“If you don’t understand something keep quiet” – Okorocha’s Sister Ogechi Ololo (Commissioner for Happiness and Couple’s Fulfillment)

The newly appointed Imo State Commissioner for Happiness and Couple’s Fulfillment Ogechi Ololo has responded to people querying her appointment.

Ogechi Ololo, on her Twitter, has expressed amazement at the outburst her appointment has gotten, stating -  “If you don’t understand something, keep quiet, read and research. Make good use of your senses.”  See below:

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Orders Restructuring of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)

Following the current trend in social media with demands for scrapping SARS using the hashtag #ENDSARS the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood has ordered the restructuring of SARS across the nation and investigation into all allegations and complaints raised.

dailypost.ng

“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris worried with public interest and the need to reposition the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for more efficiency and effective service delivery to all has directed the immediate re-organisation of the SARS nationwide and instant investigation into all the allegations, complaints and infractions levelled against the personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country by the IGP X-Squad of the Force,” the statement read in part.

The statement said further that, in the new arrangement, a Commissioner of Police is now the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.

“The Police Zonal Commands, State Commands and Divisions will continue to operate anti-crime units/sections, crime prevention and control squads and teams imperative to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities in their Area of Responsibilities, and other crack squads necessary to sustain law and order and protection of life and properties in their Area of responsibilities (AOR).

“Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters.

“A Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and not below Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of FSARS in State and Zonal Commands across the Country. All Commissioners of Police have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives. The IGP X-Squad has been mandated to go round the Commands and Police Formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance and apprehend any erring police officer,” the statement read.

He, however, emphasised that the SARS have been doing very well in fighting violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnappings and cattle rustling in the country in the recent time resulting in reduction of incidents of the mentioned violent crimes nationwide.

Aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any SARS personnel anywhere in the country are to report through any of the following channels for investigation and further actions.

Culled from ChannelsTV

Atiku Abubakar Quits APC (All Progressive Congress)

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has officially resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter he wrote to the APC, Atiku said that the ethics for which he joined the APC had not been met, instead the party had backpedalled on all its promises.

He added that an attestation to his claim was buttressed in a letter written by a certain governor of the APC accusing the leadership of the party of frosty relationships with those who led the party to its 2015 victory.

Read the full text of the letter below:

On the 19th of December, 2013, I received members of the All Progressives Congress at my house in Abuja. They had come to appeal to me to join their party after my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had become factionalized as a result of the special convention of August 31, 2013.

The fractionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party on August 31, 2013 had left me in a situation where I was, with several other loyal party members, in limbo, not knowing which of the parallel executives of the party was the legitimate leadership.

It was under this cloud that members of the APC made the appeal to me to join their party, with the promise that the injustices and failure to abide by its own constitution which had dogged the then PDP, would not be replicated in the APC and with the assurance that the vision other founding fathers and I had for the PDP could be actualized through the All Progressives Congress.

It was on the basis of this invitation and the assurances made to me that I, being party-less at that time, due to the fractionalization of my party, accepted on February 2, 2014, the hand of fellowship given to me by the All Progressives Congress.

On that day, I said “it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision” to accept the invitation to join the All Progressives Congress.

Like you, I said that because I believed that we had finally seen the beginnings of the rebirth of the new Nigeria of our dreams which would work for all of us, old and young.

However, events of the intervening years have shown that like any other human and like many other Nigerians, I was fallible.

While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalization, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.

Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the president which ended up being leaked. In that memo,  he admitted that the All Progressives Congress had “not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance”.

Of the party itself, that same governor said “Mr. President, Sir Your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso), and former Governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and those you have assigned such duties.”

Since that memorandum was written up until today, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false. If anything, those behaviours have actually worsened.

But more importantly, the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people. How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth.

A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people.

I admit that I and others who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our country that we fell for a mirage. Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people?

Be that as it may be, after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life, I, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future.

May God bless you and may God bless Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar

Pope given gold-rimmed Lamborghini Huracan worth £180,000 donates it Charity

Source: skynews

Pope Francis had just received the super car as a gift from Lamborghini, but rather than getting behind the wheel he immediately blessed the vehicle and signed its bonnet in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

He then handed the car over to Sotheby's auctioneers who will sell it and donate the proceeds to charities helping victims of human trafficking, vulnerable women and children on the African continent, and Christians suffering persecution in Iraq.

The question here is how many priests, pastors, apostles, or bishops on the African continent can do this?

Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Father for the Fourth Time

Cristiano Ronaldo – the Real Madrid star revealed on Sunday that he had become a father for the fourth time following the birth of a baby girl Alana Martina by his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez.

“Alana Martina has just been born! Both Geo and Alana are doing great. We are all very happy,” as stated by the 32-year-old award-winning footballer on his Twitter page, However, Ronaldo is also the father of twins, Eva and Mateo, who were born in June.

