At first glance, Isabelle de Borchgrave’s creations seems made of expensive materials like silk, pleated cotton and damask, but in reality, her 18th century-inspired garments are made exclusively from paper.
Friday 29 June 2012
CREATIVITY: Artist Creates Elaborate Dresses Out of Simple Sheets of Paper
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‘Nigeria's Life Expectancy Lowest In West Africa’
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Life expectancy in Nigeria is now 47 years, making it the lowest among West African countries, the Project Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, has said.
He said this in Gusau on Thursday at the commencement of the second Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association.He said it was a situation that was attributable to some health factors, including child and maternal mortality, spread of polio virus and other epidemics.
``One out of every five children die before the age of five years due to polio and other infections.
“Nigeria is one of four countries where polio is still an on-going epidemic,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Project Director as saying at the forum.
Nasidi said in Zamfara alone, acute lead poisoning had killed more than 400 children and caused brain damage in several others in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas.
He described lead poisoning in the area as the “worst-ever recorded outbreak of its kind in modern times.’’
Music Director DJ Tee Denies Stabbing Upcoming Act On Set (PHOTOS)
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The top music director claims he didn't stab anyone, contrary to the news making the rounds that he stabbed an extra on set of a video shoot last night. According to his side of the story, the guy in question slapped him after they had an argument on set, and some of his boys who witnessed the assault descended on the guy. DJ Tee took to twitter this morning to clear the air. See his tweet below:
The extra, who is an up and coming singer himself, according to DJ Tee, smashed a bottle against hard metal above their heads, the bottle shattered and broken pieces cut him and DJ Tee, which was how he supposedly got the injury you see below:
The injured guy, Alvin Osungade, is yet to tell his own side of the story.
Samuel Eto'o Risks Up To 5 Years In Prison Over Alleged Tax Evasion In Spain
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Cameroonian striker and the world’s highest paid footballer, Samuel Eto’o, may be facing between one and five years in a Spanish prison over tax fraud allegation.
According to media reports from Spain, he has been accused of conspiring to evade 3.5 million euros in taxes owed on income from his image rights while he was playing for FC Barcelona between 2006 and 2009.
The Anzhi Makhachkala’s hitman, concealed over €3.5 million from the country’s treasury, while he was playing for FC Barcelona between 2006 and 2009.
The Cameroonian received the money from the Catalan club and major German sportswear manufacturer, Puma, but reportedly declared different sources of income, from firms in Spain and Hungary – in order to reduce tax payments.
If the 31-year-old is found guilty he’s at risk of spending from one to five years in prison and paying a fine more than six times higher than the sum he allegedly tried to hide.
Eto’o joined Anzhi Makhachkala from Inter Milan last summer, becoming the highest paid footballer on the planet.
The striker is being paid over €20 million annually by the side from Russia’s republic of Dagestan in a three year deal.
Pastor Runs Mad While Praying For Mad Man
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PEOPLE living at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, as well as shop owners and automobile dealers along Molete road in the town, on Thursday, watched a drama involving a pastor and a mad man.
The pastor, whose name is Timothy, according to an eyewitness, got to Ososami junctions of Oke-Ado around 5.20 p.m and went to meet the mentally-deranged man, popularly known as Tunde, who was sitting in front of a building in the area.
According to Semiu, a shop owner around the spot of the incident, the pastor began to read the Bible on sighting the mad man, while he moved closer to him and laid the hand on his head.
“At a point, there was a hot argument between the duo, which made the pastor to raise his voice as he was offering a deliverance prayer for Tunde, the mad man. The hot prayer lasted for over 15 minutes before another strange drama began,” Semiu told the Nigerian Tribune.
Speaking further, another witness, an okada rider, said at a point, the mad man removed the pastor’s hand from his head, adding that “suddenly, a strange spirit got hold of the pastor and he began to remove his cloth. He was naked and laid flat on the ground, speaking a strange language, with foam oozing out of his mouth.”
The mad man, it was gathered, initially left him in this position and sat at some distance away from the pastor, before the duo later sat closer to each other, while onlookers watched the strange drama.
The pastor remained in state of insanity until the Nigerian Tribune left the scene of the incident.
Wicked Woman Pours Hot Water On Her 18-Year-Old Step Son (Photos)
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Warning: Graphic Content!
This is the very sad story as told by the elder sister of the victim, Olatunde Ajasa.
