FRESH 4RM GIM

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida today released a statement through his media aide, Kassim Afegbua more or less advising the President to see things a bit differently especially beyond what his aides tell him.

*Shekarau By AbduSalam Muhammed Former Kano State governor and chieftain of tha All Progressives Congress, APC, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Shekarau along with thousands of his supporters, today, joined the PDP at an elaborate ceremony in Kano. Details later.

Yola—The death toll arising from the two separate attacks on a Church in Chakawa village, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State and  Kawuri village in Konduga, in Borno State has now risen to 138. Armed men Armed men suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect attacked Chakawa village in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State as well as the Kawuri village in Konduga, Bornro State killing innocent people.

E NUGU —  Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, yesterday, described the evacuation of his poultry from his official residence at Government House by officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, and Ministry of Environment as a wicked act. He said the action of the official which was shocking to him, was intended to humiliate him and show how “politically impotent” he was.

l agos —Lagos State government, yesterday, said the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge may not be realisable soon because; “With the current plan, 318 buildings will need to be demolished for the bridge to take-off.”

Boko Haram Victims The Gombe State Government Wednesday  expressed concern over the influx of people from neighboring states who are fleeing from the ongoing violent confrontation between the security forces and members of the  Boko Haram    sect in the North East states of Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa.

The recent pronouncement of N14 billion grants for dry season farming by federal government, undoubtedly, is a welcome development, considering that such special grant was unprecedented, especially, when it is targeted at boosting the chances of Nigeria in achieving food sufficiency, particularly in rice production as planed by the federal government. But how far this grant will go remains unclear, given that the Presidency is still withholding the bio-safety bill passed by the National Assembly, which is expected to arm Nigerians farmers with the latest technological tools and inputs to compete favourably with the food producing majors across the globe. By Emmanuel Elebeke The bill is one of the bills passed by the National Assembly that have been gathering dust on the desk of President Jonathan.

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu •  We’ll look into issue of automatic tickets, says PDP chair Muhammad Bello             The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, along with 12 governors of the party and their colleagues in the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from Ondo and Anambra States, were yesterday guests of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, at a caucus meeting with 173 members of the House.

Nigeria and Ghana have a long history of rivalry, particularly when it comes to football. From the days of Independence Games in the early 1960s when the two countries were pitched against each other in the annual event to the modern times, every match involving them is sold out.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (4TH-L); GOV. MURTALA NYAKO OF ADAMAWA (M); SUPERVISING MINISTER OF DEFENCE, MR LABARAN MAKU (4TH-R); ACTING GOVERNOR OF TARABA, ALHAJI GARBA UMAR (3RD-R); SERVICE CHIEFS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES IN A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH WITH STUDENTS OF AIR FORCE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE SCHOOL IN YOLA ON TUESDAY NAN YOLA—President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that he sacked the immediate past service chiefs because of unhealthy competition which made it possible for Boko Haram insurgents to attack the Air Force operational base in Maiduguri.

LAGOS — Twelve people suffered burns of varying degrees, yesterday, when an 18-seater bus somersaulted and caught  fire on the Third Mainland Bridge. The victims were passengers of the Toyota Hiace commercial bus which was travelling towards Iyana-Oworo area.

Akerele and Dumor With the incidents of sudden deaths becoming common in the country, experts urge Nigerians to take their health more seriously,  When the people of Ondo State received the news that one of their own, a politician and former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, died in his sleep this month, many of them must have particularly felt disturbed. In fact, it is not surprising that they felt this way, considering that not too long ago, another native and former governor, Olusegun Agagu, collapsed and died after a meeting in his Lagos residence.

Bello and Olowu Gunmen on Monday night stormed Amodu Street, off Akala Street, Mushin, Lagos State, killing an eight-month pregnant woman, Musili Bello, and her 12-year-old daughter, Suliat Olowu. A commercial motorcycle rider, identified simply as Baba Monday, was also shot to death in the operation which was said to have lasted for about 20 minutes. Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Tuesday, observed that the thugs riddled several houses with bullets and also vandalised some vehicles. The slain woman’s father, Tajudeen Odusanwo, said his daughter was shot in the stomach and in the face, while his granddaughter was shot in the head.

Gunmen Gunmen, who attacked Nigerian Agip Oil Company’s tugboat and abducted the vessel’s chief engineer and a captain along the waterways of Nembe, Bayelsa State, have demanded N5m ransom. A security source, who craved anonymity, said on Tuesday that the seven gunmen who attacked Agip gunboat contacted the company and demanded N5m ransom to free their victims. The boat which sailed from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Brass in Bayelsa, to load petroleum products at Agip terminal was attacked by the hoodlums on Saturday evening at Peter’s Town, Nembe.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to pay N17.3bn as damages to a local manufacturer, Beddings Holdings Limited, over the N34.5bn contract the commission awarded in 2010 for the purchase of the Direct Data Capturing machines used for the voter registration exercise. The N17.3bn is 50 per cent of the total sum of the contract, which INEC awarded to three firms – Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation Limited, Zinox Technologies Limited and Avante International Technology Incorporated.

Toyota Nigeria is starting the 2014 business year with the launch of an all-new Yaris, as part of its determined efforts to remain the biggest automobile company and the highest selling brand in the country. The firm said the unveiling of the new generation Yaris, a budget car, last Thursday in Lagos would serve dual purposes. First, it noted that the all-new Yaris had put all of Toyota’s big ideas in one small car, thus combining the comfort and clever features usually found in a large car with the manoeuvrability, and fuel economy of a small car. The Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, gave the other reason during the presentation of the new car.

Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation in the interest of the two countries and to maintain excellent bilateral relations. This is contained in a final communiqué after Bilateral meeting between the two countries in Abidjan.

That was the defiant message from Barcelona’s new president, who is adamant that the club’s all-time leading goalscorer is going nowhere amid reports French club Paris St Germain want to sign the Argentine.

Missing: One small, round, golden container. Contents: The blood of the late, soon-to-be-canonized Pope John Paul II. If found, please notify Italian police and the church of San Pietro della Ienca.

The call by the All Progressives Congress, APC on its lawmakers to stop the passage of government bills was what some thought to be an ordinary act of democratic expression. But not so to many others, who believed it was suggestive of anarchy. Rising from a closed door session of its National Executive Committee, NEC last Wednesday, the APC had directed its lawmakers in the National Assembly to stall the process of government bills and the confirmation of Federal Government nominees. The order inevitably was an order to shut down government.

Mr. Joseph O. Azih and Theophilus Nwakanma residing at 9B and 14 Ahunanya Street, Umungasi, Aba, Abia state, respectively have petitioned Gov. Theodore Orji over the fate of their missing children, Martin Azih and Temple Nwakanma.

Ahead of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Black Stars of Ghana Semi-final encounter in South Africa on Wednesday , President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has enjoined Nigerians to pray for Eagles’ victory over their counterparts. Senator Mark in a goodwill message to the Coach Stephen Keshi led officials and players yesterday urged them to re-enact the team spirit and winning streak that have seen them thus far.

A total of 85 persons have been confirmed dead after Boko Haram terrorist invaded Kawuri Village in Konduga local government area of Borno State , Pointblanknews.com has gathered .

Finally, Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Kano state and foundation member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has concluded plans to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his bid to remain politically relevant.

…If we cannot do that, we shall have great difficulty winning the Presidential elections in 2015. …APC is seen as an equivalent of Egypt Muslim Brotherhood. Note, Nigeria of 2014 is very different to the Nigeria of 1993. …Anyone that tells you that religion is not a major factor in our politics is either ignorant or is not being honest.