INEC to roll out plans for constituency delineation in Lagos

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday in Lagos said it would soon roll out information on the planned constituency delineation in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, said this at a one-day sensitisation tour of Lagos Mainland Local Government on “Delineation of Constituencies and Continuous Registration of Voters’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation tour would cover all the 20 local government areas of the state.

Plateau: 325 intending pilgrims to Mecca lose seats

About 325 intending pilgrims to Mecca this year are to lose their seats following the cut on the number of pilgrims by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
The lost seats were part of the initial 1,625 seats allocated to the state for this year’s hajj.
The Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Salisu Musa, disclosed this at a press briefing in Jos on Tuesday,

According to him, the cut in the number of seats was as a result of the global 20 per cent reduction of intending pilgrims to this year’s hajj owing to construction work going on in the Holy Mosque of Ka’a at Makkah.
Musa explained that after a meeting in Abuja with the National Hajj Commission, it was agreed that any intending pilgrim that had once performed hajj should be automatically disqualified, adding that priority would be given to first timers.

Deadlines loom for Egypt's Morsy

One deadline looms Tuesday for Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy, and another hangs over his head for Wednesday.

Opposition protesters are threatening to march Tuesday evening on Cairo's presidential palace if Morsy does not step down by then.

And Wednesday evening marks the expiration of a 48-hour deadline imposed by the Egypt's military to "meet the demands of the people" or face a restoration of order by the army.

But the army stopped short of saying that it was suggesting a coup.

The ultimatum was meant to push all factions toward a national consensus; the armed forces aren't looking to be part of the political or ruling circles, a spokesman, Col. Ahmed Ali, said Monday in a written statement.

Photos: Protests in Egypt

Is Morsy on the brink?

Military announcement excites protesters

While insisting they want no direct role in national politics, the generals appeared instead to be pressuring Egypt's first freely elected president to restructure his government.

The steps could include reducing the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood in his Cabinet and calling early presidential and parliamentary elections, a source close to highly placed members of Egypt's leadership told CNN.

Leaders meet as thousands demonstrate

Morsy's Facebook page and Twitter account said Tuesday that he and Prime Minister Hisham Qandil had met earlier in the day with Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi and that a statement would be issued.

Demonstrations continued Tuesday in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where thousands of protesters had massed, cheering as Apache helicopters buzzed the crowd.

Canada said Tuesday it was closing its embassy in Cairo until further notice "for security reasons."

On Tuesday, the Obama administration urged Morsy to call early elections and warned the Egyptian military that it risks losing U.S. aid if it carries out a military coup amid the political crisis, senior administration officials told CNN.

But the officials did not say Morsy should step down immediately.

"We are saying to him, 'Figure out a way to go for new elections,' " a senior official said. "That may be the only way that this confrontation can be resolved."

The officials said nothing in the Egyptian Constitution gives Morsy the authority to call for new elections, but said that may be the only way to end the crisis.

Officials have also warned the Egyptian military that a coup would trigger U.S. legislation that calls for cutting off all U.S. aid.

On Monday, Obama encouraged Morsy in a telephone call to ensure that his government represents all Egyptians, "including the many Egyptians demonstrating."

Morsy's government has insisted that its decisions are legitimate, because it was democratically elected.

Obama concludes Africa trip

President Barack Obama concluded his trip to Africa Tuesday after making a final pitch for partnership at a Tanzanian power plant.

Some 70% of Africans lack access to reliable electricity, Obama said, and the United States can help bring more power on line.

"The first step that we're going to take is to try to bring electricity to 20 million homes and businesses," he said.

The president spoke at the Symbion Power Plant at Ubungo, was had been idle until the Tanzanian government used U.S. help to revamp it.

Photos: Obama's tour of Africa

South African student raps for Obama

Is Obama too late for African trade?

"This is just the beginning. We look forward to even more companies joining this effort," he said.

Such partnerships create more jobs and exports in the United States, he said.

Before his remarks, Obama kicked around an energy-generating soccer ball that harnesses kinetic energy to provide power.

"I don't want to get too technical, but I thought it was pretty cool," Obama said.

Also Tuesday, Obama was joined by former President George W. Bush for a wreath-laying ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Dar el Salaam, the site of a 1998 terror attack that killed 10 Tanzanians and injured more than 85 Americans and Tanzanians.

Survivors of the bombing were present as Obama and Bush stood by the wreath at a memorial that is on a piece of rock under a big tree near the entrance to the embassy.

Obama was in Africa to promote an increased partnership amid criticism the United States has, outside of military interests, focused its attention on other areas of the world.

The three-nation trip began last week and included stops in Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania.