Her story:
The following ensued between Mrs Kemi Ajasa (nee Osho) of Lagos State Internal Revenue and my 18 year old brother,Olatunde Ajasa.
I got a call from my brother at about 9pm on Tuesday night (26/6/12). He told me stepmom(Mrs Kemi Ajasa (nee Osho),was going to beat him and I asked why, he explained that Senami (stepdaughter) came to his room to scatter some of his stuffs and he spanked her.
And my stepmom started flaring up,raining curses and threatening to beat him.
And my stepmom started flaring up,raining curses and threatening to beat him.
He said she beat him in several parts of his body and was even trying to bite off his manhood that he succeeded in shoving her off . That was when she left him. And started shouting like a mad woman,breaking bottles, threatened to stab him,scattering his room.
She called me,shouting and threatening do something to Ola and abruptly cut off the line.I called my dad to ask how bad the situation was,he kept on saying everything is under control, that he's there settling things.
I was only able to sleep when I heard my dads younger brother had waded into the issue that night and had succeeded in taken my stepmom to his place to spend the night.
Yesterday (27/6/12) ,my mom's call woke me up. She said Stepmom poured hot water on Ola!!!! Unbelievable!!! How can anyone do that?
Apparently, there was a missed call on my phone from my brother at about 5am. My dad narrated what happened to me. At abt 4:30am, she and my uncle came back to the house with the intention of settling things. They were all in the living room. Ola was still asleep. While they were talking, she was going to her room at intervals under the excuse that she was preparing for work , apparently boiling water which she later poured on the sleeping boy leading to serious burn all over his body.
My father and Uncle heard the boy scream and saw him saw him staggering into the living room and before they got to him, he fainted.
He was rushed to Igando General Hospital(which was the nearest). Presently he's responding to treatment at Bee-Hess Hospital Egbeda where he was later transferred to.
Presently my stepmom, Mrs kemi Ajasa (nee Osho) is at large and all effort to locate her by the police has not yielded any fruit.
See more photos below:
Police Summon Tunde Bakare Over Sermon On Jonathan
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Men of the State Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police have extended invitation to fiery Lagos preacher, Pastor Tunde Bakare, over what police sources see as a controversial sermon against President Goodluck Jonathan.
The invitation signed by one Usman Ayuba (a chief superintendent of police) is sequel to a sermon which he (Pastor Bakare) delivered in his church wherein he accused President Jonathan of deliberately trying to bankrupt the country.
Publicity secretary of the Save Nigeria Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, who confirmed the development in a chat with LEADERSHIP on telephone, however, said Bakare, the leader of the group, was aware of the summon.
Bakare, the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the last general election was billed to honour the invitation but had left the country on Wednesday.
“We saw an invitation by the police asking Pastor Bakare to honour an invitation regarding a sermon that he delivered sometime ago, but, as I am talking to you now, he is out of the country,” Odumakin said.
Though, it was speculated that security agents might prevent him from making the journey, which many believe was to the United States of America, he made without it hindrance.
Excerpt Of Pastor Bakare’s Sermon
“We have vampires whose assignment is to kill Nigeria and to make sure that Nigeria does not exist thereafter. Suddenly Nigeria that was that cheered now has clueless, shoeless people take over the administration of Nigeria.
“And the one word I have for Nigerians is, don’t despair. Jonathan is dancing to the drumbeat of destiny. His destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria. All men of goodwill must rise up to stop him. And stop him we will do. And I said stop him we will do. Don’t make mistake about what you are hearing from me today, it is clear in my heart beyond any iota of doubt that Jonathan’s destiny is to bankrupt Nigeria, balkanize Nigeria.And there are forces behind him totally committed and determined to do so. Oil vultures with petrol dollars and all kinds of political “tinkers” not thinkers are tinkering with the destiny of our nation with their palace prophets telling them peace when there is no peace.I want to tell you that it does not matter what it takes, we will stop you. We will stop you dead in your tracks. You will not accomplish your assignment. You will not finish your assignment. Nigeria will vomit you in the name of Jesus Christ.Turn your Bible with me to the Book of Chronicles. Tell it on the mountain top that this man is dancing the drumbeat of destiny.His destiny is to bankrupt this nation and balkanize it and he has the full support of his corporate cowboys and oil vultures as well as their palace prophets who are telling them peace when there is no peace because I don’t understand how a nation will be going through calamity upon calamity and those who should be concerned will only be prancing around. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand how you can serve your nation and serve bomb blast inside a church in Jos for breakfast.And before they could recover from that anguish you serve them air crash for lunch. And before they could gain their moment of sanity, you serve them with petro dollar bribe and now you vaunt about it telling us nothing can happen because you are in charge, the land will vomit you as the Lord lives in the name of Jesus Christ and every collaborator will not go unpunished.Your year of punishment has come. Tell it on the mountain top that there are still men of goodwill who will stop you dead in your tracks.I am not talking about deluded ambitious politicians who now think of 2015 when the nation is in a mess in 2012. We can do all the tinkering, if we don’t rise up now there will not be 2015.”
