There’s a man behind my fortunes’ Not Yet Time Reveal Him – Actress Iyabo Ojo confesses

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ENCOMIUM Weekly was at Omole, Lagos residence of star actress, Iyabo Ojo, where we had an interview with her on issues revolving around her life and career

You recently celebrated the first anniversary of Fespris. How would you describe the event?

It was a beautiful one, very fantastic. I didn’t even expect the kind of turnout I recorded that day. I thank God for that.

One year is enough to assess whether a business is doing fine or not, what’s the experience like in the case of Fespris?

Although, there were lots of ups and downs when we started, I would say it’s doing well now. Being a new business, you can’t expect everything to be perfect but we thank god we have our loyal customers and we are still keeping them till date. So things are getting better.

What are the new things you have injected into the business since it established?

When we started, it was only one spa room that we had, but now we have extended it to two. We have gotten more equipment. Before, we were just doing manual facials but now we have acquired high frequency machines for facial treatment and anti-ageing. In fact, we have a lot more. So, it’s a complete package this time around.

How would you describe the environment? Is it really conductive for the business?

The spa has always been at its peak, but it’s not been the same thing for the saloon, but now I think the salon has also picked. The patronage on both sides is getting higher by the day.

How many staffs did you start with, and how many do you have now?

Initially, when the place was opened, I had about eight staffs. I still maintain that range till now. I am trying to make sure no department suffers. When I started, I discovered that some of my workers then, couldn’t get things right, so I had to replace them. But I still retained few of them that started with me from the very first day.

Would you say you are achieving the goals for setting up the business?

Yes, of course I am even planning to expand, I am thinking of having a branch on the island, and probably in other parts of the country, but to God be the glory, I am fulfilled doing what I am doing. The business is doing fine, and I am enjoying it, when you are doing something you so much like, you will surely be happy about it. It’s the business I know a lot about.

Do you know much about massage?

Yes, of course I went abroad to study massage. So I know a lot about it and generally beauty therapy. But I don’t engage myself in massage, I only counsel my clients and give instructions to my workers on it. But when it comes to skin care and looks, a lot of ladies demand to see me, so I create time to assess their skin and look generally and tell them what they need to look good always.



  
Do you also enjoy good patronage from men?

Yes, we have barbing section, we also have a massage unit for men as well, and they also come for body massage and nail treatment.

Are you aware of funny things some men do with masseuse?

Nothing like funny things in Fespris.

We learnt you just completed your first English movie, “Silence”. What informed veering into English movie?

Not just one, I have shot two English films. First is “silence” while the second one that I have just finished shooting is “Beyond Disability”. Everybody prays to go higher in whatever he or she is doing. Actually I started from English movie and a lot of people have said to me, “Iyabo, you speak good English, why can’t you do English movie? And right from the beginning of my career, I have always loved to be a producer, and as a producer or actress you will always want to go beyond where you are, so I just said to myself I have done enough of Yoruba movies. Though I will still keep producing Yoruba movies, but as it is now, I just want to do something unique, shoot a better movie that will not only centre on my mother tongue alone, but cuts across the country and even beyond.

I want everybody outside my language to benefit from the story I tell, so that was exactly what gave birth to “Silence” and “beyond disability” which was shot purely in English. I just completed the two and I am going to launch them on my birthday, December 21, 2014. It’s going to be black and gold affair. The guys would be in black suit while ladies will be garbed in gold attire. It’s going to be a classy and colourful. Although I am yet to decide on the venue, it’s going somewhere nice. Silence will be showed in cinemas first week in January 2015, after we are done with “silence” at the cinemas, “beyond Disability” will be showing in cinemas, then we take it from there. I want to concentrate more on English movies now, not that I won’t be producing Yoruba movies again, I will be doing the two but with more of English movies this time around.

 Most of your fans will think maybe you are not making it producing Yoruba movies, that’s why you moved to English movies, what‘s your reaction to this?

It’s not as if I am not making it producing Yoruba movies, but even as a business woman, you will want to grow beyond where you are, you won’t like to remain on the same spot all the time. One needs to expand and diversify his or her business, I will not even limit it to English movie, I am praying that I will shoot Hausa or Igbo movies. I don’t need to understand Hausa before I shoot in Hausa, and I don’t also need to understand calabar before I produce a calabar movie. So far I get a marketer that will key into it, I believe I can always produce my movie in any language and sell it. I just don’t want to be identified as a Yoruba movie producer, rather I would love to be addressed as core Nollywood producer, I want to represent my country, Nigeria in whatever I do, not only my tribe.

Who are the cast in silence?

In silence, I have joseph Benjamin, Alex Osifo, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Tina Mba, fathia Balogun, Abiola Williams, Muka Ray, myself, Doris Simeon and others. “Silence” was directed by Alex Mouth, an MNET director, he directs most of the African magic movies. He directed Tinsel and other series. He is afantastic director, but “Beyond disability” was directed by the lead actor, Desmond Elliot, I have the likes of Ini Edo, femi Adebayo, Ireti Osayemi, Seun Jimoh and myself, beyond disability doesn’t parade large a cast unlike silence, but it’s also a fantastic story. They centre on what‘s happening in our society, they are more like non-governmental organization (NGO) stories.

