Nigerian music sensation Ayo Balogun, also known as Wizkid, will make his debut at popular Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival popular known as Coachella in Indio, California.

Coachella is one of the largest, most famous, and most profitable music festivals in the United States and all over the world.

The 2017 edition of the festival was attended by 250,000 people and grossed $114.6 million.

Wizkid who is one of Nigeria’s biggest exports, confirmed his participation on Tuesday.

He tweeted: “We’re taking the African culture to Coachella BTW and am bringing out everybody.”

The “Soco” crooner will be performing alongside international acts such as The Weekend, Beyoncé, and Eminem.

Others are Black Coffee, Jorja Smith, Migos, Cardi B, Jidenna, Tyler the Creator.

Meanwhile, `Daddy Yo’, Wizkid’s 2017 hit song is part of the soundtrack for British-Nigerian actor John Boyega’s new film, ‘Pacific Rim Uprising.’

‘Pacific Rim Uprising’, is an upcoming American science fiction and action film set for release onMarch 23.

The film is co-produced by Boyega, written and directed by Steven DeKnight in his feature film directorial debut.

It is now certain that Brazilian superstar Neymar will undergo surgery on his fractured foot in Brazil,  ruling him out of Paris Saint-Germain’s do-or-die Champions League clash with Real Madrid on 6 March.

The 26-year-old suffered a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot as well as a twisted ankle late in PSG’s 3-0 win over Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

PSG said Wednesday that Rodrigo Lasmar, the surgeon with the Brazilian national squad, will carry out the operation with several Brazilian media outlets reporting that the surgery would take place as early as Thursday.

Radio Tupi said Neymar, his father and surgeon Lasmar left Paris Wednesday night for Belo Horizonte’s Mater Dei Hospital where the operation is set for Thursday according to O Globo newspaper, one of Brazil’s leading dailies.

Website UoL also reported the surgery would take place in the southeastern Brazil city but said it was scheduled for Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Brazilian’s father had claimed the player would be out for “at least six weeks”.

Speaking to ESPN in Brazil before PSG’s announcement, Neymar Senior said: “PSG know that they will not be able to count on Neymar for the upcoming matches. His treatment will last six to eight weeks, whether there is an operation or not.”

PSG coach Unai Emery had said earlier that “no decision” had been taken on whether Neymar would require surgery and that there remained a “small chance” of getting him back in time to face Real next Tuesday, March 6.

PSG lost 3-1 in the first leg in Spain two weeks ago and are in danger of being knocked out of the competition in the last 16 for the second season running.

Neymar appeared to be in tears as he was stretchered off the field at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte claimed the former Barcelona player would be sidelined until May while, if his father’s estimate was correct, Neymar would not return before the semi-final stage of the Champions League in late April.

However, Neymar should be fit to play for Brazil at the World Cup in Russia in June and July.

In the meantime, PSG had to do without Neymar for Wednesday’s French Cup quarter-final at home to Marseille, the second meeting of the clubs in four days.

Argentine star Angel Di Maria replaced the Brazilian at the Parc des Princesand scored twice in a 3-0 win as PSG stayed on course to win the French Cup for the fourth season in a row.

But Emery was then confronted with another injury worry when striker Kylian Mbappe picked up an ankle injury in the game.

“Kylian Mbappe injured his ankle. He asked not to play the second half. I hope that it’s not too serious,” said Emery.

Neymar has scored 28 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions for PSG since his 222 million-euro ($264 million) move from Barcelona last August.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, Neymar’s foot injury has unleashed sharp emotions and concern, rumours and speculation about the player upon whom so many hopes rest for World Cup victory.

“We just might have lost the World Cup last Sunday,” one radio commentator, Milton Neves of Bandnews FM, said early Wednesday.

Brazilians care little about the impact on PSG. Their attention is entirely trained on the World Cup, where they have ambitions of walking away with a sixth championship.

Images of Sunday’s fateful duel between Neymar and Marseille player Bouna Sarr were being shown incessantly on TV, often in slo-mo, before he was stretchered off.

Newspapers featured close-up illustrations detailing Neymar’s foot and ankle.

“I don’t think we can really talk about fears of him not being at the World Cup. But there is a noticeable haste to find a solution so that Neymar will have recovered in time,” an ESPN Brasil sports commentator, Mauro Cezar Pereira, told AFP.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned Nigerians to be wary of investments in crypto currency as they are virtual currencies that are not legal tender in Nigeria.

The Apex Bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Isaac Okoroafor, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, and Exchanges such as NairaEx were not licensed or regulated by the CBN.

Okoroafor said that dealers and investors in any kind of crypto currency in Nigeria were not protected by law, thus may be unable to seek legal redress in event of failure of the exchangers or collapse of the business.

The CBN further warned Nigerians against investing in crypto currencies as doing so would be at their own risk.

The CBN had in Jan. 12, 2017, issued a circular to banks and other financial institutions on virtual currency operations in Nigeria.

In the 2017 circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Kevin Amugo, the CBN had among other issues noted that virtual currencies were traded in exchange platforms that were not regulated all over the world.

Amugo further noted that transactions in virtual transactions were largely untraceable and anonymous, thereby, making them susceptible to abuse by criminals in money laundering and financing of terrorism.

(NAN)

“Timothy and Daniel Elombah are journalists and not terrorists who should be free to continue their journalism without legal harassment or fear of going to jail. At least four bloggers have been prosecuted under the Cybercrime Act since 2015.” –CPJ

Lomé (Blank NEWS Online)—Nigerian authorities should immediately drop plans to charge Timothy and Daniel Elombah, editor and chief executive respectively, of the independent Elombah news website, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said.

A federal court in Abuja is scheduled to arraign the brothers on cybercrime and terrorism-related offenses on March 1, their lawyer Obunike Ohaegbu told CPJ.

“Timothy and Daniel Elombah are journalists and not terrorists who should be free to continue their journalism without legal harassment or fear of going to jail,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal from New York.  “Authorities should drop all legal proceedings against them and review Nigeria’s cybercrime law to ensure it is constitutional and is not abused to silence the press.”

Nigerian security forces detained the pair, along with several others, on January 1 for an allegedly defamatory article about Nigerian Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris that was published in the privately owned website Opinion Nigeria, and which the brothers have said they did not write, CPJ documented at the time.

Authorities released Daniel Elombah the same day he was arrested; Timothy was released on 500,000 Nigerian naira (US$1,400) bail after spending 25 days in police custody, according to Ohaegbu.

Elombah reports on the extremist group Boko Haram and has written critically about President Muhammadu Buhari’s son. Daniel Elombah denied that Elombah had anything to do with the article that police said prompted their arrest.

Jeff Okoroafor, the founder and publisher of Opinion Nigeria, told CPJ in January that police requested the article be removed, but that he refused. He said no further action was taken.

When CPJ called the headquarters of the Nigeria police in Abuja, the person who answered the phone said that he was not allowed to speak to journalists, and hung up.

If found guilty, the brothers could each face up to 10 years in jail under the Cybercrime Act, Daniel Elombah told CPJ.

At least four bloggers have been prosecuted under the Cybercrime Act since 2015, according to CPJ research.

The Delta State Government has approved the construction of ten thousand housing units for civil servants by Greenfield Assets Limited in Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Council of the state.

This was made public by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, after the State Executive Council meeting held inside the EXCO chambers in Government House, Asaba, on Tuesday.
He said that the approval is to alleviate the housing challenges facing civil servants in the state, especially Asaba, the state capital, with a view to making them more comfortable to meet the demands of their offices.
Also approved is the Phase 1 of the completion of the Udu Harbour Market, as well as the construction of concrete drains and discharge channel from Refinery Road through Aribogha Street, Jesus is Lord Street to the natural waterway by Regal Clinic, Jakpa Road, Effurun, in anticipation of the raining season.
In its avowed determination to connect all communities to major cities in the state, Mr. Ukah said that the government approved the continuation of the construction of Ibusa/Achalla/Asaba Road (Phase 1: 4.125 km) in Oshimili North Local Government Area, in addition to the construction of Ogulagha/Youbebe/Biniebiama Road (1,500 metres) in Burutu Local Government Area and the rehabilitation of Orogun-Emevor Road and Erhieta Road (4.6 kilometres).
Also approved is the completion of the New General Hospital Road with a spur to Joy Ariguzor Street, off Okpanam Road, in the state capital territory, the construction of Arhagba–Orogun Road (11.294 kilometres) in Ughelli North Local Government Area and the construction of Upper Ojekpolor Street, (1,150 metres) in Ika North East Local Government Area.

