Gunmen storm Damaturu this morning, attack Yobe state university

Gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, stormed Damaturu in the early hours of today and began shooting and bombing the city. The attack, which was ongoing as at 7.30am today, has seen residents of the town scampering for safety.

According to reports, the mobile Police base which is in the outskirts of the town has been burnt down and many state institutions have also been raided by the rampaging gunmen who are now reportedly advancing to the main town of Damaturu.

They have also attacked some schools, including the Yobe State University located in Damaturu. The students have taken to the bushes for safety. There are also reports the militants are advancing to the government house with the aim of taking it over. More details later

Senators plotting to impeach President Jonathan meet today

The 63 senators who had signed up to remove President Goodluck Jonathan will meet on Monday to put all the necessary finishing touches to their strategy for making his impeachment a reality.

One of the coordinators of the impeachment plan, who made this known to Punch in Abuja on Sunday, said the agenda of the meeting would centre on how to handle the case on the floor of the Senate.
The senator said, "All of us will meet [on Monday] evening to discuss when we are going to move the motion on the floor of the Senate. We have an appreciable number already and I believe that more people will join when they see the seriousness with which we are going about it. 
"Some of our colleagues were saying that we don't have the will to move it (impeachment motion) on the floor. We will soon execute our plans because it is in the best interest of all Nigerians."

Already, the senator representing Yobe South Senatorial District in the upper chamber, Alkali Jajere, and his colleague from Niger North, Ibrahim Musa, have explained their involvement in the planned impeachment moves.

The two senators, in separate interviews on Sunday, said they signed up for the impeachment because of their conviction that Jonathan had engaged in a series of constitutional breaches.

Jajere alleged that the poor handling of the insurgency in the North-East by the Jonathan administration despite huge sums of money being voted for the military, was deliberate.

He said, "Are we going to wait and continue to tolerate a leader who, cannot stop the daily physical and psychological torture of people in the North-East. The insurgency in the zone is threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria and the earlier we act, the better.''

Also, Musa alleged that Jonathan government's "insincerity" in tackling the economic crisis facing the country was enough grounds to initiate an impeachment move against him.

He said, "The President has been breaching the constitution over the years and we have tolerated it enough. This government has not been implementing the budget and that is why we are having problems with our economy

Fashola has been ruled out as APC vice presidential candidate

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has been ruled out as a running mate to whoever emerges as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress at the convention in December.

A highly placed source in the party, who spoke with Punch on the matter, said that Fashola's religion, even though he is considered a performer, had ruled him out of the race for the vice presidential slot.
He said, "You know that the South-West is a base for the APC and it also contributed immensely to its formation. We would have preferred Fashola because of his pedigree in the state. Moreover, of all the APC governors from the zone, he is the only one doing his second term. 
"But this issue of religion is the problem. Apart from this, other APC governors from the zone are also Muslims. You may need to recall that the enemies of our party tried in vain before to label the party a Muslim party. 
"Even though they have failed, we may also need to be guided by the words of advice from former President Olusegun Obasanjo against any party fielding same religion ticket. This is what is hampering us concerning Fashola, whose performance and competence cannot be queried."

He said since it was almost certain that the party would field a Muslim as its presidential candidate, it would therefore be out of place to field another Muslim [Babatunde Fashola] as the running mate.

Apart from General Muhammadu Buhari, the party also has three other known presidential aspirants. They are a former VP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwakwanso; and a newspaper publisher, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Out of them, only Nda-Isaiah is a Christian.

The source said that though Fashola remained the best candidate for the position, he however regretted that the issue of religion would deny the party and the country the chance of fielding the governor.

"South-West are not religious but we are dealing with a larger society now. So, we must be careful."

EKSU Student “Jaydreamz” Wins Airtel One Mic Stand Competition(See Photos)

Yesterday was another historic day in the life of Alalade Ololade Usman a.k.a Jaydreamz who emerge winner of Airtel One Mic stand held at Ilorin.He won the star prize of a Kia Picanto and an endorsement deal,he will also appear on a musical video featuring Airtel all star next year.

The judges for the event were Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru a.k.a Reminisce, legendary producer ID Cabasa and Efemena Mukoro better known as Blackmagic and the competition started with each artiste performing to a free beat from the DJ,the second stage was an accapela from all the contestant then they finally performed to to their own track.

After all these,the judges were left to perform their duty by reviewing each artiste,it was a tight result as all contestant were praised but Jaydreams finally went home with the star prize.

