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                                                                              NEW  STORY: Marriage Proposal… Episode2

BY EBONY

*Love Birds*

Mary locked herself in her room and took out some time to cry out her heart until it felt as if she had done the right thing. 

Declining Uche's proposal was a very difficult decision for her to take. She however took it. This raised lots of surprises and questions from many, even her friends. 

While she felt there were just enough reasons for her to have declined, on Uche's part and others there was not even a single reason for her to have done that.

Three years ago they had started dating. Seeing the two love birds hanging out together, you could almost mistake their love for each other as divine.

Their bond was stronger than that of Jack and Rose or even Romeo and Juliet. They were inseparable. 

"I love you the same way I learned to ride a bike. Though I was frightened yet I was still reckless." Uche said to Mary as he scooped a portion of the ice-cream moving it closer to her mouth slowly. 

As Mary opened her mouth in expectation of the chilled-liquid, Uche took it back gently and gently until he drank all of it and then smiled.

Both of them laughed together as...

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Meet Kaka Prince Chiemezuo

Kaka Prince Chiemezuo is a visionary Realtor, Political Strategist, and Certified Young Leader. With a strong foundation in Real Estate, Digital Innovation, and Public Leadership, Kaka launched the NaijaLand App to revolutionize how Nigerians buy, manage, and invest in land.

As the CEO of Prince Kaka Global Resources, Kaka brings a unique blend of grassroots knowledge and digital expertise. Though trained in Crop Science and Horticulture at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, his career spans:

His track record includes:

Leading youth and church development initiatives

Project management and entrepreneurship programs

Serving as Research & Data Entry Lead at Apex Assets

Membership in prominent networks like YALI, UNYA-NG, and Youth Quake Nigeria

With a calm demeanor and strategic mindset, he is committed to building smarter, more inclusive real estate solutions for everyday Nigerians.

Buhari has impacted the poor than previous presidents, Festus Keyamo claims

.

Media director of Buhari Campaign Organisation Festus Keyamo said no Nigerian government has touched the lives of the poor like President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has done in three years.

Keyamo, a human rights lawyer made this known at the inauguration of Buhari/Osinbajo Project 2019 in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.  He said the previous administrations established the worst system of government.

“I can tell that there is no government in the history of this country since 1960 that has addressed the plights the poor, the vulnerable in the last three years than this government,” Keyamo said.

“If you compare what accrued to the country in 16 years and what was done with the money earned in three years and infrastructure built by Buhari, you will see the difference,”

According to him, before Buhari came on board, over 24 state governments were unable to pay the salaries of their workers.

He said the administration, with prudent management of resources, approved bailout funds to the states to clear the arrears and address their critical challenges.

“We should not go back to that era of nonpayment of salary and suffering of the masses,” Keyamo added.

He said Buhari with his sharing formula has done was to take the bullet from the rich to protect the poor unlike previous governments.

“They operated a system that ignored physical infrastructure in the country, that ignored the plight of the poor, the weak and the vulnerable in Nigeria,”

“In 16 years, all they did in the South East was Onisha-Owerri road, whereas, in three years, President Buhari is doing four major road construction in the region. You have a president who has fought for you, why can’t you fight for him,” Keyamo said.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the president in next year’s elections, saying ”this is the time he needs you more to fight for him…. We must remind ourselves today why we must stand firmly behind him in 2019,”

By Dennis Erezi

Substance abuse, illicit drugs, youth and society

A man whose child was admitted into a psychiatric facility was downcast and lamented how he had been struggling to provide the best opportunities for the child. His psychopathic child was admitted after a long period of addiction to illicit drugs and the man has being trying all he can to salvage the situation. This father is not alone in this sort of situation as many parents today have the added challenge of saving their children or child from drug addiction and abuse that has taken an epidemics proportion.
In a research published in Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Health in 2014, Hamisu Mamman, Ahmad Tajuddin, PhD and Lim Hooi Liam, PhD, discovered that drug abuse and addiction was more prevalent in northern Nigeria. Professor Nelson Ochekpe, a professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the University of Jos while delivering lecture at a sensitisation lecture on eradication of vices by students of higher institutions, stated that research findings showed that 60% of substance abuse occurs in north. Sadly, in all these, youths below 35 years are mostly affected. In their quest to get high they are hooked to marijuana, codeine, tramadol, amphetamine, heroine, glue, rohypnol and other psychotropic substances. As for illicit drugs, there is always one for anyone depending on one’s financial and social standing. This is one of the major reasons this problem has become widespread. Youths from various backgrounds resort to the use of drugs for various reasons and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary which exposed the dire drug problem was impactful because of the international dimension. But for people living in Nigeria especially the northern states, nothing was new since they have witnessed the exponential rise and spread of this problem over time.

