Policeman abducts, brutalises eight-year-old girl

 Residents of Olufowobi Street, Ketu, Lagos, were thrown into confusion after an eight-year-old girl, Amarachi Abakwam, was found tied up and brutalised under the bed of a policeman attached to Police Mobile Force 22.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the policeman, Augustine Gbuchenge, with Force number 400823, lived in the same compound with Amarachi’s family.

The father of the victim, Patrick, told PUNCH Metro that on the fateful day he had been looking everywhere for his daughter until they discovered her under Gbuchenge’s bed.

Patrick said, “Last Thursday, I returned from work around 7.30pm and met my children and wife outside. There was power failure on that day so everywhere was dark. I asked after Amarachi but my wife said she was probably in our apartment sleeping.

“I was not satisfied with this explanation because my children don’t usually sleep early. When I went up, I did not see my daughter so we started asking around. Some little children in the compound then told me that Gbuchenge had called my daughter earlier to help him buy akara.

“I went to the policeman’s room to challenge him but he denied seeing my daughter so we continued looking everywhere. After sometime, the whole compound got involved in the search and all clues pointed to the policeman.”

Patrick told PUNCH Metro that he and the other neighbours challenged Gbuchenge again and an argument ensued.

He said Gbuchenge immediately stood up and threatened to go and tell his colleagues at the Ketu Police Division that he was being wrongly accused of abduction.

“Some moments later, I also stood up and headed for the police station to go and report the matter thinking I would meet the policeman there as well but I did not. After reporting the matter, a police corporal accompanied me back to my house,” Patrick said.

It was learnt that when they returned to the house, Gbuchenge was nowhere to be found and his room was locked.

“We were able to beam a torchlight through his window where we saw my daughter’s legs pointing out from under the bed,” Patrick said.

Neighbours were said to have rallied around and broken Gbuchenge’s door open.

PUNCH Metro learnt that when the little girl was finally pulled out from under the bed, she was bound by her hands and feet while a piece of cloth had been stuffed in her mouth.

Amarachi was said to have been bleeding profusely as she had sustained a broken skull.

She was subsequently taken to Gbagada General Hospital but due to the severity of her wound, she was referred to the Lagos Island General Hospital.

When our correspondent visited the victim at the hospital, she was seen wearing a neck brace while her head had been bandaged.

Narrating her ordeal, Amarachi said, “On that day, he (Gbuchenge) asked me to buy akara for him. After I returned, my mum asked me to go upstairs to do the dishes. As I was going, the man pulled me from behind and took me into his room.

“He then tied me up. He did not rape me. After sometime, my parents started shouting my name and calling me, the policeman used an iron to hit me in the head repeatedly and then pushed me under the bed and used clothes to cover me. Under the bed, I saw little children’s clothes.

“He then turned on his generator so that even if I tried to shout, no one would hear. After sometime, he left. I continued to hear my father’s voice and I struggled to push my leg from under the bed. That was how they saw me and rescued me.”

Amara described the policeman as a very friendly person who usually bought sweets and biscuits for children in the compound. She said she was surprised that he would do such a thing.

A neighbour, who did not identify himself, described Gbuchenge as a very strange person who usually carried a large bag around.

“The man (Gbuchenge) has been living in this compound for over three years. He is married with children but his family lives in Alapere, Ketu. He has two buses but on the day of the incident, he did not bring his vehicles home, it seems he had planned to escape on that day.

“We believe he wanted to use the girl for ritual. What were little children’s clothes doing under the bed?”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident in a text message sent to our correspondent. She said efforts were on to determine if the suspect was indeed a policeman.

She said, “I heard of the wicked act. MOPOL 22, which is where the complainant claims the suspect works has been contacted. However, the commander in charge of MOPOL 22 said there was no person with such a name or identity in his squadron.

“Meanwhile, we have sent signals to other police departments and stations to ascertain if the man is actually a serving policeman. The act is inhuman and the suspect will never go unpunished.”
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Ribadu probed me, my late wife ­– Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has  said that the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, investigated him and his late wife, Stella, even when he was  in charge as the nation’s leader.

Obasanjo, whose administration created the anti-graft agency, also alleged that the manner Ribadu carried out the  war against corruption created enemies for him (Obasanjo).

He  made the claims after  the former EFCC boss  presented a paper titled,   “Illicit Financial Flow and Governance of Natural Resources,” at the 3rd Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa in Badir Dar, Ethiopia at the weekend.

The former President   said that rather than being afraid of the  enemies Ribadu created for him, “it is rather them that fear me.”Obasanjo, who acknowledged that the fight against corruption “comes with enemies,”    did not tell the audience about  the outcome of the investigations against him,  Stella, and his close associates. He also did not name the enemies that Ribadu created for him.

But the  former President   disclosed that Ribadu  almost lost his life when he was poisoned in the course of his duty. He described the incident as  a serious case that was “a matter of life and death.” He  told the gathering   how a serving minister in his administration, who was his senior in   secondary school, was  found wanting by the EFCC  and  “there was no issue of senior again.”

