DOGARA CONFIRMS FLYING PRIVATE JET TO ASABA; SAYS “I PAID WITH MY MONEY”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has denied owning a private jet or hiring one with public funds.
Mr. Dogara confirmed a report by news website, SaharaReporters, that he travelled in a private jet to Asaba, Delta State, to commission a church.
He however denied being the owner of the jet, or funding the trip with public money.
SaharaReporters had reported how the speaker confirmed to its correspondent that he was in Asaba, on his way to Ubulu-Uku, to commission a project.
Asked why he did not travel on one of the planes in the presidential fleet, the speaker reportedly said he was told that jets in the presidential fleet were not allowed to fly into the airport in Asaba, the Delta State capital, owing to the airport’s poor state.
He admitted that a smaller 8-seater plane was later allocated to him, but said he refused to use the plane because of the size of his entourage.
In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Dogara reacted to the news report by denying he was the owner of the private jet.
The statement, signed by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, read, “Attention of the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been drawn to a story published by online news portal Sahara Reporters about a private visit to Delta State embarked upon by the Speaker.
“We wish to state for the records that Hon. Speaker was invited to Delta State by Evang. Hon. Mrs. J.O. Mrakpor representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State to help commission a church she built.”
The statement continued, “Evang. Mrakpor has in the past built three churches and she just finished building the fourth one in her community in fulfilment of the promise she made to God before the 2015 elections that she will build a church for the community if God gives her victory.
“Being a private visit, Mr. Speaker in company of some of his colleagues including Muslim members of the House, attended the church service where the new church and not just an ‘altar’ was commissioned and prayers were offered for the restoration of peace in Nigeria.
“For the record: Mr. Speaker does not own a private jet. Mr. Speaker personally paid for the cost of the trip to Delta State and did not take a single dime from official coffers, being a private visit.”
He urged “online and conventional media organisations” to always check their facts before going to press.
-Premium Times

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AFTER REJECTING JONATHAN, NIGERIANS DESERVE BOKO HARAM BOMBINGS – FANI-KAYODE

-Premium Times report
A former Minister of Aviation, and spokesperson of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that Nigerians asked for the recent upsurge in Boko Haram attacks by refusing to renew Mr. Jonathan’s mandate, instead voting in Muhammadu Buhari as president.
He said Nigerians were warned about the dangers ahead should they oust the Peoples Democratic Party from power but that they still proceeded to vote for “change”.
Mr. Fani-Kayode said having voted the way they did, they must learn to live with the consequences of their choices in the last elections, among which is the renewed Boko Haram attacks.
“There is a hideous and frightful hidden agenda which is slowly manifesting before our very eyes. Though we warned them, the Nigerian people wanted ‘change’ so they must live with the consequences of their choice,” he said.
He said one of those consequences is the new-found “audacity, courage, growing power and rising strength of Boko Haram”, while another is the “resurgence of a clearly ethnic agenda which is designed to leave no-one in doubt about who really owns Nigeria and who the slaves are”.
Mr. Fani-Kayode also said Mr. Buhari had always been sympathetic to Boko Haram.
“Anyone that honestly believed that a man who secretly shares the same vision and core principles of Boko Haram and who spent many years defending them can do anything but give them a free hand when he comes to power is living in cuckoo land,” he said in a Facebook post Tuesday.
The remark was posted first on Monday, but was deleted before being re-posted on Tuesday.
Nigeria has in the last two weeks witnessed an escalation of Boko Haram’s bloody campaign, with several suicide bomb and gun attacks targeting places of worship, communities and public places, killing hundreds of people.
The latest attack occurred early Tuesday at a local government office in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Twenty five people were killed when a suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive where civil servants had gathered for data verification in the Sabon Gari area of Zaria.
About 400 Nigerians are estimated to have been killed by the sect in the last five weeks.
Mr. Fani-Kayode, who recently changed his name to Femi Olukayode, in celebration of his court victory in a corruption case, said he was not surprised with the recent bombings and killings.
“I am not surprised by the resurgence of Boko Haram and their new-found barbarity, courage and zeal,” he said.
He also said the cause of the Boko Haram sect may have been aided by the removal of military checkpoints in towns and along highways.
He said the Nigerian government is also transferring Boko Haram suspects to Prisons in the eastern part of the country in order to ”spread the word” adding that no less than 182 Boko Haram suspects were released on the president’s orders just a few days ago.
“Is all this just a coincidence or is something that is dark and sinister now afoot in our country? “
“Whatever each of us may or may not believe, one thing is clear- that Boko Haram now have powerful friends and secret allies right at the epicentre of power and those friends and allies are running the affairs of the country,” he said.
Mr. Fani-Kayode said there is a much wider picture unfolding which the Nigerian people have yet to see and which they find difficult to accept, understand or comprehend.
He said yet another consequence of Mr. Buhari’s enthronement is the destruction and demystification of a national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, and his “Yoruba loyalists by his erstwhile northern allies in the APC”.
“Only a fool did not see that one coming and I am rather surprised that Tinubu’s followers are now crying foul and alleging that there is a northern conspiracy. Didn’t they know that before? Were they not warned over and over again?
“There are many other grave consequences which the Nigerian people will witness, in a most harrowing and frightful manner, in the next few months and years.
“May God deliver our people and our nation and may we learn to make the right choices,” he said.

