4 Dieting Don’ts For Effective WEIGHT LOSS.

For all those who love dieting, here are a couple of things that you need to know if you want to lose weight and feel great about yourself.

1. Do not skip meals
If you think that by not eating, you will lose weight — then you are wrong. Skipping meals may actually contribute to weight gain — and certainly won’t aid you in losing. If you want to lose weight the proper way, make sure that you eat five small meals a day rather than eating one or two big meals. Eating small meals throughout the day will ensure that you stay clear of those hunger pangs. And secondly it will also keep your metabolism rocking, which will help burn extra calories.

2. Don’t forget to count your calories
Counting calories are actually the best way to healthy eating and weight loss. Make sure you make a note of each calorie consumed. For example if you are eating a salad, do not forget to count the calories in the topping or the dressing. The same goes for whatever you are drinking.

3. Do not dehydrate
It is extremely important to stay hydrated when you are dieting. For example, you might find that you are lot less hungry if you are constantly sipping on water. If you dehydrate yourself, it will manifest hunger rather than thirst.

4. Do not ignore carbs
If you think that going off carbs will help you lose weight, you are definitely wrong. Fibre is known to be a dieter’s friend! Not only does it keep your digestive system functioning well but it also but it also keeps you feeling fuller for a long period of time.

Sex Lessons 101: 10 Things Women Want In Bed.

Follow these tips, and your lady will thank you.

Men try to figure it out, but many don’t get it. Does she want candles lit for romantic lighting, or candle wax dripped on her nipples? Does she want to be made love to softly with feeling, or f*cked from behind with mad passion? I asked 1,000 women what they really wanted from men in the bedroom. They got real. The got raw. And they got honest.

