Community dedicates house to Ndokwa Vanguard publisher, others

By our Reporter

Igbe Ogume community, Ndokwa west local government recently dedicated four Houses in Igbe Primary School to four notable sons of the community including Ndokwa Vanguard Publisher.

At the joint meeting of Community Development Committee, CDC and Parent Teachers Association, PTA it was resolved that they show some appreciation to their sons by naming Houses in the primary school after them.

Throwing the card open in the floor, the CDC Chairman, Mr. Friday Chibeze said “it was about time we recognize and appreciate some of our children who are doing us proud in various spheres. I want the house to look at this critical decision and come up with names.” The PTA Chairman, Chief George Achudume thanked the chairman for this initiative and throw his weight in full support of the idea. Without much ado, the following names made the list, Prof. Bernard Obadoni, a lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Chief Benson Ogwu, a business mogul based at Port Harcourt, Mr. Godwin Ndenwa, another business mogul based at Katsina and Mr. Alaske Ekele, Publisher, Ndokwa Vanguard. There was no opposition to the nominations. During the meeting calls were put across to the beneficiaries and they all accepted the decision. When the news was broken to the community they thanked both the CDC and PTA for the far reaching decision.

Red House was renamed Obadoni House, Yellow House was renamed Ogwu House, Green House was renamed Ndenwa House and Blue House renamed Ekele House.

The inter-house sports competitions were held on March 16, 2018 at the school football field. The occasion was chaired by Mr. Godday Akpu with Honourable Sebastian Ossom supporting him at the high table. The councilor representing ward 14 (Igbe/Utue Ogume) Honourable Jessica Ossai, Honourable Chukwunalu Ozah and Honourable Festus Ovia graced the occasion. All the age grades in Igbe Ogume, all the primary schools in Ogume and friends and well wishers of the school including the patrons attended the occasion.

The Headmistress of the school Mrs N.I. Ogwezi used the occasion to appreciate Igbe Ogume community and sons and daughters for supporting the school and pointed out some of the challenges of the school. Responding for the political class, Honourable Festus Ovia said they will try as much as possible to rise to the occasion by supporting the school in due course. Mr. Alaska Ekele who spoke on behalf of the patrons thanked the community for naming the Houses after them, stressing that it was a call to duty. He said that for this singular reason, the patrons will try the best they could to see that the challenges of the school will be a thing of the past.

The high point of the occasion was donations and competitions in different sporting activities. Honourable Chukwunalu Ozah apart from making cash donation promised to provide school band. It was fun till it lasted.

Isoko for development rise against Owherfere, says forget 2019 re – election

By our Reporter

The Isoko for development (IFD) has called on Hon. Tim Owhefere not seek re-election into the Delta state House of assembly come 2019.

This was contained in a press statement made available to newsmen, duly signed by its president, comrade Iruoghene Ufi, the group gave 13 reasons why Hon. Owhefere should not contest the 2019 general election.

The press statement narrated that, for three consecutive times that Hon. Owhefere has been elected into the Delta House of assembly, he has not fulfilled any campaign promises he made to the people that labored for him and the party during election.

The group noted that, because Hon. Owhefere does not have the interest of the people at heart, he does not consult and not accountable to the people he claimed to represent.

The statement further stressed that because of his non-chalant  attitude to projects, Isoko north has the highest numbers of abandoned projects, noting that he hasno empowerment programme to empower the youths and this could be as result of his high handeness towards the people he represent.

The statement therefore, resolved that, except Hon.Tim Owhefere will change his ways and come in terms with the people he represent, he should not bother to seek re-election into the Delta state House of assembly, because, in the last 12 years, there is nothing to show for it.  

Senate finally passes petroleum industry governance bill (PIGB)

The Senate on Wednesday (28-03-18) passed the much-awaited Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), with approval of five per cent levy on fuel sold across the country.

This was sequel to unanimous adoption of the report on the Bill presented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, by the lawmakers at plenary.
The Bill is the culmination of several years of efforts at reforming the oil and gas industry.
The process began under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000, with the establishment of Oil and Gas Implementation Committee (“OGIC”).
“OGIC issued a report and policy document, which was later approved by the late Musa Yar’ Adua’s administration and resulted in the Petroleum Industry Bill being forwarded to the 6th National Assembly.”

The Bill went through several redrafts, including a wholesale amendment by the Executive arm of government, but it ultimately failed to be passed during the 6th National Assembly.
In the aftermath of the fuel subsidy protests in January, 2012, the then Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke, announced the establishment of a technical committee to harmonise the various versions of the draft bill.
The PIGB as passed seeks to provide for the governance and institutional framework for the petroleum industry.
Specifically, the PIGB seeks to unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), provide for the establishment of Federal Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated and Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Others are Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company and National Petroleum Company and Petroleum Equalisation Fund.
The regulatory bill bulkanises NNPC and creates the National Petroleum Commission.
It scraps the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and establishes the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission which will take over the functions of the three agencies.