Obasanjo, who   is also the chairman  of the Tana Forum, agreed with  Ribadu’s submission that  a  willing political leadership  was the epicentre   of  any anti-corruption campaign.

Stating that  leadership   needed  relevant laws  to work with, he recalled how the bill establishing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences  Commission   was whittled down by  the National Assembly  members who felt they could be victims  if it became a law.

 Ribadu had in his presentation offered  strategies  that  African countries  could follow to  check  illicit financial flow and repatriate  looted  funds  stashed away in other countries.

He said  that  African countries  needed  honest and committed leadership examples.
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How to enjoy maximum sexual impact - Funmi Akingbade

 For many months now, questions have rolled in from various couples asking for what to do to enjoy maximum sex.  So today, we shall be studying the technicality for maximum sexual enjoyment. Sexual technicality is simply the act of treating your spouse in a very special way during sex to enhance his or passion for sex. In other words, sexual technicality is following a sexual and sensual pattern.

First, there must be a proper preparation if sex must be enjoyed. Careful groundwork is essential; preparation begins long before bedtime as sex starts by breakfast and not by bedtime. The first homework is to settle any known or foreseen quarrel as soon as possible. Get ready for sex with a positive mind-set. Many times, couples find it difficult to have good sex because of life challenges but I have observed that if couples always wait for a perfect life situation for sex, they might not find one. So a positive mind-set for any sexual eventuality is very important.

At any given time, filth, lack of neatness, unclearness and poor sense of orderliness have ruined many anticipated sexual thoughts. You must be neat and clean, and at the same time be seductively attractive and sexually appealing. Oral, armpit, vulva and penis hygiene should be well observed, especially when the penis is uncircumcised. The pubic hair should be well shaved to avoid sharp coarse ends that will cause irritation on the skin of your spouse. As simple as this appears, it has ruined good, passionate sex and made some men to develop quick ejaculation while some wives have to apply hot water for healing. Complete sensitive neatness is one of the guiding rules for successful lovemaking. Much good sex has turned out to be a nightmare just because of some offensive odour from the genitals. Since sometimes sex might be unpredictable, it is important to brush the mouth twice daily especially while retiring at night. This is very important because if there is a need to use your tongue on each other, the mouth must be brushed to prevent infection. Many couples contact some form of toilet disease just from unwashed mouth, because the same bacteria responsible for toilet disease are mostly also found in the mouth.

The bed should be laid with clean or new bed spread. Old, stinking bed spreads are turn off. Get enough privacy; make sure doors are well locked as this prevents the mind from roaming on and off to the door side. At no given time should spouses disapprovingly take off each other’s clothes in an offensive, rough manner. It is important that both husband and wife slowly undress each other. This is an exciting part of the technique and the moment this is well in place, the best part of good groundwork has been achieved. As a matter of fact, these particular habits mostly usher in the love play.

Couples should lay themselves bare to one another by letting their partners know their sensitive areas and point of triggers. For majority of ladies, it is the clitoris, the breast, especially the nipples and let him know that it takes time before your sexual organs respond, especially the clitoris. Make him kiss and use his tongue to caress your breast, your nipples, neck, gently and lovingly, then later your genitals. As this goes on, the nipples get erect and the clitoris increases in size. Caressing should not be done in a hurried way. Take enough time to fully enjoy each other! It is important to understand the timing in lovemaking. There should be a gradual building up and intensifying of emotions and sensations. Do not stop or let up the stimulation once it begins, but continue in an ever-increasing manner of arousal.

Basically, the whole body of a loving couple is an erotic zone. For the man, the nape of the neck, the back of the ear, the breast, the armpit, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the groin, the pubic hair, the shaft of the penis and the eye of the penis are their most sensitive areas. All these should be kissed tenderly or caressed gently with the hand and tongue of the wife. If the man’s skin is too dry, you can get a bottle of baby lotion and seductively rub both bodies; it will send sexual signals to the whole body. The female erotic zone include the base of the neck, the base of the hair, the lips, the armpit, the breasts especially the nipples, the tummy, the navel, the inner parts of the thigh, the pubic hair, the clitoris, the lips of the vagina and the inner parts of the vagina.

All these could be tenderly touched and caressed with the man’s hands or the tongue. Caressing various areas of your partner’s body shows an interest in the whole person.

In foreplay, the husband and the wife should talk freely with themselves. They should tell each other what they want. While caressing one another without a rush, it is advisable for the wife to take a comfortable position with legs apart so that the man will be able to gently play with her genitals. As her husband caresses her, she in turn plays with his nipple, the shaft of his penis, the eye of the penis, the scrotum (some men like it when their scrotum is fondled with).

