Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog |
- Tonto Dikeh and Toyin Lawani come for each other...
- 2face Idibia's Ascension album review by Emma Ugolee
- Pic: Let's help save the life of Nigerian doctor who got infected by Sawyer
- Photo: Police arrest man who robs by drugging his victims
- Impossible Fusion - written by Charly Boy
- What is wrong with this picture?
- Former Abia state Gov Uzor Kalu writes about his successor, Theodore Orji, calls him a chameleon
- Heartbreaking pics from Liberia as country battles spreading Ebola epidermic
- Nigerians tricked into selling kidneys in India share horrible tales
- Photos: Two stolen babies reunited with parents in Imo state
- Alexx Ekubo dapper in Jason Porshe at a movie premiere last night
- EFCC Arrest Former Bank Manager for N81million fraud
- Question of the day
- Family of five found dead in Abeokuta
- Sale of genuine Apple devices with internet connection begin at Glo shops
- Jennifer Lawrence reportedly dating Gwyneth Paltrow's ex, Chris Martin
- Are We Entertainers Socially Irresponsible? - Etcetera writes
- Photos: Annie Idibia's fab red carpet look last night
- Oops! Future back with his other baby mama? Looks like it...
- When The Catwalk Came To The ICM
- Ebola experimental drug 'Nanosilver' is a pesticide US warns
| Tonto Dikeh and Toyin Lawani come for each other... Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:07 PM PDT   So here's what happened. Two weeks ago Tonto Dikeh posted a throwback photo of herself dressed in a sequin gold dress and gave styling credit to her stylist and friend, Swanky Jerry Ogbodo. Toyin Lawani saw that particular post yesterday and got mad because according to her, she was the one who styled Tonto and not Swanky. Toyin said she did the styling for a Complete fashion party a few years ago and even shared a pic of herself and Tonto in the gold dress. Looks like Toyin threatened to sue anyone who took credit for her work, because Tonto later posted a pic on her instagram page with the message 'Do I look like I care?". Trust Tonto, she had a lot more to say. Continue...  The pic Tonto posted two weeks ago  Toyin's response   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2face Idibia's Ascension album review by Emma Ugolee Posted: 16 Aug 2014 12:30 PM PDT  .jpg) 2face Idibia's Ascension album reviewed by former TV personality and host of Nigeria's first ever music video countdown, Emmanuel Ugolee. Read below...
b) Making comparison with the "face 2 face" album as every great act gets to deal with the curse of an early great outing in his career. Micheal Jackson chased "Thriller" with every effort till he died. He never touched it for many, if not all of us. Seems same for 9ice, Snoop Doggy Dog, Asa, Bobby Brown, MajekFasheketc So the basis for judgment fair and square had to be : How much of the man we love, could i feel in this album? Did he "fall" the proverbial hand? Would I find home grown and universal appeal worthy of Africa's biggest act of this generation? Can I relate to the sense or nonsense he made? Would I be proud to be a fan when I am done? Now that my head was clear on the basis for a standard analysis, it was time to press play on track 1 1) Go ftMachelMontano : Trying to stay still without rhythmically moving body parts to this song is sheer punishment. Your classic party jam which I think was a strategically smart move to appeal to the critical under 25 audience. Typical plot of a girl in the club pulling all the attention by doing her thing. He also communicated in a language they know so well eg "blow my mind, way you whine, carry go". Glad though that he observed the limits, leaving Hennessey, Ferrari and Versace alone. Then next to Patoranking, can't wait to hear a Machel Montano album. Awesome delivery on this track he served. Great blend with 2face. Generally, a good feel good song. 2) #Aproko : I've noticed 2face's music is influenced by romantic love, governance, human inter-relationships and his personal experiences. #aproko is a clear mix of the last two. For years, I have known Dr Sid to be mild tempered but the only time I've seen the beast in him awaken was because of twitter. Someone had the nerve to tell a man hurt over his dad's demise to "stop ranting and give us hits joor". Like Peter Okoye, 2face got the same medium used to have his family disrespected. Banky's head has had countless trending hash tags. Can you imagine how that must hurt? Well the agony is felt in #aproko. Strong words unveil the disgust 2face feels in his stomach about the trend. Describing the pitiable, backwardfocused, idle state of the cyber bully as unworthy of sleepless nights. He however urges victims to dust shoulders and ignore them because they are just words that shouldn't get to them, even when the words kiss their a**es. Great lesson for all but a celebrities favorite you can bet. This message is served with a warlike sound from Leriq. Not a song for all but on point with content. 3) Holiday! A second feel good song with a little extra ginger. David Guetta and Calvin Harris were the names to pop into my head as I followed the changing drum sequence. The message reminds you of Will Smith's 'Welcome to Miami'. No stress, no work, no worries. Just have fun. This song would effortlessly slide into any house music DJ's mix. While the clubs @ okoko would gladly skip this song, this is heaven for the table top dancing, PiccoloMondo, Caliente going, Ajebur kids and all their action replicating wannabe's. My advice sha is to constantly check your account balance as you swipe your card listening to this song because of its power to inspire flow of Shayo. A good attempt to cater for house music's loving global fans 4) Can't hear you ftVector : Turn up sound for the youngsters. Close your eyes to the beat and you'll see YMCM and YBNL. Now music that be bumping with today's hippies.The kind of sound that extends his life span with the Y generation.Nicely produced. Lyrically, he was just letting personal stuff off his chest. I didn't work too hard to connect but I wasn't sure I could say the same for the average listener because you had to be in his shoes to relate to the pain of having someone always trying to famz with irrelevant topics even when you are just trying to have a good time. Sounds like he gets that a lot in the club. Only money talk would not be bother at that time he says. Vector flawlessly drove the point home with a memorable rhyme scheme and trademark clarity only wished he sounded more personal along the line of 2face's expression. He sounded like the beat was sent to him to voice in a different studio armed only with the topic. 