Miracle Ikechukwu has won the 2018 edition of Africa’s Reality TV Show, Big Brother Naija themed “Double Wahala.”
Miracle who is a student polled 38% of the final votes to clinch the N45 million worth of prizes.
Chyntia Nwadiora popularly known as Cee-C who was criticised throughout the show for her character in the house came second while Tobi was the 1st Runner Up.
The duo of Alex and Nina came 4th and 5th respectively.
20 housemates started the game when it kicked off on January 27, 2018.
The Chairman, Mr. Abbah Yaro, of the APC Benue has declaimed the political incident that claimed lives at the party’s Benue South Senatorial caucus meeting, held in Otukpo, headquarters of the senatorial district, on Friday.
At least three members were allegedly killed while several others were injured during the meeting.
He said, “I heard about the killings. The incident did not happen at the venue of the meeting or at the zonal party secretariat. The crisis started from Thursday. I heard that boys were moving from street to street, killing people.
It was gathered that a fight broke out during the meeting between some men believed to be loyal to the current chairman of the party in the state and a member of the House of Representatives from the senatorial district.
The federal lawmaker was said to have declared his ambition to contest the Benue South senatorial ticket on the occasion.
It was further learnt that the fracas resulted in the death of three persons, including a pastor, (names witheld) while several other party faithful sustained injuries.
Yaro said the fight did not emanate from the meeting, adding that the zonal meeting went on smoothly and ended successfully.
He explained that despite the plans by some members of the party from Benue South Senatorial district to disrupt the meeting, everything went well.
He said, “Some people in my senatorial zone do not want me back as the state chairman of the party even when the entire zonal leadership of the party in the state has endorsed me for a second term.
“Some people, who just defected from the PDP to the APC, are fighting me and they are the cause of Friday’s mayhem.
“However, what I gathered is that the fight that led to the death of the three people, started in one of the streets of Otukpo, a day before the zonal meeting was held and l was not there.”
The Director of Publicity of the party in the state, Apeh Peter, alleged that the fight that led to the demise of the people might have been instigated by a federal lawmaker who wanted to contest the Benue South Senatorial district.
He said, “I heard about the killings. The incident did not happen at the venue of the meeting or at the zonal party secretariat. The crisis started from Thursday. I heard that boys were moving from street to street, killing people.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Nya Asuquo, has declared his intention to contest the governorship seat in the 2019 election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State.
Asuquo said he would contest the election because the current leadership in the state had failed, adding that the state had become less productive because of poor governance.
The 70-year-old envoy, who is the head of the Ikot-Offiong clan in the Odukpani Local Government Area, said he would support any youth that provides a better programme to run the state.
He said, “I am entering the race because the current leadership has failed. Cross Riverians are seen to be less productive because of visionless leadership that has refused to look for the treasures hidden in their backyards. They have resorted to depending on federal allocation.
“If a youthful candidate comes out today with a good programme, I will support him. We have had young people at the helm in the state.”
The ambassador, who is from the southern senatorial district, said the current zoning structure, which favours the northern senatorial district, should not be applicable in the 2019 election.
He also said with the current game plan, some leaders in the APC were planning to ensure that the governorship and chairmanship slots were given to the central senatorial district, adding that such would breed anarchy.
He added, “At every time there was a contest for governor, there were contenders from every zone and same thing for chairmanship position. In other words, there was no zoning in the state.
“However, zoning was defeated in APC in the last election. It was said that if the governor is coming from the North, the chairman of the party should come from the South. But suddenly the drum player in Rivers State gave the governorship to the North and the chairmanship to central. We have been saddled with that problem till date.”
Source: Punch
Mohamed Salah scored his 31st Premier League goal, equalling the record for the most goals in a 38-game season in the history of the competition, but a late strike from Salomon Rondon helped bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion come from behind to draw 2-2 against Liverpool on Saturday at The Hawthorns.
Salah, who has scored in his last six games in all competitions, scored Liverpool’s second goal in the 72nd minute with a left-footed chip over goalkeeper Ben Foster after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put him through.
The favourite to be named the PFA Player of the Year on Sunday, Salah equalled the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Alan Shearer — and he has three games remaining in which he can break it.
Danny Ings opened the scoring in the first minute with his first Premier League goal in more than two years. Sadio Mane, from a corner, fired a low cross into the centre of the box to Georginio Wijnaldum, and although the midfielder couldn’t control it, Ings pounced and slotted it left-footed past Foster.
