FG To Maintain Presidential Jets With N1.52Bn

The Federal Government has budgeted N1.52b for the maintenance of the 10 aircraft currently in the Presidential Air Fleet in 2014.

The maintenance cost is slightly higher than the N1.5bn proposed as the initial deposit for the purchase of additional aircraft that will bring the number of aircraft in the fleet to 11.

This is apart from the N747m earmarked for the purchase of aviation fuel for the aircraft already in the fleet.

These figures are contained in the details of the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, penultimate week.

The government has also earmarked N458.5m for international trainings for the fleet’s personnel in the coming year.

Another chunk of the budget for the fleet is the N675.9m budgeted for the rehabilitation/renovation/repairs of PAF Barracks.

A whopping N405.5m is also proposed for the completion of a hangar project under the PAF budget for the year while N106m is earmarked for tyre bay tools and equipment.

The PAF’s security vote (including operations) is N259.55m; insurance premium — N445.7m; as well as cleaning and fumigation services —N58m.

N71.74m is budgeted for 797 units of LG 2HP air conditioners for PAF Barracks; N40.5m is earmarked for three units of Toyota Coaster buses and N26.4m for four units of Toyota Hilux.

Motor vehicle fuel will gulp N29.6m, other transport equipment fuel cost — N26.5m; plant/generator fuel cost N14.5m as well as cooking gas/fuel cost — N2m.

The N67m devoted to miscellaneous included refreshment and meals — N28.9m; postage and courier services — N15m; medical expenses — N12m; corps members kitting, transport and feeding allowance N3.7m and honorarium and sitting allowance — N3.6m.

PAF is said to have the third largest fleet of aircraft in the country with a total of 10 aircraft, coming closely behind Aerocontractors Airlines, which has a total of 14 aircraft.

Arik Air, the largest commercial airline in the country, has a fleet of 23 aircraft.

The PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP.

Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

 

Popular Actress, Fathia Balogun Changes Her Name To Fathia Williams 

 

For now, Fathia's name change is just on her Instagram page.
Her Twitter account still bears Balogun.

 

Man Sets Wife & Son Ablaze, Says Her STDs Made His P*nis Shrink 

He brought out his manhood and asked me to look at it. He said his wife infected him with a disease and that was why his manhood was small. The wife accused him of stealing her money (N14, 000) and he admitted it. He told her ‘didn’t you know I’m a thief?’ Then, he told her she would not live to see the New Year. Then, he picked up a stone and threw it at his wife. Then, we went inside. Soon, we heard the cries of the woman that Baba Gbolahan (Gbolahan’s father) had locked them inside and set the house on fire. The door was forced open. She emerged from the room with just her panties on, clutching her stiff, dead daughter.”

The above is about a woman residing at Labiran area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Mrs Felicia Olalere, with her eight-year-old son, Gbolahan. Both lost their lives in the early hours of Friday after the room they slept was engulfed in fire from an unknown source.

However, residents of the area are alleging that the woman’s husband, known as Muyideen Olalere, carried out the arson.


He was said to have locked each of the rooms in the house with padlocks to prevent occupants from leaving their respective rooms.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the deceased and her husband had a quarrel at about 8:00p.m. when the man, whose source of livelihood was unknown, came to the house.

The woman was said to have accused her husband of stealing a sum of N14,000 from her bag, which the man reportedly admitted, calling her bluff.

Neighbours said that the woman raised her voice in anger and said that she knew the act of stealing would mean nothing to her husband who was in prison two years ago for criminal acts.

The man reportedly became angry, saying that the woman exposed his secret to everyone and added that it meant nothing to him because he went to the prison with her brother.

He was said to have threatened that he would make sure that his wife did not live to witness 2014.

Olalere reportedly demanded for his son, Gbolahan, a request rejected by his wife.

Efforts by neighbours to settle the matter proved abortive as the man was reported to have hurled a stone at his wife, hitting her on the thigh.

He was said to have left in anger, after which residents of the eight-room storey building went to their rooms to sleep while two of them left for vigil services in their different churches.

They were, however, woken up by shouts of fire which broke out from the deceased woman’s room on the first floor of the house.

The man, who is said to be on the run, was suspected to have poured petrol round the room where his wife and child slept and ignited it.

An occupant of one of the rooms on the same floor told Saturday Tribune that he was woken by a burning smell and discovered that he had been locked in from outside when he attempted to open the door to escape.

There Is No Hell Fire; Adam and Eve Not Real – Pope Francis Claims 

One man who is out to open many old “secrets” in the Catholic church is Pope Francis. Some of the beliefs that are held in the church but contrary to the loving nature of God are now being set aside by the Pope who was recently name The Man of The Year by TIME Magazine,  observed.
In his latest revelations, Pope Francis said:

 

“Through humility, soul searching, and prayerful contemplation we have gained a new understanding of certain dogmas. The church no longer believes in a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God. God is not a judge but a friend and a lover of humanity. God seeks not to condemn but only to embrace. Like the fable of Adam and Eve, we see hell as a literary device. Hell is merely a metaphor for the isolated soul, which like all souls ultimately will be united in love with God.”

In a shocking speech that is reverberating across the world, Pope Francis declared that:

“All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them. What other kind of truth is there? In the past, the church has been harsh on those it deemed morally wrong or sinful. Today, we no longer judge. Like a loving father, we never condemn our children. Our church is big enough for heterosexuals and homosexuals, for the pro-life and the pro-choice! For conservatives and liberals, even communists are welcome and have joined us. We all love and worship the same God.”

In the last six months, Catholic cardinals, bishops and theologians have been deliberating in the Vatican City, in discussing the future of the church and redefining long-held Catholic doctrines and dogmas. The Third Vatican Council, is the largest and most important since the Second Vatican Council was concluded in 1962.
Pope Francis convened the new council to “finally finish the work of the Second Vatican Council.”

The Third Vatican Council concluded with Pope Francis announcing that…

Catholicism is now a “modern and reasonable religion, which has undergone evolutionary changes. The time has come to abandon all intolerance. We must recognize that religious truth evolves and changes. Truth is not absolute or set in stone. Even atheists acknowledge the divine. Through acts of love and charity the atheist acknowledges God as well, and redeems his own soul, becoming an active participant in the redemption of humanity.”

One statement in the Pope’s speech has sent traditionalists into a fit of confusion and hysteria…

“God is changing and evolving as we are, For God lives in us and in our hearts. When we spread love and kindness in the world, we touch our own divinity and recognize it. The Bible is a beautiful holy book, but like all great and ancient works, some passages are outdated. Some even call for intolerance or judgement. The time has come to see these verses as later interpolations, contrary to the message of love and truth, which otherwise radiates through scripture. In accordance with our new understanding, we will begin to ordain women as cardinals, bishops and priests. In the future, it is my hope that we will have a woman pope one day. Let no door be closed to women that is open to men!”

A few cardinals in the Catholic church are against Pope Francis’ latest declarations.

