Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Photos: Rihanna poses topless in racy new shoot for Vogue Brazil
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Photos: Rihanna poses topless in racy new shoot for Vogue Brazil
APC Chieftain who battered wife arrested by Sagamu police
APC Chieftain who battered wife arrested by Sagamu police
"The suspect personally reported himself to the Sagamu Divisional Police Officer, CSP Lawal Adebowale, around 0800hrs due to arrest warrants issued and pressure mounted on him to show up before he would be publicly declared wanted by the police" the PPRO of the Ogun State Command in a statement.He was later transferred to the Department of Criminal Investigation for further questioning. Ogun State police say they plan to charge him to court.
If you have a violent husband, you can actually get him arrested and locked up. Nigerian police now take domestic violence serious. If your spouse bribe their way out of an arrest, contact NGOs that cater for battered women and they will take up your case. Domestic violence needs to stop!
Monday, 28 April 2014
How former Edo Governor, Igbinedion, lost N3.3billion to Venezuelan conmen
Monday, April 28, 2014
How former Edo Governor, Igbinedion, lost N3.3billion to Venezuelan conmen
Mr. Igbinedion, who stole his state blind while he was governor, has now been scammed of billions by Venezuelan fraudsters in a classic 419 deal
Nemesis may have finally caught up with ex-convict and former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, as he has lost over N3.3 billion to Venezuelan fraudsters, in a deal that bears all the marks of a classic 419 scam, Premium Times can authoritatively reveal.
Court documents seen by Premium Times also suggest that Mr. Igbinedion may be insolvent, as two US-based law firms have walked away from a $600 million lawsuit he instituted against the alleged mastermind and the Venezuelan state owned oil company, Petroleos De Venezuela S.A (PDVSA), over his inability to pay retainer as low as N627,000.00 ($3,800.00).Mr. Igbinedion plundered Edo State treasury for the eight years he was governor. He escaped jail after he reached a controversial plea bargain agreement with the Farida Waziri-led Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which dropped all but one of the 191 charges of corruption and money laundering against him.
In 2008, a Federal High Court in Enugu sentenced him to six months in prison with the option of a N3.5 million fine. The controversial plea bargain agreement he reached with the EFCC also required that he return N500 million and three of the houses he acquired with stolen public funds to the Federal Government.
But it’s not yet Uhuru for Mr. Igbinedion as the Court of Appeal in Benin ruled on April 9, 2014 that he has a case to answer over a fresh 66-count money laundering and financial impropriety suit brought against him by the EFCC. A Federal High Court had ruled in 2011 that it would amount to double jeopardy and abuse of court process to try him again after the plea bargain he entered with the EFCC.
He has been accused of stealing over N3 billion from Edo State’s treasury.
Classic 419-scam
In 2006, looking to cash in on the lucrative but fraud-tainted fuel importation business, the ex-governor’s front and Managing Director of Skanga Energy and Marine Limited, a company formed by Mr. Igbinedion and his brother, Bright, in 1992, Christian Imoukhuede, approached the then Venezuelan Trade Consul to Nigeria, Enrique Arrundell, about the prospect of importing petrol, aviation fuel, and diesel from the South American country.
According to documents filed with a US District Court in New York, Mr. Arrundell advised Mr. Imoukhuede that the best way to get fuel was to go through a PDVSA approved agent.
Mr. Arrundell then introduced Mr. Imoukhuede to Arevenca, a fraudulent firm owned by alleged notorious Venezuelan conman, Francisco Gonzalez.
That meeting with Mr Gonzalez marked the beginning of Mr Igbinedion’s woes.
Mr. Igbinedion and his front, Mr. Imoukhuede claimed in court that they did due diligence checks on Arevenca through the Venezuelan embassy in Abuja. They claim that embassy officials confirmed Arevenca as a reputable Venezuelan business concern and validated documents provided by Arevenca that supposedly showed a relationship with PDVSA.
But it has since turned out that Arevenca might be a complete fraud. PDVSA has since said in court that it has no records of any relationship with Arevenca.
