Edo: Inside story of killings, inter-cult clashes in Ekpoma

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Onogie-of-Ekpoma.jpg "><br />Whenever folks gather to talk about killing fields in Nigeria,<br />Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states easily come to mind. In<br />recent past, Jos, the Plateau State capital assumed the<br />inglorious position as the most notorious city to live in<br />Nigeria. Scores of deaths were recorded every day. A city once<br />acclaimed to be calm and peaceful became Nigeria’s version<br />of Iraq and Afghanistan. For now, the killings appear to have<br />abated. Unknown to many, there is a town called Ekpoma,<br />located in Edo State, South-south Nigeria where there is a<br />raging war of a kind. Those engaged in this bloodbath are not<br />terrorists or militants; they are students, farmers and artisans<br />in the community. For keen observers who have followed the<br />blood orgy, cultism in the historic town has been taken too<br />far.<br />Ekpoma town is the second most popular city in Edo State,<br />after Benin City, the state capital. It has an area of 502 km²<br />and a population of 125,842, according to the 2006 census.<br />The popular Ambrose Alli University (AAU) is situated in the<br />town. It also boasts of notable Nigerians and heavyweight<br />politicians. The main language spoken by indigenes is Esan.<br />Pidgin is equally very popular and has become the lingua<br />franca in the town. The town accommodates strangers from<br />every part of the country and they live happily together in<br />peace.<br />However, that peace has come under severe threats by sons<br />of anarchy who have turned the place to a war zone. The<br />endless cult clashes have resulted in the death of hundreds of<br />students and locals. The situation has so degenerated that<br />the community becomes a ghost town after 8pm every day, for<br />fear of being raped, robbed, murdered or attacked by cultists.<br />In Ekpoma, everyone now sleeps with one eye wide open.<br />The genesis<br />Violent clashes between rival cult groups in Ekpoma is as old<br />as the university in the town, AAU. Until the mid 1990s when<br />students of the university had a running battle with the<br />military and scores of students were killed, cultism was<br />regarded as something reserved for the misfits of the society.<br />After the military massacre that claimed over 100 lives of<br />students, various cult groups embarked on massive<br />membership drive. Freshmen were initiated, while old students<br />were sometimes blackmailed to enlist. Since then, the<br />university community and the entire Ekpoma town has lost its<br />peace.<br />Since the late 1990s, there has not been any semester that<br />students are not massacred or engaged in inter-cult battle. At<br />some point, some of the killings happened within the university<br />campus. Vice chancellors and deans of students at different<br />times, tried endlessly to mediate. Sometimes, they succeeded;<br />at other times, they failed. During those mediation meetings,<br />the vice chancellors, the dean of students, the police DPO and<br />leaders of various leaders of the cult groups stayed up through<br />the nights. A popular spot located opposite the famous Igbin­<br />edion Hostel inside the university campus, was the meeting<br />point.<br />In its drive to stem the endless killings back then, the<br />university authority backed the formation of Anti-Cult<br />Campaign Organisation of Nigeria (ACCON). In its first few<br />years, the group succeeded in waging coordinated war against<br />cult-related activities in the university. Things, however,<br />changed when some daredevil cult members launched an early<br />morning attack on the base of ACCON in 2003 and killed eight<br />of its members. Thereafter, cultists infiltrated the group and<br />weakened its structure. Since then, it has lost its valour and it<br />has been unable to tackle cultism in the university. Observers<br />and students believe the anti-cult group is now being run by<br />cultists. In which instance, the devil thrives unchecked.<br />The new trend<br />In Ekpoma, it is difficult to tell who is a cultist. The whole<br />town has become a tapestry of cultists. Membership of cult<br />groups is no longer a special privilege enjoyed by students of<br />AAU. Locals are the new bosses. Mechanics, farmers,<br />electricians, okada riders and other artisans/technicians have<br />enlisted and the war is raging. A former student of the<br />university, Ehichioya (last name withheld), who runs a barber<br />shop in the town sat down with our correspondent and gave<br />graphical details of how cultism has eaten deep into every<br />fabric of life in Ekpoma. He equally spoke on series of<br />coordinated killings in the area and how police appear to have<br />been compromised.<br />“In Ekpoma, it is a crime to be law-abiding”, he began. “I<br />have spent all my life in this town. I am in my early 30s, so I<br />can tell you I understand how this town works. I am very<br />scared and many too in this town are scared. There is too<br />much lawlessness going on here and those that should ensure<br />there is peace are doing nothing. It is so bad that parents can<br />no longer tell their children what to do. It might not be as bad<br />as Boko Haram in the North, but we are in real trouble.<br />“In the past, only few students were members of popular cult<br />groups. I remember then as a kid how students used to block<br />the express lane when they were protesting. I also remember<br />how cult members used to clash and kill themselves. But the<br />school authority was quick to intervene then. Things really got<br />bad when a certain vice chancellor took over in 2004. He<br />destroyed students union activism and started fraternising<br />with cult members and holding meetings with them. That<br />action gave some sort of backing to those boys. Because they<br />knew they were not going to be arrested, they started<br />recruiting and initiating more members. This new relationship<br />between cult members and the vice chancellor gave rise to<br />cult activities.<br />“Before you knew it, cult boys started fighting inside the<br />campus. Soon, they took over the Students’ Union Gov­<br />ernment (SUG). They started insisting on sponsoring their<br />members that will form part of SUG. Before you could say<br />jack, SUG officials started joining cult groups. It became an<br />unwritten rule that you must belong to a known cult group<br />before you could be elected as president of SUG. As I speak,<br />that rule is still there. Most SUG members in AAU are cult<br />members and the current vice chancellor is helpless.”<br />Aluya spoke further: “Now, it is different. What we have in<br />Ekpoma is now street cultism. All sort of people are joining<br />cult groups. Today, mechanics are even joining cult groups.<br />Sometimes, when you take your car to a local mechanic in<br />Ekpoma, you see something very strange. When a mechanic<br />goes under your car, you see a gun attached to his trousers.<br />He openly wears his band or cap which displays the cult<br />group he belongs to. That is how far they have taken cultism<br />in Ekpoma. Okada men threaten you and openly tell you that<br />they belong to a cult group and nothing will happen to them.<br />“Secondary school students have started joining cults now.<br />Some carry guns to school and this is very common in public<br />schools. So, by the time these boys get to the university,<br />cultism becomes a child’s play to them. They see cultism as<br />a lucrative venture and many young people are lured to join.<br />Some of them have become armed robbers. They lay siege<br />along the highway and even attack private homes at night. Go<br />to Iruekpen, Ujemen, Eguare, Ihumudumu and all small towns<br />and villages in Ekpoma. It is the same story. Cultism has gone<br />to the streets.”<br />There is a particular hotel in Ujemen owned by a former<br />chairman of the local government. That hotel is the new den<br />of robbers in Ekpoma. Cult wars start and end in that hotel.<br />Only on Christmas day, some group of cult boys stabbed a 22-<br />year-old boy to death. Prior to that ugly incident, a similar<br />case was reported of how another young man was shot dead<br />in the same hotel.<br />Armed robbery attacks in Ekpoma<br />In 2011, some dare-devil robbers, suspected to be students of<br />AAU, launched a daylight attack in one of the new generation<br />banks. Lives were wasted and millions of Naira carted away.<br />According to eyewitnesses, the robbers spent over two hours<br />and police officers in the area were chased away. “It was a<br />gory experience and something I wish I could erase from my<br />memory. What really surprised me on that fateful day was how<br />a young lady mounted the main road and chased policemen<br />away,” one of the eyewitnesses recalled.<br />During that deadly attack that changed a lot of things in the<br />town, the assailants stormed the town with a juju man and<br />dynamites. The entrance to the building was bombed and<br />sporadic gunshots were fired. There were series of other high-<br />profile bank robberies in the town within the period. Angered<br />by the refusal of Edo State government to act swiftly, all the<br />commercial banks in the town closed down operations for over<br />six months. Residents were forced to carry out their bank<br />transactions in Benin City, Uromi or Auchi. After series of<br />pleas and interventions from stakeholders, banks in the area<br />reopened, but only work half day for fear of being attacked<br />again by robbers.<br />“I remember that day those robbers came to Ekpoma. It was<br />like a war situation. A girl operating a salon opposite the bank<br />was killed by a stray bullet. Policemen were chased way. Even<br />military guys were scared to engage the robbers. For over two<br />hours, they operated freely and held the town hostage. Before<br />that major robbery, the town had witnessed other robbery<br />attacks. Banks were always targeted and people were even<br />scared to go to the banks. The sad thing is that, we all know<br />how this thing started and since everyone has been<br />compromised, no one can bring an end to this madness,”<br />Aluya spoke briefly on robbery attacks in the town.<br />There is another fear silently expressed by residents and<br />natives of the town as the country prepares for the general<br />elections. It is an established fact that elections in Ekpoma<br />are among the most violent in the country. Snatching of ballot<br />boxes and harassment of voters are common occurrences in<br />the area. With the proliferation of arms in the town and the<br />secret backing of some candidates by known cult groups,<br />violence might break out in Ekpoma and spill over to other<br />neighbouring towns and villages.

Edo: Inside story of killings, inter-cult clashes in Ekpoma

Whenever folks gather to talk about killing fields in Nigeria, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states easily come to mind. In recent past, Jos, the ...

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Umuoji community pledges total votes for Ngige

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ngige-chris2.jpg "><br />The people of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area<br />of Anambra State have assured the All Progressives Congress<br />(APC) senatorial candidate for Anambra Central senatorial<br />district, Senator Dr. Chris Ngige of their total votes in the<br />forthcoming election.<br />The community gave the assurance on Wednesday when<br />Senator Ngige visited them in continuation of his campaign<br />for a return to the Senate.<br />Speaking at the occasion, former President- General of Umuoji<br />Improvement Union, Chief Obi Onwuachu said that Umuoji<br />community was fully committed to Ngige and would continue<br />to deliver their bulk votes for him as pay back for the good<br />works he did in the town both as governor of Anambra state<br />and as a Senator.<br />Chief Onwuachu said Senator Ngige had continued to endear<br />himself to the people with his laudable programmes.<br />He noted with delight that more than 50 students from Umuoji<br />were already enjoying scholarship offered to them under<br />Senator Ngige Scholarship Foundation, while many more<br />would soon join the scholarship list.<br />Chief Onuwachu also extolled Senator Ngige for constructing<br />the Nkpor Junction Umuoji – Nnobi road which he said, had<br />remained durable because of its high quality.<br />Also speaking at the occasion, an APC stakeholder in Umuoji,<br />Chief Okey Obadike commended Senator Ngige for what he<br />described as his excellent performance in the Senate.<br />He appealed to him to carry his campaign to Mgbago Umuoji,<br />where he said that his numerous supporters were waiting his<br />him.<br />Addressing the crowd, Senator Ngige commended the<br />community for their unfettered support and pledged to attract<br />more constituency projects to them if voted-back to the<br />Senate.<br />Ngige who had earlier visited members of Umuoji Catholic<br />Laity Council said that Umuoji had remained strongly behind<br />him in his political carrier, and would always be remembered<br />in his programmes.<br />He told the people to collect forms for the 2015 batch of<br />scholarship so that those who did not benefit in 2014 would<br />have the opportunity to be part of beneficiaries.<br />He had earlier in the day taken his campaign to Ukwulu,<br />Nawgu and Umudioka, where he was received by enthusiastic<br />supporters and party faithful who pledged their commitment to<br />vote mas sively for him in the senatorial election.<br />Among those who received Senator Ngige at Nawgu and<br />Ukwulu were students from the two communities who received<br />his scholarship.

