FUNERALS: Throwing a Lavish Party for the Dead, By Okey Ndibe

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Regardless of the festering economic crisis in the country, regardless of the hordes of unemployed youngsters in the country, regardless of the thinning hope and burgeoning despair in the land—some people have figured that the most sensible thing to do is stage contests for the most gaudy, expensive and spectacular funeral.

I have said this before: one of the hardest tasks is to predict how Nigerians would react in any given situation. We are a perplexing bunch, able to defy the most skilled pontificator.

Imagine, then, my constant frustration. As one who has written for years on Nigerian affairs, I am often asked—both by audiences in Nigeria and abroad—to pronounce on the likely turn of events in my country of birth.

Often, in a mood of humility, I give the only response that makes sense. I confess that I don’t know. I tell the inquirer that Nigeria is a puzzle, a phenomenon whose behaviour no human can anticipate or predict with high confidence. Sometimes, when I speak in this vein, I provoke laughter in the audience. Those listening to me appear to think I’m joking, and if not speaking in jest, that I am a man who has cultivated great modesty. They seem to believe that my plea constitutes evidence of an expert deliberately posturing as an ignoramus. At any rate, they regard me as one who is possessed of insights he would not—for whatever reason—share.

Of course, it’s not always that I hearken to the inner voice of wisdom. Sometimes pride kicks in, and I succumb to its temptation. I seek to leave the audience with the impression that I know what I don’t know. Fueled by a particular sense of vanity, I venture forth with a categorical statement on how a particular matter would play out in Nigeria. I go to town. I weigh in; I play prognosticator; I make declarations.

In effect, I put on the mask of an expert (a being who, according to a joke my father-in-law relished telling, is somebody who can mislead you with confidence). When seized by that urge to play an expert, I am wont to tell an audience that, given a set of circumstances, this or that was bound to happen in Nigeria.

Audiences like that version of me better. People don’t enthusiastically leave their homes to go and listen to a person who vacillates or hedges. Often, audiences relish the sense that they are in the presence of an all-knowing savant. They crave direct answers, not equivocation. They treasure certitude in a speaker, not a habit of waffling.

That’s why, even though I know better, I sometimes take the incautious step of predicting Nigeria. I’m tempted to do so because I reckon that the expert pose delights the audience, whether it be a lone interviewer or a gathering at a university or library. Tell us how the saga of the missing Chibok girls will end, they ask. How will Nigeria’s current economic crisis affect Nigerians’ response to political corruption? I hear the questions; I know that the honest answer is, I can’t tell. Yet, sometimes, I don’t feel strong enough to offer that honest, but disappointing, response. So: I go ahead and fudge an answer. The words come across as coherent, the answer compelling, even though I know it’s little more than perfumed nonsense.

I do it, that is, pronounce on the enigma called Nigeria, because a part of me wants to believe that Nigeria should be knowable and predictable to a certain degree. And whenever I declaim confidently on Nigeria, I delight my audience. I can read their approval in their facial expression, a sense of satisfaction. I can tell when an audience marvels at my brilliance, grateful for what they take—mistake—for my expertise. And because I can see it so clearly, I experience a shattering sensation of guilt after each occasion of playing the expert.

How does one even begin to unpack this bizarre development? If there’s an expert somewhere who can make sense of this ghastly phenomenon, a sage who understands what this all means, I’m right here, waiting: do please give me a call.

I might as well confess again: Nigeria confounds me. And one reason this is so is that, in numerous situations, Nigerians appear to act in ways best described (since I wish to avoid using the word illogical) as counter-intuitive. I’d offer two quick examples.

Despite all the petro dollars that have passed through Nigeria, most Nigerians live in excruciating poverty. The monthly minimum wage is N18,000, a sum that is now less than $50. That’s the entirety of what some workers are paid—to cover rent, food, clothing, their children’s school supplies, transportation. Even worse, there are millions of workers who get paid much less than that paltry minimum. You’d think, then, that Nigerians would be outraged when their politicians loot millions (sometimes billions) of dollars. Instead, many of the destitute Nigerians rush to venerate thieving politicians, especially if the thieftains happen to be from the same ethnicity, local government area, or faith. They translate and inflate the politicians’ most pedestrian actions (e.g. the payment of salaries or the building of roads) into staggering accomplishment. “Governor So-so and So is doing well; he pays salaries,” you’d hear it said. Forget that the said governor may be hauling away hundreds of millions each month.

A few weeks ago, a major Nigerian pastor whose mega-church owns a university, warned critics of the university’s fee hike to hush up. In a statement, the pastor said God was involved in fixing the fees. “The school fees has God’s approval and is in accordance with the quality of facilities provided,” claimed the churchman. He then warned that those who persisted as critics risked divine ire, including being afflicted with halitosis.

