Fatal crash on Highway 3 west of Lethbridge claims cyclist

 person is dead following a late morning collision on Highway 3 between Fort Macleod and Lethbridge.

According to members of the Lethbridge RCMP detachment, the crash occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. near the hamlet of Monarch prompting the closure of the eastbound lanes of the highway.

The crash involved a bicycle travelling eastbound on the shoulder of the highway and an eastbound car.

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A fatal Saturday morning crash on Highway 3 between Lethbridge and Fort Macleod prompted the closure of the eastbound lanes of the highway

Morotists were encouraged to avoid travel in the area until the highway reopened. Eastbound traffic experienced significant delays as RCMP members rerouted traffic away from the crash scene.

The eastbound lanes of the highway reopened at approximately 1:30 p.m. but westbound traffic was halted following a second collision involving two vehicles.

The identity of the deceased has not been released.

An investigation into the fatal crash is underway.

Monarch is situated approximately 20 kilometres west of Lethbridge.

Barcelona's Messi-Neymar-Suarez trio sets Spanish goals record with 120

With three goals combined in their Copa del Rey victory on Saturday, Barcelona attackers Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar set a Spanish record for the most goals in a season for any trio of teammates.

Messi scored twice and Neymar also scored as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the final, bringing the threesome's tally to 120 goals in all competitions this season.

That mark supasses the previous record of 118 set by Real Madrid's trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzem and Gonzalo Higuain in the 2011-12 season.

No man can handle me apart from my husband — Omotola

Nollywood screen diva, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, is one actress who has continued to up her game. The entertainer who recently raised her voice to fight poverty alongside the likes of Waje and Yemi Alade for the ‘One campaign’   reveals why she is yet to produce her own movie, if she would allow her daughter venture into entertainment, and how she has stayed off scandals, among other issues.

A lot of actors who started acting the same time you did have delved into movie productions, but we are yet to see you do that. Is it deliberate?

I am not much of a producer though everybody wants me to produce my own movie. I have that pressure on me. As funny as it sounds, I really do not enjoy production. I love directing somebody else’s movie, but I wouldn’t want to produce a movie right now. I am not interested in producing any movie that I will be in. I just want to be an actress. I am waiting for good scripts .

Have you directed any movie?

I have directed a soap opera. Funke Akindele acted in it alongside Larry Goldsweat.

What has been happening to your Reality TV show?

`Omotota, The real me Season 2’ has been ready for a while. Funny enough, I have been stalling on signing it. I just feel like the time isn’t right. It’s very intrusive. I’m a private person, though a lot of people won’t believe it. I work when I need to work and go home when I need to get back into my home. The Season One was very interesting though it was hard on me.

I have teenage children now so I have to be very careful. I have to think about them first and see how it affects them because I don’t want my kids to get carried away by all of that. It might come back because there is a lot of pressure on me, but I just want it to be at my own time and when I am comfortable.

Your daughter is now a brand ambassador, is it your way of launching her into the entertainment world?

Not really. It just happened. She is just a natural fit. They wanted a mother-daughter campaign anyway and so the whole challenge was, – will she be up to it? She was interviewed and they actually fell in love with her more than me. She almost took my job. Luckily for me, it had to be a mother-daughter campaign.

How would you react if she decides to be an entertainer?

Absolutely, she can come into the industry. What our generation is doing by God’s grace is to make sure that we work hard to leave infrastructure for them. I don’t want my daughter to meet the industry the way I met it. Luckily, we have been able to take some steps, we are working very hard. As you know, I am building my film village.

•Omotola and husband … marital vows strong

The whole idea is for them to have some sort of organization. The industry has been disorganized for a very long time. Right now, it’s okay for her to come into the industry, but she will be monitored. I can only do what I can, in my own way to stabilize the industry. Somebody asked me: `What will happen to daughters of individuals who have been abused in the entertainment industry?’ All I can say is that it’s either you stay away or you stick to what you believe in. You have a right to say no! I will not do that. Don’t be intimidated by anybody, believe in yourself and stay away from anything that you are not proud of and hang in there.

You have a young girl who is eighteen and probably dating, that means if she gets married early, you are going to be a young grandmother. Have you ever thought about it?

