Breaking News Revered Helen Ukpabio’s 3 Brothers Murdered by Police

There was shock and consternation when the news filtered out about how Nigeria’s most successful female preacher,Lady Apostle(Mrs.) Helen Ukpabio loses four of her siblings –same father and same mother on Sunday,March 25,2012 in Mbente,Ini local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

As the story goes,the three brothers(Charles,Emmanuel and Joseph Akpabio) were allegedly shot by Nigerian police before their aged mother (Mrs. Etim Akpabio) and their younger sister,Elizabeth,upon hearing the sad news,slipped into coma and also died.

We learnt the three brothers were accused of armed robbery and kidnapping. The three brothers were allegedly first crippled with gun shots.And as they wailed and queried what they had done to deserve what they were doing to them,they were taken back to the village.

Now in their father’s compound,their mother immediately took to crying upon seeing her son’s condition-in their broken state and with broken legs.

They allegedly dragged them down and beside a nearby plaintain tree finished all of them,with their mother and some family members weeping,wailing and watching.

Findings revealed that the Police team was allegedly led by one Noel Nduka.

And since then,the family of the three brothers has been crying themselves hoarse,wanting to know what exactly their sons did as well as why they were not charged to any court to defend themselves before judgement was pronounced and they were immediately executed.

In a recent chat with newsmen,Helen Ukpabio said “I have never seen anything like that in my life before.Four corpses,from one family.Ah ! Even if they had something against them,they should have taken them to court and not waste them like that. I still can’t believe my brothers and sister are no more.In Fact,I hardly sleep since the incident”

On the family’s next line of action,she said We will not follow them illegally.We will follow them legally.And that is why we are crying out,begging all conscionable people all over the world to hear us and ensure that justice is done on this issue.
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Abia Speaker Explains Increase In 2012 Budget Estimate

 The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly , Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu  has stated that the increase  in the budget estimate was prompted by the need to adequately provide for the payment of the new minimum wage, transformation of Aba City, revival of ailing industries, creation of enabling environment in the oil and gas industry.

Oko Chukwu disclosed this during the signing of the budget by the state governor, Chief  Theodore Orji at the Government House ,Umuahia

The Speaker added that the budget will turn boost all sectors of the state economy.

Recall that Gov. Orji had on December 19, 2011, presented before the House of Assembly a budget of N122, 390, 433, 920.00.

However, after the various ministries had defended their budget estimates under the auspices of the Appropriation Committee led by Hon. Martin Okechukwu Azubuike, the House of Assembly increased it to N129, 959, 325, 170. 00.

Signing the 2012 Appropriation Bill into law, Gov. Orji promised to effectively implement the budge

UPDATED WITH FULL TRANSCRIPT: Boko Haram Releases Video On ThisDay Bombing, Threatens To Attack VOA, Guardian, Daily Trust, SaharaReporters

The extremist group, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihadl, popularly called Boko Haram, today named more media houses and staff as targets of their attack.

In an 18minutes video, the group threatened to attack more media houses, naming Voice of America (Hausa), Radio France (Hausa), Daily Trust, Guardian Newspapers, among others. The group also gave reasons why they bombed Thisday office in Abuja and other media houses last Thursday.

“This is a message from jamaatu ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, and we wish to inform Nigerians our reasons for attacking some media houses,” the group said.

The video also shows that the radical group carried a live coverage of the bombing in Abuja showing and filmed the exact explosion of the Thisday bombing. The group created the new Youtube video under the name Alhaji Mani.

Read full transcript of video below. 

 Boko Haram video transcription

Video has a background music in Hausa language, saying," Nigerians, our name is not Boko Haram, we are Muslims, Ahlis sunnah". The lyrics also said, “We attacked Thisday because we will never forget or forgive anyone who abused our prophet.”
First written message says the video is from ‘Public awareness department which presents; ‘Reasons for attacking Thisday Newspaper’
The Video also shows coverage of the suicide attack at Thisday office in Abuja.
It also shows a man wielding a rifle and reciting some prayer verses. Shots of the late leader of the sect Muhammad Yusuf, delivering a sermon, and in other clips, preaching, was shown.

Full transcription

"This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.
"We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on Thisday Newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some Media Houses, especially Thisday, is because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW) during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.
"At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they have forgiven those who committed the offence.
"But based on our knowledge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgement, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

"No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgement is for such persons to be killed.
"This lady that committed this crime, the judgement on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.
"We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.
"It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.
"We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the Thisday incident.

"Thisday newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

"Some of the offences of Thisday and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we have nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.
"Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the president’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader said what they attributed to him.

"Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to potray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III.
"Recently too, they came out with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it, that was just a big lie to convince the world.
"The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they  wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

"These are all lies, and they are many.
"These media houses have committed a lot of offences that is detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorized into three groups.
"The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big.
"The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.
"There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.
"VOA Hausa for instance have recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us.

"The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, Peoples Daily and RFI(Radio France international)
"There is an online medium known as Saharareporters who have their office in New York, and who have made their site as a platform for attack against Islam. So we are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam, otherwise we will find a way of attacking them too.
"We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists; which made them refuse to conduct the conference.
"We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

"Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially, tertiary ones.
"We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys.
"We have already started with Gombe and Kano."

Source: Saharareporters

Osama tweets from hell!

A year after Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALS in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad, the world's number one terrorist is keeping busy tweeting from hell!
Dozens of fake accounts were floated on Twitter shortly after bin Laden's death and ever since, there has been no stopping the updates and 'fatwas' from 'hell'.
"My ex-wife is talking to ABC News. This is even more disrespectful than the time she asked to look out a window...," read a tweet by a fake account operated by 'Osama'.
Another one pronounces that 'hot chocolate is haram'. The descriptions of Osama on the many fake accounts are hilarious.
One such account describes him as 'former public enemy #1'.
One tweet on a fake account went: "...faked my own death, now travelling the world. Maybe I'm coming to your city! Check your local Al Qaeda branch!"
On other accounts, the messages are matter-of-fact: "I was the leader of Al Qaeda. Now I'm dead" or "Those still alive can reach me at OsamaInHell" or "I was once the best terrorist of all time! Greatest ever at hide and seek!"
Sometimes the tweets are scary. "I may be dead...but life continues!!!" or "71% of the Earth is covered in oceans. So I may be anywhere!! (Remember that!)"
The American commandos took away bin Laden's body after shooting him in his compound located a short distance from the Pakistan Military Academy. His body was later buried at sea.
Bin Laden's three widows and 11 members of his family were recently deported to Saudi Arabia. One tweet on a fake account on the first death anniversary of bin Laden was rather philosophical.
"It's been almost a year... Time flies when you're dead!" Another one read: "What is it with Obama and surprise visits on May 1st?"
A popular spoof website went a step further and published an interview with bin Laden: "The guys in Heaven all want to come down here. There's no hot stuff up there - not even a Lamb Tikka Masala. Man, I tell you, it's sure great fun here in Hell".
Bin Laden claimed he was friends with Stalin and Hitler. "Stalin's a great guy. Vow! If only I had met him while I was still in your Earth zone. Adolf is a nice guy too, but he is a bit of a stiff. Keeps on about how he should not be down here in Hell but up in Heaven 'cause of the good things he'd done in his Earth life".
Unfortunately, the biggest spoof-like story emanating from Pakistan on bin Laden's first death anniversary is for real.
The Express Tribune reported that people were visiting the site of bin Laden's razed compound to offer 'fateha' and witness a 'miracle' – water gushing forth without use of an electric motor.
Though this could have been caused by a fractured water line, many claimed that water gushes forth like a spring because those killed at the place were innocent.

Boko Haram speaks: Why we attacked THISDAY

Boko haram while claiming responsibility for Thursday's attacks, says more bombings are coming the way of the media - The Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, says it attacked THISDAY

Thursday to send a strong message to the media that it would no longer condone reports misrepresenting it in the press, or blaming it for acts it knows nothing about. Abul Qaqa, spokesperson for the sect told Premium Times, in an exclusive interview, that his organisation was fed up with the deliberate misinformation being peddled about it in the Nigerian and foreign media.

“We have repeatedly cautioned reporters and media houses to be professional and objective in their reports. This is a war between us and the Government of Nigeria; unfortunately the media have not been objective and fair in their report of the ongoing war, they chose to take side,” Mr. Qaqa said.

 

He identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the Nigerian intelligence agencies.

“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa, they know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two,” he said.
Premium Times had continuously reported that Abul Qaqa was not arrested contrary to reports and that it was Abu Darda, another member, that was arrested.
The second misrepresentation, according to Mr. Qaqa, was the reporting on the kidnappings of foreigners in the Northern part of Nigeria.

