Why Fuel Subsidy Is Not Working – FG

NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA & DIEZANI ALISON MADUEKE

The Federal Government on Monday said payment of subsidy on local consumption of petroleum products was not working because it was subject to abuses.
“The system (fuel subsidy) will not work because there is so much room for abuse. Where ever you go outside Lagos and Abuja, fuel is hardly sold for N97 per litre. Civil society organizations are not speaking against this. They only attack the government. Government cannot be at all filling stations,” Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said in Abuja.
The declaration by the minister came barely hours after media reports of a suit in which a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State, Chief Stanley Okeke, asked a Federal High Court to compel President Goodluck to totally remove subsidy on fuel.
Mr. Maku, who spoke while briefing the media on the achievements of the Federal Government for 2012, lamented the unavailability of premium motor spirit at the control price of N97 per litre outside Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister called on civil society organizations to rise up against the exploitation of Nigerians by dealers in petroleum products, arguing that the government could not be at every filling station across the country.
He also urged Nigerians to ask questions on why they cannot buy fuel at the control price.
However, despite the abuses in the system, Maku reiterated government’s continuation of the subsidy regime because it was the wish of the people.
He said, “Government has paid subsidy for every litre of fuel sold in this country but dealers are selling above the regulated price. We have not deregulated fuel pump prices. For every price above N97 per litre, Nigerians are paying twice.
“People are profiteering from the system and it is wrong. Nigerians should have mercy on Nigerians. We are retaining the subsidy because that is what people want now.”
InformationNigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan’s New Year Message To Nigerians

President Goodluck Jonathan’s New Year’s message’s to Nigerian outlined government initiatives for 2013.
“We will give priority attention in the coming year to flood and erison control, the rehabilitation and expansion of roads,” Jonathan said.
President Jonathan also spoke on the issues of employment and security. Nigeria has suffered numerous incidents of kinappings, armed robbers, and attacks by Boko Haram in 2012.
Jonathan closed by urging Nigerians to become more involved in supporting the improvement of the country.
Full Text of President Jonathan’s New Year’s message
Fellow Nigerians,
1. I greet and rejoice with you all as we celebrate the advent of a new year.
2. I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for bringing us and our beloved nation safely through the past year to the beginning of 2013 which, by His Grace, will be a much better year for us and our country.
3. In keeping with tradition, it is usual for individuals, institutions and organizations to make resolutions and set agenda as a new year begins, to guide their actions in the coming months.
4. I have already given a clear indication of the Federal Government’s agenda for 2013 in recent pronouncements. Our objective for the year is to ensure by all possible means that more of the programmes and projects envisioned by this administration, and which are already being embarked upon are further brought on stream within the next 12 months to meet the yearnings of our people, and raise the quality of life.
5. We have in the last year achieved a lot in terms of the positive transformation of vital sectors of our national life such as public infrastructure, power supply, oil and gas, transportation, education, health and agricultural development. We will continue to work diligently in 2013 to ensure that our efforts in these areas are carried forward to full fruition in fulfillment of our promise of better public services and improved living conditions for all Nigerians.
6. We will give priority attention in the coming year to flood and erosion control, the rehabilitation and expansion of existing federal roads, improved power supply, as well as the continued rehabilitation, upgrading and reactivation of the national rail network.
7. Employment generation and wealth creation will also remain a primary objective of our socio-economic agenda for 2013. Creating more employment opportunities for our youth and graduates of our universities is an imperative that will continue to underpin our drive for massive economic growth, the rapid expansion of our manufacturing and industrial base, and the productive diversification of our national economy. In this regard, we will continue to provide the necessary enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
8. As peace and security remain pre-requisite conditions for the full realization of our objectives, we will also do more in 2013 to further empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria.
9. I also want to assure Nigerians that we will refuse to be discouraged by those who have taken it upon themselves to pick on every initiative and effort of this administration. We remain resolutely committed to the rule of law, due process and fair play in all circumstances. Our democracy continues to grow, and the scope for human freedom continues to expand. It is an achievement that we will continue to build upon.
10. I say it again, we are determined to continue to push forward. We will do more, not less. We will remain focused.
11.For your part, dear compatriots, I urge that you all include in your new year resolutions a commitment to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible way. That is all I ask for.
12. The task of making our dear nation a much better place for present and future generations cannot be left to government alone. Leaders and followers alike have critical roles to play in our march towards the fulfillment of our great national potentials.
13. Let us all therefore resolve as we celebrate the new year to place the higher interests of national unity, peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations.
14. I wish you all a happy and rewarding 2013.
15. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Naijaurban

Why Indigenisation Hampers Growth In Africa By Erwin Ofili

Throughout history, there has been a general feeling that the fruits of the land should only be harvested by the sons of the soil. Different peoples at
different times in history have tried to enforce this. In Biblical times, when the Hebrews settled in Egypt and flourished over time, the pharaoh instituted a policy of ethnic cleansing, killing the sons of Jewish stock and enslaving the adults. The Hebrews who settled in Persia during the Diaspora were the subject of a plot of genocide planned by an Amalekite in the king’s court.

In modern times genocide is deplored. Except in Zimbabwe, violence has rarely been used as state policy in recent times to expropriate assets belonging to “non-indigenes”. But this sort of sentiment finds popular support among Nigerians, maybe not publicly, but in private conversations. Nigerians express desire to reallocate assets from non-indigenes to the “sons of the soil”. Some in the Niger-Delta complain about “Yoruba domination” of the oil industry as much as they complained about “Igbo domination” of their politics in the 1960s. Some of my friends in Lagos have said to me “if Boko Haram keeps terrorising the country and come near Lagos, we would seize Dangote’s properties here”. It might surprise some to know that the people who say this are educated Nigerians.

However, the sentiment of nativism finds expression - fuelled by demagoguery - in government policy and rhetoric. The most recent I can remember is Sanusi suggesting that Telecomm companies making huge profits in Nigeria should be compelled to list their shares in the local stock exchange. This opinion is apparently popular with many Nigerians. This is reminiscent of the indigenisation policy of Gowon’s government. This policy of indigenisation is very common among African countries and is a very insidious product of xenophobia. It is the reason Nigerians complain about Ghana’s government policy targeting non-Ghanaian (mostly Nigerian) businesses. It is a vicious circle that reduces trade among African countries and ensures that poverty level remains high for much of Africa and therefore feeds nativist mentality.
There is justifiable cause for fear of foreign influence in local business participation. At the time that American foreign and military policy was heavily influenced by commercial interests in the early 20th century, the American military invaded Haiti, Nicaragua and other Latin American countries with its politicians egged on by plutocrats whose investments in such countries were under threat from the government policies of such countries. But I believe this fear can be managed by the government seeking mutually beneficial trade agreements with foreign governments and protecting the interests of Nigerian businesses located abroad from harsh government policies.

The conflict between Nigeria and Britain over Britain’s policies that targeted Arik Air shows that foreign investments in the country can be used as a leverage against other countries who unfairly victimize Nigerian businesses. The encouragement of foreign investments would not only bring foreign capital to the country but also provide bargaining power for allowing Nigerian businesses expand into foreign countries. The same philosophy should be pursued on the African continent with other African countries if we would have any chance of reducing poverty on the continent and improving trade. The dearth of trade between African countries has been identified as a main reason for the high rate of poverty on the continent.

It is unusual to hear anyone speak against any policy of indigenisation as it is seen as something that benefits the masses. It doesn’t. The indigenised companies of the early 1970s went to beneficiaries of government corruption and were run down. The expropriated farms and other properties of white farmers in Zimbabwe went to government cronies and were mismanaged. The “abandoned properties” of Rivers state went to government cronies and were also mismanaged, which scared off other property developers from Rivers state who chose Lagos to invest in instead. The people who bought over indigenised companies have made a lot of money for themselves but have destroyed institutions that would have provided jobs for the millions of unemployed Nigerians. These same Nigerians are the ones who would support the idea of forcing Telecomm companies to list their shares on the Nigerian stock market.
The reason indigenisation does not work is neither because all government policies are doomed to fail in Africa nor due to bad implementation. It is
because indigenisation is a faulty and retrogressive policy. It is a policy that rewards people for doing no work and adding no value to the economy. The history of indigenisation in a country scares away potential foreign investors and makes it difficult to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the economy. Indigenisation would eventually fail even if it were possible to implement it without corrupt government officials and their cronies taking over the businesses.

