SHEKAU IS ALIVE

Ahmed Salkida, a Dubai-based Nigerian journalist who reportedly maintains communication with some leaders of the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram, claimed today that the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, is alive and well. Mr. Salkida denied reports asserting that Nigerian troops had killed the mercurial and fiendish Shekau, the speaker and voice in numerous videos released by Boko Haram.

Ahmed Salkida, journalist In a tweet earlier today, Mr. Salkida also dismissed media reports that the Nigerian government was negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in mid-April by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, Borno State. The reporter’s tweet also described as untrue reports that the International Red Cross (IRC) was working on a deal that would persuade Boko Haram to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in exchange for the release of detained Islamist insurgents in the custody of Nigerian security agencies.

Earlier today, SaharaReporters had published a report to the effect that a Nigerian intelligence source revealed that the person whose dead body is seen in photos circulating in news reports was not Shekau but one “Mohammed Bashir”.
Our intelligence source stated that the dead Islamist figure, who bore a striking semblance to Mr. Shekau, was indeed a look-alike who appeared in videos released by the Islamist sect.
Mr. Salkida’s tweet appeared to confirm that the Boko Haram “officer” killed by Nigerian soldiers in Konduga was a different person from Mr. Shekau. In fact, Nigerian security officials have maintained for months that Mr. Shekau was dead, apparently killed by his own disaffected lieutenants in an internal rivalry for control of the terrorist organization.

However, Salkida sent out another tweet today which appeared to cast doubt on the fact that Shekau indeed had a double.

A confidential debriefing document by the Nigerian army obtained last week by SaharaReporters also acknowledged that Mr. Shekau stayed permanently in his holdout in Sambisa Forest and was not in the habit of venturing out to battles. Item “R” of the document stated, ”Shekau has his wife and 2 children in Sambisa Forest. He is Kanuri, he speaks Hausa and he does not travel.”
Meanwhile, a Nigerian security source told SaharaReporters that there was evidence of a growing frustration among insurgent fighters and a simmering power struggle between some of the sect’s top figures. He disclosed that some of the insurgents who surrendered to Nigerian troops last week in Konduga have told army interrogators that they decided to give up after their commander executed two of their leaders who led the failed attack on Konduga. The source told SaharaReporters that the insurgents, who are being kept in one of the barracks in Maiduguri, told interrogators that they fled from a camp near Bama after their commander shot dead two insurgent field officers “for losing valuable weapons to infidels.” He added that the surrendering militants claimed they were reluctant and small-time fighters who were recently recruited from towns and villagers taken by Boko Haram.
The insurgents’ foiled attempt to seize Konduga, which was a first step in their plan to attack the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, is being seen as a possible turning point in the war between the insurgents and increasingly confident Nigerian soldiers. Nigerian troops killed hundreds of insurgents in the battle for Konduga and also seized an armored tank and several vehicles from the Boko Haram fighters. Incidentally, Boko Haram insurgents had originally captured thetank and vehicles from the Nigerian army in previous battles.
For close to two weeks, the insurgents have not been able to reproduce their earlier streak of victories over Nigerian troops. Instead, they have been routed in Konduga and driven out of Baza in Adamawa State