“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the north; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which I never said during that interview.”
The third example, Mr. Abul Qaqa said, is the mistranslation of the video the group posted recently.
 “Another example is the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam; I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again. There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why THISDAY appeared specifically chosen for the attack, Mr. Qaqa said THISDAY’s “sins” are more grievous.
 “It is not only THISDAY that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war.
“But the sins of THISDAY are more,” he said.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001 and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
Expect more media attacks
The group’s spokesman further warned of more attacks on the media.
“We have just started this new campaign against the media and we will not stop here, we will hit the media hard since they have refused to listen to our plea for them to be fair in their reportage,” he said.
Mr. Abul Qaqa also said his group  would give further information on biases by the media.
“In the coming days we will give details and instances where the media have not been fair to us and why we are going to attack them as well.”
Media should be neutral “The media in Nigeria are not a problem to us if they will do their job professionally without taking sides,” Mr. Abul Qaqa said.
“But each time we say something, it is either changed or downplayed. But when our enemy says something even without logical proof, it is blown out of proportion.”
"We have repeated asked some reporters to retract some stories or even give us the right of reply but none of these requests were given to us."

Breaking News .Assassin Plots Against Soyinka, Akinrinade Uncovered?

A group, the Yoruba Intelligence Network said it has uncovered a plot to assassinate some key Yoruba leaders by fifth columnists in a effort to arouse the Southwest region into  violence.
A statement by the head of the information bureau of the network, Kunle Aribisala said that prime on the list of the targets are Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Alani Akinrinade and former NADECO chieftain, Dr Amos Akingba.
"Information at our disposal indicates that the group behind the plot has chosen to strike against Dr Amos Akingba on Friday, said the network.
The Network also added that the fifth columnists in their build-up to the heinous acts have sold a dummy to Soyinka months ago through some fake security reports that Boko Haram was planning to eliminate him and other leaders which made him grant an interview to The News magazine where he raised the alarm.
The Network also said that in the last few months, the fifth columnists have tried all they could to create a Boko Haram scare in the South West through all kinds of false alarms.
"Their failure to achieve a precipitate action in the region is the reason they are now eager to eliminate these leaders to provoke violent reactions in the region"
The Network equally alleged that the news of a container expulsion at the Tin Can Port on Monday which was broken on AIT but suppressed in the media since then has forced it to cry out on these plots " part of the facts that we gathered was that an explosion would take place at Tin Can before these strikes"
It asked the people of the South West to look closely at a report planted in all newspapers in Nigeria a few days ago that a detention centre for Boko Haram members was to be built in Lagos.
"Who planted this story and to achieve what? Was it to prepare an excuse for strikes in the name of Boko Haram in South West? Are we seeing an orchestrated plan to create a war situation in the country by precipitating violence in a big nation like the Yoruba to achieve some sinister agenda by other people? These are posers to ponder on"
Courtesy Sahara Reporters

Rochas ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim

I read a Sun Newspaper article written by Godson Offoaro were he said that Rochas Okorocha the Governor of Imo State ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim. I 'do bale' at Offoaro's style of trying to get another lunch pack, this time from the Prophet of Rescue, the man with shinning white buba and red cap by speaking sweet talks and shouting 'Ranka dede'. With the confidence of his gift of the pen, Godson Offoaro with the spirit of 'any government in power' invoked the highest hypocrisy by trumpeting and advertising sham accomplishments of the Imo State Governor. One of Okorocha's accomplishments according to the gospel of Offoaro is the tarring of roads. Missing in his claims is the poor quality of the roads that Okorocha has tarred.

Offoaro failed to tell us that our Governor poured 'coal tar' on sand to give the appearance that roads have been tarred. He failed to tell us that Imo State has a proper way of awarding contracts such that it must take a tender board to put up adverts for contractors to apply. He failed to tell us that Okorocha did not follow due process of putting up invitation for tender in awarding the so called road contracts. He failed to tell us that contractors were not invited, screened or shortlisted for the road contracts. He failed to tell us that the contracts were awarded to friends and relatives as their own share of Imo State cake .
Going against the law in other to compensate friends and relatives will end up inflicting more harm than good to the scheme and system of things. Why must we be pouring 'coal tar' on sand in Owerri when the rural areas where over 90 percent of 'Imolites' are living are not accessible? .It is only a professional sycophant that will feel duty bound to cheer a Governor to failure because of a lunch pack. Reading Offoaro , you will think that there were no roads and services before Okorocha came to power.We all know that Okorocha is currently battling to resuscitate his dwindling popularity. We all know that he has contracted many Spin Doctors to build fake mass support for his deceitful activities. But no amount of spin from his Spin Doctors will disguise the fact that he has not performed well so far.

