Alternative-soul singer Bez will wed his girlfriend Bolatito Ladoja on January 3rd in Lagos. Congrats to them. He also just released hot new song titled - My Baby, produced by award winning Cobhams Asuquo and is off his forthcoming album which drops in 2014.
When other young ladies would be flaunting the new additions to their wardrobe this yuletide, 23-year-old Ngozi Okoye (real name concealed) will be sad and bemoaning the evil fate that befell her just days before Christmas.
Shapely Ngozi, a native of Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, who had vowed to go into marriage as a virgin, was brutally raped by her elder brother’s best friend on December 16, 2013, leaving her shattered into a 1000 pieces like the windshield of a car, her virgin blood spilled and highly treasured virtue forever taken by a scoundrel.
Even more pathetic is the fact that she escaped the mayhem of Boko Haram in troubled Bauchi State, only to be savaged by the foul, filthy hands and mind of a son-of-the-devil lurking at home, in the heart of Igboland. For her the rape experience is like a case of running from frying pan into fire.
Ngozi’s taste of hell on earth began on Monday, December 16, when she went to her shop behind the Obosi Town hall, Obosi, also in Idemili North LGA to do her normal business of running a beer palour with her elder brother, which he set up to survive the hard times after relocating home in the wake of the incessant Boko Haram bombings in Bauchi.
As if the devil was playing a one-person chess game in which she was the pawn, the evil being first sent the woman that sold the shop to Ngozi’s brother at the cost of N60,000, who showed up to seek payment of the balance of N15,000 after the brother had paid an initial sum of N45,000.
Recalling how she came into the picture, Ngozi said: “My brother told me about how people who came to the shop always requested for fresh fish peppersoup and other delicacies. As I had not found anything to do since we returned from Bauchi, my brother pleaded with me to join him in Obosi so that I could be preparing the delicacies and selling to customers who come to the shop to drink. When I came, we started the business and it was still trying to stand when one day, the woman that sold the shop to my brother came.
“She was doing the same business like us, so she left behind some plastic chairs and a deep freezer. As my brother could not afford to buy his own freezer, we decided to be using the woman’s own with her consent anyway. Then one day, she told my brother to give her N20,000 so she could leave the freezer for us. My brother agreed; we were still trying to raise money to pay for it and also complete the payment for the shop when she came on Monday to carry the freezer.”
“The day before, on Sunday, and I had gone to the market and bought some fresh fish and meat. I put these items in the deep freezer for preservation. So as I was about cleaning the shop the next day when the woman came and began shouting on top of her voice that she must take the freezer away. I was still pleading and telling her I kept something in the freezer when she stormed out and returned in company with two men who I noticed were commercial motorcyclists. She ordered them to go into the shop and bring out the freezer. They came in and threw the fish, meat and every other item in the freezer out and took it away.”
Rapist appears, promising Greek gift
As Ngozi was lamenting over the sudden turn of events that spoiled her sales projections for the season, the evil being moved another of his chess pieces to act out his assigned role: the suspect, Tochukwu Nebo, popularly called Baby Boy in Obosi showed up with an offer to give Ngozi another freezer to enable her to continue with the business since her elder brother happened to be his friend. Probably elated, she did not recognize the Greek gift the son-of-the-devil was dangling before her.
Her words: “I was still crying that my last hope of continuing the business of selling fresh fish and peppersoup had been aborted by the woman when she took the deep freezer away. Then Toochukwu (we call him Baby Boy) who is my elder brother’s friend came to me. I thought he came to help me. There was a time he took refuge in our house when he was wanted for something in Obosi. So he came to the shop that Monday and tried to console me, saying that I should stop crying. He said he had three deep freezers; that he would go home, consult his wife and then give me one to continue my business. He left and after about one hour later, he came back and told me to follow him to his house so that we could discuss with his wife. I said I would wait for my brother to return first since the shop was not mine alone.
He became angry and started shouting at me, trying to force me to follow him. By that time it was already getting dark. Then he raised his shirt and showed me a pistol tucked into his waist band and ordered me to remain silent, and threatened to shoot me if I said anything or shouted. I still insisted I would not go with him on a waiting motorcycle. He brought out a cutlass and as I tried to hold his hand and save myself, the sharp edge of the blade cut my hand.
I was bleeding profusely and began to shout for help but nobody came to my rescue because Baby Boy is notorious in the community. Whenever anybody came and saw that it was between Baby Boy and a girl, they just left without saying or doing anything. He continued dragging me until I got on the motorcycle. When we got to his house at Akwasi-Ire village, Obosi, directly opposite the home of former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, he stopped and pretended to make a call after which he said his wife said I must come into the compound. I refused and said his wife should come out.
“At that point, he lifted and put me on his shoulder and kicked the gate open with his leg. The time was already 9.30pm. As I was crying for help, I could hear people’s voices in the big building.
It was fully occupied by tenants but nobody came to my rescue. He took me straight to his bedroom, threw me on the bed and left. When he left, I tried to escape, but discovered that he locked the room. Shortly after he returned and brought out the gun, pointed it at me and ordered me to undress. I refused and he pounced on me, tore my pant. A struggle ensued between us but being stronger than myself, he overpowered me and tried to force himself inside me. At that moment, I tried to calm him down, telling him I was still a virgin. Initially, he broke into laughter and said that the only way to know that a 23-year- old girl is still a virgin is by testing it himself.
“He looked around and saw a key holder with an opener. He brought it close to the bed and started beating me because I didn’t to his evil desire. Then he tied my long hair which I just plaited before that day to the iron rods of burglary proof at the window; he tied my two legs separately with white rope to the iron bar in the room before he forced the key holder into my private part as his manhood could not penetrate. Immediately, blood oozed out. He was shocked and tried to stop the flow with my pant that he had torn. The pain was so excruciating that I passed out.
“When I regained consciousness, I saw myself on the bare floor in his room alone in the pool of my own blood with water gushing out of my body. I noticed then that he had tried to use water to bring me back to consciousness. It was at that moment that he told me that he was surprised to see that I was truly a virgin at my age.
He said that in Obosi, at 14 years, all the girls had known men. I thought he had come back to his senses but shortly after saying that with the gun pointing at my forehead, he began raping me again. After several hours of battling for life I pretended to have passed out again. He ran out and came back in the company with another guy who came into the room and discovered I was still breathing. I overhead him telling Baby Boy that I was still alive.
