EYESFUD

Gunmen Kidnap President Jonathan’s Cousin In Bayelsa

Gunmen, Sunday night abducted a prominent chief of President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown, Otuoke, in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State.

The victim, identified as Chief Inengite Nitabai, aged 70, who was said to be the president’s cousin, was kidnapped at about 9pm by ten heavily armed men, according to reports.

The kidnapped Chief is described as the traditional head of the compound from which the President hails from, according to a Vanguard source in the community.

“Nitabai is the cousin of President Goodluck Jonathan, and was kidnapped from his compound located before Otuoke bridge, off Otu-Okpoti-Ogbia Road without a gunshot,” the source said.

Nitabai it was further learnt by Vanguard, has been acting like a father to the President since Jonathan’s real biological father died.

The victim, his wife and his wife’s sister and three of his children were in the house when the assailants stormed the compound.

The victim’s wife sister, 37-year-old Akinobebh Jin, said Silas, one of the sons of the victim first sighted the criminals and raised the alarm.

“We came back from somewhere around 8pm. Silas was at the verandah doing his assignment while my in-law, my sister and two other siblings were in the living room together.

“After sometimes, Silas came shouting and saying that some people had just entered into the compound. As we sprang on our feet, we were confused because we didn’t know where to run to.”

A security source told Vanguard that the chief’s vehicle was later recovered at Onuegbum community waterfront where it was abandoned, an indication that the gunmen might have made away with their victim through the creek.

The incident, it was learnt, provoked heavy security presence in the community which is also host to the Federal University.

The Deputy Commander of the Joint Task force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, Commodore Ime Ekpa and team of security agents were said to have visited the location to assess the crime scene.

Contacted, the state police public relations officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe confirmed the incident.

He said the police report showed that the abducted community leader had made a report at the Kolo Police Station on the illegal sale of his land by some unidentified persons.

“After it was discovered, the abducted man insisted that the culprits refund the buyer his money and leave his land alone. He was later kidnapped.

“We have identified those involved and are on their trail. One of the suspect is in our custody. The vehicle also has been recovered,” Akhigbe said.

He however added that he xould not establish the relationship between the abducted Chief and Mr. President

“Investigation is in progress to unmask the kidnappers and rescue the victim,” he said.

Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Messi - who will be Champions League top scorer this season?

The Sweden international currently leads the goalscoring charts, but he faces stiff competition from the Spain-based duo



With the Champions League slowly approaching its business end, the race for the top scorer title is hotting up.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo sat top of the goalscoring charts following the group stage with nine strikes, but last week Zlatan Ibrahimovic leapfrogged him with a double in Paris Saint-Germain's 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Ronaldo and Madrid are yet to play the first leg of the last 16, though, so the Portuguese has the chance to add to his tally in Wednesday's away game against Schalke.

Elsewhere, Lionel Messi has not given up on the Champions League Golden Boot. The Argentine currently sits on seven goals, with Barcelona all but through to the quarter-finals at the expense of Manchester City.

The Premier League giants have two candidates for the top scorer title in the form of Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo, but both will have to be at their best in the second leg at Barca if they are to overturn a 2-0 deficit and threaten Ibrahimovic.

Another striker who will still be dreaming of challenging for top spot is Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, who has now netted five times following his winner against AC Milan last week.

Additionally, outsiders such as Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Edinson Cavani (PSG) and Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) are all still in contention, but will have to find their scoring touch in the next few games if they are to have a realistic shot at the Champions League Golden Boot.

Leave your comment below....

Thailand protests targeted; 4 dead, dozens wounded...

Thailand's prime minister on Sunday condemned weekend attacks on her opponents that killed four people, three of them children, and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A 6-year-old-girl, a 4-year-old boy and a woman of about 40 died when a bomb exploded at an anti-government rally outside a shopping mall in the Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok, the Erawan Emergency Center reported. The children were siblings. The 22 wounded included a preteen boy who was in critical condition, said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand's national security chief. On Saturday night, a 5-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet when attackers opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in eastern Trat province, police Col. Jirawut Tantasri said. Another 34 were wounded, he said. Patthanathabut said police think the two incidents are connected.

"We believed that there is an element which is armed and prone to use violence mean to achieve their goal."

What's behind the Thai unrest?

The deaths were the latest to punctuate three months of protests against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. In a statement issued Sunday night, Yingluck said her government "will not tolerate terrorism" and would prosecute the killers "without exception."

"I would like to ask all sides of the political divide that we may see things differently and there are many ways to express those differences," Yingluck said. "But the use of violence that lead to deaths are not the civilized way of the living."
Camera catches attack on Bangkok cops
Thai tensions erupt into gunfire, 4 dead
Life in Bangkok amidst political chaos

Both the Ratchaprasong and Trat demonstrations were organized by the opposition People's Democratic Reform Committee, which vowed to continue protests despite the attacks. On its Facebook page, the movement called for supporters to donate blood at hospitals that were treating the wounded from the Ratchaprasong bombing.

"Although we have lost several friends in these attacks, I would like to insist that we follow our course of peaceful, unarmed, and nonviolent demonstrations," party leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a statement on the Facebook page. "We are on the right course. We are fighting the good fight. Please carry on as we have."

