Nedu Echianu's Blog

... Urges security operatives to apply caution in quelling disturbances... The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has condemned in strong terms, the reported killing of young men and women by security operatives in parts of the South East, all in the name of quelling disturbances. He made the condemnation at the plenary session of the Senate on Tuesday, when he came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rule, to draw the attention of the Upper Chamber to the bloodbath in the South-East region of the country on Monday. The Deputy President of the Senate further noted that the country had recorded so much bloodshed in various parts of the country in the past, as such security agencies must apply caution in quelling perceived disturbances in any part of country whatsoever, so as to prevent young men and women from being sent to their untimely graves.

National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with Senate President Bukola Saraki after reaching a truce last night at the Aso Rock presidential villa, Abuja.

A senator from Bayelsa State, Ben Murray-Bruce, on Monday said operatives of the State Security Service prevented him from “greeting” President Muhammadu Buhari at a state dinner organised to mark 2016 Democracy Day. Mr. Murray-Bruce tweeted around 10:45pm on Monday, “I was at the Presidential Villa today, went to the president’s table. DSS wouldn’t allow me greet him, but let another senator greet him.”

I couldn’t believe my ears when he proposed. I haven’t stopped looking at the ring. Is this real? I was so excited even the stranger on the street could tell something great just happened. Like a whirlwind, we started all the preparation for the big day. We didn’t spare a dime in our quest to have the wedding of our dreams. After the wedding, we both were exhausted and had a well-deserved one month honeymoon far away on one of Denmark’s coldest islands. I wish this was all that marriage was. I had got used to waking up about half nine to a cup of coffee and a warm kiss from the love of my life. We’d have a shower together, then have breakfast while we looked over the beach. We constantly looked into each other’s eyes with so much assurance of facing the future together. We’d take a long walk in each other's arms and have a nap just about noon. We did lots of kayaking and scuba diving during the day before settling into a nice buffet dinner. Having no one wait on you for anything

Charly Boy writes an open letter to the President as Nigeria celebrates her 56th Democracy Day. Read below; My Dear Presido, You know how hard and for how long you have fought for this your job, now that you have it, we cant wait to see how our lives will CHANGE!! People already don begin dey throw stones, but me know say many things spoil, one year no fit balance anything.

As a kid this was one of my favourite songs, listening and watching this video now brought back nostalgic feelings, join me and enjoy; Word to the Mutha by the New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe...

A Chinese firm has apologised over an advert for detergent which has provoked a storm of allegations of racism. The manufacturer of Qiaobi said it strongly opposed and condemned racial discrimination, and was sorry the advert had caused controversy.

▪says he will deliver more democracy dividends in his second year in office... Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state is not celebrating democracy day because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has destroyed the foundation of democracy by plotting to allocate legislative seats in the state. The governor also declared that his administration will deliver more pro-people projects and programmes in his second year in office.

The Nigerian Army said it arrested 10 suspected militants and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta region, on Sunday. The Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, Farouk Yahaya, while addressing journalists said the suspects were arrested during a cordon and search exercise conducted in Oporozoa community and its environs in Delta State.

The famous dictum “If you look after your car, your car will look after you” is certainly true in many respects. Sadly, though, few motorists are knowledgeably caring for, or fully understand, the way their vehicles work. Some functional knowledge will keep your relationship with your automobile running smoothly! Many drivers are actually unknowingly damaging their vehicles or, at the very least, making themselves quite vulnerable to some mischievous roadside mechanics. The following are the 10 of the most common mistakes motorists make every day while completely oblivious of the damaging consequences.

MY COMPATRIOTS, IT IS ONE YEAR TODAY SINCE OUR ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF TRIUMPH, CONSOLIDATION, PAINS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. BY AGE, INSTINCT AND EXPERIENCE, MY PREFERENCE IS TO LOOK FORWARD, TO PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD AND REDEDICATE THE ADMINISTRATION TO THE TASK OF FIXING NIGERIA. BUT I BELIEVE WE CAN ALSO LEARN FROM THE OBSTACLES WE HAVE OVERCOME AND THE PROGRESS WE MADE THUS FAR, TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE TO PUT NIGERIA BACK ON THE PATH OF PROGRESS.

…Tasks INEC on Outstanding Rerun Elections The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed deep worries over the widening of the nation’s fault lines, saying such was not healthy for the nation’s democracy and development.

A bizarre incident occurred yesterday at Araromi Street in the densely populated Oshodi area of Lagos, following the killing of a mother of five by her husband. The suspect, Sogei Jafairu, who hails from Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo state, was suspected to have committed the act for ritual purpose. He was said to have returned home Thursday evening, after spending one week outside. His unsuspecting wife, Roselyn , who was a trader at Ijora market, prepared food for members of the family.

If you, like most of us, ditched your bulky, un-rewound VHS collection for DVDs, you might have accidentally thrown away something valuable. According to The Mirror, some VHS tapes are now collectible. Not all of them, of course, but some rare tapes have been selling for ridiculously high prices. An old copy of the “Evil Dead” in good condition? That could net you $280 on eBay.

A 43-year-old Nigerian national, Igwe Festus Abraham, has been arrested in India for allegedly duping over 90 persons across the country, Indian Express reports. Abraham, a resident of Malviya Nagar in Delhi, was arrested by the cyber-crime cell of Pune police. The police team nabbed him in Delhi on Thursday, revealing that he had 14 ‘overwhelming’ accounts in his name, in reputed banks: HDFC, Canara, SBI, ICICI, Syndicate and other banks.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and some of his colleagues spent the whole of Friday celebrating children of various ages, as part of activities to mark the 2016 Children's Day.  The school pupils and secondary school students arrived the Senate at 9am and took a tour of the Senate Chambers.

Facebook has abruptly ended many loving relationships. This is not only restricted to singles but also married people. There have been reports of how Facebook has wrecked relationships due to the ease at which users meet new friends and reconnect with their exes. Hence, partners have to be conscious and careful with the way they use social media. Here are some rules you can religiously follow to prevent getting into trouble while using Facebook.

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has slammed a five-year ban on embattled Chris Giwa and four four of his disciples thereby confirming and extending the same five-year ban placed on them by the Amaju Pinnick- led Nigeria Football Federation. The four others affected by the continental ban are Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong.

A Chinese laundry detergent advertisement is causing widespread outrage online and is being dubbed the most racist commercial to be screened. But racist advertising has form - and not just in China. A black man walks in and gets 'washed' a different colour...

Future leaders, little Angels, Precious gifts from God, I love you all and will always do. Praying for God's guidance and protection on all of you, especially children in Northern Nigeria, Syria, Iraq and other troubled region of the world.

Jose Mourinho has been officially confirmed as Manchester United manager and has signed a three-year contract. He replaces Dutchman Louis van Van Gaal, who was dismissed on Monday, two days after the club's FA Cup win. "José is quite simply the best manager in the game today," said United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The rescued 14-year-old Ese Oruru was on Thursday morning delivered of a baby girl. Ese, was allegedly abducted in Bayelsa State in August 2015 and taken to Kano State where she was converted to Islam and married out without the consent of her parents. Since her return to Yenagoa, she has lived at the Police Officers’ Mess in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

A deal has been agreed for Jose Mourinho to become Manchester United's new manager, after three days of talks. Negotiations between Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes and senior United officials have concluded, although no contract has been signed. An official announcement from the club is expected on Friday. The Portuguese will replace Dutchman Louis van Gaal, who was sacked on Monday, two days after United won the FA Cup. BBC

Militants suspected to be members of the Niger Delta Avengers have blown up an underground Chevron crude oil trunk line. The trunk line is located along the Seria Creek near Abiteye, a few kilometres away from the company’s multi-billion dollars Tank Farm in Escravos, Warri South West local government area of Delta State.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed the appeal that was lodged before it by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu, had gone before the appellate court to challenge what they termed "strange procedure" adopted in their trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s technical adviser, Mitko Dobrev, has been handed a whopping N100 million war chest to rejuvenate the team during the mid-season break. This is one of the major steps taken by the management of the club to keep the team on track towards the realization of the set objectives this season - top of which is winning the league or a continental ticket at the very least. The Bulgarian has been given the approval and necessary financial backing to hire top quality players to strengthen the weak departments in the team after a review of the team’s performance in the first stanza of the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) season.

