I'm aware of your sufferings: Buhari’s New Year message to Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari in his new year message said that living in Aso Rock Villa has not insulated him from the sufferings of Nigerians.

Read the President's new year message below.

“Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of change in our beloved nation. I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

“When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring change.

“I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.

“In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the change you voted for during our historic presidential election.

“Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people.

WAR ON TERROR
“One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major change is in the war on terror.

“I commend our Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria over the past few years.

“However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

“This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

ON CORRUPTION
“Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.

“There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

“We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to promote job creation.

“Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.

“So too is our confidence in God."

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Borno Restricts Movement Over New Year Celebrations

After consultations with security agencies, the government of Borno State has imposed immediate restrictions on vehicular movements in Maiduguri and its environs.

The commissioner for Home Affairs,  Information and Culture,  Dr. Mohammed Bulama  said the restriction will take effect   from 5:00pm on December 31 and ends at 6:00am Saturday,  January 2, 2016.

According to a statement issued by Dr Bulama on Thursday,
“The measure becomes necessary in order to further safeguard lives and property of law abiding citizens in the state.

“While wishing you a hitch free new year, members of the public are please requested to be more vigilant and security  conscious throughout the period and report any suspicious person or movement to the nearest security agency.

“We wish to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed all law abiding citizens that every step is being taken by government and military authorities to root out terrorists causing mayhem in the society.”

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Read Davido's apology to Dele Momodu

After days of altercation in which abusive words were used, pop star Davido has apologized to Ovation publisher and uncle of his baby mama, Dele Momodu. 

Here's what he tweeted.

“MR . DELE MOMODU I APOLOGIZE BUT …U DIDN'T HAVE TO”

“ALL THESE LIES BEING PUT ON ME … NO BE TODAY … I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY BUT IN RESPECT FOR MY DAUGHTER I WILL KEEP QUIET … I APOLOGIZ .”

“THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT! EVEN IF I DON’T KEEP HER , SHE WILL GROW UP TO KNOW I FOUGHT FOR HER”

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The drama continues as NAPTIP is invited into Davido's fight with Sophia Momodu.

Following the alleged unsuccessful attempt by the Adeleke family to smuggle baby
Aurora Imade Adeleke out of the country without her mother's consent, the Momodu family has petitioned the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP seeking the agency's protection for the infant girl.

Given this new twist, the battle of the Adelekes and the Momodus could be taking place on two fronts, Lagos and Abuja.

See the full text of the petition below.

December 30, 2015
The Director General
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
No. 2028 Dalaba Street
Wuse Zone 5
FCT, Abuja

Dear Madam,

PETITION AGAINST MISS ASHLEY COCO ADELEKE & MR ADEDEJI ADELEKE FOR ATTEMPTED CHILD TRAFFICKING AND ABDUCTION OF MISS AURORA IMADE ADELEKE

We act as Solicitors for Miss Sophia Ajibola Momodu, (hereinafter referred to as our client) whose instructions we have to forward this petition to your esteemed Agency.

Our client, a 27 year old, is the biological mother of a baby girl with name, Aurora Imade Adeleke, who was born on the 14th day of May 2015. The baby’s father is Mr. David Adedeji Adeleke (aka Davido). The father and mother are unmarried.

On the 11th July, 2015, our client was tricked to visit the house of Mr. David Adedeji Adeleke’s half sister – Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke with her baby, Imade Aurora Adeleke.

After getting to the house on Baderinwa Alabi Street, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, our client’s baby was forcefully taken from her and she was thrown out of the premises with the threat that she would be decisively dealt with if she ever bothered to return there. There were armed policemen in the premises and our client’s survival instinct prevailed on her to make her leave her breast suckling baby behind, with so much pain in her heart.

By daybreak on the next day, our client was again at Ashley Coco Adeleke’s house to take her baby, but she was prevented by armed policemen from gaining access into the house. She was again threatened and warned never to return for the child.

Since July 2015, our client, who has now become so disorientated, saddened and confused has been going to family members, including her cousin, Mr Dele Momodu, and other well meaning Nigerians to intervene and allow her get her baby back or at least allow her to be able to have access to and care for her daughter. This was frustrated by Coco Adeleke, David Adeleke and their father, Mr. Adedeji Adeleke. These people boasted to our client and all her family and friends that our client is a nonentity and of little substance in Nigeria. They also claim that they have the financial wherewithal and political and security clout to deal with her and her family anyhow and without any consequence with the aid of their brother and uncle, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and other friends Mr Deji Adeleke purportedly has in government. In a bid to justify their actions, Mr Deji Adeleke and his daughter, Ashley Coco Adeleke, have been spreading several malicious and unfounded allegations about our client.

While the attempts at finding a peaceful and lasting solution were still ongoing, on Tuesday the 29th December 2015, Ashley Coco Adeleke and her father, Mr Deji Adeleke, tried to travel to Dubai with our client’s baby. The baby was meant to be flown out of the country with Nigerian and American passports. Prior to that date, our client and her cousin, Mr Dele Momodu, had gone to alert the immigration services at the Murtala Mohammed, Ikeja International airport of the likelihood of Ashley Coco Adeleke travelling with our client’s baby by pretending to be the Mother. Our client believes that her baby’s American passport was hidden and is now likely to be in possession of Mr Deji Adeleke or Ashley Coco Adeleke. It appears that the assistance of Emirates Airline was sought as the baby’s American passport was not produced in breach of aviation regulations. Neither was a letter of authority from the mother to confirm her consent to the trip produced despite the airline being alerted.

When Mrs. Modupe Mofikoya, the immigration officer who attended to the Adeleke travelling party accosted Ashley Coco Adeleke and asked for the mother of the baby, Ashley Adeleke claimed that she was the mother. Immediately, the immigration officer on duty collected her Nigerian international passport, she quickly absconded from the scene with the baby and her father, Mr Deji Adeleke, showed up shortly afterwards to try to clear his daughter’s mess.

Our client with the help of her family members, including Mr Dele Momodu, determinedly resisted the attempt by Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke and her father, Mr Deji Adeleke, from taking Aurora Imade Adeleke from Lagos yesterday. Our client believes that the pair are trying to take the child to America and thus put her out of the reach of the biological mother.

