Buhari to announce his running mate tommorrow

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun says the party's presidential flag bearer, Gen. Buhammadu Buhari rtd will make his running mate known today December 17th

"I have a feeling that he (Muhammadu Buhari) will speak to you tomorrow on who his running mate will be. The party has consulted with the candidate and we have reached some agreement and he will address you tomorrow,” Chief Oyegun told newsmen today.

President Jonathan congratulates Gen. Buhari on his 72nd birthday

As Gen. Buhari clocks 72 tomorrow, President Jonathan wishes him many more years of good health and personal fulfillment. Read the press statement below...

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has written to congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of his 72nd birthday anniversary which comes up tomorrow, Wednesday, December 17, 2014.

Million displaced Nigerians unable to vote unless law changed

Abuja - More than a million Nigerians displaced by an Islamist insurgency in the northeast may not be able to vote in the 14 February presidential election unless the law is changed, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday.

Africa's most populous nation faces what is likely to be its most closely fought election since the end of military rule in 1999, but the Electoral Act states that voters have to cast ballots in their home constituencies, an obstacle for refugees who have fled attacks by Boko Haram militants.

A decision on how to deal with the displaced will not be taken before January when the National Assembly next meets.

Nigeria's economic pain may not decide election

Lagos - Nigeria is suffering from a plummeting currency, steep budget cuts, corruption scandals and diving oil prices; yet all this is unlikely to decide a tight race for the presidency.

In many other democracies, such turmoil would probably propel the incumbent from office. A likely rise in inflation in Africa's biggest economy is unwelcome for President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking re-election on 14 February next year.

But many Nigerians appear willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, while others will vote according to regional, sectarian or ethnic loyalties in the most closely fought election since the end of military rule in 1999.

Pope Francis didn't make pets in heaven comment

Vatican City - It was a heartwarming story for legions of pet owners and animal lovers around the world.

Pope Francis, talking to a distraught boy whose pet had died, declared there was a place in heaven for the creatures we share our lives with. His comment was reported this week by many news media outside Italy, with dozens of articles in the United States. It was veritable catnip to social media.

However, it turned out the pope had not made the comment.

Boko Haram 'likely behind Jos, Nigeria bombings'

Lagos - A double bomb attack that killed 31 people in a crowded market in the central Nigerian city of Jos was likely to have been carried out by Boko Haram, the state government said on Friday.

"It's an extension of the terrorist acts that have been penetrating all states and cities," Pam Ayuba, spokesman for the Plateau state governor Jonah Jang, told AFP by telephone.

The blasts happened at about 18:00 on Thursday at a makeshift market near the Terminus bus station, not far from the site of a previous attack in May that left at least 118 dead.

Twin bomb blasts have rocked Jos

Abuja - Twin bomb blasts on Thursday rocked Jos, the capital of Plateau state in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 31 people, the newspaper Vanguard reported.

Reports said the bombs exploded at a makeshift market near a busy motor park and a fast food restaurant.

"The bodies recovered so far are 31, but rescue workers are at the scene and the figures may change," Vanguard quoted a spokesman for Plateau state governor as saying.

Thousands flee Boko Haram

Yola - Dauda Bello came face-to-face with Boko Haram militants but managed to escape their hail of bullets, fleeing to safety after a marathon drive on a brutal mountain road.

"It was terrible... [Boko Haram] was firing in every direction," he told AFP in Yola, the capital of northeast Nigeria's Adamawa state, where he fled from the town of Mubi in late October.

Bello is just one of more than 1.5 million Nigerians forced from their homes by the raging Islamist insurgency, which has left 13 000 dead since 2009 and raised fears of a humanitarian crisis.

18 Critical Things Former President Obasanjo Said About President Jonathan In His New Book

"In the area of corruption, we have been going back steadily from the inception of Yar’Adua’s administration when the ‘hunter’ became the ‘hunted’," Obasanjo states. "Under Jonathan we seem to have gone from frying pan to fire. If in the past corruption was in the corridors of power, it would seem now to be in the sitting room, dining room and bedroom of power."

 his scathing new autobiography, My Watch, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo made a series of critical assertions against current President Goodluck Jonathan.

