FIRST LADY, PATIENCE JONATHAN BEGINS PROCESS TO REMOVE DICKSON

Patience Jonathan

...Recruits TAN As Propagandist Vehicle

Despite repeated denials by that there is no crisis between Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and the Presidency, indications have emerged that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is preparing to launch a fresh onslaught against the Governor with a view to kicking him out of office and ensuring that he doesn’t return in the 2016 election.

The action called “Operation kick Governor Seriake Dickson out of office” is coming barely a few months after her resignation as a controversial Super Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State civil service.

Sources said that the First Lady will soon commence her campaign of either hounding Dickson out of office before the 2016 governorship poll in the state or denying him a re-election ticket.

Governor Dickson

Intelligent Presidency sources said that the First Lady, as part of her strategies, had recruited the Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria (TAN), a campaign vehicle of her husband to drive the process.

Besides, Mrs. Jonathan was said to have consulted close associates and loyalists of the former Governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Timipre Sylva, to lead TAN to the state.

But many elders and major stakeholders in the state said to have expressed anger  with Mrs. Jonathan for plotting to destabilise the state with TAN.

The elders were said to have vowed to resist attempts by the First Lady to create Rivers State’s crisis in Bayelsa State.


It was learnt that the elders were making plans to report the development to President Jonathan through a high-powered delegation.


A source who is aware of the plot said the First Lady had already tinkered with the composition of TAN in the state and appointed a former Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, to head the group for the new assignment.

Seibarugu, a known associate of the first lady, was a deputy governor under Sylva who a few months ago led other loyalists of Sylva back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was learnt that the leader of TAN in the state, Mr. Talford Ongolo, had been pushed aside to give way for Seibarugu.

The founder of TAN, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, attended one of the chaotic event organised by the First Lady in Yenagoa to inaugurate the distribution of relief materials to women in the state.

The source who pleaded anonymity said the strategy had been perfected adding that soon TAN and its co-travelers comprising mainly of Sylva loyalists would begin their propaganda.

He said Yenagoa and the entire state will soon witness unprecedented anti-Dickson’s rallies, movements and programmes.

He noted that the anti-Dickson activities targeted to undermine the administration of Governor Dickson will be held under police protection.

He said: “This is just the latest addition to the bag of strategies mapped out by the First Lady to deny remove Dickson. You remember that she influenced the posting of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu to the state for this reason.

“You recalled that she resigned her appointment as the permanent secretary to give her the moral ground to launch this war. Besides, you heard of her partnership with some federal lawmakers.

“Right now she has resolved that TAN should drive the process. She is working  with the loyalists of former governor Sylva and they are coming under the guise of TAN to work against Dickson.

“That is her new strategy now. She wants to use the TAN structure which is everywhere to actualise her ambition”.

He said the First Lady had already promised her foot soldiers juicy rewards after a successful campaign.

“They are going to use TAN like a body to fight the government and they are going to engage in propaganda. It is the same thing that they are doing now, everything possible to rubbish the countryman governor, whose only offence is said to be his refusal to share the state’s meagre resources with her.

“Her number one agenda is to get him out of the way. She has promised them handsomely that once the mission is accomplished, they will be the major beneficiaries.

“A former deputy governor from the state has accepted to lead the campaign. The woman has ordered immediate change in the leadership of TAN in the state so that the former deputy governor will now be used as the arrowhead to begin the onslaught and the campaign against Dickson.

“Very soon you will see unprecedented rallies where people will be mobilised to stand against the governor. These activities will be held under police protection. Members of this group have huge war chests”, he said.

The source also said that already, Seibarugu had started playing a crucial role in the ongoing distribution of items belonging to the office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“Seibarugu is the one handling the distribution of these items now. Even all the signatories for TAN bear Seibarugu’s name. Talford Ongolo has been pushed aside”, he said.

The source further said that the first lady had allegedly converted the MDGs as part of her pet project, Women for Change.

According to him Mrs. Jonathan distributes these items to people as though they came from her pet project.

“The first lady has converted the MDG programme as part of her personal NGO, Women for Change Iniative.  When she goes round the states, she distributes these items as if they came from his pet project.

“But we know that the MDG is a federal government programme with the states as partners. But in all these, many Bayelsa elders and critical stakeholders in the polity who are aware of this scheme are angry with her over her plot to use TAN to fight the governor.

“Very soon, these elders will be meeting with the President to plead with him to call his wife to order.”

STEPHANIE OKEREKE-LINUS ADDRESSES RAPE ALLEGATION AGAINST BROTHER

Stephanie Okereke-Linus

...Says, "This Is A Very Difficult Time For My Family"

Celebrated actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus has released a statement to address the rape allegations against her elder brother, Daniel Okereke, who was arrested for raping an undergraduate of UNILAG, Arinola. 

Okereke-Linus who feels devastated and distraught by the scandal, addresses the issue via a press release.

                             

 “Rape is Rape, Regardless of Who the Face of the Accused is” – Actress Stephanie Linus 

I am distraught and devastated to hear of the recent allegation of rape brought against a relative of mine, Daniel Okereke (my brother).

While it is a very difficult time for me, and my family; I feel the need to make clear my position, lest there be any doubt. Rape is rape, regardless of who the face of the accused is.

Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I have spent my lifelong career

Daniel Okereke

advocating and living my conviction that women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual harassment or any form of abuse against their persons. This conviction led me to be involved in numerous initiatives combating violence against women in several countries including the U.S, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The conviction also led me to place much of my energy on my work with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a passion that dates back to my time at the University of Calabar.

As a student, I heard a story about young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering the negative and embarrassing effects of VVF. The story stayed in my consciousness and drove me, for years, to seek ways to raise awareness on the condition; leading to my work with a team of dedicated doctors to carry out repair surgeries for VVF victims across the country; and my self-produced, soon to be released movie, ‘DRY.’

So, again, it is indeed heart breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I am devastated.

This case is now in Nigeria’s criminal justice system as the accused awaits arraignment. I have also encouraged and assured the alleged victim of my stance against rape and applaud her for her bravery to upset the culture of silence, in Nigeria; even as I accord deference and patiently wait for the criminal justice system to determine the guilt or innocence of my brother.

For Nigerian press and blogs; I call on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not make it mine. The focus should be the impact of rape on the alleged victim,and resources for other alleged victims, not me.

Some members of the press and blogs have turned me into the accused; using my name for sensational headlines and putting my images, exclusively, in their stories. This is a form of Victimization of me as a woman, it is unethical and extremely hurtful. I am not the alleged accused. 

