SHOCKING: ISIS Crucifies Catholic Priest Tom Uzhunnalil on Good Friday

Islamic State militants lead what are said to be Ethiopian Christians along a beach in Wilayat Barqa, in this still image from an undated video made available on a social media website on April 19, 2015. The group have persecuted Christians across the Middle East.

The militant group Islamic State (ISIS) continued its persecution of Christian groups by allegedly crucifying a Catholic priest on Good Friday, the Washington Times reports.
The victim was reportedly the Rev. Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Salesian priest, who was kidnapped in Yemen earlier this month during a raid on a Catholic nursing home run by Mother Teresa’s organization Missionaries of Charity.
Uzhunnalil, a native of India, was captured on March 4, in a raid which also killed 16 Christian nuns and nurses. His alleged death by the same method the Romans used to kill Jesus—an event marked by Christians around the world on Good Friday—was reportedly confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, although the Cardinal's claim has yet to be independently verified. The Indian government had received no further information regarding the priest's fate on Monday evening.

These reports comes as ISIS’s crackdown on groups not affiliated with its radical brand of Salafism has helped fuel a huge drop in Iraq’s Christian population.
Less than 30 years ago, Iraq’s official census counted 1.4 million Christians residing in the country; however, since then figures have decreased radically, Al Jazeera reports.
The Iraqi civil war, between 2005 and 2007, forced thousands of Iraqi Christians to flee to nearby Syria, while others settled in Lebanon and Jordan. After the start of Syria’s Civil War in 2011, some Christian refugees returned to Iraq, however as ISIS spread across Syria and Iraq, figures have fallen once again.
According to the Hammurabi Human Rights Organization, an Iraqi research think tank, said the number of Christians in Iraq had dropped to fewer than 400,000 as of 2015.
Earlier this month U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused ISIS of committing genocide against Iraq’s Yazidi minority, Shia Muslims and Christians. The Iraqi and Syrian forces have made gains against militants in recent months, with Iraqi tribal fighters reporting last week that they have pushed ISIS from a crucial border point between the two countries.

SHOCKING: Is This The End Of Sex As We Know It?

One scientist thinks that we’ll stop having sex to make babies within 30 years.

The romantically named ‘procreative sex’ will be a thing of the past for humans, because technology will have developed far enough that designer babies will become the norm. 

Rather than lighting a few candles and sticking a Marvin Gaye song on, prospective parents will head to a lab and provide the raw materials (sperm, skin cells) and scientists will put an ideal embryo together for them, rather than risking an imperfect offspring via traditional methods. 

In a paper titled “The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction”, medical and law expert Henry T. Greely posits that it will a legally regulated service that will be low cost enough that everyone - not just the moneyed upper classes - can take advantage. 

“Within twenty, maybe forty, years most people in developed countries will stop having sex for the purpose of reproduction,” the summary states. 

“Instead, prospective parents will be told as much as they wish to know about the genetic makeup of dozens of embryos, and they will pick one or two for implantation, gestation, and birth. And it will be safe, lawful, and free.” 

Parents will be told how attractive, clever and healthy each resulting embryo is likely to be.

“We won’t be able to say: ‘this child is in the top 1% of intelligence,’” Greely told the Sunday Times. “We will probably be able to to say: 'this child has a 60% chance of being in the top half.’”

Described as “prophetic scholarship”, the paper suggests that certain hereditary diseases could be stamped out by the new method, as a handy side effect of a new super race of irritatingly perfect children that will consistently make the older generations feel terrible.

Meanwhile, people will probably keep having sex for fun. So don’t worry about that.

Who are the winners and losers in the Apple v. FBI drama? An explainer

Late on Monday, the FBI announced that it had finally gained access to San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook’s iPhone, effectively ending its month-long fight with Apple over unlocking the device.

Though international debate about encryption is far from over, this leaves both sides in somewhat uncomfortable positions. The FBI looks a little silly for making this into a federal case, and Apple’s device security — which has long been a selling point for its products — has taken a very public hit. Below, a quick explainer of what happened, and how each of these powerful American institutions has emerged from this long and exhausting brawl.

So wait, back up. What did the FBI do to get into the phone?

Funny you ask — that’s the question that every tech journalist in the world wants to answer. Last week, less than 24 hours before the Justice Department was set to face off with Apple lawyers in court, investigators asked to postpone the hearing because they were approached by an “outside party” who offered to help them get into the device.

Who that outside party is we do not know. But there are some pretty reasonable guesses. As Wired reported last week, the FBI has a sole source contract with the Israeli mobile forensic firm Cellebrite. Its website advertises that the company’s hackers can extract data from locked iPhones running any version of iOS up to 8.4.1. It’s possible that those forensic researchers could be exploiting a vulnerability that Apple has already patched in iOS 9.

There are a few other theories that could explain the FBI’s feat, but they get pretty deep in the technical weeds of how iOS stores memory.

A vulnerability in iOS? That’s worrying. Does the FBI have to tell Apple what that is?

Technically, no. And it’s possible they have already signed a nondisclosure agreement with the outside party that helped them do it. If the FBI happens to take Apple to court over accessing a device again, it’s possible the details of this case could come up and become public information.

How does Apple feel about all this?

On a call with journalists last week, Apple lawyers acknowledged that the FBI’s sudden discovery of a break-in method was always a possibility, and one Apple was willing to accept. Indeed, as the company has pointed out in court filings, it is constantly fighting to keep up with the latest security advancements, and patching known vulnerabilities.

