HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE PASSES VOTE-OF-CONFIDENCE IN GEJ FOR 2015 ELCTION

The Bid for a second term agenda by the Jonathanian administration may have begun as members of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives on Monday passed a vote-of-confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan. The lawmakers also endorsed him for second term in office come 2015.

House Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting they had with Jonathan and some state governors elected on the party’s platform.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was however absent at the meeting attended by his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.

Adeola-Akande said, “We are PDP caucus of the House of Representatives. A meeting like this is not strange because we met with the President who is our party leader. We deliberated on issues affecting our party. The House caucus on our own decided to pass a vote-of-confidence in Mr. President and also endorse him for second term.”

When asked whether President Jonathan accepted the endorsement, she said:

“We did the endorsement and we are urging him to run for second term.” Asked why Tambuwal was not at the meeting, the House Leader said the Speaker should speak for himself. CONTINUE BELOW......

MALALA SPURS PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ACTION, PROMISE TO MEET CHIBOK PARENTS

Malala Yousafzai, the 17 years old activist met with President Goodluck Jonathan over the Chibok Girls who are still missing. After a close door meeting with Mr president, Malala said she was able to convince President Jonathan to visit the victims families which will serve as a source of encouragement to them. In her words, Malala said,

"I met with the parents of these girls who are still under the abduction of Boko Haram and they were crying and hopeless. But still, they have this hope that there is still someone who can help them. They asked me if there is any chance for them to meet the President because at this time, they need the President’s support, so I asked the President if it is possible for him to go and see them to encourage them and the President did promise me that he will meet the parents of these girls.
“I spoke to the President about the girls who complained that they could not go to school despite the fact that they want to become doctors, engineers and teachers. But the government is not providing them any facility. They also need health facility, security and the government is not doing anything.

Malala also donated $200,000 for the kidnapped girls. More Pictures below....

WHY I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE ONGOING CONFERENCE- SAYS YOUNGEST DELEGATE

Many of us do not know her but this is Yadoma Bukar Mandara(pictured above), She is 24 years old and the youngest delegate at the on going National Conference. she is the last daughter of the late philanthropist and politician, Bukar Umaru Mandara, who was the Zanna Dujima of Borno. The 2011 graduate of Environmental Biology from the University of Maiduguri.

In an interview with premium times she expressed her disappointment towards some of the activities in the on going National Conference. Read in-parts the interview:

PT: During the conference did you see some of your delegate colleagues as being selfish in their contributions to the debate on the president’s speech and the reports of the committees?

Yadoma: Of course! In a conference of about 492 people you should expect some people to be selfish or push their interest first before the interest of the country. Of course some people are being selfish, biased and sentimental in their contributions.

PT: Were you disappointed?

Yadoma: I’m very much disappointed as a Nigerian but I will say I am glad I came here. If not for anything, I have learnt the political structure of Nigeria and the way things are and why this country is having serious issues in moving forward. I am disappointed as a young person. I told them when I stood up to speak the other day that I was a bit disappointed the way things were going. One of them was asking me why I was disappointed but I was so down and depressed that day that I couldn’t continue. There were points I broke down.

WORD FOR TODAY

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

Helen Keller

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

Maya Angelou

NB Says be courageous and do something good today. Have a lovely day lovelies.

MALALA YOUSAFZAI VISITS NIGERIA TO CAMPAIGN FOR THE RELEASE OF THE CHIBOK GIRLS

Malala Yousafzai, Girl education activist who survived an assassination attempt by the Talibans has arrived Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to campaign for the release of the Girls Kidnapped in April. Malala is in Nigeria for a three day visit to Join the million voices all over the country to seek the release of the girls. Malala also celebrated her 17 year old birthday in Transcorp Hilton hotel in Dinner organised for her and she had these to say,

“On my 17th birthday my wish is to see every child go to school and I want to see my Nigerian sisters being released from their abduction and I want them to be free to go to school and continue their education,” she said .

The Managing Director of NAN, Ima Niboro, presented a birthday card and flowers to Malala on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Thank you Malala for coming to Nigeria, Mr. President personally signed this card, he shares your vision, your dreams and your ambitions and he is happy that you are here,” Niboro told Malala. CONTINUE...

BOKO HARAM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY ON LAGOS BLAST

In a recent video released by the Boko Haram, the deadly sect has taken responsibility of the blast which occured in Abuja(Emmab Plaza) and Lagos(Creek road, Apapa) respectively on the 25th June. The attack in lagos was certainly the first in the city were over 21 million people resides.

