Top Line

Thursday 30 April 2015

NATIONAL THEATRE FINALLY SOLD OUT last week ? ask Mallam kabir Yusuf 08032100600


NATIONAL THEATRE FINALLY SOLD OUT last week ? ask Mallam kabir Yusuf 08032100600
Despite all the cries  and anger  against the move by the Minister of Tourism and Culture , Chief Edem Duke to sell the National Theatre and its land , it seems  that the land of the National Theatre , Nigeria's  cultural monument  has finally been sold  just two months to the expiration of the tenure of the present government .
The term of agreement of the lease  contract was  allegedly signed and sealed in a hotel on Thursday last week in Lagos where the Minister of Tourism ,  Mallam  Kabir Yusuf , the General manager  , National Theatre   , Mr A Lawal and Engineer Nworgu , Head Technical Services were in attendance
.All attempts  to speak with the Minister was deadlocked while the phone of Mallam Yusuf ,08032100600  rang for several times without any response '
Kinly call his number too 08032100600


Wednesday 29 April 2015

Memo to Gen Buhari on tourism (2) : What Obasanjo did to tourism by Wale Ojo Lanre

Memo to Gen Buhari on tourism 2 by Wale Ojo Lanre



Time to read
4 minutes
Read so far


 April 29, 2015 - 07:15

 0 comments


Chief Olusegun Obasanjo connection
President-elect sir, do you know that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated Presidential Council on Culture and Tourism?

1 million naira Tourism Fund for each State in 1978
And sir, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the two-time  former president of Nigeria, was the first president who not only believes not only in tourism as a wondrous economic booster, but also latter strove hard to explore it as an alternate revenue resources to crude oil.
It was General Obasanjo as the head-of-state who, at the later end of his regime in 1978, approved a sum of one million naira each of the 19 state governors for the development of a tourism site in their respective states.
The then General Obasanjo believed that Nigeria could kick off  the tourism economy if it can sustain 19  exciting tourism  sites. Sir, only few   states governors ever used the money for that purpose.

Late Adekunle Ajasin and one million naira tourism fund
However, one of the civilian governors who inherited the money, Late Adekunle Ajasin, the then Governor of Ondo State, expended the states portion of the fund in rehabilitating and constructing of the Federal Government chalets at the famous Ikogosi Cold and Warm Spring.
It is noteworthy that, there was never an improvement on that particular tourism site until the tenure of Governor Kayode Fayemi, who perfectly understood the economic import of tourism and transformed the once neglected site to an Eldorado.
It is instructive to point out here sir, that Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring Resort, which Dr Fayemi rehabilitated in Ekiti when he was the governor, is the only project, apart from the educational institutions in the state, which has continued to lubricate the economy of the state phenomenally.
Sir, it will interest you that within the first three months of its formal opening, Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring Resort attracted over 22,000 visitors to the town and the state.
Definitely Sir, this phenomenal visit, apart from directly impacting on the resort by the way of gate fee, accommodation and feeding also rubbed on the economy of the state via, visitors purchasing one item or the other, from ranging from petrol, drinks, pure water, drugs, food items (road side market) and other ancillary business.
This is to show that if the 19 states governors then had judiciously expended the fund allocated to tourism on a site, by now, at least, going by the Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring Resort example, Nigeria would be proud of having 19 exciting sites.

First Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Sir, despite the fact that the first tourism seed fund was misused, Chief Obasanjo, on his second coming as a civilian president, never allowed that to kill his tourism dream for the nation.
Upon his swearing in, he immediately created the first ever Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with 11  appropriate  parastatals  set up  with specific charter.
The parastatals are the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), with charter to market, promote, nurture and develop tourism; National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), with the mission to serve as training ground and platform for the capacity need of the sector; National Council of Arts and Culture, NCAC,  with objective of consolidating the various cultural and arts assets of the nation in building the tourism sector; National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), with specific aim of harnessing our cultural resources to meet the challenges of social integration, peace and unity, for tourism development; National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) with the responsibility of collection, preservation and presentation of Nigerian antiquities for education and tourism purposes; Centre for Black Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), with the target of ensuring the promotion of Nigeria as the paragon of African arts, by exhibiting to the world, through lectures, symposia and exhibitions, why the millions of the diaspora population must visit Nigeria and trace their roots; National Gallery of Arts (NGA), charged with enhancing and developing the visual art sector for tourism; National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), charged with promotion of Nigeria’s various dances; Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the National Theatre.
Mr President in waiting, the ministry and all the parastatals under it performed and lived up to expectation under Chief Obasanjo, not  because of any miracle but because Chief Obasanjo was then determined to ensure that the tourism sector is not only developed for its entertaining aspect, or for the fun of it, but to serve as an alternative source of revenue for the nation.  Hence, the ministry’s first minister, Chief Ojo Madueke, adopted the slogan: “From entertainment to emancipation.”
To create an enabling environment, every policy and project embarked upon or launched under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was tilted towards, job creation, empowerment and revenue generation.
It is to the eternal contribution of Chief Obasanjo that he did not only ensure a mound of financial consideration for this sector but ensured that some of those appointed to run the affairs of the ministry and parastatals were qualified men and women.
In addition, it is on record that Chief Obasanjo did not hesitate to change or sack whoever was not pursuing the tourism vision of the nation.