10. Undress her… slowly.
“I want to be slowly unwrapped and revealed, like a present.” — Debbie B.
“He needs to take his time with me until I can’t handle it. And I want to see him want me. It drives me crazy.” — Michelle S.
Too often, couples get down to business. And while that really works on many occasions, because that’s raw passion. Seduction can — and should — also be slower, and not rushed. Reveal her body slowly and let your eyes and hands hover, brush, caress and grip places your tongue will soon follow.
Bottom line: Anticipation and appreciation go a long way.
 9. Sex in public.
“The possibility of being caught or seen is a huge turn-on for me. We don’t have to have full penetration, but getting close works great. I’ve started going out without panties on so he can start things wherever we are.” — Erika D.
She might not want to actually have sex in public (getting arrested isn’t good), but the thrill of being observed is a huge turn-on for many women. After all, part of the excitement when you’re a teenager is not getting caught doing… whatever. Why would that change in adulthood?
To the guy who thinks his girl “wouldn’t be like that”: Yes, your girl is indeed very much like that.
8. Let her take control.
“I really like being in control. Not every time, but sometimes. And I don’t want to hurt him; I just want to do things to him. Things that please him, but also things that let him know he is not in control; I am.” — Karen W.
Power can be a big aphrodisiac for many people, men and women alike. And just like their male counterparts, many women want to not be on the receiving end of control. While most respondents weren’t looking for a BDSM lifestyle, over half (53%) were just as clear that they wanted their man to experience some level of submission, at least one time — tie him up, spank him, have access to all parts of him. And others (9%) were looking to have the same power as a man where it wasn’t enough for her to be on top… she wanted him on the bottom.
Bottom line: She has just as much desire as he does… and she wants the opportunity to show him.
7. Role-play.
“I love when he dresses up in his old Navy uniform. I didn’t know him then, so it makes things different, and men-in-uniform really turn me on.” —Jessie L.
“My husband has a foot fetish. When I wear stockings and heels, he loses his mind.” — Erica M.
“Maybe I’m all screwed up, but I like playing the naughty school girl (with pigtails!), and he’s the teacher who punishes me for getting my homework wrong.” — Hanna R.
Taking on a different persona can be freeing and allow for actions and thoughts to play out that in reality, you wouldn’t be able to follow-through on. By putting on a costume or assuming a different role, you can kill off inhibitions and self-conscious insecurities that prevent pleasure.
Bottom line: Assuming a new role can not only be fun, it can eliminate relationship dynamics that might stifle sexual freedom.
6. Variety of motion and movement.
“There are times I want him to go slowly, with love and affection. And other times I want it fast, hard, deep, and with aggression! I mean, just F*CK ME!” — Paula B.
“I want a combination of in-and-out with a clockwise rotation. It accesses all of me, and the top of his pelvis brushes my clit on the upward motion.” — Shanna E.
“I want his hands moving. I want him to stay touching and feeling me as he is inside me.” — Penni J.
Over 80% of respondents said that they experienced many men as oftentimes having one speed — fast — with several mentions of “BAM-BAM-BAM-BAMBAMBAM!” (Yes, seriously.) Women are looking for variety in the motions as well as the types of caresses/touches (both where it happens and the amount of pressure initiated). They want you to keep your hands, tongue and mouth engaged, and to be more adventurous with body position.
Bottom line: Women’s bodies are fun to explore. Experiment and try things as she allows. She’ll thank you later.
5. Make it all about her.
“Nothing better than a massage with slow circles on my back, and baby oil down my legs.” — Yolanda K.
“I love when he will do anything to make me come. I’m not difficult, but that he wants it so bad is awesome!” — Fran U.
“Listening to what works and what doesn’t is so great. I’m kinda complicated. He is patient and takes his time.” — Donna J.
“I want him to look at me, directly into my eyes, especially as he puts it in. OMG.” — Samantha D.
She wants to feel special. She wants to feel desired. And she might want to be spoiled, too. But let’s remember that she is also allowing another human being inside her body, and that comes with a combination of comfort, submission, and trust.
Bottom line: Take the time to make things about her, and she will more than willingly reciprocate. A little extra goes a long way.
4. Go down… now and always.
“I love when he goes down on me. Seriously. And if I get it first, it relaxes me SOOOO much and I come SOOOO hard. Then he can pretty much have his way with me.” — Joanne S.
“Going down is a really personal act. If I let him, he is really ‘in’ with me.” — Kat H.
“I like when he does it, but I like knowing that he wants to. That he wants to taste me is such a turn-on.” — Anna G.
“I want his tongue on me, in me, circling me. Hang on. I have to go lol” — Consuela H.
According to various studies, approximately 75 percent of all women never reach orgasm from intercourse alone. That means if he’s not going down, there’s a good chance she’s not getting all she can out of the situation. If she allows him to put his tongue in the Holiest of Holies, he better not only value it, he needs to know what he’s doing, which actually means: How does she like it, when and how often.
Oral sex is a special level of intimacy. It creates a trust when you allow someone to experience your body so closely. And, that trust and allowance can provide for incredible physical and mental release and pleasure.
Bottom line: Go down. (What else is there to say?)
3. Take control.
“Stop waiting for me to always take control. You want me? Come take me!” — Lona T.
“I need him to manhandle me a little bit. I want to feel him want me. Put me against the wall and pull my clothes off.” — Gina D.
“I like [my boyfriend] forceful. I want my hands pinned back with him taking me.” — Shawn E.
“I like my hair pulled A LOT. I want to know he has control.” — Kris R.
Once they let their guards down, a full 91% of respondents said it clearly: They wanted a man to take charge in the bedroom. This answer came from women in all walks of life: stay-at-home moms, power attorneys, women in their 20s, women in their 40s, emo girls, executives… it didn’t matter. And the reason is simple: It’s primal. Heterosexual women want to be afforded pleasure at the hands of a man who is confident, capable, and passionate. In essence, she wants to just let go. She wants to trust, release and just be a woman who is sexual, sensual, and feminine. She wants to trust and hand control over to a man who will not use his power against her.
Bottom line: A woman wanting a man to take charge in the bedroom is the ultimate gift. It says that she trusts him with her. She is allowing him to take her. She wants a man who is confident, charming, alluring, captivating, mysterious and bad — all the while caring deeply for her integrity and self-respect by not thinking that the submission and control in the bedroom translates to “She’s my bitch” in the real world.
Disclaimer: “Control” and “forceful” does not mean angry or violent. Before trying anything new/rough/forceful, discuss boundaries and limits with your partner.
2. Foreplay begins outside the bedroom.
“He just starts. We walk in the bedroom, and he expects me to just flip on my back, automatically be wet, and ready for him to start thrusting.” —Monica F.
“I’m not an outlet that can just be PLUGGED INTO.” — Deb G.
“Make me want you!” — Fran T.
“A man’s intelligence is a HUGE turn-on for me.” — Juanita G.
For some men, there are two types of foreplay: being touched and the anticipation of being touched. What these guys don’t seem to realize is that their version of foreplay is in direct opposition to a woman’s largest erogenous zone: her mind. There’s no substitute for mental stimulation and intelligent discussion as foreplay.
Arousal for a woman often starts long before she is consciously aware it is happening. She is turned on by a look, by a statement, by his wit and even his willingness to listen without judgment. Seduction is an art form, and requires effort. It demands focus on her. She wants to feel important. She wants to matter. She wants to feel desired.
Bottom line: A woman’s largest erogenous zone is her mind, and a guy’s words and actions are the ultimate tools for effective foreplay.
1. Kiss her. Really kiss her.
“I want him to kiss me deeply. Slowly. I want to feel him love me and want me.” — Marta L.
“Sometimes I need a nibble with my kisses. He needs to let me know he’s into me.” — Faith V.
“Kiss my lips! Kiss the inside of my thighs! Kiss my neck! Kiss my hand! And please… kiss me as you enter me when we are making love.” — Michelle N.
“I like when he kisses me in public. I’m not one for PDA, but to show everyone that he cares is really special.” — Betty C.
Kissing is very intimate. It’s a closeness that is personal, passionate, and communicates a variety of things from the first kiss onward.
A simple kiss is often the initial gauge by which one might judge the success of a relationship. According to scientists who make their careers studying kissing (they are called osculologists), there’s an enormous amount of neurotransmitters, evolutionary biology and instant assessments of potential life-mates.
What she wants in a kiss: Start gently. Let your mouth wander as she allows, but pay attention to her responses. Light strokes on cheeks, neck, and back get extra points, as these areas are usually ignored (at least initially). At the beginning, a light caress is definitely recommended, and should give way to a harder touch and grip as kissing continues. Timing is everything. Start slowly, and stay slow enough to watch for signs that encourage more rapid movement and advances. Kiss her lips, cheeks, eyelids, and neck slowly until she makes it clear she can’t handle another second without… more.
Let it build. Kiss her against the wall, kiss her leaning across the front seat of the car, kiss her in the shower… just kiss her. And be sure to kiss something besides her mouth: the nape of her neck, her ankles, her wrists. Do it slowly and sensually and you will unlock her passion.