MEGA BRAWL . . . In The HOOD!! This Is Why You Should NEVER . . . EVER . . . Play DMX During A STREET PARTY!!

MEGA BRAWL . . . In The HOOD!! This Is Why You Should NEVER . . . EVER . . . Play DMX During A STREET PARTY!!!
Posted by DeLorean on Thursday, 14 May 2015

BREAKING: Military takes over power in Burundi

The coup was reportedly organized by Godefroid Niyombareh, a former military intelligence officer who was removed from office by President Nkurunziza in February.

There have been widespread protests in Burundi for weeks after the ousted President moved to go for a third term in office against the laws of the country.

The coup was announced in a radio broadcast by Mr. Niyombareh and it was made while Mr. Nkurunziza is reportedly out of the country to neighboring Tanzania for a regional meeting of East African Community, EAC. The EAC meeting was called to discuss the protests in Burundi which was becoming violent.

“Forces Vives de the Nation have decided to take charge of the nation,” Mr. Niyombareh said.

Burundi is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Much of the southwestern border is adjacent Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi is considered one of the five poorest countries, with one of the lowest per capita GDPs of any nation in the world.

The country has suffered from warfare, corruption and poor access to education. Burundi is densely populated and has had substantial emigration as young people seek opportunities elsewhere

Oh wow! Footballer Emmanuel Adebayor comes for his family in new Facebook post

This juicy, y'all need to read it. Former African Footballer of Year, Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayor has been having a running battle with his family for years. His sister has gone to the media a few times to claim he doesn't take of them and has turned his back on them, plus other accusations. She even claimed that Emmanuel kicked their mother (above) out of his house in November 2014.

The Tottemham striker took to Facebook yesterday to give a lengthy insight into his complicated personal life. He listed the things he's done for his family and basically accused them of using him for his money, stealing from him and being ungrateful. Read it after the cut...

 

A couple years ago, I bought a house in East Lagon (Ghana) for $1.2 million. I found it normal to let my older sister, Yabo Adebayor stay in that house. I also allowed my half brother (Daniel) to stay in the same house. A few months later, I was on vacation and decided to go to that house. At my surprise, I saw many cars in the driveway. In fact, my sister decided to rent out the house without me knowing. She also kicked Daniel out of that house. Note that the house had about 15 rooms. When I called her and asked for explanation, she took about 30 minutes to abuse and insult me over the phone. I called my mother to explain the situation and she did the same as my sister. This same sister says I am ungrateful. Ask her about the car she is driving or anything she is selling today?

My brother Kola Adebayor, has now been in Germany for 25 years. He travelled back home about 4 times, at my expense. I fully cover the cost of his children's education. When I was in Monaco, he came to me and asked for money to start a business. Only God knows how much I gave him. Where is that business today?

When our brother Peter passed away, I sent Kola a great amount of money so he could fly back home. He never showed up at the burial. And today that same brother (Kola) is telling people that I am involved in Peter's death. How? He is the same brother who went and told inaccurate stories about our family to "The Sun" in other to take some money. They also sent a letter to my Club when I was in Madrid so I could get fired.

When I was in Monaco I thought it would be good to have a family of footballers. So I made sure my brother Rotimi gets into a football academy in France. Within a few months; out of 27 players, he stole 21 phones.