“While they were still discussing outside, I picked up my phone, tried to call my brother but I had only N3 credit left; he called me back but before I could answer him, Baby Boy heard my voice and rushed into the room; he saw me holding a phone, it was ringing but I couldn’t pick it because he was so furious and was ready to kill me. He snatched the phone and saw it was my brother calling, he took it and held it until it stopped ringing. He ordered me to pick it the second time and tell my brother whatever he told me to say. With gun pointing at my head, he said I should tell my brother that it was very late, so he took me home to stay with his wife and I was in the same room with his wife. I said so thinking he was going to release me.
Shortly after that, my brother called him on his own phone and he didn’t pick it. Later he started begging me not to tell anyone about the incident. He took some of my hair strands that cut off when he tied my braid to the iron bar and my blood-soaked pant and put them in a pit toilet in his compound. It was at that time that I told him to take me back to the shop so that my brother would not notice. He said it was a good idea. As we were going to the shop, he promised me give me the deep freezer for free and N10,000 if I kept the incident secret. I said yes and he dropped me and went back to his house.
Moreover, a woman who introduced herself to me on the phone as his wife promised to give me N100, 000 if I withdrew the complaint. Well, I have told all these things to the security agents.
“I didn’t know that when I spoke to my brother before my credit finished that he heard part of what I said and quickly called one woman who is our neighbour in the shop who confirmed that when the incident started at the shop, that she thought it was armed robbery and she quickly closed her shop and then called the Obosi Vigilance Service who came in the morning and surrounded the shop.
They were shouting open this door, open this door. When I opened it, I saw security men and I told them my story and along the line, I fainted.”
Hollywood top actress Gabrielle Union is engaged to boyfriend Dwyane Wade!
The couple announced their engagement and shared a picture of her engagement ring on Instagram lastnight Saturday, Dec. 20.
"Sooooo this happened...#Yessss," the 40-year-old actress wrote via Instagram.
Her 31 years old fiancé, Wade, added: "She said YES!!!"
The soon-to-be bride and groom have been dating since 2009, and have never shied away from expressing their love for one another.
Big congrats to them.
Today is Sunday December 22, 2013 the 356th day and 51st week of the 2013, there are only 9 days and one week left in the year.
Highlights of today in history
1965 Nigeria: Nigeria Unity: Balewa appeals for co-operation
The Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, appealed to all true patriot in Nigeria to co-operate with him in his onerous task of preserving Nigerian unity. He said that it has always been his policy to regard all Nigerians as equal irrespective of their tribe and urged Nigerians to suppress their tribal sentiments and come together in other to build for posterity, a united and prosperous nation.
The Prime Minister made the appeal at Arondizuogu while responding to an address of welcome presented to him by the Orlu and Arondizuogu communities.s
He thanked Dr. Kingsley Mbadiwe, Minister of Trade for all he had been doing for the nation and congratulated Orlu people for producing a man like Mbadiwe , adding that if Nigeria had 200 people of Dr. Mbadiwe’s qualities his task of nation building would be less burdening.
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1894 France: Dreyfus affair begins in France
French officer Alfred Dreyfus is convicted of treason by a military court-martial and sentenced to life in prison for his alleged crime of passing military secrets to the Germans. The Jewish artillery captain, convicted on flimsy evidence in a highly irregular trial, began his life sentence on the notorious Devil's Island Prison in French Guyana four months later.
The Dreyfus case demonstrated the anti-Semitism permeating France's military and, because many praised the ruling, in France in general. Interest in the case lapsed until 1896, when evidence was disclosed that implicated French Major Ferdinand Esterhazy as the guilty party. The army attempted to suppress this information, but a national uproar ensued, and the military had no choice but to put Esterhazy on trial. A court-martial was held in January 1898, and Esterhazy was acquitted within an hour.
In response, the French novelist Émile Zola published an open letter entitled "J'Accuse" on the front page of the Aurore, which accused the judges of being under the thumb of the military. By the evening, 200,000 copies had been sold. One month later, Zola was sentenced to jail for libel but managed to escape to England. Meanwhile, out of the scandal a perilous national division was born, in which nationalists and members of the Catholic Church supported the military, while republicans, socialists, and advocates of religious freedom lined up to defend Dreyfus.
1900 Germany: First "Mercedes" is delivered to its buyer
The first car to be produced under the "Mercedes" name was delivered to its buyer: Emil Jellinek, the Austrian car racer, auto dealer to the rich and famous, and bon vivant. Jellinek had commissioned the Mercedes car from the German company Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. It was faster, lighter, and sleeker than any car the company had ever made before, and Jellinek was confident that it would win races so handily that besotted buyers would snap it up. (He was so confident that he bought 36 of them, paying D-M-G 550,000 marks in all.) In exchange for his extraordinary patronage, the company agreed to name its new machine after Jellinek's 11-year-old daughter, Mercedes.
In 1886, the German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach had built one of the world's first "horseless carriages": literally, their vehicle was a four-wheeled carriage with an engine bolted to it. In 1889, the two men built the world's first four-wheeled automobile powered by a four-stroke engine. They formed Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft the next year.
In 1896, Emil Jellinek saw an ad for the D-M-G auto in a German magazine. Jellinek was a rich tobaccotrader and banker with a passion for fast (of course, "fast" was a relative term), flashy cars. As the story goes, Jellinek travelled to D-M-G's Cannstatt factory, charged onto the factory floor (wearing a pith helmet, pince-nez, mutton-chop sideburns and a luxurious moustache), and demanded the most spectacular car the company had. The first of his D-M-G cars was sturdy, but it could only go 15 miles per hour—not even close to fast enough for Jellinek.
1941 United States: Churchill and Roosevelt discuss war and peace
On this day, British Prime Minister Winston Churchillarrived in Washington, D.C.for a series of meetings with President Franklin Delano Roosevelton a unified Anglo-American war strategy and a future peace.
Now that the United Stateswas directly involved in both the Pacific and European wars, it was incumbent upon both Great Britain and America to create and project a unified front. Toward that end, Churchill and Roosevelt created a combined general staff to coordinate military strategy against both Germany and Japan and to draft a future joint invasion of the Continent. Roosevelt also agreed to a radical increase in the U.S. arms production program: the 12,750 operational aircraft to be ready for service by the end of 1943 became 45,000; the proposed 15,450 tanks also became 45,000; and the number of machine guns to be manufactured almost doubled, to 500,000.
Among the momentous results of these U.S.-Anglo meetings was a declaration issued by Churchill and Roosevelt that enjoined 26 signatory nations to use all resources at their disposal to defeat the Axis powers and not sue for a separate peace. This confederation called itself the "United Nations." Lead by the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, all 26 nations declared a unified goal to "ensure life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve the rights of man and justice." The blueprint for the destruction of fascism and a future international peacekeeping organization was born.
1956 United States: First gorilla born in captivity
On this day in 1956, a baby gorilla named Colo enters the world at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, becoming the first-ever gorilla born in captivity. Weighing in at approximately 4 pounds, Colo, a western lowland gorilla whose name was a combination of Columbus and Ohio, was the daughter of Millie and Mac, two gorillas captured in French Cameroon, Africa, who were brought to the Columbus Zoo in 1951. Before Colo's birth, gorillas found at zoos were caught in the wild, often by brutal means. In order to capture a gorilla when it was young and therefore still small enough to handle, hunters frequently had to kill the gorilla's parents and other family members.
Gorillas are peaceful, intelligent animals, native to Africa, who live in small groups led by one adult male, known as a silverback. There are three subspecies of gorilla: western lowland, eastern lowland and mountain. The subspecies are similar and the majority of gorillas in captivity are western lowland. Gorillas are vegetarians whose only natural enemy is the humans who hunt them. On average, a gorilla lives to 35 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity.
1960 Nigeria: alleged Tax Leakage: FG to inquire
The Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewaat its monthly Press conference held in Lagos expressed serious concern about allegations that the Government’s decision to increase import and excise duties on a number of imported goods, leaked to a section of importers before the announcement was madepublic.
The Prime Minister told the Pressmen that “he was looking into the matter and he would not hesitate to deal with whoever was responsible for the leakage and if he is completely satisfied that there was a leakage.
Whoever is the Minister reported by a section of the press to have given out the information that there was a leakage.
Whoever initiated the rumour that there was a leakage, if he was satisfied that there was no such leakage and that the story was just fabricated to damage the reputation of his government”
And Prime Minister added: “I shall deal with it in a manner that such an irresponsible person will not indulge in such a rumour again.”
1971 United Nations: Waldheim elected U.N. Secretary-General
The United Nations General Assembly votes to ratify the U.N. Security Council's nomination of Austrian diplomat Kurt Waldheim to lead the U.N. Waldheim went on to serve two terms as head of the world body, leaving the post in 1982.
In 1986, during a campaign for the Austrian presidency, documents were uncovered revealing that he had served as an intelligence officer in German army units that had committed war atrocities in the Balkans during World War II.Waldheim, who had previously claimed that he spent much of the war in Vienna, admitted that he had lied about his wartime record but denied any knowledge of atrocities. He went on to win the Austria presidency despite the allegations but became an international pariah.
After the annexation of his country by Nazi Germanyin 1938, Waldheim was conscripted into the German army and served on the Russian front until 1941, when he was wounded. Waldheim claimed that he spent the rest of the war studying law in Vienna, but it is now known that he was an interpreter and intelligence officer for German army units stationed in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia and Greece from 1943 and 1945. Waldheim's units engaged in brutal reprisals against Yugoslav partisans and civilians and deported most of the Jewish population of Salonika, Greece, to Nazi death camps. There is no evidence that he personally killed, tortured, or deported anyone, but he did provide the logistical and intelligence support that enabled others to do so. He won praise and promotion from his Nazi superiors, and evidence indicates that on one occasion he ordered a group of prisoners shot.
He is one of Nigeria’s high-flying deejays. With a master’s degree in finance, DJ Caise reveals why he had to forgo a white collar job for music
Where did you get the alias, DJ Caise from?
My real name is Derin Phillips and I got the alias from a friend who thought I was a crazy disc jockey. Caise is the French word for money box.
Where and how did you catch the music bug?
I have always been a music head. I was a choir member at my church and I was always the guy in class that always made a lot of noise singing and rapping. When I got to the Reading University in the United Kingdom, I started work as a disc jockey while studying for my BSc Economics and MSc Finance. I guess music has always been a huge part of my life. I could not even fight off my love for music even if I tried.
Having discovered your love for music in your undergraduate years, why did you not pursue a degree in music as opposed to a master’s in finance?
I actually went to a production and DJ school; you can see that I am well schooled in the art.
Did you use your degrees to work at any point in time?
Yes, I worked in a bank at the treasure department, trading fixed income securities.
How were you able to convince your family that you wanted a career as a deejay?
It was very difficult and it’s still a mission in progress. Explaining to my family the vision I have is a bit difficult but they still show me all the support they can and they understand my passion.
You decided to relocate to Nigeria?
I only travelled for educational reasons; I was born and raised in Nigeria, I’m a proud Lagosian.
Did you have contacts in Nigeria prior to relocating?
On returning, I actually didn’t know anybody in the entertainment industry. I saw the General Manger of Beat FM outside a club, walked up to him and introduced myself. After a few interviews and auditions, as they say, the rest is history.
How easy or difficult was it for you to break into the music scene?
In the UK, I was already an established and successful DJ, so moving back actually felt like I was in a new terrain especially as I was the first person to play Gidi House music on Nigerian radio. It was a bit tricky trying to convince people about my kind of music but I’m glad Gidi House music scene has come this far.
Did you also plan to become a producer?
Deejaying and producing are very similar and I had reached a point in deejaying that I wanted to go beyond expressing my creativity using other people’s music. Producing has given me an avenue to create my own sound and express my ideas a lot better.
Don’t you think you are doing too many things at once?
Apart from being a DJ, producer, artiste and actor (I am currently shooting ‘The Island’), I am a very passionate, hardworking and creative person. I feel like I have a story to tell even though there are times I am tired and frustrated. I honestly believe this gift is bigger than me.
What is causing the delay in releasing your album?
You can’t rush a creative process. No 1 was well received and I have to work extra hard to surpass that. Before now, I was going to release a mash-up/remix album, but when we received the feedback for No 1, we decided to release original materials only, which I am working on.
Which of these passions is more fulfilling to you?
Honestly, between being a deejay and a producer, I can’t pick one. Like I mentioned earlier, they are both similar. The only difference is, producing is a slower process while deejaying is quite intense and fast paced especially when at sold-out concerts. The pressure is on to keep the crowd on their feet and entertained.
Competition is tough in all of these fields, how do you keep abreast of competition?
Competition is healthy for any field but I really just focus on my goals and try to deliver the best music I can and as I know it.
What kind of childhood did you have?
I had a great childhood, spent a lot of time with my immediate brother and cousins. I use to sleep a lot and I was the baby of the house. I was a school prefect, class captain, president of the ACS (Afro Caribbean society), we thank God.
Growing up, which music icons did you look up to?Who are those you look up to currently?
Growing up, I looked up to Nas, Jay Z, Biggie, Tupac because I liked their music and the message they put across especially Nas and Tupac, I was drawn to their self empowerment message. Currently, I look up to David Guetta, Timbaland, Tiesto and Black Coffee. All these people are DJs, producers and artistes.
What is your long term plan for your brand?
I want to make a positive contribution to the Nigeria/African entertainment industry.
What is the best part of being in the limelight?
The best part is having the opportunity to impact people’s lives.
Why did you choose to pitch your tent with Chocolate City?
I believe it’s one of Africa’s best record labels. They have great plans in place for each artiste signed to the label. Also, they understand my passion for music and where I am taking it to.
What would you consider the highpoints of your careers?
I have a couple of highlights, deejaying at WOMEX ( World Music Expo) which happened in Cardiff; at the MTV Africa Alstar event; I have been a deejay in front of 20,000 people; Big Brother Africa season 5 and 6; in Zimbabwe and many more.
The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Lai Mohammed, reiterates the party’s call for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan, in this interview with ALLWELL OKPI
The All Progressives Congress recently called for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan. What prompted this call?
In our press release, we gave reasons for our asking for the President to be impeached. One is that we are running a democracy and particularly, it is a presidential system of government. That being so, it provides for separation of powers. Power is shared by the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The system gives a lot of powers to the executive, but being conscious of human nature that this power could be abused, it also provides for checks and balances. That is why the constitution says the president or the governor can be removed if he is found guilty of charges of gross misconduct. In principle, what we said and did was simply following the constitution, which allows for the president to be impeached.
Can you mention the actions of President Jonathan that constitute gross misconduct?
We said the responsibility of any government is the security and welfare of the citizenry. The administration has failed to live up to the justification of its existence. We also complained of total failure of leadership, which has given birth to insecurity, unprecedented level of corruption, palpable impunity, massive unemployment, among other things. We gave examples of each of these. This country is currently swimming in corruption: Is it the oil subsidy scam that you want to talk about? Or the armoured vehicles scam? Or the pension scam? Or is it the N8trn missing fund discovered by the Central Bank of Nigeria, that you want to talk about? Or is it the missing SURE-P fund you want to talk about or the arbitrary distribution of money from the ecological fund to the cronies of the President? Or is it the impunity that has been going on for about one year in Rivers State that you want to talk about? The commissioner of police in Rivers has become the de facto chief executive. Let anybody say any of these did not happen or that any of them does not constitute gross misconduct. And for crying out loud, when did asking for the impeachment of the President become treasonable felony? This is a government that has run out of ideas. Everywhere in the world, parties call for the impeachment of the President. Even in the US, small parties call for the impeachment of Barack Obama for frivolous reasons. When has it become sacrilegious to ask that the President be impeached? If it was so, the constitution would not have put the impeachment clause there.
Did the letter by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Jonathan play any role in your call for the President’s impeachment, considering that it was revealed a few days earlier?
No, it (the letter) was not on the list. The letter only reinforced our call, but it is not on the list. The things on the list were not taken out of the letter. If we are going to be honest to ourselves, there is no issue in the letter, except the training of snipers and putting 1000 people on Jonathan’s political watch list. There is nothing in Obasanjo’s letter that we have not been saying. Is it about impunity; is it security; is it corruption? We have even spoken more than what Obasanjo wrote. If we are to compile what we have said about this administration, it would be a book, not a letter. It is interesting that even people in Jonathan’s party have said exactly what we have been saying about his administration; Obasanjo on one hand and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on the other hand. Tambuwal said the body language of the President showed that he was encouraging corruption. Two months ago, we said he was an accessory to corruption; that his body language showed that he was not ready to fight corruption.
The Presidency has accused APC of seizing every opportunity to heat up the polity and has charged you with treasonable felony. What’s your reaction to that?
If the President is sure that he is not guilty of any of these misconducts, why is he afraid? Clearly, the answer to call for impeachment is not a charge of treasonable felony.
Considering how heated up the polity is ahead of 2015 elections, don’t you think impeaching the President now will throw this country into chaos?
How? Will it be the first time in a democracy that a president will be impeached?
But it would be the first in Nigeria.
Of course, we are a young democracy, that’s why. Nothing will stabilise Nigeria’s democracy more that the impeachment of the President; it will show people that democracy is not just about the right to choose your leaders, but also the right and the ability to get rid of them when they don’t perform.
With the rigorous process of impeaching a president, do you think it is possible for the National Assembly to impeach Jonathan?
What is the rigour? To serve the notice, you need only one-third of the members. You don’t need two-third to serve notice of impeachment. The next thing is to call the Chief Justice of Nigeria and put forth the allegations for him (Jonathan) to defend. If they are not satisfied, the CJN will constitute a committee. People will be shocked that by the time the process gain momentum, more and more people will join the impeachment train. We absolutely have no doubt in our minds that it is doable.
That means APC will be banking on its increased strength in the National Assembly.
Frankly speaking, most of these allegations are not wrongs against APC alone; they are wrongs and misdeeds affecting entire Nigeria. If you talk corruption and insecurity, even some states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party suffer it more than APC states. You will be shocked that people that you think are on the President’s side will join the train of impeachment. So many people, who have been groaning but have not had the opportunity to air their views, will join
The army on Saturday launched a manhunt in Abbaram, Borno State, for suspected fighters of the Boko Haram sect, who had reportedly kidnapped soldiers’ wives and children during the Friday attack on an army barracks nearby town of Bama.
The suspected Boko Haram fighters had stormed the barracks in the town of Bama early on Friday, spraying it with bullets before torching the compound.
Agence France Presse reports that several Bama residents said the Boko Haram gunmen fled to the nearby village of Abbaram after the attack, where the military sent hundreds of troops on Saturday.
They told AFP that the insurgents also abducted several of the soldiers’ wives and children during the attack.
“The soldiers have besieged the village and more troops are deploying in hundreds. Nothing is happening yet but from the huge number of troops and the large number of Boko Haram in the village, one can imagine what may happen,” a Bama resident, Ibrahim Idris said.
Another Bama resident, Karim Bunu, who described Abbaram as a village of some 250 people, said, “We are afraid of what will happen to the people of Abbaram because whichever way one looks at it, they are facing a serious security threat.”
A third resident, who requested anonymity, said the sect was holding in Abbaram the “women and children of soldiers,” who had been kidnapped during the Friday attack, in an account supported by both Idris and Bunu.
When asked for details, Northeastern military spokesman Mohammed Dole referred AFP to Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters.
Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade could not be reached for comment.
In November, Human Rights Watch reported that Boko Haram has increasingly used kidnappings as a tactic, abducting scores of women and children this year.
After staging an attack on the military, the insurgents flee to far away camps to evade pursuing troops, but their escape was slowed on Friday by fighter jets which dropped bombs on the major routes leading out of Bama, according to the military and witnesses.
“I counted 18 burnt all-terrain vans belonging to the Boko Haram gunmen pulverised by military jets,” said the unnamed resident, who identified himself as a member of a military-backed vigilante force which has formed in the northeast to fight the insurgents.
Air force jets continued to fly over the region on Saturday, residents said.
The Bama attack was the second major Islamist assault on the army this month, casting further doubt on official claims that the rebels have been weakened by a seven-month-old military offensive in the North-East.
The Pastor of the Household of God Church International, Chris Okotie, recently bought a Rolls Royce Coupe, the 2014 Bespoke Edition, to mark his 30 years as born-again Christian and 27 years as a pastor, according Okotie’s close aide, the pastor spent N120m on the luxury car and had earlier spent N33m on a Range Rover Autobiography to mark a milestone of his church.
The source, said, “Pastor Okotie just bought a Rolls Royce Coupe, 2014 Bespoke Edition at N120m to mark his 30 years as a born-again Christian and 27 years as a pastor. He had earlier bought a Range Rover (Autobiography) 2014 Model for N33m, reputed to be the costliest SUV in the world to mark this ministry’s milestone.”
Checks on the Internet showed that the cheapest price of same Rolls Royce model is about N65m, but it could be more expensive if armoured.
Fifty-five-year-old Okotie was in the news recently for the controversial comments he made during a church service in which he claimed that “all Catholics will go to hell,” and referred to Pope Francis as anti-Christ.
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan on Friday described the death of late Chief Tari Sekibo, as shocking to Ijaw land.
Jonathan said this when she paid a condolence visit to the widow of the late Chairman of the Ijaw National Council at his residence in Port Harcourt.
She said: ''I am short of words, he was more than a father to me, his death came as a shock to Ijaw land.
“He was a strong voice for the Niger Delta.
''I urge the family to take heart, God knows best.
“He will send a comforter to console you and fill the gap he left. I promise to stand by you and my husband also extends his condolences.''
Speaking on behalf of the family, Abiye Sekibo thanked the President's wife for showing sympathy.
''Whenever our brother returned from Abuja, he told us you were the best thing to have happened to us in Ijaw land because of your good heart.
''I pray for God's guidance, wisdom and protection for you at all times,'' Sekibo said.
We've all known Michael Collins aka Don Jazzy to be a music producer. So when he started making camera appearances in videos of acts signed under his label, we became surprised at so much talent he's got- not many knew he could sing.
His first appearance was in one of D'banj's video when the going was still smooth between both-but even then, he didn't sing, he just stood like the don he's been and keeps whispering things into Kokomaster's ear at intervals.
But the one that got us all wondering was when he started appearing in Tiwa Savage's videos. And he didn't just play a passive role, he was actually featured in them and his voice was great, great enough for us all to love those songs, especially the Eminado song.
So, James Ndubisi took it upon himself by dropping the first teaser, that Jazzy should by now, thinking of dropping an album.
What do you think-should Don Jazzy remain mainly as a music producer or will he make a good artiste?
A former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) was working on modalities to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He made this known to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday after the APC chieftains met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to woo him over to the party`s fold. ``We have the intention of meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as soon as he is available so that we will tell him how we evolve APC.
``And then, we will ask for his understanding and cooperation. This is what we have been doing,’’ Buhari said. Atiku, who spoke at the meeting, said that a strong opposition was necessary in every democracy to checkmate the activities of the government in power.
The former vice president said the APC was a strong opposition that would give Nigerians better alternatives in every election. ``I will consult with my political associates all over the country and then make an announcement later,’’ Atiku said.
Earlier, the ACP Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, said that the party was consulting with political stakeholders in the country to salvage the country`s image. ``We had worked with you before and we know you. The country is being discredited and we feel we should meet with men of good will to right the wrongs,’’ Akande said
Kate Henshaw and her fellow judges at the show's
recording last night. *lol*
While most brides dream of throwing a white wedding
which will make other women green with envy, this 44
years old bride painted herself and her husband-to-be
green for their fairy-tale wedding based on the film Shrek.
Amanda, 44, and Nathan Gibbs, 39, wedded today after
eight years together.
They had lost a number of friends to cancer, so the couple
decided to wed dressed as Shrek and Fiona and use the
day to raise money for charity.
Instead of wedding gifts, the couple asked their guests to
donate money to Cancer Research.
Guests also came dressed up for the themed celebrations -
dressing up as the Gingerbread Man, Mickey Mouse and
Jack Sparrow from Pirates Of The Caribbean.
Don Jazzy received the Flytime Entertainment Legend Awards given to him during the just concluded Harp Rhythm Unplugged and while on the podium Don Jazzy expressed surprise that he was considered for the awards. “I did not even know that they give award to people at Rhythm Unplugged,” he said.
A major highlight of the event was when the comedy merchant wanted to deceive the American into calling him his boss. Bovi told Wyclef that when you want to greet a Nigerian you say, “You be my oga patapata.”
However, the American did not fall for the trick as he told the comedian that, “Are you trying to make me say you are my boss? No way!” The American further challenged the Nigerian comedian to a rap battle for his YouTube channel. According to the crowd’s chants
and cheers, Bovi beat Wyclef hands down.
Accepting the award, Don Baba Jay as he is often referred to by friends and fans thanked D’banj, Wande Coal and the Mavins for the award because without them, he would not have had the award. Wyclef and Bovi, hosts of the comedy show, made sure there was
no boring moment. Bovi showed the reason why he was considered an ace comedian by making sure people rolled on the floor with laughter.
By Adesegun Damazio
It is indeed ironical to find that the same set of people who clamor to make Nigeria a foremost contender among the world's most buoyant economies are the ones draining the yolk of its future representatives. As sluggish days progressed into nerving weeks, and then into unbearably arduous months, the 2013 strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities proved to be one of the most devastating and lack-luster uproars ever staged by the body. With most stringent issues being left unattended to, while sensitive blame and provocative accusations are now the daily topics of public discourse, all seems to be unwell among the custodians of our nation's constitution.
However, this piece is not aimed at revealing the harbingers of the incessant turmoil in the country's various administrative dispensation, nor is it a pointer to the quiddity behind the ASUU/FG showdown, instead, it posits the discernible effects and most importantly, imminent results that the strike action may deal on the Nigerian youth. One ideology that guided the entire citizens to be the punch line of the just-concluded battle and perhaps, the reason why it garnered much publicity and support from within and outside the country was the FG's unwillingness to fulfillits promises to revamp the educational sector, either by allocating more funds or increasing the pay of university lecturers, if not both. The two parties had been accused of having alternative motives for their stern refusal to reach a comprehensive agreement, with ASUU coming under fire from prominent bodies such as Catholic Bishops and the Market Women Association of Nigeria. Meanwhile, Nigerian students who are essentially on the receiving end have been left to question who is really fighting for their welfare.
Also, various chapters of the executive committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) did not emerge from the discord unscathed, having being accused of incompetence and accepting bribes from top government officials in order to remain docile throughout the course of the strike. Needless to say, nothing qualifies to be held tangible enough for the restoration of the educational sector. Recent polls have cited Nigeria to possess the most numerous amount of Internet users, the redundant undergraduates taking a lion's share of the pie chart. While some are beginning to see Internet fraud as a booming occupation owing to the sheer oppression by the ostentatious lifestyles of their peers, others have simply taken solace in online pornography. The number of attendees at night clubs has also witnessed an overwhelming surge, thereby paving the way for constant abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Efforts at reducing crime rates in the society have taken a sudden plunge, with most holiday job providers now more reluctant to employ students-turned-urchins to their workforce. The pungent strike discouraged a large number of undergraduates from reading their books since most of them felt there was nothing to read for. Several social networking sites declared huge profits from the sky high increase in the number of registered users. Although, it is quite remarkable to find that amidst the anarchical political system, some students strived to make good use of their time either by volunteering to participate actively in governmental and community services, or modeling, blogging, just to cite a few.
In addition, the strike created a thriving habitat for famous bloggers both in Nigeria and the diaspora, to reveal various acts of indecency, negligence and corruption at the various arms of government and its parastatals, backed with pictorial and corresponding evidence. This did nothing other than sorely fuel the lividity of the ASUU top guns and its members, who seemed relentless in their struggle for stability in the country's most promising sector. It would be of no surprise if the new annual ranking of the world's best universities is devoid of a Nigerian institution, thereby leaving a sordid indentation on the erstwhile blooming reputation of UI, UNILAG & OAU amongst others. Furthermore, an impending malady might come to play if the victims of the 2013 ASUU STRIKE are rendered unemployable due to months of inactivity, with undergraduates in the medical and engineering field standing to take the most fatal gash. This however, allows either for downright nepotism or rigmarole in job acquisition, while the redundant populace are left to venture into unrelated lines of work in order to make ends meet. The phrase, "ASUU SUSPENDS STRIKE" is a reminder of a possible reoccurrence of an industrial action in the case of a breach of agreement, which underscores the horrendous level of dishonesty at the country's helm of affairs. For the average Nigerian student, the road to redemption stretches to endless extremes.
The series of ongoing events all culminate in a famous saying, "a nation divided against itself is destined for ruin.” Will Nigeria yield to the Americans' proposition of a nation that would cease to exist come 2015, even though they have their own dirty linen to wash? Will the Nigerian youth one day, stage an uprising and rid the government of corrupt officials as seen in other African countries? Or would the state of affairs be returned to a pristine state following fruitful dialogue and national conferences? These and many more are crucial questions left unanswered by the respective Nigerian bodies, and would go a long way in determining the credibility of the nation's heritage. In the end, we are all Nigerians and certainly are culpable if things go awry.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They dated a few years back,one wanted it official but the other wanted it a cupboard thing...so their affair took a holiday.
Both single.....
Both celebrities....
both beautiful.....
both rich....?
Rumour has it they are at it again,only this time they are being careful and no one will hear the public confession of ''omo you don make me fall in love.....
Let's see how it goes if it is true what the whistle blowers say.
*hmmmm!
Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Emele Uka, told NICHOLAS KALU in Calabar that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Goodluck Jonathan is a calculated attempt to destabilise the country. The prelate advised Jonathan to arrest and detain the former president. Excerpts
What are your thoughts about former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Goodluck Jonathan?
Anyone who has carefully read Obasanjo’s letter will notice that he does not mean well for this country.
The tone and content of his letter have set the nation on a state of alert and anxiety and could destabilise the polity.
We know that all power belongs unto God. And that it is God who has put our President in office. To insult the President is to insult God.
I think the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, should take immediate steps to order the arrest and detention of this man who behaves like a bull in a china shop, and thinks he is a god and very rich and can say and do what he likes in Nigeria (his private property) and get away with it.
Obasanjo ruled and ruined this nation – Nigeria, and during his tenure, corruption index soared very high.
During the course of Obasanjo’s administration, corrupt practices moved from an alarming state to the fatal state and oozed out such stench that stank to high heavens. Nobody could call him to order – if you did, he will pursue you ruthlessly and mercilessly with the coercive instruments of the state power, until he destroys you. He delights in inflicting such pain and shame on people close to him.
He supported a tout to brazenly abduct a sitting Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige. Obasanjo master-minded the pre-mature exit of three senate presidents, who refused to dance to his tune – Chief Evans Enweren, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and Chief Adolphus Nwagbara.
He ordered the massacre of thousands of Tiv people in Zaki Biam in Benue State and committed a crime against humanity by ordering the killing of innocent civilians in Odi in Bayelsa State in 1999.
Mr. President must not reply to Obasanjo’s mischievous, malicious and self serving letter.
Silence, they say “is the best answer for a fool”. Therefore the President has no business in answering a foolish letter.
And let nobody dare to think that because they have money they can threaten any section of this nation. Afterall, some of us have seen blood, tears, war in this country and the heavens did not fall.
Obasanjo’s letter has a nuisance value; it is the product of a diseased mind who is trying to instigate a coup against the Nigerian government and people. It must be treated as a distraction and the President must not allow it to divert his energies in piloting the ship of state in the way and manner he deems best.
This Obasanjo, it has been noted, has an obsession for power, and a tendency to control those in authority, when his attempt to control Jonathan failed, he now tries to incite the populace against him.
You are calling for his arrest because of the letter. Don’t you think that would be infringement on his fundamental human right of freedom of expression, especially in a democracy?
The freedom of expression as contained in the constitution does not mean that you should commit libel or use inciting statement to set the nation ablaze. So, his statements are not just ordinary, coming from a man of his stature. His statements are capable of destabilising the nation in times like this. So, Jonathan should use his powers as the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces to make sure nobody destabilises this nation and therefore should arrest and detain him. As Obasanjo puts it in his letter “before it is too late.”
Don’t you think Obasanjo should be commended for speaking out boldly?
He is not speaking out boldly. He is speaking out to destabilise the nation. It is not boldness. It is cowardly. That boldness is cowardice and demonic. It does not arise from truth and righteousness because if it were to be boldness, its consequences should be good not evil.
Are you trying to say there is no truth at all in the matters he raised?
Because of the person who raised it, it should be ignored. If he is not in power, he wants to find a way to confuse everybody.
Do you still see any hope for this country?
As an ordinary human who has lived in this country for over 60 years, I fear about the future of the country, given the practise of the corrupt, present leaders in the nation. All they are looking for is to grab power and use the resources of the nation as they like. They don’t have any good intention for the people, otherwise how could you allow a common man to be paid 18, 000 when you are earning millions? So, unless something radical is done to wipe out this crop of corrupt leaders, the future is bleak. But as a Christian, I still hope that God, along the line, would intervene to save his people.
What is your message to Nigerians in the wake of all these?
The people of Nigeria should not be afraid of Obasanjo’s letter. He thinks this nation is his own. So, I am asking Nigerians that Obasanjo is a Nigerian flesh and blood. No one should fear him. He wants to instigate fear. We should rather fear God and not Obasanjo.
Weeks after Mariah Carey was criticized for performing in Nigeria due to its corrupt government and “mass killings” happening in the country, she has also been criticized for a more recent performance that she gave in Angola. Mariah Carey gave a two-hour concert for Angolan President Josè Eduardo Dos Santos for a whopping $1 million.
It is said that Dos Santos’ critics have accused the dictator of murdering politicians, journalists and anyone else who has defied his orders or challenged his rule. The dictator has also allegedly both monopolized and exploited oil and diamond resources and seized control of almost all aspects of Angola’s government.
The Mariah concert was sponsored by a mobile-phone company called Unitel which is owned by Dos Santos’ daughter, Isabel, who is also the head of the Angolan Red Cross. It’s reported that the Red Cross only received $65,000 in charity from the concert — despite its hefty payout to the “Fantasy” singer.
The president of the Human Rights Foundation, Thor Halvorssen said “It is the sad spectacle of an international artist purchased by a ruthless police state to entertain and whitewash the father-daughter kleptocracy that has amassed billions in ill-gotten wealth while the majority of Angola lives on less than $2 a day.”
Thor also commented, “Mariah Carey can’t seem to get enough dictator cash. Just five years ago she performed for the family of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. Now, she goes from private performances to public displays of support and credibility for one of Africa’s chief human rights violators and most corrupt tyrants.”
After there was public outcry following her performance for al-Gaddafi, Mariah did apologize for her concert but since she hasn’t apologized for performing in the beautiful Nigeria, maybe she doesn’t send anymore
For robbing a woman of N50,000 at gun point, the trio of Kayode Babarinde, Akeem Haruna and Yusuf Nurudeen must die by hanging so held yesterday by the Supreme Court.
In a unanimous judgment five justices of the court upheld the concurrent judgment of both the Kwara State High Court and the Ilorin Division of the Court of Appeal.
The three convicts were charged before the Kwara state High Court in Ilorin on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery contrary to section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R 11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
They were alleged to have robbed one Mrs Ruth Alabi of the sum of N50,000 while armed with a locally made pistol on 18/8/2007 at Baba Oloya Street, Jebba.
Each of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to each count of the charge.
The prosecution called three witnesses and tendered exhibits while the appellants each testified on their own behalf and called no witness.
At the conclusion of trial, the high court on 26/9/09 found each of the accused persons guilty as charged on each of the counts.
They were sentenced to two years of imprisonment on the count of conspiracy and death by hanging on the count of armed robbery.
However, they were dissatisfied with their conviction and sentence and appealed to the Court of Appeal in Ilorin. The Court of Appeal also dismissed their appeal.
Still dissatisfied, they appealed to the Supreme Court.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, she dismissed the appeal after finding it to be unmeritorous.
She said: “I find no reason to disturb the said finding and conclusions of the lower court. In effect the appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed.”
Beyonce is all smiles while doing some shopping at Walmart on Friday (December 20) in Tewksbury, Mass.
The 32-year-old entertainer was also seen buying a copy of her brand new album Beyonce in pics posted on her Facebook.
During the shopping trip, Beyonce purchased $37,500 (N5,958,000) worth of gift cards to give to people, who were in the store. Each person received a $50 Walmart gift card within envelopes that read, “Happy Holidays from Beyonce.”
The day before, Beyonce kept it fierce while having some fun at Dave & Busters to celebrate her new album in the Big Apple.
Chimamanda Adichie’s book, Americanah is number 1 on BBC’s top 10 books of 2013 beating the likes of The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner, The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber and Mary Coin by Marisa Silver. The book, Americanah was also listed as one of the top ten books of 2013 by New York Times.
The star comedian ,his beautiful wife Lilien and 2 kids look adorable in their Christmas card and photos.
Maheeda, who insists she's a gospel singer, tells Galaxy TV
"I'm not posting those nude pictures on the internet to teach people to start going naked, I posted them because I felt I am sexy and I love sexuality. In Europe, where I live, at a certain age, parents will start to teach their children about sex education. But it is unfortunate that I came from this part of the world where sentiment is attached to everything.
I’m 31 years old and I can’t pretend to behave like a baby or something. I’m sexy and I like it. I’m still spiritually inclined and I have some gospel songs which are not out yet. One of them is Papangolo.
There are reports that television presenter and host of ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ TV reality show, Frank Edoho has traditionally wedded his second wife - Sandra Onyenecheya.
The wedding reportedly held in Arochukwu, Abia state last Wednesday, December 18, 2013.
Actor and movie director, Desmond Elliot has delved into politics. He is now a card carrying member of Labour Party and plans to contest for the Lagos House of Assembly, Surulere Constituency, come 2015.
Desmond, who said he's going into politics because he wants to be 'an agent of change' will start his political campaigns soon. Or maybe he's already started...we are talking about it now...lol. Wish him all the best.
Amnesty International on Friday urged Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan to reject the bill that would outlaw gay marriage and crackdown on gay rights after lawmakers approved the final version for his signature.
Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Africa Deputy Director said:
This discriminatory bill, which not only criminalises same-sex marriage but also makes public displays of affection and even socialising in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex community illegal, must be rejected by the President. Cos if the President signs the bill into law, it would make Nigeria one of the least tolerant societies in the world and have catastrophic consequences for the country’s LGBTI community and human rights organisations.
Under Nigeria’s bill, anyone who enters into a same-marriage or “civil union” can be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
It also says “any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
Jonathan’s intentions regarding the bill, according to PMNews, are not clear.
Armed robbers yesterday stormed Offa, Kwara State around 4:30pm and attacked commercial banks in the area.
Eyewitnesses report the armed robbers came fully armed with various guns and explosives with which they blew open the doors of First bank and GTbank.
They gained entry into Ecobank through a side door without the use of explosives.
It was said that they didn't get money from some of the banks as it was past closing time and some of
the banks have moved their cash into the vault.
GTbank was worst hit as people were killed inside the banking hall. Whether the casualties were customers or Bankers hasn't been confirmed yet but since the robbery took place after working hours (9am-2pm in Offa) it is assumed they are bankers.
The robbers also took to the street killing innocent people who mistakenly ran into them when the robbery began.
They also went to the police station at Owode where they killed some Policemen and even people in the cell.
Death toll is said to be about 15 people
Without any promos or in store sales, Beyonce sold 1 million copies of her new album worldwide on iTunes. Queen B reached platinum status in just six days, with over 600,000 copies of the album sold in America alone. The album officially hits stores tomorrow December 20th.
The police in Bauchi State have nabbed an assistant headmaster in the state for allegedly raping a nine-year-old pupil in his school.
It was learnt on Tuesday that the suspect, one Mr James Dantayi, who is the assistant headmaster of Jubril Aminu Model Primary School in the state capital, raped the victim (name withheld), who is a primary three pupil in the school.
The parents of the victim got to know about the alleged offence on noticing their daughter’s movement, which they saw as being abnormal, when she returned home from school. Upon interrogation, the girl told her parents that it was the assistant headmaster that had unlawful carnal knowledge of her.
The parents, according to sources, reported the matter to the police who promptly arrested the 42-year-old assistant headmaster and have since commenced investigation into the matter.
Confirming the incident to journalists in Bauchi on Tuesday, the Bauchi State Police command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Haruna Mohammed, stated that the police received a complaint from the parents, adding that the suspect was currently in police custody while investigation was ongoing.
According to Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), “we have received a complaint about the matter and we visited the scene of the incident. We are currently investigating the matter, while the suspect is in our custody.”
The PPRO stated that the police took photograph of the scene upon their visit to the school, adding that the victim was taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for medical examination and treatment.
African Queen crooner, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2face has reacted to the recent ban on songs by artistes who are registered under Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON)
There has been an ongoing ‘war’ between COSON and BON over compensation of intellectual property. BON is accusing COSON of arbitrarily imposing and concocting fees which are not based on any agreeable and verifiable tariff and standards.
BON in a press release, announcing the ban said, ” “No person or organization, particularly a collection society such as COSON has a monopoly of authority over any other…IBAN and BON have the utmost respect for Nigerian artistes in their individual and collective capacities and have indeed contributed more than any known institution to the promotion of Nigerian music and the development of the entertainment industry as a whole.”
However, in his reaction, 2face attributed the action to corruption and greed of BON members.
According to him, “Corruption greed and wickedness is simply what is behind the music ban on air. How can well meaning people sabotage their own. GREED! You want to make chocolate, but you don’t want to pay for cocoa. Let the music play”
President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, unveiled the first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, named GULMA, built by the Nigerian Air Force in Kaduna.
He declared that the giant technological breakthrough of various sectors, particularly the Armed Forces, are pointers to the country’s potential for greater deeds.
In his speech at the unveiling ceremony, President Jonathan said: “We must not forget the lesson of this encouraging moment in our nation’s history; that as Nigerians we are capable of great deeds.
“In the same manner, we must not forget that ahead of us still lie challenges that we must surmount. We must, therefore, stay focused on our common national purpose.
“Today marks another landmark moment in our nation’s history, as we gather here to witness the unveiling of our country’s first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle, which has been designed and constructed by the Nigeria Air Force.
“Besides its diverse military application, unmanned aerial vehicle provides mankind with a range of benefits in disaster management, power line surveys, law enforcement, telecommunications, weather monitoring, and aerial imaging/mapping.
“It is also rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration.
“Considering the potential impact of its benefit and versatility, I cannot but say how proud I am of the men and women of our Armed Forces.
“Apart from their commitment to the protection of our sovereignty, they are helping to keep our nation ahead in military science and technology and to keep their civilian counterparts on their toes.”
Minister’s comments
The Minister of Information, who also supervises the Defence Ministry, Labaran Maku, noted that the true professionalism of the military since 1999 had given rise to the indigenous military-led technological breakthroughs.
Maku said: “The development of surveillance aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force at this crucial moment in our history is a bold statement of our resolve to provide security for the Nigerian populace.
“The GULMA UAV potentially affords the Armed Forces a window of immense opportunities in its task of acquiring timely intelligence and combating criminality, especially in light of the nation’s prevailing security challenges.”
The Senate is opposed to calls for President Goodluck Jonathan’s impeachment.
The chairman, Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, noted yesterday that calls for Jonathan’s impeachment lacked in merit.
Abaribe spoke at a news conference after the upper chamber rose from a closed door session, which lasted over one hour.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the National Assembly to impeach Jonathan for alleged gross misconduct.
The APC said Jonathan’s impeachment would save the country from imminent collapse.
Asked about the Senate’s position on the call, Abaribe said: “The Senate’s position is that the call for impeachment of the President is utter rubbish.”
“We have heard of the call for the President’s impeachment and as far as the Senate is concerned, it is utter rubbish,” Abaribe added.
The APC said it made the call with the belief that Jonathan’s impeachment was a legitimate constitutional option available to the National Assembly to protect democracy and ensure unity.
Abaribe also said that the conference committee of the National Assembly set up to resolve the differences on the appropriate oil benchmark for 2014 budget was set to resume its sitting yesterday
Doctors in public health institutions across the country will begin a five-day nationwide strike today.
The National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday said the Federal Government had yet to address the association’s demands with the urgency the situation demands.
Enabulele said though a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the meeting between members of the association and the Federal Government in Abuja on Monday, the association would not shelve the warning strike.
He said, “We were in a meeting with government officials from 3pm Monday evening to 5am on Tuesday morning. All we got was the usual promisory note and MoU to stay action till January 6, 2014.
“They said most of the parastatals that would attend to our demands would be on break this festive period. This showed that they did not realise the urgency of the matter. Government has been sloppy in its response. NMA would not rescind on its position.”
He, however, said the association would reconvene after the warning strike to discuss the conditions in the MoU. The striking bodies include the National Association of Resident Doctors, Nigerian Medical Guild, and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria. [Punch]
