Bayelsa State Governor's Office To Cost N33.8b

Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa Governor
Segun James in Yenagoa
Following the collapse and the subsequent demolition of the Bayelsa State governor’s office, the state government has disclosed that the new office project under construction would gulp about N33.8 billion.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this to journalists during his
inspection of the ongoing projects executed by the Governor Seriake Dickson administration.
Ewhrudjakpo said the office complex, when completed, was expected to be the best not only in the country but in the West Africa sub-region.
He stressed that the project would be equipped with the latest state-of-the-art facility.
“The contract sum for the new governor’s office is N33.8 billion As you saw the work done at the site, so far, you will know that the sum is worth the while,” he said.
Ewhrudjakpo expressed optimism that the governor would celebrate this year’s Christmas in the new office.
He said about 50-60 per cent of the contract sum had been sunk into the project so far and that had brought it to near completion.
The commissioner enumerated some of the challenges in erecting the building to include sand-filling of the site to two feet above the ground before the commencement of
construction work.
“If you ask me how much we have sunk into it, I won’t be able to tell you. But I can say that about 50-60 per cent of the contract sum has so far gone into it and that’s why the work is at the stage it is.
“When we got there, you saw that they were doing the finishings, fixing electrical and plumbing fittings. Inside the executive chambers, you saw that the air conditioners
are already there.
“I can tell you that as soon as we give them (A and K Construction Limited) some additional money, which we have promised to do in the next one or two weeks, the job would have gone very far.
“We are targeting December. We are thinking that his excellency will celebrate the Christmas in his new office all things being equal,” the commissioner said.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, bagged the African Finance Minister of the year award

The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday bagged the African Finance Minister of the year award for her outstanding performance as a finance
minister.
The award was presented to her by the African Investor Magazine on the sideline of the ongoing annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.
She thanked the organisers for the award and described it as an absolute honour and auspicious.
She called on all investors in Africa to join the fight against the deadly Ebola virus disease that is ravaging some countries in West Africa.
“What is happening in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra-Leone and the success we had in Nigeria and Senegal in containing this virus should not be allowed to set Africa back.
“You as private sector and friends of Africa need to send the message that we should not be so afraid of Ebola that we stigmatise the whole continent.
“I think that it is only with your own leadership, as African investors, that the rest of the world can see which way they should pass. So, I am really urging you to be ambassadors to the continent,” she said.
Okonjo-Iweala said that in spite of the challenges facing the continent, African leaders should sustain the successes recorded in the past.
These challenges, she said, include infrastructure, governance, poor education system, employment, corruption, among others.
“We are not shying away from these challenges but the turning point now is that we are in the continent where we have the political will and confidence to tackle these challenges.
“I think that we as Africans must always take
the lead because if we don’t solve our problems, nobody can do it for us.” Okonjo-Iweala called for continuous
partnership with the private sector, donor agencies and non-governmental organisations. (NAN)

I am a lion who has tamed every leopard –Mbu

The outgoing Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Joseph Mbu, has advised his successor, Mr Wilson Inalegu, to be firm and sustain the current low crime rate in the territory.

Two Nigerians,One Isreali Arrested in S. A.

South African police are investigating two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to bring $9.3 million in cash into the country illegally.

According to Reuters, there are suspicions that the money could be meant for arms.

The Nigerians, coming from Abuja, were not identified.

Amaechi Accuses New CP of Plot To Install PDP Governor in 2015

Over the weekend the media was awash with reports of a fresh sinister plot to throw Rivers State into avoidable crisis. According to the reports as they concern Rivers State, the new commissioner of police Dan Bature, has been directed by the Presidency to install a certain Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant as governor in the 2015 elections.

