Curence: The Fastest News Update: 11/26/15

International R&B Icon, Mary J Blige joins Braxton, Flavour, others at BET Experience Africa

Multi-Grammy award winning R&B superstar Mary J. Blige is to raise the roof with a trademark heartfelt performance at the BET Experience Africa at the Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg on 12 December. Blige, who last performed in South Africa in 2007, will join Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq, Tamar Braxton and Young Thug on the same stage as African superstars AKA, Flavour and Diamond Platnumz at what is shaping up to be the lifestyle experience of the year.

Pure, unadulterated and empowering – that has been Mary J. Blige’s calling card ever since her 1992 multi-platinum debut album, What’s the 411? In the ensuing years, the singer/songwriter’s musical strong suit has attracted an intensely loyal fan base – responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums and 25 million singles.

By Benjamin Njoku

If you are a beauty queen, and you have the energy to rock on the streets, then you need not worry any more as Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has offered to put smiles in your face this season.

The governor, at a glamorous unveiling of the 2015 edition of Carnival Calabar theme tagged ‘Climate Change’, which took place last Sunday, at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, surprisingly announced enlisting beauty queens as members of a new band called the Governor’s Band. “Irrespective of their states of origin, they represent the beauty, elegance, style and class of the average Cross River youth,” said the governor.

From Kemi Yesufu and Fred Itua, Abuja

THE cost of the destruction caused by Boko Haram in the North-East continues to rise as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase said a tidy N4 billion is needed to re- build 56 police stations, formations and other important facilities.

Arase said this at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs yesterday in Abuja.

By ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja

NO fewer than 150 amateur golfers will on Saturday participate in this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor’s Golf Cup coming up at the IBB International Golf and Country Club Abuja.

CBN, the organiser/sponsor of the one-day tournament who made the disclosure during a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday maintained that the tournament has become an important feature in the calendar of events of the prestigious club, distinguished Nigerians and foreigners.

Biafra best for Igbo

BIAFRA is the answer. It’s better to thrive in a divine and naturally designed space than struggling in a vast territory of insecurity driven by ethno-religious and regional animosity. There is secured future in Biafra. The Jews and Arabs are repulsive in nature. Nigeria is a failed idea. 08091214564.

We must remain hopeful

MY Dear Garba Deen Muhammad, I really enjoy reading your Friday columns in the Daily Sun. They are very brilliant, patriotic, educative and enlightening pieces. Your piece of Nov. 20, 2015 has given overview of the many dimensions of insurgency and terrorism and their causes and the global efforts to counter them. I totally agree with you that in these difficult times, all of us must be hopeful and keep hope alive. And pray to Allah, the Almighty and All-Knowing. He alone has power over everything so that He helps us to overcome all evil among us, including terrorism and insurgency. Well done. Allah’s blessings to you and your family. Engr. Muhammed Abba-Gana, CON Former FCT Minister

The United Kingdom has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it is very much interested in how events playing out in Kogi State’s inconclusive governorship election finally unfold.
British High Commissioner, Mr. Paul Arkwright, who dropped the hint when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the electoral commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, further expressed happiness over conduct of credible elections in Nigeria.

GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel has assured the people of Akwa Ibom a continuous harvest of trophies in all spheres of human endeavour as long as the people embrace the vision of his administration.

The governor who stated this on Wednesday at the Ibom International Airport shortly on arrival with the victorious state team; Akwa United FC who won the Federation Cup last Sunday in Lagos against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

. As Zambia drafts senior teamcoach for Olympic ticket

By JOE APU

NIGERIA’S U-23 national team, the Dream Team yesterday had their first training session ahead of their opening Group B game against Mali on sunday in M’ bour, Senegal.

The team which landed at the Leopold Senghor International Airport, Dakar at 1.00am local time aboard an Arik Airline flight and were received by the head of chancery Embassy of the federal republic of Nigeria, Haruna Musa on behalf of the ambassador were in no mood for jokes.

HEAD of South Africa’s Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, has said Chris Oyakhilome, founder of Believers Love World Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, risks a jail sentence in the country.

In an interview with News24, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva accused Oyakhilome and heads of some churches of failing to disclose monies received from members.