You’d think that church members and other Christians would be ashamed by the pastor’s ludicrous claim. The portrait painted of God here is so farcical and absurd. Picture God asking Saint Peter to fetch the file for a university. Then, after hard thinking, God did not decree free education; did not decide on a reduction of fees in view of Nigeria’s harsh economic climate. Rather, God said, let’s do the most sensible and divine thing: a dramatic increase in school fees!

During my recent visit to Nigeria, I was catching up with a few friends when the subject of funerals came up. These friends took turns telling me that spending obscene sums on funerals had become the latest craze in parts of Nigeria, especially in Igboland. I heard that bereaved families now compete on pulling off the most expensive funerals—complete with live music performances, wild animal exhibits, and waltzing pallbearers.

How could this be happening in a time of such debilitating economic difficulty, I asked? “O kitaa ka eji ama onye bu onye,” one of my friends explained (a loose translation: “This is when you know who is who”). It did not make sense to me. I asked numerous questions, but there was no answer. As VS Naipaul might have put it, the situation is what it is.

The situation is that men and women, ostensibly sane, have decided that throwing the most lavish parties for the dead should be the new mode of bragging. Regardless of the festering economic crisis in the country, regardless of the hordes of unemployed youngsters in the country, regardless of the thinning hope and burgeoning despair in the land—some people have figured that the most sensible thing to do is stage contests for the most gaudy, expensive and spectacular funeral.

How does one even begin to unpack this bizarre development? If there’s an expert somewhere who can make sense of this ghastly phenomenon, a sage who understands what this all means, I’m right here, waiting: do please give me a call.

Makarfi’s group to dump PDP, Sheriff for new party.

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Staff Reporter

As the leadership crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) continues to fester, indicators have emerged in the direction that suggest that the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led leadership is planning to abandon the party for Sen Ali Modu Sheriff and his allies for a new party.

It was gathered that the option of leaving PDP for Sheriff is one of the cards on the table for the Makarfi group following the inability of both factions to reconcile.

It was also learnt that the group is leveraging on the continued support it still enjoys from all the major organs of the party to make the exodus that would leave Sheriff with just an empty shell of the party.

However, the deputy national chairman to Sheriff, Cairo Ojougboh, said that the Makarfi group is free to go if they want. Ojougboh who noted that they have been hearing of such moves by Makarfi camp, added that if they exit it would allow for the rebuilding of the party which has been ravaged by acts of impunity.

The leadership crisis rocking the PDP has culminated in the legal dispute over the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ondo State, a scenario which threatens the chances of the party retaining the state, which it currently governs.

Series of reconciliation attempts have failed as both factions, despite an agreement of its leaders, Makarfi and Sheriff, to resolve their differences and forge a common front.

A PDP source in Makarfi’s camp said admitted that they in Makarfi camp are getting weary of the antics of Sheriff, he added that it was becoming apparent by the day that a reconciliation between both camps won’t happen in the nearest future.

The party source noted that just like in the Edo governorship election, the events surrounding the Ondo governorship election is clear indication that the Sheriff camp won’t back down until they decimate the PDP.

“I can tell you that the option of leaving the party for Sheriff and his camp has come up in some party circles. It has been muted but not aggressively adopted yet. We are still looking at it. We cannot continue to be held down by few disgruntled elements who are being used by the party in power to undermine us ahead of 2019,” the source said.

Another source said “For some of our party members, the PDP brand is too big to be left to Sheriff. But reality is also setting in by the day that Sheriff and his loyalists are not ready for genuine reconciliation. You can see that they keep shifting the bar at every turn. So the idea of leaving the party for them and forming our own will gain more converts, especially now that some people are trying to form a new party and the APC is having serious problems. But we will have to deliberate on it very well.

Attempts to get the party’s spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, to react to the issue was not possible as he didn’t pick calls placed to him nor respond to text message sent to him. But Ojougboh, said that the Makarfi group are free to go if they want to do so, stressing that it would afford them the opportunity to rebuild the party.

He said “It is free entry and free exit. If they say they want to leave let them leave so that we can rebuild the party. The interesting thing is that some of them want to go but some of the governors are insisting they will stay back that is what is happening now. I don’t know why governors Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Nyesom Wike of Rivers want to kill PDP.”

He added “The entire grassroots across the country have said they don’t want to leave the party and that they want to remain in the party under Sheriff. We went to former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and he told us that until the people causing impunity leave the party he will not have anything to do with the party.”

Meanwhile, with six days to the Ondo State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected calls by the Makarfi PDP-led for the postponement of the polls because of a pending legal dispute surrounding the governorship candidate of the party.

The Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the Ondo State governorship election pending the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court.

The party justified its call for postponement of the polls against the backdrop that INEC is a party to the suit before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, adding that the commission is well aware of the steps taken by certain parties to the suit to frustrate the course of justice.

