Breaking News: Governor Suswam swears in 12 new Commissioners

Two months after sacking his cabinet, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, yesterday, swore in 12 new commissioners with a charge on the appointees to shun corrupt practices and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.

Addressing the new cabinet members after administering the oath of office on them, Governor Suswam urged the appointees to be guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and openness in the conduct of government business.
Suswam also urged them to  remain above board and to be catalysts for meaningful development in the state.
”Given the myriad of developmental challenges that beset our state, the need to fast-track and reinvigorate

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Breaking News: Ngozi Nwosu speaks from London! “I‘ll soon return home”

Ailing actress, Ngozi Nwosu, of Fuji House of Commotion who has been placed under doctors watch after her surgery in a London hospital, has raised hopes of her returning to the country soon. Ngozi recently flew to the United Kingdom to have a kidney transplant, and according to an insider, she has bounced back to good health after the surgery.
In a recent telephone chat with HVP,  the actress said, “ I’m getting better and by the grace of God, I will soon return home.”
She noted however, that her returning to the country will  depend on the approval of her doctors. “I will return home when my doctors certify me fit to return to the country,”she said.

*Ngozi Nwosu

Ngozi’s recent pictures which she uploaded online showed how she has dramatically transformed from her emaciated look to good health. For some time, the Fuji House of Commotion star, who plays a troublesome character called Peace, had been a shadow of her old self as she battled with kidney-related ailment.
Thanks to Lagos State Government under leadership of  Babatunde Raji Fashola and other  well-meaning Nigerians who came to her rescue. The governor donated N4.5 million after reading of her ailment in a publication. Her friends and corporate organizations donated another N2 million she needed for her treatment.

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Breaking News: Why good posture is important

Pain, stiffness, fatigue are issues that affect us all as we age, but, how many times has someone asked the question, “What is good posture?”  Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities.
When it comes to posture, mother knows best. Her frequent reminders to stand up straight and stop slouching are good advice. Good posture contributes to a good appearance. A slumped posture indicates a curvature of the spine. Good posture keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. It helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis and decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Good standing posture
When standing, keep these tips in mind: Hold your chest high; keep your shoulders back and relaxed, pull in your abdomen and buttocks, keep your feet parallel and balance your weight evenly on both feet. Try not to tilt your head forward, backward or sideways, and make sure your knees are relaxed — not locked.
Take the wall test
To test your standing posture, take the wall test. Stand with your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touching a wall, and your heels about two to four inches (five to 10 centimeters) away from the wall. Reach back and slide your hand behind the curve in your lower back, with your palm flat against the wall.
Ideally, you’ll feel about one hand’s thickness of space between your back and the wall. If there’s too much space, tighten your abdominal muscles to flatten the curve in your back. If there’s too little space, arch your back so that your hand fits comfortably behind you. Walk away from the wall while maintaining this posture. Keep it up throughout your daily activities.
Proper posture requirements:

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Breaking News: Boko Haram abducts Shettima Mungono, kills LG boss

Ninety-two year old elder statesman and first Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, CFR, was yesterday kidnapped in Borno State by suspected members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect shortly after performing the Juma’at Congregational prayers at a Mosque in Mafoni ward in Maiduguri metropolis.
Unknown gunmen had earlier on Thursday night, killed the acting Chairman of Dikwa Local Government Area in the state, Alhaji Kachallah Umara in his compound.
Mungono’s abduction took place at about 2pm in the area said to be the stronghold of the sect members.

First Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, CFR

Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, also said it was saddened by the news that Alhaji  Monguno has been kidnapped by unknown gun men in Maiduguri, adding that ‘’he is not expected to be subjected to such hardship and humiliation by any group, be it sectarian or men of the underworld.’’
A statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani stressed that ‘’if, as is being bandied about, Boko Haram members are the kidnappers in order to press for the release of their detained members by the authorities, then, they are going about it the wrong way,’’ and asked ‘’the good people of Borno state to keep calm and not take the laws into their hands as the federal and state governments go as far as efforts can go in order to bring to an end, the culture of violence under control not only in Borno and Yobe States but through out Nigeria.’’
The Special Adviser on Communications to Governor Kashim Shettima, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau confirmed

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Breaking News: The most scandalised Nollywood damsels!

