2013 IN RETROSPECT: Crisis almost tore the umbrella

For the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the year 2013 started with crisis and ended with crisis; the party started with its governors numbering 23 but ended with 18; the year started with the party dominating the lower arm of the legislature at the National Assembly but ended up in the minority; but above all, for the first time in the 15-year history of the party, it witnessed break away and fractionalisation; the party could be said to have survived the year by just a whisker.

By the close of 2012, the atmosphere within the party was already charged with almost a third of the PDP governors choosing not to work with the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

These governors had undermined all the directives from the party national headquarters including the endorsement of Plateau state Governor, David Jang as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, rather they opted to stick with Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi; a development that not only divided the rank of the governors but worsened the already charged atmosphere in the ruling party. Recall that in March 24, 2012 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, party members came together to affirm the choice of the President, a select team that he hoped to work with in the management of the party all in the name of National Convention, but in the process, jettisoned the party constitution which stipulates that proper voting must take place for candidates to duly emerge.

That singular disregard to the party’s constitution turned to haunt the party in 2013 as almost all the positions which were produced at the convention were rejected by both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the court.

INEC, in a report by its 12-member committee under the chairmanship of Col. M.K. Hammanga (retd.), rejected the adoption/ affirmation of some members of the PDP NWC, a decision ably supported by the court. The commission faulted the process adopted by the PDP in electing the said officials, arguing that it violated paragraph 6.5 of the guidelines used for conducting the 2012 congress and national convention of the party. It, however, approved the election of the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; the Financial Secretary, Bolaji Anani; the sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and the sacked National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.

To remedy the anomaly, the PDP organised a Special National Convention which ended up reelecting most of these officials with the exception of a few officials who were seen as not loyal to the Tukur leadership, chief among them, the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Jaja.

But in what appeared to be more than a coincidence, former, Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the same day of the Special Convention led the famous G7 governors including Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abufatah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa) into a historic breakaway from the mainstream party to form the New PDP. Members of the new PDP also included some former governors, legislators and party leaders while the former National Chairman, Abubakar Kawu Baraje was anointed to lead the pack.

Among their conditions for peace to reign again ws the resignation of Tukur as the National Chairman; that President Jonathan should do one term only and forget re-election in 2015; that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Rivers State crises should be resolved; and “harassment” of governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should be stopped.

Between that dates in March till October, a dozen reconciliatory meetings held but they all ended in dissension. Some of the meetings included the Tukur’s reconciliation tour of the zones and with the grand finale in Abuja; visits which were largely boycotted, the state tour by the Chief Tony Anenih led BoT, as well as meditative roles of Seriake Dickson which brought some cushion to the embattled Tukur leadership.

Other visits included that of the G7 governors to notable party leaders like former head of states, Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

There were several meetings at the Presidential Villa between the ‘rebel’ governors and the hierarchy of the party as well as the President, with warnings that if nothing urgent was done, the governors will jump ship. Unable to meet at a common ground, five out of seven rebel governors and other members of Baraje’s led new PDP on Tuesday, 26th November ceremoniously moved to the APC and warned that many more will join them.

Both Govs. Lamido and Aliyu refused to leave PDP. Speaking when he arrived Yola airport on return from Abuja, Governor Nyako insisted that the PDP and its leadership had disappointed Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora by the high level of impunity and injustice in the party. “No Nigerian no matter his level in the society today is comfortable with the way and manner the country is drifting.

The image of the country is completely eroded at the international level and yet the PDP-led government and its operators are in Abuja making noise”, Nyako fumed. As for Kwara State Governor, he said that the PDP could no longer “meet their aspirations.” He spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Femi Akorede. Also Governor Chibuike Amaechi said he joined the APC because President Jonathan failed to address issues raised by the G-7 governors.

“Rivers State must know that for me to have taken that decision, I had looked at the general interests of Rivers people. I was not elected to lead Nigeria, I was elected to lead Rivers State and I had looked at the interests of Rivers people and have seen that these interests were not protected in PDP.

I have seen the fact that we are losing our oil wells in Etche, in the Kalabari areas and that the more they continue to pilfer these oil wells, the more we will continue to lose our wealth”, he said. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano said the governors met and decided that “we must meet with the APC leadership and when we met with the APC leadership, it was important we took a position and the position we took is for the good of our democracy and ensure that Nigeria moves forward”.

“We can’t continue the way we are, where we are. The picture painted by the PDP was as if we were begging to come back to PDP and issues were not being looked into, issues were not being resolved and it’s important that we resolve it one way or the other”.

While the euphoria of the governors’ defection hardly died, about 37 PDP members of the House of Representative also decamped to APC in a power changing game that saw the APC now commanding a norminal majority in the lower chambers.

The lawmakers said they joined the APC due to division and factionalisation within the PDP while claiming that their defection to APC is in obedience to section 68 subsection 1G of the constitution. The 37 members are from the states of Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kwara, Rivers, Katsina and Adamawa. These are some of the states whose governors recently decamped from PDP to APC.