It also empowers the body to issue licenses, permits or authorisations for downstream gas, petroleum products, storage depots, retail outlets, transportation and distribution facilities for the industry.
The five per cent fuel levy will be used to finance the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) as established in the bill.
This followed consideration and adoption of the conference committee report on the PIGB at plenary.
Section 36 (1) (a) of the Bill provides that “there shall be established the Petroleum Equalisation Fund into which shall be paid all monies payable to the Equalisation Fund by way of a five per cent fuel levy.
“This is in respect of all fuel sold and distributed within the Federation which shall be charged subject to the approval of the Minister (of Petroleum)”.
Other sources of funding PEF, according to the Bill, include subventions, fees and charges for services rendered as well as net surplus revenue recovered from petroleum products marketing companies.
The Bill says Equalisation Fund shall collect all revenues and levies charged, determine the net surplus revenue recoverable from any oil marketing company.
“Determine the amount of reimbursement due to any oil marketing company for purposes of equalisation of price of products among others.’’
Speaking after the bill was passed, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill.
“I hope with this, we will get the assent of the President and hopefully open a new page for the petroleum industry,” he said.

Trump gives Liberian migrants in US one year quit notice

US President Donald Trump decided Tuesday to end the protected status of thousands of Liberian migrants to the United States and gave them a year to leave the country.
It’s the latest of similar moves, after more than 250,000 Salvadorans, Haitians and Nicaraguans lost their protected status under an administration which has made cracking down on immigration a priority.
In 1991, when the West African country was in the grip of civil war, some Liberians living in the US were given “temporary protected status” to allow them to remain in safety.
Then in 1999 approximately 10,000 of them were made eligible for “deferred enforced departure,” or DED, by then-president Bill Clinton, allowing them to continue to build new lives.
Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have periodically renewed the DED status, but Trump has now decided to allow it to expire, deeming Liberia safe for returnees.

Donald Trump

Trump has taken a tough stance on immigration in general and, in reported private conversations, an even tougher stance on Africans from what he has reportedly deemed “shithole countries.”
The latest grace period expires on March 31, but Trump said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security that he would accord the Liberians a 12-month “wind-down” period to prepare their departure.
“Through consultation with appropriate executive departments and agencies and my advisors, I have been informed that conditions in Liberia have improved,” Trump wrote.
“Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance,” he argued.
Trump admitted that the 2014 outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa had brought “tragic loss of life and economic damage” to Liberia, one of the world’s poorest countries after years of civil war.
But he declared himself satisfied with Liberia’s progress in tackling the disease.
It is not clear how many of the original 10,000 DED recipients may have died, moved on voluntarily or been granted another form of legal US residency — but the rest face an uncertain future.
Opponents of Trump’s move warned it would uproot many who had made new and productive lives for themselves in the United States.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, noted on Twitter that, thanks to the previous presidents’ DED extensions, the Liberians had been living in the United States legally since 1992.
“Many work in Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes,” she wrote. “I won’t give up this fight. We have a year.”

Itsekiri staffs to shutdown DESOPADEC April 3

The headquarters of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC in Warri, Delta State, will be shutdown Tuesday April 3 over issues of incomplete and non-payment of February 2018 salary to some Itsekiri and Ijaw staffers of the commission, imirror can exclusively report.

The shutdown is imminent following plans by members of Association of Itsekiri Staff in DESOPADEC, AISID to down-tool and embark on protest over incomplete as well as unpaid salaries of over 60 Itsekiri Staffers of the commission deployed to Koko, Warri North Local Government Area office of the commission.

Though a member of AISID told Your Soaring International Tabloid that the member representing Itsekiri ethnic Nationality in the Board of DESOPADEC, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi has assured that the issue would be resolved by Friday March 30, AISID is determined to shutdown the commission’s operation from April 3 until issues such as 15% basic salary resettlement allowance and transport claims “for self, spouse and maximum of four children at N100.00 per kilometer” as enshrined in DESOPADEC condition of service is addressed.

According to a member of AISID, the decision by the commission to deny the affected staffers the full benefits of their February 2018 salary based on Clock-In, Clock-Out attendance would not hold water, until the commission meets its obligation to the affected staff, most of whom “were deployed from Jakpa, Ogheye, Gbokoda, Deghele, Abigborodo, Madangho, Bateren and adjourning riverine communities to Koko without getting their statutory transport and resettlement allowances”.

The source explained, “cost of transportation to and from Koko is a conservative N500 daily or N25, 000 per week or N100, 000 for four weeks. So if a staff is on SGL 4 on N50, 000 monthly, he or she will still need to look for N50, 000 for only transportation to Koko for Clock-In and out daily”.

