Nigeria Sliding into a Failed State, Say Nwabueze, Akinrinade, Others

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Prof Ben Nwabueze

Culled From ThisDayLive

Renowned constitutional lawyer and former Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Ben Nwabueze,  Saturday in Enugu raised the alarm that Nigeria is fast sliding into a failed state, insisting that proactive steps must be taken to checkmate the impending danger.

Nwabueze’s alarm came even as other eminent Nigerians, including former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade; Secretary General of the Patriots, Chief Mike Orabator, former governor of old Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Col. Ben Gbulie; Amb. J. U Ayalogu; Col Joe Achuzie; Chief Solomon Asemota; and Prof Mark Odu, among others, equally insisted that anything short of the convocation of a National Conference before the 2015 general elections would spell doom for the nation.

The leaders made their views known at the 14th Annual Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), with the theme “National Conference before 2015 elections; only road to a greater Nigeria” which held in Enugu Saturday.

Death in Nollywood: Agwu, Others Prepare For Prayer

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If there is one reality that is both humbling and frightening in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, it is the spate of untimely deaths in Nollywood. 

This and many other misfortunes that have befallen practitioners in recent times formed the subject of deliberation at a recent meeting of top actresses, comedians and musicians, convened at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, to discuss an upcoming occasion where all the big names in the industry would meet and pray for the industry.

At the meeting, which was called at the behest of Paul Emmanuel of Cornerstone Ministries, Victoria Island, Nollywood actresses and audience including Monalisa Chinda, Aisha Abimbola, Desmond Elliot, musicians Innocent Idibia, Patricia King of Midnight Crew and top comedians, Julius Agwu and Ayo Makun, also known as AY discussed the rationale for hosting an all star event tagged 'Shift Celebrity Prayse'.

Alleged Ethnic Cleansing: Army Puts Retired General, Others Under Close Watch

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Nigerian Army authorities have put a retired Major General under close watch after allegations of nepotism levelled against the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika surfaced in the media.

Also being closely monitored are a few of the accomplices of the general, who are strongly suspected to have aided him in whipping up ethnic sentiments in the army.

The general was said to have served in the army for the mandatory 35 years but was retired compulsorily during the last retirement exercise involving some 51 top officers of the army.

No regret dropping Osaze, others – Keshi •Says 1994 squad better

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Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said that he does not need all the good players in Nigeria to build a strong team and as such does not regret leaving out any player for the African cup. Keshi dropped West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie and Levante top scorer Obafemi Martins and kept faith in many players who had not appeared in any major international tournament at the senior level – some of them were picked from the Nigerian league.

The coach said most Nigerians did not understand why he dropped the players, noting that the present team has performed excellently without the players he rejected.

MEND’s Jomo Gbomo Dismisses Alleged Threat Letter… To Issue Formal Statement On Okah, Others Trial S

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In apparent reaction to the threat letter purportedly signed by one  Comrade Azizi on behalf of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Jomo Gbomo, who is recognized in media circles as the spokesman for MEND, has dismissed Comrade Azazi as an impostor and disassociated his group from the statements allegedly credited to it.

See his response below:

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta wishes to advise  Nigerians and the media to disregard the pathetic attempt at propaganda by a  so-called Comrade Azizi and his statements which are not authentic and  statements emanating from  MEND.

2015: Asari, Boyloaf, Ateke, others cannot blackmail Jonathan – Ajube

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As intrigues preceding the 2015 presidential election continued to play up, strong indications emerged weekend that the Presidency has succeeded in splitting the ranks of the leadership of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND.

 Asari Dokubo, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben(Boyloaf), Ateke Tom and Pastor Reuben, in the past three weeks, have expressed misgivings about the reported aspiration of President Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015, saying the President had done little or nothing to deserve a re-run in the next presidential election.

US, UK, others issue travel warnings on Nigeria

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EMBASSIES of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada on Wednesday issued fresh warnings to their citizens, advising them not to travel to Nigeria.

The embassies hinged their warnings on the deployment of troops in northern Mali, fearing attacks on Nigeria by Islamic terrorists with sympathy for the Malian rebels, especially on Thursday (today) that has already been declared a public holiday to mark the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

Nigerian 1,200 troops arrived in Bamako, Malian capital, on Sunday as part of an international military intervention to end the crisis in the northern part of Mali.

PHOTO: Mysterious Lightning Explosion Kills 7-Month Baby, Traditional Ruler, And 4 Others

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7-month-old baby, a traditional healer, and four others died in a mysterious lightning blast on Monday.

The bodies of the dead were burnt while their limbs were strewn all over the place covering a distance of up to 60 metres.  The bodies were removed on Tuesday with the dormitory town awash with speculation on the cause of the mystery blast. The traditional healer and his clients' remains were taken to the General Hospital for post mortem.

Facebook: Why some ‘likes’ are worth more than others

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When Facebook announced its much-anticipated Graph Search earlier this week, there were two questions underpinning most commentators’ responses: will this make a lot of money, and can it beat Google at its own game?  So far as the first question is concerned, the stock market response – an initial dip of around three per cent – suggested caution verging on disappointment. On the second front, however, there has been greater optimism, not least because Facebook seems to have invented a whole new game of its own: the world’s first truly social search function.

