The Flying Wizard Who Crash-Landed [SEE PHOTO]

A man believed to be in his 70s, who claimed to be a wizard, was on Wednesday found on the banks of the Okrudu River at Kaimebre, a settlement near the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region Ghana.

The man, who gave his name as Charles Atta, looked frail, pale and bore protruding br**sts like that of a teenage girl.

His body was smeared with mud from the bank of the river where he was found by two brothers, Liberty Obeng and Innocent Obeng, who claimed they found the strange man crying for help.

The two brothers told Daily Guide reporters that the self-acclaimed wizard confessed to them that he was in the company of colleagues, including a medical doctor and were flying to Cape Coast for a meeting when he was forced down. According to him, they were flying over a church where an all-night vigil was being held
when he crash- landed at Servant Kings International School.

“When we as ked him where he was coming from, Atta told us that he was from Akuapem Akropong but was flying to Cape Coast to attend a meeting for witches and wizards,” he said.

Charles also confessed that the two puffy protrusions on his chest were br**sts taken from his 16-year- old granddaughter and that he normally borrowed them for his night activities.

The two brothers said they were initially confused and bewildered by the weird sight of the man, and not knowing what to do him took him to Pink FM, a local radio station at Kasoa for help.

When the strange announcement was made on radio, hundreds of people besieged the premises of the radio station to see the suspected wizard.

Upon hearing the news, the Kasoa District Police dispatched a number of police personnel to the station to save the victim from being lynched.

Superintendent Samuel Tabril Punobyin told the paper that the police did not investigate spiritual matters and that the suspected wiz-ard could therefore not be charged.
He said the police would look for the family of the man and hand him over to them. Charles Atta is still in the custody .of the Kasoa Police.

There Is No Business Like Church Business - Popular Nigerian Pastor Says

A Nigerian entrepreneur has appeared on Dragon’s Den, a reality television programme in which budding entrepreneurs get three minutes to pitch their business ideas to five multi-millionaires willing to invest their own cash.

The eloquent young man who introduced himself as Pastor Jonah, wanted two hundred and fifty thousand pounds to start a new Pentecostal church, and promised returns of 500% within the first three years.

Producers of the series described the recently filmed episode as featuring the most incredible idea ever brought to the show.

They said of the Nigerian entrepreneur, “He was very confident and very smartly dressed in an Armani suit. He was charismatic and extremely knowledgeable of the Bible, and he appeared to have really done his research.”

His opening line was, “Brothers and sister, the Lord has brought me here today to tell you that there is no business like church business.” In the episode which will air next season, the entrepreneur defends his business case by presenting data gathered from churches in Nigeria where he plans to setup his own church.

In a tense moment when he is being grilled by Theo Paphitis, he asks the Dragons a rhetorical question, “How many of you own private jets?”

“You don’t want to miss this one,” a member of the production crew told us.

She however declined to comment on the outcome of the pitch, saying instead, “Let’s just say, the Dragons know a good investment when they see one.”

CARDIFF VS ARSENAL - TEAM NEWS

 Cardiff team news:

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay has a fully-fit squad to choose from for Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting with Arsenal.

The Scot is expected to stick with the side that performed so admirably in the draw with Manchester United, meaning Craig Bellamy may find himself on the bench again.

Midfielder Gary Medel is available after facing no action for his slap on Marouane Fellaini last weekend.
Provisional squad: Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Caulker, Hudson, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Cornelius, Campbell, Odemwingie, Brayford, Kim, Smith, Noone, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Cowie, Maynard, Theophile-Catherine, Lewis, Moore, Bellamy, John.

Arsenal team news:
Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal expect to have defender Kieran Gibbs available following illness for Saturday's trip to Cardiff.
Germany striker Lukas Podolski is back in training after his hamstring injury, but remains short of match fitness.

Forward Yaya Sanogo (back), midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee) are all still sidelined.
Provisional squad: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs,Flamini, Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud, Fabianski, Arteta, Monreal, Cazorla, Rosicky, Gnabry, Vermaelen, Bendtner.

ASUU strike: Osun students react to ultimatum given to striking lecturers to return to school

Osogbo - Scores of students in Osun, Ogun and Oyo states on Friday reacted to Federal Government’s directive and the ultimatum given to striking lecturers to return to school or be sacked.

Many of the students who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), advised the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to resolve the issue through consistent dialogue.

Tokunbo Akindipe, a final year student of Sociology at the University of Ibadan, said it would be counterproductive for government to issue any threat at this time rather than persuasion.

