ANOTHER BOMB BLAST IN KANO...

Two series of explosions rocked Nigeria’s second city of Kano on Monday night, killing at least six people and sparking off panic in a neighbourhood previously targeted by Boko Haram Islamists.

The Sabon Gari area of Kano, where four blasts were reported, is full of outdoor bars and eateries and known for its bustling nightlife. Sabo Gari, which literally means visitors quarters has a high concentration of christian elements from the Southern parts of Nigeria. 

“We have had some explosions in Sabon Gari this evening. The explosions happened at open-air beer parlours, where people were playing snooker,” Kano State Police Commissioner Musa Daura reported.

“I can confirm six dead and six others injured,” he said, adding that the cause of the blasts was not yet known.

The blame was likely to fall on Boko Haram, the insurgent group which says it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.

Residents described the area as being littered with the personal belonging of those who ran in fear once the explosions began.

“There is confusion all over the place,” said Chinyere Madu, a fruit  vendor. “There were four huge explosions, so huge that they shook the whole area. Everywhere is enveloped in smoke and dust.”   

She reported that the scene was too chaotic to assess the extent of the damage, but said she “saw one person carrying someone on his shoulders with bleeding legs.”   

“My house is not far from there,” resident Kola Oyebanji told AFP. “All my windows are shattered.”   

Idika Tobias, who also lives in the area, told AFP he had visited the blast site and stood amid a “litter of personal effects left behind by people fleeing the area.”  

“Shoes, bags, cellphones” and other items were scattered around, he explained.

A small church sandwiched between two bars was among the targets,Tobias added.

Another resident who requested anonymity said he heard gunshots ring out after the series of explosions.

Soldiers were reported to have cordoned off the area.

Boko Haram, which has carried out waves of bombings across northern  Nigeria, was blamed for coordinated suicide blasts at a bus park in Sabon Gari in March that killed at least 41 people.

Fashola Impressed By The Skills Of Hawkers In Traffic

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday marveled at the ingenuity and the entrepreneur skills displayed by highway hawkers in some Nigerian cities, especially Lagos.

He described the traits displayed almost simultaneously while selling on the highways as misused skills.


The governor said there is nowhere in the world where youths dominated the highways with such entrepreneurship skills.

He said: “I have travelled a little bit and I am not sure if there are many places in the world where we will find young people, running through traffic, balancing their wares on their heads, chase the moving cars and selling their goods, calculating how many they have sold and doing mental sums and giving you change.

“If you just pause to think on the skills displayed, the flexibility and adaptability that is required to carry out those functions. I don’t know how many of us can do it.

“So, let nobody come and tell me that Nigerians are not skillful, let them not also come and tell me that they are not enterprising. If that is not a display of skills and a display of enterprise then you know what it is.”

Governor Fashola, however, lamented that such skills were unfortunately wrongly deployed to unsustainable business, adding that the state government is determined to divert such skills and enterprise to a more promising and sustainable business model.

"The Royal Baby Is The Antichrist"

The royal baby is the Antichrist, or so claims Mark Dice, a prolific writer who focuses on the Illuminati and the Antichrist from the Bible.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Kate Middleton’s royal baby was announced to the delight of both the British and Americans.

But the royal baby hasn’t been popular with everyone. BBC presenter Simon McCoy bitterly related the announcement as “not that it’s news.” But Mark Dice is making a claim about the royal baby that would probably have most of the British population angry.
Mark Dice gain limited fame last Black Friday when he called American consumerists “brain dead, materialistic morons.” He’s more famous for going around asking people to sign a petition that says Obama supporters should have immunity for their President’s actions. Now Mark Dice is calling the royal baby an Antichrist.

Mark Dice calls the royal baby a baby Baphomet, which is probably not one of Kate Middleton’s top baby name choices. Starting by calling the English “brain dead Brits,” following with “Moloch worshiping moronic Americans,” Mark Dice slices into the royal family of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Mark Dice claims the Windsor family secretly believes themselves the lost tribe of Dan from the Bible. The Windsors supposedly believe themselves the “true chosen people of God” over Jews, something Mark Dice compares to Nazi beliefs and their supposed ancestry with the lost city of Atlantis.
When the royal baby becomes the King of England, Mark Dice proposes the royal baby will be the Antichrist, or at least an Antichrist of the “new world order” or the “new British empire.” Mark Dice says people like the royal baby are worshiped because of their power, linking back to Egyptian history and how royal families used to claim they were descendants of the gods due to their royal blood.

