SHUT UP OR FACE SEVERE SANCTIONS, TUKUR TELLS WAMAKKO

SHUT UP OR FACE SEVERE SANCTIONS, TUKUR TELLS WAMAKKO

Apparently unperturbed by the avalanche of criticism trailing his headship of the party, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday warned Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko to always abide by the rules and regulations of the party or be ready to face more severe disciplinary actions.

The party chairman gave the warning following repeated calls by the suspended governor for the national chairman’s sack for incompetence, warned that Wamakko should not stay within the party and encourage insubordination.

Wamakko had upon return from an overseas trip on Wednesday took a swipe at Tukur for suspending him from the PDP, warning that the action would however not force him to leave the party.

He was backed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, a prominent politician from the Caliphate, who is also being suspected of romancing with the opposition.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala said, “If he( Wamakko) has any agenda to leave the PDP, it is within his constitutional right and he is free, but as long as he remains within the PDP, he must align himself with discipline.

“He should not stay in the party and be encouraging insubordination and indiscipline.

“The leadership of the party under Tukur has regards for party discipline and will never allow members to engage in indiscipline and get away with it.

“Therefore, for him to say Tukur is a political prostitute, does that portray him as a true son.He should express a true sense of respect and discipline because of his position as a governor.

“When he insults an elderly man like Tukur because he is a governor, then we don’t think he has the moral fibre to remain in office because as a governor he should live by example.

“The example he is showing now does not portray him as someone who has respect for seniority and properly constituted authority like the position of chairman of PDP and the NWC,” Tukur’s aide said.

Reacting to the presence of Tambuwal at the Sokoto airport on Wednesday to receive Wamakko back to the country, Tukur’s spokesman noted that the Speaker had the right to attend the event while adhering to the decision of the party.

“Speaker has the right to support his governor but as a party man, he should toe the line of political discipline and comportment.

“Tukur as a father will always look after his children who are party members and be able to caution them and bring them to order whenever they engage in acts that are subversive to the corporate existence and image of the PDP as a political entity and the largest political movement in Africa.”

FG SET TO RELEASE 104 ARRESTED BOKO HARAM MEMBERS

FG SET TO RELEASE 104 ARRESTED BOKO HARAM MEMBERS

NO fewer than 104 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, who are presently being held at the Kirikiri Minimum and Maximum prisons, Lagos, might soon breath the air of freedom.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this to newsmen, yesterday, when he led the committee on a visit to members of the sect in the prisons in Lagos State.

The visit, according to Turaki, who is also Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, is to interact with those who are being detained in connection with acts related to terrorism.

He said: “We have interacted with them and they have responded to us very sincerely and frankly.

“I think I can say that we have been well informed about most of the issues that we are interested in, as a result of the interactions we have had with them.”

The Chairman explained that the committee will make appropriate recommendations to the government as far as the issue of their release or non-release is concerned.

Turaki said: “The issue of release usually is contingent upon certain conditions. We are more concerned, for now, with the release of vulnerable people. And in this group of vulnerable people we have those who the security agencies have not been able to pin anything on.

“We have seen those who the Director of Public Prosecution has advised that they be released. We have also seen some of them who security agencies themselves have conceded that they have not been able to make out any case against.”

The chairman further noted that with the committee’s interaction with more stakeholders, it had become more informed.

He said: “We have been given suggestions all of which will assist us in ultimately making our recommendations to government and I can assure you that the committee is on top of the situation as far as the issue of dialogue is concerned.”

He also noted that there will be impact assessment at the end of the day, “because we have been asked to study the situation carefully and to make appropriate recommendations for victim support.”

“I assure you that Nigerians will be very proud of this committee at the end of the day.”

NANS DECLARES 7-DAY MOURNING FOR SENATE PRESIDENT, 4 OTHERS

NANS DECLARES 7-DAY MOURNING FOR SENATE PRESIDENT, 4 OTHERS

Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Donald Onukaogu was among the five students’ union leaders who had their lives cut-off yesterday while they were on their way to resolve the crisis that befell the University of Uyo.

Indeed, it was a fatal blow on the education sector as Onukaogu and his fellow students  were involved in a ghastly motor accident, at Ariam-Ndioru Junction on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road on their way to University of Uyo to mediate in the ongoing crisis rocking the Institution where some students lost their lives.

They died in an accident in Abia State caused by an illegal road block mounted by the Nigeria Police. Their lifeless bodies were later retrieved by the FRSC officials.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has declared a seven-day mourning for five of its officers who lost their lives in the road accident.

The NANS President, Mr Yinka Gbadebo, told reporters in Lagos that the mourning would be observed as from Monday.

Four of the victims died on the spot, while one died on the way to a hospital.

The accident involved a truck and a mini-bus belonging to NANS.

Gbadebo noted that the students were on their way to the University of Uyo to intervene in a crisis that erupted in the school.

Gbadebo said that he was to be part of the NANS contingent to Uyo but had to step down to be able to attend another official assignment.

He said that the union would work in conjunction with the families of the dead officers for their burial, since they died in the course of duty.

Gbadebo regretted that more than 25 Nigerian students had lost their lives this year to unrest in higher institutions of learning.

Students of the University of Uyo on Wednesday staged a protest against payment of N2000 as “GST’’ fee, which, they said, had not been in place.

The students also protested an increase in the inter-campus transport fare from N50 to N200.

They equally protested poor power and potable water supply and poor sanitation on campus.

They called for the removal of the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Comfort Ekpo.

The protesting students became violent and threw stones and bottles at policemen who attempted to throw teargas at them to forestall breakdown of law and order.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Umar Gwadabe, confirmed the death of a student to the crisis.

Gwadabe said on Thursday that, contrary to speculations that three students died, the police could confirm the death of one.

He said that 45 students had been arrested by the police in connection with the protest.

The protesting students burnt the offices of the university’s vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor (administration) and the institution’s council affairs unit.

Meanwhile, the university has been closed down indefinitely by the authorities

World’s oldest man, Kimura, dies at 116

World’s oldest man, Kimura, dies at 116

The world’s oldest person and the oldest man ever to have lived, Jiroemon Kimura has died of natural causes aged 116, officials in Japan said Wednesday.

Kimura, who was born in 1897, died in hospital early Wednesday morning “from old age”, an official in Kyoto’s Kyotango city said in a statement.

Kimura, who was from Kyotango, was hospitalised in early May suffering from pneumonia. A few days ago doctors noted that his condition was worsening

Jiroemon Kimura

Kimura was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person in December 2012, after a woman from the United States died at the age of 115.

That month he also broke another record when he was verified as the oldest man ever to have lived, after reaching the age of 115 years and 253 days.

However, he was well off the all-time record set by French woman Jeanne Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122, making her the longest living person in history.

Kimura, who was born the same year as American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, celebrated his 116th birthday in April, receiving a pre-recorded video greeting from Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The centenarian had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grand children and 15 great-great grandchildren, and worked at a post office for about 40 years. After retiring he took up farming which he continued to do until the age of 90.

He did not smoke and only ate until he was 80 percent full, the local official told AFP.

Kimura’s motto in life was “to eat light and live long,” the official added.

The mayor of Kyotango will pay his respects at Kimura’s house while the city hall will prepare a place for a book of condolences, the official said.

“I heard a wake will be tomorrow and a funeral the day after tomorrow,” he said.

“Mr. Kimura was popular among residents so we expect many people to visit to sign condolences,” he added.

Encouraged by Kimura and 94 other people in Kyotango who will this year be 100 years old or more, the 60,000-strong city, together with 36 other municipalities, is planning to launch a research project to examine their diets and find the secrets of their longevity

Super Eagles protest $2,500-a-man bonus

Super Eagles protest $2,500-a-man bonus

With just a point away from qualifying for the last phase of the qualifying series for the 2014 World Cup, the Super Eagles have refused to take a $2,500-a-man bonus for Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Namibia in Windhoek.

It was learnt that they want to be paid the full win bonus of $5,000 each.

The African champions failed to fly to South Africa from Namibia Thursday due to a row over win bonus for a World Cup qualifier as they were all held up in their hotel rooms in Namibia an hour to departure to Johannesburg.

They were to have boarded South Africa Airways flight SA075 Thursday morning from Namibia to Johannesburg, but a correspondent of Nigeriainfo FM Lagos, Arafat Aliu, who was also on the same flight, informed that they did not turn up.

“The team are not on board. All the seats in business class are empty,” Arafat said.

“Rather other passengers on this flight have been asking me when the players will board.”

The Super Eagles ought to have flown out of Windhoek to Johannesburg on Thursday afternoon, and be on their way to Sao Paulo, Brazil, minutes before 6pm South African time.

And they would have been in Sao Paulo by midnight and connect immediately to Belo Horizonte, venue of their opening match of the FIFA Confederations Cup against Tahiti on Monday.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Aminu Maigari met with the team Wednesday night to explain to them that the organisation is broke and so the need to be prudent in their spendings.

Media reports had also suggested there was a players’ revolt in Kenya over pay when the Eagles beat the home team last week.

The players wanted to be paid $10,000 each for the win in Nairobi.

Top officials had flatly denied this row.

Cash-strapped NFF have been forced to cut back on the backroom staff of the various national teams including the Super Eagles after a very expensive AFCON campaign in South Africa.

They had even mulled the idea of pulling out of the 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) for players in the local league because of poor finances before they rescinded this decision.

ZUMA: MANDELA IS RESPONDING TO TREATMENT

ZUMA: MANDELA IS RESPONDING TO TREATMENT

Nelson Mandela is responding better to treatment after the “difficult last few days”, South African President Jacob Zuma said Wednesday on the frail anti-apartheid hero’s fifth day in hospital.

Mandela’s family said they were “deeply touched” by the outpouring of support since the 94-year-old was admitted to a private clinic in Pretoria on Saturday with a recurring lung infection.