I don’t care much about it. It’s not something I think about. It’s not my cup of tea. I know people want me to think about that because I got married early. What I always say to people is all fingers are not equal. The fact that I got married early doesn’t mean   my daughter   must get married early. My mother didn’t get married early. It doesn’t have to be hereditary.

If I like the guy and we feel like she is mature enough to handle it and the person is responsible, then why not? We can endorse it. I don’t regret anything. Everything is a blessing to me. I won’t stop her, but it just has to be the right person. I married the right person.

Are there other talents you have that we are yet to see?

I don’t think I have a lot of talents. Some people actually say sometimes I can be a comedian, but my comedy is not a very creative one. My comedy   is actually like the kind of comedy you don’t expect. I don’t know how to explain it,but it’s just like that. I used to dance.

I don’t know how I became suddenly stiff, that is the result of feeling like a big girl. I just stopped dancing. I used to be  known in school for dancing. I also write, I am a very good writer. I write all my songs and I write for other people whose names I don’t want to mention.

Talking about music,when are we going to see your next body of works?

My second album is actually not out but a lot of people think it is. It’s not out but you can get it on Konga. It’s going to be out very soon by God’s grace. I have been saying that since 2010.

What is the title?

Me, myself and I

Is your son going to produce any of your songs?

He has actually produced a few of them. We haven’t released any.

How was it like working with him?

That boy is very strict. It just felt weird because I am a control freak so sometimes when he is getting too hard on me I tell him: “No! I am the mummy here”.We just work it out somehow. I guess that is why the songs are not yet done.

Why did you decide to be part of One Campaign?

I am fortunate to be a young woman living her dreams, a trailblazer of my generation. I also recognize that many women and girls are not so fortunate, women and girls are disproportionately affected by the injustice of poverty and inequality. When we invest in women and girls,we increase and accelerate their chances of overcoming extreme poverty.

That is why I have joined the One Campaign: Poverty is Sexist Campaign. I call on the public to help join hands to sign the petition.

Recently you were misunderstood about the trek comments you made on social media that people are trekking their lives away. Was that what you actually meant?

Really, I am not against any kind of sport. It is okay if you want to do anything. My point is, it’s either you do it for nothing and say “I am having fun” or you do it for something reasonable.

Don’t just do it for something that pisses people off. People ask if it is my business. It is my business because we are glorifying these people that are hurting us. If for example, I say I am trekking to celebrate a Boko Haram member,everyone will pounce on me. Why should I celebrate that?

Recently, people were angry because Time Magazine said the Boko Haram leader is one of the most influential people, but they forgot that they are talking about influence and not that he is being celebrated.

I was shocked that people didn’t understand what I was trying to say. What I meant was that, at this point in time when we are going through so much and we are trying to let these people know we are suffering, putting all our energies into making them feel like kings is not cool. The truth of the matter is that you are probably trekking because you don’t have fuel anyway.

What are your thoughts on friendship?

Most of my friends are friends I have had forever. I am a very loyal person. I try to keep a very small group of friends. It is not that I don’t make new friends, but I call them acquaintances. When you say friends, they are people I have known for a long time, since I was a child.

Do you have friends in the movie industry?

Everybody is my colleague. I don’t have very close friends in the industry.

Why?

We don’t live around each other to start with, I live very far away from so many people. Secondly,I am not too much of a party person. We probably won’t see often. I am also not very good at visiting people so we probably won’t have that kind of bond.

Talking about where you live, do you have plans to move to Lekki?

Not really, I like where I live. I love the way I live.

How do you live?

I come out, I do my work. I go back into my wonderful mansion and rest.

Do you still do the cooking in the house?

I do. I actually cooked before coming here.

Do you act as a diva at home?

I try to be, but they knock me back into shape.

When you aren’t busy, how do you get away?

Get away? I wish I could. There is always work to be done. Like they say, if you enjoy what you do, you will never work. For me, I think that is where my stubbornness comes from. I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I don’t do what I don’t enjoy or what I feel I won’t like.

I am passionate about whatever I do. Whether it’s taking care of my kids, my husband, my home or working with Knorr or with One Campaign.

You look beautiful after four kids, what do you do to maintain your looks?