Silence addresses the issue of child abuse while beyond disability talks about abilities in disabilities. My kids also featured in the two stories, my daughter Priscilla played the major in silence and also in beyond disability, but festus my son only featured in beyond disability.

We learnt Muka ray was excluded in beyond disability, which fuelled speculations that both of you are no longer in good terms?

There must always be an issue between us, but one thing people don’t know is that as a producer, you can’t keep repeating cast. That doesn’t mean you are fighting the person that is not in your movie. The fact that Muka ray doesn’t feature in “Beyond Disability” doesn’t mean we have any issue, it’s just that sometimes we change cast. We can’t keep repeating the same cast on and on, it’s just like fathia was in “silence” and not in beyond disability doesn’t mean that fathia and I have an issue, so it’s normal one can’t continually repeat the same faces all the time.

Okay, how cordial is your relationship with Muka Ray right now?

We have have a very good relationship, we are business partners and we relate cordially as well, we have always been friends and we still remain friends.

But all we learnt is that it’s because both of you are no longer together as before, that’s why he was excluded in your last movie.

There is nothing like that, it’s just a baseless rumour, I have told you nothing but the truth

How much did the two films cost you?

They cost me a lot of millions, I don’t need to disclose that for a reasons best known to me

But you couldn’t have done it alone, who bankrolled the two projects?

They were sponsored by me and of course, with the support of my man.

You have also told us that, but who is that lucky and generous man?

It’s not yet time to tell anybody who the man is, I am not ready for that, it is my private life and I want it to be left so, I want to keep it as private as possible

Why?

Yes, that’s how I want it for now, you can’t be out there and then throw your relationship out there, you get to have lot of people get involved in the relationship and that will cause a lot of trouble for you, we have done that in the past, so right now, whoever I am in love with should be kept out of public eyes. All I know is that I love my man, we have been together for a while and I love to keep the relationship as private as possible.

Man Suffers Heart-Attack After fiance Defraud Him Of £150,000(N40m) Claiming She Had Cancer! [Photo]

 

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Shameless Lynsey Mitchell, aged 31, spent the cash on hiring limousines, staying in posh hotels and taking her pals to concerts.

She also contacted estate agents with a view to buying a house.
Her devastated fiance Richard Fortune was so distressed by Mitchell's deception, he suffered a heart attack and is in hospital awaiting a transplant.

His brother Derek Fortune became suspicious his bank account was being emptied in May last year.

He made inquiries which revealed his £90,000 savings had vanished. He was left £2,495 overdrawn on his current account and had only eight pence in his savings account.

In a victim impact statement Derek told the court: "This money I will never be able to replace and was the savings of my life's work.

"I am on the point of losing my job where I have worked for 20 years because I have had to take so much time off to visit my brother.

"I fear that if I lose him through ill health I will not have anything worth living for. This seems to be a living nightmare which just gets worse. There is nothing left.

"Despite what happens to her today these debts will stay with us, and I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel."

Swindon crown court heard how Mitchell drained the bank accounts of fiance Richard and brother Derek without them knowing.

She stole the brothers bank cards, emptied their savings accounts and secured an £11,995 loan against fiance Richard's family home.

When the pair questioned suspicious activity on their accounts, Mitchell fled the country claiming she had to care for her terminally ill father in the Czech Republic.

By then Mitchell had fleeced her fiance out of £41,000 and his brother Derek out of £108,000.

She justified her extravagant spending by telling the pair she had a series of serious illnesses, including cancer and liver disease.

Prosecutor Claire Marlow told the court: "Derek and Richard Fortune live together in what was their parents' house.

"They have a frugal lifestyle, and are unsophisticated in the ways of the world.

"They have not embraced the technological age and until they met this lady were inexperienced in relationships.

"She would tell them she was suffering from life-threatening illnesses including liver disease and cancer and at times was receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Enquiries revealed the money was being used on limousines and staying in a number of hotels as well as taking friends to concerts and at one stage she was in contact with an estate agent about buying a house."

Mitchell, from Swindon, Wilts, was jailed on Friday after she admitted 15 fraud charges and one of theft between 2008 and 2012.
Passing sentence, judge Peter Blair QC told her: "You have utterly destroyed the lives of two men, who were vulnerable through their lack of sophistication in the modern world.

"They have months and years of misery ahead of them and you have devastated them with these actions."

Money Speaks! See Davido's older brother's new Rolex watch

 

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Make Brain! That's Davido's older brother Adewale Adeleke, aka Chairman HKN. He showed off his new Rolex watch 

Top 5 Reasons Why We Love Phyno!!

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1. Hmm..His EPIC mohawk that no other can rock like him! How comfortably he sleeps at night?

