Obasanjo’s Abeokuta Mansion on Fire

The house located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, was gutted by fire on Thursday with extensive damages recorded in the 30-minute incident. The fire, which started at about 4.25 p.m., was traced to electricity power surge, just barely about 20 minutes after Mr. Obasanjo left for his other house located in the Ita-Eko area of the town.
It was gathered that the fire started from Mr. Obasanjo’s private office, a stone throw to his bedroom, before the security in the premises raised alarm, and the state fire service was contacted.
The fire service, in a swift response, raced to the scene with two fire fighting vehicles, to curtail the fire, which would have spread to other apartments.
No life was lost, but some damaged property were seen being moved out by men of the fire service and officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
As at the time of this report, Mr. Obasanjo had returned home, apparently to see the extent of the damage. His wife, Bola Obasanjo, was seen outside in company of some grandchildren looking worried. On his part, Mr. Obasanjo, after the fire had been put under control, was seen sitting within the premises receiving telephone calls from sympathizers.
However, one of his sons, identified as Oba Obasanjo, threw caution to the wind, as he seized the Blackberry phone of one of the correspondent and smashed it on the floor for taking photographs.
Symphatisers that thronged the home of the former President include the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye; a factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Dipo Odujinrin; and the state’s Director of State Security Services. Ironically, an hour after the fire incident was brought under control, the officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, arrived in two pick-up vans loaded with ladders.
The former President is expected to address journalists on the cause of the fire.
Located along the Ibrahim Babangida Boulevard in Abeokuta, the multi-millionaire villa, made up of about six structures, was completed shortly before Mr. Obasanjo left office in 2007. It was constructed by Messrs Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, an Abuja-based Italian company. It was built atop a hill, some critics said, to give the former president the psychological feeling of being on top of everyone.

Sahara Reporters

Naij.com

Premium Times

United States To Send Soldiers To Tackle Boko Haram

A U.S. Army brigade will begin sending small teams into as many as 35African nations early next year, part of an intensifying Pentagon effort to train countries to battle extremists and give the U.S. a ready and trained force to dispatch to Africa if crises requiring the U.S. military emerge.




The teams will be limited to training and equipping efforts, and will not be permitted to conduct military operations without specific, additional approvals from the secretary of defense.

The sharper focus on Africa by the U.S. comes against a backdrop of widespread insurgent violence across North Africa, and as the African Union and other nations discuss military intervention in northern Mali.

The terror threat from al-Qaida linked groups in Africa has been growing steadily, particularly with the rise of the extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram in Nigeria. Officials also believe that the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which killed the ambassador and three other Americans, may have been carried out by those who had ties to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

This first-of-its-kind brigade assignment — involving teams from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division — will target countries such as Libya, Sudan, Algeria and Niger, where al-Qaida-linked groups have been active. It also will assist nations like Kenya and Uganda that have been battling al-Shabab militants on the front lines in Somalia.

Gen. Carter Ham, the top U.S. commander in Africa, noted that the brigade has a small drone capability that could be useful in Africa. But he also acknowledged that he would need special permission to tap it for that kind of mission.

“If they want them for (military) operations, the brigade is our first sourcing solution because they’re prepared,” said Gen. David Rodriguez, the head of U.S. Army Forces Command. “But that has to go back to the secretary of defense to get an execute order.”

Already the U.S. military has plans for nearly 100 different exercises, training programs and other activities across the widely diverse continent. But the new program faces significant cultural and language challenges, as well as nagging questions about how many of the lower-level enlisted members of the brigade, based in Fort Riley, Kan., will participate, since the teams would largely be made up of more senior enlisted troops and officers. A full brigade numbers about 3,500, but the teams could range from just a few people to a company of about 200. In rare cases for certain exercises, it could be a battalion, which would number about 800.

Facebook friends slam President Jonathan over Christmas message

President Goodluck Jonathan
 

President Goodluck Jonathan came under criticism from his Facebook friends on Tuesday after he posted his Christmas message on the social networking site.

The President in the message said he “personally” instructed government officials to make conditions favourable for Nigerians to celebrate the Yuletide.

The airports, he said, for instance, had been given a “facelift”, adding that the terminals were rehabilitated and the runways upgraded ahead of the festive season.

He wrote, “I want to seize this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and a happy New Year in advance. I feel the pains of Nigerians and that is why this Yuletide I have personally instructed that our roads be worked on to enable you and your loved ones to travel safely for the holidays.

“Not done, we ensured that for the first time in decades, the cross country services (Lagos to Kano with stops in cities along the route) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation were revived just prior to the holidays to provide Nigerian masses with an inexpensive alternative to road and air transportation.

“This administration also took steps to increase power generation by remaining true to the Timelines of the Roadmap to Power Sector Reform, which has seen history made on Friday, December 21, when Nigeria’s power generation hit an all-time high of just over 4,500 MW.”

But no sooner had Jonathan posted the message on his wall than it was greeted with a barrage of criticisms from his friends.

While a few praised and advised the President on how to tackle the problems bedevilling the country, many others faulted his submissions.

One of his friends, Kaycee Aloy-Obi wrote, “Mr. President hold your greetings. You and your family are having great celebration. A litre of petrol is sold at N110-N120, against N97 which is the official price. There is unprecedented traffic jam on Ore-Benin road due to bad roads.

“People cannot go around to visit love ones because of insecurity. Bury your head in shame with your 4,500 MW when South Africa is generating 50,000 MW. It is paradoxical that many Nigerians are having dry Christmas in midst of plenty.”

Yusuf Suleiman, asked the president to match his words with actions, adding that his “advisers are not telling you the true picture of what is happening.”

