Jonathan Explodes! Blame northern govs, not me for Boko Haram!’

                            

2015 in the making, now our leaders are trading blames !!

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took a swipe at governors for accusing the Federal Government of bad leadership, asking them to stop pushing blames when they have failed on their part to provide primary and secondary education for their citizens.

Speaking in Bauchi during the North-east Zonal Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jonathan also lampooned some northern governors over insurgency in their states which he blamed on lack of education for the children and employment consequent upon which they are ready tools for terrorists.

Jonathan, who charged the governors to take charge and stop blaming their inept leadership on the Federal Government, however asked if the federal government, constitutionally responsible for the provision of tertiary education, should be in charge of primary and secondary education at the state level.

He said, “ Sometimes governors will come and say we have some issues because of bad leadership. I was  governor, deputy governor before I became a governor. I spent eight years at the state level, I handled security challenges. That was the state where the first commercial kidnapping took place because of excess militancy.

Etisalat Nigeria Sacks Over 2000 Staffs Nationwide

Telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria Friday sacked over two thousand permanent staffs across the country. The sacked workers were paid off our source say.

The Telecom operator seeks to hire adhoc staff to run the operations of the company as the company is said broke and can no longer retain the permanent work force.

Most of those sacked have expressed surprise and disappointment over the development which has thrown them into the already saturated unemployment market.
“We were asked to leave and our cheques handed to us yesterday, it is unfortunate that I am again back to the Job market” a source who does not want to be mentioned revealed.

“They want to recruit contract staff/new agents and they can no longer run the cost of paying those of us that are permanent staff, they claim.”
Another source went on to say the management of the company is insisting on hiring contract staff to replace those sacked but “it is unfortunate they had to send us home the way they did”

She continued, “Do we even have labour laws in this country? How can you wake over night and ask people to go without months of notice, at least for us to be prepared for the worst”
Some of the reasons by the management for the sack is that the company can no longer manage the wage bill and the company is going through financial crisis and can’t afford to keep permanent staff, hence the need for the sack.

In Lagos alone, over 1,200 were sacked while more than 800 were asked to go home in states like kano.
The company has also terminated their graduate trainee program for all fresh graduates. The Company sent out emails that the program has ended without prior notice.

Some members of the graduate trainee had spent years with the company only to receive mails about their sack at the close of business.
Attempt to speak to the management of Etisalat to confirm or deny the allegations has been unsuccessful so far as at the time of filing this report, we’ve sent mails and no response.

Source: Nairaland.

Obesere launches video on rape allegation

                                

Famous fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande, better known as Obesere, may have further proved his innocence about the rape allegation leveled against him by Ms. Olanike Olaiya, a couple of weeks back, by releasing a video CD, Rape Scandal, which threw light on the allegation.

The CD which contains Obesere’s interview and that of his witness, Alhaja Bolatito Omo Owo revealed how the incident that almost dragged the name of the sensational musician to the mud happened. And it has been in circulation since its release on Monday, March 17, 2014.

An insider disclosed to ENCOMIUM Weekly that Obesere’s quest to satisfy the yearnings of his teeming
fans, home and abroad, informed his coming out with the video CD.

“Obesere has released the video CD which explains better what actually transpired between him and his accuser, Nike Olaiya.  I learnt the CD has sold thousands of copies.  Everybody wants to see the face of the girl.  I also learnt that some music promoters and marketers have been lobbying Obesere for the musical video of the incident, which I learnt may be released before the end of the second quarter of the year.  But I think Papa is just waiting for the outcome of the police investigation before going to the studio for the album.”

Los Angeles Rattled By Second Quake In A Month

               

California has been hit by another earthquake, the second this month and the biggest to hit the state in six years.

The 5.1-magnitude quake caused rockslides, cut power to some 2,000 people, burst water mains and toppled furniture, but no injuries were reported.

Disneyland shut down rides as a precaution and a baseball game between the LA Dodgers and the Angels was briefly interrupted.

The earthquake followed a similar one in California earlier this month which measured 4.4.

Hannah Hirzel, 17, who lives four miles from the quake's epicentre in La Habra, said: "I was home alone and I ran out of the house ... I was sitting where my bookshelf fell, but I ran too quick."

Shop worker June Soekmto said: "Suddenly we got a blackout and buildings were shaking like crazy. I just screamed to everybody 'get out of the store'."

