EXPOSED: Alison- Madueke's Secret Romance With Lagos Big Boy

According to a report monitored on First Weekly, Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is undoubtedly one of the most powerful ministers in the country today. Apart from holding a very sensitive position in the executive council, she also has the ears of President Goodluck Jonathan. The beautiful woman, we also learnt, had an 'underground' relationship with a Lagos-based Oil and Gas big boy, Dapo Abiodun. According to those who know about their affair, Diezani and Dapo dated for a while and while it lasted, both enjoyed it to the fullest both in Nigeria and abroad. The source said Dapo was the Apple of Alison's eye during the late president Umar Musa Yar'Adua's tenure when she was the Minister of Transportation and later Solid Mineral Resources. We learnt that affair between Alison and Dapo was closely guided and only a few people in the corridors of power knew of it. Dapo, who owns Heyden Oil, one of the major players in the oil and gas sector, was alleged by insiders to have gotten more patronage through Alison's influence. Unfortunately for the love birds, somewhere along the line, we learnt Dapo fumbled and Alison had a bitter fight with him. “When Alison Madueke became Minister of Petroleum, she made sure Dapo's Heyden Oil got little or no allocation for the importation of petroleum products, which accounted for serious drop in his fortune. “The fight is still on, but I know Dapo is trying to find a way back into the woman's heart,” our source disclosed. However, the source added that Alison, who is married to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Rtd. Admiral Madueke, has stepped up and has no time for Dapo again. "You know Dapo is a lady’s man, but the minister has told some of her confidants that he belongs to her past now,” our source said. Why They Broke Up.

MY STORY: I Just Found Out My Husband And I Are Related

My husband and I are in a dilemma, honestly a way out is not visible or should I say we are yet to get one. This is because the issue at hand is too evident to be ignored and my husband and I are so confused. I am fortunate to be raised by both parents and we had a happy family and a good background. My parents were into business and we were really comfortable. Their marriage to us their children was a good and perfect one and my younger sister and I used to pray and wish we would eventually marry a man like my father. He was our stereotype of a good husband and the way he treated mum, none of us would ever believe that dad had extra marital affairs. Tunde, my husband was not that lucky, he lost his father at a very tender age, he told me he died in a motor accident when he was two years old while his elder brother was five. His mother raised the two of them alone. She refused to remarry despite pleas and advice from family and friends. His mother eventually had a relationship with a man friend of hers when both of them were away in school. Adekunle, his elder brother travelled abroad for his Masters, and he was in the university too. He told me he never met the man, but that his mother always told them about him and sometimes when he helped out with their school fees and extras in the house. According to my husband, the said man, (his mother’s secret friend) was instrumental to his going abroad for his Master’s degree too and that was where we met. When we both finished our studies, we stayed back and started working. It was easy for me because all my siblings did the same and Tunde’s brother too was there to help out as all of us were together in Britain. According to him, during our stay in the United Kingdom, his mother informed both of them that she was pregnant for her male friend, but he said then that he wasn’t prepared for that type of commitment in their relationship. She never considered abortion as an option, so she kept the baby. As at that time, she had gone into business herself and she was doing well. With the support of her children, she was able to give their kid sister a very good and sound education. The pregnancy and the birth of the baby girl actually put an end to his mother’s relationship with her friend, but because she is mature and comfortable, she was able to move on without a problem and according to her, the little baby was just what she needed at that time since her children were grown and away from home. We got married in Britain and both parents attended our marriage and played their roles as our parents. There was nothing like animosity between my father and my mother –in-law and nobody would believe they had ever met themselves before our wedding and traditional introduction. My husband and I came into the country few years back, because we felt it was high time we did. You won’t believe that my father loved my husband so much that he encouraged him go into his business and he actually helped him to grow it. Both our parents have had cause to meet each other several times during family celebrations, but we had no cause to suspect they were keeping anything from us. To the glory of God, the little girl has finished her studies, done her NYSC and even travelled to the US for her Master’s degree. She is back home and wants to get married. You won’t believe the shock my husband received when his mother told him who his little sister’s father is. I also found it difficult to believe when he told me that my father is his sister’s father. This is shocking, strange and annoying. According to my mother-in-law, she wouldn’t have raised this because she already knew what peoples reaction would be, but his sister insisted on knowing who her father is or was. Even if he was no longer living, she deserved to know. She told him and felt there was no need keeping it a secret any longer from us since she had already told his sister. The problem now is, I don’t even know what she expected from me. I also don’t know what to do? Should I ask my father? How would my mother take it? Then, what would happen if my sister-in- law insists that her father should be visible in her wedding ceremony? I am sure you would ask if we didn’t guess by her surname. She had always bore my mother-in-law’s maiden name. I don’t even know what my husband’s thinking is or how he feels about my father now. The worst thing is that he is not talking. Please, Taiwo, how does one handle a situation like this? I am happily married with two children. My husband and I love each other; I don’t want this situation or anything to destroy my home, kindly help out with your counsel.

Baby(9months old) Burnt To Death In Sapele

The incident occurred at about 7.00pm, Wednesday. The whole building was brought to ruins as neighbours could not put out the fire while men of Sapele Fire Fighting Service arrived late. It was reported that the grand- father of the infant who was alerted of the incident was later involved in salvaging other parts of the building without knowing that his grand child had been consumed by the fire. When Vanguard visited the scene, neighbours and sympathizers were seen wailing over the loss of the baby just as household items littered the place. At press time, the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, but source at the Sapele Fire Fighting department, who preferred anonymity confirmed that it was due to electrical spark from power fluctuation

Lagos Ranked World’s 4th Worst City On Earth

Lagos is the fourth worst city in the world, Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU, an independent forecasting and advisory business within the Economist Group has said. And its top worst cities, are scattered around Africa and Asia. Lagos, the fourth on the list, shares its 137 position with Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea on 38.9 per cent.The report made available yesterday described it as the second-fastest growing city in Africa and the fourth worst city on earth. “Rapid growth is not always a good thing because Lagos is now a magnet for two perpetual threats to peace: pirates and Islamist warriors. Boko Haram have a problem with cities like Lagos and also lots of weaponry. Pirates threaten trade and use kidnapping as a method of funding. Islamist terrorist groups such as Boko Haram (“Education is forbidden”) want to create their own version of heaven on earth by destroying cities such as Lagos and imposing strict sharia law. Lagos has enormous potential but as yet little to show for it – hence its poor ranking,” the report said. EIU in its 2013 annual survey of the world’s 140 major metropolises, said Lagos has a long way to go politically, socially and economically before it joins the emerging market club.

Cannibal cult leader who drank girls' blood is hacked to death.

A cannibal cult leader calling himself Black Jesus, who slaughtered his 'Flower Girl' followers and drank their blood, has himself been murdered in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. In flowing robes, Stephen Tari, 40, a failed Bible student, once led 6,000 'disciples' through the mountainous regions of the country, but was accused of killing at least three young girls and, as their mothers were forced to watch, drinking their blood. Calling himself 'the true Christ', he was convicted of only rape three years ago - before the country brought in new laws that meant convicted killers and rapists could receive the death penalty - and was among 48 prisoners who broke out of jail six months ago. 'Black Jesus': Notorious cult leader Stephen Tari after he was captured in Papua New Guinea in 2007 Since then he has been on the run with a handful of faithful followers, but his bizarre life came to an end when he was said to have murdered a village woman this week and attempted to take the life of another. Surrounded by furious villagers on Thursday, he is believed to have been beaten and hacked to death, along with one of his henchmen in the remote village of Gal in the northern province of Madang. A special investigation by the Daily Mail six years ago heard from three women who said they had witnessed Tari drinking their murdered daughters' blood in bizarre sacrificial ceremonies in village huts as he led his followers through the jungle. Because of the remote area where he was murdered, police have not been able to establish whether he allegedly murdered a woman because he had started up his former cult and needed more human sacrifices. Madang provincial police commander Chief Superintendent Sylvester Kalaut told the Post Courier newspaper that the village where Tari met his death is several miles by foot along jungle tracks from the nearest small town. Capture: The feared Tari was beaten by villagers and tied up before being handed over to the police in 2007 'We are sending police and a doctor to the village to ascertain the cause of death. 'The village where he was based is a four hour walk and from advice and given reports of the state of his body, he will have to be buried soon after the post-mortem is conducted,' said Superintendent Kalaut. Followers: Tari gathered more than six thousand disciples with his preaching in the jungles (library image) The police officer warned that other prisoners who remain on the run and who might be associated with Tari should give themselves up. 'He is now dead and this could be the fate of the others who are also on the run from the authorities. I am warning and strongly urging those escapees to surrender themselves to authorities.' At the height of his infamy, Black Jesus wore long white robes as he stood on a rock in a jungle clearing and preached his own kind of gospel to his disciples. He told the crowds that they would receive gifts from heaven if they followed him. But behind his preachings was evil intent. Luring young females he called his Flower Girls into huts, he cut their throats and consumed their blood, mothers testified later. One woman said she was ordered to drink her own daughter's blood on one occasion. Police were unable to capture him, despite knowing where he was because of the constant the presence of his large 'flock' - he was guarded by henchmen who carried rifles, spears and bows and arrows. But villagers finally carried out a 'citizens' arrest' in 2007 and Tari was eventually jailed. Now, it is village power once again that has brought an end to his warped teachings. It is expected he will be buried near the small jungle community where he was killed.

French to be Part of UTME from 2014

According to the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'I, french will be part of UTME for interested candidates from 2014. This was said at the reception for the French Language Project Manager, Mr. Jean-Phillipe Roy who came to Nigeria in 2009 under the second Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and French. She said, "For Nigeria, the study of French language is quite key, considering the fact that our neighbouring countries are French-speaking. Apart from the English language, French language is one of the major international languages." The minister also commended the efforts of the french government towards Nigerian french education.