Kylie Jenner is moving from breaking up with Tyga to getting married to him.

Kylie Jenner is moving from breaking up with Tyga to getting married to him. This is because, Kylie and Tyga are reportedly going to get married, and that’s straight from her mouth.
The 18-year-old TV star said this when she stepped out Tyga on Sunday night at the American Music Awards (AMAs). She was asked what people will expect between her and Tyga, she responded that they will be getting married to each other.
It was however, stated that Tyga’s face was not properly seen when she made the statement to know what reaction he might have given to it.

Wearing Of Hijab In Camp By Muslim Women Has Been Banned By NYSC, Muslim Youth Group Reacts

 
Muslim youth under the umbrella of Muslim Youths in Da’wah on Tuesday stormed the headquarters of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja to discuss Director-General of the NYSC Johnson Olawumi‘s ban of hijabs.
According to Daily Post, Olawumi said his rationale for banning muslim women from wearing hijabs is “for security reasons.“
Luqman Hassan, national coordinator of the youth group told Olawumi:
“We are here to discuss with you about the incident that happened recently in various camps across the country. We have a guiding principle which is based on the Holy Q’uran. We are all Nigerians and the principle which guides us is the constitution and the African Charter on Human rights.


Members of the NYSC are Nigerians who have contributed to the development of this country; female corps members deserve protection by the NYSC. We don’t believe that a female corps member putting on hijab has done any wrong against the Act establishing the NYSC. So they deserve the respect of the NYSC. We have travelled far and wide and visited different camps. Why are the rights of female corps members being infringed upon. We are here to register our displeasure.”


Many Muslim organisations wanted to protest, but we said wait a while. In fact, we have to intervene to avoid the situation and if Muslims march on the streets, it will attract a lot of negative comments, but people won’t know why we are protesting.
In response, Olawumi said:
“Under my leadership, the NYSC will accord respect to every corps member, irrespective of tribe and religion. The incident in Benue State was caused by the use of long hijab. The security situation in the country is tough. There is the danger of somebody using hijab for other reasons.


There have been cases where young girls put on hijab and eventually turn to suicide bombers. Boko Haram members know how to get at whoever they want as target. That is why we frown at the wearing of long hijab. Please call on all your Muslim youths to be patient and adhere to it, just for a short period during the camp. We frown at long hijab because of the security implication.


Why are you so particular on your alleged infraction on the rights of youths without mentioning any one of such on Christian youths? Produce your evidence, write to us and I can assure you that we will act fast. When the incident in Benue State was reported to us, I swung into action and ensured that the camp commandant was decamped immediately. We are not magicians; if you have any evidence, write to us and we will not hesitate to act.”

The Difference Between Self-Love And Selfishness.

“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” ~Parker PalmerRemember the old cliché? “Take care of yourself first or you will have nothing left to give others.”  Or, “ we can’t give what we don’t have.” But what is self-care really? Why is it so difficult and why do we feel guilty about doing it?We were all given this special house to live in… our own body, mind and soul. It is our responsibility to take good care of it and treat it with ultimate respect. It carries within our special gifts and talents that are uniquely ours. Self-care is about seeking and nurturing internal validation. It is finding the sweet child within and giving him or her soothing comfort, reassurance, and warm, loving thoughts and wishes. It is about taking care of the internal emotional side of our being and learning self-compassion.

Adult children of narcissistic parents and certainly many others too, were often told they were selfish as children. It is normal for children to express desires and wishes and many times stressed out parents, feeling their own guilt or issues will unwittingly put this label on a child. It is a destructive move for the child because we optimally want to encourage children to have a voice and speak their feelings. This is how they develop a sense of self.

There is a difference between self-absorbed, narcissistic behavior and sound internal self-care. Self-care is about taking good care of our own feelings so we don’t project them onto others, act badly, or cause problems in relationships. Being in touch with our own feelings and embracing them is the healthiest thing we can do.
How many times have you heard a misrepresentation of self-care? Yes, I am taking care of myself. “ I just bought a great pair of shoes!”  “ I just went on an awesome vacation!” “ I just bought my first motorcycle!”  While none of these are wrong and are another part of self-care, I am talking about embracing your inner child and doing some real parenting of that little kid.  You are the only person who can do that!
If you grew up in an environment where your emotional needs were not met, or you were primarily taking care of your parents instead of the other way around, you have likely learned to be co-dependent and to take care of others to the exclusion of taking care of yourself. It is surprising, for example, how many adult children of narcissistic parents are working in the health care fields. Thank goodness, we need you, but learning self-care may be new to you and it is a process of re-parenting yourself.
I use doll therapy to teach self-care. Holding a doll or teddy bear, asking him or her what she needs, listening to his or her innermost thoughts and feelings, and then offering warm validation is very important. When I first learned to do this, I would sit in a rocking chair and visualize my younger self jumping into my lap and talking to me. When she first showed up, she was angry. She clearly told me she needed more love and attention from me. What does your little guy or gal have to say?
Ask your inner child what he or she needs. Listen to that every day. This is really your intuitive side talking to you. Allow the feelings to be ok. When you make mistakes, talk to your inner child and calm him or her, while you also reassure. Tell the child it is ok and you will help make it better. When he or she tells you they are hungry, tired, hurt, sad, lonely… listen, care and do something to help that little one within. No one can do this for you.
As we learn better self-care, we become better people in general. When we are in touch with our own feelings, we can then reach out more effectively to others and show love and empathy to them also. If we are filling our own emotional tanks with self-respect and loving care, we have much more to give to our families, friends, and the world in general.
Re-think your New Years Resolutions…do they include some great care taking of you?  If not, add them now. It’s February and Valentines Day is near! Give yourself a love gift.  It is an understatement to say we live in a stressful culture these days. The on-going struggles we see and feel are infinite. But, what we can control is what is within…how we feel about ourselves and how we treat ourselves. I believe in child advocacy and it begins with the little kid within us.
Allowing others to define you or seeking external validation does not work. It is a short-term band-aid that will not stick. E.E. Cummings wrote, “ It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”  Nourishing yourself in every way possible will help you blossom and grow into the woman or man you are meant to be. We all have our purpose here and special paths to follow. Using healthy self-care to maintain your internal emotional tune-up is a gift worth giving yourself now. Happy Valentines Day!  Let me say again, give yourself the gift of love!

