Scores of angry youths on Saturday went on the rampage in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State, following an alleged assault on the Alaye of Ayetoro, Oba Azeez Adelakun, by 10 village heads, popularly calledbaales.
The youths also took to the streets on Sunday and prevented the opening of the market in the town, while other businesses were forced to close shops.
Thebaalesallegedly beat up Adelakun, cutting the traditional royal beads off his neck over a chieftaincy disagreement.
The fracas between thebaalesand the monarch was said to have occurred at the palace while Adelakun was making preparations to install the new village head of Ago-Imala, Chief Olayiwola Ajibola, a move which the village heads allegedly opposed.
Our correspondent learnt that there had been a tension between thebaalesand the monarch over his installation of two village heads in the Saala community, which boiled over on Saturday when Adelakun moved to formalise Ajibola’s headship of Ago-Imala community.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, explained that the village heads had requested a meeting with the Oba.
He said, “When the monarch entered his palace for the meeting, the aggrievedbaalesrefused to pay him the traditional homage and instead told him that they no longer recognise him as the traditional ruler of the town.
“One of thebaalesmoved to forcibly remove the royal beads from the monarch, but his (monarch) resistance led to the fracas in the palace. Thebaalebeat him up.”
It was learnt that some youths of the community learnt of the assault on the monarch, they rushed to the palace and descended on some of thebaales,who were still in the palace.
PUNCH Metrowas told that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, later led his men to restore normalcy in the area.
Our correspondent, who visited the town at about 2.00pm on Saturday, observed bonfire made by the aggrieved youth, who protested the alleged assault on the monarch.
At the Orile Saala Road residence of the monarch, our correspondent was told that the monarch had lost his voice allegedly due to the assault.
However, theBaaleof Ayinbo-Ayetoro, Chief Ezekiel Ogundele, who spoke on behalf of the embattled monarch, alleged that his aggrieved colleagues had planned to dethrone Adelakun.
Ogundele said, “They saidKabiyesidisgraced them in Abeokuta and they will retaliate by removing him as the king of the town. There are twobaalesin Saala and thebaaleswanted the two offices merged, butKabiyesi disagreed, saying he was the one that installed both of them.
“This did not go down well with the aggrievedbaaleswho vowed to deal with the Kabiyesi by removing him.
“When thebaalesgot to the palace, they did not pay homage and when the monarch asked them why they failed to pay the homage they said the Kabiyesi had been removed as the king.They were about 10 in number.
“Some of them tore the traditional beads of the king and beat him up. All of them had held a meeting where they planned on how to attack the king and they acted the script. As they were beating theKabiyesi, theKabiyesiurged his people not to touch them. Later the police came and took them away.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said that 19 Baales were involved in the crisis.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, added that only one person was injured in the violence.
He said, “BaaleKeesan assaulted the monarch by removing the beads from the king. The youth in the area reacted, but the prompt intervention of policemen saved the day and only one person was injured.
“The Olu of Ilaro and Yewa Traditional council have intervened. So, there is no need of arrest. The Olu of Ilaro has intervened and normalcy has been restored in the area.”
http://www.punchng.com/metro/village-heads-beat-up-monarch-over-chieftaincy-disagreement/

