Kim Kardashian is Clearly Kylie Jenner's Fashion Role Model —See Every Time They’ve Dressed Identically!

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then Kylie Jenner has been giving Kim Kardashian near-weekly compliments.
At this point, Jenner straight up copies Kim's style. Not that we blame her considering her big sister is a world-renowned fashionista—naturally she looks up to her!
Plus, being a family member means perks in the form of access to said style icon's closet. Because in addition to recreating Mrs. West's past fashion hits with her own pieces, she also wears items directly from Kim's wardrobe.

Just yesterday, Kylie stepped out in a very similar outfit that Kim wore in Paris last year. While her bright white body suit was sans sleeves, the fitted number had the same neckline and sculpting effect on the 17-year-old as it did on Kim. Both ladies donned high-waisted, light-wash jeans (Kylie's courtesy of 7 For All Mankind) and closed-toed stilettos. From their look-alike outfits to their coordinating poses, these girls didn't just look like sisters; they looked like style twins.
True, Kylie may have accused Kim of stalking her style and acting "like my Tumblr is Vogue magazine" in the past, but now it seems the fashion roles have flipped.
See more times Kylie's ripped a page out of Kim's style playbook in the photos below!

Oh my Jee! See what bleaching cream did to Vera Sidika [Photos]

Yes, it’s same person you are looking at. The transformation is amazing!

Some ladies will go to any length to look fair/yellow because they believe fair ladies gets
more attention from African men.
Most African men like them shinning or better still yellow like yellow fever and some men even support their 'BAE' in their quest to date an African oyinbo.

Our focus is on Vera Sidika today, trust me i never see anything like this before. This is a complete transformation, believe me, you won't even believe its the same person.
See more of her pictures below:

800,000 commit suicide from depression annually — DON

A professor of psychiatry, Joseph Adeyemi, has said that no fewer than 800,000 people commit suicide yearly due to depression, yet policies on mental challenges remain archaic.

Professor Adeyemi, who spoke in Lagos at the presentation of the book Shadows in the Mirror: the Many Faces of Depression, written by Dr. Vivian Ikem, said the Mental Health Act, enacted in the 1900s, was last reviewed in 1959 despite medical improvements made over the years.

He said: “Our laws should keep up with current situations, but we have remained static; the way we were in 1959.”

Adeyemi described the book as “spectacular,” praising the author for “coming to help” those in the field of psychiatry.

According to him, it was difficult to get depression patients to accept the fact of their illnesses.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, represented by General Manager, Lagos Television, Deji Balogun, said the issue of mental health had not received the attention it deserved.

He said that the symptoms of depression could easily be observed, yet people turn a blind eye to the plight of victims, with attendant costs on the economy.

“This publication by Dr Vivian Ikem is a timely wake-up call to government and everybody in the society that a smile, a word of encouragement and understanding would go a long way in curtailing the destructive effect of depression in our society,” Ambode said.

All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, described the author as a woman of “excellent intellect” and “unmatchable lucidity.”

Represented by Mr. Sunday Dare, Tinubu said depression was a global problem, with 400 million people suffering from it, 12 percent (48 million) of which are Nigerians.

Calling the publication “a terrific book,” Tinubu said he had a dream that someday, the author would be celebrated across the country.

The former Lagos State Governor said for the author, a Ph.D holder in Chemical Engineering, to write so convincingly about a field of medicine shows her “intellectual discipline, curiosity and intellectual responsibility.”

The author, in her remarks, said having suffered from depression, she felt she needed to help others.

“I am happy that life gave me lemons, but I am able to make lemonade out of it,” she said.

According to her, many do not realize they were going through depression. She called for more sensitivity and compassion for depressed persons.

APC has no hand in Saraki’s trial - Gbajabiamila

The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday said the ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, for false asset declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal had nothing to do with the politics of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said since the issue had to do with the law, Saraki would be given his day in court.

Gbajabiamila spoke with State House correspondents shortly after he and some members of the House of Representatives met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also denied any leadership row in the National Assembly

He said, “Everything that has a beginning, has an end. I don’t think and I don’t know if there is any leadership crisis in the National Assembly.

“I am not sure at what you are alluding to; I am not in the Senate. But the little I understand is that there is an issue involving the Senate President. That has nothing to do with the APC.

“That has to do with the issue of law and I am sure the Senate President is being represented and he will have his day in court.

“If the matter comes up, I don’t think it is an APC issue; it is not an APC issue at all.”

The House leader also said the lower chamber remained solidly behind the President on his ongoing anti-corruption war.

“God help any member of the National Assembly that is not disposed to it (corruption war). This is the most critical cankerworm that is destroying the fabric of the society. All members are favourably disposed to the war,” he said.

On the reported political solution being allegedly proffered by the APC to resolve the Saraki’s issue, Gbajabiamila said he would not comment or promote unsubstantiated reports.

He said since the problem was a legal matter, he could not fathom how such matter would be resolved politically.

The House Leader also ruled out the possibility of the constitution of House committees causing crisis.

He said, “It would be handled by members of the House. The correct thing is that justice is done, equity is done and once that is done, then there is not going to be a problem.

“There are 180 or 190 committee slots while there are 360 members.

“So, whichever way it falls out, the important thing is the fallout that is not based on equity, then there may be a problem.”

He described his visit to the President as routine and that issues discussed included the budget.

He said, “This is just a routine visit to Mr. President; one arm of government visiting another arm.

“You know the important role of the House; I, being in charge of government business in the House, we discussed the issue of budget and a few other housekeeping matters to further cement the relationship between the House and the President.

“Absolutely, we understand the logic of the zero budgets unlike the envelope budget system, which has issues under the best circumstances. Zero budgets where everything starts from scratch, they have to justify every penny.

“It is part of the government efforts to block leakages and the House is in firm support.”

But, some APC members of the House held divergent views over the stance of Gbajabiamila.

A former Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, dismissed the House Leader as being “hypocritical.”

Mohammed, who is from Kwara State, told The PUNCH that Saraki’s travails began soon after he became the President of the Senate.

He compared Saraki’s case to that of “a witch crying last night and the baby dying in the morning.”

He said, “Gbajabiamila is my leader in the House, but he is being hypocritical. He is not telling us the truth.

“Even a blind man can see that as soon as Saraki emerged as the President of the Senate, he became a target.

“My worry is that it is the institution of democracy that is being weakened; in the long run, we will all suffer it together.”

But, another APC member from Lagos State, Mr. James Faleke, said that the APC had no hand in Saraki’s case.

Faleke said Saraki, being a key member of the party, could not be a target of the party.

“Nobody is against Saraki. This is about law. The APC has nothing against him. As a matter that is purely a legal one, the Senate president has done well by going to court to challenge his trial,” he added.


