Photos: Nigeria's Vice President, Osinbajo, shuts down Calabar for 10 hours!

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo visit to Calabar the Cross River State capital, yesterday brought to a halt human and vehicular movements for several hours as security operatives shut down the major routes in the capital city. Besides, this development also grounded business activities following the blockade of roads to markets and other business centers. Also, journalists who left their homes to cover the event as early as 8:00am, could not get to the venue even at 11: am as roads were blocked. 

This was as some press men who arrived the venue late were denied access to the hall to cover the event by security men at the entrance. Some business operators, who spoke with our reporter lamented that it was a wasted day as they lost several thousands of naira from roads blockade.
They said it was a strange development as they have never witness such scenario were a vice president's visit will terminate activities of the residents. One of them, Asuquo Akanimoh, who owns a shop at the watt market said, "i left my house at eight miles to my shop only to spent six hours on the road, even when i got to my shop the entire place was dull because customers could not have access to the roads due to the markets, as i speak with you i have not sold even a pant which is very bad.
I pay taxes and rent and everyday i my business counts, please this situation can be handled in a different way," he said Also, Itoro Etim, a commercial taxi chauffeur said the day was wasted because he could not ply the road even when he had already hired a taxi for the day.
The VP who was a keynote speaker and special guest of honor at the occasion of the 10th Memorial Anniversary of the first High Court judge of the then South Eastern State, Justice Peter Odo Effiong Bassey, held at the University of Calabar.

"Saved by the Bell" actor Dustin Diamond is jailed

Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond has been sentenced to four months in jail for a bar fight during which a man was stabbed. Diamond - who played Screech in the TV show - was convicted earlier this month of two charges of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct. The 38-year-old actor had said he was defending his fiancee and had not intended to stab anyone. He has been ordered to report to jail on Sunday to start his sentence. Diamond left the courtroom in Wisconsin without commenting. The fight happened on 25 December in Port Washington, Wisconsin, while Diamond was with partner Amanda Schutz. Diamond said a group in the bar wanted to pose for pictures but others were badgering him and Schutz, and he tried to help her by brandishing his pocketknife to deter the group. The man who was stabbed was not seriously injured. As well as his role in the 90s high school-set sitcom, Diamond appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK in 2013.

Fifteen Boko Haram fighters were killed and 20 others arrested by the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces (FDS) during clashes that occurred between June 18 to 23 in Niger’s Diffa region near the Nigerian border.

An official source said Wednesday that following the attack carried out on June 17 in Niger’s Gueskerou commune by the Islamist sect, in which 38 civilians died, FDS launched ground and air operations in the area.

The spokesman for Niger’s Defense Ministry, Moustapha Ledru, said 15 terrorists had been killed, 20 others arrested, one armoured vehicle recovered and 20 motorcycles destroyed during the operation.
No injuries were reported on the part of the army, the statement by the defense ministry’s spokesman said.

The statement quoted Niger’s National Defense Minister, Karidjo Mahamadou, as hailing the FDS for the brilliant operation against the terrorists and encouraged them to continue with the fight to restore peace and security.

For over three months, Niger, just like other countries in the Lake Chad Basin, has come under deadly attacks from Boko Haram, leaving tens of civilians and soldiers dead.

Nigerien and Chadian forces are currently engaged in a large scale operation against Boko Haram sect to secure Lake Chad basin and stop further attacks in Nigerien regions of Diffa and Bosso.
(Xinhua/NAN)

IMAX Inks Deal with Filmhouse Cinemas, Steps into Nigeria

IMAX Corp.  recently struck a deal with Nigeria's leading theater chain - Filmhouse Cinemas. Per the agreement, Filmhouse Cinemas will launch IMAX theaters in a new construction site in Lagos.

Importantly, this will be IMAX's first venture in Nigeria and also in West Africa. Lagos is a fast-developing city in Africa with a population of over 20 million. Moreover, Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa with significant market potential. According to industry analysts, entertainment and media revenues in Nigeria is expected to increase over 100% by 2018 and reach a value of around $8.5 billion.

Thus, foraying into the leading African nation with its innovative IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology will open up new avenues for the company. Notably, the DMR technology offers enhanced sound quality, high-definition video and customized theatre experience.

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond

As indicated by this deal, IMAX has been focusing on expanding its presence in Africa. Last year, the company had inked a theater partnership contract in Angola which marked its first deal in the country. Moreover, the company fortified its presence in South Africa through the launch of four new theaters.

Of late, IMAX has also been increasing its focus on the Chinese market. The tremendous potential of the country's movie market is highlighted by the fact that China's box-office revenues surged approximately 36% year over year to $4.77 billion in 2014. Riding on the growth potential, the Chinese division of IMAX generated profits of $22.6 million in 2014, up 29% year over year. IMAX also recently announced its decision to raise nearly $300 million through an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong by the third quarter of 2015.

Wike restores Omehia’s rights as Ex-Gov

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday formally restored the benefits and entitlements of Sir Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.

Wike, in recognising Omehia as a former governor of the state, had personally returned his (Omehia) official portrait to where the photographs of other past chief executives of the state were placed at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Omehia who was sworn in as the governor of the state on May 29, 2007, was replaced by Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on October 25, 2007 through the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Since then, Omehia was not recognised as a former governor of the state by the immediate past administration.

But about nine years after, Omehia’s portrait was returned to Government House with his privileges and benefits to be accorded to him as a former governor of the state.

Speaking on his action, Wike explained that his decision stemmed from the fact that Omehia worked as governor of the state between May 29, 2007 and October 25, 2007, wherein he took decisions on behalf of the state and initiated projects.

Wike said, “I hereby return his official portrait among those of former governors. He is now entitled to the benefits of all former governors.”

The governor maintained that the era of politics of bitterness in Rivers State was over and added that it was not right to personalise governance as was done by the immediate past administration.

Responding, a thrilled Omehia described the day (Thursday) as the most historic day of his political career.

Omehia described the restoration of his rights as a former governor of the state as an indication that his dark political days were over.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Rivers State Housing Commissioner, Mr. Emma Okah, and the State Attorney-General, Mr. Chinwe Aguma, were among top government officials that witnessed the event.

Speaking on the restoration of Omehia’s status as an ex-governor, a former Commissioner for Information under the Omehia’s administration, Mr. Emma Okah, described the action of the governor as a welcome development.

Okah stated that the recognition of Omehia as a former chief executive of the state was politically expedient and a display of the spirit of politics without bitterness by Wike.

“Morally speaking, it would have been difficult to explain the vacuum in governance without a reference to Sir Celestine Omehia as the governor of Rivers State from May 29, 2007 to October 25, 2007.

“The state is in a mood of reconciliation. The truth is that before the election in 2007, the people saw Omehia, loved him and voted for him.

“We commend the state governor for taking a bold step to reinstate Omehia’s status as a former governor of the state. The implication is that Sir Omehia will be given the special privilege, including benefits accorded to former governors,” Okah added.

Rep fight: PDP accuses Buhari of complicity

Former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reacted to Thursday fracas on the floor of the House of Representatives, describing it as a show of shame and national embarrassment.

The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, said the ugly development brings to question President Muhammadu Buhari and his party’s commitment to democracy, unity and stability of the country.

According to the PDP, “The disgraceful act” was a direct consequence of President Buhari’s lack of democratic credentials to respect the independence and sanctity of the legislative arm of government, the very citadel of democracy, as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

Continuing, the party said: “The barbaric attempt to physically assault a duly elected Speaker, seize the mace, the authority of the House, is a direct attack on the Nigerian parliament which embodies the supremacy of the people and our freedom as a democratic nation.”

The statement further stated that what Nigerians witnessed in the House on Thursday clearly underscores the fact that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has exhausted its excuses and has now imported its internal contradictions into an independent arm of government as a way to further cover its lack of ideas for governance. 

The party also said an intelligence reports available to the PDP showed that “the brawling APC lawmakers ostensibly acted on instructions from the Presidency, an obvious indication that President Buhari is largely an interested party whose involvement is beyond mere body language”, adding that the dishonourable conduct from the unruly lawmakers in acting out the script did not come to the opposition party as a surprise, alleging that the affected lawmakers were bred and nurtured under a political platform that it described as lacking in discipline and thrives on violence as an unwritten manifesto.