A former Lagos State Commissioner for Information,MrOpeyemi Bamidele has vowed not to step down for anyone ahead of Saturdays governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti.

Bamidele, an aspirant, made the vow while addressing delegates for the primaries in Ado-Ekiti, describing as laughable the rumour making the rounds that he had stepped down.

He said there was no reason for him to quit when he wasconvinced that he had a good chance of clinchingthe partys ticket.

Bamidele stated that with the assurances given by the APC Nationalleader, Bola Tinubu, and other leaders of the partyat a meetingheld in Lagoson Friday, he had no reason to doubt thecredibility of the process.

He said he expected the party leaders to conduct a free, fair and credibleprimary election that would produce a strong candidate capable of defeating the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

It will be tragic for APC to lose after passing throughthis stress; so we must do the right thing for us to get the rightresult.

I have traversed all the 177 wards and I am now visiting all the 16local governments in search of delegates.

At 54, if I want to stepdown, I wont waste time, energy and money, moving around. I will noteven pretend in telling the public about it

Let me say that I am on the field, in the race and on Saturday, weare looking forward to getting the ticket by the grace of God, hesaid.

Counselling the delegates on the choice of candidate they should vote for, Bamidele saidthey shouldchoosesomeone who has the acceptability and clout to win as well as the knack to organise the party andmake it a formidable force.

APC needs an experienced person and someone with scientificunderstanding of what has gone wrong in Ekiti and how to resolve it.

I have been commissioner for over 10 years in executive arm, I havebeen amember ofHouse of Representatives and I am also a lawyer, whichfalls within the judicial arm

I will not in any way disappoint if given the ticket because I am aloyal party man and I know how to work with everybody to get theuseful result, he said.

On the sincerity ofmembers of the Chief John Oyegun-led National Working Committee to conduct credible primary election, Bamidele said: I have no reason to doubt their integrity.

All the aspirants had gone through screening and as we were doingthis, we were given a copy of delegates list each. We all know whowill vote on Saturday.

With this, I dont envisage that anyone would try to tamper with thelist or see anyone trying to do accreditation at another locationdifferent from where they will vote which can give opportunity totransport fake delegates to the venue.

The NWC, National and zonal leaders as well as the aspirants haveagreed on some pacts and I believe these shall be allowed to prevailin this election.

Source: NAN

Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio has appointed 27 ministers, four of whom are women and simultaneously created a new super-ministry headed by a Chief Minister.

Appointed to run the super ministry is Professor David Francis, Maada Bios former teacher at Bradford University in UK and chairman of the transition committee.

As explained in a statement by the Presidents office on Tuesday, Professor Francis role combines that of the chief of staff in the previous regime. He is like the prime minister, the man who will run the government.

According to the statement, Francis will ensure that the government

He is expected to provide competent leadership for the day-to-day operational co-ordination, oversight, monitoring and evaluation of government business.

He will serve as the central hub responsible for the overall co-ordination and facilitates the implementation of the Governments Strategic Priorities.

He will work with all Government ministers andco-ordinate the implementation of government policies across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

As directed by the Executive President, the Chief Minister chairs the 3 cross-cutting sectoral ministries for inter-governmental co-ordination including: Education and Social Development Sector Ministries; Finance and Economic Development Sector Ministries, and the Peace, Security and Justice Sector Ministries, government explained.

The Office of the Chief Minister will also supervise the Directorate of Presidential Infrastructural Projects and Service Delivery (DPIPSD); Directorate of Strategy, Policy and Planning (DSPP); Directorate of Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPMME); Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU); and Directorate of Institute for Science and Technology (DIST). A Permanent Secretary will provide the administrative leadership for the Office of the Chief Minister.

Women advocates have criticised the new government for appointing only four women into the 27-man full cabinet positions . One of the women appointed is Nabeela Tunis, wife of the Parliamentary Leader of the governing SLPP party.

The head of the 50/50 gender parity group,Dr Fatu Taqi said. While we congratulate the women, we are a little bit disappointed that only four of the 27 full cabinet positions went to women.

She urged the president to put on the gender lens in appointing people to ambassadorial and Parastatal positions.

Most of the nominees are from the southeastern stronghold of the presidents party, although there are northerners in senior positions such as education, health, trade and youth affairs.

President Maada Bio also gave ministerial slots to members of other political parties, excluding the former ruling APC. The presidential running-mate of the ADP party, which did not support Bio in the runoff poll, Haja Isata Abdulai-Kamara was appointed as non-cabinet minister (Resident Minister, Northwest).

