PATIENCE JONATHAN ADVOCATES STIFF PUNISHMENT FOR RAPISTS

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has canvassed for strong punishments with legal backing to deter perpetrators of sexual violence against women. Dame Jonathan spoke in Paris, France at an advocacy meeting on sexual violence against women organised by the First Lady of France, Ms. Valerie Trierweiler, on the sideline of the Elysee Summit for Peace and Security in Africa holding in Paris, France.

The Nigerian First Lady appealed to over 50 spouses of world leaders who attended the summit to effectively explore their positions in mobilising support against sexual violence and other abuses against women. She however contended that conflict related to sexual abuse should not be regarded as unavoidable or acceptable consequences of war because of their devastating consequences against the dignity of womanhood.

Further, Dame Jonathan advised leaders and policy makers to ensure promotion of girl-child education, women empowerment and gender equality as critical steps to stop sexual violence against women.

While calling on member states of the United Nations, especially, African leaders, to reassert their commitment to the effective implementation of UN Resolutions on women, the First Lady specifically advocated commitment to the implementation of Resolution 1325, which called for greater protection of women from gender based violence.

She emphasised the need for strategic collaboration and the inclusion of men in the global response to the problem of rape saying, “behind every rape, there is a man.”

The high point of the advocacy meeting on sexual violence against women was the play of a film on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the participants who also listened to eye witness accounts of the situation in Libya and the Central African Republic.

The special Representative of UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence and Conflict, Ms. Zainab Bangura, and some of the First Ladies in attendance took, turn to speak at the meeting in support of the global call to end sexual violence against women.

POLICE EXECUTE FIVE FARMERS IN EDO STATE AS NOPRIN CALLS FOR INVESTIIGATION

The Network on Police Reform In Nigeria (NOPRIN) has called for a thorough investigation to ascertain the actual circumstances and truth surrounding the killing of Samuel Imaikop and four others by policemen of the Edo State Police Command on November 24.

In a preliminary report today on the incident, the group stressed that the investigation must include an autopsy and a Coroner’s inquiry to ascertain how and why the five men were killed, and that there must be legal consequences, including redress and accountability for the murder.

The NOPRIN report said that Samuel Imaikop, a farmer from Nsital LGA of Akwa Ibom State, was shot dead at a police checkpoint on the Benin Bye-Pass at about 9am on that day along with four men he had hired to work on his farm. 

“The dead bodies of the five men were dumped at the back of a white police Hillux van and driven to the Edo Sate Police Headquarters on Sapele Road, Benin City,” the report said. “The late Samuel’s Nissan bus was driven by a policeman following behind the police van to the Edo State Police Headquarters.”

THE GOVERNOR, THE WIDOW AND THE BURDEN OF POVERTY - BY SOLA OLUMEHNSE

If Governor Adams Oshiomhole doubted the power of social media and the Internet before he came face to face recently with a widow who would change his life, I am sure he no longer does.  In the past couple of weeks, he has been insulted and called all kinds of names.

The governor deserved the flak.  As the camera starts to roll on an infamous footage that travelled worldwide in just two days, he is seen standing in the middle of a tumult.  The location turns out to be Mission Road in Benin City, one of the key streets he has been trying to keep clear. 

And there, right before the powerful governor like a scene out of the Bible, is a woman on her knees.  The world now knows her to be Joy Ifije. 

At that moment, she is nameless, faceless, and—it would seem—powerless.  On her knees, partly surrounded by her belongings, she is begging the governor for mercy, explaining that she is a poor widow.  

As governor, the former labour leader has toiled in the past few years to redefine the face of the state capital.  Ruined by decade after decade of misrule, poor planning and neglect, Benin City became an overpopulated open market.

In stepped Comrade Oshiomhole in his khaki shorts, his short sleeves already rolled up from his days as a labour combatant, determined to build a modern city.  The reality is that you cannot build a modern street when people are sitting all over it, a lesson he has continued to teach and to preach. 

ASUU STRIKE CONTINUES

Striking University lecturers on Sunday insisted  that they would not return to the classrooms  on Monday (today) despite the ultimatum issued by the Federal Government.

They accused the Federal Government of insincerity in its bid to resolve its dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The Federal Government had through the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie,  deferred its earlier ultimatum to the lecturers to resume work on Monday (today) or risk being sacked. The shift  was to enable them to participate in the burial of Prof. Festus Iyayi, a former president of ASUU on Saturday.

