Taraba Speaker misinterpreting the constitution – Commissioner

The crisis over Taraba Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai’s resumption of work continued across the state on Wednesday. 

The state Commissioner for Justice, Barr. G.T Kataps, on Wednesday accused the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, of misinterpreting the constitution.

“Misinterpreting the law, as the Taraba Speaker is doing is capable of causing discord to our people who may not have access to the constitution and may not know the correct position of the law,” he said.

Kataps said that Suntai has indeed returned to work.

He briefed reporters in his office, State Secretariat, Jalingo –the state capital shortly before the cabinet was dissolved by Governor Suntai.

The Speaker on Tuesday disagreed with the House Majority Leader Hon. Joseph Albasu over Suntai’s purported resumption of work.

Suntai was injured when a plane he piloted crashed near Yola, Adamawa State, on October 25, last year.

He returned to Jalingo on Sunday after a 10-month stay in German and American hospitals.

On Monday, he transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of his readiness to begin work. But while the House Majority Leader and other members of the House proclaimed Suntai as physically and mentally fit to govern, the Speaker, who thought otherwise, insisted that Suntai must appear on the floor of the House and speak to them.

The governor’s return has divided the House of Assembly and the entire state.

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Willian joins Chelsea

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala for a reported fee of £32million.

The 25-year-old playmaker, capped twice by Brazil, has been granted a work permit to complete his move from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala after agreeing a five-year contract with the Blues.

"I'm very happy to be here, it's been a dream of mine to come and play here," Willian said on Chelsea's official website.

"Chelsea are one of the best clubs in the world and now I'm going to play for one of the best managers in the world. I'm very happy and looking forward to it."

Willian, who will wear the number 22 shirt, looked set to join Tottenham last week only for Chelsea to hijack the deal and outbid their Barclays Premier League rivals.

He had passed a medical at Spurs before Mourinho swooped to add him to Chelsea's attacking options.

Persistently linked with a move to England, he spent six years at Shakhtar Donetsk where he made his name as a creative midfielder player before joining Anzhi in January.

 

He began his career in his homeland with Corinthians before moving to Europe with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007. He made over 100 appearances for the Ukrainian club before moving to Anzhi.

Friday night's Super Cup match against Bayern Munich in Prague has arrived too soon for his Chelsea debut, so he must wait until the Premier League showdown with Everton on September 14 for his bow.

His arrival has fuelled speculation that unsettled Spaniard Juan Mata could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge with Arsenal a possible destination.

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Tottenham close in on Lamela

Tottenham are to set to sign Argentinian forward Erik Lamela from Roma after the Serie A club accepted a bid of 30million euros (£25.8million). 

The 21-year-old has scored 19 league goals in two seasons with the Italian capital club and, should his move to White Hart Lane go through, he will help fill the gap left by Gareth Bale should he complete a world-record £86m move to Real Madrid.

A statement published on Roma's official website read: "Roma announce they have signed a contract with Tottenham for the outright sale of the playing rights of Erik Lamela, in exchange for 30million euros.

"The agreement also includes the obligation to pay 5million euros in bonuses related to the achievements of the player and the English club."

Lamela, who has been capped three times for Argentina, arrived at the Stadio Olimpico from River Plate in August 2011 and made 29 appearances, scoring four goals, in his first year in Italy.

A run of seven goals in six games at the start of the 2012-13 season saw him become an essential part of Roma's forward line, even though the campaign ended with a disappointing sixth-place finish and defeat to city rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.

With Wales winger Bale absent from training as a dispute over a move to Real Madrid rumbles on, and with Spurs missing out on Willian following the Brazilian playmaker's decision to join Chelsea instead, the pacey Lamela offers a viable and talented alternative to both players.

The continued spending in north London indicates Bale's £86m move to the Spanish capital is all but ratified as Lamela joins Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue in Andre Villas-Boas' new-look squad.

Lamela's place behind Francesco Totti in the Giallorossi team, meanwhile, will be filled by Serbian forward Adem Ljajic, who has today completed an 11million euro move from Fiorentina.

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‘Why Jonathan sacked youth minister’

The inability of the sacked Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Turaki, to effectively manage his portfolio and the presentation of a forged list of new executive of National Council of Youth of Nigeria (NCYN) to President Goodluck Jonathan when no election took place cost him his job. 

President Jonathan relieved the minister of his appointment on Monday.

Disclosing why the minister was sacked in Minna on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the minister did not show enough understanding of his job as he failed to present the actual facts to the President on the botched NCYN election that took place last February in Makurdi, Benue state.

