By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Olujimi who has served as a deputy governor in the state officially submitted her nomination form at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja.

Olujimi who was accompanied by Sen. Stella Oduah and and several of her colleagues, is the only female principal officer in the senate, and the first female candidate to officially join the race

Speaking to newsmen shortly after submitting her form, she said that her candidature was for the people of Ekiti state, saying that moving forward, their concerns must always come first.

Let me be clear, todays submission of this form is not just an intent to run, it is an intent to serve. It is a message to the people, my people of Ekiti State that the time has come.

The time has come for a government that will always put your concerns first. This form that has been submitted today represents the interests, the best-wishes and the prayers of millions of people in Ekiti State who want a government that will always put their needs first.

She underlined the need for Nigerians, going into the 2019 elections, to always look at the track record of candidates and vote for issues, performance and track-records.

My track-record speaks for itself, the Deputy Minority Whip said,

The Ekiti people know this and the members of my party know this. Now that I have submitted this form, it is time to hit the ground running. It is time to sell my vision for the future of the great state of Ekiti both to the people of Ekiti and my party members.

Other Senators who accompanied Olujimi for the submission of her form include: Senators Attai Aidoko , Mohammed Hassan, and Matthew Uroghide.

Source: NAN

He told me: Look at this sprawling place. Just two of us waiting to see the President. It didnt use to be like this. Up to 3 a.m daily, the place used to be like a market, filled with men, women from within and outside the country. They would come to seal all kinds of deals on petroleum, power, transport, iron and steel, and all others. And of course, the President and his household would always have a cut. The wheeler-dealers would also have their cut. Who dares approach this President with such proposals? That is why you see so much sanity here.

Source: NAN

The Police have commenced investigation into an alleged accidental shooting at an Enugu burial ceremony which led to the death of a woman and wounding of the chief mourner on Saturday.

The Enugu State Police Commands spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Amaraizu said the incident occurred at Amanato Mburumbu community in Nkanu East Local Government Area, adding that the police recovered a locally-made single barrel gun at the scene of the incident.

Amaraizu said the victims were a woman and the chief mourner.

It was gathered that tragedy struck when a man identified as Daniel Chukwu of Amanato Mburumbu community stormed the burial ceremony arena with his single barrel locally-made gun and perhaps never knew it was already set for action.

It was further gathered that as the burial ceremony hit up and the suspect tried unslinging his gun, it allegedly discharged accidentally and hit one Ngozi Eze, 40, from Amanato Mburumbu community, who was confirmed dead.

The chief mourner, identified as one Hawaya Nworiuzo, was also injured hence he was rushed to hospital for medical attention.

The situation shocked sympathisers who scampered for their safety at about 12 noon today, he said.

Amaraizu said that the suspect was helping the police in their investigation.

He also said the corpse of the dead had been deposited in a nearby mortuary for autopsy. (NAN)

KSN/JCE

Source: NAN

More than 40,000 South Africans from across the political spectrum gathered at the funeral ceremony of Winnie Mandela in her beloved Soweto to wish her a final goodbye on Saturday. And it was a glorious exit for the famous anti-apartheid heroine.

Madikizela-Mandelas death on April 2 at the age of 81 after a long illness was met by an outpouring of emotion across the country, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties holding memorials to remember her courage in the struggle to end white-minority rule.

The official funeral service for the ex-wife of the late Nelson Mandela took place on Saturday morning in Soweto the Johannesburg township at the forefront of the battle against apartheid where she lived.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that, just as South Africa grieved for Madikizela-Mandela, it was comforted by the profound meaning of her life.

In death, she has demonstrated that our many differences along political party and racial lines and the numerous disputes we may have are eclipsed by our shared desire to follow her lead in building a just, equitable and caring society, he said.

Loudly and without apology, she spoke truth to power. It was those in power who, insecure and fearful, visited upon her the most vindictive and callous retribution. Yet, through everything, she endured. They could not break her. They could not silence her.

The afternoon burial ceremony at Fourways Memorial Park Cemetery, north of Johannesburg, ended a nearly two-week mourning period declared by the government.

Earlier, mourners sang and cheered as Madikizela-Mandelas body was brought into the 40,000-seat Orlando stadium, filled to capacity for the funeral service.

Many mourners were clad in the green and yellow colors of the ANC. Members of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party also attended in large numbers.

EFF leader Julius Malema, an admirer of Madikizela-Mandela who echoes her fiery rhetoric, said she had always put the country above her own personal safety in the fight against apartheid.

She lived in constant naked contact with danger, prepared to lose her life, even the lives of her own children, who were put into danger by her political activities, Malema said to loud cheers in the stadium.