Before this , the Supervising  Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had advised  the striking lecturers to return to work on or before December 4 or face dismissal.

THE GOOD AND BAD OF SOCIAL MEDIA

We have long left the era of going to post a letter at the post office and having to wait endlessly for the letter to be delivered and for the response to come back via the same route. Today, one can stay in the comfort of his or her room in Nigeria and chat with someone in the USA without any delayed feedback.

About a decade ago, Nigerians paid much to surf the Internet at cybercafes, to check vital information on websites as well as to read and respond to mails in their mail boxes. Then, social media was almost unheard of in this part of the world. The most common thing then was to go to cybercafe cafe to check a personal mail box or to Google a project or an assignment.

The story is no longer the same today. Social media networks and the growth of internet service providers have birthed a whole new virtual world for all to get excited about. Youths do not need to throng cybercafes as much as they used to, as almost everyone now has the enabling device to go online from the comfort of their homes.

Research shows that nine out of ten youths (aged 18 – 35) in cities own a mobile device that enables them access the Internet. The time spent on the Internet by this target audience is mostly on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

The benefits of such virtual chat apps and the ease of social media has, however, been two fold. For some, it has caused their pitfall as they have spent too much precious time on it, resulting in negative impacts on their academics, businesses, relationships and so on. In some extreme cases, people get defrauded, bullied, and cajoled into devious relationships that could lead to death.

REASONS PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE

When we hear that a person has committed suicide, most of us do not understand why. To most people who have never contemplated such an action, it is confusing why anyone would give up on living and choose such a route as a way out.

For those who have, at some point or the other in their lives, contemplated suicide, they wonder why the person, who has committed suicide could not just hold on like they did.

Some people cannot, for the life of them, understand why someone would go to such extreme because life is difficult and everybody has issues. It is not uncommon to find people saying that people who commit suicide are selfish and self-centred.

There are different things that make people suicidal but some are easier to fix than others. For example, people who have medical issues such as thyroid problems, brain-related diseases and reactions to medication, might experience suicidal thoughts due to their medical condition. Such factors are easier to deal with because they have more direct diagnoses and treatments.

HOW LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT IS IMPRISONING UNDERAGE CHILDREN

Premium Times is popular for investigative journalism. In this report, Activists insist the Lagos state government is incarcerating underaged children over minor offences; the state says it’s untrue.

Read below.............

On a hot, windy Thursday afternoon in May, three gaunt looking men in oversized clothes stood in a dock, a few metres away from a magistrate inside a tiny court room that serves as the Special Court in Alausa, Lagos. Outside the room, crime suspects – the young and the elderly – and their lawyers discussed freely as the former awaited their turn in the dock.

Inside the court, the three men, their arms folded before then, stared at the bench as the magistrate carefully read out her judgment: “…You are hereby sentenced to 390 days in prison.” That day, over 100 persons were sentenced to various prison terms for minor environmental offences by the Lagos State Special Offences Court, a court established to prosecute environmental offenders and other related offences in the state. But the presence of 12 underage children among the convicts has raised concerns about what human rights lawyers say is a continuous dispatch of children to prisons where criminals are kept, by the Lagos State government, contrary to the dictates of the Child Rights Act.

The state government had, however, insisted that no underage person was convicted. “If they are not minors, let us see them. Present them to the press. We have the facts and we know they are minors,” said Joshua Olufemi of Light Behind Bars, a non governmental organization that fights for the rights of children. Section 221 of the Child Rights Act says that ‘No child shall be ordered to be imprisoned; subjected to corporal punishment; or subjected to death penalty or have the death penalty recorded against him.”

SEE THE FINAL PORTRAIT OF NELSON MANDELA

MANDELA WITH GREAT GRANDSON LEWANIKA

This is the last known portrait of Nelson Mandela which captures him sitting in his favourite arm-chair and holding hands with with his three-year-old great-grandson Lewanika.

Ndaba Mandela, the boy's father took the picture in May 2013 before the Great Madiba was hospitalized.

May his soul rest in peace.

HOW A BRIDE'S DAY OF JOY ALMOST TURNED INTO BLOODBATH

Wedding days are always very special for the groom, bribe and their family members. So when a couple had an accident after their wedding and escaped unhurt, then it is obvious the hands of  the lord is definitely all over them.

