GOOD NEWS: French Priest Kidnapped by Boko Haram in Cameroon Regains Freedom

French President Francois Hollande made an official statement which said that a French Catholic priest kidnapped in Cameroon by the suspected Boko Haram members on November 13, 2013, has been released.

A 42-year-old Georges Vandenbeusch (in the photo) was kidnapped by gunmen in northern Cameroon, close to the border with Nigeria.

Boko Haram Islamist group later said it was behind the kidnap.

President Hollande thanked the authorities in Cameroon and Nigeria for their help in getting the priest released.

His message also expressed special thanks to Cameroon's President Paul Biya.

A French diplomat quoted by the AFP news agency said the priest was released in the early hours of December 31, 2013, Tuesday in northern Cameroon.

“He is now on a plane with the Cameroonian army and will be handed over to the French ambassador in Cameroon,” the source said.

There was no further explanation about his release.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, seven members of a French family called Moulin-Fournier, four of them children, were kidnapped by Boko Haram in northern Cameroon and held hostage for two months.

Boko Haram was allegedly paid more than $3m (N520,000,000) before releasing the family, according to a confidential Nigerian government report which has been seen by Reuters news agency. There was no official confirmation of that ransom.

SO SAD: 20 Children Die In Road Traffic Accidents - FRSC

Twenty children died in road traffic accidents between Dec. 19 and Dec. 28, while 75 others sustained injuries from the crashes, the Federal Road Safety Commission, said on Monday.
This information is contained in a statement issued by Mr Jonas Agwu, the FRSC’s Public Education Officer.
The statement said that 144 children of the 239 children involved in road accidents during the period were rescued unhurt.
It would be recalled that the FRSC on Dec. 19 began a Special Patrol for the Christmas and New Year celebration tagged “Operation Zero Tolerance’’.
The commission deployed 34,000 personnel and equipment in critical and major highways across the country as well as four helicopters for aerial surveillance.
The FRSC had said on Dec. 24 that 107 died and 1,398 persons were in 214 road accidents between Dec. 19 and Dec. 23.
It said that the figures represented a reduction in the number of deaths and injured when compared to 156 deaths and 1,882 injured persons in 236 accidents in the corresponding period of 2012.
The statement, therefore, advised parents and drivers to ensure that children were “appropriately restrained’’ in vehicles during travels.
It added that those under 12 years should be restrained in the rear seats in line with the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.
This, it said was necessary because air bags could injure or kill young children travelling in front seats in the event of  accident.
“One of the most effective measures to protect occupants from injury in the event of a crash is the fitment and use of seat-belts and child restraints.
“’Restraints save lives and reduce injury severity – all vehicle occupants should be appropriately restrained when travelling,” it said.
The statement said statistics indicate that seat belt usage reduce the risk of fatality among front seat passengers by 40 per cent to 50 per cent.
It said that the use of the belt could also reduce risk of fatality for rear seat passengers by between 25 per cent and 75 per cent.
The statement said that Child restraints reduce deaths among infants by approximately 70 per cent and deaths among small children by between 54 per cent and 80 per cent.’’
It said that FRSC had mandated its commanding officers to intensify enforcement of traffic rules bothering on child safety during the ongoing special patrol, which will end on Jan. 12, 2014.
The statement directed the officers to conduct routine checks on vehicles conveying children to ensure that they are properly positioned through restraints.

PHOTOS: Check Out Top 12 Embarrassing Things That Happened In 2013

It was definitely an eventful year in the Nigerian entertainment scene. While a lot of celebrities did us proud back home and abroad, a few others didn’t just quite get the memo.

NET presents the 12 flops of 2013 – the embarrassing list.
Maheeda's nude gallery on instagram
Caroline ‘Maheeda’ Sam made sexy look stupid in 2013 with her constant nude ‘selfies’ on Instagram. We guess she was trying to impress us but the Pop singer-turned-Gospel act just looked real thirsty for fame. Then she went on to claim she was just trying to make young women feel more aware of their bodies. We’ll just call that the ‘Gospel according to Maheeda‘.

Tonto Dike
We don’t know why Tonto Dike irritates many; maybe it’s her croaking voice on those songs she released this year, her queer Twitter vocab, the way she flaunts the use of illegal drugs or the absolute ‘I-don’t-give-a f@ck-what-you-think-about-me’ attitude she goes about with.

Beverly Osu
Nigerians expressed disgust and disappointment when thier representative to the last Big Brother Africa reality show, Beverly Osu had sex in the house. Until her, no Nigerian housemate had been that physical in the house.

Oga at the Top
The (former) Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Shem Obafaiye subjected himself and his organization to global ridicule when he could not mention the organization’s official website during a heated live Channels interview.

Adams Oshiomole's 'Go and die' statement
The Edo State Governor received serious backlash on social media after outrightly telling a widow to ‘Go and die‘ for selling her goods on the roadside during sanitation in Benin. No amount of money or cups of tea can wipe that silly remark from memories of his rule.

Losing Saka to MTN
Telecoms giant MTN snatched actor Saka from Etisalat to become its ambassador in its mobile number portability campaign. This move was viewed in the corporate world as a major blow to Etisalat; with great lessons for brand managers and their agencies.

Open Letters
When former president Olusegun Obasanjo wrote president Goodluck Jonathan blaming him for the woes of the country, he wasn’t prepared for another counter letter allegedly written by his daughter Iyabo criticizing him too. Copies of these controversial letters somehow found their way to the streets of Abuja where they were being sold. Have you finished reading the one from GEJ?

