Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll: Tinubu moves against spoilers, urges Sylva to contest

The former governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Chief Timipre Sylva to contest the December 5, 2015 Governorship election in Bayelsa State. 

Tinubu also charged Bayelsans to ensure that Sylva becomes the next governor of the state in view of placing the state on the right path. 

“I want him to contest the governorship election because of his proven leadership qualities and our belief that he can bring change to the state” he said. 

Tinubu who met Sylva at his Abuja home not only endorsed him as the party’s consensus candidate for the December 5, 2015 governorship election but commended him for his contributions to the development of the party in Nigeria, particularly Bayelsa State. 

Commercial transporters clash with FRSC over Sept 1 introduction of speed limit device

A major crisis that may disrupt road transportation in Nigeria for a long period if not averted by the Presidency has broken out between commercial transporters in the country and the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC.

The crisis of confidence between the two parties arises over the decision by the commission to introduce speed limit device technology on commercial vehicles with effect from September 1 this year. N35,000 for device, N1,000 for installation.

It was learnt that the FRSC is working with a private Nigerian firm to enforce the controversial deal, which would require each vehicle owner to buy the device for N35,000 and pay additional N1,000 for installation.

The transporters claim that with each of the 25 million vehicles in Nigeria paying N36,000 to the FRSC, it would rake in at least N900 billion from innocent Nigerians for a technology that would not add value to their lives.

35 princes contending to take the vacant throne of the Ooni of Ife

35 princes from the 4 ruling houses in Ile-Ife are now jostling for the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife. 

The Giesi Ruling House which claims it is its turn to produce the next traditional ruler for Ile-Ife after the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade at the weekend set in motion plans to present qualified persons to the king-makers.

The  ruling house according to reliable sources met on Saturday at the family compound at Agbedede lane in Ile-Ife to receive the report of its Selection Screening Committee.

It was gathered that the committee with Prince Ropo Ogunwusi as the Chairman and Prince Kehinde Ogunwusi as secretary  submitted its report to the Head of the family, Prince Modupe Fadehan.

President should build special prisons for corrupt Nigerians – Balarabe

During the time of the former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, him and most of his colleagues lived a moderate lifestyle life due to the fact that corruption was  minimal.

In an interview with Vanguard newspaper he was asked how he felt about Governors and other people in politics who use their positions to amass wealth while in public office.

The former Gov said:

Open Heavens 31 August 2015 Monday daily devotion: PRAYER NEUTRALISES FEAR

 

PRAYER NEUTRALISES FEAR 

Memorise: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

Read: Luke 1:5-13 (KJV)

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

Bible In One Year: Exodus 1-3; Romans 3:9-31

MESSAGE

Shun corruption or quit, Buhari warns civil servants

President Buhari has warned civil servants to shun corrupt practices or be shown the way out of the civil service. The permanent secretary in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Muhammed Bukar, who spoke with NAN, said President Buhari gave the warning while receiving notes on the activities of the General Services Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

22 churches shut down over noisy worship in Lagos

22 churches have been shut down for noisy worship in Lagos state. The head of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Adebola Shabi, who disclosed this yesterday August 27th, said the agency shut down the churches following a series of complaints of disturbance by residents of the area where the churches are located.

PDP Media Watchdog to President Buhari: Your appointments is Asymmetrical and Fraudulent

Below is a press statement from The PDP Media Watchdog

The PDP Media Watchdog has described the appointments so far made by President Buhari as fraudulent and asymmetrical, saying that the President's anti-corruption war is a charade and a deceit. The group while responding to the recent appointments as announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said that people's expectation of President Buhari to remove his ethnic and military mentality and embrace democracy may not come to pass after all.

"We mentioned this in our last statements that President Buhari and the APC is only making noise with corruption and probe to cover up their plans to derail this country. The President claimed to be fighting corruption but does not know that even lopsided appointment is also corruption. According to an English dictionary, corruption is defined as 'dishonest actions that destroys people's trust in the person or group' and in another definition, it says, 'corruption is the misuse of entrusted power (by heritage, education, marriage, election, appointment or whatever else) for private gain'

Buhari's appointments: Govt should be seen as nationalistic not sectionalized - President, Arewa Youths

President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima has expressed his reservations over the recent appointments made by President Buhari. According to him, it appears the appointments are lopsided and that government should be seen as nationalistic not sectionalized

“It is unfortunate the way the situation is, because one becomes worried. We must be seen to be nationalistic than being sectionalised. I am beginning to feel uncomfortable because the complaint is that the appointments are seen to be lopsided. I also do not think that is the intention of the government.

