Reaction trails issuance of governoship certificate to Uche Ogah

Heated arguments have trailed the issuance of certificate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Uche Ogah as Abia state governor.

The new Abia state governor receiving his certificate of return from INEC
Naij.com earlier reported that Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, INEC’s director of publicity, said the certificate was issued following an order by the Abuja Federal High Court mandating the commission to immediately issue Certificate of Return to Uche Ogah who polled the second highest number of votes in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Abia state.

Nigerians and mostly Abians have taken to social maedia in reaction to the controversy within state.

Olawunmi Rasheed Oladipo said: “It’s party mandate not the candidates…PDP won the election not Ikpeazu so PDP candidate should occupy the seat but it’s about the general election then it goes to other party.”

Richard Eneojo Akubo said: “Normally the second party was suppose to have become the new governor how can u win an election u didn’t contest for was up with Nigeria.”

Ken George said: “It is his mandate and as he assumes office may the good God whom you serve see you through in Jesus name. Amen. Abia must rejoice.”

Nkeiru Nzenwa George said: “Its not his mandate, he didn’t contest in any election, its has been amended, that justice gave that judgement in error, we shall see as we move on, except for the power that be is manipulating, else it won’t stand.”

Johnson Nwabueze said: “So INEC can’t wait for the outcome of the court of appeal before issuing another certificate of return. Did INEC withdraw Ipkeazu own or is this another conspiracy. Is it in line with electoral act? More explanations required.”

Achuson Offor Richard said: “I think u r not good wt Nigeria political history. Try and find out hi d saboteur and greatest fool of them rotimi amaechi emerged as river state governor!”

Hon Desmond Ugbo was of the opinion that “If it is confirmed actually that Governor Okezie presented a fake tax clearance prior to PDP primaries, it means that the second runner’s up party will be the beneficial of the election and not the PDP second runner’s up.
The judgement is miscarried and defective.”

“Though, Ikpeazu has filed a notice of appeal already, so the presentation of certificate of returns by INEC is an exercise in futility,” Hon Desmond added.

Richard Eneojo Akubo said: “The thing is how can u emerge a winner of a competition u didn’t compete for that is like say Nigeria could win nations cup which they did not qualify for.”

Vic Nnaemeka Adiele admonished saying: “My people my people we abians should be very very careful in this case follow the rule of law avoid crisis,because this judgment may cause heavy problem in abia if not taking, am not a prophet or a politician just common man with common sense . Thanks that’s my word of advice.”

Meanwhile, the embattled Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, on Thursday, urged the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding following the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of the state.

Ikpeazu, who in a statement said he remained the state’s governor said: “I have received with concern, report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of Abia State, despite dependency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay. “I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation, unless and until the appellant courts have co

Forgery Case: We are being assaulted - Senate

– Nigerian senate has responded to the statement issued by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr David Babachir Lawal that the Senate is not the one on trial

– Senate says Saraki, Ekweremadu not mentioned by petitioners

Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu are on trial for allege forgery
The Nigerian senate has responded to the statement issued by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr David Babachir Lawal that the Senate is not the one on trial in the Forgery case instituted by the Attorney General of the Federation against the Senate President and his Deputy.

The SGF explained this in a statement released on Wednesday, June 29, stated that a case of forgery is always brought upon individuals. Lawal stressed the fact that a case like certificate forgery was the reason for the resignation of a Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari.
But speaking through its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said it disagree with the position of the SGF and maintain it earlier stand that “it is the Senate that is the target of the present attempt to intimidate the legislature to force a leadership change in the Senate.”

Speaking further, he said “Mr. Babachir Lawal should tell us how reasonable it is to conclude that when the President of Nigeria and the Vice President are being jointly tried in a suit whose outcome can remove them from office, it is not the Buhari Government that is being targeted.

“It is also imperative to clearly state that contrary to the claim by the SGF, neither the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki nor Senator Ike Ekweremadu were mentioned by the petitioners, the statements by those interviewed by the police or even the police report.

“Meanwhile, let us refreshen Mr. Lawal’s  memory about the facts of the 1999 case. It is obvious that the Senate President and his deputy are not being accused of certificate forgery as it happened in ex-Speaker Salisu Buhari’s case. Therefore, nobody should compare an apple with orange. Also, neither Saraki nor Ekweremadu is below the age requirement for their present  position as it was alleged in the Buhari case. Attempts to make the two situations look similar is to present all Nigerians as having no sense of history.

“We also know that nobody can be accused of forging his own signature. The executive is in no position to determine what is the correct Standing Orders of the Senate. The Senate President and his Deputy were as at the morning of the June 9, 2015 inauguration of the Senate mere Senators-elect and could therefore not have been in a position to influence any alteration in the rule book.

“The Senate as an institution, and indeed the National Assembly, has spoken about their understanding of the present assault on their independence by the executive’. We maintain that this trial is a design by the Executive to criminalize the internal affairs of the Senate to create a distraction for the leadership of the Senate, force a leadership change and cow the legislators.

“Those behind this plot find this trial more expedient and important than finding tangible solutions to the multi-various socio-economic problems bedeviling the country. However, we are sure they will fail in this attempt. We only hope they will allow the judiciary to truly and creditably perform its duties and give independent verdict on the case.

ENTERTAINMENT: How the father of my child dumped me - Uche Ogbodo

– Top Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo opened up why she is not in a relationship

– She revealed how her baby daddy has never taken responsibility of their child

On Tuesday, May 17, Nollywood actress Uche Ogbodo clocked 30-years old and hosted her close friends, family and colleagues to a private dinner party.

In an interview with Punch Newspaper, the beautiful mother of one revealed how the father of her daughter has never taken responsibility of their child, voiced out her opinion on how she feels about relationships as she gets lonely most of the times.

Addressing the issue of her baby daddy, Uche Ogbodo said: “I don’t have any relationship with the father of my child; we don’t talk. One would think that because we have a child we would be cool with each other but in reality, the case is otherwise. I have not seen any effort from him to reach out to me or our child. Ironically, my baby’s first word was daddy. Maybe she misses having a father figure in her life but I know she will adapt, I am strong and my baby is a strong girl.”

Speaking on how she feels anytime she gets lonely and addressing why she is not involved in any serious relationship, she disclosed that although she gets lonely most times because she has nobody to talk to but it is all due to the fact that, it is not easy trusting men again.

Uche Ogbodo said: “Sometimes it gets lonely because there is nobody to talk to. Not that there are no men but because of all the hurts and disappointment I have been through, it is not easy trusting again. Like I say to some of my friends, it is no longer as easy as it used to be for me to trust a man again. Dating is easy but being in a proper relationship is very difficult. Once beaten, twice shy. It is so hard for me to trust someone, to know if he is coming for good and he is not going to betray my trust and hurt me.”