FIGHTING SPIRIT

During Mandelas 27-year incarceration for his fight against apartheid, Madikizela-Mandela campaigned for his release and for the rights of black South Africans undergoing detention, banishment and arrest.

I appreciate many things about her. She represents a fighting spirit because, even though she lived through the apartheid era, she never gave up, said 20-year old college student Gift Mokale. Im very grateful to be here today.

Also present at the funeral service were former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma, dignitaries from African countries and celebrities such as British supermodel Naomi Campbell and U.S. civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.

For many South Africans, the most memorable image of Madikizela-Mandela is of her punching the air in a clenched-fist salute as she walked hand-in-hand with Mandela out of Victor Verster prison, near Cape Town, on Feb. 11, 1990.

For husband and wife, it was a crowning moment that led four years later to the end of centuries of white domination when Mandela became South Africas first black president.

Madikizela-Mandelas legacy, however, was later tarnished.

As evidence emerged in the dying years of apartheid of the brutality of her Soweto enforcers, known as the Mandela United Football Club, some South Africans questioned her Mother of the Nation soubriquet.

In 1991, Madikizela-Mandela was convicted of kidnapping and being an accessory to assault, but her six-year jail sentence was reduced to a fine and a two-year suspended sentence on appeal.

Source: NAN

Since the News Agency of Nigeria broke the news that Nigerias population has been officially estimated at 198 million, as announced by the National Population Commission (NPC), the subject has been trending, especially in relation to what it portends for the Nigerian Economy.

However, while some people believe the newly released figure is as an asset, there are those who feel otherwise.

NAN-TVs Iyiola Pedro captured one of such debate at the Vanguard Economic Discourse, held at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

NAN reports that the event was chaired by Mr. Bukar Kyari, Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, while the panelists included Mr. Olabode Agusto, Chief Executive Officer of Agusto and Co; Mrs Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office, DMO; Mr Muda Yusuf, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Comrade Issa Aremu, Vice President Global Union, African Region; Mr Opeyemi Agbaje, Chief Executive Officer, RTC Advisory Services; and Mr Tony Okpanachi, Managing Director, Development Bank of Nigeria, DBN.

Filmed

Renowned human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has hit hard on the private sector and churches as being nests of corruption, more than government institutions.

Falana made the remark at the 2018 edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse, themed: Economy in Recession: Pitfalls, Trajectories and Resetting

The event held at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Source: NAN

Nigeria are now ranked the 47th best football-playing nation in the world according to the April Fifa Ranking released.

Inspired by their victory over Poland in March’s international friendly, Gernot Rohr’s men climbed five placed – a position which makes them the sixth best team in Africa behind Tunisia, Senegal, Congo DR, Morocco and Egypt.

However, Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup Group D foes plunged no thanks to their unimpressive performance during the Fifa international window.

After their 6-1 demolition to Spain, Argentina dropped a place to be ranked fifth, while Croatia fell to be rated as the 18th best country in the world.

It was the same tale for World Cup debutants Iceland who are rated 22nd after gathering 930 points.

Even at Nigeria’s rise, they are the least ranked team in Group D ahead of the global football showpiece which kicks off in June.

The three-time African champions begin their sixth World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 16 at Report Kaliningrad Stadium, with Argentina facing Iceland at Otkritie Arena, Moscow.

Source: Yahoo News

Khloe Kardashian has forgiven her boyfriend Tristan Thompson over accusations he cheated on her after she gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday.

This is coming barely seven days after Thompson was accused of cheating the TV show

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star, who gave birth to a daughter Thursday morning, “is feeling nothing but happiness right now”.

“Absolutely nothing else matters,” a source quoted Kardashian as saying.

Kardashian welcomed the bundle of joy just two days after photos emerged of the Cleveland Cavaliers player kissing a woman at PH-D Lounge in New York City.

The photos, obtained by the Daily Mail were snapped at the rooftop bar Saturday night.

Soon after, The Shade Room posted a separate video showing Thompson and the woman appearing to enter the Four Seasons hotel together.

TMZ also shared video from October appearing to show the basketball star kissing a woman at a DC hookah lounge.

The same video also appeared to show Thompson touching and engaging with two other women. Kardashian was three months pregnant at the time.

In spite the seemingly damning photos and video, Kardashian “isn’t even mad at Tristan right now”.

“She’s basically already forgiven him. She is in a bubble of love and peace and happiness right now”.

“Everything that happened with Tristan is less about ‘cheating’ and more like, it was just a random drunken hookup that meant nothing and was kissing at most and didn’t lead to anything else and was the fault of stupid groupies trying to trap him, and everybody just needs to move on,” the source said.