The New Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. Tor Uja has assumed duty at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission. At a short handover ceremony with the Pioneer Executive Secretary of the Commission, John Kennedy Opara, he congratulated him (Opara) for his years of profitable and sacrificial leadership. He prayed that the lord will uphold him in his future endearours.

Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Manchester United, with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho set to be named as his replacement. Van Gaal, 64, leaves after two years of a three-year contract and is currently discussing severance terms.

***Charges Interim NWC on Reconciliation The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has dismissed media reports purporting the existence of factions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing them as false, baseless, and misguided. He spoke on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Port-Harcourt, where he attended the Saturday national convention of the party.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended the indefinite strike it called to protest the increase in the price of fuel from N86 and N86.50k to N145 . The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Committee in Abuja on Sunday.

A member of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Benedicta Daudu, is currently embroiled in allegation that she cheated in an examination at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), on May 4, 2016, Premium Times reports. The Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, headed by prominent law professor and civil rights campaigner, Itse Sagay, and made up of mainly university professors, is the intellectual wing of Mr Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

Manchester United will appoint Jose Mourinho as their new manager. Mourinho has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in December. With United failing to qualify for the Champions League under Louis van Gaal, BBC sport reports that the Old Trafford hierarchy is thought to have decided a change is required. It is understood a deal with 53-year-old Mourinho was agreed in principle before Saturday's FA Cup final victory against Crystal Palace.

Fears of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, formally splitting were assuaged, yesterday, after warring party leaders, meeting in factional conventions in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, made common ground with the sacking of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff executive of the party. Following the surprising sack of Sheriff by his one-time supporters in Port-Harcourt, a caretaker committee with Ahmed Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, appointed to superintend over the affairs of the party. Sheriff, however, was unyielding as he had earlier in the day, in an attempt to stave-off the pressure on him to step aside, canceled the convention. This was after a stormy meeting with the governors who had backed him.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali Modu Sheriff, has announced the suspension of the party’s national convention scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Mr. Sheriff, who addressed journalists at around 3pm, Saturday, at the Conference Room of the Le Meridien Hotel, Port Harcourt, said there were currently three court orders issued against the party convention.

Fellow Nigerians, let me start today’s epistle by saying time flies indeed. Over a year ago, the dream of Major General Muhammadu Buhari to return to power, after being toppled in a military coup by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and company, was eventually realised after a record fourth attempt. History would record this monumental feat as one of the biggest miracles of our time. It was a testimony to the power of resilience and tenacity.

The Secret Service has shot an armed man outside the White House, according to US officials. Police told ABC News that a man brandished a weapon at a security checkpoint near the building and was shot in the stomach. The White House was briefly placed on lockdown after the shooting on Friday. President Barack Obama was golfing in Maryland at the time.

Suspected members of the Niger Delta Avengers have attacked another oil facility in the Niger Delta, blowing up the Escravos pipeline linking Warri to Lagos. Details of the attack are still sketchy with security officials declining to comment. The Niger Delta Avengers, which has claimed responsibility for recent attacks, has yet to comment on the attack.

President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the disengagement of Mr. John Kennedy Opara as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission. The announcement came barely two hours after Opara attended the third session of the 9th synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), with the theme, ‘The poverty of riches’ in Abuja.

Giwa FC have been thrown out of the current season of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The League Management Company (LMC), which oversees the Nigerian top-flight, took the decision following the failure of the Jos club to honour three cumulative matches this season, being home matches against Wikki Tourists, Akwa United and most recently Enyimba.

