Hello spectators!!!

Hi everyone,

Its been quite a while, I must say I miss y'all so much. I've been
very occupied lately that I have no time for myself let alone to start
blogging. Well, thank God I've got a little bit of time now, and am
coming with something special for you guys. Also, am going to be
changing a few things on the blog, inorderwards, I wouldn't be
blogging about gossips as usual but something that will take your
breathe away, something enterpreneural, am going to create jobs
guys!!! So stay tuned to this blog as I bring to you opportunities
that will change your life for good. Xoxo

Stop Sleeping In Public, PDP Chairman Mu'azu Scolds SGF Pius Anyim

Guests and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party were stunned on Thursday when the new National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, specifically urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Pius Anyim, to learn not to sleep during public events.
Mu'azu was speaking when leaders of the party from Ebonyi State visited him and the leadership of the party to pay homage and wish him well following his election.
The group was led by the governor, Martin Elechi, who spoke on behalf of the delegation from his state, which included Anyim, Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and some other political office holders from the state.
But while Mu'azu was replying, he looked over at Anyim, who had already dozed off, and immediately confronted the burly SGF.
"Mr. Anyim, I hope you have not started doing what you like doing best," Mu'azu said, making the motions of a dozing person.  The laughter that followed from the audience woke up the sleeping SGF.
It was gathered that even as Senator, Anyim often fell asleep on the floor of the House, an action that made the late Chuba Okadigbo, at that time the Senate President, to scold him on one occasion.
Witnesses recall that the scolding followed an instance when Anyim, suddenly woke up from his usual sleep and without knowing the topic being discussed, shouted that he wanted to make contribution.
An angry Okadigbo then asked Anyim whether he knew what was being discussed, to which Anyim just smiled, provoking general laughter among the Senators.
Source: http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/stop-sleeping-public-pdp-chairman-muazu-scolds-sgf-pius-anyim

Sent from

Tweet from @elrufai

@elrufai: Red Range Rover 2-Doors belonging to Mrs. Aisha Garba El-Rufai stolen at gunpoint in Kaduna some 20 minutes ago in Kaduna. Please share.....

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Checkout timaya's baby moma...still looking hot if you ask me..

Jonathan hosts council of state meeting today

President Goodluck Jonathan will today host the first Council of State
meeting for this year at the Council Chambers of the Presidential
Villa, Abuja The Council of State meeting is chaired by the President
while other members include former military Heads of State, former
Presidents, Senate President; Speakers of the House of
Representatives, former and serving Chief Justice of Nigeria; state
Governors as well as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister
of Justice. The Council of State is an organ of government saddled
with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy making.
Source: nationalmirroronline.net

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dies from 'drugs overdose': Latest updates and reaction

The Hollywood actor - who received an Oscar for the 2005 film Capote -
has died aged 46
It is claimed Hoffman was found dead in his boxer shorts 'surrounded
by empty envelopes with heroin branding on them'.

Police found ten glassine envelopes, with two of them containing
heroin while the others were empty - according to TMZ.

One of the packets had ace of spades written on it while another had
an ace of hearts symbol, and according to sources these are symbols
use by dealers to brand their drugs.
Read full story at www.mirror.co.uk

PHOTONEWS: Thousands Attend Burial Of Sheikh Albani, His Wife And Little Son In Zaria

Thousands of adherents attended the burial of the leader of Sallafiyah
movement in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sheik Muhammad Awwal Adam popularly
known as "Albani Zaria".
Sheikh Albani was Assassinated yesterday in Zaria as he returned from
one of his schools in the city in the company of one of his wives and
son.
Credit: www.saharareporters.com

Teenage girl burns to death in car crash 'after row with boyfriend over getting her nails done'

A girl of 19 died in a car crash fireball after texting her friend
that her boyfriend had "got the major hump with her".

Lauren Jones
A teenager burned to death in her car when she crashed into a tree
allegedly after a row with her boyfriend, an inquest has heard.

Lauren Jones died in the fireball shortly after sending a text message
to a friend revealing her boyfriend had "got the major hump" with her
after she left him early to get her nails manicured.

On the 19-year-old's mobile phone, found just yards from the blazing
car, was a text message from boyfriend Gareth Standing saying "hope
your nails look nice", the inquest heard on Tuesday.

Lauren, from Hascombe, Surrey, had been at Gareth's family home for
his mother's birthday celebration and had been planning a holiday with
him.

However, the pair had then allegedly rowed over her leaving early to
meet up with pal Kayleigh Smith-Oakley, to get her nails done.

In a text to Kayleigh, Lauren asked her not to answer any message from
Gareth Standing.

