HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM, MY ANGEL, MY LOVER, MY TEACHER, MY INTERCESSOR, MY WOMAN MY EVERYTHING.

Next to God, thy parents. William Penn (1644-1718),

Today is 15th August, 2015, a day my Mother's birthday is celebrated. Her mood today will slightly  be different from the other birthday celebrations dating back to at least 1983 when she got married to my late father because he will not be celebrating with her. Don't get me wrong, this post is all about celebrating her life and wishing her many more years in good health and strength. It also presents an opportunity for me to advice you of the need to ensure you take care of your parents irrespective of the resources at your disposal.

BRITAIN AT ALERT AS MRS. TERROR MAY HAVE RETURNED TO UK.

A British woman who ran off to join ISIS in Syria is feared to have returned to the UK with two jihadis in tow.

Sally Jones signed up for the extremist group in 2013 with her husband Junaid Hussain, who together have been dubbed 'Mr and Mrs Terror'.

But reports suggest she may have been seen in Birmingham this week with two other people, both said to be aged around 20.

THE BACKLASH OF BISHOP KUKAH'S STATEMENT - BUHARI SHOULD FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE INSTEAD OF PROBING JONATHAN.

For making comments many people have considered as insensitive, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, had to contend with the wrath of a fast-growing army of online anti-corruption crusaders on Thursday.

The outspoken cleric, who is also the spokesperson of the National Peace Committee, had reportedly called on President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on governance instead of wasting time probing the past administration.

The remarks generated a social media backlash with many Internet users urging Kukah to be contented with his spiritual calling and stop making “insensitive” remarks on national issues.

MORE HEADS WILL ROLL AT NNPC - KACHIKWU.

The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, said on Thursday that more purges were on the way as part of activities aimed at restructuring the company for better performance and accountability.

He said the restructuring would affect all levels of the corporation with the new group executive directors and group managing directors taking the exercise to the lower cadres.

Kachikwu spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

OONI'S BURIAL - SEVEN DAYS CURFEW BEGINS IN IFE AS VIOLATORS ARE WARNED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES.

A seven days curfew will begin after the remains of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, must have been buried on Friday, the town’s chiefs have said.

The spokesperson for the chiefs, Chief Dejo Adejobi, told our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday that the restriction of movement for the rites would start from 4pm today and would past for the next seven days.

But asked what the chiefs would do to ensure that the curfew would not affect visitors who would attend the burial, Adejobi said, “I understand you. Yes, we cannot invite people for the burial service and still restrict their movement. But you should understand that the service will start by 10am and the restriction of movement will start from 4:pm.”

TIMAYA JOINS AFRICAN CHINA & OBESERE ON THE LIST OF ACCUSED RAPIST - #SAYNOTORAPE.

While the rest of the world continues to await the outcome of the charges reportedly filed by Shella B, the Nigerian woman who accused popular singer, Enetimi Odom, aka Timaya, of rape in the United States, there is an indication that she is under pressure from some quarters to pursue the matter to a conclusive end

Two weeks ago, one Sunshinecandyrain posted a message on Instagram, in which she commended the aggrieved Stella B for exposing Timaya. Although she did not claim to have been sexually violated by the singer, she called him unprintable names and added, “Someone I know had a baby for him and then had to abort it because he denied the baby. If he raped you, you should go and file charges. You should also go get checked for any STDs.”

BODE GEORGE CONTRIBUTED TO PDP'S DEFEAT IN LAGOS STATE SAYS PARTY'S ACTING CHAIRMAN

The acting Chairman of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, Kamaldeen Olorunoje, has accused a former National Deputy Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, of contributing to the party’s defeat in in the state.

Olorunoje, who is the acting chairman of the party after the suspension of the substantive chairman, Capt. Tunji Shelle (retd.), said this during a press conference in Lagos on Thursday.

He said George imposed several candidates on the party which ultimately affected the party’s chances.

FASHOLA CLEARS THE AIR ON THE "N78 MILLION" SCANDAL.

“When you wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty.” 

