Obey God’s commandments: Adeboye urges Nigerians - vanguard

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),Pastor E.A Adeboye, has advised Nigerians to always obey God’s commandments.

Adeboye gave the advice during a special programme entitled, “Escape for Your life,’’ organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus Christian Mobilisation Committee on Thursday night in Ile-Ife, Osun.

He said many academics were still living in sin, adding that this had made them to continue to experience spiritual blindness in spite of their qualifications.

Adeboye urged Nigerians to refrain from all acts of immorality, saying God’s wrath would be visited on the disobedient.

According to the renowned cleric, the only way to escape from the wrath of God’s judgment that would come is to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. Adeboye also advised the congregation to totally submit their lives to God, saying this would enable them to escape from the bondage of Satan.

My Husband Wants To Kill Me With Sex

A 38-year old woman has asked the court to dissolve her 12-year-old marriage to her husband over his too much demand for sex. Mrs Bose who appeared before an Ejigbo customary court in Lagos said her husband has high libido and she couldn't cope anymore with his sexual demands which cold lead to her death.

According to the mother of two, when she complained to her husband, Kayode he sent her out of their matrimonial home, locked her shop, and brought in his lover, identified as Kate Ugwu who now lives with him as his wife, adding that as a result of closing her shop, all her goods expired and she has no money to start up the business again.

She also claimed that at a point her husband was making love to both of them in their matrimonial home. She asked for the sum of N1.5million as compensation to move on with her life as she was tired of the relationship and no longer loves her husband.

Responding to her allegations, her husband Kayode admitted asking her to leave but said he did so because of her behaviour.

According to him, he started having problems with his wife, Bose when she told him that she wanted to cook separate food for his late wife’s two children and that's when he decided to send her away for the safety of those children.

He also admitted that he has a lover whom he married after Bose left, claiming that his new wife gives him peace and rest of mind.

He said he was no longer interested in the marriage and he was not ready to pay any compensation. The court adjourned the matter till 27 January for judgment.

Adamawa Governor Pledge Not to Return to PDP

Adamawa State governor,Murtala Nyako on Friday said he would never return to PDP by the grace of God despite the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the party. Governor made his stand clear when he interacted with newsmen at Yola International Airport, Adamawa. “The resignation of Bamanga Tukur is not a condition of my return to PDP. “Some of my reasons for not returning are that the party has became an empire of impunity and lawlessness,’’ he said. He said his decision to remain in APC was not for personal interest, but in the interest of the country and democracy.

Ibadan Traders Protest Against High Cost Of Fish

Fish traders in Ibadan on Thursday protested against the high cost of the frozen products. The traders in their hundreds marched to various cold rooms in the state capital protesting against the high prices.

The protest forced fish wholesalers in the state to shut down their cold rooms and close shops.

The owners of the cold rooms had pleaded with the protesting fish sellers to allow them dispose their stock before embarking on the protest.

One of the fish traders identified as Iya Michael told our correspondent that “Titus which formerly sold for N8,000, now sells for N15,000; Sardines which sold for N3,000 now sells for N8,000; while Panla which sold for N5,000 now sells for N10,000.”

 Many of the fish traders in the state have been thrown out of business, as they could not afford the new prices.

The cold room owners, on the other hand, attributed the high cost of fish to federal government’s plan to stop importation of frozen foods, including fish.

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Tukur resigns At Last

Governors and lawmakers who left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, welcomed the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman of the ruling party, saying though vindicated, they would not return to the party.

While lauding the removal of Tukur, the governors and lawmakers said the destruction wrought on the party was beyond redemption, saying that the PDP was not destined to survive harder times

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, however, removed himself from the agitation for Tukur’s resignation, saying that he did not begrudge the former national chairman. 

The insistence of the defectors nonetheless, one of the leading pro-Goodluck Jonathan advocacy groups, Movement for National Transformation, MNT, called for reconciliation with the defectors as he called on the new leadership to learn from the mistakes of the Tukur leadership.