I therefore please ask all Bloggers and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story. 

I thank my fans, and all well-wishers for your continued support and ask for your continued prayers.

God bless.

ARMED ROBBERS RANSACK LAW FIRM, STEAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS CHALLENGING JONATHAN'S 2015 ELIGIBILITY

President Jonathan

Over the weekend, a team of armed robbers is reported to have charged the law firm of Wahab Olatoye, a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging President Jonathan's eligibility in the 2015 general elections. 

Breaking in through the ceiling, the thieves allegedly robbed and ransacked the office, destroying computer systems and safes. Most critically, the robbers stole files containing vital court documents regarding the case.

Olatoye and a colleague had previously sought an order from a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from allowing President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo to re-contest. The plaintiffs argued that by the virtue of the Nigerian Constitution, the President and the Vice President were taken to have been elected for one single, four year term. 

“It is really a great surprise to me, when I was called on Saturday morning that my office had been burgled by yet to be identified persons. It was my office alone that was burgled out of all the offices in the plaza. The thieves came in through the ceiling and ransacked all the files in my office.

“Although, they made away with some amount of money I left in the office, they also took away some documents, especially the ones I am using in pursuing my case against the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“As a plaintiff in the matter and a legal practitioner, there are some documents I need to hand over to my lawyers which I kept in the office. All my computer systems in the office were also destroyed, the office safe was also destroyed.

“The matter have been reported to the FCDA police station in Garki, and the police have promised to come around on Monday morning for further investigation,” Olatoye stated.

Olatoye and his colleague launched their suit against Jonathan on the provisions of sections 132(1), 135(2)(a) and (b), 137(1)(b), 142(1) and (2) of the Constitution and the Supreme Court decisions.


Via Sahara Reporters

BREAKING: COURT FREES ALLEGED NYANYA BOMBER

A federal court in Abuja has freed Aminu Oguche, the suspected mastermind of the Nyanya bomb attack in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported.

The court struck out a two-count terrorism charge against Ogwuche on Monday, after months of trial for the April 2014 attack which killed more than 70 people.

The court hinged its decision on lack of diligent prosecution by the state.

 Ogwuche, a suspected Boko Haram member, was accused by the Nigerian government of being behind the attack.

The blast at the Nyanya Motor Park occurred during morning peak hours as residents were hurrying to work.

The government said Mr. Ogwuche fled to Sudan after coordinating the attack.

He was later repatriated to Nigeria to face charges.

EXCLUSIVE: D'BANJ IN MULTIPLE DEBT MESS

D'Banj

-Walter Wagbasoma, Tetrazini Boss Top a List of Creditors

From a relatively unknown UK-based artiste, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, D’Banj has become one of the biggest musicians in Africa over the last decade. Widely known as the Kokomaster, D’banj has several local and international awards and endorsement deals to his name today. However, the pop star seems to be going through an unpleasant period in his career as some people who claim to be owed by D’banj are threatening a legal action against him. According investigations, the issuance of dud cheques and non-payment of accrued debts top the list of infractions against the DB Records boss who now calls himself Bangalee. As things stand, D’banj may be dragged to court by a top oil and gas industry player, Henry Ojogho, Vice Chairman of Broron Group. Ojogho, who is also the Vice Chairman of MindHub Tehnologies, an integrated Rice farming and milling production company, alleges that D’banj, through his company, DKM Media Limited, obtained a loan of over N60m from him in January 2013 and has not paid back the said sum despite signing an undertaking to do so. In addition, the man is claiming that the entertainer has issued two cheques already; one on December 20, 2013 and another on January 20, 2014, both of which had to be returned unpaid after presentation because the pop star’ accounts were not funded enough. According to documents obtained by NET, a firm of attorneys, D.U.ODIGIE & CO acting on behalf of Henry Ojogho, in a letter addressed to D’Banj, wrote: ‘Following the default by D KINGS MEDIA LIMITED to pay the debt to our client, and pursuant to the aforementioned personal Guarantee/Memorandum of Undertaking, you issued two post-dated cheques; one for the sum of $240,000,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Thousand United States Dollars Only) dated 20/12/2013, and the other for the sum of N15,000,000,00k (Fifteen Million Naira Only)  dated 20/1/2014. Both cheques were returned unpaid on presentation by our client. ‘We are further informed that although you thereafter paid the sum of N8, 600,00.00K (Eight Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira Only) out of the N15,000,000,00k (Fifteen Million Naira Only) (in) Cheque, leaving a balance sum of N6,400.000.00k (Six Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only), you have failed, neglected or refused to redeem the entire or any part of the $240,000.00 (Two Hundred and Forty Thousand United State Dollars) cheque.’  Further investigations by NET revealed that Henry Ojogho is not the only wealthy man claiming D’banj owes him in recent times. There are a number of others, according to our sources. So bad is the situation that an industry source who pleaded anonymity, chides the ‘Igwe’ singer thus: ‘Using the sympathy and naivety of unsuspecting investors coming into the game to dupe them is criminal and absolutely destroying the image of the industry at large, because in the long run it affects and corrupts the judgment of genuine investors who would pull out for fear of being duped.’ NET also contacted the law firm of the claimant and a lawyer at the chambers but who doesn’t want his name disclosed spoke to us, saying: ‘It is true that we have such a case in court but the case is yet to come up for hearing so I cannot comment on it yet. ‘Professionally, I cannot make any comments now because the defendant has not been served the court papers because they said he’s out of the country. But, any moment from now, he’ll receive the writ of summons. As soon as he receives it, then it becomes a public case.  ‘But for now that he has not been served, the law does not allow me to make such comments because as far as the law is concerned, the man is not aware yet, but I can confirm to you that the matter is in court.’  

Other people D’banj allegedly owes… ...

It is alleged that D’banj approached a number of very wealthy people with business proposals, urging them to invest in the industry and set up entertainment companies. With the promise of developing artistes and huge returns on investments, the businessmen became interested only for him to collect their money and move on to the next target with the same ‘format’. Below is a list of a number of names he allegedly owes according to sources. WALTER WAGBATSOMA (200,000 Pounds) Mr Walter is a billionaire with investments in major areas, ranging from oil and gas to real estate, banking, equities and even insurance. He is the founder and executive Vice Chairman of Ontario Oil and he’s one of the first men who were said to have handed money to D’banj, with a whopping sum of 200,000 Pounds said to be involved. PRINCE D. OKONKWO ($200,000) He’s the chairman, Board of Directors of Tetrazini Group of Companies and he is said to have given about $200,000 to D’banj in the name of investing in entertainment. When the issue with Prince Okonkwo got out of hand, D’banj was said to have sought help from Dapo Abiodun, boss of Heyden Oil and Gas who helped him take care of the debt through a repayment plan. 



