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Friday, 30 May 2014

Obasanjo, Jonathan, Fashola, others bid Otedola final farewell

THE remains of former Lagos State Governor, Sir Michael Otedola, have been buried. He was buried yesterday in his home town, Odoragunshin, in the Epe Local Government Area of the state. The burial was preceded by a funeral Mass held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibonwon.

The church programme was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Dame Patience Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Babatunde Fashola, his wife Dame Abimbola Fashola, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Hon Abike Dabiri, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) boss Aruma Oteh, Minister for Agriculture Adeshina Akinwumi, former Zenith Bank boss Jim Ovia, business magnate Aliko Dangote, among others.
The funeral Mass was officiated by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Lagos Archdiocese, together with Bishop Emeritus, Anothony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie; former Archbishop of Ibadan, Rev Dr Felix Alaba Job; and other priests with clergymen from various denominations in attendance. The sleepy community was awoken by the unusual presence of the dignitaries in the area.
The residents, including a large number of physically challenged people trooped out in their numbers to catch a glimpse of the visitors. It was an opportunity for some of the residents to make brisk business. Commercial motorcyclists and commercial drivers smiled home as they picked visitors from one part of the town to the other. It was equally an opportunity for many politicians across the state to register themselves in the minds of the people and most importantly, the decision makers in their different political parties.
They strategically placed banners with their photographs at different parts of the area to welcome the visitors and bid the deceased farewell. A large number of armed and stern-looking securitymen stood at strategic positions to forestall a break-down of law and order. Delievering his sermon during the Holy Mass, Monsignor Otenhi extolled the virtues of the late governor and exhorted the congregation to live a life worthy of emulation. “Our beloved father lived a life worthy of emulation. He was a devout Christian who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
“Today, he has gone to be with his creator. One day, it would be our turn. We should strive to live a life worthy of emulation so that when our time comes, people would have good things to say about us just as they are saying about our departed father today,” he said. President Jonathan, in his brief remark, extolled the virtues of the late governor, while assuring Nigerians that: “Serenity would soon return to the country.” The president, in his condolence message to the deceased family, said: “It is with great sadness that I write to condole you on the passing of your dear father, Sir Michael Otedola: a consumate nationalist.
Your father brought a characteristic level of uncompromising diligence and commitment to excellence to bear on every facet of his service to God, country and community, a rich legacy which should be an enduring source of pride to you and the entire members of your family in your moment of grief.
“On behalf of my family, the government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to express my heartfelt condolences to you, the entire members of the larger Otedola family and the government and people of Lagos State where he served meritoriously as governor, on the passing of this titan. May Almighty God grant succour to all he left behind, even as He grants his soul eternal rest.”
The Vice President Namadi Sambo described the deceased former governor as an elder statesman who served his people with a sense of humility, saying: “It is with deep shock and total submission to the will of the Almighty God that I received the sad news of his demise. ” He will be remembered by all as an elder statesman, distinguished politician and devout Christian who served his people with a sense of humility and touched many lives through his just and exemplary leadership.”
Former President Obasanjo, in his condolence message, described the deceased as a rare breed “who combined the sterling qualities of patriotism and firmness of purpose requisite for high office with the domestic virtues of modesty and loyalty. An extra- ordinary person and unforgettable personality, quality and integrity were his imprints.” Lagos State Governor Fashola said the deceased’s accomplishments and the records of his administration amply reveal his accommodating nature and predilection towards politics without bitterness and acrimony, adding “this endeared him to friends and political adversaries alike as he showed by example that it was possible to accommodate diverse shades of thought and opinion.
His distinctly dignified comportment outside political office is no less worthy of emulation.” Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, noted that the fact that the deceased attained a ripe age has not in any way “lessened the pain, nor the magnitude of the death of a patriach who devoted his life to the service of his creator and the benefit of humanity. “Everyone who knew Sir Michael Otedola testifies to his disciplined lifestyle and gentle disposition,” he said.
His Osun State counterpart, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said the deceased while alive was was a humble, energetic, enterprising and astute politician. He said: “The lesson that can be drawn from his passage is that while we are alive, we should all strive to serve our people and God, our creator in in the belief that we shall all account for our deeds when we return to our creator.” The First Lady, Dame Jonathan, said: “Though his death was painful, we should take solace in the fact that he left good legacies which are evident in the quality of the children he left behind. He will be remembered for living a worthy life and for making indelible impact on humanity during his lifetime.”