2. Rapping in any Nigerian language is no easy task. Phyno raps in Igbo (his native tongue) and is able get a super positive reaction from the audience. He spits his rhymes like no other once that mic gets in his hands and sets the scene for us.

3. Did you know that Phyno produced hits for popular artists such as Flavour, Bracket and Mr. Raw before he started rapping?
He currently produces some of his own songs.

4. Have you seen Phyno's eyes till today?! He stays styling with his Versace and other designer shades. Either way, its not bothering any of us.

5. Phyno and Yoruba rapping sensation Olamide are said to be working on a collaborative album called '2Kings', which is set to release in 2015. Recall that Their hit song 'Ghost Mode' won Best Collab at both The Headies Awards in 2012 and Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2013.

Beauty&Brains! 'How I almost dropped out' -Read The Inspiring story of Caleb’s best graduating student

Two major things occupied the mind of the 20-year-old best graduating student of the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Miss Rita Aladi, as she mounted the podium to deliver her valedictorian speech.

The first had to do with the burden of how she eventually graduated from the university. The second bordered on how she eventually topped the list of the 2014 graduating class. For her, the sum total of all that took place on the convocation day was a nice surprise.

She said, “I almost dropped out of school in my final year due to financial difficulties. That I eventually graduated from this school is a miracle. It came to a point that my father had to come to appeal to the authorities to give him some grace period to enable him to pay my fees.

“Beyond this, I never knew that I could become the best graduating student. Throughout my primary and secondary education, I never came first. But I had never gone below the third position in any class.”

Aladi’s display on the podium aptly captured this element of surprise. Intermittently, she screamed ewoooo, muttered God oooo, while she yet punctuated her speech with sobbing.

The youngster, who bagged a first class in Biochemistry, posted a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.80 out of 5.0 points to emerge the overall best in the 2014 convocation of the university. For her excellence, she received several awards, including ‘The Most Outstanding Student of the Year’ and the ‘Best Graduating Student in the College of Pure and Applied Sciences’.

Others are the ‘Best Graduating Student in the Department of Biochemistry’ ; the Prof. Nimbe Adedipe Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the College of Pure and Applied Sciences’; the ‘Late Princess Esther Adefolawe Olukoju Prize for the Overall Best Graduating Female Student’ and the ‘Joshua Olorunfemi Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the COPAS’.

The Ideato, Imo State-born graduate, according to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, is also the first to obtain a first class from the department of Biochemistry.

Giving an insight into the secret of her success, Aladi, who had her primary and secondary education at the Grandmates Schools, Ago-Okota, Lagos, admitted that the accomplishment did not come on a platter of gold.

Though Aladi is not typically a bookworm, she noted that she encountered challenges that further propelled her to work harder.

“I did not plan to be the best graduating student but I told myself that I needed to compensate my parents for their commitment to my education. They were always there for me in spite of the difficult times that they faced.”

She noted that as at the time she got admission to the school, her father was a buoyant entrepreneur, though her mother was a trader. However, things became tough for the father, who was running a bakery and a filling station.

She further said, “Also, the advice from our Dean, Prof. Sunday Ajayi, any time he had the opportunity of talking to us, helped me a lot. He always challenged us to aim higher in life. Again, because I made a first class grade in my first year, I was under this immense pressure of maintaining that height. Though I obtained that grade all through the subsequent years, I never looked forward to becoming the best graduating student. In all frankness, I never thought of it.”

She explained that the challenge posed by other bright pupils in her primary and secondary schools inspired her to study harder then.

“ I think that greatly influenced a particular hobby in me, which was to try always to stay informed. So, in the university, I made the Internet a friend,” she said.

On what she intends to do after her National Youth Service, the valedictorian said she did not have an idea yet. “I shall return to the university to study either in Nigeria or overseas but I do not know yet what course I will pursue at the postgraduate level,” she explained, brimming with a touch of innocence.

The valedictorian, who practically believes in the Socrates philosophy of knowing oneself, urged other younger ones to try to identify who they are.

“Do not try to be another person. Know thyself. Learn to discover who you are. My stay in the university has taught me to realise that many people live in the shadows of others and I do not know why. We should stop doing that,” the youngster, who says her father, Aloy, is her role model, declared.

Did she engage in sorting her lecturers (seeking favours to obtain high academic scores) or face any sexual harassment on campus? The lass dismissed both questions with a wave of hand, saying she never even had a boyfriend.

“I did not plan to have a boyfriend. I am still on the path of self-discovery with regard to that. On sorting, it never crossed my mind and I do not even think it obtains here.”

Interestingly, of the 13 first class degree holders in the university this year, 10 of them are females, while the remaining three are males. Females also emerged the best graduating students from the institution’s three colleges – the College of Environmental Science and Management (Miss Oiza Osho); College of Pure and Applied Sciences (Miss Rita Aladi); and the College of Social and Management Sciences (Miss Faith Uwojeyah). While Osho studied Architecture, Uwojeyah studied Accounting.

The VC, Olukoju, who hailed Aladi and other first class recipients for their hard work and exemplifying worthiness in character and learning, urged all the graduands to be good ambassadors of the university.

He said, “I charge our graduands to soar high after a successful take-off, which the completion of their studies in this university signifies. They should realise that life is full of challenges and that a stormy weather is a pilot’s occupational hazard. Hence, they need to be equipped with faith, focus, fervour, finesse and fidelity in all their endeavours. I admonish our alumni to be good ambassadors of this university and to Love Caleb and Live it wherever they go.”

Also, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the university, Prof. Fola Tayo, urged the graduands to endeavour to excel in their chosen professions. He advised them to shun practices that would bring their names and that of the university to disrepute.

He said, “As you are going into a mountainous Nigeria, do not fear. You should be ready to conquer. Do not join in the iniquities confronting the nation. You should be bold enough to confront the wrongs in the society and overcome them.”

Challenging the graduands to join in building a better humanity, the pro-chancellor implored them to endeavour to return not just to the university but also to the academic community in order to contribute to teaching and learning.

Earlier, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adigun Agbaje, in the convocation lecture, tasked African leaders to be committed to the tenets of democratic principles in leading their countries.

He also urged the governed on the continent to be ready to question their leaders, saying such an approach would help to check imperial tendencies and dictatorship.

Agbaje, a professor of Political Science, who spoke on “Lying in state: Leadership and the travails of democratic governance in Africa,” noted particularly that there was a relationship between good leadership and education.

He added, “Investment in knowledge systems in an all-round manner thus appears to correlate not only with responsible and responsive leadership but also with democratic governance and economic development. Without going into the finer details of the directions of this correlation, let me add that what is required at this level is not a debate couched around the zero-sum imagery of how much should be invested in the sciences and how much in the humanities/social sciences.

“The sciences require investment to secure the material bases for democratic governance. The humanities/social sciences require investment to enable society to comprehend fully its past and present in order to properly envision and secure its future. In other words, all knowledge matters. Defaulting in this regard may produce a crop of leaders committed to all means necessary, including lying to itself and its people, about the objective conditions in which they live and, therefore, end up being unable to comprehend, not to talk of mastering, the present or effectively projecting the future.”

Incredible Love Story: READ The Amazing Love Story of Nick Vujicic and His Beautiful Wife, Kanae Miyahara!

The love between Nick and his wife Miyahara, is phenomenon. The couple shared their amazing love story with ChristianPost and it is mind blowing.

A beautiful love story about Nick Vujicic and his wife Kanae Miyahara is spreading on the internet.

Nick was born with no arms and no legs, and he never thought he would find his soul mate who wants to share the rest life with him. "I definitely had doubts that I’d ever got married, that I never met anybody who would love to spend the rest life with me," Nick said recently in a video interview.

How did Nick Vujicic Meet His Wife?

After a suicide attempt at age 10, God worked in his heart in a mighty way. Determined to never give up again, he has grown into an incredible young man, using his testimony to glorify God.

God blesses the people who are willing to follow Him. Surprisingly, Nick met his own princess Kanae Miyahara. They fell in love at the first sight.

"I fell in love with him the way he is now," Kanae said. Before she met Nick, she had dated with other guy for a physical goal, but she became tired of that. "The moment I met Nick, I was looking for other thing, and all the things I found in him," Kanae said. "He is not only a boyfriend material, but he could be my husband."

When Kanae met Nick in 2008, she was impressed by his signature generosity in spirit and good humor. For her, Nick is so handsome, and "the perfect match." For Nick, "it was electric, when she stood by me, I just felt right."

What Qualities or Characteristics Attracted Nick to Kanae Miyahara?

They also revealed the moment when Nick proposed marriage to Kanae. Many people might question how Nick put the ring on her finger? However, it was solved by his unique ingenuity.

"Baby, can I kiss your hands?" Nick recalled, "I’m putting the ring all the way down on her finger." Kanae felt Nick was biting her finger, but then she saw it was a ring.
"Baby, I love you, would you love to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?" Nick said, Kanae just cried.

A lot of people might be curious that whether it is difficult for them to have intimacy because of Nick’s physical disabilities. Nick said no problem, "we are very affectionately." And Kanae smiled, "He’s got everything he needs."

After marriage, they settled their house in South California. Nick focuses on his writing and inspirational speech. Kanae works as a wife, taking care of the household.

\Even though they have some challenges in their lives, Nick said that his wife was ready for those, and he was amazed at her love.

Another great blessing comes soon. Would you believe it or not? Kanae got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy early 2013!

15 Signs That Confirm you’re a Typical Nigerian

Having the Nigerian green passport alone does not make you a Nigerian,there are other things that add up to it.We Nigerian have very peculiar stuffs in common irrespective of our diverse culture and differences in  religion.

Here are 15 things that shows you’re a typical Nigerian:

1.You Shout Up NEPA.

