Pastor Kumuyi Warns Members to Stay Away from Video CDs Released by ‘Prophetess’ Linda Ngaujah.

Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has disowned the controversial videos of a ‘prophetess’ and others who claimed to have died, gone to heaven and came back to narrate their extra-terrestrial experience. In the controversial videos being sold all over Nigeria, two women and a boy claimed they died, went to heaven and came back to narrate what they said God showed them. One of such CDs is that of a Sierra Leonean woman, simply called Sister Linda Ngaujah. Linda said she died and was shown happenings in heaven and hell and that many of the members of a large church on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway are on their way to hell and that the founder of a leading church in Lagos should repent as he allegedly acquired his powers from the devil, saying that a Bishop of another large congregation and his members are not even recognised in heaven. She added that women who used rubber and wool to plait their hair will go to hell as it is a sin and that the only way for people to be prepared for heaven is to go back to the old Deeper Life Bible Church’s method of dressing. The video CDs released by Linda is causing serious controversy in the church of God as some women in Deeper Life, who plait rubber hair have vowed never to do so again as they want to get to heaven. Some female worshippers have even shaved their hair in one Christian Assembly in Ikorodu, saying that they don’t want to have anything to do with attachment as they want to get to heaven. Another person who claimed to have gone to heaven said she saw the late wife of Kumuyi, Biodun, in heaven and narrated her encounter there. Other CDs were released by Margaret Amure from Church of God Mission, who also claimed to have gone to heaven and another 10-year old boy from Edo, named Samuel. Reacting to this development on Sunday during the church service, Pastor Kumuyi warned members of his church not to have anything to do with such CDs as these are the last days where many people would come up with different things to deceive the church of God. Kumuyi urged members of the church not to waste their money on such CDs, saying that the church should not rely on purported CDs of people who claimed to have gone to heaven to come back to produce CDs to sell to people narrating their encounter. He referred to Linda’s CD which said people need to dress like Deeper Life to get to heaven, saying that “if you dress like Deeper Life without salvation and sanctification, will you get to heaven? These are the last days.” The man of God emphasized that dressing like Deeper Life would not take anybody to heaven but that righteousness and holiness of heart are the keys to getting to the kingdom of God and warned members to desist from lwatching such CDs. Kumuyi further said that one of the people who claimed to have gone to heaven said they saw Mummy Kumuyi in the kingdom of God, saying that he did not need such CD to know that his wife was in heaven and that the word of God has told us the criteria for getting to His kingdom. According to him, such people were merely deceiving the people, saying that when Apostle Paul was translated to heaven and came back, he did not produce CDs about what he saw in heaven and began to sell them. “When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus did not go about telling people that this was what he saw in heaven. We should rest on the word of God to tell us what we need to know about heaven and how to get there. How do you know that they have actually gone to heaven? These are the last days. Don’t waste your money on buying these CDs,” he stated.

Nature Quote of the Day

I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with wings.

Quote of the Day

The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Nigeria: Fashola Apologises to Ndigbo Over Deportation

Lagos Governor Fashola

Lagos — After weeks of intense controversies over the repatriation of some Igbo in Lagos state to Onitsha in Anambra state, the Lagos State Governor Mr Babatunde Fashola yesterday tendered apology to all aggrieved persons.
Fasola tendered his apology while speaking at the 25th anniversary of a pan-Igbo socio-political group, Aka Ikenga held in Lagos yesterday.
Fashola said his government policy was misunderstood by a section of the people and giving political coloration to the incident.
He said he bore no grudges against the Igbo people as speculated.
"Our fore fathers have always had in place a robust relationship with Ndigbo.
"We have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect and trust. That relationship was started by our ancestors," he said.
"There are those who clearly misrepresented the action taken the way they wanted it. To those people, I owe an explanation on what has happened and that was partly why I am here today. If those people have misunderstood me or action taken by our government, here today and publicly, I am offering them unreserved apology," Fashola said.