Below is the picture of Christiano Ronaldo, Rodriguez, his seven-year-old son Cristiano Junior and the new arrival.

Super Eagles can beat Argentina – Salisu Yusuf, Super Eagles Assistant Coach

On Thursday, Salisu Yusuf, Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles said that Argentina can be beaten by the Nigerian players.

Yusuf spoke in Abuja ahead of the Nov. 14 friendly match against the former world champions in Russia.

The coach said that the Super Eagles can reverse the series of defeats suffered at the hands of the South Americans by beating them in Russia.

Yusuf revealed that Argentina’s track records would not be an advantage because the two teams would play the match based on their current form.

“My players are equal to the task anytime anywhere and we are not afraid of big names because big names no longer play football, but talent and determination are key to winning matches,’’ the coach said.

He assured Nigerians of an impressive outing against Argentina in the warm-up match aimed at boosting the morale of not only the players but their fans for World Cup.

The friendly match will be one in the series lined up to familiarise Nigerian players with the playing style of their likely opponents at the World Cup.

Source: NAN

Tim Godfrey Gave New Cars to 5 of His Crew Members

One of the famous Nigerian gospel artiste, Tim Godfrey decides to surprise his co singers, by presenting new cars to 5 of his crew members yesterday.

This was done to appreciate the crew members who have been with him for a decade.

Congrats to the beneficiaries

Singer Nikki Laoye, shared this on Instagram:

“5 cars in one day…    OMG!! My friend, Gospel Recording Artist, @timgodfreyworld is a baaaad guy.
With joy I took these pics as He Just gave out 2 Venzas and 3 Toyota Camrys to the long standing members of his Xtreme Crew band,most of whom have been working with him for over 10 years.
The band members are IBK @ibk_sings, Mairo @mairo_ochocho, Nana @nana_d_solomon, Blessyn @blessynokocha and SMJ @samuel_giveson.
Congratulations people of God, you totally deserve it.
Awesome sturrrrvs. It’s a great thing to bless people who have stood by you, I pray to do same..."

North Korea's foreign minister mocks Trump’s UN speech

Image: csis.org

North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech to the UN as “the sound of a barking dog” following a frosty relationship between his country and the United States (U.S.).

The crisis in the Korea Peninsula has been a major source of their soured relationship.

Speaking to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Mr Trump said he would “totally destroy” North Korea if it posed a threat to the U.S. or its allies.

Yong-ho’s comments were North Korea’s first official response to the speech.

The North has continued to develop its nuclear and weapons programmes, in defiance of a UN ban.

Yong-ho told reporters near the UN headquarters in New York: “There is a saying that goes: ‘Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on’.”

“If (Trump) was thinking about surprising us with the sound of a barking dog then he is clearly dreaming.”

Speaking about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Mr Trump had told the UN: “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.”

When asked what he thought of Trump calling Kim “rocket man”, Yong-ho responded: “I feel sorry for his aides.”

Yong-ho is set to make a speech to the UN on Friday.

Separately, on Thursday South Korea said it would send fresh humanitarian aid to the North for the first time in nearly two years.

The unification ministry in Seoul plans to provide $8m (£6m) through UN programmes aimed at children, pregnant women and improving medical supplies.

The decision comes days after the UN approved new sanctions against Pyongyang, restricting oil imports and banning textile exports, an attempt to starve the North of fuel and income for its weapons programmes.

The UN sanctions came in response to the North’s latest nuclear test on Sept. 3.

Experts say North Korea has made surprisingly quick progress in its development of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons.

Source: BBC & NAN

Falz Undergoes Ankle Surgery

The famous Nigerian rapper & singer -  Falz the bahd guy sprained his ankle while playing football, and had to undergo a minor surgery.

Image: soundit

He immediately got a ‘minor surgery’ to have it fixed.

He shared a photo of his leg wrapped in bandage on Snapchat after the successful ‘surgery’ with the caption, ‘minor surgery, just something light. Falzinho will be back in a few weeks’.

Reactions as the songwriter and psalmist Tasha Cobbs Leonard featured Nicki Minaj on one of the tracks, “I’m Getting Ready“.

The famous American singer, gospel artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard stunned as she released the tracklist for her album “Heart. Passion. Pursuit”, featuring Nicki Minaj on one of the tracks, “I’m Getting Ready“.

The 16-track album as well features, William Murphy, Anna Golden Jimi Kravity and Kierra Sheard. The album dropped on 25^th August 2017, as Tasha went on her Instagram page to thank Nicki Minaj for putting her talent into praise for the Most High.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard wrote:

I want to take a moment to appreciate my friend @nickiminaj!!! Thank you for shouting your praise for the world to hear and for putting your love for God on display! Thank you for lending your gift to this album! As I tell you often, I’ll say it for the world to hear… I will forever cover you in prayer! Many will be blessed and have an authentic God encounter because of the stand you chose to make with this record and THAT is all that matters!!!  Now lemme say this…. YOU SNAPPED!!! You absolutely smashed these 16!!!  LOVVVVEEEE YOUUUU!!!

