News: Another Clash Over Property Tax Law In Benin

There was commotion at the ever busy Kings Square in Benin, capital of Nigeria’s Edo state Monday afternoon, following a clash between supporters of the newly introduced Property Tax law and those against it.
Witnesses said those against the law under the auspices of Edo Youth Congress and led by one Adebame Eichie had converged at the State House of Assembly-end of the Kings Square to commence a protest against the property tax law signed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole last Friday. But another group in support of the law led by Tony Kabaka emerged and descended on them.
It was learnt that supporters of the Property Tax and the leadership of ‘Edo is in Safe Hands’ group gathered at the premises of the State House of Assembly after chasing away the opposition protesters, brandishing banners with inscriptions such as ‘The rich must pay tax’, ‘It is time for the rich to work for the poor.’ ‘The rich must pay for the poor to enjoy.’ ‘Stop organising people against tax payment.’ ‘We support Property Tax. It is for development.’

News: President Jonathan As PDP Party Leader In Bayelsa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa on Monday adopted a resolution appointing  President Goodluck Jonathan as the leader of the party in the state.
The  decision was reached at an expanded caucus meeting of the party in Yenagoa.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Gov. Seriake Dickson, who declared total support for Jonathan as leader of the party in Bayelsa.
The motion was seconded by a former Governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and was subsequently adopted by 28 members of the party’s caucus after an overwhelming voice vote.
Dickson said the meeting heralded a new beginning in the state’s PDP, devoid of “mindless acrimonious divisions” between Bayelsa-based politicians and those at the national level.

News: In Oyo, 10 died In Auto Crashes

The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) in Oyo said on Monday that 10 people died  in  20 road crashes in November.
The casualty figure was contained in the Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) report released on Monday in Ibadan by the Oyo State Sector Commander, Mr  Godwin Ogagaoghene.
The FRSC boss said that the crashes, which involved 159 commuters, occurred at various road points across the state.
He said that no fewer than 67 people were injured in the road mishaps, some of whom were still recuperating in  various health institutions.
Ogagaoghene said the data, however,  reflected a drastic improvement from the number of auto crashes data collated in previous months.

News: In November 116 houses were gutted by fire in Lagos

At least, 116 houses were gutted by fire in Lagos State last month, says the Director, Lagos State Fire Services, Mr Rasaq Fadipe.
Speaking when he received delegates of Southwest Emergency Management Agencies, Fadipe disclosed that the fire service received 167 fire calls in November, alone out of which 51 calls were false, leaving a balance of 116 true fire calls.
He also disclosed that there were 14 rescue calls from incidents such as tanker fire and other disasters while eight people died and three others rescued alive last month, adding that four cases of fuel spillage and two collapsed buildings were recorded.

News: N1.5m Fake Drinks seized By Police In Aba

The Police and officials of two distilling companies on Monday raided the Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia and seized some adulterated drinks worth N1.5 million.
The drinks were being produced in the name of the two distilling companies.
Mr Isaac Agbana, the Sales Manager for East 1 Region of Intercontinental Distillers Ltd., told journalists in Aba that the adulteration had affected the companies’ sales.
Agbana said that the drinks were faked in the name of Intercontinental Distillers Ltd. and Grand Oak Ltd.
According to him, the brands are Seaman’s Schnapps, Chelsea Dry Gin, Squadron Dark Rum, Lords Dry Gin, Calypso, Bacchus, Eagle Majesty Aromatic Schnapps, Veleta Fruit Juice and Dark Sailor.
“A lot of traders in the market are faking ours products, using the genuine names, confusing the traders and consumers.

Entertainment: A Destined musicial Woman

Mrs. D.A Fashoyin, a member of the acclaimed singing group, Good Women’s Choir, tells Entertainment Cafe the story of their mega-hit, Odun Nlo S’opin, and explains why church titles are of little importance
 
How do you feel about the enduring nature of Odun Nlo Sopin?
It’s been great. The fact that it has touched so many lives gives us great joy. More so, the demand for the song hasn’t stopped till date and I’ve lost count of the number of copies that we’ve sold.
You must have made a lot of money from the sales of the album.
It doesn’t work that way. The money from the albums belongs to the group and that’s what we use for movement here and there.