Nigeria: Two Dead, 10 Injured in Lagos Collapsed Buildings

Lagos — Two persons were yesterday confirmed dead and 10 others seriously injured after two houses collapsed in Lagos Island.

The remains of the two deceased persons and the injured were brought out of the rubbles yesterday by rescuers. Their identities were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this story.
Daily Trust leant that the three-storey building on No.15 Alli Street collapsed at about 11pm and collapsed on a bungalow beside it.
Government officials, youths and members of the Community Development Association in the area took part in the rescue operation.
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu who confirmed the number of casualties said efforts are still on going to ensuring that people were no longer trapped in the rubble.
"Ten people were evacuated and taken to the General Hospital and Massey Hospital. Two dead bodies were recovered and has been deposited in the morgue as emergency response is still ongoing," he added

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

"We Need Men In Our Lives" - 8000 Women Protest Over Scarcity Of Husband

Posts: 927
Nigeria

Posted September 27, 2013, 6:27 pm  like  0unlike

No fewer than 8,000 women on Thursday stormed the Zamfara Hisbah Commission to protest the scarcity of men in Zamfara.
Apparently the women are seeking the state government’s assistance to enable them to get married.
Led by the Chairperson of the Zamfara Widows Association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa, and the patron, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, the women said they were not living a normal life and needed husbands to become whole.
“Many of us cannot afford two meals in a day because there are no men to support us,” they said.
The patron said the association had over 8,000 women, comprising 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows, 1,200 orphans and 80 others, whom he said, were looking for men to marry.
He said the women also needed assistance to purchase household items such as beds, mattresses and other basic necessities needed to move to their husbands’ houses.
Goshe appealed to the commission to assist the association in screening suitors for the women and said the screening would determine the suitors’ health status, source of livelihood and ability to maintain a family.

- See more at: http://gistpage.com.ng/ng/forum/2972/quot-we-need-men-in-our-lives-quot-8000-women-protest-over#sthash.xd3See78.dpuf

Pakistani Christians protest church attack as death toll rises to 85

  

 

Pakistani women grieve over coffins of their relatives who were killed in a suicide attack on a church in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. A suicide bomb attack on a historic church in northwestern Pakistan killed scores of people Sunday, officials said, in one of the worst assaults on the country’s Christian minority in years. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Pakistani Christians rallied Monday to denounce the deadliest attack ever in this country against the religious minority as the death toll from the church bombings the day before climbed to 85.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up amid hundreds of worshippers outside the historic All Saints Church in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Sunday.

A wing of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying they would continue to target non-Muslims until the U.S. stops drone attacks in Pakistan.

The bombings raised new questions about the Pakistani government's push to strike a peace deal with the militants to end a decade-long insurgency that has killed thousands of people.

"What dialogue are we talking about? Peace with those who are killing innocent people," asked the head of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, Paul Bhatti, whose brother, a federal minister, was gunned down by an Islamic extremist in 2011.

The death toll reached 85, after seven more of those wounded in Peshawar died overnight, according to the commissioner of Peshawar, Sahibzada Anees.

Protesters blocked roads around the country, burning tires on one of the main roads into the capital, Islamabad, as they demanded government protection.

"Our people have been killed ... Nobody seems to bother about us. No one apprehended the killers," said Aqeel Masih, one of the protesters.

Clashes broke out between Christian protesters and Muslims Monday evening, leaving one person dead, in the southern port city of Karachi, according to Police Chief Shahid Hayat. He said police fired tear gas and guns in the air to try to disperse the crowd.

Missionary schools around the country were closed for three days, said Christian leader Nasir Gill.

Churches and other places important to the Christian community in Peshawar have been given extra security, said police official Noor Khan.

Many churches, as well as mosques and other religious institutions, already receive some type of police protection although many Christians say that is too little. A police officer stationed at the church where the suicide bombers attacked was killed.

Christians are a minority in Pakistan, where roughly 96 per cent of the country's 180 million people is Muslim. The rest belong to other religions, including Christianity. Christians have often been attacked by Sunni Muslim militants, who view them as enemies of Islam.

