The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Tyson on the verge of dying from drugs, alcohol

    Tyson on the verge of dying from drugs, alcohol

    Former Heavyweight Boxing champion Mike Tyson has claimed he is on the verge of dying from ongoing drug and alcohol problems.

    “I wanna live my sober life. I don’t wanna die. I’m on the verge of dying, because I’m a vicious alcoholic,’’ Tyson said on ESPN’s on Friday Night Fights.

    Tyson, now a promoter, told a news conference, “I’m a bad guy sometimes. I did a lot of bad things, and I want to be forgiven.

    “So in order for me to be forgiven, I hope they can forgive me. I wanna change my life, I wanna live a different life now,’’ the former champion said.

    Tyson admitted to being a continual substance abuser but was hopeful he was finally becoming clean.

    “I haven’t drank or taken drugs in six days and for me that’s a miracle,” he said.

    “I’ve been lying to everybody else that I think I was sober, but I’m not. This is my sixth day. I’m never gonna use again,’’ he said

  • Dillish emerges BBA winner

    Dillish emerges BBA winner

    After three months of exciting drama, Namibia’s Dillish Sunday  night, emerged winner of the 2013 edition of Big Brother Africa reality show tagged The Chase. By her victory, Dillish goes home USD 300, 000 richer.
    The show began with host, IK Osakioduwa, making an amazing entrance with a dance crew dressed in all black. Before the eviction proper, the Top 5 were shown seated in the living room trying to be relaxed as they awaited what fate has for them.
    The eviction started with the two representatives from Nigeria being shown the way out. Though she survived 91 days in the house without any nomination, a record feat, Nigeria’s Beverly Osu was the first to be evicted in Sunday’s live eviction show. Beverly’s eviction was followed by Melvin, known as Mr.Gentleman, with their highlights of their stay in the house.
    The third housemate evicted from the house was Elikem, who IK had go and announce his eviction in the house. Prior to that, some of the earlier evicted Chasers were brought to the show, to the surprise and delight of viewers.
    To lighten the show, Nigerian super star, Ice Prince, was on the live stage to perform for the audience of Big Brother Africa. He performed one of his killer jams “Aboki”.
    Age 22, Dillish says she entered the competition because she has been a fan of the show for some time and promised herself that she would enter as soon as she was old enough.
  • Suntai arrives Jalingo

    Suntai arrives Jalingo

     Taraba State Governor, Captain Danbaba Danfulani Suntai has arrived the state capital Jalingo.
    He left the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York the previous night and first landed in Abuja at the old wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, at about 1.10p.m before he was flown to Jalingo, the Taraba state capital.

    Suntai landed at the Jalingo Airport at about 3:40p.m. He was conveyed in a chattered white airplane marked 5N-12Y.

    Before then two advanced planes (also white coloured), marked N224BA and 5NBMR first landed at the state’s airport at 2:58pm and 3:37pm respectively.
    Security was very tight.
    As the plane conveying the governor landed, his wife, Hajiya Suntai first entered the plane apparently to greet her husband.
    Suntai’s deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar, who has been holding the fort also went in to the plane and greeted his boss. He came out.
    Suntai then alight from the plane –assisted by his wife into a red Range Rover –Sports HSC. The car had no registration number.
    Suntai waved at the people briefly. His body looked healthy but weak and tired.
    The governor was clad in a navy black suit with a blue strip shirt, without a tire on.
    He did not speak to the crowd; either he spoke to journalists there. But reporters were allowed to cover him even at close range amid the tight security.
    His natural fair skin complexion was radiant –unlike when he was pictured some months ago in the German hospital.
    The governor was conveyed in the red Range Rover –Sports HSC straight to the Government House, Jalingo.
    In the vehicle, he sat with his wife at the back row, him in the honour (right) seat.
    The glasses were wind down and he waved –with his hand inside the car, at the mammoth crowd along the road. People who saw him were shouting “ya dawo”, meaning he has come.
    Others said “shi ne”, meaning he is the one.
    Others did not catch a glimpse of him due to the tight security presence and huge crowd.
    Our Jalingo reporter saw him, as he pictured him.
    Security personnel were seen escorting the governor’s car on foot.
    Truckloads of security men –police and the army were in front and behind of the governor’s car, to lead and guard.
    The deputy governor’s car and a few other vehicles followed.
    From the airport, they drove Suntai through the Road Block, enroute Hammaruwa Way via Barde Way into the Government House.
    By virtue of his return yesterday, Umar ceases to operate in the capacity of acting governor.
    It also means Suntai has reclaimed his seat.
    Suntai’s return into the Government House, Jalingo yesterday also put to rest the succession saga that has been heating up Taraba in the last 10 months.

  • Stow-away teenage boy in SSS custody

    FAAN , Arik Air trade blame over incident

    The teenage boy who found his way into the wheels of Arik  Air aircraft on  flight from Benin to Lagos on Saturday  has been handed over to operatives of the State  Security. Services ( SSS), for further interrogation by the Murtala Muhammed Airport Police Command.

    A source hinted that the boy identified as Daniel Ihekina was taken by aviation security personnel to ” Tango  City”, a detention facility around the international terminal, before he was handed over to the police that completed their interrogation on the circumstances leading to how he got into the aircraft wheels.

    The source hinted that the police on Sunday handed him over to operatives of the SSS, for detailed investigations and questioning of how he got into the aircraft  wheels with a view to establishing vulnerability around the airport air side.

    When The Nation visited the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command at the terminals some officers on duty said they could not speak on the matter, urging the reporter to find out from the Beesam Divisional  Office.

    Meanwhile, FAAN yesterday faulted  Arik  Air on its account of how a stow away was found on board its flight 544 from Benin to Lagos.

    FAAN according to its general manager , corporate communications , Mr Yakubu Dati described as completely misleading the unfair indictment of the authority by Arik Air.

    Dati in a statement said :” The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria read with great dismay the statement released by Arik Airlines about the stowaway found on board Arik’s flight 544 from Benin to Lagos on Saturday 24 August, 2013, in which FAAN was unfairly indicted while the airline took no responsibility whatsoever for such a serious security breach.”

  • Taraba governor Suntai returns

    Taraba governor Suntai returns

    May govern from wheelchair

    Taraba State Governor, Dambaba Suntai has arrived the country after almost a year of receiving medical treatment abroad.
    Indications also emerged that the Governor may resume office as soon as he gets settled, even if from the wheelchair, according to  former Minister of information and Peoples Democratic Party PDP Chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana.
    Among dignitaries who waited for his arrival were , former National Transformation Party NTP, Presidential candidate, John Dara, former Minister for Sport, Damishi Samgo, Minister of State for Niger Delta, Taruq Isiaku and other well wishers.
    The Governor arrived at about 1:15pm on Sunday at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja aboard a chattered flight.He was brought to the local wing of the NAIA in a black Toyota jeep though; reporters had difficulties with security men and were prevented from gaining entrance into the premises except photojournalists and cameramen.
    On arrival at the local wing, Suntai waved at the few people that came to welcome him, looking healthy and hearty but seems not have enough strength to walk on his own.
    Before his arrival, there were speculations if he would make it back to the country and probably resume office.
    In his remark, Gana described him as being healthy. He said he was fit to resume office and perform his administrative functions.
    According to the former Minister, there are people who govern through wheel chair so managing the State will only involve good thinking.
    Gana said: “After such a long flight, he is fine and we thank God he has arrived safely. He is very sound, we thank God. But because of the fatigue of travelling about in the morning, he is going to board the next flight to Jalingo. We are delighted. We thank God; governance doesn’t mean he will be running around. It is thinking. There are those who are governing even on wheel chairs.”
    An associate of the governor, Mr. Rima Shawulu admitted that the Governor may need more medical attention.
    “As you saw, he has critical challenge at his leg in terms of strength to walk but from my observation, he is okay.”
    Shawulu stated that the governor could decide to resume office anytime from Monday depending on his decision.
    According to him, Suntai had appointed his deputy to manage daily affairs of the State while away from office. Thus, he would not need to undergo any rigorous process before resuming office.
    “When he gets back to the State, there are constitutional provisions for you to take over or to be disengaged. If he gets to Jalingo today and he transmit a letter to the State Assembly through the Speaker that he has arrived, that is all. He will take over the function.
    “I don’t see why there should be any challenge. He appointed a deputy governor who is acting. The deputy Governor is not in competition with him. The deputy governor has not told anybody that he wants to take over as the Governor. There are constitutional provisions for when someone becomes too sick to function. There are provisions when you don’t like somebody and his function, the house of assembly will remove,” he added.
    However, Shawulu, who was former Board Member of Niger Delta Development Corporation NDDC representing the North-East, lauded the governor for his safe arrival.
    In his remarks, Dara restated that the Governor was fit to run the State. He added that the decision to resume office will largely depend on recommendations from his personal doctor.
    Though, he admitted he was weak and tired but he is mentally active to make appropriate decisions.
     “What is clear is that after the long holiday from America, he was obviously weak and tired but we are thrilled by the fact that he recognized each and everyone of us by name which shows mentally alert, he is lucid. And that itself, it’s a clear indication that he is capable of running the affair of Taraba State as Governor.
    “We have no doubt in our mind that when the Governor get to Jalingo later today, it will be up to his doctor who is accompanying him to see whether he will resume today or a couple of days from now but he is okay able to function,” Dara said.
    Asked why Suntai refused to talk to press, he said: “normally, talking to press can be spontaneous or organized, he felt that when he has rested there, it will be easier for him to address the press and more logical way.”
  • Stoke, Cardiff bid for Odemwingie