Presidential Council on Tourism and Culture
Just to show that he meant business on tourism, Chief Obasanjo inaugurated the first Presidential Council on Tourism and Culture, set up primarily to focus on the development of the tourism sector, and of which he was the chairman and included others ministers whose ministries were strategic to the development of tourism such as  Finance, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Police, Works, Aviation, Information and Environment, with state governors whose states harbour notable tourism sites and willing to develop tourism in their states
The main reason for Chief Obasanjo’s inauguration of a presidential council on tourism is to ensure presidential attention and dispatch to tourism issues.
For instance, the Ministry of Tourism found it easy to access fund for the organisation of the first and second Abuja Carnival, and the inauguration of the Committee on Tourism Master Plan, just because these two projects had been discussed at the council, where the president was in attendance with the minister for finance and other  ministers whose ministries were involved in the two projects.
This council met quarterly, with all members present, while issues and policies concerning tourism were made and necessary processes for implementation set  in motion and executed with presidential fiat .
While the Presidential Council on Culture and Tourism met regularly and made headway, Chief Obasanjo also encouraged the states to sustain the National Council on Culture and Tourism (NCCT), where all state commissioners of tourism in Nigeria hobnobbed and strategised on tourism.
This made the tenure of Chief Obasanjo the most memorable time for tourism and it attracted ……………………? to the nation.
Conference of all Commonwealth Ministers of Tourism, when 53 ministers of the Commonwealth converged on Abuja, were addressed by the then president, Obasanjo, in April 2006.

The inauguration, commencement and development of the Nigeria Tourism Development Master Plan
Sir, do you believe that Nigeria spent heavily on the Nigeria Tourism Development Master Plan but unfortunately nothing has been done about it “
The inauguration of Abuja carnival
The resuscitation of Argungu Festival
The rejuvenation of various domestic tourism – cultural festivals in the six  geo- political zones in Nigeria. 
The hosting of Commonwealth Head of Governments (CHOGHOM)
Nigeria was recognised as a tourism-friendly nation.
Tinapa and Obudu Ranch Resort were conceived and construction commenced.
The dismantling of police road blocks or operation 48 hrs ultimatum visa issuance policy for tourists coming to Nigeria at our embassies all over the world.
To crown Chief Obasanjo’s success in this realm, a Nigerian lady, Agbani Darego, won Miss World Beauty contest.
Chief Obasanjo laid the foundation for tourism to blossom, which was even noticed by World Tourism Organisation (WTO), which listed Nigeria as one of the nations making progress in tourism.
Sir, you will also agree that going by the tale of tourism glory enumerated above, Nigeria should, by now, be one of the proud tourism countries of the world, but that is not the case.
To be continued next week.

Friday 24 April 2015

Does Gov Ajimobi hate workers or teachers ? By wale Ojo lanre

Does Gov Ajimobi hate workers or teachers ?
You know your brother Ajimobi hates us .
I don't think so.
This handsome Governor does not look as a hater of teachers sorry workers , I mean both
That he has not paid your  salary for just three months should not be a testimony to assume that he hates workers and dislikes teachers
I  don't want to believe that .
He cannot hate workers because they are the backbone of his  administration
I don't think he dislike teachers because he knows the real value of education being an educated and cosmopolitan fellow
But the fact that  we workers in Oyo state have not received salary in the last 3 months
Definitely to us  , he hates workers
But I still can believe
If he hate workers or teachers will he have approved   accelerated promotion which shored up your  take home almost by 200 percent ?
A rare promotion and salary increase which made Oyo teachers  the envy of others  and made Oyo state the only state where teachers rewards are obtained on Earth ?
Will he have  approved allowances and paid   leave bonuses at when due ?
But do you blame the workers for crying silently in hush tones and suffering in silence ?
Can you blame a family whose breadwinner is a civil servant in the service of Oyo State and mother a teacher with children in school  who has  not been paid in the last three months not to murmur , curse and harbor  hatred against the governor who is said to be receiving his own salary "perse perse "?
How do you want us  to feel upon learning that all the political appointees are smiling home with their fat salaries satisfying their family while the jacks are agonising in misery ?
" Ok , if the Governor is not wicked why can't he  communicate with us .Our Governor hold it a duty to explain to us or raise our hope of a better days to come , But nay , bamu bamu ni won yo , nwon o mo pe ebi npawa "
But that cannot be true
Governor Ajimobi  is humane , sensible and compassionate
That may be your personal assessment Sir
But to us the workers and the teachers , we don't see him in that angle
Is it because he fails  to pay you for only 3 months?
See the way you are talking  and reasoning ?  You call that only 3 months ?
Is it because God is blessing you and your husband or wife is working somewhere where the pay is regular ?
God will not put you in our shoes.
The economy is not buoyant , the allocation from the Federal Government  is shrinking  and dwindling ..
That is a tale for the morons
We put him there because we believe he can think out of the box to get money for administrative purposes . We could have put a dullard , no we put a charming man . He must not give us excuses l
Just bear with him
What do you mean, bear with him for another month or months which he and while  his political appointees are smiling and relishing in affluence and  we the labourers are gnashing our teeth and wallowing in misery and poverty?
My brother this is not fair
Tell your brother Governor Ajimobi to pay us our salary
This is too much , alarinka agbaye
Enough is enough
We are hungry and angry
Tell Ajimobi we are hungry 1

Thursday 23 April 2015

Mysterious island with 60,000-year-old community where strangers are not allowed

Mysterious island with 60,000-year-old community where strangers are not allowed

Main-tribeIt is a criminal offence to try and make contact with the Sentinelese
Tribe: It is a crime to go within three miles of the island
It may look like a typical island paradise – but be warned, because all is not as it seems in this mysterious landscape.

According to   UK  Mirror, the Indian Ocean island, which is about the size of Manhattan, has been inhabited by the indigenous Sentinelese for 60,000 years.
The tribe have rejected the modern world and are violent to outsiders – killing two men in 2006 after they were fishing nearby their North Sentinel Island.
They even go as far as to throw rocks and shoot arrows at planes or helicopters, and such is the hostility they show towards outsiders that only low-quality photos exist of the inhabitants.
Indian authorities have gone as far as making it a crime to try to make contact with the Sentinelese.
But while it is illegal to go within three miles of the island, that has not stopped some from venturing nearby.
The Sentinelese tribes, estimated population of 200, live in North Sentinel Island
Survival International – which advocates for the rights of tribal groups – has claimed that local fisherman are regularly entering the area – with one even stepping onto the island before he and six others were arrested by the authorities.
The group now fears that the survival of the tribe is under threat.
Survival International’s director, Stephen Corry, said: “The Great Andamanese tribes of India’s Andaman Islands were decimated by disease when the British colonised the islands in the 1800s.
“The most recent to be pushed into extinction was the Bo tribe, whose last member died only four years ago.
“The only way the Andamanese authorities can prevent the annihilation of another tribe is to ensure North Sentinel Island is protected from outsiders.

Baby born with eight limbs worshipped by thousands as ‘Hindu God

Baby born with eight limbs worshipped by thousands as ‘Hindu God

Worshipped: An Indian child born with eight limbs is believed to be a reincarnation of the God Ganesha
Worshipped: An Indian child born with eight limbs is believed to be a reincarnation of the God Ganesha

Worshippers in India have gathered in the small town of Dumri-Isri to celebrate the arrival of the babyCaters/GettyEight Limbed Baby and GaneshWorshipped: An Indian child born with eight limbs is believed to be a reincarnation of the God Ganesha

According to a report in the Mirror ,Thousands of religious devotees have flocked to see a baby born with eight limbs to worship him as a Hindu God.
The baby boy, who has not yet been named, was born with four legs and four arms – thought to be the result of a birth defect from an underdeveloped conjoined twin.
But worshippers in India have gathered in the small town of Dumri-Isri to celebrate the arrival of the baby, who they believe to be a reincarnation of Hindu God Ganesha.
Thousands have flocked to the small town where the baby was born
Ganesha is one of the most iconic and widely-worshipped deities in the Hindu religion and is represented as an elephant with four arms.
Kuntalesh Pandey told local media he had travelled 72 miles to catch a glimpse of the boy.
He said: “When a friend first sent me a picture I wrote it off as photoshopped but when he confirmed that it is real I came to see the baby straight away.”
CatersEight Limbed BabyDefect: It is believed the baby may have gained the extra limbs for an underdeveloped conjoined twin
The condition of the baby’s mother, Ureda Khatun, is unknown.
The baby is not the first to win adulation from Hindus after being born with a physical abnormality.
GettyGaneshDeity: Ganesha is one of the most worshipped Gods in the Hindu religion
Last year, a boy with a seven-inch ‘tail’ announced he was considering having it removed – despite being worshipped as a God.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Leisure Spring Hotel plans expansion

Leisure Spring Hotel plans expansion

Nigerian Tribune  April 22, 2015 - 13:51
 
 0 comments
Writer: 
Wale Ojo Lanre
Leisure Spring Hotel
Leisure Spring Hotel, Ondo, one of the hotels, which conducive business environment in Ondo State brought into being about a year ago, has not only  been a home away from home  for tourists and other categories of hospitality buyers, but has continued to sustain the loyalty of its numerous customers with unparalleled service.
These attributes have endeared and cultivated multitude of customers to Leisure Spring Hotel and thus necessitated the urgent need to expand  and enhance the facilities and fittings in order to satisfy the customers and keep the hotel in shape of contemporary dictate.
 The increasing patronage cannot be divorced from the facilities available, excellent services rendered by the well trained and articulated staff who ensure that every guest has value for his money.
Apart from the inner bar and restaurants where both exotic drinks and local and continental dishes are served, the hotel is also planning to have an open bar and a standard swimming pool and fitness centre where lodgers can do some aerobics and play indoor games.
The  hotel manager, Mr Kunle Olubokun in a chat with TTM about the hotel’s operation in the last one year said, ”We have taken over the market in Ondo and its environs, we have, to a very large extent retain the patronage of different clientele because we give them value for their money.
“Leisure Spring is a chain of hotels, if you go to other branches, you will see the kind of quality services we render, we don’t joke with our customers satisfaction.
“ The need to expand is very crucial at this moment because lodgers’ must be given the best in customer services. We want to create an environment with an all-round-effect that is an environment where lodgers will be at comfort zone to enjoy, relax, exercise and have their mental and physical strength renewed before departure. Our intention is to ensure everybody that lodges in our hotel is satisfied.
Leisure Spring is one of the hotels in Ondo, which offers 24 hours electricity service with internet facilities, luxurious, neat, classy and affordable rooms when compared with the kind of services they offer.

Gunmen kill el-Rufai’s campaign coordinator

Gunmen kill el-Rufai’s campaign coordinator


Writer: 
Muhammad Sabiu in Kaduna
GUNMEN have killed Mr Markus Ishaya, one of the campaign coordinators of Kaduna State governor-elect, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
His spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, in Kaduna, on Tuesday evening.
According to Aruwan, the gunmen trailed Ishaya to his village, Atuku Kasa, Atuku Ward of Jema'a Local Government Area of the state and shot him several times.
“He was the coordinator of el-Rufai’s campaign in Atuku ward and did well mobilising support. His family informed us that unknown gunmen stormed his residence and shot him several times.
“The men, two in number, were well  armed and did not pick any property in his residence except carrying out the ungodly act,” he said.
Condoling with the family, Malam el-Rufai prayed for the soul of the deceased, adding that “our empathy and prayers go to the family and the entire community over this callous murder and desecration of human life.”
When contacted, the state police image maker, Zubairu Abubakar, confirmed the incident, but was quick to say that perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to justice.

Memo to Buhari on Tourism 1: By Wale Ojo Lanre



Memo to Buhari on Tourism 1:
By Wale Ojo Lanre
Nigerian Tribune , Wednesday 22 April , 2015
I congratulate you for your victory at the poll, which you must not see as just a mere victory over an opponent but one which has placed on you the enormous responsibility of effecting fundamental and surgical changes in the entire sphere of this nation called Nigeria.
General Sir, apart from tackling the cancer of corruption, which is eating up the fabric of the nation, there is the urgent need to shore up the energy production for the country to be in motion.
One other fundamental issue, which you must address in earnest, is finding alternative source of revenue to oil, if this nation must grow, develop fast and be able to raise its head in the comity of nations.
Every successive government in Nigeria, in the past few years, have mouthed these issues, but none has been able to effectively and earnestly make spirited efforts at searching for another source of revenue, just because of our overdependence on oil.
A mono product revenue-generating nation is always at the mercy of international market indices and global events, which gives no room for stability in planning and execution of projects and thus, truncates or strangulates development.
This is the situation which Nigeria has found itself today; at the mercy of global oil prices on which we as a nation predicated our budget and development plan.
Sir, it will interest you to know that Nigeria is economically sick and developmentally ill because no serious developmental projects are being embarked upon because the oil revenue dropped drastically, which reduced the allocation alarmingly, forcing all development projects all over the country to be on hold.
The fault is not in those who derive joy in manipulating the international oil prices to suit their whims and caprices, but in us as a nation, which has refused to do the needful by nurturing alternative sources of revenue.
Sir, it is a known fact that Nigeria is solidly an agrarian country. The present government of President Goodluck Jonathan did honestly laid down and embarked on rigorous re-engineering of the sector, to the benefit of the country, and I have no doubt that you will not only build on his achievements, but add more value.
However, one of the sectors which have helped many countries out of their mono economy syndrome and, which also served and serving as awesome revenue generation resources is tourism.
God Almighty, apart from blessing Nigeria with crude oil, also, in his infinite abundance, pampers us with multifarious natural tourism assets which are crying for development
This sector has helped to bail many countries out of economic doldrums, salvaged them from unemployment crises, mobilised wealth, empowered the citizens and made the countries glow and financially healthy. Such countries include Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Zimbabwe, India, Britain, Seychelles, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Dear General, it will surprise you that Ghana, which has not up to 10 notable tourism sites, reaped a whopping sum of one billion dollars only in 2013 in International tourism receipts and investiments.
This is money spent by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country.
They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries, they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.
Malaysia, which has a population of 25 million people, received 26.5 million visitors in 2013 with $21 .05 billion.
I am using these two countries, which have identifiable similarities with Nigeria to drive home my point.
Malaysia, like Nigeria, is an oil-producing country, which in the pre 80s, relied so much on oil as the main source of revenue.
However, the oil glut of the 80s dealt a deadly blow on Malaysia and Nigeria, which almost collapsed their economies.
Realising the urgent need for alternate revenue generation sources as the oil glut receded, paving way for oil boom again, Malaysia, scared of being beaten twice, diverted heavy fund from oil to develop two other alternate revenue sources-manufacturing and tourism.
The country looked inward and developed most of its tourism sites to international standard. Malaysia, for instance, turned all the environmentally polluted and desecrated mine spots into unimaginable tourism sites, embarked on massive marketing, branding and publicity.
Today, the fluctuating global prices of oil have no impact on Malaysia’s budget; the country’s budget was not predicated on oil prices.
However, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. Instead of copying Malaysia’s module and following suit, our nation quickly forgot the trauma of the oil glut as soon as oil boom reared its head again.
Sir, there is no tourism ingredient, elements, items, objects and values, which does not abound in Nigeria.
Malaysia, which 55 years ago came to Nigeria and acquired palm seedlings, established palm tree plantation and today is one of the countries, that exports palm oil to the world, including Nigeria.
General Sir , the Ghana situation is compelling and interesting , Ghana has only 10 prominent tourism sites and because of the seriousness its government accorded the sector, it has become its major revenue source, attracting a sum of $1 billion to its economy in 2013.
Mr President-in-waiting, Jordan is another country of the Middle East, which has no oil as others, but blessed with just six major tourism sites, which are Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Amman, Jerash and Aqab.
The government never mourned that the country was without oil, but went-ahead to set up the legal necessities and created a conducive atmosphere, making tourists to rush to Jordan.
Sir in 2013, Jordan reaped only $5.7 million from tourism!
Mr President-in-waiting, the main purpose of making these few examples is to show that countries which do not have, one percent of our tourism potentialities are making money and lubricating their economy through it while Nigeria, the giant of tourism, is not trying to crawling at all.
And the problem is not in our ability to recognise the potentialities of tourism, but largely because of the lucre of the cheap money from crude sales, successive governments have always been reluctant and complacent when it comes to execution of tourism plans and policy.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo connection!
To be continued next week
Like · Comment · 

Sunday 12 April 2015

No room for PDP defectors in my govt —Buhari

No room for PDP defectors in my govt —Buhari

 April 12, 2015 - 06:39
 
 0 comments
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has hinted that his government would have no place for defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
General Buhari, who said members of his All Progressives Congress (APC) had nothing to fear over the mass defection of PDP members to the party, gave the hint in an interview in his Daura residence on Saturday.
According to him, there was nothing to fear.
“I have no fears of PDP defectors,” he said, adding that the PDP chieftains would have very little influence in the APC government.
 APC, he declared, had all the capacity to manage the large numbers of PDP defectors.
“The people who are defecting will only have influence in their constituencies. Since their constituencies are now controlled by the APC, their influence is, therefore, limited,” he said.
He, however, added that he was hopeful the defectors would be realistic about their position in their new party.
“I hope the people that are defecting will accept the fact that they are joining the people who succeeded. So, I don’t think they will just come and say they want to be ministers next month, simply because they were ministers before,” he said.
Though the president-elect said only the party could handle the issue of defections, he said the PDP bigwigs would be wise enough not to seek for positions in the new government. 

Miracle Baby Born, Conceived 48 Hours After Father’s Death

Miracle Baby Born, Conceived 48 Hours After Father’s Death

image: http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Baby-Feet-e1428877505549-665x385.jpg
Baby Conceived After Father's Death
In what some are calling a incredible case of enduring love, a South Australian mother gave birth to a baby that was conceived using sperm collected after the father’s death. The woman (who cannot be named for legal reasons) faced not only impossible odds medically, but a legal fight with the Supreme Court.
According to the Mirror, it was a world-first. Doctors took the sperm from the father 48 hours after he was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident, and used it to create a healthy baby.
Previously, the record belonged to a baby who was conceived with sperm taken 30 hours after the father’s death.
IVF expert Steve Robson said it was an amazing case.
“On a professional level this has been, from my perspective, a love story, and it has been incredible to be involved with helping a woman who has so much love and courage. We were impressed with the amount of love this woman had, and her tremendous endurance against all the obstacles she faced.”
Of course, breaking the duration record was not part of the plan.
According to the Daily Mail, the woman had to petition Adelaide’s Supreme Court for permission to take the sperm after her husband died.
In South Australia, sperm can only be used after death if it is taken while the man is still alive. To get over this legal burden, she had to prove that she and her husband were planning to have children before the motorcycle accident.
The court still ruled that the procedure had to be done in nearby Canberra. In total, the legal delays took two days, which made doctors concerned that the sperm’s DNA would have been damaged at that point.
Doctors also struggled with the ethical dilemmas surrounding the case. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she was turned down by a number of doctors before Professor Kelton Tremellen reluctantly agreed to collect the father’s sperm.
“One reason was that I thought it was going to be a waste of time, and the other was I didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. In the end I decided I would do it because I felt it wasn’t a battle she should have to fight at that point when she had just lost her husband.”
Despite all the doubt and obstacles, the woman became pregnant on the first attempt.
The Mirror reports that some conservative groups consider taking the father’s sperm after death unethical, regardless of the circumstances. But in the end, Professor Tremellen said the baby and mother are healthy and happy, and that other peoples’ opinions weren’t really relevant.
[Image Credit: Getty Images]

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2004020/miracle-baby-born-conceived-48-hours-after-fathers-death/#L3Hz4BdlrZx4KOKE.99

Saturday 11 April 2015

Jumoke Akinjide shuns voting Unit !

FCT Minister shuns unit


Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide.
There was low turnout of voters in Oyo State on Saturday, as polling units that recorded huge voters in the March 28 elections witnessed few voters; just as the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, was absent from her polling unit in Amosun, Ona Ara Local Government Area, Ward 1 Unit 2.
Apart from Oluyole where Governor Abiola Ajimobi voted and a few other areas, there were not many voters in most wards and polling units in other parts of Ibadan and the state in general.
At ward 10 Unit 6, Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, there were 414 registered voters, but only 209 voters came out to vote.
Assistant presiding officer at the unit, Ms. Nike Balogun, said the turnout was not impressive, compared to what was experienced in the March 28 elections.
“Voters did not come out early, but they began coming out in small numbers towards the afternoon. As at 12.30pm, we have only accredited 209 voters,” she said.
At Ajikobi compound in Alekuso area of the city, Ward 1 Unit 3 had 505 registered voters, with 310 voters recorded to have obtained their PVCs. When voting began, only 133 accredited voters formed the queue.
Although many people trooped out in Foko, Born Photo and Oritamerin areas of the city, electoral officers said only a few were accredited for the election.
In Ibadan South West and Egbeda local government areas in Ward 10, Unit 11, 299 persons came for the poll, as against over 400 who came in the March 28 polls.
Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Seyi Makinde, said it was a surprise that people came out to vote in the presidential election but stayed away from the Saturday election.
He said, “The turnout was lower than the presidential election. This is strange because these elections concerned the people of the state more than the March 28 elections. At the national level, only two parties were prominent, but in the governorship election, more parties are involved. One would have expected more voters to get involved.”
Reacting to the turnout, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said he was impressed with voters’ attitude in Oluyole area, but added that more people got involved in the presidential election because they were desperate for a change at the centre.
While the elections were adjudged calm and violence-free in Ibadan, Oyo State, a lower turnout of voters was observed for the governorship and House of Assembly elections, as against the March 28 polls.
Ms Akinjide, who had come in company with her father, Chief Richard Akinjide, in the March 28 polls, failed to show up at her unit for accreditation till 1pm when voting commenced, and our correspondent left.
A source said the FCT minister, who was also President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign coordinator for Oyo State, avoided the exercise because she needed some rest.
One of the areas delayed by card reader malfunctioning was Ward 5, Unit 2 in the Ona Ara LGA. This was also the unit of the Peoples Democratic Party aspirant in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin.
As of 10.30am, the people, who numbered over 200, were seen lamenting the delay in accreditation.
Folarin, who later came to the venue with his wife to be accredited, said INEC had done well, except for the malfunctioning of the card readers.

