Sunday 15 March 2015

Fire Outbreak Will Not Affect The Upcoming General Elections - INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the fire that gutted some parts of its storage facilities in Abuja will not affect the upcoming general elections.The Commissioner in charge of Electoral Operations and Logistics, Mohammed Hamanga, said that the affected materials, which were in the process of being destroyed, were obsolete.



According to an official of the commission, the fire outbreak was as a result of a surge in electricity after three days of power cut.



It was gathered that the fire which started at 11:00 PM was contained by 2:00AM due to the quick response of officials of INEC and the Federal Fire Service, who forced their way into the warehouse.



The Commissioner in charge, who inspected the affected areas of the warehouse, allayed fears that the fire would affect the reschedule elections.



INEC have faced lots of challenges on the road to the 2015 general elections, but the commission has reinstated its commitment to deliver a free and fair election, despite its challenges.



The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to, among other things, organize elections into various political offices in the country.



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Photos: 100-year-old Great-grandmother Celebrates Birthday with a Sky Dive in South Africa




A 100-year-old great-grandmother has celebrated her birthday by undertaking a sky dive in Cape Town, South Africa.



Georgina Harwood, pictured above and dressed in a red jumpsuit, performed a tandem jump which saw her plummet to earth at 125mph with instructor Jason Baker. She was watched by friends and family who flew in from Australia and England to celebrate the milestone birthday with her and

handed her a glass of pink champagne on landing.



The sky dive is Mrs Harwood’s third since turning 92 in 2007.

“I was much more conscious of everything this time because I had a better idea what I was going to do,” she said of the experience.

“It was wonderful, exhilarating, and special. I’m trying to think of the adjectives I can add to it.”

On Monday, she intends to continue her daredevil celebrations with a cage dive among Great White Sharks in the icy South Atlantic Sea.

Her motto, she said, is:

“Do it now! Whether it’s comfortable or uncomfortable, good or bad, relaxing or challenging – don’t delay.”












Female Student Goes Blind After Slap By Principal’s Secretary [see Photos]





Before January 29, 2015, the girl’s eyes could be said to be perfect, going by the picture she took with her friends the same month when the school celebrated its 50th anniversary. But the tide changed against Iyanu and it seems she has lost an eye.



Sunday Tribune gathered that the event that led to the change in Iyanu’s life started when she was allegedly slapped by one Mrs Funke Fashina, said to be the secretary to the principal of the school. And what was her offence? The woman reportedly saw her and two other girls emerging from an unused room within the school building and enquired to know what they were doing there. Before they could reply, she landed a slap on Iyanu’s face first, and subsequently others.



The girl’s right eye was said to have developed a problem and had got worse, with the University CollegeHospital, Ibadan (UCH), saying that she would require a surgery. Iyanu told Sunday Tribune that she could no longer see with the right eye.



Narrating her experience to Sunday Tribune, Iyanu said:



“On Thursday, January 29, students were having an Agriculture class, so those of us offering Food and Nutrition left the class and three of us went to stay in one of the rooms in the building.



“We saw our teacher from the window of the room so we wanted to step out to go and meet her. As we were about to leave the room, we saw the secretary to the Principal, Mrs Funke Fasina. She asked us what we were doing in that room but before we could explain, she slapped us one after the other.



“By the time I got home, my left eye had turned red and painful. I told my mother what happened but she dismissed me, saying that I would not have been slapped if I didn’t do something wrong. On Monday February 9, my mother followed me to school and the principal asked my mother to take me to the hospital.



“We went to Catholic Hospital, Eleta, Ibadan and we were told to do the scan of the eye. By then, my eye had become bulgy and I was no longer seeing clearly. We went to St. Gregory’s Ultrasound Centre, Yemetu. From there, we went to the University College Hospital, Ibadan and I was told that I would undergo surgery. We were told to bring N300,000 as deposit. My parents have reported the case at the police station in Alakia Adelubi and the woman admitted that she slapped me.”



