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  • #BBNaija: Eight things to know about Diane

    Dear #BBNaija fans, here are the eight basic things you need to know about Diane, one of Housemates who got evicted from the #BBNaija 2019 Pepper Dem edition on Monday, September 30.

    * Her full name is Precious “Diane” Russet Yunana Yashim 

    * Diane who is aged 23 was one of the youngest housemates in the Big Brother Naija season 4.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Diane evicted from #BBNaija

    * She was born on the 28th of February 1996.

    * She is a model and enjoys travelling alot.

    * She is also an aspiring TV host/presenter, Face of Hoxy model, actor, influencer chief chef at Russets Kitchen

    * Her father is from Kaduna state while her mother from the Yoruba tribe.  Her late father was a chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Area.

    * She attended Command Secondary school Kaduna.

    * She is a graduate of University of Debrecen in Hungary

  • BREAKING: Diane evicted from #BBNaija

    Diane has been evicted from 2019 Big Brother Naija house

    Diane on Monday joined the rest of the contestants that has lost the bid for the N60 million grand prize, leaving the show’s finalist to be Mercy, Mike, Omashola, Seyi and Frodd.

    Read Also: #BBNaija: Eight things to know about Diane

    Until her exit from the house, Diane, has been lucky to not be up for eviction too many times in the Big Brother Naija house.

    Her best friend, mercy was seen in a sober mood as she broke down down uncontrollably.

    The BBNaija ‘Pepper Dem’ season is at fever pitch with only 5 housemates left in the competition.

    Details shortly.

  • Nigeria should be beacon of hope, democracy, freedom – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigeria should be the beacon of hope, democracy and freedom, not only to the African continent but to the black Diaspora all over the world.

    In a statement released via his official twitter page, to commemorate Nigeria’s 59th independence, he said Nigeria belongs to all and Nigerians have a role to play in making the nation great.

    He said: “You see, when we put Nigeria first, we not only revive the Nigerian Dream, we also revive unity & faith, peace & progress, which were the ideals our founding fathers had in mind when they came together to put forward this new & independent nation 59 years ago on October 1, 1960”.

    Atiku, however, lamented the issues plaguing the nation, saying that “all is not well”.

    He berated the attack on the judiciary, level of extreme poverty in the country, clampdown on freedom of the press and other issues.

    Read Also: Atiku: Any enquiry into God’s work?

    He said rather than calling for prayers, he charged all Nigerians to believe in the betterment of the nation.

    He said: “So, rather than just call for prayers today, I am calling on all Nigerians to believe in Nigeria’s betterment, to work for Nigeria’s betterment, and to insist that no one in Nigeria, no matter how highly placed, shall be bigger than the laws of our land.

    “We all have a duty to support and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And this we must do, so help us God,” he added

  • UPDATED: Diane evicted from #BBNaija

    Housemate, Diane has been evicted from the Big Bother Naija reality show, leaving Mercy as the last woman standing in the race to win the N60 million cash prize.

    With her eviction, the five remaining housemates, Frodd, Mercy, Mike, Omashola and Seyi made it to the final, with one of them expected to win the coveted prize.

    Tonight’s Pepper Dem twist saw Diane leaving the House after being randomly picked out from an unlucky draw.

    The Task of picking Diane to leave was performed by Frodd as the second and final part of the privilege of his Ultimate Veto Power.

    The choice wasn’t entirely in his hands as he had to randomly pick from a magic hat.

    To get the ball rolling, the Housemates were asked to fetch all their remaining Bet9ja Coins, including the big gold Bet9ja Coin they were each given four weeks ago.

    The Housemates were asked to drop all their Bet9ja Coins in the magic hat except the big gold ones.

    Their ordinary Bet9ja coins had become redundant at this point. It was a good thing some of them spent theirs when they did.

    Read Also: #BBNaija: Eight things to know about Diane

    After yesterday’s eviction that saw Ike and Elozonam leaving, the Pepper Dem Gang were left with six Housemates and the finale only had slots for five so someone had to leave.

    But before the process started, a few of the Pepper Dem Gang were assured of their presence in the Finale.

    Seyi, by virtue of winning the Head of House the previous week, secured a spot for himself in the Finale.

    The immunity Mercy bought got her sitting pretty in the finale.

    Mike’s public save during the Live Eviction Show guaranteed him a spot in the Finale.

    Diane and Omashola were the only two left without a guarantee so the decision had to be made between the two of them on who will bid the House goodbye.