Impromptu concerts at celebrity weddings
While we were glad to see our favourite celebs get married this year, we wonder why the ceremonies became impromptu concerts. Why for example was Phyno allowed to perform ‘Ghost mode‘ at Peter Okoye‘s wedding? WHY?!

Funke Akindele's marriage collapse
Funke Akindele’s marriage to Almaroof Oloyede, a hitherto married man ended abruptly after a little over a year owing to cases of infidelity and irreconcilable difference. And the accusations and counter-accusations that followed were messy, to put it mildly.

Sam Sodje
The ex-Super Eagles footballer in December claimed he got paid £70,000 just to get sent off in a February 2013 match. Arrested already, he’ll be getting more than a red card if this matter gets to court.

Don Jazzy and Wande Coal petty Twitter war
Who would think almighty Don Jazzy and teddy bear-looking Wande Coal would stoop so low as to engage themselves in a petty Twitter fight? Not us too! The pair threw caution to the wind after the Mavin boss accused his former protege of not giving him the right credits to his ‘Baby face’ song.

Stella Oduah’s bullet proof vehicles
Our dear Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah ordered for two BMW bulletproof cars worth N255M #LikeaBoss and got the whole country upset. Inconsiderate as that was, we still have to give her props for not busting a sweat under her lace wig.

Why I Benched Mikel - Mourinho

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has explained his exclussion of Super Eagles midfielder Mikel Jon Obi from the starting line up, saying the player was down with flu.
The battling midfielder later came on in the second half to replace Frank Lampard as Chelsea looked to keep their 2-1 lead safe.
He said: “Mikel had started the last two games during the holiday period and he also had flu,” explained Mourinho after the hard-fought win over Liverpool.
Mourinho also said he expected Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o to adapt quicker to the fast pace of the EPL. “The sooner he adapts, the better. I have told him so,” said the coach while defending some late tackles by the striker against Liverpool.
Eto’o scored the match winner for ‘The Blues’ on Sunday, but TV replays showed he gave away a penalty for a cynical charge on Luis Suarez right inside the Chelsea box, which referee Howard Web did not award.
Chelsea with 40 points from 19 matches are two points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool drop to fifth place.

WHY 'Nollywood' Has to be Renamed to 'Naiwood'

The controversies that trailed Nollywood’s 20-year-anniversary are still not over.

Some of the stakeholders have continued to question the name ‘Nollywood’ and the 20 years tag put as the life span of the now nose-diving industry.

The release of after a movie, Living In Bondage, on VHS, 20 years ago has changed the face of the Nigeria movie industry and gave it a big bang.

Many veterans, especially those in the Yoruba genre, have rejected the claim that the industry is only 20 years old when the likes of Hubert Ogunde, Ade Love, Baba Sala and others had been in the industry as far back in the 50s.

In this regard, a group of progressive members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), led by Yomi Fabiyi, is seeking renaming of the industry to ‘Naiwood’.

The group claims that this name will truly represent all the stakeholders, and will be devoid of tribal dichotomy, which the group said the present ‘Nollywood’ encourages and represents.

In his message to Nigeriafilms, Yomi said:

“If the acronym for their movie industry means they started two decades ago, perhaps there was no one producing (movies) amongst them in the last 21 years.

“We inherited film making, we had legendary filmmakers in Nigeria before then. [We] can't fold our arms and watch then sweep under the carpet [the effort of our veterans] with an acronym (Nollywood).

“That acronym NOLLYWOOD is not acceptable by us, if it represents 20 years. We've films shot in Nigeria 60, 50 and 40 years ago on celluloid (the biggest filming standard in the world before digital celluloid) irrespective of the quantity then.

“Home video is just another means of distributing films. In an unjust society where inequality, tribalism, sentiment is the order of the day, SILENCE IS A SIN.

“We wish to set the record straight, film making started in Nigeria 70 years ago.

“NAIJA (Nigeria) is a film, football and oil country. Nigerian movie industry - NAIWOOD, is the right name for the right naija film history.

“We the Progressives in ANTP of the movie industry, irrespective of tribe and religion, wish to be referred with that acronym henceforth, and we mean every word of it.

Signed YOMI FABIYI.”

"Forget National Confab" - Nyako Urges Jonathan

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, yesterday, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to perish the thought of national conference and pay more attention to giving Nigerians good governance.
Nyako, who spoke to Vanguard in an interview, said the planned confab amounted to waste of time and scare resources, which could have been used to provide social amenities.
According to the governor, Nigerians need concrete development projects that could enhance their life expectancy and not talk shops that add no real value to life.
The governor pointed out that the country also needed serious development plans backed by an implementable time frame and the political will to move the nation forward.
Nyako, who is the second governor to oppose the impending confab, said his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Martins Elechi, who was the first to kick against the conference, was absolutely right and should be commen-ded for his forthrightness.
Nyako said:”Governor Elechi is absolutely right. What we need now is a development programme and not national conference or dialogue.
“We need critical infrastructure, we need ports and railway system, functional and compulsory education for Nigerians and not talk shops that cannot take us to anywhere.
“We need primary schools that can be described as the best in the world. We do not need too much grammar about develo-ping Nigeria, but concrete efforts and the political will by the government to translate talks into reality for the overall benefit of Nigerians.”

PHOTOS: Actress Mary Uranta Hot New Stunning Pictures

Actress cum ex-beauty queen Mary Uranta has put out these new hot pictures of herself looking incredibly hot.
What do you think?, Do you like?

• Become a fan on Facebook and us on twitter

BAD LUCK: Man Grabs Gun Instead Of Wallet, Shoots Himself In The Bum

This Thursday, a man at the store in Brighton, Mich., reportedly reached for his wallet and accidentally grabbed his gun.

The 40-caliber Glock went off, and the 32-year-old ended up shooting himself in the rear end.
As s result of the accident, the man, whose name was not revealed, was treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.
He had a concealed pistol license, and no charges were expected to be filed, the local radio station reports.
Interestingly, it is not the first time the shopper hits bottom in public.

JONATHAN'S PERFORMANCE: Governors, Others, Disagree That Jonathan Was A Success In 2013

Mixed reactions, yesterday, trailed the Presidency’s self-assessment of unprecedented success in the outgoing year.
While some stakeholders thumbed up the administration as having achieved in the face of difficult challenges, some critics of the administration were unmoved. They asked the administration’s spokesmen to articulate the alleged achievements.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Communications, Dr. Doyin Okupe had last Sunday affirmed that the Jonathan administration had made remarkable successes with key projects executed in the outgoing year.
His assertion was challenged by, among others, former governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamala; chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Anti-Corruption, Abiodun Faleke; and leading member of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr. Junaid Mohammed.
The assertion of success was, however, praised by others, including Kyari Gujbawu, who represents Maiduguri, Borno State in the House of Representatives, and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Emeka Nkem-Abonta, PDP Abia, among others.
Flaying the assertions of success, Gbajabiamila and Faleke, a member from Lagos State in separate telephone interviews asked Okupe to enumerate the successes for public review.
Gbajabiamila said: “It would be nice if he could define or explain to Nigerians what he understands as dividends of democracy.”
Mohammed flays Presidency
Meanwhile, Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said Okupe was a noisemaker.
He said: “Nobody that has any sense of shame, who believes in Nigeria or has lived in Nigeria, can give this government or this Presidency any pass mark. We have a saying in Hausa: if a man promises a short, you look at the one he’s wearing. The quality of the shirt on his neck will give you an indication that he can present you with a shirt.
“Look at the people who are assessing this man high. Doyin Okupe has never held any other position in government other than as a noise maker.
“He has never won election. The first time he was appointed as an Adviser on Media by Obasanjo, there was uproar by the Nigerian media, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Guild of Editors, RATTAWU and others.”
Balarabe
Balarabe Musa said: “There is no success at all. Even his political party is in disarray. His statement shows gross failure because he is inconsistent in his statement.
“So what specific way has he achieved? He has not achieved anything. He is even doing worse than others and he is threatening even the existence of the country in many respects. If this level of poverty continues, it can lead to serious consequences.”
Pass mark from North
However, the member representing Maiduguri metropolis in Bornu State, Kyari Kaka Gujbawu, said Jonathan had done well in the North.
He said: “My part of the country, the North-East, has the most challenging problem which has remained education, and Mr. President has in an unprecedented manner in a single swoop in 2013, established nine federal universities in the north.
“He has established mega power generating plants in Niger and Kaduna states. I think these are dividends we are grateful for.
“But we in the North-East are in a state of dire need and implore our President to come up with a marshal plan or, more appropriately, GEJ Plan, to reconstruct and reposition our comatose socio-economic life.”
Lawmakers
Chairman, House Committee on Ethics and Anti-Corruption, Abiodun Faleke, APC, Lagos, asked Dr. Okupe to name all the achievements he claimed his principal had recorded in the last one year.
He said: “Okupe should identify the President’s achievements for Nigerians to see.”
Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Emeka Nkem-Abonta, PDP, Abia, said President Jonathan had done remarkably well in road infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.
He said: “Those of us who travelled by road this holiday can testify that Mr. President has performed remarkably well in road infrastructure. We travelled home this time around with ease compared to previous years.
“Boko Haram is enough challenge capable of making any leader lost focus, but Jonathan has remained focused despite the odds.
“The issue here is to look at what it was and what it is now before he ascended office. The judiciary, legislature and executive needed to be asked what they have achieved too because it is a collective responsibility.”
Arewa Youth
President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, said no one would have expected much from Jonathan, given the level of distractions he faced in the outgoing year.
Yerima also gave kudos to the President for not appearing brutish in the face of recent provocations caused by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter.
The ACYF President said: “Honestly, in fairness to Nigerians and in fairness to him, one would have assumed that with the level of insecurity in the country, the expectation will not be too high because there is no way you will have any developmental issues or any meaningful achievements on the part of government when there is insecurity in the country.
“This is in addition to the fact that there are distractions from Obasanjo and the previous leaders, who have held the country to ransom over the years.”

SHOCKING: Student to Be Executed for Hanging Two Prostitutes and Having Sex with Their Bodies

A 23-year-old university student in China was sentenced to death penalty for hanging two prostitutes and having sex with their corpses.

The student, identified simply as Lee, was studying design at Jilin University in Changchun.

He previously told police that he had been failing a lot of classes and called the prostitutes to help relieve the pressure.