Christians often face discrimination as well. They often find it difficult to get access to education or better jobs and are relegated to menial labour jobs such as collecting garbage or cleaning streets.

The U.S. State Department condemned the bombing, and said that the United States "remains concerned about continuing sectarian violence in Pakistan that has brought heartache to Sunnis, Shia, Christians, and members of other communities across the country."

In other violence, a bomb exploded Monday near a police patrol in southwestern Baluchistan province, killing four people, including three policemen, said police officer Abdullah Khan.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Baluchistan is home to both Islamic militants and nationalists fighting the government.

Jonathan moves to mend fences with N’ Assembly

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Presidency  has initiated fence-mending with the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives,   in a bid to improve on  the strained relations between the two sides.

The  Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan  on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, made a dramatic appearance at the House of Representatives to discuss with some lawmakers.

Findings indicated that Gulak’s mission was to meet with the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, and some principal officers  over the  legislature-executive face-off.

However, The PUNCH learnt that Gulak did not meet Tambuwal, who was not in the office at the time he  arrived.

But, he met and discussed with selected lawmakers, spending about 15 minutes with each of them.

One of the members he visited  was Mr. Aminu Jonathan from Plateau State.

Gulak visited  the legislature barely one week after Jonathan sacked his Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Mrs. Joy Emodi.

The sacking came on the heels of the visit of  of the National Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party  and seven governors in the faction  to   the National Assembly.

At the House, the visit was disrupted by lawmakers in the Bamanga Tukur-led  PDP , who opposed Tambuwal’s decision to receive the group.

There were speculated moves by the Presidency to move against Tambuwal following the visit.  The Presidency was  alleged to have  paid $25,000 to lawmakers in the  Tukur-led  PDP   to impeach the speaker.

About the same time, the House   suspended  its plenary to embark on “full and comprehensive oversight on the implementation of the 2013 budget.”

Investigations showed that the outcome of the oversight tour of capital project sites could result in “Jonathan bashing” by the lawmakers.

A source  close to both arms of the government said, “The Presidency will not be comfortable with any issues that may further heat up the polity. There is an urgent need to work on the relations between the two arms of government.

“Gulak must have come to the National Assembly to see how they can improve on their relations.”

He added that the Presidency would also pay a similar visit to the Senate which also played host to the Baraje- led New PDP team. He however declined to state when the visit would be.

A surprised Gulak was ambushed by reporters shortly after exiting the office of one of the House of Representatives members he visited.

At first, he tried to parry questions by claiming that he visited  to chat  with some of his friends.

However, when he was reminded that he had not visited the House in the last two years, Gulak admitted that he came to “discuss the process of moving the country forward.”

Asked whether the Presidency paid some lawmakers to impeach Tambuwal, Gulak said  Jonathan had never contemplated removing the speaker.

He described the matter as “figment of people’s imagination.”

Gulak  added,  “The purpose of my visit is part of the processes of trying to meet our friends, discuss with them and move the country forward.

“We intended to meet the speaker but unfortunately he is not around. My visit today(Wednesday) is part of moves to cement the relationship between the Legislature and Executive which is normal.

“You know Mr. President will never support destabilising the National Assembly. You will agree with me that this President we have will never support any move to destabilise the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly is a pillar of this administration that stabilises the polity.

“Destabilising it will not be good for the country and Mr. President is aware of that and he has taken that upon himself not to destabilise or support anything that will destabilise the National Assembly.”

Reacting specifically to the $25,000 bribery allegation, he said, “That is not true; it can never be true

 “You know Mr. President  is a different President; please and please, and I plead with you to see him as who he is.

“He says what he means and means what he says. Since he became President, he is the only one whose tenure has not been involved in the so- called banana peels in the National Assembly.

“He supports the stabilisation of the National Assembly. All these stories are figments of people’s imagination, especially those who believe that they ought to be in the lead in this country and not part of the present leadership.”

On the factional crisis rocking the PDP, Gulak claimed that the PDP was intact.But he pointed out that some people did not want to follow the rule of law and the Nigerian constitution.

