· 'If you survive, tell my brothers I died well and living with Christ'
· PDP cautions over comments
From Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and John-Abba Ogbodo (Abuja)
TEARS flowed freely from their eyes. Others sobbed and wept uncontrollably. As survivors of the recent sectarian crisis in some northern states narrated their ordeal and escape from the Boko Haram's den, even the most stoic among them broke down.
The scene was the cemetery of the Goodnews Church of Christ, Maiduguri, where its Pastor, George Orji, killed during the crisis by the fundamentalists, was buried yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital. Three pastors and 15 other Christians were allegedly killed by the sect members during the violence.
But Northern Elders under the auspices of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday attributed such crisis in the country to the prevailing poverty and deprivation which they said the Federal Government has failed to address.
The Arewa Leaders said that Nigerians should see the Boko Haram mayhem in Bauchi, Yobe, Borno and Kano states, with the prolonged agitation by Niger Delta militants as protests by "those who feel aggrieved by the prevailing conditions in the country", noting that "this attitude is agitated by the widening gap between our affluent and ostentatious leaders and the broad masses of the poverty stricken and deprived people".
Also present at the meeting of its Board of Trustees (BOT) under the leadership of retired Lt.-General Jeremiah Useni in Kaduna to deliberate on emerging national issues were the ACF Chairman, General Ibrahim Haruna (rtd); Secretary General, Colonel Musa Shehu (rtd) and several other Arewa leaders.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Thomas Ali, a survivor along with other Christians, claimed that apart from being forced to adopt Islam, they were not freed after their conversion.
Ali alleged that some Christians were killed by the Islamic group, who also burnt 20 churches and killed the three pastors on Monday, July 27, 2009.
He told The Guardian that he was forced by the sect members to undergo some Islamic rites of initiation but could not recall how he escaped from the group's den.
Mr. Emmanuel Ndah, who was abducted along with Orji said: "When we told them our names, they knew that we were not Moslems and asked whether we would denounce our faith and accept Islam. However, Pastor Orji encouraged us not to accept Islam but to hold unto what we believe in. He was singing and praying all through and encouraging the believers not to give up even unto death.
"It was his encouragement that kept us till the time we were released. But the men outside killed so many of us Christians who were even forced into Islam. I could not say how I survived it, but I did by the Grace of God."
He continued: "While we were lying there tied down, Pastor Orji turned to me and said if you survive, tell my brothers that I died well and living with Christ. And if we all die, we know that we died for the Lord."
Okechukwu E. Nwankwo, who said he witnessed the murder of Orji, said that he was abducted with all his family and forced to undergo the initiation. He said: "I was lucky. They asked me to leave, it was when I was looking for my wife and children that I saw Pastor George Orji being dragged on the ground by the armed sect members.
"They dragged him far from the camp and forced him to bend his head as he passed before Mohammed Yusuf. I was watching, he was singing and praising God and praying. Suddenly, I saw them cut the back of his neck and he fell down. His body was rolling on the ground for a long time before he finally gave up the ghost."
And a few weeks ago, growing long beards was an identity or dress code among Islamic faithful in some northern states. But now, it is a taboo in Borno and Yobe states.
Faced with an intense military/police crackdown on members of the extremist, Boko Haram Islamic sect, who last week led a religious uprising in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Yobe states, hundreds of bearded Moslems in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the capitals of Borno and Yobe states, have overnight shaved their "long beards." Adherents of Boko Haram faith keep long beards to distinguish themselves from other Moslems.
Worried by inflammatory comments in some quarters on the Boko Haram saga, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Nigerians to exercise restrains on the issue.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the party said having put the situation under control, Nigerians should be vigilant to ensure that such ugly incident does not recur in any part of the country.
"We call on politicians across the political divide to moderate their comments on sensitive national security matters in order not to further inflame passions and divide the citizenry. Moments of challenge such as this require a show of statesmanship and patriotism from all citizens and not grandstanding and an opportunistic show of brinkmanship aimed at scoring cheep political goals."
Since the nation's armed forces quelled the sectarian violence led by Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed alongside the sect's suspended financier, Alhaji Buji Foi, men and officers of the Operation Flush 11 have embarked on a house-to-house search for the remnants of the group.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the four-day military-Boko Haram crossfire, which ended in Maiduguri last Friday, has risen to 825.
Col. Ben Ahanotu, the commander of the Operation Flush II, said some of the victims were innocent citizens but were caught in the gun duel.
The mass shaving of beards by the Moslems in Maiduguri and Damaturu started last Thursday after it became clear that bearded men, irrespective of their religious affiliations, were targets of security forces.
It was learnt that a majority of the Moslems, who have shaved their beards for the last three days are members of the Islamic groups of Ahalil-Sunnah Waljama'a and Izala.
Members of the two sects are also known for wearing knee-size trousers but now they put on full-length trousers to avoid arrest and summary execution by security men.
Mr. Isa Adamu Azare, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the house-to-house search in a telephone interview with The Guardian. He admitted that "bearded men were being questioned because some members of the sect were returning to the cities from their enclaves. There were desperate attempts by security men to curtail them."
Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir, National Chairman, Council of Ulamas of the Jama'atul Izalatil Bidah Wa'ikamatis Sunnah, said those Moslems, who shaved their beards to escape arrest did nothing wrong against Islam.
"What they did was right and I acknowledge their indulgence", he said, cautioning security agents against killing innocent people because they grew beards.
He said that Prophet Muhammad had enjoined good Moslems to allow their beards to grow and reduce the sizes of their moustaches, which, according to him, attracts "enormous reward from Allah."
In Potiskum, 100 kilometres west of Damaturu, where the armed sect members burnt a police station and killed a police officer, a large number of Moslems have shaved their beards.
Malam Nuhu, an Imam at the Potiskum Motor Park Mosque, said that he was forced to cut his beard for the fear of being killed.
"I also directed those close to me to do the same, because you can only practise religion when you are alive," said the cleric, in his reaction to the development.
The Chief Imam of Damaturu Central Mosque, Uztaz Hudu, was unhappy with the manhunt for the sect members by security agents.
Zarami Dungus, a permanent sectary in the Borno Civil service, was one of the Moslems that shaved his beard.
Yesterday, former Military Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman of the Movement For Unity And Peace (MUP), Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), asked the Federal Government to explain why the police killed Yusuf without trial in the court of law.
Umar, who also faulted the government's handling of the uprising, said it showed that the authorities lacked the capacity to protect the citizens.
In a statement made available to reporters in Kaduna, Umar argued that it was unexpected that a government, which claimed strict observance of the rule of law, would allow the police to execute a Nigerian citizen who had not been tried before any law court.
"As it is customary, efforts will surely be made in the days and weeks to come, to enquire into or determine what went wrong. Nigerians cannot wait to learn why the security agencies proved powerless to prevent the Boko Haram religious group from conducting itself and constituting a threat to the peace and security of their neighbours as well as to the wider public.
"There are allegations that leaders of this religious sect had used unlawful methods to recruit followers, including abductions, kidnapping or other tactics that violated the rights of other people. They were also alleged to induce or even perhaps hypnotise some women and their children to abandon their families to join them. How these followers were treated and what tasks they were made to do can only be known through an early and comprehensive enquiry," he said.
