Abu Qatada: Government loses deportation appeal

Ikogosi Graduate Summer School (IGSS) 2013

The Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria proudly announces and welcomes applications for participation in the Ikogosi Graduate Summer School (IGSS)
Background

The crisis of higher education in Nigeria has triggered a massive haemorrhage of thousands of Nigerian scholars and intellectuals to colleges and research think tanks in different parts of the world. At the same time, and partly as a result of this crisis, unprecedented numbers of young Nigerians have sought- and continue to seek- educational opportunities outside the country’s shores, Despite the eagerness of many Nigerian scholars outside Nigeria to return home regularly to augment the training of young Nigerians in our higher institutions, concrete opportunities remain few and far between. One goal of the IGSS is to initiate the process of closing the gap between desire and actualization. While there is certainly no illusion that this initiative can be a substitute for the urgent and all-important need for the rejuvenation of the education sector in Nigeria, it is envisaged that the program, targeted primarily at the further training of graduate students, will be a first step in a broader project of scholarly reinvigoration.
Ikogosi Graduate Summer School
The 1st Ikogosi Graduate Summer School (IGSS) will take place on June 16 – 29, 2013 at the world-class Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts in lkogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Objectives
Amongst other things, IGSS aims to:

• Enrich and expand the training of (postgraduate students in Nigeria;
• Provide greater scholarly opportunities for (post)graduate students;
• Train (post)graduate students in the processes and cultures of research in a global age;
• Deepen and expand the horizon of (postgraduate students in Nigeria;
• Introduce graduate students to stare-of the-art research and scholarship;
• Offer assistance to (post)graduate students in Nigeria in terms of current literature and research materials;
• Train students in the art of writing proposals (for graduate programmes as well as for research funding), and. how to publish in peer-reviewed journals and other scholarly outlets.

Eligibility/Call for Applications
To this end, IGSS invites applications from qualified indigenes of Ekiti State, Nigeria who are post-graduate students – M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D. – in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and currently enrolled in Nigerian universities.
Students in the following and related disciplines are particularly encouraged to apply: Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Law, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Relations, Management, African Studies, Languages and Literature, History, Philosophy, International Relations, Security and Strategic Studies, Conflict Resolution and Conflict Management, Communication, Education, and Geography.
Application Deadline
The closing date for submission of statements of interest and CVs is March 31 2013.

Method of Application
Qualified applicants should send a one-page “Statement of Interest” and a resume (3 pages maximum) to the Selection Panel at:
igss@ekitistate.gov.ng
The Statement should state very clearly why the student is interested in attending the Summer School, the anticipated benefits, and how the opportunity would enhance his/her academic and future plans. The Selection Panel will select a maximum of 50 scholars from the pool of applicants to participate in the maiden edition of the Summer School.
Participation in the IGSS is free to all successful applicants,
Outcomes
Certificates of Attendance (and no academic credits) will be awarded to scholars who participate fully in the IGSS.
Programme Coordinators
Dr. Wale Adebanwi – University of California, Davis,USA
Dr. Ebenezer Obadare University of Kansas, Kansas, USA
For Further Enquiries
Dr. Femi Akinola, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Policy and Strategy
234-8034735912
fakinola@ekitistate.gov.ng

Adamawa PDP crisis deepens as Aminu, Zwingina, others reject Sule Lamido committee

The aggrieved party members claim they were ignored by the reconciliation committee.

The crisis rocking the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a new twist with a faction of the party denouncing the reconciliation committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve it.
The committee headed by the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido was mandated a few months ago by President Goodluck Jonathan to reconcile the two factions of the party in the state.
The two factions have different executive committees with the one loyal to the Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, headed by Mijinyawa Kaugama while the other one is led by Joel Madaki. The latter was elected at a fresh congress conducted by the state chapter of the party following the sack of the Kaugama-led exco.
But the Madaki’s faction has dissociated itself from the Lamido Committee, complaining that it is biased.
In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated March 12, 2013, the faction said it has no confidence in the reconciliation committee because it is about to submit its report without inviting it to make its presentation.
It also alleged that the Lamido Committee recommended its disbandment, adding that its members had looked forward with great expectation when he (Jonathan) set it up some months ago as a result of which it prepared a memorandum for submission.
The faction argued that the committee’s report would not be balanced because it took presentation from the Kaugama’s faction, which is loyal to Mr Nyako.
“However, after formally requesting for a meeting to present our case to the committee, which was duly acknowledged, we were surprised to learn that the committee had rounded up its assignment and is about to submit its report,” the letter said.
“We are convinced that taking the presentation from Governor Nyako and his supporters alone will not offer the committee a balanced position on the crisis.”
The Madaki-led faction stressed that its rival was discredited by INEC based on the fact that it was not elected but selected by Mr Nyako and that it is wrong to reinstate it (Kaugama-led faction).
It also wondered why it is being ignored even though it was the one approved by INEC.
According to the Madaki’s faction, “It is in this regard that we wish to dissociate ourselves from any report submitted by the Sule Lamido committee because we did not receive fair hearing and as a result the committee report is bound to be biased.”
Prominent members of the Madaki group who signed the letter to Mr Jonathan include Jubril Aminu, a former senator; Grace Bent, also a former senator; Haladu Hananiya, a retired army general; Dan Suleiman, a former ambassador; Jonathan Zwingina, a former senator; Paul Wampana, former leader of the party in North East zone; and Umar Ardo.
In separate protest letter to Mr Lamido, which was also signed by Mr Madaki; state secretary, Barrister Tahir Shehu and the other PDP stalwarts, the faction reminded the Jigawa State governor that his committee was constituted with a view to finding lasting solution to the crisis after hearing from both sides but that the committee failed to do so.
“To our greatest dismay after the Sule Lamido committee, even though have acknowledged our request to be heard, deliberately denied us audience. With this development we felt it is necessary to register our protest against the committee for taking one sided stand,” the faction told the governor in the letter.
“By this act we the undersigned believe that we cannot get justice from the committee and as such, we completely loss confidence on the committee.
“We therefore urge all concerned in our great party to disregard the findings of the committee and give no effect to whatever suggestion, advise or recommendation it may give since it is one sided and indeed against the principles of fair hearing, equity and good conscience.”

Federal government bans Dana Airlines again over safety

The ban will remain until issues are resolved, Aviation ministry said.
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the operational license of Dana Airlines, weeks after the airline resumed from months of ban over the June 3 air crash that killed more than 150 people.
Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Aviation, Joe Obi, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday in a telephone interview from Abuja said that the decision to suspend the airline’s operational license became necessary following unresolved issues bordering on safety in the its operations.
Though he would not shed more light on what the concerns are, he said the decision would remain suspended till all the issues are resolved.
“Yes, it is true the operational license of Dana Airlines has been suspended. What that means is that the airline’s operations have been suspended till further notice. The suspension will remain in place till all the issues are resolved. It might be tomorrow. It might be in two or three days’ time. But, for now nobody knows for how long it will take for the issues to be resolved,” Mr. Obi said.
A statement from the Dana airline’s management to its customers said the suspension followed a directive from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through the monitoring and regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
“We regret to announce the temporary suspension of our flight operations following a directive from the Ministry of Aviation through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Saturday, 16th March, 2013,” the statement said.
No specific reason was given for the action, though the statement added that a meeting has been scheduled between the management of Dana Air, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA on Monday to attempt to resolve the issues.
The management of the airline thanked its customers for “patience and understanding,” saying its looks “forward to having the pleasure of welcoming you (customers) on board again shortly.”
The decision affected hundreds of travelers who had purchased Dana Airline’s tickets to travel to various destinations across the country on Sunday.



source;PREMIUM TIME

PDP Denies APC Sponsorship, Disowns Ugochinyere

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP has finally reacted to claims by the opposition that the party is the sponsor of new political party, African People’s Congress, APC.
The national leadership of the PDP yesterday denied being involved in the formation of the new party, and also disowned its facilitator, Ugochinyere Imo Ikenga.
The PDP said it disowned any move to frustrate the registration of the opposition merger, All Progressive Congress, APC, following the emergence of another association with similar acronym.
In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party, however, reiterated that it was not moved by the coming together of four opposition political parties to form the APC, adding that it welcomes a strong opposition.
“Our attention has been drawn to unfounded, spurious and vexatious reports making the rounds in some online media claiming that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is behind the identity tug of war by groups claiming the acronym APC. The reports have suggested that agents of our Party are involved in the formation of the African People’s Congress to frustrate the merger of opposition Parties under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress.