PDP meets Obasanjo, others

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The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party is to meet former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some leaders of the party from the South-West. The need for the meeting was arrived at after a two-day meeting at the residence of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur. Members of the National Working Committee were also at the meeting.

A member of the NWC made this known to reporters in Abuja on Wednesday evening. The meeting is scheduled to hold in Abeokuta on Saturday. It was learnt that the meeting is aimed at placating the South-West over the removal of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the party.

Punch Nigeria

Prophetess, Others Sell 2-Year-Old Boy For N.6m

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A female cleric with an undisclosed Pentecostal church in Abia State, Prophetess Mrs. Ezelu (other name withheld),, is currently telling police detectives what she knows about the sale of a two-year-old boy that was recently rescued in Ondo State.

The female minister was among the three women and a man that were arrested and paraded by the Abia State Police Command for alleged conspiracy, kidnap and sale of a two-year-old baby boy, Master Prosper Light, from Abia State.

Obasanjo, Others Settle Rift Among Egba Monarchs

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The age-long rivalry and rancour among the four foremost traditional rulers in Egbaland was on Saturday resolved as the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; former president Olusegun Obasanjo; head of the defunct Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and foremost industrialist, Chief Olatunde Abudu, intervened and successfully brokered peace among the warring monarchs.

Inside The Secret Abacha Memo Approving Execution Of Ken Saro - Wiwa, Others

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Source: Premium Times
In November 1995, while an overwhelming international outcry mounted against the execution of the Ogoni leader, Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues, defiant military dictator, Sani Abacha, backed by a small band of military officers, convinced themselves that executing them, swiftly, was the best way to resolve the Ogoni unrest “once and for all”, and to make it clear to Nigerians and the world the authoritarian regime was no weakling.

Youtube Strips 2billion Fraud Video Views From Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Others

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Some of these pop stars are artificial inflating their video views on Youtube to make themselves appear more popular online. Youtube chiefs recently stripped 2 billion views from pop videos on its site amid fears the figures were faked. Rihanna, Justin Bieber and other music stars under Universal Music label lost 1 billion views.
Rita Ora, Alicia Keys, Labrinth and other music stars under Sony Music label lost 850 million views.
Michael Jackson's feed lost 287 million views, while Beyonce lost 151 million views Youtube stripped the views without suggesting the music stars or their labels were directly involved in artificially inflating them. Some fans who are hackers could have inflated them, or maybe the labels paid the 'hackers' to take up the numbers. Depends on what you chose to believe :-)

Bombings: MTN, Others To Seek Compensation From FG

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Mobile network operators have  concluded plans to seek compensation from the Federal Government for losses incurred from terrorist attacks on their installations. The Executive Secretary, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga, confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday that MTN, Globacom, Airtel, Etisalat, and the CDMA operators had concluded plans to seek  compensation from the Federal Government.

How Anenih, Alison-Madueke, Others Robbed Nigeria Of N234bn Meant For Road Construction - PREMIUM TIMES

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By Ogala Emmanuel
Despite his indictment, Mr. Anenih has now been appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the NPA board. Tony Anenih, recently re-appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to head the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, does not have a clean past in managing public funds, a 2009 senate report said.

In December 2009, a damning report detailing how Mr. Anenih, a former works minister and then leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly mismanaged billions of naira meant for the rehabilitation and construction of Nigerian roads, was listed for debate – for the third time in a row – by the Senate.

Adeboye, others shop for Oritsejafor’s Successor

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is currently shopping for a candidate to occupy the president’s position.The tenure of the incumbent, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, will expire in February 2013. Oritsejafor had in 2010 indicated his intention to relinquish his position as PFN president owing to increased activities and commitments, as the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, but he was asked to complete his tenure to promote unity within the body.

Pastor, two others killed over land dispute

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CALABAR—Founder of Faith Builders Ministry, in Calabar, Cross River State, Rev. John Ene-Obong and two members of the church, have been allegedly killed over a land dispute.
Rev. Ene-Obong, who was allegedly killed penultimate Monday by irate youths over a land dispute in Ikot Ene-Obong community of the metropolis, was said to have returned to Nigeria from Canada barely a week before his death. The pastor was allegedly killed alongside two others, whose names were given as Effiong Koko-Ette and Victor Ene-Boco.

Yakowa, Azazi’s deaths shocking –Sambo, Buhari, others

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Vice-President Namadi Sambo; former Head of State Maj-Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd), and the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde,  on Sunday, described the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State  as shocking.  Yakowa, the immediate National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi, and four others were killed on Saturday in a military helicopter crash at Okoroba Village in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Others, who mourned Yakowa and Azazi are former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu; Federal Capital Territory Minister Bala Mohammed, as well as political and labour union groups.

Navy Recovers Yakowa, Azazi’s Bodies, Four Others

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The Nigerian Navy disclosed, Sunday, that its search and rescue efforts, after the Dec 15 helicopter crash in Okoloba community, has led to the recovery of six bodies of the victims of the crash, saying that the bodies have been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
It said with the recovery, the Navy has commenced investigation into the cause of the accident.
The  statement by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu reads, “The Nigerian Navy wishes to confirm that search and rescue effort has led to the recovery of all the 4 passengers and the 2 pilots on board its helicopter NN 07 which crashed on 15 December 2012”. “The bodies of the victims have been recovered from the scene of the incident and the crash site has been duly secured to allow for detailed investigation.