A rockfall in Carbon Canyon, about six miles from the epicentre, caused a car to skid and overturn, though the driver escaped without serious injury. 

Robert Graves a seismologist with the US Geological Survey said a number of aftershocks had also been recorded.

The Anatomy Of APC and PDP (PART 2)

Fellow Nigerians, let me start by thanking you for understanding and accepting the reason for my interlude last week. It was due to circumstances beyond my control. As I was saying two weeks ago before we were crudely jolted out of our thoughts by the unfortunate calamity that claimed some of our young job applicants, 2015 is going to be a year of serious political tension in our dear country. The battle will be fought on many fronts. While I do not possess the power of clairvoyance, it is clear to any discerning mind that the politicians will do everything possible to set our country ablaze next year purely on selfish grounds. The stakes are just too high for the gladiators. They will throw everything into the ring and the rest of the people shall be at the mercy of God to survive the fire which threatens to consume us all.

The tell-tale signs are already there. Nothing is hidden again about what we should expect. It is going to be a fight-to-finish. Sorry if I sound like a prophet of doom, but truth must be told. The reason is that the major contenders for the Presidential trophy are very desperate. The man who currently holds the crown is not about to give up his prize so easily. Those who wish to dethrone him are also not going to take things lying low.

‘I dont care about NFF query’ – Keshi

             

Head coach of the Nigerian national team, Stephen Keshi hs said he will not be drawn into commenting on the query issued to him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.

Keshi has now voiced his sentiments about the development.

“I don’t really want to comment on this because a lot of people will misinterpret what I will say. Let them (NFF) accuse me of everything, I really don’t care.

“I want to concentrate on my job of building a strong team. That’s the most important thing.

“I pray that the work I have been doing to build a strong Nigerian team for the World Cup comes out well because it will also be great for Africa.

“I will not say anything about the query but when it gets to a point, I will say something.

“Right now, I will be quiet but when I am ready to talk, you will be the first to hear,” 

El-Rufai Is A Waste My Time, He’s Too Small –Oritsejafor

                                

In a recent Interview with Information Nigeria, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria bares his mind on some issues surrounding the churches and the Country at larger.

Apart from being a general overseer in your church, you head Nigeria’s highest religious organisation, the Christian Association of Nigeria. How do you feel when people criticise you sometimes on all fronts?

Criticism is part of life. Anybody who does not expect criticism should think again because criticism can actually enhance a man’s capacity to do better. Criticism for me is not a problem. The only thing that is a problem, in my own opinion, is when you are not doing what is called constructive criticism. Disrespectful criticism is also wrong. It is a free world and people are free to criticise. I will also say that as a person, I believe that truth must never be mortgaged. That, perhaps, is one of the things that get me into trouble with some people. If you watch events in Nigeria, and if our Nigerian press would give me credit, they would realise that many things I predicted eventually came to pass exactly the way I said them.

Boko Haram has launched an onslaught on the church for some time now. How do you feel about this?

Boko Haram is an organisation of cowards. If you wish, quote me and print it boldly: Every member of Boko Haram is a coward. Cowards shoot people in the back. Cowards kill children, women and harmless people. They are cowards and I want to recommend that when such people are killed, their flesh should be given to pigs because they are not better than pigs. The cowards also include those who finance the activities of Boko Haram; those who give them moral and logistic supports. Anybody involved in Boko Haram is a coward and a nuisance to himself, to the society and to God whom they say they propagate or proclaim. It is difficult for any rational mind to believe that what they are doing is what God professes. I don’t know the God they are talking about. It is a disgrace to humanity.

Wenger confirms intention to stay at Arsenal & hopes Sagna follows suit

     

Arsene Wenger has reaffirmed his commitment to Arsenal in the wake of one of the most testing weeks of his tenure and is hopeful that long-serving right-back Bacary Sagna will follow suit.

The Arsenal manager appeared to concede defeat in the title race following the midweek draw against Swansea which represented a further setback following on from the painful 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea last weekend.
But Wenger insists he is has no desire to break his word, hinting he will remain in the job having agreed a new deal in principle.

"My commitment is not questionable," he told reporters. "I have given my word and I always respect my word."

Do you know :The T-shirt became popular after being marketed as a product for bachelors.

