Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Jay-Z Responds To Lil Wayne's Diss, "That's Sport, That's Rap Music
As previously reported in Wayne's"It's Good" he raps,
"Talkin bout baby money? I got your baby money...kidnap your b*tch get that how much you love your lady, money."
According to Jay-Z however it's no big deal and it's all just part of the game.
He tells MTV,
"That's sport, that's rap music. Nothing is going to change but the participants. I don't even see why that's news."
How My hubby set us ablaze - Pregnant Woman
Burnt pregnant wife recounts ordeal
Mrs. Ifeoma Egeonu, the pregnant mother of two, who was set ablaze by her husband, last Saturday, has recounted the sad experience even as she expressed her readiness to forgive the offending husband. Ifeoma and her two children were set ablaze by her hubby, Mr. Alexander Ndubuisi Egeonu, popularly called Sagay, inside his container-shop for undisclosed reason. The husband had been on the run since the incident happened.
Speaking to Daily Sun on her hospital bed at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, where she was transferred to from the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Ifeoma expressed shock and surprise about the action of her husband.
Also on admission at the hospital were her first son, Emmanuel, who was crying continuously obviously because of the pain he was suffering and his brother, Udochukwu. Both children are within the ages of two and three.
With most of her body wrapped with bandage, Ifeoma, who is heavily pregnant, said she was surprised that she is still alive. She told Daily Sun that she could not tell what might have pushed her husband into the devilish act.
She said she was so confused even at the point when her husband was pouring fuel inside the shop; “I was asking him what he was doing but before I knew it there was fire everywhere inside the container which served as his shop.
“The other woman who sells provisions was the person who pushed open the door as he tried to close it and ran away.
Ifeoma, who hails from Amuri in Nkanu West Local Government area of Enugu State, said that she and her two kids were staying with her mother but decided to visit her husband and celebrate the Independence anniversary with him.
“When he brought the fuel, I felt he wanted to use it for his generator but he was telling me that, ‘people are wicked; that the woman who sells provisions opposite owed him and had refused to pay up; somehow he managed to attract the same woman to the shop, telling her to talk to me.
“It was all confusing, but the next thing he started pouring petrol inside the shop and afterwards lit a match but the woman forced her way out as he tried to close the door on all of us. It was people around that came to our rescue but I and my children were already burnt. I thank God that we are still alive.”
Ifeoma said that her husband, who hails from Mbaitolu in Imo State, was fond of beating her.
“Most of the time, I will run to my parents’ house but he will always come begging,” she said.
Asked if she can forgive her husband over the incident, she replied; “If God can forgive us our sins why can’t I forgive other people. I believe in God and that is all I can say for now. She, however, ruled out the possibility of retuning to the man’s house again, asking; “if it is you that somebody tried to kill, will you go back to that same person again?”
She called for assistance from both government and other public-spirited individuals to come to their aid.
“There is nobody to help us now; it is only my brother who has been trying his best but he can’t shoulder this alone. He has already paid the bills at Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre from where we were referred to this place; but we are yet to pay for the deposit in this particular hospital. Of course, there will be other bills but we have faith in God,” she added.
Reacting to the incident, her brother, Mr. Sunday Ede, lamented the ill-luck of his younger sister as regards her marriage, saying he had severally discouraged her from marrying Egeonu.
“This is my immediate younger sister; she was with me during her secondary school days. But at a time this guy impregnated her and decided to marry her.
“As time went on, I started seeing the character of the man and I made up my mind that he was not good for her. Sometimes, she will return to my house and stay with us but whenever he comes begging, she will follow him again.
“The last time she retuned was a week before this incident; she had stayed with me for about a week until the man came and my sister said she was following him. I could not stop her but I warned her that she was on her own.”
He recalled how a friend called him on phone on the day of the incident to inform him of what happened, which he initially ignored.
“Few minutes later somebody came on a bike and told me that my attention was needed at the Eastern Medical Centre that my sister was on admission; that her husband poured fuel on her and her children and set them on fire .
“Out of anger I said I was not going that they should bury her if they have finally killed her; but the messenger urged me to go that they had been referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital.”
Mr. Ede said he had never seen something of this nature in his life and expressed shock that somebody could set his own children on fire.
Meanwhile, the police in Enugu are still searching for Egeonu, who had disappeared after setting his wife and children ablaze.
Before the incident, Egeonu was said to be dealing in musical equipment and at the same time using a part of the container-shop, located at No 61 Mount Street, Idaw River area of Awkunanaw Enugu, as barbing salon.
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu (Sunnews)
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Speaking to Daily Sun on her hospital bed at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, where she was transferred to from the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Ifeoma expressed shock and surprise about the action of her husband.
Also on admission at the hospital were her first son, Emmanuel, who was crying continuously obviously because of the pain he was suffering and his brother, Udochukwu. Both children are within the ages of two and three.
With most of her body wrapped with bandage, Ifeoma, who is heavily pregnant, said she was surprised that she is still alive. She told Daily Sun that she could not tell what might have pushed her husband into the devilish act.
She said she was so confused even at the point when her husband was pouring fuel inside the shop; “I was asking him what he was doing but before I knew it there was fire everywhere inside the container which served as his shop.
“The other woman who sells provisions was the person who pushed open the door as he tried to close it and ran away.
Ifeoma, who hails from Amuri in Nkanu West Local Government area of Enugu State, said that she and her two kids were staying with her mother but decided to visit her husband and celebrate the Independence anniversary with him.
“When he brought the fuel, I felt he wanted to use it for his generator but he was telling me that, ‘people are wicked; that the woman who sells provisions opposite owed him and had refused to pay up; somehow he managed to attract the same woman to the shop, telling her to talk to me.
“It was all confusing, but the next thing he started pouring petrol inside the shop and afterwards lit a match but the woman forced her way out as he tried to close the door on all of us. It was people around that came to our rescue but I and my children were already burnt. I thank God that we are still alive.”
Ifeoma said that her husband, who hails from Mbaitolu in Imo State, was fond of beating her.
“Most of the time, I will run to my parents’ house but he will always come begging,” she said.
Asked if she can forgive her husband over the incident, she replied; “If God can forgive us our sins why can’t I forgive other people. I believe in God and that is all I can say for now. She, however, ruled out the possibility of retuning to the man’s house again, asking; “if it is you that somebody tried to kill, will you go back to that same person again?”
She called for assistance from both government and other public-spirited individuals to come to their aid.
“There is nobody to help us now; it is only my brother who has been trying his best but he can’t shoulder this alone. He has already paid the bills at Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre from where we were referred to this place; but we are yet to pay for the deposit in this particular hospital. Of course, there will be other bills but we have faith in God,” she added.
