Ogogoro banned in Ondo state

The Ondo Government has banned the production and consumption of locally-made gin, commonly called `ogogoro` in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Akinyanju, announced this at a news conference in Akure on Saturday.
The commissioner attributed the ban to the outbreak of an unknown disease two weeks ago in Irele Local Government Area of the state.
“Our clinical analysis reveals the fact that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.
“We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.
“We will also embark on searches because this batch of methanol-containing gin must have gone round because 4 cases: 2 alive and 2 dead have been found in Odigbo Local Government Area,“ he said.
Akinyanju said that stakeholders such as religious leaders, transporters, youths, market women, and the relevant association would be informed of the development.
He said, “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District.
According to the commissioner, the unknown disease has so far claimed 23 lives with ten other people receiving treatment.
“Two of them have regained their sights and are back home.
“We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the methanol got into the drinks,“ he said.
The commissioner said that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food,  Drug Administration and Control and the National Orientation Agency to sensitise members of the public to the dangers of consuming such drinks. (NAN)

Dance with Peter of psquare gets underway

Peter Okoye, one half of the P-Square music duo has debuted with “Dance Nigeria with Peter,” a TV reality show designed to raise the bar.
Dance Nigeria with Peter is the first Dance Reality TV show that abrogates the normal humdrum of dance competition seen on TV. It’s a show that brings about a whole new dimension to dancing in an exciting display of talents, all wrapped up with suspense and indecision of the judge/mentors.
The show has Peter Okoye making his debut as a judge cum mentor alongside dance Queen Kaffy and hip hop dance choreographer, Flex. According to Peter Okoye, “This show is going to revolutionize the way Nigerians see dance. I am so happy to have on this project the best Nigeria has to offer when it comes to dance.
We believe that dance has the power to put this nation on the map. Charity begins at home, so let’s dance Nigeria.” The competition, Peter said, will be open to individuals from different dance backgrounds, be it solo, group or duet. Auditions will be held in June across four major cities of Jos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.
It also includes street battles to make up the final 30 that will move to the competition phase. Registration of interested candidates will commence in May.

Three year old baby kidnapped

time around, the 3-year-old, Oluwabunmi Ajelero, was reportedly abducted from the Surulere Baptist Church, located on 52/54, Ojuelegba road, Surulere, Sunday.
The toddler as gathered, was reportedly abducted by an unidentified man who rode off in a motorbike.
However, Vanguard gathered that the family received a call yesterday where a male voice informed that little Bunmi as she is popularly called , was in their custody.
The caller was said to have demanded for an undisclosed ransom before the child would be released.
A relative to the family , Adejuwon Adediran who spoke with Vanguard, explained that : “Some strange people came into the church on Sunday , met the children who were playing and went away with Olubunmi”..
Asked how Olubunmi managed to stray from her parent’s watch, Adediran explained: “Adults have their session while children have theirs. At the end of the service, children usually leave their session for the adultssession where they would be playing while waiting for the parents to close. It was in the process of waiting that the strangers came and picked my brother’s daughter, Olubunmi”
Police sources hinted that investigation into the abduction of the baby had begun, expressing optimism that she would be rescued.

WTF: Man trekked from Lagos to Abuja

Suleiman Hashimu An Indigine Of Katsina, Who Promised To Trek From Lagos To Abuja If GMB Is Elected Finally Made It!

Top insurgent leader killed

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a former top deputy to Saddam Hussein and more recently a key figure in Sunni extremist groups battling the Iraqi government, has been killed in a security operation in that country, Iraqi state-run television reported Friday.

Al-Douri was the highest-ranking member of Hussein's regime to evade capture -- the "King of Clubs" in a deck of playing cards used by American troops to identify the most-wanted regime officials.

He also was a man thought to have led the post-Hussein Sunni extremist group Naqshbandi Army. Military analysis website Globalsecurity.org says the Naqshbandi Army supports ISIS, which has taken over parts of Iraq and Syria.

Al-Douri was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces and Shia militia members in the Hamrin Mountains between Tikrit and Kirkuk, Iraq, Shia militia commander Hadi al-Ameri said.

That militia is a predominantly Shiite fighting group that worked with Iraqi troops earlier this month to liberate the Iraqi city of Tikrit from ISIS.

The death of al-Douri was also reported by the governor of Salahuddin province, Raid al-Jubouri, who spoke by phone on Iraqi television.

Al-Douri's body arrived Friday in Baghdad, where DNA samples were taken to confirm the identity, said the spokesman of another Shiite militia called Hashd Shaabi in an interview with state-run Iraqiya TV.

DNA test results could be available in 48 hours, Hashd Shaabi spokesman Yousuf al-Kilabi told the outlet.

Iraqi State TV: Terrorist leader killed 01:14
The U.S. military is aware of the media reports but doesn't have further information to evaluate them, said Col. Patrick Ryder, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

While officials are aware of al-Douri's role in the Hussein regime, Ryder declined to comment about whether the United States or the coalition was targeting any specific individuals.

SA Xenophobic attack spreads to Johannesburg

South African police fired rubber bullets Friday to disperse crowds setting immigrant businesses ablaze as attacks against foreigners spread to Johannesburg.

