Saturday 15 February 2014

IBADAN BABES DON COME AGAIN ooo



1. Thank God for a brown new day!
2. My god is upsome!
3. Why are people so weekend? (coz they are Friday)
4. Not all dat glitters are goats! (goatn't it!!??)
5. Majority carries the volt (volt ko!? transformer ni?)
6. May your name be highly exhausted!
7. My waste is painingme!
8. Thank God for spearing my life (with arrow abi with dagger?)
9. What is strong with you? (strong kor.. decoder ni)
10. Lord! you are the killer dat holds my life! (GBOOOOOOOOMM!!)
11. Pls, how much is ur age? (na 22naira o!)
12. Look to the window, the principal just passed away (na you kill am abi?)
13. I am not priding pls
14. Lord let ur wheel be done...(God' wheelbarrow spoil b4?)

Friday 14 February 2014

Nigeria’s Food Importation Drops From N2.3trn To N1.8trn – Adesina

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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said on Monday that Nigeria’s food importation had reduced from N2.3 trillion to N1.8 trillion annually, saving the country N906 billion.

Adesina said this in Makurdi when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov Gabriel Suswam of Benue State.
“Agriculture is vital for Nigerians; that is why the President has made it the centre of his economic transformation agenda.
“When President Goodluck Jonathan made the decision, the goal was to add our domestic food supply, 20 million metric tons of rice and create 3.5 million jobs in a period of four years.
“In two years, we have added 15 million metric tonness of food and food importation has reduced from N2.3 trillion to N906 billion.”
He said that the Federal Government had delivered 16,744 tonnes of fertiliser, more than 450 tonnes of hybrid seeds and 738,000 cassava stems to farmers in Benue State.
Adesina added that the Federal Government had also completed two 2,000-tonne capacity warehouses and was committed to developing Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZ) that would enable farmers to add value to their produce, with Benue State as a beneficiary.
He said that the SCPZs, when completed across the country, would add N1.4 trillion to nation’s GDP.
The minister said that four agricultural hiring equipment centres would be established in the state, to enable registered farmers to engage in mechanised farming.
He called for greater collaboration among the tiers of government and commended the governor’s support for Agricultural Transformational Agenda.
Responding, Suswam assured the minister of the support of his administration and that of the people of Benue.
He said he was pleased with the establishment of SCPZs stressing that with the development would put Benue on the map of development.
He told Adesina that his name would be written in gold in the history of development in the country.
Suswam said hitherto the coming of the minister, agriculture was only seen as a means to access food and not a business that would fetch a lot of money as it is today.
He appreciated the commitment of the minister to agricultural development in the country, saying: “the quality you brought to the sector is outstanding.”
Suswam suggested that more attention should be given to yam processing as the state was one of the highest producers of the commodity in the country, yet little was known about it.
The governor identified the major problem confronting farmers as land clearing as they lacked proper equipment which made them turn to smallholding.
He said with the agricultural equipment hiring centres, Benue alone would feed the whole of Africa.
The highlight of the the minister’s visit was the inspection of Micap Rice Mills accompanied by politicians and top government officials in the state. (NAN)

Army Destroys Truck-load Of Illegally Refined Fuel - NAN


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The 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin, on Thursday destroyed a truck load of suspected illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
The brigade said this in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Capt. Abubakar Abdullahi, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Friday.
Abdullahi said the destruction was part of the brigade’s effort to check illegal oil bunkering in the state.
He said that the Army patrol troop intercepted the truck in January on Sepele bye-pass in Benin.
“And we set the truck ablaze on Thursday after a laboratory test confirmed the substance is contaminated PMS emanating from illegal refining facility.
“The exercise of destroying the truck is aimed at sending a clear warning to all those involved in illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism to desist from such illegal venture before they are apprehended by our troops,’’ it warned. (NAN)

Oil Money: Senate Orders Independent Audit Of NNPC Account

The Senate Committee on Finance yesterday accepted the recommendations of the minister of finance on the need to commission an independent forensic audit into the allegations of unremitted oil revenue by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and directed the Ministry of Finance to engage the auditors and report back to the house on its findings in one month’s time.

