Two Children, Eight Women Die In Rivers Boat Mishap

* Seven missing, four corps members rescued

No fewer than 10 persons comprising two children and eight women died Friday morning when a passenger boat capsized in Bonny River, Rivers State.

Sources from Bonny said the boat sank about 10 minutes after it left the shore of Bonny, while ferrying passengers to Port Harcourt, the state capital.

An eyewitness said relatives of those who traveled in the boat broke down in tears when the news of the mishap, which occurred around 7:30a.m, filtered into the communities on the Island.
It was also learnt that the boat, which was meant to ferry 28 persons, took about 35 passengers, suggesting that the accident could have been caused by overloading.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Adolf, said about 18 persons, including four Youth Corps members were rescued by local drivers and volunteers, adding; “As we speak, two children in the boat were brought out lifeless. Eight other persons have also been brought out and they are all believed to have died.

“Five corps members were also in the boat, but four of them were among the 18 persons rescued,” he said. Travelers at Bonny jetty from which the boat set sail blamed the boat driver for the mishap, saying he carried more than the boat’s capacity.

It was gathered that the boat was covered, leaving only one way of exit, which is responsible for the high casualty figure. “You can see that all the passengers onboard wore live jackets but it was difficult for them to remain afloat because of the way the boat is built,” an eyewitness said.

The state police, while confirming the incident, said seven persons including a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member were still missing at the time of filing in this report.

Assistant spokesperson of the state Police Command, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our reporter, saying,” Yes it is true. Seven persons are missing.”

Also, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Bonny Local Government Area, Adoye Wilcox, confirmed the incident, adding that the boat may have hit a sharp object. “It is unfortunate that this incident happened. About 10 bodies have been recovered. 

The marine police, local boat operators and volunteers are still on rescue operation,” he said. Wilcox, however, appealed to the federal and state governments to speed up work on the Bonny Island link road to check such mishaps.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Purportedly Caught On Camera While Hiding In A Dummy Case

Looking forward to Samsung’s Sept. 3 event and the Galaxy Note 4’s debut? Well you may not have to wait that long to get a peek at Samsung’s new flagship phablet, as an image and brief video of the device have reportedly leaked.

The folks at Android Central have posted a photo of what’s said to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in a dummy case that’s meant to conceal the design of the phone. The unit appears to be running Samsung’s don’t-call-it-TouchWiz user interface and looks to have a bottom-mounted microUSB port and headphone jack. A screenshot of the device’s About screen lists it as being the SM-N910T.

A brief video of the purported Note 4 has surfaced as well, showing a user trying to tap on the Note 4’s screen multiple times. Not much happens in the clip, but that’s likely due to the unit running prerelease software.

Rumors have suggested that the Galaxy Note 4 will retain its predecessor’s screen size, 5.7 inches, but bump the resolution up from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440. We’ve also been told to expect a Snapdragon 805 processor, and 16-megapixel rear camera. All of those features line up with what we’d expect from a flagship at the end of 2014, but we’ll have to wait until Sept. 3 to find out exactly what makes the new Note tick.

Council Of State Partners With Jonathan To End Insurgency By December

The National Council of State, on Thursday, took a unanimous decision to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the fight against insurgency and ultimately bring it to an end by December 2014.

At the meeting in the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, members of the Council noted that the insurgency could lead to Nigeria’s disintegration if not resolved, noting that the unity of Nigeria cannot be compromised.
They condemned in strong terms, the attempt by some state governments to register non-indigenes residing in their states.

To demonstrate their resolve to stop any attempt to cause disharmony in the country, the council set up a committee to identify all discriminatory practices across Nigeria.

This is with a view to asking the National Assembly to enact a law to end all such practices wherever they exist in the country.

Present at the meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, were five former Nigerian leaders: General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdusalami Abubakar and Chief Ernest Shonekan among others.

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Ribadu, Marwa, Gundiri Get PDP Waiver

The controversy over the waiver application for former presidential candidate Malam Nuhu Ribadu, former military administrator Buba Marwa and former governorship candidate Marcus Gundiri, ahead of the Adamawa governorship by-election, was finally put to rest yesterday as the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) granted them waiver to face the screening panel today and possibly the primaries on September 6.

This was disclosed at a press conference by the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metu, who also declared that the party does not have a preferred candidate and stressed that all aspirants will test their popularity at the party’s primaries.

The waiver was sequel to the approval of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP after a subcommittee headed by the national organising secretary of the PDP, Abubakar Mustapha, deliberated on the waiver applications of the aspirants.

The PDP had, after extensive deliberations by the National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday, set up the subcommittee to address the application waivers of the three aspirants; the report was submitted yesterday.

But Metu, who also served in the subcommittee, said “after very careful and thorough consideration of all applications and the report of the Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-led Adamawa State PDP Governorship Waiver Committee, the NWC was satisfied that all the aspirants met the requirements stipulated by the PDP constitution to participate in the process.

“Consequently, waiver has been granted to General Buba Marwa, Engr. Marcus Gundiri and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to take part in the exercise.”

While justifying the decision to grant waiver to Ribadu and others, in spite of petitions by seven other aspirants, the PDP spokesman said the party was guided by the spirit and content of its constitution.

He however added: “We are happy that these three notable and eminent Nigerians are on the platform of our party.”

 He however denied insinuations that the party’s hierarchy was split over the waiver issue for the three aspirants, noting “the NWC debunks speculations that its members were divided on the grant of the waiver and reiterates that the decision to open the space for wider participation was unanimously adopted after very extensive deliberations”.

