Ken Nnamani, led Some Igbo Politicians to ASO Rock

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen,Abuja,Nigeria

 President Muhammadu Buhari met behind the closed doors Tuesday in Abuja with some South East politicians.

The politicians who visited under the aegis of South East Group for Change were led by the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

The meeting held in President Buhari’s office at the Presidential Villa.

Other politicians in the delegation were Mr. Emma Eneukwu; Senators Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso;  former member of the House of Representatives, Sharon Ikeazor; former Executive Vice-Charman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe; National Vice-Chairman, a member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Austin Edeze; Dr. Uzoma Obiyo and Chris Akomas.President’s aides, such as his Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari and some other top government officials joined him in receiving the group.

After the meeting, none of members of the delegation obliged interview from the State House Correspondent.

Reported : AFRICAN EXAMINER 

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Hike in Electricity Tariff Is Irreversible –Fashola

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja,Nigeria

Hope for possible reversal of 45 per cent hike in electricity tariff announced by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in January this year, was dashed on Tuesday, as the agency and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola declared the decision as irreversible.

Fashola and the NERC acting Chairman, Dr Anthony Akah, made the declaration to the Senate’s joint committee on Labour and Power during a public hearing session on the electricity tariff hike.

The upper chamber had in February mandated its relevant committee to conduct public hearing when a motion was moved to that effect by its Chairman, committee on Labour, Nazif Suleiman (APC Bauchi North).

The Senate had in its resolutions on the motion, aside ordering for the public hearing also ordered for reversal of the tariff hike by NERC which was however not complied with.

Explaining his refusal of obeying the directive, the NERC boss told the joint committee that obeying such directive would have created series of avoidable setbacks in the sector like a market gap of about N575billion which would have compounded the initial market gap of N187billion the take off tariff slammed on investors.

He said aside that, six generating companies (GENCOs) had before the Senate’s resolution, taken NERC to court over the tariff hike and that they cannot do final order on reversal of tariff since the process that led to it was in compliance with section 76 sub section 8 of the Act guiding the operations of the commission.

A submission supported by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who stressed the sector needed the market reflective tariff to survive.

He stated that basket of indices led to the hike like borrowing rate for the investors, exchange rate, availability and cost of gas.

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When Life Becomes Too Much To Bear!

In the day and age when roadways are congested, traffic jams are a common scenario, meeting deadlines at any cost is the corporate chant, emotions have taken a backseat and love is lost in the mayhem I often feel the need to getaway.

On one Wednesday when life became too much to bear and I was overwhelmed and I took off in the middle of the day when sun was high up in the sky. I decided to go to the National Park and the daytime was favorable to avoid the large crowd which would allow me the freedom to wander about.

There was a chill in the receding spring air but the surroundings were silent with only the swirling sound of the wind passing my ears. The green grass beneath my feet felt as if I was walking on nature’s carpet. The distant sound of birds gave me comfort knowing life was all around me.

I kept walking in search of solace and I discovered a pathway through the rocky boulders where I noticed a lone chair and table. I realized there are others like me who traverse the paths to pause and reflect, to recapitulate the meaning of life, to rejuvenate and absorb the freshness of the natural environment which has an alchemical healing inherent in its womb. I took a seat and while the coolness of the air enveloped me, I took a sigh of breath and released all my worries.

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The Cabal Behind Emeka Mba’s Travails at EFCC

What many people may not know is that there are certain persons who ganged up to see the ouster of Emeka Mba as DG of the NBC. The original scheme hatched by this group intent on the removal of Mr Mba ostensibly due to disagreements over his handling of the digital television switch over, and the utilization of the N34 Billion raised through the licensing of MTN to fund the DSO. Investigation has revealed that at the center of this plan is Sir Lucky Omoluwa, the chairman of Pinnacle Communications Ltd, an Abuja based security and communications company.  In fact, Sir Omoluwa has also secretly recruited willing accomplices within the EFCC, where some senior operatives involved on the case are helping him to achieve his objectives.

It is believed that the case against Emeka Mba was based on a fake petition written and submitted by Sir Lucky Omoluwa to President Muhammadu Buhari under the fictitious name of Okey Nwafor, a non-existent person, whom nobody knows or ever heard of in the broadcasting industry or even in the broader technology sector in Nigeria; who to date has not been invited by the EFCC to substantiate his petition, as is the normal procedure.  The petition by “Okey Nwafor” alleged that Mr. Mba not only hid N15billion naira government revenue from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), but also transferred same amount to five companies. This allegation has been investigated and found that the money was committed to the Digital Television Switch Over (DSO) and approved to be deposited as collateral in Zenith Bank, ahead of the TSA directive, as off taker guaranty for the supply of setup boxes, and other elements of the DSO as approved by the former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the former ministers of information.

When Mba was fired along with other so called “PDP moles” or “Jonathan DG’s”, the hope was that the matter would end there. However, more trouble was to come for Mr. Mba, when Sir Omoluwa and his gang heard that some concerned stakeholders were demanding that Mba be reinstated to complete the task of migrating Nigeria from analogue to digital broadcasting so as to achieve the digital switch over (DSO), especially as Mba was found to have committed no wrong doing after the lengthy investigation; they immediately extended the focus of the original petition to include other areas including, how the NBC under Mr. Mba secured approval to license MTN, and  the payment to the legal consultant who facilitated the licensing transactions.