Nigerian parents expect their daughters to get married someday. However, one thing they are particular about is the kind of man their daughter(s) bring home as a future husband. With more 250 ethnic groups with Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa leading the pack, the expectations may be different but they are interwoven and almost similar. These presumptions are largely influenced by culture, religion, heritage, and exposure of the families involved. 

Hours after Amina Ali, one of the Chibok girls rescued on Wednesday from the insurgents, met with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Nigerian Army has on Thursday evening announced the rescue of another of the girls. Although details of the rescue are yet to be released, Army spokesperson, Usman Sani Kukasheka, a Colonel, who confirmed the rescue, promised to provide more details later Mr. Usman later confirmed the news to Premium Times late Thursday.

.....We Are Open For Dialogue, Says Labour The leadership of the Senate led by Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday waded into the ongoing disagreement between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government over the recent deregulation of  fuel price in the country. Saraki met with the leadership of the Comrade Ayuba Waba-led NLC alongside the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Francis Ailimikhena,  Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Suleiman Nazif, Senator Joshua Lidani, Senator Kabiru Gaya and Senator Mao Ohunabunwa.

Rescued Chibok schoolgirl, Amina Ali-Nkeki, on Thursday arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for audience with President Muhammadu Buhari. The girl, her baby, her mother and her brother, were led to the villa by Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, at about 2.46 p.m.

The following is the text of a statement titled "the struggle continues" released by the Nigeria Labour Congress after its second day of strike and protests.

An EgyptAir flight reported missing between Paris and Cairo has crashed, French President Francois Hollande confirmed. The Airbus A320 with 66 people on board disappeared from radar at 02:30 Cairo time (00:30 GMT), soon after leaving Greek airspace. Greece's defence minister says Flight MS804 made "sharp turns" and plunged before dropping off the radar. A major search is under way in seas south of the Greek island of Karpathos. Greek and Egyptian armed forces are involved in the effort, and France has offered to send boats and planes. BBC

All appears not to be well with veteran Nollywood actor, Martins Njubuigbo, popularly known as Elder Maya. Reports have it that Elder Maya, who is arguably the longest surviving Nigerian actor, is down with a liver-related problem as the actor is down with a swollen leg, which causes him pain.

An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo has disappeared from radar with 66 people on board, the airline says. The Airbus A320 went missing over the eastern Mediterranean, soon after entering Egyptian airspace. The Egyptian military has denied a report from EgyptAir that a distress signal was sent by the plane.

A new militant group, Red Egbesu Water Lions, has surfaced in the Niger Delta region, just as suspected militants, Tuesday night, blew up the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, at Egbembiri, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa State . A security source, who confirmed the explosion, said: “Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states. They destroyed the Ayama section of the Ogboinbiri-Tuomo gas pipeline with dynamites at about 9.00 pm on Tuesday. That line was earlier repaired, last week and again vandalized.”

According to Vanguard newspaper, activists have reported finding one of the missing Chibok girls. She is the first since they were abducted by Boko Haram militants two years ago. The more than 200 girls were taken from their secondary school in north-east Nigeria by Boko Haram terrorists on April 14, 2014. Activists said the recovered hostage is Amina Ali. She was found by a vigilante group on Tuesday in the Sambisa Forest, close to the border with Cameroon, the activists said.

The federal government of Nigeria has implored labour unions in the country not to go ahead with its planned strike for Wednesday, 18th May 2016. Read Below:

A Pediatrician based in Abuja, Mr Chibuzor Eze has threatened to divorce his wife of many years for her addiction to popular foreign soap operas, Telemundo and Zeeworld. ``I will divorce my wife if she doesn’t stop with this Zeeworld and Telemundo obsession,” Eze said on Thursday in Abuja. Eze, who works with one of the government hospitals in Abuja, said he had informed his wife, Dorothy a week ago that her obsession to the popular soaps was interfering with her marital life.