Doctors begin nationwide strike today

The Nigerian Medical Association, on Monday in Abuja, declared an indefinite nationwide strike which has been scheduled to commence today (Tuesday). The President of the NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, during a press briefing on the failure of the Federal Government to address their demands and imperative of the strike, said there was no going back. The NMA had sent 24-point demands to the government, including the discontinuation of recognition of non-medical doctors as Directors and Consultant title to any other health worker other than medical doctors. The demands also include the appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation, payment of clinical duty and hazard allowances and withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria circular on medical laboratory equipment. “The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted. We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent. We hereby appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding and to press on the government to meet with our demands”, he stated. Obembe stated that the failure of the government to address NMA’s demands has left the association with no other option than “to call all its members to down tool in order to press home their demands.” Obembe said there was no way non-doctors could be allowed to function as Consultants, given that they do not oversee patients in the hospital. He said, “A consultant is the owner of the patient; many health workers now go about acquiring Ph.D so that they can be called Doctors. The title should be restricted to only a medical doctor.” According to him, last week’s interim injunction by the National Industrial Court has no link with the NMA as it was merely an issue between Medical and Dental Consultants Association and the government. “Every doctor is a member of the NMA; other affiliates are allowed to operate also. We sought legal advice on the court injunction, our legal opinion is that the court order did not mention any reference to the NMA and since it did not mention NMA, we don’t want to dwell on it.”

Eagles get $3.8m ahead of France game

Super Eagles training boycott on Thursday has paid off for the players as the Federal Government immediately sent down $3,850, 000m (three million, eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars) to the players in Brazil. The Minister of Sports Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, is expected to arrive in Brasilia just in time before Nigeria face France in a second round game. Reporters confirmed from a sports ministry official that President Goodluck Jonathan approved the payment after speaking with Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi and team captain Joseph Yobo via the telephone late on Thursday. He said that Danagogo was already confirmed to arrive in Brazil aboard a Sunday flight from Lagos. He said, “I am aware that he already has received all the necessary papers to carry such amount of cash and the protocol team is set to receive him at the airport on Sunday. The players will receive the money on arrival or first thing on Monday before the match.” Our correspondent also learnt that the money is $250,000 above what the Nigeria Football Federation had calculated and agreed with the players. The NFF had said they would pay them as soon as FIFA paid them. The money is usually paid to countries four months after the World Cup. The Eagles had met with the NFF in their US camp, pressing for the money. It was learnt that goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide and Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi have been at the forefront of the fight for the cash the players called appearance fees. It was the same players that led the strike on Thursday which forced the entire team to miss the training session on Thursday and Friday morning at their base in Campinas. The Senate President David Mark had mediated when he visited Brazil and had assured the players he would raise the matter with President Jonathan. But team captain, Joseph Yobo, insisted the players got the money before the opening game against Iran. SUNDAY PUNCH confirmed that the Federal Government took the decision to bring the money to Brazil without the knowledge of the NFF. The scene iN Brazil is playing out like that of France ’98, where the Eagles held nearly an all night meeting with the Federation on advance payment before theIR second round match against Denmark, which they eventually lost by 4-1. j

Ekiti defeat: APC governors woo workers, students

The defeat of the incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has caused fears and jitters in most states governed by the All Progressives Congress, SUNDAY PUNCH investigations have revealed. The governorship election, held in Ekiti State on Saturday, June 21, saw Fayose polling a total of 203,090 votes to emerge the winner of the contest while Fayemi of the APC and another major contestant, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, of the Labour Party, polled a total of 120,433 and18,135 votes, respectively. Our correspondents sampled the mood in the APC states of Osun, Rivers, Borno, Lagos and Oyo. They also checked the pulse in Ogun, Kwara and Edo states.  OYO In Oyo State, the ruling party, the APC, our correspondent gathered, had stepped up its efforts to retain the state in 2015, following the victory of the PDP in Ekiti State penultimate Saturday. Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH showed that the party leaders had met to discuss the modalities that would sustain their hold on power come 2015. A source said efforts were being made to reconcile aggrieved party members. “Fayose won because he was close to the people when he was in government. Oyo APC leaders are fashioning strategies that will bring Governor Abiola Ajimobi closer to the grass roots. “Ekiti election is a wake-up call to the party. Senator Femi Lanlehin has gone to the Accord Party and Senator Ade Adeseun is on his way to the PDP; it says a lot about the internal crisis in the party. And with the Ekiti results, those who are moving towards the exit door are moving fast now. They want to leave before the next election,” the source said. After the Ekiti election, a serving commissioner in the state (name withheld) expressed concern over the ability of the APC to hold on to power on his Facebook page. He wrote, “A responsible government must at all times connect with the people.” One of those who responded to the post said Ekiti election was a big lesson for Oyo State. Another respondent said it could be too late for the APC and that the masses would react in 2015. The Chairman of the APC in Oyo State, Akin Oke, told one of our correspondents that the party would investigate what happened in Ekiti before taking a decision on the immediate future. “There will be investigation into what happened in Ekiti. The party will not fold its hands and watch. It is unfortunate that Governor Kayode Fayemi did not reflect on the events leading to his loss before accepting defeat. Is he so bad that he could not even win in his ward? There are fundamental questions to be asked,” he said. Ajimobi’s Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, told our correspondent that the Ekiti election was an eye-opener. “What the Ekiti election has done for us is to open our eyes to the newest intrigues in electioneering and party politics. We have collated all the events leading to the election, studied them and we are wiser,” Adedayo said.  Osun Sources close to the APC in Osun State told one of our correspondents that shortly after the Ekiti election results were announced, the astounded leaders of the party in the state held a meeting and decided to pacify workers and other groups in the state. One of the measures, it was learnt, was the payment of the May salaries of workers, aimed at boosting their confidence in the administration. The governor confirmed this at a rally held in Ikirun on Tuesday, where he said workers had started receiving salary payment alerts.” Also, members of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as O’YES, who had not be paid for some months, it was learnt, had started receiving their salary arrears. All these payments, a chieftain of the party said, were aimed at pacifying some categories of people who might have been aggrieved. The loss of the APC in Ekiti State has also forced the ruling party to commence aggressive campaigns in rural communities. It was also observed that public taps, which had been dry for months in some areas like Odi Olowo Street in Osogbo, the state capital, had started running. Reacting to the outcome of the Ekiti election, Aregbesola had said, “What they did in Ekiti is not possible here in Osun. Osun is different and they know it. In 2011, all Yoruba states voted for PDP presidential candidate, but Osun people voted for Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate). We are different in Osun. Don’t let them scare you.”  Edo In Edo State, where the APC currently holds sway, sources close to some of the party officials told SUNDAY PUNCH that the loss of Ekiti State by the APC to the PDP shook the party. “What happened in Ekiti was amazing. We did not expect the PDP to have such a landslide in all the local governments because our candidate had a good scorecard, when it comes to good governance. “For instance, the provision of good roads, quality education and other amenities shows the readiness of a man to give the people of Ekiti the true dividends of democracy,” the source said. Another party faithful, who simply gave his name as Mike, said, “I think my party might have soft-pedalled at some point. But it is a big eye-opener for Edo State in 2016. We will tighten all loose ends. We will not take chances at all because there is no room for the PDP here,” he said. In a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Godwin Erhahon, however, described the Ekiti showdown as a display of Fayemi’s patriotic approach to governance which President Jonathan should emulate. He said, “I think Jonathan should learn from the patriotism and democratic spirit of the Ekiti Governor (Kayode Fayemi), who accepted defeat even when there were reasons for him to protest.” The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, in an interview with one of our correspondents, attributed the APC loss in Ekiti State to tactical error, stressing that the APC had gone to the drawing board to analyse the situation towards learning some lessons and preventing them from occurring again.  