There is hardly a Nollywood actress who has  not tasted the sting of a scandal at one time or another in her career. While it appears some of them go courting controversies, others have had controversies tossed their way either by some overzealous  press guys  who  dig up stuffs about them and mixed it with a little bit of dirt or by some circumstantial happenings that caught them right in the middle.
While some of these actresses have ignored many scandals trailing their career, others have simply laughed them off. Like, in every movie industry, there are practitioners who crave for attention and thus ,go the extra mile to expose certain aspects of their lives to make the headlines.
Here are the top ten  actresses who have been severally scandalised. Interestingly, these scandals, true or false, have never dented their careers, instead, they  have come out of them stronger, bigger and more popular:
Tonto Dikeh
Tonto is arguably the most scandalised actress in Nollywood. Every time her name comes up in the papers it seems to be about one controversy or the other. Some have said she found her way to stardom riding on the wings of controversies and it seems  much of it is true as Tonto seems to take up roles most of her colleagues wouldn’t dare. The daring actress has played all kinds of roles, most of which bothered  on near nudity and soft porn.

*Tonto Dike

She astounded the movie world not too long ago when she revealed that it was Jimmy Jatt who  deflowered her. Such is the boldness of the Rivers State born actress. There have also been rumours of her sexual involvements with several artistes including Tuface, KC Presh, Wizkid and even Iyanya.
When she veered into music, like some of her peers have done, it was controversy galore again as many critics took her to  teh cleaners, hinting the actress has nothing of a singer in her. And just recently she posted  a near naked picture of herself on Twitter with large tattoos on her back.

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Breaking News: Opposition boycotts Kogi council election

Opposition parties in Kogi State have stated their intention to boycott today’s local government election for what they alleged as the ruling party’s perfected rigging strategy, in connivance with Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC.
Addressing a joint press conference yesterday in Lokoja, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; Congress of Political Change, CPC said the attitude of KOSIEC in the last 72 hours and that of the ruling party, PDP,  pointed towards thwarting the conduct of a free, fair, credible and transparent council poll.
Spokespersons for the opposition parties, Dino Melaye and Hon. Buba Jibril, said aside boycotting the election,  they shall ensure that election did not hold in the State.
Enumerating their stand on why they will not participate, Dino said, “the prerequisite for conduct of election is not in place in the State. The SIEC chairman is a PDP card-carrying member who contested the House of Assembly primaries of Kabba/Bunu State Constituency who is yet to be replaced inspite of our complaints. Already, there is a conflict of interest by the KOSIEC.
“Till now and contrary to the electoral act, no polling units have been marked for election; returning officers and polling clerks are PDP card- carrying members against the earlier stand to use Youth Corps members. Also, there is no display of voters register”
Buba on his own said, the ruling party is using the instrument of government to intimidate and scare away the opposition leaders. “Some of the opposition members have been arrested over the night with some running away from the State”.
The duo called on the  Inspector General of Police, the  Directorate of State Security  and the international community to see to their plight, saying they can only participate in the council poll when the political atmosphere is right.
”There will be no election, and if there is no election, there cannot be declaration of result. The  action of KOSIEC in the last 48 hours has cast doubt on their early promises of a credible election as 45 out of 105 voting boxes have already been missing in Lokoja LG and seven ballot boxes are missing in Ijumu Local Government. This is a sad development for democracy in our state and the country”. Buba concluded.
8,550 Police for council poll
In a related development, Kogi State Police Command has deployed 8,550 police personnel to monitor the council poll.

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Breaking News: Rivers PDP verdict stood Justice on its head – Tony Okocha

In this interview with Jimitota Onoyume, the soft spoken Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers state, Sir Tony Okocha bares his mind on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state. Describing the Abuja High court judgement that sacked the Chief Godspower Ake led Peoples Democratic Party as a travesty of justice Sir Okocha expressed very strong hope that it would   be upturned at the appellate court.  

He also spoke on issues ranging from the suspension slammed on members of the state House of Assembly by the PDP in the state and other topical political developments in the state within the last three weeks.
Excerpt
Respond to the recent judgement that sacked the Chief Ake led Peoples Democratic Party in the state
That was a sham. As far as I am concerned it was a travesty of justice. It was justice standing on its head. I was present in the court. The lawyers in the legal term would call us laymen. There are certain issues in law that are trite, clear to the ordinary man.