“It is hard that I don’t have a friend even though there are so many men out there. But then, to get that right person that makes you feel he is your friend; someone that would never hurt me and would be there for better and for worse and I can open my fears to, is difficult and I miss that. I am also not in a hurry to have that because I am too scared to trust a man. It is a personal demon now. Marriage is not the first thing on my mind because I am not stable emotionally but I want to be in a relationship because I want to be loved. I want to have someone pray for me, talk to me and relate with me. I would love that so much but it is so difficult finding that person and if care is not taken, you can just keep going in and out of relationships without knowing the right person.”

On being a single mother and how she has been rocking motherhood, she disclosed that the main challenge of being a single mother is the fact that you are running two jobs because you have to raise the child up properly as well as taking care of the finances.

She said: “There really isn’t any challenge in motherhood; the main challenge is in being a single mother. As a single mother, you are doing the job of two people on your own ranging from the financial aspect to raising a child. The challenges would be that sometimes I am not able to do some things that I would if I were not with a child as a single girl; now I have to consider my child first. Sometimes there are some extravagances that I am supposed to indulge in but I cannot. It is just like when I had my baby, because I had to pay for my trip to the US and also foot my medical bill, I could not get the latest car that I wanted to drive then. It is one of the challenges that I faced, if I had someone to support me, like a partner, the financial burden would have been less. There is no challenge in nurturing my baby because she gives me so.”

Breaking! Buhari's body guard linked to Boko Haram arrested

– A totally shocking report is emanating from the presidential villa

– One of the body guards of President Muhammadu Buhari has been allegedly linked to the Boko Haram insurgent attacks

– Corporal Hassan Aminu is President Buhari’s body guard who has been arrested for having some things to do with the terrorist group

Vanguard learnt that the presidency could not be reached to confirm the arrest of a body guard to President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been allegedly linked to the Boko Haram terrorist group.

NAIJ.com authoritatively gathered that sources close to the presidency said the issue currently is a security issue and only the National Security Adviser (NSA) could comment on it.

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president
Corporal Hassan Aminu is alleged to have a link with the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

Vanguard further gathered that there are reports that Aminu has been taken into custody by security operatives for interrogation.

Several telephone calls and SMS sent to both presidential media aides, Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu were not answered or replied even as at 8:35 pm.

We will bring you further details on this story, as more information trickles in on this important development.

SHOCKING: APC is requesting President Buhari to do the impossible. (Details)

– President Muhammadu Buhari as been asked to invite Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to lead his campaign against corruption

– Comrade Saleh has said that Ribadu is the missing key in the president’s fight against graft

– The president has been urged to reach out to some former members of the APC to make a more formidable team

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to bring in people like former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to help pursue his agenda of probity, and the fight against corruption.

APC ask Buhari to restore Ribadu to help in the president’s fight against corruption.
Buhari has been urged to bring back the former anti corruption czar to ensure that those who feast on the common wealth of the nation return their loots.

President of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Coalition for Peace and Mobilisation (NACOPEM), Comrade Ahmed Saleh made the call on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association, Comrade Saleh also voiced the readiness of the group to reach out to some important members of the APC, who either left the party in anger or were misled into leaving in the run up to the 2015 general elections.

Saleh however, insisted that “We need the likes of Nuhu Ribadu and many others to rejoin the party and support this government to fight corruption and help Mr President address the multifaceted problems we have been facing since independence”.

The group said as part of its assigned mandate, as members of the peace and mobilisation of the APC, its investigations revealed that what the government needs at this critical point in time to fight corruption is for President Buhari to call on credible Nigerians, who it said possess the know-how, intelligence, ability and the strategy to fight corruption.

“I mention people like Ribadu because I remember when $15 million was brought to him in an attempt to bribe him. How many people can resist such temptation at this present day? Today, former Governor James Ibori is in jail partly due to his efforts,” he said.

BREAKING: Foremost Nigerian writer dies

One of the foremost Nigerian writers, Elechi Amadi has passed away at the age of 82.

Amadi who is considered one of the best Nigerian novelists reportedly passed away at the Good Heart hospital in Port Harcourt.

Vanguard reports that Bar Wabueze Amadi who is a member of the family confirmed the passing away of one of the Africa’s first generation writers.

Dr Dakuku Peterside who is the director general of NIMASA described the late writer as a man who touched the lives of many people.

“Captain Elechi Amadi, certainly was a man of many parts who touched lives in many ways. And he will be remembered for good by many people who met him physically or through his books. He was a well known author, publisher, soldier and statesman who was concerned about a better society.

“My generation will definitely remember him more for his great books like the Concubine, the Great Ponds, Sunset in Biafra, Estrangement, the Slave and a collection of poems.

Cover page of the Concubine 

“It is regrettable that Amadi passed away at a time when Rivers, our dear state is still far away from the aspirations of its founding fathers like him and most sons and daughters of the state. There is no doubt that Elder Elechi Amadi and other founding fathers will be weeping in their graves at the state of Rivers State. Nigeria and the international literary community has lost a creative giant.

“The departed patriot, no doubt, had a remarkable life and he will surely be remembered for serving humanity with literature and his interventions. May his soul find eternal rest in the Lord.”

Nigerian army reveals the source of coup allegations

– Several days ago Niger Delta militants exposed the plot by the Nigerian army to overthrow the incumbent government of President Buhari

– The military have denied the news about the plot and revealed the source of the rumours

Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the chief of army staff, has revealed those who are standing behind the rumours to overthrow the government of Muhammadu Buhari.

While Buratai didn’t give concrete names, he has blamed some officers and political class of being responsible for this.

COAS further cautioned against any army misadventure, saying probes were ongoing to unmask those behind the speculation.

He said: “We are much better under democracy. Military misadventure in democracy should not repeat itself.

“We see it as an attempt to show some misgivings by some officers and the political class, but they will fail.”

Meanwhile, Buratai restated the fact that the military will remain apolitical and professional, as it sustains its operation to free the schoolgirls and other captives.

The Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force had last week alleged of a sinister plan by some unnamed army officers to topple the democratically-elected government of Buhari.

The army responding to accusation claimed that the story was fabricated to achieve cheap publicity and also meant to heat up the polity and cause public apprehension.

However, later top military commanders were convoked for emergency meeting over the rumours.

BREAKING: Abuja High Court sacks Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP chairman

– An Abuja High court has sacked Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP’s national chairman

– The court nullified the 2014 PDP constitution amendment upon which Sheriff was appointed as the PDP chairman

– Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction is presently conducting the party’s governorship primaries in Benin City for the Edo state governorship election

The embattled national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff has been removed by an Abuja high court on Wednesday, June 29.

The court presided over by Justice Valentine Ashi (court 29), sacked the party’s chairman from office by nullifying the 2014 PDP constitution amendment upon which Sheriff was appointed as the PDP chairman.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction is presently conducting a governorship primaries  in Benin City for the Edo state governorship election.