President Mugabe Tells Obama You Were Born of Man And Woman Not Homosexuality

President Mugabe Tells Obama You Were Born of Man And Woman Not Homosexuality

President Mugabe has taken a swipe at United States President Barack Obama for trying to “arm twist” African countries into submission by reportedly tying aid to African countries to the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Mugabe criticised US president Barack Obama’s conditional aid and said western countries have targeted him for his stance on homosexuality. Addressing thousands of party supporters at a campaign rally in Mutare, President Mugabe reminded Obama that he was not born of out of homosexuality. 

President Mugabe

“Then we have this American president, Obama, born of an African father, who is saying we will not give you aid if you don’t embrace homosexuality,” President Mugabe said.

“We ask, was he born out of homosexuality? We need continuity in our race, and that comes from the woman, and no to homosexuality. John and John, no; Maria and Maria, no. Kana zvirizvo, tovavharira five years mumba imwe, murume nemurume, vobuda vane vana two. If they don’t, we will cut their heads off.

“Ndoimwe nyaya yavakandivengera. I told them they are worse than dogs and pigs, yes worse than dogs and pigs. I keep pigs and the male pig knows the female one, haudzimanikidze, dzinozivana, chero shiri dzesango . . . vanhu vokurirwa pfungwa nemhuka? They have a whole community of gays advocating human rights? Unhu ipapa huri pai? Kuno uku hatidi, hatidi, hatidi. Munoziva zvekuita navo.”

President Mugabe has been criticised too for pointing a finger at others when prominent officials in his party, Zanu Pf are allegedly gay.

The "Attack Lion" Gets A BMW Car Gift From President Goodluck Jonathan

Dr. Doyin Okupe, The "Attack Lion" Gets A BMW Car Gift From President Goodluck Jonathan

 By SaharaReporters, New York

For all his 'attacking' against perceived opponents of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, also known as " Attack Lion " received a brand-new  bimmer (BMW car) from president Goodluck Jonathan.
The new ride is already working wonders and Mr. okupe who recently went into recess on the account of low patronage
from the presidency has resumed his full attacking role.

Top PHCN Official In ICPC Net

Top PHCN Official In ICPC Net: Demanded N100,000 To Install Official Transformers

Posted: July 25, 2013 - 00:12

 

 

An Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) sting operation has netted a top official of the Power Holding Companies of Nigeria (PHCN), Engineer Omololu Olusesi Gabriel, who allegedly demanded a bribe of N100,000 from a PHCN customer to install two transformers.
Omololu, who held the position of Principal Manager, PHCN Abuja Distribution Company Wuse Zone 4, is to be prosecuted for contravening Sections 8 and 10 of the ICPC Act 2000.

A statement by ICPC’s Head of Media, Folu Olamiti, said the petitioner had applied to purchase and install two transformers: a 100 KVA/33/0.415 KV and a 50 KVA/33/0.415 KV, and had filed his application through the Principal Manager (PC and M) at the PHCN office.
Upon receiving the application, the petitioner alleged, Omololu demanded a bribe of N100,000 for the release of one of the transformers, and subsequently took a down payment of N50,000.
Infuriated by Omololu’s insistence on collecting the balance of N50,000 as a condition for releasing the second transformer, the petitioner then turned to ICPC, which put the sting operation into play and arrested the engineer after he collected marked money.

“Mr. Omololu’s schedule of duties as a public officer, include among others: protection of PHCN installations, testing of electrical equipment and preparation of permission letter for release of transformers, none of which required him to demand a fee from customers,” Mr. Olamiti said.
He added that the ICPC operatives were able to establish that the petitioner had indeed submitted two applications for permission to purchase and install the two transformers, and that he collected one of the approvals upon payment of the N50,000.00 demanded by the suspect.
They also established that the petitioner was denied the second approval because he would not provide the balance of N50,000.00.