“We have on numerous occasions debunked these provocative insinuations. However, in view of the mischievous dimensions these rumours have assumed, especially within a section of the online media, the PDP wishes to categorically state as follows: To the best of our knowledge, no member of the PDP is involved in the formation of any other political organization, neither are we interested in the activities of any other Party.

“The alleged involvement of one Ugochinyere Imo Ikenga in the formation of the other APC has no bearing whatsoever on us.
“From our findings, Mr Ikenga’s recent activities, including his unsavoury attacks and illicit campaign for the dissolution of the Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee makes him an estranged fellow and therefore can never be an agent of the PDP in anyway.
“Contrary to the allegations in the reports, the PDP email address has never been made available to any external body for the purpose of disseminating information. For emphasis, the PDP did not at any time use its email address to circulate the so-called APC’s press statement of 15th March 2013.”

PDP state chairmen vow to boycott Thursday night’s meeting with Jonathan

A section of Peoples Democratic Party’s state chairmen has vowed to boycott a Thursday late night meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
The irate state chairmen issued the threat after they were walked out of a preparatory meeting with the party’s chairman, Bamaga Tukur, Thursday.
A source close to the chairmen told PREMIUM TIMES the men were shocked when the party’s National chairman, Mr. Tukur, announced he would only meet with party leaders from states controlled by opposition parties, at the Legacy House Maitama, Abuja, venue of the preparatory meeting.
“It was so shocking he just asked all those from PDP controlled states to excuse them and as I speak to you now, he is meeting with only thirteen chairmen who are from states that have no PDP governors,” our source said shortly after the irate chairmen were made to leave the meeting hall.
The meeting with the 13 state chairmen from states not controlled by the PDP was still on as at 9.00 p.m Thursday.
Following the walkout, the state chairmen vowed not to attend the meeting with Mr. Jonathan, scheduled for for later at the   presidential villa.
“The president can as well also meet with the thirteen chairmen,” one of the chairmen was quoted as saying.
Our source added that Mr. Tukur also cancelled a scheduled meeting with PDP governors.
Mr. Tukur has been having a running battle with PDP governors and some members of the National Working Committee of the party, particularly the embattled National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who has been temporarily replaced by his deputy following a court order.
Powerful NEC
The series of meetings were called preparatory to the meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, which is expected to be stormy following the ongoing power play among party leaders.
Pundits predict the NEC may  lead to the ouster of Mr. Tukur, a reason the president is trying to pacify internal opposition prior to the meeting.
It was reported that the president also plans to meet with the G 84, a collection of voting members of NEC on Thursday night after meeting with the state chairmen of the party.
The PDP NEC is the second highest decision making organ of the party after the National Convention. Although the party’s constitution says the meeting should be held quarterly, the last time it was held was in July, 2012.
Some of the issues the NEC is expected to discuss include the Adamawa crisis, constitution of a disciplinary committee, and approval of the amended constitution of the party.
The NEC may also decide the fate of Mr. Tukur as party chairman.
Embattled Tukur
Last week, the PDP chairman suffered a similar boycott. His decision to introduce the executive committee of his favourite PDP faction in Adamawa state to the Director General of the State Security Service, SSS, Ita Ekpenyong, angered members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party leading to a boycott.
“He called the meeting only after writing the letter to the DG of the SSS and wanted the NWC to ratify the decision, but members stayed away and only three persons came, so the meeting could not hold,” our source said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the party, Olisa Metuh, for clarifications were unsuccessful. He neither answered nor returned our calls. He also did not respond to a text message sent to his telephone.
The meetings, to be presided by Mr. Jonathan, will hold late into the night at the presidential villa into the early hours of the morning.
It is not impossible that the chairmen will be persuaded to rescind their decision.

    
 source; premium time

Fans Of Tonto Dikeh Not Certain Of Her Health

Tonto Dikeh who made her début in Nollywood few years back is naturally fair in complexion. But despite this, the controversial actress has gone ahead to tone her skin in a manner that makes her to  look like  a ‘weird beauty.’
Her fans are expressing fear that the actress whose green veins have become so obvious through her now thin-layered skin, may soon break down with a skin disease.

Speculations are also rife that Tonto may have gone through a whitening machine to get her skin whiter than normal.
WG  learnt from a tweet bird that despite Tonto’s denial that she’d stopped smoking, the actress is still secretly smoking her thing. A concerned fan of the actress expressed her fear this way:  “This girl will not kill herself.”
Source:info naija

Brake Fluid Addiction

A mechanic noticed his co-worker drinking brake fluid at lunch.

"What are you doing, man? You can't drink that stuff!"

"Relax," replied his co-worker, "this stuff tastes pretty good, and I don't drink it all the time."

"Seriously," the mechanic exclaimed, "that brake fluid is poison!"

"Hey, man" yelled the co-worker, "back off! I can stop any time I want."

6 Kind Of Women Every Man Should Avoid

Relationships are good. The various Holy books recommend marriage, and most men want to settle down with someone good. However, if you are a woman and unable to find a man who consistently enjoys your company, then there’s a problem. I’ve tried to categorize some character traits commonly found in women which tend to keep the prospective men at bay. If you fall into one or two of these categories, sister, it just might be time to make a change.
Being judgemental and generalizing: A few bad experiences don’t mean all men are the same. It shocks me to hear women say all men are the same. Making such an assertion is not only wrong, it affects your judgement of men and consequently affects how you relate to them. A woman who generalizes is usually quick to read the wrong meanings into men’s actions, and usually reacts irrationally before even considering their actions. No man will stick around too long if he’s always feeling attacked and misunderstood.

Easy catch: I can bet that a man will avoid you if he knows you’ve slept with every available man on your street or a sizeable number of men in your school. No man wants to settle for the chaff when the substance has been lost. However, if he isn’t aware, you may wish to keep the details to yourself and not flaunt it. It makes a man insecure to know that he is dating an ‘easy catch’ and might send him on his merry way sooner than either of you thought.

Fault finder: This type of woman doesn’t see the good in anything or anyone. She hardly ever appreciates anything. She complains about things she can either cope with or change. No man needs a woman breathing down his neck about every single thing, every single time. It’s either the movie is wrong, or the food isn’t nice, or he snores, or…the list is endless. Bottom line, the man will soon go where he’ll be appreciated.

Clinger: Being over-possessive isn’t cute. Learn to give him a break. Men like to have their solo time, hang out with friends and do ‘manly’ things. Your following him around and keeping tabs on him won’t stop him from having an affair if he wants to; you might even be giving him good reasons to do it. Don’t make yourself his clutch bag. The more you insist on tagging along, the more likely it is that you’ll be tagged out.

Prim and Proper: One thing this group fails to realize is that boys will always be boys. When a woman keeps a particular thing at a particular spot and gets upset when it is moved, that is a big issue with men who are often less rigid.
No man wants to be around a woman who sweeps the floor every second or has a particular space for a particular cup or spoon or a particular hanger for a particular dress. Let go; live a little!