Thursday 28 June 2012
Kardashian Family Goes Shopping For Their Own Graveyard
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We are used to seeing them shopping for designer goods such as Christian Louboutins shoes and Chanel handbags. But in one of their most bizarre moves yet, the Kardashians were yesterday reportedly looking at burial plots for purchase.
Kim, her sister Khloe and their step-father Bruce were spotted at the Hollywood Forever cemetery yesterday looking for a family plot to buy, according to TMZ.
Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks' 'Celebrate' Video Arrives: Watch
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Whitney Houston's final music video is a party -- but there's one guest missing.
The official video for the upbeat "Celebrate," which the late singer recorded with co-star Jordin Sparks for their film, "Sparkle," showcases Sparks and her co-stars enjoying an evening at home. Houston is absent, though the May-shot footage is blended with video of her role in the movie: she plays the single mother of an aspiring vocal trio (Sparks, Carmen Ejogo and Tika Sumpter). In one new shot, Sparks wears a Houston t-shirt.
"We planned on it being Whitney and me, but she's not here, so we wanted to make it a tribute to her," Sparks told BET.
"Sparkle," due Aug. 17, will be Houston's fifth movie role, with her credits also including "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." The singer died on February 11.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
Ex-commissioner Florence Igbinigie-Erhabor Returned Home Without Pant... Husband
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David Erhabor, husband of a former commissioner in Edo State, Florence Igbinigie-Erhabor, on Wednesday, told a Benin High Court, that his wife of 15 years once came home without putting on a pair of pants.
He said, “There was a day she came back home drunk and without a pair of pants on her. She was in the habit of keeping late nights.”
David while testifying in a divorce suit, No HAB/16D/2011, instituted by his wife, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, under Chief Lucky Igbinedion, told the court he did not envisage a broken home in his life.
The respondent said trouble started after his wife was appointed commissioner, after which he said she began keeping late nights.
David, an ex-Senior Adviser to former Governor Oswerhiemen Osunbor, told the court that there was a time the wife abandoned their two children, absconded from home for three days, “only to be caught red-handed inside a vehicle, romancing and kissing a man who had earlier gassed her.”
David recalled that it took the intervention of a former chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Community Development Commission, Chief Wellington Okrika, to resolve some of their matrimonial problems.
He also said his wife had once demanded N1m from him before she could allow him to have sex with her, adding that on another occasion, he ran from home when he sensed that his wife was planning to send hired assassins after him.
On the custody of their children, David said they could always stay with whoever they chose when on holidays.
Florence among other prayers is asking the court to grant her divorce on the grounds of threat to life, violent assault and infidelity on the part of her husband.
The former commissioner, who has since 2009 separated from her husband, is demanding that she should be paid N150, 000 as monthly upkeep for each of their children. She also wants Erhabor to be compelled to pay the children’s school fees.
While being crossed-examined by David’s lawyer, Mr. Akakhomen Austine, Florence said her husband had at a time squeezed the children inside a vehicle and threatened to set them ablaze. She said it took the intervention of members of both families to broker peace.
The former commissioner said she had been solely responsible for the children’s upkeep, including payment of their school fees over the past years.
She added that the children had been living in her family house where she relocated to when she suspected that her husband was after her life.
She also accused David of having extra-marital affair with their housemaid.
Justice Anthony Erhabor adjourned the case till August 4 for further hearing.
Nigeria, Named The 6th Most Dangerous African Country
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The Global Peace Index ranks countries according to their level of danger, and Nigeria was the 6th most dangerous African country of the 10, the combination of the Boko Haram bombings and related killings in the north, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) kidnapping and pipeline sabotaging activities in the south have combined to place us in the top 10.