CIA chief defends agency's record

Washington - CIA Director John Brennan defended his agency on Thursday from accusations in a Senate report that it used inhumane interrogation techniques against terrorist suspects with no security benefits to the US.

Brennan opened a rare news conference by recounting the horrors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his agency's determination to prevent another such assault and the fact that CIA officers were the first to fight and early to die in the Afghanistan war.

Nigerian girl, 13, found wearing explosives vest

Kano - Nigerian police arrested a 13-year-old girl wearing an explosives-packed vest in the northern city of Kano hours after an attack by two female suicide bombers, a security source and a witness said on Thursday.

The girl turned up at a clinic on the outskirts of Kano hours after a double bombing at a market in the city.

Goodluck Jonathan to contest Nigeria election

Abuja - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan won party primaries on Thursday while the opposition coalition continued voting to choose a challenger for February presidential elections in Africa's most populous nation.

The 14 February vote is expected to be the most closely contested since decades of military rule ended in 1999 in the continent's biggest oil producer.

Jonathan was the sole candidate at the governing party primaries though his election early on Thursday flouted an unwritten party rule that the presidency should rotate between a Christian southerner, like himself, and a northern Muslim.

Faced with Boko Haram refugees, Niger calls for help

Niamey - Niger needs more international assistance to help it confront a looming food crisis compounded by an influx of refugees fleeing attacks by Boko Haram Islamist fighters in neighbouring Nigeria, the country's prime minister said.

The twin crisis highlights the strain being put on Niger, a uranium producer straddling the Sahara that is one of the world's poorest nations, by recurrent poor harvests and the spill over from its neighbour's conflict with militants.

All-night vote in Nigeria opposition presidential primary

Lagos - Members of Nigeria's main opposition party voted through the night to choose a candidate to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan at next year's elections, with a result expected later on Thursday.

Proceedings at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary at a stadium in the financial capital Lagos had been due to get under way mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

But it did not start until 23:00 and the 7 214 delegates only began to cast their ballots - alphabetically by state - from 03:00.

Kim Kardashian got North a Christmas present 'she's really going to love'

Kim Kardashian's daughter is apparently in for one heck of a Christmas.

"We try not to spoil, but we have something nice that I think she'll really love," Kim Kardashian said of North West's Christmas gift. "It just got delivered so when we move in [to our new home], she'll see this new, fun play stuff that we got for her. We're going to show her on Christmas."

Kim isn't saying what it is, but perhaps it's something involving "Elf On A Shelf," the famous children's picture book, which is the 18-month-old's latest obsession. "It's her most exciting thing," Kim said.

Buhari wins APC Presidential Primary

Former Head of State Buhari has reportedly beaten former VP Atiku Abubakar, current Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, current governor of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, and the publisher of Leadership newspapers Sam Nda-Isaiah, to win the APC presidential Primary. So he will face president Jonathan at the 2015 presidential election to be held in February 2015.

Nigeria’s army kills 27 Boko Haram insurgents

Nigeria's army killed 27 members of Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram as part of efforts to regain control over the country's volatile north-east, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.

Soldiers clashed with the insurgents in the Balmo, Lame and Hildi forests in Borno State, the ministry said in a statement, without specifying when the fighting took place.

SA hostage still held in Mali

Paris - Following the release of Franco-Serbian Serge Lazarevic, held captive in north Africa since 24 November 2011, three European hostages remain in the sub-Saharan region.

A Swede, a Dutchman and a Briton who also holds a South African passport were kidnapped one day later in Timbuktu, northern Mali.

A fourth man from Germany was killed trying to resist his captors.

All of the kidnappings were claimed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which released two photos to back up their claim.

Namibia unveils human rights plan

Windhoek - Namibia’s ombudsman on Tuesday announced the country’s first human rights action plan for implementation over five years.

