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I want to thank my Father, my Mother and my Parents.

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That year sha! My father can flog the devil out of you with his belts and koboko. He expresses his displeasure towards your “mumurity” today and forgets the whole thing the next day. A nice and hardworking man who, despite all obstacles that life threw his way, made sure my siblings and I had University education.

My mother! She won’t talk to you whenever you misbehave. No ooo! She will let you run around, dodge the whole day and fall back into the net.
You know! That guilty conscience hide and seek games! She was never tired of watching you play it out. She will give you food once you are back in the evening. You will go to sleep and feel like all have been taken care of, that you have technically maneuvered the whole thing only for her to wake you up in the middle of the night and treat your fuck ups.

If my Mother flogs you, you will know that Papa is the best friend you can have in this life.

We actually nicknamed her “behave well”, My younger brother and I . We were terror that the house couldn’t deal with. I miss those days with concentrated nostalgia.

Those days, I will hang out with my younger brother looking for things to spoil in the house, that is after multiple fight between us. His other hubby was challenging my authority. He never believed that he should be loyal same way that I refused to be to my older siblings.

When my mother comes back, my younger brother will shout “behave well”. That word alone will induce instant sleep in you and we snored away our sorrows in pretense.

I remember the day she caught me with other boys playing with cigarette. In her characteristic manner, she didn’t say a word. Not even my father was told.

After dinner and prayers, I went to the room I shared with my brothers and wore 3 jean shorts, then covered them with a thick Jean trouser. I spent the whole night awake, not wanting to be taken unawares.

She came with her cane around 12 am. Nothing was too small to be overlooked. Not even a sneer on your seniors. Discipline was always physical and it helped to curtail the madness of ghettohood.

Once the cane landed on my buttocks, the sound it made was so strange to her. It was not the sound she was used to. Then she burst into wide raging laughter and inspected the crime scene with the fine eyes of a perturbed physician.

She told me to remove the whole thing. I was flogged that night bare skin for cheating.

Ohh! the day we got high; my younger brother and I. He was my partner in crime and and a competitor too. We drank PASTIS, that drink that changes color when diluted with water.
We had gotten high and left the drink open on the table, then went to sleep. When I woke up, my mother was already back and was taking care of the mess.

I greeted her, she answered, then said with a ghostly smile ” I can see two of you have been enjoying yourselves”. I didn’t want to be told what will happen at night. So I ran to my aunt’s house.
After confessing my sins, She volunteered to take me back home, promising me that she will make sure I won’t be flogged. I agreed but only temporarily.

I know the house more than she does or won’t she go to her house that night to cook for her family?

I disengaged my hand from hers and ran towards another direction, to my friend’s house who shares the same name with me, despite her calling me back and her assurances.

Who wan die?

Those flogging saved me sha, I must tell you. Because there are things that when I want to do them, my mind races to my mother’s thick cane and my father’s belts. Although, I won’t whip my kids, I consider mine an integral part of growing up in the 20th century Nigeria.

Last year in Jos, with Yakubu, Obi, Salisu and Co, the cold became unbearable. I have had my boots on for 3 days.

I removed them only when I wanted to take my bath. I actually slept with them cause we were in a tent.

Obi had his cigarettes and was not on the same level of suffering with the rest of the boys. He was actually laughing at us. Then Yakubu Gyiang took a stick of cigarette from him, then Salisu, then the other boy from Kano – I have forgotten his name – all in a bid to keep warm.

“Behave well” raced to my mind with the speed of light. “I won’t” I muttered while my lips danced like a flame disturbed by the wind. “Don’t die here” they said! “I won’t” I replied again!

They probably didn’t live under the dictates of “behave well”.
You don’t repeat a bad behavior again after she had dealt with you. Till date, I still fear my mother’s cane

Ebuehi gets applause from Barcelona legend.

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Super Eagles defender Tyronne Ebuehi has been applauded by FC Barcelona legend Ronald de Boer for his recent dazzling displays for ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie.

Ebuehi has been a key figure in the Hague’s push for a spot in Europe in the Dutch league this season and his feats are not just going unnoticed as Ronald de Boer seems to have been left amazed by the right-back’s defensive and offensive capabilities.

In a post-match reaction to the 22-year-old’s performance in their away league clash against Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena, the former Barcelona midfielder stated that Ebuehi oozes talent and he displayed this in the league clash as the Nigerian had Ajax posterboy Justin Kluivert completely in check in the game.

”He played in a big stadium, against Ajax, that everyone was watching him. He knew that all the attention was focused on him and survived in a very complicated situation,” the Ajax legendary forward told O Jogo.

”He’s a very talented kid. He has speed, but he also has intelligence. He was good against Ajax, especially against Kluivert, who is a very technical player.

”I remember just a dribble from Justin. But as he is very fast, Ebuehi managed to recover and lock Justin. We did not see Kluivert during the whole game, so we can say that he did a great job.”

Ronald, 47, also opined that the Dutch-born defender, who is linked with a free transfer to Benfica in the summer, will be a good buy for the Portuguese giants.

”It shows his character. It can be a good contract for Benfica, good value and an added value.

Ebuehi is in line to make the squad list of the Super Eagles for their friendly games against Poland and Serbia in March.

8 years after, Okah gets convicted.

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Editor
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The Federal High Court has convicted Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze for their role in the October 1st, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja.

In a 4 hour, 30 minutes judgment, Justice Kolawole found the defendants guilty as charged for being responsible for March 15, 2010, bomb blast which claimed one life in Warri, Delta State and the October 1st, 2010 bomb blast near Eagle Square in Abuja which claimed several lives.

The judge notes that the second defendant, Obi Nwabueze particularly made himself available to run illegal errands for Henry Okah who provided N1.2m used to purchase five fairly used cars deployed for the Warri blast while Charles Okah provided the sum of N2m used for the purchase of the four cars deployed for the Independence Day blast in Abuja.

The court had earlier sentenced a third defendant, Edmund Ebiware to life imprisonment on July 27, 2017, for his role also in the Abuja bomb blast.

Channels TV

Portharcourt: Millions of people risk developing lung cancer and other forms of respiratory problems. These tweets tell you all that you need to know.

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https://twitter.com/Istandfortruth1/status/970653846971342849?s=19

Kachikwu :Nigeria has lost US oil export market forever

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starco_p
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OPEC should keep crude price stable

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has declared that Nigeria has forever lost the United States as a significant crude export market.

Up until the early 2000s, the US was Nigeria’s top crude importer, buying around 700,000 b/d of the commodity from Africa’s biggest producer, and climbed as high as 1.31 million b/d in February 2006, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

This volume has, however, been dropping since then, reaching zero import level by June 2015 following a surge in production of shale oil.

“That’s gone,” Kachikwu said at CERAWeek Energy Conference in Houston, USA.

CERAWeek conference continues outreach between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and shale producers.

The minister observed that the Light sweet Nigerian crude is very similar to the light oil produced in US shale, adding that as US shale production has grown, the appetite for Nigerian crude in the US has dropped dramatically.

Nigerian crude is now favorites for the Asian markets led by India.

Nigeria’s oil output averaged 2.07 million in February this year, 20,000 b/d up from January, according to federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources estimates.

Meanwhile, Kachikwu has said that oil producers that operate in U.S. shale fields and OPEC member nations should do more to help stabilize crude prices.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plans a “company-based workshop” with companies that operate in both areas, Kachikwu said on the sidelines of the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.

Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron Corp, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc have large U.S. shale operations and also operate in Nigeria.

“Some of the same companies that are working in shale are the same companies working in OPEC,” Kachikwu said. “We need to begin to look at companies that are very active in these areas and begin to get them to take some responsibilities in terms of stability of oil prices.”

Good Food.

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017985556912069
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Melinda.

Have you ever heard this saying…… you are what you eat?

Well I know you look fabulous, so your meals should always look the same. Here is what I mean, Professor Charles Spence, the Oxford University gastrophysicist (making waves in the food industry) has proven beyond doubt that making something look good makes it effectively taste better too. check this out ( I know you want to have some!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Tension as stakeholders disagree on resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni Land.

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starco_p
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Twenty-five years after oil exploration activities were stopped in Ogoni land following environmental issues that led to the intense crisis by the locals against the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and the federal military government of that time, a fresh crisis is looming in Ogoni over the planned resumption of oil activities in the area.

This time, the tension is coming following the bid of two indigenous oil companies – RoboMicheal Limited and Belemaoil Producing Nigeria Limited – for the operating license of Oil Mining Lease, OML,11, Ogoni oil fields.

Stoking the tension, the Supreme Council of Ogoni Tradition Rulers, the Oil-bearing Communities’ Traditional Rulers in Ogoni land, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, and the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates are all in disagreement over the planned resumption of oil exploration and the endorsement of the two indigenous oil companies for operatorship of the Ogoni oil fields.

Recently, the Supreme Council of Ogoni Tradition Rulers endorsed RoboMicheal Limited to commence operation in the Ogoni oilfield while the Oil-bearing Communities’ Traditional Rulers in Ogoniland, on their part, endorsed Belemaoil Producing Nigeria Limited for operatorship of the oil mining lease, which originally belonged to SPDC.

While MOSOP says the endorsement of any oil firm to come into Ogoniland does not in any way represent the wishes of the people, Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, which allegedly is pushing the agenda of Belemaoil, has accused the leadership of MOSOP of failing the people of Ogoni.

Spokesperson of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Kpite Community, HRH King Samuel Nnee, said the decision to endorse RoboMicheal was a sequel to the issuance of a license to the company by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

Nnee explained that the resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland by RoboMicheal will generate wealth, provide employment for Ogoni indigenes, and also open up the area, which has been impoverished by endless years of environmental degradation, to further investment opportunities.

But in a swift reaction, the Oil-bearing Communities’ Traditional Rulers in Ogoniland, which said it was acting on behalf of all the oil-bearing communities in Ogoni, have disagreed with the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, over the endorsement of RoboMicheal Limited.

A resolution reached by the group said that the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers cannot impose RoboMichael on them since the issuance of an all-embracing license for oil exploration and exploitation was totally out of their reach.

The oil-bearing communities, which affirmed their support for Belemaoil Producing Limited, noted that the unanimous acceptance of Belemaoil in Ogoniland in 2014 was the reason for the issuance of various recommendation letters of the company to various authorities concerned with the oil business.

The resolution signed by the president of the oil-bearing communities, Chief Donald Gberesu, further said the communities would reject any intrusion from any quarters in their domestic affairs.

“We, the paramount rulers of oil-bearing communities in Ogoniland are saying in clear terms that we are the landlords of our communities.

We hereby resolved that no one has the right to discuss, negotiate with any investor, be it public or private, without our consent,” Gberesu.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, and the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates is also on the war path over the planned commencement of oil exploration in Ogoni.

MOSOP is not in support of endorsement of any oil firm to come into Ogoniland, but, Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, which, according to MOSOP, is pushing the agenda of Belemaoil, has accused the leadership of MOSOP of failing the people of Ogoni.

MOSOP President, Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, says the group “has not and will not endorse any oil company, be it RoboMichael, BelemaOil, NPDC (Nigerian Petroleum Development Company), NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), Shell or any other for the purpose of resuming oil production in Ogoniland, until the issues raised by the Ogoni people are addressed through dialogue”.

Pyagbara called on President Muhammadu Buhari to avert a possible breakdown of the peace in Ogoniland by putting a check to the activities of oil firms scrambling to gain access to resume oil exploration in Ogoni.

But for the Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates, KSWA, the current leadership of MOSOP, led by Pyagbara, has failed the people of Ogoni by not protecting the legacies of late environmentalist, Ken Saro Wiwa.

National Coordinator of KSWA, Chief Gani Topba, alleges that RoboMichael Nigeria Limited and NPDC are proxies of SPDC and should, therefore, steer clear of Ogoniland in the interest of peace. According to MOSOP, however, Topba is pushing the agenda of Belemaoil.

The KSWA leader has not come out to declare support for any of the two indigenous companies. Topba said at the 2018 Ogoni General Assembly: “SPDC’s subsisting lease over OML 11 should be revoked immediately to pave the way for discussions with Ogoni elders and leaders of thought on the demands of the Ogoni people as articulated in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, before the resumption of oil production.

“Also, the unilateral decision of the NNPC to grant approval and operatorship licence to RoboMichael Nigeria Limited to resume oil production in OML 11 on behalf of SPDC without the free, prior and informed consent of the Ogoni people as guaranteed by international law, is brazen and undemocratic as it is capable of igniting fresh crisis in the area,”

It should be noted that Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria left Ogoni in 1993 and has, since then, maintained that it had no plans to return to the area for oil exploration and production.

