Nelson Mandela is dead

The great man who fought with all he has for the freedom of South Africa has just been confirmed dead few minutes ago... May his soul rest in perfect peace

ASUU: Now That The FG Has Shifted Grounds, Strike Will End Soon

Chairman, Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan
branch, Dr Segun Ajiboye, yesterday said
that the strike by the union which has
entered sixth month would soon come to
an end, especially as the federal
government has begun to shift grounds.
He however did not give details of the
‘ground-shifting’ he talked about.
The federal government had earlier given
the resume-or-be-sacked ultimatum which
should have ended yesterday, but later
extended it to December 9 as a mark of
respect for deceased former president of
ASUU, Prof Festus Iyayi who died in
accident on his way to the union’s
National Executive Council, NEC meeting
on the ongoing strike.
Dropping the hint in Ibadan yesterday
during the session of tributes organised to
honour the late Professor Festus Iyayi,
Ajiboye noted that the ceremony
organised by ASUU was not only to mourn
Iyayi but also to mobilise ASUU members
towards pursuing the struggle to its logical
conclusion.
The academic community in the university
staged a candlelight procession in honour
of the late former National President of
ASUU.
The ASUU members, including the Vice-
Chancellor of the university, Professor
Isaac Adewole, and some other principal
officers, adorned in black gowns,
commenced the procession at the ASUU
secretariat, Mellanby Hall of the school
and marched to the Faculty of Arts
enroute Kenneth Dike Road with solidarity
songs rendered in low mournful tone.
In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Isaac Adewole, commended the courage
and the resilience of Iyayi, describing him
as a gentleman who was committed to not
only the development of education in
Nigeria but towards good living of
Nigerians. He said the dreams of Iyayi
should be made to come true.
In his tribute, a former National President
of ASUU, Professor Sola Olukunle,
described Iyayi as a man of peace whose
peace mission is also based on reasonable
principles, therefore it would be a great
disservice if the current struggle is
subdued and disallowed to reach its
logical conclusion as intended by the late
leader.

Mercy Johnson Straps Baby Purity On Her Back While On A Movie Set (picture)

Nollywood Actress, Mercy Johnson was
pictured with her daughter, Purity, strapped
on her back in the traditional African style of
carrying little children.
The star is presently on a movie set in Atlanta
alongside fellow Nollywood actress, Patience
Ozokwor, to shoot a sequel of the movie, Baby
Oku.