Can the Spin Doctors erase the fact that Okorocha is looting our LGA funds? Okorocha sacked democratically elected LGA Chairmen and Councillors and appointed Sole Administrators for our LGA's. The Sole Administrators are his agents for diverting our LGA funds for his personal use. Today, the Councils in Imo State are dysfunctional. Nothing is happening in over 90 percent of Imo State Councils. Our LGA funds are held hostage and we are deprived the opportunity to function democratically. Instead of conducting Council election in Imo State our Governor says he is into LGA reforms and that our LGA's will soon be called Committee of Government Councils where each Council in Imo will be headed by a Traditional Ruler and members will be LGA Sole Administrators,Town Union Presidents,Women Leaders and Youth Leaders .
Okorocha's praise singers should please tell him that we don't need his unconstitutional Committee of Government Councils.We need LGA election in Imo State.They should tell him to stop looting our LGA funds. He must hands off Council funds so that our Councils can begin to thrive as expected. Unless our LGA's are free to govern self, we have no grassroots democracy. We must permit the LGA's to elect their own leaders, who in turn can embark on developing their areas. We must stop denying the people governance at the third tier.

Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor whose policies have been changing like the British weather. Okorocha has made so many promises that he did not fulfil. For example,he promised to pay 20,000 naira minimum wage to Imo State Civil Servants instead of the Federal Government approved 18,000 naira.He has since failed to pay the 20,000 naira minimum wage.During one of his showmanship events in Owerri recently, Okorocha with his gift of gab spoke to Civil Servants of the State telling them that Civil Servants in the State can beat their chest that their salaries come to them by 25th of every month and their 20,000 naira minimum wage has been paid,The Governor was interrupted with shouts of No! It is a lie! The Civil Servants shout Rochas down for telling lies yet professional sycophant are praising him.
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who has crippled all Ministries, Department and Agencies of government in the State by starving them of funds. Okorocha directed all Ministries in the State to generate money to run their Ministries themselves which has resulted to over taxing of Imo people. Okorocha's government now churns out multiple taxation and harsh levies on Imo citizens using indecent task forces and unethical conducts. The question is whether the Ministries can really fund themselves. LGA's cannot even generate enough revenues to run their affairs not to talk of Ministries. What is happening to the allocation of the State? Who is looting what?
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who since he came into office has not being able to create jobs for Imo youths rather he sacked 10,000 Imo State graduates in the State Civil Service. Okorocha has no reason to sack the workers other than he is anti-people and anti-workers .When decisions made and actions taken directly deflates job creation, the result is always more problems for the citizens .Imo State is regarded as the 5th richest state in Nigeria and it is not difficult to pay salaries to the 10,000. Tell me why we can't help these poor youths.

The same man who told us that Imo will have problems in paying salaries to the sacked 10,000 workers is the same man that is now boasting everywhere that Imo State has money and went ahead to declare free education for tertiary schools in Imo state. Governing Imo State is not Rochas Foundation, neither is it Baba Sala's nkwobi and pepper soup joint were we dish out alms to the poor. Promising free education to Imo tertiary students is playing to the gallery. Free education for Imo tertiary students as announced by Okorocha few days ago is another Nollywood drama.It is another deceit. I say so because Okorocha will never sustain the free education for tertiary schools. He knows that sustaining the free education policy in tertiary schools in Imo State will make Imo to run into difficult financial circumstances. What Okorocha should have done is to reduce tuition fees. The Governor is responsible for the State's fiscal health, and cannot afford to run negative balances. He must restore taxpayers' confidence that their naira are being used wisely and in the best interests of all people.He should be honest to the people and stop playing to the gallery.

The professional sycophants should tell Okorocha to sack his present cabinet if he wants to succeed. The fact of the matter is that Okorocha's cabinet which is his toolbox has unfit tools in it and he needs better tools. His unfit tools are the cause of his administration's political missteps. He should do away with the unfit tools in his toolbox and get better ones. Some of those in his cabinet are spent forces. They have no ideas on how to lift the state to an enviable height. I am of the view that his cabinet is overdue for a shake-up. Sacking his cabinet has become very imperative in order to inject fresh blood that will correct all his administrative missteps.

What is the Commissioner that collected 5 million naira bribe from his classmate as reported in the media still doing in government. What about the Commissioner that was slapped by a sex hawker at a high flying night club in Owerri.What about those that advised Okorocha to relocate IMSU sited in Owerri to of all places,Ogboko his village in Orlu zone.Okorocha should surround himself with people with sound ideas of how to put 'Imolites' into jobs; people who have the passion and capacity to develop the state; people who can look him in the face and challenge him on the workability of the state, people that will remind him that the sycophants around him will not remember him beyond the present if he does not leave behind concrete and credible achievements.

Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria