Abiola's Wife Reveals the Platform for Her 2015 Lagos Governorship Ambition

One of the wives of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Mrs Modupe Onitiri-Abiola, on February 1, 2014, Saturday, gave more details on her ambition to run the 2015 governorship election in Lagos state.

She said she would do it on the ticket of ACCORD Party that she had joined ‘to assist in the eradication of poverty.’

The wife of the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, made her intention public in a statement issued by her in Lagos.

“Since there is no Independent Candidacy in Nigerian Political System yet, I needed to join a political party.

“During my search for the party to join, I found out that what we have on ground is severe poverty.

“I saw that the people of Lagos are yet to truly receive the dividends of democracy they deserve.

“I have seen the suffering of those caught in the grasp of poverty. I have also seen the great potentials our state can achieve,” she said.

Late MKO Abiola’s wife said if she became successful at the polls, poverty, god-fatherism, money politics and corruption would be eliminated.

She said it was time for government at all levels to truly serve the people’s interest and raise their hopes and opportunities.

The aspirant said that she worked with her late husband in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 elections annulled by the military regime of former president Ibrahim Babangida in 1993.

She said she believed that ACCORD party was the new way that would lead the people to the Promised Land, where true benefits of democracy would be received.

Mrs Modupe Onitiri-Abiola urged the potential voters to stand up and accept change, adding that her party had their interests at heart.

(NAN)

FRAUD: Nigerian with 107 Citi Bank Cards Arrested at Lagos Airport

A 36-year old Nigerian (in the photo), with two different international passports, has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with 107 Citi Bank credit cards.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said in a statement on February 1, 2014,Saturday, said the man, identified as Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde, has been arrested with the automated teller machine cards concealed inside a luggage during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey.

Hamza Umar, NDLEA Commander at the Airport, said that the suspect had two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs,” Umar said.

From 107 credit cards recovered from his luggage, 68 were Citi Interswitch Master cards, and 39 – Citi Interswitch Visa cards.

The suspect who is a native of Iwo town in Kwara State lives in Surulere Lagos. He is OND graduate of Economics at the Kwara Polytechnic.

During interrogation he said that his friend from Turkey had called him and asked to bring a consignment cards to Istanbul, Turkey. The suspect further narrated he had collected the cards in Lagos, and put in his bag, before the officer had spotted the cards and took him for interrogation.

The suspect would be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation, as the suspect had unlawful possession of 107 credit cards, which are believed to be used for fraudulent purposes, since the arrested man was not an authorised agent.

PHOTOS: I Attract A Lot Of Traffic And Men Just Cant Keep Their Eyes Off Me - Popular Singer

Like her father, Ras Kimono, Oge Kimono speaks in a blend of patois and English and sometimes you have to strain your ears to capture all she has to say. And she’s one girl who stands out in the crowd.

Ever since the act known as Oge Kimono dropped her debut single last year, she has never looked back as she has continued to grow from strength to strength. She recently shot the video of her single, Drum and Base due to popular demand and Oge couldn’t stop talking about her music career.

See excerpts of her interview below as she speaks on her music and appeal;
“The single’s entitled Drum and Base, it was released early last year, sometime in March and I did a couple of promotions and got massive airplay across Nigeria. So I felt the video was overdue because my fans are all over me for a video. I worked with a renowned music video director called AJE Filmworks.
“We shot scenes in places as far away as Togo but most of the scenes were shot in Festac Town, Lagos, because of the colours; we wanted bright reggae colours which depict the real Jamaican dance hall feel and it was wow!”
“I’m Nigerian but I’m more into reggae music. Yes, reggae music has its root and origin in Jamaica but we also have our African reggae as well. I just bring the two together and blend them in a unique way. Don’t forget I’m from a reggae family as well and my father has been influencing me; I mean da lion is still influencing da I,”.
Oge says that men find her irresistible due to her light complexion and that could be a big temptation. But thanks to her dad’s advice which has helped get her out of trouble with the opposite sex.
“As a young lady you’ll have men hitting on you all the time. I’m light skinned and I attract a lot of traffic; guys just can’t get their eyes off me and I understand they are just human so I don’t let it go to my head. When guys make passes at me I hear Daddy’s voice come screaming from the background and I’m like ‘okay Oge Kimono, you’ve gotta watch yourself.’”
“Fortunately I’ve not encountered that.I think it could have a lot to do with how you relate with people. When I meet producers for the first time I try to make them my friends. I don’t bore them with tales of how I want to blow overnight in music.
“When they see desperation in you, thats when they come after you.  I’m not desperate for fame. I’m doing music because I love music; I’ve never had that challenge.”
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/58211.html

