Peak Celebrates 60 years of Nourishing Goodness

Nigeria’s foremost dairy company, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC celebrates its top brand, Peak milk at 60. The colorful milestone celebration of 60 years of nourishing goodness was staged inside the magnificent Zinnia hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday, 23rd of May 2015. 

A  reader said he was heading home with a friend on Sunday when he spotted a physically challenged man being harassed by Road Safety officials close to Headsbridge in Onitsha. He said they stopped to

A mobile policeman in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, allegedly shot a 34-year-old Adamu Mohammed, over an argument of N2,000 unpaid fees for a menial job.

The Federal government has released N5billion for the purchase of stoves for rural women across the country, under the National Clean Cooking Scheme, a programme launched by FG to discourage the use of Firewood for cooking.

Announcing the release of the funds, Minister of Environment, Laurientia Mallam, speaking during an inspection visit to the Velodrome at the National Stadium, Abuja, where some of the 750,000 stoves were being assembled, said the stoves will be distributed through the various Ministries of Environment.

President-elect Buhari at his farm in this morning

Buhari visited his farm in Daura, Katsina state this morning. More photos after the cut....

What a miserable man. Burundi president, Pierre Nkurunziza appears not to be bordered with the ongoing civil unrest, destruction and deaths happening in his country over his third term bid. He was photographed playing football with his close associates yesterday May 20th. More pics after the cut..

A Nigerian, Sunday Iwalaiye has started a petition on change.org calling on authorities of Yale University to withdraw the Honorary Degree it bestowed on Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on May 15th.

Sunday, in his petition stated that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is not deserving of the honorary degree as the Nigerian economy has taken a nose dive since she assumed office as Minister of Finance. A thousand Nigerians have so far signed the petition.

The president of The  Nigeria Labour Congress Mr. Ayuba Wabba and the employees of The National Union of Post and Telecommunication on Wednesday shut down the operations of the Nigerian Postal Services in Abuja to protest an alleged decision of the management (of NIPOST) to compel Level 07 members of staff, numbering over 4,000, to join the Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations, against their wish

Wabba said that the NIPOST management wrote the Accountant General’s Office to send check-off dues deducted from Level 07 officials of the organisation who have been in NUPTE for over 30 years to the SSACTAC.

He said the NIPOST management violated the rights of workers to belong to unions of their choice.

The NLC President also denied a claim by SSACTAC that the matter was before the court and that a prevailing court order had been issued to restrain the NLC from further action.
 

He said: “Section 40 of our Constitution says there is freedom of association. These workers have been members of NUPTE for over 30 years. Overnight, the management transferred them to SSACTAC. Is that law? Freedom of association means workers should decide which union they want to belong; it is not at the whim and caprices of the management.

“The management wrote a letter to the Office of the Accountant General, ceding those members to SSACTAC. They have belonged to NUPTE for over 30 years. These are of our grievances.

“ILO Convention says the workers have a right to the freedom of association. They belong to a union; you must seek their consent. The workers here are protesting because they have ceded them to another union so as to undermine their interest.

“Well, we have not been served. I have not seen any court injunction. That is why we are here. We are respecters of the law. Once we are served and put on notice, we would abide by the law. Nobody told us about any court order.

“Over 4,000 workers were ceded to another union. They belong to NUPTE before now. That is the reason for this picketing.”

The President of SSACTAC told journalists that the affected NUPTE members were members of SSACTAC who were on loan to NUPTE to beef up its finances.
 

He said that the matter was being resolved within NIPOST hence was surprised at the action of the NLC.

On the other hand, the President of NUPTE, Sunday Alhassan, said NIPOST management forced the workers to join another union and went ahead to pay their check-off dues to that union.

 

He said NUPTE had called on the NIPOST management to reverse the decision before the action to picket the office on Wednesday.
 

He said that if the decision was not reversed, NUPTE would be compelled to shut down NIPOST operations all over the country.
 

The Deputy Postmaster General, Human Resources, Mr. Chabiri Ndahi, told the labour leaders and workers that the Postmaster General stayed away from the office during the protest because of concerns over his personal security.
 

