2015: Why Gov Lamido Endorsed Jonathan For Presidency

Indications emerged last night that the leadership of the Northern
Governors' Forum scored a big political point on Thursday by
convincing the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido to endorse
the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Competent party sources told Vanguard that the chairman of the
Northern Governors' Forum and Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida
Aliyu, who is said to have the ears of the Jigawa governor, was given
the task to work on Lamido to join the train in endorsing Jonathan.

To get the governor to join his colleagues in giving his assent to
Jonathan to fly the PDP flag, Aliyu reportedly told Lamido that
Jonathan had accepted to abide by all the commitments that he made to
Jigawa people during his electioneering campaign in the state in 2011.

Top on the list of the commitment extracted from Jonathan for Lamido
is that the Presidency will refund the sum of over N15 billion
expended by Lamido to build the Dutse International Airport, a project
which the Federal Government promised to undertake but failed.

Similarly, the Presidency also agreed to undertake the immediate
construction of the Auyo Irrigation Project, which was started by the
Shagari Administration but abandoned and has remained an
electioneering topic by successive presidential candidates and
parties.

Besides, the Federal Government, it was learnt, also agreed to
construct a major road in the state to connect the state-owned
university at Kafin Hausa, as a means of appeasing the governor and
his people.

A top source in Jigawa said that Lamido accepted to support Jonathan's
candidature at the PDP NEC meeting in Abuja on Thursday because
according to him "there has been a commitment" by President Jonathan
to fulfill his campaign promises to the people of the state.

"All along, Governor Lamido had insisted that he would only support
the president if he fulfilled his campaign promises to the state and
not that he wanted to replace him as some persons were insinuating, a
top official said.

But the Director of Press to Governor Lamido, Mr. Umar Kyari, who
spoke on the phone from Saudi Arabia, pointed out that the governor
had never had any disagreement with Jonathan on the issue of running
for the same office.

"As a matter of fact, the governor has never declared his intention to
challenge Jonathan in the Presidential race but it was only his
admirers, who suggested that based on the brilliant performance he has
put up in the state, he could replicate same if he becomes the
president of Nigeria," Umar explained.

"It must be made abundantly clear that governor Lamido has never told
anyone that he was going to challenge Jonathan in the presidential
election in 2015," the spokesman stressed.

It would be recalled that Lamido had distanced himself from the
initial endorsement of President Jonathan by the North-West Zone of
the PDP two weeks ago but did not give any reasons.

The development was then taken to mean that he was ready to slug it
out with Jonathan at the polls come 2015. But the position changed
dramatically when Lamido turned up at the NEC meeting of PDP and
endorsed Jonathan as the sole candidate for the presidential race next
year.

TB Joshua Will Not Die But Will Suffer - Congolese Prophet

Cogolese Jean-Claude Kibondzi is one of the thousands of worshippers
who crave to see TB Joshua. He said that he is based in Sweden and
that he has not been able to meet TB Joshua since he started coming to
Nigeria in 2012. He calls himself a prophet and predicts that more
buildings at the Synagogue may collapse. He speaks in a manner that
casts doubt over his sanity. Excerpts.

You said God revealed things to you. What were they?

T.B Joshua is a messiah. He is not a real human being. He is a special
creator from God and it is only God that knows why he chose to use
that body. There is likely no man of God who is spiritually endowed.
It is only those who are filled with the spirit of God that can
understand him and that is why demons tremble when they come close to
him. Again, I want to say T.B Joshua is the fulfillment of the promise
of God in Mathew 21 verse 42 to 44.

(Photo: Jean-Claude)

You said God revealed the building collapse to you. Which other
revelation has God shown you that has come to pass?

God has shown me many Prophecies like the fall of the Catholic church
and the fall of the Pope. I sent these prophecies via mail to SCOAN. I
even call the church but nothing tangible has come out of it.

Why did you send it to SCOAN and not the catholic church?

Well, I sent it to SCOAN because I had contact with them and I told
some Pastors in Sweden but they did not believe me. I told them about
the missing Malaysian airplane but they never listened to me. My
Challenge in Sweden is racism.

Have you been able to speak with TB Joshua since Saturday?

No, his security officials were very arrogant. They go as far as
pushing and treating you like a dog. They did not want me to talk. I
was detained on Sunday around 8am till 9:45pm in a room with no water
or food. My family did not know where I was. At 9:45pm, they told me
to come back the next day that I will see the man of God. The next
day, I was at Gate 5 as agreed. They began to push me here and there
and when they saw that some people were attracted to the scene, they
carried me into the same room and locked me there. It was when I was
released that my wife told me it was someone who saw us when we were
walking into the church premises that told her and she began shouting
and this led to my release.

Why do you think God sent you instead of somebody close to TB Joshua?

God has sent me to America to empower a man of God. I also got a
revelation about President Obama and other pastors in Sweden prayed
for him for two weeks.

Have you met TB Joshua in spirit?

I met him in the spirit and in the throne of God.

How?

It takes a spiritual person to understand who this man is. For me, I
have to know you in the spirit to confirm whether or not you are a man
of God. If TB Joshua were a white man, I believe, we will be paying
nothing less than $10,000 to go and visit him. But, here in Nigeria,
people don't believe him and I am giving them another five years and
they will know better when this man's mission will be accomplished.

Are you are saying, he has a mission to be accomplished in five years
time and will be taken away like Enorch?

God will take him and everyone will see it. Then, the people will
know. But, until then.

Is that a fresh revelation?

It is not like a fresh revelation, but, the consequence of the
threatening of his life. He will not be killed but he will suffer.

Are you saying all these to get the man's attention, perhaps when the
story is out, he will call you over?

No, I am not. I spoke with one of the man's wise men called, "Wise man
Daniel and made him understand that he was a prophet of T.B Joshua
while I am a prophet of the Almighty God. He apologized immediately
because he knew I was not kidding. I told him I will put the power of
God to test in his presence so as to know that I am not an ordinary
man. God will always rescue TB Joshua from any trouble but I am more
concerned of the lives of the people that may perish if no preventive
measure is taken. I am not in government but a spiritual leader, and
whether people like it or not, I will be going back to my country. I
have told God that, this would be my last time in Nigeria and I will
not come back.

And what if God sends you to people like Adeboye, Kumuyi among others?

I don't take a contact of someone I don't know in the spirit. Many
people call themselves men of God but in the real sense they are not.
I can't talk or authenticate someone who I have not met in the spirit.

What will happen if you are not able to see him?

This is my seventh visit to SCOAN and everything God has shown has
happened. So, if I can't get him this time, I will not come back.

White House Evacuated After Man Jumps Fence

A man sparked an evacuation at the White House on Friday after he
scaled and jumped over a fence and made it into the building before
being captured.

US President Barack Obama and his family were not at the White House
at the time, though officials and journalists were rushed out of the
building during the disturbance that began on the North Lawn around
7:20 pm (2320 GMT) Friday, the Secret Service said.

Obama had just minutes before left by helicopter with his family from
the South Lawn headed for Camp David, the presidential weekend
retreat.

Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary identified the suspect as Omar
Gonzalez, 42, from Copperas Cove, Texas.

"It appeared to responding officers that he was unarmed, which turned
out to be true," Leary added.

"Gonzalez ignored the commands of those officers to stop and
ultimately was apprehended by officers just inside the North Portico
doors of the WhiteHouse."

Leary said the suspect was taken to George Washington Hospital for a
medical evaluation.

