Pres. GEJ set to hand over formally on May 28th and not May 29th

Information Minister , Patricia Akwashiki says President Jonathan will be formally handing over to Gen Buhari on May 28th and not the usual May 29th date.


Talking with newsmen after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday April 15th, the minister said May 29th will be for the introduction of another government however that the formal handover will be done at a dinner for Buhari which will be facilitated by President Jonathan

“By May 28, the president intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner. You know May 29 is our Democracy Day, we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new president.” she said

Maid who kidnapped Orekoya kids has been nabbed, family claims they paid a ransom

23 year old Mary Akinloye, the house keeper who abducted the three Orekoya kids has been captured.

Talking on Channels TV at the beginning of today, the Lagos state Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, said she was captured yesterday night however did not say where she was captured. In the mean time, Senior Apostle Abraham Adekunle, the maternal granddad of the Orekoya kids, asserts a payoff was paid for the arrival of his grandchildren.

“For the eight days that the children were taken away, we did not rest. But yesterday (Monday), they called us and said we should send the money to them. They sent their account number to us. Immediately they collected the money, they called us and said they had dropped the children at Egbeda.” he told Punch

Imo governorship rerun election set to hold on April 25th

The Imo state governorship rerun race has been scheduled for April 25th.


INEC had on Sunday April 12th proclaimed the decision between APC applicant, occupant senator Rochas Okorocha and PDP hopeful, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, uncertain after some discretionary abnormalities. The rerun decision will take place in 256 polling units.

Tonto dikeh goes braless in new IG Photos

Well something does not make any sense in this photograph ! She was flaunting her pets in the new pic she just posted on instagram yet in the event that you zoom in, you will see she’s flaunting something more.

The Truth about Olamide | THE TRUTH Episode 14

Olamide Adedeji, popularly known by his stage name Olamide is our guest on this episode of The Truth with Olisa. He talks about the true story behind the gods, his relationship status and more.

 

Video via the link  bellow.

6 Unity Bank Staffs Facing Charges Over Alleged N306 million Fraud

Six employees of Unity Bank, were on Wednesday charged before a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, over alleged N306 million fraud.  They are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, theft and negligent conduct.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that of the 26 involved in the crime, only six were arraigned on Wednesday.

They are: Chinoso Akamerre of Fegge Onitsha branch; Esther Olubade,  Mayowa Oyinloye, Sanusi Olarenwaju, Abubakar Barau and Biodun Daodu, all of Gwagwalada branch.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Francis Tanko told the court that on Jan. 29, 2014, the bank’s Managing Director, Henry James, reported the case to the Inspector-General of Police.  He said that between Jan. 24 and 27, 2014, the accused persons conspired with the Fund Transfer Control Unit officers to commit the offences.

Tanko named the officers as Rabi Ibrahim, Esther Olubade and IT operators of the bank- Mayowa Oyinloye, Sanusi Olarenwaju, Abubakar Barau and Biodun Daodu.  The prosecutor said the officers connived to forge some documents.  He alleged that they stole the money through electronic transfer from three accounts.

Tanko told the court that the accounts of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, University of Abuja and Greenfields Ltd were used.  The prosecutor said the money was transferred to 18 different accounts of the accused, domiciled at eight different banks without the consent of the account holders.

The offences, he said, contravened Sections 95, 196, 287 and 364 of the Penal Code. The accused persons pleaded not guilty.  The Chief Magistrate, Adamu Shaibu, granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each, and one surety each in like sum. Shaibu said the sureties, who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, should be civil servants not below Grade Level 9.

The case was adjourned till May 18 for hearing.

Zamfara Government Earmarked ₦40 Million To Facilitate Mass Wedding

The Zamfara Government has earmarked N40 million to facilitate a mass wedding, organised by the Association of Widows and Divorcees in the state.  The Chairman of the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission, Atiku Zawiyya, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Gusau.

Young women participated in a mass wedding organized by the Hizbah, the local Islamic government

He said that the State Government decided to assist the widows association to help the body to tackling its problems.

The chairman noted that the activities of the association were in line with the tenets of Islam and the promotion of the Shari’a.

Zawiyya explained that the State Government supported the initiative of the association to help in its effort to reduce immorality in society.