"In order to mark the upcoming 25th independence anniversary of Namibia next March we should show a stronger desire to entrench human rights principles more effectively," Ombudsman John Walters said at the launch in Windhoek.

"No country has a perfect human rights record, including Namibia; we acknowledge that we face a number of imperfections, gaps or challenges, but to address them we need a national plan to address the human rights concerns of all Namibians," Walters added.

Nigeria security agencies accused of killings

Abuja - Nigeria's human rights commission (NHRC) on Tuesday accused the country's security agencies of systematic extra-judicial killings, describing the lack of due process as the most frequently violated human right.

NHRC said that most of the complaints received by the commission - which also include loss of rights to education, shelter and health - involved extra-judicial killings by Nigeria's security agencies and police.

Nigeria, which according to UN data is one of the countries with the highest number of human rights violations, is tackling an insurgency in the country's north-east.

France: Cargo plane detained in Nigeria has no weapons

A Russian cargo plane that Nigerian authorities detained on Saturday had no weapons on it but was carrying two French army helicopters out of Central African Republic, the French ambassador said on Monday.

The Antonov 124 had been travelling from Bangui to the Chadian capital N'Djamena but made an emergency landing in Kano because of traffic congestion at N'Djamena airport, the statement from Jacques Champagne de Labriolle said, adding that Kano was the "closest airport facility".

The plane was allowed to take off from Kano on Monday evening, the Russian embassy in Nigeria said on its official Twitter account.

My loyalty to Mugabe unquestionable, says Mujuru

Harare - Zimbabwe's vice president, accused last week by President Robert Mugabe of treachery and corruption and purged from the ruling party, dismissed the charges against her on Tuesday as "ridiculous" and said she had faced threats to her life.

At a congress of their ruling Zanu-PF party on 4 December, the 90-year-old Mugabe denounced Joice Mujuru, until just a few months ago his presumed successor, as leader of a "treacherous cabal" bent on removing him from power.

The denunciation was the culmination of a three-month campaign against Mujuru, 59, by Zimbabwe's state media and Mugabe's 49-year-old wife Grace.

More killings follow DRC massacre

Goma - More civilians have been slain in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo two days after the massacre of 36 people by suspected Ugandan rebels, army and civilian sources said on Tuesday.

Troops on Monday pursued fighters of the Ugandan rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) "all day long" as part of an offensive against armed groups in northeastern North Kivu province, Colonel Celestin Ngeleka told AFP.

APC presidential Primary! Traffic in Lagos tomorrow

Lagos state government this evening released a statement on their Facebook page regarding the traffic expected in Lagos tomorrow due to the APC Presidential primaries which will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. Find the statement after the cut...

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Jim Nwobodo disowns his three children from his first wife

Jim Nwobodo has disowned his 3 children from his first wife, saying they're not his 'flesh & blood'

The former Governor of the old Anambra State addressed journalists today in Enugu and accused two of his children (the ones he disowned today) Chukwudi and Nonso Nwobodo, of stealing the corpse of their older brother, Ifeanyi Nwobodo, who died in November after a battle with cancer

Democracy is not about quarreling like motor park touts – Jonathan

President Jonathan today Tuesday Dec. 9th called on politicians to shun “ceaseless quarreling” and engage in robust political debates that would strengthen the country’s democracy.

Jonathan made the call at the public presentation and official launch of the Kukah Centre, founded by prominent cleric and Catholic Bishop‎ of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah.

‎‎Among other aims, the centre was established to strengthen national debate, improve governance and encourage Nigerians to take an active role in the country’s leadership.

Kim Kardashian West's wedding photo made history on Instagram!

Los Angeles - Kim Kardashian West's wedding photo has become the most liked Instagram post.

The shot of the reality TV star and her husband, rapper Kanye West, has made history on the social media site after a photograph of them sharing a smooch while tying the knot in Florence, Italy, on May 24 attracted a huge 2.4 million 'likes'.

Khloe Kardashian and French Montana split... again!

Los Angeles - Khloe Kardashian and French Montana have split for a second time.