Entertainment: 8 Years Old Girl Wins Got Talent show

Amarachi Nyanne: winner of Nigeria Got Talent show

Amarachi Nyanne was nothing short of stunning. She wowed the crowd everytime she was on stage and when she was announced the winner of the maiden edition of the Nigeria Got Talent show it came as no surprise. The eight-year beat nine other contestants to win the grand prize of N10 million.

News: Fuel Scarcity, Why?

THE Managing Director of Matrix Energy Limited, Alhaji Abdulkabir Aliu has stated that petroleum product scarcity would continue unless the Federal government allows market forces to determine product prices.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to remove subsidy as it has no business getting involved in subsidy payment, just as he called on the government to properly investigate the subsidy scam and bring any dealer found culpable to book with immediate effect.

News: In Yobe 3 Suspect Boko Haram Killed

A policeman and at least three suspected Boko Haram gunmen died Monday following an early morning bombing and shooting raid on a police formation in northeast Nigeria, a military spokesman said.
Suspected Boko Haram Islamists launched an attack with explosives and rifles on a regional police headquarters in the town of Potiskum in Yobe state around 2:00 am (0100 GMT), leading to a shootout with police and troops, Lieutenant Lazarus Eli said.
“The (military) was promptly alerted and reinforced the police in repelling the attack by Boko Haram terrorists on the police area command,” he told AFP.

News: 5 Houses Swallowed By Gully Erosion As 2 Feared Dead

TWO persons were feared dead and no fewer than  five houses swallowed by gully erosion ravaging four communities in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Mr. Ignatius Igwemadu from Urumabiam, Egbema Ozubulu in Ekwusigo and his brother allegedly died when their bungalow fell into the gully erosion, which was first noticed in the village about five years ago.
Other houses swallowed by the erosion were at Egbema and Uamuokpanilo in Ozubulu, as well as in Ibollo Oraifite.

News: Do Not Privatise Prisons, Decentralise Them

A NOVEL controversy has joined the queue in the public arena: the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) intends to invite the private sector to manage Nigerian prisons.
Abba Moro, the Hon Minister for the Interior, disclosed this while receiving a delegation of the African National Congress (ANC) ofSouth Africa in his office.
The same delegation had visited Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman ofNigeria’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who indicated the readiness of his Party to embrace the idea of turning the management of correctional facilities into a profit-making venture in Nigeria.
To many Nigerians the very notion of privatising prisons is shocking. It is yet another sign that our government these days is tired of governing.
They just want to be in power, award contracts, make big money and keep on being in power without the vision, sweat and sacrifices that true leadership entails.
I would have equally been shocked if I had not stumbled upon a feature in the New York Times during my recent trip to the US. It painted the picture of the private prisons system as a dominant part of American law enforcement and correction.

News: 6 Died In Ibadan Road Crash

No fewer than six persons including a  young lady were feared dead in an auto crash in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, in the early hours of Saturday.
According to an eye witness account, the victims just left a relaxation point at Ajeigbe area of Ibadan metropolis and were heading towards Mobil Filling Station when they met their death. We gathered that the driver of the Toyota Camry in which they were, was driving recklessly and, in the process, lost control and skidded off the road.

News: INEC De-registered 28 Political Parties

Few days after it sent a proposal to the senate seeking autonomy to ban electoral offenders for 10 years, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, de-registered 28 political parties over what sources said, was as a result of their poor performances in the last general elections.
Top on the list were Rev. Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party; Balarabe Musa-led PRP; Tunji Braithwaite’s NAP, UNPP, ALP and 23 others
Vanguard gathered that apart from poor performances, the affected political parties were operating without offices in 36 states of the federation.
Others are said to have been affected in the exercise because they have been operating without office accommodation, political structure and short fall of operational staff.
When contacted, the Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Kayode Idowu confirmed the story.