At the moment, Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke and our client’s daughter, Aurora Imade Adeleke are still in Lagos and two of their respective international passports are in the custody of the airport immigration services.
Our client’s fear now, is that Ashley Coco may use her Nigerian passport and Aurora Imade’s American passport to travel through other Nigerian or West African airports.
We know that the actions of Mr Deji Adeleke and Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke contravene many provisions of the law. One is Section 13 of the Childs Right Law 2007 of Lagos State (as adapted from the Federal Act), which guarantees Aurora Imade Adeleke’s right to parental care and protection. That law also forbids separation of a child from her parents. Another is Section 24 of the same law, which also prohibits abduction of a child from the lawful custody of her parents. Neither Mr Deji Adeleke or Ms Ashley Coco Adeleke has any lawful right to the custody of Aurora Imade Adeleke. Even the unmarried father, Mr David Adedeji Adeleke, only has limited rights to the child and certainly not to the exclusion of our client, the natural mother as the Adeleke’s are trying to do.

We are of the sound view that your Agency is the most viable organisation that can intervene in the plight of our client and save her from the untold trauma that she is going through in the hands of Mr Deji Adeleke and Ashley Coco Adeleke, who has her own child that she keeps with her. We have advised our client about the statutory powers of your Agency to potently investigate and enforce all the provisions of the law that deal with abduction and trafficking in persons.
We urge you to use your good offices to intervene in the case of our client and protect a baby who should still be under her mother’s care from being abducted and smuggled abroad.
We thank you.

Yours faithfully,
AJAYI & CO./Gbolaga Ajayi Esq.

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Don't let my husband die in custody, Mrs Dasuki begs DSS

Former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki is ill and could die in detention if not given the needed medical attention.

A desperate Mrs Dasuki is reported to have created a scene at the Abuja headquarters of the DSS on Tuesday as she begged the security agency not to let her husband die in their custody.

She was said to have waited with family members to perfect the last part of his bail conditions, a surety with a N250 million property in Abuja.

Unfortunately however, Col Dasuki was rearrested by the DSS immediately after he was released from prison, thus adding to her frustration.

“Nigerians should help me beg the Federal Government, the DSS and other agencies to release my husband who did his best to serve this nation. He is ill, he needs medical attention, he is not pretending. I implore the DSS not to allow him to die in custody.

“I saw my husband and I felt dejected. He is not just well. Nigerians should assist him to get a reprieve. We (myself, the children and relations) are all destabilised. We don’t know what is happening because three courts have granted him bail. Why are they after him? Let those concerned respect the court by releasing my husband.

“There is no way my husband will run away from the country under any guise. They should please follow the rule of law and uphold his right to bail,” she cried.

According to sources, Mrs Dasuki was later allowed to see her husband but had to go home without him.

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January 1 is public holiday

Friday January 1 , 2015 has been declared a public holiday by the Federal Government.

Making the declaration, Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of the season to ensure love, joy and peaceful co-existence.

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Boko Haram : USA Reaffirms Commitment To Help Nigeria, Others

The government of the United States of America has reaffirmed its commitment to help Nigeria and her neighbors affected by Boko Haram terrorism to counter the menace.

The US embassy said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday that a lot needed to be done for Nigeria and her neighbors to enjoy peace.

“The United States remains committed to helping Nigeria and its neighbours counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror.

“Despite much progress over the past year — due in large part to newly bolstered Nigerian and regional efforts — more work remains to ensure the people of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria can live in peace.

“The conflict has affected the lives of communities across the Lake Chad Basin region with some 2.5 million internally displaced people and more than 170,000 Nigerian refugees forced to flee their homes,” it said.

The embassy said that the United States has been supporting Nigeria and her neighbors in many ways.

“The United States provides advisors, intelligence, training, logistical support and equipment to our African partners as they work to defeat Boko Haram.

“We also support those affected by Boko Haram’s violence through on-going humanitarian aid and victim support services.

“The United States will continue working with our partners in the region to identify new opportunities to support their efforts to stop Boko Haram’s wanton violence and restore order in the Lake Chad Basin region.”

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PDP To Sanctiion Members Convicted Of Corruption

The Body of People's Democratic Party, PDP National Vice Chairmen rose from a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, December 29 to declare that any member of the party convicted in the ongoing war against corruption will face disciplinary action.

In a communique signed by the
Secretary Body of PDP Vice Chairmen, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, after the meeting, the party dissociated itself from corrupt practices while it was in power.

The PDP also called on Buhari to investigate some of his serving ministers who have been accused of various acts of corruption.

The communique partly reads;
“The body of National Vice Chairmen supports the anti corruption drive of the Buhari’s administration and affirms that if corruption is not eradicated the growth of Nigeria as a nation will remain stunted.

“The body notes with great concern the various allegations and charges against some PDP members that served in government, even as these allegations and charges are yet to be proven. We call on the president to also investigate some of his serving ministers and associates that even more grievous allegations have been levelled against.

“As a result, the body wishes to affirm as follows : that the PDP as a party dissociates itself from any of its members so indicted.

“Any member so convicted shall also face intra party disciplinary action and will be severely sanctioned accordingly.”

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Why Dasuki, Kanu must remain in custody - Buhari

Those who committed serious crimes against the state cannot be allowed to enjoy freedom, says President Muhammadu Buhari. 

This according to him justifies the continued detention of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and founder of Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu despite the bail granted them by courts of competent jurisdiction.

Speaking at his maiden Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, Buhari said that given the seriousness of the charges against the accused, they could jump bail if granted temporary freedom.

His words ;
“Technically if you see the kinds of atrocities those people committed against the country. If they jump bail, see the former President wrote to the governor of Central Bank and said give N40bn to so so and so, and then he gives account and you release him to go and see his doctors in London, while about 2 million IDPs who don’t even know their parents; what kind of country is that?

“And the one you are calling Kanu, do you know he had two passports, one Nigerian, one British, and he came into the country without any. Do you know he brought an equipment into this country and was broadcasting, Radio Biafra. Which kind of government do you think should harbor that kind of person? There is a treasonable felony against him and and I hope the court will listen to the case.”

