59 YEARS OF DARKNESS !! Tragedy as couple, daughter die after inhaling generator fume

A couple, Lucius and Ngozi Iwunze, and their daughter, Geraldine, have died in Imo State after reportedly inhaling generator fume.

The incident happened on Sunday in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the State.

Confirming the tragedy, on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, told reporters in Owerri that the police had taken over the investigation process.

According to him, the Police Divisional Police Officer in the area led his men to the scene and found the lifeless bodies of the victims.

Ikeokwu said, “A report was received at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Isiala Mbano LGA, about the mysterious death of three persons.

“In view of that, the DPO led a team of policemen to the scene and met the lifeless bodies of Luscious Iwunze, Ngozi Iwunze and Geraldine Iwunze.

“However, preliminary investigation revealed that they died as a result of fume (carbon monoxide) emitted from a power-generating set.

“The corpses have been evacuated to a morgue, and the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.”

- DAILY POST

Okogie: At 59, Nigeria dying on the cross of governmental inefficiency

Anthony Okogie, a former archbishop of the Catholic diocese in Lagos, Nigeria is dying on the cross of governmental inefficiency and falsehood at 59.

The cardinal said this in an article entitled “At 59, what will save Nigeria?”.

The archbishop said the country’s addiction to falsehood and allergy to truth is its greatest undoing.

“The truth is, at 59, our country is wounded, bleeding and dying having being nailed to the cross of governmental inefficiency and falsehood,” he said.

“We and our leaders must quit the path of deceit. Our president and governors, ministers and commissioners, members of national and state assemblies, our judges and legal practitioners, we religious leaders, and we citizens — we all must take responsibility for healing this country.”

Okogie said the country has not gotten better since independence.

“When we begin to admit the truth that, 59 years after independence, instead of getting better, things are getting worse. We and our leaders have a duty to our benevolent God and to our children’s children to work for a better Nigeria,” he said.

“The best present we can offer to Nigeria at 59 is to repent from sins against God and against Nigeria. We must, individually and collectively, resolve to work for a better Nigeria

According to him, Nigerians are unhappy because truth has been abandoned and justice banished.

“Honesty has become a crime, dishonesty is rewarded. Competence no longer matters. But Nigeria needs leaders who are intellectually, ethically and technically competent to manage her affairs,” he said.

Okogie said the country’s democracy is sick unto death, “perhaps dead already.”

At 59, the spate of kidnapping in the country tells a parable about Nigerians, he said.

“Oil-rich Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world. Her wealth is in the hands of a few while the majority live in destitution,” the cardinal said.

Praying that they would not wait in vain, the 83-year-old cleric said Nigerians have been waiting for 59 years for the executive to do something right, for the legislature to make good laws, and for the judiciary to do justice.

- THECABLE

China marks 70th anniversary with show of military power

More than 100,000 people, both military and civilians Tuesday morning gathered at the historic Tian’anmen Square in Beijing to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The “National Day” celebration was broadcast live locally and overseas both on television and internet streaming services. Locally, China Media Group (CMG), one of the country’s largest broadcasters transmitted the event live in 4K ultra-high-definition to 70 cinemas in more than 10 provincial-level regions across the country. Over 100 cameras and more than 200 microphones were set up to cover the celebrations, said CMG.

The event was graced by a fierce display of China’s latest military parade, the first of its kind since socialism. “The parade is meant to showcase China’s achievements in building its national defense and armed forces in the past 70 years, as well as the outcomes of recent reforms of the people’s armed forces,” Cai Zhijun, deputy head of the office of the leading group for the military parade said ahead of the event.

A formation of unmanned combat armaments takes part in the military parade

For the first time, China showcased to the world its H-6N, a home-made strategic bomber capable of air refueling and long-range strike. Also showcased in the parade was H-6K, a domestically-developed medium and long-range bomber among other advanced military hardware. A formation consisting of 16 new-type strategic nuclear missile launchers carrying Dongfeng-41 passed through Tian’anmen Square to grace the historic event. A total of 188 military attaches from 97 countries stationed in China were invited to witness the historic event.

For the first time, China showcased to the world its H-6N, a home-made strategic bomber capable of air refueling and long-range strike. Also showcased in the parade was H-6K, a domestically-developed medium and long-range bomber among other advanced military hardware.

President Xi Jinping remembered revolutionary forefathers and martyrs for their feats in pursuing national independence and liberation, a stronger and more prosperous country and the people’s well-being.

“We gathered here today for a grand rally to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC,” said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
“Right at this moment, Chinese people of all ethnic groups and all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad take pride in and give our best wishes to our great motherland with great joy,” he added.