But any court order to weaken Apple’s systems, it argued, would make it significantly less secure, because that would make it more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals. Apple lawyers said they hoped the FBI would share its method for breaking into the device, but that there was no way to force it to do so.

But let’s face it: Even if the vulnerability that was exploited by the FBI’s hired hackers has already been patched in later versions of iOS, the fact that law enforcement could get into Farook’s phone makes Apple’s overall security look bad. And it further supports criticism from some cryptographers that Apple could’ve done more to prevent the FBI from even requesting the access it wanted in the San Bernardino case in the first place. Even though the court case was dropped, Apple was definitely cut down in the eyes of the privacy community, and probably the public.

It’s also worth noting that the third party the FBI hired did not report whatever vulnerability it discovered in iOS to Apple. According to a report by the New York Times last week, that could possibly be because unlike most major tech companies, Apple does not offer large sums of money in exchange for finding security errors in its code.

But why did the FBI go through all that legal drama if it could’ve just taken more time to search for outside help?

During the debates spurred by the San Bernardino court case, many privacy activists and members of Congress suggested the FBI simply wanted to set a legal precedent that gave it a court-mandated way to access encrypted information on the devices of terrorists and criminals.

But, as Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Nate Cardozo told Yahoo News last week, it seems “the government was taken by surprise by the strength of Apple’s opposition and the amount of support they were able to garner in both the tech community and the civil liberties community.” In other words, if your court case is prompting journalists to ask President Obama what he thinks about a very controversial topic, you’re probably doing something that could be embarrassing for your organization.

SHOCKING: FLOGGING COMPITITION

A beating  competition  took place at Ipetu-Ijesha  among  two notable streets namely "Odoise" and Ifofin. Each street has representatives(competitors), so the representatives  came out and started beating themselves in turns.  The more a participant could withstand  a particular beating session, the higher the points earned by such participant.  Whichever street  that won will be given a price  from the king.

Nigeria spends $1bn to import tomato paste —UNEP

ABUJA — THE United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, has lamented that the Nigerian government spent about $1 billion on importation of tomato paste. 

The African Regional Coordinator of UNEP, Dr. Richard Munang, who made the revelation, weekend, during the official inauguration of the Nigeria branch of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly, EBAFOSA, also noted that over 75 per cent of tomatoes were wasted in the country because of lack of storage facilities. He expressed regrets that about 240 million people in the continent go to bed hungry and that malnutrition was high, affecting nearly 200 million people which in turn resulted in the death of over 50 per cent of children below five years.

4 killed, SSG, Wike’s aide, others arrested

No fewer than four persons were feared killed during the parliamentary rerun election in Rivers State yesterday. Also an unspecified number of persons, including the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Chief Kenneth Kobani and the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Special Projects, Mr. Cyril Dum Wite were arrested in their respective local governments. Meanwhile, election was suspended in four local government areas of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for security reasons. The four council areas are Andoni, Gokana, Khana and Bonny. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen said INEC officials were prevented from entering the area with election materials.
Ikoiwak also pointed out insecurity for the suspension of election in the four local government areas, adding that poll in the affected arreas would be rescheduled. Chief Kobani was arrested by soldiers in Kpor, headquarters of Gokana Local Government Area for allegedly disrupting election process in his area, according to security claims. On his part, Dum Wite was arrested by Policemen in Bori, traditional headquarters of Ogoniland in Khana Local Government Area of the state. Though, the circumstances surrounding Dum Wite’s arrest was not clear, the governor’s aide expressed surprise at his arrest. Dum Wite explained that he had gone to Bori to report the hijack of election materials by some thugs when he was arrested. Also, seven others were arrested in Bori axis of Ogoniland for allegedly wearing fake security uniforms presumably to foment trouble during the process.
Among those who lost their lives were a youth identified as Tambari, who was reportedly shot on the head by a soldier in Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area of the state. Details of what led to his death could not be ascertained as at press time. Also in Rumuokuta, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, a man who was on the queue to vote was allegedly hit by a stray bullet. He reportedly passed on while being rushed to the hospital In Eleme, a man was also killed, even though the report was still sketchy as at press time. The State Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Konya, was allegedly beaten to coma by security operatives, although reasons for the action could also not be ascertained as at press time. There were also reports of heavy shooting in Abalama, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state. Suspected militants shot sporadically and carted away election materials in Bakana, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The hoodlums reportedly made away with election materials before a team of soldiers arrived the area.
Also, in Oyigbo and Eleme local government areas, ballot box snatching was recorded. Generally, the legislative elections into the National and State Assembly witnessed low turn-out with reports of fake result sheets in Bonny and Opobo areas Election materials arrived late in many areas, including Port Harcourt city. Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has declared that INEC was not prepared for the re-run elections in the state, noting that the challenges that greeted the elections would have been avoided if the commission had prepared for the rerun elections. He regretted that some areas in the state do not have result sheets, which could lead to violence as the people suspected foul play. Speaking after he voted at Ward 9, Unit 7 in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday, Governor Wike said that information available to him indicated that INEC failed to take necessary measures to ensure credible polls. He said: “It is obvious that INEC was not prepared for the rerun elections. They (INEC) refused to tell members of the public the challenges they hard.”
The accreditation process for the governor was cumbersome as two card readers were used before the governor was eventually passed to vote. Wike told journalists that in several polling units, information of scanned results were received, adding that there were cases of snatching of election materials in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Areas and Omagwa, noting that it was unfortunate that the challenges came up despite the time INEC had to prepare. He, however, gave a pass mark to the security agencies for maintaining law and order in the state. Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said materials distributed at Opobo/Okuro Local Government Area were tempered with, alleging that they were fake electoral materials. On his part, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi soon after voting at his country home in Ubima, ward 14, unit 8 alleged that APC members were being intimidated by members of the PDP.
The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the election was peaceful in Opobo, even as he commended security agencies and urged other local governments to emulate Opobo. Meanwhile, the State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah has condemned the arrest of the SSG and the governor’s aide (Dum Wite), as well as the treatment meted out to the state Commissioner for Environment, Prof (Mrs) Konya. Obuah alleged that soldiers of the Nigerian Army were led by Senator Magnus Abe to the INEC centres in Gokana and Khana to beat up PDP agents. Obuah in a statement by his media aide, Jerry Needam, alleged that soldiers hijacked all the election materials and are thump printing and writing results. The statement reads, “The Secretary to the State Government, Hon Kenneth Kobani, Special Adviser on Special projects to the State Governor, Hon Cyril Dum Wite and over 2,000 PDP across the state have been beaten, arrested and detained by the Nigerian Army, drafted to conduct the election by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Magnus Abe and the APC.”
The statement described the action of the military against Rivers people and members of the PDP as genocide. “The Nigerian Army disobeys two separate court orders, restraining them from participating in Rivers re-run election and in Rivers South-East Senatorial District of the State. The state PDP chairman condemned the action of the military and calls for a thorough investigation into their role in the election. But reacting to the allegations of ballot box snatching and rigging by the PDP, the APC said this was untrue. Secretary of the Greater Together Campaign Organization of the APC, Godstime Oluko in a telephone chat with our reporter said the areas alleged by the PDP are strongholds of the APC. Oluko said, “What the PDP is saying is absolute balderdash. There is no way the APC can indulge in ballot box snatching or connive with anyone. Khana, Gokana, Eleme and most of the areas they (PDP) are talking about are our (APC) stronghold,” he said. Meanwhile, collation of results were on-going at the state INEC office along Aba Road in Port Harcourt amid tight security as at press time yesterday with men of the Army, Police and NSCDC stationed at the entrance of the commission.

