The chairman of Gombe State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Jack Gynako Gumpy, is dead.
He died of renal failure on Tuesday morning at the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe.
He was aged 72.
The deceased hailed from Nyuwar town in Balanga local government area of Gombe State.
He bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Ohio State University in United States in 1983.
Before his death, Late Gumpy served in various capacities, including
the National Assembly where he was a member of the House of
Representative in the old Bauchi State.
He also served as the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, a
teacher, headmaster, state secretary Nigerian Union of Teachers,
National Auditor II, NUT and one time chairman of Centre Party, Gombe
State.
Well, yesterday the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Otelema Dan
Amachree directed that the House be reconvened to consider an amendment
to the 2013 appropriation law which the Governor had communicated to him
via a letter and as if Mr. Speaker saw what was going to happen today,
he wrote a letter through the Clerk of the House to the Commissioner of
Police to provide security for today’s sitting and he also wrote to the
commander of 2 Amphibious Brigade who also doubles as the head of the
internal JTF. So when we got to work this morning, we saw the presence
of policemen numbering over 50 and we thought that this was in response
to Mr. Speaker’s request.
Shortly thereafter, I noticed that the five anti-Amaechi members were
discussing in clusters and calling on their boys to come in. Initially,
the policemen were searching everybody who would come into the
premises. I had to even come down at the gate and trekked into the
premises. So after a while, we learnt that there were phone calls and
the commissioner of police personally called the unit, the man in charge
to allow everybody in.
We went in as members who have not seen ourselves for sometime
because of the crisis in the state. I was on my seat, without
provocation, Hon. Evans Bipi came to me in the full glare of everybody
on camera and started raining punches on me. As his leader I did not
react because I felt that it is something we could settle, whatever it
is, maybe I didn’t greet him also. So he continued when that continued,
the speaker intervened and said, ha, what’s happening. Then he reached
out for the tripod that stands the camera, used it freely on me, himself
and Michael Okechukwu Chinda. They flogged me to their satisfaction, I
didn’t just utter a word until Hon. Ihunwo graciously asked me to run
for my dear life because they have brought people with guns and of
course when I looked at the gallery they were shouting who is the Chidi
Lloyd, who is the Chidi Lloyd.
So at that point, I’m sure somebody may have reached out to the
governor of the state who came in with his own security because these
other policemen were there standing helplessly, watching what was going
on. So he came and rescued members out of the place. Then after a while
we heard that they had sat, that they were meeting, they were trying to
meet, they had procured a fake mace to the House, so we went back and I
took the mace where they were sitting, then I sustained injury as a
result of the violence by Michael Chinda and Evans Bipi.
So while I was in the hospital the speaker and other members of the
House sat and heard the amendment that the governor sent, was presented
on his behalf by the deputy governor. Now these amendments are, the
governor said he was just seeking for us to via some sub heads for him
to enable him take care of certain unforeseen events such as flood and
all that. That is why we went to work for the state only to be dealt
with in the manner that they have dealt with us. I want to use this
opportunity while in the hospital here, I have received phone calls of
threat to life for my family and I.
Incidentally, I’m so helpless, I don’t know who to run to. I can’t go
to the commissioner of police because he is already in the arena, he’s
already on the other side. I’m appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to
pray for me and my family. That is the last hope we have resorted to and
that we also urge the National Assembly, the Senate President and the
Speaker of the House of Reps not to turn the other way on the events of
Rivers State. This could lead to something that we cannot imagine. It
had happened in Anambra State, people were laughing, today is Rivers
State nobody knows the next state it would be. If we are practising a
democracy, let us please for crying out loud play by the rules.
Nigerians should pray for me and come to our aid. The state is under
siege. You can’t even vouch for the safety of the Governor. The people
are getting more dashed out on a daily basis.
Barcelona have agreed a deal to sell striker David Villa to fellow Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham were linked with the 31-year-old but he is set to remain in Spain.
"The two clubs have reached an agreement in principle,"
said a statement on Barcelona's website.
"The deal will be worth a maximum of 5.1m Euros (£4.4m), with Barca reserving the right to 50% of any sell on fee."
Atletico,
who sold striker Radamel Falcao to Monaco for a reported £50m
earlier this summer, will pay the transfer fee in stages depending on how long Villa stays with them.
Villa scored 48 times in 119 games for Barcelona
after arriving from Valencia in the summer of 2010.
He is Spain's all-time leading scorer with 56 goals from 92 appearances.
One of his first games for Atletico could be against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup next month.
Unidentified gunmen yesterday kidnapped the Special Adviser to Bayelsa State Governor on Power, Olice Kemenanabo.
Kemenanabo was reportedly abducted at D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at 3.30pm by three gunmen.
Sources said the special adviser was driving into his home at 12, Iriebe Street, D-Line, when the hoodlums struck.
A top security source said the bandits ambushed their unsuspecting victim.
The source said: “He was returning home from church but unknown to him, some gunmen had laid ambush for him.
“He was taken away in his own car. The gunmen threatened to shoot him, if he raised the alarm.”
Kemenanabo is also the Managing Director of Bayelsa Electricity Company.
An executive member confirmed the
development. He said the matter had been reported to the police and the
special adviser on Security.
Pastor William Kumuyi offered to
resign as General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church
following the controversy that trailed the wedding of his second son,
John.
John Kumuyi and his wife, Love had engaged in acts, which negated the
church’s tradition during their wedding held in Jamaica on June 15,
2013. Love, who is a daughter of the National Overseer of Deeper Life
Bible Church, Jamaica, Pastor Augustine Odih, was dressed in a fitted
stylish wedding gown with transparent short sleeves. She also wore
makeup, jewelry and carried a bouquet of flowers. The couple cruised in a
limousine and had a huge wedding cake.
The misdemeanor, which attracted widespread criticisms, had earned
the newlyweds suspension from church activities despite showing remorse
and tendering an apology to the church, blaming their misconduct on the
fact that both of them had resided abroad for so long.
It was another bloody weekend in Yobe State yesterday after gunmen,
suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, attacked a
secondary school. Twenty students and a teacher were killed.
The South African Senior Men’s National
Team Bafana Bafana have lined up two international friendly matches in
August to honor national hero and former South African State President,
Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Bafana Bafana will take on reigning
African Champions Nigeria in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge at the
Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday, 14 August 2013 while the
clash against Burkina Faso (who placed second in the 2013 AFCON) on the
Nelson Mandela Sport & Culture Day will be played at the FNB Stadium
on Saturday 17 August 2013.
The South African Football Association
(SAFA) President Kirsten Nematandani who confirmed the dates and venues
for both games said the body was excited to be associated with such a
significant project for the selfless elder statesman.
“It is a great honour for us to be
associated with such a huge and significant, and also highly important
project for our former State President. When we got the invitation to be
part of this venture, we did not hesitate as Madiba has made a selfless
sacrifice for the nation..
“We are obviously mindful of the fact
that the former President is not well in hospital. We can only wish him
all the best for him to come out and be among us so he can continue to
inspire us as he has done for many years. This event shows that no one
can unite the country quite like he has, and we are proud to be taking
part”. Nematandani is quoted on SAFA’s official facebook page.
Bafana Bafana Head Coach Gordon Igesund
is expected to announce the squad for the two matches soon after his
return from the COSAFA Cup tournament in Zambia.
No fewer than 175 inmates of the Olokuta Maximum Security Prison in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have been set free in an unprecedented attack on the facility.
The attack, which took place at about 12.05 am, was launched by a gang of unknown gunmen.
The gunmen shot dead two civilians and used explosives to break into the prison.
They shot sporadically into the air to scare away prison officials before breaking the walls of the facility.
They reportedly entered the prison yard after breaking the keys.
“The unknown gunmen numbering over 20 came at about midnight into the Olokuta prison through the main gate after using dynamite,” Prison Comptroller
Mr Obama wrote in the guest book: "The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island"
US President Barack Obama has toured Robben Island - the jail in which Nelson Mandela was kept for 18 years.
He said he and his family were "deeply humbled" to visit the
prison once inhabited by Mr Mandela - who remains critically ill in
hospital.