Reacting to the incident, her brother, Mr. Sunday Ede, lamented the ill-luck of his younger sister as regards her marriage, saying he had severally discouraged her from marrying Egeonu.
“This is my immediate younger sister; she was with me during her secondary school days. But at a time this guy impregnated her and decided to marry her.
“As time went on, I started seeing the character of the man and I made up my mind that he was not good for her. Sometimes, she will return to my house and stay with us but whenever he comes begging, she will follow him again.
“The last time she retuned was a week before this incident; she had stayed with me for about a week until the man came and my sister said she was following him. I could not stop her but I warned her that she was on her own.”
He recalled how a friend called him on phone on the day of the incident to inform him of what happened, which he initially ignored.
“Few minutes later somebody came on a bike and told me that my attention was needed at the Eastern Medical Centre that my sister was on admission; that her husband poured fuel on her and her children and set them on fire .
“Out of anger I said I was not going that they should bury her if they have finally killed her; but the messenger urged me to go that they had been referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital.”
Mr. Ede said he had never seen something of this nature in his life and expressed shock that somebody could set his own children on fire.
Meanwhile, the police in Enugu are still searching for Egeonu, who had disappeared after setting his wife and children ablaze.
Before the incident, Egeonu was said to be dealing in musical equipment and at the same time using a part of the container-shop, located at No 61 Mount Street, Idaw River area of Awkunanaw Enugu, as barbing salon.
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu (Sunnews)
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
AIRTEL DENIES SACKING 3,000 STAFF
In a media interaction yesterday Airtel's Human Resources Director ,Mr. Jibril Saba denied that the workers were never staffs of Airtel but Spanco and Tecmahindra,the two business processing outsourcing(BPO) companies for Airtel.
He noted that the staff were actually contract staff of Airtel BPOs and they were 1,535,446 from Lagos and the rest from Abuja, adding that their call centres are in Abuja ,Lagos, Delta and Kogi states respectively and because Airtel wants a world class call centre that would be effective was the reason for outsourcing its call centre to these companies that have tentacles across the world and are worth $39 billion. He stated that long call fuctions are being outsourced globally.
'BPOs are capable of generating 5,000 jobs and these staff are hired through third party agencies but the contracts of these staff expired not because of any undertone.'
From a legal perspective,Osondu Nwokoro, Airtel, Director of Regulatory affairs noted that the legal nexus binding on the BPOs and their staff terminated on Sept 30th like any signed contracts.
Meanwhile some of the laid off staff who spoke to Daily Sun on the condition of anonymity noted that Airtel cannot actually detach itself from its BPOs because they carry its identification(ID cards).
'We worked as customer service agents for Airtel but we were sacked due to salary disagreement. We were paid N75,000 a month but the new company owners from India has reduced it to N30,000 with the excuse that they are paying us too much.We need help,this is modern day slavery,'they said.
However the two BPOs in a joint press statement explained their attention have been drawn to several messages circulating in cyberspace alleging that thier client, Airtel had fired 3,000 Call Centre agents due to a disagreement over a purported plan to reduce salaries.
' This is untrue and we want to use this medium to put the fact right.Last year, following the signing of a landmark BPO Agreement with the Airtel Group, we jointly inherited over 1,200 Call Centre agents from Bezaleel, HR Indexx and CCSNL who hitherto provided agents for the company known then as Zain.
The contract existing between us and two of the agencies namely CCSNL and HR Indexx expired effective Friday September 30, 2011. 'The third agency, Bezaleel's, contract will expire in January 2012. So, there is no issue of mass sack but expiration of existing contracts. Prior to the expiration of the contracts, we had engaged representatives of the Agents and that of the organized Labour on how to manage their transition to our roll. Due to a lack of consensus on the way forward and an apparent threat to our facilities by some of the agents, we were compelled to suspend operations at the call centres last Friday, September 30, 2011.
'Going forward, our plan is to offer some of the affected agents a new contract with attendant salaries and benefits based on their qualifications and experience. We will also recruit new agents, because the vision is to expand the Call Centre business in Nigeria to 5000 capacity, ultimately.
On the issue of salaries, we state categorically that as world class organizations, we offer our employees remuneration and benefits comparable to standards across the world and in compliance with the working and labour laws of Nigeria.
'We are committed to growing the BPO industry in Nigeria and by so doing we will give meaning to the quest by the Federal Government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to create jobs as part of his master plan to re-engineer the Nigerian economy'.
Source: The Nigerian Voice News
Today 4th October is Jude Abaga (M.I)'s birthday Show Him some love Twitter - @MI_abaga
Monday, 3 October 2011
I hired those that killed my late husband – Detained wife
 |
| Mrs Ngozi Ademoye with lae husband, Ademoye |
MORE revelations emerged, Monday,in the on-going investigation over the gruesome murder of a Lagos business man, Mr. Kazeem Ademoye,as the principal suspect who incidentally, is the victim’s wife, Mrs. Ngozi Ademoye, disowned her earlier assertion that she used an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) electrical gadget to murder her husband. She reportedly admitted that she actually hired people to kill her husband.
The Delta State-born mother of three who was said to be popular among her numerous customers under the Anthony Village bridge along Ikorodu Road, where she sold local gin (Ogogoro) before she was introduced to Mr. Kazeem, 10 years ago, was quoted as saying that she was being hunted by her late husband’s ghost to confess the murder.
Earlier claim
Impeccable police sources at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, where she is still being detained said the suspected killer-wife allegedly confided in a police woman (names withheld) that she did not actually kill her husband as earlier claimed. She was said to have confessed that she got some people to do it while she was downstairs watching a movie.
Vanguard learnt that she begged the police detectives to release the detained immediate younger brother of the deceased, Kunle Ademoye; her pastor on whose premises one of her husband’s posh cars was parked moments after the murder incident, and the prophetess who allegedly gave her holy water.
She was alleged to have said that she wants to suffer for her crime alone. Crime Alert was reliably told that she allegedly admitted that the cultism story was cooked-up, and that policemen actually took the picture of the purported red robe, live tortoise, a pot of charms and other paraphernalia associated with cultism in her bed room and not her husband’s as earlier claimed.
Kunle Ademoye, the deceased’s younger brother said to be mentally imbalanced was reported to have told the police that he did not meet his late brother in any cult robe contrary to earlier claims by Ngozi that he helped her to pull off the cult clothes for a better one before being taken to the mortuary.
He also reportedly confessed that he was told at about 7.00am by Ngozi that his brother had died of heart attack adding that he got there at 10.00am only to meet all the doors including the ones to his late brother’s room under lock and keys.