This is simply because when you reap where you did not sow, it is natural human tendency to squander the harvest. Given citizens, especially rich ones, handouts permit them to be reckless. Think of a man who buys his teenage son a sports car for his birthday. Do not expect that son to be too remorseful about denting the car, or even crashing it. If, however, the young man made some sacrifices and savings to buy even a less expensive car, he would be upset if a fly does as much as perches on the car.

Instead of people looking on the government to hand them the ownership of big foreign companies, the government should instead allow local businesses to compete with foreign businesses established in the country. Legislation has already been made protecting local big businesses from foreign take over, so that should allay fears of having our economy controlled by foreign powers with stronger militaries. Our banks, for example, have gone from one crisis to another since the indigenisation policy. Allowing more foreign participation in this sector – with foreign banks existing side by side and competing with local banks – would make the local banks step up their game.

They would realise that they have to treat their employees and customers better when they notice competing foreign banks are attracting the best personnel and the wealthiest customers. Decisiveness on the part of the government is also important here. Better operation of our banks is also dependent on effective, but not excessive, regulation and action against corruption. The regulators should not be determined by the state or region of origin of the president or by Federal Character or quota system but by their suitability for the job. The government should also resist the siren call for indigenisation of the foreign banks, whatever form it might take –whether it be laws requiring them to list their shares on the local stock exchange, “local content” or laws forcing divestment. Nigeria can encourage employment of more local staff members by tax incentives instead of by legislation forcing them to employ more Nigerians. We cannot legislate our way out of everything.

Economies that slowly encouraged foreign participation have seen tremendous growth not only in foreign investment and jobs, but also the scale and competitiveness of local companies. China has encouraged American businesses to operate on their shores. The strength of these businesses have even driven so many Chinese businesses that could not compete under and the rest have had to improve their operations. It is usually pointed out to Americans who complain about their large trade deficit with China that the companies in China that cause this trade deficit are American companies operating in China – in a sense, America is having a trade deficit with itself [give the example of the iPhone]. India has seen the emergence of Infosys on the global scene after they opened their Information technology market to international competition. Indeed the founders of Infosys were concerned about this and considered selling their business to the foreign competitors, but decided instead to make huge investment in Indian local human capital. India has even recently opened its local retail sector to global supermarket chains.

The reason we seem to be on track to repeating all past errors in Nigeria and in Africa is because too many of us are ignorant of our history. This is why we do not challenge regurgitated policies that led African economies to the current state. While even the highly educated Nigerians are derelict in this area, the bad quality of education in Nigeria does not help. It is due to the low standard of education that sentiments of nativism are still very strong in Nigeria and much of Africa years after the end of colonialism. But for the low standard of education, more Nigerians and Africans would understand the definition of madness – repeating the same actions and expecting a different outcome each time.

 Saharareporters

Nigeria To Borrow N178 Billion in 2013

Mr. Maku said on Monday at a news conference that $1 billion will be secured from the African Development Bank to finance gas supply, while another $150 million will be secured from the same bank to finance the liberalisation of the power sector.
The Federal Government’s decision to go ahead with the loan is despite condemnation from economists, civil society groups and opposition parties that Nigeria’s debt was growing without any real benefit to show for it.
While talking about the achievements of the Jonathan administration, the minister also said that the current electricity generation in the country had reached 4,502 megawatts, the highest in recent times. According to him, electricity generation is expected to move up to 7,000 megawatts in 2013.
“At the moment, there is an average of about 15 to 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about through the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the Power Roadmap.
“This includes institutional reforms to involve the private sector in power generation, transmission and distribution,’’ he said.
Mr. Maku said under the roadmap, 10 new thermal power plants had been completed, adding that more were coming in 2013 to boost electricity supply to all parts of the country.
He said that the rehabilitation of power generation and distribution infrastructure across the nation were ongoing, as well as the Kainji Hydro power station to generate power at installed capacity. He also said the contract for the maintenance of the Shiroro-power station has been awarded.
Mr. Maku also said that new contracts had been awarded for hydro power plants in Kaduna and Mambila Plateau to generate additional 750 megawatts.
“The implementation of the National Integrated Power Project is being fast-tracked to ensure stability in power supply,’’ he said.
Naij

Hit And Run Driver Kills Journalist In Rivers

A journalist, Mr. Edward Alyemen, has been killed by a hit and run driver in Elelenwo area of Rivers State.
In a statement, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, called on the state Police Command to track down the driver for prosecution.
According to the statement, the late journalist, who was the state correspondent of Banner News, a provincial newspaper in the state, died at a hospital, weekend, where he was rushed to after the vehicle knocked him down.
Dokubo said the driver of the vehicle fled after the accident and appealed to the state Police command to help arrest the driver. He also appealed to Rivers State Traffic Management Authority, TIMARIV and Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, to come up with effective measures to check reckless driving in the state.
He said: “We commiserate with the Federated Correspondents Chapel, where late Alyemen was a staunch member, as well as his immediate family for this irreparable loss and we pray God Almighty to give them strength at this trying period.”
Chairman of the Federated Correspondents Chapel in the state, Mr. Terver Akaser, on his part, urged the Police to help uncover the mystery surrounding the accident that claimed the life of the journalist. Describing the death of Alyemen as a big loss to the chapel and the NUJ in the state, he prayed God to grant the deceased family the strength to bear the loss.
Naij

Man kills 12-year-old girl over N800 debt

A 28-year-old man, who claimed to be a naval rating, Mr. Ikechi Okoro, is now on the run after allegedly killing Chidera Timothy with a bottle over an N800 debt his brother owes the girl’s mother.
Twelve-year-old Chidera was a primary five pupil of the Holy Trinity Anglican Primary School in Calabar, Cross River State.
Ikechi’s younger brother, Friday Okoro, has been arrested by policemen from Atakpa Police Station in Calabar where the matter was reported.
Following the arrest, the members of the Okoro family residing at 34, Wilkie Street, have taken to their heels.
Narrating the incident to PUNCH Metro on Saturday, the girl’s father, Timothy, said Ikechi’s brother, Mr. Orieke Okoro, who repairs tricycle, had refused to pay his wife, Mercy, the sum of N800 that he owed her for several months.
Timothy said Orieke was a regular customer at his wife’s restaurant and beverage shop and at times bought things on credit.
After Orieke’s debt rose to N800, it was learnt that he stopped patronising the restauranteur.
Timothy said, “The debt rose to N800 and has remained so for two months. Whenever my wife asks him about the debt, he would claim he does not have money. When my wife discovered that he no longer patronised her but rather bought things from a nearby shop and still paid cash, she threatened to seize his tools.
“On Monday, December 17, 2012, my wife went to him to collect her money but the boy said he did not have money, my wife then picked his tools and the boy did not react.”
Trouble, however, started, when Ikechi took over the matter when his brother’s customer, who brought his tricycle for repairs, claimed that one of his spare parts was missing.
Timothy explained further, “Ikechi came with the customer to my wife’s shop to look for the spare part in the toolbox, but because my wife didn’t know them, she refused to release the box. She insisted that they ought to have come with Orieke and her N800 before she would release the toolbox.
“Then the fake naval man started insulting my wife and threatened to beat her up if she did not release the toolbox. He said the worst that could happen was for the police to arrest him. As he struggled to enter the shop to collect the toolbox, my wife blocked him and in the process, he slapped her and she held his shirt.
“As the trouble was going on, my son, Chukwuemeka, who had returned from where he went to fetch water tried to ask why the man slapped his mother then Ikechi allegedly ran to their house and collected a machete and returned with his younger brother and the elder sister.
“Three of them beat up my son and my wife. Friday used the machete on my son and gave him a cut on the left hand while the sister hit my wife with a wood she was holding.”
He said that as the trouble was going on, Chidera rushed to call him (Timothy) from where he was working close by.
He added that when he got to his wife’s shop, he saw Ikechi with an empty bottle threatening to kill someone with it.
Timothy said, “As I was trying to find out what happened and to calm him down, he struggled and freed himself from the people holding him and said that he was going to kill somebody. He said as a naval man he could do whatever he wished.
“He threw the bottle at my son but he dodged it. However, the bottle hit my daughter on the head. She fainted immediately. I rushed her to Mambo Clinic which was the nearest clinic for treatment. She was there till December 23 when she died.”
He said although he reported the matter at the police station, no arrest was made until he went back to the police station after his daughter had died.
Friday, who allegedly injured Chukwuemeka with a machete, according to him, was arrested.
Chidera’s corpse, he said, was deposited at a mortuary on Edgerley Street in Calabar South.
When contacted, the state police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, confirmed the incident, saying the matter would be properly investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department.
Also, the Information Officer of the Eastern Naval Command, Lt.Commodore Williams Olabisi, said the alleged assailant who claimed to be a naval man might have been an imposter.
“If any of our officials commit offence of that magnitude, there is no way I will not be aware of it,” Olabisi added.
InformationNigeria