It appears that Sir Lucky’s anger with Mr Mba goes back to 2014 few months after his company Pinnacle Communications won the bid for the second national digital broadcast signal distributor license from the NBC. The fact that Pinnacle won the license was indeed largely thankful to Mr. Mba’s insistence on transparency and due process, and against political interference by several powerful people in government at that time. Before the bid process began, the NBC received several security reports requesting the NBC not to license Pinnacle Communications, as it was linked to the APC, and its national leader, Sen Bola Tinubu, and would allegedly be used to control all broadcasting leading up to the 2015 general elections.  Sources within the Commission and close to the transaction, said that the NBC under the former DG insisted that all Nigerians regardless of party affiliation should be entitled to bid for the license, this was despite repeated attempts to sack the former DG for going against security reports. It took the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan who insisted that the NBC and the DG should be allowed to do their work as professionals that allowed the former to complete the licensing, which saw the emergence of Pinnacle as eventual winner.

Having won the license and dissatisfied with the condition of the license, Sir Omoluwa’s Pinnacle instituted a case in court against the NBC, the DG in his official and personal capacity, requesting the court to remove Mr. Mba from office as “unfit to hold office’; amongst other prayers. Since October 2014, Sir Omoluwa has been strident and has never hidden his intent to use all his political connections to remove Mr Mba, sponsoring several news reports and advertorials in several newspapers including some by one “Mr. Danladi, a media investor from Kaduna” and lately the General Manager of Nassawara Broadcasting Services.

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.Atletico Madrid Women's goalkeeper caught celebrating Real's win

Sara Ezquerro, the goalkeeper for Atletico Madrid's B team, was seen celebrating Real Madrid's Champions League victory, which could lead to possible ramifications with her own club, Atletico, who Los Blancos defeated in penalties to lift the 'Undecima'.Ezquerro was forced to close down her social media accounts after the photo of her celebrating the triumphs of Atleti's city rivals began to surface.

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The Amish understand a crucial thing about modern medicine that most Americans don’t

By Sara Talpos
The Allegheny Plateau, sprawling across northern Pennsylvania and beyond, is an ecosystem of forested hills, with land that supports black bears, bald eagles and wandering turkeys, as well as a patchwork of wild herbs: burdock, jewelweed, chamomile and sheep sorrel. Cellphone reception is spotty and gas stations are few and far between. Tucked away among the streams branching from the Cowanesque river is a cluster of small white and tan buildings, including the office of John Keim, an Amish elder and community healer.
In the 1980s, Keim’s young son was scalded by a pot of boiling water, burning off his skin from collarbone to waist. Hospital care was out of the question. Previously, two of Keim’s cousins had been burned in a fire and spent three months in an Indiana hospital. Every week, relatives had sent letters describing how the children screamed as their wounds were cleaned and their bandages changed. Reflecting on that, Keim says, “I just felt it was so inhumane. I would not ever take a child to a burn unit.” He wanted to be autonomous of what he viewed as a brutal system.
Keim and his wife treated their son at home. Initially, they applied a salve of herbs and wrapped the wounds with gauze, but the gauze sunk into the boy’s flesh. They needed a dressing that wouldn’t stick.
In his book Comfort for the Burned and Wounded Keim writes, “I thought of how God created the Earth. I honestly felt He kept the poor in mind while Earth was being created.” He tried to think of things in nature that might help a poor person treat burns. Hitting upon waxy plantain leaves, he gathered a hatful from a nearby field, scalded them so they would be pliable, and used them to wrap his son’s wounds with a layer of herbal salve. Within five days, new skin covered the boy’s body. He had survived.
When you think of the Amish, you don’t necessarily think solar panels, but here they are – six of them − on the roof of a horse barn in Holmes County, Ohio, home to the world’s largest Amish settlement. The barn, and the office above it, belong to Marvin Wengerd, who is Amish and serves as a liaison between his community and their non-Amish healthcare providers.
“If you ask the average Amishman on the street, ‘Why don’t you have electricity?’” says Wengerd, “he would say something like, ‘It connects me to the larger world and makes me dependent on the larger world in ways that I find troubling.’” Many further object to television and the internet because they promote vanity and sexual impurities, rather than Biblical values. For his part, Wengerd uses electricity in a limited capacity – for example, to power his office lights and phone. But thanks to the solar panels, which feed a battery, he’s off the grid, not dependent on the government or the oil industry for power
The Amish and other groups such as Old Order Mennonites refer to themselves as “Plain” because they choose to live a modest lifestyle centred on their faith and separated from the rest of the world. There is some diversity between Plain groups, as each community creates its own rules for everything from clothing to technology use. In general, though, Plain people complete formal education in eighth grade (aged 14), use horse and carriage for daily travel, reject mains electricity, and interact with outsiders in a limited capacity. In most Plain communities, individual families and businesses sell furniture, produce or handmade quilts to the wider population, whom they turn to for services such as banking and emergency taxi rides.
The biggest and most complicated cultural intersection is the modern health care system. Plain people often advocate for more freedom in deciding when to go to a hospital, how to get there, and what interventions will be used. In short, they want greater autonomy.
The full story in yahoo news.

