A woman who embarked on kegogenic diet has shocked many of her followers after losing over 100 pounds.
Suzanne
 
A woman, Suzanne Ryan, 34, from San Francisco, California, who weighed nearly 300lbs has lost more than 100 pounds after embarking on ketogenic diet.
 
The woman shared her photos on social media, according to Dailymail.
 
She revealed that the weight left her unhappy until she was able to find success on the keto diet, which focuses on foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates. 
 
Four years later, mother-of-one Suzanne has lost 120lbs and often shares her advice and recipes to her 260,000 followers on Instagram, revealing to her fans that the main focus for her weight loss was a desire to get healthy for her daughter, Olivia. 

'One of the many reasons I decided to fight and get healthy. After Olivia was born I had a whole new purpose in life. 

'I wanted desperately to be healthy, not only for myself, but for her. I wanted to be a good example, to enjoy life and to have the energy to keep up with her. Today, she graduated from pre-k and as I sat there in a tiny chair meant for 4-5 year olds, I quickly thought about how this day would have felt if I were still 300+ lbs. 

'Those low chairs would have killed my knees, but I likely wouldn’t have sat down at all due to fear of the chair breaking. Sometimes it’s the little things that hit me. These are the times when I see and remember how much anxiety and discomfort I felt in my body and mind. 

'And while life after losing weight is far from perfect, I feel so thankful for my health, my family, and the ability to change.'
 
Now, Suzanne is eager to share that change with others, in the hopes of inspiring them to take control of their own health and happiness. 
 
By following the keto diet Suzanne says she was forced to become more aware of what ingredients she put in her body and how to create meals she would want to eat, a knowledge that helped her to be better and better about understanding what she should be eating and when. 
 
After one year on keto, Suzanne was able to naturally lose 100lbs, a total that has since increased.  
 
See more photos below:
 
 

A university student who survived a suicide attempt after writing the O'Level exams 17 times, has told his story.
Emmanuel Oluwasayomi Ahmadu
According to a report by TheGuardian, a University of Benin (UNIBEN) graduating student, Emmanuel Oluwasayomi Ahmadu, popularly known as Mr. Voiceover, has revealed how he survived a suicide attempt after he had written O’level examinations 17 times, attended 16 primary schools, took the University Matriculation Examination (UME) five times and enrolled into 14 secondary schools before gaining admission into the university.
Ahmadu, who recently got an international award for student brand of the year West Africa, organized by West Africa Citizens Award, said he scaled through his ordeal of attempted suicide after enduring depression and hopelessness.
He said: ”I felt hopeless and desperate, with bleak pessimistic view of the future. It was such a heart-breaking experience for me to see my junior colleagues turned university graduates before my eyes and worse still, to see my self still wearing secondary school uniform and repeatedly rewriting O’level exams until the 17th time.
“All these were happening to me as a result of family crisis, and along the line, I became an orphan. I was haunted continually with low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. I am today thankful to God that I did not succumb to the pressures to end my life. I am being celebrated today.” Surviving a suicide attempt may be seemingly impossible to victims; however, he revealed his recovering process to The Guardian. “I survived suicide thoughts by distancing myself and shifting attention away from the negative thoughts that could lead to a more devastating situation.

“I tried as much as possible to surround myself with people who care about me and let them know what I was going through. And I often remind myself that recovery is possible, especially from the numerous setbacks. At the weekend, the story came to light about the reported suicide of one Michael Asiwaju, known as Mike Cash, the founder of Asiwaju Royal Furniture. Members of the Twitter community had a week ago accused him of r*pe.
Mike was said to have drank Sniper, a poisonous insecticide in his hotel room on January 13, 2019 in Lagos a day after he threatened to take his life.Two days into the New Year, Lagos-based disc jockey (DJ), Seun Omogaji, popularly known as DJ XGee, committed suicide few hours after posting a cryptic note on his Instagram account. It was gathered that Omogaji allegedly took his life by gulping the insecticide, Sniper after unresolved marital crises.
Last year, one Ifeanyi Ugokwe was arrested and locked up for several weeks. His crime: He tried to take his own life. After weeks of reportedly being hungry and jobless, the 25-year-old claimed he reached breaking point after a security guard pushed him to the ground while he was searching for work at a building site.
“I was tired of walking around that day. And I was determined to work there, I tried to force my way in, then he pushed me, and I fell down flat on the floor,” Ugokwe had told CNN.“I started begging him because I was tired. I really needed that job because I needed to eat.” Humiliated, Ugokwe went to a nearby lagoon and jumped in. After being rescued by fishermen, Ugokwe said he was handed over to police officers who arrested and put him behind bars.
Attempting suicide is a criminal offence in Nigeria, under Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, and carries a penalty of up to one year in prison. The law was abolished in Britain under the Suicide Act of 1961, which happened after Nigeria gained its independence in 1960. Ugokwe said he is speaking out about his attempt to take his own life despite the stigma around the subject in Nigeria because he does not want people to suffer as he did.
Ajayi Yewande Elizabeth, a 400-level Psychology student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), noted that for every suicide, there are 25 suicide attempts arising from depression, failure or low self-esteem. She advised that sharing of thoughts with someone close or talking to a therapist could best curb suicide thoughts in the society.
Dr. Jubril Abdulmalik, a consultant psychiatrist has advised that inaccurate media depictions of mental health must stop, especially in Nigeria. He said the media must go beyond seeking traction when it comes to reporting on mental health issues and cases.
Citing examples of recent reports on suicide cases in Nigeria, the psychiatrist said the media must approach reports of mental health from a human angle and take leads from positions that do not seek to glorify the ugly side of the tragic events. He said the impact of reporting mental heath issues inaccurately, can be highly devastating.TheGuardian

In as much as he at times tried to evade controversies in 2018, Senator Saraki fought major battles that tested his political strength.
 