Stephen Davis Acting Obasanjo's Script-Asari

Leader of the defunct Niger Delta Volunteers Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has declared that the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis is acting a script written by former Olusegun President Obasanjo by his recent disclosure on the sponsors of Boko Haram.
Asari-Dokubo in an interview with newsmen insisted that Davis was being economical with the truth.
He said it was laughable that the negotiator fingered former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and former governor Ali Modu Sheriff as sponsors of Boko Haram, when the sect had made statements against the duo.
His words: “I know Stephen Davis very well. I know him to his family. I think he is economical with the truth. As somebody I know, I was disappointed. I was the first person Stephen Davis negotiated with. I am totally disappointed in the politics he is playing.
“He negotiated with me when I was in the creek on behalf of the European Embassies in Nigeria.
He negotiated with me to cease fire and come out to meet with the then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He negotiated with me without paying anything. We only agreed because we thought Obasanjo would be sincere, but it did not happen.
“How can he say opposition is sponsoring Boko Haram and then the first name he would mention is Azubuike Ihejirika. When did Ihejirika start to sponsor Boko Haram, was it when it was formed in 2002 when he was never Chief of Army Staff or when their leader Mohammed Yusuf was extra-judicially murdered in 2009; when did he start
sponsoring if not that someone is playing politics.
“When you bring pepper soup joint talk to national issues, it is sad. He has diminished himself as an International negotiator. I hold him in very high regard but I am disappointed.
“He said former governor Ali Modu Sheriff is sponsoring Boko Haram, and I ask, when? Was it when they accused him of allegedly murdering Yusuf’s father-in law who was his former Commissioner? Lest we forget, one of the demands of Boko Haram in 2009 was that Sheriff should be put on trial, so when did he start the sponsorship?
“Now, all of a sudden, Sherrif who was a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was not a sponsor of Boko Haram until he defected to the PDP.
“Now, APC are now shouting. So, when they were hobnobbing with him he was not a Boko Haram sponsor until now? APC is evil and they are hiding the truth from people. As far as I am concerned, my friend Stephen Davis has totally reduced himself.
“All his comments are pepper soup joint talk. He did not name other members of the opposition but mentioned Ihejirika. The same Ihejirika, El Rufai and others said should be taken to International Court for War Crimes, now he said he is a sponsor of Boko Haram.
“Davis is Obasanjo’s friend. Obasanjo brought him to Nigeria and he is playing Obasanjo‘s script. He is playing Obasanjo’s agenda. Whoever introduced him to the government should have done a background check on him”.
On Chibok girls, he reiterated his comment that Boko Haram did not kidnap any teenage girl.
“Just like I read that the #BringBackGoodluck Jonathan signpost should be removed. Why is the government pretending that some girls are missing? No girls are missing. They should not
play politics with this thing. Nobody is missing. It is a scam “There is nothing like that; I still want to believe.
There was no time girls were kidnapped”.
Reminded that even the international community were helping out in the search of the girls, Dokubo said that notwithstanding, he maintains his position.
“Which international community? The international community that went to Iraq and said there were weapons of mass destruction, till today, they have not seen any. The International community that went to Libya to kill Ghadaffi and today have totally destroyed Libya.
“Which International community are you talking about; the international community with vested interests? They came since with goggle map and co, so why have they not located the girls? It is a disgrace. Why have American soldiers not rescue the girls?”
Source: http://dailypost.ng/2014/09/14/boko-haram-davis-acting-obasanjos-script-chibok-girls-episode-scam-asari-dokubo/

Nigerian Army kill over 200 Boko Haram fighters In Konduga

Security sources have revealed that men of the Nigerian Armed Forces yesterday repelled an early morning attack on Konduga town, killing at least 200 of them.
An insider source in Maiduguri said the terrorists were led by one notorious Amir, a top leader of the sect, who later died hours after he was picked alive with serious injuries.
The officer said the insurgents, in their determination to invade Maiduguri, were ambushed by the Nigerian soldiers in Konduga, 35km away from Maiduguri, and a no-mercy onslaught followed.
According to him “this has been the most successful outing of the Nigerian side in recent times, because we left no stone unturned.
“We were earlier told, in the last two days, that they would be attacking Konduga with the intention of taking and using the town to launch a major attack on Maiduguri; we waited patiently for the day and, as God would have it, they showed up as expected.
“Unfortunately for them, our soldiers were fully mobilized for the battle and we’re able to hold them for hours until every one of them dropped dead.
“We counted up to 200 of them, including one that was attempting suicide bombings. We also killed their cameraman and recovered his camera; there were no fewer than 200 of their corpses littering everywhere.”
The source further informed that six of the vehicles used by the terrorists were recovered and brought to the barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Corroborating the source, a top military officer also confirmed the Konduga feat, saying “it is a major victory and our soldiers showcased discipline and gallantry all through the operation”.
According to the officer, “It amounts to ‘operation totality’, since we didn’t record a single casualty on our part, yet we made sure that not one of them escaped.”
Continuing, the officer said the Boko Haram kingpin who led the operation was recognized as one that fits the description given by one escaped retired soldier that was abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists sometime last year.
The source speaks further, “the Amir was alive for some hours before he later died as a result of the serious wound he got. He was heavily bearded and huge, just like that escaped old soldier described to the security intelligence operatives while he was being debriefed. But the big news is that he is dead. We were made to understand he was one of the deadliest leaders in the sect.”