Arevenca is a registered corporation under Venezuelan law but was most recently headquartered in Aruba. Its subsidiaries are: Arevenca AKTM, registered in British Virgin Islands; Arevenca SL, registered in Spain; and Arevenca Aruba Holding NV.
Others are Arevenca Bank, Arevenca Foundation, Fly Aruba Suriname, Arevenca Mining and Arevenca Petroleum Company registered in offshore tax haven, Suriname. There is Arevenca Finances Holding registered in Switzerland and Arevenca Ivory Coast.
Many of these subsidiaries are shell companies or exist only in names.
A Canadian-based freelance journalist, Steven Bodzin, who worked as an energy reporter in Venezuela and has written a number of exposés on Arevenca, revealed that Arevenca’s website is a repository of mind-numbing lies meant to hoodwink mostly unsuspecting international investors.
For instance, on its website, Arevenca claims to have a global refining capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day and plans to build a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast.
It also claims to have a fleet of 72 ships.
However, the company with the highest refining capacity in the world as at September 2013, Reliance Jamnagar Refinery, India, has a refining capacity of only 1.24 million barrels per day.
In fact, Arevenca is not listed among the top ten refineries in the world. The only Venezuela-based refinery in the top 10, Paraguana Refining Centre, belongs to PDVSA and has a processing capacity of just 955,000bpd.
And despite claiming to have 75 vessels, a PREMIUM TIMES search on Lloyds Ship Directories shows that Arevenca does not operate from any of Venezuelan’s 16 ports. There is also no proof that the company is building a two million barrel per day refinery in Ivory Coast as it claimed.
These are just few of the web of lies contained in Arevenca’s website. Other false claims made by the company to defraud investors can be found on Mr. Bodzin’s blog.
In October 2006, Mr. Imoukhuede, who was Mr. Igbinedion’s schoolmate, arrived at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas and was ushered into the VIP lounge of the facility and later given a luxury ride to the exquisite InterContinental Tamanaco, rated among the top three hotels in the country.
It was at Intercontinental Tamanaco that Mr. Imoukhuede had initial negotiation with Mr. Gonzalez and an unnamed Nigerian.
After the meeting, Skanga reached a tentative agreement to buy “petroleum products” from Arevenca. Arevenca also agreed to give Skanga the first right of refusal to buy its AGO (diesel), PMS (premium motor spirit) DPK (kerosene), Jet Al fuel, Bitumen and Fuel oil.
The deal was to take off with a 35,000 metric tones of AGO in the first instance and then grow into about three cargoes monthly, according to an official statement by Skanga.
Bank transfer documents show that Skanga paid $1.05 million of the $1.4 million cost of freight.
Skanga’s officials claimed during interrogation in court that their company made these payments ($580,000 and $470,000) based on the proof of certain “inducement documents which included an alleged PDVSA bill of lading.
After Skanga made these initial payments, it became trapped. The duping of the former governor and his corrupt clan began in full swing.
Igbinedion goes to Caracas
In January 2007, four months before the expiration of his governorship term, Mr. Igbinedion travelled to Caracas, ostensibly on an official visit and possibly lavishing Edo state money on the deal. But our investigations indicate the visit was to put finishing touches to the deal earlier reached by his front three months earlier.
According to the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN), Mr. Igbinedion and his entourage were purportedly met by some of the influential “Chavista” politicians in the country, as supporters of the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chávez, are called: the Mayor of Central Caracas, Freddy Bernal, the Governor of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa, Reinaldo Bolívar as well as other top Venezuelan government officials and businessmen.
It was an elaborate event accompanied by lavish photo op, expensive alcohol and dinner in the evening at the “Gran Melia Hotel, another top three luxury hotel in Venezuela, according to luxury hotel reservations website, Five Star Alliance.
Mr. Igbinedion was handed the key to the city of Caracas and announced as the “Alcaldía de Libertador”, the honorary Mayor of the central Caracas borough of Libertador. He also held a meeting with top officials of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry at their headquarters, the Yellow House.
But the whole fanfare was a grand charade and part of a well orchestrated confidence trick put together by some of the most devious conmen in Latin America.
