Ike Okoro Official Blog

She is a human rights, civil rights and democracy activist, founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), and daughter of late business man/politician, MKO Abiola. Her letter below Dear President,  As young global leaders we would like to express our deep concern about the recent situations in Nigeria. The massacre in Baga has been Boko Haram’s deadliest so far and what has it met with? Your silence. Most disturbing still is the fact that you would send a message to France condemning the killings there, yet seem unable to address the Nigerian people who look to you for leadership. Unfortunately, it would not be the first time On 10 November 2014 a suicide bomber killed 47 people and injured 79 others. The following day, with barely a mention of this horrific incident targeting children, you launched your re-election campaign. And despite the ease with which you move on, even you will remember the abduction of the schoolgirls in Chibok in April last ...

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has blamed the inability of states to meet their financial obligations to workers and contractors on the Federal Government’s directive to financial institutions not to grant credit facilities to states, in spite of the dwindling allocation from the centre.       The governor said this during the inauguration of the state Chief Judge, Justice Munta Abimbola, at the Executive Council chambers of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan yesterday. He said allocations to the state from the federation account had been reduced by more than 40 per cent in the last seven months, thereby forcing the state to device ingenious ways of meeting its financial obligations. “This is indeed a hard time for all of us in this country. Like other states, allocation to this state has been reduced by more than 40 per cent in the last seven months. In spite of this, the Federal Government directed financial institutions not to grant credit facilit...

It's the exact same dress. Tina wore it first to her daughter's wedding last year. Amber wore it to a Golden Globes after-party this past Sunday. Who rocked it better?

The Federal Government has set aside N3 billion for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with good programmes for girls and women development in Nigeria. The additional fund, according to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would be an incentive for the MDAs to design helpful programmes for women. Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Procter and Gamble, Nigeria, on the Growing Girls and Women In Nigeria (G-WIN), the Minister said it was at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan that the project was captured in the budget. “It was him with whom we discussed the idea that the budget could be used as a more powerful instrument to do more for girls and women because when you empower a girl, you empower a nation. Investing in women is smart economics. Investing in girls is smarter economics because you catch them early. So, it was a very result-oriented thing. If in yo...

Four persons were burnt to death and property worth millions of naira destroyed in two separate fire incidents that occurred at Ovwian community and Warri, both in Delta State. According to eyewitness account, the inferno in Ovwian, which devastated business activities at the weekend, also razed two buildings and destroyed many shops in the area. The fire was said to have started from a brothel and spread to two nearby buildings. A source, who did not want his name in print, said a middle-aged man,  a sex hawker and an 11-year-old boy died in the incident that caught residents napping. “This is the worst fire incident in the ever-busy Orhuwhorun Junction of Ovwian community. “It is a pity that it is happening at this period of the year when people are still enjoying the euphoria of the yuletide. “Honestly speaking, this is a bad scene to witness,” said a resident. Checks revealed that in another incident, some shops located at Pessu area of Warri metropolis w...

Buhari's proof of education has been an issue of controversy in recent weeks after he declared to INEC that his certificates were with the Nigerian Army. Well, the United States Army War College has issued a proof that he did graduate from there in 1980. In an email response to Sunday Iwalaiye, a US-based Nigerian who contacted the institution in view of the controversy about the General’s academic credentials, Carrol Kerr, the school’s Public Affairs Officer, said that Buhari earned a diploma. He was at that time a colonel. It is instructive that the American public institution’s response to Iwalaiye arrived within 17 minutes of his inquiry. Ms. Kerr also confirmed that the college began to award Masters degrees with the class of 2000.

GOSH!! Wat country do you think this child is actually from?

for all the Doubting Thomas out there,saying the star actress never acquired the N38million G-Wagon SUV,wakie!wakie!

Former Lagos First Lady, (her husband was former military governor of Imo and Lagos States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd)) and and leading female UK-trained accountant Gladys Ndubuisi-Kanu reportedly recently bought herself a brand new 2014 Rolls Royce Phantom....(extended wheel base) for a whooping N120m. The stylish high society lady pictured left at the thanksgiving service hosted by the Lagos State Government in late December. what a great way to spend cash:

Followers of Tonto's former boyfriend, Micheal Awolaja did not find it funny when he posted a manicure of her new girlfriend, Deola Smart,who he has been flaunting on social media, posted that his boo who he calls DS is rocking nails worth $35k(N6.2M) and his fans came after him,lol. checkout their comments below..do you think the nails cost that much?                                                              Deola Smart (Tonto Dikeh's replacement)

On Moneday, Professor Attahiru Jega, The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said unless there is a significant improvement in the security situation in the northeast, next month’s general elections may not take place in the area. “A place like Borno State, unless something is done about those that have been displaced, even return for the governorship might be difficult, if not impossible under the circumstances.  To be realistic, we must say that it may be impossible to do elections in everywhere, in every local government, in every constituency in those three states” he said, while speaking at a forum in Abuja, organised by the African Policy Research Institute. He however pointed out that the commission is working hard to limit the number of Nigerians that may be disenfranchised as a result of the insurgency.  He announced that the commission has made adequate plans for internally displaced persons to vote in designated...

President Jonathan says if re-elected, he will tackle corruption in Nigeria using modern technology. The President said this while speaking at his campaign rally in Ibadan today. He said that even if he jails 5 million people for corruption, the problem will still persist but that with modern technology, corruption would be prevented. He said his govt is currently working on introducing the technology "In terms of the number of people I have tried and jailed, maybe I would give you the statistics in my subsequent outings. We have tried more Nigerians. More Nigerians have been jailed within this period after passing through due process. And I used to tell people, even if I try 10 million Nigerians and Jail 5 million Nigerians for corruption, that does not solve the corruption problem. So for you to solve corruption problems, you must use modern technologies to prevent people from stealing and that is what we are working on. The oil industry is a good area; we are...

Kylie Jenner shared the pic on the left yesterday while still insisting that her plump pout (right) is thanks to lip-liner but her fans were quick to point out that her lips without make-up was still as volumised as the one with make-up, meaning she got her lips done. You see any difference? Guess no matter how she tries to prove it, no one is going to believe her!

The National Youth Service Corps on Monday said that the date of mobilisation for Batch ‘A’ corps members has been shifted from Tuesday, May 5, to Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Aderibigbe said, “Part of the reasons is because of the forthcoming general elections. You know our corps members are participating in the elections. February 21 is when elections will be rounding off and Batch A, that is supposed to pass out, will still be in service to continue with the elections.” The NYSC spokeswoman denied that the action was due to fears that there could be a repeat of the 2011 post-election violence. She said, “No, which post-election violence? It is not because of that; we have three batches already in service and they are all participating in the elections.It is not because of fear of post-election violence.” A letter earlier sent by the NYSC read, “The management of the NYSC wishes to inform the general public, especially prospective corps members, that due to some operatio...

                          According to a CNN report, Two Weeks(9 Days) after Boko Haram attacked Baga community in Borno state on January 3rd, bodies of the reported 2000 Civilians killed still litter the Whole area.                               Chairman of Kukawa Local Government where Baga is Located, says no corpse has been retrieved from the area for burial because Baga is still not safe to go into. he Said: 'It is still no‎t safe to go and pick them up for burial' Sen. Maina Ma'aji Lawan representing Borno North senatorial district told CNN that Baga is still not accessible as members of the sect group are still there. 'Baga is not accessible because it is still occupied by Boko Haram'

The 25th edition of the NUGA billed for the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State come November, 2015 may still be nine months away, but Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Em­manuel Iornumbe Kucha has stated that his institution will not wait till the last minutes to get all the facilities needed in place. Prof. Kucha, while answer­ing questions on the state of readiness of the university for the Games noted that there is absolutely no reason for the NUGA Council to have doubts over their readiness as work is already in progress to ensure that construction of the facilities commence by March. “We’ll do the Games and very well too. NUGA Coun­cil had their meeting here in Makurdi and I must say that the outcome was not bad from what the NUGA president, secretary and the LOC chairman reported to me. The council saw what we have on ground with a promise that work would soon commence on the other facili­ties. We bided for this NUGA hosting and we...

The Unity Party of Nigeria [UPN] on Friday adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the February 14 polls. The party announced the adoption of Jonathan at its first National Convention to elect new officers, which was held in Lagos. There had been controversy over the authentic leadership of the party but that appears to have now been resolved with the emergence of Frederick Faseun as National Chairman. Speaking after the ratification of the new executives by members of the party from across the nation, Faseun said the UPN was a new party and needed time to take roots in all parts of the country. He said, “We are still a young party and that is why we are not fielding a presidential candidate. “We have asked our members who we are to support. We felt their pulse and it was moving in a particular direction. “Allowing President Jonathan to continue in office for another four-year term will allow for the maturation of his infrastructural and ...

Lagos State Gover­nor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday signed the 2015 bud­get of N489.69 billion into law. The event took place at the State House, Marina in Lagos. This is the first time the gov­ernor will sign the budget into law outside the office and in an unofficial period. Speaking on the occasion, Fashola said he had to fast-forward the event originally slated for Monday to enable him attend a national meeting fixed for tomorrow in Abuja by the All Progressives Con­gress, APC, so that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) could continue with their work while he is in Abuja. He said: “We are a govern­ment that is open to plan. Part of the planning is for govern­ment to set the budget for the beginning of the year. Lagos is the second state to sign the doc­ument after Ogun State, which is also an APC State. “When we presented the budget, there were financial challenges but as you know, our revenue has been based largely on our common con­tribution. That ...

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said motorists who in­dulged in overloading and excessive speeding caused 50 percent of road crash­es. Benue FRSC Sector Com­mander, Habu Dauda, who stated this at the weekend, la­mented that despite measures taken by the corps to educate the general public to obey safety rules, motorists, espe­cially commercial drivers still indulged in the act. He disclosed that the com­mand successfully prosecuted over 200 people for various traffic offences within the last quarter of 2014, stressing that the feat was achieved through the use of mobile courts, which enforced the rule on motorists plying the roads in the state. The sector commander ex­plained further that the figure covered only the major routes in and out of Makurdi, noting that the command was still compiling the data of other lo­cal governments in the state as well as the record of accidents that occurred in the year under review. He, however, expressed the hope that the ...

Dr Nkem Ezeilo lives and breathes for a healthy lifestyle. You can never catch her promoting any­thing else other than how people can remain healthy. She is a general prac­titioner, speaker and author. She runs a private practice in London’s Harley Street. Dr. Kem as she is fondly called, is passionate about a healthy lifestyle as a way of preventing and reversing dis­ease and as a key to improving quality of life. Her heart also beats for wom­en empowerment as a fundamental right of every female. To this end, she works tirelessly to spread the message through her day job as a GP, and her second career as a keynote speaker and author. Her first book deals with women’s empowerment and is entitled, Inspirational Blueprints of Personal Suc­cess for Women. She has won several awards and has spoken at the British Parliament as part of the Black History Month celebrations. Recently, she was appointed a Health and Lifestyle Expert / Advisor for BBC Radio 5 Live afternoon editi...

World leaders joined nearly 4 million people in the streets of Paris and around France Sunday, in solidarity with the victims of a terror spree last week that killed 17 people. More than 40 heads of state and government joined French President Francois Hollande in linking arms for a brief walk through Paris. Immediately to Hollande’s left walked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and to his right Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. France intervened to help fight Islamist rebels there two years ago to the day. Other leaders included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley represented the United States at Sunday’s event. French officials said it was the largest street demonstration in the country’s history. Late Sunday, the Interior Ministry said at least 3.7 million people demonstrated across France. A ministry spokesman said that 1.2 million to...

