Daily Digest Online

Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida has revealed that he had intended to make Chief Moshood Abiola head of the Interim National Government, ING, after he, IBB, had annulled the June 1993 election. This is contained in a book, Ibrahim Babangida: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria, written by Dan Agbese, editor-in-chief of the defunct Newswatch magazine. Babangida, in an interview, told Agbese that he had wanted to make Abiola the chairman of the Transitional Council because he believed he (Abiola) 'enjoyed tremendous political goodwill.' He, however, claimed that his colleagues on the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the country's highest decision making body at the time, opposed the choice of Abiola to head the council. Instead, they agreed to accept him as a member of the council. 'Left to me, I wanted to make him the chairman..." says the former dictator.

Although there is corruption in some sectors of the Nigerian government, the situation is not as bad as is being portrayed, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday during his fifth presidential media chat. While speaking on corruption, Mr. Jonathan said his government was winning the war against corruption, and that the perception people had about corruption in Nigeria was exaggerated. Said he: “Perception is different from reality...” The latest Transparency International, TI, rating placed Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. But President Jonathan has argued that the global perception about Nigeria’s corruption was influenced by continuous Nigerian media reports and those by civil society groups in the country. The president claimed that corruption in the country was still at a tolerable level, even as there are several corruption allegations against officials of his administration. While speaking on other efforts being made to t...

   Niger-Delta militant-turned activist, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, will have to tell Nigerians when he became Chariman of INEC, or if he is holding brief for the electoral body... When he speaks, he has to clearify if he is speaking for himself, for the presidenty or for the entire Niger-Delta region... How can he be certain that GEJ has already won the 2015 general elections? an elction that's still 2 years away?! In any case, Dokubo has said emphatically that President “Jonathan has already won." Okay, guess we have to wait and see... Ho READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/48455.html

Opposition Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has come out to warn Nigerians that the ruling PDP has already concluded plans to rig the 2015 general elections. In a statement issued in Lagos today by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the strategy of the PDP to rig includes suppression of votes in areas where the President's chances are slim, using the police and the military. According to APC, the PDP and the Presidency also plan to use what they have tagged a ‘Third Force’ to:     •    Bamboozle Nigerians and project the image of a performing Presidency, even when they admit that the current public perception of the government is less than salutary because of its weakness and lack of vision;     •    Engage in the destabilization of the APC using moles and fifth columnists;     •    Instigate chaos in the South-West using w...

Notable celebrities were present on Wednesday as Nollywood actress Rukky Sanda premiered her movie, Keeping My Man, at  Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi. The movie follows the love story of three couples; how they are able to go through heartbreak and non intimacy. Rukky looked elegant in a Sherri Hill strapless cream gown from the label’s Fall 2013 Collection. Congrats, Rukky! Photos:

                                                                                                                                                                    If so, have they used these missile to carry out any attack? We have so far not heard any reports from Nigerian authorities to confirm that Boko Haram has used any such weapons, at least not from the military on ground. Now, not only has Boko Haram been linked to al Shababa, the group behind Kenyan mall attack, there are reports from the US that the Nigerian Islamic sect may have anti-aircraft missiles. We hope, for...

   Chairman of the new Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has unequivocally condemned the rape of the country’s economy by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's administration. He said that despite claims to the contrary by the government in a futile bid to deceive Nigerians, the overwhelming evidence is that the Nigerian economy has been run aground and is now comatose. The assertions are contained in a statement issued by the faction in Abuja, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, drawing attention to the massive scale of officially-induced oil theft, the dwindling returns from oil and massive looting going on at the federal level as evidence that Nigeria is on the brink of economic collapse. I think Baraje knows what he's talking about...he was one of 'them'. *wink*                          ...

 Nobel Lauret, Prof. Wole Soyinka and other international writers have held a tribute to honor one of their own, late Prof Kofi Awoonor, who was one of the victims of last week's Kenyan Mall terror attack. Prof. Soyinka, while delivering his speech, said that he had been invited to Kenya alongside his late friend, Kofi Awoonor, hinting that he might have been in the mall as well, had he honoured the invitation.  According to Soyinka: "I am certain there are others who, like me, received invitations to the recent edition of the Storymoja/Hay Literature Festival in Nairobi, but could not attend. My absence was particularly regrettable, because I had planned to make up for my failure to turn up for the immediate prior edition. Participant or absentee however, this is one edition we shall not soon forget. "It was at least two days after the listing of Kofi Awoonor among the victims that I even recollected the fact that the Festival was ongoing at that very time...