To be continued next week…

Questions and Answers

I can’t differentiate between normal erections and prolonged, painful one

I am 35 years and I recently started having an active sex life after a long abstinence from sex due to my profession (I am a professional boxer, and as a professional boxer, there are times you have to abstain from sex for many months or sometimes a whole year). But my challenge now is, it seems that I can’t differentiate between normal erection and prolonged, painful one. I am not sure if I ejaculate either. How long is it before the average man ejaculates during sexual intercourse? At times, I get so confused I don’t understand my body at all, I sometimes take lots of alcohol to stay longer during sex but even at that, my system seems to have broken down. I am in a dilemma. Can you help?

Derin Morris

That is what happens when one alters a normal body working system. It took you some years to get into this mess, you have to take things easy and work towards an ideal body-working-pattern so as to gradually get things stabilised again.  An erection begins in the brain. Physical and/or mental stimulation causes the nerves in the brain to send chemical messages to nerves in the penis telling the penile blood vessels to relax so that blood can flow freely into the penis. Once in the penis, high pressure traps the blood within the tissue of the penis. This causes the penis to expand and sustain an erection. When you turn off this process, you alter normal erection. A normal ejaculation is triggered when the man reaches a critical level of excitement. Ejaculation is also altered in you because you choose not to allow any form of excitement at all which now affects the average ejaculation minutes. All things being equal, an average man ejaculates within 9.6 to 15.5 minutes. To make the situation worse, you consume lots of alcohol which you have to stop immediately. Alcohol does not assist in prolonged ejaculation; rather it undermines the quality of your ejaculation and staying on power. What alcohol does is that it helps you get a quick feel or arousal and shortly afterwards drops down your energy and competency.

I wet my pant at the slightest moment

This is not only alarming but humiliating. At my age (40), I suddenly wet my pant, boxers, even my trouser at any slight moment. The shocking part of the whole scenario is that I even pee into my wife’s vagina immediately after I ejaculate if I do not hastily remove my penis. I am healthy with no negative medical condition but for the past five months now, I have been experiencing this embarrassing situation. When I drink less, it reduces. I am not diabetic; why should this be?

Ete Aniete Okon

This may be a situation of male incontinence that may be as a result of some medical conditions such as enlarged prostate, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes, it can develop for reasons we don’t completely understand, like “overactive bladder.” This is a situation when bending, lifting, or coughing can put pressure on the bladder and triggers leaking. Sometimes, it can be caused by the bladder contracting when it shouldn’t. This triggers a sudden and overwhelming need to urinate. Actually, cutting back on fluid intake during the day and a few hours before bedtime and not drinking caffeine, soda and other carbonated drinks will help a lot especially staying off alcohol, this is because alcohol is a diuretic; it makes one  urinate more. There may be a need for you to adjust your diet and stay off spicy or acidic foods, chocolate and artificial sweeteners. Then it is important to train your bladder. Visit the bathroom every half hour to urinate, whether you feel the urge to urinate or not. Try keeping a record of how much you drink and how often you urinate for a few days. Then try and take note of any leaking, along with anything you drink. Kegel exercises can help boost the strength of pelvic muscles that help your bladder to hold urine. In spite all these, there is a need for you to get your prostrate checked by a medical doctor. Sometimes, male prostrate starts developing from the age of 40.

Kindly help me out

My husband thinks I am superstitious but the fact still remains that this thing is happening to me. Whenever we make love, I sneeze so profusely, especially when the light is on. For me to enjoy sex, we have to put off the light like two hours before sex and make sure everywhere is fully ventilated. If not, as soon as he penetrates, I start sneezing heavily. He said maybe I am ‘ogbanje.’ Do you think so?

No! You are neither an ‘ogbanje’ nor superstitious. The truth of the matter is workout may make some people to sneeze and sex is a powerful work. It happens more often than we might think. Researchers believe that the stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system fires off signals in some people to not only enjoy the act of sex, but to sneeze when it’s over. Besides, exercise can make some people sneeze; this is because we hyperventilate when we’re over-exerted. As a result, your nose and mouth start to dry up. Funny, sunshine may make some people sneeze; this is because bright sunlight causes one out of three people to sneeze. Sneezing is an important part of the immune process; it helps keep us healthy and it protects our body by clearing the nose of bacteria and viruses. But you can stop sneezing by trying to breathe through your mouth and pinch the end of your nose.

Grapefruit versus hypertension

I am hypertensive but it has been put under control. But each time I add grapefruit to my diet, I react and feel funny. Is there a reason for this?

Yes, it may be surprising, but foods can affect how our medicine works. That’s why it’s always best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should avoid any foods. If you take medicine for high blood pressure, anxiety, or insomnia, grapefruit juice may interact with your drugs. But because you still need your vitamin C and potassium, you can replace grapefruits with oranges and limes.
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Masturbation: A Major Cause Of Varicocele, Infertility Among Men

 Varicocele is a varicose vein in the scrotum. Much like the appearance of varicose veins in legs, the varicocele can be best seen or felt when standing. In the standing position, men with varicoceles may note fullness around or above the testicles. This fullness should disappear when lying down. This is called “reflux” when blood travels the wrong way (backwards) through a vein called the testicular vein.