However, no matter how we pretend, the reality is that things are not done in the right way. The government should be seen to be more nationalistic than sectionalised. If we truly believe in true federalism and federal character, it should go round. We cannot say that a particular area has the best brains in the country. I think the government should look into that area thoroughly in as much as the President has good intentions.”he told Vanguard

Another Arik staff arrested for drug trafficking, says they concealed cocaine in food supplies

An Arik air catering loader, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver (pictured above) has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement, NDLEA, for being an accomplice to Chika Egwu, another staff of the airline who was on Monday Aug. 24 arrested at London's Heathrow airport with 20kg of cocaine worth N100 million.

Chika Egwu

A statement from NDLEA says Oliver, 35, was found to have undermined airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies. Oliver, an indigene of Abia state and a graduate of Business Administration, will place the banned substances into meal packs meant for the passengers and then will transfer the substance to Chika while onboard. 

The statement quotes Oliver as saying 

“It was Chika that introduced me into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight. They pay me N400,000 per bag. I was expecting N1.2m for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft.”.

The statement further stated that the 20kg of cocaine found with Chika in London was concealed within the construction of laptop bags. 

"The quantity and estimated street value of the cocaine is over N100m. The latest Range Rover (Land Rover) car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit. As part of investigation, the rented apartment of Chika on Pastor Ojediran Street Ejigbo, Lagos was searched by operatives of the NDLEA. He lives there with the mother and siblings while his wife and children are based in Canada.”.

Meanwhile NDLEA Chief Executive Officer, Ahmadu Giade, has instructed that henceforth, all airport workers must be screened before coming into the airport. 

Fight aganst corruption is not ethnic based - Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that the anti-corruption fight of this present administration should not be seen as one directed at a particular ethnic group in the country. Osinbajo made said this when some Yoruba traditional rulers paid him a courtesy call at the state House yesterday August 27th.

"You hear people saying that the reason that man is being tried for corruption is because he is Yoruba, he is from the North, and he is from South South. We must not encourage those kinds of ideas. If a person steals, he ought to be punished and made to return what he has stolen because the money does not belong to him. The money is what is to be used for the training of our young people, who are in school or hospital and for the building of roads. There is no family in Yoruba land that allows thieves. If you are a thief, we will expose you. We should support the effort of the administration to fight corruption ” he said

‘We’ll meet presidential deadline on Boko Haram’ - Defence HQ spokesperson

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesman, Colonel Rabe Abubakar has assured Nigerians that the military will meet the presidential deadline to stamp out Boko Haram from Nigeria on or before December this year.  He gave the gave the assurance in a meeting with the editorial team of Media Trust Limited, publishers of the Daily Trust newspaper titles at its Abuja head office yesterday August 27th.

Graphic pics: Troops kill Boko Haram members dressed in Nigerian military uniform

Boko Haram members dressed in Nigerian military uniform were killed during a raid of the sect members camp in the North East. 

See the photos after the cut...be warned it's graphic!

Photos of the new SSG, Customs boss and Chief of Staff

  

Left is the Secretary to the Government of the federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, Right is the Custom Boss, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.). 

See more photos after the cut...

Economic diversification very high on our agenda - Buhari

Press statement from the presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that Nigeria, under his leadership, will work more closely with other countries facing the challenge of falling oil prices to rapidly move away from dependence on crude oil exports for economic survival.

Speaking at an audience with the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Abdullah Sefyan, President Buhari affirmed his administration's commitment to faster development of Nigeria's non-oil sectors and the speedy diversification of the country's economy.

‘‘For more than 30 years, Nigeria has depended on oil as its major source of revenue at the expense of agriculture and the non-oil sector which could be the mainstay of our economy.

