REELS: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

'Mourinho will be a disaster at Chelsea' - Barcelona vice-president slams Real Madrid boss

Carles Vilarrubi anticipates trouble at Stamford Bridge should the Portuguese be installed as the Blues' new manager after a tumultuous three years at the Santiago Bernabeu Barcelona vice-president Carles Vilarrubi has warned Chelsea thatbringing Jose Mourinho back to the club could end in disaster. The former Real Madrid boss is on the verge of returning to Stamford Bridge for a second spell in charge and has seal a £4m 4 years deal.

Jose Mourinho Signs Chelsea Contract

Jose Mourinho sealed a four-deal deal worth £40m on Tuesday night to return as Chelsea manager.

Five clubs are willing to pay £80m to land Tottenham frontman Gareth Bale - both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is being targeted by Spanish side Atletico Madrid as a £17.5m replacement for Radamel Falcao.

Norwich striker Grant Holt is wanted by Australian outfit Melbourne Heart.

Tottenham frontman Gareth Bale is an £80m target for Premier League rivals Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, plus Real Madrid and PSG.

Manchester United could make a £30m bid for Barcelona's former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Atletico Madrid are ready to make a £20m bid for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.

Roberto Martinez could be appointed Everton boss by the weekend and will be boosted by the news that midfielder Marouane Fellaini has decided to commit his future to the club.

Napoli striker Edinson Cavani is set to snub Manchester City and Chelsea by moving to Spain.

Hull City boss Steve Bruce has made an opening £1m offer for Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Luis Suarez last night dropped a bombshell on Liverpool by admitting he would love to move to Real Madrid.

Roy Hodgson saw England held to a dismal draw as their much-anticipated rematch with Ireland fell flat.

Real Madrid are confident they will win the battle for Gareth Bale and have set a June 15 deadline for a deal to be done with Tottenham.

At least three tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma, including one in Tulsa, and two more hit Arkansas on Thursday as a powerful storm system moved through the middle of the country. At least nine people were injured.
The National Weather Service confirmed at least one tornado touched down Thursday night in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow. However, the tornado did not appear to be a strong twister like the deadly one in suburban Oklahoma City last week.
Meteorologist Pete Snyder with the weather service's Tulsa office said it appeared the roofs of some buildings were damaged, and police told the Tulsa World that they didn't have any reports of buildings being destroyed.

Nigerian security agencies have linked a co-owner of two major ongoing businesses in the nation’s capital as a ring leader in a major terrorist operation in the country.

In a statement by the spokesman of the Joint Task Force in Kano, Ikedichi Iweha, Fauzi Fawad, the co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, was named as a member of a Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist cell in Nigeria.

Wonderland is Abuja’s biggest and most popular amusement park, while Amigo is one of the largest supermarkets in the Nigerian capital.

The JTF said Mr. Fawad’s name was mentioned by “all those arrested,” for being in possession of heavy weapons, and other terrorism related activities.

Mr. Fawad is now on the run, the JTF said.

The JTF said it arrested three Lebanese suspected of owning the large cache of arms recovered at a bunker in the city.

We began the assessment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration by listing a number of the campaign promises he made in 2011 and added that the achievement of those promises was not easy to measure because in essence, they were just broad generalizations with no targets, deliverables or timelines. Perhaps, that was the point of making such vague promises; so that performance cannot be measured and failures would not be easily evident.
This week, we would rely on field visits and the feedback received from readers who responded via email, phone and SMS addresses provided last week. These responses along with other published facts and opinions would form the basis for assessing the Presidents’ performance. Some readers used the platform provided to engage in abuse, diversion and bigotry that the Jonathanians have perfected as response to any questions demanding their accountability. They forget that we are thick-skinned and do not respond to brainless insults. Many more provided on-the-ground status of projects and programs for which we are grateful.
While the perception amongst majority of respondents is that the Jonathan government is significantly underperforming; most of those who work with him or indirectly benefit from the schema of ethnic division, corruption and impunity his administration has perfected are engulfed in praise singing and forget to remind him of his many promises. Let us look to some of the specific commitments summarized last week.

Woolwich Terror Attack: Suspect Michael Adebowale in Court over Drummer Lee Rigby’s Murder

Michael Adebowale, 22, leaves court in a police van

One of the two men shot by armed police after Drummer Lee Rigby was hacked to death in Woolwich has been charged with his murder. Michael Adebowale is appearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning where he will face a charge of murder and of illegal possession of a firearm. The decision to charge him, the day after he was discharged from hospital, was announced late tonight by the Crown Prosecution Service following discussions with anti-terrorist police.