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I didn't pick anyone that will embarrass my government - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has defended the integrity of his 36 ministers.

At his maiden Presidential media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Buhari said that none of his ministers has a corruption case in any court.

“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have.

“I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make that mistake,” he said.

He however added that if any of his ministers is charged to court for corruption, he would let the case run its course

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And the Davido/Baby mama drama continues

Davido replies Dele Momodu http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/davido-replies-dele-momodu.html

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Davido's. Fight With Baby Mama Getting Messier

Read Davido's babymama's petition against him and his family http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/read-davidos-babymamas-petition-against.html

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Jude Okoye just got himself a new year present (Photos)

The President of Northside Inc and manager of Psquare and Cynthia Morgan just got himself a new Mercedes Benz for the new year.
He shared the good news with his fans on Instagram.

judeengees:Got myself 1st new year goodies. 2nd one in a bit. #cls #mercedes #blessed 🙏🙌

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Buhari may ban hijab because of Boko Haram.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that if Boko Haram continues to use women for suicide bombings, he would be forced to ban the use of hijab by Muslim women in the country.

Buhari made the declaration in Abuja during his maiden Presidential Media Chat.

"Hijab would have to be banned if suicide bombing continues, " he said.

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Hate Speech : Adamawa SSG Tenders Apology

Following the outrage that greeted his alleged hate speech against the Yola Fulani tribe, the Secretary to the Government of Adamawa State, Dr Umar Bindir has tendered his apologies.

Bindir told newsmen in Yola on Wednesday that the audio of the supposed hate speech which has gone viral on YouTube was doctored to discredit him.

He said that the alleged audio speech was made during a courtesy call on him by the Adamawa State branch of Nigeria Society of Engineers where he attributed the lack of development in Yola  to the pettiness of the various tribes citing his own Fulani tribe as an example.

“As a Fulani man from Yola, I decided to give example with our people.

“I am here to say that if the material posted on YouTube ended up annoying other people, demonizing other people and so on, I say I am sorry,” he said.

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50 kobo reduction in petrol price amounts to government by deception - PDP

The People's Democratic Party, PDP has denounced the new prices of petrol announced by the Federal Government as a continuation of the ruling APC's government by deception.

A statement released by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh on Wednesday said that apart from being deceptive, the new pump prices of N86 and N86.5 for NNPC retail outlets and private retail outlets respectively offer no significant difference from the previous price of N87. 

“After heightened expectations occasioned by the promise to review the N87 per litre pump price of petrol made by the administration amid crippling scarcity of the product during the Christmas season, the announcement of this tokenism has come as a disappointing anti-climax, considering that only in January this year, the PDP Federal Government reduced the pump price from N97 to N87 per litre.

“That was done in the wake of the fall in the price of crude oil to between $42.65 and $50 per barrel. The PDP government then, in reaction to the development in the global oil market, revised its pricing template that brought down the pump price by N2.84 more than the N87 fixed as the pump price of petrol. The implication was that the Federal Government was still subsidising the N87 price by N2.84 per every litre of the product.

“The APC-controlled Federal Government, consequent upon stepping in the saddle on May 29, this year considered the market and decided through a supplementary appropriation to pay N413 billion as subsidy to petroleum marketers. In announcing the new pump prices, the APC Federal Government claimed that the subsidy element has been removed. The question is; how much were we paying for subsidy when the pump price was N87? Has this marginal reduction now knocked off completely the huge subsidy paid at N87 per litre or should it not have only further reduced the size of the subsidy?

“The APC government therefore must explain what it is trying to hide. The government could not have earmarked and/or paid a whopping N413billion in subsidy through its 2015 supplementary appropriation when petrol was selling at N87 per litre and now tells us that at N86 or N86.50 per litre, no subsidy will be paid. Is it trying to make the previous government look dubious or what? This government must explain its suspicious position on the subsidy issue. Nigerians can no longer put up with ambiguities and deception.

“Nigerians must question the sincerity of this government with regards to the removal of subsidy; Nigerians should ask President Buhari to tell them in clear terms, at what ceiling of crude oil price was subsidy no longer necessary: at N87 or this new price regime?

“For the records, we also wish to remind Nigerians of the insincerity of some members of the ruling APC on the fuel subsidy claim while in the opposition. For instance, when oil fell to $66 per barrel in December 2014, the current Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who was the governor of Lagos State then, said: ‘Now we should be enjoying cheap fuel if the price of oil has dropped globally.

“Even as we import the product, a major component has reduced in price and while this has reduced, the pump price of fuel in the country still remains virtually the same. Then something is wrong. If the price increases in the country when the price of oil goes up globally, then it should also reduce when the price of oil drops.’

“Similarly, when oil fell to $44 per barrel in January 2015, the current Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who was the spokesperson of the then opposition APC said;

‘When crude oil was selling at $100 per barrel, the landing cost of PMS without subsidy was N125 per litre. Now that the oil price has crashed to about $44 per barrel, landing cost without subsidy is about N65 per litre. The same goes for diesel which should not sell for more than 90 Naira per litre.’

“Lai Mohammed had said further, ‘Early this year, Zambia slashed the price of petrol by 23 per cent while Tanzania reduced the pump price of the product by 16%. In the U.S, which until recently was importing crude oil from Nigeria, the price of fuel has fallen for 113 consecutive days as of January 16. Therefore, the 10.3% price slash in Nigeria is too meager, too late.’

"Nigerians should now ask them what has changed in their calculations that they could not significantly reduce the pump price.

"As a party, the PDP insists that never again should Nigerians allow desperate men to use lies, propaganda and intimidations to win elections and get to power, only for them to fumble and muddle through governance."

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Trending: MASSOB, IPOB dismiss Kanu's purported apology to Buhari, others.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB has dismissed as false, the reported apology by the founder of Radio Biafra and leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to President Buhari and some other Nigerian leaders.

Leader of MASSOB, Mr Uchenna Madu said in a statement he issued on Wednesday that the story of Kanu's apology is totally false and a calculated attempt by agents of the Federal Government to discredit, disorganize and frustrate the agitation for actualization of the State of Biafra.