Mr Obama went on to give a speech at the University of Cape Town and launch a multi-billion-dollar electricity initiative.
The US leader did not visit Mr Mandela, but met the Mandela family in private.
Security is likely to have been strengthened during this
final Cape Town leg of his time in South Africa, says the BBC's Karen
Allen who is there, following clashes on Saturday between riot police
and anti-Obama protesters in Soweto.
Sexy and beautiful actress, Funke Adesiyan may not be one of the most
celebrated in the movie world but she sure belongs to the league of the
most talked about and especially in a controversial manner. The tall
and fashionable popular face in the course of this interview with The
Entertainer opened up on a couple of interesting issues. Among the
issues are her breast implant tale, her romance with socialite, Salawe
and why she feels it’s not compulsory to get married.
How has Funke Adesiyan faired so far as an actress ?
I am grateful to God. God has been good to me. He has always been
good to me and He has not ceased to be good to me. I thank God and
everything is fine. I have not been an everyday actress, I am choosy
with what I do,so that’s it.
What’s your projection for the year and how far have you gone in fulfilling it?
I like to do things properly and I scrutinize myself a lot. I am my
own critic and it’s difficult for people to criticize me because before I
bring anything out I would have checked it out to see where it’s
lacking or lagging behind. So, there is something we are working on.
Uneasy calm pervaded Lao area of Akure metropolis yesterday, as
prostitutes and their clients beat the security operatives attached to
the Environmental Task Force monitoring the monthly environmental
sanitation exercise.
Beaten black and blue, the security officials had their uniforms torn
into shreds and sustained various degrees of injury during the attack
The Task Force led by the Commissioner for the Environment, Chief
Sola Ebiseeni, had set out as early as 8 am to ensure strict compliance
with the monthly environmental exercise.
While on visit of some towns and villages, some people were arrested
for violating the environmental laws. Trouble, however, started when the
team got to Inner Circle Hotel at Oke padi, off Lao street in Akure,
and met the prostitutes with their clients. They were said to be
drinking and dancing when the Task Force took a swoop on them. In the
ensuing encounter, some Civil Defence officials and one other security
personnel were beaten mercilessly, as the prostitutes resisted their
arrest.
A female Civil Defence officer had her uniform torn into shreds by the irate women of easy virtue.
When it was obvious that the prostitutes and their clients had
overpowered the team, they put a distress call to the police and SSS
headquarters for reinforcement. It took the intervention of additional
security men comprising of mobile policemen, State Security Service
official and Civil Defence before the security men could be rescued in
the hands of their attackers.
When the Commissioner for Environment got to the scene, he ordered
the hotel premises to be sealed off. Ebiseeni who was feasibly angered
with the prostitutes’ action, asked the prostitutes and their clients to
be arrested and taken to police station for interrogation. He said the
offenders aside from facing environmental court would also be prosecuted
for assault on government’s officials.
Briefing reporters at the end of this month’s edition of the
environmental exercise, Ebiseeni said 22 persons caught violating
environmental law were arrested and taken to court immediately.
He warned that government would take over any uncompleted building that is constituting nuisance to the public as from Monday.
The Rivers Police Command on Saturday in Port Harcourt confirmed the
abduction of three members of the National Youth Service Corps serving
with Abua/Odual local government council of the state.
Mrs. Angela Agabe, the command’s Public Relations Officer, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that two male and one female youth corps
members were abducted.
She said they were seized by armed men in the early hours of Saturday.
Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the motive behind the kidnapping was however still unknown.
The police PRO said the command’s anti-kidnapping unit, had since commenced a search for the missing corps members.
“Reports received by the command indicate that the corps members went
to Ogomokon jetty, near the council headquarters, where three armed men
abducted them early on Saturday.
“So far, no group has claimed responsibility and no ransom has been
demanded. The police had commenced investigation into the incident.
“As we speak, our anti-kidnapping unit is on top of the situation.
The unit had already commenced work to free the corps members,’’ she
said.
Wedding bells are ringing! Avril Lavigne married Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger on Saturday, June 29, in Cannes, France, a source confirms to Us Weekly.
Described as a "very intimate affair" by an insider, the "Here's To Never Growing Up" singer wore a Johanna Johnson custom-made dress with her gay best friend serving as her maid of honor.
During a Nylon Magazine
event on June 11, the 28-year-old told Us that their wedding song would
be a new track that they wrote together. "We'll have to release it
after," she explained.
As for wedding planning, the
singer said she was the one taking control -- which her fellow Canadian
beau, 38, didn't mind at all.
"I've been doing it, I'm the girl," she laughed. "I'm the one who has
the crazy vision and he's letting me be me. It's a lot and I just want
to make sure I really enjoy this amazing time."
She added, "I want all the guests
who come to have this once in a lifetime experience and I want everyone
to say 'Wow!' and for it to be special for everyone, not just us." Of
the wedding location in Cannes, Lavigne spilled that "it's out of control!"
The couple announced their engagement in August 2012. This will be Kroeger's first marriage and Lavigne's second. She filed for divorce from Sum 41's Deryck Whibley in October 2009 after three years of marriage.
Two bronze animal heads,
returned to China after more than 150 years, will soon be on display in
their new home in Beijing's National Museum of China.
The sculptures were bought by the Pinault family, who own French luxury group Kering, and donated to the Chinese government.
The rabbit and rat heads were looted from Beijing's Old Summer Palace at the end of the Second Opium War in 1860.
China had tried to stop their sale when they came up for auction in 2009.
That auction ended in controversy when a Chinese man bid successfully for them, but did not pay, as a "patriotic act".
The statues had come up for sale following the death of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
Kering's brands, which include Saint Laurent as well as Gucci
and Alexander McQueen, are popular in China's booming luxury market.
In a statement in April announcing their donation of the
statues, the Pinault family said they had gone to "great efforts to
retrieve these two significant treasures of China and strongly believe
they belong in their rightful home".
At a ceremony at the National Museum on Friday attended by
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Francois Pinault was awarded a
certificate of donation, according to the State Administration of
Cultural Heritage.
The bronze animal heads were among 12 which previously adorned a zodiac fountain in the destroyed Old Summer Palace.
The palace, known as Yuanming Yuan, was sacked by British and French forces.
The heads disappeared, but it remains unclear when, how and by whom they were taken out of China.
Of the 12, the ox, monkey, tiger, pig and horse heads have already been returned, the state-run China News Service reports.
The whereabouts of the other five animal heads, the dragon, dog, snake, sheep and chicken, are currently unknown, it adds.
Paulinho popped up with a late winner as Brazil progressed to the Confederations Cup final with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over a gritty Uruguay side on Wednesday night.
An
underwhelming game, which had featured a first-half penalty miss from
Diego Forlan, appeared to be heading for extra time, with Edinson Cavani
cancelling out Fred's opener for the hosts.
However, Paulinho
nodded home a Neymar corner with just four minutes of normal time
remaining to send the Belo Horizonte crowd into ecstasy, and leave
Uruguay heartbroken.
Brazil looked weighed down by the almost tangible sense of expectancy among a partisan crowd packed into the Estadio Mineirao.
However, even the significant pressure the hosts were under could not explain precisely why Selecao
centre-half David Luiz took leave of his senses and elected to haul
Diego Lugano to the floor as the pair jostled for position at a corner
14 minutes in.
Luiz's stupidity really should have resulted in
Uruguay taking the lead, but Forlan squandered the opportunity to score
against the country in which he plies his trade, the Internacional
attacker seeing his low spot kick turned around the post by Julio Cesar.
That
fine stop drew a thunderous roar from the crowd but, in truth, they
were given little else to cheer about during a desperately fractious
opening quarter in Belo Horizonte.
Hulk worked himself into a
fantastic position just before the half-hour mark, after a neat one-two
with Neymar, but the Zenit forward ballooned his effort over the bar.
Brazil's
mounting frustration then threatened to get the better of them, with
Luiz Gustavo picking up a deserved booking for following through on
Cristian Rodriguez, but they made a crucial breakthrough just before the
interval.