Following the inconsistency in the manner President Muhammadu Buhari is addressed at different functions, the Presidency has issued a statement on how he should henceforth be addressed.

The statement was issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in a circular dispatched to ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government.

Mustapha stated in the circular that henceforth, the president shall be addressed as: “Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

And in strictly Armed Forces programmes, “Commander-In Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria,” shall be added.

The circular reads in part: “Government has observed with concern the inconsistent manner in which the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria is addressed during Official and Private functions. It has therefore become necessary to have a standard format for addressing him at such formal occasions.

“To this end, Mr. President shall henceforth be addressed as ‘‘MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.’’ except in purely Armed Forces Programmes, where “COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA”

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N1.046 trillion into law.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the signing, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, said that Appropriation Bill, tagged ‘Budget of Development and Progress,’ would focus on completion of all ongoing projects.

Ashade put the projection for the internally generated revenue (IGR) at N897 billion, while the remaining part of the budget would be funded by deficit financing.

“Today is a good day in our state, the governor just signed the 2018 Appropriation Law.

“In terms of capital and recurrent expenditure, we have 63 per cent Capital and 37 per cent Recurrent and that shows that we are really big on infrastructural renewal.

“In terms of revenue, we are expecting a total of N897 billion both from the state and federal receipts, so the rest will be funded through budget deficit financing,” Ashade said.

Outlining the key components of the budget, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Olusegun Banjo, said capital expenditure would gulp N699.082 billion, while N347.039 billion is for recurrent expenditure.

According to Banjo, this represents a Capital/Recurrent ratio of 67 per cent to 33 per cent and a 28.67 per cent increase over year 2017 budget.

He also listed key projects captured in the 2018 budget to include the Agege Pen Cinema flyover; alternative routes through Oke-Ira in Eti-Osa to Epe-Lekki Expressway; the 8km Regional Road to serve as alternative route to connect Victoria Garden City (VGC) with Freedom Road in Lekki Phase I.

Banjo listed other projects to include completion of the ongoing reconstruction of Oshodi International Airport Road into a 10-lane road and the BRT Lane from Oshodi to Abule-Egba.

According to the breakdown, General Public Services will receive N171,623 billion, representing 16.41 per cent; Public Order and Safety, N46.612 billion, representing 4.46 and Economic Affairs, N473,866 billion, representing 45.30 per cent.

Environmental Protection, N54,582 billion, representing 5.22 per cent, while Housing and Community Amenities got N59,904 billion, representing 5.73 per cent.

Health sector got N92.676 billion, representing 8.86 per cent; Recreation; Culture and Religion got N12.511 billion, representing 1.20 per cent; Education received N126.302 billion representing 12.07 per cent; and Social Protection was earmarked N8.042 billion representing 0.77 per cent.

Provisions were made for completion of the five new Art Theatres and establishment of a Heritage Centre at the former Federal Presidential State House recently handed over to the state government.

There are also provisions for a world class museum between the former Presidential Lodge and the State House, Marina; construction of four new stadia in Igbogbo, Epe, Badagry and Ajeromi Ifelodun (Ajegunle) and completion of the on-going Epe and Badagry Marina projects.

On Housing, there are provisions for completion of ongoing projects especially those at Gbagada, Igbogbo, Iponri, Igando, Omole Phase I, Sangotedo and Ajara-Badagry under the Rent-to-Own policy, among others.

The governor also signed two critical bills into law — the Consolidated Transport Sector Bill and the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission Bill.

The Transport Sector Law 2018 provides for the development and management of a sustainable transport system in the state, as well as development, management and maintenance of transport infrastructure and facilities within the state.

The law also regulates the provision of an efficient transport delivery system and ensures availability of a safe and affordable transport delivery system and ensures availability of a safe and affordable transportation system.

It is hoped that with this law, an efficient integrated transport management system will evolve in the state.

The Teaching Service Commission Law 2018 provides for the control and management of teaching service matters in the state, and for connected purposes.

The law regulates and coordinates the management of teaching service matters and provides uniform guidelines for the effective management of Post-Primary Schools in the state.

(NAN)

*** SAY THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF NIGERIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY, OKERENKOKO

The people of Ugborodo Community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have told President Muhammadu Buhari that the recent visit of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja was nothing but a sham just as they restated their total support for the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

President Buhari last Friday in Abuja met Olu of Warri and he promised more goodies for the Niger Delta Region.

But in a Petition to President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, the people described the visit as a sham and deceitful aimed at covering up alleged atrocities carried out against the people of Ode Ugborodo on February 11, 2018.

The Petition was signed by Hon Thomas Metseagharun (The Toritsemogha of Ugborodo Land) and Pastor William Agbajor (The Balogun of Ugborodo Land.)

According to them;”Mr President, we the peace loving people of Ugborodo Community want to let you know that the visit of the Olu of Warri and his entourage to you on Friday, February 23, 2018 is a sham and deceitful in order to cover up the atrocities committed against the people at Ode Ugborodo on February 11,2018 by Chief Ayiri Emani, the Ologbotsere of Warri and his co-travellers  who have been causing mayhem, arson, killings, vandalization of property and looting in the area with the help of  illegal Military, Police, ethnic militias and hired thugs. Mr President, they  have  brought untold hardship to the people and you have been deceived by the visit of the Olu and his entourage”.

“Mr President, there have been reoccurring incidents of this manner over four times in this Ugborodo Community where the Olaja-Orori, Dube Omadeli is the head and leader of the people, where four persons- Chief Ayiri Emani, Chief Ereyitomi Thomas, Mr David Tonwe and Tuoyo Omatsuli and their cronies will not allow our Communities of Ode Ugborodo, Ogidigben, Ajudaibo, Mandagho and their environs to know peace for the past Thirteen years”.

“These  communities are underdeveloped because choice contracts such as Madangho to Ogidigben shoreline protection contract awarded to Chief Ayiri Emani, the Ologbotsere of Warri for multi million Naira without execution and Ode Ugborodo shoreline protection was also abandoned. Mr President, few  persons who have turned themselves into money bags and political hawks are milking our Communities dry. We the people of Ugborodo Community are deeply worried over the way things are going. We are being subjected to unnecessary hindrances when God has blessed us so much. All agents of destabilization should leave Ugborodo area alone. Chief Ayiri and his co-travellers disturbing the peace of Ugborodo should be called to order by the Federal Government”.

They called on the President to prevail on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris  to investigate the raid on Ugborodo Community, allegedly masterminded by Chief Ayiri Emami, the Ologbosere of Warri kingdom, an action which they claimed led to the death of three persons in the community on February 11, 2018.

They alleged that Chief Ayiri in company of heavily armed Police, Nigeria Army and hired mercenaries numbering more than 50 patrolled Ugborodo in gunboats and suddenly there were sporadic gunshots which caused panic, pandemonium and everybody ran into the bush for fear of being killed in the ensuing gunfire.

They claimed that  three persons were instantly gun down and others in the process of escaping, sustained different degrees of life threatening injuries.

They claimed also that the house of the Olaja-Orori of Ugborodo Community, Benson Dube Omadeli  was set ablaze following the alleged instructions dished out to the hired mercenaries by Ayiri, who massively damaged the house under construction in the community.

They  alleged that  the property belonging to the National Youth President of Ugborodo Community, Mr. Ofe Penda Nene, were destroyed and others  set ablaze.

They further alleged that  the property of Richard Arubi and Williams Agbajor were also not spared as they were equally destroyed and set ablaze in Ugborodo community.

