Baby disappears during naming ceremony in Ogun state

An eight month old baby identified as Hezekiah Opeyemi Ogundele mysteriously disappeared during a naming ceremony held at Inuosegba community in Abeokuta Ogun state yesterday July 26th.

According to The Nation, Hezekiah's brother had taken the baby to the naming ceremony and within minutes, the toddler disappeared. A search party was immediately formed but they were unable to find the baby. What they found instead was a building close to the venue of the ceremony where items suspected to be severed human wrist, school pupils’ bags and uniforms were found.

But for the timely intervention of the operatives the Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the enraged crowd were bent on bringing down the building. The little boy has still not been found.

Presidency, Boko Haram reportedly begin negotiations

There are reports that the presidency has started negotiations with Boko Haram. This comes a week after president Buhari told CNN's Christine Amanpour that his govt will negotiate with the terrorist sect for the release of Chibok girls if they are assured of the credibility of the leadership of the sect they will be negotiating with.

The Nation reports that some confidants of the presidency and leaders of the sect group are doing the negotiations.

A source who spoke on the recent development said

“The President’s appeal for peace in the Northeast is yielding dividends because a fresh facilitation of talks between the Presidency and Boko Haram has started. This latest negotiation, which is at the preliminary stage, is being promoted by some mutual confidants of the Presidency and Boko Haram. The new deal may lead to the release of some Chibok girls to set the tone for a comprehensive negotiation by both sides. The President is extremely cautious on this offer of negotiation. Buhari has ordered security agencies to screen or certify those Boko Haram commanders interested in facilitating this latest negotiation to ensure that they are bonafide leaders of the sect. The position of the President is that why he is not averse to a peace deal, the Federal Government must avoid the costly mistakes of the past which led to a waste of time and huge resources. The President wants the release of the Chibok girls and quick restoration of peace to the Northeast; he is ready to negotiate with the right people for sustainable results.”

But there are strong indications that the leader of the sect, Imam Abubakar Shekau, is yet to be involved in the new deal.

"I think we are still at the preliminary stage. At the right time, there is a way the negotiation offer will be forwarded to their leader. But the fact that some Boko Haram commanders, whom US placed ransom upon, might be part of the negotiation shows that the crisis can be resolved, if all hands are on deck, “ another source said.

Catch the summer train at Divine Offspring summer school in Lagos

Looking for creative and constructive ways to engage your child/children during the summer holidays? Or you are just not satisfied with their present school’s academic standard and desire an improvement?

Well on the 3rd of August Divine Offspring summer school program kicks off. Our goal & objective is simple Skill acquisition programs:

Through our skill acquisition program, your child is sure to learn new and exciting skills like music, photography, Junior innovators(they make electrical objects), chess, Arts& craft, Information Technology(at least 4 computer programs), face painting for nursery, games, storytelling, Swimming etc. In one month we hope to provide your child a solid foundation to mastering these skills and an opportunity to master them if they join us for the new session. Skill acquisition remains a focal program of Divine offspring school.

Our goal is to develop a totally self-reliant child Academic Preparation for the new class: As a school obsessively focused on academic excellence, our summer school presents us an opportunity to bridge the gap on children lagging behind academically.

We also simultaneously lay an academic foundation for your child when he/she transits to the next class. Our summer school program covers children within the age range of 1yr 6months - 11 years old. Our fees remain very affordable and flexible payment plans are accepted. Our schools are located at No 15 Olaribiro street off Allen Avenue Ikeja by Ecobank Busstop No 120 Adeniyi jones by Vulcanizer Busstop Ikeja.

Visit our website at www.divineoffspringschool.org to find out more.

You can also call 08036587800 or 08089479139

BB PIN: 7E35F134

You can also send messages through whatsapp on any of the numbers above.

SAD!!! Whitney Houston Daughter, Bobbi-Kris Dies at 22

This is so sad… the only child of late superstar singer, Whitney Houston, Bobbi-Kristina Brown has passed away at a very young age of 22…

According to a statement by a representative of the Houston family :

“Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away Sunday, July, 26 2015, surrounded by her family,” the statement said. “She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months.”

She was treated in a hospital and then a hospice facility in the nearly six months since she was found unresponsive and not breathing in the bathtub at her Roswell home on January 31 — nearly three years to the day after her mother accidentally drowned in a bathtub in Beverly Hills.
Police have said that they investigated the case as a medical emergency and that no foul play is suspected. No criminal charges have ever been brought.
But late last month, Brown’s conservator sued Nick Gordon — who has been described as Brown’s boyfriend and husband, an attachment her family denies — for $10 million, accusing him of having physically abused Brown and having improperly withdrawn $11,000 from her bank account after she was in a coma.
May her soul rest in peace… AMEN.

Why Buhari didn’t appoint Igbos as Service Chiefs — Oyegun

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been on the hot seat since his party emerged as the ruling party in Nigeria. Seeing the former Permanent Secretary, last week, at his residence in GRA, Benin-City, you will behold a troubled man. He bared his mind on the leadership crisis in the National Assembly.
According to him, those accusing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of being slow are unfair. Oyegun also spoke on other national issues. Excerpts:

People are complaining that this APC government is slow. What is happening?

No, I don’t think the government is slow. Like I always say, we are not talking of 16 years, we are talking of over 50 years. Since independence, this country has been ruled by the same tendencies. So, it is good to go with deliberate speed, deliberate steps, make as few mistakes as you can  in the appointment that will come. So, I think that process is nearing the end now. As you can see, appointments are being rolled out, the activities people thought were slow are taking place, even the implementation of some aspects of the program of the party that we promised are already underway.