5) The best I can be ft iceberg slim and Rock steady : This sound made me want to do two miles an hour in a convertible with everyone who has ever put me in undue stress without a clue of my personal struggle, watching me roll. Vintage 2face, still on that "I am not perfect, I can only be me, I no send you, I no holy pass" tip. He stresses also on his realness chopping some kpanla aka okporoko and didn't forget to talk about a failing government. Too many messages for one song if you ask me. Iceberg slim slayed his verse even though he had a forth element of flossing added to it. "Do me like masturbation' is not only unoriginal but tired. Rappers should please leave that line alone. Outside that one line, Iceberg was remarkable. Rock steady stuck more to the theme but disappointingly with what was clearly a freestyle verse. If he wrote that, then he should loose his hyperteck jersey. Overall, it was cool 6) Let somebody love you ft Bridget Kelly: 32yrs and above please. Just skip if you started appreciating music from the Terry G, Limpopo era. 90's R&B reborn. Wow! It was refreshing and definitely international stuff right there. Oh Bridget my dear Bridget. Thank you. All I got to say to you for the quality of the blessing you put on this track. Voice control and texture, lyrics, delivery. Thank you. Bridge, I hope they explained to you what it meant to let somebody. "Take You"? No be to take you out o! If you let that happen with Innocent, there's only one possible outcome o! Juorkwaajuju o. 2face didn't fall short at all on all parameters on this superbly produced sound. 7) Kiss of Life: Ok the lover boy is let loose. Brilliant writing.The mature audience still having a ball on this track. Kiss of life is that movie soundtrack that forces you to reach for your partners hand in the cinema. This song would touch you if you've ever had difficulty express love to a crush. Great way with words, lovely midtempo melody. I loved it 8) Hate what you do to me. My favorite song on the album for the following reasons. I haven't heard any song so romantically constructed with such ruthless depth and creativity in the last 10years. Sweet Jesus, this boy outdid himself this time. Then the hook was of the hook. Simple and Sweet. Please tell me that was Carlos Santana on those strings that were pushing me to the brink of sheer madness. No man or woman who has loved an imperfect person can resist feeling this song. "When you are not here there is peace and then, dam! I wanna share it (the peace) with you." The irony in this song is tangible. Heavenly production. Sure winner. 9) Confessions ft Rock steady and DammyKrane : Ok someone call 2face back to 2014. Now he takes us to the Caribbean's and Jamaica when Chaka Dimus and Pliers reigned. The best for me was the hook. Don't think this was the best song to use to show what Dammy could do. Rock Steady was more at home here but clearly now needs a ghost writer. His strength is with his awesome voice and melodic delivery. I enjoyed the memory lane jogg and I am sure many would. 10) Close to where you are: I would have made this a bonus track. Not very striking with the cords of interest it hits. He is however outstanding with the use of words to paint a picture. "Its like no tracks under a train" he goes. Guess 2face has finally settled the issues about his writing contributions to plantation boys. Outside that, the song was just there 11) International loving ftAlmarcha : Clearly for the east African market and the francophone countries but might favorably compete with the dim dimgbamgbam sound in Naija. Personally this was the only song I didn't give a second listen to for the sake of its alien feel to my ears but I am sure lovers of French creole would think me mad. Almarcha rode the beat pretty well. Track 12(BouleyBouleyftShurwayme) and Track 13 (Diaspora Woman ftFallyIpupa) I would gladly put in the same basket as 11 with the non Nigerian appeal but its got proper production for whom it may concern. Sorry, we gotta deal with it, he is no longer a local star. His market demands this and I am proud of how at home he is with the music. Fally on point as usual Track 14) JeJe : Ehen, where ma shrine regulars at? Super Afro beat undying sound. This had to be Egypt 80. Are they still making that movie on Fela? Somebody give them a chance to have the coolest non Fela soundtrack. Diverse dude, this 2face guy. Appropriately, spat all the way in pidginEnglish. The harmonies were rendered by true professionals; they sank and got mixed perfectly with the instruments. As regards the content? 2face again reminding us how much better it is to do your thing and let others do theirs. Maintain your lane jeje.Jejedid it for me. 15) LessePasseft Sir Victor Uwaifo. Ok under 38years of age, please sit down abeg. This one is stuck with the brand of highlife around in the 70's. The funk and groove that tries to make it escape to our new era of high life were arrested by the masterfully played guitar of Sir Uwaifo. You just had to remember the music of yesteryears. While popsie may wave his head to Wizboy, this would awaken his spirit. 16) Ife Dinmaft Tony One week. Jolly party jam that did Tony more good. Proof that he still in form. For 2baba, don't think the impact would be as strong outside the East and South/South of Nigeria. And yea! A song you can "shokie" to. The upbeat tempo and attempt to cut the vocal cord would require full party mode to enjoy. 17) Not a surprise: An extended skit designed to remind us that 2baba's core constituency is reggea, ragga, dance hall and all. Feels like that "let's jubilate" filler. "The Album is done." This is no sarcasm. The song is actually 2mins 38sec long so.... In general, with the Ascension, I was impressed by the fact that he retained his identity. "There are still 7thousand that didn't bow down to Baal". Thank you 2face for not jumping on the band wagon with the urge to make sales by going with thetimes. Thank you for making content a primary point of focus in making this album. Thank you for exploiting the power of music beyond pleasure for a few months after which comes the irreversible glide to oblivion. No wonder at below 40, you are almost 20years old in a business where many have lasted for 8months Great attempt to have something for everybody but beware of the Jack of all trades. With no fear or favor I would give the Ascension 3 and a half stars of 5.XXXx | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pic: Let's help save the life of Nigerian doctor who got infected by Sawyer Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:14 AM PDT  Her colleagues put her pic and case out at a press conference on Thursday, appealing to the U.S Govt to urgently send whatever treatment they have for the Ebola virus to Nigeria to save her life and that of other Nigerians at risk of the disease. Her colleague Mr Okubadejo said on Thursday; "She treated Sawyer because she was patriotic only for her to be infected with the virus. I am appealing to the U.S. government to send whatever medication they have to Nigeria fast to save Adadevoh. She does not deserve to die. So, this is the reason for this appeal,"I heard Dr. Adadevoh was one of those who refused to let Sawyer leave the hospital when he attempted to leave before getting the lab results. She probably saved