A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
AS President Muhammadu Buhari holds Economic and Security summit with stakeholders in the South East tomorrow, strong indications emerged today that the South East Senate Caucus would boycott the Town Hall meeting, even as Chairman of the Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has told President Buhari that “it is the view of the Caucus that what the South East needs is development and not to be tagged with any other issue like security.”
Buhari
This view by the South-East Senate Caucus may not be unconnected to the recent massive deployment of security operatives across the region in a military operation code-named Operation Python Dance.
The meeting holds tomorrow in Enugu.
Confirming the planned boycott, Chairman of the Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said that the South East Senators will stay away from the Town Hall meeting, citing lack of adequate consultation as reason.
Abaribe however admitted that though there was an attempt to consult the caucus prior to the meeting, it was not adequate, adding, “The South East Senate Caucus will not be attending having not been adequately consulted. Again it is the view of the Caucus that what the South East needs is development and not to be tagged with any other issue like security.
“South east has been utterly neglected and marginalized over time especially with regards to addressing factors that stimulates development including the place of Ndigbo in the present administration.
“So if we are to hold a town hall meeting the agenda must be restricted to purely development of the region. The agenda must be articulated to address the issues as highlighted. This has not been done That is where the issue of lack of adequate consultation comes in.”
Abaribe further advised that whatever should be done must be in the overall interest of the South East region.
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar IV, has visited the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose after leaving South East. He was received by the Governor.
Recall that the sultan had on Monday, visited Enugu state to attend the grand reception in honour of the 2015/2016 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Champions, the Enugu Rangers International Football club, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Many have described the solidarity visits as a bridge building exercise.
Sultan of Sokoto visits Gov. Fayose of Ekiti state
The UN Security Council has said that The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh must respect the results of the Dec. 1 presidential election.
The UN says Jammeh must carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer power to President-elect, Adama Barrow by Jan. 19, 2017, in accordance with the Gambia's Constitution.
Yahya Jammeh
In a Presidential Statement S/PRST/2016/19 after a seven-minute meeting, read by Council President for December, Román Marchesi (Spain), the 15-country-member organ restated its stance on Gambia.
The Security Council recalled the press statement of the Council members on Dec. 10, 2016, and took note of the communiqué of the Chairman of the AU on Dec. 10, 2016.
It also recalled the joint communiqué of the ECOWAS Commission, the AU Commission and the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel on Dec. 10, 2016 regarding the situation in the Islamic Republic of the Gambia.
"The Security Council welcomes and is encouraged by the decisions on the political situation in the Gambia of the 50th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Abuja on Dec. 17, 2016.''
The council applauded the decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council, at its 644th meeting held on Dec. 12, 2016, and the AU to recognise Mr Adama Barrow as President-elect of the Gambia.
"The Security Council reiterates its request to outgoing President Jammeh and the relevant Gambian Authorities to fully respect the results of the presidential election of Dec. 1, 2016.
"Jammeh should also respect the will of the Gambian people and to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process, and to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow by Jan. 19, 2017 in accordance with the Gambian Constitution.
"The Security Council further welcomes the decision of ECOWAS Heads of State to attend the Jan. 19, 2017 inauguration of President-elect Barrow in Banjul," the presidential statement read.
The council reiterated its support to the ECOWAS position on the Gambia and welcomed the appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari to lead further negotiations with both Jammeh and Barrow.
"The Security Council commends the initiatives of ECOWAS, including the visit of an ECOWAS/UN high level delegation in Banjul on Dec. 13, 2016, led by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority, aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition process in The Gambia.
"The security council welcomes the appointment by ECOWAS of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Mediator in the Gambia and His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana as the Co-chair."
The security council recalled its members' request that the security of President-elect Adama Barrow, and that of all Gambian citizens, be fully ensured, and supports the decision of ECOWAS 50th Session in this regard.
The Security Council further requested that the Gambian defence and security forces to demonstrate maximum restraint to maintain an atmosphere of calm in Banjul.
"In this regard, the Security Council emphasises the important role of Mr Mohammed ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNOWAS in the current political situation in The Gambia.
"The Security Council further welcomes and reiterates its full support for the continued efforts of the AU and ECOWAS to promote peace, stability and good governance in the region.
