HERE ARE THE THE FULL TWEET. BUT I DONT BLAME HIM AT ALL, HE WAS SPOT ON. 100% CORRECT

All is not over as regards the recent verification exercise which took place in Zamfara State, as it was discovered that a finance clerk in one of the government institutions had been collecting salaries of 84 'workers' in the past two years.



This revelation was made by a member of the state executive council, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune under condition of anonymity on Tuesday, in Gusau.
Narrating how the fraud was made open, he said, the state governor; Alh Abdulaziz Yari, on assumption of office, was confronted with a huge bill as monthly salary of civil servants in the state.

"Honestly speaking, the governor was not happy with the figure and went ahead to constitute different verification committees, both at the local and state government levels."
Source maintained that the idea was to authenticate the actual workforce of the state, with a view to increasing the N18,000 minimum wage being agitated for by the labour union.

According to the source, when one of the committees rounded-off its assignment and reported back to the state government, it was discovered that one of the finance clerks had been collecting salaries of 84 'workers'.
"The most annoying thing was that the said finance clerk had equally secured bank loans on behalf of the so-called workers. That was the level of corruption in the state civil service," he declared.

He dispelled the insinuation that the verification was politically-motivated, insisting that, it was intended to flush out bad eggs from the system, as well as reduce corruption to the barest minimum level.

It was a tragic end to Ete Samuel who lives at No. 14 Ekpo Abasi lane in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State as he gave up the ghost during a marathon sex with his love bird in a short time spot.

It was gathered that Ete Samuel as he was popularly called is married with kids but his animalistic zeal was so uncontrollable that he was fond of abandoning his family to satisfy his segxwal orge with ladies of easy virtue at red light joints.

However, Samuel who was said to be in his thirty with his customer Miss Peace Idorenyin who resides atTarget Streetclose to Calabar Zoo had gone to one of the cheap short time spot to as usual have a full dose of one another. But the lover boy never knew that death was lurking around him.

It was gathered that the duo chosethe short time spot located at8 Atu Streetfor early evening sex session before the incident happened.

An eye witness who will not want his name in print disclosed that he was called at about 5 pm by the operator of the short time spot to come and help him as he had a "situation which he alone could not handle.

When I got there, I went into the room and saw a young man on the floor with foam coming out of his mouth and I called the police which came and took the corpse to the mortuary and the lady to Atakpa Police Station," the source stated.

When contacted at the Police station, Peace said she was not the cause of the death of the man as she has had sex with several other men and they did not die.

"I did not kill him as many men have slept with me and they did not die. This was not the first time Ete Samuel was doing it with me."

She said that when she discovered that her customer had given up the ghost while on duty, she would have left the spot but because she felt she was not responsible for his death, she stayed back. "I could have escaped but since I know I am not the cause of his death I had to wear him his trouser before calling people to help me."

According to her, she noticed that the man was vibrating and she thought the man was about reaching orgasm.

But then he did not make any move of coming down from my body after some time I pushed him and saw that he was foaming in his mouth."

When contacted for confirmation, the Cross River State Police Public Relations officer, Barrister Hogan Bassey, an ASP promised to give detailed information latter.

Bassey said that the lady under detention would help the police with more information "on how the man died."

University of Lagos researchers have unveiled local plants used for treating hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, pile, menstrual disorder, honeypotl discharge and fevers. CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

Scent-leaf

AN ETHNO-BOTANICAL survey of three largest herbal markets and medicinal plants used for treating ailments in Lagos State of Nigeria has unveiled herbal cures for hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, pile, menstrual disorder, leucorrhoea and fevers.


The study titled "An Ethnobotanical Survey of Herbal Markets and Medicinal Plants in Lagos State of Nigeria" was published in Ethnobotanical Leaflets.


The researchers from the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, led by Prof. Dele Olowokudejo, by means of oral and written questionnaire identified herbal cures used for treating ailments in Lagos State.


According to the study, herbal cures for hypertension include: leaves of Persea Americana (avocado) are made into shreds, dried and taken as infusion; leaves of Senecio biafrae (worowo in Yoruba or Sierra Leone bologna) added to fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa (dawadawa in Hausa, African locust beans in English, Igba/Iyere in Yoruba, and Nere in Bambara) are used to prepare soup which is eaten; leaves of Talinum triangulare (water leaf) or Basella alba (Indian spinach in English, Amunututu in Yoruba) may also be used; and kola nut's mistletoe mixed with honey is also effective.