The Koko Concert Drama…

 Still fresh in the memory of Nigerians is the controversial 2012 edition of Koko Concert in which people had to trek for miles before getting to the venue and back. ...This is not forgetting the inhuman treatment meted out to those with regular tickets. The former Don Jazzy partner reportedly made close to N87m from tickets sales alone at that event and reports allege he collected a whooping $500,000 from GTBank and other title sponsors of the show. D’banj is reported as yet to recover from the 2012 Koko Concert though, which is believed to have led him not just into debts but made him part ways with several of his closest allies. Is D’banj broke? D’banj’s last real album, a ground-breaking body of works titled The Entertainer was released in September 2008, before he released the DKM compilation in June 2013. It’s safe therefore to say D’banj hasn’t released an album in the last 6 years, yet he has managed to stay very relevant in the industry, which is largely due to his staying power and tenacity. In 2014, he has been part of several campaigns in agriculture, poverty alleviation, economy, and recently became the first African Ambassador for BeatsByDre having signed a deal with tech giants, Apple. He is also putting finishing touches to plans to drop an album in celebration of his 10th year anniversary in the music industry. Having said that, it’s evident that while he has not headlined any major show in the last 6 months, D’banj has other multiple streams of income. However, it is amazing that despite D’banj’s remarkable success and many endorsement deals over the years, he has no building or house of his own. The place he currently calls home, a building on Osaro Isopkai Street in Lekki is a rented apartment. As a matter of fact, investigations revealed his current rent in the said apartment will expire this month. D’banj returned to the country on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 after spending about 3 months in the United States of America.  And now that he is back, a court case bearing his name might come up for hearing soon except he is able to settle or pacify those who are reportedly waiting to swoop on him ...

Source: NET

MEET THE MOST WOMANISING GOVERNOR

+The High Profile Ladies he Has Broken Their Marriages

 

Apart from having a quest for the physical good things of life by owing mansions everywhere, Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan is in love with the daughters of Eve. But this time, the eagled eye of this writer as well as reliable sources within his government did not found him wanting when it comes to petite young unmarried ladies, but with women of high profile, the very ones described as society ladies who are married.

First on this list of budding young leaders is alleged to be the wife of Sunny Ofili? Remember him? Sunny Ofili is the immediate past Special Adviser on ICT who died in a plane crash some few months ago. Reliable sources squealed that while the man was alive, the chubby governor was doing ‘kerewa kerewawa’ which even Sunny knew about but could do nothing for fear of losing his job. Ironically, on the death of Sunny, the wife was appointed to the same position the husband formally held.

Fred Amata did not just leave Agatha because she was not a good lady. Of course, she was and still is. What many don’t know is that he found out that he found out that there was an unholy affair between the wife and the governor, and when he could not stomach it, he called it quit. After destroying the marriage, he had full access to her, made her a media consultant to Delta State where sources said that she got over N50 million monthly just to do image laundering for the governor. Her recent benefit of being the governor’s sweet potato is using her as a front to open Rave TV.

Another man who has had a taste of the governor’s philandering lifestyle is Ngozi Okoli. After lots of intimacy between the governor and the wife, Okoli called it quit. Immediately after this happened, Uduaghan sent her to the USA after buying her a house there.

One of those on his conquest list is a House of Assembly member whose name will be hidden for now. Ironically enough, after having an affair with this lady, he is plotting to stop her from having a second term in office.

Another marriage that may soon crash is that of a beautiful Commissioner whose name is also kept hidden for now, but she is from Isoko. After having a taste of her, he is rewarding her with a seat to the Delta State House of Assembly.

Canary bird has also revealed that then Commissioner for Infrastructure is also his bed sharer. This love for women is well known among his aides, which we gathered made all the account officers in almost all the various ministries in Delta State to be women, raising questions if there are no male accounts graduates in the state. Pathetically enough, these women of whom some are his dates are not indigenes of Delta State.

Beautiful bankers are also on his radar but their names will be revealed in due time.

Fejiro Oliver is the Managing Editor of Daily Voice NG and Media Consultant and Editorial, Board Chairman of Secrets Reporters News. He is currently in overseas for fellowship.

 

Editor: Opinions expressed are solely that of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of abusidiqu.com and its associates.

Exposed! Yoruba actress, Nifemi Egunusi is a big pimp

+how she pimp most of the actresses

 

It is not a new story that most of the Nigeria actresses are into some hidden business or act to meet up to the standard of some of their blessed colleagues. It was gathered that most of the actresses  are being pimped to some wealthy big boys in the country. It was also learnt that when these guys who are rich watch movies and they see some ladies they want to sleep with they contact a big time pimp in their industry, Nifemi Egunnusi whose job is to pimp for them and get percentage. The light complexion Ekiti State actress, arranged any interested actress the big boy wants to a Hotel between Ikeja and Magodo while some who are single use their home and they pay the actress off. We gathered that this business is what have been sustaining this popular actress from crashing because she has nothing and she was scotting with  Foluke Daramola in her Moshood Abiola garden in Alausa, Ikeja. We also learnt that she gets Ten percent from the actresses pimp and also get compensation from those guys. In fact, she has been addicted to this business that she pimp ladies too who are not actress and when she is at party and see beautiful ladies she make friends with them and get their phone numbers and Black Berry Pin. In lieu, it was learnt she display  on different pictures of Ladies on her Blackberry phone and this serve as a means of advert for her Black Berry contact to ping for interested ladies. In fact, today when most of the actresses are financially broke,the first person they call his Nife for pimp. Nife is a Yoruba producer and actress who acted in few movies.

LAGOS SPEAKER, IKUFORIJI DECLARES FOR LAGOS GUBER SEAT


…unfold ten point agenda

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji on Sunday 26th Oct declared his desire to contest the top seat in the State come 2015. While presenting reasons for his desire to run the State, Ikuforiji explained that his core vision is to consolidate and enlarge the enviable legacy of good governance, sterling leadership and unmatched excellence for which the State is known.