People’s mouth keeps me in shape. I use everything as motivation. More realistically,I will say prayer. It sounds very weird, but that is the truth. Everybody knows I don’t diet, I can’t diet to save my life. I love food. I am a foodie. I don’t eat all the time, but whenever I eat, I don’t joke with it. It has to be prayers because that is the only thing I do really.

People sometimes mistake your being confident for being arrogant, how do you deal with that?

I can’t deal with it. I can’t help people’s mistakes.

What is that one thing nobody knows about you?

I think a lot of people don’t know that I am emotional. I am very strong and a lot of people think that nothing gets to me but I’m very emotional. I actually cry a lot. I cry for silly things. I might be watching a movie and just burst into tears.

Do you watch your movies?

I hardly do, I don’t want to say I never do because obviously I have seen some of them. But I won’t intentionally watch my movie.

Do you still have a role you are looking forward to interpret?

Maybe the role of a super hero in a movie.

Whose advice has been instrumental to where you are today?

The only advice I really take is the advice from the Bible. It sounds very weird but that’s the truth. It’s the only thing I go by. If it is not in the bible, I won’t do it. I also take my own advice. My mum has also influenced me a lot.

How would you define success?

You can’t define success in one sentence. A lot of people have tried to do that. Success is relative. What is success to you might not be success to me. But I think generally, it’s a state of peace of mind. A state of acceptance and a state of joy. Joy is different from happiness you know.

How have you been able to stay off scandals?

I am lucky that I am well trained by God, period! I don’t try,I am who I am. Some things that are scandalous just don’t impress me or I am not impressed by them. Having said that, I try not to do something that will seem like I’m leading someone on. I just try to put my brain to use. There are so many things you can avert.

Do you think if you hadn’t gotten married early you would have been married now?

I don’t think so, because I don’t think there is any man that can handle me apart from my husband. Not because I am a bad person, it is because I am a very strong personality. I can understand why a lot of female artistes find it very difficult to find the right person.

When you achieve some kind of success, you become really confused as to who really loves you for who you are. It’s not really easy, it is very hard finding those people who really love you. If you are not a very grounded person, you can also contribute in some kind of way to your own problems and so I might have contributed to my own problems.

Is it your decision to remain married?

I am blessed, it’s a decision. It is a very intentional decision, but it’s not at the expense of anything. It’s because it’s natural. I am happy.

What is your most expensive fashion item?

I don’t know and I don’t really care. I lost some expensive jewelries and my friends were freaking out. I don’t value those things, what I value is different.

Obafemi Awolowo Blessed Osinbajo as a Baby — Shittu

Lawyer and human rights activist, Wahab Shittu, is a former student of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. In this interview he talks about his fondest memories under Osinbajo’s tutelage

HOw do you remember your first encounter with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo?

Prof. Osinbajo is a big brain, a genius, an exceptional human being and somebody I described in my project as “something else.” He was my project supervisor in the University of Lagos. My first encounter with him was in 1986 and in my class, we had such people as Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, who is a former Minister of Health; (former Secretary-General of Afenifere) Ayo Opadokun; Adedayo Adeyeye, who is the current Minister of State for Works; and some other eminent people who are now acknowledged professionals in the society. Osinbajo would come into class with just a pen and would take the entire class for up to four hours, while making copious references to authorities and cases, page-by-page, with uncommon exactitude that can only be associated with his rating as a genius. He had passion for his students and an uncommon, unwavering commitment to his job. He was fearfully intelligent in his delivery of lectures. That endeared him to all the members of our class. At the end of every class, we would troop out to his office in order to try and catch a little bit of the ‘anointing.’

His relationship with the students was one of mutual respect and courtesy. Thus, the impression we had was that, apart from being a first-class brain, he had a good manner of approach. His door was open 24 hours (a day). He was accessible; you could go to him anytime and be assured that he would give you adequate attention. This opinion that I’m telling you about was general: He didn’t put on airs; he wasn’t arrogant. He was an epitome of professionalism and civility. That is what I know of him as my former teacher.

As professional colleagues, what is your impression of him?