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It’s hard to tell if conservative pundit William Kristol was being serious or just wanted to mess with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump when he tweeted a promise over the weekend that a conservative third-party alternative to the billionaire would soon declare interest in the presidency.
“Just a heads up over this holiday weekend: There will be an independent candidate--an impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance,” he wrote.
It was a strange thing for Kristol, who edits the Weekly Standard, to just toss off in the middle of a holiday weekend. The move to draft a high-status conservative to challenge Trump under the banner of a third party has been around for some time and has so far been thoroughly unsuccessful. Hoped-for candidacies of retired Marine Corps general James Mattis, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney or vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan have all fizzled out.
Likewise, the assertion that a third-party candidate would, at this point, have “a strong team and a real chance” seems optimistic. It’s late in the game to launch a presidential bid, and unless the candidate Kristol has in mind already has Trump-like name recognition, the effort to get his or her name on ballots across the 50 states and to persuade at least a plurality of the electorate to deliver their votes would be daunting.
Similarly, developing a “strong team” would be a major challenge this late in the game. Though to be fair, there are a lot of experienced Republican operatives within the #NeverTrump movement who would probably jump at the chance to join a credible opposition campaign.
Kristol’s promise was immediately leapt upon by Trump supporters. Calling it a “betrayal of this country," Breitbart.com writer David Horowitz huffed, “The Kristol attack on the Republican Party and its presumptive candidate Donald Trump is an attack on all Americans and needs to be seen in that light.”
Trump himself took to Twitter, as is his wont, to blast the conservative pundit as a “loser,” “dummy,” "lightweight” and more. In a series of tweets that suggested a certain degree of nervousness, he warned that if the erstwhile Republican establishment indeed launches or supports a third-party bid, the result would be to hand the presidency to Hillary Clinton.
“Say Goodbye to the Supreme Court,” Trump warned.
And there’s little doubt that on that score at least, Trump has it right. A more traditional Republican candidate running as an independent would give #NeverTrump Republicans who cannot abide Hillary Clinton an alternative to the two major party candidates.
It would also -- and this is the most compelling argument for a traditional Republican to run as an Independent in November -- give many Republicans who might otherwise have stayed at home in November a reason to come to the polls, which could protect down-ballot Republicans.
Kristol and his supposed candidate for the presidency would have to pretend they were in it to win it, though the fracture it would cause within the GOP would make that virtually impossible. The real goal, in all likelihood, would be to try to protect Republican House and Senate candidates and statewide office seekers from an anti-Trump voter backlash.
The other possibility, though, is that Kristol was sitting around drinking beer with some friends at a Memorial Day weekend barbecue, and thought, “You know what would be fun? Spoiling Donald Trump’s holiday weekend.” A few seconds of typing into his smartphone’s Twitter app would definitely have done the job.
Yahoo News

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KILLER CROCODILE HAS DONE IT AGAIN

Crocodile takes woman during night swim in Australia
Saltwater crocodiles are estimated to kill an average of two people in Australia each year.
A woman is feared dead after being seized by a crocodile during a late-night swim at a beach in northern Australia as her friend struggled to save her, police said Monday.
The women went for a stroll on Thornton Beach on Sunday evening in the far north of Queensland state before making a fateful decision to take a dip in an area known to be infested with crocodiles.
The woman was swimming with a female friend, also in her 40s, at 10.30pm when the incident occurred," police said in a statement.
Nine News cited witnesses as hearing the woman yell "A croc's got me, a croc's got me!"
Senior Constable Russell Parker said the women -- Australians visiting the area -- were in the water when one of them was grabbed, with her friend desperately trying to drag her to safety.
"They decided to take a swim in the ocean just in waist-deep water and at that point, we believe that a crocodile has taken one of the women, taken hold of her," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"Her friend tried valiantly to drag her to the shore but unfortunately wasn't able to do so and the woman subsequently disappeared.
"Now her friend raised the alarm with a nearby business and they subsequently contacted the police."
A rescue helicopter was sent up with thermal imaging equipment but was unable to find her.
Parker added that the surviving woman was "very, very shaken and shocked" but appeared to have escaped with only grazes.
The Brisbane Courier-Mail said Thornton Beach was next to a creek where croc-spotting tours were organised, and there were plenty of warning signs throughout the vicinity.
The attack is not the first in the area. A giant crocodile known as Big Jim took local postal worker Beryl Wruck in 1985 when she had a late-night swim about an hour's drive from Thornton Beach.
Crocodiles are common in Australia's tropical north and kill an average of two people each year.
Earlier this month, a desperate fisherman threw spanners and spark plugs to fight off circling crocodiles after his friend drowned when one of the animals overturned their small boat near Darwin.
Crocodile numbers have increased since the introduction of protection laws in 1971, with estimates putting the Northern Territory's population in the wild at about 100,000.

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BREAKING: Panic in Onitsha, army kills 30 pro-Biafra activists

