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Obasanjo in secret visit to Buhari

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Tue, 8 Sep 2015 21:03:00 -0700

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The two leaders met Friday, away from public glare.
A source close to the former president who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, said Mr. Obasanjo visited Mr. Buhari to commend the president for “doing well so far” and to also offer words of encouragement.
“Baba was surely at the Villa to give encouragement to the president to make sure that the new experiment does not fail,” our source said.
We also gathered that the two leaders discussed a number of national issues and Mr. Obasanjo offered his advice to Mr. Buhari.
Friday’s visit was Mr. Obasanjo’s first to the villa since Mr. Buhari was elected president on March 28 and inaugurated on May 29, 2015.
Mr. Obasanjo announced his retirement from politics ahead of the elections, but said he will offer his support to the new president as necessary.
He named a team of Nigerians who proffered recommendations on how Mr. Buhari could kick-start his administration.
It was unclear if some of the recommendations formed part of the discussions between the two leaders Friday.
The former president could not be reached Saturday.
President Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said although he did not see the former president at the Villa Friday, it was possible he visited when most staff had retired for the day

#007: David Beckham enters race for Bond

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Tue, 8 Sep 2015 20:19:00 -0700

Aha! The next Bond will definitely be a smash hit with all the back-and-forth we’ve had in the last few weeks on the best man for the job.
Idris Elba had his moment with the rumours, but with that “street” comment and the anger and eyes rolling it elicited, especially from the black community, its time to move on to the next potential.
Enter David Beckham. Does he have a shot? At least his fans think so. Being friends with filmmaker- Guy Ritchie, might also be a plus. Maybe.
Beckham did a cameo in Ritchie’s recent movie, Man From U.N.C.L.E., and has a better role coming up in Guy Ritchie’s next film, Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur.
“I’m good friends with Guy and trust him,” Becks said. “He wouldn’t put me in a film if he thought I was going to ruin it.”

We believe you.

with wifey, Victoria

Fans have been reacting to his Bond bid:
“In my opinion, David Beckham should be the next James Bond #007 cos he’s got the looks and swagger reminiscence of Pierce Brosnan,” says one twitter user, predolski.
Beckham is in no hurry though. Of course, the news of playing Bond- whether via rumours or facts, is enough to make anyone shout on a rooftop, yet there are a few things to consider, one of which is: How good an actor is Beckham?
“I know that it is a tough profession (acting), where you need a huge amount of skill and discipline. I wouldn’t want to push myself forward too soon, without learning more about it, and doing a lot more practice,” Beckham said.
Good words.
Winning in football and now Hollywood, some people get all the cake in the world!
credit: express.co.uk

Updated: Buhari, Osinbajo declare assets

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sat, 5 Sep 2015 01:22:00 -0700

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, have declared their asset.

OFFICIAL PORTRAITS OF BUHARI, OSINBAJO

A statement by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu said “the documents submitted to the CCB, which officials say are still being vetted and will soon be made public, show that prior to being sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had less than N30 million to his name. He also had only one bank account, with the Union Bank. President Buhari had no foreign account, no factory and no enterprises. He also had no registered company and no oil wells”, the statement said.

The statement further added that “the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who had been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics declared a bank balance of about N94 million and 900,000 United States Dollars in his bank accounts”.

It added that President Buhari “had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank”.
The documents also revealed that “President Buhari had a total of five homes, and two mud houses in Daura. He had two homes in Kaduna, one each in Kano, Daura and in Abuja. One of the mud houses in Daura was inherited from his late older sister, another from his late father. He borrowed money from the old Barclays Bank to build two of his homes.

“President Buhari also has two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt. He is still trying to trace the location of the Port Harcourt land.
“In addition to the homes in Daura, he has farms, an orchard and a ranch. The total number of his holdings in the farm include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees”.
The documents also showed that the retired General “uses a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings and the others supplied to him by the federal government in his capacity as former Head of State. The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in a Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.

The same forms, according to Mr Shehu, notes that ” Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s asset declaration include his 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi. The Vice President also has a 2-bedroom flat at the popular Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England. Aside from these, the Vice President has no other landed properties on the form.

“Apart from his law firm, known as SimmonsCooper, the Vice-President also declared shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.

“His personal vehicles are one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep.

“As soon as the CCB is through with the process, the documents will be released to the Nigerian public and people can see for themselves,” Mr Shehu said.

Source: Vanguard

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J. Martins releases ‘Kwaroro’ video ft P-Square

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Tue, 1 Sep 2015 18:05:00 -0700

Superstar hitmaker, J. Martins returns to the airwaves with the stunning visuals for his hit single Kwaroro.

