Police Kill Three Suspected Kidnappers, Arrest Three Others In Delta

At least three suspected kidnappers have been shot dead, while three others were arrested by men of the Nigerian Police Force at Eboh-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that the police, who stormed the hideout of the suspected kidnappers at about 4am in the early hours of yesterday, rescued the Treasurer of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, Delta State University, Abraka chapter, Mr Martins Denedo.
Mr Martins Denedo, a Principal Accountant in the Delta State University, Abraka was kidnapped in the early hours of Tuesday at Abraka while returning from Newyear midnight service and was whisked away in his Nissan Pathfinder Jeep.
According to a dependable source, the three suspected kidnappers were killed during a hot exchange of gun duel between the suspected kidnappers at the police.
The family source, who pleaded anonymity said corpses of the three suspected laid in front of the Abraka Police station, adding that no ransom was paid and thanked the Nigerian Police for coming to the rescue of their brother.
Naij

Obasanjo's Kaduna Visit Stirs Jonathan, Sambo Tension

In what could become a replay of what transpired between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his then deputy, Atiku Abubakar, between 2003 and 2007, culminating in a sharp division within the Presidency, there are strong indications that the cordial relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo may have turned frosty.
Sources revealed that this development is the alleged aftermath of the recent visit of Obasanjo to Kaduna some days ago to commiserate with the people and government of the state on the death of former governor, Patrick Yakowa, in the helicopter crash which occurred in Bayelsa State last month.
But according to security reports made available to the president, Obasanjo’s sympathy visit was a decoy to achieve another objective: mobilise influential traditional rulers in the state against the alleged second term ambition of the president and canvass support for the return of power to the north.
What particularly peeved the president, sources said, is the alleged role played by the Vice President in facilitating the meeting between Obasanjo and traditional rulers without taking his boss into confidence.
At the said meeting, the former president was alleged to have impressed it on the traditional rulers led by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, on the imperative of ensuring that the presidency returns to the north in 2015, and the urgent need to start mobilising the people and major stakeholders to back the project.
While he was alleged to have admitted to his audience that he supported the president to win the last general elections, sources privy to the outcome of the meeting said that Obasanjo told the traditional rulers that the ‘agreement’ he had with Jonathan was for the president to spend only one term in office.
The former president reportedly told his hosts that his recent public criticism of the present administration was borne out of his findings that the president is allegedly bent on contesting for another term in office.
Though The Nation could not confirm the response of the traditional rulers to Obasanjo’s speech it was, gathered that palpable unease currently reigns in the Presidency since the vice-president returned to the seat of power from Kaduna.
All of these developments come as reports that the president may have decided to drop Sambo as his running mate for the 2015 presidential election in favour of an unnamed northern governor continue to gather steam within the political circles.
This alleged plot, it was gathered, was a strategic move to polarise the rank of the northern governors, a few of whom are alleged to be interested in contesting the Presidency come 2015.
Naij

2015: North Should Support Sule Lamido - Sen. Hassan

Senator Abdulmumuni M. Hassan represents Jigawa South-west zone in the senate. In this interview with pressmen, including RUTH CHOJI, this Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Card says that Governor Sule Lamido is North’s best bet for the presidency in 2015. He also spoke on what the National Assembly intends to do to instil global best practices in the country and the need to maintain the tradition of early passage of appropriation bill every year.

 

Nigerians were surprised when the senate passed the 2013 budget knowing fully well that the 2012 budget was not fully implemented. What happened?

 

The issue is that we needed a framework and a system in which our budget will start to be implemented by January to December of each year. This is because the current system of passing the budget in the middle of the year is never done in other countries and we have to conform to international best practices for us to be global citizens; more so, the issue of timing the passage of the budget at the middle of the year makes implementation very difficult.

 

What should Nigerians expect from the 2013 budget?

 

Well, if you look at the speeches delivered by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the 2013 budget presentation, it shows to all Nigerians that we are dedicated to 100% implementation of the budget and therefore, Nigerians should expect the best from the National Assembly.

 

As the vice chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity Card and NPC, what has the committee done to ensure that those not properly captured in the census were considered?

 

If you go back to history, you will realize that the National Population Census was never completely accepted by all. However, we will do our best to ensure an acceptable census in which everyone will be captured.

 

What is going to happen to the Bakkassi figures captured now that it has been conceded to Cameroun?

 

The issue of Bakkasi as far as I know is over. This is because the International Court of Justice had since during Obasanjo’s administration delivered its decisions and a window of appeal was given to us and it was used by the federal government. So I think this issue should be a thing of the past.

 

Nigerian population is not commensurate with the level of our development, what is the way out?

 

The way forward is for us as people to change. The leadership should be committed to implementing policies and programs that will endanger development, create jobs, reduce poverty, improve health care delivery and ensure the welfare of all and sundry. The citizenry on the other hand should be good followers and ensure they do their best in contributing in every capacity and situation they found themselves to the development of this country.

 

The issue of the pension fund scam drew the ire of the senate recently, what is the next line of action?

 

What led to the issuance of the warrant of the arrest on the Chairman of the Pension Task Force was because of his failure to honor our invitation and that was totally unacceptable by the Senate. We wanted to ensure that we give him the right to fair hearing and also to render account of his steward ship to Nigerians. After this, we will allow the law to take its course.

 

Going to the constitutional review, would you support the calls for the scrapping of the joint state and local government account?

 

I do not completely support the scrapping of the state/local government joint account. This is because in most cases, you will realize that some of the local government chairmen we have are not competent and so giving them the grant directly will only further deepen corruption and embezzlement of public funds. But where state government ensures free, fair and credible elections, competent chairman of local government will emerge and they can be given their grants.

 

But will you support the complete autonomy of local government

 

I will completely support the autonomy of local governments.

 

Will you also support the review of the on shore/of shore dichotomy law that is gradually building up in the north?

 

Of course; the on-shore, off-shore law or dichotomy should be reviewed because those states that benefit from the law do not do anything to stand to benefit from that and as such, they should be treated equally with all the states in the federation.

 

Nigerians are groaning under fuel scarcity again, what has the committee on the downstream sector done to end these

problems?

 

It is indeed very sad and unfortunate because we are suffering and lacking from what we have; what we produce and what we export. Even countries that do not have oil are not suffering as much as we are suffering in Nigeria. So, on our part, we have been doing our best by calling on the stakeholders in the petroleum industry to resolve this issue so that Nigerians will stop suffering from this intended artificial scarcity.

 

The north has been divided because of sectarian crises and insurgency, do you see the north coming together to agree on a consensus candidate before 2015

 

(Laughs) Well, I believe God is the one that gives leadership to whomever he likes and at the time he likes and whether people like it or not. Of course the north will be and is even indeed united. We are only facing some challenges like other parts of the country and the world in general. We also not unmindful of the challenges facing other parts of the country such as armed robbery and kidnapping.

 

If we go back a little into history, you will recall that, there was a time when you cannot go to Lagos or Port Hacourt. But the story is different now and so it will be for the north also. I also strongly believe that Dr. Sule Lamido will be a blessing to Nigerians just like he is to Jigawa State. The laudable efforts and achievements of his excellency in Jigawa State cannot be over-emphasised.

This is because, there is no road, school or hospital that is not rehabilitated, jobs are created and youths empowered. So were Nigerians to grant him an opportunity, I bet you, we are not going to regret it and we will indeed reap the dividend of democracy

Naij

Kentucky Fried Brain? Student’s horror as he finds ‘wrinkled’ organ inside his chicken (PHOTO)

A student who found what appeared to be a chicken brain in his KFC meal has vowed never to eat there again – despite being offered vouchers for free food as an apology.
Ibrahim Langoo was left nauseated after spotting a ‘wrinkled brain’ inside a piece of chicken while tucking into a Gladiator box meal at a branch in Colchester, Essex.
The 19-year-old took a photograph of the three-inch piece of offal – later judged to be a kidney by KFC’s experts – on his mobile phone and complained to staff.

Nauseated: Horrified student Ibrahim Langoo, 19, who found what looked like a lump of brain attached to a piece of chicken in his KFC Gladiator box meal at a branch in Colchester, Essex

He was so repulsed by the stomach-churning discovery he vowed never to eat at the Colonel’s famous diner again, but apologetic bosses nevertheless offered him vouchers for free meals.
Mr Langoo and friend Laura Canning, 19, had popped into the Colchester, Essex branch of the fast food restaurant – known for its ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ slogan – for lunch between classes.
The pair – both musical theatre students at Colchester Institute – shared a £6.79 Gladiator box meal.
Miss Canning ate the fillet burger, while Mr Langoo went for the two chicken pieces.
‘The first piece was absolutely fine – I was hungry and polished it off,’ Mr Langoo said.
‘I have a habit of picking the chicken off the bone with my fingers, and as I pulled the second piece apart I saw this horrible wrinkled foreign body.
‘I threw it down onto my tray immediately. It looked like a brain.
‘I suddenly felt grim and really sick.
‘I couldn’t bring myself to pick the lump up so I went to the serving counter to complain.
‘It was about 1pm and pretty hectic in the restaurant and as it was so busy none of the staff helped me.’

Wrinkly: A photo taken by Mr Langoo on his mobile phone of the brain like discovery. KFC experts later said they believed it was a chicken kidney and the company have offered the young man vouchers for more free food

Repulsed, Mr Langoo left the takeaway and later submitted a complaint online, along with a photo of the organ taken on his mobile phone.
‘I didn’t want to pick the “brain” up as I couldn’t bear to look at it,’ Mr Langoo said. ‘I was grossed out by the fact that I could so easily have eaten it without realising.
‘I just wanted to get out of KFC as quickly as I could. I still feel really sick and disgusted by it all now.
‘KFC say they are sorry and are concerned to hear of my experience as they have “rigorous standards” but I’m still not impressed.
‘I never want to eat KFC again – in Colchester or anywhere else. I’ll eat chicken at home, where I can see how it’s been prepared.’
Experts at KFC have examined the photograph and believe the unsightly organ was a chicken kidney.
A spokesman for the firm said: ‘We always try to ensure the highest standards in all of our restaurants.
‘Although we haven’t received the product, it appears from a photograph that unfortunately on this occasion a kidney, and not a brain as claimed, was not removed in the preparation process.
‘We’re very sorry about Mr Langoo’s experience and while there was no health risk, we agree it was unsightly.
‘We will be carrying out a full investigation and providing him with a gesture of goodwill.’
KFC refused to disclose the amount of vouchers that could be available.
YNaija.com

Demolishing My Property Is For The Benefit Of All – Ayefele

YINKA AYEFELE AND HIS MULTI-MILLION NAIRA COMPLEX WHICH WAS EARMARKED FOR DEMOLITION BY THE OYO STATE GOVERNMENT (r)

Yinka Ayefele is no neophyte when it comes to Nigeria’s entertainment industry as he is the creator of his own brand of music which he calls ‘Tungba Music.’
The Ibadan based singer whose debut album Sweet Experience, saw his fame and foryune rise astronomically, in this interview culled from Sun Newspaper, speaks on his meteoric rise from grass to grace, how he has managed to maintain stardom and oversee his sprawling businesses. Excerpts:
How I started
I have been in music since when I was in secondary school. I used to be a member of the Boys Brigades in my hometown where I played trumpet. I started playing guitar when I was in the choir. I actually developed the talent in music when I joined FRCN in Ibadan by producing jingles for programmes and so on. This was the time I discovered I had the potential in me especially when I had the accident and I had cause to raise funds, I discovered that I could work in the music industry full time.
Growing up
I came from a poor background. I was a child of a headmaster and I grew up in a disciplined environment. Imagine my dad as a teacher, he nurtured me with good moral qualities.
My music career
I usually say nobody knows tomorrow. I never knew I would become what I am today. As a matter of fact, I wished I became a banker. I strived to get a job in a bank but to no avail. I eventually found myself playing music.
How I maintain stardom
It is not easy because to satisfy everybody is the major problem. I found out that it is very difficult to satisfy everybody. As you know, my job can’t be done on my behalf like any other job. Like going for shows, attending programmes, people want to see Yinka Ayefele and not any other person. To maintain stardom, it takes a lot of financial resources, time and devotion.
On the planned demolition of his multi-million naira studio complex which generated an outcry from the artiste as well as public debate, Ayefele says:
“Naturally, I felt bad about the proposed demolition of my house. It’s a multi-million-naira property and imagine someone coming one day to demolish it. I thank God they are working around it. It is a way of beautifying the state and expanding the road for the benefit of all.”
The singer also denounced insinuation in some quarters that the planned demolition had a political undertone. According to him, “It is just an insinuation that there is political motive behind the demolition. I am not a politician and I am not biased. It is not only me that the Oyo State government’s policy is going to affect so I see no reason why people should insinuate a political motive to it. Because Yinka Ayefele has a name, is that the reason they will witch hunt me? Never! I belong to everybody and I play for all political parties and everybody that likes my kind of music.”
InformationNigeria

Serena off to a flyer in 2013 with Brisbane title: Murray into men's final

Serena Williams clearly delighted to have started 2013 by winning the Brisbane International title.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Serena Williams claims Brisbane International title
• Straight sets demolition of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-1
• Serena aiming for 16th grand slam title at Australian Open
• Defending champion Andy Murray into men's final Sunday on Gold Coast

(CNN) -- Serena Williams posted an ominous message to her rivals after starting 2013 by taking the Brisbane International title Saturday with a straight sets demolition of Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Williams needed just 50 minutes on the Pat Rafter Arena for a 6-2 6-1 victory in just 50 minutes and will go into the Australian Open Monday week as firm favorite.

She has won a staggering 35 of 36 matches since last year's French Open and after her latest victory admitted she was in prime form.

"I was looking at a lot of old matches on YouTube and I feel like right now I'm playing some of my best tennis," she told the official tournament website.

"I feel like I want to do better and play better still, and I've always felt like I could play better."

Her rivals for the opening grand slam of the season will be hoping that is not the case and certainly the overpowered Pavlyuchenkova was in awe of her opponent.

"When she's on fire there's not much I can do," Pavlyuchenkova said."You have to play your best tennis every point, which is quite tough."

Third seed Williams had a free run when World No.1 Victoria Azarenka pulled out of their semifinal rather than risk a toe injury ahead of Melbourne, while second-ranked Sharapova also withdrew before the start of the tournament with a collarbone injury.

Williams, who recently had minor foot surgery, took control of the title match from 2-2 in the opener, winning seven games in a row.

Pavlyuchenkova could offer little response to nine aces and 24 winners as Williams claimed her 47th career WTA title.

"That was really good -- I think I just kind of zoned and I felt like I really wanted to do well," Williams added.

Meanwhile, defending men's champion Andy Murray reached the final of the ATP event in Brisbane as semifinal opponent Kei Nishikori of Japan pulled out injured in the second set.

The fifth seed Nishikori had led 4-1 in the opener before being troubled by a left knee injury.

Murray was leading 6-4 2-0 in 45 minutes when he called it a day.

The World No.3 will play Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria who reached his first ATP final by edging out Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-3 5-7 7-6.

"I have to say I'm very, very happy. It's definitely it's a great feeling," the 21-year-old said.

In other ATP action Saturday, France's Richard Gasquet beat Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 3-6 7-6 6-3 to win the Qatar Open title.

It was Gasquet's eighth career ATP title.

CNNWorldSport

I Have Sleepless Nights Over Team Selection – Keshi

Officials have said Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is “growing grey hairs” over picking his squad for the Africa Nations Cup even as the CAF deadline for the submission of team’s final 23-man list approaches.
Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya disclosed that the performance of the players in a training camp in Faro, Portugal, has made Keshi’s job of selecting the best players for the Nations Cup difficult.
”The competition here is very tough. Coach Keshi is growing grey hairs over who to drop because all the players are on top of their game as they all want to be at the Nations Cup,” Alaiya said on a Brila FM sports programme monitored in Lagos yesterday.
“In fact Keshi at the training on Thursday did not know when he voiced out that he is in trouble as he doesn’t know who to drop.”
Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu is also satisfied with the showing of the goalkeepers from the Nigeria Premier League, Daniel Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim.
”Ike Shorunmu is happy with the form of Akpeyi and Agbim, who we all saw what he could do against Catalonia.
Ike said any of these goalkeepers could be in goal and he won’t panic if Enyeama and Ejide decided to stay away,” Alaiya said.
Meanwhile, Valenrenga of Norway midfielder Fegor Ogude has admitted that the fight for places in the Eagles midfield will be fierce.
With the emergence of Ogenyi Onazi, Rabiu Ibrahim, Nosa Igiebor, Gabriel Reuben, Henry Uche, Raheem Lawal, Obiora Nwankwo and Mikel Obi, Fegor told MTNFootball.com: “The battle for a shirt in the midfield would be tensed. We have great players who are skilful and can handle the ball very well.
“But I am not afraid because this is my job, it’s what I do every day and as such I am battle ready for the challenge.”
Keshi has said he will make public his final squad on Tuesday, a day before the CAF deadline. The Eagles who are due to fly out to South Africa on January 16 will take on giant killers Cape Verde in another AFCON warm-up game on Wednesday in Faro.
InformationNigeria