“The government has, up till now, demonstrated a civilised attitude by engaging the lectures in dialogue in the past which I think it should continue to do to its logical conclusion.”

“Sincerely, I must commend President Jonathan for his democratic way of handling the issue from the inception and the level of patience he exhibited; this is the kind of method I expect him to sustain.”

“The Federal Government must exercise caution and be careful  in order not to forfeit all the effort put into resolving this issue; this is therefore not the time for threats of any sort,” Akindipe said.

In the same vein, Sakirat Akintolu, a 300 level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta pleaded with government to be more patient with the striking lecturers.

Akintolu explained that the unfortunate death of one of their comrades in the person of Festus Iyayi, further worsened the situation as the strike would have been called off but for the tragic event.

“I urge government to show commitment to some of the demands of the university lecturers in order to obtain their confidence and allay their suspicion,” she said.

A union leader at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Comrade Kunle Bewaji, also advised government against any action that would further delay the resumption of the striking lecturers. Read more

LAMIDO/TUKUR CLASH: Governor Sule Lamido On Being "The Only Thief" In Nigeria, And Why Tukur Is A "Virus" To PDP

Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido commented on the recent defection of five of the aggrieved G-7 governors from PDP to APC, and named chairman Bamanga Tukur a "deadly virus" within the PDP. Mr. Lamido also urged everyone to join efforts in fighting impunity in Nigeria.

Lamido, who did not herd to the All Progressives Congress party, spoke as former Head of State, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, visited him ahead of the commissioning of the state's judicial complex by Abubakar in Dutse.

His comments follow the words of the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who said his expulsion by the national leadership of PDP would not stand - even as the party claimed, yesterday, that it was not losing sleep over the defection of the five governors and leaders of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led new PDP.

"We are delighted to have the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar here in Dutse. Your statesmanship and commitment made democracy a reality in 1999 by conducting a free and fair election," the Governor said, greeting Mr. Abubakar.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53213.html

Brazil: Blatter Sends Message To Nigeria

Amanze Uchegbu-lam’s address was factual, his delivery dramatically entertaining and the response from the hall was an ovation.

The former Vice president of NFF was in Warri to deliver the message of FIFA President, Sepp Blatter and CAF President Isa Hayatou to the General Congress of the FA yesterday.

Amanze, a member of FIFA Statutes Committee and who is well respected for his knowledge of the game, delivered goodwill messages from Hayatou and Blatter to the packed-full congress. His gesticulation and manner of delivery excited the delegates.

Amanze said that Blatter recalled the drama at the VIP box in China during the Olympics soccer semi final event between Nigeria and Belgium. Hayatou, the CAF President and Michel Platini, the UEFA President, were seated for the game and before Blatter boasted so much about the outcome that they challenged each other with a betting on who will win.

Hayatou boasted about Africa’s representative Nigeria and Platini gave the match to Belgium. Blatter was not only a witness but also the arbiter in the betting. When Nigeria scored the first goal, Hayatou moved over to Platini and said “I told you! Second goal came, he moved over and said “I told you.”

When Nigeria scored the fourth goal, Hayatou yelled to Platini, “it is finished.” Blatter, according to Uchegbulam recalled that drama and said they should tell the delegates to ensure that Eagles do well in the World Cup so that they can all recall the China drama.

Amanze recalled that the message to Nigeria in 2011 Congress was for peace to reign in our football, following the many litigations that the NFF was going through. In Port Harcourt in the last Congress, peace had returned.

Then Amanze said that “this year the result of peace could be seen in the achievement recorded in the Nation Cup victory, world Cup qualification and the U-17 victory in UAE.
In his own remarks, NFF President, Aminu Maigari reeled out all the achievements and said that the ultimate for his board was to go to Brazil and put up a performance that no other Africa country has been able to achieve in the World Cup. And that would mean going beyond the quarter final.
Meanwhile, in the charity match, Enyimba defeated Kano Pillars 2-0
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53264.html

ANAMBRA Guber Election: Jega Promises To Fix Fault

Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), promises a better voting experience at today's supplementary governorship election in Anambra.

He says that this time, the blunders of the November 16 and 17 polls will be corrected.

The election is being conducted in Idemili North and Onitsha south local government areas, where the exercise, according to INEC, was confused on the 16th of November.

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, also assured that the Nigerian Police is ready to ensure a peaceful election.

Eyewitnesses confirm heavy presence of security by members of the army, police and State Security Service (SSS). The atmosphere, according to the reports reaching us, is peaceful and calm.

Despite the restriction of movement for vehicles (owing to the roadblocks put up by security agents), residents in Anambra have been moving around and going about their normal daily affairs.