News: Britain to Introduce Gay Marriages In Churches

Britain will announce plans next week to allow gay marriages in churches and other religious buildings, officials said Friday, although Prime Minister David Cameron insisted no faith group would be forced to hold them.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller will unveil ministers’ responses to a consultation earlier this year, which will propose that religious organisations should be able to ‘opt-in’ to hold same-sex weddings, according to a government source.
Amid strong opposition from the Church of England and Roman Catholics, however, as well as many members of Cameron’s Conservative party, Miller will stress that no religious groups will be forced to conduct gay weddings.

News: WAEC To Release Nov/Dec Result Soon

Mr Yusuf Ari, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, West African Examination Council (WAEC), said on Friday that the result of the 2012 Nov./Dec. Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) would be released within two weeks time.
Ari said this in an interview in Lagos.
He said that the council of the examination body had ensured that the results would be released on scheduled.
“I want to express satisfaction at the conduct of this year’s examination. We had finished the marking exercise for the Nov./Dec. SSCE for private candidates since Nov.
“The entire process of conducting and collating was quite impressive because there were no negative reports from any of the centres nationwide.
“We used limited logistics, and this to a great extent relaxed the pressure we normally had during the May/June examination, “ he said.

Beauty of the day: Princess Chineke

Princess Chineke and I used to model back in the day. Nice to know she’s still in the business.

 

Job Vacancies: (Bsc/Hnd/Ond) @ Royyal Mills and Food Ltd

Royal Mills and Food Limited is a major food company in Abuja, Nigeria. We require the service of the following for immediate employment
Job Tilte: Land Surveyor
Job Requirements:
minimum of Bsc/Hnd with 5 years experience in constructions
Job Title: Sales Marketer
What The Job Entails And Application Requirement:
applicant should have marketing experience
applicant should be a first degree holder/higher national diploma
applicant need to have minimum of two year experience
you will be responsible for product innovation, relate with customers and tell them about the product
Job Title: Account Officer

News: Farmer Sentenced To Death

…As kidnappers of Senator Okowa’s dad know fate today
Asaba—A 34-year-old  farmer at Kwale town, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Emeka Ogwu, has been sentenced to death by an Effurun High Court for armed robbery.
One of the prosecution witnesses, Dorothy Asekpokai, a business woman, had told the court that the convict attempted to rob her on June 12, 2007, when she visited her new building site around Osubi.
She also identified the convict as the one who attempted to rob her with a gun but she narrowly escaped after driving away at top speed.
She said that in the process of escaping, she knocked down the convict, after which she raised alarm that eventually led to his arrest.
The court, presided over by Justice Godwin Gbemre, stated that prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

News: 4 Kidnapped Female Corps Members Rescued By Police

FOUR female corps members, abducted, weekend, in Rivers State, have been rescued by the Police.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said some hoodlums broke into a transit camp for corps members at Iriebe area of the state and abducted the four female corps members.
He said the hoodlums also stole phones, laptops and other valuables belonging to corps members at the camp before disappearing with their hostages.
Ugwuegbulam said the Police at Oyigbo gave the hoodlums a hot chase, when they got wind of the development, which forced them to abandon their hostages at Oyigbo and escaped into the bush.
He added that some of the corps members, who sustained minor injuries were responding to treatment at a hospital in the state.

News: 4 robbery suspects Killed in Bauchi By Soldiers

Tension heightened, yesterday, in Azare Local Government Area of Bauchi State, barely two days after a prominent traditional ruler was killed in council, as suspected armed robbers, who had terrorized residents invaded a business area close to the residence of one Ali Kwara, carting away unspecified amount of money.
We gathered that the money was recovered from the robbers by the residents of the town, who chased them by cordoning-off all possible exit routes.
It was learnt that one of the youths, who chased and held tight to one of the suspects was shot on the leg by the gang, before the military men, who were said to be 17 in number foiled the robbery operation.
The shot youth was said to have been admitted at a hospital in the town.