Sources told Vanguard that Kunle said that the main suspect, Ngozi, had made several contacts including arrangement for an ambulance to convey the remains of his brother to the mortuary before he arrived the house. He reportedly said: “She was the one who opened all the doors, both those to my brother’s room.
Even before I arrived, she had called an ambulance from Ikorodu and when they came, she told me to drive my brother’s Toyota Camry 2010 model to her pastor’s house. She did not tell me the reason for that.”
Meanwhile, the police have since recovered that car while arrangements were being perfected to release Kunle, the pastor and the prophetess as pleaded by Ngozi.
STEPHANIE OKEREKE BANKS N20MILLION LG DEAL
Sources said she signed the deal with LG electronics and its new 3D mobile phone which the company unveiled at the end of September 2011.
It’s been all glowing for the Imo state born actress lately,following her graduation from the New York Film Academy,it’s been goodnews all along for the actress,a number of achievements including the Kanekalon hair company endorsement,and now LG.
We hear the deal is a secret type,so much information was not let out,but the deal is said to be worth N20million.(now that’s a mouth watering one). The deal is sealed and she has banked the pay,as flyers are already in the dailies.
FAB News: - By Akerele Moses
Weeks after his death, MC Loph's album in high demand
Many CD retailers who were not marketing the late rapper's CD before his death, are now doing so, after the demand for the album more than tripled.
The rapper lost his life in a fatal auto accident that also claimed the lives of his sister, nephew and I hear the fiancee also. May they all continue to rest in peace...amen.
The rapper lost his life in a fatal auto accident that also claimed the lives of his sister, nephew and I hear the fiancee also. May they all continue to rest in peace...amen.
Donald Duke is 50 years
Source : Linda Ikeji Blog
Actress Nuella Njubigbo denies dating Tchidi Chikere
The actress has debunked news making the rounds that she's dating married producer, Tchidi Chikere, which a few soft sell magazines carried last week. The two have worked on several projects, in fact three movies in the last 6 months, and appeared at an event together...but the actress says it's strictly business
Source: Linda Ikeji Blogspot
Obamas and Michelle celebrate 19th wedding anniversary (picture and event story)
The couple had an early celebration Saturday night at Restaurant Eve in Alexandria, Va.
When Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson wed on Oct. 3, 1992, the 31-year-old future president worked as a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, and had worked on a voter registration drive throughout that election year.
The bride, a lawyer, had worked in Chicago city government as assistant to the Mayor.
The wedding took place exactly one month before Bill Clinton won the 1992 presidential election, defeating President George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot.
Among the guests at that wedding, who would have guessed that the happy couple would become the nation's first couple just a little more than 16 years later?
I Hate The Way Jay Z Smells – Pregnant Beyonce (Watch Video and Read Story)
Bey is busy promoting her new fragrance Pulse. She also said her mom still has a huge impact on what she wears… “Absolutely! I was doing a photo shoot and I was like, a little too risque and I heard a noise that sounded like my mom’s footsteps because she walks really heavy, I was like AHH!”
Listen to Beyonce Interview
Our conditions for peace, by Boko Haram
…celebrate low-key 51st Independence
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & NDAHI MARAMA
ABUJA— Members of the Jaamatus Ahlus Sunnah Lid Daawatis Wal Jihad, a.k.a. Boko Haram yesterday celebrated the inability of the Federal Government to celebrate the nation’s 51st independence anniversary at the Eagle Square owing to threats by the group and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), to bomb the nation’s capital city if the celebration went ahead.
Members of the sect have also restated their determination to continue to unleash terror on government and its security forces, should the federal government refuse to meet their earlier demands.
It will be recalled that after the federal government announced that the celebration will be low keyed and denied insinuations that the low key celebration was due to fear of MEND or Boko Haram, there was a military and Police parade inside the Presidential Villa, with foreign ambassadors, High Commissioners’ and Chief de missions present at the villa to celebrate Nigeria’s 51st Independence anniversary.
Vanguard was told by security sources, that they have intelligence reports indicating that members of the Boko Haram sect celebrated their ability to restrict the independence anniversary to Aso Rock rather than the national ground, Eagle Square, where such occasions are usually held.
Former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe; Chief Imam National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammed and the President Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Ayo Oritsejafor during the exchange of Presidential Guards as part of events to mark the 51st National Day Celebrations at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.
Incidentally, security measures put in place following the threats of the two groups are still in place and will remain for days as security agencies feel, both groups especially Boko Haram were put at bay because of the heavy security presence and checks going on in the FCT.
According to the source, “we have not rested since last Thursday and there is no indication that we would rest soon because we may be deceived that they have had a change of mind to attack. So the security cordons will go on until we are satisfied the risk threats have reduced”.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the group, Abu Qaqa in an email message sent to newsmen written in Hausa language yesterday said that “the country would not have peace until there is 100 per cent implementation of Sharia law in the country as enshrined in the holy Quran as well as immediate release of all our members who were detained and in the custody of security agencies for no just cause”.
He said the group was not satisfied with the report of the Presidential committee on Security in the north on possible negotiation with the federal government, adding that the members were even surprised that the committee told the world, that they have had a meeting with the sect in the course of their investigation, insisting that no committee ever sat with the group.
He dismissed the recommendation of the committee on the involvement of the Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Bauchi or Abubakar Giro in the negotiation talk saying, “all these people are not respected by the sect members, and could not mediate for them”.
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen yesterday shot and killed an Igbo butcher in broad daylight at the popular Baga Road Market. There was also a reported incident of an explosion at the same Baga Road which claimed two lives while some were seriously injured. Following these incidents, most shops in the market remained closed.
UNBELIVABLE: Nigerian Woman Dies Twice Buried in Nigeria, resurfaces in Benin republic, dies again (Read Story)
Unbelievable!
Nigerian woman who died years ago, dies again in Benin Republic
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG, just back from Porto Novo
• Ekanem
Photo: Sun News Publishing
Her story reads like a thriller: the type only a great novelist could spin. However, the somewhat grace-to-grass context and the many twists and turns of her life’s tale could make some of the classic tragedies spun by dramatist extraordinaire Sophocles of ancient Greece appear less calamitous.
First she died in Nigeria, was properly buried and forgotten, then suddenly she appeared in Benin Republic with a new life. Now she’s dead again. And then the real dead end.
To be candid, ruminating on this woman’s chequered sojourn on earth invoked Figure it out for yourself, the title of one of scores of crime thrillers by James Hardley Chase; for, at the end of series of fragmetary sequences; you are still left wondering, if you got this one right.
