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  • My body is swollen, I’m bleeding – Bobrisky

    Popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye also known as Bobrisky has shared a graphic update on his reported liposuction surgery to get the perfect body.

    Bobrisky took to Instagram over the weekend to share a photo of himself signing a form ahead of his liposuction surgery. He revealed he was afraid of the outcome.

    Well, the surgery is over now and he has given an update on how it went.

    Read Also: Inside the ‘risky’ life of ‘Nigerian male barbie’ Bobrisky

    He wrote:

    “Liposuction is not easy mehnnn…. all my body is swollen. I’m bleeding little by little. I can’t wait to show you guys my new body. I can’t sit in my buttocks for one month ????. I’m glad I did dis surgery outside Nigeria. Can’t wait to flaunt my new body”

  • Abidoun suspends controversial N3,700 school levy

     

    Ogun Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has ordered the suspension of the N3, 700 education levy inherited from the previous administration.

    The Governor, who decried the public outcry generated by the fee, said his administration did not introduce it, stating it was a proposal by Parents Teachers Association (PTA) accepted and implemented by the previous administration.

    Abiodun made this known at a day stakeholders forum with the theme “Repositioning education for outstanding performance” in Abeokuta.

    He said that the fee which was an initiative of the PTA was approved under the last administration.

    He however said he was suspending it to make good his promise of free, universal and qualitative education in public primary and secondary schools in the state

    “I have been criticised in the media about the N3,700 PTA fee. I did not introduce the fee.

    “It was proposed by the PTA and accepted by the previous administration. The fee negates the free education policy of this administration. It is like payment through the back door.

    READ ALSO:Abiodun blames Amosun for failure of Ogun Trust Fund

    “I hereby suspend the payment in all our schools. We will also look into the issue of Principal and Headmaster Generals,” he declared.

    Abiodun announced the restoration of the running costs for all primary school head teachers and principals of secondary schools.

    While looking at the items on the list of what necessitated the introduction of the levy, Governor Abiodun said he had told his team to critically look at insurance, caps, inter house sport wears and some other things.

    “I have told them to go and look at and how we can make it work without having to charge anybody because we promised we are going to offer free education, “he said.

    He said his administration has embarked on the rehabilitation of 236 primary and secondary Schools just as some of the non-functional model schools would be converted to TechHUB, technical and vocational centres.

     

  • Pump Action gun found on me was collateral for loan, says suspect

    A suspected drug baron identified as James Ameh (54), who was arrested by the Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has claimed that the Pump Action gun found on him served as collateral from a friend who he still owes him N80,000.

    The suspect who was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, was found in possession of a loaded Pump Action gun.

    About 40 personnel of the NDLEA along side officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) left from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to effect the arrest of Amen, who had been on the wanted list of the command for several months.

    It was gathered that the suspect who was arrested in Igolijo, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, allegedly has 10 hectares of land where he cultivated cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp).

    Ameh who was arrested alongside six other suspects, namely: Usman Bello, Eze Stanley, Innocent Ameh, Samuel Idoko, Ojima Ojo and Ekene Ukwueze told journalists that he got the Pump Action gun from his friend who he still owes N80,000.

    The suspect who is also a  native doctor denied ownership of the gun, saying that it served as collateral towards recovering his money.

    According to him: “I am not the real owner of this Pump Action gun. It belongs to a friend who is owing me N80,000. I needed my money back urgently to do something with it. I am sorry; I never knew that having this in my house would put me into trouble. As for the issue of dealing on drugs and having hectares of land for cannabis, it is also not true”.

    Read Also:APC will win Bayelsa governorship election, says Timi Frank

    Speaking with newsmen shortly after the arrest the head of the Kogi State Command of the NDLEA, Alhaji Idris Bello, said that the arrest of the suspect and his accomplices, was through information gathered by officers of the command.