Chanting and singing, machete-armed residents burned down shops owned by foreigners, including a Nigerian dealership in the nation's largest city.

Immigrants carrying bricks accused police of not doing enough to protect them as businesses smoldered.

Six people killed
Violence targeting immigrant shops started recently in the port city of Durban, where two foreigners and three South Africans were killed. Residents have accused African immigrants of taking their jobs and committing crimes. The unemployment rate in South Africa is 25%, according to government figures.

A sixth death occurred Wednesday. The body of a 58-year-old foreign national was found in Verulam town, where a mob attacked the man at his home. He fled and died of his injuries near his home, South African police said.

At least 112 people have been arrested throughout KwaZulu-Natal Province for various offenses related to the violence, police said.

Social and economic issues
President Jacob Zuma said his government is addressing social and economic issues brought up by citizens. He said immigrants contribute to the nation's economy while others bring scarce skills.

"While some foreign nationals have been arrested for various crimes, it is misleading and wrong to label or regard all foreign nationals as being involved in crime in the country," Zuma said.

As the violence spread to other cities, terrified immigrants sought a resolution. Others fled, taking refuge at police stations in major cities.

"They are using this as scapegoats," said Jean-Pierre Lukamba, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Every day, migrants are living in this fire. It's not just attacks. It's institutionalized xenophobia. The government must do something. Those people aren't just mad for no reason. They want electricity, they want jobs, they want water."

UN appeal for funds to help Nigerian IDP

The United Nations launched an appeal on Thursday for $174 million in what it called “life-saving aid” for almost 200,000 Nigerians who have fled the country due to brutal attacks by Boko Haram jihadists.
The insurgents, who are seeking to create an Islamic state in the country’s predominantly Muslim north, have killed up to 15,000 people since 2009, according to the UN.
“Displaced people in north-eastern Nigeria and across borders are in a very dramatic situation,” Liz Ahua, west Africa representative for the UNHCR, the organisation’s refugee agency, said.
“They continue to fear for their lives, and are at this point unable to return to their homes.”
Some 192,000 people have fled over Nigeria’s borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger seeking refuge from relentless violence, according to the UNHCR.

A further 1.2 million have been displaced within Nigeria as a direct result of the bloodshed, the agency said at the launch of the Nigeria Inter-Agency Regional Refugee Response Plan.
Staff and volunteers in 23 aid organisations and UN agencies say they are struggling to provide shelter, food, education and sanitation for the refugees.
Robert Piper, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel region, said more than 7,300 civilians had been killed since the start of 2014 in the three states of the northeast, including 1,000 already this year.
“Gross violations of human rights, including sexual violence and child trafficking, are frequently reported. Education and health infrastructure has been decimated.
“The majority of victims have found makeshift shelters in schools, with their neighbours and relatives… They have lost everything — their homes, their livelihoods, their families.”
The UNHCR showed a video of refugees in Minawao camp, Cameroon, featuring a boy called Ibrahim, whose village in Nigeria’s Borno state was over-run by dozens of heavily-armed Boko Haram fighters.

Real Madrid appeal Ronaldo card

Real Madrid have appealed the yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo for diving during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese received his fifth booking of the campaign, which would see him miss Saturday’s visit of Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu, despite appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya whilst the score was still level at 0-0.
“Real Madrid will appeal the yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo in the game against Rayo yesterday in Vallecas,” the club said in a statement on Thursday.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti remonstrated with the officials after the match and described the decision not to award a spot-kick as “incredible”.
Ronaldo went on to score his 300th goal for Madrid in just 288 games for the club as the European champions remained four points adrift of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Jesse Jags returns

After threw years, he's back with chocolate city.

Judge declines fayose

Abuja: A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday refused to halt the impeachment proceeding being spearheaded by the Ekiti State House of Assembly against Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.
The impeachment proceeding notice is said to have been served on the governor and his deputy by the 19 All Progressives Congress members, who have been at loggerheads with the governor since he came on board last October.
Although Fayose has been working with only six members of the PDP in the House, the APC lawmakers, which the governor does not recognise, returned to the state this week with an impeachment notice, prompting the closure of the House of Assembly by security agents.

AFCON 2017, the full draw

Group A
Tunisia, Togo, Liberia, Djibouti

Group B
DR Congo, Angola, Central Africa Republic, Madagascar

Group C
Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, South Sudan

Group D
Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana, Comoros

Group E
Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Guinea Bissau

Group F
Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome

Group G
Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad

Group H
Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius

Group I
Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon

Group J
Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Seychelles

Group K
Senegal, Niger, Nambia, Burundi

Group L
Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland

Group M
Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, Mauritania

Mohammed runs away from camp

Flying Eagles captain Musa Mohammed has ‘vanished’ from the Nigeria U23 camp in Abuja and has travelled abroad for trials without Samson Siasia’s permission.