Shortly after pulling away from a set of traffic lights her car ended
up in a ball of flames after slewing off the road and hitting trees.

Her car had hit a tree side-on with such force that the two sides of
the vehicle were almost touching. The fuel lines ruptured and leaking
petrol caught fire.

Other motorists who made valiant efforts to reach Lauren were beaten
back by the ferocity of the blaze.

Kayleigh told the inquest she had arranged to meet Lauren in
Godalming, Surrey, at 4pm on July 24 last year.

She said: "Then I spoke to her and she said she couldn't because he
was having a go at her about leaving so early.

"I'm not sure if it was about the holiday. I think it was about her
not being at his house for a long period of time."

Mr Standing denied to coroner Michael Kendall that the pair had argued.

Mr Kendall said: "You say you had a lovely day together and had no arguments.

"The evidence we will hear of phone calls and text messages was that
you had a bit of a disagreement about the holiday that day."

Lauren's boyfriend replied: "Not that I know of. We joked about how
many camels we could sell each other for, just joking around."

The coroner asked again: "But you don't remember having an argument
about her having her nails done that day?"

"No," said the Mr Standing. Mr Kendall then said: "The police log
shows a text message to Kayleigh at nearly 1pm, saying: 'Gareth has
got the major hump with me'," adding that just before her crash Lauren
had texted Kayleigh to say: "If Gaz messages, you will ignore it".

The last message was sent at 4.02pm and 32 seconds. By 4.05pm her car
was burning and other drivers were calling the emergency services.

Both Mr Standing and Miss Smith-Oakley told the inquest they had never
seen Lauren use her phone while driving, either for text messages or
phone calls. She said she was a "very sensible" driver.

A police investigation found Lauren had lost control on a sweeping
right-hand bend at around the 70mph speed limit and spun off the road

A pathologist concluded Lauren had died of extensive burn injuries.

Mr Kendall said at the hearing in Crawley, West Sussex: "We cannot be
absolutely sure of the precise reason why she left the road."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.
News from mirror.co.uk

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Tonto Dikeh French-Kissing A Dog

Ew!! Tonto shared a photo of her kissing her lovely puppy. Is this even healthy?

"Nigeria is not a banana republic, Mbu must go" - Dino Melaye is on the streets again

Protesters, numbering over 300, led by a former member of the House of
Representatives, Dino Melaye and carrying placards with inscriptions,
"Stop impunity in Nigeria now," and "Anti-corruption network: Nigeria
is not a Banana Republic, Mbu must go" among others, yesterday
marched from the NITEL Junction to the Ministry of Police Affairs
premises in the Federal Secretariat when they encountered the
anti-riot policemen.

The policemen, led by one Matthias Eliagu, prevented the protesters
from accessing the Federal Secretariat, blocking the road with an
Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and firing canisters of tear gas at
the crowd which included women and children. There was a stampede when
hot water was sprayed from the APC, and there are reports of people
slumping.

So why were they protesting? Well, against the alleged 'impunity in
Rivers by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph MbuState'.

Dino Melaye blamed the Federal Government for allowing the alleged
impunity in Rivers, saying that they were denied the right to protest.

He said, "We are going to submit a petition; we are peaceful Nigerians
with women, some pregnant and carrying children, and we expected them
to show civility and responsibility but the police shot sporadically;
media men were chased, one camera was smeared and everybody is crying
from tear gas.

"In a democratic setting, we have the constitutional power to
demonstrate in a protest peacefully. We will not retreat, we will not
surrender, the battle to salvage our country from these cankerworms of
financial scavengers is a battle of 'no retreat, no surrender.'

"We will fight by the last drop of our blood, democracy will continue
to be government of the people for the people and by the people and
not government of the greedy for greedy by the greedy. It is now
obvious more than ever that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic
Party are behind the instability and impunity going on in Rivers
State."
Source: ynaija2015.com

"She's massive - like a small glider": Huge killer eagle on the loose in Yorkshire

Police have warned people to keep a close eye on pets when they are
outdoors in case the bird of prey decides to swoop
Concerns: Police warned families to keep their pets indoors tonight
because giant sea eagle Nikita, pictured, is on the loose
A huge eagle, which has the strength to carry off and kill small dogs,
is on the loose - in Yorkshire.

Nikita, which has an 8ft wingspan, has gone AWOL in the YDales.

Police have warned people to keep a close eye on pets when they are
outdoors in case the bird of prey decides to swoop.

Nikita, a Steller's sea eagle, went missing when it took to the air
for an exercise session in blustery conditions.