Initially, telephone numbers rose flying around, purportedly belonging to one of her believed children. But then, on one occasion during which the said son was reportedly traced on phone, he told them that his mother died a long time ago and that he was not going to come to claim the corpse of another woman.
He had moved on with his life in the northern part of Nigeria. Today, nobody owns up to still having the contact address of phone number of this mystery son. The same story is told of the documents removed from the late woman’s home. The official of the Nigerian community allegedly handed everything to the Beninoise authority. Confusion and more confusion.
Such was the variegated nature of this subject’s life that at some point, she served in the officer cadre of one of the nation’s armed forces only to die unloved and abadoned, and her corpse unwanted. This was a woman that actually lived overseas at some point; she apparently enjoyed the famed, good life as a spinster; and, at the domestic level was married and had children.
Sadly, however, everything eventually went so kaputt that she died a lonely and forsaken woman. So unwanted was she, that her children and practically every other family member did not only shun her in the twilight of her life but denied her outright, when informed she had passed on and that her body was waiting to be claimed in a morgue in a neighbouring foreign country.
The deceased gave up the ghost a few minutes after midnight on May 2, 2011; and, her remains were immediately deposited at Morgue Le Pardon, the only funerarium in Djeregbe. Djeregbe stands roughly 10 minutes’ drive from Porto Novo, capital of Benin Republic; and, coming from Seme-Krake, near Nigeria’s extreme south-western frontier; Djeregbe is barely five minutes’ drive after turning right at Porto Novo roundabout.
The fees for leaving a corpse at this morgue is CFA2,000 (N700) per day, but after the first 10 days; the cost rises to CFA3,000 (N1,050) daily. Counting from May 2, the mortuary bills hit CFA20,000 by May 12. With CFA3,000 daily subsequently, by June 30 the bills had climbed another CFA147,000; bringing the total to CFA167,000 or N58,450 at the current exchange rate of N350 to CFA1,000. Furthermore, by July 20, the bill had risen by another CFA60,000 (N20,000 approximately), thus bringing the total to N78,450. Add CFA33,000 (about N12,000) for another 11 days to July 31; and, we were talking of over N90,000. By August 30, the figure had exceeded N120,000.
However, it must be pointed out that the woman’s offspring have not abandoned the body due to financial implication. The deceased was a very wealthy person, and the sale of a fraction of her estate will easily raise the money to pay off any bill accruing from her death and funeral.
It would therefore seem that the offspring’s rejection of any relationship with the dead woman arises from fear of exposure of kinship to one who was sick or worse still, for other reasons which; as some are wont to conjectutre, could even be considered sinister. If the contents of a video, we shall soon refer to, are anything to go by; the woman was allegedly initiated into a secret society sometime in 2005 by some juju worshippers in Akesan Town, Lagos.
In deed, the initiation was embedded in a house-warming ceremony. It is hard to say, whether or not she was conscious of what she was walking into at the time; for, even on film she was barely lively, instead of jubilant, whereas she was the celebrant of a house-warming ceremony. Interestingly, any one watching the recording of that event would immediately notice the absence of guests during the Lagos celebration; which contrasts sharply with what transpired, when she held a similar party in Djeregbe near Porto Novo in Benin Republic.
Truly, there are many twists and turns to this convoluted tale. Could a woman that died years ago in Nigeria die again in Benin Republic? Could someone or some people have done her in, in order to inherit her wealth? It is believed that apart from the house she owned near Porto Novo, the woman also had some landed properties in Lagos; receipts and building plans of such estates were found among her belongings, according to a reliable source. Interestingly, too; a receipt was found confirming she had secured a sepulchre for her burial in London, the same respondent added.
If documents reportedly found among her possessions are to be believed; there was hefty life insurance dividend to be picked by her heir in the event of her death. Is it possible that such dividend had since been claimed, while the woman was languishing in pain, misery and loneliness; whereas a funeral had been held for her?
If so, who collected such benefits; and, who signed her death certificate, and where was it issued? Where and when was she buried? Also, who organised a bogus funeral party to mark her departure from planet earth; when the woman was still alive?
Her health had deteriorated drastically over the week preceding her transition, but she wouldn’t stand any talk of going to see a doctor. However, late in the night of May 1, her condition was so bad and the woman so weak she couldn’t even protest, when one Isideen and another of her tenants put her atop a Zemidjan (a motorbike) to take her for urgent medical attention.
It would seem that workers at the first hospital the young men took the woman to refused to admit her and directed Isideen and co to take her elsewhere. All the while, the woman; sandwiched between the two men on the bike to prevent her from falling, had been panting profusely.
As the men rode toward another clinic, the woman suddenly exuded a loud sigh: she had just breathed her last. Alarmed, Isideen and his co-tenant started shouting “Mummy, Mummy”, but no response came; for the woman had given up the ghost. Now, instead of depositing her at a hospital, the young men were compelled to take the body to the only morgue in town.
For roughly five years, the lady lived in her storey building with five tenants in Quartier Yekponawa, not too far from Djeregbe’s Quartier Zongo neighbourhood. She called her house, which stands roughly 200 metres off the highway linking Cotonou to Porto Novo, La Ville Romuero. The highest-paying of the woman’s tenants was charged CFA15,000 (about N5,000) monthly. Three other tenants paid CFA10,000 (N3,500) each, monthly; while the rental for the fifth occupant was CFA7,000 (N2,300) for the same period.
Strangely, this landlady occupied the uncompleted upper floor of her two-floor house. This top floor was mostly unroofed and many rooms lack windows and doors, yet she chose to live in this quarter, while giving out the finished rooms on the ground floor to tenants. Curiously, she kept none of her valuables upstairs, where she lived.
Her belongings were divided between the rooms of two of her tenants, one of them Isideen. She occasionally ate in the rooms of these two tenants. Her moveable property included five sealed boxes, a few bags and other boxes that were not locked. It was inside one of these unlocked boxes that a video recording of the woman’s funeral, purportedly after her death decades ago, was found.
Sources told Daily Sun the woman probably suffered phychological, if not psychiatric, challenges years before her transition. Once, she had an acquintance called Samson; but, it would seem the woman sent him packing sometime before she died. Sadly, no one could locate Samson now; and, none was sure that even he had any clue as to the woman’s relations or friends. After parting ways with Samson, the woman neither went visiting anyone nor did anyone ever came to visit her for all the years that she lived in the compound.
No one remembered ever seeing her cook. “Mummy rarely ate any food”, said one respondent. One of her tenants, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed she drank frequently: Guinness was her preferred brand, but when out of pocket; the woman settled for native gin. In fact, she showed signs of bloating a few weeks to her death, we were told.