Incredible: Man’s body magnetises 53 spoons

 

A 42 year old Georgian man based in Tbilisi today broke a Guinness World record that he himself created in December 2011: having the most spoons stuck on the human body.
Two years ago, Etibar Elchiyev, called the ‘magnet man’, set the record by sticking 50 spoons on his body.
The kick-boxing trainer originally planned to break the Guinness World Record for balancing spoons on one’s face – with 27 the current target to beat.
But he made the new weird Guinness record by managing to secure 50 metal spoons around his neck and chest setting the world record for the Most spoons balanced on a human body.
Today, he succeeded in sticking 53 metal spoons, thereby breaking his own record.
There are doubts whether Elchiyev’s body really contains magnet to make the feat possible. One commentator said he is only playing smart as metallic objects will stick to a hairless, smooth body.
But Elchiyev maintains that his body acts as a magnet attracting metal objects. He discovered the magnetic property of his body a few years ago, when he magnetised a car hood to his body, with a man sitting in the car.
The eclipsed Guinness world record for the most spoons balanced on the face was achieved by Aaron Caissie (Canada) on the set of Lo Show dei Record, in Milan, Italy on 18 April 2009

 

Police arrest traders selling fake designer clothes in Spain

 

Police have arrested 99 people, including two imams, over the sale of 235 tonnes of fake designer clothes and shoes in Spain, officials say.
Counterfeit items were made in illegal factories in Portugal and then shipped to distributors in north-western Spain, Spain’s interior ministry said.
Sales generated profits of 5.5m euros ($7.5m, £4.6m) over two years, it said.
Part of the money was held at two mosques in the cities of Ourense and Xinzo de Limia, according to officials.
“The network, of Moroccan origin, had ‘regional delegates’ across Spain who distributed over the past two years 235 tonnes of fake garments and footwear,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
“Part of this black money was hidden along with bank cards and other financial documents belonging to the organisation in the mosques of Ourense and Xinzo de Limia.”
Among those arrested was the imam of the mosque of Xinzo de Limia, who is suspected to be one of the ringleaders.
The mosque received nearly 100,000 euros ($140,000, £83,000) in donations from the ring, officials said.
The imam at the mosque in the nearby city of Ourense was also detained. Police suspect him of helping to launder money earned by the ring.
Police seized more than a million fake items in Spanish cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Malaga, according to the report.
They also confiscated 60 bank cards, several weapons and software containing the logos of more than 200 registered brands.
Officers in northern Portugal closed 10 illegal factories where the fake goods were made.

Namadi Sambo’s Furniture, House Upgrade Gulp N2.1 Billion In Four Years

Vice President Namadi Sambo is spending a fortune to furnish and upgrade his official residence and guest house, two projects costing N2.1 billion and lingering since his election alongside President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

In three years leading up to 2013, the government has spent a minimum of N300 million annually to furnish and upgrade the vice president’s residence and guest house, according to past and present federal budgets.
The biggest spending -N900 million- for the upgrade and furnishing was done in 2011.
That year alone, N500 million was channelled into acquiring, upgrading and furnishing the vice president’s guest house at Aguda House, while a separate N400 million was spent on purchasing some more furniture and extending the vice president’s lounge there.
In 2012, the government spent additional N437.1 million for the “upgrading and furnishing” of the same guest house, and squandered additional N112 million solely on “household equipment” for Mr. Sambo’s residence.
The installation of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) facilities at the residence, was completed at a whopping N202 million.
This year, the vice president’s Aguda guest house and his residence were furnished at a relatively modest N75.7 million, while landscaping at the residence alone was done at N26 million.
A new guest house for Mr. Sambo, at Yakubu Gowon crescent, Asokoro, was also given N170.7 million worth of furniture.
It could not be immediately confirmed how much of the proposed works have been implemented after spending more than N2 billion, an amount enough to furnish at least 200 primary schools where pupils attend classes under tree shades and sit on bare floors.
Such school furnishings are estimated at an average N10 million per school in the federal budgets.
Used differently, the amount can provide water in at least 200 Nigerian communities, based on the same budgetary estimates of N10 million community water scheme.
Despite the huge funding already, the government has made new allocations for the project for 2014, with the likelihood of even more spending for the vice president’s furniture and upgrading coming in 2015.
If the National Assembly approves a new budget proposal submitted by President Jonathan, as it likely would since previous furniture allocations for Mr. Sambo were not blocked, then the government will spend an extra N123 million on Mr. Sambo’s new guest house at Yakubu Gowon crescent.
Taxpayers will also buy kitchen utensils worth N8 million for the vice president.
The total N2.1 billion for furnishing and upgrading is far ahead of government’s allocation for some key road projects within the same period.
The obscene allocations for Mr. Sambo’s home and guest houses follows a trend that has seen the government repeatedly channel more funds for the convenience of public office holders while key projects suffer.
While the government claims it was cutting the cost of governance to address dwindling revenues and mounting developmental needs, it has for years continued to direct scarce funds for the luxury of its officials, providing them with exotic cars, homes, and other perks while more than half of Nigerians live on less than a dollar per day.
The presidency is one of the biggest beneficiaries of that anomaly.
In 2012, the presidency budgeted N1 billion for feeding, and half a billion naira for cars for President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo.
The car purchase was suspended after public outrage following media reports.
Mr. Sambo’s office has become notorious for some of the administration’s most outlandish spending. The cars the vice president was to receive would have been his second set in two years, having already spent N323 million on cars in 2011.
Also in 2012, the Federal Capital Territory Administration raised an already outrageous N7 billion for the construction of a home for the vice president by adding extra N9 billion to make it N16 billion.
The National Assembly finally blocked that request.
The furnishing and upgrading for the vice president was also listed in 2010, but under relatively modest subheads. The extension of the VP lounge, proposed for N207 million in 2012, was N30 million in 2010.

Furniture/household items
Upgrade
Total
2011
Acquisition, upgrading & furnishing of VP’s guest house at AgudaN400 million


Extension of VP lounge at Aguda house + furnishing of Aguda houseN500 million


N900 million
2012
1.       Purchase of household equipment & materials for VP’s residence  N112 million

2.       Acquisition, upgrading & furnishing of VP’s guest house at Aguda
N230 million

3.       Extension of VP lounge at Aguda house + furnishing of Aguda houseN207.1 million

4.       Installation of UPS facilities at the Vice President’s residence
N202 million


N751.1 million
2013
1.       Furnishing of the new vice president’s guest house at 41 Yakubu Gowon crescent, AsokoroN170.7 million


2.       Furnishing of ancillary offices at Aguda house and new vice president’s residence
N75.7 million
3.       Landscaping of new VP’s residence    N25.9 million



Remodelling of the new Vice President’s guest house at #41 Yakubu Gowon Crescent AsokoroN120 million


N392.3 million
2014

1.       Remodelling of the new Vice President’s guest house at #41 Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro N115 million


2.       Purchase of household and kitchen equipment for VP’s residenceN8 million
N123 million


 
Grand totalN2.17 billion

UCH doctors threaten strike over unpaid salaries

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, University College Hospital, Ibadan on Friday threatened to stall clinical activities following non-payment of their three months’ salaries.

The Chairman of the association, Prof. Juwon Arotiba, told newsmen in Ibadan that they would embark on strike if the salaries and outstanding allowances were not paid.

He added that other honorary consultants in other teaching hospitals had been paid except those at the UCH.

Atotiba said the association through the UCH management gave the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum, from Nov. 29 to Dec.19 to notify them about the doctors’ plight.

“We called the press also to sensitise the government, management and nation that they need to do something now to avoid terrible situation of the hospital, if the association embarks on strike.

“A strike by the Medical and Dental Consultants will lead to a total paralysis of all forms of clinical duties as we are the people responsible for the overall care of patients,” he said.