Charles Margai, Presidential candidate of of PMDC party, which backed Bio is Attorney General.

Another non-SLP member appointed is Peter Bayuku Konteh. He heads the NGC party and was a former APC cabinet minister. He is the new Minister of Trade-designate.

*Full list of cabinet and non-cabinet ministers:

Chief Minister Professor David Francis
Finance Minister Jacob Saffa
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Charles Margai Attorney General
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Alpha Timbo
Minister of Health Dr Alpha Wurie
Minister of Energy Kanja Sesay
Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Swarray
Minister of Marine Resources Emma Kowa
Minister of Labour Adekunle King
Minister of Water Resources Dr Jonathan Tengbe
Minister of Social Welfare, Gender

Rapper Kanye West, on the receiving end of criticism in the music world after backing President Donald Trump, sparked fresh outrage Tuesday when he called slavery a choice.

The rapper, never shy about expressing himself, made the comments in passing during one of two free-flowing interviews he gave as he promotes two upcoming albums.

You hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice, West told TMZ Live, the broadcast wing of the celebrity gossip site.

West elaborated little on his statement but appeared to be drawing a parallel to how he is presumed to hold certain views as an African American artist.

Were mentally in prison. I like the word prison because slavery is too direct to the idea of blacks. Like Holocaust is Jews, slavery is blacks, West said.

Wests remarks immediately sparked an uproar on Twitter, his favorite medium, and he was taken to task live by a TMZ employee who said he was appalled.

The 40-year-old rapper, designer and husband of reality television star Kim Kardashian re-emerged last month after a year-long absence that followed a purported mental breakdown.

He enraged many fellow artists but was embraced by conservative commentators as he praised Trump, who has since cited the rappers words as evidence of minority support.

In a separate interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, West said he had not followed Trumps policies but, When I see an outsider infiltrate, I connect with that.

West who in 2005 made headlines by saying that then president George W. Bush doesnt care about black people is one of the few prominent African Americans to support Trump.

The president built his political career by promoting unfounded conspiracy theories about his predecessor Barack Obamas birthplace and has been embroiled in a number of racial controversies since taking office.

Speaking to Charlamagne tha God, West said he was upset that Obama invited other rappers to the White House such as Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.

Obama, in off-record small talk with a reporter in 2009 that leaked, called West a jackass after the rapper disrupted the MTV Video Music Awards to say that Taylor Swift did not deserve her prize.

You know, he never called me to apologize, West said, explaining that Obama had met him and his mother before being elected president.

The same person who sat down with me and my mom, I think should have communicated with me directly.

Source: NAN

After seven years of stagnation, all public workers in Imo state, are to enjoy automatic promotion.

Governor Rochas Okorocha announced the approval of the promotion for all workers on Tuesday as part of his package for workers supportive role to his administration.

Okorocha gave the approval at the 2018 Workers Day celebration held at the Heroes Square, Owerri on Tuesday.

He said the automatic promotion was to make up for the non-promotion the workers have suffered for seven years.

Workers are the life wire of every organisation. I salute your courage, your commitment and resilience during the trying times with numerous challenges ranging from insecurity, lack of infrastructure and low remuneration.

You have remained partners in the success story of this administration. I am not unmindful of your needs. I am ready to pay you allowances, even sleeping and absenteeism allowances, he said.

On the minimum wage, the governor assured the workers that whatever the Federal Government had agreed to pay workers, Imo government will not be found wanting.

He said his government was able to reduce Imo pension from N1.7 billion to N700 million which would make for easy payment.

Okorocha called on the workers to ensure they registered at the ongoing registration of voters, saying their vote is their power to vote in people of their choice during election.

There is need for you to keep our legacies. Shine your eyes to choose government that will replace me.

Make sure you have your PVCs. The PVC story is not favourable to South-east which has the least number of PVCs.

At the rate we are going, it will come to a point where Ndigbo will become an inconsequential factor in national politics, the governor said.

The state Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Imo State Council, on behalf of the organised labour, complained of ill treatment meted to Nigerian workers by subsequent governments.

He said that the labour union had contributed immensely towards the political development of the country but had faced a lot of challenges in the efforts towards national development.

He said this was because those in authority are not concerned about the country and the welfare of its citizens, but their personal interests.

Akanazu said that while the working condition in America and other countries continued to improve for the better, that of workers in Nigeria had continued to degenerate.