Reacting specifically to a petition filed by seven aspirants over the appropriateness of granting waiver to Ribadu and five others, Metu noted that the subcommittee got the petition but advised the petitioners to present it before the screening panel.

He continued: “As for Modibbo (former chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission) and the other aspirants, it was completely outside our scope. If anybody feels that any aspirant is not qualified they should make the petition to appropriate committee, which is the screening panel. “They were right on their letter to the subcommittee on the three aspirants and we duly considered the content of their committee. But they should forward such protests to the screening panel.”

Metu, who refuted reports that the NWC of the party visited the Presidency yesterday over the matter, assured aspirants that the NWC would not interfere with the party’s primaries. “The nomination process, including screening of aspirants as well as the primary election will be conducted with utmost transparency and strict adherence to rules and the principles of justice, fairness and equity.”

On the protest by former federal minister of information and elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark over the issuance of waiver to Ribadu, Metu said “we will not make any comment on the statement by elder statesman and father of the nation Chief Edwin Clark, but the NWC has taken a decision.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries for Adamawa State would hold on September 7 for seven aspirants who have submitted their nomination forms.

EXCLUSIVE: From PDP National Secretariat With Anger… A MUST READ

These are times which call for increased vigilance and studied watch, and the times try the soul of the State of Osun. Reason? The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in the State, Iyiola Omisore’s re-invigorated multiple missteps that have received unprecedented public bashing with the mood of Osun people as that of bewilderment, should be put at the door step of the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja.

Criminality, in expressive form has taken up permanent residence in the secretariat, just as criminality has become so sacred: appeased rather than chided, palliated instead of being excoriated, and reduced to the naked application of illegalities and absolutism.The PDP staggers from the commission of one criminality to another, and unable to mediate the oft-conflicting interests of the factions and fractions that constitute the party. Charity has ended at home a long time ago.

Foreign diplomats and accredited journalists including the writer, at the Wadatta House, the PDP secretariat had to keep a safe distance from the rankles and decay that stirred us in the face. We were not flabbergasted, but we felt exasperated, and angered. Apart from the crass opportunism, arrogance and unbridled hustling, scrambling, shoving, pushing and scampering for superfluous show of power at the party secretariat over the PDP’s federal government’s movement of fifteen billion naira (N15billion) to prosecute the Osun August 9 gubernatorial election; the picture that struck one’s eyes was depressing indeed. The victimization of the weak by the strong. The appalling lack of a sense of responsibility. 

The lack of room for ideals.No consideration for morality. No place for human compassion.No love. No trust. No altruism. And no self-denial. Everything was sacrificed to a squalid aggressive egotism. Almost every PDP big wig in sight at both the Waddata House, and Legacy House, the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Headquarters, Abuja, is a tax dodger, with shady past who had made away with staggering sums of public money, or had cut a widow’s throat and snatched away her handbag. Yet, the bigwigs are the ones who call the shots in government circles.

Such were the bad mannered, gullible, fetid and mercurial characters in the PDP that seek political power at all levels of governance in Nigeria by the militarization of the polity to cow the electorate into vegetative submission to vote for them or their own particular candidates in elections. It is a combination of the weird, the bizarre and the incongruous when Omisore, the party’s governorship candidate evoked horrendous image of personified terror in the garb of masked hitmen with ripping muscles and streaks of ruthlessness and in the battle gear ostensibly always in a hurry for a sinister job,to engage in fisticuff in the least; and are on the prowl, bent on killing in the most, to do the biddings of Omisore, the source of their blood money.

Watched at close range at Ikirun Thursday Market where Omisore had gone on a mini-campaign for elections, each of his henchmen was issued a gun and bullet proof vest, hovered around him.They were not going to war, neither were they on the trail of fleeing armed robbers. Omisore was just on his rounds to canvass for the votes of the people to be governor of Osun. He had no reason to be armed to the teeth other than to pre-militarialise the state, punctuate the serenity of Osun and input fears into the electorate, playing out the rhythms of his party national secretariat to vote for him, and no one else.

Osun is still simmering as it erupted in rupturous frenzy with all attention still riveted on Omisore. And Osun people are largely inured by the Bonnie and Clyde larceny in Omisore. Criminologists and readers of detective stories may still remember Bonnie and Clyde, the treacherous, murderous couple that once ruled the American underworld. They robbed notable banks, and killed notable opponents. 

The Omisore masked hoodlums are as good as the PDP, the party that breeds the barbarians, the armed bandits. Call in the barbarians and the barbarians have come in the garb of masked guards as a prelude to a bloody onslaught against the electorate. And Osun dispirited by fear has become a metaphor of horror at this time of governorship election. No thanks to Omisore who has included the ridiculous among the sublime, put a stamp of legitimacy on the illegitimate, and thumbed up illegalities in the state.

Juxtaposing the logic of force with the force of logic, Omisore now throws money in high denominations at the people and distribute rice, salt and kerosene. It is no charity. He is far from being generous, but he is only assuaging his conscience that sometimes, somewhere he had blatantly stolen from the public treasury money that belonged to the people.But Osun can no longer be cast in feminine garbs. Osun is no longer a defiled woman; the woman as a defiled state. 