many lives by doing this despite pressure from the Liberian ambassador. Dr. Adadevoh has spent three decades caring for others and deserves the crusade for the drugs. God be with her. #USsendZmapp. #SaveDr.Ameyo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photo: Police arrest man who robs by drugging his victims Posted: 16 Aug 2014 08:56 AM PDT  The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested 39 year old Akeem Ogunniran, an indigene of Osun State, who allegedly robs jewelries merchants of their jewelries after drugging them. Akeem was arrested after he allegedly drugged two women then robbed them of their jewelry valued at about N7million. Feigning to be a wealthy man, Police say Akeem, after identifying jewelry dealers will invite them to his hotel room, claiming he wants to buy jewelry from them. When they get to his hotel room, he will offer them drinks already drugged and immediately his victims fall under the influence of the sedative, he then absconds with their goods. Police say he'd been arrested several times for similar cases but had managed to escape prosecution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Impossible Fusion - written by Charly Boy Posted: 16 Aug 2014 06:35 AM PDT   A soulmate marriage does not at all mean that you have found someone you match up with on all the cards – on all the issues, on everything. That would be the most deadly dull thing to even imagine. Instead, it means you've found someone and they don't ever want to blow out that little light inside you. And you feel the same way about them. Growing up, seeing my Dad and Mum play the happy couple, holding hands, stealing kisses, made marriage look so easy and beautiful. Hummmm for where? Continue..  Parents shouldn't really worry that children never listen to them, they should worry that they are always watching them. I always had my reservations about 'happily ever after' especially after 3 failed marriages. I always wondered how two strangers can be together for 40yrs, and guess what, I just woke up to discover that I have been with the same woman, the same smell, the same f--k, the same routine for the past 36yrs, damn! Someone form another background, home training, different ideology, IQ, so many things different, if not all. When you are not yet married, people give you reasons why you should get married, as if one could just go to the shop and pick a spouse off the shelf. Even if that was the case, how do you know what you are buying until you take it home. They tell you everything good about marriage and how interesting it can be, but they never promote the down side. "Just marry the right person" is what they always say but 'right' itself is relative. Who is the right person? Dem never born dem joor. In my village they will always say, if one waits to marry someone like themselves, they probably will wait forever. Sometimes I think my wife is too good for me and some other times I feel I should have done better. Get it straight, marriage is no fairy tale. Marriage isn't supposed to make you happy - and satisfied. It's your job to make your marriage happy - and satisfying. Same goes for sex. It isn't supposed to make you passionate and "hot". It's up to you to make it passionate and "hot" - and intimate. I see people getting married every weekend and I wonder if they know what they are getting into. So many are consumed by just wanting to get the title, some by the ceremony, others think it's a safe haven. As usual most of us don't want to do the job, we want it so easy. Hmmmmmmmm, see gobe! The first time I got married, I guess my head was filled with assumptions of what marriage should be like; of-course I was immature and an armature. However, it wasn't what I had assumed and so it failed. The others too didn't work out because maybe I wasn't psychologically and mentally prepared for the mess, crap and bullshit in marriage. I've been married to my wife Lady Diane for years, and the seeming success of our marriage maybe as a result of my experience from my other broken marriages. Let's tell it as it is, marriage is somewhat putting up with a lot of crap and bullshit, and we must have a strong stomach for that. The word 'marry' is fusing two imperfect things together; so how is it possible that two imperfect things are merged? I guess it just means two people willing to be in a mess together, constantly finding a way out. When asked my secret of love, being married for over 36years to the same person, I say , "Diane and I are happily incompatible and I have learnt to live with that. She is an extrovert and believe it or not, am an introvert regardless of how I putout as CharlyBoy. The most important marriage skill is listening to your partner in a way that they can't possibly doubt that you love them. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. It was when I realised that love was forbearance that I had a successful marriage. Both parties have to know and have that. You bear and you keep bearing and you keep bearing. To be a bearer you must be a forgiver, sometimes no apologies rendered. Oooops! Yeah, that's marriage. Rice can never be beans and beans can never be rice, if you like cook them in the same pot they will always be different. They'll still perform their different functions, what you will get is a different taste from the mixture. That's marriage, what you get is not as a result of only you anymore but a mixture of two. You've got to take it as it comes. What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with each other's incompatibility. Marriage is usually a disaster when so many things take the partners by surprise, when things don't turn out as assumed. The good always comes with the bad, so it is with everything in life, marriage inclusive. Any fool can have a trophy spouse. It takes a real man to have a trophy marriage. I bet that getting married is a way to show family and friends that you have a successful personal life. It's like the ultimate merit badge. My late father stayed married to my mum for 60something years. Looking at my stubborn mother, he must have been willing to stomach a lot of crap, but am also aware that my mum swallowed lotta bullshit too. My guys, this marriage matter no easy sam sam. Kai, abi I wan become marriage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What is wrong with this picture? Posted: 16 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Abia state Gov Uzor Kalu writes about his successor, Theodore Orji, calls him a chameleon Posted: 16 Aug 2014 06:07 AM PDT  In a piece titled "The Chameleon in Theodore Orji", former Abia state Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu bared his thoughts about his successor and one time friend, Theodore Orji, calling him a chameleon. In the no-holds-barred piece, Uzor Kalu spoke about how he made Theodore Orji a governor and how his former friend turned his back on him after he became governor. Find the piece he posted on his Facebook below...
