CHIBOK GIRLS: A CLOSED CHAPTER

Culled from saywhaever.com

I stood in-front of a wooden bar and behind me was a deep dark night. I could not move forward because the bars obstructed the way, neither could I move backward because of the fear of what I may find. I clasped my hand to the bar and peered through the spaces between them in a bid to see through the thick darkness but, I saw nothing. All I could feel was mosquitoes’ bites.

Suddenly, she grabbed my hands from the other side of the wooden bar. I tried to break free from the stranger but she said to me “when are they coming for us, when are they coming to take us home” She spoke in a petrified tone.

Shivers of fear ran through my bones as I mumbled, “Who are you?’’ To which she replied, ‘’it is Ruth, the girl taken from Chibok, when are they coming to take us home”. I tried to imagine how I got there and to convince Ruth that the government was working hard to bring them home; although, I did not believe my words. Continue below....

2015 ELECTION: BUHARI DECLARES INTENTION TO CONTEST IN 2015 ELECTION

The popular saying goes "Old Soldier Never Dies"

The former  Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has declared his intention to contest in the presidential election of 2015.
Buhari made the official declaration today, Wednesday at the Eagles Square, Abuja. 

He said he would contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and promised to restore Nigeria’s honour if elected as President next year.

In attendance were the prominent figures of APC including former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Bayelsa counterpart, Timipre Sylva, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Tanko Al Makura ( Nasarawa).

In the opening remark general Buhari said, 

“I humbly wish to present you, before all Nigerians and before God seeking to be elected as APC presidential candidate.

“Nigeria has never been so polarized by a sinking government. We in APC have resolved to stop them in their track.

“The rest of the world look at Nigeria as a home of corruption, where stealing is not regarded as corruption.”

He said he would contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and promised to restore Nigeria’s honour if elected as President next year.

According to Channelsnews, During a visit to the governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, on Tuesday, General Buhari had insisted on continuing to contest for the position since there was no constitutional limit to how many times anyone could contest for political posts.

General Buhari had contested for the same position three times in the past.

ODE TO KATH: WIDOWER WRITES A POEM ON LONELINESS AFTER LOSING WIFE OF 65YEARS

Love is absolutely beautiful when you find the one and painful when they are gone. 

93 year old widower Bob Lowe, who lost his wife to Alzheimer's after 65 years of marriage has written a touching poem in her memory.
Titled Ode to Kath, the poem describes the deep loneliness he has felt since his wife Kath died three years ago.

Bob and Kath met in 1937 but were separated when the Second World War broke out in 1939.
Despite the distance, they sent each other love notes and photographs and Bob proposed to his love while he was on active service. See the Ode to Kath;

ODE TO KATH BY BOB LOWE

I am alone, now I know it's true

There was a time when we were two

Those were the days when we would chat

Doing little jobs of this and that

We'd go to the shops and select our meals

But now I'm one I know how it feels

To try and cook or have meals on wheels

The rooms are empty there's not a sound

Sometimes I'm lost and wander round

To look for jobs that I can do

To bring back the days when we were two

When darkness falls and curtains drawn

That's when I feel most forlorn

But I must be honest and tell the truth

I'm not quite alone and here's the proof

Because beside me in her chair

She quietly waits our time to share

Kath said to me some time ago

Darling when the time comes for us to go

Let's mix our ashes and be together

So we can snuggle up for ever and ever.

Continue to see more pictures of Bob and Late wife:

GALLANT MERCY JOHNSON GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY BOY

CULLED FROM LIB

Our gallant actress Mercy Johnson Okojie and hubby has welcomed their second child, a baby boy. She gave birth at exactly 12.49am (American time) today October 15th at St Joseph Hospital, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Mother and child are said to be doing great! Congratulations to Mercy and her husband.

EBOLA SPREADS: ANOTHER US NURSE TESTS POSITIVE TO EBOLA

A second health worker at the Texas health presbyterian hospital who cared for Thomas Duncan has been infected with the deadly Ebola virus. The nurse is the second American citizen with the virus, this is few days after nurse Nina Pham who is also a nurse at the same hospital tested positive to the virus.
According to the statement by the US Center for Disease Control and prevention, it reads,

"A second healthcare worker at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who provided care for the index patient has tested positive for Ebola according to preliminary test performed overnight by the Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory".

The nurse was said to have reported a fever late Tuesday and was immediately isolated. The health department said "Health officials have interviewed the latest patient to quickly identify any contacts or potential exposures, and those people will be monitored."