Musa Mohammed
The right-back had been impressive for the Dream Team VI in training but left the camp last Friday after he took permission from the coach, Samson Siasia, with the excuse that he was going to Lagos to collect his international passport from the German embassy.
But the 18-year old has travelled abroad for trials and is yet to make any contact with the team since he left on Friday.
“Musa Mohammed vanished from the camp on Friday. He told us he was going to Lagos to collect his international passport from the German embassy but we are yet to see or hear anything from him,” the team’s spokesperson, Timi Ebikagboro confirmed.
Mohammed, alongside Dele Alampasu, Mustapha Abdullahi, Taiwo Awoniyi and Bernard Bulbwa were invited to the Nigerian U23’s shortly after they won the Africa Youth Championship in Senegal.
Alampasu, Awoniyi, Mustapha and Mohammed joined immediately, but Bulbwa had to travel to sign for Tunisian club, Esperance, and only joined the team last week.
But Mohammed has now left the team, and will not be part of the All Africa Games qualifier against Zambia this weekend in Lusaka, which the Dream Team must win or play out a score draw to be guaranteed a place at the All Africa Games.

Igbo groups takes Oba to Human Rights commission

Igbo groups in Lagos have dragged the Oba to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC.

Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Lagos and Igbo Justice Congress in petition to the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, called for the intervention of the Commission to forestal the threat by Oba Akiolu.
The petition by Innocent Arinze for Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arinze Ugwu for Igbo Justice Congress, said
“The entire Igbo in Lagos State seeks your intervention to forestall the threat by HRM Oba Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos to drown all Ndigbo in Lagos State inside the Lagoon if they failed to vote his candidate, Ambode of the APC Lagos.

Rochas makes move to avoid ethic violence between Igbo and Yoruba

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
SUBJECT: HIS EXCELLENCY SETS UP HRM EZE OHIRI-LED COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH OBA OF LAGOS
 
His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha has announced the setting up of a committee made up of notable traditional rulers in the State to be led by the chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri who would travel to Lagos to meet with the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu over the death threat he was said to have issued to the Igbos in Lagos if they fail to vote for APC in the governorship election that comes up on Saturday.
The governor directed that the Eze Ohiri Committee should leave for Lagos immediately to meet with the Oba to enable them have one-on-one discussion over the said threat by the traditional ruler, and extract some commitments from him.
The chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum said although the traditional ruler was reported to have denied the report, it should not be enough to accept that refutal without traditional rulers from the South-East meeting with him to discuss the controversy and the way forward, to ensure that the long existing cordial relationship between the Igbos in Lagos and their host community should remain commendable and enviable.
The governor remarked that it was not enough to take up the matter on the pages of newspapers, with some of the commentators only keen in the issue to cause more serious problem between the Igbos in Lagos and the Oba of Lagos, but a new approach that would be more result-oriented should be employed, which includes the traditional rulers from the State to be led by Eze Ohiri going to Lagos and meeting with the Oba to talk about the matter.
No serious Igbo man or Yoruba man would like trouble to exist between the Igbos and the Oba of their host community, and that limiting the attendant actions to comments on the pages of newspaper won’t solve the ripple. The traditional rulers when they get to Lagos and indeed to the Oba, would try to hear from the Oba directly, look at the entire issue and know what to tell the Oba or what to demand from him before travelling back to Owerri.
The Governor urged the Igbos in Lagos to remain calm and also remain the good ambassadors of the Igbo nation like they have always been and that the current misunderstanding should not be allowed to cause unnecessary rift between them and the Yorubas in Lagos.
 
Sam Onwuemeodo
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

Clark condemns Obama

Speaking to Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Chief Clark stressed that the presentation of a ‘Certificate of Commendation’ to Jega over the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections March 28th, 2015 with the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls yet to be conducted was too hasty,
Clark who urged the US to leave Nigeria alone, said that Nigeria remains an independent country capable of doing its things, its own way and not according to the dictates of the western world, adding, ” I was surprised that Barack Obama gave Professor Attahiru Jega an award when the elections are still on . Obama should be tactful in handling the affairs of Africa. US should leave us alone, Nigeria is an Independent country. They tried it Egypt, they should not try anything in Nigeria,
President Obama who presented the certificate to Jega, would be recalled was represented by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.
The ‘Certificate of Commendation’ was awarded to Jega for his outstanding and sterling performance in conducting a credible election. Obama said what Prof. Jega has done should be replicated by all.

Caf removes age limits of officials

The Confederation of African Football voted on Tuesday to remove an age limit on its officials, paving the way for Issa Hayatou to stay on as president.

All 54 countries at the organisation’s congress in Cairo agreed to change the statutes which previously stopped officials serving past the age of 70.

It was proposed CAF should bring its rules in line with those of world football governing body FIFA.

Hayatou, 68, will now be able to stand for another term in office in 2017.

His current mandate ends in two years and he is seeking four more years until at least 2021, when he turns 75.

The rule change follows success in recent years in adapting the statutes to limit potential opponents to Hayatou’s rule.

CAF previously brought in a rule that candidates for its presidency can only come from the ranks of its own executive committee, a tight-knit club closely controlled by Hayatou. FIFA does not have the same restriction.

Cameroon-born Hayatou, a former athletics official, is the longest serving senior member in FIFA structures, where he acts as vice-president, and has had few serious challengers for power in Africa since first winning election in 1988.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Jacques Anouma has he lost his seat on the exalted FIFA Executive Committee.

The former president of Ivorian football federation got only 20 votes at the election conducted as part of the 37th CAF Ordinary General Assembly on Tuesday in Egypt. He has long lost his seat on the CAF Executive Committee.

