I narrowly missed crashed helicopter –Gowon

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon
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Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon said on Wednesday in Kafanchan, Kaduna State he narrowly missed the helicopter that crashed killing Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa and ex-National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi in Bayelsa State on Saturday.

Four others also died in the crash.

Gowon said this during a Special Service Session to mark the 50th birthday of Apostle Emmanuel Kure of Throney in Broom Ministry, Kafanchan.

He said, “As we were with the aide to the President to pay our condolences, they were arranging a Navy helicopter to take us to Yenogoa (with Yakowa). But, another helicopter was arranged for me and five others. And that was it.

“So when I heard about this accident, it really pained me. And I want to say, well, you can never tell with some of these things. It was an accident. Don’t impugn any meaning to it. Don’t say that it was planned to get rid of some people or something like that.

“It was an accident, yes. There was this young pilot of the helicopter, who came to me after another helicopter was found for us, and he said to me, ‘Sir, but I was all ready to take you to Yenagoa as part of my duty today’. And I said to him, ‘don’t worry, there will be another time. I really hope I will have the pleasure of flying with you again’.

“These were nice innocent people. Something, probably mechanical, went wrong to have caused the accident. So it was not a plan to get rid of the governor for whatever any reason people want to guess.

“When, on Sunday, I saw the governor (Mukhtar Yero), I said, ‘I hope you will continue with the good work that your late governor was doing. It was the two of you that were doing the work. You were working to bring peace to Kaduna State. I hope you will do something about this madness alluded to Boko Haram, which, unfortunately is being alluded to Muslims’.”

Also speaking on the occasion, Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang said Yakowa lived for the service of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Fadan Kagoma village, in Jema’a Local Government Council, birthplace of the late Yakowa, is to receive his remains today (Thursday). Fadan Kagoma is about 230km away from Kaduna city.

At the Yakowa country home, workers were seen putting finishing touches to the grave he will be buried.

One of the leaders in the village, who would not want his names in print, said,“Our village is going to witness the greatest gathering it has ever seen, but for a sad reason. We are expecting the President to land in this village by helicopter tomorrow (today).”to God be all the glory .

Marry Christmas

The most wonderful time of the year, Christmas, is here again and we are pleased to announce the opening of The Lagos Christmas Shop at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos.

Since 2006, it has been The Christmas shop’s custom in Abuja to provide an amazing one stop Christmas shop to help our discerning customers create an idyllic Christmas atmosphere in their homes and offices.

The shop has now decided to share the experience of the last six years, for the first time in Lagos.

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Nearly 15 years after the death of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s former military ruler, the Swiss Government has said that it has so far returned to Nigeria the sum of $700 million stolen by the late dictator and deposited in several Swiss banks.

The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Hans-Rudolf Hodel, announced the figure at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Nice try, Rob!

Very predictable Master Kardashian. Now he's claiming his tweets were not about Rita Ora...and blaming the media for assuming it was. Below is what he wrote on his twitter page, which he has since deleted. In fact he has wiped out everything he's ever written on Twitter...

Just so we are clear I never once mentioned ‘Rita Ora’ in any of my tweets or even used the word ‘whore’ and I never would. I Respect Women.

Sad that the media created negativity for a young artist new to the game that is working so hard to make it. Never mentioned any names.

I speak truth. I'm a very Real dude and everything I say I mean…But never called anyone specific a whore and said any names. You all did."

Nice try, Rob! Meanwhile, Rita Ora has explained the reason they broke up. See it after the cut...

Photos from Friends Africa Dec 1 World AIDS Day novelty match

 

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Director, Mr. Ifeukwu Ojukwu, said on Monday that since OTL was owned by the late Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the late Biafran warlord could not dictate who the trustees or directors of the company should be.

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Rita won Most Stylish Actress beating Omotola, Genevieve, Nse Ikpe Etim and Beverly Naya, while Joseph Benjamin beat Ramsey Noah, Mike Ezuruonye, and Gideon Okeke in the Most Stylish Actor category.

Do you agree that Rita and Joseph are the two most stylish actors we have in Nigeria?