“The publication was totally false and should be ignored by the general public, no amount of intimidation, harassment, torture, killings, arrest and blackmail can make Kanu apologize for anything he said, nothing will ever make us to stop the agitation for the actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,” he said.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on its part described as blatant lies, the claim that its incarcerated leader and founder of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu has recanted and apologized to President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for his alleged uncomplimentary remarks and statements about them.

The IPOB in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Media and Publicity Officer, Comrade Emma Powerful, and titled Nnamdi Kanu Never Apologized For His Release , said it totally dismissed the publication as “the machination of the Directorate of State Security, DSS to save it's face having been disgraced by the court with granting of bail to Kanu.

“DSS is not sincere, if they have respect for the constitution of Nigeria, they would have released Kanu as directed by the courts, instead, they are looking for new charges which they will use to jail him, but they will fail again, and they have discovered that they will not make any progress in their quest to jail Kanu, they are now looking for soft landing to chicken out of the case with the claim that Kanu is apologizing, a claim that does not hold water,” the statement said.

Urging the press to be mindful of false information from the DSS, the IPOB went further to say that “Kanu is not disturbed in any way for his long incarceration, his spirit is very high and he will be received like a hero he is, any day they are tired of holding him and decide to release him.

"Kanu is in detention for us, we are here for him. DSS should stop embarrassing itself with the false information they are churning out to the public. If they are honest in what they are claiming about Kanu’s apology, they should publish the copy of the said apology as an advert in the newspapers let the world see. If they say they culled it from the statement he wrote in DSS detention, how then did it become an apology to people?” they asked.

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Read Gov Bindow's denial of Atiku's N500m Campaign Gift

Governor Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has thrown more light on the N500 million allegedly given to him by ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the campaigns for the 2015 general elections.

It wasn't me

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Press and Media Affairs , Martins Dickson, on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, Bindow noted that Atiku did not give the money to him but to the APC in Adamawa state.

See the statement below.
“It is important to state that Bindow categorically stated that the state APC party secretary, Abdullahi Bakari, gave Atiku Abubakar the financial situation in the state after the former Vice President demanded to know if the state chapter of the party had any problems prosecuting the elections then since the party had very little or no financial sources of income.

“The Turaki Adamawa, being an indigene of the state considers the support as a duty he owes his party and the good people of the state to support the APC’s effort to ensure that they get the type of government which would be a marked departure from the past and give the people the good governance they yearn for, and deserve.

”For anyone to insinuate that the support was meant to buy over Governor Bindow’s loyalty is unthinkable and childish. Governor Bindow’s strength of character and moral upbringing is way beyond mortgaging the destiny of Adamawa state for any form of personal gain. The good works of the governor since assumption of office has clearly illustrated his good intent for the state and the change that has eluded the state for decades."

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Read Radio Biafra boss Kanu's apology to Buhari, Jonathan, Igbo elders.

Radio Biafra Director and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has reportedly apologized to President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and some Igbo elders for uncomplimentary remarks he made about them.

Kanu reportedly tendered the apology in a statement he made to the Department of State Services, DSS on 23 October 2015, with a promise to write a formal letter to the President.

See Kanu's unreserved apology below.

“Reference to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile is regrettable and uncalled for and for that, I unreservedly apologise and will be doing so in a private letter to the President.

“Before PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) there was the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. I also said uncomplimentary things about him and Igbo elders as well, which I now recognise should not have happened because it is un-African to be rude or insolent to elders.

“All I was trying to do is to draw attention to the problems afflicting society and something done about them.”

Kanu was however insistent on his demand for the actualization of the Republic of Biafra, pointing out that his secessionist agenda was informed by “incessant hardship, lack of holistic development in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, lack of youth employment, corruption in high offices and economic regression” among others. 

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Nasarawa United Lose Skipper

The captain of Nasarawa United Football Club, Baba Idris passed away on Monday after a brief illness.

Club officials said that the central defender died of typhoid fever.

Idris who helped Nasarawa United finish third in the Nigerian Premier League last season will be sorely missed, especially as the club will be campaigning in the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

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2016 Budget A Booby Trap - PDP

The People's Democratic Party, PDP has described the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC's plan to borrow N1.84 trillion in the 2016 fiscal year as a ploy to pay off its huge campaign debt and fund its political war chest.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh who spoke with pressmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the planned N1.84 trillion naira loan translates to borrowing N5b daily, beginning from January 1 to December 31, 2016.

His words ;
“Some people may be wondering why we raised an alarm about the budget. The reason is simple. When we analysed the budget, we discovered it is a misshapen attempt at a Keynesian economics of applying deficit spending to stimulate growth even when studies have proven that GDP growth rates decrease by over 50 per cent when debt goes from low or moderate to high. But then we know the borrowing here is to pay huge campaign debt and fund a political war chest.

“By every standard, this budget is a booby trap against the nation. When you break down the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, you discover that it amounts to borrowing N5 billion everyday for the 365 days in 2016. The questions are: for what specific projects are they borrowing N5 billion per day and how do they intend to pay back?

“The President should explain to Nigerians how they intend to payback the loan. Is it by continuous borrowing to service the interests, and does he intend to accumulate colossal debt for future generations of Nigerians?

“The truth is that this administration cannot justify this proposal. There is no known economy in the world where you can justify borrowing N1.84 trillion without specific projects and precise repayment outline. This is worse still in an oil-driven, mono-economy at a time crude oil is selling at $30 per barrel and is speculated to go down to about $20 or even lower in the next one year. The idea can only come when you diversify the economy and boost production capacity in manufacturing and other critical sectors, a direction,which the budget clearly failed to provide .“

While asking President Buhari to explain to the nation why his N6.08 trillion 2016 budget should not be considered a fraud, Metuh challenged the Federal Government to a public debate on the budget.

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No plea bargain for looters - AGF

“I cannot imagine someone being responsible for monumental deaths of our citizens and then going scot-free arising from plea-bargain as a policy.

“It has never been the policy of the government to make compromises on terrorism and financial crimes. It will never be tolerated by the office of the AGF.

