FIFA Bans Bin Hammam For Life

The world football governing body, FIFA has banned embattled former FIFA presidential candidate, Mohamed bin Hammam from all football related activities for life, despite tendering his resignations from all his positions in football.

FIFA in a statement said the life ban is based on the final report by the chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee Michael Garcia.
The 63-year-old former Asian soccer chief was first banned by FIFA in July 2011 for alleged bribery during his failed bid to oust Sepp Blatter in the presidential race to head world football governing body.
In July, the life ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport but the Qatari has remained side-lined by continuous suspensions handed out first by the Asian football confederation for financial wrongdoing and then FIFA.
InformationNigeria

Hot or not? Annie Idibia goes from sweet to naughty girl in new magazine (PHOTOS)

by Rachel Ogbu

Annie Idibia is definitely making a name for herself and fast dropping the ‘2Face’s chosen one’ tag.
She recently covered lifestyle publication Glam and Essence magazine and inside, she spoke about her youth, her relationship with 2face, and her sense of style.
“You know my husband is the finest man alive. I have to always look good,” she said in the interview.















































 YNaija.com

Revealed: Former Mr. Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie was kidnapped with Nkiru Sylvanus

We all heard that actress Nkiru Sylvanus was kidnapped late Saturday night December 15th, what we didn’t hear until now was that 2010 Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie was with her when she was kidnapped. His friends just contacted me with the info.
Kenneth, Nkiru and another yet to be identified passenger left a movie location in Owerri late Saturday night and were heading to another location when gunmen blocked Nkiru’s car between Concorde Hotel and Cathedral Road in Owerri, and took all three passengers in the car.
Kenneth left Lagos two weeks ago to feature in the movie and was due back home sometime this week. The kidnappers are yet to make contact with Kenneth’s family. Truly sad what is going on in our country.
 DailyPost

Uncertainty Mounts Over Nomination Of Yakowa’s Widow As New Kaduna Deputy Governor

The possible nomination of the widow of the late governor of Kaduna State, Mrs. Amina Yakowa as the new deputy governor of the state suffered a setback on Monday as geopolitical permutations and political horse trading take preeminence.

Sambo, Yakowa, Yero

The office became vacant following the inauguration of the erstwhile holder of the office, Mukthar Yero as the new governor of the state.
Mrs. Amina Yakowa was top on the list of those under consideration until some political stakeholders from Southern Kaduna, who allege that a woman cannot have the strength of will to stand up to the political intrigues that shadows politics in the State, raised up in opposition – and some of these opposition come from political hawks in Southern Kaduna who believe that she would not be able to stand up to represent the interest of the Southern Kaduna people in government.
Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga (the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), Mr. Jonathan Asake (a former member of the House of Representatives), Mr. Mark Jacob (a director in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN) and the chairman of Jema‘a Local Government Area, Mr. Dan Amos are some of the names been touted for the position.
InformationNigeria

Introducing the Lekki Sea Port – Nigeria’s Largest and First Deep Water Port

The Federal Government of Nigeria recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Government for the construction of the Lekki Sea Port. The port will be the country’s largest sea port to date and is aimed at decongesting Nigeria’s ports in Tin Can Island and Apapa both in Lagos.

Foreign investors have invested 60 percent of the funds required for the project, while the Federal Government of Nigeria (through the Nigerian Ports Authority) and the Lagos State Government have each own a 20 percent stake in the project respectively. The project is jointly supported by Eurochem Corporation (a Singaporean company), the Tolaram Group and a host of other investors.

Concession Agreement Signing

Construction of the port is billed to commence in earnest in January 2013 and the port is expected to be fully operational in 2015.