Photos: Suntai Spends New Year Eve With Wife, Twins In German Hospital

The wife of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state, Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, on 13th December 2012, put to bed twins in Germany, even as she awaits the recovery of her husband who is also hospitalised there after suffering life-threatening injuries from a plane crash.

Controversy followed governor Danbaba Suntai’s treatment abroad as some reports said he is brain damaged and might never be fit to rule the state again but to put paid to the various speculations and rumors surrounding his well-being, his wife and their twins (boy and girl), visited the governor on new year’s eve in hospital.

The pictures from the visit will be good news for indigenes of Taraba state and supporters of the governor who have been yearning to know the current state of their governor.

RECUPERATING GOV. DANBABA SUNTAI (M) OF TARABA, WITH HIS WIFE, HAUWA (L), AND A FAMILY FRIEND, PRINCE TITA NBALAM (R) AND HIS THREE WEEKS OLD TWINS IN A CAFETERIA OF A GERMAN HOSPITAL ON MONDAY

GOVERNOR DANBABA SUNTAI, HIS WIFE & TWIN BABIES IN THE CAFETERIA OF A GERMAN HOSPITAL ON MONDAY

 InformationNigeria

House Passes Senate’s Fiscal Cliff Bill

By Igor Volsky

After threatening to amend the Senate’s fiscal cliff bill to include spending reductions, the House passed the measure Tuesday evening by a vote of 257-167, with 85 Republican votes. 151 Republicans, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and 16 Democrats voted against the bill. The “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012” now goes to President Obama for his signature.
During debate, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) urged Republicans to support the bill, arguing that it “settles the level of revenue Washington should bring in.” The GOP has indicated that it would not support revenue increases in the upcoming battles to raise the debt ceiling, turn off the sequester cuts, and keep the government running through a continuing budget resolution. Instead, conservative lawmakers in both the House and the Senate have said that they will take advantage of these critical debates to extract deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
“I just don’t want the gentleman’s statement that this settles permanently how much revenue will be made available,” Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI) said in response to Camp. “The President has made clear there has to be a balanced approach and no one should be misled into thinking otherwise. No one.”
As the House began voting on the measure, Grover Norquist gave his blessing, tweeting that since the vote took place in the new year — after the Bush tax cuts have technically expired — “Every R voting for Senate bill is cutting taxes and keeping his/her pledge.”

Update

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) explains why he voted in favor of the bill: “When you like something, you vote for it. …I wasn’t afraid.” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), who usually doesn’t vote, also backed the measure.

Update

In a statement from the White House, President Obama praised the bill as “one step in the broader effort to strengthen our economy.” But he admitted that “the deficit is still too high” and called for a balanced approach of raising new revenues by closing tax loopholes and eliminating deductions for rich individuals and corporations and cutting government spending. Obama called Medicare the “biggest contributor to our deficit” and said that Congress must “find a way to reform our program without hurting seniors who count on it to survive.” He also drew an important line in the sand, reiterating that he “will not have another debate with this Congress over whether or not they should pay the bills that they’ve already racked up, through the laws that they passed.” If Congress refuses to raise the debt ceiling, Obama said, “the consequences for the entire global economy would be catastrophic, far worse than the impact of a fiscal cliff.”
TP

“I will buy you a cheap, second-hand phone” – Obasanjo to journalist whose Blackberry was smashed

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the weekend caused a mild drama when he sighted PREMIUM TIMES’ correspondent at the Government House in Ogun State.
The reporter tried to take a picture of the former president standing beside former Nigerian leader, Ernest Shonekan, with his camera phone, but got a dramatic response from Mr. Obasanjo.
“You again,” the former president said. “That was how your blackberry phone was smashed.”
One of Mr. Obasanjo’s children, Oba, had smashed the blackberry phone of the PREMIUM TIMES journalist for taking the picture of the fire at the former president’s house last week in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.
Obasanjo to buy second hand phone
The journalist complained to Mr. Obasanjo about the destroyed phone and asked the former president what he intends to do about it.
The former number one citizen again responded in his characteristic dramatic and jocular manner.
“I will buy you another one, but if you don’t mind, it has to be a fairly used and with cheaper price,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
At the end of the day’s programme, our correspondent again approached the former president, requesting to follow him to his house to collect the promised blackberry phone; but Mr. Obasanjo turned it to another round of comedy.
“You this Ijesa man, I suspect you are the one who set my house on fire, and you want to come there again, I will buy your phone for you when I return from abroad.”
After making the statement, the former president entered into his vehicle, smiled and waved to the reporter.
 DailyPost

Varsity Staff Kidnapped In Delta

Denedo, Vanguard gathered was abducted while returning from the New Year service at 1:00am, Tuesday, by eight gunmen who laid siege at the front of his residence.
 According to a family source, the unsuspecting Denedo who drove in his Nissan Pathfinder Jeep with registration number BKW 18 AA, Delta was abducted as he came down to open the gate to drive into his compound in the university community.
 The source, who pleaded anonymity, said Denedo was driven in the Nissan Jeep by the suspected kidnappers to a yet unknown destination shooting sporadically into the air to scare people away from attacking them.
 Speaking further, the source said the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the lecturer’s family.
Naij

Homeless Heir To $300 Million Huguette Clark Fortune Found Dead

A homeless man who was the long-lost relative of reclusive New York railroad heiress Huguette Clark and a potential heir to her $300 million fortune has been found dead in Wyoming.
Timothy Henry Gray, Clark's 60-year-old half great-nephew, was found dead under a Union Pacific Railroad overpass in Evanston, Wyo., on Thursday, NBC News reports. Children who were sledding nearby found Gray's body.
Temperatures in Evanston, a mining town, had hit a low of 0 in recent days. The coroner said it appears the homeless heir, who could have inherited $19 million of Clark's $300 million fortune, had died of hypothermia, according to NBC. There was no evidence of foul play.
Gray's siblings said their homeless brother disappeared after their mother died in 1990, according to the Associated Press. If Gray did not have a will, his siblings could receive his share in addition to their own, NBC explains.
Gray was the adopted great-grandson of former U.S. Sen. William Andrews Clark, a wealthy copper miner, railroad builder and the founder of Las Vegas. Huguette was the youngest of William's seven children.
Huguette died in May 2011 at 104 years old, after living as a recluse for decades, the New York Times previously reported.
In the 1930s, she removed herself from Manhattan society and lived in solitude for the next quarter-century in her Fifth Avenue apartment surrounded by her dolls. In the 1980s, Huguette checked herself into a New York City hospital. She lived in hospitals around Manhattan until her death.
Huguette's $300 million estate was contested by her extended family and several parties close to her. Two wills signed by the heiress spawned the legal conflict. One stated her fortune would be given to relatives, while the other, signed six weeks after the first, said none of her money would go to family members.
HuffingtonPost