Senate President Bukola Saraki
 
The year 2018 could be described as one drama-filled one in the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
 
In as much as he at times tried to evade controversies in 2018, the official fought major battles that tested his political strength.
 
Several controversies trailed the lawmaker ranging from his in-and-out of court battles with the Code of Conduct Bureau, to disagreements with President Muhammadu Buhari and some appointees, to faceoff with colleagues and also a heated exchange with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
 
Below are some major battles that Mr Saraki fought in 2018 in no particular order.
 
 
1. Saraki Vs IGP
 
The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had in the past one year, been a thorn in Mr Saraki’s flesh.
 
Besides snubbing the Senate’s invitation three times – which Mr Saraki described as a gross disrespect, the security chief had several times given orders ostensibly to ‘attack’ the Senate.
 
The IGP had invited Mr Saraki for questioning in early June after some Offa robbery suspects allegedly confessed to being sponsored by him.
 
But this approach was later abandoned by the police who asked him to send a written response to the allegations instead. The Senate president subsequently sent a written response to the allegations.
 
Mr Saraki denied all allegations of involvement in the planning or execution of the Offa robbery in April which caused the death of many.
 
The Senate president was summoned again to appear before the police on the day that 14 senators defected. A siege was laid at his residence and that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. The lawmaker, however, managed to ‘escape’ and later presided over plenary.
 
The police later frowned at Mr Saraki’s failure to appear as directed and threatened to make him face the consequences. Mr Saraki asked the IGP to send his personnel to question him.
 
Recently, the lawmaker lashed out at the IGP over an attempt to arrest a senator, Dino Melaye, who has also had conflicts with Mr Idris. Mr Saraki described the police chief as Nigeria’s most partisan police IG.
 
Mr Idris last week retired from the police and has been replaced as inspector-general.
 
 
2. Saraki Vs Oshiomhole
 
It was all quiet until Mr Saraki dumped the APC and joined the PDP; it became a game of accusations and counter accusations characterised most times by name calling.
 
Perhaps pricked by his defection – and obviously other lawmakers who followed suit, Mr Oshiomhole, began to verbally attack the Senate president, who did not hesitate to respond.
 
Shortly after Mr Saraki’s defection, Mr Oshiomhole asked the lawmaker to resign or be removed from office.
 
In a swift response, Mr Saraki told the APC chairman that all efforts to remove him from office will fail.
 
He also accused Mr Oshiomhole of behaving like a “rain-beaten chicken” as though he (Mr Saraki) was haunting his life.
 
The brawl did not end there.
 
Upon Mr Saraki’s declaration to run for presidency, as expected, Mr Oshiomhole said his decision had “vindicated him”.
 
He also charged APC members in Kwara State to jettison their personal ambitions and work towards ending the reign of Mr Saraki in Kwara politics.
 
After the Senate president lost in the primary election, the publicity secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, said Mr Saraki’s loss shows PDP delegates “were fed up with his political style”.
 
Mr Saraki replied describing the comment as irresponsible.
 
The war of words between the two dominated part of Nigerian politics between August and November and there seems to be no end in sight yet.
 

3. Saraki Vs Omo-Agege
 
The disagreement between the Delta State senator and Mr Saraki can be traced back to when he was suspended for 90 days for accusing his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election plans in 2019.
 
This he said was done by adopting the amendment to section 25 of the electoral act outlining a change in the sequence of elections.
 
One week later, following his suspension, the lawmaker stormed the the chamber during plenary followed by some hoodlums who are believed to have been led by him and carted away the mace.
 
He was, however, quick to deny any wrondoing.
 
The federal high court in Abuja nullified his suspension even though the Senate tried to appeal.
 
Mr Omo-Agege did not relent in his verbal attacks which were directed at his colleagues and especially, Mr Saraki.
 

4. Saraki Vs Ali Ndume
 
After his suspension in 2017, Ali Ndume began to verbally attack the Senate president and express disappointment at his leadership.
 
He had said Mr Saraki betrayed him and other senators who supported him (Mr Saraki) and that he regrets supporting him.
 
In May, he tackled Mr Saraki and accused him of dictatorship.
 
In September, Mr Ndume criticised the Senate President’s presidential ambition as he said Mr Saraki can only win election in Kwara State.
 
Mr Saraki has made efforts not to respond to Mr Ndume’s comments but a few times has ‘ignored’ him on the floor of the Senate.
 
 
5. Saraki Vs Abdullahi Adamu
 
Former governor of Nasarawa State has never failed to hide his undying love and support for the president.
 
He was always willing to tackle anyone whose words or actions are against Mr Buhari in 2018. Although he tackled other colleagues in 2018, his major target was Mr Saraki.
 
The conflict started when the Senate adopted a report by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Amendment to the Electoral Act.
 
Mr Adamu and nine other senators accused the Senate president of not allowing them to add their voices to the debate.
 
They eventually left the chamber to address the press while the plenary was still on, insisting that the sequence change was targeted at Mr President.
 