He called on wealthy individuals to continue to assist the activities of the association as government alone could not do everything.

The secretary of the association, Malam Sani Usman, said the money, if released by the government, would be used in sponsoring the marriages of more than 200 widows, divorcees, less-privileged and orphans.

He said that part of the money would be used to assist some couples to start businesses to sustain their marriages.

Usman recalled that no fewer than 200 couples had benefited from the programme in the past three years.

Click here for more Naija Gist

Jilted Lady Commits Suicide Because Her Fiance Left Her & Marry Another Girl

Residents of Asaba in Delta State were on Monday thrown into a State of mourning when the news broke out that one Egoli, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin allegedly committed suicide because she was jilted by her fiancé whom she has been waiting on for the past three years.


Report says the deceased allegedly committed suicide because she was jilted by her fiancé who had gone ahead to marry another girl in Lagos.

According to the Police public relations officer in the State, DSP Celestina kalu, a female graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, committed suicide in Asaba because she was jilted by her lover whom she has been waiting on for the past three years.

The police spokesperson noted that the deceased was found dead in her room with some particles of drugs that she took. Her corpse has already been sent for autopsy.

2 Prostitutes In Court For Robbing Customer Of 49k

Two commercial sex workers, popularly called ‘ashewo’, Joy Peter, 23, and Divine Okoye, 25, have been dragged to a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on a two-count of joint act and theft after they were accused of robbing a ‘customer’, James Malu, of the sum of N49,000.


The two prostitutes who operate from Meri-Jeo Hotel, Masaka, Nasarawa State, according to the prosecutor, Corporal Francis Tanko, were alleged to have conspired and stolen cash and other items from the home of a man who patronised them.

The court heard that Malu had, on April 5, 2015, had gone to a night club in the  area where he met the two woman and had contracted them for an all night sex, which they obliged and he took them to his home.

But during the night when he went to use the rest room, the two ladies stole his sandals, spare key of his car, house keys and N49,000 cash and took to their heels.  Tanko said that the accused were eventually arrested on April 8, adding that the offence contravened sections 79 and 288 of Penal Code.  The accused pleaded not guilty and the Magistrate, Aminu Eri, admitted them to bail in the sum of N20,000.

Check out Europe's Brand New Country the 'Republic of Liberland'

A Czech national has proclaimed the establishment of a new country of seven square kilometers on ‘no man’s land’ located at the border of Serbia and Croatia.

 

 A Czech named Vít Jedlicka has declared himself the president of Europe’s youngest country, which he formed on April 13 with the name ‘Liberland,’ and the motto “to live and let live.”The country is located on the on the west bank of the Danube river between Croatia and Serbia, on land which has been subject to a decades-long border dispute and therefore, according to Jedlicka, a ‘terra nuillius’ or no man’s land, before the institution of his state on Monday.

President Jedlicka is in the process of writing the country’s constitution, which, in keeping with the country’s name, “significantly limits the power of politicians so they could not interfere too much in the freedoms of the Liberland nation.”

According to its website, Liberland is currently accepting applications for citizenship from applicants who:

“Have respect for other people and respect the opinions of others, regardless of their race, ethnicity, orientation, or religion, have respect for private ownership, which is untouchable, do not have communist, nazi or any other extremist past, and were not punished for past criminal offences.”

Prospective citizens must send their application via email, since “in the territory of Liberland there is no physical location for mail delivery yet.”

Will you join Liberland? A new state in Europe, started by pro-liberty Czechs: submitted by observer [lin… http://t.co/1jqxLY1glC

— Libertarian Europe (@LibertarianEuro) April 15, 2015

The country’s founder is no stranger to politics, being a prominent member of a libertarian political party in the Czech Republic, and takes inspiration from the microstates of Monaco, Liechtenstein and Hong Kong. According to Jedlicka, the country’s boundary “was defined so as not to interfere with the territory of Croatia or Serbia,” and makes it the smallest sovereign state in Europe, after the Vatican and Monaco.

The new state has already roused the interest of prospective migrants from neighboring countries in its forums, who have inquired about life in Liberland, including what the official language will be, and “is there a national anthem?”

