Playing Igala in Isreal

A play by Emmy Unuja Ikanaba Idegu, a professor at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, recently thrilled an Israeli audience. This was on Tuesday, October 16, at the ZOA Theatre, 26 Eben-Gevirol Street in Tel Aviv. The play, The Legendary Inikpi was staged as a command performance during the commemoration of the 20th years of the restoration of diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Israel as well as the celebration of Nigeria’s 52nd independence anniversary.

Performed by the Israel-based African Israeli Stage, the play is about the war between the Igala and the Benin people from 1515 to 1516. History has it that the Ata Igala (the Igala King), Ayegba Oma Idoko was a bosom friend to the Oba of Benin to whom he always sent eunuchs for his palace. Somehow, a misunderstanding ensued and soured this cordial relationship. The Ata Igala thought the messengers he sent to his friend the Oba were captured by the Oba preparatory to taking war to Ida the traditional and administrative headquarters of the Igala kingdom and if possible, annex Igalaland.

The Ata Igala, Ayegba Oma Idoko consulted the oracle and the ancestors divined that nothing short of the life burial sacrifice of his most cherished child, Princess Inikpi will suffice. Historically, the Ata Ayegba Oma Idoko was said to have resisted the oracle divination and its demand for a considerable length of time until Princess Inikpi got to hear. She walked up to her father and agreed to offer her life via the life burial sacrifice to save both her father and the entire Igala kingdom from the fierce battle ahead. Agonizingly, Ayegba succumbed to the ancestors’ demands and Inikpi’s agreement. Princess Inikpi was thereafter buried alive by the bank of the River Niger at Ida where till date her statue stands at the very spot of the sacrifice. After the sacrifice, the Benin forces were crossing the River Niger to Ida to battle and annihilate the Igala people when they saw the town in flames. What was the need of taking war to a burning people and town they thought, and went back home. The Ata Igala, Ayegba Oma Idoko and the Igala people lived in peace thereafter. Using this story as his historical material, Emmy Unuja Ikanaba in the play graphically represents this unique aspect of the Igala history and he calls to question all over the imperative of selfless sacrifice for the generality of a people.

Idegu, professor of indigenous performance and playwriting, is an advocate of the study of Israeli theatre in Nigeria. Even after about three decades of theatre practice, it was not until December 2008 when he was invited as guest to the most popular Israeli theatre festival, the Acco Theatre Festival and to also present a paper at the Theatre Studies Department, University of Tel Aviv, that he heard or read anything about what he terms the “colossally rich and vibrant Israeli theatre practice”.

While in Israel in 2008, he interacted with a lot of his professional colleagues and attended several live stage productions, films and street/community theatre performances. During the said visit Professor Idegu gave out copies of his plays to quite a number of people. According to him, this way, he was exporting his plays including The Legendary Inikpi, Omodoko, and Tough Man that all based on the Igala history, tradition and culture. It was also during this visit (as well as the gift of The Legendary Inikpi to quite a number of Israelis) that the African Israeli Stage translated the play into Hebrew and performed it with English sub-titles on Tuesday, October 16.

The cast was composed basically of Israelis with two or three Israelis of African descent. The actors were Kais Nashif, Netzanet Mekonen,Hadar Levin, Liad Frank, Uri Sagi, Vincent Adeyinka, Omer Cohen Eden and Idit Biney. The musicians were Pascal Izik Neuton, Ophir Baron, Pierre Shain and Milo. The stage and costume designer was Tali Itzchaki. Light Designer was Shachar Verechzon. The multimedia section was made up of Liad Frank, Yoni Cohen and Gai Aisner while the translation from English to Hebrew was done by Lihi Barzel-Melamed. It was directed by a vibrant Israeli director called Yaffa Schuster.

The concept of sacrifice resonates with an Israeli audience. Just as Inikpi gave her life for the Igala people, several Inikpis have symbolically given their lives and are still giving their lives for Israel to survive.

The audience which consisted of Nigerians, Israelis and other foreign nationals was very receptive. In the audience were diplomats of other nations led of course by the Nigerian Ambassador to the State of Israel, David Oladipo Obasa who spoke very well about the play. Buttressing the selflessness of Princess Inikpi, he told the audience the imperative of this history to the Igala Kingdom, to Nigeria and of course the universality of the message.

The production of course was dogged by cultural challenges. Hence there was the need for directorial discretion in the interpretation of text outside of its immediate Igala setting. Within the Igala context of the play, for instance, a woman Ohioga Ata can never be the ifa consultant. But in the production, a powerful woman Ohioga Ata stunned the audience with her superlative performance.

William Sisters in Nigeria....

The world-famous tennis superstars, African-Americans Venus and Serena Williams, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, South West Nigeria yesterday to commence their eagerly-awaited tour of the most populous country in Africa.
Since the sisters, 32 year-old Venus, and 31 year old Serena “broke the mould” by excelling and dominating their peers in a sport previously generally regarded as a ‘white man’s’ sport, numerous organizations, corporate bodies, ‘Members Only’ Sports Clubs, political parties, and privileged individuals had always raised the hopes of the Nigerian populace, who have always desired to welcome and identify with one of the world’s most incredible success stories, not just in sport, but life in general.
Not satisfied continuing to watch the worldwide exploits of the amazing sisters on Tv, Nigerians, who on numerous occasions had been promised an opportunity to see the celebrated sisters live, have had such hopes dashed, such that many Nigerians took the recent announcements of the historic visit of the tennis superstars, with a pinch of salt.
Politicians, either at partisan politics level, or Social Club level, have been known to include a purported arrangement towards bringing the Williams sisters to Nigeria, in their election manifestos, only to dash such hopes once they were elected into political offices. That’s just the way it is as rock & soul singers Phil Collins & David Crosby would have put it.
The other day, two weeks ago in fact, a taxi driver who I am sure must be a university graduate, judging by his fluent and impeccable use of the English language, his clarity of thought, and diction when opening up a discussion with his client. Once he recognized me, he said to me, “Good afternoon, sir. You must be Deacon Ayo Ositelu, the famous sportswriter, and huge fan of the Williams sisters… But sir, with due respect to you, why do you people always raise the hopes of Nigerians promising to bring the Williams sisters to Nigerians, when you know full well that it’s all a farce in the end?... Why do you people make promises that you know you would not keep?”
The eloquent taxi driver went on and on. One thing I gathered from his rants, however. He is not the typical Nigerian, who believes that sports begins and ends with football, even if football has become a ‘religion’ in Nigeria, and elsewhere in mankind. He proved to be a big fan of tennis as well.
Mercifully, knowing that I was in for a long ride to the airport (no thanks to the perrenial traffic jam in Lagos), he allowed me to get word in, and contribute a little to his ‘monologue.’ First, I apologized on behalf of the ‘big talkers,’ and then assured him that this one is for real.
Again, as the duo of Phil Collins and David Crosby might have added, “things will never be the same.”
I assured my new ‘friend,’ who has since then contributed his opinion on many of my tennis reports, “I really do not know those people who had helped lift their egos with the failed promises you were talking about, even though I wish to apologise for all that misinformation of the past.”
“Believe me when I say that, by the special Grace of Jehovah God, the Williams sisters will land in Nigeria precisely, on Wednesday, October 30, 2012 for a tour of Nigeria,” I assured him, adding that “the visit would be climaxed by an Exhibition Match between the visiting sisters on the Lord Rumens Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Race Course, Lagos.”
“Are you sure sir?,” the cab driver screamed in obvious delight and anticipation. He was so happy with my assurance that he refused to take the agreed fare from me, for such a long ride from Lagos Island. When I insisted on paying, he drove off almost apologetically. I am sure the tennis-loving gentleman would not be driving his cab on Friday, October 31, 2012.
The significance of the visit of the sisters could not be overemphasized, because the visit has the prospect of availing tennis faithful in Nigeria and neighbouring countries the opportunity of finally having the world’s best players ply their trade before their very eyes, at what will surely be a filled-to-capacity Lord Rumens Centre Court, the best tennis facility this side of the Equator. The last time Nigerians watched the world’s best players was in February, 1975 when the WCT brought superstars like Arthur Ashe, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors, Stan Smith & John Newcombe.
The visit of the Williams sisters will also convince Nigeria’s sports officials and thousands of parents everywhere of the need to expose their children and wards at a very early age to tennis, in a profession in which many a player, male or female, could one day compete with the best from all parts of the world.
The example, which the massively successful careers of each of the Williams sisters has the potential of one day producing youngsters who would bring honour to their fatherland (or motherland if you will), and equally importantly to fulfil individual dreams of becoming the best they can be.
Hopefully, with the visit of the Williams sisters, who have earned more than $80 million in prize money alone (excluding tens of millions more on various product endorsements) won multiple Olympic gold medals, FED Cup titles etc in their careers, Nigerian Federal and State governments, as well as corporate bodies, sports philanthropists, parents, sports, administrators, coaches, and most importantly boys and girls who actually should have started hitting balls at the age of five or six, would be convinced that careers can be made of tennis.
The theme of the Williams sisters visit, according to the organizers is: “Breaking The Mould,” and there is no better example to demonstrate the fact that no mountain is high enough to prevent anyone from succeeding in his or her chosen discipline.
The Williamses have never hidden the fact that they, like most of the Nigerians they are visiting, also came from a humble background, in Saginaw, Los Angeles District in California. They were faced with all kinds of barriers and disadvantages, but through the dream, hard work, sacrifices and determination of their parents, Richard and Oracene, complete with their own seriousness and hard work, they have been able to reach the pinnacle of their profession, and even stay there for over a decade and a half.
From tennis facilities, or lack of them, at Public Parks in poor neighbourhoods called the projects, which were the only training infrastructures available to the poor, in contrast with their more privileged peers who attended expensive Tennis Academies in America, first Venus, the tailblazer, and her doting younger sister Serena, rose from the Public Parks to dominate the world.
When at the age of 16, Venus reached the final of the US Open, but then lost to the now legendary Steffi Graf of Germany, she became the first African-American since Althea Gibson in 1958, to reach a Grand Slam final.
Two years later at the same Grand Slam event her younger sister, Serena, at the age of 17, and seeded seventh, surprised the world, including her own self, by defeating fourth seeded Monica Seles in the quarter-final, 2nd seeded Lindsay Davenport of USA in the semi-final, and number one seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland to win her first Grand Slam Singles title. It was the first time since Althea Gibson in 1958, that an African-American female player won a Grand Slam event.