It later appeared that Mr. Gonzalez received an intensive course on Nigerian niceties. Emails from Mr. Arrundell and Gonzalez to Mr. Igbinedion have that uniquely Nigerian informality. Rather than write in a formal manner as one would have expected of parties in a multi-million dollar deal, they addressed Mr. Igbinedion as “My brother Lucky” or “Dear brother Lucky.”
One letter by Mr. Gonzalez, filled with grammatical errors, reads:
Dear brother luckyThe geniality of Mr. Gonzalez’s letters coupled with the grand reception, some would say deception, he got during his “official” visit to Caracas apparently made Mr. Igbinedion even more trusting of the Venezuelan gang.
I already send the dignity signed invoice. You know what this mean. Nobody do this, but I always honored my word, agins all the logical and normal status. I prefer died that do not honored my word. This is another demonstration that I am a honor man. That mean that the product is yours. I trust you like a brother I hope you do not let me down. I do not want disappoint you, I hope you do not disappoint me.
Best regards, You brother and friend
Francisco JAvier Gonzalez
Nigerian thief, money launderer, is scammed
After a couple of other meetings later that year, Arevenca made Skanga a deal too good to be true: a consignment of 35,000 metric tonnes of diesel will be sent to Skanga.
All it needed to do was to prepay the charges for delivery and complete the full payment for the delivery in three months.
Mr. Igbinedion could not believe his luck. Skanga promptly transferred $19.6 million more to Arevenca’s Swiss bank account as freight charges and partial payment for two consignments of Petrol and diesel aboard two vessels named “Digniti” and “Ventur.”
The vessels never arrived.
The Nigerian Port Authority said it does not have any record of “Digniti” or “Ventur” entering Nigerian waters at the time it was billed to arrive.
In fact, PREMIUM TIMES investigation reveals that there are no vessels named “Dignitii” or “Ventur”.
Searches on Lloyds directories and other ship directories show that the ship don’t exist anywhere in the world.
All efforts made to contact the Venezuelan embassy to confirm the extent to which Mr. Arrundell, who has been posted out of the country, was involved in the scam was unsuccessful.
The embassy’s phone number seems to be out of order and emails were returned as undelivered.
Mr. Imoukhuede declined to comment when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. He explained that since the case is in court, Skanga’s lawyer was in the best position to make public comments on the matter.
“You know the case is in court. I don’t think I am at ease to talk about it. I would have to talk to the lawyer. I can’t make any comment. The Nigerian legal system is different from the American system. The best thing is to talk to Femi Salu,” he said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The remaining parts in this series will look at courtroom intrigues; how two of Igbinedion’s American counsel abandoned the case due to his inability to pay their retainer.
A part will look at the role played by MRS Oil Nigeria Limited plus interesting revelations in court while another will take a look at the role of the Venezuelan authorities in the entire scam.
Women to stage one-million march in Abuja over abducted girls
Monday, April 28, 2014
Women to stage one-million march in Abuja over abducted girls
Nigerian women would on Wednesday April 30th
in Abuja stage a one-million-women march tagged "Free our girls" to
press for the release of the schoolgirls that were abducted from Girls
Government college in Chibok, Borno state on Monday April 14th.
The call for the protest was made during an emergency
meeting put together by the Borno state first lady, Hajia Nana Kashim
Shettima, yesterday. Coordinator of the protest Prof. Hauwa Abdu Biu
said the march is expected to involve every woman in the
country.
Earlier
on at the meeting, the first lady amids sobs called on all
women to join in efforts to free the abducted girls and also called on
wives of heads of Security agents, some of whom were present at the
meeting to help plead with their spouses to intensify their efforts in
the search for the girls
"I want to use this opportunity to appeal to wives of security chiefs at the national and state levels to mount pressures on their spouses to intensify effort to rescue our dear children. However, I feel it is necessary to call on all women in Borno to come up with their resolutions and harmonize them. Let us all put our differences aside irrespective of our faith, or ethnicity, let us all join hands together to rescue these girls, I know that we can do it, Almighty Allah is with us, He knows our intention. I am sure for now we are not on our own, I am happy to inform you that the wife of the president called me two days ago, I believe that she is also with us, let us all join hands together irrespective of political affiliations.” she said
Meanwhile, Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen
Chris Olukolade says the military is getting closer to the Boko Haram
base where the girls are being kept. He said this yesterday during a tour
with journalist to some of Boko Haram bases where the military has
been able to dismantle.