“I am happy to report that Madiba is responding better to treatment from this morning,” Zuma told parliament, using the Mandela’s clan name.

“We are very happy with the progress that he is now making, following a difficult last few days.”

His announcement was greeted with loud cheers from lawmakers, who, like millions of South Africans, have been on edge over Mandela’s latest health scare.

Until now, the government had described his condition as “serious but stable”.

Mandela’s latest illness has led to a growing acceptance that the Nobel peace laureate may be nearing the end of his life, but Zuma’s announcement was greeted with relief in his home village of Qunu.

Working with a cattle drawn cart, Jongikaya Ndzeki, 39, said the announcement was “very good news”.

“We need Madiba to come back home. We need him here, here at home, because we love that man,” Nzeki, who is of the same Madiba clan as Mandela, told AFP.

Members of his family, no strangers to internal feuding, have come together to be by his bedside in the Pretoria hospital.

“Since Madiba was admitted to hospital, the family has been deeply touched by the outpour(ing) of prayers and the overwhelming messages of goodwill from all South Africans and the international community,” said his grandson and clan leader Mandla Mandela.

Zuma paid tribute to Mandela, who was sentenced to life in prison for sabotage 49 years ago on Wednesday, along with seven other anti-apartheid fighters.

“Because of their sacrifices and the foundation that was laid for a free and democratic South Africa, our country is a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994, even though we still have so much work to do,” he said.

One of Mandela’s co-accused, Andrew Mlangeni, told AFP of Mandela’s resolve as they were sentenced.

“On that day Mandela accepted his fate and made it clear that he was prepared to die.”

Mandela instead spent 27 years in prison during white racist rule, walking free in 1990 before becoming South Africa’s first black president four years later.

A stream of family members have visited him at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital, where only close relatives are allowed access.

His current wife Graca Machel has been at his bedside almost constantly since calling off a trip to London last week.

His eldest daughter Zenani, who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, was seen entering the heavily guarded clinic on Wednesday.

Zenani, as well as his two other daughters Makaziwe and Zindzi, and his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, have visited him daily as have some of his grandchildren.

Outside Mandela’s Johannesburg home, a group of five-year-olds delivered get-well cards for a man regarded as one of the greatest figures of the 20th century.

“We love you” read one of the cards. “Get well soon Madiba” read another.

A mother and her 16-year-old daughter also passed by the house to leave flowers.

“We want to acknowledge what he’s done for this country,” said the mother Pippa Allan. “It was an incredible sacrifice for him and his family and he’s left us a legacy that we really hope to nourish and encourage in this country.”

Mandela’s age and his previous medical problems have only added to the sense of fatalism.

He turns 95 next month and has a long history of lung problems since being diagnosed with early-stage tuberculosis in 1988 while in prison.

This is his fourth hospital stay since December.

Two months ago he was discharged after treatment for pneumonia.

In December he underwent surgery to remove gallstones as he recovered from a lung infection. Then in March he was admitted for a scheduled overnight check-up.

Mandela has not been seen in public since the World Cup final in South Africa in July 2010, and has not been politically active for years.

The last images of him to be released publicly showed an unsmiling Mandela looking exceedingly frail at his Johannesburg home.

He was flanked by a smiling Zuma and other officials from the ruling ANC, prompting allegations that the embattled party was exploiting the former statesman for political gain.

The ANC, facing 2014 elections, has lost much of its Mandela shine amid widespread corruption, poverty and poor public services

SHOCKING STORY OF HOW WOMAN WHO USES CORPSE WATER TO COOK FOOD RAN MAD IN PH

SHOCKING STORY OF HOW WOMAN WHO USES CORPSE WATER TO COOK FOOD RAN MAD IN PH (culled from CKN)

This story has been making the rounds on social media though we cannot pin our fingers on the original source.

Imagine the extent some people go all in a bid to make "too much money" and oppress others. This is one of the reason why those who have made money legitimately are not respected at times as there is the temptation to lump all wealthy people as crooks, one way or the other.

This woman runs a popular restaurant where men and women troop in to eat, not know that they are eating away their destinies, in this Nigeria...

She is the owner of one of the most popular local restaurant (buka) in the Eleme area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. I hear the woman confessed last weekend to using spiritual means to entice customers, as well as take their “destinies.” True life story!

According to eye witnesses, the woman, said to be from Akwa Ibom state, suddenly ran mad while at her restaurant. She started acting bizarre, tore her clothes and started confessing in the presence of customers, her workers and passers-by how she used diabolical means for the growth of her business.

According to a source, she said she mixes water used to bathe corpses with her food, as well as water from her private part and menstruation blood. She said she did all these to attract customers whose “destinies” she used for the growth of her business and riches.

The news of her confession spread around town and many of those who have been going to her restaurant to enjoy themselves could not believe their ears. It was sad indeed! Some of her customers (including Okada men) and angry onlookers descended on her but she was rescued by Policemen.