I would not say any anything about my brother Peter Adebayor because he is not here today. May his soul rest in peace.
My sister Lucia Adebayor keeps telling people that my dad told me to bring her to Europe. But what would be the purpose to bring her to Europe ? Everyone is here for a reason.
I was in Ghana when I received the news about my brother Peter being seriously ill. I drove the fastest I could to Togo in order to meet him and help. When I arrived, my mother said I could not see him and I should just give the money and she would solve everything. Only God knows how much I gave her that day. People are saying I didn't do anything to save my brother, Peter. Am I a fool to drive 2 hours to Togo for nothing?

I organized a meeting in 2005 to solve our family issues. When I asked them about their opinion, they said I should build each family member a house and give each of them a monthly wage.
Today I am still alive and they have already shared all my goods, just in case I die.
For all these reasons, it took very long for me to set up my foundation in Africa. Every time I try to help the people in need, they had to question me and all of them thought it was a bad idea.
If I am writing this, the main purpose is not to expose my family members. I just want other African families to learn from this. Thank you.

Robert Mugabe comes for Nigeria and Kenya

The Zimbabwean president is quoted as saying "Don't be like Kenya and Nigeria where you have to dip into your pocket to get anything done.", while talking about corruption. Really? See reactions below.. OmGosh.. people really reacted for and against

Rihanna reportedly banned Rita Ora from her Met Gala after-party

Rihanna doesn't like Rita Ora and on Monday night, she made it clear. According to reports, Rihanna refused to give the British singer an invite to her star-studded Met Gala after party at Up & Down nightclub in New York City. Rihanna, who is signed to the same record label, Roc Nation, as Rita, reportedly made it clear to the club that Rita was not to be allowed into the party...

"She has a real issue with Rita and this was her chance for revenge. She made it clear when organising her party that Rita was not to gatecrash under any circumstance." A source told The Sun newspaper

INTERVIEW: Jonathan is a disappointment – ex-militant leader, Boyloaf

Ebikabowei Victor Ben, a.k.a General Boyloaf

A former militant leader in the Niger Delta, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, a.k.a General Boyloaf, speaks to PREMIUM TIMES’ Aderonke Ogunleye about the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, and the incoming Muhammadu Buhari government. Boyloaf says the oil rich Niger Delta did not benefit from the Jonathan Presidency. He pledges to work with Mr. Buhari, and explains why former militants in the region did not carry out their threats to go to war if Mr. Jonathan lost the March 28 presidential election.

Excerpts:

PT: Do you think the South West and the Northern part of Nigeria were marginalized under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan?

Boyloaf: Did people from the South-South benefit? If you come to Bayelsa State, can you count how many people benefited? That is the president’s state. When the APC was going for campaigns, they made a statement that there is a town that they didn’t have light, and people said Otuoke. Then (Gov. Chibuike) Amaechi said “I didn’t mention name”. But can you imagine that in that place there is no road? You see, what Jonathan did was that he favoured the North and West. Go to the Niger Delta and see. He favoured the North. He did Almajiri. Then go to the West you will see the railway, you will see all what he’s doing there. What is happening in Niger Delta? Nothing! It is better to go there and see things for yourself. Jonathan did not do anything for his people, for his region.

PT: Maybe he planned to do that in his second term in the office?

Boyloaf: I don’t believe in that. Charity begins at home. Jonathan was supposed to have started from his area because anything can happen the next day like what has happened now. So, what are you telling me? What about (late President Umaru) Yar’Adua? He did the airport in Katsina. He started from his own area. See, that is what Jonathan was supposed to do to. I have that belief right from time because they never wanted a Niger Delta person to be in government. We know that one because they will seal a lot of deals. I am a mariner. I know what is going on at the sea.  For instance, like we are talking about subsidy, we know the people that do deals.

PT: What about the East West road?

Boyloaf: If Buhari comes and if he wants the Niger Delta people to work with him, we will be ready to work with him. It was not Jonathan that started the East-West Road. Obasanjo started the road and then Yar’Adua inherited it. Also, after the death of Yar’Adua, Jonathan inherited it and it continued from there. Governance is continuous process. As Buhari comes on board he will also inherit it and finish it. That is my belief for sure.