Source: Punchng

How Buhari is changing Oshiomhole’s permutations

Buhari’s choice of a long loyal political associate as his minister from Edo State could alter permutations as regard the emergence of governorship candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

THE body language of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his associates in the All Progressives Congress, APC had indicated that the battle for his succession would be narrowed down to the Edo South Senatorial district.

It was as such not surprising that Oshiomhole’s leading political traducer in the state, Chief Tony Anenih, the leader as he is called by his associates, moved with caution to nudge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to narrow the party’s ticket to the dominant Edo South senatorial district.

The reason the two major parties in the state narrowed the choice to Edo South was because the district with more than 50% of the total voting population could easily determine the outcome of the main election in the event of the election taking an ethnic divide.

The decision of the two major parties was not without consideration of the fact that the Edo Central Senatorial district it would have been the turn of Edo Central, the only zone that is yet to have a full four-year term at the governorship. The zone’s only hold on the governorship was the 17 months or so Senator Osehreinmen Osunbor from the zone was governor before he was removed by the courts.

Remarkably, Oshiomhole’s victory in the courts was believed to have been welcomed by the mainstream PDP led by Anenih before the two men fell apart setting the stage for the bitter recrimination between both men. It was perhaps in his quest to get the better of Oshiomhole that Anenih was believed to have jettisoned the idea of getting the next governorship candidate of the PDP from Edo Central in favour of matching the candidate from the APC in Edo South.

It was as such not surprising that a number of candidates from Edo South surfaced in the two parties. Among the much speculated aspirants from the APC known to be quietly building up for the contest are Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, Mr. Kenneth Imasuagbon popularly known as the rice man on account of his philanthropic gestures, the Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, Mr. Godwin Obaseki chairman of the governor’s Economic Team and a former Minister of State (Works), Dr Chris Ogienwonyi. Former Governor Osunbor is also believed to be interested in having a second shot and so is the 2012 PDP candidate of the PDP, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.) who has since crossed over to the APC.

On the side of the PDP, it has been relatively low but there are indications that Senator Ehigie Uzamere who became the first Edo South senator to serve two terms could soon jump into the fray upon increasing pressures on him from stakeholders. Also believed to be eyeing the ticket are Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former secretary to the state government and former representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

Also waiting in the wings is the still undisclosed candidate of the Dr. Sam Ogbemudia led Edo Mass Movement, EMM.

However, the nomination of Dr. Osagie Ehinare from Edo South may have altered the permutations as advocates of power shift are now pointing out that it could well put that senatorial zone to the disadvantage of all others. They point to the fact that the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is also from Edo South and that adding the governor from that region could be against the principle of federal character.

However, that lobby is yet to get full traction given the opinion by some of the leading stakeholders from the state.

Senators Matthew Urhoghide representing Edo South and Francis Alimikhena, Edo North spoke on the issue in phone interviews with Vanguard.

Repeated efforts to get Senator Clifford Ordia representing Edo Central, remarkably, the zone that stands to benefit in the event of a change in the permutation were not successful. He did not respond to text messages and calls to him on the issue.

5 Suspected Bocko Haram Bombers Arrested as One Pleads Guilty

 ‎Five alleged masterminds of the bomb blasts that rocked the Kuje and Nyanya axis of Abuja on October 2, 2015, were yesterday, arraigned before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The accused persons who were docked on a five-count terrorism charge yesterday were Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru.

After they took turns and entered their plea to the charge which was preferred against them by the federal government, trial Justice Abdul Kafarati ordered that they should be remanded in Kuje Prison.

‎Meanwhile, one of the accused persons, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, yesterday, pleaded guilty to count four of the charge, which indicated that it was in his house that items the alleged insurgents used in manufacturing the Improvised Explosive Device, IED, that was used for the bombings, were stored.

The FG Identified the items that were concealed in the accused person’s apartment at Unguwar Ebira, Karmajiji Area, behind Military Commentary, off Airport Road, Abuja, as- 27 pieces of detonators, aluminum powder, Hexomine, Hydrogene Peroxide, Sulphur powder, Sodium Azide plus nitrate, Iron 11 Oxide, soldering wire; sugar and PH litimus paper.

Other IED materials that were stored by the 4th accused person also included Sodium Carbonate, thermometer, Chlorate, Filter paper, strings, Potacium Chlorate, 12 ready-made IED and a full bag of fertilizer.

Though Nasiru pleaded guilty to the charge, he however insisted that he was not the owner of the items, saying he never knew that they were going to be used for an act of terrorism.

‎He told the court that it was his friend that brought the items to his house.

“Walahi no be get am, na my friend get am,” he told the court.

All the accused persons who were said to hail from Kogi state, are within the age brackets of 20 and 30 years.

Before the charges were read to them yesterday, two of the accused persons told the court that they could only understand ‘pidgin English’.

Meanwhile, attached to the charge dated October 21 and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, were the proof of evidence, brief summary of the case, list of witnesses, list of exhibits to be tendered in court and affidavit of completion of investigation by the Police.

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Nureni Sulyman did not oppose application for their remand in Prison custody, even as the court yesterday fixed November 17 and 24 to commence their trial.

Some of the charges against the accused persons read: “That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu and Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others [now at large] on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Kuje town and Jikoyi park, Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court conspired amongst yourselves to carry out a bomb attack by the use of Improvised Explosives Devices being an act punishable under section 17 of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013.

“That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu and Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others [now at large] on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Jikoyi park, Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court did carry out a bomb attack using Improvised Explosives Devices [IED] which resulted in the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others sustained various degree of injuries as well as destroying properties being an act punishable under section 2 [a] of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013.

“That you Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu and Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others [now at large] on or about the 2nd October, 2015 at Kuje town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court did carry out a bomb attack using Improvised Explosives Devices [IED] which resulted in the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others sustained various degree of injuries as well as destroying properties being an act punishable under section 2 [a] of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013.

“Abdulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Salihu, Abdulwaheed nasiru, Abdullahi Nasiru and others at large on or about 0300 hrs at Unguwar Ebira, karamajiji area, behind Military Commentary, off Airport Road, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court you were found in possession of items suspected to be used for manufacturing improvised explosives devices [IEDs] namely 27 pieces of detonators, aluminum powder, Hexomine, Hydrogene Peroxide, Sulphur powder, Sodium Azide plus nitrate, Iron 11 Oxide, soldering wire; sugar, PH litimus paper, Sodium carbonate, thermometer, chlorate, Filter paper, strings, Potacium Chlorate, 12 ready-made Improvised Explosives Devices [IED], and full bag of fertilizer and act punishable under section 2 [b] of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013.

