NEW ARTICLE - Is Buhari already confused - Etcetera asks

Singer and writer Etcetera writes on Pres. Buhari and the few weeks he's spent in office as president. Read below...

If there is any group of individuals who can manufacture shock, political punditry out of nothing, it is the All Progressives Congress. They cried out that Jonathan was doing a terrible job as President of Nigeria. They said his inability to run the Federal Government is the reason our country has lapsed into wholesale chaos. He is the reason corruption decimated our population, turned brother against brother. He is the reason our military became weak and our borders constantly breached by Niger, Chad and Cameroonian gendarmes.

 He is the reason our cities have all lost power and we have reclined back into the dark ages. He is the reason why thousands of wild dogs/Boko Haram roam our streets and rip our children apart. With democracy being an institution where we worry about how many people ‘agree’ about certain things, APC must be concerned that Nigerians are actually seeing that Buhari is not the messiah we need. When I wrote that Nigerians shouldn’t celebrate Buhari yet, a lot of his sympathisers reached for my scalp with all types of derogatory vocabularies. 

Now, just a couple of days into his regime and even before the flag is hoisted up the pole, the same people have started singing the same old song that he is too slow. Just like in the time of Jonathan. Why am I not surprised? When I talked about Buhari’s age, they said presiding over the affairs of a country is different from being a bricklayer. Why is Buhari now wishing he was younger? What has “changed” him? Didn’t he know his age before “borrowing” money to acquire the form to contest for president?

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Listening to APC and President Buhari’s excuses of just being in government for only few weeks is like watching a doctor on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ pounding on a patient’s chest until another doctor has to pull him off and say, ‘Sir it’s over!’ That’s what I want to say to President Buhari. Sir, it’s over! We are tired of having president with excuses. You didn’t give us these excuses in any of your campaign speeches. Nigerians, it’s time to move on! There will be other disasters. There will always be presidents with excuses.

The president will cut down the cost of governance. He won’t have as many ministers and advisers like Jonathan. How is approving the appointments of two media aides with the same job description cutting down the cost of governance? What is the difference between a Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) and a Special Adviser (Media and Publicity)?

The issue of applying the rule of law in certain matters of state that demands immediate and urgent attention is not why we voted for Buhari. For Christ’s sake, the country is in dire straits. We are in desperate times as a country and as such, the streets won’t accept these excuses. President Buhari shouldn’t be telling Nigerians that he met an empty treasury. We want to hear of measures his government is taking to recover the stolen funds. This government seems overwhelmed and confused already like what we’ve had in the past.

He should also understand that not having his cabinet in place at this point in time is dangerous. President Buhari should know that he can’t govern this country alone. It will take all hands on deck to get this country back on track. He cannot be the president and the minister of defence and petroleum all by himself. He can’t be at different places at the same time. Being the president of a huge country like Nigeria is different from being the managing director of a business.

One does not “run” the Federal Government. You can run a train and you can run your own small business, but the Federal Government of Nigeria is bigger than the largest enterprises of this world.

Equating any portion of the Federal Government to a business stretches the meaning of metaphor. No business is attacked by other countries or has to deliberately kill people, or has a board of 469 National Assembly members, majority of which are trying to bankrupt the company in order to make the CEO look bad, nor does any company operate within transparency of allowing thousands of journalists to pore over their affairs, or carry your opponent’s opinions as if they were facts, or react to hundreds of lawsuits per day from its own employees, or thousands of lawsuits per day from third parties. No private company is responsible for accomplishing its mission within tens of thousands of laws that deliberately operate against its efficiency.

No private company has a board that authorises spending via commitment of financial resources and then separately approves their payment or its equivalent debt. No business operates from the need to pass legislation in order to change direction, or to accomplish its primary objectives, (environmental safety, energy independence, internet security, university research, election compliance, full employment policies, taxation reform, anti-terrorism, healthcare reform, and intelligence gathering). No organisation has the responsibility to send soldiers to defend its allies or be responsive to the impact that changed laws, policies, and tax provisions have upon other nations, friend and foe alike. And finally, no organisation is responsible for administration and enforcement of tens of thousands of laws, rules, and regulations against millions of separate entities.