UNILAG Big Girl Kidnapped, Raped By 3 Friends

22-year-old female student of the University of Lagos, Tolulope Titiloye, who was kidnapped and raped by three friends, who later posted her nude photos on the social media, is now in court to get justice. Three friends – Bashorun Babajide, Aje Olumayowa, and Babajide Ajayi – had molested her, took photos of her without clothes and threatened to share the photos if she exposed them. Tolulope had kept quiet about the sad incident but trouble started when her family members saw her nude photos on the internet. Within few days of the upload, the nude photographs went viral on social media, exposing Tolulope to ridicule and shame. Consequently, the three bad guys were rounded up and arrested. They have been arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for kidnapping and raping. According to police, after assaulting her, Babajide, Mayowa and Ajayi also attempted to murder Tolulope on the day of the incident in April, 2013. Hence, they were arraigned for kidnap, rape, assault, battery, unlawful detention and attempted murder. When the charges were read to them, the three friends pleaded not guilty. Magistrate S.K Matepo granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each and adjourned the case till October 2 for hearing.

Boko Haram Progressively Weakened, Says Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan Friday declared that the insurgent group, Boko Haram, has been progressively weakened by the security strategy put in place by the government. The President stated this at an audience with the outgoing Representative of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. David Mac Rae. HE said the measures taken by his administration had resulted in a significant reduction in the occurrence of terrorist attacks in the country. He noted that the federal government would keep on doing everything possible to further enhance security in all parts of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted him as saying: “As a government, we are doing everything possible to improve our country on all fronts. “We are consistently adapting our security architecture to deal with terrorism which has become a challenge to the whole world. “Boko Haram is being progressively weakened but we are not resting on our oars. We will continue to do everything possible to achieve greater security for all who reside within our borders.” The President said that his administration would continue to do its best to correct negative perceptions about Nigeria especially concerning widespread insecurity and corruption. He welcomed the declaration by the outgoing ambassador that he had recently travelled to the Niger Delta and some Northern states and found people there going about their normal lives and businesses without fear. President Jonathan urged him to assist in correcting current misconceptions about Nigeria by taking that positive message to the EU and the rest of the world. He also commended the EU for its past and ongoing support toward improving the electoral process in Nigeria and assured Mac Rae that Nigeria would act to facilitate the early conclusion of a partnership agreement between ECOWAS and the EU.

THE RIOT

In many parts of the world, when people of different religions live near one another, there are often misunderstandings and strife. The writer of this story wished to point out that it is often children who see the way to accepting others with different beliefs. One hot afternoon after school, eight-year-old Mary and her elder brother, Samuel, were playing a game of Snakes and Ladders in the family sitting room. Sitting next to his children in his favorite chair, Mr. John Bature was reading the day's newspaper. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Oh, no! Not again!" Mary looked up. "What is it, Daddy?" she asked. "It says here that the Muslims and Christians are fighting again in Kano, Bauchi, and Kaduna and that many Christians have lost their property and homes during the riot." "I hope they didn't kill anybody," said Samuel. "Several Christians were killed," his father sadly replied. "The riot has also reached Zaria," he added. The news frightened Mary. "Daddy, won't the Muslims come and fight us here?" "No, my dear, the riots won't get here. We have more Christians than Muslims here in Kafanchan. The Muslims won't dare fight us." That Friday afternoon, however, when Mary and her friend Arike were going home after school, they noticed small groups of Muslims in their white galabiyas (tunics) and skull caps arguing at street corners in loud voices. "What are they talking about?" Mary asked Arike. "Maybe they are just discussing what they heard today at the mosque," Arike replied. Unknown to the two girls, the crowd was preparing to start a riot. Despite their smaller number in the town, the Muslims were planning to attack the Christians, as their leaders had ordered. In no time, the town's Muslims had poured into the streets chanting war songs. Before long, several churches, shops, and houses belonging to Christians had either been set on fire or looted and destroyed. As the riot continued, the streets were filled with smoke and the cries of the wounded and the dying. Unable to find their way home in all the confusion, Mary and Arike started crying. "Help us, somebody please help us," Arike sobbed as the smoke from the burning houses stung their eyes. " What shall we do? How shall we get home today?" Mary cried. "Please help us, God." Suddenly they saw some people who were obviously Christians running past them in the direction of the police station. "Let's follow them," Arike shouted, pulling her friend by the hand. As the girls ran, Mary hit her foot against a stone and fell. "Arike, Arike, please help me," she cried. Arike ran back and pulled her up. By the time they got to the small police station, the place was already full and the girls had to squeeze themselves among the crowd. A few minutes later, there was a loud noise from the direction of the market as a new group of armed men took to the streets shouting and running after the Muslims in their galabiyas. "The Christians are fighting back," somebody shouted. Some of those inside the police station burst into cheers. A few of the youths ran out to join those on the streets who had now started burning mosques and houses belonging to Muslims. As Mary and Arike were wondering what to do, Mary saw the elderly woman who sold fruits at the shop near her parents' house. She, too, was hiding at the station. When the sounds of the rioting had faded off into another direction, Mary went up to the old woman and asked, "Would you run with me and Arike to my house?" The woman agreed to try and they all three raced and dodged to Mary's house. Mary's parents were overjoyed. "We had searched everywhere for you," Mrs. Bature sobbed. "Thank God you're safe." Then Mr. Bature noticed Arike. "Who is this?" he asked. "She's my friend, Arike. She sits next to me in class," Mary replied. "Her house is far away so I thought she could stay here until everything is clear." "Where do you live?" Mrs. Bature asked Arike. "In the staff quarters of Muslim High School," answered Arike. "My parents are teachers there." "Then you must be a Muslim," Mrs. Bature said. "Yes, Mummy, she is a Muslim but a very good girl." Mary interrupted, trying to help her friend. "I'm sorry, Mary, but Arike can't stay here." "But, Mummy, she's good and she's my friend. She even helped me when I fell while we were running." "And I say she's a Muslim and that's bad. If they find her with us they might think we kidnapped her. Don't forget that the Christians have started fighting back. If they discover we are protecting Arike we would be in trouble." "Please, Mummy, please let her stay," Mary begged. Arike also knelt down begging, "Please, Ma, let me stay, Ma. My house is very far away and they're still fighting in the streets. Don't let them kill me." "Hmmm .... That's true. Muslim High School is really far away. I wonder if we could. . . " Mrs. Bature started to agree, but she was cut short by her husband. "No, no, no, she's a Muslim. She has to go." "We can't keep her in the house," Samuel added. "Muslims are wicked. They are our enemies." "But Samuel, Mummy, Daddy," protested Mary. "In Sunday school our teacher told us that we Christians should love our enemies. And also that we should help anyone who is in trouble." "No, my dear," Mr. Bature said, shaking his head vigorously. "That girl can't stay here. It's too dangerous." So it was that with tears streaming down her face, Arike was turned away from Mary's house. The sight of her friend being sent away crying was too much for Mary, and she too broke into tears. As Samuel pushed the reluctant Arike toward the door, an idea suddenly came to Mary. "Wait, Samuel," she said. "Let me take my book out of her bag." While pretending to remove a book from Arike's bag, Mary whispered to her, "Go to the back door. I'll come and open it for you." As the Batures' front door closed behind Arike, she was left alone in the street, which by then had grown dark except for the distant lights of burning buildings. The harmattan wind had started blowing and it was very cold. Arike's teeth chattered from fright and the cold. She quickly crept around to the back of the house and hid behind a hibiscus shrub. It seemed like a long, long time before Mary silently opened the kitchen door and let her in. Mary then quietly took Arike to her room, where she hid her under her bed until her parents went to bed. The following morning while the Bature family was listening to the news on the radio, the announcer mentioned that Muslim High School was among the places completely burnt down during the riots. He added that some of the students and teachers were wounded and killed. Suddenly, Mrs. Bature remembered that Mary's friend Arike lived at the Muslim High School with her parents. "Poor Arike, only God knows what has happened to her." Mrs. Bature turned to her husband and told him, "I wanted to keep her here, but you refused. That was not Christian-like." Mr. Bature looked guilty for a moment, then said, "I'm sure she's safe somewhere. Her parents too. I feel it in my bones," he added hopefully. Mrs. Bature looked worried. She turned to her daughter and said, "Mary, we're sincerely sorry about your friend. It's possible they escaped. Not everybody gets killed in the riots. All the same, I am sorry we turned her away." But Mary said cheerfully, "Arike is very safe. I only hope her mummy and daddy are safe, too." When her parents looked baffled, she added, "Last night when I pretended to take my book from her bag I asked Arike to meet me at the back of the house. Later, I let her in, took her to my bedroom, and hid her under my bed till you went to bed." "Is she still in your bedroom?" her mother asked in astonishment. "Yes, Mummy." "Go and bring her and we'll all have breakfast together." Her father added, "Then we'll go and look for her parents, but don't tell her about the radio news. There's no need to worry her unnecessarily." He switched off the radio as Mary ran to her room to fetch Arike. She soon came back with her friend, who looked tired and untidy from hiding under the bed. As the two girls entered the sitting room, both Mr. and Mrs. Bature ran up to Arike and hugged her. "We are so glad to see you're safe," Mrs. Bature said. "We are sorry we turned you out last night." "Yes, we are really sorry," Mr. Bature added. "Come and have breakfast and then we'll take you to your parents." At that point, Samuel entered the room and switched on the radio. Before the horrified Batures could do anything, they heard the announcer repeat the news: "Among the schools burnt down was the Muslim High School at Station Road." "Oh no, that's where my family lived!" Arike shrieked as she heard the news. Despite Mr. and Mrs. Bature's efforts to soothe her, she began to sob. "Arike, don't cry," said Mr. Bature quickly. "I am sure your family is safe. I will go and bring them here. Samuel, you and Mary play with Arike while I drive down to find them." "I'll go with you, Mr. Bature. I want to go with you," said Arike. However, Mr. and Mrs. Bature were able to convince Arike so stay behind while Mr. Bature went in search of her family An hour later, Mary heard the familiar sound of her father's car arriving. Looking out the window, she called to her friend, "Arike, come quickly. Your parents are here." As the girls ran out the door, Arike rushed into her parents' warm embrace. "Safe, safe, praise be to Allah you are safe," said Arike's father as he lifted her playfully into the air. "Yes, we are grateful to Allah ... and also to the Batures," said Arike's mother. She gave Mary a hug. Arike was anxious to know about her brothers and sisters. "How are Jide, Sade, Simi, and Bayo?" she asked. "They are all waiting at government guest house, where we've been staying since the rioters burnt our house. You'll hear all about it when you get there." Everyone was quiet for a while. Then Arike's father looked nervously at his watch. "We must go." Turning to the Batures, he said, "Thank you very much for your help. We are very grateful." "Actually, it's Mary we should all thank. But for her, it wouldn't have ended like this." Arike was too overcome to say anything to her friend. She hugged Mary and then went off with her parents.