“That you Mohammed Jimoh and Ishaka Salihu between the month of August and October, 2015 at Unguwar Ebira, karamajiji area, behind Military Commentary, off Airport Road, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court did store and conceal items suspected to be used for manufacturing improvised explosives devices [IEDs] namely 27 pieces of detonators, aluminum powder, Hexomine, Hydrogene Peroxide, Sulphur powder, Sodium Azide plus nitrate, Iron 11 Oxide, soldering wire; sugar, PH litimus paper, Sodium carbonate, thermometer, chlorate, Filter paper, strings, Potacium Chlorate, 12 ready-made Improvised Explosives Devices [IED], and full bag of fertilizer in your apartment an act punishable under section 2 [g] of Terrorism [prevention] [Amendment] Act, 2013”.

The PAIN and JOY I'm Having as an Actor - Tony Umez

He came to limelight in 1994, after featuring in the blockbuster  movie, “Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket”, and since then Tony Umez has remained one of the most bankable actors in the Nigerian movie industry.

However, following the role he played in the soft porn  movie, 027,which was released in 2013,Umez  incurred the wrath of his fans who were unhappy with  his involvement in the movie.  But in this engaging interview, the actor talks about the making of that movie, and why he doesn’t feature in an Igbo film.


My face missing on screen in recent times! I don’t know what you mean by "missing on screen!" But if I have to agree with your observation, I am back on track. The industry is evolving and younger actors are springing up everyday. But that doesn’t mean, I haven’t done some jobs in recent times. It’s just that I haven’t been as prolific as I used to be in the past. I have been involved in other projects. Nonetheless, I am back in the industry.

Whether scripts no longer come my way

For an A-list actor who used to feature in about thirteen to fourteen movies per year, if he starts featuring in about four to five movies, his face would cease to be regular on screen. That’s why you said, my face has been missing on screen. It wasn’t actually missing on screen.

Living my dream after debuting in Nollywood in 1994

“Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket, “ wasn’t my first movie. But it was the movie that brought me to limelight. As an actor, I am more focused  and disciplined now than ever before. But contrary to what people believe, an actor is the most  disciplined person on earth. It has also made me more rounded as I play different characters in movies. My world view has changed too. I don’t see things from just one perspective. I used to read a lot and I’m still maintaining that culture of reading. The industry has also made me to understand that life itself  is transient, and not all that glitters is gold.

Why I have not featured in any Igbo film

I don’t speak nor understand Igbo.  It’s a long story which I wouldn’t want to talk about now. It’s sad but there is nothing I can do about it. In fact, the little I understand is as a result of my wife. My wife is from Okija.

I am from Ogidi in Anambra State. I speak English and Efik fluently because my mum comes from Cross River State. I grew up in Lagos and as a result, I speak Yoruba too. I have done some Yoruba movies. I have also done an Efik movie. It is not as if I  never had Igbo friends while growing up. But I thank God for His mercies. I have never for once run away from my roots.

My colleagues’ reaction over my inability to speak Igbo

My Igbo brothers know that I don’t understand Igbo as much as I should. They are very accommodating and it doesn’t make me a worthless person or alienate me from them. They respect me for who I am, and I respect them for who they are. Basically, they don’t discriminate against me. That I don’t feature in Igbo films is because  I am not very fluent in speaking the language.

‘What starring in soft-porn movie  ‘027’ taught me’

What prepared me for what I am doing today

Basically, nothing prepares you for anything. But education is very important. When you are educated, it means you are trainable. I  read English as well as International Law and Diplomacy, as first and second degrees respectively, at University of Lagos.I did some courses in drama and participated in command performances.  So, I wasn’t new to production,  but I was new to commercial production when I came into the industry. But at the time I graduated from the university, I wasn’t thinking of becoming an actor.

I wanted to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time. Then there was an embargo on employment. I embraced my first course of study- English and started doing private tutoring until 1994, when I featured in a church movie. The movie got me stagnated. But in 1995, I did my first  major movie,  “ Chief Ikenga” which was directed by Steve Aginoche.

I played the lead role in the movie. Interestingly, I met my wife while starring in that church movie. She played  my wife in the movie, and to God be the glory, she is my wife  today. We have been married for about 21 years now. We courted for five years, from 1994 to 1999, before we finally walk down the aisle. I am a one woman man.

To God be the glory, I don’t  have any scandal in the industry at the moment. I love my wife and I love my family. I don’t want anything to interfere with the peace, joy and happiness that I share with my family.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t paid any fee after featuring in my first two movies.  We negotiated but till date the producers did not pay me a dime. As a result, I left the industry because I felt it wasn’t a place I could survive in. I returned to the industry in 1997, featuring in a movie titled, “The Princess.”  After which I starred in “Died Wretched: Buried in N2.3m Casket,” in 1998.  I have been relevant in the industry ever since then.

The role I played in that soft-porn movie, 027

It is something I wouldn’t want to discuss now because there has been a lot of brouhaha about the film. So many misconceptions. I did a movie, and I didn’t see it as soft-porn. Those who are labelling the film as ‘x-rated movie’  have not watched, till the end. They only watched the trailer and concluded that it is  soft porn. I read the script, which was written by one of the very best in the industry Dami Joe Efe Young. It was a wonderful script. The lady in question played the lead role in the movie.

It was a 2-hour movie, but people are  focusing on that particular scene which just happened. And it wasn’t as if there was sex on set. Everything was basically make-believe. It was made to look  real and people believed it too. I don’t blame them because they have their own opinions while I have mine.

It wasn’t as if there was sex all through the movie. It was just an aspect of the whole movie. The movie generated a lot of controversies when it was released. Some people commended it while many others were against it.

I received some foreign calls, commending the movie because they watched it till the end. But a lot of people  who criticized it watched only the trailer online. Like I always tell people, I have weathered the storm and I have moved on.

My wife’s reaction

It wasn’t pleasant news  for her because she is a woman. But like I said before, I have weathered the storm, and I have moved on as an individual, and my family has moved on too. May be, what it had taught me is to be more circumspect in the things I do.  I should not just look at the creativity embodied in a script. But I should also look at the societal reaction to it.

We can’t dictate for Buhari — Alimikhena, Edo North senator

The zoning of the positions came before the ministerial slot, governor was zoned to the South, speaker zoned to Edo Central, Deputy Governor to North, but now that they have brought the minister from Edo South…

The president said he chose somebody that he likes, and I am not even aware that the leadership of the party in Edo South were the ones that nominated the nominee. It is the president’s prerogative to nominate who he likes.

You should bear in mind that everyone is looking for how to win the poll, the south are saying that it is their turn to produce the governor even though they produced the minister while the Central is saying that it has not finished its term. You see because of this even though the PDP was to choose somebody from the central before, they have now decided to choose somebody from the south and you know this is because of the politics of numbers and this could pay for the south.

Besides, before the emergence of the ministerial nominees, it had already been decided to move it to the south.

Was there a formal agreement to that?