Okocha….I know that the men at the Assembly are unbiased

As far as I am concerned it was not a judgement that would stand anywhere in the world. It was a judgement that was procured.
How are you responding to the judgement?
Well! We are law abiding people. You know the disposition of the governor of the state; we are going the whole length to seek redress. We are believing God that the Appeal court will upturn the judgement.
In your opinion, what are the defects in the verdict?
I am not a lawyer. I was a delegate at the congress where Chief G.U Ake was elected. We have also tried to show to the world the video clip. The situation where somebody never got close to 90 nautical miles to where forms for the party offices were obtained, he never got close to the congress venue. From what I heard, he was not even in the country.  (Referring to Mr Felix Obua new Chairman of PDP in the state)
I don’t want to bother  myself talking about this whole matter because is  a matter of conscience and you and I know that Usman Danfodio  said that conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal. For me I have left him (Felix Obuah) to his conscience because it was a broad day light robbery. Somebody who never contested election and in his heart of heart he knows that he never got close to the election. Yet he went on air saying the judiciary had restored his mandate.
In his heart he knows the truth. When you lie to yourself the white man calls it a hoax. For us we leave him to his conscience first and foremost. Then we are also letting the world know that what happened on the 17th of March was unbecoming, unthought of, nobody can imagine it can happen.
Are you in court to challenge the Abuja High court verdict?
Yes we are.
Shortly after this, the elected Chairman, his Vice and the seventeen councillors of Obio Akpor local government were suspended by the House of Assembly, an action some persons have literarily described as dissolution of the House. Incidentally it is your local government and you were a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council. Any comment on the development?
I am not competent enough to speak on this. What we heard was that there were petitions written and addressed to the assembly. We also heard that the petitions were accordingly sent to the House Committee in charge of such issues.
You and I know it is a common knowledge that you cannot sit on a matter that concerns you. There is no way you can sit as a chairman of council when under investigation. He was just suspended. They were alleged to have misappropriated council funds. They were alleged to have created problems here and there. The Assembly said the chairman, Vice Chairman and his councillors should pause, wait for a while, while the matter was investigated.
But I must tell you that as an indigene of Obio Akpo local government area, it is a welcome development. Welcome in the sense that what used to be a close circuit arrangement that we had in the local government has changed. They ran a circuit arrangement. I am a stakeholder in the local government. It is a good omen for the people because a lot of things had actually gone wrong, how funds had been misappropriated. A situation where Obio Akpor local government became like an individual’s personal estate.  It’s a sign of relief to many. The day I was leaving as Chairman of the council, I was ready to submit myself to any investigation. There is nothing wrong with you serving a people and they say come and give account of your stewardship.
Are you in anyway pre-empting the outcome of the investigation of the suspended officials by the House of Assembly?
I cannot. I know that the men at the Assembly are unbiased; they are not from the local government. I have told you it was an allegation raised. It is for the committee to either see it as spurious or confirm.  My information was that the allegations against the suspended council officials were so weighty that the House could not afford to ignore.
Twenty seven members of the House were suspended by the new PDP leadership in the state led by Mr Felix Obuah. Any comment on this?
That is another illegality. The party has a constitution, another political rascality. . If they were party members they should know the rules, laws of the party.  You don’t just wake up to suspend a party member. First the matter will be originated from the ward.   There will be opportunity for response. The chairman of the party has no right to suspend the party, not to talk of suspending ranking members of the House of Assembly
What is your relationship with the Police in the state?
The Police are in charge of internal security and I do not think there is any problem.
You have heard of reported plans to impeach the governor of the state. Any sign so far?
There are thirty two members of the House of Assembly. You and I know there are simple majority or 2/3 majority. Five members cannot be a reasonable number for such action.  It is just that these are people with no respect for the laws, it is unthinkable.
What is the way out of the political crisis rocking the PDP in the state?
There was a congress in the state. Before the state congress we had ward congress and local government congress. Nobody came to the state congress because you were a big man. You became a delegate to the ward congress, then another election was conducted for delegates to the local government area just like that.    The truth must be told that a congress was held on 17th March, 2012. All the delegates were present at the congress. The electoral committee sent by the party was present; the chairman of the electoral committee, Dan Orbih was also there.  There were no contestants to the offices as such. Because of INEC that said there should be election, the governor insisted that there should be election so that we ascertain if the people coming up had the mandates or not and acceptability of the people.
An election held, they called out delegates from each local government. They all came out and voted. At the end votes were counted and results announced.  The presiding officer declared Chief Ake winner. Ake also made acceptance speech. Beyond that, the party at the national level also directed the Zonal office to inaugurate the elected executive. Dr Steve Oru did the inauguration. And I was there
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike is from your local government area. Any word for him on this crisis?
The Hon Minister of State for Education should come back to his root. The laws of nature are fixed. He cannot circumvent them. You have the laws of retributive justice and the laws of Karma. Those things are real. They are here with us.
He should remember that the evil that men do now lives with them not even after them. There is nothing wrong in somebody being ambitious but when an ambition is inordinate then it becomes a vice. So he should get back to his root, know that this is the family that produced him. He would not have been Chairman Obio Akpor local government area if not for the same man he now wants his neck today. Anywhere he is, he should know the family threw him up.
Any word for  people of the state?
You know we are very peaceful. I will always encourage our people to remain steadfast and peaceful.
It is one injustice too many but we are following with all amount of calm. We are sure that at the end of the day the truth will prevail. There is no way, no matter how big a big darkness is, just a spark of light the darkness disappears.
Any comment on the   ownership of the aircraft that has been grounded
What you must know is that the aircraft was properly procured, due process was followed. What I mean by due process was that the matter was before the state House of Assembly. And the Assembly approved of an aircraft for the governor. And due process was followed in terms of the process .