Paulinho picked out Neymar's clever run in behind the
Uruguay defence with a measured chip into the area and the Brazil No.10
controlled the ball on his chest before flicking it goalwards. Fernando
Muslera saved well with his outstretched left arm but Fred was on hand to slice home the rebound with the aid of his shin. It was a fittingly scrappy opener, given what had gone before.
Uruguay
replied in somewhat similar circumstances just three minutes into the
second half, with Thiago Silva - of all players - inexplicably passing
the ball straight to Cavani, after a game of pinball in
the Brazilian box. The in-demand Napoli striker took a quick touch
before beating Julio Cesar with a low strike into the far left corner.
Uruguay
very nearly went ahead midway through the second period through a Luis
Suarez header that was deflected just over, before Fred flashed a
spectacular - but wayward - volley that never looked likely to trouble
Muslera.
With both sides horribly devoid of ideas, extra time appeared inevitable, but man of the match Paulinho
rose at the back post to meet Neymar's deep corner and beat Muslera
with a fine downward header to put the hosts into Sunday's tournament
decider.
The Supreme Court released two major decisions expanding gay rights
across the country on Wednesday as hordes of cheering demonstrators
greeted the news outside. The justices struck down a federal law barring
the recognition of same-sex marriage in a split decision,
ruling that the law violates the rights of gays and lesbians and
intrudes into states' rights to define and regulate marriage. The court
also dismissed a case involving California's gay marriage ban,
ruling that supporters of the ban did not have the legal standing, or
right, to appeal a lower court's decision striking down Proposition 8 as
discriminatory.
The decision clears the way for gay marriage to again be legal in the
nation's most populous state, even though the justices did not address
the broader legal argument that gay people have a fundamental right to
marriage.
The twin decisions throw the fight over gay marriage back to the
states, because the court ruled the federal government must recognize
the unions if states sanction them, but did not curtail states' rights
to ban gay marriage if they choose.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court's conservative-leaning swing vote
with a legal history of supporting gay rights, joined his liberal
colleagues in the DOMA decision, which will dramatically expand the
rights of married gay couples in the country to access more than 1,000
federal benefits and responsibilities of marriage previously denied
them.
"The avowed purpose and practical effect of the law here in question
are to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon
all who enter into same-sex marriages made lawful by the unquestioned
authority of the States," Kennedy wrote of DOMA. He concluded that
states must be allowed by the federal government to confer "dignity" on
same-sex couples if they choose to legalize gay marriage. DOMA
"undermines" same-sex marriages in visible ways and "tells those
couples, and all the world, that their otherwise valid marriages are
unworthy of federal recognition."
Gonzalo Higuain's agent and brother, Nicolas Higuain, says that the Real Madrid striker is closing in on a move to Arsenal.
The
25-year old had previously announced his desire to leave the Bernabeu
after spending six-and-a-half seasons in Spain since joining from River
Plate in 2006, and Arsene Wenger is believed to be keen to make the
Argentine a part of his squad for the forthcoming season.
Higuain has been linked with a number of European clubs including
Juventus and Napoli, but the striker's agent believes that the Gunners
are the nearest to clinching his signature.
"I can't deny that Gonzalo is now close to Arsenal."
Nicolas Higuain
"I think that Higuain is now closer to Arsenal," he told TMW.
"Juventus are a great club, but Gonzalo is too expensive for them.
Napoli are a strong side and that place represents a lot for Argentines.
"Saying that, I can't deny that Gonzalo is now close to Arsenal."
Carlos Tevez has arrived in Italy for his medical as he closes in on a move to Juventus from Manchester City.
The
Argentine ace has travelled from his homeland to undergo a medical
after Juventus agreed a fee with City on Tuesday for his signature.
Tevez was greeted at Milan Malpensa international airport by almost
200 people before making his way to Turin for talks and a medical at
Juve.
The 29-year-old is expected to sign a three-year deal with the
Italian champions if he agrees personal terms and passes a medical.
Tevez was also met by hundreds of Juve fans after making the trip to
Turin and Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta believes the arrival
of the forward is a major coup for the Italian side.
"This enthusiasm was needed. Tevez has been really a big coup" Marotta told Gazzetta.it
The move will end Tevez's four-year spell at City after joining the club from bitter rivals in the summer of 2009.
Tevez made 148 appearances for City, scoring 73 goals, although he
was also fined and suspended by them following the infamous Champions
League match at Bayern Munich in 2011 before regaining his place in the
side and helping them win the Premier League title in 2012.
The 66-year-old insists Jose Mourinho helped the progression of the team and did nothing to tarnish the club's image
Club president Florentino Perez has defended Jose Mourinho insisting he has done nothing to damage the Real Madrid brand.
Barcelona
players such as Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Xavi had all accused
the Portuguese coach of tarnishing the reputation of not only Madrid but
Spanish football in general.
Mourinho failed to achieve what was
arguably his most important goal and win la Decima, the 10th European
Cup, but despite this and the negative publicity the 50-year-old has
received, Perez is adamant Mourinho has done nothing to harm the image
of the club.
“Mourinho has helped us to make a qualitative leap
which is very important. I never tire of repeating, he has not sullied
the image of Madrid,” he told 20minutos.
“Failure is not being in the semi-finals [of the Champions League].
"I
always give the example of F1, Ferrari does not always win, but they
are the team that everybody knows. In football, that brand is Real
Madrid.”
The Madrid president also touched on the conflict
between goalkeeper and coach that resulted in Iker Casillas being
dropped to the bench, losing his place to Diego Lopez as los Blancos' No.1.
“There came a time when Mourinho gave a warning to Casillas, but he does so with all players," he added.
"Then came the injury to Iker; we had to bring Diego Lopez in and he won the job.
“Mourinho
has not cheated anyone. He is what he is: very demanding and he
justifies those demands. The club always put their faith in him and the
one who best explained it has always been Iker.
“There have been
some media that have used him [Casillas] to go against Mou. I am sure
Iker will earn the confidence of the [new] coach through his work and
his efforts, not because the media want to pick the team line-ups.
“With
Mourinho we can reach many agreements, but none of them the type that
does not allow him to speak. It will not change his personality.
“He
criticised the forms, but not the bottom. He requires success and
motivation. He has also suffered a lot of wear in these three years.
"Madrid signed Mourinho to strike a blow at the table and reclaim the place we should never have lost.”
Perez
revealed on Monday that he is close to ending his search for a coach
with Paris Saint-Germain's Carlo Ancelotti expected to complete a move
within the next few days.
The Flying Eagles started brightly with Kayode Olarenwaju running
endlessly at the Cuban defence which created some moment of panic for
the team led by Raul Gonzalez. Though the Concacaf fourth best youth
side forced their way back through Yordan Santa Cruz and Adrian Diz Pe,
their shots on goal did not trouble Chukwunenye Okani who was in goal
for Nigeria.
After several minutes of a ding-dong affair, Umar got the curtain raiser in the 19th
minute with a simple tap in after receiving a sublime pass from Kayode
Olarenwaju who breezed into the opponents’ goal area from the midfield.
Nigeria could have added the second a minute later, but Chidi Osuchukwu’s shot was off the mark. The second goal came in the 23rd minute through Umar who finished off an uncleared ball in the Cuban defence off a corner kick.
The goal proved to be the tonic the Obuh boys needed as they
dominated all departments of the game but poor finishing was their major
undoing as Ajagun, Osuchukwu and Kayode took turns to blow away begging
chances. Even Michael Olaitan’s ferocious shot outside the Islanders’
penalty area in the 26th minute was only good enough for the wood work.
On resumption of the second half, the Nigerians continued their
dominance but were wasteful in front of goal. Olarenwaju came one on one
thrice with the goalie but fluffed those chances, as Edafe Egbedi who
replaced Chidi Osuchukwu had his own share of misses too.
Abdul Ajagun gave the Flying Eagles an unassailable lead in the 67th minute heading home a floater that gave goalkeeper Sandy Sanchez no chance.
Even with the introduction Darion Perez, Cuba failed to get the
cutting edge, as the Flying Eagles front men continued to throw away
clear cut chances with Olarenwaju the main culprit.
Ajagun failed to increase his goal tally in the tournament to four after he threw away a stoppage time penalty kick.
