smellgist.com: 2016-05-29

Saturday, 4 June 2016

Obituary: Mohammed Ali..... BBC

Muhammad Ali was, at his peak, arguably the most famous man on the planet.

His prodigious boxing talent was matched only by a towering self-belief.

“I am the greatest,” he said, and who could doubt a man who won the World Heavyweight Championship three times.
His outspoken support for civil rights endeared him to millions of people across the world.
He was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville, Kentucky, on 17 January 1942, the son of a sign painter. He was named after a prominent 19th Century abolitionist.

When he was 12, he reported his bicycle had been stolen and told a police officer he was going to “whup” the culprit.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo left Abuja on Friday for Dakar, Senegal, to attend the 49th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

A statement issued by the Vice Presidential spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, in Abuja on Friday said Osinbajo would be representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the event. According to the statement, the event takes place at the weekend while Osinbajo is expected back in Abuja on Sunday.

Oronsaye got N50m from Dasuki’s $2.1bn arms funds — Witness …

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja was told yesterday that former House of Service of the Federation (HOSF) got N50m from ex-National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, from $2.1billion set aside for the procurement of arms by the Goodluck Jonathan government.

An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Hammaadama Bello, said this yesterday while testifying as prosecution witness in Oronsaye’s trial for allegedly diverting public funds.

Bello mounted the witness box shortly after the prosecution rearraigned Oronsaye on a seven-count amended charge of criminal breach of trust, to which he pleaded not guilty.

He was first arraigned on March 15, 2016 on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust, in which he was accused of exploiting his position, as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force (PCFATF) between 2013 and 2014 to convert the committee’s N190m for personal use.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan sneaked into the State House, Abuja on Thursday night for a secret meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, 24 hours after the return of the ex-president from a six-week long trip abroad.

News of the meeting began to circulate yesterday a few hours after Buhari met separately with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a delegation of Anglican bishops led by the Primate of the church, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh.

There was no official confirmation of Jonathan’s visit, but a reliable source said the meeting took place at about 9pm when reporters and most workers at the seat of power had gone for the day.

Photo copyright Eric Miller / World Economic Forum 2008 Africa Summit, Cape Town, 3 - 6 June 2008 emiller@iafrica.com Aliko Dangonte

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, says Nigeria loses $1bn (about N197bn) annually due to poor condition of roads in the country.

He said this on Friday during the inauguration of the 24km Itori-Ibese Concrete Road in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, which his company constructed in collaboration with a Brazilian construction company, Andrade Gutierrez.

Dangote said the decision to introduce concrete roads in Nigeria was in line with what obtained in other parts of the world. The businessman said apart from being about 25 per cent cheaper than conventional asphalt roads, concrete roads last longer and do not require frequent maintenance.

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton has opened up a double-digit lead over Republican rival Donald Trump, regaining ground after the New York billionaire briefly tied her last month, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday.

The shift in support comes as Clinton steps up her attacks on the real estate mogul’s policy positions, and as Trump fends off criticisms of his eponymous university and the pace at which he doled out money that he raised for U.S. veterans.

Some 46 percent of likely voters said they supported Clinton, while 35 percent said they supported Trump, and another 19 percent said they would not support either, according to the survey of 1,421 people conducted between May 30 and June 3.

Trump had briefly tied Clinton in support among likely U.S. voters in mid-May, raising expectations for a tight race between the two likely contenders in November’s presidential election.

See more facts below......

U.S. lawmakers probe Fed cyber breaches, cite 'serious concerns'

A U.S. congressional committee has launched an investigation into the Federal Reserve's cyber security practices after a Reuters report revealed more than 50 cyber breaches at the U.S. central bank between 2011 and 2015.

The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology on Friday sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to express "serious concerns" over the central bank's ability to protect sensitive financial information.

God Is Aware, and He Cares

God Is Aware, and He Cares

BOLA ADEOYE — Jun 4, 2016

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13 NIV).

God is a caring, loving, compassionate father. He loves you more than you will ever understand. He loves you more than you can ever comprehend. God is love, and he made you to love you. He is loving toward you in everything that he does, and his compassion is his most outstanding quality. God is a caring father.

Barley a week after winning the Champions League, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has jetted out for vacation.

Zidance was pictured with his wife, Veroniquewith their suitcases as they made their way Barajas Airport ahead of his summer holidays.

The Bayelsa state command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has launched a manhunt for militants blowing up pipelines in the state.