Mr Adamu, who was later removed as chairman Northern Senators’ Forum in February, began to attack Mr Saraki. Mr Adamu called on the Senate President to resign or face the consequences.
 
He also accused Mr Saraki of using his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to do his dirty work.
 
 
6. Saraki Vs Tinubu
 
At the time when the Senate President was battling Mr Oshiomhole, another cold war erupted between him and the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu.
 
Mr Tinibu, who claimed to know why people like Mr Saraki and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal left the party, said in a statement, that they left because the APC could not give them what they wanted – which was automatic tickets and ”sharing of the national wealth which the governing APC could not guarantee”.
 
According to him, the defectors “left the party to return to a motley agglomeration that would promise them what true democracy could not: automatic tickets, sharing of the national wealth and other offices and privileges”.
 
And as expected, Mr Saraki, in a swift response, said the reasons advanced by Mr Tinubu were false and mischievous.
 
He listed the ‘many sins’ of the President Buhari’s administration and the leadership of APC which he said culminated in his defection.
 
On another occasion, the lawmaker in a leaked audio clip, vowed that Kwara State will never take instructions from any political leader in Lagos State, in veiled reference to Mr Tinubu.
 

7. Saraki Vs Lai Mohammed
 
Since Mr Saraki’s exit from the ruling party, it has been a battle for supremacy between him and the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, who is also from Kwara State.
 
The duo struggled to see their anointed candidates win the Kwara State by-election for Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero federal constituency – which was conducted to replace a late princess, Funke Adedoyin.
 
The APC candidate, Tunji Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner, while his closest rival, Saheed Alatise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 18,095.
 
Mr Saraki and other members of the PDP alleged that the process was skewed against their party.
In a recent attack, Mr Mohammed accused the Senate President of “dancing on the graves of the innocent souls who died in the April 5, 2018 armed robbery attack in Offa”.
 
He said his comment came after Mr Saraki reportedly said in a radio interview that he donated N10 million when he visited Offa to commiserate with the people in the aftermath of the robbery, ”even when the amount that was stolen from the robbed banks’ vaults was N7 million”.
 
Mr Mohammed said Mr Saraki did not pay a dime to the robbery victims.
 
Mr Saraki has dismissed the minister’s comments as falsehood.
 
 
8. Saraki’s Failed Presidential Ambition
 
Mr Saraki’s presidential ambition can also be considered as a major battle he fought in 2018.
 
He was verbally attacked from the day he made the declaration until the day of the primary election.
 
He officially announced his decision to run at a public dialogue organised by the #NotTooYoungToRun Movement, a youth pressure group. The group later dissociated itself from Mr Saraki’s ambition.
 
Mr Saraki lost the battle when a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar defeated him and other aspirants to emerge presidential candidate of the PDP.
 
Mr Saraki promptly vowed to support Mr Abubakar win the 2019 presidential election. He is currently a prominent member of Mr Abubakar’s campaign team.
 
Source: Premium Times

Lionel Messi has come off the bench to set another record in the Spanish La Liga during a clash against Leganes.
Lionel Messi
 
Even when not starting games, Lionel Messi makes his impression felt and produces - doing so again on Sunday night as Barcelona beat Leganes 3-1 at the Nou Camp.
 
With one eye on the Copa Del Rey quarter final first leg against Sevilla on Wednesday, Ernesto Valverde rested his talisman and captain for the game but when the visitors equalised through Martin Braithwaite in the 57nd minute, Messi's presence was required.
 
And rather predictably, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner turned the game on its head almost single-handedly after entering the fray just after the hour mark.
 
His curling effort in the 71st minute was too much for Ivan Cuellar to keep hold of and it led to Luis Suarez putting Barcelona ahead again with the rebound.
 
Then, in stoppage time, Messi linked up gloriously with Jordi Alba and finished off the move with an exquisite finish with his right foot to take his tally to 25 for the season, his Barcelona record to 577 and his La Liga goals haul to 401.
 
But the most impressive statistic to emerge from the latest Messi masterclass, is that the 31-year old has scored more goals as a substitute than any other player in La Liga in the 21st century.
 
He's been the first name on the teamsheet for years but has also bagged 22 times off the bench in league games. What's more, he has a total of 34 goals and five assists in 76 appearances as a sub for Barca.
 
Messi seemingly breaks a new record every time he steps foot on the pitch - and it wouldn't be a major surprise if finishes his career with more club goals than Pele - who notched 619 for Santos when you take out all the irrelevant ones he counts.
 
****

Nigerian soldiers have engaged deadly Boko Haram terrorists in a ferocious battle killing many in Baga.
The Boko Haram terrorists killed
 
Combined Special Forces troops of the Nigerian Army, Navy and the Air Force operating under the auspices of Operation LAfiYA DOLE in the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in northern Borno have inflicted devastating man and equipment casualty on Boko Haram terrorists in a fresh encounter with the dissidents in the late hours of Saturday 19 January 2018.
 
The terrorists, armed with two Gun trucks, a vehicle laden with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a suicide bomber met their water loo while frantically fighting to break into the formidable defensive position of the troops. The gallant troops responded swiftly in a fierce counter offensive, unleashing superior and overwhelming firepower on the terrorists and neutralizied five of them, including a driver and a gunner firing from a gun truck, a suicide bomber in a vehicle loaded with IED and two other terrorists.
 