The Flying Eagles will tackle Korea Republic in the last group game on Thursday at the Ali Sami Yen Arena in Istanbul.
Former President Nelson Mandela remains in critical condition in
hospital last night. But his family said no matter what, it would not
give up. The 94-year-old former South African president suffered a
sudden deterioration in his health Sunday night. He was taken to the
hospital over two weeks ago for treatment for a recurrent lung
infection.
Many South African have resigned to faith over his worsening health
condition. They are praying to God to prolong his life and also
acknowledging the fact that the end may not be far away.
His eldest daughter Makaziwe told CNN the family would not end his medical treatment.
She said: “In our culture, the Tembu culture, that I know, the
African culture that I know you never release the person unless the
person has told you ‘please my children, my family release me’. My dad
hasn’t said that to us. So these people who want to talk about, you
know, release him, he hasn’t said we should release him and we haven’t
come to the end yet. It is only God who knows the end.”
She added that she believed her father was at peace. She said: “Yes, I
believe he is at peace. He is at peace with himself. He has given so
much to the world I believe he is at peace.”
His granddaughter Ndileka added: “His fighting spirit is what amazes
me. I don’t know what keeps him fighting and he is stoic and determined,
that I will end things my way. Not any other person’s way. I strongly
feel that whatever covenant he has made with his ancestors and god has
not been fulfilled, when that is fulfilled he will bow out in a way that
he chooses.”
Two of his granddaughters Swati Dlamini and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway
yesterday tweeted in support of their ill grandfather, describing him as
their ‘rock’.
They wrote: “He is our rock, we are firmly glued together because of him. We are UNITED!”
Their message came just a few hours after they asked supporters to
pray for him. They posted: “Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He
is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us.”
News of Mandela’s condition emerged after he was visited by South
African President Jacob Zuma Sunday night. The South African president
yesterday urged his countrymen to pray for the ‘father of democracy’.
He said: “Madiba (Mandela’s clan name) is critical in the hospital,
and this is the father of democracy. This is the man who fought and
sacrificed his life to stay in prison, the longest-serving prisoner in
South Africa. He is one of those who has contributed to democracy. All
of us in the country should accept the fact that Madiba is now old. As
he ages, his health will … trouble him and I think what we need to do as
a country is to pray for him.”
Speaking at a news conference, he added: “The doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort.”
Pressed for further details on Nelson Mandela’s health, President
Jacob Zuma said: “I can’t tell you what is wrong with him … I am not a
doctor.”
He confirmed that he had seen Mandela in hospital last night, and
that he had been asleep at the time. He said he had discussions with the
doctors and with Mr Mandela’s wife.
Zuma said he was briefed by Mr Mandela’s medical team and told that his condition had ‘become critical over the past 24 hours’.
Zuma, in a statement, said: “The doctors are doing everything
possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is
well-looked after and is comfortable. He is in good hands.”
Despite previous claims that Mandela’s health had been improving
after battling a recurring lung infection, it emerged in the early hours
of Saturday that he had become unresponsive.
It was reported that his liver and kidney functions were down to 50 per cent and he had not opened his eyes for days.
Mandela recently underwent two procedures at Pretoria Hospital, one
to repair a bleeding ulcer and another to insert a tube into his body.
Last night, his immediate family was said to be discussing whether to withdraw treatment.
It followed revelations that the ambulance which took Mandela to
Pretoria hospital earlier this month broke down en route, leaving him
stranded on the roadside for 40 minutes in winter temperatures.
South African government officials have said ‘great care was taken to
ensure that Mandela’s health was not compromised and that his doctors
were satisfied the former president suffered no harm.’
Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December but last
night’s confirmation of his grave condition is by far the most downbeat
report ever given about his health.
The status of Mandela is likely to overshadow the visit later this
week to South Africa by US President Barack Obama. But Zuma said the
vist would go on.
“If it’s his time to go, he can go. I wish God can look after him,”
said nurse Petunia Mafuyeka, as she headed to work in Johannesburg.
“We will miss him very much. He fought to give us freedom will ensure
forever. We will remember him every day. When he goes I will cry,” she
said.
There were some concerns among the public about doctors trying to
prolong the life of South Africa’s first black president, one of the
20th Century’s most influential figures.
“I’m worried that they’re keeping him alive. I feel they should let
him go,” said Doris Lekalakala, a claims manager. “The man is old. Let
nature take its course. He must just rest.”
The news of his condition has led to increase in the number of
reporters hanging around the hospital not wanting to be beaten to the
great story of the decade. More security men have also been drafted to
the area.
Seven among the suspected kidnappers of the Chairman of Ejigbo Local
Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan,
have been killed by the police , it was learnt yesterday.
Two others were arrested alive by the crack team that carried out the operation.
Those arrested are: Ogbonna Emenike, 27 and Uchenna Nwanyu, 25, who
were paraded alongside the bodies of their deceased members by Lagos
Police chief Umar Manko in the afternoon, yesterday.
A combined team of the State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by
Superintendent (SP) Abba Kyari killed the suspects at Agbara, a Lagos
suburb, shortly after they abducted an Indian, Vivex Chagrani and
brought him to the hide-out early yesterday.
The Indian was said to have been kidnapped in Ikoyi area of Lagos on his way back from night outing.
The victim was rescued unhurt during an exchange of gunfire with the police when the two were arrested.
It was learnt that two other suspects were shot in the leg.
One of the suspects, Nwanyu said: “My boss and his wife told me that
they were into drug trafficking. I was surprised to see that he is the
leader of the kidnapping gang.”
Recovered from them include four AK 47 rifles, 28 AK 47 fully loaded
magazines, over 1,000 live ammunition, army uniforms, one CRV Sports
Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked, ABC 106 AE and a Nissan Pathfinder marked,
No. AGL730AZ.
Manko said: “Based on painstaking follow-up, surveillance and
tracking of Ghana-based Nigerian kidnappers who kidnapped Ejigbo Local
Government Chairman, Hon. Kehinde Bamgbetan, a sitting Federal High
Court Judge and another notable individual in Lagos, O/C SARS, SP Abba
Kyari led a team of crack detectives to a suburb in Agbara, Ogun State,
where the kidnappers have their camp.
“After 72 hours of waiting in an ambush, Kyari and his team cordoned
off and stormed the house where all the kidnappers had gathered at about
3am. As a result, seven of them were fatally wounded during heavy gun
battle between the kidnappers and SARS operatives”.
He said two of the gang members were arrested with arms charms and operational vehicles among others.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru said yesterday that the
Federal Government will defend the interest of Nigerians on consular
related issues with foreign countries.
Ashiru spoke in Abuja following a proposal by the United Kingdom to
introduce a bond of 3,000 pounds (N750, 000) for intending visitors from
Nigeria and five other countries.
Speaking at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, Ashiru reiterated that the
UK government was yet to officially notify Nigeria on the proposal
scheduled to start in November.
“Really, we have received no official communication from the UK government.
“When we receive communication from them, we will study whatever
proposal they are trying to do but I can assure all Nigerians that
President Jonathan’s government will defend the interest of Nigerians by
whatever means it can.’’
The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee kicked against
the policy. Chair of the Diaspora Committee Abike Dabiri –Erewa asked
Nigeria to adopt the principle of reciprocity if the UK insists on the
visa bond from Nigerians traveling to Britain. She suggested a N5million
bond for any Briton seeking Nigerian visa as a visitor.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ms.
Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje described the visa bond as discriminatory and
unacceptable. She said the House of Representatives would take a
critical look at the policy as it affects Nigerians and come up with a
way forward. Dabiri-Erewa said: “Nigeria should adopt the principle of
reciprocity. If they ask us to pay £3,000, let their citizens also pay
N5million visa bond.
“This is a discriminatory policy and it is unacceptable. Do not
forget that we are a member of the Commonwealth, what are we going to
enjoy if they could impose such a discriminatory policy?
“I am quite sure that France will not impose visa bond on their
former colonies. The UK Government should reverse it or else we should
pay them back in equal measure.
“The Federal Government should not allow the situation to lie low; it should reject it and make it reciprocal.
“When South Africa said we should be paying N100, 000 visa bond and we reciprocated, it quickly stopped the policy.