There is a great clash between the pro-Biafra activists in Onitsha and the Nigerian army - Shots have been fired and many are feared dead - There is no clear reason at the moment for the unrest - The authorities are trying to still the storm Reports according to Sahara Reporters suggests that a military shooting of unarmed protesters at a church in Onitsha has stirred uproar in the state. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Protest hits the Niger Bridge in Onitsha There are claims that the Nigerian security agents are battling with pro-Biafra agitators in some parts of Anambra state, especially Onitsha. The signal which was sent to several unit commanders in the Southeastern parts of Nigeria early this morning asked the unit commanders to be on “standby’ in case of a breakdown of law and order as pro-Biafra agitators embark on street protests today in the Southeast. The Nation reports that the celebration of Biafran Day in memory of Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu turned sour Monday, May 30, in Anambra, as the military, police, members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) clashed, killing over 30 persons and injuring many. It was equally gathered Monday that over 50 members of the Biafran group were arrested by the military and taking to their 302 cantonment in Onitsha. Following the mayhem, the commercial city of Onitsha especially Nkpor axis, was locked down with the security operatives taking over the roads. Commercial activities were paralyzed as a result, with vehicular movements stopped with burn fires all over the roads. Speaking with reporters Monday on the development, the public relations officer (PRO) of (IPOB), Emma Powerful, alleged that security operatives had killed over 30 members of the group, over 50 others arrested and taken to an unknown destination. Also, he alleged that many others were seriously injured in the mayhem, adding that the security operatives started arresting their members since 1.30 am when they began their peaceful demonstration. According to him, “they were moving around in their hilux vehicle with a native doctor, when we are celebrating Biafra without any form of weapon, does it mean that we have no right for our fundamental rights,” Emma asked. When the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in the state Ali Okechukwu was contacted yesterday at about11.55am, he said there was no room to discuss causality figures, adding that they were still busy trying to clear the roads for easy movement. However, an eye witness who spoke with The Nation Monday and a (MASSOB) member said about 32 persons were killed by the navy and military personnel. The casualties according to him were taken to one of the hospitals at Nkpor but they were rejected, while those killed were driven to the army barracks. For MASSOB and Campaign for Democracy (CD), the action of the security personnel was unfortunate knowing fully well that the group was a harmless one celebrating the declaration of Biafra on May 30th, 1967 in memory of late Ojukwu. The leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu, told reporters that federal government should look into the mayhem with a view to arresting the situation, adding that his group was not involved. However, he warned that if Ndigbo were pushed to the wall by security personnel that they would have no other option than to take to arms, which according to him would make Nigeria be in flames. Madu, further said that the federal government was negotiating with Boko-haram and Niger

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Boyloaf slams the Niger-Delta avengers

Boyloaf said there is nothing like Niger-Delta Avengers instead it should be Niger-Delta NIMASA – He opined that, they are criminals running away from justice and instead set to cause havoc and distract the government from prosecuting them The former militant, Victor-Ben Ebikamobowei has condemned the actions of the Niger Delta Avengers. Victor Ben popularly known as Boyloaf was a commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In a chat with NAIJ.com, he said that the group should be addressed as the Niger-Delta NIMASA and not the Avengers. “There is nothing like Niger Delta avengers, we know NIMASA avengers there is nothing like the Niger Delta avengers. He said they are a group of criminals running away from facing disciplinary actions for several offences committed during the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration. “They are just a few group of people that are supposed to face what they did and they decided to convert it to struggle.

However, Boyloaf accused them of plans to distract the government from getting prosecuted for their crimes. “There is nothing like the Niger Delta avengers, it is NIMASA, they want to distract government from the things they have done, do not pay any attention to them. “Everybody that committed should face his sin and should not convert it to struggle. However, Boyloaf fingered Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo as the leader of the ongoing crisis in the Niger-Delta. “Tompolo is in the bush, he is no more on the street so he should remain there. Somebody cannot commit sin and hide, he should face the sin and not convert it to avenger. “Is it not business everyone did with him? So they handled The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)

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EFCC recovers N900m from Dudafa's account

The anti-graft agency discovered a huge sum of money on the account of the close aide of Jonathan, Dudafa – Dudafa, who firstly denied that he had any money, admitted owing the bank account Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The Punch has learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has found N900m on the accounts of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan assistant Waripamowei Dudafa. According to the source, that the money was found in one of Dudafa’s accounts, which was instantly frozen.  “Dudafa told us that he had no money; so, we began to investigate his accounts. We then found N900m that was hidden in one of his accounts through the connivance of his account officer,” the source in the EFCC said. “Dudafa initially denied owning the account but when he was confronted with evidence, he had no choice but to admit. Some people, who had paid money into the account based on Dudafa’s instructions, even came forward to say that the account indeed belonged to Dudafa. The N900m will be used as evidence against him in court.” Dudafa was a close assistant and a kinsman of former president. He was arrested on April 18 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Jonathan’s former aide was blamed for giving N10bn to delegates at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2014. READ ALSO: Security officials arrest Jonathan’s top aide Dudafa in Lagos Read more:  Former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is currently in the custody of the EFCC over arms purchase scandal, had said the N10bn was given to Ojogbane and Dudafa. At least seven officials of the former government were arrested under President Buhari.

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The Battle of the Most Beautiful Women In the World Of Soccer

By Lloyd Webb

Arsenal Ladies drew 1-1 with Seattle Reign at Memorial Stadium in the first-ever match between a National Women’s Soccer League team and a Women’s Super League club.

The historic fixture did not get off to the best start for the Gunners, though, as Leah Williamson was stretchered off just eight minutes into the clash.

Things soon went from bad to worse for Pedro Martinez Losa’s side, as Beverly Yanez gave the hosts the lead a curling finish before the break.

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Troops stop Niger Delta militants from giving Buhari a May 29 gift

Militants reportedly laid siege on pipelines in two different areas of the state - Reports say casualty sustained was not much - Nigerian troops vow to keep monitoring the areas Niger Delta militants who tried to bomb some pipelines have been dispersed by troops of the 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade in Bayelsa state on Sunday, May 29, 2016. According to information made available by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the spokesperson of the Nigerian army, the troops made sure of total safety in Gulobokri and Eweleso areas of Brass in the state during the incident that happened early on Sunday morning. He said: “Today, 29th May 2016 in the early hours of morning, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso, around Brass area in Bayelsa State.