STRANGE: These Nigerian Communities Worship Giant Pythons As their Gods

As odd as it may sound to people who aren't familiar with any other religion apart from Christianity or Islam, there are communities in Nigeria that place snakes as their gods.

An example of such communities where residents still regard python as one of their gods is Mgbidi, the headquarters of Oru West local government area of Imo State. Mgbidi is made up of eleven communities including Imeoha, Eziali, Umuekwe, Okwudor , Umuorji, Umuokpara, Umuehi , Umuabiahu, Uziaumu , Ihitte and Ugbele.
In a chat with one of the priests who identified himself as Ngozi Obiwuru, he boasted that no amount of civilization can change that part of their culture; worshipping of python. “Several churches have come to deliver this community but have failed to stop the worship of snakes. I used to be a Christian before my father whom I inherited this job from died. I had to relocate to the village and learn the traditions of our people.
“If you mistakenly kill a snake, you will simply appease the gods or face the consequences. There was a particular case, the man called all kinds of pastors to pray for his family, at the end of the day he came to me and performed the sacrifice. It dawned on him that it was not a joke when his three kids died mysteriously.
“Several churches have been advised to stay away from that part of our religion. We welcome the fact that they have brought a lot of development in our area, but the fact remains that no one can force us to abandon what we believe in.”
To appease the gods, Obiwuru said: “It is very simple. The individual will buy a white coffin, white cock, goat and will come to the shrine for sacrifice. The coffin will be used to bury the snake. These snakes do not bite anyone; it is a sign of blessing if it chooses to visit your family at night.   It is an honour to have a god in your home, just as the Christians rejoice when they spot an angel in their homes.
“One of my close relatives tried it. He came back from the city, and told me that he has just finished seven days fasting. To try the potency of his prayers, he said would kill as many pythons as he could lay his hands on. He actually went to the bush to find one. Today, my brother is dead and buried and no one can explain what happened to him.”
Just as he claimed that python is a sacred animal, Obiwuru also warned visitors to steer clear of Obana River. “It is a taboo for an indigene or visitor to kill a fish in the river.  If a visitor unknowingly takes it away, he or she will not be affected.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/58208.html

OMG: Kanye West May Be A Messiah, You Won't Believe Where His Face Mysteriously Appears (PHOTOS)

Several allegations appear on the web that Kanye West is the next Messiah, as his face appears in various places. Though, the rapper and the genius has not confirmed this officially, after seeing the graphic images below, you would be convinced even without his confirmation.

First time, his face mysteriously appeared in the middle of last month, inside the sack full of coffee beans. This pictures appeared on twitter and soon became viral.

 

In the development of this story, Kanye’s face was also spotted on a woman's knee (pictured below). The images were initially posted on Reddit on January 30, 2014, and have collected over 2 million views so far.

 

Looks like hoax and photoshop, but still, the idea of the joke is super funny. 

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/58197.html

Photo: Model/Video Vixen Voney Dolce poses nude in new photo

Voney Dolce is a popular video vixen. If you've never heard of her, well, you will be hearing a lot about her soon as she's planning to start a Vlog where she will expose the secret relationship between Nigerian video vixens and entertainers. #getready!