Some respondents’ conjecture is that the late woman had at least two sons, whom; going by photographs taken decades ago, must be above 40 years today. Among such people’s guess is that Mr. Percy (surname withheld) is a man believed to be one of her children. From this man’s first name, Percy, it would seem she had him for a Christian. However, there is another man, Ahmed, believed to be her son as well. It seems likely Percy and Ahmed were sired by different men.
One respondent told us, “Mummy spoke excellent French, English and Yoruba”; however, another throw-up of some, that spoke with Daily Sun in and around Djeregbe was that the woman probably hailed from Calabar. They hinged their guess on the lady’s abhorrence of filth. Further probe into the woman’s origins led to the discovery that her maiden name sounded like one from “the Calabar area”. Alhaji Yusuf Salami, President of Nigerian community in Porto Novo, who had accompanied local police personnel to the late woman’s house and the morgue, where her body was deposited; confirmed her maiden name hinted at Calabar origins. Unfortunately, Alhaji Salami said he could not recall that name.
He said that after being contacted, he had done the best he could as leader of the local Nigerian community and had properly briefed the Nigerian embassy of his findings. Subsequently, he had washed his hands off the matter; which now lay with the Nigerian embassy and Beninoise authorities. “If you want any information on this matter, please; go to the Nigerian embassy”: this was Alhaji Salami’s advise to us, when we contacted him on phone.
After deeper probes, we were at some point told that the deceased was Miss Margaret Ekanem Utip. We were also told that her husband’s grandfather was a half-caste, and the man’s white grandfather, Mr. Audifferen (first name not known) died in 1933. However, the most baffling of all is the 2005 ceremony in Lagos, celebrated as Warming of late Margaret Ekanem’s House.
In 1979, one Miss Omodele Ayo Audifferen, who lived at Number 1, Odo Ogun Close in South West Ikoyi; was a student of Federal School of Arts and Science (FSAS), Victoria Island, Lagos. A student’s ID card, signed December 12, 1979, carries the portrait of a pretty young lady that probably morphed into a charming woman.
While studying for her A Levels at FSAS, she was in the group MSD, which means she was of the Morning Session classes and that her subject combination was Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Successful products of FSAS SD groups usually went on to study medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry, life sciences and related courses.
And, going by leads; which include epaulettes that show the wearer went through the rank of Mid-Shipman before being promoted a Sub-Lieutenant, found among the deceased’s belongings, the late woman belonged to one of these professions. Moreover, she probably served in the Medical Corps of the Nigerian Navy, going by some leads. Could this be the late one, whose body is lying unclaimed in Porto Novo?
Interestingly, during the house-warming ceremony, dubbed House-warming ceremony of late Chief (Mrs.) Ekanem Audifferen; the woman was variously called Doctor and at least once addressed as Mrs. Abidu. In the same video, the said Mrs. Abidu was described as “the last child of late Chief (Mrs.) Audifferen”. This late Chief (Mrs.) Audifferen could well be one-time Miss Ekanem Utip, who hailed from Oku in Ikot Offiong, Calabar. Born in Beua, now known as Victoria, in Western Cameroon; the young Ekanem Utip had her primary education at Government Secondary School, Beua from 1933 to 1941.
The house in question stands at Number 10 Kassim Achiomu Street in Akesan Town, off LASU Road; going by the address found on the cartridge of a video recorded by SOAJ Video and Film Production, which in December 2005 gave its studio’s address as 220 Ijegun Road, Ile-Ibadan Bus stop in Ikotun, Lagos.
Curiously, a year after that purported posthumuos housewarming took place, she turned up in Cotonou, the economic capital of Benin Republic. It remains unclear, where she resided in those days; for Samson, who might know; having served the woman for years, could not be located. In any case, in 2006, she bought a house, which was still under construction in Djeregbe and made home there.
The late Mrs. Abidu was probably sibling with one-time Master Ekundayo Essien Audifferen, who was baptised on August 5, 1961 at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos. Ekundayo Essien Audifferen subsequently had his Confirmation and First Communion at the same church on June 4, 1978, a year before Omodele Ayo enrolled for Sixth Form studies at FSAS, Lagos. The duo were probably related to one Mr. S.B. Audifferen, resident of House 18, Nevern Rd, SW London; going by an address found on the envelop of a letter sent by one Dr. Audifferen from Number 10 Boyle Street, Lagos.
On Nigerian Embassy Cotonou
The unfolding saga of Nee Audiferen’s life and eventual death in Benin Republic as well as the fact that her body is still lying in a local morgue four months after her passage has once again thrown up doubts about the efficiency and diligence on the part of officials of Nigeria’s foreign missions. It could be recalled that Nigerian Embassy Cotonou had come under severe criticisms in the past for its staffers’ lackadaisal attidtude to work. In deed, Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou was virtually loathed by all; Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa communities alike.
September 2 marked 120 days since the former Miss Audiferen died. Questions would be asked as to what the Nigerian Embassy Cotonou has done over the four-month period with regard to unveiling her identity and subsequently getting the dead woman’s relations to come and collect her body for burial. At least one official at Nigerian Embassy Cotonou had mooted the idea of selling the deceased woman’s house. The explanation for this seems to be to raise money to pay morgue fees and other bills, Daily Sun gathered from reliable sources.
However, perceived foot-dragging on the part of the local Nigerian mission in treating the matter has fuelled speculation that those contemplating the sale of the woman’s property had erected hedges to prevent access to information on the dead woman. That way, according to conspiracy theorists, those hoping to reap where they did not sow could then sell the woman’s belongings at give-away prices to themselves under the excuse that no relative of the deceased could be traced.
Source: Sun News
Sunday, 2 October 2011
The Ongoing Trials of The Late Michael Jackson - Details Missing (Video)
Doctor Richelle Cooper, trauma doctor at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles, appeared as a witness at the trial of Dr Conrad Murray yesterday.
She stated that when Michael Jackson arrived at the hospital in an ambulance with Dr Murray, that she asked Dr Murray a number of questions including what medications Jackson had taken.
Dr Murray replied that he had administered only two 2mg doses of lorazepam (commonly used tranquiliser).
Dr Murray went to to speculate to Dr Cooper that the cause of Jackson's heart failure may have been dehydration, caused by overwork. Dr Murray did not mention that he had given Jackson the anaesthetic propofol, later found to have been the cause of Jackson’s death.
Dr Murray has also told told Dr Cooper that he had witnessed the moment tat Jackson had stopped breathing.However, prosecutors claim that, when that happened, Dr Murray had in fact left Jackson’s bedroom to make phone calls.
Dr Cooper told the court that, when Jackson arrived in the ambulance:
“He was clinically dead. He did not have a pulse.”
