President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday named Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The appointment was consequently approved at the first meeting of the Council of State presided over by Buhari.
Five new national commissioners were also named for the commission.
The national commissioners are Mrs. Amina Zakari (North-West); Dr. Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine (North Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North-East); Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (South-South) and Mr. Soyebi Adedeji Solomon (South-West).
The South-East is said to still have a sitting national commissioner.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.
Details later…
Punch.
Rotimi Amaechi, ex-governor of Rivers state and ministerial candidate, says he holds Senate President Bukola Saraki in high regard and would never affront him.
Amaechi, who said there was an intentional endeavor to make ill will in the middle of him and Saraki, depicted as untrue, reports that he protested over the postponement of his screening.
“There was a report that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was incensed over the deferment of his screening last week and stormed Saraki’s house to register his protest. It is absolutely not true,” David Iyofor, Amaechi’s spokesman, said in a statement.
“There is a deliberate and carefully calibrated attempt to characterise Amaechi with a very bad and demeaning mannerism.
“We must clarify that Amaechi did not visit and was not at the residence of the Senate President on Thursday of last week.
“Since he did not go to the residence of the Senate President on Thursday of last week, there is absolutely no way what the newspaper sources claimed to have transpired, happened.“We must emphasise that former governor Amaechi holds the office of the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in very high esteem and will never disrespect or act in any way that would put the office in disrepute.
“However, in this case, the incident reported never occurred either on Thursday or any other day.
“While we understand the constraints and pressures journalists face in doing their jobs, we would advise them to be thorough and double-check or even triple-check their sources of information.
“There seems to exist an axis of fifth columnists, masquerading as ‘sources’ to journalists, but fabricate events, incidences and stories that never happened to malign and destroy the character and reputation of others, while fomenting acrimony and bad blood in the polity.”
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, commenced the prosecution of a former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, on charges bordering on money laundering when he held sway as the state governor.
The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, began Okakim’s trial before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja by calling its first witness.
Ohakim, who was Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011, is facing three counts of money laundering, arising from his alleged purchase of a house at Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270 million in November 2008.
The first prosecution witness, Mr. Dauda Ishaya, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, appeared before Justice Ademola when the matter came up, giving his report of investigation on the charges against the former governor.
Dauda, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, accused Ohakim of initially lying to be a tenant in the property until he was confronted with the statements of those who were involved in the purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja.
He said: “Intelligence report revealed that there was no bank transfer on purchase for that property – that was against the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
“We took the accused person to the said property and we returned to the office. He was questioned on the same property and he said he was just a tenant in that property.
“He said he rented the house from a company called Tweenex Consciates through the Managing Director of the company called Abu Sule.”
The witness said Sule was invited by the EFCC but denied ownership of the property but went on to tell ‘the real story of what transpired.’
The case was adjourned till November 12 and 13 for continuation of trial.
Tribune.
Travelling for sports events is an opportunity that Nigerians are yet to leverage on despite playing host to several tournaments over the years.
Some notable games include the 1973 and 2003-Lagos-All African Games, African Nations Cup, 1980 & 2000, Under 17 championships, 2009 and throngs of other sports events which have had little or no impact on the hospitality industry.
Considering the returns from sports tourism in other climes, Nigeria has a monumental advantage in exploring and exploiting sports tourism to boost her hospitality industry.
For example, Brazil which hosted the 2014 World Cup added 7.5 billion Brazilian Real (BRL) to the economy with tourism being a key contributor, an estimated 1 million foreigners visited the country and 95% of them said they will love to return for holidays.
The attributed reasons for this include Brazil’s scenic beaches, vibrant musical culture and its vast amazon rainforest according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile for previous world cups, South Africa welcomed 310,000 tourists and Germany accommodated 2 million.
These figures simply reveal how massive the contribution of sports can multiply the growth of Nigeria’s hospitality industry and the economy. With this platform, states likeEkiti, Jos, and Kwara, with tourism endowments will possibly achieve a certain degree of financial autonomy
To encourage the government to host international sports tourneys and ensure it takes advantage of it, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares 3 ways sports tourism can boost the hospitality industry in Nigeria.
Development of tourist destination
The near dilapidated state of Nigeria’s tourism sites have headlined stakeholder’s meetings and tourism seminars. They have called on the government at both the Federal and state level to revamp these amazing sites which cut across Nigeria. With Nigeria hosting a sports events, monies will be budgeted to develop these destinations to attract tourists and the ripple effect will be felt in the hospitality sector.
Revenue Generator
The question Nigerians should ask is why nations battle, banter and clog one another to win bids so as to host international tourney despite the global economic crises?
Simple-the economic returns is massive. The Hospitality sector contributes a large chunk of the returns during a sports tourney. It follows that if the government develops these destinations, tourists will visit and be willing to part with their naira, dollars and pounds. Included in this is the production of souvenirs and other marketing cum promotional items leading to a geometric rise in hotel bookings and revenues.