"The Security Council expresses its intention to continue to follow the situation in the Gambia closely." (NAN)
Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has faulted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu on reasons for the renewed electoral violence in the country, saying; "Violence returned to our electoral process because of INEC partisanship and manipulation of the electoral process in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC)."
He said "rather than lamenting, the INEC chairman should return the electoral commission to what he met by detaching it from the APC, which INEC has obviously merged with," adding that; "if INEC is neutral as it used to be before APC took power, there won't be electoral violence."
In a statement issued on Wednesday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; "There were elections in Nigeria between 2011 and 2015, and those elections were credible, such that Nigerians were sure that popular candidates and parties would emerge victorious because votes were allowed to count. Then, violence was no longer part of our electoral process. But sadly, this present INEC has destroyed all those gains and returned Nigeria to the era of ballot box snatching."
He said it was shameful that after casting their votes, votes counted and announced publicly, Nigerians now need to police their votes to collation centres to prevent figures already entered into relevant INEC forms from being altered.Fayose
The governor, who counselled Professor Mahmood Yakubu to be mindful of his name and purge the electoral commission under him of partisanship and election manipulation, said; there was no way President Muhammadu Buhari would have been elected if INEC, under Prof Attahiru Jega was the way it is now.
He questioned the rationale behind the jettisoning of the system introduced by Prof Jega, in which accreditation of voters is done at the same time in all polling units from 8am to 1pm while voting will commence after the number of accredited voters are known and counting of votes is done at the same time.
"By returning to the old system of accreditation and voting at the same time, and destroying the credibility of our electoral process, such that unpopular candidates are now having edge over and above those acceptable to the people, INEC by itself caused the electoral violence witnessed in the last 12 months.
"Even judges that will sit on election matters are now pre-arranged and picked even before the election, such that after using INEC and security agencies to pervert the will of the people, tribunals are used to authenticate the electoral fraud.
"The reality therefore is that only INEC can put an end to electoral violence and the only way to do it is for the commission to be neutral," he said.
Israel's former President, Moshe Katsav was on Wednesday freed on parole after serving five of his seven-year prison sentence for rape and other sexual offenses.
Live television and radio broadcasts showed Katsav walking out of the Maasiyahu Prison, east of Tel Aviv, where about a dozen of family members and supporters were waiting for him.
He hugged his wife, Gila, and entered a car that took him to his home in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi.
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav, center, arrives at a court in Tel Aviv, Tuesday, March 22, 2011. A Tel Aviv court is set to sentence a former Israeli president convicted of rape. Katsav faces up to 16 years in prison when his sentence is handed down Tuesday. He said he is innocent. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
His release came about an hour after the State Attorney Shai Nitzan said that the prosecution would not appeal the Parole Committee's decision to grant Katsav an early release.
Under the terms of his parole, Katsav would have to join a prison service rehabilitation programme.
He would also have to stay under house arrest every night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., until the end of his parole period.
The committee also imposed restrictions on speaking to the media and forbid him to hold a job position in which he would have female subordinates.
Katsav, 71, was born in Iran and became the first president who was born in a Muslim country.
He served as Israel's seventh president between 2000 and 2007.
In 1977, at the age of 30, he first became a parliament member with the right-wing Likud party.
In November 2011, the Supreme Court unanimously affirmed his conviction on two counts of rape of a former employee during his term as a tourism minister in the 1990s.
He was also convicted of indecent sexual assaults and sexual harassment of two other women while being president, and obstruction of justice.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu on Wednesday launched the much anticipated Lagos-Kebbi Rice christened LAKE RICE, saying that the partnership which culminated into the launch was not only designed to ensure food security but showcase the ability of Nigeria to become a producing nation.
Speaking at the launching ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the development was a great and historic moment for both states and Nigeria, as the rice would not only be sold at highly reduced price, compared to what obtains in the market, but is also very fresh and safe for consumption.
"Today is an historic day for Lagos and Kebbi States. In March 2016, we signed an MOU with an understanding that we, being proudly Nigeria, we want to come out with what is made in Nigeria and what is good in Nigeria. We took all that President Muhammadu Buhari said that we need to grow our food and we decided that we will prove a point and that is what today is all about.
