ISIS Advises Boko Haram On Tactics – Report

Fresh international report based on the gathered intelligence adds to the growing concerns that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Nigeria’s Boko Haram have established direct links.

Leadership reports with reference to the recently published article by The Independent that the ISIS, notorious worldwide for its bloody activities, advises the dreaded insurgents operating in Nigeria on strategy and tactics.

According to the quote derived from the British report,

“Intelligence agencies are concerned that what were once symbolic links between ISIS and Boko Haram have now developed into a practical relationship with the Islamic State offering advice on strategy and tactics.”

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Take Over Key Town In Adamawa State

It also states that following a series of successful seizures of towns in the North-East of the country, Boko Haram was “beginning to operate more like a conventional army in Borno and the neighbouring north-eastern states of Adamawa and Yobe”.

While the Nigerian military denies the breach of territorial integrity by insurgents and assures citizens of carrying out heavy counter-attacks, Nigeria Security Network (organization comprised of experts and academics) explains that “unless swift action is taken, Nigeria could be facing a rapid takeover of a large area of its territory reminiscent of Isis’s lightning advances in Iraq”, The Independent provides.

The report stressed the fact of serious interference after “a senior politician in Borno admitted that civil life in the state, home to three million people, has all but ground to a halt”.

In this statement the journalist apparently refers to the speech of the Secretary to Borno State Government (SSG) Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, who declared on Monday that the substantial part of the state had been occupied by Boko Haram. He also lamented that the militants had basically paralyzed economic, commercial and social life in Borno.

READ ALSO: Borno Is Under Boko Haram – SSG

It would be noted that talks alleging the close connection between the similarity of activities used by the ISIS and Boko Haram started making rounds after the Nigeria’s sect leader Abubakar Shekau had released the video where he claimed captured Gwoza town part of Islamic Caliphate.

It was suggested that Shekau imitated the ISIS moves, carrying out similar executions, kidnaps and finally attempting to establish caliphate in the seized territories.

Fears intensify as Boko Haram continue seizing new areas. According to the latest update provided by the Federal Government yesterday, the military recaptured the town of Bama following a week of violent fights with the insurgents. However some territories still remain under the militants’ control.

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Obasanjo's Son Shot Eager To Return To Battle

 Lt. Col. Adeboye Obasanjo, son of former president Olusegun Obasanjo who was shot by Boko Haram during an attack in Adamawa state pn Monday, September 8 is said to be recovering and eager to return to his duty, according to Punch.

[caption id="attachment_964" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Lt Col Adeboye Obasanjo[/caption]

According to Punch, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar visited Adeboye at a government medical facility in Yola, when he is receiving treatment and the Director General of the National Orientation Agency,   Mike Omeri spoke to him on phone.

It was gathered that Atiku Abubakar and Mike Omero expressed their happiness at Adeboye’s high spirit to return to work and defeat the Boko Haram sect.

It wwas gathered that the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar despite his condition was impressed to see him display such courage as a source quoted him saying: “He even marched before me even as he was recovering from gunshots,” punch gathered.

Abubakar was said to have wished Adeboye speedy recovery. Just as Mike Omeri, coordinator of nthe National Information Centre, who spoke with Adeboye on the phone told journalists at a news conference in Abuja that “Adeboye is in very high spirits and he is assuring Nigerians that what is on his mind now is to get well and go back to defend his fatherland.”

Mike Omeri, however encouraged Armed forces to exhibit such kind of patriotism and urged Nigerians to continuously support members of the armed forces  even with prayers.

Adeboye Obasanjo, an army engineer recently deployed from Jos to join in the battle against the insurgents was injured during a battle to repel the insurgents at Michika in Adamawa State.

It was reported on Monday, that the dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked a platoon headed by  son of ex president Olusegun Obasanjo shooting him and killing 24 soldiers in his command.

It was reported, yesterday, that a source close to the Army said that  Lt. Col. Obasanjo and four other soldiers who were shot during the attack have been flown to Abuja for further treatment.

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Photos: Homophobic Attacker Left Hammer Embedded in Skull of Flatmate

18 year old Connor Huntley (pictured above) was found by medics with a hammer embedded in his skull after his homophobic flat mate, 21 year old Joseph Williams attacked him with a hammer as he slept in their 2-bedroom apartment in Kent, UK. After the attack, Williams called 999 and confessed to the horrific attack.