"The bases we visited are part of the responses to the terrorist offensive and that is an achievement; the military had moved close to where the insurgents are. It shows that the military had taken over the land. The morale of the soldiers was high, and we are expecting to see more successes from the troops” he said.
Yes! magazine replies Harrysong, insists he did say his parents are siblings
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Yes! magazine replies Harrysong, insists he did say his parents are siblings
Yes! Magazine quoted singer Harrysong as saying his parents are siblings
in an interview with them a while back. Harrysong released a statement
some days ago denying he ever made the comment. The magazine editors
have now released their own statement insisting that he did say it.
Our attention has been drawn to a very disparaging comment from Harrysong, an up and coming artiste over an interview we conducted with him at Kcee's Omole Phase 2, Ikeja, Lagos home.
As a responsible medium, Yes International! had wanted to ignore him and his deliberate act of mischief. But on a second thought, we decided otherwise, because in our considered opinion, it will be suicidal to disregard the young man's insinuations and cheap blackmail. However, we are also not unaware of Harrysong's ignorance and this again is a restraining factor on our side. Continue
So, we
wish to inform Harrysong and people like him that a print medium or any
organization for that matter that deals in news has a right to stagger any
interview. What is giving him sleepless
nights is the content of the interview which very few people will be proud
of. But he did not speak under duress.
So, we are wondering what prompted this sudden outburst and antagonism. More
so, when he applauded the interview at the time it was first used on the cover
of our magazine.
For the
records, it is important to state that this controversial interview resurfaced
because our website crashed and in rebuilding it, we are uploading our lost
materials. In addition, we wish to inform Harrysong that the original tape is
still intact and if he wishes to listen to his voice one more time, he is free
to drop by at our Budland, Ikeja, Lagos office. Likewise any other person.
Photos: Banky W plays with Dolphins in Dubai
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Photos: Banky W plays with Dolphins in Dubai
Photos: Rihanna goes braless at basketball game
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Photos: Rihanna goes braless at basketball game
Child killer/rapist tortured and raped in prison in Brazil by 20 men
Monday, April 28, 2014
Child killer/rapist tortured and raped in prison in Brazil by 20 men
According to local media, trouble started for the man after his girlfriend left him alone with her son. A few hours later, he called his girlfriend claiming the boy fell and was having seizures. The child was rushed to the hospital and died two days later. Doctors who didn't believe the boy fell called the police and told them they suspected foul play because the injuries on the boy wasn't consistent with a fall but with blunt trauma, and also said possible sexual abuse was involved.
Doctors concluded there was blunt trauma and that the child also had a fissure in the anus. Fissure could come from sexual abuse or constipation but the boy's mum said he didn't have constipation.
Daryell was immediately arrested and charged with abusing and killing the boy, an accusation he vehemently denied. Then he went to prison and other prisoners who had heard what he did, came for him. (See the anus area in the right pic above?) Continue...
When he recovered a little, they returned him to the prison and once again...the prisoners descended on him. They tore open the stitches on her back, stabbed him some more and raped him again.
Xavier has since been removed from the Wansbeck, DF prison and taken to another prison...
You think he got what he deserved?
Jay Z and Beyonce announce joint summer tour - On The Run
Monday, April 28, 2014
Jay Z and Beyonce announce joint summer tour - On The Run
According to the announcement, pre-sale tickets will be made available for Beyonce fan club members and Chase credit card holders on 4/29/14 at Ticketmaster.
$1 from each ticket sold and a portion of the proceeds from the Chase VIP Ticket Package will be donated to the Shawn Carter Foundation. Tickets for the general public will go on sale May 2 on LiveNation.