Nwike And Road To 2015 Gubernatorial

It is safer to begin this piece by stating one fact: No one that I contacted in Rivers State, particularly in Port Harcourt, questioned the eligibility of the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, to nurse or pursue an ambition to govern Rivers State from May 29, 2015. His ambition to occupy Brick House Port Harcourt, the seat of power in Rivers State, next year is legitimate. He is eminently qualified to contest for his party’s ticket.
Why not! After all, he demonstrated commitment to the party, along with others, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was under siege, as its leader in the state began an open warfare against perceived enemies in the state and at the Presidency.
Wike who, as the highest ranking politician from the state in President Jonathan’s cabinet, rose to the challenge, along with other silent but effective Rivers leaders who stood firm with him, to checkmate what they considered “the excesses of Governor Chibuike Amaechi and his agenda to ambush President Jonathan’s second term prospects” – an agenda that was particularly unpopular with the people of Rivers State.
Wike, it must be remembered, was Amaechi’s former Chief of Staff and he knew, some say, how to handle and tackle Amaechi’s rebellion against the party and the presidency. But as the battle to subdue this rebellion raged in Port Harcourt, Wike the arrowhead of the campaign, began surreptitiously to develop a political agenda to succeed Amaechi. Accordingly, every action taken either in the courts to retrieve PDP structures from those that seized it, or at political rallies, were cleverly cornered by Wike’s newly formed Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI). This new body claimed credits for the ‘successful battle to retake the leadership of the party from a group too loyal to Amaechi’. Today, aspirants to the number one office in the state, suspect that there would be no level playing field at PDP primaries because of ‘Wike’s total colonization of party structures in the state’.
This may explain why Wike recently boasted that he can “win any of the aspirants even in their own wards”.To his credit, Wike worked hard to fully secure the support of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Unfortunately, as specific evidence of Wike’s ambition became clearer, an eruption of protest voices became common place in the state, certainly not against his style of bold leadership and sacrifices in the raging political battle, but more out of fear of the catastrophic consequences his succession to his fellow Ikwerre brother, Amaechi, portends for a fragile, currently-healing and economically strategic state like Rivers State. Those who have had the patience to consult the books, or re-visit the post-civil war history of Rivers State have discovered two critical matters that Wike and his team should carefully re-examine and promptly consider, if they really love Rivers state. One is the age-long understanding that exists between the two areas of the state. Some Rivers State intellectuals I met at the university town of Choba euphemistically refer to this understanding as ‘Upland/riverine sharing formula’. This arrangement was championed and secured by the ‘Uplanders’ in the 70s to ensure equitable access to critical political offices in the old Rivers State.
The second snag is simply that since May 1999, the state has been governed by three persons : Dr. Peter Odili, Celestian Omehia and Chibuike Amaechi, in relay, and they are all from the same upland geo-ethnic portion of the state. The argument now is that Wike’s ascendancy as the next governor of Rivers State would add one more from the same upland geo-political area, a case of 24 unbroken years of political monopoly by section. This is now considered to be unfair and unjust to the riverine people who have not produced a governor for the state since May 1999.
The big question is: what should Honourable Nyesom Wike do now? Should he brave the odds and swim against the tide of public opinion? Or should he pursue a win-win model to preserve his relevance by respecting the existing charter of equity, and throw his weight behind a riverine candidate? These are the million dollar questions that moved the ball squarely into Wike’s court. And many people are eagerly watching to see his ability to manage this very complex situation. I sampled many opinions in the state, and two clear tendencies emerged. The first school submits that the President who wears four related caps at the same time – the president of the country, leader of the ruling party, a son of Niger Delta/former indigene Rivers State and finally, a son-in-law of the state, must not abandon the political future of the State without having a say or making a strategic input.
The second group, which is more widely representative of the state, reject Wike’s bid to govern the state, but accepts that he should remain relevant in the politics of the state. They favour a formula that gets him into alliance with a time-tested technocrat who would not be politically contentious and can help heal the wounds, reduce the Amaechi-Wike tension and focus on the critical areas of development. This, in my view, was what took place in Lagos State in 2007 when Bola Tinubu chose a non-contentious technocrat, Babatunde Fashola, to drive the state’s development process, while he (Tinubu) held and closely managed the political terrain. Lagosians, Fashola,and Tinubu, all came out winners with a booming economy boasting of an internally generated revenue well in excess of N25billion per month.
This appears, in my view, the best and smartest option for Wike. Luckily, among the aspirants angling for PDP ticket from the Riverine area are such tested technocrats as Rtd General Obene, Engr Beks Dagogo-Jack, Mr Lancelot Anyanya, Mr Georgewill, etc. Wike has fought a good fight, so to speak; but wisdom tells us that there is time to fight, and time to apply wisdom.
In the battle to preserve and protect the party, Wike must admit that he was not in the field alone, and that the credibility of the campaign was built on the support of other stakeholders to halt the Amaechi agenda. The time has now come for Honourable Minister Wike to once more rise to the political challenges of his party. The reality, painful to him I believe, is that there is a ground-swell of citizen sentiment against an Ikwerre succeeding an Ikwerre in a state that is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, and one where a sharing formula, long agreed and ratified by the founding fathers has operated for thirty seven years now. He should put his governorship ambition on hold, and once again smartly cease the opportunity of the moment to put his impressive political weight behind a reliable and dependable riverine aspirant, a technocrat, who he believes, can deliver the mandate as well as can cooperate with him. Happily, age sweetly is on his side.
That would define him as a fore-sighted political player, a loyal party man and a man who respects the true wishes of Rivers people.
Like our lawyers would say, and Wike is one of them: May it please your honourable
to so consider.
Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=81482