Masturbation is, of course, a common cause of varicocele, but mental incontinence is just as likely to produce it. Ungratified sex excitement, frequently repeated, is almost certain to cause it to a greater or less degree. But if one is much debilitated, with tissues lacking in tone and circulation weak, one may possibly develop varicocele without any specific abuse. Tight clothing may have something to do with it. Constipation is a cause in many instances. The wearing of a truss, the presence of a tumor, or any other obstruction to the circulation, might cause it.

Varicoceles, basically raises the temperature in the testicles, which affect the production of sperm, as well as sperm movement and/or shape. It may also affect other aspects of sperm function. But, it is unknown by what mechanism varicoceles may impair fertility.

Research shows that fifteen percent of men have varicoceles. Interestingly, varicoceles are identified in 40 per cent of men with fertility problems and 80 per cent of men who have had a child or children and are having trouble conceiving another one. Based on these statistics, a few conclusions can be drawn: Not all varicoceles are significant, many varicoceles are associated with male fertility problems, there seems to be a damaging effect over time in some men with varicoceles.

To diagnosed varicocele, the physical exam is performed in a warm room to avoid the “cold shower” effect on the scrotum. The examination must be performed lying down and standing up.

A varicocele can also be seen on an ultrasound too. This test is useful for men with very tight scrotums or for obese men. In both cases, a physical examination can be difficult.

More so, varicocele raises the scrotal temperature. This has been shown in scientific studies. The average scrotal temperature is approximately 94 degrees F but it is higher in men with varicoceles. We know that other causes of increased intrascrotal temperature, such as hot tub use and excessive laptop use, are associated with decreased semen quality. This also explains why a man who has a varicocele on the left side only can have decreased semen quality.

In treating varicocele, procedures involve blocking the flow of blood in the veins so that they cannot reflux. This can be done from outside the veins (surgery) or from inside the veins (embolization). The testicle then drains itself through other channels which generally do not reflux.
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Abuja On-Street Parking: 4,000 To lose Jobs – Operators

 Over 4000 staff working for the on-street Park and Pay scheme on Abuja streets will soon lose their jobs following last week court judgement which nullified the activities of the scheme.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend yesterday in Abuja the president, Control Parking Association of Nigeria (CPAN), Otunba Olusegun Olarewaju explained that staff to be affected by the court judgement includes various categories of graduates, which include graduates and those with masters degrees, under the pay-rolls of the operators, mechanics and even other artisans.

“Over 4000 jobs, both directly and indirectly is to be lost in Abuja if the court judgement nullifying the activities of the park and pay scheme stands. For instance, every one of the operators in the scheme has an average of over 800 staff working in his pay-roll. Not to talk of other ancillary workers who patronise the operators every day. These include, shoes shiners, mechanics who handle our vehicles, and other artisans”, he said.

Olarewaju who is the chief executive officer, Platinum Parking management Services Ltd (PPMS) disclosed that the operators in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration have concluded plans to appeal against the FCT High Court judgement, which he described as a ‘misinterpretation of the law’.

He added that his company pays about N7 million as salary to it workers every month, after it has paid a percentage to the FCT administration, adding that the operations of the scheme was not meant to make profit.

Recall that last week, an Abuja High Court, presided by Justice Peter Affen had nullified the activities of Abuja on-street Park and pay scheme, declaring that the project was illegal.

However, Olarewaju noted that the activities of the scheme was based on a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement the operators signed with the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, which is  in compliance with the FCT Act of 2005, as passed by the Senate.

He told LEADERSHIP that his company operates at Utako, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro and Maitama areas of Abuja , adding that his the entire four parking operators have about 20,000 parking spaces, but also said that it not all the spaces that are used on a daily bases.
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P-SQUARE: Peter gives condition for peace

 Nearly one week after Jude Okoye, elder brother to singing duo Paul and Peter Okoye (P-Square) posted on twitter that he was ‘done’, the stand-off in the Okoye family is far from abating with insiders telling Vanguard that Peter had refused to be appeased despite interventions from close friends.

Peter reportedly gave condition for peace, saying his wife, Lola, must be accepted and respected by the family or risk total isolation from him.
Several sources contacted by Vanguard confirmed that this was his only condition for peace.

One insider said: “Peter is tired of the long years he has had to plead with his family to accept the woman he has decided to spend the rest of his life with.
“He wants Lola to be welcomed in the family just as Anita (Paul’s wife) has been accepted irrespective of her tribe or age. This is his condition.”

Although the twins had fought at their dance rehearsal earlier in the month, Vanguard learnt this was not what had ultimately prompted Peter to severe his relationship with P-Square.
The source said Peter “has taken their attitude towards Lola even more to heart than what role he plays in P-Square, be it singing or dancing.