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Breaking News: NFF makes U-turn on CHAN

Nigeria Football Federation may have rescinded its decision to pull out of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) billed for South Africa next year.
Nigeria, despite its status as a power house in African football have not featured in the championship with two editions gone by. Last month, NFF officials hinted that Nigeria will not be represented in the third edition due to financial constraints.
The NFF was criticised for taking that backward decision, most especially after the Super Eagles won the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
The first round qualifier for the tournament is billed for the weekend of June 21. Nigeria was drawn to face Cote’d Ivoire and according to an official of the NFF, Nigeria could still host Cote’d Ivoire in the first leg as the federation has not written to CAF, signifying the country’s withdrawal.

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Breaking News: Okpekpe Race: Road runners ready to roll

Ethiopian and Kenyan long distance runners together with their Nigerian counterparts are set to compete in the maiden Okpekpe road race, which takes off this morning in Okpekpe, Edo State.
The 10km race is parading a strong field of East Africa runners who will be vying for the 50,000 dollars total prize money on offer. These athletes include Deriba Merga, Tilahum Regassa, Abere Chane Lema, Sofia Shemsu and Salam Abere Alebachew from Ethiopia, while Moses Masai, Yusuf Biwott, Fredrick Kipchumba, Betty Chepleting and Georgia Rono from Kenya.
Some of these athletes have made their mark in the world marathon circuit and they are expect to fuel the rivalry between the two nations that have dominated world long distance running over the years.
Local athletes are not left out. A team of Nigerian long distance runners have been in camp in Afuze, Edo State preparing to give the visiting elite athletes a fight and according to incumbent president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba the Okpekpe road race will help reignite athletics in Nigeria and also open up the serene Okpekpe town the highest point in Edo State to the world.
“We are excited by the AFN to organize the first road race in this part of the world.  For me we have no apologies as some people say we want to showcase the road to Okpekpe is beautiful. We actually want to show there is life in rural Nigeria.
Edo State governor, Adams Oshomole and other top dignities are expected to grace the event.

