How my mother sold my baby For N500K – 17-year-old girl

Seventeen-year-old Blessing Godspower gave account of how her 38yr Old mother, Onyinyechi Nwabueze  her (Godspower) eight-month-old baby.

Policemen from the division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Victor Dimkpa, a Chief Superintendent of Police, had rescued the baby, Chiamaka, in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Blessing, who was staying with her mother at Rukuba Road area of Jos North, was allegedly put in the family way by her boyfriend.

After Chiamaka was delivered, Godspower’s mother, who was not comfortable with the development, allegedly decided to get rid of the baby.

According to Blessing, on July 19, her mother sent her on a phony errand in order to effect the “diabolical” act.

She said, “My mother sent me on an errand, but when I came back I asked for my baby and my mother asked, ‘which baby?’ She feigned ignorance and at that point I started crying and reported the incident to the Police.”

Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Olakpe said, “After the mother sent her daughter away, she (Nwabueze) stopped a tricycle and took the baby to the first receiver, one Eucharia Anyaegbu. Anyaegbu transferred the baby to the second receiver, Rita Maduako, who finally sold the baby to 53-year-old unmarried woman, Grace Nnadozie.”

Nnadozie, however, told our correspondent that after she applied to an orphanage home for a child without any result for the past two years, she sought Anyaegbu’s help.

She said  she gave N500,000 to Anyaegbu for the baby. Anyaegbu gave N350, 000 to Maduako.  Maduako was to give N200,000 to the baby’s grandmother.

But Nwabueze denied that she sold the baby.  She said her daughter was very wayward, so she decided to give the baby out to somebody else who would take proper care of her.

She said, “How can I sell my granddaughter. My daughter is not capable of taking care of the baby and I decided to give her to somebody who will take proper care of her.”

Nwabueze explained that she lost her husband in 2007 and since then, she and the six children she had with him, had been finding things difficult.

#Research: Drinking Water Helps Brain Work 14% Faster.

A recent research has revealed that drinking water can sharpen your mind faster than it usually works particularly if a person is thirsty. The University of East London researchers believe that once thirst is relieved, the brain is left to focus on the task in hand.

They carried out an experiment on 34 men and women who completed a number of mental tests twice – once after a breakfast of just a cereal bar and again after a cereal bar washed down with a bottle of water. None had eaten or drunk anything overnight and all were asked how thirsty they were at the start of the experiment. Those who said they weren’t thirsty were equally quick at the test of reaction time with or without the water. But those who were thirsty sped up after having a drink, making them up to 14 per cent quicker than before, the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reports.

The researchers think the water helped by freeing up the parts of the brain that were busy ‘telling’ the body it was thirsty. Dr Edmonds has previously shown that children who have a drink of water ahead of sitting tests fare up to a third better. But water doesn’t always work wonders.

In Dr Edmonds’ latest study, the volunteers did worse at a particularly complex mental manipulation after drinking it. The reasons for this were unclear. Separate research has found that failing to drink enough water can make your grey matter shrink, making it harder to think. British researchers scanned the brains of teenagers after an hour and a half of cycling. Some exercised in three layers of sweat-inducing clothing – including a bin liner worn next to the skin, a hooded chemical warfare suit and a track suit. Others were much more lightly clad in shorts and T-shirts. Those who were wrapped up lost around 2lb in sweat and their brain tissue had shrunk away from their skulls. Just 90 minutes of steady sweating can shrink the brain as much as a year of ageing. But after a glass of water or two the brain quickly returns to normal.

Hard Drugs Found In Justin Bieber’s Tour Bus

The police sniffer dog helped detect hard drugs on justin bieber’s tour bus as it crossed from canada to the US. The singer was reportedly not on board at the time of the detection. “Drug paraphernalia” was also found, US customs officer Kenneth Hammond told the Detroit Free Press.   The vehicle was pulled over for checks on Sunday while attempting to cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windor in Canada to Detroit in Michigan. The drugs were seized and the driver given a citation before the bus and its passengers were allowed to carry on. Bieber played a concert at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena later that night. It is not the first time illegal substances have been found on a bus connected with Bieber’s tour. In April, Swedish police said they found drugs and a stun gun when he was performing in Stockholm. The 19-year-old has attracted a barrage of unwelcome headlines this year, including lashing out at a photographer, urinating in a restaurant bucket, arriving late on stage and having his monkey detained by German authorities. Over the weekend the Canadian star was also pictured spitting from a hotel balcony – reportedly onto fans below.

To All WAEC Candidates – Must Read

THE West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), has threatened to impose penalties on candidates who failed to collect their certificates on or before December 31.  This is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Yusuf Ari, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.  It stated that millions of certificates of candidates who sat for WAEC examinations since 1960 had long been signed but were not collected by candidates. “We wish to inform the general public that certificates up to May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by WAEC have been printed and dispatched to schools for collection by candidates. “And certificates for external candidates for up to November/December 2012 WASSCE diet, also conducted by the Council have also been printed and are equally awaiting collection by candidates at WAEC offices nationwide. “The external candidates, especially who wrote the November/December examination diets are advised to go and collect their certificates from all our zonal branches or satellite offices in the states. “We urge candidates to go to where they sat for the examination because we no longer have enough space to harbour them. “Most of these certificates have been lying fallow in our various offices with no one coming forward to collect them. “Candidates come in trickles for them, only when they have absolute need for them and I think it should not be so.  “We therefore wish to warn that WAEC will be charging extra fee for the custody of these certificates if the candidates failed to collect them later than December 31,” the statement said.

Premier League: Club-by-club targets

A look at what each Premier League team should be aiming for in the 2013/14 season

Arsenal: Win a trophy

For far too long now Arsenal fans have suffered.

Every summer they are promised top signings and a serious challenge for silverware and every season come May the fans are left feeling deflated and disappointed.

This summer the club apparently has a big transfer budget - something we have all heard before - but with big money offers being made for Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain it appears the club now means business.

With the annual rise of ticket prices at The Emirates the club has an obligation to deliver some success to its loyal fans as another summer of false promises and a disappointing season could be too much for some fans to take.

I doubt the fans care too much what the trophy is but by May there is hope that the clubs engraver will of been able to blow the dust of his tools.

Aston Villa: Re-establish the club's top flight security 

Much like Arsenal, the Villa faithful have seen a dramatic drop in fortunes in recent seasons.

Four years ago the race was on between Villa and Tottenham to break into the top four and under Martin O’Neill, the Claret and Blue army were fighting on all fronts, making the League Cup final and an FA Cup final appearance.

Since O’Neill’s departure things haven’t been running too smoothly in Birmingham due to various reasons, but last season under new coach Paul Lambert and with virtually an entire new team there were a lot of positive signs.

Andreas Weimann was a revelation, putting in displays that led to Europe’s elite taking an interest, but Christian Benteke was the standout performer. Now the club have tied him down to a new deal it is up to the young Belgian to show he has earned it.

Some astute business has led to the club snapping up some fine young talent like Jores Okore and if the squad can stay injury free and the players continue where they left off Villa should be in line for their best season in long time.

Cardiff City: Stay up

As one of the new kids on the block there can only really be one main aim, stay up at all costs. Cardiff have the makings of a side that can do well in the top flight, a young hungry manager, an owner not afraid to invest and most importantly players who know how to win.

The Bluebirds comfortably won the Championship, booking their place in the top tier of English (and Welsh) football. After several seasons battling it out in the playoffs to get promoted, no doubt the club is desperate to stay after all the hard work they have put in leading up to this point.