Ogun In Ogun State, the defeat has started to affect the governance style of the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. One of our correspondents gathered that the governor has launched a ‘welfarist agenda,’ aimed at paying more attention to the people’s welfare. Amosun revealed this on Tuesday at the Arcade Ground of the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta while handing over severance cheques to former political appointees, who served between 2007 and 2011. It was observed that the civil servants were paid their monthly salaries on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, as against the practice of making such payments between 10th and 15th of the other month. The governor had also taken a step further by holding a stakeholders meeting with the civil servants at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta on Wednesday. Many of the civil servants were aggrieved because they felt they were not getting a fair treatment from the current administration. In addition, the governor has scheduled meetings with different groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress. When contacted for official reaction on the defeat of Fayemi, the factional state Publicity Secretary of the APC loyal to Amosun, Mr. Sola Lawal, said the party had nothing to say. He said, “We have no comment.”  Kwara In Kwara State, investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the APC, in an apparent move to guard against a recurrence of the party’s defeat in Ekiti, had taken strategic decisions on youth empowerment programmes, grassroots mobilisation and empowerment of artisans, traders, commercial drivers and commercial cyclists. It was also gathered that the party had evolved strategies to woo more students in the state, especially eligible voters into its fold. A source also informed our correspondent that elected public officials of the party had been asked to redouble their empowerment and mass mobilisation drives. The sources described the defeat of Fayemi was a big shock. It was gathered that the party had decided to field only popular candidates and that the party leaders had started having meetings with defected party members with a view to wooing them back to the APC. The APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sulyman Buhari, said the Kwara State election results would not be “rigged, manipulated and announced in PDP’s favour from Abuja.” He also said the party would field only popular candidates in all its elections, adding that every member of the APC was sad that the party lost a state. He said, “We are making efforts to appease some of the APC members that defected to the PDP. Many of those that left are already coming back. I held meetings with two groups few hours ago.”  Lagos The outcome of the Ekiti State governorship election also caused panic among leaders of the APC in Lagos State as the party has held meetings where the implications of the election have been discussed. According to a leader of the party in Lagos, who pleaded anonymity, there have been meetings at different levels in the party where the party’s strategy towards retaining the state in 2015, in spite of threats by the PDP, were discussed. Apparently, one of such was the closed door meeting Governor Babatunde Fashola had with the vice-chairmen of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas at the State House, Marina, on Thursday. Fashola’s comment on the Ekiti election after the meeting was an indication that APC’s chance in Lagos governorship election in February, 2015, must have been a reasonable item of discussion at the meeting. While fielding questions from journalists, Fashola was quoted as saying, “The lessons that are supposedly coming out of Ekiti are frightening lessons for me. Lesson about whether the people of Ekiti are really saying that this is all about money and rice. It must be a very dangerous message to simply suggest that once you give people money, then this is the way it will happen.” A member of the APC, Mr. Gbenga Fakoya, confirmed that the outcome of the Ekiti election underscored the need to make adjustments to the party’s strategy for campaigns. “Before now, we could go to bed and take it for granted that the South-West belonged to the APC; but the Ekiti election has shown us that we can no longer take anything for granted. More work needs to be done. There is no more room for assumption, we need to face reality.” He said after the Ekiti loss, APC leaders had gone back to the drawing board and part of what had been decided was to establish proper internal democracy.  Rivers No doubt, the APC defeat in Ekiti has not only stunned the Rivers APC, it   has made the party to adopt quick measures against similar defeat. A source, who is a strong member of the state APC, told SUNDAY PUNCH that what happened in Ekiti was worrisome and that the outcome of the election meant more works would be done by the APC in the Rivers. The source, who preferred not to be mentioned, explained that despite Fayemi’s good performance, he lost the election because he was not on the ground. “What happened in Ekiti was worrisome to us. But we learnt that Fayemi was not on ground in terms of being close to the voters. Even with the good works he did in the area of people-oriented projects, they said he was not on ground,” the source said. He said the governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, would strategise to put measures in place to ensure APC’s victory in forthcoming elections in the state. Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, attributed the failure of the APC to win in Ekiti State to overconfidence, saying that there was also the lack of relationship between Fayemi and the voting population. He said, “The circumstances in Ekiti and Rivers are not the same. There are very peculiar circumstances. What played out in Ekiti was an issue of overconfidence. “Overconfidence was at the fore, based on performance, and there was no relationship with the voting population. Of course, you know that Nigeria is not yet attuned to the politics of development. People are eager for what will go into their stomach; the issue of stomach infrastructure was not addressed.”