"As oil exporting countries facing similar challenges due to the down turn in the international price of crude oil, we should be working closer together.

Man beheads his girlfriend's brother over N700k (very graphic photo)

The Akwa Ibom police command have arrested 35 years old Steven Anowa pictured above for butchering and beheading 31-year-old Daniel Bassey Solomon, the brother of his girlfriend at his one-room apartment in Itu Street, Uyo, the state capital. 

According to Vanguard, Steven had just moved from Uruan in Akwa Ibom to Itu street where he met the deceased's sister and began an affair with her two years ago. The deceased who wanted to start a barber's shop business, approached Steven who gave him a loan of N700,000 with a promise that he will pay within a time frame. (read the rest of the story after the cut but please be warned, there's a very gory/graphic photo there)

Buhari appoints Secretary to the Govt, Chief of Staff, others

Below is a press statement...

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the following appointments:

Engr. Babachir David Lawal – Secretary to the Government of the Federation

Alhaji Abba Kyari – Chief of Staff to the President

Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service

Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service

Senator Ita S.J. Enang – SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate)

Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu – SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)

The appointments are with effect from today, August 27, 2015.

Engr. Lawal, the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation hails from Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990. He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

Open Heavens 28 August 2015 Friday daily devotion: HE STILL SENDS BIRDS

 

HE STILL SENDS BIRDS 

Memorise: And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. - 1 Kings 17:4.

Read: 1 Kings 17:2-6 (KJV)

2. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 45-46; Romans 1:1-17

MESSAGE

Policeman mistakenly shoots self dead while adjusting rifle in Lagos

The atmosphere at the Mobile Police Force 20, in the Ikeja area of Lagos, had been tense since Tuesday after a police inspector, identified simply as Medugwu, mistakenly shot himself dead, while adjusting a faulty rifle.

The inspector, who was attached to MOPOL 20, was the second-in-command to the armourer. At 10am, a colleague had given him the faulty rifle to examine and readjust for him, Medugwu was said to have accidentally pulled the trigger of the rifle, which projected a bulletin to his jaw. 

Other policemen in the area were said to have rushed to the scene and taken Medugwu to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. The inspector, however, died in the hospital at about 1pm.

A policeman, who claimed to have witnessed the accident, said Medugwu accidentally turned the barrel of the rifle on himself during the check, before his finger touched the trigger.

He said: 

Age limit disqualified me from youth corps – Obasanjo

Former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he would have loved to participate in the National Youth Service Corps, but was disqualified because of his age. Obasanjo who graduated from National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN with a degree in Theology, said;

”Somebody wrote me a letter when he got to know that I have graduated from NOUN, he wanted me to do national youth service, but unfortunately for him there is age limit.”

The former President was decorated as Grand  Patron of NOUN Alumni Association at a meeting with the executives of the NOUN Alumni Association, led by Mr Phil Colman, President and Mr Ayeni Olutope, Southwest Vice-President at his Hilltop residence, in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo, in his remarks said the establishment of  NOUN, has presented a unique opportunity for Nigerians to have access to higher education in the country.

Open Heavens 27 August 2015 Thursday daily devotion: WEAPONS FOR GOD'S SERVANTS

WEAPONS FOR GOD'S SERVANTS 

Memorise: And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. - 1 Samuel 3:19

Read: 1 Samuel 3:19-21 (KJV)

19. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

20. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

21. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 43-44; John 21:15-25

MESSAGE:

Pres. Buhari pictured doing his National ID registration yesterday

President Buhari pictured above doing his National Identity Card registration at the state house Abuja yesterday August 25th.

Open Heavens 26 August 2015 Wednesday daily devotion: CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION & STEALING

CRUELTY, EXPLOITATION & STEALING 

Memorise: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. - Ephesians 4:28

Read: Ephesians 4:25-29 (KJV)

25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27. Neither give place to the devil.

28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 41:37-42:38; John 20:24-21:14

MESSAGE

Former NSA Dasuki denies arms charges

Nigeria's ex National Security Adviser Dasuki Sambo has denied charges of illegally possessing weapons and committing acts posing potential harm to national security. The Department of state security DSS yesterday August 24th charged the former NSA to court over allegations of wrongful possession of firearms without license.

