The End of M.A.D. — The Beginning of Madness

by Eric Zuesse

John Helmer, who explains military-strategic matters better and more knowledgeably than just about anyone, headlined on May 30th, “The Red Line Crossed, In the Cross-Hairs, At Trigger Point”, and he opened:

First there was the red-line announcement. On Friday [May 27th] in Athens there was the cross-hairs statement. By the month of October, the month before the US presidential election, there will be the trigger point.

The US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies are going to war with Russia, accelerating the inevitability that Russia will strike in self-defence. This is what the first and second statements by President Vladimir Putin warn. There will be no statement of warning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin Joint press conference of with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras

Following the Russian-Greek talks, Vladimir Putin and Alexis Tsipras made a joint statement for the press.

May 27, 2016  Athens

kremlin.ru

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras (retranslated): I would like to welcome once again President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. President Putin’s visit today after so many years concludes a series of contacts and meetings at the highest level that took place over the last year and that mark a new beginning in our bilateral relations.

Man allegedly Defrauds Money-seeking Lagos Banker Of N2.5m (photo)

Samson Folarin

A herbalist, Seye Olufokunbi, has narrated how he defrauded a Lagos banker, identified simply as Lekan, of N2.5m.

The 33-year-old said he told Lekan, who worked in one of the banks on the Victoria Island, that the money was for a special soap.

Obiano Visits Site Of Building Collapse Where 1 Person Died In Anambra. Photos

Governor Willie Obiano visited Agba, Ekwulobia in Aguata local government area in Anambra state where a 2-storey building reportedly in the plastering stage collapsed yesterday morning killing one person.

Obiano while sympathising with Ndi Ekwulobia frowned at the incessant building collapse and charged the State Emergency Management Agency led by Sir Paul Odenigbo to intensify excavation works to see if anyone could be saved.

Lagos Syndicate Produces Fake Naira Notes (photo)

Olaleye Aluko

Two men who are allegedly members of a syndicate that produces fake naira notes have been arrested by the police on Oluwakemi Street, in the Ojodu Abiodun area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects – Hope Ihesiaba and his brother, Ifeanyi – were arrested by the Isheri Police Division on Saturday.

Our correspondent learnt that the police were tipped-off by a woman, who sold foodstuffs in the area, that the suspects spent fake N1,000 notes and the operatives moved in on the duo.

Teenage Girl Poses As Wizkid, Defrauds Victims Of N10.4m

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, yesterday said a 19-year-old girl, who, for long, had been posing as Music star, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun fondly called Wizkid, on social media, had been arrested.

The teenager, whose name the commissioner did not mention, was said to have duped many people, including students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), before she was arrested. Among her victims were also two people living overseas. The money was over $53,000, equivalent of about N10.4 million.

Allow EFCC Prosecute APC Members Accused Of Corruption – Okogie Tells Buhari

Archbishop Emeritus, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to ridding the country of corruption.

Okogie praised Buhari in Lagos on Tuesday at a news conference organised as part of activities to mark his 80 years birthday celebration and 50 years priestly ordination anniversary.

“I want to commend the president for his commitment to clean the polity.

Snake Bites Kill 27 In Taraba

No fewer than 27 persons have been confirmed dead in Donga Local Government Council of Taraba state. The deaths are due to various degrees of injuries sustained from snake bites ravaging the area
Hospitals and herbal homes, are battling to save the lives of several other persons affected by the attack

Donga Local Government Council area in Taraba state has been hit by snakes bites which has so far killed 27 persons, while others lie critically ill in hospitals and herbal homes. Confirming the report, the Councillor representing Suntai Ward, Filibuster Sambo, said efforts to rescue the victims failed as both the traditional and orthodox medications are not helping matters.

Sidechic Gets Bathed With Acid In Abuja By Man's Wife

Few days after the incident of a sidechic calling out her man's wife on Facebook for lack of sex skills, a more physical incident involving a sidechic has occurred in Abuja.
26-year-old Jamila Musa said she was bathes by acid by her man's wife on Sunday 29th May 2016. She is currently battling to save her sight at Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja.

Wike Plans To Sponsor Protests Against President Buhari's Visit To Ogoni - Apc

Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has concluded plans to sponsor members of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, thugs and hoodlums to protest and disrupt the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Rivers State to flag off the UNEP cleanup of Ogoniland on Thursday, 2nd June, 2016.

CCT Trial: Tribunal Adjourns Saraki's Case Indefinitely..

By Seun Opejob

The trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki which was expected to hold today at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, will no longer hold as the tribunal has adjourned the matter till a yet-to-be disclosed date.
Disclosing this on Wednesday, the spokesman of the tribunal, Ibrahim Alhassan said the shift to an undisclosed date was at the instance of the prosecution.

I’ll Do Everything Necessary To Secure Oil Facilities In Niger Delta — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do everything necessary to secure oil facilities and other government assets in the Niger Delta region.

The president gave the assurance during the democracy day lecture organised yesterday being Tuesday in Abuja by the Save Democracy Group Africa, to mark the 2016 democracy day.
The theme of the lecture is, the Change Agenda and Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy.

Buhari Inherited Burden From Jonathan, Says Soyinka

NOBEL laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has said it would take time for President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the rot he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration, he believed, left a “heavy baggage” and “burden” that may take a while to tackle.
But, the playwright urged President to sustain efforts at improving the economy. He spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The literary icon was scheduled to speak at a public lecture on the theme: Politics, Culture and the New Africa.