PT: Are you afraid that the incoming government will terminate the pipeline contract?

Boyloaf: Well, to me I am not afraid of anything. I am fully confident and if they terminate it the better for us because we will know that the government doesn’t want peace. So, that’s my own belief. I’m not afraid of anything. We will be ready to work with any person that has the Niger Delta people at heart. If you come with good ideas I think we will also work with you.

PT: What if he terminates it?

Boyloaf: We will see what will happen. God is not a man. If he terminates the contracts, I think there are other ways we can make it from. So, nobody cares.

PT: How would you want to work with the incoming government?

Boyloaf: Well, we are one Nigeria. Since we have taken amnesty we are bound to take up and follow all the processes. If he (Buhari) wants to work with us we will be there to work with him. I think there is nobody that will come into this country that will not want the assistance of the Niger Delta. This is because that is where the major resource of this country comes from. So, you must need the Niger Delta people except you want division in the country. That is when you don’t have the love for the people of this nation.

PT: What do you expect the Buhari Government to do about the Amnesty Programme? Some people are pushing that it should be suspended?

Boyloaf: There is one thing you need to know. Let me tell you something – the production this time around compared to some years back is increasing and the amnesty is something that has come to stay. And if the government wants to scrap the amnesty it means the government doesn’t mean well for the nation. That’s my own belief. Let me tell you something – people were also inciting others that the government wants to scrap the amnesty. I have been in the Niger Delta trying to pacify them and telling them that it is a lie and that the government will work with them. They wanted to start destruction. There is no way that you will come out and say you will scrap the amnesty. How many people can you kill? How many? The Niger Delta terrain is very different and our struggle is very sacrosanct. That is one thing you get. So you cannot kill everybody. Look at Boko Haram – their area is a desert and it is easy for vehicles to move.

When you talk about our area it is not a desert. It is not passable by vehicle but strictly on water and by the time you use your chopper in the night and come and finish and go, what will happen in the night? All these are just sycophants that don’t mean well for this nation. With what I have seen in Buhari, he will want peace. That is my belief.

PT: What if he insists on scrapping it, what will happen?

Boyloaf: Nothing will happen but God is not a man. We will remain in Nigeria and see how Nigeria will be. That is my belief.

PT: Will you go back to the creeks?
Boyloaf: Time shall tell.

PT: Some people believe that the South West and the North worked against Goodluck Jonathan, what do you think?

Boyloaf: Really, our struggle is beyond the presidency and it was Yar’Adua that gave us amnesty. When he gave us amnesty there were some things he pronounced and some infrastructural development that he was supposed to put in place like the coastal road and all of a sudden he died. May his soul rest in peace! And when Jonathan came on board and you know just for the fact that he (Jonathan) is from Niger Delta, we just embraced him. But he is not the best. That is one thing that I will assure you. I believe more in Yar’Adua who was even on his sick bed. There was no way sycophants will go to Yar’Adua and say all sorts of rubbish. Yar’Adua will confirm from the end and know the real thing to do, not our brother Jonathan who surrounds himself with sycophants. And there is no way we will destroy his government because tomorrow other people from other ethnic regions will say the Niger Delta people are the ones responsible for the destruction of their own
government. So we just let everything like that. Since Buhari has emerged the winner, I think we will be there to work with him if he wants to work with us and put in place all what Yar’Adua was supposed to do. That is my own belief.

PT: Would you work with Buhari himself?

Boyloaf: Well, in Niger Delta we need so many works to be done. In Niger Delta we have some kind of security programme we are supposed to indulge our people in to also protect the system especially the oil facility in the region. I think all these things are there and also the infrastructural development that Yar’Adua was supposed to put on. It will be the responsibility of Buhari to carry on what Yar’Adua started. So, there are so many things to be done.

PT: You and other former militant leaders boasted that if Jonathan loses you will go to war. So, when are you going to war?

Boyloaf: Who will go to war? Is Nigeria for one ethnic region? Nigeria is for everybody. It is not for one ethnic region. When you want to oppress one region that is when the region will stand up for their right. But we are all Nigerians. Nobody will go to war. Who will go to war?

PT: What is your view on the outcome of the elections?