                                       
                                        

The T-shirt gained popularity after the Cooper Underwear Company ran an ad in a magazine marketing a new product that could be used by bachelors. The ad, released in 1904, claimed that men who didn't have wives and couldn't sew or replace buttons on their own could simply pull their clothing over their heads. The company described the t-shirt as a "bachelor undershirt."

By the next year, the bachelor undershirts had caught the attention of the U.S. Military. The U.S. Navy quartermaster's office declared that sailors must wear undershirts with no buttons under their uniforms.

Although the garment was not an immediate hit with the public, more and more people began wearing t-shirts throughout the next several years. By the 1940s, t-shirts were one of the most popular forms of clothing, as they remain today.

Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was the first known writer to use the word "t-shirt" in print, as it appears in his 1920 novel This Side of Paradise.

Source: OMG-Facts

Companies in China hire white foreigners as fake business partners. But what are the job requirements?

                            

What do small Chinese companies do to look like they have broken into the international market? They hire white actors to attend their business meetings. Sometimes they hire them just so that they will be seen in the company of 'foreigners', and sometimes they pretend to have a foreign girlfriend!

Chinese companies are willing to pay high prices for white-faced foreigners to join them as fake employees or business partners. This trend has been called by many names, like 'White Guy Window Dressing' or 'White Guy in a Tie' for events. Sometimes it is simply referred to as a "Face Job."

An ad posted by a company called Rent-A-Laowai (Chinese for "foreigner"), reads as follows: "Occasionally companies want a foreign face to go to meetings and conferences or to go to dinners and lunches and smile at the clients and shake people's hands. There are job opportunities for girls who are pretty and for men who can look good in a suit."

The requirements for these jobs are simple: Be white and do not speak any Chinese. In fact, rarely speak at all.

Also, pretend like you just got off of an airplane yesterday.

Those who apply are mostly unemployed actors or models, part-time English teachers or other foreigners looking to earn a few extra bucks.

Source:Omg-facts

In the United States, 1 out of 28 children have a parent in prison

                            

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with 754 people per 100,000 being in prison, and that excludes those on parole.

While the US accounts for only 5% of the world population, they host 25% of the worlds criminals at an estimated cost of around $60 billion per year.

At any one time there are over 7 million people under the control of the US justice system. This equates to 1 in every 32 people being either in prison or out on parole.

While incarceration is the worldwide accepted method of criminal rehabilitation, it does have one very serious negative side effect. It is estimated that 1 in every 28 US children have a parent in prison. This amounts to a huge amount of children missing a vital component of their upbringing.

And while the real cost of this spin-off is difficult to measure, there are many that believe it will have a very serious impact on society in the years to come.

Source: omg-facts

Wrong One: Moyes Out' banner to be flown over Old Trafford for 15 minutes on Saturday

     

Disgruntled Manchester United fans have chartered a plane to fly over Old Trafford on Saturday demanding ‘Moyes Out’.

The plane is scheduled to fly over the ground for ten minutes before kick-off and then for the first five minutes of the game against Aston Villa.

The supporters have confirmed it will tow a banner which reads: “Wrong One: Moyes Out.”

It is a reference to the ‘Chosen One’ banner hanging from the balcony of the top tier of the Stretford End.

Stewards reportedly stopped fans trying to remove it during the crushing derby defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday night.

On Thursday the MEN revealed that the fans were trying to raise the £840 to charter the plane and now they have confirmed they have received enough donations to pay for the flight.

A statement from the fans on the Red Issue website said the decision was "borne out of accute frustration - frustration at the poor results, lack of fight on the pitch and the unavoidable signs the David Moyes isn’t up to the highest standards required to manage Manchester United Football Club. A significant proportion of Manchester United fans have had enough and unequivocally want David Moyes sacked.”

Their air-borne message is to ‘directly counter’ the ‘Chosen One’ banner in the Stretford End which they regard as ‘ludicrously premature’.

It continues: “This isn’t a reaction because we aren’t getting our own way in terms of winning games. There is neither sufficient time or space to list the unwanted records set by the club this season under Moyes’ stewardship. We cannot have a manager who thinks it is acceptable to call our major rivals ‘favourites’ when they play us at Old Trafford.

“It is a betrayal of this club’s ethos, a betrayal of the players and a betrayal of the fans' support. We want a manager who understands and embraces our attacking traditions and has a vision of confidence for the future, not a manager who seems to be completely disassociated and visibly uncomfortable with the fact that he is Manchester United manager.”