Its trainer thinks it may have been blown off course.

Last night North Yorks police said on Twitter the predator is "not
dangerous to people but don't try picking it up", adding: "Please take
care when letting small animals out into the garden."

The 10-year-old eagle has not been spotted since it took flight on
Saturday morning above her home in Brackenbottom, North Yorks.

Nikita's trainer Chris O'Donnell said: "She's massive - like a small glider."

He added: "It was incredibly windy. She went a bit further than normal
and possibly became disorientated because of the lay of the land. They
are like pigeons - they have a homing instinct - but this time Nikita
didn't come back."

The majestic predators, which are native to east Russia, are able to
pick up dogs and young seals.

Their normal diet in captivity includes frozen pigeons, squirrels and rabbits.

Chris, of Hawk Experience Ltd, said the eagle, which has often
entertained the crowds at Warwick Castle, posed no danger to people or
animals.

He added: "She has not learnt how to hunt by chasing things around the
countryside."
Copied from mirror.co.uk

Grammy Awards 2014: The full winners list from music's biggest night of the year

Find out who picked up all the prizes from Sunday night's star-studded bash
Jay Z and Beyonce opened the 56th annual Grammy Awards
It isn't all about the fancy frocks, nip-slips and glitzy behind the
scenes gossip - some stars are actually there to be recognised for
their talent.

From Album of the Year to Best Dance Recording, here's the complete
list of winners from music's biggest night of the year.



Album Of The Year

Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories - WINNER

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist

Taylor Swift - Red



Record Of The Year

Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams - 'Get Lucky' - WINNER

Imagine Dragons - 'Radioactive'

Lorde - 'Royals'

Bruno Mars - 'Locked Out Of Heaven'

Robin Thicke featuring TI & Pharrell - 'Blurred Lines'



Song Of The Year

Pink featuring Nate Ruess - 'Just Give Me A Reason'

Bruno Mars - 'Locked Out Of Heaven'

Katy Perry - 'Roar'

Lorde - 'Royals' - WINNER

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert - 'Same Love'

Katy Perry
Best New Artist

James Blake

Kendrick Lamar

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - WINNER

Kacey Musgraves

Ed Sheeran



Best Pop Solo Performance

Sara Bareilles - 'Brave'

Lorde - 'Royals ' - WINNER

Bruno Mars - 'When I Was Your Man'

Katy Perry - 'Roar'

Justin Timberlake - 'Mirrors'



Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams - 'Get Lucky' - WINNER

Pink Featuring Nate Ruess - 'Just Give Me A Reason'

Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko - 'Stay'

Robin Thicke Featuring TI & Pharrell - 'Blurred Lines'

Justin Timberlake & Jay Z - 'Suit & Tie'



Best Pop Vocal Album

Lana Del Rey - Paradise

Lorde - Pure Heroine

Bruno Mars - Unorthodox Jukebox - WINNER

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience



Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Tony Bennett & Various Artists - Viva Duets

Michael Bublé - To Be Loved - WINNER

Gloria Estefan - The Standards

Cee Lo Green - Cee Lo's Magic Moment

Dionna Warwick - Now



Best Dance Recording

Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK - 'Need U (100%)'

Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch - 'Sweet Nothing'

Kaskade - 'Atmosphere'

Armin Van Buuren featuring Trevor Guthrie - 'This Is What It Feels Like'

Zedd Featuring Foxes - 'Clarity' - WINNER



Best Dance/Electronica Album

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories - WINNER

Disclosure - Settle

Calvin Harris - 18 Months

Kaskade - Atmosphere

Pretty Lights - A Colour Map Of The Sun



Best Alternative Music Album

Neko Case - The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I
Fight, The More I Love You

The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks

Tame Impala - Lonerism

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires Of The City - WINNER



Best Rock Performance

Alabama Shakes - 'Always Alright'

David Bowie - 'The Stars Are Out Tonight'

Imagine Dragons - 'Radioactive' - WINNER

Led Zeppelin - 'Kashmir'

Queens Of The Stone Age - 'My God Is The Sun'

Jack White - 'I'm Shakin''



Best Metal Performance

Anthrax - 'T.N.T.'

Black Sabbath - 'God Is Dead?' - WINNER

Dream Theater - 'The Enemy Inside'

Killswitch Engage - 'In Due Time'

Volbeat featuring King Diamond - 'Room 24'



Best Rock Song

Gary Clark Jr - 'Ain't Messin 'Round'

Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear - 'Cut Me Some
Slack' - WINNER

The Rolling Stones - 'Doom and Gloom'

Black Sabbath - 'God Is Dead?'