With this development, the APC now commands 172 members from its initial 137, while the PDP has 171 from its initial 208. The Umaru Dikko led party’s Disciplinary Committee had only last month expelled the trio of Baraje, Jaja and Oyinlola while the National Chairman of the party in the North East, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure was placed on a watch list.

This action was taken in line with Tukur avowed commitment to ensure that discipline is sacrosanct. But obviously shaken by the gale of defection in the party, Tukur has moved fast to ensure that more defection does not take place again with an automatic ticket to the lawmakers at the National Assembly, a proposal that is already believed to be seriously considered by the lawmakers.

Tukur, in all these believed that the crisis faced by the party will soon peter away even as he has located his insistence on due process to allow democracy thrive, led to the conflict he had with G-7 governors, “We won’t allow anyone to hijack the party structure to determine who gets what. I am happy that majority of the legislators are in favour of free and fair primaries. “The crises we are witnessing in PDP are about 2015.

The promoters are members who wanted to be President at all costs, they are those who wanted to be vice President at all costs and those who wanted to seek re-election as governors. Most of them felt if there was no crisis, their different ambitions would not be fulfilled.” To this end, it is believed that PDP may have seen off its worst year and that with almost certainty that President Jonathan will declare his Presidential ambition in the first quarter of 2014, things will begin to look up for a party that once boasted that it would remain in power for 60 years.

Nat'l Mirror

Syria conflict: Strike on Aleppo market 'kills 21'

A Syrian government airstrike on a crowded market in the northern city of Aleppo has killed at least 21 people, activists say. Videos uploaded by activists showed extensive damage to the market and corpses being pulled from cars. Many more were reported wounded in the strike.

Government forces are reported to have killed about 400 people since beginning an aerial offensive in and around Aleppo two weeks ago. Syrian authorities say they are targeting "terrorists", a term the government uses to describe all opposition.

The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, said earlier this week it would not attend a peace conference planned to take place next month in Geneva if the air campaign continued. Human rights groups have condemned the Syrian air force's use of so-called barrel bombs - oil drums or cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel - saying the targeting is indiscriminate and that the attacks are therefore unlawful.

The bombs have hit residential and shopping areas, often killing dozens of civilians, either missing possible military targets or with little indication of any intended military objective, they say. City divided The Syrian conflict began as a peaceful uprising against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, but then became a civil war after a violent government crackdown.

The UN says more than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far. Aleppo became a major front in the war in mid-2012.

The city, Syria's largest and its commercial capital, is now divided between government and rebel-held areas, with large parts of it heavily damaged by the conflict. Also on Saturday, a Norwegian frigate expected to accompany cargo vessels collecting chemical weapons from Syria left the Cypriot port of Limassol.

 The weapons are due to be taken to the Syrian port of Latakia before being shipped abroad. They will be taken to Italy and then loaded on to a US Navy ship and taken out into international waters, where they will be destroyed in a specially created titanium tank on board. Syria agreed to abandon its chemical arsenal to avert potential US military action after a sarin nerve gas attack in August.

The frigate will sail along the Cypriot coast to carry out military drills while it awaits the order to sail to Syria.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international body overseeing the destruction of the weapons, said today that it does not expect to meet the 31 December deadline for shipping out the "most critical" chemicals. (BBC.co.uK)

Justin Bieber Slammed by PETA Activists for Pooch Purchase

Justin Bieber has, once again, purchased another pet animal, stirring debate among animal rights activists; not for the reason that many might initially imagine, however.

After returning home to Canada for the Christmas holidays, the 19-year-old singer was seen stopping off at a pet store – Ruffin’s Pet Centre in Stratford, Ontario. It is reported that Bieber paid for a white and brown, American bulldog puppy, aged just seven weeks old. Speaking to E! News, workers at Ruffin’s Pet Centre explained that Bieber and his family regularly frequent the store and have made previous transactions.

The pet store owner described the encounter, indicating that Bieber entered the premises with a bodyguard and a group of friends, just before closing time. After, seemingly, window shopping for a short while, Bieber spotted the puppy, “held it and liked it.” Bieber’s father – now separated from Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette – took to Twitter to confirm the news, explaining that one “lucky” Justin Bieber fan would be provided with the opportunity to name the nascent pooch, before urging the community to follow them on Twitter.

The dog, who has now been named Petey, was sold for a whopping $600. In addition to Petey, the Heartbreaker singer picked up a collar, some dog food and a collection of toys.

The Canadian musician has already had a turbulent history with pets. Bieber acquired a capuchin monkey, called Mally, that was confiscated by customs officials in Germany, earlier this year. The monkey has now been granted permanent residence in a wildlife park with members of his own species.

Although Mally was the most recent and widely reported of all the singer’s animal-related shenanigans, there have been at least a handful of other occasions. Bieber created quite the media stir after having arrived at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, in 2012, with an albino boa constrictor adorning his neck; the pet snake was later auctioned off.