Chairman of the committee Senator Ahmed Makarfi who gave this directive during the resumed public hearing on unremitted oil revenue, yesterday in Abuja, also said the committee had written to the attorney-general of the federation, Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke, to provide legal interpretations of relevant laws to determine whether the $6 billion which the NNPC claimed it remitted to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) was legal.
Makarfi accepted the recommendations of the minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, following the outcome of the reconciliations conducted by a joint committee comprising NNPC, CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
In attendance at the open public hearing were the minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke; governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and group managing director of the NNPC Mr Andrew Yakubu.
Okonjo-Iweala, who presented the outcome of the reconciliation exercise, stated that NNPC presented data of how they utilized the balance of $10.8 billion, the initial amount earlier agreed as unaccounted for, namely, amount withheld for subsidy ($8.766 billion); holding cost of strategic reserve ($0.4599 billion); crude oil and product losses ($0.761 billion); pipeline management cost ($0.905 billion) bringing the total to $10.89 billion.
She stated that the data presented were all certified by Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) as being accepted:
“We asked to see the backup documentation to enable verification.  Our judgment is that a proper examination of these documents requires technical expertise beyond the capacity of the reconciliation team etc and therefore we believe we should have an independent forensic audit, managed independently of these submissions.
“Now going to the issue of the new figure of $20 billion, let me remind the committee that the NPDC and third-party arrangements featured in the original reconciliation effort in the cascade presented by NNPC.”
Concerning the new $20 billion alleged by the CBN last week, the finance minister said the new figures have two aspects as the crux: “namely, the amounts deemed to be due to the federation account as proceeds from NPDC operations of oil fields previously owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and unremitted amounts captured as third party financing, both of which amounted to $8 billion.
“In looking at these elements, the reconciliation committee concluded that the issues are largely legal and require careful legal interpretation, which would need to be given more detailed attention by legal experts.  For example, what is the legal status of NPDC and who owns the revenues earned by this entity? Is it the federation account or NNPC?  The NNPC and CBN have both indicated they will give expert legal opinion on these issues.”
In her presentation, the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, noted that though there was a written presidential order stopping the payment of subsidy on kerosene, it was never gazetted and as such it was difficult for the NNPC to act upon it.
“There was a presidential directive issued by the late president Yar’Adua that kerosene subsidy should be stopped. However, after that there was an inter-ministerial meeting in which the then ministers of finance and petroleum resources were parties to that meeting during which the decision was taken to stay action on the directive to remove kerosene subsidy for the very reason of the impact that such an action will have on the masses in the country.
“It is true that, as of today, NNPC supplies kerosene at N50 per litre, but the landing costs and other expenses — such that the product has to be transported round the country by road — makes it difficult for it to get to the masses at that amount. So kerosene subsidy is still in place.”
She also insisted that if kerosene subsidy was removed the price of kerosene would go higher than that of petrol.
But the Central Bank governor, Sanusi, expressed disappointment over the failure of the NNPC and other related agencies to provide him with documents needed to verify NNPC’s position on the alleged missing fund.
He also insisted that the claims by the NNPC that it is still paying subsidy on kerosene is illegal, adding that it showed proof of a directive by late President Umaru Yar’Adua for a halt on the payment of subsidies on kerosene.
He however informed the committee that since the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had the authority to procure all relevant information on the subject matter, he would have no choice than to believe in its verification and submission to the committee.
Sanusi’s declaration resulted from an interrogation by Makarfi regarding the submissions made by the management of PPPRA.
He said: “ I do not know how much oil has been produced from these wells. I do not know how much crude has been taken. It is not a kind of central market. What is important is, if we agree with the finance minister, if we do establish that, legally, a part of this should come to the federation account, then, it is a question now of some oil industry experts coming to audit properly: how much crude has been taken, how much has been sold, how much money has come in and how much ought to have come into the federation account.
“That is really beyond the responsibilities of CBN but, in general, once it is accepted that this $20b has not been repatriated, for us, we have actually finished our own bit.
“PPRA says it is OK with the claims on kerosene. It is the agency that is legitimately authorized to certify claims on kerosene subsidy and it is saying that kerosene subsidy is OK, it is legal and it is allowed.
“That is the agency that has the responsibility, but I do have a letter from PPRA in 2010 telling me that they do not pay kerosene subsidy based on presidential directives.
“It is up to the committee to now decide whether that letter has been superseded by other directives and, in fact, whether there has been appropriation for kerosene in the first place because the issue is, with or without directives, can NNPC pay subsidy on kerosene without appropriation? These are questions that are not very difficult to answer,” he said.
At this point, Senator Makarfi sought to know whether there was provision for kerosene subsidy in the budget. Directing his questions at the minister of finance he asked, “Is there kerosene subsidy in the budget submitted to the National Assembly?” Following her response that there was none, Makarfi declared that the NNPC was engaging in illegality by spending money not appropriated for in the federal government budget. He therefore ordered that such illegality should be stopped immediately.
“At the moment, someone is responsible for providing illegally for kerosene subsidy without authorization from the NASS or presidential powers. This illegality must be stopped immediately. Spend what is appropriated and not what is not. If there is any expenditure that is not appropriated, then follow the legal process and obtain approval,” he said.
Makarfi said a forensic examination of the document will enable the Senate get to the root of the matter: “These bunch of documents and submissions by the NNPC,  which the committee members will study, and we are going to the Ministry of Finance, the CBN and others,  relate to the crude oil product losses amounting to  $.76bn, cost of maintaining the national strategic reserve amounting to $.46bn and pipeline maintenance and management cost amounting to $.91bn.
“ Our own forensic examination of the document will make us take a decision as to whether the document supports the expenses incurred. The expenses are part of the accounting for the money.”
He also added: “The major issue laid to rest substantially is the issue on the subsidy on petrol which is $5.254bn, because the PPRA has satisfied it, even if to further reassure Nigerians. Ministry of Finance had suggested that and undertaken to independently have it forensically examined to further reassure Nigerians that the certification is indeed in order.
“We have also received certification for kerosene subsidy but the key issue is the appropriation to it and we have all agreed here that no appropriation has been made to it.
“The implication of spending money that is not appropriated is well known to everybody and the whole world is hearing this. I don’t want us to joke or play with this. It is the most central issue. All agencies that have spoken have confirmed to the whole world that this money was not appropriated and I want people to absorb the import of this confirmation.
“We also heard from the CBN that what they are questioning IS part of the $10.8bn. They believe that part of it should belong to the federation account, but that they are not technically competent at this stage to state how much it is.
“We have agreed to see how we will engage technical experts to determine which part of the amount, if any, belongs to the federation account. The question which is certain is that it is not all of it but part of it; but at this stage, we don’t know exactly. That is what is yet to be ascertained.
“We have also agreed and the attorney-general had confirmed to us that he will be available next week Thursday to give the legal opinion which also concerns the NPDC issue to give the Ministry of Finance legal advice on the issue. Those directly involved would be on ground

Bamanga Tukur’s Wife Registers For APC

Wife of the sacked People’s Democratic Party’s Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Hajiya Asiya Mohammed Bello yesterday registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Gabasawa Ward in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna North Local Government area of Kaduna State with registration card number 0623374.