INEC has also arranged for senior officers of the commission in other states to assist in today's supplementary election.

The resident electoral commissioners in charge of Ondo and Ekiti states said that INEC is prepared to conduct a hitch-free poll.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53270.html

"President Is Human": Why Jonathan Decided To "Come Down Hard On ASUU"

Leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday moved from Abuja to their respective campuses expecting crackdown, as the Federal Government has issued several threats.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53271.html

President Goodluck Jonathan might no longer be directly involved in negotiation with the lecturers: he is angry for the ASUU leaders' contempt for the office of the President, their decision to issue new conditions and theim being allegedly backed by some external forces.

After spending almost a week in Abuja in hopes of resuming talks, the ASUU leaders were eventually left with no other option but to go back to their campuses.
A top leader of ASUU said on conditions of anonymity: "Our leaders have returned to their campuses. They were disappointed with the Area Boy or Agbero method adopted by the Minister.
"The military style of the Minister of State for Education will only compound the situation.
"So, we are back to our trenches as it was the situation during the military era. We are ready for the worst now. If the situation becomes uncontrollable, we will also go underground and resort to guerilla tactics."
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53271.html

Why I Dumped PDP – Amaechi Opens Up

The Rivers State Governor, Chubuike Amaechi, on Wednesday outlined the reasons that informed his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying the state was not getting a fair deal from the Goodluck Jonathan-led federal administration.

In a statement he personally signed and titled “The nPDP APC Merger, My Constraints,” Mr. Amaechi said the demand by the state that the federal government should return oil wells belonging to it, but which were ceded to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom States, had gone unheeded and had been treated with levity under this Peoples Democratic Party-led administration.

According to him, even after Rivers State got a court judgement that the oil wells wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom should be returned, only the dry ones were returned to it.
The governor also said that there was absolutely no federal presence in Rivers State, stressing that the federal government refused to reimburse the state government the N103 billion it spent on fixing the federal roads despite several representations and letter sent to it (federal government).

Mr. Amaechi also alleged that apart from actively discouraging investments in Rivers State, the federal government treated the state with levity in the area of federal appointments.

He also claimed that internal party democracy had been sacrificed on the altar of personal greed and injustice as the Rivers State chapter of the PDP was being run by persons who neither collected forms nor indicated interest in running for office while the legitimate holders of the office are left in the cold.

Read his full statement addressed to Rivers residents below:

My dear people of Rivers State, when by God’s grace and with your kindness this administration took over the mantle of leadership on October 26, 2007, we made a promise to serve you “with humility and render transparent and accountable stewardship anchored on integrity and good governance.” We also promised to “use our God given resources to improve the quality of life of our present and future generations.”
We made this commitment to you, fully conscious of the fact that you were hungry for service delivery and that you had placed on us a burden to prove to the world that our beloved Rivers State had the potential to rise above the murk and redefine governance and leadership in our country. We understood your mandate very clearly and we remain resolute in our determination to make you proud.
In keeping with our pledge therefore to render transparent and accountable stewardship, it has become necessary that we brief you about the recent happenings in our state and my own position on the issues. Read more
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53164.html

ASUU: JAMB sells new forms despite botched admission proces

Public university lecturers have been on strike for five months with no sign of a resolution to the crisis.

But the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has added a new twist to the case, with its commencement of sale of forms to candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions next year.

This is happening when most universities are yet to conclude their admission process for the 2013/2014 academic year, while others are still in the process of registration.

Therefore, some Nigerians have questioned JAMB’s decision when a set of fresh students are still awaiting their first lectures at the affected universities.

Ms. Taiwo Ogunyale and her fellow freshers are one week into their registration at the University of Lagos, Akoka. Ogunyale, who was admitted to study Microbiology, criticised JAMB’s sale of new forms, saying it could lead to a backlog of candidates awaiting admission into universities.

“Selling forms at this time when universities are still on strike is not that good. So I don’t think it will help matters because most universities are not ready to admit new students. It will only lead to a backlog,” she said.

In 2013, a total of 1,503,931 candidates sat for JAMB’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations. In the previous year, 1,493,604 candidates sat for the examination.

Meanwhile, it is expected that at least, 1,500,000 candidates would sit for the examination slated for April 2014.

Considering the sheer size of candidates sitting for the examination annually, many identified the expected financial gains as a major factor responsible for JAMB’s decision.

For instance, Mr. Oluwatobi Tijani, another fresher, recalled buying form for the 2013 examination for N5,000. With that in mind, Tijani concluded that JAMB must be after the proceeds from the sale of the forms.