This statement of profound wisdom informed my silence in the wake of manipulated and unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing recently being levelled against me. They started a few weeks to the end of my tenure, and have continued till date. They range from allegations of extra marital paternity of children, to mundane and phantom conspiracy in the National Assembly, a debt profile for Lagos State and lately a website upgrade contract of N78 million, which is being distorted.

In so far as the allegations of paternity are concerned, they are wicked and false. I have no biological children other than my two children. Of course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the tragic DANA Airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due process.

ALEX BADEH'S LAMENTATION ON THE MILITARY.

Rarely has a top Nigerian military chief sounded so contradictory while assessing his tour of duty than Alex Badeh, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff did during his recent pulling out parade. In a valedictory speech at the ceremony that marked his retirement, Badeh lamented that he headed a military that “lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight an enemy (Boko Haram terrorists).” The assertion, though unsurprising, was a shocking departure from his pronouncements while in office.

Defending his 18-month tenure vis-à-vis the failure to rein in the malevolent activities of Boko Haram, Badeh, who was appointed in January 2014, said, “Over the years, the military was neglected and under-equipped to ensure the survival of certain regimes, while other regimes, based on advice from some foreign nations, deliberately reduced the size of the military and underfunded it. Accordingly, when faced with the crises in the North-East and other parts of the country, the military was overstretched and had to embark on emergency recruitment and training, which were not adequate to prepare troops for the kind of situation we found ourselves in.”

FG APPOINTS KPMG & PWC TO AUDIT NNPC & OTHER REVENUE GENERATING AGENCIES.

The Federal Government on Thursday appointed international audit firms, KPMG and PriceWaterhouse Cooper to conduct comprehensive audit of the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue generating agencies.

The appointment was disclosed to State House correspondents by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole at the end of the second meeting of the four man panel set up by the National Economic Council (NEC).

The decision to appoint the two audit firms, he said, was taken to allow for professionalism.

(PICTURES) PRESIDENT BUHARI SWEARS-IN NEW SERVICE CHIEFS.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the new service chiefs. Performing the ceremony at the presidential Villa, Abuja, the president charged them to brace up against Boko Haram insurgency, armed robbery and militancy.

“I want to reiterate that your appointments and subsequent elevation to these ranks are based on your pedigree as first class senior officers who identify sterling leadership qualities. Therefore I have no doubt in my mind that all of you are equal to the task ahead of you. You must acquaint yourselves and justify the honour done to you.

“You are all aware of the various security challenges facing our nation. These challenges include the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed banditry, kidnapping, militancy of various forms to mention a few”, the president said.

SENATE APPROVES $75M WORLD BANK LOAN FOR EDO STATE.

The Senate on Thursday approved a 75 million World Bank loan for Edo state’s Development Policy Operation (DPO) as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari. The approval followed the consideration of a single-prayer report of the ad hoc Committee on Local and Foreign Debt presented by Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South). The committee in its report urged the Senate to approve the loan, stating that the World Bank had already considered the state ready for it. 

Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central), in his contributions, said that Edo State had qualified for this loan, because the state had met the conditions set by the World Bank. Aliero said that the loan would help increase the internally generated revenue of the state and, therefore, urged the Senate to approve it. He also called on other states that have the capacity to borrow, to go ahead and take such loans, as long as they could utilize such judiciously.

(PICTURES) BRISTOW HELICOPTERS RELEASE PRESS STATEMENT AS ALL 6 DEAD BODIES HAVE NOW BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE CRASH.

The bodies of the two remaining persons said to have been missing from the ill fated helicopter crash in the Lagos Lagoon have been found. This brings to 6 the number of people who died in the crash while 6 were rescued alive. 

Bristow helicopters limited, owners of the helicopter that crashed into the Lagos lagoon yesterday August 12th have released a statement regarding the mishap. 

The statement signed by the company's Regional Director for Africa Duncan Moore below

(PICTURES) THE TIANJIN EXPLOSION WHICH LEFT 44 DEAD, OVER 500 INJURED, DESTROYED MORE THAN 1000 CARS & REGISTERED AS EARTHQUAKES.

Enormous explosions in a major Chinese port city have killed at least 44 people and injured more than 500, leaving an apocalyptic landscape of incinerated cars, crumpled shipping containers and burnt-out buildings. 