The same fate was to befall Bieber’s former pet hamster, whom the Baby star gave away to a young girl during a chance encounter through a chain-link fence. Of course, controversy wasn’t far away. Shortly after the news of Justin’s canine acquisition, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists slammed the star for electing to buy young Petey from a pet store, as opposed to performing an adoption through a rescue shelter.

Animal lovers have condemned the music sensation’s actions, accusing him of failing to set a good example. PETA’s Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations, Daphna Nachminovitch, had some fairly choice words to say on the subject when speaking to WENN: “Whether or not reports are true that Justin Bieber purchased a puppy from a pet store for $600, Peta wants to remind everyone that when you buy a dog or cat from a pet store or breeder, you sentence an animal in a shelter to death… Six to eight million homeless animals enter shelters every year, and half of them must be euthanised for lack of a good home, so there is no excuse for buying an animal, no matter who you are.” Bieber has recently taken a break over the festive season to enjoy some time with his family, after allegedly announcing his retirement on Dec. 24, 2013.

Earlier in the week, he tweeted that he was blessed to be spending time with his family, before wishing the world a “blessed Christmas.”

The legitimacy of Bieber’s supposed retirement, which came just a day before the release of Justin Bieber’s Believe biopic, has been called into question. Just a few tweets after announcing his retirement, he uploaded the following post: “Be kind loving to each other, forgive each other as god forgave us through Christ Merry Christmas. IM HERE FOREVER.” Earlier on in December, Bieber had also uttered similar intentions of retirement when speaking to Power 106 FM in Los Angeles.

The news was immediately dismissed by his manager, Scooter Braun, who claimed the star was merely due to take a break in 2014. (Osundefender)

Miley Cyrus and the Beaten Path From Disney Kid to Sex Icon

Miley Cyrus debuted the video for her song “Adore You” in which she appears almost completely naked, writhing, touching herself, holding a video camera, and sliding her fingers beneath her panties.

It was followed immediately by waves of condemnation, but some considered it bold and provocative.

By now, were it not for our apparent pop culture amnesia, this behavior should not be surprising at all. Miley Cyrus is following the beaten path from being a Disney kid to being a sex icon, a path blazed by stars like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears before her. While “bold” and “provocative,” Miley’s onanistic gyrations can be seen as calculated business decisions. Condemn her or worship her, the extra frenzy of attention heaped upon the young starlet will serve her and her affiliated companies by bolstering music sales and concert attendance.

 It is a little haunting to know that the next crop of potential sex icons might be starring on Disney shows today. Lolita, it would seem, wears Mickey Mouse ears. Britney Spears is an example of pop star who helped beat the path now walked by Miley Cyrus. She went from The Mickey Mouse Club and Star Search as a kid to being a possible “sex icon” at the peak of her career.

Her debut single was called “…Baby One More Time” and came out when she was just sixteen. In the video, the young Spears looks bored in class, until the bell rings and she and her classmates, all dressed in Catholic school-girl’s outfits with knotted shirts, begin to dance in the hall. She is pictured on the top of this article, delivering a 2009 performance of “…Baby One More Time,” wearing a kind of abbreviated formalwear worthy of the cartoon Mouse himself. Christina Aguilera was a child star who also appeared on Star Search and The Mickey Mouse Club when she was a girl. She grew up to be a highly talented singer.

At the age of 22 Aguilera released her fourth album, Stripped, which contained the chart-topping single “Dirrty.” In the video for “Dirrty,” she shocked audiences by wearing a bikini and chaps and getting covered in sweat or goo, all while dancing in naughty ways. The video also contains contortionists, mud wrestlers, bodybuilders, furries, cages, urinals, and other possible allusions to sexual fetishism. Aguilera’s steamy 2002 image began to overshadow her music, and she was the target of relentless spoofs.

Although she never wore the mouse ears, Miley Cyrus became famous for her starring role on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. In 2009, at the age of sixteen, Miley did a brief pole-dance in the video for “Party in the U.S.A.” which drew some criticism. She became increasingly provocative in the years that followed. On September 9, 2013 the 20-year-old Miley Cyrus released the video for “Wrecking Ball” in which she swings naked on a wrecking ball and occasionally licks a hammer.

This month her video for “Adore You” became instantly notorious for how she writhes in her panties and lovingly caresses herself. Miley Cyrus trods on the beaten path from Disney kid to sex icon, with the triumphs and tragedies of growing up in an early spotlight that shines brightest as she sheds her innocence, and fades as she ages.trap.it

Committee Tackles Snags In Automotive Tarriff Policy

The Automotive Industry Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee has discussed in details obvious setbacks in the new automotive policy, with a view of filling a report with relevant ministries to address them.

 It called on the government to cede more responsibilities to the Ministry of Trade and Investment in the policy development and implementation of relevant guidelines on vehicle manufacturing and importation. The call was made during its inaugural meeting in Abuja recently.

