Senators Who May Not Return In 2015

With just a few days to the nomination of candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the National Assembly election in 2015, it has become apparent that many senators will not make it back to the Red Chamber.
Reason: Governors of the states from where the affected senators hail are either heading for the Senate to replace them or have anointed others to take over.

Moreover, not only did most of the senators with governorship ambitions not obtain nomination forms for the Senate, their governorship desires were truncated by the governors who already had preferred successors.
Senators likely to be affected by this two-pronged challenge, according to findings, are Aloysius Akpan Etok, chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service (Akwa Ibom North-West); Magery Chuba Okadigbo (Anambra North); Basheer Garba Mohammed (Kano Central); Barnabas Gemade, chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning (Benue North-East); Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, chairman, Senate Committee on Health (Delta North); Chris Nwankwo (Ebonyi North); James Ebiowou Manager, chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta (Delta South), and Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs (Ebonyi North).
Other than the Senate president, only a handful can boast of coming back to the red chambers after May next year.
The situation is the same in most of the states. While in some cases, it is the governor that is seeking to displace them, such as Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam, that of Abia Theodore Orji, and Sullivan Chime of Enugu, among others, there are other cases where the governors simply think it is time to give other persons a chance to occupy the seat as is in the case of Bayelsa State.
Senate-bound governors in 2015
The deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, has a battle ahead of him if he wishes to retain his seat. His governor, Sullivan Chime, has his eyes on the seat and as the head of the PDP in the state, he is not likely to allow Ekweremadu to scale through the primaries.
In the case of Senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, Cross River governor Liyel Imoke does not seek to take his seat, but wants House chairman on Appropriation Hon John Enoh to take over from him in 2015.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Godswill Akpabio and Senator Aloysius Etok are at each other’s throats. The governor has made no pretences that he is gunning for Etok’s job in the coming elections.
In Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has also declared his intention to become a senator in 2014, thus jeopardising the ambition of Senator James Manager to return to the upper chamber.
In Niger, Governor Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu has declared his intention to run for the Niger-East senatorial zone next year. He will be contesting against Shem Zagbayi who just got elected in August to replace the deceased Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
Bauchi State governor Isa Yuguda is also reported to be nursing a senatorial ambition. He will be seeking to supplant Senator Adamu Gumba from the Bauchi South senatorial seat if his plan sails through.
Senator Gyang Pwajok’s return to the Senate is unlikely as Governor Jonah Jang has targeted his seat at the Senate. But Pwajok looks to benefit from this happenstance as Governor Jang has endorsed him as a possible successor. For the duo, it may just be a swap of positions.
In Abia, Governor Theodore Orji is seeking to replace Senator Nkechi Nwogu. Nwogu is also aiming higher as she is in the race to succeed Orji even though it has been rumoured that the governor has endorsed another aspirant as successor.
In Sokoto State, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of the APC is poised to replace Senator Muhammad Maccido (PDP) to represent the Sokoto Central Senatorial District.

Other factors that may stop senators from returning
Indications from happenings in states show that at least 60-75 of the 109 senators will have to find some other jobs outside the National Assembly in 2015.
This number includes those not returning because their governors have worked against them, those seeking governorship tickets of their parties and those ruled out by the power permutations such as zoning and other interests.
Senate deputy leader Abdul Ningi as well as deputy minority leader, Ganiyu Solomon, have opted out of the senatorial race for the governorship seats of Bauchi and Lagos States respectively.
Others who will not return to the Senate because of their governorship ambitions are: Abubakar Yar’Adua (Katsina), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Gyang Pwajok (Plateau), Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom), Nkechi Nwogu (Abia), Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo), Ayogu Eze (Enugu), Umar Tambuwal (Sokoto), Magnus Abe (Rivers), Chris Anyanwu (Imo), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Simon Ajibola (Kwara), Paulinus Nwagu (Ebonyi) and Victor Lar (Plateau).
Others are Solomon Ewuga (Nasarawa), Isa Galaudi (Kebbi), Muhammad Magoro (Kebbi), Aisha Alhassan (Taraba), Ibrahim Musa (Niger), Adamu Gumba (Bauchi) and Babayo Garba (Bauchi).
Ironically, the incumbent governors are against virtually all the senators succeeding them, except in the case of Pwajok where the Plateau State governor Jonah Jang is disposed to his former Chief of Staff (Pwajok) taking over from him despite opposition from stakeholders in the state.
However, Senator Abe’s ambition has been truncated on the platform of the APC as Hon Dakuku Peterside has been nominated as the flag-bearer of the party for Rivers State governorship.
At present, the Senate houses 10 former governors: George Akume (Benue Zone B), Chris Ngige (Anambra Central), Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna North), Abubakar Saraki (Kwara Central), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe East), and Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North).