Tarek Bouchamaoui from Tunisia took 54 votes, with the president of DR Congo football federation, Constant Omari Selemani, second with 34 votes. Both will sit on the FIFA panel for the next four years.

Six members of the CAF Executive Committee were also re-elected, for the 2015-2019 period. Bouchamaoui was re-elected unopposed for the North Zone, while Guinean Almamy Kabele Camara retained his seat in West A Zone and Ghanaian Kwesi Nyantakyi was also unopposed for Zone West B, into which Nigeria falls.

Selemani retained his seat in the Central Zone, and former Tanzania captain Leodegar Tenga was also unopposed (Hassan Waberi of Djibouti withdrew) in Central-East, as former Zambia captain Kalusha Bwalya benefitted similar fortune in Southern zone.

AFCON 2017, Eagles know fate today

The Super Eagles will today know their group opponents for the qualification tournament of the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The draw will be held in Cairo immediately after the announcement of the host nation for the tournament.
The qualifiers for the 31st edition of the AFCON will begin this midyear in the FIFA international window from June 8-16.

Super Eagles celebrate after winning the 2013 Afcon final
For the first time the host country will participate in the qualifying stages for the AFCON. However, the matches concerned will not count for any points in their group, and will instead be classified as friendlies.
Fifty two teams will be divided into 13 groups of four teams each. A four-tiered seeding system will see one team from each tier allocated per group.
The top team in each group will qualify for the tournament finals, as well as the best two runners-up – excluding the group involving the host country, from which only one team will qualify.
The Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 edition which held in Equatorial Guinea and was won by Ivory Coast.

President Jonathan warns against violence

Read the State House press statement below...

As the nation prepares for Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan calls on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding. The President condemns the very unseemly attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

President Jonathan is especially concerned about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31 which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability.

The President calls on all those, who through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.

President Jonathan also condemns the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration and urges all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear. The President cautions that this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores. The Federal Government will not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.

President Jonathan assures all Nigerians that his administration remains fully committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians. He urges Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)
April 7, 2015

Dangote begins cement production in Cameron

The management of Dangote Cement Plc has said that its planned consolidation of the African expansion drive remains on course with the commencement of production of its $150m Cameroon plant in Douala.

The company said in a statement on Tuesday that the commencement of production in the Cameroonian commercial city came in the wake of the inauguration of another 1.5 million tonnes capacity per annum Senegal plant in Pout in January.

The company had last year listed six plants across five African countries for completion this year.

The plants, according to the President and Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote will add about 13.5 million metric tonnes of cement per annum to the existing capacity upon completion.

The plants are located in Zambia, with 1.5mmtpa capacity; Tanzania, 1.5mmtpa; South Africa, 3mmtpa; Republic of Congo, 1.5mmtpa; Gabon, 1.5mmtpa; and Senegal, 1.5mmtpa

Back home in Nigeria, Dangote Cement ramp up capacity, adding third and fourth production lines to the existing 6mmtpa in Ibese, Ogun State, to bring the total capacity to 12mmtpa, and another 3mmtpa line is currently being added to the Obajana Cement Plant in Kogi State.

Dangote told a delegation from Organised Private Sector, who visited him in his office in Lagos, that the 1.5mmtpa plant in Cameroon commenced initial production at one million tonnes per annum before it would be stepped up to the maximum capacity level.

He stated that the Douala plant would revolutionise the cement industry in Cameroon and help stimulate the Western African economy as Dangote Cement would be churning out its 42.5 quality grade of cement at a very competitive price.

Dangote explained that the plant remained the most modern in Cameroon because of the latest technologies used in its construction from Germany, United States and France by the renowned plant engineering firm, Sinoma.

He stated that the company started by importing clinker and that production was being carried out in the most environmental friendly level, pointing out that the dust emission by the plant was lower than the 50mm international standard.

He promised that Dangote Cement as a law abiding organisation would play by the rules of the land and that it would replicate its robust corporate social services in the host community.

On the economic benefit of the plant, Dangote stated that over 1,000 people would be employed directly, while 5,000 others would benefit from the indirect employment to be generated by the production activities of the plant.

GMB appeals to Igbo to Forgive Oba

The President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has urged the Ndigbo and other non-indigenes in Lagos State to forgive all that has been said against them and move on for the sake of peace.

Buhari said this during a rally in Lagos to address the comments made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.

Akiolu has been under fire since Monday when he reportedly threatened the Ndigbo in Lagos to either vote for the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, or perish in the lagoon.

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday asked Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola to suspend Akiolu forthwith.

However, the President-elect described Lagos as home for all, adding that the time had come for Nigerians to look past ethnicity in the general interest of peace and unity.

He said, “I admire what your governor has done in terms of mobilising revenue to sustain Lagos development. I have a lot of respect for Governor Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and the country. There is no doubt that Lagos is a mini-Nigeria. We are all here and it has been mentioned by previous speakers that everybody (tribe) is adequately represented in Lagos.

“So, I assure you. If you vote for the continuity of APC in Lagos, you stand to gain more. It is in your interest that you vote for the APC.

“Please when you go home tell your neighbours, relatives and even the opposition to please bury the hatchet. Let them fall in line and vote the APC.

