Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay received a reduced one-year suspension for testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid last year, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced Friday.

Gay, 31, a four-time U.S. champion in the 100 meters, removed himself from the 2013 world championships after testing positive and has not competed since.

His one-year period of eligibility began June 23, 2013, the day his sample was collected at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The urine samples were collected in two out-of-competition tests and one in competition, according to USADA. Since all three samples were tested in short succession prior to notification of the first positive result, the three adverse analytical findings were treated as one offense.

USADA said Gay agreed to assist in an investigation into the circumstances of his first positive test on the day he was notified of the result. Because of his cooperation, he was eligible for a reduction of the normal two-year sanction.

“We appreciate Tyson doing the right thing by immediately withdrawing from competition once he was notified, accepting responsibility for his decisions, and fully and truthfully cooperating with us in our ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his case,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart.

He was disqualified from all results from July 15, 2012, the day he first used a product that contained the prohibited substance, USADA said.

Gay has already returned his silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“USA Track & Field is gravely disappointed any time an athlete uses performance-enhancing drugs, and Tyson Gay’s case serves as a lesson about the consequences of making poor decisions,” USATF CEO Max Siegel said in a statement. “We appreciate that Tyson accepted responsibility and has assisted USADA by providing information to help battle the use of PEDs.”

Gay was once part of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s “My Victory” program promoting efforts to compete cleanly. After testing positive for a banned substance he became part of a very different campaign.

Gay gave an explanation for the positive test last year. “I don’t have a sabotage story,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “I don’t have any lies. I don’t have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA’s hands, someone playing games. I don’t have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down.”

His coach Lance Brauman told USA TODAY Sports last year that the person Gay trusted had “no affiliation with me or anyone else in my training group.”

Healthy for the first time in five years, Gay was having a strong 2013 season until he tested positive. Last season he won gold medals with a time of 9.75 seconds at the U.S. championships in Des Moines, his fourth U.S. title at the distance. Gay also claimed the 200 title at nationals, winning in 19.74 seconds.

The former University of Arkansas sprinter was once a challenger to Usain Bolt, beating him in 2010 in a 100-meter race in Stockholm. Gay has struggled with injuries the past few years, coming back from hip surgery to finish second in the 100 at the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials in 9.86.




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 Lmafo when rappers are beefing, comedians are now beefing too..Mike Epps went on a radio show earlier and called Kevin Hart Over  rated saying
"In this business right here, sometimes marketing can be bigger than talent. This business is not about being funny.”
Kevin came on Twitter and went in hard and they had a twitter beef..Kevin slayed him tho..lol
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Mike then listed Kevin's movies with this monkey pic smh









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She may be raunchy but still voices her opinion when it comes to National Issues..Here is what Afrocandy wrote on her Facebook wall a few minutes ago
"BRING OUR GIRLS BACK......I am watching CNN now in New York and Nigeria has been on the News since the Kidnapping of the Innocent Young Girls. From what I can see, the Days of the Boko Haram is coming to an End since their madness drove them as far as hurting Children, USA May just step in and trust me, only One Drone, they are Done. So My point is, The Nigerian Government (President) should just give the USA a go ahead to help. The media over here reports that the Nigerian president does not want any interference from any International societies and I don't know why. Even though I Sang/Supported him during his election, it is now obvious that the Northerners will do everything possible to frustrate his Government, so I would say


"Mr. President, I love you, still support you, I also understand your plight but it is time to Give it Up and Step Down" Since you cannot single handedly do anything about the Boko Haram and general Security of the Country, people are dyeing everyday and it's not Funny anymore. Pls give it back to the Malams, let them eat it, let's divide Nigeria so they can Kill themselves if they so desire or better still let other Capable Countries come in and Help you. Enough is Enough. and after all said and done, I am a Single mother of 2 young girls and I Feel the pains of the parents of those innocent young girls and I pray for their Safe Returns...... PLEASE BRING OUR GIRLS BACK! "
More photos from the scene with our forensic experts taking evidence ...








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This will bring you to tears...25-year-old Lizzie Velasquez was born with a very rare  syndrome that is still undiagnosed(Only two other people in the whole world have it). The condition prevents her from gaining weight .
Before people knew about it, she was bullied and insulted because of her "look".A few years ago, she was named the world's ugliest woman in a video which went viral..She is now a friend to many celebrities, a motivational speaker and earns a good living because she din't let it weigh her down..

..In a recent interview with E,she opened up on getting past the hate..
"It's a process that I had to figure out, of how to handle negative comments. When I was younger, I would just sit there and read every single one and obviously, it was awful. There were times when I felt like people were physically putting their hands through the computer and really hurting me on purpose.There's days where I'm like, in my mind, ‘I wish I could tell this person something!' But it's not going to accomplish anything. It's just going to be me sinking down to their level and a never-ending battle of hiding behind a computer screen."If someone compliments me on my eye makeup, I get really excited, because I can only see out of one eye, so I'm literally putting makeup on blind."
You think you have issues with your looks then you see a lady like this and feel foolish and ungrateful...  More photos below




She also has over 90,000 followers on instagram who tell her how beautiful she is and encourage her






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The leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has dared Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, to be prepared to meet him on the battle field.

Asari-Dokubo, who dismissed the threat by the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, against President Goodluck Jonathan, warned that 2015 would be “more than do-or-die.”

The Niger Delta region former fighter, who spoke Thursday night during a strategic partnership session with former militant leaders organised  by the Niger Delta Development Commission, recalled how Shekau threatened that the violent Islamic sect would soon come for President Jonathan.