Umuoji community pledges total votes for Ngige

The people of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have assured the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial can...

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Alex Otti berates Abia govt over non-payment of pensioners

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ALEX-OTTI.jpg "><br />Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance<br />(APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has berated the state<br />government over non-payment of the state pensioners’<br />emoluments, saying it is an offence against God.<br />Otti said that pensioners are like parents and that anybody<br />who does not respect his or her parents was courting God’s<br />trouble, stressing that the Bible made it explicit that children<br />should honour their fathers and mothers that their days may<br />be long but regretted that that was not the case with Abia<br />State government in its treatment of pensioners.<br />Otti who stated this while addressing pensioners in the state<br />capital, Umuahia, described pensioners as people who worked<br />diligently for the nation in their prime and ought to be taken<br />care of in their retirement.<br />He expressed sadness that retirees in the state who should<br />have been enjoying the fruits of their labour were made to<br />suffer by the same government they served meritoriously.<br />“The situation of pensioners in the state is heart rending<br />because these are old men and women who served the state<br />with all their strength at their prime and when it is time to<br />reap the fruits of their labour, somebody is denying them.

Alex Otti berates Abia govt over non-payment of pensioners

Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has berated the state government over non-p...

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Buhari can rule Nigeria even at 90 – Gen Magoro

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/buhari.jpg "><br />Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation Sub- Commi t t e e ,<br />Buhari Campaign Organisation, North West, General<br />Mohammed Magoro (retd) has called on Nigerians who are<br />saying that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives<br />Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) is too old<br />to rule the country to have a rethink.<br />Fielding questions from newsmen yesterday at a press<br />briefing, General Magoro directed such Nigerians to take a<br />look at one of the African countries, Zimbabwe, where the 90-<br />year-old President Robert Mugabe is steering the affairs of<br />that country.<br />This was even as the Chairman, Advisory Council, Sir Ahmadu<br />Bello Memorial Foundation, Honourable Justice Mamman<br />Nasir (retd) called on Nigerians to avoid violence, but vote for<br />the candidates of their choice during the elections.<br />“So the answer to your question whether Buhari at 72, is not<br />too old to rule Nigeria is for you to look at Zimbabwe, how old<br />is Mugabe, I won’t say more than this”. Magoro said.<br />He said Buhari’s campaign rally in the North West was a huge<br />success, and that what was left to be done, was ‘mop up<br />operations’ which is expected to be done by states<br />governorship candidates as well as candidates of States<br />Houses of Assembly.<br />He added, “Buhari is ready for presidential debate any time he<br />is called upon to do so. I want to say that there is no<br />convincing reason to shift the election, it does not make any<br />sense, it will mean that we are not serious”.<br />In his remarks, Justice Nasir said, “The Foundation resolved<br />at its Advisory Council meeting on February 5, 2015 to draw<br />the attention of all well-meaning Nigerians and the interna­<br />tional community on critical issues on the upcoming elections<br />and the security of the nation.

Buhari can rule Nigeria even at 90 – Gen Magoro

Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation Sub- Commi t t e e , Buhari Campaign Organisation, North West, General Mohammed Magoro (retd) has called ...

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Court dismisses case against Ondo PDP

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/PDP-new-1.jpg "><br />The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the<br />application of some aggrieved members of the Peoples<br />Democratic Party in Ondo State seeking the nullification of the<br />list of the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general<br />elections as published by the Independent National Electoral<br />Commission (INEC).<br />Delivering judgment in the suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/1006/14<br />instituted against the party by the group led by Dr Olu Ogunye<br />in alliance with Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim and Dr Olu Agunloye,<br />Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola held that it will not interfere<br />with the powers of the leadership of PDP to decide which<br />person to sponsor for the elections.<br />Against the submission of the group that the party’s<br />leadership in Ondo state flouted the court’s order in respect of<br />the same suit, the court said it did not find any of its orders<br />flouted, and consequently, the court refused to recognize the<br />list of the Ogunye group which it had prepared with the inten­<br />tion of replacing it with the INEC published list.<br />In court to witness proceedings were Dr Olu Agunloye who<br />had earlier led the aggrieved group on a protest on Thursday.<br />Jimoh Ibrahim who had been attending court sessions since<br />the suit was instituted was however absent in court on Friday,<br />even as the case has been adjourned till the 5th of March<br />2015.<br />Reacting to the judgement, the state’s publicity secretary of<br />the PDP, Hon. Banji Okunomo said there is no victor or loser<br />in the case adding that the goal of the party is to ensure that<br />every member comes together to ensure victory for it in the<br />coming elections.<br />He implored members of the party who had gone to court to<br />join hands with other members to work for the victory of<br />President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates of the<br />party in the elections due to hold next week.

Court dismisses case against Ondo PDP

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the application of some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State ...

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Fayose rubbishes APC’s audio clips on Ekiti election

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ayo-fayose-2.png "><br />Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the<br />audio clip released by the All Progressives Congress (APC),<br />through its media organ, SaharaReporters as fake, saying, he<br />never held any meeting with anyone to rig the June 21, 2014<br />election, suggesting that his voice and those of others could<br />have been faked using technology like Natural Voices.<br />He said the audio clip was APC’s new calculated attempt to<br />discredit the election results, having failed woefully both at the<br />poll and the tribunal.<br />Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said<br />in a statement issued on Friday that the APC would have used<br />the audio clip as evidence at the tribunal if it were genuine.<br />He said: “Nigerians should be reminded of how the APC lied in<br />2007 that they recorded how the governorship election was<br />rigged even in the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus<br />Adejugbe, but the party could not produce a single photo as<br />evidence at the tribunal because their plans to do what is<br />know as Morphing and Syncing was exposed.<br />“Nigerians should also be reminded of the existence of a<br />technology called speech software, which is good at<br />reproducing the sounds, inflections and intonations of a<br />human voice.<br />“There are software that can re-create voices and even bring<br />the voices of long-dead notable persons back to life.

Fayose rubbishes APC’s audio clips on Ekiti election

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described the audio clip released by the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its media org...

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Keshi wants me to be next Finidi –Babatunde

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Babatunde-Michael.jpg "><br />Our reporter recently spoke with Nigeria’s injured 2014 World<br />Cup star, Babatunde Michael, in Lagos, about his career and<br />his hope to return to the Super Eagles to redeem the team’s<br />image, after missing out of this year’s AFCON in Equatorial<br />Guinea. He also spoke on a number of other issues. Excerpts!<br />Can you tell us a little about your career?<br />Well, I’m Michael Babatunde. I play as a natural left winger<br />for Volyn Lutsk F.C of Ukraine. I was born in the western part<br />of Nigeria, Lagos, to be precise. I started my career with<br />Waters FC in Abuja, and later joined Nigeria Premier League<br />side, Heartland F.C in the year 2010.<br />Can you recall your first invitation in the Super Eagles?<br />My first invitation to the Super Eagles came like of a dream. I<br />mean, I couldn’t imagine myself competing for shirt with the<br />likes of Victor Moses, Osaze Odenwingie, Brown Ideye and<br />others, who were playing in popular leagues in Europe.<br />Sincerely, I didn’t know I could be invited to the Super Eagles<br />despite the fact that I play in the Ukrainian Premier<br />League.The 2013 Confederation Cup in Brazil was the first and<br />biggest competition I ever attended and it put a lot of<br />pressure on me due to the fact that I heard fans at home and<br />abroad criticizing Coach Stephen Keshi for including my name<br />in his plans. But I thank God that I did what I know how to do<br />best for my father land.<br />What could be the worst moment of your career?<br />I am a footballer and I am prone to bad days. As a player,<br />when you lose, you lose your self. Nobody wants to lose; but<br />the worst moment of my entire career was when tNigeria lost<br />to France at 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Odenwingie’s mis­<br />take led to the goal we conceded to the French team followed<br />by the own goal by Joseph Yobo. Those goals made me weep<br />after the match, and that remains my worst moment as a<br />professional player.<br />Do you think your absence in that game cost Eagles the<br />match?<br />Not really, as teammates we’re meant to help one another,<br />even if I was in the game, I couldn’t have done more than<br />what my colleagues did to change the tide. God knows the<br />best and I think the better team carried the day. I would have<br />said Onazi’s injury was a big loss to Nigeria in that match<br />and the officials were also unfair with the officiating. Matuidi<br />should have been given a straight red card for the hard tackle<br />on Onazi, and the disallowed goal scored by Emenike in the<br />early minutes of the game made issues worst.The French<br />national team was not better than us, we lost to poor<br />officiating and I think we should forget about the World Cup<br />disappointment and think of how to move our football<br />forward.<br />How about the most memorable moment of your career?<br />My memorable moment was when I visited president Goodluck<br />Jonathan with my Super Eagles’ teammate and Coach<br />Stephen Keshi. I feel great and honored.Then, secondly, I was<br />also happy making the World Cup list for my country which<br />gave me the chance to play on same pitch with the likes of<br />Lionel Messi, Aguero and a host of other stars.<br />Who’s your role model among the Nigeria football legends?<br />Well, I can’t mention names due to the fact that I’m a natural<br />left winger and I remember that Coach Stephen Keshi once<br />asked me if I would like to become the next Finidi George of<br />the present squad of the Super Eagles. I laughed because I<br />was a baby in the days of Finidi George and I never got to<br />know his style of football, but I pray to met him one day so<br />that I can learn more from him.<br />Who would you blame for Super Eagles’ absence from this<br />year’s AFCON in Equatorial Guinea?<br />To me, I think the Super Eagles were not fortunate to be in<br />Equatorial Guinea.We’re the defending champion no doubt, but<br />I think the fans and the football administrators in the country<br />were the ones behind our misfortune. In Nigeria, every one<br />wants to act like a coach, they list the players that should be<br />invited to the national team and those that should not and I<br />think that affects the confidence of the team. So to me, I<br />won’t blame the coach and the players, I would rather blame<br />the fans for making Keshi a confused man.<br />As a professional player, where would you love to end your<br />career?<br />For now, I don’t know. All I know is that I want the best for<br />my self. I don’t mind offers from the English Premier League,<br />Spanish League and Italian Seria A; Later show up in nearest<br />future, but for now, I don’t know where my future lies.<br />You are just 22 and eligible to participate in next year’s<br />Olympics in Brazil, what should your fans be expecting from<br />you?<br />Well, it’s up to Coach Samson Siasia. If I make his list, I will<br />make sure I do my possible best to lift my team. It is well<br />known that most of the Super Eagles’ players will be on<br />vacation until June this year which will make us feel more<br />relaxed and fit for any competition. I have never failed before<br />in my career, and I will not fail when the Olympic qualifiers<br />begin.<br />Whats your plan after quitting football?<br />What’s on my mind is to set up a football academy here in my<br />country, Nigeria, and to become a philanthropist in the nearest<br />future and I also have plan to become a cool business man,<br />but the type of business is best known to me.<br />Which player in the national team do you prefer to be paired<br />with in the attack?<br />I think my pairing should be best known by Coach Stephen<br />Keshi, but if I have the right to choose, I’d love to play with<br />Osaze Odenwingie and Ahmed Musa on the right flank, while I<br />handle the left wing. I think if this pair is been use always I<br />bet you we can beat any team but that’s not my duty Keshi<br />knows best.<br />You have been absent for months in the national team due to<br />injury, do you still think you have a place in the team?<br />Well, I am not the one to decide that. I have been nursing an<br />injury since last year which denied me invitation to the team,<br />but my target right now is to be fully fit to fight for a place in<br />the squad, which I think will be easier for me because I know<br />my worth under Coach Stephen Keshi. So I am confident of my<br />self, while I leave the rest to Keshi and his technical crew.<br />Which country do you tip to be the next AFCON champion?<br />You know it’s a game of football, and in football, any thing<br />can happen. If I must choose, I’d go for Ivory Coast due to the<br />quality of players it parades. Ivory Coast has been consistent<br />in recent years; to was in the final four years ago in same<br />Equatorial Guinea and I think with Yaya Toure and Gervinho,<br />the team can clinch the title this time around.<br />What advice do you have for the upcoming stars and your<br />fans home and abroad?<br />My advice for the upcoming stars is for them to stay focus<br />and show commitment to any thing they are doing.You see in<br />life once you lose focus you are out of the race and before you<br />could rejoin the race it might be too late.So therefore I urge<br />you all to remain focus because better days are ahead.