The chairman, therefore, called on the management and government to pay their outstanding allowances before the end of December.

“Otherwise, we may be compelled to take painful but inevitable steps that may disrupt the existing industrial harmony between us and the hospital’s management,” Arotiba said.

In his reaction, the UCH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Temitope Alonge, said the doctors’ salary payment was the duty of the government and not the hospital management.

He said that some doctors in other teaching hospitals were also not paid.

“To the best of my knowledge, there is no proof that only the MDCAN in UCH is not paid and there is no way the government can single them out,” he said.

Alonge, however, appealed to the doctors to exercise patience till the government releases their payment.

“Let them know that payment of salaries comes from Abuja and not us and we cannot borrow money to pay them because it is against financial regulations in the civil service.

“We are not fighting with them, we have informed them in Abuja and we will let them know as soon as the funds are released,” he said.

 

Obasanjo Is Selfish, A Fraud And Evil -- Eedris Abdulkareem Tweets

 
 
 
 
 
 

Jonathan orders probe into battering of pregnant woman

 

 President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a probe into the case of a 34-year-old woman, Mrs. Alexandra Ossai, who accused her Lebanese boss, Kaveh Noine, of causing her to lose her seven-month pregnancy after he kicked her in the stomach.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed this in his Twitter handle as well as his Facebook page on Thursday.

Here & There Gists had on Tuesday published the story of Ossai, who until December 13, 2013, was a supervisor with a Lebanese owned firm, Toppan Printing Company. She had alleged that Noine assaulted her many times during her eight months stay at the company.

Currently at a private hospital in the Fagba area of Lagos State, Ossai was said to have undergone emergency surgery four days after the kick to save her life as her placenta was said to have been damaged.

Abati said Jonathan was shocked when he learnt of the development and had directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the matter.

He said the President had also directed four ministers – Mr. Aba Moro (Interior), Chief Emeka Wogu (Labour), Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health) and Hajia Zaynab Maina (Women Affairs) – as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to probe the matter in order to recommend sanctions and remedial actions.

He said, “President Jonathan was shocked by reports of a pregnant Nigerian worker losing her baby after being beaten up by her Lebanese employer.

“The President has ordered the police, ministers of Interior, Labour, Women Affairs, Health and the NHRC to investigate for sanctions and remedial action.”

 

NNPC Fraud: CBN Governor Sanusi To Proceed On Post-Retirement Leave In March

 

SaharaReporters has learnt that Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, will be forced to leave his post in March, 2014, two months before the formal expiration of his tenure. Two sources at the Presidency and a source at the Central Bank told SaharaReporters that Mr. Sanusi has been ordered to proceed on a post-retirement leave in March. All three sources concluded that the early exit for the CBN henchman was occasioned by Mr. Sanusi’s recent leaked letter to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing the theft of close to $50 billion in oil proceeds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Last week, Mr. Sanusi revised the figure of missing funds down to $12 billion, but the damage to the Jonathan Presidency is considered massive.
SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan has concluded plans to speedily replace the CBN governor whom the president believes set out to embarrass his government. “[President] Jonathan thinks that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been making erratic pronouncements recently calculated to demean the office of the President,” said a source in the Presidency.
Presidency officials accused the CBN governor of leaking a private letter written to President Jonathan in which Nigeria’s chief banker complained about fraud perpetrated by officials of the NNPC and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Ms. Alison-Madueke is extremely close to the president and is believed to be the arrowhead of Mr. Jonathan’s corrupt schemes, especially in the oil sector.
One of the sources at the Presidency told SaharaReporters that, although Mr. Sanusi’s allegations were substantially accurate, the CBN governor was forced to back down from the more damaging aspects of his claims after the president’s associates threatened to make an issue of his reckless spending and philandering. “Once Sanusi found out that the Presidency was determined to deal with him, both through the media and by instigating the EFCC to look into his spending habits, he was willing to retreat and to accept an early departure,” said our source.
Shortly after the CBN governor was effectively blackmailed and brought under control, he appeared before the Nigerian Senate and reversed his position, claiming that the NNPC was only unable to reconcile $12 billion of crude oil sale earnings.
It was shortly after Mr. Sanusi’s Senate appearance that President Jonathan ordered that the CBN governor’s retirement should be fast-tracked. Mr. Sanusi, who is believed to nurse an ambition to become the next Emir of Kano, had publicly stated that he does not intend to stay for another term.
His term as Nigeria’s Central Bank governor is due to expire in May 2014.

 

Prof. Kunle Lawal, Former Lagos State Commissioner, Dead At 54

  

A former Lagos State commissioner, Prof. Kunle Lawal, has died.
Family Sources in Lagos said Lawal, who served in the Ministry of Education, and then in Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, told SaharaReporters died in the early hours of Christmas Day at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.
It was gathered that the former Professor of History of the University of Ibadan had been sick for a long period, during which he was flown abroad last June.  His illness resurfaced about a week ago and family members took him to LASUTH.
 The late Lawal, who was 54, served his commissionerships during the second term of Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2003.
But he resigned to pursue his political ambition in the state under the umbrella of the Democratic Party Alliance, where he became the gubernatorial running mate of the party flag bearer, Mr Jimi Agbaje.
After the party lost to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he was widely reported to have decamped to the progressive fold before his death.
Prof. Kunle was born on the 9th of May, 1959, into the Awori clan of Ojo and Lagos Island, to the Late Haruna Ayinde Lawal of Itafaji and Epe and the Late Kehinde Lawal.
He attended Jama at ul Islamiyya Primary School, Ebute Elefun, Lagos between 1965 and 1971, Lagos City College, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos between 1972 and 1976 and Federal School of Arts and Sciences, Victoria Island between 1977 and 1979.
He obtained a B.A. (Hons) History in 1982, M.A. History in 1984 and Ph.D History in 1991 from the University of Ibadan.
He is married to Mrs. Hajarat Oluwatoyin, and they have several children.
Residence at his Ojo home disclosed yesterday his remains would be buried in accordance with Islamic rites

 

Fresh BMW Scandal : Patience Jonathan Got Import Waivers For Coscharis Motors To import 200 BMWs In 2012

