CONTROVERSIAL MINISTER OF PETROLEUM DIEZIANI MADUEKE LOSES BID TO OCCUPY OPEC SEC-GEN SEAT.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Wednesday agreed to keep its current Secretary-General, Libyan Abdullah al-Badri, thus not confirming the nomination of President Goodluck Jonathan for the influential position.

Jonathan had nominated the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to succeed the long-serving incumbent, who had previously planned to retire in 2012.

But the 12-member organisation, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, decided to extend al-Badri’s tenure, dashing the ambition of Alison-Madueke.

JONATHAN IS PLOTTING TO ASSASINATE ME - GOVERNOR KWANKWASO

KWANKWASO

Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Wednesday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of plotting to eliminate him, in a fresh twist to a longstanding row between the two leaders.

In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday, Mr. Kwankwaso said the president was after his life and had ordered the withdrawal of half of his security details in a ploy to open him up to physical attacks.

“I have told my friends, and people of Kano, Nigerians and indeed the international community to hold Jonathan responsible for whatever happens to Kwankwaso, his family or even the people of Kano state,” Mr. Kwankwaso said at Kano State governor’s lodge in Abuja.

Read more below and watch video here

JUNE 12 ELECTIONS - 21 YEARS AFTER.

Many days pass unnoticed in the annals of our country, but not June 12. It has been canonised, and fittingly so, as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history. A presidential election held on June 12, 1993 and won by the business mogul, Moshood Abiola, was unaccountably annulled by the military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida. Abiola, who was incarcerated by the Sani Abacha regime for demanding the restoration of his electoral mandate, died in mysterious circumstances in 1998.

The annulled presidential poll was remarkable, not just for its fairness, but for breaking barriers to national unity, especially our fault lines of religion and ethnicity. Abiola, the flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party, was a Muslim and he chose a fellow Muslim, Babagana Kingibe, as his running mate. This Muslim-Muslim ticket defeated a Muslim-Christian ticket of Bashir Tofa and Sylvester Ugoh of the National Republican Convention.

VICTORY FOR LASU STUDENTS AS FASHOLA ANNOUNCES REDUCTION IN TUITION FEES

In what may be considered as victory for LASU students who protested peacefully and occupied the Lagos State Government house last week, the Lagos State Government has announced a reduction in the tuition of the state university.

The government said it would reduce the fees by between 34 per cent and 60 per cent across the different faculties and courses.

Students of the Lagos State University had staged many protests to air their grievances against the “high school fees” and had demanded its reduction.

Renaissance: New Emir, New Kano, New North, New Nigeria, New Africa.. -

High scale intellectual dialogue, economic and social methodical strategizing, complexity cognizant address and redress of existing and future societal challenges and immense strength, are some of the features that defined the ancient Kano dynasty and that also define its new Emir.

The ascension of HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the Emirship of Kano, Nigeria’s #2 Muslim leadership position and by most measures, the number one traditional leadership office of northern Nigeria can be described as a meeting of two of nature’s most powerful African forces.

The Kano dynasty is one of the most notable kingdoms in ancient world history. In immense wealth, population, economic activity and cultural and intellectual output, Kano rivaled any European kingdom. It was the most prosperous of all provinces under the Fulani Dan Fodio Empire. Lord Luggard, the first Governor General of Nigeria estimated in 1904 that there were 170 walled towns still in existence in the whole of just the Kano province of Nigeria. He described Kano: “Commercial emporium of the western Sudan.’ Of its wall, he said, ‘I have never seen, nor even imagined, anything like it in Africa.”

POLICE ORDERED TO ARREST EMIR OF KANO, SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI.

The Nigerian police have been ordered to arrest the newly-crowned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on fraud-related charges stemming from his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to reliable sources at the Presidency in Abuja, the team of policemen at the Emir’s palace in Kano received the order from the Nigeria police headquarters to place Mr. Sanusi under arrest if he leaves the Kano Governor’s lodge.

The sources told SaharaReporters that Mr. Sanusi was to be arrested at his private home on Sunday night after his appointment was announced by the Kano State Governor.  It would be recalled that the presidency embarked on several frantic measures to frustrate the former CBN governor’s emergence as Emir, including the premature congratulations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to one of the candidates before the choice was announced. 

TWO TEENAGERS DIED AFTER FALLING FROM THE BALCONY WHILE HAVING SEX

 

Two teenagers died after falling from a block of flats while having sex on a balcony, witnesses say.

The 18-year-old man and 19-year-old woman died after what Scotland Yard said was a 'tragic accident' shortly after midnight at Knights Tower in Wharf Street, Deptford, south London. Neighbours said a party was taking place inside the sixth-floor flat at the time of the incident.

Samson Oguntayo, 32, a self-employed events manager who lives in neighbouring Cornmill House, said he and his partner saw the couple fall.

(NEW VIDEO) - MURDA - @IAMSEYISHAY FT @PATORANKINGFIRE & @SHAYDEEBOI

MURDA

Seyi Shay presents the visuals of her hit track MURDA featuring highly rated reggae act Patoranking and EME's golden boy Shaydee.

This is definitely one of the best collaborations in 2014.

Enjoy the video.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

JONATHAN MAY VISIT KANO TODAY AS NEW EMIR IS YET TO MOVE INTO OFFICIAL PALACE DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS

The Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, has yet to move into his palace more than 24 hours after he received his appointment letter and staff of office.

As of 8.02pm on Tuesday, the palace was still under lock and key. Punch reports that the presence of policemen deployed there on Sunday to keep away protesting youths was also still noticeable.