Asari-Dokubo cautioned that the people of Niger Delta would not be deterred by any threat to them or President Jonathan and added that the 2015 election remained a challenge to the survival of the people of the region.

He said, “They are starting oo! Shekau (Boko Haram leader) said in his video that we should not play with them. He said ‘Goodluck, I am coming for you. Niger Delta, we are coming for you.’ Are we going to allow them? They will shoot the guns; throw the bombs and that is when we will dance.

“2015 is more than do-or-die. It is our very survival that is being challenged; it is our very existence that is being challenged and we must tell them; you are a man and I am a man, we are going to meet at the battlefield. Be prepared, be watchful. The enemies should not be allowed. In this region, there will be only one vote.”

Asari-Dokubo also dismissed the call by the North for the scrapping of NDDC and the reduction of 13 percent derivation to five percent, adding that such call from the North will be ignored.

According to him, “The people from the North have said that NDDC should be scrapped. They said 13 percent derivation should be reduced to five percent and that nobody owns oil.

“We have to gather again and tell them (North) that they dare not do it (scrap NDDC and reduce derivation). If they (North) try it now, they will see it. It is because our brother is the President; that is why we are hanging it (peaceful).”

Calling on the NDDC to empower the people of the Niger Delta region, Asari-Dokubo lamented a situation where huge contracts were awarded to non-Niger Delta indigenes without consideration for the people of the region.




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The Legusen of Ode Ule Kingdom, Ogun State, Oba Adedayo Adekoya, doubles as the Oba of Isese Agbaye, which is an umbrella body for traditional worshippers. The monarch, who is also a medical doctor, tells GBENRO ADEOYE why he’s into Isese

Since when have you been the Legusen (Oba) of Ode Ule Kingdom?

There are three institutions that I represent. First of all, the Ode Ule institution, the Isese Agbaye institution and the Diaspora institution. I became the Legusen of Ode Ule in 1991. I was appointed by the Legusen clan to be their head in December 1991 and on April 28, 1992, I became recognised by the then Alaye Ode system. Ode Ule and Ode Remo now exist separately. So we now have Ode Ule and Ode Remo.

What does it mean to be the Oba Isese Agbaye (worldwide)?

During pre-independence era and the amalgamation processes, the colonial masters didn’t allow our people to express themselves. Our people tried to register the traditional religions but they couldn’t, the colonialists only made them to register the medicinal aspect. When I became a Board Chairman for Ogun State Council of Arts and Culture, I mobilised Isese people. Isese is the umbrella name for all our traditional worshippers – Ifa, Sango, Babalawo, Alagbede, Alagemo and so on. So through that, I got to get close to them. I was installed as the Oba Isese Agbaye in 2002. You know, I have both indigenous and western education because I’m also a babalawo (herbalist) as well as a trained medical practitioner. I trained at the medical school, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

As a medical doctor, how did you emerge as the Oba Isese Agbaye?

I was the president then. I asked the babas and mamas to consult and bring their head and that I would give them the logistic support. Then, they asked me to come to Ile Ife to see who they had chosen, so I went there. I was so eager to see who it was. When everyone had assembled, they told me that I was the one and asked me to sit down on the seat prepared for the Oba. That was how I was installed as the Oba Isese Agbaye. I never expected it.

So what is a medical doctor doing as the head of a religion generally believed to be archaic?

Which part of it is archaic? Is it the one that tells you to go and pay 10 per cent of your money to somebody you don’t see that is modern?

How did you become an Isese person?

I’m an Isese man by birth. My parents were Christians, they went to Christian schools. In fact, my mother held a position in the Methodist church. But for me, I’ve always been an Isese man. The only thing that attracted me to church then was to see oyinbo (white man), so I stopped going when Oyinbo stopped coming.

Didn’t your parents object or try to dissuade you from becoming a traditionalist?

They couldn’t. They knew I was doing the right thing. When my father was born, on the third day, they consulted Ifa divination and Ifa said this one would not follow you to the farm; he would write. The man finished the whole of the Arabic book then and there was nothing to do again, so they took him to a Christian secondary school. He finished the levels within four years. At the 100 years anniversary of his alma mater, the man won the school’s all time best. He had nine bachelor degrees at that time because master’s degrees were not common in his time. He was always taking correspondence courses and had many degrees. Can such a man tell somebody not to follow a prediction that was made?

But don’t you feel awkward practising Isese in this age and time?

We’ve realised that we actually started what people call civilisation now. At Iho-Eleru near Akure, Ondo State, there is a cave where they found the skulls and skeletons of humans that lived in that cave. They dated it to 13,000 years ago, about 11,000 BC. If in my place, somebody was living 13,000 years ago and in a book, they recorded that Adam and Eve started the zero point arbitrarily at 3,500BC, do you want me to believe the person that lived 3,500BC is my father? Is there any sense in that? This is scientifically proven. You know in that story of Adam and Eve, after Cain killed Abel and ran away and got married somewhere, did he marry his sister? He went to other people that were already existing. So in other words, humanity did not begin with Adam and Eve. It was a convenient point for the Jews to start their history. Their history is not my history. Our history dates farther back than that. People crossed the Suez canal more than 100,000 years ago to go and populate the world. If people crossed the canal to populate Asia, Americas, the far east over 100,000 years ago, and you are saying 3,500BC is our starting point. I think it’s not right. Isese is what it was at the beginning.