It has been revealed that Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, sought and received import waivers that she then turned over to Coscharis Motors, a private car dealer, to import 200 BMW cars in 2012.
Figures released by Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance budget office show that Mrs. Jonathan secured the import waivers in the name of her pet project, African First Ladies Peace Mission. The ministry just released a list of beneficiaries of import waivers for 2012.
Other prominent beneficiaries include the Lagos State government which got waivers for the importation of 200 BMWs, Fords, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Lexus, Mercedes, and Jaguar for the 18th National Sports Festival. Part of the waivers granted to the Lagos State government was fraudulently used by Coscharis Motors to import two BMW armored cars for Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah.
Whereas the Ministry of Finance outlined the reasons for giving out waivers to the Lagos State government, it just stated that the waivers granted to the First Lady’s NGO were for the importation of “units of assorted brands of BMW” cars.
A source in Abuja told SaharaReporters tonight that the latest revelation of Mrs. Jonathan’s significant profiting from import waivers is one of the reasons President Goodluck Jonathan has not been able to fire Ms. Oduah after SaharaReporters revealed that she compelled one of the cash-strapped agencies under her control to take out a high-interest, bogus loan to purchase two BMW armored cars for her use.
The same source stated that Mrs. Jonathan’s own waivers, which cost Nigeria a whopping half a billion naira, likely involved fraudulent conversions and misuse. “The First Lady would have earned a huge amount from Coscharis Motors after she transferred the waivers to them,” the source said.
During a House of Reps hearing on the Aviation Minister’s BMW scam, Cosmas M. Maduka, the President and Chairman of Coscharis Group, told bewildered legislators that the fraudulent diversion of waivers was nothing new.
In August 2012, Mrs. Jonathan had hosted a so-called summit of African First Ladies. At the time, media reports disclosed that the Federal Government had bought 200 cars for the summit. However, Mr. Jonathan’s special assistant on the media, Reuben Abati, denied the reports, claiming that Coscharis Motors had donated the cars to the summit at no cost to the government or the First Lady.
The revelations in the waiver document released by the Finance Ministry indicate that Mr. Abati’s assertion was false and misleading.
The list of waiver beneficiaries shows that Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom got an import waiver to import a private jet. The documents released today by the Ministry of Finance reveal that over N54 billion in import waivers was granted to NGOs, individuals, corporations, state as well as federal governments in 2012. Critics have charged that the issuance of import waivers should be streamlined and transparent to avoid abuses and fraud as well as significant loss of revenues to the government.

Doctors Threaten Total Close Down Of Hospitals On January 6, 2014

 

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on Nigerians from all backgrounds to appeal passionately to the government to do whatever is required to avert the full blown strike otherwise scheduled to begin on January 6, 2014.
In a statement signed by its president, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, the NMA recalled its emergency meeting in Minna on December 14, following which it directed all Medical and Dental Practitioners in Nigeria’s public health sector to embark on a five-day warning strike action December 18 to 22.
He noted that the short duration of the warning strike was adopted in deference to the yuletide season to precede a total strike action in the first month of the New Year.
Dr. Enabulele recalled that on September 2, the NMA had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government in which the association highlighted several issues bordering on some health sector challenges including the absence of a regulatory environment for practice in the healthcare sector, workplace conditions, conditions of service, and funding of healthcare.

“It is most distressing to note that aside from the reconstitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other Health Regulatory Councils, none of the other issues contained in the ultimatum were given the deserved attention,” he said, pointing out that the NMA subsequently shifted its September ultimatum three times, four weeks apart, in the expectation the government would reciprocally respond and address the issues with a note of finality.



Full text of the statement:
- Press Release -
WHY NMA IS EMBARKING ON A 5-DAY WARNING STRIKE ACTION

Rising from its Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) at Minna, Niger State capital on Saturday December 14, 2013, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) directed all Medical and Dental Practitioners in Nigeria’s Public health sector to embark on a 5-day warning strike action beginning from Wednesday 18th December to Sunday 22nd December, 2013.

This short duration of the warning strike action which was adopted in deference to the yuletide season, is to precede a total strike action in the first month of the new year (2014).

It is worthy to note that the NMA had on 2nd September, 2013 issued a 21day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria in which the Association highlighted several issues bordering on some health sector challenges, absence of a regulatory environment for practice in the healthcare sector, workplace conditions/conditions of service and funding of healthcare in Nigeria.

It is most distressing to note that aside from the reconstitution and inauguration of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other Health Regulatory Councils, none of the other issues contained in the ultimatum were given the deserved attention.

In appreciation of the possible impact of withdrawal of services by medical and dental practitioners in Nigeria, the NMA shifted her ultimatum three times (3) with 4 weeks apart, hoping and praying hard for Government to reciprocally respond and address the issues brought before her with a note of finality.
WHAT ARE THESE ISSUES?
A) Serial injustices done to doctors, particularly during the harmonization of salary structures in 1998/99 by the Federal Government and failure to correct fundamental errors in the existing salary structure for doctors.
The gross failure of government to address the serial injustices done to doctors, has led to the unacceptable reduction in the income and allowances of doctors with each level of promotion gained by doctors. This strange phenomenon unknown to labour laws has over time contributed significantly to the high level of brain drain of highly qualified Nigerian trained medical and dental practitioners to other countries where their services are better appreciated.
More disheartening is the fact that as we try to get government to redress the previous injustices, further attempts are made to create more injustices and escalate the crisis.

Painfully, we can report that there are over 3500 Nigerian trained physicians actively practicing in the United Kingdom. Many more are in the United States of America and other nations of the world, and several are still leaving on a daily basis. This is partly due to this defect as well as the unavailability of functional equipment/tools in the workplace, unhealthy competition in the health sector and a conducive work environment.
It is for this reason that one Nigerian doctor attends to over 5000 patients, a doctor:patient ratio that is very far away from the real World Health Organization (WHO) prescription of one doctor to 600 patients. It is the resolve of the Association therefore to awaken government at all levels to address this demand.
Restating our understanding of the economic realities, we insist that Nigeria has all it takes to attract and retain the best medical work force in Nigeria rather than allowing our country to be drained of this very useful human resource.

 B) Funding of the healthcare sector and the health of Nigerians Improvement in Nigeria’s budgetary allocation to the health sector.

NMA advocates an improvement in the budgetary allocation to the health sector to meet up with the required minimum of 15% of Nigeria’s national budget. This is in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organization and the 2001 Abuja declaration of African Heads of Government.
In the event that the Nigerian government finds it difficult to move up from her average yearly budgetary allocation of 5-6% to health, the NMA advocates an irreducible minimum of 10% of Nigeria’s annual budget for the health sector.
Without this bold attempt at resuscitating an anaemic public health care financing system, our country’s hospitals would continue to groan in pains with over 70% of our citizens unable to have physical and financial access to them. Indeed, healthcare delivery will remain a scarce social service to more than 70% of our citizens.
Expansion of the Universal Health Coverage for all Nigerians by the provision of a minimum health package through a universal health fund.
Currently, Nigeria can only boast of a Universal Health Coverage of less than 6%, whereas less endowed countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana boast of a Universal Health Coverage of over 60%. Nigeria has no excuse not to have a Universal Health Coverage of over 75%.
Most distressingly, we bemoan the slow pace of actualization of the National Health Bill whose provisions would guarantee a minimum basic package of healthcare for every Nigerian. If we, the custodians of healthcare delivery in Nigeria would not raise alarm over this, who will?
C)         Other Health sector Challenges, including the revitalization of health infrastructure at all levels, restoration of professionalism, e.t.c.
In the face of overt difficulties and sufferings, NMA is pained that it had to embark on this action at this point in time. The last time NMA declared a national strike was 6 years ago. It is therefore with the traditional signature tune of empathy that the strike has been given a human face.
The Association while restating her resolve to ensure the reversal of the afore-stated destructive trends in the health sector, calls on all Nigerians from all backgrounds to appeal passionately to government to do the needful to avert the full blown strike already scheduled to begin by 6 January 2013.
A stitch in time, though belated, can still save nine!
Dr. Osahon Enabulele
President, Nigerian Medical Association;
Vice President (WAR), Commonwealth Medical Association

Unilorin Lecturers To Teach From Homes By 2014 - Registrar


The University of Ilorin continues to make large strides in improving itself, aiming to be fully digitalized in January 2014, the school’s registrar Mr Emmanuel Obafemi said.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, Obafemi said that the development would make it possible for lecturers to be able to send assignments to their students via the Internet.