WHY WISDOM IS EVERYWHERE

A long time ago, Anansi the spider, had all the wisdom in the world stored in a huge pot. Nyame, the sky god, had given it to him. Anansi had been instructed to share it with everyone. Every day, Anansi looked in the pot, and learned different things. The pot was full of wonderful ideas and skills. Anansi greedily thought, "I will not share the treasure of knowledge with everyone. I will keep all the wisdom for myself." So, Anansi decided to hide the wisdom on top of a tall tree. He took some vines and made some strong string and tied it firmly around the pot, leaving one end free. He then tied the loose end around his waist so that the pot hung in front or him. He then started to climb the tree. He struggled as he climbed because the pot of wisdom kepts getting in his way, bumping against his tummy. Anansi's son watched in fascination as his father struggled up the tree. Finally, Anansi's son told him "If you tie the pot to your back, it will be easier to cling to the tree and climb." Anansi tied the pot to his back instead, and continued to climb the tree, with much more ease than before. When Anansi got to the top of the tree, he became angry. "A young one with some common sense knows more than I, and I have the pot of wisdom!" In anger, Anansi threw down the pot of wisdom. The pot broke, and pieces of wisdom flew in every direction. People found the bits scattered everywhere, and if they wanted to, they could take some home to their families and friends. That is why to this day, no one person has ALL the world's wisdom. People everywhere share small pieces of it whenever they exchange ideas.

ANANSI AND TURTLE

One day Anansi the spider picked some very fat and tasty yams from his garden. He baked them with much care and they came out smelling quite delicious. He could not wait to sit down and eat them. Just then there was a knock at his door. It was Turtle, who had been traveling all day and was very tired and hungry. "Hello, Anansi," said Turtle. "I have been walking for so long, and I smelled the most delicious yams I've ever smelled. Would you be so kind as to share your meal with me?" Anansi could not refuse, as it was the custom in his country to share your meal with visitors at mealtime. But he was not very happy, for Anansi was a little too greedy and wanted the delicious yams all to himself. So Anansi thought to himself and came up with a scheme. "Please do come in, Turtle. I would be honored to have you as my guest this evening. Sit down, have a chair and help yourself." Turtle came inside and sat down, but just as he reached for a yam, Anansi yelled, "Turtle, don't you know better than to come to the table with dirty hands?" Turtle looked down at his hands and saw that they were filthy. He had been crawling all day and had not had a chance to clean up. Turtle got up and went to the river to clean his feet. He walked all the way back up to the house and Anansi had already begun to eat. "I didn't want these tasty yams to get cold, so I had to begin," said Anansi. "But please do join me now, Turtle." Turtle sat down again and reached for a yam, but again Anansi yelled at him. "Turtle, did you not hear me before? It is not polite to come to the table with dirty hands!" He looked down and saw that his clean hands had turned dirty once more, since he had to crawl on them to get back to the house. So he walked down to the river once more to wash himself off. And when he returned this time, he was careful to walk on the grass so his hands would stay clean. But by the time he sat down at the table, Anansi had finished up the last bit of the tasty yams and not so much as a morsel was left. Turtle looked at Anansi for a moment and then said, "Thank you for sharing your meal with me. If you ever find yourself near my house, please let me return the favor." And then he slowly walked out the door and continued on his way. The days went by and Anansi thought more and more of that meal that Turtle had offered. He got more and more interested in a free dinner and finally could not stand it anymore. He set off one day to find Turtle's house. He found Turtle sunning himself on a riverbank just around dinnertime. Turtle looked up and saw him and said, "Hello, Anansi, have you come to share evening meal with me?" "Oh yes, yes!" said Anansi, who was growing hungrier and hungrier by the minute. Turtle went underwater to his house to set up the dinner table for the two of them. Soon he came back to the bank and said, "Your place is waiting and the food is ready. Please join me, Anansi." And then he dived underwater and began to slowly eat his meal. Anansi jumped into the water, but could not get down to the bottom of the river. He tried to swim down, but he was so light that he kept popping back up to the surface. He tried diving. He tried belly flops. He tried a running jump, but nothing would help him get down to the river bottom. In the meantime, Turtle was slowly eating his meal. Anansi was not about to give up a free meal, and was running around wondering what he would do. Finally he had an idea. He started grabbing stones and rocks and stuffed them into his jacket pockets. Now when he jumped into the water he sank right down to the bottom and was able to take his place at the table. The table was so beautiful and full of delicious foods. Anansi could hardly believe how many tasty foods were before him and could not wait to start his meal. But just as he reached for the first morsel, Turtle stopped eating and spoke. "In my country, we do not wear our jackets to the table." Anansi noticed that Turtle had removed his own jacket before sitting down. Anansi started to remove his jacket, and as soon as it was off of his shoulders, he went zooming back up to the surface and popped out onto the riverbank. He stuck his head down into the water and saw Turtle slowly enjoying that wonderful banquet. Moral of the story: When you try to outsmart someone, you may find that you're the one outsmarted.

2015: Jonathan eligible but shouldn’t contest - Nwabueze

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been advised that though he is eligible to contest 2015 election, he should not, in order to concentrate on his effort to transform the country. The Patriots, led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, while fielding questions after their visit to President Jonathan, in Abuja, on Thursday, said “the president is eligible. Nobody is questioning his eligibility. The president is eligible. What makes him ineligible? Nothing. He is eligible, if he decides. That is a personal decision for him to take.” However, he insisted that Jonathan should abandon his second term ambition in order to successfully transform the country. If Jonathan does that, he would become an instant hero to this country, but it is for him to chose. If I were him, I would choose to become a hero to lead the country into transformation and abandon the ambition of a second term. That is what I said and I still stand by it and that is what I would do if I were the president of the country, but I’m not,” he said. Earlier, President Jonathan had said his administration was not opposed to moves by Nigerians to meet and discuss how they will continue to live together in peace and unity. He made the declaration after receiving a memorandum from The Patriots, led by Professor Nwabueze, on the need for a national conference, which should lead to the production of a people’s constitution for the country. While noting that ordinarily, the issue of Nigerians coming together to discuss their future should not be out of place, he stressed that there had been constant discussion within government on how to create an acceptable and workable platform for a national dialogue that would reinforce the ties that bound the many ethnic nationalities in the country. “The limitation we have is that the constitution appears to have given that responsibility to the National Assembly. I have also been discussing the matter with the leadership of the National Assembly. We want a situation where everyone will key into the process and agree on the way forward,” Jonathan said. He added that as a government, his administration was totally committed to transforming the country, noting that “positive things are being done and, by the grace of God, we will get to where we ought to be as a nation.” Jonathan welcomed the forum’s call for the moral re-orientation of Nigerians, saying he shared their belief that ongoing efforts at national transformation and development would be greatly enhanced and facilitated by the cultivation of better national ethics and attitudes. The Patriots had observed in the memorandum presented to the president that Nigeria “is a wobbly state in part, because it stands on a very weak foundation, which creates a necessity to transform it.” Other members of the delegation were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Solomon Asemota, Chris Okoye, Chief (Mrs) Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd), Professor Kimse Okoko and Mr Michael Orobator.

Chimaroke Nnamani: EFCC declares Jude Benjamin Amanze, Chinelo Nwigwe, David Nwigwe wanted

WorldStage Newsonline-- Following the arrest warrant issued by Justice M. N. Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared the trio of Jude Benjamin Amanze, Chinelo Nwigwe and David Nwigwe wanted. They are wanted by the anti-graft agency in connection with the case instituted against former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani who is alleged to have diverted public funds and embezzled billions of naira when he held sway as governor of the state from 1999 to 2007. Amanze who was the governor’s special aide is alleged to have served as a conduit in siphoning over N514,833,564.60 (Five Hundred and Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Four Naira, Sixty Kobo) belonging to Enugu State government. Investigation by the Commission revealed that a road construction contract awarded to one Chief Jacob Nwatu between 2002 – 2003 was not unexecuted. Yet, N514,833,564.60 was paid for the contract, which was traced to the Zenith Bank Account of Chief Nwatu. Further investigations revealed that a sum of N350,000,000 was latter moved from this account into three Zenith Bank accounts operated solely by Jude Amanze. Amanze was also said to have warehoused other funds in the said Zenith Bank accounts which were disbursed either directly to or for the benefit of persons connected with the former governor, his companies or associates. Efforts by the Commission to get Amanze and the two other suspects whose evidences are vital in the case to report to the Commission and answer questions have been unsuccessful. They are believed to have fled the country for some safe haven abroad. The EFCC implores anybody having useful information as to their whereabouts to contact the Commission in its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or through these numbers: 09-4604620, 070-26350721,070-26350722,070-26350723,070-6350724, 070-26350725 ; or e-mail address: info@efccnigeria.org or the nearest Police Station.