At the burial of Pastor George Orji of the Goodnews Church of Christ (GCC), Maiduguri a victim of the religious mayhem, it was disclosed that 250 Christians were abducted and forced to accept Islam by the Boko Haram leader.Read more…
NOTE:Make sure you use 08060408097,as your reference no: to get the benefits.Glo Redux VPN planThe GLO REDUX VPN plan allows you call any GSM networks for about half the normal price. But that is not all. The GLO REDUX VPN has an extra Closed User Group (CUG) feature activated on it. This feature allows you make FREE calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to friends, family and co-workers that have also joined the GLO REDUX VPN plan from anywhere in the country.This means that the GLO REDUX VPN combines the cheap call rates of a contract line with the unlimited FREE calls of the CUG to help you crash your call cost dramatically.Suitable forIndividuals that want to Reduce the distance between them and their relatives, spouses, friends and co-workers ensuring that they talk for FREE as much as they want despite the distance. Organizations with multiple branches scattered across the countryOrganizations that need to communicate with their field workers, marketers and operations personnel’s e.g. ISPs, Event Managers, Logistic Companies, Oil and Gas Workers, Courier Companies, Insurance, Banks, Churches, NGOs, Transport Workers and other small businessesBusiness owners that wants to keep in touch with their office or shop FREE 24hrs a day from anywhere in the countryOrganizations that wants Free communication between multiple branches located anywhere in the countryProject Managers that want their project team members to collaborate on projects that span multiple locations e.g. keeping track of progress on multiple projects.Prepaid GSM subscribers who want to reduce by half the amount they spend on phone calls.Benefits [back to top]Other Networks currently offering a similar service restricts your FREE CALLS to just the network of people in your office alone. However when you join the GLO REDUX VPN you can also introduce your family, friends and loved ones wherever they are in the country and CALL them FREE 24hrs a day.Unlimited FREE CALLS and FREE SMS between Glo Redux VPN subscribers Nationwide 24hrs a day, 7 days a weekCall other GSM networks for as low as half the normal price (Enjoy per second billing)Activate the service on your existing mobile number if you have a Glo line or get a new line if you want. You don’t need to change your number or carry a new phone, the choice is totally yours.No need to go to bank, just make your payments with recharge cardsCredit Limit of N500International Direct Dialing i.e. ability to make international callsHow much does it cost? [back to top]It cost N5500 to activate GLO REDUX VPN on your Globacom line broken down as follows:A onetime setup fee 0f N4000N1,500 monthly Closed User Group Rental FeesNo minimum number of people required for joining the GLO REDUX VPN. You can join as an individual or as a group.Special Introductory offer – Join GloRedux VPN for just N5000 (N3,800 onetime setup and N1,200 monthly charge)How it works [back to top]Get a new Globacom number or migrate your existing Globacom number.Register on this website and pay for the plan either to our bank or use your ATM card.After payment you supply the number you want the GLO REDUX LINE activated on.CALLREDUX then send your number to Globacom to be provisioned.A welcome text is sent to you once you have been provisioned on the platform and you can start talking using CALLREDUX call rates.now start: log on to www.callredux.com, don't forget to use 08060487097 as your reference no:
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Thou shalt not commit adultery ! Whether this ia hoax or not there are varying views to the veracity of this gist so for now we are not publishng these photosPlease View With Extreme Caution NUDITY !another version of the story
Yeah,
What you are seeing is disgusting. Both are Zain Uganda staff and are married to different people.The man's name is Basilio Sadindi and he is currently the Operations Director of Zain Uganda. Basilio Sadindi is a native of Zimbabwe and has spent six years with Zain in DRC and Congo Brazzaville, more than 2yrs as Operations Director of Zain in Sierra Leone before his appointment as Operations director in Uganda. Basilio is a Telecommunications Engineer with an MBA in Business Management and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.
He is currently a student of the University of Wales (Robert Kennedy College) specializing in Organizational Behaviour and Strategic Management. His past 16 years experience includes many years of service in Broadcasting technology and GSM engineering with LM Ericsson. The two lovebirds work for Zain Uganda,.Basillio went on leave outside Uganda with another man’s wife that is a subordinate staff(name:Rossette) and during their intimate moments they took pictures of themselves for the fun of it and somehow misplaced the memory card and a source got a hold of it and release it to journalists. see
Any woman, clever or not”
This intolerable and brazen inpudence is off mark, totally off mark, and remains condemned both on earth and in heaven. Both are married, and that is the point. I am afraid those of us who are married will be gripped with fear, which will surely translate to us treating our wives
for what they are.
What you are about to see will shock you. Both are Zain staff and are married to different people. The story is that both went on leave outside Nigeria and during their escapades they took pictures of themselves and somehow misplaced the memory card and someone somehow got a hold of it and published them. The two lovers were later advised to resign by their company.
What a sad story.
This is why bosses do not go on trips with juniors… check this Zain chap.
Please View With Extreme Caution NUDITY ! no under 18s !Please View With Extreme Caution NUDITY ! scroll downPlease View With Extreme Caution NUDITY ! no under 18sPlease View With Extreme Caution NUDITY ! scroll downSAY NO PORN TODAY ! GO BACK TO WORK !
use your imagination as this is one story someone obviously fabricated and is going round the internet if you want to see the pictures
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note:
In every endeavour there comes a time of doubts and casting down a time of unbelief a time to marshall the troops and point them in A direction by giving a rallying Cry given by the top protagonists .In the battle field it is often the Decisive factor in who wins the war.A great Shout brought the Walls of Jericho Down !
leadership is by inspiration and a leader without that singular factor to inspire hope even when it is clear it is hopeless is just a follower amongst many cloaking as a leader. That leadership is the one that steers to destruction and anhilation of a people.
...
America Troubled in the Sixties,The height of the Cold War,Racism riots fresh and rife.The time of Dr King and Malcolm X.Audacious goals of Landing on the Moon .A new President Young ambitious and Charismatic.
Imagine if we had a president that could instill this kind of inspiration .For everywhere you see America in this speech replace it with Nigeria and ask yourself IS IT NOT CLEAR THAT our Motherland needs our help as time and time again we realise it is what WE can do for our country .As our country has refused to do anything for us
SPEECH TRANSCRIPT
Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy,
Vice President Goodluck Jonathan,Senate President MArk,Past presidents Obasanjo,Gowon,Shagari,General Overseer Redeemed Church Enoch Adeboye,Rev Kumuyi,Pastors Oyakhilome your Royal hignesses and royal fathers fellow citizens, we observe today and everyday not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom - symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning - signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.The world is very different now true talk ! . For man and our leaders holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought to keep this nation one and together as three regions but one nation are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage - and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge - and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do - for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom - and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required - not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge - to convert our good words into good deeds - in a new alliance for progress - to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support - to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective - to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak - and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course - both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.
So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms - and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah - to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free."
And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans (Nigerians) has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans (Nigerians): ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
So help US God !
note:
In every endeavour there comes a time of doubts and casting down a time of unbelief a time to marshall the troops and point them in A direction by giving a rallying Cry given by the top protagonists .In the battle field it is often the Decisive factor in who wins the war.A great Shout brought the Walls of Jericho Down !
leadership is by inspiration and a leader without that singular factor to inspire hope even when it is clear it is hopeless is just a follower amongst many cloaking as a leader. That leadership is the one that steers to destruction and anhilation of a people.
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todays Quote "Education like Money can be hoarded ,corrupted and worshipped but unlike money you can never lose it "
A lot of us might think we do not need to know about the performance of the dollar against the naira since we do not get paid in hard currency but as Naija is a cash/foreign goods commodity market it is the Lifeblood of our economy ! With a Bank and a church on every road in lagos It is time for a school to be added into this equation or what do you think ?
The Naira yesterday depreciated heavily against the British pounds and euro, losing an average of 700 kobo against the two currencies in the parallel market.
Investigation revealed that the exchange rate of the pounds shot up by 600 kobo to N260 from N264 on Monday. Similarly, the exchange rate of the Euro rose by 800 kobo to N228 from N220.
Parallel market operators attributed the sharp depreciation of the naira against the two currencies to the recent depreciation of the dollar.
This, they said, diverted foreign exchange demand for the dollar to the two currencies.The exchange rate of the two currencies had remained stable in the market for some time due to weak demand.
But yesterday, the situation changed as more and more foreign exchange end-users demanded the two currencies.
It would be noted that the naira has persistently depreciated against the dollar since the reintroduction of Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) last July 13.
Yesterday, the naira depreciated further by 50 kobo at the official market where the exchange rate rose to N150.25 per dollar from N149.75 per dollar.
Prior to WDAS, the exchange rate was N146. Hence, with the increase to N150.25 yesterday, the naira has depreciated by 425 kobo under WDAS.
At the inter-bank market, the naira depreciated by 866 kobo as N156.84 exchanged for one dollar last week as against N148.17 at the beginning of the month. Last week the naira lost 400 kobo to the dollar at the parallel market as the exchange rate rose to N158 per dollar from N154 per dollar.
The persistence depreciation of the naira is however attributed to foreign exchange speculation resulting to increased demand for foreign exchange at the official market.
Analysis of the foreign exchange demand and sales in the six auctions conducted by CBN before and after the introduction of WDAS shows demand for foreign exchange shot up by 351 per cent to $3.16 billion from $861.8 million.
Total amount sold also rose by 56 per cent to $1.19 billion from $$764. Average demand per auction session went up by 313 per cent to $526.7 million from $127.4 million, while average sales rose by 38 per cent to $198.4million from $143.6 million.
Foreign exchange operators attributed the speculative activities to belief that given the continued decline in the nation’s external reserve, the Central Bank of Nigeria would not be able to sustain the current exchange rate of the naira hence further depreciation of the naira is inevitable.
But the apex bank on Tuesday moved to forestall speculation with foreign exchange purchased from the official market. It barred interbank trading of foreign exchange purchased from the official market.
In a circular to banks titled, “Non Transferability of Funds from Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) Among Authorised Dealers”, with reference TED/FEN/FPC/GEN/01125, the apex bank said that banks can no longer use foreign exchange sourced from the official market for interbank trading. Such funds, it said should only be used to meet customers demand for foreign exchange. It also directed that banks should keep separate books for their interbank foreign exchange transactions and WDAS foreign exchange transactions, and make the books available to it examiners.
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Rewritten from the Sun Newspapaers by Akin Osunlaja & Noelene Joshua
The sectarian violence that broke out simultaneously in five northern states last week was initially conceived to be an all-out Jihad (holy war), aimed at entrenching the values for which the Boko Haram Islamist sect stood.
The differences and similarities with which the taliban and Al Qaeda have promulgated a Great Satan movement has seeped effectively into Nigeria .Indications are rife that this sect has links with key polititcal figures in the north intent on sparking off a MEND reply via Islam.
The Taliban is more or less focussed on an Islamic state and has long been the mother and birthplace of numerous extremists whilst Al Qaeda has as it s "sole" target the USA.
A top security source in Abuja on Tuesday said that the group had already established operational bases in seven states, even as he questioned the decision of Governor Ali Modu Sheriff not to act on security reports sent to him two clear days before the mayhem was unleashed.
The Governor thus belies the fact just like George Bush junior in the 9/11 saga had prior heightened reports of the terror that brought america to its knees.Our Views are that this was a calculated and incisive move by insurgents within the Political framework of Nigeria
The source, who pleaded not to be named, said ‘well-meaning Nigerians’ had been sponsoring Mohammed Yusuf in his clandestine assignment, including a wealthy Kano businessman, whose arrest by security services for sponsoring the sect, was quashed by the law court in 2005. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had, on Monday, accused the Borno State Government of complicity in the crisis.
Another dangerous group with the same doctrine as Boko Haram is said to have been operating unfettered in Niger State.
According to the source, on July 14 and 17, more than 10 days before the group began its onslaught in Bauchi on July 26, 21 security reports had been sent to the Federal Government, detailing the activities of Yusuf and his men whose “threat had become potent, and we knew it was going to explode.”
While Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, was able to take proactive action based on the report, the source regretted that Sheriff did nothing until the group fully mobilized and went on a killing spree in his state. “If the Borno State governor had been proactive as the Bauchi governor was, this thing wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
Insisting that the group had been preparing for a Jihad, the source said it became the only feasible option when the plan of its members to go on mass exile to either Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia failed.
The option of exile was said to have been aborted because immigration arrangement did not favour them, hence they settled for the Jihad option.
it was when the group settled for Jihad that they started making their own bombs. The operational bases were sited in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Yobe states.
According to the security source, Yusuf was re-arrested in the premises of an Abuja court by SSS operatives last November 13. He was subsequently handed over to the police after a thorough interrogation had yielded substantial evidence against him.
He was subsequently charged to the court by police, only for the SSS to learn on January 20, 2009 that he had been released, a development that was said to have surprised the top echelon of the service.
Who had such authority to release a threat to the peace of the nation still remains a mystery .
However, the SSS was said to have maintained a close tab on Yusuf and kept updating its dossier on his group.
At the state level, the source explained, each movement made by the group was reported to the governor “because we believe that governors are supposed to know the security problems in their states.” At the federal level, relevant persons were briefed.
Relevant persons ? who are these Relevant persons is it the SSS who knew already or the new security service or the top top at Aso rock ?
Even before the group struck the other weekend, the source said the SSS had information that it was ready to strike from their base in Dutse-Tanshi in Bauchi State. When security operatives stormed the place, nine members of the group were arrested while items used in local production of bombs were recovered.
Noting that the gang leader, Yusuf always managed to be absent from the scene of confrontation between his people and security personnel, but two two hours after the Dutse-Tanshi depot had been over-run by security operatives, he was said to have arrived.
Blaming porous borders for the ease with which arms were smuggled into the country, the source noted that SSS had intercepted information about the deal between the Kano businessman and Yusuf and regretted that the man won his case when he sued the service for unlawful breach of his freedom. It was also learnt that some members of the group had already been sponsored for scholarship in Mauritania.
According to the source, the group which metamorphosed into Boko Haram was stared in 1995 with the name Shahaba, by one Abubakar Lawan, who later relinquished the leadership to clerics when he got admission to study at the University of Medina in Saudi Arabia.
When the clerics needed an articulate knowledgeable person to lead the group, the lot fell on Yusuf, who later turned to accuse the clerics of not properly interpreting the teachings of the Quran. From there the doctrine changed.
Besides the N540,000 the slain sect leader was said to have got on monthly basis from the N1 due paid by members, he was said to have acquired an 80 km expanse of land in Maiduguri for farming to supplement his earning.
Worried that such a dangerous person could be allocated such expanse of land, SSS was said to have asked the state governor to take the wind off his sail by confiscating the land, but the advice was not heeded.
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1. This is how it starts: Almost everyone arrives at the party late2. You were given one invitation card, but you invite 20 other friends.3.You call the attention of the people serving food by saying "Please we haven't eaten in this area o!"4.Look around very well. There is always a PDP section. They get served everything...and in excess.5. Even when it was obvious that no alcohol was served, you still ask "Don't you have any alcohol?6. At a kids party scheduled to start at 5pm and finishing at 12am, you arrive with kids (some of them already sleeping) at 11pm.7. You go back to ask for more food and drinks.8. The food is served on a 'man know man' they tell you "the moi-moi don finish" despite the fact that a man next to you has 4 on his plate.9. Most of the guys are frowning and cussing because fufu, semo, gira or eba wasn't served.10. You hear, "Wetin dem dey wait for sef? I beg make dem bring the food make I comot jo!"11. Towards the end of the party you see people going into the kitchen helping themselves to "take away" food and drinks.12. More than two bouncers are at the door that leads to where the foods/drinks are kept.13. You dance to "Obesere" or "Fela" music as if your life depended on it.14. You ask the DJ to play a specially recorded cassette tape you brought with you.15. You hear people talking, as if they are in a fight, about sports and politics.16. Once every 20 minutes, someone goes out to see how the generaing set is holding up.17. The men are sitting in groups, instead of sitting with their women.18. On the dance floor, you have women dancing alone or with women and men dancing alone or with men.19. Most of the guys are hanging around outside, attending to "business" with cellular phones.20. The hall empties immediately after food has been served.21. Take aways are packed in plastic bags not food containers because they are not big enough22. Special group of guest brings their own food and drinks and place them under the table.23. Naija parties are the only social activities i know that foreign exchange takes place..
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Happiness delayed is happiness denied, and in whatever way the proposal may have originated, whether resulting from "the course of true love" or political calculations, Aisha Yar’adua, the third daughter of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua left the beleaguered billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote facing disappointment after turning down his offer of marriage. But as in everything else about Nigeria’s unscrupulous richest man, now tottering on the brink of bankruptcy, Dangote will not take no for an answer!
It was not immediately clear whether the President influenced his daughter’s decision but observers have been quick to point out that, relations between the two men have been anything but cordial. Yar’adua was said to be still smarting from the snub Dangote gave him in the countdown to the 2007 elections. It is public knowledge that unlike the Obasanjo years during which Dangote had unbridled access to the corridors of power, Yar’adua has, upon taken power, tried to be his own man and attempts by Dangote to warm up to Yar’adua have been met with cold shoulders.
The reasons for the schism between the two men are still not clear, but keen observers are quick to recall that in the build-up to the 2007 elections, Dangote used his financial muscle to arm-twist and shut out Yar’adua’s chosen representative in the election strategy planning committee. By sidelining the President’s eyes and ears in the committee, Dangote wanted to keep Yar’adua in the loop over goings-on in the campaign. Yar’adua didn’t take this kindly.
If Aliko Dangote was a person of good breeding and right feeling, he will need no caution to remember that, once admitted into the heart of the first family as the suitor of a daughter, he will receive one of the greatest possible favors that can be conferred on him, whatever may be his own superiority of social rank or worldly circumstances; and that, therefore, his conduct should be marked by a delicate respect towards the parents of his lady-love. By this means he will propitiate them in his favor, and induce them to regard him as worthy of the uninsured risk Yar’adua will be taking to entrust his daughter to a moral vampire.
Tagged third-point agenda, Aisha`s nuptial race will certainly be an exciting one to watch as there are indications that the list of contenders is getting longer than the list of pretenders. The Yar’adua girls in recent times have simply become the hottest merchandise for most of Nigeria’s opportunistic, treasure-hunting gold-diggers and some wealthy but failed husbands. Little surprise therefore that Aisha Yar`adua, the physically attractive 22-year old President’s daughter has become a major acquisition challenge for Aliko Dangote.
With everything else going down but his libido, Aliko Dangote, whose tendency to flirtation may have given rise to a false hope of Aisha favoring his suit, was emotionally devastated when he was made to understand that within the President’s domestic circles, he was an unwelcome visitor whose probationary suitor status has run its full course. A source close to the Forbes-listed billionaire told Huhuonline.com that Aisha, who is an intimate friend of Aliko’s daughter Halima, sealed Aliko’s fate when she advised him to consult the rules of etiquette saying: "Halima will not forgive me if I marry you."
"Aisha just disposed Dangote like pliable wax with a lightness of demeanor that is humiliatingly scandalous," the source commented, adding that: “when a lady rejects the proposal of a man like Dangote, her behavior should be characterized by the most delicate feeling towards someone who, in offering his hand, has proved his desire to confer upon her, the greatest honor it is in his power to offer. "
No woman of proper feeling would regard her rejection of an offer of marriage from a wealthy man like Dangote as a matter of triumph: her feeling on such an occasion should be one of regretful sympathy with him for the pain she is unavoidably compelled to inflict. At all events, no lady should ever treat a man who has so honored her with the slightest disrespect or frivolous disregard, nor ever unfeelingly parade a more favored suitor before one whom she has refused.
But close sources told Huhuonline.com that Aisha had no love for Aliko Dangote to even at least evince a tender regard for his feelings; and, considered Dangote’s clandestine marriage proposal as presumptuous and intrusive. No right-minded man would desire to persist in a pursuit when he well knows that the object of his admiration has already disposed of her heart.
Aisha’s heart, sources told huhuonline.com, had stood the test of faithfulness and the trial of time with her boyfriend cum oil mogul, Abdurrahman Musa Bashir, whom she introduced as her fiancé to a Huhuonline.com source. Enter Aliko Dangote who saw the prospects of being the President’s in-law as the last line of defence to salvage what remains of his crumbling financial empire. Working behind the scenes, Dangote hatched a dastardly plot to destabilize Bashir by arm-twisting the Managing Director of the bank which financed Bashir’s operations to pull the rug under Bashir’s feet and throw his oil business in jeopardy.
The distraction was enough for Bashir to re-focus all his energies in rescuing his oil business from collapse, leaving the door open for Dangote. But Dangote forgot to learn that a good salesman does not sell his goods by knocking off his competitors; he sells his goods on their merit. With Bashir virtually out of the race, Dangote mistakenly thought that he had made the sale but not closed the deal. Don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed. Emerging feelers suggest that there are subterranean moves by a certain Governor, with very close ties to the Yar`adua, family, to join the race to marry the President’s daughter.
The desperate quest for power amongst Nigeria`s political elite has made politicians, of northern extraction to fall over themselves in the bid to marry Aisha who has literally become an acquisition challenge and “coveted trophy” for very ambitious vultures seeking political patronage.
It should be recalled that Yar’adua`s first daughter married the Governor of Kebbi state. Since the marriage, life has not been the same for Kebbi state governor and his cronies, as things drastically became better. It was then speculated before the bubble burst, that the incumbent minister of FCT, got his plump job because of the union.
Also, in May 2007, Adamu Aliero, anointed, the present governor of Kebbi state to succeed him. As an act of appreciation, the godfather was elevated to the FCT ministry, after Zainab’s marriage. Impeccable sources confided in huhuonline.com that Adamu Aliero was made minister by Zainab. In the spirit of keeping it in the family, it was Adamu Aliero who told Nigerians that President Umaru Yar`adua will seek a second term in office. That was before the squabble between Aliero and the incumbent Governor of Kebbi state.
Recently, the governor of Bauchi state, Isah Yaguda also married Nafisa, Yar’dua`s second daughter, who has since become a major player in Nigeria’s power circles, though he belonged to the opposition party, he has since crossed to the PDP. However, sources revealed that his young wife Nafisa, like her mom, Turai has keen interest in being first lady. Though she is wife number four, she is clearly a dominating factor in the Yuguda household.
The results of the clandestine marriage proposal proved the step to have been ill-judged, imprudent, and highly injurious to the reputation of one party, and would have, in the long run detrimental to the happiness of both. As the race for Yar’adua’s third daughter, Aisha intensifies, who becomes the eventual ‘Mr. Right’, may not be certain but what is sure is that the polygamist-billionaire, Aliko Dangote is out of the race. This perhaps, may give him enough time to squarely face his losing battle against Chief Femi Otedola.
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15 Years later: FHA tells Super Eagles team who won 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia to come for the houses promised themBy FEMI ADEOTIThursday, July 23, 2009The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has advised members of the Super Eagles who won the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia, to report to its Estates Department, to take possession of the houses allocated to them for winning the cup.S. M. Ndanusa, Minister/Chairman, National Sport CommissionAccording to the authority in response to enquiries made by Daily Sun, the houses are located at Isheri Olofin 1 Estate, Lagos, and 1st Avenue 1 (C) Close, Lugbe Estate, Abuja.Daily Sun had on Thursday, July 2, 2009, published an exclusive story on the plight of the members of the team who are yet to be allocated houses promised them by the Abacha Government, 15 years after they won the cup.But FHA’s Head of Communications, Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, in response to enquiries asked the affected team members to come over to the authority’s Estates Department. His e-mail message reads:“Please note that eight units of houses were allocated to the Eagles 1st Avenue 1 (C) Close, Lugbe Estate, Abuja.“Nineteen units of houses were also allocated to them at Isheri Olofin 1, Lagos.“In 2004, FHA went into partnership with Lock Int. Limited and an MoU was signed to complete some houses but the agreement was not followed up by the company leading to the abandonment of the project.“It is, however, advised that all members of Super Eagles of 1994 who have not taken over their houses should come to the Estates Department of the Federal Housing Authority.”Daily Sun had sent a message by e-mail to the FHA, Abuja, seeking clarifications on the inability of the housing authority to fulfill the obligation. The message reads:“The Super Eagles won the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia. They were given houses (three-bedroom each) by the then General Sani Abacha Government. There were 23 players and eight officials in the team.“On June 3, 1994, the General Staff Headquarters, State House, Abuja, wrote to the Executive Chairman, National Sport Commission, informing him of the package. It reads in part: ‘23 players and eight officials be given $8,000, N250,000.00; and three-bedroom house each.’ The letter was signed by Lt. Col. AO Peters for the Chief of General Staff (CGS) and Vice Chairman, PRC.“Members of the team are: Eguavoen A, Iroha Ben, Keshi Okechukwu, Okafor Uche, Finidi George, Oliha Thompson, Yekini Rasheed, Okocha Austin, Siasia Samson, Amokachi Daniel, Oliseh Sunday, Ago Aloy, Ikpeba Victor, Adepoju Mutiu, Rufai Peter, Agbonavdare W, Amunike Emmanuel, Senitoju Isaac, Ikoku Efah, Ugbade Nduka and Ike Sorounmu.“On June 10, 1994, Air Commodore Emeka Omeruah, Chairman, NFA, wrote each member of the team of the allocation of a three-bedroom house. He wrote a similar letter on October 19, 1994, to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing ‘to kindly expedite action to allocate the houses in Abuja and Lagos, accordingly.’“On December 27, 1995, Chief Jim Nwobodo, then Minister of Youth and Sports, wrote the team members: ‘Allocation of houses’ promising that Works & Housing Ministry had been directed for ‘the immediate release of the houses.’“Not until April 3, 1997, that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) wrote to the team members: ‘You are hereby allocated Isheri Olofin Estate, Lagos, for a term of ninety (90) years certain, commencing from the date you are invited to take possession of the housing unit.’ Ibrahim Ali, MD/CE, FHA, signed the letter.“Nothing happened until October 9, 2000, when Olusola Akanmode, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President, wrote the Minister of Sports & Social Development ‘to draw your attention to the VP’s directive for your urgent necessary action,’ on the matter.“A lot of correspondence went on. Sources said those in Abuja and Finidi George in Port Harcourt River States, were given their houses. The rest 28 are yet to take possession, 15 years after.“Isheri Estate has been re-structured and the addresses of the houses supposedly allocated to the Eagles members are no longer in existence.”On his part, the Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Patrick Ekeji, claimed total ignorance. He told Daily Sun in a telephone conversation:“Nobody has brought this matter to my notice. By 1994, I was in Imo State. I am not privy to any document relating to that issue.“Except the matter is brought to my notice, I cannot comment on it. In fact, I don’t even know what to say or do on it. So, I am not aware of what you are saying.”
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Rosemary Obiakor, 46, of Lagos, won more than three million naira (£13,500) in the National Sports Lottery, reports the Daily Metro.When asked what she planned to do with the money after she was presented with her cheque in a ceremony on local TV, Mrs Obiakor said she'd give it to a "lucky beggar"."I have heard a lot of stories about how people win the lottery, and they get broke in the short run and come across a lot of misfortune. I am scared, and so I'll give it to a lucky beggar on the street," she told TV reporters.She collected her cheque, cashed the money and gave the money to a female beggar who was sitting by the street side with her two-year old baby.When Mrs Obiakor and a team of lottery executives handed the beggar a bag full of banknotes, she screamed with delight, and hugged them all.She thanked her benefactor profusely and promised to start a food retail business immediately.Before she went away with her money, the new 'millionaire' gave handfuls of money to other beggars on the street.
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Chinese government had agreed to issue exit visas to Nigerians resident in China illegally, to enable them leave the country without molestation, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.The development is coming on the heels of street protests last week, over the death of two Nigerians who jumped out of a window to escape police clampdown of illegal migrants in Guangzhou Province.This is as Chinese Embassy in Abuja, has said it was yet to receive detailed information on the alleged death of a Nigerian, Emmanuel Egisimba, in the Chinese town of Guangzhou last Wednesday.The Embassy’s Spokesman, Mr Peng Yijun, said they are still waiting for confirmation and approval from Beijing before any reaction could be sent to that effect."There is an agreement in principle with the Chinese authority to issue exit visas to Nigerians who have overstayed without arresting and clamping them into jail,'' Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ayo Olukanni, told NAN yesterday in Abuja.'This is what the Nigerian mission in China is currently negotiating. The mission is working with the Nigerian community to ensure that the list of those affected is compiled for necessary issuing of the visas,'' he said.Olukanni denied that two Nigerians died after jumping through a window.'No Nigerian died. The two people, Mr Ndubusisi Ohaneme sustained some injuries and had been discharged from the hospital, while Emmanuel Okoro, who was in intensive care, is now out and is in stable condition in the hospital,'' he said.According to Olukanni, nearly 20,000 Africans, including 5,000 Nigerians, reside in the Guangzhou Province, adding that in recent times, the Chinese had embarked on an exercise to `flush' out those staying illegally.He advised Nigerians against overstaying their visas to avoid harassment from the security personnel of their host countries.What nigerians face as written from ucboboy in chinaOver the years, Nigerians in China have been suffering untold hardship in the hands of the communist police of China,notwithstanding the deplomatic and trade relations between Nigeria and China.While other smaller african country's citizens are treated fairly one wonders why the citizens from the most populous nation in africa is being treated with levity in China.For example the Chinese authorities has been very considerate in renewin the visas of other african countries with the exception of Nigeria.Other african countries have been getting their resident permit with ease but the case of Nigerians is different.Even when a Nigerian is married to a Chinese Citizens according to the Chinese law the person is still being denied the one year resident permit that the Chinese government give to people in that category rather they will be renewing the person's visa every three months in the case of Nigerian Citizens.One therefore is pushed to ask if the then president Olusegun Obassanjo just signed a bi- lateral relation with Chinese government just to give millions of Chinese citizens free accsess to enter Nigeria so that they help and send our half dead industries to their graves. It is supprising that these Chinese citizens scattered all over Nigeria enjoy their freedom and carry on their businesses without any interference.It is absurd to hear that Nigerians in China do not enjoy any freedom at all and that there are many Nigerians that are being detained by the communist police in an underground cell.It is too bad that while many Nigerians wish to go about their legal businesses that the Chinese communist police are trying their best to frustrate their efforts especially in the commercial city of Guangzhou.The police in the commercial city of Gunagzhou is a carbon copy of Nigerian police in corruption.The difference is that while the Nigerian police collect a pea nut as bribe their Chinese counterpart collect a furtune.Right now in Gunagzhou Nigerians are paying between 10,000 to 13,000 RMB that is 175,000naira to 227,500 naira bribe just to get themselves released as soon they are arrested to avoid being thrown into the underground cell.Even as the Chinese government says that anybody that overstayed should pay a fine of 5000RMB they still cannot not allow Nigerians to pay the fine with ease and go home if they wish to go,rather they will handcuff the person and make him to suffer in the cell and still pay the fine.The wife of a Nigerian who have a resident permit can never claim through her husband's residency, rather if she wish to come to China she will apply and get a one month visiting visa within which she will leave. If not she will be there as illegal allien.Many Nigerian wives are in these category right now.The most annoying thing is that these Nigerians that are being denied the legal stay in China employ Chinese Citizens in their various offices and shops, where they pay them a huge sum ranging from 2000 to 3000RMB monthly that is 35,000 - 52,500 naira. An amount that most Nigerian graduates are not receiving as minimum wage. I was recently informed that among the multinational companies in Nigeria that Chinese are the least paid workers. It is disheartening that these Chinese will cheat us in their country and rob us of our due at home.In Nigeria Chinese are importers, hawkers, clearing agents even visa vendors. In China, most Nigerians hardly see breathing space to carry out their legitimate businesses. A situation that most Nigerians have been helpless about.I need a general advice on how to get this problem solved.Since Nigeria have her own laws, is there any means that we can get Mr Ude the boss of Nigerian immigeration to try and enforce our own laws?Can we unanimousely in this discussion group write pettition to Mr president about this situation.
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15-yr-old Nigerian records flying feat in U.S.
From Laolu Akande, New York
Since July 11 that she accomplished the feat, mainstream American media have been awash, especially in the last one week with the news of the Nigerian-American
Major U.S. media like Cable News Network (CNN), Los Angeles Times, CBS, New York Daily News, and Philadelphia Inquirer, have been writing about Kimberly Anyadike.
However, much as the U.S. media have been reporting her story, there has not been a mention of her's or her family's Nigerian nationality. All the headlines and the stories said nothing about her or her family hailing from Nigeria. Most of the U.S. media headlines have been calling "Los Angeles Teen," "15-year-old girl," "Youngest African-American female," etc.
Speaking to reporters on July 11 as she landed the one-engine Cessna aircraft in Compton, California, after a 13-day flying spree from California on the West coast of the U.S. to Virginia on the East, the young Anyadike, who, hails from the eastern part of Nigeria, said she flew as a "messenger of hope" with expectations that her flight would inspire many more young people "out there."
Anyadike is making waves not only on the airwaves and the press, but also online, where her own facebook has now been supplemented by a fans' page. Already there are talks and you tube videos speculating about her meeting with the U.S. President Barack Obama. She herself has confirmed on her facebook page that the Governor of California, her U.S. home state, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has already invited her to visit at the state capital.
Anyadike's story started after she was enrolled into a flight programme in California having been targeted as an at-risk youth. But before then she had always wanted to fly, a passion that stuck with her until she joined the flight school that trained her under an intervention and mentoring programme.
From there she received air flight instructions and took on the challenge to fly an aircraft across the US under a programme co-sponsored by the U.S. Tuskeegee Airmen, being a group of Black U.S. military pilots whose initial patriotic attempts to join the U.S. Armed Forces and fight in the Second World War were ridiculed with claims that black people lacked the physiological and cognitive developments to fly planes.
She was trained at the Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, a flight school and youth mentoring centre in Compton, California.
The aircraft she flew was named after the Tuskeegee Airmen and one of them, Levi Thornhill, now 87, actually flew with her across the U.S., and another safety pilot. Anyadike, according to U.S. media reports, said she wanted to use the history-making flight to honour the famous Tuskeegee Airmen for their service during the war.
On the 13-day journey she landed in 13 US cities and met with Tuskeegee Airmen all over the country. She said meeting all the Tuskeegee airmen on the trip " was really inspiring to me, and gave me the incentive to keep flying." At all her stops, she was reported to have received a hero's welcome like it was on her return flight to California, which has been posted on youtube.
Speaking on her return to California, from where the 13-day trip had started, Kimberly Anyadike who had been deemed an at-risk youth said: "I really appreciate everything that everyone has done for me." She thanked the Tuskeegee Airmen "for what they have done and what they have allowed me to overcome and to accomplish."
According to her: "I am being a messenger of hope. I hope I am an inspiration to many people out there."
She stated that her accomplishment as the youngest black female, perhaps youngest black person to fly an aircraft had been bigger than her imagination. "This is bigger than just me, larger than any accomplishments I could have ever made."
The 15-year old girl is expected to receive a pilot's licence in two years and she said she would like to become a cardiovascular surgeon with her eyes already set on such ivy league US schools like Harvard, Stanford and Yale. At 15 she is currently in high school and already taking college classes. She is also attending a dance academy, learning to read music in church and training on the piano, violin and guitar.
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Crazy like a Fox is one of few movies directed by a Nigerian that has won global recognition. This film was one of the official selections for the American Black Film festival in 2008 and has been nominated for several awards as well.I got a chance to sit down in Harlem with the director of this movie - Tony Abulu (Back to Africa, American Dream, Crazy like a Fox) and we got a chance to talk about his story behind the arts of film making. Tony Abulu is truly multi-dimensional — uses the arts to express several dimensions of creativity: beyond being the voice for the African film maker and artistic persons in New York, Tony has also been the voice for Nigerian film makers and producers, owned his own Pan-African magazine for ten years, and the list is endless. Enjoy the interview! Tony, could you tell us a little bit about your background?I actually started studying fine arts, graphic design and illustration in college and then I worked in a top ad agency in Nigeria between 1982 - 1984. I eventually left that company because I felt my creativity was eroding but before I left I started a magazine called Black Ivory which was basically ancient Africa in an illustrated form. Some will say that was when my foray into film making actually began. Black Ivory eventually became a major Pan African magazine in Nigeria and the United States and I was in that business for fifteen years (15).What would you say actually took you into the world of movies and films?The idea to make a film came in 1976 when I was in college. I started toying with this idea with a few friends of mine. At that time I was a martial arts instructor, so the script I wrote had major elements that incorporated martial arts. You have to remember that in 1976, there was nothing like that - there were only three or four people who made movies at that time in Nigeria and it was really grand scale and these movies were shot in 35mm. So we (my friends and I) tried to make this movie but it never came about. I will say that was my first foray into the world of films.Beyond your background in martial arts - what other factors influenced your interest in movies?At that time, a lot of people in my age group were being influenced by movies like the Ten commandments, Sound of Music, etc. These movies had the ability to transform you and take you into a totally different world. But, you know we weren’t only being influenced by movies from the West but we were being influenced by movies from India, China etc. I remember my brother fell in love with Indian cultures via Indian movies that he chose to move to India at nineteen (19).You know this is very interesting because you see how African young children get into a form of art that is completely outside their ‘norm’. Nigerians at that time, were looking very heavily into world cultures and we had the opportunity to imbue these cultures at an early age and as such many Nigerians at that time, were calling themselves by Indian nicknames - Jagu, Jatamaurta. The next influence was from Chinese movies like Bruce Lee. We were influenced by different Nigerian cultures as well. I know my Nigerian influence was via my grandmother who used to tell us stories - she was a top rate story teller. She used to sit us down at night and tell us stories about Ancient Nigerian history.So, what event led to your first movie - Back to Africa?About fourteen (14) years ago, at around the time that Eddie Murphy’s movie, “Coming to America” came out, I wrote another script and I was determined to see this script through. My script was called American Dream.I spent some months going after people like Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis to be in my movie. They all read the script and wanted to be in the movie but my budget was 1.4 million dollars and I spent four years trying to raise the money but couldn’t do it.Luckily, one of my very good friends, Obafemi Lasude came to my rescue. Femi Lasude was a Nigerian who used to work in a TV station in Brooklyn, we were both very passionate about entertainment in Africa. He eventually went back to Nigeria to pursue his passion further and he advised that I come back as well. At that time, I had written another script, which took me two days to write, called Back to Africa and I decided to follow Femi’s advise and produce my movie in Nigeria.Femi introduced me to a friend Larry Talbot with the hopes that Larry will invest in my movie. I met Larry and told him about my movie and that same day Larry invested 25 000 dollars in my movie. The only favor Larry wanted was that I take his son to Nigeria with me. So, I did my casting call and picked a couple of my cast from the U.S and then took them to Nigeria. We spent 6 weeks in Nigeria shooting that movie. We went to places like Ekiti, Oshogbo, etc to shoot this movie. By the time we got back and started editing the movie - people who saw it were amazed at the quality. That was the first Nigerian movie anyone ever saw in the U.S.After that movie - I spent the next ten years developing distribution for the Nigerian film industry in the U.S and ironically to this very day - I get orders from all over the world for that movie. That movie cost about 80,000 dollars to produce.You mentioned earlier that there was no form of distribution of Nigerian movies in the states when you produced the movie, Back to Africa - so how did you distribute your movies?I made VHS copies of my movie and I went to every single store and restaurant in different communities from the Caribbean community, African community and the African American Community.I went to Nigerian parties and other parties that I was invited to and set up a table and often times faced the initial jeers at the cost of the movies but people eventually started warming up to the idea and started wanting more of it.During that time, I ran into two other Nigerians - the first one was Rabiu Mohammed - he had a small store in the Bronx ,where he used to sell movies. Today, he is one of the number one African movie distributors in the U.S and another guy called Bethel Agumoh. Bethel Agumoh was the first Nigerian to sell VCD on the Internet in the U.S.A.The Film Makers Association of Nigeria (FAN) was made up of these two men, myself and Caroline Okoli who came through Bethel. Her forte was back end management - she had worked for McDonald corporation for some years. At that time, we had noticed that a few Senegalese and Malian traders were beginning to sell bootleg copies of Nigerian movies and we understood that if FAN does not legitimize the distribution of Nigerian movie where we ensure that people sell authentic copies of the real thing so that producers in Nigeria get some renumeration for the movies sold in the states - the industry could die.At that time, Nigerian producers were selling 100,000 - 200,000 copies of their films. We took this issue to the Nigerian producers in Nigeria but they did not want to listen to what FAN had to say, they felt that we needed to prove that we were serious and had their interest at heart by putting down some money which we were not ready to do. Now, with the Chinese getting involved in the Nigerian movie distribution business - many now wish that they had listened to our suggestions. What is going on now is that a lot of Nigerian movies (as much as 50) are being compressed illegally into one CD and being sold and none of the monies are going to the producers, directors or anyone involved in the creation of the movie. Working with FAN as the president, I was able to convince 70% of distributors of bootleg movies in the states to become legitimate distributors of Nigerian films.Beyond distribution of Nigerian movies, were there other issues that you were hoping that FAN will address?Ultimately, the plan was to get involved in movie projects that tell the cross over stories. We wanted to work on Nigerian projects that can appeal to the American public as well. I think one of the things that Nigerian movie producers do not realize is that very few consumers of Nollywood movies are African American. We have a lot of ‘buyers’ from the Caribbean community, the African community and a couple of others. The reason that the African American community isn’t buying into our movies is because they can’t relate to it.For example, the movie Back to Africa, tells the story of an African American girl that goes to Africa to find her roots and in the process, I integrate every day aspects of Nigerian life. It is a story that appeals to a lot of African Americans because at one time or the other, they had questions about their roots and where they are from originally. that movie is heavily bought into by the African American community but I can’t say the same about a lot of other Nollywood movies.But, I will have to say this about Nollywood’s effect on Americans - it has shown a different face of Africa. For those that do watch it, they see that Africans in Africa live like they do and do not swing on trees. That Africans in Africa have cars, houses, go to parties and often times dress like they do.You’ve definitely been in this business for a long time. What are the weaknesses that you see in the Nigerian film industry?My main problem is the lack of authenticity in most of the stories told. I will call it the ‘fakeness’. There are some movies that are a direct copy of American movies but even when they copy these movies, they refuse to put their ‘Africaness’ or should I say ‘Nigerianess’ into it. They use music that isn’t theirs, they dress in ways that aren’t really authentic. I think a lot of our movies are projecting images that aren’t really African but rather African American and because those images aren’t really ours, it makes it a difficult sell. If you do not really comprehend what it means to be African American then how can you project the image realistically and most importantly how can you support that image?I have often said that if people believe that a certain culture is theirs then they should be able to support it. The way that the world works is that you have your own products that you create and you brainwash other people to buy into it. We need to learn our culture and find out what our own brand of products are and then sell it.Extra:There are a lot of issues within the Nollywood industry that were highlighted during this interview. Regardless of if we buy into his argument or not, Nollywood is an industry that will keep on growing and is one of Nigeria’s main cultural exports. Our hopes are that this industry will become more recognized within the global film making community. Tony Abulu’s movies are a must watch for any connoisseur of movies. I got a chance to watch - Back to Africa and Crazy like a fox and the quality and story telling were on point. You can get these movies
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Pulling the microphone toward him, the dapper 61-year-old man in sunglasses creased his forehead, cleared his throat emphatically and introduced himself to the war-crimes court in the Hague: "My name is Dakpenah Dr. Charles Ghankay Taylor, the 21st President of the Republic of Liberia."Thus began the testimony of Charles Taylor, the reviled warlord and ousted Liberian President, at his landmark trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is facing 11 charges relating to the murder, rape, sexual slavery and mutilation of civilians by rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone — or, as the prosecution put it, he's charged with being "everything from terrorist to rapist." Asked to respond to the charges, Taylor issued a forceful denial. "It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution's disinformation, misinformation, lies and rumors would associate me with such titles," he said. (See pictures of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.)
Taylor took the stand on July 14 at the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone for the first time since his trial began 18 months ago. He is accused of arming, training and controlling Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, who rampaged across the country during its brutal 1991-2001 civil war. Prosecutors allege that Taylor targeted Sierra Leone so he could strip it of its vast mineral wealth, in particular its diamonds. Earlier in the trial, chief prosecutor Stephen Rapp insisted that Taylor was "an exceptional violator of human rights" who steadily provided weapons and support to the RUF in exchange for blood diamonds. Witnesses testified about arms smuggled from Liberia to Sierra Leone in sacks of rice and diamonds sent back in a mayonnaise jar. But Taylor rebutted the claims. "Never, ever did I receive — whether it is [in] mayonnaise or coffee or whatever jar — any diamonds from the RUF," he said. "It is a lie, a diabolical lie."However, it is the stories of Taylor's sheer brutality that are likely to be the most damning testimony. As many as 250,000 people were killed in the blood-soaked conflict that embroiled Sierra Leone and Liberia, even spreading into Ivory Coast and Guinea. During the course of the trial, the court — sitting in the Hague for fear of stirring up fresh unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia — was told about how RUF rebels enslaved and mutilated thousands of civilians, who had their hands and arms severed. Some of the worst crimes were carried out by gangs of child soldiers, who were fed drugs to desensitize them to the horror of their actions.The slang Short sleeve or long sleeve used in the movie Blood Diamond with Leonardo Di Capri and Djimon housou graphically and literally puns the amputation of arms either below the elbow (short sleeve) or above the wrist (long Sleeve) The blood, is plentiful. People about to lose limbs are asked if they want "short sleeve" or "long sleeve." Child soldiers carrying automatic weapons, fire into crowds. There is death, and then more death. All of those interviewed agreed that the film was an accurate portrayal of the violence.And there were tales of even more grotesque violence, including how opponents and peacekeeping forces were killed, cooked and eaten by Taylor's militia. Last year, the alleged head of Taylor's "Death Squad," Joseph (Zigzag) Marzah, told the court that cannibalism was practiced "to set an example for people to be afraid" and that nothing was done without Taylor's approval. Marzah also revealed that he and Taylor belonged to the same secret religious society and had together eaten human hearts.As the charges were laid before him on Tuesday, Taylor, the first African leader to be tried before an international tribunal for war crimes, responded with indignant protestations. "I am a father of 14 children, grandchildren, have fought all my life to do what I thought was right in the interests of justice and fair play," he said. "I resent that characterization of me. It is false, it is malicious."His lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, had earlier denied that Taylor was an "African Napoleon bent on taking over the subregion," saying instead that he was a "broker of peace." Griffiths does not dispute the horrors of the war but says Taylor was not the heart of darkness directing it. "The case is all about linking the crimes to Mr. Taylor, but the evidence has been riddled with inconsistencies," he said. (Read "Charles Taylor Trial Starts.")Taylor launched a Libyan-funded armed uprising in Liberia in 1989. The ensuing civil war lasted until 1996, and Taylor was elected President the following year. He ruled for six years before heading into exile in Calabar Cross river State, where he was eventually arrested. Taylor was sent to the Hague in June 2006, but the trial covers only his role in Sierra Leone.Taylor's testimony is expected to last six to eight weeks, and a final verdict in the case is likely a year off. If convicted, he would serve his jail sentence — he's facing life imprisonment — in Britain. But even if he is acquitted, it doesn't mean his worries are over. Last week, the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a report on the 1989-2003 civil wars. It has a list of eight warlords whom it wants brought to trial for crimes against humanity — and Taylor is on that list.
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Light Up Nigeria: Enough Is EnoughJOIN GROUP NOW !Despite being a country rich in oil, Nigeria’s electricity supply situation is insufficient. “In most parts of the country, darkness pervades and generators have taken over as the source of power”, says Adebayo’s blog. “When the power shuts down – which it does all the time – people sit in the dark or, if they’re lucky, fire up generators that cost the country $140 billion to fuel (add a chunk more for capital and maintenance costs)”, says David Steven at Global Dashboard. Adebayo adds:
But to explain or fathom the reasons why it is so complex. From the cartels who import generators, the contractors who fail to complete power projects, citizens who vandalize power lines and installations, languid attitude of government up to the manufacturers of the generators (in developed countries); all these have a vested interest in the continued failure of power
provision in Nigeria.
Now Nigerians have started a massive online demonstration against this frustrating situation on social media sites, especially on Twitter with the hashtag #lightupnigeria. There’s also a Facebook group, with the following description:
Are you tired of the constant excuses being given for the incompetence of PHCN, we are forming this group as a voice for our generation. It is time for something to be done,the 7th oil producing nation is one of the world’s worst electicity providers. The time has come, Nigeria belongs to all of us and if we do not speak out now,its the same burden we will all have to bear. So join,tell your friends, family andybody you can, enough is enough. Our voice may be small now but as the group grows and the word is spread, the government will hear our words and something will be done. LIGHT UP NIGERIA so progress in all the other sectors can advance also.
Energy is the engine that drives industrialization, which improves communication, helps innovation in science and Technology, provides sound healthcare delivery system and improves citizens’ standard of living. Since energy is the engine that drives industrialization, a sound energy policy would indirectly create jobs even in unexpected sectors.
Archiwiz at To fit or not to fit? commented on the campaign:
The hashtag itself will not do much if the responsible parties don’t take notice and do the right thing, but this is a good first step. Awareness is always important when it comes to movements of change […]
So you ask, what is #lightupnigeria? The words that make up the tag are self explanatory to any Nigerian, or anyone that has spent a good two weeks in Nigeria and has experienced firsthand the impact of lack of electricity in Nigeria. I can give you a long laundry list of what we lose because of lack of electricity, but several things surface: money, time & productivity.
[…] This movement needs to get to get to the media and to the ears of our Nigerian leaders. We cannot continue to wink at our lack of electricity.
lightupnigeria
Here’s a selection of some of the things people have been saying on Twitter as part of the #lightupnigeria campaign:
Olufunmike
Nigeria’s economy can’t change until we #lightupnigeria
imab
#lightupnigeria so that her 140million nigerians can say goodnight and really look forward to having one
Naijanews
the only thing to known to be stable in nigeria is darkness #lightupnigeria
edeanijames
the money we use to buy diesel for a year can pay 10 years light bills, so pls #lightupnigeria
aliceronke
#LightUpNigeria so that people don’t go to work on weekends to iron!
drdammie
#lightupNigeria Nigerians leaders love darkness, cos the works of their hands are so dark, it cant stand no light
ricdizzle
#lightupnigeria cos wen there is no light at nite & i need to pee… aiming for that bowl has to be intuitive!! damn!
pheonixforever
have not had power for 4days now… #lightupnigeria pls
Naijanews
i’m planning to relocate to nigeria soon but plans to visit london every week just to charge my phone #lightupnigeria
Ebukalashnikov
It’s 11pm, which means it’s another night without electricity. Hopefully we can #lightupNigeria so that ‘Goodnights’ can actually be good!
ohdichi
#lightupnigeria because that’s my country & my country deserves light
lowla360
As we fight 4 dis to work,i know u r all tired, but think about your kids, how much u want them 2 grow in a good environment/nation #lightupnigeria
abiolaalabi
i would be mighty ashamed if in future my kids called me d generator generation & i did nothing #lightupnigeria
edeanijames
it ain’t right that at this time and age we dont’ have regular power supply #lightupnigeria
damilola
#lightupnigeria cos constant power supply should NOT be a luxury in 2009
archiwiz
The pollution from generators is stunting the brains of Nigeria’s youth. Now many of us are no longer imaginative. Please #lightupnigeria!