I recall that when I was defending (former Chief of Army Staff) Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, he was the one prosecuting. It got to a stage whereby the health of the General deteriorated and he needed to go abroad for further medical attention. The authorities in Abuja were trying to frustrate the trip, but Osinbajo, in spite of being the prosecutor in the case, willingly cooperated because he felt that the liberty of a citizen was at stake. He merely extracted from me a guarantee that the General would return. Having obtained that guarantee, he endorsed the trip. That is to show that even as a professional, he was not willing to persecute (someone) as a prosecutor. He understood that even the other party was entitled to his rights and he was ready to provide the enabling environment for those rights. That encounter proved to me that Osinbajo is a thorough-bred professional.

I also recall that, as the Attorney-General of Lagos State, he introduced uncommon reforms into the Ministry of Justice in the state, both in civil and criminal procedure reforms, as well as reforms in all the departments in the ministry — so much so that the reforms he carried out became a reference point for other states to emulate.

When did you first notice his leadership potential?

Again, I was privileged to have had a private discussion with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who had the opportunity of schooling with Osinbajo in secondary school. They attended Igbobi College together. Osinbajo, while in Igbobi, was a first-class debater. He was the one always representing the school at debating competitions because of his oratorical skills. He did that throughout his period in the school. The records are there.

In my private interactions with him (Osinbajo), there was a time I asked to come to his private residence and there, I discovered that when he was born, one of the earliest scholars in the home of the Osinabjos was the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He carried Osinbajo in his arms and blessed him. A photograph that captured that moment is in the living room of the Osinbajos as I speak.

Do you remember some of the attributes that distinguished him from your other lecturers?

His greatest attribute, in my view, is humility. In spite of all his accomplishments, Osinbajo is a very humble man. He is always willing to listen to you, no matter how bad your case is. He is always very calm and you can see that his record of public service is unblemished.

How did he discipline his students?

When any one of us did anything wrong, rather than publicly scold the person, Osinbajo would call him and convince him that his manner of approach was wrong — in a very polite, civil manner such that you would have no alternative but to conform subsequently. His way of life, as revealed to me, is that you can be effective without being harsh by showing, through your attitude and posturing, that only the path of righteousness can make you excel in whatever you decide to do.

Did he have a special way of assessing students?

Yes, he gave attention to every student. He tried to assess every student based on their peculiarities. I can tell you for a fact that he always listens. He would always engage his students and offer meaningful advice. He listened a lot and would never interrupt your flow. He would allow you to state your problem and then intervene only after hearing you out.

How do you remember your days with him as your supervisor?

I have fun memories because he is painstaking and has a knack for details. He made me work very hard. He would always insist that I cross-check details; he didn’t give me any breathing space at all. He made sure that my area of research was well covered and that I worked extra-hard for that project. He was always telling me, “This is a project that you want to showcase to your children, so you must do it very well.” As my supervisor in the faculty, I had the benefit of tapping from his wealth of knowledge. He engaged me and allowed me to work. He believed that nothing comes easy without hard work. If I were to describe the experience, I would say he has contributed greatly to making me what I am today and I am very grateful to him.

Did he have any signature quotes or phrases?

Because he taught us the Law of Evidence, he would always tell us that evidence is the heart of civil and criminal proceedings. I recall that he always employed the tool of emphasis. For instance, there is a topic in Evidence called Res Gestae. He could repeat the phrase ‘res gestae’ up to 10 times to ensure that it sinks. That was Osinbajo. He made sure that if you came to class and listened attentively, you would pass because he taught his students with the objective of getting his students to understand the subject and he would not leave the class if he was convinced that he had not adequately delivered his message to the understanding of the student. I recall that he was always emphasising the word ‘integrity’ as the hallmark of professionalism.

Did he have a nickname?

I remember his friends then used to call him ‘Jebbie.’

What did it mean?

I don’t know. That was his nickname. People who knew him in those days, especially his friends, would tell you he is Jebbie.

To many, he is a very scholarly, serious-looking man. Does he crack jokes at all?