Osun is not crying to be raped by the Omisores, like the cry of Dioki in Camera Laye’s. The Radiance of the King after she had been raped by the snakes she kept as pets and protectors. Osun has passed the age when men would want to rape her. Osun, now perceptive and truculent has devised a foolproof litmus test of vision, mission and ambition.

From the motley crowd of twenty-three (23) governorship candidates this time around,the Osun voters will cast votes for only one of them who has a vision, the essential quality. But Omisore, the only candidate who arms himself to the teeth has no vision of utilitarian value. The horizon of his vision is merely the distance between his nose and his upper lip. And he should be put away in the slammer, more as his vision gets stuck in the mud of incompetence and in the colony of credibility crisis. It is public knowledge.

Omisore can not put a wedge to the re-election of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, the incumbent governor of Osun and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose political artistry and recorded incredible achievements with governance, have mesmerized Omisore and his PDP. Aregbesola, the first super brat of the contemporary Osun politics, has bundle of talents, vision and mission; and he is Omisore’s nemesis and nightmare. And as the nemesis goes on vengeance, the meeting between nemesis and nightmare is nightmarish for Omisore that tosses him about the way gentle breeze can toss weightless objects such as pieces of paper.

If Aregbesola at his re-election mega rallies is terribly ‘mad’ about his multiple unprecedented achievements in Osun, it is because, according to Aristotle, “no great genius has ever been without some madness.” And his performances as Osun governor are a statement that where the PDP failed in near eight years, the APC has excelled in near four years. Let Omisore be governor for just six months, every of Aregbesola’s laudable achievements will be touched and turned into dust and ashes and crumble in Omisore’s hands! And God forbids. Admittedly, without bashfulness, the touch will be the touch of Satan: the touch of Hell, as Satan aptly puts it in Paradise Lost: “which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell.”

Concerned always with sending a message of criminality, Omisore remains primitively dominated by primitive greed, primitive hatred, primitive bitterness, primitive resentment, and primitive crime. His political campaigns for the state’s driver seat have degenerated into all out confrontations in Ile-Ife, Iwo, Ilesha and other cities, and towns including Ifewara, Dagbaga and Ibokun in the run up to the election. The PDP 2007 carnage in Osun that shook the State to its very foundation would pale into insignificance with the PDP 2014 mayhem in the kitty of Omisore, as his PDP Waddata House and Legacy House have promised him politically motivated harassments, hounds and assassinations to run Osun aground, mar the governorship poll grandiose and win the state for Omisore, come August 9, 2014.

Abraham Lincoln must have been baffled at the irrationalities of PDP, and rattled by what could have impelled the PDP to always want to spill the blood of the electorate to come to power, as he gave his evocative definition of democracy in his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the Gettysburg battle field, Pennsylvania, United States in the midst of the stench, blood and carnage associated with Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg. His definition of democracy as “government of the people by the people and for the people” was not given at a state dinner or at an inauguration marked by pomp and grandeur.

Omisore’s political rabble-rousing has gained him public attention. But, mark you! When ambition is patently weird, wild and unguided, it often digs the grave for its own burial. “All men that are ruined,” reasoned Edmund Burke “are ruined on the side of their natural propensities.” It is true, and more true that not all ambitions have redeeming features. Omisore may be arranging a rendezvous with disaster as he marches against the changing tides of growth and development of Osun as are presently being witnessed and applauded by all.

To Omisore, schools are a haven of dissent, violence and rebellion.All of that, a preserve of the idiots were what Omisore learnt in schools. Afterall, “in the first place, God created idiots. This was for practice” in the words of Mark Twain, the great 19th century American writer in his book, “Following the Equator”. The national secretariat of the ruling PDP at the center, acting out its scripts in Osun has disgraced the nation. Politics, supposedly the tool with which man orders the society has always been used by the PDP to reactivate contradictions; and the crippling contradictions engendered by the poverty of vision of the PDP cannot be resolved in favor of forcing the Osun electorate to vote for the party. It can only be resolved in favour of permitting a free, fair and transparent election as germane to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria.

In his “Post-Ilesa Crisis in Retrospect” (Osun Defender, Tuesday, 14 August, 2007) Isaac Olusesi writes: ”The controversial verdict of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the April 12, 2007 governorship election, in concert with the PDP created confusion all over the state. The INEC declaration of falsified result pitched the PDP against the rival parties, particularly the Action Congress (AC) on one hand, and against the electorate state-wide on the other hand. Bloody riots spontaneously broke out in Ilesa and the riots spread very fast, and very vast.

“Ever since the INEC announcement of the falsified election results, Ilesa, the headquarters of Ijesaland and hot bed of Osun politics became a time bomb, ticking away. Like a scene from the Gulf War, staccato of gun shots engulfed Ilesa. Over five hundred armed policemen and soldiers lay tormenting siege to the city and opened fire on anything, anybody in sight. Ilesa became a theatre of war, and guns of varying sophistication were used indiscriminately on the residents. “In a twinkle of an eye, several innocent citizens were mowed down by the bullets from the rampaging soldiers and policemen, and the streets of Ilesa became littered with corpses, oozing out hideous, nose-wrenching odours days after. Members and supporters of the opposition parties particularly Action Congress (AC) were blown up by bullets, scores of people suffered injuries; and several buildings and vehicles were not spared. 

They were sprayed with petrol and set ablaze. Still, several opposition members were said to have been abducted to God knows where.