“I don’t know how to say this but he’s dead in my flat. I hit him on the head with a hammer in his sleep.” Williams told the operator

Doctors say Connor is lucky to survive the assault (pic of his x-ray with the hammer in his head), but he now suffers from epilepsy and has been robbed of his independence.

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Former President Obasenjo’s Son Attacked by Boko Haram

Sahara Reporters is reporting that Boko Haram militants attacked a platoon led by the son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, shooting him today.. They say he ustained serious injuries to his legs and was being transported to the hospital at the time of their report. Find it below…

“Adeboye Obasanjo, an army engineer, was a Lieutenant Colonel at the 3rd Division in Jos, Plateau State.

He and his platoon were engaged with Boko Haram militants at Baza, which is the village of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3rd division when the incident took place.”

The Lieutenant Agwu of the 234 battalion, GOC of the 3rd Division, Major Gen JS Zaruwa and Colonel Victor Ebhaleme who serves as the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Army brigade in Yola were all together advancing towards Michika when Boko Haram fighters unleashed the deadly attack on the soldiers.”

24 soldiers in the platoon were reportedly killed by the militants.

Apart from the dead soldiers, the army also lost an armored tank to the militants. As a result of the attack, the army has moved sensitive weapons from mubi to the Brigade headquarters in Yola leaving mubi vulnerable to attack. The town of Mubi has practically been deserted following the closure of schools and massive retreat of soldiers from the city.

The former president is currently traveling in Singapore according to family sources.

 

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Three Stories Of Former Boko Haram Members

The first thing that today is associated with Boko Haram is terrorism. During its existence this group has earned a bad reputation due to the use of violence as a basic tool of its activities. The methods used by members of Boko Haram are very severe and require specific psychological qualities of the members. Not everyone is able to intimidate, kidnap and slaughter innocent people… This group has a strict discipline, and we can only guess how many members in Boko Haram remain silent and continue to do horrible things on the path of death.

However, we can recall some famous cases when Boko Haram members broke free from being brainwashed and left this sect. NAIJ.com recalls three different stories of such people.

1. Nasir Isiaku



The shocking confession of this man happened about 13 months ago, in August 2013. Nasir has reportedly dumped the Islamist sect and chose to convert to Christianity after spending 3 years with Boko Haram.

From confessions published by TheSun we learned that the 27-year-old men used to belong to one of the 6 major gangs of the sect called Shiite. This division has its members in such states as Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara, among others.

Apart from physical training Boko Haram commanders conduct extensive psychological training for the members in order to boost their readiness to fight.

In his words: “We were told that the more we kill the Christians, the greater will be our chances to enter the paradise of God. At the same time, our command referred to the Koran.

“Originally we were going to kill all the Christians in Kaduna and then kill those who live in the north.”

According to Isiaku, before each operation gang members drank “spiritual water” and, as a result, they become especially furious and could easily kill anyone, without much thinking. The sect members are convinced that this potion protects them from bullets.

“I do not remember how many people I killed. We shot in the legs and asked the victims if they would like to become a Muslim. When a person said “no”, we cut his throat like a goat. After the murder of a non-believer, we collected his blood and drank it. We believe that in this case, the spirits of the murdered will not come to haunt us in a dream. If we had no desire to drink blood, we only dipped fingers in it and then put them into mouths,” Nasir admitted.

When asked how he became a Christian, Isiaku told about “a man dressed in white” who appeared in his dream after which he decided to change his faith.

In his speech the former Muslim send a warning message for all the Christians, saying terrorists are determined to exterminate all the ‘infidels’ in Nigeria, not limiting to any particular area:

“I sincerely advise Christians to begin to prepare for war, to arm and “tighten their belts.” The Islamist terrorist sects are ready to go to war.”

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Takes over Gulak Town in Adamawa”

2. Mustapha

The video message released by Emmanuel TV, run by Prophet T.B.Joshua, shocked thousands of Nigeria about 5 months ago. A self-acclaimed Boko Haram member appeared before the congregation of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) causing uproar.



He introduced himself as Mustapha from Yola, Adamawa State and confessed of being a Boko Haram member. The person continued his speech by explaining their plan on camera:

“We were five in number. We dropped at the junction opposite the church. There was a man who used to sell something opposite the church here. He is selling sweets, soap and cigarettes. I met the man and asked him to help me keep the bag I was carrying. It contained some instruments – bombs, to kill people.

“Later, we decided to sit down and eat before going on our mission here. Our plan was to take souls, to destroy at this Synagogue Church.”

However, whilst sitting down to eat with his colleagues at a restaurant opposite the popular church in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Mustapha recounted a strange incident.