“He can no longer endure the ill-affection concerning his wife.”
Sources further said that the crisis had escalated after it was learnt that Peter had allegedly bought a house for Lola in the United States of America, USA.

Paul dilemna
Vanguard learnt that Peter’s twin, Paul is currently confused as he does not know who to support. Vanguard gathered that the twins had returned to talking terms, but that Paul is yet to show full support for Peter’s cause.
The source said: “The twins adore their mother and before she passed on, she had made it clear she was not in support of Peter and Lola’s union.

“Maybe that is why it is difficult for Paul. He does not want to be seen as being completely against the wish of their mother.”
Vanguard leant that he is the one making the most effort to bring an end to the crisis by appealing to Peter and the rest of the family.

Jude Okoye
Their elder brother, Jude Engees Okoye, has also refused to be placated.
According to the source, “there have been accusations and counter-accusations between Jude and Lola, each alleging that the other is rude and disrespectful.

“Jude holds on to this as his reason for not accepting Lola. But this is not the only reason.”
Peacemakers, who are industry friends and close business associates have however intensified efforts in resolving the crisis.

Hope
Also their social media pages show that they still identify with their pop brand name.
At press time, on Peter’s twitter wall, the pop star still goes with the handle @PeterPSquare, CEO P-Classic; Konvict Muzik/Square Records/Universal Music Group.

Paul Okoye also goes by his famous handle, @rudeboypsquare.
Jude Okoye, despite his “it over! I’m done!” tweet, his handle still goes by @judeengess, President/CEO Square Records, Northside Music Inc and Northside Entertainment Ltd. PSquare’s Manager/Producer/Director.

Sources, however, warn that the brand is still in dangerous territory, saying “anything can still happen tomorrow.
“You could wake up to hear the group has officially disintegrated or reconciled. We can only watch, wait and pray.”
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Why Many Job Seekers Remain Unemployed - Nkiru Okpala

 Thousands of job seekers in Nigeria, especially graduates of tertiary institutions have remained unemployed for many years after graduation. NKIRU OKPALA writes on the reasons why many of these graduates still roam the streets seeking for jobs.

Most people especially graduates believe there is no reason an average Nigerian, graduate or not, cannot gainfully put a decent meal on his table or have a reliable source of income. But recently, most inexperienced graduates want to earn higher than their employers; they don’t want to start little. They don’t want to believe that most of these influential people started small.

According to Mr Izu Umeonwuka, sales manager, Aradu Lubricants, he feels that most graduates who are unemployed don’t have confidence in themselves.

In his words, “I don’t see any reason an average Nigerian graduate cannot be employed because the university prepares us to survive independently. More so, the three weeks we spend on NYSC camp prepares us for alternative means of livelihood should we not get employment afterwards?”

He doesn’t believe everybody must have a white collar job and condemns the way people blame government for being unemployed as there are some skills acquisition programmes we were taught during NYSC. Such skills like hand crafts, bead making, catering, and the likes.

Mrs Justina (not real name) a former banker and presently an entrepreneur, has it that it is only one’s experience that could fetch them a higher paid job. “One can only negotiate a higher salary if they are experts in the job being applied for. You don’t expect me to pay you over N100, 000 as salary and I will spend time and money to train you. That’s not good business.”

Arguably, most of our recent graduates still don’t believe in starting off with a meager pay. Rather they prefer to stay at home especially when they have sponsors or are from rich families. Those who do not even come from rich homes believe small income cannot cater for them let alone their families. But some believe in starting off with any amount in order to gain experience and prepare them for a wider view of employment world.

“My first job as a graduate paid me N7000 here in Lagos. My friends discouraged me from taking up the job because of the pay. But it was from that job that gave me the contacts I have today that got me to where I am today,” Ms. Nkechi Onye,  a Time Share consultant, said.

She has it that anybody you ask how much they want to be paid, they easily say nothing less than one hundred as if they can yield such for the organization in a week. “The economic recession that happened years back is still affecting the employment world. These graduates should open their arms wide enough and come to terms with reality. Some people are even working based on commission only and some are out there waiting to be paid millions.”

In the same vein, some of these graduates are considering the environment in which they find themselves. For instance, those who served in places like Port Harcourt, Abuja and the likes want their employers to consider the high cost of living in such areas.

According to Ms Onye, she got a job for her friend in Abuja close to her house and she rejected the job simply because she would be paid N40,000 monthly. “One can imagine such a thing. Turning down such an offer simply means she’s comfortable staying at home because she needs to spend just N200 to and back from work.”

“Most of them are not ready to work, yet they blame the government for no job. There was a lady that has gone for her master’s and yet she’s not worked anywhere neither is she computer literate. In this jet age?” she wondered.

Mr Izu also queried the essence of the skills acquired during NYSC. “I believe such skills serve as alternative means of livelihood should one is not gainfully employed. My NYSC colleague is now a bank manager but he has his catering outfit where he bakes cakes, snacks, small chops and the likes.”
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FIFA Announces 2014 World Cup Official Training Pitches And Hotels

The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Local Organising Committee (LOC) today released the definitive list of the National Team Base Camps (TBC´s) to be used by the 32 countries that will compete in the tournament.