Ings, who missed much of the past two seasons with injuries to both of his knees, made only his first start under manager Jurgen Klopp in the Merseyside derby two weeks ago. His last goal came in a 1-1 draw at Everton on Oct. 4, 2015.
He even nearly scored a second after Salah took the ball into the area in the 42nd minute and a tackle diverted the ball to Ings, with Foster saving low from close range.
West Brom pulled one back in the 79th minute behind Jake Livermore, who scored his first goal for the club since a move from Hull City in January 2017. Chris Brunt fired a corner into the mixer, and although Loris Karius turned aside Craig Dawson’s volley, Livermore finished on the second attempt.
And the club, who knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in the fourth round in January, equalised in the 88th minute after Rondon scored from a diving header directly from a free kick by Brunt.
Liverpool made five changes, as Roberto Firmino, Dejan Lovren, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson all started on the bench with Klopp eyeing the first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Roma on Tuesday.
Firmino replaced Ings and Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for Mane in the 66th minute, and Loven was subbed on for Salah in the 84th.
And West Brom, unbeaten since caretaker manager Darren Moore was appointed to replace Alan Pardew on April 2, made no changes following the shock defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford a week ago that handed Manchester City the title.
Liverpool have not fallen to their opponents in the league since Feb. 11, 2013.
I was going to call this: ‘Politicians Say the Darndest Things’ based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s reported comments that he wasn’t thinking about politics but focused on security and the economy. The article was coming along nicely. I had managed to convince or intimidate those who refuse to be convinced that the President was speaking the truth, that there was no doubt his entire focus is on the economy and security. Contrary to what some naysayers would have us believe, Nigeria is reaping bountifully from these concerted efforts on economy and security.
Then the news broke that suspended APC Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, (representing Delta Central Senatorial District) had invaded the National Assembly with or without the help of thugs and taken the mace. The videos as seen in all the TV stations do show the man walking towards the mace flanked by people who looked like thugs. Then, the magic happened. However, I like that Senator Shehu Sani managed to convince his colleagues to continue sitting, first offering his belt until the spare mace was brought in.
As someone who lived in Lagos for 17 years, if anyone introduced themselves to me as Omo Agege, I’ll be a little wary of that person. It’s like being called Omo jaguda. Apologies to all the decent and law-abiding people of Agege. Now, I haven’t been to Agege in a few years; so, I’m just going with my pre-2005 Agege, where life was rugged and there were quite a few colourful characters from that part of Lagos.
What’s in a name, you ask? Well, it so happens that Ovie Omo-Agege has become extra famous. I imagine before now, he must have attracted some attention because of things like Agege bread, etc. Have you seen the memes? The man has been nicknamed The Mace Runner. This is a tailor-made Nollywood film with Mr. Ibu as lead. Just imagine Mr. Ibu running with the mace, certified blockbuster, I tell you.
Some witty person online has even managed to change the slang “Warri No Dey Carry Last” to “Warri No Dey Carry Last, Na Mace Dem Dey Carry.”
…Politicians Still Say the Darndest Things
The brouhaha from the alleged Omo-Agege stunt had hardly died down when our president released another quotable quote while addressing the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the UK: “More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30. A lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country; therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, health care, education for free.”
To tell you the truth, I have no words or the now popular phrase: I can’t deal. The best reaction has to be cartoonist, Mike Asukwo’s: “If wishes were power bikes, every jobless Nigerian youth would ride.” You can laugh/cry, if you get the joke.
President Buhari was only keeping to his modus operandi whenever he travels outside of Nigeria. It’s like something in the air abroad, the 24-hour electricity, the Boko Haram-free environment, or the absence of herdsmen. There’s something. I don’t believe it’s just because he was far from his handlers. Not to mention the fact that some of these handlers have called Nigerians worse names.
Romelu Lukaku believes the current Manchester United squad can win next season’s Premier League, blaming a lack of consistency rather than quality for their inability to challenge Manchester City this season.
Jose Mourinho’s men are on course to finish second in the Premier League after last season’s sixth-place finish — their highest position since Alex Ferguson bowed out as a champion in 2013.
But there is a huge gap between United and swashbuckling Premier League champions City, who sealed the title with five games to spare thanks to United’s shock home loss to beleaguered West Brom last week.