They  claimed that Ayiri  based his actions on the ground that  Omadeli  declared  himself the king of the community, hence the raid on his people.

According to them, Ugborodo is an autonomous Community in Warri South West Local Government Area and  host to many oil firms and has been existing since the 13th century, saying that;”It predates Giniwa, the first Olu of Itsekiri, then also the Colonial Masters and our present day Nigeria where the present head and spiritual leader, Dube Omadeli, the Olaja-Orori of Ugborodo land, Suoo V 1 and his people are autonomous Community.

“Ugborodo is an autonomous community. We have been in existence since 13 AD. It is the oldest community in this area and we are not under anybody. The leadership of this community is under the leadership of the Olaja-Orori  under the leadership of Benson Dube Omadeli. Because of the wealth found in this community, people outside started calling us all types of negative names. There are some people who are hell bent on destroying this community. We are fighting against  these agents of destruction and stabilization and we are saying that we can no longer allow people to use us again. All the people fighting us are not living in this community. You cannot change who we are. We know that we originate from Ode in Ijebu land. We are from the Yoruba lineage,” they added.

According to them;”Since the advent of oil exploration and exploitation in 1959 to date, the whole ecosystem both land and water have been polluted and degraded. Our lovely means of livelihood of fishing and farming are gone. We do not have good water, no electricity, no schools, no hospitals, no houses, no means of transportation and other necessary modern social amenities are lacking, yet some few individuals have enriched themselves at the detriment of the people and their communities”.

“Mr President, we are in total support of the Nigerian Maritime University already located in our next door neighbour of Gbaramatu Kingdom and this our support for the University is making those in Warri area to be angry against Ugborodo land and Gbaramatu Kingdom. The establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko will bring rapid development to the area and the entire Niger Delta Region. We are next door neighbours and nobody can come between us”, they said.

By OSHALOTO Joseph Tade—
Blank NEWS Online/Nigeria:
Upfront, I sympathize with parents and loved ones of the kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirls. As a Yorùbá man, our sadness over a lost child is deeper than losing them to death. Hence the adage “ọmọ ẹni kú sàn j’ọmọ ẹni nù lọ”. When the whereabouts of one’s child/ren are unknown, the heartache this evokes is simply untold. I can only imagine how distressed the Dapchi iyayes are currently feeling.

Facts however are a stubborn thing. Facts around the objects of our national strength and defense are staggering. They are nagging, too.

From Borno to Zamfara, Benue, Nasarawa via Kogi and elsewhere in the North and South of Nigeria, women hold their heads and cry as their sons and daughters are being molested, raped, kidnapped and killed needlessly.

Our country has been hit times and again by the plague of fundamentalism and banditry that we watched grow – and perhaps nurtured – to very dangerous entities.

How sad that these forces are now clearly many steps ahead of our nationhood. They are ahead of our country’s military and intelligence community.

These are clearly leadership failures that transcend an individual leader, though each of them must bear the statistics of happen during their terms, that say so much about how poorly we have arranged our priorities. It tells of what importance we allocate to the things that really matter; like the sanctity of life, dignity of the human person. The stubborn facts are projecting us as savages. This must be reversed.

Dapchi kidnap will form the latest experiment of our government’s ability and resoluteness to wake up and shake off everything tying us down. Every single one of these schoolgirls represents the delicate but grateful and bright future that must be cared for with every single aspect of our national strength.

The legitimacy and popularity of this administration will be terribly bugged if these girls stay 48 hours longer in the camps of these devils.

KANO, Nigeria, February 23, 2018/ — Eight hundred Kano youth enjoyed a day of non-stop Rugby action at SAS Stadium, Kano last Thursday. Boys and girls, junior and seniors, schools and communities competed in eight different categories to win trophies as well as school fees for each winning team.

Once again, The Kano Rugby Grand Patron, His Highness The Emir of Kano; Muhammad Sanusi II graced the occasion, and this year, we also enjoyed the support of Acting Governor Kano State Prof. Hafiz Abubakar as well as the Deputy High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Harriet Thompson.

Watched by an additional two hundred school children and supporters, all those present agreed the tournament was not just bigger, but the rugby was of a higher standard than previous years. Credit must go to the iTry coaches and organisers who delivered the event, proof that rugby has taken hold in Kano State.

The winners were:

⁃ Junior Girls Touch Rugby – Ahmadiyya College
⁃ Junior Boys Touch Rugby – Minjibir Community
⁃ Senior Girls Touch Rugby – Basic College
⁃ Junior Boys Schools Touch Rugby – Basic College
⁃ Junior Boys Tackle Rugby – Barewa II
⁃ Senior Boys Touch Rugby – Minjibir Community
⁃ Senior Boys School Tackle Rugby – Aminu Kano Community College AKCC
⁃ Senior Boys Tackle Rugby – Barewa

Delta state government has enjoined youths to always exhaust every available means of dialogue, reconciliation and arbitrations before taking actions that may be inimical to societal development.

The Commissioner in the Directorate of Youth Development, Chief Oghenekaro Ilolo, who also expressed state government’s readiness to partner with the various youth organizations in the state, said this while playing host to leaders of the Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) in his office in Asaba.

He urged them to ensure that dialogue is evolved as a necessary tool for resolving grievances so that such grievances does not escalate into an uncontrollable conflict situation, adding that youths in the state should always collaborate with government at all times.

He promised to hold meetings with leadership of youth bodies in the state across board to discuss and review youth activities in the various local governments and ethnic nationalities and come up with possible solutions to tackle the challenges faced by youths in the state.

“Dialogue with youths helps resolve grievances before they snowball into violence and conflict which is much more expensive because lives are lost and properties are destroyed.

“The youths must be seen to be collaborating with government in every possible way so that we can have less conflicts and less issues. We should put our issues on the table through proper dialogue to avert unnecessary conflicts and frictions. These meetings would help us to chat a pathway for possible collaboration.

“Our drive is to find a common ground whereby the issues associated with the youths is looked into and government will be happy to sustain the existing peace in the state and the youths have a very big role to play as far as these issues are concerned. We are creating the enabling environment for us to interact from time to time and we will all reap in the benefits.”

He futher appealed to them to become useful to the society and jettison the “Ose” ideology and erace the stigma that attaches youths to violence which he said has greatly affected the integrity of youths in the state.

According to him, “The era now is driven by knowledge, balanced wisdom, laced with technology. Our youths should concern themselves with useful engagements like awareness campaigns, enlightenment, entrepreneurial endeavors and farming.

In his remarks, President of Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA), Comrade Umuakpo Ovie said he is optimistic that Chief Oghenekaro Ilolo’s new office will turn around the fortune of Isoko youths and entire youths of Delta state, adding that INYA is ready to partner with the state government if some of the issues affecting the Isoko nation are substantially addressed.

Some of the issues raised by him include gross marginalization of the Isoko nation by both the federal and state governments, in terms of political patronage, non inclusion of Isoko youhs in the amnesty programme and inadequate budgetary allocation for infastructure and road projets in Isoko.

According to him, “We will only give support to government based on what is placed on the table of Isoko nation.”

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is scheduled to commission one of the earlier abandoned multi-purpose Skill Acquisition Centres, located in Umutu Community, Ukwuani Local Government Area.

The project which was allegedly awarded during the tenure of the second democratically elected governor of the state, Chief James Ibori who assumed office in 1999, had been left uncompleted by the successive administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, until the administration of incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Okowa decided to complete the project in line with its five-point policy programme.

Executive Director, Social Services Development, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), Hon Christopher Ochor Ochor, who carried out an on the spot inspection of some projects being carried out by the commission in the area, disclosed on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 that in the next few weeks, the skill acquisition centre would be among projects to be inaugurated in the area.

Other projects inspected include, the section B of the de-flooding of the Obiaruku Market, the Perimeter fencing of the Emmanuel Uduaghan Civic Centre, in Obiaruku, the Ekpemili Primary School, Obi-Ogene, Ebedei, among others.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise, Ochor Ochor, said that because of the importance the governor has for human capital development, especially for the teeming youths of the state, at assumption of office, he directed that the centre be transferred to the commission from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, which was the original executors of the project.