“It is tragic for a nation to have a budget meant for arms procurement for the protection of lives and property of the citizens, and end up not having the arms but compromising the process of making adequate provisions for the protection of lives of its citizens."

Those were the words of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami yesterday when he was asked if the Federal Government was go into plea bargain with those standing trial for looting public funds.

Speaking at a meeting with the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group in Abuja on Tuesday, the AGF accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of deliberately compromising corruption cases to help politically exposed individuals escape justice.

“Under the last government, corruption cases were deliberately compromised during investigation in order to pave the way for criminal elements to escape the long arm of the law. Steps are being taken to audit such cases with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

“We have put in place a national prosecution team that comprises all stakeholders for the purposes of ensuring the success of what charge is presented before the courts. The committee will be saddled with the responsibility of preferring relevant charges and ensuring that charges are preferred in line with the dictates of the law without compromises.

“It is not just about having a team that will be prosecuting, but ensuring that relevant audit is taken as it relates to previous prosecution to ensure that those that are found wanting are brought to book. And then, ensure that the future of prosecution in this country is further enhanced by having in place an effective legal team that will involve legal drafters for efficient drafting of charges.

“The team will also include efficient investigators that will ensure that adequate proof of evidence that will establish the required ingredients of an offence are put in place, and then, competent prosecutors that will now ensure that the required proofs are presented before relevant courts for the purpose of establishing guilt,” he said.

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Stay away from Glass House, Minister warns factional leader

Following the threat by the Chris Giwa faction of Nigeria football stakeholders to forcefully take over the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Secretariat on 16 January 2016 and sack the Amaju Pinnick faction, Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung has warned them not to go anywhere near the Abuja Glass House.

In a statement issued yesterday by his SA (Media), Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the minister warned ;

“It has come to my knowledge once again, that anarchy is being adopted as a method for addressing grievances in the Nigeria Football Federation.

"As a peacemaker and also a Minister of Youth and Sports, I will always implore Nigerians to apply the use of dialogue and consensus in resolving crisis. This my posture should not be taken as weakness but as a well intended way of promoting peace among people.

I reiterate this again and again that I am standing with nobody in the crisis of the NFF but will always stand for due process…..
Chris Giwa and his group should not take the petition brought to my table as a license for anarchy. I will not endorse that today. I will not endorse that to- morrow and I will not endorse that forever.

Therefore, I urge all warring factions to remain very calm and peaceful so that we will not destroy the image and progress built so far in football. "

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Kaduna State APC Upholds Senator's Suspension

The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has upheld the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani who represents Kaduna Central constituency.

According to the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Salisu Tanko-Wusono, the Senator is to remain suspended from the party's activities for 11 months for offences against the party.

His words :
“We hereby uphold the suspension of Comrade (Senator) Shehu Sani as a member of the party for the period of 11 months.

“By this suspension, he is to desist from all party activities until when the suspension is lifted.

“The party calls on all its members to be law abiding as we move forward to fulfil our campaign promises.”

Shehu Sani had earlier been suspended from the party by his Tudun Wada ward for various anti party activities.

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El-Zakzaky arraigned, remanded in prison custody.

Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ayatollah Ibraheem El-Zakzaky was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court.

He was arraigned with some of his followers on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances.

Confirming Zakzaky’s arraignment and subsequent remand, Police spokesman, Olabisi Kolawole said;

“The Shi’ite leader has been arraigned at a magistrates’ court and charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbances, among others. He has been remanded in prison custody and the case adjourned.”

The Shiite leader was arrested following a bloody clash between his followers and the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai in Zaria.

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Presidency To Get N3.6b BMW Cars In 2016

The presidency is to acquire a fleet of exotic BMW cars in 2016, according to the budget proposal now before the National Assembly.

The BMW saloon cars for principal officers are estimated at N3,630,000,000, going by the 2016 budget for the Presidency. The number of the cars is not specified.

N189.1m is voted for tyres for various vehicles, including the bulletproof and plain Mercedes Benz cars being used in the Presidency.

The expenditure on tyres is to cover other types of vehicles, including Toyota cars, trucks, Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Prado SUVs, Hilux pick-up vans, Peugeot 607 and 406 cars, ambulances and others broadly described as “ utility and operational vehicles”.

President Muhammadu Buhari will, in the next fiscal year, likely spend N1,415,706,197 on both local and international travels and transportation, as against the N944,672,109 spent in 2015 by him and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on travels and transportation.

A breakdown of the 2016 budget  for the Presidency shows that in place of the N24. 6 million voted for Wildlife Conservation, including the purchase of exotic animals last year, N326m is allocated for next year.

Also, acquisition of presidential canteen materials and kitchen equipment has increased from N83.1m this year to N89m in 2016.

There is an increase in the N11m voted for supply of foodstuff and catering services in the Vice President’s office in 2015 to N16.6m.

A breakdown of the 2016 budget for the Presidency includes: general renovation of the Guest House (N387m); complete furnishing of the Guest House (N45m); purchase of computers (27.5m) and construction and provision of recreational facilities (764m).

Recreational materials totalling N12m are to be procured.
Other expenditures on the Presidency’s vehicles include N39.8m for the purchase of an unspecified number of 200 amps, 100 amps and 60 amps Mercedes Benz batteries for bulletproof vehicles.

Also N30m is to be expended on the purchase of tool boxes, car jacks, and diagnostic machines for the Presidency’s bulletproof cars.

The purchase of C-Caution triangles, fire-extinguishers and cables is to cost N27m.

While there is no indication of the number or condition of items procured by the Presidency in 2015, N114.4m is to be expended on the upgrade of internet infrastructure in the State House; N22.5 is to be spent on purchasing internet servers.

The purchase of what is described as “Active Devices for State House Network” is to cost N100m and N35m is to be expended on the purchase of security appliances and licences, including computer anti-virus software.

Under the Office of the National Security Adviser’s N90.3 billion budget for 2016, N8.7 billion is to be expended to develop the ONSA’s “All-Eye” surveillance project and N9 billion to construct an esoterically-named “Stravinsky Project”.

The ONSA’s security vote, including funds for operations, is pegged at N576m.