 Islam and Christianity believe in heaven and hell. Does Isese have a similar belief?

Those things are concepts to make you docile. In Isese, we believe that the material and the spiritual world are coexisting but at different cosmic energy levels. What they are calling heaven is here with us, it’s just that they may be at a cosmic level that you may not realise it. What we are saying is that the nature that exists all over the place does not end where our technology ends. There are technologies that we cannot yet perceive. When people make technological discoveries, it is because they are able to pick them. What is not there, can you discover it? So it means we have developed a sensory mode to get those things gradually.

How are you able to balance orthodox medicine with traditional medicine?

What is orthodox? Orthodoxy is about location. When you say something is orthodox, it means that is what is practised there. So African medical practice is orthodox in Africa, European medical practice is orthodox in Europe. When you take African medical practice to Europe, then it becomes unorthodox. So what you’re asking is how unorthodox European medicine is mergable with the orthodox African medicine? Religion has nothing to do with medicine. The practice of orthodox African medicine in Africa is very simple. For instance, somebody had a stroke and we got some leaves from the backyard and made a concoction of herbs, and then gave her to drink. The blood pressure was 234/130 and she took the drink and her blood pressure came down within two hours. I’m a student of Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Ibadan. The leaves are there in our backyard and they are things that are available and indigenous to us. If somebody has a transverse lie in obstetrics where the baby is lying across, instead of cephalic rotation or doing a caesarean section, I take wasp herb and rub it on the belly and the baby rotates and the woman delivers honeypotlly. That means in another nine months, if she gets close to her husband, she can have another baby. But with CS, I will tell her to wait for another three or four years. We are missing a lot.

Does that mean that you have abandoned the kind of medicine you studied in the university?

No, that is the problem we are having. Putting a barrier between one form of knowledge and another is foolish. If we are going to use wisdom, if I learn something from you, will I say that because I already learnt from one, I will not use the one I learnt from you? I will combine them. You are only better off when you are able to combine both. Prior to this time, I would ask you which form of treatment you want, indigenous African system, western or both? Quite a number of people will say they are not sure of the indigenous treatment, so I use western. Some will prefer indigenous medicine.  So it depends on the choice of the patient. From my experience, there are limitations to all of them. So what we do is to complement. We are sad about doctors who think everything that is local is rubbish.

Doctors say some of the components of herbal medicine can damage organs

Some say we claim that herbal medicine treats all ailments. How about our dear Ampiclox? When your eye is discharging, you use Ampiclox. When your ear is discharging, you use Ampiclox. So it’s not only in the traditional African medicine that you have multiplicity of effects, it is also in western medicine. It is because the same thing could be the cause and manifesting in various forms. The effect of staphylococcus aureus on your skin is different from the effects it has in the intestine.

When in school, did any of your friends taunt you because of your religion?

In fairness to them, my colleagues were fantastic. I was the chairman of the medical students on our floor, I was so popular.

What about your children, what do they think about Isese?

They are all practising Isese.

What about discrimination, do they face it in school?

Yes, for instance, somebody is supposed to fill a form in school and they asked him to provide sureties. Either a reverend of a church or imam and I asked how about Isese? That is discrimination. We are grossly being discriminated against.

Does Isese community have representatives at the ongoing confab?

No, we were not invited. Nobody even thought of us. And one could be so infuriated that how can you be deciding for 70 per cent of the population and you are not inviting their representative. I can’t just imagine it. If it happened when Europeans were colonial masters, we would have understood, but coming from Nigerians is very painful that we are still doing this to ourselves.

Does the government even know about Isese?

There is a letter here to President Goodluck Jonathan, a letter to the former secretary to the government, Ahmed Yayale, and they responded. We have been  communicating and it‘s so saddening and we feel very concerned. Whenever we ask for any project, they just ignore us. It’s like they hate us. How can you hate 60 to 70 per cent of your society and expect that society to work? Between 1850 and 1914, when they were preparing to merge Nigeria, we knew that the southern economy was supplementing northern economy by about £100,000 even before amalgamation, which was why they decided to merge the north and the south. All those things that were done then were done without involving Isese people.

When you say 60-70 per cent, do you mean that people who practise Isese are that many?

One, there are many who strictly practise Isese. Two, there are those that are for Isese but facially with other religions. Three, there are those of other religions that use Isese practices. When our forefathers wanted to register Isese and there was a brick wall, they synchronised with other religions like our people did while in slavery. We have St. Michael who is a representative of Ogun in Cuba, we have another saint who is a representative of Sango in Brazil. Those that practise and those that are clandestinely practising, in fact, will form more than 90 per cent of the people.

 If  you were at the confab now, what are things you would be advocating for?

 I would be advocating that we should go  back to the basics-our indigenous way of life. We will never develop by using the western way of life because they developed their indigenous ways of life. Once you don’t believe in yourself, how can you survive? The indigenous way of life is to adapt what is available in your environment to your needs. The interesting thing about Nigerian languages is that they started from Usen language. Ear is eti in Yoruba, nti in Igbo, ewure in (Yoruba is ewu). So there are 510 variance of Usen languages that we call Nigerian languages. So my suggestion is that we should employ people to write our vocabularies and put them on excel. You find that everything will pack into not more than 20 synonyms. So the languages become synonyms that will be in our dictionary. Employ 10,000 people to compile and pay them minimum wage and at the end of the day, we would have got a common Usen language for Nigeria.

Some people believe that traditional religious worship is associated with ritualism and killing.

