'APC Will Rule For The Next 24 Years' -- Okorocha Boasts

The governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha has said the All
Progressives Congress (APC) would not only remain strong but would be
in power in the state for the next 24 years.

The governor announced this on Thursday, August 13, during the meeting
with leaders and officials of the APC, in the state, Vanguard reports.

He also vowed to make sure the party becomes very strong in the whole
of South East.

Speaking on the issue of political appointments, Okorocha assured the
people that he would appoint commissioners soon.

According to him, local government election will be conducted as soon
as the court cases involving the councils are over and until then, his
government would continue to make do with transition committees in
running the councils.

Okorocha said: "The Community Government Council [CGC] is to be
re-structured to make it functional and more effective. We are also
going to review the performances of the party in the booths at all
levels during the last elections.

"A committee will also be set up to look into the cases or reports of
party members or leaders who erred in one way or the other especially
during the elections. The party will look into the case of erring
members."

The governor promised to pay all outstanding salaries, adding that the
next four years of his administration would be worthy of celebration
in the state.

Speaking to journalist at the end of the meeting, Hon. Ugochukwu
Nzekwe, the deputy chairman of the party in the state said, they would
support the governor and APC government to make progress in the state.

On Monday, July 27, 2015, all government offices in Imo state were
shut down, following the industrial action ordered by the leadership
of the labour unions operating within the state.

In response, Governor Okorocha ordered all striking civil servants to
resume work immediately or risk being instantly sacked.

-Naij.com

PDP Lists Jonathan's Projects Buhari's Gov't Is Trying to Take Glory For [SEE LIST]

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has listed 3 projects executed
during the Goodluck Jonathan administration that President Muhammadu
Buhari is allegedly trying to take credit for.



The Projects include;

Equipping of the country's military for the fights against insurgency
The turn around of the nation's oil refineries
Polio-free certification of Nigeria
The PPD in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief
Olisa Metuh, urged President Buhari to 'stop dancing around the
achievements of the previous administration' and start working.
-NigeriaBulletin

See Photo Of The Pilot And Co-pilot That Died In The Lagos Helicopter Crash

Captain Joseph Wyatt (left) from Oklahoma, USA and First Officer
Peter Bello (right), were the pilot and co-pilot of the Bristow
Helicopter that crashed yesterday. Both men died. According to a
statement signed by Bristow's Regional Director Africa, Duncan Moore,
​Captain Wyatt, joined the company in 2006 and has spent his entire
career flying with Bristow Helicopters out of Africa.

Peter Bello joined Bristow in 2014 after graduating from the company's
Academy's helicopter flight school. May their souls rest in peace,
amen.

-Linda Ikeji's blog

EU Places Ban On Nigeria’s Agricultural Products

THE House of Representatives yesterday frowned at the ban on the
exportation of some Nigeria's agricultural produces for allegedly
containing high level of unauthorised pesticides and lack of proper
storage by the European Union.
Consequently, the House presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu
Dogara in its resolution mandated its Committee on Commerce and
Agriculture when constituted to liaise with relevant stakeholders to
work on resolving the issues and concerns raised by the EU Food Safety
Authority to lift the ban.

The resolution to ensure that EU lifts the ban on Nigeria's
agricultural food was sequel to the motion sponsored by Rep. Jerry
Alagbaoso representing Orlu/Osun/Oru East of Imo State on the platform
of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Alagbaoso had in the motion on the 'need to investigate the ban of
exportation of some Nigeria's food items by the European Union' noted
with dismay that the recent ban by the EU on some agricultural food
exports from Nigeria had affected the economy of the country.
He further noted that the reason given by the EU for the ban was that
the banned food items allegedly contained high level of unauthorised
pesticides, while others lacked proper storage, adding that the
pesticides were usually applied when the products were being prepared
for export.

The lawmaker also informed the House that the EU authorities had
previously warned the Nigerian authorities that the banned items were
hazardous and had issued about fifty notifications to relevant
Nigerian authorities since 2013.

According to Rep Alagbaoso, the Director-General of the National
Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had
blamed the exporters of those products of being responsible for the
ban due to their non-compliance with regulatory requirements for
semi-processed and processed commodities.
He said that he was "worried by the negative impact of the ban on the
income of the farmers of those products and the middlemen who trade on
them as well as the foreign exchange that accrues to Nigeria through
those exports."
He said that the matter was more worrisome because it was happening in
an era when the federal government was working on diversifying the
economy from oil-based to agro-based.
Meanwhile, the House also mandated its committee on Aids, Loans and
Debt Management when constituted to undertake a comprehensive
investigation of the debt profile of all tiers of government with a
view to establishing their levels of compliance with and the need for
invocation of section 41 (3) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007
and report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative
input.
-Vanguard

WAEC Releases 13 States' Withheld Results

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has released results of
more than 200,000 candidates which were withheld due to the
indebtedness of their various states to the council. Affected
candidates can now check their results at the council's website.