The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has N2.2 billion for its 2016 security vote.

The Presidential Air Fleet is to spend N262.4m on Air Navigation equipment.

Under the 2016 budget, State House Headquarters is to spend N104.7m on refreshments and meals. Foodstuff and catering materials worth N102.9m are to be supplied.

There is provision for N99m as grants to local councils.

Other items under the Presidency’s 2016 budget include: N55,670,000 for installation or budget planning software; N272,646,891 for the upgrading of mechanical and electrical power line (underground) supplies to the State House; N322,421,971 for linking of cable to drivers’ rest room at Villa Admin and N213,873,953 for linking of cable from House No 9 Generator House to the gate.
Others are: N618,604,265 for installation of electrical lightings & fittings; N191,592,132 for electrical installation of distribution boards & other cables; N22,861,449 for provision of stage curtains & electrical drive; N10,416,146 for installations of electrical materials and luminaries.

THE NATION

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Seriously, do not say I told you Brown Ideye has love children

White woman exposes married footballer Ideye Brown, claims he's the father of her two kids (photos) http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/white-woman-exposes-married-footballer.html

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See how Senator Shehu Sani reacted to his suspension from APC

Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central was recently suspended for 11 months by his Tudun Wada North, Ward 6 of APC for anti party activities.

Read his reaction in this statement by his Special Assistant on Politics and ideology, Mallam Suleiman Ahmed.

“The senator will continuously criticise any (government) policy that is anti-people up to the end of (his tenure in) the Senate and beyond.

“So if you feel that the senator should not criticise the government of the day because he is part of the party that brought the current government to power, then when he comes out to re-contest in 2019, do not vote for him.

“He will criticise the government,whether or not he comes back as a senator in 2019.

"This is because Sani has been consistent in his criticism of anti-democratic processes and elements; he did not start his criticism (in the current) democratic (dispensation).

“He has been doing criticism of anti-people policies right from the military era. That’s what has taken caused his imprisonment on several occasions.”

It's okay. Sani and El-Rufai make una take am easy oo, abeg.

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NLC angry over planned backdoor removal of fuel subsidy.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC is threatening the Federal Government with fire and brimstone over what it perceives as plans to remove fuel subsidy through the backdoor.

Read the statement signed by the General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson.

“In the past few weeks, we have heard discordant tunes from government officials and chieftains of the ruling APC on what the future portends for the prices of petroleum products and the management of the subsidy scheme.

“Party chieftains who supported and encouraged the massive protests against subsidy removal in 2012 are now preaching the inevitability of subsidy removal. The honourable Minister of State for Petroleum first announced that come next year the price of petrol will revert to ₦97 per litre and that subsidy will be phased out.

“Two days thereafter, he denied this and stated that what he said was that the price will operate within a band of ₦87 to ₦97 and that this did not mean removing the subsidy. The same minister now said that the price of petrol will now be ₦85 in January signifying the deregulation of the sector.

“These vacillations and flip flops are, in our view, designed to confuse Nigerians and pave the way for deregulation of petrol prices through the back door. The fact of the matter is that as long as we continue to depend on imported refined products, deregulation and the abandonment of a subsidy scheme will unleash hardship on Nigerians.

“In any case, according to our laws, the determination of the recommended prices of petroleum products is the responsibility of the Petroleum Products Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). By law, the board of PPPRA is made up of stakeholders.

“None of the contradictory prices the minister is throwing up is a product of the agency. Indeed, the board of the PPPRA has not operated for over two years, although we have made repeated demands for the convening of the board.”

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Zakzaky’s Islamic Movement above the law - Sheikh Gumi

Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has accused the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, aka, Shi’ites , Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky of running a parallel government in parts of the North in the last 40 years.

Sheikh Gumi told newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday that the Shi’ites have been ‘’operating a state within a state’’ by conducting military trainings and producing cadets and soldiers.

‘’The Islamic Movement of Nigeria does not recognise the corporate entity of Nigeria. The group is not registered. They operate above the law and they get direct foreign aid,’’ he said.

Sheikh Gumi recalled how late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua had told him of massive importation of arms by the Shiites and how Iran had been fingered in supplying arms to them.

He also recalled writing Zakzaky last year to warn him of the dangers of blocking the roads during their yearly
Ar’baeen trek, where his followers travelled on foot from different parts of the country to Zaria.

He noted that "unnecessary blocking of roads and shouting slogans on the way increases the tension in the north.,’ adding that the recent clashes between soldiers and Shiites in Zaria was ‘’a divine intervention to prevent us from a catastrophe like that of Boko Haram. It came sudden and powerful to eradicate and uproot any plan that they must have been having to harm the society.’’

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Buhari is confronting Sambisa forest head-on - AGF

The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the missing Chibok girls.

Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok in April 2014.

Speaking to members of the #BringBackOurGirls  group in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami described the abduction of the girls as “tormenting and psychologically traumatising” for the nation‎.

His words :
“It is tragic for a nation to have a budget meant for arms procurement for the protection of lives and property of the citizens, and end up not having the arms but compromising the process of making adequate provisions for the protection of lives of its citizens.

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated sufficient skill and commitment to the protection of lives and property. Within the shortest practicable time of coming into existence, it has recorded tremendous success including confronting Sambisa forest head-on with the hope rescuing the Chibok girls.”

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Buhari To Hold Media Chat On Wednesday

President Muhammadu Buhari will hold his first Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, December 30, 2015.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina said in a statement that the media chat will be live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.

President Buhari is expected to answer questions from a panel of journalists on a broad range of burning national issues.

“Other television and radio stations in the country may hook-up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners,” the statement said.

The media chat is scheduled to begin by 9 am.

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Mubi Youths Arrest Truck Driver Attempting To Divert Fertilizer

Vigilant youths in Mubi, Adamawa State on Tuesday arrested a truck driver as he tried to divert 600 bags of fertilizer loaded from a government-owned warehouse.

An eyewitness, Mallam Yusuf Mohammed told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that the fertilizer was loaded from a warehouse along Maiha road.

“When we accosted the driver, he said he was directed to take the commodity to Gombe. There and then, we realised that something was wrong.

