Ambode Leads As Top Performing Governor..

An ongoing opinion poll has shown Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to be in the lead as Nigeria’s top performing governor.




The poll being organised by the African Leadership Magazine is to determine Nigeria’s top performing governor.

According to a statement by Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna yesterday, the poll tagged; ‘ Good Governance Polls for Nigeria’s Top Performing Governor, ’ started two weeks ago, with Ambode maintaining the lead with increased 36.1 percent of the total votes cast.

The poll, according to organisers, was designed by the group as part of its strategic engagement tool to monitor performance and gauge the mood of the electorate in Nigeria in line with its objective of providing credible information and support to leaders in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Meantime, at the time of filling this report, voting was ongoing and expected to close in the next four days.

Vanguard

Muslims Pray With Catholics Over Priest's Murder

Muslims attended Catholic mass in churches around France on Sunday in solidarity following the brutal murder of an 85-year-old priest, Father Jacques Hamel by 2 ISIS jihadists. More than 100 Muslims were among the 2,000 people who packed the 11th-century Gothic cathedral of Rouen, near the Normandy town where the priest's throat was slit.

"I thank you in the name of all Christians," Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun told them. "In this way you are affirming that you reject death and violence in the name of God."

A few policemen and soldiers stood guard outside but did not conduct searches on the attendees. The local imam Otaman Aissaoui led a delegation of Muslims to a Catholic mass and said:
"Being united is a response to the act of horror and barbarism."
Notre Dame church in southwestern Bordeaux also welcomed a Muslim delegation, led by the city's top imam, Tareq Oubrou.
"It's an occasion to show (Muslims) that we do not confuse Islam with Islamism, Muslim with jihadist," said Reverend Jean Rouet.
Muslims were responding to a call by the French Muslim council CFCM to show "solidarity and compassion" over the priest's murder on Tuesday.

A woman wearing a beige headscarf who sat in a back pew at a church in central Paris said:
"I'm a practising Muslim and I came to share my sorrow and tell you that we are brothers and sisters." Giving her name only as Sadia, she added softly: "What happened is beyond comprehension."
At the Saint Leger church in the northern city of Lens, around 30 Muslims attended mass wearing T-shirts emblazoned with messages such as, "Terrorism has no religion or identity".

Father Hubert Renard told the congregation: "We are not alone; our Muslim brothers are here too."

Many were moved to tears during the sign of peace, a regular part of the liturgy when the faithful turn to greet each other in the pews, either shaking hands or kissing.

Muslims also attended Catholic masses in Italy, notably at Rome's Santa Maria di Trastevere church, in response to a call by the Sant'Egidio community known for its international mediation efforts.

Also on Sunday, dozens of prominent Muslims published a joint letter pledging: "We, French and Muslim, are ready to assume our responsibilities."


Source: AFP

I Regret Campaigning For Sheriff To Become PDP Chairman And I Have Learnt My Lessons - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said he regrets campaigning for the embattled factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to become the Chairman.

Fayose said:
“I must tell you that I have learnt my lessons from my past experience. I will not openly identify or campaign for a candidate any longer. As part of our great party in Ekiti, I ‘m assuring you that I do not have a personal candidate and God knows I have not spoken to my people about any candidate.
“We will allow God to choose for us this time by ensuring that all aspirants have a level-playing ground.
“I have learnt my lessons on Ali Modu Sheriff and I take full responsibility for the consequences. Imagine, if we have allowed him to get there, with the way he is now behaving, it would have been worse than this.”
Fayose lamented that in regards to the crisis rocking the party, some people were merely paying lip service to reconciliation efforts in the PDP because of selfish interests.

Fayose also condemned those going to court to express their grievances on party matters.

He said:
“Dry bones of the PDP will rise again”. “God will give the PDP a new leader that will reposition the party to progress in the country.
“In Ekiti, we have no anointed candidate; we would come to Port Harcourt with open mind and let God do justice”
Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, who is running for PDP Chairmanship was in Ekiti State at the Jibowu Hall, Government House, soliciting for support. He pleaded with the stakeholders to allow him to serve the party. He assured everyone that he is a great leader, a transformer and a bridge builder, who will promote, protect and project the PDP with growth.



Source: This Day

Nigeria Makes Headway In Securing China's Funding Of Projects

Press statement from the Presidency
Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, at the weekend, in Beijing, made a strong case why the Chinese government should assist Nigeria financially in funding critical major infrastructure projects in the country. Senator Udoma who was in China for the Coordinator’s meeting on the implementation of the follow-up actions of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) also used the opportunity to discuss issues of vital economic interest with that country’s Vice Minister for Commerce, Mr. Qian Keming; and officials of China EXIM bank, where he stressed the mutually beneficial relationship the two countries will eventually enjoy if Nigeria’s economy is assisted to grow rapidly.


At the Johannesburg Summit in South Africa in December 2015, China had agreed to Assist African countries in ten strategic areas that will help their economy. It pledged $60 billion in aid, grants and concessional loans.

Nigeria is trying to get as much of the Chinese funding for projects in the form of grants, aids, investments and loans. The loan component will however be within the country’s debt sustainability limits. Projects proposed for the facility by Nigeria is in the region of about $20 billion, and the Minister said Nigeria will be in a better stead if the Chinese government will assist with a substantial part of the funds required.

During the various meetings, Senator Udoma stressed the need for special consideration for Nigeria given its strategic relationship with China, its economic potentials, and its capacity to redeem its part of the transaction obligations.

The Minister said following the meetings, both countries expressed satisfaction with the proposals and are very anxious to take proceedings to the next level.
During the Cooperation meeting attended by ministers from various countries in Africa, China’s President Xi Jinping said the meeting was an important step taken by China and Africa to implement the consensus of Chinese and Africa leaders and the outcomes of the FOCAC.
“It is a significant measure to boost China-African cooperative development. The meeting demonstrates to the world once again that no matter how the international landscape may change, the resolve of China and Africa to pursue unity and win-win cooperation will never change”, Jinping said.

The President noted that the weak performance of the world economy brings both opportunities and challenges to the economic development of China and Africa. “We must stand shoulder to shoulder and march forward hand in hand,” he admonished.

In his keynote speech, China’s State Councilor, Yang Jiech, explained that his country initiated the meeting at this time “to take stock of the delivery of summit outcomes, to align our thinking, built consensus, overcome challenges and difficulties, share experience and promote cooperation, so that we can pool the wisdom and strength of both sides and give a leg up to the implementation work”.

At the plenary session, China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, was pleased that both China and the African countries have attained a high level of implementation of the outcomes of the summit, have acted promptly to take forward the five pillars and ten plans of cooperation and have made substantial progress in enhancing friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation across board.

He added that China has delivered on its commitments and made every effort to advance follow-up actions.

Akpandem James
Media Adviser to the Hon Minister

Waje's Stunning Look To The Finale Of The Voice Nigeria

For the final episode of the popular show, The Voice judge Waje plunged into leather pants and complemented it with a white jacket. She wore sleekly cut hair with a clean bronzed make up look.
View More pictures below.

Hair: Priscilla Nqoko
Make up and Styling: Artistry By Tolani

Niger Delta Militant Group, MEND, Claims FG Has Agreed To Release NNamdi Kanu, Okah Brothers

Niger Delta Militant group, MEND, has released a statement alleging that the President Buhari-led administration has agreed to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB Nnamdi Kanu and Charles and Henry Okah, suspected masterminds of the 2010 Independence Day bombing in Abuja.

In a statement released by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, MEND said the decision to free the men was reached at a negotiation meeting which was facilitated by former Senate President, Adolphus Nwabara. The statement reads in part ;

“The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region who are presently engaged in a dialogue with the federal government of Nigeria through oil companies and security agencies -with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis. Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and guarantees have already been secured. Some of which include, but are not limited to: release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara. Also, conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a “Biafra Republic,”.
The statement by the group adds that part of the agreement includes the that wanted militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo will not be arrested if he comes out of hiding.

Minister Of Women Affair, Aisha Alhassan, Returns To Taraba State After A Successful Knee Surgery In The US

Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, returned to Taraba state today July 30th after a successful knee surgery in the US. More photos after the cut...

Minister Of Women Affair, Aisha Alhassan, Returns To Taraba State After A Successful Knee Surgery In The US

Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, returned to Taraba state today July 30th after a successful knee surgery in the US. More photos after the cut...

Jailbreak: 13 Prisoners Escape Koton Karfe Prison In Kogi

Photo Of Previous Jailbreak At The Prison

Thirteen inmates escaped in fresh jailbreak recorded at Koton Karfe prison in Kogi in the early hours of Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered from a reliable source that the incident happened at about 7AM when the inmates forcefully brought down the wall of the prison.

The all male prison facility which was inaugurated in 2014 has the capacity to accommodate 180 inmates.

However, NAN gathered that it was accommodating 263 inmates as at the time of the jailbreak, Saturday.

NAN also gathered that one of the escaped inmates was re-arrested almost immediately by security agents.

NAN recalls that this was the third jailbreak recorded in Koton Karfe as the old prison facility witnessed similar jailbreaks in 2010 and 2013.

In previous jailbreaks 132 inmates escaped from the prison and majority were awaiting trials.

It was gathered that Comptroller–General of the Nigeria Prison Service immediately sent a representative to Koton Karfe to assess the situation.

The State’s Controller of Prison, Musa Maza, who would have shed more light on the incident, did not pick several calls made to his mobile telephone line.

Photo Credit: Vanguard

Dele Momodu Honored With A Doctorate Degree By A Ghanaian University

Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu was today honored with a doctorate degree by the University of Professional Studies in Accra, Ghana. Congrats to him. The ceremony was atteneded by his family and the President of Ghana, John Mahama. See more Pictures below...

NFF's President, Pinnick Explains Why He Missed Stephen Keshi's Burial.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has claimed that he missed the burial of former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Keshi, because he was unwell.


Keshi was buried in his home town in Illah, Delta State on Friday, with some key dignitaries from the football house missing.
Pinnick is one of the officials that has come under criticisms, but he insists that he was very involved with the arrangements and only missed the burial because of sickness.

“It’s really sad the way we just use extreme languages. Right from the moment he passed, I have been actively involved greatly,” Pinnick wrote in response to a jibe on Twitter.

“I followed the motorcade from the morgue to the church in Benin. I was at the service throughout. I followed the motorcade to the stadium. I was there again throughout again.
“I did a two and half hour journey to Asaba. I did the entire programme with them. I had a private meeting with the family to reappraise plans.

“I woke the next morning unwell, threw up. On my way to Illah, I was struggling but had to reverse immediately, I got a member to leave Port Harcourt to attend which he did.


“You people should kindly find out the role I and the NFF played from his death to date.”
dailypost reportage.

Ooni Commiserates With Amosun And Remoland Over The Death Of AKARIGBO

The Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi(Ojaja II) has commiserated with  Governor Ibikunle Akogun of Ogun state and good people of Sagamu in Remoland of the state over the demise of His Royal Majesty Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo the Akarigbo Sagamu and paramount ruler of Remoland.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the expression in a statement issued by his Director of Media and Public Affairs Comrade Moses Olafare on Sunday in Accra, Ghana where the monarch was on a four day unity visit invited by President John Mahama

Describing the late king as a true son of Oduduwa who as a dignified monarch within the House of Oduduwa has impactfully served his people with fear of God and respect for culture and customs.

"Kabiyesi, the news of your death came came to us at Ile Oodua in Ife with a rude shock as we will miss you for your love which you had always demonstrated to us throughout your 26year remarkable reign.
You are indeed a man of honour and dignity, a monarch of enviable royalty, God fearing leader and respecter of our culture and tradition. You in spite of your old age led the royal fathers and eminent personalities selected across Remoland to visit me at my Palace in Ile-Ife few months ago. It is a pity that  you didn't wait for our planned reciprocation of the visit.


Rest in peace Your Majesty, we in Ife will miss you and the entire members of Oduduwa race both home and abroad will surely miss you.

Stella Damasus Speaks On Choosing The Right Friends

She shared the above caption on her IG page.

Ijaw Leaders Warn Militants Not To Declare A Republic Of N-Delta

The leaders of Thoughts of Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta region at a meeting in Warri, Delta State, hosted by Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark over the weekend, warned Ijaw militants against their vow to declare a Republic of Niger-Delta.
At the meeting were, Bayelsa state governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, Deputy Governor of Delta state, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, former Minister of Culture, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Brodrick Bozimo.

Also in attendance were former national chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, HRM Pere Charles Ayemi-Botu, Mbene III, Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom, Alabo Tobin-West; Chief Boma Obuoforibo, INC National Chairman, and Sir NGO Martins Martyns-Yellowe, Chairman Civil Service Commission.

The leaders all agreed that what the Ijaw nation wants is true federalism not division.

Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark  said:
“The Elders and Leaders of Thought of the Ijaw nation call for the immediate restructuring of the Nigerian nation along the lines of peaceful federalism, and noticed that this is the panacea for the sustainable development of Nigeria.”


Source: Vanguard

Fayose Says He Is The Voice Of The Common Man In Nigeria..

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has warned that any government that attempts to go against him will fall.



Fayose’s threat was contained in a video wherein he also criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
According to him, “Poor man is suffering under the watch of Buhari. You are fighting corruption, people are hungry, is it only corruption you have come to fight? People will not eat again.

“In our history, how can you increase fuel from 86 to N145? That is a very wicked government.”
Declaring amid cheers from supporters, Fayose said, “No amount of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth, I am the voice of the common man in Nigeria.
“I want to assure you, even if they are ten thousand, the Lord will raise a standard against them. Any government that rises against me, that government will fall. Mark my words, whatever I say shall come to pass. Every government, irrespective of their names, that rises against me shall fall for my sake.
“My people, they said somebody bought two houses in Dubai, because he is APC, he is a saint. Somebody gave the president 1.5bn for campaign (from our state), because he is in APC, he is a saint.

“I might look small, their camp may be populated by giants, I might appear little, their camp might be populated with giants, but the only stone of David killed Goliath.

“There are two things that make a man to be afraid; incarceration and death, I am not afraid of the two because the Lord that protects me liveth forever. Fear not, these Egyptians we see today we shall see them no more,” he added