“As from Jan. 2014, University of Ilorin lecturers would be able to send assignments to their students through the Internet from the comfort of their homes,’’ adding that students would also be able to respond respond via the same channel.

He said that the school had ordered for 25,000 pieces of mini iPads from the U.S. for the students, to enable the lecturers to send assignments to them from home.
He noted that the iPads were already fully loaded with the students’ courses and each student would get one as they resume in January.

Obafemi confirmed that because the iPad was produced in large quantity, the university had subsidised its price, noting that the whole school had already been connected to the Internet.
He expressed the readiness of the institution’s administration to make the university one of the best in Nigeria and Africa.

Obafemi noted that the school would continue to encourage programmes and policies that promote global best practices in the education system.
The registrar gave an assurance that the institution would sustain the legacy of the past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

“If you come here in another five months, you will see a positively different Unilorin and well managed institution,’’ Obafemi said.
He commended the management of the institution and expressed delight in the fact that the university had not gone on strike in 13 years. (NAN)

FG okays privatisation of four refineries

The Bureau of Public Enterprise, on Friday in Abuja announced that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the privatisation of the nation’s four refineries.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Head of Public Communications of BPE, Mr Chigbo Anichebe.

It quotes the President as saying that privatisation of the refineries was in keeping with the economic reform programme of his administration.

“This is in keeping with the transformation agenda, which seeks to catalyse and provide an enabling environment for the private sector to be the drivers of economic growth in the country.’’

The four refineries are Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. I, Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd. II, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd. and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Ltd.

It said that the President also approved the constitution of a Steering Committee consisting of stakeholders from relevant ministries and agencies for the privatisation process.

According to the statement, the Steering Committee will advise the National Council on Privatisation , headed by Vice President, Namadi Sambo on the best way to privatise the refineries.

“The committee will review the diagnostic reports and recommendations of the transaction advisors and make recommendations to the NCP, propose modalities and make recommendations on labour matters to ensure a successful privatisation.

“They will also oversee the general process, make recommendations, carryout any other ancillary activities relevant to the attainment of the goals of the Federal Government in the privatisation of the nation’s refineries,’’ it said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Steering Committee is chaired by the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Other members of the committee are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of Power, Minister of Labour​​, the Minister of National Planning, Minister of Mines and Steel Development and Minister of Justice.

The chairman of the Extractive Sub Committee of NCP, Special Adviser to the Vice President on Economy, Group Managing Director of NNPC​​ and Director General of BPE​​ were named as members.

The Group Executive Director (Refineries), NNPC, the Managing Directors of the refineries are also members while the Director of Oil and Gas Department, BPE, will act as Secretary of the committee.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the BPE, Mr Benjamin Dikki, pledged the commitment of committee in carrying out the exercise.

“The directives we have is to conduct the privatisation process transparently, complying with due process and international best practice.

“We are expected to improve on the high standards set in the power sector transaction, which has received accolades all over the world as being very transparent,” he said.

 

Reps raise 50 questions on economy for Okonjo-Iweala

 

Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday engaged their guest, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in hot exchange over the state of the economy.

At the end of the day, the lawmakers sent the minister away with 50-question homework.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the coordinating minister for the economy for the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, had appeared before the House Committee on Finance to address members on the state of the nation’s economy.

But, the session, which was chaired by Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin, turned stormy shortly after the minister complained that she was indisposed to speak.

About three hours earlier, Okonko-Iweala had laid the estimates of the 2014 budget before the whole House where she looked excited, smiling and waving at lawmakers in acknowledgement of their cheers.

In response to the minister’s complaint of not feeling well to speak, the committee offered to grant her two weeks of rest and to reappear to speak to members at the end of the rest period.

The minister however shouted, “No, no, no,” and accused the committee members of being rude and hasty in dismissing her.

She said the tone of the committee chairman was disrespectful to a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She observed that she had noticed a trend in Jibrin’s conduct, which she said was to harass her and members of her team. The minister consequently changed her mind and said she was ready to entertain questions from the members.

But Jibrin objected, saying, “We will not take you in present state that you say you are not feeling fine. That is why it is the view of the committee that we give you time to come back.

“We are concerned about your health.”

He argued that it was better to hear from the minister when she was fully fit than allow her to address issues relating to the economy “half-heartedly.”

This further infuriated Okonjo-Iweala, who replied that she was not a “slacker.”

The committee insisted on the earlier ruling and dismissed her.

But, in doing so, Jibrin handed her a document containing 50 questions, which he said the minister must answer at her next appointment with the committee.

One of the questions sought to know how an economy that spent 80 per cent of its annual budget on recurrent spending could claim to be “one of the fastest growing economies?”

Another question required her to list the “major economic achievements of this government in 2013.”

She was also asked why Nigeria’s economy could not grow beyond “single digit GDP.”

On debts, the committee asked, “Why should our internal debts continue to represent more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s external debt profile, when the cost of servicing domestic debts is ridiculously far more expensive that servicing external debts?”

 

World's most pierced woman with 7,000 Metalic Piercings Gets Married!

 
 
For someone covered from head to toe in nearly 7,000 metallic piercings, one extra ring might not be anything particularly special.

But the latest addition to Elaine Davidson's collection could be her most cherished ring yet, as the world's most pierced woman today married.

Miss Davidson, who at a recent count had an astonishing 6,925 piercings, tied the knot in Edinburgh, where she lives and runs a shop.

The 42-year-old was accompanied to a registry office in the Scottish capital wearing a white gown as well as pink and flowers around her hair.

And for the special occasion she naturally kept her trademark piercings all in place, along with green, yellow and blue paint markings on her face.

Her husband, Douglas Watson, who has no visible piercings, was dressed for the 35-minute ceremony in a dark blue suit with a blue shirt and tie.

She was also accompanied into Edinburgh Registry Office by two bridesmaids dressed in pink.

The Brazilian-born former nurse first broke the record for most piercings in May 2000, when a Guinness World Records official examined her and found 462 piercings on her body, including 192 on her face.

Miss Davidson has previously said she never removes the rings and studs, which she estimates weigh a total of around three kilos. She also insists there is no pain involved in the piercing, and that she sleeps every night with every piercing still in place.

However, she revealed in 2009 that she doesn't like being pieced and suffers for her art.

She said in February 2009, when she had 6,005 piercings including 1,500 that are 'internal': 'I don't enjoy getting pierced, but to break the record you have to get to a high level.

'I wanted to break the record.

'My family don't even like tattoos or piercings.'

On her own website, Miss Davidson, who also sleeps on a bed of nails and has walked on fire and glass, says she enjoys extreme sports and theatre, but does not drink or smoke.
 

I'm Not A Robber, I Only Give Robbers Information – 28-Year-Old Man Confesses 

 
A 28-year-old man, Nonso Egbuzobi, who was arrested by operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad during a robbery operation in Lagos State, has pleaded with the police to release him, saying he was just an informant and not a member of any robbery gang.

Police authorities had said Egbuzobi and three others were part of a gang that killed three policemen during an ATM robbery at an Access Bank branch in Ayobo, Ipaja area of the state on November 20, 2013.
“Like I said, I did not rob, I only gave the robbers information that they needed. I am a responsible man and even a footballer at Lagos State University, it was poverty that pushed me to become armed robbers’ informant,” Nonso cries.
After the Ipaja robbery, SARS men led by the officer in charge, SP Abba Kyari, commenced investigations. It was learnt that the suspect was arrested with one Ak-47 rifle while attempting to rob a house at Ilasamaja area of Lagos.