The ownership role of the Ministry in the newly formulated automotive policy, it said, was not adequate. It suggested that the Ministry should play more prominent role both in the review and issuance of related circulars, while the Ministry of Finance serves as a co-signatory in such letters henceforth.

 It applauded the automotive tariff policy, but noted that it would be unfortunate if the government reverses it on the slightest public outcry. It, however, noted that reversal is unlikely if the policy was transparent and all-inclusive, while acknowledging the restructuring of existing mechanisms for tariff review process.

The committee, in a communiqué, observed that the take off date of the new policy is questionable, as it makes no provision for arrival date. Faulting claim by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) that the arrival date is unnecessary since it has the capacity to trace movement of ships globally, it advised that the date should be pegged on January 28.

It also called for the review of the process and criteria of granting “automotive bona fide manufacturers status.” The National Automotive Council (NAC) and the Ministry of Finance, it said, should jointly grant the status and ensure proper yearly renewal, which should take two weeks from the date of application. “

The recommended provision to accommodate original equipment manufacturers (OEM) dealers or representative in Nigeria in the incentive scheme of concessionary fully built unit (FBU) import for the period of construction of plant was adopted. “All applicants accepted to prepare business plans with clear implementation timelines as an agreement to be executed with government. Penalty for compliance is to include refund of concessions granted.

The concessionary import is to be based on the average of their vehicle imports in the last three years.

 All vehicle importers are requested to send their vehicle import details for the last three years,” read the communiqué. The automotive manufacturers represented wanted their 2014 production plan to serve as a base of calculating the number of FBUs they will import on concessionary basis.

They promised to pay the waived levies as penalty should they fail to meet production targets. The committee asked NAC, NCS and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure that the process of capturing automotive data are integrated for the purpose of integrity.

NCS is to capture vehicle identification number (VIN) on payment of duty and provide the link to NAC and FRSC while the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) also supplies VIN of their products to NAC to be shared with FRSC.

Dealers in used vehicle requested for an inclusion in the concessions on the ground that barrier to importation would affect their businesses substantially.Guardian

Sunday Mba - His Many Obstacles To A Professional Career

HIS path to glory has been filled with thorns and many obstacles. But the long wait seems over for the AFCON star, Sunday Mba. His movement to French Ligue 1 side, CA Bastia, has been described by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as not only ‘cheering news’, but also good for the country’s domestic league.

An earlier move by Mba to pitch his tent with the French side before the end of the last transfer window had failed after the management of Warri Wolves turned down the offer on the ground that CA Bastia was offering the player a ‘slavery contact.’ Mba, whose precise volley against a resilient Burkina Faso brought joy and relief to millions of soccer-loving Nigerians in the final of the 2013 African Nations Cup will be missing in the Super Eagles squad in the coming CHAN 2014 tournament for home-based players in South Africa. He was said to have left the country on Friday night to begin his professional football career in France.

Several months after Mba helped the Eagles to lift the Nations Cup trophy in South Africa, his dream of playing professional football abroad was thwarted, as the management of Warri Wolves and Ranger of Enugu engaged in a tug of war over his ownership. It got to a point when the NFF had to intervene by setting up a committee, which finally ruled that Mba is a player of Warri Wolves.

With the battle over his ownership finally resolved, agents from French Ligue 1 side, CA Bastia, came knocking on the door of Warri Wolves, requesting for the services of Sunday Mba. But more controversies arose, as the management of Wolves revoked the player’s contract move to Bastia just few hours to the close of the last transfer window.

Wolves’ officials exonerated themselves by blaming Bastia for offering contractual terms that were aimed at ‘exploiting’ Mba. Wolves claimed then that Bastia insisted on paying Mba an annual salary that was not up to what he earned in the Nigeria Premier League and worse of all, a clause, which stipulated that Mba would see his contract terminated in case the club was to be relegated.

“This deal was not favourable to Mba because among other things, it stipulated that should he be injured for four months, the deal will be terminated,” the chairman of Delta State FA, Amaju Pinnick said.

“The contract also put the player’s yearly salary at €100,000, which is not up to what he earns at Warri Wolves. Added to all these are the clause that should the club be relegated, the contract will also be terminated. Is Mba a magician? So, if he is playing alongside 10 bad players and the team goes down, he should take the responsibility?” While Warri Wolves was prevailing on Mba to wait for the right time to begin his professional career, a Britain-based agent, who helped to facilitate the deal at that time, cried high heaven, castigating and labeling management of Warri Wolves as ‘greedy people’ for depriving Mba of a brilliant European career.

The agent claimed then that Wolves were interested in money to the detriment of the great opportunity Bastia was offering Mba. He said: “Cash was the problem.

They wanted all the cash and this was not possible especially with the financial regulations now in place in Europe.” “Wolves also got a generous 80 per cent sell-on clause for the player and while other clubs demanded he come for trials, this club did not,” the agent said. That was then, as Mba has re-joined CA Bastia in France, though it was not clear yesterday how much the management of Warri Wolves finally settled with the club in the latest transfer.