See how they are reporting it below:
Nigeria: religious war and economic war
The instability still reigns in the center and south of the country where the reelection of Good luck Jonathan has not changed. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with 155 million inhabitants, is marked by a religious conflict at the center, near Jos, where the killings of Muslims and Christians have killed nearly 20,000 people during the last decade.But religion is not the only reason for conflict and economic needs have led to the southward migration of landless farmers Christians.Other economic battle in the Niger Delta in the south: the Nigerian government is facing a terrorist group, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), which attacks the facilities and personnel of oil companies. Kidnappings of expatriates and attacks on oil pipelines are their predilections, negating attempts Armistice incurred by the State.
Nigerian Girl Voted UK's No.1 Best Black Student Of 2012
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We are delighted to announce that Chibundu Onuzo has been voted Number 1 of the UK’s best black students in Rare Rising Stars 2012. She is first female to head up the fourth annual list.
The King’s College, London student, who is the youngest woman to be signed to publishing powerhouse, Faber & Faber, was given the accolade by a panel of leading black Britons at a glittering ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday 7th June 2012, in front of an invited audience of MPs, senior business heads, family members, friends and press.
With black Conservative MP, Sam Gyimah, hosting this year’s event and judge Jean Tomlin, HR Director for London 2012, giving the keynote speech, it was a positive and uplifting celebration of the talent, ingenuity and achievements of these special young people.
You can find out more about Rare Rising Stars and the UK’s Top 10 Black Students by visiting their website: www.rarerecruitment.co.uk
Chibundu Onuzo started writing novels and short stories at the age of 10 and less than a decade later, she became the youngest woman ever to be signed to Faber & Faber, which has published books by 12 Nobel Laureates and 6 Man Booker prizewinners.
Her debut novel, THE SPIDER KING’S DAUGHTER is part of a two-book deal with the publishing powerhouse and charts the unlikely relationship that develops between a poor street hawker and a sheltered rich girl who meet on a street in Lagos.
Since its release in March 2012, the book has garnered a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Amazon and a 4 star review from The Metro. It has even earned her a place alongside a Booker prize-nominated Oxford professor on a longlist for the £10,000 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut novelists.
Chibundu has given readings at the South Bank, The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival and Cambridge Wordfest and recent media appearances include BBC Radio 3’s ‘The Verb’ and BBC Scotland’s ‘The Book Café’. The Guardian, The Times and The Financial Times are just a handful of other publications which have praised Chibundu’s fledgling literary talent.
21-year-old Chibundu has also been profiled by CNN and The Observer recently named her as one of the Authors To Watch Out For In 2012.
She plans to complete a Masters in International Development and, if the success of her first book is anything to go by, her second will be another literary delight.
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Guys, Guys, Guys...This Will Blow Your Minds
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This Post has Age Restriction. If you want to know what I'm talking about, click HERE.
Thereafter, you will let us know if you can top that.
Thereafter, you will let us know if you can top that.
50 Cent Released From Hospital After Car Accident
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His SUV was apparently struck by a truck.
US sources claim the truck driver has confessed to losing control of his vehicle, which reportedly flipped 50 Cent’s 4x4 over in the smash.
The hip-hop titan was treated for minor injuries to his back and neck before being discharged.
He was stretchered into an ambulance at the scene and paramedics put his neck in a brace.
A spokesperson for the star confirmed he’s now “doing fine”.
50 Cent – real name Curtis Jackson III – is no stranger to injury.
He was shot nine times in 2000, suffering wounds to his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest and cheek.
Recalling the horrific incident, he said: “I was scared the whole time. I was looking in the rear-view mirror like, 'Oh s***, somebody shot me in the face! It burns, burns, burns.’"
The alleged gunman, Darryl ‘Hommo’ Baum was killed three weeks later.
Stop Using D&C For Abortion...Experts Warn
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Medical practitioners have been advised to stop using Dilation and Curettage (D&C) for abortion procedure now that even women with complications can be safely and effectively treated with Manual Vacuum Aspirator (MVA) or misoprostol without general anaesthesia.