Meanwhile she just released a new pic where she's completely naked. See it after the cut. 18+ pls..:-)

PROVED: Pope Benedict Defrocked 400 Priests For Child Sex Abuse In 2 Years

A document obtained by The Associated Press on Friday shows Pope Benedict XVI defrocked nearly 400 priests over just two years for molesting children.

The statistics for 2011-12 show a dramatic increase over the 171 priests removed in 2008 and 2009, when the Vatican first provided details on the number of priests who have been defrocked. Prior to that, it had only publicly revealed the number of alleged cases of sexual abuse it had received.

The document was prepared from data the Vatican had been collecting to help the Holy See defend itself before a U.N. committee this week in Geneva.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican's U.N. ambassador in Geneva, referred to just one of the statistics in the course of eight hours of oftentimes pointed criticism and questioning from the U.N. human rights committee.

The statistics were compiled from the Vatican's own annual reports about the activities of its various offices, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles sex abuse cases. Although public, the annual reports are not readily available or sold outside Rome and are usually found in Vatican offices or Catholic university libraries.

An AP review of the reference books shows a remarkable evolution in the Holy See's in-house procedures to discipline pedophiles since 2001, when the Vatican ordered bishops to send cases of all credibly accused priests to Rome for review.

Then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took action after determining that bishops around the world weren't following church law to put accused clerics on trial in church tribunals. Bishops routinely moved problem priests from parish to parish rather than subject them to canonical trials — or turn them into police.

For centuries, the church has had its own in-house procedures to deal with priests who sexually abuse children. One of the chief accusations from victims is that bishops put the church's own procedures ahead of civil law enforcement by often suggesting victims not go to police and keep accusations quiet while they are dealt with internally.

The maximum penalty for a priest convicted by a church tribunal is essentially losing his job: being defrocked, or removed from the clerical state. There are no jail terms and nothing to prevent an offender from raping again.

According to the 2001 norms Ratzinger pushed through, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reviews each case sent to Rome and then instructs bishops how to proceed, either by launching an administrative process against the priest if the evidence is overwhelming or a church trial. At every step of the way the priest is allowed to defend himself.

The Congregation started reporting numbers only in 2005, which is where Tomasi's spreadsheet starts off. U.N. officials said Friday that the committee has not received the document.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56937.html

Hot PHOTOS Of Nollywood Actress, Anita Joseph

These photos will definitely bring pleasure to those, who have been missing Nollywood actress, Anita Joseph, being in the news recently.

Check out the hot pics of the actress below:

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56922.html

SERIOUSLY? Nun Rushed To Hospital With Stomach Cramps And Then Gave Birth

A Salvadorean nun who said she had no idea she was pregnant gave birth in Italy this week after she felt stomach cramps in her convent and was rushed to hospital, Italian media reported on Friday.

The 31-year-old mother and her baby boy, who weighs 3.5 kg (nine pounds), are doing well and other new mothers in Rieti hospital have begun collecting clothes and donations for her, the reports said.

“I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain,” the nun was quoted as saying at the hospital, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. She reportedly gave birth to a child on Wednesday.

The nun had named her baby Francesco (Francis) - also the pope’s chosen title and one of the most popular names in Italy, where St Francis of Assisi is the much-loved national patron saint. The hospital could not be reached for comment.

The nun belongs to the “Little Disciples of Jesus” convent in Campomoro near Rieti, which manages an old people’s home and reports said she would keep the baby. Her fellow nuns were quoted saying they were “very surprised”.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56925.html

EXCLUSIVE: Toke Makinwa And Maje Ayida Finally Got Married... Secretly (PHOTO!)

It has been learnt that after over 10 years of a relationship, with its break-ups and reconciliations, Toke Makinwa and Maje Ayida finally got married.

The longtime lovers got married quietly this week.

Congratulations to the newly-weds!
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56934.html

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G: 22 Unbelievable Places that are Hard to Believe Really Exist (PHOTOS)

Our world is so full of wonders that new and amazing places are discovered every day, be that by professional photographers or amateurs. Different geographical locations, climatic conditions and even seasons offer the widest variety of natural wonders: pink lakes, stunning lavender or tulip fields, breath-taking canyons and mountains, and other places you can hardly believe actually exist!

Some of the pictures in this collection will be of all natural sights you can find while traveling around the world, while the others have experienced human interference – but even in these cases, the result of such collaboration is spectacular. The Japanese learned how to tame thousands of orchids and form a romantic tunnel out of them; another one was formed all the way in Ukraine by a passing train; and what eventually ends up as hot tea in our mugs, first grows in stunning tree fields in Asia.

And yes, all those of those places are real!

Tunnel of Love, Ukraine

Tulip Fields in Netherlands

Salar de Uyuni: One of the World’s Largest Mirrors, Bolivia

Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Red Beach, Panjin, China

Bamboo Forest, Japan

Street in Bonn, Germany

Naica Mine, Mexico

Wisteria Flower Tunnel in Japan

Fields of Tea, China

Tianzi Mountains, China

Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Retba, Senegal

Mount Roraima, South America

Zhangye Danxia Landform, China

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56926.html

PHOTOS: International Fashion Retailer Goes Crazy, Unveils Models With Pubic Hair

The international fashion retailer refused to beat around the bush in its latest window display in New York,stopping pedestrians in their tracks.

International fashion retailer American Apparel has got everyone talking after unveiling models with pubic hair at one of its New York stores.

The brand has gone public about its thoughts on hair in their lingerie displays which line the East Houston Street store's windows in Lower East Side.

The hair-raising additions to the female mannequins are the latest publicity stunt by the company, which last year released a line of period t-shirts featuring a hirsute and menstruating vagina.

Speaking about the mannequins to the New York Observer, District Visual Manager Dee Myles, who supports the design idea, said: “They bring rawness and newness to a holiday thought of as a romantic Hallmark holiday … by exploiting the lust of Valentine’s Day.

It's important to have instances spark up curiosity and conversation about what we deem beautiful and sexy.”

Whether simply a clever advertisement campaign aimed to increase pre-Valentines Day sales or an empowering statement about the natural female form, the merkined mannequins have definitely led to increased public interest, with groups of pedestrians crowding around the store to take pictures.

The photos have also gained popularity on social media, where they have been debated by Twitter users.

The display is the latest revelation in an on-going debate surrounding pubic hair that was recently stoked by Cameron Diaz's pro-hair comments in her new book, The Body Book.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56942.html

Femi Falana’s Son Dumps Law For Music

A lot of people will be amazed to learn that Femi Falana’s son is in love with music.

Like his father, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz TheBahdGuy is a trained lawyer who has now dumped the respected profession for his love for music.

FalzHis journey into music started from his secondary school days. He took it to another level in 2007, when he stung together a mix tape titled:’ Shakara’.

He has been identified as a great talent by music veterans like Eldee, Don Jazzy and M.I.He is known for his trademark witty punch lines, infusion of local dialects, and comedic lines which seem to stand him out.

With the release of his single ‘High Class’ produced by Studio Magic, Falz is gearing up for rap domination.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56948.html

Okonjo-Iweala Lied: Nigeria Lost Not $1 Billion But $9 Billion To Fraudulent Import Waivers - SaharaReporters

Nigeria has lost more than one trillion Naira in revenue in the last three years, which is the direct result of import concessions or waivers issued by the Ministry of Finance. Documents confirming this information have been gathered by Sahara Reporters from a source in the Nigeria Customs Service.

On December 19, the House of Representatives Committee on Finance gave the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 50 questions on the state of national economy.

Question Number 15 on the list was "how much exactly has been the amount of money lost in government revenue as a result of import duty waivers in 2011, 2012 and 2013?"

The Committee wanted to know who benefitted, what was imported, and most importantly: why these waivers were granted.

The Committee is now conducting a review of the Okonjo-Iweala's responses.

In a release issued on January 15, the Minister pointed out that Nigeria gave out N170,727,078,336 billion Naira ($1,067,727,148 billion) in total from the waiver system between 2011 and 2013. 