    He warned that anyone that is caught engaging in illegal drug business will be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, and the items recovered from them, including the Pump Action gun and seven live cartridges will be confiscated.

  • Prominent Nigerians to grace Evangelist Adelakun’s birthday

    The 70th birthday of gospel singer, Evangelist Joseph Adelakun scheduled for September 21, will attract prominent Nigerians across the country. At a conference in Lagos Wednesday, the Secretary of the birthday planning committee, Pastor Tunji Oladapo said a book on the biography of Adelakun and new album would be launched.

    He said special prayers to heal the country of its numerous ills would be conducted during the celebration, adding that notable gospel singers like Yinka Ayefele, Tope Alabi and others would mount the stage to entertain guests.

    According to Oladapo, the occasion would be chaired by Dr. Erasmus Akingbola, Pastor David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church will be the keynote speaker. He said General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) is the father of the day while Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the special guest of honour.

    The explained that Adelakun is a rare personality whose impact in gospel music is legendary, noting that his music has continue to inspire positive changes in the society.

    He said: “Adelakun also known as Ayewa had built a reputation for himself in gospel music that is why notable Nigerians are celebrating him across the country. He never praises individuals, but engage in the gospel spreading.

    “He is never materialistic but contented with what he has. His main focus is heaven and all his works are to help mankind move closer to God. He is a father figure in the gospel music because his messages are embraced by the Pentecostal and orthodox churches.

    “Therefore the occasion would be used to pray for the country because the country needs prayers. People are no longer safe at home and when they are not at home. We are aware of all the shortcomings and we are going to pray for the country,” he said.

     

     

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses case against Ihedioha’s election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed an appealed filed by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Samuel Nnaemeke Anyanwu against the emergence of  Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election.

    A five-man panel of the court, in a unanimous judgment on Tuesday morning, upheld the earlier concurrent judgments of the trial court and the Court of Appeal, Owerri in favour of Ihedioha on the grounds that Anyannwu did not prove his case.

    Read Also; How to curb growing insecurity, by stakeholders

    Anyanwu had faulted Ihedioha’s victory at the PDP governorship primary, but the trial court held that he could not prove his allegations of manipulation, thuggery among other vices, which he claimed marred the process.

    Justice John Okoro, in the lead judgment, dismissed the appeal for lacing in merit and awarded a N200,000 cost against the appellant.

    Details shortly….

  • Nigerians in Diaspora

    •That they remit huge amounts home annually should not lure the govt to sleep

    WITH an estimated population of between five and 15 million people, Nigerians in Diaspora constitute one of those strategically placed groups with immense potential of contributing maximally to the country’s development . The trickle of Nigerians leaving the country to live and work abroad grew into a deluge as from the late 1980s and early 1990s as a result of the country’s deepening economic crisis and the worsening levels of poverty, unemployment and incessant inflationary spirals, among others. In particular, highly trained manpower in the professions sought jobs abroad not just for more lucrative pay but also for a conducive working environment that guarantees them the requisite facilities to perform optimally and enjoy a sense of fulfillment.

    Although this exodus of highly skilled Nigerian professionals in search of greener pastures abroad has been widely lamented as the ‘brain drain’ that can have only negative consequences for the country’s developmental aspirations, there has also been an unanticipated positive side to the development. This is the remittance of humongous amounts of money to their dependents back home, by Nigerians in the Diaspora, to the benefit of the economy. Indeed, but for such regular remittances, it is hard to imagine how the recipients would have coped with the ravages of Nigeria’s protracted economic crisis. It has been estimated that Nigerians in Diaspora repatriate not less than $20 billion annually to the country.

    It is certainly in recognition of the critical role that Nigerians in Diaspora can play in the developmental process that the Muhammadu Buhari administration established the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), which has the mandate to mobilise and harness the human capital and material resources of Nigerians living and working abroad to participate in various policies, projects and programmes designed for the country’s socio-economic, cultural and political development. The declaration by the Federal Government of July 25 as the country’s National Diaspora Day will, without doubt, go a long way in helping to consolidate the ties between this category of Nigerians and their fatherland.