Chelsea: Win the title 

The return of the Special One has undoubtedly raised the level of expectation at Stamford Bridge.

The club has one of the most promising and exciting young squads in Europe and after a season of 'what ifs', 2013 has to see them kick on and mount a serious title challenge. With players like Eden Hazard and Juan Mata coming of the back of excellent seasons it is up to them to inspire their teammates to reach the levels the fans expect.

With a bulging squad of dynamic flair players, Chelsea should be treating the league to some seriously beautiful football but it remains to be seen whether things will tail off and result in yet another frustrating campaign.

The team is very different to Mourinho’s first stint at the club and with the other teams in the league considerably stronger than they were in 2004 the challenge won’t be easy.

With the quality of the players in the squad the title, for the first time in a long time, looks like a realistic target.

Crystal Palace: Stay up 

As with Cardiff, all Palace should be focusing on is still being a Premier League team by May.

The Eagles have been a bit of a yo-yo team and this season is likely to be the same. Watford were widely tipped to come up but after a terrific display at Wembley Ian Holloway’s team came up instead.

The fans will be happy enough with just being back up in the top flight but with the loss of Wilfried Zaha and no real replacement coming in (so far) the club is going to have to rely on experienced heads like Kevin Phillips and Jerome Thomas to provide the quality they will need to stay up.

Everton: Create post-Moyes identity

One of the clubs facing a very tough season, Everton. Under Roberto Martinez, they need to hit the ground running.

One of the big criticisms that could be made about his Wigan side was the slow start they made to each campaign. Obviously, Everton are a bigger club with better players but for a club that beat Manchester United in their opening fixture last season, that won’t be acceptable.

The primary concern at the moment is hanging onto players like Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines and if they can make it through the transfer window with the squad intact, next season could be another great one.

The clubs involvement in the Europa League will test the resolve of both manager and the squad and could see them finish a bit lower down the table but, a good run in Europe would make that seem and as Fulham recently proved that is certainly achievable.

Fulham: Get back into Europe

A few seasons ago Fulham seemed on the verge of something special. The Cottagers made it to a European final beating the likes of Juventus and Shaktar Donetsk in the process.

Things have stagnated in recent seasons and the loss of key players last summer certainly didn’t help things. Some good business in the transfer market has seen Dimitar Berbatov come in and more recently Dutch international 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. 

They have added some much needed quality to the squad and should see them push on this season. The club may still be a way behind the likes of Liverpool and Everton but as Swansea proved last term, even with a small squad big things can be achieved.

Hull: Stay up

Like the other two promoted teams remaining in the league is the goal. Steve Bruce is a proven manager and the Hull players who were at the club last time will remember all too well the disappointment felt in relegation which should add some determination to the dressing room.

Staying up will prove a big struggle with the league the most competitive it has been for a while but, the club has been a big mover in the transfer window bringing in players like Danny Graham and Ahmed Elmohamady.

Proven Premier League players should give the club a good chance but as QPR have recently proved bringing in lots of new players guarantees nothing.

Liverpool: Get into the top four 

For most football fans it is sad to see the downturn in Liverpool's fortunes. Not all that long ago they were Champions of Europe and now the club are struggling to qualify for the Europa League.

There can only be one target for the Reds, get back into the top four. Easier said than done I know, but last season the club was - at times - playing ferocious attacking football and if the manager can instil some consistency into the club then Liverpool should be back where they belong soon enough.

The Luis Saurez sideshow needs to be dealt with first of course, the club maintain he isn’t leaving, the fans maintain he isn’t bigger than the club but sadly at the moment that isn’t the case. The players attitude is appalling and a lot of people argue it is damaging the club in such a difficult time so maybe selling him for an inflated fee to a rival and let them deal with his issues could be the best move.

The only problem with that is where do you find someone as good who wants to join a currently mid-table team? It would be a tough situation for even the most experienced manager to deal with and ultimately Brendan Rodgers needs to sort it quick because if Suarez ends up leaving on deadline day the club will find themselves up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Manchester City: Make a strong challenge in Europe

Cities form in Europe has been pretty laughable when you consider the resources at the club's disposal and the dominance they have experienced in domestic football recently.

With a squad as large and talented as theirs a strong challenge on all fronts is now expected and bringing in Manuel Pellegrini and the four big transfers have only added to that expectation.

The Chilean has a good track record in the Champions League and clearly knows what it takes to succeed in Europe as every team he has managed in the continent has done pretty well in the competition so now it will be up to him to do it once again in England.

Last season was a disappointment for City but with the well publicised managerial and squad issues seemingly resolved we should see the Citizens back to their terrifying form of two seasons ago.

Manchester United: Move on from Fergie 

For the first time in a very long time a lot of uncertainty is in the air in the red side of Manchester.

The current league champions have a squad clearly capable of impressive things but there is a strong feeling Sir Alex Ferguson was the glue holding all of that together and maybe David Moyes might not be as capable of getting performances out of certain players that Mr Ferguson did with ease.

Obviously only a fool would write United off after their dominance of the league last term but, the days of managers getting three or four years to build a successful team are over. People might claim that is not the case with United but should the club find itself at risk of dropping out of the top four, it is highly doubtful the board would think twice about bringing a more proven manager in to steady the ship.

Liverpool’s dramatic fall from grace should certainly be featuring in the thoughts of those involved with United. Even with such a dominant recent record nothing is certain in football - in fact about the only certainty with Manchester United heading into this season is everybody is going to be keeping a very close on eye on what is sure to be an interesting season for the club.

Newcastle: Regain the form that made them European contenders

Two seasons ago Newcastle were on the cusp of Champions League football and had that dream been realised this target would most likely have been very different, but, as it is the club seriously struggled last season.

The seemingly never-ending grind that is the Europa League took a heavy toll on the squad and Newcastle more than any other team in England’s top tier felt the bite of the injury bug.

Now with a season ahead without such a strenuous fixture list and hopefully, a fully fit squad, we should see the sort of form from the Magpies that could get them back into Europe. That said the lack of any incoming transfers should be a source of concern for the Geordies.

Norwich: Build on last season

Another infamous yo-yo team, the past two seasons have been good from the Canaries.

The club has added some decent firepower to its ranks in Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel and have a good manager in Chris Hughton, so Norwich should be in for a season similar to their last.

Having said that, the two strikers forced their transfers to England with an eye to making their respective national squads for next summer’s World Cup so with that in mind Norwich could be next season's surprise team.

Southampton: Build on last season

Like Swansea the season before, Southampton came into the top flight with a reputation of playing attacking football.

Whilst at times that was the team's downfall it did lead to several shock results the club finished the season strongly getting positive results against many of the league's big guns.

Some excellent additions in this summer's transfer window in Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama have added to an already talented squad.

A good run in one of the cups may well be on the cards for the Saints but like Wigan proved last season taking your eye off the relegation battle can be a risky business.

Stoke: Implement new attacking philosophy

The arrival of Mark Hughes has promised progressive football, something that will be a breath of fresh air at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke have done very well to establish themselves as a top flight regular on a budget made up of bits of string, buttons and whatever else the chairman has in his pockets, but as the club found out last season there is only so far you can go playing bruising defensive football.

Teams eventually find ways to beat you and because of this Stoke’s Premier League status looked, for the first time, a bit dodgy. Whether Hughes is the man for the job is still questionable - his record as a manager isn’t the best - and the release of so many players could come back to haunt the ex-City boss.

Sunderland: Climb back up the table 

One of the most active clubs in this summer's transfer window, Sunderland have undergone a major shake-up.