    Stoke, Cardiff bid for Odemwingie

    West Brom Albion has received offers of about £2 million from Stoke and Cardiff for Osaze Odemwingie with Swansea prepared to pay a little less.

    WBA has previously rejected bids of £1.5million for the 32-year-old, but these latest offers could pave the way for his exit, according to Birmingham Mail.

    Osaze has not played any part for Albion since his return to pre-season training, with the club making it clear there is no way back for him.

    The Nigeria international has been sidelined since his well-publicized fall-out with the club last season – which started with his failed move to Queens Park Rangers and continued with a series of Twitter meltdowns.

    Although ‘The Baggies’ are not prepared to let him go on the cheap, club officials are mindful that his age and contractual situation will drive his price down.

    MTNFootball.com reports that Osaze has less than 12 months left on his current contract with Albion.

     

  • Northern Governors extol Sultan’s leadership qualities

    Northern Governors extol Sultan’s leadership qualities

    The Northern States Governors Forum has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who attained 57 years of age at the weekend.

    In a statement issued on Sunday in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, described the sultan as a bridge builder and a man of peace.

    He said the sultan’s reign had ensured progress and modernisation to the caliphate as well as the length and breadth of the nation.

    “The Sultan ensured that crisis whether sectarian or otherwise, is a rare occurrence in the Caliphate and even beyond, owing to his fatherly role,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor Aliyu as saying in the statement.

    It stated that Sultan Sa’ad’s enviable stature as a bridge builder had helped to bring together his people irrespective of their differences, thereby advancing the course of peace, unity and positive development in all parts of the country.

    The forum prayed God to grant the Sultan excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.

     

  • Ahmed Musa secures victory for CSKA

    Ahmed Musa secures victory for CSKA

    Ahmed Musa was the match winner when CSKA Moscow beat Tom’ Tomsk in a Russian Premier League game played on Saturday, futaa.com reports.

    Tom’ Tomsk hosted Musa and his team-mates at the Stadion Trud (Tomsk) with 9, 700 spectators in attendance.

    The host took the lead in the first half through Igor Portnyagin before Ivoirian Seydou Doumbia restored parity for CSKA in the 52nd minute, thanks to a Georgi Schennikov assist.

    Six minutes later, Musa put his side ahead with a 58th minute goal, which happened to be his fourth this season.

     

  • Syria: Obama, Cameron threaten ‘serious response’

    Syria: Obama, Cameron threaten ‘serious response’

    The United States and the United Kingdom have threatened a “serious response” if it emerges Syria used chemical weapons last week.

    President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron spoke on the phone for 40 minutes on Saturday, BBC reports.

    Both were “gravely concerned” by “increasing signs that this was a significant chemical weapons attack carried out by the Syrian regime.”

    The Syrian regime and opposition have accused each other over the attacks.

    Rebels and opposition activists accuse forces supporting President Bashar al-Assad of carrying out chemical attacks around Damascus on August 21, while state TV accuses the rebels.

    “The United Nations Security Council has called for immediate access for UN investigators on the ground in Damascus,” the Downing Street statement said.

    “The fact that President Assad has failed to co-operate with the UN suggests that the regime has something to hide.”

     

  • Consul-General confirms Suntai’s departure from New York

    Consul-General confirms Suntai’s departure from New York

    Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba on Sunday left the Republic Airport in Long Island Area of New York aboard a chartered aircraft, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The aircraft, with registration number N388CA belonging to Shelt Air, left at exactly 7.43pm., New York time, which is about 1am in Nigeria.

    Suntai was escorted to the airport by the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Habib Habu, and other close relations and friends.

    Habu told NAN that the flight would first make a stop-over in Abuja before going to its final destination in Jalingo.