Our correspondent, who monitored the ongoing APC registration in Kaduna yesterday confirmed that she had registered before he arrived but however got details of her registration from the registration officer.
Efforts  to speak with Asiya Bello when our correspondent visited Tukur’s residence at Gwari Crescent in Unguwan Rimi as to why she choose to go with the APC and not the PDP, her husband’s party was not successful. She was said to be fasting and ready to pray after the break of the fast and will not be available to speak.
TTUKUR-WIFE-APChe house is a duplex with several boys quarters located at a sharp bend on a large expanse of land at the Gwari Crescent GRA of Unguwan Rimi.
According to Malam Yahaya Gambo, who claimed to be Asiya Bello’s driver, “It is true that Hajiya Asiya registered today with of the APC” while showing her registration card which was still in his possession. He, however, said, “You will not be able to speak with her because she fasted today and she is preparing to break the fast and pray, you may wish to come and see her at about 9 or 10am tomorrow (Today)”.
Also confirming her registration, the supervising officer for the registration of the APC in Kaduna north in Kaduna State, Shaibu Lilly, said, “It is true that our registration officer registered Tukur’s wife and issued her a registration card. This is one of the developments of democracy in Nigeria where you see an immediate past PDP chairman’s wife registering for APC”.
“As far as I am concerned, they might be united as husband and wife but may have different opinions as the far as the political scenario is concerned, it is to show you that it is a falling period for the PDP”.
He said the crisis in the party in Kaduna State which was due to different opinions of the members has not in any way affected the registration exercise as many party members trooped out to register, describing the registration exercise as very successful.
Asked whether Hajiya Asiya was sponsored by PDP or her husband to register in APC for ulterior motives, Lilly said, that is not true but simply democracy at work.
A close family source to the Bamangas, who craved for anonymity confirmed to FRIDAY LEADERSHIP that Asiya is still Bamaga Tukur’s wife and that the house also belong to him.
When contacted, an APC chieftain in Kaduna State, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said he cannot confirm her registration as he was in Abuja for an official engagement.
He however said, “I do know that Bamagar’s wife has been a supporter of the APC. She has been a progressive person.”
When the Kaduna State PDP Chairman, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna was contacted on the development, he simply said he was not in Kaduna and was not aware of the matter, as such could not speak on it.
He said, “well, I am not aware of that, am presently not in Kaduna and cannot speak on the matter.”
When asked whether or not he knows any of  Bamanga Tukur’s wives in Kaduna, he said “Bamanga Tukur is a Muslim and may have more than one wife, I have been to his house several times here in Kaduna and Abuja but I have not seen any of his wives, so I cannot point at any of his wife because I have never met any of them”.

Happy Valentine Weekend

love, valentine weekend

We the entite team @ naijaMusicalVideoBlog are wishing you all a happy valentine weekend.


Wednesday 12 February 2014

Know Some of the New Appointees ~


 1. Chairman of National Population Commission Chief Eze Duruiheoma SAN
 2. The new Commissioner National Population Commission Engr. Bala Almu Bnye
 3. The new Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD Amb. Fidelia Njeze Akuabata
4. The New Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Senator Suleiman Ajadi

APC Registers Members



" you must be a registered member of APC to trade in Lagos" ...Ahmed and Folashade Tinubu

" a commissioner who cannot register up to 50000 members in his local government will have to tender his resignation"...Rotimi Amaechi
" any traditional ruler who cannot mobilize his people to Register with APC should not expect anything from APC government"...Gov. Ajimobi

" Register in APC and come and collect #200,000 to start business"...Gov.Rochas

"APC registration exercise have been extended by 2 more days to enable people to register"...Lai Mohammed...

Despite all these open and veiled threats and shameless offers of gratifications, Nigerians still shunned APC membership.

The picture here says it all. Empty venues,slumbering and indolent officials...

Yes, so shall it be done to liars and more also,if they continue to take the people for fools.

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, Sacked

Minister Of Aviation, Stella Oduah
Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, has been fired by President Goodluck Jonathan. Ms. Oduah has been caught in a web of certificate scandals and a scandalous purchase of two BMW armored cars for $1.6 million. Both scandals were exposed by New York city based online whistleblower
Our source reported that Ms. Oduah and three other ministers within the Jonathan govt were relieved of their positions on the orders of Mr. Jonathan. However, their sack was passed off as  voluntary resignation from the cabinet.
 The other ministers sacked includes, the minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, minister of police affairs, Chris Olukolade and the minister of state for Finance, Yerima  Ngama
Late last year, we reported that Ms. Oduah had compelled the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to pay Coscharis Motors, an auto dealer, approximately $1.6 million for two BMW bullet-proof cars. Investigations by us showed that the highest cost for each such car in both the US and UK was $267,000 per car. NCAA and other sources further disclosed that the two cars were never delivered, compounding a scam by Ms. Oduah who reportedly split the $1.6 million funds with Cosmas Maduka, the chief executive of Coscharis.
More recently, SaharaReporters discovered that the former Aviation Minister did not earn a Masters degree she claimed to have received from a US college.

Breaking News... Four Nigerian ministers, including the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah resign.. hmm GEJ sacks dem OH..