For dysentery the researchers noted: decoction of the leaves of Grewia flavescence (Itakun okeere) is made and drunk; and leaves of Parquentina nigrescens (kwankwanin in Hausa, mgbidim gbe in Igbo, ewidun or inuwu elepe in Yoruba), Jatropha gossypifolia (pignut or fignut, and Lapalapa in Yoruba), Pergularia daemia (Utazi in Ibo, teji in Yoruba), Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf in English, Nchuanwu in Ibo, Effirin in Yoruba) and Momordica charantia (African cucumber or balsam pear in English, daddagu in Hausa, akban ndene in Ibo, akara aj in Yoruba) are all powdered together and taken with cold pap, or as decoction.


For low sperm count and weak erection, the researchers noted: Powdered Piper guineensis (Climbing black pepper or Benin pepper, ebe-ahinhi akpoke in Edo, etinkene or odusa in Efik/Ibibio, uziza in Ibo, uririe in Urhobo, iyere or ata-iyere in Yoruba) and extract from 10 big onions are poured into honey and boiled between five to 10 minutes. A cup to be taken in the morning and at night.


Also, the researchers added: Manihot esculenta root (cassava), Dioscorea sp. Tuber (yam), Garcinia cola seed (bitter cola), Cola nitida cotyledon (kola), dried Zea mays (corn/maize), Cnetis ferruginea (omu aja or gboyin gboyin in Yoruba, amunketa in Igbo, Utina bua in Efik and Ukpe-ibieka in Bini), seeds of Mucuna sloanei (Horse eye bean in English, ukpo Ibo, karasuu in Hausa, and Yerepe in Yoruba), unripe Musa parasidiaca (plantain) and Piper guineensis are all ground together with sugar, and taken with water or cold pap.


Another herbal cure for low sperm count and weak erection identified by the researchers include: "The same plants as the foregoing in addition with Klainedoxa gabonenesis (wild mango, Ugili in Ibo), sugar and pure bee-honey are mixed together. A spoonful to be taken like that or with cold pap."


For coated tongue, the researchers identified: Bark of Khaya ivorensis (Ogawo in Yoruba), bark of Pycnanthus angolensis (African Nutmeg and Wild Nutmeg in English, Akomu in Yoruba, Akujaadi in Hausa, and Egwunoma in Ibo), bark of Hymenocardia acida (ján ítaacéé in Hausa, ikalaga in Ibo, and òrùpa in Yoruba), bark of Bridelia ferruginea (Oha in Ibo, Ira or Iradan in Yoruba and Kimi or Kizni in Hausa), bark and root of Rauvolfia vomitoria (serpent wood or swizzler stick in English, asofeyeje in Yoruba, akanta in Ibo, and wada in Hausa, bark of Alstonia boonei (pattern wood/stoolwood in English, Ano in Igala, égb? in Ibo, ahùn in Yoruba), twigs of Citrus medica (lemon), bark of Enantia chlorantha (Awogba, Oso pupa or Dokita igbo in Yoruba, Osomolu in Ikale, Kakerim in Boki, and Erenba-vbogo in Bini), bark of Melicia excelsa (Iroko tree) are all cooked and the decoction to be taken.


They also identified: Costus afer (sugar cane), bark of Khaya grandifoliola, bark of Bridelia, ferruginea, fruit of Alchornea cordifolia (Christmas bush, Mbom in Efik), bark of Bridelia micrantha (ogangan in Edo, Ãfíá Ãkpáp in Efik, egede/ogaofia in Ibo, arasa in Yoruba, bark of Pycnanthus angolensis, sulphur, and lime water all poured into a container. One tablespoon of the extract to be taken before breakfast.


For piles, the researchers noted: 12 seeds of Croton penduliflorus (Aworoso in Yoruba) and seven cubes of sugar are ground and poured into bottle containing kernel oil (30cl), then left for seven days, after which the first dose of two table spoonful will be taken. Later, one spoonful every morning is to be taken before breakfast. The drug is to be taken at four days interval.


For menstrual disorders, the researchers noted: Water or alcohol extract of the leaves of Dalbergiella welwitschii (Emosho-elemosoo, emeso- igangan, afoso in Yoruba, West African black wood), twigs mixed with potash is to be taken for three days, morning and evening.


For honeypotl discharge (leucorrhoea) the researchers identified: "Root of Glyphea brevis (Aloanyasi in Ibo, Atori in Yoruba), root and leaves of Senna podocarpa (Agelo-ogala in Ibo, and Asuwon in Yoruba), Senna alata (Asunrun oyinbo in Yoruba, Ogalu in Ibo), Allium ascalonicum (Shallot, Alubosa elewe in Yoruba) and potash are put together into a container, and hot water poured on the mixture. The recipe is left till the next day. One glass cup to be taken every morning before breakfast for three days. The preparation is also suitable for seminal discharge in men.


"Root of Croton zambesicus (Koriba or Icen maser in Hausa, Aje kokofole in Yoruba, Mfam in Ekoi and Moramora in Kilba), three seeds of Garcinia cola, Acacia nilotica leaves (Booni in Yoruba), three seeds of Aframomum melegueta (Alligator pepper), leaves of Mimosa pudica and small quantity of potash are ground together, and taken with cold pap.


For fevers, the researchers identified: "A decoction of the root of Sphenocentrum jollyanum, Zingiber officinale (ginger), bark of Khaya grandifoliola, root and bark of Rauvolfia vomitoria, bark of Alstomia congensis, root and bark of Senna sceptabilis, root of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides, leaves of Ocimum grattisimum."


The researchers from the Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, wrote: "An ethno-botanical survey of three largest herbal markets and medicinal plants used for treating ailments in Lagos State of Nigeria was undertaken by means of oral and written questionnaire. Traditional medicine is undoubtedly a reliable alternative approach to health care delivery in the metropolis because it is cheap, easily accessible, and efficacious.


"Herbs are obtained from bushes around the neighbourhood and forests from adjacent states. Recipes for the treatment of common ailments which are reported almost on daily basis such as hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, pile, menstrual disorder, leucorrhoea and fevers were given by the

abeg make u teach me, so that i go collect my own share

i dey malaysia dey watch am, u dont need to be told, they wont say amen, u wan try God?
God pass devil and devil pass u.  

May God Bless Them

TO prevent breach of security that has become common in the northern parts of the country, a helicopter roved over the sky while no fewer than five armoured tanks stationed at strategic locations in the ancient city of Kano when four couples, including the brothers of the wife of Vice-President Namadi Sambo got married.

The marriage was attended by no fewer than four governors--Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina, Niger--and the deputy governor of Borno State.



As early as 7.00am, all nooks and crannies of Kano were condoned off by heavily armed security men while movement of people were equally restricted within the vicinity where the wedding fathia took place.


The security operatives, consist of a combined team of soldiers, policemen, Airforce officers, officers of the Civil Defence Corps as well as members of vigilance groups, who were all combat ready to deal with any situation


The wedding fathia, which was held at Umar Binkthataph Jumat Mosque, was also attended by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamangar Tukur.



Other important personalities that graced the occasion were former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel; Senator Iyiola Omisore and a former Kogi State governor, Prince Abubakar Idris.

Baby Abdul Wahab Iyanda Irawo's birth a few weeks ago drew media attention as the baby was reportedly born clutching a miniature Quran. Two clerics, who witnessed the incident, speak with OLALEKAN OLABULO in separate interviews. Excerpts:

 
1: Pastor Ojo Giwa, 2: Alhaji Omotosho and 3: Baby Irawo, clutching a Quran

He was not born in our church, we only prayed for his mother -Pastor-in-charge


Senior Apostle Ojo Giwa of the Eternal Order of the Morning Star and Saint Michael Fountain of Life Church, Ejigbo parish, Lagos State, is the first respondent:


For how long haveyou been a pas tor?


I was born here. I was born in the Holy Order about 60 years ago.


Recently, a baby was reportedly born in your parish clutching a miniature Quran in his hand. How true is this?


It is true. There is nothing to hide; there is no falsehood in it.We thank God that the person who delivered the baby was here before. The pregnancy of the baby was over nine months. It was getting to 11 months,they became afraid of the situation, that was why they brought her here. Thank God she was able to deliver the baby.


Did you personally see the Quran after the baby was born?


Yes, I saw it.


Was there any temptation, either from you or anybody to destroy the Quran before Muslims came?


No, there was nothing like that, we all serve the same God.


You said for almost 60 years you have been in this church, has there been anything like this in the past?


There have been a lot of it. There is one of our fathers who caught a Bible written in French. His name is Pa Adewunmi. He was trying to catch fish, but he caught a Bible here in Lagos. Another miracle happened in London in 1972, it is in their archives. We don't publicise them.


How many days did the mother of the new baby spend in your church?


Well, when she came here, we prayed for her and she returned home but when she got home, she called that she was about to deliver. So, we sent our mother-in-Israel to their house.


So, she did not give birth to the baby in your church?


No, it was in their house.


Did you see the Quran or the mother-in-Isreal told you?


I saw it myself. Immediately they saw it, they called me and I went there.


What kind of Quran is it? How many chapters or verses were in it when it was opened?


When we were through with what concerned us, I mean after the woman gave birth to the baby, the Muslim people came and took over. The father of the baby is a Muslim.


The woman who delivered the baby saw the Quran but threw it away wondering what it was - Alh Omotosho


Alhaji Asimimiyu Omotosho, the Chief Imam of Rahmatul Islamiya Central Mosque, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, is the second respondent:


There were reports that youwere the Islamic scholar whowas first contacted when Abdul Wahab Iyanda was born with a Quran in his hands?


Yes, it is true.


How did it happen?


One of the senior wives of the mother of the baby (Iya Mariam) identified it and called the grandmother, who in turn contacted us. The woman, who delivered the baby saw it and wondered what kind of paper it was. They then threw it away.


How did the Quran look like when you saw it?


It was a small Quran covered in a polythene- like material. The mid- wife had earlier collected it from the baby and thrown it away.


How was the Quran opened?


When we saw it, many of us, including Alhaji Ajala, the coordinator of Al Hijaj, took the Quran to the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Garba, where the Quran was opened.


Since when have you been a Muslim scholar?

For the past 69 or 70 years.

Have you found a Quran like that before?

Yes, in Mecca.

Is there any difference between the Quran that the boy was holding and the one in Mecca?

The one that the boy was holding had a very thick polythene material covering it, it was very difficult to open, unlike the one in Mecca that you can open easily.


How did you eventually open the Quran? Did you use a knife or a blade?

They used bare hands to open it, but before they did that, they had sent somebody to go and bring a razor blade; before the person could bring it, the Quran had been opened.

There were reports that the Quran has only six chapters?


No, it is almost a complete Quran. Apart from Fathia, it starts from Suratu Bakora and ends with Suratu Afud, which is almost the last chapter in the Quran.


Where exactly did you see the baby and the Quran?


At the grandmother's house in Ijeshatedo, Lagos.


Was the baby born in a church?


No, he was born at home, but a Christian woman helped the mother while in labour.

This corps member resurrected in mortuary, but is now blind

Yobe State, for the national youth service programme. But his world turned upside down when he got involved in a car crash that claimed the lives of 16 of his fellow corps members while travelling to Damaturu, the place of their primary assignment. The young man tells his heart-rending tale of abandonment by the government. Excerpts...

When did you go for your NYSC programme and where?

I went for my NYSC in 2010 and was posted to Yobe State in the North East. I spent three weeks in Fika camp for the orientation after which I was posted to Damaturu to teach at TD GSS Dindin-gari.

During the festive period of 2010, we had a short break in the school I was teaching as a youth corps member. So I travelled to Enugu on December 24. I had actually wanted to spend the time with my family back home in Kogi but my Head of Department, who is from Enugu, had always wanted me to spend the Yuletide with them.

So I decided to visit them. While I was in Enugu, I got a call that corps members should register online to work with INEC during the 2011 election. Thereafter, another call came from the Christian Corpers Family House, of which I am a member. (I am also a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God). This time it was our landlord who informed me about an advertisement in the papers that corps members should report to their place of primary assignment before January 4, 2011.

So, on January 3, I left Enugu for Damaturu. Unfortunately, I could not get a direct bus to Damaturu, a route that is usually plied by Young Shall Grow Motors and GUO Motors. That day many corps members returning to their places of service were stranded. We had to board a type of bus known in Igbo parlance as akpuruka (that is a long distance bus that has become old), which took us to Jos so that we could link up from there to our different destinations.

We got to Jos around 5.30 a.m on January 4. The Plateau Riders Park in Jos where we disembarked was filled with about 5,000 stranded corps members. So everybody was jostling for the few vehicles available. Eventually I succeeded in getting a Borno Express vehicle, a 14-seater Toyota Hiace that was to take me and other corps members to Damaturu. Instead of taking the usual 14 passengers, the driver 'stuffed' 18 corps members out of greed and the luggage was equally much. The weight of the load was more than combined weight of the corps members. During the orientation programme, we had been warned to be cautious about polythene bags on the roads, especially black ones because Boko Haram was known to use them to conceal bombs.

As we were approaching Damaturu town, we saw one in the middle of the road and cautioned the driver about it, telling him to be careful. He said in Hausa ba komi, which means no problem. As we were getting close to the bag we still reminded the driver to avoid it by all means, and it was later discovered to be a bomb. Actually, when he got to the spot he swerved to avoid it. He succeeded but unfortunately he could not return his steering in time and so lost control of the vehicle and it somersaulted eight times. The accident happened about 2.43p.m.

What happened thereafter?

I could not remember. It was even reported in the paper that 18 corps members died in an auto crash. We were all taken to the General Sani Abacha hospital mortuary in Damaturu. But out of the 18 two of us came back to life - myself and a lady called Odinakachukwu (which means everything is in God's hands). The rest died. What happened was that after several hours in the mortuary they discovered that I was shedding tears because there was no light and Odinaka was sweating seriously. Because these things were so unusual, the medical personnel decided to withdraw us that night and took us to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, which is an hour from Damaturu.

After intensive medical attention, I came back to life at 2.43a.m the following day and Odinaka came back to life after a month and two weeks.


She was in coma for more than two weeks. At the hospital, doctors discovered that my brain had shifted within the skull; Odinaka's brain also shifted. Her case was even more serious. She was not behaving normal again. If you gave her food instead of putting it in her mouth she put it on her head. She was behaving strangely. It was just like she was psychologically disturbed.

All through my stay there, one Professor Yawe headed a team of nine consultants that took care of me. I left the hospital in March. I left Maiduguri because of the tension generated by the 2011 election that was approaching. I demanded to be referred to a hospital where my people would be close to me. For this reason, I was referred to Ogun State University Teaching Hospital (OSUTH) Shagamu.

Who paid your medical bills? Was it your family or the NYSC?

When I was in Maiduguri, they came from Yobe and paid N50,000 for my magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test and took the receipt along with them. After that if I called the NYSC for anything, they did not respond. Instead they handed me over to a man from Wetland Health Services, a company they said insured corps members, especially those from our set, Batch C. They said the company was contracted by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to insure corps members. Unfortunately, they handed me over to the man and gave me his number, and said that I should be calling him. Each time I called the man, he would tell me to go and see my State Coordinator and if called coordinator he would tell me a different thing. Since I could not continue like that because I didn't want to waste my life, I just spent my money to pay for my care. I spent N93,000 in Maiduguri to care for myself. I also spent money on fibre calf to treat my fractured hands and it was very expensive. At OSUTH, the doctors said that I might have to amputate the hand, but somehow with prayer and faith, God intervened and something was done. Now, my right hand is shorter than the left hand and I now have iron in it. And as I am talking to you now I am almost blind because I can only see faintly and my right ear is impaired.

When I left Maiduguri, I threatened to sue the Wetland Health Services. What I learnt was that the contract they had with NYSC was to take care of corps member subject to a maximum cost of N50,000.

When I left OSUTH to return to Damaturu in October 2011 to collect my discharge certificate, the NYSC said I should file the receipt of my expenses in Maiduguri and bring to them. I did and took them to the Abuja national headquarters of the NYSC. Would you believe that all through my ordeal the State Coordinator never informed the Abuja headquarters about my situation? They said they were not aware of my case at all. But then the story about the accident was published in newspapers. Does it mean they don't read papers? They later said they would pay me the expenses but till now even my state allowance has not been paid, Some of my federal allowances were also not paid. There was this woman called Funke, who I was calling until she said I should stop calling her.

What happened to the other lady, Odinaka?

She had surgery recently in January, this year, in Lagos.


Who took care of her?

Her family.

From Maiduguri to OSUTH, how much have you spent so far to take care of yourself?

The money I have spent is over N300,000.

How did you get the money?

The money came from family and friends. For instance, friends and fans of Wazobia FM radio station paid my bill at OSUTH because Yaw and K. Baba, two of their popular presenters, mentioned my case on their radio.

What is the state of your health now?

Financial handicap forced me to stop taking treatment. If I had continued using the drug my sight would have improved a little bit. The last time I took the drug was in October 2011, that's about eight months ago. So I am not taking any treatment for now. But some people have suggested that I should go to India, where it is believed that something can be done about my condition.

What do you want the NYSC and government to do for you?

The fact is that I was on national assignment when the accident occurred. I expect that the Federal Government should give me proper attention.

I lost my sight while serving my nation. If I have been in my father's house probably this unfortunate thing would not have happened to me. I expect them to rehabilitate me and compensate me because I don't want to be a loafer. There is so much I can still give to the society. I went this far to get my Bachelor's degree. I sponsored myself throughout my studies in the university. I don't want to sit at home just because I lost my sight. I want to be useful to myself and to my country.

The fact that I lost my sight does mean I have lost my intellect and my capability. I need a job. I am just 28 years old. As I talk with you I am a destitute; I have no home. I live on hospital premises. The canteen where I used to sleep at OSUTH has been privatized. I cannot sleep there again. For sometime now I have been sleeping with the Hausa man that sells sundry items outside the hospital premises. My father is late and my mother is 63. She is no longer economically engaged to be able to support me. I need urgent medical and financial help. Kind-hearted individuals can reach me on either 08157017044 or 08032159648.

that why, we need to pray to God to avert trouble for us, yanga dey sleep trouble come wake.....
but na this king thing dey push person to the world, because if na person like me spend 6 years inside for the crime i did not come, i will kill the girl. judge, and every body that is involve in sentencing me. unless God intervene before i could reach them

What price did you pay to God for the life u are living today. what kills u Nigerians is ignorance. that why you people are been exploited up and down.

REASONS FOR THAT

Fellows, we should call a spade a spade and tell our selfs the truth, we are know that this varsities were build from church money tithes and offering of their followers. but is very bad to hear those outrageous amount of money collected as fee by this school, well i must say that this group of people are scammers are looters that extol from their followers in the name of God, they wont say they dont know the meaning of missionary, or how is been run, because most of them attended it, come to the western world, missionary school are the cheapest collages here,  why because (1) those who attend want to learn more about the gospel and this is the pride of every good christian church, getting people to learn about the gospel, (2) Such schools are mend for the poor and less privilege in the society.
this so called versities are not suppose to be any were above 50 - 70k, Our pastors need to go out, come to U.S, Europe and Asia to see what is called missionary, when missionaries came into africa, they came with foods, clothes,schools, clinics and so on, all for free. but our so called pastors will cant give u a daim, but their hands are always open to collect from u

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, declared that the numerous problems confronting the nation did not start from his regime which commenced only two years ago.


 
President Jonathan Commiserating with Gov. Sullivan during the Funeral Service for Late Mrs. Theresa Chime Mother of Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State Friday at St. Mary's Pro-cathedral Catholic Churc, Udi, Enugu State. Photos-state House.

He asked Nigerians to reassess their journey from independence till date with a view to ascertaining the areas where the nation had gone wrong in order to make amends.

The President spoke at Udi in Enugu State during the funeral service in honour of Governor Sullivan Chime's Mother, Chief Mrs. Theresa Chime, whose remains were laid to rest yesterday.

According to the President, something must have gone wrong along the line from 1914 when the Southern and Northern Protectorate amalgamated till date, stressing that the problem of Nigeriadid not start today.

He said: "Sometimes when critics are lambasting the government, my self as President and the governors sometimes begin to think that yes it is starting today. But what we promise Nigerians is that this country must change.

"When the Priest was speaking, I started asking myself - what must have gone wrong from 1914 that the Northern and Southern parts of the country were amalgamated? They were under colonial rule since 1960 when we started governing ourselves. From 1960 to date it is about 50 years.

"I don't think it is the two years that President Jonathan assumed the office that these problems came up. So something must have gone wrong and all of us citizens of this country must reassess ourselves, our journey from independence till date, the areas that we have not done too well in order to effect a change.

"Let us not play politics with the development of the country. Let us work hard to change our country for the better. We have no other country to go to. There was a time we had a television play where Andrew wanted to check out of the country; we are not checking out of this country, we will all stay, we will all work together, do our best to change the country for our children."

While commiserating withGovernor Sullivan Chime and members of his family over the demise of their mother, the President noted that the woman contributed enormously to thesuccesses recorded by her children.

Emphasizing the role of parents in the upbringing of their children, Jonathan recalled that when he was growing up, his mother warned him "that if I smoke, I will die" stressing that it was that advice that kept him away from smoking till date.

Governor Chime had earlier in his speech thanked the President for attending the funeral ceremony and prayed God to continue to give him courage and vision to carry out his reform agenda for the nation.

In his sermon at the funeral ceremony, the Principal of College of Immaculate Conception (CIC) , Enugu ,Rev. Dr Nnamdi Nwankwo stated that the late Mrs. Theresa Chime was so fond of her children, adding that she was a devoted christian.

Describing the deceased as a naturally born lawyer and symbol of love, the cleric statedthat she also showed love to all children within her environment.

Fr. Nwankwo recalled that the late community leader demonstrated her transparency when she produced the money she saved for Udi Women at the end of the war exactly as they were and refused to change them into Biafran money, a development, he said, earned her thenickname "Bank of Women".

President Jonathan read the first lesson from the book of Wisdom 3:1:9 while Governor Sullivan Chime read the second lesson from the second letter of St Paul to Corinthians chapter 4:16 and 5:10.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, former Senate President Chief Ken Nnamani, former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Babanga Tukur, Governors of Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River, Abia, Benue and Rivers states, some members of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly among others witnessed the funeral of Mrs. Chime, who died at the age of 87.

The Regional Manager (Southern Nigeria) of the British Canadian International Education, Mrs. Funmi Ogunleye, on Friday, said over 21 foreign universities would be in Lagos to jostle for Nigerian admission seekers during the annual international education fair of the BCIE.

Ogunleye said this while briefing journalists on the activities lined up for the fifth edition of the fair scheduled to take place in Lagos between May 29 and 30.


According to her, the universities and colleges that will be at the fair include Anglia Ruskin University, Brunel University, Birmingham City University, University of Worcester, University of Bolton, Leeds Metropolitan University, Loughborough University, York St. John University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, De Montfort University and Glasgow Caledonian University.


These universities, Ogunleye said, would be showcasing their undergraduate and postgraduate courses, foundation programmes, Diploma Top Ups and Pre-Masters programmes.


She added that the institutions would also offer on-the-spot admission to qualified candidates, provided they came with their original certificates, transcripts and reference letters.


Asked how possible it would be for graduates to come to the fair with their transcripts when they have not applied to the foreign universities, Ogunleye said the BCIE would undertake for such candidates.


"What differentiates the 2012 fair from the ones we have held in the past is that participants will not pay, while some American universities will also participate," she said.


Ogunleye added that the BCIE hopes to recruit students for the UK, Australian, Canadian and American universities.


BCIE was set up by Dr. Cliff Dedynski and Nazmina Panju Dedynski in 1998 to help universities recruit qualified candidates, in conjunction with the British and Canadian embassies globally.

Abakaliki-Four persons were injured early on Sunday morning at the Amike-Aba area of Abakaliki following a clash between a local vigilance group and jubilant fans of Chelsea FC of England.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the fans were celebrating Chelsea's first-ever Union of European Football Association, UEFA, Champions League victory over Bayern Munich FC of Germany.

Chelsea achieved this feat through an epic 4-3 penalty shootout victory, which Chelsea recorded over the hard-fighting Bayern Munich. The two teams had battled to a 1-1 draw during regulation time.

NAN reports that the clash between the vigilance group and the Chelsea fans occurred around 12.15 a.m. on Sunday, as the fans celebrated in an unrestrained manner, which attracted the attention of the former.

The vigilance group urged the fans to be moderate in their celebration, an advice that did not go down well with the fans.

The situation led to a verbal confrontation and eventually resulted in a fracas after a fan that had lost control of his motorcycle almost ran into the vigilance personnel.

The officers escaped unhurt as they saw the motorcyclist on time.

Following the fracas the vigilance personnel arrested some of the fans while the others escaped from the scene of the clash.

Contacted over the incident, Mr. Ephraim Ajali, an official of the vigilance group, said those were arrested released after intervention by their parents and other residents of the area.

"Luckily for the boys, they were not among the notorious ones who disrupted the peace of the area as we discovered that they acted under the influence of alcohol which they had consumed recklessly.

"Their parents signed an undertaking to offset the medical bill of our wounded officer and a pledge that the boys would be of good behaviour henceforth.

"We are now aware of the security threats posed by celebrations of European football matches and will be more prepared to deal with such a development in future," he said.

Abuja – Sen. Sahabi Ya'u, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, said on Sunday that the Western Rail Line would be fully operational before the end of the year.

The rail line is expected to connect Lagos, Ibadan, Jebba and Kaduna to Kano, while the Eastern Rail Line will link Port Harcourt and Makurdi to Maiduguri.

Ya’u said in Abuja that the Western Rail Line, which is 90 per cent completed, would have started functioning long time ago “if not for the Akere Bridge that collapsed''.

“I assure Nigerians that the line would be in use before the end of this year; it's just remaining some little finishing touches.''

He said the committee would, in the next few days, embark on an oversight visit to the Eastern Rail Line project where “work is going on at a slow pace''.

“In the next one or two weeks, we will be out on oversight duty and we will make sure that every kobo that is put into the railway project is spent wisely.''

The lawmaker said rehabilitation work had also started on some narrow gauge lines inherited from the colonial masters.

He said there was also budgetary provision for standard gauge rail lines from Lagos to Ibadan, and from Itakpe to Ajaokuta.

Ya'u said that there was provision in the 2012 budget for the completion of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta standard gauge line, which is meant to transport steel products to the ports.

He said the projects and the Abuja-Idu-Kaduna standard gauge line were expected to be completed before the end of this year, adding that the standard gauge lines were being constructed in phases because of the amount of money involved.

“We want to start the standard gauge in segmentation; it is being segmented instead of being awarded in whole because it is a very huge amount of money, which the country cannot afford at once.

“In the next few years, we will be having standard gauge rail lines running from Lagos to Kano and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.'' (NAN)

The police in Lagos on Saturday arrested one Asiribo Baba, 40, for allegedly shooting a bricklayer who attempted to rape his daughter.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Police Inspector Femi Martins said Baba allegedly shot Ifeanyi Arinze, 29, who was moulding blocks at a building site in Agbara, Lagos.

He said investigations showed that Arinze climbed the fence of Baba's residence in Agbara to pluck oranges in the compound when he saw Baba's 14-year-old daughter, who was sleeping outside.

"After he plucked the oranges, he went to the girl, sleeping on a mat, and touched her Bosom  but the girl screamed.

"Arinze covered the girl's mouth with his hand but her younger sister, who was playing outside, came and called people,'' he said.

The inspector added that Baba, who heard the screaming of her daughter, came out with a gun, ran after Arinze and shot him in the leg as he was about to jump over the fence.

He said other workers at the building site reported the case immediately to the police while Arinze was taken to the hospital.

There was a twist at aministerial platformprogramme in Abuja, on Friday, as one of the participants accused an unnamed Principal Secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan of demanding N5 million before he (the participant) could be allowed to meet the President.
Saturday Tribune, which was at the National Press Centre, venue of the programme, observed that other participants comprising diplomats were stunned when Pastor Jason Nworah made the allegation.


Friday's programme witnessed the highest number of diplomats so far, ostensibly due to the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru.



Nworah had attended virtually all the platform programmes which had run for about two weeks now and habitually asked questions.


At the event, where Ashiru and his counterpart from the Ministry of Interior, Abba Moro, made presentations, a visibly angry Nworah, who is the National President of Youth Organisation for Unity and Total Harmony of Society (Youths), alleged that he had approached the Presidency with a proposal on how the country could attract direct foreign investment, only to be told that he had to part with the sum of N5 million before he could get the attention of the President.


He said the proposal was "before the desk of the Principal Secretary to President Jonathan."


The programme was aired live and monitored locally and internationally.


None of the members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), who were present at the programme, made effort to debunk the allegation.


The allegation came as the administration of President Jonathan said it was fighting graft and was determined to stamp it out.

LAGOS (AFP) – The Nigerian football team failed to depart for Peru for a friendly after a passenger on the Madrid-bound flight was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of drugs, an official has confirmed.

Theteam spokesman Ben Alaiya said the Iberia flight was cancelled after the Nigerian drugs enforcement agency arrested a passenger, while another suspected passenger escaped.

“The airline announced that they could no longer fly according to international regulations and as such the national team could not leave for Peru on Saturday night,” Alaiya said.

“The team are now expected to fly out on Sunday.”

Wednesday’s friendly in Lima against hosts Peru is part of the country’s build-up for next month’s 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles host Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on June 3 in the southern coastal city of Calabar, before they travel to Malawi the following week.

The will also welcome Rwanda to a second leg qualifier for the 2013 Nations Cup on June 17, also in Calabar.