In Trat, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Bangkok, Jirawut said the girl who died was eating noodles with her grandmother when two cars passed the demonstration of about 1,000 people. The attackers threw grenades from the first car while the occupants of the second began shooting into the crowd, he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Sunday condemning the violence and calling for it to end. He "urges the parties to respect human rights and the rule of law, prevent any new attacks and engage in meaningful dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing reform," the statement read.

He added that he is ready to "assist in any way possible."

The People's Democratic Reform Committee has called for the democratically elected Yingluck to be replaced with an unelected "people council," which would see through electoral and political changes.

Yingluck is the brother of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and now lives in exile. Yingluck's critics accuse her of being a proxy for her brother, who was convicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison in absentia.

Yingluck's government was largely stable until her party attempted to pass a controversial amnesty bill in November, sparking the current wave of protests. The bill would have nullified Thaksin's corruption conviction and allowed him to return to the country.

Also Sunday, a group of protesters called the Red Shirts joined in the protesting.

Between March and May 2010, thousands of opposition protesters known for the color of their shirts occupied parts of the shopping district in central Bangkok. For the most part, the Red Shirts were supporters of Thaksin. They wanted the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a new general election.

In 2011, up to 30,000 Red Shirts descended on the same area, this time demanding a thorough investigation of a deadly government crackdown that May, along with the release of protest leaders, some of whom had been held in jail on terrorism charges for months.

On Sunday, the Red Shirts gathered in Nakhonratchasrima, about 100 miles from Bangkok. There were about 3,000 protesters in the mostly peaceful protest, according to Paradon.

The Red Shirts encouraged the government to prepare in case it needed to set up an exile office in the northern or northeastern parts of Thailand. The leaders of the protest asked members in each province to set up and train their own people in security techniques and be prepared for prolonged protests.   

A 6-year-old-girl, a 4-year-old boy and a woman of about 40 died when a bomb exploded at an anti-government rally outside a shopping mall in the Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok, the Erawan Emergency Center reported. The children were siblings.

The 22 wounded included a preteen boy who was in critical condition, said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand's national security chief.

On Saturday night, a 5-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet when attackers opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in eastern Trat province, police Col. Jirawut Tantasri said. Another 34 were wounded, he said.

Patthanathabut said police think the two incidents are connected.

"We believed that there is an element which is armed and prone to use violence mean to achieve their goal."

What's behind the Thai unrest?

The deaths were the latest to punctuate three months of protests against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. In a statement issued Sunday night, Yingluck said her government "will not tolerate terrorism" and would prosecute the killers "without exception."

"I would like to ask all sides of the political divide that we may see things differently and there are many ways to express those differences," Yingluck said. "But the use of violence that lead to deaths are not the civilized way of the living."
Camera catches attack on Bangkok cops
Thai tensions erupt into gunfire, 4 dead
Life in Bangkok amidst political chaos

Both the Ratchaprasong and Trat demonstrations were organized by the opposition People's Democratic Reform Committee, which vowed to continue protests despite the attacks. On its Facebook page, the movement called for supporters to donate blood at hospitals that were treating the wounded from the Ratchaprasong bombing.

"Although we have lost several friends in these attacks, I would like to insist that we follow our course of peaceful, unarmed, and nonviolent demonstrations," party leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a statement on the Facebook page. "We are on the right course. We are fighting the good fight. Please carry on as we have."

In Trat, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Bangkok, Jirawut said the girl who died was eating noodles with her grandmother when two cars passed the demonstration of about 1,000 people. The attackers threw grenades from the first car while the occupants of the second began shooting into the crowd, he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Sunday condemning the violence and calling for it to end. He "urges the parties to respect human rights and the rule of law, prevent any new attacks and engage in meaningful dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing reform," the statement read.

In 2011, up to 30,000 Red Shirts descended on the same area, this time demanding a thorough investigation of a deadly government crackdown that May, along with the release of protest leaders, some of whom had been held in jail on terrorism charges for months.

On Sunday, the Red Shirts gathered in Nakhonratchasrima, about 100 miles from Bangkok. There were about 3,000 protesters in the mostly peaceful protest, according to Paradon.

The Red Shirts encouraged the government to prepare in case it needed to set up an exile office in the northern or northeastern parts of Thailand. The leaders of the protest asked members in each province to set up and train their own people in security techniques and be prepared for prolonged protests.   

Thailand Protests Targeted; 4 dead, dozens wounded...

Thailand's prime minister on Sunday condemned weekend attacks on her opponents that killed four people, three of them children, and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A 6-year-old-girl, a 4-year-old boy and a woman of about 40 died when a bomb exploded at an anti-government rally outside a shopping mall in the Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok, the Erawan Emergency Center reported. The children were siblings.

The 22 wounded included a preteen boy who was in critical condition, said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand's national security chief.

On Saturday night, a 5-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet when attackers opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in eastern Trat province, police Col. Jirawut Tantasri said. Another 34 were wounded, he said.

Patthanathabut said police think the two incidents are connected.

"We believed that there is an element which is armed and prone to use violence mean to achieve their goal."

What's behind the Thai unrest?

The deaths were the latest to punctuate three months of protests against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. In a statement issued Sunday night, Yingluck said her government "will not tolerate terrorism" and would prosecute the killers "without exception."