Gonzalez was suffering from chest pains, according to a law
enforcement official.

"Any time someone jumps the fence, there is a security breach and the
Secret Service has to balance security with access and
reasonableness," the official added.

"The location of the arrest -- the White House -- is not acceptable to
the Secret Service and the response will be reviewed."

Sierra Leone Faces Criticism Over Ebola Shutdown

Sierra Leone began the second day of a 72-hour nationwide shutdown
aimed at containing the spread of the deadly Ebola virus on Saturday
amid criticism that the action was a poorly planned publicity stunt.

Most of Sierra Leone's six million people have been confined to their
homes from midnight (0000 GMT) on Friday, with only essential workers
such as health professionals and security forces exempt.

Almost 30,000 volunteers are going door-to-door to educate locals and
hand out soap, in an exercise expected to lead to scores more patients
and bodies being discovered in homes.

But independent observers have voiced concerns over the quality of
advice being given out, deeming the shutdown a "mixed success" in the
Western Area, the region that includes the capital Freetown.

"While the supervisors were well trained, the visiting teams to
families in some parts in the Western Area had poor training and could
not deliver the information properly," said Abubakarr Kamara, from the
Health for All Coalition, a local charity.

"From my observation, many of them were too young to be involved in
the exercise and in one or two households where I witnessed their
intervention, there were hardly messages given to the families which
were beneficial to the households."

Jonathan Visits Site Of Collapsed Synagogue Church Building

President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived the site of the collapsed six
storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in
Ikotun Area of Lagos State, south west Nigeria.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed to reporters
in Lagos that 78 people died as a result of the incident while many
others were injured.

The Founder and General Overseer of the church, Temitope Joshua,
popularly referred to as T.B Joshua, has linked the collapseto a
"strange aircraft" which he said hovered around the building before it
collapsed.

While briefing journalists on the incident, the pastor provided a
video evidence, showing a flying aircraft, to back his claim.

In the video, a plane was seen flying over the collapsed guest house
belonging to the church at four different times, between 11:30 am and
11:54 am - on Friday morning. The building collapsed at about 1pm, on
the same day.

He further alleged that he was the target of the hovering jet.

Arsenal Stun Villa 3-0

Arsenal stopped Aston Villa going top of the Premier League with a 3-0
win on Saturday.

Villa had conceded just one league goal in their previous four league
matches but all that changed as Arsenal fired in three inside four
minutes at Villa Park.

The much-criticised Mesut Ozil put the Gunners in front in the 32nd
minute and former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scored his
first Arsenal goal two minutes later before Villa's Aly Cissokho
turned the ball into his own net.

Meanwhile Newcastle moved off the bottom of the table and eased the
pressure on under-fire manager Alan Pardew by coming from 2-0 down to
draw 2-2 at home to Hull, with substitute Papiss Cisse scoring both
the Magpies' goals.

Southampton won 1-0 away to a Swansea side who had to play more than
half the match a man down after Ivory Coast striker Wilfried Bony was
sent off.

QPR and Stoke shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road while
honours were also even in the goalless draw between Burnley and
Sunderland.

West Ham play Liverpool in Saturday's late kick-off match.

Sunday sees leaders Chelsea looking to maintain their perfect league
record this season away to champions Manchester City.

Deportivo La Corunavs Real Madrid 2-8 Highlights

*.Real Madrid defeated Deportivo la Coruna 8-2 at the Riazor Stadium

*.Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 23rd hat-trick for Los Blancos

*.Gareth Bale chipped in with a quickfire brace in the second half

*.James Rodriguez scored his first goal in La Liga since arriving

*.Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez came on to score twice

*.Haris Medunjanin and Jose Verdú Nicolás scored consolations for hosts

MATCH FACTS

REAL MADRID: Casillas; 6 Arbeloa, 6 Ramos, 6 Varane, 6 Marcelo; 7
Modric 6 (IIaramendi), Kroos, 6 Bale 8 (Hernandez), James, 7 Ronaldo;
8 Benzema 7 (Isco)

Subs not used: Coentrão, Navas, Carvajal, Nacho

Booked: Ramos

Scorers: Ronaldo 29', 41', 78', Rodriguez 36', Bale 66', 74',
Hernandez 88', 90'

DEPORTIVO: Lux; 4 Laure, 5 Diakité, 5 Sidnei, 5 Luisinho; 5
Bergantiños, 5 Medunjanin; 6 Juanfran 5 (Juan Dominguez), Fariña 7
(Toche), Cuenca; 7 Postiga 5 (Cavaleiro)

Subs not used: Pablo, Canella, Agosto Ramírez, Lopo
Booked: Sidnei

Scorers: Medunjanin 51', Verdú Nicolás 84'

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale scored five goals between them as
Real Madrid romped to an 8-2 win over Deportivo at Riazor with Javier
Hernandez also scoring twice - his first goals since his move from
Manchester United.

With two defeats in their opening three games Madrid had come into the
game languishing in mid-table but Ronaldo rose to the occasion with a
towering header for the first goal. He also scored the third giving
Madrid a 3-1 lead at half time and when the home side dared to edge
back into the game at the start of the second half Gareth Bale
finished them off with a quick double.

He now has four goals this season and Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick
continues his incredible goal a game record. It was ruthless from Bale
and Ronaldo who reminded everyone why he went from being a wiry winger
to a brutally effective centre-forward in his last season at
Manchester United.

Ebola: Fashola Visits As First Consultants Hospital Reopens

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Friday, visited the
First Consultants Hospital Obalende in Lagos, which has been certified
ready for operation after the decontamination done for its treatment
of the index Ebola patient, the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.

Governor Fashola, briefing newsmen after the tour of the facility,
said that his visit to the hospital was in order to identify with the
staff on the way forward, adding that since the Ebola Virus Disease
had been dealt with professionally, the way forward was to get on with
life.

"It was also a doctor who just refused to give up on them, Dr. Davis,
and this is the way it must be. Whether you are a journalist, a
soldier, a police officer or a footballer, just do what you do with
dedication and all will be well", he said.

The Governor said the first stage of the containment process was to
save lives while the second stage was to help affected businesses get
up and run again.

He reiterated the need for members of the public to put the issue of
EVD behind and get on with their lives.

"We (Nigerians) must not live in fear of what we do not know. We have
dealt decisively, comfortably and professionally with what we know.
Anything that comes out from the woodworks then we must confront it
again and deal with it and resolve it," he said.

Governor Fashola also told the Chief Medical Director of the hospital,
Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, to articulate the equipment losses suffered by
the hospital as a result of the decontamination after the death of the
index case, with the view to assisting the hospital replace such
equipment.

He, again, paid glowing tribute to the hospital staff, particularly
the management, for the role they played in bringing the index case to
the knowledge of the State Government instead of taking the easy way
out. He added that if they had not insisted on detaining the patient,
the story would have been devastatingly different.

Addressing the public, Governor Fashola said that everything relating
to the issue of Ebola has been settled, adding that what remains was
for the people to ensure that they take cleanliness very seriously by
washing their hands regularly with soap and water.

The CMD, Dr. Ohiaeri, while regretting both the human and material
losses suffered by the hospital as a result of the EVD infection from
the index case, praised the Governor and the State Ministry of Health
for their prompt response to the information on the index case, adding
that although the Governor was on lesser hajj at the period, the
Ministry acted promptly and professionally.