“Hero of the Ukraine” Nadezhda Savchenko addresses the Rada

Interesting footage today.  The “Hero of the Ukraine” Nadezhda Savchenko made her first speech before the Ukrainian Rada.  She was introduced by another bona fide Nazi, Andrei Parubii, the new Speaker of the Rada and #2 in the Ukie Banderastan.  I don’t know if that comes across to a non-Ukrainian speaker, but Parubii sounds, how shall I put it, not too bright.

5 Reasons Washington Has Already Decided to Go to War with Russia

by Peter Lavelle for The Duran

The writing would seem to be on the wall – Washington and its stenographers union (better known as the west’s mainstream media) are all fired-up and strategically positioned. The War Party has ascendancy and the window of opportunity is wide open, though slowly closing. The long desired wish to tame Russia is now in its final stage. “American Exceptionalism” must subdue any real or imagined threat. Importantly, intentionally generated phantom threats are given the most attention and media space. Russia is in this category. The reasons are patently obvious:

Kogi State University Strike Clocks 7 Weeks, Massive Exodus Of Lecturers

Yahaya Bello, APC Vs Kogi State University Lecturers & Students:

Im just curiously wondering why some of us are keeping quiet even with the nonsensical ongoing industrial action by ASUU, Kogi State University chapter (ksu), even when when the govt. is incommunicado about what she has decided to do.

What has changed, really? I rooted for Yahaya Bello' because of Wada' helpless cluelessness. Now, it seems de ja vu is taking a turn on us.

President Buhari's Federal Excuses Council - Reno Omokri

On January 22, 2016,

I tweeted a joke which went viral. I had said that at meetings of the Federal Executive Council, the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, would address members and say ‘turn to your neighbour and say, neighbour have you blamed Jonathan today’!

Yes, it was a joke, but like most good jokes, it had and still has a basis in reality!

Concerned Militant Leaders Strike In Onitsha

8 soldiers feared dead, as militants attack gunboats in Onitsha


Niger Delta militant group, Concerned Militant Leaders (CML), has claimed responsibility for yesterday’s attack at Onitsha river, Anambra State, where eight soldiers were feared dead
Spokesman of the group, popularly known as General Ben, revealed this yesterday in the social media.
He also claimed the group executed the attack in Nkpor where three persons were killed and the burning of a police patrol van in Onitsha.

General Ben, in the statement, said the group’s action was to show the Federal Government and security agencies that they should not underrate the activities of the Niger Delta militants, or limit their operations to the region

"We Were Saying Rubbish During The Campaign" - President Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari says his party didn't know what they were getting into before making so much promises to Nigerians, and as such made life difficult for themselves with the high expectations from Nigerians because of the long list of promises made. He said his party identified only three major items...Security, Economy and Corruption.

Speaking on Monday when he hosted state house correspondents at the presidential villa in Abuja, Buhari said he and his cabinet members have been doing their best to deliver the change which the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.

Niger Delta Avengers' Letter To Tompolo

Our dear brother Tompolo, how is your friendship with the Nigerian Government. The people you took side with against us (the Niger Delta Avengers). We offered you the olive branch by beckoning you to join us in this struggle, but you refused

It is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest. We warned you before hand that the Nigerian Government, can never be trusted.

Stolen Assets: FG To Make Recovery Details Available Thursday – Presidency

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA-Barring any changes, the federal government would on Thursday, this week, make public the details of the recovered loots.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had on the sideline of the Global Anti-Corruption Summit in London recently promised to name the alleged looters of the national treasuries on May 29, 2016.

He said: “So far, what has come out, what has been recovered in whatever currency from each ministries, departments and individuals.

Update On Operation Pulo Shield At Oporaza In Niger delta

Brigadier General, F Yahaya, Nigeria Army: The renewed attacks and sabotage to oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta Region, particularly in Delta State which have adversely impacted on the crude oil production and the supply of gas been particularly worrisome and of concern to this Brigade and to the Nigerian Army and Operation PULO SHIELD. Several cases of sabotage were recorded in Delta State from 1 January 2016 to date and there were still further warnings of more damages to oil and gas assets and threats to shut down all operations in the sector.

Pipeline Vandals Battle With Police In Elebute, Ogun

Residents of Elebute community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, yesterday, fled their homes to avoid being caught in the crossfire as policemen and pipeline vandals clashed. Vanguard gathered that the vandals engaged policemen and other security agents in a shootout that lasted over an hour at the early hours of yesterday, in an attempt to rescue two of their colleagues that were arrested.

It was reported that they also attempted to deflate the tyres of the Police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, but their attempt was frustrated. However, some police vans were destroyed though no life was lost. At noon yesterday, three APCs were seen stationed at Ibafo junction with over 50 heavily-armed security personnel, comprising police, soldiers, and National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, patrolling the area.

Pass Money Laundering Bill, Buhari Tells NASS

President Muhammadu Buhari, has called on the National Assembly to quickly pass the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill 2016 and others currently before it.
The president made the call last night at a dinner he had with the National Assembly members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Stock Market Lost N1.732tn In One Year Under Buhari

The Nigerian stock market crashed by N1.732tn within one year of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange data showed that the NSE market capitalisation on May 28, 2015 was N11.658tn, while that of May 27, 2016 was N9.926tn.


Market capitalisation is the total market value of the shares outstanding of a publicly traded company.

The NSE All-Share Index also crashed to 28,902.25 basis points from 34,310.37 basis points.