  According to reports from Saminaka in Lere local government area of Kaduna State, there were a series of bomb explosions and shootings that lasted throughout the night till the early hours of today. The explosions and shootings were reportedly carried out by suspected gunmen believed to be insurgents while other versions has it that it was an armed robbery attack on two commercial banks in the area. Saminaka shares boundaries with Bauchi, Plateau and Kano states, and it lies in a heavily forested area said to be a terrorists den. The area has served as a safe passage for insurgents and violent criminals crossing from Bauchi to Southern Kaduna and other parts of northern Nigeria. Already, soldiers have been deployed to the town to fight the attackers.                                    ...

 A man was this morning killed by a train at Ohodi area of Lagos. According to eyewitnesses, the train was coming from Agege and heading to Oshodi, but the accident occurred around the Bolade area. There were conflicting statements as to how the accident happened, some said the man purposely jumped in front of the train, a suicide perhaps, while others insist he was trying to hurry across the track to the other side when he was run over by the speeding train, which cut him in half from the waist! So unfortunate...Not the first. Perhaps there has to be some form of control and security of the railway to forestall future occurrences... News Credit: Linda Ikeji

                                                                  The White Widow  This may have come as a surprise to many, but I kinda expected it...Yes, I had a hunch that there must be a 'Nigerian connection' to the Kenya's Terror attack last week...somehow.   And now, here we have it: According to the UK Daily Mirror, Samantha Lewthwaite, the British woman known as the “White Widow” accused of masterminding the Kenyan shopping mall massacre that left 68 people dead and over 170 injured was in Nigeria sometime ago and evaded detection.    And, as expected of the British, they have named Nigeria as complicit in the dastardly event in K...

                                                                  Governor Fashola  Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has tendered his apology to the Igbos over the deportation of destitute from the state a few months back. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the Silver Jubilee anniversary of 'Aka Ikenga', an Igbo social-cultural group in Lagos yesterday, Thursday Sept. 26th, Gov. Fashola tendered an unreserved apology, saying of the Igbos, "...they are my kindred."   Here him: “The truth is that I do not have a problem with the Igbos, they know that because the largest herd of cattle I received during my father’s burial came from the Ndigbo . Those people who came under their many colours are not people I have a problem with, they are my kindred and my people...To those people, I owe an explan...

Nigeria's pop sensation, the OBO himself, DavidO and his gang hung out with football maestro and Chelsea Big Boy, Samuel Eto'o, over the weekend in London. No doubt, Eto'o must be a fan of DavidO's...                                    Here, the two big stars shows off their Rolex wristwatch...Nice!                                                            DavidO's crew and Eto'o

  Former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, has described former Police IG, Mike Okiro, as not only corrupt but a shameless liar...Ooops!   According to Ribadu, former Delta State governor now in incaceration, Chief James Ibori had actually pulled the string for Okiro to secure the Police top job, a claim that Okiro had denied stroingly. Continuing, Ribadu said it was the same “shameless method of desperate lobbying” that the former IGP, whom he described as “a chronic political jobber and sycophant of the first order”, used in securing appointments as Chief Security Officer to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and later as Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC. The former EFCC boss, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, had told a London court that Mr. Ibori was instrumental to Mr. Okiro’s appointment as IGP, a claim Mr. Okiro debunked, accusing the former EFCC boss of falsehood. On the allegation that he (Ribadu) ...

 Okay, some 'humongous' spending there on food, drinks, and frivolities, abi? But this was revealed by the Lagos State governor himself, Babatunde Fashola. According to the governor, more than N36 billion was spent annually by Lagos residents in organizing different social events. According to him, “this was the study of night life carried out by the government in five local governments including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye and Ikeja and another local government. It showed that more than N36 billion was spent on 1555 parties held within the period. “We did a study between October and November last year, we took just five local governments in Lagos; Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another one. “We studied from Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, three days every week for four weeks which was 12 nights. “In 12 nights, 1555 parties were held in these local governments. In terms of drinks, food and all other engagements during such parties, about...