Power is still a big problem in Nigeria,if you’ve lived or still living in Nigeria you know what I am talking about.So you get excited and scream Up Nepa when the electricity comes on?My friend you’re a Nigeria.

2.You wear Special Outfit for Sundays or Fridays.
We Nigerians are very Religious people and very few of us are Godly,sad truth.We don’t joke with our Religious activities.Most Nigerians reserve the best of the best clothes for Sundays (for the Christians) and Fridays(for the Muslims).In fact offering time in churches are like fashion shows with everyone trying to cat walk and show off their beautiful dresses .

3.You don’t ask people their age and you don’t like to tell people your age.

Except it’s something official we don’t like to tell or ask people their age.We Nigerians see asking someone’s age, especially if the person is older than you very  disrespectful.

4.You’re boisterous and always Speak loud in Public.  

Nigerians are very noisy and energetic people,it’s not difficult to identify a Nigerian when you find yourself at International airports .We speak loud with confidence ,you hear phrases like “Do you know who I am?” “My friend I will get you locked up!”

5.You call people you are not familiar with  names like:  
Chairman,Oga,Uncle,Aunty,Bros,Sister etc. 

6.You have two Phones to yourself alone.
Most Nigerians living in Nigeria own two phones ,not just to show off but because of the unstable poweer and mobile network services ,you can’t just rely on one network or phone.If mtn doesn’t have network you quickly pick up your  etisalat sim card.

7.You’re  materialistic and like to flaunt your wealth at the slightest opportunity given.


The Rich Nigerians are really really rich.We buy things we don’t need just solely to fit in with everyone else. Your Facebook updates are things like “lekkibeach chilling”,”Dubai things”,”Money on mind”then just know you’re a Typical Nigerian etc

8.You’re always extremely security conscious and watchful.


A Typical Nigerian person is  always watching for safety.He doesn’t trust anyone around him,everyone is a suspect.He doesn’t keep his phone carelessly ‘cos he knows someone is waiting for such opportunity to steal it.I once traveled somewhere abroad, and the guy who came for me at the airport was telling me how unsafe the place was and why I should keep my belongings safe,I just looked at him and smiled ,wish he knew how security conscious  we Nigerians are by default.


9.You have relatives that you can’t even explain in simple terms how they are related to you.
I hear things like,Hmm Mayo here is my relative Kemi ,she is my Fathers brother’s wife cousin’s friend’s Husband.I am like WTH!!

10.You always like to cook Jollof Rice when you have Big Occasions
.
11.You use very often phrases like :
Eh wo,Ehen, Chineke, Che, Ah-Ah, Yepa! God forbid , by God’s Grace,Nawa o!Wetin sef!No worry ,Go joor! etc

12.You know what chin chin, puff puff, or moin moin are

13.You’ve never or rarely visit the dentist because you don’t see any reason for that and consider it waste of money. 
Nigerians only visit a dentist office when there is no other remedy. Visiting a dentist for normal check-up is not an everyday thing in Nigeria.

14.You like to add “O” to a lot of your talk.
e.g Na wa o,Leave me o,O boy!,Na Now o!

15.You read all the above 14 signs and smiled in between


Proudly a Nigerian,are you?

How Boko Haram r*ped, beat & traumatized us' -Female survivors give shocking accounts of their heartbreaking ordeal!

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In this New report by Human Rights Watch, Those Terrible Weeks in Their Camp: Boko Haram Violence Against Women and Girls in North-east Nigeria, is based on interviews with 30 women and girls abducted between April 2013 and April 2014, plus 16 people who witnessed kidnappings.

The women and girls were held in eight different camps for periods ranging from two days to three months, after being taken from their homes, while working on farms, fetching water or at school.

A 15-year-old girl who was held in a Boko Haram camp for four weeks in 2013 said.

“After we were declared married I was ordered to live in his cave but I always managed to avoid him. He soon began to threaten me with a knife to have s*x with him, and when I still refused he brought out his gun, warning that he would kill me if I shouted. Then he began to r*pe me every night. He was a huge man in his mid-30s and I had never had s*x before. It was very painful and I cried bitterly because I was bleeding afterwards.”

One woman said:

“I was dragged to the camp leader who told me the reason I was brought to the camp was because we Christians worship three gods. When I objected to his claim, he tied a rope around my neck and beat me with a plastic cable until I almost passed out. An insurgent who I recognized from my village convinced me to accept Islam lest I should be killed. So I agreed.”

A 19-year-old said:

“I was told to approach a group of five men we saw in a nearby village and lure them to where the insurgents were hiding.” She told the young men that she needed help. “When they followed me for a short distance, the insurgents swooped on them. Once we got back to the camp, they tied the legs and the hands of the captives and slit the throats of four of them as they shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’. Then I was handed a knife to kill the last man. I was shaking with horror and couldn’t do it. The camp leader’s wife took the knife and killed him.”