"I would like to ask all sides of the political divide that we may see things differently and there are many ways to express those differences," Yingluck said. "But the use of violence that lead to deaths are not the civilized way of the living."
Camera catches attack on Bangkok cops
Thai tensions erupt into gunfire, 4 dead
Life in Bangkok amidst political chaos

Both the Ratchaprasong and Trat demonstrations were organized by the opposition People's Democratic Reform Committee, which vowed to continue protests despite the attacks. On its Facebook page, the movement called for supporters to donate blood at hospitals that were treating the wounded from the Ratchaprasong bombing.

"Although we have lost several friends in these attacks, I would like to insist that we follow our course of peaceful, unarmed, and nonviolent demonstrations," party leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a statement on the Facebook page. "We are on the right course. We are fighting the good fight. Please carry on as we have."

In Trat, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Bangkok, Jirawut said the girl who died was eating noodles with her grandmother when two cars passed the demonstration of about 1,000 people. The attackers threw grenades from the first car while the occupants of the second began shooting into the crowd, he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Sunday condemning the violence and calling for it to end. He "urges the parties to respect human rights and the rule of law, prevent any new attacks and engage in meaningful dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing reform," the statement read.

He added that he is ready to "assist in any way possible."

The People's Democratic Reform Committee has called for the democratically elected Yingluck to be replaced with an unelected "people council," which would see through electoral and political changes.

Yingluck is the brother of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and now lives in exile. Yingluck's critics accuse her of being a proxy for her brother, who was convicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison in absentia.

Yingluck's government was largely stable until her party attempted to pass a controversial amnesty bill in November, sparking the current wave of protests. The bill would have nullified Thaksin's corruption conviction and allowed him to return to the country.

Also Sunday, a group of protesters called the Red Shirts joined in the protesting.

Between March and May 2010, thousands of opposition protesters known for the color of their shirts occupied parts of the shopping district in central Bangkok. For the most part, the Red Shirts were supporters of Thaksin. They wanted the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a new general election.

In 2011, up to 30,000 Red Shirts descended on the same area, this time demanding a thorough investigation of a deadly government crackdown that May, along with the release of protest leaders, some of whom had been held in jail on terrorism charges for months.

On Sunday, the Red Shirts gathered in Nakhonratchasrima, about 100 miles from Bangkok. There were about 3,000 protesters in the mostly peaceful protest, according to Paradon.

The Red Shirts encouraged the government to prepare in case it needed to set up an exile office in the northern or northeastern parts of Thailand. The leaders of the protest asked members in each province to set up and train their own people in security techniques and be prepared for prolonged protests.   

A 6-year-old-girl, a 4-year-old boy and a woman of about 40 died when a bomb exploded at an anti-government rally outside a shopping mall in the Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok, the Erawan Emergency Center reported. The children were siblings.

The 22 wounded included a preteen boy who was in critical condition, said Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, Thailand's national security chief.

On Saturday night, a 5-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet when attackers opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in eastern Trat province, police Col. Jirawut Tantasri said. Another 34 were wounded, he said.

Patthanathabut said police think the two incidents are connected.

"We believed that there is an element which is armed and prone to use violence mean to achieve their goal."

What's behind the Thai unrest?

The deaths were the latest to punctuate three months of protests against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. In a statement issued Sunday night, Yingluck said her government "will not tolerate terrorism" and would prosecute the killers "without exception."

"I would like to ask all sides of the political divide that we may see things differently and there are many ways to express those differences," Yingluck said. "But the use of violence that lead to deaths are not the civilized way of the living."
Camera catches attack on Bangkok cops
Thai tensions erupt into gunfire, 4 dead
Life in Bangkok amidst political chaos

Both the Ratchaprasong and Trat demonstrations were organized by the opposition People's Democratic Reform Committee, which vowed to continue protests despite the attacks. On its Facebook page, the movement called for supporters to donate blood at hospitals that were treating the wounded from the Ratchaprasong bombing.

"Although we have lost several friends in these attacks, I would like to insist that we follow our course of peaceful, unarmed, and nonviolent demonstrations," party leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a statement on the Facebook page. "We are on the right course. We are fighting the good fight. Please carry on as we have."

In Trat, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Bangkok, Jirawut said the girl who died was eating noodles with her grandmother when two cars passed the demonstration of about 1,000 people. The attackers threw grenades from the first car while the occupants of the second began shooting into the crowd, he said.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Sunday condemning the violence and calling for it to end. He "urges the parties to respect human rights and the rule of law, prevent any new attacks and engage in meaningful dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing reform," the statement read.

He added that he is ready to "assist in any way possible."

The People's Democratic Reform Committee has called for the democratically elected Yingluck to be replaced with an unelected "people council," which would see through electoral and political changes.

Yingluck is the brother of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and now lives in exile. Yingluck's critics accuse her of being a proxy for her brother, who was convicted of corruption charges in 2008 and sentenced to prison in absentia.

Yingluck's government was largely stable until her party attempted to pass a controversial amnesty bill in November, sparking the current wave of protests. The bill would have nullified Thaksin's corruption conviction and allowed him to return to the country.

Also Sunday, a group of protesters called the Red Shirts joined in the protesting.

Between March and May 2010, thousands of opposition protesters known for the color of their shirts occupied parts of the shopping district in central Bangkok. For the most part, the Red Shirts were supporters of Thaksin. They wanted the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a new general election.

