Gist Arena

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Tolu Ogunlesi, a journalist, as his Special Assistant on New Media. Officials at the presidency told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Ogunlesi has undergone security screening and his appointment is to be announced in the coming days. Mr. Ogunlesi is one of Nigeria’s most active Twitter users, and was clearly in favour of Mr. Buhari’s election in the 2015 general elections. He will be the Buhari administration’s social media anchor, a role played by Reno Omokiri for former President Goodluck Jonathan. Mr. Ogunlesi describes himself as a poet, photographer, and fiction writer. Before his appointment, he was a freelance writer, contributing articles to various publications, mostly abroad. He also syndicated opinion articles in many Nigerian newspapers, including PREMIUM TIMES. Mr. Ogunlesi, who trained as a pharmacist, worked as Features Editor for the defunct 234NEXT newspapers. In 2009 he was awarded the Arts and Culture prize in the annual...

Igbo people ask for Biafra, Nigeria refused and said the country must be one. Dutch man draws cartoon of Mohammed in faraway Denmark, you people go around killing Ibos and destroying their properties in the North. Philips Emegwali invents a super-fast computer, you say a "Nigerian" invents. Igbo student in diaspora makes good grades, you say a "Nigerian" graduates top of the class. But Ikechukwu Abia is caught trafficking drugs, you say an "Igbo " man is caught with drugs abroad. Ibo man do his business and prosper, you people say they want to steal your land and rule over you. 90% of oil blocs in the South are owned by Northerners, you people do not say they have stolen someone's land and resources. Ibos ask for the Presidency, you people laugh at them and say "over your dead body." The North has rule Nigeria for over 38years and they keep threatening everyone else that they are being marginalized, and so th...

A Pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG Camp ground while briefing journalists yesterday at the Redemption camp about the forth coming congress in December, where he explained that the new auditorium will conveniently adequate 12 million worshipers disclosed that the body of Christ- RCCG is totally against same sex marriage and will not support it.    “We don’t support it. There is no where in the Bible where God said people of the same sex can get married. The stand of the church is very clear and it states; one man, one wife,” he said.

The fresh enforcement ban of frozen turkey and chicken which the Nigeria Customs Service flagged off on the 7 th  of July has made their prices go up by 35%. A kilo of turkey which normally sells for N750 at local stores and in the market in now N1,150 while a kilo of chicken which was N650 now sells for N1,050. A carton of turkey which was sold for N7,500 now goes for N11,000 while, a carton of chicken which was N6,500 is now N9,500. Consumers have been complaining especially during this season of Ramadan coupled with the long holidays when families are expected to be together and have the best of times. How much did you buy a kilo yesterday?

The Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, had on Wednesday, recieved about 25 landlords from the Temidire, Alagbado area of Lagos State, who came running for cover, following an attack launched on them by a suspected homosexual in the area. It was gathered that a petition revealing that the residents’ lives were in danger as the suspect constantly attacks them with thugs, was submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, by the complainants, who were led by the Baale, Alhaji Najimu Abioye. In their statement, they said, “The suspect, identified as Alhaji Tunji, has raped many young men in the area, and usually moved with thugs to collect money from traders and the people building houses in the community, adding that Tunji has continued to “buy his way out, and molest them with hoodlums, taking possession of people’s lands, boasting that he is untouchable.” The Baale, who is the town head, while speaking with PUNCH, said: “Tunji is gay. We reported him at Alag...

Nemesis have caught up with a suspected robber, Chijioke Ikechi as a victim bite off his ear lobe during a robbery attack at No.9 Ukaegbu road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia state. Ikechi and three other members of his gang had invaded the residence, disposed their victim of N300, 000 and inflicted a machete cut on a resident, Ndubuisi Mba. Vanguard gathered that residents of the area sent a distress call to a police patrol team as one of the victims held on to Ikechi after biting off his ear lobe while other members of the gang fled on sighting the police. “We heard shouts that armed robbers were robbing near our house and called the police who did not waste time to come. When they saw the police, other armed robbers ran away, the victim held on to one of them and the police arrested him. We commend the Police team for answering our call,” a resident told Vanguard. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia state Command, Ezekiel Udeviotu Onyeke, a Deputy Superinte...

A photo from the formal Handing and taking over of command between former Chief of Army staff , Lt General KTJ Minimah, and the newly appointed COAS Major General TY Buratai which is taking place now at the Army Headquarters Conference room, Abuja.