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Politics in The House Of God

Questionable Characters Want to Hijack CAN Election - Cries Christian Youths

With about one month to the Presidential election of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), a group Christians under the aegis of Patriotic Christian Youths of Nigeria (PCYN), on Sunday raised fears that some persons with questionable characters who were allegedly sponsoring a particular candidate that is close to the Presidency.

Should they succeed, the organisation said the characters with dubious pasts, could hijack the electoral process in CAN.

The organisation therefore accused the Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to install its stooge with a view to paving way for the emasculation of Christians and turn the country to an Islamic state.

To perfect its plan, the PCYN claimed that the Presidency has allegedly recruited some fifth columnists to cause division among Christians with a view to scuttling the electoral process.

The President of PCYN, Evangelist Simon Timothy Nasso, raised the alarm in a statement issued in Abuja, after the 2016 CAN Electoral College primary election in which Dr. Samson Ayokunle, Head of Baptist Churches in Nigeria, emerged candidate of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN).

But the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Communications), Mr. Femi Adesina, had dismissed the allegation when a similar issue was raised on February 22 this year by the National Coordinator of Christ Redeemers Union, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, when he argued that “President Muhammadu Buhari does not interfere in the internal affairs of any organisation.”

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Is Democracy really the 'Hard way but only way' to solve Nigeria problems?

Democracy Remains Best Solution To Our National Problems, Says Saraki

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has commended Nigerians for working to sustain democracy in the past 17 years despite the various challenges the country has encountered within the period.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, to mark this year’s Democracy Day,

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BOKO HARAM?.....What next for Nigerians: Nursing Mother, Her Baby, Two Others Killed By Explosion In Borno

BORNO, NIGERIA – The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death on Sunday, of a woman, her baby and two other victims by an explosive device near a Military checkpoint in Borno State.

Military Spokesperson, Colonel Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement he issued Sunday.

“At about 8.15am today a tricycle, known as “Keke NAPEP” unknowingly stepped on an Improvise Explosive Device (IED) planted by the side of Biu-Damboa Road close to a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Biu town, Borno.

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Those Against My Appointment Are Ignorant –Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka says those against his appointment as Co-Chairman of the Lagos at 50 Celebration Committee are ignorant.

The Eko Foundation, an indigenous group has been clamouring for Soyinka to resign as co-chairman of the committee as he is not from Lagos.

But Soyinka, who spoke at a special children programme tagged “Vision of the Child” to officially kick start the one year long activities for the Golden Jubilee of the State, Soyinka faulted those against his appointment by Governor Ambode as co-chair of the Committee, saying “they were only exhibiting ignorance.”

He stated that he would not join issue with such people, noting that his family was a pioneer in the development of the State, and that it was unfortunate that the so-called Lagosians were denying themselves the opportunity of knowing Lagos which his Committee would offer.

Soyinka clarified that the idea of the one yearlong celebration was just to create consciousness of the celebration in the minds of the people, and not that events would be organized every day.

He said for instance, a month of solidarity would be dedicated to victims of Boko Haram, while the people would equally be given the opportunity to know more about Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who officially launched the one year long activities to mark the 50 years anniversary of the State which will climax on May 28, 2017, said the activities lined up would showcase to the world the unique achievements, culture, heritage and the tourism potentials of the State.

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Nigeria: Why is Bad Luck Trailing Goodluck

By Olawale Rasheed

Amidst harsh economic condition, the one-year-old administration of president Muhammadu Buhari has been receiving hard knocks and praises from friends and foes alike. It has not been a bed of roses for either the administration or Nigerians.

With blame game still high in the political space, Nigerians are struggling to understand what is happening to the tough talking General and his team. There is a combination of what a friend called bad luck, error of judgement and past mismanagement. One is out of control, the other two are within the house.

Die hard loyalists are at ease commending positive strides of the Daura General so far while at the same time blaming deep inherited rot for the shortcomings if any that may have been recorded by the administration. Many of the points raised are real and convincing. If Nigeria has not achieved much in the last one year, it has at least stopped the fiscal drift and profligacy of the past.

Some old loyalists are however not happy. They cannot understand why things are not moving as positively as they had hoped and voted for. Indeed, some Buhari supporters had anticipated a magical transformation and when the change takes time to materialize, they develop cold feet. They are still loyal to the President even as they now agreed that their man is not a magician after all.

Still within the house, some are feeling left out. As factions exist within the ruling party, the old PDP group within is feeling the heat. Bukola Saraki is under pressure; Atiku Abubakar is facing his business empire; the old CPC are having field days.

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Medical concierges: The smart new way to tackle illness

It’s a bewildering, scary time when you’re seriously ill, which is why a new breed of healthcare companies aim to take you by the hand and lead you through the maze of diagnostics, specialists and treatments.

‘I didn’t know anything about cancer (who wants to?) but when you get it you have to suddenly become an expert. And frankly, I didn’t know where to start,’ says Sarah.

Now, Sarah, 50 and from Solihull, knows more about cancer than most: she’s had it seven times over the past 11 years. Four years ago she decided to try something other than the treatment she was being offered. Google came up with ‘bad news and bad ideas’, until she found a company called Harley Street Cancer Concierge. 