Aliyu said the NCYN election did not hold in Makurdi and a transition committee was put in place, but he alleged that the minister and his aides presented a forged list of new executive members of the council to the President.

The governor, who commended the action of the President made these revelations while receiving the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission Mr. Kennedy Okpara, in his office.

He said,” Please thank the President for me for what he did to the Minister of Youth.

“The President did what was expected of a leader that does not want any of his officials to cause disharmony among the people.”

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Secrets to silky skin

The Smooth Skin Challenge panel (from left) Natalie Payne, Sarah Tye, Zoe Schoon

The annual quest for women to be smooth and hair free is upon us again. Each summer, the laborious rituals begin - but until now there has been no clear winner.

The options? Time consuming shaving, painful epilating and waxing, or costly professional laser treatments. It's enough to make even the hardiest among us reach for a pair of jeans.

That's until the clever people at Philips came up with an alternative: the Lumea Precision Plus. This home-use device, they say, will reduce your unwanted hair by up to 80 per cent, in as few as four fortnightly treatments.

Such a bold claim was crying out to be tested. Consequently, over the past month - along with readers Sarah Tye, Natalie Payne and Zoe Schoon - I've been trying out the Lumea.

So how does it work? After shaving the area to be treated, press the 'on' button and the Lumea whirrs into life. Nudge the power up to the appropriate number for your skin tone (it works for most), place the head on your skin - and off you go.

Each session delivers IPL - intense pulsed light - into the hair follicles, which pushes them into a resting phase. Since IPL only works on hairs that are in a growing phase, the treatments need to be repeated at two week intervals, to catch them all.

We're now almost halfway through the Smooth Skin Challenge and have each used the Lumea twice. How are we getting on?

"Famously," says Zoe, who is treating her tummy after having a baby at the start of the year. "I like the Lumea a lot. It's quick, painless and clean, especially compared to the mess you get with depilatory creams or when shaving."

Natalie is a fan, too. "I'm using it on my underarms," she says. "Even with shaving the whole process only takes five minutes. The actual light treatment needs about 30 seconds on each arm."

That's one of the key things about the Lumea. For all its sleek, lab-worthy looks, it's extremely simple to use.

 

As a beauty journalist, I've had the dubious privilege of testing a number of home-use hair-removal devices over the years. One was the size of a small vacuum cleaner and had instructions so complex that it took me a month to build up the courage to switch it on. Another needed to be plugged into the mains, so the lead barely reached the bathroom. Both required the use of a sticky gel and goggles to protect my eyes from each flash, which made them awkward - and more than a little scary - to use. A third had such a small window that the prospect of tackling an area larger than a matchbox was ambitious.

The Lumea's generous head - and the fact that you can skim the device along your skin, rather than having to lift it up and reposition it before it will fire the next shot of light - means the treatments whizz by.

Which is important if you lead a busy life, but want to use it on a larger area such as your legs, like Sarah. She has been drawing markers on her skin with a white eyeliner (which doesn't absorb the light) to keep track of her progress during each session.

"The most difficult bit has been keeping in straight lines!" she says. "But actually using the Lumea is pretty fast. I can do each leg in 15 minutes."

The challenge panel - myself included - have all been using the two highest power settings; levels four and five. These are perfectly comfortable, even for beginners. The more melanin in your skin, the lower the setting you should use - a booklet that comes with the device shows just which number is best suited to your colouring.

What it doesn't do, though, is hurt. "You get a slight sensation of heat, but it's warm rather than hot," says Sarah.

 

"If epilating is eight out of 10 on the pain scale," says Natalie, "this is two."

And what about results? It might be early days but, excitingly, we're all noticing differences. Zoe has observed a definite change. "The hairs on my tummy and toes are growing back more slowly and they're less stubbly."

For me, progress is subtle. I think there's less hair under my arms. And I'm now working on a stubborn spike beside my lip. The next month should yield obvious results and I can't wait to see what the Lumea can really do.

"It's patchy," says Natalie. "But that fits exactly with the stages of hair growth as explained by Philips."

Which means we're right on track.

• For more information about salon-style hair removal at home with the Philips Lumea Precision Plus, visit philips.co.uk/lumea

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Hair advice: fact or fiction

Sleep on a silk pillow; brush your hair 100 times before bed; don't wash it daily; never blow-dry without conditioning. When it comes to keeping your hair in good nick, it's difficult to know which advice to follow and which to ignore. It's time to separate fact from folklore.