25 Killed In Boko Haram Battle With Civilain JTF

Two separate attacks by suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect has left at least 25 members of the Civilian JTF in Dawashi Village of Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, a border town with Niger and Chad Republic residents and officials said on Tuesday. Some five members of volunteer vigilante group hunting Boko Haram were among the 25 killed, a report by the Associated Press (AP) said. A statement by the Spokesperson of the Multi National Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Haruna Sani said “A group of Civilian Joint Task Force from Maiduguri stormed the village Dawashi in search of Boko Haram members when the suspected sect members came armed and fired sporadic shots that killed over twenty innocent civilians while a dozen secured serious gunshot injuries. The victims are mostly fishermen and traders who pursue their legitimate business in the area. As at the time of compiling this report, the victims were still lying within the premises of MNJTF Field Ambulance receiving medical treatment from the injury sustained during the attack”. He however commended the“Excellent Civil Military Relations and humanitarian gesture demonstrated by Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)” adding that “a dozen of Boko Haram victims affected by the attack in Dawashe District of Kukawa Local Government Borno State got medical treatment in the Headquarters Field Ambulance in Baga”. Sani also assured that “heavily armed Quick Reaction Group from MNJTF had been deployed to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area. The general area of Dawashi, Daban Masara and Malan Karanti are known to be suspected Boko Haram strongholds.” Also, JTF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, in a statement to newsmen said the vigilante youths were on operation in Mainok town over the weekend. He said that in the course of their operation, they were attacked by suspected Boko Haram members. Sagir said both the deceased and the wounded were in Shehu Umar Specialist Hospital Bulumkutu in Maiduguri metropolis. He added that on hearing the news at about 11p.m. last Friday, JTF troops were drafted to the area and have been operating on Mainok and surrounding villages to apprehend the bandits, pointing out that the situation in the area was now calm.

NLC to intervene in FG, ASUU crisis

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Thursday, that it will meet members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in order to ensure university lecturers return to the negotiating table to continue discussion with the government. ASUU had been on strike since July 1, demanding that the Federal Government implements an agreement it signed with them in 2009. The two parties, government and the ASUU commenced negotiation to resolve the crisis, but had last week, pulled out of negotiations, accusing government of insincerity in the talks. President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, said after the congress emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Labour House in Abuja, efforts were ongoing to convince ASUU to resume discussions with the Federal Government, with a view to restoring normalcy to the nation’s university system. He pointed out that NLC was studying the bone of contention and was intervening to ensure that a robust discussion continued, which would ultimately lead to an amicable resolution of the crisis. Omar said: “It is a very serious issue we are having on our hands, allowing lecturers to be out of the classrooms for close to two months. We are currently embarking on consultation with a view to convincing members of the union to resume negotiation with the Federal Government.” He stated that NLC also deliberated on the Senate’s proposal for the removal of the labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List, stating that the union has put in place an action plan to confront the move. According to him, the NLC would work with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on the matter, stressing that organised labour had already started making personal contact with people- friendly members of the National Assembly.

GOLD, CORAL AND MONEY

ACTORS : 1. Azuwa - Mother 2. Gold - Daughter of Azuwa 3. Coral - Daughter of Azuwa 4. Money - Daughter of Azuwa 5. Narrator 6. Servant 7. Mother Narrator: Once upon a time, there lived a woman called Azuwa and her three Daughters named Gold, Coral and Money. They grew into beautiful women and it was soon time for them to get married. Azuwa prepared very expensive wardrobes for her two eldest daughters, Gold and Coral, but did nothing for Money. The two daughters later maltreated their mother but Money remained faithful. SCENE ONE: Family house (The Family is seated in a large sitting room.) Gold: Mother, you know I will be leaving for my husband's house today. Azuwa: Yes, my dear. Gold: Mother, I would like to have a share of your property as my bridal wealth. Azuwa: Don't worry, my daughter. I have prepared a large porting of it for you. When you are ready to go, the slaves that are also part of your inheritance will take them with you. Go and get ready, my daughter. (exit Gold) Go and get ready too, Coral; you know you'll be leaving soon too. Coral: Yes, Mother. I am ready. Azuwa: I have given a large portion of my inheritance to you too. Coral: Thank you very much, Mother. (exit Coral) Money: Mother, what of me? I am also leaving today. Azuwa: Get out, you good-for- nothing child. I have no wealth to waste on you. You are very ugly. No man will want to marry you. Money: But, Mother, I am your child, you bore me. Remember how I used to help you while all my other sisters abandoned you. Azuwa: I have nothing for you. Good-bye. I am happy to be rid of you. (Money begins to weep and eventually exits.) SCENE TWO: Family House (The house is looking old and wretched. Azuwa is sitting down.) Narrator: Several years later, Azuwa becomes old, poor and wretched. Everybody has deserted her. Azuwa: O! God why have you done this to me? I am so old and poor. I can hardly get any food to eat. All my children have deserted me. All the same, I will still go and stay with them. That is better than staying here. Narrator: She then sets out to find her children, starting with Gold. SCENE THREE: Gold's House (Everything in the surrounding is made of gold. Gold is seated on a beautiful chair.) Gold: Servant! Servant!! Servant: Yes, madam. Gold: Go and see who is making that noise outside. (Exit servant; on the right side of the stage, outside the door, Azuwa is seated with tattered clothes.) Azuwa: (begins to sing) Gold, Gold o! Tell your husband to do me good Come and see the suffering Azuwa is in Azuwa is now suffering. Servant: She says she is your mother, Madam. Gold: Bring her in (servant goes out and comes in again with Azuwa) Gold: Who is this? Who do you want? Can I help you? Azuwa: I am your mother, Azuwa. Don't you know me again? Gold: Get out of my house. I have no business with wretched people like you. Servant, throw her out of my house. Look at the stinking fool. (The servant drags her out) SCENE FOUR: Coral's House (There are lots of beautiful corals on the wall; Coral is seated on a beautiful chair and Azuwa's song is heard from outside) Servant: Madam, there is a woman that says she is your mother outside, singing. Coral: Ask the guard to throw her out. I have no business with her. I cannot help her. Servant: But ma, she is your mother! Coral: Are you deaf? Call the guard and ask him to throw her out of the compound. I have no place in my house for the suffering mother her song talks about. She has other daughters, let her go to them. Narrator: Azuwa was thrown outside. The rain fell on her and the sun dried her. All the clothes she had on were torn to little bits. She didn't know who to go to, having been nasty to Money. After many weeks of living like a mad woman, she finally decided to go to Money's house. SCENE FIVE: Money's House (There is a very expensive environment, far more than the other two. Azuwa's song can be heard from afar.) Money: I think I can hear a very faint song from afar. The voice sounds like my mother's. Servant! (enter servant) Go and see who the person is that is singing this sorrowful tune. Servant: Yes, Madame. Voice: Money, Money o! Tell your husband to do me good Come and see the suffering Azuwa is in Azuwa is now suffering Money: (She starts weeping) So my mother is now suffering. What could have happened to her wealth? Servant: Madam, your mother is outside. Money: Go to my bedroom and bring out all the expensive wrappers and spread them on the floor for her to walk on. (exit servant and re-enters spreading the wrappers on the path Azuwa will walk on) Money: Go and bring my mother in. (As her mother appears, Money runs to her and embraces her. They both start crying) Money: Go and tell the other servants to boil water for my mother's bath. Tell them to kill a fattened goat and make food for her. (exit servant) (Turning to Azuwa) Mother, what happened to you? Where are my sisters? Azuwa: After you all left, I became very lonely and poor. When I went to Gold's house, she drove me out like a dirty dog. Coral wouldn't even set her eyes on me. But you, my daughter, took me in, clothed me and cared for me after all I did to you. I am sorry, my daughter. God will bless you. Money: We shall send for my other sisters. For now, come inside and have a good bath so that you can eat. SCENE SIX : Money's House (The three daughters are seated around their mother) Gold: Mother, we are really very sorry. Please, forgive us. Coral: Mother, please forgive us. Azuwa: I have forgiven you. If Money can forgive me who am I to bear you any grudge? Coral and Gold: Thank you, Mother. Azuwa: There is something I must tell all of you today. From today, Money is the most senior out of the three of you. She alone has shown love and maturity. Moreover, without money we cannot buy Gold. Without Money we cannot buy Coral. We thank God for the kindness she has shown to all of us. Money: I thank you very much, Mother, for that gesture. But I don't think it is necessary. Coral: Money, don't disagree with Mother, she is correct. Gold: Yes, Money, we have nothing against Mother's decisions. Without your help, Mother would have probably died now. Money: Okay, sisters. Thank you too. Let's go in and have some food. (exit all) (Fade out)

NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT

ACTORS: 1. Enoma - A farmer 2. Isoken - His wife 3. Uyi - Enoma's friend 4. Adesuwa - Uyi's wife 5. Divisional Officer 6. Messenger SCENE ONE : Enoma sitting by a wooden stool with empty plates of food on it. Enoma: Isoken! Isoken!! Come right here. Isoken: Here I am, my beloved. What can I do for you? Enoma: How many times will I tell you to remove my plates immediately I finish eating? You are a very forgetful woman. Isoken: I am sorry, Enoma. I will never forget again. (packs the plates and re-arranges the surrounding.) Enoma: Hurry up and don't delay. You know we have a lot of work awaiting us in the farm. Isoken: Enoma, you don't seem to be in a very good mood this morning. What is the matter? Enoma: How can I be in a good mood when nothing is going on well with me? I cannot even afford to have three meals; look at all my friends, they are doing well. They all work for the white man. Isoken: That is not the right spirit. Be satisfied with the little you have and look up to God to provide more for you. He is a great provider. Enoma: Thank you, Isoken, for your encouraging talk. Somehow one is tempted to be unhappy. All the same, we need money to buy food. You know, Isoken, that I am not a very strong man. Farm work is too tedious for me. The animals also eat the little we plant. Isoken: But you have been trying. You have been doing your best. Enoma: Yes, my dear, but my best cannot do the magic. Our harvest is always the poorest. We are forever begging for yam seedlings. Isoken: Why don't we try the white man's job then? I hear they give the people working for them free food and clothes. Enoma: That is true. But who will employ a lazy fool like me? A wretched, dull fellow like myself. Isoken: Don't under-rate yourself. You don't know what God has in store for you. Just wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow may yet bring good things. Enoma: Let's hope so. Right now, the problem is where to get money to buy us food tomorrow. Isoken: Why don't you go to Uyi? He is your very good friend, he will not fail you. Enoma: Okay, tomorrow I will go and see him. Meanwhile, let's go and see what we can do in the farm. SCENE TWO: Uyi's House (beautifully decorated) Uyi: Adesuwa, go and see who is at the door. (Adesuwa goes to the door and hisses at the visitors) Adesuwa: What do you want? Isoken: (Joyfully) Ade, it is me your friend, Isoken and my husband, Enoma. Adesuwa: And is that news? What brought you here? Enoma: We want Uyi, I mean my friend. Uyi: Who is your friend? When did we become friends? Who gave you the right to come into my house, anyhow? We are not equals, you know, so, mind how you address me. Enoma: But it is me, Enoma, your childhood friend. Uyi: Rubbish. If you have nothing better to say, please find your way out. Isoken: Please, I came to beg for some money to enable us to eat tomorrow. Adesuwa: What impudence! You mean you just live your life not knowing where your next meal will come from? Aren't you a farmer? Can't you grow enough food to feed your family? Isoken: We are sorry to disturb you. For some time things have not been too good for us. We thought you could help us out. Adesuwa: I am sorry for both of you. You have come to the wrong place. Just get out of here. (Flings open the door for them to get out.) Isoken: We are awfully sorry to have disturbed you. But don't forget, no condition is permanent. Adesuwa: Say what you like. Good night. (Exit Enoma and Isoken) Adesuwa: These people are mad. What do they take us for? Gold- diggers? Nonsense. Uyi: Don't mind them. They want to reap where they haven't sown. Please serve me my supper. Uyi: The next time they come here, I will ask the D. O.'s dog to chase them out. SCENE THREE: Enoma is weaving a mat Enoma: Isoken, what a humiliation! Did you think Uyi and his wife could treat us that way? I can't believe it. God, if this is what it's like to be a rich man, please don't make me one. Isoken: Take no notice of them. It is their moon that is shining. God will look with favour on us one day and also provide us a white man's job. Enoma: I have an idea. Why don't I go and see the D. O. myself? Who knows? He might have something for me. Isoken: (Laughing) Don't be so sure; after all, there are many other people more qualified than you that he has not found a place for. Enoma: That is not my business. I am sure he will find something for me to do; I will go and see him tomorrow. God will touch his heart. Isoken: Good luck! Who knows? You may find favour in his sight. SCENE FOUR: D.O.'s Office Knock, knock. Messenger: Come in. Enoma: Good morning! Please, can I see the D.O.? Messenger: (In a hostile mood) Who are you and what do you want? Enoma: I am Enoma and I want a job. Messenger: Then go to the Labour Office. Enoma: I want to see the D.O., I know he can help me. Messenger: Okay, if you insist. I know he will ask his dog to drive you out of this compound. Fill this form (giving him a form to fill) Enoma: But I can neither read nor write Messenger: Then, what do you need a white man's job for if you cannot read and write? D.O.: Messenger! Messenger!! (Calling from his office) Messenger: Yes sir. D.O.: Who is that? Messenger: A bush man from the village. D.O.: What does he want? Messenger: A job, sir! D.O.: Send him in. Messenger: Yes sir! (to Enoma) Go in. (Enoma hurriedly goes into the D.O.'s office) D.O.: Yes, young man, can I be of any help to you? Enoma: Yes sir, I need a job. D.O.: What about your farm? Who will take care of it - while you are away? Enoma: Sir, for some time now my farm has not yielded much. Not even enough to feed my family. D.O.: You are a lazy farmer. If you work hard on your farm, you'll have a good harvest. Enoma: I work hard sir, but some animals come from the neighbouring bush to eat up my crops. D.O.: That's sad. Anyway, I don't have much for you, as I guess you can neither read nor write. But all the same, you will make a good gardener. Enoma: Sir, I cannot guard. I did not fight in the World War. D.O.: Blunt head! A gardener is one who cares for the plants and flowers around a compound. Is that clear? Enoma: Yes sir. D.O.: Messenger! Messenger!! Messenger: Yes sir! D.O.: Tell Mr. John to give this man a new pair of uniforms and the keys to my boy's quarters. Messenger: But sir, that's where Mr. Uyi stays. D.O.: Mr. Uyi was dismissed yesterday. He was found stealing money from my drawer. Messenger: Okay sir. Come along (motioning to Mr. Enoma) SCENE FIVE : Enoma's New House (The Setting is as of Uyi's) Enoma: My wife, I really thank God for this new job. Now we can have enough to eat and wear. Isoken: I told you to wait for tomorrow. I told you tomorrow may bring good luck. (there is a knock on the door) Isoken: Yes, come in. (Uyi and his wife Adesuwa enter) Uyi: Good evening, my friend. Enoma: Uyi, good evening. What is the matter? You look so worried. Uyi: That is true. Everything is wrong. We have no food to eat and no home to put up in. Enoma: That's sad. Uyi, my friend, don't worry. I have saved money since I started working here. So I can give it to you to look for a house and buy some food. You know, the D.O. will not allow me to put you up here. Uyi: That's true. My friend, Enoma, I am very grateful. I feel ashamed of myself for the way I treated you. You were right when you said no condition is permanent. Enoma: That's true, my friend. Anywhere we find ourselves, we should try to help others. Adesuwa: Thank you very much Enoma and Isoken. We have learned our lesson now. God bless both of you. Whatever God has given us, we should bless others with it because no one knows tomorrow. (Lights Out)

DON'T PAY BAD FOR BAD

Dola and Babi were good friends in their days. Both were young ladies, and they had loved each other heartily from when they were children. They-always wore the same kind of dress, and they went together everywhere in their village, and to other villages as well. They did everything together, so much so that anyone who did not know their parents believed they were twins. So Dola and Babi went about together until when they grew to be the age for marriage. Because they loved each other so much, they decided within themselves to marry two men who were born of the same mother and father, and who lived together in the same house, so that they might be with each other always. Luckily, a few days after Dola and Babi decided to do so, they heard of two young men who were born of the same mother and father, and who lived together in the same house. So Babi married one of the young men while Dola married the second one, who was older than the first one. So Dola and Babi were very happy now, living together as they had before they had been married in their husbands' house. A few days after their marriage, Dola cleared a part of the front of the house very neatly. She sowed one kola-nut on the spot. After some weeks the kola-nut shot up. Then she filled up one earthen jar with water and she put it before her new kola-nut tree. Then every early morning Dola would go and kneel down before the tree and jar. She would pray to the tree to help her to get a baby very soon, and after the prayer, she would drink some of the water which was inside the earthen jar. After that, she would go back to her room before the other people, in the house woke. Dola did this early every morning, because she believed that there was a certain spirit who came and blessed the kola-nut tree and the water in the night. After some months, the kola-nut tree grew to the height of about one metre. But now the domestic animals of the village began to eat the leaves of the tree and this hindered its growth. One morning, Babi met Dola abruptly as she knelt down before the kola-nut tree and jar and prayed. After she had prayed and then stood up, Babi asked in surprise, 'Dola, what were you telling your kola-nut tree?' 'Oh, this kola-nut tree is my god, and I ask it every morning to help me get a baby soon,' Dola explained calmly, pointing a finger at the tree and jar. When Babi noticed that the animals of the village had eaten nearly all the leaves of the tree, she went back to her room. She took the top part of her large water pot, the bottom of which had broken away. She gave it to Dola, and she told her to shield her kola-nut tree with it so that the animals wouldn't be able to eat its leaves again. Dola took the large pot from her and thanked her fervently. Then she shielded her tree with it, and as from that morning the animals were unable to eat the leaves of the tree. And so it was growing steadily in the centre of the large pot. A few years later, the tree yielded the first kola-nuts. The first kola- nuts that the tree yielded were of the best quality in the village, and because the nuts were the best quality, the kola-nut buyers hastily bought all the nuts, paying a considerable amount of money. Similarly, when the tree yielded the second and third kola-nuts, the buyers bought them with large amounts of money as before. In selling the kola-nuts, Dola became a wealthy woman within a short period. Having seen this, Babi became jealous of Dola's wealth. Jealously, Babi demanded back the water pot: 'Dola, will you please return my large water pot to me this morning?' Dola was greatly shocked. She asked, 'What? The broken water pot without a bottom?' 'Yes, my broken water pot. I want to take it back this morning,' Babi replied with a jealous voice. 'Well, the water pot cannot be returned to you at this time unless I break it into pieces before it can come from around my kola-nut tree,' Dola replied with a dead voice. 'You must not break it or split the head of my water pot before you return it to me!' Babi shouted angrily. 'I say it cannot be taken away from the tree without breaking it or cutting the tree down,' Dola explained angrily. Babi boomed on Dola: 'Yes, you may cut your tree down if you wish to do so. But all I want from you is my water pot!' Dola reminded Babi with a calm voice, 'Please, Babi, I remind you now that both of us started our friendship when we were children. Because of that, don't try to take your water pot back at his time.' 'Yes, of course, I don't forget at any time that we are friends. But at all costs, I want the water pot now,' Babi insisted with a great noise. That revealed to Dola at last that Babi simply wanted to destroy her kola-nut tree so that she might not get the nuts from it to sell any more. She went to the chief of the village. She begged him to help her persuade Babi not to take the head of her water pot back. However, when the chief of the village failed to persuade Babi not to take the water pot back from Dola, he judged the case in favour of Babi and said that Dola must return the water pot to her. Then to her sorrow, Dola's kola- nut tree was cut own, and the water pot was taken away from the tree without breaking, and Dola returned it to Babi. Now, Babi was very happy and she burst out laughing not because of the water pot but because Dola's kola-nut tree had been cut down, as she believed that Dola would not get kola-nuts to sell again. As soon as the water pot was returned to Babi, she and Dola entered the house and they continued their friendship, for Dola did not show in her behaviour towards Babi that her tree which had been cut down was a great sorrow for her. A few months after the tree was cut down, Babi was delivered of a female baby. And on the morning that the baby was named, Dola gave her a fine brass ring as a present. Dola told Babi to put the ring on the baby's neck, brass being one of the most precious metals in those days. Babi, with laughter, took the brass ring from Dola, and with great admiration she put it on the baby's neck immediately. And this brass ring so much beautified the baby that, from her beautiful look, now it seemed as if she was created with it. The brass ring was carefully moulded without any joint. Then ten years passed away like one day. One fine morning, as the baby - who was by then a daughter - was celebrating her tenth birthday, Dola walked gently into Babi's sitting room and said, 'Babi, my good friend. I shall be very glad if you will return my brass ring this morning.' Dola smiled to see that Babi's guests were silent with shock. Babi stood up suddenly, scowling, and shouted, 'Which brass ring?' 'My brass ring which is on your daughter's neck now.' Dola pointed a finger at Babi's daughter's neck, explaining as if she were simply joking. 'This very brass ring which is on my daughter's neck now?' Babi, after clearing her throat, shouted to show disapproval of Dola's demand: 'Dola! You are joking!' Dola scowled and replied softly, 'I am not joking in any way, and I want you to return my brass ring now.' Babi grunted like a pig, 'Hmm!' and begged with extreme misery and with tears rolling down her cheeks, 'Please, my good, friend, don't try to take your brass ring back now. As you know, before the ring can be taken away from my daughter's neck, her head will be cut off first because it is already bigger than the ring!' 'I don't tell you to cut off the head of your daughter, but all I want is my brass ring, and I want it without cutting it.' At last, when Dola still insisted on taking her brass ring back, Babi went to the same chief of the village. She told him that Dola was attempting to kill her daughter. Fortunately, the chief judged the case in favour of Dola when she explained to him how her kola-nut tree was cut down when Babi insisted on taking her water pot back ten years ago. And in the judgement the chief added that the head of Babi's daughter would be cut off on the assembly ground which was in front of his palace, and, also in the presence of all the people of the village, so that everyone might learn that jealousy was bad. Then a special day was fixed for beheading the daughter. When the day was reached, and after all the people of the village had gathered on the assembly ground, and the chief and his prominent people had been seated, then the chief called Babi loudly. He told her to put her ten- year-old daughter in the middle of the circle, and she obeyed. She and her daughter stood wobbling with fear while the swordsman, who was ready to behead the daughter, stood fiercely behind the daughter with a long dazzling sword in his hand. The crowd of people, prominent people, and the chief were so overwhelmed by mercy that all were quiet suddenly while looking at the poor innocent daughter and her mot her Babi, who looked thin and gaunt. It was some minutes before the chief could reluctantly announce to Babi loudly, 'Now, Babi, today is Dola's day. just as Dola's kola- nut tree was cut down ten years ago when you insisted and took back the head of your water pot from her, it is so that the head of your daughter will be cut off now, when Dola's brass ring will be taken away from the neck of your daughter and then it will be given back to Dola!' The gathering mumbled with grief, and then all became quiet at once. Then as the chief closed his eyes with grief, he gave the order to the swordsman to behead Babi's daughter. But, just as the swordsman raised his sword up to cut the head off, Dola hastily stopped him by pulling his arm down, and then she announced loudly, 'It will be a great pity if this daughter of mine is killed, because she has not offended me. No! It was her jealous mother. 'And I believe, if we continue to pay "bad" for "bad", bad will never finish on earth. Therefore, I forgive Babi all that she has done to my kola-nut tree of which she was jealous!' The chief and the rest of the people clapped and shouted loudly with happiness when they heard this announcement from Dola. Then everyone went back to his or her house. And Dola and Babi were still good friends throughout the rest of their lives.