First Consultants Hospital was where the index case of EVD in the
country, Mr. Patrick Sawyer from Liberia, was received and attended to
on Sunday, July 20, 2014, after he was rushed from the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport where he collapsed on arrival from his
country.

He died at the hospital on Friday, July 25. As a result, the hospital
was shut down and decontaminated later with some of the equipment
destroyed as part of the decontamination process.

With the Governor during the visit were some members of the State
Executive Council including the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide
Idris and his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed as well as
other top government officials.

Arsenal Announce £4.7million Annual Profit, £173million Cash Reserves

Arsenal have posted a £4.7million profit and reported increased
turnover in their latest financial figures released on Friday.

The results, which covered the year ended May 31, 2014, also revealed
the club had cash reserves of £173million.

The profit was down £2million from the corresponding 2013 results with
turnover up to £301.9million from £280.4million, driven by improved
broadcasting income, new commercial deals and their FA Cup success.

Wages were up by £12million to £166.4million, representing 55.7 per
cent of football revenue, with key players such as Theo Walcott, Aaron
Ramsey and Jack Wilshere having all signed new, improved contracts.

For the first time in several seasons, Arsenal did not sell any star
players last season - and indeed went on to sign Chile forward Alexis
Sanchez after the World Cup as well as France defender, Mathieu
Debuchy and England forward, Danny Welbeck from Manchester United on
transfer deadline day.

Profit on sale of player registrations up to May 31 was reduced to
£6.9million from £47million in the same period for 2013.

With Arsenal's £390million switch to a new 60,000-seater home at
Ashburton Grove in 2006 being funded by a long-term fixed-rate bond
repayment, the group reported cash balances up to £173.3million, from
£119.6million last year.

Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis, vowed the board would continue to
support manager Arsene Wenger in aiming to keep Arsenal challenging
for honours.

"The club is in excellent shape, both on and off the pitch. We are
proud of our 11th FA Cup success and the reward this represents to our
fans in the Arsenal community around the world.

"There is always more to do and, whether investing in the team or in
training facilities which will provide long-term benefit to the club,
our guiding principles are the same and our focus is clear, on
delivering more on field success.

"This remains the shared ambition of our majority shareholder, Stan
Kroenke, the board and everyone connected with the club. We are well
placed to deliver against those ambitions."

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the
corporate and financial information included on the company's website.
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and
dissemination of financial information differs from legislation in
other jurisdictions.

Commenting on the results for the year the club's Chairman, Sir Chips
Keswick, said, "Our revenues have exceeded £300 million, underpinned
by TV and the significant progress made on our commercial agenda, and
our improved financial position has allowed us to supplement the squad
with important new signings. Our ambition is to put Arsenal Football
Club at the pinnacle of the game here and in Europe. We all want to
savour a repeat of the joys of last May."

My Quotes

Let us not dwell on distance we've fallen short; let us dwell on
distance we've travelled. -- Alex Salmon, commenting on Scottish NO
vote.

Scotland Votes To Stay With United Kingdom

Scotland has voted to remain as part of the United Kingdom, after
1,914,187 voters said 'No', beating the 1,539,920 people who voted
'Yes' to independence, in a referendum which began on Thursday
morning.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who accepted the result,
called for unity and the unionist parties to deliver on their pledge
of more powers.

People in Scotland began voting on Thursday in a referendum on whether
the country should become independent or stay part of the United
Kingdom.

Voters turned up at polling stations in schools and halls as soon they
opened at 0600 GMT, to decide the fate of a 307-year-old union.

Following the announcement of the results, Salmond said the referendum
and the high turnout had been a "triumph for the democratic process"
and promised to keep his pledge in the Edinburgh Agreement which paved
the way for the referendum to respect the result and work for the
benefit of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

"The unionist parties made vows late in the campaign to devolve more
powers to Scotland," he told supporters, adding that "Scotland will
expect these to be honoured in rapid course - as a reminder, we have
been promised a second reading of a Scotland Bill by March 27 next
year.

"Not just the 1.6 million Scots who voted for independence will demand
that timetable is followed but all Scots who participated in this
referendum will demand that timetable is followed."

In response, UK Prime Minister said in a tweet, Friday morning, that
"Just as Scotland will have more power over their affairs, it follows
England, Wales and N Ireland must have a bigger say over theirs".

PM: Just as Scotland will have more power over their affairs, it
follows England, Wales and N Ireland must have a bigger say over
theirs
-- UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) September 19, 2014

Florida Grandfather Kills Six Grandchildren And Daughter In Murder-Suicide

A grandfather shot dead his daughter and her six children before
taking his own life at a home in Bell, Florida, police have said.

The children range in age from three months to 10 years old, said
Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz.

The authorities have identified the gunman as Don Charles Spirit, 51.

Schultz said a colleague responded to reports of a shooting on
Thursday afternoon and on arrival made contact with Spirit before he
killed himself.

"I haven't seen anything like this at all," said Schultz.

"This county, this community is going to be devastated from this. It
is a small county, we are all family here.

"We're asking for prayers for this community and the families involved."

After Spirit took his own life, police found the other seven bodies in
the house, although there were other people there who were still
alive.

Spirit, who was known to police previously, was the only suspect, said Schultz.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, the grandfather
was once behind bars for a gun charge, and was released in February
2006.

Bell is a town of about 350 people located 30 miles west of Gainesville.

Multiple shootings in the US have happened in schools, colleges,
military institutions, shopping malls and homes. Each time innocent
victims die, but this rural community has been shaken by the multiple
killing, says the BBC's Tom Esslemont in Washington.

It is likely to reopen a painful debate about gun ownership, but is
unlikely to change deeply entrenched polarised views, our
correspondent adds.

Where Is N3bn Roche Adapalm Fund As Federal Govt UBE Inscription Appears On Imo Proto-type School Blocks?

The recent discovery by residents of Imo State that the much acclaimed
365 prototype schools being built across the state by the Owelle
Rochas Okorocha government have Universal Basic Education, UBE
inscription on them has raised uproar and doubt about the earlier
statements of the governor concerning the Rescue Mission project.

Governor Okorocha has not ceased to publicly announce and inform
Imolites that the privatization of state-owned down stream sector and
multi million naira Adapalm oil settlement to an Irish company named
Roche has yielded enormous dividends to the state. According to
Okorocha who spoke during several addresses to the people especially
annual budget presentations reportedly claimed that Imo state
government realized the sum of N3bn from concession of Adapalm

Further details however from the verbal claims of the governor
indicated that the amount was being used for the construction of
Roche-type of classroom blocks in each of the 306 INEC wards in Imo
state. The fashionable Roche-type of Classroom is a pre-cast building
government sited on roads for public eyes. Even as the process of
selling Adapalm public firm was shrouded in secrecy with suspected
under-the-table-practices, until Gov Okorocha opened up.

While Roche undertook the building of the classy city schools on
Whetheral Road formerly known as Township Primary School, other school
projects started across the state still remain unfinished. However,
midway the Roche-type precast school blocks stopped and gave way to
normal building handled by private contractors. The change of guard in
handling of the projects and differences sent alarming signals about
the sincerely of the Okorocha's Rescue Government. As residents of the
state were confused about the change of guard handling the school
projects, indications that state governments' claim of building the
school blocks from Roche payment through leasing Adapalm could be a
ruse manifested when UBE inscriptions appeared on the walls of the
pre-cast buildings scattered across the state.

