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The world has conspired to converge (a flat world) – to share blessings. But what was not envisaged is the sharing of curses! A conspiracy of the convergence of one world! Whose interests and what next? What political agenda for the convergence? What political paradigm to be adopted and whose interests? Before globalization, every county adopted any form of political dispensation and practice. To some, it was all about democracy, proclaiming equality and the rule of law with emphasis on strong judicial system where there is respect for law and social justice. Some nations preferred military government where there is maximum rulership demonstrating authoritarianism. Some nations simply continued with communism. To them, it was about the welfare of every one. Others practiced the traditional system that gave the entire country to a single family which ran the state as a personal estate! Globalisation is aimed at leading to convergence towards one dominant (political, economic and cult...

Soldiers in the early hours of Friday shot three women strapped with explosive device on their bodies while attempting to invade Maiduguri, an official said. Explosions reverberated across the city as two of the bombs went off on the women, killing three of them. The police spokesperson in the state, Victor Isuku, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the incident in a text message sent via his office’s WhatsApp handle. “This morning at about 0530hrs, three (3) female suicide bombers with IED strapped to their bodies were sighted by military patrol team in Umarari village, near Mulai towards Maiduguri”, he said. “They were promptly gun down and the IED on two of them exploded killing all three of them. The unexploded IED on the third was rendered safe and detonated by Police bomb disposal Unit who promptly mobilized to the scene”. Boko Haram’s hostility, especially suicide bomb attacks, has increased since the release of 21 Chibok schoolgirls mid ...

A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member is believed to have drowned in a boat accident on Thursday in Okpotuwari Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa. Sources in the community told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday that the corps member, who hailed from Anambra drowned when the canoe he boarded capsized. Tontiemote Yeiyei, a resident, said the deceased, who was serving at Okpotuwari Community, had gone to Ondewari with two of his friends across the Osiana creek by a hand paddled canoe. Mr. Yeiyei said the ill-fated canoe encountered rough currents at the jetty as the deceased and the others were returning to Okpotuwari. He said that following the boat accident, sympathisers quickly raised a search party, during which the two others were rescued alive. “The rescue team searched for the remains of the drowned corps member to no avail, and local divers later joined them but they are yet to find the body. Hopefully it will be afloat by Saturday. “T...

At least three children were on Monday beheaded in Dissol village of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, throwing the community into mourning. The victims from a family of four met their death when they went to had their bath in a nearby stream. The parish priest of the victims Rev.Fr Julius Ioryue told journalists in Jalingo on Friday that the beheaded children were in the stream together with other people when the incident happened. He explained that the unknown gunmen armed with dangerous weapons attacked, killed and beheaded three out of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. James Agambuegh who have been thrown into deep psychological shock. Wife of the Taraba State Governor, Barr. Mrs. Anna Darius Ishaku while on a condolence visit to the family on Friday appealed to the people of Gassol Local Government to embrace peace and live in harmony with one another. Mrs. Ishaku who lamented the continuous loss of precious lives in communities across the state urged the pe...

Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has faulted calls for true federalism by prominent Nigerian politicians, saying many of them do not understand what the concept entails. He said this yesterday while presenting a lecture on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan. The minister criticized true federalism crusaders, particularly South-West, accusing them of failing to uphold the tenets of the concept by refusing to conduct local government elections. He said, “A lot of people from the South West especially the state governors have been making repeated calls for true federalism. But, it is always a problem to define what true federalism means. “Among the state governors making the call for true federalism are those who have not conducted local government elections. They have refused to conduct the election that would make them autonomous. They have always been appointing caretaker chairmen for the councils.”...

Elder statesman and leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has said continued attacks on oil and gas installations in the region are deliberate attempts to sabotage the peace process with the federal government. The Ijaw national leader stated this yesterday at a press briefing in Warri, disclosing that a meeting would be scheduled to figure out ways to deal with the situation. However, he urged the presidency not to be distracted by the renewed hostilities, noting that several factors, including politics, were responsible for the clamp down of major assets in the region. Chief Clark, while describing perpetrators of the recent attacks as criminals, opined that they were not aggrieved, but out to truncate the dialogue process already established, adding that the innocent members of the community will be left to suffer the aftermath of their actions. “Our boys were still boasting in the social media that they were going to attack, they do this, do tha...

Benue state born act, Francis Atela better known as ‘Atela’ by his teaming fan is one of the newcomers in the music industry who sure set to make an impact with his distinctive voice. Having started as church choir at a tender age of 14 where he develop skills as a musician and songwriter. Signed on Squeeze Record, Atela is set to release his first major debut single titled ‘Kekere’ which is expected to be released any moment soon alongside the visual as produced and directed by DJ Coublon and Unlimited LA respectively. Singing out, “Who is in the garden / a sexy fine girl / can I come and see her, a sexy fine girl,” the new single is just what the lover in you needs. Reminiscent of an old rhythm song, “Idi ore mi” is here to get you prepared for what cuffing season can fortunately and unfortunately bring forth.