According to the video obtained by AFP, Abubakar Shekau, said I ordered (the bomber) who went and detonated it,". Shekau is also quoted as saying, "You said it was a fire incident. Well, if you hide it from people you can't hide it from Allah," .
The Blast in Lagos and Abuja are said to be minutes apart. According to the manager of the Folayiwo depot, the suicide bomber was a female. Authorities said the blasts on Creek road were an accident caused by a gas canister, but the security sources told Reuters that was a coverup meant to avoid panic in the southwestern city of 21 million people. At least two people were killed in the attack.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WOLE SOYINKA AS HE TURNS 80 TODAY

Happy Birthday to a man who mastered the art of writing, Wole Soyinka. This legend was born this day in 1934. The first African to be awarded the Nobel Laureate Prize in 1986. HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY SIR.

ARMY GENERALS POCKET N6 BILLION UN PEACEKEEPING MONEY

An anonymous petition has been written by concerned Nigerian soldiers who claim that the Nigerian Army owes its officials who have served in various United Nations peacekeeping operations over $43 million, according to Sahara Reporters.

The document also indicts the United Nations, which it alleges may have collaborated with cheating Nigerian army chiefs to divert the allowances of the peacekeepers into their own pockets.

“It is on record and verifiable that over 3,950 troops who participated in Peace Support Operations in Liberia and Sudan between 2013 to 2014 are still been [owed] various months of allowances amounting to over $43.23m US Dollars which is equivalent to N6,919,168,000:00 Billion Nigerian Naira to date,” the petition said.

The petition warned that in view of the present security situation in the country, 3,950 soldiers being owed such a staggering amount could revolt “and this will not be good for our country.”

Continue Below to see full text...

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS VERY BLAND AND UNINSPIRING

And this week Etcetera shared his thoughts on the Change of the National Anthem as suggested by the CONFAB. Read what he had to say:

After hearing of the proposal of some delegates at the ongoing confab that we should revert to the old national anthem, I sat by my piano and played both anthems. Playing and singing to the current anthem “Arise O’ Compatriot” was basically easy because I had done that countless times and I wasn’t even looking at the piano keys as I sang through the verses. I downloaded the lyrics of the old anthem just to be sure I was singing the right words. I know the tune by heart because my dad frequently sang it to me when I was a little school boy. And I felt nothing as usual singing it. But right from the first line of the old anthem “Nigeria We Hail Thee,” I felt a strange sense of pride and patriotism. I felt very strange because like every Nigerian, I am saddened that as a country, we have lost our way. We are a giant tied to undeveloped nations, and kept in bondage by our leaders whose corruption and greed demonstrate a lack of love for their own people.

NIGERIA POLICE UNCOVERS PLANS BY TERRORIST TO ATTACK ABUJA

The Nigerian police today uncovered plots by terrorist to disrupt activities in Abuja. According to the statement released by the police it reads thus:

Credible intelligence reports at the disposal of the Nigeria Police indicate that terrorists have perfected plot to carry out attacks on the Abuja transport sector. The attacks which are intended to cause panic amongst Abuja residents and visitors alike are planned to be perpetrated through suicide bombings, or through the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in luggage, bags, cans, and other receptacles. The Police High Command therefore, while ordering FCT Commissioner of Police in particular and other CPs in adjoining States to beef-up security at major parks around Abuja and its environs, enjoins the general public, particularly those within and outside the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to be roundly vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, movements or activities to the Security Forces without delay.

Meanwhile, the Police Authorities enjoin citizens not to panic as the Security Forces are working round the clock to neutralize and effectively deal with the threat.

IS NIGERIA BECOMING THE NEXT IRAQ

Culled from PRI where they interviewed Nigerian Journalist and Lawyer Chude Jideonwo
It's just shy of a hundred days since 276 girls in northern Nigeria were abducted by Boko Haram, the Islamic extremist group. And Nigeria has seen more bombings and abductions since the girls vanished.
Just yesterday, Nigerian officials announced that another group of girls and women, who were abducted a few weeks ago, actually managed to escape. But journalist and lawyer Chude Jideonwo says it's difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in Nigeria's many kidnapping cases.

"Three weeks ago, when these girls were kidnapped in a village called Damboa, the Nigerian security forces denied the reports that more women had been kidnapped," Jideonwo says. "So it was really strange to see the same forces now say that the women, that hadn't been kidnapped, had been released. It symbolizes the confusion behind the rescue efforts."