Last season's decision to sack the proven Martin O’Neill raised a lot of eyebrows, especially when his replacement was announced, but in fairness to Paolo Di Canio the club's form turned around and fairly quickly the club was safe.

Despite bringing in a lot of new players the club has pulled off some good moves in its transfer dealings with most notably Emanuele Giaccherini form Juventus. Di Canio’s quirky personality might of been exactly what was required to turn the form around last season whether he is genuinely the man for a long-term role is still questionable but he is certainly entertaining if nothing else.

The Italian could inspire the Black Cats through a strong season or he could get into a fist fight with a player on the touchline and everything could implode, it's hard one to call.

Swansea: Good run in Europe 

The Swans rise to the top flight is an incredible story to get where they are now on virtually no money and the backing of the fans is inspiring enough. But when you look at the style the club has done it in, all the plaudits are duly deserved.

The club faces its toughest test this season in the Europa League, the sheer amount of games was a struggle enough for Chelsea to contend with and almost killed Newcastle completely so it takes some serious managing.

A deep squad is a must and with names like Wilfried Bony and Jonjo Shelvey added it's a step in the right direction so hopefully the club will be fine.

I wish all the Swansea fans well in their first taste of European football, the club and its fan base deserves a lot of respect, and they have definitely earned their place at the European table.

Tottenham: Top four finish 

The target hasn’t changed since last summer and if Arsenal do spend the sort of money that's being talked about it could be the target again next summer too. A huge amount rests on whether the club can keep Gareth Bale.

The recent £85 million offer must be extremely tempting but if, like most summers, Daniel Levy leaves his manager about 10 minutes to spend the money then it is Spurs could be in for a rough season.

It was exciting to see the club break into the top four a few seasons ago and even more exciting to see Bale tear apart some of the Champions League top dogs and it sure would be nice to see the club back up there.

With £85 million, Tottenham could buy virtually a new team so that offer (if it is actually true) seriously needs considering you could buy three Eden Hazard's for that much!

West Brom: Build on last season's success

The Birmingham outfit were one of the surprise teams last season but a huge amount of that was down to the imperious form of one Romelu Lukaku. With him gone the need for a striker has been filled by the experienced Nicolas Anelka - the Frenchman has been a regular in the league but at 34, questions will be asked about his ability to play every game.

They were another team regularly going up and down between the Championship and the Premier League, but last season they announced to the nation they were here to stay this time.

Steve Clark seems to be a good coach and should see about tapping up his Chelsea contacts and try and get a few more of their talented youngsters on loan, both clubs clearly benefit from the arrangement and it would add the depth The Baggies require to improve on last season's finish.

West Ham: Solidify top flight status

Under Harry Redknapp, the club played flashy exciting football with some of the league's top players in the team, but recently its been hard to know which direction the club is going in.

They had a strong season points wise and ultimately, that is all that matters, but even after last season's success and the impressive swift return to the top flight Big Sam’s robust style has wrinkled a few noses at the Boleyn Ground and many still hanker for the days the ball was kept firmly on the deck by players like Di Canio and Frank Lampard.

Last summer saw additions like Joe Cole come in to add a bit more flair to the side and the summer acquisition of Razvan Rat from Shaktar Donetsk was a shrewd piece of business, but it's hard to see West Ham doing much better than they did last term.

 

Robert Lewandowski: I've been cheated

Robert Lewandowski says he felt cheated by Borussia Dortmund's management

Robert Lewandowski was expected to leave Borussia Dortmund for German rivals Bayern Munich this summer. 

But, when it was announced the Polish man would be staying for a season more, rumours began to surface that the front man was forced to stay.

Lewandowski has since expressed his unhappiness with the club's management, saying he'd been made promises that weren't kept.

Speaking to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Lewandowski made his displeasure with the management very clear.

"If someone says something, he should keep his word.

"I'm not saying it's only about the transfer, but other things we have discussed with the management and that has not materialised. 

"It turns out that words spoken straight into my eyes were untrue. No matter how hard I will train and what I will do, the feeling that I've been cheated will still be there.

"Maybe that word is too much, so for now, I will say I'm disappointed," the striker concluded.

Lewandowski featured in Dortmund's Super Cup triumph against Bayern Munich last weekend, and promised he wants to lead Dortmund to much more silverware this season despite his quarrel with the board.

The Polish international is expected to leave Dortmund on a free transfer next summer. Fans will be unhappy about losing another one of their important players to rivals Bayern Munich, but it seems Lewandowski has already made his decision. Plus, his distrust towards the management means he probably won't be changing his mind anytime soon.

 

General Overseer’s Wife Catches Him With A Member’s Wife

“I was surprised that my husband locked his prayer partner, wife of another man, in his bedroom overnight… The act not only led to the collapse of our marriage but it also led to the break up in the woman’s home because after I had left him, people were still seeing my husband and the woman together.
“Her husband eventually sent her packing from her matrimonial home…”

Those where the words of an estranged pastor’s wife, Mrs. Rebecca Bamidele, while narrating to an Ojo Customary Court in Lagos, how her husband, Pastor Israel Bamidele, locked himself with a female prayer partner in his bedroom overnight on several occasions.
Giving evidence in a divorce petition which her husband filed against her in the court, Rebecca said although her husband falsely accused her of infidelity, he was the one that is neck deep in the shameful act.

Apart from the issue of hosting his prayer partner in his bedroom, Rebecca also disclosed that she caught her husband, Pastor Bamidele, sleeping with his school secretary on several occasion, but she couldn’t complain because he would beat her silly.
When asked the position of her husband’s family on the crisis, Rebecca said:
She once traveled to Osun State to meet her mother-in-law but to her surprise her husband’s mum said she should allow his son marry another wife because her father-in-law, who is a prophet, had three wives.
redecca added, “When I returned to Lagos, my husband quarreled with me, saying why should I go to his homestead in Osun State to inform his mother about issues in our marriage in Lagos?”
She said, “anytime I complain, my husband will say I was becoming too stubborn for him. He would say in Yoruba, ‘ila ti n ga ju onire lo’, meaning, the okro plant was becoming taller than it’s owner.”

When the court asked her about the role played by other pastors to resolve the crisis, Rebecca said Bamidele is the founder and general overseer of his church and as such other leaders were subordinated to him since he appointed them.

The court president, Hakeem Tunde Oyekan, adjourned the matter till 27 August, 2013, for judgement.

Boy, 12, miraculously survives after 2.5 inch nail pierced his heart

A 12-year-old boy has miraculously survived after running over a two-and-a-half inch nail while mowing the lawn, causing it to fling into the air and pierce his heart.

Abe Tullis, from Midway, Utah, was cutting grass outside his family’s home on June 4 – with dreams of setting up a lawn mowing business with friends – when he felt a ‘stinging bruise’ in his chest.

His father, David Tullis, heard the lawn mower stop and his son yell out.

Mr Tullis, who is the head of the trauma unit at Heber Valley Medical Center, said he didn’t think Abe was seriously injured at first – until he lifted up his shirt and saw the nail impaled in his chest.

‘There was just a little tiny hole,’ he told KSL. ‘I pulled [the shirt] up and I remember just seeing this curved end just sticking slightly out of the skin.

‘As I pulled the shirt up and watched him breathe, as his chest expanded the nail pulled in a little bit and it looked like it could be deep.’

His wife, Myndie, raced for the car as their son’s condition quickly worsened.

‘His color was changing, his eyes rolled back and he was having a real hard time breathing,’ she said, becoming emotional at the memory.

