I am not aware of ban on AIT, says Buhari

President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), said yesterday that he was not aware of the temporary ban imposed on African Independent Television, AIT, not to cover his official functions.

Chief Raymond Dokpesi and President-elect Buhari

Consequently, he instructed all his aides, including the security team, to steer clear of all media activities and allow those assigned the responsibility to solely play the role with their colleagues.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by Directorate of Media and Publicity of All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, Buhari said he read about the ban in the papers, stressing that he was neither consulted nor informed about the development.

The President-elect, however, aligned himself with the pronouncement of his party, which had since reversed the ban on AIT.

According to him, sticking to the ban can only bring the party at par with the outgoing People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Buhari said: “I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined area of responsibility.

“The time of change has come and we must avoid making the same mistakes as the outgoing government.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/i-am-not-aware-of-ban-on-ait-says-buhar/#sthash.h95wW3Wv.dpuf

Forensic Audit Report on NNPC

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/forensic-audit-report-on-nnpc/

PDP govs call for sack of Mu’azu, NWC members

Governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have concluded that the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and other members of its National Working Committee, NWC, should take the path of honour and resign immediately.

Mu’azu: PDP’s game changer

This was the outcome of the meeting of 19 PDP governors held Tuesday night, which extended to the early hours of yesterday at Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

They resolved that it had become imperative for them to go to pave way for new leadership, following the abysmal performance of the party at the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

The meeting, which was the first since PDP lost the presidency after 16 years of leadership, was a post-mortem on the election and the way forward for the party.

The party, which controlled the Presidency, House of Representatives and the Senate since 1999, did not only suffer defeat at the presidential election, but also lost in its traditional states of Plateau, Niger, Kaduna, Benue, Bauchi and Jigawa.

It became the opposition party in the Senate with 46 senators,while APC has 60.

It was gathered that at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors as journalists were not informed, had Muazu, his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus and National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon, and all 19 governors in attendance.

A source at the meeting told Vanguard that Muazu and his team were later asked to excuse the governors.

Soon after they left the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, the governors, the source said, agreed unanimously that the party would need fresh persons and that Muazu and his team must pave way for the new blood that would be required to run the party.

Following the decision of the governors, who want to take total control of the party, members of the NWC, yesterday, went into a marathon meeting even though they were said to be on break for two weeks.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/pdp-govs-call-for-sack-of-muazu-nwc-members/#sthash.pn4K7iqL.dpuf

Afenifere cautions Buhari over anti-corruption fight

AFENIFERE, the  socio-cultural Yoruba group, yesterday, advised the president- elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) not to be selective in its fight against corruption.

The group, which expressed concern over the issue of corruption in the country, said: “It is so evident and pervasive in Nigeria that it needs to be seriously addressed if the country must move forward.”

This was contained in a communique issued after its monthly meeting at the country home of its leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti, in Akure, Ondo State.

Fasoranti, who read the communique, equally called on Gen Buhari to implement the resolution of the national conference held last year.

According to the communique: “In our view, devolution of power is the panacea to issues of corruption, generation of electricity, qualitative education, issues of security and other policies that will ensure a fair society.”

The group congratulated Gen Buhari on his victory in the just-concluded general elections and described the acceptance of the results of the election by President Goodluck Jonathan as patriotic.

Fasoranti said the acceptance of the result by the president “saved the country of a needless crisis that would probably have ensued.

The group pointed out that its position to support President Jonathan’s re-election should not be misunderstood by Nigerians.

According to the group, “the position was taken in the overall interest of the Yoruba race and the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the president-elect, himself would attest to our not being induced in supporting him in 2007. We were certainly not induced to support President Jonathan.

“Our decision was based on our age-long commitment to support a presidential candidate committed to restructuring of Nigeria.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/afenifere-cautions-buhari-over-anti-corruption-fight/#sthash.bP1KdemQ.dpuf

Falling oil prices threaten my agenda — Buhari

THE President- elect, General Muhammadu
Buhari yesterday painted a gloomy picture in the
economic development of his administration as he said
that the decline in the revenues due to fall in oil prices
poses a great threat to his administration’s development
agenda.

