DOGARA JOINS RACE FOR SPEAKERSHIP

•As 64 non-APC lawmakers are set to endorse Gbajabiamila •Bago’s camp confident of support from 195 members-elect •Nwajiuba’s emergence from South/East may threaten zoning

THE last may not have been heard about the race for the Speakership of the House of Representatives in the yet-to-be inaugurated National Assembly, as the outgoing Speaker, Yakubu Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly joined the race.
Dogara’s interest in retaining his seat was announced through a campaign launched in the social media platforms by his aides over the weekend with various posters tagged ‘continuity.’

Sunday Tribune stumbled on a poster tagged “God chose Right Honourable Speaker Dogara Yakubu in the Eighth Assembly not any Lagosian. We believe He would do it again for us in the Ninth Assembly.”

Some of the campaigners have also created a hashtag  #Dogaraforspeakeragain” which has been generating ripples in some section of the polity and on social media platforms.
In June 2015, Dogara defeated Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila by eight votes to emerge the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before switching party affiliation to the PDP.

APC leadership has endorsed Gbajabiamila as speaker and directed all lawmakers elected on its platform to vote for him and ensure his emergence in the election coming up on June 11.

All efforts to speak with the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Dogara, Mr Turaki Hassan, on the development proved abortive as all calls and text messages sent to him were not replied.

However, one of the close allies of the Speaker and a returning member told Sunday Tribune in confidence that the project “Dogara for Speaker again” was real.

This came just as Sunday Tribune learnt in Abuja on Saturday that all might be now set for the endorsement of Gbajabiamila for speakership by non-APC lawmakers.

Findings revealed that a group of Representatives known as Ninth Assembly Progressives, comprising 64 non-APC members and led by a ranking and returning member, Honourable Oluwole Oke, PDP, representing Obokun-Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, will be meeting on Tuesday (June 4th) to endorse Gbajabiamila.

A member of the group told Sunday Tribune in confidence that the action became necessary in order to further deepen the nation’s democracy for the people to enjoy true dividends of democracy.

When contacted, Honourable Oke, confirmed the development but declined further comments.

In a related development, another leading APC contender for the seat from the North-Central zone, Honourable Mohammed Bago is boasting of having 195 members-elect who have signed for his candidature.

Findings revealed that the move apparently showed that the members-elect may have largely bought into the equity agitation from the aspirant.

Similarly, 156 members were said to have openly declared support for his candidature recently after a meeting at a location in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Speaking on the current standing of the candidates, a member elect from the South-West told news men in Abuja on Friday that the current swing towards Bago might have arisen from a combination of factors, chiefly his brilliant showing at the interaction which the rival People’s Democratic Party(PDP), held for all the aspirants, including Gbajabiamila, at the Transcorp Hilton recently.

Besides this, the member elect who craved anonymity stated that “even within the ruling APC, Bago has so deftly sold his message that he is currently running neck to neck with Gbajabiamila for the signature of our party members.”

The member-elect also disclosed that the current crisis of confidence among top APC stalwarts is also working perfectly in Bago’s favour.

When contacted for comments on the new development, the spokesman for Bago Campaign Organisation, Honourable Victor Afam Ogene, stated that issues that have to do with members elect supporting Bago would remain closely guarded until few days to inauguration.
According to him, “You know this is a contest involving only 360 members as the electorate. So, we are focusing on those that would vote for us, instead of engaging in show-off trips.”

The speakership aspiration of Honourable Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, a House of Representatives member-elect from Okigwe South Federal Constituency, appears likely to threaten calculations for those in the camp of Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, a front runner in the race.

Reliable northern sources said many governors and elected representatives on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are favourably disposed to Nwajiuba emerging speaker.

The Imo State lawmaker, who left APC to contest on the platform of Accord, had recently called for a review of the zoning of the position to the South-West, urging the APC leaders to look in the direction of the South-East.

Although he left the APC on account of the running battle he had with the immediate past governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, he has not left anyone in doubt about his for APC.

His aide, Chief Jimmy Isilebo, confirmed that the HCN Project 2019 was aimed at not just winning the Okigwe South constituency seat but also to make a solid aim at the speakership of the House of Representatives.
“There have been some strident calls for some time now, to fairly distribute elective and non-elective offices across all six geopolitical zones, and the case of the South-East zone has been the most harped about. Therefore, HCN’s aspiration to the speakership couldn’t have come at a better time than now.
“Being a one time member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, which makes him a ranking member, he is qualified.
“He is also a foundation member of the APC, and in fact the secretary of the Constitution Drafting Committee that produced the document which gave birth to APC.”
Source: tribuneonlineng.com

THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW STELLA OBASANJO DIED

Nigerians were sent into a morning mood when new came in that former first lady, Stella Obasanjo died on October 23, 2005 of complications from tummy tuck surgery in Spain.

The former first lady was preparing for her 60th birthday, and had gone for a cosmetic surgery at a private health clinic in Puerto Banús, Marbella.

When she initially died, the cause of her death was not immediately known, with may reasons coming as the cause of her death.

An initial post-mortem carried out over the weekend suggested Mrs Obansanjo might have died of a severe asthma attack. A more detailed, two-and-a-half hour-long, autopsy performed yesterday, gave a much clearer indication of the cause of death, said

Antonio Garcia de Galvez, director of the Malaga Institute of Forensic Medicine, where the examination was carried out. The results will, however, remain secret and divulged only to the judge in charge of the investigation.

In Spain, autopsies are only court-ordered when the death is deemed to be of a suspicious nature – as in this case – or to have been caused by violence, Dr Garcia de Galvez said. Coroners investigating the cause of Mrs Obasanjo’s death are looking for evidence of possibility of medical malpractice.

Inside stories from Aso rock revealed that her husband, Olusegun Obasanjo who was then president was not aware his wife had gone for a surgery in the European nation.
Obasanjo revealed this in his autobiogrpahy my watch.
“After the internment, I decided to look into the circumstances of her death,” Mr. Obasanjo wrote on page 240 of Volume two of the book. “I found that part of her 60th birthday anniversary, which was unknown to me, was her operation for her tummy and her shape.”

Mr. Obasanjo also addressed the insinuations that his wife’s death may have been a “sacrifice” he carried out for success in his job.
“Before the verdict in Spain, I was unaware of what I came to hear later that I might have caused the death of my wife to sacrifice her for success in my job,” he wrote. “That is how wicked and satanic some Nigerians can be in their rumours and mischief.”

He referred to the doctor who carried out the surgery as “careless” and narrated how with the help of the Nigerian Embassy in Spain and the Spanish authorities, he got justice for his wife’s death.

“I instructed that the doctor and the clinic be prosecuted,” he said. “The lost life cannot be brought back but the successful prosecution would prevent carelessness and loss of life in the future.”

The doctor, according to the former president, was made to pay damages, which was collected by Olu Obasanjo, Stella’s son, and his licence withdrawn for a period of time.

The Spanish doctor who performed the operation on her was sentenced to a year in prison, for his role in her death.
In was in the cause of the sitting that further information emerged on what killed the late first lady.

The judges said the surgeon had shown carelessness and neglect.
The court heard that a tube used for removing fat had been placed by mistake into the patient’s abdominal cavity – puncturing her colon and lacerating her liver.

Mrs Obasanjo became seriously ill the following day.
But prosecutors said the surgeon initially failed to answer his mobile phone, and then waited more than four hours before driving the patient in his own car to an intensive care unit, where she died an hour later.
The doctor – identified in court documents only by the initials AM – was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for causing homicide through negligence.
He was disqualified from practising medicine for three years, and ordered to pay $176,000 (£108,000) in compensation to Mrs Obasanjo’s son.

The court said simple blood tests or an ultrasound procedure would have detected the internal injuries – which, with more time, could have been treated.
Source: dailyadvent.com

TRANSFER: BARCELONA FINALLY PUT 7 PLAYERS ON TRANSFER LIST [SEE NAMES]

Barcelona have finally put 7 of their players on “transfer list”, including midfielders, Phillippe Coutinho and Denis Suarez.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the five other players’ names on the transfer list are; Andre Gomes, Jasper Cillessen, Malcom, Rafinha, Marc Cucurella

The Spain newspaper claimed that the La Liga champions are preparing an extensive summer clear-out in a bid to raise £300million to rebuild their squad ahead of next season.

The report claimed that Barcelona board have made it clear to the seven players that they are for sale this summer, for the right price.

Barcelona were dumped out of this year’s UEFA Champions League by eventual winners, Liverpool in the semi-final encounter last month.

The Catalan club also lost 2-1 to Valencia in the Copa Del Rey final last month.
Ernesto Valverde’s men, however, won the La Liga title ahead of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

PREPAID METRES NOW OFFICIALLY FOR SALE

Prepaid metres are now officially for sale by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s head of communication, Emeka Ezeh who described it as Meter Asset Provider (MAP) programme and urged its customers to take advantage of the initiative and get pre-paid meters within 10 days.

The company’s spokesman said that the pre-paid meters would cost N36,991:50k for single phase and N67,055:85k for three-phase pre-paid meters; and this is exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) charge.
Ezeh said the company had been working closely with its MAP provider, Mojec International Limited, to ensure that “the experience is smooth and easy for its customers’’.

Ezeh said: “For customers to get started, they are expected to visit the EEDC District Office in charge of their area from June 15, to pick up the meter application form.
“The forms, which are serialized, will be issued to customers free of charge and should not be photocopied, as the photocopied version will not be treated.
“Once the customer completes the form and returns same to the customer service representative, the pre-survey process will be initiated, after which the customer will be issued a Demand Note with which to pay for the meter at the designated bank.
“Once payment is made, the company’s MAP provider is under obligation to meter the customer within 10 days of payment.
“Customers are therefore advised to only make payment into a dedicated bank account that will be provided to them, and not to any individual or group.
“It is important to reiterate that the meter application form is issued at no cost and customers should make payment to designated bank account that will be provided to them through the Demand Note, and they should not pay to any staff of the MAP or EEDC’’.

He noted that for further enquiries or assistance, customers should approach the customer service officers at EEDC district offices within the areas.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved Mojec International Limited to be EEDC’s MAP implementer.

The MAP regulation was said to have been initiated by the Federal Government and NERC last year to help hasten and close-up existing metering gap in the sector through the engagement of third party agents saddled with the responsibility of metering electricity customers.
Source: thenationonlineng.net

CRISTIANO RONALDO BEATS LIONEL MESSI TO WIN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GOAL OF THE SEASON

UEFA’s technical observers voted for the 10 best goals of the recently concluded Champions League 2018/19 competition and two familiar names – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – emerged on top.
The technical observers comprised of well known names in the footballing fraternity including former Manchester United manager David Moyes, current England boss Gareth Southgate, Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.
They reviewed the goals scored in the UEFA Champions League this season, picked out the 10 best among them and ranked them in order.
Unsurprisingly, it was Lionel Messi’s wonder freekick against Liverpool and Cristiano Ronaldo’s supreme volley against Manchester United that were voted as the top two goals, with the Portuguese taking pole position.
Barcelona was the team with the most representation in the list, with 5 goals coming from the Catalan side.
Here are the top 10 goals scored in the Champions League 2018/19 season:
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus v Manchester United) – Group stages
2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona v Liverpool) – Semifinal, first leg
3 Sadio Mané (Bayern v Liverpool) – Round of 16, second leg
4 Ivan Rakitić (Tottenham v Barcelona) – Group stages
5 Leroy Sané (Manchester City v Hoffenheim) – Group stages
6 Kylian Mbappé (Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain) – Round of 16, first leg
7 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk) – Group stages
8 Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona v Tottenham) – Group stages
9 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona v Manchester United) – Quarterfinals, second leg
10 Luis Suárez (Barcelona v Liverpool) – Semifinals, first leg
Source: foxsportsasia.com

NIGERIANS WOWED AS BUSINESS OWNER TURNS LAGOS DANFO TO BAR AND RESTAURANT

Nigerians Wowed As Business Owner Turns Lagos Danfo To Bar And Restaurant
Many Nigerians depends on the Government to create an enabling environment for their businesses to strive.  Unlike like many small business owners, this particular business owner went an extra mile to wow Nigerians with his creativity.

The inability for Government, particularly the Nigerian Government to create enabling platforms for small business owners most times dis-encourages them towards yearning to make their businesses strive or even get creative to start with.

For some other creative small business owners waiting on the Government to do such a task as creating an enabling environment  for them would be seen as too daunting. Rather than wait on the Government this business owners despite the odds take the bull by its horns. And there are many ways and things to get creative with . One of such is the popular yellow buses with black stripes as its font design which at some point, had its days numbered on Lagos roads.

The most iconic things in Lagos state happens to be the public buses popularly known as danfo. Recently, a viral photo has been making rounds on the internet and even become something of an internet sensation after a Nigerian business owner used the local yellow bus which is very rampant on Lagos road as a make shift bar and restaurant.

The photo of a Lagos Danfo turned to bar and restaurant have wowed many striving entrepreneurs and the entire populace after it was first shared on the internet. The owner seemingly didn’t have to wait on the government before creating his own platform to render services, and solve problems.  The Danfo bar popularly known as the Danfo Bistro and  drive and located  along Alexander road Ikoyi.

According to a source, who pleaded anonymity, the Lagos Danfo was built after the Lagos danfo theme which was an innovative programme to sensitize people on Danfo buses in Lagos.

What are your thoughts on this?

*Source: dailyadvent.com*

EID-UL-FITR GREETING FROM SKY MEDIA CONSULTS

Do you known that?
Muslims in all over the world will be celebrating Eid 2019 tomorrow Tuesday 4th June, 2019.

Muslims usually wish each other ‘Eid Mubarak’ after saying the Eid prayer, and may also hug each other three times.

Eid is a word for a festival or celebration, while mubarak means blessed. So to say Eid Mubarak means Happy Eid, or have a blessed holiday.

Eid Mubarak may be said at the end of a fuller greeting. For instance:
- "May the blessings of Allah fill your life with happiness and open all the doors of success now and always. Eid Mubarak!"

- "May God give you happiness of heaven above. Happy Eid Mubarak To You All."
- "May this special day bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone. Eid Mubarak!"
- "May Allah blessings be with you today, tomorrow and always. Eid Mubarak!"
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