Gov. Oshiomhole Escapes Death.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday survived an assassination attempt when gunmen attacked his motorcade in the state.

The governor was on his way back from Usen town after a visit to the traditional ruler at about 6pm when the attack took place. The incident was confirmed by the state commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion.

The unidentified gunmen opened fire on the governor’s convoy after the security details stopped to move a barricade set up by the gunmen. The Security agents were able to shield the governor and other government functionaries to safety without any casualties.

According to Odion, the Edo State Government condemns the latest assault on the governor and accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state of being behind the attack.

“The state government wishes to enjoin the good people of Edo to remain calm and be law-abiding, so as not to play into the hands of those bent on plunging the state into anarchy to escape imminent defeat at the polls” he added.

*Source: Citizens Platform*

UNILAG Wins First Round, As Court Grants Injunction.

A Federal high court judge in Ikeja has restrained the Nigerian president from changing the name of the University of Lagos, a 52-year old school widely known as UNILAG.

Justice Stephen Adah granted the interim injunction sought by students and alumni of the institution.

The plaintiffs had filed a lawsuit against the university’s governing council, the Senate, office of the AGF and the Nigerian National Assembly.

On May 29th 2012 President Goodluck Jonathan arbitrarily renamed the university after Bashorun MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the military junta led by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

However in the course of street protests students and alumni of the university resisted the name change leading to the closure of the university.

The court has adjourned further hearing in the case till July 4.

*Source: SaharaReporters*

Mubarak, Former Egyptian President Reported Clinically Dead.

Hosni Mubarak has reportedly suffered a stroke in prison and is reportedly “clinically dead”, according to sources who have spoken to Reuters.

The 84-year-old ousted Egyptian president, who is serving a life prison sentence, was in a “critical” condition and has been placed on a respirator. The state news agency, MENA said earlier Mubarak’s heart stopped and a defibrillator was used to restart it.

It later reported that the prison authority has called in his doctors to treat his stroke in “a fast deterioration of his health” and that they were giving him medications to break up blood clots.

A prison official said doctors reported that Mubarak has fallen unconscious.

MENA also reported he will likely be moved in the next hours if his health deteriorates. It denied Mubarak has fallen unconscious and said he has not yet been moved out of the prison hospital.

Moving Mubarak out of prison will likely anger many in the public, where there is a widespread suspicion that security and military officials sympathetic to their old boss are giving him preferential treatment. The public is already stirred up over recent decisions by the ruling military council that have stripped the incoming president from most of his powers, further enshrining the powers of the military. Tens of thousands gathered in Tahrir Square on Tuesday to protest the new decisions.

Mubarak was sentenced to a life in prison on June 2 for failing to stop the killing of protesters during last year’s uprising against him. He was transferred to prison after spending months in a military facility in detention. Officials have since repeatedly reported his health was deteriorating.

Since his arrival at the prison directly after his sentencing, Mubarak has been suffering from high blood pressure and breathing difficulties and deep depression, according to prison officials. His lawyer said he didn’t trust the doctors and appealed for his transfer to a better equipped hospital.

*Sourced from AFP*

Police Search Farouk Lawan’s Home, Seize Passport, $10,000.

Indications emerged yesterday that the police searched the home of Farouk Lawan in a bid to recover the $620,000, which is at the centre of the controversy between him and Femi Otedola.

A source close to the lawmaker said that the police barred Lawan’s lawyers from witnessing the search of his home, although his wife and children were present during the raid.

Details of what they took away from the lawmaker’s Apo Legislative Quarters were not made public, but it was learnt that his diplomatic passport was seized by the police.

The source said that the police however, accorded respect to the lawmaker throughout his stay with them.

Meanwhile, the search conducted by the police in Lawan Farouk’s house reportedly led the discovery of $10, 000, which the police claimed was part of the bribe funds.

But the lawmaker maintained that the money was part of the money he recently came back with from one of his overseas trips.

He maintained that the money was not marked.

It is not known how much was found on the home of Lawan’s former clerk, Mr. Boniface Emenalo.