“If Nigerian and Indian doctors withdraw their services in the UK, their health sector will collapse.
Elendu-Ukeje described the new UK visa bond as discriminatory and unacceptable.
In a statement in Abuja, the lawmaker said such policy was not in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
She said: “This is totally discriminatory and unacceptable. It is target to non-white Commonwealth.
“They should realise that it is not in the best interest of UK. We
will as a country, going to look at it vis-a- vis our citizens and come
up with a decision.
“We agree totally with our Foreign Minister that the policy is totally unworkable and impractical’’.
“It is contrary to the commitment made to our President by Prime
Minister David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for
political reason ahead of general elections.
“We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency.”
The minister admitted that the biggest challenge facing the present
administration’s foreign policy thrust was the welfare of Nigerians
abroad.
He said Nigeria missions abroad had been directed to pay utmost
attention to the needs of Nigerians abroad, particularly the plight of
Nigerians in various prisons abroad.
He acknowledged that many Nigerians were stranded abroad in prisons
and that the affected Nigerians had continued to suffer various forms of
discriminations in their host countries.
According to the minister, over 9000 Nigerians are currently serving
prisons terms abroad, with the largest number of 752 in the UK.
“Most of the remaining prisoners are concentrated in the Asia – Pacific region and a good number of them are on death row.
“We are concluding Prisoners’ Transfer Agreement (PTA) with all those
countries, such as United Kingdom, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia,
Switzerland, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Hong Kong, so that we
can bring home these Nigerians to complete their prison terms.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of different
groups; the media, civil societies, religious groups, traditional
rulers, etc, to join hands in the education of our youths in an
enlightenment campaign against trafficking in drugs, in particular, and
other social vices in general. “This assignment should not be left alone
to Governments at different levels to handle.’’
On the much-talked about reopening of Information Centres abroad, the
minister appealed to the Federal Ministry of Information to ensure
proper funding for the centres.
“All I will appeal is that when it starts, they must be well funded; I
do not want cases where you send information officers abroad and after
nine months or six months the funding will be tied.
“You must ensure proper funding and we in the ministry of foreign
affairs are in favour of this move because three or four heads are
better than one’.
President’s planned dinner clashes with NGF meeting
The battle for the control of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)
resumed yesterday, with elected Chairman Rotimi Amaechi summoning a
meeting of members for tomorrow in Abuja.
In what was seen by observers as an apparent bid to frustrate the
meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday invited all governors for
what a source termed as a “curious” dinner.
The timing of the presidential dinner coincides with the NGF
meeting’s time. The agenda remained unclear, as at press time last
night. But there was the suspicion that it was meant to break the rank
of the 19 governors who re-elected Amaechi.
But the Amaechi group has vowed to go ahead with the NGF meeting instead of the “emergency” presidential dinner.
This is the first meeting Amaechi is calling after last month’s disputed NGF election.
Amaechi won 19 votes to beat Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who
got 16 votes. Yobe State Goveror Ibrahim Gaidam abstained from voting.
But Jang has continued to lay claim to the chairmanship, claiming
that he won because Northern governors chose him as their consensus
candidate. He has the backing of the Presidency and the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
Jang, who has rented an office in Abuja for his faction of the NGF, last Monday called a meeting. Only 16 governors attended.
A Press Officer of the NGF Secretariat, Chidimma Onyenalim, in a
notice of the meeting yesterday, said: “There will be a meeting of
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday 26th June, 2013. Time:
8.00pm prompt. Venue: Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, No. 5 Justice
Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, Abuja.”
The agenda of the meeting: Chairman’s brief on NGF in the news, fresh
and subsisting litigations; visit to the NGF secretariat, update on
Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Excess Crude Account (ECA)
and Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), update on State Peer Review Mechanism
(SPRM) and other issues.
The meeting will also deliberate on polio eradication initiative:
Structuring a programme to address emerging challenges, Post election
disagreements, NGF and its partners, NGF strategy plan 2013-2015 and
AOB.
A governor told our correspondent last night that the Governor’s
Forum meetings are held once a month on the eve of the National Economic
Council (NEC) meeting.
He said there was no need to meet “until it is time, which is now”.
Those calling meetings every week are those looking for legitimacy,” he
said.
The NGF meeting will precede the NEC meeting on Thursday.
Following a likely boycott by some governors branding Jang as their
leader, some pro-Amaechi governors, who went on official trip abroad,
have been recalled.
Another governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “This is our major
meeting after the election of the NGF chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi
and we will make sure that all of us are there to prove that we are
standing by Amaechi.
“As a matter of fact, some G-19 members scheduled to travel abroad
have suspended it. And those currently overseas for investment drive
have been recalled. For instance, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido is
expected to fly into the country tomorrow to be part of the meeting.
“The sacrifice we are making underscores our agitation for untainted
democracy, not only at the NGF level, but in all facets of our national
life.”
Another governor said: “When they heard that the authentic NGF
meeting would hold, all the 36 governors have been invited to the
Presidential Villa for a curious dinner. The dinner is fixed for the
same time we are expected to start the NGF session. No governor can
really say the motive of the dinner.
“Well, we prefer the NGF meeting to a dinner. The Presidency is
trying to use the dinner to divide the Forum. We know the other 16
governors following Jang may opt for the dinner but we will prefer to go
hungry to protect the nation’s democracy than go for food.”
To the governor, the Presidency is being jittery that the Amaechi
group will have the majority of the NGF members at our meeting. The
design is to deplete our ranks with dinner but it will not work,” he
said.
“Well, we see the NGF meeting convened by Amaechi as our normal
session on a monthly basis before the meeting of the NEC. Until the
Presidency meddled in the affairs of the NGF, we used to meet normally
once in a month,” he said.
Asked whether the NGF meeting could disrupted by forces opposed to
Amaechi, the governor replied: “We do not envisage that; they won’t go
to such a ridiculous level. But if they do so, Nigerians will now know
their intention.
“You know they have been sponsoring some suits against the authentic
NGF but they cannot go far. All the 19 governors backing Amaechi will be
in Abuja on Wednesday.”
O3b satellite network debuts today in Kourou, French Guiana with a
promise of bringing fast broadband to billions of people in the
developing world.
A release from the satellite company indicates that O3b’s fast fiber
speed satellite network will provide fast, effective and efficient
infrastructure conducive for 21st century communications in many parts
of the world, including Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and
the Pacific.
According to the release, “They will operate in medium Earth Orbit,
reducing the network cost and latency or delay that web users experience
when loading a web page. This will help connect consumers in the
developing world (“the other 3 billion” or O3b) who currently lack
proper internet access. A new and exciting world will open to billions
of people who, up to now, have not experienced the benefits of fast
Internet connectivity.”
The network of satellites, the release said, will deliver broadband
connectivity everywhere on Earth within 45 degrees of latitude north and
south of the equator, including markets in Latin America, Africa, the
Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, markets where demand is expected to
remain higher than supply over the coming years.
The network of O3b satellites includes customers such as Etisalat,
Digicel and Royal Caribbean Cruises while investors include Google, SES,
Liberty Global and HSBC.
According to the British Broadcasting Service (BBC), Spain has launched proceedings against Google over five suspected serious data breaches.
The probe is coming even as France has given the search giant three
months to rethink its privacy rules. The European Union in October, 2012
the EU warned Google that its data protection laws did not comply with a
directive and gave the company four months to change them.
According to a Sunday Times report, visitors from Nigeriato
the United Kingdom
may be forced to pay a hefty cash bond of £3,000
starting from November, before they can enter the UK. The report stated
that the move will target at least five other African and Asian
countries including Ghana, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The scheme which will initially target hundreds of visitors will be
extended to several thousands in the near future. The move will also
make tourists aged 18 and above to pay the cash bond for a 6-month visit
visa which will be forfeited once they overstayed their visit in Great
Britain.
The night sky is set to be illuminated later by what will appear to be a much bigger and brighter Moon.
The so-called "supermoon" occurs when the Moon reaches its closest point to earth, known as a perigee full moon.
The effect is to make the Moon seem 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is furthest from the planet
Skywatchers who miss the phenomenon this weekend because of cloudy skies will have to wait until August 2014 for the next one.