Port Site

At full capacity, it is estimated that the port will be able to handle about 6 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers.
For more information, visit www.lekkiport.com. You can also watch a video about the port and read its masterplan below this post.
CP-Africa

More Parties Will Go, More To Be Registered, Jega Says

Attahiru Jega

By SaharaReporters, New York

A few days after his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) de-registered 28 political parties, Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega has stated that more parties are to follow.
But the commission is not slamming the door on those Nigerians desirous of registering more parties, as INEC would undertake such an exercise before the 2015 general elections.
Jega was answering questions from journalists today after he presented the Commission's five-year Strategic Plan (2012-2016) at its Validation Conference with Stakeholders in Abuja.
Any new association that meets the Commission’s requirements will be registered as a political party, he said.
“We have taken the decision to deregister 28 parties and as far as we are concerned, we have acted legally. Of course, many political part chieftains especially of those deregistered were not happy and we understand that and some of them have gone to court.
He stressed that the commission awaits whatever judgment that will be rendered by the courts but that it believes the constitution and the Electoral Act have armed it with the responsibility to register and deregister any political party that falls short of meeting the requirement of the law.
“The commission acted in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by de registering those 28 political parties, the same constitution gives the commission to register political parties and if there is a breach, such political parties will have to be deregistered, that was exactly what we did, and more will still go as we will also register new ones that meet the requirements for registration".
In the strategic framework waiting approvals by the stakeholders, INEC is asking for a constitutional framework for its electoral activities for five years, instead of ad-hoc planning that the commission has been known for in the past.

History of Igue Festival in Benin-City

 Nowa Omoigui

Oba, Bini mark end of year Igue festival

About a week after Ewere entered the harem, she began to think of her sister, Oyoyo, and she cried every day. Oba Ewuare again sent a message to Ogieka, asking him to allow Oyoyo to visit her sister.
This request was promptly granted by Ogieka, and Ewere was very pleased to see her sister, but on arrival Oyoyo decided to marry as well. So the two sisters became wives of the Oba.
When Oyoyo became pregnant, the Oba sent her to the Ihama at Idunmwihogbe for proper care and there she gave birth to a daughter.
As a token of his gratitude, the Oba awarded the Ihama the Odibokofo (a large collar made entirely of red beads) and gave his wives the right to dress their hair in the Ukpokhokho style, like the Oba's wives. This elevated the Ihama to a higher position than ever before, and the Odibokofo has been worn by every Ihama at every Ugie-Ewere ceremony till date.
Throughout his reign, every year the Oba celebrated Ugie Ewere, that is the anniversary of his happy and prosperous marriage to Ewere at the Igue festival. Here the Ihogbes present symbolic Ewere leaves to the Oba.
The Bini have a long lineage of Obas, and Igue is also an occasion to celebrate Ugie-Evhoba among other occasions. During this period, the anniversary of their deaths is celebrated by the Bini, and for seven days propitiations are made to the spirits of the departed Obas. This is done to invoke their blessing on the reigning monarch and their family and subjects.
The Igue festival, which is a period for offering thanks to the gods for sparing their lives and to ask for blessings, is also used for offering sacrifices to some shrines in the palace. During this period, chieftaincy title holders display their Eben emblem in the Ugie dance as they appear in their traditional attire, according to the type of dress the Oba bestowed on individual chiefs during the conferment of title, while the Oba seats majestically in the royal chamber (Ogiukpo).
The Political & Spiritual Purpose of the Holy Land


Confirmation and conferring of titles on deserving citizens by the Oba are carried out during the festival, although this could be done any time the Oba deems fit. While it is also a period to drive away evil spirits (Ubi) and bring blessings (Ewere) to every home in the kingdom, it is a period traditionally set aside by the Bini to thank the gods for blessings on the Oba, his palace, harem and subjects. Ancestral gods are worshipped for protection and propitiation done in the various palace societies. The shrines are considered holy and therefore defied traditionally. The Oba pays homage at the shrines and he is accompanied by some of his chiefs. Indeed, it is a period of merriment, rituals and dancing.
During the seven days of elaborate traditional and cultural activities, Bini chiefs are seen in their enviable traditional regalia, including the Iloi (Queens) in their Okuku (hairdo). It is a rare occasion of their public appearance, where the Oba's stalwarts (Ifietes) are seen in active service. Traditional dances like Esakpaide, Ohogho and above all the display of Eben by the chiefs while dancing and paying homage to the Oba in Ogiukpe at Ugha Oba or the Oba's chamber.
During the festival, Ugie dance is performed by all important chiefs, including the Iyase, leader of Eghaevbonore. When Chief Esoghan dances with the Eben, the Iyase follows with the Eben. After homage to the Oba as leader of his subjects or Eghaevbonore, nobody else dances with the Eben as homage to the Oba on that particular day.
The Ugie dance as typified is a ceremonial palace dance performed during the annual festival in honour of the Oba. It is also an ancestral dance by chiefs who perform sacrificial and priestly functions in the shrines at the end of a successful year while soliciting for a happy new year.
As the chiefs dance with the decorative Eben symbol of authority, they chorus incantations, and using Edo proverbs they communicate wisdom, pay homage and answer questions through gesticulations during the Ugie dance at the palace.
It is difficult for anyone who does not belong to any of the palace societies to understand.
The symbolic moments go into great conflicting details about the ritual dialogue between the dancing chief at the ceremony and the Oba. The monarch is seated majestically at Ugha Ozolua and arrayed in ceremonial robes amidst his retinue of chiefs in Ughozolua, as he receives homage from his chiefs in the dance, which reassures him of their loyalty.