Abe added that he thought he might be dying: ‘Then I was like, “No, I’m going to make it”.’

Miraculous: But during a four-hour surgery, doctors managed to pull the nail out without incident
At the hospital, doctors took an X-ray and discovered the nail had pierced the left ventricle of Abe’s heart and hit the interventricular septum – and Mr Tullis tried not to think about losing his son.

‘Just thinking about him possibly not being there was a pretty… pretty scary thing,’ he told the Deseret News.

He was flown the 12 minutes to Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake where surgeons carried out open heart surgery over four-and-a-half hours.

Throughout the procedure, his parents feared they might lose their eldest son.

But surgeons successfully stitched around the nail and then like a drawstring, they pulled the nail out and closed the hole in his heart, the family said. He has been left with a scar along his chest.

His parents said they feel they were blessed with good fortune that everything was aligned that Abe would survive; the doctors agreed that if the nail had been any shorter, he could have bled to death.

He’s not expected to have any lingering effects from the near-fatal accident and, seven weeks on, is enjoying playing soccer again – even competing in a soccer camp this week.

But the yard-work business has been scrapped and he’s not mowing the lawn anymore. The family, who said they don’t know where the nail came from, has hired landscapers.

‘Yeah I don’t really want to mow lawns,’ Abe said. ‘I’m going to play video games.’

Anambra State have 5920 female and over 500 male sex workers

According to the latest investigations by the Anambra State Aids Control Agency, it was discovered that there are 618 female and 24 male sex spots in various parts of the state.

Director of SACA, Dr. Ogochukwu Ndibe, who gave the figures at a programme for international partners operating in the state, said there are 5920 female and over 500 male sex workers in the state.

On the average, there are 10 female sex workers and 5 male sex workers in a spot.

He said: “There are men who have sex with other men as a matter of preference or practice, regardless of their sexual identity or sexual orientation and irrespective of whether they also have sex with women or not.”

Areas where the male and female sex spots were prevalent include Awka South, Awka North, Ihiala, Onitsha South, Orumba North, Nnewi North, Onitsha North, Aguata, and Njikoka.

Anambra, with 7.8 per cent prevalence of HIV, is among the highest in the country.

Chief of Staff to Governor Peter Obi, Professor Chinyere Okunna, said:
“As a relatively poor state, we cannot achieve much without partnering with the donor agencies.”

“I don’t believe in God…’ – Seun Kuti happily explains why

Fela Anikulapo’s son, Seun Kuti surprisingly admitted on facebook a few hours ago that he is an atheist – an Atheist is someone who does not believe in the existence of a supreme being, (God) or beings (gods).
Seun explained the reason for his happiness via the facebook post below:

HENNESSY: Fans of Olamide, Seyi Shay, Kay-Switch, Phyno, Chidinma And More Battle For Dbanj’s Right Hand

The showdown has begun for every self-proclaimed fan of Olamide, Phyno, Seyi Shay, Kay Switch, Vector, Chidinma, Omoakin, PRE, Sean Tizzle, Show Dem Camp, Waconzy, Falz, Ketchup and Pucado.

It’s a battle of support as Hennessy Artistry rolls out the official list of potential artistes to perform on the Hennessy Artistry Club Tour 2013 with Dbanj in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja in the coming weeks.

Last year fans of Burna Boy, Rayce, Flowssick, Mo Eazy, LOS, DammyKrane, Solid Star, MsJaie and TundeEdnut, slugged it out on Facebook and Twitter using their votes in defense of their loyalty to their idols. This year the competition appears to be a lot tougher. “All the NYSA nominees for this year’s club tour share at least one hundred fans in common. This will be a tough pick!” read a fan’s tweet.

To make the decision making process easier this year, organizers of Hennessy artistry have decided to add a short snippet of a hit song from the nominees on the voting page.

The nominees have been announced, the voting stage is set, the only question is; who would you like to see perform with Dbanj on the Hennessy Artistry club tour this year?

“We will march naked”: Imo women threaten gov’t over bad roads

Residents of Nekede, Eziobodo and Ihiagwa communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State have threatened to go naked in protest over the terrible condition of roads in the area.

The aggrieved villagers, who were mostly women, said they would take to the street to protest what they called government’s indifference to the plight of the people, saying the three communities had been cut off from the entire state.

They said despite the fact that the communities jointly played host to two federal tertiary institutions namely Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and Federal University of Technology, and other Federal Government’s institutions, with the attendant high vehicular movements, the federal and the state governments have remained non-challant to the people’s ordeal.

Speaking with journalists, spokesperson of the women, Lady Mariam Oziri, said: “We decided to do something absurd to attract the attention of the insensitive government and if nothing is done, we will mobilize women and march naked to the Government House.

“We are tired of excuses every year. The state government has been playing hide and seek with one contractor who was said to have been awarded the contract by the previous administration and each year the road continues to deteriorate and this has affected commerce and exposed residents to untold hardship.”

Lady Oziri said the deplorable condition of the roads had forced motorists to hike transport fares thereby multiplying the woes of the people, especially students of the two higher institutions in the area.

The construction of the Nekede-Ihiagwa Road was earlier engulfed in controversy as the contractor, Hadel and Enic, dragged the state government to court when Governor Rochas Okorocha revoked the contract.

However, the contractor had severally denied reports that the pending suit was responsible for the delay in the construction of the road.

An inside source in the Government House, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Sun that the contract for the construction of the road had been awarded, adding that work would commence on the road immediately after the rains.

One Student Expelled, Others Suspended For Praying In Lagos School

The expulsion of a female student and suspension of six others for allegedly holding prayer meeting after school hours at Gaskiya Senior College, Badiya is brewing crisis at the school as tension rose following the incident.

The students, who are members of the Christian Students Union in the school, were also allegedly branded as cultists by the principal of the school, identified as Mrs. Shobowale, an accusation the students and their parents denied, saying they were being persecuted for their faith.

It was gathered that 12 students of the fellowship were holding their prayer meetings on Tuesday, April 2 around 3.30 pm, when the principal of the school directed the security guard to tell them to leave the premises once it was around few minutes to 5.00pm.

The Christian students said they pleaded with the gate man to give them one minute to say the closing prayer, but the security man, who apparently did not understand the message, reported back to the principal that the students refused to vacate the school premises.

One of the students, Jennifer Emmanuel while praying, was said to have mistakenly hit the principal when the school head stormed the venue of the prayer meeting.

It was alleged that the principal had on April 3, 2013, during the morning assembly paraded the 12 students before the school as cultists. The students were first placed on seven days suspension, while those of them who were prefects were allegedly deposed.

Consequent upon this, parents of the affected students were said to have begged the principal to stay action on their wards, a plea that fell on deaf ears as the matter was reported at the Education District IV, with the students accused of being cultists. A letter, with the heading: “Re-emergence of Cultism in the School” was also sent to the District.

On May 7, the principal of the school placed six of the students, all in SS 2, on indefinite suspension. They have not been recalled as at the time of filing this report, while Jennifer remained expelled from the school. The names of the affected students were given as John Otega, Michael Change, Valentina Okoye, Valentine Okoye, Faith Okolie, Chidinma Chidozie and Jennifer Emmanel, all SS2.

Parents of five other students in SS 3, were forced to report to school whenever their wards were writing any paper in the West African Examination Council, WAEC, as the school authorities said they had to be monitored because of the supposed emergence of cultism in the school said to have been occasioned by the students.Also, in the letter of expulsion issued to the parents of Jennifer, the principal alleged being slapped by the girl, adding that the security personnel also got the same treatment.

The letter of expulsion dated May 7, 2013 reads: “This is to communicate to you the decision of the Ministry of Education that your ward, Jennifer Emmanuel, is thereby dismissed from the school with immediate effect.

“The dismissal is consequent upon her grievous offence of slapping both the security personnel and the principal of the school on 2nd April, 2013. By this decision, your ward henceforth ceases to be a student of this school.”

Moreso, in the letter of suspension of six other students dated May 10, 2013, the principal said it was consequent upon their disobedience to school authorities by holding a prayer meeting on April 2, 2013.

The affected students denied the principal’s claim that the expelled student, Jennifer slapped her and the security personnel said such a thing never occurred. They demanded for justice to be done.

Parents of the suspended students, Mrs Goodness Chidozie, Mrs Beauty John, Mrs Felicia Okolie, Mrs Jacita Change, Mrs Tina Emmanuel and Mrs Chinweogo Okoye, in a letter accused the principal of persecuting their children who “as committed Christians could never be involved in cultism”. They called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to investigate the matter.

“Our students are still at home doing nothing.What have these Christian students done to deserve this painful humiliation,” they queried. The aggrieved parents want the state government to invite all concerned parties in the matter to get to the root of the matter.

The principal was said to be out of the school premises when Vanguard visited the school. But contacted later she had this to say: “I can’t comment on the issue because it is already before Education District 5. And more so, I am a civil servant”. [Vanguard]

Corpses Of Five Children Discovered On Jigawa Street

Gwaram town, headquarters of Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State was thrown into pandemonium as residents woke up to find the corpses of five children on a street. The five dead children were said to be between the ages of 10-13 years, and from two families. The corpses were found on the street by some people from a mosque after their morning prayers. Confirming the incident, Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, said: “We received reports from our Gwaram division that five corpses were discovered on the street of Gwaram this morning. Our men rushed to the scene and picked the corpses to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, AKTH, for postmortem and as I’m talking to you, there is no report on what led to their death.” According to Jinjiri, the kids were Almajiri Islamic pupils, who were found by the residents around 5 a.m by the roadside near some residential houses, adding that the police as of now are treating the case as that of natural death but would brief the press on the outcome of the autopsy. Jinjiri also said the police had arrested three people for questioning and gave the names of the deceased as Basiru Malam Inusa,12; Mansur Malam Inusa, 12; Rabi’u Abubakar, 13; Buhari Abubakar,10 and Bashir Inusa,11.

Borno Rejects Restoration Of GSM Network

The Borno state Government has declared the state would rather be without GSM network services if its restoration will distablize the relative peace being enjoyed in the state. GSM network was restored in Adamawa and Yobe, after it was cut off following declaration of a state of emergency in both states and in Borno. GSM network was however not restored in Borno when same was done in Adamawa and Yobe, but the government of the state says it does not mind being without the network just to be sure of peace in the state. Declaring this while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Defence, Police, Army and National Security (SCDPANS), who were in Borno on a courtesy call yesterday, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha commended the Committee led by its Chairman, Senator George Sekibo for their concern on how to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the north, adding that, the committee has demonstrated a sense of nationalism for revisiting the state to assess the security situation. “We as Government and the people of Borno state want to use this opportunity to thank the SCDPANS, JTF and the vigilante youths a.k.a Civilian JTF in the fight against terrorism, all your efforts are highly commendable as we are witnessing tremendous improvement on the security challenges, the 6am to 9pm curfew has been relaxed to 11pm, and if restoration of GSM network will affect the relative peace we now enjoyed, it is better we went to Adamawa or Yobe to make calls and come back to Maiduguri,” the Deputy Governor said. Mustapha said despite recent killings by suspected Boko Haram sect in Mainok village, Biu and Kukawa council areas, the government is optimistic that total peace will be restored across the state in no distant time, and therefore called on all and sundry to use the period of Ramadan Kareem to pray for peace and unity in the state. Speaking earlier, the Chairman and Leader of the delegation, Senator George Sekibo told the Deputy Governor that they were in the state for the second time to assess the security situation, meet with security agencies and stakeholders with a view to collectively reviewing the security challenges in the state. He said, with what they saw on ground so far, the declaration for the state of emergency in the three states have started yielding positive result, as life is gradually picking up, and the rate of killings have drastically reduced in the state.

Bear With Us; FG Appeals To Students, Parents Over ASUU Strike

The Federal Government has appealed to students over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities saying that it is committed to the speedy resolution of the crisis for the sake of Nigerian students. Speaking to State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said the government was committed to “serious negotiations” with the university lecturers. He therefore appealed to the students and parents to bear with government and show more understanding as efforts are being made to find a lasting solution to the problem at hand. “The federal government has been far more worried than you think concerning the strike in tertiary institutions, because of the disruption of the school calendar and so government is concerned and very worried and since the onset of the strike government has been negotiating with ASUU through the Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Ministry of Education. “As at today we know that this negotiations are going on and it is our expectation that this strike will not get more protracted and that an understanding will be reached soon enough to enable our students return back to school. Government is very worried and concerned every time the school calendar is disrupted, it has its cost to the nation, particularly the idle time our children spend at home can lead to a lot of social difficulties. “We don’t want school calendars to be disrupted and a lot of series of discussions have been going on and we believe we should record some progress soon enough for these schools to open and the Minister of Labour and education will be giving quarter briefing on the progress of these negotiation and I know that it has never cease. “So we are appealing to our people particularly parents and children of this nation to bear with us, to show more understanding and we pray that this type of strike will not re-occur, because the public school system suffers a lot of damage with the perennial strikes. The universities have been relatively stable since the advent of this Administration. The outraged strikes that we inherited we have tried to resolve them, and if you notice in the last two years there has not been a lot of strikes until this unfortunate one and I believe we will overcome it and in the end both parties will appreciate the need to keep the school calendar stable for the progress of our country. So government is working hard to ensure we reach an agreement to resolve this problem so that or schools can re-open” he said.

Rapper Arrested For Murder After Allegedly Bragging In Lyrics

Violent lyrics are commonplace in the world of rappers, but one young artist’s rhymes may have helped police build a case against him for murder. Antwain Donta Steward, an up-and-coming rapper from Newport News, Va., was recently arrested and charged in a pair of cold case murders from 2007. The new lead in the years-old double homicide may have been Steward’s own lyrics, according to court documents described by local news site Daily Press. Of particular interest to police was the song “Hip Full of Gun” by Steward aka Twain Gotti, which describes Steward killing someone. The song’s video, posted to YouTube in 2011, also includes footage of him playing a violent video game. Police reprinted some of the lyrics from the song in their affidavit, according to the Daily Press:

“Everybody saw when I [expletive] choked him. But nobody saw when I [expletive] smoked him, roped him, sharpened up the shank then I poked him … had me crackin up so I joked him, it is betweezy six feet ova, told ya [expletive] with my money I’ll roast ya.”

In an interview with Luv 4 The Music blog last year, Steward said he’s “all black straight from da hood,” “good with people” and fighting against negativity in his city. “The studio is kinda like the best place to be where I can ease my mind and express myself,” he told the blog. “My children are what keeps me motivated. I want the best for them, and nobody else out here are gonna break their necks and sacrifice the way I will to make sure they live a great life.” Steward was previously arrested in 2011 in connection with a non-fatal drive-by shooting, local NBC affiliate WAVY reports. He is currently in the Newport News City Jail and charged with two counts of felony murder, one count of unlawfully discharging a firearm and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, according to the jail’s information service. Steward is being held without bond. His next court date is set for Oct. 2.