In 2011, up to 30,000 Red Shirts descended on the same area, this time demanding a thorough investigation of a deadly government crackdown that May, along with the release of protest leaders, some of whom had been held in jail on terrorism charges for months.

On Sunday, the Red Shirts gathered in Nakhonratchasrima, about 100 miles from Bangkok. There were about 3,000 protesters in the mostly peaceful protest, according to Paradon.

The Red Shirts encouraged the government to prepare in case it needed to set up an exile office in the northern or northeastern parts of Thailand. The leaders of the protest asked members in each province to set up and train their own people in security techniques and be prepared for prolonged protests.   

Popular OAP In Nigeria Toke Makinwa Disgraced On Air

Toke Makinwa Disgraced On Air, If you remove your weaves, your fake eye lashes, your make-up, the push up bra and especially your bleached skin, people will run

It seems a presenter with Rhythm 93.7 Lagos has been laughing at Toke Makinwa‘s flat b00bs secretly and he has also been waiting for her to say anything that’ll upset him so he can wash her thoroughly. And his wish came to pass recently as Toke couldn’t control her mouth when she and the guy were in the studio.

Toke told Nanya Diali to his face that his shirt is fake, the guy got pissed off and blasted her:”Everything about you from head to toe is fake,” he replied her. Toke Makinwa couldn’t believe her Ears so she asked the guy to explain himself. “What do you mean? Please explain yourself,” she insisted.

And the guy went on: “If you remove your weaves, your fake eye lashes, your make-up, the push up bra and especially your bleached skin, people will run…

“In fact, Toke Makinwa, you have no single natural beauty, you are totally fake”, he added.

I hear the statement hit Toke so hard that she couldn’t even say any word to the guy but keep shut in studio.

Goodluck Jonathan’s Sixth Presidential Media Chat

Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, is hosting his sixth Presidential Media Chat since returning to office in May 2011.

The challenges confronting Nigeria – insecurity, the economy, corruption, dearth of infrastructure – are still largely the same issues the administration is grappling with since his first media chat in September 2011.

One new topic the president might be pressed to clarify is the recent suspension of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The CBN governor was suspended over alleged financial misconduct.

With the 2015 general elections about 11 months away, Mr Jonathan might be pressed to make a definitive statement about his ambition ahead of the February 2015 general elections. In previous media chats, the president waved the question aside saying it was premature to talk about 2015.

The presidency promised to receive questions from Nigerians via telephone during the live program. In the past, telephone lines provided hardly got across to the president work during live episodes of the programme.

In case you are able to reach the president on the programme today, PREMIUM TIMES suggest you put these questions to him, in addition to others you might have.

The Twitter handle @mediachatng1 can also be used to throw in questions during the chat.

PREMIUM TIMES will bring you live updates from the media chat, as it progresses, here. Join the discussion on twitter using #presmediachat

Chat ends with discussion around the power situation in Nigeria. He promises it will improve.

Still on the issue of Boko Haram attacks on Borno state, and the recent comments by the governor of that state that it appears the militants have upper hand in the war, the president said the governor’s comment was wrong. “if we pullout the military from Borno state, let us see if he will be able to stay in the government house,” the president answered, emphasizing the strength of the military operatives working in the state.

The president said he is also not aware of plans to send a military administrator to the troubled Borno state
“It is quite worrisome,” Jonathan says of killing of innocents by Boko Haram. “Surely we’ll get over it.”

He says all security forces are involved in the war
The president denies removing subsidy on kerosene. Even though he admits the directive to the petroleum minister demanding the removal of subsidy on kerosene remains, he said it is old and rather mischievous for someone to go to the archives and “pullout the memo” and begin to distribute.

The president’s answer, however, lacked much certainty. But he claims he was involved in the process, as a vice president.

The president says the CBN act, which he earlier said places undue powers on the bank’s governor, will “definitely” be reviewed, indicating he will press for a legislative review of the CBN act.

Another twitter questions asks why only the CBN governor was singled out for suspension based on the report of the Financial Reporting Council, when the report indicted almost every member of the CBN leadership, the president argues the governor was made to step aside because he is the head.

“You cannot suspend everybody!” he said.

In reaction to a question sent in via twitter, the president said Sanusi would be prosecuted only if a clear fraud is established against the sacked governor. He said the future of the suspended governor depends on the nature of the findings of the ongoing investigation of alleged fraud in by the governor by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

“If Sanusi has no case to answer, how will you prosecute who has no case?” he asked.


President Jonathan promises to pursue the lead of the whistle Sanusi blew before his suspension. “Nobody is covering anybody up,” he said. He argues that no president will watch even one billion dollars miss, “even one Kobo.”

In the society, people must begin to know that the right thing has to be done, no matter who’s ox is gored.

The president says he “quickly rushed” to suspend the CBN governor so that the bank’s audit reports of 2012 and 2013 would be resolved and cleared.

He said the CBN governor is stepping aside to allow the board clear issues raised with the bank’s 2012 financial audit, so he will not influence the outcome.

“There is no time that is inappropriate to suspend anybody,” — Jonathan.

Discussion moves on to the recent suspension of the CBN governor. The president argues that he has “Absolute powers” to suspend the CBN governor. “The issue of suspension and removal are very different. Sanusi is still the CBN governor,” he said.