Directed by Unlimited LA, the video stars Pop superstar duo P Square. ‘Kwaroro’ is a highly enjoyable cameos from entertainment heavyweights such as Zeeno Foster and Sani Danja. Employing a fascinating combination of unbridled imagination and cutting-edge technique, the video pulls off an experience that delivers its promise of equally captivating and light-hearted fun.

With Kwaroro, J Martins exhibits a clear-cut maturity of his musical style over time, while retaining the signature flair and spark that made him an entertainment colossus on the African continent.

Watch the video:

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P-Square involved in accident along Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 20:28:00 -0700

Famous duo Peter and Paul Okoye alongside dancing queen Kaffy’s husband Papy J and their assistant manager narrowly escaped death within seconds following their vehicle being hit by a lorry.
Peter Okoye took to his Instagram page to share the good news.

Check out his post:

Wow, thank God for many mercies!

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Funny: Oh God, what a wife

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 15:56:00 -0700

Lmao, heheheheheeee. Good night peeps

Wizkid, Davido, others land on Forbes ’15 Young African Creatives Rebranding Africa’ List

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 15:34:00 -0700

With words by Forbes writer, Declan Eytan, what the Africans have in common “is the positive attention they each manage to attract, via their art, music, fashion, or entertainment. They’re each part of the new movement, that is rebranding Africa.“
Excerpts from Wizkid and Davido’s profiles on Forbes.com:

Wizkid

His song Ojuelegba recently got Alicia Keys dancing in an Instagram video the Grammy award-winning artist posted on her account, accompanied by the caption “This song makes me happy”. A few days ago a Kylie Jenner video emerged on Snapchat, which saw the reality TV personality moving her hips to the same.

Nigeria’s Wizkid – whose name off-stage is Ayodeji Balogun – is on a roll. Local music industry veterans such as 2Face, D’Banj and P-Square have preceded him when it comes to Nigerian artists collaborating with their foreign counterparts of global acclaim. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old BET and MTV award winner isn’t doing a bad job for himself either, introducing the afrobeats genre to a new demographic. Drake, Akon and Chris Brown are amongst the names the Pepsi ambassador, singer, songwriter and record label founder has worked with, while his international following is increasing by the day.

Davido

At the age of 22, Davido (born as David Adeleke) already stands at the helm of an enviable career. Several hit songs? Check. Lucrative endorsement deals? Check. BET award? Check. MTV award? Multiple.

The Lagos-based singer, producer and record label co-founder, is just getting warmed up, while in the meantime he earned his degree in Business Administration. His most recent music video, Fans Mi, features Meek Mill, and brings Davido one step closer to establishing a global fan base.

Story Source: bellanaija
Image Source: www.waploaded.com
www.360nobs.com
bellanaija
happenings.com

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Rape – Mandla Mandela in fresh trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 15:16:00 -0700

Grandson of South African icon Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, who was freed on bail in a child sex case, is being investigated for assaulting a woman, police said Sunday.
“A case of assault has been opened and (the) investigation is ongoing,” police spokeswoman Mashadi Selepe said.

Under South African law, a suspect’s identity cannot be revealed until the start of the trial.

According to the Sunday Times weekly, the alleged assault took place in the kitchen of Mandela’s former home in Johannesburg’s posh Houghton area.

The alleged victim was identified as a 39-year-old musician.

The grandson is not allowed to leave the province of Gauteng, of which Johannesburg is capital, until September 16 when the trial is supposed to start.

In the other case, the same grandson is alleged to have raped a 15-year-old girl in a toilet at a popular pub in Johannesburg on August 7.

During the hearing, the suspect’s lawyers disputed the victim’s age, arguing that she was 16 and that the sex was consensual.

The case is the latest to tarnish the family of the late icon, who died in 2013.

Earlier this year, Mandla Mandela, the eldest of the late statesman’s grandsons, was convicted of assaulting a motorist during a road-rage incident. He is appealing his three-year suspended sentence

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Military uncovers bomb factory in Borno

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 17:19:00 -0700

The troops of 25 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army today uncovered and destroyed another Improvised Explosives Device (IED) making factory at Miyati and Nyaleri villages along Maiduguri-Bulabulin-Damboa road, in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

A statement released by the acting director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, states that the discovery was made during a cordon and search operation at Sandia, Kokakowa and Nyaleri villages suspected to be Boko Haram enclaves early today.

