Race For Lagos Speakership Begins

With the conclusion of the 2015 general elections across the country except for few states where there would be re-run elections in some categories, the next item on the agenda is the election of principal officers of the state assemblies, when they are inaugurated in June, 2015. Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani writes on the race for the Speakership of the Lagos State House of Assembly

For the Lagos State House of Assembly, electing the next Speaker might not be as easy as it may appear.

The calculation of most keen watchers of events and the assumed plan of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has since produced 32 out of the 40 members of the Assembly as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won eight seats, had been that the out-going Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Musibau Kolawole Taiwo (HKT) from Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency 01 would be the next Speaker of LSHA as he has been a member of the Assembly since 1999, when the new democratic dispensation in the country started.

It was gathered that he was being positioned by the leadership of the House as the most experienced lawmaker in the Assembly, who has paid his dues since the current Speaker of the House, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who contested for the governorship position of the state at the primaries level, would not be returning to the House.

But, this has since changed as HKT painfully lost his seat to the PDP candidate in the area, Mr. Dayo Famakinwa, who reportedly had bulk votes from a ward in Ajegunle area of the constituency thus nullifying the results from other wards, where Taiwo was having upper hand.

With the defeat of Taiwo, ranking lawmakers, especially those from Lagos Central Senatorial District, which is said to be favoured to produce the next Speaker of the Assembly, are said to be warming up for the contest.

The calculation, sources said, is that since the Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is from Lagos East Senatorial District and the Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, is from Lagos West, then it is automatic that the Speaker of the Assembly should come from Lagos Central.

Investigations revealed that Taiwo would have been given a waiver on this, but that the opportunity has now eluded him and the party leadership are said to be getting set to go the way of the assumed calculation.

Those close to the lawmakers revealed that some of the contenders for the plum job are Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa Constituency 2), Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2), Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Ikorodu 1 in Lagos East, Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi from Ifako/Ijaiye 1 in Lagos West, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 1, Lagos East) as well as Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin 1, Lagos West).

One other name that is on the card is that of the lawmaker elect from Lagos Island Constituency 1, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun.

However, the issue with Eshinlokun is that his candidature is being challenged by the incumbent lawmaker from the area, Hon. Akeem Masha, who had protested against the election of Eshinlokun at the primaries.

Wasiu Eshinlokun was in the Assembly from 1999 to 2003 before he left to become the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government. His name came into public domain last year as the candidate from the area, who would become the next Speaker of the Assembly as it has been zoned to Lagos Central, where he came from. He was even said to have told those close to him that his main agenda of going to the House is to become the Speaker as the leadership of the party has told him to get set for the job.

Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan, who is going to the Assembly for a second term, is said to be a top contender for the post based on the fact that he is from Lagos East Senatorial District and his brilliant performance in the 7th Assembly.

Apart from initiating a Bill on Anti-Smoking, which has since become a law, Yishawu is said to be one of the most performing lawmakers in the Assembly, who contributes brilliantly to debates and has come up with many progressive motions despite the fact that he has just spent a term in the House.

For Hon. Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, the argument of those that are supporting him is that he is a ranking member of the House, who has been in the Assembly since 2007.

Oshun, who happens to be the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, is seen as someone that has learned much about legislative matters over the years and who has travelled all over the state in the course of performing his oversight functions in his committee. His opponents are however saying that he might have problems with some of his colleagues, who feel the position might be too demanding for him.

Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho is not new to the business of law-making in the state. She got into the House in 2003 and she was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House during her second term of office in 2007, but she was impeached over issues bothering on gross misconduct in August 2009.

One lawmaker that we can call an engine room of the House is Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who was recently awarded as the Best Lawmaker At Plenary by the correspondents covering the House under the auspices of Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA).

The pendulum might also swing in the direction of Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi from Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 1. Fafunmi has been in the Assembly since 2007 and he has been one of the assets of the Houseover the years. Son of a politician, Fafunmi also contributes brilliantly to debates and he is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) Local through which he has worked for the development of the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas across the state.