Correspondents who engaged in monitoring of the projects noted the
trademark of UBE on the walls thereby doubting the earlier claims of
governor Okorocha who told Imolites that the cost of the building was
borne by the money realized from allowing Roche cater for Adapalm.

Trumpeta learnt that the UBE trademark has to be stamped by the state
government to avoid sanctions from the federal government education
body who threatened to withdraw from related fundings the state had
enjoyed earlier. It was even gathered that agents of the government
responsible for handling the project were at the verge of being
arrested by anti-graft bodies over mismanagement of UBEC funds made
available to the state since Okorocha came into power.

The outgoing Commissioner of Finance of Imo state, Deacon Chike Okafor
who has been a regular visitor to Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC office, Abuja to explain issues concerning Imo
financial situation once told newsman that part of the monies the
Ohakim administration left in office was channeled into free
education. It would be recalled that Ohakim had publicly disclosed
that he left not less than N3bn in the state's UBEC treasurer.

The recent discovery that the acclaimed Roche-type pre cast project is
UBEC money from federal government and not proceeds from the
privatization has elicited reaction from the general public.

A teacher in one of the public primary schools who refused to disclose
his identity observed that the latest development is in contrast with
the claims of the governor adding that Okorocha should publicly tell
Imolites where the money he claimed to have been realized from Adapalm
sale went to when UBEC, a federal government agency has claimed
ownership.

Majority of Imolites who spoke to Trumpeta especially civil servants
at the state secretariat on Port Harcourt road opined that the
inscription of UBE on the Roche-type school projects has rubbished
Okorocha's claim of using Adapalm money to finance the projects. The
workers demanded for further explanation on how much was realized and
how it was spent if the governor deserves moral right to speak to Ndi
Imo on his most cherished free education. They however added that
Ohakim's claim of leaving billions of naira in office which Okorocha
government inherited is a fact after all.

Imo workers expressed regret that while there are deductions from
their monthly salaries to prosecute the free education, the governor
keeps claiming that the sale of Adapalm to Roche for a number of years
yielded dividend used in bankrolling free education.

--Trumpeta

Scotland Rejects Independence With No Vote Set For Victory

>Estimated 55% of voters set to reject Alex Salmond's prospectus for independence with more than half of results declared.

Scotland stepped back from the brink of ending the 307-year-old union
with England and Wales and was on track to remain part of the United
Kingdom by a comfortable margin.

With more than half of Scotland's local authorities having declared
including the major cities of Glasgow and Aberdeen, an estimated 55%
of voters were expected to reject Alex Salmond's prospectus for
independence.

But the yes campaign scored a handful of notable successes, succeeding
in the largest city of Glasgow by 53% to 47%, winning 54% in West
Dunbartonshire and a convincing 57% win in Dundee.

The no camp won victories in its strongholds of East Lothian, Orkney,
and Shetland, but also in areas that could have gone to the yes
campaign, including Falkirk, Inverclyde, Eilean Siar and
Clackmannanshire. Stirling, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Angus,
Dumfries and Galloway and Midlothian also voted no.

Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy leader of the SNP, conceded that the
independence campaign was facing defeat. She said: "There isn't a yes
vote tonight. We will be deeply disappointed but I have also been
exhilarated by this campaign."

(Photo: No campaign supporters react to a declaration in their favour,
at the Better Together Campaign headquarters in Glasgow, Scotland.)

Yet that result raises the risk of further turmoil, with Tories in
Westminster threatening to revolt against David Cameron's late and
potentially vital vow to quickly increase the Scottish parliament's
powers while protecting its spending.

David Cameron and the Queen will both move to calm tensions when they
deliver statements on Friday. The prime minister will seek early in
the day, in the words of one cabinet minister, to "cement in" the no
vote by outlining how he will deliver the deepening of Scotland's
devolution settlement, including handing greater powers over tax and
welfare, to Holyrood.

The Queen, who has monitored the referendum with interest, will make a
written statement on Friday afternoon. It is understood that her
remarks will focus on reconciliation.

The prime minister wants to move fast to show that the three main UK
party leaders will live up to their commitments made during the
referendum campaign to deliver what Gordon Brown called Home Rule
within the UK.

Ministers believe it is important to move quickly to avoid a repeat
of the 1980 referendum in Quebec.

The triumphalist behaviour of Ontario fuelled the separatist cause
that nearly succeeded in a second referendum in 1995.

But Michael Gove, the chief whip, made clear that greater protections
would have to be offered to protect the interest of English, Welsh and
Northern Irish MPs.

Despite the margin of the no campaign's victory, Alex Salmond will now
press for a substantial shift in power from Westminster to Holyrood,
after the widely praised independence campaign - branded the "greatest
in Scottish history" by the first minister, came within only five
points of victory.

Salmond, who appeared to realise defeat was imminent by cancelling an
expected appearance at his local count, for Aberdeenshire, is poised
to demand that Scotland be ceded sweeping tax powers, buoyed by the
significant surge in backing for independence.

He watched the first results from television at his home in Strichen,
Aberdeenshire, before flying down by private jet from Aberdeen airport
to Edinburgh, his disappointment tempered only by a substantial yes
vote in Dundee, with 57% voting yes.

For the no campaign there was relief: a spate of authoritative polls
in the final days of the campaign had said the vote was on a knife
edge, bringing Yes Scotland within touching distance of victory after
a dramatic surge in support.

Labour's exit polling in 30 out of Scotland's 32 councils suggested
they were on course to win by 55% to 45% - a finding that the early
results appeared to confirm.

In mid-August, the two campaigns had been 14 points apart - that gap
suddenly closed to just six points, to four and then two. No camp
strategists were nervous that the very high turnout, which hit 90% in
some areas, could give yes a very narrow victory.

Enyimba Can Still Beat Pillars To The Title - Ikhana

Enyimba manager Kadiri Ikhana says his team will get better and keep
fighting for the league crown, despite succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to
Akwa United in a week 26 fixture of the Nigeria professional football
league on Wednesday.

A Kufre Ebong goal late in the first half condemned Enyimba to another
loss, which now leaves them four points off leaders, Kano Pillars.

But Ikhana still believes his players will keep improving.

"It was a painful loss, but we will keep improving. It wasn't a very
good game for us, but I know the players are determined to win the
title so we will keep working and keep improving," he told sl10.ng.

The seven time league champions would have gotten to within a point of
Pillars, if they had won, but the loss means they're still third on
the log, with Nasarawa United, who lost 3-0 to Crown, still second
with a point better.

Kano Pillars' 1-1 draw with Taraba means they have the lead, but
Ikhana says it can all change in two games.

"We all know how unpredictable the league is and because Pillars are
top now doesn't mean they can't lose," he added. They're just four
points ahead of us and that could change in two games."

"It's just for us to keep improving and keep winning games.

"We can beat them."

Enyimba will host Bayelsa United at the Aba Township Stadium on
Sunday, with the hope that the improvements will start there.

Oboli Thanks Fans, Says Doing Something New A Bit Scary

After a successful two weeks in cinemas 'Being Mrs Elliott' the highly
anticipated movie from Nollywood actress, director and producer, Omoni
Oboli has lived up to expectations in the cinema with high box office
sales.

Speaking on the acceptance rate of the movie at the cinemas, Omoni
said "the rate at which the movie was accepted is overwhelming. It was
really worth all the sleepless nights and hard work, just to see the
way 'Being Mrs Elliott' was accepted. During the premiere, the cinema
release, I felt so loved and appreciated.

According to her "I couldnt have done it without all lovers of Omoni.
Doing something I had not done before was a bit scary. But seeing the
love, acceptance, encouragement, prayers and calls, I know that I am
on the right path. Even at the cinemas, people were always telling me
"Omoni, you did well", "congratulations" "way to go girl", and I am
indeed grateful."

Ebola: S-West Governors Direct Schools To Re-Open Monday

>Ogun trains 15,000 teachers, Lagos to sanction defaulting schools .Osun fixes Oct 6

LAGOS and other South West states besides Osun, have directed the
resumption of primary and secondary schools on Monday as directed by
the Federal Government, with a stern warning from Lagos State
government that it will sanction schools that default in implementing
the basic preventive measures Ebola Virus Disease EVD, as directed by
the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau.

This came as no fewer than 15,000 teachers from both private and
public schools in Ogun State have been trained on how to contain the
outbreak of the dreaded EVD.

However, Osun State government has fixed October 6 as the resumption
date for public and private schools in the state.

In Lagos, Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, at a
sensitisation exercise on EVD for private schools owners, said
sensitisation programme was part of measures aimed at preventing
further spread of EVD.

According to Oladunjoye, "the aim of this sensitization exercise is to
remind school management and teachers on the need to teach their
students the importance of good personal hygiene so that we don't
record new cases of the EVD.
To ensure compliance with the Federal Government's directive,
monitoring teams from the state Ministry of Education will, this
weekend, go on inspection tours of all private and public schools in
the state and any school that fails to provide running water, hand
sanitisers and digital thermometers would be sanctioned accordingly."

The Commissioner also said the first day of school would be dedicated
to educating the students on the EVD and the various preventive
measures.

Pleading with teachers to concentrate on their teaching jobs, the
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina,
charged them to be proactive and not panic driven so as not to instil
fear in their students.

Ogun trains 15,000 teachers on Ebola

While announcing the training of 15,000 teachers, Ogun State
Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela, the training conducted by
medical personnel from the ministry of health, took place in seven
centres across the state, and lasted for three days.

Odubela who said he could not confirm yet if the schools in the state
would resume on September 22, added that the state was yet to receive
infrared thermometers from the Federal Ministry of Education on
Thursday.

He said, "I am still talking with the officials of the Federal
Ministry of Education on the infrared thermometers, as at now, we are
yet to receive them. Hopefully by tomorrow (Friday), I will still call
them."

Necessary provision made in Ondo
On its part, Ondo state government directed all public and private
schools in the state to resume for the 2014/2015 academic session on
Monday in line with the Federal Government directive.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade in Akure, said government
had made necessary provision for the safe return of pupils and
students to their schools.

Akinmade said necessary steps had been taken to address the current
challenges over EVD.

He said the state had already lined up activities to sensitize the
public, Principal and Head teachers of schools on the prevention of
EVD.

The statement said Scanners would be distributed among schools in the
state for early detection in the case of the Ebola virus or other
contagious diseases.

The Commissioner said government was satisfied that reasonable measure
had been put in place to ensure safety of pupils and students

Osun fixes October 6

Osun state government through a statement by the Deputy Governor, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori, who is also the state Commissioner for Education,
said Governor Rauf Aregbesola had directed all public and private
schools to reopen for the 2014/2015 academic session on October 6.

According to the statement, "This will enable principals and teachers
to receive adequate training to prevent Ebola epidemic in schools and
in the state in general."

NUT lacks professional competence on EVD -- Reps

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has insisted on September 22
resumption date saying the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, which
directed members not to comply with the September 22 resumption date,
lacks professional skills to speak on EVD.

Synagogue: 17 Of Our People Still Missing -- S'Africa

As rescue work at the scene of last Friday's collapsed building used
as guest house by the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN was
concluded yesterday, the South African government said 17 of its
nationals were still unaccounted for.

This is just as SCOAN has remained silent on the identities and number
of persons who lodged in the building, but insisted that the attack
was targeted at its Senior Pastor, Prophet Temitope Joshua.

Thus, the official number of lives that perished in the five storey
building which collapsed at 12.44pm, is 80, while the survivors were
131, according to the National Emergency Management Authority.

This is just as SCOAN finally released an official statement
yesterday, maintaining that the tragedy occurred shortly after a
plane which flew very low, hovered round the building.

Indication also emerged that some o f the survivors have been
discharged from the hospitals and have returned to their respective
abodes.

It was learnt that DNA tests would first be conducted on some of the
decomposed bodies with a view to ascertaining their true identities.

Vanguard reliably gathered that there are plans to fly the remains of
foreign victims to their respective countries. As at yesterday,
arrangements on how this would be done was reportedly going on between
authorities of the countries concerned and SCOAN.

Among the countries is South Africa.

South Africa's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, was quoted
byAFPas saying that 17 of his compatriots were unaccounted for and
that the church had set up a hotline in Johannesburg for concerned
relatives.

Obiano Approves N300m To Tackle Ebenator Erosion Menace

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has approved N300 million for
the control of erosion at Ebenator in Nnewi South Local Government
Area.

The governor, who was on a thank you visit to the place, also said he
had given a marching order to the contractor handling the
Ichida-Azigbo-Amichi- Osumenyi and Akwaihedi road to complete it on or
before the contract agreement date of completion.

Besides, he approved the extension of Unubi- Akwihedi road with
drainages as well as street lights for the roads.

Obiano equally promised to embark on new road projects in the area,
saying he would continue to maintain the policy of continuity.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the event, the liaison officer to
the governor in Nnewi South constituency ll, Mr Igwe Jerome, said the
governor had since assuming office, given a life line to the people of
Nnewi South by providing developmental projects which past governments
failed to do.

"I must tell you that my people have never had it so good until this
Dr Willie Obiano government came on board jus few months ago.

"Truly a Daniel has come to judgement in Anambra state.Apart from
this, our dear governor without delay corrected the imbalance in the
appointment of our people into political offices. We are solidly
behind his administration."

Jerome, while calling on the people of Nnewi South to support Obiano's
government, urged them to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the
2015 general election to enable him complete the good job he had
started.

Arsenal Targets Yobo - Reports

Arsenal who are going through a defensive crisis after failing to
replace Vermaeleen during the transfer window have reportedly turned
their attention to former Nigerian captain, Joseph Yobo.

Yobo who is currently a free agent has been on the radar of a few
championship clubs in recent weeks but would be delighted to hear
about interest from a club like Arsenal. Yobo who has vast experience
in the premier league from his days with Everton and Norwich would be
an okay buy for Arsenal seeing as he would only be a fringe player for
the club while they get through the injury crisis currently ravaging
the team.

While Arsene Wenger has admitted his need for a defender, "la
Professiuer has refrained from name droping but sources close to the
Arsenal manager have revealed that the coach is keen on Yobo and Diego
Lugano.

See Omotola At The Houston Premiere Of "Blood In The Lagoon"

On the 13th of September, 2014, Blood In The Lagoon starring Omotola,
directed by Teco Benson was premiered in Houston, Texas.
Omotola wore a Tan Ejiro Amos Tafiri wrap dress for the premiere with
a neck piece from Red statement and a Gold Ivanna Trump sandal. As
usual, she was looking really beautiful..

See pictures above..

--GistReel

Jackie Chan's Son Faces 3 years Jail Time After He Was Arrested And Charged

Jackie Chan's Son Faces Jail time After He Was formally Arrested And
Charged on marijuana suspicion.