Gen. Buhari who visited the newly elected Senators and
House of Representatives members who are undergoing
induction course in preparation for the 8th National
Assembly in Abuja also said that the decline in revenue
would affect the reconstruction of devastated areas in
the country as a result of insurgency.
He reminded the elected members of the 8th assembly
of the challenges the nation had been facing which he
also said would continue in the near future.
The challenges according to him include general
insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme
human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that
would take over a decade to rebuild across most of
North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of North western
Nigeria.
Another threat to his administration according to him
was the devastation and environmental degradation in
the Niger Delta area which he said must be attended to.
Others include, “endemic corruption which has crippled
human and infrastructure development for decades.
Unacceptably poor provision of power supply which has
had a crippling effect on development of small
businesses and indeed the wider economy.
“Deindustrialization for the past three decades leading to
closure of many industries and migration of many to
other African countries. Unacceptably high levels of
unemployment and especially Youth Unemployment
reaching over 40 per cent.”
Besides, Gen. Buhari mentioned high cost of governance
that has been crowding out the nation’s capital and
human development, erosion of public social services
such as infrastructure, health and education as well as
lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral
sectors as areas that should be aggressively addressed.
While soliciting the support of the lawmakers, the
President-elect said, “The legislature is a critical
component and necessary ingredient of democracy and
good governance. The legislature by nature is inherently
democratic in the sense that all members are equal and
are elected representatives of the Nigerian people.
“As President-elect, I recognize this fact and believe that
legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with
all the seriousness it deserves.
“For a president to be successful in addressing
community development and general welfare of the
various people of the country, he or she would benefit
from working closely and in harmony with the legislative
arm of government.
“I therefore commit myself to working with the
legislature as development partners motivated by the
desire to deliver good governance”.
He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the
role he played in the sustenance of democratic
institution by accepting election result, saying that
Nigeria was in the threshold of history.
Bemoaning high cost of governance, he said, “First and
foremost, appropriate policies need to be put in place
and such policies may have to be translated into laws.
“Secondly, the oversight functions of the legislature is
critical in ensuring that policies are implemented
effectively and transparently. Therefore, my mission to
bring integrity into governance would better succeed if
complemented with a strong culture of transparent
oversight.
“We need to collaborate on the budget process and
restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively
tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense
of capital and human development.”
“There is an urgent need to contain this high state of
insecurity. All of you are representing various
communities. We need to work together to address the
problem from both its roots and manifestations.
“The strongest mitigating forces at this point are to
redress the power sector deficits, encourage investments
that are job creating and focus on human development
and reconstruction. We also need to deploy efforts in
conflict resolution and peace building in all our
communities.
“I am here today, to invite you to work with the executive
as partners in progress, as champions of good
governance and development and as warriors for
change. Together, we can make this nation great and as a
role model in Africa and other emerging economies and
democracies.”
President of the Senate and Chairman of the National
Assembly, David Mark, who ushered in the President-
elect into the International Conference Centre, in
company of other leaders of the National Assembly,
described the visit as historic.
Noting that it was the first time a President-elect was
considering it worthwhile to address a joint session of
the National Assembly, Mark agreed it was a historic
meeting in the journey of democracy.
For the Speaker, House of Representative and Governor-
elect, Sokoto State, Honourable Aminu W. Tambuwal,
Buhari has extended a hand of fellowship to the
legislature by his personal visit.
Tambuwal however expressed hope that his colleagues
would reciprocate Buhari’s gesture by also extending a
sincere hand of fellowship to the President-elect when
his government fully takes over.

I don’t like my husband cooking — Hyacinth Idibia’s wife

Hyacinth Idibia is an artiste and Tuface’s younger brother. Married to Sana, a Sierra Leonean actress, they talk about their seven-year-old union in this interview

How did you meet your wife?

Hyacinth: I met her in Nigeria when she came for a movie production. I was at the movie location to see someone when our paths crossed.

How did the relationship develop?

Hyacinth: We went through all the usual stages boys and girls go through when they meet for the first time; we kept going back and forth until we finally decided to get married. If something is yours, it will always come to you.

How long did you court for?

Hyacinth: We courted for about a year, but six months into our courtship, I knew I would marry her. It took me another six months to propose to her because I lived in Nigeria and she lived in the United States of America. We had to travel back and forth to see each other and our families. Also, we are both from different nationalities and I needed to fix an appropriate time for our wedding.

How did you cope with the long-distance relationship?

Hyacinth: It was easy for us because we are both in the entertainment industry and we were able to travel back and forth. Distance is not a barrier when two people are in love with each other. We always found a way.

What was the proposal like?

Sana: It was in Nigeria; it was not a surprise because I saw it coming. It was just both of us and we did not have people around us.

What were the initial attractions?

Sana: He is a handsome guy. Women know what they want. When they meet a guy, they know if the guy is a match for them or not. The first day I saw him, I knew that he was my kind of guy. I was attracted to him. After we started dating, I found out he is respectable. Everything about him is perfect. He respects women and knows what a woman wants.

Hyacinth: She is beautiful and when I approached her, she responded to me in a nice way. She was down to earth and that got me attracted to her.

Would you have talked to him if he did not make the first move?

Sana: No, I would not have done that. In as much I live in the US, I am still African. I would not say it is a bad thing for a woman to approach a man, but it is not common in our culture.

How would you describe the marriage?

Hyacinth: When we were younger, people used to scare us and give us false notions about marriage. My marriage has been the most wonderful experience I have ever had.

Do you miss anything about bachelorhood?