The National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said that those calling for his removal are plotting to make President Goodluck Jonathan vulnerable.
He said this based on the increased clamour by the PDP governors for his removal from office.
The party chairman wondered whether loyalty had become a crime in the nation’s polity.
Tukur, whose removal is considered one of the major conditions needed to restore peace to the troubled party, is also fighting to keep his job.
As part of their agitation for his removal, the governors met in Abuja, on Friday night, where they resolved that Tukur should resign in order to stem the tide of defections from the party.
The party has lost five of its governors to the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, a situation which is seen by many as a bad omen for the ruling party which is desirous of retaining power in 2015.
However, Tukur, who spoke with journalists through his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Senator Umar Gada, in Abuja on Sunday, said some of the governors were not loyal to the President.
He said while he was aware that majority of them could be loyal to the President and the party, he, however, said there could be some whose loyalty were be in doubt.
Gada said, “As far as the national chairman, Tukur, is concerned, the PDP governors are loyal to the President and the national organ of the party, except for a few (of them) with hidden agenda who are hatching the plot to remove Tukur because of their personal presidential ambition.
“These few governors that are clamouring for the removal of Tukur are doing so with a hidden agenda to get back at President Jonathan.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/my-removal-will-make-jonathan-vulnerable-tukur/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has uncovered how Steve Oronsaye, a former Head of Service, and other top directors of the Nigerian civil service colluded to defraud the nation of about N6.2 billion pension fund.
The fund, allegedly stolen through a maze of bogus contracts, was meant for biometric enrollment and payment for computer accessories that were never supplied, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
Mr. Oronsaye, 63, was appointed the Head of the Nigerian Civil Service in 2009.
According to a reliable source in the EFCC, between 2009 and 2010, almost N6 billion in fake contracts were awarded and paid for under Mr. Oronsaye’s supervision.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Oronsaye was invited by the anti-graft commission to answer questions relating to the multi billion naira pension fund.
Mr. Oronsaye wouldn’t comment for this story. When contacted on Sunday, the former head of service said he was in a meeting.
He did not honour our request for him to return our call after his meeting. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.
The fraud
According to the EFCC, Innovative Solutions and Project Limited, a company allegedly handpicked by Mr. Oronsaye, received a contract of N63 million for biometric data capture. The contract, however, served as a conduit through which three individuals and five companies got N705,368,245.
Other companies who had no contract to participate in the biometric data capture exercise but were paid include Frederick Hamilton Global Limited, who received N119,398,500; Xangee Technologies got N153,146,719; Fatidek Venture received N30,056,000; while Obanlado Enterprises was paid N96,765,400.00.
During its investigations, the EFCC uncovered how Phina Chidi, a deputy director in the Pension Account at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, who had given a written statement to the commission in January, 2011, disclosed to the agency how she was made to shop for companies that would execute contracts and make returns to Mr. Oronsaye.
“I was asked by Dr. Shuaibu (Teildi Shuaibu, director, Pension Account) to shop for company names to execute our contracts, proceeds of which should be given to Mr. Stephen Oronsaye the then Head of Service,” Mrs. Chidi said in her latest statement.
Mrs. Chidi also detailed how the proceeds of such deals were kept in the accounts of two banks before Mr. Shuaibu helped to transfer them to Mr. Oronsaye.
Individuals who benefitted from the string of payments, allegedly made on the eve of Mr. Oronsaye’s retirement as Head of Service, include Kate Chinwe Obiekwe, Ibrahim Abdulkarim and Mohammed Abdullahi Ahmed who were paid N56,612,585.00, N80,108,640.00 and N23,760.00 respectively.
The trio, who are officials of the OHCSF pension, received the “collective allowance” – allowances paid out to an officer of the OHCSF for distribution to other staff who are supposedly meant to be on a trip, contrary to Federal Government directives on e-payment.
Others who also benefitted from the payments include Innovative Solutions and Project Limited and Vivians Ebony Nigeria Enterprise.
The former is said to have a N63 million worth of contract with the Office of the Head of Service but its emergence as the preferred contractor is in breach of the procurement process since the contact for the biometric exercise was not advertised. Also, a Certificate of no-objection was not obtained by the office of the Head of Service from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, although Mr. Oronsaye allegedly indicated in his statement before the EFCC that he made an informal request to the BPP about the process involved.
Apart from breaching the procurement process, the contract awarded to Innovative Solutions and Project Limited was also fraught with a series of irregular and inflated payments made to the company, according to the EFCC.
Robert Ikhaziboh, the Chief Executive of the company, admitted to EFCC investigators that he was instructed by one Osarenkhoe Afe, an IT consultant and nominee of Mr. Oronsaye as member of the Pension Reform Committee, to work with two companies – Upstrach Communication and Federick Hamilton Global Limited – with specific instructions on the amount to pay the companies whenever he received payment.
When questioned by the EFCC, Mr. Afe stated that Frederick Hamilton was paid N289.05 million for its contract, out of which he got N35 million and Mr. Oronsaye received N250 million through third parties. Mr. Afe stated that he was willing to make a refund.
Under questioning by the EFCC on December 7, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, Mr. Oronsaye claimed ignorance of some of the companies that had received bogus payments and had been traced back to him.
Mr. Oronsaye also claimed ignorance of Xangee Technologies, Fatidek Ventures and Obalano Enterprises and said he never approved any payment to them.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151512-efcc-uncovers-how-former-head-of-service-oronsaye-others-stole-over-n6-billion.html