The statement sent to the registered users of the FIFA Media Channel said they deem it fit for the world to now the exact place each team will stay during the tournament, it read thus, "It's an important moment. From now on everything feels a little more real. Now that we know exactly where each team will stay and train, we can start to plan in detail issues such as security, transport, logistics and other matters," said Frederico Nantes, LOC Competitions and Team Services General Manager.

The process of evaluating training and accommodation complexes began in December 2011 and finished in May 2013. During this period a team of 18 LOC experts travelled a total of 250,000 kilometres to inspect 403 centres in 25 states and the Federal District of Brasilia. The definitive version of the Directory of National Team Training Centres, containing 83 sites, was released in October 2013.

A total of 24 of the chosen TBC´s are located in the south east of Brazil, five are in the north east, and three are in the south. Campinas, Itu, Rio de Janeiro and Vitoria will each welcome two national teams, while of the FIFA World Cup host cities, only Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo will also be home to national squads during the tournament, so ensuring that the international spotlight that comes with hosting a national team, and the "FIFA World Cup feeling", will spread far beyond the 12 cities where matches will be held. The state that will welcome the most teams is Sao Paulo, which was chosen by 15 countries.

"This is a real opportunity to increase the involvement of the people of the state of Sao Paulo in the event, promoting the region's tourist attractions and taking advantage of existing infrastructure and the long-term improvements that the FIFA World Cup will bring, as well as promoting the cultural diversity of our state," said Julio Semeghini, Sao Paulo State Secretary of Planning and Regional Development for the World Cup.
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Defecting govs, senators, others to lose seats – National Conference

THE NATIONAL Conference Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters has recommended that all elected and appointed office holders in the country who defect from their political parties to another be made to automatically lose their offices or seats.

he committee equally recommended independent candidacy and unbundling of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, so that a different body can be solely responsible for registration and regulation of political parties in the country.

Subventions to political parties

The committee, which is co-chaired by two former Senate Presidents, Ken Nnamani and Iyorchia Ayu, also recommended that Federal Government should stop giving subventions to political parties.

Barr.  Remi Olatubora, a member of the committee and Ondo State delegate, disclosed these, yesterday, while addressing newsmen on progress of the committee’s assignment.

Olatubora, who is the Ondo State Commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education, said it would no longer be business for elected office holders in the country to abandon their political parties for other parties. He said his committee discovered that some politicians were feigning what he called ‘phantom factions’ in their parties to seek greener pastures in others.

“We have recommended that if you cross carpet, you lose your seat. So when you are appointed or elected on the platform of a political party and then you cross over to another party, you lose your seat. According to our recommendation, it is no longer going to be excuse that there is a faction because we believe that some people and individuals will deliberately create some phantom factions in their political parties as an excuse for decamping to another political party.

“And so, if you cross carpet now, you lose your seat. And then, we have also extended it to other political offices even to the position of governors, chairmen of local government councils and councilors because the law, as it is now, is restricted to only members of the National Assembly and members of the House of Assembly but you have seen that in recent past, there are governors that crossed from their parties to other parties and we see that this is a serious indiscipline in the system.

Independent candidacy

On independent candidacy, Olatobura said: “We are all of the view that one other means through, which we can strengthen internal democracy in political parties is to make provision for independent candidates. Individuals who want to contest election and who are popular but are schemed out of the political processes in their political parties should be able to go out as independent candidates and contest elections.  We are also looking at the situation where people who are not comfortable with the shenanigans of political parties can as responsible members of the society, as responsible members of their states and local governments, come back and contest for elective positions.”

He said the committee also recommended that the Federal Government be made to stop giving subventions to political parties, saying that “political parties should now be sponsored by their members”, adding “we have recommended the placement of ceiling on how much a particular individual can use to sponsor a political party so that some big men will not hijack the political process.

This will depend on the regulation and constitution of the party, you could recommend that every member of the party is required to pay N500 every quarter or every year and you put a ceiling on the amount of the money that the big man around there can put in the party so that a billionaire will not just come around and then put two to even N20 billion in the coffers of a political party and then begin to suggest who will go to the House of Assembly in Taraba State and Ondo State and who will go for the House of Representatives seats available in Lagos and Enugu state.”

He disclosed that other recommendations of the committee include retention of multi-party system in the country, code of conduct for parties and unbundling of the INEC.

Speaking on the committee’s plan towards the reformation of the INEC, Olatubora said: “We are thinking of unbundling INEC so that there could be a commissioner that will be responsible for the registration and regulation of political parties and then, we will have a body that will be concerned only with the elections, like we unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.”
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Ex-Ghanaian President warns FG on Boko Haram .says insurgency may persist unless…

Jerry Rawlings

 TWO former Heads of State, Gen.Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar led other Nigerian and Africa leaders to the 70th birthday celebration of the former Foreign Affairs Minister and National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi in Igueben, Edo State, as the former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings warned the Federal Government that military alone cannot stop the insurgency being perpetrated by Boko Haram.


He pleaded that as the most populous African nation,Nigeria must not allow the International community to come into its affairs due to the prevailing insecurity, asserting that the war on terror would be won if all Nigerians work in unity.

This comes as Governor Adams Oshiomhole who poured encomium on Chief Ikimi, urged Nigerian leaders to make sacrifices that will help the growth of the nation, saying that without sacrifices by leaders, there may be no hope for the youths of the nation.

Other dignitaries at the occasion include the former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Senator Ben Obi; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chief Bisi Akande; Chief Audu Ogbe;Chief John Oyegun; Prof.Osariemen Osunbor; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Chief Lucky Igbinedion; Chief Johnson Arumenmen; Senator Chris Ngige; Senator Domingo Obende; Chief Raymond Dokpesi; Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Dr Okwesili Eze Nwodo; Chief Niyi Adebayo; Dr Rufus Ada-George; DR Doyin Okupe and host of others.

Former President Rawlings who expressed regrets at the security situation in Nigeria, warned that the nation must resist the temptation of seeking the assistance of foreign powers in solving its problems.

According to him, “Nigeria’s political might is about 35 per cent in Africa and that is why Nigeria must show the way in leading Africa. The way the world is going, Nigeria must not suffer vulnerability or others will take advantage of the problem.

“In my country in 1979, there was no food in the market, things were very terrible. But today there is food in the market but people cannot afford it. Don’t do something that people outside will take advantage of. The situation on ground is not what the military can curb alone, it has eaten into the fabric of the society and that is why it is in a way gaining strength.

“The thing should not be left for government alone but the society must begin to examine itself, come together, strategize together, otherwise ladies and gentlemen may not be able to handle this problem today or tomorrow,” he asserted.

On his part, Governor Oshiomhole who was given a standing ovation for his developmental strides in Edo state, described Chief Ikimi as a leader who has contributed immensely to the naiton’s democracy.

“Chief made a promise in the house of God today when he said he will try to live the rest of his life as a good Catholic. And one of the things I learnt as a Catholic is that Jesus laid down his life so that the rest of us can live forever in what we believe in.

“At this point in Nigeria’s history, we need leaders who are ready to stand for the country, pay the supreme sacrifice so that our younger ones will inherit a country that is free, that offers every citizen a place for loyalty to our nation. May God use you as one of the pillars in this struggle to reposition our great nation”.

On his part, IBB described the celebrant as a “seasoned technocrat,  a hard-core politician and an eloquent speaker whose carriage invokes authority in the truest sense. To attain the age of three scores plus ten in a country where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years is a huge milestone.

”The man celebrating the milestone is not just as remarkable as the age he symbolizes. What makes that age instructively unique is uncommon wisdom, elegance, ageing gracefully, a show of quintessence, a display of finesse, with uncommon outlook,” he stated.
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When Governors Cajole Jonathan To Declare For 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan

 Chibuzo Ukaibe in this report looks at the import of the call by PDP governors for Jonathan to declare. Excepts.

The call by the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the recent Enugu unity rally for President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his intention to seek the 2015 election was anything but surprising.

It was also instructive that the call was made in Enugu, the political headquarters of the South East, a region that has solidly backed the ambition of Jonathan since 2011.

While the governors led by their chairman and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, said the call was from the zone in recognition of the federal government projects in the zone, PDP watchers noted that the call was part of the process to test the waters ahead of Jonathan’s eventual declaration.

Giving reasons for the call for Jonathan to declare, Akpabio said “the PDP governors whispered to my ears that the reason they want you to re-contest election in 2015 is because they want you to commission the second Niger Bridge that you are building for them. The first Azikiwe built the first Niger Bridge and another Azikiwe in Jonathan is building the second Niger Bridge for the South-East people.

“They said they don’t want another person to commission the bridge that you have started for them. That is why they are saying Mr President even if this is a unity rally, a continuity rally and not a political rally, you must re-contest in 2015.

“The second observation, Mr President, is that as we were coming, we saw the newly completed international airport here in Enugu, the coal city. The coal city is the headquarters of all the South-East region, and the development here in your administration is unprecedented total transformation,” the governor stated.

He pointed out that “The South-East people are worried and are saying if you don’t accept their request to re-contest in 2015, who will commission all the massive projects going on in the region. Today in Enugu, Ethiopian Airlines are all fully booked until June. We tried to get a seat but couldn’t secure even one because it takes off right here from Enugu. You have opened the South-East to the international community and everyone around the world is making the South-East their destination.

“We are proud of you, Mr President, for all these development projects, and we your foot-soldiers in the states, we assure you of our total support from the S/East to other regions. The only state

that is left in the South-East, we are sure that by 2015 we will reclaim it,” Akpabio concluded.