“Under my governorship, Lagos will truly become a global city, one that all Lagosians will be proud of. I will work hard to make Lagos the African economy to the world economy; I am an individual awakened to the desire to make the state a destination city. I’m set to consolidate the work that was begun by the first civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, our Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the incumbent, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. My government will combine the populist approach of Jakande, the financial ingenuity of Tinubu and the vigour of Fashola to initiate and implement trailblazing policies and projects that will make our State one of the most liveable places in the world,” the governorship hopeful stated.

Unfolding his ten point cardinal programme which he claimed was a result of hard work, research, wider consultation and exchange of ideas with some of the finest brains that our country can boast of. He maintained that job creation will be approached as an indispensable tool of ensuring good life for Lagosians while knowledge based economy and entrepreneurship will be introduced to consolidate and expand the State Internally Generated Revenue as well as the resource base of the State.

Other action plans programme includes; Energy, Security, transportation and Housing. In the area of Education, the aspirant maintained that education under his administration will be the bedrock of the building of a prosperous and democratic State and society and consequently his government will improve the quality of education in the State for both State funded and privately owned schools. In the health sector the governorship hopeful is set to pursue an aggressive renewal and revitalization of all health institutions in the State, particularly, the general and teaching hospitals. Tourism, Sports and Environments shall also be given utmost attention, he stated. Highlights of the well attended event includes; cultural displays and public presentation of the aspirant’s personal and political profile by his wife, Pastor Mayowa Ikuforiji.

TOP DANGOTE EXECUTIVE,SUNDAY ESAN, REACTS TO PATERNITY MESS SCANDAL


A staff of Dangote Group who is referred to by many as been randy is currently enmeshed in a paternity mess which has been trailing him for a while. Though he tried to keep it off the radar from his family and the society, Esan Sunday’s gallivanting is presently out of control and now noticed.
Sources alleged that out of many ladies that warm Esan’s bed, Dammy, a young lady who used to work with Sky Media, presently working as a Marketing Executive with NASIMA, a Compact Disc Printing and Dubbing Factory in Oregun, is a mother of two kids for Esan. It was gathered that on several occasions, Dammy visits Esan’s matrimonial home with her kids with the pretence that she is a colleague to Esan.
Wunmi, the legal wife to Esan, innocently gives Dammy the same hospitality that a good guest and family friend deserves without the knowledge that her husband’s bedmate enjoying her kindness. Dammy, the daughter of a popular personality within Omole-Berger axis according to roadside radios, has gone to bed with so many top shots in Lagos, some of whom are friends to her father.
Inside sources revealed that for Dammy to feel the ambience as a house wife, Esan will send his wife, Wunmi and the children on an expensive trip to Dubai so he would have much time to spend with Dammy and her kids by bringing them into his matrimonial home. Dammy is alleged to have gotten hold of Esan Sunday that he is now the major financier of the lady’s family members showering them with expensive gifts.
On occasions when Sunday would lie to his wife that he’s having a very important assignment in office, he allegedly stays for days outside of his home to stay with Dammy or other ladies who satisfy his uncontrollable desires for ‘anything in skirt’.
Perching birds close to Dammy, alleged that prior to the birth of her first daughter, she had a relationship with a young guy while romancing the tall and lanky Esan. The guy (name withheld) was said not to be capable financially to take care of Dammy and this prompted her to decisively give her pregnancy to the richer boyfriend, Esan who took care of the pregnancy until she put to bed. Findings divulged that the rosy relationship later produced another child, making the kids from Dammy to Esan to become two.

Esan Sunday and Wife, Omowunmi with Tunde, (His First Son) at the Covenant University Convocation Ceremony, 2013,
The paternity of the second child is said to have culminated into a big mess as another man is claiming to be the biological father of the Dammy’s second child.
Another source who proved anonymity claimed that Wunmi, Esan’s legal wife gave birth to their fourth child sometimes in December 2012 while Dammy was pregnant with the second child.
Presently, the relationship between Esan, Dammy and their kids has gone sour as Esan has found a new lover who resides close to his office on the island. Esan is said to have abandoned the lady and her kids and she is threatening to move into his matrimonial home, damming all consequences that might follow.
Those close to the family divulged that Wunmi, though the legal wife is not the first wife to Esan. He has a child, name Tunde from the first wife. During Esan’s first son, Tunde convocation ceremony at Covenant University, eyewitness claimed that fight ensued between the mother of Tunde and Esan’s legal wife, Wunmi as the former’s closeness to Esan on that day becomes unbearable to the legal wife. The brawl ended into the two uttering hurtful words and dragging one another’s cloth in the presence of many people.
Esan Sunday, who was the publisher of a defunct newspaper, The Globe News under pretense as ‘Olugbenga Emmanuel’ allegedly swindle many who invested in the business. It was gathered that when it becomes eminent that the newspaper is set for the grave, he collected loan from a reputable organization and couldn’t pay back. Instead of serving the loan, perching birds alleged that his insatiable desires for married women, including those who stays with him around his residence at Omole Phase 2 grows like wild fire daily. Watch out for details on this.
Stay glued to this site as we reveal to you list of actresses he has disrupted their matrimonial homes under the disguise that he will make them popular with another of his crawling business, Okiki Music and Films Production. You will also get the gist of how he and his close friends siphon Funds from Dangote Group of Companies to finance several establishments.

In order to balance the story, we called Mr. Esan. He agreed to have dated Dammy long time ago but they didn’t have kids together BUT pictures don’t lie as you can see.

Exposed!
True story of how Owolabi Shita exploit the poor in Lekki
+how he invited Okada riders back
And the millions they make monthly