When one is in Osinbajo’s company, one will know that he or she is in the company of a real human being. He cracks a lot of jokes. I’ll give you an example: I attended a session that he had with residents of Victoria Garden City, Lekki, around his home, and someone in the crowd asked him a question. The person said, “Don’t you think the title ‘Your Excellency’ should be scrapped?” You know what he his reply was? “You want it scrapped when it is my turn; you don’t even want me to enjoy it at all,” and then everyone laughed. But saying after that, he agreed and explained that he seriously believed that there is nothing attached to a title. A leader should be ordinary. One would find out that constantly, he is a humorous person, even though he is highly serious-minded. He is a family man to the core. He didn’t put on airs at all and he is best described as very humble and accessible. He is very jovial. But he does not treat issues relating to integrity with levity. He will not associate with you if he knows that you are of shady character.

What is the most impactful thing he has done or said to you that has shaped you as a person?

I think all members of my class will attest to the fact that by virtue of Osinbajo’s influence, we are all well-grounded in the Law of Evidence and, as you know, the Law of Evidence is the heart of the trial process. That was his area of specialisation. When I remember Osinbajo, I will remember him for four virtues and in this order: humility, knowledge, character and integrity. I cannot readily recall any of his weaknesses, except to say I find him sometimes too calm. I wonder how he is able to maintain a reputation of humility, in spite of his accomplishments.

Inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015

I am immensely grateful to God who has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.

I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.

I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted. I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media. At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive.

I thank all of you.

Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians.

I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.

A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.

Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethren should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.

I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21st century.

At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.

In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country. Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house.

Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria.

Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government. The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system.

For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today.

Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.

However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa. My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism.

My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.

The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.

This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory.

Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram. We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces.

Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land. We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture.

The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.

No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation. It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians.

Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises. We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure.

Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.

Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar

There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;

Omitted, all the voyage of their life,

Is bound in shallows and miseries.

We have an opportunity. Let us take it.

Thank you

Muhammadu Buhari

President Federal Republic of NIGERIA and Commander in-chief-of the Armed forces

Next Senate President should have 

competence and capacity – Saraki

Former Kwara State governor and a leading aspirant for the presidency of the 8th Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, has identified competence and capacity to move the legislature and Nigeria forward as factors that should be the criteria for electing the next Senate president, rather than sentiments.

Saraki, who disclosed this in an interactive session with Senate correspondents yesterday, asserted that Nigeria has gone beyond the period when anyone could just sit in the saddle and try his hands at governance. He stressed that experience and ability to make the needed decisions are much needed qualities for leaders of the new dispensation.

According to him, “We need to review the way we have been doing things and start doing things right. I will ensure that the Senate makes impact on the lives of the people. The people are not feeling the impact of the parliament and they are asking what their elected representatives are doing there.

“I will provide quality direction on how to run the affairs of the country. We have to give Nigerians value for their money. The Senate must have a national agenda that will effectively address the multifarious problems confronting this country at the moment.

“Nigerians voted for APC for change so that things can be done differently. We need to allow internal democracy to take place in electing the leadership of the next assembly so that people can elect their choice candidates without interference. Let us not base choice of leadership on sentiment. The PDP lost because Nigerians were tired of the failure in the system,” he noted.

The APC bigwig, who hailed the position of the party that lawmakers should choose their leader among themselves without interference, observed that Nigerians have been denied dividends of democratic governance because leaders usually emerged through ethnic, religious and sectional sentiments rather than on the basis of qualification and competence.

Tinubu versus Saraki: Who blinks first over 

Senate president? 