The reactions followed Tukur’s formal resignation at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party yesterday. President Goodluck Jonathan who led Vice-President Namadi Sambo, principal officers of the National Assembly and other high government officials to the meeting said he would offer Tukur tougher responsibilities even as he called on the new leadership to be more consistent in procedures for meetings. Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State spoke yesterday on behalf of the Group of five governors who left the PDP last November following persistent conflicts with the Tukur leadership of the party.

 In a statement made available to Vanguard, Nyako said that the five governors had proved to the world that they had a genuine reason to abandon the PDP under Tukur and pitch tent with the APC. But the governors were quick to warn that they would not return to the PDP even with the removal of Tukur since the party had become synonymous with impunity and lawlessness.

Nyako who spoke through his director of press, Ahmad Sajoh, said: “We want it known that the main reason the G5 governors and their supporters left the PDP was the regime of impunity and lawlessness instituted in the party, and the deafness with which genuine agitations were ignored by the national leadership of the party. “This was particularly more manifest in the manner in which properly constituted State executives of the party were wantonly dissolved and members suspended.

“Also, the G5 governors and other office holders in the party who went to the APC had objected to the erosion of all tenets and principles of democratic practice in the PDP particularly the imposition of candidates from Abuja on the electorate in their states contrary to outcomes of nomination processes, and the extreme regimentation of views and opinions in the party to the effect that when one holds an opposing view political aides are sent to insult and threaten such persons.”

The governors called on those asking them to return to the PDP to note that at the time they had been trying to obtain listening ears to their agitations most of those talking today had ignored them and at times even called them names. “It should also be noted that on their part they had done everything possible to attract some understanding but no one cared.

“At times we even bent over backward to achieve results but we were spurned by both the PDP leadership and those calling them back today.” The governors made it clear that the resignation of Tukur was not a sufficient reason to believe that the problems that necessitated their departure from the party had been addressed. According to them, the only thing the resignation has done is to vindicate the G5 Governors that their agitations were after all genuine and that the steps they took are justified.

 The governors said, “Our movement to the APC is therefore conclusive and the only option available to us under the circumstances is to remain there, save democracy in Nigeria, safeguard our honour and ensure that fairness and justice prevail in the country.” Obasanjo who spoke through his media aide, Tunde Oladunjoye, on phone, said the former president did not begrudge Tukur.

I hold no grudge against Tukur — OBJ Oladunjoye, who made a reference to Obasanjo’s recent letter to Tukur noted that the former president never called for Tukur’s resignation, saying that the issues raised in the letter were purely on personal principle. “I want you to note that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has nothing personal against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. If you look at Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s last letter to the former National Chairman, the issues he raised in that letter are much more than Tukur’s resignation.

If you have a copy of the letter, you will agree with me that those issues are yet to be addressed,” he added. The former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of PDP had written a letter dated January 7, to Tukur in which he announced his withdrawal from activities of the party at local, state, zonal and national levels. Obasanjo had hinged his distance from the party on the fact that the party had been negating the principle of morality, decency and discipline in its decisions and enthronement of its leadership.

Senator Bukola Saraki, the former governor of Kwara State also welcomed the exit of Tukur and said it was a vindication of the governors’ agitation against the former national chairman. He, however, regretted that Tukur had torn the PDP umbrella to tatters with no prospect of repair in sight.

 “Earlier today, I received the news that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has officially resigned as chairman after damaging PDP beyond repair. This has vindicated me and other progressives’ that had to leave the party at a point when some of the issues we clamoured for are now coming to light.

”Over the last seven months, we were blackmailed and called names ranging from rebels, dissidents, ingrates and that we were self centered,” Senator Saraki said. “Unfortunately, it has become obvious today that PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was a failure and a big tumor that was allowed to become a cancerous one.”

