Male Twins Marry Same Day In Warri

It was fun, joy and pageantry on Saturday February 15, at First Baptist Church and The Good Shepherd Anglican Church both in Warri when the family of Mr. & Mrs. S. S. Okoya witnessed the joining of  their male identical twins, Victor Taiye Oritsetimeyin      Okoya and Victory Kehinde Oritseweyinmi  Okoya in holy matrimony to their heartthrobs, former Miss Uzezi Valerie Iteh, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Iteh of Ada-Irri Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area and former Miss Elizabeth Oghenetejiri Edematie, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Esiteru. A. Edematie of Okpe Kingdom in Okpe Local Government Area respectively. 

While Victor says "he is marrying Uzezi because he loves everything about her and advised bachelors to go and pick a wife for themselves", Uzezi in return said “she chose Victor as her hubby because he is the special part of her and advised spinsters to be of good character, be prayerful and patient until God’s time".

Derivation: Northern Demand For 5%’ll Not Fly—Anya

Chairman of Ndigbo Lagos and a delegate to the National Conference, Professor Anya O. Anya, told some journalists in Lagos, weekend, why the ongoing confab will not be business as usual. According to him, every part of the country is now in negotiation mood and the era of any part of the country playing the big boss has gone; now every part has challenges and needs the help of others to remain afloat. Excerpts:

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

Prof-Anya-O.-AnyaA National Conference Committee, last week recommended that an extra state should be created for the South-East zone. What is the hope that it will be achieved this time?

The obstacles of the state having not been created before now have been with the Igbo: Our inability to speak with one voice as to our choice. I served in the Belgore committee and I chaired the particular plenary session when that decision was taken to create an additional state in Igboland.

Jonathan Accepts U.S. Offer To Rescue Abducted Schoolgirls

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday accepted a definite offer from the U.S. government to locate and rescue the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja.

The statement said that the offer from  President Barack Obama was conveyed to Jonathan by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 hours on Tuesday.

It said the assistance included the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets in collaboration with their Nigerian counterparts for the search and rescue operation.

First Lady Weeps As Stakeholders Shun Meeting

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan was all tears yesterday at a meeting she convened in Abuja over the abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno State.

Her first meeting on Friday set up a committee headed by the Borno State governor’s wife to ensure attendance at yesterday’s meeting. But the governor’s wife did not attend.

Mrs Jonathan was said to have wept when she learnt that the school had no stand-by power generator.

Besides, no extra security was provided at the school, she was told.

She was devastated that the governor’s wife did not show up for the meeting on Friday and yesterday .

The First Lady  insisted that the state government and the Commissioner for Education should be blamed for the abduction of the girls as they allegedly failed to act on the letter from the Minister of Education for relocation of West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) candidates to Maiduguri or safer places.

Chukwudifu Oputa Died At 90

Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa,CFR and  a retired justice of the Supreme  Court of Nigeria, was a legal icon, Chukwudifu Oputa, as he was fondly called in the judicial circle, was born  into the family of Chief Oputa Uzukwu and Mrs. Nwametu Oputa on September 22, 1924.

Justice Oputa was born into a polygamous family at a time that a man’s wealth was measured by the number of wives in his harem. His father, Chief Oputa Uzukwu had ten wives, and Chukwudifu Oputa was the last of his children. Pa Oputa Uzukwu passed on when Chukwudifu was only three months old. His mother died when he was barely six months old.

The task of his welfare and education passed onto his grandmother who laid the foundation for his up-bringing.

He attended Sacred Heart School, Oguta; Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha for his Secondary education and later, High College, Yaba. He was a student of Achimota College, Ghana from where he proceeded to the University of London, England. He was called to the English Bar, the Gray’s Inn, London in 1953. Ten years later, he was appointed a judge of the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.

Enugu State, BOI launch N1bn MSME intervention fund

Enugu State Government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched a N1 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) intervention fund.

Speaking at the launch of the fund and presentation of cheques, Managing Director, BOI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, who was represented by the South/East Regional Manager, BOI, Mr. Balarabe Hassan, disclosed that the Governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime has approved a contribution of N500 million which has been equally matched in like sum by BOI towards the establishment of the fund.

” The uniqueness of this partnership from other matching funds we have had so far, is the contributions from the local government councils which would guarantee financial inclusion of all those in the local government areas of the state. The pool of funds shall be provided as loans to entrepreneurs in the state” she stated.