Homosexuality has become rampant in Nollywood— Bishop, Nollywood actor

B ishop Odinaka Duruzor is a Nollywood actor, producer and businessman who has been in the industry long enough to know the pros and cons of the industry. As regards Nollywood, he has seen it all and believes there are things that stink and shouldn’t be, like homosexuality. In this interview with First Person, Bishop takes us through the industry, his own career and the little secrets of the make-believe world. For how long have you been acting? I joined the industry in the late 90s. Actually, I have a platform, Divine Touch Productions, where I work as a production manager. I also act for other productions and even produce my own films. You have produced your own movie? Yes, we are still working on it. What has been your experience in Nollywood? Acting is not something you do just for money, it has to be something you’re passionate about. My friends used to tell me to act, that I would be good at it. But when I started acting, after a while I started working behind the camera as a production manager and that has held me back from acting much. I’m actually a comedian, but most of the movies I’ve done so far are basically epic movies. Can you name some of them? I Go Chop Your Dollar, Dry My Tears, Eagle’s Bride, The Bride and many others. Which is fulfilling, being a cast or crew member? I enjoy both, but I like acting. Have you encountered any challenge in the movie industry? Not really. Though when I joined the industry, I thought I would have an easy ride. I’m not really making waves because I work behind the camera for my brother who is a producer. When you go for auditions, sometimes you make it and sometimes you don’t. I believe that any course you choose to take in life has it’s own challenges. How did you join the industry? One day, I ran into some people shooting a movie around the place I used to live and there was a particular part they needed someone to fill and I volunteered to do it. I was told what to do and they were impressed, so I was given a higher role instead. The director gave me his office address and that was how I started. Can you remember how much you were paid for that role? I wasn’t paid a dime for that particular one. But the first payment I ever received for a role was N15,000, ten years ago. Why did you choose acting? The truth is, whenever I’m with my friends, all they keep telling me is to go and act. And I kept looking for the opportunity to do so, till I got it. Those days, I used to think that actors and actresses have a particular place, a village where they all live, I didn’t know that they live on their own like every day people. The movie industry is a fun place to be, acting gives you joy. Which top actors have you worked with? Geneveive Nnaji, Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Late John Okafor, Ashley Nwosu, Ini Edo, and others. Are you now focusing more on working behind the camera? I’m focusing more on working on my own movie. We’ve shot the movie though the editor is still working on it. What has kept you going all these years? It’s the joy and fun that comes with it. It’s not even the money. I just enjoy acting. Is there anything you don’t really like about Nollywood? Homosexuality and lesbianism has become very rampant in Nollywood. It is not even hidden. They come to woo you without hiding it. Have you had an experience in that regard? Yes, a guy told me he liked me and all that. An actor? Yes, he’s now a producer. How did you handle it? He came to me, told me he liked me, my physique and all that. After a while, he said he wanted to see the size of my manhood. I said “For what!” (Laughs). I thought he was joking, but subsequently, when we hang out or go for shooting, he would try to touch me in a romantic way. I realised that he was serious. When I asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted to have sex with me. He promised me heaven and earth but I refused. That was how it ended. Most actresses complain about being sexually harassed, what’s your opinion on that? It’s not true. If I like you and talk to you, if you agree, fine; if you don’t, I let you be. If you want a favour from me and you give yourself to me, I won’t reject it. It’s a normal thing and it takes the consent of both parties. It’s just that in the past, some fraudulent guys who are not even in the industry used to take advantage of aspiring actresses. They’ll just get an ancient script, show it to them, and tell them to have sex with them for roles in non-existent films. About the movie you’re working on, when is it going to be released? It was shot last month and it will be released this year. It’s a comedy flick featuring Bishop Umoh and other top actors and it’s titled Julius and Caesar.