Up till this moment, I still do not believe that it was the same Theodore Orji, whom I met at Chief Mark Uka Ogwo's house, that is hauling abuses at me on a daily basis and walking the corridors of power like a colossus. He calls me all kinds of names and uses every available medium to castigate my person. His speech at every public or private event begins and ends with my name, as if he has no other business in governance other than to abuse Orji Kalu. Not only that: he goes about telling all kinds of naked lies in order to soil my reputation. He also goes to gossip to the President and his wife about me, telling them unprintable things, just to disfavour me. He tells anybody he encounters – businessmen and women, politicians, the clergy, traders, farmers, drivers, carpenters, bricklayers, the high and mighty, lowly people, and just anybody – that I am his sworn enemy. He also takes his campaign of hate against me to the Diaspora. The situation is really getting out of hand. The funny part of it is that some of the people he tells lies about me still come back to find out what exactly I had done to the man to make him hate me so much. When I ask them what reason or reasons he gave them for hating me so much, they would say, none. So, what then have I done to Theodore Orji? I am certain by now the President and others he had lied to against me would have known the truth – that the man is a pathological liar and a usurper. No God-fearing person would go to the level he has gone in seeking vengeance, if indeed I had done any wrong against him. I had kept quiet all this while in the hope that commonsense would prevail somewhere along the line. Instead of the man minding his constitutional business of governance and thinking about how to better the lives of our traumatised people, whom he has abandoned chasing shadows, he has spent scarce resources fighting me and everybody related to me. There is no single day that passes that he does not use the state government-owned radio and television to pour invectives on me and my relations. Not only that, he has as well been going about concocting all sorts of tales in order to destroy my reputation and create conflict between me and others. To show how heartless the man is, he has even leveled some grievous allegations against me in order to get at me for no justifiable reason. Is it not sheer wickedness and the height of meanness for him to station his boys at the gates to my houses in Abuja, Lagos and the village to write names of people who visit me and report back to him? He in turn punishes those people. Is that how governance is done? This is a democracy where people have some freedoms, including freedom of association and movement. Since May 2010, when he chose to part ways with me and others (so it seems), he has never ceased insulting me and doing things that are unimaginable and repulsive – all in a futile attempt to paint me black. Unfortunately, all his gimmicks are not working. Instead he has succeeded in making a mockery of himself and exposing how callous and vindictive he can be. Indeed, I have been forced some times to do an introspection, trying to find out what exactly I had done against him to warrant such hatred and malice. But after each exercise, I could not lay my hands on anything. The only sin I know I committed against him was that God used me and the good people of Abia State, who believed in me, to make him governor while he was in prison, contrary to the opposition of some close aides, family relations and confidants against his choice. As I wrote last week, there was no sign at all that he would do any of the wicked things he does these days against my person, because he pretended to be a good man when in essence he was a chameleon. He hid many things about himself from me and put up a very pretentious and false personality for the 8 years he served as my Chief of Staff. How he managed to do it without being detected is something only him can tell. All I know is that I trusted him and treated him like an elder brother and confidant. For the 8 years he worked as my Chief of Staff, I never used a foul language on him or berated him. Rather I treated him with utmost respect and love, even where he had visibly wronged me. I left virtually everything pertaining to the administration of the Government House under his care and direction. He was in charge of almost everything in Government House – from security vote to routine administration. I, working with one of my closest aides then, Victor Oye, and the commissioners, concentrated on policy formulation, key-decision-making and supervision of the ministries. There were no-go areas for him. In fact, he had uninhibited access to my bedroom, my office and every place. Each time he travelled abroad he stayed at my private residences. I recall with deep pain (because he stabbed me in the back) the day he came to the Governor's Lodge to see me. I was in the bathroom. Time was 6.30 in the morning. He had come with a letter for my signature. The letter was urgent as the Attorney-General was to travel to Abuja with it first thing in the morning of that fateful day. When my personal aide drew my attention to his presence I asked him to bring him up into my bedroom. When he knocked, I asked him to come straight on to the bathroom, because of the urgency of the letter, not minding that I was naked. I used a dry towel to hold the pen he brought for me to sign the said letter. Before I signed the letter I told him that now that he had seen my nakedness there was nothing else I could keep away from him. I also told him that if he chose in future to betray me there would be nothing else to talk about. He was jolted by my comment and stood fixated for some minutes, barely controlling his shock. I am sure he recalls that statement each moment he goes out of his way to malign me. That is if his conscience pricks him. There was nothing good I did not do for this man. I gave him his first executive car in life and money to build a befitting house, encouraged him to send his children to good schools, entrusted him with the administration of Government House, including the management of financial resources due to the governor and the Government House. He also rose to the enviable position of director, and later permanent secretary within the same period. I cannot list everything here, because the list is long. I capped my goodness to him by making him governor (by the grace of God and the unflinching support of our people), while he was in detention at the Kirikiri Minimum Prison, Lagos. As I indicated earlier in this article, many people openly opposed his candidature for the position of governor for many reasons. Somebody – a very close confidant of the governor now – approached me then and warned against making him governor. He gave a very grave reason I should never make him governor. Even the then President Olusegun Obasanjo told me pointblank not to make him governor. He struck a deal with my mother to instead choose one of my younger brothers to succeed me as governor in place of Theodore Orji. To all the advice, I said no. I told whoever cared to listen then that Chief Theodore Orji would succeed me. The reason I settled for him was simple: I thought I had groomed him sufficiently enough to step into my shoes and continue the good works we had started. If I had wanted somebody that would do my biddings blindly, definitely it would not have been Chief Orji. I would have settled for one of the more docile aspirants. I saw in Chief Orji humaneness, humility, simplicity, resilience and hard work, not the haughty, stiff-necked, abusive and cruel personality he currently showcases. For those who did not know: we went through hell (figuratively speaking) to make him governor. Imagine somebody in detention, without spending a dime or casting his own vote for himself, becoming governor in a hotly-contested governorship election in a state like Abia! Recall we had to contend with the enormous might of the Federal Government, which had earlier thrown its support behind another candidate. Again, the Progressive Peoples' Alliance (PPA) – the political platform that was used to deliver him as governor – was formed barely four months to the governorship election. So, you can see, he got power on a platter; probably that accounts for the levity with which he holds the office today. Certainly, if he had spent his personal resources and energy to become governor he would have appreciated the sacrifices we made to make him governor. Today the same party (PPA) and the people who delivered him as governor are his arch enemies. He has done many atrocious things to destroy all of us, but God has been merciful to us. I have challenged him on a number of occasions to tell the world what really I did to him to warrant such detestable behaviour and enmity towards me. And if in the end I am guilty, I will apologise. I repeat the challenge through this column. Let him go to any national television and tell the whole world what I did to him to make him hate me with such venom. I have wondered why he has suddenly realised that I am such a bad person. Why did he not resign as my Chief of Staff if he knew I was a bad person as he would want Nigerians to believe? What many people might not have known about the relationship between Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji of Abia State and me until now was how I came to know him. The meeting between us was per chance. Truly, I met him just once at Chief Mark Uka Ogwo's House. For clarity sake, Chief Ogwo was my kinsman and a former Head of Service of Abia State. He is now late. It was Chief Ogwo who recommended him to me after all entreaties for him (Chief Ogwo) to be my Chief of Staff failed. He turned down the offer because, according to him, he was getting old. He suggested, instead, that I appoint Theodore Orji in his place. True to my promise, I appointed Chief Orji Chief of Staff. I remember all the promises he made in the presence of Chief Ogwo: how faithful he would be and how ready he was to stand by me, no matter the circumstances. What has happened at last? He has jettisoned everything good he stood for and now wears the garb of wickedness and hatred. How I wish Chief Ogwo were still alive to testify to all this. I know wherever he is he would be full of regrets for recommending such a chameleonic and deceitful person to me. Did I do anything wrong by telling him to buckle up and deliver the dividends of democracy to our people? This is the grouse he holds about him. But I do not have any regrets whatsoever for telling him the truth. Any meticulous follower of events in Abia State would agree with me that the man has not performed. To show how mischievous he can be he has gone ahead to label some of the projects executed by our administration between 1999 and 2007 as having been done by his own administration. Abians know who did what. He cannot pull the wool over their eyes. All the evil machinations he has designed against me have continued to fall through. When I told him not to go for a second term, having not performed in his first, he went to town with the story that I held him hostage. He claimed that I was the person responsible for his inability to perform. Between May 2010 and now (since he claimed to have been liberated) what has he done to prove that I was the one that held him hostage? It is still the same story of non-performance. Let us face the facts: let him tell Abians what he has done for them to justify the huge amount he has collected from the federation account. What he runs in Abia is a government of deceit, using intimidation and vendetta to cow people into submission. That was why I drew the attention of the law enforcement agencies to the seething anger of our people who have condoned his excesses for too long. There is no question that the people's anger would have boiled over if we had not persuaded them to remain calm. But there is a limit to how much a people can bear. For me, I have nothing to lose by his constant insults on my person. But our people have everything to lose if we all kept silent and allowed the governor to do as he likes. We are honourable people, which was why we had kept quiet all these years believing that one day soon he would change. However, from all indications, there is no sign that he is ready to come down from his high horse. Instead he has continued to acquire new tricks as day breaks. Right now there is total confusion and frustration in our state. People walk about hopelessly, not knowing what the future holds for them. As if to add insult to injury the governor has polarised the state by ganging up with some PDP members to zone the governorship of our party to Abia South. That negates the principle of equity. What has always been the sentiment of recent is that the governorship position should go to the old Aba Zone (which they now call Ukwa-Ngwa) in 2015. Ukwa-Ngwa comprises 9 local government areas: Isiala-Ngwa North and South, Aba North and South, Osisioma, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and West. In real sense, there has never been zoning of the governorship slot in Abia State. By zoning the governorship to Abia South he has succeeded in weeding out the heartland of Ukwa-Ngwaland. How could any reasonable person talk of a governor of Ukwa-Ngwa extraction in Abia State without Isiala-Ngwa North and South and Osisioma? This again shows how myopic and selfish the man can be. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heartbreaking pics from Liberia as country battles spreading Ebola epidermic Posted: 16 Aug 2014 03:00 AM PDT 
 
 
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| Nigerians tricked into selling kidneys in India share horrible tales Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:27 AM PDT  Martins said he had only one reason why he was willing to sell one of his kidneys for that amount: financial independence.
 According to Martins, his friend, Sola, had a link with some individuals in Nigeria, mostly people who were looking for people who could donate kidneys to loved ones who needed to be flown abroad for kidney transplant. A part of the money paid for the kidney would go to the agent, while the other part would be given the donor. As an agent, Sola was called one day in October 2008 by a client who was based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The client was a man whose 27-year-old daughter's two kidneys had failed and needed to be flown to India for a transplant. N1.2m was the amount agreed upon by both parties to strike a deal. Then the agent's work was to look for someone who would sell his kidney and be paid a part of the money put down by the client. Martins was the donor in this case who was hoping he would make N900,000 when the deal was over, but his friend chose to be 'smarter' than him. Instead of being paid, he (Martins) was the one who 'paid' and is still 'paying.' Martins said,
Martins said he learned that if the client were a Yoruba, he would be given a Yoruba name; in this case, the patient and his father (who was the client) were from Rivers State, and so he was given a name that resembled theirs.
MIOT Hospitals in Chennai, India was the destination. Everything had worked very well in Nigeria, but that was just the first step.
Eventually, Martin's kidney was removed and everything seemed to go well, but he later realised his woe had just begun.
On December 3, 2008, Martins eventually got a ticket to be flown to Nigeria and could not believe that he had been made to pass through the horrible situation for nothing. He said, "I tried all I could, and from the money I had borrowed before leaving, I came back to Nigeria.
From the amount he could collect from his agent, Martins was able to set up a football viewing centre, which has since collapsed. Another person with a similar story to tell is Dayo. Not also willing to remain in financial mediocrity all his life, he thought the 'mouth-watering' offer Sola (same agent for Martins) offered him was not too small to sell his kidney. Afterall, he learned in Biology that man needs only one kidney to survive. So when he was approached at the same time with his friend by Sola, he did not bother to consult with anyone before he decided he would sell his kidney for N1m. Almost similar experience with Martins', the same agent, who is also their friend, manipulated him and gave him just N500,000 out of the sum he bargained for. However, the irony of the whole thing is that through some manipulative means, the agent told Dayo that he was also into travelling agency and that he could help him secure a visa to the United Kingdom, but the unfortunate thing was that Dayo did not think twice before he withdrew the whole money he was paid for selling his kidney.
Dayo only allowed our correspondent take his back picture, using his right palm cover the stretch mark. He said his family and friends would identify him if they see his full back. Professor Itse Sagay, a human rights lawyer, believes that organ trade is criminal and must be fought. He said, "Definitely it is an infringement of the law against threat to human life. It is contained in the criminal code. It takes on a criminal hue. This matter should be investigated while the people doing this trade should be punished according to the law." The Ministry of Health's spokesperson, Dan Nwomeh, said Nigeria needs to sign the proposed National Health Bill into law before organ trade transactions get out of hand. He clamoured for the prompt signing of the bill into law for the regulation of organ transplant in the country. He said, "We hear rumours about the trade, but the truth of the matter is that we have a big problem at hand, and this is because there is no law regulating organ transplant in Nigeria. There is no law at all now, and what can the Ministry of Health do when there is no law?
Nwomeh added that the Ministry of Health would continue to canvass for the signing of the National Health Bill into law. Culled from Punch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photos: Two stolen babies reunited with parents in Imo state Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:48 AM PDT  While presenting the rescued babies to their mothers at the Imo state Police command headquarters, the head of the anti-human trafficking unit of the Imo police command, Mrs Elizabeth Okosun, said the police was able to rescue one of the babies after a tip-off by a commercial tricycle rider who suspected the shady behavior of the suspects when they boarded his tricycle about to travel with the baby to another state. Continue....  "The Keke man suspected them that this baby must have been stolen and dropped them at the Young Shall Grow car park on their way to Lagos.Then the Keke man now ran to the police station " Okosun saidOne of fathers of the babies, Mr Daniel Duruji while narrating how his baby was abducted said; "Armed robbers came to the maternity around 6.30am and took away the child with a gun. They shot the gun and took away the child from my wife" For 24 year old student Vivien Iwuji, she said she was deceived by her sister-in-law who promised to help her take care of her child while she studied not knowing the woman wanted to sell her baby  Speaking at the reunion ceremony, the state's police commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, pledged to rid the state of child traffickers. He said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the issue and appealed to religious and community leaders to give the police information if any woman or family without prior notice of pregnancy is seen with a new baby.  Watch the video below... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexx Ekubo dapper in Jason Porshe at a movie premiere last night Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:48 AM PDT    | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EFCC Arrest Former Bank Manager for N81million fraud Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:48 AM PDT 
The suspect allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he shared the proceeds.The loans went bad and the bank had to hold Amushie, who was on the verge of running out of the country before being apprehended by operatives of the EFCC. Details of the loan disbursement showed that he granted a total sum of N57, 979, 024. 07( Fifty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand, Twenty Four Naira, Seven kobo only) to Onezh Oil and Gas Limited; N11, 317, 562.73( Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Seventy Three kobo) to Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 (Eleven Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Two Naira, Forty Eight kobo only) to Ogochukwu Amanda. Amushie is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon is investigation is concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:47 AM PDT  "Is it right for someone to always remove his/her shoes before entering someone's house? In the olden days, people did it in the villages but in this modern day, should we continue that way? I need to know because I was recently embarrassed for not taking off my shoes" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family of five found dead in Abeokuta Posted: 16 Aug 2014 01:47 AM PDT  The dead people have been identified as Aliu Adeboye, his younger wife identified as Iya Aliya and three of Adeboye's six children. Vanguard reports... Findings have shown that, the late Adeboye had two wives and six children before the incident. Further findings have also revealed that, the first wife, and her three children who slept in another room in the same six-room bungalow were alive. It was gathered that the whole community woke up and found out that the five people were dead while the first wife and her children were safe. The people in the community were said to be suspecting a foul play as the two wives were said to always be at loggerheads. Some people alleged that chemical odour was being perceived in the house of the deceased, while some others said the deaths could be as a result of the fumes from the generator at the back of the building. A resident in the area who lived directly in front of the building who pleaded for anonymity said it was the wailing of the first wife that woke up members of the community who found out that the people were dead. A source said, " The wives are always fighting, cursing each other, it got to a stage that the community leader had to intervene." Sources within the community said the first wife whose name could not be ascertained was almost lynched but she was saved by policemen from nearby Ilupeju divisional police headquarters. A zonal leader in the community, Abubakar Olowoorioke, explained that they were in the mosque in the early hours when a woman alerted them about the tragic incident. Olowoorioke explained that he could not move closer to the place because of the shock but added that the smell of chemicals could be perceived from inside the house. The Police Public Relations officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident ,adding that the cause of the death was still unknown in mystery and that postmortem would be carried out on the corpses to reveal the cause of death. Source: Vanguard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sale of genuine Apple devices with internet connection begin at Glo shops Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:13 AM PDT  Officials of Globacom and Core Group held a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, August 14, to formally announce the partnership. Head of GloWorld, Mrs. Titi Ebinisi, said the partnership will enable lovers of premium quality Apple products to enjoy Globacom's super-fast internet service, Glo Bolt. Continue...