Iyanuoluwa said before the slap, she never had any pain or itch in her eye, so the report that she had a problem with her eye does not hold water. “Now I can no longer see with my right eye and I am going through a lot of pains,” she stated.



Iyanu’s mother, Mrs Damilola Dahunsi, corroborated her daughter’s narration, saying that she didn’t take the incident serious initially.



“To my surprise, the eye started swelling up. I followed my daughter to school on Monday, February 9 and the principal was shocked to see the eye.



“We went to Mrs Fashina and I begged her to give us an antidote if she used a charm on my daughter but she denied using charm to slap my daughter. My daughter never had any eye problem since she was born.



“We took Iyanuoluwa to UCH and we were told that she would go through surgery. We did CT scan at UCH but the result was cornered and we never saw it. We were told to go home when we could not pay the N300,000 we were asked to deposit.



“Unfortunately, the woman who slapped my daughter refused to do anything financially and my brother who went to the Commissioner for Education was told that efforts were on to go round schools for students to contribute money towards my daughter’s treatment.”



Sunkanmi Ojewumi, Iyanu’s uncle, decried the attitude of a staff of UCH (names withheld), whom he said tried to frustrate all their efforts because she is Mrs Fashina’s in-law.



“We didn’t get the result of the test carried out in UCH and the police at Alakia-Adelubi did not get it also. To our surprise, the result found its way to TESCOM where the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Giwa, told me he had seen the result and it indicated ..


Fire At Abuja INEC Office





There was a minor fire incident at Independent National Electoral Commission’s Electoral Institute in Abuja on Saturday night.



However, the fire was contained swiftly and no harm whatsoever was done to electoral materials.



The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed the incident.



He also said the fire didn’t affect any electoral material.



Source: PunchNg


Stowaway Dies On Arik Flight In Lagos

A suspected Nigerian stowaway was yesterday found dead on the wheel well, the undercarriage compartment of an Arik Air aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.



Arik Air engineers were checking the aircraft in preparation for a flight when the body of the stowaway (a man) was discovered in the main wheel well of the aircraft. The discovery was immediately reported to security and regulatory officials at the airport.



Adebanji Ola, spokesperson for Arik told Daily Sun “investigations had commenced to determine where the stowaway actually originated.



“The aircraft has been fumigated by the Port Health authorities while the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities officials are carrying out their investigations,” Ola added.



It would be the third time in the last three years that Nigerians would stowaway on flights operated by Arik Air, the most remarkable being that of a young boy who successfully stowed away on a Benin –Lagos flight in 2013.



Daily Sun learnt that men of the Lagos Airport Police Command have evacuated the remains of the suspect and have deposited it at an undisclosed mortuary, following due diligence by the relevant Aviation and Security agencies. The Airbus A345 -500 where the suspected was found is used by Arik Air to operate the Lagos – Dubai, and Lagos – South African routes.



Yakubu Dati, spokesperson for The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said that the agency is currently reviewing footages of the CCTV system and airside security operations with a view to identifying the gaps and personnel failure, if any, in order to take remedial actions following the latest stowaway incident. “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has intensified efforts at improving security and safety at both land and airside through the installation of high tech screening machines, CCTV surveillance cameras and patrol teams,” Dati said.



“The Authority is assuring all traveling passengers of safety of lives and property throughout the nation’s airport,” he added.



Aside the usual space for the aircraft tyres, the undercarriage compartment of the Airbus A345 is actually big enough to accommodate a person. But health and aviation experts have consistently warned that survival rate is usually rare for humans as the compartment is never pressurized, meaning that the absence of oxygen over a long stretch of flight hours, could result in the death of the stowaway. And then there is also the high risk of a person being crushed by the wheels.

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Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 0 - (Live)

MATCH PREWIEW



>> Louis van Gaal has urged his

Manchester United side to take

their positive reaction to FA Cup

defeat into the "rat race" for the

Barclays Premier League's top

four, starting Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.