But Nonso claimed that, “Some weeks ago, I was at a snooker joint around Lagos State University when a man approached me saying he had a target that we could rob at Ilasamaja. I told him I was not a robber, but I knew people who were capable.

“I approached one armed robber known as Fine Money and I connected him with the person that gave me information. On December 4, 2013, Fine Money picked me up in a jeep around Mile 2 and I led him and two other guys to the house at Ilasamaja. We were told that the victim had N10m in his house.

“They all had guns, but I decided that I would remain in the car. However, before they could come down, policemen started shooting at us and everyone in the vehicle died except me because I hid on the floor of the car."

Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, said when he received information about the robbery, he ordered his men to foil the attempt and the policemen engaged the robbers in a gun duel during which two robbers, Daniel Onuoha, and Eyo Bassey, a dismissed soldier, were killed.

He said a police walkie-talkie was also recovered adding that it was with the aid of the walkie-talkie that the robbers were able to monitor police movement.
 

World Famous Singer Beyonce Admits She is a Member Of The Illuminati!

 
In yesterday's much-anticipated interview with Oprah, Beyoncé finally admitted she was a member of the New World Order, also known as the Illuminati.

Rumors have swirled since the episode's taping; many fans wondered why Oprah never questioned the star about her alleged Illuminati ties and commented that it might be due to Oprah's own participation in Illuminati activities.

Less than three seconds into the interview, Oprah turned to Beyoncé and said, "So, you know what I'm gonna say to you ... the Illuminati." From there, Bey delved into her beginnings with the group, their assistance in her rise to fame, and her recent promotion to the highest ranks of the order.

Beyoncé says she finally came clean after feeling guilty over all the undue credit she's been given. "People keep thinking I'm this magical ageless beauty, when really that's the result of consuming all these blood sacrifices." Oprah interjected, "You still work hard, and you're raising a beautiful daughter." Beyoncé remained critical: "People ask me how I juggled my career and pregnancy without understanding that reptilian pregnancies last only 2 months."

Oprah's surprised reaction following this statement has been deemed inauthentic by fans. As godmother to Blue Ivy, she would have presumably been present at both the conception ritual and birth ceremony.

The pinnacle of the interview was when Oprah solemnly asked if the Illuminati was behind the death of Whitney Houston. "Yes, that was us. I was there for that. But at the time I felt, in my heart, that that was what she would have wanted," said Beyoncé.

"She had a good run."

When it came time to discuss husband Jay-Z's possible ties to the Illuminati, Beyoncé said, "That's something I'd like to keep private. I don't like to air my family affairs out in the open."

"You're keeping something for yourself?" replied Oprah. "Yes, exactly." 

‘Gyoza’ chain chief shot dead outside HQ

 

The president of the nationwide Ohsho “gyoza” (dumpling) restaurant chain was gunned down Thursday morning in front of the company’s headquarters in Kyoto, police said.
Takayuki Ohigashi, 72, the head of Ohsho Food Services, which runs the Gyoza no Ohsho chain, was shot in a parking lot in front of the headquarters in Yamashina Ward, the police said. The unidentified shooter fled.
Ohigashi was bleeding from several gunshot wounds when an employee found him lying face down at around 7 a.m., the city fire department said.
The Kyoto Prefectural Police said Ohigashi’s belongings, including his wallet, were still on him and apparently no money was missing. Investigators said the crime may have been committed out of malice for either Ohigashi or the company.
Several spent bullet casings were found on the ground, the police said.
Ohsho Food, founded in 1967 and known for its low-priced fare, has 2,000 employees and 680 Gyoza no Ohsho eateries nationwide and four in China.
The company has recently been involved in some high-profile incidents.
Last December, a group of customers sat naked at the counter of one of its restaurants in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and took pictures of themselves, posting them later on the Internet.
Ohsho Food filed a criminal complaint in September against 10 customers involved in the incident, saying their behavior amounted to obstruction of business and public indecency.
Afterward, the Ishikawa Prefectural Police turned over to prosecutors their case against the people, who denied committing any wrongdoing and claimed they had obtained permission from the restaurant.
In February, meanwhile, an Ohsho Food employee in Kyoto sued the company for ¥23 million for allegedly forcing him to work long hours that caused him to become clinically depressed.
The restaurant chain operated as normal Thursday. The company said later in the day it that Executive Managing Director Naoto Watanabe, 58, will succeed Ohigashi.

 

Two teenagers arrested over Northern Ireland planned bombing

Police on both sides of the Irish border have foiled a major bomb attack on a target in Belfast, it emerged on Thursday.
Gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are linking the plot to the arrest of two teenagers at a house just north of the border in south Armagh on Wednesday.
PSNI officers discovered grinders and fertiliser used for making an explosive mix for a car bomb at the property.
The 19 and 18-year olds arrested on 18 December are from Dundalk in the Irish Republic.
Security sources confirmed reports earlier today that a cross border security operaton inolving surveillance for several days led the PSNI to the house in south Armagh.
Inside the house the PSNI found a grinder, which they believe was being used to mix ammonium nitrate fertiliser with sugar to create the bomb.
Armed officers from the Garda Siochana later arrested a 43-year old man at seperate premises in Dundalk on Wednesday night.
He was being held for questioning last night at Drogheda Garda station under section 30 of the Republic’s Offences Against the State Act and can be detained without charge for up to three days.
The discovery of the bomb making items has been described as a “very significant” find by security sources in the Republic.
The find comes after two separate dissident republican bomb attacks in Belfast’s commercial centre since Friday. The PSNI are still hunting for a suspected fire bomber who suffered burns to his head and upper body on Monday night after the incendiary device he was carrying ignited inside a golf store in Cornmarket.

 

Man sets self ablaze in Vatican

A 51-year-old man set himself on fire in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome Thursday, CNN reported.

The man was taken to a hospital.

Neither his condition or his motivation were immediately clear.

 

Tokyo gov resigns over alleged pre-election scam

 

Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose announced his resignation Thursday after admitting he received money from a hospital operator prior to his election last year.

“I have confirmed my determination to resign as Tokyo Governor,” he said during a press conference after handing in his letter of resignation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
Inose admitted to receiving 50 million yen (U.S. $480,150) from Tokushukai, a hospital operator involved in vote-buying allegations.
“I should not have borrowed the money,” Inose said.
He said it was a personal loan and not in any way linked to his election campaign. He added that the money has already been returned.
“I have tried hard to demonstrate my accountability, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to clear away suspicions against me.”
The governor was seen to have played a crucial role in securing Tokyo’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics in September, The Japan Times reported.
“I don’t want to further interrupt the operations of the administration as Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics,” he said at the press conference.
“I offer a deep apology,” he said, bowing deeply.
It is likely that a special election will be arranged to choose Inose’s successor in the coming February, according to The Japan Times.

 

 

Jonathan Is Behind That Stupid Letter ––Iyabo Obasanjo Blasts 

 

In a bid to rubbish the person of President Olusegun Obasanjo, agents of the Presidency have been sponsoring several damaging adverts on the social media against him and we observed that they took it a step further by writing a sarcastic letter and fraudulently attributed it to his daughter, Iyabo.