That is stereotype, so I will urge people to take time to study what Isese is all about. Isese is the path of eternal truth. When you follow Isese, you will not kill or steal. It is only with Isese people that you can sleep and close your eyes because once they say their word, it’s their bond.

Your father allowed you to go ahead to practise Isese, can you do the same for your children if they decide to practise another religion?

None of them will do that because they already know what it means. My own reaction is that I will just call them to say look, you know this now. You know that what you are calling Islam and others started from Isese. Do you want to book a first class or second class? It doesn’t sound to reason?

Are there things that you miss doing since you became the Oba?

People miss things when they didn’t do what they should do at the right period. But when you do things when you should, you won’t miss anything like that. I had the best of things at all times. I did everything I should. There is no part of the human being that I’ve not successfully operated. I worked in the smallest unit of health delivery as a one-man clinic to a health centre, general hospital and a teaching hospital. I was deeply into sports and I played for Water Corporation Football Club, Ibadan. We were the only team that beat Hafia of Guinea when Hafia was really a tough team. I think we beat them three-nil or so here and they took us to Yamoussoukro and beat us five-nil because they put werepe (a plant that causes itching) in the tunnel. Those were memorable times.

How many wives do you have?

There are some things you don’t count in tradition. When I took over, I inherited 107 wives. And fortunately, all of them were very old. The system is such that you inherit these old women and most of them belonged to Obas that lived long before I was born. So I took over the Legusen dynasty and took over the women.  In the Legusen system, nobody knows who is the son of who or the daughter of who. Because when you are born, you are nursed by the oloris (queens). For instance, my grandfather did not know his mother until it was very late. Once you’re mature enough, you are weaned off your mother’s Bosom s and you go to other mothers whose Bosom s you continue sucking till you are even 18 years old.

18 years?

Yes. That’s why it was easy for people to tell others that they sucked the same Bosom s.

Source: Punch





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Leading CNN news anchor Aisha Sesay and US music star, Janelle Monae today learnt their voices to the growing campaign for the release of abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno. Continue...










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Megastar, Jennifer Lopez says the Hollywood life of going under the knife to adjust body form isn’t for her. In a recent interview with 2DayFM, the stunning mother of two says she does everything within her power to keep her hot rear-end in shape but would never do surgery as it terrifies her, saying one can keep it in good shape by working out and living healthy.
“Anything that is except plastic surgery. I am terrified of anything like that. I think you can do it with eating healthy things and working out” she said

She also said as a lady, there are days she feels fat but dresses as the day presents itself
“For sure I have those days (fat days). When you have such days, dress for those days”




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BBC reporter Nkem Ifejika shared photos from the scene of last night's blast this morning. This madness has got to stop! See more photos after the cut...










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Back in England two decades ago, popular daughter of billionaire businessman  Olorongun Michael Ibru, Elvina Ibru won an unusual beauty contest. She was crowned the Miss Big and Beautiful Competition UK. At her peak, Elvina weighed all of 210 kgs. Fast forward to today, the former singer now weighs 115kg and she's oozing so much sexiness with her new figure.
 
Read Elvina excitedly talk about her massive weightloss journey with TheNation in a new interview, how a lot of Nigerian men wanted to father her babies and how much she hates being married. Interview seems long but is very interesting and quite revealing. I couldn't cut any part out to make it shorter.
Excerpts:
You won an international beauty pageant because of your big size, why are you slimming down?
 I think Gloria, my elder sister, started it. Initially, she was the biggest amongst us all. She started losing weight first. Then I was getting bigger by the day. So two years ago, after Gloria inspired me with her gradual weight loss, I started telling myself that I could do it too. I guess what eventually triggered it off was that I had been big all my life but I never had any sickness or illness. It got to a point when I was beginning to feel sluggish. I felt I was suddenly trapped in my own body. There were some things that I had always loved to do, but my body was just not responding.
So I was asking myself, what was happening in my body? Also I was feeling little ache at my back, and I just had a little son. So I asked myself how I was going to be enjoying and playing with my little son when I could not even lift my body.

 



Elvina with her sisters and Monalisa Chinda

So it was not really about being prettier or being more beautiful that I lost weight. It was more about my health. Though I never had health challenges attached to my former weight.

At my biggest, I weighed 210 kg and I am 5 feet 11. That is a very large person! But I didn’t have ailments like diabetes, cholesterol or hypertension except for the small ache at my back. I didn’t want a situation where I had to get to where I became unhealthy. So I had to nip in the bud, the overweight. I cannot now talk about my diet because I am not through yet. I still want to go down 16-20 more kg. That is the size I feel I should keep, not because that is what health experts say, but what I feel I want. 
But do you mean that you are still intending to reduce further than this?
Yeah, but people are asking me why I want to do that, because my size as it is now is quite attractive. I feel better now though; I was weighing 210 kg then. Presently it is 115. So I have lost about 95kg. If I can get to 100kg or 95kg, then I will be very happy. When I get to that point yeah, I can share my diet recipe and perhaps help some other people who are in such situation that I have been. All my life, I have been struggling with weight. It is not easy.






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Recent actions by a billionaire owner of a National Basketball Association team and a supporter of a Spanish soccer club have offered the sporting world a stark reminder that racism knows no borders, Reuters reports.

From the Staples Centre hardwood in Los Angeles to La Liga’s manicured pitches and everywhere sport is played at the highest level, the murky undercurrents of racism flow from the stands and suites to the field of play.

On the same weekend a secretly-recorded racist diatribe by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling sparked a firestorm of outrage across the United States, a Villarreal fan tossed a banana at Barcelona’s Dani Alves as he lined up a corner kick.

Alves responded to the taunt by taking a bite of the fruit while the perpetrator was eventually arrested and banned for life.

The 80-year-old Sterling was also banned for life after his shocking remarks showed there were elements of bigotry even among owners of North American professional sports teams.

“We know that this exists,” John Wooten, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation, which monitors diversity in the National Football League, told Reuters. “This is why there are diversity inclusion committees in sports.

“These things exist because that stigma still stands throughout our culture, throughout our country.

“That is why you have to continually stand and fight and deal with it day after day. You have to meet it on all fronts because it comes from all areas.”

Gambling, drugs and homosegxwality have all been hot-button issues for North America’s big four professional sports leagues but nothing has provoked more debate and inflamed passions than the suggestion of racism.

With sponsors fleeing and players in open revolt over Sterling’s racist comments, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver moved quickly to quell the uprising by levying the harshest punishment available under his power.

In addition to the life ban, Sterling was also fined $2.5 million and told that he would have to sell the team he has owned for 30 years.

But while the NBA may rid itself of Sterling, the wider problem of racism exists, according to New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden, who often writes on racism in sports.

“We can focus on this, and they’ll kill Sterling and declare racism dead and we can all go away,” Rhoden said.

“We can say, ‘All good, the Wicked Witch is dead. It’s done. Racism is done. Let’s all go, let’s watch the games.

“I think what this has really done is taken the veil off it.”

From the gridiron to tennis courts, racism has manifested in many forms, both subtle and overt.

Despite protests, vigorous lobbying and even intervention from President Barack Obama, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has vowed not to change the name of his National Football League team, considered offensive by many Native American groups.

Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians have also refused to bend to similar pressure.

Confederate flags, which to many Americans is an unsettling symbol of slavery and segregation, proudly flutter from motor homes at NASCAR races while the NFL is expected to introduce a 15-yard penalty for players who use racial slurs.

Serena and Venus Williams, two of the biggest names in women’s tennis, continue to boycott Indian Wells, one of the biggest events on the sport’s calendar, after their father claimed racial slurs were directed at him during the 2001 edition of the tournament.

Sport has often been on the frontlines in the fight against racism, Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s colour barrier in 1947 and Willie O’Ree doing the same in the National Hockey League in 1958.

But, despite decades of affirmative action, many avenues to good jobs remain blocked for minorities, forcing leagues to put in place hiring and educational programs.

With no minorities currently racing at NASCAR’s top level, the series has developed a ‘Drive for Diversity’ program while the NFL requires teams to interview at least one minority for head coaching and senior football operation jobs.

Each season Major League Baseball celebrates Robinson’s legacy by having players from every team wear his number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day with the purpose of educating fans about the Hall of Famer’s accomplishments.

After Sterling’s rant it was suggested on social media and in newspaper columns that if he wanted to avoid associating with black people he should sell the Clippers and buy a team in the NHL, which has the smallest percentage of African-Americans among the four major professional leagues in the United States.

In an attempt to reach out to minorities, the NHL developed a diversity program which is a major component of the league’s “Hockey is for Everyone” initiative.

“Great, great things have been accomplished but there is still much work to be done,” said Wooten, a former NFL player with the Cleveland Browns and Redskins. “I think we have to continue to work from that point.

“The whole thing about racism is lack of respect.

“I think NFL has done a marvellous job, baseball is doing better, I think what Adam Silver did was outstanding just in terms of taking a stand.

“I think the world will look at this and understand that this is the way this has to be dealt with.”





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When on Wednesday 29-year-old Saheed Badmus went to a viewing centre on Lamina Street, Egbe, Lagos State, to watch the UEFA Champions League semi-final match between Chelsea Football Club and Atletico Madrid, little did he know that was the last match he would ever watch.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the graduate of Ekiti State Polytechnic was stabbed to death by a barber identified only as Yemi, during an argument that broke out at the viewing centre.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Thursday, observed a large crowd on the street talking about the incident.

Saheed’s friends took our correspondent to a portion of the street where spinkles of Saheed’s blood could be seen.

They told PUNCH Metro that passions were high at the viewing centre as most of the Chelsea fans were desperate to see their team qualify.

It was learnt that during the match, Saheed stood up and Yemi shouted at him and told him to sit down as he was blocking him from viewing the match on the screen.

An elderly man was said to have cautioned Yemi against shouting, but Yemi insulted the elderly man.

A friend to the deceased, Muyideen Waheed, told our correspondent that an argument then ensued between the barber and Saheed.

He said, “Yemi was shouting and one elderly man told him to keep quiet, but he shouted the man down. Saheed then cautioned against shouting at an elderly man. Yemi attacked him.

“The owner of the centre pushed both Yemi and Saheed out of the place and locked them out.”

It was learnt that once they got outside, Yemi picked up a bottle from a nearby pub and stabbed Saheed.

It was learnt that as Saheed ran for his life, Yemi chased him and then stabbed him in the face.

Waheed told PUNCH Metro that when some of the viewers came out, they saw the deceased’s lying in a pool of blood.

He said they rushed him to two hospitals, but he was rejected.

He said, “There was power failure and everywhere was dark. Most of us were inside the viewing centre, so we did not hear Saheed scream. When we came out, we saw him lying in a pool of blood. We rushed him to Obeeh Hospital, but he was rejected. We then took him to Bisalam Hospital, but he was referred to Igando General Hospital.