"LAKE RICE is of good quality. The major difference between LAKE RICE and the ones imported is that the imported has a minimum storage of five to six years storage life span, but LAKE RICE is fresh," the Governor said.
He said the partnership would in the nearest future lead to an expansion of production of the rice, saying that Lagos has the largest consumption market.
Giving a breakdown of the prices, Governor Ambode said that while the 50kg will sell for N12, 000, 25kg would go for N6, 000 and 10kg for N2, 500, adding that for now, an individual would only be allowed to purchase a bag to enable it go round.
He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi, just as he disclosed that the Federal Government has donated two rice mills to the State Government to increase production of rice next year.
Also speaking, Governor Bagudu, who went down memory lane of how the collaboration started with a discussion between him and Governor Ambode during a meeting in Abuja, said the partnership was a confirmation of both State Governments' commitment to the agenda of making Nigeria a big market in Africa.
He said while Kebbi State has comparative advantage in area of rice production, Lagos boasts of the largest consumption market, saying that the LAKE RICE can stand any integrity test in Nigeria.
"Our rice is of quality. I am proud of this joint venture. We can do more with other commodities like Cocoa, Soya beans and Sorghum and I am very glad that we are launching the LAKE RICE today," Bagudu said. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), with his Kebbi State counterpart, Governor Atiku Bagudu holding a 10kg of the Lake Rice during the official launch at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, December 21, 2016. In an earlier announcement Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Ganiyu Okanlawon Sanni, who disclosed the process of purchasing the rice, said collection would be allowed after payment at designated banks or through POS, while an individual would only be allowed to buy one bag at a time to make the product reach vast majority of the people.
In Lagos East Senatorial District, Sanni said the rice would be available for sale at Odogunyan Farm Service Centre in Ikorodu; Temu Farm Service Centre in Epe; Naforiji Town Hall in Eredo; Magbon Alade School in Ibeju and SUBEB Premises in Maryland.
In Lagos West, the Special Adviser to the Governor said the rice would be available for sale at LSADA Farm Service Centre, Oko-Baba in Agege; LAISA in Ojo; Coconut House in Mowo; Farm Service Centre, Marina in Badagry and Ikeja Grammar School in Oshodi.
According to him, in Lagos Central, the rice would be available for sale at Agric Area Office in Ajah; LASTMA Works Yard in Adeniji/Freeman, Lagos Island; Alakoto Senior High School, Tolu in Ajegunle; Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere and Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre (Rowe Park) in Yaba.
He said officials of the Committee set up by government to monitor and be in charge of the sale would be present at all the centres from Tuesday, while payment can be made to bank officials at the centres, after which the product would be given to buyers.
"Slip will be given to each customer willing to buy indicating the quantum of rice the buyer wishes to buy and we will also have officers from the bank at each of the centres where people can make payment and confirmation can be done immediately. Once they pay and we are very sure they have made payment, the bag of whatever quantum they have paid for will be given to them there and then and so we will continue this exercise until we are satisfied that Lagosians are very much satisfied based on our promise.
"An individual will only be entitled to buy one bag whether it is 50kg, 25kg or 10kg. We are about 22 million people in Lagos State and we believe there is need for the government to make sure that at least every individual is given the opportunity to buy the rice as promised earlier so that at this time of the Yuletide, everybody can have opportunity to buy and because the prices of the rice outside are so exorbitant, we believe we should allow everybody to have opportunity to buy.
The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) has announced that there will be interruption in power supply to some areas within its network between 10.00am and 2.00pm on Thursday, 29th December, 2016.
A release signed by the company's General Manager, Corporate Communications, Godwin Idemudia said the planned power outage was occasioned by routine maintenance work to be carried out on Ijora-Alagbon 132kv line.
According to the statement, areas to be affected by the outage are Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Obalende, Banana Island and Lagos Island.
The statement further stated that the routine maintenance to be carried out was for better efficiency of power facilities so as to enhance improved service delivery to the company's customers.
The company appealed to its customers to please bear with the company for the inconvenience the outage might cause adding that supply would be restored immediately the maintenance work was concluded.
The Nigerian Army says it has rescued additional 1,880 women and children from Boko Haram insurgents in the Sambisa Forest.