 Sheriff, a former governor of Borno state, was appointed as PDP’s national chairman in the interim by the party’s stakeholders after former deputy national chairman, Chief Uche Secondus from the South-East was removed from the position of acting chairman based on the zoning arrangement.
The 2014 amendment had purportedly zoned the office of the party chairman to the North-East zone.

Meet the senator who is witnessing against Saraki in court

– APC senator says he is not testifying against Saraki as the president’s aide

– Adds that when was in the Senate, the rules were never changed

Senator Babafemi Ojudu is one of the witnesses against Senate president, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over forgery allegations.

Ojudu who is the special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on political matters, in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 28, insisted that his role as a witness in the case involving Saraki and others for allegedly forging the Senate Standing Rules, does not have anything to do with his role with the presidency.

The former Ekiti lawmaker also added that his position as a witness is as a member of the Unity Forum, a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nigerian Senate.

Saraki, Ekweremadu and two other key members of the Senate were dragged to court by the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami over allegations of forgery and conspiracy and Ojudu happened to be one of those testifying against he Senate president.

“My statement and other witnesses’ statement were taken months before my appointment. As a member of the Unity Forum, I am one of those who worked for Senator Ahmed Lawan as the preferred candidate for the Senate Presidency in the June 9, 2015 election.

“There are three groups of senators, they are: the Unity Forum, Like Minds and the Non-Aligned. The Unity Forum comprises both serving and non-serving senators. I am an active member, being a senator in the 7th Senate from 2011 to 2015,” his statement obtained by The Nation revealed.

While stressing that the rules were never tampered with during his four-year stint with the Nigerian senate, Ojudu lamented that tampering with the rules by the current Senate “was seen as a misnomer by us and that was why we petitioned the police.

“The statement we did to the police on the matter predated my appointment and that of Senator Ita Enang. It will therefore be preposterous for anyone to classify me as representing the Presidency on the matter.”

Meanwhile, Mrs Ezenwude Nwakego was one of those who protested in front of the courthouse during the arraignment of Saraki and others, and she made her grievances known with a Holy Bible.

Nwakego said she was praying for God to intervene in the case of Nigeria and taking a cue from Psalm 109, stated: “Let God judge this Nigeria; there is no food, we are lacking many things, no work for all the graduates.”

ENTERTAINMENT: Stephanie Linus blasts Nigerian leaders

Award winning Nollywood actress cum movie producer, Stephanie Linus over the years has climbed up the ladder is no doubt at the peak of her career at the moment, as her movie Dry is receiving many awards.

Having winning several awards at the Africa Magic Viewer Choice Awards (AMVCA) and also at the just concluded Africa Movie Academy Awards, Stephanie Linus in an interview with NAIJ.COM, revealed how she and her husband have trained over a thousand students and voiced out her opinion about piracy in Nigeria.

What plans do you have in stock to train worthy aspiring actor and directors?

You know we have been doing that. My husband is the CEO of Delyork International and over the years he has been fine and doing great. He partnered with the New York film academy and brought in a lot of lectures and we have trained over a thousand students and we see all our students doing well, even with the one month training they had, they have been able to shoot their own movies, get jobs and so many other things, so we are really happy about that and hopefully it is something we want to continue to do because we need a lot of talent, people to enhance their talent and redefine them. But at least we have been able to do different things In Nigeria so they should stop ‘yabbing’ Nigerians.

If your biography is to be commissioned, what will the title be and why?

(Laughs) The thing has not finished nah, we have just started Abeg. Okay what will the title be? (laughs) maybe when I get there I can title it, I can title it “I have seen” but right now I can think of anything, I am on the sort.

Moving down to the industry, piracy is a big problem, how has it affected you?

It is ridiculous you know that is one of the speech that I actually forgot to have say, on my way home I realized that there is one more thing I needed to say (laughs)  and I was like how did I forget this. It still balls down that we live in a country where (sighs) I don’t know what is wrong with our leaders, you know sometimes you see an industry or a sector that is employing millions of people, a sector that is striving very well, a sector that is the only export that you have, forget this oil that they are talking about it is the only authentic export that you have and an export that has been able to grow on its own, as its own massive fellowship and has this huge potential for you to tell your story, for you to not allow other people tell your stories for. It can be used as a propaganda tool so many things you can do with this platform and you are not doing anything to protect the rights of this people, so that there will be sustainability. It is really sad because regardless of people saying you have this guilt coiling in, we just need to strengthen the laws because if you don’t fix piracy, distribution can’t stand. Make it a financial crime, criminalize this people, if we have to go back and revisit the law. If the law says if someone pirates your film you are going to pay this amount of money, let’s fit the law in and tighten it and let people understand that you can’t be doing things with people’s creativity.

You have to figure out a way to encourage this people, it saddens me when we have leaders who don’t understand what they have in their place, I can go into a country confidently that is why I said most of us will probably move out and if I move into a country. Different African countries are calling us to come in and help our people their economy, for example we were able to move into Ghana and you saw what happened there, the industry strung up. So you have this huge potential of millions of young people who want to be in this industry and you are not doing anything about it. It is like carrying a cup of water and pouring it into the ocean, if we don’t lock up the tap where there i

Emeka Ike speaks on affairs within AGN

– Emeka Ike speaks on nature of things within Actors’ Guild of Nigeria

– The controversial actor added that several opposing figures have chosen to disrespect the rule of law

Controversial Nollywood actor Emeka Ike has spoken on the nature of the things within the actors’ guild in Nigeria.

According to Ike who currently serves as the president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria following a court order in March, 2016, some conglomerates are against the progress of the organization.

Speaking to Hip TV in a recent chat, the veteran actor explained that despite the court ruling, there are some unruly elements still willing to disobey the court injunction.

He said: “Justice has been done but some people are saying that they are bigger than justice. So they are pulling all the strings they can to make sure that justice is frustrated.

“But we are working to make sure that we tell them that justice is justice. They have to obey justice or they let go. So that’s where we are at.”

On his relationship with the former president of the guild, Ibinabo Fiberesima, he explained that things are cool between them but the press has chosen to blow things out of proportion.

He said: “Honestly, I’m cool. I’m so cool with Ibinabo but you are not getting the gist because the press likes changing the message.

“The gist is that this whole thing os not about Ibinabo or Segun Arinze. [The people doing these] are all paid stooges. They are paid to have press conferences.

“And I know who I’m fighting, they are bigger conglomerates. They are multinationals, not Segun Arinze my brother, not Ibinabo. These are my friends.”

He then added that the guild is moving forward stating that all he’s done was get the organization involved in a legal reform in order to create better structure for growth.

See the interview below:

Recall that the face-off between Emeka Ike and Ibinabor Fiberesima over the leadership of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, coupled with Emeka’s marriage troubles in 2015, left both parties in a state of unfriendliness to say the least.

Following this, after Ibinabo was sentenced to jail for manslaughter, Ike came out to deny having any hand in the actress’ misfortunes.

He stated that they had all been in court on the basis of addressing problems before the Actors’ Guild rather than on Ibinabo’s accidental murder of a medical doctor 11 years ago.

It is not news that Ibinabo knocked down one Giwa Suraj in a car accident along the Lekki-Epe expressway 11 years ago. The deceased was a medical doctor and the breadwinner of his family.

Emeka Ike’s involvement stems from allegations that he anonymously wrote an article in a newspaper recently seeking justice for late Dr. Giwa Suraj, a move that has reportedly propelled the fresh court charges against Ibinabo.

He has also accused her several times of impersonating him as the president of the guild especially after an Abuja Federal High Court told her to leave office.

But in an interview with Olisa TV, the actor denied being happy over her current predicaments.

He said: “I should not be assumed to be happy with the present travail of Ibinabo Fiberesima.

“We are in court on the matter of our guild, the Actors Guild of Nigeria, not on the issue of death or motor accident. I don’t wish jail for her.”

He added that he had only been in the court recently to get her out of office as the lawfully demanded. He stated that he was not about rejoicing over her jail term as his only concern was the presidency of the guild.

He said: “Ibinabo has been impersonating to be the president. I am the president. I only want her to vacate the office. “If she has a case and jailed for it, it has nothing to do with me.”

Justice Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos division of the C

BREAKING: Tompolo begs President Buhari in a new letter

– The embattled ex-militant chief, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, writes an open letter to President Buhari

– Former Niger Delta war lord complains Buhari on the Nigerian army, which had not returned his symbol of authority

– Tompolo appealed to Buhari to return looted items and to release innocent people

Tompolo in an open letter to President Mohammadu Buhari has said that the Nigeria military during one of their raids on his community have taken his symbol of authority as the chief priest of Egbesu Shrine, Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Vanguard reports that former Niger Delta militant stated that the incident happened about 31 days ago when soldiers stormed Oporoza in his absence in search for him on allegation that he was behind the bombing of oil facilities in the region.

Tompolo, in a letter to the president, expressed the wish to meet with Buhari saying that the meeting would present him with an opportunity to tell President Buhari “my side of the numerous stories you have been inundated about me.”

He wrote: “As I said in my previous publications, the military made away with the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu Shrine, which I am the Chief Priest. They also made away with other valuables worth several millions of naira from the community.”

“The most annoying one is the purported arrest of 10 young promising men, most of whom are orphans, who are secondary school students sitting for the West African Senior Secondary School Examinations (WASSCE) and other palace staff, and labeled them as members of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“As I write you now, these innocent young promising men are still with your military for no reason. This is truly man’s inhumanity to man in our own country. We are presently being treated like conquered people because of crude oil.

“Mr. President, please kindly direct your army to return the looted items, including the symbol of authority, and also release those innocent young men to continue their academic programme, even though they have missed the WASSCE for this year.

“Mr President, remember, there is no condition that is permanent. I have kept faith in this country. I have contributed in no small measure to the development of this country. It is my prayer that God Almighty should preserve me and meet you again to tell you my side of the numerous stories you have been inundated about me.

“This was how they arrested Chevron Nigeria Limited Staff on routine duty in Kokodiagbene community of Gbaramatu kingdom, and labeled them members of Niger Delta Avengers. It took spirited effort by leaders of the kingdom and other well meaning Nigerians to convince the military, that the arrested men were not involved in pipeline destruction.

“Mr President, sir, please permit me to quickly recall a similar incident that occurred in May, 2009, when this same military invaded several communities in Gbaramatu kingdom, under the command of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Traditional worship centres were desecrated, properties were looted and above all, the multi-billion naira ultra-modern magnificent palace of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom was burned down, and his golden crown was stolen by the military.

“As peace loving people, the kingdom approached the courts and demanded compensation for the unlawful invasion and destruction of property, in which the court awarded 99 billion naira in favour of Gbaramatu kingdom. After seven years of that sad incident, the Federal Government is yet to pay the compensation.

APC chieftain speaks about breakup of Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu

– One of the key members of the ruling party has commended President Buhari change course

– However, Anumaka asked the president to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally

– The politician considers Igbo leaders should be blamed for Kanu’s ordeal, not Buhari

One of the chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Tobby Anumaka, Patron Okpoko Igbo, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari concerning the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

In the interview granted to the DailySun he stated that the change mantra of the incumbent government is on course, while asking President Muhamamdu Buhari to release Kanu unconditionally.

Anumaka added that Igbo leaders should be blamed for the plight of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

He said: “We have five governors and traditional rulers, how come nobody is saying anything. The republican nature of Ndigbo is affecting us negatively. Our leaders must be honest and sincere. They cannot claim to be leading us while they are leading us into the ocean. Most of them are after their personal interest and not the collective gain of Ndigbo unlike the Yoruba and those from the Niger Delta who always mount pressure on government to release their activists whenever they fallout with government over agitation for their collective interest”.

“Look at what happened during the last presidential election; if not for Okorocha, Igbo would have lost out completely. No Igbo leader has come out openly and called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Even though I’m not in support of breakup of Nigeria, but Kanu has the right to self-determination. Where are the South-East governors, those at the National Assembly and traditional rulers? Apart from Prof. Ben Nwabueze who is an old man, where are other vibrant Igbo leaders? Why the conspiracy of silence of Igbo leaders over the release of Kanu? Don’t blame Buhari for Kanu’s ordeal but Igbo leaders. The people of South-East are waiting for their leaders to inspire them towards agitation of Kanu’s release”.

“Therefore, I’m using this medium to call on the Federal government to release Mr. Kanu unconditionally”, the politician added.

President Buhari has previously defined Kanu, who holds dual U.K. and Nigerian nationality, as a flight risk and suggested that he should not be granted bail.

The president has also said that Nigeria “will not tolerate” pro-Biafra activists interfering with Nigerian security or the economy.

Meet President Buhari's PA who lives in glass house

Sabiu Tunde is the personal assistant to the president who was appointed immediately after President Buhari won the general elections last year.

And according to @LeadersNG on Twitter, Sabiu lives with his uncle – Mamman Daura- at the Glass house since the president moved to Aso Rock. The Glass house is said to be the closest residence to the president’s.

Recall that Mammam Daura is Buhari’s nephew who allegedly ‘controls’ Nigeria behind-the-scene. There reports that Mammam Daura is so powerful to the point that he holds a special place in the heart of our dear president. In fact, he is said to be so powerful and influential that he holds a position no one has and can ever hold in the life of the Buharis.

This goes to show that even Sabiu Tunde is closely related to our president!

We will not surrender Benue to Fulani Herdsmen - Governor Ortom

– Governor Ortom says Benue state will not accommodate open grazing of cattle

– Ortom reveals that his government would continue to support those who were prepared to ranch their cattle in the state

– The governor said agriculture remained the biggest industry in Benue state

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said that a law to prohibit open grazing of cattle in his state will soon be enacted.

The governor made this disclosure in Makurdi, Benue state capital on Monday, June 27, at the end of the Town Hall Meeting he held with stakeholders in the three senatorial zones of the state.

According to him, his administration will not surrender Benue state to the invading Fulani herdsmen, despite unending attacks on communities in the state, Vanguard reports.

However, Ortom revealed that his government would continue to support those who were prepared to ranch their cattle in the state.

Gov Ortom has said he will not surrender Benue state to the invading Fulani herdsmen, despite unending attacks on communities in the state
The governor said agriculture remained the biggest industry in the state, noting that available land in the state could not accommodate farming and cattle grazing at the same time.

He said: “I have made it clear that we will not surrender Benue to herdsmen. We are saying that we do not have land for grazing. Though we are ready to support those that are prepared to ranch their cows but for those involved in open grazing should find other states because with the new law that would soon come into effect, that practice will not be acceptable in Benue state.”

Governor Ortom commiserated with families who have lost loved ones to the ravaging Fulani herdsmen, assuring them that his administration was working round the clock to ensure that peace reigned across the state.

Eight local government areas in Benue state, comprising Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Gwer-West, Logo, Kwande, Gwer-East and Katsina-Ala, have been under recurrent heavy attacks from the Fulani herdsmen

Reports state that between 300 and 500 people were murdered in Agatu and other communities of Benue earlier in March.

The attacks by Fulani herdsmen has left many Benue residents leaving their various villages for safety.

President Buhari angry with CBN over new policy

– President Muhammadu Buhari believes the newly introduced flexible exchange policy by the CBN is of no benefit to the economy

– Buhari describes the policy as a ruthless devaluation of the Naira

– Buhari places the responsibility of creating jobs on the door steps of the business community

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the current flexibility policy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is of no benefit to the economy, Vanguard reports.

The CBN had introduced the flexible policy to enable market variables determine the value of the naira. The policy came as an economic and market strategy to systematically devalue the Naira, following its free fall recently.

But according to Buhari, the new policy was yet to benefit the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the current flexibility policy recently introduced by the CBN is of no benefit to the economy.
Speaking after breaking his Ramadam fast with members of the Nigerian business community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last night, the President said: “I don’t like the returns I get from the CBN concerning the devaluation of the Naira. How much benefit have we derived from naira devaluation in the past? In August 1985, the Naira was N1.3 to a dollar but now you need N300 or N350 to a dollar. What do we derive from that? How much benefit can we derive from this ruthless devaluation of the Naira.

“I’m not an economist neither a businessman, I fail to appreciate what the economic explanation is. What has happened to us now is that we have maneuvered ourselves into mono-economy which led to the collapse we are seeing now.”

However, President Buhari placed the responsibility of creating jobs on the door steps of the business community.

He noted that as part of plans to diversify the economy, 13 states have been identified that can produce rice that will feed the nation in 18 months.

He agreed with the business community that Nigeria will be in trouble, describing as disappointing that Nigeria imported things like tomatoes, rice, wheat among others that can be produced in the country.

Buhari had, in February in Egypt, said he was not in support of devaluation of the naira. He said Nigeria, which is not an exporting nation, would be worst hit if the naira was devalued.

Also, in March, in Kenya, while addressing Nigerians in that country, Buhari said he won’t kill the naira.

However, on June 2, President Muhammadu Buhari supported plans by the CBN to move to a flexible exchange rate market. The president reportedly gave his approval for the CBN to begin implementation of the flexible exchange rate system.

Niger Delta militants open fire in Ogun state

– The gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants opened fire on the government convoy in the Ogun state

– The militants prevented Princess Yetunde Onanuga, deputy governor, from visiting Ebute – Ibafo in Obafemi Owode local government area

The Nation reports that the gunmen suspected to be Niger Delta militants took over part of Ebute – Ibafo in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state and stopped the government convoy from accessing the community.

Princess Yetunde Onanuga, deputy governor, was accompanied to the community by soldiers, police officers and operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

The aim of the visit was to evaluate the level of destruction to the community.

However, Onanuga was stopped midway by the militants who opened fire on the security agents and made them into a retreat.

Secretary of the state government Taiwo Adeoluwa, who was also in the onvoy, speaking afterwards said the federal government needs to intervene in the matter.

“The team led by the deputy governor of the state cannot access a part of our state. It means without mincing words, the federal government needs to get involved in this. This is clearly beyond the capacity of the police. We believe a major task force, like the one we have in Niger Delta is necessary and desirable now,” he said.

Following the continuation of the attacks on the oil and gas facilities in the oil rich region the Federal government might deploy some war-tested soldiers from the North-East to the Niger Delta to curb activities of the militants.

At the same time, the militants dared President Buhari to visit the area.

A MUST READ: An Open Letter to Olusegun Obasanjo

Editor’s note: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is considered a national icon and an elder statesman in Nigeria’s politics and a respected former president in the continent.

In this open letter to the former president, Bada Yusuf points out that in spite of the successes and recognition Obasanjo may receive, his work is incomplete if the Yoruba’s don’t benefit from it.

Excellency Sir, Chief Oluṣẹgun Mathew Okikiọla Arẹmu Ọbasanjọ; as it is pertinent to note your achievement in our national politics especially in the area of installing democracy in Nigeria. You remain the longest serving Yoruba leader at the national level, your transition of power from military to civilian and much later from one civilian to another remain a feat that should forever be celebrated in the Western part of the country, but unfortunately, the Yorubas appear to be the casualties of your political achievement.

I am writing this letter to you because of the state of affairs in the Yoruba nation, this is not for partisan consideration as you may consider yourself more subjected to Nigeria than Yoruba but what I know for sure is nowhere is as absolute as home and I believe this is why you have no other place to return to than Ota in Ogun State (One of the core part of the Yoruba nation) and this is one reason why a young Yoruba youth like me wonder why all the glory Yoruba people still remembered for are what Chief Obafemi Awolowo had put in place in the Yoruba Nation, and this is why I feel it is necessary to write you an open letter as an elder.

Excellency Sir, we are in a country where average life expectancy is put at 47.6 years, you have crossed 80 years. What do you want to be remembered for after 30 years of your death? What legacy are you putting on the tongue of the young Yorubas to talk about you? There are several legacies that Awolowo is being remembered for today, in term of development in the Yoruba nation in which the Yoruba masses benefitted immensely from and many of us still dream of such achievements, especially we that were not born then, I will like to address few of them in this letter. The few include education and agriculture.

Awolowo’s free education system in the defunct western government put the Yorubas at the front in term of intellectual progress, scholarships were provided for the intelligent less privileged, people were encourage to go to school, the enthusiasm to go to school overwhelmed the young but after the demise of Awolowo to the stiller town, things fall apart. You have ruled Nigeria both as a military head of state and as a civilian president, how do you improve our education system? Some states under your party did not offer the so called free education, Ogun State, your state specifically did not.

Some states that attempted to offer free education were forced to return some schools to the missionaries due to lack of fund, universities experienced incessant strikes, same with schools and workers and you built a university in which the masses (including the Yorubas) who live below one dollar per day cannot afford, none of your books is less than a thousand naira and your famous presidential library in Abeokuta is yet to start functioning. Athough there are other social activities but the library that will benefit and improve our intellectuals is not yet in place. What would you like to be remembered for Sir?

Cocoa house in Ibadan is another heritage of Awolowo that every Yorubas is proud of, even the youth. I visited cocoa house during your administration and it is nothing to write about as heritage, it a place of shopping malls and road side markets as if nobody is planting cocoa in Yoruba land again and Nigeria at large. Awolowo agricultural economy based immensely developed the western region in all area of human concern, one of the living achievement today is University of Great Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). I can authoritatively tell you that all those buildings built by Awolowo are still as strong as free education heritage.

It is recorded in history that you launched Operation Feed the Nation during your military regime, I want to ask Sir, where is the farm today? We all know your farm in Ota is one of the biggest in present Yoruba nation but what is the contribution of your Ota farm to the development of agriculture in the region, how many Yorubas have access to your farm products?

Olusegun Obasanjo insists he has quit partisan politics.
Sir, it is sometimes provoking that when we youths question our leaders these days of how we lost our glory; the response has always been what are the youths doing to put things right? But the privatization and degrading academic system rendered the youth less innovation and creatively useless. There are thousands of youth who are creative in their area of study but what uses are ideas when you have no money to materialize ideas into reality. Sir, I believe the sun can still dry some tears before it set. The Yorubas are lagging behind in term of development and innovation, what would you like to be remembered for?

Federal Government insists post-UTME remains banned

– Education minister says the announcement was important to re-echo it in the minds of stakeholders

– Argues that only JAMB scores and certificates should be requirements for admission

The federal government has reiterated its desire to place a permanent ban on the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME).

This much was disclosed by Malam Adamu Adamu, Nigeria’s minister of education, who confirmed that the initial ban on the exercise, stated categorically that it (the ban) takes immediate effect.

According to a press statement obtained by Leadership, Adamu said he had to emphasise the ban so as to ensure that no stakeholder is left in doubt on government’s position.

Ben Ben Goong, the deputy director, press and public relations in the ministry of Education, issued the released which read: “For the avoidance of doubt, any educational institution after secondary education is regarded as a tertiary institution. Therefore all tertiary institutions, polytechnics, Colleges of Education, universities or by whatever name it is called after secondary education must be subjected to admission through the JAMB.

“Clearing in this case (screening) entails only the verification of certificates of the candidates, JAMB scores, and any other physical examination to ensure that such candidates are not cultists. After this, the candidates are qualified for matriculation.

“Such screening should be at no cost to the parents or students and should be done upon resumption in order to avoid unnecessary travels in search of admission.”

The minister added that a situation where final year students in the nation’s secondary schools are subjected to too many examinations in one year could be best described as traumatic, exploitative and absolutely unnecessary.

Recently, a report by Daily Sun detailed how some universities have tactfully ignored the directive of the federal government as regards the recent cancellation of post-UTME fees.

According to the report, the universities have devised other means to test applicants and charge administrative fees in the process.

The universities were said to have invited applicants for admission for the 2016/2017 academic session, ask them to pay certain amount and also sit for a screening test before being considered for admission.

BREAKING: Court sacks Gov Ikpeazu of Abia State (Details)

– A Federal High court has ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state to vacate his seat

– Ikpeazu was ordered to vacate his office over the account of fake tax returns prior to the December 2014 governorship election in Abia state

– The court orders INEC to immediately issue a certificate of return to Uche Ogah, who polled the second highest number of votes in the PDP primary

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state for allegedly submitting false information to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, ahead of the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.

In his judgement on Monday, June 27, Justice Okon Abang ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue a certificate of return to the plaintiff, Uche Ogah, who polled the second highest number of votes in the primary, The Punch reports.

Sahara Reporters is reporting that Justice Okon Abang asked the INEC to cease the certificate of return issued to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as he was never qualified to run for the party primaries in the PDP as a guber candidate.

According to the report, the judge also ordered the Chief Judge of the state to swear in, Uche Ogah, his opponent in the Decmeber 2014 gubernatorial election in state as the substantive governor of Abia state.

It was gathered that Ikpeazu was ordered to vacate his office over the account of fake tax returns during the PDP primaries. Justice Abang says Ikpeazu was never qualified to run in the primaries.

Ikpeazu’s problem started after the Nigerian Supreme Court ordered the Federal High Court to retry the case challenging the fraudulent payment of taxes of Governor Ikpeazu before the April 11 governorship election in the state.

It was gathered that some of his opponents in the PDP had approached the Federal High court over the eligibility of Governor Ikpeazu to contest in the primary election conducted for governorship aspirants of the party in the state during the last election in 2015.

Ikpeazu’s opponents had alleged that he was ineligible to contest as he did not pay his taxes of years 2011, 2012 and 2013 as at when due.

According to the group, the taxes he (Ikpeazu) allegedly paid for the three years were paid on the same day. The plaintiff faulted the authenticity of Ikpeazu’s tax clearance certificate and the information contained in his INEC “Form CF100″.

However, in his reaction, Ikpeazu challenged the competence of the Federal High Court Abuja to hear the case but the court overruled his objection. The Court of Appeal however sided him and ruled that the case ought to have been filed at the Abia state High Court.

Determined to get justice, Ikpeazu’s opponents went ahead to seek redress at the Supreme Court following the Court of Appeal ruling and in a judgment handed down on Friday, January 22, by five Supreme Court justices led by Justice Mohammed Muntaka-Coomassie, the court faulted the decision of the Court of Appeal and affirmed the competence of the Federal High Court Abuja to try the case.

The justices ordered the Federal High Court in Abuja to begin a fresh hearing of a suit challenging the qualification of Ikpeazu, adding that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria to ensure that the case is heard.

Following the Supreme Court order, the Federal High Court in Abuja re-opened the case against Ikpeazu after which, the governor was ordered to immediately vacate his office.

Drama as Modu Sheriff arrives Edo for fresh PDP guber primaries

Embattled PDP national chairman Ali Modu-Sheriff
The Ali Modu-Sheriff led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have arrived in Benin, Edo state to conduct another gubernatorial primary election.

According to Daily Independent, the members of the ad hoc delegates committee were lodged in one of the three star hotel in GRA where they were seen putting finishing torches to arrangements for the conduct of the election of ad hoc delegates that will vote during the primaries scheduled for Thursday this week.

The chairman of the committee and former deputy governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi,  told journalists that all was set for the conduct of the ad hoc delegates’ election on Sunday, June 26,

He added that his committee had met with some ward and local government chairmen of the PDP ahead of the exercise.

Gbolarumi said that since their arrival in Benin on Friday, June 24, his committee had been able to take necessary steps ahead of the exercise, pointing out that they have met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and have intimated security operatives  of their mission.

He also said that his committee and other committees that would be coming to Edo state for the purpose of the primary election would  not be working with the Edo state working committee of the party.

The embattled PDP chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, had earlier declared the guber primaries in Edo state as illegal, dismissing it as the work of an  illegal care-taker Committee.

He urged members of the party nationwide especially in Edo State to disregard it.

In a letter signed by the national chairman and the national secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the party through the letter urged INEC not to give legitimacy to what happened in Edo and said that the party is going to conduct a proper primary in the state.

4 states don’t have qualified ambassadorial nominees - SGF

– The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, said 4 states don’t have ambassadorial nominees

– Lawal said the issue raised by the Senate is minor

– The SGF metioned that President Muhammadu Buhari followed due process in drawing up the list

– The list of the ambassadorial nominees was sent to the Senate on Thursday, June 9

The secretary general of the federation, Bachir Lawal
The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, says four states Plateau, Ebonyi, Ondo and Bayelsa do not have ambassadorial nominees, The Cable reports.

The four states without nominees have no career diplomats in the foreign service who met the objective, the SGF said.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists at the weekend, Lawal explained that there were criteria set by the government to pick the nominees, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari followed due process in drawing up a list of ambassadorial nominees, contrary to the fears of the senate.

Lawal said the issues raised by the senate were minor, which could have been settled over the phone.

The SGF also said he would honour the invitation of the senate on July 11, the date set aside by the senate committee on foreign affairs to “interrogate” him and Geoffrey Onyeama, the foreign affairs minister.

“Out of 36 states and the federal capital territory, while the constitution preaches federal character, it does not say that every state must be represented in any appointment, except of course in the case of ministers.

Not in all other appointments, so the spirit of the constitution has been fully satisfied by having 32 ambassadors out of 36 plus one (FCT). I believe that every objective analyst will agree with this,” he said.

‎Lawal also expressed regrets that four states didn’t make it in one way or the other, but maintained that it was “not necessarily on the criteria of seniority”.

The Senate last Wednesday, suspended the screening of 47 ambassadorial nominees whose names President Buhari sent for confirmation on June 9.

The upper chamber cited irregularities in the process of selecting them, and summoned the SGF and Onyeama to explain the reason for the alleged irregularities.

ENTERTAINMENT: Kanye West releases controversial nude video of self and 12 celebs (Photo)

– Kanye West continues to push beyond the limits of generally-acceptable standards in entertainment as he releases Famous

– On June 24, the 39-year-old released the one-of-a-kind video featuring 12 celebs lying naked on a long bed

– The controversial video has since garnered rave reviews, making Kanye West a major trending topic on social media globally

– Though a totally avant-garde approach from West, the video was inspired by US realist painter, Vincent Desiderio

Over the years, Kanye Omari West has grown into a demigod in music, pop culture and fashion trends and he continues to push beyond the many existing boundaries.

His eccentricity has earned him an enviable status in global entertainment, among other things, and he’s leveraged duly by even going as far as signifying intentions to run for presidency in the USA come 2020.

At the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2015, he got on stage for his award and gave an unusual acceptance speech.

He admitted to having smoked a bit of substance before getting on stage, even as he paused and motioned inarticulately a few times in the course of his speech, before revealing in a rather surprising way that he had plans to run for the prestigious office.

He said:

“I will die for the art, and for what I believe in, and the art ain’t always gonna be polite.

“And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020 to run for president.”

The speech ended in minutes, with hysteria from the audience, as West descended from the podium having concluded his announcement.

Kanye is a nonconformist by any stretch of the imagination. He makes music that reach out to the strangest of listeners, employing not-so-used elements that fuse innuendo, sex, bluntness, real life experiences and ghetto lingo into a deliberately controversial body of work.

And with this, he’s succeeded over the years. His fashion line isn’t any different, with the items a deep reflection of his out-of-the-blue, unorthodox thinking.

It’s been a rare blend of interesting and successful career for the 39-year-old entertainer, and it doesn’t look like there’s an end in sight to his antics.

On Friday, June 26, 2016, in the presence of 8,000 people at The Forum in Los Angeles, the rapper released the video for the song Famous which features naked images of several celebrities and politicians in bed, an act that has generated more buzz globally than fire from gasoline and lighters put together.

The footage shows wax models of the popular figures including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Chris Brown, Ray J, Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, Bill Cosby, Anna Wintour, George W Bush and Donald Trump all in bed in the new video which he describes as “a comment on fame”.

In the video, the nude figures are seen sleeping in crumpled white bed sheets, all totally naked.

Cat allegedly transforms into human being in Ibadan (photos)

People around Ring road in Ibadan were thrown into a state of confusion following what appeared to be a display of witchraft

According to a reporter Samson Akindele who is the head of news at Fresh 105.9 FM Ibadan, the incident occurred at dawn on June 21.

The girl was said to be giving off a strong scent of animal feaces that had people wondering if she was really human.

Here’s what the reporter said below:

“This girl was said to have transformed from a cat into a human being at dawn today. She was allegedly found as a cat in the store of a house at Ring road area in Ibadan. It reportedly transformed into a girl before it could be killed.

She smelled like an animal and passed heavily smelly animal faeces and urine with equally strong foul odour that could not be said to be of human origin.

I’m still unable to eat as result of the choking smell that pervaded the community. It’s one of the most scary reportorial assignments for me. Does anyone still believe in earthly mysteries and secrets?

This is strange, but could it be true?”

See pictures below:

SPORT NEWS: Is holding the Nigerian Passport a crime?

Olumide Oyedeji a Nigerian-British basketballer who has been a member of the senior men’s Nigerian national basketball team since 1997 has reacted to the recent visa denial by the Spanish Embassy to Nigerian female u 17 basketball players from participating at the FIBA u-17 World Championships.

In this interview with NAIJ.com Sports, the 35-year-old who currently plays for London Lions charged at Nigerian administrators on the essence of the Nigerian international passport. He also on speaks on his career, as well as Nigeria’s chances at the forthcoming Olympics.

Excerpts:

NAIJ.com Sports: Sir, how has the journey been over the years in basketball as you are regarded as one of the best products to come out of Africa to play the game?

First of all, I give thanks to Almighty God for me to make the journey this far. It’s not by my power but by His grace. I thank God for an injury free career despite having a little here and there but I have never had a major injury that set me back in my career for years.