Reacting to the development in the House yesterday, the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, said that it would have been impossible for him to draw the a whopping sum of $372, 207,990  without importing petroleum products.

Otedola said that the amount of foreign exchange collected by his firm stood at $372, 207, 990 and not $323, 975, 385.13 claimed by the House committee on subsidy probe.

“They should go and amend the report to read $372, 207, 990, which is the correct figure,” Otedola said.

*Culled from LEADERSHIP Newspapers.*

We Are All G.A.Y!

Sexuality is a touchy subject all over the world, more-so in Africa where such subjects are almost seen as taboo. On twitter, Babatunde Rosanwo got more than he bargained for when he questioned the decision of Covenant University authorities in expelling a final year student for allegedly engaging in lesbian conduct. The institution is a faith-based university located in Ota, Ogun State, and founded by a highly respected Bishop David Oyedepo.

A number of tweeps reacted by upbraiding the university authorities’ conduct, while majority of respondents supported the action describing the ‘offence’ committed (by the student) as unnatural and un-African. Some even went as far as suggesting the lady should be killed for her indiscretion.

There are several questions which I’d like to bring to the fore: Is it right for a ‘faith-based’ school operating under the constitution of Nigeria to trample on one’s right to freely express her sexuality? What good would her expulsion from the institution do to her psyche? Did she in any way coerce her fellow students into engaging in homosexual acts? Since she was the only one expelled, did she practise the act with herself? Has she been subjected to psychological evaluation or counselling before resorting to expulsion? Do the school rules and regulations supersede that of the Nigerian Constitution? The terse public statement released by the school did little to answer these questions and more.

Reading through Rosanwo’s timeline and digesting people’s contribution to the subject did not faze me one bit. Majority of Nigerians are intolerant of others’ idiosyncrasies, let alone a seemingly exotic sexual orientation. To us, anyone who engages in acts of homosexuality is an unbeliever (or infidel, depending on the faith one professes).

The Bible is clear in its position on homosexuality and I unreservedly subscribe to its stand. But the problem lies in the fact that we selectively define what is sin and what is not depending on how it relates to us. We manage to ignore the dead log in our eyes while we deride the proverbial speck in our neighbour’s eye.

The prevailing argument against homosexual practice among the responders was the fact that it ‘negates the natural order of sexual relations’ with many quoting the well-worn “Adam and Steve” cliché. By our warped estimation, corruption, adultery, pre-marital sex, lying, and gossiping are lesser sins compared to homosexuality and incest. Can you explain what is natural in the inordinate proportion of married individuals (especially men) who engage in extra-marital affairs with their innocent spouses at home getting the “just pray he changes” advice from friends and relatives? What is natural about our propensity to blame rape victims for being at the wrong place or/and indecently dressed, therefore deserving her comeuppance of sexual assault, not minding her emotional scar and stolen dignity?

As free citizens, every Nigerian has a right of choice as it relates to sexual orientation as long as it does not infringe upon the right of others. Homosexuality will remain legal in the country until a bill criminalizing it is signed into law by the government. Since various studies have shown that homosexuality is an acquired trait (not genetic) and “there is a strong evidence as to family dynamics in the development of homosexuality”; re-orientation can only be achieved by showing love and taking time to understand the anomaly. You do not change a person by condemning and judging them. An issue that is not understood can never be changed, rectified, or even accommodated.

Condemning others and outwardly posturing ourselves to be better individuals will not help the development of our faith. Even Jesus Christ spared the prostitute and condemned the Pharisees’ pseudo-piety. Let’s come together to properly identify the problems plaguing us as a society and proffer lasting solutions. We must be wary of joining the fanatical mob of hypocrites whose stock in trade is shouting “Crucify him, crucify him” at every opportunity. Because, whether we admit it or not, we are all GAY (Guilty Ass Youths).

Covenant University Expels Homosexual Student.

The University authorities of Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, has expelled a 22-year old final year student of the University on grounds of lesbianism.

The University Administration officer who spoke with Hope For Nigeria said that the student’s activities and unquenchable desire for other ladies was disturbing and embarrassing to the university.