“We held the vehicle and invited the police who took the suspects and the loaded trailer to the Mubi South Police Station,” he said.

Adamawa state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, confirmed the incident.

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Northern Obas beg kinsmen to accommodate Fulani in South West

The King of Yorubas in Abuja, Oba Olusegun Salau has cautioned his kinsmen against expelling the Fulanis from the South West, despite the insecurity associated with their activities in the region..

Oba Salau told journalists in Abuja that all the Yoruba Obas in the 19 northern states have taken a position that the Fulanis should not be ejected because, “they have nowhere else to go other than where they find themselves today.”

His words:
“All the Obas in the North met in my house here and we issued a press release, stating our position regarding the issue as Yoruba Obas in the North. Actually, Nigeria is one. From where I  come from, we have Fulanis that if you don’t study carefully, you won't know that they are Fulanis.

“I will advise that the community and governments of the South West region should sit down and dialogue on the way of resolving this insecurity problems in the region other than resorting to this means.

“There is no where you are going to push the Fulanis to. Fulanis, Igbos, Yorubas and the rest are all the same, no one should sit down and begin to think of how to chase another out of his territory, we are all the same." he declared.

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Who's giving oxygen to Boko Haram?

Stop giving oxygen to Boko Haram insurgency - Lai Mohammed appeals to journalists http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/stop-giving-oxygen-to-boko-haram.html

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Buhari Making Deliberate Efforts To Diversity Economy - Sen Adamu

The Senator representing Nasarawa West, Mr Abdullahi Adamu has reaffirmed the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy.

The APC Senator told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Abuja on Monday that the Buhari administration has said it severally that the country could no longer depend solely on oil and gas for sustenance. .

His words:
“Oil and gas have tended, over time, to spoil us. People have got used to easy money but now the wells are drying. Even if they are not, the market is becoming very hostile.

“The price has gone down and the demand for our oil is very low. Even though previous administrations sang the idea of diversifying the economy, they did not do it.

“Buhari has said that he would make deliberate efforts to diversify the economy and bring on board, new attitude toward agricultural production.

“He believes as much as we do that agriculture holds the greatest potential for job creation. ’’

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Senator Adopts 60 Orphans

Senator Shehu Sani of the All Progressives Congress, APC has adopted 60 orphans from the Adonai Orphanage home in Kaduna.

Sani who represents Kaduna Central in the Senate will also pay the bills of two students from the orphanage to pursue tertiary education in China.

His words ;
“We owe it to them; to support them and make their lives useful and beneficial to the society.

“And what we can do is to give their lives hope, and to make it possible for them to realise their dreams, these are all handsome and beautiful children. When you see their faces you remember the ones you have in the house.

“We should also take cognizance that any child can fall into this circumstance, so as a senator representing this zone, I formally adopt these children as my own, and we will quarterly send support to this home to enable you feed this children and take proper support of them and work on the possibility of their education.

“I will also like to know if there are those of them that have been able to finish their SSCE, and I will sponsor two children to China to study, so that these two children will serve as beacon of hope to others that will be able to support.’’

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Photo: Judgment Day For Cable Thief

This man was electrocuted while trying to steal a cable at a power installation in Kaduna.

Everyday for the thief and one day for the owner of the house, you may say

The picture shows his remains being evacuated from the scene.

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Anti Party Activities: APC Suspends Senator

Kaduna APC suspends Senator Shehu Sani http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/kaduna-apc-suspends-senator-shehu-sani.html

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How Troops Gunned Down 14 Female Suicide Bombers

A major disaster was averted on Sunday when soldiers on counter-insurgency operation gunned down 14 female suicide bombers intent on entering Maiduguri to wreak havoc.

Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yushau Abubakar yesterday told reporters that the suicide bombers aged between 12 and 18 years wanted to make their way to the heart of the city to detonate their devices.

“The female suicide bombers of ages between 12 and 18 tried to force their ways into Maiduguri with the intent of causing mayhem, confusion and panic but were intercepted by the troops of Nigerian Army on patrol

“But unfortunately three of the suicide bombers detonated the IEDs killing 25 persons, while 85 others were injured.

“The terrorists intended to carry out massive and coordinated suicide missions through Asmari, Damboa check point, Ali Dawari, Molai Kura, Baderi, Jumari villages all at the outskirts of Maidugri.

“Some of the suicide bombers were gunned down by our troops, three escaped and one arrested which I believe they have averted what would have been a major disaster if they had gained entrance into Maiduguri.

“One of them went to a nearby house and requested for water to perform ablution but instead prepared herself and came to a nearby mosque and blew off herself killing one person while 13 others were injured,” he said.

He urged the people to be watchful report suspicious movements to security operatives.

This and several other attacks have come on the heels of President Buhari’s recent claim that Boko Haram terrorists have been technically defeated, forcing them to resort to sporadic attacks on soft targets.

Photo credit: LEADERSHIP

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Grace Ojo Is Charity Focused Fashion Designer Of The Year (Photos)

For Grace Ibironke Ojo, CEO of Grazee Stitches, the year ended on a high note, as she bagged the Charity Focused Fashion Designer Award for 2015.

Ms Ojo was honored for her work in helping orphans and vulnerable children.

See photos of the event held at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.

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Army Confirms Twin Suicide Bomb Attacks In Adamawa State

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that two female suicide bombers detonated their Improvised Explosive Devices in Madagali village, Adamawa State on Monday.

According to Brig.-Gen Victor Ezugwu, Brigade Commander, 28 Task Force Brigade, Mubi,
“Two female suicide bombers struck at a motor park in Madagali and detonated their devices and we lost some beloved country men."

He did not disclose the casualty figures. 

However, eyewitnesses told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that the suicide bombings which occurred around 9am at a motor park left several people dead and many others injured.

NAN

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Buhari Vows To Jail Those Who Stole Arms Funds

Those who conspired to steal and share funds meant for the procurement of arms for the military will be duly prosecuted and jailed in accordance with the enabling laws.

Speaking with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday, Buhari said that recovery of stolen funds is one of the ways he intends to finance the 2016 budget.