World Cup: Brazil City Gripped By Dengue Fever.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – The Brazilian city where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic.
Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitos, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.
Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died.
“It’s a record epidemic. It’s bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007,” said Andrea Von Zuben, who coordinates the Campinas dengue control program.
Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito.
The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash.
Severe cases can be deadly. Three people have died of dengue this year in Campinas, women aged 27, 69 and 81. Three other deaths are being investigated to see if they were caused by the disease.
There is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine.
The World Health Organization recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils.
It also suggests covering up exposed skin — advice that may cramp Portuguese captain Ronaldo’s bare-chested style, a topic of much commentary after his pectoral-flexing goal celebration at this year’s Champions League final.
Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013.
Von Zuben said the Campinas outbreak was being driven by a heatwave at the beginning of the year, the prevalence of a particularly virulent dengue strain and poor sanitation that leaves pools of standing water where mosquitos breed.
But she said the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be are a mosquito-control priority for health officials.
“We put larvicides and anti-mosquito poisons at the airport, in the training centers and in the hotels, so the teams will run a much smaller risk than the local population,” she told AFP.
- Team doctors ‘concerned’ -
The authorities have been in touch with the teams’ doctors, who were “concerned,” Von Zuben said.
She said her staff had recommended insect repellant.
“We’ve been guaranteed that the situation has been identified and is under control. There shouldn’t be any reason for alarm,” said the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
In early May, when Portuguese coach Paulo Bento visited the training center, city officials told him three mosquito-control operations would be carried out before the team arrives on June 11.
The army has helped sanitation workers clean up 83,000 tonnes of rubbish and dozens of buildings have been sealed off and sprayed.
Campinas is not the only city facing the dengue threat.
Medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently said World Cup host cities Natal, Fortaleza and Recife in the northeast were also at risk.
Of course, infectious diseases are a two-way street.
Campinas has also launched a program to give citizens free vaccinations before World Cup fans descend on the city from Africa and Europe, where “polio and measles are still persistent,” it said.
Priority will be given to taxi and bus drivers, employees at restaurants and tourist attractions, and the staff of six major hotels.

Culled

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

#Ewa Day Tradition: Awolowo Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

Occupants of Awolowo Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have celebrated the traditional Ewa Day and Aro Night. 
The event began at 2pm with shouts of Ewa ti jina ooo (the beans is ready) by a student. No sooner did he finished than students came out with assorted of containers, such as bathroom buckets, bowls, pails, pots, cups, milk tins and nylons.
They lined up to be served.
Those unaware of what was going on joined the queue without any container. Asked what they wanted to use to take the meal, one answered in Pidgin English: “Brother, na for my hand I go take am o.”
As they were served, they moved to a corner to savour the meal. It was a sight to behold as students sang various Aro (hilarious) songs.
That was the scene at the Ewa Day and Aro (hilarity) Night held at the Awolowo Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Preparation for the day was slow because of the absence of the Hall Executive Council (HEC), which usually coordinated the event.
Occupants of the hall came out and picked the beans. A bag of beans was used for the celebration. A set of students brought firewood, local stoves and aluminum pots to cook the food. They poured the beans in a pot of water and placed it on fire. Some students stayed around, entertaining the cooks with songs.
Female students were not left out. Some of them were spotted, sitting at a corner preparing the drink to be taken during the Aro Night. One of them, Aderonke Adeyemi, a student of Computer Science, said they came to assist the boys and catch fun.
The Aro Night started at 10 o’clock after Awolowo Hall occupants visited the female halls, singing and dancing.
The venue of the programme – Awo Café – was filled up by students, dressed in funny attires.
The event started with a formal introduction by the masters of ceremony, who gave an insight into what to expect.
“We are here tonight to uphold the tradition of Aro Night as we use to do every year. We enjoin everyweere (mad men) and were’birin (mad women) present here tonight to relax and be courteous throughout the programme,” one of the comperes, who was dressed in tattered Agbada, said in Yoruba.
Being called a mad man is enough to cause friction, but the reverse was the case at Awo Café; every student that attended the Night event was a mad man.
The Night featured hilarious displays from the Awo ‘choir’ and ‘mad legends’, such as Ogidiolu and Woli Agba.
In the comic display, Adewale Adesina, the Director of Socials-elect, said: “I wonder why the management decided to site the zoological garden far from the Halls of Residence. If I am elected as the Director of Socials and Culture, I will ensure all the animals in the zoo are relocated to the hostels. I will also ensure that no student pays fees next session.”
The speech was greeted with laughter and applause from the ‘mad men’.
The Night also featured music and dance performances.
Adedayo Adeleye, one of the organisers, said putting the programme together was tedious because students did not contribute money.
“We spent up to N30,000 in getting things together. We requested each room to pay N200 but when we moved around for the money, some gave us N10 and N5. But we kept on with the motivation that the tradition must not die,” he said.
Daniel Arohunfara, a 400-Level Educational Administration and Planning student, described the Ewa Day as a culture, which no one could tell when it began.
He said: “The consumption of the beans is not the most important thing but the enjoyment we derive in doing this together.”
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#Bringbackourgirls: F.G, US slam Chief Of Defence