She disclosed that with the partnership, "anyone can walk into our signature retail shops, GloWorld, our accredited dealer outlets and Glo Zones in the country to get genuine Apple devices bundled with one year of data powered by Glo Bolt." She added that the Apple devices available at the Glo outlets included iPhone 5s, iPad mini and iPad air, all of which came with Apple's super sharp retina display. She urged telephone users in Nigeria to buy genuine Apple products from Glo outlets across Nigeria to enjoy the premium quality, reliability and speed of Globacom's robust 3G plus network as well as exciting data bundles. Country Manager, Core Group Africa, Mr. Sachin Verma, who congratulated Globacom on the partnership said his company would ensure that customers got quality Apple products at the right prices. Publisher, E24-7, Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi, described the partnership as a great synergy that would add value to customer experience on the Globacom network, while ThisDay's ICT Editor, Mr. Emma Okonji, opined that the partnership would improve the efficiency of Apple phones as it would be aided by the superfast Glo Bolt internet. dRegarded as the World's Most Valuable Brand, Apple has a reputation for creating quality devices for a discerning market. Its products are easy to use and are very reliable. Globacom said with the partnership it had brought the exciting strength of its data network into Apple products for the benefit of telecoms subscribers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Lawrence reportedly dating Gwyneth Paltrow's ex, Chris Martin Posted: 16 Aug 2014 02:05 AM PDT  According to E!, Chris has been quietly dating Jennifer since June, just a few weeks after she ended things with on again/off again boyfriend, Nicholas Hoult. Jen and Chris were spotted partying together as far back as July 1st after she attended his concert in London and sources said they were very affectionate with each other. Gwyneth is said to have moved on too as she is currently dating Glee co-creator, Brad Falchuk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Are We Entertainers Socially Irresponsible? - Etcetera writes Posted: 16 Aug 2014 12:44 AM PDT  Another 'bombshell' article from singer turned writer Etcetera. Read below...
She said "Bros forget dat tin abeg, Naija no dey send tins like dat. After all, Dorobucci was released on the day of the second Nyanya bomb blast and just after three weeks of the first blast? Why didn't they call it insensitive or irresponsible?" She got me chewing on that for a minute as I couldn't think of anything further to say than, 'Ok dear, you are on for 7pm this Thursday.' Isn't it wonderful how the peculiarities of this country knows no limit? Even in entertainment, we are of a different cloth. It's a party with no checks. How possible is it that Dorobucci's release on the same day of a major disaster could go unnoticed even by the legion of entertainment journalists in Naija? Little details as the timing of a song release has never been an issue here as much as it is in other climes. In the US for instance, a simple thing as that can make or kill a song. But how lucky it is for the musicians and music stakeholders in Nigeria that nobody bothers with such. The social irresponsibility of the artist has never been an issue. As a celeb you can slap a police officer on your way to an interview, brag about it live on air and get endorsed by a multinational brand that same day. We are indeed a unique people. Maybe that explains the bulk of unnecessary issues we face as a nation. Let's move further into today's topic before they say Etcetera has started again, with his exaggerations. I am already having akpatoyi (goose pimples) with the thought that some have already called for my excommunication from entertainment's holy of holies for daring to defecate on the alter of Naija entertainment's ecclesiastical sanctimonium . Please forgive me Father for I have sinned against the Cherubims and Seraphins. Inomine patri et fili et spiritus sancti amen. When I mentioned artist responsibility, I am not talking about the responsibility of a musician when he receives money for his studio upgrade, or the responsibility he owes the arts when creating his music note by note or chord by chord. The responsibility I am referring to here is the personal responsibility that he owes to the society, his obligation to his fellow human beings. Some have attributed the nonchalant nature of the Nigerian artist to a deeper societal moral decay that has developed into our entertainment tradition. But it can also be traced to the separation of the artist as an individual from the message of his art. Very little connection is seen between the evaluation of the artist as a person and the evaluation of his works and its messages. You don't have to look very far for evidence of this separationist attitude in the industry. You only just have to look at the artist whose songs about humanity, equal rights and justice touched millions, while he goes to concerts in his Bentley protected by vicious bouncers flogging his fans away; or the ones who preach against corruption but always disobey traffic regulations. In some other countries, the aesthetic judgement of an artist is intrinsically linked to how the artist lives. The concept of an artist's craftsmanship that is not connected strongly to other aspects of the artist's life is unacceptable. As a matter of fact, the ideals of the religious songs that formed the basics of our beliefs in these parts should be integrated into the devotional life of the artist. Why has this hypocrisy flourished in our society? It has become a standard operating procedure for the social interface used by creative artists today. And by accepting this status quo, we ensure its survival. Now more than ever, it is extremely important that people realise that they are personally responsible for their actions. When an artist is able to isolate himself or herself from the messages in their songs, they come chillingly close to the "I'm just doing my job" mentality of a suicide bomber. If you preach nudity and alcoholism in our music, how do you correct an indecently dressed child? In fact, it is through the role models that we hold forth for the rest of society that we can work to change the society. I am certain you can list some artists who are active in trying to shift our culture towards more humane approaches to living. But my emphasis here is not the rhetorical espoused in an artist's song, but the way in which the artist leads his or her life; the practice-what-you-preach idea. But in my opinion, the practising is far more important than the preaching. As creative artists, we are in the business of manufacturing culture. We are helping to define cultural attitudes. Through our works, and more importantly the way we work, we can demonstrate to the rest of the society more desirable and appropriate ways of being human. Why not use your fame and visibility for the betterment of humanity? Some of you might read into what I am saying as a call for some sort of police to crack down on social violators within the entertainment industry. But I am only just insinuating that the methods some of us use to achieve our goals say a lot about the goal itself. Of course I am not advocating for music designed to show off some imaginary golden world that artists live in because I believe that the traditional picture of the artist as the quintessential bohemian existing outside of society, marching to the beat of a different drummer, is tempting, but also false. The very act of we artists placing ourselves outside of society is a profound statement about the society we live in. I don't want you to take this as an attempt of handing down a list of "Thou Shal Nots" or see it as trying to establish a moral yardstick by which arts should be measured. I just want to appeal to our inner sense of right and wrong. We shouldn't model our arts in conformity with some set of political and social preconceptions (unless that's what you want to do). And as you go ahead and create whatever you are inspired to create, you should also think about the model of the society that you are putting forward. Would you want to live there? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photos: Annie Idibia's fab red carpet look last night Posted: 15 Aug 2014 05:02 PM PDT   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oops! Future back with his other baby mama? Looks like it... Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:06 PM PDT  Well, fast forward to August 2014 and it looks like Brittni has gotten the last laugh. For the past few weeks, Brittni, who has a 1-year-old son Prince with Future, has been making it clear on social media that she and Future are once again very close. Not only did she move from Atlanta to LA where Future lives, she is currently traveling with Future and their son on a string of European tour dates and sharing photos on instagram...see the pics after the cut...