How Students Write Exams In St Camillus School Of Midwifery

Nursing profession is a hard one to pursue,the students are highly trained,this picture was taken during the ongoing exams at St camillus school of midwifery,uromi,edo state.

Very few students in the examination hall as compared to what is obtainable in our universities.see space

Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara govs move to revive education sectors

The immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, has been appointed to head an advisory committee that will revive the educational sectors in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, in Northwestern Nigeria. Jega, who heads from Kebbi State, will work with six other professors from the zone and will advise governors of the three states on how to fix the myriad of problems facing the sector, especially at the tertiary education level. Presenting a report of the committee on Saturday night in Sokoto to Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Abdulaziz Yari and Abubakar Bagudu of Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi respectively, Jega said it was time all stakeholders in the three states close rank and collectively face the challenges together. He stressed the need to reposition institutions of higher learning in the three states that make up the old Sokoto State, to enable them operate according to their core mandates. Jega, among other recommendations, further stated the need for improved funding of the institutions, reinvigorated training and promotion of exchange programmes among institutions in the three states.
The committee also advised the states to establish a joint Education Tax Fund in the mould of the Federal Governmentfunded TETFUND and revive the former remedial school to be established in one of the states to prepare students for higher studies. Receiving the report on behalf of his colleagues, Governor Yari said though Sokoto had already declared a state of emergency on education, Zamfara and Kebbi were just now following suit. He said the three governors would liaise with their various state Houses of Assembly and Commissioners of Justice to review the laws that established the institutions. “We will pass the recommendations to the Attorney- Generals to look into them, with a view to review these laws. We will also strive to formulate all the requisite policies to make these higher educational institutions function effectively. “We will also allocate nothing less than 35 per cent of our annual budgets to the education sector,” he added. The five other members of the committee include former Vice Chancellors of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu and Prof. Tijjani Bande. The rest are Professors Zayyanu Umar, Lawal Bilbis and Umar Chafe.

The Government of Osun on Sunday described as uncalled for insinuations that the state would not pay salaries of its workers in March as a result of the N6million federal allocation that accrued to it for the month of February.
The Government assured its workers that just as the Rauf Aregbesola administration had weathered the storm to pay salaries up to December, the government is executing with the support of all stakeholders, including the workers, a well-mapped out strategy for ensuring that workers are not made to pay more price for the dwindling allocation than they have done.
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, which was signed by its Director, Semiu Okanlawon, explained that the considerably reduced FAAC allocation is no more news to the state.
The state received less than N150 million from October till date, due the the repayment obligations for the Infrastructure Programs it has been prosecuting. In spite of the heavy obligations, Osun has paid more than N5billion in salaries between the same period.