This is coming after the Niger Delta Avengers blew up the Brass to Tebidaba Crude oil line in Bayelsa state on Thursday, June 2, 2016.

The NSCDC Bayelsa commander, Desmond Agualso revealed that his men have been deployed to the creeks.

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was right not to release the names of persons accused of looting Nigeria’s treasury.

Buhari promised to release the names of the looters on May 29, 2016 but he failed to do so.

Sagay said, while speaking to Daily Trust on Tuesday, May 31, that the names of the looters should not be the concern of Nigerians for now.

The Federal Government has made good its warning to deal decisively with the Niger Delta Avengers and other militants in the oil rich region of Niger Delta.

Leadership also reports that security agencies have closed down on the alleged sponsors of the militant group.

Reports say some former office holders in former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration have been identified, and their bank accounts frozen.

United Airlines To Stop Flights To And From Nigeria

The American airline’s last flights to Nigeria will depart on June 29 from Houston and June 30 from Lagos.

United Airlines will discontinue flights to and from Nigeria beginning on June 30, 2016.

The American airline’s last flights to Nigeria will depart on June 29 from Houston and June 30 from Lagos.

Cancer-Stricken Former Customs Boss, Abdullahi Dikko, Confesses To Owning Properties Worth $50m In Dubai

Former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, has reportedly owned up to having properties worth $50m in Dubai alone, according to Nigeria anti-corruption investigators currently in discussions with him.

Former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, has reportedly owned up to having properties worth $50m in Dubai alone, according to Nigeria anti-corruption investigators currently in discussions with him.

NJC Retires Judge For Issuing Order Without Sitting In Court

Ebuta was said to have been sanctioned over the “the allegations of abuse of judicial power, suppression, illegal and forceful takeover of a property in Calabar as contained in the petition written against him by Dr. (Mrs) Ekanem Cobham.”

Thee National Judicial Council said on Friday that it had compulsorily retired a judge of the Cross River State High Court, Justice B.T. Ebuta.

he NJC’s Acting Director (Information),‎ Mr. Soji Oye, said in a statement that the sanction was imposed on Ebuta partly because he made an order based on ex-parte application without sitting in court.

Nigerian judges

Oye said ‎the NJC, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, recommended the compulsory retirement of the judge to the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, at its 76th meeting which held on June 1 and 2, 2016‎.

Jonathan In Closed Door Meeting With President Buhari

Former President Goodluck Jonathan visited the Presidential Villa where he held a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night, The Trent reports exclusively.

According to an authoritative source, Jonathan and Buhari had a private conversation in the presidential villa at about 9pm on June 2, 2016. The same day that the president backed out of his trip to Ogoni in Rivers state to flag off the clean up of the land devastated by years of oil exploration and spills.

Things like this will not stop desperate girls from being promiscuous, they will be hoping that it won't happen to them, just the way armed robbers always believe they won't be killed until it's too late.

According to a female twitter user, 20 girls from University of Lagos (UNILAG) left their school and went to party with some so called big boys in Lekki, Lagos, but unfortunately only three returned to their hostel. The three girls who came back alive say they barely escaped with their lives. What happened?

Baptism; How Important It Is?

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him

1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

Lionel Messi: Five-time FIFA World Footballer of the Year named Huawei ambassador

Media reports reveal that Chinese tech giant,Huawei, has announced Barcelona FC star,Lionel Messi, as its global brand ambassador.

Huawei says the partnership with Messi showcases its alignment with people and brands that demonstrate and strive for its shared value of "connecting greatness".

Apple has sued Samsung several times for allegedly ripping off of its designs, but that does not seem to have deterred the Korean tech giant as it has launched two new smartphones that look exactly like an Apple iPhone 6s.

Samsung launched the two phones, which will be exclusive to China, on Thursday and it is called them the Samsung Galaxy C5 and C7.

Bishop TD Jakes, pastor of The Potter's House Church and his wife Serita Ann celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary yesterday, May 30, 2016.

Elkanah in first Samuel 1:8, stopped at encouragement only, but did not intercede for her. This was the basic difference between Elkanah and Isaac. Encouragement makes a person to keep going, but prayer is what changes things!

In Luke 1:7, Zacharias stayed by his wife even when she could not have children.
These are men that should be admired in the bible.

Even in Luke 1:13, the angel referred to the prayer of Zacharias, and not Elizabeth is because he had been interceding on her behalf.

