Merged Party: Why We’re Not In Merger Talks – Labour Party

LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN CHIEF DAN NWANYANWU

The FCT Labour Party chairman, Mr Adejobi Peter, on Wednesday, said only purposeful leadership could ensure Nigeria’s progress, not the planned merger of opposition parties.
He made the remark in an interview monitored by our correspondent in Abuja.
Peter, reacting to the endorsement of merger talks by 10 governors who won elections on the platforms of opposition parties, said the corporate existence of Nigeria was greater than aggregate interests of a group of individuals brought together by the inordinate ambition of wresting power.

According to Peter, Labour Party was not part of the ongoing merger talks, because similar exercises had never yielded any good result in the past.
Information Nigeria recalls that on Wednesday, four opposition parties, the ACN, CPC, APGA and ANPP came together to form the All Progressives Congress with the sole aim of rescuing the country from the choke-hold of the ruling PDP.
InformationNigeria

“He proposed to me 45 minutes after we met” – Prophet T.B Joshua’s wife

A lot has not been heard about Prophet T.B Joshua’s wife. It is usually her husband who hugs the headlines, for his famous predictions. In a rare interview with The Spectator, Evelyn spoke candidly about her husband and her role in his ministry.
Excerpts:
I visited a sister somewhere at Ikotun-Egbe and they were all talking about a particular man, a prophet. Half of the people in the room had all met him and they were saying a lot of good things about him. After everything, I asked my sister if she could take me to him. I needed a spiritual guide at the time. A counselor. So we went there but unfortunately didn’t meet him at home. Some months later I visited him again alone, that was in 1990.
Before this time, the idea I had about this prophet was that he was an old man, with a long white beard. So on that day I was reading a novel that I came with when I suddenly saw someone come into the room, pick one or two things and went back. The person I saw wasn’t an old man so I didn’t pay him any attention. But when he went back to the consulting room, one of the people also waiting to speak with him said ‘that’s him’.

When it eventually my turn to see him, we sat opposite each other. He was gazing at me for a few minutes, and I was also gazing at him. Transfixed as I was, I saw him write something on a piece of paper, ‘Ejide’ (means twin has come). I’m a twin.
Then we started talking and he told a lot of things about myself, both things I knew and the ones I didn’t know. He told me about my family, about my past, about my future. Altogether we spoke for about forty five minutes. At the end of the whole thing he spoke to me in Yoruba. He said (translated in English) Please don’t be annoyed. Don’t think this is how I talk to everyone that comes to me. I don’t have a concubine and I don’t want to have a concubine. But will you marry me?
Just like that. It was strange, but that gives me an insight into what the scripture says that the spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. That was how I met him. When he proposed to me my heart agreed with it instantly. Some months later I asked him why he thought it was right seeing a lady for the first time and proposing to her. He said he had seen me four days before that day. I don’t know if it was in a dream or a revelation. We had our traditional and church wedding a few months later.
DailyPost

Controversy Trails Expulsion Of 28 Redeemers University Students

The expulsion of 28 students by Redeemer University for allegedly failing drug tests has sparked a big row.
The tests, The Nation learnt, were conducted last November for 42 students, who were asked to go for “routine tests”.
After resumption this year, some of them were told that they “tested positive” and last Friday, some of those who “tested positive” got expulsion letters, others got theirs on Monday.
The institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, said the decision was taken in line with the school’s values and philosophy “to raise godly children”, but the students are alleging unfairness.
Adeleye said: “A student was caught with an illicit drug. He mentioned others involved and we took them to the school clinic for tests. Some of them tested positive.”
But some of the affected students said the university authority never told them the purpose of the test and did not show them the results.
“I only saw in the expulsion letter that I tested positive to hard drugs. I asked for the result of the test, but they didn’t show me. Even if they won’t show it to me, they should at least show my parents the result,” said one of the expelled students, who preferred anonymity.
The affected students complained about the expulsion and the fact that they were not given a fair hearing.
“They should have at least set up a panel of enquiry and if the panel finds us guilty, so be it,” another student said.
On the results of the tests, Mr. Adeleye said: “There is no need to show the students the results because the university cannot conspire against them.”
Adeleye defended the institution’s decision, saying the expelled students are guilty–in line with the school’s religious norms.
He said: “Nobody should think anybody hates those students. It’s not spurious. In fact, it is even painful for us because we are losing revenue by sending them away. But it’s a painful decision we must take in our quest to raise students that will transform the world. The expelled students are those that refused the university’s lifeline of a second chance.
“We wanted to help them. The university has a programme designed to help them live a normal life, but they rejected the offer. A few of them accepted and they are undergoing the programme.”
Adeleye was evasive when asked if the school’s clinic was capable of testing urine samples for hard drugs.
On why the students were not handed over to the narcotics agency since their offence was a criminal act, Adeleye said the school was neither the police nor the narcotics agency and had no reason to do so.
He later told The Nation that the Vice-Chancellor was considering a review of the matter.
Naij

Hillary Clinton’s New Web Site Sparks Increased Speculation That She’s Planning a 2016 Presidential Run

Politicos and media outlets, alike, can't stop themselves from continuing to question whether Hillary Clinton is planning a 2016 presidential run. Following her heated 2008 primary battle with President Barack Obama and her subsequent tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton has said that she plans to take time to rest. However, a recent change in her official web presence has done little to temper speculation about potential prospects.