Capture: BellaNaija

UBA Delivers Stellar Performance in Half-Year 2017, Grows Profit by 66%

…………Declares N0.20 Per Share Interim Dividend

                            …………..African Subsidiaries Contribute 32% of the Group’s Earnings

Lagos, Nigeria – August 24, 2017 – The Pan African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced its audited half year financial results ended June 30, 2017, showing remarkable performance across major metrics.

UBA grew its gross earnings for the period by 34.5 percent to N222.7 billion, as against N165.6 billion reported in June 2016. This impressive performance, which reflects the strong momentum of UBA’s business and its increasing share of customers’ wallet, was driven by the 44.3 per cent and 16.0 per cent growth in interest income and non-funded income respectively. The Group’s operating income stood at N161.8 billion, compared to N116.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016, representing a 39.2 percent growth. 

Notwithstanding the impact of Naira devaluation and double digit inflation in Nigeria and a number of other African countries where UBA operates, the Group managed through its cost lines to deliver a sterling Profit Before tax (PBT) of N57.5 billion, representing a significant growth of 65.5 percent over N34.8 billion recorded in the corresponding period of June 2016.

In same vein, the Group recorded an unprecedented Profit After Tax (PAT) of N42.3 billion, translating to a 56.2 percent growth over the N27.1 billion recorded in the half-year of 2016. This profitability further reflects the earnings capacity of the Group and its capability to progressively deliver superior returns to shareholders.

While the Group closed the half year with Total Assets of N3.69 trillion, a growth of 5.3 percent, it prudently grew gross loans to N1.6 trillion, a 4 percent growth when compared to the Group loan book as at 31 December 2016.

Reflecting a strong capacity for internal capital generation, the Group’s Shareholders’ Fund grew by 8 percent to N483.1 billion, whilst it delivered an annualized 18.2% return on average equity (RoAE) and an Interim Dividend of N0.20 per Share.

Commenting on the result, Kennedy Uzoka, the Group Managing Director/CEO, said that “the results again demonstrate the strong momentum of the Bank, as we deliver continuous improvement across our businesses and key performance metrics.” 

He further stated that the Bank’s “unwavering focus on customer service excellence is translating to strong operational and financial efficiency gains.  We have achieved better pricing on assets and liabilities, leading to continued improvement in the net interest margin to 7.3%. Leveraging our service-focused strategy and treasury management, we grew non-interest income by 17% year-on-year, reinforcing our transaction-banking-led approach towards deepening financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

According to him, UBA has made considerable progress in its retail banking penetration, gaining market share in deposits, at a time when a sizeable percentage of households are challenged due to inflationary pressures on disposable income. The Bank grew its retail savings and current account deposits by 23% and 5% YTD respectively.

Also speaking on UBA’s financial performance and position, the Group CFO, Ugo Nwaghodoh said that the Bank had “a strong start in the year, despite protracted recession in Nigeria, our largest market. Our profit after tax of N42 billion translates to 18.2% return on average equity, broadly in line with our 2017FY guidance."

He further said that the Bank’s African subsidiaries (ex-Nigeria) contributed 32% of the Group’s earnings, leveraging on digital offerings to gain market share across the different markets.  “We maintain our discipline of banking only quality and profitable assets, a conservative stance which reflects on our asset quality. Notwithstanding consistent liquidity mop-up by the CBN, we maintained an average balance sheet liquidity ratio of 42%. Further reinforcing the Bank’s capacity is the strong BASEL II capital adequacy ratio of 20%, which underpins our ability to grow, as the macro risks decline, he said”

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading pan-African financial services group, with presence in 19 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France.

UBA was incorporated in Nigeria as a limited liability company after taking over the assets of the British and French Bank Limited who had been operating in Nigeria since 1949. The United Bank for Africa merged with Standard Trust Bank in 2005 and from a single country operation founded in 1949 in Nigeria - Africa's largest economy - UBA has become one of the leading providers of banking and other financial services on the African continent. The Bank provides services to over14 million customers globally, through one of the most diverse service channels in sub-Saharan Africa, with over 1,000 branches and customer touch points and robust online and mobile banking platforms.

UBA was the first Nigerian bank to make an Initial Public Offering, following its listing on the NSE in1970. It was also the first Nigerian bank to issue Global Depository Receipts. The shares of UBA are publicly traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Bank has a well-diversified shareholder base, which includes foreign and local institutional investors, as well as individual shareholders.