“The violence in Nigeria could be a sign of the end times” – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has questioned whether deadly Islamist attacks on churches in his country and other violence worldwide could be signs of coming “end times”.
Jonathan, speaking after 15 Christians had their throats slit last week in the country’s northeast, also suggested Islamist extremist group Boko Haram aimed to take over the Nigerian capital Abuja, but vowed the group would be defeated.
During comments Sunday in which he mentioned attacks on churches in Nigeria, Syria’s war and the situation in the Central African Republic, where rebels have pushed their way across the impoverished country, Jonathan spoke of the Biblical end times.
“I was just wondering, could this be a clear way of telling us that the end times are so close?” he told the church congregation, according to a recording of his remarks heard by AFP.
Some Christians believe in the idea of chaos in connection with the second coming of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as the “end times”. Such beliefs are based on passages in the New Testament’s Book of Revelation.
Jonathan was speaking at an evangelical Christian church service in the capital. The church belongs to the EYN denomination, common among Christians in the violence-torn northeast, where Boko Haram is based.
Local media quoted the church pastor as saying 109 EYN members have been killed and 50 branches burnt.
Violence linked to Boko Haram’s insurgency in northern and central Nigeria has left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.
Muslims and symbols of Nigerian authority have often been their targets, but the group has also specifically targeted Christians, including suicide bombings of churches.
This Christmas season has however been notably less bloody than in 2011, when scores were killed in attacks on churches and other locations.
Jonathan has previously accused Boko Haram of seeking to destabilise the government and incite a religious crisis in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south.
On Sunday, while speaking of the rebels in the Central African Republic, Jonathan said: “They were quite close to taking over the capital city, just as Boko Haram is taking over Abuja for me and those working in government to run and hide somewhere else.”
He vowed however that Boko Haram would not succeed and that the violence would be brought under control.
“If the idea of Boko Haram is to stop Nigerians from worshipping God, they will not succeed,” he said.
“If the idea of Boko Haram is to stop government from providing the dividends of democracy, they will not succeed…. God willing and with our commitment, the excesses of Boko Haram and other criminal organisations will be brought to a reasonable control.”
Jonathan spokesman Reuben Abati did not respond to a phone call to further explain the president’s comments.
 DailyPost

Idris Wada Discharged From Hospital

GOVERNOR IDRIS WADA AND PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WHEN THE LATTER PAID HIM A VISIT IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE HE WAS DISCHARGED LATER THAT SAME DAY

While we reported earlier today in our news that the chief medical director of Cedarcrest hospital Abuja, Dr. Felix Ogedengbe had declared that Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State who was injured in an auto crash last week that claimed the life of his ADC would soon be discharged, we can confirm to you that he was actually discharged on Monday morning.
Wada, who has been receiving treatment for a broken thigh at the private hospital located in Garki II Abuja, was brought there about 8 p.m on Friday night after being stabilized at the Specialist Hospital, Kogi, where he was taken to immediately after the accident, left the hospital around 9 a.m. yesterday in the company of his aides, amidst tight security.
InformationNigeria

Catalonia Friendly To Decide Eagles’ Final 23-Man List

With the camp of the Super Eagles in Faro, Portugal in high spirits following the arrival of Russia-based duo Ahmed Musa and Emmanuel Emenike as well as Spain-based duo of Nosa Igiebor and Ikechukwu Uche, there are strong indications that Nigeria’s tune-up clash with Catalonia coming up tonight, will go a long way in determining the players that will eventually make the final list to the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations commencing on January 19.
Informationng.com gathers that the Eagles gaffer is looking forward to a sterling performance from players as they hope to have a great outing in South Africa.
To underscore the relevance of the match in deciding the fate of players that will make coach Stephen Keshi’s final 23-man list, most of the foreign-pros flew in over the weekend with Holland-based defender, Kenneth Omeruo first to join the team of 14 home-based players that arrived the camp on December 27.
InformationNigeria

Anderson Cooper Dodges Kathy Griffin's Sexual Hijinks During CNN's New Year's Show

Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper kept things as lively as ever as they hosted CNN's New Year's coverage on Monday night.
Griffin's past New Year's Eve antics have included taking her shirt off, dropping the f-bomb and shouting a heckler down. This year, she dropped to her knees and went straight for Anderson Cooper's crotch.
"Kathy, oh, did you drop something?" he joked. She made multiple attempts, but he pulled her back up every time -- and even intercepted her with a "No Nudity" sign that CNN placed on set after Griffin stripped down to her bra last year.
Monday night was their sixth year ringing in the New Year together on CNN. Cooper, who is already pretty used to Griffin's New Year's Eve antics, was already giggling nervously ten minutes into the show. That's when Griffin told him, "I'm going to tickle your sac." She continued, "Do you have a sac?"
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Cooper said. "I have no sack of Christmas presents here."
"Do you call your privates your Christmas presents?” Griffin wondered. "Typical hot guy."
HuffingtonPost

Murray-Bruce, Asoluka, Mustapha, others get board jobs

 by: Vincent Ikuomola

Board members of nine government agencies were named yesterday by the Federal Government.
Former Director-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce tops the list with his appointment as chair of the board of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Murray-Bruce is also the chairman of Silverbird group – a privately-owned media outfit which controls radio and television stations.
Apart from the FRCN, boards of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Agricultural Research Development Council of Nigeria, were also constituted.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim said the boards would be inaugurated later.
Notable names include the National Organising Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; National Auditor of PDP, Chief Olabode Mustapha; Editor of SUNDAY SUN Mrs. Funke Egbemode and Col. Edward Mark, younger brother of Senate President David Mark.
Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria: Chief Bisi Ogunjobi (chair). The board members are: Dr. Godwin Duru, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Works, Two Representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, The Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and three executive Directors of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Federal Capital Development Authority: Senator Bala Mohammed (chair), Former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salimot Badru, Ayekeme Whisky Kashim Bukar Shettima, Col. Edward Mark, Aliyu Musa Dagoggo, Dr. Uche Uzochukwu and Mrs. Mather Onwuzurumba are memebrs.
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce (chair). Mrs. Bola Doherty, Farouk Dalhatu, Mrs. J. N. Chinedu, Hajia Hauwa Kida, Chief Elvis Agukwe, Abubakar Sarkin Fawa Damboh, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Information, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Director General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (members).
National Examinations Council Dr. Paddy K. Njoku (Chair). Members are: Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsavri, Hajiya Aishatu J. Dukku, Hon. Terlumun Akputu, Chief Yemi Oluyemi, Chief Mrs. Cheryl Amonu, Hon. Paschal Ugbome, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, two Representatives of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, three Representatives of Universities in
Nigeria, the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the Registrar of the National Examination Council, Representative of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association, Representative of the National Parents Teachers Association and Representative of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council,
Nigerian Export Promotions Council Mrs. Grace Clark (chair). Members are: Alhaji Mohammed Soli Jibia, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Tourism. Culture and National Orientation, Representative of the Nigerian Customs Service, Representative of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industries. Mines and Agriculture, Representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Representative of the Association of Nigerian Exporters, Representative of Farmers Association and the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Onne oil and Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt: Mr. Chris Asoluka (chair). Members are: Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga (Rtd), Kelly Azike,
Representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice, The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Plc, The comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Representative of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Representative of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Representative of the Rivers State Government, The Managing Director of the llnna Oil and Gas Free Zone, Port Harcourt.
Standard Organisation of Nigeria: Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha (Chair). Members are: Mrs. Roseline Ekum, Suleiman Kogun, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Representative of the Ministry of Defence, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Representative of the Federal Ministry of Works are members.
Voice of Nigeria: Andy Aghaji (Chair). Members are Mr. George Korgba, Hassan Ahmed, Prof. Fred Onyeoziri, Mr. Oruruo Steve, Mr. Bature Umar Sambo, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Information, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria.
Agricultural Research Development Council of Nigeria: Chief Olabode Mustapha (Chair). Members are Gen. P. C. Taja (Rtd), Bawa Magaji, Yerima Kitaf, Emeka Nwakpa, The Vice-Chancellor of one of the Universities of Agriculture, The Chairman, Committee of Deans of the Faculties of Agriculture of the Universities in Nigeria, Chairman committee of Deans of the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine of the Universities in Nigeria, The Chairmen of the Governing Boards of Research Institutes established Under Section; the Director of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, The Director of Fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, The Director of Forestry and lives-Stock, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Representative of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.
 TheNation