He, however, noted that despite the challenges posed by government at various levels, the labour movement had continued to exist, waxing stronger to carry out its responsibility to the workers and people of Nigeria.

The union leader urged the state government to ensure it honoured the expectation of the workers that their salaries be restored to 100 per cent as against the current 70 per cent to 80 per cent, since the countrys economy has improved.

He also called on the governor to pay and reduce the pensions arrears to a reasonable level and ensure that Imo was not left behind when the new minimum wage to be announced by the federal government becomes effective.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the highlight of the occasion was the presentation of one million Naira to a pregnant woman who led the march of her colleagues at the May Day celebration. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Police have arrested 25 suspected cultists, who gathered for their initiation activities in Enugu state.

The Enugu State Police Command said it recovered a locally made single barrel pistol, a locally made cut to size single barrel gun, four live cartridges and six expended cartridges from the suspects.

The Commands spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said on Tuesday in Enugu that the suspects were arrested on April 30 at 1 a.m. in a bush at the outskirts of Enugu metropolis.

Amaraizu said the suspects were arrested by the commands Anti-Cultism Unit through intelligence information.

To this end, the operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the command through intelligence information have raided Obeagu-Amechi Awkunanaw bush.

It was reported that 25 youths from various universities, polytechnics and some secondary schools in the South-East gathered for their initiation activities into membership of Black Axe Ayes confraternity.

During the well co-ordinated raid, which took place inside the bush behind centenary city Awkunanaw, these suspects were promptly apprehended.

Amaraizu noted that the suspects have been helping police operatives in their investigations as it relates their cult activities among other vices.

The command has maintained its readiness and stand and will not rest on its oars in its campaign and onslaught against cultism and other vices among our youths in the state for a safe and secured environment, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Global military spending rose to $1.73 trillion in 2017, up by 1.1 per cent against that of 2016.

The 2017 expenditure is highest level since the Cold War, with the U.S., China and Saudi Arabia topping the list, a Swedish-based research institute said Wednesday.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that the spending translated into $230 per person.

The U.S. remained the worlds largest spender with $610 billion unchanged year-on-year.

The U.S. accounted for over a third of global military expenditure.

The downward trend in US military spending that started in 2010 has come to an end, said Aude Fleurant, head of SIPRIs arms and military expenditure programme.

Second-placed China was estimated to have spent 228 billion dollars, and according to SIPRI accounted for the largest absolute increase in spending 12 billion dollars, measured in constant 2016 prices.

The research institute said it estimated that Chinas share of global spending has doubled since 2008 to 13 per cent.

Saudi Arabia replaced Russia in third place, spending 69.4 billion dollars in 2017.

The Middle East was the region where military spending was estimated to account for the highest portion of GDP, just over five per cent, although SIPRI said data was sketchy from several countries including Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Yemen.

In spite of low oil prices, armed conflict and rivalries throughout the Middle East are driving the rise in military spending in the region, said Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher with the SIPRI programme.

Seven countries in the Middle East were among the 10 countries with the highest share of military spending as a portion of GDP, including Oman with 12 per cent of GDP, and Saudi Arabia with 10 per cent of GDP.

Russias spending meanwhile dropped by one fifth in real terms compared to 2016 to 66.3 billion dollars.

It was the first drop since 1998. SIPRI attributed the drop to factors such as falling oil prices.

Military modernization remains a priority in Russia, Wezeman said.

India edged France to take fifth place, spending almost 64 billion dollars.

The combined spending of the top five military spenders accounted for 60 per cent of global military spending.

Europe accounted for one fifth of global military spending, but fell compared to 2016 and was only slightly
higher than in 2008.

Four of the top 15 global military spenders were based in Europe: France, Britain, Germany and Italy.

Asia and Oceanias share of global military spending was about one quarter, mainly fuelled by Chinas expenditure.

Other top spenders in the region that were among the top 15 global spenders were India, Japan, South Korea and
Australia.

The institute said Algeria remained Africas largest spender, but its spending dropped in 2017 due to lower
oil and gas prices.

In South America spending increased over 4 per cent, driven by Argentina and Brazil.

SIPRI said its figures include salaries, costs for operations, purchases of arms and equipment as well as
research and development.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Eating the hottest pepper in the world is no joke, as a man discovered at his expense, after a bite of the "Carolina Reaper" gave him massive headaches and necessitated an emergency visit to the hospital.

The 34-year-old took part in a hot pepper eating contest in New York and the "Carolina Reaper" gave him excruciating thunderclap headaches, finally forcing him to visit a hospital emergency room, British Medical Journal Care Reports said Monday.

