US report-Boko Haram have anti-aircraft missiles

From Punch

A report by a committee of  the United States House of Representatives has linked the  fundamentalist Islamist sect, Boko Haram to al Shabaab, the terror group that carried out the September 21 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya.
The  report dated September 13, 2013 and entitled, 'Boko Haram: Growing Threat to the US Homeland', also acknowledged the growing relationship between the Nigerian sect and another terror group, the Al Qaeda in the land of the Islamic Maghreb.
The  39-page report noted that "while there is no evidence that al Qaeda's core in Afghanistan and Pakistan commands Boko Haram's operations, it is clear from the words of multiple US officials and  media reports  that Boko Haram is supportive of, and supported by Al Qaeda networks such as AQIM."
It noted that "it is the unity of ideology and mutual hatred for the West between the Al Qaeda networks that exposes the danger Boko Haram poses to the U.S Homeland."

The committee described Boko Haram as a "hardened and sophisticated terror network" that required  multiple simultenous local and international efforts to enhance the capacity and capability of the the Nigerian Police and the military to curtail its activities.

It said there was an urgent need by the US to designate the sect as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation because it has shown  no signs of ending its aggression  against the government of Nigeria and the Western world.

The commiteee wrote, "The world is coming to know more about Boko Haram; their intentions, what they're capable of, and who is supporting them.

"The US Intelligence Community is working to erase the gaps in our understanding of Boko Haram, but it is already evident they are a serious threat to US interests and potentially to the US Homeland.
''Acknowledging this threat publicly by designating Boko Haram an FTO will establish a legal mechanism for prosecuting any supporters within US jurisdictions.

"This is an increasingly important tool given their attempts to market themselves to a wider international audience.
"Boko Haram shows no signs of ending its campaign against the government of Nigeria and the Western world. Two years after their August 2011 bombing of a United Nations facility in Abuja, Nigeria, Boko Haram remains a threat to the international community, and continues to be a developing threat to the US  Homeland."

The report said that Boko Haram had "highly skilled bomb makers who might have received training  from experienced militants elsewhere, potentially indicating a stronger relationship between them and AQIM or Al Shabaab.

 It said that besides building sophisticated weaponry, it was now possible that Boko Haram had acquired or will acquire SA-7  and SA-24  shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

The SA-7  missile is effective up to 1,300 metres, while some newer models reach altitudes of almost four kilometres. Although most aircraft cruise around 9,140 metres,  the SA-7  could be used to target aircraft during  takeoff and landing.

 In the report, the committee warned, "It does not take much imagination to picture the threat these weapons would pose to commercial aviation in Abuja if they fell into Boko Haram hands."
Out of the 20,000 such weapons in Libya, only 5,000 of them had been secured through a $40m US programme to buy up loose missiles during the fall of the Gadhafi regime. Most are believed to have found their way into  countries that share common boundaries with Nigeria.

The committee acknowledged that the  Goodluck Jonathan administration had taken some potentially promising steps in its effort to fight Boko Haram.

 It said the appointment of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), a northern Nigerian Muslim, to the position of National Security Adviser on June 23, 2012, demonstrated Jonathan's willingness to give northerners and Muslims a visible role in Nigeria's struggle with Boko Haram.
"Dasuki has taken the lead in organising government's fight against Boko Haram, and his background as a Muslim from the North may give him obvious and potent symbolic significance," the committee said.

In spite of this, the committee observed that concerns regarding the capability of the Jonathan administration to effectively deal with Boko Haram remained prominent.

The committee said without foreign assistance from countries such as the US and the UK, the Nigerian government would  almost certainly face a prolonged battle in neutralising Boko Haram.
According to the committee, the State Department, which has also engaged Nigeria through its African Coastal and Border Security programme, has focused its assistance on peacekeeping support, training, border and maritime security, and increasing military professionalisation.

But it lamented that in spite of the training, the "JTF  continues to behave unprofessionally, and has been accused of human rights abuses by Human Rights Watch, among other  entities, including the State Department's most recent annual human rights report."
It also warned that greater pressure must be applied to the JTF to abandon counter-productive and brutal tactics alienating northerners.

The committee said  failure of the Secretary of State to designate the Boko Haram sect an FTO, was  the 'most obvious flaw in the US effort to combat it and prevent its expansion.'
It said, "If Boko Haram were to be designated an FTO, it would support US intelligence community efforts to curb the group's financing, stigmatise and isolate it internationally, heighten public awareness and knowledge, and signal to other governments the US takes the threat from Boko Haram seriously.

"If Boko Haram is not designated an FTO, its potential threat to the US and its capability to attack the homeland would likely increase. It is therefore an urgent next step to take in fighting this growing al Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria."

The committee further said as the number of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram had increased in 2013, so had  the attention paid to the group by the US.

Labour gives IGP 21 days to redeploy Rivers CP or Face Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Police Service Commission to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, in order to avert an indefinite workers' strike.
The NLC and TUC, on Friday, issued the ultimatum at a joint press briefing they organised to address the dispersing of 13,000 teachers at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium and the continued blockade of Obio/Akpor council secretariat.
Speaking during the event that held in Port Harcourt, the State NLC Chairman, Dr. Chris Oruge, explained that apart from the call for Mbu's redeployment, the organised labour in the state was demanding an unreserved apology from the IGP and the state police commissioner for dispersing the teachers who came to collect their letters of posting.
Oruge said, "It will be recalled that Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu has continued to lock Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Secretariat despite a subsisting court order that the police should vacate the Obio/Akpor Local Government premises and allow the workers unrestricted access to their workplace.
"The organised labour views the action of the commissioner of police as a direct challenge to a competent order of the court and an invitation to organised labour anarchy in Rivers State.
"To this end, organised labour hereby gives 21 days ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to address the issues raised above expeditiously. In the alternative, the organised labour will embark on an indefinite strike action."
Also, the State TUC Chairman, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, expressed worry that Obio/Akpor council workers had not receive their May, June, July and August salaries due to the continued closure of the secretariat by the police.

Niger-Delta most wanted kidnapper KELVIN arrested ...

Niger Delta most wanted criminal and kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Ibruvwe, was on Wednesday morning captured by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The notorious kidnap suspect was nabbed seven days after he issued a 60-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to develop Urhobo areas of Delta State in order to avert unprecedented attack on oil facility. A special squad deployed from SSS Headquarters, Abuja and local security operatives in Delta State traced him to a hotel where he was arrested at about 3am. Meanwhile, an intense gunfight is raging between his supporters and security operatives in Kokori, his hometown at the time of this report. It was gathered that youths armed with sophisticated weapons opened fire on troops sent to secure the town.

MAN CAUGHT IN THE BUSH WITH ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE,SHE CLAIMS SHE WAS RAPED!

A mild drama played out in Orlu, ImoState, when a commercial motorcyclist, a father of two (names withheld), was caught pants down making love to a married woman in a lonely bush.
While the 45-year-old housewife was making a case of rape against the randy motorcyclist, the 30-year-old man insisted that.....


 the woman was his concubine.
Giving account of what transpired to the police, the woman said she engaged the motorcyclist at Orlu to take her to her matrimonial home at Obibi-Ochasi.
She said when they got to a solitary area along the route, the man stopped ostensibly to ease himself.
She further told the police that while she was waiting for him to finish easing himself, the man emerged and started asking that they sleep together, adding that when she refused the amorous advance, the man grabbed her and forcefully lifted her into the bush.
The woman equally claimed that the rapist tore her inner wears to shreds, over-powered and raped her.
In his defence, the man claimed that the woman had been his concubine for years, adding that he had previously had fun with her at different times and places, including the spot where they were caught in the act.
He also claimed that he called the woman on her mobile line and asked her to meet him at the agreed spot in Orlu.
The man also claimed that when they got to the bush, the woman stripped herself naked, spread her wrapper on the ground and laid down before he started the act.
The randy motorcyclist, however, agreed that along the line there was a minor misunderstanding on the amount he should pay after they had satisfied themselves.
While the man claimed that the woman was asking for N500 for the service, he offered N200, which he said was the only money on him at the time.
It was equally gathered that plan was in top gear to arraign the alleged rapist in court to face trial.

PHOTO- 2 BANKERS AND THEIR DRIVER SET ABLAZE AND BURIED IN THEIR CAR IN NASSARAWA STATE

Residents of Nasarawa State were still in shock yesterday over the discovery of the bodies of two bankers and their driver.
They were allegedly ambushed by suspected Ombatse boys, who took them to the bush, killed them, set them ablaze with their car and buried them with the car by the riverside.
The incident happened at Tudun Adabu in Obi Local Government.



The Police Command has arrested 14 suspects in connection with the murder.
The deceased bankers are Alhaji Hassan Gidado, who was the managing director of the Police Microfinance Bank, and Mr. Tunde Banwo.
The police, at a news conference on Monday, said after the the bodies were exhumed, they were deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.
It was gathered that the two top bankers, who lived in Abuja, were in Lafia for the wedding of a child of the police commissioner-in-charge of Cooperative.
Police Commissioner Umar Shehu said the suspected killers would soon be taken to court. He assured residents that measures had been taken to curb the activities of the outlawed Ombatse group.

Kenya Massacre- "You’re A Very Bad Man" - 4yr Old Kid Confronts Gunman Who Gave Him Chocolate & Begged For Forgiveness

A four-year-old British boy caught up in the Kenya mall massacre showed astonishing bravery by confronting a marauding gunman who ended up begging for his forgiveness.

Elliot Prior, from Windsor, Berkshire, told one of the terrorists that he was a 'very bad man' as he protected his mother, Amber, who had been shot in the leg, and six-year-old sister Amelie.
 
Incredibly, the attacker took pity on the family and bizarrely handed the children Mars bars before telling them 'Please forgive me, we are not monsters.'
 
His story emerged as sporadic gunfire continued to ring out from inside the mall early today as Kenyan security forces battled Al Qaeda-linked terrorists into a fourth day.
 
Despite Kenyan police assurances that they had taken control of the building, a security expert with contacts inside the mall said at least 10 hostages were still being held by a band of attackers, possibly as many as 13.
 
Kenya's foreign minister Amina Mohamed said 'two or three' Americans and one British woman were among those who attacked the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.
 
His mother, Amber, told of her family's terrifying escape from Al Shabaab terrorists who butchered 62 people in the Nairobi shopping centre.
 
The film producer had been queuing to buy milk in Nairobi's Westgate Shopping Centre when the militants struck.
 
She hid under a cold meat counter in the Nakumatt supermarket for an hour-and-a-half with her children beneath her before terrorists finally found them and shot her in the thigh.

Elliot's uncle, Alex Coutts, told The Sun: 'They had a lucky escape. The terrorists said if any of the kids were alive in the supermarket they could leave. 'Amber made the decision to stand up and say "yes".'
'Then Elliot started arguing with them and called them bad men. He was very brave.'

After discovering the advertising producer was of French origin, the men began to plead with her and claimed that the Muslim faith 'was not a bad one'.'He told me I had to change my religion to Islam and said "do you forgive us? Do you forgive us?', the mother told The Independent.
'Naturally, I was going to say whatever they wanted and they let us go'.

Bizarrely, the terrorists handed the children Mars bars before they fled with two other children, including a 12-year-old boy who had at first refused to leave his dead mother.

The fate of 20 others who had taken refuge under the meat counter is unknown.
The family's escape is particularly astonishing in light of the indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children throughout the mall after Al Shabaab launched their assault on Saturday

Europe Greatest

See them eyes red like MAN U
we still round them down even at stafford bridge
they fall beyound our reach,
oh! you wolves of the night
can not stand the roaring guns
as we beat them fulham,
singing war songs,
matching to westham,
bam bam! Aston villa have fallen
Tottenham bow to this great legion
Wander through europe,
Bolten up armours
Look out for rangers,
cut of livers and soak there pools red,
for everton we shall build a newcastle of arsenal
Blackburn all mancity down
till sunderland,
Never understimate the strong power of gunners..

Happy Bufday 2face

Happy birthday to the legend 2face idibia..many more years

WC final round-Super Eagles to face Ethiopia

Nigeria have been drawn to face Ethiopia in the play-off for Brazil 2014 World Cup on Monday.

The first leg matches will be played between October 11-15 while the second leg will be played between 15-19 November.

The Super Eagles will travel to Addis Ababa for the first leg while the return leg will be played in Nigeria in November.

Other draws made on in Cairo will see Cote D'Ivoire face Senegal while Ghana will face Egypt and Tunisia are drawn against Cameroon. The last draw will see Burkina Faso play against Algeria.

The matches will be played on a knockout basis with the winning five teams going on to represent Africa in Brazil.

Goal.com

Rivers Police prevent Gov. Amaechi from entering Government House

The convoy of the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi was yesterday prevented from using one of the two entrances to the Government House in PortHarcourt by a team of police. The governor's convoy was stopped by four truck loads of policemen as it made its way through the private gate of the governor's official residence. The policemen, led by several senior officers, claimed they were acting on orders from above.

After about 45 minutes of arguing, which included Governor Amaechi himself coming down from his car to speak with the policemen, the governor's convoy had not choice but to leave and take another road to access the main entrance into the Government House

In Loving Memory of 2PAC

17 years after;left to rest
six feet beneat our foot,
we pray the angels see you through heaven gate,even as we call on his grace.hippop is dead the day you left;
we were hurt the night the gun puff,so we sang songs of gettoh gospel burn candles with tears on our face,till date your unborn child realize what it feel to be a black man,from east coast to west coast till the date your life was cut short you made legency,a tendency of what it feel to be a blackman
till the day we see again,we bow with peace in our heart.


Comment/observation:e-mail icednice1 or call 08101966561.
written by:okorie ekezie roland

Kemi Olunloyo-Bianca Ojukwu Aborted Fani-Kayode's Pregnancy

Ms Kemi Olunloyo, the controversial daughter of a former Governor of Oyo State, has declared her resolve to expose all the dirty secrets between Bianca Ojukwu and Femi Fani-Kayode since Bianca is saying that she never had any intimate relationship of any kind with him.

Here are Kemi's latest revelations about Fani-Kayode and Bianca:

"Nigeria's Ambassador to Spain Mrs Bianca Ojukwu lost two babies for Femi Fani Kayode during our days in UK. They planned to wed. 

"Ask their parents, some in the heavens above. At least Govenor Onoh and his wife Caroline were happy at the time. The first baby was miscarried (Act of God) and the second she #ABORTED! This is what really broke them up. Femi wanted his BABY and he left HER!

 "I will keep telling the truth as Bianca needs to STOP saying she NEVER MET him!!!"
If this Kemi Olunloyo is really telling the truth then Bianca should indeed stop denying Fani-Kayode and just pretend like nothing happened...quietly move on!