Prosecutors claim that there was a gap of at least 20 minutes between the time Dr Murray noticed that his patient was unresponsive, and calling the emergency services.
It is alleged by the prosecution that Dr Murray used that time to cover up what drugs he had been giving Jackson.
Richard Senneff, the paramedic dispatched to the Jackson mansion, also cast doubt on Dr Murray's openness with medical personnel at the time of Jackson's death.
Mr Senneff asked Dr Murray in Jackson's bedroom what condition Jackson had.
"He said, 'Nothing. He has nothing'."
She stated that when Michael Jackson arrived at the hospital in an ambulance with Dr Murray, that she asked Dr Murray a number of questions including what medications Jackson had taken.
Dr Murray replied that he had administered only two 2mg doses of lorazepam (commonly used tranquiliser).
Dr Murray went to to speculate to Dr Cooper that the cause of Jackson's heart failure may have been dehydration, caused by overwork. Dr Murray did not mention that he had given Jackson the anaesthetic propofol, later found to have been the cause of Jackson’s death.
Dr Murray has also told told Dr Cooper that he had witnessed the moment tat Jackson had stopped breathing.However, prosecutors claim that, when that happened, Dr Murray had in fact left Jackson’s bedroom to make phone calls.
Dr Cooper told the court that, when Jackson arrived in the ambulance:
“He was clinically dead. He did not have a pulse.”
Prosecutors claim that there was a gap of at least 20 minutes between the time Dr Murray noticed that his patient was unresponsive, and calling the emergency services.
It is alleged by the prosecution that Dr Murray used that time to cover up what drugs he had been giving Jackson.
Richard Senneff, the paramedic dispatched to the Jackson mansion, also cast doubt on Dr Murray's openness with medical personnel at the time of Jackson's death.
Mr Senneff asked Dr Murray in Jackson's bedroom what condition Jackson had.
"He said, 'Nothing. He has nothing'."
INDEPENDENCE SHOCKER:World oldest preacher says Nigeria may split by 2015 except…(Read Story)
When one considers his age, he or she will expect that president/founder of Christ Gospel Apostolic Church, CGAC, Pa Samuel Akinbode Sadela should be growing weaker and weaker but the reverse is the case. At the age of 111, the world’s oldest preacher and longest serving pastor was on Saturday, August 27, 2011, full of hope and expectations after 79 years on the pulpit.
His dentition is complete, his memory is sharp and his sight has not grown deem but he wears a pair of glasses strictly based on medical recommendation. He resides in a storey building where he descends the stairs once daily to carry out daily routine. With a handshake and some words of pray-ers, he welcomed this reporter to his premises at Soluyi Area of Gbagada in Lagos where the 20 minutes interview was conducted.
Decked in a white attire, with a black cap and a pair of black sandals to match, his smile was articulate and co-ordinated. Papa’s primary concern is soul winning. He forbids the use of church fund to equip himself, as a result, all he owns were gifts from people who believe they have been blessed by his contributions to the vineyard of God. Pa Sadela uses his own funds to develop other men of God who have performed creditably well in their soul winning assignment. He builds homes and buys cars for them to encourage their ministerial assignment.
Papa who was born into a pagan family in 1900 to Princess Adetiye and her husband, Pa Sadela in Ifon, Ondo State, set-tled in Lagos some decades back. The young Sadela left his parents at the age of 14 in search of formal education which his parents could not give him. He confided in Vanguard that an Angel taught him the use of the Holy Bible before he struggled to major out his elementary education solely.
Pa Samuel Akinbode Sadela
In a chat, Pa Sadela claimed that he started his career from The Apostolic Church, TAC, be-fore he later pitched tent with Christ Apostolic Church, CAC under the leadership of late Apostle Joseph Ayodele Baba-lola who he met in 1930.
Working career
Papa, the last child of a family of 12, was over pampered by his parents and that made him a rascal. He completed his standard education in 1925 and worked as a public servant; a tax collector for three days per week and a court clerk twice per week and was always with a team of Policemen.
His baptism
He got baptised in 1930 after his first encounter with Apostle Ayodele Babalola but his baptismal certificate was not ready until 1933. ”I also witnessed Apostle Babalola’s wedding in 1936 at Ilesa, Osun State,” Baba claimed.
His ministerial assignment
Papa started the Okitipupa branch of Christ Apostolic Church in 1935 and two years later, “we travelled to Lagos to meet Pastor Babatope Adegbo-yega, that was the year CAC left TAC. The TAC continued her convention but CAC could not, until year 1942 which took place at Efon-Alaye in 1943, Ile-Ife in 1944, Ibadan in 1945; Ijebu-Ode in 1946; Owo in 1947; Oyan in 1948. I was in Akure as a pastor, so I could not attend but in December 1954, I went back to Okitipupa as a general overseer.”
His childhood days
”I was born and brought up in Ifon. My experience as a child started from my home town in Imoru, Ondo State. My father was an idol worshiper while my mother was a princess of Ifon, both in Ifon. History has it that I was born in the month of August 1900, at a period when the first General Overseer of our church resumed in my town. In those days, the fourth Ajike called Olowo of Owo was the chief interpreter in my church in Ifon.
“He was my uncle who nick-named me ‘Aboyinbode’ meaning a child born at a time when the whiteman visited our town. There were few roads in those days and I left home in 1914 for the fact that my parents refused to send me to school. I was a rascal and my mother gave birth to 12 of us. Being the last born of the family, my parents never consented to the idea of sending me to school and I felt the best way to achieve this was to run away from home,” he claimed.
Papa’s view on Nigeria
”I have said it for the past 10 years that things will never go well in this country until we return to true federalism. I have travelled to some parts of the world and many of these countries operate true federalism which makes them successful. Nigerians have practiced parliamentarianism, president-ialism and a host of others which never worked for good but true federalism will work if we can operate that,” he recommended. He further advocated for state ownership of refineries and power supply, adding that such will bring healthy competition among the federating units and reduce corruption in the country; “if not, the rate of unemployment will be astronomical and our youths will continue to suffer.”
Message for President Goodluck Jonathan
If President Goodluck Jonath-an is here right now, this is what I will tell him; that true federalism will be the best government for Nigeria, else he will continue to labour in vain. That was what I advised late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon before their government was toppled. So also, late Chief Obafemi Awolo-wo and Gen. Olusegun Obasa-njo who agreed and said it can only be achieved through thorough planning. Obasanjo is my son, I told him he would beco-me a president and will run for two terms; but I have not set my eyes on him since he left office. I sent him a note recently which he acknowledged.