“The fall-out of the Ilesa mayhem is that the entire Ijesaland has been polarized along the PDP-AC lines, with AC having its shoulders high and above PDP. Aside from the physical assaults and human assets losses recorded, the mayhem left in its wake mental trauma and created a permanent suspicion and phobia among the residents. Everywhere in Ilesa, the mayhem and its destruction readily evoked near-scenes of the Nigerian Civil War. What was amiss in my last report on the mayhem was that some prison inmates of the Ilesa Prison had tried to capitalize on the political situation to break jail, but for the eagle eyes of the vigilant prison officials, in contrast to the highly Fakaied police in the state.

“For the survivors, anxiety underlined their existence. Anxiety about the whereabouts and safety of the abducted political soul mates and relatives. At the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, they queued up for a chance to find the corpses of relatives who might have been kept in the mortuary. The soldiers, manning the hospital gate would bark: everybody clear from here! If they no clear, clear them, and a very elderly man who desperately was looking for the corpse of his wife, was truly roughened up.

“The lull in protests and consequently lift of the curfew, paradoxically paves way for silent killing or what a resident would describe as a genocide in many locations in Ilesa and entire Ijesaland.The reports of genocide could not be confirmed, but what is clear is that some, in Ilesa identified as “very powerful local PDP chieftains” have embarked on underground fierce campaigns to have the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty Dr.AdekunleAromolaran molested by the government as a prelude to his eventual dethronement”

Let not Omisore kill himself on the heels of the announcement of the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun as he’s bound to lose out. A word for him. The road of life is pockmarked with pumps, pitfalls and a myriad of unseen hazards. He may still be driving his luxury cars, using his escorts, masked guards and sirens. He may keep himself frolicsome, in pampered leisure and provide self with newspapers, coffee boy, cognac and cigars; obsessing self with free women in town and untamed appetite for clothes and golden necklaces, wristwatches and finger rings. Otherwise, life for him after his failed governorship ambition in August may be a siren of silence: dull, drab and dreary.

•OLUSESI is Assistant Director, Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy, All Progressives Congress, State of Osun.

16 Female Suicide Bombers Arrested with Boko Haram Master Trainer

 

A man who is believed to be the master trainer of Boko Haram female suicide bombers has been arrested by the Joint Task Force in Kano.

He was arrested with 16 females who were reportedly training for suicide operations.
According to This Day Newspaper, the man identified as Ibrahim Ibrahim was arrested in the Dala Local Government Area of Kano state during a raid.

The females were being trained to carry out suicide bombings when the JTF raided their training ground and arrested them with the trainer.

A security source tells the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the plan of the Islamist militant sect was to continue using female suicide bombers to unleash terror on Nigerians.
If you recall, female suicide bombers hit five various location during the Sallah celebrations in July.

PSC promotes 2 AIGs, 37 police commissioners

The Police Service Commis­sion (PSC), yesterday an­nounced the promotion of 30 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the rank of Commis­sioner of Police.

This, according to the PSC, is coming after the successful comple­tion of the interview organised for the officers due for promotion by the Commission.

Those promoted include; Pius U. Imue, Valentine U. Ntochukwu, Fe­lix Goodluck Ogundeji, Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, Hilda Ibifuro-Harri­son and Micheal Ogbodu.

Also promoted are Nwodibo Ekechukwu, Etop John James, Ademola Omole, Olushola Em­manuel Amore, Joshak Habila, Ad­egbuyi Samuel Damilola, Rasheed O. Akintunde, Istifanus Shettima, Jimoh Omeiza Ozi-Obeh, Ibrahim Lamorde, Ghazalli Mohammed, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah and Victory Niro Menta. Others are Clement O. Adoda, Austin I. Iwar, Adekunle J. Oladunjoye, Adaji-Adejo-Gabriel, Sobulo B.T.M., Mohammed Lawal Hussein, Ishaku Alhaji Barau, Em­manuel T. Inyang, Olufemi Olanipe­kun Oyeleye, Gabriel Achong and Ezekiel Danboyi Zang.

The Commission also announced the promotion of seven others to the CP rank in acting capacity pending when they will be due for substan­tive promotion.

Officers in this category are: Wil­son Inalegwu, Mani Murtala Us­man, Fatai Owoseni, Emmanuel C. Ojukwu, Moses Jitibor, Adeyemi Samuel Ogunjemilusi and Ibine Emanuel.
It however noted that the acting Commissioners are currently occu­pying and holding offices of Com­missioners of Police.

Similarly, two Commissioners of Police were promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Po­lice. They are: Buhari Tanko and Johnson Ogunshakin.

The two newly promoted AIGs, according to the PSC, were promot­ed for their strategic professional ex­perience, and also to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of AIG Adebayo Ajileye from the South – West geopolitical zone. All the ap­pointments according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Ferdinand Ekpe, are with effect from August 25.

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Vaccines And Experimental Treatments Funded More By US Government Than Big Pharma

During the worst week yet in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa -- the virus has now spread from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to Nigeria and Senegal as of Friday -- GlaxoSmithKline plc announced Thursday that it will soon start testing an experimental vaccine for the deadly virus.

Even though the drugs still have a long way to go, most of the current experimental treatments and vaccines wouldn’t have been possible without funding from U.S. government agencies. Viruses like Ebola generally affect a relatively small population, which means large drug companies don’t usually invest in the time-consuming and expensive research. But the Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health have supported small biotech firms in their research for more than a decade, amid growing fears of newly emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism.