Did You Know That Walking Barefoot Helps Prevent Injuries? – Research

A new research has shown that walking barefoot has incredible benefits to the well-being of the legs.

Walking barefoot helps to improve balance, posture and prevent common foot injuries, according to an American researcher, Patrick McKeon. McKeon, a professor at Ithaca College’s School of Health Sciences and Human Performance in New York,  says that the more people go barefoot at home, in the office or outside, the healthier their feet will be.
He believes that the small, often overlooked muscles in the foot play a vital but underestimated role in movement and stability, similar to the core muscles in the abdomen.
The researcher explained their importance by describing the cycle of feedback between the large “extrinsic” muscles in the legs and feet, the smaller “intrinsic” muscles in the feet, and the neural connections that send information from them to the brain.
When this cycle is broken, it can lead to overuse injuries that most athletes are familiar with.
Shoes can also have a negative effect on this cycle, McKeon explained. “When you put a big sole underneath, you put a big dampening effect on that information. There’s a missing link that connects the body with its environment.”
Without the information provided by the small muscles in the foot, the larger muscles over-compensate and over-exert beyond the point of their natural ability to maintain and repair themselves. And when these muscles are no longer able to absorb the forces of activity, the forces are transferred to the tendons, bones and ligaments, resulting in an increased risk of injury.
McKeon says that the only way of reintroducing this link and reactivating the cycle is to take off our shoes and strengthen the muscles in our feet by walking barefoot.
Exercises consisting of shortening the foot by squeezing the ball of the foot towards the heel can be done anywhere at any time. They can be particularly beneficial for injuries such as ankle sprain and shin splits (a wear-and-tear injury that is common in dancers and gymnasts).
The professor says that the benefits are not just physical, they can also be financial. Strong feet simply need enough support to protect them and grip the ground, no more than that. No need to invest in very expensive shoes.
He also recommends that 5-10% of the distance in a running routine should be barefoot, with a transition phase using ultralight running shoes.
However, he suggests avoiding walking or running barefoot in winter, because the cold tends to anaesthetize any pain.

Source: Times

6 Tips For Having Midnight Sex.

 1. Squeeze your Kegel muscles while you’re talking to a lame party guest or standing forever at the bar waiting for a drink. The little jolt of sensation down south will get your body (and your brain) primed for all the fun you’ll be having in a few hours.
2. Once you’re inside, lean against the door, and pull him towards you. Wrap one leg around his hips and bring him extra close for an intense kiss.

3. Excuse yourself to go to the restroom, then send him this text several minutes later: Just touched myself while thinking about what I want you to do to me later.”

4. Pull the car into the driveway. Then get on the hood and pull him on top of you. Make out until you’re this close to getting naked, then push him off and lead him to the door.

5. In a dark hallway or corner of the party/bar/restaurant, surprise him with a quickie make out. Pin him against the wall, and give him a tongueinvasive, hands-tugging-hair kinda kiss.

6. Wear your slinkiest, laciest lingerie underneath your clothes, then let him sneak a quick peek throughout the night.

14 Bad Habits That Drain Your Energy.

  

Lack of sleep isn’t the only thing sapping your energy. Little things you do (and don’t do) can exhaust you both mentally and physically, which can make getting through your day a chore. Here, experts reveal common bad habits that can make you feel tired, plus simple lifestyle tweaks that will put the pep back in your step.

1. You skip exercise when you’re tired
Skipping your workout to save energy actually works against you. In a University of Georgia study, sedentary but otherwise healthy adults who began exercising lightly three days a week for as little as 20 minutes at a time reported feeling less fatigued and more energized after six weeks. Regular exercise boosts strength and endurance, helps make your cardiovascular system run more efficiently, and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. So next time you’re tempted to crash on the couch, at least go for a brisk walk—you won’t regret it.

2. You don’t drink enough water
Being even slightly dehydrated—as little as 2% of normal fluid loss—takes a toll on energy levels, says Amy Goodson, RD, a dietitian for Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine. Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume, explains Goodson, which makes the blood thicker. This requires your heart to pump less efficiently, reducing the speed at which oxygen and nutrients reach your muscles and organs. To calculate your normal fluid needs, take your weight in pounds, divide in half and drink that number of ounces of fluid a day, Goodson recommends.