Source:MEN

Hiddink will be Netherlands head coach

                              

The Dutch football association has revealed he will replace Louis van Gaal after the World Cup, with Danny Blind and Ruud van Nistelrooy to become his assistants

Guus Hiddink has been confirmed as the new head coach of Netherlands and will take charge of the team after this summer's World Cup.

The 67-year-old has long been expected to succeed Louis van Gaal at the Oranje helm, with the former Bayern Munich boss set to leave the post after the tournament in Brazil this summer.

The Dutch football association (KNVB) has now confirmed that Hiddink has signed a two-year deal as head coach of the team, meaning he will lead them through qualifying and potentially the finals of Euro 2016 in France.

The ex-Chelsea manager will be joined by assistant coaches Danny Blind and Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Blind having also agreed a deal to succeed Hiddink after the 2016 finals until the 2018 World Cup.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho never thought of Manchester United job

Jose Mourinho has insisted he was only interested in taking charge of Chelsea last summer after being linked with the Manchester United job, and has given his backing to David Moyes to improve next season.

Mourinho was one of the names tipped to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, but when the legendary Scot decided to retire at the end of last season he quickly announced that Moyes was his choice to fill the hot-seat.

Moyes has come under pressure in his first year at the helm after a miserable defence of their Premier League crown, and United's final chance of silverware this term lies in the Champions League after making it through to a quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

Mourinho believes Moyes needs to be given time to adjust to a new club, and has dismissed suggestions that he ever had an interest in the United role.

"I don't know if Sir Alex thought of me for United or not," Mourinho said in The Sun.

Ferdinand 'embarrassed' at Manchester United slump

     

Rio Ferdinand admits Manchester United's he has been "embarrassed" at Manchester United's form this season.

David Moyes' men have endured a dismal campaign and currently sit 18 points behind league leaders Chelsea in seventh place. With little hope of finishing in the top four, United have just a Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich to look forward to as they look to qualify for Europe's elite club competition by lifting the trophy.
Despite their continued participation in the tournament, Ferdinand admits he has struggled to show his face in public in recent months, while describing their form as a “personal insult.”

"It's embarrassing,” he added when quizzed about United's recent displays by BT Sport. “I don't want to go out when the game is finished and you even stop watching TV. I don't want to take my kids to school. I don't want to fill my car up with petrol or go to the shops.

"I don't want to walk on the school path and think I'm hearing things or seeing people look at me because we lost a game.

"It gets personal with everyone looking at you and talking about the results and the form and stuff. You don't want to live like that. You want to live freely and comfortably."

Ferdinand also admits he and his team-mates have “simply not” earned the right to win the games under Moyes.

"You don't want to see other people lifting titles,” he added. “That's what we're used to. That's what we want. That's what we train for and work for.

"Don't get me wrong, we've got no divine right. You've got to earn that right - and this season, we simply haven't done that."

Source: BBC

Arsenal have no plans to offer Arteta new deal

                              

Arsenal have no plans to offer Mikel Arteta a contract extension as the club set their sights on a new central midfielder. 

The Spaniard will have only a year remaining on his current deal in the summer but has been ignored in the recent flurry of fresh contracts handed to senior players.

Arteta's future beyond this season is up in the air as the Gunners target central midfield reinforcements with a transfer kitty for new signings, upwards of £100million.

The former Everton man has remained a first-team regular in his third season at Emirates Stadium but turned 32 on Wednesday and has noticeably struggled against top-class opposition this season.

The lengthy absences of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey have helped Arteta keep his place in the team as Arsene Wenger puts his faith in his experienced campaigner and a player regarded as a leader and strong character in the dressing room.

Wenger urges patience over Ramsey injury

                               

Aaron Ramsey will miss Arsenal's clash with Manchester City this weekend, and manager Arsene Wenger has urged fans to remain patient as the Welshman continues his recovery from injury. 

Ramsey has not played for the club since Boxing Day, when he injured his thigh during a 3-1 win over West Ham.
And Wenger has now revealed the star – who scored 13 goals during the first half of the campaign – is a "few weeks" away from returning, thus ruling him out of this weekend's top of the table fixture against Manuel Pellegrini's men.
“Ramsey is progressing well,” he told Arsenal's official website, “but we need to be patient for a few more weeks.”
Wenger will also be without Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere, but the Frenchman acknowledges there is a need to restore belief when City travel to the Emirates, following a week which has seen his side thumped 6-0 by Chelsea and held to a 2-2 draw by Swansea.