Will brushing your hair 100 times a night really leave it silky smooth?
Michele Riccio, Ojon's™ global stylist, says there is science behind this claim. Brushing helps sebum or nutrients from the scalp spread along the hair shaft, coating and, crucially, conditioning the hair. Mr Riccio recommends that his clients - except those with very curly hair - brush well every day, using a soft cushioned brush or Tangle Teezer. Work from end to root, to avoid breaking any hair which might be knotted.


Can you brush curly hair?
When it comes to curly hair, brushing - as most tousle-tops will know - causes frizz. And don't even think about holidaying anywhere too hot or humid: fluff alert.
So, what's the answer? Mr Riccio suggests brushing curly hair while it's wet, using a wide-toothed comb, then allowing it to dry naturally for a sleeker finish. And why not try a deep conditioner to help nourish each strand and restore shine?

Does washing your hair daily cause it to dry out?
Mr Riccio says those who wash their hair every day - and most women who live in cities would argue that's a necessity - should use a gentle cleansing shampoo. "My favourite for daily use is Ojon's Dry Recovery Ritual. It's gentle enough for cleansing regularly, with all the benefits of the moisturising ingredients to rehydrate and replenish your hair."
One good tip is to avoid using a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. These products have been designed for different purposes and cannot be combined successfully.


Are hair bands damaging?
As a rule, yes. When it comes to using elastic bands, Mr Riccio is firm - leave them in the stationery cupboard. "Being rubber, they will harm the cuticle and you'll yank out hair when you tug them" he says. That leaves us with scrunchies (if you favour the Nineties look), plain hair ties or Alice bands - which have made a comeback and sweep aside irritating fringes or wisps. Just make sure they're covered.
"Tie hair back as loosely as possible and away from the scalp, only keeping it up when absolutely necessary", says Mr Riccio. So no Croydon face-lifts please.
Is it true that pulling out one grey hair will encourage more to grow?
Mr Riccio says there is no scientific evidence to support this belief. But pulling out hairs is bad for the scalp. "It can cause infection, scarring and even inhibit new growth."


Does diet make a difference to the quality of your hair?
Eat well, sleep well and think well. "I believe that general health is mirrored in the condition of your hair", says Mr Riccio. "It follows that a well balanced diet of natural ingredients, such as vegetables, fresh fruit and oily fish, is not only essential for your body and mind, but will also be good for your hair".

Can you repair damaged hair?
According to Mr Riccio, almost everything you do to your hair will damage it, though some processes are worse than others. But by following a treatment regime your hair can still look glossy, healthy and full of life.
"Using good quality products such as Ojon will help you to achieve this. I recommend Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment to all my clients. Clinical studies show that after one application the condition of damaged hair improves by 64 per cent when left overnight".

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US marks Martin Luther King 'I have a dream' speech

The US is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom, the civil rights rally at which Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I have a dream" speech.

President Barack Obama is to mark the occasion in Washington DC with an address from the same spot.

Members of the King family and veterans of the march will also be present.

Mr Obama, the first black US president, has described the 1963 protest as a "seminal event" in American history.

The march was considered a catalyst for civil rights reforms in the US.

President Obama is due to deliver his address at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall just after an organised ringing of bells by churches and other groups at 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT), to mark the exact time that Martin Luther King spoke on 28 August 1963.

Mr Obama will be joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as prominent African Americans.

On Saturday, thousands of people, including King's eldest son, marched to the Lincoln Memorial to mark the milestone anniversary.

Half a century earlier, Martin Luther King had led some 250,000 protesters down the same strip and delivered his famous speech from its steps.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character," he said, in one of the most celebrated pieces of American oratory.

His address marked the peak of a series of protests against racial discrimination that had begun when seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat for a white passenger in 1955.

Her action sparked a bus boycott campaign across Montgomery, Alabama.

King became a dominant force in the movement and so was called on to make the final speech at the march.

He advocated the use of non-violent tactics such as sit-ins and protest marches, and was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1964.

Four years later, his assassination led to mass riots in more than 100 US cities.

In an interview on Tuesday with a radio show, President Obama said he imagines that King "would be amazed in many ways" about the social progress made since that speech.

He cited the prominent role of many African-Americans in the political and business spheres, as well as equal rights before the law.

Mr Obama, whose own oratory has attracted much praise, said his address on Wednesday would not match that by the civil rights leader.

"It won't be as good as the speech 50 years ago," he said. "I just want to get that out there early." 

"When you are talking about Dr King's speech at the March on Washington," he added, "you're talking about one of the maybe five greatest speeches in American history." 

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