Olamiti urged members of the public who face a similar situation to call the commission for immediate support on their toll-free lines:
•    0803120280
•    08031230281
•    08031230282
•    07056990190 and
•    07056990191.

Nigeria Governors Forum Irrelevant - Presidency

The Presidency Has Declared That The Nigeria Governors Forum Is Irrelevant - what do you think?

The presidency has denied any involvement in the political crisis in Rivers State, saying it will not deliberately engage in any act of destabilization of any state the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Denouncing the moves of some Northern governors, one of whom declared this week that he is ready for the “burial” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it described them in a statement signed by Doyin Okupe as “intended to create fear, despair and sense of apprehension among the citizenry are grossly unfounded, misplaced and a deliberate over sensationalization of the situation.”
It argued that contrary to insinuations and statements, Rivers State is calm and peaceful, and that residents continue to go about their various businesses, religious, social and political activities under peaceful atmosphere.

It also described the situation in the State as “purely a localized political matter” with no dangerous or far reaching consequences for the peace and security of the nation.
“Developments in Rivers State do not pose any threat to our democracy,” Okupe said. “Our democracy remains robust, alive and well. In politics as in every sphere of human activity, different shades of opinion on issues are not uncommon within the polity but often get resolved either politically or through legal channels.”
He likened the issue of the NGF to the political development in Rivers State, dismissing it as essentially an affair of the 36 state governors with the outcome of elections in the body as “inconsequential” to the orderly governance of the country by the presidency.”

If President Goodluck Jonathan actually believes that, Okupe did not say why he has never spoken up for the candidate who won the election.
Rather, said Okupe, “The choice of who becomes leader of the body clearly has no significant ramification on the wider political calculation of who becomes President of the country as events in our recent history bear out.”

Full text of the statement:

PRESS STATEMENT BY SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN RIVERS STATE    

We are compelled to react to the unfolding political drama emanating from recent activities of some Governors from the northern part concerning political developments in Rivers State. These political moves, which are clearly intended to create fear, despair and sense of apprehension among the citizenry are grossly unfounded, misplaced and a deliberate over sensationalization of the situation.
We therefore wish to state as follows: Insinuations and statements suggesting that Rivers State is on fire are grossly unfounded. So far, as is it evident to every discerning observer of political developments, the state is calm and peaceful. Residents of the state continue to go about their various businesses, religious, social and political activities under peaceful atmosphere. A key pointer to the prevailing peace in the state is the fact that Governor Amaechi, the Chief executive and Chief security Officer of the state, felt confident enough to travel to the United Kingdom on official assignment. It is doubtful he would have had the luxury of leaving the country if his state is in turmoil as is being canvassed.
The situation in Rivers State is purely a localized political matter and has no dangerous or far reaching consequences for the peace and security of the nation. Since our return to democratic rule in 1999, It is on record that not less than twelve states have witnessed incidents of attempted impeachment of Speakers of Houses of Assembly in Nigeria and none has posed any threat to peace and security in the country even when our democracy was not this established.

Govt Makes Offers To Varsity Teachers

There seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing university lecturers’ strike, with the Federal Government saying yesterday that the 2009 agreement it signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot be implemented.

The union went on strike early in the month over what it called the failure of the government to fully implement the agreement. It vowed not to go back to work, until the government implements the agreement. The government said the complexity of the agreement had been responsible for the continued breakdown of negotiations between the two parties.
Labour Minister Emeka Wogu stated this while briefing the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the activities of his ministry. It was at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Wogu, however, said the government had entered into another round of talks with the varsity teachers, making some undisclosed offers to the teachers.

“We have made offer to ASUU. It is as complex as presented. Negotiation is ongoing. The National Assembly is equally involved. We believe they will soon call off the strike. I personally and passionately appeal to them to call off the strike. “It will not affect the negotiation, if they call off the strike. It is better for them to be inside than outside. Students have equally appealed to them.”
The minister added: “I inherited an agreement signed by the Federal Government with ASUU and that agreement is practically impossible for any administration to implement. We are still discussing with them. If I leave here, I am going to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) where we are meeting with them. I hope that very soon, we will resolve it.”