The last man standing amongst the principal officers in the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, is also being considered for the job. Abiru, who has, won election into the House for the 3rd term, used to be seen as the barometer of the House based on the way he articulates issues, which changes the directions of debates. He is from Lagos East .

The whole thing appears to be dicey at the moment, but the issue would definitely be sorted in the coming days or weeks and it would certainly be what and how the leadership of the APC wants it to be.

Certainly, they would have no choice, but to carry the elected lawmakers along so that the House can work in tandem with the in-coming government to further make Lagos State the centre of excellence.

Desperate Housewives get Nigerian edition

The local adaptation of the multiple award-winning ABC television drama hit series is set to launch in Nigeria. This launch is to be preceded by a premiere in Lagos by the end of this month where the new Desperate Housewives of Africa will be introduced in person along with the all-African suburban ‘Wisteria Lane’ neighborhood where the series will be based.

L-R: Linda Osifo as Rhetta Moore; Michelle Dede as Tari Gambadia; Omotu Bissong as Funke Lawal; Marcy Dolapo Oni as Rume Bello; Kehinde Bankole as Kiki Obi; Nini Wacera as Ese De Souza

Whilst the set location is still under wraps for the time being, it can be confirmed that ‘Desperate Housewives Africa’ will closely reflect the original multi-award winning American version with a uniquely African flavour. Viewers can look forward to an enthralling and spell-binding homegrown pilot that takes the ‘Desperate Housewives’ format as you once knew it to scandalously new dimensions.

It is based on an outwardly successful neighbor, Rume Bello, played by Marcy Dolapo Oni, who succumbs to death. Her friends continue to deal with their everyday lives and, as seen through Rume’s eyes, the story mysteriously unravels in a dramatic, comedic whirlwind which will have you at the edge of your seat calling for more.

Michelle Dede portrays the character, Tari Gambadia. Her ultimate desperation is unknown at first as she competes for the attention of a new hunky neighbour who has his own ulterior motives?

Nini Wacera, portrays Ese De Souza, a housewife who struggles with maintaining the perfect family but her outward impression of perfection successfully mask the disturbing dysfunction in her household. Kehinde Bankole, as Kiki Obi, continues a rather sordid and sleazy love affair.

According to Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa comments, “We are very excited that one of ABC’s hit television series is being made for African viewers.  This is a first for the continent of Africa and we could not be more proud of what we have seen so far of ‘Desperate Housewives Africa’.”

Mo Abudu, Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, has this to say about the production. “Once again, I am pleased to say that we are extremely excited to bring this rich, thrilling and captivating drama to our local and global audiences. We have put in a lot to maintain our premium homegrown quality of  production and our viewers can absolutely look forward with great delight to watching a most riveting adaptation of the multiple-award winning version from Africa; one with a uniquely African essence that closely mirrors the format and storylines of the multiple award winning American version.

The Argentine hailed his players' efforts despite Atletico going out of the Champions League against their city rivals

Diego Simeone felt his Atletico side were in control of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid until Arda Turan’s red card swung it in the hosts' favour.

Turan was dismissed for a second yellow card with 14 minutes to go at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the tie goalless and seemingly heading for extra time.

The sending-off rejuvenated Madrid who grabbed an 88th-minute winner through Javier Hernandez to squeeze Carlo Ancelotti's men into the semi-finals.

And while Simeone refused to criticise Turan for the red card, he admitted it was a game-changer.

“There’s no sense in talking about Arda’s red card, it will change nothing,” he said at the post-match press conference. “But until then we were controlling the game.”

Despite the defeat, Simeone was full of praise for his players.

“We competed well, I am proud,” he added. “We have a team of men who work, have pride and I am very grateful. Except the first 10 minutes when we did not play well, I don't think it was a bad game. The other team had the ball but we had the feeling we covered the gaps very well.

"If you lose giving everything then you must be happy. When the team works like today, I have nothing to say. There are many coaches that envy me for having this team. We congratulate our rivals and now we have to think about the game against Elche on Saturday."