Publicity
These sports tourneys are opportunities for hotels and hospitality companies to put their brand in the face of their target audience. They can produce jingles, commercials and other public relations tools which oftentimes go a long way in impacting perception and patronage.
Ogunfowoke Adeniyi
Travel/Technology Writer
Mobile: +2348090747241 Skype: Sleeksavvy
In a city like Lagos where everyone wakes up as early as 4 am, there is a high possibility to get addicted to fast food as people barely have time to prepare a proper meal.
Despite the affordability and convenience of fast-foods, the health hazards are enormous. Some of these hazards are high-fat content, reduced nutritional values, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
As a traveller exploring different destinations, the allure of fast food is high and if you are not careful, paying a visit to these outlets will become a habit.
Stop over at the grocery store
Cooking is fun and there are grocery stores littered all over major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. You can easily drive into one of them to purchase any foodstuffs you want. With your pantry properly stocked with the right meals, you cut down the tendency to consume snacks outside your home.
The up-side to this is that it makes you a better manager as you create and stick to cooking plans for your meals. This may be easier for married individuals rather than singles but making home-cooked meals a habit saves you money and keeps you healthy.
Plan your meal schedule
Planning your meal schedule for the week will go a long way in helping you avoid the fast food trap. Create a flexible routine and ensure you religiously stick to it. With this schedule, visiting the food shops will not feature on your daily agenda.
Patronize healthy online food stores
The internet has opened up quantum of online services for many Nigerians. Except you are addicted to fast foods, online food delivery companies are available to order proper foods. If you would rather have your meals prepared for you, then try ordering your food online from the long list of healthy options available. It is a good alternative to fast food.
Ogunfowoke Adeniyi
Travel/Technology Writer
Mobile: +2348090747241 Skype: Sleeksavvy
Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal shares tips on how to avoid the fast food trap.
There is no doubting the fact that President Obama of Uncle Sam is the 21st century Roman Nero. Over the years, his indifferent attitude in respect of the numerous war crimes he has committed across the globe has continued to marvel many. In relations to the order of Obama, several mass killings, involving children have been recorded in vulnerable countries under his administration. Bombing of children was and still pronounce in Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq, to mention a few, under the charged of Obama!!!
Obama who is an high priest in the temple of White supremacy, have no qualms in expanding and at the same time worsening the crimes of George W. Bush. This delusional in fact extended the drone program to Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Libya, and Somalia. Tens of thousands of children died in the Somali from “Obama Drones Attack”. Obama’s apologists and the corporate media have done so well in parading one of the most despicable men of this century as a saint. Obama’s hypocritical talks all the time have revealed his own worst limitations!!!
Obama in his so called fight against mean violators of human rights, in his absurdity, have ignored the most tyrannical regimes in the Middle East; Israel and Saudi Arabia. Since war is a product of hate, oppressed nations in the globe will be within their god-given rights to defend their territories with all sense of responsibility by giving back the hate-tit for tat. It will forever be a wishful thinking to wait for the day that the International Criminal Court will trial these war mongers with crimes against humanity. Thus oppressed nations must seek for justice by forming alliance against a common foe!!!
~Ifágúnwà Tèmítópé-
The man with the biggest feet
26 year old Jeffrey Ortega wants his size 16 foot removed after it swelled because of a hereditary condition which leaves him in consistent agony and not able to walk. Jeffery, who relies on a wheelchair to move around, was conceived with Proteus Syndrome, an uncommon condition that causes bones, skin and tissue overgrowth. The condition has additionally influenced his hands, hips and legs.
Jeffrey is currently asking specialists to cut away his left foot to relieve pain and stop the development. His left foot is 17inches in circumference and 14inches long while his right foot is 14.5 inches circumference and 12 inches long. See more photographs bellow.
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has approached governors and leader in the South-West not to recognise Igbo kings in their individual states and areas. An announcement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said the idea of Igbo kings also called Eze Ndigbo in Yorubaland was not upheld by any standard law. The ARG was responding to a squabble between the Deji of Akure, Oba Kole Aladetoyinbo, and the Eze Ndigbo of Akure, Gregory Iloehike, in Ondo State, a week ago which prompted protests and the closure of business sectors.
ARG noted that “The evolution of this structure has forced us to consider it as an expansionist agenda as the structure is only rampant in Yorubaland
“In Akure, the ‘Eze’ believes he now has the power to confer people with chieftaincy titles that are traditional to Yoruba kingship systems. In Lagos State, there is an Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, as well as for each of the 57 councils. There are reports that we now even have Eze Ndigbo of some neighbourhoods in Lagos.
“What used to be were development unions and associations of Igbo people living in Yorubaland. Almost all Igbo communities with sizeable number of indigenes living in Yorubaland have a development union or association. These associations are welcome and supported, being organisations set up to discuss the welfare of their members.”