Hyacinth: I could say yes, but those are selfish things.

What has made your marriage successful?

Sana: I would say we are blessed. What keeps us together is the attraction. Being married to someone you are not attracted to raises an issue. I am attracted to him in every single way and I do not feel I am married to an old man. Also, we understand and respect each other.

Hyacinth: We have the fear of God in our lives and apply His principles in our marriage.

How do you cope with running the home and working in the entertainment industry?

Hyacinth: We understand when to be away and how long we have to be away from home. Also, we make sure the family always comes first.

How do you cope with your cross-cultural marriage?

Sana: My husband is open and not rigid, even though we both live in the US, he is still a Nigerian. It is a matter of understanding and working together. When you are in love with someone, nothing is a big deal.

Did you learn to cook Nigerian meals?

Sana: All I did and still do is get the recipe and I would cook the food. I am African and I love to cook.

Was your family against your plans to marry a non-Nigerian?

Hyacinth: My family is liberal. I believe you can find love wherever you go. When I took her to meet my parents, their concern was her background- if she is from a good home and has a nice character.

How do you handle fans of the opposite sex?

Hyacinth: It is much easier for me as a married man to handle the opposite sex than when I was single. As a single guy, I had to do a lot of explanations but right now, I don’t have to do that.

Sana: It is fine for fans to send messages or emails, but some people do not know their boundaries and that is when I give them a disgusting look. They understand what I mean without saying a word. Once they know you are married, they know their boundaries.

What would you like to change about your husband?

Sana: My husband is extremely stubborn. When he exhibits that trait, all I do is walk away and he realises it. Other than that, he is calm and gentle.

Does he help with chores?

Sana: He does not. What he likes to do is take the trash outside the house but he likes to cook sometimes and I get upset with that. His mother taught them to cook; he has no sister, just brothers.

What advice would you give to married celebrities?

Hyacinth: They should not get married because of the fame or looks. Also, celebrities should not let their career get into their head. Careers come and go, but family stays and should always come first. What would they gain if they have all the money and lose their family?

Sana: Couples should learn to communicate. It is a key thing and they should not let people into their personal life. As a celebrity, you do not have a personal life, but some things need to be kept personal. The more you put out, the more the controversies, issues and questions you will have. You have to respect yourself and know that people are watching.

Do you operate a separate bank account?

Hyacinth: We have our separate accounts, we have a joint account and we have accounts for the kids.

Would your marriage have turned out differently if you lived in Nigeria?

Hyacinth: Marriage in the US, Sierra Leone and Nigeria are different because of the cultural diversity in Africa. In America, the law does everything but the good thing is that the state will not run your marriage. It depends on how the couple wants it to play out. But if you want to go by all the laws in the country, it might be difficult for the marriage to work out.

What pet names do you call each other?

Hyacinth: Calling pet names depend on our moods. Sometimes, I call her by her first name or I call her Mrs. Idibia.

Sana: I call him Anebi, which is his middle name, but he is not fond of it.

Ondo bans ‘ogogoro’, the local gin production

The Ondo state Government, west of Nigeria has banned the production and consumption of locally-made gin, commonly called `ogogoro` in the state.

The ban was reminiscent of the colonial and post colonial time when the gin was declared illegal. Dr. Tai Solarin, the educationist and founder of Mayflower School in IKenne in Ogun state, led a campaign for the lifting of the ban in the 70s.

This time around, the Ondo state government is slamming a ban as a result of the recent health hazards associated with its consumption.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, announced the ban at a news conference in Akure on Saturday.

The commissioner attributed the ban to the outbreak of an unknown disease two weeks ago in Irele Local Government Area of the state.

“Our clinical analysis reveals the fact that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of methanol poisoning.

“We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitisation to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.

“We will also embark on searches because this batch of methanol-containing gin must have gone round because 4 cases: 2 alive and 2 dead have been found in Odigbo Local Government Area,“ he said.

Adeyanju said that stakeholders such as religious leaders, transporters, youths, market women, and the relevant association would be informed of the development.

He said, “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District.

According to the commissioner, the unknown disease has so far claimed 23 lives with ten other people receiving treatment.

“Two of them have regained their sights and are back home.

“We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the methanol got into the drinks,“ he said.

The commissioner said that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control and the National Orientation Agency to sensitise members of the public to the dangers of consuming such drinks.

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigeria recalls Ambassadors from South Africa

Nigeria government on Saturday recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Martin Cobham, and his deputy, Uche Okeke, to protest the continued attacks by South Africans on Nigerians and other foreigners in the former apartheid enclave.

Ambassador Aminu Wali, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the envoys have been summoned for consultation.

The statement read, “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has summoned for consultation, Nigeria’s senior diplomats on tour of duty in South Africa. These are the Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador Martin Cobham, and the Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke.

“The invitation is in connection with the ongoing xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants.