“His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, because of his promises to the people of Ukwuani, and his penchant to impact on the youths in the state skills that will help them contribute positively to the state economy, directed the commission to take over the job from the State Ministry of Youths and Sports”.

According to Hon Ochor, the centre has a history which spans a period of time, saying, “The centre has a history, which was from the Ministry of Youths and Sports, and that phase has ended, this is another phase.”

While thanking the governor on behalf of the people of the local government for making provisions to ensure that the project is completed, said that if completed and commissioned, it will not only be a centre of training for basic skills that will develop human and economic capacity of the area, but will also provide both direct and indirect employment to the people of Umutu and other communities in the area.

“Completion of this centre will not only afford the people of this area the opportunity to acquire the basic knowledge in skills that will help them to leave a better life, but will also provide direct and indirect jobs for the people”

Speaking further, Hon Ochor affirmed the readiness of DESOPADEC to continue the provisions of the necessary solutions that will improve lives of the people of the mandate area, as enshrined in the agenda of the present government, which they had done since the assumption of the present board.

“The present board met a contract job of about N10 billion, and since our mandate was complete and commission, we had been completing and commissioning many of those jobs we met, and we will continue to do so for the good of the people”, he added.

*Calls On Deltans To Collect PVC

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Executive Director (Finance and Administration) at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun (Hon.) Askia Ogieh JP, has affirmed that the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV), has devised strategies to spearhead the re-election of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the Governor of Delta State in the 2019 general elections.

Bashorun Askia, who spoke at the backdrop of ongoing support and mobilization rallies organized by the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV), said the drive is aimed at strengthening the unity in the party in Delta state, reaffirming its stand to help build confidence and mobilize Deltans to massively support the Governor’s second coming.

Bashorun Askia, who is also a chieftain of the Delta Political Vanguard (DPV) which is the Mass Mobilisation and Sensitisation organ of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,
expressed happiness in the resounding pledge of all PDP faithful to support the mission and vision of DPV to ensure that the party retains and sustains its firm political grip on the electorates across the state.

He disclosed that DPV has commenced harmonization processes in the 25 local government areas of the state through effective sensitization and mobilization of the people at the grassroots as well as further engaging the party executives at the ward and local government levels in the drive to facilitate reconciliatory processes and entrench discipline and unity among party members.

According to him, “As the Mass Mobilisation and Sensitisation organ of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, we are not resting on our oars as PDP chieftains. We are all out to work vigorously for the general interest of the party in Delta state headed by Olorogun Barr. Kingsley Esiso and with a commitment to ensure electoral victory for all PDP candidates.”

Bashorun Askia Ogieh said, “Governor Okowa has demonstrated equity in the distribution of projects across the three senatorial districts and in the appointment of political office holders in the state.”

He therefore encouraged Deltans who are 18 years and above to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) to enable them exercise their voting rights in the forthcoming elections.

Bashorun Askia, urged all PDP members who may have left the party while the internal crisis lasted to return and also encouraged those intending to join from other political parties that the PDP umbrella is wide enough to accommodate everybody willing to participate in building a peaceful, united and progressive Delta state and Nigeria.

– As Govt Signs Joint Venture Agreement On Multi-Billion Naira Agro-Industrial 

In its commitment to developing and harnessing the agricultural potentials in Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has gone into partnership with private investors to establish a multi-billion naira agro-industrial park in the state.
This was made known when the members of the Committee on Agro-Industrial Park led the joint ventures partners to the state government, Mirai Technologies Ltd and Norsworthy Investment Ltd on a courtesy visit to the governor in Government House, Asaba.
The visit came immediately a Joint Venture Agreement on the development of an agro-industrial park between the state government, Mirai Technologies Ltd and Norsworthy Investment Ltd was signed in the Office of the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Asaba.
Congratulating them, the governor expressed his delight that the joint venture has been signed and that the committee has come to the highpoint of the establishment of an industrial park.
He said the process which has taken two years is an example of Public Private Partnership (PPP) which when completed would create employment for the youths and ensure food security in the state.
He urged the investors to hit the ground running, “I look forward to the process that will lead to the ground breaking ceremony. Lots of people are interested in agriculture and are confident in investing in it”.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa charged youths in the state to go into agriculture as a sustainable means of livelihood and as the future of Nigeria. He said his administration will continue to encourage all Deltans to go into agriculture, especially the youths through the Youth Agricultural and Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and Micro Credit Scheme.
Earlier in his brief, the Chief Job Creation Officer and the Chairman of the Committee on Agro-Industrial Park, Prof Eric Eboh, emphasized that a significant milestone has been made with the signing of the joint venture agreement between the partners after 2 years ago of rigorous due process of feasibility study, review, revalidation, negotiation, approval and ratification.
He recalled that the establishment of an agro-industrial park is the brain child of the governor right from his gubernatorial manifesto in line with his vision of developing agricultural value chain and promoting agro-industrialization of the state.
Responding differently, the Managing Director of Mirai Technologies Ltd, Mr Roy Tal and the Managing Director of Norsworthy Investment Limited, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie commended the governor for his vision, saying they are ready to invest to help him realise his vision of creating employment and growing the economy of the state.
They emphasized that in a country of about 180 million people, agriculture is the way to go and is the future of Nigeria, assuring the state government that in few years to come, the fruits of the investment will be seen.

In continuation of its job creation programme, the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has reiterated its commitment to building young entrepreneurs who would become key drivers of the economic diversification in the state.

Governor Okowa stated this at the three day Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training (OPET) for 745 trainees engaged in the 2017/2018 cycle of its Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) taking place at Songhai Delta, Amukpe in Sapele Local Government Area.

Congratulating the trainees who are of the third cycle since the inauguration of the programme, Governor Okowa said it is his vision to make Delta youths self-employed and engaged in sustainable ventures. “This is an opportunity that you should not treat casually. It is packaged for Delta youths; you are at the centre right from the planning and implementation in line with best practices,” he remarked.

While stating that the third cycle underscores the commitment of the state government to ensure that the programme is sustained, he disclosed that the state government is in partnership with the World Bank through the State Employment and Expenditure for Result Projects (SEEFOR).

He added that the OPET is the first phase of the training, listing the job creation programmes to include the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and the Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP).

He said the state government is committed to building a new generation of entrepreneurs who do not only have vocational skills, but who are personally effective, efficient, disciplined and possess the ability to manage themselves, time and resources, “We are poised to move you from the state of dependency to that of independency; to transform unemployed or misemployed youths to become gainfully employed and agents of economic transformation.”

The governor represented by the Chief Job Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, disclosed that the trainees after the OPET in Songhai Delta would be posted to various training centres across the state for three to six months training, after which they would receive Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT) before establishment with starter packs. He added that they are to resume training at such centres on the 1st of March, 2018.

While advising them to take their training seriously, he said his vision is that they grow to become great entrepreneurs, leaders and managers. “Your success is our success. The success of this administration is measured by your success,” he pointed out.

Responding differently, Oghenetoni Edaghware in Fishery (Ughelli South LGA) and Henrietta Onah in Fashion Design & Tailoring (Ukwuani LGA) thanked the state government for the opportunity given to them to be trained to become self-employed and job creators.

They promised to be focused and committed to the vision of the governor of nurturing them into great entrepreneurs, leaders and business managers.

• “South Africa must come first in everything that we do.”

Cyril Ramaphosa has taken over from Jacob Zuma as the President of South Africa.

This followed his selection on Thursday by the country’s lawmakers after the resignation of Zuma on Wednesday.

Zuma had been in a power struggle with Ramaphosa, his deputy president.

Ramaphosa emerged without the casting of votes as he was the only candidate nominated, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told assembled lawmakers at a special sitting of the parliament in Cape Town..

Cyril Ramaphosa took over the mantle of leadership of South Africa on Thursday declaring that the interest of the country must come first.