Every African and less privileged person has a mentality that the rich are there to help them(poor) while the books of God(Holy Bible and Quran) said; help those who are in need. But the situation is different in this case, Owolabi Shita, Lead Executive of Lekki residence association and his executive exploits the poor. He is also the Chief pharmacy of Daytona Supermarket.
Our attention was called upon, to how he exploits the commuter drivers, cab men, vulcanizers, hawkers and others.
It was learnt that the number of registered commuter drivers in Lekki Phase scheme known as Lekki Shuttle and the buses pay 2,500 Naira and 10,000 Naira weekly to Lekki Residence Association respectively. But things turned around when the new Executives, led by Shita(Chairman) took over office 7 months ago. They ordered that 30 shuttles among the 92 shuttles to pay 5,000 Naira while others pay 10,000 Naira. This decision did not augur well with the drivers but present situationsin the country would not permit.
For the drivers to meet up with the new decision by Shitta and his Executive, their daily take home payand remittance to thebus owners, they had to hike up the fare from 80 Naira to 100 Naira. The increase in fare made a lot of passengers unhappy and most inquired for the sudden change in price, it was attributed to the heavy charges by the scheme. The executives asked the drivers to revert to their old fare prices, but refused to reduce the 100- 150% levy charge even after four months and claiming that the increase was a test run. One of the drivers, who spoke in anonymity, said they were surprised and disappointed with the new executive that turned them to banks to enrich themselves by increasing their weekly fee to 5,000 and 10,000 respectively without considering the fact that most of them are poor people who are struggling and hustling to meet up with their daily bread.
And most of the shuttles were slots given by the past executive to pensioners, aged, poor and less-privileged people in the estate to manage and feed themselves.
 He also added that God would judge them as they have decided to punish the poor unnecessary.
We learnt that the vulcanizers in the estate who operates and pay 1,000 yearly, has been ordered to pay 5000 Naira yearly. We took out time to visit some of the vulcanizers on Admiralty way, they reacted bitterly on the 400 percent increment. A man who claimed to have lived in the area for roughly 20 years said; “ he was shocked when some of the executives informed them over the increase in levy.” He inquired of the executives about the increment, they answered, it was an agreement by the newly elected officers and intend to take them to a permanent site. News emanating from the street hawkers are disheartening, imagine bread sellers, herbs merchants asked to pay 2,000 Naira and cab drivers 17,000 Naira as opposed the 8,000 Naira paid monthly. We also gathered that a week after they resumed office, they went to meet Tarzan boat, Lekki Pavilion and farm City for levies but were rebuffed since they make development payments to the association and are controlled by Nigeria Inner Water Waves Authority (NIWWA) not Lekki residence Association. The present government generates over Five Million Naira Monthly which is not being accounted for.
To cover his tracks, he either sacks or demote employees. Sheriff, Odia, Wazie, Stanley and some others fell prey. Shitta re-introduced the use of the popular “okada” back to the streets of Lekki.
During the past administration led byLate Shiji Suetan,Chief Kayode Aderinoku and Wole Akala, all monies realised from shuttle buses, cabs, vulcanizers and corporate support were used for the maintenance of roads,drainage,street lights and end of the year fun/party. This present executive has squandered the revenues generated and left the roads and streets of Lekki in a deplorable state.
To balance our investigation, we visited the Chairman’s supermarket, Daytona but met his absence. We sent a text, his response; “you are an idiot, come and see me.”
Well,we hope to serve you more details on elders and stakeholders reaction on all the allegations and development in Lekki.

Popular Yoruba comic Actor,Golugo beaten &stripped in public

Popular Yoruba comic actor com Adekola Tijani popularly called Golugo was beaten and stripped of his clothes  last Tuesday,2nd of Sept,2014 at Ijebu-Ode by  popular area Godfather Akeem Igwe. Trouble started when 'Igwe' who was on the set of a new movie title 'Aye Foreign' produced Afeez Abiodun(Yoruba Actor/Producer) sighted Tijani and tried to exchange pleasantries with him,rather than acknowledge his greetins Tijani snapped at him saying "Eko oshi daanu Joo"( Get out of my sight).Tijani's actions was due to Igwe's failure to honor his invitation to his movie Launch held two weeks ago. Tijani's action infuriated 'Igwe' who in turn ordered his boys to deal with him. Sources hint that the poplar and highly influential Area godfather ordered that Tijani be beaten to death but for the timely intervention of popular Fuji Musician,Saheed Osupa who pleaded with Igwe.

Revealed!

Femi Adebayo's  new love,Gbemi

If the recent instagram post of Medical student cum Actress Gbemi is anything to go by, then Popular and controversial Yoruba actor, Femi Adebayo may be in love again. Recently the Instagram timeline of the upcoming actress cum personal assistant to Iyabo Ojo is filled with pictures of Gbemi and Femi in a public display of Affection (PDA ).. Based on this posts ,Ymeblogger can authoritatively revealed  that Femi is having a thing with Under graduate who is due to graduate this year. On her Instagram handle Gbeminiyi Valentynoh posted pictures of both of them with captions that easily suggest their romance. Such messages include " Evergreen lovey tinz.... No conspiracy can disrupt it." Information reaching us hints that both are an item but Femi is keeping it under wraps contrary to Gbeminiyi who seems to be carried away.

An Industry source hints that she doubts if the lawyer trained actor and father of three is serious with her because he's known to be a serial lover who targets well to do ladies.

We're watching as more drama unfolds between the two love birds.

Popular Transport Boss, Musiliu Akinsanya Beaten At Lagos Party
...scampers underground.

For someone with his perceived street clout and influence, popular transport boss, Musiliu Akinsanya suffered an uncommon fate recently.
The key member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)  was beaten out of a society event.
Sources confirmed the incident transpired over the weekend in Okota area of Lagos state.
According to an insider it was at an event staged by sectional monarch and traditional ruler, Oba Moruf Adisa Ojoola of Ejigbo.
Insiders disclose the affair which held at a primary school premises had two well known musicians on parade, King of his genre, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal and Abass Akande Obesere. Both promoters of indegeneous brand of music known as Fuji.
Informants disclose it was the praise singing of one of these performers that earned the popular street figure widely known as MC Oluomo beating out of the party.
Informants disclose on entry at the party, Wasiu Ayinde recognised Oluomo's presence and sang his praise, even while others spray the naira - he adulated Oluomo.
The other street players moved to the stand of alternate musician, Obesere for their attention- particularly the 'champion' of the area identified as Olowu.
Obesere was praise singing 'Olowu' to the delight of his supporters when Oluomo crossed over to their side- and him the process of getting to the stage, his lieutenants shoved Olowu and his backers aside to pave way for the popular character.

The treatment meted to Olowu, particularly in his terrain is considered a major disrespect to a figure of street ranking and credibility.
And his backers retaliated by shoving Oluomo and his followers for slight.

The consequence was a threats and counter threats that resulted in beating that saw the visitors singled out.
Oluomo was reportedly targeted and earned bruises from multiple punches and kicks has he made his escape.
He is said to have scampered underground for the matter to be 'taken care of' before surfacing.