Muse - 'Panic Station'



Best Rock Album

Black Sabbath - 13

David Bowie - The Next Day

Kings Of Leon - Mechanical Bull

Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day - WINNER

Queens Of The Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill



Best R&B Performance

Tamar Braxton - 'Love And War'

Anthony Hamilton - 'Best Of Me'

Hiatus Kaiyote featuring Q-Tip - 'Nakamarra'

Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar - 'How Many Drinks?'

Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway - 'Something' - WINNER



Best Traditional R&B Performance

Gary Clark Jr - 'Please Come Home'- WINNER

Fantasia - 'Get It Right'

Maysa - 'Quiet Fire'

Gregory Porter - 'Hey Laura'

Ryan Shaw - 'Yesterday'



Best R&B Song

Anthony Hamilton - 'Best Of Me'

Tamar Braxton - 'Love And War'

PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder - 'Only One'

Justin Timberlake - 'Pusher Love Girl' - WINNER

Fantasia featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot - 'Without Me'



Best Urban Contemporary Album

Tamar Braxton - Love And War

Fantasia - Side Effects Of You

Salaam Remi - One: In The Chamber

Rihanna - Unapologetic - WINNER

Mack Wilds - New York: A Love Story



Best R&B Album

Faith Evans - R&B Divas

Alicia Keys - Girl On Fire - WINNER

John Legend - Love In The Future

Chrisette Michele - Better

TGT - Three Kings



Best Rap Performance

Drake - 'Started From The Bottom'

Eminem - 'Berzerk'

Jay Z - 'Tom Ford'

Kendrick Lamar - 'Swimming Pools (Drank)'

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz - 'Thrift Shop' - WINNER

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

J Cole featuring Miguel - 'Power Trip'

Jay Z featuring Beyoncé - 'Part II (On The Run)'

Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake - 'Holy Grail' - WINNER

Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J Blige - 'Now Or Never'

Wiz Khalifa featuring The Weeknd - 'Remember You'



Best Rap Song

ASAP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar - 'F***in' Problems'

Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake - 'Holy Grail'

Kanye West - 'New Slaves'

Drake - 'Started From The Bottom'

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz - 'Thrift Shop' - WINNER



Best Rap Album

Drake - Nothing Was The Same

Jay Z - Magna Carta...Holy Grail

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist - WINNER

Kanye West - Yeezus

Jay Z and Beyonce perform Drunk in Love
Best Country Solo Performance

Lee Brice - 'I Drive Your Truck'

Hunter Hayes - 'I Want Crazy'

Miranda Lambert - 'Mama's Broken Heart'

Darius Rucker - 'Wagon Wheel' - WINNER

Blake Shelton - 'Mine Would Be You'



Best Country Duo/Group Performance

The Civil Wars - 'From This Valley' - WINNER

Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill - 'Don't Rush'

Little Big Town - 'Your Side Of The Bed'

Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban - 'Highway Don't Care'

Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton - 'You Can't Make Old Friends'



Best Country Song

Taylor Swift - 'Begin Again'

Lee Brice - 'I Drive Your Truck'

Miranda Lambert - 'Mama's Broken Heart'

Kacey Musgraves - 'Merry Go 'Round' - WINNER

Blake Shelton - 'Mine Would Be You'

Taylor Swift dazzled in gold
Best Country Album

Jason Aldean - Night Train

Tim McGraw - Two Lanes Of Freedom

Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park - WINNER

Blake Shelton - Based On A True Story

Taylor Swift - Red



Best Reggae Album

Beres Hammond - One Love, One Life

Ziggy Marley - Ziggy Marley In Concert - WINNER

Sizzla - The Messiah

Sly & Robbie and The Jam Masters - Reggae Connection

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated



Best Spoken Word Album

Stephen Colbert - America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never
Weren't - WINNER

Carol Burnett - Carrie And Me

David Sedaris - Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls

Billy Crystal - Still Foolin' 'Em

Peter Seeger - The Storm King



Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Django Unchained

The Great Gatsby (Deluxe Edition)

Les Misérables (Deluxe Edition)

Muscle Shoals

Sound City: Real To Reel - WINNER



Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

Alexandre Desplat - Argo

Craig Armstrong - The Great Gatsby

Mychael Danna - Life Of Pi

John Williams - Lincoln

Thomas Newman - Skyfall - WINNER

Alexandre Desplat - Zero Dark Thirty



Best Song Written For Visual Media

Coldplay - 'Atlas' (from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

Jessie J - 'Silver Lining' (from Silver Linings Playbook)