The party in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, further claimed that the recent invasion of the homes of justices of the Supreme Court, and the arrests and harassment of several judges by men of the Directorate of State Services, are compelling judges to refrain from furthering the course of justice by unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against them.

The party also stated that several mischievous actions by Messrs Biyi Poroye, Jimoh Ibrahim and their legal team led by Mr. Ben Nwofor (SAN), including unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and disregard for the justices of the Court of Appeal to disruption of court proceedings and flagrant abuse of Court processes has frustrated the case.

The Court of Appeal Panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa had on Friday adjourned sine die over appeals by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) against a judgment given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Justice Ibrahim Salauwa had stated that the decision to adjourn was taken in the face of a petition written against the panel to the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) and chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) alleging acts of corruption, bias and breach of oaths of office amongst others.

Furthermore, the respondents had filed a motion at the Supreme Court in which the justices of Court of Appeal Panel were named as co-respondents in their personal capacities. But Makarfi’s PDP, in its statement yesterday said “The indefinite adjournment is a consequence of the latest of several mischievous actions taken by Messrs Biyi Poroye, Jimoh Ibrahim and their legal team led by Mr. Ben Nwofor (SAN).

“These actions, ranging from unsubstantiated allegations of corruption to outright disrespect and disregard for the Justices of the Court of Appeal to disruption of Court proceedings and flagrant abuse of Court processes, are all designed to achieve one aim – stall proceedings and ensure that the legitimate candidate of the party is prevented from contesting the November 26th, 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

“This outright bullying and intimidation of justices of the Court of Appeal is enabled by the recent invasion of the homes of Justices of the Supreme Court, and the arrests and harassment of several judges by men of the Directorate of State Services. These actions are achieving the desired effect as judges are now compelled to refrain from furthering the course of justice by unsubstantiated allegations of corruption. We are aware that this is only a part of a much bigger plan to use all available resources of state to prevent the legitimate candidate of the party from running for and winning the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election.

“We are aware that this is part of the plan to use the judicial process, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election in favour of the ruling party (APC) before the election day. We call on all well meaning Nigerians to urge the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government to desist from the use of organs of the Nigerian State as a tool with which to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. At this point, we must urge all Nigerians to hold the Federal Government, INEC, APC and the Jimoh Ibrahim group for any consequences of the dangerous games that they have chosen to play with the Nigerian people.

“The judiciary is seen as the last hope of the common man. When the freedom and independence of the judiciary to further the course of justice is tampered with, people often resort to self help. The current situation must not be allowed to deteriorate to that point. We call on INEC to postpone the election pending the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court. We make this call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC is a party to the suit before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and is well aware of the steps taken by certain parties to the suit to frustrate the course of justice.

“We also make this call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC postponed the Edo State Gubernatorial Election and recently postponed the Rivers rerun elections without any cogent or visible reason. We urge the justices of the Supreme Court to stand fast in the face of this existential threat to the independence of the judiciary and democracy itself. We urge the justices of the Supreme Court to remember the maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied” while determining the issues before it.

“We use this opportunity to ask our teeming members and supporters in Ondo State and across the country to remain calm. We believe that there are men and women of integrity in the judiciary who will ensure that this act of injustice does not stand.”

INEC’s director on Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said “The circumstances surrounding the postponement of the Edo Election was quite clear. It was because the institutions saddled with security said they could not guarantee security at that time not just in Edo but across the country. That scenario has not arisen at this time. We are going ahead with preparation for the election. The basis for postponement of elections are clearly spelt out in the electoral act. We cannot postpone an election because of internal conflicts of a party. Moreover, we are aware that other parties too like AD and APC have legal issues too. For now we are going ahead with preparation for the Ondo election.”

Similarly, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has kicked against the call for the postponement of the governorship poll. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Ojougboh declared that such a call by the “so called National Caretaker Committee of the party is “malicious, shortsightedness, offensive and irresponsible”

The Sheriff faction urged INEC, the judiciary and the members of the public in general to discontinuance the call for postponement as contained in the statement issued by PDP’s national publicity secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.

Sheriff declared that as a matter of fact the party under his leadership was fully ready for the Saturday’s poll in Ondo State and was confident of the party’s candidate, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim who has been busy campaigning in all the nooks and crannies of the state, winning the election

According to him,”our attention has been brought to the malicious, shortsightedness, offensive and irresponsible statement issued by the illegal National Caretaker Committee as represented by Dayo Adeyeye. The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, entire judiciary and indeed the members of the public in general should discontinuance the statement on the Ondo state poll completely. We also want to draw the attention of the public to the evil intention and plans of the illegal Caretaker Committee not only to kill the PDP but also to bury it as they have announced to the whole nation that by January next year they would been in a new party, what else are they saying here again? We will not allow them to kill the PDP.