MUD Boss, Onyinye Carter Gets Engaged...check out her bling!

CEO of MUD Cosmetics Nigeria and daughter of billionaire businessman, Chief Izu Onwugbenu, the Chairman of Louis Carter group, Onyinye Carter got engaged over the weekend. Check out her bling! See more pics after the cut...

Footballer Ikechukwu Uche & team mates show off hot abs

Super Eagles star and striker for Villareal CF Ikechukwu Uche and his teammates at the Spanish club showed off their hot abs as they posed to take a shower selfie after a match yesterday. Hot men!

See Alleged NSCDC Detention Cell at Alausa

From a TheGist Plus reader who was at the cell recently and took photos. Read what he wrote below...

This is the NSCDC (Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps) detention cell for both witnesses and suspects at their office opposite Lagos State Secretariat Alausa.

At the time this picture was taken, 7 elderly men above 60years were being detained for three days as witnesses not suspects to case. Today would make it six days.

The zinc house close to the cell is the toilet where the NSCDC officers take turns to urinate and stinky odour goes into the cell that has no form of ventilation.

 So now I ask "What is civil about the Civil Defence Corps?"

Dr Sid & Simi Osomo Expecting Their First Child

 

Dr Sid and Simi Osomo are expecting their first child. The excited husband broke the news this evening when he posted the photo above on his IG page. We are so in love with the couple. Big congrats to them.

Fast Rising Act, Zee World Passes On

Iju/Agege has lost one of their own. Abdul Azeez Halidu popularly known as Zee World passed on today, November 30^th, 2014 after a long battle with cancer which affected his music career for a long time. Zeeworld was known for his hit single Tentebo and worked with the likes of Terry G, Reminisce, Skales, YQ amongst others before cancer struck him down.

His mom, Madam Halidu is said to have spent over N4m solely on him since last year that the battle began and she is said to be inconsolable right now.  Zee World was 34. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Sadly, it's also a personal loss. Left me weak all day.

Heart touching story of a widow who was severely beaten, stabbed and thrown of her matrimonial home

Alhaja Adejoke Orenaike, a widow at 36, was at the center of the whole issue in a polygamous home. Eight days after her husband died, her co-wife and step son sent her out of her matrimonial home. As if that was not enough, her sister in-law attacked her with a knife.She managed to shove her off and she ran out of the house with her 8-year-old daughter who was screaming for help. According to her, all her husband estates, properties, chains of businesses have been seized by her step son who has also threatened to kill her if she lay claim to any property.Adejoke narrated her story to Saturday Vanguard:“My husband died on the 5th of May, 2013 after a protracted illness. Before his death, there were insinuations and revelations, according to my husband that my co-wife was plotting to kill him. My husband asked her but she denied. But after his death, events began to unfold which gave credence to the earlier suspicion. On the 8th day prayer rite, two members of the family came to the house with some hoodlums and sent me and my daughter out of the house. I was severely beaten and stabbed with a kitchen knife when I visited my husband’s house to celebrate the Muslim festival, Ileya.”“I had sent my daughter on an errand and on her way back,when one of them began to rain curses on her I stepped out to know what was happening.