Keshi wants me to be next Finidi –Babatunde

Our reporter recently spoke with Nigeria’s injured 2014 World Cup star, Babatunde Michael, in Lagos, about his career and his hope to return...

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Notable coaches that have won AFCON trophy

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Clemens-Westerhof.jpg "><br />The Africa Cup of Nations has not only been a parade of<br />Africa’s best football stars over the years, but has also<br />provided a platform for coaches, including those from the<br />black continent, to showcase their tactical knowledge in the<br />round leather game.<br />Below are some of the notable coaches that had won the<br />coveted trophy as indigenous coaches, as well as foreign<br />coaches in Africa’s most glamorous showpiece.<br />CLEMENS WESTERHOF<br />Nationality: Dutch<br />Date of Birth: 3rd May 1940<br />Position: Super Eagles manager, 1989-1994<br />Honours: AFCON 1994<br />Westerhof is most noted for his success with the Nigerian<br />national team.<br />Nigeria qualified for and won the 1994 AFCON and also quali­<br />fied the Nigerian side for the FIFA World Cup that same year,<br />and the Eagles advanced to the quarter final stage of the USA<br />’94 World Cup.<br />He is presently in Nigeria and serving as a rector and chief ad­<br />ministrator at the Football School of Excellence, Ilorin.<br />Westerhof is rated as the best coach Nigeria ever had, with<br />high regard. He is credited with turning Nigeria football into a<br />power house in African Football, and responsible for the<br />‘Golden Era’ in the Nigeria Football. Players like Jay-Jay<br />Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Nwankwo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini,<br />Stephen Keshi, and Daniel Amokachi went into successful<br />career and world spotlight under his tutelage.<br />HASSAN SHEHATA<br />Nationality: Egypt<br />Date of Birth: 19th June 1949<br />Position: Pharaoh’s of Egypt manager, 2004-2011<br />Honours: Egyptian League title 1977/78<br />Egyptian Cup 1974-75, 1976- 77, 1978-79<br />Two-time Egyptian League top scorer 1976-77, 1979-80<br />Third Best African Footballer, 1974<br />Best African Footballer in Asia 1970<br />Best Footballer, African Cup 1974<br />Best Footballer in Egypt, 1976<br />Merit of Sport, 1980<br />African Cup of Nations 2006, 2008, 2010<br />CAF Coach of the Year, 2008<br />Selected for Top five African Coaches.<br />Hassan is a former Egyptian forward Footballer, who became<br />the head coach after Marco Tardelli and the longest served<br />coach of the Egyptian National Football team.<br />He led the Pharaohs of Egypt to its first African Cup of Nation<br />in eight years defeating Cote d’Ivoire afterwards, three<br />successive African Cup of Nations titles, making Egypt the first<br />African nation to achieve such a feat.<br />Under his administration Egypt was ranked 9th by FIFA in<br />2008<br />STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI<br />Nationality: Nigerian<br />Date of Birth: 23rd January 1962<br />Honours: West African Club Championship ’83, ’84<br />African Cup of Nations 1994, 2013<br />CAF African Coach of the Year ‘13<br />Keshi a former Super Eagles defender and captain made his<br />debut when he coached Togo’s National team to qualify for<br />their first World Cup in Germany 2006.<br />He was engaged to coach the Nigeria national team in 2011<br />and qualified them for the AFCON 2013 tournament, which<br />they won, defeating Burkinafaso with a lone goal in the final<br />and was able to qualify the team also for the Confederation<br />Cup in that same year.<br />Stephen went ahead and qualified the team also for AFCON<br />2014.<br />On 18 November 2013, Stephen Keshi set a record in African<br />football by being the first African coach to successfully qualify<br />two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup<br />Finals.<br />He also helped Nigeria become the first country to achieve an<br />African Cup of Nations trophy and World Cup qualification,<br />both in 2013.<br />CHARLES KUMI GYAMFI<br />Nationality: Ghana<br />Date of Birth: 1929<br />Position: Black Stars Manager<br />Honours: AFCON trophy 1963, 1965, 1978<br />Gyamfi is a former Ghanian footballer, who heralded a new<br />dawn in the Ghana Football.<br />Charles was able to qualify the Black Stars of Ghana for the<br />African Cup of Nations in 1963, 1965, and 1978, which they<br />won.<br />During his administration there was no high tech facilities, and<br />this had distinguished his qualification and winning of the<br />Black Stars of the AFCON trophy very exceptional.

Notable coaches that have won AFCON trophy

The Africa Cup of Nations has not only been a parade of Africa’s best football stars over the years, but has also provided a platform for co...

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Spurs poised to spoil Gunners’ fun

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/spurs.jpg "><br />The result of today’s North London derby could define the<br />race for the top four finish in the current English Pre mier<br />League.<br />Should an unpredictable Tottenham Hotspur strike a perfect<br />rhythm this after noon, then Arsenal’s hope of moving into the<br />top four bracket would suffer another set-back.<br />After a marked improvement since the middle of December,<br />Tottenham bowed to Crystal Palace last weekend to taste the<br />first defeat in its last nine Premier League games, six of which<br />it won.<br />Manager, Mauricio Pochettino may have found that magic<br />formula; although with Spurs there is always the feeling that<br />another slip up is just around the corner, especially, if on-fire<br />Arsenal comes to the party this afternoon.<br />Nevertheless, Spurs look like genuine top-four challengers this<br />season, thanks to Harry Kane, who without his 20 goals this<br />season, The Lilywhites would be nothing more than mid-table<br />fodder.<br />Pochettino has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from<br />today with Nabil Bentaleb returning to domestic action fol­<br />lowing the exit of Algeria from the Africa Cup of Nations.<br />However, the host side should be prepared to sweat for vital<br />points as a recent run of five consecutive comfortable wins,<br />four of which have come without conceding a goal, highlight<br />just how good Arsenal can be when things are going well.<br />Most interesting about Arsenal’s current form was the manner<br />of the recent victory at Manchester City. For once, Arsene<br />Wenger appeared to abandon some of his infamously stubborn<br />principles in exchange for the greater good of all three points;<br />something of a rarity for the Gunners against fellow top-four<br />teams away from home.<br />Although hit-man, Alexis Sanchez’s fitness remains suspect<br />after missing last weekend’s demolition of Aston Villa with a<br />hamstring injury, Danny Welbeck is expected to return from a<br />thigh injury that had kept him out of action since the turn of<br />the year.<br />Spurs have lost only one of the last four North London derbies<br />at the White Hart Lane and have already beaten Chelsea and<br />Southampton and drawn with Manchester United at home this<br />season. Although Arsenal was impressive against Manchester<br />City at the Etihad a couple of weeks ago, it remains to be<br />seen whether Wenger’s side can re-enact that form today at<br />the White Hart Lane. Just two points separate both sides on<br />the Premier League log.

Spurs poised to spoil Gunners’ fun

The result of today’s North London derby could define the race for the top four finish in the current English Pre mier League. Should an unp...

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No room for lazy foreign-based players in my team –Okon

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Okon-edwin.jpg "><br />Super Falcons’ chief coach, Edwin Okon, has vowed to shun<br />players that lack commitment to national duty ahead of the<br />team’s preparation for the World Cup.<br />In a chat with Daily Sun Sport, Okon spoke on a number of<br />issues including his aspirations this year, as well as his style<br />of celebrating whenever his team scores in a tournament.<br />What are your plans for the year?<br />We still have more competitions to play. There are the<br />Olympics and All Africa Games’ qualifiers as well as the World<br />Cup in Canada to play.<br />These are the three most important hurdles we have to face<br />this year. It is imperative that we prepare well for this competi­<br />tions and, most importantly, early enough.<br />The NFF have done well for us in 2014 because we got all the<br />support and encouragement from them, but we need to start<br />playing friendly matches soon.<br />The higher the quality we get, the better for us because we<br />must prepare hard for the championships lined up for us this<br />year and we must play strong teams as part of our<br />preparation.<br />For the World Cup in Canada, it would be good if we can play<br />against countries from the region where our group opponents<br />come from as that would toughen us on what to expect from<br />our group opponents.<br />But like I said, the NFF has done well and I believe it will do<br />its best to get us these friendly matches.<br />We want to do well at Olympic qualifiers, All African Games as<br />well as the World Cup and I’m sure we will get all we need to<br />make us do well in Canada.<br />What’s your take on criticisms on your outing at the last<br />AWC and what motivates you?<br />Well, it is always like that when you are holding a public<br />portfolio, especially with our football. You are constantly<br />under scrutiny and you face a lot of criticisms, and,<br />interestingly, I have learnt from them.<br />How do you mean?<br />What I mean is that when such criticisms start pouring in, I sit<br />back and reflect on what I am doing, whether I am wrong or<br />right.<br />I always have it at the back of my mind that those outside<br />are, sometimes, in a better position to see what I am not<br />seeing as an insider. So in such cases, I welcome the<br />criticisms and forge ahead.<br />Another thing is that, sometimes, most of those loudly<br />criticizing are agents of some of the star players and they<br />want their players to be in your team.<br />Do you take advice from them?<br />I am a grassroots coach. The local league has produced so<br />many good national team coaches and at that level, we are<br />not new to the system. So before you can convince me about<br />a player that is not in Nigeria, it will take time.<br />So you don’t have space for Pros in your team?<br />You see, I don’t hate them but their gimmick is the problem I<br />have. They stroll into the national team and before you know<br />it they make the team.<br />This era, I don’t believe in any player strolling into the national<br />team whenever it soothes her. I want them to compete for<br />shirts with those at home and then we know if you are better<br />than those in the domestic league, or if they are better than<br />you. If eventually you don’t measure up, then bye-bye.<br />This is my line of thinking and action at this level and it is not<br />going to change for a long time to come.<br />How would you review the year 2014?<br />The victories recorded in the past year means a lot to me, the<br />joy and happiness is indescribable. I give credit to my Lord<br />and Master for giving us the trophies in 2014 and we are<br />assured that He will do more for us in 2015.<br />What are your expectations this year?<br />We expect good things from the team. I harp on discipline a<br />lot because I believe that if a team is disciplined, they will go<br />places.<br />Any target at Canada 2015?<br />This is the apex of football competitions in the world and we<br />are looking forward to it. As we all know, Super Falcons have<br />never crossed the group stage at the World cup level.<br />Yes, we are setting a target for ourselves. The players and the<br />technical crew are aware of this and the target is best known<br />to us.<br />We have to do all within our means to achieve our goal and<br />as well call on God to assist us.<br />Why do you always bow down on the ground any time your<br />team wins a match?<br />You see, I don’t hide my identity, I am a Christian and each<br />time people ask me why I bow down my head on the ground ,<br />some even ask me if I am a Muslim and I say no.<br />Bowing down with my head touching the ground is my unique<br />way of referencing my God and whenever I do that, I achieve<br />results because God has never failed me.<br />What do you think about Assisat Oshoala?<br />Asisat had a very wonderful year in 2014 and I am not<br />surprised by the accolades coming her way. I congratulate her<br />for winning the African Woman Footballer of the Year Award.<br />We all knew that she would win it because she was and is the<br />best female player in Africa.<br />Her joining Liverpool, is a sign of greater things to come and I<br />hope she continues getting better.<br />This is not the time for her to go to sleep because she must<br />sustain the tempo so that she can keep getting recognized.