Army
Maj. – Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this during a news conference at the Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Irabor said that troops also arrested about 504 Boko Haram terrorists while 19 of them willingly surrendered.
He said that the Army had arrested about 37 foreigners who were currently undergoing interrogations to ascertain whether they were terrorists or not.
"We also arrested about seven kidnappers and we are currently interrogating them.
"Our troops have continued to make significant progress in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
"I gladly say that our troops have successfully mop up all the areas in Sambisa Forest including gate one.
"We are currently in camp zero; I am not going to tell you what we are doing there.
"But I can assure you that we are recording remarkable successes.''
Irabor called on the general public, especially female students of tertiary institutions to be wary of new recruitment website, "as Boko Haram insurgency is an evil that is determined to destroy the society". (NAN)
The Federal Government has said that it will embark on building of nuclear plants and careful application of nuclear energy to meet the needs of the country.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Onu
Onu said that nuclear energy would bridge the energy gap needed to enhance agriculture, advance health, improve education and boost manufacturing in the country.
He said that the Federal Government had started making arrangement with the Russian State Nuclear Corporation, Rosatom, to actualise its dream of application of nuclear energy.
He said that the reason the country chose the Russian state nuclear corporation was because of its essential experience in nuclear technology.
According to the minister, Rosatom will prepare the agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country.
Onu said that the country would in turn prepare an agreement on the development of the project which would determine further steps on the construction of the nuclear power plant.
"Nuclear power is considered a prominent alternative and a more environmentally beneficial solution since it emits far less greenhouse gases during electricity generation than coal or other traditional power plants.
"It is a manageable source of generating electricity and has large power-generating capacity that can meet industrial and city needs.
"It is not like the low-power technologies such as solar that might meet only local, residential or office needs but cannot generate power for heavy manufacturing," he said.
He said that the envisaged project would be a success because the plant would be fed from the uranium deposit in the country. (NAN)
The Kaduna State Government on Wednesday imposed a 24-hour curfew on three local government areas to protect lives and properties of the people.
A statement by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant to Gov. Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity in Kaduna, listed the areas as Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema'a.
The statement stated that the State Security Council also endorsed ban on processions and unlawful assembly in any part of the state.
It stated that the council took the step based on credible intelligence reports about risks to lives and property in the affected areas.
It said that after an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday, it was resolve to take the decisions.
The statement added that security agencies had been empowered to arrest and prosecute any individual or groups that violate the orders.
The Council urged security operatives to ensure best practices in enforcing the directives.
Gov. El-Rufai chaired the meeting with the his Deputy, Barnabas Bala and was attended by the State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh and Director of DSS, Mohammed Wakili.
Others that attended the meeting were Brig.-Gen. I. Isa, Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army; Rear Adm. T. T. Dakwat, Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Kachia, and AVM Bello Garba, Base Commander, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna.(NAN)
No fewer than five people lost their lives, while others sustained various degree of injuries in an auto crash at Akinlalu, in Osun on Ife/Ibadan Expressway.
FRSC-operatives
Mr Alhassan Abu, the Ife Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ile-Ife.
Abu said those that sustained serious injuries had been taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, while bodies of the deceased were deposited at the hospital mortuary.
A truck driver, Mr Akeem Olatunji, who narrowly escaped death, narrated to NAN at the scene how the accident happened.
Olatunji said that a Toyota Previa car coming from Ibadan end of the road ram into an oncoming articulated vehicle loaded with logs of wood from Ile-Ife axis.
Also, Chief Aderibigbe Odogiyan, the Head of Operations, FRSC, Ile-Ife, who was at the accident scene, attributed the crash to the deplorable condition of the road.
Odogiyan said that this forced motorists to ply only one side of the dual carriage ways.
"Also, the dew that covered the cloud did not allow motorists to see clearly, and instead of being patient, they tried to overtake each other recklessly.
"We have been warning drivers to stop driving against traffic on the expressway,'' he said.
Odogiyan appealed to road users to desist from speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading, and intake of alcohol while driving, especially during the festive period. (NAN)
The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday arrested five robbery suspects operating in different parts of the metropolis as residents engaged in shopping ahead of Christmas.
The team apprehended the suspects during a special raid on robbers who were attacking and dispossessing members of the public of their valuables in traffic.