Kardashian’s forgiveness comes at the heels of another Daily Mail report alleging Thompson cheated on the reality star with a fifth woman.

According to The Mail, the basketball player has been intimate with a woman identified only as Tania over the past five months.

They have been pictured together several times at hotels and nightclubs.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said government would continue to assist the 36 states irrespective of their party affiliation and also commit to the peoples welfare, especially the poor and vulnerable.

He said the gesture was a clear departure from the primordial practice, where past administrations at the centre limited their assistance to states ruled by the party at the centre.

Osinbajo made the commitment on Thursday in Umuahia at the inauguration of the states Tele-health initiative, Dial-a-doctor which he described as commendable effort in the healthcare delivery system in the state.

At the inauguration of the National Economic Council (NEC) in 2015, the president publicly declared that our own NEC will assist every state because poverty in our nation is no respecter of ethnic group, religion or party affiliation.

The vice president said that in line with the decision, the federal government had so far supported states without discrimination along party lines to the tune of N1.91 trillion.

Today we are feeding 7.9million children in our own school feeding programme in 22 states.

We have employed over 200, 000 graduates in our N-Power scheme and 300,000 more awaiting funding.

We are giving loans to over 300, 000 traders and we are heading for a million traders and artisans.

We are giving 5,000 monthly to 300,000 of the poorest families in all the states of Nigeria without discrimination along party lines, Osinbajo said.

He also spoke on the Federal Governments School Feeding Programme, saying that 125,684 pupils in 724 schools in Abia were being fed, with no fewer than 2,000 cooks, handling the contract.

This is one state where there is collaboration between the state government and the federal government in the school feeding programme.

The federal government is feeding classes one to three and the state government is feeding classes four to six.

This is exactly the way the federal government designed it to be, he said.

Osinbajo further said that the federal government had given out loans to over 7,500 small businesses in the state.

In the healthcare sector, we have the save-one-million lives programme, which has made available $1.5 million to each state to improve the quality of basic healthcare, especially to women and children, he said.

On the tele-health initiative, he said, that it has become expedient for Nigeria to embrace technology to close the healthcare gap between the urban and rural areas.

He said Abia had blazed the trail in the utilisation of Global System of Mobile Telecommunication (GSM) in the delivery of quality healthcare to the people of the state.

This is an especially exciting project because it is leveraging on available technology, in this case, the mobile phone to deliver affordable healthcare to the people.

Osinbajo said that available records showed that Abia had about 1.5 million mobile phones.

According to him, the state has taken the lead in utilising the potential that mobile phone has as a means for delivering healthcare for the people.

I am told that citizens can through a dedicated telephone line and affordable prepaid cards access medical care through a state-wide network of doctors and communicate.

The initiative would cut the time spent travelling to see a doctor or waiting in line to see a doctor in a healthcare facility.

It will make Abia stand out in the healthcare delivery as a people-centred state that is open to life-changing innovation.

This is a very commendable initiative, Osinbajo said.

He, however, said that the success of the programme would depend on the willingness of stakeholders to take on feedback and make the adjustments necessary to meet the evolving needs of the target beneficiaries.

According to the Vice President, this initiative would be helpful to the state and other states that would want to copy it.

He assured Abia government of the unwavering commitment of the federal government to continue to partner and collaborate on any programmes designed to better the lives of the people.

In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu described the programme as a dream come true, saying the initiative is the future of healthcare delivery in Nigeria and Africa.

Ikpeazu said that the state government would leverage on the programme not only to improve life expectancy in Abia but surpass the average national life expectancy.

In a goodwill message, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, commended the state government for the initiative.

Adewole, who was represented by the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Dr. Chuku Abali, said that the programme had the potential to make healthcare accessible to millions of Abia residents, if properly harnessed.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukanna, said that the programme would make it possible for people to dial a dedicated GSM number and get medical attention from a doctor in the comfort of their homes. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The take-off of the university is yet another promise fulfilled to the people of Niger Delta by the Buhari administration.

granted approval in January by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) also listed the University in its Central Admissions Processing System in January 24, 2018, while interviews for academic staff positions were conducted between 1and 2of March, 2018.

The NUC had approved that academic activities commence in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management, with a combined total of 13 departments with various specialisations from Marine Engineering, Marine Economics to Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the University from the N2bn earlier announced to N5bn.

The allocation was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017.

Similarly,an additionalN1Billion was approved by the President to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the Universityin November 2017.

Also, following the commencement of operations in 2017, the university had, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in major national dailies.

The Delta State government had also donated two 500KVA generators to the University.

Following President Muhammadu Buharis meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)in November 2016, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities in 2017; and thetake-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government.

Source: NAN