Dear LIB readers; my dad murdered our 6month old baby to save us
Dear LIB readers; my dad murdered our 6month old baby to save us
I am 19years old. My parents and I were based in the north but recently we just moved to our village in Owerri due to the destruction of our house and properties in Yobe state.
In 2013, there was an attack in our area by BokoHharam. So many people were killed so we had to hide somewhere for our safety and we were 3 kids, my parents and our last child who was 6month old. While hiding, the Boko Haram gun men were aproaching us. Hearing the sound of their guns, our 6month old baby started crying and the men were not far from us.
So, my dad needed to save us and he strangled the baby to death. Now the five of us are alive and healthy but staying in the village. My mum is yet to get over the fact that our baby was killed to save us all, she keeps blaming my dad for killing her child. Now, she wants a divorce. Please I will like to know, did my dad do anything wrong by killing the baby to save us?
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Columbus Short fired from Scandal after domestic violence incident
Columbus Short fired from Scandal after domestic violence incident
Columbus confirmed via a statement released to the media yesterday that he won't be returning to the blockbuster series
"At this time I must confirm my exit from a show I've called home for 3 years, with what is the most talented ensemble on television today. I would like to first thank Shonda Rhimes for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast. Thank you Gladiators, who have supported me throughout my entire career and of course to ABC and Shondaland for allowing me to play such a pivotal role in the Scandal series. I have enjoyed every single minute of it. Everything must come to an end and unfortunately the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas. I wish nothing but the best for Shonda, Kerry and the rest of the cast, who have become like a second family to me in such a short amount of time. For this, I will forever be grateful."
Ex-BBA housemate Vimbai in Lagos to shoot TV soap
Ex-BBA housemate Vimbai in Lagos to shoot TV soap
Tiwa Savage shows off her amazing bikini body in Dubai
Police recover 2-yr-old boy’s severed head in Ibadan
Police recover 2-yr-old boy’s severed head in Ibadan
The Ogun state Police command has recovered the head of the 2 year
old boy that was killed on April 16 by suspected ritualist, Mamodu
Bashir Ibrahim. Mamodu had raped the little boy's mother at uncompleted building at Ofada town in
Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun State before killing and beheading the boy. The man was later
arrested by men of the Criminal Investigation Department on April 22, he took the police team to where he hid
the little boy's severed head.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer,
DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who spoke with Vanguard, the head was found inside a bag in Mokola area of
Ibadan of Oyo state.
"He has confessed to the crime, but still keeping some information to himself regarding those that sent him to get the commodity. The suspect took the investigation team to Mokola area of Ibadan where the head was recovered from a bag in the bush. The Commissioner of Police in Ogun state, has however directed the detectives to intensify efforts to uncover the buyers and others who engage in such dirty deals" he said
Meanwhile officials of the National Security &
Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Ogun State, yesterday arrested
32-year-old man, Olusegun Kehinde (pictured above), for allegedly
kidnapping a nine-month-old boy, Malik Ogundeyi on Wednesday April 23 at
No 1 Elegbede House Ore-meji street, Ijeun-Titun area of Abeokuta.
In a
statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the
state, Olanrewaju Kareem, said he was arrested following an alarm raised
by the boys mother
"Men of the corps on patrol of PHCN facilities within Abeokuta arrested the suspect as a result of alarm raised by the child’s mother, Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, when she saw her nine month-old baby, Malik Ogundeyi, with the suspect. According to Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, the child was kidnapped when he strayed away while the mother was busy washing. She explained further that she left the baby in the passage while she left to pour used water at the backyard. The suspect claimed he lives at Okanlawon’s compound, Oke-Ijeun, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State during interrogation.” he said
OMG!! Check out Tiwa Savage's wedding dress (Photos)
Friday, 25 April 2014
Naval officer allegedly kills bus conductor in Oshodi over bribe
Pic: Naval officer allegedly kills bus conductor in Oshodi over bribe
Virgin Australia plane forced to land in Bali over fears of a hijack
Friday, April 25, 2014
Virgin Australia plane forced to land in Bali over fears of a hijack
The pilot sent a distress signal to airport authorities and the plane was cleared to land in Bali so the situation could be dealt with. BBC reports that immediately the plane landed, the drunk passenger, who had been overpowered by the crew and handcuffed him, was arrested at the airport.