ABUJA—The United States said, yesterday, that it does not have information to support the claim by the Nigerian military that it knows the whereabouts of the more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh said on Monday that the military knew the location of the schoolgirls, abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic sect on April 14.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, yesterday, that, “we don’t have independent information from the United States to support that statement. We, as a matter of policy and for the girls’ safety and wellbeing, would not discuss publicly this sort of information regardless.”Badeh’s claim has also reportedly incurred the wrath of the Presidency.
Five U.S. and European security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had no credible information on the location of the girls and were skeptical that the Nigerian government knew where they were. The five officials said the United States and some European allies had provided technical intelligence, including information from spy aircraft and satellites, to Nigerian authorities, who lack such intelligence capabilities.
But the officials said that as far as they knew, technical intelligence systems had not produced precise or credible information establishing the girls’ location.
The five officials said that if the Nigerians had obtained such information from informants on the ground, it has not been shared with U.S. and allied agencies.
One impediment to finding the girls, the officials said, was that since their abduction, they had been divided into small groups. Boko Haram is also believed to be hiding them in densely forested terrain where it would be hard for modern technical intelligence systems to gather information.
Presidency angry with CDS
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, has reportedly incurred the wrath of the Presidency over his claim that the military has sighted the 270 schoolgirls seized from their dormitories in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists last month.
President Jonathan, it was learnt last night, was unhappy with the claim by the defence chief, which he considered as a breach of military tactics capable of hindering the move to free the children, who have been in the kidnappers’ den since last month.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Badeh declared, yesterday, that the military was now fighting a bigger battle with the international terrorist organisation known as Al Qaeda with networks in North and West Africa, noting that the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency war has gone beyond Boko Haram
A top Presidency source told Vanguard last night that Jonathan considered the CDS’ claim on the missing schoolgirls as an unnecessary outburst, which could frustrate ongoing efforts by the multinational team currently in the country to rescue the girls.
Counter-productive
The source, which did not want to be quoted, said President Jonathan was still at a loss as to why Badeh made the statement at a time he was expected to be more cautious over the contentious issue, which is generating interest across the globe.

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Does Pregnancy Have You Feeling Overweight - Learn How to Look Great and Feel Beautiful!

By Destini Ingoldsby

People say we are our own worst critic, well I guess in most areas we are. But I know for a fact that when it comes to my weight, my mom is my worst critic. I am either to skinny... " Honey are you eating enough, your face is thinning out, your arms feel smaller." Or I'm gaining to much weight" Sweety, now you know I love you no matter what, but I think your pants are looking a little tight; your not as young as you used to be, you might want to consider eating better."
So then what happens when we get pregnant, people go on and on about how great you look and all the while you keep getting bigger and bigger. Now I know that a percentage; is that cute little trouble maker inside you, but what about the extra snacks you ate at night and between lunch and between dinner. Let's face it, as much as we want to believe it's all baby, not all of it is.
Well I'm sure you'll work it off somehow...right? At each one of your mommy workout classes or Lamaze classes your working off a little bit of extra fat or at least you hope so with all the money your dishing out. And with the continuous encouragement from everyone telling you your beautiful it must be true. Then how come you don't feel beautiful, how come being pregnant looked so much more glamorous and enjoyable before it all happened? How come no matter what you do, that baby fat seems to be clinging onto you, more then your now new arrival?
Well your not alone, 50% of all pregnant women feel unattractive and don't enjoy their pregnancy. Hitting home for anyone? Have you ever heard the saying, "You can't use one kinda vacuum on all carpets?" Well it's because not all vacuums work for all different kinds of carpets. The same goes for weight loss, you need a program designed for you body type. Something designed for your individual needs, something others just like you have used and had success with.
Did you know that you can be proactiv about your weight loss, you don't have to wait until your baby or babies are born in order to loose those baby pounds- you can start now! Yea, yea I know doctors have great advice and are suppose to have all the answers to your pregnancy needs, but what we really need is another momma's advice. So momma it's time you start feeling beautiful, looking great, and enjoying your life!
Author: Destini Melissa Ann IngoldsbyAre those baby pounds getting you down, would you like to know how hundreds of women are enjoying their pregnancy and loosing pregnancy weight?

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Four Chibok Girls Released By Boko Haram

Four out of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State,  have been released by the Boko Haram.

The Chairman, Chibok Local government Council, Mr. Bana Lawan, said on Wednesday that the girls fell ill and were released by their captors.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lawan gave the information in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting for validation of draft humanitarian response plan for the abducted girls.
The meeting was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
He said the girls were released on Tuesday to bring the number of those that had regained their freedom to 57.
Lawan commended Nigerians for showing concern and support for Chibok people, saying the support had restored the hope and aspiration of the people for the return of peace to the community.
He also praised the Federal Government’s prompt intervention through the provision of relief items for the people.
He urged the government to resuscitate the facilities destroyed by the insurgents and improve security in the affected school to boost the morale of the students.
Lawan explained that boys were encouraged to attend GGSS in Chibok because of the lack of education facilities in the area and appealed for the construction of boys’ hostels in the school.
He said the construction of the hostels would reduce the hardship faced by the students, who attended school from afar.
Dear Readers, do you think Boko Haram has a soft spot to have released the girls who were sick and by that action are willingly to have a Peaceful negiotiation with the Federal Government?

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Kim Kardashian's First Official Wedding Photos Revealed

Kim Kardashian shared the first picture from her wedding to Kanye West on Instagram!

The 33-year-old reality star and 36-year-old rapper became a couple officially over the weekend in a private but lasvished ceremony, in attendance were family and friends.
The picture as titled by Kim was “Mr. & Mrs. Kanye WestShe later posted another pic of the couple kissing.
Kanye West Mother in Law, Kris Jenner also shared a new pic
“Breathtaking….such a magnificent dress @riccardotisci17 !!! #Givenchy #Stunning #Love #herecomesthebride”
The couple wore Givenchy dress while Kanye wore a Givenchy tuxedo by Riccardo Tisci .