The presidents says the CBN is not properly defined in the constitution and the CBN act is ill conceived, placing the governor at the head of the bank’s board.

Bolaji presses that the president answer if he will contest in 2015 or not. The presidents still does not answer directly. He argues that if he announces his direction now, there will be too many political tension, either way. He said Nigerians should wait till the time is ripe to know his future ambitions.

When pressed if his recent trips to almost all traditional rulers, churches and party activities across Nigeria, is a way of saying he will contest the 2015 presidential elections, the president does not answer directly. He explains his recent trips as a way of indicating he is a president of everyone. He does not answer if he will run or not.

“Even if I do not contest, I will like to lead my party to victory,” he said.

“the result of this National Conference will not affect this administration significantly, …Our tenure is too short” — Jonathan.

The National conference will be inaugurated on March 10, but secretariat will kick off one week before. Chairman of the conference will also be announced one earlier.

Discussions have moved to the National Conference, planned shortly after the centenary. President Jonathan emphasizes he will not supervise the break-up of Nigeria, justifying the conferences defined limits on discuss-able issues.

He insists the conference is not planned to prevent disintegration and shall not discuss it. “Nigeria will not disintegrate,” he said. “We are not saying without the National Conference, Nigeria will break,” he adds.

The panelist interviewing the president include Grace Ekpo of Wazobia FM Abuja, Goodluck Nnaji of Base Fm Oraifite in Anambra state, Bolaji Tunji of New Telegraph, and Imoni Amarere of AIT.

Presidential media chat starts with discussions about planned centenary celebrations. The president says he cannot say exactly how much the centenary would cost. He said only the presidential guest would be funded by the government. A large chunk of the celebration is funded by “private organizations.” “Government is not spending even one naira on the Centenary City.”

Ukraine issues arrest warrant for ousted President Viktor Yanukovych

Ukraine's ousted President is a wanted man. He's also a missing man.

Viktor Yanukovych is not in Kiev. The mayor of Kharkiv, where Yanukovych was Saturday, says he hasn't seen him in a few days.

He's also apparently not hiding in a bunker in a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery, a church spokesman said, swatting down the latest speculation.

Ukraine's onetime -- and, by his account, current -- President is facing a warrant for the "mass killings" of civilians.

Over the weekend, he fled to Kharkiv, a pro-Russian stronghold near the border. And he tried to board a charter plane in the eastern city of Donetsk but was turned away because he didn't have documents.
Ukraine: what's next?
Ukraine in transition
Future for Ukraine uncertain
Ukraine's president defiant

In his last known public act, he delivered a televised speech Saturday from Kharkiv in which he rejected the parliament's ouster and vowed to fight.

"I don't plan to leave the country. I don't plan to resign. I am the legitimate President," he said Saturday in the televised broadcast.

Critics weren't impressed.

"It's a remarkable situation when the most sought-after character in the country is the President of Ukraine, who is hiding and doing everything to leave the country, to avoid responsibility," opposition leader Vitali Klitschko said Monday.

Yanukovych's ouster and disappearance capped a weekend of dizzying developments after the parliament voted to oust Yanukovych as a concession to relentless protests, which led to the deadliest violence in the country since its independence 22 years ago.

On Monday, the Ukrainian parliament continued work toward its goal of having a full interim government in place by Tuesday, naming a new chief prosecutor, security service chief and central bank head.

Parliament had already named Speaker Oleksandr Turchinov to serve as acting President. He is a longtime ally of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko's.

The head of Ukraine's electoral commission, Konstantin Khivrenko, said the campaign to elect a new president will begin Tuesday, three months before the May 25 election date set by authorities.

Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized those elections Monday, saying Ukraine's parliament was acting rashly, and accused lawmakers of discriminating against ethnic Russians by excluding them from the reform process.

"A course has been set for suppressing those who disagree in different regions of Ukraine with methods of dictatorship and terror," the Foreign Ministry said.

Some protesters gathered Monday outside the Ukrainian parliament shouting "shame" in response to what they see as a lack of transparency on the part of lawmakers.

Yanukovych's decision to scrap a European Union trade deal in favor of one with Russia prompted the protests in November.

Now, the country's new leaders have made clear that Kiev's return to European integration will be a priority. But in doing so, they risk losing the largess that the Kremlin had bestowed on Yanukovych.

Taking no chances, interim Finance Minister Yury Kolobov proposed Monday that an international donor conference be held in the next two weeks. Ukraine, he said, will need $35 billion in foreign assistance by the end of 2015.

Yanukovych has traditionally looked upon eastern Ukraine, near Russia, as his traditional support base. Russian culture and language are predominant there.

People in the east are suspicious of the Europe-leaning views of those in western Ukraine, who were at the heart of the protests against Yanukovych that filled central Kiev for months.

The big question: How will Russian President Vladimir Putin respond? He's been Yanukovych's chief ally, and Ukraine is in his backyard. Will he act militarily?

The U.S. has expressed support for the action of parliament. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with the Russian foreign minister Sunday and asked Russia not to use military force in the country, according to a senior State Department official.

The State Department also warned U.S. citizens to defer all nonessential travel to Ukraine.

Popular Fuji Atiste, Pasuma Weds Nollywood Actress

Top Notch and Popular Fuji musician Wasiu Alabi Odetola popularly known as Pasuma has gotten married to Nollywood actress , Jaiye kuti.

Pasuma has shown that his talents are not limited to singing alone as he recently featured in a new Yoruba movie titled ‘Jaiyeola Ni Mo N Je’ produced by actress Jaiye Kuti.


The Fuji star in the movie played actress, Jaiye Kuti’s lover and they ended up getting married.

The movie also featured stars like Adebayo Salami, Yinka Quadri, Henrietta Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Ojo Arowosafe and Yomi Gold.

According to the producer the movie was shot in Ikorodu area of Lagos and it cost N1.2m.

Meanwhile Pasuma is said to be dating popular actress, Ronke Odusanya, a.k.a Flakky Ididowo and are set to get married.

Liverpool Is Now Getting Hot

Brendan Rodgers's rampant side struck four times in the first 20 minutes, as Arsenal saw a run of 10 games without defeat in all competitions torn to shreds in brutal fashion.
Martin Skrtel scored twice in 10 minutes to spark the rout, with Raheem Sterling claiming a brace and Daniel Sturridge also finding the net before Mikel Arteta replied for Arsene Wenger's humbled Arsenal.
The one-sided victory lifted fourth-place Liverpool to within five points of Arsenal, a week before the sides are due to meet again at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Liverpool's performance, meanwhile, suggested that they cannot be discounted from the title picture despite media projections of a three-horse race between Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Seeking to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, Liverpool went ahead inside a minute when Skrtel kneed Steven Gerrard's free-kick past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.
The same combination doubled Liverpool's lead in the 10th minute, with Skrtel stooping to guide a looping header into the top-left corner from Gerrard's right-wing corner.
Sturridge lobbed wide and Luis Suarez hit the post with a blistering half-volley from outside the box before Sterling tucked in a low cross from Suarez to make it 3-0.
The fourth arrived in the 20th minute, Sturridge steering the ball past Szczesny from Philippe Coutinho's delicately weighted pass as Arsenal's travelling fans looked on in disbelieving horror.
Sterling scored at the second attempt in the 52nd minute to tighten the screw yet further, before Arteta netted from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Gerrard was penalised for felling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Arsenal's dejection could be compounded later on Saturday as both Manchester City and Chelsea will overtake them if they win their respective matches.
Chelsea, who won 1-0 at City on Monday, host Newcastle United, while City visit Norwich City.
In the late game, meanwhile, Swansea City tackle local rivals Cardiff City in their first match since Michael Laudrup was sacked as manager.

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PDP Is Losing Weight Say's Labaran Maku

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that the defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to All Progressives Congress (APC) was a blessing in disguise.

Maku, who spoke to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, said that the defection would strengthen the PDP in the long run. “Although, no party would be happy to lose its members to any other party, but I have always made a point that sometimes, you need to lose weight to gain strength.” This is exactly what has happened in PDP because when a number of these people are leaving, the party will be healthier in the long run.”

“If you look at all those who had left the party, some of them are those that have caused all the headaches in PDP.”

“They have been the ones that have attacked the party, they are very quarrelsome, they have oversized ego, some of them cannot stay under the same roof with anybody for one week without the top blowing off.”

“A number of them who left if you take a look at the history of our party and look at their antecedent, you will see that they are migrants, they keep migrating from one place to another,” he said.

According to him, PDP need members who are stable and believe strongly in the ideology of the party and not those seeking political power at all cost.

“For a number of people that are leaving, they see the party as a market for an election.”

“A number of them will come in because they want to stand for an election and if they lose they will run out.”

“Political party after 15 years of democracy must begin to settle down to know those who believe in the party.”

“Those who believe in the policies and programmes of the party and not because of electoral ambition,” he said.

Maku said after the defection of some of the members, the PDP have began to gain stability, saying that the opposition parties were the members defected to had no ideological focus.

The minister alleged that within the period the members left PDP, they had caused a number of problems in the new party they joined.

“There is already an explosion in the APC in Kano because Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso just went straight and took over a party he was not part of its formation.”

“He insisted he must be leader and sacked those who originally formed the party.”
“Also in Sokoto, the Gov. Aliyu Wamakko, left and immediately hijacked the party from those who form APC in the state.”

“The same problem is also going on in Adamawa, where the APC has two structures, that of the founders and that of those who just join the party.”

“From the point of view of justice, they were looking for democracy in PDP, but saw nothing wrong in going to another party to forcefully hijack the structure.”

“You can see that they are not democrats, but serious desperadoes who believe that they are in charge, nobody should be,” he said.

Maku alleged that it was possible for the new entrants into the APC to hijack the party because it had no structure and ideology. The minister claimed that PDP remained the only “solid multinational, multi-religious and multiethnic party in the country today.” He called on the journalists to continue to monitor the movement of the party decampees to confirm his claim. According to him, some of them have been moving for years without stopping like the Fulani nomads moving without shame.

On the 2014 budget, Maku reiterated that the directive by the APC to its members in the National Assembly to block its passage is not nationalistic.

The minister contended that an elected member of the National Assembly should see the country as his or her constituency and seek its interest rather than a parochial interest.

Maku said that in a period when the country was making economic gains and recording high local and foreign investments, it was un-nationalistic for an opposition party to issue such directive.

“I am shocked that anybody will go to the National Assembly and urged people to do partisan politics on an issue that touches every Nigerians.”

“When you block the budget of a country, you are stopping the work of a market woman; you are stopping the work of the farmer and threatening the survival of the teachers on the street and patients in the hospitals. “These are people that depend on the budget and we must therefore, separate negative partisan politics from the survival of our people,” he said. Maku noted that Nigerians should take cognisance of such directive and see APC as a party that could not be trust with power.


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Militant Group Claims Cairo Bombings

A new militant group has claimed responsibility for two bombings that targeted the Egyptian police on Friday and has vowed to carry out more attacks, The group called Ajnad Misr, or Soldiers of Egypt, emerged last month, claiming responsibility for six attacks at the end of January, according to Site Intelligence group, which monitors websites used by militant Islamist groups.

Six people were wounded in Friday's two bomb blasts near a police checkpoint in Cairo.

In the Facebook statement, which was also reported by Site, Ajnad Misr said: "[The security forces] are not safe from retaliation which is pursuing them".

"Our attacks on them will continue all the while their crimes continue."

Lethal shootings and bomb attacks targeting the Egyptian security forces have become commonplace since last July, when the army deposed president Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood following mass protests against his rule.

Many of the attacks have been claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, a group based in North Sinai that has turned its attention from Israel to the Egyptian government since Morsi's overthrow.

The army-backed authorities have cracked down hard on Morsi's Islamist sympathisers since his removal. Hundreds of his supporters were killed during protests in the weeks after his removal and thousands more were arrested.

Several hundred members of the security forces have been killed in bombings and shootings since then.

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APGA Faction Appoints Bianca Ojukwu As National Leader

Abuja - The Maxi Okwu-led faction of the  All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, on Thursday adopted Bianca Ojukwu as its national leader.

Bianca Ojukwu is the wife of APGA’s  late National Leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The communiqué which had this information was read by Maxi Okwu after a leadership meeting.

Another faction of APGA led by Victor Umeh, had in January appointed the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as its National Leader and Chairman, Board of Trustees, even after a court sitting in Abuja had sacked his national executive and recognized the Maxi-Oku led faction.


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US Warns Israel Over Apparent Distortion of John Kerry Statements

Togo gets tough on ivory smugglers

Lome - Togo is intensifying its efforts to crack down on ivory trafficking after a number of large seizures, warning smugglers that the country will no longer be a staging post for the illegal trade.

Airtel Double Value Offer

 

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Airtel Ascend Phone:

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1. Step 1: Customer buys device from Airtel
2. Step 2: Customer inserts Airtel SIM in device and activates with a minimum recharge of N1,000
3. Step 3: Customer sends the keyword “SMART” to 141 to activate the offer
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Airtel iTel Phone:

1. Free N500 talk time monthly for 10 months.
2. Facebook Zero for LIFE
3. Free 80MB  data monthly  for 10 months
4. 2 FREE Games download
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1. Step 1: Customer buys device from Airtel
2. Step 2: customer inserts Airtel SIM in device and activates with a minimum recharge of N300
3. Step 3: Customer sends the keyword “ITEL” to 141 to activate the offer
4. Step 4: Customer sends “Free Zone” to 881 for unlimited access to Gmail, search and Google plus

Double Value Offer

Airtel Ascend Phone:

1. FREE N100 on-net for 6 months.
2. Facebook Zero for LIFE.
3. Google Free-Zone for 3 months.
4. 2 FREE Games download.

1. Step 1: Customer buys device from Airtel
2. Step 2: Customer inserts Airtel SIM in device and activates with a minimum recharge of N1,000
3. Step 3: Customer sends the keyword “SMART” to 141 to activate the offer
4. Step 4: Customer sends “Free Zone” to 881 for unlimited access to Gmail, search and Google plus
5. Step 5: Customer sends “FREE” to 599 to get Free Games

Airtel iTel Phone:

1. Free N500 talk time monthly for 10 months.
2. Facebook Zero for LIFE
3. Free 80MB  data monthly  for 10 months
4. 2 FREE Games download
5. Google Free-Zone for 3 months

1. Step 1: Customer buys device from Airtel
2. Step 2: customer inserts Airtel SIM in device and activates with a minimum recharge of N300
3. Step 3: Customer sends the keyword “ITEL” to 141 to activate the offer
4. Step 4: Customer sends “Free Zone” to 881 for unlimited access to Gmail, search and Google plus

Farrell leads Australia to 2-1 win

Gillespie rules out England job

Former Vice President Atiku Abubaka dumps PDP for APC in Nigeria

The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will mid next week dump his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
We gathered yesterday that the decision to take the action and leave the party which gave him a platform to be Nigeria’s Vice President, was borne out of the frustration and humiliation the PDP has made him go through, just as he has concluded nationwide consultative tours of the six geo- political zones of the country where he brainstormed with stakeholders, leaders and supporters on his next political journey ahead of 2015 Presidential election.
A source at his Jabi office told us yesterday that Atiku Abubakar has concluded plans to leave PDP for APC, adding, “ I am optimistic that he will formally leave PDP for APC next week,”
The 2011 Presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP has in the last two weeks visited associates, stakeholders, leaders, Elders in the South South, South East, South West, North Central, North West and North East geo- political zones of the country where majority of them voted for him leaving PDP for APC. Atiku had raised some grievances against the PDP and substantiated his marginalization of not being wanted, even as he stressed that he is a BOT member by right but he is not being called to its meetings and so does not attend, adding that he is a NEC member by right under the constitution, but he has been barred from its meetings because invitations are not given to him.
He also complained that by the norms of the party, he is entitled to being invited to its PDP caucus and said that Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a former Vice President gets those invitations, but he gets none of those, adding that he is not considered as a major stakeholder in taking decisions affecting the Adamawa State Chapter of the party.
Atiku had said last week that, “there is a sustained effort by the party managers and government to entrench impunity and not to open up the party for democratic competition. Above all these, it is clear by now that the Governors who have remained in the party have given Dr. Jonathan an automatic ticket.”
The former Presidential candidate of Action Congress, ACN said last week that as a member of a party that changed to Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and formed a coalition called APC, he will not be a new person in APC as that is a familiar terrain if he finally joins them because his friends are mostly there and as a party, it offers what he described as a real chance for change and reform in the country.
He said, “The citizens are tired of business as usual and seem determined to change from business as usual. He wants to be on the side of the people.”
In a statement he issued last week and titled, “The Challenges of a Decision,” the former Presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP noted that he has begun consultation tour of Nigeria, Dubai and London, even as he said that there was what he termed a sustained effort by the party managers and government to entrench impunity and its lack of preparedness to open up the party for democratic competition, adding that his decision to defect to APC may be borne out of the fact that Governors elected on the platform of PDP have already given an automatic ticket to President Goodluck Jonathan for his re- election bid.
Meanwhile, a statement from his office to Saturday Vanguard yesterday said that the former Vice President yesterday concluded his nationwide consultative meeting with that of the North-East geo-political zone in Bauchi.

Gorvnor Aregbesola Commissions $50m ICT Factory In Osun State

PICTURE ABOVE SHOWS: The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging pleasantries with Dominican Partners in the RLG project, Mr Javier Dotel (left); Stephaine Dotel (2nd left); as an APC chieftain in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (2nd right) and a veteran journalist, Pastor Segun Babatope (left), watch at the commissioning of RLG/Adulawo Technology City, in Ilesa, State of Osun, last Thursday.
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has stressed that technology has become an escape route out of poverty in the continent, just as he last Thursday commissioned $50 million Information, Communication Technology (ICT) factory in Ilesa.
Named Adulawo Technology City, the ICT factory, which would create ten thousand jobs directly and indirectly, has the capacity to produce five thousand mobile phones, in addition to two thousand, five hundred computer sets on a daily basis.
The RLG- Adulawo Technology City, which can also produce LED television sets and other devices, promised to be one of the most productive assets in the State of Osun, while creating employment and revolutionizing the industry through assemblage of electronic communication devices.
In his address at the commissioning ceremony, Ogbeni Aregbsola said the project, which is in partnership with the state government, is a result of the innovation of the present administration to boost the economy of the state through technology.
He stated that the investment of the state in the project is the training of 20,000 youths, which have been done in batches of five thousand on ICT and the procurement of the land on which the factory is built, as well as the provision of a transformer for the factory.
Ogbeni Aregbesola, who said that ICT is no longer a venture for the future, but a thing of the present, stated that the world has been changed from what it used to be as a result of technology, while urging the people to take advantage of the factory.
In his address on the occasion, the Chairman of RLG and Agams Group, Mr Roland Agambire, said the intention of the company was to sow a seed, so that Nigerians will know that the company has come to stay and not just to make money and leave, noting that RLG has a dream that will take Africa out of poverty, as the facility is a sure way to creating jobs.
Agambire added that the company will always be ready to partner the state for progress, stressing that the company has the ability of increasing the GDP of the state at a very high rate, while noting that the youths of the country have always been yearning for job creation.
Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, expressed delight at the emergence of the factory in the state, while thanking God for choosing a man like Aregbesola as the governor of the state.
The royal father, who identified technology, apart from education, as the major solution to the series of problems facing the continent of Africa as a whole, appealed to those in charge of the company to ensure its sustenance and continuity, so that it will achieve the desired result.
Also speaking at the event, the duo of Prince Ade Adefioye and Mr Bambo Bashorun, who are the OYESTECH Chairman and OYESTECH Director respectively, stated that the aim of the company is to challenge Nigerians, saying that the aim of the government is to make the state better than Lagos in terms of job opportunities, economy and others.
They stressed that through the commissioning of the factory, the current administration in the state has fulfilled its campaign promises of banishing hunger, poverty and unemployment, while emphasising that the Adulawo Technology City is one out of several companies that will come to the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Country Director, RLG Nigeria, Mr Tosin Ilesanmi, appreciated the cooperation and support of Ogbeni Aregbesola and the people of the state in making the factory a reality, noting that the company will go a long way in easing the unemployment problems of the state and the country at large.
Highlight of the event included the official commissioning of the factory by the governor and a facility tour of the factory by top dignitaries that were present.
The programme brought together prominent politicians from within and outside the state, private and public sectors, market women among whom were the Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the ACN governorship candidate in the last Ondo State election, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the state deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, APC party executives in the state among others.