Arsenal have defeated Chelsea 2-0 at the Emirate Stadium on Saturday to throw the race for the top four finish at the English Premier League open.

Two first half goals from Lacazette and Koscielny were all that Arsenal needed to maintain dominance over Chelsea.

Mother of Nigerian billionaire businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, Theresa Jimoh, has been reported dead after she was caught up in a fire incident at her home in Victoria Garden City, Lagos state today January 19th.

According to reports, the 76-yar-old woman was asleep when the fire started at about 02:00am. She was burnt to death before the fire could be put out by the Lagos state Fire service.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Her body has been deposited in a morgue.

The Nigerian military has been ranked as the 43rd best in the world in the latest Global Fire Power ranking.


The Institution takes into cognizance of “over 55 individual” to determine a country’s ‘Power Index’ score.

The Nigerian military’s 43rd place puts it above a number of European countries including: Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, Austria, Ireland, Macedonia, Finland, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Serbia, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Within Africa, Nigeria’s military is ranked number four behind Egypt, Algeria and South Africa.

Egypt is the closest to cracking the top 10 as they sit in 12th place which is down from last year.

Algeria is in the number 23 spot while South Africa takes the 33rd spot

The Nigerian military is in the 43rd position out of 136 countries ranked and an in-depth look into Nigeria’s military personnel shows some impressive stats.

Nigeria is credited with having a total of 181,000 Army officers with 124,000 in active service while 57,000 are in reserve.

The United States remains the best military might in the world with Russia and China making up the rest of the top three.

India takes the interesting number 4 spot which places it over the United Kingdom and France.

The Nigerian Military has a Power index score of 0.7509 (with 0.0000 being the highest).

Igbo people in the South East and South South geopolitical zones have been advised to disregard a September 14 sit-at-home directive issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).


The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, gave the advice in a chat with reporters on Monday in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

IPOB had called for the sit-at-home across “Biafraland” to protest the proposed Operation Python Dance 3 by the Nigerian military.

In a statement, IPOB said that the directive became necessary to prevent another disaster.

“At a time when we are still burying those Operation Python Dance 2 killed and dumped in mass graves across Biafraland in September 2017, here we are today with Nigeria military once again poised to invade the South East, to slaughter the weak and innocent in their annual genocidal ritual in the name of yet another Operation Python Dance 3,” the statement read in part.

But Umar urged residents to embark on their day-to-day activities without fear of molestation, describing IPOB as an illegal organisation that is incapable of issuing directives to law-abiding citizens.

Umar spoke after a joint meeting all of security agencies in the South East, including the Army, Police, Civil Defense, Immigration, Department of State Services, DSS, and others.

The commissioner said, “IPOB is an illegal organization. We are therefore appealing to members of the public that on no account should they be intimidated or harassed into succumbing to the threat of IPOB. They plan to embark on sit-at-home on September 14, 2018, but the security agencies are ready for any eventuality.

“We urge members of the public to go about their lawful businesses as they will be adequately protected. The issue of calling for a referendum on the 8th of this month or thereabout and the September 14 sit –at- home order by IPOB will not be tolerated.”

The gunmen who abducted Mr. Henry Ashofor, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, are demanding N20 million ransom for the release of their victim.


The pharmacist-turned politician was kidnapped on Saturday evening, near Ayetoro, along the Igarra-Ibillo Road, while on his way home from Igarra where he had attended a burial ceremony with other politicians.

A source close to the family disclosed that the abductors called his wife on Sunday evening, where they made the demands, but the family pleaded with the kidnappers to reduce the ransom to N600,000.

As at the time of this report, the Chairman of the local government area, Don Umoru, was said to be in a security meeting with top government officials and heads of security agencies in the area.

A leader of the party who did not want to be named, told journalists on phone: ”We are still on it, some hours ago, they called that we should bring N20 million. We are having security and peace meeting as we speak.”

He explained that the abducted chairman was with several other political leaders but left midway with his followers to go back to Ibillo where he ran into the kidnappers who laid an ambush.

