Fuel Crisis: Funke Akindele rides bicycle to church

Star actress, Funke Akindele rode a bicycle to church on Sunday due to the fuel crisis in the country. This is according to her post on the social media. Nigeria has been brought to a virtual standstill by fuel shortages, caused by a row between the outgoing government and importers, as well as strikes by petrol tanker drivers and oil and gas workers. Despite being Africa’s biggest oil producer, petroleum products have to be imported to Nigeria because of a lack of functioning domestic refineries. The government keeps the price at the pumps below the market rate for consumers and pays the difference to importers and marketers. But they say they are owed $2 billion in arrears and have shut fuel depots until the balance is paid. The government maintains the money has been paid and the importers are holding the country to ransom by demanding losses from the slump in the naira currency caused by the global drop in oil prices.

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At last, Lagos gets portal, number for non-emergency services

A platform, known as Citizen Relationship Management, CRM, on which citizens can interact with officials of the government on issues affecting them directly, has come into affect in Lagos State Launching and explaining the need for the initiative, the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, said it was modelled after international best practices where citizens are saved the inconvenience and expense in getting issues resolved by the government or its agencies. He noted that the idea is for a citizen of the state to be able to call a dedicated number to report, for instance, about refuse piling up or a burst water pipe or leaking sewage to enable the relevant agencies to attend to these issues within a stipulated time, depending on the magnitude of the problem. According to him, with the launch of the CRM platform, it would be unnecessary for citizens to come to the Alausa Secretariat or to the Governor’s Office to report a situation or to pursue files from office to office for signatures. Remarking that people still want to make eye contact with government officials, regardless of the existence of telephones they could use to call the official lines government published for the purpose, he said: “We are stepping into the future today because I know that perhaps only members of this generation are still comfortable with eye-to-eye contact but those of the generation behind us are already talking to themselves with their cellphones, other applications and, perhaps they will be the biggest beneficiaries of this CRM but everybody is entitled to use it.” - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/at-last-lagos-gets-portal-number-for-non-emergency-services/#sthash.mgUUBedx.dpuf

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With 6 Days to Go, 50 Heads of State for Buhari's Inauguration

Muhammadu Buhari President-elect absent at pre-installation Jumat service, travels to UK Jonathan to spend time preaching peaceful co-existence Jaiyeola Andrews, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja With just 6 days to go before the May 29 inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as President, about 50 heads of state from across the world have booked their tickets for the event. It also emerged on Friday that President Goodluck Jonathan had slightly re-adjusted his post-presidency plans by adding the preaching of peaceful co-existence across Nigeria to his programme. The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Sub- Committee of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee, and Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke unveiled the attendance list in Abuja while briefing journalists on preparations for the one week programme, which started yesterday with Jumaat prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja. He said: “As we speak, the 54 countries of the continent of Africa have been invited. Very many of the heads of state will be coming. “There has been a huge interest, especially, from heads of countries in Europe to attend this inauguration and at the last count, I think we must have in excess of about 50 heads of state and delegations expected at this inauguration." The minister stressed that a high security strategy was being put in place for a hitch-free inauguration, adding that all invitees for the various segments of the inauguration would be subjected to thorough screening. Duke revealed that some roads in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be blocked on the inauguration day to ensure smooth movement to and from the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration. The security agencies, he said, were working in close concert to ensure that there is absolutely no threat to the security of this inauguration. "Arrangements are been made to screen all the invitees long before the access the perimeters of the location," he said. Speaking further, the minister emphasised that not all residents of the city need to throng the venue of the inauguration as big screens would be stationed at various points in the city to beam live proceedings of the inauguration. In a related development, the Minister denied reports in a section of the media claiming that the inauguration would gulp N3 billion. According to him, "less than N2 billion will be spent for a befitting inauguration". Jonathan Modifies Plans, Now to Spend Time Preaching Peaceful Co-existence… President Goodluck Jonathan has slightly re-adjusted his post-Presidency plans by adding the preaching of peaceful co-existence across Nigeria to his programme. THISDAY had last week reported that Jonathan had mapped out his post-presidency plans which include playing the role of a global statesman and devoting his time to global peace initiatives using his experience as a model. The President yesterday said he would be talking to faithful of all religions – Christians, Muslims and others – on the need for Nigerians to live in peace. Jonathan made the disclosure after he was presented with the 2015 Epitome of Peace Award by the Field Superintendent of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory Field, Apostle John Buzu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said: “All of us do a number of things every day. People have saved this country; we don't even know some of them or what they did but some people are a bit luckier that their actions are noticed and sometimes rewarded. “You have also noticed me with my little contribution, not just because I am the President of the country but because of an action I took that you believed saved lives and you are honouring me. “To whom much is given, much is expected. For you to honour me today, you have given me another mandate to work harder to ensure that we as Nigerians continue to live in peace. "One thing I have decided I will do after leaving office is to be talking to faithful of all religions: Christians, Muslims and other religions, on the need for Nigerians to live in peace. “This is because when there is crisis in any part of the country, nobody can practice his own religion. If there is crisis anywhere, people cannot go to the mosque; they cannot go to the church.” He added that there was the need for peace in the country, no matter the religion persuasion or belief. "That will be one of my main commitments when I leave office: to reduce discrimination in this country based on religious divides or ethnicity. I believe I will have so many apostles that will follow me. "I thank you for your decoration. I am grateful for the insignia given to me: the plaque, the medal and the dress are quite unique. "They will be very conspicuous in my presidential museum or library so that even after 50 years, people will still see and appreciate what you have done today even if I have left this world and have gone beyond, what you have done will still be displayed in my library for people to see" the president stressed.” His post-presidency plan, the source said, would commence immediately after he hands over on May 29 to Buhari. His itinerary as revealed include a tour of some African countries, earthquake devasted Nepal, a trip he is said to have planned before the earthquake and a medical check-up in Germany. It was also gathered that Jonathan plans to document his experience in government, challenges and triumph. The source said the President would commence work on the book when he returns from the trip abroad. He is expected to follow the example of other world leaders delivering lectures around the world. President-elect Absent At Jumat Service, Travels to UK… The President-elect billed to attend a special Jumat prayer service at the National Mosque in Abuja yesterday failed to show-up. THISDAY gathered that Buhari travelled out of Abuja to London at about mid-day on Friday. Spokesman of the Buhari Campaign Council, Garba Shehu confirmed that Buhari was in the UK on a private visit. Shehu said Buhari would use the opportunity of the visit to take a much-deserved rest ahead of his inauguration on May 29th. ''He is expected back in the country a few days before the inauguration, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running once he is sworn into office,'' he said. Buhari was represented by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar at the service. Speaking to Journalists shortly after the service, Atiku said Buhari was unavoidably absent. “The prayers have gone on very well, we are grateful for all the support and co-operation of all Nigerians. We have prayed to have a successful transfer of power on the Inauguration Day which is on the 29th of May this year insha Allah," he said