“That is why those who stole monies meant for arms procurement and shared it among themselves are being arrested and are being shown documents so that they would be asked to refund the money or face prosecution; we would use those documents to prove what they stole, collect all the assets acquired from the proceeds and then jail them,” he said.

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Someone tweeted this spat between Basketmouth and Daddy Freeze

Comedian Basketmouth hasn't been cool with his old friend Freeze this year. Here's what he said about him at a show recently.

“ There’s this former Cool FM presenter here, Freeze. I see am for red carpet, where him dey

“ Make una nor dey deceived by this guy’s fair skin o. Nor be oyinbo o, na eczema cause am o. Freeze my guy, your wife nor beat you today? ”

Here's how Freeze responded to Basketmouth's jibe on Instagram.

“ #PutAJokeInTheBasket please help an old colleague resurrect his ailing career by donating a #joke! His performance at #OLIC2 was just too weak! N50,000 for the best joke! Let’s help him keep his dream alive ”

Trust Basketmouth. He wasted no time in returning the "favour".
“ You know you’re irrelevant when you diss someone on IG and you get just 18 comments…half of them by you."

Only Basketmouth and Freeze know how long they want to continue the beef.

Credits: ISTANDTALLMEDIA

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How Army Destroyed 10 Suicide Bombers In Maiduguri

Contrary to stories in the media that insurgents attacked the outskirts of Maiduguri on Sunday, the Nigerian Army says that its men intercepted ten Boko Haram fighters on a suicide mission as they attempted to enter the city.

Media Coordinator of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustapha Anka said this in a statement he issued on Monday.

“This evening – 27-12-2015 – troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, intercepted and destroyed 10 suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

“Contrary to earlier media reports and rumours flying around, two suspected Boko Haram bombers earlier intercepted by vigilant troops disclosed their colleagues’ intention to enter the city with the aim of detonating bombs in selected public places.

“Consequently, the troops laid ambush on the terrorists’ suspected routes along Damboa Road and eliminated them. The suicide bombers were intercepted in three different locations approaching the city.  The locations are – Ajiri area towards Damboa Road, High Court axis and the Eye Hospital Area.

“The Explosive Ordinance Device team had been mobilized and the members arecombing the general area and clearing the debris. Normalcy has been restored to the general area and the public are please advised to go about their normal businesses and social activities. However, it is important to maintain more vigilance and security consciousness,” he said.

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Nigerians are suffering under Buhari - Tanko Yakassai

Here is what former President Shehu Shagari's Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai told Vanguard over the weekend when he was asked if Buhari could take Nigeria to the promised land.

"Everybody in Nigeria now is crying that  life is very difficult. By this time last year, life was not as it is  today  and from my prediction, we would continue to suffer through the coming year, 2016, 2017 and probably if we are lucky we would begin to see a change in 2018, if you are not prepared, you better start getting ready.

"This hardship would not go away, not just immediately. My prediction is that perhaps if we are lucky it would begin to go away by 2018.

"I know that the government is assuring everybody that it would be a temporary situation but they know that the citizens are suffering and it wouldn’t be over because unless the government is ready to print paper money and distribute it, the economy will remain the same. If the government prints paper money, it would shoot the price of everything in this country.

You see the suffering that we are having today  is as a result of the decision of the government to introduce a Treasury Single Account system for all the government departments and agencies without proper planning.

"It is not a bad thing in itself but it is not something that happens at the blink of an eye. It is something that has to be introduced stage by stage but unfortunately the present government just announced that schedule should no longer allow accounts to be operated, all the banks most return deposit from government to Central Bank.

"The banks were lending money to businesses before out of the government deposits as well as making money from them. Now that the money is not available they are not lending to the businesses and the businesses would now begin to experience lack of activities and the result would be retrenchment.

"The problem is we suffered from this same irrational approach to government policy when Buhari was a military head of state. He decided overnight to change the currency, giving a deadline without realising that most of the people in the rural areas did not know anything like the bank."

See Vanguard for more.

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I'm in Dubai to massage my knee - Atiku

Contrary to speculations that he has been having conspiratorial meetings in Dubai against President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has declared that he is in that city only to massage his injured knee and relax with his family.

He described stories linking him with conspiracy against Buhari as the handiwork of “political mischief makers and enemies of unity.”

In a statement by his media office in Abuja on Sunday and signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, Atiku said he was embarrassed by the deliberate falsehoods being spread against him by “ill-motivated busybodies that don’t wish the country well.”

The statement reads;

“Contrary to the insinuations by political opponents, the former vice president says the success of the Buhari administration has been his preoccupation, and that any true APC member should have the same zeal.

“Whether at home or abroad, the Turaki is preoccupied with his unassailable support to President Buhari and his administration, especially in this critical time, as it works assiduously to turn the fortunes of our dear country around and make Nigeria work for the greater good of Nigerians.

“Rumour  mongers and mischief makers are toxic to the progress of the APC and the country at large. The campaigns are gone, and therefore, all energies should be constructively devoted to the success of the Buhari administration.

“This is yet another plot of the enemies of our country and democracy to divide, divert attention and distract the APC in its avowed commitment to secure the country, provide jobs for the mass of unemployed youths, build needed critical infrastructure, enthrone a regime of probity and accountability and pull the country out of the economic woods it has been consigned to by locust years of mismanagement.”

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Nigeria To Produce 25% Of Petrol In 2016

In 2016, Nigeria will rely on 75% of imported fuel while 25‰ will be produced locally.

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this on Sunday during his tour of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company, KRPC.

His words :
“The future is that, Nigeria is still going to import fuel in 2016 and beyond. Best case situation is 25 per cent local and 75 per cent importation. Worst case is what we are experiencing now.

“Until we begin to get individuals who can co-relocate, we are going to be doing a mixture of local and importation of fuel to meet up demands. In the next few weeks, however, queues will disappear in fuel stations.”

He also said that the Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit of the Kaduna refinery will soon be fully on stream to ensure a daily production of over two million litres of petrol.

“We need to get it back to re-kit it to work well. We will do that with some level of production going on. Our concern is to have a consistent production and provision of products at all times,” he said.

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