The entire universe was heartbroken last year when news of the death of the extraordinary vocalist. But if you thought the world’s heart would never mend, you were startlingly wrong. The world has not forgotten Whitney: on the contrary, it is quite agreed that the world will never forget her, still her new and old fans are settled she will forever live in our hearts. Her life, as well as her passing, have taught not a few life lessons.

UGHELLI – URHOBO Ex-militants Group, yesterday, kicked against the ongoing documentation process for the third phase of the amnesty programme, describing it as fraudulent and capable of triggering fresh violence in the Niger Delta region.

Mr James Okpara is Special Adviser to Abia State Governor on Public Relations. Okpara, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bende Local Government Area of the state explains why the local chapter resolved to re-admit the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. Excerpts:

When I saw pictures of the reception held for the Stallions of Burkina Faso from the airport to the stadium and their visit to the state house where the President hosted them, I tried to compare them with what happened in Abuja.

Lagos—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, have called off its plans to shut down oil operations in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and six other states over alleged unfair labour practices by the management of Onne, Rivers State, Free Trade Zone.

LAGOS—FORMER Minister of Transport and a member of the Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, yesterday, said the merger among opposition parties in Nigeria would not achieve any result.

THE main Opposition parties – ACN, ANPP, CPC and APGA – recently merged to form a new political entity that will be known as the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State while receiving the Super Eagles and their coach Stephen Keshi yesterday added another dimension to the celebration of 2013 Nations Cup heroes.

Former Green Eagles star, Paul Okoku has said that the Cup triumph of the Super Eagles at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa has vindicated Coach Stephen Keshi’s decision to give opportunities to home-based players in his 23-man team to the tournament.

BUT for a head injury he sustained during a trip to Mexico last March, Pope Benedict XVI would not have suddenly resigned on Monday, it has emerged.