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Once upon a time, a man was tapped to deliver his people from oppression. The oppressed were excited when the deliverer showed up. They saw light at the end of a deep, torturous tunnel. The deliverer formed a rescue team. After many duels and dogfights with a reluctant cruel and callous king, the people were released into freedom.

Relief from oppression is not the same as fulfilling happiness. The path to the land unknown through the wilderness was both pathetic and apathetic. When the deliverer couldn’t quickly deliver on his promises, the people rebelled: “We hate you! You should have left us in the hands of the cruel king who killed our children and raped our wives.” The heart of man is so feeble; and so bewilderingly unpredictable. The deliverer lost momentum. He did not make it to the land of freedom. Throughout history, men who shoulder too much of people’s problems usually don’t make it to the land of freedom.

Publisher of Ovation Magazine International, Chief Dele Momodu has reacted to pop singerDavido calling out his name on different records.

Speaking to Joy TV in Ghana last week, Dele Momodu said Davido is mentioning his name on records just to sell his album.

“I advised against the issue of national conference…I never liked the priority of that government. That is why I haven’t even bothered to read it (the 2014 National Conference) or ask for a briefing on it and I want it to go into the so-called archives”

– President Muhammadu Buhari, May 29, 2016”

In the wake of the recent insurgent challenges to the Nigerian state, several elder statesmen, politicians and civil society organisations have renewed their calls for the restructuring of the country. One of the most recent is that of a former Vice-President and perpetual presidential hopeful, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Speaking on Tuesday at the public presentation of a book entitled, “We are all Biafrans”, Atiku went on record as saying, “Nigeria as it is structured today, is not working…In short, it has not served Nigeria well and at the risk of reproach, it has not served my part of the country, the North, well. The call for restructuring is even more relevant today”.

I refuse to admit Africans are being embarrassed at the moment. But we’ll do well to cover our faces. We’ll all uncover later although it may take long. That’s because our sit-tight leaders across the African continent have a say in this. President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, for instance, will leave office in the next five years. He has expended 30 already. President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi will leave in five years from now, if he chooses to leave at all. He’s already exhausted the constitutionally-permissible ten. Joseph Kabila of Congo Democratic Republic should leave this December. He has spent 16 years already, and the constitution forbids him from staying. But Kabila’s security forces have been shooting Congolese for insisting he leaves as the law stipulates. President Paul Biya of Cameroon has been in office since 1982. He was in Abuja the other day, looking youngish, making me wonder if he would ever allow himself to be tagged “ex-president”.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has spent the two terms constitution allows. But he’s pushed the court to say he can continue in office. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has achieved the status of a maestro, keeping everyone guessing if he would ever leave office. He has been around since 1980. Add President Jacob Zuma of South Africa to the lot, and we get confounded as Africans. It’s not as if Zuma wants to remain in office beyond the legally-acceptable two terms. The second term will end in three years from now, and he definitely must leave. But he’ll advertise this continent for that length of time. My concern is that there’s an issue with his moral standing, and his kind of advert is what we don’t need at this time. For what’s happening in South Africa at the moment isn’t a matter of concern for South Africans alone, it’s for all of us that have the tag, “African”.

During this week's episode of 'The Juice' hosted by Dorcas Shola Fapson singer Adekunle Goldspoke about his music career, his other creative arts interests and singer Simi.

For a while now it has been heavily reported that Adekunle Gold and female singer Simi have been dating for quite sometime now. Simi has denied these claims several times.

This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the martyrdom of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. She did not volunteer her life to be ended by the assassin’s bullet. Rather they killed her because they believed that she was in their way. What she stood for was antithetical to their belief. She stood for democracy and respect for the voice of the people freely expressed. They stood for dictatorship and the muzzling of the voice of the people with the gun. The only way they knew to deal with that situation of opposing views on the best form of government or approach to governance was by violently silencing her.

No one should be surprised by the loud and widespread support that has attended the latest call by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that Nigeria needs to be restructured. In his words, “our current structure and the practices it has encouraged have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country. In short, it has not served Nigeria well, and at the risk of reproach it has not served my part of the country, the North, well.

The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in the light of the governance and economic challenges facing us…Nigeria must remain a united country…I also believe that a united country, which I think most Nigerians desire, should never be taken for granted or taken as evidence that Nigerians are content with the current structure of the Federation. Making that mistake might set us on the path of losing the country we love…”

Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji today, June 2, 2016 shared a throwback video from her intimate birthday bash last month.

play

Genevieve Nnaji twerks up a storm

(Instagram)

The actress showed off her playful side on Instagram as she twerked to Beyonce’s ‘Daddy Lessons’.