The Love Story of Comedian Princess and Her Husband

Popular Nigerian female comedian, Princess, and her movie producer/director husband, Adeshola Jeremiah, tied the knot on Wednesday 8th May 2013 at the Balmoral Hall, Oregun, Lagos. It was indeed a happy day for 'Madam' Princess who had almost lost of hope of finding a husband.

Below is their very interesting love story...

On what attracted her to Adeshola Jeremiah

Well he is a quiet person and if not for the fact that I am into entertainment, I also like my privacy, I don’t like unnecessary show-off. If I go somewhere and they don’t recognize me, that is very okay by me, I just love to be myself.

How They Met

He saw me when I went for their program in Odunfa Cancus (A Yoruba Theatre Group). I went because of a friend of mine Latifat, who was also trained there. She was in UNILAG and my junior in Theatre Arts. So I went there and that was where he saw me and that was like so many years ago in 2005.

Believe it or not, one person can affect far more change in a relationship than you might have thought. I’ve seen tremendous success watching people learn how to improve relationships all on their own. Here are 7 tips to start using today to save your relationship:

1. Speak up. Most people don’t do this, but rather try to keep it all in in order to avoid conflict. But not expressing yourself does more harm than good. The reality is that bottled up feelings lead to resentment, which leads both to more frequent and more intense arguments, and to apathy, which destroys relationships.
2. Make it about you. Really. You could say, “You never take me out anymore”, which sounds like an attack and will lead to defensiveness, or “I’d love to plan a night out with you soon. I really need it.” Try both and see which one works.

Star actress, Genevieve Nnaji is putting a broad smile on the faces of her aged parents and siblings. She has just moved them from Egbeda, a Lagos suburb to highbrow and upscale Lekki, Lagos. Her dad and mum in their late 60s and 70s respectively, according to sources close to the family were full of excitement about the move.

Genevieve, according to the source had in recent time found it challenging to check on her parents due to distance, besides, she felt her dad who could hardly walk due to old age on his own would be closer to her and receive adequate medical care. On few occasions that she has visited, fans, especially boisterous school children had swarmed her.

The Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, has vowed to sue President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government over the plans of the latter to use funds meant for the state to finance the emergency rule declaration.

President Jonathan had on May 14 declared a State of Emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States to quell the insurgency of the Boko Haram sect and other militants in the area.

Controversy later trailed the funding for the Nigerian troops as the president proposed that the affected states’ federal allocations be used.

The National Assembly, however, rejected the president’s proposal, in their approval of the emergency declaration, saying the federal government should fund it.

Twenty four hours after the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, announced that the national secretariat is not officially aware of the problems in its Rivers State chapter, the party chairman, approved the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

The issues that Mr. Tukur claimed ignorance of on Sunday are the same reasons for which the party’s National Working Committee, headed by him, held an emergency meeting on Monday morning to suspend the Rivers Governor.

President Goodluck Jonathan missed his speaking slot at the ongoing African Union Summit in Addis Ababa because he was attending a smaller meeting on the sidelines of the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Reuben Abati, has said.

“Mr. President was attending on the sidelines of the AU event, at the time Nigeria was called,” Mr. Abati said in a statement sourced from his website. “It was a meeting on Infrastructure in West Africa.”

The presidential spokesperson did however not explain why his boss preferred to attend a smaller event on the side even when the Nigerian delegation was fully aware of the speaking schedule for heads of state at the meeting.

REVEALED:How Nigeria squanders millions on generators its foreign missions don’t need

Defying logic, and objections from lawmakers, the Nigerian government has channelled nearly a quarter of a billion naira this year to fuelling and maintaining electricity generators in its embassies abroad, when many of the missions have no such need, as their host nations provide stable power supply.
These missions include those located in the United States, the United Kingdom as well as China and several dozens of developed, or emerging nations.
Despite paying N523 million for electricity charges in 2013, the embassies will spend an extra N170 million to power generators they have no need for, in a bizarre spending spree that surprises even ambassadors who are expected to deploy the cash.

MTN signs Iyanya, Davido, Praiz, Mike Anyaso as ambassadors

Telecoms giant MTN has signed Iyanya, Praiz, Chidinma (MTN Project Fame), and Mike Anyaso as the new celebrity faces of MTN and also renewed Davido's contract.