Lukaku believes the West Brom defeat is the kind of result that has cost his team but is confident the club has the strength in depth to win the title next season, even without the inevitable summer investment.
“I’m really confident in my team-mates,” he said. “I think we can do it with the team we have now but we should have showed more consistency throughout the season.
“For us now it is up to us to be more consistent and the manager needs to see if he has to add more players but with the players we have now, I think we have enough.”
United have proven their mettle by winning important games against other top sides in recent weeks, including coming from behind against Tottenham on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final.
But Lukaku, signed from Everton last year, is ultimately eyeing the Premier League title.
“Winning the FA Cup would be nice but I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to end the season well, hopefully take second and that will prepare us really well for the final.”
AFP
The Ekiti People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Delegates congress faced crisis on Saturday leading to an attack on a former Chairman of Ikere Local Gvernment, Mr. Mr Banji Aluko.
Aluko was beaten up by persons suspected to be political thugs over allegation that he was working against ‘Ikere Agenda’, fashioned by Gov. Ayo Fayose in support of his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola.
Aluko , who led a group of youth to the secretariat of the party to register his protest over alleged subversion of the opposition’s will, was chased away from the congress.
The supporter of former works minister, Mr, Dayo Adeyeye, was beaten with canes and cudgels and his sparkling apparel heavily stained.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye said Aluko accused the Deputy governor and a member of the House of Assembly representing Ikere constituency 1, Mr. Wale Ayeni, as the masterminds of the attack.
“Our group won election at Ogbonjana ward 7 and we were rejoicing only for these thugs to pounce on me and started beating me.
“I have reported the case to the police and proper action will be taken against the sponsors,” he added.
The fragile peace brokered recently in the party broke down as the political gladiators squared up in virtually all the 177 wards, where elected delegates were expected to emerge, preparatory for the May 8 governorship primary.
The major gladiators are Governor Fayose; former Minister of Works, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye and Senator representing Ekiti south, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi.
They engaged in battle of wits in the delegates’ election.
While Fayose is backing his deputy, Olusola to succeed him in the July 14 governorship poll, the duo of Adeyeye and Olujimi were also contesting the same seat.
Adeyeye described the congress as a charade, calling for outright cancellation of the exercise to prevent anarchy.
Adeyeye said the election was “brazenly manipulated” in all the 177 wards , accusing the leaders of PDP Ad hoc committees sent to the 16 local governments of diverting the materials meant for the election.
Former Senate President, David Mark , led other top hierarchy of the party to conduct the congress.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus and members of the National Working Committee, as well as Senator Mark, were in Ado Ekiti last Wednesday to mediate between the opposing camps.
Tension was particularly high in Ikere Ekiti, hometown of the Fayose’s deputy , as factions fought over the control of the Ikere local government delegates in all the eleven wards in the council.
Adeyeye, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Niyi Ojo, said: “There was no election anywhere in the state. Those loyal to Fayose sat somewhere and wrote the list of delegates.
“What really marvelled us was that the committees sent by the national headquarters to conduct the election didn’t go to the wards, they
diverted,” he alleged (NAN)
China’s ZTE Corp said on Friday that a U.S. ban on the sale of parts and software to the company was unfair and threatens its survival.
However, the company vowed to safeguard its interests through all legal means.
The United States this week imposed a ban on sales by American companies to ZTE for seven years, saying the Chinese company had broken a settlement agreement with repeated false statements – a move that threatens to cut off its supply chain.
“It is unacceptable that BIS insists on unfairly imposing the most severe penalty on ZTE even before the completion of investigation of facts,” ZTE said in its first response since the ban was announced, referring to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
“The Denial Order will not only severely impact the survival and development of ZTE, but will also cause damages to all partners of ZTE including a large number of U.S. companies,” ZTE said in a statement.
ZTE said it regards compliance as the cornerstone of its strategy, adding it invested $50 million in export control compliance projects in 2017 and plans to invest more this year.
A senior U.S. Commerce Department official told Reuters earlier this week that it is unlikely to lift the ban.
“We’re going to have to see how this unfolds. But there is no provision currently for that to occur,” the official said, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The Commerce Department has an appeals process for companies to try to get off the list, but it is unclear whether that would be available to ZTE because the case had been previously subject to a settlement, according to people familiar with the matter.
Even so, ZTE would have little recourse in the near term because appeals would have to pp
A state-backed Chinese trade body said the ZTE case represented a “milestone” for China Inc and highlighted compliance risks its corporate sector is facing.