“Nobody knows Czech,” explained one from neighboring Croatia, while another suggested Czech, English and Serbo-Croatian serve as the country’s languages.”Do we need really an official language? Everyone should be welcome and everyone should try to communicate with the others,” commented a Czech contributor.

Liberland may be Europe’s newest principality, but it is not the first such self-proclaimed country. In 1967 Paddy Roy Bates founded the state of ‘Sealand’ on HM Fort Roughs, a former British military installation in the North Sea. Before his death Bates named his son Michael, who lives in England, as regent of the territory.

 

Sputnik

What Is Wrong With this Photo [Hot Emma Nyra Version]

Well something does not make any sense in this photograph, Ever seen artist, Emma Nyra like this before?

Ex-Ukrainian MP Assassinated in Kiev

A former Ukrainian MP and a vocal critic of the country’s ruling government was murdered on Wednesday in Kiev.

 

Oleh Kalashnikov, a Ukrainian MP and a member of the Party of Regions, was assassinated on Wednesday evening near his residence in Kiev, one of his relatives told local media.The relative also said that Kalashnikov was recently threatened with bodily harm due to his political views, particularly for his call for a lavish celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory in WWII, and that the slain politician received a considerable amount of hate mail.

The Security Service of Ukraine, SBU, was investigating Kalashnikov’s statements for a potential threat to the national security.

Recently, a number of former members of the Party of Regions and high ranking officials have died under mysterious circumstances, with their deaths being officially declared suicides.

Should a married woman confess her infidelity and risk loosing her marriage ?

What do you think?

Military To Liberate Sambisa Forest Before May 29- Sambo Dasuki

The National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Col. Sambo Dasuki has given assurance that the Federal Government will liberate Sambisa forest from Boko Haram before the May 29th Presidential handover date.


Speaking to Us, a media agency that distributes press releases on behalf of security agencies, Col Dasuki said the Federal Government was making every effort to ensure that the missing Chibok girls along with every other Nigerians abducted by Boko Haram members are rescued.

While acknowledging that Sambisa forest has been a fortress for the terror group, Col Dasuki said the forest would have since been liberated but for the unfavorable weather condition prevailing in the area

“Every movement of the terrorists is being monitored and every necessary detail is being taken care of to rid the country of the last bastion of terrorists’ infestation”, Sambo Dasuki disclosed.

He insisted that government is concerned about the welfare of every single Nigerian including the girls adding “aside the Chibok girls, other Nigerian girls, boys, men and women were abducted by the terrorists and all efforts are being made to rescue them all.”

While appealing for a little more time to complete the routing of terrorists, Dasuki recalled that before elections were postponed in February, over 20 local governments were occupied by Boko Haram and that most Nigerians were pleasantly surprised that so much was achieved against insurgency within six weeks.

While commending President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the successful conduct of the 2015 round of elections, the security adviser however noted that nobody pressured the President into conceding defeat in the presidential election.

“President Jonathan had already given his words to all the security and service chiefs before the election that he would abide by the decision of Nigerians. At the meeting, he also told them to perform their duties professionally during the polls. While we anticipated that he would congratulate his opponent if the result is announced in favour of opposition candidate, he gratuitously without prompting of anyone conceded defeat to the surprise of all. By that singular gesture he had saved the security agencies and the nation of unnecessary tension and stress in maintaining law and order and curtailing excesses of likely protesters.”

Immediately after the postponement of elections in February this year, Sambo Dasuki had assured Nigerians and international community that all known terrorists’ camps would be destroyed while most of the occupied communities under Boko Haram in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe would be liberated to allow for peaceful conduct of elections and collection of more voters cards by the electorates.

He said: “All known Boko Haram camps will be taken out. They won’t be there. They will be dismantled. In addition to the acquisition of more sophisticated armaments and training of our troops in guerrilla warfare the new military co-operation agreed to between Nigeria and its neighbours will prove decisive against Boko Haram.”

Dreaded Ex-Militants turn Lawmakers In Rivers State House of Assembly

Some of the dreaded Niger Delta militants, who accepted the Federal Government’s Amnesty, have been elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly.


The late President Musa Yar’Adua had in 2009 signed a Proclamation granting Amnesty to Niger Delta militants, who agreed to lay down their arms and embrace peace.  The deal offered an unconditional pardon and cash payments to fighters who surrendered their arms and assembled at screening centers located in many parts of the oil-rich region within 60 days.

It targeted up to 10,000 militants whose attacks in the six Niger Delta states cost the country a third of its oil production and revenue.
The amnesty which came to effect on Thursday, August 6, 2009, saw militant commanders, including Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo, Sogboma George, Ateke Tom, Farah Dagogo, Ebikabowei Ben, alias Boyloaf, Kile Selky Torughedie, alias the Young Shall Grow; surrendering their arms and returning to normal life outside the creeks.

But based on the result of last Saturday’s election released by the state Returning Officer, Faraday Orumwense, a professor of Material Engineering, the ex-militants are among the 25 candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, who won the poll.

The ruling All Progressives Congress was only able to win a seat in the 32-members state legislature.

Citing widespread irregularities and violence, Mr. Orumwense declared elections in six state constituencies inconclusive.

Among those who will be making laws for the oil-rich state are Farah Dagogo, an ex-general of a dreaded militant group.

Mr. Dagogo, an indigene of Tombia community was dragged into the race by the Degema Political Front, a frontline political group and he will be representing Degema State Constituency in the assembly.

Adoki Tonye Smart, who will be representing Port Harcourt 11 State Constituency in the new assembly was a former field commander and second in command to Soboma George.  Late Mr. George was a dreaded militant leader who was shot by a rival gang in the Old Port Harcourt Township, months after he accepted the government’s amnesty.  Chisom Promise Dike, who won the Oyigbo State Constituency seat in the assembly, is a strong ally of Ateke Tom, a self-styled General of the erstwhile Niger Delta Vigilante Forces.

Mr. Tom, now referred to as the godfather, has become an institution of sorts in Ijaw politics and has strong influence in Okrika land.

He even contested the PDP gubernatorial primary in the state but was trounced by Nyesom Wike.

Kelechi Nwogu, who will be returning to the assembly to represent Omuma State Constituency, is said to have strong links with some of the ex-fighters in the region.

Evans Bipi, the factional speaker of the 7th Assembly, who was chased out of the chamber while attempting to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi, with five other lawmakers, will be returning to the house to represent Ogu/Bolo State Constituency.

Mr. Bipi is a relation to Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan, and is also said to have strong links with Mr. Tom and other militant leaders in the region.

It was the House Leader, Chidi Lloyds, who stopped Mr. Bipi and his accomplices from going ahead with the plot to illegally remove Mr. Amaechi from office.

Mr. Lloyds had used the fake mace brought in by Mr. Bipi to thoroughly beat up and chase away the anti-Amaechi lawmakers from the floor of the assembly in 2013.
Mr. Lloyds, a strong supporter and friend of the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, did not return to the assembly.

Other PDP member in the new assembly include Marshal Stanley-Udom who will be representing Abua/Odual, Okpokiri Okpokiri, representing Ahoada West; Jack Major, representing Akuku Toru 1; Tonye Alalibo, representing Akuku Toru11; and Ikuinyi Ibani, representing Andoni.

Others are Granville Wellington from Asari-Toru 1; Enemi George from Asari-Toru 11, Abinye Pepple from Bonny; Ngbulelo Israel from Gokana; Oguguo Anslem from Ikwere; Deeyah Bariene, Khana 1; Dinebari Loolo from Khana 11 and Amaewhule Chike from Obio/Akpor 1.

Also elected on the PDP platform are Michael Chinda from Obio/Akpor 11; Christian Ahiakwo from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 1; Uwaji Nathaniel from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 11; Dabotorudima Adams from Okrika; Ogbonda Nwene, Port Harcourt 1; Ihunwo Nyeche, Port Harcourt 11 and Ngbar Amulele from Tai.

The only APC candidate declared winner of the assembly poll is Josiah Olu, from Eleme State Constituency.

Mr. Olu, a staunch supporter of Mr. Amaechi, will be returning to the new house with a PDP majority.

However, elections to Ahoada East 1, Ahoada East 11, Emuoha, Etche 1, Etche 11 and Opobo/Nkoro were declared inconclusive.