He said, “In Nigeria today, under your watch, the country recorded the highest looting of our treasury, and you didn’t do anything. We also have seen how citizens were massacred, in fact, the highest since civil war ended (and) your government is not doing enough to stop that.”

Also, Bethel Vincent, wrote, “Haba! Mr. President, you know say lie no good at all. Why post something we have not witnessed, yet you refer to us as friends and fellow Nigerians. As I am talking to you, my flat is running on generator; Benin-Auchi road is filled with potholes and you are talking about airport, how (many) Nigerians can afford air transport?”

A friend, Ajoba David, wrote, “Sir, congratulations! Merry Christmas and a happy new year. What do we expect as a New Year gift come Tuesday, January 1st? Well, I hope it is not going to be another fuel subsidy razzmatazz like we experienced last year.

“Nevertheless, Nigerians have yet to recuperate from the fever that was injected into their veins last January as a result of the purportedly and verbally(sic) removal of the fuel subsidy which Nigerians have yet to see any sign of seriousness in bringing (those) culpable to book.”

punch

Six Killed at Christmas Church Service

Kano – Gunmen attacked a church in northern Nigeria during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve, killing six people including the pastor, before setting the building ablaze, residents and police said Tuesday.

"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church," said Usman Mansir, a resident of Peri village near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe state.

"They opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers. They then set fire to the church," he added, specifying that a branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) was targetted.

A senior police official in Yobe confirmed the details, but declined to be named.

The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Yobe, Idi Garba, told AFP that many worshippers at ECWA "are still missing."

"I have been informed that six bodies have been recovered," Garba said, adding that some who lived near the church "fled their homes during the attack and it is assumed that they are still hiding in the bush."

Residents reported that the gunmen also set fire to several of the homes surrounding the church.



Yobe police chief Sanusi Rufa’i said "this is a security issue" and refused to comment further.

Boko Haram Islamists have carried out several attacks in Yobe, which borders the state of Maiduguri, where the insurgent group is based.

The Islamists are blamed for killing hundreds of people in northern Nigeria since 2009. It was not clear who was behind the latest violence.

While Yobe’s population is overwhelmingly Muslim, the commercial hub of Potiskum has a significant Christian minority. Peri is just two kilometres outside the city.

It could be recalled that yesterday, Dec. 24, in his traditional Christmas message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for "concord in Nigeria, where savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians".

AFP
Vanguard
Naij.com

Choosing The Right Accessories For Your Body Shape

Accessories For Your Body Shape

 

Accessories are the icing on the cake, the fudge sauce on the ice cream, the cherry on top. Which is not to suggest that they’re sugary substances that whilst yummy will inevitably make you fat. Accessories are the finishing touches to an outfit. From the little extra bling that makes a simple outfit rock to a fantastic pair of earrings that draws a dozen compliments accessories are an integral part of every outfit.

And much more importantly when you’re stying your body shape accessories are your very good friend.


The following is a list of accessories:

• Handbags
• Hats, including tiaras
• Hair clips
• Necklaces
• Earrings
• Rings
• Bangles
• Scarves
• Belts
• Tights
• Whatever additional extras you can think of…

Shoes are not just an accessory. They are make or break items for every outfit and never just a finishing touch.

ACCESORIES FOR YOUR BODY SHAPE:
Accessories are like everything else that you wear; they create optical illusions on your body. When choosing accessories your first choice is always going to be “do I totally love this accessory” followed by “does it suit me”. Most of us judge by looking in a mirror whether or not something suits us but what you’re really looking at is the optical illusion that an item has on your body. Sometimes it works and does wonderful things and sometimes, well, not so much.
The key is knowing about your shape and knowing what illusions work for, and against, your particular shape. And of course what it is that you’re trying to project.
With accessories there are two things to look for: 1) the size of your body and 2) where the item draws attention.

THE SIZE OF YOUR BODY
Let’s take for an example a handbag.
If you’re a tiny little thing and you add a huge handbag to your outfit what it’s going to do is highlight the fact that your body is tiny in comparison. This may not be a problem for you, but if you’re trying to give the impression of confident-business-women you may end up looking more like young-girl-borrowed-mothers-bag.
The same works if your body is bigger. A tiny little bag will highlight the fact that the body against which it is framed is much bigger than the bag. Again this may not be an issue for you. If you’re looking at an outfit and trying to see what feels off it can very much be that it makes you feel bigger than what you actually are.
So a good rule of thumb is to match your accessories to your body size. For example, if you have slender wrists, big chunky bracelets will highlight that. If you have short stubby fingers a big chunky ring will highlight that.

WHERE DOES THE ITEM DRAW ATTENTION
Lets again take the handbag.
Say you’re a pear shape and your hips and bottom are an area you’re trying to draw attention away from. Then a messenger bag worn crossed over your chest and nestling comfortably on your hip is going to draw attention to your hips. A better option hobo or a satchel worn over your shoulder sitting under your arm which is then going to draw attention to your tiny waist.
So here is where accessories really shine. What are you trying to do with your shape?
Are you highlighting your waist – look for a belt that sits exactly on your waist and draws attention to it (beware the issue of breaking up long lines if you’re larger).
Are you minimising your hips – load up the jewellery on your top half. Find a big necklace that sits right where you want eyes to be drawn and wear it with attitude.
Are you highlighting your legs – get some fabulous sexy tights.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Working with accessories is very much a trial and error thing for most women but well worth doing, particularly as accessories will usually be the way that you start developing your own personal style.
Buy lots and work them with your current wardrobe. It’s a lot cheaper than buying clothes for most items. It’s also a fantastic way to take advantage of trends without shelling out a lot of money for something that’s only going to last a season.
Most of all, notice what you love, what you wear often, and have a good look at why.
Good shopping!

-Lisa,bodyshapestyle.com