This of course was in the face of the opposition to Jonathan’s perceived decision to run in 2015; there have been legal hurdles, bothering on constitutional breach as regards number of times he can take the presidential oath having been made president since 2010 upon the death of his boss, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

However a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had declared that President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2015 presidential elections if he so desires. The FCT court presided over by Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi had pointed out that Jonathan’s assumption of office after the demise of former President Umaru Yar’Adua was in line with what the National Assembly described as doctrine of necessity and not as a result of emerging winner in any bye-election conducted after the death of his former boss.

Justice Oniyangi said “having exhausted the late President’s tenure, he (Jonathan) sought for his party’s ticket and ran for the office of the President successfully in the 2011 general elections. He is therefore currently serving his first tenure of office, and if he so wishes he is eligible to further seek his party’s ticket through the party’s primary election and to run for office in 2015.”

But there is more to the governors call in South East. Sources from the party hinted that the call might be preparatory to offering President Jonathan the right of first refusal to the party’s presidential a ticket in 2015, a move that was advocated by some party faithful especially the Chairman of the Board of Trustess of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih. The idea is to copy the United States where their presidents who are still eligible have the right of refusal to the party’s ticket first.

However, this move contributed to the eventual defection of the G5 governors now in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other former PDP stalwarts now in APC. The defected governors were those of Sokoto, Rivers, Kano, Kwara, Adamawa. Leading the pack of PDP Chieftains who left was former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Although the aggregated grievances of the defected governors were initially aimed at the former national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, it was however alleged that they were adverse to Jonathan’s contesting in 2015, because some of them were purportedly nursing presidential or vice presidential ambitions by 2015.

For Atiku, the concern was that with the way he was sidelined from the activities of the PDP, it would be difficult for him to take shot at contesting the primaries against the president, as he had done and lost in 2011. Another speculated aspirant, This much, another rumored presidential aspirant and governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has underscored while. From experience, the odds always favored the incumbent going into primaries, hence the need for the president not to contest. This much, another rumored presidential aspirant and governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has underscored while

But these sentiments against the emergence of Jonathan at the time, were expressed by the Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu (who alongside Lamido, eventually declined to join his counterparts in the defection move) while speaking on Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty FM last year, cautioned President Jonathan not to seek a fresh term, as he claimed  that it would be a breach of the single term deal the latter signed with PDP governors.

Governor Aliyu had said “What will be, will be in 2015. We must remind people of the promises they have made. When he (Jonathan) was going to declare, governors of PDP were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind. Some of us, given the PDP zoning, were expecting that the northern states would produce the President for these numbers of years but God has done His own. At that discussion, it was agreed that President Jonathan would serve one term and we all signed and when he went to Kampala, he said the same thing.’’

However, with the defection of those seemingly opposed to Jonathan, and with the party approaching the last lap activities before outright campaign begins, the coast seems to be clear for the president to meet little or no resistance to clench the party’s presidential ticket.

However, it might be too early to call whether fresh opposition to his ambition would emerge as he has not declared his intention yet.
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Lekki-Ikoyi bridge toll to continue pending appeal – Court

 A Federal High Court in Lagos, which declared toll collection on Lekki-Ikoyi bridge in Lagos illegal, has ordered a stay of execution of the judgment.

Justice Saliu Saidu, in a ruling on Friday, granted the application for stay of execution filed by the Lagos State Government, on March 28, 2014, the day after the judgment was delivered.

With the court’s ruling, toll collection will continue on the bridge, pending the determination of government’s appeal challenging the judgment.

“I hereby grant the application for stay of execution of the judgment delivered on March 27, 2014, pending the determination of the appeal of the applicants,” Saidu held.

In his reaction to the ruling, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the lawyer who instituted the suit in which the court delivered the judgment, said he was ready for the appeal.

“We will pursue the appeal. The ruling is just temporary; it is not a reversal of the judgment of the court,” Adegboruwa said.

The state government and the Attorney-General in the state, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who are both the 3rd and 4th respondents in the main suit, had filed the application for stay of execution on the grounds of its appeal against the court’s judgment.

The court rejected Adegboruwa’s allegation that the state government was not entitled to be granted the application because it had disobeyed the judgment.

“Though the respondent (Adegboruwa) has alleged that the applicants have disobeyed the judgment of court, a party cannot be held for disobeying an order he is appealing against,” the court held.

The court added that the application by the state government fulfilled the necessary legal requirements as its appeal and Adegboruwa’s cross-appeal against the judgment presented “arguable grounds of appeal” and “recondite and substantial legal issues” to be sorted out by the Court of Appeal.

The judge added that the facts presented before the court by the applicants, were in his view, “special and exceptional circumstances” which warranted the granting of the application.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Inland Waterways were the 1st and 2nd respondents in the main suit.

The two parties, however, did not oppose the state government’s application for stay of execution.

The government had on March 28, 2014, a day after the judgment was delivered, filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgment.
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