Is President Buhari capable of providing direction, implementing a NASS approved budget, prioritising and recommending budget changes, negotiating legislation, submitting qualified candidates for the courts, appointing and supervising staff and cabinet members, including the joint chiefs of the military, and effectively communicating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous issues to the Nigerian public? Absolutely, NO!

PHOTOS - Nigerian Superstar boxer- Gifted Cole, knocked out Mexican champion Yair Agular in round 3 of a 10- round battle

Nigerian Superstar boxer- Gifted Cole, knocked out Mexican champion Yair Agular in round 3 of a 10- round battle that put his World Boxing Federation Title on the line. The referee stopped the fight after Cole sent Agular to the ground with a blow to the body. See the photos after the cut..

Cole, the undefeated Nigerian boxer, currently ranked #13 in the world, is quickly moving to the top ranks and is carving out a name for himself in the boxing world.

Outside of the ring, Cole is also a newly appointed, U.N. Peace Ambassador; consistently giving back to the community through initiatives all over Africa. Please continue to follow #TeamGifted, as he trains to take on his next opponent. Instagram @giftedcole Facebook : Gifted Cole.

Presidency explains why Buhari will only attend Jumaat service at Presidential Villa mosque

Pres. Buhari will henceforth attend Jumaat service only at the Presidential villa mosque. According to a statement released by his media aide, Femi Adesina, yesterday President Buhari decided to say his prayers only at the presidential mosque and not at the Central mosque Abuja so as to avoid the hardship Abuja residents face whenever he needs to drive to the Central Mosque for prayers

"President Muhammadu Buhari participated in today’s Juma’at prayer at the Presidential Villa Mosque. President Buhari did so out of consideration for avoidable hardships imposed on members of the public by road closures and other security measures which Presidential movements to the National Mosque necessitate.
Accordingly, the President has decided that henceforth he will mostly observe the Juma’at prayers with other Muslims at the Presidential Villa Mosque. President Buhari will still join the larger Muslim Community for Friday prayers at the National Mosque and other mosques in Abuja occasionally" the statement in part read.

Former Imo state Governor, Ikedi Ohakim releases Press statement - says his life is in danger

Press statement I just received from the office of former Imo state governor, Ikedi Ohakim.

Following some recent developments around my person and the avalanche of misinformation and deliberate lies being peddled about me, I am constrained to issue this statement, first to douse anxiety of every well-meaning fellow who has shown concern and second, to alert members of the Nigerian public to a clear danger to my life.

NEWSPAPER REPORTS
 On June 1, 2015, I travelled out of the country by LH 595 operated by Lufthansa with seat number 04K to honour a medical appointment and also attend my daughter’s graduation at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. On June 02, 2015, a newspaper posted a headline that I had been apprehended and taken to custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud and misappropriation of public funds.

On inquiry, I discovered that the story was taken to the newspaper in question by an aide of a top politician in my state, Imo. Instructively, the story was carried by only the newspaper in question. A few days later, the same aide of the supposedly top politician took another fake news to some media houses that I sneaked abroad to dispose of my properties because of bankruptcy.

THE PETITION AGAINST ME
 What is playing out began with a petition against me to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the same desperate politician in my state. The petition was written by a group he fabricated that goes by the name, Alliance For Good Governance. Those who are conversant with the politics of Imo state would recall that it was this same group that constituted itself into a vicious gang-up against my administration. It was this group, the Alliance For Good Governance, that sold the lie that I molested a Catholic Priest in Imo state.

It was the same group that carried out the failed public demonstration against me in front of the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja. It was the same group, led by this same politician, that was used by those who were bent on denying me my victory at the April 26, 2011 governorship election, to kidnap an INEC returning officer, one Mr. Ngozi Nwoko, and took him to Bolingo Hotel, Onitsha, Anambra state, where he was locked up, thus preventing him from turning in the results from Ohaji-Egbema local government area which put me in a clear lead. The kidnap of Mr. Nwoko was the first script that led to the so-called supplementary election of May 6, 2011 during which the final script was acted out.

One of the issues raised in the petition was the same carried in similar petitions shortly after I left office four years ago. For example, the petitioners demanded, among other things, that I should be investigated for misappropriating the proceeds from the N18.5billion draw-down from the Imo N40 billion Development Bond which my administration issued in 2010.