United's last hope of silverware

this season ended on Monday as

Danny Welbeck returned to haunt

his former employers with the

winning goal in a 2-1 triumph that

sent holders Arsenal into the FA Cup semi-finals.



That was only

United's second defeat in their

past 11 matches in all competitions

and followed back-to-back league

victories over Sunderland and

Newcastle United.



Rather than be downbeat about

United's chances of clinching a

top-four berth, manager Van Gaal

has seen a good reaction in

training.



But the Dutchman is

aware of the need to maintain momentum in the league with just

five points separating third-placed

Arsenal and Southampton in

seventh, with Sunday’s opponents

lying in sixth.



"I have the same confidence [of

reaching the top four] as before,"

he said. "I'm very pleased with the

reaction and I hope we can show

that against Spurs - the first of 10

matches in the rat race.



" United must again make do without

striker Robin van Persie (ankle),

although Marcos Rojo (knock)

should be fit to play. If Rojo is

unavailable it will leave Van Gaal

short at the back as fellow defender Jonny Evans starts the

first game of his six-match ban

for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss

Cisse.



Angel di Maria is also

suspended after being sent off

against Arsenal.



Spurs travel to Manchester

seeking a third-consecutive victory

over United at Old Trafford,

which would move them level on

points with Van Gaal's men.



Before

those successes Spurs had not triumphed at Old Trafford since

1989 and head coach Mauricio

Pochettino insists his team have

the right mentality to return to

London with the points.



"We believe we can win," he said.

"You never think before a game

that it is possible to lose.



"You are always focusing on

getting the three points and are

never thinking about losing. Our

pressure is inside us, in the group.

We want to win every game.



"Maybe Manchester United has

history, but our mentality is to

compete and try to win the game.

Man United is not my problem.



" Pochettino, whose team have won

back-to-back matches since losing

the Capital One Cup final to

Chelsea, has no new injuries to

contend with.


CAF Champions League: Enyimba FC Vs Smouha Sporting Club 1 - 0 - (Live)!

ENYIMBA Fc STARTING 11 TEAM LIST FOR

SMOUHA SPORTING CLUB MATCH TODAY IN

ABA:

Enyimba Technical Adviser Kadiri Ikanna has

made 2 changes in his starting 11 for thier CAF

Champions League game today against

Egyptian club Smouha Sporting Club. Kadiri

has deployed former Abia Warriors Captain

Chima Ulocha and Former ABS Fc striker

Abdulrahman Bashir to his starting 11.

Super Eagles Midfielder Kingsley Sokari also

makes the team as he has recovered from an

injury sustained while playing for the U-23

team. Also in the starting 11 is U-23 striker

Peter Onyekachi who has been terrific for the

''Aba Landlords'' since his switch to the club

from city rivals Abia Warriors Fc'.

ENYIMBA Fc starting XI against Smouha

Sporting Club:

Goalkeeper:

Chijoke Ejiogu



DEFENDERS:

Chinedu Udoji(C),

Emma Anyawuu,

Chima Ulocha,

Bright Esieme,

Idris Aloma



MIDFIELDERS:

Kingsley Sokari,

Chima Ulocha,

AndrewAbalaogu,

Daniel Etor



STRIKERS:

Peter Onyekachi,

Abdulrahman Bashir



Sub Bench:

Femi Thomas, Chibuzor Madu, Babatunde

Solomon, Nzube Anazemba, Chinonso Okonkwo,

Raphael Bussong.


Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 0 - (Live)

MATCH PREWIEW



>> Louis van Gaal has urged his

Manchester United side to take

their positive reaction to FA Cup

defeat into the "rat race" for the

Barclays Premier League's top

four, starting Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.



United's last hope of silverware

this season ended on Monday as

Danny Welbeck returned to haunt

his former employers with the

winning goal in a 2-1 triumph that

sent holders Arsenal into the FA Cup semi-finals.



That was only

United's second defeat in their

past 11 matches in all competitions

and followed back-to-back league

victories over Sunderland and

Newcastle United.



Rather than be downbeat about

United's chances of clinching a

top-four berth, manager Van Gaal

has seen a good reaction in

training.



But the Dutchman is

aware of the need to maintain momentum in the league with just

five points separating third-placed

Arsenal and Southampton in

seventh, with Sunday’s opponents

lying in sixth.



"I have the same confidence [of

reaching the top four] as before,"

he said. "I'm very pleased with the

reaction and I hope we can show

that against Spurs - the first of 10

matches in the rat race.



" United must again make do without

striker Robin van Persie (ankle),

although Marcos Rojo (knock)

should be fit to play. If Rojo is

unavailable it will leave Van Gaal

short at the back as fellow defender Jonny Evans starts the

first game of his six-match ban

for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss

Cisse.



Angel di Maria is also

suspended after being sent off

against Arsenal.



Spurs travel to Manchester

seeking a third-consecutive victory

over United at Old Trafford,

which would move them level on

points with Van Gaal's men.



Before

those successes Spurs had not triumphed at Old Trafford since

1989 and head coach Mauricio

Pochettino insists his team have

the right mentality to return to

London with the points.



"We believe we can win," he said.

"You never think before a game

that it is possible to lose.



"You are always focusing on

getting the three points and are

never thinking about losing. Our

pressure is inside us, in the group.

We want to win every game.



"Maybe Manchester United has

history, but our mentality is to

compete and try to win the game.

Man United is not my problem.



" Pochettino, whose team have won

back-to-back matches since losing

the Capital One Cup final to

Chelsea, has no new injuries to

contend with.


Names Of Animals In Efik/ibibio

Make me follow represent my tribe



GOAT = EBOT

CATTLE = UFENE

COW = ENANG

HORSE = ENANG

RAT = EKPU/EKU

SQUIRREL = AYIOD

DOG = EWA/EBUA

CAT = ANWA

SHEEP = ERUNG

PIG = EDI

LION = EKPE

LEOPARD AND TIGER = EKPE

ELEPHANTS = ENIN

MONKEY = EBUK

CHIMPANZEE = IDOIK

SNAIL = EKWONG

SNAKE = UDUK IKOT

LIZARDS = AKPOK

CROCODILE = AFIOM

FROG = IQUOD

CHICKEN = UNEN

DUCK = AWOWO

TURTLE = IKID/IKUT

VULTURE = UTERE

EAGLE = EKAMBA INUEN

ANT = AKPA ISONG

EARTH WORM = UTUNG

COCKROACHES = MFEM

HOUSE FLY = NSUNG

MOSQUITO = ABONG

BEE = AKWOK

CRAB = ISOBO

MILLIPID = ETIM

RABBIT = EKPU MBAKARA

MOUSE = EKPU/EKU

OWL = NKID IKID

WOOD PECKER = EBU NKAKAD

FISH = IYAK



Calabarian/Akwa ibomite u can add yours o


Manchester United Vs Tottenham Hotspur Today At 5pm

MATCH PREWIEW



>> Louis van Gaal has urged his

Manchester United side to take

their positive reaction to FA Cup

defeat into the "rat race" for the

Barclays Premier League's top

four, starting Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.



United's last hope of silverware

this season ended on Monday as

Danny Welbeck returned to haunt

his former employers with the

winning goal in a 2-1 triumph that

sent holders Arsenal into the FA Cup semi-finals.



That was only

United's second defeat in their

past 11 matches in all competitions

and followed back-to-back league

victories over Sunderland and

Newcastle United.



Rather than be downbeat about

United's chances of clinching a

top-four berth, manager Van Gaal

has seen a good reaction in

training.



But the Dutchman is

aware of the need to maintain momentum in the league with just

five points separating third-placed

Arsenal and Southampton in

seventh, with Sunday’s opponents

lying in sixth.



"I have the same confidence [of

reaching the top four] as before,"

he said. "I'm very pleased with the

reaction and I hope we can show

that against Spurs - the first of 10

matches in the rat race.



" United must again make do without

striker Robin van Persie (ankle),

although Marcos Rojo (knock)

should be fit to play. If Rojo is

unavailable it will leave Van Gaal

short at the back as fellow defender Jonny Evans starts the

first game of his six-match ban

for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss

Cisse.



Angel di Maria is also

suspended after being sent off

against Arsenal.



Spurs travel to Manchester

seeking a third-consecutive victory

over United at Old Trafford,

which would move them level on

points with Van Gaal's men.



Before

those successes Spurs had not triumphed at Old Trafford since

1989 and head coach Mauricio

Pochettino insists his team have

the right mentality to return to

London with the points.



"We believe we can win," he said.

"You never think before a game

that it is possible to lose.



"You are always focusing on

getting the three points and are

never thinking about losing. Our

pressure is inside us, in the group.

We want to win every game.



"Maybe Manchester United has

history, but our mentality is to

compete and try to win the game.

Man United is not my problem.



" Pochettino, whose team have won

back-to-back matches since losing

the Capital One Cup final to

Chelsea, has no new injuries to

contend with.


Fire At Abuja INEC Office

There was a minor fire incident at Independent National Electoral Commission’s Electoral Institute in Abuja on Saturday night.



However, the fire was contained swiftly and no harm whatsoever was done to electoral materials.



The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, Mr. Kayode Idowu, confirmed the incident.



He also said the fire didn’t affect any electoral material.



http://ift.tt/1G7Pryv


"I don't have any budget attached to my office, come and probe me' - Patience Jonathan


First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan says she is ready to be probed following accusations from some quarters that her office is funded from the federal budget. She said this while speaking at the PDP Women rally in Edo state yesterday March 14th.

"Mrs. Jonathan is the first lady of this country. There is no budget, no constitutional rights. So if from tomorrow you hear Mrs. Jonathan is corrupt, am I holding your money? Are you giving me any budget ? I don’t have any budget attached to my office. Go and probe my office. Go and probe me and see whether there is any budget attached to my office. Go and probe and see whether there is any money they send to my office. I don’t touch your money. Whatever I have, I struggled for it. I worked for it. I suffered for it,” she said.




Chelsea Vs Southampton 1 - 1 - (LIVE)!

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has backed his players to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League elimination when they take on Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.



The league leaders drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday to exit Europe on away goals. Mourinho's sole focus is now on sealing the top-flight title, urging reporters at his news conference on Friday to direct their Champions League questions at Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger or Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, both of whom remain in the competition.



Despite their midweek setback, the Portuguese is confident Chelsea will be celebrating further domestic honours come the end of the season, having already lifted the Capital One Cup.



"The people who went out last Wednesday are the same who've been top of the league since day one," he said. "They are the same people who won the Capital One Cup and the same people who are going to win the Premier League."



Chelsea came from behind to earn a point at Southampton in December, with Eden Hazard netting the leveller after Sadio Mane had put the hosts ahead. They are the only team to have fallen behind to Southampton and avoided defeat.



Southampton were in the top four at the time, but have since fallen away to seventh, and manager Ronaldo Koeman admits he is envious of some of the league's bigger clubs, including Chelsea.



"They have the best players, the most money," he said. "They have all players of international quality in their squads.



"It's normal that they are one of the first five or six in the Premier League. It's always a bit jealous for the rest of the teams. Everton did it one time, Swansea went close to that and now we are close, but it's not easy to reach finally that high position between the big ones.



"We know that, but we try and we can't do any more."



John Obi Mikel (knee) is Chelsea's only absentee, while Southampton have no fresh injury concerns following their recent trip to Switzerland.



Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic,  Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy.



Southampton (from): K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gape, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, S Davis, Djuricic, Elia, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Mayuka, Pelle, Seager.



Match Appointments

Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: J Brooks, S Long Fourth Official: A Taylor



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Chelsea Vs Southampton 1 - 0 - (LIVE)!

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has backed his players to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League elimination when they take on Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.



The league leaders drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday to exit Europe on away goals. Mourinho's sole focus is now on sealing the top-flight title, urging reporters at his news conference on Friday to direct their Champions League questions at Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger or Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, both of whom remain in the competition.



Despite their midweek setback, the Portuguese is confident Chelsea will be celebrating further domestic honours come the end of the season, having already lifted the Capital One Cup.



"The people who went out last Wednesday are the same who've been top of the league since day one," he said. "They are the same people who won the Capital One Cup and the same people who are going to win the Premier League."



Chelsea came from behind to earn a point at Southampton in December, with Eden Hazard netting the leveller after Sadio Mane had put the hosts ahead. They are the only team to have fallen behind to Southampton and avoided defeat.



Southampton were in the top four at the time, but have since fallen away to seventh, and manager Ronaldo Koeman admits he is envious of some of the league's bigger clubs, including Chelsea.



"They have the best players, the most money," he said. "They have all players of international quality in their squads.



"It's normal that they are one of the first five or six in the Premier League. It's always a bit jealous for the rest of the teams. Everton did it one time, Swansea went close to that and now we are close, but it's not easy to reach finally that high position between the big ones.



"We know that, but we try and we can't do any more."



John Obi Mikel (knee) is Chelsea's only absentee, while Southampton have no fresh injury concerns following their recent trip to Switzerland.



Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic,  Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy.



Southampton (from): K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gape, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, S Davis, Djuricic, Elia, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Mayuka, Pelle, Seager.



Match Appointments

Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: J Brooks, S Long Fourth Official: A Taylor



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Cameroon suspends 2 senior army chiefs after 25 Boko Haram men die in detention


Two of Cameroon's Senior Army officers were suspended yesterday March 14th after 25 Boko Haram members died in detention. The Boko Haram members were arrested in Dec. 2014 during a raid of their camp and have since been in Cameroon prison. Cause of their death is unknown but according to Cameroon military, investigations is ongoing.


Photo: A Nairalander Chilling With Asa In Hamburg!

I have been to various concert Nigerian and international artists alike,i was in wizkid concert awhile back,and i wasn't surprised cos i wasn't expecting more from him anyway ..but the way he lip synced was embarrassing,all he did was bring girls with big booty on stage and lip synced all through,no live band no nothing!

So i heard Asa was coming to hamburg, my girlfriend got me d ticket 3 months in advance..was really pleased

cos she's one my favourite artist.

When we got to the concert yesterday,it was packed to the brim with white people.then i said to my girlfriend it will be a shame if I'm d only black guy in here considering the fact that hamburg is packed with black folks ...we looked around then she pointed there,a black girl; I'm like no she is missed!



At about 9p.m punkt Asa came out with her band,man she was beautiful! Her performance was out of this world, never knew she could dance too especially while performing to her Yoruba classics. .Meanwhile i was still looking around for my kind...then comes one of her hit songs "jailer",in d middle of it she said what i was thinking "is there any Nigerian in d building "?then some Large voices chorused from d back..we dey here oo! grin grin grin

After d concert,there where about 10 of us.We went back stage telling her security that we want to see our sister!about 10 minutes later she was with us chatting ,laughing cool cool..she is a very humble down to earth lady speaking in a crisp Nigerian accent mixed with yankee........

here are some photos and a video. .............P.S i didn't prove read,pls forgive any typo!


Chelsea Vs Southampton Today At 2:30pm

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has backed his players to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League elimination when they take on Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.



The league leaders drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday to exit Europe on away goals. Mourinho's sole focus is now on sealing the top-flight title, urging reporters at his news conference on Friday to direct their Champions League questions at Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger or Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, both of whom remain in the competition.



Despite their midweek setback, the Portuguese is confident Chelsea will be celebrating further domestic honours come the end of the season, having already lifted the Capital One Cup.



"The people who went out last Wednesday are the same who've been top of the league since day one," he said. "They are the same people who won the Capital One Cup and the same people who are going to win the Premier League."



Chelsea came from behind to earn a point at Southampton in December, with Eden Hazard netting the leveller after Sadio Mane had put the hosts ahead. They are the only team to have fallen behind to Southampton and avoided defeat.



Southampton were in the top four at the time, but have since fallen away to seventh, and manager Ronaldo Koeman admits he is envious of some of the league's bigger clubs, including Chelsea.



"They have the best players, the most money," he said. "They have all players of international quality in their squads.



"It's normal that they are one of the first five or six in the Premier League. It's always a bit jealous for the rest of the teams. Everton did it one time, Swansea went close to that and now we are close, but it's not easy to reach finally that high position between the big ones.



"We know that, but we try and we can't do any more."



John Obi Mikel (knee) is Chelsea's only absentee, while Southampton have no fresh injury concerns following their recent trip to Switzerland.



Chelsea (from): Blackman, Cech, Courtois, Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe, Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Cuadrado, Fabregas, Hazard, Matic,  Oscar, Ramires, Willian, Costa, Drogba, Remy.



Southampton (from): K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gape, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, S Davis, Djuricic, Elia, Isgrove, Mane, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Long, Mayuka, Pelle, Seager.



Match Appointments

Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: J Brooks, S Long Fourth Official: A Taylor



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APC Governorship aspirant in Kogi state die in fatal accident


APC Governorship aspirant in Kogi state, AbdulAziz Omeiza Aliyu (pictured above) and his younger brother, Salmanu Adeiza Aliyu lost their lives in a fatal road accident that happened at Jere town along Kaduna – Abuja federal highway yesterday March 14th.



A family spokesman, Abubakar Aliyu said the 36 year old politician was returning from Abuja to Kogi with his younger brother when the chattered vehicle they were riding in got involved in the accident. All occupants in the car died. Continue...



According to the family spokesman

“Omeiza spoke with his father around 1.30pm Saturday few minutes into the ill fated journey and barely half an hour, we received the shocking and sad news of his demise from a samaritans from the scene of the accident. From the report we received none of passengers on the ill fated Sharon car survived and they have been given mass burial at location at Jere town”.

Speaking on his children's death, Alhaji Momohjimoh Aliyu said he has taken the incident as an act of God ” I have accepted it as an act of God. They are from God and they have returned to Him at appointed time and on our part we have accepted it as an act of God” he said.


TV journalist Adaure Achumba gets engaged + tells their love story


Award-winning TV journalist Adaure Achumba got engaged to her man Wesley Ballance yesterday March 14th. Wes popped the question as they celebrated her birthday with friends in the US. They met in college in 1999 but were just friends, and only reconnected late last year and are now engaged. Amazing. Big congrats to my dear friend! See more photos and Adaure's love story after the cut...









Adaure's story which she shared on instagram

"LongStoryButHereIsShortVersion He proposed on the spot we first met in fall 1999 by the volleyball court at Criage Hall dorm @UNCchapelHill...i started randomly and typically started smack talking with his then random college kid @wesballance who said to me "Girl I'm Gonna Marry You" ...and in dismissed him in a very Nigerian manner just thinking he was just joking around and flaterring me...really who says that on first meeting...in my head i was like #Hiss #AbegGuyComotForRoad. Lol. We became friends and hung out in the same crew. We went bar hopping on #FranklinStreet and a few games. I failed my first semester cos i was always hanging out with him and @kidkhome and the rugby boys at the pit in front of Lenoir Cafeteria. I had a crush on him and enjoyed his company and he had a crush on me but i was just too green in the romance department to read the signs and he thought i was the biggest #IceQueen #GoodyTwoShoe #TotalNigerianPrincess #AintGotTimeForThat.The biggest irony in this my not so simple love story is i ended up dating another guy with the same first name and he my french tutor. We moved on and graduated but stayed friends...Fast forward to Fall 2014 (Tell you what...immo skip that part for the wedding) and now here we are 💖💖💖...i even got punked for the proposal so there is a hidden_surprise cam video by @dr_adeyanju #BestBirthdayEver