BlackBox Nigeria

Former captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, on Friday led a group known as PDP Ward 2 Ward Initiative to the Presidential Villa Abuja to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan for second term.
Addressing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the president, Yobo said Jonathan deserved a second term to continue the "good work" he had started.
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The ex-international, who is the group's brand ambassador, said the president had done so well for the youth and called on them to re-elect him in 2015.

He stated that his organisation had a short, medium and long-term plan to partner the president on his transformation agenda.
"I'm here to endorse His Excellency, the president of our great nation, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for his re-election. He has done so well.
"I stand here as a youth to say that he deserves a second term to push forward the good work he has started.
"I do believe in the legacy of the transformation agenda, and that's why this Ward 2 Ward Initiative is building on that legacy.
"The president has done so well. The youth now have their own power, they have their own beliefs and they should understand that they have their rights in their own hands. They should follow what Mr President has started.
"The youth should come forward and believe in Mr President. Everybody should come out to vote for him.
"It's your choice, but as an individual and as a face of the youth, I recognise what he has done.
"The future is for the youth. We need to stand up and look into the future, not just now.
"If we don't settle down and take responsibility as youths and be able to follow what Mr President has done, then what does out future hold?"

The national Coordinator PDP Ward 2 Ward Initiative, Mr Shekulomaso Karka, said the group was a grassroots political organisation and an NGO involved in youth development at the grassroots.
Karka explained that the group was involved in the propagation of government's developmental policies and programmes in rural areas.

‎Keeping good his promise to make christmas a memorable one for his people, the executive Governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Ayodele Fayose has distributed over 100,000 bags of rice as well as about 80,000 chickens.

During his inauguration some months ago, the governor had disclosed that he was already rearing christmas chicken for his people. He also announced that he would be appointing a Special Assistant on stomach infrastructure.

Boko Haram last weekend released a video threatening to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in retaliation for the Emir's call on Kano residents and other Nigerians to arm and defend themselves against the terror organization. In the new video, Mr. Shekau said his group does not consider Mr. Sanusi a true Muslim, and will attack him whenever an opportunity presents itself.

In what appears to be a reply to the boko haram leader, Shekau, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, said that he remained protected against any evil attack and nothing
was going to happen to him except the will of Allah, the creator.
"I am protected and nothing is going to happen to me", the Emir stated.
This was disclosed during a Friday special prayer session which held at the Kano City Central Mosque (Masallachin Sarki) yesterday. Sanusi who presided over the special prayer reiterated his earlier call on the general public to protect themselves against the attacks of the Boko Haram sect.
According to the emir, it is rather unacceptable for people to abandon their daily deals or desert places of worship because of the fear created by evil doers. He urged all not to succumb to fear and be their brothers' keepers.‎

After campaigning for several weeks, Tony Tetuila called quit on his ambition for a seat at Kwara state House of Reps… Speaking to Sahara TV about his quitting… Tony said…

I used to be a musician and now i'm going into politics. I believe I still need to learn more .They said fine, no matter how you are going, you are part of us. That's why I love the party APC. They showed me the way and told me nor matter what, I'm part of them..

Says he stepped down and didn't lose…

Let me say indirectly I actually stepped down before the primaries..Atleast he is capable for the seat now which I'm giving all my support for him as an indigene and as an artist and a person thats from the same constituency

Did he get compensated?

Errm..don't let us let the cat out of the bag, but i believe with my hard work and the way I'm carrying people along especially the youth, there would be a compensation..

I stopped music because i've been following politics and it has not been in vain.I want to add my impact to my state.The only way i can serve my people is going into politics .We are from the streets, we know what the street wants and what they deserve .‎

The Lagos State Deputy governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire lost her dad, Alhaji Jimoh Kareem Orelope on Thursday, 18th of December, 2014

According to a statement on Thursday by the Special Assistant (Media) to Lagos State Deputy Governor, Tunde Abatan, the deceased was born to Akeja Oniyanru and Olugbede royal families of Lagos State on February 25, 1913.

He is survived by wife, children, grand children and great grand- children among whom is  the incumbent Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

The deceased was buried according to Islamic right yesterday.