The current spate of attacks began about three weeks ago, and has so far claimed some seven lives, destruction of property and created fear and uncertainty in the minds of African migrants in the former apartheid enclave.

The South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, has condemned the attacks in a statement presented to the South African National Assembly while the Zulu Monarch, Goodwill Zwelithini, whose alleged inciting comment provoked the attacks has also called for a stop to the attacks.

Google executive killed on Everest after Nepal quake

A Google executive and self-described adventurer was among 10 people killed at a Mount Everest base camp in an avalanche triggered by a major Nepal earthquake Saturday, the company and his family said.

Dan Fredinburg was killed in the avalanche that buried parts of the base camp where hundreds of mountaineers were gathered for the start of the climbing season.

He was with several colleagues who survived the tragedy, Lawrence You, director of privacy at Google, said in a blog post.

“Sadly, we lost one of our own in this tragedy. Dan Fredinburg, a long-time member of the Privacy organization… was in Nepal with three other Googlers, hiking Mount Everest. He has passed away,” You wrote.

“The other three Googlers with him are safe and we are working to get them home quickly.”

You said Google.org was contributing $1 million to the response efforts.

Fredinburg’s sister Megan said he died of a head trauma.

“We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us,” she posted on his Instagram feed, along with a photo of him scaling a snowy slope.

“All our love and thanks to those who shared this life with our favorite hilarious strong-willed man. He was and is everything to us,” she posted.

Fredinburg described himself as an “Adventurer, Inventor, and Energetic Engineer @Google” on his Twitter page.

Photos on his Twitter and Instagram accounts in recent days show him preparing for his trek on the snowy slopes of Everest with colleagues.

“Ice training with @micbattelli means frequent stops for morning cappuccino, regardless of danger. #Everest2015,” his last post on Friday read.

His Twitter feed said he arrived in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu on March 31.

Fredinburg’s LinkedIn profile said he was head of privacy at Google X and had previously worked as an engineer for Boeing.

Officials have confirmed more than 1,200 deaths after the massive earthquake that tore through Nepal, making it the worst disaster in more than 80 years in the quake-prone nation.

Man Bags 2years Jail for Internet Fraud

An internet fraudster, Okwuka Olisaebuka Ifeanyi, whose modus operandi is to hack into people’s email to commit fraud, was on April 23, 2015 sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice H.A Nganjiwa, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a three count amended charge of forgery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ifeanyi’s journey to jail started on April 21, 2014 when he was arrested by operatives of the Commission with various forged fraudulent documents in his possession.

One of the charge reads:

“That you Okwuka Olisaebuka Ifeanyi on or about the 3rd day of March, 2013 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did forge a document with subject: URGENT SECURITY UPDATE purportedly issued by First bank of Nigeria Plc that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and Punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act.”

He pleaded guilty upon his arraignment on February 24, 2015.

In view of his plea, the matter was adjourned to March 5, 2015 for review of facts where the EFCC gave evidence and tendered several exhibits to prove its case.

Following the review of facts, Justice Nganjiwa found the accused guilty and sentenced him accordingly.

The convict is to forfeit his laptop and phone, which he used in the fraudulent activities, to the Federal Government.

PDP senator, Uzodinma arrested for poll cheating

Senator Hope Uzodinma of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was among some three dozen poll cheats arrested by the Nigerian police during the supplementary election conducted in Imo state today.

Uzodinma was nabbed in his private home in Oru local council, taking part in an orgy of thumb-printing ballot papers for the candidate of the PDP, Emeka Ihedioha, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

Premiumtimes said Uzodinma’s uncle and elder sister were also arrested.

However, while his uncle and sister were detained, Mr. Uzodimma was released on personal recognition.

In a show of lawlessness, Uzodinma’s supporters in the area set bonfires on the road to prevent the police from taking his relations away.

The police had to call for reinforcement from the army and officials of the secret police, the State Security Service before the bonfires and hoodlums were cleared and his relations carted away to be detained in the state capital, Owerri.

The polling in Imo state was charecterised by an assortment of irregularities, especially in Oru local council area.

Apart from Uzodinma and his relations, five ad hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo were also arrested for thumb-printing ballot papers.

The officials were arrested at Omuma Primary School in Oru East local government following an order by Mr Mike Igini, one of the resident electoral commissioners deployed to Imo for the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Dr Gabriel Ada, who confirmed the arrest, said that the officials were already in police custody.

Ada said the ad hoc workers connived with agents of a political party to thumb-print ballot papers leading to their arrest.

In the same vein, the election has been cancelled in Ozuh Primary School, Omuma following the arrest of 25 persons claiming to be INEC officials by military men.

Okorocha in clear lead, set to be named Imo’s governor-elect

From all indications, Governor Rochas
Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress
will soon be declared governor-elect of Imo
state, for a second term, defeating the
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Emeka Ihedioha, by not less than 100,000
votes.