Youth of different financial, social and cultural backgrounds often congregate at various points known for drug dealings and consumptions and do their things very much unhindered. At one points, they virtually took over most recreation parks and gardens in Abuja. Some make public show of it as though it is status conferral. Yes, it might confer on one the status of psychiatric patient. Various medical, psychological and sociological reasons or theories have been adduced as to why people live a life of addiction. Those from rich and influential parentage usually fell into the drug trap due mainly to peer influence and just to get high – recreational use. The other group of deprived frustrated youth of poor or broken family backgrounds cling to the alibi of hardship and hopelessness. In this, the rich barons become the factors of supply, the spoilt rich, deprived and frustrated poor youth become the factor of demand while poor parental upbringing, strong peer pressure and rot in the educational system become mediators in this mission of self-destruction.

All over the world, illicit drugs are known to fuel crime. Troops fighting the insurgents in North East have been recovering large quantities of assorted psychotropic substances. Just like bandits, kidnappers, cultists and armed robbers are known to use them to be able to perpetuate the kind of beastly and heinous crimes that are fast becoming a daily occurrence. One kidnapper in Ondo State was reported to have gone into coma during an operation due to an overdose of tramadol and Police said that he died on the ninth day despite all efforts to save him.

Nigeria as a developing nation still battles with the lack of basic medical and health care facilities as such the state of mental health care is better imagined. Psychiatric patients that find themselves in the few poorly equipped and manned psychiatric facilities are just lucky and must thank their God. And usually such patients are of rich and influential family background. Many others are shackled away at home, in traditional healers or spiritualists enclaves in pitiable conditions. The rest roam about posing dangers to the entire population.

The challenge of tackling this menace is enormous and a systematic and holistic approach is most suitable because there is no quick fix. The total ban and crack down on manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical preparation with codeine as an active ingredient by the government is a step in the right direction. However, this alone will not solve the problem the same way that smoking of marijuana have almost replaced cigarette among the youth in spite of the fact that it has been an illicit drug that the law prescribes stiff penalties for its possession.

It has been established that Nigeria has one of the highest number of out -of-school children in the world and devising a sustainable means of getting these children out of the street back to school will be a bold step in tackling the problem. The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in a speech to mark the International Youth Day and graduation ceremony at Katsina Vocational Training Centre regretted that politicians in the north have been playing on religion, using it for campaigns while paying little attention to solving the problems in health and educational sectors. This problem, the Emir noted, was responsible for the underdevelopment in many states in the north. Moreover, stabilising children at the family level and during their formative years need to be at the fore front of any solution. It is here that the authorities need to weld the big stick to force parents to be alive to their basic responsibilities.

The political class and opinion leaders must show good example and leadership. The practice of exploiting the youth for anti-social behaviours bordering on violence and criminality for selfish interest of highly placed individuals in our society must be stopped. This sort of action has become a ‘mentoring’ ground for the youth and those already caught in this sordid web. This is very unfortunate as those ‘elites’ that the youth turn to for directions have now become a source of the youth’s ruination.

It is important that traditional rulers, religious leaders and opinion leaders partner with governmental agencies to speak out and tackle those practices and conditions that predisposes the youth to drug addiction. As a developing nation, the country cannot afford to lose her youths to drug because when the population that is supposed to be the driving force in society and nation building are hooked to drug, the nation is doomed. We have already started reaping the reverberation in form of deadly violent crimes, cultism and inexplicable mass killings. However, Nigeria has the capacity to overcome her problems.
Uja is a research officer. He wrote from Abuja.

I Can't Be Distracted By Obasanjo, Atiku, Saraki, Other Defectors - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Daura said the combined efforts of defectors and their backers in the opposition will not distract his administration from the good work it is doing for the benefit and development of Nigeria.

President Buhari stressed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has the full understanding of Nigeria’s challenges and is encouraged by the support of Nigerians in addressing them, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu.

The President spoke at a lunch with some APC Governors accompanied by some members of the National and State assemblies and commissioners.

‘‘We are always encouraged when all our constituents are happy with the work we are doing and our genuine efforts to make sure that what we campaigned for in 2015 is still very much in our minds and we have not lost focus.

‘‘In terms of security, economy and the fight against corruption we have maintained focus. Even the opposition with all their resources cannot fault our identification of Nigeria’s priorities and the efforts being made to better them.

‘‘We will continue to do what we ought to do in the leadership position God has placed us and we thank the constituents for the support,’’ he said.

On the defections within the major political parties, the President reiterated his earlier message to them: ‘‘for those who have decided to change camp for whatever reason, we wish them good luck.’’

The delegation was led by Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

Okorocha was accompanied by the Governors of Katsina, Kebbi, Kano and Niger States.

The President of the senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and other lawmakers elected on the platform of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC defected to the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and African Democratic Congress, ADC, a party associated with former president Olusegun Obasanjo.  The former president said that Buhari has performed poorly and should not to seek a second term in office.