“Our father left behind unfinished business” – Azazi’s children

Akpo-Olade and Pelede, the first daughter and the last son of the late Gen. Andrew Azazi, said the former National Security Adviser left behind unfinished business.
The traumatised children in their tributes at the burial of their father, named the Yenagoa City Centre project as top on the list of the unfinished business.
Akpo-Olade in her tribute on Saturday, said her father was passionate about developing the city centre, adding that he spent much time designing the project.
She also said her father dreamt of establishing a factory that would produce special fruit juice in the country.
Her father’s visions and dreams for better Nigeria and Bayelsa State, including the city centre project, she said, were the first things she remembered when she received the report of the December 15 helicopter crash in which Azazi and five others were killed.
Akpo-Olade, who gave the late Azazi his first grand child, said she never believed that her father was on board the ill-fated helicopter until her brother confirmed the report to her.
She, however, regretted being outside the country when the incident happened.
She said, “I remember the day my sister called me, I was out of the country. She called me to say that there was an helicopter crash and that there was a possibility that our father was in the helicopter.
“I screamed and said it can’t be possible. I remembered all his dreams and visions and l said to God, this can’t be possible. What is going to happen to all the things he believed in and fought for.
“I remember the Yenagoa City Centre, something that he derived joy from when he talked. He presented this to so many people; they were excited about it. I say God for his dreams, please don’t let it be.
“But I had to accept the reality when my brother told me that he was dead. At this point I said God why did I have to be away when this thing happened.”
Similarly, Pelede said his father was planning to establish a foundation before the unfortunate incident.
He said, “I was together with my father all the day before this thing happened. We talked about different things ranging from values and foundation and how to better peoples lives.
“My father was a very good person. He touched a lot of lives from both officers of the Nigerian Army and civilians. He was a man of virtue.”
 DailyPost

I Don’t Regret Dumping England For Nigeria – Victor Moses

Chelsea forward, Victor Moses, has said that he does not have any regrets after chosing to play for Nigeria over England.

The striker, who joined the London side from Wigan this season, said he made the right choice to play for Nigeria even though there was also an opportunity to play for England.
Moses, who has become an integral part of the Super Eagles side currently preparing for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, revealed that he had enjoyed every moment of his stay with the Nigerian national team.
“Yes, the opportunity beckoned on me to play for England, but I choose Nigeria because it has always been my ambition to play for the Super Eagles,” Moses told Goal.com.
“I don’t regret turning out in the colours of the Super Eagles. I love Nigeria and I was prepared to come and play for the nation.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my stay with the team. Coaches in England should not blame themselves that they could not convince me to wear the jersey of the Three Lions after playing for the junior side
“I waited for the opportunity to be invited to play for the national team of Nigeria and immediately they found me worthy, I did not waste time to honour the call.
“Nigeria has always been my choice if called up and when they did I was happy.
“I want to say that my game has been improving since I started playing for the Super Eagles after meeting with the coaches and players.”
Naij

Facebook lover nabbed for defrauding friend

The Police in Lagos on Monday arrested a Facebook lover for defrauding his lover of N200,000.
The Police said in Lagos that the suspect posed as a medical doctor to enable him swindle his unsuspected facebook girl- friend. The suspect claimed he would use the amount to secure a job for her with the Nigerian Customs Service.
Parading the suspect (names withheld), the Police spokesperson, Lagos state Police Command, Ms Ngozi Briaide, said the accused was arrested and charged to court about three years ago for a similar offence.
Ngozi stated that the police could not immediately explain how he was freed in court without being convicted, noting that the suspect had become a serial fraudster who was in the habit of defrauding young girls.
According to her, the 36-year- old suspect was arrested after one out of the latest five victims complained to the Police on Nov. 15, adding that the suspect was thereafter arrested on Dec. 23 by detectives from Ogudu Division.
The spokesperson alleged that the first victim, Mrs Adebiyi Adenike, a graduate became his friend on Facebook after being attracted by the suspect as a Surgeon.
”He requested for the sum of N200,000 as PR and with her original certificate to enable him secure employment for her into the Customs and that he had a slot at the service,” she said.
Ngozi stated that both the suspect and the victim met and set out for the journey to Abuja, but along the way to Air Port, the suspect pretended as if his vehicle had fault and asked her to come down and push the car. ”
As soon as the victim pushed the car, he zoomed off with the victim’s credentials, ATM and PHCN cards,” she said. Ngozi gave the names of other victims defrauded by the suspect as Miss Okunola Folashade, Miss Ibrahim Bukola and Miss Adefemi Mercy.
She said that they were all NYSC members who were defrauded by the same suspect on their way to Ibadan for community assignment.
The spokesperson alleged that they boarded his car to Ibadan on Dec. 20, but on getting to the Tollgate, the suspected diverted to the old Lagos/Ibadan road where he pretended as if the car developed fault and asked them to push thereafter he zoomed off with all their belongings.
Ngozi said that the items stolen from the victims included a Laptop, unspecified cash, certificates, ATM card, Toaster Machine, cell phones and clothes.
The fifth victim, Miss Akinbo Atinuke, also boarded the suspect’s vehicle at Berger on Dec. 11, on her way to Ibadan, where the accused branched to a filling station and pretended the car could not start again, adding that the victim also pushed the car and he zoomed off.
The spokesperson said that the victim also lost her Laptop, Phone, SSCE Certficate, ATM card, NYSC discharged certificate, the sum of N104,000 which she withdrew from a bank with her ATM card.
Ngozi said that the suspect would be charged to court since all the witnesses were available with some exhibits, adding that the suspect has also made confessional statement.
Naijaurban

I Don't Know She Is Into This Kind Of Business – Husband Laments After Couple Was Caught With 75 Bags Of Weed

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in Kano State have arrested a husband and wife for being in possession of over 75 bags of dry leaves, suspected to be cannabis sativa.
The disclosure was made on Monday, in Kano, by the state commander of the narcotic agency, Alhaji Garba Ahmadu, who said the woman Hajiya Fatima Jimoh, 40 and her husband, Folorunso Jimoh, were arrested with the exhibits weighing about 757.5 kilogrammes at two warehouses owned by the suspect, located at the different parts of Kano metropolis.
According to him, Hajiya Fatima was nabbed at their residence in Dandishe, Dala Local Government Area of the ancient commercial city.
The NDLEA boss said “She was arrested alongside her husband, Folorunso, who denied knowledge of his wife’s illegal business, saying, ‘I do not know she is into this kind of business. I am not aware of her involvement in drug trafficking. I just came back from a journey before I was arrested by NDLEA officials.’”
However, Fatima, who confessed to have been dealing in cannabis sativa for long, confirmed her husband’s claims saying, “Honestly, my husband is not aware of this business. He is not into it with me. I do not bring it to the house and he has not in anyway gotten involved in it.”
Naij

Fiscal Cliff Agreement Passes Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation to block the impact of across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts that make up the fiscal cliff.
The vote was an overwhelming 89-8 and came well after midnight on New Year's Day.
A House vote is expected before Wednesday.
The White House-backed legislation would prevent middle-class taxes from rising, and raise rates on incomes over $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples.
It also blocks spending cuts for two months, extends unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, prevents a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and prevents a spike in milk prices.
A last-minute addition would also prevent a $900 pay raise for members of Congress from taking effect in March.
HuffingtonPost

Tension In Enugu As Chime Fails To Return

There was anxiety in Enugu State on Monday as the lingering absence of Governor Sullivan Chime entered the New Year with his whereabouts still shrouded in secrecy.