Four Nigerian ministers, including the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, have resigned from the service of the Federal Government.
Other ministers are Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and Minister of State For Finance, Yerima Ngama.

EFL

Tuesday 11 February 2014

KELLY ROWLAND TAKES ON NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

NYFW2014

Kelly Rowland stepped out in style for Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. Check out photos of her looking fabulous at the Fall 2014 collection shows below.
Houghton
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JC Obando
JCObando-1JCObando-2JC Obando - Front Row & Backstage- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014
Cushnie Et Ochs
CushnieEtOchs-1CushnieEtOchs-3Cushnie Et Ochs - Front Row & Backstage - MADE Fashion Week Fall 2014
Public School
PublicSchool-1PublicSchool-2PublicSchool-3
Porsche Design
Porsche Design - Presentation - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014Porsche Design - Presentation - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014Porsche Design - Presentation - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony - Front Row & Backstage - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014Opening Ceremony - Front Row & Backstage - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014OpeningCeremony-3

President Jonathan Forced Out His Chief Of Staff


SaharaReporters has gathered that a huge dossier prepared on the activities of the erstwhile Chief of Staff of President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he fired today, revealed an extensive corruption profile. 
But the former Deputy Governor of Edo State is unlikely to be asked to answer to any of them because Mr. Jonathan does not want to open a Pandora’s Box involving persons at the highest levels of his administration, analysts have told SaharaReporters.
Mr. Oghiadomhe’s bag of tricks includes Kerosene subsidy fraud at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the magnitude of millions of dollars with a controversial businessman, Jide Omokore, owner of oil companies Atlantic Energy Limited and Seven Energy.
Both companies are at the center of the $6 billion fraud cited by the Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in his recent revelation to the Nigeria Senate that the NNPC has not been able to account for $20 billion of the $67 billion worth of oil it lifted between 2012 and 2013.
Mr. Jonathan reportedly asked Mr. Oghiadomhe to resign after security agencies revealed his deep involvement, first, in a Rice waiver scam used to fund Mr. Jonathan’s Presidential Election in 2011; the security reports traced billions of naira to the duo, showing that they did not declare or remit a greater portion of the “profit” from the Rice waiver to the Jonathan campaign.
 The campaign treasurer the was Ms. Stella Oduah, the current minister of Aviation, enmeshed in various financial and ethical scandals in her ministry.
In recent days, it also emerged that Mr. Omokore and Oghiadome benefited immensely from the N1 billion-naira-a-day Kerosene subsidy fraud.
Last week Tuesday, Omokore sent his wife, Angela, to meet with President Jonathan in order to explain that her husband did not partake in the fraud, but Mr. Jonathan appeared unconvinced as the CBN governor buffeted the nation with further revelation of massive fraud in the petroleum sector. Angela Omokore is Oghiadome’s goddaughter.
Also, Nigeria’s Petroleum minister Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke reportedly washed her hands off the fraud case claiming that Oghiadome and Omokore shortchanged Nigerians in the deals.
When the former Chief of Staff showed up for work at the Presidential Villa in Abuja this morning he was told to submit his resignation letter.  After complying, he returned to his residence.
He was not subjected to any questioning or surveillance, leaving him free to do as he pleases with his time and resources.
In order to fend off inquiries, presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati told some reporters today that Mr. Oghiadomhe “voluntarily resigned” to go and participate in politics.
The spin is aimed at deflecting public outrage that could force Mr. Jonathan’s hands in taking action against others involved in the NNPC fraud, particularly the Minister of Petroleum Resources,   Alison-Madueke.  She is currently reported to be “sick,” and is maintaining a low profile in far away London.
The challenge facing Mr. Jonathan is that, particularly in an election year, it would be impossible for him to claim that Mr. Oghiadomhe carried out his full briefcase of alleged corruption activities at the NNPC all the way from Aso Rock without the knowledge of the Minister, and that he has done all of it since 2010 without the knowledge of the presidency and the security agencies.
Mr. Jonathan is also likely to face questions as to why, each time a top official of his government is accused of corruption, he or she is at best removed from office, as has happened in the cases of Mr. Oghiadomhe and the former chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Farida Waziri.
Most of the time, such an official is shielded from any investigation, as has happened in the cases of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohamed Adoke; the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah; Alison-Madueke, and now Oghiadomhe.
In recent times, Nigerians have increasingly accused Mr. Jonathan of boosting corruption and impunity in Nigeria by, among others, failing to take action against his corrupt officials.  Only yesterday, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties called on Mr. Jonathan to institute a comprehensive investigation into corruption in the NNPC since 1999.

Monday 10 February 2014

#JKFeedback: Why Kayode Fayemi should continue his N549,000/month job in Ekiti – zebbook

Home 5 ARTICLES 5 #JKFeedback: Why Kayode Fayemi should continue his N549,000/month job in Ekiti – zebbook
#JKFeedback: Why Kayode Fayemi should continue his N549,000/month job in Ekiti  – zebbook
John Kayode Fayemi

The Nigerian social media space is a volatile and very unpredictable community and those who saw N549,000 trending on the afternoon of Saturday 8th February would have had a hard time knowing where that figure came from. However, trending alongside this figure were the hashtag #JKFeedback and the official twitter handle of the Ekiti State Government @ekitistategov and keen observers were able to connect the dots.