“They brought food for us and we were eating. At that place, they had television. We were watching the television and discussing. It was Emmanuel TV – I saw you (T.B. Joshua) preaching to people.

“By the time you prayed and laid hands on the screen, it was like you were there with us and you joined our midst. As you laid your hands on the screen, you laid your hands on our face. That was when confusion came between us; everybody scattered.”

This prompted Mustafa to come and make this confession.

After Mustapha’s words Joshua prayed and the young man fell to the floor. As he got up slowly from the floor, tears were in Mustapha’s.

“The spirit leading him to kill is gone,” Joshua declared to applause from the onlookers. The curse of Boko Haram has been removed from the man.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9-qoP7TpK0

3. Hosea Bulus

The SCOAN repeated ‘confession’ of a Boko Haram member about 2 months later. At the end of the service held at T.B.Joshua’s church a “aggressive young man” stood forward and said:

“I am one of the Boko Haram. They said they would give me N2,000,000 if I blow up a church. Every church would be N2,000,000. They said they would give me a big house and a wife.”



When he was asked why he had come to the church, the man said: “I have listened to T.B. Joshua – that is why I am here.”

Moments later T.B. Joshua himself returned to the congregation and said he had heard the confession, called that “mind-boggling”.
The famous pastor continued the query and asked the man, who identified himself as Hosea Bulus, how he initiated into the group, to which he replied: “They gave me blood; they gave me charms. I took it inside food.” He added that after this the urge to kill and destroy entered him.

Addressing the congregation regarding T.B. Joshua said:

“One thing you must know – we are fighting evil spirits that steal, kill and destroy. Let us not fight with our neighbours. We have Muslim brothers and sisters. They are our neighbours. We live together and work together.”

According to the prophet, the problem is not about Muslims and Christians, but about “evil spirit”, saying that no one could bring himself to killing innocent lives without being under the influence of an ‘evil spirit’.

T.B. Joshua finally stated that he would not ask the man any further questions publicly so as not to undermine the intelligence Hosea would be able to provide to the relevant authorities. Then the man of God prayed for Hosea, who fell to his knees.

READ ALSO: BAMA ATTACK: Boko Haram Kills Senator’s Nephews

These stories shook the community. One may believe them or not. The thing which remains undoubtful is the morale that they carry. These episodes showed that many in the Boko Haram sect do not agree to continue to do evil. And the fact that Nazir, Mustafa and Hosea wanted to say about this publicly and furthermore do so in front of Christians indicates a serious need for repentance for their anti-human activities in Boko Haram.

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PDP To Woo Amaechi, Oshiomhole To Support GEJ

Less than six month before the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has declared that it would prevail on Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Adams Oshiomhole to support incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

The ruling party stated that the 2015 presidential election would not be based upon partisanship but rather to ensure that the presidency remains in the South-south geo-political zone.

[caption id="attachment_945" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Goodluck Jonathan, left, in Ekiti State.[/caption]

These details were disclosed on Monday, 8 September, 2014 by the National Vice-Chairman of PDP, South-south chapter,  Dr. Cairo Ojugbo, in an interview with journalists at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

“We will talk to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and South-southerners, we will talk to the APC governors in Edo and Rivers, it is a total campaign, we shall talk to our brothers in other parties to support Jonathan,” Ojugbo told reporters.

The PDP currently controls four out of the six states in South-south zone, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Cross River.While APC currently controls Edo and Rivers.

Ojugbo reiterated that the South-south was determined to ensure that President Jonathan returned in 2015, saying that at the last rally organised to drum support for Jonathan,  four million signatures were collected for his come back bid.

“We will deliver Jonathan 100 per cent, we shall make effort to ensure that we do not lose one vote.
“We shall go to every nook and cranny 24 hours, we will beg our brothers in other parties to cooperate with us,” he added.

It would be recalled that a group, under the aegis of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), had recently organised series of rallies for the president in the South-west, South-east and South-south.

[caption id="attachment_946" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign banner at the Unity Fountain, Abuja[/caption]

 

The PDP chieftain emphasised that in spite of the security challenges in Nigeria, Jonathan was doing well.

Ojugbo rubbished reports that there have been campaigns against President Jonathan in the North-west, saying: “If the party has taken a position, and there are two who disagree, we will keep on talking”.

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Serena Williams Gets $4 Million for Winning US Open

Tennis superstar, Serena Williams, has been given $4 million for winning the US Open!