Lee narrated that he used to have fantasies about having sex with dead bodies, necrophilia, and decided one morning that he could no longer resist carrying it out.

iFeng.com reports that on March 6, 2013 he hired a 20-year-old prostitute called Cai through the Internet.

Lee then hanged her and had her body shipped back to his house in Changping, where he had intercourse with the corpse. It was then dismembered and the parts buried in Lee’s garden.

He carried out the same macabre act on the body of another prostitute that he’d hanged and shipped home on March 23, 2013.

A forensic psychiatrist determined that Lee wasn’t insane and was criminally responsible for the crimes.

The Second Intermediate People's Court found him guilty of intentional homicide and sentenced him to death.

It also ordered him to pay 80,000 yuan (N20,800,000) in compensation to the victims’ families.

for more:

Davido Flies Big Time

Nigerian music sensation Davido flew out to calabar in a private jet and he shared this pic of himself chilling on the jet.

Davido is probably on his way to Calabar to join in the on-going Calabar carnival.
If you have the luxury, why won't you fly this way ?

CHECK Out The Men And Women Who Will Shape 2014

The year 2014, being the last year before the next round of general elections is bound to be decisive as politicians from across different political hues take position.
Some Nigerians who are bound to direct the pace of political activities in the country are mentioned below.

President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan will be the centre of action in the coming year. As president of the country eligible for a second term, the pace and posture of his politics would largely determine the pattern of political activities in 2014.
President Jonathan who had in the past pooh-poohed questions on whether he would seek re-election had said that he would make his plans known in 2014. With that year now at hand, the president can no longer wave aside a response to the issue. Will he or will he not?
Though his body language has all but indicated that the president would be contesting the election, it is not impossible for him to pull back.
A decision to run would heat up the polity to a level beyond the normal level of a presidential contest. A decision not to run could also pose serious threats to national security given the passion of the president’s Ijaw kith and kin who are determined to have their son return to office in 2015.
Another possible action of the president that would affect the polity would be how he treats the Council of Ministers. Presently, the council is short of about 12 ministers following the sack of a number of ministers earlier this year. It is expected that the president could reshuffle the council to plug in the vacancies. The public, in the event of a reshuffle, would be watching to see how the president treats controversial members of the council, notably the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah who was indicted by the House of Representatives over her role in the purchase of two armoured vehicles.
How the president responds to some of his bitter criticis would also define the way politics will play out in the country. Besides the usual tit for tat with the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, the president would also be expected to frontally confront his one time benefactor turned adversary, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The president’s open reply to Obasanjo’s missive last week has inevitably taken their quarrel to the point of no return.
Obasanjo as Jonathan noted, has heckled all former heads of state who succeeded him in office as military head of state in 1979. However, Jonathan is not like any one of the others, given Obasanjo’s major role in the ascension of Jonathan to the presidency.
Given that this may be his last political fight, Obasanjo is expected to fight to the hilt in what is obviously now an ego fight between him and his one time surrogate.
The prospect of Obasanjo teaming up with the opposition in 2014 appears unlikely despite the recent visit to him by national leaders of the APC.
Speaker Aminu Tambuwal
Though the leader of the PDP in the House of Representatives, only fools still believe that the speaker’s heart is still in the party that is now a minority in the House. Speaker Tambuwal has handled issues maturely in the House despite his relative aloofness from the presidency and the party.
Of the major figures likely to affect the polity in 2014, Speaker Tambuwal is expected to make the earliest move given the gravitation of a substantial number of PDP members to the APC.
The question in many mouths is when, and not if Speaker Tambuwal would defect to the APC. When he does, it is not likely to affect his position, but could bounce on his prospects.
It would be recalled that former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida had earlier this year called on the Speaker  to aspire to higher office.  Many would be looking for gesticulations from the speaker on a possible presidential contest.
Even before the call by Gen. Babangida, Tambuwal had been the focus of appeals from several political stakeholders who believe that he is best positioned to challenge  Jonathan for the presidency within or outside the PDP. His friendly disposition towards the leadership of the APC has also made him the cynosure of many eyes.
Speaker Tambuwal is definitely going to be one of the major factors that would shape the politics of the nation in 2014.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
As leader of the APC, Tinubu is expected to play a decisive role in the politicking that is going to produce the next governments at the central and state levels. His role is going to be overwhelming in the emergence of the next set of governors in the South-West.
How he plays politics of 2015 would, however, be another matter. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in his open letter to President Jonathan accused him of mortgaging the interests of the PDP in the South-West through a secret deal with Tinubu in 2011.
The veracity of Obasanjo’s assertion remains an issue, but whether or not Tinubu cut a deal with Jonathan last time will bring the issue of Tinubu being a decisive factor into consideration.
However, except something goes awry, no deal would be expected in the year as the election is not expected to hold until early next year. Tinubu is thus going to be a decisive influence on the election.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
The three time presidential candidate continues to be idolized by the grassroots in the North on account of his discipline and the perceptions of his aversion to avarice.
However, his influence outside the North and among the elitist class in the North has progressively ebbed.  Despite his negatives, Buhari has not ruled himself out of the 2015 contest, and is as such the cause of anxiety in the hearts of opposition partisans who believe Buhari is not electable.
Should Gen. Buhari decide to rule himself out from contesting for the APC ticket and decide to mobilize for a younger and more electable person within the party such as Tambuwal, then it would be a more serious battle for the PDP and President Jonathan.
Senator David Mark
Senator Mark may be  regarded as a systems man. However, set between President Jonathan and former President Obasanjo, his body would obviously move with Jonathan but his heart would definitely be with former President Obasanjo. It is no secret among leading political stakeholders that the once very cordial relationship between Mark and Governor Gabriel Suswam in Benue State has ruptured.
In an apparent bid to strengthen his hold on the local chapter of the PDP apparently for the benefit of enhancing his speculated move to the Senate and planting his successor, Governor Suswam is known to have become a strong apologist of the president, and in the process, won key federal appointments that had hitherto gone the way of the Senate President.
Senator Mark on the other hand is bound by the dignity of his office as Senate President not to be seen as overtly a lackey of the presidency, a situation that has seen him lose some patronage from the presidency to Governor Suswam. However, in the battle of strategies that is bound to ensue in 2014, Senator Mark is expected to move with his heart with a patriotic zeal above party sentiments putting more distance between him and the presidency.
Jonathan’s women
The women around the president would in significant ways affect him and the way he operates in 2014.
First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has largely been out of gaze in recent times on account of reports of negative political fallout of her alleged incursions in the polity especially in her native Rivers State.
Mrs. Jonathan continues to mobilize support for her husband’s presidency through every opportunity available to her.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would be a serious factor in the consideration of many given her hold over the nation’s purse. Her tact and thunders in the face of demands from politicians in government to loose the financial strings would be a critical issue in the year.
Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum has become the longest serving Minister of Petroleum since the advent of the Fourth Republic. She has almost stamped her personality on the politics of the sector and according to some sources, also become a defining personality in the inner caucus of the Jonathan presidency.
She would be a major influence in 2014.
Ms Stella Oduah, the minister of aviation won accolades in her first year in office following the renovations of the country’s airports. However, the accolades died down as eyes focused on the processes that led to the renovations and it became an issue for her when she was indicted by the House of Representatives over her role in the purchase of two armoured cars for her use by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
Despite her indictment and the report of an internal investigation ordered by the president, Oduah has remained in her position. Her staying power is largely due to be said to be her role in mobilizing support for the president’s 2011 election. She is said to be one of the strongest women with influence in the inner caucus of the presidency and she would be a figure to watch out for in the politics of 2014.
Governors
Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State would be significant political factors especially in their states in 2014 as they prepare for second term elections.
Also of interest in the year would be the emerging leader of the opposition in Ekiti State, Rep. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele who would stir the Ekiti polity as he battles the incumbent.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State would also be of great interest in the polity given his recent appointment as chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum.

