Gist Arena

The General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Musa Asake, speaks with BAYO AKINLOYE about President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on incessant killings of non-Muslims M any  Nigerians have condemned the killing of a Redeemed Christian Church of God preacher, Eunice Elisha. How do you view the fact that she was allegedly killed by Muslims? I really don’t know – that’s not the first killing. I don’t why this is happening; we have security agencies in Nigeria. But when a Christian is killed, they (Muslims) either say it’s due to blasphemy or they don’t give a reason at all. After the killings, we are often told some people were arrested – that’s the best we hear. And, after the arrest, nothing happens again. As Christians we’re going through a difficult time. Therefore, my reaction to the killing of the RCCG’s pastor is that it was an ugly incident. It ought not to have happened. There’s never been a situation where a Christian will go and kill somebody for ...

A Nigerian woman has recounted how she narrowly escaped death during the recent terror attack in France. Zainab Usman, a Ph.D candidate in Oxford University, United Kingdom, and a member of PREMIUM TIMES editorial board, said she walked away from the target of the attack 10 minutes before a Tunisian man, identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhle, deliberately drove a cargo truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, killing 85 people and injuring 303. The attacker was killed in an exchange of fire between him and the police, during the attack. “I am one of the lucky ones who had left the Promenade just minutes before the incident,” Ms Usman wrote on Sunday on her blog. Here’s the excerpt of her story as shared on the blog and on Facebook. “I am in a large crowd walking on one of the adjacent streets, at the main city square, Place Massena, heading home, when we see people running from the Promenade, spilling into the square. ...

Senator Dino Melaye has alleged that Senator Remi Tinubu has released N75 million to sponsor a protest against him. He made the allegation in a post on his Facebook wall this evening. He wrote; A civil rights movement, Committee for the Defence of Women's Rights, has uncovered a plan by the wife of a former governor of Lagos State and chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu to sponsor a protest against Senator Dino Melaye this coming Wednesday in Abuja. The organisation said she has released N75 million to Lagos State APC Woman Leader, Mrs. Kemi Nelson through one of her sisters simply identified as Funlola. The National President of CDWR, Prof. Taibat Majekodunmi, made the revelation in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja. Already, the protesters have stormed Abuja and have booked for 300 rooms in many Hotels in hotels in Abuja. She said, "We have it on good authority that N75 million has been released by Senator Okuremi Tinubu to Mrs. ...

Senate President, Bukola Saraki  on Monday  restated his loyalty to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). Saraki also reiterated his belief that the President Buhari's government will redeem its electoral promises made during the 2015 general elections. The Senate President spoke at the 10th Abuja Housing Show where top government officials and prominent stakeholders in the housing sector brainstormed on the theme: “Expanding Access To Affordable Housing In Africa.” Acknowledging the presence of the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso who earlier kick-started discussions at the summit, Saraki assured that the APC government is unwaveringly committed to the social welfare of the people while re-affirming his unalloyed loyalty to the party. "The Senate and the National Assembly as a whole believe very strongly that we must make a difference in the housing sector," he said. The Senate President, reacting to observat...

Suspect The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised the alarm about the activities of identity thieves and automated teller machine fraudsters in the country. It has also urged Nigerians to be more careful when carrying out transactions via ATMs and to avoid disclosing their Personal Identification Numbers to others. In a post on its Facebook page, the anti-graft agency drew attention to the activity of one suspected ATM fraudster, who goes by the name Akinade Tofunmi. The EFCC, which has released images of the suspect, is seeking the cooperation and support of Nigerians to capture her and prevent her from defrauding more people. The suspected scammer, who is being trailed by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, is into identity theft and lurks around the ATMs and Point of Sale machines. According to the EFFC, Tofunmi, operates late in the night when all bank transactions had closed and preferably over the weekend when her prospective victims m...

The lawmaker representing Lagos-Central senatorial district, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has written a petition against her Kogi-West counterpart, Senator Dino Melaye. In the petition which was addressed to the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and dated July 18, 2016, the senator, who is the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Melaye threatened her life on the floor of the Senate last week. She said Melaye had a penchant for violence as he had engaged in fisticuffs with his colleagues when he was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011. The complainant alleged that a particular lawmaker had even died after being beaten up by Melaye. She, therefore, urged the IG to protect her from harm. The petition with reference number SOT/Vol.2/135, read in part, “I am Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos-Central senatorial district of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ...

The feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye/ Kim Kardashian is set to a take one step further as the 'Bad blood' singer has met her legal representatives and is considering taking legal action against Kanye West and his wife Kim after Kim released a bombshell phone recording that proved the rapper had asked the Shake It Off singer permission to release the controversial song Famous. In the track, Kanye raps: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. I made that b**** famous.” During the cordial phonecall Taylor, 26, appears to be supportive of the track, describing Kanye as a “friend” and saying the song is “like a compliment” and “obviously very tongue in cheek”. But according to an exclusive report by the Sun UK, Taylor has consulted her legal representatives and plans to take legal action against Kanye and Kim K that could land them with 3 years imprisonment if they are charged, because in California where Kanye made the call from, it is...

Nigerian soldiers are pictured in action fully concealed in camouflage gear...green leaves and foliage in the shapes of trees and small bushes to match the surroundings of the forest. This is in order to move around undetected though they are in plain sight. More photos below.

Buhari and David Mark As the unending crisis in the Nigerian Senate involving the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, over the alleged forgery continues, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, met some former national assembly leaders at the Aso Rock presidential villa, Abuja. It was gathered that the president met behind closed doors with two former senate presidents, David Mark and Kenneth Nnamani, as well as former speaker, Aminu Masari, who is also currently the governor of Katsina state. Sources disclosed that the meeting which took place inside the president’s office, was part of moves to resolve the tension between the executive and the senate, which has placed a lot of things on hold. Ita Enang, the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, was also at the meeting, which ended without any of the participants talking to the media. See more photos below;

SUSPECTED militants in a twin attack, Monday morning, bombed two oil installations belonging to an oil exploration company, near Batan community in Delta State.  Details of the incident were sketchy at the time of this report, but locals said the explosions occurred at about 12.05 am on Monday.  The double strike came as Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, debunked the claim by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, that he met with the militant group at Oporoza, saying he was apparently defrauded by Niger Delta fraudsters.  Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Suicides, NDS, another militant group in the region, has warned that it would devastate the economy in different forms if government refused to create a genuine platform for talks with militants.  Chairman of Batan community, Dickson Ogugu, who confirmed the attack, said: “We heard a double explosion at about 12:05am between Camp 3 and Kokologbene communities.”  ...

Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung on July 15 announced that he held talks with members of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers. He shared detailed information on the supposed meeting with the group, claiming he took a two-hour journey on the sea to Oporoza in Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta state, where he met with the leadership of the NDA who gave him a sealed hand-written letter to deliver to President Buhari.  The Avengers have however denied meeting with him in a new statement released, saying Solomon Dalung met with fraudsters. According to their spokesperson, Brig. Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, 'Niger Delta fraudsters' defrauded the Minister. "Niger Delta Avengers can’t stoop so low to send representatives to meet with a common Minister of youths that doesn’t know his work. Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung has been defrauded and played by Niger Delta Fraudsters. He didn’t have any meeting with us (Niger Delta Aven...

The Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on Monday named Frenchman Paul Le Guen, 52, as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles. He will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach. After the meeting at the NFF secretariat, Spokesman of the Committee Paul Bassey, also said that Enugu Rangers gaffer Imama Amapakabo and former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper/skipper Alloy Agu, who served as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the games against Mali and Luxembourg in May, retain their places in the technical crew. The Committee also recommended to the NFF Board, the appointment of one time Super Eagles’ assistant coach Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF Technical Director. Bewarang, who is president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, will replace the late Coach Shaibu Amodu.

A member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Board of Trustee member and former Senate President during Obasanjo's regime, Chief Adolphus Wabara said he was startled, and so was so many Nigerians when it was revealed that his party, the PDP spent so huge amount of United States Dollar in prosecuting the 2015 general election. Wabara speaking with The Daily Sun Newspaper correspondent, IHEANA­CHO NWOSU, in an interview said he never had faintest idea that such money exchanged hands. he further said he believed many Nigerians are really startled that such amount of money in dollars in billions exchanged hands. I don’t think any Presidential elec­tion in any part of the world has spent the type of money that was spent in the last election in Nigeria on election. Everybody more or less participated in the booty. So, any­body found guilty should be prosecuted "I never had the faintest idea that such money exchanged hands. I’m sure many Nigeria...