Miss this and miss out! Ngalaba.com, Nigeria’s leading omnichannel marketplace is offering up to 90% OFF the coolest mobile devices, computers, electronics, home appliances, beauty products, fashion and much more. It’s going to be #7DaysOfBlackFriday from 27th Nov to 4th Dec.

Deals will run concurrently online till Monday 30th + offline shopping continues till Friday, 4th Dec at our pop up mall located at No. 25 Rasaq Balogun Street, Surulere, Lagos.
That Christmas gift you have been biting your nails over can now be purchased at a very low stunning and affordable price. Don’t be left out. You go buy tire!

This picture above is that of an Android Geminoid F, an eerily lifelike humanoid which stole the show at the World Robot Exhibition in Beijing this week.
Created by Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratory at Osaka University, Geminoid F was the star attraction as people crowded round her to have their picture taken and speak to the android.
Some people have even remarked that they found Geminoid F "sexy".

The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Professor John Idoko today disclosed that it recently discovered about 3,500 male sex workers within the Abuja city centre, most of whom were married men. Idoko made the disclosure while speaking at the agency's maiden lecture in Abuja. He said a study carried out by the agency indicated that over 60 per cent of the male sex workers are married raising the concern of spouse HIV transmission. He added that the findings by the agency also indicated that a high proportion of married women in Cross River and Benue had other sexual partners within the last six months.

Uche Jombo and hubby cuddle up in new photos

Beautiful couple!...

A final year student of the department of Engineering, Federal university of technology Akure simply identified as Festus, hung himself after checking his results and discovering he will be spending another year as an extra year student in the school. See the photo after the cut...

President Buhari has arrived Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Senate confirms Danbatta as new NCC boss

The senate today confirmed Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Danbaba was appointed in acting capacity by President Buhari on August 4th following the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past NCC boss, Eugene Juwah.

D'Prince releases Tarity music video featuring Phyno

D’Prince, one of Mavin Records finest, is currently on a hit-release spree. Tarity, his latest music video featuring Phyno is his 3rd music video release in the past two months. It follows the hilariously successful Oga Titus and Bestie, the new #FriendZone anthem.

Jennifer Lawrence is named Entertainer of the Year by Entertainment Weekly for its December 2015 cover story.

Pre-wedding photo of the day

The pic has been trending on social media..Lovely photo, huh? Monet & Roderick met at a Christmas party in 2009 and are getting married in 2016. See more pics after the cut...

Brand new video: Mavins - JantaManta

Brand new magical video from Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mavin crew including Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, D'Prince, Korede Bello and Di'Ja. Amazing video, released on Don Jazzy's birthday. Please watch...

Aftermath of Russian war-plane downing: See what Russia did to 39 Turkish business men

Russia has deported 39 Turkish business men from Russia saying the businessmen were on tourist visas instead of business visas. The businessmen say they didn’t know they had violated immigration laws but were arrested and deported by authorities. This comes after the downing of a Russian war-plane by Turkish military after the plane tried to cross Turkish borders and enter Turkish airspace.

Both pilots ejected from the plane and one, Captain Konstantin Murakhtin, was rescued by Russian special forces after he landed in the forest in rebel-held territory but the other, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov was shot dead by rebels.

James Faleke to INEC: 'I’m governor-elect of Kogi state'

Hon. James Faleke, the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the APC in the governorship election in Kogi State, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, asking the commission to declare him the governor-elect of the state.

The lawmaker said that under Nigerian Constitution, he was duly elected as deputy governor of Kogi State, hence no new candidate can inherit or be a beneficiary of the votes already cast, counted and declared by INEC and no new or supplementary candidate can hijack, aggregate, appropriate or inherit the said votes.

Kogi APC nominates late Prince Audu’s son as Governorship candidate

Read the press statement I received below...

Leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kogi East Senatorial District have nominated Mr Mohammed, 43, first son of Late Prince Abubakar Audu, to replace him as the party’s governorship candidate. The leaders, stakeholders and delegates who made this known in Lokoja on Thursday after a marathon meeting, said they arrived at the decision after due consultations.