Read how in Abuja, Boko Haram attacks and the elusive $470 million CCTV cameras

From the 2010 Independence Day car bombing at the Eagles Square to the daring attack on Police Headquarters in 2011, down to the strike on the United Nations building, not forgetting the deadly ThisDay Newspapers’ building attack in 2012, the Nyanya bomb explosion and, of course, Wednesday’s devastating  attacks on Emab Plaza in Abuja, acts of terrorism appear to have permeated  the polity, leaving everyone and every place completely vulnerable. Read the accounts of the blasts and the seemingly defeated efforts to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV), cameras in the major cities of the country. He was more concerned with reeling out the casualty figures. Deadline was fast beckoning in various media houses and a horde of  journalists at the scene had been placed on tenterhooks as they anxiously waited for official statement of the casualty rate from the authorities to authenticate their stories. Behind him were cars, vehicles and other items  which had been reduced to debris. The targeted plaza mainly escaped the attack but not before  having some part torched. Just then, he mounted the culvert in the middle of the road, backing the scene of the deadly bomb blast which smelt like hell to disclose the much awaited information. Accompanied by Mr. Bala Mohammed, the Minister of  the Federal Capital Territory( FCT), he read: “The casualty figure for now is 21 persons and 17 persons injured. If there is any change later on, we will gladly inform you. There are also 17 vehicles that were burnt in the incident. It is also heart warming to note that an arrest has been made and the security agencies will be following up with that arrest.” With the information, Mr. Frank Mba, the Nigeria Police public relations officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, felt his job at that point had been done. But he was seemingly oblivious of one thing more: that Emab and Banex Plazas where the dastardly act occurred on Wednesday evening were just two out of the plethora of shopping malls that liter Abuja, meaning that other could be vulnerable if left insecure. It was not until a  journalist put the question of police preparedness to secure other shopping malls across the city that Mba  said that surveillance would be extended to all plazas and other public places in Abuja to forestall a similar misfortune. Well, that is precisely what the public was expecting to hear and Mba had done his job. Done, the FCT Minister, Mohammed, took the stage. ”Our  security protocol that is being established is to make sure that some minimal security infrastructures are provided in all our public areas. In fact, it is showing from here that they are being enforced but there are certain incidences that may not be avoided and they are so unfortunate,” he stated. To Nigerians who have been following the trend of events, the statement of the two government officials were palatable but not new. In any case, they remained cosmetic in the light of many promises that had trailed similar attacks in the past. Almost, always, government and, indeed, the entire security apparatus assure Nigerians of adequate protection of their lives and property especially in the event of any crisis. Yet, little or no effort is made to realize that. At least, this is the conviction the ordinary Nigerians have. In effect, the bombs keep going off every now and then and,, in most cases, there had been no narrowed traces of the perpetrators. Yet again, the principal responsibility of government is to ensure the welfare and security of life property of the citizenry. At each occurrence, attention would be shifted for a while. There would a cordon off marked with police crime tapes. Heavy police/military presence would be seen. There would be suspension of business activities and vehicular movements, some times, as if the attacker would stage a come back to the scene. In any case, they had done so before even with an increased surveillance: Remember the second Nyanya bomb explosion on May 1, 2014. Yes, when these attacks come fresh, debates of intensified security surveillance would gain acceleration, attempting to reach a crescendo. But that is the sermonisation. Only at the time. When calm eventually returns, life continues until another bomber strikes. That is Nigeria. But in any fairest sense, Mba and Mohammed were not alone in the reassurance sermon. Since last week’s bombing, an avalanche of glowing condemnations, tributes, reassurances and reiterations have been recorded. From Mba to Mohammed down to Marilyn Ogar, the spokesperson of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the reassurances go on. The National Assembly, religious bodies, the EU, UN, foreign missions domiciled in Nigeria and in fact most known private and public institutions have condemned the attack. Of course, who would not. Life was involved. Meanwhile, the chief of all the reassurance at the time of filing this report emanated from Vice President Namadi Sambo who inspected the scene on Thursday. Leaving an impression of usual rhetorics, he:”This cowardly and unjust act will be defeated-evil can never be sustained, Insha Allah. This administration and Mr. President will not leave any stone unturned until we defeat these terrorists. Terrorism cannot survive in Nigeria or in any part of this world.” Retrospectively, the Wednesday attack on Emab Plaza at the high brow area of Wuse 