The GSK (NYSE:GSK)vaccine is being developed with the help of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the NIH. On a Thursday conference call with reporters, the agency’s director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said the vaccine currently in development is based on earlier versions that drew on research from as far back as 2003.

“Sept. 11 provided a big impetus towards funding anti-bioterrorist agents. Remember anthrax?” Dirk Haussecker, a consultant in the field and creator of the RNAi Therapeutics Blog, told International Business Times.

According to government records, U.S. agencies have spent more than $170 million on contracts and grants to companies and medical schools doing research on dangerous hemorrhagic fevers like the Marburg virus and Lassa fever, with another $91 million specifically allocated to Ebola.

“Many of our targets, including our work in Ebola/Marburg and also HIV, have not been areas we have been able to generate strong support for,” Jeffrey Meshulam, president of Profectus Biosciences Inc., told IBTimes. He said the company has been supported by the government since its inception in 2005, initially for research on HIV, but recently for its Ebola work.

The Baltimore-based firm is currently developing one of the most prominent Ebola vaccine candidates. It has received $3.2 million worth of grants from the NIH specifically to develop an Ebola vaccine, with another $50 million for research on other subjects. Just 28 percent of the company's investors come from the private sector, according to its website.

“Without the support of NIAID we would have never been able to survive, let alone get to the point we are now with our programs,” Meshulam said. In March this year, Profectus was one of a group of researchers awarded a $26 million grant for Ebola research. Other collaborators are the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Tekmira Pharmaceuticals of British Columbia and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

One of the first government contracts that mentions Ebola by name was signed more than a decade ago. In 2004, the U.S. Army awarded $71,500 to Genphar Inc., in South Carolina, to produce a “combined Ebola virus and Marburg virus vaccine.” It was part of a Bush administration initiative called Project Bioshield, meant to "help America purchase, develop and deploy cutting-edge defenses against catastrophic attack," following the events of Sept. 11. Since then, the funding has only increased.

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ:TKMR) makers of the TKM-Ebola treatment (which is currently undergoing human trials) has received a total of $43.9 million from the Department of Defense, with promises for future funds of up to $140 million.

Other companies have also received U.S. government support. Since 2002, the Dutch biotech firm Crucell Holland BV was awarded with 44 contracts worth $117 million by the DOD in addition to a $20.9 million contract from the NIH in 2010.

Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. of San Diego has received 40 grants and six contracts from both the Pentagon and NIH, altogether worth $40.1 million since 2004. Its Ebola drug Zmapp was the first to be used on patients during the current outbreak, including two American health workers who contracted the virus and were successfully treated in Atlanta. The drug has not been more widely used because of short supplies.
“There really is not much of a global market,” Dr. Thomas Geisbert, a virologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch, which has also received a substantial amount of government funding, told IBTimes. “From a humanitarian perspective we hope that vaccines being supported by the U.S. government could and would eventually make their way to endemic areas.”

Ebola Scare: Meat Shops Closed Nigeria Over Ebola Scare

Most bush meat vendors in Abidjan, have closed shops following the fear of outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus, the News of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The closure was ordered by Cote d’Iviore government as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus.

NAN survey at Abobo Palmerer, an Abidjan settlement that hosts several bush meat and palm wine spots, showed that most of them have closed down.

Abobo Palmerer, for instance, which used to be a beehive of activities before the outbreak of Ebola, is currently a shadow of its self.

Bush meat which used to be a common sight even in the open markets, especially in Ajame, Belleville and Angre are no longer found on the vendor’s table.

Some vendors who spoke to NAN said that the patronage for bush meat had seriously dwindled do to the fear of the disease.

Mr Koassi Noel, a major bush meat dealer told NAN that the government’s directive stopping the consumption of bush meats forced him to pull out of the business.
“The government directed people to stop consuming bush meat since some of it are said to be carrying the Ebola virus,’’he said. “If you can contact it by eating an animal that has the virus, there is no way one who handles it for sell will not contact it,’’ she said.

Also speaking to NAN, a meat seller Mr Saleef Rahim said he stopped the business because government officials burnt all the bush meat he had displayed for sale in his shop.
“They came here and I was unlucky, they destroyed all the meat I had dried and displayed for sale, so I decided to stop,’’he said.

Meanwhile, the government of Cote d’Ivoire had said it would undertake surveillance measures at the borders to prevent the outbreak of the disease in its territory.

The Director-General, National Institute for Public Hygiene, Simplice Dagnan, said the risk of Ebola spreading in the country was high, as a result of the massive movement of people from already affected countries.

Ebola fever, a contagious disease whose cure has yet to be discovered, appeared for the first time in a northern town of former Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976.
Current statistics say the disease which resurfaced in Guinea in April 2014, had spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone resulting in hundreds of deaths. (NAN)

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Entertainment: Boomerang Nite Club 5th Anniversary in Port Harcourt Continues

Boomerang Nite Club celebrates 5th Years Anniversary of Entertainment in Port Harcourt. Featuring: Oba Omega, Double Jay (Bobo Juice) 

Live Performances by:  
Fortune (PH), Mr. Robinson, King Dandy Boy (Abu-otu), Mr Wask (Master), Kala (Timariv), Akwa Lovina, Kris Rhyno, Ibz Tha-ibz (Follow follow), Ganga Man (Village Wahala), Korkormiko & Matina. DJ Willy, DJ T Young and many others.