Obasanjo exposed the bitter truth and the man helped made president decided to blackmail him?

"If President Jonathan want to reply the letter my father wrote him, he should be man enough to reply direct. Why are they trying to make me a scape goat? I know my father very well and I don't question his judgement, I believe my father wrote his letter in the best interest of the nation. If Mr President disagree with some of the allegations in the letter, let him be man enough to talk directly to my father, he should stop involving me in an issue I know nothing about.



"How can you write a letter to insult my father and claim I, the daughter is the source. If that is how Ijaw people insult their father, I am a Yoruba Woman; we respect our parent in all circumstances.

Reacting to the fake letter against her father, Iyabo Obasanjo further stated that...
"I have never seen or heard this sort of fabrication in my entire life! I, Iyabo Obasanjo, never contemplate writing a letter to my loving father. I speak with him almost on daily bases. Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo is the best father in the world. He gave birth to me, he raised me up and gave me the best of education. I wouldn't have achieved whatever I did without my father. In fact, WHO AM I WITHOUT MY FATHER? As a father he never disappoints his children in any way, he is a father anybody wish to have.

"I, Iyabo Obasanjo, did not write any letter. Nigerians should please take note. The purported letter is a malicious lies intended to rubbish the good name of my family, when I get to the source of the letter, I will waste no time to take the necessary legal actions.

"I love my father and I never disrespect him."  

Jonathan unveils Nigeria’s first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Kaduna unveiled the country’s first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, GULMA, designed and constructed by the Nigerian Air Force.



Speaking at the ceremony, Jonathan said that the unveiling of the vehicle marked another landmark moment in the nation’s history.

He said that besides its diverse military application, the vessel would provide a range of benefits in disaster management, power line surveys and law enforcement.

Jonathan said that the vehicle would also be useful in aerial imaging/mapping, telecommunications and weather monitoring.

“It is also rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration.

“Considering the potential impact of its benefit and versatility, I cannot but say how proud I am of the men and women of our Armed Forces.

“Apart from their commitment to the protection of our sovereignty, they are helping to keep our nation ahead in military science and technology and to keep their civilian counterparts on their toes.
“Today, as we stand in appreciation of the gallant men and women of our Air Force, we are reminded that hard work and diligence can break many barriers,’’ he said.

Jonathan commended the Chief of Air Staff and all officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force for the achievement, noting that it would strengthen the country.

He said it would also enhance the nation’s role in peace keeping and conflict prevention.

The president said he was optimistic that this stride by the Nigerian Air Force would mark a turning point for indigenous technology in every sector of the nation’s life.

“Let me assure the Air Force of the Federal Government’s support for this and all other research projects.

“We will encourage and assist private sector concerns to key into mass production of the project to achieve the highest and best commercial use of this prototype Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

UNVEILING OF ‘GULMA’ NIGERIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE IN KADUNA

“As I said in my Independence Day address, our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens.

“Indeed, indigenous initiatives remain indispensable in achieving national greatness.

“To retain the country’s importance on the global stage, we must continue to produce leaders in science, technology, and engineering, and invest more in ideas,’’ the president said.

In his remark, Supervising Minister of Defence Labaran Maku said the development of a surveillance aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force was a bold statement of government’s resolve to provide security for the Nigerian populace.

Maku, who is the Minister of Information, said that the GULMA UAV would potentially afford the armed forces a window of immense opportunities in its task of acquiring timely intelligence and combating criminality.

“Although the UAV was a brainchild of the Nigerian Air Force, it is important that other services and security agencies incorporate it into their operations, if its potential is to be fully harnessed.

“There is therefore, the need for a comprehensive policy on UAV acquisition and operation to optimise the employment of GULMA UAV by all services and security agencies,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, had said that the GULMA was designed to meet vast expectations and needs.

Badeh said that the GULMA could be employed by the armed forces and security agencies for the protection of the country.

He explained that the air force envisaged partnership with agencies such as NEMA and the Nigeria Air Space Management Agency for weather forecasting.

“Furthermore, the GULMA, as a qualitative, timely and reliable source of information could serve as a powerful tool for media practitioners.

“To sustain the current tempo of development, the NAF would require the assistance of government in infrastructure and human capacity development. (NAN)

 

Man stabs prostitute for refusing to give him used condoms

 

Drama ensued recently in Alhaji Oluseyi Way in Okota, a densely populated area of Lagos when an unidentified man stabbed a commercial sex worker with a bottle for refusing to give him used condoms after sex.

It was gathered that the man, after having an all-night marathon sex with the lady demanded for the used condoms the following day but the lady turned him down, saying that she had disposed them.

However, the man maintained that the lady must produce the condoms so he could disposed them himself, apparently afraid of being used for ritual.

Consequent to the lady’s refusal to produce the used condoms, fight ensued and the visibly angry man pounced on her, beating her blue black.
Other members of the sex ring joined the fight and overpowered him. The man reportedly picked up a bottle and stabbed one of them. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Police Command at Ago-Okota Division.

When DailyPost correspondent arrived at the scene, the victim, a diminutive lady was seen ranting at the top of her voice.

She said, “Na our own business we dey do here, we no dey carry person sperm do anything. Anybody wey say e no go better for us, na God go punish am.”

You dey fear say dem go use your sperm dom something and you dey do. God go punish you and your family. Shameless man,” she asserted.

Efforts to speak with her proved abortive as she was quickly rushed to one of the nearby clinics for medical attention.
 

Nigerian Musicians Threaten To Boycott Xmas Events

 

Pop icon, 2face Idibia bared his mind on the issue  and he his not happy with the current situation while Banky W, co-owner of Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) threatened to pull out of all events if the feud is not resolved soon.

Nigerian musicians have threatened to boycott events holding this Christmas and afterwards.

Following the ongoing feud between Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and the joint alliance of the Independence Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) and Broadcast Organization of Nigeria (BON) which has led to the ban of 96 musicians on radio and TV, COSON and its members have reacted.

Rising from a stakeholders interactive session that was recently held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Rumours Night Club, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos to declare its stance, the members amongst other things declared that it is not going to change its position on the issue of royalties even if their message will be driven with series of boycotts of events this Christmas season.

Since the ban, many musicians have begun to make their positions known. Banky W, co-owner of Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E) threatened to pull out of all events if the feud is not resolved soon.

‘You claim to have banned my artistes and you want them to perform at your events, I am categorically stating that if this issue is not resolved by the meeting with Nigeria Broadcast Commission, then I don’t have a choice than to pull out all E.M.E artistes from these events‘ Banky said.

Also not happy with the situation, Pop icon, 2face Idibia bared his mind on the issue. ‘it is sad that some group of people do not want things to work the way it works every where in the world’, the ‘African Queen’ singer said. ‘It is not about me but about the respect for the rule of law and intellectual property and that’s what we artistes are demanding for, they pay for everything why not the music’

Making reference to the boycott, 2face said, ‘This ban will cost them something, I mean Rhythm Unplugged. The organisers of Rhythm Unplugged are part of the people that banned artistes, they have radio and TV stations.’

Also in a similar development, a COSON board member and CEO of Now Music Efe Omorogbe also threatened to pull out of events beginning with the ‘Rhythm Unplugged’ event which is a brainchild of Flytime Promotions and the Silverbird Group, owners of Rhythm FM and Silverbird TV.