TODAY IS HORN FREE DAY IN LAGOS

So today is declared a HORN FREE day in Nigeria’s most popular city, Lagos. The State government a few weeks ago, directed every motorist in Lagos to observe a horn free day as part of its campaign to reduce noise pollution in the State. Below are the Objectives of the HORN FREE DAY:

Objectives
*To reduce noise pollution on our roads.
*To cultivate respect for other road users.
*To maintain and encourage road discipline.
*To improve road use courtesy.
*To avoid the indiscriminate use of horn.
*To be a defensive driver.
*To develop better road-user friendly (BRF) Lagosians.

What To Do
*Avoid the use of horn.
*Avoid the use of siren.
*Be patient, tolerant,courteous and road-user friendly (BRF).
*Obey Traffic rules and regulations.

Lagosians did you hear the sound of the horn today because i did

CAN VS OKOTIE- IS CHRIS OKOTIE A CHRISTIAN? SAYS CAN

“Is Chris Okotie a Christian? How many wives has he? He should go and sort out himself. 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) continues to throw tantrums at one another. Few days ago Rev. Chris Okotie called out CAN president Ayo Oritsejafor to resign his position over his alleged connection to the $9.3m found on his aircraft in South -Africa. This is what Rev Chris Okotie said below:
“Considering the collateral damage Pastor Ayo’s close relationship with the President has done to the Christian community, it is fit and proper for the Pastor to resign immediately as CAN President to salvage what remains of the battered image of the association.

“This is without prejudice to the on-going investigation on the matter. Denials of his culpability by the Federal Government, CAN officials and his own recent defense, does nothing to reduce the moral burden this whole saga places on his shoulders. As the titular leader of Christians in Nigeria, there’s now a serious crisis of confidence on his leadership and he ought to respond to it by resigning from his exalted position.”
In an interview with THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER, the Director of National Issues in CAN, Sunny Oibe reacted to Okotie's statement. He  said;

“Is Chris Okotie a Christian? How many wives has he? He should go and sort out himself. Even the government has exonerated Pastor Ayo of all the allegations. So, who is Okotie? Well, it is laughable if Chris Okotie should demand that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor should resign as President of CAN.

“Chris Okotie should remove the log in his eyes before he begins to see a peck in somebody’s eyes. Pastor Ayo had a soaring integrity before he was elected the President of CAN. Who elected Chris Okotie to become the spokesperson of Christians in Nigeria?

“CAN will not like to join issues with Okotie because doing that will amount to making him popular. He is looking for popularity which he doesn’t have through Pastor Ayo and he is not going to get it.”

CAN should put their house in order, Nigerians are watching.

EX NBA PRESIDENT OKEY WALI KIDNAPPED IN PORT-HARCOURT

The Nigerian Bar Association has announced that the former NBA president and renowned lawyer Okey Wali has been kidnapped. Mr Wali who was the NBA president from 2012 - 2014 was kidnapped in Port-Harcourt yesterday, 11th October, 2014 around 9:00pm by unknown gunmen. The NBA in a statement confirmed the incident. Read statement below:

"Okey Wali is a man of peace who has not only contributed immensely to the enthronement of rule of law and protection of human rights, but also to the development of our Nation. It is therefore saddening that he should become a kidnap victim. This sad event is yet another reminder of the state of insecurity in which all Nigerians live. We passionately appeal to his abductors for his immediate and safe release to his family." 

We hope he returns home safe

BOKO HARAM: CAMEROON PAID $400K PLUS ARMS DEAL TO SECURE RELEASE OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER'S WIFE

Few days ago the wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali of Cameroon was released by the Boko Haram sect. New information has emerged that the country made whooping sums of money and some very disturbing deals to release their country men. Here is an exclusive report from Saharareporters, read below: 

SaharaReporters has learned that the Cameroonian authorities paid Boko Haram insurgents at least $400,000 in ransom in order to secure the release of Francoise Agnes Moukouri, wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali.

Boko Haram insurgents had abducted Mrs. Ali in July from the town of Kolofata. The insurgents also seized the town’s district head. The deal to secure their release was struck three days ago, as SaharaReporters exclusively reported.