According to the Ipas Country Director, Dr. Ejike Oji, procedures using sharp D&C are usually performed while women are under general anaesthesia, leading to a longer length of stay in the hospital and increased recovery time. “D&C is typically performed with general anaesthesia which is more risky for a woman and requires her to stay longer at the facility.Studies have shown that properly trained midwives and nurses can provide safe and highly effective simple post abortion care (PAC) services.”
He advocated for the need to prevent unsafe abortion and reduce delays in accessing PAC by using the treatment method of either MVA or misoprostol (using safe and appropriate regimens).
It was also agreed that there is the need to train and authorize midwives and nurses to provide PAC. Unsafe abortion, bleeding, malaria among others are identified as leading causes of Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Lagos State
He advocated for the need to prevent unsafe abortion and reduce delays in accessing PAC by using the treatment method of either MVA or misoprostol (using safe and appropriate regimens).
It was also agreed that there is the need to train and authorize midwives and nurses to provide PAC. Unsafe abortion, bleeding, malaria among others are identified as leading causes of Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Lagos State
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan Bags Africa's Tourism Ambassador Award
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The Wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, has received the Tourism Ambassador for Africa award from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The award was presented to her on Tuesday by the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Mr. Talik Rifai, during the 53rd meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa holding in Calabar.
Rifai said it was in recognition of her monumental commitment and support for women in tourism.
In her speech, the First Lady pledged to mobilise women and the youth to achieve the goals of the organisation across the continent.
She stated that tourism was a veritable instrument of fighting poverty and had the potential to advance the economies of African countries.
Uselu Psychiatric Hospital Benin, Admits Over 6,556 Cannabis Related Patients
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Dr Bowa James, the Medical Consultant, Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu in Benin, says that more than 6,556 patients admitted in the hospital had drug and cannabis related cases.
He said that 70 per cent of the psychiatric patients were mostly young people who had engaged in illicit use of drugs.
He said that 70 per cent of the psychiatric patients were mostly young people who had engaged in illicit use of drugs.
``Over 200,000 users of illicit drugs die annually, and in spite of the UN's effort to tackle the menace, drug abuse has continued to be on the increase.
``Emphasis must be placed on the control of drug abuse as it can undermine the political stability of the country.''
R. Kelly Falls ill Due to Past Surgery, Cancels All Press Appearances
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R. Kelly has been forced to cancel a promotional trip to New York City, his publicist reports, as he took ill this morning while traveling from Chicago. The "Pied Piper of R&B" had been slated to appear on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" and NBC's "Today," but he's apparently wrestling with throat issues brought on by the emergency surgery he underwent last year.
"While on his way to New York this morning to celebrate the publication of his long-awaited memoir SoulaCoaster, multi-platinum R&B superstar R. Kelly was taken ill and had to return to Chicago for medical treatment," reads an official statement. "Initial indications are that he is suffering from complications from surgery he had last year to treat an abscess on his vocal cords."
His rep adds that it's "unclear how long Kelly may be sidelined."
The "Trapped in the Closet" creator underwent surgery in July 2010, after being rushed to Chicago's Northwestern Memorial hospital. In a message to fans the following month, he shouted out all the "prayer warriors" in his corner.
"The doctor said the surgery went well," Kelly added of his hospital visit last year. "I know it may not look like it, but it did. I want y'all to continue to pray for me. Be strong out there, I will be back. I know it's a lot of negativity out there, please don't believe the hype. God is good all the time."
In addition to his upcoming memoir, R. Kelly is also promoting his 11th studio album, Write Me Back, which debuted this week.
Lesbian Priest Recalled By Sudan Diocese To Lead Worship In Church
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A lesbian Episcopal priest who was recalled by a diocese in Sudan for her remarks regarding homosexuality has been invited to lead worship at a historic Virginia church.
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"Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak specifically told then-Virginia Bishop Peter Lee to recall her because of her statements at Diocesan Council insisting that the Sudanese didn't care about same-sex relations," said Walton.
"The Episcopal Church of Sudan has been very clear that they adhere to orthodox teaching and are against the normalization of same-sex unions in the Anglican Communion."
FG Will Not Intervene On Any Nigerian Convicted For Drug Offences - Adoke
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With more than a million Nigerians in different foreign prisons on account of drug related offences the federal government has warned that it will not appeal for clemency on behalf of anyone indicted in any country across the world.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, said on Tuesday in Abuja that government would not intervene on behalf of any Nigerian ``properly convicted’’ aboard for drug related offence.