#JKFeedback was an interactive session between Ekiti State Governor, John Kayode Fayemi, and prominent bloggers and activists from across Nigeria. Ogunyemi Bukola used the opportunity of the no-holds-barred discussion to ask the governor how much his salary is, and for the first time in Nigeria’s history, an elected public official declared his earnings. JKF, as he’s popularly called, said he earns N549,000 monthly without allowances as he lives in the government house and enjoys all the amenities for free.
That declaration threatened to overshadow other happenings at #JKFeedback, but what turned out to be the first truly independent assessment of any government by the Nigerian public was much more than that.
I got the email invite to participate in #JKFeedback from Funmi Ajala of the Digital Media Unit of Ekiti State. Taking bloggers and activists from across the country to Ekiti to assess JKF’s works initially sounded inappropriate. The people of Ekiti voted him, not us, and as such they should have the final say on whether their governor has performed well or not. The people of Ekiti do have the final say on this matter, but not the only say. Indeed, part of our job in Ekiti was to sample opinions of the people there on how well they think JKF has performed.
We got to Ikogosi Warm Spring and Resorts on Thursday, 6th February, and if anyone said you shouldn’t blow your own trumpet, Fayemi has not heard, or does not agree. Right there on the bed in each room were bags containing print materials detailing the achievements of his three and a half year old administration. On Friday, we went on a tour of Ekiti State, visiting 12 out of the 16 local governments in the state. We were taken to sites of completed and ongoing projects embarked upon by the administration, visiting schools, hospitals, dams and farms while assessing the quality of the roads and other infrastructure across the state. Saturday was the discussion proper, and the governor came three hours late and left earlier than he should have.
At his inauguration on October 16, 2010, Kayode Fayemi promised the people of Ekiti State to “democratize governance, modernize agriculture, improve on infrastructure, promote free and qualitative education towards the development of functional human capital, provide free health and social security to the disadvantaged sectors of the state, ensure industrial development, promote tourism and sustainable development and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment”. This 8-point agenda forms the basis of my assessment of his administration.
On the democratization of governance, two things stand out for me. One, Ekiti State senators pool their constituency project funds, N200 million each, to finance specific projects in the three senatorial districts of the state. N600 million every year for the past three years has ensured the execution of projects in tourism, agriculture and water provision, one of which is the provision of 1,700 hectares of irrigated land in conjunction with UNDP and FAO. I have not heard of any other state in Nigeria in which this is happening. Also, I am impressed by how diligently local governments have kept to the governor’s mandate of constructing at least 5km of roads every year. This has ensured the construction of at least 15km of local roads in each of the 16 local governments in Ekiti State since Fayemi became governor. Also, from our tour guide on Friday, to the commissioners who briefed us on Saturday, everyone had insight into the vision, and facts and figures on the achievements, of Fayemi’s administration.
On the modernization of agriculture, Fayemi said his vision is to “revive cocoa plantations to make Ekiti again a world leader in cocoa production; make agriculture contribute 50% of internally generated revenue; have 20,000 Ekiti youths trained and employed in mechanized agriculture by 2014.” I did not see a single cocoa plantation in Ekiti during my stay there, but records have it about 860,000 cocoa seedlings are being cultivated across the state. I visited cassava plantations and according to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Egghead Odewale, the Youth Commercial Agriculture Development (YCAD) programme is in full swing but we were unable to get to any of the farm sites in which 250 young people under the scheme are employed. Agriculture equipment worth N57 million distributed to rice farmers, purchase to 20 tractors at N150 million, provision of micro-credit facilities to over 200 farmers are initiatives executed by the government.
On improvement of infrastructure, 902 federal, state and local government roads have been rehabilitated, each local government has constructed 5km of road every year for three years, and the state government has constructed about 1200km of roads since 2010. I should add that Ekiti State has arguably the best road network in Nigeria and in our tour of 12 local governments, we didn’t come across more than 3 bad patches of road while massive construction of bridges is ongoing in different parts of the state to replace the narrow and dangerous ones inherited by the Fayemi administration. Also, 100 transformers have been distributed to communities and N600 million have been goven to 176 communities to execute different projects.
On the promotion of free and qualitative education towards the development of functional human capital, Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration has renovated all the 183 secondary schools in Ekiti State and has procured and distributed over 30,000 Samsung solar laptops to students and 18,000 to teachers of senior secondary schools in the state. Also, Ekiti has the best pay package for teachers in public service in Nigeria while those in the rural area get 20% of the basic salary more. Bursary funds for students of higher institutions of the state has been increased from N5,000 to N10,000.
On the provision of free health and social security, we were able to visit the site of the new general hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and the Cancer Diagnosis Centre built in honour of Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, the late Deputy Governor of the State. About N100 million has been spent on medical assistance to needy patients, and another N38 million on indigent patients and physically challenged people.
On tourism and industrial development, I first visited Ikogosi Warm Spring in 2006 as a 200 Level OAU student before going back there last year and then over the weekend, and I am impressed by Kayode Fayemi’s vision and tenacity in turning what was essentially a bush into one of the most exotic holiday places in Nigeria at a cost of N1.5 billion. We were not opportuned to visit any industrial site in Ekiti State during our tour.
On the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, it was refreshing to know that under Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State has made strict laws against domestic abuse and violence against women, the state has halfway houses, a family court and other support systems for victims of rape and other forms of abuse, while the rights of widows and the girl child are protected. Ekiti State is also the first, and perhaps still the only, state in Nigeria to maintain a register for sex offenders.
However, much more needs to be done. I am unimpressed by the state of primary health facilities in Ekiti and I would have expected Governor Fayemi to issue a mandate to local governments in this regard as he did with roads. I have it on good authority that a single doctor oversees 6 primary health facilities in Erijiyan and Ikogosi, and that doctor is there on youth service. There are cracks in the walls of the Funmilayo Olayinka Cancer Centre which was opened in October last year, suggesting shoddy work by the contractor.
Also, Governor Fayemi was defiant on the effective execution of his laptop initiative, but as Opemipo Adebanjo noted, there is a school in Erijiyan where the laptops are gathering dust in the principal’s office and the teachers claim they weren’t trained on the use of these gadgets, and the students do not know how to use Microsoft Word.
In agriculture, the development of irrigation sites at Ero, Egbe and Itapaji dams should be given more attention. More needs to be done about the vision of making Ekiti one of the world’s leading producer of cocoa. Also, more attention should be given to the production of cash crops like oil palm and cashew through YCAD. This should then roll into the industrial development agenda through the establishment of processing plants for agricultural produce. There are only 6 women in the 29 member state executive council, in a state where women are the majority. This is totally unacceptable and I hope the governor makes good his promise to Rinsola Abiola on correcting the imbalance in his second term.
I am not swayed by Governor Fayemi’s attempt at turning my purely economic question on the disparity between the state’s IGR and monthly salary expenditure into an ideological battle between socialism and capitalism. While I commend his efforts at increasing IGR by more than 400%, from N140 million in 2011 to about N600 million in 2013, I am worried that he has failed to balance welfarism with economic sustainability. The sad truth is that Ekiti State cannot pay its workforce and finance its welfare and social security programmes until Abuja credits its account with the monthly N3 billion allocation. I hope Governor Fayemi’s efforts at attracting investments into the state through the provision of tax breaks and other initiatives as stated in the Agusto Report yield positive results over the next couple of years to enable the state attain financial independence.
Egghead Odewale wouldn’t agree with me that Kayode Fayemi’s administration has focused more on infrastructure than any other item on its 8 point agenda but that is the reality I observed. I will take the positives from that by saying Fayemi, by the provision of good roads, has opened up Ekiti for economic development, especially through agriculture and tourism.
I am impressed by how prudent and transparent Kayode Fayemi has been in the execution of projects in Ekiti State. Contracts are awarded at very modest and verifiable amounts, an example being the laptop project in which each unit costs about N60,000. Also, while I await the confirmation of his pay slip, I salute his bravery in openly declaring his salary and that of his commissioners. And I hope he has not joined the league of corrupt Nigerian politicians who eat their yam with palm oil from public pots. It would be heart-breaking for some of us who see him as an exemplary leader in the rot prevalent in Nigeria’s political space.
Kayode Fayemi has done well over the past three years and I urge the good people of Ekiti to give him a chance to continue the good work he has started by voting him as their governor for a second term. I urge them to be vigilant and hold him accountable at all times. As he goes about his campaign, visiting cities, towns and villages in the state, he will make promises and commitments, and they must hold him to these from day one of his second tenure