A CT angiography of his brain showed he was suffering from cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), or unexpected narrowing of arteries, leading to the headaches.

Fortunately, it was reversible and the report said his condition improved with supportive care. A second examination five weeks later showed the abnormality had been resolved.

Source: ECNS

A French man has become the first person in the world to have two face transplants, according to media reports.

Jerome Hamon is recovering in a Paris hospital, three months after receiving a second transplant, which is considered a world's first.

The 43-year-old suffers from neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic mutation which causes severe disfiguring tumors on his face, the Guardian reported.

Hamon underwent his first transplant in 2010, but his body eventually rejected the new face, which had to be removed in 2017.

Without a face, Hamon had no eyelids, no ears, no skin and could not speak or eat. He remained hospitalized for two months till a second donor was available. The second transplant was performed in January.

To avoid another rejection, doctors replaced all the blood in Hamon's body in a month-long procedure before carrying out the surgery.

Hamon's first face was donated by a 60-year-old. With his second face, the man joked that he had managed to drop a few decades.

"I'm 43. The donor was 22. So I've become 20 years younger," said Hamon in an interview with French television.

According to the BBC, the world's first face transplant was carried out in 2005 in northern France. Since then, some 40 operations have been performed in the world.

Source: ECNS

An Argentine woman Brenda Barattini accused of cutting off her boyfriend’s penis with gardening scissors said she was provoked because he showed his friends their homemade sex tape, according to reports.

The 26-year-old Barattini, allegedly committed the revenge attack in the Nueva Cordoba area of the Argentine city of Cordoba last November, which left her 40-year-old boyfriend with 90 percent of his penis chopped off, and in life-threatening condition.

Barattini, who is serving imprisonment without bail ahead of her trial, said she suffered great psychological harm because of the leaked tape by her boyfriend Sergio Fernandez.

“I cut his penis but not completely: I injured him. It wasn’t complete: I injured him,” she said, according to a translation of her jail interview.

The man has been left depressed, one of his attorneys said, as he waits for future operations.

According to Fox News, hospital employees were unable to reattach Fernandez penis.

The incident rings similar to the case of Lorena Bobbitt, a woman who, in 1993, cut off her husband’s penis while he was sleeping.

Bobbitt said she did it because she “snapped” after her husband allegedly raped her the previous night.

Source: NAN

Edo South Youth Coalition (ESYC), a youth group, has insisted that they will commence recall process against Senator Matthew Urhoghide for calling for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The coalition warned that the senator could only avert the recall if he recants his position.

Recall that Urhoghide, PDP – EDO South, had on Thursday moved a motion for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari, but he had denied moving the motion.

Instead, he explained on Saturday that he only explained at the plenary that Buhari committed an impeachable offence for spending money to buy jet fighters without necessary appropriation.

The senator had been in the eye of the storm since he moved the motion.

He was on Friday evening humiliated by youths from his constituency at Benin Airport upon his arrival from Abuja.

Uroghide had alleged the Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and the chief of staff to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Akerele, were responsible for the mob action against him by some youths sympathetic with the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Airport.

Mr. Ehis Odaise, in Benin City on Sunday challenged the Senator to respond to their query that he did not consult with his constituents before he moved the said motion.

The ESYC advised Urhoghide to be responsible for his predicament than dragging people who are not from his constituency as being responsible for his ordeal.

“We want to unequivocally say here that we are bonafide constituents of Edo South Senatorial District and we deserve the right to know what our representative is doing.

“Our action is to ensure that we get adequate representation in the Senate.

“We call on Uroghide to respond to the issues we raised in our protest against him and should stop dragging the Deputy Governor and the Chief of Staff who are not even from Edo South into the issue.

“We reiterate our position that he should withdraw his .motion or we will commence recall process against him.

“We demand that Senator Matthew Uroghide withdraws his statement totally as his 48 hours for his recalls ends 29th April 2018.

“We are a group that believe in proper representation and has nothing to do with the person of the Chief of Staff to the governor.

“Edo state remain an APC state under Governor Godwin Obaseki who is committed to bring good governance to the people as desired by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Uroghide had told journalists at the airport in Benin City that he did not move an impeachment motion against the president adding that he understood what Section 143 of the Constitution was all about.

He insisted that there was no impeachment motion during plenary and that the media acted out of ignorance by referring to what he said as impeachment motion.

Source: NAN