‘As soon as I called them I felt positive,’ she says now. ‘They found a specialist who recommended a more targeted form of chemotherapy. For the first time in a long time, I started to focus on living with this disease, not worrying about dying from it.’

Sarah is one of an increasing number of people discovering a growth sector: medical middle men or ‘health concierges’, who organise appointments, give telephone support, audit bills and find what they consider to be the best specialists and treatment.

Right now, the UK market for health concierges is small, exclusive, very London-focused and self-regulated. Until recently there were only a couple of such services, both based in Harley Street, but in the past few months at least two new ones have opened.

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Travel Loan: Lai Mohammed Lied

We are disturbed by the latest falsehood published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, 16 May, 2016, and the theatre of the absurd currently playing out in the Federal Information and Culture Ministry, following the recent leak of a letter requesting a loan of N13.2 million from the National Broadcasting Commission to facilitate Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s travel to China. 

We are disturbed by the latest falsehood published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, 16 May, 2016, and the theatre of the absurd currently playing out in the Federal Information and Culture Ministry, following the recent leak of a letter requesting a loan of N13.2 million from the National Broadcasting Commission to facilitate Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s travel to China. 

For the avoidance of doubts, we are a group of public servants opposed to corruption and with revulsion for the minister’s gratuitous recklessness. We would have elected to leave the unfolding drama of corruption in the Ministry to the judgement of the reading public without this eye-witness account, but for the lying minister’s latest decision to enlist his brothers in The Nation newspapers to wage a media war on imagined ‘enemies’ and ‘saboteurs’.

We believe that no objective Nigerian, who has read the published stories on this matter so far, would require an electronic Lie-Detector to be convinced that the minister’s series of explanations were bunkum. You don’t have to be a Civil Servant or a Federal Auditor to know that even the National Broadcasting Commission itself could not duly process or pay that N13.2 million for any purpose outside what it was meant for without the Accountant General of the Federation’s official approval.

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Watch Buhari's speech on Democracy Day

Presidential media aide Adesina unveils Buhari’s speech Democracy Day – The president speaks about first year in office, says his government inherited a state near collapse – However, President Buhari listed what was done to improve state of nation

President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed the nation in his speech on Democracy Day on May 29, 2016. The statement was published by the presidential media aide Femi Adesina. Read the full speech below: “My compatriots, It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has been a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements. By age, instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria. But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress. We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite the many years of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation have proved inherently good, industrious tolerant, patient and generous. The past years have witnessed huge flows of oil revenues. From 2010 average oil prices were $100 per barrel. But economic and security conditions were deteriorating. We campaigned and won the election on the platform of restoring security, tackling corruption and restructuring the economy. on our arrival, the oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per barrel and we found nothing had been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices have been declining since 2014 but due to the neglect of the past, the country was not equipped to halt the economy from declining.

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Russia to set up nuclear plant in Nigeria

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Nikolay Udovichenko, on Saturday announced that the Nigerian and Russian Governments plan to sign an agreement for the establishment of a multifunctional scientific research nuclear centre in Nigeria. Udovichenko, who disclosed this in Lagos at this year’s Alumni Congress of the Soyuznik Alumni Association in Nigeria, said that the Nigerian and Russian governments had been negotiating for the centre’s establishment. The theme of the congress was “Harnessing The Potentials of the Nigerian Graduates of Higher Institutions of former USSR States”. “Bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Russia is blessed with huge potential in every avenue. “Nuclear energy development is another area with good prospects for our two countries’ cooperation. “This June, we expect to sign a bilateral agreement for the establishment of a multifunctional scientific centre in Nigeria,’’ he said. The Envoy also said that his government was working at reactivating its Trade Representation in Nigeria, to further promote

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Herdsmen Attack: Foundation, Businessman Donate Hospital To Agatu IDPs

A non-governmental organization, the Kelly Izuwa Nwogu Vanguard (KIN) yesterday donated a N30million hospital to solve the medical needs of the internally displaced persons of the attacked communities in Agatu Local government area of Benue state.

The ultra-modern hospital is located at Aila Community, one of the destroyed villages in Agatu that was badly affected by the heinous attacks unleashed by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen.

Performing the foundation ceremony in Aila yesterday, the chief executive officer of KIN, Mr Kelly Nwogu explained that the project was informed by his sympathy on the deplorable condition of the displaced persons and that it was a mark of charity.

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MultiChoice Bags LCCI Award

Leading Pay Tv company, MultiChoice Nigeria, has won the Award for Excellence in Pay TV Services at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) awards held recently.

The LCCI awards recognise, promote and celebrate private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for best business practices, growth through innovation and business sustainability as well as positive impact on people and the society.

Receiving the award, Hasiya Abdu, representative of the managing director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, thanked the chamber for the recognition.

She said MultiChoice Nigeria remains committed to providing excellent services to its subscribers and will continue to bring innovative technology to the business of Pay Tv in Nigeria.

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Australia police use pepper spray as nationalists clash with anti-racism protesters

By Peter Gosnell

(Reuters) - Australian police used pepper spray to break up clashes between rightwing nationalists and anti-racism protesters on the streets of Melbourne on Saturday as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said eliminating racism was still a "work in progress".

The United Patriots Front (UPF) organized a "Stop the Far Left" rally while anti-racism protesters marched under the banner "Moreland says No to Racism", in reference to a Melbourne district.

