Those who are seeking automatic tickets, fear competition

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar

What is your reaction to agitations for automatic ticket in your party, the All Progressives Congress?

I think those canvassing for automatic tickets are scared of contest. There is nothing to be scared of in a contest in a democratic setting. How can you canvass for automatic ticket in a democratic process? There is nothing like that. These are people who are afraid of contest.

You have been an advocate of internal democracy. How would you compare the APC to your former party, the Peoples Democratic Party?

So far, the internal democracy we have practised in the APC is better than what is being done in the PDP. Obviously, there is no doubt about that. You can see that in the last few by-elections, we have gone through them in a transparent manner and in a democratic process in terms of nomination and others. I still believe that the APC holds a better future in terms of internal democracy and in terms of progressiveness of the country.

You are known to have always given the presidency a shot at every opportunity. You have not won once, aren’t you discouraged?

How can I be discouraged? You are asking me to give up on Nigeria. I don’t have another place to go. So why should I give up on Nigeria? That is what you are asking me to do. I will continue to contest until I no longer have the capacity or the strength.

What happens if you don’t get your party’s ticket?

What will happen other than for me to support my party? It is logical that I support my party to win the election?

What is your unique selling point that you think other contestants like Maj.Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and others lack?

Members of the party will determine who becomes the flag bearer and the electorate will decide who wins. Every politician is always optimistic and will tell you that he is going to win but it is the electorate that finally determine who wins. That is the end of the story.

What about the incumbency factor, do you see your party defeating the PDP this time around?

Why the PDP has remained in power for this long is because the opposition has been fragmented. Now, they are trying to come together. You can see basically, we are moving towards a two party system. Nigerians in the opposition will now see that there is an alternative. Before, it could be because they thought there was no alternative because the opposition was fragmented. That is why the PDP was having it all along. I think Nigerians are sophisticated enough now to see that there is now an alternative to the PDP and therefore feel that we should have an alternative because it has not been as good as we thought.

People are saying you are a stranger in the house built by others and yet you want to take over the master bedroom. What is your reaction to this assertion?

You are conveying a wrong view because I was a founding member of the Action Congress which later became the Action Congress of Nigeria. I gave it the name ACN before I eventually left and went back to the PDP, and at the prompting of the leadership of the new APC, I came back.

What is the position of the APC on zoning and do you see zoning arrangement working for you in the APC?

As far as zoning is concerned, we don’t have zoning in the constitution of the APC. So, the race is open to everybody. That is why you hear that people like Rochas Okorocha are also contesting. So, we don’t have zoning in the APC like the PDP. It is entrenched in their constitution which has been violated as far as zoning is concerned.

You head the reconciliation committee set up by the APC, how far has the committee gone with its assignment?

The reconciliation committee started very well. I am the chairman and I got too busy and so requested the National Working Committee to excuse me from continuing as the chairman and appoint somebody else. The party chairman has not granted my request. Inevitably, somebody else has to take over from me and continue with the job because I am facing an election in Adamawa and a contest for primary. They have to find somebody who has the time. We have made progress and the fact that the group that threatened to leave has not left is a sign that we have made progress. It is a gradual process

Tony Tetuila also joins politics, to run for Kwara House of Assembly

About 12/13 years ago, Tony Tetuila was one of the hottest music stars in Nigeria. He hasn't done much music of late but has managed to keep himself relevant. He's just declared his intention to run for Kwara State House of Assembly, Irepodun Local Government.

Should we be worried? All these people from the music and film industry making power moves into politics. If they all leave, who will entertain us? :-)

Too hot! Iyanya gets steamy with models in his new video for Mr Oreo

After weeks of anticipation and intense expectation, Triple MG front-line artiste, Iyanya, releases the video to his banging hit track “Mr Oreo”, produced in-house by Selebobo the official MMMG producer. The video, directed by Mega Boi, is a compilation of pictures with a seductive, flirty feel to it, just as the song itself  describes. 

With a flurry of pretty, classy girls, flirting and swaying with Mr Oreo himself, the video is definitely worth the hype. See more pics and watch the video after the cut...

52 Boko haram members arrested in Biu, Borno state

52 Boko Haram members have reportedly been arrested in separate operations in Biu Borno state by security operatives. According to military sources, the men were arrested between yesterday Sept. 23rd and today September 24th.

A military source said some of the sect men had boarded a truck in a bid to leave the state but were arrested after the truck driver notified soldiers at a checkpoint that passengers in his vehicle had threatened to kill him if he did not take them out of the state. 

"We arrested over 50 members of the Islamic sect following tips we got from the driver as well as locals. I can tell you they are cooperating and giving us useful information" the security source said

Get in here guys! Miss BumBum Brazil release lingerie photos

You know those ladies who contest in that pageant where they check who has the best butt? Yeah well, they just released new sexy photos. The pageant released new lingerie pics of the contestants to say thank you for reaching one million votes in the competition.

Online voting will determine 15 finalists from the 27 ladies vying for this year's title. The finale will hold in Sao Paulo, Brazil in November. Check out the pics after the cut...

Federal Government set to ban 'Ponmo'?

Looks like it. According to a Vanguard report, the Federal Government is looking at banning the sale and consumption of Ponmo. Find the report below...

This indication emerged Tuesday when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina called for competent regulations that would check the consumption and sale of the product. If this is achieved, he noted that livestock farmers would stand good chances of making high dollar return if the hides and skins (Ponmo) are tanned into leather.

The minister who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Animal Production and Husbandry in the Ministry, Dr. Ademola Raji, said,

"I also commend NIAS for its advocacy and public enlightenment programs on Radio and Television that promote value addition in Livestock, as against sale and consumption of primary products alone, particularly with the issue of curtailing the widespread consumption of hides and skins as Kpomo which ought to be tanned into leather for a very high dollar return to the farmer and Tanneries. I expect that competent regulations acceptable by all stakeholders will be developed so as to give credibility that our set standards for food safety are being implemented which will boost value addition.”

Bill Gates offers Nigeria, other countries N8billion to fight Ebola

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it will be donating $50million (N8billion) to support the efforts of Nigeria and other West African countries hit by the Ebola Virus outbreak in containing the spread of the deadly virus.

Announcing this in a statement issued today September 10th, the foundation said the money will be immediately released to the United Nations agencies and international organizations that are involved in the Ebola fight to enable them and national governments purchase needed supplies and scale up emergency operations. Continue...



Th foundation also announced the immediate release of an additional $2million to the various Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to support incident management, treatment, and health care system strengthening during this epidemic.

The foundation also pledged to work with private and public organizations to facilitate the speedy development of therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics that could be effective in treating patients and preventing further transmission of the disease.

Photos: 9ice takes his political awareness campaign to Ogbomoso

Singer 9ice, who is from Ogbomoso, Oyo state, visited his constituency today September 10th for awareness campaign and to identify with the electorate. He addressed a large crowd that gathered at the Town hall in Oja Igbo, and promised that if elected to represent Ogbomoso Federal constituency 1, he will use this salary to do developmental projects in the constituency.

9ice declared his intentions to go into politics many weeks ago. He plans to contest for House of Reps in 2015. See more photos from his rally today after the cut...