Bird Brained

Two Irishmen walk into a pet shop. Right away they go to the bird section and Sean says to Paddy; "Dat''s Dem". The shopkeeper comes over and asks if he can help.
"Yeah, we''ll take four of dem dere budgies in dat cage op dere", says Mick, "Put dem in a pepper bag"
The shopkeeper does as asked and the two pay for the birds and leave. They get into Mick''s van and drive until they reach a cliff with a 500ft drop.
"Dis looks loike a grand place", says Mick.
He then takes the two birds out of the bag, places them on his shoulders and jumps off the cliff.
Paddy watches as his friend drops off the edge and goes straight down for a few seconds followed by a loud "Splat!"
As Paddy looks over the edge of the cliff he shakes his head.
"Focket Dat," Paddy says, "dis budgie jumpin'' is too dangerous for me..."
A few minutes later, Seamus approaches. He too has been to the pet shop and is carrying the familiar 'pepper bag.'
Seamus pulls a parrot out of the bag and Paddy notices that in the other hand Seamus is carrying a gun.
"Watch this Paddy" he says, as he launches himself over the edge of the cliff.
Paddy watches as half way down Seamus takes the gun and blows the parrot''s head off. Seamus continues to plummet until he joins Sean''s mashed remains at the bottom of the cliff.
Paddy shakes his head and says, "An oim never troyin'' that parrotshooting oider..."
After a few minutes, Danny strolls up. He too has been to the pet shop and walks up with his 'pepper bag.'
Danny pulls a chicken out of the bag. He puts the chicken above his head, holds its legs and launches himself off the cliff with the same result.
Once more Paddy shakes his head.
"For me life Danny, first der was Sean wit his budgie jumpin, den Seamus parrotshooting and now you fockin'' hengliding..."

$8 Bill

A crook mistakenly made a counterfeit $8 bill instead of a $10 bill. He decided to try it out anyway.

He went to the teller at the local bank and asked for change.

The teller looked at the $8 bill and gave the crook two $4 bills as change.

Traffic Brought to a Standstill as President Jonathan Attends Redemption Camp

Reports from the Vanguard newspaper have revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan has paid an unexpected visit to the ongoing RCCG at Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The visit has however, caused a lot of discomfort for road users along the axis as commuters complained bitterly, the Vanguard reported. While passengers were stranded at different Bus Stop for several hours, as security officers attached to the President closed the roads from Marina axis of the state on the Lagos Island to Lagos- Ibadan expressway.
Excerpt of the complaints of some of the road users as reported by the Vanguard are presented below:

One Mr. Adewale Adekoya, a motorist, lamented,” I closed from work early today but to my surprise, I was told that I cannot make use of the road now because the President I elected into office want to pass. This is appallin… I have been this traffic for hours and due to this, I am hungry here now because I did not eat at work hoping to get home early and eat.”
Another affected individual, Simeon Anthony, a commuter, said “I had no option than to trek because I cannot say when the traffic would subside. And for me, I cannot wait at the Bus Stop for a commercial bus that I do not know when it would arrive.”
Source: Vanguard

Beat the Casino

Q: What is the only way to keep your money from the casinos in Las Vegas?

A: When you get off the plane, walk into the propellers.

I’m a man exposed to good living through the hard way – Chris Ajilo

Come the next Boxing Day, Highlife legend, composer and one of the pioneer musicologists in Nigeria, Chris Ajilo will clock 84 years old but when he walked into the Corporate Office of Vanguard Media Limited some days back, to visit his old friend, the publisher of Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka, there was nothing of him to show he was anything near that age.
Twice, the old music master climbed the four flight of stairs to the Publisher’s office without as much as a pant. He was so full of life with much breath to spare even when those of us much younger were a bit breathless by the simple exercise.
He was accompanied by Beautiful Nubia who granted us an interview but when it was Pa Ajilo’s turn, he kindly declined. “ I have been interviewed too many times. There is nothing new to be said about me that hasn’t been said before. Everything you want to know about me is in the book”, he said, referring to “Reminiscences of a Nigerian Pioneer Musicologist”, an autobiography of his life he launched in January of  2013. “It is my gift to the future. It took me two years to complete and I am proud to say I wrote the book without assistance from any quarter”
“I am not only a musician, I am a Copyright man, a Trade Unionist, a man that makes use of his hands and his brain” he said. “Read the book and you will share in my experience, the journey I had to travel through life”. So, we took a journey into the mind of a great man through pages of his own autobiography:
The Early Life
Chris Ajilo was born on December 26, 1929 in Oke Popo, in Lagos Island, close to Kakawa and Campos Square, an area commonly referred to as the ‘Brazilian quarters’ because slaves brought from different areas of South America after the abolition of the Slave Trade were quartered in this area.

Ajilo

Chris Ajilo had a normal upbringing like every child born in the early 1900s in Lagos, growing up with his other four siblings. But his father’s early death reshaped his life and cut a different path for him to follow. He was only nine years old when his father died and the burden of raising the children fell on his mother, Late Mrs Christiana Ajilo, who was a sewing mistress.
His first encounter with music came at  C.M.S. Grammar School where he was taught the theory of music. It was a compulsory subject at CMS then and it had as much effect on him as it did on every young person fascinated with music at that time. Then, he met another person who contributed in some way in awakening the music giant in him.
“The young man was Fola Arogundade and he was a man of many parts. He played the guitar, he sang,  he was a playwright. He was my role model and inspirer in music which was then a compulsory subject at the CMS Grammar School,” he wrote.
By Class four at CMS it dawned on Young Ajilo that he could not any longer depended on his mother to pay his way through school because in his words, “It was already manifestly clear that things had become unbearably tough for Mama to cater effectively for the household, more so, with the undisguised threats from money lenders.”
On the 8th of April, 1946, Ajilo decided to leave home for greener pastures abroad. To do this, he disguised himself in his senior brother’s military uniform, who had served in the West African Frontier Force during the Second World War. He joined the convoy leaving for Ghana at the Abalti Barracks in Idi-Oro, Lagos.
From Teshi Army Base, he went to Accra and began on a long journey, from one African seaport to another, often times as a stowaway, surviving harshest of conditions life has to offer. Sometimes, going without food for days. At a point, after sailing with an American Ship he changed his name to Johnny Foster, again, disguising, this time, as an African-American. From there on, life was a merry-go-round of dashed expectations, adventures and even imprisonment but he eventually made it to Great Britain and  ultimately to Birmingham, where his life took a rhythmic turn on the path  to music.
At that point in his life, music was the last thing on his mind. His having to work in several factories had tuned his mind towards becoming an engineer but his weekend escapades at various balls, shows and concerts stirred the musical giant long asleep in him back to life.
“ I wrote to my mother in Lagos informing her about changing my course of study in England to music. She instantly replied my letter only to rebuke me that my decision would turn me to a beggar when I return to Nigeria” he wrote. To pursue his dream he had to leave Birmingham for London, leaving behind his fiancée, a lady named Barbara Hulme who bore him his first child, a baby girl.
The musical journey
“ I saved enough money to get admission into the Central School of Dance Music (later known  as Eric Gilder School of Music)  under the great guitarist and music teacher, Mr. Ivor Mairant” he wrote. His lecturers included Johnny Dankworth, Don Randell, Jimmy Ducher, Aubrey Frank and many other notable names. He worked and schooled at the same time. “My first instrument, an alto saxophone, was bought from a pawn shop in the West End for fifteen pounds”.
“By the time I purchased my own tenor saxophone, I started practical lessons on the instrument from my instructor, Don Randell. I was also learning to play the clarinet from my other instructor, Aubrey Frank” he wrote. But what helped him more was having to travel with professional bands and playing with them. This was something he too inculcated in his students later in life. “In fact, today, I believe what I learnt from these professionals were much more than what I learnt in the School of Music” he wrote.
After music school he joined a semi-professional band of youths, playing Afrocuban music with a touch of jazz. Then he played with bands like Kenny Graham and his Afrocubist Band; the Ginger Johnson Abalabi Band; the Arthur Rowebury’s Band. The birth of his own first band came through his return visit to Birmingham where he met a group of Nigerians who needed someone to direct and groom their musical passion. The Cool Cats Band of Africa was born and later resurfaced in Lagos at the West End Cafe in Lagos after his return to the country.
Back in the fatherland
Now a groomed musicologist, Chris Ajilo arrived in Nigeria to a sort of hero’s welcome from his family and the Nigerian Press. It was a memorable day and more memorable was his linking up with his old band, the ‘West End Cool Cats Orchestra’ which was already playing at the West End Cafe at Apongbon Street owned by Mr. Larinde Cole a.k.a ABC Cole. “ members of the band were Kazool Anifowoshe, lead trumpet, late Bala Miller, second trumpet, Victor Olaita, third trumpet, Late Tex Lati Oluwa, double bass, Lander Shashore, bongos with late Olu Gabson, jazz drums. There were two lady vocalists, my younger sister, Connie Ajilo and Kathleen Equa Garland. There were also Oden Lawal, on drums, Sammy Lartey, on alto, baritone saxophones and clarinet and I, on tenor saxophone, clarinet and leading the band” he wrote.
After a few weeks he left “ I had to leave the band with other musicians because of the style of the management which gave only one third of the collected gate fees as the band’s salary. The idea was unacceptable to my perception of running a resident band” he explained.
On the origin of Highlife
“ There had been many arguments on the origin of Highlife. Some school of thought said it was from the then Gold Coast now Ghana. Others believe it was from other parts of the West African countries. But my belief is that the word ‘Highlife’ was coined from the free style of dancing which was not as strict as the other Western or foreign dance steps of the yesteryears. This pattern of music was found throughout the West African Coast with various musical instruments used” he wrote.
Taking music to the next level
Right after the West End Cool Cats experience he became obvious to Ajilo musicians were not being placed in their pride of place in the scheme of things and in the face of seeming economic boom in the country he began a quest to find identity for musicians.
His band, Chris Ajilo and his Cubanos was formally launched on August 1, 1955. The member were Johnson Omooba, trombone, Tex Lati Oluwa, double bass guitar, Lander Sasore, bongos, Akanni Martins, guitar, Candido D’Ajax, conga drums, late Bayo Martins, jazz drums and vocals. Later, Tony Obbs and Marco Bazz on alto sax and trumpet respectively joined the band.