Their spokesman, Mr Daniel Isah, the Vice Chairman of APC in Kogi East, said they have resolved and are determined to back Mohammed to replace his father if the National Working Committee orders fresh primaries. Isah thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission and the national leadership of the party for the opportunity given to them to find a replacement for Audu who died on Nov. 23 at Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government.

He appealed to the national leadership of the party to give their decision utmost consideration and approval in the overall interest of the party and the state. Present at the meeting were AlhajiLinchoOcheje, Hon. Hassan Omale, Hon. Benjamin Ikhani, and Sen. Emmanuel Dangana, among others.

Check out one of music legend Fela's original Manuscript

In his own handwriting! His son Seun shared the photo on Instagram and wrote, 'WhT u see here is a historical artifact of immense value. This is Felas original manuscript for the tenor lines in Music Against Second Slavery in his own hand writing.'

Photos: Iara Oshiomole, her husband, others at HID Awolowo's funeral

First lady of Edo state Iara Oshiomole and her husband, Adams were among the dignitaries that attended the funeral mass of Mrs H.I.D Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun state yesterday November 25th. Continue to see more photos of other dignitaries...

Around 2.6 million working families will be an average of £1,600 a year worse off because of Spending Review cuts, the IFS says.

Despite George Osborne's big announcement that he has scrapped the tax credit cuts, working age benefit payments will be reduced to their lowest level as a share of national income for 30 years, the respected economic organisation has said.
The Chancellor's spending review was widely welcomed as an "end to austerity" and a u-turn on the tax credit cuts that would have left 3.3m families £1,100 a year worse off.
:: Osborne's U-Turn On Tax Credit Cuts
However, while IFS director Paul Johnson said the cuts were "less severe" than expected it was "not the end of austerity" and was "one of the tightest" spending review's in post-war history.

Watch This Hilarious Black Friday Video

Black Friday has gone PLC! See all the prices in this hilarious video by Kaymu.com.ng. It’s a few hours to the biggest shopping event of the year. Keep it locked on Kaymu on the 27th of November 2015 from12:00am.

Kaymu’s Black Friday store is power packed with up to 90% discounts on a wide range of products.

There is something for everyone, with deals from fashion to gadgets, to home and living and lots more!

Visit www.kaymu.com.ng for the best deals

Photos: Emir Of Kano inaugurated as UNIBEN Chancellor

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammad Sanusi II, was inaugurated yesterday 25th of November, as the ninth Chancellor of the University of Benin. After the cut are some photos from the event....

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Photo: Child rescued after being washed into a canal in Lagos

A child was rescued by some residents of Iri-Akari in Lagos state after he was washed into a canal following the heavy downpour in the area this afternoon. Photo credit: Mijiafe

Turkey says will not apologise to Russia over jet downing

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu vowed Thursday that Ankara would not apologise to Moscow over the downing of a warplane on the Syrian border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier his country had not received any apology from Turkish leaders.

“We don’t need to apologise on an occasion that we are right,” Cavusoglu said.

“But we said on the phone yesterday (Wednesday) that we are sorry,” he added, referring to a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

No-one is irreplaceable,’ Bayern boss says of coach Guardiola

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stressed on Thursday that “no-one is irreplaceable”, ahead of a decision on the future of club coach Pep Guardiola. “No-one in the world is irreplaceable at a given time. Players come and go. That also goes for coaches,” said Rummenigge in Munich on Thursday at the announcement of a new sponsor for the German champions.

Guardiola, 44, is in the third and final year of his current contract and has said he would announce his future plans before Christmas with the Bundesliga set to start the winter break on December 20. Rummenigge confirmed that a decision would be announced before Christmas.

Suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter said it was only the congress of soccer’s governing body and not its ethics committee that could bar him from office. He said on Thursday in Zurich during a media interview, that it was only the parliament that could impeach an elected president.

“I’m not a FIFA official. I’m the elected president of the congress. “If one does not agree with the way I do my job, one has to turn to the congress that elected me,” he said.

Blatter, who was standing down in February after agreeing to lay down his mandate, criticised the ethics committee, which he had previously trumpeted as a key weapon in the battle against corruption after it was reformed and strengthened three years ago.

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

THE Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream),has directed the Minister of Petroleum Resources,President Muhammadu Buhari, to end the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country within two weeks from now.