 
In the ferrocious counter attack, the valiant troops destroyed one Gun truck ànd one IED - Carrying vehicle. The troops also recovered one Anti Aircraft Gun and three AK 47 Rifles belonging to the terrorists. The troops are relentless and in high morale as they continue in hot pursuit of some of the terrorists who fled the scene of the encounter when they were overpowered by the troops.
 
It will be recalled, that only recently, the special forces troops resolutely dealt a deadly blow on the terrorists in a battle in which the terrorists attempted to contest the control over Baga town with the Special Forces troops.
 
 
Please disseminate this information to the general public.
 
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
 
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Deputy Director Public Relations
Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE
 

The state government in a public announcement by the Commissioner of Information, on Sunday declared Monday a work-free day
 
File Photo
 
Borno State has declared Monday a public holiday for the campaign of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.
 
The state government in a public announcement by the Commissioner of Information, Dr. Mohammed Bulama on Sunday declared Monday a work-free day for the President’s re-election campaign.
 
The announcement read: “This is to notify the general public that due to the one day visit of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to Maiduguri, the state capital, tomorrow Monday, 21st January 2019, is hereby declared a public holiday in the entire state.

“This is to enable all the good people of Borno State, including workers in both the public and private sectors, as well as students to, as usual, troop out in large numbers to welcome Mr. President to the state.”
 
The announcement added: “Insha Allah, work resumes on Tuesday, 22nd January, 2019.”

A man has been left horrified after he found a huge carpet python hiding inside his toilet.
The huge python hiding inside the toilet
 
A man was given the shock of his life after he found a huge carpet python hiding inside his toilet bowl.
 
He called Stewart Lalor from Brisbane Snake Catchers at about 6.45am on Saturday, who then drove to the man's home in Wynnum west family home in Australia within 20 minutes. 
 
'They gave us a call to have it removed so they could finish their business in peace,' said Mr Lalor.
 
'I just put on a pair of gloves and dunked my hand in to take the snake. Carpet pythons are very common in Queensland,' he told Daily Mail Australia
  
Mr Lalor said it wasn't common to find snakes in toilets, with only two or three incidents every season. 
 
'People think pythons always want to be in the sun but they can also overheat and need to find ways to cool down,' he said.
 
Snakes will often slither into homes through open drains and unsecured pipes common in older designed homes such as the family home Mr Lalor attended.
 
Carpet pythons are the most commonly caught non-venomous snaked in Queensland.  
 
However, their bites leave a substantial laceration and will cause a fair bit of bleeding. 
 
The snakes can grow up to more than three metres in length, according to the Queensland Museum. 
 

A Pastor with the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry has been dragged to court along with her three children.
Joseph Idehen
 
For their alleged involvement in the death of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Joseph Idehen, the police have arraigned a pastor with the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, Taiwo Idehen, and her three children, Punch Metro reports.
 
Taiwo and her children, Samuel, Michael and Ruth, were arraigned by the Force Criminal and Intelligence Department on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, stealing, use of false documents and forgery.
 
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
 
The police alleged that the defendants committed the offences at the deceased’s residence at No. 5 Odetola Street, off Merit Road, Alagbado, Lagos, on July 4, 2016.
 
According to the police, Taiwo, who was said to have divorced the deceased over 29 years ago, and her three children, allegedly conspired among themselves to murder the retired senior police officer in suspicious circumstances.
 
They were also alleged to have forged a death certificate from the Ota General Hospital, Ogun State, which was used in conveying the deceased’s corpse to Aragba in Delta State.
 
It was gathered that Michael allegedly withdrew the sum of N286,000 from the deceased’s account domiciled in First Bank of Nigeria Limited, while all the defendants were accused of fraudulently withdrawing the sum of N2.1m from Joseph’s account domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.
 
According to the police prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, the offences are contrary to sections 233, 365 (3) (d), 366 and 287 (5) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
 
Animashaun told the court that the defendants’ arrest was predicated on a petition dated August 2016, written to the police by the Chambers of Milestone Partners, wherein the alleged role played by each of the defendants in the death of the retired police officer was stated.
 
He added that upon receiving the petition, the defendants were invited for interrogation and they all wrote confessional statements.
 
In view of their not guilty plea, Animashaun urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending the conclusion of the matter.
 
The defendants’ lawyer, Kennedy Osunwa, told the court that he had filed his clients’ bail applications, which had been served on the prosecutor.
 
Following the applications of the defendants’ lawyer, the presiding judge, Justice Adedayo Akintoye, adjourned the matter till January 25, 2019, for the hearing of their bail application.
 
She also ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

Nigerians witnessed imprisonment of the opposition and a vicious self-succession plan by Abacha between 1993 and 1998, when the dictator died.
 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday, took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him and “his hatchet men” of running an autocratic government similar to the administration of the late military dictator,  Gen. Sani Abacha.
 
Obasanjo stated this in his 16-page statement titled, “Points for concern and action,” given to journalists in Abeokuta.
 
Nigerians witnessed imprisonment of the opposition and a vicious self-succession plan by Abacha between 1993 and 1998, when the dictator died.
 
Obasanjo said, “It is clear from all indications that Buhari is putting into practice the lessons he learned from Abacha. Buhari has intimidated and harassed the private sector, attacked the National Assembly and now unconstitutionally and recklessly attacked and intimidated the judiciary to cow them to submission.