A 14-year-old boy, Edo Odion, has alleged that he was flogged on his genital by his mistress, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ighodaro.
Odion, who is currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, said that the former lawmaker beat him with an iron rod on the penis.
Ighodaro, however, denied that she beat the boy. She said the boy might have sustained injury when he jumped over the fence to run away from her house when a stolen phone was found in his possession.
The young lad told the police that he was punished when the rice he was asked to cook for his mistress got burnt in the process.
He said, “Mommy said I should make rice for her, but I was tired because there was no light (electricity); so the rice got burnt. I was flogged with a rod by madam on my penis.
He said he was made to fan his madam all through the night when there was no electricity supply.
The boy’s parents claimed that the boy’s wound was as a result of beatings from Ighodaro.
Ighodalo, however, said that the boy and his parents were telling lies against her.
Speaking with some journalists on the matter in Benin, Ighodaro said Odion was found with the phone, the source of which he could not explain, she said his parents came up with false allegations against her.
She said when Odion was asked to explain how he came about the phone, he disappeared from the house.
“One of my brothers saw him with the phone and he was asking how he got it. When my brother checked the phone, he saw names of my family (members) and former colleagues and I recalled putting a phone like that with the charger wrapped around it in a drawer.
“Before anything, he ran away. We saw the two jerry cans he used in jumping over the fence and his footprints on the fence.
“My brothers went searching for him everywhere; they went to Ring Road and other places but he was nowhere only for the police to invite me”, she said.
Ighodalo said there was never a time she asked anyone to fan her at night because there were generators both in the house and her nearby business.
She said, “I don’t tell him to cook. How can I tell him to cook? If I want rice, I tell them to make it in the hotel. I make food I like by myself. I have been taking care of the boy since the time he was a child. When he disappeared, I sent for the mother to come for the younger one. I have children, I have reputation.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/14-year-old-caned-on-genital/

The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan on Friday inaugurated the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme Maternal and Child Health otherwise known as MAMA Project with a declaration that henceforth she should no longer be called Patience but “Mama Peace.”
According to her, the peace evangelism is what she would be preaching to bring an end to insurgency and terrorism in the country.

Speaking at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja venue of the event, she also stated that her Non-Governmental Organisation, Women for Change Initiative, has signed a Memorandum of Understand with some international health agencies and hospitals, which have agreed to build, equip and manage the best hospital for women and children in Africa.

The SURE-P MCH is a direct intervention by the Federal Government using the savings from the fuel subsidy removal to reduce the incidence of maternal and child mortality.

The First Lady said, “My name is no more Patience but now Mama Peace because I believe that without peace, there will be no more women, no more children and no more health sector. Without peace, our international community will be afraid to come and invest in our country.

“Peace is from the heart and not from the tongue or lips; not what you say but what is in you. We pray for genuine peace because peace is the key to our arriving at our desired destination as a nation.

“We are approaching the new year which is a year of peace, progress and so many good things to come. 2014 is going to be a year of no militancy and no Boko Haram because God will shower peace and make us take a U-turn from disaster.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/im-now-to-be-called-mama-peace-patience-jonathan/

No fewer than 150 cows have been stolen by cattle rustlers in Canaan Mega Farms in Bara Village, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Chairman of the council, Dan Amos, stated this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday at the Jagindi Police Station, where 33 of the cows were reported to have been recovered.
The recovery followed a chase by a combined team of the police and the military.
Mr. Amos said that the incident occurred in the late hours of Thursday when the suspects stormed the farm belonging to late former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Luka Yusuf in Bara Village.
“The suspects were reported to be dressed in full military uniform and armed with sophisticated weapons.
“Although no life was lost, the security men at the farms were molested,’’ he said.
The chairman said he received a distress call around 1 a.m. and he immediately contacted the police and the military who swung into action.
He said that the 33 cattle recovered were found in a thick forest along Jagindi on the border with Nasarawa State.
Mr. Amos lamented increasing incidences of cattle rustling in the area, saying, “only two weeks ago, 67 cattle were stolen in this area.’’
He said that the council was determined to put an end to recurring cattle theft and urged the people to report any suspected persons to the security agencies.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151414-thieves-steal-150-cows-late-army-chiefs-farm-chairman.html

