I am a professor of politics – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has hailed himself as “a professor of politics and says he is an “authority”, because of his years in active governance.

Fayose was speaking in an interview with PUNCH, where he also stated that he was not afraid of speaking his mind and criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari’s administraion.

He said: “Many have been silent now for the fear of the unknown. I’m the longest serving governor; I served under former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo; Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari. So I’m an experienced governor. This is why when I say things, they happen like that. Most of the things I say happen.

“Some people in the APC are praising me for saying the truth always. They can’t talk. Courage is a virtue from God. Fearlessness is a virtue from God. If you don’t want to die, why are you a governor? People only want the benefits of the office, not the pains of office. I have nothing personal against anybody: I speak my mind and let the devil be ashamed.

“I’m not their mate when it comes to politics: I’m a professor of politics. I’m an authority.”

When asked for his opinion on Senator Buruji Kashamu’s comments on his emergence as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors forum, Fayose chose to show “maturity”.

I will restrain myself from saying things that would further cause troubles within the party. I want to show maturity.

“If Senator Buruji Kashamu has anything against that, he should go to court. He knows how to go to court.”

“I don’t want to go to the senate, so when they are talking in the Senate, Buruji Kashamu should pay attention to it and not issues of governors. It is in the wisdom of governors,” Fayose said.

'I'm just a normal person who is extremely disappointed not to get a knighthood': Beckham's jaw-dropping excuse for his leaked c-word rants

In fairness, it was never going to be easy for David Beckham to repair his shredded public image.

But in giving it his best shot yesterday, he offered an extraordinary excuse, insisting through friends that he was a ‘normal person’ who was just ‘extremely disappointed’ at being passed over for a knighthood.

The former England captain, 41, was referring to the release of damning emails which allegedly showed how desperate he was to ensure he was made ‘Sir David’ – and the lengths to which he would go to achieve his goal, even using his charity work.

When his campaign failed, he allegedly lashed out with an expletive-littered outburst worthy of the most petulant of divas.

Ironically, one target of his wrath was a real diva – Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who was awarded an OBE in the same year that the footballer’s much-anticipated gong was unforthcoming.

In an email to his friend and PR adviser Simon Oliveira, Beckham allegedly wrote: ‘Katherine Jenkins OBE for what? Singing at the rugby and going to see the troops plus admitting to taking coke? F****** joke.’

Jenkins, 36, had previously admitted in an interview with The Mail on Sunday that her life was almost ruined by cocaine and ecstasy.

Beckham’s outburst would no doubt have come as an unpleasant surprise to the classical star, who only a year earlier had been forced to deny unfounded internet rumours of an affair with him. Yesterday she declined to comment.

Meanwhile, a source close to the former Manchester United star told The Mail on Sunday that his foul-mouthed rant was written ‘in the heat of the moment’.

The source said: ‘David is just like any normal person and he was extremely disappointed that he wasn’t deemed worthy of becoming a Sir.

Donald Trump 'avoids holding Melania's hand in public because he wants to look like a presidential alpha,' says body language expert

Donald Trump won't hold his wife Melania's hand in public because he wants to be seen as a presidential alpha, a body language expert has said.

The president and first lady had an awkward hand-hold Friday on the tarmac of the Palm Beach International Airport. He had just arrived on Air Force One for a visit to his Mar-A-Lago resort.

Trump and Melania were holding hands when he first got off the plane. But the president abruptly let go to clap with the well-wishers who were there to greet him. Melania reached for his hand again, at which point he brought her hand up towards him, gave it two pats - and dropped it once more.

'Typically a hand-hold shows a couple as a unit,' body language expert Patti Wood told the DailyMail.com. 'But to me, I think he's been saying, "I want to be seen as the president on my own", which is very much alpha. "I want to be just the powerful me." And it's clear that that's his choice.'

Footage of the interaction shows first Lady Melania was at first all smiles as she waited patiently to be reunited with her husband after his whirlwind week in Washington.

She gave the president a kiss when he got off the plane, in what was her first public appearance since Trump's inauguration two weeks ago.

Melania went to hold his hand as they made their way across the tarmac, but Trump then appeared to drop his wife's hand twice.

The couple initially walked behind a car on the tarmac while holding hands. 

My child is coming soon – Rita Dominic

Renowned Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, has revealed that her first child will arrive sooner than many expect.

The 41-year-old single thespian said although unmarried, her child ‘is coming soon.’

In a chat with the Punch, the Imo state-born said, “You know I don’t normally answer questions about my private life but my child is coming soon.”

Speaking further, she refuted claims that she was in a romantic relationship with star actor, Femi Jacobs.

She said, “Acting in those movies with Femi was not really planned except his feature in ‘The Meeting’ which was his first major film. We held an audition and he impressed us most for the role.

“Maybe after other producers watched the movie, they liked us together and began to cast us alongside each other.

Femi and I are not dating, we are friends and when you are close to someone, it helps with the on-screen chemistry. We are just buddies,” she added

Navy destroys illegal refineries, petroleum products worth N3bn

The Nigerian Navy has destroyed 40 illegal refineries, equipment and petroleum products valued at N3b in a special operation in the Niger Delta. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, at the conclusion of the first phase of “Operation River Sweep I.”

Oluwole said the operation, which began on January 8 and ended February 4, was aimed at stemming the tide of oil theft and vandalism of critical oil and gas installations, especially along Bonny–Onne channels in Rivers State.

According to him, two warships, NNS Ologbo and NNS Burutu, eight gunboats and helicopters participated in the 28-day operation. “Operation Rivers Sweep was activated on January 8 to stem the tide of increasing and disturbing reports of illegal bunkering in Onne general area. Over some months now, we have discovered that lots of illegal refineries are operating within the area with stealthily and specially designed dug-in canoes moving stolen petroleum products.

“In the operation, two vessels MV Lewis Ejiro and MV Lady Swithin were impounded, while 40 illegal refineries, 60 large wooden and speed boats loaded with 5.24 million litres of diesel were destroyed.

“Other items recovered by troops included three electricity generating sets, 16 pumping machines, two welding machines, three outboard engines and two hoses. The total estimated loss in the destroyed illegal refineries and other equipment is about N3b.” Oluwole said that five suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operation and handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies

‘What time should we call your Uber?’ – Chrissy Teigen claps back at Donald Trump

When she’s not busy with her modelling career or taking care of her hubby and baby Luna, 30-year-old Chrissy Teigen spends time on Twitter, and she sure does make the best of it.

She’s never been afraid to show her dislike for current US president, Donald Trump and yesterday was one of those days when she was having none of him as she gave the best response to his tweet about keeping bad people out of the US.

2face Idibia cancelled planned march protest

2face Idibia has cancelled the march against bad government planned for Monday, February 6, 2017.

The music star said the protest is ‘under serious threat of hijack by interest not aligned with out ideals.’

He also expressed his appreciation for the support the protest garnered and stated further information would be shared soon.

10 feared dead as militants, kidnappers clash in Cross River

A bloody clash between kidnappers and a militant group known as the Bakassi Strike Force (BSF), operating in the Bakassi Peninsular of Cross River State, has claimed about 10 lives.

Although the State Police Command denied knowledge of the incident, the Department of State Services (DSS), Cross River Command, said it has arrested five kidnappers.

Leader of the BSF, Simply Benjamin, aka G1, in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar, after the clash, said it carried out the attack on the kidnappers to prove to the general public that so many cases of kidnapping and armed robbery blamed on BSF were false.

He emphasised that all these pockets of violence, including kidnappings and armed robbery were perpetuated by a criminal group led by one Jacob, now deceased.

Benjamin said: “Two members of the group, who are also on the wanted list of the DSS, the police and other security agencies are in my custody.” The BSF boss said his group had notice of plans by the kidnappers to carry out “another terrible mission in Calabar, which I knew if they succeed in the operation, accusing fingers would have been pointed at me and my group. So, we had to confront and stop them.”

Top sources within the militants camp said, “not less than 10 persons died in the clash- one from our side and nine from their side.” Benjamin, who is equally wanted by the government had earlier raised an alarm that there were some groups in the Anantigha axis of Calabar South Local Council terrorising residents of the area. He said he intends to hand over the two suspected kidnappers to government.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, (PPRO), Irene Ugbo, said the police was not aware of the clash, but will certainly investigate the matter.”

The DSS in a briefing with newsmen described the BSF as a deadly group, adding that five kidnappers were recently arrested in the state. The State Director of DSS, Fubara Duke, said the kidnappers have made useful information and some have been charged to court as investigations are ongoing.

James Ibori returns to Ogahara (PHOTOS)

The former Governor of Delta State James Ibori has returned to his home in Ogahara after his successful completion of his time in jail.

Check photos after the cut

Korede Bello acquires 33million Chevrolet Corvette 2017

Nigerian singer, Korede Bello seems to have just acquired a new whip! The Godwin singer took to Instagram to share photos of himself smiling as he posed beside a new 2017 Chevrolet Corvette. LIB investigations reveal that the sport car currently retails at over $66k which is over N33 million naira with the current exchange rate. If indeed he just bought the car, we say Congrats!

James Ibori Picked up by DSS Agents

Former Delta state governor James Ibori, who returned Nigeria today after serving a jail term for fraud in the UK, has been picked up by DSS operatives, the Cable reports.

He subsequently taken to the head office of the secret police.

An official said it should not be interpreted as an “arrest”.

“It was pre-arranged that he should have a chat with the DSS director-general, Lawal Daura, upon his arrival. He will not be detained. His appointment was for 12:00 hrs so the operatives went to pick him up and drove him down for the meeting,” the operative said.