FG orders 53 gold iPhones for N682m

The Chief Executive Officer, Gold and Co., United Kingdom, Amjad Ali, has told a United Kingdom newspaper, The Independent, that the Federal Government has ordered 53 gold-plated iPhone 5S mobile handsets  from his firm as part of the memorabilia for the nation's 53rd Independence anniversary on October 1, 2013.
The gold iphones are said to worth £2.65m (about N682m).
Each of the gold-plated iPhones costs up to £50,000, said The Independent, in its report on Wednesday.
The minimum cost of basic models of iPhone in gold or rose gold is £3,000.
The 53 special phones are to be supplied by Amjad Ali, a Bristol-born owner of Gold and Co. based in Dubai.
Ali, who told The Independent that his firm was "fulfilling an order from the Nigerian government for 53 gold-plated iPhones, added, "We will engrave them with the coat of arms, a shield and two horses. "
However, he neither disclosed when he received the order for the item nor the Federal Government agency or ministry that contracted him.
Gold and Co supplies royal families, governments, and minted customers across Russia, China and the Middle East with special phones.
Some of its customers include the Saudi royal family, which, Ali said, ordered a gold iPhone studded with hundreds of diamonds, including a giant piece that serves as the device's "home" button.
He explained that before such phones were delivered, "We strip them down and then plate them in copper, nickel and then pure gold."
The company, according to him, has "limited units per region and each is numbered and placed in a handmade wooden box with a certificate of authenticity and wax seal."
The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday said the alleged plan to purchase the iPhones showed the government's insensitivity to the plight of its citizens.
The union, which spoke through its Ibadan zonal coordinator, Dr. Nassir Adesola, urged the Federal Government to first fulfil its electoral promises to the people before engaging in such an "extravagance."
He said, "It sums up the insensitivity of the Federal Government. For the administration to think of doing this at a time the Minister of Finance is saying that the FG has not enough money to run the country is unfortunate. It seems that the government has gone to sleep and not in tune with the society, it is governing.
"The Federal Government should first cater for its citizens roaming the streets, and rehabilitate its collapsed industries before spending so much for phones. Any government that engages in such a frivolity and extravagance is not serious and its people should reject it."
However, the Federal on Wednesday denied ever ordering 53 iPhones from the businessman or anybody in commemoration of the nation's 53 independence.
The Special Assistant (Media and Communication) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, told The PUNCH that the report by the foreign newspaper was a lie.
He said, "The Federal Government has not ordered for any 53 iPhones from any businessman anywhere. That is my answer to your question; it is not true, the Federal Government did not order, is not ordering for and has not ordered for 53 iPhones from anybody or anywhere," Nwaobasi told one of our correspondents.

FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles Move up to 4th in Africa

In the top ten, only spain's ranking remains unchanged, and the world and European champions have managed to further extend their lead at the summit, where they have reigned since September 2011.
However, there has been a big shake-up just below pole position, where Argentina have ousted Germany out of second place after successfully qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
Uruguay (7th, up 5) are also among this month's climbers, making it back into the top ten at the expense of Portugal (11th, down 4). There are currently four South American teams in the top ten.
Belgium continue to rise up the global ladder. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their Brazil 2014
qualifying campaign and, with their current ranking of sixth, have once more reached their best-ever
position.

All matches played up to and including 10 September have been taken into account for the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The current edition of has taken the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision of 12 September 2013 on the Tunisia - Cape Verde Islands match into account.
The next instalment will be published on 17 October 2013.


FIFA.com

Bianca Ojukwu to sue femi kayode

Femi Fani Kayode responded to Bianca's lawsuit threat, insisting that he didn't lie and threatened to reveal details of his 'relationship with her. Like Bianca, he has also issued a statement threatening to sue. Read Mrs Ojukwu's statement below, issued via her personal assistant,
"The attention of Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode through one Mr Akinola Babatunde Rotimi and published in the Daily Sun and ThisDay Newspapers of September 6, 2013.The phantom claim in the said statement that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu were once good friends to the knowledge of mutual friends who are still alive is not only false, baseless and typical, but a further attempt by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode to create the impression of a connection between himself and Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
"Whilst it is important to reiterate that Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu has never met Chief Femi Kayode and does not know him in person, it is pertinent to note that the statement issued through Mr Akinola Babatunde Rotimi, falls far short of an apology and retraction of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode's false and libelous outbursts and is merely a desperate attempt to lend credence to fabrications, which he seeks to present as reality with intent to gloss over the very serious issues arising from the reckless publication.

"In the circumstances, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu is left with no option than to leave the matter in the hands of her lawyers."

Femi Fani Kayode's statement...
"We read the comments of the P.A. to Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu in the Sun Newspaper of 9th September and in a number of other newspapers where she expressed the view that the withdrawal of the comments made about her by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode were ''not enough''. We really do wonder what Mrs. Ojukwu really wants from Chief Fani-Kayode and what her agenda really is? Throughout this matter Chief Fani-Kayode has chosen the path of peace and has attempted to avoid an ugly and public quarrel with Bianca Ojukwu out of respect to the memory of her late father Chief C.C. Onoh and the memory of her late husband, Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu . Consequently he has publiclly apologised to her and the two other igbo ladies that he mentioned in the said article (namely Miss Chioma Ansoh and Miss Adaobi Ucgegbu) on two separate occassions, in three separate national newspapers and online. He has has also publically withdrawn the words that they found offensive, he has edited the said article, he has ensured that no newspaper in Nigeria that published it mentioned their names in the revised version, he has admitted that the word ''intimate'' that was used in the online version of the article was ''indiscreet'' and he has bent over backwards to tread the path of peace and to appease all those concerned. Despite all these efforts Bianca Ojukwu has refused to be appeased or to let go and she has continued to peddle the shameless lie that she has never met Chief Fani-Kayode. This is sad and unfortunate and it is beyond the imagination of anyone that a serving Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would so readily and so easily be given to telling such lies. Chief Fani-Kayode is not comfortable with publiclly joining issues with ladies when it comes to matters of a private nature such as this because he was well brought up and he is a gentleman but it is clear that Bianca Ojukwu is desperate to go to war over this issue and to cover up the truth about their past. It is also clear that she has constituted herself into the arrowhead of a group of people that are determined to use her and this whole unsavoury episode to attempt to distract attention from the wider and more important issues raised in the essay and to discredit him. Since that is the case we welcome whatever action Ojukwu wishes to take in court and we shall gladly meet her there. We will also be instigating our own legal proceedings against her in due course for her barefaced and malicious lies and her consistent claim that she has never met Chief Fani-Kayode all in an attempt to libel, defame, diminish and discredit him before the entire world. We wish to state clearly and categorically that not only did Chief Fani-Kayode know her but he also knew her far better than she cares to publiclly admit. The precise nature of that relationship will be explored and exposed in open court. It is not in the nature of Chief Fani-Kayode to fight unecessary and distractive battles over flippant matters such as this but on this occassion he has been compelled to do so simply because he will do whatever it takes to protect his integrity and establish the fact that he has told no lie. Since she has continued her shameless perfidy and wishes to tread the path of deceit and confrontation then so be it. Finally let it be clearly understood that at no point did Chief Fani-Kayode lie about the nature of his relationship with Ojukwu. However he did not feel that it was appropiate or necessary to share the details of that relationship with the public because he felt that such matters were strictly private. The fact that she mistook his mature exercise of restraint and discretion, even when provoked and insulted, his desire for peace and his gentlemanly nature for weakness is not only unfortunate but also a grave miscalculation on her part. Once again we reiterate the fact that we counsel Ojukwu to take whatever course of action she pleases and we welcome this opportunity to expose her for what she is. The matter has been referred to our lawyers for final preparation. They will prepare a vigorous defence to Ojukwu's absurd allegations and they will also determine our next line of action against her''- Mr. Tosin Emmanuel, p.a. to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

