PDP May Soon Die, Says Okupe

Doyin Okupe

The Senior Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says the Peoples Democratic Party may soon die. The former presidential spokesman said the PDP might go into extinction soon except the party undergoes a complete overhaul. Okupe said this in a Facebook post on Thursday.

He commended the PDP for the formation of a body headed by Chief Raymond Dokpesi to increase its membership. He, however, stressed that the PDP must embark on a complete overhaul if it must remain relevant in the next four years.

He said, “The time has come for the PDP, if it must remain politically relevant, to embark on a total overhaul and reform itself. It must engage Nigerians in a new coalition for the sole purpose of putting our dear country on the path to true, real and the enduring change that will, once and for, all establish us as a major global player, not pretenders that we presently are. The PDP must reform lest it dies, God forbids, a painful and insidious death.”

We Hid Cocaine In Arik Flight Meals – Attendant’s Accomplice

Oliver, Udensi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday said it had apprehended another employee of Arik Air, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of 20kg cocaine to London on Monday. According to the NDLEA, Oliver had confessed to the crime and had revealed that he charged N400,000 for each of the three bags containing the substance.

Oliver, Arik Air’s employee in the catering department, was said to have assisted Chika Egwu Udensi to get the cocaine onboard the London-bound Flight W3101 on which Udensi arrived in the UK on Monday night.

Udensi, a senior flight attendant with the airline was arrested with the substance by the UK Border Force at the Heathrow Airport, London, shortly after the Airbus A330 landed.

Fake Goldman Sachs Bank Found In China

Famous for making fake iPhones, Louis Vuitton bags and Rolex watches, China managed to surprise the world once again. A Goldman Sachs (Shenzhen) Financial Leasing Company was found operating in the country without any connection to the US investment giant.  "We don't have any connection with the US Goldman Sachs, we just picked the name out, and it's not intentionally the same,” a woman who answered the company's listed phone number told AFP.

Ecuador's President Says Country Now Producing Oil At A Loss

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa during a broadcast to the Nation at Carondelet government palace in Quito

Ecuadoreans are already contending with a rumbling, ash-spewing volcano and rising living costs because they use the appreciating U.S. dollar as their currency. Now they've been told that Ecuador's oil — its principal export and a vital source of government funding — costs more to produce than it earns. President Rafael Correa explained on Tuesday, during a visit to areas threatened by the Cotopaxi volcano, that it costs the OPEC nation US$39 to produce a barrel of oil for which it only receives US$30.

If crude prices remain below US$40 that could mean more budget cuts or higher taxes.

Ecuador produces 538,000 barrels a day and under current circumstances stands to lose up to US$3 million a day on them, though the state-owned Petroecuador oil company says it was profitable for the first half of 2015 because oil averaged US$47 a barrel.

NUC Blacklists 57 Varsities; Releases List Of Illegal Tertiary Institutions

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie (Image source: spurmag.com)

The National Universities Commission has released the list of 57 illegal degree awarding institutions operating in various campuses in the country. The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, warned that certificates obtained from the institutions would not be accorded recognition for the purpose of election and participation in the National Youths Service Corps.

The commission also commenced investigation into the activities of eight other illegal institutions which it said would be prosecuted soon.

Buhari Appoints SGF, Chief Of Staff; APC Leaders Angry As Buhari Appoints More Northerners

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appointed Babachir David Lawal, an engineer, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also announced the appointment of  Alhaji Abba Kyari as        Chief of Staff to the President, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi  as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

Other appointments include Senator Ita Enang as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu, SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

The appointments, the statement said, are with effect from yesterday.

US Warning On South Sudan

The US has warned South Sudan's leaders not to go against the peace deal that was signed by President Salva Kiir yesterday, aimed at ending the 20-month civil war. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the country would "hold to account those who would undermine the agreement or violate the ceasefire".

When President Kiir put his name to the agreement on Wednesday he said that he had "reservations" about some of its clauses.

The US has responded that it does not "recognize any separate reservations made about the agreement and expect all parties to abide by all elements of the final peace agreement".

Lagos Under Siege, Says Deeper Life

Pastor William Kumuyi (Image source: The Punch)

The Deeper Christian Life Ministry has said that Lagos State is under siege and needs urgent divine intervention. The ministry said the high rate of robbery, cultism, drug abuse and corruption, among other ills, could have totally destroyed the state, but for God’s grace.

The church stated this on Wednesday at Gbagada, Lagos, while announcing a city-wide crusade, organised by the ministry in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

Bitter Black Reporter Who Gunned Down White Ex-Colleagues Live On Air

The Twitter and Facebook accounts of Bryce Williams have been suspended

The disgruntled former news reporter who shot dead two of his ex-coworkers during a live TV segment this morning has died after committing suicide. Viewers of WDBJ, a small CBS affiliate in Moneta, Virginia, watched in horror this morning as Vester Lee Flanagan II shot dead 24-year-old reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, on live TV as the two were filming a light-hearted segment at 6:45am.

After carrying out the shocking on-air execution, Ward rented a car at the airport and then started driving east.

Okagbare Fails To Show Up For 200m

Blessing Okagbare

Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare on Wednesday failed to show up for the women’s 200m at the ongoing IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China. After her disappointing eighth-place finish in the 100m on Monday, Nigerians had hoped that the 2014 Commonwealth gold medallist would redeem herself in the 200m which she was billed to take part in.

But Okagbare did not start (DNS) in the Heat Three of the event.

NERC Says Corruption, Poor Budgeting Bedevilling Power Sector

Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, on Tuesday, blamed corruption and poor budgeting as the major impediments to the nation’s electricity sector. Amadi also clarified that “fixed charge has not been removed and cannot be removed by an ‘executive fiat’ unless it goes through a process by the regulator.” He was speaking at the opening of a two-day meeting of NERC and Industry Performance Management Officers of Generation and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The meeting was organized by NERC to present a template for effective project management to the electricity industry performance management officers in Abuja.

UPDATE: ‘N183b Not Missing From NDDC’

NDDC Headquarters, Port Harcourt

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dan Abia on Wednesday denied the allegation that N183.7 billion was missing from the commission’s account. The special periodic check report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation had claimed that N183.7 billion was mismanaged by the commission.

Rivers Panel Of Inquiry Adjourns Sitting Till August 28

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, to probe the immediate past administration of the former governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has adjourned sitting till Friday, August 28. The adjournment came with a threat to issue a warrant of arrest to any official of the former administration who refuses to honour its invitation.

This follows an earlier invitation of the former Commissioner of Agriculture of the former administration, Emmanuel Chindah that was not honoured.

Flash Floods Caused By Heavy Rain Kill 40 People In North Korea

Representational image. Reuters

Flash floods caused by heavy rain killed 40 people in North Korea's northeastern border area over the weekend, the International Federation of the Red Cross said Wednesday. Particularly heavy rain accompanying Typhoon Goni battered the Rason special economic zone where the borders of North Korea, Russia and China converge, the IFRC said in a statement.

The floods affected more than 11,000 people, with 153 houses completely destroyed and 849 houses damaged, it said, adding its report was based on information provided by North Korean authorities.

China Signs Deal With Africa's Richest Man, Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote's Chinese Deal

A Chinese state-owned engineering company has signed a deal worth US$4.3bn (£2.8bn) to build factories for a Nigerian cement company run by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote. China's Sinoma will build seven plants across the continent and one in Nepal. The new factories will add around 25 million tonnes to the firm's existing cement capacity of 45 million tonnes.

No Regrets Over Leaving Man City For Liverpool — Milner

James Milner: Players full of confidence (Image source: sportinglife.aol.co.uk)

James Milner has no regrets over leaving Manchester City for Liverpool in search of more playing time in his favoured central midfield role, the Liverpool Echo reported. The England international switched to Anfield from the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer during the close season despite City offering him a new contract.

"That is the decision I have made. I am delighted to have joined Liverpool and am enjoying every minute," the paper quoted the 29-year-old as saying.

First Bookfair In Mogadishu In 25 Years: Teen Author At Historic Somali Book Fair

Abukar Abdullahi Mohamed – Teen author (Image: Radio Dalsan)

As the Somali capital Mogadishu hosts its first ever international book fair, local station Radio Dalsan has tweeted this photo of 16-year-old Abukar Abdullahi Mohamed, who it says is the youngest author participating in the event.

The organizers of the event say the aim is to revive an appreciation for culture in a country devastated by more than two decades of conflict. The jihadist group Al-Shabab, which opposes many forms of Somali culture, continues to stage attacks in Mogadishu.

Obama Foundation Begins Search For Chicago Library Architect

HOK Unveils Plans for Biomimetic Barack Obama Presidential Library in Chicago

President Barack Obama's foundation has started the process of choosing an architect to design his presidential library. The foundation said Wednesday it has invited firms to submit their qualifications to design the Obama Presidential Center, which will be located in one of two sites on Chicago's South Side.

The centre will house Obama's presidential archives and an interactive museum about his presidency.

African Leaders Gather In South Sudan Peace Deal Signing

#UNMISS head Ellen Margrethe Løj arriving at the freedom hall for the #SouthSudan peace deal signing

Regional African leaders gathered in South Sudan's capital where President Salva Kiir was expected to sign a peace deal on Wednesday to end a 20-month conflict, after his decision last week to delay inking the pact. Kiir, who has led South Sudan since it seceded from Sudan in 2011, had asked for more time for consultations last week in the Ethiopian capital, drawing threats of U.N. sanctions if he failed to sign it within a two-week deadline.

South Sudanese Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the signing was expected to take place during the visit by African leaders to Juba but that Kiir would also list reservations about a deal that will see him sharing power with his long-time rival, rebel leader Riek Machar.

It follows months of on-off negotiations, hosted by Ethiopia, and several broken ceasefire deals.

Football Must Not Be Overlooked In FIFA Race — Platini

Michel Platini: I'll run for FIFA presidency - Watch Dog News

FIFA presidential candidate Michael Platini will publish his manifesto in the next six to eight weeks and wants to bring football back into the spotlight during the campaign, a source close to the Frenchman said on Wednesday. Although Platini, the UEFA president, agrees that reform of scandal-plagued FIFA has to be the priority in the run-up to the election on Feb. 26, he also believes it should not completely overshadow the sport itself, the source told Reuters.

Platini, who announced his intention to stand on July 29 and will hold his first media conference since then in Monaco on Friday, has spent the last few weeks meeting people outside soccer's European ruling body UEFA to test the water.