A bride narrowly escaped death in an auto crash while on her way from her wedding. The accident involving a NNPC  tanker with number plate XG 321 MKA, a cargo truck and two saloon cars happened at about 4: 45pm on Saturday, close to the Otedola bridge, Alausa, on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

The NNPC truck, while descending the slop from Alausa at top speed, could not hold its break. It then ran into the first car and squashed the second one against the cargo truck. The bride and her husband were said to have jumped out of their car. The names of the couple was not revealed.

The fire coming out of the truck was put out by sympathisers as the tanker was carrying petroleum product. The accident also resulted in  gridlock which was controlled by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps.

(PHOTONEWS) - THE MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF #THEEXPERIENCELAGOS 2013

The 8th edition of the annual largest gospel music concert in Africa, organised by House On The Rock, was held on the 6th December 2013 at the historic Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. A crowd of 700,000 gathered to lift up their voices to the creator of Heaven and Earth.

CLICK HERE FOR SEE VIDEO.

See more pictures below.......

THE SEX TAPE SCANDAL INCREASED MY POPULARITY - CHIDINMA (MISS KEDIKE)

 

Young and Pretty musician, Chidinma Ekile, granted an interview to Punch's correspondent on how she has been able to manage recent events surrounding her career........

You won Kora Awards last year and this year again, you were nominated for an international award, Channel O Awards. Did you ever imagine that you would get to this stage?

No way. I never imagined it in any way. All I did was just to be focused. I knew this was what I loved doing and I decided to just keep doing it. I didn’t expect that it would get this big. Sometimes I sit back and I think back of how it started.

But did the awards have any impact on your career?

Oh yes. When I won the Kora and got back to Nigeria, it was a whole different experience. People started treating me differently. They wondered how ‘small’ Chidinma could go to Cote D’ivoire and bring the Kora home. It added to my profile. Being nominated for the Channel O Award is a big deal for me even if I didn’t clinch the award.

How has it been since then?

It has been good and challenging. It has been a lot of work.

Did you go back to school?

Oh yes. I am managing my career and my studies. I don’t have a choice. I wake up every day and I realise I have a lot of things to do. This is really the best time to tidy up my education. This is my youth. I get busier by the day. It will get tougher. I have to do what I have to do before time gets tougher.

SEVENTY-ONE-YR-OLD HUNTER RAPES SEVEN-YR-OLD GIRL IN ONDO STATE

The war against RAPE can only be fought and won by through collective effort and sensitization. There is rarely a week we don't report at least 5 rape cases. Read the recent one from Sahara Reporters below.

A 71-year-old hunter, Alhaji Kayode Ganiyu raped a 7-year-old pupil, ‘Taye’ a primary school pupil of Oba Ile in Akure in  Ondo State. The incident occurred at Ayetoru Street in Oba Ile, a suburb of Akure.

According to source who initially witnessed the revelation of the rape case, the 7-year-old girl was returning from school when she was lured by the old man with N10 into his cluttered private one room apartment deceitfully telling her he wanted her to purchase sachet water for him. The loud cry of the poor little girl, attracted the attention of passerbys who immediately inquired into the incidence.

Narrating her ordeal, the little Taye said she was returning from school and stopped at a nearby well opposite Mr. Ganiyu’s house in order to fetch water and drink but decided against it because the well water was too dirty. She alleged that ‘Alhaji’ as he is popularly known in the area, was watching her, as she meant to leave Mr. Ganiyu called her into his dingy apartment to get money to purchase water, however, soon as she walked into the room, he forced her onto his bed, covered her mouth and raped her repeatedly  

‘’I was thirsty and coming back from school inside the hot sun when Alhaji waved and called me to come and collect money for pure water. I sat down, and he searched through his cloth and brought out N10. I never knew he had closed his door. He pushed me onto the bed, covered my mouth with his hand and did it’’, she narrated and cried profusely. The little schoolgirl explained that the old man raped her twice. ‘’I was crying painfully when he was raping me, but he would not listen”. She also said she bled continuously after the incidence while Alhaji cleaned her up with a ‘rag’ and threatened her with a dane gun if she tells anyone.

WICKED MOB STABS HARD OBJECTS INTO FEMALE'S GENITALS OVER ALLEGED STEALING OF PEPPER

Watch how a mob in Lagos tortured a woman for stealing pepper. This madness must stop!!!!!!

Viewers discretion advised.. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

#ALUU4 - STILL NO JUSTICE AFTER ONE YEAR AND TWO MONTHS

One year and two months have passed since the gruesome murder of four (4) students of the University of Port-Hacourt by a deadly mob in the infamous village of ALUU.