Fears of young Australian Muslims being inspired by militants such as Islamic State and traveling to fight in Iraq and Syria have underpinned support for rightwing groups like UPF and Reclaim Australia.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott made blocking migrants trying to reach Australia by boat a key plank of his victorious election campaign in 2013.

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Islamic State commander in Falluja killed, U.S. military says

By Idrees Ali and Saif Hameed

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S.-led coalition strikes supporting Iraqi forces in the recapture of Falluja have killed 70 Islamic State militants including the group's commander in the city, a U.S military spokesman said on Friday.

U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State, said the coalition had carried out 20 strikes in support of the campaign over the past four days.

Maher al-Bilawi, commander of Islamic State fighters in Falluja, was killed two days ago, Warren said. He said the killing of Bilawi and the other militants "won't completely cause the enemy to stop fighting but it's a blow."

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Facebook user decides to meet his 5,000 followers personally

A Nigerian has decided he wants to meet all his Facebook friends face-to-face

According to a post shared on his Facebook page, a young man identified as Gaius Chibueze, has decided to take a nationwide tour to meet all his 5000 Facebook friends. Chibueze who is based in Abuja, says he wants to be the first person to achieve this ‘feat’. He made up a roster with dates of his ‘meet and greet’ that will also extend to his Ghana based followers. Here’s what he shared on his page below: “My name is Gaius Chibueze, a Nigerian. I want to be the first person in the history of the world to meet all his 5,000 Facebook friends one on one. This I am already doing through a project I call “Mr Facebook World Tour A.K.A Facebookers connect” PAY ATTENTION: Get the latest gossips on Naij Gossip App The whole idea of my project is: 1. To bring the Love and Friendship we share online to the Real World. 2. To advocate for the positive use of the social media(Uniting the World with the Social Media. 3. Adventure. This project will see me become the first person in the history of the world to meet all his 5,000 Facebook friends one on one. 4. Facebookers Connect. (www.facebookersconnect.com) A platform aimed at connecting Facebook

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Real Madrid Wins Champions League in Penalty Shootout

Cristiano Ronaldo did it again for Real Madrid, stepping forward to score a penalty and inflict another devastating loss in a Champions League final on rival Atletico Madrid.

For the second time in three finals, the biggest game in club soccer ended with Ronaldo sealing victory, then ripping off his shirt to show off his muscled torso to adoring fans.

Ronaldo's decisive spot kick in the shootout gave Real Madrid a 5-3 victory on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Saturday's final.

Two years ago, the Portuguese superstar's penalty had sealed a 4-1 extra-time win over Atletico and prompted the first of his provocative celebrations.

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Treason As Militants unveil new currency in the Niger Delta

A new currency has been unveiled by militants in the Niger Delta – No particular militant group has laid claims to the treasonous act – There are fears that the act is linked to the move for the actualization of Biafra The new currency is said to have started circulating with the Niger Delta, and militants in the oil rich region are using it to inform the government of their demands for sovereignty in the region.

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Could Nigerians Have Asked For A Better Deal From President Buhari...

Tomorrow, Sunday May 29, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will clock one year

in office. Kunle Olasanmi in this report looks at the achievements recorded by his government in about 365 days. 

On May 29, 2015, during the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, hopes were high that the new president and his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will change the fortune of this country for better. The high hopes of Nigerians was as a result of the mis-rule of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 16 years. For this new government, it’s been so far, so good. The people of Nigerian could not have asked for a better deal. The present administration has not disappointed Nigerians with its policies that are peoples oriented.

Below are some of the achievements of this government in office in the last one year.

Insurgency:

During his inauguration speech, the president made it clear that in a few months, the onslaught of Boko Haram will be a thing of the past. He also announced that the military command would be moved to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Headquarter s of Boko Haram. Few weeks later, the president followed his words with action with the total overhaulling of the dysfunctional topmost hierarchy of the Nigerian Military. This later resulted in optimal result and degradation of the Boko Haram terrorists. aside that, it was also able to bring back the country’s hitherto military allies like the United States and UK governments that have always been committing their resources to the fight against the insurgents after previously backing out of negotiations with the previous administration. There is currently no Nigerian territory under the control of the Boko Haram at the moment.

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Panic in Lagos as notorious gang threaten to attack

Some members of a notorious gang called the One Million Boys  have threatened Lagos state – The gang reportedly attacked Alimosho Local Government – Their threat comes after some of their members were arrested – Police are still trailing the gang The One Million Boys, have threatened to return to deal with residents of a Lagos community, after some members of the gang were arrested for robbery.

According to The Nation, about 18 members of the terror gang, whose ages range between 14 and 17, allegedly invaded and robbed not less than 15 houses in Isheri-Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, last Saturday. Our correspondent gathered that the boys, who were armed with matchetes, guns and other dangerous weapons, raided houses on Fasasi, Anuoluwapo, Fasasi Balogun and Orelope Streets from 12 am to 3am. The gangsters were said to have announced their presence

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No breakdown in law and order in Ashanti Region – Minister

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Alexander Ackon, has rejected reports of a breakdown in law and order and a rise in crime levels in the region.

His remarks come on the back of the protests that followed the alleged beating to death by police of a twenty-seven-year old male in Krofrom.

The deceased, one Osei Tawiah was allegedly brutalized after some Police men on patrol duties mistook him for a criminal.
Speaking on Eyewitness News in reference to incidents of robbery, Mr. Ackon said robbery cases had reduced in the region.