Excerpt from the statement:

“Three terrorists were arrested comprising an “Ameer”, a high contact and a foot soldier. Among items discovered apart from the IED making equipment, were a Peugeot pick up van, foodstuffs, 10-KVA Lister generator, gas cylinders, borehole, pumping machine, 3 bags of maize, 1 bag of millet and 13 empty AGO jerry cans, amongst others. The joint operation between the Brigade and Nigerian Air Force who provided air cover and tracking, was part of the determined effort by the military to rout out terrorists in the general area and open more roads hitherto held by the terrorists for public usage. It is also part of the renewed effort and vigour on the part of our troops to meet up with the set dateline that has turned the tide and momentum of the battle against the Boko Haram terrorists in our country. I am glad to say that the troops are on high morale and very excited with their accomplishment thus far.

Photos:

Source: www.punchng.com

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Atiku’s daughter sworn in as commissioner: forfeits salary

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 14:24:00 -0700

Dr Fatima Atiku, daughter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and newly appointed Adamawa Commissioner of Health has forfeited her salary and allowances for use in revitalizing the health sector in the state.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Yola on Friday after being sworn –in along with 21 other commissioners, Fatima, a Consultant, said she was making the sacrifice because of the numerous challenges in the health sector.

“I am very grateful to the governor for appointing me to head the Health Ministry.

“The ministry is the most challenging because of the insurgency problem that had caused some damage to the health system in the state.

“For this reason, I shall be donating my salary and allowances for use in enhancing the delivery of healthcare service in the state,’’ Fatima said.’’

Speaking earlier while administering the oath of office on the Commissioners, Gov. Bindow Jubrilla said that their appointment was based on merit.

He urged them to join hands with him in bringing the desired change in the state, adding that their loyalty should be to the people, and not him.

“Your loyalty is to the people of Adamawa, whom you represent, and not to me”, Jibrilla said.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Kaletapwa Farauta, thanked the governor for the appointment, assuring that they would not betray the confidence reposed in them

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Chad sentences Boko Haram ‘members’ to death

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 14:18:00 -0700

The ten suspected members of Boko Haram who have been sentenced to death in Chad went on trial on Wednesday for crimes related to an attack on the capital, Ndjamena, in June in which 38 people died.

This was the first trial in Chad involving suspects of the Nigeria-based Boko Haram group and it took place behind closed doors.

Chad is part of the regional multi-national force fighting militants from the group.

Chad has sentenced 10 suspected Boko Haram members to death on terrorism charges.

Nigeria's anti-corruption boss Ibrahim Lamorde has denies corruption

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 07:45:00 -0700

EFCC boss Ibrahim Lamorde said he was planning to publish an audit of EFCC seizures

Nigeria's anti-corruption boss Ibrahim Lamorde has denied allegations that $5bn (£3.2bn) has gone missing at the commission he heads.

A Senate committee is investigating charges that assets and cash recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were diverted.

Mr Lamorde told the BBC it was a smear campaign, as the EFCC was prosecuting the man making the allegations.

This showed that the case "should not be taken seriously".

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who is championing the investigation, was passed the petition by George Uboh, a security consultant.

Mr Uboh is currently fighting charges of stealing government property, which he denies.

Mr Lamorde said that even if all the money recovered by the EFCC was added up, together with its funding from government, it would not total $5bn.

"How can we divert an amount we don't have?" he asked.

Analysis: BBC Hausa service editor Mansur Liman

Many accuse the Senate of a political vendetta against the EFCC boss.

But Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied there is an ulterior motive in the investigation against Ibrahim Lamorde.

Mr Saraki is himself facing eight charges of fraud by the anti-corruption agency, which he denies.

These charges relates to his role at the defunct Societe General Bank of Nigeria and his tenure as governor of Kwara state for eight years.

In July, the EFCC invited his wife, Toyin Saraki, for questioning over the inflow of funds into companies where she has interests.

She was accompanied to the commission headquarters by a number of serving senators loyal to the senate president.

The exact figures of seized assets was in the process of being audited by a reputable firm, the EFCC chief told the BBC.

"We want to have a comprehensive report that could stand the test of time… from the day the commission was created in April 2003 to date… so that we can put it in [a] public space and any person who has issues with that can challenge it."

Source: BBC News
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Qatar bans Nigerian travellers over polio

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 09:28:00 -0700

Qatar has banned Nigerian travellers who do not have valid polio vaccination certificate from entering the country.

According to the Federal Capital Territory administration, the Department of State Service (DSS) drew its attention to a report that Qatari authorities had resolved to ban all Nigerian citizens travelling to the country without valid certificate of vaccination against polio with effect from June 29.

The report said the ban was a precautionary measure to guide against the spread of the disease in that country.

“In view of the above, John Obinna Chukwu , FCT permanent secretary, wishes to intimate all stakeholders and intending
travellers, particularly those resident in the FCT on the need to obtain duly signed and stamped yellow book on polio and other communicable diseases,” a statement issued by the FCT administration on Sunday said.