The presidential aide added, “There is nothing like New PDP; I always say that there is no political crisis in Nigeria. What we are witnessing is mad pursuit of unrealisable ambition by few people who are blinded by ambition; who cannot see anything good in their own country; and have refused to know that this country is governed  by law.”

U.S., Russia, Others Agree On Core Of UN Security Council Resolution On Syria's Chemical Weapons

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - After weeks of haggling, the United States, Russia, France, China and Britain have agreed on the core of a U.N. Security Council resolution to rid Syria of its chemical weapons, three Western diplomats said on Wednesday, but Russia denied such an agreement and insisted work was "still going on."

The development came after the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the council met over lunch with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier in the day, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The three diplomats said a draft resolution could be presented to the full 15-nation council soon, and the five permanent members would also meet on Friday to discuss a proposed Syria peace conference in Geneva.

"It seems that things are moving forward," said a Western diplomatic source, adding that there was "an agreement among the five on the core."

"We are closer on all the key points," he said. A third diplomat also suggested that a deal on the draft resolution was within reach.

But Russia rejected suggestions by the Western diplomats that there was an agreement on the core of a draft resolution.

"This is just their wishful thinking," the spokesman for Russia's U.N. delegation said. "It is not the reality. The work on the draft resolution is still going on."

A U.S. official cited progress while cautioning that there was still work to be done. "We're making progress but we're not done yet," the official told Reuters.

The five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council - Russia, the United States, France, Britain and China - have been negotiating a resolution to demand the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal in line with a U.S.-Russian deal reached earlier this month.

Negotiations on a draft in New York had come to a standstill while Russia and the United States struggled to reach an agreement acceptable to both.

But it appears that after talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, the deadlock was broken.


STICKING POINT

A major sticking point between Russia and Western powers has been whether the resolution is written under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which covers the Security Council's authority to enforce decisions with measures such as sanctions or military force.

Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has made clear it would not accept an initial resolution under Chapter 7 and that any punitive measures would come only in the event of clearly proven Syrian non-compliance on the basis of a second council resolution under Chapter 7.

A Western diplomat who had seen the latest draft before the Ban Ki-moon meeting said the only reference to Chapter 7 was at the end - a threat that in the event of non-compliance the council should "impose measures" under Chapter 7. To carry out that threat, a second resolution would be needed.

There is, the diplomat said, no reference to Chapter 7 in the rest of the resolution, though the language is identical to what would normally be in a Chapter 7 resolution.

Assad agreed to destroy Syria's chemical weapons in the wake of a sarin gas strike on civilians in the suburbs of Damascus last month - the world's deadliest chemical arms attack in 25 years.

Washington blamed Assad's forces for the attack, which it said killed more than 1,400 people, and President Barack Obama threatened a U.S. military strike in response. Russia and Assad have blamed the attack on rebels who are battling to overthrow him in a civil war raging since 2011.

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Post titleWhite House hints Obama may meet with Iranian president over sanctions

Obama administration praises 'welcome rhetoric' over nuclear weapons and says meeting is possible next week in New York

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Iranian president Hassan Rouhani is pictured during an interview with Ann Curry from NBC. Photograph: Reuters