“South Africa must come first in everything that we do,” he declared.

He said that as the president of the country, he had become a servant and promised to discharge his work with humility.

He said it was no time to be frivolous, but to tackle the main issues affecting the country.

He expressed interest in the need to ensure patriotism and fight corruption among other issues.

The new president said the people of South Africa must come together and tackle their common problems without having to shout at one another.

He expressed appreciation to the lawmaker for giving him the opportunity to serve, promising to always be in contact with them.

Said he:  “I will do all these as a servant of our people. Once one is elected as president, you become a servant.

“I will seek to do that task with humility and faithfulness.

“Many of the lawmakers have spoken about unity and how to work for our people. I will adopt and accept the advice.

“We have to work together on how to improve the lives of our people rather than grandstanding.

“Issue of corruption, strengthening state enterprises are issues that we will be addressing. Also issue of patriotism.

“South Africa must come first in everything that we do.”

South Africa’s embattled President Jacob Zuma has resigned his office with immediate effect.

He made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening.

Earlier, Mr Zuma’s governing ANC party told him to resign or face a vote of no confidence in parliament on Thursday.

The 75-year-old has been under increasing pressure to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC’s new leader.

Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, faces numerous allegations of corruption.

His resignation came at the end of a long speech in which he said he disagreed with the way the ANC had acted towards him.

He said he did not fear a motion of no-confidence, adding: “I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability.”

Mr Zuma also said that violence and division within the ANC had influenced his decision to step down.

“No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect,” he said.

“Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC.

“As I leave I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC, the organisation I have served… all of my life.”

The ANC issued a statement saying Mr Zuma’s resignation provided “certainty to the people of South Africa”.

Mr Zuma, a former member of the ANC’s military wing in the days of apartheid, rose through the ranks of the party to become president.

He led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid.

But he leaves office with several scandals hanging over him, and with South Africa’s economy in dire straits.

Source:  BBC

Palestine is considering legal options in case Israel and the U.S. choose to derail negotiations on the Israel-Palestine settlement, Foreign Minister Riyad Maliki told Sputnik in an interview.

Palestine has been seeking a new format of peace talks with broader mediator participation since refusing to let the U.S. remain the sole main mediator following the latter’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

“We are asking for advice from many internationally recognised legal experts to help us also to focus on different specific legal tracks and to see what we could do in the near future when it comes to this.

“You know, if the negotiations track is closed by the rejection of Israel and the U. S., that means that they are not leaving us with many options but to focus on the legal one,” Maliki said.

Maliki underlined that Palestine has signed over 100 international conventions and agreements containing certain conditions on how member states should or could act.

“We believe will be reviewing all these bylaws of the hundreds of conventions and agreements, we’ll see if we could also utilise them in order also to use them within the legal track also in that sense,” the minister stressed.

According to Maliki, Palestine may ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank or could go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or courts within different countries to hold Israel accountable for its actions.

“First of all, Israel represents an occupying power, and this is something we should really address maybe through the ICJ.

“When it comes to the criminal actions committed by the Israeli government then we could back to the ICC, when it comes to some actions taken by Israel like trying to sell settlement products then we will go to the European court, or to the national country courts,” he explained.

He also said the Palestinian government does not intend to self-dissolve and hand control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to Israel.

On Monday, Nabil Shaath, the foreign affairs adviser of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Sputnik that some within the Palestinian National Authority were discussing the option of dissolving the administration of the autonomy and let Israel bear the full brunt of running the occupied West Bank.

“No, you know, the current status of the Palestinian authority was created by Oslo agreements and was supposed to end in 1999 with moving into a full-fledged state.

“This did not happen, so obviously, if we want to move from where we are, we are not talking about a regression to the status, we should really talk about how we can really move closer to the state which was given to us by the UN resolution of Nov. 29, 2012, which says that the state of Palestine is under occupation,” Maliki said.

Commenting on Shaath’s words, the foreign minister stressed that these were referring to the mood of some in the administration who are dissatisfied with the fact that Israel continues to occupy the West Bank but does not pay any of the costs while refusing to move closer to the two-state solution.

“This is really a discussion that continues to be heard within the Palestinian circles just to give back Israel full responsibilities of the occupation and let them really face all this financial and others security challenges,” he said.

The minister said the main objective was nevertheless to “move forward” to declaring a full-fledged Palestinian state.

(Sputnik/NAN)

Former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan appears to be tired of fighting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in court and has asked for out-of-court settlement.

In a January 30, 2018 letter, titled “Proposal for out-of-Court Settlement of all cases related to Dame (Mrs.) Ibifaka Patience Jonathan,” she told the EFCC of her intention to settle the matter.

The letter, which was written by her counsel, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), is being considered by the EFCC.

The letter said: “As senior counsel, representing Dame (Mrs.) Patience Jonathan (former First Lady) and companies linked to her and some family members, associates, companies and NGOs, we have thought it fit to engage your commission in a discussion over all issues involving her and the commission with a view to having amicable resolution of all cases as stated above.

“This will enable both sides create an atmosphere for mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence. We will therefore appreciate it, if you can give us an appointment at your earliest convenience to have a discussion over all matters involving her and members of her family.

“We believe that an amicable settlement will be in the best interest of both your commission and our client.

“We assure you of our utmost commitment and sincerity of purpose in this connection, and we solicit your cooperation in this regard. Please, accept the assurances of our warm regards.”

Her letter came as EFCC stumbled on more startling information on how she piled up dollar deposits in Skye and First banks, including how she lavished part of the money.

According to TheNation, she blew thousands of dollars at highbrow stores in various capitals of the world.

The cash came from $11,849,069.03, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said 31 individuals and companies paid into her two domiciliary accounts.

The accounts, which are Skye Bank (2110001712) and First Bank (2022648664) had “questionable deposits” between 2013 and 2017.

The Skye Bank account had about $7,452,319.32 lodged in it. Detectives found $4,036,750.00 in the second account with First Bank.

The ex-First Lady allegedly spent the cash at TFS stores, Selfridges, John Lewis, Kingsgate, Sainsbury’s, Harrods, Marks and Spencer, Dolce and Gabbana, and Gina.

She went on a shopping spree in expensive outlets in the United States, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, UAE, Italy and China.

The highest shopping was at Goyard Beijing in Beijing CN on January 28, 2014 where Mrs. Jonathan shelled out $28,388.72.

On the same day at Hulian Xinguang Beijing CN, she blew $13, 069.68 on some luxury items.

An EFCC source told The Nation that it iDVD considering the Former First Lady’s offer if settlement.

“We have received a letter from the ex-First Lady, we are studying it on whether or not to accept the out-of-court settlement or allow justice to take its course.”

Apart from the cash, the ex-First Lady is linked to 12 choice properties and a plot of land on which a building is being built.

The investigative team had recommended that Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 be invoked on the properties after due verification.

The assets linked to Mrs. Jonathan in Port Harcourt are: Former Customs Service officers mess; two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; 3 Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel along airport road.

In Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House along Sani Abacha Expressway which is housing Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha Expressway.

(NAN)

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday agreed in principle to resign within a time frame of three to six months, said ANC secretary general on Tuesday.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said this when briefing the media in Johannesburg about ANC’s NEC (National Executive Committee) meeting last night.

He said the NEC resolved to recall Zuma and will brief Parliament caucus on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the decision by the ANC national executive followed 13 hours of tense deliberations and one, short face-to-face exchange between Zuma and his presumed successor, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Tottenham Hotspur recovered from conceding twice in the opening nine minutes to secure a 2-2 draw away to Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie.

Gonzalo Higuain struck for Juve on Tuesday after two minutes and again from the penalty kick spot after nine minutes as Tottenham were rocked, but the visitors responded in impressive fashion.

Harry Kane fired home in the 35th minute to halve the deficit before Higuain wasted the chance to score a hat-trick.

The Argentine’s penalty kick on the stroke of halftime hit the crossbar.

On the other hand, Kane’s strike was the first goal Juventus have conceded in 2018.

Tottenham were rewarded for their endeavour when Christian Eriksen’s free-kick levelled it up in the 71st minute.

It means that the Londoners will fancy their chances of knocking out last year’s runners-up in next month’s second leg at Wembley.

Tottenham arrived full of confidence after winning their group containing last year’s winners Real Madrid, but they suffered a dreadful opening 10 minutes.

Juventus, unbeaten in their previous 26 home matches in Europe, took the lead after two minutes.

A clever free-kick by Miralem Pjanic picked out Higuain who swivelled to volley right-footed past Hugo Lloris.

Tottenham had barely put two passes together when they fell further behind seven minutes later from the penalty kick spot.

Ben Davies was caught napping and his clumsy foul on Federico Bernardeschi gave the referee an easy decision to point to the penalty kick spot.

Higuain duly converted in spite of Lloris guessing the right way and getting a touch on the ball.

The rest of the half belonged to the visitors as they shrugged of the double blow to dominate possession.

With Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele pulling the strings for Tottenham in midfield.

Juve retreated and they were indebted to veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for two fine saves to deny in-form striker Kane.

There was nothing he could do though when Dele Alli picked out Kane in the 35th minute and the England striker drifted past the goalkeeper before coolly sliding home.

Tottenham had a huge let-off on the stroke of half-time when they were caught on the counter-attack and Douglas Costa enticed Serge Aurier into a desperate lunge to concede another penalty.

Higuain took the ball but rather than celebrate a first-half hat-trick his penalty kick rattled against the crossbar.

Juventus played more like the away side in the second half with Tottenham again pressing.

The hosts however went close with Lloris saving well from Bernardeschi and Mario Mandzukic then heading straight at the French goalkeeper.

Eriksen, arguably the best player on the pitch, levelled for Tottenham in the 71st minute when his low free-kick deceived Buffon and nestled in the corner.

(Reuters/NAN)

Nigeria (Blank NEWS Online) –By Albert OGRAKA:

As Nigerians, especially Christians continue to ponder on the way out of the present rising spate of insecurity in the country, women across Delta state, led by the First Lady, Dame Edith Okowa, were all in tears, wailing and praying to God as a last resort, to redeem them from their predicaments.

The intercession prayer, organized by wife of Delta state governor and founder of 05-Initiative, Dame (Mrs.) Edith Okowa is the 11th edition of the annual Delta Mothers’ Day Of Prayer, tagged “Mothers Arise –Let Your Voice Be Heard.

Speaking on the theme, “Brokenness: Need For A Successful Walk With God” on Monday, February 12, 2018 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Dame Okowa stated that “God has given us liberty to cry to him in our 18th year and we will blow our trumpet 18 times.”

She noted that “Until you understand that something is wrong with you, you cannot solve it”, adding that “There is an urgent need to take a stand for Christ to be able to sustain the good things God has promised us.”

The First Lady urged all Christian mothers to exhibit a character adorned with every Christian grace and the broken spiritual nature which God has endowed in them, saying that “Brokenness is the cost required for maximum usefulness to attract God’s divine defense of His chosen people. The reason why we do not change for the better after hearing the word of God is because we are not broken.”

She further encouraged Nigerian women to be positive in their thoughts, actions and prayers for the nation as well as ensure that their children and wards uphold good and responsible values.

She however thanked Mrs. Roli Nere Uduaghan for initiating the programme, which she described as a good seed sown in Delta state. “She has planted a good seed in Delta state. It is a good seed that you will water. If this seed was not good we will not water it. You pointed us to Christ. You thought us the way of Christ. You made us to raise alters in different parts of Delta state

Earlier in her welcome charge, Barr. (Mrs.) Kesiena Samson challenged women to be productive in the House of God by surrendering to God Almighty, stressing that brokenness is the pass mark for anyone who wants to get through to God.

In her message of exaltation and lecture on the theme, “Brokenness: Need For A Successful Walk With God”, Pastor Mrs. Ruth Aifobokhia posited that women can stand up to make positive changes in a nation through Godly influence after being broken to take up responsibilities and challenges that may arise at any time.

In her message chosen from the Holy Bible books of Jeremiah 33:6; Hosea 6:1; Psalms 51:8, Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 31:9 and James 4:9 respectively, she said that brokenness brings about healing, successes, security, stability and truth.

“A woman that is broken receives a new heart. It removes guilt and brings joy. Having received a heart to know God and delivered from stumbling, brokenness gives a position of headship and rulership and God will make the later part of our lives to be purposeful and productive.”

Leading the payer for the nation, Brother Geoffrey Onyeonachie lamented the unprecedented spate of national insecurity which has resulted in unwholesome gruesome attacks and terrorizing of innocent citizens by armed herdsmen who engages in kidnappings, armed robbery and other social vices.

Prayer sessions were anchored by Venerable Charles Osemenem, Pastor Chuks Anizior, Evangelist Ngozi Bamah, Pastor Matthew Ezedom and Brother Geoffrey Onyeonachie for the Church, Family, Community, Delta state and the Nigeria nation.

The prayer session which featured rendition of hymns, songs of praise and worship to God, was attended by Christian women of faith from within and outside Delta state, including the wives of former Governor and Deputy Governor of the state, Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan and Mrs. Nelly Utuama; wife of former CAN National Chairman Mama Helen Oritsejafor, wives of Bishops, Pastors, traditional rulers and the Anglican Communion.

Death has laid its icy hands on Ghanaian dancehall artist Ebony Reigns. Ebony was involved in a car accident and died at the Bechem Government Hospital.

Ebony was allegedly returning from Sunyani after a visit when the accident occurred.
The driver however survived and is receiving treatment.

Reliable information available to us indicates Ebony was returning to Accra to make preparations for a trip to America.

Eyewitness account of how Ebony died
An eyewitness only identified as Ken Yeboah has given a chilly account of how Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Ebony Reigns died in an on head collision with a VIP bus at Nyamebekyere near Mankranso in the Ahafo Ano South, a district in the Ashanti Region on Thursday.

Two others according to the report contained in an audio from Kumasi-based Ultimate FM indicates that a military officer and a young girl in her mid fifteens also died in the ghastly accident involving the black Jeep car of the musician and the VIP bus at about 11Pm on Thursday.

“No one in the bus was dead or injured but occupants of the Jeep vehicle were hurt. The passengers told us the accident involved another car and that a soldier and a small girl were trapped in the vehicle. We called fire service from Bechem and when they came they were incapacitated so they relied on their colleagues in Sunyani who managed to open the mangled vehicle before they could retrieve the bodies. I saw her she was the Ebony we know”

A brief history
Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng (born 16 February 1997; known by the stage name Ebony) is a Ghanaian dancehall/Afrobeats artist widely known for her hit songs “Poison” and “Kupe”, she was discovered by Bullet, a member of Ruff n Smooth fame.

Ebony was discovered by renowned musician and entrepreneur Bullet of Ruff n Smooth fame when she sent a recording of her voice and was signed to his Rufftown record label just a day after listening to the recording.

Ebony came out with her first single, “Dancefloor”, in December 2015 with a video and audio release.

The song became a hit on radio landing her nomination for the unsung category at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards.

In March 2016 Ebony released her major hit single “Kupe”, which is a household anthem in Ghana and some other African countries.

Ebony is signed to ruff town records and Midas touch Inc.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the policy proposed by Federal Government in response to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country is not meant to colonize any part of the country.

Buhari regretted that the well-thought out policy of the Federal Government, which was conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.

He told Catholic Bishops, under the aegis of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, in Abuja on Thursday that the intention of government is to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, which has now been misconstrued as another form of colonization.

He, however, assured the Catholic Bishops that the Federal Government will continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.

Condemning recent spate of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states, the President said security operatives would ensure prosecution of perpetrators and all those found with illegal arms in the affected areas.

‘‘The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened, is dishonest.

‘‘At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian army, in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos.

‘‘I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get law enforcement agencies to be on alert,’’ he said.