Head of WAEC National Office, Nigeria, Mr Charles Eguridu, had at a
press briefing in Abuja last Wednesday promised to release the
withheld results within 24 hours following the intervention of the
Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, which promised to ensure governors of
the 13 indebted states pay their debts.

The Head, Public Relations of the West African Examinations Council,
WAEC, Nigeria, Mr. Ari Yusuf, toldVanguard,yesterday, that "the
Chairman, NGF, Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State, had promised
to expedite action to recover the money and a promise made at that
level is difficult to doubt. A serious meeting will be held with the
affected state governors to get the debt paid and we are happy with
the approach of the NGF."

Also speaking withVanguard, Executive Director, NGF, Alhaji Tayo
Shittu, affirmed that the debts owed WAEC will be paid as soon as
possible, adding that the national financial challenges do not permit
the debtors to give a time frame.

He said: "Remember that these debts are for 2015 and we are just above
half of the year. They are not outstanding debts. If I am owing you in
2015, it is understandable. If it was a backlog, we can shout and say,
how come they have not paid. Everybody knows that there are economic
challenges everywhere. We have given them every assurance that this
money will be paid, but we cannot give a specific time.

"You will recall that Wednesday evening, WAEC, which had vowed to
withhold indefinitely results of the 13 states owing the council,
recanted the threat, saying the NGF had promised to hold a meeting
with the affected states governors to recover the money.

The Head National Office, HNO, Nigeria WAEC has on Wednesday in Abuja
during a press briefing said: "We have decided to listen to the
appeals and review our earlier position."

Eguridu, who maintained his earlier stand not to mention the council's
debtors said: "If I start to mention the names of states that are
owing, I may not be fair to those that have paid and those making
efforts to pay."

He explained that since WAEC is not a profit-making organization and
her creditors were on its neck, he had to cry out, adding: "In the
present circumstance, the government is subsidizing examination fees
of candidates in Nigeria."
—Vanguard

Michael Jackson’s Sister Recounts Regrets As She Converts To Islam | PHOTOS

Sister to legendary pop icon and music artist, Michael Jackson last
month reportedly quit the entertainment industry because of her new
religion.

Janet who is married to Quatari Muslim Billionaire Wissam Al Mana,
disclosed that she almost committed suicide because of the
restrictions and burden her new life and religion brought upon her,
saying it was not an easy transformation.

According to MTV News, she revealed that she has been deprived of
almost everything in life, as she could not listen to music, drive a
car, wear designer clothes only the "Black Abaya" and could not even
move outside her residential home, in Doha as she was always
surrounded by heavily armed security men.

Janet said her new song feat J.Cole "No Sleep" says it all from her
marriage, to the difficulties involved in adapting to her new life,
the stress involved in being a Muslim wife and the regrets she had due
to the choices she made.

Jackson patriarch, Joe Jackson recently suffered a stroke after taking
three Viagra pills in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Naij

Mugabe Fires His Chief of Defence Forces For Staring Lustfully At His Wife’s Butt [PHOTOS]

According to twitter user, Alex Tackie and a few others, President
Mugabe allegedly fired his Chief of Defense Forces, seen seated next
to his wife in the pic above – for his close contact with his wife and
staring at her butt when she bent down. Hilarious isn't it? See that
photo.

-Twitter, Linda Ikeji's blog

WAEC Releases 2015 SSCE, Withholds Results Of Public Schools In 13 States

The West African Examinations Council has released the May/June 2015
Senior School Certificate Examination results, WAEC Head of National
Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu, announced this in Lagos at a press
conference on Monday.



118,101 candidates' results were seized out of the 1.5 million
students that sat the examination.

Eguridu added that the states owing WAEC had reduced to 13, saying the
candidates in public schools in the 13 states would not have their
results until their state governments pay their candidates'
registration fees.

The examination body had raised the alarm that 19 states owed the
agency about N4bn, an amount that might cripple the operations of
WAEC.
-PUNCH

President Buhari Approves Amnesty For Boko Haram

Source took words to Breaking Times that President Buhari has approved
amnesty for the Boko Haram terrorist group.
From the source, The president has concluded plans on granting amnesty
for the Boko Haram terrorist group and in no time, the official
announcement will be out.
"I can authoritatively tell you that the issue has gone beyond a plan,
President Buhari has concluded on the issue, granted approvals and it
will be announced soon," the source said.
Contrary to earlier reports, which suggested that the Nigerian
government is open to negotiations with Boko Haram alongside
considerations of amnesty in a deal expected to put an end to the mass
killings of innocent Nigerian citizens by the dreaded terrorist group,
our source hinted that the idea of amnesty is not one Boko Haram has
accepted.

"President Buhari is actually acting proactively by offering amnesty
to them in the hope of sealing a ceasefire deal with the terrorists.
From all indications, Boko Haram has not agreed to lay down their arms
for amnesty. But this new offer by President Buhari is expected to
soften the terms of negotiation with them", the source disclosed.


Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari declared that he is ready to
negotiate with the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, according to his
spokesperson, Femi Adesina. Adesina disclosed this in an interview
with BBC Africa. He said if Boko Haram members are willing, the
president will negotiate with them.

However, this seems to be against the earlier stance of Buhari who
during his campaign, promised not to negotiate with the insurgents if
elected as president.
"Boko Haram is not interested in peace – if they are interested in
peace, how can they kill 13,000 Nigerians?" the former military ruler
told BBC News in February.
As news of presidential amnesty for Boko Haram filters from the
Presidential villa, it is not immediately clear why President Buhari
has adopted the carrot approach to dealing with the Boko Haram menace.
"There must be a strategy behind it that we may not know about. You
know the President is a retired military general and just returned
from a trip to the US where he had discussions with President Obama on
this Boko Haram issue. We can only watch events unfold within the next
few days", a security source told BREAKING TIMES.
Buhari backed amnesty for Boko Haram, In 2013 as leader of the
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
According to him;
"Yes, it is good they have set up a committee and I haven't seen the
terms of reference, but it is the right thing to do. This is not the
first time amnesty will be given to … eh.. what shall I call them, a
violent group; remember what happened with Alhaji Musa Yar'Adua and
the militants. So, this is not the first time. Whatever that will
bring peace to the society, we should do it."
The insurgents between the period of 6 years, has killed more than
13,000 civilians and 1.5 million people have been displaced in the
streaks of their wanton bloodshed and violence.
-WeeklyPostNG

32,000 Candidates To Write UNILAG Post-UTME Test

More than 32,000 candidates will write the 2015 post-Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME) test into the University of Lagos,
according to the institution's Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr
Olagoke Oke.

The examination is scheduled to hold from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, Oke said
that the figure was close to four times the 9,000 that was initially
posted to the institution by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation
Board (JAMB).

NAN reports that JAMB in collaboration with some public universities
had agreed to raise the bar of the cut-off marks of their institutions
from 200 to 250 for the various courses, a development that generated
an outrage among candidates, their parents and other stakeholders, who
called on the Federal Government to intervene.

The decision was later reversed following consultations between JAMB
and the Federal Government.

"I want to say that all logistics toward a smooth conduct of this
examination are fully in place," Oke said concerning the UNILAG
post-UTME test.

"We have always been ready for situations like this and have always
got it right. Before now, we were hoping to put logistics in place for
the initial 9,000 candidates, but with the reversal of the decision,
we now have to re-adjust and I want to say that we are fully prepared.

"All our computers and its accessories, the backups, alternative power
supply as well as adequate personnel that will conduct the examination
are all ready," he said.

The deputy registrar said the university was compelled to extend the
exercise to three days because of the large number of candidates
seeking admission into the institution.

Meanwhile, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, today held its
own post-UTME test. More than 27,000 applicants seeking admission into
the school wrote the test.
-INFORMATION NIGERIA

Publish Imo State Accounts Now -- Archbishop Obinna Challenges Gov. Okorocha

Imo State Government has been challenged to publish the state accounts
so that the citizenry would know the proper financial health of the
state.

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev.
Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, who threw the challenge to Governor Rochas
Okorocha yesterday, while delivering a sermon at Maria Assumpta
Cathedral, Owerri, also argued that the publication of the financial
state of affairs would enable the citizenry to know the true position
of things.

"Lack of salary creates room for murmuring. It is necessary that
parents receive their salaries and pensions to take care of themselves
and their families. When parents do not provide for their families, it
will lead to murmuring", Archbishop Obinna reasoned.

It was the considered opinion of the Archbishop that there was no
cogent reason why workers and pensioners should not be paid if the
state was buoyant.

"If there is money, why is it not being used to pay workers and
pensioners? If there is no money, it is important to let people know.
Lack of accountability and transparency could lead to murmuring",
Archbishop Obinna said.

The cleric insisted that since government account was not a personal
thing, it should be made public, if the government truly wants to be
accountable, as well as wish to dispel doubts regarding misuse of
public funds.
"Publish the account so that everybody will know that there is no money.

But as long as Nigeria is considered a rich country, as long as oil
is still flowing, everybody is looking up to see when the oil money
will get to the state", Obinna said.
He then prayed God to touch the hearts of those who are keeping the
monies to release it so that things will positively change.
-Vanguard