Woman shows off her huge hips that are the biggest in the world

Mikel Ruffinelli 

 A woman who owns the title to the world’s biggest hips, likes her assets.

Mikel Ruffinelli, 39, of California, is a married mother of 4, who lives an active lifestyle.

Ruffinelli was an athletic teenager, who had no problems with her weight. She first began to notice that her hips were growing at age 22, just after the birth of her first child.

Ruffinelli said that with every child, her hips grew wider until she was unable to fit through a regular door. Although her waist measures 40 inches, her hips are a staggering 100 inches. It is the biggest in the world.

“When I walk on the street, people pull out their cellphone and take pictures or videos of me,” Ruffinelli said.
Some people ask if they can take a picture with her, while others just take some from her backside when she passed them.

“Some people assume that I had surgery to improve the

Military begins major operations in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau.

Abuja – The military said on Monday that it had begun major operations in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau to end the activities of armed men and criminal gangs.

Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the operations would end the wanton killing and destruction of lives and property.

Olukolade said that troops had already been deployed for a major offensive which covered the three states of the North- Central.

He said that the internal security operation was meant to capture and neutralise all the enclaves of criminal gangs.

“The Nigerian Air Force, Police and other security agencies are also participating in the operation, designed to restore peace in the affected states.

Olukolade charged law abiding citizens to cooperate with the military by providing timely and useful information to facilitate the operation as it affected their localities.  (NAN)

Photos from the opening of Patience Ozokwor's plaza in Enugu

Nollywood star actress Patience Ozokwor opened her multi-million Naira plaza in Coal City Garden Enugu on Saturday March 29th and in attendance where John Okafor, Stan Amandi, Angela Okorie, Aneke Twins, Charlse Awurum, Hon Commissioner for Tourism, Enugu State, and many others. Continue to see more photos...

Femi Segun Buried pictures.

Femi Segun Buried

Broadcaster, PR guru, speaker, and Yeni Kuti's ex husband, Femi Segun, who passed away on Friday March 21st following a bike accident, has been buried.

Mr Segun was buried yesterday at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi after a service of songs that held at House on the Rock Church, in Lekki. Pictured above are Femi Kuti and Femi Segun's daughter with Yeni Kuti, Rolari, at the burial yesterday. Such a sad loss! May his soul rest in peace..amen. Continue to see more photos...

How Sleeping Delegate Died in Hotel Room - CONFAB Sec

Late Hamma Misau

LAGOS MARCH 29TH -The Secretariat of the ongoing NationaL How Sleeping Delegate Died in Hotel Room- CONFAB  the Secretary of  Conference has said that the death of one of the delegates, Hamma Misau, will not affect its resumption on Monday, March 31.
The Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Mr Akpandem James, said in Abuja on Friday that Misau died at the National Hospital, Abuja on Thursday.
James said Misau, 67, a retired AIG representing the Retired Police Officers, was initially rushed to the Federal Civil Service Clinic after he took ill in his hotel room in Abuja.
“No, his death will not affect the resumption of plenary on Monday, what I think the conference will do is to observe a minute silence in his honour.
“This will be done first thing on Monday before the commencement of the day business because he was one of us,” he said.
He, however, expressed the secretariat’s sadness over the death and prayed God to comfort the family over the loss.
The media officer said Misau’s driver had gone to the deceased hotel room to check on him on Thursday, but the door was not opened even after repeated knocks.
“The driver came to the secretariat to inform us that

THERE WAS DARKNESS: - OTUNBA KHAMILEON.

Many years before the birth of Facebook, she already made her presence felt on the popular Forum Naijaryders. What you cant miss is her vibrant personality. She lighted up the Nigerian music Industry with her own brand of music, warming fans and critics alike to her. Then Sickness struck! And a call for Help to fight this illness, both friends and fans responded. A very difficult type of sickness, yet she did not bow down. Holding on to her faith, she... updated us through videos, tweets, facebook. AND THERE WAS DARKNESS! The beautiful soul known as Zara Margret Mary Joseph has Slept! She lost the battle to Multiple Sclerosis. (MS, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord) May God almighty embrace her as she enters his supreme realm. I want to use this opportunity to thank everybody that Donated when I wrote about her illness here, Zara was indeed grateful for your kindness.. I also pray that God consoles her family, friends and fans for this great loss. I am Otunba K-One! ... Bless.