Sources analyse the effrontery of the assailants to attack the character with larger than life street image to  great reduction in influence with his powerful political backers.
His main backer generally labelled the political power of the southwest region is said to have distance himself from Mr Akinsanya in recent time.
And with this development the clout that sees him take on 'opponents' with impunity is said to have greatly reduced and the word is said to be out on the street.
Prior to this development, Oluomo enjoys the tag 'richest and most powerful' street personality.e

NewsPie01:Saturday,16/08/2014

**Modu Sheriff in closed door meeting with Jonathan in Aso Rock

**2015: ACF warns Pro-Jonathan campaigners

**Fashola commissions Tejuosho market

** Amosun pledges to address Ogun University, OOU, students demand

**Adamawa Acting Governor joins guber race

** I joined PDP for Nigeria’s sake, ex-Borno Governor, Sheriff, says

**Obi resigns as APGA BoT chairman

**2015: APC can’t stand PDP’s onslaught in Lagos

**Abati makes U-turn, denies issuing statement on Chibok schoolgirls

**EFCC arrests former bank manager over alleged N81m fraud

**Popular shopping mall in Ibadan gutted by fire

**Smuggler caught with 80 containers in his stomach

**Boy flees in panic as giant crocodile chases him through water

**Ebola: Sawyer was paid to spread Ebola in Nigeria - Fani-Kayode

** Ebola: Nigerian doctor appeals to US for experimental drug to save colleague's life

**Ebola: Family of nurse killed by Ebola faces public humiliation

**Ebola: We are ready to combat Ebola - UCH CMD

**Ebola’s twin virus of religion, Sangoma

**Ebola: Enugu residents live in fear

**Ebola:Lesotho shuns Nigeria, pull out of U20 qualifier over Ebola concerns

**Ebola: It will take 6 months to contain Ebola in West Africa – MSF

**UK condemns latest Boko Haram kidnappings

** Islamic State jihadists kill at least 80 men, kidnap women, children in Northern Iraq, Kurdish officials say

**2014 African Athletics Championships: Nigeria comes second as South Africa wins tops table

**Victor Moses to undergo medical at Stoke

**Keshi’s contract on hold

**Umeh cautions F’Eagles, Falconets against complacency

**Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets drop five players from camp

**Nigeria not developing young talents- Ogunkoya

**FG approved Maigari’s return —Danagogo

Morning! Happy Weekend!

EBOLA: ANOTHER NURSE DIES IN LAGOS AS DOCTOR TESTS POSITIVE

Four people have now died in Nigeria since Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer brought the virus to the country. Judtina Ejelonu, 25, a nurse who attended to Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian national who died of Ebola Virus Disease, at the First Consultant Hospital has died.
Justina, who had been at the B Ward – a male ward which is now referred to as Ebola Ward – of the Yaba Mainland General Hospital, died in the early hours of Thursday. By 1 p.m., today, a couple of family relatives who are at the hospital were seen wiping away tears and making telephone calls. Jide Idris, the state Commissioner for Health, who was at the hospital declined to confirm the development to journalists. The death of the nurse brings to four the number of people who have died of the virus in Nigeria. News of the passing of the nurse came as the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, a professor, disclosed at a news conference in Abuja that another of the doctors who treated the late Patrick Sawyer has tested positive to the deadly virus.

CRISIS ROCKS OGUN APC, OSOBA GROUP SET TO REGISTER AGN 

There are strong indications that a former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and his loyalists may submit a request for the registration of the Action Group of Nigeria to the Independent National Electoral Commission any moment from now.
This followed the leadership crisis that has rocked the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
There have been allegations that the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was running a one-man show with the APC in Ogun State.
Owing to this, the party became split between Amosun and Osoba, warranting the former governor’s group to seek an alternative political platform.
It was learnt that the group has drafted its manifesto, with the party’s slogan as: Egalitarianism.
The logo of the party, it is gathered, is a palm tree implanted within the map of Nigeria.
The party, it was gathered, will be officially launched in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, before the end of August.
At present, the Osoba group is said to be hibernating in the Social Democratic Party, in preparation for the official launch of the AGN.
It should be recalled that at the last state congress of the APC in Ogun State, both the Osoba and Amosun groups held parallel congresses, leading to the intervention of the national secretariat of the party.
However, the decision to support the Amosun group by the national secretariat did not go down well with the Osoba group, which accused the national body of bias.

EXPOSED: HOW PETROLUM MINISTER,DIEZANI ALISON MADUEKE USED AND DUMP FOUR NNPC GMD IN 4YEARS

IF news reports about the reason for the sudden sack of the former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, are anything to go by, something must be apparent by now.  And that is: whoever wants to last in the office must observe this first commandment — always be in the good books of the petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke is like the proverbial cat with nine lives. As far as President Goodluck Jonathan is concerned, she is a super-minister in whom he is well pleased, notwithstanding the reservations many Nigerians have about her.

Not a few people were shocked by the sudden removal of the former NNPC boss on August 1, and his replacement with Dr Joseph Thlama Dawha. Yakubu was the third NNPC GMD to serve under Mrs Alison-Madueke; that is in four years. We have had Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo who was sacked the same day Mrs Alison-Madueke became minister, so we cannot say whether she had any hand in his exit. But Alhaji Shehu Ladan who succeeded him spent barely six weeks before he was removed. Then Austen Oniwon who was NNPC GMD from May 2010 to June 2012.

According to reports, Yakubu’s sack was caused by irreconcilable differences between him and the petroleum minister. These include incessant sack of highly-skilled professionals in the corporation; sharp differences on policies affecting oil and gas industry; alienation of International Oil Companies (IOCs); opposition to the minister’s court action against  the House of Representatives to stop the probe into alleged N10billion she allegedly spent on chartered jets; non-availability of the minister when crucial decisions are required; and pile-up of files on matters affecting the industry.

Mrs Alison-Madueke has characteristically not uttered a word since Yakubu’s exit. This should get us worried as a nation; if only for the huge investments the nation made on the affected personnel. Indeed, it should get President Jonathan worried: how come one minister has survived three group managing directors in a critical parastatal as the NNPC in just four years? Has it ever occurred to the president that the minister could be the problem, and therefore the one that should go?

We know that Nigeria’s oil sector stinks. But, if there is anyone who should lose his or her job in the petroleum ministry, it is the minister. This much had been canvassed since the January 2012 fuel subsidy protest.  Mrs Alison-Madueke presided (and still presides) over the huge racket that the subsidy represents. Under her very watch, Nigeria paid humongous sums to people who never imported fuel under the subsidy regime. Moreover, the minister has been accused of spending about N10billion on chartered jets in two years. This has been a subject of probe by the House of Representatives but, instead of going to the House to defend herself, she has been employing all kinds of subterfuge to prevent the inquisition. Now, we have on our hands a situation where someone who is perceived, rightly or wrongly, as a symbol of corruption has now become the executioner.