    The Diaspora Day will be commemorated annually by NIDCOM in collaboration with such organisations as the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa and the Nigerians in Diaspora Alumni Network. It is our hope that this initiative will not just be another occasion for jamborees and funfair but will also feature imaginative and creative activities that will help the country maximally tap the potential of its citizens in Diaspora. In this regard, the theme for this year’s commemoration, ‘The power of the Nigerian Diaspora for National Development’ is well thought out and commendable. It is important that recommendations that come out of such talks are well disseminated, carefully documented and painstakingly implemented.

    Enthused by the recognition accorded Nigerians in Diaspora by the government, many Nigerians abroad have offered suggestions on how the country can best tap their potential. These include creating opportunities for Nigerian academics abroad to undertake their sabbaticals in the country’s tertiary institutions, better facilitation and coordination of the recruitment of foreign-based Nigerian professionals to work in the country, making Nigerians in Diaspora aware of savings and investment opportunities for their remittances as well as fast-tracking the process of making it possible for Nigerians in Diaspora to vote during elections.

    Of course, it is not a success story for all Nigerians in the Diaspora. There are also those who are stranded, unemployed and live from hand to mouth on the streets of foreign countries and who receive no succour from the country’s embassies or high commissions abroad. We urge NIDCOM to also make it a priority to come to the aid of such distressed Nigerians by assisting them as much as possible to come back to the country.

    Furthermore, the remittances of Nigerians in Diaspora should not lull the Nigerian government into complacency. Rather, everything should be done to create the necessary conditions back home to encourage highly trained Nigerians to return to the country and contribute their quota to the quest for rapid development.

  • Leah Sharibu’s mother hopeful daughter is alive

    Mrs. Rebbeca Sharibu, mother of the abducted Dapchi  secondary schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, is still hopeful about her daughter’s return alive.

    Reacting to a video released by Boko Haram where an abducted aid worker, Grace, called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN ) and Action Against Hunger, an International Non-Governmental Organisation working in Borno State, to rescue her before she is “killed like other abductees like Alice and Leah Sharibu”.

    According to Mrs. Sharibu, “no matter how long it takes, my hope is still alive that my daughter will come back alive from Boko Haram. I still look forward to that day and I am confident that she will return”.

    Mrs. Sharibu revealed that she had not even seen the video in circulation.

    She reiterated her call to President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything to rescue her daughter, just as she also appealed to the people holding her daughter in captive to release her unconditionally.

    Her words: “I am bothered by the recent silence about my daughter’s case, but I still want to cry to the President. I want our President Buhari to know that my eyes are still wet with tears over my daughter’s abduction. I will continue to cry to him, until my daughter returns to me.

    “I also want to still appeal to the people that are holding my daughter to please have mercy on her and release her without any condition. She does not know anything. What has she done to deserve what she is going through?”

    Our correspondent, who monitored the video reported that Grace, the only woman in a group of six captives, appeared in a video that was allegedly  released by Boko Haram where she called on the authorities to save them from their abductors who she referred to as the “Army of Khalifa”.

    Read Also: Hope for Leah Sharibu as she turns 16

    The address of Grace in the video as monitored by our reporter reads: “My name is Grace, I work with Action Against Hunger, an NGO in Borno state. My base is in Borno State. We went to work on Thursdays on the 18/7/2019 out of Damasak. On our way going back to Damasak by kinari, Chmbawa ward in Damasak, we were caught by these army called the Khalifas. They brought us here. But actually, we don’t know where we are but this minute, I want to beg on CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria because I am the only Christian among the six of us here. I want to beg that CAN should please do something about me to see how I can be released.