Russian Leaders Propose Ban On Online Use Of Foul Language

They swear they’re not joking. A group of Russian leaders wants to ban the use of foul language on all of the country’s social media platforms and online discussion boards, saying that sites that do not comply with the new regulation would be added to a national “blacklist.”

The existing “On the Protection of Children” law already is used to censor some forms of communication. The English language Pravda site reports that State Duma Deputy Yelena Mizulina has put forth a proposal that would require swear words to be removed from a site within 24 hours — or else the site would be added to the country’s blacklist.

While the international community considers the welfare of children in Russia a serious concern, the Human Rights House says the real aim of the existing law is to silence political dissent in the country.

However, the existing laws and the proposed expansion seems to have support within Russia.

“For some, the Internet is a half of their life. So, it’s time to initiate and adopt such amendments. I think the idea of Deputy Mizulina is relevant and timely,” said Sergei Smirnov, chairman of the Moscow Regional Bar Association, speaking in support of the proposal.

“Obscene language offends both children and adults. A ban on its use is not an infringement of human rights. This is a direction towards a civilized lifestyle. If we do not use foul language in real life, then why do we use it on the Internet?”

As TechDirt notes, the unintended humorous implication here is that the average Russian citizen does not use profanity in everyday life.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin used the “protection of children” as justification for new laws restricting the rights of gay and lesbian citizens.

An analysis of the existing law by the Library of Congress concludes that while abuse and neglect of children is a wide-ranging, systemic problem, passage of national laws are unlikely to improve the welfare of Russia’s underage population.

“In spite of the efforts of the international community and Russia’s non-governmental organizations, there is no machinery yet for making Russia a country with a developed legal system and enforceable legislation aimed at the protection of children,” the summary reads. “It all depends on the degree of realization by Russia’s leadership of the gravity of this problem and on its civilized standards for solving it effectively and protecting its underage population.”

Australia To Raise N850bn From Cigarette Tax Hike

Australia has slapped a big tax hike on cigarettes, hoping the development would discourage young people from taking up smoking. Treasurer Chris Bowen is expected to announce on Thursday that smokers will be slugged by a 12.5 per cent increase in cigarettes tax each year for four years. The impost is expected to raise $5.3 billion over the forward estimates. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hinted a tax increase was on the cards on Wednesday, saying cancer was Australia’s number two killer and a number one priority for the government. Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said the idea could have health benefits particularly for young people and low income earners. Mr Bowen will also this week release a statement updating some of the forecasts in the May budget ahead of the federal election. It is likely to contain downgrades to revenue and growth forecasts, and outline the cost of new policies like the Papua New Guinea asylum seeker plan, and new government savings.

Indian Man Who R*ped 9-year-old Girl Sentenced For Life

A man from the Indian state of Kerala who r*ped and killed a girl who was his daughter’s school friend, was on Wednesday given the death sentence by the Manjeri district court. The convicted man, Palambarathu Abdul Nassar, had earlier been found guilty by the court of r*ping and killing nine-year-old Salva, and the verdict was given on Wednesday. The incident happened in April 2012. Salva was going to the local madrassa school when she dropped into her friend’s home to take her along. Nassar’s wife and daughter had gone to a neighbouring house to attend a funeral at that time. According to the prosecution, Nassar dragged Salva inside the house and defiled her, and fearing that he would be exposed, killed the girl and hid the body. While handing him the death sentence, the court observed that crimes against children were on the rise and that the accused did not deserve mercy.

Bukky Ajayi: Claims She Is Not Dead, Says She Is Still Alive

Veteran Nollywood Actress Bukky Ajayi has been the subject of Death Rumours for a couple of days now. But the actress has come forward to say “I’m not dead, I am alive”. In the early hours of Monday the 29th of July, unconfirmed rumors began to spread that Bukky Ajayi was dead. Some people had already began to mourn her until now that the woman now cried out that she is hale and hearty. In a brief chat with her, she explained that over 12 people have called her asking if she was alive but she was shocked to know that some people are actually thinking her dead at this early stage of her life. The situation even became more serious when she received calls from her daughter and husband. “I’m hale and hearty, and nothing is wrong with me.” However, she was critically ill for a while but she has since recovered from her age-related illness.

Actor Solomon Akiyesi Wants To Marry A 4th Wife?

I bet you all remember actor Akiyesi Solomon? The actor who tried to secretly marry another wife while his present wife got word of the marriage and crashed the event. My sources have revealed that the same disgraced actor, Solomon Akiyesi who has already married two different ladies before a marriage drama in Lagos with his ‘authentic’ wife, is not ready to reconcile with his wife. The word is that he said a lot back then about his wife’s “negative attitude” which he claimed drove him into the arms of another woman. What is strange is that the actor is rumored to be planning another marriage with a 4th woman, 1 woman is enough trouble but Solomon ‘the wise’ wants 4!!! If this is true then all we can do is pray for him, the matter is beginning to look like a spiritual something, LOL!!!

Jay Z Slams Rihanna’s Irresponsible Behaviour

Rihanna, more famous for her antics than her music in recent times, seems to be coming apart at the seams and is becoming a major source of worry for her friends. Jay Z has, apparently, joined the list.

Reliable sources have claimed that businessman and rapper, Jay Z, has grown increasingly irritated with Rihanna’s wild behavior. The singer, who constantly arrives several hours late for her concerts and studio session,s is now on Jay Z’s nerves. Jay Z has reached out to Riri a few times get her act together but she wild singer has changed her attitude and it seems to get from bad to worse. Reports say Jay Z has since sent her an official warning letter to pull herself  together or………..

U.S Producer Swizz Beatz Hails Femi Kuti’s Album

Legendary Hip Hop producer Swizz Beatz has publicly hailed Femi Kuti’s latest album, No Place For My Dream.Producer Swizz Beatz, who is married to talented singer Alicia Key,s praised Femi Kuti’s album on his Instagram page.‘Great album. Congrats to Femi!!!!! Vibes….’ was the caption below the picture of Femi Kuti’s album posted by Swizz Beatz. No Place For My Dream.

The album was released in June this year and it is his 8th studio album. In 2011, Swizz Beatz released an Afrobeat mixtape made up of samples from Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. It was called Swizz Beatz Vs. Fela Kuti and featured mash-ups of some of Fela’s greatest hits and Swizz Beatz’s famous productions.

Tukur Lacks Competence To Run PDP – Nyako

The Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako has berated Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for calling on the governor and four of his colleagues to accord him due respect,  saying he does not deserve their respect as long as he is unable to prove his competence, capacity and ability as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman. The other governors are Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Mu’Azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State. Tukur was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide – Prince Oliver Okpala – that the governors as “leaders who the general public looks upon as role models, they are expected to show respect to constituted authority and the elders, which include Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who have contributed immensely to the peace, progress, development and advancement of this country.” But Nyako aaccused Tukur of diverting attention from the core issues of his lack of competence and capacity which he said were at the root of the problems in the party. According to the governor, who made this known in a statement signed by his Director of Press, Sajoh Ahmad, “Bamanga Tukur is trying to divert attention from the core issues. It is not the issue of respect for each other, it is not the issue of age or status or international standing. The matter in question is his competence and ability to run the party, his ability to provide fairness and justice to everybody. “He cannot come here to sponsor a group of impostors and call them executives who will disenfranchise us, disrespect us, kick us aside and he turns around and tells us about respect and status. In actual fact, if he thinks his status is not respected, Murtala Nyako has had higher attainments nationally than him,” he said in reference to Nyako, who as a Vice Admiral, had been the country’s Chief of Naval Staff in the mid-eighties. Continuing, he said: “If he can bring in impostors and impose them on the state PDP and cause them to disrespect Nyako, he should not be talking about respect, but that is not the issue at stake. “The issue at stake is his competence, capacity, ability as the National Chairman of the PDP. Is he running the PDP competently enough? Is he providing level playing field? Is he fair and just to everybody concerned? That his media office will continue to remind people that he is running the PDP with peace, concord, and understanding when he knows that in the last four months now, they have had four reconciliation committees? “A group that has peace and concord cannot definitely have four reconciliation committees in four months. I don’t think that the two tally. “We are not arguing about respect, about age, about status or whatever; we are talking about competence to run the PDP as an inclusive party that accommodates everybody’s interests.”