It urged the Chinese government to speed up implementation of national guidelines on corporate oversight, and go through informal channels and seek leniency with U.S. Congress members to resolve the ZTE case.
TRADE WAR
The ban has ratcheted up tensions between China and the United States at a time when they have already threatened each other with tens of billions of dollars in tariffs, fanning worries of a full-blown trade war.
In China, there has been a patriotic backlash with an outpouring of support for ZTE on social media and most domestic newspapers have chosen to put the lion’s share of the blame for ZTE’s troubles on the country’s heavy reliance on foreign semiconductors.
ZTE chairman Yin Yimin told domestic media on Friday at its Shenzhen headquarters that the firm would increase research and development as “relying on oneself is better than relying on others,” state media Xinhua reported.
E-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N) said on Friday it had acquired a Chinese chipmaker that it said underlines its commitment to driving the development of the chip industry.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government is considering using an emergency law to restrict Chinese investments in sensitive U.S. technologies, a senior Treasury official said on Thursday.
Trade in ZTE shares has been suspended since Tuesday. As of Monday’s close, they were worth some $19 billion.
The Cameroonian authorities have banned mining operations of three Chinese companies for non-compliant with contractual terms.
Cameroon’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Technological Development said on Saturday.
The companies, Hong Kong, Peace Mining and Lu, and Lang, the ministry said would no longer perform gold panning activities in the region of East-Cameroon.
The government ordered the companies to leave Cameroon.
It appeared from the statement that Hong Kong company did not have documents authorizing it to carry out mining activities.
As for the Peace Mining and Lu and Lang companies, their departure is linked to a series of conflicts recorded between their employees and local populations which have resulted in deaths, in addition to the non-respect of the environment, according to the statement.
These companies reportedly contributed significantly to the degradation of the environment through the diversion of rivers, and obstruction of rivers by mud, which has had a negative impact on agriculture and livestock.
According to some NGOs, the gold exploitation activities in Cameroon of Chinese companies had caused the death of 34 people in 2017.
Besides, just for the first three months of the current year, several people have died as a result of landslides and land erosion.
Source: APA
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after his visit to the United Kingdom– British relations and also participated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting ( CHOGM).
The President on April 9 left Abuja for London after he announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2019 general election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential aircraft which left London at about 1p.m.(Nigerian time), landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 7.10p.m.
President Buhari was received at the airport by service chiefs, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammed Bello and Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari.
Others at the airport to welcome the president included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and other presidential aides.
While in London President Buhari on April 16 held bilateral talks with British Prime Minister, Theresa May, where he asked for more British investments in Nigeria.
Buhari commended British companies; Unilever, Cadbury, and many others.
The President noted that the companies had stood with Nigeria through thick and thin. He said they remained in Nigeria even when the country fought a civil war.
“But like Oliver Twist, we ask for more investments. We are encouraging more British companies to come to Nigeria.
“We appreciate the support you have given in training and equipping our military, particularly in the war against insurgency, but we want to also continue to work with you on trade and investment.’’
Buhari also briefed the Prime Minister on the strides in agriculture, which he said had put Nigeria firmly on the road to food self-sufficiency.
“I am very pleased with the successes in agriculture. We have cut rice importation by about 90 per cent, made lots of savings of foreign exchange, and generated employment.
“People had rushed to the cities to get oil money at the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals are going back to the land.
“We are making steady progress on the road to food security,’’ he said.
The President recalled that the All Progressives Congress-led government had campaigned on three major issues, to secure the country, revive the economy and fight corruption.
According to him, as the 2019 general election approaches, politicians are already pre-occupied with the polls, while he is bothered more about security and the economy.
“We have elections next year, politicians are already pre-occupied with the polls, but I am bothered more about security and the economy,’’ he stressed.
Prime Minister May, in her remarks, said Britain would continue to work with Nigeria in the areas of training and equipping the military.
She also said that her country would continue to assist Nigeria on the rehabilitation of abducted schoolgirls freed from by Boko Haram.
On April 18 President Buhari delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum at Guildhall, London, where he enjoined leaders of the Commonwealth to avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order.
The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) with the theme, “Making Business Easier between Commonwealth Countries”, was part of events at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting, CHOGM- 25.