This came on the heels of disclosure by the Pipeline Products Marketing Company,PPMC,that Nigeria lost a whopping N50 billion in ten months as a result of vandalisation of petroleum pipeline in some parts of the country.

The much talked-about “world-class” Akwa Ibom specialist hospital has finally begun operations, six months after it was hurriedly commissioned by former Governor Godswill Akpabio who left office May 29.

The hospital, initially known as the Akwa Ibom 20th Anniversary Hospital, is now officially called Ibom Specialist Hospital.

The hospital became a subject of controversy in September after Mr. Akpabio, now senate minority leader, travelled to the United Kingdom for medical attention after a car accident, abandoning the multibillion naira facility his administration promoted as being of world class standard.

44 Ships Expected In Lagos With Foods, Petroleum Products

Forty four ships laden with foods, general cargoes and petroleum products are expected at the Lagos ports from Nov. 26 to Dec. 18, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Thursday in Lagos.

This is contained in the daily ‘Shipping Position’ issued by NPA, a copy of which was made available to newsmen. The document said 15 of the ships would arrive the ports with containers, while eight others were expected with general cargoes.

It said that 12 other ships would sail in with sugar, buck wheat, bulk salt, crude pail oil and rice in bags. According to the document, nine ships will sail in with diesel, petrol and kerosene. Seven other ships carrying rice, crude palm oil, diesel and petrol have arrived the ports, waiting to berth.
source http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/44-ships-expected-in-lagos-with-foods-petroleum-products

PDP To INEC: Declare Wada As Winner Of Kogi Election

. . . Seeks APC’s exclusion from supplementary poll

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare its candidate, Governor Idris Wada, as the winner of the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

The party is also seeking the exclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the supplementary election slated for December 5. The INEC had declared the election inconclusive following the cancellation of the poll in 91 units across 18 local government areas in the state.

The party’s position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its national caucus meeting held in Abuja Wednesday night.

The communiqué, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, insisted that with the death of the APC’s candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu , during the election, the APC has legally “crashed out” of the race.

Audu had died on Sunday, while the results of the election were still being collated. He had won in 16 out of the 21 local government areas in the state and leading the PDP candidate with over 41,000 votes.

The INEC has declared the election inconclusive, citing irregularities and violence that led to the cancellation of the election in 91 polling units across 18 LGAs.

The electoral body had declared the election inconclusive and offered to conduct supplementary election in units where the election was cancelled. It had also given the APC a window to field a substitute candidate for the supplementary poll.

But the PDP condemned the INEC’s position, saying no known law or constitutional provision allowed the substituting of candidates, once the ballot process has commenced. The party has threatened to challenge INEC’s decision in court.

“The PDP completely rejects the decision of INEC in yielding to the unlawful prompting of a clearly partisan Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Abubakar Malami, to allow APC to substitute a candidate in the middle of an election, even when such has no place in the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“With the unfortunate death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the APC has no valid candidate in the election, leaving INEC with no other lawful option than to declare the PDP candidate, Capt. Idris Wada, as the winner of the election,” the communiqué said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-to-inec-declare-wada-as-winner-of-kogi-election/

‘Most sub-standard goods not from China’

Contrary to the understanding of most Nigerian consumers, many of the substandard products in the country may not have been imported from China after all. Vanguard Consular Advisory (VCA) has authoritatively gathered that the mess we are witnessing in respect of the influx of sub-standard products into the Nigerian market is wreaking havoc on the fortunes of Nigerian importers and consumers.