    “I also want to beg the Action Against Hunger, Borno State. We are six here, all of us are staff, we went to work and we were caught on our way back from work. I beg ACF, we have families, and some of us have children. I am begging ACF that they should please do something that they will release us.

    “I also want to count on Nigerians – our  nation, we are Nigerians and we are also working for Nigerian. I beg that Nigerian Government should please. I am begging again please do something to see that we are released.  Because this has occurred before in Red Cross where some ladies, Hauwa and Deborah were caught.

    “They also asked to be released but because Nigeria did not do anything about it, they were killed. I am begging on behalf of all of us here that Nigerian should not allow such a thing to happen to us.

    ”It also happened again with Leah and Alice and because Nigeria  could  not do anything about them, they were not released. They were killed. I beg that Nigeria and our Organisation Action Against Hunger should do something and see that we are released.”

  • Xenophobia: NANS shuts MTN Kaduna, Benue offices

    Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday disrupted operations at the Kaduna and Benue offices of South African telecommunication giant MTN.

    They were protesting xenophobic attacks and killing of 118 Nigerians in the last two years in South Africa.

    NANS’ Director, Travels and Exchange Dominic Philip explained in Kaduna that the step was necessary to curb further attacks, looting, destruction and mindless killing of African nationalities, particularly Nigerians in South Africa.

    Philip recalled that Nigeria had contributed morally, financially, diplomatically and logistically to the agitations that eventually led to the emancipation of South Africans from white’s domination.

    The NANS official also said that African countries led by Nigeria, helped in the institutionalisation of black majority rule in South Africa in 1994.

    He equally said that Nigeria played a big brotherly role by opening economic opportunities for South African citizens to invest in the Nigerian market, the biggest market in Africa.

    Philip, however, noted with dismay, that instead of reciprocating the gesture, South Africa had allowed Nigerians to suffer all forms of discrimination, including murders and looting of their businesses.

    According to him, NANS will no longer align with the diplomatic approach being applied by the Federal Government.

    The government has been promoting cosmopolitan and reconciliatory solution to the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

    He said: “Available record has shown that the levels of attacks on Nigerians is on astronomical rise, with the recent killing of Nigerian by South Africans, on July 20 increasing the number to 118 in the last two years.

    “Out of this number, 13 were reportedly killed by South African Police in an extra-Judicial manner.

    “It appears that the South African government is incapable of bringing their citizens to order and stop the killings, leaving us with no option than to picket South African businesses in Nigeria until the killing is stopped.

    “We, therefore, want the South African government to investigate and provide accurate number of Nigerians so far killed and prosecute perpetrators of xenophobic attacks to ensure justice for the victims.

    “We equally want the government to generate data of all Nigerians, whose properties were bunt or looted for immediate compensation.”

    In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the protesting NANS’ members crippled business and commercial activities.

    The protesting students shut down DSTV  and MTN  offices in Makurdi.

    The protesters match through majors streets of Makurdi and sang solidarity sons before they went to the DSTV and MTN offices to shut them down.

    NANS Deputy Zonal Coordinator (Zone C) Abah Owoicho, who led the protest, presented a strong-worded letter of protest to the organisations.

    In the letter, titled: “Position of NANS on Xenophobic Attack on Nigerians in South Africa’’, Owiocho said the protest was a condemnation of the years of barbaric killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

    He said: “Since Nigerians living in South Africa cannot enjoy the same peace and support that South African businesses are enjoying here, it is only reasonable to shut down those businesses and their interests until further notice.’’

    The student leader frowned at the recent killing of a Nigerian student, Dennis Obiaju, describing it as “barbaric’’.

    He said: “It has become necessary for NANS to rise to the occasion and speak against the killings that have continued with no visible attempt by the South African Government to curb the menace.

    “Our pain is deeply rooted in the peace and patronages your organisations and other South African businesses enjoy in our country while the safety of our citizens and their businesses cannot be guaranteed in South Africa.’’