“I was a victim of Abacha’s atrocities against Nigeria and Nigerians – high and low.  At the height of Abacha’s desperation for perpetual power, he did not brook any criticism because Nigeria was seen as his personal property.

“You must go along with him or be destroyed.  All institutions for ensuring security, welfare and well-being of Nigeria and Nigerians particularly the police, the military and the Department of State Services were abused and misused to deal with critics of Abacha and non-conformists with Abacha.

“Today, another Abacha era is here.  The security institutions are being misused to fight all critics and opponents of Buhari and to derail our fledgling democracy.  The EFCC, the police and the Code of Conduct Tribunal are also being equally misused to deal with those Buhari sees as enemies for criticising him or as those who may not do his bidding in manipulating election results.  Criticism, choice and being different are inherent trademarks of democracy.  If democracy is derailed or aborted, anarchy and authoritarianism will automatically follow.

“Today, as in the day of Abacha, Nigerians must rise up and do what they did in the time of Abacha.  Churches and Mosques prayed.  International community stood by us Nigerians.

“God of Nigeria is a living God and a prayer-answering God.  Nigerians must cry out to God to deliver Nigeria.  Here again, I have been threatened with arrest and extermination but I will not succumb to intimidation or threats.”
 
…says INEC lacks integrity, plotting to rig polls for APC
 
Obasanjo stated that he decided to speak on the state of the nation because he was concerned about the dangerous trend pervading the country.
 
He, however, came hard on the Independent National Electoral Commission describing its officials as people of no integrity.
 
Obasanjo stated, “Democracy becomes a sham if elections are carried out by people, who should be impartial and neutral umpires, but who show no integrity, acting with blatant partiality, duplicity and imbecility.

“For all democrats and those carrying out the process of elections, there must be the red line that must not be crossed in tactics and practices of democracy.

“I personally have serious doubt about the present INEC’s integrity, impartiality and competence to conduct a fair, free and credible election.”
 
The former President scolded INEC on its performance during the governorship election in Osun State last year, describing the rerun election as unnecessary.
 
He said, “The unnecessary rerun, if viewed as a test for general elections, would lead people to expect incidences of deliberately contrived, broken or non-working voting machines or card readers, confusion of voters as to their voting stations, inadequate supply of voting materials to designated places, long line to discourage voters and turning blind eyes to favour the blue-eyed political party of INEC because the commission’s hands will be tied to enable the hatchet men and women to perform their unwholesome assignment.”
 
He urged Nigerians to stop INEC from derailing the democracy through its action.
 
“The track record of the present INEC is fairly sordid and all men and women of goodwill and believers in democracy must be prepared for the worst from INEC and their encouragers and how to get Nigeria out of the electoral morass that the commission is driving us into. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  A battle long forewarned does not embroil the cripple nor catch him unawares,” he said.
 
The former President also called on the international community to resist Buhari’s alleged plan to rig the coming elections.
 
Obasanjo said, “From available intelligence, we have heard of how Buhari and his party are going about with his own self-succession project.

“They have started recruiting collation officers who are already awarding results based on their projects to actualise the perpetuation agenda in which the people will not matter and the votes will not count.  It is the sole reason he has blatantly refused to sign the revised Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill into law.

“His henchmen are working round the clock in cahoots with security and election officials to perfect their plan by computing results right from the ward to local government, state and national levels to allot him with what will look like a landslide victory irrespective of the true situation for a candidate who might have carried out by proxy presidential debate and campaigns.”
 
He, however, advised the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakub Mahmood, to stand firm and carry out his duties with competence and unbending neutrality.
 
Speaking on the controversial INEC official,  Amina Zakari, Obasanjo said the woman had become too controversial a figure to be able to give assurance of free, fair and credible elections for INEC.
 
We are studying the essay – INEC
 
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said,  “(Response) not immediately my brother. We are studying the essay and we will respond appropriately at the right time.”
 
Obasanjo, haunted by his past misdeeds – APC
 
But the All Progressives Congress said Obasanjo was being haunted by his past when elections were rigged and government institutions were denied independence.
 
The National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated this at a media interaction in Abuja on Sunday.
 
He said, “For eight years of President Obasanjo, all the elections he held…in fact  government policies were determined by whatever mood he found himself. All the institutions of government were heavily influenced by Obasanjo. What he did for those eight years is what is haunting him. He cannot imagine it is possible for a government to allow INEC the statutory independence that it has.”
 
Onilu said elections conducted under the APC government so far were credible. He said the APC should be commended for allowing institutions to perform their duties without interference.
 
Polls were marred by impunity under Obasanjo – Presidency
 
However, the Presidency dismissed  issues raised by Obasanjo, alleging that security crises and impunity were rife under the ex-President’s administration between 1999 and 2007.
 
The Special Adviser to the President Muhammadu on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, while featuring on Sunday Politics, a news and current affairs programme of Channels Television, said thousands of lives were lost under the administration of Obasanjo.
 
Responding to Obasanjo’s allegation that Buhari and the APC planned to rig the general elections,  Adesina said, “Imagine that kind of allegation coming from somebody who told us in 2007 that the election would be a ‘do-or-die affair.  If somebody had said the election would be a ‘do-or- die’ affair and it was ‘do- or- die’ affair and the beneficiary of that election came out to say that the election that brought him to power was marred; now for that person to allege that elections were not going to be free and fair, were they free and fair when he conducted his own?”
 
On the allegation that the security crisis in the country was deteriorating, Adesina said, “Under Obasanjo was when we had the Odi massacre; under him was when we had the Zaki Biam massacre; under him there were lots of clashes involving the OPC and other ethnic groups, there were Shari’ah riots under him, and thousands of lives were lost even under his administration.”
 
Also, in a statement by another media aide to Buhari, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said Obasanjo needed “a good doctor for good treatment and to say to him, “Get well soon.”
 
He added, “This language of his 16-page letter, likening President Buhari to General Sani Abacha, a man he dreaded and the one who jailed him under military laws is most unfitting from a former President of Nigeria.
 
“The claim that President Buhari has put in place rigging machinery is both outlandish and outrageous. We are unable to get the words to describe a 90-year old liar, except to say that by the publication of this tissue of lies against the President, he Obasanjo, not the President will fall from everyone’s esteem.”
 
Probe me, Obasanjo dares Buhari
 
However, in the statement, Obasanjo said those who were using probes as threats should remember that he had been probed four times by the EFCC, the ICPC, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
 
Obasanjo stated, “Buhari has access to reports of these probes. But I have also challenged Buhari and the criminals around him to set up a probe on the same allegations and I will face such a probe in public. But I know that these criminals cannot withstand a police inquiry let alone clinical probe on the past public offices they held.  My fervent prayer is that President Buhari may live to see the will and purpose of God for Nigeria.”
 
He, however, commended the President for yielding to popular outcry “to let the former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, go.”
 
On electoral violence, Obasanjo recommended stiffer punishments such as withdrawal of culprits’ visas and taking them to the International Criminal Court among others.

Obasanjo chides Osinbajo, says Tradermoni, an absurdity
 
Obasanjo also faulted the Federal Government’s loan scheme, otherwise known as Tradermoni, describing it as a sinister move to buy votes of the people.
 
Obasanjo, who quoted a former  Deputy Chairman, South-West of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olabode George, as saying,  “You cannot give what you don’t have.
 
“The other day, the Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo – a learned man, an enlightened person in all parameters – was seen at various markets in Lagos State and Abuja distributing N10,000 each to market women.  What an absurdity!”
 
Obasanjo said, “It was indeed an obscene display of executive recklessness and abuse of office.  Pray, where did the money come from?  Was it budgeted for in the appropriation law? In more civilised nations, Osinbajo would have been impeached and prosecuted for gutting our collective treasury.

“What an act by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, number two man in the Executive hierarchy; and what is more, a pastor of one of the Christian movements led by a revered, respected and upright church leader, Pastor E. A. Adeboye.  Osinbajo must have gone for, ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’

“A great pity indeed and which makes people ask the questions, “Any hope?”  Yes, for me, there is hope.  Osinbajo has shown the human weakness and proved the saying that the corruption of the best is the worst form of corruption.

“His explanation that it was their government programme can only be construed to be very shallow and lopsided, if not an outright idiotic programme.”
 
CCT  trial aimed at removing  CJN – OBJ
 
On the alleged corruption charges against the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, Obasanjo said,  “President Buhari and his hatchet men in the coming elections think that the judiciary must be primed in their favour.

“Hence, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, has been harassed and prosecuted for non-declaration of his assets without following the constitution and the law, just to make him to conform or set him aside for a Buhari man to take over or act, as President Buhari and his people believe no stone should be left unturned to rig Buhari in.

“But the Vice-President told us that the President knew of the action on Saturday night for everything that has been prepared for Monday morning.  Haba VP, it doesn’t happen that way.

“Nobody should take such measure against any of the four in hierarchy below the President or any of his ministers without his knowledge and indeed his approval.

“But if that can happen to the CJN, the fifth man in the hierarchy of government, without the knowledge let alone the approval of the President, then it speaks for the type of government we have which means the President is not in charge let alone being in control and no Nigerian must take anything for granted.”
 
Buhari empowered B’Haram through ransom payment – OBJ
 
Obasanjo alleged that the present government had empowered the terrorists with the ransoms it paid which it denied.
 
He said the terrorist group was more brutal than before due to the collaboration with the Islamic State’s West Africa Province.
 
He said “Let me assert that the security situation has deteriorated with kidnapping everywhere and Boko Haram more in action and nobody should deceive Nigerians about this.

“Boko Haram has also been empowered by the Nigerian government through payment of ransom of millions of dollars which each administration disingenuously always denied.”
 
Obasanjo’s concerns vindicated us – PDP
 
However, the PDP said the concerns raised by Obasanjo had vindicated its stand that Buhari was out for a self-succession plot.
 
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement stated that Obasanjo’s submission had also reinforced the PDP’s position that Buhari, and his party, the APC, having realised that there was no way they could win in a free and fair election, were now allegedly besieging all democratic institutions, including the judiciary, the legislature, the INEC, and allegedly engaging in acts that threaten the unity, peace and corporate existence of Nigeria.
 
Source: Punch

Properties worth millions of naira including documents have been destroyed by fire at the Imo State university.
The scene of the fire incident
 
The Imo State University, Owerri, experienced a fire outbreak in the early hours of Thursday. The fire razed the institution’s Faculty of Humanities.
 
It was learnt that the inferno destroyed documents and academic equipment worth millions of Naira.
 
A student of the university, Justice Okorie, said that the fire started around 3am and it affected almost all the lecturers’ offices in the faculty.
 
Okorie also said that computer offices of various departments in the faculty and libraries were destroyed.
 
 
“A fire outbreak has destroyed the Humanities Faculty Annex of our school. It started by 3am and before help could be rendered, equipment and valuable documents have been destroyed,” Okorie said.
 
“Documents were lost in offices that include those of the Dean of the Faculty. We pray the incident does not affect our academ

Internet users have been left confused following trending pictures of a young Nigerian lady who reportedly sells fish in the market.
 
The lady in question
 
The beautiful and well-endowed lady was pictured at a shop while selling fish at the market, according to a Facebook user who posted the images and didn't give the exact location where he saw her. 
 
Netizens who have been intrigued by the slay queen - are wondering what prompted her to land in the market, with all her "assets" and beauty. 
 
Some online users also expressed doubts as to whether the lady is really a fish seller. 
 
 

Chocolate City in collaboration with 100 Crowns, Martell and Continued Ent Presents the Official “MARTELL CYPHER 2019” (Martell Cartel) featuring MI Abaga, Loose Kaynon, A-Q and Blaqbonez.
Loose Kaynon, A-Q, MI Abaga and Blaqbonezkick off the new year with the video for the anticipated L.A.M.B Martell Cypher. It follows the campaign which kicked of in August 2018 with albums “Crown” – Loose Kaynon & A-Q, “Yung Denzel” – MI Abaga and “BadBoyBlaq” – Blaqbonez.
This bar heavy, carefully crafted piece of art is more than just a cypher but reinforces the these artists resolve to continue to elevate the culture of hip-hop in Nigeria.
Enjoy – This is the o my cypher that matters!.
Video Shot by Dekunle Aina (@dekunle.aina)
Watch and Enjoy the visuals below

Popular Nigerian movie star, Ini Edo has spoken out about her career and what fans should expect from her in 2019.
Ini Edo
 
S*xy actress Ini Edo is one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actresses today. With over a hundred movies in the kitty, the screen goddess, who’s currently the Special Assistant on Culture & Tourism to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, speaks on her latest movie production, Heaven on My Mind, in partnership with fellow actress, Uche Jombo.
 
She also talks about giving back to Nollywood and her plans for the New Year.
 
***
 
How was 2018 for you, any regrets?
 
I don’t have any regrets whatsoever. As a matter of fact, 2018 was a great year for me. I’m thankful and hopeful for a better 2019.
 
Talking about 2019, what should fans expect from you and what are you looking forward to?
 
My fans should expect nothing short of the best. 2019 is going to be another great year. Like I said earlier, I’m looking forward to a better 2019, not just for me as a person or an actress but also for my fans, friends and well wishes, and, of course, our nation, Nigeria.
 
As the 2019 general elections draw closer, what do you have to say to your fans and Nigerians at large?
 
Stay safe and if you must go out to vote, vote right and vote wise. Stay out of trouble. Don’t allow yourself to be used by any politician and avoid anything that can bring you pain and discomfort.
 
You feature more in movies produced by your friends and this has given rise to speculation that producers can’t afford you…
 
Well, I wouldn’t say that. I’ve just been featured in a movie I did not produce. It’s a film produced by Mo’ Abudu. So, I won’t say it’s because they can’t afford me. I decided to slow it down a little and just be selective of what I am part of, for obvious reasons. Most times the worst script comes with lots of money. If a story is not so great, a producer would want to use you because he feels he needs somebody like you to bring it to life and they’d want to pay anything just to have you in it, but at the end of the day, when the film comes out, you feel bad you did it. So for me, it’s not just about the money. If I’m passionate about the story, it really doesn’t matter how much I’m being paid. I don’t use money as a yardstick before going into a project. There’ve been some projects where the money wasn’t that great but because I really loved the script, I did it. So in all, I’m just taking my time and being selective.
 
Why did you choose to go into production?
 
I think I’m one of the first actors who started movie production. I also think I’m one of the first actors who took their films to cinema. I don’t know if you remember when I did I Will Take My Chances with Emem Isong. And that’s also what gave birth to a new actor, Bryan Okwara. That’s the way I give back to the industry. When you’ve been in an industry for a long time and all you did were things that were handed over to you by others, and you think things should be done in a certain way, you would want to be part of that change you want to see. Now, there’s a journey that’s already on and that’s the cinema culture. When I did I Will Take My Chances, we did not have a lot of cinematographers in Nigeria, so we brought in cinematographers from Hollywood and that was because we wanted to do something different and meet up with international standards. But today, we have so many cinematographers in Nigeria. It cost us so much but it was the beginning of something and now everybody is on it. You just don’t sit down and expect things to be done magically; be part of the change you want to see and you’ll get there somehow. See what’s going on today in the industry. I am proud and grateful to God that I was able to play a role. When we did Knocking On Heaven’s Door, what a lot of people don’t know was that the story just fell on my laps. The owners of that project wanted me to produce it and I brought Emem Isong in and they wanted me to play the lead character and we were going to do the entire song miming thing. For sure I can’t sing so I insisted on using a new actor; they actually wanted me and another guy with a known face but I insisted on bringing in a totally new person on board and that’s what gave rise to Adesua Etomi and Blossom Chukwujekwu. That was their first jobs but today see who they are. I just feel very privileged to make such impact even though it may not be so celebrated but it just feels good to know that I’ve been able to do this. The latest one with Uche Jombo, Heaven On My Mind is mind-blowing.
 