I gathered exclusively that the stars have finished negotiations with MTN for a one year endorsement deal which will see some of them earning as much as N15m a year. Naija artistes are really balling. Congrats to them.

Governor Amaechi Triumphs, Reelected as chairman of Nigeria's Governor's Forum

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has won re-election as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum defeating his opponent Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State by 3 votes.
Mr. Amaechi won 19 votes from the 35 governors present, while Mr. Jang, a late entrant to the competition garnered 16 votes. The governor of gombe state was absent.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

No Supplementry Budget for Military Operations - FG

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Monday said the Federal Government had no intention to prepare another supplementary budget to provide funding for military operations in the three states that have been under emergency rule since last week.

Forbes name Okonjo Iweala 83rd Most Powerful Woman in the World

Forbes released its annual list of The World’s Most Powerful Women on Wednesday 22nd May 2013.

According to Forbes, the list is made up of 100 women who made the most impact. They include top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s finance minister also makes the power list. The 58 year old Harvard-educated finance minister who has spent one year in office after a failed bid for the World Bank presidency, moves down from the 81st position to the 83rd.

One of the World Fattest Man Dies at 39

ONE of the world's fattest men has died at the age of 39 – weighing a staggering 64 stone (407 kg).

Ricky Naputi piled on the pounds thanks to a gut-busting diet of 10,000 calories a day.

Nollywood Pornographic Movies Flood Lagos

There appears to be a renewed effort by producers of pornographic films to get a huge chunk of the movie market in Nigeria.
A recent survey conducted by National Mirror showed that in the last six months, over 40 film titles with nude scenes have flooded both the Idumota and Alaba markets, the two film depots in Lagos, the country’s commercial hub.
While efforts are being made by some renowned producers to get Nigeria on the map of quality film productions, certain filmmakers, driven by the passion to make quick profits, have turned their attention to making films with lewd scenes, which are often sold in the open market.
During a random visit to Idumota, it was discovered that films such as ‘Edge of Darkness’, ‘Dark Secrets’, ‘Sinful Act’, ‘Sinful Truth’ and ‘Oyoyo Airline’, among others, were the rave of the moment. Some other titles like ‘Bold Five Babes’, ‘Room 027’, ‘The Benjamins’, ‘Pregnant Hawkers’ and ‘Destructive Instincts’ were being awaited to appear on mass consumable formats.

Arik Confirms Two of Her Crew Members Arrested for Drug Trafficking in the UK

The management of Arik Air has admitted that two of its crew members were arrested for allegedly possessing banned drugs suspected to be cocaine after one of its flight to the U.K.

The airline company promised to cooperate with British authorities investigating the the two cabin crew members. it will be remembered that an Arik Air hostess was jailed in 2012 by a London Court for drug trafficking.

The spokesman for the company, Adebanji Ola, said in a statement on Tuesday that Arik Air was co-operating fully with the U.K. authorities and all other concerned agencies in their investigations.

“Arik Air remains committed to the fight against drug and illicit substances trafficking and will not tolerate the use of any of its aircraft or crew for the courier of banned items and substances,” he said.

Shame was brought on the academic field as a professor and an assistant lecturer in the Chemistry Department of the Federal University of Agriculture , FUNNAB, Abeokuta had their appointments terminated based on a allegations of plagiarism. The professor, Janet Bamgbose, and the assistant lecturer, Akeem Bamigbade, were fired during the just concluded 76th statutory council meeting of the university which held two weeks ago.

Adamawa Recieves Reinforcement of Another 1000 Soldiers from Defence HQ

Report reaching us from the Defence Headquaters in Abuja has reveal that another 1000 combatant soldiers have been deployed to border areas of Adamawa state. This is to ensure the full reinforcement of the Nigerian soldier in its crackdown bid against the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria's troubled North-East region.

Boko Haram Being Shielded by Northern Elders,Says Middle Belt Dialogue

Middle Belt Dialogue (MBD), has accused the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) of protecting Boko Haram, stating that the only concern of the Forum is how to grab power in 2015.

In a statement issued at the weekend by its spokesperson, Rima Shawulu Kwewum, MBD criticized the NEF for faulting the State of Emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, adding that the NEF speaks not for them but for Muslims and their political interests.

For its part, MBD declared that Boko Haram deserves to be crushed out of Nigeria to make way for a peaceful and purposeful nation that is not indexed on religion, ethnicity or region.

