Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be the name of its next operating system.




The choice is a surprise bearing in mind it represents a jump from the last version - Windows 8.



The software will run on a wide range of devices from smartphones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store.




The firm said it would be compatible with existing IT management systems to aid adoption.



Windows 8 has been criticised for the way it attempted to provide user interfaces that suited both
touchscreen and mouse-and keyboard controls.




Businesses typically wait about a year after a new operating system's release before offering it to workers to give IT staff a chance to get to grips with the new technologies involved.




But it has been nearly two years since Windows 8 first went on sale and adoption is still low.



"It's extremely important for Microsoft to get Windows 10 right," said David Johnson, who covers Microsoft for the consultancy Forrester.



"Windows 8 is only being offered to employees by about one in five organisations right now. Windows 7
is still the de facto standard for enterprise in the desktop environment.




"For Microsoft to continue to be able to get the best and latest technology in the hands of the enterprise workforce all over the world, it has to have a vehicle to do that - and Windows 9 is its best shot."





Across desktop PCs as a whole, only 13.4% currently run Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, according to research firm NetMarketshare.




By contrast, it says 51.2% are powered by Windows 7 and 23.9% by Windows XP, a version that is no longer supported by Microsoft.

The nomination list for Headies 2014 is out, and most of your favorites like Wizkid, Davido, Donjazzy,Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Niyola and more made the list.


BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR


IYAWO MI- TIMI DAKOLO

LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU- 2FACE IDIBIA

ALWAYS ON MY MIND – NOSA

ORDINARY PEOPLE – COHBAMS ASUQUO

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR


DON JAZZY – DOROBUCCI

PHEELZ – ELEDA MI O

T SPIZE – AYE

LEGENDURY BEATZ – CARO

SHIZZY – SKELEWU

DEL B – PULL OVER


BEST MUSIC VIDEO

ADA ADA BY FLAVOUR – CLARENCE PETERS

TOH BAD BY NIYOLA – KEMI ADETIBA

JUST LIKE THAT BY RAYCE – AJE

OYA NOW BY JOE EL FT. ORITSE FEMI –UNLIMITED LA

PERSONALLY BY P-SQUARE – JUDE "ENGEES" OKOYE & CLARENCE PETERS

BEST R&B/POP ALBUM


THE JOURNEY – SEAN TIZZLE

TAKEOVER – KCEE

ONCE UPON A TIME – TIWA SAVAGE

ME, MY MOUTH & EYE – SOUND SULTAN

L.I.F.E – BURNA BOY


BEST R&B SINGLE

LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU- 2FACE IDIBIA

IYAWO MI- TIMI DAKOLO

PLAN B – WANDE COAL

DON GORDON – BURNA BOY

BEST POP SINGLE

DOROBUCCI – MAVIN CREW

AYE – DAVIDO

JOHNNY – YEMI ALADE

PULL OVER – KCEE

DOUBLE WAHALA – ORITSE FEMI

CARO – STAR BOY FEATURING WIZKID AND L.A.X

SURULERE – DR. SID

BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE


GIRLIE O REMIX – PATORANKING


LEAD ME ON – CYNTHIA MORGAN

STINKING SH#T – CHOPSTIX FEATURING ICE PRINCE, YUNG L AND ENDIA.


BAD GIRL – JESSE JAGZ FT. WIZKID


MURDA – SEYI SHAY FT. PATORANKING & SHAYDEE


BEST RAP ALBUM

NO GUTS NO GLORY – PHYNO

ALAGA IBILE- REMINISCE

BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH – OLAMIDE

THY NATION COME – JESSE JAGZ


BEST COLLABO


OYA NOW – JOE EL FT. ORITSE FEMI


EMERGENCY – WIZZY PRO FEATURING SKALES, PATORANKING AND RUNTOWN


SURULERE – DR. SID & DON JAZZY


PASS YOU BY – BLACK MAGIC FT. ORITSE FEMI


GIRLIE O REMIX – PATORANKING


DOROBUCCI – MAVINS


BEST RAP SINGLE

PARCEL- PHYNO


DOPE MONEY – OLAMIDE FT. PHYNO


SHOTZ ON SHOTS – ICE PRINCE FT. SARKODIE


RAP IT UP – POSLY TD


DEAF – EVA ALORDIAH


WTF – ILL BLISS


BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)


IYAWO MI – TIMI DAKOLO


DOUBLE WAHALA – ORITSE FEMI


WHY YOU LOVE ME – NOSA


ORDINARY PEOPLE – COBHAMS


BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)


LOVE TO LOVE YOU – NIYOLA FT. BANKYW


WANTED – TIWA SAVAGE


WINDOW – MONICA OGAH


GOOD MAN – RUBY

NEXT RATED

PATORANKING

RUNTOWN

OREZI

SKALES

YEMI ALADE

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION

TIWA SAVAGE – ONCE UPON A TIME

SEAN TIZZLE – THE JOURNEY

BURNA BOY – L.I.F.E

KCEE – TAKE OVER

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

SHOTS ON SHOTS – ICE PRINCE

RAP IT UP – POSLY TD

GOD ON THE MIC – JESSE JAGZ
KPANSH – YUNG 6IX

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

DOUBLE WAHALA – ORITSE FEMI

SHOKI – LIL' KESH FT. OLAMIDE & DAVIDO

DOROBUCCI – MAVIN

ALOBAM – PHYNO

BEST 'ALTERNATIVE' SONG


BOLAJI – BOJ

BODY- BLACK MAGIC FEATURING BANKY W

GOOD MAN – RUBY

WHY YOU LOVE YOU – NOSA

ALBUM OF THE YEAR


THE JOURNEY – SEAN TIZZLE
L.I.F.E – BURNA BOY


BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH – OLAMIDE


NO GUTS NO GLORY – PHYNO

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR


DAVIDO

WIZKID

KCEE

TIWA SAVAGE

OLAMIDE

PHYNO

FLAVOUR

SONG OF THE YEAR


AYE – DAVIDO

PULL OVER – KCEE

DOUBLE WAHALA – ORITSEFEMI

SURULERE – DR. SID

DOROBUCCI – MAVINS

JOHNNY – YEMI ALADE

BEST AFRICAN ARTISTE

MAFIKIZOLO

SARKODIE

DIAMONDZ

R2BEES

HALL OF FAME

Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry.

SIR (DR.) VICTOR UWAIFO

The Chairman of Delta State Football Association, Amaju Pinnick, has been elected president of the Nigeria Football Federation.



He won 32 votes to edge out his nearest challenger, Dominic Iorfa, who polled eight votes.




The former secretary general of the federation, Taiwo Ogunjobi, got four votes.




Pinnick will administer Nigerian football for the next four years.

The Inspector-General of Police, Acting IGP Suleiman Abba, CFR, NPM, NPOM, mni, has decentralized the issuance of tinted glass permit.


He has delegated the power to
Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands so as to bring service closer to the people.




Such permits have the same authority as those previously issued by Force Headquarters and are valid throughout the Federation.





Applicants have to get their vehicles examined to ascertain the tinted glasses are factory fitted.


The Police is your helper and friend.









Ag. CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU, psc
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA

Read full details below:




Dear fellow bloggers, pls i need your
help…..A musician called Jahborne is trying to sue me for N250 million because I exposed that he sold his jeep on olx and was experiencing financial struggle…..pls can you help me post the story below on your blogs. I am trying to generate enough publicity to deter him from pushing the suit. Help a fellow brother in blogging and your help will not be forgotten…naijapals have already helped me to post it on their sites…..pls help me and i wont forget it …ever!…Thanks to you all!





Continue reading below :




The whole kwanta started when I posted a story on my blog, dondumex.com, that Jahborne had put up his dodge nitro jeep for sale on olx.com, how did I know? I am starting a small business of reselling cars and I was on olx to find some cheap vehicles I could get buyers for when I spotted the ride, I knew I had seen the ride somewhere online and it belonged to a celeb(jahborne), So I quickly searched and I saw a pic of the jeep jahborne tweeted in 2013 when he had an accident and I checked the plate numbers and they matched.

He claims I concocted the whole thing, do I know his house that I would go and take all those pics of the jeep?

If he is ready to go to court then I'll take him head-on!

Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote has defended his lifestyle by claiming there is nothing unusual about having two wives and a mistress.


Tiote, who earns £45,000-a-week at Premier League outfit Newcastle United, reportedly wed Laeticia Doukrou in a traditional ceremony this month, despite already being married to first wife Madah, 25.

The 28-year-old, who currently lives with Madah and their two children in a £1.5million mansion in Ponteland near Newcastle, also has a one-year-old child with mistress Nikki
Mpofu.

His agent has confirmed reports he has married for a second time.


Jean Musampa said: 'I can say that he did get married and that it is his second marriage.

'This is nothing unusual. He is a Muslim.'


The footballer, who can have four wives under Islamic law, is also said to have insisted to friends that having several partners is commonplace in his native Ivory Coast.


A source told The Sun: 'He doesn't see a problem with having two wives.

'It's perfectly acceptable in his culture. He doesn't see he has done anything wrong and doesn't know what the fuss is all about.'

It is reported that his 33-year-old
Zimbabwean mistress Ms Mpofu recently ended her three-year affair with the footballer after he allegedly promised to make her his wife.

The Sun reported that she was 'comfortable' with him being married but decided to call the relationship off because he 'used me like a mop'.


She was pictured earlier this week leaving a Waitrose store in Ponteland, Newcastle, with her and Tiote's son Rafael.

Tiote was spotted a day earlier leaving his home in the same village with his first wife Madah, who is said to have forgiven him for marrying another woman.

Newcastle United were not available for comment.


Tiote received interest from Lokomotiv Moscow during the summer and was thought to be keen on a move to Russia.

He remained on Tyneside after Lokomotiv failed to make an acceptable offer but his contract is set to expire in 2016.

In October 2013 Tiote was lucky to avoid prison after admitting to possessing a fake driving licence, for which he was given a seven-month suspended sentence and 180 hours of unpaid community work.

Judge James Goss said Tiote, 27, avoided jail only because he pleaded guilty and added: 'I have no doubt that, using your considerable talent, you will be able to assist others in the community by encouraging them and passing on your skills that way.'

The Ivorian had to be called back to court after prosecutors forgot he should have been banned from driving after accumulating 12 points.

New reports surfacing online allege that actress Ini Edo's marriage has crashed.



Ini Edo, who got married to her American based business man, Phillip in 2008, allegedly walked out of the marriage weeks ago following accusations of domestic violence and cheating.




"I am sorry to break your hearts but what must be told must be told. This report is authentic and you can take it to the Bank.
"A close friend of the actress squealed that the marriage broke down due to very strong allegations of 'serial cheating with evidence' but that the couple who are pretending to still be in talking terms might cite irreconcilable differences.

"The source alleged that Phillips Ehiagwina demanded to have back the bride price he paid to marry Ini Edo and his wishes were granted by her people", Celebrity Blogger Stella Dimokokorkus reported.


The actress is currently in Makurdi, Benue State shooting a movie.

Manchester United are thinking about playing midweek friendlies abroad, says one of the club's directors.



With no Champions League football this season, United's managing director Richard Arnold says lucrative fixtures overseas are something the club will "continue to look at".



The club's early Capital One Cup exit has reduced the number of midweek games they will play still further.



And they are set to play only three more midweek Premier League fixtures.


United won the Champions League as recently as 2008, but their seventh-place finish last season under subsequently sacked manager David Moyes meant they missed out on European club football's premier
competition for the first time in 19 years this season.






More than 100,000 fans watched United's 3-1 win over Real Madrid in Michigan this summer during the
side's pre-season tour of the United States.




And Arnold believes manager Louis van Gaal would be receptive to similar fixtures during the Premier
League campaign.



"We have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I'm very appreciative of the support we have had from him," Arnold said.


"For many years of our [pre-season] international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that team building that goes together with getting the team all together in one place.



"That's something that's being looked at with regards to the future."



Meanwhile, United striker Robin van Persie says Van Gaal is installing a Dutch mentality on the squad's meetings.



"It's very demanding in a good way as you have to be focused every single day of the sessions or the meeting," Van Persie says.


"You have to give your own input, which is what the staff likes.
That's a bit of the Dutch thing."

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday for the
first time spoke on the controversial $9.3m cash allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two
Nigerians and an Israeli using his private jet.


The money which has been confiscated by a South African court was meant for the purchase
of arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Services.


This is just as the #BringBackOurGirls# campaign group, has said it will soon drag the
CAN president and the Federal Government to court over the money.

Following the use of his aircraft to convey the money which was not declared in South Africa until immigration officials discovered it, the CAN president was linked to the arms deal with critics condemning his role in the arms deal.

Explaining his own side of the story yesterday, at an emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council, NEC, of CAN in Abuja, Pastor Oritsejafor denied any involvement or knowledge of the deal to buy arms in South Africa, noting that enemies of Christians were fuelling the division of CAN.


He said: "The media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction. So far I have refrained from making any direct public statement pending the time that I would have briefed the leaders of the church and explained my position on the issues to them.

"I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. Permit me to thank everyone who stood by me these past days by ways of prayers, as well as strongly defending me even though I have not undertaken any public defence of myself.

"I am particularly appreciative of the valuable support of the Catholic Church in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media. I wish to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the Church.

The aircraft is mine — CAN president


"At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine.

"The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners world wide at the 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry. May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage.


"With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the Jet was presented to me and this has been construed to imply that it was a gift from the President of the country.

"The President of Nigeria has nothing to do with the gift of the aircraft. By the way, I still wonder
why all those saying this, still cannot come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all. Let me say that this might be an issue of the court in the near future.


"In order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria.


"Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee
that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me.


War against the Church


"In as much as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian Church.
This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the Church.


"It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the Church. The media hype and the deliberate
distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the Church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand.

"As Christians, we need unity in the Church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country while Christian infrastructure is being destroyed in
hundreds.

"If we permit the enemy to divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened.

"Distinguished leaders of the Church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, I am not a
party to the movement of $9.3 million from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it.

"Let me make a passionate appeal to our heads of blocks, heads of denominations and Christian leaders at different levels and spheres of
influence to please use your good offices to caution and control your subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further polarise the Church and strengthen the arms of the enemies of the church.

"If I offend you or you offend me, instead of talking to media, let us talk to each other within the house of God."

Another set of 60 soldiers are to be arraigned before a General Court Martial by military authorities in Abuja on Tuesday (today) for mutiny.

The soldiers allegedly committed mutiny on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join troops in Maiduguri for "an operation."


Their arraignment which is to take place at the Sani Abacha Barracks in Abuja comes as It was also gathered on Monday that some of the 12 soldiers convicted on September 15, 2014 by the GCM had notified the Court of Appeal of their intention to challenge their sentences.

The GCM headed by Brig. Gen. C. Okonkwo had sentenced 12 out of 18 soldiers facing trial guilty of mutiny among other offences and
sentenced them to death. Five of them were however discharged and acquitted and one sentenced to 28 days' imprisonment with hard labour and reprimand.

The soldiers were charged with mutiny among other offences, including attacking the former
General Officer Commanding the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Ahmed Mohammed.


A copy of the charge sheet filed against the 60 soldiers revealed that the soldiers, comprising two corporals, nine lance corporals and 49 privates, are to be arraigned on two counts of conspiracy to commit mutiny and mutiny.

The accused allegedly committed the offences at the Mulai Primary School, opposite African Independent Television in Maiduguri, Borno State on August 4, 2014 by refusing to join "111 SF Bn troops" led by Col. E.A. Aladeniyi to
Maimalari Barracks in connection with an operation.

According to the charge sheet, they "conspired to commit mutiny against the authority of 7 Division," an offence said to be punishable under Section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P89 LFN 2004.


The soldiers were also accused of committing mutiny which is said to be punishable under Section 52(1)(a) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.

The charges are said to be triable in the GCM under Section 114 of the AFA Cap A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P89 LFN 2004.


The two corporals are Andrew Ogolekwu and Saturday Efa.


The charge sheet reads, "Count One: Criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny triable by the General Court Martial by virtue of Section 114 of
the AFA Cap A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under section 91(1) of the Penal Code Cap P 89 LFN 2004.


"Particulars of offence: In that you at Mulai Primary School Camp opposite AIT Maiduguri on or about 4 August 2014 conspired to commit
mutiny against the authority of 7 Division.

"Count 2: Mutiny contrary to and punishable under section 52(1)(a) of the AFA CAP A20 LFN 2004.


"Particulars of offence: In that you at Mulai Primary School Camp opposite AIT Maiduguri on or about 4 August 2014 refused to join 111 SF BN troops led by Col. E.A. Aladeniyi (N/9695) to Maimalari Barracks in connection with an
operation."


Indications had emerged on Sunday that lawyers seeking to file an appeal challenging the conviction of some of the 12 soldiers by the GCM had not been able to have access to
them.

There were reports that the convicted soldiers had been moved from the Defence Headquarters Garrison, Abuja to a detention facility at the Directorate of Defence Intelligence, Lagos.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, who brought the process of appeal on behalf of three of the convicted soldiers, said his chambers had made unsuccessful attempts to get in touch with them without success.


The soldiers are Iganmu Emmanuel, Steven Clement and Andrew Ngbede.


Obla told one a source that the military did not volunteer information on where the convicts
were being kept.

He said that the inability to locate them had hampered the completion of the appeal process as they had not been available to sign some documents required for the appeal.


It was also learnt that the Army might soon arraign 13 soldiers for cowardice and failure to obey orders from their superiors to advance at the (war) front.


The soldiers were said to have been directed to join their counterparts at the 7 Division, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the North-East early in the year.

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday conferred different categories of national honours on 313 persons who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.



Among those honoured at the ceremony which was held at the International Conference Centre,
Abuja were a taxi driver, Mr. Imeh Usuah; a traffic warden, Cpl. Solomon Dauda; and a steward, Mr. Onuh Isaac, who have displayed exemplary performances.



The three of them got house gifts in the Federal Capital Territory from the President in addition to their national awards, Member of the Order of the Niger.


Jonathan also directed that the designer of the national flag, Pa Michael Akinkunmi, be placed on the salary of a Special Assistant to the President for life in addition to his national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic.



The President charged the honourees to ensure that the awards are not seen as mere pieces of paper and garlands tied around their necks.



The Monday's investiture brought to 4,737, the total of the national honours so far conferred on individuals since its inception in 1963.



Twenty-five individuals were conferred with the national honour of the Commander of the Order of Federal Republic; 60 persons were honoured with Commander of the Order of Niger, 54 got the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic; 63 received the Officer of the Order of the Niger; 53 were presented with Member of the Order of the Niger; and 56 got Member of the Order of the Niger.



One recipient each got the Federal Republic Medal (First Class) and Federal Republic Medal (Second Class) respectively.

Mariam Ibrahim, the Sudan woman who escaped a death sentence imposed for renouncing her faith, says she wants to campaign for others who face religious persecution.



Speaking to the BBC in the US, where she is seeking asylum, Ibrahim said she hopes to return to Sudan one day.



Ibrahim earlier received an award from a US Christian foundation.


Her sentencing – by a Sudanese court that did not recognise her Christian faith – sparked outrage this year.



Born to a Muslim father, she was raised a Christian by her mother and married a Christian man.



Under Sudan's version of Islamic law, however, her father's religion meant that she too was still technically a Muslim. A court found her guilty of apostasy, or renouncing one's faith.



Sentenced to hang, she gave birth to her daughter while shackled in prison. Under intense international pressure, her conviction was quashed and she was freed in June.



She told the BBC that she had been threatened by the guards while she was in court.



"The judge told me that I needed to convert to Islam," she said. "And so these warnings made me anticipate I would be sentenced to death."



"It wasn't easy, I can't describe it," she said, of her time in prison. "But there are others who are in worse conditions in Sudan than those I was in."



"Sadly, this was all under the guise of the law. So instead of protecting people, the law is harming them."




On Saturday night, Ibrahim received an award from a gathering of evangelical Christian conservatives in Washington, who see her treatment in Sudan as an assault on their values.













Source: BBC

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday placed Mr Taiwo Akinkunmi, designer of the National Flag, on lifetime salary as Special Assistant to the President.


Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi would be remembered as a national icon who designed Nigerian flag in 1959 when he was barely 23.

Early years and education


He was born in May 1936 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the then Western Region to the family of the late
Pa Akinkunmi. Akinkunmi began his early education in the North. After his father's retirement, he came down to the West and was re-enrolled at Baptist Day School, IdI-Ikan in Ibadan.


After he finished from Baptist Day School Idi-kan in 1949, he proceeded to Ibadan Grammar
School (IGS) in 1950.


IGS

He later left IGS in 1955 to chart a career path for himself. He took appointment as an agriculturist at the Western Region Secretariat in
Ibadan as a civil servant.


Akinkunmi later travelled abroad and attended Norwood Technical College in London where he studied electrical engineering.


There was opportunity to stay back in England after his studies, but there was this spirit of patriotism to come back home. After his training at Norwood Technical College, London, he returned to Nigeria in 1963 and went back to the agricultural department at the secretariat in Ibadan to continue where he stopped.

Designing Nigeria's Flag


Pa Akinkunmi was in England when he got involved in what stands him out today as 'Mr. Flag Man'.

He was in the Library when he saw an advertisement in Daily Times (Nigerian Newspaper) in the late 50s. He saw this advertisement looking for somebody to design National Flag which would be used for independence celebration in Nigeria in October 1960.


He took part in the competition and sent it to Nigeria. His entry was dropped at the then legislative chambers, the Tafawa Balewa now
Race Course. Fortunately, his design was picked among 2000 participants. from all over.


Few weeks later, a letter was sent to me him in England that his design won.


One couldn't have expected a science student to be able to come up with such design that has become a national symbol for 54 years.

He felt elated and on top of the world that he had done something significant for his country.


He also regarded God as the greatest inspirator.

Hello Big Brother Africa fans,
The second representative from Nigeria to this year's season of Big Brother Africa was revealed by the organizers today.




His name is Tayo, and he's 28 years old.



Tayo will join Lillian (another Nigerian contestant) and they will compete with other house mates from other African countries for
the grand price.






TAYO


A 1.93m-tall model with a Higher National Diploma in Maritime Studies, Tayo, from Nigeria, certainly stands out in a crowd. He lists his favourite foods as Eba an Okra Soup mixed with fish stew, his favourite musicians as 2Face Idibia, Beautiful Nubia and D'Banj.



Tayo says his favourite place in Nigeria is Oyo Town, his place of birth. "That's my home, where I started life. It reminds me of who I am now and how far I've come in life," he says. He says the best thing about Africa is "culture and pride" and that his favourite place outside of Nigeria is South Africa, which he calls his "home away from home".



He entered Big Brother Hotshots because he believed in himself, and was also encouraged to enter by others. "I like to be seen and to be
heard," he says. Tayo says he's not willing to change who he is or disgrace his family and friends to impress viewers or his fellow Housemates. If Tayo wins the grand prize, he says he'll, set up his life and give himself a life of luxury.

Funny enough, I have a this October copy of Rhapsody of Realities, but I didn't take notice of it up until Linda Ikeji made mention of it on her blog, and I went to confirm and found out it was true.



Pastor Anita Oyakhilome has been excluded from the newly released October-2014 edition of Rhapsody of Realities, Christ Embassy's monthly devotional. The devotional, which was started many years ago by the now estranged couple, usually had both their pictures and writings in the pages, but in this new 31-page edition, there's not one pic or article attributed to Pastor Anita, just pastor Chris.




Meanwhile a new single sister, Pastor Ms Yemisi Kudehinbu has been named the new Chief Executive officer of the Believers Loveworld, an arm of the church that produces the monthly devotional.

A Lagos State mass transportation firm, LAGBUS Asset Management, says it is training 80 women to drive the mass transit buses in the state.

The firm added that it had begun the re-training of 998 LAGBUS drivers, also known as captains, to sharpen their driving skills and keep them abreast of the new driving technology.

Speaking during the 4th batch LAGBUS captain's training at the Public Service Public Service Staff
Development Centre, Magodo, Lagos, the Managing Director, LAGBUS, Babatunde Disu, said the firm was giving life to the government's vision of creating a modern, secure and
sustainable bus transportation service designed for the special needs of Lagos while also providing equal opportunities for the female
gender.


He said, "It is important that we bring our drivers out for retraining to update and improve their skills and also to keep them abreast of the technology in the industry. In as much as we want to keep the buses running, it is equally important that we train and retrain our drivers regularly.

"We are training about 998 captains. For Lagbus alone, we have about 400 captains and we have other captains from our franchise operators. It is part of effort to ensure that those behind the wheel have the right attitude and skills to
manage the buses".


The General Manager, Fleet Operation, LAGBUS, Mr Seyi Osiyemi, said the recruitment of the female drivers was to create equal opportunity for the female gender.

He said, "We employed the female drivers to encourage the women who have interest in driving the Lagbus buses. We currently have
about 80 of them. They will be starting the driving training from the scratch because these ladies do not have driving experience.

"We will first train them to drive a car, then we will train them to drive a bus after which they will learnt how to drive the big bus. We have
signed agreement with a driving training school to train them on how to drive a car and a small bus. Then they will get transferred to our own
driving school where they will be trained on how to drive a bus.

"We expect this process to take between 3- 6 months. The ultimate plan is to have them driving our buses."

The Lagos State Government has set up a coroner of inquest for the purpose of investigating the cause of the September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nation's building
collapse.



This was made known in a statement credited to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, on Sunday.




According to the statement, Ipaye had instigated the coroner's inquest pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner's System Law No. 7 of 2007.




The coroner of inquest, headed by Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, has been charged with the duty of establishing the cause of the collapse of Synagogue's six-storey building that killed no fewer than 115 persons.





Ipaye, who spelt out the responsibility of the coroner, said its final submission might necessitate the institution of a criminal charge against the church.




The commissioner was quoted to have said, "The law requires the verdict of a coroner, as certified in writing, to be forwarded to the State Attorney General and such verdict may form the basis of criminal prosecution depending on the evidence collected.



"The coroner in this case is Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, who also sat as coroner in the Dana Air Crash case. He is expected to announce his sitting or visitation schedules and other details and to hold the inquest at the premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.



"In doing this, he (Komolafe) has all the powers of a magistrate to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, including medical examiners, and require them to give evidence, produce documents or present other relevant materials."

Lukas Podolski spent another 90 minutes on the Arsenal bench yesterday, but judging by his recent Instagram activity, the German's lack of playing time isn't the only source of frustration for him.




Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the striker has liked a handful of X-rated pictures on Instagram, but then again, what else is he going to do with all that free time on his hands?



Presumably Podolski is so distracted by these sorts of pictures that he can't really focus on anything football-related, like bringing your own shin-pads to a crucial Champions League match.

Residents of Asaba, Delta State are yet to recover from the shock of how a 19-year-old Godwin (not real name) allegedly impregnated his mother while testing his love charm.



According to report, the boy, famously known as Ekenem, was said to have gone to a native doctor, who allegedly prepared a love charm for him to use on his mother and one of the matrons in the college where he is a boarding student.



It was gathered that the husband of the woman, who has been away for some time outside his Port Harcourt operational base, denied being responsible for the pregnancy during interrogation.



But the victim, the suspect's mother, while speaking to journalists said, "I did not know how it all happened, but all I can say is that a young man who looked like my son suddenly found his way into my
room at the wee hours and I was speechless", adding that the whole exercise had remained inexplicable.




Speaking at the police headquarters to journalists, the suspect said, "I am deeply sorry for all that has happened, I did not mean to do this. I saw myself falling in love with her after the love charm prepared for me. I have to confess because I know by so doing, God will touch her mind and I know she will forgive me.

I suddenly found that I was making love to mum when I thought the charm will not work, and upon the revelation, I threatened to kill her and the matter was reported to the police", he said.





DSP Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, who confirmed the report, disclosed that the boy had since been arrested over threat to life.

A former acting National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Adedeji Doherty, on Friday, formally declared his aspiration to fly the party's flag in the 2015 governorship elections in Lagos State.




With the declaration, Doherty, an engineer, is seeking the party's governorship ticket in Lagos for the third time.



Doherty, who arrived at the PDP state secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos State with hundreds of his supporters, said he remained the best aspirant for the ticket.




Addressing the party's executive members in the state, he stated that the large turnout of supporters was an attestation of how much the people loved him.



"As a founding member of the PDP, I have been a governorship aspirant of the party in 2003 and 2007. I believe I have what it takes to clinch the seat for the PDP.

Here are excerpts of an interview with Nollywood actor-cum-TV-presenter, Doris Simeon, culled from the Punch newspaper:

Your marriage to Daniel Ademinokan was celebrated as one of the best in the industry…


Initially, it was but at a point everything looked rosy outside but not at home. He just woke up one day and decided he didn't want the
marriage again.

What actually happened? Was there another woman?


I can't say what actually happened. I did not suspect if he was dating any woman or not because we were the best of friends. I trusted him too. When the problem started, I was begging him for reconciliation. I am an orphan with nobody to run to but his family members, who also tried to intervene. At a point, they
fought with him because he stopped picking their calls, even his pastor. Before the separation, I suggested counselling but he promised to turn around for good. He did not.
He would leave the house for some days and would not pick my calls. He also accused me of nagging and policing him around. At a point, he
came back and told me it was lack of money that caused the problems. As a good wife, I suggested we pray about it. He told me one day that he wanted to go and see his mother and took our only son with him (the union produced a child). I didn't suspect anything because they usually went out together. That was the last time I saw my then two-year-old son.

When was that?


That was about four years ago. The boy is six years old now.


Did you take any action then?


If I let it weigh me down, he would
use it as a ground to fight me in court. I have not spoken to the boy for about a year now. I am sure that even if he runs away with my child for 18 years, the boy will ask after me. I am his mother.
Currently, the case is in court.


Is there room for reconciliation?

I am not ready to reconcile with him.


Why?


It is going to four years since we split and I do not see anything wrong in that. Maybe because of the things he said when I sought to reconcile.
I wanted reconciliation when the whole thing started but he said it was too late. He never said what the problem was. It was a normal hassle between couples. If he says I cannot force him into a marriage that he is no longer interested in, why would he want to come back now?


But the custody of your child…

People live separately and still have children.
The child is with him and they are abroad but he does not have custody of the child. I don't want
to talk about it because the case is in court.

Do you have access to the child?

At the moment, I do not have access to the child because they are not in the country. But I want to leave it for the court to judge. After then, whatever the court says I should do, I would do it.


Now separated, do men still ask you out?


At the very beginning when it all started, I had men coming but I felt they just wanted to take advantage of the whole issue. At that particular time, I did not want it too. I wanted to focus on my life and career. I also wanted to shame the enemy and make him know that I do not rely on a particular man to make it in life. I am not a lazy woman either.


But the incidence must have taken its toll on you?

Yes, it did initially because I loved him. It broke me down for about a year but I decided one day to move on. I learnt from my mum not to listen to what people say but maintain focus and I did.

Do you still communicate?

At the moment, because of the court case, we don't. He initiated the court case, sent me divorce papers but when my lawyer saw it, he discovered it was fake! That made me initiate my own divorce case too.


Where and how did you meet him?


We met at a movie location. He was a movie director.

Do you want to remarry?

I have moved on with my life. If marriage comes I will get married, if it does not come, I will remain single but I have some plans. Before my marriage problems, I have always had it in mind to help humanity. It is one of the things I am trying to do very soon. I want to help young widows who are suffering.

Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, has been redeployed by
the command.




In a press statement on Friday, Braide, a deputy superintendent of police, thanked the media and the people of Lagos for their support.




Braide said, "As the first female Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, I expressed fears when I assumed office on June 11, 2012, but to my greatest surprise, I experienced the warmest reception and assistance from you all.




"During the discharge of my duties here in Lagos State as the police spokesperson, l may have had disagreements with some of you; I hereby use this medium to say I am sorry.



"Considering the complexity of my office and varied opinions, there was no way I wouldn't have offended someone."




DailyPost recalls that in February, Braide received a query for fighting and alleged attempt to stab a
senior police officer, Chief Superintendent of Police, Cynthia Ibeama.




The scuffle took place at the Lagos State Police Command on January 18 during the surprise visit of President Jonathan to the Police College, when there was disagreement between both officers who wanted to park in the same parking spot at the same time.




The quarrel snowballed into a fierce fight and policemen had to intervene.



But Ms. Braide reportedly went to her car and emerged with a knife with which she threatened to kill Ms. Ibeama.



The incident made her undergo interrogation at the police headquarters in Ikeja, which resulted in the query.



Braide was close to the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.



He appointed her to the Lagos PRO position, which she held till her sack during the week.












Source: Daily Post

Here is a story published on Punch newspaper


Mrs. Bisola Ayeni, a businesswoman in her early 40s confidently left her house at Egbeda (Lagos) with an almost empty tank heading for Ikeja. The red light of the fuel indicator was blinking nonstop but Ayeni knew the quantity of fuel in her tank would take her to the next available filling station where she had hoped to fill up her tank. Indeed, as she got to the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ayeni drove into the filling station and told the attendant to fill her car with N5,000 worth of fuel while she rummaged her handbag to bring out the money as well as pick a call. That was her undoing. 
Ayeni would tell PUNCH that she didn't bother to look at the pump while the sale was on because she didn't envisage any foul act, besides she knew the level a N5,000 worth of fuel would rise to on her fuel gauge. Ayeni only managed a quick glance at the meter and when she saw that it was reading, she relaxed and enjoyed her discussion on the phone.She said: 
"When I finished, I looked at the pump and I saw N5,000 on the price column, I paid him and drove away. I expected the light indicating low fuel to go off and the indicator to rise, but it didn't happen. Even if the rise in the fuel indicator would be gradual, I expected a major shift. Lo and behold, the light never went off and the indicator never rose. Oh my God, I was confused and very angry, so I turned back, while praying that the car wouldn't run out of fuel. By the time I got to the petrol station, I was fuming."
Ayeni said she had almost slapped the attendant who attended to her having shouted on him when the station manager came out. 
"On hearing what happened, the manager gave the sales boy a resounding slap, apologized to me and ordered him to sell the fuel again, and I heard him saying the N5,000 would be deducted from his salary. We both stood by him while he sold the fuel, the gauge rose even before I left the station, which means he cheated me earlier. I still wouldn't know how he did it," she said.
Ayeni's experience is common among vehicle owners, who had at one time or the other thought they had bought fuel but later found out they either bought nothing or were short-changed in terms of the quantity. A cross section of vehicle owners who spoke to our correspondent alleged that they had noticed same at one time or the other but said that there was nothing they could do since they really could not establish any foul play. 
In case you once bought fuel from a filling station and it seemed like nothing was added to your fuel tank after you have left, or you felt what was sold to you wasn't commensurate with what you paid for or expected, you may have been cheated under your close watch even with your eyes wide open. Saturday PUNCH had a revealing chat with fuel attendants of some popular filling stations in Lagos and they explained how they make quick but huge cash from unsuspecting customers. 
One of them who identified himself simply as Owolabi John, while devouring a massive plate of hot and spicy pepper soup and a bottle of chilled beer Punch correspondent, Tunde Ajaja, bought for him, said he earns N10,000 as a fuel attendant. He wants to pursue a university education. There is no other help from anywhere else, as such John admitted leaving no stone unturned to take advantage of gullible customers to make some money from what he described as "the customers' carelessness." 
"Ideally, when we resume, we take the reading on the meter on the fuel dispenser, which we call the opening meter, and when we close, we take the reading, which we also call the closing meter. Then, we multiply the difference in the readings by the cost per litre, which is the amount we deliver to the manager. If there is any surplus, it belongs to the attendant, and if there is loss, the attendant will look for money to make it up. If the shortage is a lot of money, the manager may allow that the money be deducted from the person's salary if the person is not sacked," he explained.
However, that surplus money may not have been a miracle or manna from heaven; it could simply be a product of manipulation by the attendants. According to John, there are different types of fuel dispensers, such as Marathon, Sanki, Eagle Star, etc, and each machine has its peculiar way of being adjusted.  
"On the keyboard of some of them, where we enter the number of litres or amount, which is either in front or on the side, there is usually a button labelled 'Recall, TIM/CAL' or any other label, depending on the machine. The essence of the button is to enable the attendant to see the past sales. If you want to see your last ten sales, you just press Recall, then the number you want to see etc, depending on the number you want, and it shows you the amount. Beyond seeing our past sales, we use it to make money. 
If I sell N2,000 worth of fuel to a customer, and the next customer also wants to buy N2,000. If I observe that the second customer Isn't paying attention, I will sell some quantity, maybe N1,500 and press Stop or Cancel, depending on the machine press Recall, 1, then press Ok. With that, N2,000 will appear on the screen and that is what the customer will see on the meter, believing the sale is complete. This can be done in less than one second. That is one of the ways, and at the close of business I remove mine which is the excess of the actual litre sales. 
Imagine if I do that for about ten customers in a day, with varying gain from each case, which depends largely on the amount of fuel the customer is buying and how sensitive the person is. I could make up to N10, 000 in one day," he explained.
According to him, attendants could go to the extent of writing out some past sales on a paper where they can easily have a glance to know which number to recall when a customer is distracted or looks away, since many people prefer to buy based on price and not litre.
"When customers come, we observe them and see if they are tired or we try to distract them, sometimes with the help of our colleagues by engaging them in a chat or doing things that could easily distract them. As soon as they look away, if the seller has made an appreciable sale, he/she would have mastered or checked his paper to see the last time he sold that particular amount, as soon as it is possible, he will press it, and press OK. Before the customer looks back, the sale will appear complete," John explained.
John's revelation explained one of the ways Ayeni might have been cheated. Another fuel attendant, who simply identified himself as Owode Kabir, told PUNCH that the use of Recall or TIM button is the easiest way to make quick money because the customers would think the machine was fast, so they wouldn't always suspect anything, even though some come back to complain. 
However, Kabir stressed that not all attendants are involved in the act, but that many of them do it as long as there is opportunity and that in some cases, they settle the station manager at the close of work if they are able to make some money, which they do everyday anyway. Kabir also revealed the second method: 
Even though many people know that when the nozzle is hanged on the pump, the readings revert to zero, fuel attendants have also found a way to manoeuvre it to make some money. 
What we do is to gently place the nozzle, such that it won't click to rub off the old sales and revert to zero, so, we fake it, which means the dispenser is still running, so if anyone comes, we simply continue from where we stop and that is why sometimes it seems like we are rushing the customers. It is easier when the last sale is a small quantity. Even though the use of the Recall or TIM/CAL' button on some of these machines is the easiest method, faking the nozzle is another viable way to make money. 

If the previous sale is about N200 maybe by a Keke NAPEP and Okada rider, or even commercial buses (danfo) drivers, because they are the ones who buy fuel in bits, we will gently place the nozzle, and naturally, when you see that we remove the nozzle from the hanger, that is, from the engine, you believe that it started from zero. However, it is not always the case," he said.

Kabir was quick to add that some station managers or managements know about their tricks but that once they are caught or reported by a customer, such person could be sacked. He added that attendants usually sell in all cases but such sales might not start from zero or could be recalled to a previous sale that had the same amount, which would be an incomplete sale for the customer.

"Sometimes we could gain up to N1,000 from one sale, it depends on the quantity that the consumer wants, and those that are caught are usually the greedy ones," he noted.

He added that in filling stations where their dispensers do not have Recall or TIM/CAL only the last sale could be recalled, hence, once the last sale is not the same with the current sale, faking the hanging of the nozzle might be the only way to make money through such pump.

Station owners and managers also dupe customers

A female attendant with a major oil marketer company in Lagos Island, Seun Jegede, told PUNCH how station managers and filling station owners also cheat their customers. 
She alleged that most filling stations alter their meters to under-dispense fuel at the detriment of customers, which is a known phenomenon among consumers. Even though this could be a product of greed and inadequate regulation, she said they also do that to make up for some loss they might have incurred during sales. 
"Based on experience, I can tell you that almost all filling stations, including the ones being run by government, adjust their meters and what they do is to settle the officials from the Department of Petroleum Resources if or when they come for inspection.  
No attendant can alter the meter on his own, except the manager sanctions it because it involves the engineer changing the panel and doing some mechanical readjustment. That is why many filling stations that alter their meters have to bribe their way through because the engineers are not always there, except the manager recommends a trusted attendant to be trained so as to put the pumps back to normal if DPR comes. 
The adjustment is easier with the marathon machine because it has a key in front of the meter. This allows for quick readjustment of the meter so as to scale through the due diligence check by the DPR, which could be once in six months," Jegede explained. 

She added that the decision to alter the meter could either come from the owner of the station or the station manager in connivance with the engineer, adding that whoever orders the adjustment takes the money made from the unsold quantity.

Station attendants also cheat their employers

According to John, not only customers are open to this fraud, even the management that the attendants work for are not immune to their fraudulent acts, through what he called 'no reading'. In this case only the price meter reads while the litre reading does not move. He said this could be a product of frequent repairs of the pump or any other mechanical fault, which could make it malfunction. 
"When there is 'no reading' on the litre menu, and the management is not aware, there is no way the management will know the actual number of litres that have been sold. What we do in such cases is to sell on the basis of amount only and we sometimes negotiate with the customer for settlement because we can sell more to make money. I can even call someone from home to come and buy and keep for me, before the management finds out that the litre is not reading. 
Even though the 'no reading' issue rarely happens, it becomes a free for all if it happens to the diesel or kerosene pump that usually has no attendant attached to it. With that, tracing who sells what quantity may be difficult, even though an attendant must be smart to avoid being penalized. 
Another form of 'no reading' is when some attendants, especially those attached to diesel or kerosene that have lesser patronage compared to petrol, gently press the nozzle (just like a one-touch press) that may not read on the meter whereas some fuel will still come out. It can also happen when they finish selling and instead of hanging the nozzle, they place it inside the keg for the little quantity to drip into their kegs. It may appear little, but over a long time, the gentle one-touch press and the leftovers become a large quantity. That is why you see some attendants having kegs beside them," John explained.

The attendants further explained that they make more money when there is epileptic power supply which force people to buy fuel in kegs.  
"When there is no power supply and people struggle or force your nozzle in their kegs, many of them don't care about starting from zero, which is a plus for us," he said.

They however said station attendants find it difficult to cheat if the customer comes out of the vehicle to stay with them, adding that those who sit in their vehicles can easily be distracted or shortchanged.

Source: PUNCH

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl.



"Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky," Ms Clinton tweeted.



Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014.


The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016.
She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether to run from around the beginning of 2015.



Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001.



The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics.



Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker.



Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special correspondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy,
motherhood and philanthropic work.

Thugs are said to be causing rampage in Ekiti after the assassination of former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ekiti State, Mr. Omolafe Aderiye.

They are said to be rampaging APC offices including the party's state secretariat .The outgoing governor Kayode Fayemi's situation office has also been reportedly burnt.

Mr. Aderiye, a staunch supporter of Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose was part of Mr. Fayose's team that attacked a state high court judge
earlier in the day. The alleged thugs attacked Justice John Adeyeye, beating him up and ripping his clothes for being allegedly rude to
Fayose. Fayose, first reportedly slapped the judge and then ordered his thugs to beat him further


Read the Governor's speech below ...


THE PEACE OF OUR LAND IS NOT NEGOTIABLE State Broadcast By His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI, Governor, Ekiti State, following the Breach of
Peace in the State Friday, September 26, 2014.


In o kun o Ekiti Kete.

It has become expedient that I address you today on account of dire happenings in the land of honour, Ekiti State. With tension mounting across the state, Ekiti has been the subject of alarming headlines in the news, following the tragic assault on the judiciary.


On Monday, September 22, thugs acting on the incitement of an interested party, were involved in the sacrilegious sacking of the court while hearing on a political case was in progress.


This happened in full glare of the law enforcement agents with inappropriate response. Clearly, these brigands exceeded the limits of acceptable behavior, even in the most liberal of democracies, and ventured into the realm of blatant criminality with this desecration of the hallowed chambers of the law.

The fact that this assault did not meet with any strong deterring repercussions from the appropriate authorities further emboldened the miscreants. They subsequently attempted to prevent the Ekiti
State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal from sitting, yesterday, Thursday, September 25.

I am advised incontrovertibly that thugs acting on the command of Mr. Ayo Fayose, who was also present to lend his clout to the travesty, brazenly assaulted a senior judge and urged his thugs to beat him up and tear his clothes.


The court premises was thrown into confusion and those present scurried away in search of safety and security. This was on the back of his specious allegation that the judiciary in the state is compromised and biased against him. And the answer to that was to resort to jungle justice and take the laws into his hands. This has
led to the closure of the courts indefinitely due to the inability of the security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and property in our temples of justice. With the entrenched atmosphere of impunity, violence in the state has escalated with the unfortunate loss of one
life and the willful damage to several properties to arson by rampaging thugs.

Since the beginning of this development on Monday, which is unprecedented in the recent history of our state, I have been in touch with the Heads of all Security Agencies at the State and Federal levels, urging them to act quickly and firmly in the interest of public law and order. It is worrisome that the slow and inadequate response has occasioned the avoidable escalation of violence in our dear state.

Against this backdrop, it is understandable that not a few stakeholders have expressed concern about what the development portends for our dear state. The brazen contempt of our hallowed law courts and the use of violence and intimidation to obstruct the course of justice is a
clear invitation to anarchy of the scale and texture that characterized Ekiti State some years ago. Ekiti Kete, are those years upon us again?

Already, there is widespread anxiety about this development coming at a time the state is going
through the transitioning out of one administration and the ushering in of a new one. This is a very delicate period that all stakeholders must work together to ensure Ekiti State comes out stronger for it.


During periods of transition, vital partners in progress adopt a cautious posture, watching for the slightest portents of the possible
discontinuity of the regime of peace and tranquility, amongst other factors that have made our state conducive for investors and development partners. We must not disrupt our very bright prospects for sustained development in our state.

Considering the cases that have triggered the recent spate of violence are politically related, the political elite In our state from all disparate quarters must exercise caution. We must rescue our state from the precarious slippery slope that some have desperately pushed us to. We should not imperil the very people we seek to serve by
resorting to violence and brigandage. One does not burn down his homestead to establish his claim of ownership or leadership.


Most assuredly, the course of Justice can only be delayed, but can never be truncated. The independence of the Judiciary is an inviolable tenet of any democracy. Accordingly, I have this morning directed the Attorney General of the state to issue a legal advisory to the Chief Judge of the state and all the parties to the existing cases in the State High Court and the Ekiti State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal, on the desirability of seeking an alternative venue for the hearing of these cases outside Ekiti State.


The State can no longer afford to witness the bizarre spectacle of the beating up of judicial officers and wanton intimidation of lawyers and court personnel.


Now that the security agencies appear to be fully seized of the situation, I call on them not to relent in performing their constitutional role of protecting lives and property in our state.


Administrations come and go; politics can be frenetic when the stakes are high; but by the grace of the Almighty God, our state remains for all time, therefore THE PEACE OF OUR LAND IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.

Ekiti Kete, consistent with our history of unity and love, let us work together to make our state
a garden of concord where our children and their children will dwell in peace and safety.

Even in the pursuit of politics and justice, let us conduct ourselves as kinsmen, bound by a shared love for Ekitiland but differing only in the choice of instruments by which to accomplish the same goal.

Let us then temper our competitive zeal with civility and empathy. Let us deal truthfully with our youth, who are so liable to be led astray by
unbridled political fervour, by seeing them as our children rather than as conscripts or fodder for our objectives.


Ekiti Kete, in order to forestall further descent into anarchy in our state, I am taking the very difficult decision to suspend the 'Thank You' tour which I'm undertaking as part of our transitioning-out formalities.

Also, I have taken the decision to institute a dusk to dawn curfew in the state immediately. Accordingly, there would be no movement between the hours of 7.00 p.m. and 7.00 a.m. everyday till further notice. We urge the citizenry to be vigilant and provide the security agencies with details of suspicious activities that can undermine the
peace in our state.


Let us work together to stop the violence and brigandage that has brought about serious embarrassment to our state in the last few days.

Let Peace Reign in the land of honour, Ekiti State.


God bless Ekiti State.


God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Governor, Ekiti State
Friday, September 26, 2014

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