``Nigeria will no longer be drawn into undue negotiations with any other country for the purpose of securing clemency for any Nigerian citizen properly convicted aboard for a drug related offence,’’ he said.
He said that Nigerians arrested abroad for drug related offences, had not only brought shame and ridicule to the country, but ``also place themselves in the avoidable danger of longer jail sentences or even capital punishment.’’
The Senate President, David Mark also recently declared the nation’s upper legislature will not intervene in cases of Nigerians found guilty of criminal activities in foreign countries. He however said that the government would not allow any Nigerian to be unfairly treated in foreign nations.
Every Nigerian Must Have A National Identity Card By 2015... President Goodluck Jonathan
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President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that he wants every Nigerian to have his/her national identity card by 2015.
The president made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, while speaking at the inauguration of the new board of the National Population Commission (NPC).
The new NPC team is headed by former Managing Director of the Nigerian Breweries Limited, Eze Festus Odimegwu.
The president charged the NPC teamm on what he called two sensitive population issues, first is that they must ensure that every Nigerian gets his national identity card by 2015 and that they should set up a committee to advocate the need to manage the population.
He also expressed his desire to see the nation’s vast population and human resources, utilised as an asset for national development, “if properly managed”, he added.
Nigerian Soldiers Threaten To Go On Rampage In Sudan
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Nigerian Soldiers currently on a United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in Dafur, Sudan have threatened to go on rampage if they are not airlifted out and paid allowances owed them on or before July 3, 2012.
The stranded soldiers whose duty tour had expired after the mandatory six months are from the four Battalions: NIBATTSS 30, 31, 32 and 33 deployed in November 26, 2011 and January 12, 2012.
Two have been confirmed dead from exhaustion and depression following negligence on the part of the Military Authorities to pay allowances owed and keeps to rotation schedules.
A petition sent to Pointblanknews.com by Concerned Soldiers in Dafur accused military hierarchy of corruption and negligence.
They noted with anger that after the completion of the stipulated six months duty tour, the military hierarchy extended their duty tour with no explanation and provision for their families back home.
They noted with anger that after the completion of the stipulated six months duty tour, the military hierarchy extended their duty tour with no explanation and provision for their families back home.
The petition reads:
“Nigeria which was an active participant in the UN peace keeping operations, widely commended for our previous performance of restoring peace in Sierra leone and Liberia, but presently we lost our respect especially in United Nations African Union Hybrid Missions in Darfur due to our ill equipment and corruption existing among top Nigerian who is who in peace support operation.“The situation of our peacekeepers is pitiable as if we don’t belong to any country. Nobody seems to listen to us or the plight of our family back home. Even though is against the ethics of military to go to press but we are pushed to the wall, nobody to listen our cry apart from the media.“As am writing now Nigerian Troops are Stranded In Nyala, sector south headquarters of the mission in Darfur, Sudan After The Expiration of Their 6 Months Tour of Duty – We have four Nigerian Battalions (NIBATTS 30, 31, 32 and 33) on duty in Darfur, Sudan deployed from 26 November, 2011 – 2 January, 2012 after successful completion of their mission they now stranded with no specific date for rotation. Our expected period of rotation to Nigeria is 26 May – 3 July, 2012 for the four battalions; up till the time of this report, we have not been rotated. This situation is very depressing and is dangerously affecting us and our loved ones back home.“NIBATT 31 was supposed to be rotated back to Nigeria between 31 May – 7 June, 2012. Out of the 800 troops that made up the battalion, only 115 were airlifted to Nigeria on 31 May; the remaining troops are still stranded in Sudan. They have added extra weeks to their official date of departure as well as NIBATT 30 which was supposed to be rotated back home on 26 May.“This situation is due to either negligence on the part of the Nigerian government or the Army in taking up their responsibilities abroad with respect to their men and women on tour of duty. And the worse nobody explain to us what is happening as if we are not humans, as if we dont have anyone that cares for us, as if we dont have the right to know what affect us. Our family are left helpless because we gave them only six months cheques, now we are more than six months here, our houses are crying of money to buy food, fuel generators, pay our children school fees. Last month a two soldiers fainted and gave up the ghost due to negligence, depression and uncertainty about our condition. Is our country that poor cannot charter a commercial flight to bring us back home or are we not needed back home?