“When we were coming in our bus, Fashola told me how Lagos State had been spending to maintain the federal infrastructure here such as buildings, roads and other institutions. I had promised before that if I won the election and became the President, I would make Lagos my priority. Governor Fashola is already holding to me to that promise so I would like the incoming governor to listen carefully and make sure he makes me honour my undertaking.”

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said Lagos was responsible for building the opposition and ensuring that it finally took control of the centre.

He said it would be a great injustice for Lagos to become an opposition state after working so hard to build a bright future.

Troops oust BH from Alargano

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said troops of the Nigerian Army concluded a comprehensive raid on Alagarno Forest, Borno State, on Tuesday morning.
Olukolade said in a statement on Tuesday that the troops cleared the Alagarno community, described as a major haven of Boko Haram insurgents, of terrorists presence.
The Defence spokesman added that the soldiers captured several weapons and equipment from the insurgents during the operation.
According to him, the items recovered from the terrorists included Armoured Personnel Carriers, various sizes and calibres of arms and ammunition, power generating sets, and Improvised Explosive Devices.
He stated that the troops also captured rolls of copper cable used for the production of IEDs, megaphones, bow and arrows from the insurgents.
He said the military had commenced a cordon and search and mopping up operations to make the community safe for the people of the area to return.
The spokesman explained that Alagarno was also reputed to have provided the routes being used by terrorists to neighbouring towns and countries aside being a major stronghold of terrorists.
Olukolade added that the thick forest in the area and the difficult terrain, which made it difficult to carry out aerial operations, made Alagarno a safe haven for the terrorists.

Lagos APC apologies to Igbo over Oba's comments

FOR CALM
The All Progressives Congress Lagos has asked Ndigbo in Lagos to ignore and forget the unfortunate statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu when he addressed some Igbo Chiefs in Lagos over the weekend.
In a statement signed by Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the State Publicity Secretary of the Party apologized most sincerely to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria”
“No human being is above mistakes. People can make mistakes and correct it thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie”
“After the March 28 2015 Presidential elections Ndigbo in Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves. They have pledged to throw their full weight behind the APC guber candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The support was total and
unprecedented. You can therefore imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the governorship elections”
“Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for governor Fashola of Lagos State. He did not speak for our National leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did
not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only. Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party in Lagos”
“We passionately appeal to Ndigbo not to carry the statement credited to Oba Akiolu too far so as not to put a knife on things that have held us together for more than 50years now. If out of annoyance you throw your cap away a mad man will take it and
use it forever”
“A lot is at stake in Lagos. Lagos has been fair to Ndigbo and Ndigbo have reciprocated by taking Lagos as their home no matter whose ox is gored. Lagos APC believes that Ndigbo will not burn the bridges because of this minor setback”
Lagos APC has worked so hard with other Nigerians to enthrone a government at the centre and we cannot afford to throw all these gains away by allowing the mistakes of the last weekend to stand on our way to link Lagos effectively with the centre.
Our own Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s slip of tongue should not be used as an excuse by Ndigbo to reverse these huge gains. Ndigbo should forgive and forget by voting APC en mass this coming Saturday”

Joe Igbokwe
Lagos APC
Publicity Secretary

PDP reacts to Oba's threat.

Statement from the PDP, reacting to the audio we all just heard. Read below...
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the emerging height of political recklessness in Lagos and Ekiti states ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections and calls on all Nigerians to stand up against such anti-democratic tendencies.
The senseless and unpatriotic impeachment move against Governor Ayo Fayose by out-going APC state legislators and the barbaric death threats on non-indigenes in Lagos by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu if they vote for the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje ascend to a height of unruliness that should not be accommodated.
The PDP totally and unequivocally rejects the flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations concocted by the APC legislators against Governor Fayose. We state in very clear terms that we will stand with him and bear our full weight in defense of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Ekiti state.
We invite all lovers of democracy and the international community to note the antics of APC and the deliberate plot to destabilize the polity even when it is yet to assume power.

In the same vein, it is indeed most unfortunate that a royal father of the status of the Oba of Lagos should attempt to drag the revered traditional institution into partisan politics to the level of threatening innocent Nigerians with the view to prevent them from freely exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right.

Our response to the Oba of Lagos is that he cannot play God and can never be God. God owns the universe and every part of it and can never share His glory with any human no matter how highly placed. We therefore call on all Nigerians in Lagos state; all Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas and people of other tribes; all northerners and southerners; all Christians and Muslims to turn against this unpatriotic stance, by coming out enmasse to vote for the PDP candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje on Saturday.

Undoubtedly, this anti-Nigeria position reminds of the 2013 inhuman and callous arrest, detention and eventual ‘deportation’ of non-indigenes by the APC-led government of Lagos state and confirms fears that the APC is indeed on a mission to destroy our national unity, balkanize the nation and obliterate the personal freedom Nigerians enjoy today.

Already, the APC has started terrorizing supporters of the PDP with vows to make life unbearable for them when it eventually assumes power. Our investigation reveals that many of our prominent supporters have been marked. The process has already started with threats to the life, family and business of the Chairman of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for supporting PDP candidates and helping non-indigenes win some Lagos seats in the National Assembly on the platform of the our great party.