During the dance with the Eben by each chief, every effort is made to prevent its falling down during display. If it falls, there is a heavy penalty involving sacrifices to some shrines at the palace for profanity.

After it is publicly announced by the town criers, the festival kicks off with Otue, meaning greetings. Members of the Ihogbe (a palace society) together with important Edo chiefs pay tribute to the Oba, who presents a bowl of kolanuts. With the kolanuts, the chiefs bless the Oba and his family.
After this, there is a social gathering in the palace, during which members of the various palace societies and the public entertain the Oba with different dances. The Oba himself takes part in the dance. In other words, he entertains his guests lavishly.
The second day is for rituals. The Oba, dressed in ceremonial attire with all his wives and his young children assemble in the royal chamber. He is sanctified by the Efas (priests of blessings). After this, the Oba offers prayers before handing the sacrificial items to the Isekhure, who offers the last benediction before the Ehondor slaughters the animals.
Chief Isekhure anoints the Oba in the presence of Chief Ihama, other chiefs and members of the various palace societies. After the sacrifice, the chiefs dance to the Oba and his family with the Eben.
Every chief scheduled for Ugie dance leaves his home dancing with his followers. He dresses in his traditional regalia permitted by the Oba or granted him on the day of conferment of his title. No chief dresses in a manner or attire not permitted him by the Oba. As a chief moves from home to the palace, he dances with two men beside him among others holding his hand to and from the palace.
On the last day of the festival, that is, the seventh day, Chief Osuma of Benin collects the Ewere and then hands it over to the Ihogbe, who in turn hands Ebewere to the Oba in a dance procession and melodious traditional songs about Ewere.
The Igue festival has however endured and continues to retain its main features despite modernisation in all aspects of political, economic, sociological and technological development. The Bini Kingdom still pays so much attention to traditional matters because, according to the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, tradition is supreme.
Before this year's event, the Iyase had appealed to all Bini chiefs, Enigie Edionwere, Igiohen and all elders and leaders to encourage and organise youths to enable them take more interest in the Ugie-Ewere celebration. He also appealed to motorists to respect the celebrants on the roads, stressing that, "this festival is a way of expressing our love, joy and goodwill to our people."
This year's event was, however, marred by serious security problem in the state capital. "The security situation has so deteriorated, with the increasing incidence of policemen and civilians being mowed down by armed robbers," the Oba lamented, adding, "we and our chiefs are very disturbed by this development, and we have been deliberating on the situation for quite sometime now."
Expressing sympathy with families that lost members and property, Omo N'Oba Erediauwa prayed God to grant peaceful repose to the souls of those who died, and quick recovery to those receiving treatment in the hospitals.
It on record that it was during the Igue festival that the British on trade expedition turned down the advise of Benin chiefs not to defy the tradition of the people by insisting on seeing Oba Ovenranwen Nogbaisi. The spontaneous reaction of the chiefs ended the life of Consul Philips and his team. This resulted in the Benin Expedition of 1897, which created room for the looting of Benin historical relics including the FESTAC symbol yet to be returned to the ancient city of Benin.
Otedo.com