Source:
https://www.tori.ng/news/104553/i-cant-be-distracted-by-obasanjo-atiku-saraki-othe.html

2014 Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement is why Tinubu is fighting me – Saraki

* Says Tinubu is fighting him because he kicked against Muslim- Muslim Ticket in 2014 ahead of 2015 Election
* Says Buhari’s Administration treated the Legislature with contempt, as an appendage and that was not acceptable to him
* Says Tinubu also expressed displeasure with Buhari’s style of Government
* Accuses Tinubu of Engaging in Rhetorics, he vowed to support Buhari for 2019 even on a Stretcher to South West Presidency in 2023
* Reiterates that he left the APC due to certain elements and Forces

Saraki and Tinubu

By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- SENATE President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Monday took a swipe at All Progressives Congress, APC Stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for accusing him that he dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP because he wanted automatic ticket and sharing of the national wealth, saying that the former Lagos State governor was only engaging in rhetorics.

Saraki noted that he left the APC for PDP because the party generally ignored justice, equity and inclusiveness, just as he said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration constantly treated the National Assembly, especially the Senate with contempt and acted as if the law making body should be an appendage of the Executive, which to him, was unacceptable, adding that it became imperative for him to stand by the legislative arm and defend the nation’s democracy.
The Senate President accused Tinubu of fighting him because in 2014, him and other leaders of the party vehemently opposed to plans by the former governor to force the APC to accept the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement which was to be foisted on the party for the 2015 polls, adding that he took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones.

He explained that since then, there have been very active, plotting at every point to undermine him, within and outside the National Assembly.

Responding to accusations by Tinubu that he left the APC for personal reasons and his aspiration for the presidency in 2019, Saraki in a statement he personally signed Monrday said that at different fora, he had complained to the former Lagos State governor on the actions of the government which were detrimental to the government, adding that he had also expressed his reservations that the government would find it difficult to convince the people during elections.

According to the Senate President, Tinubu has also expressed displeasure with the style of government, even as he reiterated that his decision to quit the APC was due to the fact that certain elements and forces were within the party.

He said that opportunities to seek redress and correct the anomalies that were expressed by him and others, were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed what he termed, an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”.

Saraki in the statement reminded the APC Chieftain that he( Tinubu) had told him in the course of their discussions that he would support President Buhari for second term in 2019 even on a stretcher because there would be power shift to the South West in 2023.

The Senate President who noted that while his own decision was based on protecting collective, national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies in the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023, adding, “This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency, particularly when one reviews his antecedent over the years.”

Saraki in the statement titled, “the Tinubu Rhetoric – My Response, said, “I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudices as facts for public consumption.

“I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treat the legislature with contempt and act as if the law making body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, that is unacceptable.

“In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariah. A party which ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-condition for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

“Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision “has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist”.

“In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements “have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere”.

“Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the party, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will definitely not shape my decisions now and in the future.

“However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between me and him is that while I express my worry that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather ‘support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher’ to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This Tinubu viewpoint was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.

“It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting collective, national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies in the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency, particularly when one reviews his antecedent over the years.

“Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active, plotting at every point to undermine me, within and outside the National Assembly.

“It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic ticket, oil block and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

“It should be known that Democracy is a system which allows people to freely make their choice. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.”

Saraki replies Tinubu, says ‘you lied on why I left APC’

By Anthony Ogbonna

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has replied the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had, in an analytical piece about the political situation in Nigeria, titled “They go Away because We go the Right Way,” said both Saraki and the Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal left the APC because the party could not offer them what they wanted.

Saraki

Tinubu, in the political-philosophical analysis accused the duo of leaving the APC because, they both covet the presidency and, according to him, the APC cannot give them their desires.

He said Saraki wants automatic ticket and resource sharing and seeks undemocratic means of achieving his desires.

He also said that had Saraki remained in APC, he would not have been able to reclaim his senate seat much less senate presidency.

However, in a sharp response, Saraki said the APC’s national leader’s analysis is, according to him, as wrong as it is mischievous.

Saraki said he is surprised that Tinubu is “still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources.”

Saraki said Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and other benefits in a newspaper he owns.

He said, It was his choice “to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections and that, since democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices, then “Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it.”
Below is the full response:

“I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public consumption.

I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation.

No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treats the legislature with contempt and acts as if the lawmaking body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, this is unacceptable.

In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariahs. A party that ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-conditions for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision “has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist”.

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements “have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded.

All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion.

The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere”.

Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the APC, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between Tinubu and I is that while I expressed my worries that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us to deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather ‘support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher’ to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.
It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting the collective national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies of the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency — particularly when one reviews his antecedents over the years.

Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active; plotting at every point to undermine me, both within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.
It should be known that Democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.”