Virgin Australia told ABC News that there has been a medical emergency aboard the plane but everything had been settled though the aircraft still remains on the tarmac at Bali’s Denpasar airport.
OOU Student wins N1.115m in Goldenbet.com stakes
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Pres. Jonathan holds security meeting with Govs, spiritual leaders, heads of security agencies
Pres. Jonathan holds security meeting with Govs, spiritual leaders, heads of security agencies
President Jonathan this afternoon (meeting may still be going on as you
read this) held a closed door meeting
with some state governors, heads of security agencies, ministers and
spiritual leaders in the country with a view of finding lasting
solution to the security problems the nation is currently facing.
The meeting which started around 12.10 this afternoon has in attendance Willie Obiano (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia),
Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam
(Benue), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel
Uduaghan (Delta), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno),
Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna ), Garba Umar (Taraba),
Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Seidu Dakingari
(Kebbi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun
Mimiko (Ondo), Lyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and
Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).
Spiritual leaders, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (President of
CAN), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III as well as
Ministers of Interior, Defence, Police Affairs, Foreign, Agriculture,
FCT and the Attorney-General of the Federation are all in attendance. Continue...
National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dsuki (rtd) led
heads of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Nigeria Customs
Service, NSCDC and Immigration Service to the meeting
Deputy Governors of Edo, Jigawa, Kano, Ogun, Plateau, Imo, Rivers and Oyo state represented their various State Governors.
Photos: Policeman beaten & tied up by mob after allegedly shooting driver
The one caught was beaten and tied up by a mob. See more pics after the cut...
Ife Exhibition: A Celebration Of Rich Cultural Heritage
It was a moment of reflection when the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) recently commissioned the National Museum, Ile-Ife exhibition. The exhibition titled, “Ife Archaeology and Material Culture in Retrospect,” was designed to replace the 1954 old exhibition targeted at showcasing the rich material culture of Ile-Ife through the archaeological discovery in four media of terracotta, Bronzes, Stones and beads.
It was also aimed at appreciating the great works of Ife artists like Olokun, Ooni Luwo, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin who were famous for originating the idea of bronze casting in the ancient city.
The exhibition also provided the opportunity to launch another comprehensive work titled, ‘The Sacred and Historical Landscapes of Ile-Ife” that were produced by museum professionals in heritage management and cultural managers from Obafemi Awolowo University who were commissioned by NCMM in 2010 to collate and document heritage as well as historical sites in Ile-Ife.
You may recall that NCMM Ile-Ife museum was opened in 1954 by the defunct department of antiquities in collaboration with the then Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Sir Adesoji Aderemi as a result of early discovery of four media in large quantity by a German Ethnologist, Leo Frobenius whose unscientific excavation at Olokun grove yielded the famous Ori-Olokun and other Ife master pieces. With this, the museum was established at Enuwa beside the Ooni palace.
Nigeria As Preferred Cultural Destination
In his address, the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, said the the policy trust of federal government was to place Nigeria as preferred cultural destination worldwide saying that culture must be seen as a vector of development.
“The policy thrust of the federal government is to place Nigeria as a preferred cultural destination not only in Africa, but also all over the world and to achieve these objectives, the transformation outlines that there should be effective community involvement as the basis of tourism and cultural growth even as culture will serve as a vector of development.
He further disclosed that henceforth, the annual Osun/ Oshogbo festival would receive federal government budgetary allocation for hosting the event saying that apart from oil and gas, culture and tourism were viable areas of diversification from Nigeria`s over-dependence on oil and gas.
“My director-general and I have worked closely to ensure that Osun/ Oshogbo festival will begin to receive federal government every year that is from 2014, it will be inculcated into the budget as Osun-Oshogbo festival.
He regretted that the level of immorality in the society is not unconnected to loss of family values which would be traceable to unchecked influx of foreign cultures maintaining that cultural values must be urgently restored.