Taraba House declares Suntai unfit, urges return to US for rehab

Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa has told Governor Danbaba Suntai to return to the United States for further treatment in the hospital. Tsokwa spoke to newsmen in Jalingo, the capital today, about 12 hours after some members of the house met with the ailing governor at Government House. Tsokwa said the members of the house have decided to ask the Governor to return to the United States to continue his rehabilitation programme and only come back to run his office when he is fully fit. Only yesterday, Suntai appeared on state TV and spoke briefly in a recorded video. On Monday, he sacked the state executive council and approved the appointment of two principal officers, the secretary to the state government and the chief of staff. Yesterday, he was shown on TV witnessing the swearing in of the SSG and the chief of staff. Tsokwa stated that the decision of the members followed their visit to Mr. Suntai on Wednesday night, and affirmed that the lawmakers were convinced that Suntai was unfit to return to office. The House therefore voted the deputy governor of the State to continue in office. Since returning from the US last Sunday, Suntai has not given the residents of the state cause to believe that he has fully recovered. In fact, his return, Yar’Adua style, was as dramatic as it was controversial. He was shielded from the people and acted only on instructions while looking and acting confused. His handlers, including Professor Jerry Gana, former Minister of Information lied to Nigerians by insisting that he had shown he was strong enough to govern the State.

Nigerians charged with planning attacks on Israeli targets

Two Nigerian citizens were charged in their country with working for an Iranian terror cell to plan attacks on Israeli targets. The men, who were arrested in February by Nigeria’s secret police, were accused in the charge sheet unveiled Wednesday in federal court of being members of a “high profile terrorist network,” Reuters reported. One of the suspects allegedly traveled to Tehran and Dubai to receive money to assist in the plans, and visited Iran between September 2011 and December 2012 to participate in “terrorist training.” The suspects are accused of working to provide information to their Iranian handlers about locations frequented by Israelis and Americans. They are identified as Abdullahi Mustapha Berende and Saheed Oluremi Adewumi. A third uncharged and unnamed suspect also was arrested in February.

US expresses worries over ASUU/FG impasse

United States has expressed worry over the lingering feud between the Federal Government and the striking public universities' lecturers over their demand for better working conditions. The US also warned against the activities of touts who deceive intending students from Nigeria. Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the US Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer, Bill Strassberger, urged the government to resolve the crisis with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, saying "it is a fear, it is a worry for us." Nigeria currently has about 7,028 students studying at over 700 institutions in the USA. He said, "That is something for the Nigerian government. It is up to it to work it out with the striking lecturers. "We are not involved in that negotiation but we can encourage. It is a fear, it is a worry for us because that would make it hard for the students to come. "It may be difficult, but there is no magic wand to resolve the strike," Strassberger added. Advising Nigerians to shun those who parade themselves as agents, Strassberger said accurate information regarding studying in the US could be obtained from the embassy. "Those are the touts, those are the people that I will even call criminals because they are stealing opportunities by selling only documents by giving bad information and creating a disappointment when the person comes in with that information or with only document. And that is the result of not getting accurate information," he said. Earlier, the Head, EducationUSA, Jennifer Onyukwu, said the ASUU's strike would affect intending students from Nigeria who wish to study in the US because of the need to obtain their transcripts. "There is that concern because generally, the world has become a global village, people want stronger applicants in their campuses; so they want stronger senders," she said. Onyukwu revealed that from statistics, Nigeria was US's largest sender of students from sub-saharan Africa to the US.

2015: Jonathan under pressure to constitute 'election cabinet'

President Goodluck Jonathan is currently under pressure from his close aides and associates to sack some ministers and bring on board those believed to have political value in their states. Their argument is that in the event that the President decides to seek re- election in 2015, many of the current ministers do not have the required political clout to deliver their states. A top presidency source told one of our correspondents on Tuesday that Jonathan's close aides had advised him many times on the need to constitute what they described as "election cabinet." Such a cabinet, according to him, will comprise mostly people who will be proud to defend the President whenever he is being criticised. He said a situation where ministers would sit on the fence when the President and the government were being criticised did not depict a cabinet that Jonathan should have during elections. The source added that the pressure on the President became more intense with the open confrontation five northern state governors have had with Jonathan. He said, "We have told the President on several occasions that he needs to constitute what we call an election cabinet. He cannot go into election with this cabinet as currently constituted. We have told him this and proved it to him several times. "How can you call yourself a minister and you will hear people talking ill of your principal and attacking the government you are serving and you will decide to be indifferent? There are some current ministers that will not even sit on the fence when the President is being criticised, they will join the critics. "We have told Mr. President that this must not continue. If you think you cannot stick out your neck for a government that has given you an opportunity, the honourable thing to do is to resign; failure of which you can be shown the way out." The source said although the President had been reluctant to take heed of the advice, he might soon be left with no other option since he could not continue to inconvenience himself on the altar of friendship. He said since vacancies in the Federal Executive Council had increased with the sacking of Inuwa Abdulkadir as the minister of Youth Development, the President might have no choice but to yield to the pressure. Abdulkadir's exit brought the number of vacant ministerial positions to three. Former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru, was sacked in June last year while former Minister of State, Health, Dr. Muhammed Pate, resigned on July 24. A Presidency source said Jonathan might dissolve his cabinet in October to create opportunities for people with competence to take over strategic ministries. Although it was stated that some of the ministers might be retained, several others had been shortlisted for sacking. It was gathered that several ministers loyal to political enemies of the President would certainly lose their jobs. It was further learnt that some ministers, who have governorship ambitions, would be relieved of their appointments to give them the opportunity to face their political careers. The Presidency source stated, "The President would make far-reaching changes in his cabinet before or on October 1, 2013. He is even thinking of dissolving the whole cabinet. "I can assure you that several of the ministers are going. There are some who would resign to pursue their political ambitions, while there are others who are disloyal and those who have performed below expectations. 'The President cannot afford to keep people who can derail his programme as we move towards next year." When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he was not aware of such pressure on the President. "Honestly, I don't know. I am not aware of such pressure," he said.

