Ekiti: Aggrieved aspirants pick Aluko, reject Fayose

Senator Gbenga Aluko, one of the 13 aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State has emerged as the the consensus candidate of the party on Friday night after he emerged the winner of the election done among the 12 aspirants.

This is coming seven days after the party conducted a primary election which produced former Governor Ayo Fayose as the governorship candidate.

Confirming the news, the Director General of Senator Gbenga Aluko Cakpaign Organisation, Mr. Tunji Olatunde said all the 13 aspirants who were clamouring for a consensus arrangement to select the flag bearer of the party participated in the selection of Aluko except former Deputy Governor Bisi Omoyeni.

He added that all the 11 aspirants congratulated him and assured him of their support for the June 21 governorship election in the state.

Aluko while speaking with journalist said the Chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe supervised the election which produced him ( Aluko) as the consensus candidate of the the party.

He said, they are going to meet the President and the group would present their consensus candidate to him.

Efforts to get the PDP chairman in Ekiti State proved abortive.
READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/63160.html

Tinubu, Sheriff in near fisticuff at APC NEC meetiing

The recent meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, almost turned violent following the threat by a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff to beat up a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

Mr. Sheriff exploded midway into the meeting, raining abuses on Mr. Tinubu and threatening to slap the former Lagos State governor.

Messrs. Sheriff and Tinubu clashed when the meeting began discussions on the congresses and convention.

It was gathered that the during the discussion, the APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande, who was presiding over the meeting nominated himself and the National Secretary, Tijjani Tumsah to serve as chairman and secretary respectively of the National Convention Committee, NCC, which would also oversee the conduct of the congresses.

Angered by the suggestion, the former Borno State Governor, who is popularly called SAS (Senator Ali Sheriff) or GAS (Governor Ali Sheriff) while in power between 2003 and 2007, grabbed the microphone and expressed his opposition to the choices.

Mr. Sheriff was also said to have made some remarks which suggested that he believed that APC was not yet mature as a party.

He was reportedly cautioned by Mr. Tinubu, who asked him not to speak about the party in a negative manner. The former Lagos State Governor also asked Mr. Sheriff to quit the APC and go elsewhere, if he was not comfortable with the party.

At this point, Mr. Sheriff, who was now holding firmly to the microphone, allegedly began to insult Mr. Tinubu, asking him if he owned the party.

But for the intervention of the some party leaders attending the meeting, including a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari and a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the former Borno Governor, almost made real his threat, sources at the meeting told journalist.

The APC NEC meeting, which was held at the party’s headquarters in the Wuse 2 District of Abuja, was convened last Monday to discuss some pressing issues in the party, including the impending inaugural ward, local government and state congresses as well as a national convention.

At the end of the meeting, the APC NEC fixed May 24 for its first national convention. It also fixed April 5 for the ward congresses while the local government and state congresses will hold April 12 and 23 respectively.
READ MORE: Premium Times

Jonathan blames governors for insecurity

President Goodluck Jonathan has taken a swipe at governors of states plagued with insecurity in the North East part of the country accusing them of failing in their duties.

Apparently referring to Governor Kashim  Shettima of Borno State and Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, Jonathan at  the  North East Zonal Rally of the PDP in Bauchi on Saturday,  Jonathan said it was wrong for the governors to blame the federal governor for the situation in the states.

He however noted that the Federal Government will not rest on its oars in bringing an end to the insurgency in the region.

“It is shameful for a governor who has stayed in power in his state for up to six years or more to come to me and talk about bad leadership when you have youths in your state that more than half have not attended primary and you are doing nothing about it.

“State Governors should be ashamed when our children do not go to primary and secondary schools and they decided to carry arms. We had insecurity challenges in Bayelsa when I was deputy governor and later governor   and we handled them. It is not the duty of FG to send children to Primary and Secondary schools but it is the constitutional right of the Federal Government to make sure children attend tertiary institutions which we have done, “Jonathan said.

The President said the situation in the North East is sad but assured that peace will be restored in the affected states soon.