One 15-year-old girl said:

“I could not stop crying even when the insurgents threatened to kill me if I did not keep quiet. I kept on thinking, is it not better to die now than to face whatever terrible things they could do to me when we get to their camp? Even after I escaped from them and live far away from my village, I am still afraid. I think of death many times. My father tries. He encourages me to forget everything, but it is not easy for me. I have terrible dreams at night.

Too Much Money! Ini Edo's Newly acquired 70 Million Naira Mansion

According to a report by E24-7 Magazine, Ini recently purchased a N70million home in Lekki, Lagos for herself and siblings – as a matter of the fact, they have moved into the house.

WOW! Charly Boy Releases New Dope Photos

 Old Man Still Off His Swag! :)

Billionaire Who Bounced Back! Popular Businessman, Femi Otedola Covers Forbes Africa Magazine!

 

Popular Nigerian Oil & Gas Mogul, Femi Otedola, who became at least $398 million richer between March 3 and June 2 this year, Graced the cover of Forbes Africa November Edition!

Shocking Photos Of How Africans Sit on Border Fence In Other To Get Into Spain! [Photos]

These African men sit on top of Moroccan border fence day and night in a desperate bid to get into Spain. The border fence made of barbed wire is about 23ft tall, yet they gently climb on it and stay there all day and night.

Some of them who get frustrated along the line because the police won’t let them in, injure themselves by cutting off their hands or feet and some even falling over the other side in a bid to injure themselves. It’s just so heart breaking!

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Sudanese ambassador to Nigeria dies in Abuja

The Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Tagelsir Ali is dead, the country’s embassy confirmed on Friday in Abuja.

The Media Adviser to the embassy, Mr. Mohammed Abdulrahman, told the News Agency of Nigeria that Ali, 66, died at about 1am on Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja.

“He had malaria; there were some complications and he passed away around 1 am early this morning. 

“There is a Presidential jet coming by 5 pm to take the remains to Sudan for burial.

“He was 66 years old. He loved working in Nigeria and had zeal to develop the bilateral relationship between Sudan and Nigeria and was able to stretch himself very well,” he said.

Abdulrahman said that the embassy had received many visitors since the diplomat’s demise was announced, adding that a condolence register had been opened for him at the embassy.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, said that the ministry was aware of the ambassador’s death.

APC writes Jonathan over alleged threat by Dokubo-Asari

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Alhaji Muhajid Dokubo-Asari
| credits: file copy

The All Progressives Congress on Tuesday wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan alleging threats to its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, by the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

In the letter which was signed by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, the APC said Dokubo-Asari’s threat was contained in an interview he granted to the online newspaper Premium Times on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014.

The party said the threat was sequel to a press statement   issued on behalf of the party by Mohammed on October 8, 2014, asking the Federal Government to explain the reported presence of Dokubo-Asari on the plane that transported US$9.3m cash to South Africa

In the interview, Dokubo-Asari said while he would adopt a civilised response to Mohammed by first suing the APC spokesperson for his remarks, he warned that should the courts failed to deliver justice, “he will resort to self-help by using his hands and any other means to deal with Mr. Mohammed.”

The party said, “We find this threat totally abhorring, dangerous, unacceptable and uncivilised, and therefore wish to request that you call Mr. Dokubo-Asari to order and invite him to explain what he meant by his threat to resort to self help.

“We have attached a copy of the said interview to this petition.

“We take the unwarranted threat very seriously, in view of the antecedents of Mr. Dokubo-Asari and his propensity to violence, and will definitely hold him personally responsible if anything untoward happens to our National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.”

Jonathan, others must buy form by Oct. 30 –PDP

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Peoples Democratic Party has said that all aspirants to elective offices in 2015 from the party, including President Goodluck Jonathan, must purchase their forms of intent latest by October 30.

The party said that all aspirants, including those angling to become the President, governors, senators and others, must show interest in the race by purchasing forms before they could stand for election or the party’s primaries.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this while speaking with journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the members of the National Working Committee of the party in Abuja on Wednesday.

Metuh also debunked the allegation by a group from the Niger Delta, who said they were at the party secretariat to purchase presidential nomination form for the President but were turned back.

Members of the group said they were ready to pay the N22m for the form on behalf of the President, but regretted that the NWC had refused to sell the form to them.

Metuh said he was not aware of that, adding that any group willing to purchase form for anyone was free to do so.

He added that the President, even though was adopted as the sole presidential candidate of the party, must purchase form before he could be recognised as the party’s candidate.

Metuh said, “We are not aware of it. We have not been informed of any group that wants to buy form for Mr. President. We are not yet aware. I am just hearing it for the first time.

“Groups have come to purchase forms for senators and governors. I don’t think that the NWC is against anybody coming to purchase form for the President.

“We know that the President has not declared and he has not signified that he is going to contest. He has not given answer to the yearnings of Nigerians but at the same time, the NWC will not be against any group that wants to purchase form for him. I think they are dealing with the wrong channel.”

Speaking specifically on whether the President needed to pick form despite the fact that he had been adopted as the sole candidate of the party, Metuh said he had to.

“The Constitution of the party stipulates that there will be a national convention, where decisions or memos from the National Executives will either be approved or rejected and there is no way that you can go to a presidential election and say you are adopting or electing someone who has not bought the form.

“The 30th of October for purchase of forms will not be extended and it is applicable to all candidates. That date and time would not be changed.”

It will be recalled that the members of the National Executive Committee of the party had, at its meeting on September 18, adopted Jonathan as its sole presidential candidate.

Before then, other arms of the party, such as the National Caucus, Board of Trustees and the Governors Forum, had adopted the President.

However, a member of the PDP, who is the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa, said he would contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the party.

Tafawa-Balewa also condemned what he described as a plot by the leadership of the party to demoralise other presidential aspirants by adopting Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the party.

It was, however, not clear if the aspirants would still show up at the party’s national secretariat to pick the presidential nomination form.

Still speaking on the outcome of the NWC meeting, Metuh announced that the party had granted waiver to an unspecified number of returnees and defectors to the party.

The waiver, he said, was granted to enable these set of people to participate in the forthcoming ward delegates’ conference.

“All party members are free to participate in ward delegates’ congress,” he added.

He said the requirement for waiver did not apply to people who were board members or board chairmen occupying such committee positions.

Metuh said, “We are granting the waiver because we have noted that some chapters are planning to say that some people are either returning or they are new members and cannot contest to be delegate but the issue of three-man delegate is an adhoc, because immediately after the convention, national or local government delegate, upon the end of the congress, the delegate ceases.

“The waivers that the NWC is dealing with is the ones for the House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, Senate and governorship and presidential seats. Those are the waivers that we are looking at, not issue of delegates.

“All party members, new and returning members, are free to participate in the ward delegate congress.”

No office-sharing agreement with Mimiko – PDP

 

Mimiko and Alabi

The embattled executive council of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has reacted to claims by Governor Olusegun Mimiko that no decision was reached on the sharing of positions in the state chapter of the party.

A statement by the Organising Secretary, Ondo PDP, Afolabi Akinbowale, in Akure, on Thursday, said the governor’s claims were untrue as there was a disagreement on the sharing of the positions and further reconciliatory meetings were being expected.

The statement was in response to the assertion by Mimiko that he had made a modest claim on 14 out of the 27 positions in the structure of the party, but that the executive members were unyielding.

He said, “It must be put on record that the Senate President was commissioned to head the reintegration and reconciliation committee for the South-West, therein Ondo State. In furtherance of his assignment, the Senate President called a meeting wherein Dr. Mimiko requested that he be given the chairman, secretary, treasurer, publicity secretary, organising secretary among other state executive positions.

“The negotiation broke down because Mr. Governor was unwilling to shift grounds as PDP leaders agreed that some positions in the state executive be conceded to him. However, the leaders were quick to call the attention of the Senate President to the lopsidedness in the request, therefore, the chairman and the secretary of the party cannot be in the same bundle meant for the governor, rather the two positions be separated in different bundles meant for both groups.

“Also, the leaders from the side of the PDP equally requested for positions in government wherein those relieved of their positions and interested leaders could occupy, which the Senate President agreed to, as a way of forging proper integration.”

Akinbowale added that the governor refused to accept the request, necessitating the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, who gave a directive that Mark should continue with the reintegration and reconciliation and submit the agreement reached to the party for implementation.

He said the leadership of the party in the state was expecting the Senate President’s invitation, and as a result, “no agreement whatsoever has been reached or purported to have been reached.”

Akinbowale noted that Mark was asked to submit a report of the reconciliation for implementation by the National Working Committee, but instead a parallel secretariat has been created where membership cards are being issued to people.

He said his group was prepared to work with Mimiko, but added that “a landlord should not be made a tenant in his house.”

Presidential bid: Falana knocks Buhari for taking N27.5m loan

Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
| credits: igbofocus.co.uk

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, has criticised the All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for obtaining a loan of N27.5m to procure his party’s expression of interest and nomination form for the 2015 presidential election.

He made this remark on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Paramount FM Chapel Press Week.

He noted that the action of the former head of state was indefensible, stressing that it amounted to monetisation of politics.

He said, “It is indefensible for Gen. Buhari to have obtained a loan facility of N27.5m just to obtain a form of intent to contest in the presidential election in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress.

“Is he going to obtain another loan during his campaign, because in Nigeria, it costs billions of naira to run a presidential campaign?”

Falana, who was the guest lecturer at the event, spoke on the topic: ‘Current Security Challenges: Implication for 2015 Elections’.

On the coverage of the 2015 election, the legal luminary advised journalists not to give undue advantage to any candidate, but should give all of them equal coverage, devoid of ethnic or religious colouration.

He also advised journalists to be wary of phony politicians who would want to play to the gallery, but should focus on issues.

He said, “Journalists must show more than a passing interest on how those aspirants want to manage the economy. The government must address mass illiteracy, corruption and poverty.”

Falana noted that the nation was facing security challenges such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, human trafficking because of the unemployment rate.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria called on the government to wake up and fight the security challenges confronting the nation the same way the Ebola scourge was tackled.

“Government gave Ebola Virus Disease attention because it is no respecter of anybody. But government is not conscious of the security of the people because they have security guards protecting them,” he said.

The event, which also featured award presentation to deserving members of staff, was graced by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Prince Segun Adesegun, the state NUJ chairman, Mr. Wole Sokunbi, and the secretary, Mr. Soji Amosu, among others.

Jonathan’s wife resigns as Bayelsa Permanent Secretary

Mrs. Patience Jonathan

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has resigned her appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

The 57-year-old Patience was said to have left the service voluntarily.

She was one of the appointed 17 permanent secretaries in the state civil service in July 2012.

The appointment had caused outrage in the state at the time with some Bayelsa residents accusing Governor Seriake Dickson of politicising the civil service in the state.

Though Ministry of Education sources said Patience disengaged from service voluntarily, there were speculations that she resigned because of alleged rift between her and   Dickson.

The alleged frosty relationship between the governor and the President’s wife was said to have been triggered by Patience unwillingness to support Dickson’s second term bid.

Instead, it was learnt that Jonathan’s wife had expressed her preference for the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa.

It was learnt that Patience resigned her appointment to enable her to have the moral justification to push her candidate.

At the state’s Ministry of Education on Thursday, many of the civil servants refused to comment on the development.

But our correspondent learnt from reliable sources that the ministry had computed her terminal benefits already.

One civil servant, who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity, said, “The whole thing is political. It appears Madam (the President’s wife) is not happy with the governor. With her resignation, the battle line has been drawn.

“I feel the President’s wife resigned to enable her to have the moral right to slug it out with Dickson ahead of the governorship poll in the state. Let no one deceive you, the whole thing is politics. After all, she is 57 and the retirement age is 60.”

When contacted, Chief Salo Adikumo, who resigned during the week as Commissioner for Education, said he was no longer the commissioner.

“I resigned recently as commissioner to enable me to pursue my political ambition. Please direct all your enquiries to the ministry, “ he said.

However, a ranking official of the ministry said it was true Patience had resigned voluntarily.

The official, who did not want her name in print because she was not authorised to speak on the matter, said she was not aware of the resignation having political undercurrents.

She said, “I can say Patience Jonathan has voluntarily retired. But whether there is political undertone in her resignation or not, I cannot say.

“I think the First Lady felt that her continued stay as Permanent Secretary will be depriving others. Now that she has resigned, it will afford others the opportunity to take over her position.

“Already, in accordance with the civil service rules, we have prepared all her entitlements. Whatever is due her will be given to her. She will also be receiving her pension.”

Afenifere cautions Kwara govt over Yoruba rulers

Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed
| credits: 247ureports.com

The Afenifere Renewal Group has protested an alleged disrespect for Yoruba traditional institutions by the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed-led Kwara State government.

The Kwara State chapter of the group, in a petition to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdullahi Shaaba Umar, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa, said the government’s recent grading of traditional rulers reeked of ethnic marginalisation.

The petition was signed by Messrs Joe Olarogun, Agboola Raji and Baba Ba’ako.

According to the petition, all the 70 chieftaincy stools graded by the government were in Kwara-South senatorial district.

It said, “Other memoranda from Yoruba rulers in Central and North districts were allegedly ignored because the two districts comprised the Ilorin Emirate.

“Six monarchs from Asa, Moro and Ilorin-East Local Government Areas – Ohoro of Shao, Oba of Jebba, Alapado of Apado, Baale of Afon, Dado of Okeso, and Magaji Aare of Ilorin submitted memoranda for the exercise but none was deemed qualified even though “they all met the criteria set out in the advertisement.”

The ARG said government’s action also negated historical and legal accounts in Kwara State.

It said, “Historically, both the Oba of Jebba and Ohoro of Shao were graded as third class chiefs in 1983 along with Elese of Igbaja (in Kwara-South), who today is a first class chief.

“Both rankings were inexplicably withdrawn in 1984 during the military regime. In 2003, late Gov. Muhammed Lawal restored the rankings but Gov. Bukola Saraki withdrew them again.

The group said the law clearly proved the government was insensitive in allowing the emirate to “use state apparatus to lord it over Yoruba communities.”

It said the Yoruba communities would employ all democratic means to achieve justice if the Ahmed administration fail to address the issue.

The group also warned that the “situation in Kwara State should not be allowed to degenerate into violence” as was the case in Kaduna, where peace remained elusive until the then Governor Ahmed Makarfi created a chiefdom for the Zango Kataf.

Diamond Bank CEO/GMD Resigns to go after his Political Ambition! [Photo]

The Chief Executive Officer & Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Mr Alex Ottih, resigned his position as GMD of the financial institution today Oct. 24th to pursue his political