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Make Your Party Explode With Amazing Fireworks and More

Whether you are planning a wedding, have a graduation to celebrate, or just want to throw an amazing party for all your family and friends, you want to make sure that you have the best entertainment on the block. Find out cool ways you can make your own shindig explode with delight for everyone. Make an Explosion Buy awesome fireworks that are fun for adults and children alike. Awesome balls of glittery color in the sky just as your party hits its peak are a great way to bring everyone together for a memorable event. Choose ground displays and those that flash in the sky for a show that no one will ever forget. Check your areas fire codes and city ordinances to make sure you aren't breaking any laws and buy the right pyrotechnics that will suit your property best. Have a Smash In addition to adding a cool fireworks display, consider having a piñata for everyone to delight in. Stuff a large piñata (you can make your own from a large balloon, paste, and newspaper) with small toys, tons of candy, and even a few dollar bills, and bring on the bat for a smashing good time! A piñata is great for kids' parties and adult gatherings alike, so don't be afraid to add this entertainment to your bash. Just Dance! Rent a portable dance floor that you can put together either on your lawn or in your family room and turn up the bass! Forget about everyone just standing around munching on appetizers, get the party started with an awesome dance floor that nobody will be able to resist. Toss in a few flashing lights for a disco feel, and everyone will have a terrific time shaking their booty all night long. Have exciting music playing just when the fireworks go off, so people can groove to the flashing pyrotechnics in the sky. Bring on the Grub Everyone goes to a shindig for the food, so make sure your munchies are simply mouth-watering. Bacon-covered cream cheese jalapenos, fruit, pizza, and all the champagne a person can drink will help make your bash one that no one will ever forget. Break out the spicy nachos and other yummy snacks for when the fireworks display goes off, so you are dazzling the tongue as much as the eyes. Don't Forget the Favors No celebration is complete without sending your guests home with a little trinket to thank them for their attendance. As the fireworks show dies down, begin handing out little grab bags of goodies and small trinkets, such as candles, bookmarks, and other fun toys. Your guests will be delighted that they can take something fun home with them after their awesome entertainment all night. Throwing a party is all about keeping everyone engaged and happy. Think outside the box and bring a ton of fun to your next gathering. Whether you are throwing a shindig for a reason or just because, you can make the event amazing by adding super fun activities throughout the night.