The workers, who turned up at the NIPOST headquarters as early as 7am, carried placards which read, ‘Remit our check-off dues to NUPTE’, ‘NUPTE is my union’, ‘It is the exclusive right of NIPOST workers to chose the union they wish to belong’, ‘Postmaster General is violating our right to association’, ‘Anti-labour policies against NUPTE in NIPOST now’, among others.

Sean Tizzle got a new tattoo on his arm and shared this photo of 'Angel of Life' tat on his IG page and captioned it:

Buhari is inheriting the worst economy in Nigeria's history- Osinbajo

Vice President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo says the incoming government will be inheriting an economy that is currently in perhaps its worst moment in Nigeria's history. Professor Osinbajo said this during the opening of a two-day policy dialogue on the implementation of the agenda for change in Abuja today May 20th.

"We are concerned that our economy is currently in perhaps its worst moment in history. Local and international debt stands at $60 billion. Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6 billion, about 21 per cent of our Budget. On account of severely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries. Federal institutions are not in much better shape. Today, the nation borrows to fund recurrent expenditure.
The figures of extreme poverty in our society- 110 million by current estimates- makes it clear that our biggest national problem is the extreme poverty of the majority. Thus, no analysis is required to conclude that dealing with poverty and its implications is a priority. In the course of the election campaign, we ran an issues-based campaign that identified certain areas of public policy as high priorities for propelling Nigeria forward. We addressed the challenges of the economy, insecurity, corruption and jobs creation. We spoke on the challenge of providing opportunities for self-actualization to millions of our young people who face an uncertain future with understandable anxiety. We also addressed the challenge of providing for the most vulnerable segments of our population by equipping them with the tools to emerge from the crippling limitations of poverty to achieve dignified and productive citizenship. This is also against the backdrop of a highly unequal society in which, by some reckoning, the largest chunk of the benefits of our national wealth accrues to a small percentage of our population. Our manifesto offered a vision of shared prosperity and socio-economic inclusion for all Nigerians, that leaves no one behind in the pursuit of a prosperous and fulfilling life. Our goal this morning is to interrogate these positions and propositions before a wider audience and to launch a robust public conversation on policy directions and priorities that will help inform our administration’s approach in the next four years. This forum exemplifies the sort of consultative and consensual approach to policy-making that our party and the new administration intend to model in office.”he said

NOA Lagos cleaner who found $27k awarded N30k & a plaque

Josephine Ugwu, the honest airport cleaner who found and returned $27,000 (N5.4 m) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in January this year, was presented a plaque and a cash gift of N30,000 by the Nigerian Orientation Agency NOA in Abuja on Monday May 18th. The DG of NOA, Mike Omeri presented the award to her and appreciated her for her honesty. Josephine while showing appreciation for the award and cash gift, appealed for a better job.

"I was given N30,000. I was told that is the amount they give in reward for any patriotic act" Josephine said. More photos after the cut...

18 year old Australian, Madeline Stuart was diagnosed with down syndrome but hasn't let that set her back in life. Madeline who is a gymnast and a cheerleader always loved fashion and taking pictures of herself. She decided she wanted to model but was a bit overweight. She decided to lose some weight and actually lost about 50lbs. More photos after the cut...

Madeline says she wants to make sure that everyone, no matter their shape or size, gets the opportunity to model. "People with down syndrome can be sexy and beautiful and should be celebrated," her mother included in a press release.

According to reports, the impeachment against the Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida, may have been dropped as members of the state House of Assembly pushing for the governor’s removal have been allegedly paid N17m each with the additional promise that their other demands would be met as well.

The N17m is said to be part of the allowances they were owed since February.

The speaker said he couldn't confirm this report.

 

However, one of the lawmakers said, “It was not as if the governor bribed us, it is our legal entitlements and we have a right to ask for it before the expiration of our tenure. We have been paid and calm has returned to the assembly complex.” So because they had been paid, they decided against impeaching the Governor, he said.

 

It will be recalled that last week, the lawmakers had sacked the leadership of the assembly and elected a new leadership over a series of allegations including non-implementation of house resolutions, poor staff and members’ welfare and non-release of the statutory allocation to the assembly for months. This, it was learnt, was done to pave the way for the removal of the governor.

 

To frustrate the lawmakers, the governor had headed for the court where he secured an order to restrain the legislators from making any move to impeach him.