Kingsley Onye, you remember him? He was a former Super Eagles defender and also a member of the bronze winning Flying Eagles team at Soviet Union ’85 World Youth Championship.
Onye, speaking from London believed Golden Eaglets’ Victor Osimhen would step into the big shoes left by the goal father, Rashidi Yekini. Onye however cautioned the country’s football body that the young lad is guided to achieve his dreams in the game.
The football scout also implored President Mohammadu Buhari to include the USSR ’85 Flying Eagles squad in his reward list.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday warned importers against trading in goods banned by the Federal Government.
Malam Sani Madugu, the Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit (F.O.U.) Zone `A` Ikeja, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“We always mention those items that have been banned, but if you go to the market you will see them.
“They sell the left-over they have in their shops and their stores because the law has not backdated the ban.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured the people of the State of his strong political will to tackle the traffic crisis in the state. Ambode stated this at the Traffic Management and Transportation Summit organised by the State Government in Lagos today November 26th. He said as a government, his administration is keenly committed to make Lagos work for all, and that effective traffic management, for him, is a good place to start.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the N19.2 billion fraud charges filed against former Bayelsa state governor Timpre Sylva by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. At the resumed hearing of the case today, Justice Adeniyi Ademola dismissed the case, saying it was an abuse of court process. He stated that the fraud charges brought against the former governor who is now the APC candidate in the Bayelsa governorship election, had been dismissed by two federal high courts, and resuscitation was tantamount to an abuse of court process.

Kevin Federline apologizes to Beyonce

Britney's ex-husband Kevin Federline has apologized to Beyonce for accusing her of abusing Botox and ruining her looks. He actually called her sawface. His apology after the cut...

Happy US Thanksgiving! Today is US Thanksgiving and tomorrow is US Black Friday! The Biggest Sales Day of the year in USA has started! While Cyber Monday Nov. 30th is the Biggest Online Monday Sales Day of the year in USA. Huge Sales have already started at various US stores on Micostarmall.com

President Buhari has left for Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which begins in the Island nation on Friday Nov. 27th. At the conclusion of the Summit on Sunday November 29th, President Buhari will leave Malta for Paris where he will present Nigeria's statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to open in the French capital on Monday, November 30.

He is accompanied by by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.)

UN General Assembly on Wednesday, November 25, adopted a resolution which seeks to protect those who face risks and attacks for their work to defend and promote human rights.

The resolution includes a number of new, important and substantive provisions, including as to the vital role of advocacy and the work of human rights defenders in contributing to sustainable

development and the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, and as to the responsibilities of business enterprises with respect to engaging, consulting and protecting defenders.

Do you have what it takes to strut your stuff on a runway? Do you want to embark on a career that could make you famous in Africa – and beyond? Run by Le Reve Events, this year’s Music Meets Runway takes place at the Eko Hotel & Suites onTuesday 22 December, and the Five-Star Special Edition will celebrate MMR’s fifth anniversary and its contribution to the fashion & music industries

as well as the official launch of the MMR Foundation, “Empowering Lives” and the introduction of the MMR Recognition Awards, celebrating excellence in craft.

Read the press statement below...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that many of those who looted the public treasuries in the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan had started returning the stolen funds to the government, saying the President should rather stay at home to govern the country instead of junketing around the globe and acting like a saint before the international community.

The governor challenged the President to tell Nigerians how much was returned and the looters who returned the stolen funds, adding that “Since the purported looted funds belong to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it ought to have been paid into the Federation Account and shared by the Federal, State and Local Government.”

Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday that Governor Fayose advised President Buhari to tackle the collapsed economy of the country headlong instead of going from one country to another, casting aspersion on Nigerians with his sing-song of fighting corruption.

Some pics from a recent photo-shoot. She looks nice!

Centrum, Caltrate Inspire Active Live, Supplements Balance Diet

The Centrum and Caltrate were designed to bridge the nutritional gap of poor diet in our society. These products are essentially produced with special qualities which will afford customers lots of nutritional benefits to improve a better health for all. The facts about nutritional supplements are they need to be taken daily and consistently to ensure your nutrients levels are maintained.

Dwayne' The Rock' Johnson is known for his love of animals and he demonstrated it once again as he stepped in to help a stricken dog. According to a gofundme site set up for the dog which is incidentally named Dwayne after the famous actor/wrestler, 'He was dumped at North Central Shelter with a large metal wire wrapped around the bottom portion of his mouth. It took bolt cutters for the shelter to remove it. Dwayne also has a grade 5 heart murmur. Grade 6 is considered the most severe.'

The girls stepped out with their dad looking really beautiful. The first family were at the annual Pardoning Of The Turkey ritual and Obama got everyone laughing with his joke. 'It is hard to believe that this is my seventh year of pardoning a turkey. Time flies, even if turkeys don't.' the president told the crowd. More photos after the cut...

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