The Super Eagles squared up against a Rivers selected side in the Garden City yesterday in continuation of their build up to the CHAN 2014 championship. Mba was not in the team’s Le Meridian hotel camp yesterday, as he was said to have jetted out to France the previous night to begin his professional football career.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, NFF President Aminu Maigari said that the football house had been praying for a breakthrough in Mba’s football career. “It is cheering news that Mba has finally tied down a contract with CA Bastia in France.

This is good for our football and we wish him the best of luck.” Maigari stated that the absence of Mba would not in any way affect the Super Eagles in the 2014 CHAN tournament in South Africa. “I am sure the coaches will be able to find a substitution that will fit into Mba’s position. I know that time is not on their side, but I don’t see his movement affecting the team in South Africa.” Super Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi, had said two days ago that they had resigned themselves to fate saying: “We have to work hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes.

We just have to brace up and wish him the best because it is a career thing.” Mba, alongside Chigozie Agbim and Azubuike Egwuekwe, are the most experienced home-based players in the Super Eagles camp.Guardian

Fashola approves 120 new vehicles for Lagos traditional rulers

The Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has approved the procurement of 120 new vehicles of various brands for traditional rulers in the state.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye, disclosed this in an interview on Saturday in Lagos.

Ademorin, who said the vehicles would be purchased in 2014, noted that they would enable the traditional rulers to discharge their responsibilities effectively. “Already, the 120 vehicles have been provided for in the 2014 budget and these would add to the over 30 vehicles that we have provided in the current year.

These vehicles speak of the commitment of the state government toward improving the welfare of traditional rulers in the state and empowering our Obas to serve their people,” he said. Mr. Kuye also said that the state government was renovating palaces and building some new ones to strengthen the traditional institution and improve the living standards of the traditional rulers.

“We have just delivered a new palace for the Alara of Ilara, Epe and work would soon commence on new palaces for the Akran of Badagry and Olu of Ikeja. Renovation of the palaces of Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Elejigbo of Ejigbo are ongoing and we are taking all these steps to strengthen the traditional institution in the state,” he said.

The commissioner added that the state government had set up a committee to consider applications from traditional rulers seeking upgrade.

He said that the committee embedded in the State’s Council of Obas would ensure that qualified traditional rulers get the deserved elevation. “We have different categories of Obas in the state and some of them, based on historical evidence and some other considerations, believe they should be upgraded to higher categories.

So the committee on upgrade of traditional rulers will consider applications, scrutinise the evidence provided there-in and make recommendations to the state government for approval. It is State Executive Council that gives the final approval based on the merits of the recommended applications,” Mr. Kuye said.

The commissioner, who said traditional rulers were partners in progress, added that the state government would continue to work with them to ensure development in the state. premiumtimesng.com

Miley Cyrus releases racy 'Adore You' video

Miley Cyrus' Christmas gift to fans? More of the same.

The controversial singer's video for her song "Adore You" leaked online Christmas Day and it's filled with Miley, well, being Miley. Cyrus rolls around filming herself on under a sheet on a bed, clad in a sheer bra and panties and doing plenty of ... self-exploration. She also steams things up in a bathtub.

The video was originally scheduled to be released on December 26, but popped up a day earlier to the singer's apparent chagrin. "We all know Smilers would break another record if it wasn't for the f**k face who leaked my video. Alllllll good! Keep smiling," Cyrus tweeted on Wednesday.

Fans had to be quick to catch a look on Wednesday, however, as the video disappeared from YouTube almost as quickly as it had appeared. It was reposted on Thursday, the original release date.

 The song is the third single off of her hit album, "Bangerz" and she had earlier released teasers to fans to get them excited for the new video. "Were so close to ‪#AdoreYou‬ 3 daysssss until the world premier on vevo... I can't waiiiiitt annnny longerrrr!" she said on Twitter Monday.

It remains to be seen if this new video will inspire as many parodies as its predecessor, "Wrecking Ball" which featured Cyrus conducting various activities including swinging nude on a wrecking ball and licking a sledgehammer.

edition.cnn.com

I’ll never leave PDP, says Jumoke Akinjide

Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, clarified her stand on current development in her party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that nothing would ever force her to abandon the party.

The Minister, who made the declaration through a press statement she personally signed, declared “I will never, ever leave the PDP.” She also maintained that she remains the arrowhead of the party in Oyo State “as the minister in an opposition state.”

She said, “In view of speculations rife in the press, I wish to state categorically that I will never, ever, leave the PDP. The Akinjide dynasty is loyal to the PDP and loyal to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. “I am and remain, proudly PDP.

My father, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) is a founding member of the PDP and member of the PDP BOT. I’m the arrowhead of the PDP in Oyo State as the minister in an opposition state.

I will continue to work had to ensure the success of Mr. President, the transformation agenda of the Federal Government, and the victory of PDP in the 2015 elections.