I think all that is left now is the list of the ministerial appointees and it will come out anytime from now and we will be up and running. So, there is the need for us to be cautious, given the fact that this is our first experience in governance. There is the need to be careful given a totally different nature of our manifesto and the social welfare promises that were made to the people to be sure that those the president wants to bring in to execute these policies, which are dramatically different from anything we have experienced before, are also dramatically different, they understand what is required to be done, are passionate about what is required to be done and have ideas about what is required to be done. Once  prime appointments are settled, things will move. The issue of insecurity is being addressed, the war on corruption has started in various parastatals; the government is already very well on steam.

Are we going to see technocrats or politicians in the cabinet?

It will be a mixture of technocrats and politicians. There are politicians who are technocrats, we seem to forget that, but it will be a fair mix.

- See more at: http://www.gistpost.com/2015/07/why-buhari-didnt-appoint-igbos-as.html#sthash.1VAxAJ4K.dpuf

If Buhari is sincere in his fight against corruption, let him probe Amaechi’s government - Wike

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike says if President Buhari was really serious about his fight against corruption, he must start by probing the administration of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi. The governor gave the charge in a statement released and signed by his special adviser on media and publicity Opunabo Inko-Tariah today July 26th. The governor added that an appointment of Rotimi Amaechi by Buhari will be an endorsement of corruption ..

“If Buhari is sincere in his fight against corruption, let him probe the Amaechi’s government and he will discover that there cannot be a government official that is more corrupt than Amaechi. From the genesis to revelation of his government, Amaechi’s fiscal recklessness and dictatorial policies and approaches are responsible for the financial woes of the state that should ordinarily be buoyant. A man like Amaechi must not be allowed to flaunt the fruits of his crime with impunity. He has to account for the monthly allocations he received in 8 years and the IGRs for the same period. He spirited so much out of the system with little or nothing to show for it.

The appointment of Amaechi by Buhari will be an endorsement of corruption by Buhari. If there are no skeletons in his cupboard, why try to frustrate the Hon Justice Omereji’s commission of inquiry? This obviates the need for further evidence that his hands are dirty. After all, he started and ended his reign with the late Justice Kayode Esho’s panel and the Prof Odinkalu’s commission of inquiry respectively -not to talk of that headed by Justice B A Georgewill. Do unto others, what you want others to do unto you’, our Lord Jesus admonished my brother Knight, Amaechi.

The attempt to stop the Hon Justice Omereji’s Commission of Inquiry from investigating his government is not only risible but shameful and highly provocative. It is ironical that the same man who sealed the judiciary for close to two years and turned lawyers into taxi drivers and artisans will now have the gumption to approach the same courts he desecrated for justice. If his successor had followed his footsteps, which court would he have approached to seek redress? How will he appear before those he almost turned into beggars? As a result of his callous and insensitive actions, most lawyers had broken homes as they could not sustain their families. Some even lost their loved ones in hospitals for lack of money to buy needed drugs.”.

Photos: D'banj, Obasanjo attend 25th coronation anniversary of the Akarigbo of Remoland

The event had in attendance, Vice President, Prof Osinbajo, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Dbanj and many more. More photos after the cut...

Lol. Nigerian twitter reacts to Rochas/Obama billboard in Owerri

Yesterday, a billboard of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha shaking hands with US president Barack Obama, surfaced in Owerri  - and Nigerians found it both hilarious and annoying. See some reactions after the cut...

Dakore Akande fab in monochrome dress as she steps out with her family

That's monochrome, abi? Me I don't know fashion...but lovely looking family. Another pic after the cut

Nigerian army release photos of seized arms and Boko Haram properties after it recaptured Dikwa

The Nigerian army today released photos of burnt cars and weapons seized form Boko Haram members after it recaptured of Dikwa town in Borno state today last week. Continue to see more photos...

Stephen Keshi demands N1billion compensation from NFF

Sacked Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is demanding N1billion compensation from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for defaming him. According to Vanguard, Keshi has dragged the NFF to court for “wrongful dismissal and defamation”. A top source told said

“Keshi’s lawyers have demanded for a billion Naira from the NFF as compensation for defaming their client.”

A letter from Keshi's lawyers was sent to NFF on Friday July 24th. Keshi was sacked by the NFF on July 5 just four months after he'd signed a new two-year contract to coach the Super Eagles.

Shark kills diver while daughter watches in horror

A large shark attacked and killed a man who was diving with his daughter off the coast of Maria Island in Tasmania, Australia. The man, who was in his late 40s and his daughter, who is in her 20s, were diving for scallops from a small dinghy Saturday morning when the fatal attack took place, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The woman had returned to the boat while her father continued to collect scallops underwater, David Wiss, an inspector with the Tasmania police, told reporters during a press conference.

"His daughter became worried and went down and checked on her father when]she saw a very large shark, she saw her father being attacked by the shark," Wiss said.

The woman resurfaced from an estimated depth of 39 feet and set off a flare to alert other boaters in the area, who came to help.

"They pulled up the man using the air hose that he was attached to," Wiss told reporters, "but unfortunately he was fatally injured."

The victim's daughter was "deeply traumatized," according to Wiss, and could only describe the shark as "large."

Witnesses reported sightings of a 15-foot great white shark in the area on Friday, a Maria Island senior ranger told The Examiner.

Sharks are not common in those waters, said John Hammond, president of the Scallop Fishermen's Association of Tasmania, which regulates scallop fishing in the area. Other divers were also in the water at the time of the attack, he said.

"It is really shallow, sheltered water," Hammond. "It used to be traditional scallop ground... It is an absolute tragedy."

Tasmanian senator Peter Whish-Wilson said that the event was a "terrible tragedy," but asked the public to stay calm.

"There have only been five fatal shark attacks in Tasmania since convict times," Whish-Wilson said. “Over time people will be calling for sharks to be killed. While it’s tragic news, we want to keep a couple of things in perspective.”

The Guardian