“As I write, Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Center (NAPKC) in Jaji is full of troops of the four Battalions that underwent training to rotate the stranded 4 Battalions here in Sudan. Also the FOB in Abuja where troops normally spend the night before they are airlifted to Sudan is filled up with troops awaiting airlift to Sudan. Sudan as we all know is a very hostile and a desert country with hash weather that makes living very unbearable. It is unwise for Nigeria to leave us to stay extra days, weeks or months in Sudan after the expiration of our tour of duty.“Other Contingents like Thailand, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Nepal, Egypt and South Africa have all rotated their troops with chartered planes with passenger seats of about 220. Nigerian Army is waiting for United Nations to organize their rotation for them with a plane carrying only 115 passengers, making us to rotate a battalion seven (7) times x 4.“I appeal to Nigerians to use their good offices in telling Mr. President, Senate President, Minister of Defense, Chief of Defense Staff and Chief of Army Staff as a matter of urgency to bring planes (bigger ones) to rotate the four Battalions in Sudan not later than 3 July or else we will create a scenario in Sudan which will deter the on-going peace process in Darfur. 3rd July is our ultimatum. Please publish this to the readership of those in Aso Rock. They are all sitting down in Nigeria eating from our sweat which a battalion generates a month ($700,000:00) for then in the UN.“We look forward to seeing this news publish today or tomorrow in the various dallies. Thank you and God bless.”Concern Soldiers in Darfur, Sudan.
Email: tamunoblessing@yahoo.com
The Man Who Donated A Church To President Jonathan's Home-Town Dies Of Depression
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| The controversial Church |
Domenico Gitto, the owner of Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, the company which donated the controversial Church to Otueke, President Jonathan's home town in Bayelsa, is dead.
Mr. Gitto, died in Nigeria today in yet unclear circumstances.
Sources close to the Italian businessman however say he has been troubled for sometime owing to the huge debt piled up by his company in Nigerian banks.
"The company has been having legal battles with many Nigerian banks over failed debts it owes," a source said.
Union bank, said to be the largest creditor of Gitto is owed N10billion naira and is reported to have seized some of the company's heavy equipment it uses for construction.
Gitto is also said to owe Diamond bank N6billion naira, a matter which has led the bank taking the company to court.
A third bank, FCMB, had written to the Federal Ministry of Works asking that all money to be paid Gitto by the ministry be paid to the bank, over a N5billion debt owed it.
It is not clear if Gitto agreed to build the "church gift" edifice in Otueke in order to curry favours from President Goodluck Jonathan and probably be able to pay its debt.
Mr. Jonathan had said, while commissioning the Church, that he simply mentioned the idea of the old dilapidated Church to Mr. Gitto before the latter decided to build the modern edifice.
President Jonathan Fires NNPC Boss, Austen Oniwon And Names Andrew Yakubu As Replacement
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President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the top management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The affected Group Executive Directors include Michael Arokodare (Finance and Accounts); Philip Chukwu (Refineries & Petrochemicals) and Billy Agha (Engineering & Technology).
Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati, said in a statement on Tuesday that the re-composition of the new management team of the national oil company include Andrew Yakubu, who would take over from Mr. Oniwon as Group Managing Director.
Under the new arrangement, Bernard Otti takes over as the new Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts); Abiye Membere as Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production); Peter Nmadu as Group Executive Director (Corporate Services); Anthony Ogbuigwe as Group Executive Director (Refineries & Petrochemicals) and Attahir Yusuf as Group Executive Director (Commercial & Investments), while David Ige, who was appointed Group Executive Director (Gas & Power) last year retains his position.
According to the presidential spokesman, the sack of the NNPC top hierarchy is to "further strengthen the ongoing reforms and transformation of Nigeria's Petroleum sector, and in furtherance of efforts to achieve greater transparency and accountability in government."
Tuesday 26 June 2012
Kim Kardashian Steps Out Wearing Kanye's 'Air Yeezy' Sneakers
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The reality star, 31, was spotted in Los Angeles this morning having swapped her typical sky-high stilettos for the sought-after sneakers.
She shared a photo earlier this month of herself and boyfriend Kanye West wearing matching trainers.
She shared a photo earlier this month of herself and boyfriend Kanye West wearing matching trainers.
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| Kim tweeted a photo of her and Kanye's matching Air Yeezys on June 12 with the caption, 'His & Hers!' |
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