Nigeria lawmaker’s son killed in UK

The graduate son of a Nigerian politician was shot dead near his family’s London home in the latest round of bloodshed in the capital.
Abraham Badru, 26, who was given a police bravery award as a teenager for saving a woman from a sex attack, was gunned down in the street in Dalston, Hackney, just after 11pm on Sunday (25-03-18).
Abraham, who worked as a football coach after earning his Masters degree in sports coaching from the University of Gloucestershire in 2015, was found slumped on the pavement by police called to reports of a loud gunshot.
He was pronounced dead a short time later. His mother, who had rushed to his side, was seen by witnesses collapsed in tears on the pavement.

Badru

Abraham’s 62-year-old father, Dolapo Badru, represents Lagos Island I at the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressives Congress.
He told the Standard his “quiet and hard-working” son once saved a young woman from rape on the estate and later gave evidence which led to her attacker being jailed.
He said: “A few years ago, a girl was raped on the estate and Abraham fought them off. He went to court to testify against them and the police gave him an award.”
Friends paid tribute to Abraham as a “bubbly and outgoing” young man who was “making a life for himself” after completing his studies.
They said he had a fiancee in Nigeria and had volunteered with the Team Nigeria UK football coaching charity, and had been due to coach at an open trial in Charlton on Tuesday (today).
A volunteer said: “He’s such a wonderful guy full of life and very hard-working.”
Abraham had previously worked with Bristol council as a sport development officer, according to his LinkedIn profile and had interned at non-league Gloucester City FC during his degree studies at the University of Gloucestershire.
In a statement, his former club Almondsbury FC, near Bristol, said: “The club are shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of former striker Abraham Badru.
“We would like to send our thoughts and prayers to Abraham’s family during this difficult time.”
Neighbours said Abraham had been to church earlier that day and was getting out of his car when he was shot.
One neighbour said: “As soon as I heard the bang, I knew it was a gunshot. I went to my balcony and saw a man slumped over on the ground at the back of a car.
“There was just one shot and a cry of pain. No speeding scooter and no speeding car.”
Another said: “His mother came out and saw him on the floor. It was terrible listening to her collapse crying on the floor. She was just screaming.
“Everyone was very upset and I had to go away, I couldn’t take it. It happened on our doorstep and I had to say a little prayer for the family.”
A school friend added: “He had just finished studying a masters in sport at university. He was a bubbly guy and worked so hard. We went to the same church as kids.
“His mother is a devout Christian. I’m lost for words. I just cannot believe it. He was the nicest guy, very happy and outgoing.”
A police cordon remained in place in Ferncliff Road this morning as detectives continued to investigate the shooting.
Abraham’s mother was being supported by family members at the her home, around 100 yards away. The family were too upset to speak this morning.
A neighbour said: “They are a lovely family, church going and loving. Everyone is stunned this could happen to Abraham.
“He was a gentle, respectful young man and I pray for his family who are in pain right now.”
The murder is the third in Hackney this year and comes as 19 young men under the age of 25 have been killed in the capital in 2018.
Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, from Scotland Yard’s murder squad, said: “We are appealing for information so we can establish the circumstances which led to a young man losing his life.
“Anyone with information who hasn’t yet spoken with us should come forward without delay. Your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
There have been no arrests.

Luther King centre denies giving award to Buhari

Following the much publicised event of Tuesday, March 27, where President Muhammadu Buhari was given an award in Abuja by visitors purportedly from the family of late African American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The King Centre has issued a statement denying that the award was issued by them or the children of MLK Jr.

In a tweet late Wednesday night, the official Twitter handle of The King Center said: “The award given to President Buhari of Nigeria was not given by The King Center, at the request of The King Center or by the children of #MLK and #CorettaScottKing. @MrFixNigeria”

Luther King tweet post denying giving Buhari award

Though the representatives who gave the award are related, they appear not to be direct descendants of the late Dr. King. One of the guests is reportedly King’s brother’s wife and another a nephew as reported in the Daily Sun on Tuesday.
The Presidency had tweeted soon after the award was given yesterday: “President @MBuhari today at the State House received Martin Luther King Jnr’s family. He was also conferred with the 1st Black History Month National Black Excellence and Exceptional African Leadership Award 2018. #AsoVillaToday”
The Presidency is yet to respond to this clarification by the children of MLK.

Hungry monkeys invade Lagos community, chase away residents

Monkeys who few weeks ago invaded the farmhouse of a senator in the North to cart away N76 million have turned their attention on a Lagos Community, Soluyi/Sosanya Community in the highbrow Gbagada bordering Ifako. This time, they are not collecting millions, but they are stealing food items at a time that many are finding it difficult to eat three square meals and chasing residents out of their homes. Although, some residents have set traps, the monkeys, we gathered have deviced means of evading the traps, even food items mixed up with poison and have asserted their authority on the community. Members of the community are appealing to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to save them from the rampaging monkeys.

Chairman of the community’s Landlord Association, Mr Adigun Olaleye, said that it had become difficult for the community to curtail the monkeys and their destructive attitude. He attributed the invasion to the nearness of the community to a swamp forest that separated the community from Ifako area.

According to him, the monkeys come into residences at any time including early morning and gain entrance into rooms even if the houses are locked. Olalaye told NAN that the community had written a letter to the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture as regards the situation but had yet to get a relief.