Sources: sweetcrude

Reps: Probe Alleged Loss of N2bn, $3.8m Interests in PHCN Sale

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starco_p
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House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has begun an investigation into the alleged loss of N2 billion and $3.8 million through banks’ non-payment of interests on the proceeds of the sale of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies.

The decision followed the unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra-PDP) at the plenary on Tuesday, during a session was presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The house resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to carry out the probe and to report back to the house within six weeks for further legislative action.

Onyema had said that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria into 18 successor companies.

He said the companies were six generation companies, and 12 distribution companies covering the 36 states of the federation as well as national Power Transmission Company.

Onyema said following the divestiture of Federal Government from PHCN through privatization, the company was divided into separate companies known as the local Electricity Distribution Companies.

He said the successor companies made payment to the Federal Government through Standard Chartered Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, FCMB, Skye Bank, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank and Unity Bank.

“The accrued interests due to the Federal Government to the tune of N2 billion and $3.8 million were alleged to have been diverted by those banks in collaboration with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” Onyema said.

He pointed out that the Nigerian Constitution empowers the House to conduct investigations for the purpose of exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws and management of funds.

No VAIDS Extension For Tax Defaulters – Adeosun Reveals, Says 130,000 Individuals, Firms Identified

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Editor
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The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has ruled out an extension of the of the tax amnesty programme deadline saying sufficient period had been given to tax payers to voluntary and truthfully declare their assets and income which had not been declared previously.

Speaking while appearing on the Good Morning Nigeria programme of the Nigerian Television Authority, Adeosun revealed that the data mining efforts of the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Finance has identified a new batch of over 130,000 high net worth individuals and companies that have potential tax underpayments.

She disclosed that the data was currently being compiled by Project Lighthouse in preparation for the closure of the ongoing Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which ends on 31st March 2018.

“The data has been received from a number of sources including land registries of the governments of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory,” she stated.

“In addition, Nigeria has been able to request data from a number of nations including traditional tax havens. The data has been received from a number of foreign jurisdictions under the exchange of information protocols.

“Under the exchange of information protocols, this information relates to bank records and financial filings for tax purposes and is obtained from tax havens who are signatories to the information sharing agreements such as British Virgin Islands and Mauritius.

“The sole interest of the federal and state governments in the use of the data is in raising tax revenues. There is absolutely no hidden agenda on the use of the data,” she added.

Adeosun hailed the ‘unprecedented’ level of cooperation between the federal and state governments, which she said was a marked change from the past when the various arms of government did not align their efforts and advised non-compliant tax payers to seek professional advice and to also consult relevant literature available from the tax authorities on tax rules.

Star rejects dead fan’s bank account gift.

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Editor
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Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has refused to be the recipient of a dead fan’s bank savings and valuables, saying he never met her.

Nishi Harishchandra Tripathi, a Mumbai-based woman and a fan of Dutt’s films, died aged 62 in January.

Last month, the bank informed Dutt that Tripathi had made him the receiver of her money and valuables.

Dutt told the bank that he was “deeply overwhelmed by the gesture of the fan” but waived his right to her money.

One of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, Dutt has appeared in more than 100 films.

The star’s lawyer Subhash Jadhav told the BBC that Dutt was surprised when the bank informed him that Tripathi had made him the nominee of her savings and safe deposit locker valuables.

He said they had “no idea of the worth” of her savings, as the bank had provided no such information.

“We are overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the gesture of the fan. I am not personally acquainted with her and never met her. So I waive my rights as a nominee of the account and the [safe deposit] locker,” Dutt was quoted as telling the bank by Mr Jadhav.

Mr Jadhav said they had communicated to the bank that they will “adhere to any legal proceedings necessary to transfer the money and valuables back to the [Tripathi’s] family”.

The Mumbai Mirror newspaper reported that Tripathi died from a terminal illness and was survived by her 80-year-old mother and three siblings. The family lived in an apartment in an upmarket neighbourhood in Mumbai.

Dutt remains popular for his role as a lovable gangster in the Munnabhai movies and has dabbled in politics.

He also served a sentence for firearms offences linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts which killed 257 people and injured 713. He was released from prison in 2016.

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