Her excited friends, including supermodel Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi, couldn't stop yelling in excitement.

Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari was ably represented by his Vice-President, Professor Osinbajo, at an historic event that took place in my village, Bodo….the official launch of the clean-up of contaminated water and land in Ogoniland, as recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP. Ogonis are not the only victims of chronic pollution caused by decades of oil exploration and production.

Ijaw, Tsekiri and so many other communities ALL OVER the Niger Delta has been profoundly affected by environmental degradation that has cost lives, severely undermined human health and impoverished those who depend on traditional occupations such as fishing and farming for basic survival. This launch shows that this government is willing in principle to right these wrongs. But launches are, at the end of the day, just symbolic events and public relations exercises. And this kind of problem can only be solved by an efficient process.

The myth about the inability of state governments to pay salaries is being taken too far. The truth is that it is absolutely impossible for any state to be incapable of paying legitimate salaries of its genuine workforce, despite the drop in FAAC allocation.

During the weekend celebrations of Democracy Day, we all saw states jostling to showcase real and imaginary projects with which they have performed “miracles” in their respective dormains and for which we must all be thankful, while insisting that they do not have enough to pay salaries. Even in projects that lie only in the realm of fantasy, the truth is that monies would have been appropriated and taken out of the government coffers.

Night life entrepreneur Shina Peller has announced that his popular Quilox has been closed temporarily.

Peller who just celebrated his 40th birthday spoke to Hip TV about why he is closing the doors of Quilox for the meantime.

I have always agonized and been concerned about this country Nigeria. My agony in most cases leads to headache and the problem is simply; why has Nigeria been the way it is? Why have we found it difficult to mesh as a nation? Why has development that would translate this country into a great country eluded us? Why is it that our leaders, over the years have always found it convenient to show concern for their own welfare rather than the collective welfare? Our leaders travel out of the country.

They see some of the best of facilities and infrastructure in those countries- good road network, good medical facilities where they go inorder to take care of themselves, unblinking electricity supply, welfarist programmes for the citizens. All these our leaders see, why is it that they do not show concern or feel such would be good for their country and try to replicate here?

A shooter has opened fire on students at the Engineering building of the University of California (UCLA).

CNN reports that the entire campus was placed on lockdown and security operatives cordoned off the whole area.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also issued an official statement asking people to evacuate the area, describing it as an active shooter situation.

Serial reports recently on attempted and successful suicides are sending shock waves across Nigeria. From Abia, a civil servant with the State ministry of lands and survey, whose name was simply given as Nwankwo, reportedly committed suicide over his inability to fund his wife’s uniforms for women’s day celebration of their church and feed the children. In Kano, a student failed to avoid carry-over exam in one subject and ended it all by taking a pesticide that terminated her life. A 17-year-old boy in Ganjuwa local government area of Bauchi state hung himself over a failed marriage proposal. In Lagos, a frustrated Cameroonian, Frederick Gino, climbed an electric pole to facilitate his electrocution because he was facing financial difficulties. An offer of a million Naira did not sway him. Gino was lucky that there was no electric current before he was eventually rescued by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority officials. Tunji “Tee Billz” Balogun, husband of songstress Tiwa Savage, attempted suicide on top of the bridge that links Lekki and Ikoyi. All these and many more just within the first quarter this year.

A Nigerian militant group said on Wednesday that it had blown up two Chevron oil wells in the second such attack in a week on the company's facilities in Nigeria's oil-producing Delta region.

An oil spill was seen in waterways and wetlands surrounding the Chevron sites after the attack, according to a Reuters witness and a local official, though the volume spilled could not be immediately determined.

The attacks occurred as tensions flared between international oil companies and Niger Deltaresidents, some of whom are pushing foreign energy companies to leave Africa's largest economy in a bid for greater economic self-reliance.

At least four people have been killed in floods in the southern German state of Bavaria and thousands of households were cut off from electricity, officials said on Thursday.

Firemen found three women in the basement of a flooded house in the town of Simbach am Inn some 120 km (75 miles) east from Munich, police said.

In the nearby village of Julbach, emergency services found a drowned woman hanging over a tree trunk in a stream, police said, adding that her house had apparently collapsed.

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