Airforce helicopter crashes in lagos

Airforce helicopter crashes in lagos

 April 10, 2015 - 19:0
 
 0 comments
A Super Puma helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on training mission in Lagos crashed on Friday.
The crash was confirmed in a statement by the Chief of Air Staff through Air Commodore Dele J Alonge, Director of Naval Public Relations and Information.
The statement read: “The helicopter, which was on training mission in Lagos at about 10:00 a.m. on Friday, was returning to the Apron after the completion of the training exercise when it suffered severe damage due to hydraulic failure while on taxi to the hanger.
“There was no casualty recorded. However, the main rotor debris caused damage to some ground equipment. Consequently, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AN Amosu, has ordered immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident.

I will punish violators of electoral law - Buhari

Violators of Nigeria’s electoral law, constitution will be punished – Buhari  

Published on April 11, 2015 by    ·   3 Comments
General Muhammadu Buhari
General Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria’s president elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, said on Saturday that government officials and other agents of state who work to subvert the nation’s constitution will not go unpunished.
He spoke today in Katsina state, in an interactive session with journalists.
Against the backdrop of reported electoral infractions in Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Buhari said:
“The running battle from Rivers, south east and the rest of the South south, especially by governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole with INEC officials and law enforcement agencies is remarkable and I think it has to be totally exposed so that Nigerians will know which of the law enforcement agencies and at what levels are undermining the constitution of Nigeria because the electoral act is derived from the constitution of the country. So that in future, those who are in position will know that they are not beyond the law,” he said.
Buhari told journalists at his country home in Katsina that whether in the opposition or in the ruling party, anybody that works against the constitution will be allowed to enjoy the privileges conferred by the constitution.
While insisting that he will work in concert with the National Assembly to ensure constitutional amendment where necessary, the President elect said he will encourage the implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais report especially as it relates to the institution of a special court to try electoral offenders.
He said: “I will look for understanding and cooperation from the National Assembly when a change of the constitution or electoral act is necessary. So for me to make up my mind here and later try to lobby is out of it because some of them, if they are very hard, they will give me a tough time.
“I will say that I haven’t read the Uwais report, but I have read a few of the extracts from the papers, I think it is a good thing and we will encourage it. But we need to get a comprehensive report from the field.