Chime had handed over power to his deputy  Sunday Onyebuchi before leaving the country on September 19 for a six-week vacation in the United States.
One hundred and three days later, the governor has not returned to the state and the state government has maintained silence over his whereabouts.
However, it is reported that the governor is being hospitalised in India.
The PUNCH recalls that on December 15, the day that Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and Gen. Andrew Azazi, died in a helicopter crash alongside four other persons, there were rumours that Chime had died in an Indian hospital.
However, the state government debunked the claim.
Last weekend, there were reports that the governor would return to the state on December 31, but as at 4pm on Monday,  journalists, who converged on the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu left when the last flight for the day landed without the governor on board.
When our correspondent visited the Government House, Enugu, the place looked deserted, except for the office of Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who is seen as the de facto governor of the state.
However, there was a  notice at the manifest inviting all political appointees and elected office-holders for a meeting at the governor’s Udi hometown by 8pm.
Contrary to initial feelers that the meeting was summoned to discuss latest developments in the state, a source, who pleaded anonymity, said it was the usual New Year vigil and nothing more.
He said, “If you have been conversant with events here, you will know that the governor usually invites appointees and elective office-holders to keep New Year vigil with him in his house since he became governor in 2007.
“The notice of meeting you saw is in line with this tradition. There is nothing special about it.”
Naij

Aturu Demands Disclosure Of Sanusi’s Salary

A demand for the disclosure of the salary, allowances and other entitlements enjoyed by the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was, yesterday, submitted to the bank under the Freedom of Information Act.
Leading civil right activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu made the request in a letter to the CBN governor made available to Vanguard, yesterday.
Aturu’s demand is on behalf of a lawyer, Anthony Itedjere and according to Mr. Aturu was made to determine if the incumbent governor, Sanusi is one of the public officials guzzling public funds.
Letter to CBN
Mr. Aturu in the letter dated December 31, 2012 is also demanding how much and at what cost it takes for the CBN governor to travel within and outside Nigeria and whether he also uses chartered aircraft for his travels.
Mr. Aturu whilst also demanding the number of drivers attached to the CBN governor said he would go to court to compel the bank to provide the information should the bank fail to supply the information within the required seven days as provided in the Freedom of Information Act.

“We believe that the CBN governor is one of those preaching for transparency and public accountability and that is why we are starting with him, so we want to know if his office is one of those guzzling public too much money,” Aturu told Vanguard last night.

“We are starting with the CBN governor because he is one of those that have been very vocal on the cost of governance and we are going to do it for many other offices and it is part of our action to enthrone public accountability,” Aturu further disclosed.
The letter requesting the information read thus:
RE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING RECURRENT EXPENDITURE (S) ON YOU AND YOUR OFFICE PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 1, 3 AND 4 OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2011
Compliments of the Season!
We are solicitors to Anthony Itedjere Esq., a Nigerian citizen and solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on whose behalf and instruction we write this letter.
Our client is interested in certain information which is in possession and or custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as ‘the bank’) and your office. Kindly provide the information to the best of your knowledge in the interest of transparency and openness which you have been advertised as championing.
Request
You are hereby specifically requested to make available to our client or grant to him access to:
1. The Central Bank Act provides that your salary, fee, wages or other remuneration or allowances shall be stipulated from time to time by the Board subject to the approval of the President.
a. How much is your total remuneration (that is salary plus allowances) per month?
b. Do you charge the Bank or the Federal Government of Nigeria any fee outside your monthly remuneration? If so, state any such fee you have received since becoming the Governor of the bank.
c. Do you travel business class or economy within Nigeria?
d. Do you travel first class, business class or economy when travelling out of Nigeria?
e. Have you ever used chartered plane for any of your travels within and outside Nigeria?
f. If your answer to 1e above is in the affirmative, kindly list all such instances specifying the dates, the airline(s), the cost and the duration of the charter?
g. Does the Bank own an aircraft? If so, what is the cost of the craft and the cost of its servicing and maintenance?
h. How many drivers are attached to your office by the bank?
i. How many cleaners are attached to your office by the bank?
j. How many drivers are attached to your house by the bank?
k. How many cleaners are attached to your house by the bank?
l. How much is your monthly imprest?
m. When you travel within Nigeria, how much is your allowance?
n. When you travel outside Nigeria, how much is your allowance?
o. When last did you spend your personal money on purchasing fuel since you became the Governor of the bank?
However, if you think that another agency of the Government has greater interest in the information requested for, you are obliged under Section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 to transfer this request to the other agency within 3 days, howbeit not later than 7 days of receiving this request.
Our client shall pay the necessary fees for the information. Be notified that if you fail to provide the above information within the period stipulated by law we shall proceed against you in accordance with the provisions of the law.
We have no doubt that you will accede to this very friendly request.
Accept the renewed assurances of our very high regards.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Bamidele Aturu Esq.
Naij

Hillary Clinton Progressing After Blood Clot In Head, Expected To Fully Recover: Doctor

BY JOSH LEDERMAN & MATTHEW LEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Doctors treating Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a blood clot say the clot formed in her head but they stress that they are confident she will make a full recovery.
In an update Monday on Clinton's condition, her doctors say the blood clot did not result in a stroke, or neurological damage. The clot is located in the vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear.
Clinton's doctors say that to help dissolve the clot, they are treating her with blood thinners. They say she will be released once the medication dose has been established.
In their update, the doctors say the 65-year-old secretary of state is making excellent progress and is in good spirits.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spent a second day at a New York hospital on Monday, under observation for a blood clot, stemming from a concussion she sustained while battling a stomach virus.