“They said we would have to pay for them to come and pack the monkeys,” he said.

He said that the invasion had been on for years but recently became unbearable. Olaleye appealed to the state government to urgently intervene. Narrating her ordeal, a journalist who lives in the community, Mrs Funmilola Gboteku, told NAN that the monkeys had forced her family to flee.

“Many times, these monkeys come to the neighbourhood to destroy our property. Once they see food items inside a house, they direct all their energies at gaining entrance forcefully. The monkeys are in the habit of tearing the protective nets on windows to gain entrance and eat whatever they find in the house.

“I have had to replace the protective nets several times; I am tired of doing it. I have been locking my windows but locking of windows has disadvantages; there is no cross ventilation in the house, and as a result, we suffer heat,” she told NAN.

Another resident, Mr Gabriel Omopariwa, said that he was tired of the destructive attitude of the monkeys and had tried to look for ways to stop them, to no avail.

“On several occasions, these monkeys have destroyed our kitchen nets to gain entrance and steal food items. Several traps have been set to capture and kill these demonic animals to no avail.

“One of my neighbours, while trying to pour chemical on a monkey, fell in the bowl of the chemical; she had to be rushed to a hospital. She still lives with the scars from the unfortunate incident,” he said. Mr Joshua Folowosele, a landlord, said that the monkeys entered his wife’s shop on many occasions to eat gala, biscuits and other foods.

“We have tried to poison them on many occasions, but those monkeys are too smart; once they perceive the smell of the food, they usually detect it has been poisoned. Some of them have been killed with guns, but we cannot keep shooting in a residential area; it is very risky.

“Those of us who are landlords can testify that these monkeys have been disturbing us for years. One of the landlords here had to sell his house to move to another place when he got tired of the disturbance,” Folowosele said. Another landlord, Mr Oluwatosin Aregbesola, told NAN that his tenants were no longer feeling safe in the house because of the monkeys.

“The monkeys enter kitchens to eat our soups and any foodstuff on the shelf. The day I tried to catch one of them, the monkey attacked me by using its long nails to punch a hole on my neck and scratch my face,” he said.

Aregbesola appealed to the state government to save the community from the menace.

Why Isoko should produce the next senator in 2019 – DANMOTECH

By                          

Kelvin Ohoror

The founder of Danmotech foundation, Engr. Daniel Omoyibo has advanced reasons why the Isoko ethnic nationality should produce the next senator to represent the Delta South Senatorial District in the National Assembly come 2019.

Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, who is a frontline business man and a renowned philanthropist and popularly called Danmotech disclosed this recently while speaking to some journalists at Oleh, the headquarters of Isoko south local government area of Delta state. He observed and noted that since the inception of this republic in 1999, Isoko has done only one term in the senate; that is from 1999 to 2003, when chief Mrs. Stella Omu served as chief whip at the red chambers, and thereafter, James Manager of the Ijaw stock took over and has done four consecutive tenures till date.

“On the other hand, our other neighbour in the senatorial District, the Itsekiris have done two terms as governor through Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and as such should naturally allow the Isoko to pick the senatorial ticket this time around.”

According to Engineer Omoyibo, the Isoko nation as a major oil producing ethnic nationality deserves to be treated fairly in the allocation of political offices and mega projects within the senatorial district. In addition, Isoko’s population is more within the district despite the fact that a large chunk of our people are ceded to Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state and Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta state.

He then called on “our Ijaw and Itsekiri brothers to allow justice and equity to prevail this time around adding that to do otherwise will be both oppressive and against the spirit of good neighborliness as dictated by the Holy writs.”

The business Magnate averred that the Isoko nation has an array of eminently qualified and experienced hands who can fit into the senatorial slot and enjoined the Isoko political class to close ranks and intensify efforts in all fronts to ensure that Isoko is not schemed out of what naturally should be left for her in a Plata of Gold.

Engineer Omoyibo who disclosed that he does not have any particular candidate in mind for the senatorial seat however stressed the need for the Isoko nation to stand up and be counted at the right time and appealed to politicians to eschew bitterness and selfishness and embrace peace and generate ideas that will bring rapid development to Isoko land.

Britain to build prison wing in Kirikiri

Britain will build a new 112-bed wing at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos so that it can transfer Nigerian prisoners there, foreign secretary, Boris Johnson announced in London on Thursday.

In a written statement to parliament, Johnson said tenders had been placed and a supplier identified to conduct the building work at Kirikiri.

He did not name the supplier.

The project will be funded from Britain’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, which has an annual budget of more than 1 billion pounds and aims to commission projects that can help prevent conflicts and stabilise countries or regions.

The new 112-bed wing, which will cost 700,000 pounds ($973,000) and be compliant with United Nations standards, will make it easier for Britain to comply with a prisoner transfer agreement it signed with Nigeria in 2014.

