THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL SHAPE 2014

The year 2014, being the last year before the next round of general elections is bound to be decisive as politicians from across different political hues take position. Some Nigerians who are bound to direct the pace of political activities in the country are mentioned underneath.

President Goodluck Jonathan

GEJ will be the centre of action in the coming year. As president of the country eligible for a second term, the pace and posture of his politics would largely determine the pattern of political activities in 2014.

President Jonathan who had in the past pooh-poohed questions on whether he would seek re-election had said that he would make his plans known in 2014. With that year now at hand, the president can no longer wave aside a response to the issue. Will he or will he not?

Though his body language has all but indicated that the president would be contesting the election, it is not impossible for him to pull back.

A decision to run would heat up the polity to a level beyond the normal level of a presidential contest. A decision not to run could also pose serious threats to national security given the passion of the president’s Ijaw kith and kin who are determined to have their son return to office in 2015.

#PROJECTSMILES WAS A HUGE SUCCESS

PROJECTSMILES is a GREENHOUSE initiative solely reaching out to children. On 26th December 2013, the lives of about 300 police children at the "MOPOL 20 BARRACKS", Ikeja-Lagos, were touched by PROJECTSMILES even though the plan was to cater for 100 children. 

IT WAS INDEED A HUGE SUCCESS.

See more pictures after the cut..............................

DWAYNE WADE HAD A SECRET BABY WITH A MYSTERY WOMAN BEFORE PROPOSING TO HIS LONGTIME GIRLFRIEN GABRIELLE UNION

It turns out Dwyane Wade's been playing more than basketball lately...and new fiancee Gabrielle Union is less than happy about it. 

It emerged on Monday that the Miami Heat star recently had a child with an unnamed woman, according to E! News.

The event occurred while the couple were on a break and before the 31-year-old proposed to the Bring It On star on December 21.

GUNMEN KIDNAP LAGOS PASTOR AND SIX OF HIS CHILDREN

A 27-man gang on Friday abducted a pastor, Mr. Godson Akubiro, and six of his children from their Adeosun Street residence, Koya Estate, Igbo Olomu, Ikorodu, Lagos State. Akubiro is said to be the founder of Mountain of Breakthrough Church in the area. The incident was said to have occurred about 1.30am.

Neighbours, who requested anonymity, said that the gunmen arrived at  Akubiro residence in three jeeps and a Toyota Tundra vehicle. The  number plates of the vehicles were said to have been covered. The gunmen, who wore army camouflage, had allegedly gained entrance into the house with the aid of an iron cutter. It was learnt that since the abduction, no one had heard from Akubiro and his six children.

The Community Developmen Association  Chairman, Mr. Yinka Obasan, said he was alerted about the development about 2am.

“I got a call that night from a resident who was coming from a vigil. He told me that he noticed some military vehicles parked outside Akubiro’s home. He said the vehicles belonged to a high ranking military official because the insignia was covered.

BOKO HARAM MURDER 12 AT A WEDDING CEREMONY IN BORNO

Despite the state pf emergency declared on some northern states in Nigeria, the dreaded Boko Haram sect is still on a killing spree. Their killing field in Borno State state remains one of the most dangerous places to live in. PM news reports.

Twelve people died in a suspected Boko Haram attack on a wedding party at the weekend, police and health officials in the northeast Nigerian state of Borno said on Monday. Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire in the mainly Christian village of Tashan Alade, 230 kilometres (over 140 miles) from the Borno state capital Maiduguri, on Saturday, said police commissioner Lawan Tanko.

“The attackers, who were obviously Boko Haram insurgents, arrived at the open-air venue of the party around 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) and opened fire, killing seven people and injuring five others,” he told AFP.

ISLAMIC TEACHER RAPES TWO GIRLS (6 & 7 YR OLDS) IN LAGOS

THE FACE OF A RAPIST

Mohammed Ibrahim (27), has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping two female pupils of Al Adab Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos. The incident occured inside the school's premises.

The RAPIST,  an indigene of Niger State, was said to have raped the six and seven year olds in the toilet during school hours. It was learnt that the defendant had only been appointed to teach primary three pupil Islamic Studies in the Muslim school in August 2013. He was placed on a salary of N10,000 per month which he accepted to take.

However, on December 18, 2013 he allegedly asked the victims (names withheld) to help him fetch water and take it to the toilet. He was said to have followed them there, undressed them and had carnal knowledge of them. The victims were said to have cried while the act was on, which attracted the attention of other kids.

Ibrahim allegedly pushed them out and pretended as if nothing had happened. The victims were said to have been invited and interrogated by another teacher, who then related their confession to the school management.

BLACK WIDOW KILLS 16 (VIDEO & PICTURES) IN DEADLY TRAIN STATION ATTACK IN RUSSIA

A female suicide bomber killed 16 people and injured dozens more at the main entrance of a railway station in Russia yesterday. It was the second deadly attack in the space of three days in  Volgograd and raises fears of  a terror campaign before and during the Winter Olympics which the country is due to host in 39 days. 

                

The bomber - named as 26-year-old Oksana Aslanova  - detonated her explosives in front of a metal detector as passengers made their way to and from trains. 

                                                              VIDEO FOOTAGE 

POOR PROJECT COMPLETION RECORD AND THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION

HERE is a gnawing sense of déjà vu in the latest reminder by the Bureau of Public Procurement that “less than 10 per cent of Federal Government projects initiated between 2009 and 2011 have been completed as of February 2013.” The assertion is contrary to the inanities being deceitfully mouthed by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration. It is a gross indictment on a government that came to power promising to deliver on infrastructure and boasting a nebulous “Transformation Agenda”. Yet, the government can’t claim it has no money to fix infrastructure as revenue from oil is supposed to be growing: the commodity has been trading far above the benchmarks in the budget in the past few years.

But instead of delivering on infrastructure, the livewire of every economy, Nigerians have witnessed deterioration in this vital sector. It is moot, but it is hard to nail down a single critical infrastructure that the present government has delivered since it assumed power in 2010. Conversely, there are so many uncompleted projects dotting our landscape. At the heart of the appalling project completion ratio is the “long delays in making initial and subsequent payments, and design flaws requiring corrective actions after the commencement of project execution,” according to Emeka Eze, the BPP Director-General.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER SKIING ACCIDENT - SUFFERS BRAIN HAEMORRHAGE

Michael Schumacher is fighting for his life after he fell and hit his head on a rock while skiing with his son.

Read initial report HERE.

A leading brain surgeon was seen arriving at the hospital in Grenoble, France, where the ex-Formula One driver was being treated. His family were also at the hospital, where medical sources confirmed Schumacher was in a 'critical state' and suffering from a brain haemorrhage.

Eyewitnesses said Schumacher lost consciousness briefly after falling and hitting his head on a rock. They saw blood oozing from his helmet in the eight minutes between the fall and medics arriving in a helicopter to pick him up. The accident happened while Schumacher was skiing off-piste.

Yesterday a spokesman for the resort said it proved 'you can't do whatever you want', and that skiers should stay on the pistes. Last night the Dauphine Libere newspaper in Grenoble reported that the German's life was in danger. 

NNPC AND OIL REVENUE TRANPARENCY

HOW much does Nigeria actually earn from the sale of crude oil and gas? In any other country in the world, the answer would be readily available to the public. But Nigeria is no ordinary state and its most senior officials proved it convincingly this month: No one knows for certain how much we earn from our chief export commodity.

When the country’s central bank, its finance ministry, its budget office, its petroleum ministry and the state-owned oil company give conflicting figures on its earnings from oil, then, the rot in public finance administration here is brought out in bold relief. Worse, neither the President nor the National Assembly has demonstrated sufficient outrage at the mess. Instead, the government has carried on as if missing oil revenues of gargantuan proportions are of minor consequence.

EL RUFAI & 102 PEOPLE CHEAT DEATH AS AERO CONTRACTORS PLANE LOSES TYRE UPON LANDING

An Aero Contractors aircraft Boeing 737-500, with Registration No 5N-BLC, landed safely at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Sunday, after a loss of pressure in one of the tyres.The aircraft which landed at 10.50 am had a total of 104 passengers and crew members on board.

Nasir El-Rufai, who was aboard the plane, said in a tweet that the pilot and the crew of the plane did “a great job.” “Upon landing in Lagos, our Aero aircraft lost a tyre. The pilot did a great job of breaking to a halt suitably. My phones flew under seats,” Mr. El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said via his official handle.

“It was amusing hearing shouts of Allah Akbar and Jesus…while the dutiful captain was trying to slow down the plane to a safe location. “One of the passengers joked that he knew nothing would happen to us as I was onboard, nice of him, but Allah Decides our fate in His way,” he continued.

“The Aero pilot was good, the cabin staff calm and professional in the midst of mild drama and little panic by a few passengers. We thank God,” he added.

Confirming the incident, Yakubu Dati, Coordinating General Manager Aviation Parastatals, said that the aircraft had, immediately after arrival, been towed to the apron and that the Accident Investigation Prevention Bureau, AIPB, had commenced investigation.

“We wish to assure all air travelers of their safety and caution against magnifying a manageable incident out of proportion,” Mr. Dati said.

JONATHAN SENT ME COW GIFTS PLUS OBASANJO IS GUILTY OF ALLEGATIONS IN HIS LETTER - PASTOR TUNDE BAKARE

The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo is guilty of the sundry allegations he levelled against President Goodluck Jonathan in his (Obasanjo) recent letter to the President.

Bakare, who said this during his sermon in his church in Lagos on Sunday, noted that the former President’s letter to Jonathan painted a portrait of Obasanjo himself while he was in office as the nation’s helmsman.

Obasanjo had written an 18-page letter to Jonathan, calling the President’s attention to critical issues in the polity, which he believed could plunge the nation into chaos if not urgently addressed before they degenerated.

Jonathan had responded to the ex-President letter, where he tried to justify his actions and policies while calling Obasanjo to produce the evidence to back up his claims, especially the former President’s assertion that Jonathan was raising about 1,000 strong snipers against political opponents.

Speaking on ‘The parable of letters and the cacophony of voices,’ Bakare wondered why the ex-president could “turn around” to blame Jonathan for any of his actions when Obasanjo “imposed him and Yar’Adua” on the nation.

Admitting that Obasanjo marshalled his arguments well in the letter, the cleric faulted the morality of the letter, saying Obasanjo was as guilty of the allegations contained in his letter just as the person the letter was addressed to.

HOW VICE-PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO IS FURNISHING HIS RESIDENCE FOR N2.1BILLION ONLY

Vice President Namadi Sambo often appears to be a quiet and reserved fellow, rarely involved in Political Jagajaga. At least he is not known to have aides who bark like dogs and lie from both sides of their mouth in a bid to keep their job. However, the rich Architect/Politician is spending a fortune to furnish and upgrade his official residence and guest house, two projects costing N2.1 billion and lingering since his election alongside President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. Sadly, he is not spending his (maybe) hard earned money but taxpayers money.

In three years leading up to 2013, the government has spent a minimum of N300 million annually to furnish and upgrade the vice president’s residence and guest house, according to past and present federal budgets.

The biggest spending -N900 million- for the upgrade and furnishing was done in 2011. That year alone, N500 million was channelled into acquiring, upgrading and furnishing the vice president’s guest house at Aguda House, while a separate N400 million was spent on purchasing some more furniture and extending the vice president’s lounge there.

In 2012, the government spent additional N437.1 million for the “upgrading and furnishing” of the same guest house, and squandered additional N112 million solely on “household equipment” for Mr. Sambo’s residence. The installation of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) facilities at the residence, was completed at a whopping N202 million.

This year, the vice president’s Aguda guest house and his residence were furnished at a relatively modest N75.7 million, while landscaping at the residence alone was done at N26 million. A new guest house for Mr. Sambo, at Yakubu Gowon crescent, Asokoro, was also given N170.7 million worth of furniture. 

PROFESSOR WOLE SOYINKA LOSES DAUGHTER TO UNDISCLOSED AILMENT

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka is bereaved. His daughter ,Iyetade Soyinka (48) died at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital where she was being treated for an undisclosed ailment which she had battled with for several years.

The death was disclosed in a statement signed by Jahman Anikulapo, an aide to Mr. Soyinka, one of the world’s foremost dramatists and winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in literature. The statement noted that the late Iyetade Soyinka was a student at the Staff School and Queens School, Ibadan before she studied Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

Mr. Anikulapo’s statement described the deceased as “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” adding that she “struggled with her health in recent years.” Despite her health woes, the late Iyetade Soyinka “greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children.”

The statement, which was issued on behalf of the deceased’s family, revealed that Ms. Soyinka “took ill quite suddenly and passed away while being treated at UCH, Ibadan. “Iyetade Soyinka leaves behind two children, both parents, numerous siblings, nieces and nephews.” 

No funeral arrangements has been announced yet. May her soul rest in peace. Amen

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER (FORMER F1 RACING CHAMPION) SUFFERS GRAVE HEAD INJURIES IN SKIING ACCIDENT

Former Formular1 champion, racing driver Michael Schumacher(44)  suffered serious head injuries in skiing accident earlier today.

YOU WILL BE DISGRACED - CARDINAL OKOGIE WARNS CHRIS OKOTIE

A retired Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, has warned the Pastor of the Household of God Church International, Chris Okotie, against talking out of ignorance or else he will be digraced.

The cardinal was reacting to the Okotie’s recent comment that “all Catholics will go to hell” in an interview with a correspondent.

Okotie, while criticising the Catholic Church in a sermon, had said the church was “a counterfeit church set up by Satan.” He also said Catholics “bow to idols and crucify Jesus every Sunday when they eat bread claiming they are eating Jesus’ body.”

Describing Catholic as “a counterfeit church set up by Satan,” Okotie said. “They (Catholics) are not Christians and have never been. They don’t know Jesus. They believe that when they eat bread on Sundays, they are eating the body of Jesus. It’s ritual,” he added.

OFFICIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HEADIES 2013 AWARDS

The HEADIES 2013 AWARDS took place on boxing day with Olamide-Baddo emerging the biggest winner carting away three awards.

See full list of winners HERE.

Watch highlights of the event >  CLICK HERE.

ADAMS OSHIOMOLE ESCAPES UNHURT IN MOTOR ACCIDENT

Comrade governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole at about 9:45am on Saturday, 28th December 2013 escaped death in a ghastly motor accident involving his convoy around Ewu village, Auchi-Benin road.

He was on his way to Benin City from his Iyamho Village.

It was gathered that the incident occurred when a Peugeot J5 Bus with registration number XB 355 Fugar, conveying tomatoes and plantains lost control while trying to overtake an articulated vehicle and crashed  into the governor’s flag car, a BMW bullet proof car, before ending in a ditch.

It would be recalled that the governor’s convoy was also involved in an accident last year when a tipper  rammed into his car.

Nobody sustained serious injuries in the crash.

NOTABLE DEATHS IN 2013

- Nagisa Oshima, Japanese filmmaker, directed “Furyo”, aged 80, on January 15.

- Andree Putman, internationally acclaimed French designer, aged 87, on January 19.

- Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan president, aged 58 from cancer, on March 5.

- Ieng Sary, Cambodian Khmer Rouge co-founder who was on trial for genocide and war crimes, aged 87, on March 14.

- Zillur Rahman, Bangladesh president, aged 84, on March 20.

I ONLY STOLE N27M & NOT N50M AS ALLEGED - FRAUDULENT GUARANTY TRUST HOME STAFF SPEAKS FROM DETENTION

ADEOLA OLOKOJOBI

The Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos State, has arrested an account officer with Guaranty Trust Homes, Adeola Olokojobi, in connection with a N50m fraud at the financial institution. Prior to his arrest, Olokojobi was said to be working at the GT Homes, Saka Tinubu branch, Victoria Island.

The SFU had received a petition in October 2013, from a customer of the branch where Olokojobi worked. The customer had alleged that Olokojobi, who was his account officer, had “not been forthcoming with his account balances.” A statement by the SFU Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, said, “The petitioner also alleged that the balance given to him was at variance with his actual balance in the account.