In most results declared today at polling
units where supplementary polls were
condicted, Okorocha trashed his PDP
opponent by wide margins, making his re-
election a certainty.
Ihedioha’s hope for a push was deflated
today with the arrest of some his backers,
such as Senator Hope Uzodinma, for trying to
stuff ballot boxes with thumb-printed ballot
papers.
When the result of the 11 April election was
declared inconclusive, Okorocha was leading
Ihedioha by over close to 80,000 votes.
He polled 385,671 votes to Ihedioha’s
306,142 votes.
The supplementary polls were meant to
resolve the clear winner and today, the votes
kept swinging to Okorocha, in the main.
Here are some samples of the results from
the polling stations:
Oru West
APC: 395
PDP: 129
Oru East
APC: 7154
PDP: 118
Owerri North
APC: 674
PDP: 620
Onuimo
APC: 412
PDP: 207
Ihime Mbano
APC: 604
PDP: 393
Abo Mbaise
APC: 686
PDP: 939
Owerri West
APC: 1342
PDP: 793
Ohaji Egbema
APC: 1210
PDP: 996
Mbaitoli
APC: 3997
PDP: 2422
Ngow Okpala
APC: 4150
PDP: 323
Nkwerre Local Government. Re-run held
in two wards.
APC: 255
PDP: 164
Okigwe (re-run in two wards)
APC: 603
PDP: 76
Orlu (re-run held in three wards)
APC: 687
PDP: 179
Ihite Uboma (re-run held in one polling
unit)
APC: 131
PDP: 66
Nwangele (re-run held in three polling
units)
APC: 279
PDP: 55
Orsu (re-run held in three polling units)
APC: 471
PDP: 218
Njaba (re-run held in six polling units)
APC: 1095
PDP: 236
Obowo (re-run held in two wards)
APC: 697
PDP: 505
Ezinhitte Mbaise (re-run held at four
polling units)
APC: 213
PDP: 715

faithful hubby say amen na

korean church meeting pt2

faithful hubby

na 9ja be dis?

korean church meeting

no expect miracle oooo

can this be true?

Xenophobia: Nigerian men are snatching our wives – South African Politician

South African politician, Makashule Gana, has said some of his compatriots have complained to him that they are angry with Nigerians and other immigrants because they snatched their girldfriends. Gana, a Deputy Federal Chairperson of Democratic Alliance, made this disclosure in at an anti-xenophobia rally, held at Constitution Hill. South African newspaper, City Press, reported that Gana advised that rather than get angry and take the anger out on foreigners, South African men should “provide” properly for women, rather than lash out at non-nationals for “stealing” women away. Gana urged the crowd at the rally to spread the message of not taking part in xenophobic attacks to “our wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, makhwaphenis (secret lovers), neighbours and brothers”. “If you can’t speak to a girl, now all of a sudden a man that comes from Zimbabwe or Nigeria that can speak to a girl now must be killed. What is that?” “So I ask my fellow brothers from South Africa, if you want a woman please go speak up, don’t go around and killing someone from Nigeria because they can speak up for themselves. Speak out because it is important,” he told the crowd. He also urged South Africans to look at themselves and not blame non-nationals for stealing their jobs when these jobs didn’t exist in the first place. “Go and start a spaza shop,” advised Gana.

I have no regrets having only female children –ELDee

Veteran, hip-hop artiste, Lanre Dabiri, better known as ELDee the Don, has been silent in the music scene for long while. Last year, there were speculations that the singer had quit music. However, in a chat with Saturday Beats, he cleared the air that he is not quitting music as he explained that he was away from the Nigerian entertainment scene to spend some time with his family. “I did not quit music; I evolved from being a complainer to a solution provider. The reason why I was away from the music scene and travelled out of the country was because I needed to take some time off so that I could spend some time with my family. I had not been with my family for years and I felt they deserved my time. I have young girls and I have to be there for my kids and that supersedes any kind of passion that I have. That is part of the reasons I took some time off. I also used the opportunity to work on my new project, Play data, where artistes can track how frequently their works are being used. I did not relocate to America, I am back in Nigeria and my house is still there,” he said. The singer who announced that he might be done with child bearing, said that he has no regret having only female children. “I am not paranoid that I have two lovely female children. I feel that every parent needs to treat their children with care regardless if they are male or female. If you give them the right training and support system, they would be okay. So you would not be afraid of boys chasing your daughters. My daughters are beautiful and I show them off all the time. They are my pride and joy and I have absolutely no regrets having girls. I am probably going to stop at the two girls and maybe never have a son. For me, they are children, my children and I love them a lot. I am proud of them,” ELDee said.