Gun Men Kills Federal House Of Representatives aspirant in Imo State.

Gunmen, on Thursday murdered a Federal House Of Representatives aspirant, Kingsley Nkemka, on Tuesday at an area known as T Junction, Ohaohia Mbeiri, Mbaitoli local government of Imo State.
Nkemka, who was aspiring to represent his people of Mbaitoli/Ikeduru, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was killed shortly after he attended the opening session of the state house of assembly.
He is presently an aide to the Speaker of Imo legislature.
According to a statement signed by the senior special assistant on media to the speaker, Emeka Ahaneku, the victim was said to be hale and hearty before attending the session.
It said Nkemka had travelled to some of the wards in his constituency in continuation of his consultation with some party leaders in the area to fine-tune his political aspiration.
“Immediately after his visit, Nkemka reportedly stopped over briefly at the popular T-junction, Ohaohia Mbieri, to also meet with one of his facilitators, who had planned a meeting between 8 and 9pm before the unfortunate incident.
“After the meeting with his facilitator and the director-general of his campaign organisation, some hoodlums, numbering about five, suddenly showed up at the scene, kicked out his (Nkemka’s) facilitator, ransacked Nkemka’s pockets, before shooting him in the ankle.
“They ordered him into the booth of his Toyota car where they finally shot him at close range”.
Imo police public relations officer, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident.
He added that some arrests have been made in connection with the crime, while investigations were ongoing.

Chelsea Striker Named EPL Player of The Month.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August, Goal reports.
The Brazilian-born Spain striker lifts the award in his first month in English football, having moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid this summer.
Costa, 25, scored four goals in three matches at the start of the English campaign, including individual strikes against Burnley and Leicester City and a double against Everton in a 6-3 victory.
The striker was criticised by Everton boss Roberto Martinez following the game at Goodison Park on August 30 for shouting at Seamus Coleman after the Irish right-back had scored an own goal.
“I think there are certain foreign players who, when they come to the Premier League, need to understand the ethics and it’s a completely different culture,” he said.
He beat off competition from Chelsea team-mate Cesc Fabregas, Swansea City duo Nathan Dyer and Gylfi Sigurdsson and Aston Villa’s Andreas Weimann.
But Swansea was successful in the manager’s category, with Garry Monk named Manager of the Month after guiding the Welsh side to three wins from three.
The Welsh side kicked off its Premier League campaign with a 2-1 win at Manchester United, before beating Burnley 1-0 and West Brom 3-0.