Boyloaf: Well, it has come and gone as you can see. Every man has its game to play but the only advice I will give this incoming government is that they should beware of sycophants and don’t listen to people that would create problems for the administration. With what I am seeing, you know people have been saying that during the time of Buhari, during his military era, when he took over from Shagari, the governors that were working with the South-South people were the people he jailed. So, people are saying that now as he is coming on board he wants to make sure that he deals with many of the South-South people in this government to recover so many things.

PT: What, if he wants to scraps the Niger Delta Ministry?

Boyloaf: Well, we will watch what he is coming with, not that we will draft something and say you want to push it. Gone are those days when you just want to intimidate some people from the same region. Nobody is scared of anything. That is my belief.

PT: Are we going to see you in a political party soon?

Boyloaf: I am not a politician. I think any government that comes so long as they have the interest of the Niger Delta at heart, we will work with them.

PT: Do you work with any particular party?

Boyloaf: I work with everybody. For instance, when the APC came to my place in Bayelsa state, I received them. Even my former governor, Timipreye Silva, slept in my house. I received many of the APC people. I even gave them breakfast and dinner before they left. I also received PDP people. I sponsored my younger brother to contest the House of Assembly election, which was rigged. You know the system of Nigeria where people hijack ballot papers and work without even using the card readers and they went and thumb-printed. I think we are going to the tribunal.

PT: How will the Niger Delta receive Jonathan now that he is coming back home?

Boyloaf: To me, as a matter of fact Jonathan disappointed us. That is my own opinion. He disappointed us. To me, he disappointed us. He might be good to some people. There is nothing to tell if you get to my own state. We didn’t benefit. People like us did not benefit from his government. His government focused on one side. The Bayelsans did not benefit. It is only the Arugbos – that is Ondo State and Delta State – that benefited from his government. So, someone like me will not welcome him. I will not welcome him at all. The struggle continues.

PT: Do you speak for a large number of people?

Boyloaf: They are even more bitter than I am. Jonathan empowered many foot soldiers, the Niger Delta ex-agitators, foot soldiers. But in Bayelsa, he didn’t empower people and that is the state he comes from.

PT: What of the importation of oil?

Boyloaf: We know about the importation; we know how they killed the refinery system just for them to be importing products. Government should be subsidizing for them. All those types of bad deals we know. We are not kids; they are just telling people they are increasing fuel price. That is rubbish. We know what is going on. I am a full mariner. We know what is going on. They know what they were doing. When Jonathan stopped all these things, that was when they were mad. Look, these people import 30 per cent of fuel into the country and they know their landing costs. As soon as they get to the country they will queue. Sometimes, they don’t come with the 50, 000 metric tonnes. They will come with 30,000 metric tonnes and sign for the 50,000 metric tonnes. They will look for a tank farm pump into it and take 10,000 aside to the neighbouring country and sell.

That is what is done. So, the masses don’t know because they are not in the river. We know the deals they are doing. So, when Jonathan came and saw these things and stopped them they were mad. They are ready to throw Jonathan. We know everything going on. So, that’s the deal they’ve been doing. Even Diezani (Petroleum Resources Minister) that you are talking about saw all the rubbish they are doing and she sacked some people and stopped so many things they were doing. That is why they are accusing Diezani. She didn’t do anything. She is from my region. They thought we are fools. Who are the major beneficiaries of the oil blocks? It is the northerners and a few from East and West. The northerners are the major owners of oil blocks. Is it their region? What are you telling us? Are we fools? Were we born to be a second class citizen in this our country?

PT: What is your impression about those stealing the oil?

Boyloaf: Nobody is stealing. Can you steal your property? Who are the people stealing oil? Does the oil belong to them? I don’t believe in the saying that people are stealing oil.

PT: What about the Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke?

Boyloaf: No matter her stand she is from Niger Delta. Even if she didn’t take care of her people we don’t care but sometimes Niger Delta people unite and I believe Diezani is a trap set for the Nigerian Government. They believe the Buhari Administration would want to deal with her and so she is like a trap, and that is my own belief. I have heard people talk about it and if you are a northerner in that position if he leaves they will not touch him. What about that man Diezani took over from? What is his name again? I think he is dead now. They did a lot of deals, oil blocks and all the rest. People are aware of it and even the northerners. When Yar’Adua was even sick, even dead, they forged his signatures and did all those things, nothing happen. So, Niger Delta people are not fools.