Aftermath of the 2015 general election

Aftermath of the 2015 general election, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has appealed to the United Nations (UN) to pass a resolution recognising the South- East Region of Nigeria as Independent State of Biafra. The movement in a statement said recognising Biafra now was more necessary than ever before in the history of its struggles for independence. According to it, this would be in conformity with the recognition given the territory in the late 60s by some countries during her struggle for self-determination which led to the civil war and the shortlived republic. In the statement signed by the National Assistant Director of Information of the movement, Sunday Okereafor, the movement said the outcome of the 2015 general elections in the country was nothing but a repeat of the 1960s in which two of the three major blocs in the country conspired against the South-East, culminating in the civil war that claimed the lives of many Igbo. He lamented that with the present political marriage between the North and South- West,

Ndigbo had no place in the political arrangement of today’s Nigeria, emphasising that in the present circumstance, it would be expedient for the UN to now recognise Biafra as a sovereign state. It would be recalled that just last week, the Ex-Niger Delta militant leader, Asari Dokubo had a private meeting with MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazurike at Buguma Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. Also recently, MASSOB had warned the former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, to desist from making derogatory statements about the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu. The warning came after a statement by General Danjuma that Ojukwu could have averted the bloodbath in the Biafran war if he had given up following the fall of Enugu during the Nigerian civil war. Danjuma, speaking shortly after outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in the Presidential polls of 28 March which many believed brought back the country from the precipice said if Ojukwu had done the same during the time, kit would have saved a lot of lives in Biafra. Following the loss of President Jonathan in the March 28 Presidential election, Niger Delta Militants, especially his Ijaw kinsmen had said that they would consult widely in order to decide on their next line of action.

I am an expert when it comes to women — Teju Babyface

Teju Oyelakin, host of the popular TV comedy show, The Teju Babyface Show, draws old and young both inside and outside the entertainment industry to his platform, making his show rank as one of the best entertaining shows on TV. The multi-talented comedian in this chat as our Showtime Celebrity talks about his show, comedy, his marriage and more. Your show is always flooded with A-list celebrities; what’s the secret?

Getting guests for my show is one of the biggest challenges of running the show especially when I was not known. At the same time, I can’t remove the element of luck. However, for every guest that shows up on the show, there is one who will not be able to make it. My dream is to get to the level of having a waiting list of A-list guests, waiting to get on the show. How long does it take to get your guests? It varies and depends on the guest. I can liken this to when I was wooing girls. I don’t believe in ladies who keep a man waiting. When I work on a guest for a while and I can’t see the green light, I will leave the person and may check back in a year’s time or so. I do not knock the same door every day. For instance, I have been trailing Prof. Wole Soyinka for five years and I have not given up on him. But that will not stop me from working on other professors. Which of your show do you consider most memorable? Every show and guest is memorable to me. I remember every person who has come to my show and it’s been a wonderful experience. I remember how I feel before and after the guest arrives. And even my sentiments when he or she leaves. Every interview or interaction on the show leaves a signature on me. How has The Teju Babyface show affected your career?

The greatest ingredient a man needs to outstanding success in life is equity. The Teju Babyface Show has brought me influence. What some people will have to queue for, buy with their hard-earned money, will come my way for free and without stress. The brand ‘’Teju Babyface’’ will make me come to your office even when I know nobody (though I don’t do that) and still get attraction. These and lots more are things Teju Babyface Show has done for me. The Teju Babyface has brought me brand equity. Why the name “Teju Babyface Show? It’s a brand; there’s no point changing a winning formula. We are building a structure that will house everything from the brand name. You’ve brought more celebrities even outside the entertainment industry on the show. How did that idea come to you? It was the combination of many things. I’ve always loved the Johnny Carson show and I wanted something like it. Something that will give me a platform and stand me out. So that was how it started. I’ve spent years building a brand as a comedian, after a while I knew I had to Babyfacediversify, walk into other territories and make my mark. I prayed about it, talked to God and the people who inspired me. The show was born out of the zeal to create my own number one spot in life. You hardly attend comedy shows or mingle with comedians. Comedy is only a means to an end for me. It is a college of life that I am currently enrolled in and not necessarily the reason for going to the college. I graduated from the school of comedy into doing a talk show that is much applauded and celebrated. Teju Babyface has mainly music and interview content with a pint of comedy. I am not a comedian essentially. How would you describe yourself? My calling or profession is to captivate and inspire a mass audience using the media through my vocal and creative talent to influence them for a greater cause. I am an African man who will never pretend about it. How has marriage affected your career?

My marriage has improved my career and also made me responsible. My marriage is great and gets interesting as the day goes by. I fended and thought for myself as a single man. I was also a bit reckless then. I am more responsible as a married man. Would you describe your wife? I married the best woman on earth. Sincerely, I got much more than I deserve in this regard. She is the best of all women. How do you mean? I am an expert when it comes to women and I know a good one. She is one of the good ones and I will always appreciate her. She was kept for me. Can you recall your most romantic experience with your wife? My wife is far from the traditional romantic woman, which is the exact reason I married her. She is not the type who would jump at a gift without knowing the reason behind it. She is a very serious minded type who does not really need a man before getting things right. She doesn’t crave for attention like many women do. There was a time we forgot our wedding anniversary and when we remembered, we laughed at it. I would not have lasted with a woman who will nag or sob at things like that. She is a strong woman.babyface1 Some celebrities endorsed candidates in the last election but you didn’t. Why? I have no reason to endorse any political candidate publicly. I have not gotten to the level where my political choice will influence a large percentage of Nigerians. So endorsing one politician is a waste of time. I pray a time will come when politicians will seek my opinion. Seeking my opinion is an index that my opinion counts. And that is only when my opinion can influence a large number of the populace. Which asset do you value most? Money is my best asset. I can get almost every asset with money. I am crazy about cars too. What has been the lowest/highest fee you charged for a show My lowest was N3, 000 and that was my first show at the University of Lagos in 2000. Unfortunately, the producer absconded with my money before I noticed it. I have done many shows for free. The highest money I have received is in millions. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/i-am-an-expert-when-it-comes-to-women-teju-babyface/#sthash.WuPZS6fF.dpuf

Bayelsa lawmaker, others dump PDP for APC

A member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Alfred Egba, and other members of the Peoples Democratic Party have dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress. Egba, representing Yenagoa Constituency 1, announced his defection to the APC on Friday. Other members of the House who were denied tickets to return to the Assembly were said to have perfected plans to leave the PDP before May 29.

During the PDP primary election last year, no fewer than 16 lawmakers said to be loyalists of former Governor Timipre Sylva failed in their bid to clinch the party’s tickets. With the victories of the APC at the federal and many states, there appears to be noticeable cracks in the PDP in Bayelsa State. Adducing reasons for his action, Egba said he dumped PDP because the party could no longer give him the needed covering. Egba, a close ally of Sylva, said he moved to APC with his supporters and associates. He said his associates included a former Special Adviser to Sylva on Special Duties, Chief Sonme Ogilogi, and a former commissioner in the state Independent Electoral Commission, Chief Tom Egba. He said, “The PDP is clouded in a series of controversies with parallel structures of leadership. The party is surrounded by the emergence of a factional chairman, while another person still claims to be in charge of the party leadership. “The PDP has been hijacked and there were many occasions when I was never aware of developments in my constituency and the PDP in the state even with my position as a member of the House of Assembly under the platform of the PDP. I have consulted with stakeholders and also sought the face of God before deciding to quit the party.”