The online news medium, Premium Times, on Thursday, falsely accused The PUNCH of republishing its version of the letter that former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan without attribution.
We strongly repudiate this unfounded claim and deplore the online news medium’s recourse to hasty generalization in its bid to claim the moral high ground.
Premium Times was neither the source of the information used in our story nor the source of the text published.
The online medium would have avoided an “ethical flaw”, and served its readers well, if it had been careful to comply with one of journalism’s basic tenets by reaching out to The PUNCH for its side of the story.
This newspaper would have readily shared relevant information pertaining to our story, particularly, the fact that it was obtained from a source in the former President’s office on December 11, 2013 and also provided emails and PDF document containing the 18-page letter in its original form.
That an online news medium publishes a document first does not by any means suggest that it is the only medium (print or online) with the information at the point in time.
Our decision not to state the source of the story was not for the reason stated by the online medium. Indeed, Financial Times (UK) also published the story without stating its source, just like The PUNCH.
PUNCH’s culture of professionalism is its strongest forte. We provide clear attribution when stories are sourced and offer an apology when errors are brought to our notice.
Martin Ayankola
Editor, The PUNCH
http://www.punchng.com/news/punch-refutes-premium-times-plagiarism-claim/
http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/punch-refutes-premium-times-plagiarism-claim

Leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has today claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Composite Group Air force Base in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital that occurred on 2nd December.
Shekau spoke in a 40 minutes video which was obtained by newsmen through intermediaries spoke in Arabic, Hausa and Kanuri in which he claimed victory over Nigerian forces and vowed to extend what he described as “Crusade” to the shores of the United States of America.
The Boko Haram terrorists had attacked the 79 Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force in Maiduguri, destroying five aircrafts and many buildings as well as the 333 Artillery Regiment also in Maiduguri where many buildings and vehicles were destroyed and burnt.
Meanwhile the Nigerian Army had insisted the military troops were able to inflict serious casualties on the terrorists and claimed that 25 insurgents were killed but the Boko Haram leader, Shekau in the new video said he only lost seven of his men but killed “many soldiers”.
Shekau said,“This message is intended as a glad tiding. Allah the Almighty has given us victory in the attack we launched inside Maiduguri (which was) called Borno in ancient times.
“We stormed the city and fought them (and) Allah blessed us with lots of booty. Three of our men carried out suicide bombings, three of our men died from bullets, one of them died from friendly fire and not from your bullet. May Allah accept them as Martyrs and may we attain such honour.
“Useless, stupid America! If you could do anything you would have done it in your country. Vagabond. You are boasting you are going to join forced with Nigeria to crush us, bloody liars. You couldn’t crush us when we were carrying sticks. Is it today when we storm your barracks and commandeered your things one after the other.
“By Allah we will never stop. Don’t think we will stop in Maiduguri, tomorrow you will see us in America itself. Our operation is not confined to Nigeria, it is for the whole world,”Shekau said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/we-attacked-maiduguri-well-hit-us-shekau-boko-haram-leader/

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/boko-haram-leader-claims-dec-2-attack-new-video/

Happy Birthday Aki, I wish you long life and prosperity!

Like this post if you think that Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) is the most Funniest Actor in Nigeria

Mr. Obasanjo also alleges the president has put 1000 politicians on his watch list.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is currently keeping over 1000 people on his political watch list while also secretly training snipers and other armed personnel as well as acquiring weapons for political purposes.
He stated in an 18-page letter to Mr. Jonathan, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, that from what had been alleged, the snipers were being trained at the same place the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, trained his own killer squad.
The former president however warned that if the allegation was true, it would not augur well for him (Jonathan), the government and Nigerians.
“Allegation of keeping over 1000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for political purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and the people of Nigeria,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the letter dated December 2.
“Here again, there is the reason of history to learn from for anybody who cares to learn from history.”
Mr. Obasanjo said the president would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians and protect them, warning that no one should prepare to kill or maim them (Nigerians) for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.
Quoting a Yoruba adage that says: “The man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit,” Mr. Obasanjo said those who advised him (Jonathan) to go hard on those opposed to him were his worst enemies.
He added, “Democratic politics admits and is permissible of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lesson.”
Apparently referring to the recent judicial freedom of Hamza Al-Mustapha, the late Chief Security Officer to Mr Abacha, the former president said the presidential assistance for a murderer to evade justice and for a presidential delegation to welcome him home could only be in bad taste generally, but particularly to the family of the victim.
He said, “Assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of the job of the presidency. Or, as it is viewed in some quarters, is he being recruited to do for you want he had done for Abacha in the past. Hopefully, he should have learned his lesson. Let us continue watch.”
Mr. Obasanjo did not however say if Mr. Al-Mustapha is training the snipers.
The former President recalled that in 2011, Mr. Jonathan told him he would serve for only one term, but that he (Obasanjo) later heard from other sources, including those close to the president that he had also made the same commitment somewhere.
Mr. Obasanjo said following those assurances, he threw his support behind Mr. Jonathan ahead of the 2011 presidential election.
He said that was his reason for including his support for Jonathan’s candidacy in his address at the grand finale of the President’s 2011 campaign at Eagle Square, Abuja.
“When you won the election, one of the issues you very early pursued was that of one term of six years,” Mr Obasanjo added.
“That convinced me that you meant what you told me before my speech at the campaign. Mr President, whatever may be your intention or plan, I cannot comment much on the constitutional aspect of your second term or what some people call third term. That is for both legal and judicial attention.
“But if constitutionally you are on a strong wicket if you so decide, it will be fatally morally flawed.”
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151337-obasanjo-accuses-jonathan-training-arming-killer-squad-2015-elections.html

