“To the most beautiful person in the world, thank you for your divine love, your eternal support and for being my best friend.”
This was contained in a sentimental letter billionaire businessman, Wissam Al Mana wrote to Janet Jackson on his website. That was a week after Janet Jackson separated from him.
He wrote further: “I love you so much, Insha Allah (which means “if Allah wills it”). We will be together in the Great Forever x.”
Earlier this month, a source close to 50 year old Jackson, confirmed to ABC News that she was splitting from Al Mana after five years of marriage. The source added that the two are not divorcing, but separating.
The news came just months after the singer gave birth to the couple’s first child — a son named Eissa Al Mana.
Jackson and Al Mana wed in 2012 in a secret ceremony that was revealed a year later by Jackson herself.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has described the Friday’s ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal, which affirmed the election of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the gubernatorial election in the state as laughable.
The State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who reacted to the judgment, said that the tribunal threw away the results obtained from the inconclusive ballot recount, saying: “for the first time ever, a judge redefined over-voting as a situation whereby the total number of votes cast exceeds the total number of registered voters. Is that not laughable? I think these are the salient issues that we will challenge.”
Chief Orbih said that the tribunal expected the party and its candidate to call over 2,000 witnesses within the 14 days allotted to prove its case, adding that it is strange that the tribunal agreed that in different units, presiding officers could adopt different standards in the conduct of same election and that there was no need for uniformity in the conduct of elections.
“Conduct of an election is not a free-for-all exercise where anyone is at liberty to apply his own discretion. What Justice Badamasi was simply saying was that whether the presiding officers followed the regulations or not did not matter.”
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi, had in a unanimous judgment thrown out the petition of the PDP and its governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for failing to support their pleadings with evidence as well as abandoning some pleadings in their petition. [myad]
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that treasury looters are now hiding their loots in graveyards, deep forests and backyards of their houses across the country.
He said that information about the new way of hiding the loots from the public has been revealed to the anti graft agency, particularly, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), by whistleblowers.
A statement by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi, quoted the minister as saying that whistleblowers have inundated the anti graft agencies with information regarding the activities of the treasury looters, adding that such monies would be recovered soon and accounted for.
Lai Mohammed commended the whistle blowing policy which he said is working and has led to the recovery of more looted funds in many currencies.
He assured that all the recovered looted funds were safe and government will give full account to Nigerians.
The minister thanked Nigerians for their enthusiasm and commitment in helping the government to tackle corruption through disclosure of useful leads to appropriate government agencies.
“Since we launched the whistleblower policy, we have received immeasurable support from Nigerians. Yes, there is monetary reward for any information that leads to recovery of looted funds, but from what we have seen, most of the Nigerians who have come forward with useful leads were driven by patriotism rather than reward.
”Nigerians, fired by a fervid resolve to help banish corruption from their country, have daily inundated the offices of the appropriate government agencies with valuable information.
“We have been told how looters have resorted to burying stolen funds in their backyards, in deep forests and even in burial grounds.
”Thanks to whistle-blowers, it is now clear that a rapacious few have pillaged the nation’s wealth through a vicious orgy of corrupt practices.”
The minister, however, noted that more funds were in the possession of looters than were available to government at all levels to meets its obligations, including paying workers’ salaries and providing social amenities.
He stressed that the government will not abandon the policy for whatever reason, but will continue to rejig it and make it more effective as a tool for fighting corruption.
The minister assured that as soon as the necessary reconciliation process and the litigation in some of the cases were concluded, government would give full account of the recovered looted funds to Nigerians
Lai Mohammed re-assured Nigerians who have useful information on looted funds that the government will protect their identities and give them their stipulated reward.
An Italian woman, adjudged to be the world oldest person, Emma Morano, aged 117, is dead. She died yesterday, Saturday afternoon.
Dr. Carlo Bava told the AP that she died while sitting in a rocking chair in her home, located in the Northern Italy town of Verbania.
“She didn’t suffer. I’m happy she didn’t suffer but passed away that way, tranquilly,” Bava said.
Born on November 29, 1899,Morano’s life spanned three centuries. She was believed to be the last-surviving person born in the 1800s after Susannah Mushatt Jones who was 116, of New York City and died in May 2016.
Morano was the oldest of eight children. Her siblings all preceded her in death, including a sister who lived to be 102.
She worked in a jute factory and at a boarding school kitchen. She retired at 75, more than 40 years ago.
She married Giovanni Martinuzzi in 1926 and in 1937, gave birth to her only child, who died just months later. She separated from Martinuzzi the next year, but never divorced him. [myad]
A first class traditional ruler, the Oniyani of Iyawo Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Joel Sunday Daodu, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
The kidnappers have already forwarded a demand of N15 million as ransom for the release of the monarch.
The monarch was said to have been kidnapped along Ose Oba Akoko axis of Ikare-Owo road almost the same spot where the Regent of Akungba Akoko, Princess Toyin Omosowon, was kidnapped about two years ago.
It was gathered that the monarch was riding in the same vehicle with his second in command when the abductors struck. [myad]
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engineer Saleh Dunoma has announced that 100 percent of all the critical items of work have been completed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, which has been closed in the last five weeks for rehabilitation.
He made it clear that the runway will be ready for operations from tomorrow, Monday, subject however to approval by the government..
Saleh Dunoma, who spoke to news men shortly after inspecting the facilities at the airport today, Sunday said: “we will be ready April 17 but we are leaving the remaining two days for Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“We have written to them and they will come by today (Sunday) to do the preliminary inspection. They have to certify the airport that what we have done is in accordance with their standards.
“They have to certify the airport that what we have done is in accordance with their standards. If there is any observation as a result of the inspection, we will now make sure we carry out corrections,” the FAAN boss said after inspecting the progress of work at the airport.
“All the critical items of work are 100 per cent except may be two items; which of course are the markings and the cleaning. “Asphalt work is 100 per cent, markings have reached almost 70 per cent and the airfield lighting system has reached 80 per cent.”
The FAAN boss said that the authority also used the opportunity provided by the closure of the airport to address other Airport Excellence in Safety (APEX) related items.
“We are now leveling all the airfield lightings’ locations, all the installations and flash with the ground surface.” [myad]
The efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at ensuring stability in the foreign exchange market may have started yielding results as the market is now awash with liquidity surfeit.
Experts noted that indications of excessive liquidity in the market emerged on Thursday last week when operators could only pick a little over $39 million out of the $100 million offered for bid by the apex bank.
According to market analysts, with this development, the Naira is set to firm up against major currencies like the Dollar and pound sterling during the week.
It will be recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria last week opened a special window for to enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access forex for the importation of eligible finished and semi-finished items not exceeding $20,000 for an enterprise per quarter.
That was in addition to the special intervention in the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market which resulted in each operator accessing $20,000 as against the earlier stipulated $10,000 per week.
Isaac Okorafor, the CBN spokesman said that the Bank’s special interventions were necessitated by its findings that a large number of SMEs were being crowded out of the forex space by large firms and also service genuine demand for invincible like tuition fees, medical a and personal/basic travel allowance. [myad]
Sheyyiha Bilqis, the wife of late spiritual leader of Tijjaniyyah sect in Islam, Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, is dead. She died yesterday, Saturday in Abuja, after a brief illness at the age of 77.
Sheyyiha Bilqis, born on 31st of December, 1939, was the daughter of the Nigerian first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, late Sheikh Abdulmaleek, who himself was the son of the first traditional head of Ebira land, Atta of Ebira land in Kogi State, Atta Ibrahim Onoruoiza. Her mother was Hajiya Amina of blessed memory.
The deceased got married to Sheikh Ibrahim Niass in Kaolack, Senegal, in 1954 when she travelled with her father to that country. The marriage was witnessed by her uncle, Sheikh Ahmad Rufai and several others. Sheyyiha once narrated the story of her birth and growing up, titled: My Birth, Upbringing and Marriage as follows:
Sunday 31st of December, 1939 equivalent to 21st of Zhul-Qidda, 1358 saw the fruit of that marriage between Alhaaj AbdulMalik Okene and Hajiya Amina, for on this day I came into this world as their third child. The prayers and love of my father for me started with my name Bilqis, he showered so much love for me that word of mouth couldn’t describe. He hardly travels without me; he went on his first Pilgrimage in 1947 with me when I was just 8 years not minding the inconveniences of children of my age.