The contestants representing each school are Zoko and Jaydreamz representing EKSU,Zora(Female) and Baba Shamang representing University of Ibadan. Tundex Mania and Hils representing Unilorin.

So SAD: Zee world Aka Tentebo Soldier is Dead

The artiste was said to have been ill for sometimes now, but this afternoon, he gave up the ghost.
Confirmed reports coming from his home explains that he died about half past 12 this afternoon.

It is so sad, for the past few years, celebrities have been dying of one illness or the other. We are yet to know the type of illness that claimed Zee World's life, but the heart-aching photo above surfaced online few minutes after his death news broke.

SEE How Cossy Expose her Body in the Name of Fashion

Rather than change, Cossy is getting worse with her reckless flaunting. Her late night outfit has been causing a lot of "ripples" online. It's so bad that her massive oranges and panties were on full display.

Photos: Pope Francis joins Muslim clerics to pray at Mosque in Turkey

Pope Francis, who is currently on a state visit to Turkey, joined Muslim faithfuls in Istanbul to pray at the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Istanbul Blue Mosque yesterday. The Pope stood with his head bowed and hands clasped in front of him in 2-minutes of silent prayer inside the 17th-century Sultan Ahmet mosque, aiming to show respect for Islam and encourage stronger ties between the two faiths.

How David Mark Is Delaying Jonathan’s Impeachment

An All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator has told Vanguard that the leadership of the Senate is behind the delay in the commencement of impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, as the Senate President, David Mark and his principle officers had always pleaded for calm and even go as far as thwarting previous moves to sack him.
He said that, "Since President Goodluck Jonathan wants to destroy the country because of personal ambition, impeachment is the only option left to show him the way out so that efforts of our fore fathers would not go in vain."

The Senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that agitation to commence the impeachment proceedings on the President had been in the senate but was triggered by the recent police invasion and the poor state of the nation's economy and the insecurity in North East.

He claimed that the President had committed grievous impeachable offences which if ignored would lead to the destruction of the country, pointing out that among the offences included none implementation of budget since 2011, crumbling of the economy, the increasing security challenges and the use of security operatives to harass and intimidate perceived opponents of government.

The APC Senator said the move was not a party affair but a collective effort that cuts through political lines to save Nigeria from imminent collapse, adding that as at the time he was appending his signature on the impeachment list, seven Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, signed in his presence.

There were reports that about 63 Senators had signed for the impeachment of Jonathan, even as two PDP men in the Senate said from now they will consider all issues unlike before where the interest of their party was first considered. It is no longer going to be a tea party.

Leading PDP aspirant in Akwa Ibom, Umana, decamps to APC with 28,000 members

A lot of alignment and realignment is still going on in the polity, thus changing the political calculations of 2015 by the day we observed.

The former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Obong Umana Okon Umana, caused a stir in Akwa Ibom State on Friday as he led over 28,000 leaders and supporters of PDP to decamp to APC.

Obong Umana, who was a frontline governorship aspirant in PDP, was received by the leader and National Working Committee of APC at a rally held at the ancestral ground of the Ibibios, the Asan Ibibio.

National leader of APC, Bola Tinubu, National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Governors of Rivers and Kano states and all the Presidential aspirants of the APC except Mohammudu Buhari were present to receive the PDP massive decampees.
At a colourful ceremony, Obong Umana and his supporters were presented with bundle of brooms to effect change in Akwa Ibom State and they were charged, "You must use the broom fearless and effectively to sweep those that destroy the Nigeria. nation".

While welcoming the decampees, the National Chairman of the APC said the position of the party was to create a new Nigeria and accordingly asked members of the party to get their voter cards as it was the channel for change in the country.

APC, he said, had a zero tolerance for corruption, pointing out that one of the problems of ruling party was corruption which had destroyed everything in Nigeria under the watch of the PDP administration.

"We have worked out in paper the number of jobs we are going to provide for our youth when we come to power. APC knows those who are abusing security in the country. We will take care of the need of our security, making sure they are satisfied, making sure they are committed to the security of the country", he said.

Lagos PDP Big Boys Decamp To APC

The battle for political leadership come 2015 will be tough, no doubt. On Saturday, a former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Rafiu Jafojo, and other top chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to NAN, others who defected included former Lagos State Chairman, Elders Council of PDP, Dr. Oluyomi Finnih, and former state secretary of the party, Tunde Daramola.

Welcoming the new members, the state chairman of APC, Chief Henry Ajomale,said they had made a good decision. He promised that the party would be fair to them.

Dr. Finnih, who spoke on behalf of the new members, said the defectors had come for the unity of the party and not to divide it.
"We took the bold decision because we see the party as a prosperous party. We defected based on the lack of internal democracy in the PDP and our aim is winning the presidential election by APC," he said.

The state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, said that the party was glad to accommodate the new members.

Fashola urged them to ensure that the party's interest was placed above individual interest, saying that there would be a level-playing ground.

APC leaders say they are sure of victory now, even more than before.

BREAKING NEWS: OAU Students Protest Over President Jonathan’s Visit [PHOTOS]

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, are currently staging a peaceful protest on their campus.

The students say they are angry that all activities at their school have been suspended due to President Jonathan's visit.

Police parade 25 year old Nigerian musician turned armed-robber

Lagos state Police command yesterday paraded a 25 year old musician named John Sunday pictured left, who says he took to armed robbery in order to gather N100,000 to promote his reggae album. "I am a musician from Ikofepepe in Akwa Ibom State. We were three in the gang, but one is on the run. I needed money to launch my album ,Tureke Reggae; that is why I went into robbery. I was targeting N100,000" John said when he was interrogated. John  Onyekachi Oshomi (pictured right) who claimed to be a bus conductor said he joined the gang because he needed to take care of his family. The two were was arrested on November 21st. "I was a commercial bus conductor. We were operating on the Agege Total-Oshodi route. I just got married, but my wife is still in the village. I was looking for money to feed her whenever she comes to Lagos; that was why I went into armed robbery. " Sunday confessed. According to The Nation, the Lagos state police commissioner said he got a tip off on November 21 at 10pm that some armed robbers were planning to rob in Lagos. He said he immediately directed the Officer-in-Charge, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), to go after them. "With two decoy teams, they stormed their hideout and arrested Onyekachi Oshomi and John Sunday with a revolver pistol. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime including snatching of several cars within the metropolis. Efforts have been stepped up to arrest those that are still at large," Aderanti said.
Both men will soon be charged to court.

Baba Obasanjo, You Are Lying Against Us ––Senate Reacts

The Senate has reacted to the the allegation by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the National Assembly was using constituency projects to siphon public funds, claiming that it was false.

Describing the allegation as spurious, Senator Abaribe, in a statement, said the former President's comment was distant from the truth and nowhere near reality, adding that if it were so, the former President would not have tolerated such for the period he was the president of the country.

"President Obasanjo, for the avoidance of doubt, was the initiator of the constituency project in the year 2000," the statement added.

SEE GOBE: 63 Senators Have Signed To Impeach Jonathan

May Senators dey vex! The level of impunity in the land under Goodluck Jonathan has reached an all time high and the heads of the security agencies are trampling on the laws, disrespecting lawmakers.

A source in Abuja told us that the illegalities wont be allowed to continue, there will be some serious consequences and it has started. Already 63 senators have now signed up to the plan to impeach President Jonathan in the upper legislative chamber as of Thursday.

One of the arrowheads of the move to remove Jonathan in the Senate showed a Punch correspondent the list containing the signatures of the 63 senators who have signed the impeachment notice.

In fact, eight PDP senators are among the Senators that signed to impeach Jonathan.There are 109 members in the Senate. A top APC senator from North-West zone told Punch that the lawmakers' major grouse was the President's handling of the economy and political affairs of the country.

The senator cited poor implementation of the national budget since 2011, alleged high level of corruption and "gross disregard" of the legislature at both the federal and state levels as topping the list of lawmakers' anger against Jonathan.

Asked if he realised the process of impeachment could be tedious and cumbersome, the senator said:
"We know and we are prepared to show the President that we have responsibility to the people and the nation in general. We are prepared to lay the impeachment notice anytime from next week. Meetings are already being held."

Senator Ibrahim Musa (APC Niger North) confirmed that there were moves by some members of the Senate to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President.

PUNCH learnt that the impeachment move against the President had really gained momentum with the APC senators mobilising themselves to carry out the exercise anytime from next week.

Photos: Heavy gridlock & security presence at OAU campus ahead of GEJ's visit

Before president Jonathan comes to Lagos, he will first go to OAU to hold a meeting with the council of Obas of the South West. There's heavy gridlock and security presence this morning at the campus gate. Students writing their exams are being forced to trek or wait for just one student union coaster bus. According to the students, public transport has been barred from conveying them for now. The venue of the event is currently heavily guarded and has been barricaded.

Ekiti: APC Presidential Aspirant Denies Being Arrested By Fayose

Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sam Nda-Isaiah, Wednesday, debunked rumours of his arrest in Ekiti State.