Space expert Heather Couper said "supermoons" were the result of coincidence.
"The Moon goes round in an oval orbit so it can come very
close to us, and if that coincides with a full moon, then it can look
absolutely enormous," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
She explained that when the Moon was high in the sky, it looked normal.
But as it got closer to the horizon, a "kind of optical
illusion" occurred where it looked bigger when compared with trees or
houses, she said.
She suggested it might be possible to dispel the illusion by
turning away from the Moon, bending over and looking at the sky from
between your legs.
Writing in Sky and Telescope
about the "myth of the supermoon", Shari Balouchi said much of what we
called the supermoon was just our eyes playing tricks on us.
"The supermoon might look bigger than normal if you see it in
the evening when the Moon's just rising, but the real size difference
isn't big enough to notice."
BBC Weather's Darren Bett said he was confident most people
in the UK would be able to see the Moon at some point on Saturday night,
but warned it might be fleeting.
Bands of showers are forecast over the UK, with some gaps in the clouds.
Sunday night should be better, he added, with people in
south-west England and south Wales likely to have the clearest views of
the Moon.
However Marek Kukula, public astronomer at the Royal
Observatory Greenwich, said people should not expect the supermoon to
look that much bigger than normal.
"It won't fill the sky," he said.
"It's at its most impressive when the Moon is close to the
horizon ie when it's rising or setting - people will need to check
online for rising and setting times for their locality."
The emergency ambulance carrying Nelson Mandela to hospital two weeks
ago broke down, the South African presidential spokesman says.
Mac Maharaj confirmed that the vehicle had engine trouble and that the former president was transferred to another ambulance.
But he said there was no threat to Mr Mandela as he was surrounded by intensive care nurses the whole time.
American network CBS quotes sources as saying he had to wait for 40 minutes.
The CBS report says the transfer to another ambulance took place in freezing winter temperatures.
Mr Mandela, 94, was being transported from Johannesburg to hospital in Pretoria in the early hours of 8 June.
He was admitted in a serious condition with a recurrence of
long-standing lung problems and has been in intensive care since. It is
his third stay in hospital this year.
There has been little information about his condition for some days. President Jacob Zuma
said on 13 June that his health continued to improve but his condition
remained serious.
More recently, one of Mr Mandela's grandsons, Ndaba Mandela,
said his grandfather was getting better and he hoped he would be home
soon. Convoy
Mr Maharaj confirmed the ambulance breakdown in an interview with local TV station, ENCA.
"I appreciate the concern caused by this," he said.
"I want to assure the public that from the presidency side we
are assured by the doctors that all care was taken to ensure that
former President Nelson Mandela's medical condition was not compromised
by this incident."
Mr Maharaj said Mr Mandela was in a convoy with a full
complement of medical staff and no-one could have predicted the engine
problem. "It happens in life," he said.
The presidential spokesman dismissed speculation surrounding
Mr Mandela's medical condition, calling for things to be done "in a
dignified way" and urging the media to rely on updates from the
presidential office.
After leading the struggle against white minority rule under
the apartheid system, Mr Mandela became South Africa's first black
president in 1994.
He was jailed for 27 years for his role in the fight against
apartheid and is believed to have suffered damage to his lungs while
working in a prison quarry.
He contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while being held in prison on the windswept Robben Island.
Determined to check the rising cases of abortion in recent years, a
Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Chimaezie Eugene-Oguzie, has charged all
lovers of mankind to see their everyday life as an opportunity to
propagate the respect for human life whether nurtured in the womb, born
or at any other level. He pointed out that the Catholic Church would
continue to kick against anything that intervenes with human life
especially abortion which translates to murder. “Prolife is a case of
justice and respect for human life particularly the weak and defenseless
in the society” He recalled that in 1973, the Supreme Court of America
subtly legalized abortion but said human life is sacred and should
therefore be protected at all cost The clergy also said to curb the
endless killings in the Northern part of the country the federal
government should create a reasonable platform for civil and social
development in the country so as to keep restive youth out of the
street. The Catholic priest who spoke at a Pro- life seminar organised
by the Knights of St. Mulumba, Nigeria, Maryland Sub-Council with the
theme: ‘Professing our faith through defense of human life,’ said human
life is priceless as the right to give or take life rest in the Almighty
God. He further argued that if the country’s youth have reasonable
occupation they may not have time to be subjected to ideological
tinkering that Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda and other terrorists group do. “I do
not think amnesty is the solution to the incessant killings in the
North as nobody anywhere talks about granting amnesty to criminals or
terrorists. The value of life cuts across religion, gender and tribe.
So, what the church is saying is that human life in all forms for all
people must be well respected. Nobody can accept what is going on not
just in the North but anywhere in the world where anybody is killed in
the name of religion, tribe or culture. That is not acceptable whether
it Boko Haram, Ansaru or any other group. Human life is invaluable and
it is a fundamental value upon which every other value is built, ” he
said. He also noted that the family as the mini-church is key to
addressing all forms of vices that endanger the human life stressing
that all forms of education must begin from the family to check the
worrisome trend. According to him, the family is key to human and social
development so also is our religion. “If I am preaching the same value
and my Islamic counterpart is doing the same, then it means the society
would be filled with such values. So, we should see our everyday life as
an opportunity to educate people on the value of human life whether
nurtured in the womb or born Also speaking, a Muslim scholar Awwal
Muftau pointed out that terrorism is not part of Islam as the Koran
abhors killing of human life and urged the country’s youth to always
listen to the wise counsel of their parent so as to live more fulfilled
life.
Rafael Benitez has been officially unveiled as the new manager of Serie A side Napoli.
After
his stint as interim boss at Chelsea, the 53-year old replaces Walter
Mazzarri who has taken charge at Inter Milan upon the expiry of his
contract at the Stadio San Paolo.
The Spaniard has previous experience of Serie A management having
spent six months at the helm of Inter before being sacked in December
2010.
Benitez has signed a two-year deal with the Azzurri and he says he is delighted to have been entrusted with the role.
"I'm really happy because I've seen the city, I know the supporters,
the club and I've spoken with many players who have played here," he
said.
"I'm really happy to be here to coach a strong side that wants to
grow and that did good things, and that wants to do good things in the
future.
"Napoli is a club that wants to improve. From the team, I hope to have the balance to try and win games."
One of Benitez' first tasks will be to keep hold of striker Edinson
Cavani who has attracted interest from a number of top European sides.
He said: "I've spoken many times with Cavani - he's a great player and for this reason, the world is talking about him."
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was also pleased with the coup
and he was optimistic about the influence that Benitez can have on the
club.
"Benitez is the right man for us because he has international experience and he will be with us in this period of growth.
"With him it starts a new cycle, it's like we restart from the beginning.
"We are not interested in today's results, but what will arrive tomorrow and in the future."
Police in Ondo State are on the trail of an ex-police officer, Tajudeen
Adeniyi, over an attempt to kill his wife, Moyosola, by macheting her,
inflicting a 10-centimetre deep gash on her head.
The 38-year-old suspect took to his heels immediately he inflicted the injury on his wife who has had four children for him.
Adeniyi,
according to investigation, has gone underground following the hint he
got that the family of the wife had reported the incident to the Police.
Consequently, the Police have combed the houses of his friends and family members to no avail.
Narrating
her ordeal to newsmen on her hospital bed, yesterday, Moyosola said her
husband abandoned the house for another woman since November 2012.
She alleged that her husband invaded her apartment at Plaza area of Akure at about 11 p.m on Wednesday and attacked her.
According
to her, the husband forced the door of the room open with the use of
the mortar and attacked her with cutlass, bottle and club.
She
also alleged that her husband who was accompanied by two other men
inflicted several machete cuts on her head and neck, making her to lose
several pints of blood.
Moyosola explained that after the husband abandoned her she took their four children to their hometown in Ogotun-Ekiti.
The
doctor taking care of injured Moyosola, Dr. Matthew Adeyeri, told
newsmen that she had about 12 centimetres cut on her head. He noted that
it was sheer providence that she survived the attack.
According
to him, “if the cut inflicted on the woman’s neck had been as deep as
the one on her head, she would have died before getting to the hospital.