CABINET RESHUFFLE: Orubebe, three other ministers to go

There are Indications that President Goodluck Jonathan might have concluded plans to offload four ministers from his cabinet in a reshuffle that is about to take place this month.

The four ministers; Elder Godsday Orubebe, Mr. Bala Muhammad, Stella Odua and Labaran Maku, are said to have indicated interest in the 2015 election and had obtained the tacit approval of the President to proceed with the process of contesting the gubernatorial elections in their respective states.

Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike is also believed to be leaving the Federal cabinet to actualise his political ambition.

Ogun State Police Debunk Story of Students Being Killed at OOU Abeokuta

The Nigeria Police in Ogun State has debunk the story that two students were killed earlier today at the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Abeokuta. Read story here. If you missed it. According to reports gotten from SaharaReporters, the death of two students during a students’ protest was recorded, following the violent intervention of the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told SaharaReporters by telephone that while the police was called in to restore order at the university after students there began rioting over school fees, “The operation restored order to the school without a single bullet fired."
SaharaReporters has yet to be informed by the Students Union that the original information was wrong. A government source said the photo of a dead student allegedly killed by the police came from a gang-related fracas yesterday in Sagamu area of the state.

A Student reportedly shot dead during the riot by the police

Police at the Olabisi Onabanjo University today

Two students are reported to have been killed this morning at the Olabisi Onabanjo University [OOU] in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, as policemen confronted with violence students involved in a peaceful protest.

The Defence Headquarters on Sunday confirmed that 14 Boko Haram terrorists had been killed in the ongoing military operations in the Northern part of the country.

A statement by Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information said that three soldiers died and seven who sustained injuries were being treated in a military medical facility.

The statement, which did not disclose the location of the latest assault between the military and the insurgents, said one soldier was still missing.

The missing certificate of registration of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and the pending court suit instituted by a rival political association, African Peoples Congress, APC, challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for refusing to register it, are threatening to derail the registration All Progressives Congress.

This is just as the Committee on Legal Constitution Compliance of the merging party meets Monday to brainstorm on how to resolve the thorny issues facing the APC.

Military Operations Yeilding Results - Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan has thanked Nigerians for their support for the state of emergency declared last week in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, made this known in a statement on Sunday. The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed gratitude to all Nigerians for the overwhelming support they have given to the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Alaafin of Oyo receives U.S diplomatic mission to Nigeria

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has called on the United States’ government to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria in addressing the rising security challenges in the country.

A key city in Borno state was on lockdown Sunday as the military enforced a 24-hour curfew and blocked supply routes in its sweeping campaign against Islamist insurgents.

The operation against Boko Haram, the group that wants an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, is aimed at retaking territory seized by the militants and ridding the country of "terrorist activities," the miltary has said.

Four Ghanaian churchgoers were killed in a stampede today at Pastor TB Joshua's church service in Accra, Ghana as worshippers scrambled for "Holy Water."

Police sources in Accra stated that the four dead persons comprised three females and a young boy. Thirteen others were also injured.
The controversial Nigeria-born priest is the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), which has a large following in Nigeria and Ghana.

Over 2000 Nigerians have fled the Nigerian State of Borno following the clash between Boko Haram and Nigerian troops in Abadam local government area of Borno North Senatorial District.

A journalist travelling in the Nigerian-Niger Republic border confirmed to SaharaReporters that between Saturday evening and Sunday over 2000 locals from villages in and around Abadam local government area have been fled their homes and crossed over into Niger Republic.

The journalist, who did not want to be identified, said that the locals, hearing the strange sounds of weapons and bombs being exchanged decided to leave, citing their recent experience of the Baga killings. He also said that the arrival of hundreds of soldiers in the villages made the villages uncomfortable.

A Taiwanese man reportedly cut off his own penis during a fight with his girlfriend.

The intoxicated man was apparently so angry with the woman that he took a pair of his scissors to his genitalia. Quite a bit of his penis was removed during the incident.

According to Rocket News 24, the problem began when the man decided to drink continuously throughout the day. When his girlfriend started complaining about the amount of alcohol he was consuming, a pretty nasty argument quickly erupted.

In the just concluded Ghana Music Awards, Wizkid fell giants; beating super hot artists P-Square, Iyanya, Davido, Flavour and D-Banj to win the African Artist of the Year award.
Star Boy Wizzy was present to receive his award too, the young hit maker had traveled to Ghana along with his team – EME execs Banky W, Tunde Demuren, Star Boy Entertainment manager Godwin Tom, producer Maleek Berry and official EME DJ, DJ Xclusive.

