Importance Of Being Unavailable In Smartphone Era

Since the 1990s, mobile technology has opened us a brave new world. The portable device, which was once used mainly by businessmen and weighed like a standard brick, enabled anyone on the face of the planet to be available at all times. The subject of availability will be important here, as it became a byproduct of the new era. It may sound like people weren’t available at all in the old days, as phones existed from the late 19th century, yet most people weren’t in the need to be around them all of the time.

Telecommunication has evolved in the last 100 years — from heliographs to telegrams, from rotary dial to push button telephones to cell phones, and the list goes on. As technologies developed and became much more sophisticated, the circulation of the new breed of phones has spread worldwide, dismissing the necessity of old communication formats like collect calls and letters.

Yet, one question must be asked — is all this availability worth it? In the age where our privacy is exposed from every corner, and transparency is no longer a sacred word, the need to be reachable might cause an inevitable headache. Needless to say, sometimes having a smartphone may just be bad for our health.

In recent years, social media has hooked us to availability — the dying need to know on our whereabouts and current status has become addictive, and the various platforms have helped to that matter. Back in 2012, Facebook has added a checkmark to its messenger, letting users know if their messages were read, and in 2014 WhatsApp caused a stir when they added the double blue tick to its feature. The latter example outraged many users, as their will for privacy and not being reachable was suddenly dispensable. Nowadays, it seems you can’t be offline or inactive for even a few hours (not to mention minutes), as this kind of action might offend someone or even worse — mark you as asocial.

The availability factor applies not only for social media, but for mailing platforms as well, with special tracking extensions plugged into your inbox. Now your boss will probably give you the evil eye if you haven’t marked his email as “read” right away or confirmed that RSVP. And we haven’t even started talking about smartphones as if you don’t answer immediately than you’ll get the angry text message that wonders where you have gone. It seems like all is lost, but there are some ways to avoid availability and keep some time to yourself, as one should do.

Block calls

Sounds somewhat harsh, but sometimes the rough tactics are the beneficial ones. If you want only your friends and family to find you, and avoid useless spam calls, install caller ID apps like Sync.ME or define your smartphone with a limited contact list. This way you’ll know who’s calling and decide whether to be available or not.

Lock your phone

If caller ID is not enough and you’d want to continue to the next step, then locking your phone is a simple solution. There are even dedicated apps for that, like AppLock for Android; if you’re an iPhone owner, then go to the settings on your iOS device — they’ll be your friend.

Be firm put polite

You don’t always have the time or energy to be reachable, yet you wouldn’t want your friends to think you’re a snob or a hater. In this case, mobile technology is actually here for you. Sometimes a short text message, chat, or phone call explaining your condition will do wonder and put you in a better light, and, of course, enable you to go off the grid.

It’s easy to be anonymous, but it’s very hard to be unreachable. Turning your smartphone might not always work out, but it’s important to know when to be online and when being out of touch. Smartphones aren’t going anywhere, but mankind is moving forward, and should know when to take a break and just stay “stop”, even for a few minutes.

—socialmediatoday.com

Daily Consumption Of Nuts Lowers Risk Of Early Death – Study

The International Journal of Epidemiology said a long term study has revealed that daily consumption of certain amount of nuts and peanuts lowers risk of early death caused by many common diseases.
It said on Friday in London that this discovery was contained in a new study recently published.
It said researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands collected the dietary and lifestyle data of more than 120,000 Dutchmen and women in 1986.
The Journal said the individuals were aged between 55 to 69 years old.
It said a decade later, when researchers looked at the individuals s mortality rate, they found that there was an average 23 per cent lower risk of 10 year mortality across all diseases among those eating at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts a day.
The study noted that significant decrease of risk can be seen in some diseases like 45 per cent for neurodegenerative disease, 39 per cent for respiratory disease, 30 per cent for diabetes, according to the research.
The study, however, cautioned that researchers said they would not count peanut butter as a healthy food, as it was high in salt and trans fats.

Sex Is Over Rated

Article by Chukwuneta Oby (photo)

As wonderful as sex is, it does not make a relationship. It’s just that in this age (where one’s senses are assaulted (thanks to all manner of media) daily by ‘everything’ with sexual undertone), most people are led to believe that the success of a relationship has to revolve around sex. Frankly, nothing could be farther from the truth. The strength of most relationships actually has nothing to do with sex…rather what binds them is ‘substance’ based. As a matter of fact, most ‘cheats’ don’t lack ‘good sex’ at home. Yet…

A friend told me that the only man in whose arms she has experienced true love is also the man that she never envisaged a future with. She said that after they ‘met’ the first time, she concluded within her that it won’t work between them because (according to her)-his ‘something’ seemed small to her and she just couldn’t take her mind off the disappointment. Somehow, she convinced herself to keep ‘marking time’ with him until someone else comes along…less than six months later, they were married and several years down the line, she is still gushing about him. And she seems to have forgotten issues about his ‘smallie.’ When she starts gushing about her ‘gift from God’(that is what she calls him), I usually am tempted to remind her of the gem that she almost lost, had she not been wise enough to pick what really matters.

Sometimes, I think our perception and attitude towards sex (in a relationship) is largely due to what our senses are fed out there and not really how we feel deep down. How many relationships (besides the trade by barter- aka ‘money in hand, back on the ground’ arrangement) are actually standing because of an ‘out of this world sex’ between those involved? Something else usually holds it together. Yes, good sex could be a contributory factor but it is seldom the ‘be all’ of any relationship. As a matter of fact, the more sexually adventurous some people are-the more (sexually) reckless they become…meaning that if ‘self control’ isn’t applied-one will become a slave to every ‘available.’

My point is that, as far as ‘connecting’ (in a relationship) is concerned…whoever makes up his/her mind to ‘connect’ will find reasons to do so, so long as some element of ‘likability’ is there. Sex only plays out the prominence you accord it in your relationship. True ‘love making’ is an emotional occurrence. And those who are blessed to experience such ‘connection’ understand that it is always there (through the years)…ask seventy-year-olds that still ‘touch’ each other!

The sex that is only spurred on by physical desire has nothing to do with emotional connection and often too weak to sustain a relationship that seeks long term benefits.

A lady was contemplating calling off a promising relationship due to lack of ‘sexual fire works’ between her and her man. I said this to her… “you are blessed with someone you can always ‘pocket’ with a few moves on the bed. Not some weirdos that try all sorts and will even try more behind you. At least, he has substance. Frankly, nobody has it complete. But what I know for sure is…a good character is most preferable-anyday. Every other thing can be learned-if the determination is there. Teach him what you know and explore new heights together. We all pray for true love but it seldom comes in a complete package. However, the presence of ‘substance’ (which holds it all together-in the long run) should be comforting enough.”

--PUNCH

Phone Hacking: How To Detect If Phone Is Compromised

In this sequel to our report about the new craze for phone hacking by jealous lovers, who keep tabs on their partners in Nigeria, published on June 6, 2015, experts give opinions on a number of symptoms one should look out for in detecting whether one’s phone has been compromised

The capabilities of Nigerians are growing in terms of technology and skills and along with these is the ability to wreak havoc, experts have said.

According to the President, Information Technology Systems and Security, Mr. Rogba Adeoye, despite the good that comes with any e-process, it comes with a cost.

“Everything is transferred through the airspace, whether it is phone or email. All of us are in danger because we use this technology. If you know how to code, you can break into anybody’s phone. It is like locking your room and keeping the phone in your pocket, a burglar who wants to steal something can find a way in. It means anybody is prone to hacking,” Adeoye said.

He explained that the technology of the phone is such that it is routed through a server with the service provider. Each of the telecommunication companies in Nigeria controls these servers.

“For anyone to be able to hack into your phone, they must be able to obtain your root number with your service provider,” he said.

Head of Operations, GMT Nigeria, Mr. Lawore Olorunfemi, who is an ethical hacker, said to confirm if one’s phone has been hacked or not, the first point of call should be one’s outgoing email.

He said, “Check your outgoing mails to see if any mail has been sent, which you knew nothing about. That would show that probably a spyware has been installed and is sending everything you do on your phone to a particular email address. There is also the need to check the settings of your mail server to see if anything is different.

“Another thing to do is to check if there is any application that has been installed on your phone that you did not put there. Uninstall such application immediately.

“If your phone is suddenly using huge internet bandwidth that you cannot explain, then know that there is an unsolicited activity going on in the phone. If your data finishes on time and your network provider says it is from your phone, then it may have been hacked. The first thing to do is to go to your application managers and start uninstalling applications that you did not put there.”

Other experts have also suggested that when one’s phone battery drains inexplicably or one’s device starts acting strangely, these may be symptoms that it may have been hacked.

Suggesting more ways of avoiding susceptibility to hacking, Olorunfemi said phone users need to install a remote wipe application on their mobile phones.

He said there are more dangerous hackers that one should be more wary of than jealous lovers.

The hacker said, “For those who use the BlackBerry, you can simply log on to your BlackBerry user account online and wipe your phone as an emergency strategy if it is stolen.

“Do not download applications from websites that are not on the official BlackBerry or android stores. Some of them are meant to hack into one’s phone.

“Blogspots and pornographic websites have a high tendency of putting spyware on user’s phones. Sometimes you open a page and it would want to install something on your device or system. What you do in such a case is to stop such thing from download immediately. Most of them are spyware.”

“Then, think twice before opening links online because it might be a link to spyware that would automatically be installed on your device. All the links that are sent to you via email have the potential of compromising the security of your device. Hackers prey on the inquisitiveness of people. Most of the things advertised on social media are also very risky sources of spyware.”

He also suggested that one could also encrypt one’s phone and also download a genuine file locker application.

--PUNCH

Aisha Buhari Relocates To Aso Rock Ahead Of Husband

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has relocated to the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, barely three weeks after President
Muhammadu Buhari's administration was inaugurated.

Since they were inaugurated, Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo
have been operating from outside the Presidential Villa.

This is despite the fact that both men have their official residences
and offices inside the Villa.

Both of them have been operating from their private residences as well
as the Defence House, official residence of the President-elect
located at Maitama District, Abuja.

PUNCH correspondent reports that Mrs. Buhari formally relocated to the
Presidential Villa on Thursday at a time when her husband was out of
Abuja.

"Hajia (Buhari) arrived here (Presidential Villa) with her entourage
at about 6pm on Thursday. She had relocated ahead of her husband. She
passed the night here," a Presidency official told PUNCH correspondent
on Friday.

As of the time our correspondent visited the First Lady's Wing of the
Presidential Villa on Friday, some exotic cars were seen parked in
front of the premises, an indication that Mrs. Buhari was playing host
to some guests.

Another Presidency official told our correspondent that the President
is expected to join his wife inside the Presidential Villa on arrival
from his local trip.

Buhari had departed Abuja for Kaduna on Tuesday shortly after he
arrived from South Africa where he took part in the just-concluded
25th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

He proceeded from Kaduna to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State.

Buhari is expected back in Abuja from the journey described as
"private trips" this weekend.

"The President is expected back this weekend. He will be expected to
join his wife here on his arrival," the source added.

Upon his formal relocation to the Presidential Villa, Buhari is
expected to operate for the first time from his office on Monday.

As of the time of filing this report, Osinbajo and his wife have yet
to relocate to the Villa.

It was not clear whether they will move in at the same time with Buhari.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Mallam Garba Shehu, had told our correspondent that ongoing renovation
work was hindering Buhari from moving into the Presidential Villa.

He had said, "As far as the President is concerned, the place (his
official residence) is not ready yet. Workers are cleaning and
refurbishing the place. Once the exercise is completed, the President
will move in.

—PUNCH

Only Enemies Of Ndigbo Would Call For Ekweremadu’s Resignation — WIC

The World Igbo Congress, WIC, a global network of Ndigbo has
congratulated the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike
Ekweremadu on his re-election into office, declaring that "anyone
asking him to resign his position is an enemy of the Igbo people".

Photo: Ike Ekweremadu

Also, the Enugu USA, an umbrella body of Enugu State people residing
in the United States of America, has poured encomiums on Senator
Ekweremadu, describing his re-election as historic and well deserved.

In a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the WIC, Dr. Agatha
Anosike and the Media Director, Dr. Acho Orabuchi, the global body
under the leadership of Joe Nze Eto, felicitated with Senator
Ekweremadu and all the Governors of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Delta, Ebonyi,
and Rivers States on their successful election and inauguration.

It urged them to brace up for the implementation of their campaign
promises in order to improve the quality of life of their people.

Continuing, the WIC said: "We congratulate Dr. Ike Ekweremadu for his
selfless service to the country, as well as his unparalleled
leadership in the Senate and ECOWAS. We are strongly behind him and
will do everything to support him in office".

It noted that the current dicey economic status of the nation and the
slippery slopes for our region in Nigeria's political terrain call for
immediate, strategic, all hands on deck, team approach by the leaders
of the zone towards its transformation.

On its part, the Enugu USA in a statement signed by its National
President, Dr. Sinachi Ugwuonye, described Senator Ekweremadu's
re-election as most deserving.

The US-based group said: "In this position, our own Super Hero, Dr.
Ike Ekweremadu has been tested and found highly worthy. Though this
was a hard-to-believe outcome of the National Assembly elections,
considering the political setting of current Nigeria, we are not
surprised, as we know that we have a rare phenomenon in the person of
this honorable man, fondly and largely known as IKEOHA"

—Vanguard

Mali Wins U20 W/Cup Bronze, Beats Senegal 3-1

Impressive African reps Mali and Senegal set the North Harbour
Stadium New Zealand aglow with entertaining football in their
third- place match of the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in the wee hours
of Saturday (Nigerian time). Mali however, won 3-1 fair and square
as the third and fourth spots were wrapped up by African teams.

Ibou Wadji opened scoring for Senegal on 64 minutes as the Africans
defied rainfall on the tournament's last day to entertain.

Adama Traore scored twice for Mali – in the 74 and 83 minutes, the
provided an crucial assist for Samassekou to score the third in the
first minute on injury time.

Mali coach, Fanyeri Diarra describes the Bronze win as an appropriate
reward for his team's hard work, and hailed African teams' strong
impact in the tournament.

"We've come a long way in this tournament and have been proud to
represent Africa," Diarra states.

"And we're very happy today. Adama Traore (with two goals and an
assist) did a great job for us. He is a great player and I have no
doubt he has a great future in the game.

"We've had a great run in this competition and the outcome is very
positive. For Africa, it has been great having two teams in the last
four, and I want to congratulate Senegal too. Nigeria and Ghana were
also strong, and I think African teams have defended their colours
extremely well in this tournament. We've proven that, with the right
resources, African teams will get results."

Wike Probes Amaechi, Sets Up Panel

Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday commenced probe of the administration
of his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi as he constituted a seven man
Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji to
investigate alleged sale of some state assets as well as the projects
for which funds were allegedly released but not executed.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which has 23 terms of reference has
one month to turn in its report.

Wike's action was coming against the backdrop of claims by Amaechi's
former Deputy, Tele Ikuru that the former administration under which
he served was the most corrupt in the state.

Photo: Wike and Amaechi

Ikuru alleged that his former boss allegedly spent N812 million to
furnish his private residence.

The former deputy governor spoke at Government House, Port Harcourt
yesterday while handing over the final report of the transition
committee he chaired adding that the former government also spent
N4.96 billion on the proposed Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte Hospital
with no structures on the ground.

However, inaugurating the commission of inquiry, Wike said, "In
exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 2 (1) of the
Commissions of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (Cap 30), 1999 and all
other powers enabling me in that regard, I Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,
Governor of Rivers State, hereby constitute and appoint a Judicial
Commission of Inquiry for the investigation of the administration of
Governor Chibuike Amaechi".

He asked the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the sale of Omoku
150 MW Gas Turbine , Adam 360 MW Gas Turbine, Trans-Amadi 136 MW Gas
Turbine as well as the Eleme 75 MW Gas Turbine.

The Commission of Inquiry is also expected to investigate the mono
rail project and the sale of the Olympia Hotel by the Amaechi
administration as well as the non execution of the contract for the
construction of the Justice Karibi White Hospital after the former
administration had paid $250 million to the contractor.

He further directed the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the
expenditure of N96 billion from the Rivers State Reserve Fund without
compliance with the extant laws as well as make appropriate
recommendations that would assist the state government recover
proceeds from the gas turbines sold by the former administration.

Furthermore, the commission also has the mandate to recover alleged
funds wrongfully disbursed on the failed Justice Karibi White
Hospital; the alleged funds illegally withdrawn from the state's
Reserve Fund and the alleged N2 billion illegally disbursed under the
Agriculture Credit Scheme.

Responding, Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice
Omereji assured the governor that the panel would carry out its
assignment diligently and in line with the terms of reference,
pointing out that, at the end of the day, the Rivers people would be
happy with the job of the commission.

Other members of the Commission of Inquiry include Dr Edith Chukwu,
Chief Monday Ekekenta, Rev. Canon Alex Usifo and Elder Ignatius
Piegbara. Mrs Florence Fiberesima is to serve as secretary while Dr
Zacheaus Adango would serve as the counsel to the Commission.

Meanwhile, receiving the report of the transition committee he set up
from the former Deputy Governor Ikuru, Wike asked President Muhamadu
Buhari to support his bid to recover funds allegedly stolen by the
past Amaechi's government.

He said : " I am confident that President Buhari will support my
administration in the quest to tackle the massive corruption that
characterised the Amaechi administration.

"We are aware that the immediate past administration and her officials
will resort to blackmail and propaganda for the purpose of diverting
attention from their corrupt practices. We shall remain focused on the
task of getting back Rivers State resources and assets."

—Vanguard

Why We’ll Not Make Buhari’s Assets Public — CCB

The Code of Conduct Bureau says it will not make public the details of
assets declared by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo due to limitations in federal laws covering such release, the
office has said.

The presidency said those details will be made available after the
Code of Conduct Bureau authenticates claims in the declaration forms.

There has been controversy following the inability of President Buhari
and his Deputy Osinbajo to release details of their assets since their
inauguration May 29, despite the promise to do so.

PHOTO: OFFICIAL PORTRAITS OF BUHARI, OSINBAJO

Buhari pledged to publicly declare his assets despite the lack of a
law requiring him to do so as the 1999 Constitution stated that office
holders declare their assets, without requiring them to do so
publicly.

A civil society group, Stop Impunity Nigeria, an affiliate of the
Centre for Social Justice, had on June 1, 2015 applied to the CCB to
request copies of the completed assets declaration forms by the
President and his deputy.

The application, signed by the Lead Director of the Centre, Eze
Onyekpere, was pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act, FOIA, 2011.

But, in its response CCB/HQ/670/G/1/104 dated June 10, 2015 and signed
by Ijeanuli Ofor on behalf of the Chairman, the CCB declined the
request, citing the absence of prescribed law by the National Assembly
authorizing the release of such information to the public.

The Bureau however, conceded the right by Nigerians under section 1(1)
3 and 4 of the FOIA 2011, to "access or request information, whether
written or not in written form, in the custody of any public agency".

According to the Bureau, regardless of this, ''sections 12(1) (a) (v),
14(1) (b) and 15(1)9a) of the same Act empowered it to decline any
request, which it considered an invasion of personal privacy.

"Assets declarations by public officers contain such personal
information, which falls within the exemptions to the disclosure of
information in the FOIA," the Bureau added, explaining further that,
paragraph 3(c of the Third Schedule, Part 1 of the constitution (as
amended) empowered it to "make assets declarations of public officers
available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria only on terms and
conditions prescribed by the National Assembly.

"However, the terms and conditions under which that can be done have
not yet been prescribed by the National Assembly."

—Vanguard

Imo State, China Discuss Industrialisation Partnership

The Imo State government has opened discussions with the Chinese
government, focusing on partnership in areas of industrialisation.

Discussions were held on Friday between Governor Rochas Okorocha and
the Consul-General of China to Nigeria, Mr Liu Khan, at the Government
House in Owerri, Imo State's capital.

Governor Okorocha said the visit was to initiate a robust relationship
with the Peoples Republic of China that would bring massive
industrialisation to Imo State and employment for the youths.

He said the partnership, if consummated, would be a fulfilment to his
dream of establishing factories and industries in the state.

The Governor also appealed to the government of China to revisit the
cases of Nigerians imprisoned in China, including Imo indigenes, with
the aim of reviewing their cases to ensure that innocent ones were not
punished for offences they never committed.

While describing the visit as a laudable achievement for the state and
a step towards the right direction, some top Imo State government
functionaries and business mogul said it would also build investors
confidence in the state.

The Consul-General also visited the Lawmakers at the Imo House of Assembly.

With this renewed relationship between Imo State and China, it is
expected that the Governor's vision of total industrialisation in the
next four years would be achieved.

—ChannelsTV

S'African Stowaway Found Dead After Falling From British Airways Plane In London

A stowaway has died after falling from a British Airways jet onto a
shop's headquarters in southwest London.

He and another man are believed to have clung on to the passenger
plane as it flew more than 8,000 miles from Johannesburg in South
Africa to Heathrow.

The second man, aged between 25 and 30, is in a critical condition in
a west London hospital after miraculously surviving the ordeal.

He was discovered alive by staff at Heathrow - and although officers
believe they know his identity, they are waiting for further
confirmation before releasing his details.

The victim died as the Boeing 747 came into land over Richmond at
around 9.30am on Thursday.

He reportedly landed on the roof of Not OnTheHighStreet.com in Kew Road.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Officers and the London Ambulance
Service attended and found the body of male on the roof of the
premises.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained but early
indications are that the body may be that of an airline stowaway.

"At this time there is no evidence to link the death to the discovery
of a stowaway in the undercarriage of a plane at Heathrow Airport,
however this is one line enquiry into identifying the deceased and the
circumstances of his death."

British Airways described it as a "very rare case" and said it is
working with police in London and Johannesburg to establish the facts.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Officers and the London Ambulance
Service attended and found the body of a dead man on the roof of a
business premises.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

"A post-mortem examination will be held in due course and inquiries
are ongoing to establish the male's identity. No arrests have been
made."

One flight expert said there were security questions to be answered.

Flight International magazine consulting editor David Learmount said:
"If these two were neither airline nor airport staff and somehow
managed to get on a flight then it becomes a serious security issue.
Just how did they get (on the restricted) airside at the airport?"

There have been previous cases of stowaways falling from planes in the
Heathrow flight path area in southwest London.

In September 2012, Jose Matada died after falling from the
undercarriage of a Heathrow-bound flight from Angola on to a road in
Mortlake, about a mile from Richmond.

The 26-year-old from Mozambique is believed to have survived
temperatures of up to minus 60C for most of the 12-hour flight, an
inquest heard.

He was "dead or nearly dead" by the time he hit the ground.

In July 2013, a suspected stowaway from Turkey was found frozen to
death in the undercarriage of a BA jet from Istanbul to Heathrow.

He died after facing temperatures of minus 60C during the four-hour flight.

Aviation experts say only a quarter of stowaways manage to survive
hiding on a plane's undercarriage - as they face a lack of oxygen,
sub-zero temperatures, and the risk of being crushed by the aircraft's
wheels on take-off.

—Skynews

5 Reasons Why Buhari Will Still Appoint An Igbo Man As SGF Despite Ekweremadu’s Emergence

There has been speculation that President Muhammadu Buhari will
appoint an Igbo man as the secretary to the government of the
federation when he finally decides to constitute his cabinet.

Last week, another report surfaced in the media that the president is
under pressure from top chieftains of the All Progressives Congress
not to consider an Igbo man for the postbecause of the election of
Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Nigeria's deputy Senate president.

After a critical analysis, Naij.com comes up with 5 reasons why the
Igbos will still be rewarded with the position.

1.
APC Still Favours Zoning:
Despite criticisms that have followed the way the party unsuccessfully
tried to zone the National Assembly positions, the APC by all
indications still favours zoning and has already reserved the SGF
position for the Igbos according to various media reports in the past.

2. United Igbos:
The Igbos in the APC are somewhat united in the race to grab the SGF
position. There is no major rivalry and tension as they all seem to be
speaking with one voice. The revelation by the Imo state governor,
Rochas Okorocha, that he submitted three names to President Buhari,
who are front-liners for the position shows that the Igbos in the APC
are united and not divided in their quest to occupy the revered post.

3. Capable Candidates:.
The Igbos in the APC are not short of capable hands that can steer the
administrative duties of the Buhari administration. From Dr. Ogbonnaya
Onu to Dr. Chris Ngige, to Professor Anthony Anwuka, the Igbos in the
APC are well positioned for the SGF position.

4. The ANPP Angle:
In terms of the Igbos in the ruling party, the odds favour Dr.
Ogbonnaya Onu. This is because he belongs to the All Nigeria's Peoples
Party bloc that merged with other parties that produced the APC. He
was even the one who led the ANPP negotiation as he was the national
chairman of the party at the time. The defunct ANPP, the Action
Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change and the New
PDP all merged to give birth to the APC. As things stand now, the CPC
pro­duced the current president, Buhari, the ACN produced the vice
president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the New PDP produced both the
Senate president and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr.
Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara respectively. The ANPP is yet to
benefit from the new arrangement.

5. Ignore The Igbos At Your Own Peril:
The Igbos have always formed a united political front at any given
time in their political journey. This was evident in the last general
elections as the people of the south-east voted for the ex-president,
Goodluck Jonathan en masse. The APC definitely knows that it will be
political suicide not to carry the south easterners along in its new
administration. An SGF of Igbo extraction will also give the APC an
edge as regards the next general elections in Igbo land and also
convince them that some notions about the APC in the region are
untrue.

—naij.com

I Will Not Respond To Your Attack During Ramadan — Ben Bruce Replies Aregbesola

THE lawmaker representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Senator
Ben Murray Bruce, has said that in the spirit of the month of Ramadan
observed by Muslim faithfuls, he will not respond to critics over his
decision to donate half of his wardrobe allowance to the unpaid
workers in Osun state.

Photos: Ben Bruce,
Aregbosola

"I'll take whatever attacks come my way but nothing & nobody can
dissuade me from doing what my conscience directs in helping my fellow
man.

The month of Ramadan is here. Many unpaid workers will fast. With what
will they break their fast? I thought of that and it moved me to act.

"I may not be a Muslim, but I respect Islam and I believe that it is
wrong for me to respond to any attack during the Holy month of
Ramadan.

"I wish the Muslim Ummah a successful fast. Please pray for God's
intervention in Nigeria so that peace may return. Ramadan Kareem, " he
posted on twitter.

It will be recalled that the Rauf Aregbesola government which has been
unable to pay public workers in the state for more than seven months
ridiculed the gesture of the lawmaker, describing it as a mockery of
Nigerian workers.

On Wednesday, The Senator said "I, Ben Murray Bruce, will not sit down
idly, while my fellow citizens die because salaries have not been
paid. As a first step, I am immediately donating my wardrobe allowance
to unpaid workers in Osun State and widows in my Constituency. We are
starting in Osun, but we will not end there. I will do as much to help
workers who've not been paid in other states."

But in a swift reaction, the Osun State government lampooned the
lawmaker , saying he was playing to the gallery just as he said he
(Murray-Bruce) was trivialising the issue.

—Vanguard

Housewife Holds Down Teenage Maid So Husband Can Rape Her

Ezechima and Uzoima Patrick, a 42 year old man and his wife have been
arrested for raping their 16-year old maid.

ASP Godwin Anyanwu,police prosecutor disclosed that the accused
committed the offences between June 1 and June 4 at their residence,
No.14, Iyajesha St., Amikonle in Alagbado, Lagos.

The Prosecutor explained that the wife held down the teenage maid
while her Husband perpetuated the act.

''Patrick conspired with his wife to defile the 16-year-old girl.
Uzoima had overpowered the girl for the husband to rape her. Uzoima
threatened to stab her with a knife to force her to cooperate with her
husband'', Anyanwu disclosed.

Appearing before a magistrate court in Yaba, the couple, denied the
charge, and the Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, granted them bail
in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

—Nigerian Bulletin

Ex-Gov.Ohakim Slams EFCC For Invading His Residence With “Paid” Journalists

A former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who was picked up
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been
released to go home after spending less than five hours at the
anti-graft agency's office.

An unsigned statement from the former governor's office Thursday
night, however, condemned the action of 'overzealous' officials of the
EFCC, who it said went ahead to invade Mr. Ohakim's Asokoro residence
in Abuja with paid media men despite turning himself in a day before,
contrary to media reports he was arrested.

"Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who was at the EFCC office few hours past five pm
yesterday (Wednesday), expressed surprise that overzealous officials
of the anti-graft Agency could go ahead to invade his house with paid
media men in order to score cheap points and achieve some credibility
stunts", the statement read.

It said having left office as governor more than four years ago, Mr.
Ohakim was investigated by the EFCC on the same charges as the present
one, as a result of the same frivolous petition sponsored by those it
called "enemies of Imo State and Igboland", who feel that their
criminal plans against the State and Ndi Igbo in general, would be
thwarted by the ex-governor.

While stressing that he is always ready to honour any invitation
extended to him by all legitimate agencies of government since he does
not have anything to hide, the former governor urged public officials
occupying sensitive positions not to allow themselves to be used as
pawns by desperate politicians.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has said it will still extend an invitation to the
former governor whenever the need arises.

Its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed that Ohakim was
arrested and quizzed in respect of an investigation into corrupt
enrichment while he held sway at the helm of affairs in Imo State
between 2007 and 2011, said "Ohakim was released and allowed to go, we
will call him whenever we need him".

—Information Nigeria

Dark Clouds Over Staff Schools As FG Stops Workers’ Salaries

Photo: Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria during a protest in Ilorin, Kwara State... on Thursday | credits: Success Nwogu

Uncertainty now pervades staff primary schools in universities across the country as the Federal Government moves to stop universities from offsetting personnel costs, Punch reports.

A school teacher, Mrs. Olanrewaju Adeoye, has earned a living at the Staff School of the University of Lagos for 28 years. Now, her source of livelihood is being threatened.

Indeed, Adeoye and other teachers working in 24 Staff primary schools across the country may soon find themselves in the job market if the Federal Government makes good its threat to stop paying the salaries of workers in staff primary schools of federal universities.

The Federal Ministry of Education recently issued a circular with an attached report from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, recommending that “Agencies which have been funding the personnel costs of staff primary schools in the federal budget should be advised to stop that practice with immediate effect. A service-wide circular should be issued by the commission directing federal public establishments that have staff schools not to fund their personnel budget from the treasury.’’

Expectedly, the development has been causing ripples among teachers and parents who will be affected. Leading the battle, however, is the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body for all university workers, which has vowed to resist the actualisation of the directive.

Uneasy calm pervaded the premises of the University of Lagos Staff Primary School when one of our correspondents visited there on Wednesday. In an interview, Adeoye lamented what would become of her and the pupils.

“What it means is that we (teachers) will be out of job and the pupils sent away. One will expect that this kind of directive will never see the light of the day, but it has happened and we are all apprehensive. We are more than 80 teachers because there is still another branch at Idi-Araba. Where do we go from here? We all have children and other dependents,’’ she said.

Another teacher who has been with the school since 1987, Mr. Samuel Osemeuno, said that rather than closing the school, parents should be told to pay a token to take the burden off the Federal Government that ultimately funds federal universities.

“I agree that parents should pay something. What obtains right now is that the children of the staff of the school pay N5,000 development fee in a year while the children of non-staff who come from outside pay N25,000 as school fees. Allowing the parents to contribute is a better option because many teachers will lose their jobs if the universities stop paying our salaries,’’ he said.

Findings by one of our correspondents have, however, shown that Osemeuno may be on his own as SSANU has threatened a showdown with the government on the issue.

In a nationwide protest that started on Monday, the union kicked against what it described as an attempt to privatise the schools. Scores of SSANU members, on Thursday, gathered at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in a protest, urging the government to rescind the decision to avoid forcing them into embarking on a strike.

Vice-President, SSANU, Western Zone, Mr.. Alfred Jimoh, said the protesters did not target the authorities of UNILORIN, but they were against a circular currently sent to universities.

“The content of that circular is highly offensive in the sense that it is calling our members in our various staff schools of the universities, who were duly employed by the councils of their various universities, ghost workers.

“This, to us, as a union, is highly offensive. Apart from the fact these people have the appointment letters of their councils, which have not been withdrawn, the union in 2009 had an agreement with the Federal Government.

--PUNCH

APC, Federal Lawmakers In Fresh Face-off

sequel to the still unsettled crisis in the All Progressives Congress, APC, arising from last week’s National Assembly leadership contest, another crisis may be in the offing as lawmakers take up battle with national officers of the party over the appointment of principal officers of the legislature.
Ahead of next week’s resumption of the Senate and the House, informed sources disclosed pressures from the party to be given the privilege to appoint principal officers of the two chambers and some key committee positions.
The development, it was learnt, had again reignited supporters of Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara who last week outfoxed the party’s leaders to emerge Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.
Senators peeved by the pressure were, yesterday evening, enclosed in a meeting in one of Abuja’s five-star hotels on how to resist the pressure.

APC Joint Leadership Meeting: From left, National Publicity Secretary of APC Alh. Mohammed Lai, National Chairman John Oyegun, National Auditor Chief Morgan, Senatorial Candidate of APC, Hon Dino Melayi and APC Presidential Campaign Organization and River State Governor Rotimi Amechi discussing during APC Joint Leadership Meeting held in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
House members equally agitated by the pressure were also threatening to flout the party’s directive.
High-level sources in the Senate and the House disclosed, yesterday, that informal contacts have been made with the new leaderships as part of the process of restoring amity between the party and the leadership following the ‘rebellion’ that enthroned Saraki and Dogara last week.
The sources, who were seething over the development, said that it was another attempt by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party to diminish the power of the Senate President and the Speaker.
Against the procedure of parties zoning the principal offices in the two chambers and allowing the party caucuses to produce the officers, the APC leadership, it was learnt, was now putting pressure on influential members of the House close to the Senate President and Speaker Dogara to allow the party to appoint the officials.
Compounding the fury of the legislators is the alleged plan by the party leadership to also appoint loyal officers into key committee positions.
The four principal offices to be filled by the APC in the Senate and the House of Representatives are Senate/House Leader, Deputy Senate/House Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.
What obtained in the past
The procedure in the past was for the party to zone the offices to the geopolitical zones and for the party members from the zones to elect from among themselves the persons to fill the positions given them.
Given that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are from the Northeast and the Southwest, it is expected that the Northwest, Southeast, North-Central and South-South would produce the remaining key principal officers in the House.
In the Senate, given that the Senate President and his deputy are from the North-Central and the South-east, it is expected that the remaining principal officers would come from the North-west, North-east, South-west, and South-South.
What the party wants
“The party wants to appoint principal officers for us and this is going to be part two of the crisis and it is unheard of for the party to tell members who will be their principal officers,” a returning member of the House who was pivotal to the rebellion that saw Dogara emerge as speaker told Vanguard yesterday evening.
“We will resist it especially because the caucuses have a role to play in the election of their officers,” the member said on the condition of anonymity.
Another high level source in the House saw the party’s interest in the appointment of members into key committees as an attempt to undermine the speaker and his deputy who have the leverage in appointing committee officials.
--Vanguard

APC Has Deceived Us With Their Change Slogan — Ameh, Chairman, PPA

Chief Peter Ameh is the National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA. In this interview, he bares his mind on the recent development in the nation’s political scene. Ameh while x-raying the controversies which characterised the recently conducted National Assembly leadership election concluded that a bi-partisan legislature is good for the country.
How would you react to the controversies generated by the election of presiding officers in the National Assembly?
There have been a lot of intrigues behind closed doors among the various blocs that came to form the All Progressive Congress, APC, that gave it the power it now has and the ability to have the national spread that gave it the advantage to take over power at the centre.
These power blocs have been pitching opinion against opinion and interest against interest, and that is what has really made this thing very difficult. But nevertheless, we know that there is a good intention from the elected president. But APC as a party is making very serious mistakes maybe from the leadership.
I thought that based on their popular slogan of Change, that they would be an all-inclusive party, a party that has respect for internal democratic process, a party that has respect for the interest, wishes and aspirations of it members. But so far, APC has fallen short of that and has failed to achieve that in a lot of areas.

Peter-Ameh
Like the National Assembly elections, I want to sincerely fault the leadership of the APC. While we commend the President, Muhammadu Buhari for accepting that he would work with any person that is chosen as leader at the National Assembly level. We want to fault the negative influence of the APC as a political party in the leadership process of the National Assembly.
Because one, if you say a member who wants to contest for the post of the Senate President has an interest and that member is a member of your party, and that member has contributed financially up to date, the member has contributed personal manpower by moving from one state to another campaigning for the victory of the APC. You said that member should not run that you have a preferred candidate, what have you done? Have you not infringed on the right of that person to participate and have you not refused to create a fair playing field for participation for all your members? Have you not refused to create an all-inclusive process of election?
These were all the things that the previous political parties like the PDP were doing that were wrong that caused the party to crash and yet APC claimed change. APC would have allowed its members to elect the leader or leaders of their choice without any imposition.
As the national chairman of a political party do you think Senator Saraki and Speaker Dogara violated party discipline by contesting against the party’s nominated candidates in the leadership contests?
I want to tell you one thing, our party the PPA, had people like Senator Uche Chukwumerijie of blessed memory elected to the Senate in 2007 under its platform, Chief Ikedi Ohakim became the governor of Imo State under the platform of our party, Chief Theodore Orji, the immediate past governor of Abia state became governor under the platform of our party. I think when the position of the party becomes too stiff; you push your members away, and the damage that would be done would be too much to recover from.
If you say party discipline, you must create a system of fair hearing, you must create an equal level playing field for all those persons that you want them to follow party principles and party policies; you must create that equal playing field.
You cannot be a judge in a matter where your interest is already known, there is no way you can judge that matter fairly because from day one the party was known to favour some candidates as the choice candidate of the party; Lawan-Akume and Femi Gbajabiamila tickets.

--Vanguard

The Change Must Start Now

Days have turned into weeks since May 29, 2015, when Muhammadu Buhari assumed office as the President of Nigeria. But the much promised change is nowhere in sight and seems to have died with the election campaigns. The President’s most ardent supporters and loyalists are already running out of excuses for the apparent inaction that has characterised his government, unless you are counting foreign trips, which are becoming the hallmark of his Presidency.

To be clear, no one expected a transformation of the country in a few weeks after years of rot. But no one can see the baby steps that would indicate that change is in the offing. We are seeing the same unprincipled horse-trading in the sharing of political offices, with scant regard for competence and track record. Even the promised public declaration of assets, which was supposed to signal a new style of leadership, has not happened. What is supposed to be a simple proactive release to the public of the asset declaration form submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau has become a complicated, long-winded explanation clouded in sophistry.

We are now being told that the declaration of assets made by the President and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and submitted to the Bureau will be and can only be disclosed to the public after the Bureau has verified them. A critical question here is: Why? There appears to be no logical answer to this question.

What Candidate Buhari promised to disclose to Nigerians was not assets verified by the Bureau. What he is supposed to disclose to Nigerians is what he has declared to the Bureau. A major reason why a public declaration of assets is critically important is so that citizens can be part of the verification process. If a public officer has assets that he or she has not declared, there is no way the Bureau can know this on its own, unless citizens are aware of what the public officer has declared and can come forward with information on assets that have not been declared or any aspect of the declaration that is false, inaccurate or incomplete.

At this time, there is no legal or constitutional impediment preventing the President from making public the declaration of assets form he has submitted to the Bureau. The only impediment right now appears to be the fact that the President has developed cold feet. Unless, of course, he never meant to disclose his assets publicly, to begin with.

The failure of President Buhari to immediately fulfil his promise, voluntarily made in order to win the trust and confidence of Nigerians, and therefore secure their votes, will have grave implications for his credibility and consequently, the credibility of his government. For his own sake and for the sake of Nigeria, we have to urge him to make good on this promise.

Since the President also promised to encourage all his appointees to declare their assets publicly as part of his pledge to run a clean government, it is obvious that if he has not made a public declaration of his own assets, he would have no moral authority to encourage anyone else to do so. He would also be sending a wrong signal to his appointees that he does not always mean what he says publicly. This would be disastrous for governance.

Such a situation will also be sad for another reason; namely the knowledge that they will be required to declare their assets publicly is one thing that could perhaps have discouraged some political jobbers intent only on lining their pockets from taking up political offices.

Another issue which has implications for governance is the mode of appointment of government officials, particularly ministers. Already, the signs are that the sharing of political offices remains that same nasty and messy business of “survival of the fittest” that it has always been in Nigeria. There is no debate about who is best qualified to run what. The considerations appear to remain who comes from where and who is loyal to whom. That is not change.

--PUNCH

Stop Making Mockery Of Governance — PDP Tells APC

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has advised the governing All
Progressives Congress, APC, and the Presidency to "stop making mockery
of governance with premature celebration of imaginary achievements",
except if the intention is to set up President Muhammadu Buhari for
national and international ridicule.

The party said it was embarrassing that the APC and aides of President
Buhari decided to invade the minds of Nigerians with propaganda and
tissues of lies instead of assisting the President who was inaugurated
three weeks ago to settle down, form a government and deliver his
campaign promises to Nigerians.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on
Thursday said "the nation and democrats world over were thoroughly
embarrassed by the frivolous list of so-called achievements which has
further exposed APC's lack of capacity and direction as well as the
inability to draw a line between propaganda by an opposition party and
disseminating of credible information as a party in government".

"How can a serious government start shouting achievements and make
bogus claims on the fight against terrorism when the effort is
apparently losing steam as insurgents who had already been pushed to
the verge of surrender in the Sambisa forest by the Goodluck Jonathan
administration are now surging back into the country under the APC-led
government?

"How can a serious government shout achievement based on pledges by
foreign interests, a dangerous slide towards neo-colonialism, instead
of settling down to galvanize bequeathed resources and potentials that
have already placed our great country as one of the fastest emerging
economic and political powers in the world?

"How can a serious government shout achievement and attempt to explain
away the untidy fact that after three weeks, it has not been able to
organize itself even to take basic steps of conventional appointments
such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief of
Staff to the President and advisers in key sectors of the economy.

"We ask, is the APC celebrating the fact that due to its naivety and
delays, key sectors of our nation's economy are dangerously drifting
with a perilous crippling of foreign and domestic investments
including activities in the money and capital market sectors?

"Our promise has been to engage in credible opposition and provide
alternatives and options to the policies and programmes of the APC-led
Federal Government in the general interest of the nation, but alas, in
less than one month, even with the stability bequeathed by the
Jonathan administration, we have only witnessed inexcusable confusion
and administrative naivety in the handling of important issues as seen
in their poor outing at the inauguration of the National Assembly,
unnecessary delays in the setting up of structure for the executive
arm and the worrisome inability to urgently provide a national
economic direction, among others.

"This is a party and government that promised Nigerians that they will
hit the ground running once elected into office but what we have seen
so far is a government and party that hit the ground and remained on
the same spot for sheer inexperience and unpreparedness for
governance.

"We therefore urge the APC to stop embarrassing the nation with
premature and unsubstantiated celebration of imaginary achievements
especially if they ever want to be credible and responsible people, as
sincerity and not propaganda remains the hallmark of trustworthy
administration.

"The APC should not by any means attempt to use its flimsy list to
divert attention from its numerous campaign promises for which the
people are holding them accountable.

"We wish to inform the APC that the Nigerians will not take anything
short of the commencement of the payment of monthly N5, 000 each to 25
million poor citizens beginning from the end of this month; ending of
insurgency by the end of July as promised by President Buhari in his
April 2, 2015 CNN interview; payment of monthly allowance to
discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members, free meals to school
children and bringing the naira to the same value with the dollar;
among other bogus promises upon which they gained access to power.

"Finally, we advise the Presidential spokespersons to allow Nigerians
to judge the President as events and time will prove exactly the taste
of the old wine," the PDP said.

—Premium Times

At 72, My Performance As President Is Limited — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his age would limit his
performance as the President of the country.

Buhari, who was a military governor at 33 and Head of State at the
age of 40, said he would have loved being a President when he was at a
younger age . He will be 73 on December 17, 2015.

The President, according to Punchng.com made the statement when
speaking with Nigerians resident in South Africa on Monday after
taking part in the 25th assembly of Heads of State and Government of
the African Union in Johannesburg.

Hear Him:

"I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few
years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do."

"Despite my advancement in age however, my administration would make
a difference.

'"hat brought me to this current position was my love for the country.

He recalled that he was in the war front for 30 months during the
civil war, adding that like any other Nigerian, he lost relatives and
loyal people to the war.

Buhari said considering the fact that two million Nigerians died
during the war, nobody should come forward to talk about a breakup of
the country.

He stressed that Nigeria would remain one country since God had given
him another opportunity to reorganise its affairs.

The President promised that his administration would "kill"
corruption before it wrecks the nation.

He added that the All Progressives Congress government which he
leads was determined to secure the country and improve its economy.

"Our government is determined to secure the country, manage the
economy, create employment and fight corruption. Some articulate
writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill
Nigeria. This APC administration intends to kill corruption in
Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you," Buhari stated.

The President said he was at a time afraid that Nigeria might become a
nation like Somalia which "self-centered elite" had succeeded in
turning to a war zone in the last 20 years.

He said Nigerians were more vulnerable because the country has many
nationalities who were merged in 1914 in spite of their religious and
cultural differences.

Buhari stated that only crazy people whom, according to him, are not
in short supply, would talk of dividing the country.

He said there was no big deal in the claims by those who accused him
of jailing them because he was also jailed for over three years.

"After being in the military for 25 years, and getting to the highest
rank and becoming Head of State and under unusual circumstances, as
Head of State, I went straight to detention for three-and-a-half
years. So, those who accuse me of locking them up, I too have been
locked up; so what?" he declared.

The President said he would not have believed if he had been told
during his days in the military that he would one day join partisan
politics.

He explained that he joined partisan politics with a view to meeting
the needs of the people.

Buhari said, "Why did I join partisan politics in spite of that? When
I went home people knew that I have no money and I thought they will
leave me alone, but they didn't.

"They were coming to me asking me to do this and do that. I found
out that the only way I could do it is by joining partisan politics.

"And maybe if I speak even if I'm not a member at any level, people
will listen to me.

"But then I joined the opposition (the All Peoples Party). I didn't
want any political office at first, if I wanted, I would have joined
the PDP(Peoples Democratic Party) then and maybe I would have got to
where I am much earlier. But then, I wanted to go with the opposition.

"The second thing that finally convinced me to join partisan
politics was what happened in the Soviet Union. You know the Soviet
Union was an empire in the 20th century that collapsed without a shot
being fired.

"Everybody went home, there was confusion. Now, there are 18
countries out of the old Soviet Union."

Buhari said he believed that the best form of governance was
democracy, but elections must be free and fair.

That, he said, was why he was in trouble and he had to move from the
APP to the ANPP(All Nigerian Peoples Party) to CPC(Congress for
Progressive Change) and eventually to the APC.

Buhari explained that he contested his defeats in 2003, 2007 and
2011 up to the Supreme Court because of his belief that elections must
be free and fair.

He said, "In all those cases from the High Court to the Supreme
Court, we sent people to the field, they found out why the elections
were not fair.

"They came to the court and gave evidence but in the end, they will
say 'oh well, there were some flaws in the elections but the PDP has
won.

Read more at ThePUNCH:
http://www.punchng.com/news/old-age-will-limit-my-performance-buhari/

Impersonators Approach Kashamu With Plan To Poison Obasanjo

Two persons posing as daughter of former President, Chief Olusegun
Obsanjo and an intelligence officer respectively, were alleged to have
approached Senator Buruji Kashamu, to assist him poison the former
president over their face-off.

The accused persons – Peter Uwakala and Victoria Alaegbu, were said to
have met with the senator at a hotel in Victoria Island, last month,
assuring him that they would also help resolve the political rift
between the duo.

However, after the conversation, Kashamu reportedly lodged a verbal
complaint to policemen at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, prompting the
Police to swing into action leading to the arrests.

However, during preliminary investigation, sources said the two were
impersonators. The woman said to have introduced herself to the
Senator as Yetunde Obasanjo earlier, was discovered to have no link
with the ex-president.

Photo: Obasanjo and Kashamu

The suspects, it was gathered, during their meeting with Kashamu
allegedly called the former president unprintable names and threatened
to poison him.

According to a Police report, the fact of the case was that the
complainant alleged in his verbal complaint that the duo of Peter
Uwakala and Victoria Alaegbu falsely represented themselves as an
intelligence officer and daughter to the former President Obasanjo
respectively to him under the pretence that they were going to resolve
the political rift between him and Obasanjo.

He stressed that the duo met with him at a hotel, where the latter who
had collected N500,000 from his younger brother, made some
uncomplimentary and derogatory remarks about the former president,
while the former introduced herself as Yetunde Obasanjo to him.

However the police was able to establish that both Uwakala and Alaegbu
actually committed the offences alleged by the complainant and have
been charged accordingly in line with the prescription of the law.

The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo at
the Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos on 5th June 2015 and were
remanded at Kirikiri Prisons. The matter was adjourned to 31st July
2015.

There are indication that Kashamu's reaction to the impostors was
towards settling the face-off between him and Obansnajo , following
report by those close to the duo that the former claimed to have
forgiven the latter.

The fence mending effort may have led to Kashamu withdrawing the
N20billion libel suit against Obasanjo.

When contacted, Kashamu's media aide, Mr Austin Oniyokor said that
that the matter was in court. He however, pointed out that his boss's
conduct "goes a long way to show that despite his political
differences on principles with Obasanjo, he (Kashamu ) does not wish
him (Obasanjo) ill because he respects the sanctity of human life and
also fears God."

—Vanguard

OPC Gives Joe Igbokwe 7 Days To Apologize Over ‘Outlaw’ Comment Or Incur Wrath Of Yoruba gods

The Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, has given the Lagos State All
Progressives Congress, APC, publicity secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe,
seven days within which he must apologize for his comments on the
organization or face the wrath of Yoruba gods.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the OPC, Yinka Oguntimeyin, said
Mr. Igbokwe while speaking with newsmen over OPC's withdrawal of its
men from securing NNPC pipelines in the South-West geo-political zone,
had described the Yoruba group as "hoodlums and outlaws".

"Why should hoodlums be used in securing pipelines…using OPC is a
primitive way of securing pipelines. You don't give sensitive jobs
like pipelines to outlaws",‎ Mr. Oguntimeyin quoted the Lagos APC
spokesman as saying.

OPC pointed out that the contract was a duly-signed one between the
OPC and NNPC and was supposed to last between March 15 and June 15,
2015.

"Igbokwe needs to take a tour to the communities where the pipeline
runs through and speak with the residents on their experience since
the OPC started watching over the facilities. Our men have brought
some sense of safety and security to the people of the areas where
these pipelines pass through.

"On this note, I wish to say that Mr. Joe Igbokwe withdraws his
comments and apologize to the OPC within seven days or risk the wrath
of all the deities in Yorubaland. Igbokwe's latest statement is seen
as an insult on the entire Yoruba race and would be punished by Yoruba
gods and our ancestors if he fails to apologize within seven days.

"In our land, it is an insult to speak to an Oba in that manner. Even
if the Oba makes a mistake, you do not stand in the public gallery to
insult him", the group said.

OPC said the statement coming from Mr. Igbokwe was not only shocking,
but also regrettable.

It, however, said it is not surprised that he would insult and cast
aspersions on members of the group, who it said were in the forefront
for the enthronement of democracy in the country. ‎

"Though it is easy for him and others like him who are benefiting from
the struggle to enthrone democracy in our country, he needs to tell us
where he was when members of OPC, alongside other activists like Chief
Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana,
took on the military after the annulment of the June 12 presidential
election.

"Igbokwe should tell the world what role he played in the struggle to
revalidate the annulment of the election and subsequently enthrone
democracy in our country. We need to know where Igbokwe was in 1995
when civil society groups in the country, under the command of
NADECCO, organized what was called the 'mother of all rallies'. Where
was Igbokwe in 1996 when Olisa Agbakoba led a rally against the
military?" OPC asked.

‎The Yoruba group said it is on record that most of these activities
were led and indeed commandeered by members of the OPC.

OPC referred Mr. Igbokwe to a judgment of Justice Anwuli Chikere of
the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on December 19, 2006,
during the detention of Gani Adams and Fredrick Fasehun.
‎
"In the judgment, the revered justice ruled that the OPC was not an
illegal organization, and ordered that nobody should refer to it as an
illegal body.

"Aside from this very important ruling on the status of the OPC, we
would have expected Igbokwe to know that, as enshrined in the Nigerian
constitution, every Nigerian has the right of association and the
freedom to associate with one another without molestation.
‎
"It is not on record that Igbokwe suffers from memory relapse. But I
would like to refresh his memory, hoping that it would do him some
good.

"Among our members are medical doctors, lawyers and technocrats among
others. Also, across Yorubaland, we have initiated and organized more
than 18 cultural festivals as part of the efforts to promote Yoruba
culture and traditions", the OPC said.

—INFORMATION NIGERIA

Ajaokuta Steel Complex Requires Special Prayers To Dispossess It Of ‘Demons’ — Speaker Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said
on Wednesday that the multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta Steel Complex in
Kogi State might be bogged down by demons and requires special prayers
for it to deliver on its set objectives.

He expressed his concerns when members of the Kogi State caucus in the
House paid him a visit.

"I don't know if there are demons besetting that place that is making
things difficult to work out there.

"Apart from hoping that things will change in that place, I also feel
we should employ prayers for the complex to be restored.

"We all know what Ajaokuta stands for, and we are putting it to paper
and debate it. By that, I mean the sectoral debate that we have
proposed in our legislative agenda", Dogara stated.

The caucus, led by Mr. Bubba Jibril, complained to the speaker that
the delay in the completion of the steel complex was compounding the
unemployment situation of the country.

"It is estimated that about 50,000 engineers can be engaged with about
another 40, 000 workers as support staff in Ajaokuta Steel.

"It has three turbine plants, which if harnessed, can supply
uninterrupted power to Benue, Kwara and some parts of Anambra", Jibril
added.

—INFORMATION NIGERIA

Read What A Girl Posted About Sex, Spirituality And Marriage That Set Facebook On Fire [18+]

A girl posted the following about sex on Facebook and it's causing a
debate. What do you think?

—INFORMATION NIGERIA

US Church Shooting: Nine Killed In Charleston ‘Hate Crime’

A gunman has gone on rampage in the African-American Church in
Charleston in the US state of South Carolina killing at least Nine
people.

City Police Chief, Gregory Mullen, said Eight of the victims were
killed inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on
Wednesday evening, while another person died shortly afterwards.

"I do believe it was a hate crime.

"At this point, we have Nine victims in this hideous crime that has
been committed.

"It is unfathomable that somebody in today's society would walk into a
church when people are having a prayer meeting and take their lives,"
Mr Mullen said.

The Church's Pastor, State Senator Clementa Pinckney, was among those killed.

The Police are said to be searching for a white male suspect who is in his 20s.

Report says that a prayer meeting was going on at the time of the
shooting at about 21:00 local time on Wednesday (01:00 GMT Thursday)
at the church on Calhoun Street.

The Charleston Post and Courier reported that a woman who survived the
shooting told her family the gunman said he was letting her live so
she could report what happened.

Chad Military Bombs Boko Haram Bases In Nigeria

Chad's military has carried out series of air strikes against Boko
Haram bases in Nigeria.

The onslaught was in apparent retaliation for the killing of over 30
people in N'djamena's twin blasts by suspected Boko Haram militants on
Monday.

A statement from the Chadian military, which was obtained by Reuters
revealed that the airstrikes caused heavy human and material damage to
six bases belonging to the sect, although the locations have not been
made known.

Chadian forces form part of the Multinational Joint Task Force,
alongside those of Nigeria, Niger and Benin Republic, fighting to end
the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria's northeast and the Lake Chad
basin area.

"Our defence and security forces will hunt down without mercy these
terrorists without faith nor law so that spilling the blood of
Chadians will not go unpunished," the Chadian military noted in a
statement.

The twin attacks at a Police Headquarters and a training school were
the first in the country's capital.

The government has also announced measures aimed at checking the
activities of the terrorists, including a ban on wearing of full veil
across the country.
—ChannelsTV

Hear What Pope Tells Buhari, Other World Leaders

Pope Francis on Thursday urged the world to act quickly to prevent
"extraordinary" climate change from destroying the planet and said
wealthy countries must bear responsibility for creating the problem
and for solving it. In a radically worded letter addressed to every
person on the planet, the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics
blames human greed for the critical situation "Our Sister, mother
Earth" now finds itself in.

"This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted
on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God
has endowed her," he writes in his long-anticipated Encyclical on the
environment.

Arguing that environmental damage is intimately linked to global
inequality, he goes on to say that doomsday predictions can no longer
be dismissed and that: "The earth, our home, is beginning to look more
and more like an immense pile of filth."

Green activists hailed the charismatic Argentinian pontiff's
widely-trailed intervention as a potential game-changer in the debate
over what causes global warming and how to reverse it. "Everyone,
whether religious or secular, can and must respond to this clarion
call for bold urgent action,"said Kumi Naido, the International
Executive Director of Greenpeace.

Environmentalists hope the pope's message will significantly increase
the pressure for binding restrictions on carbon emissions to be agreed
at global talks in Paris at the end of this year. But even before the
official publication, climate change sceptics had dismissed the
document's argument that the phenomenon is primarily man-made and that
humanity can reverse it through lifestyle changes including an early
phasing-out of fossil fuels.

"I don't get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinal or my
pope," US presidential candidate Jeb Bush said on the eve of the
release in comments that underlined the depth of opposition in the
United States to a binding agreement to curb greenhouse gases.

– Fast track to disaster –

The Encyclical references the arguments of the sceptics by
acknowledging that volcanic activity, variation in the earth's
movements and the solar cycle are factors in climate change. But it
maintains that "most global warming in recent decades is due to the
great concentration of greenhouse gases released mainly as a result of
human activity".

President Muhammadu Buhari
And it leaves no doubt that Francis believes the world is on a
fast-track to disaster after decades of inaction. "If present trends
continue, this century may well witness extraordinary climate change
and an unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious
consequences for all of us," he writes.

Bemoaning the "remarkable" weakness of political responses to this,
Francis accuses the sceptics of cynically ignoring or manipulating the
scientific evidence. "There are too many special interests, and
economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and
manipulating information so that their own plans will not be
affected," he writes.

"We know how unsustainable is the behaviour of those who constantly
consume and destroy, while others are not yet able to live in a way
worthy of their human dignity," he adds, saying the time has come for
parts of the world to accept decreased growth.

– Conflict and war –

The consequences of climate change, he argues, will include a rise in
sea levels that will directly threaten the quarter of the world's
population that lives near or on coastlines, and will be felt most
acutely by developing countries. Highlighting warnings that acute
water shortages could arise within decades, he writes that, "the
control of water by large multinational business may become a major
source of conflict in this century".

He adds: "It is foreseeable that, once certain resources have been
depleted, the scene will be set for new wars," with the ever-present
risk that nuclear or biological weapons could be used. One of the
strongest themes in the encyclical is that rich countries must accept
responsibility for having caused climate change and should "help pay
this debt" by cutting their carbon emissions and helping the
developing world adopt sustainable forms of energy generation.

"The land of the southern poor is rich and mostly unpolluted, yet
access to ownership of goods and resources for meeting vital needs is
inhibited by a system of commercial relations and ownership which is
structurally perverse," the pope writes in perhaps the most radical
passage of the document.

—Vanguard