May-May Nwa' Africa

Biafrans Storm Trump Tower U.S Calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s Immediate Release (See Photos)

Some members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) took their campaign to another level after storming the popular Trump Tower (the abode of US president-elect, Donald Trump) in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

According to the pro-Biafra supporters who flew their flag -they were there in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, who is being held over treasonable felony against the Nigerian government, and they demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

FG To Begin Payment Of N5,000 To Unemployed Youths In 2017

The Federal Government has started the payment of N30,000 monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme, the job creation programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Laolu Akande, the senior special assistant, media and publicity, office of the vice-president, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, December 30, stating that: “all successfully verified beneficiaries who have provided bank accounts are being processed for payment’’.

According to him “some beneficiaries will receive their first stipends on December 30.’’

Akande said the process of payment would continue after the New Year public holiday, urging beneficiaries of subsequent batch of the scheme to take their virtual training seriously.

He also encouraged states who had yet to conclude the physical verification process to do so, “as that would enable the N-Power beneficiaries in those states to draw from its benefits & empowerment offers.’’

The N-Power programme is designed to engage the massive numbers of unemployed Nigerian graduates from tertiary institutions across the country.

The unemployed graduates selected for the N-POWER programme are given assignments that will help to address issues in schools, hospitals and other areas in communities across the country.

A total of 150,000 out of the 200,000 selected in the first phase of the scheme would be deployed as support teachers to help address shortage of teachers in schools at the basic and secondary levels.

Another 30, 000 graduates would work as extension workers in various communities which will expectedly aid the government’s diversification agenda.

Meanwhile, the federal government has confirmed the release of N25billion funds for the payment of N5,000 monthly stipends to unemployed graduates.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed said, the funds were for the social intervention programmes of the administration and she added that an additional N40billion would also soon be released to the initial N25billion.

Buhari Congratulates Enyi Of Aba, Eze Ikonne @88

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with His Royal Highness, Dr Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba, as he turns 88 years on January 1, 2017.

A statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Saturday, Buhari joined the government and people of Abia, the Abia State Traditional Council and Ohaneze Ndigbo in celebrating the octogenarian.

The President noted that 42-year reign of the Celebrant had witnessed tremendous improvement in community relations, peace and prosperity of his domain, Aba.

President Buhari extolled the sterling leadership qualities of the royal father, which had over the years earned him the position of the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo Traditional Rulers, and other numerous recognitions and awards.

He affirmed that Eze Ikonne’s entrepreneurial spirit and large heartedness in helping the underprivileged made him an exemplar to younger traditional rulers.

He also acknowledged that the royal father had demonstrated uncommon loyalty, commitment and patriotism in nation building by counseling many governments, and mobilizing his citizenry for civic duties.

President Buhari prayed that the almighty God would grant the royal father longer life, good health and more wisdom to serve his people and humanity.

Dr Ikonne is one of the oldest traditional rulers in the South East and the first to receive staff of office in the old Imo State.

Just In : Commotion As Delta Traffic Officer Bites A Motorist (Photos)

Flying Eagles & Gombe United Defender Uzama Douglas Shot Dead In Benin

Gombe United defender Uzama Douglas was shot dead in Benin City by armed men believed to be cultists on Thursday.

The murder of Uzama is the second tragedy to hit the domestic football scene in the last three months after Shooting Stars central defender Izu Joseph was shot dead.

A close friend of the former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles invitee said that the left back was shot in Benin City and declared dead on arrival in hospital.

“He was still on break in Benin City and was yet to resume for the new season,” the friend said.

“He went out with friends when some cult boys carried out an attack against them. He was shot and that was it.

“The killers fled and left my friend in cold blood.”

A top official at Gombe United said the club was shocked by the death of the player.

“The Gombe United family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our defender Uzama Douglas,” he said.

“This is a sad loss to Uzama’s family, Gombe United and the nation.”

“IK Borrowed N10,000 Because Of Me” – Sonia Ogbonna

Nollywood actor, Ik Ogbonna’s wife, Sonia has revealed in her recent blogpost how her husband borrowed N10,000,

the day she came to Nigeria so he could get her from the airport.