When I say love, I mean caring and kindness and with these I grew up to love none but my father or whoever and whatever he loves, My obedience was therefore natural, I remembered one day, I was asked by my primary school girl-friends, “who would you like to marry when you grow up?,” I said: “Abubakar.”
This Abubarkar loves my father very well and was very close to him and because of this I mentioned him, but Abubakar was also the husband of my sister. So they said to me: “you can’t marry your sister’s husband.”
I replied: “then whoever my father loves to be my husband is my husband.”
They asked: “Even if such a person is physically disabled?”
I replied: “Even if he is physically disabled so far as is my father’s wish, I will love such a person.”
As a result of his deep kindness and care for me, I had this extreme love and intention of obedience for my father. My father later travelled with me to Kaolack, Senegal in 1951 to visit his Shaikh and the fruit and blessing of this Ziyara culminated into the showing of desire by Shaikh of his intention to marry me.
After our return to Nigeria, the likes of Shaikh Abubakar Atiku of Kano approached my father and disclosed to him the desire of Shaikh, then added: “Nigeria would be made proud if Shaikh married from us.”
Look, this was their habit, all the students of Shaikh saw themselves as one, not as Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani or Ebira, but as one tribe. This habit they learnt from Shaikh, who regarded the whole of Africa as one entity. He assists any of the Presidents of countries of Africa whenever the need arises, He assisted Seiko Tore of Guinea, Gamaal AbulNaser of Egypt; Sir Ahmadu Bello of Nigeria; Nkrumah of Ghana, etc.
This is Shaikh, whatever will be beneficial to mankind and he has the capacity to assist, he will. Finally in 1954, my father travelled again with me to visit Shaikh in Kaolack at which time Shaikh made a formal request to marry me in the presence of Shaikh Ahmad Rufai and immediately, the marriage was conducted. Note that my father never asked for my consent, for he knows that my mind was also with him. My fellow brothers and sisters understand this lesson: The sincere love of a parent to a child will make a child to completely trust his parent; nobody will sincerely love his child and would not always wish for the happiness and progress of that child. The most caring of mankind Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasallam has said on the authority of Abu Huraira as reported by Tabarani:
“Assist your children to be respectful; And whoever wishes, Can remove disobedience from his child.”
The remains of Sheyyiha Bilqis Ibrahim Niass will be buried today, Sunday at Okene in Okene local government of Kogi State at 2.00pm.
The Board, Management and Staff of Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters condole with the Ebira Muslim Ummah and the entire Ummah across the world for this great loss. May Allah grant her Aljanatil Firdausi. [myad]
“Wike has stolen Rivers State dry. Wike and his gang have frittered billions and billions of Naira of Rivers people money away. Rivers State is perpetually in crisis; the state is in a mess as Wike has made a total mess of governance in the State. That child who sits there as governor is confused, he doesn’t know what to do. Wike’s only solution is to attack Amaechi.”
These were the words of the former governor of Rivers state and current minister of transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi when he reacted to governor Nyeson Wike’s allegation that the $43 million found in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos belongs to him(Amaechi).
Governor Wike, in a suspicious, hurriedly arranged press conference yesterday, Friday night, told journalists that ‘the money belongs to Amaechi and also insinuated that the ‘houses’ in Ikoyi belong to the same Amaechi. In a statement released by his Media Office today, Saturday, Amaechi described the claims as malicious, frivolous and another failed attempt by Wike to divert attention from the mess he has created in Rivers State. Amaechi said that since Nyeson Wike became governor, he has been sleeping and waking up every day, with a sole, one-point agenda to attack and denigrate Rotimi Amaechi, no matter how ridiculous and silly he sounds.
“Every day in Rivers State, there is one frivolous, false story of what Amaechi did or didn’t do. Same pattern, the same blatant lies with no proof, same old concocted stories of corruption allegations against Amaechi told with different flavours.
“At this rate, if Wike is unable to perform his spousal duties, he will blame it on Amaechi. Yes, that’s how despicably low he can go in his consuming fixation to throw mud at Amaechi.” “This latest outburst by Wike is typical of him. We are aware that Wike first tried to float the fake news of Amaechi’s ownership of the recovered $43million and the Ikoyi house in the social media using his minions and lackeys, spending huge sums of Rivers money on the failed project. His minions and lackeys were calling journalists, bloggers and media organizations to run the fake story with promises of almost irresistible mouth-watering compensation for using the fake story. When that failed and the story didn’t gain traction that was when Wike decided to hurriedly hold the press conference Friday night, to rant and spew his outright lies, yet again without providing any proof of Amaechi’s ownership of both the property and the money.” “For clarity and emphasis, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not the owner of the $43million and the Ikoyi apartment in which the money was recovered from. Amaechi has no business, link or connection to the money or property. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi does not know who owns the money or Ikoyi apartment.” “Wike’s malicious allegation of corruption against Amaechi in the sale of the Gas Turbines is not new. This false claim has been punctured repeatedly with facts and evidence of the transfer payments for the power plants into Rivers State government accounts by Sahara Energy. The records of how the funds were spent and what it was spent on are in the records of the State government. Amaechi has absolutely no business or any interest whatsoever in Sahara Energy. The company was already a thriving business concern before Amaechi’s emergence as governor of Rivers State in 2007. “We urge all right-thinking members of the public to completely disregard all the false, politically motivated no-proof claims by Nyesom Wike and his minions as it concerns Amaechi and the $43million and Ikoyi property. The false accusations by Wike is purely diversionary, a political smear campaign against Amaechi by Wike, while he steals Rivers State blind. The fake claims are a figment of the imagination of Nyesom Wike, an ignoble fellow who’s so reckless, irresponsible, and disgraceful, and has debased the high office he holds in trust for the people. Wike is a rabble-rouser and should not be taken seriously. He has made several false claims like this in the recent past and never went the whole length to prove it because he had no proof. Many would recall how Wike was screaming all over national television stations just before the Rivers State legislative Rerun elections that he had an explosive video, containing earth-shaking revelations and he would show the video on national TV. Till date, no video, just talk talk and talk, telling more and more lies.” “Yet again, we challenge Wike to charge Amaechi to court if he has any shred of evidence that the money belongs to Rivers State and was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by Amaechi. But like his numerous frivolous accusations in the past, we know he won’t go to court. He has nothing to substantiate his blatant lies. This Wike’s recent tale like his previous ones is a big sham, a disgraceful political drama, and a campaign of calumny to defame and destroy the sterling reputation of Rotimi Amaechi. This is now Wike’s sole life ambition.” “Finally, we want Nigerians to note that Wike’s reckless, irresponsible and fictitious tirade against the President Buhari administration at his media briefing of Friday is a declaration of war against the Federal Government. This has been his regular past time in recent times, making false allegations against the Federal government and threatening the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone.” [myad]
North Korea has warned the United States that it is “ready to hit back with nuclear attacks,” and that it is also ready for an all-out war.
“We’re prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war,” said Choe Ryong-hae, the country’s second most powerful official.
“We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks.”
Choe Ryong-hae made the statement today, Saturday, as North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung. A huge parade in Pyongyang was held amid speculation current leader Kim Jong-un could order a new nuclear test, BBC reports.
Rows of military bands, goose-stepping and sword-wielding soldiers marched through Pyongyang’s main Kim Il-sung square for the “Day of the Sun” celebrations.
Kim Jong-un appeared relaxed, laughed with aides and saluted an honour guard and took his place on the podium.
Military planes created the number 105 in the sky.
Recall that North Korea recently called US President, Donald Trump “foolish.”
In response, Trump said that North Korea is “looking for trouble” and that he would ‘solve the problem.”
On Friday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that “conflict could break out at any moment,” and that if war occurred there could be no winner.
Unlike at previous Pyongyang parades, there did not appear to be any Chinese representatives present. [myad]
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