Successful Merger: Call Of History To Liberate The Nigerian People, Says Tinubu

Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a major chieftain of the newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC), has said with the birth of the new party, a new phase in the struggle to bring true democratic change to Nigeria has just begun. Tinubu, who made this known yesterday in a statement issued by his media office said, “This is not just a merger. This is the first ever merger in the history of Nigeria and represents a paradigm shift in the politics of our country. Together we must own it. As Nigerians we see history unfold before our very eyes and we must rise up to answer the call of history to liberate our people. I congratulate all our governors,all our members from the North-East,North West,South-South,South- East, South-West and the North Central and all would be members  and well wishers of our great party, APC.” He added, “We worked hard to ensure that our party was in good stead and in good standing with the law. Selfish interest and ego were shelved. Personal sacrifices were made particularly by those who hitherto occupied higher positions in the merging parties in the interest of moving Nigeria forward. “Today, I can say that Nigeria’s democratic journey has started on a new course and we must pursue this course religiously and rigorously. Our commitment to achieving One Man, One Vote remains resolute. We therefore must demand from INEC the full adoption of the biometric system.”

8 Persons Slaughtered By Boko Haram In Borno

Suspected Boko Haram members yesterday slaughtered Eight persons, including a lecturer at the College of Education, Waka, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. The Islamists were said to have invaded the town after escaping from their camps in Sambisa and other camps in Borno and Yobe states, during military raid on those camps. The killing took place around the popular Kadafur Cinema area and other wards where a lecturer at the Waka College of Education, who was also an Islamic cleric, three members of a family and four others were slaughtered, according to sources. Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, who is also from Biu Local Government Area had last week, in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri, lamented the increasing killing of innocent people in Biu. He said the state government was not interested in the restoration of GSM network in the state for now as doing so will jeopardise the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.

“Biu is no longer safe. There were pockets of killings by suspected Boko Haram sect in the last few days,” a source who just arrived Maiduguri from the troubled town said. “In fact, most of the killings were targeted at school teachers and Islamic clerics, and the most unfortunate thing is that the terrorists have devised a means of using knives to slaughter their targets, as using gunshots will attract security agencies.” Joint Task Force, JTF had since been deployed to the streets of the town to ensure safety of lives and property, even as some volunteered youths have offered to assist the security agencies in apprehending those perpetrating such act.

Fashola Fires Back: “We Did Not Deport Igbos From Lagos, We Rehabilitated And Resettled Them”

Lagos State Government, yesterday, debunked allegation that it deported 67 indigenes of Anambra State, saying what happened was that the state government did rehabilitation and resettlement of citizens from other states. It equally assured residents of adequate security of life and property in the wake of the recent arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in the state. Briefing newsmen after the weekly security meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola, state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, said the state government only resettled the 67 Anambra indigenes. “What happened was that the state government did rehabilitation and resettlement of the citizens from other states. These were those who came into the state and turned into destitute. “After the state government realised this, it embarked on a reform mission. After that, they indicated that they would be happy to go back to their home-towns and be resettled. That was what happened. There wasn’t any deportation as claimed,” Manko said.

Girl’s Conversion To Islam Saga: Niger Govt Wades In As CAN Absolves Etsu Nupe Of Forced Conversion

The media war between the Christian Asscociation of Nigeria (CAN) and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar over the conversion of a 25-year old lady, Charity (A’isha) Uzoechina to Islam, may have been resolved following the intervention of the Niger State government in the matter. It was learnt that the Niger State government’s intervention was based on the directives of a letter from the Presidency which called for amicable resolution of the issue so as not to degenerate into religious crisis in the state. At a stakeholders meeting which lasted more than two hours at the Government House, Minna and was attended by the Etsu Nupe, the national secretary of CAN, Niger State chairman of CAN, the pastor and mrs. Raymond Uzoechina (the girl’s parents), Charity, former Niger governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure and some senior security officers, it was agreed by all parties that the March 4 order of a Shari’a Court in Bida that placed the convert under the protection of Alhaji Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, would be vacated. Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, CAN national secretary, Rev (Dr) Musa Asake absolved the Etsu Nupe of any blame in the matter saying the respected royal father was misinterpreted by the media. He said “We have actually resolved the issue. There is a good understanding now, especially as it concerns the person of respectable status, the Estu Nupe who has been misrepresented by the media”. On why Pastor Uzoechina had severally accused Etsu Nupe, Rev. Asake responded: “It was so because the Royal Father has been the person being mentioned to be in custody of the lady, so the parents have nobody to talk about but him. How did he get the custody of the lady, we did not know but now we know. That is why.” Niger State Deputy Governor, who brokered the meeting, Hon. Musa Ibeto said the purpose of the parley was to find a way to reunite Charity with her family in such a way that she would not come to any harm by her father; the reason she sought the court’s protection in the first place. Admitting that at her age – 25-years old – the lady has the right to practice any religion of her choice, Hon. Ibeto explained that the reason for seeking to vacate the court order was to explore means of reuniting Charity with her parents. Although the Deputy Governor was not categorical on who would eventually take custody of Charity, he explained that “unless the order is vacated, nobody can take any decision; it is only if the order is vacated that she can decide on her own.”

Couple, Baby, Motorcyclist Crushed To Death By Commercial Bus In Lagos

Four persons were yesterday crushed by a commercial bus along Sagamu road, in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The deceased, included a man, his wife, their one and half-year-old baby and the commercial motorcyclist. A commercial bus (danfo) was said to have rammed into a motorbike which was conveying the family of three. The driver of the commercial bus zoomed off, abandoning the victims in the middle of the road, according to an eyewitness. “It was a pathetic sight this morning. What attracted us was a bang and before we knew what was happening, we saw the motorcyclist, a man, his wife and their male child sprawled on the ground. They were flung in different directions on the road.

“Another vehicle even ran over the man. To avoid further damage to the corpses, people started flagging down vehicles plying the route. Just then, some policemen from Sagamu division arrived the scene and took the bodies away,” an eyewitness, Adewusi Oladimeji told Vanguard. The policemen reportedly found an identity card on the commercial motorcyclist bearing the name Olatunji. One of the sympathizers was said to have identified the passenger and his wife as Mr and Mrs Yaya Mogaji, and the baby as the couple’s one and half-year-old baby, their only child. The bodies were said to have been removed by the policemen including the wrecked motorbike. Investigation, according to police sources, was ongoing with a view to apprehending the fleeing driver of the commercial bus.

Ryan Giggs: Manchester United's greatest ever player?

Manchester United have had many great players down the years - but is Ryan Giggs the best of the lot?