The White House has hinted at the possibility of a historic meeting with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani during his visit to the United Nations next week, praising what it called "welcome rhetoric" from Iran on nuclear weapons.
In the latest sign of a thaw in relations between the two countries, White House spokesman Jay Carney acknowledged "dramatic" shifts in Tehran's language but stressed the need to see it matched by actions.
On Wednesday Rouhani gave an interview to NBC insisting the country had no intention of putting its civilian nuclear programme to military ends and suggested he had political authority inside Iran to negotiate a solution to a standoff with the west over the programme.
Earlier, the reform-minded president also agreed to release a series of political prisoners, raising hopes in Washington that he was gaining traction over more hardline elements in Tehran.
The two developments produced a positive response from the White House on Thursday, but administration officials remain cautious about the extent to which he can act independently of Iran's surpreme leader Ali Khamenei.
"We obviously notice a significant change in language and tone, it's rather dramatic, but it's important we don't just take Iran's word for it," said Carney.
"The release of political prisoners is a welcome action. The welcome rhetoric over nuclear weapons is just that. Words are not a substitute for action and we need to see follow-through."
Both Obama and Rouhani will be in New York at the same time next week for the United Nations general assembly and hopes are rising that the two may meet to discuss what progress on nuclear weapons would be required for the US to lift its crippling sanctions regime against Iran.
Carney again hinted this was possible, but insisted the US had always been willing to talk to Iran about ending the alleged nuclear weapons programme. Asked if the two leaders would meet in New York, he replied: "We will see. It has always been possible."
He added: "The president has said all along that he would be willing to have that meeting providing that Iran demonstrates its seriousness in dealing with its nuclear weapons programme."
Next week's UN meeting is shaping up to be a crucial test of American foreign policy in the region, with the security council also due to discuss action over Syria's chemical weapons programme.
On Thursday, secretary of state John Kerry made an impassioned plea for the UN to stop debating whether Syria had used chemical weapons and move on to what to do about it.
In a sign that last week's deal in Geneva for Syria to hand over its weapons may not have been enough to overcome diplomatic opposition from Moscow, Kerry gave an unexpected press conference to press home the significance of the UN report on chemical weapons use in Damascus. "This fight about Syria's chemical weapons is not a game. It's real. It's important," said Kerry.
"Please. This isn't complicated. The security council must be prepared to act next week. Time is short. Let's not spend time debating what we already know," he added.

Love Quote of the Day

Love is the Appreciating the goodness of another person.

Jonathan Inaugurates Governing Council, Board of NSIA

President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday inaugurated the governing council and board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and issued share certificates of contribution to the Sovereign Wealth Fund to the 36 states.
The share certificates were issued to the federal, state and local government for their contribution to the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
In his speech the President who was represented by Vice President  Namadi Sambo, said the inauguration of the governing council was an indication of the progress made so far in the running of the fund.
Noting that all over the world the Sovereign Wealth Fund has been instrumental to the fiscal development in countries running them, the VP called on government officials at all levels to ensure that the objectives of the Nigeria's own Fund is achieved through the commitment of their contribution.
He listed the objectives of the NSIA to include: building a saving base for future generations of Nigeria, enhancing the development of Nigeria's infrastructure and promoting fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.
"I am happy to report that the board and management team of the NSIA has set about implementing robust governance and investment structures towards the achievement of its laudable objectives and the international community is already taking note of their efforts," he said.
The President also stated that a number of other sovereign wealth fund and international investment institutions had already expressed readiness to partner with the NSIA in the execution of infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
He however reiterated that while the initial $1 billion investment is not inconsequential "the sustainability of our sovereign wealth fund depends on our continuous contributions".
The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority was set up to manage the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Fund, where all the surplus income produced from Nigeria's excess oil reserves is to be deposited.
The fund had kicked off with an  initial deposit of $1 billion in seed capital contributed from the excess crude account.
The sovereign wealth fund was founded for the purpose of managing and investing funds on behalf of the government.
The wealth fund commenced operations in October 2012  with the objectives of investing the savings gained on the difference between the budgeted and actual market prices for oil to earn returns that would benefit future generations of Nigerians.
Speaking at the inauguration, which took place shortly before the commencement of the National Economic Council meeting,  the President noted that the NSIA had made significant progress in the stabilizing of the future generation funds and was  currently working hard to evaluate a number of infrastructure projects across the country.
Some of the projects it plans to undertaking include second the Niger Bridge, Gurara Dam Phase 2, sea ports investment and an aircraft leasing company to ease the financial burden in the airline industry and promote greater visibility in its operation.
He added that the development of well conceived infrastructure projects by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will also provide a platform for the national pension funds to invest in credible undertakings.
"I urge the board and management team of NSIA to continue steadfastly in their role as custodians and administrators of our sovereign wealth fund. I also expect that they will always exhibit the greatest possible, accountability and compliance with the international best practices to gain and maintain the trust of all stakeholders in the fund, to assist and guide them in the discharge of their responsibilities".
Members of the governing council include: the President represented by the VP will Chair the council, while Each 36 state governors, Attorney General of the Federation, minister of Finance, minister of National Planning, Central Bank Governors,  Chief Economic Adviser to the President , Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission as members.
A  12 non statutory membership of the council whose nominations are subject to the confirmation by the senate as stipulated by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority establishment Act of 2011, will join the council at a later date all as members.
The President said noted that the governing council which represents the broad ownership of the fund across all three tiers of government will also provide guidance and direction to the board of NSIA.
"I assure you all of my support and cooperation as you begin to discharge this responsibility for the good of our people" he said as he inaugurated the council.
The certificates were issued to the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who received on behalf of the federal government, while the governors and FCT minister received on behalf of their state and local government.
In response to the President's speech the chairman of the board of directors of the NSIA Mahey Rasheed, said the NSIA which kicked off in February is now fully operational and has commenced investment activities.
"We have gone far in investing the stabilization and future generation funds. Also we are evaluating a number of investment opportunities in the nation's infrastrucute relating to transportation, power, healthcare, and agriculture."
He reported that the  NSIA has been significantly recognized as potential investment power house by global investment partners and is already in the top ranking chart of Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.
In his response the Managing Director of the NSIA, Uche Orji, assured the President that they were doing their best to attain the set objectives of the fund.