However, the documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that N1,435,980,495,810 trillion ($8,975,998,164 billion) is involved, which is nearly nine times what Okonjo-Iweala admitted to.

According to SaharaReporters, the over one trillion Naira lost in these agreements between the Federal Government and private enterprises favored hundreds of businesses.

Several Dangote Group subsidiaries benefitted to the tune of N26,222,605,864 last year, and were the biggest beneficiaries of the 2013 period.

It follows from the documents that in 2012 the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) benefitted the most, making about N77,979,042,860.

In 2011 first place was held by Sopon Nigeria Ltd, which cost Nigeria N32,773,467,146.

Coscharis Motors Limited, the company which supplied Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah with bulletproof BMW cars, has also benefited in the millions from the waiver scheme since 2011, costing the country N400, 099,570 million in 2011 and N698,427,424 in 2013, SaharaReporters says.

Records indicate the company imported a variety of items, including armored military vehicles. However, it is unclear why, and for whom it may have imported military vehicles, as the FG usually imports such supplies directly.

The list of other significant beneficiaries include:

• The Ministry of Environment, Bauchi, which bled national revenue by N155,606,247 for window :air conditioners" in 2013;
• The Office of the Executive Governor of Ondo State, for N146,852,981 in 2013 for generator sets;
• Creation Commercial Ventures Limited, which imported "cigarettes containing tobacco" and received an exemption costing the country N70,187,029 in 2013;
• The Ogun State Accountant General’s Office, which imported "motorized tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles" for N52,169,620 in 2013;
• One Mr. Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ndianaefo and one Mr. Asimiyu Mohammed Salawudeen, for cast iron table, kitchen, and household articles costing N5,642,567 and N7,158,538 respectively in 2013;
• The Rivers State Government, for N2,919,108 for "barbed wire and other fencing material" in 2013;
• The Office of the Accountant General in 2013 for "wooden furniture" at a price of N2,098,553; and
• One Mr. Ayotunde Aderoju, who imported a variety of "pot scourers", "polishing pads", and "gloves" costing Nigeria N2,035,569.

Other state governments and individuals reported to have benefited from similar arrangements incluse the office of the first lady, Patience Jonathan, though her NGO e"African First Ladies for Peace Mission (AFLPM)", Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Bayelsa State Government, the Minister of Police Affairs, the Nigerian Police Force, the Sokoto State Government, the Akwa Ibom State Government, and the Watchtower Society which is assumed to be of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Besides, Moghalu Maduakonam Madubugwu, has also made it to the list as he benefitted from an exemption that cost Nigeria N142, 679,096 in 2012.

To recall, on January 23, 2013, he was arrested at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, en route to Dubai with $200,000.

The exemptions mentioned above and their financial consequences were not disclosed in the reports presented by the Ministry of Finance on their site, or in the Okonjo-Iweala's answers provided to the House Committee on Finance.
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PHOTOS: Venezuelan Women Go Crazy For Giant Boobs

The female models, which feature enhanced breasts, super slim waists and long legs, appear to highlight Venezuela's obsession with cosmetic surgery.

These are the bizarre mannequins that are said to be fuelling body-image problems in Venezuela.

The female models, found on street markets throughout the country, reflect the obsession with cosmetic surgery procedures.

Featuring enhanced busts, super-slim waists and long legs, they echo the most popular procedures taking place there - breast augmentation and liposuction.

Several makers of the dolls are now in operation, including Eliezer Alvarez, who makes the dolls at a workshop in Valencia, Venezuela.

Alvarez said that the business was helped by a 'simple observation'- that more and more women in his country are having plastic surgery.

Even women with low incomes set aside daily necessities for months at a time to undergo procedures, in an attempt to live up to the country's increasingly unattainable beauty ideals.

One woman feeling the pressure to get the 'perfect' body is 23-year-old Georgina Osuna, who has already had her existing breast implants replaced by larger ones.

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/56890.html