Pastor Tunde Bakare Rejects Cow From The Presidency PLUS See What He Has To Say

Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly according to reports got cow gifts from the Presidency and the Ogun State Government during the Christmas, but appealed to the President to face the task of providing basic necessities of life for Nigerians rather than sending cow gifts.

Pastor Bakare said that the cow and hampers were dropped at his Save Nigerian Group (SNG) office in Lagos, but he rejected the gift because 'a cow is not what president Jonathan should be giving to people now but a country that works'.
“I was prevailed upon not to return the gifts like the late Gani Fawehinmi did to (Buba) Marwa, when Marwa was the military governor of Lagos State. I don’t eat such meat. That does not mean that I will not tell the President to face his work and do it well. We need good roads; not cow. We need water, power supply; not cow meat,” he said.

OMG: You'll Not Believe How Much Federal Government Needs To Maintain Presidential Jets In 2014

The Federal Government has budgeted N1.52b for the maintenance of the 10 aircraft currently in the Presidential Air Fleet in 2014.

The maintenance cost is slightly higher than the N1.5bn proposed as the initial deposit for the purchase of additional aircraft that will bring the number of aircraft in the fleet to 11.
This is apart from the N747m earmarked for the purchase of aviation fuel for the aircraft already in the fleet.
These figures are contained in the details of the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan through the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, penultimate week.

The government has also earmarked N458.5m for international trainings for the fleet’s personnel in the coming year.

Another chunk of the budget for the fleet is the N675.9m budgeted for the rehabilitation/renovation/repairs of PAF Barracks.

A whopping N405.5m is also proposed for the completion of a hangar project under the PAF budget for the year while N106m is earmarked for tyre bay tools and equipment.
The PAF’s security vote (including operations) is N259.55m; insurance premium — N445.7m; as well as cleaning and fumigation services —N58m.

N71.74m is budgeted for 797 units of LG 2HP air conditioners for PAF Barracks; N40.5m is earmarked for three units of Toyota Coaster buses and N26.4m for four units of Toyota Hilux.
Motor vehicle fuel will gulp N29.6m, other transport equipment fuel cost — N26.5m; plant/generator fuel cost N14.5m as well as cooking gas/fuel cost — N2m.

The N67m devoted to miscellaneous included refreshment and meals — N28.9m; postage and courier services — N15m; medical expenses — N12m; corps members kitting, transport and feeding allowance N3.7m and honorarium and sitting allowance — N3.6m.

PAF is said to have the third largest fleet of aircraft in the country with a total of 10 aircraft, coming closely behind Aerocontractors Airlines, which has a total of 14 aircraft.

Arik Air, the largest commercial airline in the country, has a fleet of 23 aircraft.
The PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP.

Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

WOW: You'll Not Believe What Cossy Orjiakor Is Wearing For The First Time (PHOTO)

Controversial actress, Cossy Orjiakor who is known for showing off her boobs shared a photo of herself on twitter looking totally different from what her fans her used.

She posted a photo of herself in native attire and she says its her first time in native wrapper.
See tweet below

Do you agree she looks good?

Malawian President In Nigeria To See Her Favourite Pastor

Malawi President Joyce Banda left her country today on a South Africa Airways flight to Lagos, to begin a three-day private visit to Nigeria.

Interestingly, the official came to visit neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor the First Lady Patience Jonathan.
Mrs. Banda is heading to Lagos , where she will be staying for 3 days as the VIP guest at Pastor TB Joshua’ s Synagogue of All Nations, to receive prayers for herself and her small country.
At the departure ceremony in Lilongwe she said she wanted to use the time to reflect on 2013 and and what lies ahead in 2014. Mrs .
It would be recalled that Joynce Banda is due to face a general election in May 2014.
According to her words, she has been coming to Nigeria for prayers in the last 5 years , and this visit is normal.
"Some of you may be aware that I go for prayers in Nigeria. This year I also decided to take a three- day holiday for prayers ," she said . She calls TB Joshua her spiritual father.
She was seen off at the airport by VP Khumbo Kachali . And she is expected back in Malawi on New Year's Eve.
President Banda’s ascendancy to power is said to be connected to the prophecy of the TB Joshua who was said to have predicted the death of former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.
President Banda had visited Nigeria more than once before she ascended the presidency.
TB Joshua’ s Synagogue has been a favourite destination of some African leaders, including the late Professor Atta Mills of Ghana.

LADIES BEWARE: You Won't Believe What Singer Flavour Has To Say About Marriage

 In a recent interview, popular singer Flavour has revealed that he is not ready for marriage.
When asked the secret of his success, he said, "The secret of my success is originality. Right from day one, I knew that if I try to be original, the sky would be my limit. But I know it’s going to take some time before that dream would become a reality. This is because nothing good comes that easily. I work so hard to sound so original in my music. Right from when I released my first album, there has been a tremendous improvement in my music. And this time around, I had enough funds to do better videos which has distinguished my style from other artistes. Africans as a whole love originality, even though some might pretend about it . If you are original in whatever you are doing today coupled with being down-to- earth, you will get to anywhere you want to. That has been the secret of my success".
Speaking on where he gets inspiration from, he said, I draw my inspiration from people around me, especially things that happen around me I like when things go bad and when things go good because it doesn’t have to be good all the time

We asked about his proposal to his girlfriend, he replied:
People will always  talk  and turn around stories. But I am still single because marriage is not my priority for now. I  still want to hit the top before thinking about marriage. It’s not yet time. I am still concentrating on my music.
It was once rumoured that you were dating Tiwa Savage after doing a collaboration with her. Was it true?
I didn’t feel bad when I heard about the rumour because I knowpeople will always talk  even if we didn’t kiss. While shooting the music video, the director came to us and said, you guys are playing love scene, you need to do something intimate. He urged us  do it, and  I now looked  at Tiwa and she gave me a go ahead and I said ‘yes’ we can do it. There was nothing wrong with that. More over, we did music with passion.

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"I Will Learn From My Mistakes" - Oshiomhole

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday assured the people of the state that he would learn from his past mistakes to be a better steward to them.

He proclaimed this in Benin at a luncheon organised for the All Progressive Congress (APC) party leaders and members in the state.

According to the governor, the mistakes in the last five years were not deliberate and should not be held against him.

Oshiomhole added that the unity of the state was not negotiable, and that there was need for the party to remain formidable.

He said his administration was building a mass movement on the basis of popular participation and promised to improve on service delivery to the people.

The governor advised the party faithful to disregard rumour of deregistration of APC members, saying that politics was a business of numbers.

He commended the people of the state for tolerating the policies of his administration, and urged them to remain as one.

Earlier, Chief Tom Ikimi, the APC national leader (South-South), had told the gathering that the registration of new members into the APC would begin soon.

He stressed that rather than end in January, the party had decided to re-strategise and would release the new programmes for registration and congresses soon.

In his goodwill message, Rep Samson Osagie, representing Uhomwonde and Orhiowon Federal Constituencies, advised the governor not to relent in providing good service to the people.

He acknowledged that the state had witnessed more development in the last five years, and was counted among the states in the country “where the governor is working’’.

Osagie noted that because of the visible development, investors now visit the state to do business.

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Oshiomhole In Horrible Road Accident (Statement By Edo Government)

Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole survived a motor accident at Ewu Village along the ever-busy Benin-Auchi road in Edo State at about 9.45am Saturday, 28th December 2013 on his way back to Benin City from his Iyamho Village.

The incident occurred at about 9.45am at Ewu, in Edo Central Senatorial District, when a Peugeot J5 Bus filled with tomatoes and plantains apparently lost control and rammed into the Governor’s Flag Car from the opposite direction before swerving into a roadside ditch.
Three vehicles in the Governor’s convoy were in front of the Governor’s Flag Car and had passed the Peugeot J5 Bus before it [J5 Bus] had direct impact with the Governor’s car, which had the Governor, his Aide-De-Camp [ADC] and his Driver as occupants.
The Governor’s Car was badly affected but both occupants of the Peugeot J5 Bus and that of the Governor’s sustained no injuries.