No room for lazy foreign-based players in my team –Okon

Super Falcons’ chief coach, Edwin Okon, has vowed to shun players that lack commitment to national duty ahead of the team’s preparation for ...

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Presidential poll: South-East did not endorse any candidate(1)

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/jonathan-buhari.jpg "><br />As the February 2015 Nigeria’s general elections get nearer<br />and electioneering becoming tougher, some of the political<br />parties, their candidates and campaign teams are becoming<br />more desperate, and perhaps even more dangerous, resorting<br />to doing all manner of things, including application of<br />sophistry and telling of lies just to win the elections. And just<br />few days back this year, the false claim of endorsement, that<br />the South-East geo-political zone of the country hasendorsed<br />the PDP Presidential candidate for the 2015 Presidential<br />election, Dr. Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, was published in<br />some newspapers as a news story (and believable in certain<br />quarters), knowing full well that it is a fabricated and<br />concocted tissue of lie, deliberately propagated to sway the<br />undiscerning ones among the southeasterners to vote for a<br />particular candidate, which is more reason why people have<br />to be very careful in information taking about the general<br />elections in this very desperate contemporary times because in<br />2011 Nigerians woke up one day to read or hear stories of a<br />candidate threatening to do this and that but which eventually<br />was a blatant falsehood deliberately published by another<br />candidate’s paid agent, simply to destroy the opponent’s<br />character and integrity and sway sympathy to the agent’s<br />candidate.<br />Though it was later retracted with apologies by both the<br />author and the newspaper, the falsehood or unfounded<br />allegation actually achieved its purpose of character de­<br />struction because even till date it is still being used as a<br />campaign tool against the man and is still believed by certain<br />people in the society. Given the potential danger and perpetual<br />enmity which such claimed endorsement could bring to the<br />southeast zone, no right thinking person or group comes out<br />openly to say they have endorsed any particular candidate in<br />an election, lest they become political enemies of some other<br />candidate’s geo-political zone or ethnic group, hence I<br />considered it auspicious to use this opportunity now to correct<br />the erroneous information being bandied about by some people<br />that the southeast have endorsed the PDP candidate or even<br />any particular political party’s candidate for the election.<br />Our people should learn from Yoruba to be discrete in politics.<br />In 2003, and even in 2011, no mention was made anywhere be­<br />fore the elections that the west had taken a decision to vote<br />for PDP Presidential candidates but there was such a pact,<br />which was only disclosed after the elections. But in the<br />present circumstance however, the southeast as a group have<br />not endorsed any Presidential candidate, and it is totally false<br />for anyone for personal cheap political gain to claim that the<br />zone have endorsed anyone. And whosoever is behind such<br />falsehood of endorsement, irrespective of their age or socio-<br />political positions in the society, simply spoke for themselves<br />and not for the entire southeasterners because in the south­<br />east zone of today supporters of the APC candidate, General<br />Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, are very many across the<br />zone, while an illustrious son of the zone, Chief Chekwas<br />Okorie, visibly the most patriotic contemporary Igbo politician,<br />is also running for Presidency, on the platform of his party, the<br />United Progressives Party (UPP), which he founded two years<br />ago in 2013.<br />The false endorsement claimants could not rightly claim to<br />have spoken on behalf of Chris Ngige, Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas<br />Okorocha, George Moghalu, myself, C.Don Adinuba, Chekwas<br />Okorie, many professionals, teeming unemployed youths, busi­<br />ness men and women, students of tertiary schools who stayed<br />for long out of classes due the ineptitude of the Jonathan<br />regime, other political party’s members and even some<br />persons in PDP who may not want their names mentioned, all<br />of southeast zone origin. The claim is simply a mirage or hal­<br />lucination by those vociferous self-seeking characters<br />masquerading as Igbo leaders. The mood of the nation today<br />about the coming Presidential election is obvious, that the<br />country wants change and that the man General Muhammadu<br />Buhari is the person they want among the present contenders.<br />The southeast zone should not make themselves scape goats<br />or pariah but rather follow the trend.<br />Unless one does not want to tell one’s self the truth, it is an<br />incontrovertible fact that because of the failed promises of the<br />Jonathan regime very many number of easterners have<br />become discontent about his quest for another term, a<br />situation that has become gainful to APC, as the number of<br />people supporting Buhari today in the southeast zone is<br />rapidly increasing. Unless they are going to allocate voting<br />results, as they allegedly did in 2011 in the southeast in the<br />Presidential election, it is not going to be easy for President<br />Jonathan again in the zone, in terms of supporting his bid for<br />yet another term because one can fool the people some of the<br />time but certainly not all the time. One is apprehensive that<br />the claim of endorsement might be a ploy to return over 90<br />percent voting result to the PDP candidate again.<br />No one can rightly claim that the entire great number of<br />unemployed southeast youths who are suffering serious<br />financial straits and other forms of deprivations and adversity<br />have endorsed Goodluck Jonathan for another term of office.<br />In the face of failed promises, such as with the issue of<br />constructing a second bridge across the River Niger at<br />Onithsa, the Akanu Ibiam ‘International’ Airport, the Sam<br />Mbakwe ‘International Cargo’ Airport, and the numerous<br />dilapidated federal roads, as the improvement of the facilities<br />of the federal tertiary schools and hospitals, no one can<br />correctly claim the entire southeast people are supporting the<br />PDP Presidential candidate, no matter how the PDP and their<br />candidate are battling tooth and nail to deceive the people<br />again with visits to these projects during his campaign rallies<br />in the zone.<br />Sir Anueyiagu, is a public affairs commentator

Presidential poll: South-East did not endorse any candidate(1)

As the February 2015 Nigeria’s general elections get nearer and electioneering becoming tougher, some of the political parties, their candid...

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Molade Okoya-Thomas (1935-2015)

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Molade-Okoya-Thomas.jpg "><br />Renowned industrialist, sports patron and business mogul,<br />Chief Molade Alexander Okoya-Thomas has passed on. The<br />great philanthropist and Pro- Chancellor of Lagos State<br />University (LASU) died last week in Lagos of an undisclosed<br />ailment at the age of 79. With his death, Nigeria lost an indus­<br />trial giant and entrepreneur par excellence. His passage has<br />expectedly elicited glowing tributes from many Nigerians,<br />including President Goodluck Jonathan.<br />In his tribute, President Jonathan said that the outstanding<br />entrepreneur “lived a very worthy and fulfilled life and left a<br />legacy of great entrepreneurial achievements for his<br />successors to build on.” Former Vice President, Atiku<br />Abubakar, described the deceased as pioneer and a visionary<br />who belonged to a generation of private sector investors who<br />saw opportunities in making investments in the economy when<br />it was risky to do so. His death, he said, is a huge blow to<br />the Nigerian business community .The Lagos State<br />Government described the deceased as a model for the<br />present generation. Speaking on behalf of the state govern­<br />ment, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr.<br />Aderemi Ibirogba, said: “He left a virtue for the present<br />generation. For instance, in spite of his status, he never<br />arrived late to any event he was invited. This is one quality<br />this generation needs to emulate from him. He loved youths<br />and until his death, he demonstrated his love for the youths<br />through organizing and sponsoring the Asoju Oba Cup.”<br />The Lagos State University (LASU) Student Union Government<br />said he would be missed for his contribution to education and<br />the institution. These worthy testimonials attest to his out­<br />standing character that is worthy of emulation by Nigerians.<br />The deceased was born in Lagos on June 8, 1935 to late<br />Hussam Okoya- Thomas (the first Baba Adinni of Furabay<br />Mosque, Olowogbowo, Lagos), and late Alhaja Suwebat<br />Okoya-Thomas (nee Gbajabiamila, Otun Iya Adinni of Idita<br />Mosque).<br />He attended several schools including the Princess School,<br />Lagos, 1946; Balham and Tooting College of Commerce,<br />London, 1956-1959; Columbia University, New York, US, 1981.<br />Okoya-Thomas was appointed Director Transcap Nigeria<br />Limited; Director, Niger Motors Industries Limited; Chairman,<br />Studio Press Nigeria Limited and Chairman, CFAO.<br />He was a member, Lagos City Council from 1971- 1975, Lagos<br />State Development and Property Corporation; Chairman, Board<br />of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall. The<br />deceased was conferred with the prestigious French national<br />honour, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. The Federal<br />Government of Nigeria conferred on him the national honour,<br />Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Officer<br />of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). He also held the<br />titles of Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu Remo and<br />Odofin of Ife. He was an active sportsman in his youth. For<br />instance, he was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4×220<br />yards relay race while at Baptist Academy, Lagos. He also<br />sponsored the annual Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championships<br />for over four decades, thereby setting a record as the only Ni­<br />gerian to have consistently sponsored a competition spanning<br />over four decade, single-handed. His philanthropy knew no<br />bounds. He served among others as the Chairman, 3rd All<br />Africa Games Appeal Fund. He built and donated a Modern<br />Sports Hall to students and staff of LASU in 2009. He was a<br />member of the fund-raising committee for the construction of<br />Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.<br />The death of Okoya-Thomas has sadly depleted the ranks of<br />the nation’s business icons and he will be missed for his<br />remarkable support to entrepreneurship, education and young<br />Nigerians. We join his family, friends and the Nigerian<br />business community to mourn his demise. Let the remarkable<br />entrepreneurial skills and philanthropic spirit of this industrial<br />giant and patriot serve as beacons for the present generation<br />of Nigerian businessmen.<br />No doubt, the deceased left indelible footprints on the nation’s<br />industrial landscape. His life of service to the country is,<br />indeed, worthy of emulation. We commiserate with his family,<br />friends and the entire people of Lagos State on his departure.<br />May God grant him eternal repose.

Molade Okoya-Thomas (1935-2015)

Renowned industrialist, sports patron and business mogul, Chief Molade Alexander Okoya-Thomas has passed on. The great philanthropist and Pr...

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Imo 2015: Candidates shun parley with police

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Nigeria-Police-Force.jpg "><br />Ahead of this month’s general elections, candidates of the<br />various political offices in Imo state yesterday shunned a<br />peace accord meeting initiated by the state police command.<br />Police officers at the meeting which was slated for 10am<br />waited till 1pm with no single candidate of any political party<br />in sight.<br />Even the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Usman Gwary<br />of Zone 9 who was supposed to be special guest at the meet­<br />ing left in anger after waiting for several hours without the<br />candidates turning up for the peace parley.<br />However, briefing journalists after the botched meeting, the<br />state command public relations officer, Andrew Enwerem<br />expressed disappointment over the attitude of the candidates<br />which he described as lackadaisical.<br />Enwerem stated that the aborted meeting was the second<br />time the parley would be organized, noting that the non-atten­<br />dance by the candidates is an indication that they were not<br />serious.<br />He explained that the motive of the meeting was to educate<br />the candidates on the purpose of a violence free election as<br />well as making them to sign a peace accord on their par­<br />ticipation at the election.

