PHOTOS: FEMI SEGUN BURIED

Broadcaster, PR guru, speaker, and Yeni Kuti's ex husband, Femi Segun, who passed away on Friday March 21st following a bike accident, has been buried.Mr Segun was buried on Friday at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi after a service of songs that held at House on the Rock Church, in Lekki. Pictured above are Femi Kuti and Femi Segun's daughter with Yeni Kuti, Rolari, at the burial site. Such a sad loss! May his soul rest in peace..amen. Continue to see more photos...

2015: FANI-KAYODE WARNS APC AGAINST MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against making the mistake of fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2015 Presidential election.
Fani-Kayode, who himself is a chieftain of the party, said on Saturday that the consequences of such mistake would be disastrous for the APC in the 2015 poll.
The outspoken politician, who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, cautioned the leaders of his party against confirming the terrible stereotyping that the enemies of the party were trying to label the party with.
Besides, Fani-Kayode stressed that his party must also not make the mistake of fielding a Christian-Christian ticket, as religion constitute a vital aspect of electioneering.
Reacting to development in the APC, Fani-Kayode said: “I have said it privately in countless political meetings and I will say it publicly today.
“Please mark it. The biggest mistake that my party, the APC, can make is to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2015 Presidential election.
“If we do that we will not only offend the Christian community, but we will also lose the election woefully.

DAY A MILITANT ALMOST KILLED ME IN THE CREEK –GOV. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN

He has been telling the story now for almost four years. Whether in the snows of Davos in Switzerland, where world financial eggheads often gather to brainstorm on the way major economies on the globe are headed, or in the shifty weather of London, or in the blistering heat of Dubai or Africa, his message is the same: Africa is the next destination for the world’s economic salvation; Nigeria, the epicentre; and Delta State, the crust.

When Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, a medical doctor-turned politician began to preach the gospel of Delta State Beyond Oil, few years back, the aim was to help the state he serves as chief executive, to use the proceeds of oil to cure the curse of oil. And by extension, help Nigeria halt its hurtle towards mono-economy. Many scoffed at him at the time. But now, the pessimists have been converted. It’s very likely he will surely win more converts when the World Economic Forum holds in Abuja, in a few weeks’ time.

2015 GUBER POLL: PLOT TO REMOVE DELTA PDP BOSS THICKENS

As the 2015 governorship race in Delta State hots up, plans have been concluded by the powers-that-be in the state to sack the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi.

The same people recently forced Victor Ochei, erstwhile Speaker of the State Assembly to resign as part of the plans to trim the number of the aspirants and be able to install a particular aspirant.

Part of the strategy to stop Nwaoboshi from being adamant for a Delta North aspirant is for the State Youth Forum for Good Governance (DSYFGG) to stage a rally at the PDP Secretariat in Abuja metropolis for the sack of Nwaoboshi from the exalted position then install somebody that can easily dance to the tune of the power brokers.

DSYFGG had earlier called on the National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, to sack him for his uncultured manner and acts that have fuelled political differences over zoning of governorship positions among the three senatorial districts in the state.

SLIPPERY ROAD TO DELTA 2015: OCHEI, FORMER SPEAKER CRASHES BEFORE BLAST OF WHISTLE

EVEN before the sounding of the bugle for the formal commencement of the 2015 Delta State governorship race, the ambition of former Speaker Victor Onyekachi Ochei, one of the frontrunners may have gone with the wind if the events surrounding his recent removal from the number three position in the state are of consequence.

  When members of the Delta State House of Assembly convened in the state capital of Asaba last Tuesday March 18, it was quite obvious that it was game over for Ochei’s almost three years stint as Speaker. 

  Although the legislators had accused Ochei of high-handedness and not being transparent in the handling of the affairs of the House, especially in the spending of money and execution of capital projects, but a close source begged to sharply differ.