Education is the road out of poverty

Eight-year-old Tineyi takes my hand and leads me into her mud-thatched hut in my home village of Matau in rural Zimbabwe. There, in a dark corner of the room, is a wooden bookshelf. Carefully crafted by her father, it protects her word-filled treasures from the smoky fire inside the small hut where her mother cooks. I smile, knowing that her father has recognized the value these books will bring to his little bookworm -- a life ahead of her with limitless opportunities.

It was not a life intended for many girls in Africa. As a cattle-herding tomboy, I was bound to follow in the footsteps of generations of women before me: early marriage, illiteracy and poverty. Back then, most kids in my village never had a chance to attend pre-school because it didn't exist. Instead, we would spend hours chasing birds and monkeys from our parents' fields.

Gold mines and urban factories employed men, while women remained at home to look after their children. The more men could read and write, the better their chances of being employed and able to provide for their family. As a result, families wanted to educate their sons, who became village role models. Without an education, how could girls compete? How could they become role models, too?

That was more than 40 years ago.

Today, change is happening in my beloved Matau, and all across the long red dirt roads, verdant mountains and open blue skies of Africa. The leaders of African countries have made education more of a priority, even for girls. Now, girls can be role models. Girls like me, a cattle herder who married young, and by age 18 had three children and no high school diploma. But I defied the odds, got an education and came back to build a school.

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Matau parents and villagers are seeing the value of educating girls. Girls can become leaders of our communities and our African nations. Many parents bring their daughters to me and ask: "Can she be just like you?"

Matau parents are sending their daughters to school like never before. Education is the pathway out of poverty and the road to change for boys and girls alike. Mothers, fathers, teachers, brothers and sisters have come together to feed the minds and cultivate growth in learning among children. Extraordinary things can happen when you put the right tools in the hands of communities. They flourish. They become change makers.

It is a road to change that leads to Matau and surrounding communities. Here, through a partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Save the Children, Matau children are getting a safer school and a better quality education.

The community is partnering with Save the Children, the Rural District Council and the Ministry of Education, Sport, Art and Culture, to prepare young boys and girls for school and help older children improve their reading skills, with promising early results. It is an amazing transformation. Our teachers have been trained to keep up with this growth.

D'Banj Publicly Embarrassed

The much anticipated and talked about D'banj's concert De King's Men (DKM) was held yesterday in Lagos.

The kokomaster who has a way of entertaining his fans. With his female fans screaming and shouting when he is performing.

During his performance, he approached an unidentified lady and thought as usual she would trip but got the shocker when he asked her to come and dance on stage with him but the lady turned him down.

D'banj not one to give up and obviously trying to avoid been embarrassed insisted and forced her to get on stage.

The lady obviously had her reasons for not wanting to dance with 'Banger Lee' (D'banj's nickname) but got on stage anyway.

Moments later, a man walked up to D'banj on stage and told him the lady in question was his wife and as such she could not dance with him.

D'banj had no choice but to let her go, the lady later left the concert with her husband.

Jonathan, Adeboye, others pay tribute to Tinubu’s mother

President Goodluck Jonathan, former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; and General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, have described the late President-General of Market Men and Women Association of Nigeria, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, as a bridge builder across  social divides.

They spoke in a compilation of tributes in the programme of events at the eighth day fidau for Mogaji in Lagos on Sunday.

Hundreds of dignitaries from all walks of life thronged the Tafawa Balewa Square venue to pay their last respects.

Mogaji, mother of former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, died on Saturday June 15.

Jonathan described Mogaji as a defender of the rights of the underprivileged.

He said, “She was an accomplished business icon, a bridge builder across all social divides and a philanthropist of pre-eminent stature. Her passing is no doubt a great loss to you (Tinubu) and other members of the family.”

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar also said, “Alhaja Mogaji was a patriotic mother who ensured during her life time that the resources at her disposal were used for the good of the ordinary people in the society”.

Babangida in his statement said, “I received the news of her death with a great shock because she was a great leader who impacted on everyone”.

Pastor Adeboye said he received the news of her death with a great shock.

Fashola, who delivered the vote of thanks said, “Mogaji was one of the pioneer traders who ventured into the capital intensive and risky business of importing consumer goods, thereby breaking the monopoly previously enjoyed by foreign tradesmen.”

Youths unemployment, a time bomb

Professor Festus Iyayi of the University of Benin has warned that the stability of Nigeria will be threatened if the problem of youth unemployment is not tackled seriously.

He identified corruption as one of the causes of unemployment in the land, suggesting that stiffer punishments including death penalty should be recommended for those found guilty of corrupt practices, particularly those who had been trusted with public office.