Olumide Oyedeji in action for Nigeria
The journey has been nice, tough and rough and been so blessing; and I give thanks to God for what I’ve got through this game; it has already given me everything in my life, name, fame, security and I have a wonderful family.

Well, I think Nigeria’s chances are bright. We just have to start early preparation, supports and motivation and players have to be motivated and we are definitely equal to the task. We want to go and play in the medal-ranked table.

Basketball is a game and as I said after the press interview, I say happy birthday to the US because if you shoot 35/45, that means you are shooting about 80 something percent from the three point. We cannot stop that.

We tried to do everything possible but that was their day. In basketball, anything happens and that’s how it is in sports generally. Or do you want to tell me that the Brazilian team were that bad that they were beaten 7-1 by Germany in the World Cup?

The day might be your day, that was a US day and we were not that bad. You saw we won Lithuania who were No. 4 in the world, we beat Greece who were No.5 in the world. We held France No.6 in the world, Argentina No.7 we held them to about 7points; so that means we’re right there.

The game against the US should not be used to justify our performance. Even for us to be in the Top 12 in the world and we made it to the Olympics is a great achievement.

Is it a crime to have a green passport? So that means it is actually a crime to have it and that means it is a crime to be a Nigerian. It is just so unfortunate that our athletes have been treated shabbily, have been treated like criminals buy different embassies.

For example, there’s an athlete who was supposed to go for Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey, she was denied visa by the Turkish embassy.

I can’t recollect right now, I have to check my records. So I am sure if we do more research, you will know why she got denied; and look at what our athletes go through to go to Europe, South America and whatever…what the go through to get these visas..they are always denied.

We are out there to promote the image of the country, to keep the country’s flag flying, and the get denied.

What our administrators, legislators and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs doing? Is it because the all have official passports? What about other people. The people that actually deserves these official passports don’t have and they should because they are the true ambassadors.

They 

ENTERTAINMENT: Meet Nollywood Actor whose wife fought for kissing in a movie

– Nollywood actor Elikem Kumordzie reveals that his wife Pokello does not like him taking romantic roles in movies

– The actor says his wife prefers him to take up gangster roles

– Both Pokello and Elikem Kumordzie met in  the house during the 2013 Big Brther Africa Chase and got married in 2013

Popular Ghanaian actor and fashion designer, Elikem Kumordzi, has revealed his Zimbabwean wife, Pokello Nare, gets really uncomfortable when he plays romantic roles in movies.

The former Big Brother Africa 2013 (The Chase) housemates, Pokello and Elikem Kumordzie started their steamy romance on the reality show and got married in June 2015. They have also welcomed their first child.

Kumordzie said his wife has issues with him taking up such roles, especially those that require him kissing a lady.

Speaking on PopTV, the Ghollywood cum Nollywood act said: “My wife doesn’t really like it when I take up characters that require me to kiss.

“Sometime she goes like, why don’t they give you like a bad guy role, a gangster or anything but a kissing role?’

“For me, I think it is just normal that any woman shows concern but that is just it, but she would rather I play non-romantic roles.”

It seems Pokello is not lone in this jealousy game, Wife of popular Nollywood actor, Peace Ugezu has come out to publicly reveal why she does not watch Nigerian movies especially the ones that has her husband, Ugezu Jideofor Ugezu in it.

Buhari has failed us; we will look for an alternative in 2019-Shettima

Yerima Shettima is the president of apex Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum, and the chairman of Coalition of all Ethnic Nationality leaders in Nigeria.

In a recent interview with Daily Times, he has given the assessment of the present administration and explained why Nigerians are disappointed in President Muhammadu Buhari.

On the Buhari administration

“Expectations were high among Nigerians but, Buhari alone can not move the country forward. Yes he promised change, expectation was high, unfortunately, he can not move the country alone. Some of the ministers are inexperienced or incompetent; they do not know what governance is all about. Some of them are behaving like comedians. I’m not satisfied with this government and Nigerians are bitter about it, you can not remove all benefits and expect us to be happy. You asked people to tighten up while you are eating fat. Things are hard, you can not be flying around the world and the common man is suffering, if there is sacrifice, it should start from the leaders.

“A lot of people that supported him are disappointed. Even the campaign slogan, the change mantra is abandoned. Most of the things the government said they would do they are not doing but behaving with impunity.”

On 2019 presidential election

“Buhari is a Nigerian president, and not a northern president. If we run a regional system and he is a premier I would not attack him but advise him. On support him, we would look for alternative in 2019, we have been disappointed so far in his government. With the way things are going, they would say there is hope that we should be patient. But the way the things are, I would look for alternative.”

On Buhari’s appointment

“The president has not been fair to other regions. At the earlier time of his government, when he just started the appointment, but since the budget was passed you can see that things have balance up. We must commend him, even the ambassadorial appointment, how many people came from the north? Even the board appointment, you would see that after the budget, the southwest compared to the north have more than 40 percent; it favours the southwest than the north east where I came from, which has less that 13 percent. Earlier it was so, not now; and I raised alarm then.”

On the fight against corruption & the trial of Dasuki

“The office of the National Security Adviser is not an office of the PDP. Some of us have reservations on the style of the current anti-graft war, and we said it earlier. The president has no business in some of the things he his doing. What he has to do is to allow the institutions to do their work. What is happening in the case of Dasuki is that the president has already convicted him before the trial by saying in the media chat that: how can he release a man who stole over N400billion. When the person has not been convicted in court, even when the court had given order for his release while standing trial. It is unfair and the leader who says no he must defy the court order to me is not fair, because: what is happening now could happen to anybody.

“He should fight corruption but respect the rule of law, he must not make the anti corruption fight personal, so that when he is not around, the institutions would continue to fight. We support his anti corruption fight but it should not be personal or be a vendetta.”

See prison where Okah allegedly escaped from

– Prison sources say the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bombing has not been seen since the alleged jail break

– Informs, however, that he is being interrogated

Sahara Reporters has obtained photos of the prison where Charles Okah, the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bombing, reportedly escaped from.

The Niger Delta militant, contrary to the report of his escape, still remained in prison custody, but pictures have surfaced of the Kuje prison walls where he was said to have scaled to leave the prison premises.

According to the prison sources, Okah has not been seen since the jail break but it was stated further that he was being interrogated by prison officials.

Okah, a member of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), has been on trial for the 2010 Independence Day bombing that killed 27 people during the country’s 50th independence anniversary.

Francis Enobore, the public relations officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service claimed he was in touch with security operatives on ground and that Okah was still in detention.

“It is not true, Charlse Okah is still in custody. I have been in touch with our men in the prison facility and there is nothing like that [Okah escaping],” he said.

The militant infamously tried to commit suicide in court in 2015 after he addressed Justice Gabriel Kolawole and claimed that former president, Goodluck Jonathan was responsible for his travails.