Our source, who was part of the negotiation that led to the release of Mrs. Ali and several other hostages, disclosed that the terms of the settlement included the payment of an undisclosed sum of money from the Chinese government. Boko Haram subsequently released 10 Chinese construction workers who had been held hostage since their abduction in May.
In addition, the Cameroonian government agreed to release four commanders of the Islamist group who had been in Cameroonian jails. The most disturbing part of the deal is that Boko Haram militants demanded and received a significant supply of arms and ammunition, including a guarantee by Cameroon that the weapons would have safe passage to insurgent fighters.

Our source disclosed that President Idris Derby of Chad was instrumental in the negotiations because of his closeness to some Boko Haram commanders.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported three days ago that the Cameroonian and Chinese hostages had been released. Cameroonian Minister of Information, Issa Bakary, initially denied the report. However, the office of the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, today declared that 27 hostages, including Mrs. Ali, 10 Chinese construction workers, and the district head of Kolofata had been released.

The Islamist group has wreaked havoc in Nigeria’s northeast zone and has made occasional forays into neighboring Cameroon.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: REASONS WHY MEN SHOULD HIT WOMEN

I have always wondered why any man would hit a woman but Troy Dunn a father of six boys has a word for the young men. Read below...
4 Good Reasons For A Man To Hit A Woman

Lately, there has been much discussion about violence against women by the men in their life. Many have said there is never a good reason for a man to strike a woman but I disagree and today I am speaking out! I have six sons and I have taught them what my father taught my brothers and I: there are four good reasons for a man to hit the woman he loves;

1. Fire. If you look over at the woman you love and discover flames have overtaken your girl, you should absolutely knock her to the ground and start rolling her around.

2. Spider. If your princess discovers a spider wandering across her shoulder and with sheer terror in her voice says “GET. IT. Off! You should smack that 8 legged sucker right off of her.

3. Choking. If over dinner she begins to laugh at another one of your amazingly funny stories and in the process, lodges a bit of her steak in her throat, you have my full support to yank her out of her chair, spin her around and start squeezing her beneath her rib-cage until she spits up!

4. Train. If, while enjoying a peaceful, after dinner walk with your lover, you notice she has wandered into the path of a quickly approaching oncoming train, by all means, grab her by her arm and like the strong man you are, yank her backwards aggressively.
CONTINUE AFTER THE CUT...

TWO PREGNANT TEENAGERS REGRET JOINING THE ISIS GROUP

Samra Kesinovic and Sabina Seliovic are two teenage girls who left their home in Austria to join the ISIS group in Syria early this year.

According to Elite daily, When Samra Kesinovic and Sabina Seliovic left their homes in Austria, they told their families not to look for them. But now, both girls are regretting their decision to join ISIS in Syria.

Though Samra is 17 and Sabina is only 15, both are married to Chechen militants and both are pregnant.

And they’re stuck. Their images are all over the Islamic extremist group’s social media accounts, so for the girls to leave the organization would be extremely difficult, as they’re highly recognizable. Authorities say that ISIS is using the two as propaganda, depicting them as the poster girls for jihad.

They can’t get away.

On top of that, communicating with anyone outside of ISIS is complicated. Though they managed to contact their families, both fear leaving the terrorist organization because the public now associates them with ISIS.

Austrian Interior Ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck confirms the girls’ fears, stating,

The main problem is about people coming back to Austria. Once they leave, it is almost impossible [to return].

Currently, both girls are allegedly living in Raqqa, an ISIS-controlled city in northern Syria.

To read more CLICK HERE.

POLICE BRUTALY ASSAULTS A CORP MEMBER IN LAGOS

She is a female corper, here's how she narrated her ordeal in the hands of a policewoman:

On the 8th of October 2014 I got assaulted by a Policewoman. This is what happened. On my way home from Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria with a friend Maduka Benson after my NYSC clearance our vehicle (Honda accord) entered a hole which pulled part of the car bumper. The policewoman standing in front controlling the traffic kept shouting at us. And so Maduka who was driving, tried to explain to her that the car bumper was stuck, but she insisted that we should get out of the way.

A man told my friend not to move, warning that if he did, the entire bumper would be ripped from the car. He then crossed over to our side of the road, and helped us fix the bumper so we could move on.

The policewoman named, Justina, walked towards the window, facing where I was sitting and shouted in broken English “SEE AS YOU FAT LIKE MUMU FULL THE MOTOR.” My friend and I came out from the car asking the woman what we had done wrong to be insulted in that manner.
She kept shouting and raising hell. I was wearing my NYSC uniform at the time, so I walked towards her. Surprisingly, she pushed me back and pulled out her weapon (a baton) and hit me on my face three times.