It is sad that what should be a strategic sector is now being governed by the whims and caprices of politicians. It is sadder still because quick turnover of high profile personnel in any sector, not in the least the oil sector, makes accountability and transparency difficult, if not impossible. The nation cannot afford such job insecurity for highly skilled personnel in the sector.

If those being arbitrarily removed committed any infractions, these should be made public. It is not enough to just sack them without any reasons, and so intermittently, even if we agree that he who hires can also fire. Such undue interference in the operation of the corporation by politicians with all kinds of interests has not really helped the NNPC. It is part of the reasons we also feel the corporation has outlived its usefulness.

EBOLA: ANOTHER NURSE TESTS POSITIVE

-As Another Suspected Victim Is Discovered In Lagos Estate

One of the nurses that attended to the Liberian-American that imported the Ebola Virus Disease into Lagos, Nigeria, Patrick Sawyer, has tested positive to the virus.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed this to newsmen on Monday.
Sawyer died on July 25, few days after his arrival in Nigeria.
One of the nurses who attended to him also died a few days later.
The Minister of Health said the nurse’s husband is now under surveillance alongside 176 others.
According to Onyebuchi, the number of those that have tested positive to EVD in the country is now 10.
Two of those 10 have died – Sawyer and the nurse – while other eight are receiving treatment.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week declared the outbreak of Ebola in the country a national emergency, voting N1.9 billion in emergency funding.
Earlier, the World Health Organisation had also declared the EVD an international emergency.

In a related development, a suspected Ebola virus victim was discovered in the Lagos State Property Development Corporation estate in Isheri area of Lagos State.
The estate shares a close boundary with Ogun State in the Isheri area.
The man, identified to be from Niger Republic, The Eagle Online learnt, was dropped on Saturday by the gate of the estate by a commercial motorcyclist, popularly called okada, who sped off after doing so.
The man, who could no longer talk, had blood all over his nose and mouth, without signs of having been beaten.
He was coughing out blood.
The residents of the estate immediately raised the alarm, suspecting Ebola.
This was more so as the okada man who brought him sped off.
The residents of the estate immediately put a call through to the Lagos State Emergency Management Service and the federal authorities for help.
It took several hours before the man was picked up by the health authorities.
The residents, sequel to the development, have resolved to avoid taking commercial motorcycles until the case is proven not to be Ebola related, The Eagle Online learnt.
The fear is that if it is a case of Ebola, the likelihood of the okada man having become infected could not be ruled out.

The estate residents called a meeting where the resolutions were taken. 

I don’t known when the Chibok girls will return… Senator Musiliu Obanikoro

The Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, in an interview with journalists, spoke on the on-going efforts by the Federal Government to end the insurgency in the Northeast, the reforms in the military, politics in his home state of Lagos and the national level, among other issues.

Despite the efforts by the security agencies, attacks by Boko Haram have continued and the Chibok girls kidnapped over 114 days ago are yet to be rescued. How did we get here?

I think it is important we approach this issue of our war against insurgency within the context of a global security concern. Nigeria is not alone in the war against insurgency and that is why we have adopted a wide range of sub-regional and international collaborative approaches towards addressing the scourge of Boko Haram. How we got to where we are today is unfortunate. What began as a Northern Nigerian problem has metamorphosed into a Nigerian problem. Everyone is now affected. The consequence of years of mass illiteracy and the politics of underdevelopment in the North has contributed to birthing the scourge called Boko Haram. But this is not a time to trade blames and all hope is not lost. As we continue to explore the strategies of a military operation in putting an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, we are also committed to the developmental components of the war, which serve a preventive and restorative purpose. The Safe Schools Initiative and the Terror Victims Support Fund championed by President Goodluck Jonathan are clear examples of our government's determination to deploy the right mix of both military and developmental strategies in winning this war against the enemies of our collective humanity.

Do you have reasons to believe Nigeria is winning the war against Boko Haram?

Yes, there are challenges here and there, but I am a fervent believer in the principle of evil being conquered by good. For us, the challenge of fighting terrorism is new; it has never been part of our national life. It will take some time to overcome.

Our troops may never have all the money they need as is the case with most military systems in the world, but Nigerians must have faith in the capacity that we have built in these men and women as they are among the best trained in the world.

The military have always had budget for the purchase of equipment of all kinds year in year out. Why is it that for over 25 years they never purchased the equipment you mentioned, till now?

Don't get me wrong. Acquisitions have been made over the last 25 years but the point is, some of the kind of acquisitions we are now making today have not been done in the past 25 years. Essentially, what I am saying is no administration has upgraded our defence architecture the way the administration of Goodluck Jonathan has done.

You have been at the forefront in calling on citizens to support the military in the on-going war against terror. How do you think this can be achieved?

In my entire public service experience from being a local government chairman, a commissioner, a senator, an ambassador and now minister, I have never seen where government succeeds alone by itself without the support of its citizens. Not to even talk about fighting a war against insurgents within our territorial borders. So, I maintain that the war against insurgency cannot be won by our military alone. And this is why I have always appealed to Nigerians to support our troops morally and with whatever information they have at their disposal that can help in fighting this war.

OSUN POLL: THE FACTORS THAT WRECK OMISORE

Though the 2014 governorship election in Osun State has been won and lost, the last has obviously not been heard about the election, as the Osun State chapter of the PDP rejected the result and decided to take a closer look at it.
Though many had predicted a keen contest between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party who are believed to be the main contenders, te result of the election did not come as a surprise to some people. Meanwhile, observers have opined that the PDP flag bearer in the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore had a number of factors that put him at a disadvantage against the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. To them, it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Omisore to win the election against Rauf Aregbesola.

The Bola Ige Factor
Omisore approached the election with a moral burden which had been a part of his political baggage since 2001. Fingers were and are still being pointed at him over the death of Chief Bola Ige. He and Chief Ige had their disagreements which climaxed with the removal of the latter’s cap at the palace of the Ooni of Ife in December 2001. Ige was murdered days after.
Though he achieved a feat that seemed impossible when he won a senate seat from detention in 2003, the Bola Ige factor was the reason Omisore actually became a Senator in the first place. He had purchased nomination forms for the governorship position but the leadership of the PDP in their wisdom convinced him to swap forms with Prince Oyinlola who had intentions of going to the senate.
The fears they had eleven years ago obviously had effects on the 2014 governorship election. Back then the fear had been that with Bola Ige’s death still fresh in the minds of the electorate; Omisore might not get the desired number of votes in Ijesaland and other places.
Though he was not convicted by any court of law and he has continued to state his innocence, the court of public opinion has simply refused to absolve Omisore of complicity in the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation.
Popular musician, Lagbaja refused to play at Omisore’s campaign rally, reason being that Ige wass his mentor. Some of Ige’s kinsmen in Esa Oke also openly declared that they would only vote Omisore if Bola Ige came back alive to endorse him.