He was aged 101.

Top comedians Bovi, AY, Omo Baba, MC Abbey and over 25 others will on 1 January, 2015 join their senior colleague and accomplished comedian, Ali Baba in entertaining guests at the maiden edition of his Ali Baba January 1st Concert holding at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

During the night, comedians will take turns to review major events of 2014 and roast-toast some selected popular personalities.

Joining the comedians are pop stars, D'banj, Waje, Omawumi, Yemi Alade and Harrysong who will be adding colour and pomp to the concert with exciting musical performances.

The show will also witness the award of scholarships to some first class graduates as well as special recognition of eight Nigerians who are pioneers in their various fields.

The concert is the first of its kind in the industry and is put together by Bunmi Davies of the Stand Up Nigeria fame.

Mode 9 is not a small fry in the music industry. He is popular and he has got some good hits to his credit.

But as famous as he is, the young man admitted that it didn't translate to any financial gains, claiming that he is not as financially successful even with his name.

"Music has got me fame but not fortune. The kind of song I do is hip-hop in its pure essence and the truth is that most Nigerians do not like it. I can eat three times in a day; I am not hungry but I am not as comfortable as I would love to be. However, the book has not ended, so let's see what happens. Music has got me more fame than fortune," he said.

And indeed, Mode 9 has really been successful musically as he has clinched awards and awards since he started his career.

For the first time in seven years, Mode 9 was not nominated at this year's edition of Headies award. But the rapper told Saturday Beats that he abhorred no malice about it.

However, instead of feeling bad concerning the break in the 'tradition,' the artiste said he was happy that he didn't get any nomination.

He said, "I don't feel bad that I was not nominated in the Lyricist on the Roll category during this year's Headies because even the sun and moon rotate the time they are meant to. I don't do music with awards in mind; I just try and make good albums. I don't mind if I am not nominated again for the next Headies because I was getting tired of being nominated for the lyricist on the roll category year in year out. I am even happy that I was not nominated."‎

The 19 All Progressives Congress members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Friday formed a parallel assembly at a secret location and suspended factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi and the six lawmakers loyal to him.

The APC lawmakers accused the seven Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers of violating Section 96 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Those suspended apart from Olugbemi are Mrs. Abeni Olayinka , Adeyinka Adeloye, Alexander Adeojo, Mr. Olowo Ajiboye, Mr. Dele Ajibola and Mrs. Ayo Olajide-Fatunbi

Olugbemi and the six lawmakers had purportedly "impeached" the state House of Assembly Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, and his deputy, Taiwo Orisalade, on November 20, 2014.

At the plenary held at a secret location in Ado-Ekiti and presided over by Omirin, the APC lawmakers also nullified all legislative actions purportedly carried out by the Olugbemi-led Assembly.

The actions include the receipt and consideration of the 2015 budget; the dissolution and reconstitution of the caretaker committee members for the 16 local government areas and the confirmation of three commissioner-nominees and special advisers.

The plenary concluded that the purported impeachment of Omirin and the "election" of Olugbemi as House Speaker portrayed the Assembly in bad light, hence the need to suspend the seven lawmakers to save the integrity of the legislative chamber.

The Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe, who moved the motion, claimed that the PDP lawmakers had consistently violated Section 96(1) of 1999 Constitution and House Standing Order in the last one month.

He alleged that the seven lawmakers gave false information to the public by accusing the 19 APC legislators of receiving bribes to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Olugbemi, however, was hostile to journalists when they sought his reaction to the issue.

The motion to suspend the seven PDP lawmakers was seconded by Mrs. Omowumi Ogunlola.

The 19 APC lawmakers at their plenary voted in favour of autonomy for local government and the House of Assembly and also granted approval to Section 8 of the Constitution which confers citizenship rights and privileges on Nigerians anywhere they are living in the country.

They also approved autonomy for the offices of Accountant-General and Auditor General of the state as part of constitution amendment.

Adedipe also moved the motion to reconvene the plenary at a public location outside the House of Assembly chambers for security reasons.‎

No fewer than 30 pregnant women among the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP's, from Bama Local Government Area of Borno State have so far given birth within the last four months, with another set of 20 almost due to deliver.