Woman Hires Assasins to Kill Husband

A 57-year-old man, Solomon Fasade, has pleaded with an Iyana-Ipaja Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 17-year-old marriage to Abosede.
Mr Fasade, who lives in Ayobo, a Lagos suburb, is accusing his wife of waywardness and threatening his life.
He claimed that she brought another man to their house.
“Two years after I was robbed, I later got to know my wife arranged armed robbers to my house and went as far as asking them to kill me,” he said.
When the court’s President, Mrs Shalewa Banjoko, asked him how he got to know this, he said: “It was a neighbour who told me the insect that eats up a leaf lives on the leaf. I was confused and shocked.”
The defendant, Mrs Fasade (43), said the only reason her husband thinks she is a flirt is because she sells alcoholic drinks.
“I sell alcoholic drinks in front of my husband’s house but I am not an harlot,” she said.
She said she never planned to kill her husband.
“I will never kill him because he has been responsible for the upkeep of the children I had from my previous marriage. If it was my intention, I would have succeeded in doing so because I cook for him and we sleep together on the same bed. I will never do such. I still need my husband because he is a good man,” Mrs Fasade said.
Banjoko ordered the couple to be peaceful and adjourned the matter till Thursday.

Cholera Disease Outbreak Killed 10 Ebonyi State Students

Cholera Disease

At least 20 people have reportedly died of choleraoutbreak in seven local government areas of Ebonyi State.

The local government areas affected include Izzi, Ebonyi, Abakaliki, Ohaozara, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ishielu and Ezza North.

The state Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Chris Achi, who disclosed this to newsmen, said the state government had taken measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Achi stated that one of the 10 undergraduates of the Ebonyi State University, affected by the disease had died.

The nine others and 15 students of Girls’ High School, Azuiyiokwu, who were also affected were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki for medical attention, he said.

He also disclosed that the disease was recorded in 12 Apostle College Sharon and Annunciation Schools, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki.

Achi explained that those who died resorted to self-medication, resulting in renal breakdown before being taken to hospitals for treatment.

He urged residents of the state to refrain from defecating indiscriminately around their vicinities and drinking contaminated water. He also advised those seeking accommodation to ensure they lived in houses with toilet facilities.

Achi enjoined the people to ensure personal hygiene and desist from eating food they were not sure of where it was prepared to avoid contracting the disease.

Photo: Former IGP Suleiman Abba hands over to new IGP, Arase

Former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, who was sacked yesterday April 21st by pres. Jonathan handed over to the newly appointed IGP Solomon Arase at the police headquarters in Abuja today April 22nd. I like the way he's smiling despite the circumstances.

I’ve stepped on toes, but won’t flee Nigeria –Diezani

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, on Wednesday  debunked rumours that she has fled the country following the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to secure a second term.

Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke

Emerging from the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, the Minister said she has no regrets stepping on toes of members of a powerful cabal in the nation’s oil and gas industry who are now feeding the rumour mills with maliciously false reports about her.

She also used the opportunity of addressing State House correspondents after the meeting to also refute allegations that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refused to remit to the $1.48 billion (N294.5 billion) uncovered by a recent forensic audit to government. She also said the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) would refund the money.

According to Mrs. Allison-Madueke, “the PriceWaterhouse Cooper forensic audit that was done few weeks ago in its recommendation mentioned that $1.48 billion was owed by Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) for a block that had hitherto been assigned from the NNPC to which is its subsidiary and they felt that the right process would be that NPDC will refund that money to the Federation Account.

“NPDC has apparently started those refunds and it is also in discussion with NNPC (Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on same. So the refund has actually began.”

She acknowledged that “during our time there are gaps in the NNPC and I said that openly. But I can also say that there is no time in Nigerian history in the oil and gas that the NNPC has been as open and audited as it is today.

“It has been positioned to go forward in the industry, it is true that the revenue profile is not sustainable. But we have done our best and the Nigerian oil and gas sector is today in a better shape than it has ever been in terms of achievements that we have recorded.