We’ll treat Okorocha As Saboteur In 2015 –APGA BoT Member

An Igbo leader and member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has hinted that APGA would treat Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as a saboteur during the 2015 governorship elec­tion in the State, if he failed to return to the party before the elec­tion and apologise for his wrong political calcula­tions.

Speaking to newsmen at his Rojenny Games Village, Oba in Anambra State, at the weekend, Ezeonwuka said Okorocha made the biggest mistake of his life by defecting from APGA to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He rea­soned that such a political miscalculation was capable of costing him a second tenure in Imo Government House in 2015.

Will Lydia And The LPGA Tour

At 17 years old Lydia Ko is making quite a mark on the LPGA Tour. She won the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open as a 15-year-old amateur and proved it was no fluke by repeating the feat in 2013.

In addition, she won two other professional tournaments in Australia and New Zealand as a teen-aged amateur.

Since declaring her professional status last October, the LPGA Tour granted her membership. She won the Swinging Skirts Ladies Masters in Taiwan in December on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Tour.

She just collected her first official win as an LPGA Tour member at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco last Sunday.

Spanish Village To Hold Referendum Over 'Kill Jews' Name

A Spanish village is to hold a referendum over whether to change its name of Castrillo Matajudios, which translates as "Kill Jews"

The tiny Spanish village of Castrillo Matajudios, whose second name means "Kill Jews," will hold a referendum next month to decide if it should change the name that offends outsiders and embarrasses some residents, its mayor said on Tuesday.

The village's 56 registered voters will be asked on May 25 whether they want to keep the name or change it to the similar, but non-offensive name the town once had, Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez Perez said.

Historical studies show the town's original name was Castrillo Motajudios. The second name of that translates to "Jews Hill" and dates back to 1035 when 66 Jews were killed in a nearby town and those expelled settled on the hill.

Messi Contract Saga Nearing 

This week could see Barcelona and Leo Messi sign the player's new contract, with the two sides all set to hold one last meeting to dot the i's and cross the t's. The Catalan club have been waiting for Jorge Messi to return from Argentina to schedule the meeting.

With no other commitments on the horizon, the player's father and Josep Maria Bartomeu will sign a deal which will see Leo Messi's wages significantly increased, making him the highest paid footballer in the world. The striker currently receives a net sum of 16 million including bonuses.

With this move Barcelona will drastically increase the player's pay packet. After a long tug of war, the basics of the deal have now been thrashed out. The biggest stumbling block for both sides was the amount the star should receive in bonuses every year. This has now been overcome and the deal could be made public sometime this week.

Diego Alves Blocks Real's Title Charge

Real Madrid's hopes of winning 'La Liga' were dashed after being held to a draw by Valencia, for whom two players were instrumental: former Real player Dani Parejo and goalkeeper Diego Alves.

The Brazilian keeper stopped everything he could, even some impossible shots but he couldn't prevent Real Madrid - who struggled to go through the gears following their display of power against Bayern - equalising twice, the second in injury time.

The Brazilian full-back, Marcelo, denied that the "hangover" from the match against Bayern was the reason they dropped two points on home turf. "We gave it everything we had on the pitch," he said after the match.

Who Said That We Will Not Get Biafra

Biafrans in denmark are on top of this game, they have proved to be more Biafra than you think.They are doing what Chukwuabiama have send them to do.You people are wonderful. Nduenuwa is saying Biafra, Biafra, Biafra and so shall it for ever and ever.30th may,all the falling heroes will be remembered.

Mourinho: "May The Best Team Win In The Final"

José Mourinho admitted that both Madrid sides were well worthy of their place in the Champions League final: "Real were better than Bayern and Atlético were better than Chelsea. They deserve to be in the final. I hope they enjoy it and may the best team win. I must have respect for the team that knocked us out".

The Chelsea coach felt the penalty changed the match: "They weren't on top until the penalty. That minute was critical, because before the penalty - and I've been told that it was a penalty - their goalkeeper made a decisive save and then they got the penalty, which was smartly won by the striker. After that there was only one team on the pitch".