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Welcome to the WAEC Online Registration for November/December 2015 WASSCE.

Candidates are to start their Registration by enrolling their fingerprints and capturing other personal details using the Biometric Data Capture software. visit any Registration Centre with such facilities to scan your fingerprints. Ensure your Surname, First name and other names are captured using the software. Register with us today @ Perfect Reliance Educational Services, 22, Ewenla Street, by Berger Bus Stop, Iyana Oworo, Bariga, Lagos. For more info call 08060336028, 08036045983

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For Airmen/Women

1. Online Registration Starts on the 23 April, 2015 and closes on the 4 June, 2015. 2. Zonal Recruitment Exercise will hold from 15 - 20 June 2015.

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Boko Haram war not yet over‎ -Air Force General

The Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Nigerian Air Force and immediate past Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command of the Nigerian Air‎ Force, Kaduna, AVM Salihu Bala-Riba has said that the war against Boko Haram insurgency is not over yet. He said, this is because the insurgents will want to prove that, the incoming regime of General Muhammadu Buhari cannot do any better than the outgoing government in the fight against insurgency. AVM Bala-Riba stated this in Kaduna Thursday when he was handing over to the ‎AVM Alkali Mamu as the new Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna. While expressing delight over the President-Elect’s statement that, “Boko Haram will soon see the collective will of all Nigerians”, he reminded officers and men of the armed forces that they are the arrow-head of that collective will, therefore they cannot afford to relax. According to him, “I was hard on my subordinates to achieve maximum security and excellence in our responsibilities. I had to be very hard because, I would rather die fighting than to be caught up and killed like a sleeping fowl. “You don’t expect me to allow insurgents take over any barrack under Training Command. If that ‎happens, some civilians will faint in their homes, because they look up to the military to defend them,” he said. In his remarks, the incoming AOC, AVM Alkali Mohammed Mamu said the outgoing AOC has taught excellent pilots to support the operation of the Nigerian Air Force and to a large extent, has supported the insurgency operation in the North. According to him, “AVM Bala-Riba, came in as AOC at a very difficult time when the nation is facing internal security and I am proud to note that, throughout his tenure, there was no any incident at the Training Command,” he said. He however assured that, he is going to have a collective leadership and asked that the officers lead their men with a view to sending the air force to the next level.

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Welcome To Nigerian Army e-Recruitment Portal 73RRI Recruitment will start on Monday 23 February and will end on Saturday 11 April 2015.

73RRI Enlistment steps Step 1 Purchase PIN: Buy Voucher Online or from any branch of the designated banks. Step 2 PIN Registration: Enter your Voucher Serial Number and PIN and click Next button. Step 3: If your PIN is valid, select your preferred Application Category and create an account on the portal. Step 4: Complete the Application form and Print a copy of your form. Note: You can log in to the portal at any time with your Serial Number and Pin. Make sure you retain your voucher. Step 5:Visit this website from 15 April 2015 to confirm if you have been shortlisted for the Pre-Screening Examination. Step 6:Take part in the Pre-Screening Examination on 18 April 2015 at the centre you had chosen when completing the application form. Step 7:Visit this website for the list of successful candidates for the Zonal Screening Exercise. Step 8:Take part in Zonal Screening Exercise on 4 - 16 May 2015 at the designated Zonal Centres for your state of origin visit: http://www.narecruitment.org/

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Lautech Postgraduate Admission Application 2014/15 Extended

Lautech postgraduate admission application is still on sale as the deadline date has been extended. Interested members of the public as well as prospective applicants are hereby informed to procure their forms now if they are yet to do so. LAUTECH The management of Ladoke Akintola University, ogbomosho hereby wishes to inform the General public that the sale of forms for the 2014/2015 POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME has been extended. As against the earlier announced closing date of the Lautech Postgraduate school admission form for 2014/2015 academic session, the new closing date for all application forms to be purchased and returned is now 31st March 2015. Applicants are advised to use this extension period to get their forms. Asides from the extension of the application deadline, all previously advertised information concerning the Lautech Postgraduate application for 2014/2015 remains valid. Apply for Lautech PG School admission for 2014/2015 here.