Bim Fernandez, Nigerian Billionaire's Daughter Turns Pop Star

www.sodaka.com

Bim Fernandez, daughter of Nigerian billionaire, Ambassador Deinde Fernandez, is on a quest to conquer the world of pop music. She recently made headlines when the New York Post profiled her about her plans to become the next Rihanna.

Culture Shock host, Abi Ishola sat down with her to discuss her career moves, what her reclusive dad thinks of her quest for fame, and what it was like growing up super wealthy.

Lagos State Governor Fashola uses Billionaire to entice Ibeju Lekki Chiefs to Surrender Lands

Aliko Dangote and Governor Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola visited Ibeju Lekki residents today just days after authorizing police to force residents from their land.

Governor Fashola wants the area for the Lekki Free Zone project.  Joining him was billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, whom the Government is interested in persuading to use the site for a refinery and petrochemical project.

At the meeting local chiefs occupied front seats with the Dangote Group as well as other investors.  A source said some of crowd had been rented to respond favorable to the speeches.

During the meeting the front seat occupants frequently cheered the remarks of the Governor and Mr. Dangote.

Ibeju Lekki residents occupied the rear seats. 

Governor Fashola said he had to plead with Dangote to consider the area for his refinery rather than another area and stated the benefits of siting the project in Ibeju Lekki. 

He asked the crowd whether they wanted the project in the area or not?

Residents in the back rows loudly voiced their opposition to the project which annoyed the Governor as their voices were too loud to be ignored.  He threatened to deal with them if their opposition disturbed investors from commencing work on the site.

Mr. Aliko Dangote said his project will train about 9,000 engineers, but he didn't say whether community youth would benefit from the training.

Representative of the Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency, Mr. Abayomi Abdul-Kabir Ayeola also cursed a member of the community while making his vote of thanks.  This was in response to his question whether the community had seen the benefits (gifts to local chiefs) of the project and he was told they had not.

A source told Saharareporters, Governor Fashola and other officials of the Lekki Free Zone project met secretly with local chiefs and made them sign over the lands on behalf of their communities.

Another source said the community chiefs of Idasho and Idotun did not participate in the meeting but other representatives were paid by the Government to represent the chiefs without their consent.

Landlords/ladies told our sourcethey were not opposed to development but they were never consulted, nor were they told of any plan for compensation or resettlement.

Another source said their local chief sold out lands in the community without the consent of residents. 

"Sometime in 2008," one landlord said, "we were invited to Alausa … and they (Free Zone handlers) gave us N10,000 each. We were told it was for our transport, but they announced later that it was compensation for our lands."

"How can they give us N10,000 as compensation and ask us to quit our residences? Our chiefs compromised all through and they are the gluttons responsible for everything to happen from this crisis," he added.

After the meeting today, a source told our source some members of the rented crowd were seen complaining they were not paid enough in their role of praising Dangote whenever he spoke.

Welcome to Mbu’s territory

Whatever you say of the Police High Command, they are working. They are very sensitive to the yearnings of the people who selected them into their positions.

Don’t mind those who think that they should be serving the people, as if it is the people that commissioned them. The last time I checked the INEC register, the Police Service Commission was not a political party. Well, at least not officially.
Those who have never enjoyed the privileges extended to these men and women who help the police ossify in its conducts, can criticize all they want. For all you care, they may be the troublemakers heating up the polity or beneficiaries of such actions. One thing is certain, they are jealous of the privileges of members - fat allowances, go-slow melting travel, sitting bonuses and free-armed escorts. The critics should wait for their own turn. I bet when and if that time comes, they would start to eat up their words like our new defense chief.
The same man was misquoted as promising to smoke out Imam Shekau from the evil forests of Haramistan perhaps just to get the American ransom. No one in his or her right senses would promise to handcuff a fly. Although men have broken records doing the unthinkable, (including marrying their dogs), no fly handcuffs has yet made the Guinness Book of Records; except of course you believe the makers of insecticides. Therefore, I welcome the chief’s recant with all my sense of loyalty and patriotism. The promise was an April Fools joke.
As a loyal citizen, I have vowed never to believe anything I read in the press, ever since Daily Times was auctioned to the highest bidder and the New Nigerian became the old Naija bride betrothed to 19 jealous governors with different party and sundry interests. The rule is; if it’s not on NTA, it’s not officially sanctioned. Unsanctioned news may not be unnecessarily bad for your health, but it is bad for your sense of patriotism. I hope that speaks to those who say nothing when the national team loses but simply turn to the English Premier League.
Looks like things are about to get better. There are new appointments for official news outlets and they fit like broken blocks fit for the foundation of government buildings. With elections round the corner, we are guaranteed no dull moments. So let ‘s just sit back, relax with hassle rock tea and cassava bread and listen to the authentic diaries of President Jones, Lame Pat, dishonorable ministers and of course, the party of despicable people. There are new men (no apology to the women) at the helm of government news affairs. We must give it to our propaganda minister; he truly dug deep to exhume and crown these ones.
Don’t mind those complaining that some people have been recycled, as if recycling is not a multi-million Naira environmental-friendly business. In Naija, when the gods want to destroy your time-tested reputation, they give you government appointment. Mostly this is done when you’re most vulnerable. So, congratulations to the new official liars. I hope they take censorship to the next level and teach Goebbels something he never knew about propaganda. Government newsrooms need sniffer dogs too.
Sniffer dogs are awesome they are trained to sniff trouble before it begins. That’s the kind of thing needed these days when people heat up the polity. Those who have lost out of government are swearing to burn down the nation if they fail to win selections in which they are not even official candidates. Some write provocative letters, others make provocative statements. Political ports too need sniffer dogs and isn’t the feral capital the port of politics?
Last week, the president commissioned a market in spite of a court injunction. Some governors who were hemmed-in in their capital cities are fast turning Abuja into the hotbed of the opposition. That is something that cannot happen in Port Harcourt, thanks to the deployment of an effective sniffer dog. In future, they would need a visa to enter the city. Some ministers arrive late for council meetings. They would need efficient sniffer dogs to prevent them from over sleeping. Some governors are experts at holding parallel fora from buildings registered for residential purposes. Very often, the damage is done before Malam Mugu discovers, an efficient sniffer dog would prevent that.
Here is welcoming the tested Rivers’ Rottweiler to the feral capital. Let those attending guerilla meetings and issuing nocturnal press statements beware – your sins shall find you out. Your press statements shall be trashed. And before you hold a rally or gather in groups outside Wahala Plaza, read the NAN dispatch, watch NTA or listen to Radio Nigeria. There may be a colonial law outlawing your actions; Mbu would find it, and use it effectively against you. Welcome to Mbu’s territory, welcome to impunity.

DEFECTION FROM APC TO PDP in sokotoJonathan Receives Bafarawa in Half-Empty Square


From left: Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan and National PDP Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, acknowledging cheers from the crowd during the defection ceremony of Attahiru Bafarawa from APC to PDP in Sokoto on Saturday

President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, and other PDP bigwigs in the country including its National chairman, PDP Governors ministers stormed Sokoto yesterday to formally receive former Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
. Says, PDP’ll win in 2015
The event took place at the Shehu Kangiwa Square, the usual venue for political activities in Sokoto. Though the event was attended by some PDP governors from across the country, our reporters noted that the crowd that welcomed President Jonathan to Sokoto fell short of expectations, as the square was half-empty.
The crowd from Sokoto was heavily complemented by supporters of the PDP  who attended the function from Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi States. They accompanied PDP governors or deputy governors to receive Bafarawa into their fold. However, there was tight security in Sokoto, as soldiers and policemen were posted to strategic locations all over the city, while a helicopter hovered in the sky around the venue throughout the period the reception lasted.
Former President Shehu Shagari was among those who received President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage at the Sultan Abubakakar III international Airport, Sokoto.
In his address, President Jonathan expressed gratitude to the people of the state for receiving him warmly, saying it was a reassurance that the people would go with the PDP in the next elections.
Despite the gale of defections from PDP, the president asserted that the party remained stable and unshaken. He said, “This is the only party that can lead Nigeria now; this is the only party that is now very steady. In PDP, there’s no shaking.”
He described PDP as the symbol of democracy in Nigeria, saying that’s why even those who were not in partisan politics believe in the PDP. According to him, it is only PDP that can stabilize the country.
He added that PDP “has been undergoing changes; other parties are still evolving. We don’t know what they would change to, but PDP is stable at all levels and we promise PDP would continue to give leadership in this country.”
On Bafarawa’s defection to the PDP, he asserted that, ”Today, we did not come to Sokoto state to  campaign  for any position, but to reassure our great followers  and, indeed, the great country that PDP is still united; PDP is still the party to beat. It is still the party that can lead this country to where we want to go.”
Jonathan said with Bafarawa joining  the PDP  along with  his supporters,   Sokoto  State Deputy Governor Mukhtari  Shagari and other strong politicians  in PDP, Sokoto state is for PDP.
He declared, “In Sokoto State now, we are waiting for the next elections; we’ll deliver PDP in all elections. We want to use Sokoto State as an example to show all others that PDP is still the main party in this country; PDP will continue to be the major party in Nigeria.”
The National Chairman of the party, Dr Adamu Muazu, described PDP as a party of Nigerians, that it is synonymous with the development of Nigeria.  He said, “It is a party to beat in the next 60 years. I assure you our party is growing from strength to strength, day to day.”
He disclosed that after due consultation with all stakeholders, they are going to come out with very effective programme that will enhance the quality of their manifesto for them to perform very well: “The light that we have cannot be hidden; no propaganda can put it off. No amount of blackmail can put it off. Those who outside now I urge them to see the light before it is too late.
Also speaking the governor of Akwa Ibom State, who is also Chairman PDP Governors Forum, expressed appreciation to former President Shagari. Akpabio, like other speakers, asserted that PDP would do it again in 2015, adding that the 2015 elections would be defined, not by propaganda, but by the legacies that PDP has left behind since assumption of office.
Earlier while welcoming the president the states Deputy Governor, Muktari, praised the president for the support for his Almajiri school system, saying, “This shows that you  as the president of Nigeria; you are not concerned about the tribe of anybody, but you are concerned that we are all Nigerians, you did not even care whether the children who go to this schools are Muslims; you did your duty as the president of Nigeria.”
Former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa for whom the gathering was called, assured the president that he and his supporters would work for Jonathan’s victory in 2015.  He said, ”Mr. President, as far as Sokoto is concerned, go and sleep. You don’t have any problem. We have been winning elections, but we have been rigged out. But now that we are back to PDP which I believe, there is no other party that will get councillorship seat in Sokoto, come 2015, except PDP.”

Sunday 9 February 2014

AC Milan Striker Mario Balotelli Brought to Tears After Racist Chants or Because of Poor Play?


Mario Balotelli cryingDuring Saturday night’s match against Napoli, AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli was seen on the sideline in tears.  He tried to hide his tears but soon broke down crying.  Some thought it was because he was subbed out of the game but it turns out it was the racist chants that deeply hurt Balotelli.

Balotelli is constantly a target for racist soccer fans and usually reacts defiantly but even the strongest human being has their breaking points.
It’s sad that this still happens.

UPDATE:

Now there’s some discrepancy as to the real reason Balotelli was crying.  While he is often the victim of racism amongst soccer fans, his  manager, Clarence Seedorf alluded it was because of poor play and being subbed out.
“We are players and there are times when we express ourselves that way. I see nothing wrong or abnormal in that. I experienced it at times too,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“He too needs to grow in general. He played very well against Cagliari, while tonight perhaps didn’t make the most of the space. These are things we can all improve on and I’m happy he has so many areas to improve, as I can help him through that education.”

- Shaina Auxilly (@Shay_Marie)

The Best New Way To Colour Your Hair

A new hair care company called eSalon.com is infuriating hairdressers across the United States, and is set to do the same in the United Kingdom.
eSalon says they are fast becoming a target for outraged hairdressers: “They have written us angry letters saying, ‘How could you do this? We’re losing customers because of you!’”
Maybe it’s because eSalon provides that same salon style service, but at home. They offer customers the full treatment: affordable hair colour for home use, with the personal guidance of a professional colourist, and it doesn’t cost you a fortune.
eSalon is nothing like the one-size-fits-all boxed hair colour you get at the chemist. Instead, they provide custom blended hair colour like you’d get at the salon. They use professional-grade ingredients that leave hair soft, shiny and provide excellent grey coverage. The personalised pigment even has your name on the bottle, because it’s made for you and no one else.
And for a total hassle-free experience, each hair colour order is delivered right to your door, and the colour is under £13. That’s a far cry from the £100-plus you would pay at the hairdresser’s!
Just ask eSalon’s colourists how jealous some can get: “It’s so bad, we’re sometimes reluctant to tell other colourists what we do. But mostly we’re proud of the service we provide for busy, professional women.”
Customised colour truly makes a difference. eSalon already has a handful of high-profile mentions under their belt. It was featured on The Rachael Ray Show, while InStyle Magazine named it “Best of the Web” and Total Beauty voted it “Best Hair Colour” for 2013. Plus it’s gotten hype from Lucky Magazine and OK! Magazine.
Right now, they have a special offer for new customers: Get your first custom colour kit for £6.45* (a 50% savings!), with a satisfaction guarantee or your money back.