Omorogbe threatened to disassociate with the yearly event because Guy Murray Bruce happens to be an executive at Silverbird Group and is also the secretary of IBAN. He said ‘If the whole ban issue is not resolved by the meeting with NBC, I am saying it here that I will pull out of Rhythm Unplugged an event which I have been associated with over the last few years’.

The highly anticipated Headies Awards may also suffer the same fate as musicians may extend the boycott to the event. Omorogbe stated that musicians under COSON will give Ayo Animashaun, owner of Hiphop World Magazine/HipTV a few days to make public his stand on the ongoing feud or risk boycott of the highly revered awards.

Responding to the threat, Ayo Animashaun told NET, ‘I have no comment on that for now. I don’t want to put my channel on the spotlight on this. You know it is a young platform’.

The ongoing battle between COSON and BON/IBAN is heightening as COSON has reiterated its resolve to enforce broadcast stations to respect Nigeria’s copyright law by paying royalties and license fees for the works of artistes.  Now in the season of festivities, fans are no doubt expecting to have fun and entertainment, but only time will tell how far musicians are willing to go with the threat.



 

Access Bank Sacks 200 Staff, Squanders N200m On Mariah Carey - See more at: http://www.gosippme.com/2013/12/access-bank-sacks-200-staff-squanders.html#.UrFu_4Vkh2k

Ghanaian In UK Kills Wife For Flirting With A Nigerian 

 


















A husband has been jailed for 17 years after he killed his wife by stabbing her at least 15 times then running her over with his car because he thought she was having an affair with a neighbour.

Minta Adiddo sent Akua Agyeman a Christmas card as she was being treated in hospital, blaming the attack on 'devils', the Old Bailey heard.

The 32-year-old mother of two died two months after the brutal stabbing, which was witnessed by her five-year-old daughter. Adiddo, 38, was today given a life sentence after being convicted of murder, with a minimum term of 17 years.

The Sainsbury's worker from Enfield, North London, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, although he denied murder.

The court heard he suspected his wife was having an affair with their neighbour Oledapo Etti-Williams in October 2012. Mr Etti-Williams denied it, but said they exchanged three to four 'sometimes flirtatious' texts a day - and phone records showed they had sometimes sent as many as 80 messages in one day.

On November 5, Adiddo stabbed his wife with a large kitchen knife in their bedroom while their one-year-old daughter slept in a cot next to them.Ms Agyeman managed to escape through the living room window, waking neighbours with her screams.

But her husband chased her down and stabbed her again in the street as she lay on the ground, leaving her with 15 separate stab wounds.

When he realised she still wasn't dead he got in his car and tried to run her over, almost ploughing into shocked witnesses who were tending to her.

Ms Agyeman's last words as she lay injured were to ask if her children were all right.

 

Obasanjo liar, megalomaniac, hypocrite, says daughter

The first daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo, has ruled out further communication with her father till death, describing him as a liar, manipulator, megalomaniac, narcissistic, two-faced hypocrite determined to foist on President Goodluck Jonathan what no one would contemplate with him as president.
The Vanguard Online published today an 11-page open letter written by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo to her father, in which she painted a very unwholesome intimate portrait of Nigeria’s leader, accusing him “of having an egoistic craving for power and living a life where only men of low esteem and intellect thrive.”

Contrary to Obasanjo’s denial that he did not seek a third term, Iyabo, the Vanguard reported accused her father of orchestrating a third term for himself as president, cruelty to family members, abandonment of children and grandchildren, and also, a legendary reputation of maltreatment of women, including the mother.
Iyabo who foreclosed further political engagements in Nigeria denied any political motive for her missive, and described Nigeria as a country where her father and his ilk have helped to create a situation where smart, capable people bend down to imbeciles to survive.
“For you to accuse someone else of what you so obviously practiced yourself tells of your narcissistic megalomaniac personality. Everyone around for even a few minutes knows that the only thing you respond to is praise and worship of you”, she wrote in reference to Obasanjo’s letter 2 December to President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

30-Feet Nelson Mandela Bronze Statue Unveiled Today
























Today Monday 16th December 2013, a 30-feet bronze statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled by South African president Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.

This honour comes after he was laid to rest yesterday 15th December 2013 in the remote village of Qunu where he grew up. Idris Elba, Oprah Winfrey and partner Stedman Graham, Richard Branson, Desmond Tutu, George Bush, and Joyce Banda, were some of the high profile guests at the ceremony.

Village heads beat up monarch over chieftaincy disagreement

 

Scores of angry youths on Saturday went on the rampage in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State, following an alleged assault on the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Azeez Adelakun, by 10 village heads, popularly called baales.

The youths also took to the streets on Sunday and prevented the opening of the market in the town, while other businesses were forced to close shops.

The baales allegedly beat up Adelakun, cutting the traditional royal beads off his neck over a chieftaincy disagreement.

The fracas between the baales and the monarch was said to have occurred at the palace while Adelakun was making preparations to install the new village head of Ago-Imala, Chief Olayiwola Ajibola, a move which the village heads allegedly opposed.

Our correspondent learnt that there had been a tension between the baales and the monarch over his installation of two village heads in the Saala community, which boiled over on Saturday when Adelakun moved to formalise Ajibola’s headship of Ago-Imala community.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, explained that the village heads had requested a meeting with the Oba.

He said, “When the monarch entered his palace for the meeting, the aggrieved baales refused to pay him the traditional homage and instead told him that they no longer recognise him as the traditional ruler of the town.

“One of the baales moved to forcibly remove the royal beads from the monarch, but his (monarch) resistance led to the fracas in the palace. The baale beat him up.”

It was learnt that some youths of the community learnt of the assault on the monarch, they rushed to the palace and descended on some of the baales, who were still in the palace.

PUNCH Metro was told that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, later led his men to restore normalcy in the area.

Our correspondent, who visited the town at about 2.00pm on Saturday, observed bonfire made by the aggrieved youth, who protested the alleged assault on the monarch.

At the Orile Saala Road residence of the monarch, our correspondent was told that the monarch had lost his voice allegedly due to the assault.

However, the Baale of Ayinbo-Ayetoro, Chief Ezekiel Ogundele, who spoke on behalf of the embattled monarch, alleged that his aggrieved colleagues had planned to dethrone Adelakun.

Ogundele said, “They said Kabiyesi disgraced them in Abeokuta and they will retaliate by removing him as the king of the town. There are two baales in Saala and the baales wanted the two offices merged, but Kabiyesi  disagreed, saying he was the one that installed both of them.

“This did not go down well with the aggrieved baales who vowed to deal with the Kabiyesi by removing him.

“When the baales got to the palace, they did not pay homage and   when the monarch asked them why they failed to pay the homage they said the Kabiyesi had been removed as the king.They were about 10 in number.

“Some of them tore the traditional beads of the king and beat him up. All of them had held a meeting where they planned on how to attack the king and they acted the script. As they were beating the Kabiyesi, the Kabiyesi urged his people not to touch them. Later the police came and took them away.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said that 19 Baales were involved in the crisis.

Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, added that only one person was injured in the violence.

He said, “Baale Keesan assaulted the monarch by removing the beads from the king. The youth in the area reacted, but the prompt intervention of policemen saved the day and only one person was injured.

“The Olu of Ilaro and Yewa Traditional council have intervened. So, there is no need of arrest. The Olu of Ilaro has intervened and normalcy has been restored in the area.”