    A source at the MTN said the protests and demonstrations were against xenophobic attacks and therefore had nothing to do with the company.

    The source told The Nation: “It is against xenophobia and MTN has taken steps to inscribe its aversion to the practice in its work places.”

    Appealing for calm, the source said that resorting to service disruptions of the telco is going to be counter-productive.

    According to the source, about 99 per cent of employees in the local arm of the firm are Nigerians, stressing that closing down its businesses and operations could only aggravate youth unemployment in the country.

  • Senators grill Sunday Dare, Dada, Magashi, Abdullahi

    For four of the 14 ministerial nominees, Thursday’s Senate screening was no walkover.

    Ten others were simply asked to take a “bow and go” — a policy that has been criticized as a mockery of the process.

    Those upper chamber grilled included Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), Sunday Akin Dare, Mohammed Abdullahi and Ambassador Zubairu Dada.

    Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Abubakar Aliyu, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, Timipre Martin Sylva, Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo and Mohammed Musa Bello were asked to “bow and go”.

    Other nominees, who also bowed and left were Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed and Sa’adiya Umar Farouk.

    The upper chamber adopted the controversial “bow and go” policy on Wednesday as a privilege to former senators, members of the House of Representatives and members of the states Houses of Assembly.

    Some senators were, however, uncomfortable with the policy, which they said did not give them any opportunity to ask nominees questions.

    Before the session started, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi spoke of the need for the Senate to clarify the policy of “bow and go” to Nigerians.

    The Ekiti Central senator said that the clarification was necessary because the media was giving the impression that every nominee was asked to take a bow and go.

    Senator Bashir Ajibola said that there was nothing wrong with the policy.

    The Osun Central senator noted that the rule Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje quoted on Wednesday to oppose the policy referred to ranking.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan, in his ruling, said that there was no need to prolong the debate of the policy.

    Lawan said that the chamber had already a standard which should be followed.

    The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also questioned the policy.

    Abaribe, who read the constitutional provision that empowers the Senate to screen ministerial nominees before appointment, reminded the chamber that what they were doing was “confirmation hearing and not endorsement hearing”.

    Abaribe said that the Senate should endeavour to go by the dictates of the Constitution.

    The former ECOWAS Monitoring Group Field Commander, Major General Magashi (rtd), told the Senate that infighting among Service Chiefs was affecting military operations.

    He admitted that relationship between Service Chiefs was indeed “not cordial” as expected.

    Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had asked General Magashi how he would address infighting among Service Chiefs if he was assigned the Defence ministry.

    The Kano State nominee noted that infighting among Service Chiefs was unhealthy for successful operations.

    He said: “But, as you rightly said, the operation between the Service Chiefs is not very cordial, I put that in quotes.

    “My relationship is very simple, the creation of the relationship has been in existence since the creation of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

    ”In the process, all of our operations that would have been conducted internally and externally are governed by the principles of the hierarchy of command.

    “And where the echelon is weak, probably downwards, we will also be weak.

    “Regarding the Service Chiefs, in my own view, we have come to a situation where you find that each commander or each Service Chief is trying to please the nation.

    “In Nigeria today, there is what we call the command structure; the command structure is now seen as a witness.

    “The military is always ready to acknowledge performance. We don’t want to always hear that we have not performed.

    “The theatre of war, I think we encourage it because every day you find one problem either for north-east or the central or anywhere, then we need troops to cover those areas.

    “I don’t think the current structure shows the true reflection of our requirements.”

    Read Also: Senate screens Alasoadura, Aliyu, Shehuri, Magashi

    Sunday Dare, who is an Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), dwelt on what the telecommunications regulator is doing to reposition the sector.

    The Senators appeared to have been overwhelmed by the wealth of experience exhibited by the nominee.

    Unlike most of the nominees, Dare was prepared to answer all the questions posed to him.

    The Senate President was the first to ask the nominee how kidnappers could be tracked with their telephones.