A source close to the former NSA who spoke with BBC Hausa this morning, said Dasuki insists the weapons found in his house during a recent search were for the use of soldiers guarding his house.

EFCC reacts to alleged diversion of N1trn by its chairman

EFCC has released a statement reacting to the reported diversion of N1 trillion by the commission's chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde which was published yesterday August 24th. The agency in a statement published on its website this morning, refuted the claims, adding that the commission is not afraid of probe. The statement below..

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report captioned, Alleged N1tn diversion: Senate to probe Lamorde’s alleged diversion of N1tn, which appeared in The Punch Newspaper of Monday August 24, 2015 containing salacious claims of corruption against the person of the chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde.

The EFCC should ordinarily not dignify the publication with a response as the motives of the promoters and their media allies are to impugn the integrity of the EFCC boss with fabricated stories of corruption. However the Commission is constrained to respond, to expose the motive behind the sinister plot. In the first instance, claims of a N1trillion corruption in the EFCC is infantile and assaults the sensibilities of all reasonable stakeholders in the anti- corruption fight.

DSS charges former National Security officer Dasuki to court

The immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS) for possession of fire arms without a license. According to a statement released today August 24th by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, Dasuki's action is an offence which is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.

Open Heavens 25 August 2015 Tuesday daily devotion: TIME TO FAST

TIME TO FAST 

Memorise: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: -Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Read: Matthew 9:14-15 (KJV)

14. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 39:1-41:36; John 20:1-23

MESSAGE

Other than organizing road shows, buying Tomato & pepper, Fayose has achieved nothing in 10months - APC

Ekiti state chapter of APC says asides conducting road shows and buying pepper and tomatoes in open markets to pose as a friend of the poor, the state governor, Ayo Fayose has not achieved anything or concluded any project to his credit since assuming office 10 months.

The state party stated this in a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun yesterday August 23rd. The party also accused Fayose of being a pathological liar

Nigerian twitter call out Ambode following report Fashola spent N139m on drilling two boreholes

Fashola and Ambode are trending on Twitter. Nigerians are reacting to Lagos State Govt's claims that former governor, Babatunde Fashola spent N139million to drill two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja. 

More tweets after the cut...

EFCC chairman accused of diverting N1trillion loot recovered from corrupt politicians

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been accused of diverting over N1tn recovered from corrupt politicians who forfeited their loots. A man named George Uboh recently petitioned the Senate, accusing the chairman of the anti-graft agency of diverting money recovered from corrupt politicians including former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.

The Senate having received the petition which was dated July 31st, ordered its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the allegations. Both the petitioner and Mr Lamorde have been invited to appear by the Senate committee at Meeting Room 120 of the New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, on Wednesday August 26th for some questioning.

Ban Ki-Moon immunizes a child in Abuja

The UN Sec Gen pictured immunizing a child in Abuja today.

More photos after the cut...

Alleged $6billion oil theft: Disclose your source – US tells Oshiomhole

Apparently embarrassed by the claim of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that a senior United States official had disclosed that a former Minister under President Goodluck Jonathan stole $6 billion Nigeria’s oil money during the official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari few weeks ago, the United States, yesterday, requested that the name of the US official, who made the disclosure, be made public. 

A top US official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity to Newswatch Times, said at the appropriate time, the US would question Governor Oshiomhole on the comment attributed to him in the Nigerian media. 

He stated further that President Barrack Obama was working on the request of President Buhari, who had sought for the assistance of the US to retrieve monies stolen by Nigerian officials. 

According to him, Oshiomhole was trying to pre-empt the US, which would certainly publish names of those who looted Nigeria’s oil money in no distant future. 

Corruption probe: Ex-Heads of State will protect Jonathan from persecution – Bishop Kukah

How would you rate former President Goodluck Jonathan’s performance in office? 

This should be the subject of many books. I think too many of us have gotten carried away by the political propaganda and wars by both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, in which both Jonathan and (President Muhammadu) Buhari were subjected to different characterisations. But we must get past all that. Jonathan’s presidency was not perfect and there will never be one. We all believe that he could have done a lot of things differently, but I believe he did his best. It was, in our eyes, far from what we expected. But we must move away from the narratives of propaganda to the realities now. History will judge Jonathan and I worry that we are allowing talks about probes and so on to becloud our judgment of what he did right. If we cannot identity the good things, how can we identify the bad things? 