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EKSU Teaching Hospital School Of Nursing Admission Form 2015 Out

The Ekiti State University (EKSU) Teaching Hospital School of Nursing admission form for 2015 has been made available on sale. Interested members of the public and prospective applicants are hereby informed to procure their ms now. eksuth The aim of the EKSU nursing school is to prepare competent polyvalent nurse practitioners who will use problem solving skills in providing safe, acceptable, effective and affordable health services to meet the health needs of individual families and the community. How To Apply For Admission Into EKSUTH School Of Nursing 2015 Interested candidates are to obtain application confirmation order number after making payments in the bank and register online at www.eksuthsonadoekiti.org Prospective applicants are to note the following: 1. Your Confirmation Order Number IS THE SAME AS PIN NUMBER. 2. If you are unable to SUBMIT your application due to certain reasons use your PIN Number to re-apply. 3. After clicking on Save and Continue, you can use your PIN to complete your application. 4. After clicking on Save and Complete, you cannot edit/update your application. Complete your application only if you are sure of information provided. 5. You can only use your PIN at least (3) times and at most (5) times. Make sure you complete your application when your PIN usage is the 5th time. 6. Keep your Confirmation Number (PIN), for possible future use. 7. Exam Number will be generated by the system after completing your application. EKSUTH Nursing School Entrance Examination Schedule: Date: 15th August, 2015 Venue: Institutions campus. The venues are; a) School of nursing new auditorium b) School of nursing large classroom c) School of nursing CRM d) School of nursing CRM e) School of nursing CRM IV(behind LSS) g) School of nursing laboratory i) School of nursing (LSS CRM) j) School of nursing (SOM CRM I) k) School of nursing (SOM CRM II) l) School of nursing (library) m) Ekiti state university (EKSU) 3000 capacity multipurpose hall. Closing Date For EKSUTH Sch. Of Nursing Application Application ends on 14th August, 2015. We wish you all the best!

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Boko Haram kills 30 near Chibok

least 30 people were killed in Boko Haram raids on two villages in Borno State near the town of Chibok, a community leader and resident told the Agence France Presse (AFP) on Friday. The attacks reportedly targeted the villages of Thlaimakalama and Gatamarwa, which were torched by the militants, said Pogo Bitrus, head of the Chibok Elders Forum. “From information coming in from residents of the two villages, at least 30 people were killed in the attacks,” he added. Luka Haruna, who lives in Chibok, some 15 kilometres away, gave a similar death toll and added: “The two villages were completely destroyed.” Chibok gained notoriety last April when Boko Haram fighters kidnapped 276 schoolgirls, causing global outrage and a social media campaign to release them. Fifty-seven managed to escape but 10 months on, 219 are still being held. Bitrus said the latest attacks happened about noon on Thursday. The insurgents were passing through the two neighbouring villages as they fled the nearby town of Askira Uba, which they invaded on Monday evening, he added. Hundreds of Boko Haram fighters stormed Askira Uba, burning homes and public buildings, despite a regional campaign to crush their six-year insurgency. Residents who fled the town said they appealed to troops based in Chibok some 25 kilometres away but they allegedly refused to deploy. The militants fled when soldiers were eventually sent. Some left towards Gwoza, on the border with Cameroon, and the Sambisa Forest, where Boko Haram has camps. Bitrus said: “The insurgents mowed everything in sight as they fled Askira Uba and these two villages which they passed through became targets.