Adele - 'Skyfall' (from Skyfall) - WINNER

Colbie Caillat featuring Gavin DeGraw - 'We Both Know' (from Safe Haven)

Lana Del Rey - 'Young And Beautiful' (from The Great Gatsby: Deluxe Edition)

Regina Spektor - 'You've Got Time' (from Orange Is The New Black)



Producer of the Year (Non Classical)

Rob Cavallo

Dr Luke

Ariel Rechtshaid

Jeff Tweedy

Pharrell Williams - WINNER



Best Music Video

Capital Cities - 'Safe And Sound'

Jay Z - 'Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film'

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton - 'Can't Hold Us'

Justin Timberlake featuring Jay Z - 'Suit & Tie' - WINNER

Jack White - 'I'm Shakin''


Best Music Film

Coldplay - Live 2012

Green Day - ¡Cuatro!

Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite - I'm In I'm Out And I'm Gone: The
Making Of Get Up!

Paul McCartney - Live Kisses - WINNER

Mumford & Sons - The Road To Red Rocks
From: www.rirror.co.uk

Lorry driver barred from pub after wiping his own faeces on two women

One of the victim's was left with a 'four-inch smear' on her arm
following the disgusting attack
Banned: Mark Follos denied the allegations but was found guilty by magistrates
A lorry driver has been banned from a pub after wiping his own
excrement on two women while they were enjoying a night out.

Mark Follos, 51, who was found guilty of smearing two women with
faeces deliberately at The Oaks pub in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester,
denied the allegations.

He told magistrates: "Do you think I look like the sort of person who
goes around smearing people with muck?"

But during his trial at  Bury Magistrates' Court, a court heard that
on October 25, 2012, one victim was left with a 'four inch smear' on
her arm.

Follos, from Wolverhampton, regularly travelled between Ramsbottom and
Scotland for a driving contract and often visited local pubs.

On October 12, 2012, the first victim said that Follos had approached
her and briefly spoke to her before rubbing her arm.

She said: "I don't recall what he said and he did a movement as if
rubbing his hands on my arm."

The woman added that she initially thought that the man was trying to
rub drugs on her arm.

Horrific: Follos smeared the women in two separate incidents at the
pub in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester
She sobbed in the witness box as she described the incident as 'very strange'.

The victim, who was wearing a sleeveless top at the time, said: "I
realised what it was on my arm- it was poo.

"I looked at it, touched it and smelled my hand."

When the woman was asked how she felt afterwards, she said: "I thought
I must have upset someone."

Follos admitted that he had gone to the bathroom and passed a
'motion'. In a statement to the police he said: "As it goes down it's
got to come out."

Follos said that he had not washed his hands and that he had touched
the first victim's arm as he told her to 'have a good night'. He said
that he was 'just being courteous'.

Follos denied smearing the woman intentionally. He denied that the
second incident happened.

But on October 25, 2012, the court heard that Follos struck again when
he smeared another victim. The second victim told of a similar
experience.

She said that Follos had grabbed her arm and asked her if she would
like a drink.

She said: "Then he left and that's when I could smell something so I
thought his hand maybe wasn't so clean."

The court heard that her friend wiped her arm and saw that the
substance was 'discoloured' and they realised that it was faeces.

After the trial, the first victim, who asked not to be named, said:
"It was quite embarrassing to tell people.

"I'm glad he's not going to do it to anyone else."

Follos was banned from the Oaks pub for a year. He was also ordered to
carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £1,010.
Source: mirror.co.uk

Nissan to roll out made-in-Nigeria cars in April

Nissan Motors will be rolling out its  first  set of Made in Nigeria
four-wheeled drive, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) from its Nigeria
factory in April this year, according to the Chief Executive Officer
of the company, Carlos Ghosn.

Chosn, who  disclosed this to President Goodluck Jonathan on the
sideline of ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said
the vehicles would be rolled out of the old Volkswagen Assembly plant
in Lagos.

The Nissan president, who projects that it is  possible to produce two
to three million cars in Nigeria annually, said that his company's
operation in the country  will lead to creation of thousands of direct
and indirect jobs in the country.

He also told President Jonathan that Nissan intended to increase its
investment in Nigeria and establish its own production plant in the
country.

'We are interested in producing popular cars , totally adapted to the
needs of Nigerians,' Ghosn told the President, adding that the company
also planned to bring its global suppliers to make vehicle components
in the country.

Jonathan assured the Ghosn that his administration would provide good
enabling environment.

He also  said the administration will diligently implement the
country's new national automotive policy, which it hopes will result
in  rapid development of  Nigeria's automobile industry.

Credit: www.thenigerianvoice.com

HEADLINES: APC orders members to block Jonathan’s bills *** N’Assembly debates 2014 budget next week *** Police commission promotes 23 officers *** Court reserves judgment in NBA’s appeal *** Students shut varsity *** Amaechi-led NGF decries lack of consultation on budget *** Kaduna PDP defectors return, others join *** Workers issue seven-day ultimatum to construction firms over welfare *** ‘N113b required to complete East/West road’ *** Crisis brews in teaching hospitals over alleged plan to privatise units *** APC orders members to block Jonathan’s bills

OUTRAGED at what it considered as President Goodluck Jonathan's
encouragement of lawlessness in Rivers State, the All Progressives
Congress (APC) yesterday urged its members in the National Assembly to
block all his legislative proposals.

   Such proposals include the President's request for the passage of
the 2014 Budget and the confirmation of all nominees to military and
civilian positions.

   According to the APC, this should be the position "until the rule
of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular
and Nigeria in general."

  The members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the
opposition APC gave these directives yesterday as they rose from an
emergency meeting in Abuja.

   In a statement issued at the end of the meeting at the party's
secretariat in Abuja, the party specifically directed its members at
the National Assembly to ensure the blockade of the 2014 Appropriation
Act, the confirmation of the service chiefs and ministerial nominees
until impunity allegedly being perpetrated by the People's Democratic
Party (PDP)-led government stopped.

   The statement read out to reporters by the party's Interim National
Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also directed its members
across the country to resort to self-help if the impunity persisted.

  The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has described the directives by
the APC's as a direct call for anarchy and a vindication of its
(PDP's) earlier position that the APC is out to destroy the
institution of democracy and the unity of the nation.

  PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said last night
that with the anti-people directives, Nigerians could now see that the
PDP was not crying wolf when it alerted that the APC did not mean well
for the nation.

  The PDP said: "In asking that service chiefs should not be confirmed
by the Senate, the APC has revealed its devilish plot to undermine the
nation's security system, create a state of anarchy and pave the way
to unleash mayhem on the people."
From: ngrguardiannews.com

Taking Allah as Our Rabb

Allah mentions a very special group of people in Surah Fussilat. These
people don't just say "we believe in Allah"—they say that their Rabb
is Allah. Rabb in most English translations is translated as "Lord,"
but that doesn't completely cover the meaning.

What does it mean for Allah to be our Rabb?
Rabb is the One who creates, sustains, and owns everything in
existence. Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan mentions that the most suitable
English translation would be Master. So in declaring Allah as Rabb,
these people, may Allah make us like them, have implied that they
themselves are Allah's abd (slaves).

Abd is the most honourable title in the Quran for any human being.
Allah has honoured prophets by calling them abd, and if that is the
case then what about sinners like us? True greatness comes in being a
proper slave of Allah, wherein one submits to Allah completely.

Being Steadfast
Allah continues in the same verse, then remained steadfast. It is easy
to be a part-time slave of Allah, or to be a proper slave of Allah for
a a few days, but true slavery entails being steadfast in obeying
Allah, and staying away from what Allah has prohibited.

Angelic Protection and Glad Tidings
Allah continues: on them the angels will descend, saying, "Do not
fear, and do not grieve; and be happy with the good news of the Jannah
(Paradise) that you had been promised."

Imagine this: you are on your deathbed, and while everyone is crying
around you, angels descend upon you tell you that you have nothing to
fear and nothing to be sad about. They also give you the glad tidings
of Jannah. What more can a Muslim strive for? That is the reward of
being a slave of Allah.

Allah continues in the next verse: We have been your guarding friends
in the worldly life, and (will remain as such) in the Hereafter. And
for you here is whatever your souls desire, and for you here is
whatever you call for.

Allah mentions that for those who are truly the slaves of Allah,
angels will be their guarding friends in this world and also in the
hereafter. Also mentioned is the ultimate pleasure of Jannah—
"whatever your souls desire." Whatever we fantasize about, whatever we
dream and wish, in Jannah every one of those dreams and wishes will be
fulfilled for the slave of Allah.

In the next verse: A gift of welcome from the Most-forgiving, the
Very-Merciful. This is to prevent the ego from taking its place in the
picture. Allah mentions that all of this is a welcoming gift from
Allah out of His Mercy, not only because of the deeds of the slave.

Many times we read these verses and we think, "Ah, but we are bad
people, we are sinners. These gifts are for the best of people, and we
would have to be sinless to achieve this rank." But Allah mentions
"the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful" to remind us that even these
people make mistakes and sin as well, but Allah forgives them for
their unwavering commitment.