Former President Jonathan did not have the rough muscles you need to govern a country like Nigeria. His work to give us a credible electoral machine, his ability to tame his ambition; all these are things we cannot ignore. The mismanagement of our resources is a real challenge, which we must face and the government must take up very seriously. People have the mistaken notion that some of us are against the probe or that we are shielding Jonathan. What have I got to gain by shielding Jonathan, now that he is not in power? President Buhari’s concern should be with the choir of hypocrites and cheer leaders who are clamouring around him now. If Jonathan is guilty of theft of state funds, that should be dealt with but it should not distract us from whatever else he may have done well. He was a good man and, sadly, if bad (or good) things happened under his watch, we must let everyone take his or her own share of the blame or praise. 

In specific terms, what do you think Jonathan’s administration will be remembered for? 

Buhari, Obasanjo And The Umpteen Thieves

By Isidore Emeka Uzoatu 

The Nigeria story tells like a fairytale. Right from how the territory was acquired and recovered to how its name was coined and by whom, one cannot but be astounded by the many twists and twirls it has meandered en route to who-knows-where. Mention must be made of the amalgamation of its North and South, the centenary of which was marked last year under leadership of GEJ. Independence was to come some forty-six years later, followed hot on the heels by a thirty-month civil war. 

O yes, by this time in 1967, the secessionist enclave of Biafra was neck deep in trouble for daring to sunder what God had used Lord Frederick Lugard to put together in 1914. While the weighted battles raged, many an unverifiable tale was told about transpirations at the war fronts. Among these was how the poet Christopher Okigbo was killed while fighting on the rebel side. According to the apocryphal anecdote, he was felled by an exploding grenade hauled by either him or a colleague that had rebound off a palm trunk, thus having him – as he would have put it in a veritable fable – hoist with his own petards. The truth remains that the victim neither participated in the war nor wrote any line of poetry thenceforth. As for the war, it neither paused nor waned on its account. It waged on as though nothing happened, spawning heroes with abandon. 

Ooni Widows Cannot Re-Marry, It’s Either They Remain Single or Be Inherited by the New Ooni

The wives of the late‎ Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re-marry after the demise of their husband, according to a palace chief. 

The chief, who preferred not to be named, said the order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm. 

Maintaining that the Ooni still lives, he said it is forbidden for wives left behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry. 

Researchers say, Google can rig presidential polls

It is known worldwide as, arguably, the best search engine in cybersphere, but Google, can actually swing the results of the US presidential elections, says Robert Epstein, senior research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioural Research and Technology and the former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today.

 “America’s next president could be eased into office not just by TV ads or speeches, but by Google’s secret decisions, and no one—except for me and perhaps a few other obscure researchers—would know how this was accomplished,” Epstein says in an op-ed published on politico.com on August 19, 2015.

Epstein said his position was based on the outcomes of an experiment he carried out with his his colleague, Ronald E. Robertson.

To carry out the experiment, “participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups in which search rankings favoured either Candidate A, Candidate B or neither candidate. Participants were given brief descriptions of each candidate and then asked how much they liked and trusted each candidate and whom they would vote for. Then they were allowed up to 15 minutes to conduct online research on the candidates using a Google-like search engine we created called Kadoodle.”

India High Commissioner Reveals $14b Shady Oil Deal Under Diezani

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ajjampur R. Ghanashyam, has revealed how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation used intermediaries in the annual $14 billion deal instead of just signing a long-term agreement with New Delhi, Nigeria’s Number One oil buyer.

Daily Trust reports that the Indian High Commissioner said that aside the lack of long-term agreement between the two countries on crude oil purchases, in 2006, an Indian company, Oil & Natural Gas Commission Videsh Limited (OVL) and Mittal Energy International, which is a joint venture between OVL, an Indian government company, and Mittal Energy a private firm, applied for oil concession. The Signature bonus sum of $25 million was paid, however, neither was the oil concession granted nor the money paid returned to the Indian companies.