This is the 6th time in history that she has won the tournament. Her victory also means this is her 18th Grand Slam singles title.



The final match of the tournament took place in Flushing Meadows, New York on Sunday, September 7th.

Williams, who is ranked as the number one tennis player in the world, defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3 in straight sets, BBC reports.

Speaking on her win, she said “I couldn’t have finished things in a better way. It is a pleasure for me to win here, I am really emotional. I couldn’t ask to do it at a better place.”

Wozniacki, who is a close friend of Williams, congratulated Serena saying,“she really deserved it today and played better than me.”

Great sportsmanship!

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Actress Oluwaseyi Edun Recommends S*x before Marriage, Explains Why

In an interview with Vanguard yesterday, fast-rising Yoruba actress Oluwaseyi Edun said sex before marriage is the way to go. When asked what her take was on sex before marriage, Oluwaseyi said;

“I think it’s an individual thing. Once you are an adult and you think you are ready, go for it. Personally, I think sex before marriage is good. Because it will make you know your partner well before going into marriage. So if there is anything you are not comfortable with, you have an ample time to correct it before actually going into the lifetime contract of marriage. Doing it before marriage also reduces adultery and fornication. It is also a good way of studying your partner before you get committed to him or her.”

Nah, I think zipping up is the best… but to each his own. What do you think of what she said?

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MESSY DIVORCE: Chris Oyakhilome Sacks Pastor

The divorce saga between Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and wife, Rev Anita is getting messier as the latest reports is that one of the Pastors in the church has been sacked over the bitter feud.

According to The Sun’s findings,  Pastor  Chris Oyakhilome has allegedly sacked one of his top pastors, Reverend Grace for allegedly raising a prayer team to pray for the restoration of peace in the Oyakhilomes’ marriage.

Rev. Grace is said to have worked with Rev Anita Oyakhilome at the London branch of the church.

Meanwhile one of the ministers, who spoke with The Sun said: “We suspected this issue is going to go public some day since the day Pastor Chris sacked Rev Grace for meddling in his family affairs by openly calling for prayers among some members in London when Rev Anita stopped coming to the church she was shepherding while all efforts to get her failed. Some us believe our colleague in London did the right thing by seeking spiritual help for the family but I think Pastor Chris misread her intention and had to travel to London when he heard of the move to sack her and contain the spread of rumour among members in London.”

Apart from the sack of the London pastor, another issue connected to the divorce, which has also been generating tension in the church, is the cry of female ministers who are accusing Pastor Chris of introducing“controversial rules that are now threatening the foundation of many marriages in the church.”

A female church member of one of the Christ Embassy branches in Abuja told Saturday Sun that “the revolt of Rev Anita will be a child’s play to the one that people will soon see when we open up on how a secret policy introduced some time early this year has been tearing many families and homes apart in our parishes across the country. This is a strange directive that husbands and their wives must not worship or attend the same parish. Now, if a couple is a member of a parish, one of them has to be posted to another parish and this is fuelling adultery in the church in no small measure. Some of us who are female ministers that have been separated from our husbands, we are already talking. Some have started revolting against the order in their parishes while some have refused to obey such transfer orders.”

Another top female official of the church in one of the parishes located in Ikeja corroborated the story when she told Saturday Sun: “The policy is real but it is creating tension in the church already.” The female minister, whose husband has been transferred out of the parish they have been attending together for years to give effect to the policy further, stated: “It’s a heartbreaking development because now we know that that directive was introduced to justify why Pastor Chris has to be in Lagos and his wife in London but beyond that, it is encouraging immorality while the church believes that we have an unusual grace that covers our human failings including adultery.”

Coming down to her personal experience, the female minister disclosed that soon after her husband was transferred to a parish far away from their initial one: “one of the male ministers where I am to stay back started winking at me. The first Sunday I felt he did that unknowingly or without any ulterior motive but the following Sunday he came to shake hands with me after service and what he did was to use one of his fingers to scratch my palm during the handshake. I was miffed but I couldn’t do anything because he will deny and I will look stupid but since then he got my message because I stopped greeting him.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday, August 31, it was reported that Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his wife Rev.Anita’s divorce saga has caused division among church members.

Oyakhilome’s church, Believers Love World Inc popularly known as Christ Embassy is regarded as one of the biggest denominations in Nigeria with membership in thousands and branches all over world.

News of Pastor Chris and wife, Rev. Anita Oyakhilome has been trending on social media.

On August 29, it was reported that Rev. Anita  filed an action at a UK court to end their 20-year-old marriage on the grounds of “adultery” and “unreasonable behaviour”.