...Requires N4.5m for corrective surgery in India This young boy, Uchenna Ekezie, was born with what is described in medical parlance as maldeveloped external genitalia. In  lay terms, he has no  visible external male reproductive organs. Since birth, therefore, Uchenna cannot urinate normally, and there's no chance of him fathering children in future, if his condition is not corrected. Uchenna hails from Umuariam Obowo LGA of ImoState. he has undergone series of major surgeries at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. But he yet requires a total of N4.5 million to undergo two more outstanding surgeries  to complete his restoration. The first surgery is for correction of the continuous dripping of urine, while the second surgery is for elongation of the rudimentary stump. A medical evaluation by an IndianHospital in Abuja  sent to FortisEscortsHospital, New delhi, India, from the Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, QueenElizabethHo...

Another plane crash was averted yesterday, when a Dana Air flight 356 from Abuja to Lagos which landed miraculously at 7:30pm at MM2 airport Lagos. It was reported that the plane lost its right engine mid air, 30 minutes to Lagos.  Fortunately, the solo engine was able to manage a safe landing, unlike the unfortunate Iju incident, where the plane, a DANA if you recall (!) lost both engines and crashed, killing everyone on board.   A close one there! Thank goodness... We hope these plane companies will ALWAYS ensure their aircraft are ALWAYS in top form before takeoff...

  As Nigeria's music Superstar marks another milestone, birthday wishes from his fans have not stopped pouring in. And here's the birthday message he got from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar:  And from all of us here, happy birthday, TUBABA!!!

                                                                          Some unknown gunmen dressed in military clothes, this morning, Friday September 20 stormed an uncompleted building in the FCT, Abuja, killing over 20 people who were said to be occupants of the building.   Residents in the area said that at about 12:30am there were several sporadic gunshots which lasted throughout the night from 12:30 am, causing panic in the area. Although the number of lives lost in the massacre has not yet been confirmed, over 20 people are feared dead. Another unfortunate developments, people...   READ MORE:...

Reports have confirmed that the death toll of Boko Haram's Tuesday attack on Beneshiek town has risen to 87 and over 50 buildings burnt. Contrary to earlier reports of a lower figure of casualties, an official of Borno State Environment Protection Agency, Mallam Saidu Yakubu, confirmed yesterday, September 19, that “87 bodies were recovered in the bush and our people are still searching for more.” It will be recalled that the terrorist who carried out this dastardly act were dressed in military uniforms and armed with high-powered ammunition and assault rifles. Sad development there. We wish the government well in their efforts to curb terrorism in Nigeria. READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/47643.html

  As men of the underworld who take delight in kidnapping for ransom now target high-profile victims, the State Security Service (SSS), yesterday paraded two suspects, Hamza Abubakar and Lawrence Okoro Dennis, over a plot to kidnap one of the daughters of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The two men had reportedly met in a jail, where they served time together. Following their meeting, they were said to have planned to kidnap and detain the late president’s daughter in Zuba, at the residence of an acquaintance to Dennis. The two admitted being guilty of the charge preferred against them. Talk about being unrepentant...two men met in jail and decides to kidnap, while serving time?! Well done, SSS, good job!

Kidnapped human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome has breathed the air of freedom as his abductors has finally released him. The respected lawyer spent almost 20 days in captivity. Although the kidnappers had insisted on a N100m ransom, it is not certain how much was eventually paid for Ozekhome's release. I'm certain that Chief Ozekhome would have much to say about his experience as time goes on. and we hope that our security agencies would sit up and stem this ugly tide of kidnapping and hostage-taking in out country.  READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46913.html

It's the wedding bells again, this time chiming for funny man, Ushbebe, real name Justice Nuagbe, and his sweetheart, Annette Osa-Agbontaen. Their traditional wedding will hold in October while the white wedding will hold sometime in November. From me, cheers and congrats!!!

So, the acrimony raging between Her Excellency, Bianca Ono-Ojukwu and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode is far from over, as the former beauty queen and serving ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, may have instituted a court case against Chief Fani-Kayode, over the latter's open remark that she, Bianca, had been 'intimate' with him. Following the shocked denial from Bianca that greeted that 'confession', Femi came out last week to tender unreserved apology. Bianca has however rejected Femi's apology,, and there are indications that the whole episode is about becoming a legal battle. According to Bianca through her lawyers, Femi's apology is not satisfactory. But incensed by Bianca's posture, Femi has fired back, insisiting that his remark about having an intimate relationship with Bianca was true, and that he too would seek legal redress if Bianca pursues the path of war. Read Chief Fani-Kayode's  statement below: Femi Fani Kayode's stat...