“On getting to Igando, he was pronounced dead.”

Residents described Yemi as a violent man who had on several occasions attacked youths in the area.

While lifting up his shirt, Waheed said, “You see this scar on my chest. It was a stab wound inflicted on me by Yemi.”

Our correspondent, who visited Saheed’s mother’s house, learnt that he was her youngest son.

The mother, Isiwatu, while weeping profusely, said she was pained that she did not live to reap the fruit of her labour.

“My son was a gentle man. We lived together and he was responsible. I still saw him on Wednesday before he went to watch the match. I struggled to send him to school and now, all is wasted. He had no wife and child.

“Yemi has stolen my joy and I want him arrested and sentenced to death for his crime. This was not a case of two people fighting. It was  an outright murder.”

It was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.

When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.

Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.

He said, “I hardly see my son. Sometimes, I don’t see him for as long as three months. He just came to my house last night (Wednesday), crying. He told me that he had stabbed someone at a viewing centre.

“I reported him to the police. I don’t know why he went to watch the match in the first place. What kind of trouble is all this?

“When I saw the picture of the boy he stabbed, I shed tears because it is every parent’s worst nightmare.”

One killed while celebrating goal

Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that another person, identified as Destiny Ameh, lost his life at another viewing centre in the Badagry area of the state.

A police source told our correspondent that the victim was struck in the head with a sharp object while celebrating a goal.

The source said, “Around 8.30pm, one Destiny Ameh was allegedly hit with an object by an unidentified person while watching a match between Chelsea FC and Atletico Madrid at a viewing centre along Sofoluwe Street, Magbon, Badagry Expressway, Magbon, Badagry.

“He was rushed to Victoria Private Hospital where he was confirmed dead. The owner of the viewing centre has been arrested.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, was learnt that after killing the deceased, Yemi fled to his father’s home, but his father alerted the police and he was arrested by policemen from the Ikotun Police Division.

When our correspondent visited the police station, Yemi was seen writing his statement.

Yemi’s father, who refused to identify himself, described his son as a troublemaker and wondered where he got the behaviour from.

Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached for comment.

Punch:





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Several months after the President of the Script Writers Guild of Nigeria, Chike Bryan, was diagnosed with a kidney ailment at the General Hospital in Isolo, Lagos, he is still in dire need of a transplant.

Investigation shows that in spite of attempts by Bryan’s friends and colleagues at the SWGN to raise money to fund the treatment of his ailment, preferably in India, not much progress has been made.

In an interview with our correspondent, the secretary of the SWGN, Stanley Okoronkwo said the Guild had made several efforts to raise funds for their ailing president, but in vain.

He said, “After we wrote to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and requested financial assistance from him, Chike was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for assessment of his case. He was assessed and diagnosed with a kidney ailment.

“Before then, he was given a wrong diagnosis in some local hospitals and this made it difficult for us to initially detect the cause of his illness. But we have not received a positive response from the state government, with regard to funding. The bills for the tests and medical assessment he has undergone at LASUTH were paid by us.”

Okoronkwo added that Bryan’s condition grew worse in 2013 and ever since, he has been receiving a weekly dialysis at the Isolo hospital. Meanwhile, the SWGN has set up a committee to raise the sum of N10m for his treatment abroad.

“We appeal to government and well-meaning Nigerians to help save the life of Chike Bryan,” Okoronkwo said.




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The governorship  candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, says Governor Rauf Aregbesola will soon be jailed.

 He said this in Osogbo on Thursday at a programme organised by the PDP to present him to the public as the candidate of the party for the August 9, 2014.

Omisore, who was obviously referring to Aregbesola as an ex-prisoner who could not unseat him, accused the governor of forging some documents.

Although he did not disclose the document which he allegedly forged, he said that the governor would be jailed for this act.

He said, “ We know that Ogbeni Aregbesola didn’t win the election but was installed by Salami. We have to push him out on August 9.

“The documents he forged, the case is in Abuja; and that is why he is fretting because he knows that he has begun his journey to the prison, where he belongs.

“ I won’t engage him in any altercation because we are not mates. Aregbesola was a common thug when we were mobilising members for the Alliance for Democracy.”

The PDP governorship candidate said the current administration had plunged the state into a huge debt due to some projects, which the governor was using as a conduit pipe to siphon the state’s resources.

Omisore also warned the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, against coming to Osun State to manipulate  the governorship poll.

Aregbesola had said that a former prisoner could not unseat him, no matter who was supporting him.

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, in his reaction, described Omisore as a drunken man, who should be ignored.

He said that the PDP would fail in its plans to rig the poll. He said the people of the state were fully supporting the governor.

Oyatomi said, “At last, Omisore let the cat out of the bag. It is no secret anymore that the PDP at the very highest level, has, in Omisore’s own words, ‘concluded arrangement to remove Ogbeni Aregbesola from office’, making the PDP participation in election itself only a sadistic formality.




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Pakistani national, Malala Yousafzai, has called on the federal government to do all it can to rescue the abducted school girls.

16-year-old Malala made the call while speaking with the Hausa Service of the BBC saying that the government should know that it is its responsibility to rescue the abducted school girls who were captured on April 14 by members of Boko Haram sect.She said, “I was depressed to hear the news that female schoolgirls were abducted; the world should put all hands on deck to rescue the innocent girls from the Boko Haram sect.