The 30-year-old reality star is said to have called time on her on/off romance with the rapper, who she split from in September after eight months of dating before reuniting in November.

A source told Us Weekly: "Khloe just wasn't ready after Lamar and it was getting too serious."

Sierra Leone doctors die of Ebola

Freetown — Two more Sierra Leonean doctors have died from Ebola, further depleting the West African country's ability to respond to the devastating outbreak, health officials said on Saturday.

The deaths bring the number of Sierra Leonean doctors killed by Ebola to nine. The disease is spread through the bodily fluids of people showing symptoms and people who have died of the disease. Because transmission requires close contact with those fluids, health workers are among the most at risk of contracting it and hundreds have become infected in this outbreak.

Nigeria-US training cancellation 'logistical, not political'

Abuja - Nigeria on Friday said that a decision to cancel US training of its soldiers to fight Boko Haram was a logistical, not a political decision.

The US Embassy in Abuja announced on Monday that the Nigerian government had halted a training programme of an army battalion, which would have developed into a unit to take on the militants.

US police open inquiry into Cosby allegations

New York - Police in Los Angeles have opened an official inquiry into sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby.
A woman has accused the 77-year-old actor and comedian of forcing her to commit a sexual act in 1974 when she was 15. A police spokesperson said on Saturday that the police had met with the woman.

Mugabe alleges US plot against him

Mugabe alleges US plot against himHarare - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has accused his vice president of plotting with the United States Embassy in the country to remove him.

Speaking at the ruling party Zanu-PF's annual conference on Saturday, Mugabe said Joice Mujuru has attended secret meetings at the embassy in Harare.

Nigeria detains Russian cargo plane

Kano - Nigeria detained a Russian cargo plane and its French-speaking crew on Saturday after it made an unauthorised landing in the northern city of Kano with military hardware bound for neighbouring Chad, a security source said.

An air force spokesperson confirmed the plane had been detained but gave no further details.

The plane had been travelling from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic, to the Chadian capital N'Djamena but was forced to make an emergency landing in Kano because N'Djamena airport was closed, the security source said.

Prison break frees 200 inmates in Nigeria

Abuja - Gunmen broke into a prison in the central Nigerian city of Minna, freeing around 200 inmates, a police spokesperson and security sources said.

The sources said the gunmen stormed the facility late on Saturday in Niger state, near to the capital Abuja. Islamist sect Boko Haram and al Qaeda-linked group Ansaru have been behind several prison raids in recent years, although it was unclear whether they had anything to do with this one.

Coroner puts TB Joshua building hearing on hold

Lagos - A coroner on Friday put on hold an inquest into the deaths of 116 people in a church building collapse in Nigeria's commercial hub after hearing an application to suspend proceedings.

The inquest in the city has been hearing from witnesses involved in the investigation into the 12 September tragedy at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

My relationship with Fashola is intact - Bola Tinubu writes

Below is a press statement from the office of former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu...

For a while now, I have noticed and read many published political stories on Lagos politics in particular and the personalities involved that are either concerted, unsubstantiated, pure conjectures or outright falsehood. In this instance, I reference a recent story ran by a major newspaper concerning my successor and me.

Meet General Buhari's Beautiful Wife and Lovely Family

General Muhammadu Buhari is a complete family man and his wife and children are living very happy.

PDP Governors send by Jonathan prostrate flat for Obasanjo

2015 election will be toughest in the history of recent democracy in Nigeria. The PDP can no longer afford to take chances by ignore a man as important as ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. PDP chairman, Adamu Mu'azu has gone to his house to beg him, Senate President David Mark has gone to his house to beg all on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, but it appears Obasanjo can't be fool.

Bajoga in Gombe state under attack by Boko Haram

Bajoga town in Gombe state is currently under attack by Boko Haram members. According to reports, the militants came into the town in the very early hours of this morning, breaking into homes, shooting at people and blowing up things. 