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Obasanjo dumps PDP

Ward leader tears his card Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday waved a final bye to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he should not belong to a party that is working towards Nigeria’s destruction. He watched as his ward leader tore his membership card. He accused the party of destroying the economy, adding that rather than focusing on the general elections, PDP leaders are planning to impose an Interim National Government (ING) on Nigeria. He rejected this. Obasanjo, who is a former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), was elected president twice in 1999 and 2003 – on the platform of the PDP. After resigning as the BoT chair, Obasanjo had been lukewarm to the party’s affairs. He called it quits yesterday – in a dramatic manner. At a meeting at his home with about 350 members of the PDP in his Ward II, Abeokuta North Local Government, the ex-president asked for his membership card, which was handed over to him by Ward Leader Surajudeen Oladunjoye. He instructed him to tear it. The chairman raised the card up in his two hands and went on to tear it into pieces. He was all smiles. The party followers were excited. Some of them also tore their cards. They were singing and dancing. T’Obasanjo lawa o se (we’re all for Obasanjo), they sang excitedly. Obasanjo said: “If this is why we cannot have the Nigeria we desire, I am no longer part of this.” According to him, if involvement in partisan politics would hinder him from working for a better Nigeria, he is ready to sacrifice his membership of the PDP and become a statesman. Obasanjo said: “This Nigeria belongs to all of us and it must not be destroyed. This is my PDP membership card. Where I am standing is that Nigeria belongs to everybody, including babies. “ We must not allow anybody to destroy it wherever they come from, whatever they have and if they destroy it, it becomes our burden to our children and incoming generation. “The question asked is that which party am I? I belong to the group that believes that Nigeria must not be destroyed. Those of you that are marketers, you observed that there is inflation in the market. “The bureaux de change operators exchanged dollar for N150 then and now it is going to be N250 to a dollar. What it means is that, what you’ve been buying for N150 will be bought for N250. This is not the kind of country we dream of. “There’s no job, no employment. Some people have started destroying Nigeria and I will never be in a party that will destroy Nigeria. Perhaps, you don’t understand that it is because there’s Nigeria that is why PDP exists. “Without Nigeria, there will be no PDP any more. What some of us should be concerned about is how to make Nigeria stronger and our economy will witness growth. “They said they want to expel me from the PDP, although I have not been told, but I have my ears to the ground. We’ve been trying to run away from a man but he pleads we wait for him at the other side of the river. I have told you before that I became president on the platform of the PDP and once I leave the PDP, I will not join another party. “ I will only be a Nigerian. I’m ready to work with anybody, regardless of political affiliation. Why would some people say they want to send me away? They don’t need to bother themselves, here’s your membership card; take it. “From today on in the presence of all of us and with your support I’m not going to be in any political party in Nigeria. I’m no more a politician but a statesman both internally and externally. The issue that they want to expel me from the party once you people are with me what other people am I looking for. “And on the day of election, whatever it takes, the PVC must be obtained. You don’t need to be a politician before you get your PVC. On the day of election, you can vote for your choice, but I will vote for those who repair Nigeria and not those who will destroy it. “What is important is that we should hold Ward 11 community together. What we are going to do now is that after I don’t have burden of PDP again help me tear into pieces my membership card. “How can anybody in his right senses talk of Interim National Government (ING) in a democratic setting? Some of them are working for it. God will not allow it. In my ward, we’ll be meeting from time to time to discuss and interact on whatever you want and what I want. “Nigeria will be okay. Ogun will be okay.”

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Mimiko Faults Obasanjo on Election Shift

The Ondo State Governor and South West Coordinator of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday faulted the comment of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, that President Goodluck Jonathan influenced the postponement of the election in the interest of himself and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mimiko, who spoke during an interaction with journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital said the available evidence on ground knocked out the former president’s postulations on the shift of the election. The governor noted that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had started the election on February 14 as scheduled, a lot of eligible voters would have been disenfranchised. Specifically, Mimiko explained that a greater percentage of voters from the South-west region would have been disenfranchised in the election, noting that only 52 per cent of voters from the region had collected their permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) while a greater percentage have obtained same in the northern region. Mimiko said “What is the evidence on ground, it is when you place the evidence on ground, side by side with the postulations, you will see that the postulation cannot hold. “Talking about the South-west, let’s put the security reason aside, let’s look essentially at the possibility of disenfranchising some voters in the South-west region because as at February 5, the record that Jega gave at the council of states on all the geo-political zones, South-west scored the least in terms of people who have collected the PVCs, whereas the average in the North-east was 77.8 per cent, while South-west was 52 per cent. “As a matter of facts, in all the zones, it was only the South-west that scored below 60 per cent. So, we are an interested party in the sense that if the election had continued or taken place we would have been disenfranchised. “When you look at the totality of Nigeria, there were still 34 per cent of the cards yet to be collected which is about 23 million Nigerians, and if it took INEC about four years of preparation to distribute only 60 per cent of the voters’ card and you had one week to election and even by admission of Prof. Jega himself who said if they had more time it would be better for them to perfect the arrangements,” Mimiko said. The governor noted that some people that were claiming to be protecting the South-west were not truthful about the issue on the ground because with what was on ground at the time of the postponement, the South-west had been short-changed in terms of distribution of PVCs. “ Look at Lagos State and Ogun State. Lagos State was 38 per cent, Ogun was 36 per cent and some other states in Nigeria, in this same country are higher. Adamawa was 80 per cent, Yobe was 74 per cent, Sokoto was 81 per cent when Lagos was just 38 per cent. “Yet if anybody claims he can protect the interest of the South-west and would prefer that we go into that election with only 38 per cent of registered voters ready and with the PVC, then I leave the judgement to you, so the postulation falls flat on the face of evidence before us,” Mimiko said. Mimiko said with what is on ground, the people of the South-west region will not only vote for Jonathan but will vote “handsomely” for President Jonathan in the presidential election based on the achievements recorded by the president during his first term in office. Mimiko said Jonathan won in the South-west states in 2011 despite the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had no governor in the region then. “Now, Jonathan has two governors in the South-west and I keep telling people that the South-west is politically sophisticated and nobody can run away from that fact. If you want to get the support of the South-west , it must be based on substance, it must be based on your political antecedents and records. It must be based on empirical evidences. “I don’t have any doubt in mind that because of the level of sophistication in the South-west and again the people are discerning, they will be able to put the candidate of the APC side by side with Jonathan and they will look at their political antecedent and their records,” he said. He said he had no doubt in his mind that Jonathan will win handsomely in the South-west.