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Breaking News: the chase after amaechi

We seem to have gone through it all before. The Presidency, or The Party— seldom the President — feels uncomfortable about someone of influence, particularly in the party of the President, and swiftly various unsavoury things begin to happen to the man; all sorts of unsavoury information begin to float around about him; it suddenly becomes apparent that he is unfit for the post he holds; his face is turned to a downward route from the peak of a precipice, and every effort is applied to make him take the wrong step so as to tumble down.
The crowd looks on, not feeling involved in the drama of survival against the onslaught of the Powers That Be. Only those who are now being properly identified as Foot Soldiers raise their voices, and in one accord they roar, “Pull him down!”
Some, indeed several, have gone that way. It is really not a new thing. When the President is a big, bold man, with little room for conscience, he sometimes spearheads the campaign. When he is not, he relies on “open” subterfuge and conducts the affairs of his patent passion masked in the dignifying character of The Presidency, or The Party. It is a matter of style. Do you remember what happened to a gentleman called Atidu Ogbeh in different clime? Then there was Silva in the current dispensation. And now we have Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The occupants of Aso Rock are bent on making history perched on a slippery platform.
But Amaechi must have gone into all his troubles with his eyes wide open. He is supposed to be aiming for a higher office which plan runs head-on against the ambitious plans of The Presidency. Like a full-fledged Nigerian, he must have felt that he was protected by the Constitution to nurse an aspiration and pursue it under the ambit of the law. However, the Constitution and the law it embodies fall by the wayside in the prosecution of politics -or power play. It is the time-old jungle maxim of might over right, and “the devil take the hindmost”.

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Breaking News: Baga killings: NHRC sets up probe panel

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, yesterday, decried the increasing spate of human right violations across the country, just as it constituted a high powered investigative committee with a mandate to unravel those behind the alleged massacre of over 200 indigenes of Baga community in Borno State.
Chairman of the Governing Council of the NHRC, Professor Chidi Odinkalu while briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting the commission in Abuja yesterday, said that the committee would  among other things, “identify general or specific measures that may be taken to prevent a repeat of such incident.”
According to him “the NHRC met in an emergency session in response to alleged situations of serious human rights violations in different parts of Nigeria and the associated deterioration in humanitarian conditions, especially with reference to the situation in North-East Nigeria.
“Specifically, the Governing Council considered allegations arising from the recent incident involving the uniformed service  and alleged insurgents in Baga, Borno state.
“Following extensive deliberations, the Council formally resolved, in exercise of its responsibilities under section 5 and 6 of the NHRC Act, as amended, to undertake an independent investigation into the Baga

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Breaking News: FG unveils new aviation policy

The Federal Government yesterday unveiled a new National Civil Aviation Policy to regulate activities of the aviation sector.
Unveiling the new policy at the public presentation at the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, headquarters, Abuja, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Odua said the new policy became imperative for safety and security purposes.

Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister

According to Oduah, the regulatory function would also include monitoring foreign non-scheduled flights and helicopter operations.
She said, “Part vii of the policy deals with General Aviation (GA) and provides for measures to generate definite policies, develop regulatory framework and adequate infrastructure to support it.
“For reasons of safety and national security, this part focuses on the need to control and monitor all non-scheduled flights operations – including helicopter operations, offshore and onshore in Nigeria as well as the operation of foreign non-scheduled flight and flying schools.”
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Aviation Review, Ms Ann Ene-Ita, she said that changes in the sector at global and national levels including likely future development led to the establishment of the new policy.
The minister who said that the policy will be reviewed in every five years or as situation demands, expressed optimism that it would be adaptable to new safety security, facilitate growth of domestic airlines as well as strengthen the existing regulatory framework.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airlines, Capt. Edward Boyo decried the old policy

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Breaking News: Sexiest in Nollywood Season 3: 20 in, 5 more to go!

Now the end to the nomination stage is in sight as the twenty of the final twenty-five contestants to stand in the quest for the Sexiest in Nollywood have emerged.