Members of the House of Representatives who also defected from the PDP to the APC also rebuffed the new entreaties on them to return to the fold. Leader of the defunct nPDP, Rep Andrew Uchendu, from Rivers State said yesterday:

“Our decision to leave PDP is irreversible and not regrettable in any way. We tried all necessary avenues to reconcile our differences with the leaders of the party but all our efforts failed. “There is a new platform for Nigerians to express their electoral powers and that is the APC. The PDP now has a major challenge because there is no way we will return to PDP.”

Speaking in the same vein, Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Rep Dakuku Peterside from Rivers State said the removal of Tukur vindicated their agitation against the erstwhile national chairman, but ruled out any return to the ruling party. “No! Never! We have been justified that the leadership of the crumbling PDP while we were there was rudderless and had no programme for Nigeria and Nigerians,” Peterside said. Rep Ahmad Ali, APC, Kwara, and Rep Ogbonna Nwuke, Etche/Omumu Federal Constituency, Rivers State also spoke in the same light.

The Mass Mobilisation for Transformation, MMT, begrudged Tukur for the recent spate of crises in the party and called on aggrieved individuals to return to the mainstream of the party.

The group in a statement issued by its national chairman, Joseph Ambakederimo said: “We received the news of the resignation of the PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, with jubilation.”

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Demcoratic Party, PDP, has hailed the resignation of its former national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, saying it was a wise decision. In a statement by the state publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani said “We have absolute confidence and belief in the capability of our leaders to forge ahead under any circumstances.

The decision to ease out Dr Bamanga Tukur must have been well considered by these wise men.” The Chief Maxi Okwu – led All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, saluted the PDP on the resolution of the lingering internal crisis in the party. Okwu, in a statement by his Senior Media Assistant, Victor Chigozie Eneh, said Alhaji Tukur had shown rare statesmanship by bowing out peacefully so as not to put himself as a stumbling block to party unity and progress.

NEC MEETING

Soon after President Jonathan told members of NEC that Tukur had agreed to step aside and tendered a letter of resignation which he, President Jonathan then presented to the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, the hall erupted as members stood for a standing ovation at exactly 1.55 pm.

Controversial CP: APC agrees with Soyinka on posting of Mbu to Borno, Yobe

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has joined Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka in pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan to send controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Mbu Joseph Mbu, to Borno or Yobe state to help end the Boko Haram menace.

“We totally agree with Prof. Soyinka’s recommendation that CP Joseph Mbu should be sent to where his skills are needed most since his use of ‘minimum force’ could send a serving Senator to a London hospital. If he is permitted to use ‘maximum force’ the menace of Boko Haram will be a thing of the past! We, therefore, join the respected Nobel laureate in pleading with the Presidency to as a matter of urgency redeploy CP Mbu to either Borno or Yobe state as we do not need him in Rivers State,” Rivers APC Interim Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ikanya, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

Dr. Ikanya decried the graveyard silence by the Presidency over last Sunday’s show of shame in which policemen acting on Mbu’s orders disrupted a peaceful rally by the Save Rivers Movement and shot Senator Magnus Abe, who is now recuperating in a London hospital as such silence is criminal and should be condemned not minding the level of hatred harboured against the Rivers State people by the Presidency. .

Rivers APC welcomed the decision of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the incident. It, however, warned that the investigation must not be a charade intended to pool wool over the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

 “All relevant individuals, including Senator Abe and Sir Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi – both of whom were shot during the disrupted rally, should be interviewed by the IGP’s investigating team.

The inquiry should also touch on the unholy marriage between the Police in Rivers State since the arrival of CP Mbu and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ascertain if CP Mbu is a member of PDP or not and if he attends PDP meeting. Anything short of this is unacceptable,”

Rivers APC said.

APC counsels the Inspector General of Police’s Panel Team to disregard any document from one Fake Pastor Jerry Needam the assumed mouth piece of PDP whose main stock of trade is pedalling of rumours and falsehoods who because of his poor educational background reads and interprets any document before him upside down resulting to his nickname as “Jerry the Liar” to avoid the Panel from been misguided!