3. You’re not consuming enough iron
An iron deficiency can leave you feeling sluggish, irritable, weak, and unable to focus. “It makes you tired because less oxygen travels to the muscles and cells,” says Goodson. Boost your iron intake to reduce your risk of anemia: load up on lean beef, kidney beans, tofu, eggs (including the yolk), dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, and peanut butter, and pair them with foods high in vitamin C (vitamin C improves iron absorption when eaten together), suggests Goodson. Note: an iron deficiency may be due to an underlying health problem, so if you’re experiencing these symptoms of iron deficiency, you should visit your doc.

4. You’re a perfectionist
Striving to be perfect—which, let’s face it, is impossible—makes you work much harder and longer than necessary, says Irene S. Levine, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. “You set goals that are so unrealistic that they are difficult or impossible to achieve, and in the end, there is no sense of self-satisfaction.” Levine recommends setting a time limit for yourself on your projects, and taking care to obey it. In time, you’ll realize that the extra time you were taking wasn’t actually improving your work.

5. You make mountains out of molehills
If you assume that you’re about to get fired when your boss calls you into an unexpected meeting, or you’re too afraid to ride your bike because you worry you’ll get into an accident, then you’re guilty of “catastrophizing,” or expecting that the worst-case scenario will always occur. This anxiety can paralyze you and make you mentally exhausted, says Levine. When you catch yourself having these thoughts, take a deep breath and ask yourself how likely it is that the worst really will happen. Getting outdoors, meditating, exercising, or sharing your concerns with a friend may help you better cope and become more realistic.

6. You skip breakfast
The food you eat fuels your body, and when you sleep, your body continues using what you consumed at dinner the night before to keep your blood pumping and oxygen flowing. So, when you wake up in the morning, you need to refuel with breakfast. Skip it, and you’ll feel sluggish. “Eating breakfast is like starting a fire in your body by kickstarting your metabolism,” Goodson says. Goodson recommends a breakfast that includes whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fat. Good examples include oatmeal with protein powder and a dab of peanut butter; a smoothie made with fruit, protein powder, low-fat milk, and almond butter; or eggs with two slices of whole-wheat toast and low-fat Greek yogurt.

Fashola Is Not An Achiever, He Will Fail As Minister of Housing – PDP.

 
The Publicity Secretary of Lagos Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Taofik Ganipter of the Peoples Democratic Party says the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who is now the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, is not an achiever.
The party, therefore, stated that Fashola might fail as a minister.
The PDP spokesman said it is a known fact that there was an increase in the number of homeless Lagosians during Fashola’s eight-year rule.
Gani recalled that Fashola had said in 2013 that there was no such thing as low-cost housing because there was no low-cost cement or low-cost labour.
He said many slums were demolished while expensive estates were built by the Fashola administration.
Gani wondered if Fashola would continue with his ‘elitist style of leadership’ even in poor areas of the country.

5 Months As A Governor, I Am Already Tired – Gov. El Rufai.

 
Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai says the stress of seeking ways of creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in Kaduna state has left him tired after just 5 months of assuming office. El Rufai said this while speaking at the just-concluded Ake Arts and Book Festival which held in Abeokuta, Ogun State November 17-21.
“As a state governor the challenge for me is what to do to create jobs in Kaduna State. Eighty-two per cent of the eight million people in Kaduna State are below the age of 35.
My challenge is not whether population grows next year or the year after. It is to get jobs for this young people, otherwise no one will sleep in peace. Frankly speaking, five months as governor, I am already tired. I honestly do not think that anyone who wants to do this job seriously can do it for more than four years and not burn out. When I look at some of my colleagues, some are putting on weight, they are looking nice, I ask them, ‘how do you do it?”he said

Kogi Election: INEC Asks APC To Replace Late Audu As AGF Intervenes

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, invited the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forward a replacement for Prince Abubakar Audu, its dead candidate in the inconclusive Kogi State governorship election.

The INEC decision followed a pronouncement to that effect by the Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami.
This came after last Saturday’s governorship election was declared inconclusive due to the fact that the difference in votes between the late Audu and Wada was smaller than the number of registered voters in the 91 polling units where the votes were cancelled. Audu died on Sunday before the election could be concluded, throwing up a legal storm on the fate of the election.
Malami, while speaking at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission on the reform of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act , said the Kogi gubernatorial election must be concluded within the next 14 days.
Specifically, the AGF said his position on the matter was fortified by a combined reading and application of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 33 of the Electoral Act.
“The issue is very straightforward. Fundamentally, Section 33 of the Electoral Act is very clear that in case of death, the right for substitution by a political party is sustained by the provisions of Section 33 of the Electoral Act.
“And if you have a community reading of that section with Section 221 of the constitution it clearly indicates that the right to vote is the right of a political party and the party, in this case, the APC has participated in the conduct of the election. It is, therefore, apparent that the combined community reading of the two provisions does not leave any room for conjecture.
“APC as a party is entitled to substitution by the clear provisions of Section 33 of the Electoral Act. Also, Section 221 of the Constitution is clear that the votes cast were cast in favour of the APC.
“Arising from that deduction, it does not require any legal interpretation. The interpretation is clear, APC will substitute, which right has been sustained by Section 33 of the Electoral Act. So be it.
“The supplementary election has to be conducted along the line,” the AGF added.
Weighing in on the way forward following its acknowledgment of a notice from the APC on the death of Audu, INEC in a statement issued by the secretary of the commission, Augusta Ogakwu, put all the political parties on notice that the supplementary polls would hold on December 5.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted governorship election in Kogi State on 21st November 2015, which was declared inconclusive,” said a statement by the electoral body.
“On November 23, 2015, the All Progressives Congress, APC, notified the commission of the death of its governorship candidate in the election, Prince Abubakar Audu.
“The commission has after due consideration of the circumstances, decided as follows: To conclude the process by conducting election in the 91 affected polling units as announced by the Returning Officer;
“To allow the All Progressives Congress to fill the vacancy created by the death of its candidate;
“To conduct the supplementary election on December 5, 2015.
“Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all the 22 political parties participating in the Kogi Governorship Election that supplementary election in the 91 affected Polling Units shall hold on December 5, 2015”.