Monday, 26 May 2014

Caught Pants Down! Teacher Replies, "One Of The "Underage" Made Passes At Me"

IBADAN — The nursery school teacher, Mr. Olayinka Oluwadare Folarin, who allegedly defiled three under‑aged pupils in a toilet, yesterday, said it was one of the girls that made advances at him.
Folarin, aged 38, who claimed his illicit romance with the minors was a demonic attack which had been affecting him for a long time, said: “One of them made advances at me. You know how children play with you in a funny way. This thing is beyond me.”

Folarin
This came as he challenged policemen and newsmen interviewing him to throw the first stone at him if they had not sinned before. He was being detained at Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Though he showed remorse for being involved in the act, he intermittently flared up, saying nobody is beyond demonic attack.
Calls for help
He said: “I have been doing this for a long time. I feel terribly bad each time I did it but I could not stop it. Why don’t you find a way of helping me. Is this meant to expose me?
“Some people should just think and reason with me. The person who has not sinned before should cast the first stone. If God did not forsake some people, I know he would not forsake me. I am a changed person now.”
Method of operation
Tearfully, he recalled how he invited the girls into the toilet and put them in the wash hand basin in the toilet and then fondled their private parts.
He confessed that he always used his hair cream to lubricate them. However, he denied using his manhood to penetrate any of the girls.
When asked why his claims contradicted the medical report which revealed that the hymen of the girls was not intact, he said it might have been broken elsewhere.
“I never penetrated them. I only used my manhood to rub their private parts. Yes, I used my hair cream to lubricate my organ to stimulate myself.”
He lamented that since the incident happened, the school management had sacked and abandoned him, noting: “When the attack started, I called them.”
Though, he reportedly wrote in his statement that he used to abuse them on Saturdays, he said it was once a while.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Okuwobi‑Ilobanafor said: “The suspect had engaged in multiple defilement and all the victims said the same thing that he always abused them twice a week since last year. The third girl was lured by the suspect to cover his illicit affairs.
“The third girl he abused saw a note he wrote to one of the two girls when she was sweeping the floor and asked what was happening. The teacher then collected the paper; for fear of being exposed, he recruited her into the group.
She said the case would be transferred to the state Police headquarters because of its seriousness.

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TEACHER WHO DEFILED MINORS SAYS: One of them made passes at me

on   /   in News 12:25 am   /   Comments
BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN — The nursery school teacher, Mr. Olayinka Oluwadare Folarin, who allegedly defiled three under‑aged pupils in a toilet, yesterday, said it was one of the girls that made advances at him.
Folarin, aged 38, who claimed his illicit romance with the minors was a demonic attack which had been affecting him for a long time, said: “One of them made advances at me. You know how children play with you in a funny way. This thing is beyond me.”
Folarin
Folarin
This came as he challenged policemen and newsmen interviewing him to throw the first stone at him if they had not sinned before. He was being detained at Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Though he showed remorse for being involved in the act, he intermittently flared up, saying nobody is beyond demonic attack.
Calls for help
He said: “I have been doing this for a long time. I feel terribly bad each time I did it but I could not stop it. Why don’t you find a way of helping me. Is this meant to expose me?
“Some people should just think and reason with me. The person who has not sinned before should cast the first stone. If God did not forsake some people, I know he would not forsake me. I am a changed person now.”
Method of operation
Tearfully, he recalled how he invited the girls into the toilet and put them in the wash hand basin in the toilet and then fondled their private parts.
He confessed that he always used his hair cream to lubricate them. However, he denied using his manhood to penetrate any of the girls.
When asked why his claims contradicted the medical report which revealed that the hymen of the girls was not intact, he said it might have been broken elsewhere.
“I never penetrated them. I only used my manhood to rub their private parts. Yes, I used my hair cream to lubricate my organ to stimulate myself.”
He lamented that since the incident happened, the school management had sacked and abandoned him, noting: “When the attack started, I called them.”
Though, he reportedly wrote in his statement that he used to abuse them on Saturdays, he said it was once a while.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olabisi Okuwobi‑Ilobanafor said: “The suspect had engaged in multiple defilement and all the victims said the same thing that he always abused them twice a week since last year. The third girl was lured by the suspect to cover his illicit affairs.
“The third girl he abused saw a note he wrote to one of the two girls when she was sweeping the floor and asked what was happening. The teacher then collected the paper; for fear of being exposed, he recruited her into the group.
She said the case would be transferred to the state Police headquarters because of its seriousness.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/teacher-defiled-minors-says-one-made-passes/#sthash.cTC5aSWI.dpuf

Jos Explosion: 36 Igbo killed, 42 injured – Eze Igbo Jos

The Igbo community in Jos has been thrown into uncontrollable mourning as it was confirmed that 36 of its kinsmen and women were killed and 42 others injured in the two bomb blast at the terminus area of Jos in Plateau State.
Prof. Joseph Obilom, the Eze Igbo II of Jos and His Igbo Executive Council in Jos made this known in Jos, yesterday.
In a statement released to the Press He states that ”We were not consulted when the arrangement for the mass burial was being made. As at now, the Igbo killed are 36, those injured were 42. Many more are still missing and goods worth millions of Naira lost. Igbo always bury their dead in their ancestral homes and we are saddened by this development.
“We have lost our people and means of livelihood. We request the federal and Plateau State governments to come to our aid by sending relief materials to cater for the victims.
”We do not allow our people to sleep in primary schools and other government buildings when there are problems. We take custody of our people till the wounds are healed but whenever others are taken care of in terms of relief materials, we are not always considered and never compensated.”
The Eze Igbo made known his grievances over the victims not be compensated for their loses.
“inhuman treatment, marginalization and rejection must stop. We are always the most hit in the situations like this but we are always forgotten.
”We are in support of moving traders out of  the terminus and its environs but the satellite market should be strengthened to ensure sanity and orderliness.”
He then added and appealed to Boko Haram and Perpetrators of evil deeds to “embrace peace as killing of innocent people would not solve the problems.”