 “I call on well meaning and patriotic Nigerians to continue to support President Jonathan and ignore the ‘noise’ and ‘chatter’ being generated by those who, frankly, should know better, but, who understandably, are more at leisure than the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.” mydailynewswatchng.com

10 Ways to Know If You’re Dating a Real Man

Here are some ways to know if you’ve struck gold: 1.) A real man values more than just your looks. Is every compliment from him about a different body part? It doesn’t matter how creative he can be, if a guy’s sole focus is on how you look, or ‘talking dirty,’ see it as a red flag.

A real man will value your personality, your kindness, your intelligence, and who you are as a person, in general. The things he makes you feel good about will be things that you control, not just results of getting lucky in the gene pool.

2) A real man will never be intimidated by your motivation. A man who has goals for himself, will want to be with a woman who has goals for her own life, too. He will never feel intimidated or threatened by a woman who goes after what she wants. He will want to be part of a power couple, rather than a dictatorship. Be mindful of anyone who tries to keep you from pursuing your dreams.

3) A real man will have more interests than just you. I don’t mean this in a negative way. You should, of course, be a priority in his life — but he needs to have a life as well. Interests, friends, hobbies, aspirations. If a man works his entire life around you, it’s another red flag — relationships should be a great part of your life, but not encompass your whole life.

4) A real man will give you answers. No matter how awkward or uncomfortable a situation is, a real man will approach it, and you, with respect. I have always felt that a mark of a man is how he handles conflict, criticism, and less-than-ideal situations. A man will not dance around answers or make excuses. If there is something you two need to talk about, he will talk about it.

 5) A real man is direct. In addition to the last point — there will be no mind games or manipulation in your relationship. A man will be direct, to the point, and honest with you… but with kindness.

6) A real man will trust you. As long as you haven’t betrayed his trust, a man will NOT be paranoid, or snoop around invading your privacy to make sure you’re not doing anything bad. He will have confidence in your relationship. A boy will project his own insecurities onto you, and like termites in a house, will eat away at the foundation of what you’ve built.

7) A real man is cool, calm, and collected. It should be understood that part of what comes with the territory of having a girlfriend, is dealing with her getting hit on. If you’re at the bar together, or if she’s out with her friends, it goes without saying that your girlfriend will get hit on every once in a while. Instead of letting his primate instincts prevail and beating his chest like an angry gorilla to scare off competition, a confident man will calmly make his position known, and understand that you’re still going home with him at the end of the night.

8) A real man will show you respect. Nothing signifies an empty shell of a man more than someone who disrespects women, animals, or children. A real man will treat you with the respect that you deserve, never force you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with, and never mistreat you. Be honest enough with yourself to walk away from any situation that is dangerous to you, physically or emotionally.

9) A real man will put effort into your relationship. Boys are generally apathetic and just look for one thing from a woman. A man, will do what it takes to make you happy, both inside and outside of the bedroom. Your happiness, is his reward.

10) A real man will make you want to be the best version of yourself, without changing who you really are. A man will empower those around him. He will strive for greatness and therefore inspire others to strive for it as well. This not only includes friends and co-workers, but also significant others.

As Mark Twain said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” If you do have one of these men in your life, make sure he knows he is appreciated. ireporterstv.co

Osun, Ekiti 2014:DPP may field governorship candidates

The Democratic People’s Party (DPP) might field candidates for the governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun, in 2014, its acting National Secretary, Abdullahi Mohammed, has said.

He said this in an interview with the on Tuesday in Abuja. “If the party is not able to field a candidate at the end of the day, it would throw its weight behind any party that shares same ideology with it in the exercise”, he said.

Mr. Mohammed said that the party would ensure that the forthcoming polls were conducted in a “free, fair and credible manner”.

He advised all the stakeholders involved in the forthcoming election to co-operate with one another to ensure credibility of the election. “I believe that if there is cooperation and coordination amongst political parties, INEC and security agencies, virtually nothing will stop the election from being free, fair and credible,’’ he said.

The Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, has promised to make the two governorship elections a test case in terms of preparation. Mr. Jega made the promise at the quarterly meeting of Resident Electoral Commissioners in Abuja on December 12.

He urged workers in the commission to put in their best to ensure the success of future polls in the country. premiumtimesng.com

KWARA 2015: Bukola and Gbemi again

Since the merger of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State with the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month, the political climate in Kwara has changed as politicians opposed to the political dominance of Senator Bukola Saraki have suddenly come out from their shells.

This is aside the fact that original members of the APC in the state are also jittery that Bukola and his election winning team could take the party from them and turn them to play second fiddle in their own party. This fear is understandable given the past deft political moves of the Sarakis in outsmarting political opponents.

 In 1983, Dr. Olusola Saraki who founded the political dynasty was able to stop his one time political follower Alhaji Adamu Attah for a second term after both men fell out leading to the victory of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN candidate, Chief Cornelius Adebayo. In 2003, the Saraki clan also stopped Governor Mohammed Lawal from achieving a second term following a political dispute between it and the then governor.

But with the elder Saraki now dead, the political heat in the state is now sparked by in internal division within the political family founded by the late senator and second republic Senate leader, Senator Olusola Saraki.