Power shift: From Ota farm,Otuoke to Kaduna

Kaduna has become what former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Ota farm was since Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) became the country’s President-elect. Kaduna has become a Mecca of sort to politicians and other interested stakeholders who have been thronging the city to congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), on his victory in the March 28 presidential election. Groups and other prominent individuals are not left out in showing their solidarity to the winner of the election described as fair and credible by observers, international and local. Buhari, who defeated the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was said to have started calling the shot from Kaduna in what pundits believed was a move to strategise on how to form the next government. Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, is the seat of power, but it is believed that the country home of any President in office usually commands heavy traffic as people seeking one favour or the other throng the place. Buhari hails from Daura, Katsina State, but preferred to stay in his Kaduna home pending the May 29 inauguration of his government. Sixteen years ago, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Obasanjo, who was then a prominent farmer in Ota, Ogun State, had just returned from prison over a coup plot attempt against the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha. He joined active politics to contest for the Presidency on the platform of the PDP in the 1999 general elections against Chief Olu Falae of the Alliance for Democracy. Following his assumption of office as President, Obasanjo’s Ota home became a centre of attraction to politicians, members of the business community, traditional rulers, civil society and student groups, among others. This, experts said, was natural as people would gravitate towards any President or leader in power for myriads of reasons. While some will want to be around such a leader for appointments and political gains, others want to be seen as being friends of the President. As President between 1999 and 2003, Obasanjo was believed to have wielded a lot of influence and power at home and abroad. Obasanjo’s administration won the support of Western power for strengthening Nigeria’s renascent democracy. He also won international praise for the country’s role in crucial regional peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia. He was re-elected in 2003 in a tumultuous election that was said to be characterised by violent ethnic and religious overtones. His main opponent, Buhari, who contested on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, challenged the outcome of the election in court, but lost the bid to have Obasanjo’s victory nullified. Some of the achievements which endeared many to Obasanjo, according to experts, include increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product by six per cent, helped partly by higher oil prices; ensuring that Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose from $2bn in 1999 to $43bn on leaving office in 2007; securing debt pardons from the Paris and London club amounting to about $18bn and paying another $18bn for the country to be debt free. As the 2007 general elections were drawing nearer, politicians, who believed that Obasanjo could be very busy in Aso Rock, Abuja, increased their visits to Ota especially during weekends in order to get his blessing for the purpose of picking PDP tickets for elective offices. Through Obasanjo’s firm grip on the PDP, a former Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2007 general elections, in spite of his poor health. Yar’Adua’s victory in the poll shifted human traffic from Ota to Katsina. Politicians and contractors, who wanted to remain relevant in the scheme of things, turned their attention to Yar’Adua’s country home. But Yar’ Adua had yet to spend the mandatory four years in office when power suddenly moved to Otuoke, Jonathan’s home in Bayelsa State, due to the then President’s poor health. While Yar’Adua was seeking medical attention abroad and after many weeks of waiting for him to resume his official duty, the Senate adopted the doctrine of necessity, the extra-legal action, to save Nigeria from imminent crisis. The Senate’s action created the platform for Jonathan to become acting President, but Jonathan was sworn in as the substantive President on May 5, 2010 after Yar’Adua’s death. Like he did for Yar’Adua, Obasanjo invested his energy in the emergence of Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate in the April 16, 2011 presidential election, which he won against Buhari of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change. The 2011 general elections were trailed by violence in which many people were killed and property valued at several billions of naira destroyed. No sooner than Jonathan’s government was inaugurated that Otuoke became the beautiful bride of construction firms and interest groups that wanted to remain the friends of the government. A construction giant, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, which felt that an old church building in Otuoke was not befitting of a President’s village, seized the initiative to cement its relationship with Jonathan by building a new 2,500-seat church in the town. Though seen by some people as bribe, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Reuben Abati, said that the church gift was part of the Corporate Social Responsibilities of the construction firm. “A contractor who has worked and continues to work in Bayelsa State and other parts of Nigeria thought it fit, in fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility, to facilitate the renovation of the small church in the President’s home town of Otuoke,” Abati had said, President Jonathan lost his re-election bid to Buhari in the March 28 presidential election. As usual, Buhari’s victory in the poll has now shifted the people’s attention to Kaduna, where he has been receiving eminent visitors. The journey that necessitated the power shift to Kaduna started last year when the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ANPP, CPC and a section of the All Progressive Grand Alliance merged to form the All Progressives Congress, the party on which platform Buhari won the last presidential poll. While political pundits believe that Buhari is in Kaduna to prepare for the inauguration of his administration holding on May 29, friends, politicians and stakeholders, including top businessmen, religious leaders and diplomats from within and outside the country have been thronging the city to congratulate him and also discuss critical issues that border on the continent. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Representatives in West and Central Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily, were said to have visited Buhari in Kaduna where they discussed the threat of Boko Haram insurgency. Early in the week, Obasanjo and President of Ivory Coast, Alassan Quattara, also met with the President-elect. Though details were not made available, Obasanjo’s meeting with Buhari was said to have lasted for several hours at a private residence in Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna. But Quattara said his visit to the President-elect was mainly to congratulate him on his victory. He also promised that his country and Nigeria would work hand in hand to ensure stronger integration of West African region. For Buhari to succeed in his yet to be inaugurated administration, observers are, however, asking him to seize the opportunity created by the visit to ask questions on competent and technocrats he might appoint as ministers. The convener of Save Nigeria Group and founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, asked the President-elect to shun issues such as zoning and religion if the right people must emerge. Bakare, who spoke at the Wema Bank 70th commemorative lecture in Lagos early in the week, said, “We just have to wait for few weeks to see how things would go. I pray that the north that has been out of power for some time will not say, ‘now it is our turn,’ whether we would see round pegs in square holes and begin to attract incompetent people. The most competent, the fittest and people with capacity and ideas should be the ones to go for.

“It would look beautiful to put things together if you have the mind to do it and if you have the right people to occupy these places, regardless of their religion, regardless of their agenda and what part of the country they are from, as long as they are able to deliver what would bring us out of this backwardness.” A social commentator, Mr. Dare Adeiya, could not agree less with Bakare. He said that Nigerians would want Buhari to hit the ground running shortly after the inauguration of his government on May 29. Adeiya said, “Buhari may have promised Nigerians many things, including total eradication of poverty in the land, but he should pick those that are most pressing among them for implementation. Youth unemployment and building of infrastructure demand urgent attention. “In fact, I am expecting him to use the few weeks he has before the inauguration to consult with relevant people and organisations so as to ask questions about those he will appoint as ministers and advisers in his forthcoming administration. “The President-elect can, as well, seek advice from some of the people that have been visiting him in Kaduna on how to move Nigeria forward.” A lecturer with the Department of Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Francis Fagbohun, described the frequent visit to Buhari as normal things, but asked the President-elect to sieve good materials from pretenders. He said, “Now that the President-elect has become the bride that every politician would want to associate, he should resist the urge to surround himself with those that will not tell him the truth. Buhari is a leader of all, but he needs to scrutinise very well, especially when appointing his ministers. He needs people who are nationalistic in their thinking, not those with parochial interest.”