 

The House of Assembly was also occupied by security operatives for so many days to prevent the members from entering into the assembly complex to carry out their legislative duties.

 

Due to this, Kawu had threatened to institute a legal action against the Niger State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, over what he described as the illegal occupation of the state House of Assembly by security operatives.

 

Calm seems to have returned and all seems to be well.

Aww, Miley needs a cuddle. The 22-year-old singer and actress, dressed in a unicorn onesie, sang sadly on stage in a video she shared on Facebook. She cried while she sang about her pet fish Pablow.

"Why does everything that I love have to die? If I could do it again, I’d release you to sea because I can’t bear to see someone so wild just die in a tank.”

At the end of the song, she slammed her hands on the keyboard and walked away crying. Her fish died in Feb of this year. She's still mourning it three months later. Where are her friends? See the fish after the cut...

Keri Hilson's boyfriend accidently puts his eggplant on display - See photos

Congolese-Spanish basketball player Serge Ibaka who is currently dating singer Keri Hilson visited students at at the Comanche School District in Oklahoma recently where he gave an inspirational speech and took a selfie with the students. The photo above is what the school released from Serge's time with the students...they cut off the selfie and you can't blame them - because the full photo odikwa dangerous. Lol. Let's see the entire photos after the cut...*wink*

Now let's zoom in...

Let's get even closer...

 

Something about this pic looks familiar...

PICS: GOV ORJI, FAMILY, OTHERS ATTEND VICTORY THANKSGIVING IN UNUAHIA

A victory thanksgiving service has been held in Abia State by the outgoing Government of Chief Theodore Orji to thank God for his numerous blessings to the State over the past years.

The Interdenominational thanksgiving service which held at the new International Conference Centre, Umuahia featured special prayers, songs and thanksgiving.

Speaking at the event, Governor Orji thanked Abians for their massive support over the past years which he said saw him through governance.

According to him, "being governor is not easy as a leader has to endure many things" and thanked God for sanctioning and seeing him through his tenure as Governor.

He appealed to Abians to extend the same support they gave to him to his successor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and expressed optimism that he will do his best in office.

Governor Orji used the forum to appeal to those he may have offended in the course of his job as governor, saying that it was not intentional but done in the interest of the state.

Earlier in his sermon, the Archbishop of Aba ecclesiastical province of the Anglican communion and Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Ikechi Nwosu said that Governor Orji would be remembered for his patience and general development he brought to the State.

According to him, apart from infrastructural development, Governor Orji brought peace, security, healthcare as well as partnered  well with churches in the State in addition to human capacity building especially empowering youths.He reminded Christians that whoever must serve God must pass through test

'I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BECOME FIRST LADY IN MY LIFE' - PATIENCE JONATHAN

First Lady Patience Jonathan says she never thought in her life that she will be the First Lady of Nigeria. She said this during the thanksgiving and farewell service organised by the Aso Villa Chapel for her and her husband, President Jonathan yesterday May 17th. Mrs Jonathan while thanking God, revealed how she survived 12 major operations in the one month. She expressed gratitude to God that she and her husband were leaving the villa alive. What she said after the cut...

"I really thank God for keeping me alive. He is a miraculous God. God is so wonderful in my life, because people prophesied that one of us will not go back (leave the villa alive). But God has made it possible… two of us are going back healthy. I never thought in my life that I will be First Lady. I never dreamt of being wife of a deputy governor because my husband was not a politician. But God made it possible and God lifted us up from deputy governor and here we are. We should be grateful to God for what he has done. To me and my family, we praise God. To our followers, today it might not be too good but I want them to be grateful to God because you have followed us for a long time from deputy governor, governor, vice-president, president. You know this position is not for life. There is no permanent thing, so I want you to take it in good faith, that it is the will of God and you should be praising God. God is really wonderful. That is for the political side. To my own real life, I thank God for keeping me alive today. God is so wonderful. Just two years ago, I went through operations upon operations. Within one month, I passed through 12 operations. Some people said ‘she is dead’ but God resurrected me. God told me ‘my daughter go back I will give you second chance, go and finish your work’. “And today if my husband lost this election I believe God has made me finish the work. This year, my husband was campaigning. That campaigning time was a trial for me. Satan came in again and those that know the former president and his wife, her corpse was carried out of this place. We thank God that I and my husband are going alive.