The party finally appealed to IGP Abubakar not to allow CP Mbu and his collaborators to rubbish his hard-earned reputation as an exemplary Police Officer.

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Brazil 2014 World Cup : FIFA Neglets Nigerian referees - premiumtimes

Nothing seems to have changed in the ratings of Nigerian referees by the world football governing body, FIFA, as none of the country’s referees was included in the short-list for the Brazil 2014 World Cup made public on Wednesday.

The Nigerian referees, who were also not nominated for honours at the last CAF awards held in Lagos, will only watch from the screens as their African compatriot take to the field.

Leading the African contingent of referees set for World Cup in Brazil are – Noumandiez Doue (Ivory Coast), Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia), and Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria). Other African referees on Wednesday’s shortlist include: Doue Noumandiez Desire (Cote d’ Ivoire), Gassama Bakary Papa (Gambia), Alioum Neant (Cameroun), and Bennett Daniel Frazer (South Africa).

The assistant referees nominated from Africa are Yeo Songuifolo (Cote d’Ivoire), Birumushahu Jean Claude (Burundi), Menkouande Evarist (Cameroon), Kabanda Felicien (Rwanda), Achik Redouane (Morocco), Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria), Camara Djibril (Senegal), and Range Marwa (Kenya). Europe provides nine of the 25 officiating teams, South America has five, Asia has four, Africa and the CONCACAF region have three each, and Oceania one.

The youngest referee chosen is 33-year-old Wilmar Roldan of Colombia, and the oldest is 43-year-old Noumandiez Doue of Ivory Coast. “FIFA has implemented a comprehensive program to ensure that the referees for its flagship competition are in peak condition,” the world governing body said in a statement.

 “The referees selected … have been chosen based especially on their personality and their quality in football understanding by being able to read the game and the teams’ tactical approaches towards each game. “Between now and the World Cup, the selected group of match officials will participate in three seminars: February, March/April, and the last one ten days before the kick-off.

“The selected referees and assistant referees will be followed and monitored regularly during this period, and FIFA is ready to give them all the support they need so that they can prepare for this important World Cup in the best possible manner.”

Absence of witnesses stalls trial of Chinese charged with forgery of rice brand in Nigeria

The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on fraud, forgery, unlawful possession and stealing. The absence of two prosecution witnesses at a Federal High Court in Lagos, Wednesday, stalled the trial of a Chinese, Hong Dong Shen. Mr. Shen is charged with the forgery of Mama Gold Rice brand.

The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud, unlawful possession and stealing.

When the case was mentioned, the prosecutor, Daniel Apochi, informed the court that the prosecution witnesses were absent in court, recalling that they were informed of the case. He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment, to secure the attendance of the witnesses in court.

The Defence Counsel, Tokunbo Fayemi, raised an objection to the prayer of the prosecution, arguing that the matter had suffered a series of adjournments at their instance. He also prayed the court for an order striking out the charge against the accused.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, in a short ruling, urged the prosecution to exhibit more diligence in the trial. “This is a criminal charge in which the liberty of an accused is at stake, and so, should be treated with all seriousness by the prosecution,” he said. Mr. Yunusa, therefore, adjourned the case till March 28, at the instance of prosecution.

The accused, who was arraigned on July 29, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge had granted Mr. Shen bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum, and ordered him to deposit his travelling documents with the court’s registry.

The prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offence between February 2011 and March 2013. He said Mr. Shen forged the trade mark of Ollam Nig. Ltd., producers of Mama Gold Rice, and had fraudulently reproduced about 140 bags for illegal sale to members of the public. According to the prosecutor, the trade mark is valued at N200 million.

The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and violates Sections 3 and 32 of the Merchandise Act, 2004. Section 390(9) provides for a term of seven years imprisonment for the offence of stealing.

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