“So let me state it clearly for the records that Nigeria is my country and am not going anywhere.

“I love my country and I do think that I have done the best for my country and I would also like to point these malicious, malevolence, vindictive libels…

“We have done enough for this industry, we cannot please everybody. Yes, we have stepped on toes but we did that in the best interest of Nigeria and we have opened up the oil and gas industry to all Nigerians, thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from our reforms in the system.”

On the persistence of fuel queues, the Minister blamed it on the petroleum products distributors, insisting that there was enough petroleum products available for Nigerians.

According to her: “We have kept queues to the bearest minimum. We have moved away from the challenges of the past and ensured through our various flexible product arrangement that we kept Nigeria wet with fuel supply.

“Unfortunately, you are coming into a transition, whenever certain things are happening, intruders will hijack the process and certain amount of hoarding taking place for various reasons, this is what we are experiencing and there is no reason for this because our reserves are enough to keep the country wet with products throughout this period.

“I will plead with marketers to please make the fuel available. PMS is available, make it available to Nigerians, we have worked so hard to build the system and we don’t want it distracted in these later days”.

She said the allegations of corruption and negative stories against her were the handiwork of vested interests opposed to her opening up the oil and gas sector to hitherto less privileged Nigerian investors. Despite such blackmail from detractors, she said a lot of firsts had been achieved in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in the last four years.

The Minister also denied reports that she was running from pillar to post seeking intervention from influential Nigerians, including ex-head of state, Abdusalami Abubakar, to prepare a soft landing for her to escape possible probe or prosecution.

She said President Jonathan has already answered that and called it unnecessary mischief and I will ask that the media do its research properly and deal with the  facts.

“I have the privilege of meeting with many senior statesmen during the course of my job in the Federal Executive Council and I was surprised that he should be singled out in any such form.

“The short answer is no. I have not sought such assistance because I am not aware that I have been indicted of any crime that I will need a soft landing.

“Over the last four years, I have been severally and unfortunately accused and labelled in so many malicious and vindictive ways. I have explained these things and pushed back robustly on these accusations and I have even gone to court on many of them. Yet they keep being regurgitated.

“And I think it is unfortunate, particularly when we are moving into a transition period and looking forward to an incoming government which is coming to take over where we have ended.

“For everything that has a beginning there is an end and that is not a surprise. What is the surprise is the sort of malevolence bordering on personal malicious libel to my person during this period of time.

“I do believe that I have done the best for Nigeria in this job and I have attained many firsts in the history of oil and gas especially in the reforms that we have done.

“In this period of time, I have stepped on many big toes particularly the feet of the cabals that where in the industry when we came in.

“This is because I have said severally that we will open up the industry to all Nigerians and we have but that is not to the pleasure of certain cabals.

“And I have been continuously maligned because of this and we have taken millions and in fact billions of dollars out of the hands of some multinationals and their subcontractors and put them in the hands of Nigerians through Nigerian Content (Act).

“Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have come into the oil and gas industry because of our reforms.

“Quite frankly, I think as unprecedented as it is, it does not please everybody and that cannot be helped but let us remember the unprecedented reforms that have happened in the oil industry during our time, such as major gas reforms, the Petroleum Industry Bill, which has been completely revised, reformed and put into the hands of members of the National Assembly where it has languished for two years in the National Assembly.

“In that bill are all the reforms needed to tear NNPC apart, make it a National Oil company, an equity share company through transparency, accountability and responsibility and reduce corruption in the industry.

“We did all these and we put them in place to reduce corruption; So, for me to be tagged with various tags of corruption like $10 million jet purchases, who buys jet for $10 million dollars for goodness sake?”

New Reps move to hijack speakership

A new twist has emerged in the race for the Speaker of the House of Represen­tatives, as non-ranking members are making arrange­ment to present a candidate for the top office.