Faced with the severe financial crunch of 2008 – 2010, my administration mustered the discipline and secured a N40b Development Bond in 2010 with a first tranche draw-down of N18.5b. Before we left office, we serviced our obligation to investors for the first tranche of the bond to the tune of N10.1b (principal + interest) and we left behind the sum of N13.3 billion from it, being part of the total of N26.6 billion we handed over to the succeeding administration. Up till this moment, the administration that took over from mine has not denied that I left behind N26.6 billion including the N13.3 billion from the Bond proceeds. And on this score, I challenge anybody, whether in government or outside government, to controvert this assertion.

Even so, let me refer to a statement credited to the current administration through its Commissioner for Finance and as reported in the Daily Sun Newspaper of Wednesday January 23, 2013, page 10. The report quoted the Commissioner as saying that “the previous administration of Ikedi Ohakim had secured a bond of N18 billion for capital projects such as roads, water and Oguta Wonder Lake, but when we came to power, we decided to prioritize our projects. Out of the N18 billion that was secured, about N6 billion had been spent and we met only N12.5 billion and we convened a meeting of all stakeholders and got their approval to approach SEC to change the use of the fund”.

The report further stated that the Commissioner disclosed that “the balance of the bond proceeds were channeled into critical areas of infrastructure development such as the building of 305 classroom blocks, building of ultra-modern general hospitals in the 27 local government areas of the state and construction of vital roads across the local government areas, informing that works were currently going simultaneously in the various communities”. Need I say more?

CLONING MY VOICE
 Part of the script is to set me up against the federal authorities especially those manning the security agencies. I have it on good authority that, again, my voice has been cloned in a purported interview I granted to a radio station in which I supposedly lambasted some top federal government officials, including those heading the security agencies. The tape of this fake interview was then handed over to some of these key Federal Government officials.

While I do not necessarily link this development with a recent incident with the EFCC, there can be no doubt that the intention is to put me on a destructive collision course with the federal authorities. But I believe this plot will also fail because those top government functionaries being targeted are not vulnerable to such evil machinations and antics. Still, I feel it is important to alert fellow Nigerians to this practice which is however not new in my state, Imo. Apart from that this method was massively deployed against me prior to the 2011 general election. Another former governor of the state and an elder statesman, also from the state, recently suffered a similar fate in the hands of these criminals using the same trick.

Apart from voice cloning, these elements are also experts in forging signatures. They did it in 2010 when they forged the signatures of a prominent Catholic Archbishop, an Anglican Bishop and other prominent political leaders in the state in a petition against me to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the plot failed because the latter, upon investigation, discovered that the Archbishop, the Bishop and the leaders in question never wrote any petition. The discovery was also to the bewilderment of those highly regarded top clergymen and leaders. I advise other public figures in the entire country to be on the watch because this habit is capable of spreading.

THE DRAMA OF JUNE 18, 2015
 Finally, let me seize this opportunity to make some clarifications over my so called arrest by the EFCC on Thursday June 18 2015. As a law-abiding citizen, I will always make myself available to any investigative agency because I have absolutely nothing to fear. However, let me seize this opportunity to state that it is high time we stopped trying to create disord between vital agencies of government like the EFCC and pubic officers, past or present. The agencies are there to do their jobs. Orchestrating newspaper reports on their legitimate lines of actions gives the erroneous impression that the agencies and their officials are out to witch-hunt. This is unfortunate and, in my view, it is one of the major reasons why there is so much myth about the accountability by public office holders.
On the incident of Thursday, June 18, 2015, I would submit, with the highest sense of responsibility, that the drama was unnecessary. I never evaded invitation by the agency. This can be corroborated by the statement made by the commission’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, as quoted in the media: “We were expecting a former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, today (Wednesday) to come and shed light on some issues in an old case we have been investigating. We are about rounding off the investigation and we need him to clarify some issues but he didn’t show up; he may still come today or tomorrow” (see Daily Sun of Wednesday, June 17, 2015; page 13). So, the question is, if the commission knew or realized that I could still “come today or tomorrow”, why the drama just the following morning?

In other words, the admission that they were still expecting me “today or tomorrow” negates the impression created by a section of the media that I was avoiding arrest. It means that by the time the spokesman made that statement on Wednesday June 17, 2015, I was not yet a subject for arrest; notwithstanding the fact that I was at the headquarters of the commission the same Wednesday, June 17, 2015 to submit a letter asking for more time in view of my health challenges; and which letter was duly acknowledged.