Lagos state police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, told newsmen that the suspects were arrested in Victoria Island, Ojodu Berger, Oshodi, Obalende and Ilubirin areas of the state.
"The Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has directed the RRS Commander to deploy more operatives to Ojodu Berger, Lekki and Oshodi in order to ensure Ember months-free crime.
"Some operatives of the RRS's Decoy Team, in arresting one of the suspects, pretended to have had a broken down car under the Ilubirin Bridge around 4:23 a.m.
"The suspect showed up after a few minutes, trying to collect a handset and money from the policeman pretending to have a broken down vehicle.
"That was when the police arrested him," she said.
The spokesperson said the police also got complaints from the public about the activities of miscreants on road users with broken down vehicle in Ilubirin.
Badmos said some of the suspects took advantage of the traffic at Berger, Oshodi and other areas to rob motorists.
She said the command was on high alert to curb social miscreants who exploit traffic situations in the metropolis to dispossess Lagosians of their valuables.
"The suspects have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba for further investigation,'' she said. (NAN)
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Chief Alexander Mwolwus, says that his party members decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will regret their actions later.
The PDP stalwart spoke in an interview in Pankshin on Wednesday while reacting to the decamping of Sen. Joshua Dariye to the APC.
Dariye, a one-time governor of the state, alongside the Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Yusuf Gakdi, and many others decamped to the APC at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Wednesday.
The APC National Chairman Chief John Oyegun, Gov Simon Lalong, some national party leaders and members in the state received Dariye and his group.
Mwolwus, however, said that the PDP would come out of its problems and those who decamped would regret their actions.
"What they do not know is that PDP is coming out of its challenges very strong and will soon launch a serious move to unseat the ruling APC in 2019.
"We are leaving nothing to chance to clinch power come 2019, in spite of the negative and destructive activities of the moles in PDP,'' he said.
Mwolwus said that the PDP was strategizing to come back to power to rescue Nigerians from the hardship and pains.
He said that the departure of Dariye and others would not affect the PDP in the state.
The stalwart urged PDP loyalists not to bother about the action of the persons that decamped, but to concentrate on working toward how to regain power in 2019.
Gov.Kashim Shettima on Wednesday, justified his allocation of lion share of the states' 2017 budget to the education sector, saying the amount was needed for the reconstruction of schools destroyed by insurgents.
Out of the N183.3 billion budgetary estimate for the incoming year, Education was allocated N33 billion.
Explaining the rationale for the allocation, Shettima said the sector was worst hit by attacks of Boko Haram and that his administration was taking steps to revamp education in the state.
"Education is the sector which captures our attention the most. It is the area that has suffered the worst onslaught of the insurgents.
*Gov Kashim Shettima
"Our experiences have shown that its (education) inadequacy could be risky and its neglect could also be a recipe for insecurity even in the future.
"It is for this reason that the education sector alone, excluding the primary level, is allocated N33 billion for secondary and tertiary schools.
"The amount allocated is to enable us continue with the reconstruction, rehabilitation of the educational infrastructure and facilities at the secondary and tertiary levels.
"Furthermore, the huge budgetary provision is also to enable the full take-off of our newly recognized State University in 2017.
"It is also to ensure that more facilities and structures are put in place to obtain accreditation of all courses in faculties billed to take-off during the year,'' he said.
The governor lamented that most primary schools in the local government areas hitherto occupied by Boko Haram, were completely destroyed.
He reiterated his administration's determination to take full advantage of the emerging peace to change the fortunes of the state.
By Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin by one year.
Vanguard investigation showed that Buhari's decision to extend the tenure of the CDS which would have ended this weekend, was due to political maneuverings by vested interest who want to ensure that the two most powerful positions in the Military, that of the CDS and that of the Chief of Army Staff, remain in the core north.
It was further gathered that before the President order that General Olonisakin's tenure be extended by one year, the CDS had commenced the gradual evacuation of his personal effect and belongings from the office.
Gen Olonisakin CDS
He had no inkling that the tenure would be extended even though Mr President can decide on such extension as provided for in Law.
The CDS, who was the Commandant of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army in Niger State before his appointment, was at one time, the Commander, Nigerian Army Signals Corp and also served as the Principal General Staff Officer to a former Defence Minister among several other appointments.