The first one knocked my glasses off my face while the rest hit parts of my face which resulted in instant bleeding. I bled for a long time while searching for the woman until I clearly heard her colleagues telling her to run and hide. Continue..

FRENCH AUTHOR PATRICK MODIANO WINS NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE 2014

Today 9th October, 2014, the Nobel Panel announced the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, French author Patrick Modiano won the 2014 Nobel Prize in literature for his works on Nazi occupation and its effects on his country. Patrick also received the prize of $1.1m.
Patrick Modiano is one of France's most celebrated writers but is not well known in the English-speaking world. He is a 69-year-old resident of Paris

According to Nytimes, in an announcement in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy cited Mr. Modiano’s ability to evoke “the most ungraspable human destinies” in his work.

Jewishness, the Nazi occupation and loss of identity are recurrent themes in his novels. Published when he was just 22, in 1967, his first novel "La place de l'etoile" (The Star's Place), was a direct reference to the mark of shame inflicted on the Jews.

In 1972, Modiano was awarded the French Academy's Grand Prize for his novel "Ring Roads", and the prestigious Goncourt Prize in 1978 for "Missing Person". In 1996, he won the National Literature Grand Prize for his entire work.

He has also written children's books and film scripts, including co-writing the 1974 movie "Lacombe, Lucien'' with director Louis Malle and the 2003 movie "Bon Voyage'' with director Jean-Paul Rappeneau. He was also a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 and won the Austrian State Prize for European Literature in 2012.

Also, a trio has won the medicine Nobel Prize. An American-British scientist John O'Keefe and Norwegian husband and wife, May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine.
The three were given the award on Monday for their work on discovering what has been described as the brain's inner "GPS system."

Medicine also comes with a cash award of $1.1m and is awarded each year.

LIB: GOOGLE REACTS TO REMOVING LINDA IKEJI'S BLOG

This is not the usual news but we all have heard that Linda Ikeji's blog  has being brought down because of a case of plagiarism(copying stories without giving credit to the original authors). This is certainly not a good time for the famous blogger but she has reiterated that she will be back see her tweet below;

“Linda Ikeji’s Blog will be back in a bit. Biko, bear with me. The blog is still up on lindaikeji.mobi. Please read there for now until I sort this out.”

Meanwhile,Google has reacted to the issue through the Google's Manager for Communications and Public Affairs, Anglo-Phone West Africa, Taiwo Kolade-Ogunlade who sent out a statement about the issue as published by Punch.


“To respect the rights of copyright holders, Google clearly spells out how users of its products and services can get permission to use someone else’s intellectual property such as text, songs, images and footages. Google is no respecter of anybody when it came to the issues of copyright infringement, copyright is a big deal.

“Google as an organisation takes issues of copyright seriously and belongs to a group of digital companies that respect copyrights. SEE MORE AFTER THE CUT....

CHINA BECOMES WORLD LARGEST ECONOMY, OVERTAKES U.S AFTER 142 YEARS OF DOMINANCE

Source: Dailymail

China has toppled America to become the biggest economy in the world, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.
The US has been the global leader since it overtook Britain in 1872, but has now lost its status as top dog.
The latest IMF figures show the Chinese economy is worth £11trillion compared with £10.8trillion for the US.
China – whose wealth has accelerated in recent decades amid rapid industrialization – is expected to extend its lead, with the IMF estimating its economy will be worth £16.7trillion in 2019.
That would be 20 per cent bigger than the US economy, which is forecast to be worth £13.8trillion by then.

The numbers are based on ‘purchasing power parity’ (PPP) which makes adjustments for the fact that goods are cheaper in countries such as China relative to the US.
Without these adjustments for living costs, the Chinese economy is still smaller than that of the US, at £6.4trillion. CONTINUE BELOW...

AMERICAN EBOLA PATIENT IS DEAD, US TAKES MEASURES AT ITS AIRPORT

The first patient diagnosed of Ebola in America, Thomas Eric Duncan,who contacted the Ebola virus in mid-September in Liberia has died in a Dallas hospital.

The Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, made this known to newsmen yesterday.

Duncan, who traveled from Liberia to Texas to visit family, was confirmed to have the Ebola virus last week. He was the first person diagnosed with the disease in the United States.