A state heroes formation takes part in the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing

Xi also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended warm National Day congratulations to Chinese people of all ethnic groups and all compatriots at home and abroad. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to friends around the world for their caring for and support to China’s development.


For the first time in a National Day military parade, a formation of Chinese peacekeepers wearing UN peacekeepers’ blue berets and scarves was paraded. The peacekeepers in the formation were drawn from troops most of which have participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Sudan and South Sudan.China has dispatched over 40,000 personnel to 24 UN peacekeeping operations since 1990, with 13 Chinese peacekeepers sacrificing their lives in the frontline of operations.
Xi pledged that the country will stay on the path of peaceful development and pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up.

“We will continue to work with people from all countries to push for jointly building a community with a shared future for humanity,” Xi said. President Xi stressed that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force should always preserve their nature, purpose and character as the forces of the people, resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and firmly uphold world peace. 

- PM NEWS

Nigerian goalkeeper set to make Arsenal debut

Ovie Ejeheri has been given the green light by Arsenal’s medical team, to make his debut in the 2019/2020 season, according to AllNigeriaSoccer.

A small tear in his medial meniscus had prevented the highly-rated Nigerian goalkeeper, from playing for the Gunners’ youth teams in the new season.

Ejeheri was fit enough to be included in the matchday squad, when Arsenal U18s thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 in their opening Premier League Cup match on September 28, but he did not take part.

The 16-year-old is now targeting a return to action in October.

Ejeheri is eligible to represent Nigeria, England and Uganda internationally, but has pledged his allegiance to the West Africans.

He was set to train with the Golden Eaglets in August, but was stopped by the injury.

- DAILY POST

161 Nigerians arrive from Libya on Independence Day

As the nation celebrates her 59th independence anniversary, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received another batch of 161 stranded Nigerian returnees from Libya.

Alhaji Idris Muhammed, the Coordinator, NEMA Lagos Territorial Office, confirmed the development to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5.35 a.m. on Tuesday.

He said the returnees were brought back aboard an Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG from Misrata City, a 200-kilometer distance from Tripoli, Libya.

He added that the returnees were assisted home by the International Organisation for Migration and the European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme which started in April 2017.

Muhammed said the stranded Nigerians were received on behalf of the Federal Government by NEMA and other agencies, including the Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and the Nigeria Immigration Service.

He said “at the end of profiling of the returnees, there were 48 female adults, one female child and seven female infants, 93 male adults, five male children and seven male infants, totaling 161.”

The coordinator said three male adults who had medical issues were immediately evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment.

- PM NEWS

LAND OF CORPORATE CRIMINALS !! Siasia’s mother: I suffered so much… my abductors ought to be jailed

Ogere Betty, mother of former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, says she wants her abductors arrested and prosecuted.

The 76-year-old woman was released on Sunday after spending ten weeks in custody.

She was kidnapped on July 15 at her Odoni residence in Sagbama, Bayelsa state.

She had previously been kidnapped in November 2015 but regained freedom 13 days later.

In an interview with PUNCH, the octogenarian said although she is back home, she is still unhappy because she had suffered.

“Though I have been released and brought back home, I am not happy. I have suffered. I don’t know the people that kidnapped me. I am not happy at all,” she was quoted to have said.

“They suffered me too much. If what I suffered is good, they should also suffer. They should go to prison. They should be tortured.

“This is the second time they have kidnapped me. I have not done anyone any wrong. I will not say anything, but everything is in God’s hand.”

- THECABLE

Fabregas praises Saka for Arsenal’s draw with Man Utd

Former Arsenal midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has hailed the club’s winger, Bukayo Saka, following a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Monday.

The Gunners went behind to a Scott McTominay effort, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalized for Unai Emery’s men.

Saka had Arsenal’s best chance of the first half, prompting a fine double save from David de Gea and could have scored in the second.

The Nigerian-eligible forward also appeared to have the better of veteran Ashley Young throughout, with his pace threatening constantly, while he assisted Aubameyang’s equaliser.

Fabregas, writing on Twitter, believes his old club might have unearthed a gem.

- PM NEWS

Yakasai: APC promised change but nothing has changed

Tanko Yakasai, a founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) , says there has been no significant change in Nigeria since APC took over power.

Yakasai spoke on Tuesday when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.

Giving his assessment of Nigeria during the 59th independence anniversary, the elder statesman said the nation has not progressed.

“What I am saying is because when APC was formed, their main slogan was change and everybody was carried away by that slogan, left, right and centre. Now, almost five years after the APC rule, nothing has changed,” he said.

“But our mistake was that when we decided to support APC on their change slogan, we did not ask them what will constitute change that they are talking about.

“We kept quiet, we supported them and gave them almost everything they wanted; now after taking over power, we didn’t see any change. ”

The elder statesman called for the restructuring of the country, saying it would help build a better nation for the coming generations.

“What the proponent of restructuring should do is to define… give us a blue print of what will constitute a restructured Nigeria, how Nigeria will look like,” he said.

“I am looking for what my children will inherit by way of a restructured Nigeria.”

He also challenged the APC administration to tackle the various challenges facing the country.

- THECABLE

Nigerians now live like corpses, walking dead — Mike Ozekhome blasts Buhari govt

Constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has noted that at 59 years of age, Nigerians now live like walking corpses due to the poverty and hunger in the land.

He stated this while lamenting the sorry state of affairs in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria was once the biggest economy in Africa and the 3rd fastest growing in the world.

According to the lawyer, “Parents now sell their children to survive and the children do likewise. Husbands kidnap wives and wives kidnap husbands’ for cheap ransom.”

This was contained in a statement he titled, “Tears, Sorrow, Blood, Lamentation for Nigeria at 59,” and made available to journalists.

Ozekhome said, “Tears. Sorrow. Blood. Pains. Pangs. Anger. Hunger. Melancholy. Dejection. Hopelessness. Haplessness. Disillusionment. Poverty. Ignorance.

“Termites and maggots eat up the national edifice.

“Chaos and anarchy reign supreme. Impunity triumphs.

“Irredentism, cronyism, clannishness and nepotism strut around like a proud peacock.

“Corruption multiplies geometrically, ravaging the land.

“Nigeria is now the second most corrupt country in West Africa and one of the 148 most corrupt in the world.

“Rule of law is subsumed, human rights crushed, Democracy is vanquished.

“Even basic civil liberties are suppressed and subjugated. Judges are brutalised, humiliated and denigrated, for doing their jobs.

“The Judiciary is weakened, traumatised, pauperised.

“The legislators haemourrage the national purse with fantastic and indefensible out-of-the-world pay packets.

“The Executive acts imperiously, untramelled, uncontrolled, like Louis X14 of France.

“The cabal holds the nation down by the jugular. Less than 20 people dictate the fate of 200 million Nigerians. There are no checks and balances.

“Absolutism, dictatorship, fascism, brutality, bestride our democratic space like a collosus.

“Yet, the people, the Civil Society, remain docile, complicit, frightened and cowed.

“Mediocrity is enthroned in place of meritocracy.

“Hypocrisy, lies, revisionism, propaganda are elevated, celebrated and dressed in the false garb of truth and patriotism.

“Genuine criticism, dissent, opposition, plurality of views, are treated as treason, and at best as treasonable felony. Nigerians now murmur, rather than discuss freely.

“Soliloquy and monologue take the place of robust dialogue. Nigerians now live like walking corpses, like the living dead.

“The common man and woman languish in abject penury.

“The middle class diminishes. Industries relocate to neighbouring countries. Massive disinvestment becomes the order of the day.

“Nigeria, once upon a time the biggest economy in Africa and the 3rd fastest growing in the world, is today the poverty capital of the world.

“Parents now sell their children to survive and the children do like wise. Husbands kidnap wives and wives husbands for cheap ransom.

“Insecurity becomes the order of the day. Boko Haram, herdsmen, kidnappers, armed robbers, hired assassins, control our highways, pathways and forest routes.

“Nigeria has been turned into a gruesome crimson field of bloodbath.

“There is mass suicide and homicide. Mass unemployment is the order of the day. Retrenchment becomes a norm.

“Education and certificates are racketeered.

“Children learn under uncovered roofs in rain, storm and sun, sitting on bare floor.

“Graduates roam the streets without jobs.

“Our beautiful daughters and sisters are sold into second slavery as sex objects.

“Young able-bodied men take to kidnapping, armed robbery, internet scams and Otokoto rituals.

“Money bags are celebrated, no matter the illicit sources of their wealth.

“The church and the mosque are complicit in this societal degeneration.

“Morals, ethics, values, recede into the abyss of historical oblivion.

“Prices of food have gone out of the of the roofs, leaving the poor prostrate and defeated.

“The tail now wags the dog, the leaders molest the people whose mandate they utilise.

“They laugh the people to scorn, exploit them, beat them, scourge them, impoverish them and misuse them.

“God, where, when, how and why did we find ourselves in this scandalous state of nadir, doldrums and national calamity?

“Nigeria at 59!!! A woman still crawling, misused, dehumanised and degraded.

“There will still be sunshine at the end of the storm.

“Yes, a silver lining on a dark cloudy sky.

“God help us.”

- DAILY POST