On Jan. 31, the same day that she disbanded her 2008 presidential campaign group, a new homepage and web URL went live. Those seeking her old campaign site (HillaryClinton.com) are now directed to visit "the Office of Hillary Clinton" (located at HillaryClintonOffice.com), a web site that features a large image of the former candidate with her name to the left and a link inviting people to contact her "office."

Naturally, the new web site has some wondering if this is corroboration that Clinton is gearing up to hit the campaign trail again next election cycle.

In the past Clinton has been somewhat vague about her future plans. KCRG-TV recaps her recent responses to questions about a potential 2016 candidacy:
When asked last week at a global town hall if she was thinking of making another run for the White House, Clinton said "I am not thinking about anything like that right now."

And in an interview with CNN later that day, when asked if she's decided against another candidacy for president, Clinton responded that "I have absolutely no plans to run."

But she added that "I am lucky because I've been very healthy. I feel great. I've got enormous amounts of energy that have to be harnessed and focused, so I'm very fortunate. I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life, whatever it is."

As to what that next chapter would be, Clinton gave a hint, saying "I don't know everything I'll be doing. I'll be working on behalf of women and girls, hopefully writing and speaking, those are the things that I'm planning to do right now," she added.

So, the web site, at this point, isn't necessarily confirmation of anything definitive. After all, it may simply be a hub for people to contact the former Secretary of State. Either way, it is certainly an intriguing development in the career of an individual who has been dubbed America's most powerful woman in history.
PSN

Rapists will face life imprisonment under new law, says Hon Lar

Hon. Beni Lar

The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Beni Lar, said on Wednesday that rapists would face life imprisonment once the current Violence Against Persons Bill became law. 

Lar, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the National Assembly had decided to expedite action on the passage of the bill, considering the increasing prevalence of rape in the country. 

She pointed out that the bill would not only protect rape victims but equally provide protection for victims of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices and discrimination. 

``My only concern is that in our laws today, the punishment for rape is very light and that is why you find people committing rape against children, it’s unfortunate.

`` It is because of issues like this that it has come to the attention of the National Assembly that we have the Violence against Persons Bill.

``It is a bill that seeks to eliminate violence in private and public life, to prohibit all forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.

``Part one of this bill, which has passed second reading in the House, defines a rapist as one who intentionally violates another person and the conviction for this offence is life imprisonment.

``The National Assembly is seeking to stiffen punishment for rape because the punishment has been so light. People feel they can do it easily and get away with it but once this bill is passed you would think twice before committing rape because they can go to jail for life.`` 

PSN

LAGOS GOVT. ARRESTS 4 DISTRIBUTORS OF PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

The Lagos State Task Force For Environmental and Special Offences on Wednesday said it has arrested four distributors of pornographic materials in Mile 2 area of the state.

The Chairman of the Task Force, Mr Bayo Sulaiman, told newsmen that the traders were arrested during a raid on the market in the area.

He said that the arrested traders would be arraigned at the Special Offences Court, Alausa.

He explained that the arrests were part of a major clampdown on traders who openly displayed x-rated materials across markets in the state, in violation of state law.

According to him, open display of pornographic materials had been outlawed in the state and the task force will strictly enforce the law and bring erring traders to justice.

“We got a complaint about the resurgence of pornographic materials across streets and markets in the state and we think this is not really good for us.

“Whenever you see pornographic materials being displayed, you see children viewing them and as a result of this, their minds get disordered and endangered.

“We had cleared these traders before, but they are back on the streets and we are not happy with the situation.

“This clampdown is an effort to address the situation. We are charging the arrested traders to court to serve as a deterrent to the others”, he said.

Sulaiman described the hawking of pornographic materials as an infringement on the rights of residents.

He also warned those still involved in the trade to desist from it or be prepared to face the wrath of the law. 

PSN

Messi Kissed By Fan During Argentina-Sweden Friendly (PHOTOS)

A Barcelona fan invaded the pitch in yesturday's match-up between Argentina and Sweden to give his footy hero a nice aul peck on the forehead. Messi didn't seem to mind.
Argentina beat the Swedes 3-2 in tonight’s friendly in Stockholm and while Messi remained scoreless, he still received quite a bit of attention.
Near the end of the match a fan wearing the Barcelona no.10 shirt ran onto the pitch and planted a big kiss on the Argentine’s forehead and in typical Messi fashion, he just stood there and took it. He's used to this adulation lark at this stage.
After kissing his hero, the pitch invader slowly walked away and was quickly caught by the stewards, but at that stage he couldn’t have cared less.
Not too long ago Messi received another kind gesture from a fan in the form of a hug and reacted in the same fashion.
Naij