FINALLY THE PRESIDENT DECLEARS HIS ASSETS

Documents submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) show that at the time he was sworn in on May 29, President Buhari had less than N30 million to his name, a statement by the presidency said on Thursday. President Muhammadu Buhari in his farm State House Photos
The documents, which officials say they are still vetting and will soon make public, show Buhari had only one bank account, with Union Bank. He had no foreign account, no factory, no enterprises, no registered company and no oil wells.
The statement appears to have been prepared because of the impatience of the president in waiting for the CCB to undertake its tedious verification process.
According to the text, President Buhari declared he had shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank and Skye Bank.  
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who had been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics, declared about N94 million and 900,000 United States dollars in his bank accounts.
Said a source who examined the documents, about Buhari, “This is entirely unlike what one might expect from a former head of state of a country like Nigeria.”
The retired General had been Head of State of Nigeria.  He had also held various government positions such as governor, Minister of Petroleum, and head of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF).
The documents also revealed that President Buhari had a total of five homes, including two mud houses in Daura.  Two of those properties are in Kaduna, and one each in Kano, Daura and Abuja.  One of the mud houses in Daura was inherited from his late older sister, another from his late father.  He borrowed money from the old Barclays Bank to build two of his homes.
President Buhari also declared two undeveloped plots of land, one in Kano and the other in Port Harcourt, the location of which he is still trying to identify.  It is unclear how that conundrum arose. 
  President Buhari also owns farms, an orchard and a ranch. His farm holdings include 270 heads of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees.    
The documents also showed that the retired General owns a number of cars, two of which he bought from his savings.  The others were supplied to him by the federal government in his capacity as a former Head of State as provided by law.  The rest were donated to him by well-wishers after his jeep was damaged in the Boko Haram bomb attack on his convoy in July 2014.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s assets declaration includes his 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos, and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi. The Vice President also owns a 2-bedroom flat at the popular Redemption Camp off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England. The Vice President has no other landed properties on the form.
Apart from his law firm, known as SimmonsCooper, the Vice-President also declared shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd., Windsor Grant Ltd., Tarapolsa, Vistorion Ltd., Aviva Ltd. and MTN Nigeria.
According to details shown on the form, the Vice-President has about 94m Naira, $900,000 US dollars and 19 thousand pounds in Nigerian Banks with the foreign currencies kept in local domiciliary accounts. His personal vehicles are: one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep.
“As soon as the CCB is through with the process, the documents will be released to the Nigerian public and people can see for themselves,” the source said. 

APPLY FOR PTDF SCHOLARSHIP NOW (OVERSEA & LOCAL)

 

 

2016/2017 PTDF SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME (OVERSEAS & LOCAL)

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is a parastatal of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources established by Decree 25 of 1973 for the purpose of developing and promoting petroleum technology and for creating the manpower needs of the oil and gas industry through research and training of Nigerians.

To ensure a steadfast implementation of this mandate, PTDF is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates for Overseas and in-Country MSc and PhD Scholarships. Awards will be granted for studies in the 2016/2017 academic session in the United Kingdom Germany, Australia, USA and France (Grenoble INP) as well as PTDF upgraded Universities in Nigeria.

Application Forms can be accessed online at www.ptdf.cinfores.com using an ATM (Interswitch, Master Card & Visa card) or through purchase of a scratch card from designated main branches of First Bank of Nigeria Plc in all the 36 States and FCT, upon payment of a NON-REFUNDABLE sum of N1,000 (One Thousand Naira Only). Instructions on how to access the form online is clearly stated on the backside of the cards.

Applicants may please note that only those who meet the requirements shall be shortlisted and invited for a Computer Based Aptitude Test, in the case of MSc applicants, while oral interview will be conducted for PhD applicants (full time and Split-site) on dates to be announced later. Following the aptitude tests and interview, successful candidates will be selected and awarded the PTDF Scholarship.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE POSSESSION OF A VALID UNIVERSITY ADMISSION LETTER IS COMPULSORY FOR LSS MSC & PHD APPLICANTS

Visit the Official PTDF Scholarship Page for more Details and Apply HERE

SEE HOW THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST DIED!

HOW THE APOSTLES DIED.~~~

1. Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.

2. Mark (not an apostle,but one of the first missionaries)
Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke ( not an apostle, but was Paul's doctor)
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.
4. John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully
5. Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his
enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
7. James the Son of Zebedee,
was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
8. Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
9. Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.
10. Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.
11. Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
12. Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
13. Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many
epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.
14. Simon the Zealot
Simon was traditionally martyred by being sawn in half.
15. Philip
Philip evangelized in Phrygia where hostile Jews had him tortured and then crucified upside down. Some sources have him being stoned
Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times For the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Pass on to encourage other Christians.

RUMOUR

Zlatan Ibrahimovic claims AC Milan were “a bit desperate” to sign him but the Paris Saint-Germain striker admits there was no offer on the table from Arsenal.

Rumours had suggested that the French champions were willing to sell the 33-year-old this summer, with Arsenal, AC Milan, Manchester United and Inter all linked with moves.

But when asked about AC Milan’s interest during a press conference with the Swedish national side, Ibrahimovic replied: “It was concrete from their side.

“A lot of interest but I said from the beginning that I will stay with PSG. I like it, we have a good team, my family feel good and it's just positive with Paris and PSG. But they wanted, they wanted much.”

When pressed about Arsenal’s reported interest, the forward replied: “No, so the interest that existed, I have not committed myself to.

“It is Mino [Raiola] who takes care of the pieces. When I give notice that I want something to happen I get involved. But this summer I have been resting up, I enjoyed the holiday, but I know that Milan were a bit desperate.”