Speaking on the fortunes of the PDP come 2015, the President boasted that his party will surely reclaim Adamawa, retain Taraba and take over Borno and Yobe States.

He noted that those claiming to be strong opposition in Adamawa state are only “leaving with one vote”.

Other Speakers who spoke at the zonal rally acknowledged the insecurity in the region.

The National Chairman of the PDP Ahmadu Adamu Muazu called on the aspirants in the party to go back to their villages and solicit for their mandate, stressing that there is no God Father in PDP today. Only the God of Adam and Eve that can give you power.
READ MORE: Nations

Tchidi Chikere and Nuella Njubigbo wed

Nollywood Actress Nuella Njubigbo tied the knot with her long time boo, movie director/producer Tchidi Chikere today.
The traditional wedding held in Nuella's home town, Anambra state.

We wish the couple a blissful marriage!

Police shut down Davido's concert in New York

HKN Music hit-maker, Davido’s concert was reportedly shut down by the in Brooklyn, New York Police Department last night March 28th.

The concert which held at Pulse 48 was reportedly shut down because it was overbooked, leading to safety concerns.

The show was supposed to be Davido's first show as he kicks off US/Canada Tour 2014.

He took to his twitter handle to lament about the shutdown.

Ese Walter and Benny Ark wedding photo

A former member of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) who exposed Pastor Biodun, Ese Walters walked down the aisle today with her sweetheart, Abuja-based Cool FM presenter, Benny Ark.

The couple had their court wedding in Lagos on Saturday, February 15, 2014 and three weeks later the couple had their colourful traditional marriage ceremony.

The couple had their court wedding in Lagos on Saturday, February 15, 2014 and three weeks later the couple had their colourful traditional marriage ceremony.

Ese & her dad

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/63166.html

Our best wishes to the couple!

Nollywood Is not a dumping ground for prostitutes – Nollywood star Amanda Ebeye

Fast-rising Nollywood actress Amanda Ebeye, in a recent interview pens up about her life, career and other interesting topics.

She said she had always wanted to act as a child and she began acting in 2008 and so far it's been challenging.

On why she quit Clinic matters she replied:

"Let’s say it was on financial grounds. The money wasn’t great at that time. But I don’t know of now."

On whether she slept her way to the top?

I can say that over and over again. I did not sell my body. Anybody who says I did that should come out and say it. It’s a wrong mentality that actresses sell their bodies for fame. I know so many people who didn’t do that. We still have decent actors-the industry is not a dumping ground for prostitutes.

Are there roles you won’t accept?

I can play all roles. But recently, I’ve started rejecting some kind of sexual roles because I think I’m growing older and need to start thinking of what I’m impacting on the viewers, especially the children.

But you were once quoted to have said that you can play a nude role for N7.5 billion naira?

I was asked if I could act nude and I said no. The interviewer then said: “What if you are being paid 50 million dollars?” and I said yes. But who is going to pay such money for any actress to go nude? Nobody can do that. It’s impossible. That statement means I cannot! The truth is that Nigerians are very hypocritical. It was just a joke and lots of people took it very serious.

On why she is still single?

She said she is not ready for marriage at the moment, adding that she is not searching. "When it’s God’s time, my kind of man will surface," she said.

Solidstar Signed As Super Eagles Ambassador For Brazil 2014

We at Achievas Music are too proud to announce that Solidstar has just signed an ambassador deal with the Nigerian Football Association in-conjunction with the Nigerian Football Supporters Club.

The deal will have Solidstar record the official Super Eagles theme song which will be used to unite and inspire the players on and off the pitch and also our country.

Dr. Rafiu Oladipo who represented the NFA and who also is the president of the supporters club in a statement said - We needed someone one who was passionate about Nigeria football and who has that gyration in his voice and who the new and old generation can relate to and it was just Solidstar that came to mind"

The "Negotiate" crooner with joy appreciated the football association and the supporters club and said he is humbled by Dr. Oladipo's kind words and he won't disappoint in the new project.

Expect something gyrating, something that will lift the spirit of the whole players, coaching staff, the supporters and the whole country. - Solidstar assured.