11, Abuja jerks a push into a chronology of bomb explosions that had rocked Abuja in the last  four years and unfulfilled tales of promises by government to halt them. More annoying is the fact that the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera project, billed for installation in Abuja and Lagos, which was started by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s regime and inherited by the present administration, is yet to see the light of day after a large chunk of $470m had been sunk into it. In fact, the completion time was supposed to be July, 2011 but, as at the last time Sunday Vanguard checked, nothing substantial was heard. *Chronology of Abuja bombings, deaths, non-fatal injuries, condemnations and unrealized promises of prevention. The 2010 Independence Day bomb attack Bomb attacks were apparently alien to the residents of Abuja until October 1, 2010 Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. That year’s ceremony was very unique. It was the country’s golden Jubilee and so, the event was loud at the Eagles square, the venue of the event with most dignitaries of the world in attendance. More so, President Goodluck Jonathan had just taken over the mantle of governance a few months before. While the crowd milled at the venue, a car bomb exploded some meters away, killing 12 persons with the record of 17 non-fatal injuries. Later, it was heard that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, led by Mr. Henry Okah was behind the attack. But even though President Jonathan was quick to controversially exonerate MEND whose leader was eventually found guilty and sentenced in South Africa, there were however promises to checkmate and nib the act in the bud. Force Headquarters bomb attack Nigerians were still waiting for government to fulfill its promise when another bomb attack was meted out to the Police Headquarters in Abuja on June 16, 2011. This time suicide bombing. The explosion claimed 6 lives. Sunni Islamist group of Boko Haram later claimed responsibility. Yet again, the government made more promises to stamp out terrorists. Abuja UN building bombing Perhaps, one dastardly bomb attack that got the government and, indeed, the world most rattled was the one  supposedly the most secure United Nations building in Abuja, on Friday, August 26, 2011. This came barely two months after the Police Headquarters was attacked. Twenty-one deaths were recorded in the UN building strike while 73 non-fatal injuries occurred. Hear the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri: “This is not an attack on Nigeria but on the global community. An attack on the world.” Similarly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, described the attack as an ‘assault on those who devote themselves to helping others”. In a statement by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan sent his condolences to Mr. Ban Ki-moon and all those who lost loved ones in the bomb blast. “President Jonathan reaffirms the Federal Government’s total commitment to vigorously combat the incursion of all forms of terrorism into Nigeria, and wishes to reassure all Nigerians and the international community that his Administration will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said. Suspected perpetrators were members of Boko Haram. Government said it was on top of the situation. ThisDay Newspapers attack Hardly had the year 2012 left its first quarter than a bomb ripped through ThisDay newspapers bureau in Abuja. Six persons died while several others were injured. According to ThisDay’s Editorial Board Chairman, Olusegun Adeniyi, “The suicide bomber came in a jeep and security guards opened the gate for him. The guy drove in through the gate and rammed into the building and exploded. Two of our security men died, and obviously the suicide bomber died too.” Boko Haram claimed responsibility just as government reiterated its promise to curb the situation. Nyanya 1 and 2 bomb blasts Indeed, it appeared that the Federal Government did something very unusual that in the whole of 2013, no known terror attacks were recorded in Abuja. But on April 14, 2014, bombers resurfaced at Nyanya, a suburb of the FCT. At the peak period on that Monday morning, they planted a bomb at the popular El-Rufai bus terminal. Over 90 persons were killed while non-fatal injuries figure was put at 200 persons. On the heels of the incident, Jonathan increased surveillance at the place. The president’s spokesman said: “The president was saddened by loss of lives in Nyanya bombing. President Jonathan has ordered heightened security in Abuja following Nyanya bombing. President Jonathan extends his heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. President Jonathan directs the medical services to do their very best to save the lives of those injured in Nyanya bombing,” But the defilement of the security surveillance came again on May 1, 2014, when another coordinated bomb explosion ripped through the same area, killing 12 and leaving 30 injured. Analysts said it was meant to stop the hosting of the World Economic Forum(WEFA) which eventually held between May 7 and 9. Emab Plaza hit Since the last Nyanya blasts, there has been, understandably, an increase in the security systems. It would be recalled that a security alert recently prompted the temporary closure of the major markets in Abuja. But the Wednesday, June 25, 2014 attack on Emab shopping malls where 21 lives were lost and 17 persons seriously