According to CNN, the body of Thomas Eric Duncan, who died in Texas from Ebola, will be cremated, state health officials said.
He had been in critical condition after being diagnosed with the virus in mid-September. People who had contact with the 42-year-old Liberian national are being monitored for symptoms.

The United States is taking new measures at the airports to screen people coming in from West- Africa. The procedures at airport will include taking passengers' temperatures and handing them questionnaires.
The enhanced methods to check Ebola virus on West Africans coming into America will begin at New York's JFK airport and then to four other major international airports: Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles and Atlanta.

A federal official says the enhanced screening will apply only to passengers arriving from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

GEJ REACTS TO BEING NAMED 6TH RICHEST PRESIDENT IN AFRICA, DEMANDS APOLOGY

An American lifestyle website, RichestLifestyle.com, has listed President Jonathan as the Sixth Richest President in Africa. The Presidency has condemned his listing on the website and described the publication as an attempt to portray the President as a corrupt leader and incite the public against him.
The Presidency who made his position known in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, says he demands a retraction of the publication and an apology by the website. Read Full Statement below.....,

“We have noted with consternation the listing of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan by a website – RichestLifestyle.com – as the sixth richest African President with an estimated net worth of $100 Million.

“The Presidency condemns the totally unwarranted inclusion of President Jonathan in the publication titled ‘Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014′ as another attempt to unjustifiably portray the President as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him.
“We categorically assert that there is no factual basis for ranking President Jonathan as the sixth richest African Head of State with a net worth of about $100 Million. Continue below to read more...

AGAIN? SOUTH AFRICA SEIZES NIGERIA'S $5.7MILLION IN ANOTHER SECRET ARMS DEAL

Premium Times is reporting that another $5.7 million has being seized from Nigeria again, above is the paper proof. Read details below,

South African authorities have confiscated yet another US$5.7 million arms money from Nigeria, nearly three weeks after seizing $9.3 million in cash transported by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase, South Africa-based City Express reported Monday.
As with the first deal, South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority seized the $5.7 million (about N952 million) for allegedly being the proceeds of illegal transactions, the paper said.


The news came more than two weeks after two Nigerians and an Israeli national were arrested in South Africa after they attempted to smuggle US$9.3 million apparently meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service.
The men landed at Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg, on September 5 in a private jet from Abuja with the money stashed in three suitcases.

At the time, the South Africa Revenue Service, SARS, said customs officers became suspicious when the passengers’ luggage were unloaded and put through the scan. The National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in South Africa said there was an invoice for helicopters and armaments intended to be used in Nigeria.
Nigeria-SA-Money-Laundering-2Two black plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing US$100,000 in notes, with combination locks, were seized, as well as two pieces of hand luggage also containing US currency, according to City Press.
The Israeli national, Eyal Mesika, had the combination to open the locks.
Under South African laws, a person entering or leaving the country is expected to carry cash not exceeding US$2,300, or the equivalent in foreign currency notes. Continue.....

VIDEO PROOF: BOKO HARAM LEADER, ABUBAKAR SHEKAU SAYS HE IS ALIVE AND WELL

This is the video obtained by AFP where the Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau claims he is well and Alive.
Though the Nigerian military have said it repeatedly that the kingpin is dead. 
How do we know the authenticity of this video and the timing? Is Shekau really dead?

EBOLA: LIBERIA'S CHIEF MEDICAL DOCTOR QUARANTINES HERSELF

The Liberia's chief medical officer is placing herself under quarantine for 21 days after her office assistant died of Ebola and has also order her medical staff to do the same.

Dr Bernice Dahn, a deputy health minister has no signs of Ebola but she wants to ensure she is not infected and will not infect others. The 21 days quarantine incubation period is the stipulated no of days by the World Health organisation for Ebola.

Liberia's government has asked people to keep themselves isolated for 21 days if they think they have been exposed. The unprecedented scale of the outbreak, however, has made it difficult to trace the contacts of victims and quarantine those who might be at risk.

"Of course we made the rule, so I am home for 21 days," Dahn said Saturday. "I did it on my own. I told my office staff to stay at home for the 21 days. That's what we need to do."

According to LA Times, Liberia has had nearly 2,400 confirmed or probable cases of the Ebola virus, plus more than 1,000 suspected cases. Cases continue to increase exponentially, with 150 reported in the last two days.

Liberia is among three West African countries, along with Sierra Leone and Guinea, that have had more than 3,000 deaths confirmed or suspected to be from Ebola. More than 6,000 people have been infected in the biggest outbreak of the disease in history.