U.S. warns North Korea of 'overwhelming' response if nuclear arms used

 
   U. S Defense Secretary James Mattis
       

U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned North Korea on Friday of an "effective and overwhelming" response if it chose to use nuclear weapons, as he reassured South Korea of steadfast U.S. support.

"Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said at South Korea's defense ministry, at the end of a two-day visit.
Mattis' remarks come amid concern that North Korea could be readying to test a new ballistic missile, in what could be an early challenge for Trump's administration.

North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and its main ally, the United States, conducted more than 20 missile tests last year, as well as two nuclear tests, in defiance of U.N. resolutions and sanctions.

The North also appears to have also restarted operation of a reactor at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility that produces plutonium that can be used for its nuclear weapons program, according to the U.S. think-tank 38 North.

"North Korea continues to launch missiles, develop its nuclear weapons program and engage in threatening rhetoric and behavior," Mattis said.
North Korea's actions have prompted the United States and South Korea to respond by bolstering defenses, including the expected deployment of a U.S. missile defense system, known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in South Korea later this year.
The two sides reconfirmed that commitment on Friday.

China, however, has objected to THAAD, saying it is a direct threat to China's own security and will do nothing to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, leading to calls from some South Korean opposition leaders to delay or cancel it.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang reiterated China's opposition, which he said would never change.
"We do not believe this move will be conducive to resolving the Korean peninsula nuclear issue or to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula," Lu told a daily news briefing in Beijing.

South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said Mattis' visit to Seoul - his first trip abroad as defense secretary - sent a clear message of strong U.S. support.

"Faced with a current severe security situation, Secretary Mattis' visit to Korea ... also communicates the strongest warning to North Korea," Han said.

Once fully developed, a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) could threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea. ICBMs have a minimum range of about 5,500 km (3,400 miles), but some are designed to travel 10,000 km (6,200 miles) or more.

Former U.S. officials and other experts have said the United States essentially has two options when it comes to trying to curb North Korea's fast-expanding nuclear and missile programs - negotiate or take military action.
Neither path offers certain success and the military option is fraught with huge dangers, especially for Japan and South Korea, U.S. allies in close proximity to North Korea.

Mattis is due in Japan later on Friday.

SOURCE: Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie, Robert Birsel (REUTERS)

SEUN EGBEGBE: TOYIN AIHMAKU'S LOVER BOY CAUGHT DOING IT AGAIN

Controversial Yoruba film promoter cum producer, Seun Egbegbe, was caught attempting to defraud a bureau de change operator of the sums of $9,000 and £3,000 about N10m on Thursday, police said.

The event occurred at the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos in the early hours of Thursday.

Witnesses say Egbegbe allegedly disguised as the Managing Director of Gbagada general hospital while his accomplice, a certain Ayo Oyekan, came disguised as a patient.

He has since been arrested by policemen from the Area H command for allegedly defrauding some Bureau De Change (BDC) operators of about N10 million at Gbagada.

This incident would be the fourth time Mr. Egbegbe would be embroiled in an alleged theft scandal.

In December 2016, the accused was also allegedly involved in a robbery incident at the Computer Village in Lagos and he was almost lynched at for allegedly stealing 10 iPhones.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, acting on a count charge of stealing, under Section 278 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, remanded Egbegbe in prison custody at the time.

The producer, who was later granted bail of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum, traveled to Malaysia to cool off and returned recently.

A few months earlier he was also arrested at a GOTV dealer store in Ibadan for attempting to make away with some decoders.

With his previous trial adjourned to February 18, Egbegbe, it was gathered, went to Gbagada with some of his friends under the guise that he wanted to change some dollars.


A highly celebrated Yoruba filmmaker, Egbegbe’s romance with actress Toyin Aihmaku shot him into prominence as it made news headlines.
Egegbe and Toyin were almost inseparable. But today, both parties are sworn enemies and never see eye to eye.

In fact, his liaison with Ms. Aihmaku is said to be of the reasons why the actress rebranded and took on a new name, Toyin Abraham, in 2017.

[PHOTOS] Meet The Nigerian Surgeon Who Removed Baby From Mother’s Womb, Operated On Her Tumor & Returned Her Back

Dr. Olutoye is  the Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Fetal Center and fetal surgery team member, as well as a general pediatric surgeon. Dr. Olutoye received his medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1988 and his PhD in anatomy from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, in 1996.
He and his surgeon partner, Dr. Darrell Cass of Texas Children’s Hospital operated on a 23-week-old baby
Little Lynlee Hope suffered from a tumour known as Sacrococcygeal Teratoma and had to be removed from her mother’s womb, operated on and returned back.
She healed and continued to grow until she was born again at 36 weeks.