Their blood still cries out for justice. We will never stop this campaign until their killers are brought to book.

The Nigeria legal system is very sick as a trial with video evidence is yet to be concluded after 14 months.

RIP Ugonna Ibuzor!!! RIP Llyod Michael!!! RIP Tekena Elkanah!!! RIP Chidiaka Biringa!!!

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS!!!!!!

NELSON MANDELA DIES AT 95 YRS OLD

South Africa's Nelson Mandela who was one of the greatest leader the whole has ever known is dead after many rumours at the age of 95.

Mandela had been sick for many months before finally giving up the ghost on Thursday, 5th December 2013.

Nelson Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities. He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital. Announcing the news on South African national TV, President Jacob Zuma said Mr Mandela was at peace.

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said.

"Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss."

Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela - who is known affectionately by his clan name, Madiba - had died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT). He said he would receive a full state funeral, and flags would be flown at half-mast.

Crowds have gathered outside the house where Mr Mandela died, some flying South African flags and wearing the shirts of the governing African National Congress, which Mr Mandela once led.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world's most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years.

He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004. He made his last public appearance in 2010, at the football World Cup in South Africa.

His fellow campaigner against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said he was "not only an amazing gift to humankind, he made South Africans and Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall. God be praised."

Mandela's body will be moved to a mortuary in the capital, Pretoria, and the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday.

MAY MADIBA'S SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES FOR 2013 HEADIES.

Popular rapper, Olamide, alongside pop singers, Davido and Iyanya, top this year’s nomination list of the Headies Awards. The Headies award, organized by Ayo Animashaun led Smooth Promotions, has its year in view for this year’s edition as March 2012 to June 2013.

Olamide got seven nominations for: “Song of the Year”, “Artiste of the Year”, “Album of the Year”, “Lyricist on the Roll”, “Best Collabo”, “Best Rap Single” And “Best Rap Album”.

Pop singer, Davido, bags 5 nominations while Iyanya got 4 nominations. Davido was nominated for: Artiste of The Year, Album of The Year, Revelation of The Year, Pop Single And Best Pop Album; while Iyanya was nominated for; Song of The Year, Artiste of The Year, Pop Single of The Year, Best R&B /Pop Album of The Year.

Sean Ttizzile, alongside, Burna boy, Phyno, Seyi Shay and Dammy Krane were nominated for the prestigious and the only gift attached category, Next Rated. The winner of the Next Rated will drive home a brand new car.

(VIDEO) ARSENAL WHIPS HULL CITY AS MANU FALLS AT HOME TO EVERTON PLUS OTHER EPL RESULTS

ARSENAL is still leading in the English Premier League,,, Check out videos and other results...........................

Arsenal 2-0 Hull  

Man Utd 0-1 Everton

                                                       
                                                           Liverpool 5-1 Norwich

Southampton 2-3 Aston Villa  

Stoke 0-0 Cardiff

Sunderland 3-4 Chelsea  

Swansea 3-0 Newcastle  

Fulham 1-2 Tottenham  

West Brom 2-3 Man City  

SENATE PROPOSES 7-YRS JAIL TERM FOR SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS

The Nigeria Senate is a very busy chamber, (the irony), as it currently seeks to clamp down on social media critics. Maybe this should ordinarily be the least of their worries as there are other several  issues demanding their attention including wage cut of public officers which they have not raised a bill for.

Criticism on Wednesday greeted the bill by the Senate seeking a seven-year jail term for social media critics found guilty of inciting the public against the Federal Government.

The controversial bill, which reportedly has scaled through the second reading in the upper legislative chamber, is also proposing a stiffer punishment for Internet fraudsters and scammers. Such swindlers will also face seven years imprisonment.

Section 13 sub-section 3 of the bill proposes, “Anyone, who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5m (fine).”

The Senate President, David Mark, represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim, (APC, Katsina), declared open the public hearing of the bill on Tuesday.

According to Mark, electronic fraudsters posed a great danger to the country and so there is the need to tackle their activities in order to attract foreign investment. The committee chairman Senator Umaru Dahiru (PDP, Sokoto), also noted that electronic fraud was a threat to world economies and Nigeria being a developing economy should enact appropriate laws to deal with the challenges.

Although the bill has yet to be enacted, for Nigerians on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, the consensus is that it simply amounts to an attempt to silence the voice of the people.