Dismissing reports that he was arrested on the orders of Governor Ayodele Fayose, the presidential aspirant, in a statement issued on behalf of his campaign organisation by a spokesman, David Chinda, said that while in Ado-Ekiti for a session with party delegates, the Divisional Police Officer in the area where he was lodged came around with some policemen on the prompting that the hotel was about to be invaded by thugs.

He said that the issue was however resolved between the policemen and Nda-Isaiah's security details, comprising operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, and policemen.

"The Police and DSS personnel attached to Sam Nda-Isaiah were able to quell the controversy and clarify the misinformation even without his knowledge of the issue," Chinda said.

The presidential aspirant also laid down a six-point programme to tackle the challenges arising from declining prices of oil.

He however flayed the administration's failure to take precautionary measures as proposed by him and others in protecting the country from the developments arising from the crash in oil prices.

"Over the years, the Federal Government has earned trillions of naira in revenues but has consistently failed to make the development of the non-oil sector a priority to counter our dependence on the export of crude oil," Nda-Isaiah said in a statement issued by a campaign spokesman, David Chinda.

Nda-Isaiah said that his six point-programme of action would include the immediate stop of illegal bunkering operations, full remittance of oil sale proceeds to the federation account, tackling corruption headlong and increased development of the non-oil sector to allow increased revenue from that source.

UNILAG Girls and The Craze for Money and Prostitution

It has become a way of life for many ladies of today; money for hand, back for ground. Pm News Campus Square went about to ask some students why they think prostitution is so rampant on campuses and what they think can be done to curb it and here's what they have to say.

Bashorun Aminat of the University of Lagos [UNILAG] said:
"I don't think it is seen as prostitution any longer. The issue is that basically, girls here are after the tall, cute guy who can pay their bills and must have a car. That is very important. 
"The girls do not hesitate once such a guy approaches them. If he has a car then they are good to go. A case happened last semester when some girls left the hostel in the evening and told their roommates that they wanted to stroll out just within the school premises. 
"A report was brought later the next day that the three friends were involved in a serious car accident in which one of them died...
"They come to pick them with cars or they take cab to their destination and when they return the next day, they come back big with a huge intimidating amount of money and they flaunt it for all to see.

"We are in deep trouble in this country if urgent step is not taken to address this crisis. But, the question is; who will provide the platform for such reforms to take place, when it was the same politicians, political office holders, bureaucrats, and some traditional rulers that are the major promoters of such illicit business in the first place."

Another UNILAG student, Akorede, said, "To curb prostitution in our tertiary institutions, there should be law prohibiting prostitution on campuses. Those who indulge in it should be arrested. This will deter those who want to venture into the trade."

In her own reaction to the issue, Adediran Bukunmi, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU said: "some OAU girls have PhD in prostitution. Archy, Motion Ground, Ajose, First Bank are some of the 'mini-hotels' we have on OAU campus.

"You find condoms, pants and sometimes blood early in the morning if you pass through these areas. You see'lovers' hanging around this love spots at night, many even go further to make love in these places as they are often very few people around at the time.

"Anglomoz is the mother of 'mini-hotels' where 'big boys' come to pick up the willing ladies. Some have even been recognized by the cars they bring as they do not miss the rendezvous every night.

"Their activities reduce during exam period. Honestly, I am indifferent about it. I really do not care what they do with their lives."

"The practice of dating older men for money has taken over Nigerian schools by female students who so much desire to live a life beyond what their parents can provide for them," Jerry Adeyemi said.

"Prostitution on our campuses is no longer news. But it is difficult to pin point who to put the blame on. Is it the campus girls or their patrons?" he queried.

A senior lecturer with one of the universities in Lagos who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the issue at hand is beyond university students as there are many young ladies who engaged in street prostitution parading themselves as students thereby mingling with students.

It is difficult to pin down the exact year campus prostitution started, it has been widely acknowledged that it started in full swing in the 90s.

Kebbi State House of Assembly Impeaches Speaker at Night

Democracy is turning upside down in Nigeria, and almost everyone has adopted "sidon look" posture.

As you read this, the Speaker of Kebbi House of Assembly, Hon. Habib Musa Jega has been impeached. And a man, Hon. Mohammed Shalla Gwandu has been sworn-in by the clerk of the House, Shehu Usman Randali, as the new Speaker.

The impeachment, which took place around 10:25pm at the House of Assembly in Birnin Kebbi was signed by 16 members out of 24 members of the House.
The impeachment is coming barely two days after news came out that 17 members of House are planning to dump the PDP and join the APC.