“Chukwu reiterated that obtaining of this yellow book on polio and other communicable diseases is very necessary to avoid embarrassment at the port of entry into the country.”

Qatar is an Arabian country in southwest Asia. Its capital is Doha which is also the largest city.
The country is ruled by Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, a 35-year-old monarch known as ‘emir’.

Before this honeymoon ends in divorce

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 09:22:00 -0700

Am I surprised at the gradual change in the public perception of President Muhammadu Buhari in approximately two months? No, I am not. He has been accused of being too slow, of making lop-sided appointments, of committing faux pas, of having an agenda against certain sections of the country, and of committing similar “offences” he had accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of. However, one thing I will not do is group all his critics into one category. It took me only a few weeks to see an emerging pattern and, while things are still taking shape, you can be sure the ranks of critics will swell in the months ahead.

Predictably, criticism is borne out of different motives. In Category One are those who never fancied Buhari and will never fancy him. For instance, the job of the opposition party is to say the incumbent is not performing. APC used to play that role and has now passed the anointing to PDP. Most Category One critics are Jonathan supporters who think the former president was hounded out of power because he is a minority. They accuse the Hausa/Fulani “supremacists” and their south-west “collaborators” of conspiracy. Also, some harbour genuine dislike for the “born-to-rule” Fulani. They have written Buhari off already. All they seek is his failure so they can gloat.

The Category Two critics are those who used to support Buhari but are beginning to think they will lose out or are already losing out in the new dispensation. Their expectations are steadily being cut off. With their dreams of controlling the game gradually fading away, they have launched subtle or open media attacks on Buhari. These attacks are brilliantly disguised as “a call to action” and a mere expression of concern. Some of them still think they can pile pressure on Buhari to rush him into taking certain decisions and making certain appointments, but the strategy does not seem to be working. Buhari, for good or for ill, appears unmoved by these gimmicks.

The Category Three of critics is made up of many genuine Buhari supporters and neutrals. I define neutrals as those who do not have any passionate position on who should be president — all they desire is a better Nigeria. Now, there are Buhari supporters who are truly worried about the early days of his government. There are neutrals who honestly want to give Buhari a chance but are not comfortable with what they are seeing. But while they are not too pleased with the pace and pronouncements of Buhari in his first 60 days, they are still ready to give him a benefit of the doubt. They think it is too early in the day to write him off. They seek his success.

How should Buhari respond to his critics? His biggest mistake — which Jonathan also made for five years — will be to gather his critics into one category and classify all of them as enemies. As a THISDAY columnist for 12 straight years now, I must say that there is hardly anything I write that I don’t get abused or criticised. While some readers will decently disagree with me and seek an honest debate, others will malign me, accuse me of being on someone’s payroll and try to pull me to the gutter — their natural habitat. The trick is to keep your eye on the ball, engage with the constructive critics and pay little attention to the hate mongers.

Yes, I know there is a big difference between journalism and politics, but certain principles cross borders. Buhari can, therefore, pick a simple message from that. He must not treat all his critics as enemies or hate mongers. There are those who actually wish him well and seek to make him a great president, compared to those who only think about how to pull him down. If he loses his true supporters, that would be disastrous. Ironically, even those who malign him may unwittingly end up helping him. Knowing the price of failure should motivate him to pursue only the option of success with determination. It is human nature to try to prove your haters wrong.

Having said this, I must immediately admit that Buhari has taken many steps that worry me. I have not seen enough evidence to write him off, but I believe he can handle some things far better. For instance, I can never understand why he made that “97% vs 5%” statement in trying to explain a simple matter of inclusiveness and equity. By saying those who gave him 97% of their votes deserve more goodies than those who gave him 5%, he simply played into the hands of his Category One critics. Yet, his conclusion was fantastic: by law, no part of Nigeria can be marginalised in federal appointments! So why give the “97% vs 5%” analogy at all?

Even on the issue of appointments, Buhari must be very sensitive to the political realities of Nigeria. Over the years, I have argued over and over again on this page that in a multi-cultural and complicated political set-up like ours, there must be a conscious effort to avoid lop-sidedness. A country packed with over 250 ethnic groups — and well-pronounced geo-political and ethno-religious divides — requires delicate and deft political management. I understand very well that there are still thousands of appointments to come, but the impression you don’t want to create from the beginning is that you are one-sided. It is difficult to erase first impressions.

I am finding something very amusing though: the ease with which people shift their arguments in Nigeria. There was a time some people argued that competence must be the sole determinant of appointments. They derided federal character. Now that Buhari is appointing clearly competent people but mostly from a different part of the country, the new argument is that federal character should matter! This is just a manifestation of the in-built hypocrisy in public discourse in Nigeria, where arguments are inconsistently constructed primarily to suit sentiments per time. Nevertheless, I have always insisted on fairness and equity, and that remains my advice to Buhari.