He completed his residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Virginia Commonwealth University, and his fellowship in pediatric surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Olutoye is a member of the International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society and is a Fellow of the Surgical Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Surgeons; he is also a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons.
Dr. Olutoye has specialized clinical expertise in fetal and neonatal surgery, with specific interest in congenital diaphragmatic hernia and complex wounds. Dr. Olutoye’s research interests include understanding the role of the fetal inflammatory response in scarless fetal wound healing, development of animal models of congenital anomalies, in utero correction of severe congenital malformations, and the study of endothelial-leukocyte and endothelial-tumor cell interactions with a goal to better understand the mechanisms of tumor metastasis.
Dr. Olutoye is certified by the American Board of Surgery in Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.

Daura Bursts To Life As Buhari’s Daughter Weds In Katsina

Business boomed in Daura, Katsina State, as the ancient town went agog for President Buhari’s daughter wedding on Friday.
Super markets, shops, soft drink sellers and commercial motorcyclists recorded a boom in their businesses as visitors and well wishers from across the country were sighted purchasing various traditional wares.
The traders at Daura city market also conducted their businesses without hindrance.
The soft drink and bottled water sellers are receiving high patronage due the scorching heat in the city.
It was observed that there was high vehicular traffic as various brands of assorted cars and jeeps belonging to invitees flooded the town.

Several of the invitees drove straight to the Emir of Daura’s palace, Alhaji Umar Farouq, to pay homage before proceeding to the venue of the wedding.
The residents of Daura were also seen in high spirit, receiving and entertaining visitors as well as directing them to various places in appreciation of their presence for the high profile wedding.
The President’s daughter, Fatima, is getting married to her heartthrob, Malam Gimba Yau Kumo.
She will become the fourth wife of Gimba, who is a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

SOURCE: (NAN)

‘How Can Someone With MSc In French Literature Be Agric Minister?’ – Reno Omokri Blasts Ogbeh

Reno Omokri, spokesman of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has again taken a swipe at another Minister in the Buhari government, questioning the educational qualification of Chief Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture.

 Omokri had previously attacked Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, putting her educational qualifications into perspective as he rubbished her alma mater.

 https://twitter.com/renoomokri/status/791692860680568832/photo/1

Omokri, while sharing a thought on his twitter page, noted that Nigeria is experiencing a hike in food prices because of Audu Ogbeh’s educational qualification.

[PHOTOS] First Wife Reacts As President Buhari’s Second Daughter Becomes Her Husband’s 4th Wife

The  wedding of the second daughter of Nigeria’s President, Hajiya Fatima Muhammadu Buhari,to a former Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, 57-year-old Malam Gimba Yaukumo, today Friday October 28th is currently ongoing.
One of the wives of President Buhari’s daughter’s husband-to-be, Gimba Aishatu took to social media to post loved up photos of she and her 57-year-old husband as he sets to marry Fatima Buhari as his fourth wife today.

See details:

SOURCE: NIGERIAN MONITOR

PHOTOS: Protest in Ondo over Jegede’s replacement as PDP candidate

Ondo state is becoming more violent over the replacement of Jegede as PDP gubernatorial candidate...Jimoh Ibrahim has found favor in the hand of some party members and even INEC itself.

The remover of Jegede who most people think can not compete with the ACP gubernatorial candidate Oluwaromiti Odunayo Akeredolu has caused a great chaos in Akure and Ondo town...

 SOURCE: OMOTOSO IBUKUNOLUWA / PUNCH

Oyo pupils set classrooms ablaze over failure

There was breach of the peace at the Isale-Oyo Community High School, Oyo town, after some pupils of the college reportedly set ablaze some classrooms over mass failure in their examination.

It was learnt that the aggrieved pupils stormed the school premises on Thursday morning charting solidarity songs.

They were said to have gone haywire afterwards, set fire to blocks of classrooms and fled the premises.

The PUNCH gathered that the school authorities alerted men of the Oyo State Fire Service, who responded swiftly to put out the fire.

Policemen were deployed in the school to restore peace but none of the pupils had been arrested as of the time of filing this report.

The disturbance, observers noted, marked the worst phase of the unrest that began days ago over mass failure in exams.

The school compound was deserted as teachers and other pupils reportedly fled for fear of being harmed.

Our correspondents learnt that there had been lingering crises since Monday in some secondary schools in the state following mass failure in the last promotion examinations.

The Oyo State Government has set a new promotion policy which states that only pupils with 50 per cent in Mathematics and English language will transit to the next class.

Pupils of Anglican Secondary School in Oyo reportedly unleashed mayhem on their teachers and destroyed billboards bearing Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s picture.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Banji Olowofela, lamented poor performance of pupils in external examinations, saying public schools could no longer continue to breed substandard pupils.

 “What government says is that there is no automatic promotion again. Our external examinations from1999 till date have been abysmally poor. If we push them to the outside world, we are not helping them. We are trying to give them the opportunity to rediscover themselves. The school has been closed indefinitely,” he added.

SOURCE: PUNCH

Ekiti Assembly drags Fayemi, others to EFCC over alleged N40bn fraud

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC), calling for the investigation and prosecution of the immediate past governor of the State and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others, for allegedly looting the State to the tune of over N40 billion. The petition, dated October 24, 2016 and signed by Speaker of the House of Assembly, Pastor Kolawole Oluwawole, was submitted to the EFCC in Abuja yesterday, by a team of the Deputy Speaker, Hon Segun Adewumi, Chairman House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso and Hon Sina Animasaun. However, in a swift reaction, the minister in a statement signed by his media assistant, Mr Yinka Oyebode said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly. The petition by the Assembly was titled; “Complaint of fraudulent practices against former Ekiti State governor and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi & others: Call for investigation & prosecution.” Other people mentioned in the petition are Mr Dapo Kolawole, Mr Yemi Adaramodu, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, Arc Oyelade and Mr Bayo Kelekun. The Deputy Speaker, who addressed pressmen after the petition was submitted, said; “Since EFCC have claimed that the commission does not have any complaint against those holding power in Abuja, we have decided to submit this petition openly so that Nigerians and indeed, the entire world will be able to follow it up and ask questions from the EFCC as to what has happened to it.” Dr Omotoso, who also corroborated the Deputy Speaker, disclosed that the petition bordered on 10 major issues, namely; Construction of new civic centre, construction of new governor’s office, mismanagement of the N25bn bond and N5bn commercial bank loan, construction of new government house, diversion of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) N852.9 million, fraudulent purchase of 156 units of Ford vehicles from Coscharis Motors, inflation of road contracts, among others. Also, Hon Animasaun said the State House of Assembly could no longer pretend as if nothing was wrong in the face of the monumental looting of the State treasury perpetrated by immediate past APC government of Fayemi, hence the complaint to the EFCC. The petition, which was accompanied with several documents read in part; “Consequent upon the resolution of the House of Assembly, we write to request for the investigation of the following allegations of fraudulent practices against the former Governor of Ekiti State and incumbent Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi and others. ‘’These fraudulent practices include, but not limited to contracts inflation, misappropriation of fund, diversion of Local Council and State Universal Basic Education funds, amongst others.

 I can’t be distracted –

Fayemi Dr Kayode Fayemi, in his reaction said he would not be distracted by the childish and ridiculous allegations of fraud levelled against his administration in Ekiti State by the State House of Assembly. Dr Fayemi who reacted to the petition submitted by the state assembly to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging N40 billion under his watch as governor of the state, said the lawmakers’ claims are not only baseless, but a calculated attempt to distract him. The Minister’s Special Assistant on Media , Mr Yinka Oyebode, said in a statement yesterday that the Ekiti Assembly’s petition to EFCC is nothing but a rehash of old tales told by little minds. He added that since the allegations lacked substance, it is bound to fail like the previous ones by the state government and its agents.

Fayose asks Ooni, others to defend Tinubu, Falae

 

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has appealed to all the monarchs in Yoruba land to promote unity and defend political leaders against external aggressors.

He also urged the Federal Government to review its policies because of massive hunger in the land.

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday while receiving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

Fayose specifically appealed to Yoruba kings to ensure that no harm should befall a former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, and other leaders of the Yoruba race.

Tinubu is believed to have fallen out of favour with President Muhammad Buhari while Falae is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving part of the missing security funds from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Fayose said, “You (Ooni) are in a good position to unite us. We want to appeal to you to remember that we all belong to you, irrespective of political parties.

“That was why I said without apologies that an action against Ahmed Tinubu is an action against the Yoruba nation.

“We must defend the Yoruba nation. They are encroaching. They are harassing; they are depriving us of our legitimate rights. Those who toiled day and night are now victims of circumstances.

“Nothing must happen to Tinubu, Falae and others. This is the way they started with (Obafemi) Awolowo and (Pa Michael) Ajasin,” he cautioned.

Fayose said the effort of the Ooni to unite the Yoruba had started yielding results, urging him to sustain it.

He advised Yoruba leaders to avoid a situation that led to the rivalry between Awolowo and the late Samuel Akintola in the western region.

The governor lamented that there was hunger in the land and he appealed to the Federal Government to evolve policies that would change things for the better.

He also condemned the activities of herdsmen that were destroying farm produce across the country.

“They asked us to go back to farming and they released their cows to be eating our farms. Any cattle that destroy farmlands will be seized by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ogunwusi has called for tact in the handling of the threat posed by herdsmen across the country, especially in the South-West region of the country.

Speaking with journalists, Ooni, who said Ekiti had the power to enact laws, called for a careful handling of the threat posed by herdsmen.

He said he was impressed by the thousands of people that trooped out to receive him and he called for prayers for the governor.

Adejugbe expressed joy at the visit even as he recalled that two departed Oonis, Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade, visited the Ewi in 1937 and 1980 respectively.

He charged the Ooni to continue to unite Yoruba monarchs and sustain the growing unity among Yoruba people.