Jideonwo says the fate of the 276 girls kidnapped in mid-April, the ones who gained worldwide attention, is equally unclear. In May, Nigeria's chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the armed forces knew the exact location of the missing girls. But last week, another military spokesperson admitted Nigerian officials did not know where the girls were. CONTINUE AFTER THE CUT

MBGN and Other Pageants Should be Banned-Etecetra Writes

Women have always demanded respect from men. Not only should they demand it, I think they deserve it. But why make them scamper around in G-strings and bikinis showing off their bodies, knowing that men are going to go “gaga” and lick their lips.
Every year, thousands of girls compete in various beauty pageants across Nigeria. While the organisers may believe that they are helping our girls to feel “beautiful,” they are also in many other ways causing significant damage to the self-esteem and body perception of other girls. The girl who won may feel as beautiful as the prettiest woman ever created, but what about the girls who didn’t win? How do they feel? I spoke with some past contestants of one of the pageants (the girls that didn’t win) and asked them why they think they didn’t win, and this is what some of them said, “Because I wasn’t pretty enough,” “Because the organisers didn’t like me,” “Because it is a racket and who knows what she has offered,” etc. Things like this inspire jealousy, low self-esteem, and other self destructive behaviours such as self isolation, social anxiety, eating disorder, drug abuse, personality disorder, bitterness and social phobia among our girls.

Beauty pageants in Nigeria should be sanctioned. Where do we draw the line between “beauty pageant” and “prostitution?” These pageant organisers and agencies are doing nothing but exploiting our girls in order to make money. The society is becoming so twisted and our sense of right and wrong is becoming so skewed. You gather politicians and paedophiles to watch girls in G-strings and bikinis wriggling their waists all in the name of making a show for TV. Are the contestants always meant to lie about their beliefs and relationship status in order to get a good score? Have we totally lost sight of what is morally right and wrong?

Beauty contests seem pointless to me. To tell a woman to submit to someone else’s definition of beauty is crazy. So when the contest is over and someone wins, does that immediately make them more beautiful than the rest? Are they more beautiful according to a panel of judges? I think it is a sick idea and the money spent organizing these beauty contests can be more useful for other causes. CONTINUE AFTER THE CUT

NEYMAR RULED OUT OF THE 2014 WORLD CUP

The Brazil star Neymar has been ruled out of the FIFA world cup due to fractured vertebra. The star footballer was back kneed in the back during the second half game in a collision with a Colombian player,Juan Zuniga. Neymar who rolled on the ground after he was hit cried out in sharp pain. 

The team doctor Rodriguez Lasmar who spoke on the FIFA OFFICIAL WEBSITE said, "It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilise it to recover," Lasmar said. "Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play."

Lasmar expects the recovery time to be at least a few weeks, ruling Neymar out of Tuesday's semi-final against Germany.

SIZE DOES MATTER BUT....

Chukwuneta Oby(pictured above) writes:

The ‘size does not matter’ anthem seems to be coming mostly from the men. Have the ‘recipients’ (women)concurred that the ‘size’ (of a man’s instrument) does not matter to them, considering the fact that a lot of studies have shown that women feel fulfilled when ‘it’ is good sized?

If we have to come right down to the ‘size’ argument, then we will need to go by the countless researches, which have all shown that size does indeed matter (sorry, guys)-much as I believe that a man’s instrument is only one (sometimes) small contributor to manly allure, as far as most women are concerned.

Women are emotional beings; it is not likely that a woman will be turned on by the size of your ‘something’ alone, your ‘conduct’ to a woman can also turn her on and that is the kind of ‘turn on’ that every man should be aiming for -with his woman. You are in trouble if a woman’s business with you is just about the size of your ‘john thomas’ because there will always be ‘better sized’ ones. If a woman finds her complete ‘turn on’ in your person basically, it means that she has a ‘connect’ with you and that is when size will not matter anymore. But a woman whose business or lack of it with you is based on your ‘down there’ will always undress (with her eyes/mind) other men that she suspects to be more endowed. You can then imagine the strength of her discipline if an opportunity to ‘experiment’ presents itself!

NIGERIA FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD(NFVCB) APPROVES "HALF OF A YELLOW SUN" FOR VIEWING.

Alas! the long awaited movie is set to view in Nigeria's cinemas. The Nigeria film and video censors board (NFVCB) yesterday 4th July, approved the movie "HALF OF A YELLOW SUN" for wide release in Nigeria. The Chimamada Adichie authored book film adaptation was rated "18" and was released alongside other movies. These approved movies will be shown in cinemas across Nigeria.
The movies approved and their classifications are:

Edge of Tomorrow (18), Tokarev(18), Maleficent(15), Vampire Academy(18), Blended(15), Dead Drop(18), 22 Jump Street(18), Holiday A Soldier is never off Duty(18), Finding Fela (18), How to Train your Dragon(18), Under the Skin(18), The Fault in our Stars(18), Half of a Yellow Sun(18), Million Dollar Arm(12) and Transformers: Age of Extinction(18) all approved in the exhibition category which will be shown in cinemas across Nigeria.

In the non-exhibition category meant for home audience, 62 movies were approved of which 16 were in English, 25 Yoruba, 19 Hausa and 2 in Ibibio language.