wounded has once again put residents on their toes. Resumed talks on CCTV Apart from the attacks at Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, others attacks occurred at various places within the heart of the FCT. This has resurrected concerns about the state of the CCTV cameras in the FCT. Being the seat of power and one of the fastest growing capital cities in the world, not a few Nigerians had expected some security sophistication that would resist terror attacks and also reduce criminalities. But in words and deed, such is between the Boko Haram sect and the Nigerian military. He told Sunday Vanguard that Nigeria must shun politics and tackle the insurgents head on. ”It is really very unfortuate and my heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives during the incident. Of course, this raises a lot of questions about the nature of our security system and apparatus not only in Abuja but in all urban areas and the reality that is dawning on us that the security threat we are facing is becoming real. People like us who are from the north east specifically from Borno State; my constituency is one of the worst hit, it has almost become business as usual. People are trying to live with it and then you can only imagine when you find yourself in a very helpless situation. But as some who has been fully involved in this, the reality is that a lot security infrastructure that need to be put in place is now real that we don’t have it. Let’s wake up to the truth. Forget about the politics. Let’s take ourselves the truth and do what is required now. And it is not now, I am sorry, it may be too late. So, the fact of the matter that today is that security in this time and age is all about intelligence gathering and of course the ability to prevent it. And when you look at these kinds of attacks, they are attacks that can only be avoided by prevention. Once, they have occurred, there is nothing you can do about it. ”I understand CCTV cameras were installed in all the nooks and crannies of Abuja at a point. We saw physical things but it now calls to question whether they were working or not. And I think at a point in time, the issue was raised on the floor of the house that they actually considered not to be working and there was the issue about whether it was not completed. So, I think there is a reason now. You see, this is the issue. When things happen where you are, Nigerians tend to only think about the environment they live and that is all. We should think about all Nigerians. If this thing is happening right in the heart of Abuja, what happens in other places. So, the fact of the matter is that we have to rise up to the realities on the ground. When you declare a state of emergency, it is expected that you abandon everything other thing and concentrate on that matter which you have declared emergency on. There is every need for that. Forget about everything and get the security right. In any case, that is the fundamental principle of government. I may not say here that the government has failed but the truth of the matter is that we have not done the needful.” Bottomline Investigations by Sunday Vanguard in the wake of  the Wednesday’s attack revealed a downward curve in the confidence Abuja residents, nay Nigerians have in the security systems of the country, at least at the moment. There is apprehension in the air with no one knowing when and where the next explosives would be detonated. Analysts agree that though government is not taking any rest in the fight against insurgency in the country, it may not have done enough to protect the citizenry. One of its failures is the non-completion of the CCTV, four years counting. May be, if it is completed, there would be less trips to bomb blast scenes, cemeteries and hospitals just the same way observation of one minute-silence in the honour of the departed, the condemnations, dirges and tributes will cease from pouring in.

INCREDIBLE: Woman gives birth after 14 years pregnancy!

Saturday June 7, 2014, will remain the happiest day in the life of Mercy James. Reason? That was the day she miraculously gave birth to a baby girl after 14 years of being pregnant. The baby was promptly and aptly christined Miracle. And why not? If the mother had delivered at the expected time the child would have been a teenager by now and possibly in secondary school at the JSS 3 level. Mercy, a single parent, said of her ordeal during the 14 years she was pregnant but could not give birth: “When I first took in, I knew that I was pregnant with signs and test that confirmed that I was. Four months later, I went to hospital for another test, the result showed that I wasn’t pregnant, but had fibroid. Subsequently, I began to experience bleeding, at least once a day. Sometimes, my tummy would protrude in the semblance of pregnancy. I went to different hospitals, and I kept on receiving the same result that nothing was wrong with me. But deep down inside , I knew that all was not well with me. Churches and native doctors “So I was taken aback when a midwife told me I was pregnant. But considering the test which showed I had fibroid, I was angry with the midwife for giving me what I felt was a false prophecy of hope. Thereafter, I started going from one church to another and from one native doctor to the other. The results that I got from them all remained the same. I became more feeble and confused that I prayed for death to come. “I went again to the midwife two years