Imo 2015: Candidates shun parley with police

Ahead of this month’s general elections, candidates of the various political offices in Imo state yesterday shunned a peace accord meeting i...

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Jesse Jags VS Vector: Who raps better?

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jesse-Jags-n-vector.jpg "><br />JESSE JAGZ:<br />Jesse Garba Abaga aka Jesse Jagz is a rapper, hip hop<br />artiste, song writer and producer. Previously a Chocolate City<br />sign-on alongside his brother MI, he pulled out in 2003 to<br />float his own label, Jagz Nation. A Jukun from Taraba State,<br />Jesse was bred in Jos, Plateau State, by his clergy parents<br />and his exposure to the choir early in life influenced his career<br />as a music artiste. After recording a debut but failed album<br />with a group called Gospel Insanity, he formed another group<br />called Eleven Thirty, which became a relative success. In<br />2004, he collaborated with MI to establish the Inner Hub<br />Studios and in 2006; he went solo and dropped a debut single<br />entitled Africa. That marked the beginning of his successful<br />career which was followed with various hits like Bend Down<br />Low and My Brother among other chart toppers. He has won<br />several awards to date.<br />The Nigerian music industry has produced a plethora of<br />celebrated rap artistes whose works have impacted Africa and<br />beyond. They include the likes of MI, Ruggedman, Eedris<br />Abdulkareem, 9ice and ELDee to mention a few. This week’s<br />Showdown zeroes in on two talented rappers, Jesse Jagz and<br />Vector, as Nigerian rap enthusiasts determine the better of the<br />pair.<br />VECTOR THA VIPER:<br />Olanrewaju Ogunmefun aka Vector Tha Viper is an indigene of<br />Ogun State and holds a Bachelors’ degree in Philosophy. He is<br />a singer, songwriter, rapper and hip hop act active since 2008.<br />He has two studio albums to his credit namely State of<br />Surprise and The Second Coming . His interest in hip hop dates<br />back to his early school days at St Gregory’s College, Victoria<br />Island, Lagos. In 1999, he formed a group called Badder Boiz,<br />with his friends, Krystal and Blaze. However, he released his<br />debut single entitled Kilode in February 2010. A follow up<br />single entitled Mary Jane was released two months later and<br />this was followed by his debut album in October of the same<br />year. To date he has won several awards and numerous<br />nominations.<br />…And the people’s verdict:<br />I’ll go for Jesse Jagz – Charles Emmanuel, undergraduate<br />Jesse Jags is more popular and talented compared to Vector.<br />He is also more experienced in the art of rapping. I like his<br />single, Redemption , though some people criticized when it was<br />released. Thank God its success has proved that his exit from<br />Chocolate City was actually a redemption move. So, I will go<br />for him.<br />It’s Jesse Jagz – Jossey Ileomah, civil servant<br />I think it should go to Jesse Jagz. The fact that he is MI’s<br />brother already gives him an edge over Vector because there<br />is the advantage of him sharing ideas and experience with MI.<br />Besides that, Jesse is also a music producer and is in a better<br />position to put up better raps. He is better than Vector as far<br />as I’m concerned.<br />Both are good artistes – Bridget Young, entrepreneur<br />Both Jesse and Vector are good. A look at their career profile<br />will show you that both of them have earned several awards<br />and nominations. Apart from that, they have both dropped a<br />number of hits so I think singling out either of them as the<br />better rapper is not a good idea. We should not create<br />unwarranted rivalry between them.<br />Vector is cutier than Jesse Jagz – Yetunde Adeola, stylist<br />I find Vector cuter than Jesse Jagz and also find his rap more<br />intersting too. You know, the popular saying has it that ‘the<br />eye sees before the mouth savours.’ It is very true. What I am<br />trying to say is that the fact that I find Vector cuter,<br />everything other thing about him automatically appeals to me;<br />I hope you understand what I am driving at?<br />They are at par – Oluseyi Adegbesan, businessman<br />Judging by my rating, Vector and Jesse Jagz are on the same<br />level career-wise. Talk about hit tracks and awards and you<br />would find that they fall within the same rating. However, let<br />us watch Vector because he recently returned to active<br />recording after a long break so he has a chance to prove<br />himself this time round. Maybe, we shall be in better position<br />to pass judgement towards the end of the year.<br />Give it to Jesse Jagz –Eniola Oyetunde, undergraduate<br />Jesse Jagz is my preferred candidate. That is not to say that<br />he is a spectacular rap artiste but when compared with<br />Vector, he is my pick. I don’t really know much about Vector<br />in terms of hip hop or rap and I don’t know of any hit rap<br />song that is credited to him. But in terms of being endowed<br />with talent, they are both gifted and have what it takes to go<br />very far.<br />I prefer Vector –Abbey Gabriel, undergraduate<br />I consider Vector a better rapper compared to Jesse Jagz<br />because he can switch from slow to fast tempo, something<br />only a few artistes can do. Jesse Jagz cannot do that so I<br />prefer him to Jesse.<br />Neither is qualified –Idowu Victoria, PR Executive<br />Neither Jesse Jagz nor Vector is qualified to be rated as<br />colourful rappers as far as I am concerned. Moreover, one of<br />the major assets that qualify an artiste to be recognised as a<br />top act is endorsement. Apart from Vector’s voice which was<br />used for a certain long-running Sprite advertisement, both<br />rappers have not attracted any juicy endorsement deal so far.<br />However, they are doing their best and will hopefully get there.

Jesse Jags VS Vector: Who raps better?

JESSE JAGZ: Jesse Garba Abaga aka Jesse Jagz is a rapper, hip hop artiste, song writer and producer. Previously a Chocolate City sign-on alo...

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Real reason Remedies broke up –EEDRIS ABDUL KAREEM

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/EEDRIS-ABDUL-KAREEM.jpg "><br />Controversial hip hop act and ex-De Remedies star, Eedris<br />Abdul Kareem, is back on the block with a brand new single<br />entitled Naija Shine Ur Eyes. In this chat with TONY OGAGA<br />ERHARIEFE & IKECHUKWU IHEANACHO , the act opens up on<br />his support for President Goodluck Jonathan, his career, the<br />50 Cent saga and why De Remedies broke up among other<br />issues.<br />Excerpts:<br />We understand that you have thrown your weight behind<br />President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign and even released a<br />new single, Naija Shine Ur Eyes to demonstrate your commit­<br />ment. Why are you supporting GEJ?<br />I am the co-ordinator of I Am Nigeria Project , a platform<br />dedicated to saving our dear country. Let us call a spade a<br />spade, GEJ truly loves this country and I believe in his dream.<br />I have not met with him but everyone that has common sense<br />will realise that the dude is actually trying to make use of our<br />funds to give us all that we need, the same things that we<br />asked his predecessors to give us and they never did.<br />Everybody has a choice and for me, it is Jonathan all the way.<br />For goodness sake, Buhari has ruled us in the past in different<br />capacities and now we want to move on.<br />What is Naija Shine Ur Eyes all about?<br />This song is borne out of the backdrop that foreign media and<br />political analysts predicted that Nigeria would disintegrate this<br />year 2015 but it is not going to happen. God loves Nigeria as<br />a nation. This is the time for the youths to stand and speak<br />up. All sentiments should be disregarded and politicians<br />should be judged by their achievements instead of propaganda<br />like the opposition is doing.<br />You sang Nigeria Jaga-jaga which talked about corruption in<br />Nigeria so why are you now supporting this government?<br />When I said Nigeria was Jaga-jaga , you should remember that<br />it was not Goodluck that was ruling Nigeria then; Goodluck is<br />not the one that made Nigeria Jaga-jaga . Jonathan is doing<br />all his best. The issue of corruption has been there for very<br />long and GEJ is doing his best to fix Nigeria. There is nothing<br />you can do to satisfy human beings.<br />Tell us about the new album you are working on?<br />Oh yeah! I have a new album entitled Spirit of Naira. It is all<br />about things that have been happening in our country. The<br />objective is to educate the youths on their roles in society.<br />Any collabors on this your new album?<br />I do have but I will not mention names. Some are my home<br />boys; some are new school while some are boys that trained<br />under me. Timaya and KC Presh are my boys. My record label,<br />La Kreem Entertainment, did so much for many artistes<br />including Timaya and KC Presh. They were under my label but<br />we didn’t sign any contract. We did what I will call ‘gentle<br />man deal’ whereby we consulted for the artistes and took<br />them to Baba Keke (Kenny Ogungbe). Baba is someone I will<br />always be loyal to. He made me who I am today. La Kreem<br />Records still does business with Kennis Music.<br />Tell us what you mean by Timaya and KC Presh being your<br />boys?<br />Timaya was under me and stayed with me for four good years.<br />I told him to go back to Bayelsa State and research on the<br />history of his people and do a song about them which he did.<br />You know, he has never told the media that he was my boy<br />and lived with me for four good years. I showed him the way<br />forward and he learnt many things from me. Those days I did<br />everything possible to push acts like Timaya among a host of<br />others up and comers. Timaya was my boy, he was brought<br />to me from the street and I showed him how to be successful<br />even though he praises himself in most of his songs now. He<br />is a graduate of La Kreem Records; it is not easy being a La<br />Kreem Records graduate.<br />You said KC Presh duo were also your boys, tell us about it?<br />They were with me too. I paid for the form they used to enter<br />Star Quest. They used to come to me for advice. I took then<br />to Baba Keke at Kennis Music and showed them how to be<br />successful in the industry. Kcee and Presh have appreciated<br />me for what I did for them through Kennis Music. Back then,<br />we didn’t ask anyone to pay us, we did whatever we did for<br />God; that is it.<br />Tell us about the De-Remedies, are you guys coming back<br />together again?<br />Of course, we are coming back again. Right now we are<br />working on a new album. Life is all about forgiving and<br />forgetting; you just move on and forget the past<br />What really separated you guys?<br />If you ask me what caused the separation I will say nothing.<br />We did 29 shows on the Rothmans Tour and when we were<br />about to share the money, someone was like ‘guy, what is<br />your contribution in this group?’ It was such a funny question.<br />And then the guy changed his ways maybe because one of<br />them wanted to go solo. I was not the one that brought the<br />idea of separation. If you remember, one of us dropped his<br />own single while we were still in the group. He even told me<br />that one will do better going solo because whether I like it or<br />not, one day, everybody will go solo. So I took up the<br />challenge and I did my best. I was so close to both of them<br />so basically we didn’t have any problem really.<br />Plantashun Boys came back and did an album yet they are<br />not still together. Don’t you think the same thing could<br />happen to Remedies?<br />Not at all. The reason why Plantashion Boyz could not make it<br />was because they were not prepared; there was no love<br />among them.<br />You are said to be one of the artistes that fought for Nigerian<br />music industry and made it what is it today…<br />(Cuts in) Look, the moment 50 Cent came to Nigeria and<br />asked me to stand up from that seat, I felt very bad. If I had<br />not done what I did I am not sure I couldn’t have lasted two<br />months before my death because the pain would kill me.<br />Imagine the insult! Someone coming into my country and<br />telling me ‘you gotta get up from that seat!’ Oh my God! You<br />know what it means? It has spiritual implication. But I thank<br />God for what happened because that has put food on the table<br />of the new acts you see today. I fought for all of them and<br />now they are chopping.<br />Do you have any regrets for what happened between you and<br />50 Cent?<br />No, not at all. I have never regretted it; I am so happy I have<br />been able to create employment for youths.