On her part, Venus won her first Grand Slam Singles title at Wimbledon in the year 2000, and repeated the feat in 2001. The year 2000 was a particularly unforgettable year for the senior Williams (Venus), as she won the US Open in the same year, and then went on to win double Olympic gold (in Singles and Doubles) at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Australia. In 2001, she successfully defended both Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Venus, was the first of the sisters to be ranked world number one, on February 25, 2002, again thus becoming the first African-American to achieve this feat since Althea Gibson 44 years before (1958). She has won 44 WTA titles, including seven Grand Slam Singles titles.
Serena, who has never made it a secret to try to achieve everything her older sister achieved, became world number one in 2002, and went on to win what she fondly called a Serena Slam, meaning a career slam of winning all four Grand Slam Singles in a row, but now in the same calendar year.
This year, at the age of 31, Serena won Wimbledon (her fifth just like Venus), US Open, London 2012 Olympics double gold (in Singles and Doubles).
The sisters will today at the Ikoyi Club 1938, conduct a Tennis Clinic to accredited tennis youngsters from across Nigeria.

Lagos to teach Chinese Language

The Lagos State House of Assembly was on Tuesday divided over the proposed introduction of Chinese language in the state’s school curriculum. It subsequently summoned the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, to appear before the House on Tuesday next week. The representative of Ajeromi-Ifelodun in the Assembly, Mr. Abdulbak Balogun, had drawn the attention of the House to a statement credited to Oladunjoye over the introduction of Chinese language to public schools. Balogun said, “Why Chinese language in our public schools? If we want our children to learn Chinese language, why not in the university where they learn linguistics?”

Another lawmaker, Mr. Rotimi Olowo, wondered the relevance of the language to the socio-economic development of the state and the country. He said, “Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages should be made compulsory instead of the Chinese language.” However, another lawmaker, Mrs. Lola Akande, said the introduction of Chinese language was not a bad idea because China is the second largest economy in the world and also regarded as super power in terms of technology advancement. She said, “The introduction of Chinese language would not disrupt the school curriculum, rather, it will strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and China.” The Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said there was the need for Nigerian students to learn as many languages as possible. He added that the introduction of the Chinese language would not have any negative impact on the students. He said, “Most of the countries I have visited, you see a child of less than 15 years speaking about three or more languages and this has not prevented them from learning their local languages as well. “The introduction of Chinese language would not affect other languages we speak.  It is good for us to learn as many languages as possible.” He directed that the commissioner should brief the assembly on the methods and preparations for the introduction of the new language in schools.

Stolen Kidneys

=> Abubakar with officals of the Bauchi State Government

Abubakar Buba is a patient of the Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, Abubakar Buba whose two kidneys were removed by fake doctors  is on dialysis machine,the survival of Abubakar is further threatened by shortage of funds and intricacies  Looking at him from a close range, Abubakar Buba, a 25 year old Fulani boy from Bununu village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State is not a happy man. He has swollen legs, face, and arms. His eyeball looks hollow in their sockets. He breathes with the speed of time. He can manage to walk, but just a few steps. For now, his life has no movement.

 Lying critically ill on his bed and sometimes stuck to his wheel chair at Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi, Abubakar says, “It’s not my wish to die, but now I have no kidney”.  On August 15, 2012, Abubakar Buba complained of sudden headache to his father. Together with his father, Mallam Ahamdu Buba they inquired about the best hospital to get treatment for Abubakar.  They were directed to a private clinic, Aminchi Hospital located at the Yakubu Wanka area of the metropolis. Unknown to them, they were in a wrong hand.  At the clinic, both father and son met one Mijinyawa, who introduced himself as, “Dr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi, the Medical Director.”  The pseudo Medical Director performed a surgical operation on Abubakar in the company of another accomplice named Yusuf Mohammed Zangina. With the surgical operation, they removed Abubakah’s two kidneys and left him with nothing to live a normal life. But, investigation later showed that the duo of Mijinyawa and Yusuf are not medical doctors, but nurses.  They were later arrested by the police and have since been in detention.

 One month after the two kidneys were removed from Abubakar THISDAY visited Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua Dialysis Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital in Bauchi ,the hospital  where Abubakah has been bed-ridden  and the revelations are shocking. Presently, he is surviving on dialysis machine on which he has to undergo treatment for at least three times a week ,and it is very expensive for poor Abubakar whose parents are peasant farmers trying to make ends meet. But, all these while his expensive medical treatment is being shouldered by the League of Friends, a Non-Governmental Organization in the state. Now, the only hope for Abubakar to survive, according to his doctors is for him to have an immediate kidney  transplant  and this will take him to India at the  cost of about N5.1million naira. Good news for Abubakar as the Bauchi state government in August this year donated N3.5million equivalent of $22,000 US dollars for the treatment, while the remaining balance is still hanging with no clear idea where to get the balance of N1.6million

 However, three weeks after the state Government presented the money, the patient is still lying critically ill on his sick bed in Bauchi, because his family is still battling to raise the remaining balance of the total amount needed for the transplant in India. The Director of Administration for Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, Alhaji Sadiq Ibrahim in an interview said that, “we need the remaining money, and the patient now is currently facing many difficulties in terms of feeding, even the money to feed him in the hospital is becoming difficult. And the major problem is no one knows the exact date that he will be flown out to India for the transplant’’.

 According to him, “initially, the families of the two medical personnel that removed the two kidneys of Abubakar intended and offered to pay the total sum of N5. 1million required for the treatment, before the intervention of the State government.  Now the government did not pay all the amount required and we have heard nothing from the suspects, but when we investigated the reason for their silence we heard that their lawyer asked them not to pay the amount because paying the amount is an admission of guilt.”  Although the  cash donation of $22, 000 dollars equivalent to (N3.5 million) presented to his father, Mallam Buba for kidney transplant in India by the Bauchi State Government brought a ray of hope for the ailing Abubakar, the shortage of fund means Abubakar remains in the situation of life without kidney. Ibrahim stated further “We appreciate and thank the Bauchi State Government for the kind gesture. We feel it is its responsibility to take care of its own citizens.”

