IYABO OJO’S SON LEAVES SECONDARY SCHOOL

The joy of any mother is to see her children grow. At that point, they forget any hardship or pain they must have gone through because of the child.

For Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, she is very grateful to God who has made it possible for her to see her son named Festus Oladunjoye complete his secondary school education.

The young man finished from secondary school today, Tuesday, July 14, 2015.

The elated mother, who could not hide her joy, expressed gratitude to God for all He has done for her.

In her words, “Senior boy, chai, I don dey old o. Festus don finish secondary school o, na University remain. God, oya over to you. I know say you go see us through. Festus, I love you.”

FREEZE CURSES FAN OVER CRISIS WITH ESTRANGED WIFE

Since Cool FM presenter, Freeze took his social media page to post ‘damaging’ things about his estranged wife, there have been mixed reactions to the issue.

While some have slammed his actions, other have sympathised with him.

Moments ago, he started posting pictures online, claiming they were proofs that he was molested by his wife while they were still living together.

According to him, “I used to be like this at least 2ce every month. Yet my Pastor advised me to stay and that divorce is a sin. After the separation I realized that my life was far more important than the institute of marriage.

“Every moment spent with an abusive partner could be your last! Leave while you can! I have chosen not to speak up until now for my children's sake. But when a woman believes she has been scorned because of a horrible past that was no fault of mine and transfers the aggression to me and is hell bent on destroying my very essence I must speak!

“I speak for every broken man, every battered man and every abused man who is suffering endlessly and needlessly in the hands of a woman because of 'marriage' to gather the strength to speak now!”
But a follower of his asked, “Why are the pictures just coming out now? You've been separated since last year. What is the guarantee that these injuries aren't from some sick bdsm you're engaged in? Am sorry but I don't believe you.”

This got Freeze and angry and he replied, “You stupid cow! May your husband do half of what my ex did to me and see if you will survive 6 months. GOD punish your mouth.”

ORITSEFEMI HOSPITALIZED IN LEKKI

According to E247 magazine, popular singer, Oritse Femi, has been admitted in an hospital in Lekki area of Lagos for an undisclosed ailment.

The singer is said to be a frequent patient at The Premier Medical Specialists’ Medical Centre in Lekki for a while now due to his poor state of health.

It was reported that the singer was unable to shoot one his music videos on Monday, July 13, 2015 because of his health.

Though the true state of his health could not be ascertained, but his friends are doing their best to ensure he gets back on his feet soon.

APC accuses Fayose of desecrating late deputy gov’s tomb

The Ado  Ekiti Local Government chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted plans by the Ekiti State government to construct a women’s centre around the tomb of late deputy governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka.

But in a swift response,   Governor Ayo Fayose described APC’s allegations as myopic and weird.

In a statement by chairman of the council chapter, Mr D.O Adigun, the party described the move by the Fayose administration to construct the women centre as a deliberate extreme partisanship to  dishonour the late deputy governor, arguing that there were numerous spaces that could have been used for the women centre.

Adigun said “The Ado Ekiti Local Government chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) and its numerous supporters in and outside Ekiti State and other well wishers view seriously with reservation, the claim of His Excellency, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State that he is honouring her by building a women centre within the confine of the park and almost right on the tomb of the late Funmilayo Olayinka.

”To us, this is a disservice and deliberate partisanship to fight and dishonor Moremi even in death. There are lots of open and undesignated spaces across the state capital that could be used for the so called women centre.”

Faulting the move, the party leader said  “We cannot fathom why Mr. Fayose has chosen the path of war against the dead all in the name of partisan politics.” Don’t we all belong here as sons and daughters of Ekiti Land sharing the same norms, values and the holistic cultural appreciation? We are gravely concerned. If she had indeed offended you please we are ready to appease your Excellency to stop and relocate the woman center to the state secretariat and not in the high civic and business centre of the state capital.”

We’re honouring Olayinka, not desecrating her tomb— Fayose

In its reaction, the Ekiti State government explained that it was not desecrating the late deputy governor but was rather honouring her.
Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who reacted to the APC claim described it as myopic and weird.

Olayinka said “If the APC is regarding construction of a befitting edifice to be named after the late deputy governor as desecration of her tomb, someone needs to have his reasoning faculty reassessed.”

I chose new Service Chiefs on merit, says Buhari

In an apparent bid to re-jig the nation’s security apparatus in the wave of growing insurgent attacks and suicide bombings, President Muhammadu Buhari, 45 days after assuming office, yesterday sacked all the service chiefs and appointed replacements whom he said were chosen on merit.

The new security helmsmen are Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff); Major-General T.Y. Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff). The rest are Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku  Morgan (Chief of Defence Intelligence) and retired Major-General Babagana Monguno (National Security Adviser)

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The statement said the new Service Chiefs would hold their appointments in an acting capacity until confirmed by the Senate.

Those relieved of their jobs yesterday include Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal  Alex Badeh and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. Others are Chief of Army Staff, Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Usman Jibrin;  and Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu.

Badeh and the former Army, Air Force and Naval chiefs were appointed by former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in January 2014, a month after he sacked the previous top brass.

That followed a daring raid against a military installation in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, which saw aircraft destroyed and weapons seized.

“The President has relieved the service chiefs, including the heads of the Army, Air Force and Navy of their appointments,” Femi Adesina stated, adding, “President Buhari thanks the outgoing service chiefs and National Security Adviser for their services to the nation and wishes them well in their future endeavours.”