Read below:

‘Broke Days: My Husband and I Started With N10k

This is a story I’m sure many of you guys don’t know about and I really feel like it’s time to share it with you today,as this year is coming to an end.

Just for a second, looked back at my life,this 2016 that is almost gone and my heart started beating faster because I realized how far we have come. Gratitude I feel makes me wanna cry because God is indeed great. He never fails.

I’m writing this with intention to awake that positive energy of hope and faith in you before we enter this brand new year and make you believe that miracles truly happen when there is Love,Gratitude and Peace in our hearts to invite it in.
Most of you think that my life in Nigeria was nothing but glamorous story,followed by mad parties,red carpet events and comfortable life since I “got me” a Naija celebrity boyfriend. Lol..If you guys only knew..

The day I came to Nigeria to see Ik,he went to BORROW N10k (which was equal to $50 at that time) just so he can get me from the airport.
Yes guys.
That is the very naked truth.

We met in not so ideal circumstances.
To be very sincere with you,in any other case ,”normal” me would probably carry my load and go after realizing that I can’t have as comfortable life as I pictured (heeey,did I really came all the way to Nigeria to suffer with all those lavish millionaires and oil tycoons around ?Chineke God, I don dey crase?Lol).

Average African Man’s confidence is normally backed up with money and wealth he posses. It’s all about what they can do for you or what they can give you that makes them so proud and confident to approach even the most beautiful women on planet earth . Mathematics is simple: no money – no confidence at all.
But then i met Ik. A young man with who was not wealthy,without a big family name but,guys ,the way he was confident.Not arrogant.Confident. That sexy mind blowing confidence.Not only that.There was potential. There was a fire in that man’s eyes. Pure determination. Heart of a lion. But so pure and so kind. So honest. Real. Intelligent. Wise.Capable.

There was a man who eventually became my best friend,who knew my dirty secrets and the naked truth about me and still loved me when I did not even know if I love myself. A woman feels that once in a lifetime.

My common sense has left me so I was there to follow my heart.
Then it got to my head: We could actually have it all.
He loved me from day one. For sure I know. But he was still a man. That’s why he felt bad that he can’t give me the world he thinks I deserve.I felt his pain.
I looked at him one day. I knew he felt helpless at some point. Told him “Ik ,when I look at you I see a billionaire.You better start acting like one.” Later on he told me that was somethings I said that completely changed his life.

He loved me for who I am,I believed in him when he had nothing. And that was unconditional. I guess that’s when magic happens.

But let me be honest again: It was not an easy journey at the beginning.
Me,Sonia,”Fine girl”,that was always getting things effortlessly everywhere I go.
Secondly in my whole life I was alway running away from commitment.At all this did not make me feel right. I was afraid that I won’t get to live life that I alway wanted.I felt like I had to sacrifice it for sake of some Love like that.For Christ sake,I run away from my home to have a better life then my parents did,not to find myself in the same old shit.
We had ups and downs.
But then things started changing.
How?
I’m far from a perfect woman,but I realized I had a one very special superpower: my words can change lives. I can speak words into existence!
I started speaking life into him. I was telling him about our future.I stopped complaining. Instead on what we did not want,I started refocusing our energy on what we wanted to happen. We stopped talking about bills,lack of money or things we was not capable of doing at that time. Instead,we were talking about cars we gonna drive,places we will travel to,businesses we will run. I didn’t nag,or rub things in his face.It was all about creating a right mental picture.Gradually we broke all the limitations because we stopped feeding our worries and fears with complains and bad emotions.We created a new norm: there was no chance you could ever hear us using word “broke”.I understood one thing : you must act according things you want to attract,not opposite. Act like you already own it.

I would look at this young man…Nothing he can’t do. It was only a matter of encouragement and motivation.
That was the key that got all the doors open.
In one year only he started working almost every day of his life,he got big endorsements,flattering awards and nominations,participated in over 30 movies. Somehow things just start falling into place.We got a beautiful,healthy baby boy.
Second year we got another car. I actually got a car I was always dreaming of. This year we moved to a beautiful,new house. We have started several businesses,sorted out our family company and he produced 2 movies on his own.
All the hard work started paying of.From 0 to 100. Literally.