Amaechi Opens Up on Opposition to Jonatha

The fact that South-south region where President Goodluck Jonathan comes from has not benefitted from his administration is the main reason why Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi is opposing the president.

Amaechi , who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), also listed the parlous state of the economy, the poverty rate and the poor infrastructure, especially the East-West Road, as other reasons for his opposition.

Amaechi was reacting to comments by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on the nation's economy and the South-south’s support for Jonathan respectively.
The Governor insisted that rather than the rosy picture being painted by the Finance Minister, the Nigerian economy is actually struggling to survive

According to him, the federal government was yet to fully pay the Rivers State allocation for July.

Amaechi, who spoke at a programme organised by the Rotary International, District 9140 for young future leaders at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Thursday, also tackled the Delta State governor over his remarks that opposition to Jonathan should not come from the president’s South-south region, stressing that that he considered Nigeria’s national interest far and above any other interest.

He bemoaned the fact that those fighting a just cause were being maligned on the altar of public criticism, pointing out that Nigerians usually suffered for not asking the relevant questions.

“We (NGF) asked the Minister of Finance to resign if she is not able to manage the economy and she replied, ‘I dey kampe’. As at now, we are yet to receive the complete federation allocation for July.

“How strong is an economy that cannot fund its statutory state government federal allocation?  Our entitlement as Rivers State Government in July was N19 billion, they have paid us only N14 billion!
“Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) published (revenue) receipts of N1.05 trillion in July, so why do they say that there is no money?  If we receive N1.05 trillion by July, why are they saying there is no money?” he queried.

Going back in time to buttress his position on the current poor state of the country, Amaechi said: “In 1970, the poverty rate in Nigeria was 30 per cent.  How many of you know the poverty rate now? I was in a meeting where I said it was 70 per cent but the Minister of Finance said it was 68 per cent. What’s the difference between 68 and 70?  So we are giving you a nation that is in a comatose state, that’s what we are handing over to you.

“If it is a nation that is progressing, from 30 per cent in 1970, we should be talking of about 15 per cent now. So you have work to do and the first step to that work is get an education.


In the meantime, an Abuja High Court Thursday struck out a suit that sought to determine the authentic winner of the May 25 contentious NGF election.

The order of the court striking out the suit, followed an earlier application for discontinuance brought by the plaintiff and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
 

ASUU. Strike May End Next Week as FG, ASUU Make Headway

Trending in Nigeria.

Hope of an early resolution of the strike embarked on by the public universities’ lecturers rises as the Vice-President Namadi Sambo met with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Abuja on Thursday.The meeting held behind closed doors had in attendance the supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike and the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie. - September 20, 2013 · The Punch -Newspaper ·

Omo Baba Olowo: Davido Brags About His Bank Account

HKN leader, Davido, has been under a lot of scrutiny of late,  but the young and talented singer doesn’t care.

Lots of fans and even fellow artistes have tagged the singer as a ‘daddy’s boy’, saying all his expensive cars and jewelry were bought on his dad’s paycheck.

The Omo Baba Olowo of 9ja music came on Twitter to brag about his bank account.

13 Yr Old Girl Begins Masters Studies In Microbiology

In a country where many girls are still discouraged from going to school, Sushma Verma is having anything but a typical childhood. 

The 13-year-old girl from a poor family in north India has enrolled in a master’s degree in microbiology, after her father sold his land to pay for some of his daughter’s tuition in the hope of catapulting her into India’s growing middle class.Verma finished high school at 7 and earned an undergraduate degree at age 13 — milestones she said were possible only with the sacrifices and encouragement of her uneducated and impoverished parents.

“They allowed me to do what I wanted to do,” Verma said in an interview Sunday, speaking her native language of Hindi. “I hope that other parents don’t impose their choices on their children.”
Sushma lives a very modest life with her three younger siblings and her parents — eating, sleeping and studying alongside them in a cramped single-room apartment in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state.
Their only income is her father’s daily wage of up to 200 rupees (less than $3.50) for laboring on construction sites. Their most precious possessions include a study table and a second-hand computer.
It is not a great atmosphere for studying, she admitted. “There are a lot of dreams … All of them cannot be fulfilled.”
But having no television and little else at home has advantages, she said. “There is nothing to do but study.”
Sushma begins her studies next week at Lucknow’s B. R. Ambedkar Central University, though her father is already ferrying her to and from campus each day on his bicycle so she can meet with teachers before classes begin.
Her first choice was to become a doctor, but she cannot take the test to qualify for medical schooluntil she is 18.

“So I opted for the MSc and then I will do a doctorate,” she said.
Sushma — a skinny, poised girl with shoulder-length hair — is not the first high-achiever in her family. Her older brother graduated from high school at 9, and in 2007 became one of India’s youngest computer science graduates at 14.
In another family, Sushma might not have been able to follow him into higher education. Millions of Indian children are still not enrolled in grade school, and many of them are girls whose parents choose to hold them back in favor of advancing their sons. Some from conservative village cultures are expected only to get married, for which their families will go into debt to pay exorbitant dowry payments, even though they are illegal.
For Sushma, her father sold his only pieces of land — 10,000 square feet (930 square meters) in a village in Uttar Pradesh — for the cut-rate price of 25,000 rupees (about $400) to cover some of herschool fees.
“There was opposition from my family and friends, but I did not have any option,” said her father, Tej Bahadur Verma.
The rest of Sushma’s school fees will come from a charity that traditionally works in improving rural sewage systems, which gave her a grant of 800,000 rupees (about $12,600).
“The girl is an inspiration for students from elite backgrounds” who are born with everything, said Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International, who decided to help after seeing a local television program on Sushma. She is also receiving financial aid from well-wishing civilians and other charities.

The 10 Phrases that Make Men Go Ballistic

To you, it's just a few words. To him, it's a short sentence that he'll never, ever forget. Here, the seemingly innocent observations that can really rock a relationship. By Anna Davies, REDBOOK.

"I really don't respect you."
"My wife and I probably use the word 'respect' about as much as we use the word 'love.' Both words were in our wedding vows," says Dave, 36, about why the R-word is just as important to him as the L-word. "And when I hear that she doesn't respect me, it's almost like her saying she doesn't love me. Luckily, she's never said it-precisely because we had a whole conversation about how we'll never throw around that word like that."

Your tummy is so cute! "Please, call it what it is-a beer gut!" jokes Chad, 38. All kidding aside, the men we spoke with said that they have the same body image issues as women, which means that making fun of him when he's gained a few will make him feel insecure too.