President Buhari said: “If we are to make business easier between our countries and going beyond the Commonwealth, we must avoid trade wars and work collectively to preserve the global trading order, support regional initiatives as well as support domestic structural reforms that focus on the priorities of individual countries.”
He reiterated his belief in wealth creation and employment opportunities within the Commonwealth.
President Buhari called on the members of the Commonwealth Business Forum and prospective investors to participate in the 2018 “UK/Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum” at the London Stock Exchange.
The President also met with the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners’ plan to invest $15b in Nigeria’s oil industry.
NAN observed that no statement was issued on the outcome of the meeting which was held behind closed doors.
However, an earlier statement in Abuja by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the Shell investment ventures would lay “the foundation for the next 20 years production and domestic gas supply, bringing with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.’’
President Buhari also met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in London.
Archbishop Welby said it was always a delight to see President Buhari, “whom I have tremendous respect for.’’
“You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I read your declaration speech.
“We are neutral as a church, but we will pray for you. Great statesmen are those who run for the good of their country. We will be praying for you.”
The Archbishop presented President Buhari with a copy of his recent book, ‘Reimagining Britain. Foundations for Hope.
President Buhari on April 15 received members of the Buhari Diaspora Support Organisation, led by Mr Charles Sylvester. He reassured the group that his administration would always justify the trust and confidence reposed in it by Nigerians.
He said:“We will do our best to justify your trust in us, and that confidence won’t be abused.
“I am happy that people like you are here on your own, defending the country. You have shown courage and sacrifice.
“I assure you that your confidence in us won’t be abused, we will do our best to justify it.”
President Buhari also said that Nigeria was gifted with tremendous human and natural resources, but regretted that “the failure of some of the leadership we had in the past led to our not being able to capitalise on resources to improve the lot of the people.”
The President said his administration has not done too badly benchmarked against the state of the nation in 2015.
He explained that government was doing its best to recover looted funds, noting, however that it was impossible to identify and recover all the loots.
NAN reports that the president’s visit to London witnessed various rallies in support of his administration.
On April 20 some Nigerians converged in front of the Nigerian High Commission in London, to rally in support of the APC-led Federal Government.
“The President is resetting the country on the path of growth and development,’’ said Mr. Stephen Kifordu, from Delta State, the leader of the group.
According to him, there is no credible alternative to Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 election, noting that the group represents the aspiration of many Nigerians who want progress for Nigeria.
Kifordu said “Nigeria is attractive to investors because of Buhari’s fight against corruption in the country.’’
He claimed that the previous administration gave room for rot and corrupt activities.
“We have a President in Nigeria that people can look at and trust that “If I invest in Nigeria, my investment will not be stolen.
“When we talk of security, he has done security in terms of Boko Haram and in terms of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Explaining further how President Buhari is ‘resetting’ the country, Kifordu said “it is the primary role of the police and not the military to protect Nigerian citizens and President Buhari is enforcing this.
“The Police is the number one organisation that takes care of our security. It is only when we are under attack that the military comes in.
“In past years, we have seen the issue when the military jumps on board without paying regard to the police. Then suddenly when something happens in Nigeria, Mr President says deploy the police, people are saying don’t deploy the police.
“President Buhari is resetting our country. He is bringing us back to the way things should be.”
This support rally came 24 hours after a group bearing Biafran flags staged a protest in front of the Commonwealth House in Westminister, London.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind has signed an ordinance that allows stringent punishments for sexual violence against children, including the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years.
The Indian government had passed the ordinance on Saturday, facing public anger over recent cases of rape of young girls.
An 8-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered in the state of Jammu and Kashmir while in Uttar Pradesh a 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by a ruling party lawmaker, triggering nationwide outrage and protests.
The ordinance was signed into law by President Kovind and an official notification to the effect was published on the government gazette on Sunday. It will be valid for six months, during which it has to be ratified by the parliament.
The new law introduces the maximum punishment of the death penalty for those who rape children under 12 years. Under the earlier law, the maximum punishment for child rape was life in prison. The minimum punishment is a 20-year jail term or life imprisonment.
Minimum prison sentences for rape against girls under the age of 16 and women have also been raised. The government has also laid down measures for speedy investigation of rape, stipulating that probes have to be completed within two months.
Several thousand people joined rallies and demonstrations in India in the recent days, protesting the cases of rape of young girls. Four more rapes and murders of young girls were reported from Indian cities last week adding to the public anger.
DPA