Alamieyeseigha has demonstrated enough soberness – Presidency

ABUJA—THE Presidency, Thursday, declared that the stabilising role the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha played to ensure that oil in the Niger Delta was not cut off earned him the state pardon even as the Nigerian Labour Congress and civil society groups insist that the state pardon granted Alamieyeseigha was unacceptable.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Thursday, Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, argued that since his release from the prison, Alamieyeseigha had been assisting President Goodluck Jonathan silently to ensure that the amnesty programme of the Federal Government succeeds.
He noted that no state pardon will remove the fact that the former Bayelsa governor was criminal, stressing that state pardon was for criminals.
The Presidency, however, appealed to Nigerians and members of the civil societies for open mindedness on the pardon granted the former Bayelsa governor, even as it reminded Nigerians that Alamieyeseigha was removed from office in a manner that was suggested by many as not being entirely above board.
Okupe stressed that the former governor had suffered enough for his sins these years and demonstrated enough soberness after he served his sentence. He added that with the pardon he was now a free man to engage in any endeavour he would wish to go into, even contesting for elective positions.

Okupe: Mind my roar

“Pardon is for criminals”
Okupe said: “I want to state categorically here, that state or presidential pardon is not intended for nobility or saints. In general, a state pardon is for those who have committed crimes and breached the laws of the land and may or may not have been tried or convicted regardless of their social status.
“He lost his position, forfeited the property illegally acquired and has demonstrated enough soberness after he served his sentence. It is out of place to suggest that the pardon is tantamount to abandoning the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This is too far from the truth.
“People have stated that President Jonathan said publicly that Alamieyeisegha was his political benefactor. This is a display of extreme humility and honesty on the part of Mr. President.
“In this day that virtually all political benefactors usually turn into enemy number one and are therefore hounded to the ground by the incumbents.
“It was God and providence that lifted President Jonathan over and above his former political boss. But in truth Alamieyeisegha, since he left prison, has been working strenuously and silently to assist the President stabilise the amnesty in the Niger Delta Region.
“Alamieyesiegha is a foremost leader of the Ijaw nation, and his political and stabilising influence in that region have impacted positively on the overall economy of the nation, bringing crude oil exports from the abysmally low level of 700,00 bpd to over 2.4 million bpd.
“Therefore, it is obvious that Alamieyeseigha has been a major player since his release from prison in ensuring that the blood that runs through the Nigerian economic artery is not cut off.”
Okupe, who asked why the state pardon must form the centre of discourse now, said late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, whose actions led to the loss of thousands of lives and property, was equally granted state pardon.
The Presidential aide said: “In Nigerian history, great and eminent men, who have been crucified for one crime or the other have been pardoned by past Presidents and such men have lived thereafter to further enhance our political and socio-economic development.
“Amongst those are our respected departed sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the revered Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, who continued after their pardon to contribute immensely to Nigeria’s social, political and economic growth till death.
FG deceiving Nigerians— Falana
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer and right activists, Mr. Femi Falana, has described the amnesty granted some former military bigwigs, including Gen. Oladipo Diya, late Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa and other condemned military officers by late Gen Sani Abacha as a hoax.
He maintained that all the military officers condemned for military coup by the late Head of State as well as Senator Chris Anyawu, have been granted amnesty by the former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar before he handed over the rein of power in 1999.
He said: “Generals Oladipo Diya, late Abdulkareem Adisa, Col. Fadipe, Sen Chris Anyawu and others were pardoned by Gen Abdusalami Abubakar in 1999. There is statutory instrument that backed this up.
“The presidency should stop playing on the collective intelligence of Nigerians since there is no provision for double pardon under the law. In view of the grave official error, the list of the convicts granted unconditional pardon should be reviewed to avoid any further embarrassment.”
He, therefore, called for an immediate review of the exercise to redeem the damages.
Pardon’s a setback — Civil society
Civil society groups, working on anti-corruption and good governance, in Nigeria expressed shock at the presidential pardon granted to former Alamieyeseigha, saying it was a serious setback for the anti-corruption battle in the country.
The groups, at a joint press conference in Abuja, yesterday, said beside sending the wrong message that corruption pays, they alleged that it could also discourage anti-corruption agencies in the country.
The press conference was addressed by Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and other heads of the civil society community in Abuja, including Babatunde Oluajo, EzenwaNwagwu, Y. Z. Yau, Jaye Gaskiya and Tunde Aremu.
They represent groups including Zero Corruption Coalition, United Action for Democracy, Alliance for Credible Election, Acton Aid Nigeria, Women in Nigeria and Policy and Legislative, among others.
While calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the action, the groups said: “This action of the Jonathan’s administration raises concerns about its commitments to the acclaimed fight against corruption.
“It is a naked dance in the public place, especially when weighed against the arrogant and contemptuous manner with which the Presidency has told Nigerians that it has no apology for the presidential pardon.
“We in the civil society are convinced that the focus of the whole presidential pardon of President Jonathan was Mr. Alamieyeseigha, except that it was only deceitfully window-dressed by adding a few other names.”
NLC reacts
On its part, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, said the entire Nigerian workers were alarmed by the decision of the National Council of States to pardon Mr. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Mr. Shetima Bulama a former Managing Director of the Bank of the North, saying it was not in the national interest.
NLC, in a statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said while Alamieye-seigha was impeached as Governor of Bayelsa State and eventually convicted by a properly constituted court for stealing public funds, Bulama was also convicted for misappropriating the bank’s funds.
According to the statement, while Council of States did have a constitutional responsibility to pardon citizens who obviously had been convicted or punished in the past for offences, it was totally unacceptable that those who committed economic crimes in such magnitude that affected public interest be granted state pardon.
The statement read in part: “We still wonder what message the National Council of State is sending to Nigerians if at the height of unprecedented corruption in the country those who have been prosecuted and jailed for stealing public money are granted state pardon.
“The Congress finds incongruous the state pardon granted to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Mr. Bulama.
“While like other citizens, they may be entitled to state pardon, Congress believes that the crimes committed are too weighty for state pardon.
“It is our view that state pardon remains an act of mercy or reprieve dispassionately exercised or granted by the highest authority in the land for and on behalf of the government and people, and it should be a last act of mercy sparingly exercised for the good of the nation.”

Nigerian, Tinuade Okoro, is best medical student in Ghana

A Nigerian, Tinuade Okoro, has emerged the best graduating medical student in Ghana and scooping, in the process, 16 prizes at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Some of the prizes won by Okoro include the Ghana Medical Association prize for the best overall student in the MB ch.B final part 11 examination; prize for all round best student, sponsored by

Ghana Health Service and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecologists of Ghana prize for the best student in gynacology as well as the R.K Obeng prize for the best student in clinical pharmacology.
Others prizes won by the Nigerian are the Nana Preko Ampem 11 prize for the best student in clinical obstetrics and gynecology; Archampong prize in surgery and Harry Sawyerr prize in medicine and therapeutics among others. In a letter dated February 28, 2013 and signed by Mrs. Selie Ama Baiden of the office of the Ag. Executive Secretary, office of the Dean, College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana Medical School, it invited her to its congregation/swearing-in-ceremony of newly qualified medical doctors scheduled for March 23 at the Athletic Oval, University of Ghana, Legon.

Born and brought up in Jos, Okoro’s parents are from Ondo State. Her father, Mr. Benjamin Oyedele Okoro, is a retired civil servant while her mother, Mrs. Omotayo Yetunde Okoro, was a nurse till her death in 2004.
Tinuade  began her primary school education in 1993 in Plateau Private School, Jos, continued in Rantya Model School, Jos and ended in Camp David Nursery and Primary School, Lagos. Tinuade attended Federal Government Girls’ College, Akure from 1998-2004, following which she  completed some computer training while awaiting admission into university.  She enrolled at the University of Ghana, Legon in 2006 and was admitted into the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), Accra in 2007.

Attributing her feat to God’s mercy and hard work, she said: “Structured learning also helped. You cannot just keep reading without a map, hoping to one day finish the material, you never will if you do not plan to!

[Confessions] I Am In Trouble, My Cousin Wants To Sleep With Me

I have always avoided sleeping over or living with any of my married female cousins or aunty or any female relation of mine that is married. Due to the passed experiences i had with my cousin’s husband wanting to sleep with me , i decided that nothing will make me to ever sleep over in any of my married female relations or even visit regularly banned
Sometime last year i was posted to serve (NYSC) in Abuja,luckily i have a male cousin married and living with his family in Abuja. I was happy that at least i was going to live with my male cousin and there wont be any intimate harasment so i was relaxed. But recently my cousin started acting funny,making some funny comments, asking me funny question, he always wanted me around, embarrasing stares and all that. But at first i was uncomfortable,somehow i was relaxed hoped that my cousin was just joking and wouldnt think of doing such thing to his little cousin. But one fateful day his wife travelled and i was alone with him and his kids, he came into my room drunk and was forcing me to sleep with him, i shouted him out of the room. since that day his attitude towards me changed, started picking on me,accusing me of one thing or the other. I know my days in his house is numbered . But please my fellow Readers, WHY IS IT THAT GUYS CANNOT CONTROL THAT THING IN BETWEEN THEIR LEGS . Once that urge comes they will just damn the consequences, damn their intergrity,damn their self respect and respond to their mundane desires.

Why is that most married men are never faithful to their wives? Most women are not comfortable when they have a female relation around most especially people from her own side. A friend of mine told me that non of her female relation not even her blood sister wil live with her or even pass a nite in her place for the fear of loosing her hubby to them.

I insist, Jonathan signed for one tenure – Aliyu

Minna — Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has insisted that President Goodluck Jonathan signed a single term pact with some governors of the Northern part of the country ahead of the 2011 presidential election.
Speaking at the Minna National Discourse on Corruption, jointly organised by Niger State government and the National Planning Commission in Minna, Thursday, the governor said what he said was correct and that he could not change what was the truth.
“If to be truthful is to be literate, I stand by what I said. I am happy with what some people have said about the PDP.  I see them as somebody holding something and you are telling him hold it better or it will fall down.
“So we should look at the on-going problems as issues we must confront, issues that we must correct and that agreement made in secret both at the same  fora is same as the one made in public,” the governor remarked.

He said he still remained a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and that any criticism by people, especially members, was to make the party “wax stronger and stronger.”
With the theme of the National Discourse as confronting ‘Trends of Indiscipline, Corruption and Disregard for Rules and Regulations in Nigeria’, Dr. Aliyu described corruption as a cankerworm that had eaten deep into the fabric of most Nigerians which must be stopped if the country had to make progress.
Former  Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hakeem Ahmed, in his contribution, described PDP as “a failure since its inception and it is now heading for the rock.”
He called on members to salvage it. If not leave it because there are other boats,” he remarked.
He warned against 2015 general elections and that PDP should either win honourably or don’t tamper with the result for the survival of the country.

“Whatever the administration does, there is one thing they must never try and do. Don’t tamper with the election of the 2015.
“The way they are going, they think they can do away with anything in this country, but there is one thing, they will not run away with and it is, don’t tamper with the election of 2015 because if you do that, God knows what will happen to this country.”

According to him: “The biggest corruption is corruption in the electoral process and I am not too sure that the people who have done what they have in the last few weeks will not also attempt to steal the election in 2015. But I pray to God that they will not steal it.”
Former minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi who was the lead speaker said corruption had started since 1960 and that between that time and 2012, over 500b dollars had been siphoned out of the country.
He said stiffer penalty like death sentence should be applied to any body found guilty of corruption.

Yoruba, Totally Ungrateful Kind Of People – Ahmadu Ali

Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ahmadu Ali, has described the Yoruba people of south west Nigeria as a “totally ungrateful kind of people”.
Ali, who said this in an interview culled from The SUN, was speaking on the background of the fact that former head of state, General Olusegun Obasano (retd) could have held on to power in 1979 but chose to hand over to a democratically elected president.
According to him, “After all, it is the gun that got them there. And you people still don’t recognise him (Obasanjo), especially the Yoruba people who are totally ungrateful kind of people in this country.”
When prodded further on if he should be quoted, Ali thundered, “Put it like that. They are ungrateful” and went further to correct the impression that Obasanjo was unfair to Yoruba people throughout his time in government.

“What do you mean by being unfair to them?” he asked. “He is not a tribalist and he was not ruling a Yoruba kingdom. He ruled Nigeria. My own kingdom is one of the oldest kingdoms in this country –Igala kingdom.  By 1100 or so when the barbarians were invading Britain, Igala was already a kingdom. How do you expect the man to behave?”
And on the now famous 2/3 controversy which erupted following the elections that produced Alhaji Shehu Shagari as civilian President in 1979 as against the choice of Chief Obafemi Awolowo – Obasanjo’s kinsman, Colonel Ahmadu Ali (retd) as he was known then, responded, “Don’t talk rubbish. You are talking rubbish” he fumed at his interviewer.

“That is the stupidity of the press and the self-appointed Yoruba leaders who are failures in their various fields of endeavour. They are just a total failure. How can you say in an election where one candidate scored 12 million and showed presence in more than 12 states out of 19 and another candidate scored five million and showed presence in only five states, you then give it to the second person? What is democracy about? Is it a game of numbers? All the argument is about 12 two third? What is two third? The man had 12 states and 12 million votes. Awolowo had only five million and only in five states. You want to go and give it to him? Yoruba are another character.”

Health scare: I’m good, says US rapper Lil Wayne

winning rapper Lil Wayne tweeted Friday that he was “good,” as record company executives dismissed a report that the singer had been in critical condition after a string of seizures.
The hip-hop star declared on Twitter: “I’m good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,” after celebrity news website TMZ reported he was in an induced coma in hospital, and that his family was rushing to his bedside.
Vickie Charles, a spokeswoman for Cash Money/Young Money/Republic Records, pointed out the star’s tweet in an email to AFP, adding: “Wayne is doing well. We appreciate your concern.”
According to TMZ, Lil Wayne, 30, was rushed to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday after suffering multiple seizures. He left the following day but was re-admitted hours later, and his condition had not stabilized.
Citing “hospital sources” in an update a couple of hours after its initial report, TMZ said the singer was still in critical condition but stabilizing, adding that his prognosis was “uncertain.”
It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles, and that any decisions about his treatment, including on whether to stop life support, would not be made until she arrived.
But Mack Maine, the head of the Young Money record label to which Lil Wayne is signed tweeted:

“Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe … that’s false!!”
And Birdman, a rapper and co-founder of Cash Money Records to which Lil Wayne is also signed, tweeted: “My son is in good spirit..feelin much betta…be home soon.”
In October the star, who won four Grammy awards in 2008 including best rap song and best rap album, reportedly suffered a number of seizures while on his private jet.
Last September Lil Wayne celebrated his 30th birthday by overtaking Elvis Presley for the number of times he’s been on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart, his 109th time as a featured artist on “Celebration” by West Coast rapper Game.

At the 2008 Grammys he won best rap album for “The Carter III,” best rap song for “Lollipop,” best rap performance “Swagga like us” with Kanye West and Jay Z, and best rap solo performance “A Milli.”
Lil Wayne, who counts President Barack Obama among his fans, has been rapping since the age of eight. He has made 10 studio albums — and served time in a New York jail in 2010 for unlawful possession of a firearm

I Supply Fuel To Government, Companies – Suspected Vandal

Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on Saturday paraded a suspected pipeline vandal who said he is a supplier of diesel and kerosene to reputable companies and government organisations.
The suspect, Olusola Olomala, said he was arrested unjustly by overzealous NSCDC officials even when he had evidence to support the claim that he was a registered oil marketer.
“I am a legitimate oil supplier. I lift kerosene and diesel from Apapa where I also have an office. Whenever my customers tell me they need product, I take it to them wherever they are.
“On Friday night, a customer called me that he needed a product for his filling station at Owode Apa and I took a truck to the place and emptied its content into a well.
“I had received my pay and was about leaving but was told that armed robbers were operating on the road, so I decided to wait till daybreak before leaving. When I couldn’t sleep, I decided to take a stroll and that was when I was arrested by NSCDC men.
“I’m not a vandal and I have receipts and invoices for all my transactions but the NSCDC men have not allowed me to go and get them from my office. I have been doing this business since 2006 and I supply some state governors’ offices as well as several filling stations and private organisations.”

The 40-year-old father of two said the products recovered by the NSCDC men after his arrest did not belong to him.
A second suspect, Sunday Jemaiwole, said he was a mechanic that had just finished working on a customer’s vehicle adding that he knew nothing about oil pipeline vandalism.
Reacting, the Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos state Command, Mr Shem Obafaiye, said the suspects were vandals and were arrested through intelligence gathering.
“We caught the suspects with products at Badagry on Friday night. Through intelligence gathering, we were informed that vandals had an operational base in the area so I mobilised my men and during operation, we arrested the suspects with 70 kegs of petrol”, he said.
“He said he supplies diesel and kerosene and yet it is petrol that was found in the kegs. One also wonders why he attends to his customers at night in a place notorious for pipeline vandalism,” Obafaiye said in response to Olomala’s claims.
Obafaiye lamented the amount of money being lost to pipeline vandalism every day. He said the corps had beefed up security in areas notorious for pipeline vandalism such as Majidun in Ikorodu, Badagry, 7th Avenue in FESTAC, Ijedodo and Epe.

7th CBN junior tennis tourney, a success story – stakeholders

The just-concluded 7th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Junior Tennis Tournament, which ended on March 9, has been adjudged as a successful event by stakeholders.
This, the stakeholders noted, was based on the fact that no fewer than 152 players drawn from 10 states across the country participated in the tournament that ran from March 4 to March 9.
Some of the states that sent players to the event, included Anambra, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Imo, Ilorin and Kaduna.
It is believed that the attendance at the just-concluded edition was impressive, given the fact that only five states turned up at the 6th edition held in 2012.
However, one remarkable thing about the immediate-past tournament was the fact that ‘an upcoming star’ in the making, MaryLove Edwards, from Lagos, was identified at the tournament.
The 7-year-old Edwards, during some matches against players that were even far older than her in the Girls U-12, thrilled the audience by the quality of tennis that she played.
She became ‘a giant killer of sorts’ as her performance was so impressive that it hardly reflected her age or height.

Against one 10-year-old Bose Are, from Ilorin in the semi-finals, she made mince-meat of her opposition by outplaying her 9-0 in a pro set.
Edwards, standing at 4 feet tall, did not lose any match in the entire round-robin series.
She ‘stole’ the show during the competition as she edged past all her opponents with ease, to win the title.
Indeed, her performance earned her the ‘Most Valuable Player,’ (MVP) in the competition from the International Tennis Academy (ITA) junior circuit panel.
Mr Sam Egbuchunam, President of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, who was moved by the superlative performance of Edwards, awarded her ‘a life membership of the prestigious club’.
One of the glamorous additions to the fun during the tournament was an exhibition match that featured a former Super Eagles skipper, Austin ‘Jay Jay ‘Okocha and veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo.

Although both were casual players of tennis, they nevertheless entertained guests at the club, at the end of which the flamboyant Okocha prevailed, 6-2 over the actor.
Ugo Okoroafor, the Director, Corporate Communications, CBN said in his address: “the future is bright for tennis as the Bank is looking up to players who have got this talent and can take it to the next level.
“I am happy to say that we are pleased with the result we have seen and the talents on display.
“These are rare talents here, especially that of MaryLove Edwards who won in her category given the fact that she was the youngest amongst them.
“It goes a long way to show that these talents can further be nurtured and groomed to greater heights,’’ he said.
Sani Ndanusa, the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), who doubles as president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee assured that the NTF would do all in its powers to make her (Edwards) a world class player.
He then thanked the sponsors and the National Sports Commission for their support toward the staging of the championship.
Ndanusa noted that the CBN was one of the contributors to the development of tennis in the country.
NAN reports that the event, which featured four categories (U-10, U-12, U-14 and the U-16) had a new category, (the Futures), to bring the total categories to five.
The event was organised by the ITA, in conjunction with the NTF and bankrolled by the CBN.

‘Oga At The Top’ Reportedly Places NSCDC Commandant On Suspension

According to reports we are monitoring, Mr Obafaiye Shem, the Lagos State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has been suspended.
His suspension comes on the heels of his now famous ‘oga at the top’ comment which went viral after his embarrassing ordeal at the Channels Television breakfast programme

APC: Fury in high places

Call it a surprise, you won’t be wrong. Refer to it as grand strategy, you are close to  it. But  whichever case, the development has left the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), two of the constituents of the four political parties seeking merger under the name All Progressive Congress (APC) bleeding ferociously on the heels of the discovery of the existence of another party, African Peoples Congress (APC), which shares the same acronym with it.
This development is robbing the coalition parties’ registration of their proposed name.  Saturday Vanguard’s JOHN BULUS in this special report documents the furies and solutions given by some Nigerians.
Theirs is an association prompted by “extreme” political desire as alleged in some quarters of the society. They are gurus in the political practices. They earnestly yearn for change and can’t wait to make the change happen. In their various enclaves, they are men and women of influence and affluence.

Chekwas  Okorie, Olisa Metuh Lai Mohammed,and Shettima Yerima

They are progressives who claim to have the panacea for good governance. But in their deep-seated claims of repository of political knowledge, they seemed overwhelmed and failed to start with the basics. Now, to them, what would never have mattered would now matter. But the last thing on their mind is the belief that their problem is self inflicted. In fact, they know the foe which masterminded their hit and never hesitated to point accusing fingers in that direction. Whatever is the case, a controversy of a gargantuan stance might have just erupted and that begins the story.