Boko Haram men attack cement factory in Gombe, steal vehicles

Boko Haram militants today raided a cement facility owned by French group Lafarge, stealing some vehicles. According to one Samail Adnan a resident of Ashaka town who spoke with AFP, the sect members arrived their town shouting and shooting sporadically

Ambode, Tambuwal, Elrufai, Omerhor win APC Governorship ticket

The All Progressives Congress, APC held primaries in many states around the country today. Below are some of the results that have been announced. What this means is that if APC wins in these states, the following people will be governors in 2015:

Lagos State - Akinwunmi Ambode (pictured left)

Oyo State - Incumbent Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi

Sokoto state - Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal

Delta State - Otega Omerhor 

Nasarawa State - Incumbent Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-makura

Kaduna State - Nasir El-Rufai

See the rest after the cut...

PDP suspends its former chairman, Bamanga Tukur

The National Working Committee of the PDP has suspended its immediate past Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. According to a statement released this afternoon, Alhaji Tukur was suspended for taking the party to court without 'exhausting the internal redress avenues'. 

Mr Tukur had recently dragged the party and its current chairman Adamu Mu'azu to court, asking the court to declare his resignation as the party chairman in January null and void. Find the statement after the cut...

Kim K dethrones Beyonce as most searched person in the world

Kim K has been named the “Most Searched Person of 2014″, beating last year's winner, Beyonce. 2014 was definitely the year of the 34 year old reality star with buzz-worthy events like her wedding to Kanye, her Vogue cover and most recently her 'break the internet' naked pics for Paper magazine.

Beyonce comes second, while Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry come 3rd and 4th respectively. See the top ten most searched personalities of 2014 after the cut...

Nelson Mandela remembered - one year on

Johannesburg - Disparate groups have paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela a year after his death, agreeing that his contributions to securing constitutional democracy in South Africa should never be forgotten.

"This is a day to reflect on the momentous life of Comrade Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who served South Africa, and all humanity, in a way that no one individual has ever done or is ever likely to in the foreseeable future," Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.

Bill Cosby resigns as board member from Temple University board

g renewed accusations that he had drugged and sexually assaulted a string of women over many years.

The 77-year-old entertainer has been a high-profile booster for his alma mater in Philadelphia and a board member since 1982.
"I have always been proud of my association with Temple University. I have always wanted to do what would be in the best interests of the university and its students. As a result, I have tendered my resignation," Cosby said in a statement released by the university.

Paris Hilton and her dad get death threats and anti-Semitic messages from a crazy stalker!

Los Angeles - Paris Hilton has been hit with death threats from a man who believes she is Jewish.

The hotel heiress - who was raised a Roman Catholic - and her father Rick Hilton have both been targeted by a guy on Instagram and Facebook who has posted several abusive and anti-Semitic messages to the pair.

5 patriotic pics of Kim in the Army

Cape Town – Kim Kardashian West showed her patriotic side as an early Thanksgiving surprise for Army troops.

Dressed in a khaki ensemble the fashion icon made time to visit the USS San Diego stationed in Abu Dhabi on 24 November, MailOnline reports.

Kourtney Kardashian tastefully poses nude for Du Jour magazine

Cape Town – Posing nude has become a Kardashian trend as Kourtney Kardashian joins in the fun with a classy nude shoot for Du Jour magazine.

Although pregnant, Kourtney shows off her petite frame in a sexy but classy manner.

Justin Bieber's dad threw his dog off a balcony!

Los Angeles - Justin Bieber's father threw his dog off a balcony.

The Boyfriend hitmaker's dad, Jeremy Bieber, is said to have launched the American Bulldog, named Karma, off the second story of a building in a fit of rage after it bit Justin's little brother Jaxon.

The dog's trainer, Trevor Dvernichuk , told TMZ that the pup - who was brought to training by Justin after he adopted him a year ago - snapped at the youngster prompting his father to pick up the dog and throw it over the side of the property into a snow bank.

APC primaries result out! Desmond Elliot wins, Kenny Saint Best loses

Yay! Desmond Elliot just won APC Primary election for Lagos House of Assembly while Kenny Saint Best lost out to Lai Mohammed's son, Folajimi Lai Mohammed for the Ikeja constituency.