    Diane and Omashola wrote their names on their gold Bet9ja coins and dropped it in a magic hat with the rest of the coins leaving Frodd with the final Ultimate Veto job of picking which Housemate to go home through an unlucky draw.

    It was a tense moment in the House as Frodd reached into the sac picking again and again till he eventually picked Diane.

    This makes Diane the 21st Housemate to leave the Pepper Dem House leaving the lucky five certain for the finale.

  • Youths beat up pastor for flouting community’s order

    General Overseer of the City of God Rest Ministry, Pastor Destiny Eguavoen, was on Sunday beaten up by youths of Urora community in Edo state for flouting the community’s order to stop church service before 8am.

    Chief Priest of the community, Chief Ugiagbe Aiwaguore, Ohen Ugbodeyaen of Urora, had ordered owners of shops in the community and residents to stay indoors for the celebration of the annual Ikpoleki festival.

    All churches were asked to end their Sunday service before 8am.

    Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyenude Kure, kicked against the order saying it violated the freedom of worship as enshrined in the Nigeria Constitution.

    Bishop Kure asked churches in Urora to go about their normal church service on Sunday.

    He said the restriction on movement was unacceptable to the church as the body of Christ.

    Read Also; BEDC begins costumers’ metering

    It was gathered that youths of the community moved from street to street to ensure compliance as shops were closed and some churches hurriedly ended their service while other refused to open for business.

    Many residents in the community were indoors.

    At the City of God Rest Ministry, the youths were peeved that the Pastor was still preaching as at 9am and they disrupted the service.

    Members of the church scampered for safety as the youths used chairs to beat anybody in sight.

    Speaking to our reporter on phone, Pastor Eguavoen said he was badly injured during the attack.

    Pastor Eguavoen who said he was at the police headquarters said the leadership of CAN has promised to take over the matter.

    According to him, “We were in the church and I saw a man standing in the front pointing at me. It was few minutes past nine. I told my members to concentrate for me to round up service but the youths stormed in and started beating us.

    “They said we did not comply with their directive. They told us to open church between 6am and 8am but we Pastors met and said Sunday’s is a day of our worship and there is no way they can stop us.”

    Spokesman for the community, Sunday Osagiede, said they gave churches time within which to open service on the day of the Ikpoleki festival.

    The Chief Priest said all the Pastors agreed to hold service between 8am and 9am.

    Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the matter was being investigated.

  • Nigeria @59: We’ll always provide quality representation – Senate

    The Senate Monday congratulated all Nigerian compatriots, both home and in the diaspora, on the occasion of the nation’s 59th Independence Anniversary.

    The Senate in a statement by the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, said it would always provide quality representation and legislation that would enhance the living standard of Nigerians.

    The statement reads in part: “Though there are challenges facing us as a nation, we are strengthened and hopeful in our collective resolve and spirit of brotherhood as Nigerians that all said, Nigeria shall be great.

    “And as true people’s representatives, we stand by all actions necessary and sufficient to realise this greatness.

    Read Also: ‘Reps will ensure accountability in security spending’

    “The 9th Senate, an indispensable stakeholder in our country’s blossoming democracy reaffirms once again, her total commitment to always provide quality representation and legislation that will enhance living standard for our people.

    “We shall partner with the Executive, Judiciary, Civil Society Organisations /NGOs, the Media and every relevant stakeholder in the Nigerian project to find lasting solution to the challenges that we currently face as a nation. Happy 59th Independence Anniversary Nigerians.”

  • Buhari approves Cross River’s Bakassi Deep Seaport project

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday gave the clearest indication of his support for the Bakassi Deep Seaport Project of the Cross River State Government with the issuance of Outline Business Case certificate for the project by the Federal Government.

    The certificate was presented on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade at the ministry’s Abuja office.

    Amaechi stated that with the OBC, the state would move on to the next step of action.

    He said: “What they (Cross River) have got right now is the OBC. We will take the next move to verify all the necessary instruments that we need and then proceed back to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission for the FBC before we go to the cabinet for approval.

    “But the most important thing is that we are speeding it up so as to enable those states who want to invest in seaports and others to go ahead and do so.”

    On whether the Federal Government was partnering Cross River State in the deep seaport, Amaechi said, “We will get to that. We will sit down with the Cross River State Government and their major partners and see how much NPA would want to invest. We will contact NPA and see what it can do.”

    Speaking on the development , Ayade said the certificate would enable the state move on to the next level of implementation of the seaport.

    READ ALSO: As FG gives nod to Bakassi deep sea port

    His words: “The certificate is an Outline Business Case. It shows that there is a full densification commitment of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation to say yes we have come to recognise and accept that Cross River State Government should go ahead with the Full Business Case towards the construction of a deep seaport.