"We have to restore belief as well as we can and accept our position at the end of the season, but at the moment our focus is to recover from a high disappointment and recover for the next game,” he said.

“It is a huge game."

Source: Goal.com

Manchester United troubles 'affect Premier League brand'

Manchester United's troubled defence of their Premier League title is harming the English top flight's worldwide brand, says the competition's chief executive Richard Scudamore.

Under new boss David Moyes, United are seventh in a disappointing campaign.

The 20-time champions are 18 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Scudamore. "When your most popular club isn't doing as well, that costs you interest and audience in some places."

Former Everton manager Moyes has watched the Red Devils suffer 10 defeats in 31 league matches since he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired last summer after almost 27 years in charge.

His team were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage before being eliminated from the Capital One Cup in the semi-finals.

Brand new video 2face Idibia - Dance In The Rain

2baba again !!!. love this video..

National Conference “Sleeping Delegate” Hamma Misau Is Dead

                     
                     

A delegate at the ongoing National Conference in Nigeria, retired police AIG Hamma Misau has died at the National Hospital in Abuja. Mallam Misau died last night of an undisclosed illness at the age of 67.

Mallam Misau became famous after a photo of him taking a nap at the conference was shared  on social media three days ago.

Barrister Mohammed Hamma a cousin to the retired police officer confirmed his demise . He said a Muslim funeral is due shortly in Bauchi for the late delegate. Mallam Hamma Misau hails from Misau in Bauchi state.

Source:Sahara Reporters

Court Didn’t Stop Tolls On Lekki-ikoyi Bridge – AG

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, has said the Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court did not stop toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge.
Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, had in a judgment held that there was no law backing the imposition of tolls on the users of the bridge.
But Ipaye said the judgment was ambiguous as the court failed to make any consequential order or declaration barring toll collection on the bridge. He said therefore toll collection would continue on the bridge.
The commissioner, who addressed journalists at his office in Ikeja shortly after the judgment was delivered, said the government was going to appeal and file an application for stay of execution of the judgment.
He said, “The judgment read this morning did not specifically address many of the questions raised by the applicant, neither did it grant any of the declarations sought.
“As you heard for yourselves, no order made. However, the pronouncements referred to above are capable of being interpreted as court orders, hence our decision to appeal and stay of execution immediately.”
He disagreed with the court as he maintained that contrary to the judge’s pronouncement, section 29 of the Private Public Partnerships Law of Lagos State had made provisions for collection of tolls even existing public assets regardless of how the said assets were procured or constructed.
While responding to questions from journalists, Ipaye maintained that tolls would continue on the bridge.
“They will continue to pay. All the same, we are not ruling out any kind of interpretation ,” he said.
He said aside from the failure of the court to make any consequential order or declaration, “the judgment contained at least two or three fundamental errors.”
He said the payment of N10m by Julius Berger which constructed the bridge to the National Inland Waterways Authority, was never a concession that it was the Federal Government which had the power to regulate inland waterways within the state.
“The second fundamental error was the assumption that the Private Public Partnerships Law of Lagos State which we cited in support of toll collection did not apply, simply because the bridge was not constructed by public-private partnership,” Ipaye said.

Source: The Punch

Court nullifies collection of toll on Lekki-Ikoyi bridge

                    

A Federal High court sitting in Ikoyi today has nullified any toll or tariff on the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge. As confirmed by Sahara reporters,

Ruling on the suit, which was filed by human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, presiding judge, Justice Saidu, J. held that the power of control over all navigable waterways in Nigeria resides in the Federal Government, and not any state government. He held that from all the documents made available to the court, the only justification for the toll fee on the bridge by Lagos State is the private partnership law. However, he noted that the law could not apply to the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge since it was built with the money of the Lagos State Government, without the involvement of any private partnership. “Thus, since there is no law supporting the toll fee, it is illegal and should be stopped forthwith”, Justice Saidu said.