BOOMERANG NITE CLUB
No 128, Old Aba Road by Woji Junction 1st Artillery, Port Harcourt.
Date: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th, September 2014.
Time: 8:00pm till dawn
Gate: N500

Oba Omega ft Eedris Abdulkareem & Pasto Goody Goody - Something About U (Remix)

 

Oba Omega who came out as the south south Music act of the year at the 2013 City People Award drops the remix to his recently released single 'Something About U' featuring Pasto Goody Goody & Eedris Abdulkareem . Pasto Goody did justice to this joint .This is one song that would be enjoying madt airplay from Radio Station's & club as well as Mixtapes.

I can imagine the visuals of this joint with location at a beach & the love tin goes round & round .. Just my imagination though .

The video would be dropping soon . Lovely Remix . Download & enjoy

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Album Launch: Onumaegbu Chimaroke G Drop New Hit Single titled "By His Grace"

 Premiering New Single titled "By His Grace"

Click Here to Download the Song
Follow this link to download Chimaroke Onumaegbu - By His Grace http://hu.lk/hmx1pwo2uwow.
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COMING SOON: KUONA AFRIKA FESTIVAL

Rivers State Will Experience One Of The Biggest Event Ever In Niger/Delta Live In Port Harcourt

LAFF WELL With AMBASSADOR INDUZ & FRIENDs
(Twelve Disciples "6th Invasion" )
            
COMEDY BY: 
•AMBASSADOR INDUZ • PRINCE HEZEKIAH • MONKALS • ANGEL D LAFF • MR PATRICK • ARINZE BABA• MUDIAGA• KUNLE LEE TATAFO • KO BABA • ABOKI 4 CHRIST, DANNY SPRY,

MUSIC BY:
• MAXI • MI2 • 4TUNE • SURMOUNTZ • GANJA MAN • ENO A • PEAK • LYRICAL JERRY 

& Lots more...

DANCE BY:
BODY LANGUAGE & HEARTBEAT DANCERS

ANCHORS:
•Marvelous Daddysaro (Love FM Umuahia) & Omo Talk (Wazobia FM PH) + Three Surprise Acts

SIDE ATTRACTION:
• Comedy Skits
• Free Gift from MTN (1st 100 persons)
• LIVE BAND PERFORMANCE
• Super Models, On Air Personalities, Nollywood Stars & Many More

@
TROPICANA EVENT CENTRE GRA PH. (Inside ARISTO House)

DATE : 24th August 2014
TIME : 5:00pm

GATE PASS:
Students with ID Card: #500H.   

Regular.           : 1k
VIP.                  : 3k
VVIP.               : 5k
Table for 4.      : 20k
Family table.   : 50k

 

POWERED BY : De Comrade Entertainment
 

SUPPORTED BY:
 MTN * Decent Digital Technology * Tropicana Event Centre *  LandMark Hotels * K Source* Mercy House International * G Asabuja Entertinment * Supreme Magazine * Silver Bird Tv * Rhythm 93.7 * RSTV * Galaxy Studios * Swagg Tv * www.UkwuBenda.com * P Man Rivers State.          

MORE INFO & SEAT RESERVATION :
CALL: 08063659359, 08093430023 & 07058250996
BBM: 25f9a872 &792c7fbd

 

Oba Omega - Soccer Dance Official Video

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It’s the jam we’ve all been waiting for. “Soccer Dance Reloaded” is a new single by Oba Omega which has been tagged “the next big song” in several quarters prior to release.

The song is quite addictive. Peep it below. Spirit of Football to support his idea for the Ball of Peace. Download, listen & share your thoughts.
LISTEN:
Oba Omega – Soccer Dance (Reloaded):


Click Here to Watch and Download Video

Click Here to Download Audio: Oba Omega - Soccer Dance (Audio)

OBA OMEGA CITATION

Oba Omega (Rivers State Tourism Ambassador, Best Artiste of Niger/Delta Award Winner)

Real Name: Emmanuel Amachree

Popularly nicknamed the ”Grikata Zoom Master”, Oba Omega is a well known artiste whose music and videos are enjoying massive airplay on TV and radio stations across Nigeria and Africa.

His real name is Emmanuel Moses Amachree. He’s from Rivers State, born into the Amachree’s family in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area (ASALGA) in 1972 in his ancestral home in Buguma.

Oba Omega started his musical career way back in Secondary school at Stella Maris College in 1987, before proceeding to further his education, after which he traveled to Ivory Coast and joined the popular reggae artiste- Alpha Blondy’s band as a backup singer and later released his first Album titled “Jolie fille” meaning pretty girl in French which was a hit within the Francophone countries.

'''LISTED BELOW ARE THE ACCOLADES THIS YOUNG MAN HAS BAGGED…'''

'''1. Award: Best African Contemporary'''
Year: 2010
Organizers: Omega Legend Awards
.

'''2. Award: Most Popular Artiste of the Year'''
Year: 2010
Organizers: Niger Delta Advancement Awards
.

'''3. Award: Best Urban Naija Music'''
Song: Identity
Year: 2011
Organizers:Niger Delta Advancement Awards
.

'''4. Award: Artiste of the Year'''
Year: 2011
Organizers:Niger Delta Advancement Awards.

