The Alleged Crash Landed ‘US Drone’ In Ibadan Is A Toy – Police, SSS!

The Chairman, Ido local government of Oyo state, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela, in company of the police, SSS and members of the Defence Corp on Sunday recovered the flying object which fell on the roof of a resident of Awotan in the local government.

The Chairman described a media report that an object crashed into the home of a resident as very unfortunate and misleading.

Prof Olowofela also frowned at the report and it's writers intention, saying there was nothing like a crash as reported, and that it was untrue that the US used the object as a spy .

“What happened was that a man was playing with a toy with his son and the toy got lost only to be discovered by a neighbour and instead of searching for the owner of the toy, the neighbour kept it in his home for a week . And the next thing was to read on a newspaper that a spy object lost control and crashed into a resident home”, he said.

The owner of the kite- like object, Sunday Folayan, an Electronic engineer and the Vice President Nigeria Internet Registration Association, also expressed shock at the reported crash.

Folayan, who is also into orbit, is the owner of Skynet , a service provider company based in Ibadan.

Folayan accompanied the Chairman, top local government officials, the police, SSS and other security men to recover the toy on Sunday.

Folayan who claimed to have produced many similar toys for his son in the past explained that he was playing with his son with the battery propelled toy when it got missing and all effort to retrieve it failed last week Sunday.

He gave a vivid description of the toy which he produced for his son “The weight of the toy is 0.8 kilogram with the shape of an i-pad . It cannot run more than 15 minutes . It is not solar panelled, but uses battery and a remote control .”

The chairman charged media men to do more of investigative journalism,rather than speculative reporting .

He stated that the report was capable of causing strained relations between Nigeria and the US government.

Sydney Celebrates 2014 In Grand Style!

More than 1.6 million partygoers positioned themselves at vantage points around the iconic Harbour Bridge at the centre of the country's biggest fireworks display.

Meanwhile, the nation's other capital cities were also enjoying magnificent light shows, with crowds streaming into central Melbourne for a 10-minute display that was to be blasted from 22 locations at midnight.

The streets of Sydney were shut off for its three New Year's Eve fireworks shows, themed Shine, at 9pm, 10.30pm and midnight.

Connecting To Eternaity!

As we prepare to get into the 2014, I will like to share this insight, so that in our endeavors towards achieving our goals, we bear in mind that finding our life purpose, and connecting to Eternity, is the ultimate, therefore, should be our top-most goal.

                                         

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." - Matthew 6:25-29.

Jesus Christ, in one of his sermons,  revealed to his disciples the importance of connecting to eternity. He illustrated this with the comparison of the dis-connected soul, to that of the Lilies in the fields. We know how beautiful and glorious these flowers are in their prime, not even Solomon "in all his splendor" was so arrayed, even though these flowers are only there for a season, and then fade away.

David buttressed this point during his prayers in Psalm 144: 4- "man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away". Delving deeper on this, Solomon, even all the wealthy and powerful Kings, Conquerors, and Emperors, of all times, despite their conquests, riches and glory; did fade away. New generations, of powerful men equally rose and faded. One thing however, that got some of these men registered in the Hall of Eternal Fame however, was their connection to Eternity. 

Abraham, would have been forgotten, and remembered only as a man who wandered off his ancestral-land, to an unknown place. Telling anyone who cared to listen, that an 'a then unknown God', told him to leave his Father's land, with a Promise, that He (God), would take him to a land which He would give to Abraham, and his seed for ever. In line with his obedience to this promise, Abraham prospered. He is famous, as a man of great Faith. Today, years after Abraham walked the earth, his name, is recognized through all generations. In other words, he is still living in his seeds scattered all over the world. 

Mary, a hitherto unknown Jewish girl, was in her home, when she encountered a Divine visitation. Many would have thought it was just one of those rare visions of Angels, that most religious people occasionally have, just to keep their faith alive. But somehow, peharps through divine revelation,  Mary caught it. She knew her life would change from that moment, from just another devout Jewish woman, to a name that will,  through generations be mentioned. 

Through her response: "be it unto me according to your Word" Mary yielded to a covenant with Eternity. She took it further to say in her prayers "...behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed". - Luke 1: 48b. Mary caught the revelation that she had connected to Eternity.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and King David to mention but a few. These great men of their times, caught the revelation. Some how, they knew that by keeping the covenant/ relationship with God, which started with their fore bearer Abraham, they were connected to eternity. 

Generations passed, and God re-affirmed his Eternal Promise, to the seed of Abraham. God swore to David, that his throne will be established forever. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations." - Psalms 89:3,4. To bring this to pass, God HIMSELF came in the person of Jesus, the Christ. HE, is indeed Eternity. 

Progressively, to establish God's faithfulness to 'HIS WORD', promised Abraham and David, the first chapter of the book of Mathew took time to trace back, and re-connect Jesus's human genealogy to Judah. As it was written "The Scepter shall not depart from JUDAH nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until SHILOH comes” -Gen. 49:10; and Matthew one verse one.