OAU SCHOOL FEES MATTER- OUTCOME OF THE INTERVIEW WITH SUG PRESIDENT.

Exclusive interview of the Channels Sunrise Programme with the Obafemi Awolowo University Student Union Government- Ibikunle Issac

INTERVIEWER- What is the rate of the increase?
President-about 320% increase…
Interviewer- that is what to what
President-17000 to a hundred thousand naira
Interviewer-  for students?
President-  for students, apart from 20,000 acceptance fees.
Interview- what about returning students?
President- they haven’t disclosed that for now.
Interview- returning students no increment on their part?
President- there is increment but no announcement
Interview- what are the students protesting?
President- it’s the increase of fresh students and Post graduates school fees
Interviewer- and post graduates? So fresh students are the one joining soon?
President- Yes
Interviewer- so why the protest?
President- sir in Ife, the last hope for the children of the masses is Obafemi Awolowo University, just because of that fees, we still have opportunity to come for University Education, unlike some other schools we have Emeka payment, we have some people commercializing Education. We have funds in Oau, there is no justification for this increament. We have all the sources for funds, in oau. Three years ago, our acceptance fee was increase to twenty thousand from two thousand.
Interviewer- what is the ground for the protest? Are you saying no increment whatsoever?
President- For now, no increment, if there is going to be any increment, let the student representatives come on board, let see the books of the management itself.
Interviewer…Lets talk about your sources of funding, you talked about the…

President- ok thank you very much, we have acceptance fees for the past three years, nothing to show for it, our light still epileptic, our water bad. six thousand Naira for every jam bites and we have like 50 thousands students every year.
Channels- the university gets a fee for every students that comes within the university every year for jamb. That's 300 million roughly every year?
President- Yes, yes, we have Pure water factory, bread making factory... generating funds from this. We have acceptance fees for the past three years, nothing to show for it. Just some months back,  eight million dollars was released to O.A.U from world bank.
Interviewer- what was it for? Because if the world bank release such funds, its for a specific purpose.
President- Yeah, for facilities on campus, on oau campus, we have a lot of alumni
Interviewer- you know, you know, looking at the release from your school, your Vice Chancellor should have been here but i think he has urgent meeting in Abuja but looking at the justification, the cost of Education has risen. Federal  Government reduced the allocation by 50% for funding compared to what the university receives. Oau still has considerable increment to maintain schools and other tuition levy compared to other schools futa, unilag, uniben etc
President- for instance sir, uni lag pays thirty thousand naira but now o.a.u its over a hundred  and twenty thousand naira. We have a proposal from the members of senates on the outcome of the meeting they had. We have a statement and i know what transpires in the statement.
Interviewer- where you part of the meeting of the increment?
President- No sir,(brings out a pamphlets) but Asuu released a statement saying the fee was unjustifiable
Interviewer- The students were not aware, you were not aware of the increment before?
President- Not at all
Interviewer- you mean no communications at all?
President- not at all, no communications sir. we just came on board to meet the increment, the sug veto power was withdrawn three years ago, now we back again to meet this same increment, they are bringing increment again, is it that they want to post the student union again?Because they know it can never stand on o.a.u, it cant!
Interviewer- are you saying school fees be stagnant forever, is that what you saying?
President- no that's not what we saying, what we are saying is that, if there is going to be any increment, we must know about it, we must know how much was spent, how much we need. We do not damage property, if at all we do, we have it in written agreement that we must pay a thousand naira for it, but someone wants to fix it alone in an account and be recieving the money alone.
Interviewer- are you suggesting that the school authority submits their books to the students union for clarity, if at all the increment will be done?
President-  NO. They should make it open, we want to know, the money we have on ground, how we spent every kobo, lets see how much we need on campus.
Interviewer- you know your school has actually won the best in the country, you should see maybe this is an effort to sustain that position, looking at what you have there, the ict training, your school has been announced to pay a purposed fee of 5000 naira, isnt it because they want you to be the best? Do you at any point meet with Doctor Aborishade, the Asuu Chairman of your school.
President- come again pls?
Interviewer- Have you met with the Asuu Leadership of your school?
president- Yes sir, they released a statement, a congress of all the lecturers, comprising of professors. You see what transpired at the Senate meeting is some people coming on board, some professors,who are so with the management so say this. The board of asuu is against this
interviewer- Is asuu part of the decision making in your school? are they?
President- they are part of the stakeholders in the school on campus, just like NASU.