The battle for who leads the 8th National Assembly is getting more interesting. In fact the latest event where one of the frontrunners, George Akume stepped down for another candidate has made it more fascinating. It is now a two horse race; between Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ahmed Lawan.
On the surface though, it may look like that, but deep down, the battle looks more like it is between Saraki and Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos and leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It is evident that Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu’s interest of determining who gets what especially the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives is being thoroughly checkmated and if care is not taken truncated by the ambition of Senator Saraki.
In the just concluded retreat by the APC for its senators-elect, two groups emerged; one for Lawan, another for Saraki. Senator Barnabas Gemade-led ‘Unity Forum’ adopted Senators Lawan /Akume candidacy in response to the body language of the APC national leaders and while Dino Melaye led a group known as ‘the like minds’ to endorse Saraki.
Insiders strongly believe that Saraki’s emergence as speaker would surely affect the interest of Tinubu in who becomes the speaker. With Tinubu’s firm support for Femi Gbajabiamila to emerge the speaker, any factor that would knock out Senator Saraki would be highly welcomed. So the calculation is if Tinubu backs Lawan, the president-elect would be under obligation to get his people mainly from North East and North West to back Hon Femi Gbajabiamila for the speaker’s position.
Those in the know believe that it would be the mother of all fights between the PDP elements who are allegedly backing Saraki and those in Tinubu’s camp who are backing Lawan. Curiously, it is not only PDP senators who are sympathetic to the ambition of Saraki, the APC bloc known as the new PDP in APC principally made up of the five defected governors are said to be fully backing Saraki.
While Tinubu and Saraki have both drawn battle lines, the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) kept his distance pretending as if he has no interest in who becomes the number three citizen in his government to the extent of coming publicly to declare his readiness to work with whosoever emerge but never forgot his anti-corruption campaign.
However, a former governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa, warned the president-elect elect to make his interest reflect in the selection of the leadership of the NASS. When asked whether the president-elect should interfere in the selection of the leadership of the NASS.
According to him, “I think it is wrong to say the president should not have an input in who becomes the president of the senate. He should not impose it but his influence and input is very important because the president of the senate and the president in terms of the supreme interest of the country should work together. I don’t think it is good for the nation for the president and the senate president to be antagonistic or unable to work together.
”I think they should harmonize their position. But I think Buhari is just been modest to have said he doesn’t have any candidate for the position of the senate president. And I support that position. But he knows that he cannot succeed with wrong person as the senate president.”
As the duo of Saraki and Lawan continue to get support even from outside their colleagues, the New Nigerian Initiative Vanguard NNIV, has drummed support for the candidature of Senator Ahmed Lawan (North-East) in the race for the senate president.
The group in a statement issued and signed by its National Co-ordinator, Prince Taiwo Alebiosu, described Senator Lawan as a detribalised Nigerian whose priority has always been the unity and progress of Nigeria over the years.
According to him, “if elected as the Senate President, Senator Lawan would be a rallying point for the third arm government in the country which would further assist in deepening the nation’s growing democracy.”
While appealing to ranking senators and the incoming ones irrespective of their political affiliation to look critically and vote for Senator Lawan as the president of the 8th National Assembly in the overall interest of the nation, the group said its members would soon embark on sensitization and massive campaign for the candidature of Senator Lawan from across the six geopolitical zone of the country.
Meanwhile, the Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association has appealed to the senators elect at the National Assembly to support and elect Senator Saraki as the next Senate President.
According to the group, the appeal is based on the quality and credibility found in former governor of Kwara State to lead the 8th National Assembly.
In a statement jointly signed by the national president, Alhaji Abdullahi Babatunde Salau and Public Relations Officer, Mallam Muhammed Jagunmo, it was said that, “as a former governor of Kwara state, who doubled as the chairman Nigeria Governors Forum, Senator Bukola Saraki performed excellently and diligently well in leading the state to a greater height and as the former chairman Nigeria Governors Forum coupled with his experience at the Senate so far, he has displayed high level of performance of good governance.
“The entire youth of Kwara state and Ilorin Emirate in particular hereby assure the senators-elect and the good people of Nigeria that Senator Bukola Saraki shall not disappoint or betray the trust of the people in him if chosen as the next president of the Senate.”
Considering Bukola Saraki’s political pedigree, experience and performance as governor and senator, “we thereby present him as the best candidate for the position of the Senate president.”
By the time this battle is over, it may have left a lot of victims many of them unintended.

Dad from 'Friday' Dies from Stroke Complications 

Reynaldo Rey, longtime comedian and character actor, died early Thursday morning in Los Angeles ... TMZ has learned.

Rey was famous for his movie roles in "Friday," "White Men Can't Jump," and "Harlem Nights." He also appeared in tons of TV shows going back to the 80s ... such as "The Bernie Mac Show," "The Wayans Bros.," "227," and "Sanford."

His manager tells us Rey passed away in a hospital. He suffered a stroke last year ... and started suffering complications in January. He'd checked into the hospital for treatment.

We're told his wife was at his side when he died.

Reynaldo was 75 years old ... and funny as hell as Red's dad in "Friday." R.I.P.

REYNALDO IN 'FRIDAY'YouTube.com