Message to Nigerian governors
All the governors are trying but ‘apa aimudele ologbo, ko je ki a mope oun se ode’ (their efforts will not be noticeable until the nation returns to true federalism). Gov. Ibikunle Amosun is hardworking but Mr. Baba-tunde Fashola is the best governor so far. He accomplished what the military government could not achieve, especially at Mushin. He could have gone far if his efforts could be complemented by true federalism. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu also tried his best. He wanted to install electricity but the Federal Government did not give him the encouragement. We cannot remain in darkness and expect productivity, Nigeria is in gross darkness.
On how true federalism could be achieved, Papa said any government can do this if they are interested but the problem is who will set the pace?
Papa’s expectation for Nigeria
I am always bitter that things are not working in this country, but we can retrace our steps. We cannot sit in a place and expect manna from heaven. Electricity can bring a lot of good things into the country. I spend a lot on diesel to get things done. Each state should have a refinery, if this is not done by year 2015, Nigeria will likely split. Our youths are endowed but lack of electricity is a hindrance. Nigeria is a very rich country. I wish Nigerian leaders can hearken to the voice of elders so that the whole world will know that the nation is richly blessed. My expectation is that Nigeria will be transformed.
Source: vanguard news
Woman To Die By Hanging For Killing 9 Year Old Son
On 20 January, 2008 Rebecca Emmanuel lured her son, Ishaya Emmanuel to a bush where she gave him a Maltina drink laced with poison which led to Ishaya’s death after which the convict burnt the corpse.
Rebecca, mother of four who was earlier granted bail by the court and had consistently appeared at the court during her trial, could not get the sympathy of the trial judge Justice Pirogai Ngada who, while delivering her judgement said: “I agree that she has four children and has never absconded from bail but Section 221 of the law under which she is convicted is a mandatory provision of culpable homicide punishable by death. I wish I can temper justice with mercy. But I can’t because she is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”
In one of her confessional statements during the trial, Rebecca had said: “I went to my father’s house and picked my child. We got to a place where I got a poisonous substance at the sum of N20 and matches. I took him to a bush and laced the substance in a bottle of Maltina.
“I made him drink it. After 30 minutes, the boy died and I set him ablaze, so that no one could recognise him and I left for my husband’s house.”
Delivering the judgement, the judge said she was satisfied by the confessional statement made by the accused person.
P.M.NEWS learnt that Rebecca Emmanuel had Ishaya out of wedlock. He was aid to be the product of an illicit relationship between Rebecca and a military officer.
She must have killed the boy because of the trauma she passed in the hand of the unknown military man.
As the matter is, it is not clear whether the convict will appeal the judgement.
Source: PM News via Linda Ikeji
Todays is stephanie okerek's birthday show her some love on twitter @SOkereke
as you have added on year Hope your birthday blossoms into lots of dreams come true! wishing you many more years cheers!!!
October 1 tragedy Man sets pregnant wife, children ablaze (read story)
Man sets pregnant wife, children ablaze
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu
Sunday, October 02, 2011
• Inside the shop where the man burnt members of his family Photo: OKORO NWOSU
• Photo: The Sun Publishing
A middle-aged man, Mr Ndubuisi Egeonu, yesterday in Enugu attempted to kill his pregnant wife and his two male children when he locked them up in his barbing shop and set the place on fire.
The incident which happened at about 11: am at No. 61 Mount Street, Idaw River in the Awkunanaw area of Enugu was said to have come as a surprise to both the pregnant woman and neighbours.
Egeonu popularly known as Sagay, and who is now on the run, reportedly arrived his shop that morning and requested the wife to escort him to a filling station to buy fuel.
When they returned he reportedly tried to drag one of his female neighbours from a nearby shop, claiming she was indebted to him. The effort proved futile as neighbours intervened.
An eyewitness who described Egeonu as an erratic character that regularly beat his wife narrated how they were attracted to the container which served as his shop.
“It was when the fire started that we rushed to the shop and heard voices inside that we realized what happened. He actually tied his wife’s hands, poured petrol into the shop, locked the shop and put the place on fire.
“We rushed and broke the door but by then the pregnant woman and her children had been severely burnt.”
The trio who sustained serious burn injuries from the inferno were taken to the Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu where one of the children who fainted was resuscitated.
Enugu Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ebere Amaraizu (ASP) who confirmed the report said the suspect had not been arrested as at the filing this report, but assured that investigation into the matter was in progress.
I SEE A NEW NIGERIA RISING- PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN
Fellow Compatriots,
On this day 51 years ago, the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national Green-White-Green flag, heralding the independence of our nation. The 1st of October remains a special day for us, for Africa, and indeed the world.
As we celebrate today, we remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of our great country.
That is the Nigerian spirit! For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today in the world.
Our citizens at home and abroad, are making their mark in all fields of human endeavour. These hard-working and committed Nigerians, remain a source of pride to us and a beacon of what is achievable, if we remain focused and determined.
I know that a great number of you are joining hands with me and the Administration, in the great task ahead.
I value all Nigerians. I see our youth who are looking for jobs and yet remain hopeful. I see the farmer, and fisherman, toiling everyday to earn a living. I see the teacher, working hard, to train our future generations, with much sacrifice. I see the market women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps to generate income for their children and families. I see our sportsmen and women training hard to bring glory to our nation. I see our resilience and commitment, as a nation, to defend our democracy and secure our future.
I see every single profession and vocation, making positive contributions to national progress. I value you all!
Together, we shall work for a Nigeria in which democracy and the rule of law are sacrosanct. A country where corruption and its attendant vices, are banished. A country where human life is sacred and respected, and where the rights of the individual are protected.
Nigeria is a young entity in the comity of nations and yet in her 51 years, she has made significant strides in making her presence felt all over the world. Our diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts, in various parts of the continent, have helped to end conflict and avert crises. In sustaining global security, our intervention has been crucial to peace, progress and democracy for the citizens of the affected countries.
The journey to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the civil war, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges. We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.
Today, as a nation, there is much for us to celebrate. We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit.
We celebrate our resilience and ability to turn adversity into hope. We celebrate our culture. For the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.
As your President, let me reassure all Nigerians that I remain resolutely committed to the ideals and dreams of our founding fathers. Let me also reassure Nigerians that I will strongly defend the peace and stability of our nation.
My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders.
We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.
I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.
All leaders and citizens, in every community, must therefore make peace the number one priority of their daily routine. This is because, without peace, no community can realize its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its members.
The current incidents of violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and tranquility in all parts of the federation.
Securing our peace and stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all.
Since I assumed office, as the President of our great country, I have continued to focus my attention on the economy. I have taken several measures to address structural weaknesses which stand between us and economic growth and prosperity for all.