The formation of APC
But for recourse to the law stipulating processes of political party registration in Nigeria , the country would have by now witnessed the registration of another party by name All Progressive Congress (APC). Since the name debuted weeks ago, it has so gained acceleration that many Nigerians thought it has already become a registered party. But some developments which have ignited a piece of controversy indicate that the name is yet to be recognized by the national electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In any case, as things stand now, the name may be subject to change.
APC is supposed to be a new name for the major opposition parties seeking a merger. They comprise Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). While some Nigerians think that the idea came shortly after INEC deregistered over 30 hitherto existing political parties on the grounds that they have not won any elective position or having visible offices across the country, many think that the leading opposition parties were persuaded to go into merger on the speculation that incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan is mostly likely to be fielded by his party in the 2015 election.  So, to dislodge both the President and the PDP, a formidable alliance of opposition parties needed to be formed.


INEC/Alleged denial of Registration
Little did most Nigerians know that APC existed only in the media than it did in the official spheres until INEC let out the yell on Monday. Just when the association had concluded plans to take the party to INEC for registration, the electoral commission said that it is not aware of such development. Essentially, INEC said that a group, prior to now, had approached the commission with a similar name and acronym, African Peoples Congress (APC) for registration and as such would not recognize the merging parties’ APC to avoid confusion. With this, the possibility of registering the APC was stalled.
According to the spokesperson of INEC, Mr. Kayode Idowu: “We don’t have any application from the All Progressives Congress with us, as the body is yet to approach us for registration. What the law requires is that if a group applies and the law has already provided for things to be met, like a checklist, it is not a matter of INEC  picking or preferences. There is a checklist and once a group meets that checklist, any group that meets that checklist is registered with that name. We operate on verifiable records and therefore for the record, the APC of the All Progressives Congress is still alien and unknown to INEC as an election management.
“We don’t encourage political parties with similar names, manifestos, logos and acronyms and this is aimed at avoiding confusion between registered political parties with similar names and acronyms”.
Idowu also cited an instance: “When Chekwas Okorie wanted to register a new political party with the name United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), we objected to it because this was similar to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and UPGA had to be rejected until he and his colleagues came up with the name United Progressive Party (UPP) and it was registered.”


ACN reacts
The refusal by INEC to register the coalition, APC, in no small degree angered the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which is one of the constituents of the coalition parties.
ACN accused INEC of acting the script of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and described the existence African Peoples Congress (APC) as hoax. In a release made available to Saturday Vanguard, the National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr. Lai Mohammed said it is all lies.
“The statement credited to Mr. Idowu is therefore reckless and provocative and clearly betrays INEC as truly having merged with the PDP to frustrate the merger of the progressives under the banner of the
All Progressives’ Congress (APC). One wonders who the spokesman is speaking for and what interest he represents. He should therefore be called to order before he sets the country ablaze.
‘’We are therefore using this medium to assure the millions of our supporters within and outside Nigeria that there is no cause for alarm. The merger process is on course. The All Progressives’ Congress, that is, the legitimate people’s APC will berth safely and deliver Nigerians from the oppressive yoke of the PDP.
‘’We also wish to seize this opportunity to thank the thousands of concerned Nigerians who through text messages and emails have overwhelmed us with their advice and words of encouragement in the last two days. Your support has been invaluable to us and we shall not let you down”, he stated in the release.

CPC reacts
National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), another constituent in the coalition, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said “If INEC goes ahead to ignore the concerns of the APC leaders and allows the registration of the phantom party, African Peoples Congress, then it would have confirmed what our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, had said about the unholy alliance between the commission and the ruling party.”

PDP reacts
But the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, denied the allegations, saying that the party would not stoop so low to front a counter to the All Progressives Congress.
He said: “PDP is totally unaware of the status of the APC registration. We are unconcerned and completely unperturbed. In the words of our Board of Trustees chairman ‘we wish them well’.
“PDP cannot be held liable for any negligence and/or incompetence on the part of our grossly inferior opponents”, he said.


Mazi Afam Osigwe, Immediate past Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, reacts:
My reaction on the APC thing is that if there has not been formal notification by the parties seeking to launch into APC, if there has been no official communication to INEC about using that name, INEC cannot rely to what is available in the media to know they are going to use that name. If the other people have officially notified INEC amounting to the process of adopting that name, it will be mere appealing to emotion to try to say that INEC is colluding to frustrate them from using that name. It is a different thing if the parties that are seeking to merge in APC had formally notified INEC and said, look we hereby give you notify that parties ABC wish to merge to form an entity known as All Progressive Congress (APC). But if the only claim APC has to the choice of name is their publication on that in the print and electronic media, they cannot blackmail INEC or allege collusion with a group of other persons who may in good or bad faith be seeking to have the same acronym. Now, INEC is a government agency which deals with official communications.
If the other people had gone through the proper channel to notify INEC that they are using this name, I think I will be applying emotion to stop INEC from recognizing their right to use that name.
So, for the fact that merge is a more complicated process than formation of a fresh political party, and to avoid the kind of situation we have, it calls for diligence on the party of merging political parties to quickly notify INEC so that INEC will not accept application to register another party that may have the same acronym.
It is all about diligence and then reference to INEC records to know what kind of communication they have from any of these contending parties so that they will know.

Alhaji Shettima Yerima Social affairs analyst and National President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum
The truth of the matter is that I will not want to be in a hurry to conclude that INEC is playing to frustrate the effort of the merging parties and at the same, I will not also stand to say that merging parties were not right. But there is nothing wrong in the party re-strategizing again and coming up with another name. That is my feeling about the whole issue. If they say the party has already been established, then they cannot go on. But if they are sure  that INEC cannot convince them, then they have the right to continue even if it takes them  going to court. INEC has no right to deprive them of registration.

Chief Chekwas  OkorieNational Chairman, United Progressive Party (UPP)
My immediate reaction is that the promoters of APC ought not to lay blame on anybody but on themselves. If they knew anything at all about party registration, what they ought to have done at the initial conceptualization of their plan to merge will be to write an application to INEC in the name they want to use or at the time they arrived at that name and upon writing the application, they would simply have to pay one hundred thousand naira administrative fee and then INEC will issue to them Form EF01 and CS02 and open a file for them in that name. In that way, they can now take their time to settle issues about conventions and officers of the new party, logo and all that.
That is the way to go if you are pragmatic and if you are indeed progressive. But they are not. They have proved that they are reactionary and they are people who gathered to give themselves a nickname of progressives because that is what this has shown. The law provides that first come, first serve. They were busy doing what is generally called “Eko for show”, gathering governors for some big public show only to arrive at a name. You gathered governors again for another public show to arrive at a flag and logo. When you were rig- maroling and displaying what was not necessary, another group went ahead to file the name that has the same acronym. So you cannot blame INEC for admitting application. You cannot trace it to PDP even if we suspect them. Mere suspicion is not enough to nail PDP on this one.
This is a clear case of gross incompetence, negligence and lack of progressive action that has made APC to mislead people into believing that there is a party. In fact, ordinary people think that APC is already a party. When some of us said that no merger has taken place, it was as if we were criticizing for nothing. And INEC had earlier announced that APC had not applied. It was published. INEC said there was no application with them in the name of APC yet that did not send them any signal.

Dr. Garba Mohhamed Bajoga, retired Gombe Permanent Secretary and opposition politician
To me if somebody thinks the ruling party will allow you to just go ahead and get it so easy, I think they aren’t got nothing yet. They aren’t seen nothing yet. This is not going to be an easy battle.
They will use all the power, all the foul and fair means to stop that APC from getting on. So, if APC thinks they will get it so easy, they better not go ahead. I am sure there will be a lot more antics to make sure APC doesn’t see the light of the day. So if the people really want to on, they must be prepared for a real ‘war’. There will a lot of gymnastics to make sure APC doesn’t see the light of the day.
You know what is called de facto and de jure. INEC by law is independent but is it in reality? We all know. We are all Nigerians. We know who appoints the Chairman and all the rest. We know the reality. INEC is not really independent and they cannot be independent for now unless they are given elements of independents, may be later in the day but for today INEC is not independent. He who pays the piper dictates the tune.