“We hereby state categorically that PDP is beyond destruction, we are calling on them to leave PDP alone and allow us to face the task of rebuilding the party. We are reinstating here again and again that we are ready for the Ondo poll, come November 26th, there is no cogent reason for INEC to do otherwise.”

Meanwhile, PDP staff members at the national headquarters, Abuja, who are loyal to Makarfi’s faction yesterday decried the incessant petition and blackmailing of the Nigerian judiciary by Sheriff in an attempt to delay prompt dispensation of justice to resolve the current leadership crisis in the PDP.

The staff under the auspices of “Staff Welfare Forum” in a press statement on yesterday, said, “The latest attempt by the Senator Ali Modu Sherriff warring group speaks volume of who is actually working in cohorts with the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to destabilize the PDP and create a one party state in the country.”

A statement signed by the chairman Ngozi Nzeh, further said, “We have been following all the events and issues surrounding our great party, the PDP after the humbling outing in the 2015 General Elections and the subsequent leadership crisis following the May 21, 2016 National Convention of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It is sad to say the least how some of our party leaders are working tirelessly with a view to decapitate and destroy the PDP. This is not acceptable and must stop immediately.”

The national secretariat staff of the party declared that they are all in support of the resolution of the May 21, 2016 National Convention of the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, establishing the National Caretaker Committee, headed by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, saying that any member of the party no matter how highly placed working against the convention resolution must tread softly or face the party’s disciplinary committee which has the power to invoke the extant rules and take necessary actions against such erring members.

“The former national chairman of our party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was only appointed by the 68th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party to complete the tenure of the North East which began with Dr. Bamanga Tukur in 2012 and ended in March, 2016. Senator Sheriff was even given additional 3 months because his appointment came towards the end of the four years tenure of the North East. So, the claim by Senator Sheriff to remain as chairman after the expiration of the tenure of the 2012 Working Committee is anti-party and he and all his cohorts should be treated as enemies of the party.”

The staff declared their unflinching loyalty and total support to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee saying that the committee is the only authentic product of the National Convention of the PDP which is the highest decision making organ of the party in accordance with the constitution of the party (2012 as amended) in Part X, Section (2), which says…”The National Convention shall be the supreme and controlling authority of the party within the limits prescribed in this constitution and it shall be the principal representatives, policy making and administering body of the party.

“We are therefore perplexed, astonished, amazed, startled and wonder how Senator Sheriff and co, stood the constitution of the party on its head, maintaining that he remains the chairman of the party after the convention of May 21st, 2016. Any judgment he parades in his favour after May 21st, 2016 is nothing but a ‘black-market’ judgment procured through the windows of the court. We are also wondering how Senator Sheriff could seat down as an individual and appoint deputy national chairman, national secretary , national auditor and converting some former deputy officers of the party to substantial officers and still cry impunity when he is the one actually impugning the PDP with reckless abandon without recourse to the party’s constitution.”

The PDP staff members, therefore called on the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) and the entire Nigerian judiciary as the third estate of the realm to live up to its responsibility to save Nigeria’s democracy and treat the PDP leadership matter before them with utmost urgency and dedication that it requires, especially to enable enough time for the PDP to campaign with other political parties in the election and participate actively in the Saturday, November 26, 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State saying…”Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Beyoncé’s Mom, Hubby Attend Party In Monaco (PHOTOS)

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Lawson, shares beautiful photos of herself, her hubby and friends at an anniversary party in Monaco. Mrs. Lawson showed excitement by saying how lit the party was. She was seen dressed in a lovely black dress and she admitted that she showed a little leg.

See pics she posted on her IG below:

Me and the beautiful Pauletta Washington in Monaco, France we be partying!!!!

In Monaco! 25 Th anniversary of Magic and Cookie Johnson best party in history!

Terminally ill Woman Holds Last Party Before Ending Her Life

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

In early July, Betsy Davis emailed her closest friends and relatives to invite them to a two-day party, telling them: “These circumstances are unlike any party you have attended before, requiring emotional stamina, centeredness and openness.”

And just one rule: No crying in front of her.

The 41-year-old artist with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, held the gathering to say goodbye before becoming one of the first Californians to take a lethal dose of drugs under the state’s new doctor-
assisted suicide law for the terminally ill.

“For me and everyone who was invited, it was very challenging to consider, but there was no question that we would be there her,” said Niels Alpert, a cinematographer from New York City.

“The idea to go and spend a beautiful weekend that culminates in their suicide that is not a normal thing, not a normal, everyday occurrence. In the background the lovely fun, smiles and laughter that we had that weekend was the knowledge of what was coming.”
Davis worked out a detailed schedule for the gathering on the weekend of July 23-24, including the precise hour she planned to slip into a coma, and shared her plans with her guests in the invitation.