It was a gentleman agreement, and zoning is not what you can put down. Really, before the emergence of the minister it had already been agreed to shift it to Edo South. If we win the election, and the governor is from the same zone as the minister, we can now tell the president to think about it.



-Vanguard

PDP Senetors Remained Silent During Amechi's Screaning

The controversy over the screening of erstwhile Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as a minister, ended in an anti-climax yesterday, when seething senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP turned dumb to him.

The PDP caucus kept mum upon the determination of All Progressives Congress, APC Senate caucus for Amaechi, the director-general of the triumphant APC presidential campaign to be screened yesterday.

 Daramola,Mustapher, Ocholi,Amaechi and Lokpobiri are the ministers that was screened yesterday.


The path to his appearance which had in the past been laced with politics was agreed at a closed-door meeting of the Senate that preceded yesterday’s plenary.

At that session, the PDP senators it was gathered had again restated their opposition to the appearance of Amaechi, alleging that the issues of corruption raised against him had not been debated by the Senate.

That argument was, however, brushed aside by the APC senators most of who read politics into the opposition by the PDP, who they claimed wanted to punish Amaechi for his role in the emergence of the new leadership of the country.

Faced with the determination of the APC Senate caucus to forge ahead with the screening of the former governor, the PDP members it was gathered, were persuaded to backtrack on their earlier pledge of walking out. Rather, the PDP senators resolved not to ask Amaechi any question.

As the Senate resumed plenary, yesterday, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu laid the report of its investigations into the petition filed against Amaechi. The report was, however, not debated.

Following other preliminaries, the Senate upon a motion moved by the Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume and seconded by Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate minority leader, resolved to move into the committee of the whole for the purpose of screening nominees of the president for ministerial positions.

Remarkably, Amaechi was the first on the list and he was followed into the chambers by a high-profile delegation of the APC including the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Speaker Ghali Na‘abba, former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Peterside Dakuku, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State among many others.

Asked for his opening comments, Amaechi started his greetings by acknowledging the three Rivers State senators, all of the PDP, who have been at the forefront of opposition to his ministerial nomination.

He greeted Senator Thompson Sekibo as the senator representing him, forcing laughter from Sekibo, Senator Olaka Nwogu as his long time friend and roommate at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He also acknowledged Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who he said served under him as a commissioner.

Near-slip

Amaechi’s pace for peace with his senators from Rivers State almost caused a slip as he almost forgot to acknowledge other senators.

He subsequently enumerated his experience as a legislator having served as a two-term speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and then as a two-term governor of Rivers State. He cited his accomplishments as governor to include among others, the building of more than 315 world class primary schools, 140 model primary health care centres among others. He also took pride in his sponsorship of two bills while a lawmaker, the anti-kidnapping bill and a bill that defined the responsibilities of parents, teachers and children to guarantee children access to qualitative education.

PDP Senators fight back

Following the greetings, the minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio stood up to make a personal explanation. He said that upon the fact that the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had not been discussed that the PDP Senate Caucus had resolved not to ask the nominee any question.

Turning to face his colleagues on the PDP benches, Akpabio said, “Is that the decision of the PDP Caucus?” to which there was a thunderous response of “Yes!.”

Senate leader, Ali Ndume apparently miffed by the action of the PDP senators responded that Amaechi as a former legislator should then be given the privilege to bow and go as is the practice of the Nigerian Senate.

“The gentleman you see here is a nominee, and it’s my responsibility to market him here before the Senate. If you people are given the privilege to ask questions and as you said, “You people decide not to ask questions…”

Ndume was immediately countered by roaring denunciation from the PDP benches as they objected to what they described as the condescending reference. Senator Akpabio immediately demanded a retraction. Senate President Saraki rose to the aid of Ndume as he said that Ndume offered one, but which the PDP senators said they did not hear even as some of them demanded a formal apology.

Panel didn’t indict me — Amaechi

Following Saraki’s intervention, Amaechi was then opened to questions from APC senators. Among those who asked him questions were Senators Nazif Suleiman, APC, Bauchi North, Danjuma Goje, APC Gombe and Gbenga Ashafa, APC Lagos East.

Responding to Nazif’s question on how he has managed to fight political battles, he said:

“I was born to test my rights and fight for my rights, I was once a student union leader and believe me, if there is one man who does not like corruption, I am the one, I do not like corruption.

Noting why he aligned with Muhammadu Buhari against his former party man, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, he said:

“We sold to the public the fact that there was massive corruption in the system. And there was the need to fight that corruption. And the only way to fight that corruption is to put a new government, and we had to get a signpost candidate.

“The signpost candidate is a man who the Nigerian public has seen as an incorruptible president. That was why the party had to put President Buhari forward. We thought that there was a need to do things differently. I thought that as good as the former President may have been, I don’t think he was suitable enough for the growth and development of Nigeria. So, we needed to offer an opportunity to somebody we believe is better than the former President.”

Responding to Senator Ashafa’s question on the allegations pertaining to his indictment over alleged corruption, Amaechi reiterated his earlier claim that the report did not indict him. Flaunting a copy of the report of the panel, he said he was ready to lay it on the table of the Senate for scrutiny as to his alleged indictment asserting that the indictment only flowed from the White Paper prepared by the PDP administration that succeeded him.

“There was nowhere I was indicted (in the judicial panel report). I came here with a copy of the so-called panel report, there is nowhere that panel indicted me, I am ready to tender this report before the Senate. I was ready for the questions on it, and I brought the panel report so that the Senate can juxtapose it with the white paper.

Govs Forum checked presidential excesses

Asked to clear the confusion over his re-election as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, he said:

“The Governors Forum started as a check to executive recklessness. The Senate President (Saraki) was the chairman  with other governors who are here today as senators, including Senator Goje, “we checked the excesses, including the expenditure of the oil subsidy. There is a case in court up till now stopping the federal government, stopping the government from drawing money from the account to fund oil subsidy because we believed that if we stop the Federal Government from drawing state and local governments’ money, federal government will not be able to bear the cost and will, therefore, remove  oil subsidy  which would reduce the level of corruption. Unfortunately, the case is yet to be heard.

“I think that the radical posture of the governors forum  led to the former president asking me that I  had turned the Governors’ Forum into a trade union.”

“I think the former president didn’t like it, and when my tenure expired as the chairman, I was requested not to run for a second term and I thought that as a Nigerian, I had the responsibility to exercise my right as a governor.

“So, I put myself forward for the election, and if you saw the forces against me, you would think that I would lose. Let me quote my brother and friend, Senator Jang. He said ‘but North East zone supported me, North West zone supported me, North Central zone supported me, and South-South  supported me, how did you win? You did not win, you did not win,’ and I said but I won, I have 19 votes and the rest, as they say, is history.

Following the screening, Amaechi was asked to bow and take his leave of the chamber allowing other nominees to appear for the screening.

Others who appeared yesterday were Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, (Bayelsa), Omoleye Daramola, (Ondo), Baba Shehuri Mustapha, (Borno) and Ocholi James, Kogi. Adewole Isaac Folorunso from Osun State who was earlier listed to be screened was left out.


-Vanguard News

Oshiomhole Promotes religious harmony in Edo State

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said his government will continue to promote religious harmony as a way of ensuring peaceful co-existence in all parts of the state.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Chairman of the state Musaabaqah organization, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, Otaru of Auchi, and other members of the committee, the governor said no faith promoted hatred and violence, maintaining that Islam was synonymous with peace.

He said: “I believe that in trying to understand the suspicion between Muslims and Christians from time to time, the misrepresentation of what the two religions represent can only be removed by educating our people about the true meaning of Islam and the true meaning of Christianity.

So, I believe that looking at the long term challenge of building inter-religious harmony in Nigeria, the Koranic Recitation Competition is something that should be supported and promoted. It encourages more people to get familiar with the doctrines of Islam, the injunctions in the Holy Koran and all the other revelations by Prophet Mohammed, I believe that a lot of the misconceptions will be addressed.

“I was in the US a year ago and I visited a Catholic school and the Principal told me, at the heart of peace study, that he takes time to study the Koran and the Bible and as a priest, he is very much at home with the Bible. But he said that many people, including Americans and Europeans have too little knowledge about Islam. According to him, if they truly understand what Islam represents, their views will change and the only way to promote understanding and deepen the knowledge of people about Islam is to include it in our school curriculum because you cannot talk about something you do not know about.

“So I believe that in Nigeria, it is something that has to be properly articulated and maybe taken over at some other level because the reality today is that we have two main religions in Nigeria. We have Islam and we have Christianity.”

Why I don't wear pants - Baby Blanche

Due to the kind of clothes she likes to wear and is comfortable in, Baby Blanche has revealed in an interview with Showbiz that she hardly wears panties when she’s going out.

“I love all kinds of lingerie that make a woman feminine because I’m a woman, but I hardly wear panties. This is not because I don’t want to wear them but because the clothes I love to wear wouldn’t permit me to,” she told Showbiz.

“I try as much as possible to act as a lady and not to let my panty lines show just because I like to wear dresses that hug my figure. So if I wear clothes and the outline of my panty is glaring like that I don’t like it,” she explained. “Being a lady is not only about wearing make-up and Brazilian hair but also comprises the propriety of whatever you’re wearing,” says Baby Blanche.

She adds that she does not worry much about thoughts that she may be sexually assaulted by unscrupulous men because she makes sure she doesn’t go to awkward places at awkward hours.

APC Thanks Senetors and All Nigerians After Amechi's Screening

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC has expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians across the nation for the unprecedented support privately and openly expressed towards the successful screening of the Rivers State Ministerial Nominee and former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today.

The APC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone recalled that the screening of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi became the foremost topical issue of political discourse in the past couple of weeks since his nomination by Mr. President. With the eventual screening of the nominee by the Senate today, we do believe that all lovers of Rt. Hon. Amaechi, President Buhari and the APC would joyously put the suspense of the past days behind them and move on.

The APC thanked distinguished members of the Nigerian Senate for carrying out their constitutional responsibility with candour, maturity and in line with the law.

“Again, we would like to state that we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and recognition for the former governor by all shades of the Nigerian populace and would like to assure everyone that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would continue to identify and fight for the interest of the ordinary Nigerian even as he becomes a Minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari” the statement finally averred.

Full Text of Amaechi’s Address to the Senate .

Good morning. It is a rare pleasure to stand before you distinguished Senators in this hallowed chambers. I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve in the office of a Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My name is Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and I am the immediate past governor of Rivers State. Before then, I had served as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for two terms of eight years and as Chairman,

Conference of Speakers, for two tenures. I am perhaps the first Nigerian to have served as Speaker of
a State House of Assembly, for eight years.

I served as Governor of Rivers State for two terms during which period, I had the honour and privilege to serve my colleagues as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, for two terms. Taken together, whether as Governor or as Speaker, these two career paths tell a story of public service.

During my tenure as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, we achieved a lot. Some key bills were passed like the Anti Kidnapping Law and the Rivers States Schools Rights (Parent, Children and Teachers) Law. However, my most fulfilling moment as Speaker was the passage of the Rivers State Schools Rights (Parent, Children and Teachers) law, No. 2 of 2005. This bill clearly enunciated and defined the
responsibilities of parents, teachers and children to guarantee our children access to qualitative education.

As Governor, we inherited a state that was comatose and in the throes of insecurity. Rivers State bore the fault lines of the Niger Delta militancy. Our immediate task was therefore to restore security and improve the social and economic well being of our people. Ours was a two-pronged approach of fiscal and physical security. Whilst we confronted criminality with aggressive law enforcement measures, we embarked on massive social and infrastructural development.

We declared an emergency in the education sector that guaranteed free and compulsory education up to secondary school level. During my tenure as Governor, we awarded the construction of some 500 primary schools. 314 of these were 100 percent completed while others were virtually completed by the time we left office in May 2015. We undertook the training and recertification of teachers already in the service of the state and employed over 13,000 new teachers. Our efforts and investments in the education sector did not go unnoticed as Port Harcourt won the UNESCO World Book Capital city for 2014, beating cities like Moscow and Oxford.

In the area of healthcare delivery, we built over 140 primary healthcare centres, three secondary healthcare facilities, employed 400 doctors and 200 nurses to improve the manpower in the healthcare sector. Anyone who visited Port Harcourt while we served, will testify to the fact that we worked to bring back the old glory of Port Harcourt as the garden and city as the third leg in the economic tripod of Nigeria.

We built a dualised network of 1500 Kilometres of roads, 23 bridges, 2 major fly-overs and 2 interchanges.

In the area of power, of the 350 Megawatts (MW) total capacity generation assets invested by the government before ours, only 70MW (equivalent to about 20 per cent) was available. With enthusiasm, we ramped up the efficiency to 77 per cent availability including injecting another 360MW Green Field Generation Project at Afam. That massive investment is partly the reason why today, residents in Port Harcourt enjoy almost 24 hours of electricity supply.

On the whole, Mr. President of Senate, I say with pride that during our stewardship of eight years we consistently maintained our pledge to our people to render transparent and accountable stewardship.” To guarantee that we did not deviate from that pledge, we were the first state to pass a Fiscal Responsibility law and the Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement law. Both laws stemmed from executive bills, and we are pleased that we maintained our stance of surrendering the power of the governor to award contracts until the end of our tenure.