Too bad

An official of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, identified only as Idowu, was crushed to death by a waste disposal truck on Tuesday.
PUNCH Metrolearnt that the deceased and three others were in the truck, otherwise known as PSP, when it skidded off the Egbeda-Idimu Road and fell on its side.
It was learnt that three of the officials escaped unhurt but Idowu was not as lucky as the vehicle fell on him cutting him into two halves.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident was caused by commercial bus drivers who were driving recklessly around Car Wash Bus Stop.
An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Emmanuel, said, “The accident was caused by commercial bus drivers who stopped to pick passengers along the road at illegal bus stops around 7am. The real bus stop is the BRT one, but many commercial drivers usually ignore it.
“The PSP truck overturned as its driver tried to avoid ramming into two commercial buses filled with passengers. The commercial bus drivers were struggling to overtake each other at the bus stop to pick passengers.
“The deceased was caught under, with part of his body, from his chest, cut into half and buried under the truck.”
It was learnt that the buses that allegedly caused the accident, drove off immediately.
PUNCH Metrolearnt that the accident, coupled with the early morning rush, caused a gridlock which stretched from the road to the Iyana Ipaja end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Many bystanders as well as colleagues of the victim were seen crying at the scene.
Around 11am, however, two cranes were brought to move the truck off the deceased’s body.
A LAWMA official, Mrs. Aminu-Odukoya, who is also a field supervisor said Idowu was one of the officials that collected refuse from residents whenever the PSP truck stopped at refuse points.
She said the truck had stopped briefly to pick bags of refuse shortly before the accident occurred.
Mr. Olakunle Agenjo, a LAWMA provost official, said Car Wash was an illegal bus stop.
He said, “This Car Wash is not a bus stop. This accident happened around 7am. The PSP truck stopped to pick refuse and was about to drive away. A commercial bus parked in its front, picking passengers, another one parked at the back of the truck, also picking passengers.
“Suddenly, as the truck was about to continue on its way, the commercial bus at the back, drove fast and attempted to overtake the one at the front. But the one at the front would not allow the driver. In the confusion, the truck would have run into them, but it would have led to the death of so many people, which was why the driver attempted to steer the truck over the culvert, but the truck overturned and our man turned with it and he was killed.”
http://www.punchng.com/metro/garbage-truck-crushes-lawma-official-to-death/

The All Progressives Congress has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, for his patriotism and dedication to the nation, following his “principled stand” on the President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s “tepid fight” against corruption.
In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Speaker “exhibited a leadership trait that is rare in these parts” by shunning partisanship to say that the President’s body language did not indicate that he had the political will to fight corruption in the country.
Tambuwal, while speaking at a forum marking the World Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja on Monday, faulted the Jonathan ‘s approach to the anti-graft war while carpeting the anti-corruption agencies of not only being corrupt but looking the other way while indicted fraudsters walk about as free men.
In commending the House of Representatives Speaker, APC said, ”Hon. Tambuwal and President Jonathan belong to the same political party, but this did not deter the Speaker from rising above crass partisanship when the issue involved borders on national interest. This is the stuff of good leadership.
”Hon. Tambuwal has shown that he is indeed the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and that the entire country is his constituency, unlike President Jonathan who has transformed himself to a PDP and a sectional leader by viewing serious issues of national importance from the prism of partisanship and sectionalism.”
The party expressed the hope that other Nigerians would emulate Tambuwal.
http://www.punchng.com/news/apc-hails-tambuwal-for-faulting-fgs-anti-corruption-fight/