First runner up in the prestigious Mr and Miss Nigeria Int’l (MMNI) beauty pageant 2016, Miss Zainab Amoo, may have unconsciously taken the first steps in preparation towards her pet project due to take off early next year. Despite the glamour of her position as Miss Nigeria Int’l Africa 2016, the black-complexioned beauty queen who picked up her diadem just last month, showed there is more to her role as queen than wearing the crown. In an unusual and surprising show of concern, Miss Amoo in the bid to celebrate her birthday stormed the Okobaba Destitute Home in Ebute Metta to present them with gifts of Indomie, cooking oil, salt, fruits and some cash, among other items. The 200-level Unilorin student was accompanied by the very stylish Miss Nigeria Int’l 2016, Miss Silver Ezenezi, and representatives of Brendance and Crusaders Ltd, organiser of MMNI pageant. After presenting the items to chairman of the grossly-indigent community, Ado na Amadu, to loud cries of deep appreci...

The people Hillary Clinton derided as a “basket of deplorables” have spoken. They have voted out of the pain of their economic misfortune, which Clinton’s branch of the Democratic Party helped engender. What you have is a defeat of elitism. Clinton’s arrogance was on full display with the revelation of her speeches cozying up to Goldman Sachs—the bank that caused this misery more than any other—and the irony of this is not lost on the people who are hurting and can’t pay their bills. This is a victory for a neofascist populism—scapegoating immigrants and Muslims— and if Bernie Sanders had been the Democrats’ candidate, I feel confident he would have won. We were denied the opportunity of a confrontation between a progressive populist, represented by Sanders, and a neofascist populist. It’s a repudiation of the arrogant elitism of the Democratic Party machine as represented by the Clintons, whose radical deregulation of Wall Street created this mess. And instead of recognizing the...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be targeting a victory against the Desert Warriors of Algeria when both teams meet today at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo in a 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier. The Super Eagles who are leading Group B with three points following their 2-1 victory over Chipolopolo of Zambia in Ndola in their first game at the qualifiers will be hoping to gain a 9th victory in all competitions over their North African opponents who were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in their first game of the qualifiers. There have been 17 clashes between both teams all at competitive level, with Nigeria winning eight times, drawing three and losing six. The first clash between both countries was on 10th January 1973, during the football event of the 2nd All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted. The match ended 2-2. Seven years later, the Green Eagles would thrash the Algerians 3-0 to lift their first Africa Cup title. In their last four ...

It is said that every mistake is a style. It must be added that when such a mistake has been cultivated as a style by the generality of the public, it becomes a trend. Backpacks seem to have transcended from being an item for holding odds and ends to becoming a fashion statement. ERIC ELEZUO reports. Mariam left home one morning feeling empty. In her subconscious, she knew that something was missing in her fashion build-up though she couldn’t place it. She had however, gone far from the house when she realized what was missing. It was her backpack; a regular companion of hers whenever she is leaving home for school. But on this day, Mariam was not going to school; she was running an errand for her mother that does not in any way require the carrying of a backpack. Mariam’s case has become the situation of most young people of today who has seen the use of backpack as another form of makeup in their dressing before leaving home. This attitude has practically become an addiction for n...

Africa’s number one music show, Coke Studio Africa is currently showing on tv. This time, the show features 9 amazing Nigerian artistes who are currently making a huge impact on the nation’s music scene. Placing them in two categories, the regulars who have featured on previous shows: Flavour, Yemi Alade, Waje, the newcomers (those featuring on the show for the first time), Patoranking, Falz, Kiss Daniel, Cynthia Morgan and Simi are featuring along other talented artists from across Africa to produce 76 beautiful songs on 11 exciting shows. While the show offers some interesting parts of these artistes' lives, here are 4 things you can also learn about them. All-round Stars These artistes are the real deal. They are not the just run-of-the-mill kinds; all of the artists on CS 4 are award-winning musicians; who have won some of the industry’s most contested awards some of which include, Mobo Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA), City People ...

The Edo State Government on Friday evening held a thanksgiving Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road in Benin, as part of activities marking the end of the eight-year tenure of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Present at the religious ceremony were Governor Oshiomhole, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; the governor-elect, Godwin ‎Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, in company with their wives. Others were the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalung; and Governor Abubakar of Bauchi. Also in attendance we‎re former governors of Delta and Ogun, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Olusegun Osoba, respectively. Others were members of the state executive council, legislature, judiciary, traditional rulers and captains of industry, led by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. While appreciating the people of the state for their sup...