The Peugeot J5 Bus was following a truck that was descending the Ewu Slope when it suddenly veered off into the Governor’s lane from the opposite direction and directly impacted on the Governor’s vehicle, apparently because of brake failure.
Fortunately, none of the passengers in both vehicles sustained injuries. The Comrade Governor is hale and hearty, his ADC and other occupants of the Peugeot J5 are also in good condition.

The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Station at Ewu for further investigation. This is to assure all good people of Edo State that there is no cause for alarm.
Their loving Comrade Governor is fine, hale and hearty as well as other occupants of the other affected vehicle. The Comrade Governor is wishing everyone a prosperous new year ahead. Signed

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Prosecute Obasanjo Over Political Killings - North Urges Jonathan

The North has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to bring officials of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to book over political killings which, according to Jonathan, took place during Obasanjo's presidency.

It also insisted that the next president of Nigeria, must emerge from the area, pointing out that President Jonathan must stand down for their own in 2015.
Interestingly, it was stated by 2 northern groups, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, during two separate interviews with Saturday Vanguard yesterday.
Responding to Obasanjo's letter, alleging that the President had placed 1000 people on watch list, Jonathan had in turn placed political killings in the country on the door steps of the former President.
Jonathan stressed that all the political killings since the Fourth Republic began, took place at the time Obasanjo was President.
According to Jonathan, although political killings had occurred in the country, none of them had taken place since he became President about three years ago.
Among those who were said to have been politically murdered during Obasanjo’s administration included, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, and South-South politicians, Chief Harry Marshall, Chief A.K. Dikibo, a former Senatorial Candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, in Imo State, Uche Orji, Arc Layi Balogun, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, Prof Chimere Ikoku, former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, in Anambra State, Chief Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Chief Victor Nwankwo of Fourth Dimension Publishers and Chief Funso Williams.
It would be recalled that in the letter to Obasanjo dated December 20, 2013, Jonathan called the former president's allegations baseless and having no proof behind them.
However, reacting to President Jonathan’s allegation on political killings before he came into office, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, said,
"If you consider the submissions by Mr President,whose place in the order of things, is to provide order and direction to the nation… I wonder if he needs ACF to ask him to take necessary actions that are within his mandate.
"I have made it clear that what the former president wrote to his place-holder, President Jonathan, except perhaps the issues of training and arming snipers against political opponents-was common place knowledge. The same with the issues raised by President Jonathan. Meanwhile, Prof Abdullahi who spoke in an interview with Saturday Vanguard noted that the North had already made its position on the 2015 presidency known to President Jonathan’s emissaries, pointing out that a list of 151 key northern politicians and leaders was drawn by presidential political tacticians with a view to wooing them to work for the president in the next general elections.
The former ABU Vice Chancellor and Presidential Adviser on Food Security admitted to Olusegun Obasanjo, said that he and some other northern leaders, whose names appeared on the list, had already been contacted for possible support to Jonathan ahead of the impending election.
He said however that the presidential team must have hit the rock, as most of the northern elements consulted on the need to work for Jonathan’s re-election, politely turned down the offer.
Abdullahi did not mention the name of any of those who contacted them and who politely rejected the offer to work for the president.

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In My Head…“After Peter Okoye, It is My Turn To Marry Genevieve Nnaji” – D’Banj

In the most fascinating interview ever, Pulse.ng catches up with ‘Koko Master’ D’banj, who’s still expecting to grab Genevieve Nnaji, and run down the alter with her. Poor guy.

play

I am now a happy, fulfilled and satisfied man! Yeah, I must state here that my obsession has been met and I can now sleep well and dream better instead of occupying my mind with this fixation. I have had this passion of interviewing Dapo Oyebanjo, yes, he that is called D’Banj, for over two years, to no avail.
I have stalked him, set up camp at his house, made numerous calls, sent emails and sms messages, but they all turned out to be attempts in futility. But now, I have been able to pin him down and finally have my interview. Though short, at least, I finally had it.
So enjoy it here. Fileeee!
Me: D’Banj, it has really been a long chase for me, but thank God I now have you.
D’Banj: ‘Am D’banj, or Sk’banj, like my Jamaican friends call me…’ Yeah my brother, the Koko master has been very busy, you know. Running around making money all over the world, you know. Since Don Jazzy decided to boot me out, I have to show him and that his small brother that I can make my money without them. I have been rolling man, from Paris to South Africa, you know, the Hennessey money… I have been balling. Fileeee!
Me: We heard you did ‘mai guard’ and ‘card runs’ in the UK.
D’Banj: I am not going to regret anything I did while struggling to survive. Yes, I was a ‘mai guard’; maybe you did not hear, I even did some “body wash”. Know what that means? Washing of corpses, all in a bid to make ends meet. I did small ‘cardy runs’ but my guy, you should know how it is. But when the ‘eke’, (police), decided to throw sand-sand into my garri, I showed them that ‘Mo bo lowo won.’ I was one step ahead of them and scampered back to my country. Don’t mind those ‘yeye’ people. Today, I can pay their salaries for five years without touching my bank account.
Me: Heard you said you will love to get married to Genevieve Nnaji. How true is this?
D’Banj: Whenever that name is mentioned, I feel mistiness in my eyes and a clog in my throat. Genevieve ‘Don make me fall in love’ and I swear, I will marry her. I have said it and anything I say, I do. She may just be doing ‘shakara’ for me now but let me tell you here: after Peter Okoye (P-Square’s) wedding, it will be my turn to marry Genevieve Nnaji. She is like my mother and I feel incomplete without her.
Me: Have you proposed to her?
D’Banj: I do not need to propose to Genevieve. She knows my intention but if I need to propose to her, I will buy her a private jet. Shebi na common Prado Jeep Peter buy for Lola? I will surpass that. ‘Omo, na money dey talk.’ When I am ready, I will just take her to the altar stright.
Me: And what if she refuses?
D’Banj: Why would she refuse? Do not make me angry o. I tell you that she will not refuse and you are here saying otherwise. Or are you going to tell her to refuse? That is why I don’t like people with little faith. ‘Olorun Maje,’ ‘Mo gbono feli feli,’ so she cannot refuse. Check out our kiss in my video, does that look fake to you? Guy, that babe can kiss. I did not brush my teeth for one month after that kiss o.
Me: Okay, so when exactly are we expecting the wedding?
D’Banj: Well, I cannot categorically tell you that now…
And that was when I woke up. So it was all a dream? My God, this fixation with interviewing D’Banj is becoming serious o. Someone, help me!
(In My Head is a crazy creation of the writer and everything goes on in his head. Believe him, you will believe anything)