I have followed with interest the on-going national discourse on INEC, the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. I have restrained myself from making comments by virtue of my office, but l am finding it difficult to defend my position of silence in the face of what appears as a deliberate effort by INEC to frustrate the 2015 general elections. My change of position is also due to the fact that I am an Election Manager in Lagos State and constitutionally, what­ever is the final product of the voters register by INEC will also affect the performance on my job, hence, I am con­stitutionally permitted to shout loud and clear where l notice any shortcoming in the process. Moreover, l am a Nigerian and privileged to have full understand­ing of the electoral terrain, hence l owe the nation, posterity and myself the duty to analyse the situation as an insider and let Nigerians know and understand the unfolding scenario....

President Good­luck Jonathan has said bumps and obstacles on Nige­ria’s road to her promise land is not meant to defeat her but to prepare her for the promise land. He said this when he led his family members to a thanks­giving service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa on the suc­cessful wedding ceremony of his foster daughter, Ine. Jonathan, who said they came to thank God for the suc­cess of the wedding and pray for safe trip of their numerous guests who honoured them with their presence, said just like the Israelites made it to the promise land from Egypt de­spite challenges, Nigeria’s own won’t be different. He said: “I am not here to make a political statement but only to thank you my brothers and sisters and to continue to pray for our great country. “This is a period in which the whole world is being chal­lenged, just like some of the passages we read. Whenever I think about all these happen­ings in Nigeria, I remember the journey o...

Lagos residents and politi­cal watchers cannot forget in a hurry, Thursday, January 8. It was the day President Goodluck Jonathan stormed the country’s commercial nerve with his campaign train to showcase his achievement in office and to solicit votes for a second term in office. Altough the event was slated for 11a.m. that sunny Thursday, the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), venue of the campaign started receiv­ing party faithful, supporters and well wishers as early as 6a.m. And before 10a.m., the venue was almost filled to the brim. And when the dignitaries started thronging the venue, it would be an understatement to say it was a full house. The Director-General of the National Campaign Committee, Dr. Amodu Ali, his South-West counterpart, Governor Olusegun Mimiko as well as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu were also on ground to receive another party wigs that included President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the party’s preside...

Leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo has criticised Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka over his castigation of the administration of President Goodluck Jona­than and endorsement of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Bu­hari. Asari- Dokubo said Mbaka traded with God’s name. He challenged Mbaka and others backing Buhari to show the candidate’s legacies when he was head of state between 1983 and 1985. His words: “ I think that when someone is shame­less and is not afraid of God and is giving messages that are his own opinion and at­tributing them to God, he should be left alone to be judged by God. It is unfor­tunate that some people are not afraid of God and are trading with God’s name. If Mbaka and others like him say Jonathan has failed and that he is not good, we want them to show case Buhari’s legacies. He was a former head of state and ran a parallel government with the Petroleum Trust ...

Singing duo Bracket ruled the airwaves with their Yori Yori track,but since then they have struggled to have another crossover hit.In a new interview with Vanguard , they explain why they are not celebrated in Lagos Some people would say, after “Yori Yori” we have not heard from you guys again. Sometimes, I’d laugh it off. This is because, there’s a big competition going on in the industry at the moment. People tend to pay more attention to the ‘new school’; (emerging artistes) who just had their breakthrough in the industry. That’s why most times, people don’t really know when other artistes drop their albums. I remember that we dropped a song last year titled “International Baby.” Though, it wasn’t a hit. Also, while Vast was still on his hospital bed, we did a song with Clearence Peters called, “Temperature.” Later, we released “Mama Africa” followed by “Nana.” We have been busy, but I wouldn’t blame anyone who said, he has not been hearing from us again. Like I s...