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Naira trades at N205.60k against dollar as CBN rules out free float

The nation’s currency, the naira, on Thursday traded at N205.60k against the US dollar but later moderated to N201.70k/$ after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervened in the market.

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Buhari challenges suit seeking to disqualify him

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, challenged the suit challenging his eligibility to participate in the forthcoming general election. Represented by a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, Buhari also challenged the February 2 court order of substituted service on him. Olanipekun contended that the case was not even ripe for mention, as he was within time and told the court that he needed a short adjournment to file processes in the matter. It will be recalled that a lawyer, Max Ozoaka, had filed the suit seeking to disqualify Buhari from contesting this year’s election for failing to provide evidence of his secondary school certificate. When the matter came up on Monday, some parties had, through their counsel, brought application seeking leave of the court to be joined as defendants in the matter. Counsel for the parties seeking to be joined are Ajayi Olowo, Abdulhameed Mohammed and Mohammed Ibrahim. Lead counsel for the plaintiff, Chief Obla, told the court that his client had complied with an ex parte order of the court, dated February 2, to serve Buhari with court processes via newspaper publications. He said that the second defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had responded and that he also received two fresh applications from parties seeking to be joined in the suit. Obla said that he was not opposed to the joinder applications, but said he needed a short adjournment to enable him respond to all the processes he received. Similarly, INEC’s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, sought for time to him file a memorandum for conditional appearance, having filed and served all parties with his counter-affidavit. Justice Adeniyi Ademola fixed February 23 to enable the court take all pending applications and hear the case. The judge had earlier fixed the same date to hear another suit challenging Buhari’s eligibility filed by Mr Chike Okafor. The plaintiff in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/14/2015, via an originating summons, wants an order restraining INEC from permitting Buhari to run for president in 2015. The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that by the combined provisions of Sections 31(1)(2) and (3) of the 2010 Electoral Act and INEC Form CF 001, Buhari is mandatorily obliged to strictly comply with their provisions. This, he argued, had to do with Buhari’s filing and submission of INEC Form CF 001 without attaching evidence of educational qualifications as required, which was an offence under Section 31 of the Act. The plaintiff, therefore, prayed the court to declare that Buhari was not eligible to participate in the 2015 presidential election for failure to comply with the terms for submission of list of candidates.

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FIFA fines West Ham £71,000 for fielding Sakho in English FA Cup tie

WEST Ham have been fined £71,000 for fielding Diafra Sakho in the FA Cup win over Bristol City despite telling Senegal the striker was unfit. The club have also been reprimanded but they will be allowed to continue to play in this year’s competition. Sakho, 25, had been due to join up with his national side at the Africa Cup of Nations but the Hammers informed the Senegalese FA that injury would prevent him from travelling to the tournament. On January 25, Sakho came off the substitutes’ bench to score the only goal of the tie at Ashton Gate – prompting protest from the Senegalese authorities. A FIFA statement read: “FIFA can today confirm the decisions of its Disciplinary Committee in the case involving the English club West Ham United and the player Diafra Sakho. “Diafra Sakho was called up by the Senegalese Football Association on December 18, 2014 to play for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 taking place in Equatorial Guinea between January 17 and February 8, 2015, as well as to attend the training camp of the said representative team from January 5-16, 2015 in Morocco. “The Senegalese FA was informed by West Ham United that Sakho was prevented from playing and travelling by plane due to injury and thus he did not join the Senegal team. “On January 25, 2015, the player took part in an official match for his club West Ham United. Senegal were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 on January 27, 2015. “In view of the above and in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 of Annexe 1 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter the Regulations), disciplinary proceedings were opened against the player and the club for a potential violation of Annexe 1 of the Regulations. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has found the club and the player to have violated art. 5 of Annexe 1 of the Regulations in relation to the match played by Sakho on 25 January 2015. The club has been fined CHF 100,000 in accordance with art. 10 c) and art. 15 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with a reprimand in accordance with art. 10 b) and art. 14 of the FDC. “The terms of the decisions were notified to the relevant parties today.” Both Sakho and West Ham have been cleared to play in the next round as scheduled, where Sam Allardyce’s side face West Brom. - See more at: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sport/abroad/196715-fifa-fines-west-ham-71-000-for-fielding-sakho-in-english-fa-cup-tie#sthash.4MxXsxE9.dpuf