Rivers APC dismisses corruption allegations against Amaechi

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the corruption allegations against immediate past Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, with a wave of the hand. 

The party in a statement issued Sunday morning in Port Harcourt by its State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said that the latest allegation by the wailing Care-taker Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike camp that Amaechi has foreign bank accounts lacks substance. 

Buhari tells lawyers: Don’t cover crooks, looters

 President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Abuja urged Nigerian lawyers not to sacrifice the integrity of the country’s legal system in a bid to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be.

 Speaking at the opening of the 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President Buhari called on Nigerian lawyers to support his administration’s war against corruption and help the country return to the path of rectitude by making Nigerian courts functional and effective again.

 ''I am convinced that law, law-makers, lawyers, law courts and the law enforcement agencies all have pivotal responsibilities to discharge, if the change we seek is ever to materialize. As you all know by now, this administration has taken on the challenge of improving security, fighting corruption and revamping the economy, among many others.

 ''The fight against corruption is in reality a struggle for the restoration of law and order. Corruption and impunity become widespread when disrespect for law is allowed to thrive in society. Disrespect for law also thrives when people get away with all sorts of shady deals and the court system is somehow unable to check them. Ability to manipulate and frustrate the legal system is the crowning glory of the corrupt and, as may be expected, this has left many legal practitioners and law courts tainted in an ugly way.

Open Heavens 24 August 2015 Monday daily devotion: INSANITY TERMINATED INSTANTLY

Open Heavens 24 August 2015: Monday daily devotion

INSANITY TERMINATED INSTANTLY

Memorise: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.-Psalm 46:5

Read: Mark 5:1-15 (KJV)

1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 37-38; John 19:17-42

MESSAGE

Please Be Kind - Charly Boy writes about Majek Fashek's struggles



 

Article written by Charly Boy. Read below...

 

The other day I was at the Rain Makers ( Majek's ) press conference, a little anxious but mostly excited about the personal progress made so far in regards to his physical well being. Anxious if the press in firing questions at Majek were going to be kind this time around or insensitive to his situation.

 

The questions where mostly directed to Majek and my colleagues in the media were gentle, till one of them had to voice out what was probably on the minds of most of them.
"Am seeing a different picture in front of me, and I am pleasantly shocked at the way you have answered all questions thrown at you. I came here expecting to meet someone incoherent, confused and off track, but am faced with someone who is not only articulate, but who understands what is happening to him and is desirous of a positive change. Im glad I came here today or I wouldn't have believed this.

Remembering Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh one year after

 

 



Today marks the one year anniversary of the passing of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh. Dr. Ameyo identified and contained the first case of Ebola in Nigeria in July 2014 when a Liberian patient, Patrick Sawyer flew into Nigeria, already sick and checked into First Consultant Hospital, Lagos. Her heroic efforts and decision to isolate Mr Sawyer despite intense pressure to let him leave prevented an outbreak and saved countless lives. However, she contracted Ebola and died on 19 August 2014.

 We owe our gratitude to this brave woman. Rest in peace Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh! 

We have spent N12bn on security-related issues- Yobe state Gov



 

Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, says his administration has spent well over N12billion on security-related issues following the increasing rate of attacks by Boko Haram members in the state. The governor made this known through his media aide, Abdullahi Bego who spoke with the press in Damaturu the state capital yesterday August 18th.

New vacation photos of Jonathan and his family in Kenya

 

With his wife and son. See another pic after the cut...

CBN bars foreign firms from printing cheques for Nigerian banks



 

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has denied accreditation to foreign printers who hitherto printed cheque books for some Nigerian banks. In a circular released, yesterday, entitled: “Circular to deposit money banks, cheque printers and other stakeholders on the accreditation of cheque printers for 2015/2016″ and signed by Director, Banking and Payment Systems Department, Dipo Fatokun, the Central bank said it has duly notified all accredited printers and issued certificates to them.
It listed all the accredited cheque printers to include Superflux International Ltd, Tripple Gee and Company Plc, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Plc, Euphoria Group and Popi Printing Company Ltd.

 

 The Central bank said it did this to ensure an efficient payment and settlement system.

 The circular read: