President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria after his two-day state visit to Equatorial Guinea.
DG of International Atomic Energy Agency Mr Y. Amano and President Buhari during the meeting in Aso Rock. Photo: Femi Adesina.
The president was received Tuesday night, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by his senior assistants. The leader of the nation had left Abuja for Malabo to hold bilateral talks on regional security with President Nguema Mbasogo. On March 16, Wednesday, Buhari has received first giuests after returning to the country.
Director-General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano visited the president in Aso Rock presidential villa.
Buhari’s frequent foreign trips have come under scrutiny and criticism as the country is facing many problems, from continual fuel shortages to terrorist attacks in the northeast.
The last deadly attack of the Boko Haram sect that occurred today, March 17 uring prayers at a mosque in the Umurari area of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, killed at least 25 people. Pressident Buhari in a statement has condemned the suicide attack describing the Boko Haram as a mindless and godless group that in no way represents true Islam.
Minister of Health Isaac Adewole, Minister of Works, Power & Housing Babatunde Fashola, DG of International Atomic Energy Agency Mr Y. Amano, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, Minister of Solid Minerals Kayode Fayemi and others in a group photo shortly after President Buhari received in audience Director-General of International Atomic Energy Agency in Statehouse. Photo: Femi Adesina.
– Obasanjo’s staunch supporter reveals details of the ex-president’s third term bid
– He stated that the Nigerian leader was very popular and didn’t want to cause confusion in the country
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy senate president, has disclosed how the former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term agenda failed in 2006. Mantu, in an interview with Premium Times, said that Obasanjo was unhappy that the plan to extend his tenure beyond the two terms approved by the constitution failed. According to him, the Senate in 2006 overwhelmingly declined an offer to amend the Nigerian constitution, which would have made Obasanjo entitled to contest again for president, after eight years in office.
The former politician was one of Obasanjo’s henchmen in the Senate and was the chairman of the constitution review committee.
He said: “I don’t want to say much about that. All I know is that he was not happy.” “But he knew a tree could not make a forest.” Meanwhile, Mantu, former deputy Senate president, stated that Obasanjo should be praised for subjecting himself to a constitutional process when he wanted a third term, unlike other African leaders who forcefully stayed in office beyond their tenure. “If Obasanjo had wanted to cause confusion, he was still the incumbent president, he could have caused a lot of problem,” he noted. “He could have even asked the military to stage a coup against him.
“Then, United Nations would come and say we should negotiate and that Obasanjo should be there for two years and all sort of things.”
Mantu added that Obasanjo was a popular president. He said the third term agenda “failed because most of the senators bought into the campaign of those people who did not want Obasanjo to have another tenure.”
“The truth is if I had known Nigeria would find herself where we are today, I would have even taken the last drop of my blood to ensure it happened because it would have been in the greatest interest of the nation.
“We never envisaged we would be here. Since Obasanjo left, the way this country has been run up to this moment, I weep for Nigeria.” Obasanjo had never publicly acknowledged plans to run again, but the effort to amend Nigeria’s constitution was widely viewed as engineered by him and his top aides. He had said in interviews that more years in office would allow him to complete initiatives. The Nigerian leader repeatedly said he would comply with the constitution, which limits presidents to two four-year terms. The ex-president said last year that he would never be a politician again in his life, announcing that he remains a “partyless” Nigerian.
Honourable Hakeem Sokunle, has said that the country is going through challenges but expressed optimism in things getting better
– The PDP lawmaker said being a member of the opposition does not mean anti-progress Honourable Hakeem Sokunle, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1 at the Lagos state House of Assembly has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is trying in his capacity as the country’s leader.
In an interview with naij.com, the PDP lawmaker admitted that the country is going through hardship but expressed optimism that things will get better.
Honourable Hakeem Sokunle, “He is trying his best. He is good. There is sacrifice for anything that is good and hardship is the sacrifice.” “You can’t quantify it (the hardship). Nobody can say but I know very soon things will get better.”
On the issue of members of the PDP not providing enough opposition in the House, Sokunle said being an opposition does not mean being anti-progress.
“Don’t let us deceive ourselves; it is not when you are against them before people can recognise you. If they are doing something nice, you don’t need to go against it, rather you support it. It is for the betterment of people living in Lagos state. If because you are in opposition party you want to go against what they are doing, you are not doing good to the people of the state, rather you are causing more havoc to them. “If the lawmakers do something good, raise good motions for the good of the people by your own assessment, you don’t need to do anything contrary to that. Opposition does not really mean you should go there and negate what is good.”
As a first term lawmaker, Sokunle admitted that he has been facing challenges but leaning alongside performing his duty. “This is my first term in the House as you have rightly observed. We still have the challenges at our constituencies. So I have the challenge of time factor, trying to balance the two. In trying to do that you might be a little late for plenary.”
“We have done some programmes, we still have more to do for them. In the past, we have done free computer training to the constituents, we have doled out about N150,000 to the youth, we also organised free lessons for JAMB candidates for three months, I doled out about N500,000 for a blind man to start up a business, N200,000 as medical bill for somebody that had stroke for more than five years. Presently we are working on our water project. After this, we are going to organise quiz competition among public and private schools in my constituency."
– The Nigerian Senate made the revelation in a resolutions that followed a motion moved by Emmanuel Bwacha – Several communities in Taraba South constituency had fled because of Boko Haram consistent attacks – The Senate made a resolution on killings, kidnappings and destruction of property.
Floor of the Nigerian senate
The Nigerian Senate has revealed those behind the brutal killings that ensued in Agatu communities of Benue state. Premium Times reports that the red chamber on March 9, revealed that the crimes of mass murder across Nigerian communities were carried out by “overpowered” Boko Haram terrorists, not Fulani herdsmen as earlier alleged.
– Governor Aregbesola announced the new names of higher institutions in the state
– He urged the institutions to prepare the students for post graduate life
– Mrs Alakija was made chancellor of the new renamed Bola Ige University Governor Rauf Aregbesola has announced that the Osun state university has been renamed Bola Ige University in honour of the late former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation. Vanguard reports that the governor made the declaration at the convocation of the university.
Apart from the state university other institutions in the states were also renamed.
Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke was changed to Bisi Akande College of Technology while Osun State Polytechnic Iree was renamed Sunday Afolabi Polytechnic.
The College Of Education, Ila Orangun, will now be referred to as Adeyemi Oyeduntan College of Education and the College of Education Ilesa was changed to as Lawrence Omole College of Education.
UNIOSUN college of law, Ifetedo becomes Kayode Esho college of law; college of social sciences and management Okuku, was renamed Olagunsoye college of social sciences while college of Agriculture Ejigbo is now Isiaka Adeleke college of agriculture. The College of Education, Ipetu Ijesa, was renamed Hezekiah Oluwasanmi College of Education while the College of Humanities and Culture, Ikire, was changed to Eniola Atanda College of Humanities and Culture.
Aregbesola said: “I, therefore, want this university to affect our society at three levels. “The first is at the level of teaching which should prepare the students for post graduate life by equipping them with life sustenance skills, especially technical and entrepreneurial education.
“Secondly, the university should tailor its researches into immediate and prospective challenges of mankind in health, food, housing, infrastructure, societal organisation and the seemingly unknown aspects on nature”
“The essence of the education enterprise is for man to be able to conquer nature and dominate the environment.
“Thirdly, the universities should also be engaged in society through public service, by bringing their knowledge and research findings to bear directly in needed areas. Mrs Folorunsho Alakija who is one of the richest women in the world and the founder of Rose of Sharon Foundation was named the chancellor of the newly renamed Bola Ige University.
– Kachikwu says that the government haven’t unbundled NNPC – The government promises to resolve issues very soon Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu has revealed President Muhammaddu Buhari’s plans for the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC). He stated that the federal government has not unbundled the corporation. The minister, speaking with state house reporters on March 9, said the government only restructured the corporation for the sake of efficiency.
“We have not unbundled NNPC. We had a press conference yesterday where I explained this. What we have simply done is reorganisation,” Kachikwu said. “We have five business entities focused on business: upstream, downstream, refineries, gas and power that are there before. There is also ventures that capture all our little companies that were not having proper stewardship. “They are run by individuals who report to the GMD.
The NNPC is still a whole. There is nothing new that has happened. “I have tried to explain this and I am sure the NNPC workers are members of the family; they will understand. We are going to have a meeting, and they will be made to understand. Perhaps the engagement has not been good enough. “NNPC has not been unbundled in the sense of breaking up NNPC into distinct institutions. I am concerned. I don’t want the industry shut down. I am sure we are going to resolve the issues very soon.”
Reports just coming in have it that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate split of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into seven units. According to Premium Times, this approval was announced by Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for Petroleum Resources, on Tuesday, March 8. Speaking in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, Kachikwu said that five of the seven operational units will be strictly business-focussed in line with global best practices of national oil companies. The two other units are dedicated to those for Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts. These new Chief Executive Officers (CEOs); Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (downstream); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power), while Babatunde Adeniran (Ventures) will be in charge of the new units. While Isiaka Abdulrazaq will head the group executive director in charge of Finance & Services, Isa Inuwa will take the role of executive head, Corporate Services. This information arrives hours after it was reported that the Nigerian government has finalised plans to stop the importation of petroleum products in 18 months. Dr Kachikwu who made this announcement in Abuja earlier today, also informed that there are plans underway for this implementation to be realistic.
IF you can read this, it simply means you belong to the Generation Y who are SMS and social media compliant.
Tanzania Digital migration: Lessons for Nigeria
Social media and text messaging are perhaps two of the things that people do most daily. In public vehicles, restaurants, or even just in the streets, you will find most people are on social media sites or text messaging with their phones. These days, most youngsters are almost inseparable from their mobile phones, not because they are constantly talking, but because they are connecting with their friends through text messaging.
Although mobile phones are banned in most secondary schools, but text messaging and social media language have crept into academic discuss and writing.
The 9-Year Basic Education Curriculum introduced by The Nigerian Education Research and Development Council, NERDC, placed emphasis on value re-orientation, poverty eradication and employment generation capabilities in learners. In these reform initiatives, science, technology, mathematics, and vocational education and training are specifically designed to provide the contents, learning experiences and skills for the socio-economic transformation of the Nigerian nation.
However, the tool to achieve these utopian goals, one of which is writing, falls short of the expectation, as most students cannot write legibly nor express themselves in simple correct grammar because of mixing social media language with proper English grammar.
Vanguard Learning sought to know how social media usage has affected writing abilities; its import on communication and expression and measures to improve the writing abilities of students.
Speaking on social media use and its effect on the students’ ability to write proper and correct English grammar, an English Language teacher with Penny International College, Mrs. Chinweuba Nwanne, said “When I was a teenager, relationships between boys and girls involve letter writing. When a boy writes a girl, she checks his handwriting and grammar, thus, both served as monitor to check their writing and grammar.
“Today, that conscious effort no longer exists as youths text a lot. For instance instead of writing the word ‘the’ students write ‘d’, ‘your’ becomes ‘ur’, while ‘you are welcome is ‘URW’. These abbreviations make students miss-spell words and they lack the zeal to write because when you give them essays to write, they finds it difficult.
“But ask the students to text and they will gladly stay on it for hours because a lot of things like wrong spellings and poor grammar, are allowed. The most painful part of it is that it is becoming fashionable and even the good students tend to copy this attitude so as to ‘socially belong’.”
Continuing, Nwanne added; “ Social media distracts students from their studies and it is addictive. It has become part their lives that if want to punish a child, take away the phone and that child will feel more punished than when you deprive him of food or basic needs.”
Agreeing is the Principal, Tonia International School, Mr. Frances Alayo, who said though social media has its positive use, the negative effect on students would be immense if not checked.
His words: “Chief of the problems social media causes are the introduction of laziness on the part of students and the increase in poor writing ability, as evidence with the use of abbreviation and repetition.”
Abbreviation and repetition
Pointing out that social media language has done more harm than good in the writing abilities of students, a Masters degree student of English Language at the Lagos State University, Miss Esther Chioma, said “the use of social media, amidst it’s many blessings, has caused great deterioration to people’s writing abilities as most people don’t know how to make or write good sentences, they tend to prefer the shorter, elliptic, and sometimes incomprehensible version. In a nutshell, I don’t think the use of phones should be encouraged in secondary schools.”
For Clementina Nzeako, an Economist based in Kano; “The use of phone by students has brought about the issue of phone addiction. Students now spend gargantuan portion of their time on their phones. Because of the psychological effect it has on students; which has to do with making it difficult for them to have profitable intellectual discussions in real life, and inability to make real non-virtual friends, students now stand the risk of losing their already dormant writing skills.”
Students speak: A 200 level student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Benin, Sylvester Nwokolo, said “I wouldn’t lie to you, the thing is affecting me. Normally I facebook, tweet, chat on Whatsapp and ping in short forms like ‘LWKMD’ – Laugh wan kill me die, also, since we don’t submit our notes like we did in secondary school, I use short forms when taking down notes in class.
“There was this particular exam that I wrote in short form because I was running out of time and the course lecturer specifically came to class after exam and said that those of us that used short forms have lost 15 marks. I nearly fainted. He went on to say that we being in science is not an excuse to not know proper English grammar; that if you are a first class graduate and you speak poorly people will think you bought your certificate.”
For Rebecca Obika, an SS3 student in one of the private schools in Port Harcourt, chatting in long hand is boring. She said “I have a smart phone because my parents always like to reach me. Teachers say it’s not allowed but I have to have my phone that I use it for assignments too. If I chat in normal long form, my friends will say I am boring. In fact, instead of laughing normally, we just say ‘LOL’ amongst ourselves. It’s the in thing and we have to keep with the trend.
“there was a time I accidentally used the short form in an exams but I don’t think the teachers minded so much. At best they will remove two marks. Is the important thing not to understand what they are teaching? Does it matter how I type it?”
Toafeek Tajudeen, SS2 student of Federal Government College, Lagos, said “I use my elder brother’s phone to chat with my friends because I do not have a personal phone. I know that chatting with those abbreviations will affect me but I use them so that the text message will not exceed one page. I am usually conscious not to use it in copying my notes because we submit our notes for grading and my teacher will automatically give me zero if we write short form.”
Way forward: Text message or chartroom slang affects students’ academic performance either positively or negatively. Positively because some use it for important academic message or family members or friends both at school and at home for information especially when they are out of credit and cannot make voice calls. Negative when they become addicted to SMS, IM, BBM and so on when they use text slangs to the point of writing such slangs in their continuous assessment and examinations.
It is most astonishing to note that even though the students are aware of the dangers associated with the use of SMS slangs, especially during examinations, they still cannot stop it because they uncautiously use it.
However, the use of SMS slangs can be overcome if only its users can adopt the use of only simple and correct English when doing so.
THE Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has said that to properly position Yoruba race for greatness, efforts must be geared towards uniting its people.
Installation ceremony of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi 51th Ooni of Ife
Receiving in his palace in Ile Ife yesterday the paramount ruler of Remo kingdom, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, who led royal fathers and eminent personalities including Chief Kessington Adebutu and Asiwaju of Remoland Chief S. Onafowokan, Oba Ogunwusi said he has God’s mandate to unite the race.
Oba Ogunwusi said that his efforts in uniting Yoruba nation are already yielding positive results, adding that Yoruba will develop if united.
The monarch said Yoruba people are the most favoured race on earth and urged other traditional rulers in Yoruba land to join and support the unity campaign, maintaining that the unity of Yoruba race was needed for peace and development of the race.
The traditional ruler, who noted that God loves Yoruba people said some Yoruba sons and daughters were yet to discover the beautiful values and norms God endowed Yoruba people with.
He said: “I am so happy and pleased with this visit. God speaks with me everyday on this move to unite the Yoruba nations and I can say that God is leading me through this unity move.”
“I want other traditional rulers and leaders of Yoruba race to join this efforts and also mobilise other prominent Yoruba sons and daughters to join the move. Yoruba will develop if united and if Ife is peaceful, every Yoruba part of land will be peaceful.
“I have God’s mandate to work towards uniting Yoruba race and position it for better deal among ethnic groups in the country and with the disposition of the Akarigbo, my job is being made easy,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
The traditional ruler said there is no Yoruba land that does not receive “heavenly prayers daily because whenever Ooni is prayed for, every Yoruba person receives the prayer.
Stating that his work is being made easy with the peaceful disposition of Oba Sonariwo, the Ife monarch harped on the need to keep relationships to enhance rapid development of the society.
He said those in Ile Ife know the town belongs to the entire Yoruba race and will always welcome all other children of Oduduwa, assuring to continue to work towards promoting peaceful coexistence of the race and the country at large.
In his remarks, Oba Sonariwo said Ooni is the father of all kings and pledged to work with Oba Ogunwusi in uniting the Yoruba race.
Oba Sonariwo congratulated Oba Ogunwusi over his coronation and prayed that his reign would be peaceful and marked with achievements.
Other monarchs that visited the Ooni are Oba Adeleke Idowu, Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Adewale Osinbero, Elepe of Epe, Oba Emilaoye Awobajo, Alara of Ilara-Remo, Oba M. O. Shonuga, Olofin of Ilisan-remo, Oba Jolagbade Tijani and Alado of Ado, Oba Amusa Akinyemi.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the election of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo as the duly elected governor of Gombe State.
Gov. Dakwambo
A panel of justices dismissed an appeal filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Inuwa Yahya, challenging the election of Mr. Dankwambo in the April 11, 2015 governorship election.
The state election tribunal had earlier confirmed the election of Dankwambo in the April 11 governorship election.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal in Yola, Adamawa State, agreed with the ruling of the tribunal.
The apex Court today, sealed Dankwambo’s re-election, agreeing with the rulings of the lower courts.
he Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, yesterday suspended the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), over allegations of illegal employments and procurements carried out in direct contraventions of laid down rules and procedure unknown to Civil Service administration in Nigeria.
Adebayo-Shittu
In his stead, the minister also appointed, Director of Corporate Strategy and Research in the Agency, Dr. Vincent Olatunji as acting DG.
Shittu, through his Special Assistant on Media Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, said the suspension became imperative on the strength of deluge of petitions regarding several alleged wrong doings in NITDA and subsequent preliminary findings of an Investigative Committee set up by the Ministry.
He added that the petitions against Mr Jack relates to employments not approved by the appropriate authority and procurements carried out in direct contraventions of laid down rules and procedure unknown to Civil Service administration in Nigeria.
Recall that the ministry had earlier set a committee to investigate the myriads of allegations against Jack. According to Oluwadamilare, ,”Some of the infractions identified by the Investigative
Committee made up of three senior Ministry officials include unauthorised and illegal recruitment of additional staff totalling 245 within a spate of seven months.
The committee also discovered that, “as at 29th May, 2015, NITDA only had a staff complement of 74. But from May, 2015 to 31st December, 2015, additional 245 staff were employed under questionable circumstances, despite clear instruction from the Ministry directing suspension of employment in the Agency”.
“These disclosures were deduced from the records provided by Mr Jack, although he was unable to provide concrete information on whose authority he embarked on the massive recruitment and who granted him the authority for officials to be seconded to NITDA from other MDAs”,.
A couple of years back, when I first learnt of ‘adult nursing’ I was greatly amused. Was there no depth these men would not sink in their fixation with boobs? Now they’d carried it off to a ridiculous extent. (Adult nursing) is the term used for men who enjoy being breastfed by a nursing mother! According to James, one of these rare (is it really rare, I wonder) breed of men: “I once tried adult nursing with my ex-girlfriend and loved the intimacy and comfort it gave me. I sought this woman who offered her milk for a fee, out to experience the same feeding. I know adult nursing is often sexual but I personally don’t get a sexual thrill from it. … “ Some few months after this, I mentioned this particular habit to a male discussant on a different topic entirely but he let me into his experience. “When my wife was breast-feeding our first child”, he said, “she looked so erotic with her boobs dripping milk that I felt aroused.
As soon as she finished nursing our child, I latched on to a nipple but I nearly gagged. The thing wasn’t as delicious as I thought. “Wow, it seems adult nursing could be a real money spinner. Carol, a 27-year old single mother who couldn’t afford to pay her rent said, she was introduced to adult nursing by a friend when she hit rock-bottom. This friend who seemed so normal and nice and who’d been a bundle of help in my grapple with single parenthood told me who charged men a lot of money an hour to let them drink her baby milk”, she said.
I was disgusted, it was the most perverted thing I’d ever heard. What did these men get out of it? Sexual kicks? Didn’t that make my friend some sort of prostitute? She said she’d been really struggling for money and discovered there was a market for adult nursing. It wasn’t sexual, she assured me.
The guys who came to her do it to feel mothered. It still sounded gross, but I now felt differently about it. With her help, I was able to get a list of men who would happily pay for the privilege. I nervously range them and requested they send photo IDs and recent test results showing they’d no sexually transmitted infections. I was surprised to hear they all sound friendly. But I was still worried, so I asked an open-minded male friend to act as my bodyguard.
“My first client was a 28 years old computer analyst who told me he’d tried it once and liked it. He booked a local hotel room and left instructions at reception that I should be taken to the room. as soon as I arrived. I waited anxiously for him and it all felt seedy and weird. When he arrived, he seemed friendly and relaxed. He paid me up-front and gave me something extra for my “bodyguard”. I then positioned myself on the bed, pulled up my top, unclipped my front-fastening maternity bra and gave him my left breast. I was sure he could hear my heart thumping against my ribs, in shame at what I was doing. If he did, he didn’t give any indication.
He just lay across me like a big baby and I cradled his head. He was silent, didn’t seem aroused. Yet his large lips and strong suction felt so wrong. It was strange and unnatural compared to feeding my little girl, and it felt as if I was betraying her. 1 was on the verge of tears and tried not to look at him. After 10 minutes, I asked him to swap breasts and he sucked my right for a further 10. Then he sat up. I cleaned my breasts with disinfectant wipes before pulling down my top.
“How was it:, I asked awkwardly. ‘“Great,” he said.`Can we do it again this week?’ Lured by money, I agreed. I was just glad it was over. Three days later, I saw him again and this time, it was easier. After 1 got to know him better, he started coming to my house.
“Initially, I felt guilty depriving my little girl-I’d planned to feed her myself for the first few months, at least. But the reason I was doing this was to keep a roof over our heads.
That’s how I squared it with myself. Over the following months, 1 developed a business-like approach to the whole process. Now I regularly see other clients too. I no longer look down on these men – adult nursing seems a relatively harmless desire, My daughter is eight months now and my milk is slowly drying up.
Still, I’ve made more than enough money to keep food on the table regularly and a roof over our heads …
“When 1 had my third child”, said Emily in a newspaper interview, “I started ‘milk banking”,donating excess breast milk to premature babies at my local hospital. My husband and I had been blessed with three healthy kids and wanted to help give poorly babies the best chance of survival. When Emily was six months, 1 felt I’d given the best of my milk to help sick babies, so I stored the extra in my freezer and searched online to see if anyone would buy it. I imagined there’d be men with adult nursing fantasies, but that didn’t bother me. 1 just wanted to make money.
“I soon found a site with all sorts of people looking to buy breast milk. So 1 added my details:”Breast milk available, price depends on quantity”. The first sale was to a woman wanting some for her four month-old baby. She couldn’t produce enough herself and I sold her 11 pints for about N12,000.-. I delivered them in person bottled wrapped in cool bags. When a man contacted me a month later, I was more cautious and used a special refrigerator courier services to deliver a pint. I’d upped my price too, realising I could sell a pint for as much as N10,000.
“A Multiple sclerosis sufferer bought a pint believing the protein could help his symptoms. A cancer sufferer hoped it would boost his immune system. Neither theory has been medically proven, but I liked to think I was helping. Several months later, a local couple e-mailed, asking if I could provide two pints.1 was delighted with the generous fee, didn’t asked what they planned to do with it. Two months on, they still buy two pints every week.
“I hope to find proper work when the children are older. But for now, selling my milk means I can choose my hours and make time for the kids.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has said that it is confident of reclaiming its governorship mandate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Supreme Court.
Speaking to our corespondent, the state chairman of the party, Hassan Jika, said that although the party lost at the Appeal Court, they are hopeful of victory at the Supreme Court.
He said they will not rest “until they claim the mandate given to Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan by people of the state”. He added that the Appeal Court ruling is just a minor set back.
“We believe in the rule of law. The issue is all about the law and we are still confident that we will be given back our mandate to serve the people of Taraba State. Our candidate has faith in the ability of the court to do justice and you know our party, the APC always respects the law no matter the situation,”he said.
Jika maintained that the leadership as well as all members of the APC in Taraba State are solidly behind Senator Alhassan and that they will continue to seek for justice.
FOLLOWING the current fight against corruption led by President Muhammadu Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. George Moghalu, has stated that no member of the party found corrupt will be spared.
Moghalu
Moghalu who is a the party’s National Auditor said this in an interview, where he stated that members of the party were not above prosecution if found culpable and if Nigerians have evidence of corrupt practices against any member of the ruling party should not hesitate to approach the anti-graft agencies for investigation and prosecution.
He said: “If Nigerians have evidence against any APC member no matter how prominent make it available to the anti-graft agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting corruption and they will investigate it.
“Mr. President is not responsible for prosecution but to give a leeway, and he has integrity as a person and anybody who wants to work with him must live according to his rules otherwise he will embarrass the person because he cannot afford to damage the reputation he has built over the years.
He also explained why the government under the APC has faced challenges after taking over the reins of power, and accused the PDP of vandalising the country’s treasury. “The truth of the matter is that as government we met a very bad situation; a country that was totally run down and almost vandalised, coupled with attendant economic downturn as a consequence and declining of our oil as a source of revenue for government.
Timaya and Cynthia Morgan, these music stars experienced their own fair share of controversies that became subject matters on the social media. Here, we take a look at the major controversies that made the headlines last year.
Chidinma and Falvour go sensual
Seyi Shay‘s skimpy outfit to Meet the president
Pepsi brand ambassador, Seyi Shay was in the news for her dress sense on Sunday, March 1 2015, where Nigerian youths met with the former president, Gooduck Jonathan. Her skimpy outfit stirred negative reactions from the public. In the pictures unveiled after the event, she was pictured sitting next to the then president in a very revealing outfit. This generated countless social media reactions with several Nigerians calling her various derogatory names. “I am a very respectable young lady and I was not in any way trying to seduce the president with the outfit I wore,” She revealed.
Timaya’s alleged rape scandal The Dem Mama Records boss was at the centre of a rape allegation days after his baby mama put to bed. He had sex with a lady who accused him of rape. Shella B, a Nigerian upcoming artiste accused Timaya of raping her while he was in Atlanta for a show. She dedicated an Instagram account for that reason known as Exposing the real Timaya which has since been deleted. From indications, the issue has been resolved. When the accusation was ongoing, Timaya took to his Instagram account to clear the air. “This girl who had been promising to blow out my brains with sex when she sees me begged to see me when she knew I was in town. I didn’t know that she had a hidden agenda. I agreed to see her and she came to my hotel in Atlanta and we got down for real.”
Cynthia Morgan controversial Baby Mama promo pictures German Juice star, Cynthia Morgan doesn’t spare anyone who gets into her ‘Bad books’. Sometime in October last year, the Northside Inc. artiste had a feud with actress, Caroline Danjuma over promo pictures meant to unveil her song Baby Mama. In one of the pictures, she was carrying her months old cousin while smoking a cigar. This didn’t go down well with Caroline Danjuma who took to her Instagram account to condemn that act.
“Thank you Miss Caroline. We all love kids and want no harm near them. You don’t love kids more than I do madam. That doesn’t change the world which these kids are in already” Cynthia Morgan replied
Skiibbi “Death” stunt Five Star Music artiste, Skiibii was said to have hatched the news of his own death as a publicity stunt to generate buzz for his music career. This incident happened in August last year. Condolences were sent to the family and friends of the artistes via Twitter and Instagram, with everyone believing he has truly passed on. The storyline changed when investigations revealed that the artiste who had reportedly collapsed was said to have used it as a stunt.
The Chidinma and Flavour kiss Love or hate them, Chidinma and Flavour are gifted music stars who command a huge fanbase.The duo share a chemistry that further came to the fore in the song they collaborated on titled Ololufe.They have been seen and photographed in compromising positions. Amazingly, they have denied dating each other at any available opportunity. November last year at Phyno’s Phynofest concert, the duo performed the song, Ololufe.After the song, they shared a kiss. This romantic act got people talking and wandering if they are truly in a romantic relationship.
Korede Bello’s performance of Godwin in a church Mavin act, Korede Bello who clinched the award at the Headies was under public condemnation when he performed his hit song Godwin in a church on the 5th of April 2015. His rendition didn’t go down well with a lot of people especially some gospel artistes who believe he has no business performing in a church. In his response, he simply said: “Mixed reactions about me glorifying God in the church! Am I not allowed to give my testimony?”
ANGLICAN primates meeting in Canterbury at the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, have unanimously agreed to bar a liberal US branch from decision-making for allowing same-sex marriage. The Anglican Communion has been sharply divided on the issue since the US Episcopal Church ordained an openly gay bishop in 2003.
File: Homosexuals Brazilian Toni Reis (L) and British David Harrad of Macclesfield city kiss for a picture after their wedding in Curitiba May 9, 2011. Brazil’s Supreme Court has recognised the legal rights of same-sex partners in ‘stable’ civil unions granting gays and lesbians the right to form civil unions, and on guaranteeing them the same legal rights as other couples on May 6, 2011. REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer (BRAZIL – Tags: SOCIETY)
Primates from across the Anglican Communion began its meeting on Monday as leaders from the 39 provinces gathered for the first time since their meeting in Dublin in 2011 with its new secretary general, Nigeria’s Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon for a crucial meeting to pray and consider the unity of the communion especially with developments at the Episcopal Church.
The primates’ meeting which ends today, is understood as one of the three “instruments of communion”. Leaders said the church’s stance was a “fundamental departure” from the faith of the majority in what is the world’s third largest Christian denomination.
But Episcopal leaders said the three-year bar, which aims to prevent a formal schism, “will bring real pain”. ‘Fundamental departure’
The decision—made at a four-day meeting of 39 Anglican primates in Canterbury—means the Church will be suspended from participating in the life and work of the Anglican communion, the BBC reported yesterday.
A statement from the primates at the meeting says that the church should “no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision-making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity”.
More than 100 senior Anglicans had urged the Church of England to repent for “discriminating” against lesbian and gay Christians in an open letter.
However, the Anglican leaders in Canterbury said the Episcopal Church’s approval of gay marriage was “a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching” of the majority of Anglicans.
The rift over the US Episcopal Church’s stance on same-sex marriage and homosexuality dates back to the ordination of openly gay Canon Gene Robinson as bishop of the Episcopal Church’s New Hampshire diocese in 2003.
Jimmy Adewale Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt is one of Nigeria’s most influential and entertaining DJs. As a party-starter, beat-dropper, headliner and underground king who has been rocking the dance floor for close to three decades now, Jimmy Jatt has seen it all. He is revered for his role in setting the pace for hip-hop music in the country, dating back to the early 90’s when he debuted as a DJ. In this interview, he recounts the story of his life as a DJ and what one can do to become successful in the business.
What does it take to become a successful DJ in Nigeria? Firstly, you need to acquire the necessary skills after which you procure start-up equipments. If you find someone who believes in your dream and can invest in you, start-up equipments are not really cheap but affordable. Whenever you are ready to come out, all the platforms are there for you to sell yourself. You can sell yourself through the social media and a good PR, but the most important thing is that you must distinguish yourself because a lot of people present themselves as DJs before they start learning the art. Secondly, you will need to build your music library. Buy every available music record. These days, you can always buy online, download or get complimentary copies from artistes. Then, you must have a good management team because it is business and so you need to structure it as a business empire. Sometimes, people see deejaying as a hobby and not as a profession.
What has been your most memorable experience as a DJ? If I must remember anything, it’s not going to be a very pleasant one. It was the day I was to perform on a stage which was about 8ft off the ground and the woods used in constructing the stage suddenly collapsed.
DJ Jimmy Jatt
How did you survive it? It ended up being a great night for me even though people were saying it was embarrassing. But for me it wasn’t, rather it was embarrassing for the people that constructed the stage. Some of my equipment fell on my feet. I quickly put everything together and the show continued. It turned out to be a very good experience for me. Another one was when someone held me at gunpoint to play a song. He wanted me to play a particular song for him. The first time he approached me, I promised him that I would play it. But when he came the second time, I did not sound nice to him. The third time he pulled a gun and ordered me to play the song immediately.
Was there any time your mood affected the way you mixed your music? There were times I wasn’t in the mood to play music. But the good thing is that I love music and that is why I went into the DJ business. I was on stage when I lost my mum; I was also on stage when my dad passed away. Those were the worst moments of my career as a DJ. I couldn’t abandon the shows; the music had to play on. My siblings called me while I was on stage that my dad just passed on. It’s not as if I didn’t feel the pain, but I couldn’t just get off the stage. I had to go on with the show without disclosing the sad news to anyone. It was not the best of times for me. I have done the DJ job for close to three decades now but I have never had a bad day.
What is it like to be a DJ for nearly three decades now? When I started the DJ job, I never made a deliberate decision to pursue a career in deejaying. This was as a result of the way people were looking down on those who wanted to make a living as DJs. Then, DJs were seen as “never do well people” and rascals who lack parental guidance. In the first place, my mum was a teacher and you know what it means to be the son of a teacher. So, I was well trained. But when I started the DJ business, most parents wouldn’t allow me to come close to their children. I had some friends who would tell me they can’t come to my house because their parents wouldn’t want them to be seen around me. Sometimes, some of my friends’ parents would come to the studio to warn me that the next time they see their sons around me, they would get me arrested. All those threats and condemnations made me more determined to be successful in what I was doing. At a point, I became curious as to why people judged me negatively because I play music and entertain people. Sometimes, it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover, just open the pages and read the book before you can draw your conclusion. Some people believe that for you to be a DJ, you must be the worst person on earth, a womaniser, a drunk and a smoker, etc. Fortunately, I’m not into any of these things. That’s why when people ask me “when are you going to quit being a DJ?” I usually tell them that I am a role model to many young DJs. If I quit the job today, they will feel like there is no more hope in the business. They need to constantly see me grow from strength to strength for them to be encouraged and keep hope alive in the business. I want young and aspiring DJs to see a career in this and be hopeful about this job and let no one tell them ‘it’s not a job’.
At what point in your career did your realize you had become a brand? Honestly, at the initial stage I didn’t think I made any concerted effort to become a DJ. But following the way and manner people were looking down on the DJ job, I made up my mind to change that negative perception. I don’t see myself as a brand yet, instead I see myself as someone who still has a room for improvements. I believe that when you feel you have arrived, there will be no next level for you. I always feel I can still do more, I can still be a better DJ and that’s what keeps me going in this business.
Are you planning to set up an Academy where DJs will be trained? Of course yes. The Academy was supposed to have kicked off last year but due to some reasons it couldn’t.
Tell us why parents should encourage their children to enrol in your Academy. Whoever I train is going to be a star DJ in Nigeria. I have trained many DJs without charging them any fee. I always feel this is my own little way of assisting and empowering young people in our society. Moreover, I am approached everyday on the social media by young people who want to go into the business of DJ. There is no way I can continue to tell them I don’t have the space. So, there is the need for me to establish a training centre where they can be absolved and actualize their dreams.
Was there any point you wanted to quit because you could not cope with the challenges any more? Is there anybody who never wanted to quit his or her job at some point in Nigeria? This country has been unfair to a lot of people. What we earn can’t be compared to what our counterparts in other countries are paid, especially when it comes to the business of being a DJ. When I started the business, nobody saw it as a lucrative venture. They believed it was my hobby so they always felt they were doing me a favour each time they tell me that I would be on the wheels during their birthday parties. Like I said before, I used to buy every song I played then with my money. So, every Monday I would be busy paying for the records I either borrowed from people or acquired with the peanut I made during the weekend. Last year, I launched my book titled, ‘The Jimmy Jatt Story’. The book recounts my story as a DJ. While I was coming up, there were times, I had no money to buy new records or transport myself to my destination. I usually jump from one bus to another claiming to be a staff. So, when you listen to 2face’s song where he’s saying ‘you are claiming to be staff because you have no money’ it is not fictitious, it is a real life story. I would hang at the back door of a long bus, where the conductor who is collecting the fare would not possibly get to me before I jump down to join another bus. A few occasions, when they did, I ended up claiming to be a staff. It worked for me while it lasted.
How affordable are you? I am very affordable. In fact, I am the cheapest DJ in the country. Unfortunately, many people have not bothered to find out what I charge for a show because they have this mindset that it will run into millions. Honestly, I think I am one of the cheapest DJs in town.
What genres of music do you like the most? Before I started my career as a DJ, I loved hip hop music. Then as an aspiring entertainer, I was into rap music before I later delved in the world of the DJs. I had a demo tape.
As a renowned DJ, what’s your impression about the Nigerian music scene? I will say it’s improving with the speed of light. These days, it is easy to make music, unlike yesteryears when artistes hit the studio to record their songs. All you need now is your laptop. You can stay in the comfort of your bedroom and knock something together. Immediately you upload it on the Internet and millions of people across the world are listening to the trash, feedbacks will be sent to you. I am a realist, the volume of music our artistes are making these days lack quality. Unfortunately, the buying public who are the final consumers of music are celebrating them. If people are not celebrating these songs, the artistes will go back and work harder. The reverse has been the case; people that are doing the good music have turned round to water it down, because majority of the people do not want quality. Sometimes, when I play outside the country I enjoy being a DJ because people out there accept different genres of music: playing a bit of reggae, calypso, hip hop, RnB, Afrobeat among others. But in Nigeria, it’s not so. We are becoming too selfish and self-centered that all we want to listen to is our local content.
Whenever you want to perform, what do you do and how do you select your music? First and foremost, I am very equipped in term of the genres of music I want to play. I have my laptop loaded with music. Sometimes, I cross- check everything and see what I am lacking in term of new songs that might just not be in the right places. On a daily basis, I am buying music online; I am going through my mails and checking out who sent me what and where I am needed at any point in time. Some times when I play outside the country I intend to enjoy DJ more because people accept more genres of music play a bit of reggae, a bit of calypso hip hop, RnB, afro play a bit of everything.
Abia North Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), David Onuoha-Bourdex recently took his campaign tour to Umunneochi Local Government Area, to seek support for his candidature.
Bourdex who promised to protect the interest of Umunneochi people if voted also assured them a better representation.
Meanwhile, Umunneochi people after assuring him of their support, the people encouraged him not to be disappointed or deterred by the former’s outcome, but promised that they will stand by him to make sure that all votes cast would be counted and declared in the presence of all for the purpose of transparency.
Speaking to them, Bourdex expressed dissatisfaction over the level of abandonment Abia North had suffered in the hands of previous representatives, who he said benefited individually from his support for quality leadership and effective representation.
“I know how well I supported most of them in government, but it pains me that when they win to occupy those positions, they develop hatred overnight against our people. Even when I will fund their elections for them to win and make lives easy for our people, yet they will go there and forget us.
“At a point, I felt enough is enough. I felt I should go there myself, even if it means spending just four years to deliver and save our people from the menace of bad leadership. We need to save Abia North. We need a representative who can be here at home to handle the problems affecting our people, and as well be in Abuja for proper legislation. You can count on me. Don’t forget, if I fail, please ostracize me,” he said.
Since the 2015 defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the presidential election and the exit of President Goodluck Jonathan from Aso Rock, Abuja, most prominent politicians of the PDP stock have unfolded their political fangs and persuasions. Those politicians were only interested in the benefits that come with political power, and in the words of Olusegun Obasanjo, the sweetness of the honey pot. And who is that foolish man that would stay around when the honey pot is dry and nothing to lick? Multitude of politicians are jumping ship and defecting to the APC despite the admonitions of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to such people to remain in their party and build a formidable opposition party.
Prince Uche Secondus, Acting National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Prince Uche Secondus
Our politicians that are controlled by the bread and butter politics would hear none of that. It is, however, a thing of joy that some members of the party have decided to shun the lure and attraction of joining the APC. These are the very democrats and it is to the eternal sacrifice of such people that the country is yet to descend into one party rule.
Heavy weights in the mould of Chief E K Clark, senators and former state governors are turning their back on the PDP and inventing all manner of excuses why they did what they did. But the vast majority of Nigerians cannot be led through the garden path and that they are doing just that to remain relevant and guarantee the sources of easy money to oil their outlandish life styles. This gale of defections may not end very soon and going by the vibrations from the judiciary, the PDP may lose some state governorship and senatorial positions to the APC and those affected may also see the `wisdom` of joining the APC. No nation develops when politicians see politics as a means of personal enrichment while, the winter of opposition is dreaded.
That is why the likes of Uche Secondous, Chief Olisa Metuh, Governor Ayo Fayose, Governor Serike Dickson and other committed members of the PDP should keep the faith. The recent victory of PDP in the governorship election in Bayelsa State is the best affirmation yet that PDP is alive and kicking and that the March 2015 presidential defeat was a temporary set back. And should the members of the party imbibe the spirit of true democracy in party primaries and allow the choice of the party members to prevail in party congress, the party shall bounce back as the darling of Nigerians.
Currently, there are cracks in the ranks of APC and if the PDP can continue to exploit that opportunity that saw the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy senate president, the future of the party is bright and by implication shall deepen the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria. Therefore, the forth coming congress of the party from the ward level to the national level should be done with the best of intentions obeying all the fine tenets of democracy. The party must shun imposition of candidates at any level.
The local government council chairman and the state governor by any stretch of imagination should not be regarded as the leaders of the party. The elected party chairman at the local council level and the state chairman should be respected and the constitution of the party should be strictly adhered to. It was the manipulation of the party primaries and the way some people were fenced out of the party that led to the mass exodus of PDP members that merged with others of like mind to form the mega party,
APC. It is hoped that the PDP has learnt its lesson and should do all within its power to build a formidable political party premised on the finest ingredients of democracy and the rule of law. Nobody should be defied as the owners of the party, all party members should be on the same pedestal. And the first step towards that is to regulate the funding of the party. No political merchant should be allowed again to buy the soul of the party and continue to play the puppeteer. When that is done, there will be a level playing ground for all members.
Some people may not admit it, the fact is that PDP is the most cohesive and nationalistic party in the country. The party can be found in every ward. It was impunity and arrogance that denied the party victory in last year presidential election. Jonathan may get the blame but those who printed only one presidential form should be held responsible for the political disaster that befell the party. The party is on the path to self discovery and should continue to offer alternatives to the policies of the government. It is beyond condemning every policy of the government.
Condemn and provide a viable alternative. It is also on this score that the Buhari administration should be above board in the prosecution of those accused of corruption. It does not make sense for the Buhari administration to swim in the ocean of delusion that the moment you convert from PDP to APC, you become a saint. The anti-corruption war should be colour blind, religion blind, tribe blind and party blind. The various PDP state governors should embark on viable projects and truly dispense dividends of democracy to the electorate. When that is done, the people of this great nation shall eventually give the party another shot at the presidency. The PDP must not be allowed to die because it contributed a lot to the growth and development of our democracy not minding some of its warts.
TEARS flowed freely yesterday as the remains of the late wife of the former coach of the Super Eagles, Mrs Kate Keshi were lowered to mother earth in Benin City. The Technical Director of the Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu, Former Super Eagles Coach, Austin Eguavoen and officials of the NFF were among dignitaries that attended the burial. The requiem mass was held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Benin City before she was laid to rest at her husband’s residence in Ugbor, GRA, Benin City.
Coach Eguavoen who described the death as a huge loss to all sports lover in Nigeria described the deceased as a “wonderful person who was very close to my family.” He said that his own wife was her chief bridesmaid during their wedding in Belgium and that “Kate was the god-mother to my first daughter. She was a lovely mother, wife and sister and we are going to miss her”.
Godwin Ezine, who is former falcons coach said that “this period is for sober reflection. You can imagine staying together for many years and a separation now has come. I sympathize with Keshi and I pray that God Almighty gives him the strength and courage with his family to stand the test of time. It is very sad for all of us but we cannot question God”.
On his part Keshi described his late wife a unique woman. “A wife that every man would love to have.
I am honoured that people took out of their busy time to come out and give their last respect to my wife. Most of them have been with my wife, they knew her and probably that’s why they are here. I thank them and every other person, the press, and all Nigerians who were in prayers with my family. I am grateful”.