About a month ago the legendary Chinese actor, Jackie Chan's son
caught in the act which prompted his public apology after his son
Jaycee Chan, 31, was detained for testing positive to marijuana and
admitting to using the drug.

Now, Jackie Chan's heart continues to break after the authorities
approved his son's arrest and he was officially charged.

On Wednesday Jaycee was formally arrested in Beijing on suspicion of
allowing other people to consume drugs, a charge that, according to
prosecutors, can carryna maximum sentence of three years' in prison.

In China, police need official approval from prosecutors to formally
arrest a suspect and in Jaycee's case, it now has been received.

Jaycee became the highest-profile celebrity to be caught out in an
anti-drug crackdown by Chinese authorities when he was detained last
month along with Taiwanese actor Ko Kai.

Police claimed a few days later a 100 grams of marijuana was taken
from Jaycee's home.

In August, Jackie took to his blog to say that Jaycee would have to
face the consequences of his actions, but that they would do so
together.

Archbishop Of Canterbury Admits Doubts About God

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has said he sometimes has doubts
in his belief in God.

In an interview with BBC Bristol the leader of the Church of England
said he doubted in "lots of different ways".

He said: "There are moments, sure, when you think, 'Is there a God?'
'Where is God?'"

The archbishop has recently completed a tour of the West Country and
made his comments at an event called Standing Room Only at Bristol
Cathedral.

When asked about doubt by presenter Lucy Tegg, he said: "It is a
really good question. I love the Psalms, if you look at Psalm 88
that's full of doubt.

"The other day I was praying over something as I was running, and I
ended up saying to God 'look this is all very well, but isn't it about
time you did something, if you're there?'

"Which is probably not what the Archbishop of Canterbury should say."

He went on to explain that it was acceptable to occasionally have
doubt, and still be a Christian.

He added: "The extraordinary thing about being a Christian is that God
is faithful even when we're not.

"When we get into the wrong place he comes alongside us and says,
'Right let's go from here.'"

The archbishop made his comments about doubt in front of a crowd of
about 1,000 people, not all of whom were churchgoers, and the event
took place on 12 September.

During his tour of the West Country the archbishop spent time visiting
schools, churches and local charities, and the tour finished on
Sunday. It was the first time he has made an official visit to the
region since becoming the leader of the Church of England last year.

A spokesman for Lambeth Palace said: "The remarks were made in the
context of an event at Bristol Cathedral during which the archbishop
spoke extensively about why he believes in God and how his faith in
Jesus Christ has transformed his life.

"The comments in question were made in response to a specific question
about whether he had ever struggled with doubts."

Ebola: Missing Health Team 'Found Dead' In Guinea

Officials in Guinea searching for a team of health workers and
journalists who went missing while trying to raise awareness of Ebola
have found several bodies.

A spokesman for Guinea's government said the bodies included those of
three journalists in the team.

They went missing after being attacked on Tuesday in a village near
the southern city of Nzerekore.

More than 2,600 people have now died from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

It is the world's worst outbreak of the deadly disease, with officials
warning that more than 20,000 people could ultimately be infected.

West African media divided on response to Ebola

The three doctors and three journalists disappeared after being pelted
with stones by residents when they arrived in the village of Wome -
near where the Ebola outbreak was first recorded.

One of the journalists managed to escape and told reporters that she
could hear the villagers looking for them while she was hiding.

A government delegation, led by the health minister, had been
dispatched to the region but they were unable to reach the village by
road because a main bridge had been blocked.

'Killed in cold blood'

On Thursday night, government spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said
eight bodies had been found, including those of three journalists.

He said they had been recovered from the septic tank of a primary
school in the village, adding that the victims had been "killed in
cold blood by the villagers".

The reason for the killings is unclear, but correspondents say many
people in the region distrust health officials and have refused to
co-operate with authorities, fearing that a diagnosis means certain
death.

Last month, riots erupted in the area of Guinea where the health team
went missing after rumours that medics who were disinfecting a market
were contaminating people.

Speaking on Thursday, President Francois Hollande said France was
setting up a military hospital in Guinea as part of his country's
efforts to support the West African nations affected by the outbreak.

He said the hospital was a sign that France's contribution was not
just financial, adding that it would be in "the forests of Guinea, in
the heart of the outbreak".

The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that more than 700 new
cases of Ebola have emerged in West Africa in just a week, showing
that the outbreak was accelerating.

It said there had been more than 5,300 cases in total and that half of
those were recorded in the past three weeks.

The epidemic has struck Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria and Senegal.

A three-day lockdown is starting in Sierra Leone at 00:00 GMT in a bid
to stop the disease spreading.

--BBC

Nigerian Lady Claims Chelsea Star Is Her Fiancé

A Nigerian lady who goes simply by the name, Jennifer, has come out to
state that Chelsea FC of England and Super Eagles midfield star, John
Mikel Obi, is her man and that they are actually planning to get
married.

Jennifer who says her friends call her Doro Mikel Jenny, says the
Russian lady, Olga Diyachenko, that Mikel has been parading as his
girlfriend, is only reaping where she did not sow, claiming that she
is the authentic babe of the soccer star.

Doro Mikel Jenny also points out that she and Mikel are so much in
love and that he had proposed to her some months ago and wondered why
people are saying he is set to marry the Russian babe while she is
still waiting for a man she calls her 'Ever Diamond'.

Even her friends have taken the claim to social media, affirming that
Jennifer is truly Mikel authentic babe.

According to reports, the friends have started an e-campaign to let
the whole world know that Jenny is the woman after Mikel's heart and
not Olga.

One of them allegedly attacked someone who wrote that Jennifer is
probably daydreaming:

U can go to hell and chuckle; Mikel loves Jenny, that's why, so tell ur gf @olga

Another said:

Dat his real woman (Jenny)....nw dat u knw, u can chuckle to death for
all I care. U beef u die, let the two love birds, Jenny & Mikel to be,
so Olga will rest.

Nkiru Sylvanus Gets Third Political Appointment In 3 Years

It's a good time for Nollywood actress Nkiru Sylvanus who was recently
named Director General of the proposed Imo State Film Academy.

Sylvanus, who recently premiered her movie, The Voice, is expected to
put her years of experience on and off movie sets to use in
structuring the academy when it finally opens.

This is Sylvanus' third political appointment in three years, after
she joined the cabinet of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2011
as his Special Assistant on Lagos State Affairs, and later became his
Special Adviser on Public Affairs.

Pregnant Woman Falls Out Of Ambulance

Two South African medics were Thursday suspended after a pregnant
woman they were ferrying to hospital fell out of a moving ambulance
and suffered a miscarriage, an official said.

The ambulance door opened while the vehicle was moving and the
19-year-old woman plunged to the ground.

The drivers only realised on arriving at the hospital in the remote
southeastern village of Ntabankulu, that their patient was missing.

She was picked up by a passing motorist and rushed to hospital. But
she had suffered multiple injuries from the fall and miscarried.

The medics "were negligent and they have been suspended with immediate
effect," Eastern Cape provincial health department spokesman Sizwe
Kupelo told AFP.

The two are to face disciplinary action and possible dismissal, he added.

"We condemn their actions in the strongest terms. We make them work as
a pair so that one guards the patient while the other drives the
ambulance," he said.