Prominent dissenters against the political hegemony being weaved by Bukola include his own sister, Senator Gbemi Saraki and other disciples of the late Senate leader including a serving senator, Senator Simeon Ajibola, the former minister of sports, Alhaji Issa Bio Ibrahim, Hajia Ndalolo, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, Professor Abudularaheem Oba the newly returned chairman of Federal Character Commission and one of the FCC commissioners, Dr Femi Ogunshola among others.

Gbemi who is also a political phenomenon in her own right having been a two term senator and former member of the House of Representatives fell out with her brother over her bid to succeed him as governor in 2011.

Since that sharp division in which their father sided his daughter against his son, the family has not been the same again. It is alleged that even though they have managed to avoid open quarrel, are, however, not on speaking terms.

Since that bitter contest Gbemi who lost out has largely remained underground.At every given opportunity before he died, Oloye, as their father was widely known, he never failed to tell the people efforts he was making to reconcile the two siblings. His efforts, however, were unsuccessful until he died last year. The two siblings are now taking opportunity of the division wrought by the crisis in the PDP to reengage themselves in battle.

With Bukola out of the PDP, Gbemi has reemerged to take charge of the party in the state with her father’s late contemporaries. There are also speculations that Mohammed Dele Belgore,s faction of APC may dump the party for PDP. But the spokesman of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed counseled those who are scared of the entry of Bukola and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to stay put in the party as every interest would be taken care of.

He warned that by ditching APC for PDP they would be committing political suicide, a development he said, they would regret. Remarkably, the shell of what is left of the PDP is the focus of increasing attention by the PDP hierarchy in Abuja which is aiming to empower those remaining in readiness for the fight against Bukola and his gang ahead of the 2015 round of elections.

 Apart from the return of Prof Oba as the chairman Federal Character Commission(FCC), there have been increased speculations that Gbemi could be given a ministerial position to bolster the opposition in the state.

While Gbemi repackages and is probably empowered, Bukola and the state government appear to have their own plan as they also came out with their own joker penultimate Monday when they flagged off an empowerment programme for youths in the state.

Flanked by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Dr. Bukola at the event challenged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on youths unemployment in the country in order to enhance peaceful co-existence in Nigeria and secure the future of the country.

As if this was not enough, last weekend, all 350 high chiefs, comprising of the Magajis and Alanguas in Ilorin emirate publicly endorsed the political course of the state under the leadership of Bukola. Ilorin emirate is made up of Ilorin East, West, South, Asa and Moro local government areas and boasts of 48 percent of the state’s population.

The Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Salihu Woru who spoke on behalf of the 350 chiefs said that their declaration of open support for the scion of the famous Saraki political dynasty became necessary in view of the unfolding political development in the country.

How far Gbemisola and other new members of PDP go to unseat Bukola is now a banter around Illorin. vanguard

‘Defection of five PDP govs, lawmakers won’t stop Jonathan’s re-election’

The Jonathan/Sambo Continuity Project has dispelled speculations that the defection of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and scores of National Assembly lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would stop President Goodluck Jonathan from winning a second term as president in 2015.

The Jonathan/Sambo Continuity Project is a political structure put together by the immediate past deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere to ensure the re-election of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo as president and vice-president respectively in 2015.

Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo Continuity Project, Pastor Joseph B. Effiong, who stated this in interview with our correspondent in Uyo, the state capital, said the defection of the governors and legislators cannot destroy or destabilise the PDP. According to Effiong, an engineer, “the governors were voted by the people and they have defected as individuals. The majority of other PDP members are still there.

The defection of five people is not enough to destabilise the PDP. PDP is well rooted. “Look in the last election, Jonathan won in virtually all the states including ACN states.

He won in Lagos State which is a core ACN state. So, the people defecting to APC will not stop Jonathan. PDP will still be in charge and of course in Akwa Ibom State, PDP will sweep the polls and Nsima Ekere will be in charge”.

He also debunked the belief that Obong Nsima Ekere and Governor Godswill Akpabio do not have a cordial relationship, insisting that both politicians have no political differences. Effiong said the former deputy governor’s resignation last year from Akpabio’s government was the handiwork of blackmailers, who were envious of the smooth relationship between Akpabio and Nsima Ekere.

The PDP chieftain disclosed that Nsima Ekere played a major role in ensuring that Akpabio won the 2011 governorship election, adding that as someone who shares the same vision with Akpabio, the former deputy governor was the right person to consolidate on the gains of the present administration.

His words: “It is not true that Akpabio and Nsima Ekere are not in good terms. He has a very cordial relationship with the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State. I think in one or two fora, His Excellency has said publicly that he has no problem with Nsima Ekere. It was just a team of blackmailers that worked against him and made him to resign from Akpabio’s cabinet”.