The President told the Catholic Bishops that he would not be tired of recounting remarkable progress recorded in the areas of security, economy and the fight against corruption.

‘‘We have done very well on security in the North East, when you compare what the condition was before we came in and what it is now.

‘‘On the economy, particularly agriculture, I am very pleased that God answered the prayers of Nigerians who prayed for bountiful harvest.

‘‘People have taken advantage of Federal Government policies and programmes to return to the farm and they have not regretted,’’ he said.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, who led the Catholic bishops pledged that the Catholic Church in Nigeria would continue to support the Buhari administration and make its contribution to nation-building through prayers, admonitions and assistance to needy Nigerians.

‘‘As the voice of the people, we shall continue to highlight the plight of our people and play our prophetic role of sensitising the government, thus promoting good governance, national unity and cohesion,’’ Kaigama said.

By Albert OGRAKA —

The plot by Delta state governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to drop some alleged non performing Commissioners and members of the State Executive Council has finally been hatched.

The governor’s plan was first published by Blank NEWS Online on January 30, 2018 with the title “Tension Builds Up In Delta Over Planned Sack Of Commissioners By Gov. Okowa.”

The two commissioners who were dropped were Dr. Nicholas Azinge [Health], and Chief Dan Okenyi [Culture & Tourism], while those reassigned are Hon Asupa Forteta, formerly of the Directorate Of Youths Development, now heads the Urban Renewal Directorate; Chief Karo Ilolo, formerly of Directorate of Urban Renewal Directorate now takes charge of the Youths Development Directorate.

Others are Hon. Bright Edejewhro, formerly of Local Government Affairs Directorate now heads Ministry Of Science and Technology and Hon Joyce Overah, of the Ministry of The Science and Technology now moves to Local Government Affairs Directorate.

The sack and minor cabinet reshuffle, according to insider sources, was delayed by the governor due to pressures from some party chieftains and top business executives, whose appointees were earlier penciled down for sack.

“A lot of lobbying was done. That is why the number of those affected reduced. The earlier intention of the governor was to embark on a major overhaul or surgery but he was advised that it could affect his electoral chances in 2019. Who knows, more sack could still come. The polity is already heated up.”

Blank NEWS Online checks have revealed that there is still palpable fear, tension and angst amongst serving Commissioners, their godfathers and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over the minor reshuffle, as grapevine information is still rife that the governor is not done yet with his avowed plan to weed the state executive council off of alleged bad eggs.

Another check explored also revealed that a likely replacement for Dr. Nicholas Azinge [Health] is Dr. Isioma Okobah, who is presently the Chairman of Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA) in the state.

A statement, made available to Blank NEWS Online on Thursday, February 8, 2018 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Charles Aniagwu reads:

“Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has effected a minor cabinet reshuffle relieving two commissioners of their portfolios while reassigning four others.

“The two commissioners who were dropped were Dr. Nicholas Azinge [Health], and Chief Dan Okenyi [Culture & Tourism], while those reassigned are Hon Asupa Forteta, formerly of the Directorate Of Youths Development, now heads the Urban Renewal Directorate; Chief Karo Ilolo, formerly of Directorate of Urban Renewal Directorate now takes charge of the Youths Development Directorate.

“Others are Hon. Bright Edejewhro, formerly of Local Government Affairs Directorate now heads Ministry Of Science and Technology and Hon Joyce Overah, of the Ministry of The Science and Technology now moves to Local Government Affairs Directorate.

“The decision to reshuffle the cabinet is in line with the state government’s desire to re-energise the machinery of government and bring new impetus into service delivery.

“Governor Okowa in a statement signed by the Secretary To State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas thanked the two commissioners relieved of their portfolios for their commitment and contributions to the SMART Agenda and wish them success in their future endeavours.

“The statement also said that the cabinet reshuffle takes effect from February 8, 2018.”

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE (NWC) AND IT’S GOVERNORS’ FORUM

The Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) and it’s Governors’ Forum met in Asaba, Delta State on Sunday, 4th February, 2018 to examine the state of the nation.

Our Communique reads:

1. We strongly condemn the unabated killings across the country. We call on Mr. President to come out clean on the herdsmen killings and address the nation on how to end the carnage. The President must take responsibility on the protection of lives and property of Nigerians which is the most important of his responsibilities. We believe that the Federal Government’s decision to set up a Committee to address the issues of herdsmen killings is a pretentious approach to a matter thst requires firm action and leadership by the President in line with his oath of office to protect all Nigerians irrespective of creed, tribe and political affiliation.

2. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been the author of restructuring and this was further expressed in the Report of the 2014 National Conference. The All Progressive Congress (APC) as a later day convert of restructuring is merely paying lip service to a matter of national importance. However, we have mandated our members in the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of initiating a Bill to address issues bothering on restructuring.

3. We urge Mr. President to henceforth direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to adhere to the Rule of Law by obeying Court judgements and orders such as the one involving the Ekiti State Government against EFCC and restrain itself from further political intimidation and harassment of known or perceived political opponents. We commend the judiciary for their commitment to the enthronement of constitutional democracy in the face of intimidation and harassment.

4. We condemn in strong terms the massive corruption going on in the management of fuel subsidy regime which the Federal Government had declared non existent while billions of Naira are deducted monthly at Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings.

5. The PDP states and local governments are vehemently opposed to the unilateral withdrawal of USD1Billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government under any guise. We want to state unequivocally that neither the Governors’ Forum nor the Federal Executive Council has the power of appropriation of Federation Accounts, as such powers reside with the National and State Assemblies.

6. We commend members of our party for their unalloyed support. We reiterate that our repositioned party is prepared for the 2019 elections and will ensure that all Nigerians aspiring to elective offices are free to contest on the platform of the PDP. We want to assure that no established organ of the party is allowed to align with any presidential aspirant. We thank the people and government of Delta State for playing host to this all important meeting.

Signed.

PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, PDP.

AYO FAYOSE
CHAIRMAN, PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM.

Morocco became the first host nation to claim the African Nations Championship (CHAN) title with a convincing 4-0 win over 10-man Nigeria in Sunday’s final.

Key moments either side of half-time turned the match in the hosts’ favour as Morocco’s Zakaria Hadraf scored just before the break with Nigeria’s Peter Eneji Moses sent-off for a second yellow card just after.

Walid El Karti and Hadraf – with his second – added to Morocco’s lead in quick succession on the hour mark.

The rout was completed by Ayoub El Kaabi, who had hit the woodwork twice, scoring his ninth goal of the tournament which is for home-based African players.

Morocco’s first chance came in the third minute when Walid El Karti flicked the ball in from close range.

The hosts thought they had scored just four minutes later when Ayoub El Kaabi headed home, only for the assistant referee’s flag to go up – claiming the corner had swung out of play before it reached the striker.

El Kaabi then struck the bar with a spectacular overhead kick and Nigeria’s goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye had two regulation saves to make before Morocco’s pressure told.

Captain Badr Benoun strode down the left wing and pushed the ball through to Abdeljalil Jbira in behind the defence who cut the ball back to Hadraf in the centre to guide the ball home.

Nigeria relied mainly on long balls forward for their attacks and Morocco’s Anas Zniti did not have a serious save to make before half-time.

Just two minutes after the break Peter Eneji Moses was sent off for a second booking after a clumsy late foul on Mohammed Nahiri.

On the hour mark Morocco doubled their lead when El Kaabi’s overhead kick hit the post and rebounded out for El Haddad to fire in another shot which Ajboye could only parry, leaving El Karti with an easy header.

Three minutes later Hadraf scored his second after El Haddad’s cross fell to him via a deflection off Kalu Okogbue and another Ajiboye parry.

El Kaabi finally got on the scoresheet after 73 minutes when the ball ricocheted around the area and fell at his feet for him to grab his 9th goal of the tournament.

In truth, Nigeria’s 10 men were unable to threaten Morocco at all in the second-half with Anas Zniti untroubled in the hosts’ goal.