The illness has kept her out of the public view since Dec. 7, and has started to raise a host of questions as her team keeps typically tightlipped about the details: Where is the clot located? How severe is her condition? How soon will she recover? And, as Democrats are privately if not publicly speculating, how might her illness affect a decision about running for president in 2016?
Aides disclosed the blood clot Sunday, with her spokesman, Phillipe Reines, issuing a statement that said: "Her doctors will continue to assess her condition, including other issues associated with her concussion." He had no immediate update Monday on her condition, raising the question of whether she will return to work before she steps down as secretary of state.
After decades in politics, Clinton, 65, says she plans to spend the next year resting. She has long insisted she had no intention of mounting a second campaign for the White House four years from now. But the door is not entirely closed, and she would almost certainly emerge as the Democrat to beat if she decided to give in to calls by Democratic fans and run again.
Her age – and thereby health – would likely be a factor under consideration, given that Clinton would be 69 when sworn in, if she were elected in 2016. That might become even more of an issue in the early jockeying for 2016 if what started as a bad stomach bug becomes a prolonged, public bout with more serious infirmity.
Not that Democrats are willing to talk openly about the political implications of a long illness, choosing to keep any discussions about her condition behind closed doors. Publicly, Democrats reject the notion that a blood clot could hinder her political prospects.
"Some of those concerns could be borderline sexist," said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who worked for Clinton when she was a senator. "Dick Cheney had significant heart problems when he was vice president, and people joked about it. He took the time he needed to get better, and it wasn't a problem."
It isn't uncommon for presidential candidates' health – and age – to be an issue. Both in 2000 and 2008, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had to rebut concerns he was too old to be commander in chief or that his skin cancer could resurface.
Two decades after Clinton became the first lady, signs of her popularity – and her political strength – are ubiquitous.
Obama had barely declared victory in November when Democrats started zealously plugging Clinton as their strongest White House contender four years from now, should she choose to take that leap.
"Wouldn't that be exciting," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi declared in December. "I hope she goes – why wouldn't she?"
Even Republicans concede that were she to run, Clinton would be a force to be reckoned with.
"Trying to win that will be truly the Super Bowl," former House Speaker and 2012 GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said in December. "The Republican Party today is incapable of competing at that level."
Americans admire Clinton more than any other woman in the world, according to a Gallup poll released Monday – the 17th time in 20 years that Clinton has claimed that title. And a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 57 percent of Americans would support Clinton as a candidate for president in 2016, with just 37 percent opposed. Meanwhile, websites have already cropped up hawking "Clinton 2016" mugs and tote bags.
Clinton returned to the U.S. from a trip to Europe, then fell ill with a stomach virus in early December that left her severely dehydrated and forced her to cancel a trip to North Africa and the Middle East. Until then, she had cancelled only two scheduled overseas trips, one to Europe after breaking her elbow in June 2009 and one to Asia after the February 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
Her condition worsened when she fainted, fell and suffered a concussion while at home alone in mid-December as she recovered from the virus. It was announced on Dec. 13.
Reines, her spokesman, said her doctors discovered the clot Sunday while performing a follow-up exam on the concussion. He said she was being treated with anti-coagulants and would remain at New York-Presbyterian Hospital until at least Tuesday so doctors can monitor the medication.
This isn't the first time Clinton has suffered a blood clot. In 1998, midway through her husband's second term as president, Clinton was in New York fundraising for the midterm elections when a swollen right foot led her doctor to diagnose a clot in her knee requiring immediate treatment.
Medical experts said the seriousness of a blood clot diagnosis varies widely based on where it is located.
Clots in the legs are a common risk after someone has been bedridden, as Clinton may have been for a time after her concussion in December. Those are "no big deal" and are treated with blood thinners, said Dr. Gholam Motamedi, a neurologist at Georgetown University Medical Center who is not involved in Clinton's care.
But a clot in a lung or the brain is more serious. Lung clots, called pulmonary embolisms, can be deadly, and a clot in the brain can cause a stroke, Motamedi said.
Last Thursday, before the blood clot was discovered, Reines said that Clinton expected to return to work this week after the New Year holiday.
Beyond talk of future politics, Clinton's three-week absence from the State Department has raised eyebrows among some conservative commentators who questioned the seriousness of Clinton's ailment after she cancelled planned Dec. 20 testimony before Congress on the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.
Clinton had been due to discuss with lawmakers a scathing report on the attack she had commissioned that found serious failures of leadership and management in two State Department bureaus were to blame for insufficient security at the facility. Clinton took responsibility for the incident before the report was released, but she was not blamed. Four officials cited in the report have either resigned or been reassigned.
HuffingtonPost

Man Arraigned For Renting 2 Rooms To 50 People At The Same Time

An estate agent and a landlord’s son have been arraigned before an Ejigbo Magistrate’s court for allegedly conspiring and renting a bedroom and sitting room apartment at 9 Olorunwa Street Shasha, Lagos to 50 prospective tenants at the same time.
36-year old Adedoyin Agboola was arrested and charged for deceiving the prospective tenants to give him N10 million on the pretence of renting out the apartment to them.
According to him, he contacted his friend, who is a developer, to build the apartment on certain conditions, but was not aware he collected such amount from the victims.
Agboola claimed he only knew about the incident when the victims came to his house and started fighting over the apartment.
“When I tried to contact my friend who developed the place, I discovered he had fled,” Agboola said.
His aged mother, Mrs Maria Adedoyin also alleged that the developer of the house, whom she identified as Tolu Johnson, betrayed the family by defrauding the people.
Agboola was charged with a 70-count felony, obtaining under false pretence and stealing under sections 409, 278 and 312 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. Presiding Magistrate, Mrs M B Folami ordered that the matter be transferred to Lagos High Court, Ikeja for trial.
InformationNigeria

2011 elections: Some of the murdered NYSC members were PDP agents – CPC

Rotimi Fashakin

A leading opposition party in the country, the Congress for Progressive Change has said that some of the National Youth Service Corps members who died in the violence that erupted after the 2011 elections, worked for the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Spokesman of the party, Rotimi Fasakin, made the allegation in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.
He said contrary to reports, not all the corps members killed in the post-election carnage were actually university graduates.
The bloody violence which broke out after the results of the presidential polls were announced, spread across some Northern states.
At least 50 people including nine serving NYSC members were murdered.
The deceased corps members include: Adewunmi Seun (Ekiti), Teidi Tosin
(Kogi), Adowei Elliot (Bayelsa), Okpokiri Obinna (Abia), Gbenjo Ayotunde (Osun), Ukeoma Chibuzor (Imo), Nwazema Chukwuonyerem (Imo), Adeniji Jehleel (Osun) and Akonyi Sule (Kogi).
The interview quoted Fashakin as saying that “some so called (NYSC) members were murdered, but in actual fact some of these people are IT consultants”.
To buttress the party’s claim, the spokesman said the CPC traced one the victims through his Facebook page and found out that “he graduated from UNN in 2006 where he studied computer science and is also a manager at a computer firm in Lagos.”
In the meantime, the PDP is yet to react to the damning allegation.
Calls put through to its spokesman, Olisa Metuh, to get his party’s position on the matter was not answered.
DailyPost

Davido and manager Asa Asika part ways

Davido, Asa Asika and Sina Rambo

What can be described as the perfect combination of music artiste and manager has finally been broken apart – pop star David ‘Davido’ Adeleke and his popular manager Asa Asika have parted ways.
NET investigations reveal that the pair severed ties on December 28 – a day after Davido performed at D’banj’s Koko Concert.
The former partners are yet to release any official statement but we hear ‘a lot of water have passed under the bridge’ and reconciliation might not happen.
Sources in Davido’s camp told our reporter today, that dropping Asa was ‘an executive decision’; saying many stakeholders believe someone ‘more matured’ should handle Davido who’s a top five act, and one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing pop stars.
Asa who turned 22 in August 2012, met up with Davido, 20, in 2010.
Since his 2010 debut, Davido’s career has recorded amazing success. But he has also been plagued with controversy. ‘HKN feel he should have stronger management’, a rep from the label told NET.
But other sources claiming to know ‘the true story behind the break up’ say it’s more than what HKN is letting out. Multiple sources tell us financial disagreements have come up more than once and that could be one of the major reasons Asa was shown the way out.
A few hours ago, a blogger Adesoji Adesumo wrote about the breakup, giving entirely different reasons. He alleges that Davido and Asa finally parted ways after the latter couldn’t come up with a N2m balance from a show. Adejumo says Davido assaulted Asa leaving him with bruises and cuts. This could not be immediately confirmed from both Davido’s team and Asa whose phone is currently switched off.
Asa Asika played a key role in building Davido’s career; and before Davido released his first single, he was already positioned in the entertainment industry. Thanks to tutelage from big uncle Obi Asika and cousin Naeto C, Asa was equipped to work with an unknown Davido who returned from the US back in 2010, until they recorded remarkable success.
We learn that Davido and his label HKN are now looking for a new manager and the likely candidate to fill that position might be Shank’s manager ‘Yemi Energy’. Insiders say no decisions have been made though.
Asa Asika could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off and he was yet to reply our E-mails as at the time of this report.
DailyPost