No doubt the P-Square duo are wonderful entertainers, great on stage and off stage, great dancers, too...But what in the world was Peter, who I admire, by the way, doing sharing his 'thing' with the ladies. Allowing the energy from the screaming crowd get to him, Peter loses inhibition and lets the girls touch his, his...whatever...Wonder what Lola has to say about this 'unwholesome' show of love to the fans... Not so cool, Peter *wink*

  I love  Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon. I love  his sense of humor, his grammar, and how he always has a way of getting us to listen when he speaks. Below is excerpt from an interview the former lawmaker granted Stella Dimoko Korkus. Quite...interesting. And good luck trying to understanding what Hon. Patrick was saying:   Why do you always speak ‘big grammar’? I am not really consensus ad idem with those who opine that my idiolect is advertently obfuscative. No no no, it’s just that I am in my elements when the colloquy has to do with the pax nigeriana of our dreams and one necessarily needs to fulminate against the alcibiadian modus vivendi of our prebendal political class. How do you talk to your wife, children and even your friends?  I relate with my family and friends very warmly and in an atmosphere of camaraderie, stripped of my confutational habiliment and gladiatorial homilies. I am a very peaceful, calm, level-headed and celestially attun...

It is never a delight to eat one's humble pie, as Former Minister of the Federal Republic, Femi Fani-Kayode will quickly tell you. Following controversies, denials and outrage that was stirred by his comment a while back, that he had been in an 'intimate relationship' with former beauty queen and widow of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ono in the '80s, Chief Fani-Kayode has come out to retract that statement. In a statement released through his lawyer, Rotimi Akinola, on Thursday, Mr. Fani-Kayode simply accepted that he erred by making the comment. he however when on to say that it was “bizarre, absurd and inexplicable” that the wife of the late Biafran warlord...claimed they were never acquainted." Okay, that's settled, we hope... READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46396.html

Super Eagle coach, Stephen Keshi, had better watch out, as Malawi's technical adviser Tom Saintfiet has vowed to explore loopholes and weaknesses in the Eagles' line-up when the two teams clash on Saturday. While admitting the the Super Eagles, reigning champions of Africa, would be a tough nut to crack for his relatively young teams, the Belgian said, "the match against the Super Eagles is not do or die affair for us. We have prepared well for this match and have an equal chance of winning the game. I believe the pressure is on Nigeria. But we will try and surprise everybody by playing a great game against Nigeria on Saturday," adding that, "The Nigerian team has a lot of strength and quality in front of goal and are very good in the air and they can score from set pieces too.Despite this, the Nigerian team also has some weaknesses and we are going to use that against them,”. Okay, Keshi, the ball, as they say, is in your court. READ MORE:  http:/...

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to commence attacks by first of October. The militant organization has thus advised oil companies operationg in the are to evacuate their Tank Farm in Escravos as it is one of the targeted spots when hostility commences. A statement released by the militant group said in part: "...The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta is so far satisfied with the steady destructive progress of ‘Hurricane Exodus’ which has reduced Nigeria’s oil output significantly through our sustained sabotage of pipelines...We use this medium to advice workers at the Chevron Tank Farm in Escravos to evacuate the premises as mortar attacks are imminent on Tuesday, October 01, 2013 from 00:01Hrs Nigerian time.” We hope security agencies and the government will take this threat seriously. 'Nough said! WE READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46377.html

It seems all is set for a legal battle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the breakaway faction of the party, led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, as the chairman of the PDP has instituted a court case against some of the rival National Executive officials of the faction at an Abuja High Court. In Tukur’s suit instituted at the Abuja High Court, the applicants ask the court to jail Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the other members of the faction for contempt. Speaking on the matter, counsel to Tukur, Ajibola Oluyede, also stated that a similar lawsuit had also been filed by the PDP before a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, asking it to throw out the suit brought before it by the faction leaders for lack of jurisdiction. So the 'die is cast'. Let's see how this will all play out... READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46318.html

According to reports by an online newspaper, the on-going face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal Government has forced some female undergraduates of some universities into prostitution (!?). Left stranded at home and with want of better things to put their minds, hands and bodies to, not a few young beauties have taken to the streets, hoping to catch the fancy of lustful men, just to make ends meet. There are unconfirmed speculations that the number of girls of easy virtue on the streets have increased sine the commencement of ASUU strike. It was gathered that the students decided to go into the business to enable them meet their needs till the strike is being called off. According to one of these girls who craved anonymity, the prostitution job "...is helping me to gather funds for my upkeep when the strike is finally suspended.” So ASUU and FG, do something before our boys also take to the streets...