Seun Kuti,Son of late afrobeat legend Fela has said he is not voting Buhari for what he did to his father 31 years ago.He told Nigerian Tribune  “Truth is that I have no reason to give my vote to any of the two contestants, but more especially Buhari because of the eternal emotional damage he caused the Kuti family, especially me,” “I will only urge Nigerians, especially her youths, to come out enmasse to elect the ruler of their choice so that Nigeria’s democracy will continue to grow. As for me though, I will never vote for Buhari because of what he did to my father. It is a personal grouse. “Buhari denied me the chance of seeing my father in the early stage of my life. He arrested and detained Fela in Kirikiri for the same number of years I was growing up without a father, and even did not allow his family members to see him on a daily basis. He eventually jailed my father and I will always remember that. He jailed my innocent father on currency trafficking, b...

On Sunday, political violence witnessed in parts of the country continued with an explosion rocking the All Progressives Congress secretariat in Abam Ama, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. Punch learnt that unidentified persons threw dynamite into   the three-storey APC secretariat at about 3.14am which caused extensive damage to the ground floor. The APC Chairman in the LGA, Mr. Christian Asifamak, who narrated the incident,   said that   his office was the worst hit as the entire wall was pulled down by the impact of the explosion. “In the early hours of   Sunday, some unknown group of persons threw dynamite into our party secretariat, he explained, lamenting that the   attack was   “a deliberate provocation by our opponents, the Peoples Democratic Party, to draw the APC into a battle that could destabilise our LGA.”the APC in Okrika would not allow Okrika to become a hotbed of crises as the PDP would wish.” Asifamak cla...

A furious fisherman tracked down and killed the 20ft crocodile that ate his pregnant wife.Demeteriya Nabwire went to search for firewood on the shores of Nawaikoke in Uganda but villagers became worried when she didn't return after several hours. A search party was set up and they were horrified to find the pregnant woman's slippers , bloody toes, fingers and a mobile phone at the spot where she went missing. It soon became apparent she had been eaten by a giant beast surfacing from the river - the same 1,000kg creature had been blamed for the deaths of six women and children who had disappeared in the past year. So devastated husband Mubarak Batambuze of Kibuye village, went to the local blacksmith and spent his savings on the sharpest spear possible.. He told Uganda daily newspaper New Vision:  "I went to a blacksmith and paid him sh20,000 (£4.65) so that he could make me a very sharp spear." Batambuze went down to the riverbank and managed to ...

The Nigerian army has confirmed 14 soldiers were killed with 30 wounded during an operation to reclaim Baga from Boko Haram.. Tough they haven't confirmed the number of civilians killed by the insurgents, Amnesty international claims over 2000 died in Boko Harams's deadliest attack since its inception.  A statement from the Defence Head quarters reads   “A total of 14 soldiers were killed in action during the attack, while over 30 who were wounded are now receiving medical attention. Most of those declared missing in action have also rejoined their unit in the ongoing reorganisation for further operations. “Although several of the terrorists died in the course of the attack and efforts at repelling the assailants, the actual figure of civilian casualties is yet to be creditably determined as is being propagated in certain quarters. “The Nigerian military has not given up on Baga and other localities where terrorists’ activities are now prevalent. Appropri...

 Here is what Toke Makinwa wrote this morning..Just like Boris Kodjoe, she questioned why leaders are not marching in nigeria like world leaders did in Paris..  "Just when we are still reeling from the news of 2,000 people massacred in Baga, 2 female suicide bombers blow themselves up at the GSM market killing 4 people and injuring many others in Yobe state. I don't recognise Nigeria anymore, this is not my country, these are not my people, when and how did we get here ??? In Rivers state there is violence, APC building burnt down , on the other hand somewhere else a PDP bus is burnt too. The election process is not a do or die is it???? So why the violence? Of what difference does it make to terrorism Vandalism should never be accepted.people are hurt in the process. Who are these people??? Should the elections be postponed? Will February be safe? Why is there a March with world leaders and religious leaders in Paris and here NOTHING! Of what value is a h...

Property worth millions has been lost after raging fire gutted the multi-storey Euro-Asia Plaza in the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island. The fire has reportedly gutted 4 buildings at the moment and is still raging on... According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) ,the fire started at about 4.36am from an unknown source and has been raging despite efforts by the Fire service to put it under control. No word on casualties..