The politician said: “There is unease in the area. Friends and family members of Ashofor are deeply traumatized as a result of the kidnap. Besides, they will not be able to raise the huge amount of money being demanded by the kidnappers. The kidnappers refused to reduce the ransom. It is a terrible time for his family and friends.

“We were shocked when we were told that he has been kidnapped. They were taken at gun point and led into the bush.”

Also, the Secretary to the Otaru of Igarra, Folorunsho Dania, who called on the federal government to come to the aid of the local government area, chronicled​ the series of kidnappings and other criminal activities in the area.

“The activities of these hoodlums have become so worrisome. They are dare-devil and blood thirsty. Almost on a daily basis, they carry out their heinous crimes. Deacon Ashofor was kidnapped on Saturday on the same route where they carry out their crimes.

“Just last week, a retired principal was kidnapped on the same route. Few days back at Okpe Junction, people who were coming from a function were attacked by gunmen, the four tyres of their vehicle were shattered.

“Few months ago, two retired matrons from the General Hospital were kidnapped in Igarra. We have not even recovered from the robbery that killed several lives,” Dania related.

As at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the APC ward III Chairman in the area, Mr. Arnold Shadrach, was just released after he was reportedly kidnapped few days ago.

When contacted on phone, the Edo State Police Command Spokesman, Mr. Chidi Nwanbuzor, said that he was in a meeting and could not speak on it.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Road Safety will soon be taught in primary and secondary schools in the country as a school subject, the Education Minister, Malam  Adamu Adamu, has said.


The Minister, who stated this when the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, visited him in his office, however, assured his vistor that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the agency in charge of curriculum development for schools, would be mandated to develop appropriate curriculum for Road Safety “as teaching subject in all primary and secondary school in the country.”


According to him, arrangements had also been concluded  for the upgrading of the Federal Road Safety Academy in Udi, Enugu State, to a degree awarding institution.

While reiterating that he had directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to work out the modalities for the upgrade in line with the necessary requirements for approval by government. Besides, the Minister said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) would ensure standard in technical education delivery in schools.

On his part, Oyeyemi said the Commission had held several discussions with the NUC and the NBTE on the issue, adding that the proposed upgrade would go a long way in broadening the scope of academic activities and make the institution sustainable for growth and development.

“Consequent upon the recommendations of the NBTE, the institution would be relocated from Jos to Shendam, where the Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, had already donated a large expanse of land for the project,” Corps Marshal said. He stressed that the academy was not a new creation, but a de- sire to upgrade and reposition it for greater efficiency in the area of road safety management, which he noted, would be the first of its kind in Africa.

Oyeyemi further disclosed that the Academy in Plateau State would continue to award diplomas, while the one in Udi, Enugu State would be upgraded to a degree awarding status.

The 2018 AMVCA which happened last weekend was full of very exciting moments for guests who attended the ceremony at the Eko Convention Centre and also the millions of viewers who watched from the comfort of their homes.
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NET TV was present at the event and we recall the 5 top moments that will make the 6th edition of Africa’s biggest movie awards linger in our memories for a long time.

Watch the video below

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Tokunbo Idowo, BBNaija’s most Controversial housemate of 2017, has finally reacted to a list which comprises of the worst dressed celebs at the recently held Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2018.


The reality star calmly dismissed the list by saying that she loved the look and that was all that mattered. Many criticized the dress tailored by one of Naija’s finest designers, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi as it did nothing to magnify her beautiful body.

Her fans and followers bashed the stylist and the designer for making the 34 year old lady look like an old woman draped in heavy curtains.

Reacting, Tboss said: “I don’t care what y’all have to say but I absolutely love my dress from @lanredasilvaajayi. Makeup is by @ajoketbm & Hair was by @bernardsmiless … #Amvca 2018…It’s over , now can we keep it moving??? Thank you.”

Mr Eazi's girlfriend, Temi Otedola graduated from University College London with Bachelors Degree in History of Art on Monday.


To celebrate, fer father, Femi Otedola, her mother, Nana, her sisters and her boyfriend, Mr Eazi were all in attendance to witness her special day and went on to have a special family dinner.

A 23-year-old lady, Opeyemi Adamson, has allegedly stabbed her neighbour, Taiwo Olowookere, to death for calling her shaku-shaku.

The incident reportedly happened at their house in the Meiran area of Lagos State.


According to Punch Metro, 28-year-old Taiwo lived with the suspect’s mother-in-law, who accommodated her after she separated from her husband.

Opeyemi, who lived with her husband, stayed in the same compound with the victim.

The duo were said to have nursed animosity towards each other until Friday, August 24 when things took a tragic turn.

The deceased had reportedly complained about Opeyemi’s eight-months-old baby, saying the child’s noise disturbed her.

The suspect reportedly insulted her, which led to exchange of words.

Taiwo, who reported the incident to the police before her death, said her assailant became angry after she (Taiwo) called her shaku-shaku woman (useless person), adding that she stabbed her in the neck.

She had said:

“About three months ago, I had a problem with my husband. The woman I was staying with was her (Opeyemi) mother-in-law.

“On a particular day, my child was ill and I took him to a hospital. When I returned, I greeted her, but she refused to respond. That was when our misunderstanding started.

“Around 7am on August 24, I went to bath my child. While doing that, her child started making a noise. I called her that her child was disturbing me, but she abused me.

“She started cursing me and I called her shaku-shaku woman. She asked why I would call her such a name. She said she would show me what a shaku-shaku woman was like. She went inside and brought out a knife which she used to stab me in the neck.”


The victim reported the case at the Meiran Police Station and Opeyemi was arrested.

Taiwo was taken to a local medical centre where she was treated until her death.

Opeyemi, who spoke to our correspondent, however, blamed the victim’s husband for her death, while she also accused Taiwo of jealousy.

She said:

“Her husband always beat her up and that was why my mother-in-law assisted her. When she arrived at our house, she was always cursing me. She always said I was happy because I had a good husband, while she had no good matrimonial home and that she would deal with me.

“The knife belonged to her; I stabbed her in self defence. Her husband was buying her all sorts of things while she was in the hospital. When she died, her husband came to dump her corpse in our house and fled.”

The deceased’s husband, Sunday Olowookere, a factory worker, told our correspondent he had reconciled with his wife when the incident happened.

He said Opeyemi had problem with his wife after the latter stopped keeping money with her.

He said:

“My wife and I had a misunderstanding over her attitude. She became annoyed and left for the house of a co-trader. A SARS officer intervened and I was asked to sign an undertaking that I would never lay hands on her again, which I did.

“We both made statements at a police station and I thought it was over, but she said she was not ready to follow me home; she said she would join me later.

“My wife could be abusive, but she would never fight anyone. The woman that stabbed her is a cult member. She started having issues with my wife after my wife stopped giving her money for safekeeping.

“I was at work late at night when I was called that my wife had been stabbed. It was the following day that I got there. She was taken to a local medical centre where her injuries festered and her neck became swollen. We were asked to conduct an X-ray for her. I was taking her to a general hospital when she gave up the ghost.”

Opeyemi was arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court on one count of murder.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Adedayo Oladele, who stood in for the resident prosecutor, Cousin Adams, said the offence was punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

Oladele asked the court to remand the suspect in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The defence counsel, Fatula, asked that the case file be duplicated for legal advice.

“Ordinarily, we would have wanted to object to the remand application. But in the interest of justice, we ask that the file be sent to DPP and we could even have a lesser offence of manslaughter,” he added.

The Chief Magistrate, O.O. Olatunji, remanded Opeyemi and adjourned the case till October 3, 2018.

The love between Nigerian superstar couple, Banky W and Adesua Etomi-Wellington cannot be overstated, and that has been proven so many times as fans tag the duo as ‘couple goals’


On several occasions, the renowned singer has been seen in different positions trying to take good photographs of his wife and one of the occasions was captured at actor, Gabriel Afolayan’s wedding.


In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the Lagos Party singer said that there was no big deal in taking his wife’s pictures in public despite his fame and fortunes.

He said, “Why would I feel bad taking pictures of my wife in public?

She is my wife and the two of us are one. We are always there for each other and if she needs me to take a picture of her, I would be her photographer. It is the same way around as well; she does the same thing for me.

“Marriage is a teamwork and you should be the one that your partner can depend on and it goes both ways. That is the way we operate, there is no big deal in being my wife’s photographer or taking pictures of my wife. What is it in taking pictures of my wife?”

Two Malaysian women were caned Monday for having lesbian sex in violation of strict Islamic laws, despite an outcry from activists at the “cruel and unjust” punishment.


The case has sparked widespread condemnation and focused attention on what rights groups say is a deteriorating climate for the gay community in the Muslim-majority country. Campaigners said it was the first time that women in Malaysia have been caned for violating a sharia regulation which forbids same-sex relations.


The country operates a dual-track legal system and Islamic courts can handle religious and family matters for Muslim citizens, as well as cases such as adultery. The women, aged 22 and 32, were arrested in April by Islamic enforcement officers after they were found in a car in a public square in northern Terengganu state, one of the country’s most conservative areas. The pair, whose identities have not been revealed, pleaded guilty last month to breaking Islamic laws and were sentenced to six strokes of the cane each and a fine of 3,300 ringgit ($800). They were caned at the Sharia High Court in Kuala Terengganu, state capital of Terengganu, a court official confirmed to AFP.


The women’s conviction sparked a storm of criticism. Before the caning was carried out, Gwen Lee, Amnesty International’s Malaysia head, slammed the punishment as “cruel and unjust”. Malaysia “must end the use of caning and repeal the laws that impose these torturous punishments completely,” she said.

Thilaga Sulathireh, from transgender rights group Justice for Sisters, said the caning would “increase the impunity of perpetrators to carry out acts of violence” aimed at gay people. Concerns have been mounting in recent weeks in Malaysia, a multi-ethnic country where some 60 percent of the population is Muslim, about a deteriorating climate for the lesbian, gay, bisegxwal and transgender (LGBT) community.

The Islamic affairs minister has spoken out against homosegxwals and ordered pictures of LGBT activists to be removed from a public exhibition, while a transgender woman was brutally attacked in the southern state of Negeri Sembilan. Malaysian Muslims have traditionally practised a tolerant brand of Islam but concerns have been growing in recent years that attitudes are becoming more conservative.

Nigerian super star Tiwa Savage showed off her natural beauty without an ounce of makeup.Snuggled up in bed, the mom of one wondered why her hair doesn’t look as sexy as she sees in the movies.

The Nigerian Army on Sunday denied alleged killing of 30 soldiers by Boko Haram at Zari village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno on Friday.


GISTMANIA reports that an international wire service had reported that troops deployed in Zari in Guzamala Local Government Area were killed when Boko Haram lunched a deadly attack on the village on Thursday evening.

According to the report, scores of jihadists in trucks stormed the base at Zari village, in northern Borno State late Thursday and briefly seized it after a fierce battle in which 30 soldiers were killed.

But Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, who denied the report in a phone interview with NAN on Sunday.

He said that the alleged killing was the “figment of the imagination of the news agency”.

Chukwu said contrary to the claim, the insurgents did not attack any military formation but rather came to loot foodstuffs and extort money from the locals.

He said that the insurgents were repelled by the land troops of 82 Task Force deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole, who were closely supported by the Air Task Force.

“During the fire-fight, overwhelming volume of fire was unleashed on the insurgents from both the air and ground troops, neutralising several of them and their weapons.

“The Boko Haram took some of their corpses and fled while others escaped with bullet injuries, adding that normalcy and sanity was restored in the affected communities.

It is very unfortunate how people will just sit in the comfort of their zones and fabricate stories that don’t exist, most especially the international media.

“Such false narratives, we have always believe are deliberate attempts to promote Boko Haram and their activities against the sovereignty of the country.

“That media organisation was said to have gotten their information from a security personnel and went ahead to file their report without making further inquiries.

“This is unethical and unprofessional to say the least,” Chukwu added.

He said Nigerians should disregard all the propaganda stories credited to Boko Haram terrorists as troops were doing their best to ensure that terrorists were expelled from the region.

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man, Adewale Olakusi, for allegedly defiling a teenager at Ota in Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The victim (name withheld) is a 13-year-old girl. In a statement yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the suspect was arrested on Saturday.


Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the arrest followed a complaint by the victim’s father that he discovered a sudden and unusual demeanour on his daughter as well as loss of appetite for food. After the father questioned his daughter, the victim informed him that the suspect forcibly had carnal knowledge of her and warned her never to disclose to anyone.


The PPRO added that upon the report, policemen from Onipanu Division swooped on the suspect and brought him to custody. He said: “Upon the report, the DPO, Onipanu Division, SP Sangobiyi Johnson, detailed detectives to effect the arrest of the suspect who happened to be living in the same house with the parents of the victim.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime but blamed it on the devil.

“The victim has been taken to the hospital where medical report confirmed that the girl has been carnally violated.”

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for proper investigation and prosecution. He quoted the commissioner as urging members of the public to always take the well-being of their children seriously, especially the female children.

Going by the shortage of resident doctors and House Officers at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the Association of Resident Doctors in LASUTH (ARD- LASUTH) said it was embarking on a three=day warning strike to further pressure the management of the hospital and the Lagos State Government to employ needed doctors.


Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos, the Acting President of ARD- LASUTH, Dr. Ibrahim Ogunbi, said failure of LASUTH management to immediately employ House Officers and Residents Doctors, the strike would start from 8am on Wednesday, September 5 to Friday, September 7.

During this three-day strike, the ARD-LASUTH said there would be total shut down of services in the hospital and the doctors would not attend to emergency cases as well. Ogunbi said the doctors have been pushed to the wall and do not have any other choice but to embark on the strike.

Their decision, which was based on the outcome of ARD-LASUTH’s Congress, was hinged on the fact that those resident doctors working were stressed and depressed as a result of being overworked.

He noted that following the shortage, one doctor now attends to over 100 patients, resulting in long waiting time for patients as well. Ogunbi said that the warning strike would be followed by an “indefinite partial strike during which only emergency cases will be attended to until expected response is obtained.”

“Therefore, the association appealed to the people of Lagos and the Lagos State Government for urgent action to be taken to avert this long overdue action,” said Ogunbi. Speaking further, he said:

“If you have 1000-bed in a hospital, you expect that the place will be manned enough by medical personnel.”

While making this appeal, the Acting chairman of ARDLASUTH, said the intending action of LASUTH residents was geared towards intervention for patients, adding, “When you look at waiting time in the hospital now, it is now prolonged. Also, when you have a doctor attending to 100 patients in a day, you know there is a problem.

“Also, we have elective surgeries: those that are not emergencies, people will be on the waiting list for a very long time before it gets to their turn.”

Explaining how the shortage of doctors in LASUTH came this far, Ogunbi said, although, there was brain drain, but for House Officers, some have exited the system, some have left the country while some have finished their programme. According to him, both Resident doctors and House Officers were not permanent staff.

When they finished their programme, they should be replaced, but they are not being replaced as required. Giving the number of resident doctors in service, Ogunbi said although, the Resident doctors in LASUTH should be 300, only 200 were in service presently, leading a gap of 100 unfilled.

Concerning House Officers, he noted that there was none presently in service. According to the acting chairman of ARD-LASUTH, this crisis has been on since three years without any structured policy put in place for seamless regular replacement of exited House Officers and Resident Doctors, thereby creating loopholes for optimal clinical service delivery.

Ado-Ekiti—Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RETAN, in Ekiti State, was yesterday, enmeshed in violence that left 11 members with machete cuts on their heads and other parts of their bodies.


It was gathered that trouble started when the national secretariat of the association appointed Aderiye Adebayo, aka Ojuigo as the interim state Chairman of the body, which did not go down well with the former Chairman, Rotimi Olanbiwoninu alias Mentilo, who allegedly mobilised his supporters to attack the acting Chairman and his supporters.


South-West Zonal Chairman, Mr. Fatimehin Isaac, said: “There have been violent attacks on our people for three days now. These attacks were led by a former state chairman of RETAN in Ekiti, Rotimi Olanbiwonninu (Mentilo), who has been bringing thugs armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“On Saturday, when I was called on this matter by Sunday Adeola, a leader in our union, I explained to him that I had told all parties that those who chaired the state chapter of our union before should retire like me and allow others who haven’t been there to have their turn.

“He then advised that I have a meeting with Mentilo and Ojuigo and I said that was okay, but that I would like to have a meeting with him first and he agreed.

“However, less than 30 minutes after, thugs armed with guns and dangerous weapons came to my shopping complex and unleashed terror on everyone. They broke doors and windows in Ayinyin Shopping Complex and at my house behind the complex.

“We went to report the case to the Police at Oke-Ila, but were referred to the state Command. From there our men were again referred to the Oke-Isa Police Station, where the hospital treated some of our wounded members.”

All lies—Mentilo

While reacting to the allegation, Mentilo said: “It is all lies. I don’t have a hand in their crisis, but I have been trying to intervene, to bring solution to their crisis.

“I have been in the office since I was appointed Caretaker by the state and Abuja leader, since July 16. I have an official letter given to me from Abuja.

“On the other insinuation that I am no longer a member; it is a lie. They are jokers who don’t know what they are saying.

“Throughout the time I was wrongly committed to prison, I was their South-West Zonal Chairman and one of the National Vice President until June this year, when they dissolved the house.

So they don’t know what they are saying.” … as RETAN denies Mentilo

Speaking, National President of RETAN, Alhaji Iswele said: “We have a Caretaker Committee in place for RETAN in Ekiti and it is headed by Mr. Lekan Amusan. We haven’t given anyone a paper to recognise him as the chairman of the union in the state.

“When we got the report from our people that Mentilo attacked members with arms and thugs and chased them away from the terminals, we invited Mentilo to Abuja, but he refused to honour our invitation.

“We then advised the South-West zonal Chairman of RETAN, who is Alhaji Isaac Fatimehin, to petition the Inspector General of Police and copy us. We have a lawyer, who will take up the matter on behalf of the union.

“We have also set up a Caretaker Committee which offered to settle the matter. But the two warring parties, Ojuigo and Mentilo, failed to reach a peaceful pact. So we asked the Committee to continue leading the union.

“Mentilo is not our member. He has just been released from prison. He is no more a card-carrying member of the union because the constitution says that once you are away for more than three months from the union, you lose your membership.

“Mentilo has been away from us for more than a year now.”

We’ve not been  briefed—Police Contacted on phone, Police Public Relations Officer of Ekiti State Command, Caleb Ikechukwu, said he has not been briefed on the development, but promised to investigate the matter and reply shortly. GISTMANIA had not heard from him at press time

Nigerian politician, Atiku Abubakar was overwhelmed by emotion as he cried after collecting Presidential nomination forms.


Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar couldn't hide his emotion earlier today after he picked up the PDP Expression of interest and Presidential nomination forms at Wadata house, Abuja.

 
According to Vanguard, the politician wept while receiving the forms from the Atiku Support Groups (ASG) which purchased same for him, reiterated his commitment to the Nigerian cause, and promised to do everything possible not to disappoint Nigerians if given the opportunity.
 
Unable to overcome his emotions while a member of the ASG, Princess Adekemi Adesanya was painting in graphic details, the sorry state of affairs in the nation, the former Vice President fought back tears as he sobbed, wiping his eyes with the aid of a white handkerchief.
 
He said: “The event today (purchase of nomination form) is significant and historic because this is the only time in my political career that young men and women in this country have come together without my knowledge or even consent to contribute their own hard-earned money to buy me an Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

“You could have seen that one of the ladies who spoke virtually succeeded in getting me to weep. This is because she aptly described the challenges every Nigerian is facing in this country today and she believed honestly and sincerely from the bottom of her heart that I could be an instrument of addressing those challenges.

“So, for such a woman to believe that I have got those leadership qualities and including those of you who have brought out your monies to by this form, is one of the most serious challenges I have ever faced in my political career.
 
“And believe me, addressing those challenges is possible because we have brought young men and women, Nigerians who have got the talents, who have got the education, who have got the experience, who have got all what it take to honestly turn this country around.”
 
Atiku also attributed the slow pace of development in the country to the failure to harness the creative energies of young people by successive administrations.


“Putting together such talented young Nigerians requires leadership and it is that leadership we have not been fortunate enough to have on a consistent basis that this country has not been able to take her rightful position in Africa and indeed, the world,” he stressed.
 
That said, the Wazirin Adamawa eulogized former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua (of blessed memory) on whose feet, he learnt the rudiments of partisan politics.
 
His words: “The man who actually brought me into politics, the late Shehu Yar’dua, when he invited me as a young man told us to break the regional siege that every parts of this country had been subjected to.

“He asked us reach out to every Nigerian across the Niger. To him and for him, that was a major objective; so when he died and I decided to build the Yar’ Adua center in his memory, we got an architect to design the uncompleted bridge.

“The significance of that bridge was that we had started building bridges of understanding and unity across this country and unfortunately, the man who started building that bridge died. I wish I could complete building that bridge.
 
He thanked his supporters and assured them of his commitment to job creation if voted into office as President even as urged them to accompany him to Wadata Plaza for the submission of the forms.

“On that day (submission of forms), let us overwhelm the PDP Secretariat, let us bring Abuja to a standstill. I bet you by the time we overwhelm the secretariat and bring Abuja to a standstill, the PDP will have no alternative than to give us the ticket,” he added.

The police in Anambra has arrested five men suspected to be members of a syndicate, who specialize in stealing children.


GISTMANIA gathered that the suspects were arrested in various locations in the state, while five children kidnapped by the syndicate were rescued.

A press release by the police public relations officer of the Anambra State police command, SP Haruna Mohammed gave the names of the suspects as: Emeka Nnoruo; 44 years, Ekene Obodoako; 27 years, Maduabuchi Ekwema; 25 years, Chika Obi; 28 years and Eberechi Onyeghara;14 years.

Mohammed said the suspects were arrested following intelligence by Joint Police vigilante Patrol teams attached to Umunze in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State.

The release read; “Suspects allegedly conspired and kidnapped five children namely; Ifeanyichukwu Obiukwu ‘m’ aged 3 years, Chigozie Emeka aged 8 years, Chimaobi Emeka ‘f’ aged 6 years, Chisom Emeka aged 4 years and Onyiyechi Emeka ‘f’ aged 3 years.

“Victims were rescued from the suspects and case is under investigation after which suspects would be brought to Justice.”

The children were kidnapped from Umunze, Orumba South of Anambra State and Okigwe in Imo State.

Just last month, the Command had arrested a three-man syndicate said to be behind series of child stealing in the state and were charged to court for prosecution.

Child theft has recently been on the rise in Anambra State, with as much as four children who were reported missing yet to be found.

The Nigerian community in South Africa has again cried over the killing of two Nigerians in the country.


The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the latest deaths have increased the death toll of Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave to 122 in 30 months.

The latest Nigerian to have lost their lives in the crime-prone nation were identified as Mr. Okechukwu Chukwumezeriri and Mr. Olushola Ayanleye.


The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Adetola Olubajo, gave the information in a statement on Friday.

Olubajo said that Chukwumezeriri, 39, from Imo was shot dead on a football field on August 25 at Rietondale Park in Pretoria.

He said that Ayanleye, 42, from Ondo State was also shot dead in the night of August 26 at Esselen Street, Sunnyside in Pretoria.

“Information gathered revealed that last weekend’s violence which claimed two lives with another two hospitalised in Pretoria were gang-related killings.

“As the umbrella organisation of Nigerians in South Africa, our stand is that whoever that kills should face the full wrath of the law, irrespective of his or her nationality.”

“We advise that whoever has information about these killers should kindly contact the president of NUSA or the police as these senseless and trigger-happy fellows should not go unpunished.”

“We are always firm in our belief and resolution that all criminals should be treated the same, irrespective of nationality.

“Nigerians killing Nigerians should not be viewed as different from Nigerians being killed by other nationalities.

“Government officials should also take seriously these senseless killings of Nigerians in South Africa by not building or promoting narratives that it is okay for Nigerians to kill themselves.”