All Eyes On Madrid At Estádio Da Luz

Madrid derby showdown for the Champions League final. For the first time in the tournament's history, two teams from the same city are to go head to head for the honour of lifting Ol' Big Ears. Atlético and Real Madrid will battle it out after masterfully triumphing in their respective ties against Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

It is a scenario that has never been seen before. There have been finals in the past involving two teams from the same country, as was the case with Bayern and Borussia last year, but a head to head between neighbours is a new phenomenon. All of Europe will be treated to a game which will see a fierce rivalry between the two finalists.

1500 Year Old Bible Confirms That Jesus Christ Was Not Crucified – Vatican In Awe

Much to the dismay of the Vatican, an approx. 1500-2000 year old bible was found in Turkey, in the Ethnography Museum of Ankara.  Discovered and kept secret in the year 2000, the book contains the Gospel of Barnabas – a disciple of Christ – which shows that Jesus was not crucified, nor was he the son of God, but a Prophet.  The book also calls Apostle Paul “The Impostor”.  The book also claims that Jesus ascended to heaven alive, and that Judas Iscariot was crucified in his place.

 John XXIII And John Paul II Become Saints

Pope Francis made history on Sunday, elevating to sainthood John XXIII and John Paul II, two of his most famous papal predecessors, in a ceremony bearing themes of hope and reconciliation for the world’s one billion Roman Catholics.

With crowds filling St. Peter’s Square and spilling out across Rome, Francis presided over an elaborate Mass beneath drizzly skies, canonizing the two towering figures of 20th-century Catholicism, men who also hold very different legacies in the church.

Francis, who made the decision to hold the joint canonization, portrayed the two former popes as “men of courage” who shared a place in history.

“They were priests, bishops and popes of the 20th century,” he said in his homily. “They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful; faith was more powerful.”

Barcelona Claim Emotional win

Barcelona overcame a 2-0 second half deficit thanks to a pair of own goals and a late Lionel Messi winner to take the three points.

Head coach Gerardo Martino pencilled in a back four of Dani Alves, Javier Mascherano, Marc Bartra and Adriano to protect goalkeeper Pinto. In midfield it was the trusted trio of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta while in attack Pedro and Alexis Sánchez joined Messi.

It was a fairly even first half hour with a 17th minute Messi chance being the best scoring opportunity for Barcelona.

Following a Xavi chance in the 41st minute, Villarreal's attack would spring to life in the moments right before halftime.

The action would come via the club's Mexican duo of Giovani dos Santos and Javier Aquino as Dos Santos did well on the left side before centering for Aquino whose shot was cleared off the line by Bartra.

From what I've read, Real think they're already in the final--PEP

Pep Guardiola reiterated that the pace of Real Madrid's frontmen makes them "impossible" to stop once they get into full flow. Instead, the Bayern Munich coach appealed to his players to show heart and sought to motivate them by suggesting Real believe they are already in the final.

On Franck Ribéry, he said: "It makes me very happy to see him playing well. He should have been named World Player of the Year this year and we'll need him at his best to knock Real Madrid out".

As for the different threat posed by Isco and Bale, he noted that "If Isco plays we'll be wary of certain things and if Bale plays, then we'll be mindful of others. My hunch is that all the big guns will play".

PDP Reps To Present Impeachment Motion Against Jonathan

             

THE battle for political supremacy in the House of Representatives is set to be rekindled with the plan by 37 former members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to present an impeachment motion against President Goodluck Jonathan.

The legislators, who are allegedly acting in concert with their governors who defected with them to All Progressives Congress, APC, are also following up their plans with a high profile sensitisation campaign against alleged misdeeds of the administration.

Jonathan-worried

The plan to present the impeachment motion Vanguard learnt is, however, being seriously opposed by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and some PDP loyalists in the House who have warned the 37 members that the plan could worsen their precarious position.

The impeachment notice, which has been articulated into 30 points according to sources in the camp of the legislators, is a narrative of alleged misdeeds of the administration including financial misappropriation, unaccountability, extra-budgetary spending, among others.

We Suspended Work On 2nd Niger Bridge — Minister

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, admitted yesterday that

the Federal Government erred in commencing work on the construction of the

Second Niger Bridge without consideration for the Environmental Impact

Assessment Law, EIA.

Government,according to her, failed to comply with the requirements of the

EIA law in embarking on the project.

The ministry has consequently stopped work on the project.

The minister told a Turkish delegation during a courtesy call on her that the

bridge construction had to be suspended because “ they did not comply with

our ministry’s rule.”

“The Minister of works had to run to me so that we might give them

certificate to resume work,”Mrs Mallam said.