I fully respect the president’s position that he will not appoint ministers until September, even if I don’t really agree with him. As far as I’m concerned, Buhari became president four months ago — on April 1 to be specific, when he was declared winner of the March 28 poll. I don’t think it should take four months to appoint ministers. But I concede to the argument that he is only being careful in the midst of the pressure and the commotion. He wants only the best hands in his team, not the usual all-comers affair. Past cabinets were filled with election losers and party chieftains. The result was a preoccupation with settling political IOUs to the detriment of Nigeria’s development.

It is always difficult to fight corruption when you are seeking to compensate politicians and your sponsors with cabinet appointments. It is a wrong way for any government to take off. More so, Buhari is someone that once he gives you a job to do, he gives you the free hand to do it. We should remember he is a retired general who served when Nigerian military was not yet that of “anything goes”. Buhari believes in systems. He believes in hierarchy. He believes in team work and team discipline. I am, therefore, willing to wait patiently till next month for Team Buhari to emerge. But it had better be a solid team. If not, God have mercy!

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one of the architects of Buhari’s victory, has asked us to be patient with the president, maintaining that he deserves at least 100 days of honeymoon. Tinubu has been there before — we were all on his case when he became Lagos governor in 1999 and spent the first few months renaming streets in honour of NADECO heroes. We got so fed up we told him he was not elected to be renaming streets. He took the criticism constructively and went on to build a solid foundation for Lagos — which his successor Babatunde Fashola admirably built upon. That is a positive way of using criticism.

But Buhari’s honeymoon could end in a bitter divorce from his genuine supporters if he does not respond to criticism with positive energy. I believe Jonathan would have performed far better if he had made positive use of criticism. He paid too much attention to his Category One critics and lumped everyone together — missing the key messages in the process. Buhari’s responses to criticism so far are in order, but the risk of “lumping” is there if the kitchen gets hotter. He should remember the trick: engage with constructive criticism, keep your eye on the ball and refuse to go into the gutter with the naysayers who, by the way, may also have a point.

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS…

CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER
I’m one of those Nigerians that are worried — not terribly worried — by President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in naming his team. Everybody has his style. If the president wants to take his time before naming his cabinet, that is his choice. He should just be sure he knows what he is doing. However, since he already has senate approval to appoint advisers, I think he can at least appoint his chief economic adviser so that his policy thoughts can be properly articulated and, as it were, warehoused in the meantime. That will chart and build the direction for his administration. Vital.

“AMERICA WILL KNOW”
There are yet no signs that we are about to get over our chronic colonial mentality — as evident in our excitement anytime a Nigerian president travels to the US or Europe. We are even begging President Barack Obama to visit Nigeria! Many naive Nigerians think this is the solution to our problems. Meanwhile, I think the publicity blitz to glamorise Governor Rochas Okorocha’s handshake with Obama is way too low, too low for zero — no matter who did it. Most Asian countries have overcome this inferiority complex and taken charge of their own destinies. And they are making good progress. Shame.

CALAIS CRISIS
UK Prime Minister David Cameron was accused of racism for using the phrase, “a swarm of immigrants”, to refer to the immigrants trying to force their way to his country through the Calais border with France. To be honest, I do not blame Cameron. We deserve the insult. Shameless and heartless African leaders mismanage their countries, forcing hapless and helpless citizens to flee in search of the elusive gold on the streets of Europe. Our leaders grab power by all means, plunder our resources, feather their own nests and leave the people hungry and wasted. Hence this migration desperation. Disgusting.

IN MEMORIAM
My friend, brother and mentor, Oronto Natei Douglas, would have been 49 on Thursday, August 6, but for his death on April 9. Our friendship of nearly 20 years was painfully terminated by cancer, and I find it very difficult getting over the memories of watching him fight the battle for his life in the last six years. I am still traumatised by the memory of my last encounter with him — that moment when he waved me goodbye at the Heathrow airport, London, on March 25, on his way to Abuja. I knew I would never see him again. Life.

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OMG! Bill Gates’ wife Melinda spotted In Malawi fetching water, washing plates

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 06:17:00 -0700

Wife of the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, Melinda was in Malawi to help the needy and the celebrity took things a whole lot further by also participating in domestic activities like Malawian women do.