As if they were waiting for me to step out, they gave me the beating of my life. It got to a point that my child had to run out to seek assistance when my husband’s fellow wife brought out knife and stabbed me around my buttocks and wounded me in the mouth.
“One of the them thereafter threatened to burn the house if we did not leave the house at that point. So, I ran out of the house and he did not allow me take anything, not even a pin. This was the same house I was living with my husband before his demise. This destablised my business and my daughter’s education to a large extent.
“I mourned my husband for four months and 11days not in my matrimonial home but where I was squatting after they
sent me and my daughter out of the house, just eight days after the death of my husband. It was during this time that I gathered that one of the members of the family had sold the house I was living with my husband. He packed my belongings to my shop which was built in front of the house with some of my valuables still missing. “However, when I discovered some of my belongings were missing, I informed some elders from my husband’s family. They asked him but he denied taking them. The elders told me to exercise patience, saying that they would resolve the matter one year after my husband’s death. They even asked him why he sold the house but he told them that it was not their business.“Right now, I cannot access any property of my husband. It is so with his business. He used to have three bank accounts with First Bank, Diamond and Union banks. His brother has taken over everything including cash mostly in foreign currencies.
“Along the line, my husband’s relatives tried their best to settle the bickering but one of my step sons refused bluntly. He thereafter threatened to kill me or kidnap my daughter. He said I could share his father’s property with them (himself and his other siblings) just because I have a female child for his late father.Adejoke agreed that her husband’s inability to prepare a Will before his death caused this bickering. She stated that the head of the family had warned that sharing of property should wait until after a year but he chose to have his way.

“They said sharing of my husband’s property should wait till after a year but he declined and chose to sell my husband’s property
“One of them has threatened to kill me and my child over my husband’s property. My shop has been closed down since the death of my husband for more than a year now. I have petitioned the commissioner of police and our case has been transferred to Panti. The Police force from Panti searched his house and my international passport and the knife with which his wife used to stab me were found.Adejoke stated that until the death of their husband, she had a cordial relationship with her co-wife, and her step sons.

“We had a cordial relationship before the death of my husband. In fact we were living together for some time until my husband bought the house which has now been sold. My husband and I left the house when he took ill following the allegation of plotting to kill him through diabolical means. People advised my husband to leave the house and I left with him. My husband and I traveled twice to India for medical attention and on each occasion, neither my co-wife, nor the son who sold the property cared to go with him to India or to know how he was faring.”“The royal father is the head of the family and he was the one who trained my husband. He was the one who said we should wait till a year after my husband’s death. When Saturday Vanguard contacted him, the royal father also declined comment but promised to get back to us soon.She maintained that several truce attempts called by the head of the family, HRM Bola Rahimi, Oba Alarige of Ibi-Ade, Ijebu water side, did not work.
Late Sikiru Orenaike was a business man with several properties in Lagos and London. In a letter purportedly written by the deceased while receiving treatment in India, he directed that his properties be shared among his children including Mariam, the 8-year-old daughter and his two wives and other members of the family.

Tonto Dikeh Shares Photos from New Movie

Obviously, actress Tonto Dikeh is stepping into new terrain in her choice of characters to play in movies. She has shifted from playing the daughter of wealthy parents, street girl, to either a preacher, or a common illiterate village girl. Continue...

Her recent role is that of a village teenager, who just newly got introduced into education. With her fitting costume, Tonto got into the role very well and gave us the picture of Akudo, the hard working village girl.
                      
                      
                      

See Waje And D'banj Having Mad Fun in Party

The Cocobaby crooner, Waje and Oliver Twist singer, D'banj were together in a party last night.Waje shared the pic indicating they had fun together. She equally performed with veteran entertainment stallion, Onyeka Onwenu and her close pal, Omawumi. It was really fun for Waje. See more photos...

Rukky Sanda's Plastic Surgery Working for Her!

It was rumoured sometime ago that Nollywood actress Rukky Sanda had a plastic surgery. Days later she tweeted a confirmation, saying she got the dollars and had to fix her face. Rukky equally disclosed that plastic surgery isn't a sin. The actress turned scriptwriter and producer shared these pictures with a makeup that stands her out from the crowd. See photos below...

 

 

Chioma Okoye Completes Work on Nwanyi Onitsha

Nollywood actress, producer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pupple Ribbon Entertaiment has completed work on her new movie entitled, Nwanyi Onitsha, an Igbo language movie subtitled in English.

Nwanyi Onitsha stars Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), Solomon Akinyesi, Walter Anger, Diewet Ikpechukwu, Chioma Okoye, Biola Ige and many others.

 

Chioma Okoye through her Pupple Ribbon remains atop producers who are struggling to bring back Igbo language movies in Nigeria.

See How Tiwa Savage’s Dresses at CHOMVA 2014

The 2014 Channel O Music Video Award (CHOMVA) 2014 is ongoing tonight. Top Nigerian female singer, Tiwa Savage walked the red carpet with a dark colour Lavin Wrap dress, a Christian Louboutin Shoe, her makeup was handled by Joyce Jacob.  She later changed to a camouflage bump short, sexy off shoulder dress designed by Toju Foyeh, she supported it with a Tom Ford boots and maintain her makeup handled by Joyce Jacob, before she hit the stage to perform with Patoranking. See more photos…

 

 

See Young girl injured after police allegedly throws iron rod at danfo

Our reader explains what happened...

At NAFDAC Busstop, Oshodi, Lagos, I was in the bus when this police man did this to us in the bus, a public bus (danfo). We were all seated in the bus and the bus was moving, when the policeman threw an iron rod at the window, which broke and scattered on all passengers, injuring a girl seated close to the window. We reported the case to the police men who where driving past, they just told us to go and meet the policeman and drove off, left us to our fate"

Sad! Woman Disappears With Four Kids Within 30mins Of Starting Her Job As An Assistant Teacher

The 33-year-old proprietress of a neighbourhood home lesson at Idi-Omo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Mrs Kafayat Olatubosun, has described the incident which led to the disappearance of four pupils in her care as one that is like a devil stalking her, after which he crept in and struck.

A woman simply identified as eleha (woman in purdah) disappeared with the kids on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. The children are yet to be found till the writing of this report.

The four missing children, whose names were given as Abdulsalam Aderibigbe, Abigail Adegunju, Chidiebere and Onyiyechukwu were reportedly taken away by the eleha who disguised as someone in need of an employment. She struck within 30 minutes of starting her job as a lesson assistant.

According to Mrs Olatunbosun who is nursing a 14-month-old baby and is currently kept in protective custody at State Criminal Investigation, Iyaganku, Ibadan, “I started operating a neighbourhood lesson for children at Sagbolada Compound, Idi Omo, Ibadan in 2009. I rented a space in the compound and I pay N500 monthly for it.

“I have about 35 pupils between the ages of one-and-half and three. Sometimes, primary school pupils sent home from their schools because of non-payment of fees are brought by their parents so that there would be no vacuum in their academic lives. I collect N20 daily for each child and the lesson hours are between 8a.m. and 1p.m.”

The National Teachers Institution (NTI) certificate holder and mother of three spoke further: “I had been working alone all the years, with regular assistance from my husband and a few elderly women staying within and around the lesson.

“Whenever I wanted to move round to pick children from their homes, my husband would stay with the ones already in class. Same would happen in the afternoon until the last child had been taken home. Whenever he was busy in the shop where he works as a lotto agent, the women who were like my in-laws would assist me.

“The woman who did this evil work (kidnapping) had been coming when I was still pregnant with the 14-month-old baby I am nursing. She kept pestering me that she wanted to work with me but I told her that I did not need assistance.

“About a month after I resumed work, having spent 41 days at home after delivery, she came again and I still insisted that I did not need an assistant. She told me that she wanted to leave where she was working because she was being owed salary. I replied that I would not a similar situation to occur in our relationship because the children were enough to take care of my own needs.

“I told her that I would like to inform my husband which I did by calling him. But he could not come because he was busy in his office. The woman told me she would come back the following day. The following morning, when I got to the lesson, at a little after 8a.m., I met the woman waiting for me.

“Shortly after, my husband came and saw her too. I said I would be paying her N3,000 monthly and she agreed. My husband left for his office and I decided to make the rounds to pick my pupils.

“I went the first round to pick the children and I met the lady on my return. I went the second round and still met her. Even some parents who brought their children themselves saw her.

“It was on my return after the third round that she was no longer around. I also noticed that one of the children, Abdusalam, was missing. I shouted and the elderly women around came. I quickly called my husband on the phone and he came. I met one of the parents who just brought her child in and she said she did not meet anyone.

That was how we noticed that Abigail, Samson, Chidiebere and Onyiyechukwu were also missing. The last two children are siblings Samson, who is three years old later walked back to us.”

When asked if she could identify the woman, Mrs Olatunbosun replied that she could.

Crime Reports learnt that the Idi Omo neighbourhood was immediately thrown into confusion as residents, especially the youths and parents of the missing pupils, started searching for the woman and the children. The mother of two of the missing children who are sisters was reported to have collapsed immediately and had since been on admission. The older of her two kids is three.

But the police image maker in Oyo State, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor said that Commissioner of Police, Kola Shodipo has put his men on their toes to unravel the identity of the woman, with a view to arresting her.

See Fake Chioma Akpota’s Instagram

Nollywood filmmaker, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpota is in trouble. She has over five fake instagram accounts hanging on her head. One of the accounts has President Goodluck Jonathan’s picture on its “DP”, making her wonder if “Uncle Jonathan” is now Chioma Akpota. Lol! “Chaiiiiiii ! Even Uncle Jonathan is now Chioma Akpotha. .... My people Diariz God oooooo!”

See 9ice Rides On Horse to Submit His Nomination Form

Top Pop singer, Abolore Akande, popularly called, "9ice" has submitted his form to run for the Federal House of Representatives. 9ice wants the elective seat to represent Ogbomosho North, South and Orire Federal Constituency 1 in Oyo State. on Tuesday, 9ice thrilled his supporters as he rode on a white horse from Ogbomosho to Yemetu Headquarters of the APC in Ibadan to drop off his form.

See more photos..

 

Empress Njamah Celebrates Birthday with Less Privilege Children

Top actress/CEO House of Empress Foundation, Empress Njamah added another year on November 17, 2014 and as usual she marked the day with less privilege and physically challenged children, widows, women, those on wheel chair under Empress House of Hope Foundation. Held in Lagos, Empress had the presence of top Nollywood’s filmmakers such as, Charles Novia, Fred Amata, Charles Inojie and others. There were also loads of gifts for the kids and the physically challenged who were lavishly entertained and catered for by House of Empress Foundation. The actress really showed her Arsenal Football Club of England logo.

Continue to see  more photos…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actress ,Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Blasts Brother For Raping A 300 Level Unilag Student

Like when Pontius Pilate washed his hands off the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Stephanie Okereke-Linus has washed her hands off the shameful way her brother, Daniel Okereke, raped a 300 level Unilag student. Read her statement below:

“Rape is Rape, Regardless of Who the Face of the Accused is” – Actress Stephanie Linus
I am distraught and devastated to hear of the recent allegation of rape brought against a relative of mine,Daniel Okereke (my brother).

While it is a very difficult time for me, and my family; I feel the need to make clear my position, lest there be any doubt. Rape is rape, regardless of who the face of the accused is.

Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I have spent my lifelong career
advocating and living my conviction that women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual harassment or any form of abuse against their persons. This conviction led me to be involved in numerous initiatives combating violence against women in several countries including the U.S, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The conviction also led me to place much of my energy on my work with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a passion that dates back to my time at the University of Calabar.

As a student, I heard a story about young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering the negative and embarrassing effects of VVF. The story stayed in my consciousness and drove me, for years, to seek ways to raise awareness on the condition; leading to my work with a team of dedicated doctors to carry out repair surgeries for VVF victims across the country; and my self-produced, soon to be released movie, ‘DRY.’
So, again, it is indeed heart breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I am devastated.

This case is now in Nigeria’s criminal justice system as the accused awaits arraignment. I have also encouraged and assured the alleged victim of my stance against rape and applaud her for her bravery to upset the culture of silence, in Nigeria; even as I accord deference and patiently wait for the criminal justice system to determine the guilt or innocence of my brother.

For Nigerian press and blogs; I call on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not make it mine. The focus should be the impact of rape on the alleged victim,and resources for other alleged victims, not me.

Some members of the press and blogs have turned me into the accused; using my name for sensational headlines and putting my images, exclusively, in their stories. This is a form of Victimization of me as a woman, it is unethical and extremely hurtful. I am not the alleged accused.

I therefore please ask all Bloggers and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story.
I thank my fans, and all well-wishers for your continued support and ask for your continued prayers.

God bless.

Stephanie Linus
LAGOS,Nigeria (November 24, 2014)"