Already, social media perceptive Nigerians, who are not taking the lawmakers’ plan lightly, have swung into action to thwart what they described as plans by the government to silence the voice of the people.

Indeed, Victor Mbidi, a social media analyst, Online Editor and Presenter at Channels Television, hosted a G+ Hangout on Wednesday, where he urged Nigerians to share their thoughts on the “infamous” bill. The hangout, which was free and open to all, witnessed a large participation. It also featured live voice and video conversations.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN BURIES #ODUAHGATE REPORT AS MINISTER OF AVIATION PROMOTES "STELLAR" PROPAGANDA

President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigeria’s Aviation minister, Stella Oduah, who was recently caught in a scandalous and fraud-ridden purchase of two armored BMW cars, have begun a new round of propaganda, targeting Nigeria’s jobless and gullible youth, and aimed at portraying the minster as a “stellar performer.”

This comes as official reports in which the Minister was indicted have been tucked away by the president.

Ms. Oduah took a trip to Jigawa state on Monday and had an elaborate meeting with Governor Sule Lamido in Jigawa State, where she promised to complete an airport project. The trip was designed to please the northern part of the country where several critics have pointed out she has ignored airports and traveling passengers and refused to grant several Middle East-based airlines permission to fly into international airports in the area. Shortly after the scandal broke, the minister quickly approved some flight requests that were pending, and also increased the frequency of a few of them.

On Tuesday, the minister moved further on the new agenda, proclaiming at a Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the FCT Land Swap that she is setting up a “Nigeria Aetropolis” project that will employ 10 million Nigerians within two years and generate N100 billion in annual revenue.

According to a statement by Joe Obi, a special assistant to the Minister, Ms. Oduah told the Representatives that the project will be sited in Abuja and other major international airports across the country.

''The development of airport cities (aerotropolis) is a 21`st century phenomenon that is gaining ground all over the world. It is no longer fashionable to have an International Airport without the support facilities and amenities such as shopping arcades, hotels, packaging industries, Residential Estates, modern airline offices and recreational facilities. The proposed aerotropolis will definitely boost the Nigerian economy and generate the much-needed employment for our teeming youth.''

But people familiar with her propaganda say the claim the project will create 10 million jobs is not only dubious, it is not feasible either, especially under the ravenous quality of leadership shown by President Jonathan and Ms. Oduah.  

WHY I REJECTED PDP'S N250,000.00 - "GO AND DIE" WIDOW

RECONCILED

The widow who was recently rebuked by Governor Adams Oshiomhole for blocking the road with her goods, Mrs Joy Ifijeh, says she snubbed the offer of N250,000 by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because she was satisfied with the apology and offer of a job and N2 million by the governor.

Mrs Ifijeh said she is not ready to be used as a pawn by the PDP on the chessboard of politics, advising the party to give the money to another widow instead. She spoke yesterday during the presentation of her letter of appointment  into the Edo State War Against Indiscipline to her by Special Adviser to Governor Oshiomhole on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Kassim Afegbua, at the Government House in Benin City.

“I want to thank Oshiomhole sincerely for this appointment and I wish to state that I have forgiven him from the bottom of my heart. And for the money promised me by the PDP, let them give it to other widows. I do not need the money”, she said.

She described the governor’s gesture as humane and promised to support the government’s policies and programmes. Earlier, while presenting the appointment letter, Mr Kassim Afegbua said the appointment was in fulfilment of Oshiomhole’s promise to offer the widow an employment.

He said the appointment is effective from December 3, 2013.  It would be recalled that the state chapter of the PDP Tuesday launched an empowerment fund to cater for widows in the state in response to an alleged maltreatment of Joy Ifijieh by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.  Launching the programme, state chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said since the party posted the video clip of the governor’s encounter with the woman on Facebook and YouTube, public response was unprecedented, adding that N1 million was received by the party as a donation in support of Widows Empowerment Programme.  Chief Orbih described the state government offer of job and the sum of N2 million to Mrs Ifijieh after the video clip was made public, as a ‘Greek gift’.  He said the PDP’s effort in exposing what Governor Oshiomhole did to Mrs Ifijieh had started yielding results.

 He condemned what he described as “pretentious actions of Governor Oshiomhole” during the presentation of the N2 million to the widow, saying the amount would remove the tears of widows in the state after the humiliation.  Chief Orbih, said the PDP was tired of a process whereby the governor would commit sins and waste state resources to pay for them.