'''5. Award: River State Tourism Ambassador'''
Year: 2011
Organizers: Rivers State Government(Ministry of Culture & Tourism)

'''6. Award: Most Outstanding Artiste of the Year'''
Year: 2011
Organizers: Field Reporters Association of the NUJ,Rivers Council

'''7. Award: Best Live Performer'''
Year: 2011
Organizers: Odudu Awards

'''8. Award: Entertainment Ambassador'''
Year: 2011
Organizers: NaijaTv

Held in Akwa Ibom

'''9.MK MUSIC AWARD'''

Year:2011

'''HONORARY AWARD'''

Organisers:MK

Awards Achieved from 2013 till date

Nigeria Police Force Ambassador presented to me by Inspector General of Police at the Biennial Nigeria Police Game 2013 held in Port Harcourt, after my performance as the official performing artiste for the event.

Best Nigeria South-South Artiste of the year by City People Ghana/Nigeria Award 2013

Award of Recognition as Most Celebrated Artiste in Niger/Delta by City People Award 2014 held in Lagos.

Also, am the first artiste to introduced and re-brand Etighi Dance from Calabar culture to popular music and party dance, which has taking all over the world, that's not all. Recently I originated a new Dance and made a Music titled: "Soccer Dance". My best is yet to come.

'''My Philosophy of Life'''

In a very simple way, I see life as a beautiful thing God has bequeathed mankind. I believe in hard work, commitment to a worthy cause and above all, I treat men as I would want them to treat me, besides, I strongly believe strongly in almighty God who in His infinite mercies has kept me alive

Promoting Peace and Tourism
In his quest to elevate the already rising profile of peace and tourism development in rivers state, Oba omega consciously and effortlessly established the Boomerang Night Club, one of the most successful and hottest night club in the metropolitan city of Port Harcourt. The Boomerang Night Club has provided an avenue for many residents of PHC to relax, unwind and enjoy their stay in the garden city, The club is a permanent abode of the monthly PMAN Musical Splash. The club which has a sitting capacity for 1000 persons has remained one of the best in entertainment centre in the oil city of Port Harcourt. All these put together, Oba Omega is unarguably promoting peace and restore night life through entertainment in the city of Port Harcourt.

'''Community Tourism'''

Oba Omega strongly believes in cultural tourism which is why he decided to hoist his flag in some LGA’s of the state, He keyed into this because he wanted to achieve result with his new concept of cultural tourism.

1. At Ogoni day 2011, he performed after Governor Chibuike Ameachi’s address

2. At annual AGGAH festival, 2011 at ONELGA (MTN) invitation to boost tourism, He was invited as a lead artist.

3. Organized talent on monthly basis by January this year at Rosic hotel, Oyigbo where new talents were discovered.

4. Ahoada L.G.A Tourism tour, to further sensitize rural dwellers on the need to appreciate cultural tourism.

5. Organized and participated in beach carnivals in Rivers communities since 2002 – date

6. He performed at climax night

7. He performed severally in Illusions night club including it’s 15th year anniversary celebration which was a week long programme.

8. Performed at 17th National sports festival in Port Harcourt 2011

9. Organized a charity show at Civic Centre with Ras Kimono,2011

10. Planned visit to less privileged homes and charity show, 2011

'''CARNIRIV 2011'''

Oba Omega in strive with his philosophy of cultural tourism, did not hesitate to perform at the 2010 carnival at Aggrey Road stand when the call for duty beckoned. Click the Image below

For Information & Biography click here http://xhibitmagazine.blogspot.com/2014/08/oba-omega-documentary.html

New Mix: DJ T Young - Double Wahala Mix (Port Harcourt Version) 2014

Port Harcourt finest Disk Jockey DJ T Young release Port Harcourt version of Double Wahala Mix 2014. 

Click Here to Download

For more details call 09030015731, 08137720524

Watch Out: DJ Tee Young set PHCity ablaze with new hot mix Titled: Dorobucci Mix 2014

One of Port Harcourt exclusive Disk Jockey DJ Tee Young (The Turn-table Messaiah)

is set to blow your mind with this Hot Mix

titled: "Dorobucci Mix 2014". 

Watch out. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD... 70%

For more details call 09030015731, 08137720524

OBA OMEGA - Documentary

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Ebola: 2 Dead, 20 Hospitalised After Excessive Consumption Of Salt In Jos

Salt is not the solution for the Ebola virus.

This Day Newspaper reports that at least two people are feared dead, while 20 others are hospitalised in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive quantity of salt and bitter kola to prevent Ebola Virus Disease.

According to the publication, the two who were rushed to the hospital by family members, collapsed in the morning after consuming too much salt over night.

They reportedly later died of high blood pressure in the hospital. The medical personnel in the hospitals where other patients are currently taking treatment in Jos, developed ulcer, while others stool profusely, having consumed the table salt in excess.

Federal Government Warn Nigerians Against Bathing With Salt Water

The Federal Government has advised Nigerians to disregard a text message and postings on social media that hot water and salt may be used to prevent Ebola infection and cure infected persons.

 

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the people should disregard such rumours as cure had yet to be found for the disease.

The message reads: “Please ensure that you and your family and all your neighbours bath with hot water and salt before daybreak today because of Ebola virus which is spreading through the air.’’ Maku said the information being circulated to Nigerians about the cure for the disease was false and should not be taken seriously. “Nigerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the social media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola disease.

There is no cure yet for the Ebola disease, what is being circulated is only a rumour that will only mislead Nigerians,’’ he said. The minister said Nigerians had already been informed on the necessary steps to adopt to avoid the spread of the virus and would be duly informed on additional measures when necessary.

He urged the people to continue to maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the virus.