The American President also proclaimed the Human Rights Week.
Proclamation on Human Rights Day, Human Rights Week
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 9, 2013
Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2013
- – - – - – -
By the President of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION
Six and a half decades ago, delegates from around the world convened to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, rejecting the notion that individual aspirations should be subject to the whims of tyrants and empires, and affirming every person’s right to liberty, equality, and justice under the law. On Human Rights Day and during Human Rights Week, we resolve not only to celebrate these ideals but also to advance them in our time.
Humanity thrives because of our differences; the exchange of ideas among vibrant cultures is a source of innovation, beauty, and vitality. Yet across the globe, our common and inalienable rights bind us as one. All women and men — across borders and regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, or income level — share the freedoms of expression, religion, assembly, and association. We all have the right to take part in government, directly or through freely elected representatives. And as societies, we have the right to choose our own destiny.
But in many parts of the world, people are still persecuted for their beliefs, imprisoned for their ideals, and punished for their convictions. A growing number of countries are passing laws designed to stifle civil society — including organizations that promote universal human rights, support good governance, and bolster economic development. Securing freedoms that are threatened or denied will require an unceasing commitment. Today and always, let us break down prejudice, amplify the courageous voices that sound the call for change, and reaffirm our unwavering support for the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2013, as Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10, 2013, as Human Rights Week. I call upon the people of the United States to mark these observances with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/foreign/151225-obama-proclaims-december-10-human-rights-day-u-s.html

A 22-year-old man, Eji Emmanuel, has been remanded by an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for the alleged murder of one Chief Sylvanus Okoye, 39.
Emmanuel was said to have stabbed the late Okoye with a kitchen knife in the neck on August 1, 2013, while the deceased allegedly attempted to rape him.
PUNCH Metro had reported on November 27 that the suspect was arrested in Anambra State after police investigations revealed he had fled the scene after the crime was committed.
Emmanuel, a dancer, had said he was lured to Lagos from his village by a friend, Chukwudi, who introduced him to homosexuality.
He had alleged that his friend’s boss raped him twice.
After he had allegedly reported the matter at the police station, he claimed the police turned the case against him and put him in detention.
He had said after the ordeal, he approached late Okoye, whom he considered an Igbo leader in the state, to help him with money to return to Anambra State when Okoye also attempted to rape him.
A scuffle had reportedly ensued between the duo on the night of the incident, before the defendant grabbed a kitchen knife with which he killed late Okoye.
He was reportedly identified by the security man who saw him leave the apartment on the night of the incident.
Emmanuel was arraigned on one count of murder.
The charge read, “That you, Eji Emmanuel, on August 1, 2013 at 3.30am, at 9, Chief Ezemegbu Drive, Ago Okota, Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Sylvanus Okoye, aged 39 years, by stabbing him on the neck with a kitchen knife and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.”
His plea was not taken for the offence.
The prosecutor, Asup Feddy, applied for the remand of the defendant pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Lagos State, 2011.
Feddy said the remand would also help the police get legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
The magistrate, Mr. E.O Ogunkanmi, accepted to remand the defendant in prison for a minimum of 30 days permitted by the law. The matter was adjourned till January 6, 2014.
http://www.punchng.com/metro/court-remands-man-for-killing-alleged-gay-chief-2/

The statement reads in part,“There is therefore nothing extraordinary about the correct decision of the two governors to meet with the President, even as we note that the decision by some PDP governors to attend the meeting is purely within their prerogative.
“The decision by the governors to leave the PDP is irreversible, in spite of the meeting. Therefore, Governors Wamakko and Kwankwaso remain APC governors.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/we-wont-return-to-pdp-wamakko-tells-president/

The meeting President Goodluck Jonathan had with Peoples Democratic Party governors on Sunday which was aimed at resolving the crisis in the ruling party ended again in a deadlock in the early hours of Monday.
Contrary to expectation, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Wamakko, who had earlier announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress, stuck to their guns at the end of the meeting.
Wamakko told State House correspondents at about 2.15 am on Monday that he used the opportunity of the meeting to formally inform the President of the defection of five PDP governors, including himself, to the APC.
He explained that Kwankwaso and himself only attended the meeting out of respect for the President, who invited them.
Wamakko said, “The meeting went on very well because some of us came here as governors. In the PDP matter, our position has been known.
“On behalf of the five of us, I have already briefed Mr. President of our position as G-5, that we are no longer in the PDP mainstream and that we are already in another party.
“But as a President of this country, if he calls us, we will come and listen to him and respect him as a leader of our country, otherwise what we had there was mostly a PDP affair.”
When asked why he sat through the meeting which started around 10pm on Sunday and ended in the early hours of Monday when he knew he was no longer a PDP member, the governor replied, “We had to tell the President and the Chairman of the PDP BOT (Chief TonyAnenih) our position. We can’t just be going about talking; we had to come and tell them the truth where the truth must be told and that is why we came here.”
Jonathan had on Saturday in France boasted that three of the ex-PDP governors were still “sitting on the fence.”
Apart from Wamakko and Kwankwaso, the other governors, who left the PDP for the APC are Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers), Abdulfatah Ahmed(Kwara) and Murtala Nyako(Adamawa).
The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio, however claimed that the defection of the governors was not discussed during the meeting with Jonathan.
Akpabio also said if Wamakko insisted on leaving the party, he was only one out of the thousands of PDP members in Sokoto State.
He said, “I think the meeting we had was part of the dialogue with Mr. President. Months back, at that time we had the G-7 governors. The last time we met, we met with the G-2 governors and today(Monday), we had the G-3 and so it is part of the continuing dialogue to ensure harmony and peace in the party and Mr. President is not relenting.
“He is very serious about consulting with all strata and all the bigwigs in the party, particularly the governors who are aggrieved with a view to bringing everybody on board and ensuring harmony and unity of the party and the governors.
“You have to distinguish the issues state-by-state. I wasn’t here when the governor of Sokoto was talking to you and I know that the governor of Sokoto State is just one member of the PDP in Sokoto and if he says he is leaving the PDP, I am sure there are still thousands of other members of the PDP who will say we are staying within the PDP.
“So you can’t say all hope is lost. How can all hope be lost? The party is very robust and large. As much as possible, we are interested in keeping our leaders together. That is why, we as governors, are all here.
“We will continue to dialogue; this is not going to be the end. We have narrowed down few issues which we are taking up with Mr. President and the governors are also going to discuss.
“You saw the number of governors today (Monday), we are more; I think 17 or 18 governors and you can be sure that the number will keep increasing.
“I think the issues differ from state to state. They are all family issues. They are mostly issues that linger within the PDP and we believe strongly that the President is very poised and determined to ensure there is harmony.”
Akpabio also denied knowledge of media reports that the PDP governors were demanding the sacking of the national chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.
Sign that the meeting did not end well emerged when Anenih hurriedly left the venue of the meeting with the President and Vice-President Namadi Sambo at about 1.40am.
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), also left with them, leaving the governors to continue meeting for about another 30 minutes.
Other governors, who attended the meeting were those of Abia, Kebbi, Kogi, Katsina, Bauchi, Plateau, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Taraba states.
Before the meeting ended, the APC had said in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that Wamakko and Kwankwaso would not return to the PDP.
It said there was no reason why any governor would not honour an invitation by the President.

ok we go vote for you. Mods kindly push this topic to front page.

sanandreas: Is dat a class room? OMG it is not conducive.

Are you from Nigeria or China?

Op change your topic to "ASUU Members Disrupts Uniben lectures" , i thought it was someone that got first class sef

No, Employers are Black

albacete: am part of the congregation.

Try to join one group

Mods move it to politics section

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has called for the re-introduction of two-party system in Nigeria. Atiku made the call while fielding questions from journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Kayode Fayemi in his office.
He said it was not good for the nation’s democracy for one party to be too big and strong while others are weak and small.
According to him, the recent merger of the defunct new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) with the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a welcome development and a sign of growing democracy.
According to him “I welcome the merger. It is good for our democracy. I have always supported two-party system. “
He also observed that the nation was gradually moving towards true and stronger democracy. He said “We are eventually moving towards two-party system. In this country, we need two strong parties not one big party with other very small ones. In that case, we would not have true democracy.”
“I belong to democracy. Even during military rule, I stood and fought for democracy. I never got appointment or served under military government. I am a true democrat and I still stand for democracy”, he added.
Fayemi, who commended the initiative of the former Vice-President in the drive towards national development, said, “the former President deemed it necessary to pay us a visit in Ekiti, we stand for anything that can deepen democracy in this country. You will find the former VP standing on the side of democracy. There is no doubt that he has consistently stood with the people. He believes in this country. Anyone who is a democrat is my friend”.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/atiku-calls-two-party-system/