Shortly after the swearing of the new speaker, Hon Mohammed Shalla Gwandu thanked the House for the trust they had in him and promised to work harmoniously with all members and the state government.

"I thank all the members for the confidence they have in me and promise to wok harmoniously with both the state government and members of the House so that our people will reap dividends of democracy," he said.

Hon Abdullahi Garba Fana representing Dandi constituency told news men that the House sat and reviewed the performance of the former leader and concluded that the impeached speaker was incompetent to continue as their leader.

When asked to mention the impeachable offences committed by the ex-speaker, he said "The reason is just incompetence and members have no confidence in him any longer."

Impeachment close to mid-night? Nigeria nawao!

BAYELSA: Tension As Assembly Speaker Blasts Jonathan

The political season is here and politicians, from top to bottom are trying to outshine each other. There were signs of tension and strained relationship between members of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson over alleged move to impeach him from office following recent statements attributed to him against President Goodluck Jonathan.

While the impeachment move, according to State House of Assembly source, has received the blessing of the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson as a "collateral" sacrifice to affirm his loyalty to Jonathan, the loyalists of the speaker, including the chairman, House Committee on Information, Iniobiyo Obiene, and the media assistant to the speaker, Preye Kiyaramo, have dismissed the impeachment plot.
But the angry lawmakers were said to have held series of secret meetings in Yenagoa where they discussed and condemned the speaker's tirade against President Jonathan in an interview he granted a newspaper.

It was learnt that they were agitated that the speaker made statements suggesting that President Jonathan was plotting to impose candidates on members of PDP in the state's party primaries. They were said to have disassociated themselves from the offensive comments saying, "the speaker is on his own".

It was gathered that the aggrieved lawmakers further frowned on the speaker's verbal tirade against the senator representing Bayelsa Central senatorial district, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

LEADERSHIP gathered that though the Bayelsa speaker had last week recanted his comment against the alleged interference of the president in the battle for the seat of the central senatorial district of the state, the lawmakers were said to have expressed their displeasure to the Speaker for making what they described as "degrading and inciting" comments against the president.

And they are seriously working for his impeachment, with support from Abuja.

I Dont Have Wizkid’s Time Anymore – Sarz

Pop star Wizkid is surely not having a smooth time with a lot of people in the music industry at the moment, in 2014 alone, he's had strings of beefs with other artistes which include Davido, female singer Saeon, and his ex-producer Samklef. Now, another famed producer has voiced his annoyance and displeasure with the pop star saying 'I don't have his time anymore'.
This is coming from the popular music Producer Sarz. Osabuohien Osaretin known as Sarz is the popular music producer who is responsible for the production of countless hit singles by Wizkid, the Edo state born music producer is responsible for songs like 'samba', 'Jaiye Jaiye', and several others. So here's what led to their fall out. There's been a cold war between both parties when Wizkid began to work more with other producers like Legendury Beatz and MaleekBerry, and it got worse when Saeon's ex-manager Alex Adegbenro while narrating his version of the Saeon and Wizkid saga said, 'And I remember he gave us a list of producers he could work with, he said it was either, Samklef, Sarz or Maleek Berry and we picked Sarz and then when he heard the beat Sarz made, he didn't like it, so he called Sarz and was like 'dude, you know my new sound, why do you keep making beats like this. So we went back the second time and Maleek Berry just laced a beat and the song happened like a freestyle'. Sarz didn't take this likely. Earlier in the week, a twitter interview was organised and Sarz was asked if he still produce beats for Wizkid', and his reply was, 'No Lol, I don't have his time anymore'.
Probing further, someone else asked, 'but you produced his hennesy artistry song?' and Sarz replied saying, 'Because 2baba begged me'. When asked what Wizkid really did to him, Sarz said, 'Hmmnn so much I can't say it all'. When a fan hinted that both stars would still work together in future, Sarz said, 'he will have to beg me because it was painful'. Wizkid's 5 years contract with his current record label E.M.E would expire on December 1, 2014, and fans of the pop star expects a smooth transition as he'll officially transit to running his own 'Star Boy' records and prepare to drop a new album.

UPDATE: Speaker Tambuwal has been Tear Gassed by Police

The situation at National Assembly is shameful. Members have overpowered the Police, some are jumping high fences and barricades to gain access into the chamber with Speaker Tambuwal.

Sources told us that two aides of the speaker fainted at the scene as a result of the tear gas on them but APC members and some PDP men loyal to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal have managed to overpower the police and soldiers and they have gained access with the Speaker. Democracy!