The Qualities of Those Who Accept Allah as Rabb
And who is better in speech than he who calls to Allah, and works
righteously, and says: "most certainly I am one of the Muslims."

In the very next ayah, Allah poses a rhetorical question, asking who
can be better than these people. And their qualities are that they
call to Allah. Then they also do the good deeds themselves and calls
themselves Muslims. Those who accept Allah as Rabb are those who
combine both dawah and actions at the same time and who call
themselves Muslim.

Calling oneself Muslim has two implications: number one is that he
doesn't call to any group or party or sect; rather he calls to Islam,
and number two is that he does not place himself on a higher pedestal
than other believers out of pride and arrogance. Rather, even though
he might be at a different level of Iman, he calls himself Muslim and
does not arrogantly look down upon the people.

Allah Teaches Dawah
What then is the way forward for dawah, and what is the first step?
Allah Himself makes it clear in the following verse: Good and evil are
not equal. Repel (evil) with what is best, and you will see that the
one you had mutual enmity with him will turn as if he were a close
friend.

More often than not, we get terribly angry when someone attacks Islam
or the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. However, instead of
behaving like the hooligans that the media paints us as, we should be
more tactful and clever. We must acknowledge the fact that in their
position we might have done the same and so we should give everyone
the benefit of the doubt.

Had it not been for this principle, Islam would not have been
successful in its first generation. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi
wasallam and his sahaba employed this method and many hateful people
among the Quraysh were won over. Ironically the latter part of the
verse mentions that the one who was the enemy will become a friend.

Allah in the next ayah mentions some further qualities one needs to
have in order to execute this method: But only those who are steadfast
in patience, only those who are blessed with great righteousness, will
attain such goodness.

Naturally, the human reaction to the abuse of oneself, one's belief,
or something one holds dear is particularly testing, and hence Allah
mentions  being patient. Ibn Kathir commenting on this says, "no one
accepts this advice and works according to it, except for those who
can be patient in doing so, for it is difficult for people to do."
Also it shows that patience comes with increased righteousness and
that the one who does it will attain great good in shaa Allah.

For every good deed one does, Shaytan is there with his attacks. How
to fight back?

Allah continues: And if an evil whisper from Shaytan tries to turn you
away, then seek refuge in Allah. He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

Allah also knows that Shaytan will whisper to us, especially when our
dawah doesn't work to either give up or to get angry, and in those
moments Allah asks for another moment of patience and to seek refuge
in Allah. What is the point of getting angry? Doesn't Allah hear what
is being said to you, and know what is happening to you? And Hence
Allah ends the passage, He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

The Bigger Picture— Al Jannatul Firdaws
Going over so much we might actually forget the larger picture. We
might actually give up when we think that we have to be nice to those
being bad to us (ouch— that really hurts the ego doesn't it?) Why not
just give it up?

Again, let's go back to the beginning. Would we not want angels to be
our guarding friends in this world and the next? Would we not want to
be given glad tidings of Paradise on our deathbed? Do we not want to
go to Paradise so that we can fulfil our wildest dreams? Is this not
worth taking the trouble for a reward which knows no bounds? Are we
then ready to call to Allah, work righteousness, and say "I am one of
the Muslims?"
Copied from www.understandquran.com

Lagos State University shuts down indefinitely

The management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has closed the
state-owned university indefinitely following what it termed 'violent
protest by the students".

This decision was contained in a bulletin, dated 23rd January, 2013,
titled LASU management Closes University indefinitely.

The statement reads, "In the wake of the violent protest by some
affected students of Lagos State University (LASU) over the closure of
the university portal for registration of courses for rain semester
2012/2013 examination, the university management has decided to shut
down the university indefinitely. Also, examinations have been put off
till further notice.

With this decision, students are expected to vacate the university
premises until further notice".

It will be recalled that the students staged a peaceful protest on
Wednesday, 22nd January over the closure of the portal but the protest
became violent on Thursday.

This came a day after the Speaker of the Lagos State House of
Assembly; Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji lauded the students' union for
using the e-voting system to elect their officers and advised the
Prof. Jega led Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to take a cue
from the students and organize a credible e-voting elections in the
country comes 2015.


Credit: Vanguardngr.com

GHOST ship crewed only by CANNIBAL rats feared to be heading for Britain'

The hulk of cruise ship Lyubov Orlova has been adrift in the North
Atlantic since 2012 with nothing on board but hungry vermin
Ghost Ship Lyubov Orlova
A GHOST ship crewed only by CANNIBAL rats is feared to be heading for Britain.