Anita Oyakhilome through her lawyers said she is done with Pastor Chris and there’s no hope of reconciliation. However, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who described his wife as a “bitter and angry” woman who is being influenced by bad friends who are out to seek his downfall has threatened to sue journalists for publishing news of their divorce.

Meanhile it was reported that the church removed the every information about Rev. Anita Oyakhilome including her pictures  from its website,www.christembassy. org.

Pastor Chris who is the president of Believers’ Love World Inc, the registered name of the church and Rev.Anita the vice-president are blessed with two teenage daughters, Sharon and Charlyn.

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We Will Probe Igwe's Death - Police AIG

 Police Acting Inspector General Suleiman Abba has announced that he has given his men the order to investigate the death of Mr Dimgba Igwe.

[caption id="attachment_914" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Dimgba Igwe[/caption]

Mr Igwe had passed  away at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Saturday morning due to injuries acquired after being hit by an unknown driver as he jogged home from his Okota, Lagos neighborhood.

The Police IG has however given order to his men to push and investigate, he said these as he condoled the family of the bereaved.

He said in statement signed by the force spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu:  “The Police will leave no stone un-turned in their investigation towards unravelling the circumstances surrounding the late Dimgba’s death”.

The police head praised the late journalist and said that the nation will never forget his contribution even years after he is gone.

The late Journalist, Dimgba Igwe who was an associate publisher of Entertainment weekly newspaper was until his death the Assistant General overseer of Evangel Pentecostal Church, Lagos.

One of Nigeria’s most respected journalist, Mr. Dimgba, alongside Mike Awoyinfa, pioneered the defunct Weekend Concord newspaper, The Sun Newspaper.

He co-authored several books including Osoba: The Newspaper Years, The Arts of Feature Writing and Mike Adenuga: The Business Guru.

He is survived by wife and four children.  Dimgba Igwe died at the age of 58.

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BOKO HARAM: What Herbalists Have Threatened To Do

 Following the allegations made by Australian Negotiator, Stephen Davis that former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff and Ex Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors, the Council of Babalawos in Northern Nigeria has urged security agencies in the country to investigate them.

[caption id="attachment_910" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Former Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff[/caption]

The Council of Babalawos who gave a 40 ultimatum said if Modu Sheriff and Gen Ihejirika are not investigated they  would be forced to sue the men for allegedly financing terrorism.

In a statement made available to Punch and signed by its chairman, Mr. Fabunmi Aiyesoro and vice chairman, Mr. Ogunwale Ogunshola, the Council lamented the death of 48 of its members in the hand of the Boko Haram since 2011.

“If the Federal Government refuses to do this, our members shall resort to special prayers for 21 days for God’s wrath to befall Sheriff, Ihejirika, their fellow collaborators and Boko Haram members.’’

READ ALSO: Australian Negotiator Reveals Boko Haram Sponsors

“Our members source herbs from forests like Sambisa, Biu, Gwoza and Hong and taking over these areas by this retrogressive group has denied us the opportunity of contributing to the health and well-being of the people.

[caption id="attachment_911" align="aligncenter" width="280"] General Ihejirika[/caption]

“Our members source herbs from forests like Sambisa, Biu, Gwoza and Hong and taking over these areas by this retrogressive group has denied us the opportunity of contributing to the health and well-being of the people.

“Babalawos are Nigerians and deserve the same recognition accorded Imams and Pastors by government.

Many churches and mosques have received compensation from state governments for the destruction of their places of worship but not a single Babalawo has received a condolence message or any form of monetary compensation since the Boko Haram problem started three years ago.’’

READ  ALSO: Boko Haram: General Ihejirika’s Reaction To Negotiator’s Allegations

On August 31, the Australian Negotiator had revealed shocking claims that  former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff and former Chief of Army Staff, General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.

The claims has since caused controversy, as  Modu Sheriff has responded to the allegations, while General Ihejirika in his reply said: “I want to further advise that baseless, unfounded and frivolous allegations like this have the capacity of diverting our attention, away from the main problem.

Meanwhile there are reports that the dreaded Boko Haram sect was upset by most of the claims made by the negotiator and was set to make a categorical position on all the issues raised by Davis in the media.“

Dr Stephen Davis in an interviwe with Sahara Reporters had said: “If we don’t do our utmost now to dismantle Boko Haram then we may not be able to do so for another generation. That is a very gloomy scenario for Nigeria.”

Meanwhile a Nigerian negotiator has confirmed the allegations made by Australian Stephen Davis that Modu Sherif and General Ihejirika are Boko Haram sponsors.

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PDP Engineer Adedeji Doherty Wrestles For Lagos State 2015 Governorship

The race for who would become the next governor of Lagos State in 2015 is becoming hotter by the day as former acting national vice chairman (south west) of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engineer Adedeji Doherty, has finally confirmed his readiness to contest for the exalted seat.

According to an interview conducted by P.M NEWS, Doherty stated that after months of consultations and underground campaigns, that he is optimistic of clinching the PDP ticket to emerge the next governor of Lagos state.

“This week, at Lagos PDP secretariat, I will formally declare my intention to run for Lagos state governorship election in 2015 on the platform of PDP. I have consulted widely and with the support of every stakeholders I will clinch the party ticket,” he claimed.

Doherty added that if he emerges Lagos governor come 2015, his developmental agenda will positively touch the lives of the people of the state.

He criticised the current administration led by Governor Babatunde Fashola for concentrating on visuals, while stating that he is in the race to benefit the grassroots.

“They have been focusing on visuals, they have been focusing on what people can see, not things that will make impact. If I go through express roads I might see traffic lights but how will those traffic lights have impact on my pockets? How does it have an impact on my children? How does it make an impact if I am sick? It only creates ambience, partly security and beautification.

[caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Engineer Adedeji Doherty of PDP.[/caption]

“What we are supposed to focus on is the long term plan. We should move into the decongestion projectfor Lagos state. The decongestion project is going into rural development,” Doherty said.

The PDP chieftain maintained that his vision is to re-generate Lagos as a leading economic, industrial, and commercial crime-free, friendly and tourist centre attracting people from other parts of Nigeria and international community while the mission is to work tirelessly towards the total enhancement of the lives of all inhabitants in Lagos.

The political atmosphere in the nations’s commercial centre has begun to get heated this is because the incumbent governor Fashola would have completed his two-term tenure by 2015.

Political heavyweights in the state, both in the ACN and the opposition PDP, have been showing interests in clinching the gubernatorial tickets of their parties.

On the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, those interested in succeeding Fashola include: Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; an ex-Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Senator Ganiyu Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District; Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District.

Other aspirants who have shown interest in the number one job include Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives and former Governor Bola Tinubu’s aide-de-camp, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal.

Only on Monday, 9 September, 2014, former Accountant General of Lagos State, Akin Ambode formally declared his intention to vie for the governorship seat of Lagos State in 2015.

Ambode made his intention known when he opened his campaign office in Gbagada, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

On the platform of the PDP, the likes of Ade Dosumu, who was the party’s candidate in the 2011 governorship election; Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu-Bakare, former Commissioner for Commerce in the State; Adedeji Doherty, who contested the party primary in 2007 and 2011 have indicated interest to contest the Lagos governorship by 2015.

Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Afenifere chieftain, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; former House of Representatives member and Hon. Setonji Koshoedo are also among the politicians warming up for the ticket of the party come 2015 election.

However owing to the unending schism in the state chapter of the party, more gladiators may emerge to contend for the flag of the party in the poll.

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We Now Are In Full Control Of Bama - Boko Haram

 Insurgent group, Boko Haram has claimed that it has now captured Borno state’s second largest town, Bama and now is in full control of the state.

This however contradicts the stance of the Nigerian military, who claim that it isn’t so.

Boko Haram had attacked Bama two weeks ago, killing and maiming several locals of the town and destroying several properties worth millions of dollars.

Reports had last week come out that the military had conducted an attack against insurgents in the city  and the military even tweeted that: it was doing “everything necessary” to quench the terrorists onslaught.

 

[caption id="attachment_899" align="aligncenter" width="646"] Boko Haram Leader Shekau declares Islamic Caliphate in Gwoza, August 24, 2014[/caption]

One man named, Abu Zinnira has told journalists that Bama now is in full control of the sect with the recent military push making no gains.

Abu Zinnira has been known as a spokesman of the sect but he hasn’t been heard from for the last two years.

READ ALSO: Al-Shabaab Head Ahmed Godane Killed By U.S. Airstrike

The call he made lasted only 29 seconds and was fully in Hausa.

The spokesman speaking from the other end of the call said: “This is a rebuttal from the information dissemination and sensitization unit of the Jamaatul Ahlil Sunna Lidawati Wal Jihad (Boko Haram) on the series of lies that the Nigeria military have been feeding the world on our recent conquests”.

“Let the whole world know that we are on the path of victory because up to this minute, the town of Bama is under our control, the whole of Minchika is now in our hands, as well as Manalapan (Junction of) Mubi is now fully under our control.

“We are assuring the world that this would be continuous and there will be no going back by God’s grace. This is a message from me Abu Zinnira, on behalf of our brethren,” he said.

Reports had surfaced on Saturday from the Adamawa State government  revealing that the sect fully has control of Gulak and other towns in Adamawa state.

They said: “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had killed and displaced scores of people.

“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, his Excellency deeply sympathises with the people of Gulak and other surrounding villages and towns whose areas had been overran by insurgents”.

 Boko Haram has been a virus in Nigeria for the last 5 years, killing over 5000 people and destroying more properties, also crippling the North eastern Nigeria’s economy.

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Ebola Spread By Taxi Passengers, WHO Warns

 

 

[caption id="attachment_896" align="aligncenter" width="737"] A Liberian burial team wearing protective clothing loads the body of a 60-year-old Ebola victim after retrieving him from his home.[/caption]

In spite of global effort to wage war against the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has warned that the Ebola virus is spreading exponentially in Liberia.

The United Nations agency said that motorbike-taxis and regular taxis are “a hot source of potential virus transmission” because they are not disinfected in Liberia, where conventional Ebola control measures “are not having an adequate impact”.

It added that aid partners needed to scale up efforts against Ebola by three- to fourfold in Liberia and elsewhere in West African countries battling the epidemic.

According to WHO statistics released on Friday 5 September, the Ebola virus has killed 1,089 people among 1,871 cases in Liberia, the highest among the five West African countries affected by the current outbreak, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal and Liberia.

The report stated that in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, 2,097 have died out of 3,944 cases. Another 18 cases and seven deaths have been recorded in Nigeria and one non-fatal case in Senegal.

It noted that fourteen of Liberia’s 15 counties have reported confirmed cases, a situation whereby Ebola patients jam packednew Ebola treatment centre as soon as it’s opened.

“The number of new cases is moving far faster than the capacity to manage them in Ebola-specific treatment centres,” it said. “Many thousands of new cases are expected in Liberia over the coming three weeks,” the statement said.

In Montserrado County, which includes the capital, Monrovia, and is home to more than one million people, a WHO investigative team estimated that 1,000 beds are urgently needed for Ebola patients.

It would be recalled that Canadian researchers recently said they have developed an effective vaccine for the Ebola virus after an experimental immunization gave monkeys long-term protection from the deadly disease.

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Ebola: Lagos Records New Case

The sister of the late Port Harcourt doctor, Enemoah, who died of the deadly Ebola Virus Diesease (EVD) has been discharged, just as another Ebola case has been confirmed in Lagos, the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu said.

This was disclosed today September 8, through his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dan Nwomeh.

Dan took to twitter to share some of the statements the minister made during a press conference held earlier today.

The new confirmed case is the fiance of one of the primary contacts of the index case, Patrick Sawyer.

Read Also: Ebola Solution: WHO Recommends To Use Survivors’ Blood

Though, the primary contact has made a full recovery.

This new case now brings to 19, the number of bola cases in Nigeria with seven people dead while 10 others have recovered.

He added that the wife of the late Port-Harcourt doctor will soon be discharged.

Read Also: Ebola Solution: WHO Recommends To Use Survivors’ Blood

Mr Chukwu debunked rumours of an outbreak of Ebola in any other state or city in Nigeria, besides Lagos and Port-Harcourt.

Below are some of the tweets:

The World Health Organization (WHO) had last week warned Nigerians that Ebola virus could spread in Port Harcourt faster than in Lagos.

The deadly virus currently ravaging West Africa has already claimed more than 2000 lives in the region.

Nigeria’s first Ebola patient came from Liberia on July 20 and since then, all the country resources are being mobilized to contain its spread.

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Terry G Opens Up on Rubbin' Minds

 Benue state Ginger master, Terry G has spilled the beans a night ago when he revealed that he is not only into drugs but that he was introduced to drugs by a popular actress.

[caption id="attachment_881" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Terry G[/caption]

Real names Amanyi Oche Gabriel has over the time dazzled many with his stage power and vigor. The hip hop/ Rnb act who doubles as a producer was a guest on youths program Rubbing Minds on Channels TV recently. The programme which bordered on various experiences of celebrities to help the youths in the nation, interviewed the ‘Free Madness” master and it was really a jaw dropping experience as he dished out some facts many do not know about him.

The musician who is known for his eccentric performance on stage began his musical career as a protege of ex plantashun boy, Faze. He was on course to get a deal from Faze’s album label, Independent entertainment before he got a mega deal from Bluemoon entertainment which he made him to opt out of the initial Faze deal.

On Rubbing Minds, he made it known that he has simmered down on the drugs although he still takes marijuana, Terry G revealed many things…. Check out more of the things he said below:

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Nigeria Won't Defeat Boko Haram, Unless...

A retired army colonel and former quarter-master of the Lagos Garrison Command, Col. Gabriel Ajayi has warned that unless the rot in the Nigerian Army is tidied up, the country may not win the war against Boko Haram.

Col. Ajayi, while speaking with our reporter, explained that apart from lacking patriotism and the will to fight for the country, Nigerian soldiers are made to work with crude instruments of warfare.

He identified long-term non-funding of the military during the regimes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sanni Abacha, corruption, the quest for regime elongation by the military, abuse and misuse of intelligence gathering and lack of political will by the civilians who took over in 1999 to probe the atrocities in the military, as the factors responsible for the present sorry-state that the soldiers are finding themselves.

[caption id="attachment_877" align="aligncenter" width="412"] Col. Ajayi[/caption]

Col. Ajayi also blamed the Nigerian army commanding officers for failing to live by example, saying they fail to constantly visit the officers who are on battlefield.

He noted that elsewhere in the world, leaders normally visit the troops in battle as away way of boosting their morale.  But in Nigeria, the case is different as no high-ranking officer or civilian administrators have visited the states where Boko Haram insurgents are currently waging a serious war against the country.

“How many of the managers of the Nigerian military have visited the warfront? Minister of Defence, high personalities in the sanctum of the management of the operation, for God’s sake, how many of them have visited the place?

“Donald Rumsfeld, during the American war in Iraq, was there at the warfront to ask the generals how many prisoners have been captured, how far they had gone? He would go and sit down in the operations room and they would brief him and he would ask questions in military language.

“Donald Rumsfeld wasn’t a general. Tell me how many of our leaders have gone to Borno, Adamawa or Yobe? War is not fought by the soldiers on the ground alone; war is fought by the whole nation,” he said.

The former officer, who was implicated in a phantom coup in 1995 and had commanded many battalions in the northern part of Nigeria, noted that the present insurgence in Nigeria has been fueled by many Nigerian Muslims’ belief that Islam has no boundary.

He noted that many of those who got into the country through Nigeria’s porous borders were not supposed to be in the country and as such have no clear allegiance to Nigeria as a nation.

“These set of people, he said, may have aided or even become part of the Boko Haram insurgence to wreak terror in the country.”

Ajayi, who now consults for various organisations on security issues, advised the Federal Government, through the military, to take step to protect other forest reserves in the country before another terror organisation hijacks them.

Apart from Sambisa forest, which he describes as “not a tactician’s paradise,” he particularly mentioned Afaka forest in Kaduna State as constituting a threat to national security if left in its current state.

“There is another forest, I said to some colleagues who are still in service. I said to them ‘what are you doing about Afaka forest?’ it is another forest that if it is held by another group of terrorists, we will have problems,” Col. Ajayi warned.

The Boko Haram sect is believed to have killed no fewer than 5,000 people across Nigeria through their terror attacks since 2009.

Over 650, 000 residents in northern Nigeria are also reported to have been displaced following series of bomb blasts, kidnappings and killings carried out by the insurgents.

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Jonathan Launches #BringBackGoodluck2015 Campaign

Recently, banners that agitate people to vote for Goodluck Jonathan at the upcoming presidential election have been seen in the streets of Abuja.

However, the slogan on these banners has caused controversy as #BringBackOurGoodluck2015 looks just like variation of #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

#BringBackOurGirls campaign was created to reunite over 250 abducted by Boko Haram Chibok girls with their parents.

A lot of media resources expressed their irritation to this insensitive move. It has been almost 5 months since Chibok girls were kidnapped, and it seems that the government has forgotten about their rescue.

[caption id="attachment_873" align="aligncenter" width="800"] President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign banner at the Unity Fountain, Abuja[/caption]

 



 

It’s not for the first time when Nigerian politicians distort #BringBackOurGirls slogan. For example, the former Governor of Oyo State, Alao Akala made #BringBackOurMan as his new campaign slogan.Do you think this campaign intended to mock the movement in support of Chibok girls advocacy?

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