The federal and state governments have been on the alert on the control of a possible spread of the virus and the number of infected persons rises in Lagos. The government had also dismissed claims that bitter kola could be used to cure the disease or prevent people from contracting the disease. (NAN)

Osun: APC Accuses Police Boss Of Giving Cash To Security Agents To Skew Election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the new Police Commissioner in Osun State, of distributing cash to police personnel and soldiers so they can work to give the PDP victory in Saturday’s governorship election in the State.

 

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Maishanu distributed the money after addressing the police personnel and soldiers at the NYSC camp in Ede on Friday, during which he told them point blank that his mission is to ensure PDP’s victory at the elections.

It said the new police boss gave every police officer present 50,000 Naira; other ranks 30,000 Naira each and every non-commissioned soldier 45,000 Naira. ”We salute the courage and patriotism of some security agents who gave us this valuable information, and who have vowed never to do anything to subvert the country’s constitution and its democracy, whether or not they are being lured to do so with filthy lucre. ”The fact that there are still good men and women even in the security agencies that have become highly-partisan gives us hope that our country’s democracy will survive this unprecedented assault from those who swore an oath to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” APC said.

The party wondered where the Police Commissioner got the huge amounts of cash he gave away so casually in order to use security agencies to thwart the will of the people.

It said even as the police boss was sharing out the money in Ede, Chris Uba, a hireling of the PDP, was setting down in Osogbo with the 50 troops he was given from Enugu with the mission to use the result sheets already given to him to manipulate the results of the election, as well as to harass and brutalize any APC member who would not let the PDP carry out its rigging plan, earlier exposed by the APC, during Saturday’s election. ”Where else in the world will the government give a man who is not in the military 50 troops to command, for the purpose of rigging an election? It is now very clear that the PDP’s desperation to win at all cost in Osun is right from the top! Now, neither the Chief of Army Staff nor the Inspector General of Police can exonerate themselves from the PDP’s rigging manual. ”And of course the man behind all this is President Goodluck Jonathan, who keeps assuring the international community of his commitment to free and fair elections even as he continues to lead the process of subverting credible polls.

After all, the President is responsible for the conduct of all public officials appointed by him. The party said those who are colluding with the desperate PDP to subvert democracy today must realize that power is transient, and that in the fullness of time, everyone will account for his or her actions. ”Today we may be in opposition, but that position itself is not permanent. This is why we have consistently fought for our nation’s democracy to survive.

We remain confident that with the support of Nigerians, the PDP’s evil machination, whether in Osun or anywhere else, will fail,” it said.

Liberia Apologizes To Nigeria Over Virus Spread

 

The Liberian Government on Thursday apologized to Nigeria over the importation of the deadly Ebola Virus by a Liberian-born American, Patrick Sawyer. Sawyer arrived Lagos on July 20 from Lome but died five days after he was admitted into a hospital in Obalende when he showed Ebola virus symptoms.

The Liberian-born American came into contact with 59 people in both the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and the hospital. Eight of the hospital contacts were quarantined at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba.

One of them, a matron, who died on Tuesday became the first Nigerian casualty. Five others, including a female medical doctor, had as of Wednesday, tested positive to the virus. The Liberian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nurudeem Mohammed, told journalists in Abuja that President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, was deeply sorry that Sawyer brought the virus to Nigeria.

He said that the deceased was under surveillance in Liberia but that he sneaked into Lagos. Mohammed said, “The Liberian President has personally called to apologize on the unfortunate development. “She specifically said her country had declared a state of emergency over the Ebola epidermic in Liberia. ‘She equally apologized that Sawyer ignored medical advice and escaped out of Liberia.”

How A Married Woman Almost Seduced Me – Pastor Adeboye

 

During Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s sermon on Thursday night at the ongoing 62nd annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye narrated that a high profile woman who was an executive of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, did everything to seduce him.

According to him, the woman came to him and announced to him that God had told her that he would be her husband, and immediately he rebuked her, saying “you know that I am happily married and have children.” That didn’t deter the woman who continued to pester him, and even came to the camp to threaten him, saying “if you stand on my way to marrying this man, I will kill you.”

Pastor Adeboye took the matter to then Inspector General of Police who immediately invited the woman and her husband to his office and after a meeting banned the randy woman from entering the Redemption Camp or ever making passes at the man of God. “But that measure didn’t stop her.

I traveled to London without telling anybody, to work on the church’s devotional, Open Heaven. As soon as I settled down in the room, the telephone rang and the voice at the other end said: “welcome to London. I am coming in 15 minutes, The cleric continued, wondering why his audience responded with a laughter.Continuing, he said he told the voice: “You don’t know anything, you know that the Police in London are very efficient and if you dare come here, I will call the Police for you.”

There is a Police station a few meters from where I am staying and she must have known that because she didn’t come but kept calling me.“I cried to God Who told me ‘You know of the scripture that says, whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.’

Believe me honestly, unless God helps, there are thongs you cannot handle on your own, He stated, urging the large crowd to stand and pray with holy anger: “Anyone hindering my progress, before this month is over, Holy Spirit send down Your fire to consume them”.

Culled from Vanguard

Nigeria Says 7 People Infected With Ebola Virus in Lagos

The number of persons infected with the deadly ebola virus in Lagos has risen to seven, Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu announced Friday.

Two other persons infected with Ebola including a Liberian man and a Nigerian nurse who attended to him died in the last one week in Nigeria. According to the Minister another 139 people are under surveillance in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, where all the confirmed cases are being treated.