after and complained to her about the pains that I was going through, she told me again that it was not fibroid but pregnancy; she advised me to be more prayerful so that God will deliver me from the hands of the devil. I kept on praying and at the same time asking myself that if truly I’m pregnant, why is it that the baby was not kicking? “I bought many concoctions that they said could cure fibroid and drank them. I even drank 12 bottles of a local cleanser but to no avail. This went on for years. Then God took pity on me and decided to wipe my tears. On the day I gave birth to my baby girl, I initially thought that worms were trying to come out of my body not knowing that it was a baby. This was what I told the midwife when we came to her. But after examining me she told me to push. I ignored her. I became unconscious for about 15 minutes and when I regained consciousness, I heard the cry of a baby. I was surprised and confused seeing my baby. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Hmm,I thank God for my life and that of my baby Miracle. I named her Miracle because she is truly a miraculous child”. Miraculous child The midwife at the Celestial Church of Christ, Kadoso Parish, Ajegunle where Mercy gave birth confirmed the development, especially the role she played. The woman who simply gave her name as Mrs Ajetima informed thus: “She was pregnant for 14 years and was unable to give birth during this period. Then on Saturday around 6:30am I saw two persons carrying her to this place. When she came inside, I laid her down and asked one of my daughters to examine her, after the examination, I found out that it was a baby that was about coming out and not worms. I asked her to push and she refused. My daughter gave her a hard slap on her laps since she refused to push. Behold a baby with placenta came out! I started shouting, calling on people to come and see for themselves that Mercy was truly pregnant, because if not, people will start to say that that Celestial woman has given Mercy a baby. Within a twinkle of an eye, the whole place was filled with people. God is wonderful”. Also affirming the happy development, Mercy’s closest friend, Odunayo Odeyemi had this to say: “I have known mercy for over nine years now. I met her with the pregnancy . In fact, she did not know that she was pregnant. I followed her to many places but her problems kept on increasing. Merely looking at Mercy then before she gave birth, you will notice that she wasn’t okay. I kept advising her to have faith in God because I had experienced the same thing. I was pregnant for three years and three months and God delivered me. “Mercy came to me on that fateful day around 4am begging me to give her a pain reliever, that she was having pains all over her body. I dressed up and took her to a man that sells drugs. After taking the drug, on our way home, she started having serious pains. I called her brother and we both took her to the midwife. Hours later, she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. We all were surprised because we never expected such a miracle to happen. She had a complete baby.” Robert Davidson, one of Mercy’s friends, said that he concluded after seeing Mercy with a protruded tummy for three years that she had fibroid. So, “it came to me as a shock to learn that she delivered a bouncing baby girl.” For Chidimma Ibe, a neighbour: “She always complained to me that she had stomach pains all these period. She told me that she had fibroid and sometime, she will complain of different things. She was totally confused as to what her condition was. I’m very much surprised and happy she gave birth to a complete baby girl. It was truly a miracle. God was on her side. God is wonderful because all the concoctions she took were enough to kill the baby.” On the father of Baby Miracle, Mercy informed that they got separated on account of the ordeal that attended her pregnancy. “Friday is the name of my baby’s father. Actually, we are not married. He just proposed to me and I became pregnant for him. He knew about the pregnancy. He always gave me money for tests and scans but he got tired and left me after waiting for me for over a year without seeing any sign of a baby. I have no option than to go my own way,” she informed.

more! - jesus.net/GodsLoveOsaze sparkles, crackles ribs in Obahiagbon style

Super Eagles rave of the moment, Osaze Odemwingie has returned to his tweeting best. This time, he is causing laughter and bringing joy to many instead of his initial arrows that were fired and caught him in the web of missing the World Cup. In tweeting yesterday, Osaze went the way of his Edo-born brother and politician Festus Obahiagbon. Commenting on events at the on-going World Cup where his goal against Bosnia has brightened the way for Eagles progression in the tournament, Osaze wrote; ‘’ “The draw against Iran was the foreset origo that caused some crinkum crankum to be directed at us that was caught in the Bermuda Triangle.” Another one reads: “The state of OGaM ogam was rejected by the eagles with a higi haga style to avoid a calamitous end that brings odoriferous Saga.” On the Eagles’ journey to Porto Alegre, he wrote: “We are about to fly to Porto Alegre to prepare 4 the game vs Argentina. Hope the flight time will not be longer than a period of Ayonai .” Many foreign Journalists were left wondering on which planet he was writing from. Only few of us from Nigeria know where he was coming from. Laughter!