Under that deal, eligible prisoners serving criminal sentences in Nigeria and Britain can be returned to complete their sentences in their respective countries. The British government did not indicate how many prisoners might be moved or when the project is likely to be completed.

Britain will build a new 112-bed wing at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos so that it can transfer Nigerian prisoners there, foreign secretary, Boris Johnson announced in London on Thursday.

In a written statement to parliament, Johnson said tenders had been placed and a supplier identified to conduct the building work at Kirikiri.

He did not name the supplier.

The project will be funded from Britain’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, which has an annual budget of more than 1 billion pounds and aims to commission projects that can help prevent conflicts and stabilise countries or regions.

The new 112-bed wing, which will cost 700,000 pounds ($973,000) and be compliant with United Nations standards, will make it easier for Britain to comply with a prisoner transfer agreement it signed with Nigeria in 2014.

Under that deal, eligible prisoners serving criminal sentences in Nigeria and Britain can be returned to complete their sentences in their respective countries. The British government did not indicate how many prisoners might be moved or when the project is likely to be completed.

National health act:” Effective implementation will boost health care delivery “- Gov. Okowa

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for the effective implementation of the National Health Act so as to improve health care delivery in the country.

Speaking yesterday (27-03-18} when Senator Alkali Jajere, Chairman Federal Medical Centre {FMC} Asaba, led  members of his board on a courtesy visit to Government House, Governor Okowa said that proper implementation of the National health Act will regulate the health care industry and ensure effective health care delivery in the country.

Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa

He urged state governments to domesticate the Act in their states and enforce it through effective sensitization and advocacy stressing that “the health of our people is very important in the developmental indices of the country”

“ I want to thank you for remembering the issue of the National Health Act and its passage into law, ten years after its passage, the Act is still not fully operational in Nigeria, we have less than ten percent of the population enrolled for the Act there is room for improvement. I wish to urge state governors to domesticate this Act and enforce it through sensitization and advocacy of their people as the Act will not only moderate the various operators in the health care industry but also ensure effective health care for our people.” He said.

He commended the Board and Management of the Federal Medical Centre for their services to Deltans and people from neighbouring states promising to continue to support the hospital in its developmental activities.

He charged the reconstituted board to ensure that they give effective assistance to the FMC in its annual budgets and projects.

Earlier, Senator Jajere said they were in Asaba for their inaugural meeting and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the centre.

He commended Governor Okowa for the developmental strides in the state and for piloting the passage of the National Health Act describing him as the architect of modern Delta.

People flee Badoo area in Ikorodu as fresh mayhem erupts

The dreaded Badoo cult has unleashed a fresh horror attack on the residents of Pillar Avenue Street in Ikorodu Area of Lagos state as several families were feared dead.

Most of the residents were seen fleeing their various homes for their safety as at the time of filling this report.

Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi Lagos State

Our reporter, who saw the Olaniyan family moving their belongings in the area gave an eye witness account of how families were smashed with grinding stones in the head thereby wiping out many families.

The police has condoned off the area while trying to assert the accurate number of the casualties there.

Amidst assurances by security agencies to curtail the terror group, some of the dreaded Badoo Cult members are still on the killing spree in Ikorodu.

Efforts to get some of the community heads to speak to us on the issue have not been successful as most of the houses there were deserted.

The Lagos state government has repeated for the umpteenth times that it would take drastic actions to bring this perpetrators to book within the shortest time while concerted effort would be made towards to mitigating future occurrence.

Meanwhile, some of the fleeing residents have fallen victims of estate agents, who collected whooping sum of money to provide accommodation for them outside Ikorodu but turned out to be scammers.

47-year-old Weird MC says she is ready to have children, wants 2 kids

lthough Shola Idowu, popularly known as Weird MC is known to be one of the pioneer contemporary female rappers in the Nigerian entertainment scene with hits like ‘Allen Avenue,’ ‘Ijoya,’ under her belt and numerous awards on her shelf, nothing much has been heard from her in recent times.

In a chat with the rap artiste who is currently in the UK, the 47 years old entertainer mentioned that she would still love to have children of her own because she is a lover of kids.

She said, “Right now, I am open to love, the love of God. All I would say is that everything would happen as he wills. Regarding having children, I came through someone, so someone has to come through me.“I love kids a lot. I would love to have two. Growing up, there were six of us in the family, three boys and three girls;

“I do not know what the will of God is but I would love to have two children, a boy and a girl.”The rap artiste has been off the radar since the death of her dear friend, Nomoreloss, whom she referred to as a brother.

She detailed how his death affected her, saying that it caused a void in her heart.

“The death of Nomoreloss brought a void to my life but it was not necessarily the reason I gave my life to Christ.

“Nomoreloss and I were very close and his death came as a big shock to me because we spoke a few days before his death.

“I went to London for about a month and only returned to Nigeria to perform at Darey Art Alade’s show.

“When I called Nomoreloss, he sounded happy to hear from me and even asked if I was back.