INEC is yet to fix dates for the conduct of fresh elections in the affected areas.

World Bank Reveal Nigerian Looters

According to media reports, the World Bank has reportedly released a list of Nigerians with looted money discovered in foreign bank accounts. The names of the depositors and the deposited amounts in London (£), Swiss($) USA ($), German currency are provided below:

Quote

1. GEN IBRAHIM BABANGIDA 6.25bn 7.41bn 2.00bn 9.00bn


2. GEN ABUBAKAR 1.31bn 2.33bn 800M


3. REAR ADMIRAL MIKE AKHIGBE 1.24bn 2.42bn 671M 1bn


4. GEN JERRY USENI 3.04bn 2.01bn 1.01bn 900M


5. ALH ISMAILA GWARZO 1.03bn 2.00bn 1.3bn 700M


6. ALH UMARU DIKKO 4.5bn 1.4bn 700M 345M


7. PAUL OGWUMA 300M 1.42bn 200M 500M


8. GEN SANI ABACHA 9.01bn 4.09bn 800M 3.01M


9. MOHAMMED ABACHA 300M 1.2bn 150M 535M


10. ABDULKADIR ABACHA 700M 1.21bn 900M 471M


11. ALHAJI WADA NAS 600M 1.32bn 300M


12. TOM IKIMI 400M 1.39bn 152M371M


13. DAN ETETE 1.12bn 1.03bn 400M 1.72bn


14. DON ETIBET 2.5bn 1.06bn 700M 361M


15. MAJ AL MUSTAPHA 600M 1.001bn 210M


16. ANTHONY ANI 2.9bn 1.09bn 360M 1.66bn


17. BASHIR DALHATU 2.3bn 1.001bn 161M 1.43bn


18. GEN WUSHISHI 700M 1.301bn


19. ALH HASSAN ADAMU 300M 200M 700M


20. T Y DANJUMA 300M 200M 700M


21. GEN ISHAYA BAMAYI 120M 800M

Oyibo man calls #bringbackourgirls hashtag Pointless !

See his face! He looks like ISIS.. haha

Back in the day Photo of Ex-Head of State, Gen Babangida and his daughter

Photograph credit: Sunmi Smart Cole

Previous Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida with one of his girls, Halimatu in 1991. Halimatu is the last daughter of late Maryam Babangida.

Lobatan: Governorship candidate removes Transformer he contributed to Neighborhood as he lost election

Dailytrust

An alarm raised by members of the Sabo community on sighting those removing the Transformer in the early hours of Sunday did not move the perpetrators who eventually removed the

transformer to an unknown place.

Members of the Sabo community instantly stormed the palace of the Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Ahmed Dahiru Zungeru where they expressed their worry, a development which compelled the Sarki to wade into the matter by calling on Folarin’s political associate within the community, Alhaji Bashiru Maiborno, for clarification.

Daily Trust gathered that it was at this stage that Baiborno spiritedly made moves to effect the return of the transformer to Sabo community, but he was rebuffed as the Sabo community vowed not to take back the transformer from Senator Folarin.

Efforts by our correspondent to get Senator Folarin’s personal reaction on the development was futile as he could not be reached.

Maiborno however insisted that the transformer was removed with a view to keeping it in a safer place. “Senator Folarin is a man of his words,” Maiborno told inquisitive journalists.

World Bank backs President-elect Buhari to probe NNPC, others

The World Bank has thrown its weight behind President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over allegations of missing funds.


Speaking in a video conference from Washington to journalists from across Africa on the release of the bank’s analysis of issues shaping the continent entitled, ‘Africa’s Pulse’, top officials of the bank commended President Goodluck Jonathan for exhibiting political maturity after the March 28 presidential election that would end the tenure of his administration on May 29.

The World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr. Francisco Ferreira, said looking into financial records of the country, especially allegation of corruption at the NNPC, would check impunity and build public institutions in the future.

He said,

“One norm that has to change is the norm of impunity. I am from Brazil myself. So I am also used to a country where people could be corrupt and escape justice. That keeps the people to keep doing it.

“So, the current stand of the government-elect to look into what happened in the past hopefully will have consequences for the future. And those consequences will be that institutions will be stronger; norms will be cleaner and people will not have to steal millions of dollars from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

“People have alleged in the past that there had been major corruption scandals there. If that stops, then that will have very high returns in terms of the money staying around to be spent on education, health, roads and power that the poor people across the country need.

“So, my sense is that it will be good to promote cleanliness in politics.”

Punch

Anxiety as Supreme Court decides Fayose’s fate today

There was anxiety in Ekiti State as the Supreme Court in Abuja prepared to deliver judgment on Tuesday (today) in the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress against the victory of Governor Ayodele Fayose in the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

Fayose, in a state-wide broadcast on Monday, asked residents to maintain the peace and go about their lawful duties.

The governor, who thanked the people for voting overwhelmingly for all the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates in the Saturday House of Assembly elections, said the victory had confirmed that he had a genuine mandate of the people.

He said that he was sure that he would be vindicated at the end of the day and triumph over whatever plot being hatched to truncate his tenure.

A commercial driver, Ade Bamidele, expressed confidence that the governor would win the case.

A trader, Esther Orji, said the Ekiti people required peace, saying the judgment would remove the tension associated with the election.

The Ekiti Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on December 19, 2014 upheld Fayose’s victory and dismissed the APC petition for lack of merit.

Dissatisfied, the APC had gone to the appellate court on the grounds that Fayose was not qualified to stand for the election as a candidate because of his impeachment on October 16, 2006 during his first tenure as governor.

The APC also alleged that the governor forged his academic certificates and violated the Code of Conduct rules.

The five- member panel, chaired by Justice Abdul Aboki, in its judgment on February 16 had upheld the judgment of the Tribunal, which affirmed Fayose as the winner of the June 21, 2014 poll.

Though the Justice Abdul Aboki-led five-man panel dismissed the appeal filed by the APC, it found merit in the appellant’s complaints that the military was used to harass and intimidate its supporters and leaders during the polls.

Dissatisfied still, the APC had gone to the Supreme Court.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared that Fayose polled 203,090 votes to defeat the then incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 120,433 votes in the election.

Power supply falls to 2,988MW

Power supply from the national grid again slumped below the 3,000-megawatts mark to 2,988.72MW on Sunday on the back of gas shortfall and lower water supply to the nation’s thermal and hydropower plants respectively, our correspondent learnt on Monday.

The Special Adviser on Gas to the Minister of Power, Mr. Frank Edozie, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent that the Trans-Forcados Pipeline had been vandalised, and that this led to the shortage in gas supply to the power plants.

“There are problems with gas supply and the hydropower plants are not getting enough water supply,” he said, adding that the problem with the gas pipeline would be resolved this week.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric, one of the distribution companies in Lagos, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Friday, said the average energy from the grid to the firm dropped to about 370MW last month, adding that one of the two greatest challenges facing the distributing firms today was inadequate power supply from the grid.

“In the case of power supply, if I want to give all my customers 24/7 power supply today, I need 1,250MW, but the average I am getting from the grid is about 370MW to 400MW; less than a third of what I need.”

He said the firm had been looking for ways of getting power from other sources like embedded generation.

“There are some people that have captive power that will sell the excess to us. We are doing all that in Ikeja; Eko and other Discos are doing the same because we don’t know when we will get enough gas to get adequate power from the grid. We don’t know when transmission, which is another problem, will improve.

So, we are not in this business to say we are not going to power the consumers,” Ajifowobaje said.

Aside from gas shortage as a result of pipeline vandalism, Ajifowobaje said, “This is the time we have low water for the hydro power stations. So, with the gas not getting to the thermal power plants and the water at the dams at the lowest level, this is the worst period for power to come from the grid.”

Newly Employed Male House Help Steal His Boss’ Toyota SUV

Another house help palaver. A recently employed male house help in Omole, Ogba- Ikeja has stolen his Boss’ Toyota SUV. As indicated by the twitter client who cautioned Lagosians on the web, the said man drove the SUV away yesterday.

Letter To Chimamanda Adichie On The Oba Of Lagos’s Statement To The Ibos By Ijeoma Ozichi Omotade

You see, I AGREE that the Igbo community was unjustifiably grieved. However, as I wave my solidarity flag with my fellow Igbos, I can’t help but also bite my tongue when I remember unpleasant comments many Igbos regularly make toward other tribesmen.


For example, the disrespectful way some Igbos address Hausas as “abokis”, dumbheads, and “nama” meaning cow! As you may know, “aboki” means friend but watch an Hausa man when an Igbo calls him that in a disrespectful tone. He stiffens and looks annoyed because he knows the tone he is called with is one of disrespect and insult. (some Yorubas call northerners “mulla”; I dunno what that means but that’s for another day *sigh*)

 Dear Chimamanda,

I was scrolling through twitter to see what was trending especially with regard to Lagos elections, and stumbled upon your write-up on the Oba of Lagos’s disrespectful remarks to the Igbos and their right to exercise their civic rights. Of  course being an ardent admirer of your work and also a fellow Igbo girl, I clicked on the link and hungrily lapped up each word you poured out, eager to hear your opinion and ready to carry emotional placards with you by clicking “share” on my Facebook page. But the more I read, the more my excitement waned. Because just as I could feel you word for word, I also disagreed with you, and at a point I had to put down myopic glasses that beheld Lagos through your admirable eyes and wear one that showed me our stark reality.

You see, I AGREE that the Igbo community was unjustifiably grieved. However, as I wave my solidarity flag with my fellow Igbos, I can’t help but also bite my tongue when I remember unpleasant comments many Igbos regularly make toward other tribesmen. For example, the disrespectful way some Igbos address Hausas as “abokis”, dumbheads, and “nama” meaning cow! As you may know, “aboki” means friend but watch an Hausa man when an Igbo calls him that in a disrespectful tone. He stiffens and looks annoyed because he knows the tone he is called with is one of disrespect and insult. (some Yorubas call northerners “mulla”; I dunno what that means but that’s for another day *sigh*)

Chimamanda, every tribe is guilty of tribalism; it’s by default. It’s not right. It should be fiercely fought against but shamefully this is the current reality. HOWEVER not every tribe is guilty of “PEACEMAKER-ISM”, and I would love the Igbos to be known more for the guilt of MAKING PEACE.

So we go on and on about the Oba’s comment and what happens? Fights, fracas, and some fathers and sons on both sides lose their lives and people lose property and investments.

As you may have noticed from my name Ijeoma Omotade, I am Igbo married to Yoruba and happily married too. I went into the Yoruba culture and CONSCIOUSLY took time to learn about it. It was when I decided to marry that I knew how deep tribalism has eaten even into our so called Igbo and Yoruba elite. *Sigh* Having also schooled in the north during my secondary school days, and as much as I greatly admire the peaceful and simple nature of the average northerner, sadly they are not left out of the “tribalism” card-carrying.

As an Igbo woman, I may not agree with all the Yoruba do but I live in their culture and I’m in their land, so I respect them and in turn they sense my aura of respect and willingness to understand them and they treat me well. And when I get an opportunity to talk about MY CULTURE and correct some misconceptions they have about Igbos, I do so with GREAT PRIDE because there are so many great things about us they don’t know! And BECAUSE I respect them, THEY LISTEN and LEARN, even through jokes and laughter.

Even the few who were antagonistic toward me, embrace me now, or are at least civil toward me. It didn’t make me any less dignified to understand better another man’s culture; it made me wiser, and stronger and more appreciative of the richness of our country. The flagrant disregard for other’s culture exhibited by many Nigerians is really bad! How do you expect to reason with someone unless you understand their worldview?

Truly, we wouldn’t tolerate half the things we expect from Lagos in Aba or Onitsha or Enugu. Igbos want to be part of the House of Assembly and be among the decision makers for Lagos state. That in itself is not bad because a state stakeholder HAS A RIGHT to be among those making decisions for the state. But historically and by default, people kick against non-tribesman being at the decision-making level and our flippant comments about “taking over the land” is not helping matters either! Why do we want to “take over” another man’s land? It wasn’t bare land before people came and developed it. It’s people’s ancestral homes, and even in a democracy where many are working tirelessly to water the progressive idea of ONE NIGERIA, it is still important we recognize  and help preserve each other’s heritage. For only  then can we truly build the foundation for lasting synergy and proudly BECOME ONE, for the greater good of OUR LAND.