On the widespread speculation that Akpabio has chosen his successor in 2015, Effiong said it was not true that the governor has an anointed candidate, adding that Akpabio as a democrat has said in different occasions that only Akwa Ibom people would decide who they want as governor after him. mydailynewswatchng.com

Ekiti Radio/TV chairman murdered by Unknown Gunmen in Lagos

Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi was in shock yesterday when he received news of the killing of the Chairman of the Board of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), Mr Sesan Ogunro.

The late Ogunro, the Managing Director of a Lagos communications firm, Eminent Communications, was reportedly killed on Sunday night in Lagos in front of his church. Ogunro died at the Lagoon Hospital, Apapa, from the gunshot injuries he sustained in the attack in front of International Church of Christ, Jobi-Fele Way, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, the governor said Ogunro’s killing had broken the hearts of Ekiti State residents, who he served diligently until his death.

He described the late Ogunro as a thoroughbred Ekiti son and a professional who identified with his people. The governor urged security agencies to apprehend the killers and bring them to justice soonest. Dr Fayemi, who visited the family of the late Ogunro in Lagos yesterday, said those who killed the frontline advertising practitioner should not be allowed to get away with the crime.

 The governor promised that his administration would assist security agencies to bring his killers to book. He said: “We are appalled and shocked by this gruesome ‘murder’ of an Ekiti shining light, who was a role model to the young generation. “He (Ogunro) believed in hard work and rose to the pinnacle of advertising and marketing communications.

“His sterling qualities inspired our administration to appoint him as the chairman of the state broadcasting service and he turned around the fortunes of the corporation within the short time he held office. “This is a monumental loss to the government and people of Ekiti State.

We urge security agencies to do everything humanly possible to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.” The late Ogunro attended a Christmas carol at the church with his wife, children and grand children. It was learnt that the late Ogunro was attacked after he caught a thief in the church at 10pm. One of the late Ogunro’s sons, Timayo, recounted how his father was killed.

He said: “It was a night of Christmas carol at the church. After the main carol service, people went down to eat. There was a man who tried to steal some money from someone and my father caught him. Other deacons and the minister of God started talking to the guy about what happened.

That took some time. “So, as this continued, people started to leave the church premises. Eventually, it was just myself, my mum and my dad, some children and a few disciples of the church who remained behind. “My dad said I should take my mum and the children home, since it was getting late.

We went outside and my mum remembered that she left some water in my dad’s car. So, my dad went to get the water from across the road. As I was about to open the door for everyone to get in, the gunmen came in a blue Sienna. I saw what happened but I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

“There were five of them. They spread out. Three of them came to me and hit me. I went down and gave them everything in my hand, including the car keys. I went down with my mum and the kids while two of the attackers walked up to my dad. He wanted to take the keys to his car but my dad told them: ‘Just take it; just take it.’ You know these guys: obviously, they were high and they just shot him.”

A church member, Mr Sola Martins, said someone called him after leaving the church that he should call the police because there was shooting at the church premises. Martins said he received another call, as he was attempting to rush to the church premises, that Ogunro had been shot and that he should call the police.

According to the church member, he reported the matter to the police and later joined the family at the Apapa hospital, where Ogunro died. Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said: “About 22:42 hours (10 pm) on December 22, a distress call was received by the Alausa Division of the police command. It was gathered that four armed men operating in a Honda Odyssey attempted to snatch a Mercedes Benz ML jeep belonging to Mr Ogunro. “The man resisted and threw away the key of the jeep, hence the armed men shot him.

They abandoned the Honda Odyssey and escaped with a red Toyota Yaris car belonging to the wife, who was standing with him on the scene. “The scene was visited immediately by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and a team and the incident was confirmed. The DPO also visited the victim at the Lagoon Hospital where he was receiving treatment, though critical.” She said none of the relatives had made a statement on the incident.

The police pokesperson explained that the Honda Odyssey was confirmed to have been snatched from somebody identified as Ali Balogun at Ebute-Metta at 8pm.

The owner was reportedly dropped on Jobi-Fele Way in Alausa, Ikeja, from where she was taken to the station. Braide said the police had begun investigation into the incident and the search for the fleeing hoodlums. Nation

9 Died In Gombe Auto Crash

The Federal Road Safety Commission on Monday confirmed that nine persons died while four sustained injuries in two separate car accidents in Gombe State.

The Sector Commander in Gombe state, Mr Kuteb Galadima, told newsmen in Gombe that the accidents occurred on Dec. 22 and early hours of Monday. He said the first accident on Dec. 22 involved a Toyota Starlet and Water tanker at 7.00 p.m. on Gombe bye-pass.

He said the starlet stopped at a police check point when a water tanker lost control and crushed it, killing all the four passengers in the car and a police man checking the vehicle. Galadima said the second accident occurred in Shongo Idrissa area of Gombe on Gombe-Bauchi road on Monday and involved a Toyota corolla and Peugeot cars.

He said the other accident was caused by wrong over taking which led to the death of four of nine passengers on board the two cars. Galadima called on motorists to be cautious while driving, to avert possible occurrence of accident this yuletide season. (NAN)