Uefa Nations League to launch in 2018

                               

The competition, which will replace the international friendly calendar and be linked to European Championship qualification, has been voted in by member associations.
The Uefa Nations League is set to launch in 2018 after being given the green light by member associations this week. The competition, which is set to replace the large majority of the international friendly calendar for European nations, will be organised into a league format, featuring promotion and relegation.
Although the precise format of the competition is yet to be decided, Uefa's provisional plan is to divide all 54 member association teams into four groups based on coefficient ranking, with promotion to a higher group - or even a qualifying place at the European Championship - the prize for performing well. Wolfgang Niersbach, chairman of the National Teams Competition Committee, is confident the move is the right way forward to spark interest in European international football outside of the major tournaments.
"We accept and respect that all Uefa member associations have agreed to create a new competition," he said at the Ordinary Uefa Congress in Astana. "This is a big step for national teams in Europe and we hope that fans will support the new format."

PDP Upholds Fayose’s Election As Party Candidate For Ekiti Election

         
               

Following last Saturday’s primaries that produced ex-governor Ayo Fayose as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the June 21 Ekiti State governorship elections, the national leadership of the party yesterday declared amid protests from other aspirants, that Fayose remains PDP flag bearer for the highly anticipated poll. 
A statement yesterday by National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received the report of the Ekiti State Governorship Primary Electoral Committee.
“After thorough consideration of the report, the NWC approved the result and upheld the nomination of Ayo Fayose as the candidate of the PDP for the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Our Presidential System Of Government Breeds Corrupt Leaders — Soyinka

                                    

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday took a swipe at the presidential system of government being practiced in Nigeria, describing it as a model that breeds corrupt leaders.

He also regretted that those who were not elected bulldoze their ways into public offices under the present structure of governance. Soyinka, who was among the panelists at the inaugural Public Service Debate convened by the Saint John’s Forum, titled: Will Nigeria Be Better Served By A Parliamentary System of Government?,  spoke in Lagos.

The event, which also had former Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who was represented by Prof Okechukwu Okoh, Dr. Abduraufu Mustapha as panelists, was moderated by former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

Plans for plane with ‘Moyes out’ message to fly over Old Trafford

A group of United fans have raised £840 in a day to fund a plane to fly over Old Trafford with a message reading ‘Wrong One – Moyes Out’.

The message is a response to the Stretford End Flags banner which reads ‘The Chosen One’. Following United’s 3-0 defeat against City on Tuesday, stewards were sent to protect the banner at full time, after there were concerns that fans would want to remove it.

As yet, there have been no public protests within the ground, home or away, but it is expected that will change at the weekend when United face Aston Villa.

What I’ll Do As CBN Governor – Emefiele

                                    

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under Mr Godwin Emefiele shall vigorously pursue a development banking model (DBM) in addition to working hard to achieve the core mandate of monetary and price stability.

The nominee for CBN governor made the point at the Senate yesterday during his screening and eventual confirmation.

The Zenith Bank group managing director will replace the suspended apex bank governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, whose tenure expires in June.

Emefiele, who looked calm and confident, told the senators that  DBM is a model that has been tried and tested in different jurisdictions in the world. “In fact, in some of the frontiers and emerging markets in the world, we have seen development banking used as a tool for achieving economic growth, development and industrialization,” he stressed, adding that the model has helped Latin American countries including Brazil and Mexico to achieve economic growth and development, leading to Brazil emerging as one of the BRIC countries with a high potential for playing an increasing role in the world economy.

Court declares FRSC’s new number plates illegal

                          

The new number plates introduced by the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, is unconstitutional, a Federal High Court in Lagos said on Wednesday.

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Emmanuel Ofoegbu, a lawyer, against the FRSC, the judge said that it was unlawful for the commission to impose the new number plates on Nigerians, where no existing law permitted it.

“The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent, is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria,” said James Tsoho, the judge.

“The respondent (FRSC) cannot force Nigerians to acquire new plate numbers by impounding cars, without the backing of any legislation to that effect.

“I hold that the act of the respondent amounts to an arbitrary use of power, and is therefore illegal and unconstitutional.

Dora Akunyili responds to ill health news on her Facebook page

       


Dora Akunyili took to her facebook page to respond to critics of her ill health. Rumors has it that the former NAFDAC DG is ill and unfit to be a delegate at the National Conference, but she has refute that claim by saying she is fine, see her comments above.