Real reason Remedies broke up –EEDRIS ABDUL KAREEM

Controversial hip hop act and ex-De Remedies star, Eedris Abdul Kareem, is back on the block with a brand new single entitled Naija Shine Ur...

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‘I’VE NO SET RULES WHEN IT IS STYLE’

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Zainab-Agoro-1.jpg "><br />Zainab Agoro, popularly known as Zaina, is without doubt one<br />of the fast rising artistes that has no set rule when it comes<br />to style but sure knows how to keep her collectives simple<br />and classy. She was signed into Darey Alade’s Soul Muzik in<br />2012 after her education in the United States of America<br />(USA) to pursue music properly. She led ANTHONY OBI into<br />her wardrobe and told him about her fashion sense.<br />How would you describe your style?<br />I would say very enigmatic. I have no set rules and no order<br />when it comes to style. I love comfort and sassiness. So, I<br />can rock a pair of jeans with a tee, kicks or boots. But I will<br />also turn around and wear a maxi dress with sandals. As long<br />as it looks good and feels good, I am wearing it. I also love<br />accessories, especially rings and watches.<br />What fashion item will you not be caught wearing?<br />Probably anything made out of food.<br />Who is your favourite designer?<br />My personal designer, Moodeo<br />Which is your most expensive accessory?<br />I would say a pair of earrings and watch.<br />How much did it cost?<br />It cost me a lot of money I would not want to mention.<br />How much are you willing to spend on a fashion item you<br />love?<br />I’d spend a lot on jewellery I can pass down to my children.<br />What is that fashion item that you love so much?<br />A pair of Gucci sandal.<br />How many of them do you have?<br />I have three different types.<br />Do you mix perfume?<br />I most definitely do not; it is whatever I can grab first in my<br />purse.<br />How often do you change your wardrobe?<br />I don’t think I necessarily change my wardrobe. I buy as I go,<br />every few months to six months.<br />What clothes are you comfortable in?<br />I am more comfortable in jeans and T-Shirt. I never fail it.

‘I’VE NO SET RULES WHEN IT IS STYLE’

Zainab Agoro, popularly known as Zaina, is without doubt one of the fast rising artistes that has no set rule when it comes to style but sur...

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Ibadan plays host to Nigerian Idol

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/evelle-idol.jpg "><br />The city of Ibadan and its residents played host to the<br />Nigerian Idol train when the TV Reality music show berthed in<br />the city in a two-day audition hosted at Kakanfo Inn Confer­<br />ence Centre, Old Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.<br />Hundreds of wannabes aspiring to become the next Nigerian<br />Idol thronged the venue determined to impress the show’s<br />celebrity judges with their performances for tickets to<br />participate in the second stage of the competition which will<br />feature the Top 100 Acts pooled from the various auditions<br />centres across the nation.<br />The Ibadan auditions produced seven Golden Tickets, the<br />highest recorded from any centre in the on-going season 5.<br />Beside, the venue witnessed the highest turn out of<br />contestants with better chances of making the top 100 cut.<br />Meanwhile, the auditions train moves to Dream Studios,<br />Lagos, today, and will run till February 9 for the final leg of the<br />auditions.<br />Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering youths with talent in<br />music and giving them a unique platform to take a shot at<br />stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million<br />cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal with Universal<br />Music Company worth N7.5 million and some high-end<br />devices. The first runner up gets N1.5 million, a Galaxy Tab, a<br />phone and an iPod while the second runner up gets N1 million,<br />a Galaxy Tab, a phone and an iPod. All other finalists will also<br />receive N100, 000.00, a Galaxy Tab, a phone and an iPod.<br />Nigerian Idol Season 5 is sponsored by leading telecommunica­<br />tions operator, Etisalat, Dabur Toothpaste and Payporte.

Ibadan plays host to Nigerian Idol

The city of Ibadan and its residents played host to the Nigerian Idol train when the TV Reality music show berthed in the city in a two-day ...

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Oil price slash takes toll

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/fuel-oil.jpg "><br />As a fall-out of the falling oil prices in the international market<br />and dwindling revenue, the Federal Government yesterday<br />embargoed international travels and foreign training with<br />immediate effect.<br />Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi,<br />in a circular titled, “Restrictions on foreign trainings and<br />international travels by public servants,” issued to all<br />Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) said it was<br />necessary to introduce a number of cost-saving measures<br />following the recent development in the international oil<br />market that has affected the revenue stream of government.<br />Kifasi said the government has embarked on a number of<br />measures to help manage the situation. One of them,<br />according to him, is an embargo on foreign trainings and<br />international travels by public servants in all Ministries,<br />Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including all parastatals<br />beginning from January 2015.<br />The Head of Service who listed in the circular some guidelines/<br />instructions which shall be applied before any public officer<br />shall travel out of the country on government expense also<br />said “proposals for participation or attendance of international<br />conferences, seminars, workshops, study tours, trainings,<br />presentations of papers, negotiating/signing of Memoranda of<br />Understanding (MOU) abroad at government expense, shall no<br />longer be allowed except those that are fully funded by<br />sponsoring /invitation organizations.”<br />The circular states that no ministry, extra-ministerial office,<br />department, agency or parastatals shall send staff outside<br />Nigeria for training at government expense whether or not that<br />agency draws funds from the Federal Government budget or<br />meets its financial needs from revenue generated by itself.<br />It says that public servants invited for foreign trainings/study<br />tour, conferences by any organization, government or other<br />bilateral/multilateral organization will be allowed to travel<br />provided that no travel cost, Estacode application or any other<br />cost on government is involved.<br />Mr. Kifasi said local training will continue and, where<br />necessary, foreign experts may be invited to conduct trainings<br />for which there are no local experts and requests for<br />international travels are essential and strategic cases must be<br />strictly justified with evidence of sources of funding.

Oil price slash takes toll

As a fall-out of the falling oil prices in the international market and dwindling revenue, the Federal Government yesterday embargoed intern...

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We’re ready for polls – INEC

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Buhari1.jpg "><br />The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)<br />yesterday told the National Council State that it was ready for<br />the general elections scheduled for February 14 and 28, 2015.<br />This came after the meeting was divided over whether to shift<br />the elections or not, with some members supporting<br />postponement and others opposing it.<br />Sources at the meeting revealed that the Peoples Democratic<br />Party (PDP) governors canvassed the shift of the polls based<br />on the security report the service chiefs gave. On the other<br />hand, governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC)<br />insisted that the elections must hold as scheduled.<br />At the end of the seven-hour meeting, the council, however,<br />resolved that it was the responsibility of INEC to decide what<br />to do.<br />Sources at the meeting told Daily Sun that the service chiefs<br />had briefed the meeting about the war against insurgents,<br />saying that the military needed some time to clear Boko<br />Haram to ensure security during the elections.<br />INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in his briefing told the<br />meeting that the electoral body was ready to conduct the<br />elections as scheduled. He also told members of the progress<br />the electoral body has made in distributing Permanent Voters<br />Cards (PVCs).<br />In advising INEC to decide on what to do, the Council of State<br />also directed that the commission works close with the<br />security agencies.<br />Daily Sun gathered, however, that to finally decide on what to<br />do, Jega will today meet INEC National Commissioners to look<br />at the logistics in conducting the elections as scheduled. Also,<br />the electoral body will tomorrow meet with state electoral<br />commissioners and political parties on the issue.<br />Sources revealed that part of what INEC will discuss with the<br />electoral commissioners and political parties is the<br />configuration of the PVCs to match the polling booths.<br />On this, an INEC official told Daily Sun : “The greatest problem<br />facing INEC is the configuration of the PVCs to match the<br />polling booths. We will table this at the meeting, to know if<br />this could be concluded before middle of next week.”<br />Meanwhile, briefing State House Correspondents at the end of<br />the meeting, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Segun<br />Mimiko (Ondo) and James Ngilari (Adamawa) said the Council<br />of State, being an advisory body, asked INEC to brief the<br />nation on its preparedness, bearing in mind the inputs of<br />council members.<br />Mimiko said the Council of State, in a meeting examined the<br />state of preparedness of INEC, saying: “INEC had the benefit<br />of input from council members and security chiefs and<br />agencies.<br />“And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of<br />advice, INEC is constitutionally empowered, with the basis of<br />discussions, to brief the nation and then the news will be<br />communication to you.”<br />Asked if the meeting discussed date shifts, the Ondo State<br />governor said: “Like I made it absolutely clear, I am not INEC<br />chief. INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting<br />we just had.<br />“INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come<br />up with a decision and they will brief the nation soon.”<br />Mimiko also said, when asked if the discussion centred on<br />postponement: “The Council of State is essentially an advisory<br />body. Mr. President, in his wisdom, has invited INEC to brief<br />us on the state of preparedness. Based on what INEC briefed<br />and based on the perception of council members and security<br />agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from<br />INEC.”<br />Okorocha said: “The Council of State members advised INEC<br />to go and perform its civic responsibility, which is to conduct<br />elections. That is what we rose to agree. It was a very<br />challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that it<br />is ready, but because of the concern of security agencies in<br />some few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and<br />perform its civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of<br />elections.”<br />Cutting in, Mimiko said: “For any avoidance of doubt, like I<br />said, INEC had the benefit of input and perspectives from<br />council members. Issues of distribution of PVCs, Card<br />Readers, the extent of piloting to ensure that people are<br />familiar with this, security issues, all of these were discussed.<br />“Issues of the fact that seven days to election, 34 per cent of<br />Nigerians are yet to get PVCs. It was a major Issue that was<br />discussed, issue of preparedness, of security to conduct<br />elections nation-wide, issue of extensive pilot of the Card<br />Readers, which is a new technology. All of these were<br />discussed, but ultimately, Council, being an advisory body,<br />asked INEC to take advantage of the different perspective of<br />Council members to take decision about the election.”<br />Fielding questions from newsmen after the briefing, Okorocha,<br />when asked if there was a decision as to change of date for<br />the polls, replied: “There is no decision as to change of date<br />or postponement at all. But the Council has asked INEC to go<br />and perform its responsibility.”<br />Asked if the Council took any decision on the use of<br />Temporary Voters Card, the Imo governor said: “The<br />Temporary Voters’ Cards are being exchanged for the new<br />ones and once you have given out your Temporary Voters<br />Card, that means you don’t have any more. So they are going<br />for the Permanent Voters Card and the PVC would be<br />assumed to have been distributed before Sunday. That was<br />the essence of the whole exercise, and Jega has reassured us<br />that they are equal to the task. In fact, they are more<br />prepared than they were in 2011.”<br />Asked if the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled,<br />Okorocha said: “No, there was nothing like that discussed.”<br />On whether PDP disagreed on their submissions at the<br />meeting, Okorocha said: “As usual, we will not be on the same<br />page on any issues of this nature. It is normal that some will<br />be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we<br />looked at the Constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding<br />factor when there are issues of disagreement. The<br />Constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental<br />law that guides the whole nation’s policies.”<br />Asked if the APC sees elections holding on February 14 and<br />28, he said: “That is what we are expecting definitely.”