Believe it or not, I’m still a virgin! — Adokiye

Seductively beautiful, fragile and provocative wave-making singer, Adokiye Kyrian, who  became UN ambassador of Peace in less than five years of her climb onto the stage of music in Nigeria, is a hot item any day any time. She never ceases to amaze and seems never to run out of bag of tricks to mesmerise fans and haters alike.

*Adokiye

The Love You Better and Kulumo crooner, who only turned 23 yesterday has been called many names, and most of those have sexuality hanging around them. So one could imagine my surprise and sheer incredulity when the singer opened up to me that she is actually a virgin.

We were chatting about love and she was trying to convince me she doesn’t believe in love. “ I really don’t like love”, she said “ I’m a career person,  what I have for everyone including guys, is Agape love. Love is wicked  and there is no real love, I’m young and living the life. Until I see one, I’m happy like this”

Then I felt she was

Gun fire exchange rocks presidential villa, SSS quarters.

Heavy gunfire exchanges rocks the vicinity of Nigeria’s presidential palace and the headquarters of the Department of State Services in the Asokoro District of  Abuja as reported by Premium Times in the past one hour.

According to the reports, residents of the nearby Aso Drive Area said the gunshots were either coming out of the SSS headquarters or the presidential villa.

One of the resident said, “We don’t know what’s going on here. Heavy gunfire has been coming from the direction of the villa. The entire area has been barricaded. SSS operatives are scampering out of their headquarters as the gunshots get louder.

“Soldiers are now heading in the direction of the SSS headquarters with Armoured Personnel Carriers. Those of us living around here have been asked to stay indoors and not venture out.”

Reacting to the incidence, spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, said the gunshots were triggered by attempted jailbreak at the Service’s headquarters by suspected members of the extremist Boko Haram sect.

She said, “What happened was that the suspects’ handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting.

“The military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard.

“It was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control.”

Armed soldiers raid Al-Mustapha’s residence

Armed men, believed to be soldiers, Friday evening, raided one of the residences of Major Hamza Al Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha,  located at Durbin Katsina, Kano metropolis, leaving in its wake sordid tales of rights violation and molestation.

The heavily armed men, who reportedly came in trucks and  tanks,  allegedly cordoned  several streets leading to the house and seized the occupants who were mostly women and children in an operation that lasted 60 minutes.

*Al-Mustapha

Al-Mustapha’s younger brother, identified as Hadi, is also said to be a resident of the house.

Eyewitnesss said the ‘soldiers’ came in trucks and tanks and, immediately they gained entrance into the building, ordered everyone around to lie face flat on ground and, at gunpoint, conducted a thorough search of the building.

“One Abubakar, reportedly  a cousin to Major Al-Mustapha, was maltreated by the troops. He is recuperating at a private hospital, a  witness  recounted.

The eyewitness revealed that  the wife of Hadi, Al Mustapha’s  brother, was  forced, at gunpoint, to conduct the armed men round the expansive building, adding that “the traumatized housewife was immediately taken to a hospital shortly after they left”.

Another source stated: “The invading forces were not friendly, not even the children were spared as the house  was ransacked inside out all in the name of searching for an imaginary cache of arms”.

The source added, “The same treatment was meted to those outside. I heard their leader, a colonel, during a telephone conversation, telling the person at the other end that they had  not found anything incriminating  and  that it seemed  the information (they had) was not accurate”.

Speaking on the development, Hadi disclosed that the family was evaluating the damages done by the men, stressing: “We intend to come up with details of what happened and the action to follow in due course.”

The outgoing military spokesman in Kano State, Captain Ikediche Iweha, while reacting to the story, declared: “ Haba, we don’t  invade houses. If  the story you are telling is correct, then it must be the usual routine checks.
“In any case, give me time to verify the matter and get back to you”.
As at press time the spokesman did not call back. He is on transfer to 3rd Armoured Brigade, Jos.