The full list of records broken by Moyes as Manchester United manager

David Moyes is set to oversee a record-breaking season at Manchester United, but for all the wrong reasons.
The Old Trafford faithful turned on Sir Alex Ferguson's successor on Tuesday following a shambolic 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City and some supporters even had to be restrained as they attempted to reach Moyes in the dugout. And it is little wonder there is such ire on the terraces - We look at all the records a hapless Moyes is set to break as the Red Devils approach the end of what has been a nightmare season.

United are guaranteed to finish the season with their lowest ever Premier League points tally
United's worst home league form for over a decade
Suffered three defeats in a row for the first time since 2001 this season
Eliminated in the FA Cup third round - something which happened just once under Ferguson
First ever home defeat to Swansea this term
First home defeat to Newcastle since 1972
First home defeat to West Brom since 1978
First league defeat to Stoke since 1984
First time Man City & Liverpool have beaten United home & away since Premier League's inception
First time United have conceded a first minute goal at home in the Premier League
First time Man United will be 15 points behind Man City since 1937.

still waiting for more..

FG may remove fuel and kerosene subsidies

                          

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dieziani Alison-Madueke yesterday gave a hint of plans by the Federal Government to remove subsidies being paid on Petrol and Kerosene products. The Minister gave the hint while speaking at the Nigerian Oil & Gas Conference which took place in Abuja

 While addressing the delegates, Alison-Madueke said subsidy being paid to marketers for petrol and kerosene was no longer sustainable and was only beneficial to the rich in the society.

 "The continued regulation of the downstream sector has its positive and negative impacts on the economy. But the negative effect is more than the positive. The subsidy policy cannot be sustained any longer.This is because the subsidy payment is not benefiting the poor it is targeting; rather, it is benefiting the rich. The industry needs to move to next level by increasing revenue and curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism.Without belabouring the point, we are all aware that the government has to deregulate the downstream sector. Continuing regulation, we all are aware, has negative effects. It is basically unsustainable, it discourages investment, and principally, it benefits the rich, not the masses in the society that we intend to reach in the first place" The minister said.

Analyst however say if petrol subsidy is removed, Nigerians would have to pay more for both products. Petrol for instance would rise to N144.66 for a litre, which is the landing cost of a refined litre as against the N97 its been sold for now at filling stations while Kerosene would go as high as N154.36 per litre, N138.87 as landing cost and N15.49 for distrubution margin, suming up to N154.36 it would be sold for.

Source: Lindaikeji

Former Vice President, Atiku says he's one of the highest employers of labour in Nigeria

                

Former VP Atiku Abubakar says he is the highest employer of labour by any single private investor in Nigeria. He stated this in a series of tweets yesterday using the hash tag #LetsTalkJobs. see below.





Do you agree?

President Jonathan Cancels NIS Test, Offers Family Of Victims Automatic Employment

                         

President Goodluck Jonathan has canceled the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment test which held nationwide on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

President Jonathan has also ordered that three slots be reserved for families of victims that lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the recruitment exercise.

This was made known to the State House correspondents by the minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2014.

President Jonathan directed that one of the three beneficiaries must be a lady. The applicants that were wounded and are currently hospitalised are not left out, the President has directed they must be given automatic employment in the service as well.

President Jonathan has set up a committee led by the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, to conduct a fresh exercise.

The committee has the Comptroller-General of NIS as well as representatives of the Inspector-General of Police and the heads of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Coprs, Nigerian Prisons Service, State Security Service and the Federal Road Safety Commission as members.

Source: The trent

TB Joshua Answers The Question Of Abortion When Raped

The question of whether a woman can abort a pregnancy that is a product of rape has been answered by pastor TB Joshua of the The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). His answer is against what Pastor Chris Oyakhilome had earlier said that it is a decision the woman will have to make. “No child should be brought into this world by force, if a lady has been raped, it is left for her to make a decision of whether to keep the baby or not…”, he said.

In a question and answer session on his Facebook page, Joshua addresses the issue:

Source: The trent

Shake-up in NNPC as President Jonathan Appoints New group Executive Directors.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 appointed new Group Executive Directors for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) to fill critical vacancies which currently exist in the Corporation.

The new appointees and their portfolios as announced by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, are as follows:

(1) Mr. Ian Gregory Udoh – Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals

(2) Dr. Dan Iwoene Efebo – Group Executive Director, Corporate Services

(3) Ms. Aisha Mata Abdurrahman – Group Executive Director, Business Development

(4) Mr. Adebayo Ibikunle Ibirogba -Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technical

(5) Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha -Acting Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production

The Immigration stampede is a direct consequence of PDP’s misrule – APC

What would you call this? and the so-called youth returned home without any protest-what a shame?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is greatly distressed at the deaths of 19 job seekers at the venues of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) job test on Saturday, calling it a direct consequence of 15 years of misrule by the PDP-led federal government.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the Minister of Interior must bear direct responsibility for the needless deaths by immediately stepping down from his post, if he has any honor left, or be fired.

It said, however, that the overall responsibility is that of President Goodluck Jonathan, who now seems to be bent on leaving a dubious legacy of bad leadership that has led to a grim harvest of deaths from insecurity, widespread violence and now job stampede, among others.

”Despite huge yearly budgets rolled out since 1999, the PDP-led federal government has failed to create jobs for our teeming youth, and the number of those who are jobless has now reached such an alarming rate that a job emergency may have to be declared to avert an impending cataclysm.

”Massive mindless looting of the public treasury has seen funds that could have been used to create millions of jobs end up in the deep pockets of corrupt government and PDP officials, without any consequence for the thieves, while the incompetent federal government led by a clueless President continues to deceive the public with cooked figures showing job creation where indeed there have been job losses.

”Today, sadly, the truth has been laid bare: 5,000 or so vacancies declared by NIS have attracted over six million applicants, from which over half a million was shortlisted, according to published reports, and the desperation of our youth to eke out a decent living has been exploited by a villainous government that forced each applicant to cough out 1,000 Naira, thus raking in 6 billion Naira from jobless people,” the party said.

It said that the Ministry of Interior has many questions to answer over the apparently-shoddy arrangements made for the job tests in 37 venues nationwide.

”Is it true that the Minister directly presided over the recruitment and money-making venture? Could this have been part of the government’s fund-raising measures for the 2015 elections? Why will a government seek to profit from a malaise it created by charging hapless job seekers 1,000 Naira each? Why was a huge number of applicants invited for only 5,000 jobs or less? Why was such a shoddy arrangement made for the test when so many people were invited? Could the test not have been done in batches to avoid a stampede? How much indeed was realized from this glaring extortion of job seekers? What happened to the money? These are some of the questions begging for answers.

”An investigation into the needless deaths of our youth, under a government that has failed them in every respect, must seek to answer those questions and recommend ways to avoid a recurrence. At least if a government cannot create jobs, it must neither profit from its incompetence nor send the victims of its ineptitude to their early graves,” APC said.

source:ynaija.com

Rooney: Liverpool nightmare one of worst days I've had in football

Wayne Rooney described Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool on Sunday as disastrous, admitting it was one of the worst days of his career.

Rooney said the Reds’ dressing room was “like a nightmare” following the 3-0 loss, which leaves David Moyes’ side in seventh place, 18 points adrift of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.

“It’s one of the worst days I’ve ever had in football,” Rooney told MUTV. “It’s hard to take. You have to give Liverpool credit – they played well – but it’s difficult to take. Nobody wants to lose, especially in this way, in your own stadium. It’s not nice.”

United went into the half-time break 1-0 down after Steven Gerrard converted from the penalty spot and things got worse within 30 seconds of the restart when the Reds conceded a second spot-kick – this time for a Phil Jones shove on Joe Allen.

Liverpool then missed another penalty later in the match after Nemanja Vidic was sent off for a tackle on Daniel Sturridge that earned him a second yellow card.

“To go behind by one penalty was hard to take,” Rooney said. “We had a game plan for the second half, which went out the window when they got the second penalty so early on.

Why Nigerian New Defense Minister Aliyu Gusau Resigned

                   

I got this on Sahara Reporters. one could only wonder why this happened.. According to SaharaReporters,

Mr. Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass. 
Several sources at the Defense Ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former senator.
Sources at the ministry told SaharaReporters that Nigeria’s top military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs making excuses for their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately. Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting.
“When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry. Our sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision of military officers in the country.
One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.
Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan.
SaharaReporters learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the development, immediately charged Senate President David Mark with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation. The president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved expeditiously.
However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.
Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders and him an experienced retired military man.
SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely that there was what he termed a “slight disagreement,” but added that there was nothing serious.
An aide to Senator David Mark told SaharaReporters that Mr. Gusau had sent his letter of resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him after his nomination. The source added, however, that Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation letter read because the senator was still hopeful of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his post.