El Kaabi’s goals saw him named man-of-the-tournament and will have caught the eye of Morocco’s full national coach Herve Renard who was watching from the stands, as he looks to finalise his squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
*BBC

• Akwa Ibom: Name of the elected Governor is Emmanuel Udom. He was elected under the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Abia State: Name of the elected Governor is Dr Victor Ikpeazu. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Delta State: Name of the elected Governor is Ifeanyi Okowa. Name of his political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Rivers State: Name of the elected Governor is Nyesom Wike. His political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Taraba State: Name of the elected Governor is Darius Ishaku. His political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Enugu State: Name of the elected Governor is Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. His Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Cross River State: Name of the elected Governor is Ben Ayade. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Ebonyi State: Name of the elected Governor is Dave Umahi. His political party is PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Gombe State: Name of the elected Governor is Ibrahim Dankwambo. His Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019
• Bayelsa State: Name of the governor is Hon. Henry Serieake Dickson. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2016 and 2020.
• Ekiti State: Name of the governor is Mr. Ayodele Fayose. Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2014 and 2018.
• Ondo State: Name of the Governor is Olusegun Mimiko. He was formerly in the Labour Party and later decamped to the PDP. His term validity period is between 2013 and 2017.

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said the All Progressive Congress (APC) failure to provide good governance is a yardstick for Nigerians to vote for candidates of the PDP in the 2019 general elections.

Prince Secondus who was addressing leaders of the PDP on Sunday in Asaba, during a consultative meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP and Governors who won their elections on the platform of the PDP, expressed confidence that Nigerians will speak with one voice through their voters’ cards by voting for the PDP in the 2019 general elections.

According to him, “the weakest point in the history of the PDP is that we lost in the 2015 elections but, we should take advantage of the monumental failure of the APC, they came with a government of vengeance, we must emphasise that our people must have voters’ cards because Nigerians want us to come together and rescue the country in 2019.”

“The NWC is here (Asaba) to consult with our Governors and we are presenting our road map to victory to them; on Tuesday, we will consult with members of the National Assembly,” Prince Secondus who was at the event with the entire members of the NWC of the PDP said.

He disclosed that the PDP will wrestle power from the APC through aggressive awareness campaign for members of the party at the local government and ward levels to have their voters’ cards, assuring that the PDP has been repositioned with strong emphasis on the power of the people, the electorates who will always be given the chance to make their choice in a free, and fair manner without fear.

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa commended the NWC for choosing Delta State for its meeting and used the occasion to reel out some of the achievements of his administration in the health, and education sectors.

He also, scored his administration high in peace building, job and wealth creation, ensuring the implementation of the compulsory health insurance scheme, among others, disclosing that based on the love the people of the state have for the PDP, they voted massively for the party in the January 6, 2018 local government elections.

Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike said the desire of Nigerians is for the PDP to take over power at the center in 2019, noting that based on performance, there is no fear about the party losing any of the states where they won the governorship position.

Wike, who revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now more prepared to win the 2019 Presidential electiho, said the present APC led government has nothing to show as achievement to Nigerians.

He said that “if Nigeria was a country where democracy is indeed democracy, so many people won’t talk about contesting elections. What will APC come tell Nigerians they have achieved? What is giving them confidence? What they don’t understand is that we are more prepared than before and we can’t be rigged out again.”

He lambasted the Federal Government’s stand in fighting corruption, saying that “the first corruption we must fight is corruption of stealing people’s mandate.”

Full List of PDP Governors in Nigeria & Their States

• Akwa Ibom: Name of the elected Governor is Emmanuel Udom. He was elected under the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Abia State: Name of the elected Governor is Dr Victor Ikpeazu. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Delta State: Name of the elected Governor is Ifeanyi Okowa. Name of his political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Rivers State: Name of the elected Governor is Nyesom Wike. His political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Taraba State: Name of the elected Governor is Darius Ishaku. His political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Enugu State: Name of the elected Governor is Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. His Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Cross River State: Name of the elected Governor is Ben Ayade. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Ebonyi State: Name of the elected Governor is Dave Umahi. His political party is PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019.
• Gombe State: Name of the elected Governor is Ibrahim Dankwambo. His Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2015 and 2019
• Bayelsa State: Name of the governor is Hon. Henry Serieake Dickson. His political party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2016 and 2020.
• Ekiti State: Name of the governor is Mr. Ayodele Fayose. Political Party is the PDP. His term validity period is between 2014 and 2018.

Fidelito, the 68 year-old eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, committed suicide on Thursday after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported.

The nuclear scientist’s full name is Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, but he was fondly called “Fidelito”, or Little Fidel, because of how much he looked like his father.

Before he took his own life, he was initially hospitalised and then he continued treatment as an outpatient.

“Castro Diaz-Balart, who had been attended by a group of doctors for several months due to a state of profound depression, committed suicide this morning,” Cubadebate website said.

Fidelito, who had the highest public profile of all Castro’s children, was born in 1949 out of his brief marriage to Mirta Diaz-Balart before he went on to topple a U.S.-backed dictator and built a communist-run state on the doorstep of the United States during the Cold War.

Through his mother, Castro Diaz-Balart was the cousin of some of Castro’s most bitter enemies in the Cuban American exile community, U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and former U.S. congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

He was also the subject of a dramatic custody dispute between the two families as a child.

Cuba scholars say his mother took him with her to the United States when he was aged five after announcing she wanted a divorce from Castro, while he was imprisoned for an attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago.

Castro was able to bring Fidelito back to Cuba after the 1959 revolution.

A multilingual nuclear physicist who studied in the former Soviet Union, Castro Diaz-Balart was head of Cuba’s national nuclear programme from 1980 to 1992, and spearheaded the development of a nuclear plant on the Caribbean’s largest island until his father fired him.

Cuba halted its plant plans that same year because of lack of funding after the collapse of Cuba’s trade and aid ties with the ex-Soviet bloc and he largely disappeared from public view appearing at the occasional scientific conference or diplomatic event.

Fidelito had been working for his uncle President Raul Castro as a scientific counsellor to the Cuban Council of State and Vice-president of the Cuban Academy of Sciences at the time of his death.

Fidelito’s death came just over a year after that of his father on November 25, 2016, aged 90.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a spiritual leader in India, has been charged for forcing more than 400 followers to undergo castration.

He was charged by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“The charge sheet against 50-year-old Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was filed by CBI in a special court Thursday,” a senior police official said Friday.

The charge sheet was filed by the CBI nearly three years after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered an investigation by the country’s premier probe agency into allegations of forced castration against the spiritual guru levelled by one of his former followers.

The petitioner had claimed that Singh forced over 400 followers to undergo castration at a hospital in his sect’s headquarters in the northern state of Haryana to “get closer to God.”

Singh is the head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, which claims to have 60 million followers around the world.

He is currently serving 20 years in jail for raping two women devotees in Haryana.

Singh is also facing trial in two murder cases.

If convicted, he could get a maximum of death penalty.

(Xinhua/NAN)

As the European Union continues its rescue operations in the Mediterranean, as well as its fight against traffickers who put migrants in danger, more deaths are still being recorded in the Mediterranean sea among migrants who seek greener pastures in Europe.

Record have shown that since the start of January, 240 have arrived in Italy, compared with nine during the first month of 2017.

More than 90 migrants were feared dead after their boat capsized off the Libyan coast on Friday, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported.

Only two of the passengers were able to swim ashore, while one person was saved by fishermen, IOM spokeswoman Olivia Headon in Tunis told Geneva-based reporters via telephone.

The latest incident came less than a week after a dinghy carrying around 130 people capsized in the Mediterranean on Saturday night, leaving up to 40 people dead.

“Every life lost at sea is one life too many,” EU foreign policy spokeswoman Catherine Ray said in Brussels on Friday.

Meanwhle, the Nigeria’s Federal government evacuation of stranded Nigerians from Libya has been described as a huge success by the South-South Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Martins Ejike.

Ejike, who boasted of the feat on the arrival of the fourth batch of 465 Nigerian returnees from Libya in Port Harcourt, said although there were some challenges in the process, it was nevertheless a huge success.