    Dare explained what the NCC had achieved since two years ago when he joined the commission.

    Dada answered questions on the defunct Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Recovery (MAMSER).

    When the Niger State nominee left the chamber, Senator George Thompson Sekiko raised objection that his CV was not clear.

    Sekibo noted that if Dada was allowed to answer his question, he would have cleared some gray areas.

    The Senate President countered that the copy of the CV he had was clear.

    Lawan added that he sympathized with the position of Sekibo.

    Senator Alasoadura (Ondo) was the first to be screened.

    Alasoadura, who represented Ondo Central in the Eighth Senate, chaired the Petroleum committee (upstream).

    Before he was accorded the privilege of “bow and go”, the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) came up.

    Lawan took some time to educate new senators on steps taken to pass the PIB.

    Lawan recalled how the bill’s duplication that made it difficult to identify which was the correct version.

    On the way forward for the bill, the Senate President noted that there was the need for stakeholders to meet to articulate a comprehensive PIB that the National Assembly would work with.

    Former Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing Mustapha Baba Shehuri (Borno), who read a prepared speech, was asked to take a bow and go.

    He is a former member of the House of Representatives.

    Lawan re-emphasized the fact that the policy of “bow and go” for former MPs was still very much alive.

    Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe made a case for a specific schedule of duty to be assigned to ministers of state.

    Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje countered that the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency has a clear schedule of duties for minister of state.

    Abubakar Aliyu, immediate past deputy governor of Yobe State, the home state of the Senate President, promised to assist the government to take the country to the next level.

    Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) described Aliyu as “a gentleman to the core”.

    Gaya said that the Yobe State nominee should be allowed to bow and go.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) promptly seconded the motion that Aliyu should be allowed to bow and go.

    According to Manager, the Senate has a tradition, written and unwritten, some of them not known to the public.

    He reminded his colleagues that “this nominee is from Yobe State and we have a tradition here. I will not go further than that.”

    Lawan described Aliyu as  “committed and loyal”.

    All the women nominees who appeared, Aliyu, Ahmed and Farouk, were asked to take a bow and go after introducing themselves.

    The Senate will continue with the screening today, with the consideration of eight nominees.

     

  • Imo tackles polio, infant mortality

    The Imo State government has focused attention on ridding the state of poliomyelitis and infant mortality. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    Antenatal and post-natal risk factors have been largely to blame for infant mortality in Imo state, resulting in avoidable deaths and deformities. The state has also been grappling with reported cases of polio and other life-threatening ailments among infants, leaving it with an unenviable status.

    It was therefore a huge relief for parents, especially mothers, when the state government has declared war against Polio and infant mortality.

    Wife of the governor, Ebere Ihedioha, while flagging-off the 2019 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIMPDs) campaign at Umuelemai in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state, disclosed that the state government is committed to eradicating Polio and infant mortality in the state.

    She said that Poliomyelitis was a disease affecting mainly children under 5 years of age and among the top four child killer diseases.

    According to her, the state government has procured equipment and paid counterpart fund for the Polio vaccinations to demonstrate its commitment to tackling health challenges in the state.

    She said, “To further demonstrate the commitment of this present government in tackling health challenges, the government released funds for the procurement of emergency cold chain equipment and accessories to ensure adequate vaccine storage during this campaign and beyond.

    “The state government has also approved and released counterpart funds for the smooth and seamless implementation of this campaign.”

    She tasked parents to ensure that their kids are vaccinated within the period, adding that the benefits of the immunisation cannot be undermined.

    She said, “The benefits of immunisation cannot be overemphasised. The mortality and morbidity prevented by immunisation translates into long term savings and potential economic growth for developing countries.

    “We cannot continue to live with the fear of immunisation. A great number of families are still opposed to Immunisation and some of our remote communities are still inaccessible. Hence the need for us to do all we can to reach every community and enlighten families and to reach every nook and cranny of the state.”