PDP Calls For Malami, Yakubu’s Resignation Over Alleged Conspiracy On Kogi Governorship Election

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the resignation of the Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu over alleged conspiracy on the Kogi governorship election to derail the democratic enterprise.

“The party is shocked that INEC, a supposedly independent electoral umpire could allow itself to succumb to the antics of the APC by following the unlawful directive of an obviously partisan AGF to substitute a candidate in the middle of the ballot process,” the party said through its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement issued in Abuja.
“We are all aware that the two legal documents guiding INEC in the conduct of elections; the Constitution and the Electoral Act, have provisions for electoral exigencies as well as empower the electoral body to fully take responsibility for any of its actions or inaction without undue interference from any quarters whatsoever.
“We are, therefore, at a loss as to which sections of these two relevant laws, INEC and the AGF relied on in arriving at their bizarre decision to substitute a dead candidate in an on-going election even after the timelines for such has elapsed under all the rules.
“INEC as a statutory body has the full complements of technical hands in its legal department to advise it appropriately and we wonder why it had to wait for directives from the AGF, an external party, if not for partisan and subjective interest.
“Consequently, the PDP rejects in its entirety, this brazen move by the APC and INEC to circumvent the laws and ambush the yet-to-be concluded election by introducing a practice that is completely alien to the constitution and the electoral act.
“The clear implication of this action of the AGF and INEC is that the APC would be fielding two different governorship candidates in the on-going Kogi election, meaning that INEC would be transferring votes cast for late Prince Abubakar Audu to another candidate, scenarios that have no place in the constitution of the land.
“Whereas the PDP, in honour of the sanctity of human life and respect for the dead, had since Sunday refrained from making comments on the conduct of the election, we can no longer maintain such in the face of the bare-faced attack on our democracy.
“This INEC under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has shown itself as partisan, morally bankrupt and obviously incapable of conducting a credible election within our laws.
“In view of the foregoing, therefore, the PDP demands an immediate resignation of the INEC chairman, as the nation’s democracy cannot afford to be left in the hands of an electoral umpire that cannot exert its independence and the sanctity of the electoral process.
“In view of the developments regarding Kogi Governorship election, the National Working Committee of the PDP has summoned an emergency National Caucus meeting of the party on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 (today), to take a decision on this obvious threat to our democracy,” the PDP said.
Malami had, while speaking at a seminar organised by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission on the reform of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act , said the Kogi gubernatorial election must be concluded within the next 14 days.
Specifically, the AGF said his position on the matter was fortified by a combined reading and application of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 33 of the Electoral Act.
Also, INEC in a statement issued by the secretary of the commission, Augusta Ogakwu, put all the political parties on notice that the supplementary polls would hold on December 5.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducted governorship election in Kogi State on 21st November 2015, which was declared inconclusive,” the commission said.
“On November 23, 2015, the All Progressives Congress, APC, notified the commission of the death of its governorship candidate in the election, Prince Abubakar Audu.
“The commission has after due consideration of the circumstances, decided as follows: To conclude the process by conducting election in the 91 affected polling units as announced by the Returning Officer;
“To allow the All Progressives Congress to fill the vacancy created by the death of its candidate;
“To conduct the supplementary election on December 5, 2015.
“Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all the 22 political parties participating in the Kogi Governorship Election that supplementary election in the 91 affected Polling Units shall hold on December 5, 2015.”

APC Set To Conduct Fresh Primaries In Kogi

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday announced that it would conduct fresh primaries to fill the vacuum created by the death of its candidate, Abubakar Audu, in the inconclusive governorship election in Kogi State.
The decision to conduct fresh primaries was in line with the statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, granting the APC permission to find a replacement for its late candidate ahead of the December 5 date for the supplementary poll in Kogi.

Addressing journalists at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said delegates to the last primaries – which saw the emergence of the late candidate – would determine who becomes the candidate.
Mr. Oyegun was however, silent on the fate of the late Audu’s running mate, James Faleke, saying the party would take a decision after conducting fresh primaries.
“As a party, we are going to proceed with process of organising primaries to provide a substitute candidate for the late Abubakar Audu”, the party chairman declared.
While expressing his condolences to the family of late Audu on behalf of APC worldwide, the party chair said the AGF had made it public that the APC should replace the late candidate.
“He (attorney general) has made a pronouncement to the effect that all that is required is for the APC to go through the processes of providing a substitute to our late candidate.
“The INEC is also in agreement with the views of the attorney general because we have already received a letter from them formally asking us to find a replacement for the vacancy that has been created by the passing on of Prince Abubakar Audu.
“So that is what will engage the APC at this moment”, he said.
The APC would go into executive session Tuesday to decide on the modalities of the primaries, Mr. Oyegun added.

Wada Sacks 15 Council Chairmen For Defecting To APC

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi on Tuesday sacked 15 chairmen of local governments from office for defecting to All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is contained in a statement issued in Lokoja and signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, James Adedoyin in Lokoja.

The statement cited section 20 sub section (1) and section 36 sub section 1 (d) of Kogi State Local Government Law 2000 as amended to back the action.
It explained that the sacked chairmen can no longer remain in office having decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sponsored them.
Some of the affected council chairmen include that of Lokoja, Ogori-Magongo, Idah, Adavi, Ankpa, Okehi, Bassa, Yagba East, Yagba West and Okene among others.
The affected council chairmen defected to the APC during the grand finale of its governorship campaign rally held in Lokoja, the state capital on November 18.
The statement warned the sacked council chairmen to stay away from their offices, directing the vice chairmen or the council leaders to take over the affairs of the affected councils as may be appropriate.
The governor said the handing and taking over should be completed by Wednesday Nov. 25, the statement said.
One of the grounds for their defection was the refusal of Mr. Wada to implement a decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Oct 29 that nullified the removal of the elected chairmen from office.
They were removed from office based on the order of a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe which ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought them into office was faulty.
Relying on the judgment, the Kogi State Government asked the chairmen and councillors to vacate office but the affected officials approached the Appeal Court which set aside the ruling and declared that they resume immediately.
The Kogi state government refused to give effect to the ruling until Nov. 23.
(NAN)

Fresh Crisis Looms In PDP As N/East Zone Threatens To Pull Out Over National Chairmanship.

A fresh crisis is looming in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, if the threat by a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Barrister Ahmed Ali Gulak, is anything to go by.
Gulak, who is an aspirant for the national chairmanship of the PDP, on Tuesday said that members of the party from the North-east Zone may pull out from PDP if the acting national chairman, Uche Secondus remains in office without doing what was expected of him.

According to the former presidential adviser, if Secondus does not organise bye-election to fill the vacant position of the national chairman of the party, the Northeast zone would be left with no choice but to leave the party.
Gulak argued that it was wrong for some leaders of the party to exclude a whole region of the country from the leadership positions of the party, warning that PDP’s quest to redefine itself ahead of the 2019 elections may fail if the party refused to respect its constitution.
He recalled that immediately after the party lost the March 28 presidential election, its then chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, resigned his position on May 29, adding that the party’s constitution has made it clear that somebody from the North-east, where the former chair hailed from, should be appointed to replace him.
“I must point out that the same Uche Secondus replaced Sam Sam Jaja and there were other party officers that replaced someone from their regions. Why then is he (Secondus) acting contrary to the party’s constitution?” Gulak queried.

N1.4trn Fine: President Buhari To Decide MTN’s Fate – Minister.

The Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, has said that the issue of N1.4 trillion fine imposed on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) is now before President Muhammadu Buhari, who will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time in the best interest of the country.

Speaking, yesterday, at the Alliance 4 Affordable Internet Nigeria Coalition conference in Lagos, Shittu said that the government’s decision to impose fine on MTN was not borne out of hatred but “in the interest of the public.” He pointed out that MTN admitted to the said offence and apologised.
“I don’t think there is any conflicting position on where government stands on the MTN issue. Recall that there were violations which were established against MTN.
“The violations were to the tune of five million subscribers. There are many countries where subscribers, in the entire country, are not up to half of the five million. In the case of Nigeria, we had more than five million violations.
“However, both the government and MTN are on the same page that rules have been broken in this instance.
“The issue is now before Mr President. He will take the necessary decision at the appropriate time. And the President would do what is best for the public interest,“ the Minister said.
“The good thing is that MTN did not contest the fact that they had violated the regulations and guidelines. They never contested it. They admitted they were at fault. They apologized for their role in the saga and they made a commitment that what happened will never happen again. And of course, they made a plea for review of the payment terms,” he said.

Looters Have Started Returning The Money They Stole – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, in Tehran, Iran, yesterday, disclosed 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 but maintained that they would still be prosecuted in due course.

He explained that the prosecution of suspects is taking time because the government is painstakingly gathering hard evidence against them.
Speaking at an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in Tehran, Iran, yesterday, Buhari decried the constraints inherent in democracy, recalling that it was easier for him as a military Head of State in 1985 to arrest corrupt individuals and put them in protective custody for them to prove their innocence than in the present democratic practice.
He acknowledged that under the rule of law, the suspects are presumed innocent until convicted by the law.
“On corruption; yes, they are still innocent. But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily returning something. But we want all. When we get those documents, we will formally charge them to court and then we will ask Nigerians to know those who abused their trust when they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching.”
Speaking on power generation and distribution, President Buhari stated that though his government was yet to give a comprehensive policy direction in the sector, there was still an improvement.
“I believe if you are in touch back at home, you would have been told that already there is some improvement in power. We haven’t said anything to them yet. I think they only find it sensible or appropriate for them to try and improve the power.
“I’m sure you know about the privatization of the power sector; your old friends NEPA or Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been sold to a number of interest groups. But, the fundamental thing about us is that we remain potential in everything except performance.
“We have a lot of gas, we have a lot of qualified people but again we have a lot of saboteurs who go and blow installations. Those who normally steal Nigerian crude and those who blow up installations, whether they called themselves militants or whatever, they are still there.”
On insecurity, the President assured that peace would soon return to the troubled North-East even as he stated that his administration would also revive the educational system from primary to tertiary levels.
Also to checkmate and end the ugly trend of gas theft, President Buhari announced that the existing Military Task Forces will be reorganized to ensure a successful protection of the network of gas pipelines.
He noted that “although some improvement in power had been recorded in the recent period,” sabotage of pipeline installations had continued to be a problem.
“Power is a running battle because the saboteurs are still there. We have the potential. We have gas, we have qualified people but we are contending with a lot of saboteurs who go and blow up installations. When gas is pumped to Egbin and such other power stations, thieves and saboteurs such as the militants cut those supplies.”
Another factor, according to the President, is the reduced role of the government in the sector due to the privatization of the institutions under the Power Handling Company of Nigeria, PHCN in the process of which, the facilities “have been sold to a number of interest groups.”
He, however, assured that the military task-forces with representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police and the secret services will be reconstituted to secure the pipelines.
“Supplies will become steady; there will be less sabotage as we secure the pipelines,” he said.