Mr. President of Senate, Distinguished Senators, it is therefore fair to say that under my leadership as governor of Rivers State we redefined governance and repositioned Rivers State as a destination choice to live, work and do business. Accordingly Mr. President of Senate, Distinguished Senators, I give you my word that if I am confirmed as minister by this distinguished Senate, I will bring to bear my vast experience as a Legislator, Speaker and Governor in the execution of my duties.


-Vanguard News

Guys Just Look Straight and Tell me What You See, DON'T STARE [PHOTO]

Look straight and tell what you see there...

Lol I said tell me what you see, i didn't say you should not enjoy your sight but don't stare at it too much. LOL

PHOTO: Justin Bieber Shows off His tattooed forearms in black T-shirt as he enjoys swift pint in London pub

He is the pint-sized star with a sexy nice voice.
So it seems only appropriate Justin Bieber would enjoy a beer when he popped out to sample the joys of pub life in London on Wednesday.


The pop pixie took great delight in showing off his spindly tattooed forearms as he sauntered back to his table with a glass of the good stuff in his hand. See more photos below...

FG Countering The Propaganda of Boko Haram

VICE President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, recently disclosed the intention of the Federal Government to set up a communication centre to provide adequate information to counter the violent propaganda of Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.

The nation’s second citizen made the disclosure when a team of American government officials led by the United States Special Envoy on Counter-Terrorism Communication, Mr Rashad Hassan, visited his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the Vice President, when the outfit is set up it will provide a platform for government information managers, clerics, civil society organisations and youth groups to interact in a positive manner to exchange information and ideas that will counter the propaganda being churned out by extremists.

There is no doubt that Boko Haram is able to lure thousands of gullible youths into its ranks through the use of age-old tools of war: brainwashing and propaganda. It only stands to reason that the nation should devise adequate responses to their odious mind games. Every war involves both the use of weapons to overwhelm the enemy and the deployment of packaged information to win over the minds of the populace to support the war effort.

It is one of the oddities of the war against Boko Haram that Nigeria has waited this long before realizing the need to launch a massive propaganda campaign against the evil ideology of Boko Haram and the saboteurs providing them with support and sponsorship both within the civil populace and the security forces. This is yet another indication that the war against terror which Nigeria took up with massive deployment of soldiers from 2013 was not approached with full gusto as was the Nigerian civil war. Boko Haram, on the other hand, went into their quixotic venture without leaving any stone unturned.

Full propaganda engagement will mobilize Nigerians behind the efforts of the Federal Government to overcome the insurgents. It will also expose the evil of Boko Haram ideology and whip up total citizen commitment towards bringing it to an early end and preventing a future resurgence.

But propaganda alone cannot keep insurgency and extremism at bay. The increasing loss of confidence of sections of the Nigerian population on the state and the system’s ability to look after their welfare, provide them with adequate security, guarantee their freedom as distinct groups and assure them justice and equity must be looked into. These are the roots of not just Boko Haram insurgency but also other separatist agitations now rearing their heads, especially in the South.

No amount of counter-propaganda will instill abiding faith of Nigerians in their country until the system is reformed to make Nigeria a happier place for ALL its citizens.


-Vangurad News

Laughter as Akpororo, Tuface thrill Airtel customers at PHarcourt

The city of Port Harcourt came alive recently when the trio of fast-rising comedian, Akpororo; African Queen Crooner, Tuface Idibia and popular on-air-personality, IK Osakioduwa captivated customers of the Smartphone network, Airtel Nigeria, at an exclusive business forum in Rivers State.

The interactive business session, which was held at Aztech Arcum, along Stadium Road, availed guests in attendance, the opportunity to gain insights on the benefits associated with being a member of the Airtel Premier club.

Bowote Jeptha a.k.a Akpororo took to the stage during the event to entertain the guests with his wits that sent everyone gasping for breath. For more than 30 minutes, the fast-rising comedian electrified the audience.

Shortly after Akpororo’s performance, Tuface grabbed the microphone to captivate the guests with a live performance, as they relish the delicious meals and refreshing drinks provided by the host. He sang some of his hits songs like ‘Ihe Neme’ and ‘Keep on Rocking.’

Anchored by popular on-air-personality, IK Osakioduwa, the event also provided an opportunity for the customers and members of the company’s top management to network and share valuable feedback.

The Airtel Premier is a special V-VIP reward programme specifically designed to offer exceptional and personalized privileges to high value customers on the network.

Some of the exclusive privileges available to members of the Airtel Premier Club include dedicated Relationship Managers, exclusive helpline services, mailbox and website, and automatic enrollment into “Airtel Rewardz”; a point-based loyalty scheme, which provides opportunities for members to win exciting offers from Airtel Nigeria.

Members also enjoy other treats such as access to over 600 premium lounges across the globe with their Premier Cards which also grants them to up to 45 per cent discount at select hotels, exclusive access to designated service points at Airtel showrooms, special invitation to Airtel HNI programme, special delight on their birthdays, anniversary and special occasions, and other high-end tie-ups available to Premier customers in Nigeria.

The event was graced by dignitaries drawn from the public, private and corporate sectors including Dr. Mrs. Julia Jumbo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs who represented the First Lady of Rivers State and from Airtel, Chief Sales Officer, Godfrey Efeurhobo; Ms. Veronica Onoja, Regional Operations Director, (South); Mr. Femi Oyewole, Vice President, Service Experience & CSD, Sarwiyat Rahaman, Head: High Value Experience and Bukola Akande, General Manager, Enterprise Sales; all staff of Airtel Nigeria

Breaking News: 20 People Shot Dead by Boko Haram

Twenty people were shot dead by suspected Boko Haram gunmen Wednesday on a road outside a village in Nigeria’s northeast Borno state, local sources said.

A large group of Boko Haram gunmen fleeing a military offensive on their camp in Nganzai district opened fire on four cars just outside Jingalta village, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Maiduguri, killing all 20 passengers inside, a vigilante and a villager said.

“We received information of an attack by Boko Haram gunmen on four cars near Jingalta village where they shot dead all 20 occupants of the vehicles before setting the cars ablaze,” said Babakura Kolo, a member of a local vigilante group assisting the military in fighting the Islamic sect in Maiduguri.

“The gunmen were fleeing a military operation against one of their enclaves in the area around 9:30 am (0830GMT) when they came across the vehicles on the highway and opened fire on them,” Kolo said.

The gunmen, who were driving pick-up trucks and motorcycles, then looted and burnt the entire village whose residents had already fled following the attack, he added.

Jibir Hassan, a commercial bus driver who arrived at the scene after the gunmen had fled, confirmed the death toll.

“When we arrived at Jingalta village, we found it smouldering, with everything completely burnt and just outside the village we saw bodies sprawled by the roadside, 20 of them in all,” said Hassan.

“Near the bodies were charred remains of four cars, still smouldering,” he said.