The state’s Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said men of the command were on the trail of the suspect for attempted murder.
Chief Olabanji Akingbule, 75, the Odunwo of Ondo, Ondo State, has
narrated how he disarmed and captured four kidnappers who attempted to
abduct him.
The septuagenarian spoke with Daily Sun: “I was
inside my house on the fateful day and dressing up to go out when my
wife informed me that policemen had arrested my son. When I peeped
through the veranda and saw the people, I told my wife that they might
not be policemen, but kidnappers. “
They were four in number. Two of them were inside a Golf car parked
at the front of my house, while the rest came upstairs to meet me. They
introduced themselves as kidnappers. The two that came upstairs held a
gun each.
One of them made attempt at dragging me downstairs, while the other
one was with my wife who was shouting on top of her voice. An attempt
was made to drag her inside the house by the one that was close to her.
However, as luck would have it, the noise she made attracted people
in the neighborhood. “Although, they made spirited effort to carry me,
but by the special grace of God, I insisted that I was not going to
follow them.
In the process, the one close to me brought a white substance that
was kept inside a bottle and asked me to inhale it. When I refused, he
wanted to pour it on my head.
“I summoned courage and used my right hand to block it. As a
result, both the bottle and the gun fell off his hands downstairs. When
they noted the presence of people, the two men ran out of the house to
join their colleagues.
”When I saw that he took another direction where he would not be in
position to find the gun and the white substance, I moved to the place
and picked up the two items.
I called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Funbi-Fagun
division, Mrs. Joyce Maiyaki-Matthew, who responded immediately.
“I thank God for saving my life, and my late mother, Madam Esther
Ogunhinmola Akingbule, who trained me on how to be courageous. If I was
not courageous enough, I might not be able to disarm the kidnappers who
came with gun and very giant in height,” he told Daily Sun.
The 35-year-old striker, who was back in his Ivory Coast homeland for
a brief visit, returned to his room on June 12 to find his luggage
unpacked and some €7,500 (£6,400) missing.
The Chelsea legend
immediately reported the incident to the management of Hotel Ivoire, a
five-star establishment and the country's biggest hotel, where several
players from the national team spend their holidays.
Nobody has
been arrested for burglary and the funds have not been recovered,
according to the police, despite an investigation being opened.
Ivory
Coast booked their place to the third and final round of World Cup
qualifiers without Drogba but coach Sabri Lamouchi has suggested that
the Elephants' all-time top scorer could return to the international
fold for the nextround of friendlies.
The
35-year-old striker, who was back in his Ivory Coast homeland for a
brief visit, returned to his room on June 12 to find his luggage
unpacked and some €7,500 (£6,400) missing.
The Chelsea legend immediately reported the incident to the management of by Browse to Save" style="text-decoration: underline;">Hotel
Ivoire, a five-star establishment and the country's biggest hotel,
where several players from the national team spend their holidays.
Nobody
has been arrested for burglary and the funds have not been recovered,
according to the police, despite an investigation being opened.
Ivory
Coast booked their place to the third and final round of World Cup
qualifiers without Drogba but coach Sabri Lamouchi has suggested that
the Elephants' all-time top scorer could return to the international
fold for the nextround of friendlies. - See more at:
http://www.whispernaija.com/2013/06/drogba-robbed-in-ivory-coast.html#sthash.QC21TXgZ.dpuf
The
35-year-old striker, who was back in his Ivory Coast homeland for a
brief visit, returned to his room on June 12 to find his luggage
unpacked and some €7,500 (£6,400) missing.
The Chelsea legend immediately reported the incident to the management of by Browse to Save" style="text-decoration: underline;">Hotel
Ivoire, a five-star establishment and the country's biggest hotel,
where several players from the national team spend their holidays.
Nobody
has been arrested for burglary and the funds have not been recovered,
according to the police, despite an investigation being opened.
Ivory
Coast booked their place to the third and final round of World Cup
qualifiers without Drogba but coach Sabri Lamouchi has suggested that
the Elephants' all-time top scorer could return to the international
fold for the nextround of friendlies. - See more at:
http://www.whispernaija.com/2013/06/drogba-robbed-in-ivory-coast.html#sthash.QC21TXgZ.d
The
35-year-old striker, who was back in his Ivory Coast homeland for a
brief visit, returned to his room on June 12 to find his luggage
unpacked and some €7,500 (£6,400) missing.
The Chelsea legend immediately reported the incident to the management of by Browse to Save" style="text-decoration: underline;">Hotel
Ivoire, a five-star establishment and the country's biggest hotel,
where several players from the national team spend their holidays.
Nobody
has been arrested for burglary and the funds have not been recovered,
according to the police, despite an investigation being opened.
Ivory
Coast booked their place to the third and final round of World Cup
qualifiers without Drogba but coach Sabri Lamouchi has suggested that
the Elephants' all-time top scorer could return to the international
fold for the nextround of friendlies. - See more at:
http://www.whispernaija.com/2013/06/drogba-robbed-in-ivory-coast.html#sthash.QC21TXgZ.dpuf
The 35-year-old striker, who was back in his Ivory Coast homeland for a
brief visit, returned to his room on June 12 to find his luggage
unpacked and some €7,500 (£6,400) missing.
The Chelsea legend immediately reported the incident to the management of by Browse to Save" style="text-decoration: underline;">Hotel
Ivoire, a five-star establishment and the country's biggest hotel,
where several players from the national team spend their holidays.
Nobody
has been arrested for burglary and the funds have not been recovered,
according to the police, despite an investigation being opened.
Ivory
Coast booked their place to the third and final round of World Cup
qualifiers without Drogba but coach Sabri Lamouchi has suggested that
the Elephants' all-time top scorer could return to the international
fold for the nextround of friendlies. - See more at:
http://www.whispernaija.com/2013/06/drogba-robbed-in-ivory-coast.html#sthash.QC21TXgZ.dpuf
French Montana drops his latest video for the track "I Told Em" off of his recently released album Excuse My French.
Premiered by WorldStarHipHop, the "I Told Em" video features typical
French Montana flexing with shots of him driving expensive cars, showing
off his jewelry and posing with private jets.
Randomly Tiny Lister ("Deebo" from the movie "Friday")
makes an appearance in the video playing the role of Montana's muscle
throwing an apparent enemy of the Coke Boy in the trunk of a car for his
transgressions. The message is clear here: Don't mess with French or a former pro wrestler in a Monster Energy Drink tee will be coming for that ass.
P-square is at it again with this hit. The video features Nollywood star Osita Iheme aka Paw Paw. This video is aimed at paying tribute to the late pop king MJ (Micheal Jackson)
Jose Mourinho starts his second spell at Chelsea with a home game against newly promoted Hull on 17 August.
Opening Premier League games
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Liverpool v Stoke
Man City v Newcastle
Norwich v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea v Man Utd
West Brom v Southampton
West Ham v Cardiff
Manuel Pellegrini's first game in charge of Manchester City is against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Following their promotion from the Championship, Cardiff travel to West Ham and Crystal Palace host Tottenham.
Relegated QPR start life in the Championship with a home game against Sheffield Wednesday on 3 August.
In Scotland, Celtic begin their defence of their SPL title with a home
game against Ross County. Rangers begin life in the Scottish Second
Division at home to Brechin.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup final has returned to its place at the end of the
domestic season, with the match scheduled for May 17, a week after the
end of the Premier League season. The 2010 season was the last time the
match took this slot.
New Everton boss Roberto Martinez takes his team to Norwich on the
opening weekend, while Liverpool host Mark Hughes' Stoke at Anfield.
Arsenal start with a home game against Aston Villa, Sunderland host Fulham and Southampton travel to West Brom.
Moyes's first five league games
17 August: Swansea (away)
24 August: Chelsea (home)
31 August: Liverpool (away)
14 September: Crystal Palace (home)
21 September: Manchester City (away)
After the game at Swansea, Moyes's United host Chelsea at Old Trafford
before the former Everton manager returns to Merseyside to face
Liverpool the following weekend.
City host United in the first Manchester derby of the season on the
weekend of 22 September and they travel to Old Trafford for the return
game on the weekend of 21 March.