The billionaire’s wife and philanthropist, posted a photo of herself with a 20-litre bucket of water on her head alongside two other Malawian women, walking on a dirt road. In another picture posted on her Instagram page, she was seen doing the dishes in a Malawian village. She however wrote her experience on Facebook below;

“During my stay in Malawi, I joined the women collecting drinking water. I carried 20 litres and it was tough. Meanwhile, Chrissy (middle) is carrying about 40 litres. Many women do this every day,” she said. She however didn’t disclose what was donated to them.

Talk about a humble heart…

Buhari: Boko Haram will be gone by December

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 06:14:00 -0700

President Muhammadu Buhari has given a definite date for the end of the Boko Haram insurgency: latest by December 31, 2015.

He was speaking in Cotonou, Benin, on Saturday at the gala lunch held in his honour by the President Boni Yayi.

Buhari commended Yayi for increasing the number of Benin troops in the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Commission to 800.
“I assure you that we will defeat Boko Haram by the end of this year,” he said.

Buhari was on a one-day visit to Cotonou as the special guest of honour at the 55th independence anniversary of Benin.
He said when he was military head of state, Nigeria had always learnt to live peacefully with her neighbours.

He said: “I am impressed by your concern and critical approaches by increasing your contributions to the multinational task force of the Lake Chad Commission. This is a great sacrifice on the part of the Benin Republic.

“Even in my first coming into office under a different arrangement, we have learnt to live in peace with our neighbours. Within the week I was sworn in, I went to Niger, Chad. I was supposed to go to Cameroon but I was summoned by the G7 leaders to brief them about the security situation in Nigeria concerning Boko Haram which declared allegiance to ISIS which gives it international dimension.”
Buhari said last week that the troops are now better prepared to tackle the militancy.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan made a similar promise of ending Boko Haram “by June 2012″ while on a visit to South Korea.

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Buhari orders civil servants to answer audit queries ‘within 24 hours’

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 06:07:00 -0700

President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the war against corruption to the civil service.

He has directed the auditor-general of the federation to ensure that all outstanding audit queries are conclusively resolved within 30 days.

Buhari has also ordered that henceforth, all audit queries must be answered within 24 hours.
The orders followed the president’s displeasure on hearing that audit
queries remained unanswered for long periods, sometimes running into years, under previous administrations.
Garba Shehu, ‎senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, confirmed the directives, adding that President Buhari was irrevocably committed  to tackling administrative and bureaucratic corruption head-on.

“The era of impunity is gone. The president is taking the war on corruption to the civil service. He is not happy that standard operating procedures and financial regulations  are no longer being observed as they should,” he said.
“President Buhari will ensure that public officials and civil servants in the service of the federal government pay a heavy price from now on for violating financial regulations  or disregarding audit queries.”

Shehu added that the president was determined to put an end to the present situation in which, rather than respond to legitimate audit queries, violators of financial regulations in the federal government resort to threatening, bribing or mounting other forms of social pressure on auditors.
“On his watch, President Buhari wants to see firm action against those who violate extant financial regulations, not the prevarications and shenanigans that went on in the past in the form of endless probes and public inquiries,” the presidential spokesman said‎.

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Cameroon deports 2,000 Nigerians

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 05:48:00 -0700

Less than 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari departed Cameroon at the end of a two-day visit, the country has expelled 2,000 Nigerians.

Those affected were said to be living in the country without permit.
They were arrested on Thursday in Kousseri, northern Cameroon, and loaded into many trucks, then driven across the border into Nigeria.

A local administrator in Kousseri said the raid was part of measures aimed at improving security and controlling movements along the border region.
Most of the deportees are among the 40, 000 Nigerian refugees who fled as a result of the insurgency in the north-east.

Buhari and President Paul Biya have pledged to work together to crush the six-year violence, which has killed thousands and spread to neighbouring countries, threatening the stability of the Lake Chad region.

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Buhari appoints Mohammed Kari Commissioner for Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Sun, 2 Aug 2015 05:45:00 -0700

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Alhaji Mohammed Kari as the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of the National Insurance Commission.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
According to the statement, Kari’s appointment, which is for a term of four years in the first instance, takes effect from July 31.
The new Commissioner for Insurance started his career with Royal Exchange Assurance in 1979.
He later worked with Yankari Insurance Company until 1989, when he was appointed as Executive Director in Niger Insurance Plc.

In January 1992, he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, a position he held until March 1993 when he was appointed Managing Director of NICON Insurance Corporation.
He served in that capacity until January 2000 when he resigned.
He returned to insurance management in 2007 as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, where he served for four years.

A Chartered Insurer and Professional IT Consultant, Kari was until his new appointment, the Deputy Commissioner (Technical) in the National Insurance Commission.
The statement concluded that President Buhari also renewed the appointment of Joshua Okpo as the Rector of the Maritime Academy, Oron for a second and final term of four years.