Buratai, from Borno State — the worst affected by the insurgency — has been commander of the new, strengthened regional force against Boko Haram which is due to be deployed later this month.

A new commander for the multi-national force will now be appointed, Adesina said.

You were chosen on merit — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the appointment of the new Service Chiefs was on merit.

Addressing them shortly after their appointments were announced, the President also called on them to show utmost commitment to their new duties, urging them to regain the lost glory of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

He promised to send their names immediately to the senate for confirmation.

“All of you, including the National Security Adviser, were chosen on merit.  Your records gave you the job.  Save for the new Chief of Army Staff whom I briefly met at his Command at the Multi-National Joint Task Force, in Chad, I don’t know any of you.  Your records recommended you.

“Legally, you are in acting capacity until the National Assembly accepts you. It is only then that you will take the oath of office.  Thereafter, we will sit down and talk in more detail,” President Buhari told the new service chiefs.

Their sack long overdue

The move elicited commendations from some eminent Nigerians, who said it was long overdue, given the increasing wave of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The military command has come under heavy criticism for its poor handling of the six-year insurgency that has seen the deaths of more than 15,000 people and forced  another 1.5 million to flee their homes.

Under the commanders’ watch, the militants captured swathes of territory, including towns and villages in the remote North-East in its quest to establish a hardline Islamic state.
In addition, the sacked military chiefs were unable to free more than 200 schoolgirls abducted in the North-eastern town of Chibok on April 14 last year, despite repeated promises.
Boko Haram has stepped up its attacks since Buhari became president on May 29, with a wave of raids, explosions and suicide bombings against civilians. About 600  people have been killed since May 29, 2015.

The surge in violence has sparked concern that gains made by the armies of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon against the insurgents since February this year are being eroded.

Profile of the new service chiefs

Major-General T.Y. Buratai – Chief of Army Staff

Major General TY Buratai who hails from Borno State was the Force Commander of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) before his appointment. He has served as Director at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja and also served as the Brigade Commander at 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army Port Harcourt as well as Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation PULO SHIELD. Maj-Gen. Buratai  has also served as Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) – National Security Adviser

Has worked as Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), in Minna, Niger State.

Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin – Chief of Defence Staff

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Olonisakin (N/6901) hails from Ekiti State. Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff , he was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Chief of Naval Staff

He hails from Cross River State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983. His previous appointments include Naval Provost-Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited.

Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff

(NAF/1433) hails from Bauchi State. His previous appointments include Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command. Until his new appointment as Chief of Air Staff, he was the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters.

DSS hails Monguno’s appointment

Reacting to the appointment, both serving and retired officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) expressed satisfaction with the appointment of Major-General Babagana  Monguno as  the National Security Adviser over former Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau who had been widely touted as favourite for the job.

Some operatives of the service who spoke with Vanguard shortly after the new set of security chiefs were announced noted that with the appointment of Monguno as the NSA, there is bound to be greater inter-agency co-operation amongst the nation’s security agencies.

They deserved to be sacked—Sagay

Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, said the decision by the President to sack the NSA and service chiefs was expected.

Sagay said:  “In fact, it has taken too long. These were all Jonathan’s men, loyal to Jonathan, who were ready to sabotage the election in order to allow Jonathan  re-plan. These are all anti-Buhari and anti-APC people. They should have been sacked long ago. Their sack was overdue, they deserved to be sacked.”

It’s long overdue—Ajulo, LP scribe

Sagay has a soul mate in the National Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Kayode Ajulo, who also said, ‘’the sack is long overdue, there is nothing unusual in the sack of the service chiefs.”

Credit: Vanguard

Policewoman arrested over death of ex-husband

DELTA State Police Command has apprehended a female police sergeant over alleged connection in the murder of her male colleague, simply identified as Kelechi.

The suspect, who was identified as Helen, according to a dependable source, was married to Kelechi. There was said to be a disagreement, which led to their separation.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Kelechi met his death when he visited the home of the suspect, Helen, at Umuokwe village to see his daughter.

“Kelechi has lived in this neighbourhood over the years before he was transferred outside the state. He just came into town a day ago and decided to see his daughter, who is living with Helen.

“I feel that his decision to visit his daughter infuriated Helen, who raised alarm that Kelechi was a thief and had come to kidnap her daughter.

“Some youths in the neighbourhood gathered and attacked Kelechi and killed him in the process.”

Another source, a student, who gave her name as Gift, said the killing of the policeman had brought apprehension to the neighbourhood.

She said: “Since last Thursday, most people living around here have run away from their homes. We are afraid that police will start arresting everybody around here.”

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, said the suspect was being held in custody along with her accomplices in the killing of a policeman last Thursday at Ogwashi-Uku.

Kalu said: “The suspect has been arrested and detained along with other culprits, who took part in the killing of the policeman. The case is currently under investigation.”

Credit: Vanguard

Pastor Adeboye: Happy birthday to my sweet baby

GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has hailed his wife as she celebrates her 67th birthday.

“Happy birthday to my sweet baby, my friend, my sister, my lover, my confidant, my pali, my only wife, my mummy and my partner in Christ. Love you today and always. @PastorFAAdeboye with love from @PastorEAAdeboye,” Pastor Adeboye posted on his Facebook account.

Foluke Adeboye, wife of the General Overseer Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, turned 67 on Monday.