Boko Haram Plans To Use Mechanics To Plant Bombs In Cars

Aftermath of the heavy defeats inflicted on Boko Haram insurgents in
recent weeks, indications have emerged that the group are recruiting
auto-mechanic and car wash operators across the country with a view to
using their centers as loading bays to plant IEDS' on vehicles of
unsuspecting members of the public to cause havoc.

The objective is to hit at some top government establishment and
functionaries as well as military and police locations in other parts
of the country outside the North East epicenter of the insurgency to
divert attention from the increasingly successful onslaught on the
group in recent days.

Towards this end, Intelligence sources told Vanguard that the Boko
Haram group have infiltrated the ranks of many of the operators and
bought them over with very mouth watering sums of money to look the
other way when the explosives were being planted on the vehicles.

According to the source, the terrorists knowing that many vehicle
owners hardly find time to spend with their mechanics or car wash
operators, have concluded the plot to fix improvised explosive devices
on such vehicles while they are with the mechanic or cash wash.

When the unsuspecting owner of the car comes to carry his or her car,
he will drive off with an explosives laden car that has been
programmed to explode within minutes or an hour as the case maybe and
in the process; he may be consumed by the havoc the explosion will
cause.

A signal confirming this development and addressed to all military
formations in the country said, "Boko Haram Infiltrates Auto-Mechanic
and Car Wash Centers'. It said the group was planning to use vehicles
of unsuspecting members of the public, especially prominent persons
and top functionaries as bomb explosive carriers".

The targets of such dastardly plots according to the signal are
official government quarters, military barrack and public centers.

The public, vehicles owners and users are therefore urged to be
vigilant and watchful especially when giving and collecting their
vehicles from auto-mechanic and car wash centers; the military warned.

--Vanguard

Ekweremadu, Ekwueme, Ihedioha bag Anglican Church Award for Excellence in Service

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was
Wednesday bestowed with the Award for Excellence and Integrity in
Christian Stewardship by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

The award was conferred on him by the Primate of the Church, Most Revd
Nicholas Okoh at the General Synod of the Church in Enugu today. Also
honoured were General Theophilus Danjuma, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Professor
Jerry Gana, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha among others.

The Church said that the award was part of her efforts to promote
integrity in service among Nigerians, especially members of the
Anglican Church in leadership positions.

Conferring the award, the Primate urged Senator Ekweremadu and other
recipients to continue with their contribution to the growth of
Christendom, national development, and wellbeing of humanity.

Meanwhile, Senator Ekweremadu has described the award award as encouraging.

He said: "I am indeed humbled and encouraged by the kind gesture. I
believe this is a thoughtful way of encouraging believers, especially
members of the Anglican Church in Nigeria, to be more god-fearing in
serving their fatherland and mankind".

A Knight of the Order of the Good Shepherd, the Deputy President of
the Senate has not only contributed immensely towards building
churches both within and outside the Anglican Communion, but has also
built an ultra modern church auditorium and parsonage for the All
Saint's Anglican Church at his hometown, Mpu, in Enugu State. The
church project was dedicated by the Primate of All Nigeria and
commissioned by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in
April 2013.

He also established the Ikeoha Foundation, a philanthropic
organisation on which platform he has been helping to improve the lots
of women, widows, youth, women, children, and indigent students
through vocational training, adult literacy programmes, scholarships,
and micro credit schemes.

Other recipients of the award include the former Vice President, Dr.
Alex Ekwueme; Gen. Danjuma (rtd).

Protest Rocks Awka Market Over Alleged Imposition Of Levies

BUSINESS activities at the popular Eke-Awka market were brought to a
standstill yesterday as female traders protested alleged imposition of
levies by a faction of the leadership in the market.

There are two factions in the market and leadership tussle had
lingered there for a long time.

The factions are led by Mr. Emeka Jude Agumadu and Nze Christian
Igwebuike Chinwuko, who are both claiming to be the authentic leaders
in the market.

While Agumadu was elected chairman in July this year, Chinwuko claimed
that he had been named the caretaker chairman of the market.

Leader of the protesting women, Mrs. Chinwe Ezeigwe, told reporters
yesterday that the women in the market decided to carry out the
protest to drive home their rejection of the levy being imposed on
them by a factional leader in the market.

She said: "Our protest is to let the women and even men in the market
know that the levy imposed on us is a fraud and that we will not pay
it.

"We want the state government to look into the matter and send back
the person brought by Awka South local government chairman who imposed
the levy.

"We know our leader who we all queued up behind and voted for in July
as the chairman. So, for these people to come here and be telling us
that they want to collect levies, we will not accept it."

However, the leader of Awka South Market Amalgamated Traders Union,
ASMATU, Chief Anayo Nweke, told reporters that all the allegations of
levy imposition were false.

He said: "Those women were hired and paid to protest in the market."

China Announces $32.5m Ebola Aid For Liberia, S'Leone, Guinea

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday in New Delhi, announced
$32.54m aid package for Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to combat the
Ebola disease.

He said during his state visit to India that the aid would include
cash, food and materials.

Jinping said his country would also provide the World Health
Organisation with $2m in cash and give the African Union the same
amount to fight the disease.

He said the spread of Ebola in West Africa has been a severe challenge
for the international community, including China and India.

Jinping said the new package was aimed at helping the three affected
West African countries fight the disease and enhance epidemic
prevention capability of surrounding countries.

He said it would also support regional organisations concerned to play
a leading and coordinating role in fighting the epidemic.

NDLEA Recovers Drugs From S'Africa Football Coach

(Photo: Darlugar)

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have arrested a South African
football coach, Steven Darlugar, for drug trafficking.

The 38-year-old suspect was said to have been arrested during the
screening of Arik Air passengers on board to South Africa.

It was gathered that Darlugar, who coaches a football team in South
Africa, had neatly packaged the drugs weighing 1.54 kilogrammes in a
compartment before the officials at the airport unravelled his
gimmick. The drugs, it was learnt, tested positive for
methamphetamine.

While confessing to the crime, the father of one said he took to
smuggling to augment his income, adding that he would have made a
proceed of $6,000 if he had succeeded in carrying out the crime.

"I am married with a child and have lived in South Africa for about a
decade. I coach a team in South Africa. I have worked very hard to
attain financial freedom, but have nothing in return. This is my first
time of smuggling drugs. I was under financial pressure to cope with
peers. A friend introduced me to drug trafficking as a way of making
quick money. They promised to pay me $6,000 to take the bag containing
the drugs to South Africa."

The agency's commander at the MMIA, Mr. Hamza Umar, confirmed the crime.

He said, "Dalugar was apprehended on his way to South Africa. He was
found in possession of 1.54kg of substances that tested positive for
methamphetamine. The drug was concealed in a false compartment of the
suspect's luggage."

The NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, called on members of the public
to support the agency in its efforts to phase out drug trafficking in
the country. He added that the suspect would be charged to court at
the end of the investigation.

He said, "We have made remarkable improvement in our counter-narcotic
efforts. The agency is prepared to detect hidden drugs and prosecute
the drug barons. Members of the public should avoid drug trafficking
and report suspected cases to the agency. This way, a good measure of
drug control will be achieved in the country. The suspect will be
charged to court soon."

--PUNCH

Man Arrested For Selling Wife For Human Sacrifice

A Nigerian man has been arrested for selling his wife to black magic
practitioners who wanted to sacrifice a virgin, police said Thursday.

The deal in the central Nigerian state of Plateau was cancelled at the
last minute, however, when the ritualists realised she was married.