“We were all playing and joking. He told me that he was somewhere at Dolphin Estate, so I told him to accompany me to the concert.

“I was excited to hang out with him but he just told me to go and have fun.

“I didn’t know he was ill at the time but he did not want me to know about it.

“After his death when I asked his brother why I was not informed, he said he was sure Nomoreloss did not want me to see him the way he was because he probably knew how emotional I could be seeing him.

“We were very close; more like brother and sister relationship.”“On that Monday, I was so busy and coincidentally I was not on twitter which is very unlike me.

“I noticed that Alariwo had called me several times eventually I picked his call and the next question he asked me was if the news was true and I was lost because I did not know what was happening.

“He broke the news to me and I told him that I did not like that type of news because I still spoke to him a few days earlier.

“One of my personal assistants was with me and he also acknowledged his death but I ignored him because I did not believe it to be true.

“I went to a friend’s office, Jide, and he also confirmed the news to me but I still did not believe them, so I called Omobaba.

“When he confirmed the news again, I was so shocked. I remember going to the mortuary and insisting that I wanted to see him because it was like a dream and there he was just lying down.

“I was so shocked. All I could say was, ‘wow! So Muyiwa you are gone.’ It was a big shock to me,” she said.

The rap artiste was quick to affirm the news that she is now a born-again Christian.

She, however, noted that her love for God would only change her dress sense but not her music or fan base.

“The appeal people have for me or the music I used to do take second place to God.

“If I feel overly concerned about the appeal, then the question would be who am I worshipping, my career or God.

“God created music as an engagement tool and the main reason music was created was for it to be used to worship Him.

“So if I take the musical talent God has given me and use it to honour him by sharing Him with the world, I think that is a good thing.

“I come from that background; the only difference is that I am now talking about God, I am now telling people that I have seen the light; come with me because this is what the light looks like.

“I think it is an amazing thing and people would see that I am now sincere.

“There are a lot of contemporary gospel singers; we have the likes of Kirk Franklin, B.O.U.Q.U.I, Nathaniel Bassey, and Travis Greene.

“Weird MC means that I am different and peculiar, it also aligns with the fact that if you become born again, you become a peculiar nation unto God.

“I had thought about changing my name after giving my life to Christ. I had thought about using my real name, Shola since a lot of people know my real name.

“But I want my audience to realise that there is a spiritual transformation going on in my life.

“I truly believe that my true core followers would transform with me because it is the will of God.

“The will of man cannot supersede in my life anymore. The Holy Spirit can also minister to me that I should not drop the name because there is a nation attached to me and the Lord wants me to minister to the audience and keep my name.

“I would not do things that would compromise my faith. I would always use myself as a vessel of honour unto God.

“He has given me an assignment and it takes precedence over everything, so when you see me on stage, I am not only entertaining you but I would be ministering and teaching as well.

“I am engaging culture, I listen to a lot of the contemporary Christian songs and I see what they are doing.

“It does not change anything. God created the music.”“Of course, my dressing would be toned down; already it is being toned down and it comes with age.

“It all depends on the will of God because he is the one who is transforming me every day. There is nothing as awesome as harvesting souls for God,” she said.

Why i divorced my wife at 80 years - Onigbinede

FIFA instructor and former coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Adegboye Onigbinde, has revealed why he divorced his wife.

The 80-year-old recently dragged his wife to court and divorced her after lingering family issues.He said he did so in order to have a long life, advising young men to always study their partners before marriage.

He told Sun, “I don’t really like discussing the issue. I can’t face a trouble that is capable of taking my life.

Adegboye Onigbinde

“We have been on the domestic issue for almost two decades and I think it is time to put an end to it. That was the reason I dragged her to court for a divorce.

“I’m using this medium to advise young boys to study their partner well before jumping into marriage.“There are different ladies out their with different characters, I won’t want such thing that happened to me at this age to happen to any of my children or fans.

“Even if I end up staying alone, it’s okay by me, as far as there is peace of mind.

“I have no choice than to beg ladies not to dislike me for this. I know they love supporting each other, but I just have to do it so as to save my life.

“It’s glaring, its not a good thing but this is a marital affairs and that is the reason why I’m begging young boys to watch before they run into any relationship. I don’t like talking much about the issue.”

Popular Nigerian politician remanded for defiling 5-yr-old girl

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday (9-03-18) ordered the remand of 58-year-old man, Franklin Adeyanju, in Kirikiri Prisons for allegedly defiling his neighbour’s five-year-old daughter.

Chief Magistrate, Taiwo Akanni, did not take the accused plea, but ordered his remand and adjourned the case until April 30, for mention.

The accused, a politician, who resides at 24, Tijani Street, Dopemu, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for defilement.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Clifford Ogu, had told the court that the offence was committed on February 28, at the accused residence.

Ogu said the accused resides in the same compound with the girl’s parents.

He said: “The accused called the girl, a five-year-old, to his apartment and was fingering her private part when another neighbour, who heard the screaming of the girl, entered the apartment.”