Nigeria's Crude Oil will be Refined to Meet Domestic Needs

With the nation’s refineries, especially the Port Harcourt Refinery Company, PHRC, coming back on stream, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday in Benin, said the country’s  crude oil would  be processed to meet immediate domestic needs.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, who spoke at this year’s NNPC Health Safety and Environment, HSE, day, with the theme, HSE Best Practice, Pathway to Business Sustainability, also said NNPC would  modernize its health, safety and environment management standard and performance records to promote health, safety and environmental awareness.

Dr. Kachikwu, who was represented by the Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC,  Abubakar Mai-Borno, said safety at workplace was vital for productivity in the sector.

“It is with great optimism that we are foreseeing our refineries soon coming back on-stream. PHRC, for instance, has demonstrated great drive in meeting the federal government’s desire for our refineries; whence our crude will be processed in order to meet our immediate domestic demands,” he said.

He insisted that lessons must be learnt from recent incidents on the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and Chevron’s Brazil Offshore which occurred due to breach of safety rules and observance, noting that these incidents were accompanied with monumental financial and human losses.

“We must, therefore, tow a conscious path in structuring safety rules, guides, observance and best practices in NNPC. When these are emplaced, then, our assets, both human and material will be secured and guaranteed,” he said.

According to him, the outcome of these initiatives “would include higher productivity, reduce risks accidents and damages to the environment, while promoting sustainable development for future generation. This visible commitment is an important driver that ensures that every staff, including other stakeholders, own their HSE responsibility.”


-Vanguard News

Amaechi Cannot Disqualify by PDP- Ndume

AHEAD of today’s screening of former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, yesterday, lampooned senators elected on the platform of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying that the 8th Senate belongs to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to him, the PDP should note that it has become a minority, a situation where the majority would always have its way, warning that PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on what he described as triviality instead of the constitution. He added that Amaechi  has not been convicted by any court of law.

Ali Ndume boasted that the Senators will determine the fate of Amaechi and not the report of Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, adding that Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu would not have presided yesterday because APC ministerial nominees were being screened, which explained the adjournment.

Ndume spoke amid strong indications, yesterday, that PDP and APC senators will flex muscles today over Amaechi. While the APC senators have insisted on screening and confirming Amaechi for a ministerial appointment, the PDP Senators have not shifted grounds on the position they took on Tuesday to frustrate the screening of the former governor.

Today, Chairman, Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) will submit the reports of his committee on petitions against the nominees including Amaechi.

According to a PDP Senator, who spoke with Vanguard, the report will be up for discussion and votes will be taken in support or against Amaechi being screened and cleared.

The senator, who noted that if the voting favours that Amaechi be screened as opposed to their collective decision, they would as a caucus stage a walk out and allow the APC senators do what they want to do.

PDP senators to review pact with Saraki

The Senator told Vanguard that the PDP Senators who formed an alliance with Senate President Bukola Saraki prior to his election and which led to his emergence were planning to review the unwritten agreement.

On whether the PDP senators were aware that if the Senators failed to screen or reject Amaechi by October 29 upon the expiration of the 21 working-day constitutional deadline, the former governor would automatically become a minister, the Senator said “we will not allow that to happen” as PDP Senators.

The Senator continued: “The report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions will be laid tomorrow (today) and there will be voting on whether or not to accept that Amaechi be screened. The voting will determine the way forward and if the voting says he should be screened because APC wants and PDP as a caucus thinks we should not screen Amaechi and if the APC insists, PDP Senators will stage a walk out.”

Another PDP Senator, who spoke with Vanguard, said that the issue has to do with 21 working days which is like a month, adding that the position of PDP Senators is about the law and the society, adding that the National Assembly is a theatre of politics, but as law makers, they must be cautious.

According to the Senator, the PDP senators were standing on Section 66(h) which stipulates that when indicted by a panel, the person cannot occupy any public office.

Section 66(h) says: “No person shall be qualified for Membership of National Assembly and Right of attendance if he has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial Commission of Inquiry or an Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal set up under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act…”

The PDP senators are also citing section 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended on why they will work against the clearance of Amaechi.

Section 53(5) of Senate Standing Orders 2015 As Amended reads: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a Judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

The screening would have taken place yesterday, but the Senate suspended sitting to allow senators accompany Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the Code of Conduct Tribunal where he is facing trial over alleged false declaration of assets.

For the third time since it began the screening of ministerial nominees, the Senate on Tuesday, postponed the screening of Amaechi.

We’re not against Amaechi— Sen Ogba

Also, a member  of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, Obinna Ogba, has denied allegation  that the committee was  against Amaechi’s confirmation.

He equally debunked insinuation that the delay in releasing the report of investigation on Amaechi, which resulted in the delay in his screening was as a result of sharp division among members of the committee on the report.

Reacting in an interview, yesterday, with Vanguard, in Abuja, Senator  Ogba, who represents  Ebonyi Central in the National Assembly, under PDP, insisted that there was no disagreement  among members of the committee.

We will determine Amaechi’s fate not Anyanwu’s report – Ndume

Answering questions from Journalists, yesterday, on the issue, Ndume said Amaechi would be cleared.

His words: ‘’The Ethics and Privileges report is not the determinant of Amaechi’s fate. It is the Senate. Even if they write their report, it has to be laid before the Senate which will decide on the report. It is not the report that will decide the fate of Amaechi.

“Whatever the Committee recommends to the Senate, it is the Senate that will decide. And I have told Nigerians several times that this Senate belongs to APC. We have PDP senators that are in the minority. We are practising democracy in a changed environment. That is to allow the minorities to have their say. But you know that the majority will always have its way. We have 58 senators, the Senate President excluded, and they have 48 Senators.

“And Amaechi is an APC candidate and the constitution is very clear. Until there is conviction, you are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a competent court of law. Unfortunately, you cannot confirm or disqualify Amaechi, we are the only ones that can do that. And PDP cannot disqualify Amaechi based on triviality. It must be based on constitutionality.”

On why the plenary was suspended, Ndume said: “The Senate President has a pending case before the Appeal Court which judgement was suspended indefinitely. We, therefore, thought that the lower court will suspend today’s (yesterday’s) sitting as the Senate President has to be in court by 10.00am. He is the Presiding Officer and this is an extraordinary period because we are screening ministers who are predominantly APC. So, that was why we said this screening should continue with the Senate President presiding. So, we are continuing tomorrow (today) by God’s grace.”

When told that the Deputy Senate President was supposed to have presided in the absence of the Senate President, the Senate leader said: “This is not a normal day because we are screening APC nominees and there are issues surrounding it. The Presiding Officer is the Senate President who started the screening and we said we would continue after taking a day off and continue tomorrow (today)”.