A presidency source who confirmed the development to Vanguard said the action of Mr. President has shown divine intervention in the affairs of men noting that some persons had already concluded how offices in the military will be shared, notwithstanding that promotions and appointment has the backing of God.
Recall that early this month, the Defence minister issued a statement debunking media reports that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin has been retired and that his position has been handed over to the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The statement said, "The attention of the of the Minister of defence, Mansur Mohammad Dan Ali was drawn to some media publication claiming that he has sent letters to the Chief of Defence staff, General Abayomi Olnisakin and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas directing them to hand over their offices on or before Friday December 16, 2016.
"Please be informed that there was no such communication between the office of the minister of Defence and the service chiefs directing any one of them to hand over his office and proceed on retirement.
"The appointment and replacement of service chiefs is a prerogative responsibility of the office of the President and Commander in Chief", the minister said.
Tuesday Night, the 2016 edition of the Beat FM Christmas concert took place at The Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Davido performing at the Xmas Concert
Notable faces like Naeto C, Dorcas Fapson, VJ Adams, Ehiz, Bizzle, DJ Cuppy, DJ Lambo graced the event, which saw amazing performances from both international acts present at the concert.
There was an excellent mix of both International and local acts, which set the upbeat mood for the concert.
Also featured were notable Nigerian artistes such as Davido, Patoranking, Wande Coal, Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, Uzikwendu, Dammy Krane, Simi, Falz, Mayorkun and a couple of others
The concert opened with performances from Nigerian artistes like Saeon, Mayorkun, Uzi, Mologo, Dot man who dictated the mood and pace of the concert.
West London group, WSTRN thrilled the fans with some of their hit singles like In2A-list, Come down, Got love, Coming home, wait for it, Social, Trap love and the reception was very encouraging as the musicians gave an absolutely amazing performance at the concert.
London rap duo, Krept & Konan are not new to the Nigerian audience so it felt more like a back to back as they were here last year for the same concert. They also got fans screaming and singing along to some of their popular songs like Freak of the week, Young and Reckless
True to his moniker, Omo Baba Olowo, Davido brought the show to a standstill when he climbed on stage and gave a show stopping performance, which left revelers screaming.
Lil Kesh and Wande Coal at the Beat FM Xmas Concert
American hip-hop group, Migos gave a terrific performance as they kept the crowd cheering while they did the closing performance of the concert.
General Manager, Megalectrics, Deji Awokoya said he was elated at the turnout of music fans to the event.
Awokoya said: “We're proud to say the show was a success and it just goes to show that THE BEAT 99.9FM is the number one youth oriented radio station in Nigeria. The caliber of international acts and the response from the audience just goes to show that THE BEAT 99.9FM has a clearly defined target audience and we fully understand this audience and what makes them tick.”
He further said: “We hope to bring an even better experience next year so everyone should be on the lookout. Its important to mention that this event would not have been possible without the input of a lot of people that work at the station and I would like to personally say Thank you to my colleagues for their involvement in what was a great event.”
The concert was definitely one to remember for music lovers present at the venue. It was a fantastic experience also for the international acts as they were particularly happy to be performing to Africa's largest population.
In spite of a passionate plea by a housewife to the court to save her 18-year-old marriage, an Agege Customary Court in Lagos granted the prayers of her 50-year-old husband and businessman, Kingsley Onyenobi, and severed the relationship. Mr. Onyenobi accused his wife of, among others, giving the car he bought for her to her pastor as “sowing seed.”
The court ruled that allegations of infidelity and threat to life brought against the woman by the husband were weighty enough to warrant the dissolution of the marriage.
The President of the court, Mr Phillip Williams, who handed down the verdict, said he was fully convinced that the couple could no longer live together as husband and wife.
"The two of you should go your separate ways without any molestation or harassment," he ruled.
"The court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband."
The petitioner had on Feb. 11 filed a petition against his wife, Chioma, citing lack of care, infidelity and threat to life.
The mother of two, who is also businesswoman, denied the allegations and pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage, saying "I still love my husband."
"Please help me to beg him, I am not ready to leave my husband because I still love him," she said.