“The accused was caught in the act and the woman, who saw him, shouted in order to attract the attention of other neighbours.”

Ogu said the accused was brought to the police station, while the offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.

ENCOUNTER

2019: It, is a tall dream for APC to govern Delta -Oru

Chief Andrew Oru is a chieftaincy of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State and he also a force to reckon with in Delta State.In this interview with Isoko Mirror,he x-rays the politics of Delta.

Excerpts:

Sir, a lot of people say Oru has been silent over national issues specifically in Delta State.What is responsible for such silent?

Well, it is the same way they think I have been become silent that I have always thought that most of these people have never tried to talk .

Erring views on national issues and issue that concern us especially as a people in Delta State is not the responsibility of myself and a few others .

Chief Andrew Oru

Everybody has the same responsibility to talk in order to be able to shape up the polity properly.

Be that as it may, my being kind of silent for a while now is because of the way things have turned out to be as in major disappointment not only on the part of those who are governing but also principally on the part of those who are governed.

I am angry with those who are governing for misgovernance and I am also angry at those who governed for reticence and that is the bane upon which all these issues of corruption and all of that remain solidly built.

A people deserve the kind of leadership they get.When you are not ready to stand up and talk, what do you expect?

When you begin to throw stones and missiles at those who are speaking on your behalf because you want to be able to get one or two little favours for yourself which has no way of impacting on your future, then, who is that person that has time to waste?

But,I can assure you that I have never  failed to give myself a stop every now and then to think over and over on the state of our people in terms of the debilitating poverty that you read on their faces anytime you happen to be around that environment.

It is a pity and a shame. I tried to keep quiet and see what I could personally do to ameliorate the condition of those who come around me specifically.

But,I came back with the conclusion that it wasn't just the direction to go because I am just one person and my resources are also limited.

There is a saying that individually we can fight alone but collectively we conquer.

I am happy with the current trend of events that are beginning to shape up in terms of the awareness being created now from the national discourse which I believe will trickle down to the politics in Delta State in particular.

Politics in Delta has more or less been a politics of gangsterism ,clannishness and exclusion.

But,there are certain national issues now that appear to be wanting to galvanise every nook and cranny together to have a common position on national discourse and which will definitely affect the way forward politically for Deltans .

Can you highlight some of those national issues that will trickle down on governance or Deltans that you envisage?

You see, as you are very well know,I am an unrepentant personality within the enclave of the party.

But, as all Deltans and Nigerians also know,I am one person who is excluded from this talk of anti party.

You know me very well,whether you are  in PDP or APC,if you are a bad material,I will shout .If you are a good material,I will present you irrespective of my personal political leaning .

I remain steadfast within the PDP not because the PDP has done well in Delta or because it did well nationally before now.

I am aware that politics in Nigeria has no foundation in ideology. If you call all the respective chairmen of the political parties in Nigeria together and ask them to name the other political parties, apart from their own political party, they cannot.

How do they know that the other political parties ideology is different from their own?

So, it doesn't make sense to shift from one party to the other .What I have seen about Nigeria politics is that people shift not because the party has breached the ideology or the purported ideology of the party. The people shift because they are unable to have their individual way within the party.

They are unable to fulfil their individual dreams, aspirations and political ambitions within the same party. So, they jump and that is why you can see somebody of the PDP today, tomorrow he is jumping to APC, next week he is back in the PDP. It,s all nonsense to me. It doesn't make sense for me to mess up myself by jumping to another party and that is why I am still in the PDP.

As for the APC, I don’t want to say there is APC in Delta State because they have never be in government. The APC nationally has been a collosal failure, it has been a disaster .

I was not among those who was fooled to think that the APC was going to do anything.

However, I was quite certain that there would be a little departure from the past in terms of impunity, personal aggrandizement and all that nonsense.

Unfortunately, the same people who did the nonsense when they were in the PDP ate the ones who are now in the APC.

So, I lost hope but I didn't talk. I said let me give them (APC) a chance, after all, Saul became Paul in the Bible, maybe, they are now going to be changed.

But, today, the story is different like you know. Because of the woeful failure of the APC at the national level now, it is going to trickle down to the politics of different states and certainly, you can't take it away.

One of the major issues upon which the APC purportedly rode to power was the lack of good security for Nigerians.

I don't need to tell you that the APC has performed worse than the former president, Dr. Goodlick Jonathan, Most saddening is the fact that bad performance of (APC) is not because Nigerians didn't give them all the co-operation. It is not because the infrastructure upon which to tell the people is not there .It is cheekily a matter of a section of this country, a religious section of this country in particular to foist their beliefs and ways of life on other parts of the country.

They have chosen to use the instrument purportedly nicknamed Fulani herdsmen.

What are you talking about Fulani herdsmen? Is this the first time we are seeing Fulani herdsmen in this country?

The answer is no. Why is it (Fulani herdsmen) suddenly a big issue? Why are we suddenly talking of colonies and all that? The agenda is very clear, they want to Islamise Nigeria. What happened in Kwara State where you now have an Emir of Ilorin in a Yoruba environment is that what we want to enact all over the country.