Talking about man's quest for immortality, an adventure that has over time, led great men to perpetual destruction, instead of eternity glory. In their acts, great-men-of-old, failed to acknowledge that only a connection to true Divinity can guarantee eternal life. Some of the men were however simply ignorant of God's existence. Majority, after having attained a certain standard of fame and greatness, as is peculiar with the human-nature, wanted more. Somehow they knew there was more to simply existing, and conquering territories  and empires.  There is this deep desire for something greater than us, which I have come to recognize as the hunger for an intimate relationship with God;  to be like God. After all, Man was created in God's Image (personality), after HIS Likeness (capability).   Like the scripture states: "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" - Psalm 42:7.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve had this relationship with God. God would come down to connect with them in the cool of the evening. As much Human as they were, they were originally created to live forever, in their youthful state. The devil, being a spirit being, knew this deep human desire for something greater. The desire for greatness, and doing what he knows best, which is to destroy, used this (originally innocent) nature, on Man's ignorance. 

This deception, saw the introduction of occultism, and misled men, over the years, as they tried to connect to what they thought was Divinity. The desire for greatness, propelled many into insatiable quests for protection, uncontrollable acquisition of wealth, through and by any means possible. It was thought that great wealth could lead to great power and immortality. Many ended up losing it all, others have their names remembered in history, while their posterity is totally forgotten.

I consider this generation, more-advantaged, than the older generations. What they traveled far and wide, performed all manner of rituals to attain, we have at our disposal. More-so, through history classes, and technological advancement, we have access to almost every information we need, therefore we know better. We get to stand on the shoulders of giants gone, to see farther and better. We are more privileged to learn from their experiences, mistakes and falls. We have been equipped, to avoid their mistakes.

Only true connection to the Creator of the Universe, of human beings and every thing seen, heard and felt, the One and only True Divinity, God Almighty, will lead to Eternity. For "As many as received Him, to them gave HE POWER to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS Name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" - John 1: 12- 13.

Like Mary, when we yield to God, turning our WILL over to HIM, by acknowledging HIS existence, and receiving HIM into our lives, we automatically enter into the eternal covenant, made with Abraham. And when we passed-on from this sphere of life, there is no fear, for as HIS own, we simply enter into Eternity, to a beautiful life, without end. For "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” - 1 Corinthians 2 vs 9. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes.

Why we operated battered pregnant woman – Doctor!

The Medical Director of Mercy Hospital, Fagba, Lagos State, Dr. Abdulkareem Shehu, says an emergency surgery had to be performed on Alexandra Ossai, the woman who was kicked in the stomach by her Lebanese boss.

He added that the operation was necessary to save her life as the kick had affected the seven months pregnancy she was carrying at the time.

PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported that Ossai, a supervisor at Toppan printing company, Ikeja, was allegedly kicked in the stomach by the company manager, Kaveh Noine.

Ossai developed complications few days after the kick, causing her to undergo emergency surgery.

Shehu told PUNCH Metro that he had received a call in the early hours of Monday December 16, 2013 that Ossai, a 34-year-old mother of one, was bleeding.

“I am friends with Ossai’s family; I have known them for a while. On the day of the surgery, I got a call around 3am from her elder sister that Ossai was bleeding. I was surprised. Bleeding during pregnancy was bad, so I told them to bring her to my hospital.

“Ossai was in grave pains and was losing blood. I had to call my surgeon to come in. There was no time to refer Ossai to another hospital; I was afraid that she would give up on the way.”

Shehu said that the surgeon had described Ossai’s situation as Placenta Previa or Placenta Abruptus.

Ossai’s case was said to be unusual in pregnancy because the placenta was brought out in tatters. The doctor added that clotted blood was brought out from her abdomen. Shehu said, “Only two things might have caused this situation; it is either she was involved in an accident or she was involved in a fight with someone.

“Her baby was brought out dead. Immediately Ossai’s placenta disengaged from the uterus, there would be no blood supply to the baby so it died. We had to give her two pints of blood because of what she had lost.

“Ossai has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating at home. After your (The PUNCH) initial publication; I had to discharge her because so many people were coming here to see her; I was worried for her safety.”

Despite Ossai’s ordeal, Shehu said the experience would have no effect on future pregnancies.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Area F police command on Saturday had taken statements from Ossai and her aunt, Mrs. Olabisi Jaiyeoba.

It was also learnt that apart from President Goodluck Jonathan’s order to probe the incident, the Lagos State Public Advice Centre had taken up the issue and promised to “follow it to a logical conclusion.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, said the case had been taken over by the Lagos State Police Command headquarters.

She said, “This case is no longer at Area F,  it has been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command and an investigative team, headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, is handling the case.”

Children 'Beheaded And Mutilated' During Clashes!