We’re ready for polls – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Council State that it was ready for the general elections s...

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We didn’t deny accreditation to foreign media –FG

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FGN2.jpg "><br />The Federal Government, yesterday, described as false, media<br />reports that it was denying accreditation to foreign journalists<br />to come for the coverage of the forthcoming elections.<br />A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of<br />Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, which was made<br />available to Daily Sun in Abuja, said the ministry viewed the<br />claim as a deliberate ploy by some politicians to smear the<br />image of the government ahead of the elections.<br />“In line with the mandate of the Federal Ministry of<br />Information to create media access to report on the activities<br />of the federal government, it has so far processed 300<br />applications from foreign journalists to secure visa and come<br />into the country for the elections.<br />“Hundreds of other applications received by the ministry are<br />being processed at the moment.<br />“Those who could not secure their visas from Nigerian<br />embassies abroad probably did not follow the due process to<br />secure the accreditation.<br />“The Federal Ministry of Information therefore appeals to<br />foreign journalists wishing to come into the country to cover<br />the elections to follow the due process in securing the<br />accreditation including the presentation of official<br />correspondence from their organizations.<br />“They can equally apply online using the following email<br />address: epd@nigeria.gov.ng ,” the statement read.<br />Yemi-Esan also called on the general public to disregard the<br />report which she said, was false and mischievous.

We didn’t deny accreditation to foreign media –FG

The Federal Government, yesterday, described as false, media reports that it was denying accreditation to foreign journalists to come for th...

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Odili, royal father reaffirm support for Wike

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wike-3.jpg "><br />Former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili has reaffirmed<br />his support for the gubernatorial candidate of Peoples<br />Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike.<br />He expressed optimism that Wike would emerge as the next<br />governor of the state.<br />Odili spoke yesterday at the palace of the Oba of Ogbaland,<br />His Royal Majesty, Nnam Obi in Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/<br />Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.<br />The former governor described Wike as someone, who had<br />been prepared for leadership.<br />According to him, leaders in the state had resolved to throw<br />their weight behind the former Minister of State for Education,<br />adding that he would use his leadership qualities to transform<br />the state.<br />Odili said: “I am here to confirm that Mr. Wike is the next<br />governor of Rivers State. The entire political class of our state<br />is behind Wike.<br />“This palace is known for blessing those that will take over<br />the leadership of Rivers State. We urge this palace to bless<br />the incoming governor of our state. Wike is a man, who will<br />restore the pride of Rivers people. We are tired of the present<br />situation. We are waiting for Wike to take over on May 29.”<br />In his speech, Wike assured the people of the local<br />government of rapid development, as well as improved<br />security in the area. He said his administration would dualize<br />the Ahoada-Omoku Road.<br />Responding, Oba Nnam Obi, who said he had endorsed Wike<br />and President Jonathan, urged his subjects to vote for Wike,<br />adding that he had the capacity to transform Rivers State.<br />“Even, the APC has admitted the failure of their government,<br />to provide security for the people of ONELGA. The APC lacks<br />the capacity to develop Rivers State, hence, we will take over,<br />to wipe away the tears of our suffering people.”<br />He also appealed to the people, to support President Goodluck<br />Jonathan and other PDP candidates in February, 2015 general<br />elections.<br />Wike accused the outgoing governor of corruption, alleging<br />that he bought key properties in Port Harcourt.<br />He challenged Amaechi to start a probe of corrupt officials in<br />Rivers State.

Odili, royal father reaffirm support for Wike

Former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili has reaffirmed his support for the gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) i...

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Audit: PwC indicts NNPC, orders refund of $1.48bn tofederation account

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/NNPC-tower-abuja.jpg "><br />PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has ordered Nigerian National<br />Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to refund $1.48 billion into the<br />federation account.<br />The directive was contained in the report of its forensic audit<br />into allegations of unremitted funds by the regulatory body.<br />The report, which was released to newsmen yesterday by the<br />Auditor General for the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ukura Samuel,<br />said the total gross revenue generated from the crude oil<br />liftings was $69.34 billion and not $67 billion as bandied in<br />some quarters, including the Senate Reconciliation Committee<br />from January 2012 to July 2013.<br />It said that within the $69.34 billion, $28.22 billion was the<br />value of domestic crude oil allocated to NNPC and the total<br />amount spent as subsidy for Premium Motor Spirit otherwise<br />known as petrol amounted to $3.38 billion.<br />Also, the total amount spent as subsidy for DPK (not<br />appropriated) amounted to $3.38 billion while the total third<br />party financing arrangement and equity crude oil processing<br />costs amounted to $1.19 billion.<br />The report said that the total cost directly attributable to<br />domestic crude oil amounted to $1.46 billion whereas other<br />costs incurred by the corporation not directly attributable to<br />domestic crude oil is $2.81 billion.<br />“Revenue attributable to NNPC as submitted by the former<br />NPDC Managing Director at the Senate hearing (less PPT and<br />Royalty paid) was $5.11 billion,” the report said.<br />PwC stated that this amount needs to be incorporated into the<br />financial statements of NPDC from where dividend should be<br />declared to the federation accounts while signature bonus,<br />PPT and Royalty yet to be paid by NPDC is $2.22 billion.<br />“Total cash remitted into the federation account in relation to<br />crude oil liftings was $50.81 billion and not $47 billion as<br />earlier stated by the Senate Reconciliation Committee for the<br />period from January 2012 to July 2013.<br />Based on the information available to PwC and from the<br />analysis the audit firm submitted that NNPC and NPDC should<br />refund to the federation account a minimum of $1.48 billion.<br />In addition to the report, PwC recommended that the NNPC<br />model of operation must be reviewed and restructured as the<br />current model, which has been in operation since the creation<br />of the corporation cannot be sustained.<br />Recall that the Federal Government, last year, appointed PwC,<br />an international audit firm, to conduct a forensic audit of<br />NNPC after the former CBN Governor, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido<br />Sanusi, had written a letter to Jonathan over the non-<br />remittance of $49.8 billion to the federation account by the<br />corporation between January 2012 and July 2013.<br />The revelation led to an unprecedented uproar among<br />Nigerians. As a result of pressure from different quarters over<br />the allegation, Sanusi revised the amount from $49.8 billion to<br />$10.8 billion and later to $20 billion, a development many<br />believe led to his eventual sack by the Federal Government.<br />No, we were not indicted – NNPC<br />ADEWALE SANYAOLU<br />The NNPC yesterday maintained that the forensic audit report<br />on the alleged missing $20billion oil revenue carried out by<br />PriceWaterhouseCoopers absolved it of any wrong doing.<br />Meanwhile, on the allegation of non-remittance of $20 billion,<br />the corporation in a statement by its Group General Manager,<br />Group Public Affairs, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, maintained that, what<br />was due for remittance to the Federation Account was the $<br />1.48 from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company<br />(NPDC) signature bonus, taxes and royalties on the assets<br />transferred to the Corporation’s upstream subsidiary-NPDC<br />The Corporation noted that the release of the forensic audit<br />report has finally laid to rest the controversy surrounding<br />allegations of “missing oil revenue” or non-remittance to the<br />Federation Account.<br />NNPC explained that it was not true that it was indicted in the<br />Forensic Audit Report as being speculated in some quarters as<br />the $1.48 billion that the audit firm recommended the<br />corporation to remit to the Federation Account was not part of<br />the alleged unremitted revenues from crude lifting.<br />It explained that the $1.48billion was never in dispute as it is<br />made up of statutory payments such as signature bonus,<br />taxes and royalties which are statutory payments that come<br />with assets acquisition.<br />It stated that the delay in payment was due to the<br />reconciliation processes between the Department of Petroleum<br />Resources (DPR) and the NNPC.<br />In the same vein,the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.<br />Diezani Alison-Madueke, has directed NNPC to defray the<br />signature bonuses, taxes and royalties in line with the<br />recommendation of the forensic audit report.<br />The Corporation stated that the forensic audit report and the<br />Senate Committee on Finance report on the unremitted<br />revenue all alluded to the fact that NPDC reported crude oil<br />revenues of $5.11billion.<br />It further explained that the forensic audit acknowledged that<br />the total cash remitted into the Federation Accounts in<br />relation to the crude lifting in the period under review was $<br />50.81billion and not $47billion and that subsidy on premium<br />motor spirit and dual purpose kerosene stood at $8.7billion.<br />Expatiating further on the kerosene subsidy issue, the<br />corporation stated that the Forensic Audit Report also clarified<br />that subsidy on DPK was still in force as the presidential<br />directive of October 19, 2009, was not gazetted in line with<br />provisions of section 6 sub section 1 of the Petroleum Act of<br />1969.<br />The Forensic Audit Report also acknowledged that section 7<br />subsection 4 of NNPC Act empowers the corporation to defray<br />its costs and expenses including the costs of its subsidiaries<br />from crude oil revenues, though it also recommended that the<br />laws be reviewed to make the Corporation meet its costs and<br />expenses entirely from the value it creates.<br />It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Finance last<br />year contracted PriceWaterHouseCoopers, to investigate the<br />veracity of the allegation by the former Governor of the Central<br />Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that $48.9bn and later $20bn<br />was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.

Audit: PwC indicts NNPC, orders refund of $1.48bn tofederation account

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has ordered Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to refund $1.48 billion into the federation account....

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2015 polls: Ohanaeze urges South East govs to make plansto evacuate Igbo from North

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ohanaeze-people.jpg "><br />The Caretaker Committee set up to run the affairs of the apex<br />Igbo body, Ohanaeze, has urged the governors of the five<br />states of the South East to make contingency arrangements<br />on how to evacuate Igbo indigenes, who may be trapped in<br />areas of violence during or after the elections.<br />In a statement issued after its crucial meeting in Enugu<br />yesterday the Ralph Obioha-led committee, however refused to<br />endorse any of the presidential candidates but rather<br />requested Igbo to cast their votes in accordance with their<br />conscience.<br />Ohanaeze also warned the Igbo to be vigilant before, during<br />and after the elections and make appropriate arrangements to<br />save their lives, that of their families as well as their property.<br />“In view of the ominous uncertainties that loom in the air, Igbo<br />governors should make contingency arrangements, separately<br />or collectively to evacuate the Igbo, who may be trapped in<br />violence prone areas.” In the statement jointly signed by the<br />chairman of the committee, Chief Ralph Obioha, Secretary, Dr.<br />Zed Chukwujama and Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi, chairman,<br />Ohanaeze Elders Council, the Igbo apex body said, “since<br />there was no concrete agreement with any of the presidential<br />candidates on the four cardinal issues of security of life and<br />property of Ndigbo; on infrastructure development in Igbo land,<br />reparation for atrocities and war crimes against Ndigbo, at<br />least to the level recommended in the Oputa Panel Report,<br />Ndigbo is unable to commit Igbo voters at home and<br />everywhere to the blanket support of any of the presidential<br />candidates.”<br />They observed that of the two principal presidential candidates<br />only one sent a high level delegation to the committee “and<br />we told them that we must see the candidate because<br />whatever agreement to be reached will be implemented by<br />him. We have not seen the candidate as at this date.<br />“The other presidential candidate has not made any contact<br />with this committee, which is the authentic legal organ of<br />Ohanaeze. If his belief is in some other areas or persons to<br />gather the Igbo nation into one basket, we can only wish him<br />goodluck.”

2015 polls: Ohanaeze urges South East govs to make plansto evacuate Igbo from North

The Caretaker Committee set up to run the affairs of the apex Igbo body, Ohanaeze, has urged the governors of the five states of the South E...