But do you know what? From this point of my life,I am actually endlessly grateful that we met in time we were both on zero. I think that was what built our foundation strong. He did not won my love with cars and luxury gifts. And he knew all my flaws. And we still had deep love and honest friendship between us.Plus now we can brag how we started from the bottom and now we here (lmao) .

But for real,there is nothing that can make a bond and friendship stronger then a process of building a life from scratch. You watch someone’s life changing just in front of your eyes.That is magical.You know that even without everything,there was always something.We held our hands with N10k and we still do when things got way better .
At times I take things I have now for granted,forgetting how hard I used to pray for them back in the days,and now ,by sharing this with you I feel so damn guilty because a life I live now can’t possibly be compared to one I had only 3 years ago.

So please fam,let’s start this beautiful year with a right kind of attitude. Faith. Gratitude.
Believe in your choice and in yourself. Do not compare yourself to other people’s lives,but wish them well.

And settle for your blessings,confess them everyday,with love and peace in your heart. Do not fear,you are not alone.

And please do let me know when your life starts changing.
I want to rejoice with you.’

Apostle John Suleman’s 50 Prophecies For 2017

President of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle John Suleman has released his prophecies for the year 2017 and they are 50 in number. A summary of the prophecies, with focus on Nigeria and the world at large, is as follows:

1. I see terrorism on the increase
2. Federal Government of Nigeria should not relax yet on Boko Haram. It’s a deception.
3. Buhari to face impeachment threats.
4. America and China to have major face-off
5. Crude Oil to flow in Northern Nigeria.
6. Abuja to experience major fire explosion. Continue....
7. Donald Trump to face impeachment attempt as members of congress are divided on his style of leadership.
8. I see an airplane that has Nigeria’s logo (national carrier)
9. Things will pick up a bit in Nigeria but hunger will persist.
10. I saw people crying over Bamanga Tukur
11. Buhari will be bereaved in 2017.
12. Ecobank, Diamond, Fidelity, GTB to retrench staff.
13. President Buhari’s health needs attention.
14. 2017 budget will have crises.
15. More judges to be humiliated.
16. MMM to dupe more Nigerians and I see court cases.
17. Dollar to exchange for N615.
18. Recession in Nigeria to become depression in 2017
19. MTN and Glo to face hardship.
20. A former First Lady of Nigeria needs prayers over her health.
21. Forces in Aso Rock planning to poison current First Lady (Aisha Buhari)
22. I saw huge number of Chibok girls released; some of them with kids
23. Nnamdi Kanu’s detention to cause international crises. God is angry with Buhari for the continued detention.
24. Donald Trump to favour Israel. American Embassy in Israel to be moved to Jerusalem.
25. Liberian election: CONTINUITY.
26. Ghana’s new president to send many to jail.
27. Buhari and Senate to have crucial disagreement.
28. Nigeria’s Budget will be delayed.
29. I see killings in Ekiti.
30. EFCC to come after National Assembly members in Nigeria in a politically motivated arrests because of their refusal to confirm Magu.
31. I see kidnappers entering schools.
32. Nigeria will lose a great man of God and the New Year is when the Nigerian government will fight the Church like never before.
33. Some terrorists will be arrested in Lagos.
34. Traditional rulers indicted and arrested for corruption.
35. Lufthansa, Dana Air, Ghana Air, Aero Contractors… I see staff protests.
36. America to have financial crises.
37. A serving cabinet minister in Nigeria will die.
38. Nigeria to secure foreign funds.
39. Doctors will embark on strike in Nigeria.
40. A new mega party in Nigeria will swallow up APC.
41. I see a new leadership for the APC in Nigeria.
42. I see the DSS being taken to court.
43. France, Spain, Russia to pray against train going off the rail.
44. I saw a huge school building collapse.
45. Nollywood to pray. They will get help but will lose two major people. The Yoruba movie industry too; but prayer can avert it.
46. Fulani herdsmen again! Taraba, Benue, Imo and Jigawa states.
47. Kogi State to organise state prayers to avoid major deaths and natural disasters.
48. Edo State; major celebration but pray against road crashes.
49. I see presidents being removed in Africa, I see presidents being installed.
50. Two times, Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, will face removal from office. They will alienate him and they will make attempts to remove him. But God will humble Buhari in 2017.

Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz, Toke Makinwa Spotted At Stephanie Coker’s Traditional Wedding

Media Personality, Stephanie Coker and her beau, Olumide Adenirokun got married traditionally on December, 30, 2016.

The on-air personality’s traditional marriage took place in Lagos. She features in Tinsel, popular Nigerian TV Series as ‘Feke’.

Tiwa Savage, Tee Billz, Toke Makinwa, Beverly Naya, Anna Banner, Osas Ajibade, Ehiz and other celebrities were in attendance.

See photos:

Wife Plans With Police Lover To Kill Greek Ambassador.... The Confession

Police in Brazil say the Greek ambassador to the country was killed by a local police officer who was having an affair with the envoy's wife.

Kyriakos Amiridis had been missing since Monday. His body was found in a burnt-out car on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday.

Police say the ambassador's Brazilian wife, Francoise Amiridis, plotted the murder with her lover.
Sergio Gomes Moreira Filho confessed to strangling him to death, police said.

Ms Amiridis, 40, has been detained along with Mr Moreira, 29, and his cousin, Eduardo Melo.
Mr Melo is said to have been paid about 80,000 reais ($25,000; £20,000) to act as a lookout.
'Crime of passion'

The three suspects have been questioned and will be held in police custody for another 30 days.
Investigator Evaristo Pontes Magalhaes described the murder as "a tragic, cowardly act," which police are treating as "a crime of passion".

"Francoise initially denied the facts. She said she had nothing to do with that. We managed to make her see that she had no alternative and that there was no point in continuing to deny it," said Mr Magalhaes at a press conference.

"She fell into contradictions, burst into tears and began to say that the police officer [Sergio Moreira] had carried out her husband's murder," he added.

Mr Magalhaes said Mr Moreira had a fight with the ambassador and ended up killing him when he went to confront the diplomat about claims of violence against his wife.

He said he acted in self defence. But Brazilian police have dismissed his statement.

They say the policeman's cousin confessed to moving the ambassador's body and gave full details of the plot to murder Mr Amiridis, implicating both Mr Moreira and Mrs Amiridis.

International Observers To Monitor IPOB Leader Kanu’s Court Session

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Friday said international observers would monitor the court session of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, coming up on January 10, 2017.

The group called on its supporters and freedom fighters to be in court that day to see things for themselves.

In a press statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said among those that would observe the court session in Abuja were International Human Rights Groups, International Media organisations, and other foreign observers.

The group maintained that it had concluded arrangements with such foreign bodies.

The statement read in part, “All Indigenous People of Biafra family members are expected to be in Abuja on that day 10th of January 2017.

“This is to let the world know how formidable and resolute we are towards ensuring that justice is done in the case of our leader and to remind the world that the restoration of our God-given nation called Biafra is irreversible and on course.

“Therefore, we are expecting the entire members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Biafrans that reside in Abuja and its environs to be in court on that fateful day in Abuja to witness the court proceedings of the case between our leader and Muhammadu Buhari….”

punchng

See The 7 Deaths That Shocked Nigerian Football In 2016

The sporting fraternity will for long remember 2016 as the year the cold hands of death snatched some of its icons according to Premium Times.

The deaths, especially in the football family, brought tears and anguish to family, friends, and sports followers.

As part of 2016 year end review, we look at seven of Nigerian football’s most shocking losses in the outgoing year.

Stephen Keshi

Keshi, winner of the African Cup of Nations as a player and coach with the Super Eagles, died aged 54 on June 8.

The football legend passed away after a suspected heart attack in Benin City, South-south Nigeria.

During his illustrious career first as player, Keshi played in five different African Cup of Nations tournaments, captaining the Super Eagles team to their second continental success in 1994 in Tunisia.

He was instrumental as Nigeria made their maiden appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. where they reached the second round before losing in extra time to Italy.

Fondly called the Big Boss for his domineering influence on the sport in Nigeria, Keshi played professionally in Ivory Coast, Belgium, France, the U.S. and Malaysia.

Aside the Super Eagles, he also managed the national teams of Togo and Mali and was the only African coach to have guided two nations to qualify for the World Cup.

First appointed manager of the Nigerian team on November 2011, Keshi handled the Super Eagles over four spells, leading them to the 2013 African Cup of Nations title in South Africa.

Amodu Shuaibu

While Nigerians and African football were still getting to grips with the shocking news of the demise of Keshi, Coach Amodu Shuaibu, who was then the Technical Director for the Nigeria Football Federation, died three days later, also in Benin.

Shuaibu can be best described as “the man whose name is synonymous with the Super Eagles.”

He was head coach at different times with BCC Lions, El-Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars in Nigeria and Orlando Pirates of South Africa. He died in his sleep after complaining of chest pains over the night. He was known to be hypertensive and had rejected an invitation to once again take over the Super Eagles’ coaching job in February on this ground.

He first took charge of the national team in 1994 at the age of 36, and would be reappointed to the position three times more in 1999, 2001-2002 and 2008-2010. He guided the Super Eagles through the qualifiers for the 2002 and 2010 editions of the FIFA World Cup but was not allowed to lead the team to the tournaments.

Shuaibu also qualified the Beach Soccer National Team, Supersand Eagles, for the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, but did not lead the team at the finals as he refused to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He was the first Nigerian to qualify the Super Eagles for the FIFA World Cup, when with Keshi and Joe Erico as his assistants, he rescued the Eagles’ flagging campaign by guiding the team to win the last three qualifying matches, following the departure of Dutchman Johannes Bonfere, to reach the finals in Korea/Japan 2002.

Izu Joseph

The late Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan defender lost his life to the bullets of men of the military Joint Task Force, JTF while on an end of season visit to his hometown. Though initial reports suggested that the footballer was a victim of stray bullets, the family has insisted that he was felled by the trigger-happy military men.

Izu, a regular with the Oluyole Warriors in the Nigerian Professional Football League 2015/16 season, helped the team retain Premiership status before he was shot dead in Okaki in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chinedu Agwu

The year 2016 started on a sour note for Nigerian football with the news of the death following a protracted illness of Chinedu Agwu, a former Enyimba and Kaduna United goalkeeper.

Agwu died a few hours into the year. The 30-year-old shot stopper made waves at Kaduna United but did not enjoy first team opportunities after an ambitious move to Enyimba

Peter Ogaba

The former Nigerian youth international died at 42 after a brief illness in his home at Kurudu village in the Federal Capital Territory. Ogaba burst into limelight at a tender age. He was the youngest Nigerian player at the FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia in 1989 where the Flying Eagles then handled by Coach Tunde Disu lost in the final to Portugal. Ogaba had been the youngest player at Canada ’87 FIFA U-17 World Cup, at age 13.

During his active days, he played in KSC Lokeren in Belgium. He went on loan from Lokeren after sustaining a hamstring injury to Finland, FC Oulu, where he won the league.

Ogaba’s last known club was MSV Duisburg which he played for in the 1993/1994 season.

Ibrahim Abubakar

Until his brutal murder, Abubakar was head of protocol, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

He was shot dead by suspected armed robbers at his Abuja residence. The Kaduna-born football administrator was subsequently conveyed to his hometown where he was buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

Michael Umanyika

The young Nigerian footballer died on the field at Azerbaijani First Division club, Zagatala PFK. The 20-year old Umanyika reportedly slumped during his first training session with the team after returning from vacation in Nigeria, and could not be revived despite the medical team on ground. He had joined Zagatala PFK last season and made 20 appearances for the club.