We Will Not Give Up Until We Achieve Biafra – MASSOB.

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has said that no amount of intimidation, harassment and blackmail will deter its leader Chief Ralph Uwazurike from dropping the agitation for the actualization of Biafran Republic.

“We have absolute confidence, trust, respect, and faith in our leader and father of the agitation for Biafra actualization Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s leadership traits and strong conviction to actualize Biafra,” Regional administrator for MASSOB, in Isu, Imo State, Prince Ogaraku Venatus, said in a statement.
“We have also uncovered a planned move by some disgruntled Igbo politicians to stage anti-Biafra rally in Abuja. That move will fail and our leader Chief Uwazurike is not worried about such silly and selfish move by the people we understand have been paid heavily to do the protest.
“Chief Uwazurike has succeeded in telling the Federal Government of Nigeria that he does not mince words in his determination to achieve the Biafran state and equally expose the injustice done to Ndigbo. So, the politician whose interest is nothing more than money in their pockets cannot stop MASSOB or any other pro-Biafra group,” he said.
Prince Ogaraku also prayed that no evil plan intended to scuttle the Biafra struggle will succeed.

I Have No Doubt At All That Mama Awolowo Is In Heaven Now – Pastor Adeboye

General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday expressed confidence that the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, is resting with the Lord.

The cleric said this while holding a private prayer session with the Awolowo family inside their Ikenne country home. “By the special grace of God and because of my interaction with Mama, I have no doubt at all that she is in heaven now,” he said.
The prayer session which held at the Efunyela Hall had in attendance family members, relations, friends and other well wishers.
Pastor Adeboye, who shared his experience with the audience on how he was privileged to confirm that Mama was resting in heaven, explained that he had a personal encounter with her two weeks before her death.
“Before Mama passed on, she was making a request and I was contacted. I won’t go into details about the request but I was abroad and when I came back I saw her and we had a little discussion before she passed away. As a result of that I have no doubt that Mama is resting with the Lord,” Adeboye said.

FG’s Handling Of Biafra Agitation Dangerous – Evah

Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, Comrade Joseph Evah has criticized the way the Federal Government is handling ongoing agitations for the sovereign state of Biafra.

“The way the Federal Government is handling the Biafra agitation in the East is very dangerous. They are taking the wrong steps by ignoring the agitations that are going on. For the first time since the end of the civil war, we are seeing an organised agitation. The Igbo man cannot ordinarily abandon his business for something else, but now we are seeing Igbo men leaving their businesses in order to agitate,” Evah told Vanguard in an interview.
“That tells you that they are serious. Seeing them sacrificing their time, energy and money, should be enough to make the Federal Government interested in the matter. Threats by the army, are not acceptable. We expect the government to tell us why they are detaining Kanu. Intimidation did not work when we had our Kaima Declaration during the military era. When they threatened us, we became resilient.”
On whether the protesting Igbos have a cause, Evah said: “Yes, the Igbo have something to protest against just as the Ijaw man has something to protest against. Why are they denying the Igbo the right of seeing their son, who was arrested? They can’t be denied that right. I went to court to stop the dredging of the River Niger during the military era because there was no environmental assessment. The government under Abacha awarded the contract through the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. I went to my lawyer, Femi Falana and we stopped the dredging through legal process.”
“If the government had not obeyed the judiciary on the matter, we would have resorted to other alternatives which would not have been in the interest of the government,” he said.
Evah also lamented that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration does not have fair representations from the Niger Delta.
“Niger Deltans are not well represented in the government and we don’t know why they are doing that,” he said. “Maybe it is being done because the region produced the immediate past president.”
“But those, who may be thinking in that direction, do not have conscience. If you look at the way Jonathan worked, it will not be difficult to know that the north benefited more from him. He did that because he believed in the unity of this country.
“And the new administration has also started treating the Niger Delta people wrongly. For instance the Urhobo nation which is a sophisticated ethnic group has not been given any appointment. We have not seen any solid appointment that befits the Urhobo nation and we are asking them to correct this type of insult.”
Evah also pointed out that when people in the South fail to unite, outsiders would find it easy to oppress them. He lauded the Igbos for forgiven the Niger Deltans fro betraying them during the civil war. “That was why I organised that (an event to celebrate Ojukwu) and thanked the Igbo for forgiving us because during the civil war, we joined outsiders to kill them. Today our son is the President, you Igbo decided to forgive us.”