    “And the emphasis on the deep seaport is agro-industrial, not exclusively, but to show that the core target is to do an agro-industrial transformation of Nigeria. It will be the major leading port in that respect but will have other industrial parks.”

    He said the issuance of the OBC by the Federal Government through its Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission was the fastest ever recorded in Nigeria.

    On when actual construction would commence at the seaport, Ayade said, “Work started there more than six months ago when we got the EIA approval which allowed us the legal right to get access to the ocean.

    “But right now with this OBC certificate, we are going to be dealing directly with the concessionaires towards arriving at the specific location, data and commencement of actual work plans. But that can only come with the FBC.”

  • BREAKING: Oduduru fails to hit final in 200m

    Despite having the second best time of 19.73 behind Jamaican Yohan Blake’s 19.26 in heat three of the men’s 200m semifinal, Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru finished last to miss out from the final of the event at the ongoing IAAF World Championships holding in Doha, Qatar.

    The Nigerian qualified to the semifinal as one of the fastest losers in the qualifying races but yesterday he could not measure up to his performance this season after running 20.84secs to finish eight in heat three of the semifinal.

    Canada’s Andre De Grasse won the race at 20.08secs to qualify for the final while Trinidad & Tobago’s Kyle Greaux got the second automatic qualifying spot through to the final, recovering from a ponderish bend to clock 20.24.

    READ ALSO: 2019 IAAF WC: Oduduru hits semifinal in 200m

    Briton’s 100m finalists Zharnel Hughes came third, in 20.30, which won’t be enough for a time qualifier to the final. Those spots, by my maths, go to Chinese record holder Xie Zhenye and Canadian Aaron Brown.

    Details shortly…

  • US, Nigeria share common goals, says Trump

    The United States President Donald Trump has said that his country shares common goals of expanding trade and economy with Nigeria.

    Trump in his congratulatory message to President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary also welcome the efforts by Nigeria government to diversify the economy.

    The President of the U.S. stressed that Nigeria is among his country’s strongest partners in Africa.

    The independent message to Buhari which Trump personally signed reads: “Dear Mr. President:

    “On behalf of the American people, I extend our warmest greetings and congratulate you on the 59th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

    “Nigeria is among our strongest partners in Africa. We share common goals of expanding trade and growing our economic relationship.

    READ ALSO: Trump, Johnson: Nigeria not alone in poor leadership

    “We are allies in the global battle against terrorism, and we want to see Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa driven out of the region and other insurgencies like them dismantled.

    “The United States welcomes efforts by your administration to diversify opportunities for your talented, creative, and hardworking people to the benefit of both our countries, Africa, and the world.

    “I am pleased that following our meeting last year, our Vice Presidents are also building on our longstanding history of cooperation. I wish the people of Nigeria continued success as you mark another year of independence. “

  • PDP youths hail emergence of new speaker in Bayelsa

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youths has commended the members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for their display of maturity and firmness in installing a new Speaker of the Assembly on Monday.

    The Secretary General of PDP Youth Network, Mr. James Oputin, said that the membership of the Assembly deserved commendation for averting bloodshed and violence allegedly planned by the leaders of the opposition and the controversially impeached Speaker, Tonye Isenah.

    Oputin said that the action of the Assembly confirmed the fears of the youth group across Bayelsa that Isenah was a mole of the APC occupying a strategic position in the PDP to sabotage the efforts of the party in the forthcoming election.

    He said the PDP leadership particularly the Assembly acted well to identify Isenah and take him out to avert the plan of the opposition to use him at the coming election.

    READ ALSO: PDP youths hail party for rescheduling campaign kick off date

    He said that Isenah was working assiduously with the leaders of the opposition to frustrate the PDP and his kinsman, Senator Douye Diri.

    He added that Isenah could not hide his displeasure and pain with the emergence of his kinsman, Senator Douye Diri, as the PDP Candidate and the realization that the development would deprive him of the leadership of the Assembly.

    He hailed the new Speaker, Bubou Obolo, on his emergence as the new leader of the Bayelsa State House òf Assembly and urged him to be firm in providing leadership for House especially at this critical period.

    Oputin stated further that the Bayelsa youths would give the requisite support to the new leadership of the Assembly to reinforce the PDP’s hold on political power in the state.

    He said that the PDP youth would engage the Assembly on a planned seminar of the youth populace that would focus on the values and expectations of leadership after Governor Dickson.