Okay, now this is strange, if you consider what part of the world we live in. We're used to politicians rigging election to get into offices, but not so with Mr. Afolabi Olawole, a councilorship candidate of the PDP in Shawo South-West ward in the Offa Local Government of Kwara State. The gentleman has come out to openly reject his announced victory at the just concluded council election. Mr. Olawale was declared winner of the election by Independent Electoral Commission of Kwara State (KWASIEC) in Saturday’s rerun election, only for him to come out and shock everyone with the confession that he actually lost to Mr Adefioye Kayode, candidate of the APC. Speaking further, Mr Olawole said he rejected his victory based on his religious convictions .    Thumbs up, Mr. Olawale, wish more Nigerian politicians would take a cue from you.

The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Wednesday, 4th September 2013 signed a loan agreement with a consortium of both local and international banks to the tune of $3.3billion for the purpose of constructing the biggest Petroleum Oil Refinery & Petrochemical/ Fertilizer Plant in Nigeria. The US$9billion project will be financed by US$3billion equity and US$billiion loan capital. The signing ceremony commits the first tranche of loans secured by Dangote, comprising a US$3.3billion term loan facility supported by a consortium of local and international banks. This first facility was jointly co-ordinated by Standard Chartered Bank as the Global Coordinator, and Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as the Local Coordinator. It is estimated that the plant, which will cost a total of $9 billion will generate over 30,000 jobs, in addition to reducing current volumes of refined fuel imports by up to 50 per cent.

Music superstar, 'Koko Master' D’banj has been invited by Hennessy to visit France for the 2013 edition of Hennessy Artistry. The star is staying at the exquisite Chateau De Bangolet, the home of Hennessy. It is expected to be a one-of-a-kind performance, trust the Koko Master to bring it all down!  

Okay, I guess you all know by now that financial magazine, Forbes, released a list of what they described as the Top Ten richest artiste in Africa...Well, just incase you didn't know, Omo Baba Olowo himself, Mr. Davido has 'dissed' the Magazine for leaving him out of the list. Well, if you asked me, I kind of wondered why Davido wasn't in the list when I first saw it. His wealthy background notwithstanding, the young dude has done quite well for himself financially. Or what do you think?

     Ahead of the FIFA world cup qualifying game between Nigerian and Malawi schedule to take place at Calabar on Saturday, official sponsors of the Eagles, Guiness Nig. Plc, has announced a $2,000 reward for each goal scored by the senior national team against Malawi during the encounter. Reassuring Eagles of its unflinching support and commitment to their victory, Guinness is urging the African champions to go for goals and qualify for the 10-team final elimination round, where a two-leg knock out fixture will determine Africa’s five flag-bearers at the tournament to be hosted by Brazil in 2014. We wish the Eagles and indeed, all football-loving Nigerians, the best on Saturday.                                             ...

Guess which celeb is afraid she might not make it to heaven...non other than 'Miss Scandalous' herself, tiny-voiced-but-chesty singer and actress, Cossy Orjiakor! Yes, Cossy has hinted during a recent interactive session she had with some of her fans as a V-Channel Celeb guest, that "...I’m afraid of not making heaven and getting old to live alone." And at the end of the session, when asked to pray, she replies, "...I'm a sinner." Ouch. Cossy! But why. *wink* READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/46143.html#

The fame of Prophet TB Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations situated in Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos, knows no bound. According to reports, the soft-spoken but very visible preacher is more popular than England's monarch, Queen Elizabeth, as his church attracts a crown of an upward of 50,000 worshipers every week! Many come from far and near to catch of glimpse of the MOG, some seeking miracles of diverse sorts, others simply there to do business.

Respite has come the way of some ground victims of Dana plane crash at Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos,  as Lagos State Government yesterday handed out cheques to five persons whose property were taken over by the state government for the construction of a Cenotaph at the site of the Dana Air crash. We pray that the good tides will spread to other victims as well, who are still awaiting some form of compensation. 

Remember the adventurous 14 years kid, Daniel Oikhena, who caused quite a stir by daring to stowaway aboard an Arik flight from Benin to Lagos in the plane's Tyre compartment?! Yes, we hear he's been handed over to the Edo state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development by operatives of Edo state Command of the Department of State Security Services (DSS). Okay kid, never, ever do that again!