I am happy that the issue (Fulani herdsmen) has brought all Deltans and the individual statesmen in unison.

They now see a common enemy .The issue of ordinary clannishness is going to take a back stage and that is why I said issues at the national level will definitely affect issues at the state level.

When the so-called Fulani herdsmen are coming with the AK 47 provided by the Federal Government (FG), it's agencies, the tacit encouragement and the cover given to them (Fulani herdsmen)they don't discriminate among an Urhobo, Ijaw and Itsekiri man.

They (Fulani herdsmen) just come, kill, everybody and take over lands from everywhere. It has become a kind of unifying factor and which means that the APC coming to the national level has been the problem of this country. This was not the situation under Jonathan, the PDP government and I doubt, if it would be the same if any other party comes on board other than this parochial Buhari that we are seeing, this wicked man call Buhari that we are seeing is the man who has destroyed Nigeria on the platform of the APC.

The APC has a lot of work to do in Delta Central or anywhere. I do not think that the PDP government in Delta State and other areas may have performed excellently .If the APC in Delta State wants to do anything, they have to prove seriously that their line of thinking is different from the way APC at the national level is thinking in terms of security, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development is the problem. There is no reference point for the APC in Delta State and other States now. The only reference point they (APC) would have had was that look at us at the national level, we are doing serious infrastructural development and there is electricity everywhere now.

But, there is no such reference point for them (APC) anymore because they have never been in government .So, they(APC) have no reference point and it is a pity.

I know some of the individuals in the APC, they mean well and they are good people. But, they (some APC individuals) have a problem on their neck and that is the national leadership which is above them.

If they (some APC individuals) can remove themselves from the APC and go and join the coalition that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and others are talking about, that may be an escape for them.

But, to think that they (some APC individuals) want to come to power on the strength or the back of APC in Delta State, it is a tall dream and that is the way I see it.

You ran for an elective position few years back, are we expecting you to run for an election this time around?

Let me tell you, that time you are talking about, you know exactly what happened.

It is not as if I woke up and say I was running for an elective office. You remember very well the circumstances that brought me into trying to to get the PDP ticket.It was simply because in 2011 elections ,when the former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and I met, it was a common knowledge.We tried to agree on who we should recommend to be the Senator of the Delta Central.

We had a disagreement because he(Uduaghan) wanted to impose certain persons and I refused. We (I and Uduaghan) had a kind of bet that if he(Uduaghan) should try it, I would sabotage the PDP. When he (Uduaghan) tried it ,I nominated and sent out text messages that the people should vote across party lines for the Democratic People's Party(DPP) candidate at that time, late Senator Pius Ewherido.For the first time,the PDP lost their Senatorial district because of what I did. Unfortunately, when Ewherido died two years later, there was a lot of pressure on me. My traditional ruler and everybody wanted me to come into this and I reluctantly went and I said okay, let me go and complete his(Ewherido) tenure.

Unfortunately, Jonathan with his two left legs as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria felt that election was a do or die thing for him.

He(Jonathan) came and oppressed Uduaghan based on what Uduaghan told me that it was the ex-president that ordered him(Uduaghan)that Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo must be the Candidate. You know every other person withdrew and I refused to withdraw and the rest is history.

It wasn't as if I was angling personally originally for an elective office.

Really speaking, I have never believe that going into an elective office has been the issue. I thought I could guide the process from outside. At the time I made that try, it was just okay. 

Let,s face it, at this time now that we are talking of the youths coming into national politics and all that ,will it make sense for me at this point  now to go and start contesting for any election? I am about 60 years old already ,if I add eight years to my age ,I am heading towards 70 years already.

So,when am I going to retire from politics and business?When will it be the turn of the younger ones? I have sons who are already old enough to contest for those offices.I know younger boys like you and others who are strong and old enough to contest for such offices.

I would rather support you from behind.

I would rather project you if I find you worthy than for me to go for that right now.

Really speaking, there is a lot of pressure on me even right now to come and run for elective office.

I can tell you that the pressure is much and till date,I am resisting the pressure and that is the truth.

Will you yield to such pressure at the end of the day?

I doubt it very much. I have a lot of businesses that I have to attend to right now and I have a busy time. Particularly, I want the youths to come on board now because our generation is on our way out right now. If we remain till the time we will go out, who would be in charge thereafter without any experience? Nobody. We won't have anybody with any experience on board and this is my fear.

There is going to be a lacuna and I don't want to be part of that charade. I don't want to be part of that nonsense and that is why I am staying away strongly. Unless there is a situation where I find out that a horrible character is emerging in my Constituency again like it almost happened that time, and I find out that it is a challenge and I am the only person who can handle it, I may reluctantly go for it. You know my coming stopped that person Uduaghan was recommending .I think I am in the position these days to help to ensure that such things don't happen even without personal contest.