We are growing our economy, to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youth and enhanced prosperity for every citizen. This remains the main focus of my administration.
In a few days time, I shall launch an innovative competition for our young entrepreneurs to come up with ways to expand their businesses, create more jobs, and sharpen their business skills.
Now, it is very clear that without fundamental reforms in the key sectors of our economy, we will not be able to fully unlock our potential as a nation. We must manage our resources more prudently and efficiently. We must provide stable electricity to our citizens to help drive economic activity.
I call on our political leaders to put aside partisan politics, for united action towards the advancement of our nation. We must build together.
Because of the measures we have taken on the economy, our GDP is today one of the fastest growing in Africa. We are currently growing the economy at 7.8%. We expect to sustain an 8% growth rate and a better GDP in the medium term, on our journey towards realizing our Vision 20:2020 goal.
We shall strive to make this growth, job creating and inclusive.
Growth in agriculture and other non-oil sectors are crucial, to help diversify the economy and to generate much needed jobs. Agriculture remains one of the highest priorities in my government’s Agenda for National Transformation. We have set out clear, agricultural, transformation action plans and policy measures, to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, cassava, maize, sorghum and other staple foods.
Self-sufficiency in rice alone will save us the 356 Billion Naira that we currently spend annually importing rice. We will revamp the way we distribute fertilizers, taking government out of distribution of fertilizers.
We plan to reach 20 million farmers with private-sector distributed fertilizers over the next four years. We will improve the investment environment and incentives for the private sector across the agricultural value chains. Our agricultural transformation plan will generate 3.5 million jobs and an additional 20 million metric tons of food.
But we must all show pride in our farmers. We should eat what we produce. The increasing popularity of local products, like ‘Ofada Rice’, ‘Badegi rice’, and ‘Abakaliki Rice’, attest to the fact, that the populace will readily embrace locally grown produce.
We must also take pride in our scientists. This week, Nigeria released 8 new high yielding cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production, across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation.
We have put in place implementable programmes to transform our Nation from an importer of petroleum products, to the regional hub for exportation of value-added petroleum and petrochemical products. We are revamping existing refineries and building three new ones.
We are effectively supporting the private-sector led construction of world scale petrochemical and fertilizer plants. This will for the first time in our history, result in effective monetization of our abundant natural gas resources while at the same time, creating over a million jobs.
Our potential is huge.
We have the requisite market volume.
We have a youthful, energetic, and hardworking population.
The structural and managerial bottlenecks, that have obstructed our economic growth, are being addressed, to unleash the energy and potentials of this nation.
To achieve this, I am determined to ensure that Nigerians have reliable electricity. Our economy will grow faster, and our hard working small businesses will thrive, when we finally fix the power challenges we face. We are fast tracking power reforms, to improve the generation and distribution of electricity.
Already, we are beginning to do things differently. I believe that integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service and fear of God, must be the hallmarks of leadership at all levels.
A nation is sustained by its institutions and systems. I have taken strong measures to improve on governance. It is in this regard, that I signed into law, the Freedom of Information Act. I will further strengthen all institutions, to ensure greater transparency, probity, and accountability at all levels.
Last year, I promised to restore confidence in our electoral system and pledged to deliver free and fair elections. To achieve that, we initiated some electoral reforms and strengthened INEC and other related agencies.
As a result, our April 2011 general elections was adjudged by Nigerians and the international community as the most transparent and credible elections, ever conducted in our country. Indeed, post-election petitions reduced by over 50%.
Let me assure all Nigerians of my resolve to lead our nation into a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous future for our children.
For the time has come, to rise above ethnic and religious divisions;
The time has come, to unite against violence, in all its ramifications;
The time has come, to secure our peace, and unite against suffering, and deprivation;
I see a new Nigeria rising. A Nigeria, that is economically strong. A Nigeria, that takes its rightful place of leadership in the world. A Nigeria, that uses its diversity to reinforce its strength. A Nigeria, we all can be proud of.
This is the Nigeria we need and this is the Nigeria, we all must build.
As we celebrate today, let us resolve to build the Nigeria of our future.
I thank you.
God bless you all.
And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Brandy in Nigeria
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Charly Boy to be a new judge on Nigerian Idol, with new hosts
ACTRESS KATE HENSHAW NUTTAL RECOUNTS HER EXPERIENCES WITH HER ABUSIVE EX-BOYFRIEND
Domestic abuse, also known as spousal abuse, occurs when one person in an intimate relationship or marriage tries to dominate and control the other person. Domestic abuse that includes physical violence is called domestic violence.
Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you, or hurt those around you.
Noticing and acknowledging the warning signs and symptoms of domestic violence and abuse is the first step to ending it.
In a recent interview,star actress Kate Henshaw Nuttal revealed that she was once a victim of an abusive relationship that lasted for several years.
She said; “He was constantly abusing, beating and battering me inside the house and public places. I think there was a time when I walked round with bandage on my leg, courtesy of my violent lover, but that was many years ago,” she recollects.
On why she stayed so long in the affair and nearly got killed by an abusive and violent lover, the former Glo ambassador says: “It’s funny. It’s very ironical because after the beating comes the gifts, the begging, the cries and words like, “it’s your fault, I’d try and change, it’s not me...”
Everybody will now be saying, forgive him, he’s begging. In one of the beatings, he broke my ankle… Na God save me o. I would have died.”
Nigerian President Pledge to Secure Country
The speech aired as massive security was deployed in the capital Abuja in a bid to stop fresh attacks by Islamist sect Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for an August 26 deadly bombing of UN headquarters here.
"My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups from outside our borders," Jonathan said.
There has been mounting speculation over whether Boko Haram has formed links with outside extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda's north African branch.
"We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong," he said.
He said he had put in place a new national security strategy, but did not provide details.
The government in Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer has planned low-key events to mark 51 years of independence from Britain.
Brief celebrations were to take place on the grounds of Jonathan's official residence, with diplomats and top government officials invited to attend.
During last year's independence day events, twin car bombs went off near Eagle Square, the venue where Nigerian officials and foreign dignitaries had gathered, killing at least 12 people.
The main militant group in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, MEND, claimed responsibility for that attack.
A statement this week attributed to MEND threatened another attack at Eagle Square this year, but no events are planned for the venue. The same threat was sent out again on Saturday morning.
Some 10,000 police were deployed to secure the capital city, while soldiers mounted checkpoints along the main roads. Vehicles entering main hotels were searched.
Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of shootings and bomb blasts, mainly in the country's northeast.
It claimed responsibility for the UN bombing in Abuja that killed at least 23 people, one of the deadliest targeting the world body.
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