There is no intention here to pitch my words against that of the commission which, as I noted earlier, is doing its legitimate duties. But I am compelled to make this clarification in order to erase the impression that Ikedi Ohakim was evading “arrest”. Let me repeat for the umpteenth time that I have no reason, whatsoever, to evade interrogation by any anti-corruption agency in Nigeria, or anywhere in the world, concerning my tenure as governor of Imo State.

CONCLUSION
Throughout my tenure as governor, we never hunted political opponents. There was no political assassination, no arson, no official of government disappeared. There was no impeachment of any kind or threat of impeachment. No senatorial zone complained of marginalization. No contract failed. No contractor ran away with the state’s funds. There was labour harmony. We never owed salaries as we made payment of salaries a first line charge. In short, there was law and order and Imo worked on one page.

But contrary to the goodwill that existed while I was in office, I have since become an object of attacks and ridicule. Nigerians will recall that on May 15, 2014, directly after I declared interest to re-contest the governorship election of my state, my only house in Owerri was bombed in what was evidently, an attempt to assassinate me. As I write this statement, my portrait is still missing from amongst those of other former governors in a gallery created for that purpose at the Government House, Owerri.

Still, let me state that in spite of the misadventure of some of these elements who see me as their only obstacle to ‘greatness’, I remain committed to the peace, progress and stability of Imo state in particular and Nigeria in general. I have implicit confidence that the vision, dedication, fear of God and honesty of purpose with which I served my people shall vindicate me.
To God Be The Glory.
IKEDI OHAKIM

Rapper Iggy Azalea went wedding dress shopping with James Corden

Rapper Iggy Azalea went wedding dress shopping with James Corden of the late-night TV talk show The Late Late Show with James Corden. Corden asked the rapper during an interview on his show if he could officiate her wedding to Nick Young, to which Iggy agreed, if he became ordained.

Iggy admitted she had already had a meeting with a wedding planner to start organizing the biggest day of her life.

"Do you think you're going to become a Bridezilla?" Corden asked his guest. "No," she replied before spilling some serious details about what she and Young have planned for their big day!

"Nick wants to have R Kelly perform at our wedding so he can sing 'Marry the P---y' at our wedding," she revealed, before adding that she'd already picked out her bridesmaids. "I'm going to have four bridesmaids," she said. "Literally everyone I'm friends with. Demi Lovato's going to be one of my bridesmaids," she added.

All the talk of weddings was too much for Corden to handle, so he pulled over at a bridal shop and offered Azalea the chance to try on a wedding dress for the first time.

"Are we going to push 'em up or let 'em rest?" the cheeky British show host asked, about Azalea's plans for her breasts. "Let 'em rest," she replied, adding that shopping for dresses was "always hard when I have a big butt!"

Popular Rapper "LP" graduates from University of Port Harcourt and shares convocational photos via @LPlicencepoet

Popular Rapper "LP"   shared some photos from his convocational ceremony in University of Port Harcourt. The Theatre Art graduate took to twitter to express his gratitude to God Almighty and to all his fans for their positive contribution towards his music career.  His tweet reads

"All thanks to God Almighty for bringing me this far. I am so grateful to all my fans for their positive contribution towards my music career" via @LPlicencePoet

Rumuor has it that LP the mee nganga   crooner will be relocating to New York City after the release of his new singles Ina-Chimochi and his latest collabo in  The Clone with  rap legend MI_Abaga.

See photos below.

 

For music promo / hypes

Contact Street2Fame on

Tel: +2348181964195 

(BBM  273664C3)

Pastor calls for jail term for women who call God's name during sex

Dr. John Hagee, the founder and senior pastor of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, not only agrees with what the Bible says, but also takes the faith to a higher level.

One of the things that the Bible has consistently denounced is the taking of the Lord’s name in vain. Speaking exclusively with Newslo, Hagee stated that ;in this world of crimes and deaths that
surround us, a simple blasphemy does not get that much attention when it should.”

"Saying the Lord’s name in vain might seem petite and insignificant compared to some of the things that are going on in the world right now, even in churches all across America. But, that’s precisely the problem. If the shepherds of a faith start doing wrong, what is the flock supposed to do? Follow in their footsteps? I don’t think so. The flock needs to get its bearings and start thinking for itself. 

But, nowadays you have people committing sin everywhere you look, including Houses of God, which are the holiest of places.”

Asked how the situation could be corrected, Hagee replied:

“Well, we’d have to start with ourselves, as with everything in life. If you’re asking about my personal opinion, there is no greater sin in terms of wrongly using God’s name than women who use it during sex. That is one of the filthiest, most derogatory and sinful uses of the Lord’s name I can think of. If it were up to me, I would put every single woman or girl who does that in jail. That would be a fine example of God’s wrath aimed at what is, in my opinion, a terrible misuse of our Maker’s good name''.

Source: Newslo

Actress Regina Askia Williams shares new photos

The former beauty and actress is now living happily in the US with her husband and children. More photos after the cut...

Photos: Ras Kimono and daughter perform on stage together

Legendary reggae artiste Ras Kimono performed alongside his daughter, Oge Kimono last night at Afropolitan Vibe, a live music concert series held in Lagos. The 'Under Pressure' crooner is a father of five children. Oge is his first daughter. Another pic after the cut..

Rihanna surpasses Beyonce

Not only has Rihanna sold more records than Beyonce (She's in the top5 highest selling female artists of time) she has now surpassed Beyonce with the most No.1 hits on Billboard's Dance Club chart

From Billboard Magazine

Rihanna reigns atop Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart (dated June 27) for the 23rd time with "Bitch Better Have My Money" (2-1). With her latest leader, she eclipses Beyonce (22 No. 1s), who last topped the chart in February with "7/11." 

Rihanna now trails only Madonna (45) for the most No. 1s in the chart's nearly 39-year history, dating to its inception as a national survey in 1976.

Rapper "LP" shared photos from his convocational ceremony as he graduates from University of Port Harcourt | SEE PHOTOS @LPlincencePoet

Popular Rapper "LP"   shared some photos from his convocational ceremony in University of Port Harcourt. The Theatre Art graduate took to twitter to express his gratitude to God Almighty and to all his fans for their positive contribution towards his music career.  His tweet reads

"All thanks to God Almighty for bringing me this far. I am so grateful to all my fans for their positive contribution towards my music career" via @LPlicencePoet

Rumuor has it that LP the mee nganga   crooner will be relocating to New York City after the release of his new singles Ina-Chimochi and his latest collabo in  The Clone with  rap legend MI_Abaga.

See photos below.

 

For music promo / hypes

Contact Street2Fame on

Tel: +2348181964195 

(BBM  273664C3)

[NEW MUSIC] @pumpinigunugun Pumpin Jay - Igunugun Binu (Prod. Don Jazzy)

Indigenous rapper PUMPIN JAY is back again, but this time he drop punchlines on the beat produced by Don Jazzy, attacking wack rappers in the music industry. Probably some wack rappers my choose to quit music after listening to Igunugun Binu by Pumpin Jay.  Download, listen and share. 

DOWNLOAD HERE 

For music promo / hypes

Contact Street2Fame on

Tel: +2348181964195 

(BBM  273664C3)

Photo: Single mum arrested by NDLEA for inserting heroin in private part

This single mother pictured above was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency after heroin was found inside her private part. The info was passed on via NDLEA Twitter handle

Donald Trump wants Oprah Winfrey as his running mate

Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he was running for US President. And now he says he wants talkshow legend Oprah Winfrey as his running mate. In an interview on ABC News, the billionaire businessman was asked who he would like as a running mate and he replied,

"I think Oprah would be great. I'd love to have Oprah. I think we'd win easily, actually."

Oprah has not responded.

Karrueche got a new man, now dating Manchester United footballer Memphis Depay and he's cuter than Chris Brown

Manchester United footballer Memphis Depay shared this photo of himself with Karrueche Tran on his instagram page and tongues are now wagging that the two are dating. Depay, who is from Holland and just 21, (Kae is 27) recently agreed a deal with  Man U worth £25million. He's not only cute, he's also loaded. The two are currently in Miami. See photos of hot Memphis after the cut...

Photos: President Buhari in Katsina for Ramadan

President Buhari is in his home state of Katsine for Ramadan. See more photos after the cut...