"The man lured his wife to a bush under the pretext of fetching
firewood and sold her to two ritualists for 800,000 naira (about
$5,000), Plateau state police spokesman Abuh Emmanuel told AFP.

He said the man from Kwalla town lied to the ritualists that the woman
was a virgin and had been given part of the money.

"When the ritualists discovered that the woman was the man's wife,
they asked her to go because she could not be used for the sacrifice,"
he said.

Emmanuel said the man and his two accomplices were arrested after the
woman reported the incident to the police.

"The suspects are in our custody and will be taken to court for
criminal conspiracy and an attempted murder," he said.

Belief in black magic and witchcraft is common in Nigeria.

--AFP

Six Imo Commissioners Resign To Contest Elections

Six commissioners in the Imo State cabinet have resigned their appointments.

This is to allow them to contest elections into various positions in 2015.

Details later...

--NAN

TB Joshua Says Victims Of Synagogue Building Collapse Are Martyrs Of The Kingdom Of God

Nigerian preacher TB Joshua on Thursday broke his silence over a
building collapse that killed 80 at his Lagos megachurch but denied
lack of cooperation and stuck to his theory of possible aerial
sabotage.

The popular televangelist, known as "The Preacher" or "The Man of God"
to his thousands of followers in Nigeria and around the world, also
indicated that other overseas nationals were involved.

TB Joshua suggests sabotage over deadly building collapse

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said that 67 of his
compatriots were killed when a guesthouse for foreign followers of the
Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) came down last Friday.

The death toll from the tragedy climbed after 10 more bodies were
pulled from among the twisted metal and shattered masonry of the
building on the sprawling SCOAN compound.

Joshua had not directly commented on the deaths and had only published
Bible quotations on his Facebook site and Twitter account.
But in a statement he extended his sympathies to victims' families and
described those who died as "martyrs of the Kingdom of God".

"The pain of one is the pain of all. It is indeed a sad and painful
moment for the families and friends of those who have lost loved
ones," he said.

"To all those who lost family members and loved ones, please accept
our heartfelt commiserations."

Joshua said "Nigerians, South African and citizens of other nations
were affected" but did not specify which countries or say whether they
were among the dead, 131 injured or both.

South Africa's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, said 17 of
his compatriots were unaccounted for and the church had set up a
hotline in Johannesburg for concerned relatives.

"It (the death toll) can't all be South Africans," he told AFP. "There
were also Nigerians who were working."

Two children were pulled alive from the collapsed building but both
their mother and father were among the missing, he added.

"They were under the rubble together with their father. Their father
kept them talking to each other," he said.

- 'Good Christians are good citizens' -

TB Joshua inspires an almost fanatical devotion from his thousands of
followers around the world, who are drawn to his services by claims of
miracle-working and prophecies.

But rescue workers have complained of a lack of cooperation from
Joshua and the church authorities, which included preventing the
emergency services from accessing the site until Sunday.

The southwest coordinator of the National Emergency Management
Authority (NEMA) said SCOAN officials had not disclosed the identities
and nationalities of those in the building at the time.

Joshua rejected the lack of cooperation claims as "inaccurate".

"Contrary to this, we want to categorically state that the church has
provided assistance when and where required and continues to do so:
good Christians are good citizens," he said.

Engineers have suggested that the addition of extra floors on top of
the existing building for foreign followers of the Pentecostal church
overloaded the structure, causing the fatal collapse.

On Wednesday, the Lagos State government ordered urgent structural
checks of all buildings on the SCOAN site while NEMA said that rescue
operations could wind up on Thursday.

In South Africa, Zuma rejected criticism that his government was slow
to respond to the tragedy.

Joshua, whose followers include heads of state and top-level
politicians such as Malawi's former president Joyce Banda, again
suggested that a low-flying aircraft may have been to blame.

"This incident was preceded by the appearance of a strange aircraft
which flew very low over the building four times and then
disappeared," he stated.

"The church views this tragedy as part of an attack on The Synagogue
Church Of All Nations and in particular Prophet TB Joshua.

"In due course, God will reveal the perpetrators of this unfortunate tragedy."

Rwanda Footballer Dady Birori Hit With Two-Year Suspension

Rwanda international Dady Birori has been banned from football for two
years by the Confederation of African Football for holding two
registrations with different details.

As well as a Rwandan passport, Birori also has a DR Congo passport
under the name of Etekiama Agiti Tady, with different dates of birth
on each.

Birori plays for AS Vita Club using his DR Congo passport and the name Tady.

His suspension is a huge blow for the player and his club, who have a
two-legged Champions League semi-final against CS Sfaxien later this
month.

In August Caf suspended Birori until further notice and disqualified
Rwanda from the 2015 Africa Cup Nations qualifiers for fielding an
ineligible player.

That initial ruling followed a protest made by the Congo Brazzaville
Football Federation after Birori featured in the first leg of the
second round qualifier between the nations last month in Pointe-Noir.

Rwanda had beaten Congo on penalties over two legsto reach the group
phase but it instead the beaten side progressed to Group A of
qualifying for the next year's finals in Morocco.

Congo have since gone on to win their opening two matches - including
a 3-2 victory away to defending champions Nigeria - and are top of the
table.

Although Rwanda had maintained that to their knowledge that the player
had one identity, they lost an appeal against their
disqualification.

Caf ruled that "the Rwandan federation was aware of this double
identity but proceeded to feature the player for the national team
while he held a different identity with the club".

Jonathan Accepts PDP's Adoption, Says I'm Really Humbled

AHEAD of his formal declaration for his return bid and the Party's
National Convention fixed for December 6, the National Executive
Committee, NEC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Thursday adopted
President Goodluck Jonathan as the party's sole Presidential candidate
for 2015 Presidential election.

Rising from its 66th NEC meeting Thursday at Wadata Plaza, National
Secretariat of the Party, the party's highest body explained that the
move became imperative because no serious party would change a winning
team like President Jonathan who has performed with his transformation
agenda which has changed the face and well being of Nigerians.

As a preclude to the adoption of President Jonathan by NEC, yesterday,
Governor of Niger State and Chairman, Northern States Governors'
Forum, NSGF, Muazu Babangida Aliyu who spoke first and on behalf of
all the PDP governors told NEC members that at the meeting of the
governors held on Wednesday at the Akwa Ibom Governor's Lodge,
Asokoro, the governors had unanimously adopted endorsed President
Jonathan as the party's sole candidate for next year's election
without any dissenting voice.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan who accepted the endorsement as
the sole candidate by all the organs of the party which culminated in
that of NEC, said that he was really humbled, overwhelmed and promised
not to disappoint the PDP governors, the leaders, stakeholders and
members of the party.

He said, "Let me really say that the events of yesterday, starting
with BoT meeting last night and what has just happened today, with the
various motions adopting me as sole candidate of the party has really
humbled me.

"Let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action, let
me thank members of BoT, let me thank the senate president and members
of the National Assembly, let me appreciate the PDP women for their
position and the NEC, because no matter whatever anybody does, if NEC,
you will be on your own.

" Adopting me as the sole candidate of the party has humbled. me; I am
totally overwhelmed. When the governors came up in a jointly signed
paper, though House of Representatives started it, governors
intervention was like an atomic bomb, I commend all departments of the
NEC.

"I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express myslef. I leave it
for another day. For today, for you to have that kind of confidence, I
am extremely challenged. It means that whatever we had done inthe past
three years, we tripple it. That is the only way Nigerians will
appreciate it. I promise I will not disappoint you."