DI MARIA SHOWS UNITED WHAT THEY ARE MISSING

The Urguayan's double salvo may catch the headlines, but it was the Argentine's performance off the bench that really caught the eye as PSG defeated Monaco 3-0

= ARS £12.9 Draw £55 STO £90

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  By Robin Bairner

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It may have only been a 25-minute cameo, but Angel Di Maria's debut for Paris Saint-Germain was a formidable sight that suggests he will be capable of lifting his new club to previous unattained levels.

The Argentine came off the bench for the Ligue 1 champions and provided a glimpse of why they were so eager to prise him from Manchester United for €63 million as they thumped Monaco 3-0 away from home. It was a real tour de force, and set a new club record for successive competitive wins for the guests.

Edinson Cavani may have departed Stade Louis II with a couple of goals – his first in Ligue 1 this season – but the contribution of the 27-year-old was the cause of just as much excitement.

When the Uruguayan arrived in France for a fee of around €65 million from Napoli in 2012, his signing was greeted with terrific fanfare - it was, and remains, the biggest Ligue 1 has seen. Though his scoring rate has remained formidable, throughout his time in the French capital, he has never threatened to assume the club's offensive mantle from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

Indeed, it is ironic that, as Cavani was pushed into a supposedly unfavoured wide role as the Swede returned, he was finally able to find the target this term. And Ibra played a big hand in both the Uruguayan's strikes, setting up Blaise Matuidi to cross for the first and feeding his strike colleague directly for the second.

Although Cavani actually outscored Ibrahimovic last term, there remain concerns that he misses too many simple chances.

If PSG are to conquer Europe, do they need him? Probably not. Unlike figures such as Ibrahimovic, Blaise Matuidi and Thiago Silva, he is an expendable commodity.

His failure to find the net from a straightforward position most notably cost PSG in the Champions League quarter-final of 2014 against Chelsea, and Di Maria has already said that his major goal for the campaign is to help the Parisians overcome a European hurdle they have fallen at in each of the last three seasons.

In Cavani, Laurent Blanc has at his disposal a high-quality striker, but in Di Maria he has a gem of true world-class ability.

Though discarded by Manchester United after a year, Di Maria's pedigree is unquestioned. That he played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's Decima success has not been forgotten and it is that kind of European knowhow that PSG have craved.

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They might be a team bristling with offensive quality, but their newest attacking addition is the only one who knows the feeling of lifting the Champions League trophy.

It did not take the Argentine long to shine in Monaco. With his first touch he set up Cavani for a headed opportunity that he really should have been buried, but he continued to probe the home rearguard with deft passes. His assist for Ezequiel Lavezzi to round off the scoring – a clipped ball through the defence from some 40 metres – was a piece of skill of the highest quality.

The irony is, of course, that United believe that Cavani could be the figure to solve problems that Di Maria could not. No doubt he is a player that would improve the playing staff at Old Trafford - or Arsenal, where he has also been linked - yet he is not a player that would elevate either club to the status of Champions League, or even Premier League, winners. Such sides much search for greater reliability.

Di Maria, on the other hand, has already shown his mettle on the greatest stage, and his bow for PSG suggests he feels he still has something to prove. That can only be good news for the Parisians, who might have won their opening four Ligue 1 matches, but whose eyes are fixed primarily on European progress.

HAZARDS CONFESSION

The Chelsea forward accepts that he does not have the predatory instinct to push and push for as many goals as possible, admitting that he tends to ease off when the job is done

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard admits that he "will never be a true scorer" as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are.

Having been crowned Player of the Year after driving the Blues to the Premier League title last term, the Belgian has been talked up as having the potential to rival the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars.

With 19 goals to his name in all competitions last season, manager Jose Mourinho and team-mate Cesc Fabreas were among those to hail Hazard's potential.

However, the 24-year-old says that he is not convinced of rivalling Ronaldo or Messi – who have been crowned the world's best player five times between them – in terms of goals.

"I often ask myself what I can do to become like Messi and Ronaldo and score 50 or 60 goals in a season," Hazard told Sport/Foot Magazine.

"I try of course but I realise that I will never be a true scorer. It's not in me. It is mainly mental - at 2-0, not thinking that is enough, for example. Sometimes I still think, after a goal, 'that's enough'.

"I'm not in search of records like some other players... if I can score between 15 and 20 goals each season, I will be very happy.