Earlier, the petitioner told the court that the wife had not given him peace of mind.
He described the woman as careless and uncaring as her attitude led to the death of their set of twins.
The estranged husband said he bought a brand new car for her only for her to give out the car to her church pastor on the pretext of "sowing seed".
"I injected millions of naira into her business and she could not give proper account till date; my wife is wasteful.''
In her defence, the respondent told the court that when she went for her church convention and the Holy Spirit told her not to go back home with all she brought to the venue.
"So, l left my car, jewellery and other things for the church.''
She said she could not stay at home most of the time because of the spiritual war the petitioner and his family had been waging against her.
"My pastor advised me to leave the house for some time."
Eleven children were killed when a bus driver lost control of his vehicle and ploughed into a Muslim procession marking the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in northern Nigeria, police said Wednesday.
The accident Tuesday in Malam Sidi village in Gombe state was due to a brake failure, said police spokesman Ahmed Usman.
“A total of 11 children died in the incident while 17 others were seriously injured,” Usman told AFP.
He said the victims were aged between 11 and 15, prompting an angry mob to descend on the bus driver and beat him to death.
Police have launched an investigation into the accident, he added.
Muslims in northern Nigeria celebrate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed with month-long religious gatherings and street processions.
Nigeria is almost evenly divided between a mainly-Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
By Emma Amaize, Godwin Oghre and Perez Brisibe OGHARA – THERE was wild jubilation, Wednesday, in Delta State following the news of the release of the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, from prison in the United Kingdom.
His kinsmen at Oghara and other Urhobo communities in the state, however, turned the affair to a carnival as they lined up the major streets dancing.
When Vanguard visited Oghara, his country home, Mosogar, Jesse, Sapele and other neighboring communities, joyous residents were seen chanting solidarity songs in honour of the former governor describing him as, "The hero of our time", "The resource control guru" and "Liberator of the oppressed, who paid the supreme price for the sake of his people."
The atmosphere was reportedly same among Urhobo folks in the United Kingdom, America and several other countries of the world,
One of Ibori's closest associates, Chief Ighoyota Amori, said: "Our joy know no bounds as the entire Urhobo nation, Deltans and the whole country await his triumphant return to his father land. Like Nelson Mandela, Obafemi Awolowo, Olusengun Obasanjo and many others of his type, Ibori remains our hero."
Amori, who is the Otota of Mosogar Kingdom, Ethiope West local government area of the state and top political strategist said that political associates and friends have concluded plan to specially celebrate not just his release, but the return of the former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori.
His words: "Every Urhobo man or woman and indeed Deltans and friends and political associates of the Odidigboigbo of Urhobo land, His Excellency, Chief James Onanefe Ibori is looking forward to the coming back home of our idol and head of our political dynasty."
"We will celebrate it like a thanksgiving and like the children of Israel, we will gather under his political umbrella frequently once again. We only missed his physical presence. James Ibori, welcome to our fatherland," he asserted.
Amori added" "No matter how long a road is, it must have an end. The long wait and expectation has come to a positive end. To God we give all the glory. There is no doubt that his incarceration/imprisonment in almost eight years now created a big political vacuum, which will now be filled by his triumphant return to his fatherland."
He stated: "Deltans missed a political field marshal, a mentor, a resource control apostle and the father of modern-day Delta state. One thing outstanding about him even while incarcerated is that he maintained touch with his political family and was able to keep the family intact with the family dominating the political landscape of Delta state till today. "
According to him, "With Ibori, all things are politically still possible, Ibori handed over to his erstwhile Commissioner for Health in the person of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was his SSG and who also handed over to also another Ibori Commissioner for Health, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who was also Dr. Uduaghan's SSG."
Another Ibori friend, Chief Ayirimi Emami, said: "The release of Ibori is long awaited by all Nigerians. My support for him is not about supporting corruption, but that his incarceration was political and the sponsors were/are corruption personified."
Also speaking to Vanguard, Chairman of Delta State Association of Past Local Government Legislators, Hon. Clement Olojoba, said, "Today (yesterday) that Chief Ibori is released is like a festival for all Urhobo people at home and in Diaspora. There is celebration all over the world now and we have all heave sigh of relief. Urhobo nation and Delta state as whole are blessed once again."
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