HEAVY SECURITY IN ASO ROCK AS GUNMEN STORM SSS OFFICE

Security was quickly beefed up around the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday morning as heavy shootings were recorded at the neighbouring headquarters of the State Security Service known as Yellow House.
The SSS headquarters is located behind the Villa.
The access gate to the seat of power through the Fire Service office in Asokoro was quickly shut while more heavily armed soldiers were seen at the gate leading to the Villa through the Federal Secretariat.
Military helicopters were also seen hovering the sky at the time of filing this report.
Our correspondent who attempted to access the SSS headquarters area through the Aso Drive was turned back alongside other motorists in front of the Millennium Park by armed SSS operatives.

BREAKING: {UPDATE} HEAVY GUNFIRE AROUND PRESIDENTIAL VILLA, SSS HEADQUARTERS

UPDATE 1:Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and resident of the Asokoro District of Abuja where the SSS headquarters is located, Nasir El-Rufai, justposted the below comment on his Facebook page:
IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD: Exchange of gunfire still going on with helicopter gunship hovering over the Aso Drive neighbourhood of Maitama adjoining the SSS Headquarters.
Whatever this is, it appears more serious than an attempted jailbreak claimed by the SSS.
May God Protect the innocent and destroy the murderers, kidnappers and planners of genocide, Amen.
UPDATE 2: Another resident of the area, Femi Fani-Kayode tweeted:
Read our initial post below.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW IGP PUTS PRESIDENCY IN A FIX

As the search for the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) intensifies, the Presidency appears to be in a fix as to who will be more competent to succeed the incumbent IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, an Aso Rock source has disclosed to Sunday Independent.
This is as Abubakar (56), an indigene of Zamfara State, who joined the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979, is due for retirement in July 2014, by which time he would have reached the compulsory retirement age.
He was appointed the Acting IGP in January 2012 and was confirmed as IGP in July 2012.
Section 215 (1a) of the 1999 Constitution puts the appointment of the IGP in the hand of the President, “on the advice of the Nigeria Police Council, from among the serving members of the Nigeria Police Force.”
The President is the Chairman of the Council.
Insinuations are rife that the president is looking at a candidate with a tough personal backed by experience.

AHEAD 2015 ELECTIONS: NORTH HIJACKS APC

•I’m not aware of intra-party struggle — Lai Mohammed•Tinubu, Atiku, Buhari, Kwakwanso lead power blocks •North backs Ikimi as National Chairman
The All Progressives Congress(APC) appeared to have been hit by internal struggle for power, which is threatening its very foundation ahead of the 2015 general election.
Investigations by Sunday Tribune confirmed that no fewer than four major blocks have emerged in the party ahead its national convention fixed for May 24, 2014.
It was learnt that the party is being haunted by the tag of a Janjaweed party placed on it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is desperately seeking ways to reverse the perception.
As a result of that, sources said that Northern leaders of the party have decided to ditch the Senator Bola Tinubu-led South-West caucus and pick a National Chairman from the South-South.

ARMED SOLDIERS RAID AL-MUSTAPHA’S RESIDENCE

Armed men, believed to be soldiers, Friday evening, raided one of the residences of Major Hamza Al Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, located at Durbin Katsina, Kano metropolis, leaving in its wake sordid tales of rights violation and molestation.
The heavily armed men, who reportedly came in trucks and tanks, allegedly cordoned several streets leading to the house and seized the occupants who were mostly women and children in an operation that lasted 60 minutes.
Al-Mustapha’s younger brother, identified as Hadi, is also said to be a resident of the house.
Eyewitnesss said the ‘soldiers’ came in trucks and tanks and, immediately they gained entrance into the building, ordered everyone around to lie face flat on ground and, at gunpoint, conducted a thorough search of the building.
“One Abubakar, reportedly a cousin to Major Al-Mustapha, was maltreated by the troops. He is recuperating at a private hospital, a witness recounted.

HORROR IN IBADAN AGAIN! CLERIC CAUGHT SLAUGHTERING WOMAN

Barely one week after corpses and virtually dead victims were uncovered in a kidnappers den in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, a man described as a Muslim cleric, Isa Salaudeen, was, allegedly, caught slaughtering a woman, identified as Chiwendu Nkwocha, in his room at Ori Eru, Idikan area of the city.
But, before he slaughtered his victim, the cry of the woman reportedly attracted neighbours who came to her aid.
The suspect was said to have cut deep into the neck of the woman who was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Eyewitnesses narrated that it was the persistent call for help from the victim that prompted them to run to the scene.
The suspect was said to have pretended performing evil exorcism on her when he suddenly took up a knife and started cutting her neck.
The first knife the attacker used, as Sunday Vanguard gathered, was blunt and the suspect replaced it with a dagger.

JONATHAN’S GOVERNMENT SHAMELESS – TINUBU

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Saturday described President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as shameless.
He added that rather than account for the alleged missing $20bn oil revenue, it kept giving untenable excuses.
Tinubu said, “They are so shameless that the number of years they have ruled does not matter to them. Don’t change the subject matter. Account for the missing money or go. All the explanations they gave about the missing money are just explanations. They steal from pensioners. We must kick them out.”
The APC leader who spoke at the sixth Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Lagos titled ‘The Summit of the Common man’, added that the electorate would not continue to vote for a government that refused to give them electricity.
“The change is for you to vote and defend it. We must break the shackles of poverty. How can we continue to vote for a government that refused to give us petrol and which removed subsidy on petroleum products. Are we sadistic? Do we enjoy being punished?” he stated.

CONFAB: DELEGATES PLOT TO DEFY PRESIDENCY

As the National Conference enters its third week, there are indications that delegate may ignore President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive not to discuss issues bothering on the unity of the country.Some delegates, The Nation gathered, are already evaluating issues they consider to be critical to the continued existence of Nigeria as one nation.
They want such issues to be thoroughly discussed at the conference regardless of government’s position on them.
The Presidency, according to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, had declared that discussions about the oneness of Nigeria are no-go-areas for the delegates.
Anyim, in unveiling the modalities for the conference had said: ”The national conference shall tentatively last for three months and shall discuss any material, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation; thus the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.”

JONATHAN TO 12 NORTHERN GOVERNORS: SHAME ON YOU

• Accuses Them Of Non-performance, Bad Leadership
• Says Govs Failed On School Enrolment Despite FG’s Support
• ‘Manage Your Insecurity; I Handled Mine As Governor In Bayelsa’
BARELY two weeks after 12 Northern governors, who visited the White House in the US, accused him of escalating the Boko Haram crisis ahead of 2015 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday, reacted with a counter allegation, saying the governors have failed in school enrolment and other parameters of governance.
Blaming them for the security challenges that have bedeviled the Northeast region since 2010, the President, who was in Bauchi for his People Democratic Party’s (PDP) North East Zonal unity rally at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, said the governors have performed poorly and failed to send their “children to school.”
The President pointed to non-performance in viable projects that would have improved the income of the common man.

TINUBU, SHERIFF IN NEAR FISTICUFF AT APC NEC MEETING

The recent meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, almost turned violent following the threat by a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff to beat up a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
Mr. Sheriff exploded midway into the meeting, raining abuses on Mr. Tinubu and threatening to slap the former Lagos State governor.
But for the intervention of the some party leaders attending the meeting, including a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the former Borno Governor, almost made real his threat, sources at the meeting told PREMIUM TIMES.
The APC NEC meeting, which was held at the party’s headquarters in the Wuse 2 District of Abuja, was convened last Monday to discuss some pressing issues in the party, including the impending inaugural ward, local government and state congresses as well as a national convention.

POPE FRANCIS BREAKS TRADITION, CONFESSES BEFORE A PRIEST

Pope Francis stunned parishioners, faith leaders and his own master of ceremonies Friday when he broke protocol to do something wholly unexpected: he bowed down in front of the crowd at St. Peter’s Basilica and confessed his sins to an ordinary priest, Reuters reported.
Typically, the pope goes to confession in private, so his decision was a departure from the past.
Francis made the noteworthy move after uttering a sermon in which he covered the importance of confession in the Catholic faith.
“Who can say he is not a sinner? Nobody. We all are,” the pope told an audience of thousands.