FAAC is not only source of revenue to the State, and the commendable support of workers has allowed us to stretch our reserves and other sources to pay workers on mutually agreed terms as well as fulfill our development promises to the majority of the people
“As at today, the process for the payment of January salaries is at the final stages. Osun workers will receive their Salaries from this week in preparation for Easter holidays.
The State’s today remains a major projects site employing thousands of our people in simultaneous the construction of major roads, models Schools and other infrastructure mostly to be completed before the end of the year. Osun is therefore fulfilling it’s obligations to the people and running government. The State’s call all that care to come to visit Osun to see for themselves the moods in the state rather than pander to rumours, conjectures and lies.
The statement added that Osun, by virtue of its poor allocation, has never had the opportunity of ample resources that are commensurate to the humongous responsibilities of payment of salaries, payment of pensions and gratuities, and implementation of capital projects.
“But due to prudent management of resources, creative infrastructure financing, this government has been able to fulfill its obligations in all these critical areas of governance.
The fact remains that Osun, under Aregbesola did not have to wait for the day the state would get N6million as allocation before proffering solutions towards sustainable economic self-reliance.
“This is why Osun has reduced the cost of governance, moved aggressively to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), sought to attract investments into the State through provision of hitherto non-existent infrastructure and enabling environment and instituted performance-driven governance.

The January salaries and pensions are being paid this week. We must thank our workers for their understanding and cooperation.

“It must be noted that all hands are on deck towards more convenient repayment schedule of existing loans as part of plans to free the state’s resources for critical needs of governance. This is in addition to the drive for internally generated revenues the performance of which is very encouraging,” the statement added.
The Bureau therefore called on some critics of the government who are capitalising on the last allocation to make unguarded statements noting that Osun’s resources could not have been better utilized than what the Aregbesola had done in the last five years.
“We are aware of those whose job it is to confuse unsuspecting members of the public through their mischievous statements. The question these self-appointed critics of the Aregbesola administration should be asked is: if they demand that further funds should not be released to this government, what has happened to all the loads of lies-laden petitions they had sent to the Federal Government?,” it added
Saying that the ordinary people of Osun recognize the people-oriented programs of the administration, the statement added, “We are consoled by the fact that the ordinary people -the focus of this administration- appreciate the enormous work this government has done.
“This government set out an an ambitious and radical agenda to reposition our people for productivity which entailed prosecuting and funding a major human and Physical Infrastructure Revamp. It has delivered 200km of rural roads in partnership with the World Bank. It delivered over 300Km of roads across all Local Governments, over 70 model schools across the state so far. It all delivered major Human Development Programs that now places the State’s among those with the Highest Human Development Index in the Country.
“The global crisis of 2013 led to a reduction of 40% in receivables and the unilateral national minimum wages foisted on states increased expenditure by average of 70%. These unforeseen challenges slowed this government development agenda and has forced government to restructure. We are prosecuting this course carefully.
“Our commitment to the delivery of development to the people remains non-negotiable. Osun will fulfil, by the Grace of God, it’s promise to the people. The current situation is akin to squeezing water out of stone, difficult but not Impossible.”

Heavy shooting, as Amaechi, Wike clash at police station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Heavy shooting was reported outside the office of the Department of State Security, DSS, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday. While the details of the shooting and the mastermind(s) could not be ascertained as at the time of writing this report, the place was full of heavy security presence, shortly after the shootout. However, Governor Nyesom Wike, while confirming the incident, said an aide of his Chief of 1Staff, Emeka Woke, lost his life in the shootout. Speaking with newsmen after the incident, the governor blamed it on what he said was the desperation of some politicians. But the governor was countered by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, who claimed that he and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state were the target of the shooting The governor alleged that the politicians hatched a plan in Isiokpo and had intended to execute it at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, along Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt.
He said: “I detailed my Chief of Staff to be following them. But, when they reached the INEC office, they drove past. I told my Chief of Staff to continue to follow them. They continued up to UTC Junction where they started shooting. “I called the Brigade Commander thrice about when I heard of the plan, that they (gunmen) were pursuing INEC staff to snatch result sheets,” However, Peterside alleged that two jeeps, belonging to the Chief of Staff, carried two unknown gunmen who trailed him, the state APC Chairman, Dr Davies Ikanya and Honourable Asita O. Asita to the UTC Junction and opened fire on them. He said: “The car carrying me did a detour to the DSS office in Port Harcourt. At the DSS office gate, where I drove to seek refuge, the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men.
“The exchange of fire between DSS and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes.” There was mild drama earlier in the day at the Mile 1 police station, Diobu, when Governor Wike confronted former Governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Peterside for allegedly plotting to hijack the result sheet of Ward 10, Port Harcourt Constituency II. An ad hoc staff of INEC, who lectures at the University of Port Harcourt, had allegedly absconded with the election result sheet and other voting materials since Saturday. The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Mkpolu Police Station, who was in charge of security during voting in the area, had allegedly raised the alarm over the disappearance, until she surfaced at the Mile I police station. At the police station were Amaechi, Petetside and acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari and Wike. At the scene, there were over 200 supporters of both the PDP and APC.. From the police station, they all drove to the State CID.Meanwhile, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cancelled last Saturday’s parliamentary re-run election in two more local governments in Rivers State. This brought to eight the local governments where elections were cancelled. State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday said elections in Etche and Asari-Toru Local Governments have also been cancelled. Ikoiwak had on Saturday announced the suspension of election in Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Andoni and Bonny Local Government Areas, on grounds of widespread irregularities and violence. The REC had said the suspended re-run elections will be held yesterday, but later rescinded his decision.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Emma Anyanwu, had called for the outright cancellation of results from 14 units in Etche Local Government, citing violence and electoral malpractice. Briefing newsmen Ikoiwak said: “Further to our earlier pronouncement on the suspension of the re-run elections in the six (6) local government areas of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Tai and Eleme, following disturbances and violence that impeded the electoral process in those parts of the state, it has become necessary to suspend the elections in Etche and Asari-Toru local government areas for the same reasons. “The suspension of the election is necessitated by the need to forestall breakdown of law and order or loss of lives and property in the event of further aggravation of the crisis. “The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, needs to put all stakeholders on notice that we are still studying the situation in the other 15 local government areas of the state, where collations of results are currently going on.
Our correspondent gathered that INEC would not conduct a re-run of the national and state legislative elections in the cancelled areas until it has conducted a staff audit of its ad-hoc personnel deployed for the exercise. Sources at the commission said some of the ad-hoc personnel deployed to the riverine areas were yet to return to the state headquarters in Port Harcourt. A source said the commission is worried that it has not been able to make telephone contact with some of the ad-hoc personnel, even as some whose phone rang did not answer. Nigerian Army declared yesterday that it arrested Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Kenneth Kobani, for allegedly disrupting the re-run election. The declaration came, even as the Zone 6 Command of the Nigerian Police said 24 persons were arrested from different parts of the state for various criminal and electoral offenses during the re-run poll. Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brig. Gen. Stephenson Olabanji, who spoke to newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, said the law of the country respects nobody, no matter the person’s position in the society. Olabanji said: “Many people were arrested yesterday for disrupting the electoral process and the law is not meant for just the lower cadre alone.
“No matter who you are, if you go against the law, you will definitely face the music. “There is nothing like being Secretary to the State Government, many people were arrested as you have been told. A lot of people were arrested.” The Army Commander denied claims by the state government that some of its commissioners and other top officials were manhandled during the election. “If you say arrest, we can say yes, but there was nothing like manhandling. We are meant to protect civilians, not to manhandle them,” he explained. It was, however, gathered that SSG has been released. Also speaking, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 6, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, said those arrested during the election, including two females are currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Port Harcourt. Bolanta said: “It is pertinent I let you know that we have 24 suspects comprising 22 males and 2 females in police custody, who were arrested from different parts of the state. “They are presently undergoing interrogation on allegations of criminal or electoral offences or both.” The AIG insisted that only four deaths were recorded in the state during the election, pointing out that two persons were killed at Buguma, in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, while two others were killed at Nonwa-Tai, and Omuanwa communities, in Tai and Ikwerre Local Government Areas, respectively. He said: “I am startled this morning after seeing outrageous figure of deaths associated with the elections as dished out by the media. “To put the records straight, four deaths were recorded with two in Buguma, while Nonwa-Tai and Omuanwa each recorded one.”

DPR issues 21 licences for new refineries (Department of Petroleum Resources)

Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has issued 21 licenses to investors to establish new refineries in the country Four investors had earlier been issued licenses to construct new plants in the country. This was disclosed by DPR in a statement at the weekend. The statement said: “There are currently 25 private refinery licenses granted to companies with 21 in the License to Establish, LTE, category, while four are in the Approval to Construct, ATC, category.” The agency noted that three out of the 25 licensed companies are billed to construct conventional stick-build plants, while 22 will construct modular units with a proposed combined refining capacity of 1,429,000bpd. The statement noted that DPR has not withdrawn the license of any private refinery. It disclosed that rather, it is in alignment with the Federal Government’s aspiration of improving the country’s refining capacity by strengthening its regulatory oversight function. DPR said that in line with its commitment to entrench transparency in oil and gas regulatory function, it has to make some clarifications. “There are three stages of licensing for establishment of private refineries in Nigeria, namely; Licence to Establish, Approval to Construct and License to Operate, LTO. “DPR granted LTE to 21 companies with a validity period of 18 months in 2002. In 2004, 17 out of the earlier granted LTE were granted ATC for a 24 month validity period. “The Department in 2007 reviewed the existing guidelines and a new guiding document ‘Guidelines for the Establishment of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants in Nigeria’ was introduced to ensure that only committed investors were licenced,” the statement added. Meanwhile, the fuel 2scarcity, which showed improvement last week, has worsened in Lagos and other parts of the country.
Investigations showed that many filling stations did not have commercial stocks of the product over the weekend in Lagos and its environs. Consequently, there were long queues of vehicles at many filling stations visited by our correspondent. Operators cashed in on the situation to sell fuel at exorbitant prices, ranging between N100 and N300 per liter. The situation also culminated in the appearance of black market operators, who were seen hawking petrol in Jerry cans along major roads at between N1, 000 and N2, 000 for five liters. Operators, who preferred not to be named, said they had to pass through much difficulty in bringing fuel from depots to filling stations because of logistic challenges. It was learnt that many Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, depots and pipelines were in bad conditions because of none maintenance and vandalism. Executive Director, Spaces for Change, Mrs. Victoria Ohaeri said the situation in Nigeria at the moment was far from ideal with no fuel, electricity and water, compounded by scorching heat, rising food and transportation prices. “The majority of filling stations are under lock and key, while the few dispensing fuel have unilaterally hiked the pump price from the official rate of N86.50 to between N100 and N150 per litre. “The organisation observed that with the economy in tatters, and Naira values falling like a house of cards, families-particularly female-headed households-live under pressure, as job losses mount, school fees skyrocket and housing rental costs soar,” she said. She maintained that beyond the far-from-ideal situation, the greatest source of worry to many is that there is no projection of its end in sight. “Since the nineties, the twin challenges of fuel scarcity and power outages have been recurrent phenomena in Nigeria.
“The demand for petroleum products continues to exceed supply, especially as Nigeria’s four refineries function below the refining capacity required to meet local energy demands. Capacity has remained at 445,000 barrels per day since the late 1980s, despite the dramatic rise of Nigeria’s population from over 95 million in 1990 to over 170 million in 2014. The situation is similar in the power sector. “Nigeria has huge natural gas reserves and enormous renewable energy potential but its power generating capacity, only about 4,000mw, is unable to meet the energy demand of the rapidly growing population. “Average power generation stood at 3,200mw in 2011, and for the first time ever in February 2016, peaked at 5,074mw, producing the highest maximum daily energy of 109,372 Megawatts Hour, MWH. This was still low compared to the estimated demand of 12,800mw needed to match demand with supply. “Owing to the chronic electricity supply shortages, households and businesses depend on petroleum products (mainly petrol, diesel and kerosene) as alternative sources of energy to light up homes, carry out basic domestic chores and power the industries that create jobs. “Scarcity or unavailability of energy alternatives aggravates mass suffering, and can make life unbearable,” she added.


 

INEC Releases 10 Results, Suspends Rivers Elections

• PDP wins eight state constituencies, one House seat, APC victorious in one constituency
• Wike, Peterside’s security aides in shootout, one killed
• Amaechi, governor clash over ‘abducted’ collation officer
• Army explains arrest of SSG, police say four dead, 24 apprehended

By Ernest Chinwo, Segun James and Shola Oyeyipo in Port Harcourt
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the results of nine state constituencies and one federal constituency in which rerun elections were held in Nigeria’s oil hub, Rivers State, on Saturday, but the commission was forced to suspend the electoral process in all other constituencies in the state where results were not announced due to the widespread violence that marred the elections.
However, based on the results released yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consolidated its control of the state by emerging victorious in eight of the nine state constituencies and one federal constituency seat, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won one state constituency seat.
But as results were announced, the state continued its descent to anarchy as the violent battle for control of the state was exacerbated by the exchange of gunfire between security men in the convoys of the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State governor, Mr. Emma Woke, in Port Harcourt yesterday, resulting in the death of Woke’s personal assistant. Sporadic shooting was also reported at the Abonema area in Akuku Toru Council, few kilometers to Port Harcourt, the state capital.
This came as Governor Nyesom Wike and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, squared off against each other at the Mile 1 Diobu police station over a collation officer, Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, who was purportedly abducted Saturday night by the former governor in company of soldiers.
Confirming the outcome of the rerun polls, the Director of Voter Education Publicity of INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, informed THISDAY that the results were released in nine state constituencies and one federal constituency in the state.
He said PDP won in eight of the state constituencies, while APC won one seat.
PDP, he said, also won one federal constituency but did not give the names of the state or federal constituencies in which results were declared.
Osaze-Uzzi also revealed that the release of further results were suspended due to reports of violence, attacks and even the deaths of INEC officials and ad hoc personnel in the state.
He said all INEC personnel were relocated to Abuja yesterday due to the escalation of violence in Rivers State.
Also in a statement yesterday, he said INEC conducted the polls in Rivers State pursuant to the orders of the Court of Appeal, but “rather unfortunately, some of these elections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC local government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off.
“Of more serious concern was the level of threats, violence and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas.
“There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 local government areas.

“Regrettably, such deviant behaviour has continued today (yesterday). Several permanent and ad hoc staff engaged by the commission have been attacked, again resulting in fatalities, while some have been forcibly abducted and taken to unknown destinations.
“Under such difficult circumstances, the Returning Officers were only able to collate and declare results in one federal and nine state constituencies where the disruption and malpractices were not so widespread.
“Having reviewed the situation, the commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all the other constituencies in the state pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its field officials and monitors.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers,” he said.
However, unconfirmed results obtained by THISDAY from the various collation centres for 11 state constituencies showed that PDP won 10 constituencies, namely: Akukutoru I (Major Jack), Omuma (Kelechi Wogu), Degema (Farah Dagogo), Ahoada East II (Edison Ehie), Ahoada East I (Martins Manna), Emohua (Sam Ogeh), Akukutoru II (Tonye Alalibo), Obio/Akpor I (Martin Amaewhule), Obio/Akpor II (Michael Chindah), Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (Christopher Ahiakwor).
The candidate of the APC won in the Opobo/Nkoro state constituency, while Betty Apiafi of the PDP won the Abua Odua/Ahoada East Constituency to the Federal House of Representatives.
Speaking on the shootout between the security detail attached to Woke and Peterside, which occurred yesterday evening at the UTC junction, Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, Wike told journalists that Peterside, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state, had gone to INEC Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area and allegedly snatched the election result sheets for the council.
According to Wike, Peterside, who was with his running mate, Honourable Asita and the APC state chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, were then pursued by Woke, who was the PDP agent for Ikwerre.
“The shooting happened because they were chasing them (Peterside and Asita) from Isiokpo,” Wike said.
He said when the security detail of Peterside saw that the PDP agent was still following them as they got to the junction leading to his (Peterside’s residence, they opened fire leading to the death of Woke’s aide.
But in his own account of the incident, Peterside said it was an attack on his life, adding that he was attacked by gunmen in two sports utility vehicles when he was on his way home from the Port Harcourt International Airport.
According to a statement he issued last night, “Two SUVs belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff, carrying two unknown gunmen trailed us to UTC Junction and opened fire on my car.
“Our car however did a detour to the DSS office gate where we drove to seek refuge, but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men on guard.
“The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.
“Today’s experience is not only terrifying but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament.
“What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible but also constitutes a serious national security risk.”


Before the shootout, however, Wike and Amaechi, squared off against each other at the Mile 1, Diobu police station in the state capital over a collation officer, Mrs. Adebisa, who was allegedly abducted by the minister, Saturday night.
The development, which led to the suspension of collation of results in the constituency, led to a standoff between the leaders of the PDP and APC yesterday.
Adebisa was allegedly taken to Novotel Hotel where the duo of Amaechi and Peterside and the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, were lodged and results doctored.
The electoral officer was said to have been placed in protective custody by Amaechi and Dakuku.
However, when PDP leaders including Wike got wind of the fact that she had been placed in protective custody at the Mile 1 police station, they rushed to the station seeking an explanation.
Wike later alleged that Adebisa is the girlfriend of the APC candidate for the Port Harcourt Federal Constituency who framed her abduction alongside other APC leaders. He went further to claim that she had compromised the results placed in her care in favour of the APC.
When Wike and some other PDP leaders stormed the station, more than 400 soldiers arrived the station with Amaechi, Peterside and Semenitari and directed that Adebisa be released to them.
The former governor, Peterside, Semenitari and the AIG Zone 6, Calabar, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, were said to have eventually left with her.
But reacting to the report, the Special Adviser (Media) to the acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Bekee Anyalewechi said there was no iota of truth in the story that was peddled by the PDP-led Rivers State Government.
“We have received, with bemusement, the attempt by the Rivers State Government and its image managers to retell the facts of the incident of Sunday, March 20 which occurred at the Mile 1 Police Divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt when Rivers State governor, Ezebunwo Wike, in the company of a retinue of aides, invaded the police station and held the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collation officer for Port Harcourt Ward 10, Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, hostage.
“Whereas it is not in our style to join issues with any tier of government, it is imperative that we state the facts because of the need to safeguard our electoral process and strengthen the confidence of our people in their leaders.
“Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, the Port Harcourt City Ward 10 Collation Officer, for the March 19 rerun legislative election in Rivers State, was moved by force to the police station. The result she had collated was separated from her.
“While at the police station, agents of the Rivers State Government, brought her under duress to write a statement that she had been abducted and made to falsify the ward result by agents of All Progressives Congress (APC).
“That they forced her to the police station and kept her under traumatic conditions was in itself criminal. But that they had forced the result she had lawfully collated out of her custody was more criminal,” Anyalewech said.
According to him, “Governor Wike had arrived the police station accompanied by Sen. George Sekibo, Mr. Austin Opara, Azubuike Nmerukini, as well as other aides of the governor.
“As a leader in APC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), being in attendance at the meeting, was among those delegated to go and see what the actual development was.
“When Semenitari and others arrived the police facility, they confirmed the report. In conclusion, we state therefore, that it was shocking to read a statement issued by Mr. Simeon Nwakudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, linking Semenitari to facts contrary to the truth as stated here.”


Reacting to the performance of his political party, the PDP, Wike said the rerun elections in the state had shown clearly who is on the ground and is accepted by the people.
He said the rerun elections had proved that the control of INEC, the federal might, military, police and other security agencies cannot translate to electoral victories, as the people will always resist agents of rigging.
Wike blamed the military for the deaths recorded in Saturday’s election, alleging that the victims were killed by the military and not by politicians or residents of the state.
He also said most soldiers deployed for the elections were used by the APC leaders to hijack materials, illegally arrest PDP members and manipulate the process.
He said the people resisted the attempt by the military to subvert the electoral process.
He said the number of troops unleashed to intimidate and harass Rivers people was regrettable, even as they failed to tackle security challenges in the country.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army explained yesterday that it arrested the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Chief Kenneth Kobani, for allegedly disrupting the last Saturday’s rerun elections in the state.
This is as the Nigerian Police, Zone 6 Command, said a total of 24 persons were arrested from different parts of the state for various allegations of criminal and electoral offenses during the rerun elections.
The Commander, 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, who spoke to newsmen at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt yesterday, said: “Many people were arrested yesterday (Saturday) for disrupting the electoral process and the law is not meant for just the lower cadre alone. No matter who you are, if you go against the law, you will definitely face the music.
“So there is nothing like being the Secretary to the State Government, many people were arrested as you have been told. A lot of people were arrested.”
The army commander denied claims by the state government that some of its commissioners and other top officials were manhandled by men of the Nigerian Army during the rerun elections.
He said: “If you say arrest, we can say yes, but there was nothing like manhandling. We are meant to protect civilians, not to manhandle them.”
In his remarks, the AIG in-charge of Zone 6 said those arrested during the rerun elections were currently undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Port Harcourt.
“It is pertinent I let you know that we have 24 suspects comprising 22 males and 2 females in police custody, who were arrested from different parts of the state. They are presently undergoing interrogation on allegations of criminal or electoral offences or both,” Bolanta said.
Bolanta insisted that four deaths were recorded in the state during the polls, pointing out that two persons were killed at Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, while two others were killed at Nonwa-Tai, and Omuanwa communities in Tai and Ikwerre Local Government Areas, respectively.
He said: “I am startled this morning after seeing outrageous figure of deaths associated with the elections as dished out by the media. To put the records straight, four deaths were recorded with two in Buguma, while Nonwa-Tai and Omuanwa each recorded one.”

Voting in Progress

Contester

Donald Trump Insults Nigeria(Buhari's) Administration WHERE IS THE CHANGE!!!?b

Donald Trump, a front-line US presidential contender blast Nigeria for claiming to be giant of Africa.  One of The highest producer of crude oil in Africa without nothing tangible to show for it. 56 years after independence, Nigerian leaders still can’t deliver

“ordinary” electricity, water, home-refined petroleum products, transportation – road, rail, water and air – infrastructure.

Here’s a quote from Donald Trump, a front-line US presidential contender:

“Look at African countries like Nigeria or Kenya for instance, those people are stealing from their own government and go to invest the money in foreign countries.

From the government to the opposition, they only qualify to be used as a case study whenever bad examples are required.

How do you trust even those who have run away to hide here in the United States, hiding behind education? I hear they abuse me in their blogs but I don’t care because even the internet they are using is ours and we can decide to switch it off from this side.

These are people who import everything including matchsticks.

In my opinion, most of these African countries [like Nigeria] ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance.”

Jonathan Blasts Buhari Over Corruption, Challenges Him

Remember Buhari's comment/tweet during President Goodluck Jonathan's administration about fuel scarcity?

Buhari, who was Jonathan's rival during the presidential elections, condemned the fuel scarcity that hit former President Jonathan's regime as president.

The ex-president has however referred back to that comment, saying;

 Nigeria's productivity is being hindered due to the countless man hours spent on petrol stations today.

Jonathan also condemned Buhari's method of tackling corruption. He said that his strategy for combating corruption is not by indiscriminate arrest and jail of people.

 I stand by due process. Any country that does not respect due process is a jungle,” Mr. Jonathan said.

 They say to be strong is to jail people indiscriminately. For 300 years. Is that where we're going to?”

A student went home with a brand new car from Etisalat at The 2016 edition of etisalat cliqfest held at the federal polytechnic nekede in owerri, Imo state.

Mr Raw Performing at the show...

At the 2016 Edition of Etisalat Cliqfest which took place at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Owerri, Imo State came with alot of suprises as one of Nigerian Igbo rapping Artist Mr Raw, came and killed the show and a student from the school won a Brand New Car from Etisalat.
 See Pics Below....


The Student who won a Car at the 2016 Edition of Etisalat Cliqfest


Students at the Avenue...

Janner sexually abused children for 33 years, public inquiry hears

 Lord Janner is alleged to have committed the offences between 1955 and 1988

Late peer Lord Janner allegedly began sexually abusing children as far back as 1955, a public inquiry has heard.

The peer died in December aged 87, soon after he was found unfit to stand trial over abuse claims, owing to dementia.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was told Lord Janner abused children over a 33-year period, arranging for those "in whom he had a sexual interest" to be brought to the Houses of Parliament.
His family denies the allegations.
The inquiry, chaired by Dame Lowell Goddard, will be the biggest in British history. It is set to last for five years and has a budget of £17.9m for this financial year alone.

Lord Janner's case is one of 13 areas it will initially focus on.
Speaking at the first preliminary hearing, counsel to the inquiry Ben Emmerson QC said: "The allegations in summary are that Greville Janner exploited children and perpetrated a full range of sexual offences against them, including what would now be termed in English law as rape.
"In relation to a number of the complainants it is alleged that Janner abused his position as an MP by arranging for children in whom he had a sexual interest to be brought to the Houses of Parliament."
The offences are alleged to have taken place in children's homes and hotels between 1955 and 1988 - previously the oldest allegations to emerge against him dated back to the late 1960s.
Wednesday's preliminary hearing was told that 17 complainants in the Janner case had been given core participant status in the inquiry, meaning they have the right to make statements, see documents and seek permission to ask questions.
The inquiry has not received an application for core participant status from Lord Janner's family.

The task is vast but critically important

Ben Emmerson QC, Counsel to the inquiry

The hearing also heard submissions about the anonymity of some witnesses, and whether public hearings, due to begin in September, will be televised.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders originally decided the peer should not be charged when the allegations emerged because he was suffering from dementia, but this was overturned by an independent review.
A trial of the facts was due to take place at the Old Bailey, but was dropped when Lord Janner died.
It would have heard evidence from alleged victims, but decided only whether the ex-MP committed the physical acts of abuse - and would not have made a finding of guilt or a conviction.

'Findings of fact'

Referring to the Goddard inquiry as a whole, Mr Emmerson said: "The task is vast but critically important."
He continued: "Allegations of the involvement of politicians in child sexual abuse are reported on the one hand as evidence of a paedophile conspiracy... and on the other as evidence of a modern-day witch-hunt.
"It is the role of this inquiry to move from the realms of rumour and speculation, allegation and counter-allegation, to the assessment of objective facts."
He cited figures indicating that between April 2012 and March 2014 more than 50,000 children were identified as victims of sexual abuse, but said the true number may be as high as 450,000.
"These figures should answer the doubts of anyone who questions the need for this inquiry," the QC said.
As part of her wider inquiry, Dame Lowell, who served as a judge in her native New Zealand, will investigate the way in which public bodies handled child sex abuse claims.
The inquiry is unable to make findings of criminal or civil liability, but Mr Emmerson added: "No-one should be in any doubt that, where the evidence justifies it... the panel will make findings of fact on allegations of child sexual abuse."
He said it "will also need to recognise the damage that can be caused by false accusations of sexual abuse".