International Best Practices
The deputy governor of Osun State, Otunba Titilayo Tomori called on the management of NCMM to work in accordance with international best practices and educate the residents on the importance of preserving their cultural heritage and monument sites.
She appreciated the efforts of the federal government for inculcating Osun/Oshogbo festival in the National budget as well as the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse for facilitating the promotion of Ife culture in London.
Tomori said, “Ife is a wonderful city created by God over 13,000 years and God has given us the privilege to be part of the Ife cultural heritage. The state government identifies with the giant stride taken by NCMM to project Ile-Ife as the cultural progenitor of Yoruba race.
…Open New Vista
Responding, the director-general of NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman said the exhibition would open new vista in the understanding of Ife as the source and one of the famous centres of world civilisation likewise to stimulate the interest of youths in understanding their cultural heritage.
He said, “The exhibition will open new vista in the understanding of Ife as the source and one of the famous centres of world civilisation likewise to stimulate the interest of youths in our cultural heritage through deeper understanding of her glorious past.
“Its also intended to bring to focus the journey of Ife clay, stone and bronze technology beginning from the abstract form of artwork which historians put at about 800 AD to the naturalistic masterpieces of 12th to 15th centuries.
Usman noted that the position of Ife as the cradle of Yoruba and one of the centres of world civilisation is never in doubt considering the quality, uniqueness and outstanding collections of Ife masterpieces of art objects within and around the world.
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Education Has Improved In Ekiti – Fayemi
He said the improvement in the level of students’ performances in external examinations and the welfare of the teachers are unprecedented since he came on board as the helmsman of the state.
Fayemi stated these on Tuesday in Okeoro Ekiti in Ijero local government while reacting to an allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose that the rating of the state in public examinations is at its lowest ebb since October 16, 2010 when Fayemi assumed office.
The governor who challenged Fayose to a debate on the level of development of education in the state said, “Go to West African Examinations Council and check the trajectory. Go and see the records we have achieved in the last three years. Ekiti has produced good results consistently. I don’t deal with opinions; I deal with facts because facts are sacred; opinions are free; anybody can say what they like”.
Fayose had on Monday in Ikere Ekiti said the state was ranked 8th in WAEC before he left in 2006, expressing regret that the standard had witnessed a downward trend to as low as 35th among the 36 states of the federation under Fayemi’s regime.
He maintained that the value he attached to education earnedhim his doctorate degree.
the governor added , “I challenged my good brother, Mr Ayo Fayose to a debate on the academic records when he was the Governor and what obtains now that I am Governor. You can check out the entire parameters , teachers when he was governor were earning N7,500 minimum wage.
“Then, There was no rural teachers’ Allowance. No core subjects allowance. No capacity building programme. There was nothing teachers could write home about. Though, Fayose might be distributing N500 and Ankara as tangible and concrete tools in an enduring manner.
“You can go beyond that and go to the tertiary institutions then. It was Fayose that cancelled the College of Medicine in Ekiti State University , go there now and compare the quality of education in the State University.
“Aside this, we have moved from the position of 217 on Webometric ranking to 17 in the entire country.
The governor who also visited Epe and Ara Ekiti in the local government in continuation of his councils campaign promised to expedite action on the construction of Ara-Ijero-Araromi road and Okeoro—Ilukun-Ipoti road to bring development to the communities.
LASU Elects New Deputy VC
A statement signed by the public relations officer, Mr Kayode Sutton yesterday, said Njokanma, a Professor of Paediatrics, polled a total number of 33 votes while his co-contestant, Prof Olatunji Abanikannda of the Faculty of Science had 30 votes.
Njokanma, a former head of Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), was a two-term deputy provost, LASUCOM, Ikeja between 2008-2010 and 2010-2012 respectively.
He has also served as dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences from 2012 to February 2014. Out of the 139 members of the Senate, 83 signed the attendance register, while 77 members took part in the election.
The post of the deputy vice chancellor (Administration) became vacant after the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past deputy vice chancellor, Administration, Prof Omolara A. Bamgboye on Saturday, December 7, 2013.
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