"I'm at a peak of my career but I want to become even better every day. I'm not there yet."

Hazard has endured a sluggish start to the season and is yet to score from four Premier League outings, with Chelsea surprisingly languishing in 13th.

PROGRESS IN NIGERIA POLICE

A serving Sergeant with the Bauchi State Police Command, Godwin Hosea, has been promoted to the rank of an Inspector by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, for sewing a bullet-proof vest.

Godwin Hosea being decorated as Inspector

Decorating the newly promoted Inspector at the Police Headquarters in Bauchi, yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Mohammed, commended him for displaying exceptional talent.
In a statement by the state Police command, spokesperson,  DSP Haruna Mohammed, the police commissioner was quoted to have said, “On July 22, 2015, during a one day official working visit to the Bauchi State Police Command by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, one F/No 218346 Sgt Godwin Hosea presented a fabricated bullet-proof jacket he manufactured locally to the IGP during a lecture parade at the Bauchi Police Command State Headquarters.
“As a result, a visibly happy IGP instantly promoted the Sgt to the rank of Inspector with effect from July 22, 2015.”
Mohammed, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdumalik, urged Hosea to rededicate himself to duty and reciprocate the gesture done to him by the IGP.
The CP also called on other officers to emulate Hosea and harness their God given talents in order to move the Force and the nation forward, even as he thanked IGP Solomon Arase, for giving personnel welfare a top priority in his administration.

IGP-Arase-inspecting-the-locally-made-bullet-proof-vest

OONIS SUCCESSION

Osogbo—The contest for the Ooni stool has taken a dangerous dimension as a prominent figure of the Giesi ruling house, Prince Adekanye Aderibigbe, yesterday alleged threat to his life over his insistence that only a credible and a true prince from the ruling house would be presented to the kingmakers for confirmation.

Ooni of Ife: Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11

Prince Aderibigbe, who spoke at the meeting of the ruling house held at Agbedegbede Lane, More, Ife, also assured that Giesi will present a credible candidate that would be acceptable to all to the kingmakers.
The former university don, who was flanked by members of the committee and sub-committee saddled with the responsibility of verifying names submitted as contestants from Giesi, said he had been repeatedly threatened because he insisted that those who are not from the ruling house but now parading themselves as one, would be disappointed because they would not even be considered.
“A man has been parading himself as a member of Giesi Ruling House and newsmen have been echoing it. He is not a member of this house. He is not a member of Giesi.
“Please quote me. I have been threatened over my stand but I am ready for whatever will happen. I am one of the oldest in this compound and we know ourselves. He is not even a member of any ruling house in Ile-Ife. I have been threatened but I am waiting. I will not say God is on my side but I am on God’s side.’’
He also disowned list of contestants said to have been screened by the ruling house, stressing that only the secretary of the ruling house, Prince Ropo Ogunwusi, is empowered to relate with newsmen on the activities of the ruling house.
Asked if he feared government interference might come in during the selection process, Aderibigbe, said: “We harbour no such fear. We have started the process and we know an Ooni that will be acceptable will emerge at the end of the day.
“Interference of any kind will not happen. Whenever we want to pick our candidate, all of you will know and the kingmakers will after that take over. I did not say Ifa oracle will not have a say but Ifa will only choose from the candidates presented to it and Giesi will present a credible person that will occupy the throne.”

BUHARI'S SUCCESS

President Jonathan Successfully Fought Corruption Without Making Noise. - Femi Falana.
One of the profound critics of former President Goodluck Jonathan's government and Lagos activist, Femi Falana have joined other Team of Jonathan critics to confess that he actually fought corruption in more civilized ways.
The Lagos while speaking on Channels TV this morning said that "contrary to the general belief that former President closed his eyes to corruption, President Goodluck Jonathan did so much in the fight against corruption including the sack of three of his ministers for alleged graft.
Adding to what Bishop Matthew Kukah said last week, Mr Falana concluded that President Jonathan carried out the most successful loot recovery without making noise about it.
During the Jonathan era, the government introduced the Single Bank account for the country, saving billions. Their electronic payroll payment system and the Bio-metric registration of Federal workers identified 68,000 Ghost workers and over 50,000 ghost pensioners. They also introduced the Single Contract Requisition system with a Legislative oversight.
The cashless economy was the reason that "Ghana-Must-Go" disappeared in the National Assembly and around the corridors of his administration.
Trillion of Naira were recovered and saved the through these high-tech corruption fighting system and and was never advertised