He regrets the decision but said that sexual orientation and exploits does not give a faith-based university like Covenant, a good name.

*Culled from http://www.news2.onlinenigeria.com*

Dana Air Crash: Loud Silence Engulfs The Levi Ajuonuma Household.

The silence in the home of the late Levi Ajuonuma, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) eerie. 

“We still don’t accept that he is dead,” said a family member who refused to give his name.

At the entrance of his Omodara Estate home in Opebi, guests were thoroughly screened before they were allowed in.

The late Ajuonuma is one of the victims of the ill-fated DANA Airline flight that crashed into some residential buildings in Iju-Ishaga, Agege, Lagos. 

Ms. Sarah Ajuomona, a PR official with Mobil and the second daughter of the deceased, told The Nation: “Sorry, we shall issue a press statement tomorrow (today). At the moment, this is like a dream and until we are able to confirm certain things, we are not talking to anyone.”

She added: “I am attending to you because of the civil way you approached me. If not, I would have asked that you are made to leave the same way we sent out a TV reporter who just came in and started setting up her camera. This is a very sensitive moment for us and I beg you all, media people, to please appreciate that. So, you may leave now.” 

Also asked for her mother, Sarah said: “She’s upstairs sleeping. It has been very devastating and shocking for her. So, we ask her to stay upstairs for her to be stabilised until we know the actual situation of things. She can’t speak to anyone yet. But like I said, we shall issue a press statement tomorrow.”

A man, who introduced himself simply as Tony and a second cousin of the late Ajuonuma, said:  “We plead with you to leave. And try not to misquote any family member please because we are not talking yet. I shall shortly be leaving for the hospital with some other family members to see if we can identify his body at the hospital where they are being taken to. But that’s about it for now. We are not admitting journalists into the house for now.”

On the flower-laden terrace of the house sat a few people looking forlorn and talking in hushed tones. The patio, decked with various sizes of flower pots and palm trees, has two sets of canopies. Under the fixed awning shelter to the left of the entrance sat a few guests on cane seats. And the one in the middle of the yard, has white set of plastic chairs.

In front of the chairs, a black table covered with red silky clothe, had the picture of the late Ajuomona placed on it with a condolence register in which about forty-eight people had signed in, at the time The Nation reporter scanned through the pages. 

Also inside the dark-lit living room sat a handful of women, but no reporter was allowed beyond the porch. Some members of his church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) came in a white Toyota Hiace bus with number plate DA 178 MUS. None of them was willing to speak with reporters. 

By 2.12pm, Tony and about three men drove off in a maroon-coloured vehicle to visit the hospital to see if they could identify the remains of the late Ajuonuma.

*Culled from The Nation online.*
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Cargo-plane Crash in Accra, Ghana.

There are confirmed reports that a Nigerian Cargo-plane, operated by Allied Airline, has crashed while trying to take off in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

The details of the incident is still unclear but we gather the airplane hit a bus loaded with people. The crew of the plane are injured but same cannot be said of the occupants of the ill-fated bus.

A local news channel, Peace FM says, “ten people have perished in the wreckage”.

788 Sacked Lagos Doctors Recalled.

Monitored reports indicate that the 788 sacked public hospital doctors in Lagos have been recalled after the intervention of former governor of Lagos, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Both Gov. Fashola and Tinubu rose from a meeting to speak on the decision. However, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Lagos State governor, said the decision to recall the doctors followed several pleas from the national and state leaders of the Action Congress Party (ACN), traditional leaders in the state and other concerned leaders in the country.

Details of the agreement remain sketchy but we shall bring it to you as events unfold.

More later…

UNILAG Students Protest Name Change.

Reports reaching of us indicate that thousands of students of the University of Lagos are protesting the change of name of the school announced this morning by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The students are chanting anti-government slogans, saying the president’s decision is the worst he had ever taken. They vowed to resist the renaming of the institution.

The protesters are heading towards the school gate and are about pouring into the streets.

The school was renamed after the late businessman, politician and philanthropist.

*PremiumTimes*