The development is coming ahead of the meeting by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progres­sives Congress (NEC) expected to hold today to decide on the zone that will produce the Speaker. The meeting will also ratify other zoning arrangements for top offices.

Daily Sun gathered yesterday that new members who constitute two-thirds of the House are planning to sponsor a candidate for the speakership election, following pockets of meetings. The person being touted, it was learnt, is Hon Philip Shuaibu from Edo State. He is currently a member of the state House of Assembly and former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

“We are aware of moves by some new members to sponsor Hon Shuaibu to vie for the office of Speaker on June 6”, a ranking member disclosed.

Although the freshers are aware that the rules of the House bar them from either heading committees or being part of the leadership, they are said to be planning to move a motion to set aside the rules.

The lawmaker said, “one of them told me that they want to move a motion to set aside the rules of the House to pave way for them to sponsor somebody to contest. I think they are acting from the position of ignorance; nobody is taking them serious.

“We are all aware that some of them have been meeting but we are not losing sleep over that because we know that their meeting cannot produce anything meaningful.”

Sources among the fresh Reps-elect said they are against the rules on rank­ing because in the past, a fresh federal legislature headed the Senate,

According to them, the first time Senators Ken Nnamani and Ike Ekwer­emadu came to the Senate, they con­tested for the post of Senate president. Nnamani became Senate President that year.

Tonto Dikeh talks about how she survived being suicidal and the anger that consumed her for years

Tonto Dikeh took to her instagram page this morning to talk about how she struggled with being suicidal, being angry all the time, being a ticking time bomb and how she overcame it all. Read what she wrote below…

“Woke up reflecting on who I was and how far I have grown spiritually, womanly & physically. I had so much anger, So much venom, so much Hate to give. I didnt understand y neither did i give A hoot. I thot life Was all i Saw, Most of my anger Came from my Childhood (but i did have a great hood), Some came from Been Sick, Another came from been motherless,etc. Darlings i was broken,i was a walking disaster, A thicking time Bomb. I was on a suicide part on a regular sigh# Bottomline I Saved me, I got to realise that no1 cares about your Pain/hurt or life, people already have too much on their plate Or are more Angry about life than u
I came to understand that wirhout me the world wld still go on with nothing missed n might even be a better place,you might b missed for a day,week,years but i bet u u gonno b so forgotten wen its time* i came to unserstand that change i needed was inside me,We really dont maximise our God given Authority AS Gods creations#PRAYER#

*I came to realise that Anger is a more deadly messedup illness than CANCER,my anger was the shield btw i and happiness,Love,Life,etc* I came to realise that my future depends on me letting go of all the hurt/Anger/Negativity and fully committed2 God and living a good life*

* I did realise a couple of things about self love,God/Allah,Food,We RE barely existing n not living without God*Good food is fuel for your mind, soul n body** Release yourself today from Your Burden/Anger/Pain and truly discover a life of constant joy in his grace.. I didnt turn born again or nothing i just realised that I AM SPECIAL.. Good morning Angels #TODAY I CELEBRATE 4YEARS OF CONSTANT ELETRICITY IN MY HOME NOT NEPA THOU LOL

BOKO HARAM: 43 Boko Haram child soldiers rescued in Borno state

43 Boko Haram child soldiers have been rescued by the Chadian army in Damasak, Borno state. Spokesperson of Chadian Army, Col. Azem Agouna, while revealing this yesterday April 22nd, said the children, all aged between 12 and above and of Chadian nationality managed to escape during the clashes between insurgents and soldiers, while local families helped them to hide from the militias.

He explained that when it was certain that Boko Haram had been defeated and would not return to the town, the children came out of their hiding places and asked Chadian security forces for help. The spokesman said the children have been repatriated back to Chad while a full scale investigation into how they were abducted will be launched.

Fire outbreak hits Bayelsa oil trunk line

Another leak/fire was reported on April 20 on the Kolo Creek–Rumuekpe trunk line in Bayelsa State, where an excavated ditch was discovered at the fire point, about 5kms from the manifold operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Vanguard reports.

Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, at the Kolo Creek Manifold spill in Bayelsa State, which occurred on April 15, 2015, has attributed the leak to sabotage.

But a concerned stakeholder from the host community who pleaded anonymity, insisted that if the cause of the spill was sabotage as contained in the JIV report then it was a fallout of negligence by surveillance staff of SPDC.

The facility owned by SPDC, is located along the strategic Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi Road linking Ogbia Local Government Area to mainland Yenagoa.

PDP Has Become The Loosing Party Overnight

PDP Has Become The Loosing Party Overnight

The much anticipated general elections have come and gone with the winners and losers being announced in almost all the elections. JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH writes

After months of campaigning and politicking, the general elections took place on March 28 to determine who leads the country in the next four years and also those who will be at the National Assembly. Also on April 11, the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections held in some states across the nation. Let’s preview some of the winners and losers in both elections.

Winners

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) Having contested the presidential elections four times, the president-elect is definitely a winner. He finally achieved his dream this year with a resounding victory over President Goodluck Jonathan, becoming the first person to unseat an incumbent president in the history of Nigeria. The president -elect is already being likened to former American President Abraham Lincoln who several times contested for the American presidency before finally achieving his dream. The expectations are high for Buhari to deliver and lead the country to the Promised Land as corruption and insecurity have been the bane of this present administration.

Bola Tinubu
Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the fact that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a master tactician and strategist. Much of the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West can be attributed to him. It will be recalled that in the 2011 elections, Buhari lost in the South West but with the merger and the influence of Tinubu he was able to win the zone which was a major decider in these elections. He consolidated his status as the Godfather of South West politics in these polls.

Peace Accord Committee
The peace accord committee led by former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar worked round the clock to ensure peace reigns after the elections. Both presidential candidates were made to sign a peace accord which stipulates that the loser of the elections would congratulate the winner. The work of the committee was not in vain as Jonathan called and congratulated Buhari even before the final results were announced by the INEC. Most political analysts said that singular act by Jonathan saved the nation from possible catastrophe and chaos.

The populace
It is safe to say that the 2015 elections were to an extent free, fair and credible. The votes in many of the states reflected the wishes of the people. Nigerians now have the confidence that they can chose who they want to govern them. After 16 years of uninterrupted rule by the PDP, most Nigerians felt they needed a change and voted overwhelmingly for the APC; the wish of the people was respected. The voters are definitely the winners in these elections.

INEC
Even though the 2015 general elections experienced some hitches in some states, it can be said that these have been the best elections conducted in the country in recent times. It was a remarkable improvement from the 2011 elections. The success of the elections can be attributed to the use of card readers which to a large extent minimized rigging in some areas. Past elections were marred by cases of irregularities, rigging and ballot box snatching. However, the use of card readers reduced these incidences to the barest minimum.

Commendation must go to the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega who insisted on the use of card readers and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) for the elections as there were pressures from some political parties for the commission to ditch the use of card readers and PVC for the elections.

Losers: PDP
Having held sway as the ruling party for 16 years, the PDP fell like a pack of cards at the elections as not only did it lose the presidential election, it also lost its majority status in the National Assembly and also in the Gubernatorial elections. For the first time in 16 years, the party found itself in the opposition. Many have predicted that this may be the end of the party as before the 2019 elections, many politicians would have defected to the APC or form another party.

Rotimi Amaechi
Although his party won the presidential elections, it can be said that Rivers State governor is a loser in the governorship election held in his home state, Rivers. As the Director General of the Buhari campaign organization, it is expected he would deliver his state to the APC or at least put up some fight. However, the APC lost woefully in both the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in the state.

Doomsday Prophets
Before the elections, there were various predictions by prophets that here would be massive bloodshed in the country and that the country may break up. Even the US had earlier predicted that the country may break up in 2015. Apart from some pockets of violence recorded in some states, the elections were largely peaceful.