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Pastors collected N6b to campaign against APC, Buhari – Amaechi

The Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that unnamed leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid N6 billion to Christian clerics to campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Amaechi, who is also the Governor of Rivers State, expressed surprise that the compromised pastors were circulating documents to Nigerians, where they alleged that the APC and its presidential candidate would Islamize the entire country, if Buhari is elected as President during the February 14 election. The chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum spoke on Tuesday at Emohua, the headquarters of Emohua local government area of Rivers State, during the campaign of the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. Amaechi stressed that Nigerians were too enlightened for an individual or a political party to Islamise the whole country, asking the bribed clerics to return the money to the coffers of the Federal Government. He said: “Some pastors collected N6 billion and they are circulating documents and telling you not to vote for an Hausa man, not to vote for a Muslim because they want to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them to return our N6 billion. “They gave them N6 billion. They should return it to the Federal Government coffers. They will tell you that Buhari wants to Islamise Nigeria. Tell them we are too educated. I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story right now in the Catholic Church, because I will ask him how. “If any Pastor tells you that, tell him to return the money. Nobody can Islamise Nigeria. They have commercialized Jesus Christ. They should stop commercializing Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour. “You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple. He chased them away. We shall chase away those pastors who collected money from PDP leaders to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amaechi also stated that the presidential election would be a referendum between him and President Goodluck Jonathan. “I told the President (Dr. Jonathan) that the presidential election in Rivers State is a referendum between him and me. I told him anywhere I go, I will show what I have done. Let him show what he has done.”

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Omotola Celebrates 20 Years in Nollywood

It’s been 20 years, since Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde made her debut in the Nigerian movie industry, otherwise called Nollywood. To kick-off the celebrations, she visited Stella Maris College in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The famous Nollywood star also used the event to flag off her tour of 20 cities in the world, as part of the programmes outlined for the celebration, which commenced at the weekend. To Omosexy, as she is popularly called, the event was an opportunity to encourage younger generations to believe in themselves for a better nation. “That was my motivation,” said the Nollywood star, “to meet with young children”. She also used the occasion to launch her pet project ‘I gat value’ and also motivated the young pupils by sharing her experience while growing up to stardom. “Starting a career as a young girl of 16, all I wanted was to help my widowed mother provide for our young family. I stumbled on the opportunity to model freely, and by fate, I was invited to a movie casting. Who knew as frightened and vulnerable as I was then, that I was starting the journey of my destiny?” she narrated, while introducing her plight to the management of the school, adding that, “20 years later, not only did I provide for my now late widowed mother, I also helped train two younger ones and earned myself a career in Nollywood, an industry that I helped start with practically nothing, but which has gone on to become the second largest English producing and third largest movie industry in the world.” Fascinated by her story, the students described Omotola as a living legend and a role model to many of them. They celebrated her as a humble wife and great mother who has kept her marriage intact unlike her contemporaries and urged her to share her secret of success so they could grow to be like her. Omotola, who is also a United Nations Peace Ambassador, is married to Captain Matthew Ekeinde and they have four children. Representative of the students, Isigwe Chiamaka, in her opening remarks, celebrated the actress’ achievements and thanked her for choosing their school as a flag-off point for her world city tour. Popular Motivational Speaker, Linus Okorie, told the students that to become a leader was a personal choice they must make. He advised them to own a dream book which could be used to write their ideas and embark on research

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Don’t Sell Your PVCs, Buhari’s Wife Tells Women

The wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Aishatu Buhari, has charged Nigerian women not to succumb to pressures from any quarter to hand over their voters card in exchange for monetary inducements. Mrs. Buhari, who was represented at the sensitisation workshop in Abuja by the Coordinator of the APC Women Presidential Campaign Initiative, Hajia Salamatu Jibril, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to shift the February 14 election date but rather re-affirm it. Speaking on the importance of women participation in the next general election, Mrs. Buhari charged women to guard their voter’s card jealously and ensure that they are not sold for any price, adding that their vote is the only weapon to chase away the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP). “In view of this, I urge all to obtain your permanent voter’s cards enjoin others to also get theirs to enable them vote for the party during the election. More importantly is that you also recognise the logo and know how to thumb print appropriately to prevent void votes. I also want to appeal to you not to sell your vote to any party, as it is the only weapon you can use to drive the PDP out of government, “ she said. The wife of the ex-Head of State urged all well- meaning Nigerians to prevail on INEC to ensure that 14th February national election remain sacrosanct. She also enjoined the mothers to caution their children against becoming willing tools in the hands of troublemakers and those who would want perpetrate election violence. “I also want to acknowledge your highly influential role as mothers, particularly on your households, and therefore urge you to caution your children to shun any form of violence before, during and after the elections. “Please as women, we are the most vulnerable in the society particularly in crisis situation and we do not pray for any further cases as it has been unprecedented in the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, which we must collectively fight to end with our PVCs. “More importantly is that you also recognise the logo and know how to thumb print appropriately to prevent void votes. I also want to appeal to you not to sell your vote to any party, as it is the only weapon you can use to drive the PDP out of government. “I also want to acknowledge your highly influential role as mothers, particularly on your households, and therefore urge you to caution your children to shun any form of violence before, during and after the elections. “Please note that as women, we are the most vulnerable in the society particularly in crisis situation and we do not pray for any further cases as it has been unprecedented under president Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, which we must collectively fight to end with our PVCs,” she said.

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Why Is Love So Hard?

THIS is a question that we have asked ourselves from time to time… Why is love so hard? I want you to think about every relationship you have had and look at what was happening when it began to fail. Think about what made it feel like such a struggle. Think about what caused you pain and grief in those relationships. Seriously, stop reading for a moment and contemplate it. Was it the things your partner said or did that caused issues or the things they did not do or say that caused you pain, made you angry and frustrated? Was it the things you both hid from each other that caused misunderstanding, jealousy or manipulation and control exerted by one or the other? Was it lack of commitment, lack of sex or intimacy? What was it that made all these things hard work? At the core of all of those answers, if you go deep enough, what do you think drives all of those behaviours and emotional reactions? It is each person’s stuff! Yes, stuff! This is also known as “emotional baggage,” but stuff, for me, also includes “self-sabotaging patterns” (generally driven by the previously mentioned “emotional baggage,” but not always emotional in nature). It is a big bag of mixed sensitivities made up of past hurts and pain from parents or other family or role models, past boy/girlfriends or other committed relationships, lovers and even friends, which each person carries with him/her into every relationship. For some, it is a big, dark, massive, heavy, oversized suitcase that you need to pay extra baggage fees for, and for others it is a tiny handbag. The issue is that when you meet someone special, both your bags are invisible. You have no idea what sized baggage a person is coming in with until you get further in and guaranteed it will trigger yours, possibly adding to it along the way. Initially, everyone puts on their best behaviour, sometimes purposely being someone they are not to try and make you love them. Initially, it will work, but you cannot hide the weight of the stuff you drag around with you forever. I am sure at some point, one of you will say or do something that tickles or bitch slaps the other person’s sensitivities and that is when the tantrums happen, the psycho bitch appears, the Banshee turns up, the bully and the manipulator come out, the tears and emotional games start and things sometimes get thrown around the room. For some, it gets violent and well and truly out of hand. When stuff gets triggered, it can bring out the worst in people, creating more pain and damage to each other’s self-esteem, which totally sucks. The worst part (for me) is knowing how easy it is to avoid. The amount and intensity of a person’s stuff directly affects their self-esteem/self-worth/self-love, which determines how childish or manipulative and controlling they act out when their stuff is triggered. It also determines what they will allow others to say and do to them. When a people have a low self-esteem, they will put up with being disrespected, treated poorly and will constantly sacrifice what they want and need for a lot longer than someone who has a healthy self-esteem. They will settle on a relationship that is not everything they want or stay in one that is just completely wrong. Low self-esteem also drives behaviours, such as possessiveness, jealousy, control and emotional manipulation, as they are so afraid of being left/abandoned that they will hold on tighter to the ones they love and even try to control or manipulate them into staying with them. Ultimately, the “I am not good enough” demon and the need to be loved drives a person to do and say things that do not encourage or nurture a loving response, thereby destroying love bit by bit and each person in the process. This ultimately creates the situation every person is trying to avoid- being left/abandoned by someone they love. So, the answer to why love gets hard is the baggage and stuff. When it is not present or minimal, it is so much easier to have a healthy self-esteem and to relate like a mature adult; to communicate all wants, needs and desires, to collaborate and negotiate for a win-win for each person without either one having to control the other or sacrifice who they are and what they need to truly thrive and be blissfully happy. If you want to attract and/or keep an amazing relationship, a relationship where love, support, respect and happiness are abundant, one that grows and evolves easily, then it is time to look at what stuff you are carrying around with you and dare to do the work needed to dissolve it. It is also deciding it is time to learn the skills that help you move through triggered experiences without adding to your stuff. It is all completely possible and easy when you know how. To the loving relationship we all deserve, good luck in love and life. Cheers? - See more at: http://ngrguardiannews.com/saturday-magazine/love-a-life/195973-why-is-love-so-hard#sthash.PI9L7T6W.dpuf

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