Why production? Isn’t it possible for one to stick to acting alone?
 
Why not? It’s very possible. There’s no law that says an actor must produce; it’s a choice. Like I said, if you want change and you want to be part of the bigger picture, you just have to grow and explore. There are some of my colleagues who’ve been there longer than I am but have never produced a film; there’s no law that says you must produce.
 
Looking at where Nollywood is now, is there something that’s not been done that you’d like to do?
 
What I’m looking forward to is that day when we’ll get to a point we’ll be making so much income that we could actually live the big names we are known for. In Hollywood for instance, you don’t need to do 20 movies in a year to make it. If you do two films, you’re good to go; that is good compared to us. I’m hoping to see Nollywood get to a point where you do one job in a year and it takes care of the rest. Right now, our films are acceptable everywhere. Our industry has grown, I just want our pockets to grow to that level as well.
 
And for your pocket to grow to that level, what are the things you think should be done better?
 
I think distribution should be done better because the more people see the film, the more money you make. Hollywood films are watched all over the world. We haven’t gotten there yet, we are still around Africa and some parts of America I think. But by the time we get to a place where countries that don’t understand Nigerian languages subtitle our films to watch, then, I think we’d be better-off and every other thing will follow.
 
***
Source: Sun News

Senator Melaye's son, Josh, also corroborated Murray-Bruce's claim saying they have no light in the house and they buy water to drink.
Dino Melaye
 
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, representing the Bayelsa East in the National Assembly, on Wednesday, January 9, claimed that the police ordered the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) not to reconnect electricity to the residence of Senator Dino Melaye. 
 
Senator Murray-Bruce said this via his official Twitter handle, @benmurraybruce.
 
He tweeted: “So after @dino_melaye surrendered himself to @PoliceNG, the Police did a thorough search of his house & found nothing. Yet, the police have refused AEDC from reconnecting his power. Currently, Dino’s kids are left to sleep in darkness and under very horrific conditions.” 
 
Corroborating Senator Murray-Bruce’s allegation, the alleged first son of the embattled Kogi West senator, Josh Melaye, posted on his Instagram page that since their father surrendered to the police on Friday, January 4, they have been kept in horrific condition.
 
In his post, Josh said they have no light in their house and that he and his siblings buy water to drink. He also alleged that the police have restricted visitors from visiting them.
 
See his post below: 
 

Dayo Amusa who has been accused to acute bleaching has flaunted her fresh skin on Instagram as she sat on a couch.
 
Dayo Amusa
 
34-year old actress and singer, Dayo Amusa knows her laps are eye-catching and she never fails to them on social media.
 
She was spotted sitting seductively seated on a chair at her place. The picture has left her followers gushing over her.
 
The Yoruba actress isn't new to posting sultry contents on her social media page.
 
 

A young lady who has been cheerfully spreading her legs for men has ended up warming the beds of two close friends.
 
Relationship blogger, Joro Olumofin has shared the story of a lady who has slept with two friends. 
 
According to her, she dated the first one for the money and s*x but ended up quitting the relationship to mistakenly date his friend.
 
She is presently confused about her next life of action.
 
Read her full gist below:
 

President Muhammadu Buhari is considering a cut on the salaries of civil servants earning above the minimum wage.
 
President Muhammadu Buhari 
 
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the salaries of all those earning above the minimum wage would be slashed down. 
 
Inaugurating a Presidential Advisory Committee on New National Minimum Wage at the council chambers this morning, he said he would be engaging those earning above the country’s minimum wage soon for the review.
 
The President, had while presenting this year’s budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly last month, said he would set up a technical committee to look into the recommendations of the tripartite committee on minimum wage.
 
In attendance at the session, were the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, among others.
 
The President who said a provision for the new minimum wage had been made in the year’s budget proposal, said he is committed to the upward review of the minimum wage.
 
“We will be engaging those currently earning above the Minimum wage,” he said, asking them to be prepared.
 
Source: Daily Trust

Nigerian musician, Davido has wished Simi and Adekunle Gold all the best after the duo tied the knot traditionally yesterday.
Simi and Adekunle Gold
 
Musician, Davido has reacted to the wedding between Adekunle Gold and Simisola Ogunleye.
 
Simi and Adekunle tied the knot traditionally yesterday at Eko Atlantic.
 
This is coming after Simi and Adekunle Gold’s continuous denial of their relationship left fans confused until a picture showing them kissing during her sold-out Lagos concert was released few weeks ago.
 
Speculations intensified in 2016 when they released the joint album, ‘Chemistry’ with controversial and intimate cover art.
 
Reacting to the news, singer, Davido wished the newly wed couple well as he wrote: “May your UNION LAST FOREVER OOO!!!�”
 

A promising young lady who is quite good-looking has gruesomely lost her life in a domestic accident which took place at her house in Lagos.
 
The late Annyfat Ashabi Omotoyosi
 
One Annyfat Ashabi Omotoyosi has been killed in a gas explosion in Lagos.
 
According to reports on social media, she was using her phone beside a gas cooker which resulted into an explosion that killed her.
 
She has been described as a very fashionable and trendy lady before her demise.
 
 
"Ladies pls stop the act of pressing your phones while cooking with has. It is dangerous. I'm so hurt at the momement. None of us will die young oooo. Rest in peace Annyfat Ashabi Omotoyosi," her friend posted on social media.

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