 Ibrahim however expressed concern that the N3.5 million released for Abubakar’s  medical trip to India would not be adequate as it would not cater for the transportation and accommodation of the patient, medical personnel, two or three kidney donors and a relative of the patient that would accompany Abubakar to India. He explained: “It appears we will still go back to the State government to request for more funds based on investigation which had been finalized. We still require about N1.6 million to cover air ticket, feeding and other logistics. The patient will be taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano for kidney compatibility test between the donors and the patient to see how compatible their kidneys would match with the patient. This requires about N216, 000 excluding logistics.  All in all we require N5.1 million.”  But in his response to the concerns of inadequate funds for Abubakar’s treatment, the State commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Mallami insisted the Government has done all it can to help the situation. “It is my prerogative as the commissioner of health to know the details of the money and how it was calculated and I know for a fact that we at the moment have a patient who had kidney transplant through the same process from Bauchi State at exactly the sum of money which we have given for Abubakar’s transplant, If somebody has a contrary opinion that is his own opinion. The money is enough to take the patient for his transplant. I am not to go into the details.

 If you wish you can travel to India on a first class air ticket and go and stay in five-star hotel, which is possible. But If I want I can travel in economic class air ticket for my health, go there and stay in a three star hotel without any problem and come back and most of us have gone to India.”  He said. The health commissioner also said that the incident was a wake-up call for State government which has the sole responsibility of regulating health practice in the state to strengthen its monitoring and supervisory mechanism, stressing that teams have been established to carry out periodic supervisions in all the three senatorial districts to report back to the ministry.  “This is not only in private clinics but government clinics to keep a record as to how the standard of medical practice is being run and maintained. We are now restructuring the whole process because it means there are areas that there are gaps where we need to address so that there will be no re-occurrence and threat to public safety in the future”  On efforts to ensure that the perpetrators of the evil act were brought to book, Dr Mallami, assured: “I am told that three suspects were arrested and questioned by the police and are now in court.  You must understand that there is a criminal investigation and then there is a professional misconduct investigation going on side by side in this case. Criminal investigation has almost been concluded and the suspects have been taken to a magistrate court in Bauchi and have been lammed with charges on attempted homicide. What I can comment on is the professional misconduct which is our responsibility.

 Our committee requested for one more week because of the delicate nature of the case to complete the assignment. They have not finished their assignment. They have access to the suspects in their detention cells and other stakeholders and I can tell you that justice will be done in Abubakar Buba’s case.” As part of the impasse in Abubakar’s treatment, Ibrahim further disclosed that the patient was taken to Kano as a part of the process for kidney transplant to test the kidney of donors to know which one that will match his, but the test was not carried out as expected because the officer that will take the sample was in London, “so now we will take him to Ile Ife for the test even after the test we don’t have the remaining money to take him to India”, he says.

 InvestigationS shows that the stalemate being experienced in helping Abubakar to live a normal live is that everyone is trying to exonerate himself from the blame , the state government pay the medication and accommodation without transport, Nigerian Medical Associations exonerated self saying the persons that removed the kidneys were not Doctors but theater nurse,  while a friend to the persons who removed the kidneys argued that Abubakar has kidney problem when he was born 25 years ago and the medical personnel that did the operation removed the two kidneys in error. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Bauchi State Chapter investigative Panel has disclosed that the person who allegedly removed the two kidneys of the 25 year old Abubakar is not a medical doctor.  Chairman of the Panel, Dr Magaji Dachi who disclosed this when he submitted a report to the State Chairman of NMA over the removal of the two kidneys of the patient in Bauchi said “the removal of the two kidneys of the patient at an operation in a private clinic was performed not by a doctor, not under the supervision of a doctor, not under the authority of any doctor and not with the knowledge of the Medical Director of the clinic , the operation was carried out by two theatre nurses working in the clinic”

 Dr Dachi said their committee has condemned the act hoping that judicial action would bring an end to unnecessary misadventures on human lives in the state, adding that the NMA as the professional body of all doctors cannot afford to watch and keep silent on this.  Receiving the report,  the Chairman  of the State’s NMA, Dr Yusuf Abdu Misau advised the people to know the type of doctors they will patronise since there are about 400 qualified doctors serving in government and private health institutions in the state and over 35,000 NMA members across the country.  Yusuf said the union would implement all the committee’s recommendations in earnest and pledged to deal with any member of the union found wanting.  He commended the State Government and the Police for their intervention into the case and urged them to maintain the tempo.    The life of Abubakar, the only son of his father remains in a hanging balance between death and life, except a quick action is taking to remedy the situation.

...culled from Life and Style 

ENUGU STATE’S MONUMENT TO PROFLIGACY

ENUGU STATE’S MONUMENT TO PROFLIGACY

 Sullivan Chime of Enugu State recently announced that his government intends to build a “new and befitting” state secretariat at a cost of N13.6 billion. As a proof of his seriousness with the proposal, the governor has already authorised the demolition of the existing secretariat complex in the state capital.

 While nobody begrudges the governor the right to construct a new administrative edifice for his state, what we do not understand is the compelling need to commit huge resources to such a project, especially at this time. For a state that is presently mired in deep financial hardship, it is difficult to believe that constructing a new secretariat should be on its priority list. Even then, to spend a whopping sum of N14 billion on a project that is not income generating when there are more issues demanding attention, does not appear to us as a wise decision.

 We are not in any way setting priorities for the governor. However, it is a well-known fact that Chime, who was a senior member of the previous Governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration in Enugu, had earlier cancelled the construction of an international conference centre being built by his predecessor on grounds that he could not find money for the project which was already at 60 percent completion stage. Questions will now be asked as to what informs his own white elephant project after five years in office and where he will find the money for it.

 Critics of the proposed new secretariat, especially the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Enugu as well as some civil society organizations do not believe that there is anything wrong with the existing secretariat. They argue that the present structure built in accordance with international best building standards is still very much solid. They therefore find it difficult to understand the justification for this idea. According to the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), a new secretariat complex is not a priority programme for the government or the people of Enugu state, but rather an attempt at “pouring salt into a soak-away pit.” The pertinent question most rational people ask is: In a state where retired teachers are owed up to 27 months of their pension areas, what is so urgent about a secretariat that would gulp N14 billion?

 We do not think it makes any economic sense that a government which could not continue work on completion of a far less expensive project for alleged lack of funds should turn around to borrow such huge amount from banks at prime rate for a prestige project whose only purpose is to serve as a legacy edifice, something for which to remember Governor Chime’s era. It is our considered opinion that the amount to be spent on the proposed new secretariat, if properly deployed elsewhere, could go a long way in making a difference to the people of Enugu State. Even more curious is the haste with which the governor and the House of Assembly are pursuing a project which was not originally provided for in the state’s budget for 2012. This undue haste has led to the accusation that the new secretariat complex is designed to achieve other unstated purposes. Yet there is no guarantee that the project might not even, at some point, be abandoned.

 With critical areas of social needs like education, creation of jobs and development of infrastructure begging for attention, we do not see the need for the construction of a new secretariat. We therefore lend our voice to those who argue that this is a monument to waste and that the idea be shelved in the overall interest of the people of Enugu state.

Culled ....Thisday Newspaper

Nike Oshinowo, Former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Causes Distractions In Church

The leggy queen of beauty, Nike Oshinowo, former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, for those who know her too well is a paragon of beauty inwardly and outwardly.

This tall, sexy and ever-radiant woman of essence, who is not just beautiful but also intelligent, has opened up on the reason why she does not go to church despite the fact that the word of God says we shouldn't forsake the gathering together of holy fellows. 

The reason behind this, as we are made to know, is because of unnecessary attention her presence often causes whenever she steps into any church.

 The former beauty queen’s decision was exposed in a TV programme she was featured in not too long ago one part of the secrets she shared about herself is why she does not have a place of worship and the reason why she prefers to commune with God inside the four corners of her house.