No hope of recovering Bakassi, says Buhari

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 14:55:00 -0700

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will abide by the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bakassi Peninsula.

Speaking on Wednesday during an interactive session with Nigerians living in Cameroon, Buhari said his administration will ensure the faithful implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, which regulates the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.

The oil-rich territory, which was under Cross River state, was transferred to Cameroon on August 14, 2008.

“Since Nigeria allowed the case to go to court (ICJ), and we lost, we have to abide by it,” Femi Adesina, his spokesman, quoted him as saying in response to a question on the issue.
Buhari added that his administration had yet to articulate a foreign policy for Nigeria beyond what was captured in the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He promised to make Nigerian embassies more efficient in terms of relations with other countries and urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to be law-abiding in their host countries.

According to Adesina, Buhari assured about 40,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, who fled as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, that his administration will ensure their safe return and rehabilitation.

Buhari also assured Nigerians in that country that he would do everything possible towards bringing positive change to Nigeria.

“Despite the numerous challenges confronting us, the future of our country is bright. You all know very well that your fellow Nigerians are resilient, hardworking and patriotic.

“These qualities have always seen us through our most difficult national challenges and they will do so now. We are determined to end this callousness against our innocent citizens.

“The defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians and all those who live in the country are out top priorities. We shall explore all reasonable options to enable us to bring this rebellion to an end.”
Buhari is expected to return to Nigeria on Thursday.

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Banks ‘seize’ indebted states’ NLNG dividend

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 14:43:00 -0700

Abdulaziz Yari, governor of Zamfara state, says some states were deprived of their share of the $2.1 billion Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) to help states solve their indebtedness to their workforce.

Speaking with state house correspondents after a meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, he said the states in question lost their funds to the banks they were owing.

“What I’m saying, no money is released yet but I think the NLNG money that was given, some states, their own was taken by the banks because it is due for them to pay some certain repayment of loans, which they cannot. So, therefore, automatically, that has to go there,” he said.

“But I think the CBN governor is negotiating with the banks on how we are going to share in case… Now, we have agreed that this bailout or intervention funds are coming so that they will know the purpose, [that they] were made for the states, to rescue them to ensure that they pay staff salaries in their respective states.

“But for sure, some other governors reported that money went to their accounts; it was taken by some banks because of their outstanding loans.”

Yari talked down the significance of the economic crisis in many states, saying the governors deserved to be bailed out by the federal government in the same manner the banking industry had been, in the past.

“As I have been saying, the bailout has been made in the banking sector and bailout has been made in the downstream sector of the economy,” he said.

“So, now, if states are in trouble as we all agreed that yes, there is a problem, some states cannot pay salaries, if the federal government says okay, we are going to make some kind of adjustment to states to get out of their problems, if you call it bailout, it is okay. If you call it intervention, it’s okay.
“But the reason why I think so many governors don’t talk about the issue of bailout, they are thinking as if money is going to be created for governments or for governors to go and continue, as we have prescribed, they were somehow reckless. You get the point?

“So, the actual thing is we have a problem and there are no two ways about it. The federal government has to come to the rescue of the states or else, you have a failed state. The federal government cannot fold its arms and the states will be in trouble.”

Airforce ‘block’ fuel supplies to Boko Haram

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 14:27:00 -0700

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has blocked the fuel supply route of Boko Haram insurgents along the nation’s border with Cameroon.

Dele Alonge, NAF’s director of information, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Alonge said airforce personnel seized over 4,000 drums and jerry cans of petroleum products in an operation conducted on
Tuesday.

“Items suspected to be supplies meant for BHT (Boko Haram Terrorists) were confiscated from the smugglers in Pepe, Dashin-Hausa, Belel Bilachi, and Konkul villages located along the Nigeria-Cameroon Borders on Tuesday, 28 July 2015,” the statement read.

“The NAF was able to achieve the recent feat through its air patrol activities, covering both land and water, along the Nigeria-Cameroon boarders.

“The NAF has continued to identify and destroy BHT camps and resupplies by employing surveillance and combat aircraft. Intelligence gathered revealed that these efforts have greatly strained the supply efforts of the BHT.”

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Senate to screen service chiefs Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:09:00 -0700

The senate will screen the newly appointed service chiefs on Thursday in line with a constitutional requirement, Bukola Saraki, senate president, said on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the senate seeking confirmation of the appointment of the service chiefs.

In a letter read by the senate president on the floor
of the senate on Tuesday, Buhari said he was seeking the approval of the senate to comply with the extant laws of the country.

In compliance with section 18 (1) of the armed forces Act (CAP820) laws of the federal republic of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward the names of the underlisted officers for the kind confirmation of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he wrote.

