tolerance for corruption to end this insecurity, bring prosperity, and place Nigeria at the seat it deserves in the comity of nations.

Dr. MK Hassan writes in from Washington D.C.

 

Culled from Olu famous

You Are Too CLEAN To Be Buhari’s Vice: Fani Kayode to Osinbajo

Femi Fani Kayode has written an open letter to Yemi Osinbajo who has been picked as Buhari’s running mate in 2015. According to Mr Fani, Yemi Osinbajo is a learned ma who shouldn’t be in the same party with the likes of Buhari, talk less of being his running mate in the presidential race. What has light got to do with darkness? These and many more where the questions Fani asked Osinbajo in this open letter. Please read after the cut.
“I am glad that the APC eventually took my advice and saw the wisdom in not fielding a muslim/muslim ticket for the 2015 Presidential election even though I hear that, right up till the last minute, they almost did.
I congratulate my friend and brother Professor Yemi Osinbajo on his nomination as the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and running mate to General Muhammadu Buhari.
I have known Yemi for a number of years and I must say that he is not only a very pleasant and civilised person with a warm and gentle disposition but he is also a cerebal lawyer with a brilliant mind. I have immense respect for him.
Yet sadly ever since I heard about his nomination and announcement as Buhari’s running mate I have felt nothing but sheer pity for him and a deep sense of pathos. My counsel and words for him are as follows:
Woe unto the children of light that secretly delight in darkness and that seek to thwart the counsel of God for their nation by joining hands with the sons of Boko and the daughters of Haram.
The bible says ”what fellowship is there between light and darkness?” It says ”what does God have to do with Belial?” It says ”what profiteth a man to gain the world and lose his soul?”.
A respected Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a devout and committed Christian and an intellectually-sound, well-bred and well educated Professor of Law accepts to be running mate to a closet fundamentalist, a bloodthirsty, cruel and murderous military dictator and a die-hard believer in the philosophy of ”born to rule”? This is serious.
A gifted servant of God who is a favored spiritual son of Rev. Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God has jumped into bed with one of the most notorious troublers of the faith and one of the most consistent enemies of democracy and Nigeria? This is very sad.
Rev. Enoch Adeboye is undoubtedly one of God’s greatest and most respected generals on the planet and one of the Church’s most humble and best-loved precious gems, yet one of his spiritual sons has surely let him, and indeed the Kingdom of God, down by choosing to play ”man Friday” and second fiddle to an individual that represents everything that is troubling, unsettling and repugnant to the modern world and to the 21st century? What a tragedy.
A learned Professor of Law and a senior member of the Nigerian bar who is the leading authority on the law of evidence and who has written numerous books on that topic chooses to play number two to a man that failed all his exams at military college and that never went to a decent school or to any university? Jumping Jehoshaphat.
It is only in Nigeria that this sort of thing can happen. Poor Yemi. Look at what the Haramites have done to him and look at what they have reduced him to. Is there anything that these creatures from hell will not do?
Is there anyone that they will not use and is there any norm that they will not defile, pervert, debase, violate and corrupt in their ignoble quest for power and as a consequence of their insatiable lusts and manifest greed?
The truth is that each and everyone one of us, including my friend Yemi, will ultimately have to answer to God for the choices that we make and we must live with the consequences of those choices.
It is no wonder that the Redeemed Christian Church of God has disassociated itself from a false claim that the Church and, by implication, Rev. Adegboye himself, was supporting the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.
Thankfully they have come out to say clearly and categorically that this is not so. One can always trust Adegboye to do and say the right thing because he is a man that is truly ”after God’s heart”.
Yet the denial of an endorsement and tacit support from his Church is just the first of many shockers and unwelcome surprises that Yemi will be served with in the next few weeks. He will get shock after shock and surprise after surprise until the battle is over and circumstances compel him to go back to his very lucrative legal practice.
Yet before he does that he should learn a thing or two from one of his esteemed colleagues and yet another Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the courageous Pastor Bosun Emmanuel. Bosun said the following words in his famous sermon titled ‘The Nigerian Church’ which went viral just a few months ago.
He said, ”woe be unto any believer who joins hands with the enemies of God in an attempt to bury the Church and destroy the gospel”. This was a timely admonition and these are strong and wise words from a true servant of God who is under no illusion about what is going on in the politics of Nigeria and who is brave enough to say it as it is.
Yet whether we choose to heed Bosun’s words or not I am absolutely certain of one thing: those that have aligned with the servants of satan and the children of darkness and that seek to thwart God’s counsel for our nation shall not prevail.
Boko Haram abducted 185 women in Borno state on December 18th and they killed no less than 52 innocent people. Despite that some people are still supporting Buhari and his army of desperate Haramites? What a people, what a country.
Those that say that Buhari has changed simply because he chose a Pastor as his running mate are ignorant. Did he not have a Pastor as his running mate in his last outing in 2011? Did he not still say that it was his intention to ”spread sharia throughout the country” and that ”an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north”?
Did he not oppose a state of emergency in the north eastern states and say that it was unfair for the military to kill Boko Haram members? Did he not say that instead of killing them they should forgive them, pamper them and treat them in the same way that the Niger Delta militants were treated?
Did the spokesman of his party Alhaji Lai Mohammed not say that the proscription of Boko Haram by the Federal Government was ‘’unjust’’ and ‘’unconstitutional’’? How does the fact that Buhari has opted for a Christian running mate change any of these things?
In any case he only opted for a Christian running mate because he was compelled to do so as a consequence of the hue and cry that the prospect of a muslim/muslim ticket had already started to generate.
Are those that cite the fact that he has a Christian running mate as evidence of his new-found love for Christians aware of the fact that during the American civil war a small, ignorant, misguided and deluded group of negro slaves actually fought on the side of the southern confederate forces in an attempt to keep slavery in place?
Did that suggest that the leaders of the southern confederate ‘’secession’’ states suddenly changed their minds and fell in love with the blacks that they had enslaved and treated like animals?
Is Buhari’s claim of not being partial to his own hausa-fulani tribe not a little far-fetched? Did he not lead a northern delegation to Alhaji Lam Adesina, the late Governor of Oyo state, just a few years ago when some Fulani herdsmen were slaughtering Yoruba farmers on their own land and ask him ‘’why are YOUR people killing MY people?’’
Apparently Buhari believed that the aggressors that had invaded the land and farms of others and that killed all the occupants had a right to do so simply because they were fulani. Yet some people still claim that the man is not a tribalist.
Ignorance and lack of knowledge is a terrible affliction but in this context it is not only terrible but also very dangerous. Buhari’s choice of a Christian Pastor as his running mate means nothing and changes nothing about him or his entrenched views and ancient mindset.
It rather provides clear evidence of his sheer desperation to win power at all costs and it is a reflection of his obvious and deep-seated deceit. Let the truth be told even though the heavens may fall: Christian Vice President or no Christian Vice President, Buhari’s heart remains as dark as ever.
We shall meet him in the field: let God’s will be done.”

Culled from My celebrity and I

Married people all over the world are expected to behave with some degree of propriety, unless perhaps they’re Kim Kardashian — or Tiwa Savage.

People have been talking about Tiwa Savage’s style before and after she got married. The latest one happened last week after the singer twerked (again), rubbing herself on artiste, Patoranking at the Headies night.
It wasn’t the first time she’d be twerking on the young man – she did at the Channel O Awards in November when they both performed their collaborative effort, Girly O together. Then two months before, she performed at a gig in London wearing a bodysuit that many thought was plainly preposterous.
One entertainment blogger wrote after pictures from the London gig spread on blogs, “The diva is no doubt channelling her inner sexiness, but the pretty Mavin first lady has been serving constant sultriness almost to a point of obscenity these days! The rather obscene look [at the London gig] appeared tacky and did absolutely nothing for Tiwa’s shape.”
There’s no crime if an artiste is making news for twerking and “channelling her inner sexiness”, as that blogger put it. After all, Miley Cyrus and some others do that. But the thing is, Tiwa Savage is a dozen years older than Miley, and unlike Miley, she’s married.
Tiwa Savage didn’t start like this though. She already had an impressive beginning when she set up her music career in Lagos four years ago. She had done pretty well at X Factor UK, co-written internationally acclaimed songs, backed up for Mary J. Blige and George Michael and graduated from Berklee, a music school whose alumni have won a combined 229 Grammy awards. So she wasn’t just a pretty face with a sexy body. She was a talented singer with a lot of potential, and fans wanted to listen to her music, not look at her butt.
Today she’s grown famous and done really well for herself, but she’s also transformed herself from a promising singer to a sex symbol, building her brand on her erotic appeal rather than her singing ability.
The result is quite obvious. She’s produced only one album in four years. She hasn’t produced a single major hit without Don Jazzy ever. She may be getting awards, but considering the inspiring impression she made when she first surfaced, it looks like Tiwa Savage is not living up to her potential.
Patricia says, “Tiwa doesn’t have to bare her body to get to the top. She can sing, and she’s very likable. I feel she really needs to take another look at her brand and think about if all these years of scanty dressing and erotic gestures have actually paid off for her big time. Let’s face it. She’s not making any great music these days.”
Tiwa Savage is now 34 years old and she’s getting past her prime. Plus she seems to be in the middle of a torrid marriage.
Two months ago, news broke that she and her husband were fighting about cheating and physical abuse. It looked like the marriage was in trouble. A lot of people are appalled by the Tiwa Savage’s style since she married, and some people feel it’s not helping her marriage.
Ovie says, “Tiwa Savage was like this before she married Teebillz, but the surprising thing is that she’s been even more immodest as a married woman. I don’t see how this is not affecting her marriage. I mean I imagine that I’m Teebillz and I’m sitting in a hall watching my wife, not my girlfriend, my wife, dancing carelessly with another man in front of the public. Any sane husband who really cares about their marriage and his wife’s dignity will certainly object to that. I don’t know why Tiwa is doing all this or why her husband isn’t saying a word about it. Does her husband truly love her? I don’t know, but I guess we all know what it means to love someone.”

Written by Adedayo Ademuwagun in My celebrity and I