The hulk of cruise ship Lyubov Orlova has been adrift in the North
Atlantic for the past year after being cut loose off the coast of
Canada.

But now coastguards are reportedly worried the recent storms may have
driven her thousands of miles towards our own coastline.

The 300ft vessel, built 40 years ago in the Soviet Union, has nothing
aboard but packs of disease-ridden rodents who are forced to prey on
one another to survive.

Her current position is unknown despite several high-level searches.

Last year satellites picked up an unidentified blip off Scotland large
enough to be the ship — but search planes found nothing.

As well as the authorities, salvage hunters — after the 4,250-ton
vessel's £600,000 value as scrap — are scouring the seas for any trace
of her.

They believe the liner is still afloat because its life-raft
transmitters have not been activated.

If the ship makes landfall it is likely to be on the west coast of
Ireland, Scotland or the far southern tip of England.

One searcher, Belgian Pim de Rhoodes, told The Sun: "She is floating
around out there somewhere.

"There will be a lot of rats and they eat each other.

"If I get aboard I'll have to lace everywhere with poison."

Named after a Russian actress, the Lyubov Orlova carried up to 110
passengers to destinations across the globe, including the polar
regions.

However, in 2010 she was impounded in Newfoundland, Canada in a row
over debts and deserted by her unpaid crew.

After two years tied up in port, the decision was taken to tow her to
the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean where she would be scrapped.

But in heavy seas, the tow-line to a tug broke, prompting the Canadian
government to send out another ship to drag her far out to sea and
release her.

"There have been huge storms in recent months but it takes a lot to
sink a vessel as big as that," said Irish coastguard chief Chris
Reynolds.

"We must stay vigilant."
Copied from www.mirror.co.uk

How A Drunk Soldier Almost Killed his Brother This Morning

So much for injustice you'd say, read the story below;
Good morning all please i and my brother needs help and justice, it
really hurts me to see my brother lying critically at the hospital
after he was been beaten and almost killed by a drunk soldier this
morning at about 9 am in benin, i was running late for my place of
work and my brother decided to drop me off and also picked some
passengers to help drop them off, as my bro was driving and he saw and
elderly woman so he stopped to help her and the drunk soldier who
parked his vehicle asked my bro to come down and my bro was like
please sir i want to drop my brother at his place of work ,the next


thing, the drunk driver soldier slapped my bro and my brother started
pleading with him the next thing he did he went to his car and brought
out a rod and started beating my bro as if he was an animal , i saw my
bro crying and i felt sad and i started crying my self, after beating
him and holding his neck very tight , the drunk soldier later dragged
him to the road and asked him to do frog jump and my bro was almost
hit my a car as you can see in the video, my bro was bleeding and
later we took him to the hospital where he is been treated , please we
need justice as i know this wont happen in any civilised country , how
can a person in his right senses do this to his fellow human , please
we need justice and please what should we do from here ?

INSTAGRAM photo of the week

Can you beat that? Check out tu baba with that gold Hublot wristwatch
and gold chain to match.
Big boys thangs!!
Photo from instagram.

Roman Abramovich's girlfriend says sorry after posing on 'black woman' chair for fashion shoot

An image of Dasha Zhukova sitting on a chair made to look like a
half-naked black woman was published on fashion website Buro 24/7 on
Martin Luther King Day
Racism row: Dasha Zhukova on the 'black woman' chair
The girlfriend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has said sorry after
sitting on a chair made to look like a half-naked black woman on
Martin Luther King Day.

Fashion website Buro 24/7 used the offensive image of Dasha Zhukova to
illustrate an unrelated interview about the former model's new
magazine, Garage.

However the picture was posted as America celebrated their national
holiday to remember civil rights leader Dr King on Monday.

"This is incredibly racist," Organising for Women's Liberation tweeted
after discovering the pictures.

While Musa Okwonga wrote: "The slave chair is the perfect metaphor for
how black women are treated by the fashion industry."

Alex Tunzelmann added: "Even in the grim, tasteless world of fashion
photography, this revolting racists image published on MLK Day! -
stands out."

Zhukova quickly deleted the image from her Instagram page after she
was met with a barrage of irate comments while Buro later cropped out
the chair in the picture.

And the 32-year-old apologised, saying: "I utterly abhor racism, and
would like to apologise to anyone who has been offended by this
image."

The photograph showing her sitting in the shocking chair was published
"completely out of context", she said

Zhukova and Abramovich, who is worth £8.5 billion, have two children
Aaron Alexander, four and 10-month-old Leah Lou.

Neither Buro 24/7 nor Dasha Zhukova were available for comment.
Source: mirror.co.uk