African Peoples Congress (APC) unveils logo, etc

Meanwhile, the African Peoples Congress (APC) on Thursday unveiled their logo, constitution and emblem in Abuja . The development has now put paid to the insinuation that the party was a ruse. With that as well, the coalition APC has definitely lost its name and acronym. The outcome of this would be to go for another name.
But even as the debate rages, the ACN has warned that should APC be denied registration, the protest in Tahrir Square in Egypt recently would be child’s play in comparison to what they would organize at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Meanwhile, it is left to be seen what the face-off would bring.

S/West PDP shakes off defeat at 2011 polls as Tukur visits

FORMER Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, says the visit of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to the South West zone would help the party unseat the opposition party in the 2015 elections.
Tukur was in the zone on Friday to resolve the crises among various factions of the party. According to Folarin, the visit had served as a morale booster to the PDP since it lost to the opposition party.
He said  the exemplary leadership of Tukur and the teeming members of the PDP that received him had shown that he had the wherewithal to steer the ship of the party.
Thousands of members of the party stormed Ibadan metropolis to give the PDP helmsman a rousing welcome.
Tukur urged the teeming members and other stakeholders of the party to re-strategise ahead of the 2015 elections so that the party can achieve victory.
He told the party faithful to “reconcile and rebuild the party. You are the rightful people that should be in governance in your respective states.
If you don’t get power, you can’t serve your people. Please reconcile so that this can be achieved. South West is very strategic. Eliminate them with your votes. I want the caucus to meet and reconcile the parties”.
Mr. Chief Ishola Filani, leader of Caretaker Committee in the zone, said he had begun moves to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.
Akeem Taiwo, the Oyo State Chairman of the party, expressed optimism at the peace moves noting that they would strengthen and reposition the party.

What Marriage Is Doing To Me –– Actress Uche Elendu Opens Up

Sexy Nollywood actress, Uche Elendu has been missing in action in the movie industry for some time now. Her long absence is not unconnected to her marriage to Mr Igweanyiba. 

 

So how has married life treated you and your daughter?

Well so far so good, I am still young in marriage but no bitter experience yet and I hope it goes on that way. I’m happy, I married my friend and he has been my pillar of strength and support. My daughter is four years old now, which means I have been married for that long. I have been able to create a comfortable balance by the grace of God to manage my family and career effectively without any setback.

 

How did you meet your husband?
(Laughs) Funny enough, my husband was a fan, who kept calling to appreciate me. Sometimes, I answer his calls and most times I tell my personal assistant to pick the call and tell him that I am busy. But that did not deter him, he was persistently calling and insisting that he saw me on the screen and just knew that I am his wife.He was bent on seeing me and getting to know me better. After a couple of months of persistent calling, I thought I should see this patient man and then I invited him over and the rest of the story resulted in this beautiful ring in my finger…(smiles) What is different since you got married, what good has it done to you?
Definitely, marriage has given me a sense of responsibility and also made me a fulfilled woman.

How would you describe your husband…How romantic is he?
(Laughs), very romantic in his own unique way.

Your husband was a big fan before marriage…Does he still watch your movies?
A whole lot, he does. He is a big critic so most times he watches my movies to criticise and also commend me.


When you act a sexy role, as a professional how does he react to your kisses on set?
It is funny because all the while I have not noticed anything different in his reactions when he is watching my movies. He knows I am just doing my job; he has been to location to watch me, so he knows there are lots of people behind the camera. When he watches maybe a scene I’m supposed to kiss and I did not do it well, he would ask if the guy had a bad breath… (Laughs).

 

What is your view on s*xual harassment in Nollywood and what do you think should be done about it?
There is s*xual harassment in every sector of life; in the banks, corporate world, any where you can think of. It does not only happen in Nollywood. I’ve never experienced it though I have heard about it. I don’t understand why some girls that are being asked out by either producer, actors and so on term it as harassment. As an adult if a man asks you out and you feel you don’t like him or you’re not up to it, you say “NO” and that is it. I don’t think anyone would r*pe you.

NYSC Service To be Extended to 2years

News Reaching GRP is that the Government wants to increase the Serving years of National Youth Service Corps Members from 1Year to 2Years, So they can serve their country better by serving for 2years after graduating from tetiary Institution.





It was announced on ray power news., We are still gathering more information on it and we would keep you updated. so check back..

What do you think of this development??

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic warns chelsea manager Benitez

Roman Abramovic Sparks again, warn Benitez that Failure to qualify in the Europa cup match on Thursday, he is gone as Chelsea FC Manager.

Do you Think Abramovic is making the Right Decision yet?

Catholic Elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina as the New Pope

76 year old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aries in Argentina has been named the 266th Pope.

He's the first Latin-American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, which is the longest running institution in the history of mankind [Almost 2,000 years old now].

The new Pope was the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina before he was elected to lead the Catholic church. He was ordained for the Jesuits on Dec. 13, 1969.

He has chosen the Papal name - Pope Francis 1.

PROFESSORS OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN [UNIBEN] DISCOVER HIV/AIDS CURE

A cure for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus, HIV, and Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome, AIDS,
has been discovered, a Professor at
the University of Benin said on
Tuesday.Isaiah Ibeh, the Dean of the School of
Basic Medical Science of the University,
said in Benin that the herbal drug has
undergone œseries of successful
tests
We are at the threshold of making
history, in the sense that we seem to
have with us something that will
permanently take care of what over
time seems to have defied all
solutions.

“We are talking about the latest
discovery of an oral drug made from
plants extraction in Nigeria for the
possible cure of the pandemic, HIV
and AIDS virus, he said.

Mr. Ibeh said research on the project
started in 2010 and culminated in the
development of Deconcotion X (DX) Liquid or Bioclean 11 for the cure of
HIV and AIDS

He said that while the existing
retroviral drugs are intervention
drugs for the management of AIDS,
the new discovery is a possible cure.

“We have tried to look at the product
first; its toxicological analysis and
discovered that it has a large safety
margin. This means that if animals or
human beings are exposed to it, they
will not suffer any serious harm at all from the exposure.

It also helped us to know the
quantity we can conveniently give to
animals and will feel secure that nothing untoward will happen. We have also done the bacteriological analysis on it, after which we looked at its effect on the virus and the result
was quite revealing and refreshing. Mr. Ibeh also said that the drug had been exposed to series of medical examination both in Nigeria and in the USA.

He added that the drug had
performed well on patients with the
HIV virus and had shown evidence of
total restoration of damaged tissues.

The result showed an increase in the
body weight of the individual
administered with DX, he said. The
body weight was statistically
significant when compared with the
control group.

He said that further tests were being
conducted to determine the point at
which patient becomes negative
after being administered the drug?
This verification is necessary because
it is what is used to measure whether
infection is still there or not. So we
need to know the siro-convention
time.

But preliminary results showed that
of the five latest patients orally
administered with the drugs, our
findings is that up to seven months ,
three of them were siro negative while
two were sill faintly positive, he said.

Mr. Ibeh appealed for support from
the Federal Government and relevant
bodies to assist the university with
relevant equipment to sustain the
research.

JOKES & FUNNY SHIT

1.Do u knw dat it's imposible 2 hold ur breath nd wistle?

2.Do u knw dat u can't kill urself by holding ur breath?

3.Do u knw dat 9ja is nt d only country speaking pidgin.

4.Do u knw dat d prime minster of ENGLAND(david cameron) has only 1 car

5.Do u knw dat ALICO DANGOTE is d 15th richest man in d world

6.Do u knw dat lady gaga is stil a virgin

7.Do u knw dat aids has a cure.....,