Senate President David Mark took a swipe at doomsday prophets recently in his welcome address to senators after their elections and Easter break. He said contrary to predictions the outcome of the general elections has greatly disappointed doomsday prophets who predicted disaster and even possible breakup of the country adding that he is happy that Nigerians hearkened to the persistent appeals for a peaceful and violence free elections.

Governors Babangida Aliyu, Saidu Dakingari and Gabriel Suswan
Governors of Niger State Babangida Aliyu, Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state and Gabriel Suswan of Benue states are the biggest casualties in the general elections. The trio contested for the senate in their senatorial zones and lost woefully in what could be defined as protest votes in their zones and at the same time, their candidates for governors lost out in the gubernatorial elections. The trio are facing a political wilderness both at the national and state levels.

Governor Ramalan Yero
Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna state lost woefully in his bid to return as governor of Kaduna state and for an incumbent governor the margin of defeat was too high and so far he’s the only incumbent governor who failed in his return bid.

American Researchers Say Nigerian Herbal Drug Can Cure Cancer

Nigeria - American researchers at the Texas Southern University in Houston have provided evidence that SAABFAT6, a Nigerian-C2-herbal drug may prevent the growth of cancer cells, Leadership reports.

The researchers, Syntia Ekwende and Momoh Yakubu said E2-80-9CSAABFAT6 shows that cancer can succumb to the power of researched drug combinations from the herbal centre.

This preliminary result indicated that SAABFAT6 supplement may have a potential for the regulation of HT29 growth and survival. Further study is required to identify the mechanism by which the anti- proliferative and cytotoxic effects of SAABFAT-6 is mediated, the researchers said earlier in his remarks

Amodu, who is also the director and chief researcher of the centre, disclosed that similar researches were carried out in the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, which, according to him, showed that his product combination has remedy for cancer.

The herbal product, SAABFAT6, listed by NAFDAC and produced by a Nigerian phytho-medicinal researcher in collaboration with Halamin Herbal Centre, was the focus of a recent study at the US Research Centre.

#Nigeria #NAFDAC #Cancer #America 

Government forces invade Nigeria’s Sambisa Forest, last known stronghold of Boko Haram

BAUCHI, NIGERIA – Nigerian forces backed by warplanes invaded Islamist group Boko Haram’s last known stronghold, the Sambisa Forest, on Wednesday, in an effort to finally defeat their six-year-old insurgency, two military sources said.

Armies from Nigeria and neighbors Chad, Niger and Cameroon have in the past two months launched a concerted push to try to crush the insurgents, who have killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds in their battle to establish an Islamic state.

The Sambisa forest in northeast Nigeria, a vast former colonial game reserve, is about 100 km (60 miles) from the village of Chibok from where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 secondary schoolgirls a year ago. Intelligence officials had believed that this was where they were being held, although U.S. reconnaissance drones have failed to find them.

U.N. Special Representative for West Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas said this month that Boko Haram militants seeking shelter in the Sambisa Forest may be using some of the captured girls as human shields.

A spokesman for the military was not immediately available for comment.

An official in the Chadian army said Chadian and Cameroonian troops were ready to attack Sambisa, which lies near the Cameroon border, from the other side and would move in soon.

Chadian troops were assembling in Mora, northern Cameroon, ahead of the joint operation, a Cameroonian army official said.

The militants controlled an area the size of Belgium at the start of the year, but have since lost much of that ground.

Yet they remain a deadly threat to civilians, as illustrated on Friday when they slit the throats of 12 people in northeast Nigeria as the army was trying to evacuate the area around the former Boko Haram headquarters of Gwoza.

Failure to crush Boko Haram or protect civilians was one reason President Goodluck Jonathan lost an election on March 28 to Muhammadu Buhari, who has pledged to spare no effort in battling the militants after he is sworn in on May 29.

Buhari also said he would do everything possible to rescue the Chibok girls, but could not promise to find them.

Nigeria protests to S. Africa over anti-immigrant attacks

JOHANNESBURG: Nigeria has complained to South Africa about a wave of attacks targeting foreigners and called on Pretoria to punish the culprits and compensate the victims, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Junior Foreign Minister Musiliu Obanikoro summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner Lulu Mnguni “to register Nigeria’s protest over the ongoing xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans in South Africa”.
“In the meeting, ambassador Obanikoro condemned the attacks on foreigners in South Africa, expressing concern on the fate of Nigerians and indeed of other nationals who are migrants in the country,” said a statement from his office.
South Africa needed to take “concrete steps to quell the unrest and bring the culprits involved to book” to act as a deterrent and prevent further violence, the statement added.
“He also called on the South African authorities to compensate the victims of these attacks,” the ministry said.
Soldiers were deployed overnight to tackle gangs hunting down and killing foreigners after at least seven people died in violence in the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, South African police and soldiers raided a hostel considered a hotspot for anti-immigrant attacks on Wednesday.
Police spokesman Lieut. Kay Makhubela said that 11 men were arrested Tuesday night in a bid to snuff out any further unrest. He said police were accompanied by the South African military.
Makhubela said the residents of the dilapidated block in downtown Johannesburg were believed to have looted foreign-owned shops in recent weeks. He said police met no resistance as they seized stolen goods and bags of marijuana.
Police said no new incidents of violence targeting foreigners were reported overnight in Johannesburg or in the coastal city of Durban, where the attacks began.

PHOTOS: lesbian couples alongside their children

When North Carolina moms Melanie and Vanessa Iris Roy shared their side-by-side maternity photos of instagram, they were not anticipating the viral fame that would follow.

The couple took the photos one year apart: First in January 2014 when Vanessa Iris was pregnant with their son Jax, and next in January 2015 while Melanie was carrying their daughter Ero.

Champions League: Neymar double eases Barcelona past poor PSG

Barcelona cruised into their seventh Champions League semi-final in eight years as a double from Neymar handed them to a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory on Tuesday.

Just as in last week’s first leg in Paris, the Brazilian opened the scoring after a sensational assist from Andres Iniesta.

Neymar then capitalised on some shoddy defending to head home his 30th goal of the season from Dani Alves’s cross.

Barca will now take their place alongside Bayern Munich in Friday’s draw for the last four, the ties to be played next month.

Only once in European Cup history had a side come back from losing the first leg at home 3-1 and there was little doubt about the outcome as Barca dominated proceedings from the off.

The opener arrived on 14 minutes as Iniesta collected the ball inside his own half, spun past three PSG challenges and then rolled the ball through to Neymar, who calmly rounded Salvatore Sirigu before slotting home.

PSG briefly threatened to respond as Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a goal rightly ruled out for offside against his old club on his return to the side from suspension.

However, Barca were soon back in command as Lionel Messi fired just over from Luis Suarez’s knockdown before Sirigu was forced into a flying save to turn away Alves’s powerful drive before clutching Neymar’s follow-up effort.

There was nothing the Italian could do 12 minutes before the break, though, as he was exposed by more shocking defending from the French champions as Alves was given plenty of time to pick out his compatriot and the unmarked Neymar powered a header into the bottom corner for his fifth goal in four games against PSG this season.

Barca boss Luis Enrique could afford the luxury of withdrawing Iniesta and Sergio Busquets at the start of the second period for Xavi and Sergi Roberto respectively with one eye on Saturday’s Catalan derby away to Espanyol.

With the hosts taking their foot off the gas, PSG did at least have the chance to add some respectability to the scoreline, but unlike Barca’s star front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, who now have 95 goals between them this season, they were wasteful in front of goal.

Marco Verratti passed up the best chance when he pulled his shot wide when well-placed at the edge of the area, whilst Ter Stegen did well to repel Ibrahimovic’s piledriver 18 minutes from time.

Messi had one final chance to move ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the leading scorer in Champions League history, but the Argentine’s goal drought in the competition stretched into four games as his shot flashed just wide.

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