Indeed, if this threats on a duly elected state governor and innocent Nigerians constitute the picture or foretaste of the order of the day when the APC finally assumes power at the center, then the nation is in serious danger. However, the PDP states in very unambiguous terms that Nigerians would not accept such under any guise whatsoever.

This is more so because in the last 16 years, our citizens from all walks of lives have seen civility and decorum under the PDP-led administration and would not accept any attempt by anybody to institute a reign of terror in the country.

We therefore urge General Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of the APC to call his members and supporters, particularly in Lagos and Ekiti to order; especially bearing in mind that it was the peaceful atmosphere and the level playing ground nurtured by the PDP-led administration that created the room for his emergence at the presidential polls.

Our country cannot at this moment afford to slide into anarchy, reign of terror and deliberate schemes to divide the people for selfish political reasons.

The PDP will completely resist all anti democratic forces from any quarters. We therefore charge Nigerians, especially those in Lagos and Ekiti states respectively to stand up fearlessly and reject the unpatriotic stance of the Oba of Lagos and the undemocratic move to dismantle the mandate given to Governor Ayo Fayose by the people.

Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary

Oba of Lagos denies threatening Igbos

Statement from the Oba of Lagos palace regarding a comment attributed to him allegedly threatening the Igbos if they don't vote for Ambode this Saturday. Read below...
My attention has been drawn to a publication in a national newspaper where HRM Oba Riliwanu Akinolu was alleged to have threatened Igbos in Lagos to make them vote for Ambode.
Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a courtesy call to HRM Oba Akinolu. At the meeting the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbos in. Lagos. They assured him of their continued good neighborliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further strengthen that harmony.
Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos. He gave the assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with South-East and South- South votes for President Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos. The Obas thereafter called on the Igbos chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate Mr. Ambode for continuity of excellence as they have earlier promised.
He assured them of his continued support‎ and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolas, alligator pepper, and bitter kola and pouring of liberation on the ground. It was within this context that that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up. It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.
2.Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people. Lagos has done so much to make the Igbos comfortable and to prosper. For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding. The Oba of Lagos prays that the Lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos.
3. Oba Akiolu is the father of all irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion. In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon. The Lagoon is unique to Lagos. The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos.
Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.
Signed: Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa of Lagos
April 6, 2015

Kenya takes revenge on al shabbab

Kenya’s military has launched air strikes against al-Shabab bases in Somalia following an attack on a Kenyan university that killed 148 people last week.

Colonel David Obonyo, a military spokesman, said on Monday that warplanes had attacked positions of the al-Shabab group on Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.

Al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia, claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack on the Garissa University College campus in northeastern Kenya.

After besieging the university, the al-Shabab gunmen lined up non-Muslim students before executing them in the armed group’s bloodiest attack to date.

The attack claimed the lives of 142 students, three police officers and three soldiers.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday pledged that the attackers would face justice for the “mindless slaughter” and vowed to retaliate for the killings in the “severest way”.

Al Jazeera journalist released

Tel Al Jazeera journalists have been released, Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustapha who arrived Maiduguri apparently to cover the presidential election held on March 28, 2015 were detained by the Nigeria Military for allegedly loitering with their cameras in prohibited areas without permission ‎of the security agencies.
It is not clear who facilitated their release but there have been pressure on Nigeria government from within and outside the country ‎calling for the release of the detained journalists.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Kashim on Media Mr. Isa Gusau wrote on his facebook page that; “detained Aljazera journalists freed. Both men currently at Government Lodge Maiduguri.‎ Gov. Kashim asked that they be relocated to the hotel where they were confined. All is well”.

Historic March 31 phone call conversation between GEJ and GMB

A recording of the telephone call by President Goodluck Jonathan to Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on March 31, congratulating him on his victory at the last Saturday’s presidential election hit the Internet on Thursday. The recording revealed what transpired between the two leaders.

President Jonathan had reportedly called Buhari hours before the official declaration of the presidential election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission that Buhari had won the March 28 presidential poll.

The audio of the conversation credited to one ENDS.ng @EveryNigerian was titled, “Historic congratulatory call from President Goodluck Jonathan to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on March 31, 2015.”

This gesture by President Jonathan had been praised in many quarters with Nigerians and world leaders hailing him for his demonstration of what they described as rare humility and spirit of sportsmanship.

Many said it was this gesture by Jonathan that put paid to the fear that violence might erupt across the country in the event that the result of the election was rejected by whoever was declared the loser by INEC.

According to the audio, the following conversation ensued between Jonathan and Buhari:

Jonathan’s aide: Your Excellency, Sir.

Buhari’s aide: Good evening.

Jonathan’s aide: Hope I’m speaking with General Buhari, sir.

Buhari’s aide: Yes.

Jonathan’s aide: Ok, President Goodluck Jonathan will like to speak with you, sir.

Buhari’s aide: Ok, ok, I’m connecting you, sir.

Jonathan: Your Excellency.

Buhari’s aide: Hold on …I’ll connect you, sir.

The phone rings for a moment.

Jonathan: Your Excellency.

Buhari’s aide: Hold on, sir.

Buhari: Your Excellency.

Jonathan: Your Excellency, how are you?

Buhari: I’m alright, thank you very much, Your Excellency.

Jonathan: (laughs) Congratulations.

Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency (laughs).

Jonathan: Yeah, so how are things?

Buhari: (laughs) Well…

Jonathan: So, you’d find time to come one of these days so that we can sort out how to plan the transition period.

Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency.

Jonathan: Congratulations.

Buhari: Thank you.

Jonathan: Ok.

Buhari: My respect, Your Excellency.

http://www.punchng.com/news/what-jonathan-told-buhari-on-phone/

Pope Francis condemns Kenya attack

Pope Francis has condemned yesterday's attacks in Garissa, Kenya.
A statement from the Vatican read: "In union with all people of good will throughout the world, His Holiness condemns this act of senseless brutality and prays for a change of heart among its perpetrators".

Mbaka Congratulate GMB

In his congratulatory message signed by his spokesman, Maximus Ugwuoke, Fr Mbaka stated that Gen Buhari's victory has proven that he was indeed a true prophet of God. His congratulatory message below
"It is with vindictive joy and glory to God that the Adoration Ministry, the nation and indeed the world saw the fulfillment of Fr. Mbaka’s New Year prophesy of change with the miraculous, victorious emergence of Gen.Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 polls as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We wish to restate that before President Goodluck became the President of this country, Fr. Mbaka prophesied it in his message titled ‘Okolo.’
Today again, Buhari’s victory among other lessons it portends for Nigerians has once more confirmed to all and sundry that Fr. Mbaka is indeed a true Prophet of God and that his New Year message was indeed from the Oracle of the Holy Spirit as he declared.
The ministry with magnanimous heart holds no grudges against anyone who attacked it in one way or the other at the rage of the controversies surrounding Fr. Mbaka’s message and view their actions as being orchestrated by their misconstruing of Fr. Mbaka’s prophetic calling.
The Ministry joins the rest of Nigerians to congratulate Muhammadu Buhari as God’s chosen instrument of change to tackle the myriads of problems facing Nigeria and pray God to endow him with the wisdom to go about this onerous task.”

Baby born without eyes

Care worker Danielle Davis, 24, and her partner, Andrew Smith, 31, from South Wales  welcomed a daughter two months ago - a baby with no eyes. Danielle said she knew there was something horrible wrong with her child because a routine scan when she was pregnant showed her child had a cyst on the brain but she refused to have an abortion. After the child was born, doctors confirmed she had anophthalmia, a birth defect which affects just one in 10,000 babies.
"It was a shock - we had never heard of it before. But she is our gorgeous baby and we have no regrets about turning down a termination." Danielle said

"We want to give Daisy as normal a life as possible and give her the same opportunities as other children. We had never heard of the condition before and neither had any of our friends or family. People didn't really know what to say when we told them.
"The cyst showed up on the 21-week scan and naturally we were worried about it. But none of the doctors said our baby could be born blind. Everyone has been really supportive and I can't thank the doctors and midwives enough for all of their help."
Little Daisy will later this month go for an operation to fit glass eyes. And when she's 18months old, they will be replaced with painted eyes that will look more natural.

10 Governorship candidates step down for APC

10 Lagos governorship candidates have stepped down to declare support for the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode in the forthcoming April 11 governorship election in the state. According to statements released by them.

” Without mincing words, we collectively as candidates of various political parties, have decided to join hands together with Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of APC to give Lagosians a deserving government at this time.
We unanimously give our unwavering solidarity to work together with Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC come 11th April 2015, slated by the Independent National Electoral Commission for gubernatorial election.
We enjoin all our teeming supporters across the state to take this declaration and sound  it loud and clear that Akinwunmi Ambode, is the candidate to take Lagos to the next level."

Al Qaeda releases top Member in Yemen

Al-Qaeda fighters have stormed a prison in southeastern Yemen and freed several hundred inmates, including one of their leaders, a security official said.

Khalid Batarfi, a senior al-Qaeda figure who had been held for more than four years, was among more than 300 prisoners who escaped from the jail in Hadramout province on Thursday, AFP news agency reported the official as saying.

Two prison guards and five inmates were killed in clashes during the prison break, according to the official.

Batarfi is among al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s top regional commanders, known for his leading role in a 2011-2012 battle with Yemeni government troops during which the fighters seized large amounts of territory in the south and east.

Al-Qaeda gunmen also clashed on Thursday with troops guarding the local administration complex in the provincial capital Mukalla, a branch of the central bank and the police headquarters, the official said.

Yemen has descended further into chaos since a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes a week ago against positions held by Houthi rebels and their allies across the country.

Observers have warned that Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, classified by the United States as the network’s deadliest franchise, could exploit the unrest to strengthen its presence in the country.

Strange Baby worshiped in India

A baby girl born on March 26th with a facial deformity is being worshiped in India like a god. Villagers near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh in India, have flocked to see the 'divine' girl with the deformity resembling an elephant's trunk in the belief she is an incarnation of the elephant-headed god Ganesha.

According to Asian News, doctors told the villagers the girl's condition may well be a genetic mutation. The newborn's aunt, named as Rajani, told the news agency: "My sister-in-law gave birth to a girl and her face looks exactly like Lord Ganesha. Everybody is saying she is an incarnation of the god. This is why whoever hears about her is coming here to get a glimpse of the baby and are making whatever offerings possible."

Asian News reports that doctors said they will examine the girl to find out the extent of her condition and whether they need to operate. Doctors said the condition could be a genetic mutation triggered by malnutrition and increased pollution.

PDP statement on Presidential elections

Press statement from the PDP signed by its chairman, Adamu Mu'azu
Sixteen years ago, Nigerians gave our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the mandate to build, nurture and deepen democracy after three decades of military rule in our country.
That historic mandate was freely given in recognition of the courageous and patriotic role of the founding fathers of our party whose resilience and doggedness championed the return of democracy and the personal freedom we all enjoy today.

Within this period, our party worked very hard in rebuilding and strengthening democratic institutions, tenets and norms while lifting our status as the leading democracy in Africa and one of the best in the world.

It is incontrovertible that under the PDP-led government, our nation moved from a near pariah status to a strong actor in the international democratic arena, a product of various electoral reforms and our iron-cast commitment to transparent, free and fair electoral process at all levels.

Even in the midst of obvious threats to our democracy, the PDP and the government it sponsored continued to stabilize the polity through strict adherence to rule of law and liberalization of the political and economic space.

In the last 16 years the PDP-led administration achieved significant milestones in our social and economic lives. We moved Nigeria from a debtor nation to Africa's largest economy and one of the fastest growing in the world, a feat, which is accompanied with unprecedented expansion of the private sector as well as multi-sectorial infrastructural development, all, great legacies we achieved for our nation.

Presently, our nation is at the threshold of history and its defining moment for the future. As you are aware, in the early hours of Wednesday, April 1, 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the 2015 presidential election.

However, we have received reports of serious irregularities that characterized the conduct of the election and we shall channel our protests to the appropriate quarters in line with our profound respect for the rule of law and democratic ethos.

Our party comes with great values and tradition and we will adhere to them and ensure that nothing is done to truncate our democracy, which we have proudly worked so hard to nurture and sustain to maturity.

Therefore, if the outcome of the election is truly the reflection of the wishes and aspirations of our citizens, the PDP will most willingly respect that wish.

What is paramount to us is the survival of our democracy, the unity, peace and progress of our dear nation and the happiness of all our people. Nigeria is bigger than any political party, individual or group and her overall interest must be our priority at all times.

It is in this light that we as a party commend our flag bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan for his heroic act in conceding to the voice of the people, an action that stands him out as a true democrat and a statesman.

We also congratulate the APC flagbearer, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari for his resilience and victory in this election while wishing him success in the onerous task of leading our nation once again.

On the same note, we wish to also commend the electorate for the peaceful manner with which they conducted themselves in the course of this election.

For us in the PDP, we want to state in very clear terms that we are not down. We are only at our redefining moment. Rather than demoralize us, this election has afforded us great lessons and we are now more than ever before reinvigorated for the race ahead.

As we return to the electorate for the April 11, 2015 governorship and state assembly elections, we go recharged with faith in our heart. We assure all our candidates in the remaining elections that the party will stand with you, campaign with you and work vigourously to ensure your total victory at the polls.

Finally, we call on our party faithful to remain steadfast in our renewed effort to deliver our flag bearers in the remaining elections.

Signed:
Ahmadu, Adamu Mu'azu, CON.
National Chairman

Innovation at its peak aa Google launches stick computers

Google has announced new Chrome-powered computers, which are set to target budget-conscious consumers and schools.
The range includes a new type of device called the Chromebit, which looks like an oversized memory stick, and turns monitors and TVs into computers when plugged into their HDMI ports.
The tech firm also revealed the cheapest Chromebook laptops to date, costing $149 (£101).
The move is likely to intensify competition with Microsoft.
The announcements came less than a day after Microsoft revealed plans to sell a new entry-level tablet-laptop hybrid of its own.
Its Surface 3 costs more -$499, and £419 in the UK for the basic model - but provides access to a wider range of software made for the Windows platform.

"This is a booming sector of the market at the moment," commented Chris Green, a tech analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy.
"With the falling cost of hardware, schools are looking to families to equip kids with their own computers - the idea of BYOD [bring your own device to class].
"This has prompted manufacturers to create low-cost entry-level laptops that parents then buy for their children as well as themselves."
Google has pledged not to display ads to children that use the education-related software it provides for its Chrome platform, and does not charge manufactures to use its operating system.

Attack currently on in a Kenyan University

Masked gunmen have stormed a university near the Somali border in north-eastern Kenya, killing at least two people and injuring about 30.
Troops have surrounded Garissa University College and are engaging the attackers.
Witnesses spoke of the gunmen firing indiscriminately and there are fears the casualty toll could rise.
It is not clear who is behind the attack, but Somali al-Shabab militants have regularly targeted Kenya.
Garissa and other border areas have been regularly attacked.
Exchange of fire
Some five masked gunmen are said to have stormed the university. There are reports that hostages have been taken.

Nearby policemen then engaged in a fierce exchange of fire and the gunmen escaped into the university buildings.

Security forces were now trying to "flush them out", a police statement said. It urged people to stay away from the area.
Two guards were confirmed killed at the main university gate, with two policemen and a student among the injured. But eyewitnesses spoke of many casualties inside the building.
The gunmen reportedly ordered students to lie down on the floor, but at least 27 are known to have escaped and are at a military facility.