Nigerian single Ladies Worry Over Scarcity Of husband

The recent alarm raised by the C W O that husbands would become scarce in Nigeria in 2023 may just be right as P.M.NEWS can confirm that many Nigerian spinsters are currently witnessing the no-husband syndrome.
Within the last few weeks, some of the ladies who spoke with our correspondent reported serious apprehension, pressure and a total lack of peace as the consequence of their inability to get married.
One of the ladies, who preferred to be simply called Titi said she had taken the issue of marriage as a do-or-die affair due to "internal pressure" but that as much as she had tried, frustration had often been the result.
At 37, the businesswoman who sells clothes in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital in western Nigeria, told P.M.NEWS that she is not finding life easy.
"What is happiness without a man in a woman's life?"she asked our correspondent during a chat on Badoo, a relationship site on the internet.
She had dated several men with some promising marriage, but without fulfilling the promise.
"You can't imagine that in the last three years, I have dated about eight men, but the relationship was often short-lived simply because I ask for their commitment.
"I am not getting any younger and I cry every time I see my mates with their husbands and children.
"If at 37 I don't have a child or a permanent man, when would I have them? Is it when my skin has wrinkled? she asked our correspondent.
Chioma (surname withheld), 35, has found herself patronising many of the social interaction sites on the internet.
The banker told our correspondent that she is on Eskimi, 2go, Badoo, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter as well as 4clique, a site that was launched in Nigeria days ago.
"We can't tell the particular broom in the bunch that kills a fly," she told P.M.NEWS on why she patronises such number of social interaction sites.
"I always change my name in the different sites but the ultimate goal is to get a husband," she added.
Chioma told P.M.NEWS that she is really worried about the situation, adding that she lives comfortably (in a mini-flat and has a car), "but who do I have to enjoy this comfort with me?
"I have tried a hook up programme on a Lagos-based radio station, but my age is now a major factor hindering my dream of being married," she lamented pleading with our married correspondent, who she considered a bachelor, to "help dry my tears."
A married woman, who gave her name as Mrs. Blessing Aguebor and resident in Oshodi, confirmed that the issue of lack of serious men for marriage is giving many ladies sleepless nights.
She narrated the touching story of her friend who was disappointed by her boyfriend of five years when it was time to "settle down".
"My friend was 29 when he met this man in Benin and they dated for five years. The man was always giving the lady hope without her knowing the man had other plans. The year he fixed for their marriage was the year he travelled abroad without even informing my friend.
"It was later he called her and asked her to find another man because he still had many more years to hustle. My friend almost went mad.
"She is 36 now without a man. I had to convince her to relocate to Lagos so that possibly out of the population here, she would find someone. It is pathetic," she said.
A 38-year old business woman in Ketu, Mrs. Rita Adewunmi, narrated how she lost her first husband to a friend, Idayat, who was desperate for a husband.
According to Mrs. Adewunmi who remarried last year, Idayat was 36 and needed a husband but her search was endless.
"I was always encouraging her and made her a part of my family. She would always help me take care of the kids when I go to the market.
"With time, she took over my husband without my knowledge until the day I caught them red-handed and that was the end of my marriage. Ladies are like hunters these days," she said.
Asked why she was not married at 34, Blessing Osuoha, a nurse with a private hospital in Abuja, retorted: "that is why I'm on this social site. Why are you asking? Is it a bad idea if you propose to me?"
She explained that life was becoming unbearable without a husband.
"My friends and family members are always asking when they would come and 'chop' rice, and I keep hoping," she added.
A marriage counsellor in Lagos, Mrs. Victoria Aliu, told P.M.NEWS that scarcity of 'real men' is becoming a terrible condition for women ready for marriage.
She blamed the problem partly on the Nigerian economy, confusion among the bachelors on their choices of the women they want as wives and the attitudes of the spinsters.
"Many women, whether consciously or not, behave irritably sometimes, forgetting that the man just beside them at every point in time may just have been nursing how to start a conversation that could lead to marriage.
"Some other ladies are very choosy and unserious at their early stages of adulthood. They only open their eyes to discover that their friends are all married and that they are the only ones left at the bus stop. Then it becomes a terrible case for them," she explained.

ANPP, CPC Pull out of APC Merger in Anambra State.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Anambra State have pulled out of the All Progressive Congress (APC) merger ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state....

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the state Secretary of the defunct ANPP, Mr. Mike Igwilo, made this known to journalists in Awka yesterday, saying the party was pulling out because it was not consulted in all the activities leading to the merger and the recent primaries in the state which produced Senator Chris Ngige as the standard bearer.

"We are marginalised in the party and not carried along. For this reason, we find it difficult to explain the merger to our supporters who now move like sheep without shepherd," he said. Igwilo said ANPP would make public its next plan of action before the end of September.

At a separate news conference, the state Chairman of the CPC, Mr. Chuba Ikeagwu, told journalists that the party had joined the newly formed Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

He said the APC did not give a level playing ground for other merging political parties to compete for the governorship ticket in the primaries alleging that only the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controls the party machinery in the state.
"There is no equity in the sharing of positions, ACN dominated and took everything,'' Ikeagwu alleged.