Last week, five men: Van Vicker, John Dumelo, Odunlade Adekola, Majid Michel and Pat Attah joined Ramsey Nouah, Junior Pope Odowondo, Ali Nuhu, Benson Okonkwo, Yul Edochie, Kenneth Okolie, Mike Ezuruonye, Sunkanmi Omobolanle, Uti Nwachukwu and Joseph Benjamin  making it fifteen men ready looking good to do battle in the quest.
While in the Sexiest Nollywood Woman category  Rita Dominic, Jackie Appiah, Nadia Buari, Amanda Ebeye and Damilola Adegbite joined Stephanie Okereke, Anita Joseph, Tonto Dikeh, Ebube Nwagbo, Colette Orji, Queeneth Hilbert, Chika Agatha, Maureen Cyril, Cynthia Agholor and Tope Osoba
This week Chita Agwu, Uche Jombo, Biodun Okeowo, Queen Nwokoye and Angela Okorie are the new additions for the Sexiest Woman in Nollywood

And the new additions for the Sexiest Man in Nollywood slot are Michael Okon, Chigozie Atuanya, Bobby Obodo, Frank Artus and Gbenro Ajibade.
Note  that we now have twenty out of the final twenty-five contestants to stand in the quest for the Sexiest in Nollywood
Now the remaining slot is for five women and five men. Who are they going to be? Only your votes will determine who joins the first 20. Remember, counting is done between Saturday and Thursday, so, get to it and bring in your choice candidate in the last minute dash for the nominees who will slug it out in the Sexiest in Nollywood, Season 3! Keep voting

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Breaking News: There’s no problem at all in my marriage – Pastor Ituah Ighodalo

Ituah Ighodalo is the popular Pastor of Trinity House- a mega church in Victoria Island, Lagos. In this candid and revealing interview, Pastor Ighodalo reveals that there is no problem at all in his marriage. He also talks about  God, Love, and Politics. He responds to his critics, and speaks on his journey from Redeemed to Trinity House

What are some of the challenges you faced before moving your church to its  permanent site?
You know we’ve been growing a church and at the same time, we’ve been building a permanent site. So, the challenges have been more of  the challenges of a new church, and growing a church. As for the permanent site and moving there, God showed us incredible favour, so I will not say that we had challengesbesides  typical funding issues that most people have but somehow, at every step of the way, God provided the funding and when there was no funding there was favour, in that people will just say to you; just go on and do this, just go on and do that. So we got a lot of favour, a lot of help, and a lot of support and we are very thankful to God.
Who  owns the church?
God owns Trinity House. God almighty owns Trinity House.
But you are the General Overseer?
I’m the senior pastor. No, it’s a church of God. I’m just privileged to lead the church, and to direct it as I’m directed by God, so it actually belongs to God.
  Are there  any future plans to set up branches of the church?

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Breaking News: Removal of roadblocks reduced corruption in police by 80 Per cent, says IGP

THE Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar yesterday said the removal of roadblocks from the nation’s highways has reduced corruption in the Nigeria Police Force in the past one year after he assumed office.
Abubakar disclosed this during an interaction session at a ‘One Day Roundtable and Dinner’ organized by a non -governmental organization, CLEEN Foundation to mark the post-one year of his being in office.
Opining on the removal of roadblocks from highways across the country, Abubakar said it has drastically reduced accidental discharges and eliminated the N20 syndrome, as well as harassment of road users.
Abubakar said: “The withdrawal of police roadblocks has reduced 80 per cent corruption in the Nigeria Police These roadblocks were centres of corruption, which dented the image of the Force. With the removal of the roadblocks, the accidental discharge, harassment and human rights abuse have reduced as well.
“Measures are put in place for the past one year have led to drastic reduction in complaints against members of the Force, especially extra-judicious killings and N20 syndrome.
“In improving police image and enforcement of fundamental human rights, there has been increased media presence through proactive response to media and public enquiry, greater synergy between police and other

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Breaking News: Oil thieves flee, abandon 150 drums of illegally refined diesel

OIL thieves took to their heels,  weekend, abandoning 150 drums of illegally refined diesel, following a raid on them in Udu Creek, Delta State, by naval men in Warri.

Commander, NNS, Delta, Navy Commodore Mohammed Garba, displayed   the impounded drums, loaded in three locally wooden boats  before newsmen after which he instructed they should be  set ablaze.
His words: “the seizure was made by my men on Thursday, we acted on a tip-off, but they fled before we got there, so it was an abandoned seizure.”
He said following the zero level tolerance for oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal acts on the waterways and strategic performance mandate of the Chief of Naval Staff, the Navy in Warri would spare no effort to battle oil bunkerers and criminals on waterways.
Commodore Garba said the waterways in the state were relatively safe as sea pirates were relocating to other states because of the manhunt for them by security agents.

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Breaking News:In Nigeria, crime pays

By N.Victor
I was chilled to the bone as I read last Saturday Vanguard’s account of how a few young men kidnapped the aged mother of our Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi  Okonjo-Iweala and how a septuagenarian was killed because the ransom money was not enough.
I really do not know which I found more disturbing; the ease with which young men are lured into a world of crime or the cold hearted ruthlessness of these young men who think nothing of torture and murder. Also distressing is the fact that over 90 percent of these young men will never lead normal lives again.
They are lost forever to the world of crime because no legitimate business will bring a few millions to the purse of young, unskilled men for a couple of week’s work. And for them, make no mistake, it is work, an occupation, not just a one-off.
I am still trying to figure out why the Police decided to give the story out to the press. Is it to show that crime does not pay? Or to show that crime has become a way out for our unskilled, unemployed and misguided youths? It is not cynicism that makes me to choose the latter because every where you look shows that crime does pay in Nigeria; and the chances of being apprehended for your crime are low enough to make the venture into criminality worth the while given the returns.
Crime pays because the system is unwilling and ill prepared to tackle it. Crime pays because the proceeds of crime are warmly embraced by the society, including the church.
A retired senior police officer once told me of his involvement in a kidnap case where the police acted as ‘brokers’. After a sum had been agreed upon, the family handed the money to the police. Unknown to either party, the police took its ‘commission’ or ‘broker’s fee’ and handed the balance to the kidnappers. The kidnappers felt the family had reneged and killed the victim in a fit of anger. Thereafter, the case went cold— to use the language of the police. No arrest was made and nobody was apprehended. A clear example of how crime pays.
Are we surprised therefore that kidnappers have become emboldened? Are we surprised that more people are being recruited into this new Ministry of Labour and Employment?
And still on the police, why are we not surprised that the largest pension fraud in the country took place in the police force? In the home of those who are paid to detect crimes? It’s hard to believe that there was no connivance, that some of those millions did not disappear into the accounts of some ‘oga at the top’
Crime pays when the judiciary is compromised and the rest of us accept it as a fact of life; when independence of the judiciary is threatened by unscrupulous men in public and private life as in the case of the pension thief who left court in a chauffer driven Mercedes benz.
Crime pays when the church, our moral sanctuary is being used to launder ill gotten money; when men of god readily accept houses abroad from corrupt public and bank officials.
Crime pays when politicians loot their ways to higher offices and nothing happens; when security and other votes are used to feather private nests.
Crime pays when militants and those on the fringes of law and order are rewarded with multi-billion naira contracts to secure pipelines that they have, and are wilfully vandalising.
Crime pays when Boko Haram terrorists are now the new bride in town and their sponsors are waiting to collect a hefty bride price.
How did we get to this sorry pass? We have to look at the structures of the society; at our apathy towards stolen and misappropriated funds; at our calm acceptance of crime and criminals. We have to look at the mother who asks no questions as her teenage son suddenly becomes financially independent because it means one less mouth to feed. At a mother who looks away when a child brings a ruler or an exercise book home from school. At a parent who buys JAMB results because they believe that is ‘the only way’ their ward can enter into a university. At a student who uses bottom power to get grades and a university system that looks away. At a family which sends a young, unskilled girl to the city with no questions asked as long as money is sent home to feed her siblings.
Ultimately, we have to look at our attitude towards money as it has become a god that we all – from peasant to president – worship.
The following day after the Vanguard story, I was driving along Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, grateful for the Sunday evening free flow of traffic on that normally mad road. I stopped for the traffic light and a car, driven by an expatriate, stopped by my side, effectively blocking the two lanes towards Falomo. Suddenly, a vehicle hooted impatiently behind us. My rear mirror confirmed it was a commercial bus. I told myself he would have to fly this time. And that was almost what he did. He actually reversed, veered left, and sped past the traffic light. The expatriate and I exchanged glances and shook our heads. Guess what? The ‘smart alec’ got away with it. And you still wonder why crime pays in Nigeria? First, it gives you an unfair advantage. Second, you get away with it.

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Breaking News : 9 injured as buses collide in Nsukka

Nsukka (Enugu State) -  Nine passengers sustained various degrees of  injuries on Friday when two buses belonging to the Peace Mass Transit (PMT) company  collided on the Nsukka-Enugu road.
The accident happened in front of Queens Secondary School, Nsukka, around 3 p.m.
One of the passengers, who identified himself as Kennedy Eze, thanked God that nobody died in the collision.
Eze said the bus heading to Enugu was trying to avoid a speed bump and ran into the one coming from the opposite direction.
He said FRSC officers and passersby helped to evacuate the injured to the hospital.
One of the rescuers who pleaded anonymity said  that the injured were taken to Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, for treatment.
The front windscreens of both buses were shattered.
At the Bishop Shanahan Hospital, the injured passengers were being attended by doctors and nurses who declined to comment. (NAN)

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Breaking News: Alex Ferguson to undergoa hip operation

LONDON (AFP) – Alex Ferguson could miss the start of next season as he is to undergo a hip operation, sources at Manchester United have confirmed.
The 71-year-old manager is booked in for surgery immediately after the club return from a three-week pre-season tour at the end of July.

Ferguson will take his summer break before travelling with his players to Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong before the operation.
United will face either Manchester City or Wigan in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 11, with their title defence due to begin the following weekend.
No timescale is being put on Ferguson’s likely absence but it would require a rapid recovery from the 71-year-old in order for him to be back in charge by then.
Ferguson has always said his health would dictate how long he would carry on as United manager.

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Breaking News CLUMSY RACE:The Jonathan/Amaechi face off TO 2015

By N Victor
News on Top. Obviously shaken and scared, the presidency, with an incumbent who already seemed to have burnt his fingers too early in the governing of Africa’ most populous, diverse nation, midway to the end of first tenure in 2015, he is at daggers drawn with perceived political opponents in the same party.
Elected as President in 2011, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who claimed to have attended school without shoes while growing up, made promises on spreading dividends of democracy  the people with his programme of Transformation Agenda, job creation, reduction of poverty, corruption, improved electricity and enhancing infrastructure among others.

President Goodluck Jonathan and Ameachi

But widespread insecurity particularly in the north, had blurred his vision and focus. Several thousands, mainly Christians have been killed, while properties worth billions destroyed.
Almost torn apart by internal crises within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors elected on the ticket of the party, under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State were politically dicey and unpredictable. Aso Rock was jittery, worried about NGF becoming a political power bloc, likely determining the future of Mr. president in 2015. Meanwhile, the national Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had a running battle with the governors, but enjoyed absolute support of Jonathan, who feared his re-election bid in 2015 could be scuttled by the governors who had some grievances to settle with him.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, as the NGF chairman, was seen as the arrowhead of the governors resistance to the imperial and dictatorial tendencies of the presidency more so as he was being alleged as having presidential ambition to be running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in the 2015 race.
Even the opposition political parties were not relenting in their criticism of the Jonathan administration. They’ve alleged that he was not taking governance seriously, cannot be trusted,though promised to fight corruption, yet this cankerworm has become bydra-headed and getting more devastating as ever, no tangible promises made in 2011 realized, various committee reports put together with public funds were dumped into waste baskets. Oil theft, bunkering, subsidy fraud, inflated contracts galore. More Nigerians are without jobs in a spendthrift administration, fond of wasting scarce resources on white elephant, mundane projects not of benefit to the economic and social welfare of citizens. The Transformation Agendea has been described as amorphous and mere sloganeering with phantom, spurious statistics given by state departments to create wrong impression that things are going well.
The governors, embittered by Tukur’s leadership style and his nonchalant attitude to state chapters of the PDP, tried to box the chairman to  a corner in what political analysts termed as their attempts (governors) to cage President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 presidential vote.
Undoubtedly, Governor Amaechi had not been comfortable with the pace of development in the Niger Delta region from where Mr. President hailed. Take the case of the East-West road which is supposed to run through the oil bearing areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta States which would also be of benefit to Abia, Cross River, Edo, and Imo in terms of trade, commerce and transportation.
Inability of the Jonathan regime to handle the East-West road with the urgency and efficiency required is causing carnage and fatal auto accidents daily in that critical area as the major stakeholders including the

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