Wogu expressed the government’s reservations about the agreement it earlier signed with ASUU, which has necessitated the setting up of yet another negotiation team, headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. The nine-point agreement the government entered into with ASUU include: funding requirements for the revitalisation of Nigerian universities; Federal Government’s assistance to state universities; establishment of NUPEMCO; and progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to the education sector to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020.

Other components of the agreement are: payment of earned allowances; amendment to the pension/retirement age of academics non professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years; and reinstatement of prematurely dissolved Governing Councils. Also included in the agreement are: transfer of Federal Government’s landed property to the universities and setting up of research development councils and provision of research equipment to laboratories and classrooms in the nation’s universities.
On job creation efforts of the government, Wogu told the PDP leadership that the Community Service Scheme Women and Youth Empowerment Programme of the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) of the Federal Government had already engaged 120,000 persons out of the 185,000 targeted for employment this year. He said since social security is an evolving structure, Nigeria is still basically trying to grow the concept to an acceptable international standard. “We are at the stage of putting in place a social security policy that would reflect the nation’s needs and level of economic development, taking into consideration the traditional as well as the modern socio-cultural values and norms,” he said.

With the passing of the Employee Compensation Act in 2010, he said the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund was resuscitated and currently functioning, adding that it has the new mandate to provide social security services to the disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the society. Wogu said the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was in the fore-front of job creation, especially in skills acquisition and empowerment of unemployed people.

IS GENEVIEVE GOING TO WED HIM?

When it was rumoured then that the screen goddess, Genevieve Nnaji was neck-deep in love with D’banj, not many people took it so serious since the two parties involved have denied it on different occasions. And fans of the renowned thespian know that their delectable actress will not hide her love from the public glare.

Recently, the mother of one seems to have found something of interest in the Ghana based half caste, Mathew Mensah and she seems to be happy with it, people in the know informed us.

Rumours are flying here and there that Genny, as Genevieve is often called, is having something amorous to do with the handsome Mathew as they both have become an item in recent times.

Genevieve, according to a reliable source, was said to have confessed that the dude is a special friend but people who see them together informed this office that, there is more to their friendship than what they both reflect to the public.

Mathew, a source told us, has become the only topic Genny discusses on daily basis and also, they say, her last 33rd birthday was put together by the businessman who has strong passion for entertainment and is ready to invest in it now that he’s set to have one as a spouse.

“There is a high possibility that Genevieve may end up in Mathew Mensah’s house before the end of this year, possibly, December” a close source revealed!

How true is this? Only Genny can disclose! Or what do you know, what have you heared?

No To Child Marriage!

More actresses are speaking out against the child marriage bill. Today actress Monalisa Chinda voices out her mind via her twitter @monalisacode

Tweets

1. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   While we cant stop anyone from practicing their religion, we must learn to live together to enhance progress and national development
2. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   Meanwhile these people are supposed to be LEADERS meant to see ahead of their followers, meant to uphold peace and unity
3. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   Else someone please make me understand why a bill supported by 99% northerners be made to affects innocent girls across the entire nation?!
4. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   Or is this a calculated move to finally divide the north and south?
5. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   No religion, either Moslem, Christian or otherwise, should impose its laws on anyone unless we’re trying to stir up major crisis
6. Monalisa Chinda ‏@Monalisacode22h

   Why should the laws of the northern Moslems, or Moslems from anywhere, be imposed on the whole country?

   
   

    
   

NO TO GIRL CHILD MARRIAGE... Omotola Jalade!

 Photo by: Daniel Sync/ Sync Photos

Omotola Ekeinde Jalade has kicked against the passing of the child marriage section of the constitution, which is currently passing through some changes. The sexy actress vented her anger on the Nigerian Senators for voting the section of the constitution. 

She said this at the MBGN beauty contest yesterday and emphatically made her stand known on the issue. Omosexy, as she is also called, stated in her speech that she is against child marriage. 

Below is her speech;

"I am today one of the most influential person/people in the world because I wasn't given off to marriage before the age of 18. 