The service chiefs to be screened are Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, major general and chief of defence staff; Yusuf Tukur Buratai, major general and chief of army staff; Ibot Ekwe-Ebas, rear admiral chief of naval staff; and Sadiq Baba Abubabar, air vice marshal and chief of air staff.

The service chiefs were appointed on July 13.

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PDP: PMB’s choice of Daura as DSS DG ‘ungodly’

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:42:00 -0700

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Lawan Daura, director-general of the Department of State Service (DSS), of being a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his appointment as “ungodly and unacceptable.”

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Uche Secondus, acting national chairman of the PDP, alleged that Daura was a critical intelligence stakeholder for the APC during the presidential campaigns.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein him in, alleging that the DSS under Daura was hounding electoral officers and members of election petition tribunal in PDP states.

The National Working Committee (NWC) brings to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to some disturbing development in the polity which, if not nipped in the bud, might significantly affect our democracy and stability as a nation negatively, and that is the growing and unwarranted intrusion of some over-zealous security operatives on issues bordering purely on politics,” he said.

“In particular, the NWC wishes to draw the attention of the president to the continued intimidation, harassment as well as the hounding, arrest and detention of electoral officers and members of election tribunals by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states.

“The NWC notes that this unfortunate development has been the case since the appointment of the new director general of the DSS, Alhaji Lawan Musa Daura, whom we learnt was a critical intelligence stakeholder of the APC as a card-carrying member of that party during the campaigns. This is ungodly and unacceptable.

“We do hope that in his new job, the director-general of DSS is not mixing issues on the APC presidential candidate and the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, hence the need for Mr President to rein him in as the development is capable of eroding the cherished independence of the judiciary and the electoral commission, a sine qua non for a virile democracy, which guarantees our unity and stability as a nation.”

Secondus also President Buhari to reconsider the appointment of Amina Zakari, acting chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), saying she is not suitable for the position because of her blood relationship with him.

“Similarly, we urge Mr President to take a critical look at the issue of the appointment of Amina Zakari as acting chairman of INEC for which our party has several times raised some salient issues on why she is not suitable for that position. It is incontrovertible that Mrs Zakari, by virtue of her blood relationship with Mr President, cannot preside over the affairs of an Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliation and as a responsible political party we shall not fold our hands and watch while our nation drift along dangerous line.

“Furthermore, the NWC commends and congratulates the PDP caucuses in the senate and the house of representatives on the smooth emergence of the minority leadership in the national assembly. We note that the process was without any interference whatsoever from the leadership of our great party in keeping with the dictates of the independence of the legislature.

“Finally, the NWC deliberated on the state of the party in Ekiti state and resolved that it only recognises the state Exco led by Chief Idowu Faleye. The NWC however summons all critical stakeholders in the party administration in Ekiti state to a meeting with the national leadership on the issues in the state chapter.”

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UNVEILED: 35 of the 46 women Bill Cosby allegedly raped

noreply@blogger.com (Buki) — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 15:47:00 -0700

Thirty-five women out of the 46 Bill Cosby rape accusers are featured as the cover story of New York Magazine’s latest issue.

The magazine depicts the women, united by their alleged horrific experiences and the bondage of silence throughout the years, as “the unwelcome sisterhood”.
All the claims involved date back from the sixties till 1996.

The alleged victims were interviewed and photographed over a six-month period, as the number of accusers increased while the project was ongoing.
One of the women, Heidi Thomas, who is now 55 years old, shared the story of how she was raped by Cosby under the guise of role-play as they were about to rehearse for a performance.

“He said, ‘Let’s try a cold read,’ so he pulls out a script. The scene was set in a bar; the character was someone who was inebriated. He poured a glass of white wine. And he said, use this as a prop—now, that means you’re going to have to sip on it, of course. I really don’t remember much, except waking up in his bedroom. He was naked, and he was forcing himself into my mouth.”

Releasing a statement on the significance of its feature story, the magazine said: The group of women Cosby allegedly assaulted functions almost as a longitudinal study – both for how an individual woman, on her own, deals with such trauma over the decades and for how the culture at large has grappled with rape over the same time period.

In the ’60s, when the first alleged assault by Cosby occurred, rape was considered to be something violent committed by a stranger … But among younger women, and particularly online, there is a strong sense now that speaking up is the only thing to do, that a woman claiming her own victimhood is more powerful than any other weapon in the fight against rape.

Although Bill Cosby has not been criminally charged based on multiple allegations, political and legal authorities in the US, including the president, are under increasing pressure to find ways to legally punish the legendary comedian.

Cosby’s sterling career has been shattered by rape allegations. Notably, his statue was removed from Walt Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park on July 8.
Photo Credit: New York Magazine

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