As the weekend drew to a close, her friends kissed her goodbye, gathered for a photo and left, and Davis was wheeled out to a canopy bed on a hillside, where she took a combination of morphine, pentobarbital and chloral hydrate prescribed by her doctor.

Davis ended her life a little over a month after a California law giving the option to the terminally ill went into effect. Four other states allow doctor-assisted suicide, with Oregon the first in 1997.

Sacked PDP Officials May Sue Party Over Crisis-Ridden Convention

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has commenced consultation on the outcome of the Saturday’s Port Harcourt national convention of the party.

Inuwa Bwala, the Special Adviser on Media to the former Chairman Sheriff, disclosed this during an interaction with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr. Bwala said members of the NWC were already meeting in an undisclosed location to look at legal action that could be taken on the decision reached at the convention.

“I can tell you that the Sheriff and other members are still meeting to deliberate on what transpired at the convention.

“They have invited their lawyers to advise them on the next line of action,” Mr. Bwala said.

He said the meeting might continue till Monday.

Mr. Bwala Mr. Sheriff did not receive any court order stopping the convention until Friday, adding that the four court orders received on that day were “parallel and conflicting.”

He said in order not to violate any of the orders, Mr. Sheriff called a meeting of the NWC and other organs who advised that the convention be suspended.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Dickson Behind Crisis In Our Party- APC

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday accused Governor Seriake Dickson of being the behind the crisis rocking the party in the state. The Bayelsa APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Panebi Fortune, said there was an underhand dealing between the suspended Chairman of the party, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and Dickson.

Oruminighe and few members of the state Executive Committee have been directly attacking the state leader of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva, accusing him of selling appointments to his cronies. Dickson in the heat of the crisis released a statement purportedly supporting the faction of the APC Executive Committee led by Oruminighe.

The party said: “It has become compelling for us to expose the under hand dealings between the governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson and the suspended state chairman of the APC, Chief Tiwei Oruminighe alongside two of his accomplices.

“In the last few days, the state and indeed the entire nation has witnessed the outright misdemeanour on the part of the suspended party and two members of the state exco. As a party built on the principles of discipline, justice and fair play, 25 out of the 31 member state exco of the party supended Orunimigha and his co-travellers for gross indiscipline and misconduct.

“However, our attention has been drawn to a statement laced with lies and outright misinformation purporting and insinuating financial dealings between two leading lights in our party, that is our leader, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Hon Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri prior to the appointment of the latter as minister. We find these lies very disgusting and ignoble, hence seen as the ranting of a bunch of misled ingrates.

“But our curiosity is that the statement emanated from one Daniel Iworiso-Markson, chief press secretary to Governor Dickson. The question of who is behind the suspended chairman and his ‘boys’ does not need to be asked. What rather baffles us is the rationale behind this incredulous act of anti party and unconscionable desire for monetary gains in the name of politics.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the entire membership of the ?state exco aside the suspended trio of Oruminighe, Julius Eddy and Daniel Marlin is solidly behind our leader, Sylva as well as the minister of state. We call on the relevant security agencies to unravel the source of the attached email statement from Iworiso-Markson”.

Credit: vanguardngr

PDP Governors Forum Condemns Gulak’s Declaration As Party’s National Chairman

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has condemned the action of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, for declaring himself as the National Chairman of PDP.

Gulak, the former Special Adviser to Jonathan on Political Matters, had earlier in the day at the PDP secretariat,said he had ced to assumed office as PDP national Chairman following a court ruling.

The governors’ position is contained in a Communique issued by the forum after its meeting held late on Wednesday in Abuja and signed by the Director General of the forum, Earl Osaro

“The invasion of the party headquarters on Wednesday by Ahmed Gulak, who reportedly assumed the Chairmanship of the PDP, is regrettable and condemnable.

“We take cognisance of the judgment by the court in Abuja which ordered the acting chairman to vacate office for any other person from the North-East zone of Nigeria.

“Our party constitution has enough provisions for that and the necessary process has been put in motion,” the Communique stated.

It stated that the appropriate organs of the party would meet soonest to elect a national chairman of the party from the appropriate zone.

Credit: Sun

Iyanya Thrills Gov. Ayade & His First Lady On Calabar Carnival Pre Event Party

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Iyanya shares photos of the Green Ball 2015 Calabar Carnival Pre-event 2015 as he thrills his audience including the State governor of Cross Rivers, Ben Ayade and his gorgeous wife, the first lady of Cross Rivers.

See pics below:

Thanks To My Governor And His wife For the Love Last Night.
#Greenball2015 #calabarcarnival2015

Green Ball 2015 Calabar Carnival Pre-event 2015 cc:@ubifranklintriplemg

Last Night Before The Green Ball In Calabar

Victoria Beckham Leaves Party With Wet Spot Between Her Pants, Find Out What It Was

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The fashion mogul stepped out of a party at her London boutique on Tuesday night with husband David Beckham, looking pretty tired after what appears to have been a successful night of celebrating, save for one curious wet spot on her pants.