The IDPs are currently taking refuge in one of the camps in Maiduguri, the state capital.
According to the Chairman Committee on the IDP's at the Government Girls Secondary School Maiduguri camp, Alhaji Babagana Mahmoud, who spoke in an interview with newsmen yesterday, those who gave birth were among the women who escaped from Bama when Boko Haram terrorists attacked the area.

Mahmood said that about 4,200 women and children who escaped from the terrorists were in the camp.
He explained that the state government had set up a committee on maternal care delivery in the various camps to assist women in resolving complicated cases.

He said that the government had also procured health kits for all the IDP centres as well as ambulance vehicles ensure prompt transfer of expectant mothers in camps to the nearest health center.
"We have health workers who always see to the health needs of our IDP's. That is why we hardly record any case of complications among pregnant women.
"The ambulance is always there to rush them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to enable them get proper health care.
"We have also successfully separated the sick IDP's from the ones that are not sick in the camp to avoid outbreak of diseases like cholera and diarrhea,'' among others, he added.

One of the 54 soldiers sentenced to death by a Nigerian Army court martial for mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny has taken to the social media to express his frustration.

The soldier, who bears the name Fahat Fahat, posted on his Facebook page on Friday that all the soldiers asked for were better weapons.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am soldier and I am sentence to death by the Nigeria army (sic) (be)cause we did not go to fight Boko Haram without equipment. We ask for weapon instead dem gave death sentence (sic)," he posted in a chilling message that gives a firsthand insight into the likely state of mind of the soldiers.

Fahat's wall showed different pictures and posts of an excited soldier. In one post, he said, "I am a commando trooper, Jumper Canta Force Galopa Amphibios (sic). Above I am a gorilla, the king of the jungle. I am trained to kill the wicked. I am proud to be a killer. We do good things to good people and bad things to bad people. One man one bullet, sometimes, one man, one magazine."

But the tone of his messages seemed to change from October 2014.

In a cryptic message on November 24, 2014, Fahal posted in caps, "I am sick and tayerd with dis forking alpha romeo mike yankee seriousely (sic)" Meaning: I am sick and tired of this f****** Army seriously.

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A 48-year-old businessman, Kassim Raheem, who allegedly stabbed a co-tenant for trying to outsmart him by dashing into their residence's only bathroom, on Friday. He appeared in court in Lagos.
Raheem, who resides at Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of breach of peace and assault before an Oshodi Magistrates' Court, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused stabbed Mr Sunday Awulu on the head on Dec. 11 at their residence.
According to the prosecutor, the accused claimed that it was his turn to use the bathroom, but the complainant entered. "The accused claimed that he kept a bucket of water at the entrance of the bathroom before the complainant entered the place, and that when he complained, Awulu ignored him."‎

A family of seven were at the early hours of Friday, burnt to death in a mysterious inferno that engulfed their home at Ayankor, Gboko East, in Gboko local government area of Benue state.

It was gathered from an eyewitness that the inferno which started at about 1am, engulfed the block of three flats, killing a man and his wife, Mr. And Mrs. Lawani Oye and their five children.

Lawani Oye was said to be a popular automobile panel beater in Gboko while his wife was also a known business woman in the neighborhood.
According to the eyewitness who preferred anonymity, the fire which started when everyone had gone asleep razed the entire block of flats, though other occupants of the building managed to escape.

According to her, "the fire started at about 1am in Mr. Oye's flat when everyone in the neighbourhood, including the victims of the inferno were asleep.
"It was his wife and mother of the dead children who we popularly call Mama Tunde, who raised the alarm that prompted other neighbours to rush out of their flats and after failing to fight the strange fire however managed to escape.
"Our pain about this tragic and unfortunate incident is that the same woman who died with her family in the fire was the one who raised the alarm that saved others. They were burnt beyond recognition.
"The whole thing is still a mystery to neighbors and no one can, at this moment, ascertain the cause of the inferno but the only clue we have is that their generator was on that night and by the time we went round after the fire, we saw that a lantern was positioned very close to the generating set."‎