The UN agency for children says attacks against children have reached new levels of viciousness in the Central African Republic (CAR), where fighting between Muslim Seleka revels and christian militia left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced an estimated 400,000 in Bangui, the capital, this month.

According to Unicef, at least at least two children have been beheaded, and one of them mutilated, in the violence that has gripped Bangui since early December.

"We are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence against children. More and more children are being recruited into armed groups, and they are also being directly targeted in atrocious revenge attacks," said Souleymane Diabate, Unicef representative in CAR. "Targeted attacks against children are a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and must stop immediately. Concrete action is needed now to prevent violence against children."

Unicef and its partners say they have verified the killings of at least 16 children, and injuries among 60, since the outbreak of communal violence in Bangui on 5 December. In November, the UN warned that the number of child soldires in the former French colony had more than doubled to up to 6,000 as anti-balaka militias have sprung up to counterattacks by the Seleka.

Diabate said armed groups were accountable for taking specific measures to provide protection to children. These include: clear directives by those in positions of authority within armed forces and groups to halt violations against children, meaning that children must not be recruited into the fighting, nor targeted. Unicef also called for the immediate release of children associated with armed forces and groups, and their protection from reprisals. Transit centres set up for the release and reintegration of children must also be protected from attacks.

Some 370,000 people – almost half the population of Bangui – have been displaced to dozens of sites across the capital over the past three weeks. About 785,000 people have been internally displaced throughout the country since the outbreak of violence more than a year ago.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the medical charity, said on Monday that fighting, lynchings and violent attacks remained a daily occurrence in Bangui, and the situation in the city appeared to be out of control, despite the presence of international armed forces in the capital.

"We have been receiving more patients with serious injuries at the Hôpital Communautaire in the last few days," said Laurent Sury, MSF's emergency co-ordinator in Bangui. "People are coming in with machete wounds to the head, hands and arms – injuries sustained as they tried to defend themselves. We've also seen people who have been stabbed, sometimes multiple times, in the abdomen, and people who have been either tortured or brutally beaten. We have even had a case of impalement. For the most part, these are young men."

MSF said health facilities had been affected by the violence, hindering the provision of medical aid. On Sunday, a ministry of health ambulance was stopped and the staff were threatened with violence, preventing them from collecting the wounded. On the same day, armed men entered the Hôpital Communautaire with the intention of lynching patients, while health staff were threatened.

"The atmosphere is getting increasingly tense with each of these 'visits', as the attackers become more and more aggressive and angry," said Thomas Curbillon, MSF's head of mission in Bangui. "It is totally unacceptable that health facilities are not being respected and are being invaded by armed people who constitute a threat to patients and staff. The insecurity and the gunfire in different areas, especially around the hospital, impede people's ability to move around."

The UN launched an appeal for $152m last week to rapidly scale-up humanitarian operations over the next 100 days. The country has been plunged into chaos as its Christian majority seeks revenge against the Muslim rebels who seized power in a coup in March. Many Christian and Muslim civilians are armed, and the foreign troops brought in to try to rein in the violence have been sucked into the conflict and accused of taking sides.

The Chadians, part of the African Union force, are Muslim and are seen by the population as backing the Seleka rebels who toppled the president. But 1,600 French troops who were deployed in the first week of December are accused of backing the Christian majority, and their patrols have come under fire in Muslim neighbourhoods. Many say the bloodshed has little to do with religion as Muslims and Christians had long lived in peace. Instead, they blame a political battle for control over resources in one of Africa's most weakly governed states.

Obama, Clinton emerge most admired by Americans!

According to a new   Gallup poll, United State's two most famous Democrats are also its two most admired.

President Obama is the most admired man among Americans while Hillary Clinton is the most admired woman.

The title is nothing new for the duo: Clinton was named the most admired for the 12th consecutive year, while Obama earned the top ranking for the sixth year in a row.

Every year, Gallup asks Americans, in an open-ended format, to name the man and woman living anywhere in the world they most admire. Obama won by a comfortable margin with 16% naming him. He beat George W. Bush (4%), Pope Francis (4%), Bill Clinton (2%) and Rev. Billy Graham (2%). 

One percent of those polled each named Bill Gates, Clint Eastwood, Ron Paul, Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney and Jimmy Carter.

While 16% named Obama as most admired man, that percentage dropped substantially from 30% in 2012. The dip coincidences with several surveys showing Obama’s approval rating taking a hit this year Meanwhile, 15% of Americans named Hillary Clinton. 

The former secretary of state easily beat Oprah Winfrey (6%), Michelle Obama (5%), Sarah Palin (5%), Malala Yousafzai (2%) and Condoleezza Rice (2%). One percent of those polled each named Angela Merkel, Angelina Jolie, Duchess Kate and Queen Elizabeth II.

Cossy Ojiakor Rocks Traditional Attire For The First Time!

Keep it up gurl, we believe there's more in you, waiting to be revealed.