Here Are The Men Who Are After Me ––Tambuwal reveals

Speaker of the House of Reps, Aminu Tambuwal, has accused his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke; PDP and its National Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu, of being behind the plot to remove him from office unconstitutionally.

Tambuwal, who defected from PDP to APC last week, made the allegation in an affidavit supporting an ex parte application he filed along with the APC at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday.

After hearing the application, presiding Justice Ahmed Mohammed directed all the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo till Friday.
In the affidavit which was deposed to by one of his lawyers, Ejura Ochimana, Tambuwal told the court that the PDP, Mu'azu, Adoke and Ihedioha, who are among the defendants in the suit, were working secretly to reconvene the House before December 3 in order to remove him as speaker. 
He also stated that the withdrawal of his security details on October 30 by the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, was upon the prompting of the defendants.

Tambuwal stated that despite the pendency of a suit he filed on Friday, the defendants were still bent on carrying through their threat to also remove him as a member of the House.

The Speaker and the APC asked the court to restrain the House from reconvening earlier than December 3, the day the Speaker had adjourned sitting.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed said the order for the maintenance of the status quo was necessary so as to protect the subject matter (recovening the House) in the suit.

He therefore asked the parties in the matter to appear before him on Friday and directed that the defendants be served with the ex parte motion and copies of the enrolled order which he made on Monday.

Mohammed said the defendants needed to appear in court on Friday to show cause why the prayers sought by Tambuwal and the APC should not be granted.

The other defendants in the suit are the House, the IG and INEC

A counsel for the Speaker and the APC, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), had while moving the application, urged the court to protect the subject matter of the suit which they filed last Friday challenging the alleged plan by the PDP to remove Tambuwal as speaker and declare his seat as a member of the House vacant.

The lawyer told the court that granting the orders would help preserve the position of Tambuwal as speaker, his membership of the House and his security which are all under threat.

He also told the court that PDP had summoned Ihedioha and its other members in the House for the purpose of reconvening the House and removing Tambuwal as speaker.

The lawyer added that it was unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void for the PDP to make any move that could lead to the resumption of the House.

APC leader in the House, Gbajabiamila asked, "What makes the case of the Speaker of Ondo Assembly different from Tambuwal's? His political opinion? Let us make this abundantly clear; the legislature is a separate but equal arm of government. It is not inferior nor is it subservient to the Executive. Their powers are separated under the constitution and it can never be an extension or department of the Presidency or PDP.

"Just as the legislature cannot regulate the workings of the presidency or determine for the President when he should call Federal Executive Council meetings and we note that there was a time he did not for months, so also can the Presidency not determine for the House when to reconvene or meet."

WOW! Meet Governor Fayose's 5 Handsome Sons

Apart from being a strong politician, Governor Ayo Fayose is also a strongman in the home front. He and his beautiful wife are blessed with five cute sons - Joju, Rogba, Tomiwa, Nigba, and Boluwatife.

Fashola blasts TAN, says Jonathan not Transforming Anything

Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola has lampooned the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) for orchestrating the return of President Goodluck Jonathan administration through false claims saying, "This government is unwilling; it has nothing to offer Nigerians."

Despite the series of adverts powered by TAN to convince Nigerians, Fashola, who spoke as a keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of Women In Business (Wimbiz) Conference held at the Eko Hotels in Victoria Island, said he remained convinced that the country under the leadership of PDP was not transforming the country as portrayed by the group.

According to him, "Where the North East is under siege and the economy has continued to nose-dive, the Transformation Ambassadors have continued to distort the true information that all is well."
Fashola said: "All it takes to cripple our economy by those country from where we buy oil is to say they won't sell to us any longer.  
"We have seen a good example where the country was denied access from buying arms. This is the situation we are as regards importation of oil.
"The government is yet to give us power as promised; they are yet to give us fuel; we are yet to see the standard highways they promised. There are so many Nigerians living without electricity."

Fashola lamented that thousands of people in the North East had been killed or turned refugees, over 200 girls still in captivity of insurgents with the North East still under siege, "yet the Transformation Ambassadors are telling Nigerians that all is well."

He said there are so many indices to show that the country is yet to be transformed, pointing out that all the promises made by the Jonathan's government in 2011 to Nigerians are yet to be fulfilled.

He noted that the Jonathan's administration in 2011 promised to generate 16,000 megawatts by 2013, including harnessing coal opportunity, wind and solar to generate 13,000 megawatt electricity, noting that this is yet to be seen to become a reality.

He said, "I agree with him (President Jonathan) that electricity is key development for Nigeria. I agree with him entirely but how well have we gone till today?"

According to him, when the price of oil stood at $100 per barrel for almost a decade, the PDP led government has not been able to transform the country noting that these days when the price of oil has dropped to $80 per barrel, it's obvious the government at the centre cannot do better with lean purse.

Bring Back Our War Against Boko Haram Terror

It is now two weeks since the meaningless ceasefire with, or better put, cessation of fire against Boko Haram was announced by the Jonathan-led government of Nigeria. Since then hundreds more have been killed, dozens of youth have been abducted for rape and forceful conscription and several more towns have fallen to the terrorists. Latest to fall was Mubi in Adamawa state where Boko Haram have hoisted their flags and begun open preaching.

The sight of Nigerians fleeing the Boko Haram onslaught against Mubi was tearful. The image courtesy of a good fellow, shows cars piled up struggling to drive away to a safe place. This has been the predicament in the north. Over a dozen towns are Boko Haram territory; the citizens have either been forced to live and die under a slave mentality barbaric government; or have fled and left behind their livelihood, some family and their property.
Why has the Jonathan government stopped our #VictoryForNigeria? Why are our Presidency and military Chiefs now desperately and openly promoting #VictoryForShekau? This is the second time in the last two years that just when Nigeria had victory against these terrorists at hand; the government suddenly stopped its attack on terror and reversed the trend. 
In both cases it was just when the army announced the killing of the "Shekau," leader figure, that the government suddenly stopped the military onslaught and allowed Boko Haram regroup. Is this not a government of terror?

We the people of Nigeria want our war back. Jonathan has received approval for a loan of $1 billion dollars to fight this war. Fight the war. The army recently decided to "turn the Civilian-JTF into an armed professional fighting force" to help eradicate Boko Haram totally and completely; what is happening to that?

We never had faith in the so-called ceasefire. When two evil people negotiate, it will be suicidal to anticipate good out of it. And why are the negotiations between Nigeria and Boko Haram in private? Is it not our lives they kill? Is it not our sons and daughters they abduct? Will we not be informed of/if any of their members will be released? If by some wickedness, some money is to be given to them, and some ammunition as Cameroon did, will it not be our money and our arms and ammunition? Nigerians demand that for any negotiations with Boko Haram, let them all come and do it in the open. We deserve absolute control of our destiny. What part of terror negotiations is a secret? We demand transparent open negotiations if any, now!

You are either with us or with the terrorists. We ask Jonathan now to decide: is he going to spend his last couple of months as a stubborn sponsor and supporter of terror and these terrorists who in 2012 defended as his "siblings," or is he going to join the will and collective desire and determination of the people of Nigeria to combat Boko Haram fire for fire and show them the superior power of the Nigerian military known for its success across Africa?

Jonathan should please allow good a chance and stop being an agent of evil and obstruction in the wheel of peace and positive change.

Stop begging and bribing Boko Haram. Stop lying to the world.

#BringBackOurWar! Bring back #VictoryForNigeria

Dr. Peregrino Brimah
http://ENDS.ng [Every Nigerian Do Something] 
Email: drbrimah@ends.ng Twitter: @EveryNigerian.

Dangote finally slashes Cement Price to just N1,000

Leading cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc has announced drastic reduction of the prices of one of its major product - cement - across the country.

The new price announced by the Group MD/CEO of Dangote Cement, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, pegged the Dangote 32.5 cement grade at N1,000 per 50 kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade would sell for N1,150 per bag.

A statement by the company at the end of a management meeting said, however, that the new prices were exclusive of the Value Added Tax, VAT, representing about 40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price of the product currently sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.

Edwin said the move was in line with the company's commitment to the nation's dire need for the development of infrastructure and to boost the federal and state government's ongoing effort to reduce the near 20 million housing deficit in Africa's largest economy.

He said, "we recognize the need for an increased rapid response to the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the country, and one of the ways of addressing the issue is bringing the price of building materials down to much more affordable levels especially cement which is within our control as part of our contribution to the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the attainment of key milestones in the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

"Since the commencement of the implementation of the backward integration policy for cement in the country over 12 years ago, the local production capacity of the product rose from less than three million metric tonnes per annum to about 38 million metric tonnes per annum. During the more than 12-year period of the backward integration policy, nearly $20 billion has been directly and indirectly injected into the Nigerian cement industry with Dangote Cement Plc accounting for 60 per cent of that spend."

The GMD/CEO added that Dangote Cement Plc would continue to ensure alignment of its corporate social responsibility with its strategic business initiatives and will continue to evaluate its pricing regime in Nigeria's best interest.

Speaker Tambuwal: Another Good Creation of Tinubu

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the decidedly non trivial distinction of mentoring and supporting able minds for political positions. He has gone about this role un-intimidated because he believes that Nigeria's problem is starkly a question of moral and political courage. He desires to see a smarter government. He wants us to have the kind of government that can steer the ship of state so that we can have an economy that works for everybody.

Asiwaju simply wants the right type of people in governance that can lay the foundation for a broad based prosperity. That is why he supports the right kind of men. He has been able to attract all manners of men: ranging from the quiet, the tidy, the carefully curated, the meticulously tooled to the brash, the unpredictable and the uninhibited. That is the stuff great men are made of. And despite been the target of uncommon vitriol by the opposition party, he has constantly kept the faith.

The special Adviser on Media to Asiwaju, Sunday Dare, disclosed that the men Tinubu has helped in their quest for public office such as Fashola, Fayemi, Aregbesola, Oshiohmole, Ajimobi, Amosun are not non-performing 'yes men'. "They are all dynamic and outstanding performers in their own right. Each is different from the other and each state government excels in its own unique way. This means that Tinubu is not orchestrating them into some limited uniformity but stands out of the way for them to lead as they believe.
"No major politician in Nigeria has a track record as good as Tinubu's when it comes to supporting able people for office then leaving them to perform as they believe. Nowhere in PDP does this happen."

It is a well known fact that Tinubu played a great role in helping to enthrone Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the speaker of the House of Representative. This strategic involvement altered the People's Democratic Party (PDP) zoning permutations for the distribution of positions in the House of Representatives. He achieved this by instructing all the Action Congress members (ACN) in the house to vote for Tambuwal. This led to the emergence of a speaker that is appealing to Nigerians.

He became a speaker that is not easily manipulated by the executive arm of government. Until his recent defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC), Tambuwal has remained steadfast and committed to the growth of democratic values. This humble man believes that going the way of the herd is not a particularly good strategy. Tambuwal has had the effect on the National Assembly that you would expect from an operations genius. History will not record his leadership achievement as fluke.

According to his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, Tambuwal's desire is to see Nigeria rise to greatness. "He has, at every available opportunity, reminded his colleagues of the need to promote democracy and respect human rights. These ideas stem from his belief that strong democracies are more likely to secure peace, deter aggression, expand markets, promote development, combat terrorism and crime, uphold rights of workers, avoid humanitarian crises, protect and improve the global environment, and protect human health."

Tambuwal is really a good creation of Asiwaju. This goes to show that his interest is beyond partisan politics. Tinubu's interest is to help create a strong and vibrant nation that we all can to proud of. He wants to create a framework that will make Nigeria relevant on the global scale. Recently, Asiwaju made a statement that is worth quoting here; a statement that came out of the soul of a great man of our time: "No matter what anyone may say about me it is unlikely that I can be accused of supporting incompetent or morally light-weight individuals for important political positions. My philosophy is to put the best forward, men and women of competence and integrity, who can stand up to us politicians to challenge us and say no when necessary. Such men are not noisy or able to gain attention by being loud. I believe my role is to do all I can to project them." 

There is much to commend him. Asiwaju is a phenomenal man; a warrior for quality, tolerance and peace.

By Ikechukwu Orji
Orji is a Journalist and Media Consultant
08023624097
ikechukwuorji@yahoo.com

NYSC DG: 23, 211 Corps Members Paid N4,000 Call-Up- Letter Fee

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig-General Johnson Olawumi, has assured the House of Representatives that the controversial N4,000 call-up-letters fee would remain optional.‎
According to him, the fee was strictly for the printing of the letters and not for accessing the NYSC online portal.

Speaking at the hearing of a petition on the matter by the House Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday, the DG claimed that the agency opted for the option of printing call-up-letters from its online portal following the increasing cases of fake call-up letters flooding the society.

Olawumi told the committee that the policy was a product of Private Public Partnership, which started in 2013 after Sigma, the partner, emerged as the preferred bidder from a list of 49 firms.
The DG explained, "Corps members are supposed to pay more than N4, 000 and we want the process to be optional.
"It is an optional thing and the process will remain optional as far as the agreement subsists with Sigma.

"Even if the price crashes to N100, it will continue to remain optional".
Olawumi noted that at the close of the portal, 124, 831 corps members had registered online.
However, only 23, 211 paid for the printing of their letters online.

Meanwhile, a group, Say No Campaign, which was in the forefront of protests against the levy, insisted that there was no justification for it.