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| When The Catwalk Came To The ICM Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:47 PM PDT   The fashion show kicked off at 5pm with the Nigerian National anthem. Moments later, Maybrands, a fashion accessories store in ICM collaborating with a guest designer took center stage. Continue... Models flaunted Maybrand's Emporio Armani, Fossil and Diesel wrist watches and other accessories such as necklaces and bracelets; all stainless steel.   Nike then hit the runway with different themes including football. At the background was a model all knitted in Nike obviously, performing football tricks to engage the audience. The brand showcased bags, polo tops, running shoes and soccer boots, with bright colours and glamour. Then came TM Lewin's turn to showcase its collections. The guys hit the runway first and then the ladies before both sets came out in pairs to emphasize the brand's outfit for ladies and gentlemen formal shirts. Markham continued from where TM Lewin left off after a brief break. The brand which caters strictly for men showcased all its collections from casual wear to smart wear. Moments later, Kidz Country kept the audience spellbound as the model kids stormed the runway in pairs, opposite sexes. It was a sight to behold and it got the audience voluble. The kids gave the adult models a run for their money as they showed no sign of stage fright. It was the ladies turn to be blown away when the female models hit the runway flaunting Mango dresses, pants, tops and jackets. It was intriguing to say the least. US Polo followed and kept up with the momentum as models showcased dresses for the ladies, and Polo tops and jeans for both sexes. Jack & Jones collaborated with Enzzo to give the men the complete look. Both brands showcased their collection with their smart and casual styles. The combination was spot on with Enzzo shoes complementing the Jack & Jones clothing. Da Viva and Mr. Price were the last acts of the day and there was still not a dull moment. Da viva's blend of Western and African styles created a buzz with the audience while Mr.Price's collections for kids and the contemporary young and trendy segment didn't go unnoticed. The kid models, like during Kidz Country's session, caught the attention of the audience.                                         Casabella provided wigs for the models while Bruno's Place, a unisex salon, styled their hair. BlackUp did the make-up for all the models. These 3 stores played an auxiliary but very pivotal roles. There were breaks intermittently as the MC of the day, Jafextra engaged the audience with jokes and giving out freebies to guests. Thiote & the Harmonica and Hakeem The Dream also put on a virtuoso performance to thrill the crowd. 10 winners selected from the raffle draw were announced by Jafextra and the Marketing Manager of ICM, Mr. Eniola Ositelu during the show but none of them were present. All winners will be contacted later. What each winner stands to win include apparels from Nike, Shirts from TM lewin, Shirts and Jeans from US Polo, wristwatches from Swatch, shopping vouchers from Mango, Kidz Country, Markham, Jack & Jones, Wrangler, Mr. Price and complimentary invites for a flash makeover from BlackUp. Da Viva fabrics, Emporio Armani gifts from Maybrands and Casabella goodie bags were already handed out to shoppers earlier during the show. Oher stores that contributed to the show include Melting moments that provided ice-cream and cake, Bheerhugz Café provided cocktails while Shoprite as last year ensured guests were catered for with Chocolate wine from Rubis and finger foods. For more pictures on the 2014 ICM Fashion Show, log on to facebook.com/ikejacitymall and also follow us on twitter.com/ikejacitymall. For all the beautiful trendy collections you witnessed at the Fashion Show, be the first to visit ICM to shop in these stores. They have got all styles displayed and one of the best hands in health and beauty products. ICM remains your choice destination for leisure, entertainment and shopping. Bring family and friends along. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ebola experimental drug 'Nanosilver' is a pesticide US warns Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:27 PM PDT  But now, despite the experimental drug getting approval for use by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is claiming that Nanosilver is a pesticide From Reuters The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it has become aware of products being sold online that fraudulently claim to prevent or treat Ebola. The FDA's warning comes on the heels of comments by Nigeria's top health official, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who reportedly said earlier Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos, the country's capital, will receive an experimental treatment called nano-silver. Silver has been used as an antibacterial for centuries. Tiny silver particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help block odors caused by bacteria and mold. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers nano-silver a pesticide. Manufacturers of products that contain it must register them with the agency. Nano-silver is also sometimes sold online as a dietary supplement even though Danish researchers found in a recent study that nano-silver can penetrate and damage cells. The FDA regulates dietary supplements and said in its statement that "by law, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure disease." The agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola claims. "Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims or face potential FDA action," the agency said. The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa has claimed 1,069 lives so far. Most have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria has confirmed 10 cases of the disease and four deaths. |
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