Fashola Donates N4.5m For Ngozi Nwosu’s Kidney Operation

Celebrated Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu who has been battling Kidney and liver failure and is  barely hanging on to to life will be ending 2012 with, at least, a smile.
Just this evening, on the last day of 2012, Lagos State Governor Raji Fashola on behalf of the Lagos State Government donated the sum of N4.5m to complete the money needed for Nwosu’s operation.
Sources say Fashola heard about Nwosu’s case a few weeks ago while reading a publication and asked one of his protocol officers to get in touch with her.
‘They got in touch with us and have asked us to meet with them’, a source close to the actress told Nigerian Entertainment Today.
NET gathered that Nwosu and her friends were in the office of the Governor today, but we could not immediately get confirmation from the governor’s media team.
Our source also tells us that prior to Fashola’s call, other state governments had gotten in touch with them ‘but nothing substantial has come out’ of their meetings.
Nwosu now has N6m and can sort out the fees required for the operation.
This isn’t the first time this sort of gesture has been made to an ailing entertainer or individual. Recently deceased Nollywood veteran actor Enebeli Elebuwa also received help from the Delta State government.
Others like cancer patients Debbie and Funmi Lawal received financial donations from the likes of music producer Don Jazzy, artistes Davido, Solid Star and actresses Tonto Dike and Rukky Sanda
Naij

Youths, soldiers clash in Jos over killing of resident

Some youth residing in Kuru, a town near Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday clashed with operatives of the Special Task Force, after a round of shootings by unknown gunmen and the security operatives in the area killed one of the residents..
The gunfire which occurred Sunday night also injured a male passer-by.
The protesting youth Monday morning, set bonfires and barricaded the main Kuru-Vom-Manchok road. They later marched through the streets chanting war songs, accusing soldiers of the killing.
However, STF spokesman, Captain Salifu Mustapha, denied allegations that the outfit carried out the shootings. He stated that the victims were hit by “stray bullets” from unidentified persons who opened fir indiscriminately on Sunday.
Mustapha in an interview said, “The attack was carried out by some unknown men who just fired indiscriminately and ran away. In fact, there are no STF men stationed at the point where the attack happened.”
“The bullets from these attackers were not aimed at anyone in particular and that is why I say they were stray bullets. Right now, we are trying to find out who carried out the attack, but the youths are distracting us; I don’t know why the youths should blame the soldiers over such crime and follow that up by taking the laws into their hands.”
“For now the road is closed but very soon the road shall be opened for vehicular movement. We have made some arrests, but I don’t know how many. I can only confirm that later, ” he said.
Mustapha added that troop reinforcements has been sent to the area to restore normalcy.
DailyPost

T B Joshua prophecy Accidents, sea sickness, air disasters and more for individuals in 2013

As 2013 gets into full swing, Prophet T B Joshua, a man of God renowned for controversial prophesies, has dished out SEVEN things that will happen to individuals this year.
According to the report, “The prophecies for nations, continents and for those at the helm of affairs shall be announced during the next Sunday Service at T B Joshua’s church.”
Here are the 7 predictions he made:
1. A year of surprises – I am seeing many great, famous, popular and rich men and politicians will become helpless and in need of help in matters of sickness, disease, finances, death, etc. One of the causes: They have failed to reward those who helped them to succeed. This is the year of judgment, especially for politicians who use youth to support their political ambitions without reward after winning power. Tell your neighbour: Reward those who help you succeed now.
2. Those in the foodstuff business will have a field day this year. Farming and agriculture will be the order of the day and will help greatly to be the source of solution this year. People engaged in it will be greatly blessed.
3. Those anxious about God and who hate sin – the faithful – your prayers for many years are not lost. This year, there will be instant answers to your prayers, especially those who have been seeking for the fruit of the womb. The long-time barren will become mothers of many babies this New Year.
4. Natural disasters will be many this New Year, such as motor accidents, sea sickness and air disasters. Let us move to God. With God, all things are possible.
5. Stop praying against those who hurt you. This year, you will see clearly that God is God of vengeance. Instead, you should pray for them.
6. Do charity work – feed the poor and the needy and give scholarships to those who deserve them. This year, there is great reward in doing this if you do it with all your heart. No matter how little, share it with others. Share their pain and share their joy.
7. Our youth who think always of travelling should use the money to go into agriculture or foodstuff business because in the New Year, God will bless them. They will achieve greatness by transacting in agriculture and foodstuff and become successful in export and import business. The money I am talking about could be in the region of N100,000, N200,000, N250,000 ($1,000, $1,500, $2,000).
Those who have been working for many years and have never been satisfied with the job and salary they receive, the little limited resources at their disposal should be invested in foodstuff business or agriculture, especially those already married. They should divide themselves in such a way that either the husband or wife should step down from service where they receive salary and face agriculture.
Foodstuff business and agriculture or farming are anointed businesses this New Year, to revive the world from economic depression. This is the secret of God revealed to you today. Quote me; you will not regret doing it. My name is T B Joshua.
Naijaurban

Keshi Slams Door On Martins, Others

Spain-based striker Obafemi Martins will not get a late recall to the Eagles, contrary to speculations in the media.
“Coach Stephen Keshi has made it clear that he will not call up any new player as he has enough options to choose from for the Nations Cup,” disclosed Eagles spokesman Ben Alaiya from the team’s training camp in Faro, Portugal.

Levante striker martins Martins was one of the top stars left out by Nigeria in the preliminary list for a pre-Africa Cup of Nations training camp in Portugal.

England-based defender Danny Shittu has opted out of the squad and there are still doubts over the availability of Newcastle United striker, Shola Ameobi.
“There is no word from Ameobi yet and Keshi has said he cannot force any player to feature for the country. But he is still waiting to hear from Ameobi on his position and then he will take it from there,” said Alaiya.
Meanwhile, 20 players are already in Faro – nine overseas-based pros and 11 from the Nigeria Premier League. Turkey-based striker Uche Kalu was the last arrival.
Camp sources say US-based striker Bright Dike has been terrific in training as battle for places in the final AFCON squad has stepped up.
Naij

Police Parade Suspected Kidnappers Of Nkiru Sylvanus, Recovers Ransom

Imo State Police Command Monday at its headquarters in Owerri paraded four suspected kidnappers of Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus. Sylvanus was abducted on December 16, 2012.
Parading them, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, disclosed their names as Okoro Basil, Stella Opara (female), Festus Olegeme and Chijioke Chima.
He said that they were apprehended in Imerienwe, Ngor Opkala, Imo State by a counter-terrorism team led by ASP Cyril Obu, adding that they also recovered the ransom paid to the abductors.
According to him, a 78-year-old woman who kidnappers abducted a few days ago, demanding N20 million, was rescued in Rivers State, while the suspected kidnappers were apprehended. Four persons arrested were paraded while two others escaped.
A Peugeot 406 car used as siren pilot car of an unnamed unauthorised individual, was impounded by the command, he disclosed, adding that the owner would be arraigned in court soon.
Two persons who allegedly abducted the four-year-old daughter of the Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Blyden Amajirionnwu on December 8, 2012, were arrested also. They are Tochukwu Ekeh and Ngozi Ihem, while one escaped with bullet wound, Bolanta said.
A retired police officer, Innocent Duru, was also arrested for attempting to rob on December 29. Four others were also arrested and paraded for robbery.
Twelve others arrested by army officers in Obinze for impersonation and unlawful possession of police uniform and kits, the CP said, were handed over to the command, adding that they would soon appear in court.
Naij

Nollywood Actress, Bisi Komolafe Dies

Another tragedy has just hit Nollywood, one of the finest actresses, Bisi Komolafe is said to have died yesterday night at UCH, Ibadan. the cause of her death according to report is that she had complications with her four months pregnancy which resulted to miscarriage.
Bisi Komolafe was supposed to fly out of the country later this week until her death.
Sad news!!! May God comfort her family and friends this period..
Naijaurban

More sad news in Nollywood: Actor Muyiwa Ademola involved in fatal accident

A report written by popular blogger, Sheifunmi, says Muyiwa Ademola, a Nollywood actor, who features mostly in Yoruba movies, was involved in a serious road accident, as 2012 was ending.
According to the MTV presenter, “In other news, another Yoruba actor Muyiwa Ademola was also involved in another accident on December 30,2012, fatally injured and receiving treatment.”
Ademola lost his father last August. It will also be recalled that another Yoruba actress,  Bisi Komolafe, passed away on New Year Eve
DailyPost