Mourners at a recent funeral in Zimbabwe were caught by surprise when the guest of honor sat up in his coffin . According to local reports, 34-year-old Brighton Dama Zanthe, the seemingly dead man, woke up last week while friends and family prepared to pay their respects at his home in Gweru. "I was the first to notice Mr. Zanthe’s moving legs as I was in the queue to view his body.

Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State, has said he gave ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo N100m to run his campaign in 1999.
He said he gave another N100m to the Peoples Democratic Party prior to the 1999 elections.
The former governor said this as ‘Guest of the Week’ on a Kaduna-based Liberty FM radio programme on Saturday.
He said, “I made millions before joining politics. I was doing business between Maiduguri and the East. I carried fish from Maiduguri to the East and palm oil from the East to Maiduguri. So, I had money and invested so much in the PDP.

The Special Forces of the Nigerian army have arrested 65 suspected Boko Haram members in Borno State as the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan enters the third day.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail on Saturday that the insurgents were arrested while trying to escape from various camps taken over by security forces.

Sequel to the declaration of a state of emergency in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, some members of the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect have started fleeing to neighbouring Gombe, Bauchi and Jigawa states, SUNDAY PUNCH authoritatively reports.

On Thursday, members of the sect attacked two police stations and four banks in Daura, Katsina State.

It was the first time the sect was carrying out attacks in Katsina.

BOKO HARAM HOLDS WOMEN, CHILDREN HOSTAGE - PM NEWS

The purported head of Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed two recent deadly attacks in the northeast in a video obtained by AFP Monday, which also depicts women and children apparently being held hostage. The video features Abubakar Shekau, declared a global terrorist by the United States, seated on a rug with a kalashnikov resting behind his right shoulder.

Residents of an rebellious stronghold in northeast Nigeria fled their homes Saturday as military fighter jets and helicopters carried out heavy air strikes on Boko Haram Islamist camps.

After the declaration of a state of emergency on three northetn states, Nigeria launched a massive offensive against Boko Haram this week, deploying several thousand troops across three states where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency after the Islamists seized territory and chased out the government.

RONALDO BAGS RED CARD AS ATLETICO MADRID WINS COPA DEL REY

Atletico Madrid ended a 25-game, 14-year winless streak against rival Real Madrid, getting a 98th-minute goal from Miranda for a 2-1 victory in the Copa del Rey final on Friday night following the ejections of Real star Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jose Mourinho.

Ronaldo put Madrid ahead in the 14th minute with a header, his 54th goal of the season, but Atletico tied the score in the 35th minute when Radamel Falcao set up Diego Costa.

Real Madrid hit the goal frame three times, and Atletico went ahead when Miranda, a Brazilian defender, headed in a cross from Jorge "Koke" Resurrecion.

Mourinho was sent off for protesting in the 76th minute and Ronaldo received a straight red card in the 114th for kicking Gabi Fernandez in the face, setting off a sideline scuffle.

Atletico had 19 losses and six draws against Real since its previous win.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/17/4866085/atletico-wins-copa-del-rey-as.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Breaking News: Several killed in fresh Maiduguri Boko Haram attacks-Premium Times

Boko Haram terrorists, on Tuesday,struck police and army installations in Bama and Bankai in the troubled Borno State killing several police officers and civilians. Witnesses said the militants rode in Hilux pick-up trucks, attacking with rocket propelled grenades. Details of the attack are still sketchy.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Solar Powered Plane Begins Journey Across US

A solar-powered aeroplane takes off from Northern California on the first leg of a planned journey to four US cities. The "Solar Impulse" is powered by about 12,000 photovoltaic cellsthat cover massive wings and charge its batteries, allowing it to fly day and night without jet fuel.

20 Reported Dead as Muslims, Christians Clash in Taraba.

At least 20 people were killed in violent clashes on Friday between Christian and Muslim mobs in Taraba state, prompting a round-the-clock curfew, an aid worker has said. “We have recovered 20 bodies from the violence so far,” the source, speaking on condition of anonymity on Saturday, said about the unrest in the town of Wukari, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the state capital Jalingo.

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Friday, May 31, 2013

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Friday, May 24, 2013

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Monday, May 20, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Saturday, May 4, 2013