Victoria Beckham’s rep said, “This was simply the result of the most unfortunate positioning of a spilt drink, whilst Victoria was sitting down – thankfully it was not a ‘dampener’ on what was a fantastic night.”

Read More: ETonline

Moses Siasia To Dump PDP, Over 700 Youths May Follow Suit

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Staff Reporter

35-year old governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State, Moses Siloko Siasia is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for a new political party. He is expected to lead over 700 youth leaders across the eight local government areas of the state to the new party.

A source within the Moses Siasia campaign organization said that the decision by the astute businessman to dump the PDP is based on the injustice to other aspirants by the newly selected excos of the party loyal to Governor Seriake Dickson and lack of internal democracy within the various organs of the party in the state. The source also hinted that over 15 political parties within the state are willing to adopt Siasia as their sole candidate.

Read More: vanguardngr

PDP Chieftain Advocates Re-Branding Of Party, Says Party Lacks Think Tank

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisa Uzoewulu, has made a passionate appeal to the party leaders to rebrand it in order to save it from extinction.

Speaking to newsmen, in Abuja, recently, the PDP stalwart popularly known as Wulus, decried the lack of internal democracy, discipline and the prevalence corruption in the party, attributing them to the abysmal performance of the PDP in the 2015 general election.

He said that the absence of a think-tank in the PDP also a reason for its poor performance in the last presidential election.

He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his frugal disposition to governance, strength of character and integrity “saying that if in four (4) years, President Buhari recovers Nigeria’s looted money, he is likely to achieve a lot and instill fiscal discipline in governance in Nigeria.”

Credit: dailytimes

PDP: Jonathan, Party Leaders Move To Revive Party

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun moves to revive the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Jonathan and the party leaders have endorsed a blueprint for the revival and rebuilding of the party in preparation for the elections. A meeting was held on Monday at the Peoples Democratic Institute in Abuja to ratify the roadmap.

The meeting was attended by some party leaders, including Senator Ahmed Markafi and a former Minister of Environment, Laurentia Mallam.

The blueprint has already been circulated to all the party leaders. The roadmap has been well received by the party leaders and other important stakeholders.

Read More: Punch

PDP Staff Render Apologies To Party Over Crisis

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

As part of moves at recompense, the workers of the PDP have apologised to the leadership of the party over their actions during the week-long crisis that hit the opposition party.

In an apology letter addressed to the Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus and members of the NWC, the staff said they regretted their actions.

“Following inflamed passions, several allegations of corrupt practices’ bordering on speculation were raised against our respected members of the NWC. We regret the unintended consequences of our allegations especially the resultant damage caused to the reputation of members of the NWC and the party.

“Arising from the same inflamed passions and frustration, it has now dawned on us that proper channels of communication were not followed in expressing our grievances.

“To this end, we hereby offer our unreserved apology to the members of the NWC as well as the teeming members, supporters and stakeholders of the PDP for this unfortunate development.

“We regret any unintended consequences of our actions and inactions especially considering the efforts of the NWC to reposition the party to play a credible role as an opposition party poised to save Nigeria from emerging fascism,” the workers said.

Credit: thisdaylive

Teenager Dies Of ‘Too Much Excitement’ After Celebrating End Of Exams

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

A teenager has died from an overdose after his friends clubbed together to buy ecstasy to celebrate the end of exams, a coroner heard. Toby Fairclough suffered a cardiac arrest on playing fields in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire after taking a lethal dose of MDMA.

The student of Akeley Wood School was rushed to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he later died.

An inquest heard the 17-year-old had chipped in some money with friends to buy a gram of MDMA – known most commonly as ecstasy, which he swallowed and mixed in his drink.

Toby and the group of teens had then headed down to a paddock about 200 yards away from his friend’s house which was out of the view of any adults, on the night of May 22

Friends described seeing the schoolboy jumping around and talking very quickly, but said he was still able to hold a conversation with others.

As the night progressed, he lay on the grass twitching, apparently hallucinating and talking to himself before he became unresponsive and started snoring loudly.

He was put in the recovery position and given blankets to keep him warm but when his breathing suddenly became very shallow at half past midnight, his friends called an ambulance.

Detective Sergeant Simon Johnson of Thames Valley Police Force CID told the inquest:

‘Paramedics arrived on scene but had already instructed Toby’s friends to carry out CPR.

‘He was then taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, by stretcher but was pronounced dead at 1:45am having arrived at 1:39.

‘No police procedures have been carried out in relation to the death.’

A post mortem examination carried out by Dr Narendra Mungalsingh revealed that the level of MDMA in Toby’s system was very high and was significantly above the typical recreational dose.