There are many names affiliated to Manchester United. Whether it's Sir Alex Ferguson, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eric Cantona, Sir Matt Busby or Denis Law.

However, arguably the greatest player to ever wear the famous red shirt is none other than the Welshman, Ryan Giggs. Here's a look at the man who has played more than 1,000 matches in his career.

Giggs signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in 1990 at the age of 17. Prior to this he had appeared for United's rivals Manchester City and schoolboy and youth level but was convinced to join the Old Trafford club by manager Alex Ferguson. He made his debut for United the following year and scored his first goal for the club ironically in the Manchester derby to give his new club a 1-0 win.

He won his first cap for Wales in the same year and was the youngest player to ever represent the country for seven years. Giggs played just two games in his first season in football but despite being still aged 17, he broke into the first team for the start of the 91/92 season.

By doing so, Giggs paved the way for a lot of future young talents to make the grade at Old Trafford. In particular Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Gary Neville. In his first full season with United, the Welshman made 50 appearances in all competitions, a remarkable number given his young age but unfortunately for Giggs and co. United finished second in the table behind Leeds in the final year of the English First Division.

Giggs also captained the United youth team to the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and also enjoyed his first taste of silverware with the senior team, that being the League Cup as United defeated Nottingham Forest in the final, just a small sign of things to come.

The 1992/93 campaign marked the first season of the new Premier League era. Giggs had emerged as one of the best young wingers in English football alongside Steve McManaman. For the first time in 26 years, United were crowned the champions of England thanks in no small part to the Welsh winger who scored nine league goals that season to earn his first of thirteen Premier League winners medals.

The following season saw Giggs at the peak of his powers alongside the likes of Eric Cantona, Andrei Kanchelskis and Roy Keane who had recently signed from Nottingham Forest. The 1993/94 campaign saw the Welshman score a career high of 17 goals in all competitions, that majority of those coming in the league as United retained the Premier League crown.

Giggs was also named as the PFA young player of the year for the second time in as many seasons, a feat that has only been matched by Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney. Due to a number of injuries, the Welshman was unable to recapture his form of the previous two seasons and thus United relinquished the Premier League title to big spending Blackburn Rovers.

However fully fit again, Giggs returned with a vengeance and despite trailing Newcastle United for much of the season and at one stage by ten points in the table, United managed to go on a long unbeaten run in the league and following a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough in the final game of the 1995/96 season, the title was back at Old Trafford for the third time in four years. United also won the F.A. Cup in 1996 with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

United regaining the Premier League title meant automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage. It was the first chance for the likes of Giggs, Beckham, Keane and Scholes to really show what they could do in Europe. The most memorable game of the 1996/97 Champions League campaign was a 4-0 win for United at Old Trafford against Porto in the quarter final.

Porto along with Juventus had been dubbed as the best team in Europe, however that night United showed they were a force to be reckoned with in the premier club competition in the world. Giggs scored the third goal that night and with it, United advanced to the semi final where they were defeated by eventual winners, Borussia Dortmund. Despite being unsuccessful in winning the Champions League, United won the Premier League yet again to prove they were still the dominant force in English football.

The following season, United missed out on the title by a single to rivals Arsenal. A poor run of form towards the end of the season and a number of injuries to key players including Giggs, Peter Schmeichel and Gary Neville saw United finish the season trophy-less for only second time in nine years.

The 1998/99 campaign would prove to be the most successful in the history of Manchester United football club. Thanks to the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and of course Giggs, United became the first and to this day only English side to win the Premier League,  the F.A. Cup and the Champions League in one season.

A number of memorable moments for the Welshman were the now famous extra time winner he scored against Arsenal in the F.A. Cup semi final to give his side a 2-1 win and also a last gasp equaliser against Juventus in the Champions League semi final first leg at Old Trafford. Giggs also set up Sheringham for the equalising goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final before Solskjaer scored the winner seconds later. With it, Giggs had now added a Champions League winners medal to his long and ever-growing list of honours.

From 1999-2001, United won the Premier League three times in a row becoming the first and thus far only team to achieve this feat.

Giggs became the club's longest serving player when Denis Irwin left the club in the summer of 2002. The Welshman scored his 100th goal in all competitions for United during a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge the same year. In May 2003, United were crowned Premier League champions for an eighth time, Giggs managed to score a highly impressive 14 goals in all competitions that season, however it would be four years before the winger and United tasted Premier League success again.

In May 2004, Giggs won the fourth F.A. Cup winners medal of his career as United defeated Millwall 3-0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium in the Welshman's hometown, Cardiff. Two years later at the very same venue he won his first English League Cup winners medal since 1992 as United defeated Wigan 4-0 in the final. Giggs was also inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005 for his longevity and achievements within the game since first signing for the club 15 years previous.

United regained the league title after four years in transition in 2007. The following two seasons, United retained the league title and for the second time the club had one the Premier League three times in a row.

In 2008, United faced Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow. The game finished 1-1 with Cristiano Ronaldo giving United the lead before Frank Lampard equalised for Chelsea. Still level after 120 minutes the match went to penalties. Fittingly Giggs scored the decisive penalty before United goalkeeper Edwin Van deer Sar saved the following spot-kick from Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka and with it for the third time in the club's rich history, Manchester United were crowned as the champions of Europe.

Giggs was voted the PFA Players' Player of the Season in 2009, the first time he had received the award in almost twenty years of service. At the end of that same year, the club legend was named the Manchester United Player of the Decade.

In 2010, Giggs scored the first ever league penalties of his career by scoring two from the spot against Tottenham Hostpur in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford. In 2011, he surpassed Bobby Charlton's appearance record by playing his 607th league game for the club against Liverpool.  United won the league for a record 19th time in 2011 and also reached the final of the Champions League but were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in the final at Wembley.

In February 2012, Giggs made his 900th appearance for Manchester United in an away game against Norwich City. He marked this honour by scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute to give his side a 2-1 win. Following the match, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson stated that playing 900 matches won't be done for a single club will never be done again. A year later the Welshman scored his first goal of the season during a 2-0 home win over Everton. He extended his run of scoring in every Premier League since it was formed in 1992.

In the first knockout phase of the Champions League, Giggs made the 1,000th appearance of his career against Real Madrid at Old Trafford. Unfortunately the rare achievement was overshadowed as United were eliminated from the competition, losing 3-2 on aggregate to the Spanish giants. However two months later the club were crowned champions of England for the 20th time in their history and with it Giggs earned his staggering 13th Premier League winners medal.

In the summer of 2013, Ferguson who had managed United for 26 years retired and was replaced by former Everton boss, David Moyes. In July of this year, Giggs was appointed as player/coach of Manchester United for the coming season and also signed a one year contract extension with the club he has played for since he was 17.

There really isn't enough words to describe what a credit Ryan Giggs is to himself and to Manchester United. He has never been sent off at club level and just once while playing for Wales. Not to mention his achievements with United, Giggs also captained the Great Britain team that took part in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

He was capped 64 times for the Welsh national team and scored 12 goals for his country. He has thus far won the Premier League 13 times, the F.A. Cup four times, the League Cup four times, the Champions League twice and the FIFA Club World Cup once. His individual honours are second to none and the Welshman was also selected for the Champions League dream team in its tenth anniversary.

For a man who has made 1,000 appearances for club and country, it's no surprise that the Manchester United legend is on par with the best players who have ever played for the club. Giggs takes his place alongside other club greats such as George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona and many others as arguably the greatest Manchester United player of all time.

Do you think that Ryan Giggs is the best player to ever wear the red and white of Manchester United?