 Hear her explanation, "anytime I enter a church people are always quick to notice me and some may not even concentrate on the service anymore as I always become the center of attraction in such cases. And this also distracts me. Therefore I have preferred to stay at home and worship God, rather than to keep causing unnecessary distractions in church."

 When asked if her husband, Dr. Soleye does not complain about this resolution of hers, she explains that he’s comfortable with it and whenever he attends a church service he always comes back to meet her at home.

Her Excellency, the Permanent Secretary

Like her or not, Patience Faka Jonathan, wife of Nigeria’s President is one woman who loves to hug the limelight. Either for good or wrong reasons, the President’s wife is someone the media cannot be tired of.

As hilarious and unbelievable as some of her faux pas may sound, they have become quotes that may yet immortalise a woman who only last week was promoted to a permanent secretary in the civil service of Bayelsa State. Again, like most things associated with the First Lady, her appointment as permanent secretary may have generated a storm.

Soon after her appointment by Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa State governor, was announced on the radio by the Office of the Head of Service, Bayelsa State, controversies had swarmed around it like bee to honey. For one, many wondered if the state governor had any power to appoint the First Lady as a permanent secretary. And as if to pre-empt such questions, the statement announcing her appointment had said that, “by the constitutional power conferred on the state governor, Seriake Dickson, in section 203 sub-section 2c, Dame Patience Jonathan and seventeen others have been elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary in the state civil service.” The section of the constitution referred to in the statement gives the state governor the power to appoint people into positions of permanent secretary, Office of the Head of the Civil Service and heads of parastatals and agencies of government. It also provides that such persons would have to cease from holding such offices when the governor who appointed them ceases to hold office too.

That settled the next question that agitated many minds across the country was the proprietary or otherwise of the appointment of the First Lady. In this case, a civil servant in the employ of the Lagos State government who pleaded anonymity argued that the appointment though supported by the constitution, is not right and is capable of killing the morale of civil servants.

He insisted that under normal circumstances, the position of a permanent secretary ought to be reserved for career civil servants and should be attained through years of service, experience and seniority.

Although the First Lady was said to have served in the Old Rivers State civil service before being transferred to Bayelsa State civil service after the state was created in 1996, there is no record of her serving beyond May 29, 1999 when her husband became the deputy governor of Bayelsa State. Her published profiles have so far indicated that she was only in the civil service until her husband’s election as deputy governor. In the same vein, her published profiles never indicated that she was on leave of absence from the state civil service before re-emerging last week as a permanent secretary.

This, says the civil servant the magazine spoke to, is simply symptomatic of the aberration that state governors have brought to bear on the civil service. He said over the years, state governors have continued to appoint people from outside the civil service into position of permanent secretary. “The governors feel they can do anything and civil servants cannot challenge them because they can be sacked,” the source said.

Beyond legal arguments, Jonathan’s appointment as a permanent secretary can be traced to the discretionary powers of Dickson who apparently took the decision more for political reasons. That is the interpretation of a lecturer. “Good thought from Governor Dickson, he's learnt from the mistakes of his predecessor by promoting the special-adviser-at-night to President Goodluck Jonathan,” says Jassie Akinwole of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.

On the other hand, Ethel Reuben-Odoyi, a public commentator, sees nothing wrong in the First Lady working as a civil servant and getting promoted. “Please my fellow Nigerians let’s be constructive on issues and not to attach sentiments. The office of the First Lady has no constitutional role in Nigerian constitution or any monthly allocation. There are leaders in the world whose spouses are engaged in normal office jobs, so if the First Lady is still working as a civil servant and she is due for the appointment then nothing is wrong with her appointment,” she said.

Indeed, Jonathan will not be the first wife of a Nigerian Head of State to hold normal jobs. Justice Fatima Abubakar, wife of Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria’s former military head of state held on to her job as a judge while her husband was in office. There was also the case of Victoria Gowon who continued her job as a nurse after her husband became the military head of state.

Born in Port Harcourt, Patience Jonathan earned her school certificate in 1976, and passed the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, in 1980. In 1989, she obtained the National Certificate of Education, NCE, in Mathematics and Biology from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt. She then proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt and studied Biology and Psychology.

Jonathan started her career as a teacher at the Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt and Sports Institute Isake. She then moved to the banking sector in 1997, where she established the first community bank in Port Harcourt called the Akpo Community Bank. She served as marketing manager of Imiete Community Bank. She returned to the classroom briefly again as a teacher. Eventually she was transferred to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, where she served until May 29, 1999 when her husband became the deputy governor of the state.

culled from Tell

Ex-Attorney-General Turns Photographer

People will raise an eye brow over this, yes like you just did, believe it or not that is our Ex- Attorney General in the "Click Click" business our own Kanu Godwin Agabi....you can tell when wonder seize to happens

 Agabi in Adjustment



Agabi in Action



a SAN's perception of you may be all you need...





Lets see it from the Senior Advocates point of view...

Kanu Godwin Agabi, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice during President Olusegun Obasanjo administration turned Photographer as he was busy clicking away during the swearing-in-ceremony of the new Judges at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday.

The Cross River of Life

This river, no doubt, is the source of livelihood for those on its bank as they depend on it for fishing, transportation, irrigation farming during the dry season and logging of wood from the mangrove forest. The communities this river runs through have become so used to it that without it they cannot survive. Thus, just as the saying goes, no Nile no Egypt, so it is in Cross River State with Cross River. This river is the livewire of the coastal economy of the state.

The Cross River, which takes its source from the Republic of Cameroon and covers an area of 39,000 square kilometres, is one of the largest and longest rivers in the country. Incidentally, Cross River State derives its name from this river. This river which has the largest drainage basin in the state accounts for over half of the state’s total river flow. Because of its vast dimension, it is fed by other rivers and streams all of which at the peak of rainfall increase the volume of water in the river.

Cross River is crossed by four bridges: Ikom, Itigidi, Itu and Adiabo in Odukpani Local Government Area. The river narrows at some point and expands in others but its four nautical miles width ensures that a modern bridge could span easily even as the length of the river flows through tropical rainforest where there are many communities.

There are 18 local government areas in Cross River State. Out of this number, the river flows through 13 in the Central and Southern Senatorial Districts. They include: Etung, Ikom, Obubra, Yakurr, Abi, Biase, Akamkpa, Odukpani, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi. It has a confluence at Ikom with the Afi River.

The river’s sandbanks, reed swamps and water lily lagoons are breeding grounds for numerous birds and aquatic animals. The birds loom and sing to build up a detailed picture of bountiful nature and its generosity to man. The picturesque scenery of the banks of this river as it courses through the landscape provides a tourist site that is good for sun bathing and relaxation generally.

Before the advent of western civilisation, this river was the only means of transportation. Traders from Ogoja and its environs transported their goods including slaves through Afi River to Cross River en route Calabar. The goods were conveyed in hand dug canoes. Natives of the aforementioned local government areas used the same means of transportation for their goods too. Till date, communities on the bank of this river where there is no bridge still use canoes or speed boats to transport goods and people across.

From Etung to the Atlantic Ocean where the river empties into, it is common to see heaps of sand on the banks packed by the natives for sale to property developers. Every day, trucks nose their way to the river banks to tip sharp sand. Those who pack this sand are making a fortune from it. Mr. Osim Erim of Okuni community in Ikom said over the years, they who are into the business have been making money from it.

“My brother, you see, without this river life would have been difficult for some of us. We come here every day to pack sand from the river so that it gets dried before selling. We sell one tipper load for N20, 000. Some of us bring our wives and children to help in excavating sand from the river. Through this, we’ve been able to build our houses and send our children to school. There is no way this sand would finish because every raining season, as we pack, so the water brings fresh sand,” he said.

Mr. James Ovat of Appiapum Community in Obubra, Ndodeye Mbang of Ekori, Yakurr and Etim Asuquo of Bay Side, Calabar South echoed the views of Erim when they said the river is their employer as they earn a living by packing sand to the shore. But the price of sand per tipper in the two senatorial districts varies based on the factor of urban development. More people are building in Calabar, the state capital than in other places.

In Calabar, Abomeghe in Abi and Ekori in Yakurr, water transportation is still the order of the day. In these places like in others, canoes and speed boats are used to ferry passengers and goods across. In Calabar, speed boats convey passengers to Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area. It’s a common sight seeing mechanically propelled boats gliding along the river at the Marina beach in Calabar.

The distance by water from Calabar to Oron is shorter than that by road. Before now, there was a ferry owned by the Inland Waterways that was the cheapest means of transportation to Oron. The Nigerian factor which is unfavourable to maintenance culture ensured that all the ferries on the fleet are now grounded. Today, speed boats owned by private transporters are making brisk business at the Marina. And passengers are always available to and from Oron.

Irrigation activities go on at the banks of this river during the dry season. Communities on these banks take to the cultivation of vegetable, maize, melon and more during this season. They water the crops from this river. This explains why in places like Ikom, Obubra, Etung and Abi, maize, vegetables like pumpkin and spinach are cultivated all year round. Those who can afford, use machines to channel water to their crops.

This river has made its beneficiaries take to fishing as occupation. Thus, natives of such communities (both males and females) are experts in fishing. They fish everyday for sale to hoteliers, restaurant operators and private individuals. Fishermen use canoes along the banks of the river for fishing. There is no fishing trawler in use here. Those who go fishing are great swimmers too. They can easily dive into the river to haul their catch into the canoe if too heavy.

Fishing is the predominant occupation of the people of Bakassi. They sail into the Atlantic Ocean to fish. They have no other source of income outside this river. Early in the morning, market women and men into this line of business leave Calabar for Bakassi for fish, periwinkle, crayfish and more. Fishes in Bakassi are bigger than those from other places for obvious reasons.
The mangrove vegetation on the banks of the river is also a source of income. In Calabar especially, the natives use canoes and speed boats to fetch fire wood for cooking or support for decking of storey buildings. At the Marina Beach in Calabar, those into this business cross to the other side of the river to fetch wood.

This has attendant consequences on the environment as it facilitates deforestation.
This river has its merits and de-merits. At the peak of the rainy season, it overflows its banks causing destruction to houses and farms. At Okuni on Ikom-Calabar highway, water from the river covesr the entire road to obstruct traffic for days. When this happens owing to the proximity of the river to the road, vehicles from both sides stop with passengers disembarking to board canoes across to continue the journey. This is one period of job for Okuni boys.

There are also religious activities around this river. Some indigenous Christian churches perform their rituals here. Ditto the traditional African religion faithful, who visit this river to perform sacrifices to the water gods. On the bank, eggs, feathers, food could be seen after the sacrifice had been made.

Over the yearsW, the Cross River has brought tears to many families as canoes and speed boats capsize easily killing passengers on board. No year passes without accidents taking place along Calabar-Oron and Calabar-Creek Town routes. This may not be unconnected with the overloading of the boat, engine developing fault mid-stream or the boat hitting obstruction underneath. Some operators do not bother to provide their passengers with life jacket which can keep them afloat for some hours in the event of an accident.

In Calabar, Akpabuyo and Bakassi, this river aids and abets smuggling and all activities bordering on economic sabotage. Nigerian goods are easily smuggled to Gabon, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea from these places. The smugglers also use these routes to bring in arms and ammunitions. Illegal oil bunkering thrives on this river too. Just last month, following intelligence reports, Governor Liyel Imoke led a combined team of security operatives to raid Esuk Mba in Akpabuyo and Ikang in Bakassi where illegal refineries, bunkering and illegal petrol depots had mushroomed.

The smuggling on this river is done in active connivance with the police and other security agents. At the Inland Waterways in Calabar, boats heading for Equatorial Guinea are loaded to the brim with made-in-Nigeria goods in the full glare of police and Customs Service officers. Foreign contraband goods also come in through these routes. There is a high level of corruption at all the entry and exit points.
In the Imoke-led raid, over 300 giant size drums used for smuggling of fuel, 104 trucks for loading of fuel were impounded. Barges used in bringing in fuel were riddled with bullets making them to sink.

The barges were loading petroleum products from Rivers State and would discharge the contents in the above mentioned locations where trucks waited. Since the invasion of these locations, sea piracy has reduced drastically in the state. Dealers in petroleum products now go the NNPC and other tank farms in Calabar for their purchase.

The Cross River that comes from the Republic of Cameroon and boosted in volume by Nigerian rivers, streams and rivulets is one natural resource that has since creation made those on its banks to engage in one form of economic activity or the other. Without it, life would probably have been difficult for them and the state government. Through this river, the Calabar Export Free Zone and the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort are supplied their needs.

culled from Thisday

3rd Mainland Bridge: Lagos Unveils Alternative Routes

The Lagos State Government Wednesday unveiled alternative routes, which motorists and road users could ply pending when the repairs of the Third Mainland Bridge would last stating that the bridge would only be partially closed.

Some of the alternative routes to include Herbert Macaulay, Carter Bridge, Funsho Williams Avenue, Eko Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor, Iddo Road and Ijora Olopa road among others.

The routes were unveiled at a news conference, which the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, addressed yesterday along with his counterparts in the Transportation Ministry, Mr. Kayode Opeifa and that of Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, among others.

Hamzat said that the Federal Government “has already awarded the contract to repair the bridge. In the course of the repair works, there are eight joints on the bridge that would be affected, and three of the joints are on the lane moving from Oworonshoki to the Island.

“While five is on the other side of the road, that is driving out of the Island to the mainland. So, it is these eight expansion joints that need repair. When the bridge was constructed, it was designed as a county leaver, meaning that there is a structure which two different structures are hanging on it.”

In his address, Opeifa said the bridge while going towards Oworonshoki “is at 20 percent utilisation. What the state government is doing is just to divert the 20 percent of road users to join the 10 percent on the diversion roads.”

Giving details about the alternative routes, Opeifa said the traffic management strategy “is structured around the current use of the bridge. The direction of traffic flow determines the strategy we will adopt. We have examined other roads that will be used during the period and structured our strategy around other roads”.

Opeifa said that the repair works will commence on the Third Mainland Bridge on July 1, stating that the motorists coming from Lagos Island to the mainland at Adeniji Adele “are expected to divert to Carter Bridge and other
roads. When one gets to carter, the motorists are expected to proceed to Iddo.

“From Iddo, the motorists can proceed to Herbert Macaulay down to Jibowu and link either Agege motor road or Ikorodu road. From Iddo, the motorists may link Ijora Olopa and will need to link Eko Bridge.

“From that bridge, the motorists one can get to Funsho Williams avenue.  From Funsho Williams avenue, between Ojuelegba and Moshalasi, the motorists can decide to use either Ikorodu road or Agege motor road. That would afford motorist the opportunity to link Alimosho, Iyana-Ipaja and others”.

From Ijora, the commissioner further explained that the motorists could decide “to drive through the Badagry expressway and drive through Mile 2. The road is always free. Because one will exit before getting to Mile 2 on to Apapa Oshodi expressway, which will afford one to move to Okota link bridge and get to Oshodi.

“Alternatively, the motorists can use the Murtala Mohammed airport road to link Ikeja, Alimosho and others. From Adeniji Adele, I can link Iddo on getting to the carter bridge and join the Ijora bridge at 7up and link the Apapa Oshodi express way which at that time is very free than it was in 2008.

“Instead of coming to Adeniji Adele, I will drive to Marina which is always free at this time of the day. From Marina, one can link the Eko Bridge and link Funsho William road or Apapa Oshodi. During the period, these are roads that are always free. And they are at 10 percent utilisation,” the commissioner said.

Raw Honey And Ulcers (2)

RAW honey is the only sure bet to crush stomach ulcers and avoid the risk of cancer.  Since ancient times, raw honey has been used to cure ulcer as part of folk medicine. Though modern man or woman especially educated ones may take anecdote from folk medicine with a pinch of salt, there is avalanche of science-validated evidence about honey’s potent antibacterial, stress-busting, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects.

Raw honey’s anti-bacterial powers inhibit helicobacter pylori, which makes ulcer festers and incurable. While many strains of bacteria can resist synthetic antibiotics, no bacteria can resist antimicrobial powers of raw honey. Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel proved that raw honey wipes out the toughest-to-treat ulcers. Also, a publication Honey the Gourmet Medicine says, “A man suffering from severe possibly terminal stomach ulcers hated doctors, so he stayed at home and suffered. A friend told him about a Russian study showing that raw honey cured ulcers. The man used honey and was miraculously cured”.

Stomach ulcer is also characterised by high acidity, which triggers pain especially when acidic foods and drinks are consumed. But raw honey contains potassium and sodium, two powerful acid-neutralising agents.

Beyond its antibacterial powers, raw honey can also be used to redress other conditions that may trigger ulcers or warrant taking medications that can trigger ulcers. For instance, doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for asthma and arthritis patients even when these drugs are known to cause ulceration in the bowel sometimes leading to bleeding problem. But both asthma and arthritis can be redressed with anti-inflammatory powers of raw honey.

In other words, with honey as part of their treatment protocols, asthma and arthritis patients need not take synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs that could cause ulcer and also aggravate their initial disease conditions.

More often than not, people suffering from hypertension also take aspirin or other cholesterol- lowering drugs to prevent stroke, but these medications make them susceptible to ulcers. Life can be awful with fatal side effects of anti-hypertensive drugs, but gastric ulceration causing pain and bleeding can bring additional agony when aspirin is added.  But with right use of honey, there may not be need for drugs with fatal side effects to lower high blood pressure and bad (LDL) cholesterol.  Honey improves blood circulation through the coronary artery by causing the veins to expand, thus lowering high blood pressure. Honey also contains calcium and potassium, two minerals that are critical to having normal blood pressure and sound sleep.

Honey also fights high cholesterol, which undermines the normal workings of the heart and prepares the ground for heart attack or stroke. A study done by Dr. Nicki Engeseth, an assistant professor of food chemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA confirmed that honey contains high level of plaque-fighting antioxidants to protect the heart against disease.

Stress is another cause of ulcers but a study at the University of Waikato in New Zealand found that diet sweetened with honey reduced stress. The use of honey for the treatment of ulcer gives tonic effect, improves gastric acidity and blood composition plus a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system

However, the efficacy of raw honey for cure ulcers is based on certain protocol and dosage, otherwise, honey can increase acidity, slows down digestion of the contents of the stomach and irritates the intestines

Raw Honey And Ulcers (1)

IT’S amusing hearing many people talk glibly about ulcers as if it is not a life-threatening disease. Yet, ulcer is an insidious and deadly disease often underrated by most sufferers.

What is ulcer? It is a break on the skin surface or a mucous membrane, which is inflamed and fails to heal. Ulcers can develop in the colon, mouth, duodenum, stomach and leg in the case of diabetics.

The most common form of ulcer is gastric that affects the lining of the stomach. Most often, gastric ulcer occurs during stress, when the body’s defence of the lining of the stomach is damaged and the stomach cannot secret sufficient mucous to protect it against the strong acids essential for digestion.

Other causes of gastric ulcer are aspirin often prescribed to prevent stroke in people at risk, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for people suffering from asthma, arthritis and other auto-immune diseases.

Latest studies showed that 90 per cent of all stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori.

But why does ulcer fester and remain incurable with conventional medicine? Most doctors do not factor the involvement of bacteria in the treatment protocols for ulcers. Even when antibiotics are part of the treatment regimen for ulcers, helicobacter pylori resist the medications, thus making the ulcers fester.

Synthetic antibiotics also kill all the bacteria in the gut, both good and bad, thus distorting the natural flora in the gastrointestinal tract. This distortion, according to John O. Hunter, a gastroenterologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, England, can throw the whole body system off balance causing a vicious cycle of infections.

Most ulcer medications also reduce or neutralise hydrochloric acid, thus encouraging the growth of bacteria.

However, helicobacter pyloric does not only make ulcer incurable, there is also a solid link between this bacterium and stomach cancer. Evidence is mounting that this bacterium causes most stomach and gastrointestinal problems, which are precursor to stomach cancer.

As a matter of fact, the World Health Organization WHO has classified helicobacter pylori as a Class 1 carcinogen. For instance, Japanese researchers studied 544 patients with early stomach cancer, half of whom received helicobacter pylori eradication regimen, while the other received standard care.

After three years, the researchers found that eradicating helicobacter pylori after stomach cancer surgery reduced the risk of recurrence by about 65 per cent.

Asset declaration: Jonathan violates PDP manifesto – Investigation

  The refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to openly declare his assets was against the Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party, 

Jonathan during his Sunday’s media chat broadcast on television said he did not declare his assets publicly and that he only did so as Vice President because his late boss, Umaru Yar’Adua, compelled him.

“The issue of asset declaration is a matter of principle. I don’t give a damn about it, if you want to criticise me from heaven. The issue of public declaration I think is playing to the gallery. You don’t need to publicly declare any assets. If I am somebody who wants to hide it is what I tell you that you will even believe,” the President had said.

The PDP states in its Manifesto, Programme and Policy Trust for 2011-2015, committed that it will work to ensure that its elected officials openly declare their assets.

Under its Anti-Corruption Policy Thrust, the party promises that the primary objective of a “PDP-led government is to substantially reduce corruption in Nigeria and to develop and promote the mechanisms and institutions for preventing, detecting, and bringing offenders to justice.”

It says that one of the road maps aimed at achieving this will be to “persuade officials to make public their assets declaration records and support a legal backing for compulsory open declaration of assets.”

It was, however, not clear if the party persuaded the President to openly declare his assets and he refused.

However, a former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello, who was a former Acting National Chairman of the party when the document was produced, also failed to openly declare his assets.

Bello even wrote the foreword to the booklet.

“This manifesto and Policy Thrust will continue to guide the party and PDP government at all levels to build on the successes of the party and procure a safe, stable and prosperous future for Nigeria,” Bello writes in the foreword.

A member of the National Working Committee of the party, who spoke on the issue on condition of anonymity, however frowned on the refusal of both Jonathan and Bello to openly declare their assets “as a good example for others.”

The anonymous PDP chieftain wondered how the leaders who failed to obey party guidelines would be able to impress it on others to also toe the path of openness by openly declare their assets.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, on Monday said the said Programme and Policy Trust of the Peoples Democratic Party did not pass through the party’s National Working Committee. He also defended Jonathan’s refusal to openly declare his assets when he became President on May 29, 2011.

Metuh said, “That document did not pass through the NWC. But let me say that the President has not done anything wrong constitutionally by not publicly declaring his assets.

“The President did so as vice-president and has also acted as the law requires now. He has not done anything wrong constitutionally.

“Like he said, open declaration of assets has nothing to do with fighting Boko Haram.”

Meanwhile, the Congress for Progressive Change has faulted the President over his statement on the declaration of assets.

It expressed concern about Jonathan’s assertion that he was forced as the Vice- President to declare his assets against his desire.

“Should this mean that this President is not principled, otherwise he ought to have resigned his appointment if he was forced to act against his desire,” the CPC argued in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin.

Fashakin said that the President’s demeanour on the issue of asset declaration left many questions unanswered.

He said that the president had not even told the nation that he declared his assets after his inauguration on May 29.

Also, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, and Education Rights Concern on Monday in Abuja condemned the refusal of Jonathan to declare his assets openly.

This CACOL said the President’s refusal to declare his assets publicly was a deliberate act of justifying corruption.

The Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, noted that the President’s action smacks of disrespect.

culled from The Punch...

Shank - Ghetto (Video)

Blessing Okagbare wins N2m jackpot Blessing Okagbare wins N2m jackpot

 

Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare, on Thursday leapt to a new 6.97m personal best in the long jump event to win the gold  medal as the 66th Cross River State/All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships ended in Calabar.

The jump was not only 6cm better than her previous personal best which fetched her the bronze medal at the 29th Olympic Games  in Beijing, China four years ago, it also fetched her the N2m jackpot prize set by the Athletic Federation Nigeria.It was reserved for athletes who achieved the best performance, based on the IAAF Scoring (Hungarian) table of athletics.

In the men’s version, Stanley Gbagbeke shrugged off injury worries to leap to a new personal best of 8.20m to retain his title. The feat pushed him up to number four in the Nigeria all-time list and just seven centimeters short of Yusuf Ali’s 8.27m national record set in 1989 in Lagos.

In some of the other events also decided on the last day of competition, former Commonwealth Games shot put queen, Vivian Chukwuemeka made a triumphant return to the national stage by reclaiming her title with a new personal season’s best of 18.18m. It was also her 14th gold medal in the event at the championships.

In the men’s 200m, Obinna Metu ran 20.91 seconds to successfully complete sprints double and announce his arrival as the undisputed king of sprints in Nigeria. He had a day earlier reclaimed the 100m title with a new 10.11 seconds lifetime best. US-based Noah Akwu (20.98) and Elvis Ukale (21.28) settled for second and third positions respectively.

“Trust me; I am going to London to do Nigeria proud. Forget the time here as you can see that this track is not the type  anyone should expect any new record,” stressed the sprinter who earlier this year was in Jamaica to train with world record  holder in the 100m and 200m,Usain Bolt.

In the women’s version of the race, USA-based Lawretta Ozoh dashed to the finish line in 22.73secs while Gloria Asumnu (22.89) and Christy Udoh (22.91) placed second and third respectively.

The race was however not without drama. Asumnu who was judged to have beaten the starter’s gun stayed put, arguing she did not commit the offence. She was however allowed to run under protest.

All Africa Games double champion, Oludamola Osayomi was as disappointing in the 200m as she was in the shorter sprint.

After getting off the block clumsily, she lost interest in the race and just stayed on, jogging to the finish line in the last position.

In the men and women 400m hurdles, Amaechi Morton and Ajoke Odumosu were crowned king and queen respectively. Morton, who arrived in Calabar late on Wednesday night from the USA ran 50.3 to win the race.

Doreen Amata also retained her long jump title, soaring over 1.86m to claim the gold medal. USA based Uhunoma Naomi Osazuwa  was second in 1.80m while Young Esiekpe (1.67m) was third.

The African champion was however impressed with winning despite not meeting her target of 1.95m. “ It is still ok. I know I will get there before leaving for the London Olympics,” observed the mother of one who finished overall 8th at the last World Championships in South Korea last year.

Amata promised to retain her continental title at the African Championships scheduled for next week in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

In the Half Marathon, Nigerian Army long distance runner, Stephen Jurbe clocked 1hr.07;16.38secs to win the race leaving  Tokbe Givet of Borno (1hr.08:35.62secs) and Danjuma Gyang (1hr.09;07.16secs) to settle for the silver and bronze respectively.

Pastor Chris Okotie, Popular Nigerian Televangelist Dumps Second Wife

Funky Pastor and head of Household of God Church, Lagos, Rev. Chris Okotie has announced his marriage break-up.

The glamorous marriage between Kris Okotie and his beautiful wife, Stephanie, has crashed less than four years after their big wedding, the funky preacher announced today.

In a dramatic announcement after a moving ministration, the controversial pastor of the Household of God Church and three-time presidential candidate, told his church their differences were irreconcilable and the couple had divorced.

“Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences and you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back.” With this terse statement Okotie announced the break up the marriage.

P.M.NEWS learnt that the congregation couldn’t believe the shocking news they had just heard from the charismatic former pop star turned cleric and politician.

Okotie reportedly made the announcement which invariably spoilt the day for most of the worshippers who had earlier had a very memorable brethren’s’ birthday celebration characterised by soul lifting songs, dancing, prayers, ministration and cutting of the cake.

While Okotie is divorcing for the second time, Stephanie has now been married three times and has three children from her first two marriages.

The break-up also puts an end to dream twins that Okotie expected her to deliver someday.

On 7 August, 2008, Okotie married Stephanie Henshaw, the woman he described as the most beautiful on earth, in a glamorous wedding attended by a horde of journalists and celebrities.

The funky preacher and celebrity singer had directed wealthy members of his church to donate millions of naira in gifts and cash and they made it one of the biggest and most-talked about wedding that year.

There were 12 committees made up of members born in each month of the year. Members born in the month of June, Okotie’s birth month, contributed the most. The eloquent preacher was born on 16 June, 1958, in Delta State.

Aside this, Okotie had selected 120 members, 10 from each month to form the wedding train. Each of them wore aso ebi.

The celebrity pastor also invited two journalists from each media organisation in the country to give total coverage to his second marriage.

Okotie’s traditional wedding took place on 7 August, at 6 George Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, by 2 p.m. while the registry ceremony followed the next day, Friday, 8 August, at the Ikoyi registry, at 4 p.m, and the thanksgiving and benediction took place on Sunday, 10 August, at the Household of God Church, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

The clergyman told his church members early that year that he would be getting married to Stephanie because of her beauty which he described as angelic.

The eloquent preacher had also said that Stephanie has been under his watch for five years and did not mind the number of children she had from her previous marriages.

Mid-2007, when Okotie made his choice public, his church almost broke up as some female celebrities who thought they were the favoured candidates for ‘the post‘ of Mrs. Okotie, received the shocker of their lives when he settled for Stephanie, the unassuming woman in his glamorous church.

Ladies like Sola Salako, church administrator for several years and Okotie’s close aide; Vien Tetsola, a former Miss Nigeria; Ure Okezie, daughter of former minister, Dr. Okezie, and others, were rumoured to have left the church because of the announcement.

Celebrities such as Mofe Damijo and many others were also said to have simply quit Okotie‘s church then, while some have reluctantly returned.

Okotie’s marriage to Stephanie was his second attempt at matrimonial life. He was first married to Tyna his long time friend, but the marriage packed up after 17 years without any child.

Okotie loved his first wife so much that there was hardly a sermon in which he did not mention Tyna.

Long after they separated, he still spoke about her with deep emotions as if they were still married.

So much did Okotie talk about Tyna that some of his admirers in the church became jealous. But when he announced that he was set to marry Stephanie, he hardly mentioned the name of his first wife publicly.

Stephanie then became his centre of attraction.

On one occasion, Okotie invited Stephanie to the altar for a formal introduction.

After dancing around her for some minutes to the delight of the congregation, Okotie looked at Stephanie as she was going back to her seat, looked at the church and looked at Stephanie again and said in Igbo language, “Lekwa nwanyi nka marama” meaning “Look at her, isn`t she beautiful?”

Pastor Chris Okotie, founder of Household of God Church, Oregun, Lagos, is another firebrand preacher that often sends his audience into ecstasy.

He is also known for televangelism, and for preaching the end times which he titles The Apocalypsus.

In his messages, Okotie always reveals his knowledge of the book of Revelations beyond the ordinary and in a very complicated language which has prompted many to go to church with one or two dictionaries!

 

Woman arrested for calling ex-husband a Boko Haram member on Facebook

 23-year old mother of one has been arrested by policemen from Ipaja Police Station, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, for calling her ex-husband a member of the Boko Haram sect on Facebook, the social interaction site on internet.

The suspect, Afolakemi Mojisola Adeniyi, was arrested following a complaint lodged at the station by her former husband, Alfa Umar Gobir, that his ex-wife posted his picture on facebook and tagged him a member of the Boko Haram.

Umar told the police that he received several calls from friends and associates throughout the weekend, asking him why he joined the sect and that he kept telling them that they were mistaking him for someone else until one of his friends told him to check Facebook.

Umar said he was shocked when he saw his picture on facebook and the words written below the picture read: “This is one of the Boko Haram any time you have contact with him, bomb him.”

Umar further explained: “I was sleeping on Saturday night when I started receiving calls from my friends asking me why I joined the Boko Haram sect. I was surprised since I did not belong to the sect, but one of my friends called me again and said I should go to Facebook. He told me that my picture was there as a member of the sect.

“I was shocked when I saw my picture on the social networking site.”
Umar told the police at Ipaja that very early that day, he went to Ipaja where his ex-wife lived with her parents and reported the case to them.

His ex-wife confirmed to him that she posted the picture on Facebook because he told her that she and her child would die. Umar told the police that few hours after the parents of his ex-wife begged him to forgive her, she posted another one on Facebook saying she did not regret her action.

The second posting reads: “Am nt regrtn of d pic upload by me 2 any 1.”
When Afolakemi was arrested and the police asked her why she did it, she simply said that Umar told her that she and her child would die.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ipaja Police Station, Titiladayo Segun, after listening to both parties, advised Afolakemi and her parents to go and beg the complainant for forgiveness because of the little child they have, adding that with the evidence before him there is no way she would not go to jail should the complainant insist on going to court.

Gobir told the police that he is yet to decide whether to take his ex-wife to court, adding that he needed to consult his family over the matter.

Chioma Ajunwa-Opara: From Olympics Success to Busting Crime

What on earth could an Olympics gold-medalist be doing behind a desk at a police station tucked away in a Lagos suburb? That’s the jolt you’ll get if you had any reason to request to see the divisional police officer of Meiran Police Station, writes Raheem Akingbolu

We often tend to forget that stars once had a life where they were anything but the centre of attraction. The name Chioma Ajunwa-Opara conjures images of that remarkable athlete who gave Africa its first Olympics gold medal in the female category of a track and field event. That was at the Atlanta Olympics, in 1996. Only a few would remember that before she shot herself into the record books with that 7.12m jump in the long jump finals, she was a cop.

She still is as a matter of fact. And her star power (she is a National Merit Award recipient) is giving the force a positive sheen. Ajunwa-Opara who once played for the force’s female football team, Police Machines, before making the switch to athletics is doing that without qualms – almost like the girl next door.

Still the girl next door

Humble and pleasant, she seems aware of how immense success can breed a standoffish attitude and is determined to keep such tendencies in check. It took four visits to the station and two personal chats for her to commit to an appointment. Even then, she would apologize profusely. “As much as I would have loved to talk to you, I have a lot of things to attend to and the truth is if I have not sorted them out, it will be difficult to concentrate on the interview. I suggest we fix another day,” she said during one such encounter.

The administrative officer at the station, an assistant superintendent of police identified simply as Mr. Ojo, tried to cheer up this reporter after the disappointment. “Journalist, you are disappointed, I guess. Well, whichever way, I can assure you madam would make you happy the next time you come around and I can bet that you will like to meet her again after the first meeting,” he said with a reassuring smile.

When the interview finally held, Ajunwa-Opara’s attitude confirmed her admin officer’s earlier statement. “For me, it was sport before police force. I loved sport and gave it all my attention as a young girl. But it would surprise you that my parents didn’t oppose my decision to join the force the way they resisted my participation in sporting activities as a young school girl.”

She simply pursued her passion, never imagining it would someday propel her to stardom. But the Atlanta Olympics changed all that. “Honestly, when I started, I never thought of such. I did not know that it would make me to be known worldwide. Moreover, I was just running for the fun of it. But I thank God, having realised that whatever one is doing, it is important that you do it well.”

Perks of an Olympics gold

Ajunwa-Opara, a native of Umuchukwu in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State admitted that her exploits in sport have given her career and image some positive nudge. For instance, she was promoted two ranks ahead of her contemporaries immediately she returned from the games by the Nigerian Police.

“I became a star,” she said smiling. “The name Chioma Ajunwa then started opening doors. Frankly, I wonder sometimes whether I would be so popular without that achievement in sport.”

Such philosophical thoughts prompted another: What vocation would she have chosen if she wasn’t a policewoman? “There are other things I would have done. There were so many opportunities, while I was running, from which I would have picked. After I made it big in the Olympics, there were offers from a few countries, including the United States, where I was invited to come and work in the sports café or coach their athletes. Also, members of the Nigerian community in the US whose children were into sports asked me to come and be their director of sports. As you know, some of them came here for championship and they were also doing well up there.”

Indebted to the force

For her, she felt indebted to Nigerian Police for the support it offered and for the window of opportunity a career with the organization opened. “I believed I owe the Police, otherwise I would have been earning better salary than what I’m earning now. But believe me, I derive pleasure in what I do and I work hard every passing day to leave the police better than I met it.”

There is no question of dictating career choices for her children. “Gone are the days where parents dictate to children on what to do; whatever they chose to do, my role is just to advise them and counsel. I can’t impose.”

Sixteen years after her Olympics gold and national award, she still gets the winks of recognition from star-struck fans. But she would never be carried away by such outpouring of affection. “Honestly, I know some people are always elated whenever they meet me, but I must confess that I don’t think I am a star. I made name – there is no doubt about that – and when I walk on the street I get some respect and it makes me happy. But that is not enough for me to feel more important than anyone else.”

Recipe for success

Speaking on why Nigerian sports have been in one faltering step after another, she said: “One of the problems we have here is that people think they are better than their coaches, which is the beginning of failure. Don’t forget the first law in the 48 Laws of Power is ‘don’t overshadow the master’. To me, the moment you try to flex muzzle with your boss or superior, you are missing the target.”

As a woman in a vocation dominated by men it’s easy to feel intimidated by the sheer gender disparity both in number and achievement. Not so for the athlete. “I don’t feel intimidated because I have always loved to work hard and follow police ethics.

Again, I believe I have a God and He is the one doing the job. I am just sitting here doing what God wants me to do. I can’t be intimidated because of a mortal man. Don’t forget police job is very simple: everyday you get signal on what to do and if you follow the steps that your boss has outlined, you won’t have any problems. Some people get into problems because they are doing the opposite of the instructions they have been given. Anywhere I am, I follow the rudiments of the job and every instruction and, most importantly, I put God before me.”

One word that seems not to exist in her lexicon is relaxation. Her job gives her little room for relaxation. “It is not easy; you come to work every day and work from morning till late in the night. That is why you see some officers that slump and died in the office. The stress is intense. But as a woman, we believe that what a man can do, a woman can do even better. In fact, there are some issues in this job you can use motherly advice to handle. There are complaints you can handle better as a woman than your male counterparts.”

Bolstered by family’s understanding

“I am privileged to come from a civilised family even though we were not rich. My mother never asked me not to join the police. At a time, I was the one running when the police was chasing me. But when I could not run any longer I succumbed. But they discouraged me totally from sports. Sometimes they had to lock me indoors and I had to jump out through the window.

“They never knew that sports could bring me this glory. The perception then was that if you are into sports, there were possibilities that you would be wayward. But the story later changed. Today, I thank God that He is using sports to bring some families out of poverty. When you look at people who have made it or making it in sports, they are not from rich homes, simply because the rich hardly allowed their wards to be involved in serious sporting activities in the years past.

“After God, it is my husband. Of course, there are so many men, but it’s not easy finding a husband amongst them. If you are able to find one, you should be thankful to God. If one comes across a man who is not hers, it will be stress all through. If my husband is not my own, I don’t think I would take this post. I leave the office at 10pm or 11pm and there are times I sleep there, but he shows remarkable understanding. This is possible because he is my own husband. Come to think of it; we never dated. We met and married and have since remained like siblings. He is not a police officer but he is quite discerning. There was a time I wanted to resign to take up appointment in the US; he said ‘no, you must stay put in the police.’”

But she still has to find a way to multi-task: to combine her schedule as a police officer with the demanding role of motherhood. “I don’t think I am the only career woman that is married. So mine should not be an exception. I need to earn a living and at the same time I need my marriage. It is not a hard thing to do, but it depends on the individual involved.”

Thrill of national honour

Just like memories of her effort in 1996 that fetched Nigeria its first individual Olympics gold medal still bring immense joy, so too does she feel recalling the National Merit Award conferred on her by the federal government a few years ago.

“The merit award gladdens my heart because it happened while I’m alive. When I learnt that 50 people, both dead and alive, and I would be honoured, my joy was immeasurable. It was when I got there that I knew the scale of the award. It didn’t take long before I started shedding tears of joy. When I saw the names of the people on the list, I asked how many people were still alive and I discovered we were few. Just like when I won the Olympics medal; I never knew it was a big thing, until I got back to Nigeria and I saw crowds awaiting me.”

She is particularly bothered by the negative public perception the Nigerian police gets. But she is optimistic it would change with time. “Some people think the police are hungry people; I don’t think so. Some people have the perception that policemen are wicked; again, I don’t believe that. Rather, I believe what we are doing is a humanitarian job. Whatever challenges that come with it, we take it. We have to be tolerant. I believe the police job comes after God’s work and I don’t have any regret to be one. It is also an individual thing: somebody may be here and be doing the wrong thing, definitely people will talk and equally when you are doing the right thing, people will also commend you.”