The level of the drug was in the fatal range, and the cause of death was recorded as an MDMA over dose.

Source: Mail Online

Sight And Scenes From DA Music Room’s Denim Party As Premiere Show Records Huge Success In Abuja #AboutLastWeekend

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The city of Abuja were not sure what to expect from a Christian party especially since its being hosted at one of Abuja most conspicuous club and lounge. Regardless of the mixed reaction the attendees were perplexed with the variety of entertainment and fun experience they got.

Da Music Room had earlier invited young, trendy, music and party people to her first ever denim party and premiere of its Christian TV Entertainment and lifestyle show with hosts, Koloboi, IB and DJ Ernesty which took take place on 25th of July, 2015 at the Bank.

Yaksman of Wazobia FM Abuja, a guest at the event, said, “This party was a great success and I am thrilled by the support of all the young professionals as well as the outlook of all who attended”. The party also featured a host of performances, amazing prizes, celebrities, record executives, CEOs, as guest enjoyed and danced to awesome gospel jam mixes by DJ Ernesty.
If you missed out and want to catch on,
Follow the conversation on Twitter @DaMusicRoom with the hashtag #AboutLastWeekend and #aboutAWeekAgo

See more Photos below

Guest loosing it with some amazing gospel songs jamming

The Hosts of the Show Koloboi and IB with Tyeng Gyang Of Kiss Fm Abuja

Legendary Hip Hop Star 6 FOOT PLUS (Centre) With guest at the show

Pretty faces showed up tooo !!!!!!!!!

Choreographed Dance along session with a couple of pretty faces at the party

National Assembly Not Party Secretariat, Ekweremadu Cautions APC

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, warned the All Progressives Congress, APC, not to misconstrue the National Assembly as its secretariat.

Senator Ekweremadu, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, was called up on a RayPower Radio morning programme, tagged: “Political Platform”, where he responded to questions on the alleged forgery/amendment of the Senate Standing Rule, 2011.

When told that some people, especially from the opposition APC felt that his principal took a seat that rightly belonged to the APC, Mr Anichukwu said the seat did not belong to any political party.

He said: “Going by Section 50 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, that Office doesn’t belong to anybody or party. It belongs to Nigerians. That is why APC lawmakers became Speakers in Plateau and Benue State Assemblies last June even when the APC was in minoity. By the way, are some people trying to tell Nigerians that if the PDP had won majority in the National Assembly, which is an independent arm of government, and head both chambers, then the President Buhari Administration would cease to function?

“Just as I said in a statement a few days ago, we will not be intimidated and will do everything democratically possible to protect the independence of the National Assembly.

He washed his hands off the allegation, saying at the time the said Senate Standing Rule/Order 2015 was made, he had ceased being the Deputy Senate President and so was no longer a principal officer to have contributed to the making of the document in question.

He said the making of a new Rule/Order for a new Senate or House was entirely the business of the National Assembly bureucracy, asking those striving to frame him up to look elsewhere.

He said: “Let me just explain here that every National Assembly, that is every Senate or House has its Standing Rule/Order as every Standing Rule/Order normally has a life span of four years. So, if you go to the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly now, you are likely to find Standing Rules/Orders of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and the current 2015.

“From the point of the valedictory session of the 7th Senate on 4th June, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Distinguished Senator David Mark and the rest of other members of the 7^th Senate ceased to be senators until the 9^th of June, when the 8th Senate was inaugurated; and as usually done, the new senators received new Standing Rule/Order 2015.

“The making of that 2015 edition of the Senate Rule/Order is the business of the bureaucracy of the National Assembly. What the 8th Senate can do, which its predecessors have sometimes done is to amend as suitable. And the process of the amendment is spelt out in the that document.

Credit: vanguardngr

Accept Party Supremacy, Buhari Tells Senators, Reps

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the National Assembly to accept the party’s supremacy in the interest of democracy.

In his opening remarks at the ongoing meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, Buhari charged members to put whatever interest they have in their “pockets” and accept the supremacy of the party in the overall interest of democracy.

He said: “What ever your personal interests, put them in your pocket. Let APC work. Let the system work. I appeal to you to accept the superiority of the party. I cannot confine myself in Sambisa forest and refuse to participate in the meeting because I respect the superiority of the party.”

Credit: vanguardngr

APC Lawmakers Vow To Ensure Dogara Obeys Party

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Some members of the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives have vowed to ensure the position of the party on the choice of principal officers in the House prevails. The lawmakers made this known at a press conference after the House descended into chaos Thursday.

Nasiru Zango Daura, a member representing Zango/Baure Federal constituency of Katsina State, spoke on behalf of the lawmakers. Fracas erupted in the House following agitation by the lawmakers that the party’s nominees for key leadership positions be upheld.