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Niger Delta Militants Bomb NNPC Gas, Crude Pipelines Near Warri

 The Niger Delta Avengers militant group has  attacked Nigeria’s oil installations again. Less than 12 hours after crippling operations at Chevron’s Escravo’s oil terminal, the militants struck again, blowing up a large gas and crude pipeline operated by Nigerian National Petroleum Company. The attack  was carried out near Warri, the commercial capital of Nigeria’s Delta state. The attackers taunted Nigerian government that their sabotage was carried out despite the presence of Nigerian soldiers.

the Niger Delta Avengers militant group has  attacked Nigeria’s oil installations again.

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UPDATE 1-Militants attack major Nembe pipeline in Nigeria's Delta -officials

YENAGOA, Nigeria May 28 (Reuters) - Militants attacked the major Nembe pipeline in Nigeria's Delta region, two officials said on Saturday, hours after the Niger Delta Avengers militants claimed a strike on the facility.

Nigeria's oil output has fallen to a 20-year low due to attacks on oil pipelines in the southern swamps, home to much of its oil and gas wealth, which have compounded the impact of low oil prices on Africa's largest economy.

"We heard multiple attacks last night," said Bello Bina, a local official in Bayelsa state, confirming that the Nembe pipeline carrying Bonny Light crude exports had been hit.

Royal Dutch Shell, which exports Bonny Light, was not immediately available for comment. But Nengi James, a chairman of the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee that liaises with oil firms, also said the pipeline had come under attack.

The "Avengers", who have been targeting oil and gas facilities as part of what they say is a battle for the Delta's independence, said on twitter it had attacked the Nembe pipeline at 0215 local time.

"Something Big is about to happen," the group later tweeted.

Shell declared force majeure on Bonny Light loadings after a previous attack on the Nembe creek trunk pipeline, but some exports had been continuing with delays caused by repair work.

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The best time to enjoy love making

TIMING, as the saying goes, is everything. And when it comes to the human body, this couldn’t be truer. Our ups and downs over a 24-hour period are ruled by our ‘circadian rhythms’—fluctuations in our hormones, body temperature and blood pressure, which govern both our mood and energy levels. Now, a growing body of scientific research is proving just how significant timing is to our daily emotions, needs and abilities. So, from the best time of day to have sex to the hour you’re most likely to die, here are the secret ways scientific findings reveal your body clock rules your life.

Better to have sex is… 5.48am: -Male and female sex drives peak at different times of day, and there’s only a small window when both partners are truly in the mood. Men’s levels of the hormone testosterone surge during the night, when they are around 25 to 50 percent higher than normal. This is because the pituitary gland, which governs its production, automatically switches on overnight. A woman, by contrast, has to fight high levels of melatonin (the sleep hormone) in her blood. But women, too, have testosterone in their bodies that boosts sexual desire. And a recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that sunlight boosts testosterone by stimulating the hypothalamus (the part of the brain responsible for hormones). So the rising sun gets both men and women in the mood. ‘Testosterone levels in men and women are highest in the morning, ’explains sex therapist Geraldine Myers. ‘The energy levels of both are highest, too. Mentally, they are less occupied with life’s demands, so it’s the perfect time.’ Experts pinpoint 5.48am—just enough time for a woman to warm up before her partner loses the urge—as the best time for sex. This is also when couples are more likely to reach orgasm, according to Italian research. Better set that alarm. You’re

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Father of five allegedly kills wife for money ritual

A bizarre incident occurred yesterday at Araromi Street in the densely populated Oshodi area of Lagos, following the killing of a mother of five by her husband. The suspect, Sogei Jafairu, who hails from Etsako Central Local  Government Area of Edo state, was suspected to have committed the act for ritual purpose.

He was said to have returned home Thursday evening, after spending one week outside. His unsuspecting wife, Roselyn, who was a trader in Ijora market, prepared food for members of the family. But the food was alleged to have been poisoned by her husband, who also ate with her. At about 1am, Jafaru was said to have been seen pacing around his one room and parlor apartment. He was said to have also been sighted licking some black substance suspected to be concocted to neutralize the poisoned food he ate with his wife. Thereafter, he allegedly slit his wife’s throat with a knife, while she was sleeping. Saturday Vanguard gathered that he attempted to stuff the lifeless body inside a container when he suddenly started vomiting. One of their children, Richmond Sogei (16) narrated the incident when Vanguard visited. He said “My daddy and mummy never ate together since I grew up knowing them as my parents. We only saw them eating together for the very first time yesterday (Thursday).Mummy came back from the market with some drinks she said we would use to celebrate Children’s Day today (yesterday) “We were surprised when we saw them eating beans and cherry from the same plate, but concluded that it could be as a result of my kid sister’s birthday that was celebrated same day. We all went to bed without any thought of the

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Threats, security issues postponed Alesha’s vigil

PESHAWAR: The vigil of slain transgender, scheduled to be held outside Lady Reading Hospital on Friday, was postponed due to threats and security issues.

Members of the transgender community, including other social activists, have been getting threat calls since Alesha’s funeral day. The SHO said the matter was being probed by the police.

The prayer for Alesha was held at a local wedding hall where a large number of people were in attendance. Around 1000 people attended the ritual which shows the future of humanity is not as bleak amidst increasing cases of violence, and injustices.

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