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REVEALED: How Jonathan Lied To Nigerians

A review of the video recording of President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech at a Christmas Day service in Abuja has shown that the president lied to Nigerians in his claim that the Nigerian media misquoted him.
Mr. Jonathan had claimed on Thursday that the media quoted him out of context in their reporting of the remark he made at a Christmas Day service that the war against insurgency in Nigeria could not be totally won.

In the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Reuben Abati, the president lambasted a section of the media for carrying headlines, which, in his estimation, suggested that the war against terrorisms might never be won in the country.
He particularly criticised two headlines “Terrorism Has Come to Stay” and Insurgency Far From Over – Jonathan” by two newspapers he did not name, saying they were most incongruous with the thrust of his remarks and amounted to taking extreme editorial liberties with his comment at the church service.
Mr. Jonathan, accompanied by members of his family, his aides and some ministers, worshipped at the cathedral church of the Advent, Life Camp, Abuja on Christmas Day during which he made the remarks.
In the Thursday’s statement titled, “Stop this reckless scaremongering” the president said, “Reports in a section of the media today which quoted President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as saying at a Christmas church service on Wednesday in Abuja that “terrorism has come to stay” in Nigeria are completely untrue and a mischievous misrepresentation of the President’s remarks,” Mr. Jonathan said.
“President Jonathan’s verifiable remarks at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp Abuja were to the effect that in comparison with some other countries which have experienced the scourge of terrorism, Nigeria has made remarkable progress in dealing with the security challenges posed by terrorism and insurgency.
“Headlines such as “Terrorism Has Come to Stay” and “Insurgency Far From Over – Jonathan” are therefore most incongruous with the thrust of the President’s remarks and amount to taking extreme editorial liberties with his comments at the church service.
“It is apparent that in their indecent haste to cast the most sensational and negative headlines, some editors never paused to consider that it would have been most absurd for a President whose administration has done so much to reverse the tide of terrorism, to publicly assert the contrary.”
The statement said the president merely pointed out that whereas terrorism remained a global challenge, Nigeria had done comparatively better in reducing the incidence of terrorist attacks within its borders to a reasonable level.
However, a thorough review of the recording of the event revealed that Mr. Jonathan actually said Nigerians should not expect to see terrorism disappear entirely in their country.
He also said terrorism was far being over and that Nigerians should thank God it has been reduced to a manageable level.
A transcript of Mr. Jonathan’s comment on terrorism reads, “For those who know about terrorism, countries that are infested with terror will hardly get out of it. If you look at country like Pakistan, we even go to Pakistan to train our soldiers, in some parts of Pakistan as we are talking now, there appears to be no government. So this country could have been worst.
“Look at the incidences in Abuja, even the police headquarters was bombed, the UN Building was also bombed right here in the seat of government. Maybe the next target would have been the State House.
“So we have to thank God that we have been able to bring it to a reasonable level, though we are far from getting out of it. There are a lot of challenges but we have to thank God.”
Meanwhile, the newspapers which published the story with the headlines : “Terrorism here to stay” and “Terrorism Far From Over” told PREMIUM TIMES Friday they are standing by their stories, saying they did not misquote the president in any way.
“There is no contradiction in what we reported, and I believe the response from the presidency is just an afterthought from Reuben Abati,” said Ibrahim Sheme, the Editor of Abuja-based Blueprint Newspaper, which ran its own story with the headline “Terrorism here to Stay – Jonathan”.
Mr. Sheme described Mr. Jonathan as a reckless speaker who hardly thinks before speaking and then only react to the implications of his comments.

“The President should know that whenever he speaks in public, he is talking to Nigerians who are intelligent to make sense of whatever he says. They are just managing the information and they did a bad job of it. The president was quoted correctly and we stand by our story,” Mr. Sheme added.

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WOW: Eedris Abdulkareem Blasts Obasanjo, You'll Never Believe What He Said

Eedris Abdulkareem took to his twitter page to blast former president, Olusegun Obasanjo saying he is selfish, a fraud and evil.

There seem to be a history between Eedris and Obasanjo. Well for him to publicly blast the former president calling him names.
See tweets below




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