Under normal circumstances, Sanusi would have after receiving the staff of office resumed his royal duties at the   palace   as has been the tradition for over 1,000 years.

NEW MUSIC - I'M TAKEN - CYNTHIA MORGAN (@Cynthiamorgan1) - #IAMTAKEN

Nigeria's Reggae Rap Queen Cynthia Morgan is here again with a BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This track is titled "I'M TAKEN" and she delivered as usual.

Enjoy the track.

Download.

MARIO BALOTELLI PROPOSES TO HIS OFF AND ON GIRLFRIEND.

AC Milan and Italian Forward Mario Balotteli, is taking care of some personal business before the World Cup starts.

The Italy forward indicated overnight that he proposed to his off and on  Belgian girlfriend Fanny Neguesha.

After midnight local time, Balotelli posted on Instagram, "She said yes.. The most important yes in my life."

MEET THE 31-YR-OLD MAN IN LOVE WITH A 91-YR-OLD GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.

Kyle Jones from Pittsburgh is a 31-year-old man with an untraditional romantic leaning towards older women much older women.

In 2009,Jones met 91-year-old Marjorie McCoolat the book store where she worked. The two have engaged in a romantic, physical relationship ever since, and are happily dating as each brings something unique to the relationship.

At three times Jones age, McCool is already a great grandmother, but Jones finds her lines, wrinkles, platinum hair and natural hanging neck skin attractive. Jones says he offers older women a different kind of experience than theyre used to with adventure and funs things to do.

"GIRLIE O REMIX" LIVE PERFORMANCE - @PATORANKINGFIRE FT @TIWASAVAGE.

"GIRLIE O"

Fantastic live performance of Patoranking's hit song "Girlie O" featuring the superb Tiwa Savage at the 2014 Easter edition of AY LIVE.

Enjoy the video.

NPA FAILS TO REMIT N713BN TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

With Nigerians yet to come to grips with the absurdity of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company not remitting billions of dollars of oil income to the national treasury, another public corporation has been fingered for engaging in the dubious act. Last week, the National Conference Committee on Finance told a shocked plenary that the Nigerian Ports Authority had failed to remit N713 billion to the Federation Account over six years.

This is impunity at its worst. It is a reckless regime of sleaze that has weighed down Nigeria’s maritime industry from playing a leading role in West Africa. 

A combination of pervasive corruption and mismanagement has relegated our maritime industry to an also-ran in the sub-region, when, with its trade volume, it should be the hub of the shipping industry.

BOKO HARAM ABDUCTS 20 WOMEN NEAR CHIBOK.

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram have reportedly abducted about 20 women near Chibok, the Borno State community where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14.

The women, according to Bloomberg, a United States-based news agency, and The Guardian of London, were taken after the gunmen attacked a nomadic settlement known as Garkin Fulani at the weekend.

Bloomberg and The Guardian of London both quoted a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Tar, as having said the women were herded into vehicles at gunpoint and driven off to an unknown location.

Read more report below from Punch.

19-YR-OLD CHARGED FOR RAPING 80-YR-OLD BLIND WOMAN IN LAGOS.

A Yaba chief magistrate’s court in Lagos, yesterday, held that a teenager, Avoseh Satingo, has a case to answer in the alleged rape of an 80-year-old blind woman.

It, therefore, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa made this known following advice by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

DARE DEVIL ROBBERS KIDNAP 2 SISTERS IN ABUJA, DEMAND N150M RANSOM.

Suspected robbers on Sunday evening stormed the residence of an engineer, Mr. Samson Opaluwa, in Karmo, Abuja, kidnapping two ladies in the family after robbing them.

It was learnt that while the elder lady, Ejura Opaluwa, is 23 years, her sister, Unekwu is four years younger.

It was learnt that the gunmen, who drove a blue Honda Accord car with number plate, HR 152 ABC, stormed the family’s residence on Impresit Camp, Associated Estate at about 5pm.

NATIVE DOCTOR CHARGED WITH N21.1M FRAUD AND ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A 45-year-old native doctor, Jamiu Alao, was on Monday charged with defrauding two men of N21.1 million and attempted murder at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. 

Mr. Alao, who lives at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, is facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, told the court that Mr. Alao committed the offences with others still at large sometime in April at Mayfair Estate, Ajah in Lekki.

PDP WARNS NEW EMIR OF KANO "SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI" AGAINST PARTISAN POLITICS.

The governing ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has congratulated the new emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and admonished him to emulate his predecessor by not leaning towards any political party.

The party said it expects the new Emir to remain non-partisan deserving of the exalted and revered office.

The party’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued Monday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.

It came more than 24 hours after the party committed a huge blunder by rushing to congratulate Mr. Sanusi’s rival, Sanusi Ado Bayero, even when official announcement of the chosen candidate had not been made.

8-YEAR-OLD BRIDE DIES AT THE HANDS OF 40-YEAR -OLD HUSBAND ON WEDDING NIGHT IN YEMEN

An eight year-old child bride died in Yemen on her wedding night after suffering internal injuries due to sexual trauma. Human rights organizations are calling for the arrest of her husband, who was five times her age.

Al Nahar, Lebanon, reported that the death occurred in the tribal area of Hardh in northwestern Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This brings even more attention to the already existing issue of forced child marriages in the Middle East.

“According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child brides. Furthermore, of the 140 million girls who will marry before the age of 18, 50 million will be under the age of 15.”