Trader Mixes Local Drugs, Sells as Cough Syrup

The National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control has apprehended a
trader, Chijioke Nwagu, for allegedly
manufacturing and selling counterfeit drugs.
According to NAFDAC, the suspect, who lives
on Elemijaye Street, Ajamgbadi area of Lagos
State, carries out the illegal manufacture in
the toilet of his two-bedroom flat where he
mixes chemicals in a 200-litre drum.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Paul
Orhii, while briefing journalists in Lagos on
Tuesday, said the suspect specialised in
counterfeiting cough syrup.
He said, “Following an intelligence report and
surveillance mounted at Alafia, Orile Iganmu,
where Nwagu supplies counterfeit Tutolin with
codeine cough syrup that he manufactures,
operatives of NAFDAC intercepted and
arrested one Uzodinma Odoemina with fake
drugs
“Odoemina led investigators to Nwagu’s house
where it was discovered that Nwagu carries
out the illegal manufacture in the toilet of his
house by pouring different locally-
manufactured cough syrup of reputable
companies into 200 litres drum and after
mixing them, he then dispenses them into
empty bottles and labels it as Tutolin with
codeine cough syrup.
“In his house, we found, four cartons of
Uniplex cough syrup, four rolls of Bancof
cough expectorant, 50 bottles of Dr Meyers’
Coflin Cough Linctus, 1,500 bottles of Exiplon
Epectorant, two cartons of Halfan tablet, 200
litres drum, one carton of Dr Nando double
77 keys to power and empty containers of
these drugs as well.”
Punch learnt that the suspect’s wife, Jane,
who was at the house, was also arrested by
the agency.
But the suspect explained that he did not plan
on selling the goods in Nigeria, saying they
were meant for export to Benin Republic.
He said, “I bought the packaging material of
Tutolin with codeine from one Chibuike in
China and the product was meant to be
supplied to Benin Republic. In the course of
my business, I met one Chisom Onwudinjo,
who came to my house to see how I
manufacture my goods in my house.
“He subsequently agreed to be my distributor
and he also accepted that we will not sell the
product here in Nigeria.”
Another suspect, Ugbo Collins, who resides in
Onitsha, Anambra State, was arrested for
importing over 1,000 cartons of fake drugs
worth over N54m into the country.
The NAFDAC boss said, “The agency
intercepted a 20 feet container imported by
NGOD’s Success Ventures. The importer
fraudulently gave its name as Lamek’s Global
Links Limited on the consignment bill
purported to have originated from Pakistan,
but investigations revealed the real name of
the importer and that the goods came from
China.
“Investigations revealed that Collins from
Onitsha contacted one Larry Amah to clear
the consignment for him. Amah in turn, sub-
contracted the job to one Okey, an employee
of Ocean Star Shipping Company.
“The container was impounded and counterfeit
pharmaceuticals worth N54, 702, 500 were
discovered in the container. Some of them
include 348 cartons of Strepsil Tablets; 34
cartons of Augmentin Suspension, eight
cartons of Disprin Tablet, 99 cartons of
Septran Syrup and 20 cartons of Bonjela.
“Others include 126 cartons of CaC-1000
Tablets, 92 cartons of Cicatrin powder, four
cartons of Mydriacyl Eye Drop, seven cartons
of Glucophage Tablet, 27 cartons of Nystatin,
11 cartons of Apmiclox Suspension, 246
cartons of Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, 22 cartons
of Optalidon Tablet, 28 cartons of Encephabol
Liquid and 23 cartons of V-tab.”
The suspect, however, said he did not know
that the products were fake, adding that he
had even been administering the drugs to his
children.
“I have four children and they all use the
drugs. I even give my seven-month-old baby.
I was told that the goods were from Pakistan,
I did not know they were from China,” he
said.
Orhii urged members of the public to
continue to give the agency useful
information that could lead to the arrest of
drug counterfeiters.

Pope Francis now secretly sneaking out of the Vatican at night to give money to the poor

He has personally sent money to old women struggling on a pension and to immigrants. He has personally called people who have written him letters. Is Pope Francis now secretly sneaking out of the Vatican at night to give money to the poor? The speculation
that he may be doing so arises from an
interview with Archbishop Konrad Krajewski,
“Almoner of His Holiness” – a little-known
post that dates back to the 13th century that
involves distributing money from the Holy
See to the poor and marginalized.
“When I say to him ‘I’m going out into the city
this evening’, there’s the constant risk that he
will come with me,” said the Polish prelate.
When asked directly if Pope Francis ever
joined him on these evening trips into the
city, Archbishop Krajewski only smiled and
said “Next question, please.” Some take that
as an implicit suggestion that the Holy Father
indeed is going incognito into the streets to
give alms as he did while Buenos Aires.
“That’s what he’s like – at the beginning (of
his papacy) he didn’t think of the
awkwardness that he might create. As
archbishop of Buenos Aires, when he was
known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the
future pontiff “would go out at night . . . to
find people, talk with them, or buy them
something to eat. He would sit with them and
eat with them on the street. This is what he
wants from me,” Krajewski said.
Rumors of past Popes sneaking out of the
Vatican are plentiful, including the stories
that Pope John XIII would sneak out to walk
and enjoy the beauty of Rome at night or that
Pope Pius XII would dress as a Franciscan
during WWII to assist with efforts to smuggle
Rome’s Jewish population to safety.

Nairalanders' Support For The "Go And Die" Widow Acknowledged On Newspaper

Just came across this story on a newspaper
on how people via social medium drew
attention to the 'go and die' widow. While
listing few medium that created threads and
groups, Nairaland was listed after Facebook.
You guys really did a nice job. Obviously,
eyes are watching.
Edo PDP, Oshiomhole Politicize Widow
Saga
Weeks ago, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State was filmed using uncouth words
on a widow who was allegedly trading on the
walkway in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The Governor was said to be on an
inspection tour when he encountered a
woman trading on the pedestrian walkway –
an act which violates the Edo State
environmental laws. The task force which
accompanied the Comrade Governor on the
tour immediately took possession of the
woman’s wares with the intention of
confiscating them.
The woman, on seeing Governor Oshiomhole,
immediately fell on her knees, shedding
tears and crying for mercy. In her plea, she
hinted that she is a poor widow who trades
to take care of her family. She lamented that
her late husband was a police officer and
was killed in active service. Her intention was
to use her words to pacify the already
irritated Governor and probably get her
wares back.
Surprisingly, Oshiomhole, who many
believed to be a listening Governor,
obviously irritated, shut the woman down. It
would have been less atrocious if only her
plea fell on deaf ears. However, Oshiomhole
won the criticism of people when he
lambasted the woman and never exhibited
any humane feeling in dealing with the
helpless widow.
“If you are a widow, go and die,”
Oshiomhole said to the woman.
Like many other videos of public interest, it
caused a huge traffic on all social medium,
with millions of viewers on YouTube.
Nigerian at home and in diaspora, in their
swift response, lambasted the Governor for
his uncouth and derogatory outburst on the
widow. They reminded him not to be a poor
student of history as he had always
presented himself as being a part of the
poor and defenseless.
Nigerians did not end their interest in
criticism; some magnanimous Nigerians
immediately launched a fundraiser for the
widow. On Facebook, Nairaland, Twitter and
some other social channels, people who were
eager to donate created groups and sent
delegates to try and locate the widow so
their donation would get to her.
Like an opportunist, the Edo State Chapter of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as
always expected in Nigeria where every
conduct of a public officer is seen as an
opportunity to be politically exploited
immediately keyed into the occasion to
express their disgust at the conduct of
Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of
the State chapter of PDP, Chief Dan Osi
Orbih, the party lamented on the
insensitivity of the Governor towards the
plight of poor and oppressed people in the
society. The party further stated that the
widow would be given N250, 000 to
subsidize the effect of the ferocious assault,
perpetrated by the Governor and his team.
The statement party reads: “The PDP, Edo
State will not let any Edo person ‘to go and
die’ if it can help it, especially not
hardworking people like that widow who is
engaged in lawful enterprises that are, in
themselves, not easy to carry on.
“To this end, our party has instituted an
endowment fund for all widows and
oppressed people in the state and by this
release, we invite the widow captured in the
video of the encounter with Governor
Oshiomhole to come to the PDP Secretariat
on No. 70, Sapele Road, at 11am on Tuesday
December 3, 2013 to receive a first-
installment sum of N250,000.00, to cushion
the pain, trauma and loss occasioned by her
mistreatment and the seizure of the items
she sells,” the party said.
To thwart the efforts of the state PDP in
regurgitation its severely battered
credibility, and to make amends for his
widely condemned conduct, the Comrade
Governor, in a swift response, invited the
widow to the Government House in Benin on
Monday December 2, 2013 – a day to the
proposed meeting with the State PDP.
Oshiomhole expressed his regret in the
choice of words he used against the widow
and offered an apology.
In addition, the Governor splashed a cash
amount of N2 million on the widow;
absorbed her into the state taskforce which
entitles her to salary and promised to
sponsor her son who accompanied her to
the university.
A source in the Government House also
hinted that the Governor remarked behind
cameras that it would be unwise for the
woman to fraternize with the PDP after the
unexpected showers of blessing which has
been rained upon her.
According to an Edo saying, when you
achieve something greater than a farmland,
you abandon the farm. This was eventually
displayed by the widow, who defiled all
anticipation from the PDP camp and never
showed up for the presentation of the N250,
000 as promised by the PDP.
Many opined that the proposed presentation
of the said amount by the PDP was only a
mere show of chauvinistic benevolence and
an act meant to discredit the Governor
whose administration has been said to be
more productive than that of successive PDP
government in the state.
The political wrestling has however turned
out to benefit the now tagged “happy widow”
as her once bad encounter has turned her
fortune around.

Scientist Make Amazing Discoveries On HIV, New Treatment Possible

Scientists have recently discovered a
molecular invisibility cloak that enables HIV,
the virus causing AIDS, to hide inside cells of
the body without triggering the body's natural
defence systems.
The new study demonstrates how 'uncloaking'
the virus using an experimental drug triggers
an immune response that stops the virus from
replicating in cells grown in the laboratory.
The findings could help to improve existing
therapies for HIV infection and find new ways
of virus treatment.
The innate immune system is the body's first
line of defence against infection and
incorporates an alarm system present in all
cells of the body that detects the presence of
'foreign' material from invading bacteria and
viruses.
When the alarm is tripped, the infected cell
begins an anti-viral programme and sends out
warning signals to alert other cells that a
virus is around.