Iyayi spoke at the International Conference on Emerging Democracies in Africa, Challenges and Opportunities on Tuesday in Abuja, which was organised by the National Institute of Legislative Studies.

He noted that a large segment of the population, which is dominated by young persons, was idle, accounting for the various youth restiveness and other social problems in the society.

He said, “The phenomenon of Boko Haram in Nigeria has also been linked to the massive poverty and high rates of youth unemployment in North Eastern Nigeria.

“Youth unemployment becomes even more dangerous when line, now, children of middle class families (the priests of society) also begin to experience high rates of unemployment.

“High levels of youth unemployment can become a significant factor in shaping orientations about the legitimacy of the state: it can this feature in evaluations of regime failure and decisions of regime change. In effect, high levels of youth unemployment pose dangers for the stability of the extant social order.”

Iyayi argued that youth unemployment could lead to frustration and under certain circumstances, feed into violence, noting that such violence might take the form of “insurgency, riots, armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, cultism, suicide, rape, destruction of property, etc.”

Relying on the UN 2013 World Population Prospects, Iyayi said that by 2050, Nigeria’s population is expected to surpass that of the United States and by the end of the century, Nigeria could be the world’s third most populous county with a population of 914million.

Obadare To Be Buried In Gold-Plated Casket

The late Apostle Timothy Obadare would be buried in a gold-plated casket as a mark of honour for his contributions to Christendom.

This was disclosed by his first son, Pastor Paul Obadare, during a press briefing organised by the family and his protégés in Lagos on the burial arrangement.

Obadare said, “The coffin to be used for the burial of our father, Apostle Timothy Obadare, is taken after the type used for the burial of the late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.”

However, Saturday PUNCH’s check showed that these celebrities were buried in Batesville-branded golden caskets, which cost between $25,000 and $30,000.

 

He said the late founder of World Soul Winning Evangelical Ministry deserved to be so honoured.

Paul, who is the General Overseer of the church in the United States of America, described his father as a national figure, who made lasting impact on the nation in his time.

He said other events lined up for the burial of the renowned evangelist include an exhibition of snapshots of crusade documentaries.

He added that there will be lying-in-state in Ilesha, Osun State in a transparent ambulance.

“Our father was a renowned teacher of the bible, a great missionary, crusader and devoted apostle of Jesus Christ. He lived a well-fulfilled exemplary life of a good Christian.

“He served man and God before his passing. We the children, biological and spiritual, have come together to give him a deserving burial as a national figure.

“There will be service of songs in Ilesha, Akure, Ibadan and Lagos, while he will be interred at a mausoleum prepared for his final rest at WOSEM conference ground at Ilesha-Ife, in Osun State,” he added.

Meanwhile, one of his protégés, Pastor Ladi Thompson, among others, extolled the virtues of the late preacher.

Mother of Former Gov. Bola Tinubu Is Dead: Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji Was 96 Years Old

Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, mother of former Governor Of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  has died at the age of 96.
A terse statement by the family said that she  died at her residence, number 10, Sunday Adigun Street at Ikeja, Lagos around 6pm On Saturday.
The popular Lagos market leader will be buried on  Sunday, June 16 at the Ikoyi Muslim Cemetery.

FATAI ROLLING DOLLAR DIED OF LUNG CANCER

The quiet community of Millennium Estate, Oko-Oba, in Agege, wore a gloomy outlook  as top musicians, friends and other entertainers stormed the place to bid farewell to the veteran juju musician, Fatai Olagunju popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollar who died last Wednesday at Marritol Hospital, following a brief illness.

The musician’s remains were committed to mother earth yesterday afternoon at his uncompleted building site in Ikorodu area of Lagos. He was buried without a casket according to muslim custom.

The Fidau (Muslims prayer for the dead) was conducted earlier in the day at his Millennium Estate, Oko-Oba residence, where well-wishers and friends had the final glimpse of the octogenarian musician before the body was moved to Ikorodu for interment.

Top musicians at the Fidau include, former PMAN President, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Segun Adewale, Dayo Kujore, Champion Kunle Opio, Islamic scholars, music industry titans, fans and family members.

Meanwhile, veteran musicians, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Prince Adekunle and others were in the deceased’s Oko-Oba Millennium Estate residence on Wednesday evening to receive the corpse from the hospital alongside family members.

In his condolence message, King Sunny Ade sounded emotional, saying that “We are going to miss Pa Rolling Dollars greatly.” He said, “Pa please come to life to make us happy again if God permits.”

For Stella Monye, Rolling Dollar lived and rocked well as a veteran musician.