Thank God today we are parting with life and not with death. Our doors are open. This campaign period, devil struck and came in again. In pains I was rushed to the hospital in January and the doctors told me ‘mama you have to go for major big operation now now. The campaign was still going on and I wondered how we were going to explain to Nigerians. You know even when you go for check-up, they will be writing in papers saying all sorts of things. I said I and my family have to handover. My husband will continue with his campaign crowd until the last day. That was how I went in for the first major operation in January ending. And by God’s grace I went for the operation and came out and it was from that operation that I went to the campaign ground. And they told me mama, there is another bigger operation that you have to go in for. But that this one would not be in this hospital; it is too small for this type of operation. You have to go to a bigger hospital. I said I will go; I have faith in God and that my God will see me through. He has brought me out for a purpose. I called my pastor to continue praying for me. They want me to be a sacrifice, but I will never be. Then, I went to the bigger hospital. I booked for the operation and I was asked to go for the campaign. They gave me a new date. I had paid for everything remaining just to enter the theatre and the thing occurred to the hospital to check me again. By then, my husband had lost the election. I have packed out of Villa, we are about going. Behold! I went to four hospitals again (for screening) and the thing vanished. My doctors were surprised they didn’t think that could happen.” she said

Press statement from Jim Nwobodo following an Abuja court order asking him to vacate his rented apartment. Read below...

A former Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, has criticized the judgment of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, which ordered him to vacate his rented apartment in Maitama saying the Court erred in law.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday in Abuja, counsel to Nwobodo, Mr. Amobi Nzelu, said his clent has been residing in the property situated at 24 Ona Crescent, Plot 768 Cadastral Zone A5, Maitama Abuja for a very long time.

He wondered why the respondent decided to release the judgment to the press after two months but did not inform the media that he has gone to appeal against the judgment.

The respondent, Adin Miles International Limited, was said to have sometime in 2008 bought the property from one Alhaji Al-Mustapha Abubakar who had earlier leased the property to Nwobodo.

Nzelu said, "It is not about non-payment of rent as was wrongly reported in the media. My client was ready to pay rent. He was negotiating for an outright sale. The man that bought this property is a fellow Igbo man and knew that my client was occupying this house and that he was his former governor.

"Despite knowing these facts, he still went behind and bought the property, and then told his lawyer not to disclose his identify to my client. That was what happened. A Yoruba man will not do this to his brother, an Hausa man won't do this to his brother. My client had an agreement with the person that sold the house. We do not have any business with the new buyer. I have raised the issue in court, but the Judge closed his eyes on these issues."

In an appeal with suit No. FCT/HC/CV/80/2011 and filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal by his counsel (Nzelu), the ex-governor asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court delivered on March 25 2015 by Justice Suleiman Belgore, in favour of the respondent, Adin Miles International Limited.

He said, "The learned trial Judge erred in law when he failed to appreciate the fact that for title to vest in any person who purchase a property in Abuja, the consent of the Hon. Minister of the FCT, Abuja must be sought and obtained and this failure occasioned miscarriage of justice.

"The learned trial Judge erred in law when he entered judgment in favour of the respondent without seeing any deed of sale nor deed of assignment nor power of attorney and this occasioned miscarriage of justice."

According to him, the Judge also erred when he assumed jurisdiction to hear and determine the case "in the absence of valid documents" that will vest/clothe the court with jurisdiction.

Nzelu said, "We have been in possession of this property for a long time and the owner made an offer to sell it. He now went behind and picked up this property. My client went and discussed with this man. He even added N30 million to what the man originally paid to acquire it. When we took over this property, it was in a bad shape.

"We now went to court and the judgement was to come up in January this year, but it was deferred till March 25 because of the judiciary workers' strike. The man that went is not the original owner of this property. There was no breach of agreement between my client and him and they are not my client's landlord. There is no deed of sale on this property before they went to court. There is no agreement between my client and the man that went to court."

According to Nwobodo, six days after the judgment, specifically on March 31, he appealed against it adding that the respondent was served the processes