"It scares and totally shocks me that the Senate in Nigeria (the most populous black nation in the world and giant of Africa) would not be passing in a law ensuring that every child should compulsorily be enrolled in school.

"A very alarming number of children today are on the streets hawking or have been abused, raped or are married to men/women who should be protecting them. Who protects the children of Nigeria? Would we wait for another Milala before we act? Should we now remove the parental caution on movies that say 'Not for persons below 18'?

"This is a call for justice and equity for children especially the Nigerian girl child, who has the right to quality education, a childhood and the decision of whom and when to marry.

"My Name is Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and I say No to phedophilia and No to the Senate bill endorsing child marriage in Nigeria. 

Also, Nigerian actress, singer and motivational speaker Stella Damasus Stella Damasus expresses her anger over the issue of under-aged marriage being discussed in the Nigerian senate. Video of her interview will be loaded later!

ANNA EBIRE BANNER Wins Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria 2013!

It is no longer a new story for those who diligently follow us that eighteen year old aspiring beauty Queen, Anna Ebire Banner, representing Bayelsa state, has been crowned the Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria in the (MBGN) 2013 contest! 

The 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria Pageant took place yesterday in Yenogua, Bayelsa state. 

Anna will be representing Nigeria in the Miss World 2013 Finale holding in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she will go against other beauty queens from around the world for the crown. 

Also in the same vein, nineteen year old Stephanie Okwu representing Imo state is the 1st runner up, and she will be representing Nigeria in the Miss Universe 2013 competition in Moscow, Russia later on. 

While twenty year old Powede Lawrence representing Adamawa state is the 2nd runner-up and will represent Nigeria in the Miss Tourism 2013 competition. 

We say a big Congratulations to all the winners...

CULTURE AND FESTIVAL IN OWERRI, ORU-OWERE FESTIVAL.

 Talking about Culture and Festival in Owerri, Imo State, the people of Owerri just celebrated the Oru-Owere festival last Saturday...

Owerri Municipal is the hub of cultural activities in Imo State. It is the melting point of culture and tradition in the state. The ORU OWERE historical cultural festival takes place in the area every year. The festival is also known as the 'traditional Christmas' of the people of Owerri, a festival in remembrance of the founding of Owere (Owerri) historically, about 1463 AD or thereabout but in the 14th century by Ekwem Oha Arugo. 

  

photos by Samuel Henry

 

ORU-OWERE- is the cultural carnival of the people of Owerri Nchi Ise community. It is an annual event which reminds the people of Owerri of their origin, their roots, their ancestor and fore-fathers as well as the hospitality and peace which they are associated with. A period when the entire Owerri Nchi Ise community, young and old men and women, boys and girls at home and abroad, converge at UGWU EKWEMA, hug, laugh, smile, dance and celebrate peace. It is otherwise known as Owerri birthday anniversary. Activities marking the festival last for a week. It usually begins with the roasting and eating of special yams. The festival is celebrated every July each year.
Oru Owere is the kings festival which is marked by a period of the observance of peace, love, friendliness and togetherness, all these devoid of bitterness, quarrels, antagonism and physical confrontation. No weeping when death occurs during the period, no firing of cannon and it's a time to make up quarrels. The period begins in the month of June and last till mid August and marked with key events like the beginning of the period, the roasting of old yam, the corn porridge entertainment and the day marking the end of the period which are always Orie market days.
Between the roasting of old yam (Oru Owere proper) and the corn porridge meal is the GRAND FINALE which is characterized by a colourful procession of AGE GRADE formations in Owerri Community through a given route in the old city.
Invited guests are received and made to have a feel of Oru Owerri with traditional dances, displays and entertained. the first item of entertainment after the breaking of kolanuts by the King is the roasting of old yam.
The Owerri indigenes are free and begins to eat the new yam after the MKPU KPU OZU (Corn Porridge) which is the day that marks the beginning of the NEW CALENDAR YEAR in Igbo Culture. Accordingly, it is pertinent to NOTE that Owerri people, the indigenes of the capital of Imo state DO NOT celebrate the new yam.
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