Yobo, Emenike out of Europa as CAS bans Fenerbahce

Nigerian duo of Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Emenike are out of this season's Europa Cup as their Turkish side Fenerbahce will be unable to compete in the Europa League this season. This comes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a UEFA- imposed two-year ban from European competition over a match-fixing scandal on Wednesday. Emenike just joined the team in the summer transfers. With the International Olympic Committee vote on whether Istanbul, Madrid or Tokyo will host the 2020 Olympics due on Sept. 7, the timing of the announcement delivers another body blow to the tarnished image of Turkish sport. The Turkish Athletics Federation earlier on Wednesday handed a two- year suspension to double European 100m hurdles champion Nevin Yanit for drugs violations, just weeks after similar bans were given to 31 other local athletes. Fenerbahce said they would appeal the CAS decision in a Swiss federal court but the club's shares took a beating following the decision, falling nearly 6 percent, before trimming losses to close 3.5 percent down at 24.60 lira. Playing under appeal against the original ban, Fenerbahce were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in the second leg of a Champions League playoff on Tuesday, losing the tie 5-0 on aggregate. Normally a defeat at this stage would still guarantee a berth in the continent's second tier competition but Fenerbahce will be barred from the Europa League following the CAS ruling. Lausanne-based CAS said in a statement it had dismissed appeals filed by Fenerbahce and Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv, barred by UEFA over involvement in a domestic match-fixing case dating back to 2008. "Fenerbahce SK is excluded from two editions of the UEFA club competitions," CAS said in its ruling following a two-day hearing held at its headquarters on August 21-22.

The ASUU Festival

It is bad enough that the Nigerian educational system is buried deep in the murky water of ignoble failure with no hope of redemption, also it is something more than a stigma for an academic circle of school administration to drag on a snail pace which has been recycled too much for comfort, while those steering the wheel of power close up their heart and lock their ears from the right which is meant to be disbursed without hesitation. One day, this strike craze will stop! I can’t help but juggle the indecision between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities. The strike has become something close to an annual ceremony year in year out. Are both parties being indecisive? Or OUR government cannot simply meet their demands? The answers to those questions are strategically embedded in the problems that are seen. ASUU has clearly rejected Federal Government’s offers and strike still continues. The disagreement is not hidden, ASUU is fighting for what is right and it is better now than never. The strike has become a frequent dose dished to the Federal Government which is taken for granted. In the year 2009, the union insisted that based on the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement and the January 2012 Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, signed by both parties, what was due for 2012 and 2013 was N500 billion, not N100 billion. Clearly the matter has not been handled seriously and only the substantial provision of this amount will meet the needs and demands of the universities all over. ASUU has been toyed with for 4 years due to the fact that the FG have not been able to implement this. The Nigerian Universities are in a bad shape lacking basic infrastructures, facilities and the likes, what went amiss? The future of Nigeria and the Nigerian youths are not put into consideration. I am not in support of the wasted time but it is high time the government did what should have been done. If this indefinite strike is to seek for that paradigm change, something worth the wait should be done with immediate effect. This concerns us all, Nigeria as a whole because nothing positive as emanated out of this, only if the Federal Government meets the need and stop the blockage of funds. The ongoing indefinite strike is starting to emerge as the longest of all. How long will this wait hold? Will it be a continued ASUU Festival year in year out? Deeper crisis might be drilled into the system and if this battle for right rather than plea for submission is not held firmly, the educational system should be ready to withstand the ASUU festival without prior notice. What the Union fights for is for the benefit of the future Nigerians and what better way than to keep the Federal Government attention on hold! Will this craze stop? Or we begin to anticipate for the 2014 ASUU festival? Whatever the decision is, we would know if/when it is called off. However gloomy the decision may be, it is disheartening that many lives have been affected negatively without prior notice that can be traced to the Federal Government and societal fault which reflects under poor decisions. ASUU wants to change that and there is a greater price to pay for change. Every once a while we need motivation to level up our lives, openly it is vivid that ASUU is on that journey.

Why Jonathan Fired Youth Minister – Presidency

The presidency yesterday explained why President Goodluck Jonathan sacked former minister of youth development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, saying it was because of the minister’s failure to give leadership direction to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) elections that led to the decision to terminate his appointment. A statement by special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said: “In point of fact, it was Alhaji Abdulkadir’s regrettable deviation from this presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as minister of youth development.” The presidency, however, faulted the speculations in the media on the reason for the termination of the appointment of the former youth minister. According to the statement, media organisations “erroneously attributed the minister’s sacking to his disloyalty or closeness to a particular governor or governors said to be opposed to the president. “The most disingenuous and malicious speculation was that which claimed that Alhaji Abdulkadir was fired for failing to ensure that a pro-Jonathan candidate emerged as president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). “We wish to assure the general public that nothing could be further from the truth. President Jonathan regards all Nigerian youths as his wards and constituents. Claims that he had a preferred candidate in the NYCN elections are completely baseless and without justification as there was absolutely no reason for him to prefer one candidate over others.” Explaining further why the former minister was sacked, Abati said: “President Jonathan was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Development which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalization of the youth council. “The President found the ministry’s failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections unacceptable,” adding that President Jonathan was sincerely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian youth, on whom the country’s aspirations for a bright and prosperous future depend, are given the best possible upbringing and orientation. “The President therefore expects all officials of his administration to exhibit greater rectitude and sensitivity on issues related to youth development, and comport themselves at all times in a manner worthy of emulation by Nigerian youth. President Jonathan remains sincerely and unwaveringly committed to doing all within his powers to promote the credibility and integrity of the electoral process at all levels in the country. “He firmly believes that a culture of free, fair and credible election must be constantly nurtured and encouraged amongst Nigerian youth and all other sections of the country,” it added.

Fake CNN Reporter Apprehended In Bayelsa

The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Bayelsa State, Comrade Tare Akono, has apprehended and handed over to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) a 36-year-old man identified as Paul Yempe over his false claim to be a correspondent to the Cable News Network (CNN) in the Niger Delta region. According to the SSS, the fake CNN reporter was arrested with an identification card of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation known as Radio Rivers and a fake Identification card of the CNN. It was gathered that the fake journalist was arrested in the office of the Commissioner for Energy, Akio Francis last Thursday. The arrest, it was gathered, was made possible due to the coincidental presence of the NUJ chairman,Tare Akono at the Commissioner’s Office. The suspect, according to a security source, had allegedly swindled some of the state officials

Plot to disrupt PDP convention uncovered

Security agencies in the land have commenced investigations into an alleged plan by some groups to disrupt the National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) on Saturday in Abuja. Sources in the polity told the Nigerian Tribune that some Northern groups had prepared posters which they plan to distribute to some persons to stage a protest at the convention. It was also learnt that the group plans a violent protest if it’s members are not allowed into the convention ground. The group with the name PDP Peace and Justice Movement was said to have planned to mobilized some 10,000 protesters to disrupt the mini convention on Saturday. It was gathered that the group aimed to flood all inlets into the Eagle Square, venue of the National Convention, with over 10,000 protesters in what was described as a bid to “take our case to the delegates that power should go to the North, come 2015, and if we are not heard, possibly disrupt the convention.” Security agencies were, according to sources, on the trail of the brains behind the plot after it intercepted tonnes of posters which were printed in Kano and Kaduna. Another printed programme intercepted by the agencies, which was signed by one Mallam Abdullahi Maibirgi as National Co-ordinator of the group reads: “PDP Peace and Justice Movement demands peace in our highly cherished party. For peace to exist, there must be justice …. (and) justice in this context means granting the North the party’s presidential ticket for the 2015 presidential election. “PDP Peace and Justice Movement, hereby throws its full weight behind the Save Democracy campaign being mounted by some PDP governors and urge all party faithful to support this patriotic effort. The campaign is aimed at sanitzing PDP of its cankerworm and stabilizing our growing democracy in the country. With these initiatives, these governors have proved themselves as great democrats, patriots, visionary leaders, loyal and faithful party members.” Confusion as party postpones screening of aspirants Confusion trailed the mini-National convention of the PDP on Wednesday when the screening of aspirants for the convention slated for Saturday in Abuja was postponed till Friday by the Senator Victor Udoma-Egba-led screening committee of the convention. Both the aspirants and members of the screening committee who arrived the Venue of the exercise as early as 8 00 am for the exercise scheduled to take off from 10 00 am were stunned when the learnt of the sudden postponement without prior notice from either the Committee or the National Convention Committee . Most of the aspirants who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune in confidence over the development expressed dismay over the postponement till Friday, less than 24 hours to the convention, alleging that it was a ploy to screen out some aspirants and wondered what would be the fate of those that might be disqualified during the screening but with good case of going for appeal in line with the guidelines for the convention and the constitution of the party. “This is a ploy to screen out some aspirants, why the sudden postponement? They released the guidelines that the screening would take place today (Wednesday) and here we are now only to tell us another story, we left our various states for Abuja for the screening in preparatory for the convention not knowing that they have their own agenda, when are we going to have the appeal panel to sit? one of the aggrieved sspirants from the South- East lamented while commenting on the postponement. However, speaking with newsmen on what warranted the postponement, the chairman of the screening committee, Senator Udoma-Egba assured that there was no hidden agenda whatsoever, saying “Some members complained that the notice was too short and then two, we want to see if the zones can reach common grounds on positions zoned to them. I know some zones have already agreed and others are still in the process of achieving it and you know that if you are able to reach a common position, it would facilitate the conference, that’s why the party in its wisdom decided to give the zone some time so that they can finetune their positions.” When he was reminded that some zones like the North-Central had harmonised their positions, he said,”You don’t do screening in installment. You take everybody same day.” Speaking on appeal by disqualified aspirants and lateness, he said that “an appeal panel has been set up and in politics we work 24 hours and there’s no break and I believe all these issues will be addressed.