Friday 10 April 2015

Ekiti APC lawmakers to CJ: Raise panel to probe Fayose

Ekiti APC lawmakers to CJ: Raise panel to probe Fayose


Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose
The 19 All Progressives Congress members of   the Ekiti State House of Assembly have written to the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, asking him to set up a panel to investigate the allegations contained in their impeachment notice to Governor Ayodele Fayose.
The seven-member panel which should be constituted   within seven days of the receipt of the letter is to investigate allegations of impunity, violence, stalking and other constitutional breaches the lawmakers levelled against Fayose and his deputy,   Kolapo Olusola.
The legislators reached the resolution at a special sitting presided over by their   Speaker,   Adewale Omirin, at the Mary Hills Boys’ High School, Ado Ekiti.
According to a statement by Omirin’s media aide,   Wole Olujobi, the lawmakers, in a unanimous vote, supported the motion directing the chief judge to set up the panel.
The Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe, who explained on Thursday that the sitting ought to have taken place in the hallowed chamber on April 7, 2015, said they were waylaid by political thugs who mounted roadblocks and threatened their lives.
Due to the violence, he said, they jettisoned the plan to go to the assembly.
He said, “Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Adedipe moved the motion empowering the CJ to set up the panel.
“His motion was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency II.
“The Assembly adjourned to the next legislative day.”
The lawmakers relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowers the Assembly to regulate its sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if the lives of members are not safe.
The CJ could not be reached by our correspondent in the state but the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Obafemi Fasanmi, said he was not aware of the lawmakers’ letter.
Journalists, who   visited the school, were told by students that they saw no strange faces in their school on Thursday.
However, Fayose has argued that no sitting of the   assembly took place on Thursday as claimed by the APC lawmakers.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, “The State House of Assembly is on recess. No sitting   took place in the House of Assembly.
“Kindly disregard information being circulated by the APC that their lawmakers are sitting somewhere in Ado Ekiti.
“Of course, members of the House of Assembly can gather anywhere in the world to have social or political meetings.
“Parliamentary business is done in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.
“Besides,   Omirin, who claimed to be the speaker of the   assembly was impeached on November 20, 2014 and he is in court, challenging his impeachment.”
Fayose and   Olusola had during the week raced to a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop   the APC legislators from going ahead with the impeachment process.
But they met a brick wall as the judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, turned down their request and granted only the prayers contained in their ex parte application relating to the service of the court processes on the defendants.
Fayose and Olusola, in the ex parte application, asked for an interim order stopping   the impeachment notice served on them and the moves to remove them from office.
Rather than granting the prayers for interim injunction, Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants in the suit, including   Omirin, and the CJ,   to appear in his court on April 16.
The APC has however   reacted to the rejection of Fayose’s request to stop   impeachment proceedings against him, saying that it was laughable that the governor who once desecrated the judiciary could approach the same institution to protect him from his “illegal acts.”
It also expressed surprise that the governor could approach the FHC in Abuja for protection over a matter that happened in Ekiti after lampooning the party. It recalled that Fayose once ridiculed it for approaching the same court in Jos, Plateau State, while seeking protection from his harassment and attacks.
The APC added in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, that the governor was confused on how to handle his cases in court, having desecrated the state judiciary and instigated its workers to refuse to resume   duties.
It said, “Fayose didn’t allow Ekiti courts to function and he declared the state Chairman of the APC, Olajide Awe, wanted over a phantom murder charge.   Awe obtained an injunction against his arrest from a FHC in Jos, which the governor referred to as a ‘‘black market injunction.’’
“He has now run to Abuja to get an injunction to restrain the 19 lawmakers from impeaching him but the court in its wisdom has turned this request down.”
Also, the APC Elders Forum,   declared that there was no escape route for Fayose beacuse he had “serially breached the constitution, desecrated the esteemed office he occupies and should be ready to face the consequences of his actions.”
The Publicity Secretary of Ekiti APC Elders Forum, Bayo Orire,   therefore warned the military and the police against being used to hinder the lawmakers from carrying out their constitutional functions.
The forum also congratulated   Buhari on his victory in the March 28 presidential poll.
Also on Thusday,   the Ekiti Justice Forum   urged Fayose to respond to the impeachment notice served on him by the lawmakers with maturity and all sense of responsibility.
The forum which   called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the House of Assembly election, accused the governor of worsening the political crisis in the state.
In a statement by its Chairman, Sesan Fatoba; Secretary, Dare Owotomobi; and Director of Publicity, Ojo Andrews, the group advised the governor to know that no amount of impunity could solve any constitutional crisis.
It said, “The political tension created in the last few days by the move of the 19 Ekiti State House of Assembly members to commence impeachment process against Governor Fayose has been made worse by the negative response of the governor.
“The majority of the Ekiti State House of Assembly members being hunted by Governor Fayose are candidates in the April 11, 2015 election.’’
Ekiti monarchs urge peace
The state Council of Traditional Rulers has also advised Fayose and the APC lawmakers to sheathe their swords for peace to be restored in the state.
The monarchs, in a communique read by their   Chairman and the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, lamented that their troubleshooting efforts   were frustrated by both parties.
They advised that since the parties were in court, any discussion or action by   them would be subjudice.
The communiqué read in part,   “This position stalled all further deliberations and efforts to find an amicable settlement of the matter.
“The recent development in our dear state is a source of concern and embarrassment to all well-meaning people of Ekiti State.
“It is unfortunate that the incident which resulted in the death of one Mr Modupe Olaiya of Efon Alaaye could have been avoided.
“Council appreciates the representations from various individual groups, and associations such as, the Ekiti State Council of Elders, the labour unions, both serving and retired, religious leaders, business and professional bodies for their concerns and suggestions.
“Council hereby appeals to all political gladiators to sheathe their swords, eschew violence and give peace a chance, as we believe that violence cannot solve the problems at hand.”
The monarchs called on the law enforcement agencies to ensure the security   of lives and property during and after the April 11   elections.
The council said it would soon convoke an expanded meeting of stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the face-off.
Police commissioner redeployed
The state Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, has however been redeployed.
He has been replaced with   Emmanuel Ibine.
Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday.
Ojukwu, an acting commissioner of police, said the redeployment is with immediate effect.
The PUNCH had earlier learnt on Thursday that an   Assistant Inspector-General of Police, M. J. Gana, was directed to take charge of the state during the elections and until violence in the state abated.
When contacted on the redeployment of Lakanu, the Peoples Democratic Party Publicity Secretary in the state, Joseph Adaraniwon, said, “We have no problem with the deployment. The power to redeploy is with the Police authorities.”
Adaraniwon’s APC counterpart, Taiwo Olatubosun, could not be reached for comments.
Ekiti State has been embroiled in crisis since the declaration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the APC as the winner of the March 28 election.
Gunmen had   attacked the APC secretariat and some members of the party in the state.
The APC members had just returned from Ado Ekiti where they had gone to celebrate the victory of   Buhari when thugs attacked them.
The party petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, over attacks.
The petition   by the state Secretary of the party, Paul Omotoso, was also sent to the National Human Rights Commission;   the AIG in charge of   Zone Eight in Lokoja;   Lakanu and the State Director of the Department of State Services, Samuel Tamuno.
Fayose also sent a   petition to the IG , accusing an APC   lawmaker of firing the shot that killed Olaiya in Efon Alaye on Tuesday.
Fayose, in the petition, urged Abbah to investigate the role of policemen in the killing.