Omisore’s Many Battles and The Division of PDP
Political observers at a point noted that Omisore was fighting on too many fronts and that was shortly before the election. It is a known fact that Senator Omisore has a considerable amount of influence of the structure of the PDP in Osun State. Incidentally, he and the former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola have not been in very good terms for some time.
Omisore had to be placated back in 2007 to allow Oyinlola run for his second term which was eventually truncated by the appellate court in 2010. They had issues regarding control of the party machinery in the state. Few days to the election, Oyinlola who was unceremoniously removed as the National Secretary of the PDP decided to join forces with the APC, swelling the ranks of his new party with about 10, 000 people who defected with him. Though on election day, Oyinlola did not deliver his immediate constituency for his party, his exit affected the image of the PDP in a way.
Omisore’s emergence as the party’s candidate also generated a lot of dissatisfaction within the PDP.
Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government left for the Labour Party and became the governorship candidate there. The state’s first Executive Governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke too was locked in a supremacy battle with Omisore. After a scuffle, Adeleke concluded he was no longer wanted in the PDP. He moved the APC. He conveniently used his political clout to deliver his Ede constituency to his new party.
The internal wrangling no doubt affected the fortune of the PDP at the poll.

The Aregbesola Factor
It would amount to self-deception to conclude that Ogbeni Aregbesola does not have a mastery of the art of politicking. Even with his status as the Governor of Osun State, Aregbesola is still highly revered in Alimosho, the biggest Local Government Area in Lagos State. Reason is his closeness to the grassroots. He stormed Osun years back with the Alimosho experience when he introduced himself with the name “Oranmiyan”. Till date, Ogbeni as he is fondly called has not stopped being a grassroots politician.
His performance also went a long way in swinging things in his favour. Though some of his policies have been criticized, he still scored some firsts; the “Opon Imo” is one of such innovations in the Education sector. The fact that the Civic Centre where Senator Omisore first publicly declared his governorship intention was constructed by the Aregbesola administration also had meanings read to it.

The Ife-Modakeke and Ijesa Factors
Though in Osun’s political arithmetic, it is believed that the bulk of the votes come from Ife, Ilesa and Osogbo, every candidate strives to do well in other areas.
The Ife Modakeke factor again played itself out in the last election. Right from the 1830s shortly after the demise of Ooni Akinmoyero who received Oyo settlers who became the first inhabitants of Modakeke, Ife and Modakeke have always had their differences. They were on opposing sides during the Ekitiparapo war. And even before then bloody skirmishes had been recorded between the two towns, a repeat of which occurred in the 1990s.
Though Omisore, an Ife prince, being the son of the Olu of Olode Town won in Ifeland, most of the votes in Modakeke were not in his favour.
Meanwhile, the APC recoded the widest margins across Ijesaland. With the Bola Ige sentiment which had already pitched Ijesas against Omisore, it was obvious that the bulk of the votes would go to the APC.
An added advantage was Aregbesola’s status as an Ijesa son.


The Ekiti Experience

The victory of the PDP in the recently held governorship election in Ekiti State also served as an eye opener for the APC in Osun. Apart from seeing where the loopholes could be, the APC chose to match the PDP move for move, rice for rice and effort for effort.

Unlike the situation in Ekiti where APC leaders from other states were barred from entering, in Osun, the party ensured that leaders who would observe from other states came in early.

To also block the loophole created by the dissatisfaction of teachers in Ekiti, Aregbesola made sure their counterparts in Osun were “sorted” before the election.

KOLANUT CAN CURE EBOLA-PROF. MAURICEWU

A plant has been found to halt the deadly Ebola virus in its tracks in laboratory tests, scientists have said.

They used a compound from Garcinia kola, a plant commonly eaten in West Africa. Compounds from the plant have also proved effective against some strains of flu.

If the anti-Ebola compound proves successful in animal and human trials, it will be the first medicine to successfully treat the virus that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever – an often-fatal condition.

The discovery was announced at the 16th International Botanical Congress in St Louis in the US.

Four deaths per five cases

The Ebola virus was first documented in 1976 after an outbreak in Zaire – now the Democratic Republic of the Congo – where 88 per cent of the 318 human cases died.

More recently, a 1995 outbreak in the same country had a death rate of 81% of the 315 infected.

There are four types of the virus – Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan and Ebola-Ivory Coast all affect humans, while Ebola-Reston has so far only affected monkeys and chimpanzees.

However, doctors have been unable to stop the virus once infection has taken hold – hence the disease has gained a terrifying reputation.

Traditional origins

Dr. Maurice Iwu, who set up and heads the Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, led the research.

It started 10 years ago when researchers were led to the plant by traditional native healers who have used the plant for the treatment of infectious diseases for centuries.

“This is a very exciting discovery,” said Dr. Iwu, who himself comes originally from a family of traditional healers.

“The same forest that yields the dreaded Ebola virus could be a source of the cure.”

Fighting chance

The virus multiplies rapidly in the human body and quickly overwhelms it, and in advanced cases the patient develops high fever and severe bleeding.

The Garcinia kola compound has been shown to halt multiplication of the virus in the laboratory. If repeated in humans, this would give the body a chance to fight off the virus.

The active compound is what is known as a dimeric flavonoid, which is two flavonoid molecules fused together.

Flavonoids are non-toxic and can be found in orange and lemon rinds as well as the colourings of other plants.

Drug hopes

The tests are in the early stages still, but the researchers hope that if they continue to prove successful the compound the US Food and Drug Administration will put it on a fast track – making a drug available to humans within a matter of years.

“The discovery of these important properties in a simple compound – flavonoids – was very surprising,” said Dr. Iwu.

“The structure of this compound lends itself to modification, so it provides a template for future work.

“Even if this particular drug does not succeed through the whole drug approval process, we can use it to construct a new drug for this deadly disease.”

.This article was first published by the British Broadcasting Corporation on August 5, 1999 when Prof. Maurice Iwu was still Dr. Maurice Iwu. Prof. Iwu was a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. He has since returned to his first love of researching after his service at INEC.