Ailing Taraba Governor “Danbaba Suntai” Finally Speaks

Just when Taraba people had concluded that Governor Danbaba Suntai was totally incapacitated, the Governor finally addressed the people on Wednesday through a brief video shown on the state-owned television station in Jalingo. According to The Punch, before the video was broadcast , Suntai met with the lawmakers and inaugurated the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government, Timothy Kataps, as well as the Chief of Staff, Mallam Aminu Jika. The governor, who is recuperating from injuries he sustained last October when a small aircraft he flew crashed, had earlier dissolved the state Executive Council, leaving only his special assistants. In the address, Suntai commended the people of the state for their prayers and for standing by him in his moment of trial. “I thank the people of Taraba State for standing by me and my family. I also thank the commissioners for holding the fort while I was away. Also enjoin all of you to continue to live in peace,” he said. Suntai, who wore a sky blue suit and a stripe shirt, also congratulated the people on the 22nd anniversary of the state which was on August 27.

Detainees disappearing amid military crackdown to fight Islamic uprising in north Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria - In an area of Nigeria where an Islamic insurgency has caught fire, security forces are carrying out night raids in residential neighbourhoods and have arrested many people. No one knows where the detainees have wound up, whether they're in good health or even if they're still alive. Distraught relatives, human rights organizations and journalists have asked the army, the police, intelligence services and government officials where the arrested people are, to no avail. No one even knows, or is saying, how many people have been detained. Human rights monitors are deeply troubled that scores or possibly hundreds of detainees have gone missing in a country where security forces have a reputation for human rights abuses. The Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria has received "hundreds and hundreds, up to 3,000" calls from people across northern Nigeria complaining that loved ones have disappeared after being arrested by the military or police in the past three years, said Shehu Sani, an activist with the organization. Habiba Saadu's two sons and her daughter were taken on Aug. 3 by soldiers who went from house to house in a night raid in Maiduguri, accusing them of participating in the uprising by Boko Haram, an armed Islamic group that has been waging a bloody war in Africa's most populous nation for four years. "Up to now, I have never seen my children!" Saadu said. Visits to police stations, the army barracks, the intelligence services and local politicians gave no clue to the whereabouts of her children, Kundiri Muhammed, a 32-year-old kola nut trader, and Ka'adam Muhammed, a 29- year-old fuel seller and a daughter whom Saadu declined to name who is a high school student. Boko Haram — which means "Western education is forbidden" — is blamed for the deaths of more than 1,700 people since 2010. The sect has attacked Christian and Muslim clerics, government health workers and security forces, school teachers and students in its quest to overturn democracy and install strict Sharia law across this nation of more than 160 million people that has a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on May 14 in the northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, giving a Joint Task Force of soldiers, police, intelligence and customs and immigration officials the right to detain people and move them from place to place, as well as the right to search without warrants. But even under the state of emergency, Nigeria's constitution dictates that anyone detained must have access to lawyers and family and must be brought before a magistrate within 48 hours, said lawyer Justine Ijeomah, executive director of the Human Rights, Social Development and Environmental Foundation. "Any other detention is incommunicado and is against the law," Ijeomah said. Even so, such disappearances are common, he said. Asked about people disappearing, Joint Task Force spokesman Lt. Col. Sagir Musa told The Associated Press only that "if they are arrested, then they are being held." In its half-year report published last month, Nigeria's federal prison service said it was holding 202 Boko Haram suspects by the end of June. Yet the military, the police and civilian vigilantes say they have arrested hundreds upon hundreds of suspects. Every day there are reports of people being detained. The disappearances of detainees began even before the state of emergency. Journalist Hauwa Hassan Kida has spent the better part of the year searching for one of the missing. For her, the mission is a personal one. On the night of Oct. 28, 2012, security forces took her brother, Samaila Hassan Kida, from the family home in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. Hassan and her mother got the news by telephone in Abuja, the Nigerian capital where they shared a home. "The Joint Task Force came heavily armed in two Jeeps. They demanded everyone come out and form a queue, and when they were lined up they started beating everyone up with the rifle butts, their fists and their boots," the reporter said, citing accounts from family members. The raiders asked for her brother by name and beat him so badly that he was unable to get into the security vehicle on his own when they ordered him inside, she said. A family member reported Kida's arrest to the police station opposite their home. Siblings went in search of their brother as soon as a nighttime curfew was lifted the next morning. They got leads that he had been taken by two soldiers and learned their names. The reporter and her mother rushed to Maiduguri, where the reporter spoke with police and military officers and a leading politician but still found no trace of her brother. "After some days, I found the soldiers that arrested him and pleaded with them, but I did not press them too much for fear they would kill him," she said. "They are all denying they arrested him." Sani said his organization, based in the largest northern city of Kano in Kano state, has been receiving more phone calls in recent months despite the fact that the military had cut cellphone and Internet service to three other northeastern states and relatives had to travel to another state just to make a telephone call. Service to one of the states, Yobe, has been reinstated. "If we go to the police, the police will say that they are not with them but may be with the military," Sani said. "The military will say they must be with the intelligence service, the intelligence service say they don't keep detainees — even though they do — and say they hand them over to police. So there is this cycle of confusion. The conditions in which people are being detained is very secretive." He had asked some families of detainees to join together in a lawsuit against government agencies and officials, including the federal attorney general, to challenge the legality of the arrests but they are afraid that doing so could put their detained loved ones in mortal danger, Sani said. Hauwa Hassan Kida, the journalist, has returned to her work in Abuja after learning nothing about the whereabouts of her brother. Her mother refuses to join her until she finds her son. "We still don't know if he's alive or dead," the reporter said.

Iyanya signs $350k endorsement deal with Zinox (Computers) Group Got money in cash yesterday and displayed it on his Instagram Page

Iyanya is chopping endorsement deals anyhow. First MTN, now Zinox Group. The Kukere crooner yesterday signed a three hundred and fifty thousand dollars one year endorsement deal with Zinox Computers. Zinox computers, which is Nigeria’s first certified branded computers, will upload all Iyanya’s songs and videos to all their computers. Iyanya will also do a song for them and appear on Zinox billboards and TV commercials. Iyanya got some of the endorsement deal money in cash yesterday and displayed it on his Instagram page.

REMEDIES FOR DIABETES.

Diabetes has become a very common heath problem whose main cause is lack of insulin or absolutely no insulin.Well, there is virtualy no cure for diabetes, but if you are suffering from diabetes you need to control the blood glucose level. Once your blood sugar level is under control you can totally live a normal life. If diabetes is poorly controlled or left untreated, it may lead to blindness, kidney disease, blood vessel damage, infection, heart disease, nerve damage, high blood pressure, stroke, limb amputation, and coma. Because the initial symptoms (fatigue, weakness, frequent urination, increased thirst and increased hunger) are usually mild, about 30 percent of all people with diabetes do not realize that they have the disease. And that can have tragic consequences, because with early diagnosis and treatment, the chances of living a long and productive life are higher than if the disease creeps along until irreversible damage occurs. MANGO LEAVES The delicate and tender mango leaves can be used to treat diabetes at home. Soak ten to fifteen tender mango leaves in a glass of water and leave it overnight. Filter this water and drink it on an empty stomach in the morning. Else, you can dry the tender leaves in the shade and grind it. Take half a teaspoon of this powder mango leaves two times daily. This is also an effective home remedy for diabetes. ALOE VERA One kind of natural concoction for diabetes can be made with Aloe vera gel, bay leaf and turmeric. To make this herbal medicine, take one to two teaspoons of ground Bay Leaf, one teaspoon of turmeric and mix it properly with an equal amount of aloe vera gel. Drink this solution daily, before lunch and dinner. It will help in maintaining your blood sugar level. WATER The amount of water you drink on daily basis can also help in controlling high blood sugar level. Water will mobilize the high sugarcontent in blood and thus will help in controlling it. For those suffering from diabetes must drink at least 2.5 liters of water daily. Drinking enough water will also lower the risk of other ailments associated with diabetes. SUNLIGHT Moderate exposure to sunlight is essential for leading a healthy life. Also sunlight can be great help forthose suffering from diabetes. Sunlight will improve the functionality of vitamin D, which isessential for insulin production. Lack of Vitamin D can result in lowinsulin production. So, it is important to allow your body to enjoy the sun light for a few minutes daily. This is an excellent and easy remedy for diabetes. EXERCISE:Whether or not you have diabetes, exercise is good for your body. It tones up the heart and other muscles, strengthens bones, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the respiratory system, helps raise HDL ("good" cholesterol), lowers LDL ("bad" cholesterol), fosters a sense of well- being, decreases tension, aids in weight management, enhances work capacity, and can confer a sense of control. However, if you have diabetes, exercise provides even more benefits because it can improve your body's ability to useblood glucose and insulin. MAINTAIN A REGULAR EATING SCHEDULE. This will reduce stress on your system and improve your body's ability to anticipate and regulate sugars. GARLIC Garlic is thought to offer antioxidant properties and micro-circulatory effects. Althoughfew studies have directly linked garlic with insulin and blood glucose levels, results have been positive. Garlic may cause a reduction in blood glucose, increase secretion and slow the degradation of insulin. Limited data is available however, and further trials are needed. GINGER In the December 2009 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology, researchers reported that two different gingerextracts, spissum and an oily extract, interact with serotonin receptors to reveres their effect on insulin secretion. Treatment with the extracts led to a 35 per cent drop in blood glucose levels and a 10 per cent increase in plasma insulin levels. Vitamin C and Diabetes Researchers have found that using from 100-600mg of vitaminC daily can cause you to normalizeyour sugar levels, in as little as one month. Diabetics have a complication of too much sugar, sorbitol, in the body, which eventually leads to eye and nerve damage. AVOCADO Take one avocado seed and grill the seed. Slice the seed into several chunks. Add this to a pot of water and bring to boil, wait tillthe water turns brown. Strain the water mixture and drink when cool. Expect to see results within two weeks. Besides following the above mentioned natural remedies for diabetes, it is important to consult your nutritionist and doctor on regular basis.

Fact about Coconut Water:

'It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak.' During the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers.. Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment. Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol! Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk! Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blood plasma Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood. Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV. Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue... and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural!', according to Mortin Satin, Chief of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization. Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.. Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200mg! Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars. Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg; compared to sports drinks at about 39mg. Data is based on a 100ml drink