The National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, had in a letter to the Speaker, Takubu Dogara, nominated Femi Gbajabiamila as House Leader, Alhassan Doguma as Deputy House Leader, Mohammed Monguno as Chief Whip and Parry Iriase as Deputy Whip.

Read More: premiumtimesng

New PDP Leaders To Emerge August- Party

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that a new national chairman of the party, as well as a new BoT chair, will emerge three months after the resignation of former holders of the positions.

The secretary of the BoT, Walid Jibrin, made the disclosure on Wednesday at the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja after a meeting of the BoT.

The former Chairman of the Party, Ahmadu Mu’azu, resigned from office in May, citing health reasons, while the former BoT chair, Tony Anenih, followed suit shortly, to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan assume the position.

However, Mr. Jonathan declined the offer and instead the party’s NEC appointed a former national chairman, Bello Haliru, to serve as acting chairman of the BoT.

The party also approved that Mr. Mu’azu’s deputy, Uche Secondus, serve as the acting national chairman.

“Like you are aware, the appointment of the acting Chairman Is for three months and after three months we will sit again, because by our constitution the board of trustees regulates its own activities,” Mr. Jibrin said Wednesday.
He also said the BoT has the capacity to provide guidance to all the structures of the party to ensure it remains intact and “bounce back”.

He said the BoT was working closely with members of the National Working Committee and its members in the national assembly.

“We are doing our best to ensure that sanity is brought to our party, our party is going to kick again and we are going to bounce back,’’ he said.

The BoT secretary called on members of the party at the national assembly to cooperate with the BoT as it seeks to rebuild the party.

He also revealed that the party’s reconciliation committee headed by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is yet to submit its report to the leaders of the party because it asked for an extension of time.

He said the committee had asked for memorandum from PDP members across Nigeria and that it was planning a zonal tour across the nation to meet with select leaders and interest groups.

“We have sought for an extension for up to 10 weeks to complete our job as three weeks will not allow us to do a proper job.

“We have asked the NWC to look at it and have accepted and granted the permission to extend it to 10 weeks. I do not think we are going to exceed that 10 weeks,” he said.

Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of the BoT, Mr. Bello, stated that the party would ensure credible opposition and would produce capable leaders to fill the party’s slot at the national assembly.

“We will help the government where we think they are not doing the right thing and we will bring their attention to things that are not working,” he said.

Credit: premiumtimesng

Six Students Killed After Apartment Balcony Collapsed During Birthday Party

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Six students tragically lost their lives after a balcony collapsed beneath them.The five Irish students and one American were standing on the apartment balcony,when it gave away during a party in the early hours of Tuesday

Olivia Burke, 21, Eoghan Culligan, 21, Niccolai Schuster, 21, Lorcan Miller, 21, and 21-year-old Eimear Walsh ,Ashley Donohoe, 22,were all foreign students, visiting Berkeley, California, on the popular J1 working visa program
Four of the students were pronounced dead at the scene and two of the young people passed away in hospital.

Seven other students, were injured. Some have critical, life-threatening wounds following the tragedy..

The group of around 14 people fell when the 5ft by 10ft balcony completely detached from the wall and flipped over.

One resident at the apartment block said he had called the police to make a complaint about a large party that was going on in the apartment.

Culled from Mailonline

Jonathan Takes Over PDP Structures To Reform Party

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Following the resignations of the party’s National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Tony Anenih, President Goodluck Jonathan has taken over the party’s structure to spearhead its much touted reformation. Jonathan’s move is to checkmate the activities of governors elected under the party platform.

Although, Mu’azu cited health grounds as the reason for his resignation, credible sources within and outside the Presidential Villa disclosed that his resignation was orchestrated by President Jonathan. The President has also be fingered in the resignation of Anenih.

Jonathan was alleged to have asked the two leaders to resign so that he would reorganise the party after becoming BoT Chairman.

Read More: TheNation

PDP Will Bounce Back, Jonathan Promises To Rebuild Party

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Staff Reporter

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to stay in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to help rebuild the party.

Addressing the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja after meeting with them on Wednesday, Jonathan said he would return stronger to help rebuild the party after taking a short break outside the country with his family.

He urged the party members and supporters to put behind them the defeat the party suffered during the March 28 presidential election.

He cautioned party members against apportioning blames for the party’s loss in the election.

He begged party members not to allow the party disintegrate because of the general elections, noting that the party would bounce back .

Read More: Vanguard

Miley Cyrus Wears Nipple Pasties & Silver Wig for Art Basel #Photos

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Staff Reporter

The 22 year old actress and singer emerged from her Art Basel concert at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami yesterday Dec. 3rd wearing a silver wig, thong-suspender sling over glittery pantyhose, and matching ballet flats. She was also topless but for the disco ball pasties covering her nipples. See more photos after the cut…

Source- kokomansion.com

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