Two blasts, which sent fireballs soaring above skyscrapers, detonated with such force they registered on the Richter scale and were visible from space.

At least 12 firefighters have died and 32 other people are in a critical condition after the explosions ripped through the city of Tianjin, around 90 miles from Beijing, at around 11.30pm local time last night.

DAVID OYELOWO BECOMES FIRST BLACK JAMES BOND BUT.............

David Oyelowo has become the first black actor to play James Bond. Although his performance will be heard rather than seen – in an audiobook – it is a landmark casting as it involves an official Bond book and a direct invitation from the estate of 007’s creator, Ian Fleming.

The announcement on Thursday follows long-standing rumours that Idris Elba is in line to replace Daniel Craig when the latter’s run playing James Bond on the big screen comes to an end, potentially in two movies’ time.

Oyelowo’s previous roles include Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company – which made him the first black actor to play an English king in a major Shakespeare production. He also played the MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the BBC TV drama Spooks and was acclaimed for his performance as Martin Luther King in Selma.

JAY-Z LAUCHES NEW CHAMPAGNE FOR BRAND HE BOUGHT TO GET REVENGE ON CRISTAL & EACH COST N160,000.

Jay Z has launched a new brand of champagne from his his own company - that sells for $760 (N160,000) a bottle.

The Armand de Brignac 'Ace of Spades' blanc des noirs - which owes its existence to a feud between the rapper and Cristal Champagne - was rolled out at a wine insiders' event this summer.

The fizz, which comes in a grandiose pewter bottle stamped with a large spade symbol, is the newest exclusive launch from Armand de Brignac, which Jay Z bought last year. 

WIZKID & DAVIDO SET TO RELEASE THEIR ALBUMS IN SEPTEMBER.

Nigeria’s award winning pop stars, Wizkid and Davido will be releasing their albums in September. It’s clearly one of the most anticipated albums of 2015, partly because a perceived rivalry had been said to exist between the Ojuelegba crooner, Wizkid and the Aye sensationalist, Davido.

These young superstars will be releasing their respective albums next year. While Davido’s album will be called Baddest, Wizkid is yet to let the cat out of the bag, by unveiling the name of his anticipated album.

Recall that these duo in recent times have collaborated with international artistes in order to further strengthen their star power. Davido featured Meek Mill in the controversial Fans mi,while Wizkid featured Drake and Skepta in the remix of his Afrobeat tune Ojuelegba.

One of the reasons why the duo’s album release timing is generating a lot of attention is because both of them have huge following, and are said to be rivals and appeal to the same audience. The question on the lips of music pundits is this: :Whose album will rake in a lot of sales more?

3 MONTHS OLD BABY DIED AFTER HER RECKLESS MUM ABANDONED HER TO HAVE SEX FOR 9 HRS WITH A MAN SHE MET AT THE BUS STOP.

A 'reckless' mother who left her sick baby girl alone downstairs while she drank whisky and had sex, has avoided jail.

Yvonne Adkins left three-month-old Chanelle lying in her baby rocker in the lounge for nine hours while she went upstairs with a lover she had met at a bus stop just two weeks earlier, a court heard.

She awoke the next morning to find her baby dead and paramedics who attempted to revive the infant discovered she had been dressed only in a tracksuit and left without a blanket or bed clothes. 

The judge told the 32-year-old she had made a 'catastrophic decision' to leave her daughter unattended - despite knowing she suffered with vomiting and reflux.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT LAMENTS OVER THE RETURN OF HOODLUMS TO OSHODI.

The Lagos State Government has lamented the resurgence of hoodlums and the attendant insecurity in the Oshodi area of the state.

The government stated that a review of its strategy had been done to bring back sanity to the area.

The new Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Olubukola Abe, said this on Wednesday during a sensitisation tour of the area.

ICPC QUIZZES ONYEKA ONWENU OVER N17M CONTRACT BRIBE.

Finally, the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, Onyeka Onwenu, has honoured the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over the allegation of N17million contract bribe levelled against her.

She was drilled and granted administrative bail by the commission.

An impeccable source at the ICPC, that Onyeka Onwenu appeared before the commission, Monday  and after answering some questions, she was allowed to go home on self-recognition, while investigation continued.