A Girl Infects Others After Tested HIV Positive

People need to understand that there are too many diseases going around to be carelessly having sex with complete strangers. A woman who is currently a student in Kenya, Africa revealed through social media she has infected over 324 men with the Human

Former Information Commissioner Of Borno Carpets APC Lai Mohammed Over Sheriff

Mr. Inuwa Bwala former Commissioner for Information, Home Affairs and Culture in Borno state, has said that, APC’s continuous deceits will have no particular effect on Nigerians as the people are allegedly not oblivious of the simple fact that Lai Mohammed, the APC Spokesman is Nigeria’s biggest liar on the pages of newspapers.

WHY I MARRIED YOBO - ADAEZE

Ex-Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Adaeze met her husband, Joseph Yobo in 2009, dated briefly and in 2010 they got married.
Adaeze for the first time opened up to the Sun on why she had to tie the knot just barely a year she met the footballer.

School Isolate Children For Wearing Skin Tight

Around 60 children were picked out by teachers on Wednesday for wearing 'skin-tight' trousers, which are banned under the school's new uniform rules.

Dozens of shocked pupils at Heaton Manor School, in Newcastle, spent more than eight hours of their first day of term sat in small rooms following the school's crackdown on incorrect uniform, which continued yesterday.

Man Disappeared With #4m on His Wedding Day

Uzor Emmanuel, a 45-year old married man with
three kids played a fast one on a 42-year old
lady, Victoria Adeleye at the Ikoyi Marriage
Registry Lagos state, Southwest Nigeria.

Rivers People Reacts To The Borrowing of N52b

Reactions are now beginning to trail the recent fifty two billion naira loan approved by the Rivers State House of Assembly for the State Government. Port Harcourt based legal practitioner and social analyst, Kennedy Amos said the criticisms against members of the assembly for approving the loan was uncalled for. Amos also noted that Governor Amaechi made the right move by following the rule of law, adding that the loan would be utilised for the interest of the people.

Man Who Has His Neck Folded Back.

The 37-year-old man has his neck folded back on itself, his legs are badly deformed and he can hardly use his hands. As the baby came to this world, it was not warmly welcomed by the medics, who advised his mother to stop feeding him because he would not survive.

Latest Fighter Jet To Arrive Soon

AS the armed forces get set for final onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorists, The latest fighter jets in the world would start arriving the country this week.

Senior CBN Officials Financing Boko Haram

TheCable, Stephen, said a Senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who just left the country’s apex bank handled the financial transactions of the sect group.

My Intention was Not to Still His Money- Suspect

The suspect behind the assassination of late Chief Ganiyu Akambi Bello, the grand patron of the Yoruba community in Kano State, has confessed that his mission to the home of the deceased on

Father Dies Trying To Safe Child in Ogun River

A middle-aged commercial bus driver, Oluwagbeminija Rhodes, has allegedly drowned in Ogun River while trying to save his drowning son, Gbeminiyi.

Hotel Staffs Arrested For Recording Sex Session of A Customer

Three hotel employees identified as Sunday Okon, 23; Rita Emmanuiel, 28; and Goodness Akpan 24; all staff of an undisclosed hotel in the Ogudu area of Lagos were yesterday, August 28th

Atleast Thirteen Dies As Boat Capsized in Port Harcourt

Atleast thirteen persons have been reportedly killed on Friday when a boat carrying 35 passengers sailing to Port Harcourt capsized. Confirming the sad incident to newsmen on Friday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) co-coordinator, Onimode Bandele said efforts were ongoing by the agency and other security agencies to rescue the victims.

Stephen Davis and The Boko Haram Insurgence

Earlier this month, Australian counter terrorism officials conducted separate interviews with Stephen Davis and his wife. They wanted to know what Dr Davis had been doing in Nigeria for the past four months. Dr Davis, a self-described "amateur peacemaker" from Perth, had embarked on a solo mission to rescue some of the more than 200 schoolgirls captured by Boko Haram militants in April.

Stephen Davis Negotiator of Boko Haram Names Sponsors

An Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davis, who was hired by the Nigerian government some months back to help negotiate with Boko Haram members to facilitate the release of abducted Chibok girls, mentioned the name of former Borno state Governor, Alimodu Sheriff as a sponsor of the terrorist group, Boko Haram. He also said that an unnamed past Chief of Army Staff who was sacked by Pres. Jonathan was also a sponsor of the group.

Rev. Anita Odegwa Set To Divorce Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

The Cable reports that the dissolution of the marriage between Christ Embassy Church founder, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and his wife, Rev. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome, has entered the final phase.