Interviewer- They are also against it? (second interviewer cuts in) now lets look at the manner of the protest? one was taking it to a federal government road, tell us the reason for that?
President- thank you very much ma, we are a progressive minded civilians, which is why we demanded a negotiation, but the management thought we will go on protest in the campus and they threaten to shut the school down. How can you remove 12thousand naira from a hundred thousand naira. A professor was telling us that they are generals in the war, that we are just new births. That was when we thought of taking it outside. Constitution, section 39...1999 to express, to protest, to occupy. We had maximum security to protect us and the society. We are playing on intellectual battle field. We are sustaining it.
Interviewer- you know where your rights stops, another person begins, you have to exercise your rights with difference to another persons. The people who you stopped on the road also had a right. If i was there, i will exercise my right to pass through.
President- at intervals we do open, even some civilians joined us in the struggle, the population you seeing there isnot just the students alone.
Interviewer- Yes the security officials were there, what was the guarantee it was not going to hijacked from people who says there is a protest here, lets make it rowdy n unmanageable
President- that was why we had the security apparatus, the SSS were involved, the police and even among ourselves.
Interviewer- what is the situation as we speak?
President- yes the Ooni of Ife and Senator Omisore has welded in, most of our alumni as we speak. The matter was supposed to have been resolved this weekend because we have been invited to the Ooni's Palace...
Interviewer-(cuts in) so there maybe a reversal or an increament for both undergraduates and fresh Students?
President- they have not announced for the stalites, what we are saying is that for now, let's stop any increment for now
Interviewer- why?
President- sir, how much do we need? let them invite us and tell us its like one day its th military era, this is a democratic era.
Interviewer- they should invite thestudent union, asuu and tell them this is why and how the increase is, and tell everybody will that fly?
President-sir i want to point your attention to something, last year, we have 6month strike for proper funding of education. About 7billion is allocated to o.a.u. Asuu can not support increment for now, because they are expecting funds. Even all this increment cant amount to billions. Why is our school in a rush? Its like some people want to increase the fees to satisfy themselves. The V.C was saying are we not ashamed of ourselves? when we are paying between 7 thousand to 17 thousand for school fees while he pays over fifty thousand naira for his kids. Is that a good arguement? For now we dont want any increment, whatsoever at all. We dont want any thing that will hamper the downtrodden from going to school.
Interviewer- but you have quality education in O.A.U?
President- We have ample money for that, i have given you the figures, we have alot of sources for that by companies, alumnis etc.
Interviewer- okay, we will see if we can still get the vice chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, we do hope he will pick up the invitation. In the mean time, are you going to shield your swords?
President- actually as it stands now, we have plans lined up. We are waiting for the outcome of the Ooni's, Senator Omisore, Alunmni's intervntion.
Interviewer- Are you going to impede on those going about their duties, i mean in town?
President- now we dont know how we go about it, i can not reveal it now. Boko haram is disuading people in the north, does it mean that the federal government doesnot go about their duties? The managemnt are doing the same.
Interviewer- Ibukun Issac, the SUG President of O.A.U thank you for coming on this morning program.
President- thank you very much sir.

We welcome your comments as you can comment anonymously- Do you think this struggle is a win situation or like the previous episode three year ago, a lost battle for the O.A.U students? Or is this increment Justifiable?


Sunday, 25 May 2014

Sport News: “Without a list”...

Let but the commons hear the testament which pardon me, I do not want to read…..For they would go and kiss dead Caeasr’s wounds and dip their napkins in his sacred blood 4th Plebeian: We’ll hear the will. Read it Mark Anthony.
All:The will, the will we will hear Caesar’s will…
Mark Anthony:Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it….
-Shakespear’s Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene 2.
Happy to be back, after three weeks that seemed like eternity.
In coming back, permit me to draw us back, back to April 22, 2014, the day we emerged from that famous Technical Committee meeting,
It is a day I will never forget. A day that the media insisted on the list. “ the list they said, we want the list.
The list was not going to be given to them by force. No one said the list was going to be given to them that day. The NFF had decided to meet with Coach Stephen Keshi to discuss World Cup plans, including of course his world cup list.

Coach Stephen Keshi
When we left the meeting, no one bothered about the plans and preparations. Will there be a friendly match in Nigeria to send off the Eagles? Will there be a fund raising to support the Eagles budget? Are we expecting the release of funds adequately and timely?. No those were irrelevant. Give us the list.
The list I said was not ready. The coach had said there was no hurry, that no country had yet released the list and that there was need for him to consult further….
The list I said was going to be ready in a week’s time. The week that followed was cacophony personified. The media went to town. Terrible reasons were advanced on why the list was not ready. Some said there was even no list at all……..others invented the blows that were exchanged at the meeting as Keshi clutched the list refusing to release it to the NFF…….
When it was time for the list to be released ( as promised ) Some of my colleagues called on D Day asking me when and how the list was going to be released. I replied that I was out of the country and some jocularly replied that not able to stand the heat, I was running away from the kitchen…..
Who, was going to release the list?
I told them that it was customary for the coach to release the list himself, and even answer some questions if need be.
Was I sure the list was going to be released?
I was sure.
As a member of the Special five man CAF Inspection team to the six countries that have bid to host the African Nations Cup in 2019 and 2021, the call of duty had taken me to Algeria and Cameroun, incidentally, two of the countries that are also going to the World Cup!
The list situation in Cameroun and Algeria was not different from the Nigeria situation. The only marked difference was that the meeting of the coaches and the Federations to discuss the list was not publicized, so no one came out of the meeting to meet a legion of reporters and a battery of cameras insisting on the list!
Like Nigeria, the coaches insisted on having their way. In Algeria there is the case of the coach dropping a player because “ ….he cannot feel him……”
When the list was finally released, the press went wild. In Cameroun, the media accused the coach of taking some players he wants to trade with. In Algeria the media believed that there should be more emphasis on fitness and ability instead of emotions……so much ink and decibels thrown forth.
At a brief ceremony held in Lagos recently with Keshi in attendance, I had the occasion to tell the media that we were all going to same destination but from different roads. That we have all contributed what we think should be a perfect list but that it can never work out that way because if Paul Bassey is coach today,( Thank God I am not ) the players he will take to the world cup will NOT be the players Tony Ubani will take…..
We have credible examples in the dropping of players like Nasri from the French list and Carlos Tevez from the Argentina list. Therefore we should all now forget the issue of list and queue behind the team, support them with our thoughts and our prayers because should Keshi fail ( God forbid ) it is Nigeria that has failed.
Why have I gone back to this? Because after Scotland’s match on Wednesday, the media is likely to surface again, because in a few days when the Coach will drop the seven that will not go to the world cup, the media will come to the fore.
I now appreciate those coaches that went straight to their twenty three. The English coach immediately placed seven players on “standby” and faced the firing squad of the media once and for all. Not so Coach Keshi who, although a lot of people believe knows the seven that will not go to the world cup must still be facing some sleepless nights as to the wish that he has made the right decisions.
Yes the media should do its work, but I will not be that player that will go and slap the referee after the penalty has been awarded, quite conscious of the fact that he will never change his mind.
No I will not. I will simply walk away, turn my back, bury my head in my hands and pray God that the penalty is not scored.
A tear for Jabby, farewell for Gusau
I was away when I heard that Public Relations maestro, longest serving image maker of the National Sports Commission and member of the Sports Veterans fraternity, Chief Ajibade Fashina Thomas has lost his son abroad. Chief Jabby, my sympathy. Be strong in The Lord.
Also of deep regret is the death of Ibrahim Gusau whose tenure as Chairman of Organising and Disciplinary committee of the league saw great improvement in the running of the league. Only the good lord will be able to console his family and members of the football fraternity in Nigeria.

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Lagos Government urges LASU lecturers to suspend strike.

LAGOS—Lagos State Government has appealed to striking Lagos State University, LASU lecturers to embrace dialogue instead of continuing with their industrial action which it described as “an unnecessary drawback for its spirited efforts to boost the academic standing and reputation of the institution.”
The government in a statement weekend, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said the state government would not allow itself to be stampeded into acceding to demands that were inconsistent with its policy objectives, noting that it was imperative for Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, LASU to have a rethink on its proposed industrial action in the interest of the students and allow for dialogue.

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“I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.”- President Goodluck.

At the 2014 Democracy Day Inter-denominational Church Service in Abuja. The Nigeria's President in his speech said “I can assure you that the next Democracy Day will witness a new government.”
   He also made notes on the issues of terrorism and insecurity as spearheaded by the Islamic Sect, Boko Haram to bring his Government down, he however pointed out that it would not affect the credibility of the 2015 Elections.
   “I remember when I was in my village this morning to collect my permanent voter’s card, a journalist asked me whether there will be elections in Nigeria, and I told him there would be elections in this country.
“This country will continue to move forward in spite of some of the setbacks we are witnessing,” the President said.
He thanked all the religious faiths for their prayers for the Government and the country which has kept the country in unity.
“Without your prayers, it would have been worse. With your prayers, our girls will be seen by our security men.
“All these distractions were planned to bring this government down. Since they failed, terror will also fail.
“Forces of darkness will never prevail over light. I call on all Nigerians to continue to pray and, with God on our side, we shall overcome,” he said.
President Jonathan thanked God for the 15 straight years of democracy in the country, saying it is the best form of government.
He said his administration’s ‘Transformation Agenda’ was not a mere campaign promise, but had yielded visible dividends and positive developments in every sector in the past three years.
The President listed some of the benefitting sectors to include rail, roads, airports, agriculture, petroleum, power, industry and housing.
In the message delivered by Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme pointed out the Biblical Allusion Mordecai to Nigeria's Crisis, Book of Esther, chapter 4 verse 13 in the Holy Bible..
“It is when the time is darkest that God chooses to reveal its glory and I believe Nigeria will arise. A new Nigeria is about to be born.
“Nigeria is simply experiencing child labour, which will give way to the birth of a great nation,” he said.
NAN reports that congregational prayers were offered for security, peace and development, as well as for the victims and families of recent bomb blasts.
However, Prayers were also said for the successful search for and rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls, as well as for President Jonathan and his family and the three arms of government.
The service was attended by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, the President’s mother, Madam Eunice, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs and presidential aides.

The Unbelieveable And Amazing Benefits Of Bananas.

Yemisi Olowookere, a dietician at the Garki Hospital, Abuja says  consumption of banana is ideal for the maintenance of normal blood pressure and heart function.
She said that bananas were the best source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.
According to her, a medium sized banana provides 350g of potassium which helps the body to maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balances in the cells.
“Bananas help restore normal bowel activity, rich in non digestible fibres, help with constipation and diarrhoea and normalise the colon’s function to absorb large amounts of water for regular bowel movements.
“Bananas have long been recognised for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. They help to neutralise acidity, a great way to get rid of heart burn.
“Bananas are a perfect baby food. They are the best solid food to introduce to infants. A mashed ripe banana is an extremely simple and healthy baby food,’’ she said.
Olowookere explained that bananas were easy to digest and rarely cause allergic reactions and could be recommended for children recovering from gastrointestinal problems particularly diarrhoea.
According to her, the dietary fibre component in banana pulp has cholesterol-lowering effect and also promotes an overall improvement of the functional efficiency of kidneys.
“The benefits that the kidneys derive from bananas are due to the high potassium content present in it.
“A normal intake of potassium suppresses calcium excretion in the urine and minimises the kidney stone.’’
She said that bananas were known to calm an upset stomach and help rehydrate the body.
Olowookere said that bananas contained 25 per cent of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6 necessary for producing antibodies, red blood cells and aiding in the metabolism of fat.
She added that the Vitamin B6 present in banana serves as an immunity booster.
Olowookere said bananas contained tryptophan, a type of protein that converts into serotonin known to make one relax, improve one’s mood and generally make one feels happier.
She also said that bananas could stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.
“Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making one more alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels of potassium,’’ said Olowookere. (NAN)

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Nigeria striker Shola Ameobi is to leave Newcastle after 14 years.

LONDON (AFP) – Nigeria striker Shola Ameobi sets to leave Newcastle after a decade and four with the Premier League club.

Shola Ameobi
The 32-year-old whose final appearance did not end well as he was sent off by referee Phil Dowd after earning two bookings for dissent in space of a minute in the second half of his side’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool.
He said in a report -“Following discussions with Newcastle United, both parties felt it was the right time for us to part company,” Ameobi said.
“I have been at Newcastle United all my career and I have enjoyed every moment and always worn the famous shirt with pride. I am now looking forward to starting a new chapter in my career.
“I would like to place on record a big thank you to everyone at Newcastle United. I wish the club great success in the future and I’m sure with the team and management they have, Newcastle United will go from strength to strength.
“Finally, a big thank you to the supporters who have always been fantastic.”

Saturday, 24 May 2014

BREAKING NEWS!!! Another Explosion Rocks Jos Near UNIJOS.

Another bomb explosion has rocks through a football viewing centre in Jos, Plateau State. The bomb explosion took place on Bauchi road in Jos. It was the third bomb explosion in the city in less than a week
Residents confirmed that the explosion occurred along Bauchi Road near the University of Jos.
“There has been an explosion in Jos,” Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), but said it was not clear what caused the blast nor if there were casualties.
Pam Ayuba, spokesman for the Plateau state governor Jonah Jang, said the blast happened on Bauchi Road at about 9:30 pm (2030 GMT).
The blast was targeted at football fans watching the European Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
More to follow...

10 Celebrities Who Look Just Like Disney Characters

Tom Welling

Tom Welling is Eric from “The Little Mermaid”. Case closed. That jaw line, dark flowing hair and beautiful blue eyes. Let’s all take a minute to look at this comparison. Sigh. He got his start on the popular television series “Smallville” and for being a general dream boat. 
While Mandy Moore was the voice of Rapunzel, we think that Amanda Seyfried is a much better match. She has those beautiful green eyes and long golden hair- look at the similarities! Amanda Seyfried is known for her work on the television series “Veronica Mars” and started filming movies such as “In Time”, “Chloe”, and “Mean Girls”.


2. Chris Colfer

Known for his role on the television series “Glee”, Chris Colfer could have another gig as Pinocchio! Give us a second here: the rosy high cheeks, the big eyes, all you need is to add a hat/wig and a hilarious little outfit. Apparently everyone else sees this resemblance too! When asked about it during an interview for PR.com, he said, “I really want to be Pinocchio, if Disney ever did ‘Pinocchio’ on Broadway. Actually, some of my fans I think started a Facebook petition for me to do that. But I would love to do it, maybe in-between seasons of ‘Glee.’ It’s always been a goal.
 We think that Lily Cole is a dead ringer for Merida from Disney and Pixar’s ‘Brave.’ All we have to do is slack a bow and arrow set in her arms and dress her up! It should not be a hard sell, she is a model after all. She started modelling at the age of 14 and continues trekking around the world for high profile shows and magazine shoots for designers like Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, and Prada.
 Hannah Simone has been in the show business for a long time. This Canadian got her start as a fashion model, became a television host for a music network and now stars in the hugely successful television series “New Girl” with Zooey Deschanel. We think that this beauty would be a great Jasmine given the change. The stunning dark hair, expressive eyes and spunky attitude are all a perfect match! Her independent and sassy attitude screams Jasmine.
 Best known for her role on the wildly successful television series “Scandal”, Kerry Washington is building her reputation for being a versatile actress, starring in films like “Django”.  We also think she would be a perfect Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog”! She is elegant, sassy and has those beautiful eyes. All we need to do is slap a frog in her hand! We think she might be a little too busy to work at Disney with all her appearances and upcoming baby.

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