The ARG said the proliferation of the Eze Ndigbo could cause a huge problem in the near future, warning Igbo groups to stop testing the patience of the Yoruba.
Insisting that that a kingdom can never have two kings, ARG lamented “the manner this idea of ‘Eze Ndigbo’ sprouted and started spreading connotes territorial influence and even ownership.
“This practice has continued to stretch the tolerant nature of the Yoruba people to the limit and it appears the eventual aim of its perpetrators is to stretch this beautiful culture of Yoruba to the breaking point.
“This is something that Yoruba people living away from Yorubaland do not even think of, and we, therefore, see no reason why migrants living in Yorubaland should not know their boundaries.
“Consequently, the ARG calls on all Yoruba traditional rulers and the executive heads of government at state and local levels governors not to recognise all customary titles that are not backed by our customs, particularly those that they did not confer; and we enjoin those parading themselves as holders of such titles to drop them in the spirit of peaceful coexistence.”
Daily Post.
Indeed, even with a limitless amount of knowledge accessible only a couple clicks away, there are still a lot of misguided judgments and myths about science that individuals still accept. In the present day age of the web you may think it would be less demanding to discredit bits of gossip and find the right data yet online networking sites like Facebook and Twitter make it far less complex than it has ever been to rapidly spread falsehood and wrong actualities. While a hefty portion of these myths started years ago as old wives’ stories, they have kept on being pretty much as pervasive today in spite of being totally false.
10) Hair And Fingernails Grow After Death
Hair and fingernails do not grow after death even though that they may appear to do so. This is because after someone has died, their skin begins to shrink and pull back, giving the appearance that hair and fingernails have grown. It is not possible for them to grow as they require nutrients to produce keratin, something the body can’t do when it is deceased.
9) Humans Blow Up If Exposed To Space
Hollywood movies and television shows have led to millions of people believing that if a human was exposed to the vacuum of space, they would expand and blow up. When a real person is in a vacuum they don’t get any bigger and can actually survive for as long as they can hold their breath. It is possible for the lungs to burst if a person has not exhaled quickly enough when exposed, which can cause air to enter the bloodstream. Otherwise, a person in space would simply die a far more understated death from asphyxiation.
8) Lightning Never Strikes In The Same Place Twice
This often quotes idiom is a way to say that bad things won’t happen to the same person twice. It is also a commonly believed scientific fact that many people see as true. In reality though, lightning can strike anywhere at any time and whether an object has been hit before does not affect whether it will be hit again. Some people have actually been struck by lightning several times while tall buildings can be hit hundreds of times a year.
7) A Full Moon Causes Erratic Behavior
The belief that a full moon can cause strange and erratic behavior has been around for hundreds of years. In modern times, some even claim that the full moon may have an effect on the water inside the brain, causing some people to act differently. Despite claims that crime and accident rates go up during a full moon, many studies have shown that there is actually no link between them.
6) Cracking Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Although it might make sense that continuously cracking knuckles could cause them damage and stop joints from working correctly, there is in fact no evidence to support the idea that it can cause arthritis. Studies show that cracking knuckles and other joints does not do any damage to the joints as the crack is not coming from the bones themselves but rather pockets of air that have become trapped.
5) Cutting A Worm In Half Creates Two Worms
The idea that cutting a worm into two separate pieces would create two individual worms is a commonly held belief by many people. It probably arises from the fact that both parts of the worm will continue to wriggle for some time after the injury. In most cases, cutting a worm will cause it to die, however in some cases it will be possible for the half with the mouth and brain to survive and heal itself.
4) Sugar Makes Children Hyperactive
Parents will often claim that any sugar will make their children hyperactive, causing unruly behavior and excess levels of excitement. However, there has never been any proven link between the two despite what mothers may say. In fact, studies have shown that when children are given a sugar free treat but their parents think it contains sugar, they will still claim their kids became hyperactive.
3) You Only Use 10% Of Your Brain
This myth has often been spread by those claiming to have paranormal or extrasensory powers, claiming they are able to tap into the true potential of the brain while normal people make do with just 10%. The truth is that the brain is incredibly energetic and requires around 20% of all the energy produced by the body. It is in constant use and although not all parts may be in use at the same time, every part of it is essential to being able to live your life.
2) Chewing Gum Takes Seven Years To Digest
The claim that it takes the body seven years to digest chewing gum is just another old wives’ tale that many parents have told their children. It probably arises from the fact that gum seems to stick to the ground for years at a time without degrading. The truth of the matter though is that gum is actually not digested at all in the human body and it is simply passed through the digestive system and expelled as waste.
Perhaps this myth began as a way to stop people from throwing things of tall buildings like the Cocoa House but it has now become a commonly spouted scientific fact. It claims that a penny thrown from a great height will reach speeds high enough to kill anyone it hits. The circular shape of the coin and its light weight mean that it can only achieve a terminal velocity of 65 mph. While this might hurt, it is certainly not enough force to cause any serious damage.
Source: Lolwot.com