Jonathan Explodes! Blame northern govs, not me for Boko Haram!’.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took a swipe at governors for accusing the Federal Government of bad leadership, asking them to stop pushing blames when they have failed on their part to provide primary and secondary education for their citizens.

Speaking in Bauchi during the North-east Zonal Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jonathan also lampooned some northern governors over insurgency in their states which he blamed on lack of education for the children and employment consequent upon which they are ready tools for terrorists.

President Goodluck Jonathan

Jonathan, who charged the governors to take charge and stop blaming their inept leadership on the Federal Government, however asked if the federal government, constitutionally responsible for the provision of tertiary education, should be in charge of primary and secondary education at the state level.

He said, “ Sometimes governors will come and say we have some issues because of bad leadership. I was  governor, deputy governor before I became a governor. I spent eight years at the state level, I handled security challenges. That was the state where the first commercial kidnapping took place because of excess militancy.

More than 70 % of the state is swamp. I knew how we handled things. A governor will come and say bad leadership, bad leadership from whom? If we have security challenges, whether you call them Boko Haram or whatever, these are people who couldn’t go to primary school, who couldn’t go to secondary school and they have no hope and miscreants or criminals now recruit them and using them; if you see what they wear, they wear rags and not normal clothes; all what they put on their bodies is not worth N10, but they carry rifles and bullets that are  worth more that N250, 000. Somebody gives them food to eat so that they can kill.

”You ask how did we build this army of unemployed or unemployable youth? The Federal Government does not control primary education; it does not control secondary education, and a governor has been on seat for almost eight years and we have people in that state that can’t go to primary school, that can’t go to secondary school. You say bad leadership, who is the bad leader? Is it the Federal Government? I made sure that every state has a university. That is the responsibility of the Federal Government and I have done it.

Governors must make sure that

Boko Haram invades JTF commander’s home as scores die in fresh Borno attacks.

MAIDUGURI — Gunmen suspected to be members of deadly Boko Haram terrorists, yesterday, evening invaded the residence of the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Niger Delta, Major General Tukur Buratai at his country home, Buratai District in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, killing two persons including a security personnel on guard suspected to be a soldier, and injured others.

Although, according to a locale of Buratai, Musa Abubakar said, the other person killed was a Chadian nationale (name withheld) who was doing construction work at one of the houses owned by the Army General, before they set ablaze another family house where the father of General Buratai, Alhaji Yusuf Buratai resided.

Abubakar stated that the gunmen also set ablaze a primary school in Buratai before they fled into the bush, but did not touch nor injure other neighbouring residents.

This is even as another group of terrorists invaded Bama Council Area of the state,Tuesday evening, which caused heavy exchange of gunfire between them and the security operatives, a situation that led to the killing of several people and burning of houses, shops

Okonjo-Iweala disappointed me

DR. (Mrs) Okonjo Iweala is a world acclaimed personality in the professional fields of economics, banking and finance. She has been listed as one of the 100 most influential persons on earth and had risen to the heights of the World Bank presidency. If not for the intervention of the United States of America, she will be there today as the number one World Bank personnel, as she was perceived as the better candidate for the position, by those who are in position to know, including the influential Economist magazine.

She was in Obasanjo’s government as Finance Minister and hugely credited with the successful negotiation of the Paris Club debt that put to an end the debt albatross that was, for a long time, threatening the nation’s economy.

It was rumoured that she left the Obasanjo government because of her uncompromising stand against the financial recklessness exhibited by the regime of that time and not a few people were disappointed at the manner she exited.

President Goodluck Jonathan, while explaining the reason for re-inviting Iweala into his government, revealed to the press that anywhere he visited, all over the world, people were singing her praise and the country would be lucky to have her for the needed rapid transformation, especially in using her international clout to engender sound financial management and control of the Nigerian economy.

It was also rumoured that before Okonjo Iweala

Nyako to Jonathan: Your govt responsible for rising terrorism in North.

YOLA—Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, yesterday, slammed President Goodluck Jonathan over his claim that the failure of Northern governors to provide basic education for their people was responsible for the spread of insurgency in the region.

Nyako, who described the President’s claim as unfortunate, insisted that it was the poor leadership exhibited by the Jonathan administration that had aided and abetted the rising spate of terrorism in the North.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on his part was more reserved, saying that the president may have been misquoted based on what he said were clear indications that the administration in Borno inherited the insurgency and had tackled it within the resources available to it.

Jonathan had at a Peoples Democratic Party rally in Bauchi on Saturday spit fire, accusing the governors of not doing enough for their people and always blaming their misfortune on bad leadership exhibited by the centre.
He noted that the failure on the part of the governors to cater for the basic education needs if the citizens was responsible for the insurgency that had engulfed the area.

But Nyako, who spoke through his director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, stated that it was the failure on the part of the Jonathan Presidency to tackle

Northern leaders aiding Boko Haram —Fasoranti, Afenifere leader.

Chief Reuben Fasoranti is the National Leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere.

In this interview with Vanguard, Fasoranti said the ongoing national conference is a welcome opportunity to adjust the Nigerian federation, that the Yoruba sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have backed it and faults northern leaders on the Boko Haram insurgency.Excerpts:

BY DAPO AKINREFON

Fasoranti

Nigeria has held many constitutional conferences without result. Do you have hopes in the ongoing conference?

I have confidence that Nigeria will be restructured. I am confident that it will be alright with Nigeria.

What gives you that confidence?

It appears everybody is in favour of the conference. Everybody is conscious of having the conference.

Even in the north, there are indications that they are all for it. Everybody is fed up with most of the things that are happening now. So we want to meet and decide whether to go on as a country or not to go on.

I am sure that majority are in favour of our continuing with our association.

What do you make out of the resolution by the All Progressives Congress, APC not to be part of the conference?

That is just one voice. From all indications, I think they spoke before giving it a thought. Majority of Nigerians want it, even in the north. Our people have travelled and made consultations.

The feeling is that we should meet and fashion out the modus operandi for the future and for our coexistence and spell out areas of differences and then try and agree on how to go on. I think that is the consensus.

President Goodluck Jonathan has been accused of having a hidden agenda for this conference. Do you believe this?

It is not fair to jump the gun. The president has indicated that he wants the conference and made preparations for the take off. From his utterances, I think he is all for it. Whether at the end of the day he will agree with the decision taken at the conference is a difference matter.

He knows Nigerians want to meet and talk and decide on how to go on. Some people have said it may lead to a break up of the country but I do not believe that.

But should the unity of the country be negotiated?

When we meet, then we will decide on

Attempted Jailbreak: Our bloody war with B’Haram detainees —DSS.

ABUJA— The Department of State Service, DSS , confirmed, yesterday, that 21 Boko Haram suspects were killed in a shoot-out at its detention centre between its operatives and the sect members.
DSS said two of its operatives sustained serious injuries.

The detained terrorists reportedly over-powered the guards, shot several operatives and attempted to stage a daring escape from detention.

There were, however, different accounts on how the attempted jailbreak was carried out.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, denied reports, yesterday, that President Goodluck Jonathan was whisked away during the attempted jailbreak and shootout.

How B’Haram overpowered DSS operative
According to a security source, one of the Boko Haram members told one of the DSS guards that he was pressed and needed to go to the toilet. The sect member’s request was obliged without being leg-chained. On getting to the toilet and finding the door locked, he applied force and uprooted the toilet seat unknown to the operative who was standing outside.

When the detainee knocked the door to indicate that he had finished, the DSS the operative opened the door, only to have his head smashed with the heavy toilet seat.
The operative was said to have collapsed. The sect member then collected the gun of the operative, went to the cell entrance and opened fire on the other operatives who were caught off-guard and set free many of his colleagues.

The source said it was the shooting at the DSS centre that alerted other operatives who mobilised to take on the sect members, leading to serious shoot-out between the terrorists and the operatives for over an hour before security was re-enforced and soldiers drafted to the scene.

Soldiers called in to stop the rampaging Boko Haram detainees, Sunday morning.

Another account
Another account of the incident had it that trouble started around 6 a.m. during the normal handing and taking over of duties by DSS detainees’ handlers.

Vanguard learnt that the shoot-out erupted when some of the suspected terrorists attempted to free their members and leave the detention facility, which is by the precincts of the Presidential Villa.

A competent source said as soon as one handler opened the gate leading to the cell where the detainees were being kept, 10 suspected terrorists rushed out, snatched the handler’s rifle and used it to shoot at him.

Alerted by the attack, some DSS handlers were reported to have retreated so as not to be killed by the rampaging suspected terrorists. The source

One killed, station torched in Lagos police, OPC clash.

Pandemonium broke out, weekend, in the densely-populated Ajegunle area of Lagos State, after some members of Odua Peoples Congress, OPC, engaged policemen in Tolu Police Division in a gun duel over the release of a suspect.

A suspected member of OPC was shot dead in the process, a passer-by hit by a stray bullet, one policeman shot and several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the incident which paralysed commer-cial activities in the area.

A police van was also burnt by the OPC members and part of the stationed torched. Their attempt to burn down the station, however, met with resistance from the policemen.
There were different accounts as to how trouble started.

How it started
A version said a teenage girl had a misunderstanding with her lover who was owing her N7,000. The 18-year old girl was said to have reported the matter to OPC members last Friday, who subsequently apprehended her boyfriend and allegedly tortured him in their hideout.

Another version had it that the man bought some goods worth N7,000 and refused to pay, threatening to beat up the teenager, who subsequently ran to the OPC for justice.

When news about the apprehension of the man reached policemen at Tolu Division, a team was reportedly drafted to the OPC’s hideout where the victim was rescued and brought to the station. The next day, OPC members reportedly stormed the station demanding for his immediate release.

Eyewitness account
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Famuyiwa Oladele, said:

The innocent blood you shed will work against you, Al-Mustapha tells terrorists

Sponsors of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have been urged to desist from their wicked and damnable acts or be prepared to face the wrath of both God and the full weight of the law.

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late General Sani Abacha, gave the advice weekend in Orlu, Imo State, while speaking at a free skills acquisition and empowerment programme for over 3,000 unemployed youths, powered by a non-governmental organization.

“The perpetrators and sponsors of this dastardly act should know that the innocent blood they shed on Nigerian soil will definitely work against them”, Al-Mustapha said.
He roundly condemned the recent massacre of innocent students of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi, by Boko Haram insurgents, stressing that such act was bad to extreme.

In his own address, the Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, said Nigeria is beset with myriad of problems, which pose great challenges to the peaceful coexistence and welfare of the Nigerian people.

“The increasing rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other serious social vices is no doubt a product of the growing unemployment rate in the country”, Duruiheoma reasoned.
While saying that solving this gigantic task of unemployment is beyond what the Federal Government alone can undertake, Chief Duruiheoma also opined that it requires the patriotic intervention of all stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians.

“The provision of employment is one sure way of improving the quality of the population that will complement the laudable goals of the NPC. For an intervention project of this nature, there will be need for accurate and reliable demographic data for planning purposes”, Duruiheoma said.

Mercy Johnson’s ban: Movie marketers break silence

The last may not have been heard in respect of the controversy surrounding the alleged  ban of the star actress, Mercy Johnson last year by the  movie marketers.

It was gathered during the week that the marketers have vowed not to lift the ban until  the actress has  tendered  a letter of apology to them through their  umbrella body, Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, FVPMAN.

*Mercy Johnson

But HVP’s findings, however,  revealed that all is not well with the rank and file in the marketers’ body since they slammed the ban on the actress for being expensive.

According to a reliable source, while the chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the association, Mr Nobert Ajaegbu granted an interview last year, disowing  the proposed ban of the actress, his aggrieved members who were dissatisfied with his action have refused to pay their dues to the association.

Following this development, Mr. Ajaegbu is said to have changed his position in order to give  peace a chance. He told HVP that he decided to retrace his steps after he found out that  Mercy Johnson actually committed all the things she was accused of.

“It was a case of established indiscipline on the part of Mercy Johnson,”Ajaegbu said. Meanwhile,in a statement made available to HVP, Ajaegbu  who doubles as FVPMAN spokesman, addressed  some of the salient issues surrounding Mercy’s  alleged ban.

According to him, “We did

APC declares fasting, prayer aganist Rivers’ PDP guber candidate.

APC’s fasting and prayers blasphemy and sacrilegious -PDP

The Rivers State All Progressive Congress APC, have called for a seven day fasting and prayers secession against Chief Nyesome Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP governorship candidate in the state.

The APC in the press statement stated that the fasting and prayer program will commence on 25th March, 2014 and ends on 1st April, 2014 at the APC State Secretariat. Expected to conduct the programme are  Evangelist Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the Interim State Chairman of APC, Evangelist Mrs. Carol Nagbo the APC State Women Leader and other great men and women of God.

Reacting to the APC statement the PDP in said that ”such action by the APC is not only a waste of time and our People’s resources, but apparently, a blasphemy and sacrilegious as the APC has never shown any disposition to the things of the Most High God, but has over the period exhibited high rate of recklessness, violence, insensitivity to the plights of the people, misappropriation of public funds and peddling of lies and blackmails.’

The APC statement signed by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, SSA Media and Public Affairs to the Interim State Chairman, APC Rivers State read thus

”We have read with profound gratitude reports of the adoption by the leadership of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, of Chief Nyesome Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, as the party’s candidate for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the State. We are aware of the opposition of some camps in the disunited party to the choice of Wike and it is our prayer for these dissenters to sheathe their sword and support Wike’s candidature if they are really interested in saving Rivers State from the diabolical influence of PDP come 2015.

To ensure the emergence of Chief Nyesome Wike as the PDP Flag-bearer that will formally dismantle and bury PDP as a political party in Rivers State; the APC leadership in Rivers State has declared seven days fasting and prayer for all members of APC and those who true love democracy in Rivers State in this regard.

The fasting and prayer program will commence on 25th March, 2014 and ends on 1st April, 2014 at the APC State Secretariat, old GRA Port Harcourt during the normal period of the weekly prayer and thanksgiving of APC Women.

Evangelist Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the Interim State Chairman of APC, Evangelist Mrs. Carol Nagbo the APC State Women Leader and other great men and women of God are expected to conduct the end of the fasting event.

According to Evangelist Nagbo, APC is a miracle party whose mission is to dismantle every element of evil and undemocratic acts from the psyche of our nation and Rivers State in particular.

We should not forget so soon that PDP is a

Oshodi rail station to resume services after 7 years.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is to re-open its Oshodi Station in Lagos on March 31 after seven years of closure.

The NRC said in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday that the proposed re-opening was in response to appeals from commuters.
The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos District of the corporation, Mr Ademuyiwa Adekanmbi

It noted that the highly patronised station was shut following a clash between two factions of the National Union of Road Transports Workers.

The NRC said that much damage was done to the station, train engines and coaches during the clash.

It urged commuters to patronise the corporation.

The District General Manager, Mr Akin Osinowo, had earlier told NAN that the district mobilised personnel and installed some security measures to ensure a hitch-free operation at the station.

The manager urged members of the public and security agents to help to monitor rail facilities and protect them against vandalism.

Osinowo gave the assurance that the district would increase its services to meet commuters’ demands.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that passengers were wounded during the clash. (NAN)

Wife, daughter of transport magnet, Iyare Motors, abducted in Benin

The Police Command in Edo on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of the wife and daughter of a transport magnate, Abel Omoruyi, in Benin.

Omoruyi is the Chief Executive Officer of Iyare Motors.

Spokesman of the police command DSP. Moses Eguavoen, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, said that the victims were kidnapped by gunmen.

Eguavoen said that the police had received the complaint and had swung into action to release the victims.

“We are doing everything to rescue the victims unhurt and to arrest the perpetrators.”

He said that all black spots had been put under surveillance to block possible escape routes.

The woman and her daughter were said to have been kidnapped on Tuesday night in the Ugbor area of Benin on their way home after business.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NAN that the abductors were armed with sophisticated weapons and were yet to make contact with the family of the victims. (NAN)

74 killed in fresh Benue, Borno mayhem

MAKURDI —IT was another day of bloodshed, yesterday, as 74 persons, including five policemen, were killed in separate incidents in Benue and Borno states even as Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has called for military assistance to check the killings.

There was tension in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, yesterday, following the alleged killing of no fewer than 63 persons at Tse-Agena, Mbalom district, Ikpayonge and Adeka market, Oweto in Gwer and Agatu  local government areas by suspected Fulani mercenaries.

This came as Defence minster, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau, lauded the armed forces and attributed their successes to the new found synergy and cordial relationship existing among the Nigerian Army, Navy and the Airforce.

The latest attack came on the heels of weekend’s bloody fight between Tiv youths and the suspected mercenaries which claimed 55 lives in Guma local government area of the state.

The member representing Agatu in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Audu Sule told newsmen, yesterday, that three persons were killed at the Adeka market, Monday morning, when suspected mercenaries stormed the community on the busy market day, shooting sporadically after which they fled the scene.

He said,”After the attack, three persons were left dead in the market but the attackers fled the scene thereafter.”

Vanguard also gathered from an eyewitness that suspected herders stormed Tse-Tse-Agena during the wee hours of Tuesday when their victims were deep asleep, burning houses, killing and maiming anything in sight.

Herdsmen launch attack at 4 a.m

The eyewitness said, “they came in around 4am when the people were still asleep and unprepared for the attack. Everyone was woken up by the barrage of gunfire, the wailing of women and children who were running frantically for safety in the mist of the confusion.

“The painful part of this attack is that communities in Gwer have had no prior incidents with the herders; that is why we all believe this is a premeditated attack. This carnage must not be allowed to continue; over 60 bodies have been removed from that village and the search for several missing persons in still ongoing. We earnestly want the state and

Don’t sleep after pounded yam, Osoba warns

The politician in the former governor was also evident in his submission as he said that closing earlier would also enable delegates to have caucuses, lobby, negotiate and engage in horse trading.
He, however, expressed fear that members may be forced to come back and sleep after launch.

He was supported by the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah who in supporting Osoba expressed fears that from experience, the hall will be empty after lunch.
“In seconding the motion and based on past experience, after break, the hall will be empty. Mr. Chairman sir, “your afternoon session will be totally empty.”

Disagreeing with the positions of Osoba and Attah, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Adamu Aliero who called for sacrifice, said that there was enough time for break and the conference was a serious business that must be taken very seriously.

3months to world cup Nigeria have no team yet – Stephen Keshi

 Its 78 days to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil and Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has said he still does not know who will make his squad.

Speaking to reporters at the Tom Tom Editors’ Round Table in Lagos yesterday, the African Nations Cup winning coach said all the 23 places in the squad are still open.

He was asked to say exactly how many openings were still there in the 23-man squad to Brazil, given that the list of invited players is expected to be released soon. Keshi’s answer was short and sharp. “All,” he said.

Super Eagles  AFP PHOTO/

“Every position is still open and everybody has to fight to earn his place in the squad. There are no automatic shirts.”

Keshi said there were still a number of tune up matches

Keshi - No player can bribe me

By Tony Ubani

Villarreal striker, Ikechukwu Uche took the front burner yesterday at the Tom Tom  Media Roundtable with Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

Uche is being left out of the World Cup campaign in spite of his current good runs in the Spanish league.

The former Eagles captain apparently was aware that such burning questions on Ike Uche and Osaze Odemwingie would be asked and prepared well and handled the questions very well until somebody put it to him that he possibly  refused to invite Uche because the player refused to let him manage him.

From Left: National Team Goalkeeper Trainer, Ike Shorunmu; Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, and Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi during a media parley in Abuja

Kehi adjusted on his seat, looked at the crowd and asked for the Reporter’s name. He cleared his throat and retorted.

‘’Before these players started playing football, I’ve made my money. They cannot give me money to satisfy my hunger. In the past, other coaches did it. I, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi can’t be bribed. You can’t bribe me. There is nothing you can use to entice me.

Many rich people come to me with money to influence

Fashola to Jonathan: ‘You will hand over whether you like it or not’

*Stop provoking everyone, he says
*Explains development strategy
*Expresses worry over para-military group in Lagos (FERMA trainees)

By Jide Ajani

In this session with Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, he explains the style of administration that has been put in place in the state such that successive governments can build and improve on what has been achieved so far.  He also takes a swipe at President Goodluck
Jonathan and his aides who say no administration in the history of Nigeria has done as much as theirs.
You will find him as interesting as ever, with views that are unique both in thought and presentation.
Excerpts:

Lagos has been experiencing some urban renewal. Is this renewal an attempt at taking Lagos back to some forgotten development plan, or a haphazard work in progress?

If you follow our communication on policy statement closely, you will notice that I said from the beginning of my tenure that this was going to be a government of method; that we are going to be methodical in things that we will embark upon. Everything that we have done so far had been based on very rigorous examination of what the problems are, what the choices of solutions are and how to prioritise in order to make them sustainable. One of the first things we did after assumption of office was to conduct a trip round the state; I commissioned a team based on this to go and ask the citizens and residents around the state to specifically tell the governor, ‘what do you want him to do for you?’

That was the beginning of our local government tour. The results that came showed us that there were six main items: roads, drainages, schools, health, jobs and power. But we wanted to validate that and we went for town hall meetings in every local government. And while those things resonated across, they resonated differently. In some local governments, they wanted  roads first. In others, they preferred schools. In some places, their drainages were their main concern. This formed the basis of our first full year budget in office (2008 budget).  And we have kept faith with this approach.
Indeed, from each tour after we came back, it was to give instructions to each ministry or department. When we came back from those tours, we went straight into an executive meeting everyday giving out assignments as required; and we have kept track.

Regional plan
The second point was that of regional plan. I think the last regional plan for the state was done around 1991 or so. So, we decided to plan the state into eight towns. We developed a new regional plan. These towns are Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, Lagos Mainland (which covers part of Oshodi, all through to Orile, to National Theater and Iddo), Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja; and to link them up by transport infrastructures.
Again, we did an audit of the available water supply. And we saw that we had about roughly 45 or 48 percent water supply and we developed a plan; a short, medium and long term plan to provide water for the growing population that we were anticipating. The short-term plan was to do two million gallons per day, with facilities in 15 locations. I have commissioned about nine of them.  And along with that short term plan was to get the Iju water works to run at  full  capacity because it was running at  about 35 percent  capacity because of power outages. This led to the first IGP for Iju water works; the Akute IGP now runs at about 90 percent. But it doesn’t solve the problem. Some of these facilities have aged; Iju was built around 1900. That’s why you will see we are laying new pipes through Eko Bridge.

Essentially, we have almost completed the short-term plan. The medium term plan is to build bigger water works. Oto-Ikosi is completed now and being tested. That is four million gallons to feed part of Epe and support Ikorodu. We have Odo-mola, which is 25 million gallons.
There is also the Adiyan phase II, which is 70 million gallons a day. We have already started constructing this from the budget. We will finish that in 2016.
That will help us supply Alimosho and Agege, who are actually close to the water source (Iju) but who don’t benefit from it because the Europeans, who built it, didn’t  include them among beneficiaries.
In Badagry, we want it to stand alone. Ishashi is four million gallons. And we are also upgrading Ishashi  to 12 million gallons a day.
The same thing with water treatment and sewage! The capacity was barely 10 percent. We drew up a 10-year plan. And that is why we now have a Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, which will regulate the use of clean water and recycling of used water.
We went into Yaba for massive rehabilitation of what was once a prime middle class community. Three roads were commissioned for construction and we