“Female education is compulsory and their responsibility is on all tiers of government. Islam accepts female education and any person that is against that is not a true Muslim,” she said.

Malala is a Pakistani school pupil and education activist who was shot by the Taliban on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, while she was boarding a bus to school. A gunman asked for Malala by name, then pointed a Colt
45 at her and fired three shots. One bullet hit the left side of Malala’s forehead, travelled under her skin the length of her face and then into her shoulder.

The attack drew worldwide condemnation and sparked a national and international outpouring of support for Malala. She had been an activist for rights to education and for women, especially in Afghanistan.

Since the attempt on her life, Malala has become a symbol for girl education and she traverse the globe speaking for increased education for girls. She has risen in prominence, giving interviews in print and on television, and was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize by South African activist Desmond Tutu. She has won numerous prizes for her exemplary stance in pursuit of education.

Cameroun, Niger, Chad Behind Insurgency – SenatorsEmotion ran high on the floor of the Senate yesterday as the senators took turns to bemoan the fate of the abducted female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, Borno State. The girls were abducted on April 14.

Senators Mohammed Magor, Ahmed Zannah, Ali Ndume and Maji Maina Lawal pondered the harrowing experiences of the abducted girls, accusing the neighbouring countries of Cameroun, Niger and Chad of aiding and abetting the insurgency in the country.

The senators, who were returning from a recess, debated a motion sponsored by the leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and 108 others on the abduction of 234 female schoolchildren in Chibok on April 14, 2014, by the Boko Haram insurgents.

Some of the senators alleged internal sabotage within the security agencies deployed to the north-east region of the country to fight the Boko Haram terrorists. They lamented that the security operatives had failed to achieve the purpose for which they were sent there.

Sequel to the motion, however, the Senate urged the federal government and all security agencies to intensify efforts to immediately rescue the students. It also urged the federal government and the security agencies to seek the cooperation and aid of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Organisation to deploy advanced technological measures, including dialogue, towards rescuing the abducted children safely.



 

Leading a debate on the motion, Senator Ndoma-Egba said, “The Senate notes with grief the inhuman abduction of secondary school girls in Chibok, Borno State, by alleged Boko Haram terrorists.

“Senate also notes that, just when the country was nursing its grief caused by the rush-hour bombing of a bus park in the nation’s capital, Abuja, which killed over 75 people and wounded dozens more, the country was struck yet with another devastating blow: the abduction of about 234 girls from their school in Chibok.

“Senate notes that on April 15, 2014, the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, was attacked when militants broke into the school, shooting the guards and abducting a large number of students in trucks into the Sambisa forest, a known hideout for the Boko Haram sect.

“The Senate is disappointed that, two weeks after their disappearance, the girls’ whereabouts are still unknown. And about 44 escaped by jumping from the back of the truck used to ferry them away or by sneaking out of the abductors’ camp deep inside the Sambisa forest.

“The Senate is hopeful that the offer of assistance by governments of the United States of America and the United Kingdom to rescue the students would come with all the required technology including the deployment of the drones, which the United States had used to great positive effect to tracking/fighting terrorism elsewhere.”

Contributing to the motion, Senator Ahmad Zannah, representing Borno Central, informed the Senate that the insurgents had moved the girls to Cameroun and Chad, expressing pessimism on the ability of the security operatives to rescue the girls from their captors.

Zannah, who gave a graphic detail of the movement of the insurgents with the abducted girls, said that it was lack of willingness on the part of the military operatives to combat the insurgency that led to the escalation of the menace.

He told the Senate that he constantly furnished the security with information on the itinerary of the Boko Haram insurgents to enable forces track them down, but they never acted on his information: “I rise to adopt this motion passionately, based on the ages of the girls that were involved and the human lives that have suffered as a result of this unfortunate development. Since the beginning of this crisis, I have kept mute on this issue as far as press releases and press interviews are concerned.

“I have been constantly in touch with the security agencies, telling them the developments, the movement of the girls from one place to the other and then the splitting of the girls and eventually the marriage of these girls by the insurgents. What bothers me most is that whenever I inform them where these girls are, after two to three days, they would be moved from that place to another and, still, I would go back and inform them that, see, this is what is happening.

“I lost hope two days ago, when I found out that some of them were moved to Chad and Cameroon.

Actually, some of them moved through the Mandara Mountain that is in Gwoza and some of them are just a stone’s throw from their barracks.

“It all depends on their willingness. If the state of emergency was extended… I was interviewed by the press on whether the military would succeed, and I said yes, if there was willingness, they would. Their number is not all that much as being touted and without cooperation from certain groups of people within the security agencies, there is no way these people would survive like this.

“But when we talk, they will say we are against them, we are exposing them, we are demoralising their troops. These are the facts. So unless there is spirit of seriousness on the part of our military, we have no hope of getting those girls. Even if we are going to get them, we are going to get them in trickles — maybe getting two, three, four, and five. They are now scattered. So it is not possible for us to get 50, 60,100 in one particular position. This is the position as at today.”

Also, senators Ayogu Eze, Kabiru Gaya, Ahmed Lawan, Nemadi Usman, Ganyiu Solomon, Mohammed Magoro and Ehigie Uzamere all expressed concern on the matter, calling on the government and the security agencies to put more effort in the raging battle against terrorism in the land.

6 killed in Adamawa attackAs the debate for or against the extension of emergency rule in Adamawa and other states intensified, about six persons were on Monday night killed when gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked Kubla village of Madagali local government area of Adamawa State, burning churches and private buildings.
Some residents of the affected village who fled the area claimed that they were attacked in the wee hours of Monday, even as the attackers operated unchallenged for hours.

The residents said that the gunmen stormed the area and used sophisticated weapons during the attack that lasted for hours.

We’re working to rescue abducted girls – DHQThe Defence Headquarters has said that the security tactics being used by the military to rescue the abducted schoolgirls cannot be disclosed to everyone despite the criticism by Nigerians.

Defence spokesman Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade told the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that the security forces were working to track down the kidnappers of the final-year students of GGSS, Chibok, Borno State.

He said “The concern and anxiety from all quarters is quite understandable. Be assured that as much as the forces may not disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, every information received on the subject is duly analysed and acted upon as necessary.

“No information is being ignored in the concerted effort to ensure the safety and freedom of the girls. What we need from Nigerians is prayer for success”.

Borno women besiege NASSDemand for the rescue of the abducted 234 students of GGSS, Chibok, reached a climax yesterday in Abuja as about 200 women under the aegis of the Women Wing of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Abuja, besieged the National Assembly to register their grievances.

The women further demanded to see the Senate president, David Mark, and speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

The protesters marched from Eagle Square to the National Assembly followed by armed policemen.
At the gate of the NASS, police operatives wanted to stop them from gaining access to the complex but the angry protesters defied all persuasions.

The arrival of the women group at the security post caused confusion among the policemen who shut the gate but quickly flung it open.

Addressing the protesters, Senator Barnabas Gemade, speaking on behalf of the Senate president, David Mark, said the Senate was not sleeping over the abduction.

Gemade said, “We are saddened by this development but because of this debate that is going on on the floor of the Senate, he (Senate president) has asked three of us to come here and assure you that the Senate is not sleeping; Senate is not reneging on its responsibility but is working very hard to ensure that something is done very urgently on this matter.

Senator Zainab Kure, who spoke in Hausa, said it was time for more action. She said that all necessary steps would be taken to intensify efforts to rescue the children.

The protesting women, dressed in black, carried placards which read: “Students Abducted: Parents Crying; Nigeria, We Depend on Your Strength; Save our Daughters, Please; A Vacuum Created, Help” and “Let The World Know That The Government Is Silent On Abducted Students”, among others.

The leader of the women, Mrs Naomi Nyadar, said they were dismayed at the level of effort being made by the government towards saving the lives of their children. “As far as we are concerned, we are not satisfied, so they should do more,” she said, adding that, at their own level, they have done anything within their limit to ensure that the government responded to their plights over the abduction of their children.

Chibok: Reps seek foreign assistance to free schoolgirlsThe House of Representatives has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to seek foreign assistance to free the schoolgirls.

The lawmakers also summoned the country’s security service chiefs for a closed-door briefing on the abduction which has now attracted international attention. No date was announced for their appearance.
These were fallouts of a motion on the abductions sponsored by Hon. Peter Biye Gumtha (Borno/APC).
The attack and subsequent abductions in Chibok on April 14 have been attributed to the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Gumtha told lawmakers that, two weeks after the schoolgirls were driven away from their boarding school in the middle of the night, parents are desperate for news of their daughters.

“Parents of the abducted girls are yet to receive any reliable information from the security agencies on the whereabouts of their children,” the lawmakers stated at Tuesday’s plenary.

Boko Haram Members Are Cowards – CANThe Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described the members of the Boko Haram sect as cowards of the highest order who engage in killing innocent people in the country.

The CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who made this known during his visit to the headquarters of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) stated that the insurgents pretend to give impression that they are religious people, which they are not.

He said, “How can you go to motor parks and kill innocent people? If you are serious about war, should you kill innocent people, drivers and travellers? It is so wrong”.






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Tchidi shared this photo a few minutes ago...Cute couple





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This photo was posted by the guy who they say deleted his social media account due to the back lash ..Speechless...





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We were all wondering why Robin Thicke and Paula Patton split after 23 years together & 8 years of marriage(they started dating when he was 14 and she 15). According to Star Magazine, they did have an open relationship with a massage therapist called Jasmine with whom they regularly had threesomes with .But she was shocked to find out her husband and Jasmine were sleeping together behind her back ..Star claims their source took a lie detector test before spilling this info
"Paula felt betrayed and humiliated by both Robin and Jasmine.These were two people she thought she could trust the most, but in the end everything backfired on her.Robin pushed Paula to allow Jasmine into the bedroom with them in order to spice up their sex life, and she reluctantly agreed in an attempt to keep him happy,”
Paula supposedly gave her husband of eight years another chance, and banned Jasmine from their home, but she couldn’t put her suspicions behind her and eventually the end of their marriage was announced in February this year





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Awww so Romantic..She is usually very private but these days she is opening up and interacting ...
I know where ever he is, he is sure running home to her#Love




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With the Basketball Commission forcing L.A Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell his team following his racist audio tape scandal, several high-profile black celebrities have shown interest in buying the team. Oprah Winfrey, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Floyd Mayweather and Magic Johnson have all shown interest, especially Oprah.

Sterling, however, says his team is not for sale and won't go down without a fight. The 81 year old, who has not issued a public apology yet, bought the Clippers for $12 million in 1981. Today they are worth a staggering $575 million. Oprah is worth over $3billion...so she's capable.

The only way Sterling can be forced to give up his team is if 3/4 of the NBA owners agree to the sale.






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