Music legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has described the recent award conferred on the Chairman of Globacom Limited, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. by Ghana president John Mahama has a worthy honour and a confirmation that he is competent in transforming not only Nigeria, but Africa and the entire globe. While congratulating the business mogul, Obey said that the award reflected the commitment of Adenuga to the growth and development of telecommunication across Africa by providing employment to many youths in sports, culture, entertainment, , among others. He said that, “The highest national award tagged: ‘The Companion of the Star Ghana (CSG),’ is a testament that Dr Adenuga is a proud nationalist, philanthropist and a prudent businessman. I am confident that this recognition will enhance his desire to do greater things for Nigeria and Africa at large. Nigerians are proud of him. Personally, I am delighted to see Ghana appreciate him with the prestigious award towards his contrib...

The Edo State Government on Friday evening held a thanksgiving Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road in Benin, as part of activities marking the end of the eight-year tenure of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Present at the religious ceremony were Governor Oshiomhole, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; the governor-elect, Godwin ‎Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, in company with their wives. Others were the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Lalung; and Governor Abubakar of Bauchi. Also in attendance we‎re former governors of Delta and Ogun, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Olusegun Osoba, respectively. Others were members of the state executive council, legislature, judiciary, traditional rulers and captains of industry, led by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. While appreciating the people of the state for their support throu...

President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Friday met behind closed door again in continuation of consultations on the President’s $30bn loan request which was rejected by the Senate recently. That was the third time the two leaders will be meeting within one week on the issue. They had earlier met on Friday last week and Wednesday. Like the Wednesday meeting, journalists were not allowed to cover the meeting of Friday which was described as private. The meeting was held inside the President’s office shortly after Saraki joined Buhari for the Jumat prayers inside a mosque located inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meetings are coming  after the Senate rejected Buhari’s request for approval to take $30bn foreign loan. The Senate had also dismissed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework submitted to it for approval, describing it as “empty.” The document was said to have been returned to the Executive. Saraki had after the...

Hennessy Artistry  dedicated a week to the Hip Hop culture in Lagos as it welcomed legendary Hip Hop photographer; Jonathan Mannion to Nigeria. The one of a kind project kicked off on the 25th of October and ended on 31st, October 2016. This had Jonathan Mannion touring symbolic places and meeting influential people in the Visual and Hip Hop industries in Lagos. The week kicked off with Mannion shooting the Hennessy VS Class Alumni at Studio 24, The Hennessy VS Class Alumni are the winners of a yearly Hip Hop initiative created by Hennessy. The next day, Jonathan had a private ‘meet and greet’ with some key representatives of the media. During the meeting, he conveyed the aim of his tour to Lagos which was to authenticate and celebrate the Nigerian Hip hop culture; he also shared his works, experiences and ideas with them. Up next was the official opening ceremony at Red Door Art Gallery where the energetic Jonathan walked a selected guests of 100 through a collection of ...

For perhaps the first time in its chequered history, Nigerians would be served a home movie depicting the sad happenings in the country in 1976. It was the year one of Africa’s finest and the nation’s most loved icons, General Murtala Muhammed, was toppled and assassinated in a military coup. Titled ’76, the movie already has rave reviews by the likes of the BBC and others following sold out screenings in September this year at the Toronto International Film Festival, and at the 60th BFI London Film Festival this October. The African premiere is in Lagos on November 3, while it will open to the public on November 25 across Nigeria. The historical film, which principal photography was concluded in July 2012 at Mokola Barracks, Ibadan, features the likes of Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, both Africa Movie Academy and Viewers Award for Best Actor In Leading Role in 2016 - Daniel K. Daniel and Ibinabo Fiberesima. It comes 40 years after the actual events, and follo...

An Edo based legal practitioner; Olayiwola Afolabi Esq. has ordered the authorities of the University Of Benin under the Leadership of Prof. Faraday Osasere Orumwense as the Vice Chancellor of Uniben, in 30 days recall one Mr Maxwell Oshodin an Assistant Registrar of the University who is on interdiction over an alleged Defamation of Character case. Olayiwola who described the “Interdiction” on the UNIBEN staff as frivolous and baseless accused the institution of conniving with some powerful persons to witch-hunt and frustrate Oshodin’s ambition to run for the position of Secretary General of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) election which will be held soon. He said the basis on which the interdiction was served was not in clear terms of what was stipulated in Chapter XII, section 4 (A-O) of the Regulations Governing the Service of Senior Staff noting that Mr Oshodin committed no serious offence as stated. While stating that Defamation of Character ...