Personally I’m deeply hurt hearing some Yoruba leaders telling my people that we should be “grateful” living in Lagos; that is utterly unfair, point blank. Any Yoruba person saying that is very shallow minded. We Igbos work HARD for our living, and add IMMENSELY to the growth and development of the city. Try shutting down major trade markets dominated by Igbos for just one week and watch Lagos economy go haywire! But so does the Hausa community in the east that bring in food and supply our markets; they work hard too! Let them stop the lorries from bringing in food to the south and watch what happens. So I plead with EVERYONE, my IGBO KINSMEN inclusive. And this is my plea, that we PLEASE speak as we would like to be spoken to; “do as you would be done by”, RESPECT AND LOVE your fellow man…ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL BY GOD!

I also share a bit of the Lagos indigene sentiment. I wouldn’t want my hometown to be “cosmopoliticized” and my ancestral homes snatched away and turned into highways and hotels, and be told my home town is “no man’s land”. That’s highly disrespectful. History has deep roots in this land.

I don’t support the Oba, he is not my relative, nor did he “settle” my family. In his heart he is just like many other Igbos, Hausas and Yorubas; TRIBALISTIC! The only difference is that he is an influential public figure and so we can all tweet and Facebook his bad communication skills; a public figure who didn’t think about the implications of his words before he spoke. However, that statement would have been made by even an angry IGBO king or Hausa Emir because I don’t see anyone of them doing any better!

In a quest for peace, there are two parties; the one making amends and the one accepting the apology. Let us the grieved accept, and move on. Let us all learn to APPRECIATE and LOVE one another. The other alternative is not better. No one wants tribal clashes; people will die, women will be widowed, children will be orphaned, on both sides…and Chimamanda, you will probably write a book about it, far away from all the madness, on your creative desk; the one that IS NOT IN LAGOS!

…I still remain an ardent admirer…

Rochas Okorocha Blasts INEC, Declares Himself Winner of Imo Elections,

Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission for its decision to declare the state gubernatorial election inconclusive.

The INEC Returning Officer of the State, Ibidapo Obe, announced that the election was inconclusive because the margin (79,529) between the frontrunner, Mr. Okorocha and his contender, Emeka Ihedioha of Peoples Democratic Party, was less than the number of registered voters (144,715) in wards across the state where elections did not hold or were cancelled due to violence.

Mr. Okorocha, while speaking to news men at the Government House in Imo State early Monday, said

“The electoral act has talked about registered voters and in the workings of that act and in the spirit of the law, you cannot not make use of number of registered voters, you have to make use of number of PVC collected.

“When you look at the number of PVC collected you find out that there is no need for this supplementary election because the number of PVC collected will be less than the 79,000 votes difference between me and the PDP candidate. But now they are basing on the number of registered voters. Number of registered voters do not cast the vote; it is the number of PVC collected that does,” You can only change the date of a burial but you cannot change the burial. From the results available, the fact speaks for itself, we have won this election despite all the irregularities, I am the winner”

“Let me say that there is no basis for comparison when I’m told that I’m in contest with the PDP candidate and he scored some votes it is not true. I think I’m in contest with more unseen elements than the candidate himself. If this election is conducted in the way it should be conducted in a free and fair manner, my opponent would have up to 100,000 votes. Never. Not in Imo State; not at all,”

“If you look at what has happened in his areas of jurisdiction and his local government, Mbaise local government, Ahiazu, Ezinnite, Aboh Mbaise, where he gave himself almost 80,000 votes. Can you imagine in Aboh Mbaise, you have 51,000 voters when the actual PVC collected is about 60,000 and in Mbaitoli where you have over 100,000 PVC collected the total votes there is about 30,000 so that tells you the manipulation. What we saw in those areas was simply the militarisation of the entire process – snatching of ballot boxes and violence and what have you.

“But because of these manipulations and writing of results and taking result sheets and going to somebody’s house – escorted by security agencies- to write the result and come in the private car to INEC headquarters, that is why many people think there is a contest. So I’m not in contest with that gentle man, I’m in contest with the entire manipulation of the system and the election,”