He said, “JAMB is just using it (sale of forms) to make money from candidates. I heard some candidates even paid up to N20,000 for late collection of forms last year, so they are just exploiting us.

“I expected JAMB to liaise with the schools and the lecturers and this might require holding on for a while to see how things would turn out before selling fresh forms.”

At N5,000 on each candidate that sat for examination early this year,  JAMB raked in about N7.5bn revenue from form sales alone. Read more

FG deploys policemen to federal universities

  

Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

The Federal Government has directed the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to deploy policemen to all federal universities in the country  in its bid to ensure  resumption of academic activities in universities on or before December 4.

It was learnt that this development was disclosed  at  an emergency meeting   the Federal Government held  with  all vice-chancellors of federal universities at the National Universities Commission building in Abuja on Friday. The Acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, were also at the meeting.

Though Friday’s meeting was held behind closed door, a source at the meeting who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said that the Federal Government directed the IG  to draft policemen to federal universities to prevent members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from disturbing some of their members that might want to resume work in line with government’s directive.

The meeting also discussed other  modalities for calling off the bluff of ASUU whose members  have been on strike for over five months.

The Friday meeting began at 9am and lasted for two hours. Part of the meeting’s deliberations also centered on how to recruit new lecturers to fill the space of ASUU members who might refuse to obey government’s  directive. Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to call students back to campus on Sunday in preparation  for academic activities which should start on Monday.

Wike, had on Thursday  ordered  lecturers to resume duties on or before December 4 or face being sacked summarily by the Federal Government.

It was learnt that Okojie had already been mandated to start the process of recruiting new lecturers by placing vacancy adverts in international journals and media.

Also, the vice-chancellors were directed  to open registers in their institutions where ASUU members that resume work would sign so that those who failed to resume could be sacked. Read more

How MTN Worker Defrauds over 65 Job Seekers in Lagos

An employee of MTN, Afisi Ayomide, has been arrested and arraigned before the Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting at Cele, Ijeshatedo for allegedly defrauding more than 65 job seekers in Lagos.

The accused has allegedly collected N78,000 from each of the job seekers as fees for registration form, identity card and employment form.

Ayomide, a computer operator with the telecommunications giant, was still under probation and posted to the Sururere branch of the company, when he committed the offence.

The police found out that the suspect masterminded the plan how to dupe the innocent job seekers by employing an agent, who collected millions of naira from the desperate job seekers.

The total amount has not been determined by the police, but it is clear that people were defrauded for N5 millions minimum.

The accused, an OND graduate of Accounting of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State did his IT at the company and was employed as a computer operator.

Ayomide confessed that he learnt the company wanted to employ workers at their two branches at Fatai Atere Way, Mushin and Sururere areas, and he decided to engage the victims.

The police accused him of printing registration forms and MTN identity cards, which he gave to his victims after receiving N78,000. He later asked his victims to resume work at the branches, but the job seekers were rejected.

The matter was reported to the police at Area ‘D’ Mushin and the fraudster was arrested and charged to court. Ayomide pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and illegally printing MTN identity cards.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. O A Gbajumo granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case has been adjourned till January 15, 2014. 
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53165.html

"Federal Government Is Just Giving Empty Threats" - ASUU Responds To Ultimatum

 The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday described the threat by the federal government to sack lecturers if they don’t return to classroom as empty threat that could not hold water.

The union said it is vindicated that the Federal government was not ready to implement resolutions reached with the union.

ASUU said the threat will fail, adding that Nigerian public universities need 60,000 lecturers due to government’s failure to employ more capable hands into the system.
The union said federal government is wasting the time of Nigerians youths by failing to perfect the resolutions and get the strike suspended.

The union added it had reasons to be wary following the failure of government to honour their promises to Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, resident doctors and other health workers who have suspended their strikes.

The ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, while responding to the government’s directive, said the threat does not hold water as it has confirmed the fears that the federal government cannot be trusted.

The don said, “With the latest action, the federal government has shown that they are not committed to all they have been saying. We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that the sum of 200 billion naira is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the federal government should deposit same in the Central Bank of Nigerian. We are already in November and December is around the corner. If they don’t do that now, when do they want to do it? We are saying the non-victimization clause should be included as agreed while the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as agreed with the presidents”.

“It is a pity if the federal government is not willing to perfect the resolutions reached with union. This is why we find it difficult to trust our leaders by their words. How can someone be threatening to sack lecturers when universities are already short-staffed by almost 60,000. We are not in military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can re-open the school. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the management of the schools that ordered the students to go back home.”
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/53159.html