Twenty-five movies were classified “15” including “Abi Doka” (Hausa), “Aja Saba Ekun” (Yoruba), “Family Conflicts” (English), “Amada” (Hausa), “Beeky Benson” (Yoruba), “Man over Board” (English) “Babban Lasan” (Hausa), “Ejomiko” (Yoruba), “Mask of sorrow” (English).

Another 35 movies were classified “18” including “uko Iden” (Ibibio), “Afopina” (Yoruba), “Biloniya” (Hausa), “Chameleons”(English), “Ajogunba” (Yoruba), “Dalilina” (Hausa), “Cry of a Mother Inlaw” (English), “Eto” (Yoruba) “Mu Mama” (Hausa), and “Wet Blanket” (English).

UPDATE: SOLDIERS ON RAMPAGE- BLAMES AREA BOYS FOR THE MAYHEM

UPDATE: This morning soldiers were on RAMPAGE over the death of their colleague who was killed by a BRT bus driver and also went ahead to destroy BRT buses worth over millions and beating up civilians to pulp. The military has come forward to say that the area boys in the area are responsible for the mayhem(hmmmmmmm) despite all the PLENTY eye witnesses at scene. 

The Nigerian army spokesperson Olajide Olaleye said;

“It’s not true that the soldiers destroyed buses or set any bus on fire. What happened was that a BRT bus knocked down a soldier and killed him. As usual in Lagos, area boys gathered and a few soldiers stopped at the scene as well. The GOC has dispatched military policemen to the scene to help restore law and order,” Mr. Olaleye said. CONTINUE TO READ....

MILITARY ARRESTS THREE FEMALE SUSPECTS OF THE BOKO HARAM SECT.

The military revealed on Wednesday that a female suspect of the boko haram gang has been apprehended. Above are the pictures of the three suspect Hafsat Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar who were arrested on their way to Madagali in Adamawa state.

In a statement issued on behalf of the director of defense information, Major-General Chris Olukolade by Col Onyema Nwachukwu, it states that the suspects have the mission to recruit members for the female wing to enhance the activities of the boko haram. Read full statement below:

PHOTOS: SOLDIERS ON RAMPAGE OVER THE DEATH OF ANOTHER SOLDIER KILLED BY A BRT BUS DRIVER

The route around ikorodu is really jammed this morning due to the unfortunate accident which led to the death of a soldier this morning around the palm groove-Onipanu road. According to LIB eye-witness, a BRT bus had knocked over a soldier man on a bike(we are uncertain if the soldier is dead but he may have been crushed to death). 

The BRT driver who hit the soldier ran into Palmgrove estate in order to avoid the wrath of other soldiers present. Upon noticing that the driver ran away, the Army men ran into Palmgrove estate and when they couldn't find the driver, seized one of the Estate's security men. (pictured below)
According to eye-witnesses, the soldiers beat the man mercilessly and took him away and was released hours later.
More Soldiers reportedly stormed the scene of crime and began Vandalizing buses, beating up drivers and onlookers. It is reported that two civilians were beaten up and phones smashed while taking these pictures. Some soldiers threw stones into the buses, collected sticks from the women at the road side to break windows of the buses.

Presently all the road leading to and from ikorodu is blocked. And my source says all BRT busees are turning back to avoid the wrath of the men in uniform. 
Please if you are in a BRT bus, please come down ooo. There are places where we need the expertise of this violence but it is not dished out there but on civilians. Click below for more photos... 

BOKO HARAM: OBANIKORO AND TINUBU PLAYS THE BLAME GAME

These kind of blame game amongst politicians are not uncommon but they just emanate from the very unexcepted and new individuals. This time it is between the APC leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro. 

The minister called out Tinubu yesterday on tweeter by alleging and stating that the ex-governor of Lagos state and his friends are responsible for the boko haram mayhem. Obanikoro who tweeted about 7times and mentioned Tinubu's name in almost all tweets(so much love for the name). See tweets below...



Continue to see more tweets and Bola Ahmed's reaction....

STEPHEN KESHI DENIES RESIGNATION REPORTS

The were confirmation tweets and reports that Coach Stephen Keshi had resigned
from coaching the super eagles on tuesday night after the Nigeria side lost to France to drop out of the world. Coach keshi has turn around to say he has not resigned officially in the" pages of the newspapers"(i do not know what that means) but read his statement below...
“What I said to my players was that this maybe my last match at the helm of affairs in the national team, because my contract terminates with the World Cup and I have not been offered a new one,” Keshi said.
“I was a bit shocked that the global media went to town to say I have called it quit with the national team. Resignations are not done on the pages of newspapers, but formally.”


However, he did not confirm or deny that other countries have shown interest in signing him but he assured Nigerians of his services if his contract is renewed