Also, paying tribute to the deceased, the Secretary of the neighbourhood Association, Mr Shola Adebayo described, Rolling Dollar, as “ a loving and caring father who always concerned himself about other people’s problems within the neighbourhood.”

Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman Copyright Society of Nigeria who is presently on official duty outside the country also paid a glowing tribute to the late highlife maestro. “Just before leaving the country, I had been given a hint by a mutual friend, Mr. Niyi Ojemakinde, the radio personality, that Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar was in hospital.

I had so badly wanted to go and see him but there was just no time. He was a legend, a fantastic person with a very positive attitude to life who treated everyone with courtesy. I believe that his attitude to life was responsible for the long life he lived and that should be a lesson for all us. He was committed to the unity of the Nigerian music industry and never missed any meeting of COSON. He will be missed by a lot of people whom he inspired. COSON will ensure that Fatai Rolling Dollar is immortalized’

The late Juju/highlife music maestro who reportedly died of cancer related disease left behind sixteen children and wives. Some of the children are Jamiu, Funmi, Mojeed, Nimota and Adewumi.

Rolling Dollar was one of the highlife musicians who made the genre popular in the 60s and 70s. He was famous for his evergreen classic, ‘Won Kere Si Number Wa’.

Before his death, Rolling Dollar reportedly told his family members not to weep for him.

Meanwhile, the promoter who took Rolling Dollar to a musical tour of the United States of America (USA), Sampson Raji disclosed that the late musician actually died of cancer of the lungs.

According to the Maryland, USA-based music promoter, the veteran musician fell sick during the tour and he was taken to a hospital and it was at the hospital that he was diagnosed to have lung cancer.

Raji said Rolling Dollar went through series of tests for four days while he was admitted in the hospital for 12 days.

“After 12 days, he was discharged because his health had improved considerably due to the treatment and the drugs administered on him,” the promoter narrated.

He stated further that the late musician insisted on coming back home, saying he would prefer traditional treatment for his health.

“I had to change the ticket when he insisted on coming back home but I want to tell you that as at the time he was coming back home, his health had improved. He was even distributing his CDs to fans at the airport,” Raji said.

Rolling Dollar started his musical career in 1953 and had mentored other great musicians like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and the late Orlando Owoh, among others. Known for his dexterity at playing the guitar, Rolling Dollar’s last major hit was “Won Kere Si Number Wa”. The late musician was given a house in one of the low cost housing estates in New Oko Oba, Lagos.

Juju music legend, Ebenezer Obey was among those trained by the late musician.

Rolling Dollar, who had three wives and 16 children, died as the oldest surviving music artiste in Nigeria.

FATAI ROLLING DOLLARS GIVEUP THE GHOST.

Just heard now that one of the Godfather's of Juju music, Pa Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju aka Rolling Dollar is reportedly dead. The octogenarian who was said to have been in coma after a protracted illness, was said to have debunked the coma claim. 

Now the news in town is that, the old artiste who trained Ebenezer Obey in his heydays has passed on. 

Born 22nd July 1926, Rolling Dollar was known for his verve and dexterity on the guitar. His zest for life and energy, even in old age, was also a marvel to all who beheld him perform.

He got a new lease of life after years in the doldrums, through Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who revived his career and fortunes, after the Liaison de France was brought back into public consciousness. Fatai, who was one of the highlife singers who made in the 60-early 70s, had a lull in his fortunes before providence smiled on him. Papa Fatai is dead.
Details of his demise will follow shortly.

SAKA IS PORTING BACK TO SEASON 1

The Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria Mr.Steve Evans,  has described the celebrated porting of the comedian Hafiz Oyetoro popularly known as Saka as a mistake, noting that he will return back to Etisalat fold after 90 days.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday at a media Roundtable on Mobile Number Portability (MNP), Evans noted that “We all make mistakes in life” and the decision by Saka to port from Etisalat to a rival network MTN Nigeria was one of such mistakes on the part of the comedian.

In what could be regarded as one of the official statement by any high ranking staff of Etisalat since Saka ported over a month ago,  Evans said he is hoping Saka would realise his mistakes and port back at the end of the 90 days grace period given by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for subscribers to port back to any other than his original network.

The CEO noted that Etisalat was well prepared for the MNP and has built and expanded its network to accommodate over 30 million subscribers which is double its present capacity.

He noted that his company has recorded very impressive results since the MNP kicked off on April22. Though he refused to provide the details but said he was satisfied with the report he was getting from his men on the field.

Furthermore,  Evans maintained that his company has improved tremendously in its Key Performance -indicator (KPI) ratings.