Cardiff's first Premier League derby against Swansea takes place at the
Cardiff City Stadium on 2 November and the Welsh sides meet again at the
Liberty Stadium on 8 February.
On Boxing Day, Chelsea host Swansea, Manchester United head to Hull and Manchester City face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal entertain Cardiff on New Year's Day, Manchester United face
Tottenham at Old Trafford, Pellegrini's City travel to Swansea and
Chelsea head to Southampton.
The season ends on 11 May, with Manchester United travelling to
Southampton, Chelsea at Cardiff and Arsenal at Norwich, while Manchester
City host West Ham.
Club-by-club fixtures for the new season:
Premier League: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City,
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, Stoke
City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion,
West Ham United. - See more at:
http://naijahome.net/news/view/premier-league-fixtures2013-14-announced/0#.UcLsk9hT3ng
Jose Mourinho starts his second spell at Chelsea with a home game against newly promoted Hull on 17 August.
Opening Premier League games
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Liverpool v Stoke
Man City v Newcastle
Norwich v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea v Man Utd
West Brom v Southampton
West Ham v Cardiff
Manuel Pellegrini's first game in charge of Manchester City is against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Following their promotion from the Championship, Cardiff travel to West Ham and Crystal Palace host Tottenham.
Relegated QPR start life in the Championship with a home game against Sheffield Wednesday on 3 August.
In Scotland, Celtic begin their defence of their SPL title with a home
game against Ross County. Rangers begin life in the Scottish Second
Division at home to Brechin.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup final has returned to its place at the end of the
domestic season, with the match scheduled for May 17, a week after the
end of the Premier League season. The 2010 season was the last time the
match took this slot.
New Everton boss Roberto Martinez takes his team to Norwich on the
opening weekend, while Liverpool host Mark Hughes' Stoke at Anfield.
Arsenal start with a home game against Aston Villa, Sunderland host Fulham and Southampton travel to West Brom.
Moyes's first five league games
17 August: Swansea (away)
24 August: Chelsea (home)
31 August: Liverpool (away)
14 September: Crystal Palace (home)
21 September: Manchester City (away)
After the game at Swansea, Moyes's United host Chelsea at Old Trafford
before the former Everton manager returns to Merseyside to face
Liverpool the following weekend.
City host United in the first Manchester derby of the season on the
weekend of 22 September and they travel to Old Trafford for the return
game on the weekend of 21 March.
Cardiff's first Premier League derby against Swansea takes place at the
Cardiff City Stadium on 2 November and the Welsh sides meet again at the
Liberty Stadium on 8 February.
On Boxing Day, Chelsea host Swansea, Manchester United head to Hull and Manchester City face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal entertain Cardiff on New Year's Day, Manchester United face
Tottenham at Old Trafford, Pellegrini's City travel to Swansea and
Chelsea head to Southampton.
The season ends on 11 May, with Manchester United travelling to
Southampton, Chelsea at Cardiff and Arsenal at Norwich, while Manchester
City host West Ham.
Club-by-club fixtures for the new season:
Premier League: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City,
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, Stoke
City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion,
West Ham United. - See more at:
http://naijahome.net/news/view/premier-league-fixtures2013-14-announced/0#.UcLsk9hT3ng
Jose Mourinho starts his second spell at Chelsea with a home game against newly promoted Hull on 17 August.
Opening Premier League games
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Liverpool v Stoke
Man City v Newcastle
Norwich v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea v Man Utd
West Brom v Southampton
West Ham v Cardiff
Manuel Pellegrini's first game in charge of Manchester City is against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Following their promotion from the Championship, Cardiff travel to West Ham and Crystal Palace host Tottenham.
Relegated QPR start life in the Championship with a home game against Sheffield Wednesday on 3 August.
In Scotland, Celtic begin their defence of their SPL title with a home
game against Ross County. Rangers begin life in the Scottish Second
Division at home to Brechin.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup final has returned to its place at the end of the
domestic season, with the match scheduled for May 17, a week after the
end of the Premier League season. The 2010 season was the last time the
match took this slot.
New Everton boss Roberto Martinez takes his team to Norwich on the
opening weekend, while Liverpool host Mark Hughes' Stoke at Anfield.
Arsenal start with a home game against Aston Villa, Sunderland host Fulham and Southampton travel to West Brom.
Moyes's first five league games
17 August: Swansea (away)
24 August: Chelsea (home)
31 August: Liverpool (away)
14 September: Crystal Palace (home)
21 September: Manchester City (away)
After the game at Swansea, Moyes's United host Chelsea at Old Trafford
before the former Everton manager returns to Merseyside to face
Liverpool the following weekend.
City host United in the first Manchester derby of the season on the
weekend of 22 September and they travel to Old Trafford for the return
game on the weekend of 21 March.
Cardiff's first Premier League derby against Swansea takes place at the
Cardiff City Stadium on 2 November and the Welsh sides meet again at the
Liberty Stadium on 8 February.
On Boxing Day, Chelsea host Swansea, Manchester United head to Hull and Manchester City face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal entertain Cardiff on New Year's Day, Manchester United face
Tottenham at Old Trafford, Pellegrini's City travel to Swansea and
Chelsea head to Southampton.
The season ends on 11 May, with Manchester United travelling to
Southampton, Chelsea at Cardiff and Arsenal at Norwich, while Manchester
City host West Ham.
Club-by-club fixtures for the new season:
Premier League: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City,
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, Stoke
City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion,
West Ham United. - See more at:
http://naijahome.net/news/view/premier-league-fixtures2013-14-announced/0#.UcLsk9hT3ngdeeee
Jose Mourinho starts his second spell at Chelsea with a home game against newly promoted Hull on 17 August.
Opening Premier League games
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Hull
Crystal Palace v Tottenham
Liverpool v Stoke
Man City v Newcastle
Norwich v Everton
Sunderland v Fulham
Swansea v Man Utd
West Brom v Southampton
West Ham v Cardiff
Manuel Pellegrini's first game in charge of Manchester City is against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Following their promotion from the Championship, Cardiff travel to West Ham and Crystal Palace host Tottenham.
Relegated QPR start life in the Championship with a home game against Sheffield Wednesday on 3 August.
In Scotland, Celtic begin their defence of their SPL title with a home
game against Ross County. Rangers begin life in the Scottish Second
Division at home to Brechin.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup final has returned to its place at the end of the
domestic season, with the match scheduled for May 17, a week after the
end of the Premier League season. The 2010 season was the last time the
match took this slot.
New Everton boss Roberto Martinez takes his team to Norwich on the
opening weekend, while Liverpool host Mark Hughes' Stoke at Anfield.
Arsenal start with a home game against Aston Villa, Sunderland host Fulham and Southampton travel to West Brom.
Moyes's first five league games
17 August: Swansea (away)
24 August: Chelsea (home)
31 August: Liverpool (away)
14 September: Crystal Palace (home)
21 September: Manchester City (away)
After the game at Swansea, Moyes's United host Chelsea at Old Trafford
before the former Everton manager returns to Merseyside to face
Liverpool the following weekend.
City host United in the first Manchester derby of the season on the
weekend of 22 September and they travel to Old Trafford for the return
game on the weekend of 21 March.
Cardiff's first Premier League derby against Swansea takes place at the
Cardiff City Stadium on 2 November and the Welsh sides meet again at the
Liberty Stadium on 8 February.
On Boxing Day, Chelsea host Swansea, Manchester United head to Hull and Manchester City face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal entertain Cardiff on New Year's Day, Manchester United face
Tottenham at Old Trafford, Pellegrini's City travel to Swansea and
Chelsea head to Southampton.
The season ends on 11 May, with Manchester United travelling to
Southampton, Chelsea at Cardiff and Arsenal at Norwich, while Manchester
City host West Ham.
Club-by-club fixtures for the new season:
Premier League: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff City, Chelsea, Crystal
Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City,
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Norwich City, Southampton, Stoke
City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion,
West Ham United. - See more at:
http://naijahome.net/news/view/premier-league-fixtures2013-14-announced/0#.UcLsk9hT3ng