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Lover masterminds boyfriend’s murder

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/suspect2.jpg "><br />A suspected evil lover is now in police custody in Rivers State<br />for alleged plot to kill her lover.<br />The suspect, Loretta Odikagbo, aged 20, allegedly conspired<br />with her in-law, Ime Francis Moses to allegedly murder her<br />boyfriend, Charles Oresanya, who hails from Akoko, Ondo<br />State.<br />Crime Watch Today learnt that while Loretta and Moses are<br />chatting with detectives at the State Criminal Investigation<br />Department (SCID), the third suspect is on the run.<br />The incident which happened at 5 Njoku Close, Wogi Port-<br />Harcourt, was said to have thrown the neighbourhood into<br />confusion.<br />The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, told Crime Watch<br />Today that Loretta killed his boyfriend for failing to meet her<br />monetary demands.<br />He said he allowed Moses to deal with her lover by attacking<br />and robbing him.<br />He explained that the incident happened on September 19,<br />2014 when Loretta conspired with Moses and one other<br />person who is now at large to kill Oresanya when they<br />followed her to his residence.<br />He said after Loretta had sex with Oresanya and as he was<br />relaxing thereafter, she allegedly opened the door as Moses<br />and the other man entered the house, and pretended to be<br />armed robbers.<br />“ When they came they tied Oresanya’s legs and hands with<br />rope and taped his mouth. He was thereafter strangulated to<br />death. They later requested for his Automated Teller Machine<br />(ATM) and Loretta had already knew the pin number. So, they<br />took the ATM card away. They used the card to withdraw<br />N120,000 and shared the money,” he said.<br />He said that the trio went back to Oresanya’s house and<br />packed the deceased’s property and Loretta took his lover’s<br />phone and removed the SIM card.<br />The Assistant Commissioner of Police, SCID, Mr. Tunji Disu,<br />said that it was through information that his team arrested<br />Loretta and Moses.<br />ACP Disu explained that it was the neighbours that discovered<br />that Oresanya was dead after three days. He contacted his<br />place of work, Halliburton Company at Trans Amadi area of<br />Port- Harcourt and from there, they reported the matter to the<br />Wogi Police Station before the case was transferred to the<br />SCID.<br />He said the two suspects are still in SCID custody, noting that<br />they have confessed while the stolen properties have been<br />recovered from them.<br />Loretta told Crime Watch Today that, “ I am a girlfriend to the<br />deceased , Bankole Oresanya. We met through Facebook and<br />we started our love since January 2014. I have my Ordinary<br />National Diploma (OND) from the Rivers State Polytechnic at<br />Bori. My late boyfriend, deceived me that he is single and later<br />I discovered that he is married.<br />“ He promised to send me back to school and I continued<br />dating him based on the promise. Later, I discovered that he<br />was deceiving me and he could not fulfil the promise. I was<br />annoyed and I never gained anything from him, he was just<br />having sex with me.<br />“ I have to arrange with my in-law, Ime Francis Moses with<br />one of his gang members on that fateful day. Moses and his<br />friend followed me to his house and I gave them N800 to buy<br />cello tape and rope which we used to carry out the devilish<br />act.<br />“When we had sex on that day. I went downstairs to open the<br />kitchen and asked my two accomplices to come in and they<br />pretended to be armed robbers. They entered and beat me and<br />they first demanded for his ATM card and I quickly made him<br />to give them the ATM card. He did and also gave them the<br />Pin number,” she confessed.<br />“The ugly incident happened around 8pm and ended around<br />10pm. I followed the other gang members to the ATM and we<br />withdraw N120,000. I gave them N50,000. When I got to my<br />boyfriend, he was tied and they cellotaped his mouth and used<br />nylon bag to cover his head before they strangulated him.<br />“We have to steal his property. I took his telephone and the<br />laptop and I ran away.”<br />On his part, Moses said, he is an in-law to Loretta. She called<br />me on phone that I should come and help her embarrass her<br />boyfriend. On the day of the incident, Loretta took us to the<br />boyfriend’s house and she went inside and told us to pretend<br />to be armed robbers. Later, she came and opened the kitchen<br />door and we came and saw them having sex and I pointed a<br />torch at them and demanded for ATM card, which Loretta<br />forced him to give me and he gave me the Pin number.<br />“ It was Loretta who went and brought the rope and tied his<br />two legs, cello tape his mouth and covered his head with<br />nylon bag, we strangulated him and he died.<br />“She went to the ATM card and withdraw N120,000. She gave<br />us N50,000. I called her whether she had withdrawn the<br />money which she said she had done. Loretta came to meet us<br />at her boyfriend’s house and discovered that he was dead.<br />“ We have to steal his property and took his shirts while<br />Loretta stole his LG phone and his laptop. It was when police<br />arrested Loretta that I was also caught,” he said.<br />He also confessed that Loretta had used him to deal with<br />another boyfriend in the past.<br />“ In 2012, Loretta called me that she was having a<br />misunderstanding with his boyfriend and she gave me the<br />boyfriend’s spare key and we both carried away his property<br />while he was away from home. I was arrested by policemen<br />from Elekahia before I was released on bail,” he confessed.<br />CP Bature said that the two suspects will soon be charged to<br />court for alleged murder.<br />Woman detained for alleged murder of spouse<br />From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagaoa<br />A 28-year-old woman, Mrs Victoria Gagariga has been<br />detained by Bayelsa State police command for allegedly<br />stabbing her husband to death. The deceased, 33 years old<br />Henry Gagariga, a lawyer, was stabbed to death yesterday by<br />his wife at their residence, Ebisam Road after a minor<br />disagreement.<br />Neighbours said, Mr. Gagariga was stabbed on the neck with<br />a kitchen knife and in the process lost a lot of blood before he<br />died.<br />Victoria from Brass Local Government Area of the state is an<br />employee of the state Council of Arts and Culture.<br />Checks indicated that the couple legalized their union last<br />June after co-habiting for several years. They were yet to<br />have children.<br />The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ansim Butswat,<br />confirmed the incident, and said the suspect is in their custody<br />while investigating is on-going.<br />“Yes, the incident happened. A woman stabbed her husband to<br />death. She has been arrested and now in our custody,” he<br />said.

Lover masterminds boyfriend’s murder

A suspected evil lover is now in police custody in Rivers State for alleged plot to kill her lover. The suspect, Loretta Odikagbo, aged 20, ...

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Stop persecuting me -Omirin, Ekiti factional speaker, tellsFayose

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Ayodele-Fayose-360x225.jpg "><br />Miffed by the persistent closure of his petrol station by the<br />Ekiti State Government, the factional Speaker of the State<br />House of Assembly, Mr. Adewale Omirin has called on<br />Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop persecuting him over his<br />political belief.<br />Making the plea in Ado Ekiti yesterday while reacting to the<br />closure of his petrol station located in Ajilosun Area of Ado<br />Ekiti, capital city, Omirin alleged that Fayose was not only<br />trying to cripple him politically, but economically, over the<br />factional crisis rocking the assembly.<br />Shortly after Fayose took over on October 16, 2014, the state<br />government had ordered the closure of all petrol stations that<br />had no approval or sited close to residential buildings,<br />Omirin’s petrol station was among the gas stations shut down<br />then.<br />Appealing to well-meaning Ekiti indigenes to advise Governor<br />Fayose to shelve political vendetta, Omirin, a top member of<br />the All Progressives Congress (APC), said it was rather<br />disturbing for the government to be hindering his little efforts<br />to contribute to the economic development of the state.<br />He said he made a payment of N1.5 million to government<br />coffers and got all necessary approvals from relevant<br />government agencies before building the petrol station, which<br />he said was geared towards combating unemployment in the<br />state.<br />Debunking the allegation, the Special Assistant on Information<br />to the Governor, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said sanitisation of the<br />petrol stations and businesses in Ekiti was a continuous<br />exercise that should not be politicised. He urged Omirin to<br />continue to speak to all relevant agencies, assuring that it<br />would be reopened immediately he meets all requirements.

Stop persecuting me -Omirin, Ekiti factional speaker, tellsFayose

Miffed by the persistent closure of his petrol station by the Ekiti State Government, the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, ...

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Suspected ritual killers murder teenage girls in Ondocommunity

<img src=" http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IGP-Suleiman-Abba.jpg "><br />The people of Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of<br />Ondo State are yet to come to terms with the reality of the<br />brutal killing of two of their children by yet unknown<br />assailants.<br />Till date, the sleepy town still wears a mournful look, as the<br />people wonder what could have led to the death of two<br />teenagers identified as Oyinkansola Owoeye and Folashade<br />Bello who were reportedly murdered in a gruesome manner.<br />The parents of the two young girls are still in shock days after<br />the incident. The death of the two teenagers still remains a<br />mystery, as no one in the town could confirm how they<br />actually met their tragic end.<br />The state police command has vowed to unravel the cause of<br />the killing and the identities of their killers. But the families of<br />the two murdered teenagers are keeping silent on the<br />development.<br />In spite of efforts by the police authorities in the state to get<br />rid of cultism and other crimes through the establishment of<br />the State Rapid Squad (SRS), which is saddled with the<br />responsibility of arresting members of secret cult groups, ritual<br />killers still operate in some parts of the state, and one of the<br />towns where cultism is at its peak is Iju town.<br />Oyinkansola and Folasade were described as good friends who<br />were known by almost all the people of the town as they did<br />things in common during their lifetime. On the day they died, it<br />was gathered that they went out together as usual, not<br />knowing that they would not return home again.<br />It was gathered that suspected ritualists, who were apparently<br />returning from a shrine in the town, killed the two teenagers. It<br />was not certain whether the girls were aware of the rituals in<br />the town on that fateful day, but the reporter gathered that<br />there are rules that guide some rituals in the town.<br />A source in the town told the reporter that the two girls were<br />returning from the farm when they met the suspected<br />ritualists.<br />It was learnt that the parents of the two girls and other<br />relatives, after an intensive search, eventually found the<br />lifeless bodies by the roadside.<br />The source said there were machete cuts all over the bodies<br />of the girls, adding that their blood had been drained,<br />indicating that the duo might have been murdered by the<br />suspected ritualists. No one has been able to confirm the<br />cause of the girl’s death, however.<br />Since the incident, the entire community of Iju has been<br />thrown into sorrow. As residents mourn the death of the girls<br />they express worry about the safety of other residents of the<br />town.<br />The police have assured residents that the perpetrators would<br />be fished out. It was gathered that a crack team of detectives<br />had been deployed to the town.<br />The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke, who spoke<br />through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Wole<br />Ogodo, said the reason for the teenagers’ killing by yet<br />unidentified assailants had not been ascertained, even as he<br />promised that the police would fish out the killers.<br />He said: “We received information that the two girls,<br />Oyinkansola and Folasade went to the bush to fetch firewood<br />where they met their untimely death. Our detectives have<br />visited the scene of the crime while photographs of the<br />corpses were taken, and they had been removed and<br />deposited at the mortuary of the State Specialist Hospital for<br />autopsy.”<br />He noted that no arrest had been made on the incident,<br />noting, however, that the command had commenced<br />investigation.<br />He appealed to the people of the state to furnish the<br />command with useful information that could lead to the arrest<br />of the criminals behind the incident.

Suspected ritual killers murder teenage girls in Ondocommunity

The people of Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State are yet to come to terms with the reality of the brutal killing of two ...

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