Speaking on the senators’ solidarity with the Senate President at the tribunal, Senator Ndume said: “It was not a solidarity as such. This Senate does not belong to Saraki, Senator Ali Ndume or anybody. The Senate is an institution, an independent arm of government and should be respected and strengthened. Besides, if the President takes his  time to submit the (ministerial) list, which Nigerians patiently waited for why will Nigerians not be patient with the Senate to wait for its conclusion? And why don’t you take us on issues other than these trivialities? Suppose we had said we are suspending the screening till next week, we have the right to do that.

“But the constitution is guiding us that we have to do this within 21 working days. And we are still within the 21 working days. It is not 21 days, it is 21 working days. And our working days in the Senate plenary is three days in a week. So, if you are talking about 21 working days, it means that the Senate will do this within seven weeks because we sit for plenary Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. That is three working days. It means that logically, we can do this up to seven weeks.”

“The ministries have not been streamlined yet to know where they are going. I don’t even see an issue out of it. I was thinking that by now, we will be talking about ideas not about people and events.  It won’t move this country forward. We are supposed to be talking about the screening details.”


-Vanguard news

Governorship Tribunal in Akwa Ibom Oders Re-run Election

The Akwa Ibom state governorship tribunal today nullified the April 11 governorship election in 18 out of the 31 Local government areas in the state, citing irregularities in the manner in which the elections were conducted. The tribunal ordered that fresh elections should be conducted in the affected Local government areas while the state governor, should still remain in office pending the outcome of the re-run election.

APC governorship candidate in the state, Umana Umana had dragged the state governor and PDP candidate Udom Emmanuel before the tribunal, challenging his victory at the poll.


-LIB News

How I Almost Lost My Life in The Hands of a Police Man - Man Shares Story

My name is John Membu. I would like to use this medium to narrate how I almost lost my life due to the recklessness of a police officer.  This incident occurred  on Thursday the 8 at about 10pm . At Chevy view estate gate. Which is opposite the chevron office complex. I was in the company of friends and we were just returning from the traditional wedding of a friend .on approaching the gate we saw that there was traffic . so I came down from my Car to see the cause. On getting there, I saw a truck carrying iron rods and these were escorted by two policemen. I asked what the problem was and apparent found out that the estate had a time curfew for trucks to enter.

So I pleaded with the police man to tell the driver to reverse the truck so that the cars can go in to ease the traffic situation. The officer was quite irritated at the fact that the gate wasn't opened so he wasn't very pleasant. Pleas by the residents of the estate fell on deaf ears as he had hardened his resolve to enter the estate. This now agitated the residents as the started questioning the motive of the policemen. The police officer was visibly upset because one of the residents had asked if escorting iron rods was his job description.  All this while I was beside the truck trying to persuade them to reverse the truck. One angry resident now came began to warn the policemen that this behaviour was unacceptable that he was going to deal with them. The younger officer now spoke but was shut down by the man . this didn't go down well with him. And he threatened  to deal with this man. He immediately corked his rifle and muttered some insult in Hausa. I now back away and walked towards the gate when a shot rang out. I ran into the security post . I suddenly felt a numbness in my right leg and was puzzled cos I don't remember hitting any hard object. I now felt something trickling down my leg and I discovered to my horror that I had been shot in my rights leg.

After much fuss and loosing a lot of blood i was taken to UDECO MEDICAL CENTER in the estate where they were able to stop the bleeding and put me in their emergency ward. I lay in that hospital bed for about 2 weeks and all through my stay I was only visited by the police 3times.  I even found out that the initial deposit was paid by my brother in law. Getting out of the critical phase I was advised by the doctor to contact the police force to  inquire how my bill was to be settled I asked my lawyer Mr Laolu shyllon. To go represent me . I never got any feed back from them as they were nonchalant at first to settle my hospital bill . I decided to pay for my bill which came up to 347 thousand naira.  I am shocked ,upset and disappointed . I have never felt more how meaningless my life is as a Nigerian citizen. If I didn't have the deposit to pay or tell the doctor I would settle the bill I don't think I would be around sending this email.  Does Human life not have value any more.  If the case was the reverse that I shot a police officer where would I be now ,yet the policeman who shot me is now AWOL.  And nobody wants to take responsibility. Instead am being bullied and taken for granted. I understand that my case is not peculiar that I was one of the lucky police gunshot victims because am alive. I made the decisione to tell my story because am hoping it gets around until something can be done about police recklessness, callous attitude towards the lives of people they are suppose to be protecting.


-LIB

This Woman was a Man But Now...[photo]

Sona Avedian used to be a 240 pound, bearded, muscular U.S. Marine, but now at 33 years old, she has become someone much different. It wasn’t until 2012 that she decided to make the tough decision to transition to being a woman. Sona already had a wife and a kid, but she said she needed to do this to be happy and escape the deep depression she felt.

Sona has lost around 100 pounds, started hormone therapy, lasered away her facial hair, and had breast surgery in order to look like a woman.

Sona, who was previously known as Matthew, served six tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine, as well as a military contractor. She said this was a way for her to suppress the feminine feelings she was having at that time but it didn't help..

As a man, Sona bulked up to 240 pounds in order to counteract the feeling that he should have been born a woman. Today, Sona has become almost unrecognizable to those who knew her before:

Sona told Caters News that she’s had to make many changes to her life that aren’t just physical:

“Since I came out I have tried to live a normal life – it’s like anyone, there are good and bad times. There are certain things I miss, I lost a lot of friends but I’ve also made a lot of new friends. I was following the American dream – I don’t even know who I’m looking at in the before pictures, it was so depressing.”

“Personally I’m much happier, I don’t have any conflicts with who I am. I am definitely a tomboy and that’s okay. Before I couldn’t stand myself and I couldn’t interact with people."

Her Facebook page contains a number of powerful before and after shots:

Woman Who Gave Birth Aboard a Chinese Flight Forced to Pay £21,000 to the Airline For The Cost

Remember the woman who gave birth on a plane a China Airlines flight from Taipei to Los Angeles? Well, she is to be prosecuted by the airline. Airport bosses claim she was breaking regulations by not telling them she was 36 weeks pregnant.

The new mum, who has not be named went into labour while on board. The flight had to land in Anchorage, Alaska, so the woman could get medical treatment and be sent to a hospital.

It is claimed the mum wanted her child to be born in the US so they would qualify for automatic citizenship.

Minister of Transport and Communications Chen Jian-yu (the government owns most of the airlines in China) said the diversion and extra costs incurred came to more than £21,000 and the company wants her to pay it back.

The poor woman was deported and returned to Taiwan while her baby is in the care of a friend in the US.

-LIB

See The Beautiful Birthday Cake Kanye Presented to His Pregnant Wife Kim K

Kanye West rented out the entire movie theater to watch the new Steve Jobs to celebrate Kim Kardashian's 35th birthday. He invited Kim's family and their close friends to the movie screening. She gushed about what he did for her in her post below..