Olufunmike
Obama’s campaign didn’t stop until a day before elections. Our #lightupnigeria campaign won’t stop until 24/7 electricity. Tell ‘em
Ezeani
#lightupnigeria because we have the resources – both natural & man-made..what are we waiting for??
zpixel
Nobody will listen to #lightupnigeria by just twittering,u hve 2 kill somebody&tell d police u mistaken stabbed the fellow cz it was dark…
bubusn
Our greatest challenge isn’t in Abuja. It is in ourselves. It is that voice that says: “This will all amount to nothing” #lightupnigeria
So what are we waiting for lets light up Nigeria !
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FRAUD is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual. It is a crime and is also a civil law violation.
Many fraud cases involve complicated financial transactions conducted mostly by business professionals with specialised knowledge and criminal intent.
Fraud can be committed through many methods, including mail, wire, phone, and the internet. Many scams use telephone calls to convince the victim that the person on the other end of the deal is a real, truthful person.
Many Nigerians have fallen victim of fraud one time or the other. Perhaps the version of the story differs from one victim to the other. The strange thing is that the victims are being defrauded by fellow Nigerians who take the advantage of the respect people have for their kith and kins living in foreign countries.
In the past, the trend was that Nigerians living abroad would send money for a specific project back home. Such people had been swindled many times. They were taught hard lessons, but they became wiser. They now know the “safe hands” to put their money in for any investments back home.
Sometime ago, a man was reported to be sending money home to his brother, who diverted the money, meant for a building construction for personal gain. Pictures of the ‘progress’ made on the work were continuously sent to the trusting fellow abroad until the lid was blown open. He was duped by his own brother!
However, with Nigerians abroad now exercising caution in their dealings with those they are supposed to trust, even relatives, those at home are being duped by people living in their present surroundings, but who claim to be relatives living in faraway countries.
According to a source, a middle-aged man recounted how he woke up on a fateful day to a call from abroad. The caller, using an international number, told him that his son, who was living abroad, had longed to speak with him.
“Your son (names withheld) had been trying your number before he left for office. Since he could not reach you on phone, he asked me to deliver his message,” the man quoted the caller to have said.
Asked how the caller got the details about his son, the man said, “the caller did not mention my son’s name. I gave him the details – his name, country and everything. I was so curious; has anything happened to my son?”
And the message: The son wanted the father to help him acquire a property in a choice area. A friend was arranged to take the man to see the property. The parent was careless. He did not call the son to confirm the development. He took the bait. The next day, he parted with about N500,000 (he was rich and he would do anything for his son) to acquire the so-called property.
On how he got to know he had been duped, the man said his son called later in the day. “I was expecting him to ask me about the latest development, but he did not say anything. I told him all that had happened, but my son said he had no knowledge of it,” the man said.
He decided to check on the ‘property’ the next day, but the number with which he was contacted was no more available.
Another reported case of such fraud involved a man who believed he was being contacted by a neighbour who had relocated abroad. The caller told him that he decided to partner with him based on his record of honesty and transparency and he would also transact a business on his behalf.
The neighbour was so eloquent that the victim did not suspect any foul play. The ‘neighbour’ had left a message also that the man should contact his business associates who had just arrived in Nigeria. The offer was juicy. The man was ready to parter with his former neighbour, but he was entering into a trap. He got involved in the deal. He filled forms and made bookings for the ‘products.’
For certain ‘goods’ the man was to deliver for his ‘neighbour,’ he was to part with about N2 million and pay a non-refundable fee of N150,000 to register for the business. But before the deal could be concluded, he got a call from the real neighbour, who told him to ‘play along’ so the syndicate could be arrested. However, the fraudsters could read the writing on the wall and so they quickly backed out, but not until their victim had parted with about N200,000.
With the latest Internet communication, fraudsters have updated their skills. Pictures of relatives and friends abroad are usually manipulated to perform their dastardly act. Chatting fora like Facebook and others also make their work much easier.
For men who love ‘anything in skirt,’ pictures of beautiful girls are being used to get at them. ‘The girls’ surf the net for addresses of men and then send them mails expressing an interest to begin a relationship with them.
How do the fraudsters get people’s phone numbers? How do they get accurate information about their victims before initiating any communication. Are ‘insiders’ (relatives or other people close to the victim) involved in their work? Like it was stated earlier in this writing, the fraudsters are mostly business professionals with specialised knowledge.
A Nigerian living in London, Kunmi, said the trend was not a new thing.“I have alerted everyone closer to me. I have means of communicating with them and if the need be for anyone to take action on my behalf, they will get across to me first. I don’t know what the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is doing to check the situation,” he said.
Another Nigerian living in the Netherlands said it was the crave for quick wealth that made Nigerians to fall victim of such tricks.
When asked whether any of his relatives in Nigeria had fallen victim of such, he was quick to answer in the affirmative. He said he had warned members of his family to cross-check with him, any information supposedly coming from him before acting on it.
As copied from the Western Austrialia Ministry of Fair Trade’s e-zine Fair Bytes, here is a story of a fraud: “When I received an unsolicited e-mail from a son of a prominent Nigerian, asking for my assistance in retrieving $500 million for a 25 per cent reward, excitement raced through me. I requested more information. A second e-mail provided me with a Nigerian phone number. A purported Nigerian attorney told me that I would receive 20 installments of $25 million deposited into my bank account bi-weekly. All I needed to do was pay $25,000 in expenses and up-front fees.”
According to him, he believed he would soon be on the list of the richest people in the world! All he had to do was send money to these contacts, allowing them to pay for hotels, airfares, gifts, and processing fees.
For the $1,200 sent, he received a faxed copy of a Certificate of Ownership to $25 million. All faxes proudly displayed official signatures, stamps and seals.
A deposit of $32 million within 72 hours into his bank account would take place after he paid a membership fee of $75,000 to join the "Secret Bank." He could have an immediate release of up to $1 million within 24 hours after he had paid the fee and filed the application.
According to the victim, “I asked them to take a cheque, telling them that it will mature in 10 days, but they insisted they preferred cash. So, I travelled to meet them in London.
“There, they communicated by cell phones, and never provided a physical address for contact. We met in my hotel’s bar. They showed me 10 stacks of $100 bills. Each bill had a smudge on its face that I was told would prevent detection by a scanning device as it passed through customs. This money, plus two million more that was waiting in a security company's vault, would be mine within 24 hours if I would buy the special chemical needed to remove the smudges and pay the release fee for the other two million dollars.
“I asked to cut open one of the plastic-wrapped stacks of money so I could fan through it. I believed I saw 10 stacks of copy paper with a $100 bill topping each stack. They did not allow me a hands-on inspection!
“As I stalled for time, trying to find a suitable end to my investigation, a cellphone rang. The conversation was not for my ears, but due to the loud, panicky voice of the caller, I could not miss her words: ‘Where’s my money!”
This was the voice of a woman who was recently duped and was threatening to have her money back from the contacts, and as such, the man knew it was a game and he sought ways of escape for himself.
w
The next time you get calls from abroad supposedly from families and friends, be sure you are talking with the right person, otherwise, you might be on the way to getting duped.
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281x211.jpgDome Project’ reportedly featured elaborate sets, including a ‘Thriller’-like cemetery.In addition to overseeing the over-the-top, effects-heavy stage show for his comeback shows at the O2 Arena in London, Michael Jackson completed a mysterious video production known as the “Dome Project” two weeks before his death on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.The production could be the last video piece from the singer known for creating some of the most acclaimed, elaborate music videos in history. While details on the project are hard to come by due to confidentiality agreements signed by those who worked on it, two unnamed sources with knowledge of its existence spoke to the AP.According to these sources, the five-week project was housed at Culver Studios in Los Angeles — the same set used for “Gone With the Wind” production 70 years ago. Jackson was said to be on set for most of the days it was shot, from June 1-9. Four sets were constructed for the video, including a cemetery similar to the one from the singer’s famous 1983 “Thriller” video. Other sets included one draped in black with an oversized portrait of Jackson in his “Thriller” werewolf costume, a simulated lush jungle and a fake construction site.The project is now in post-production and is slated for completion next month. Michael Roth, a spokesperson for concert promoter AEG Live, told the AP that he had not heard about the “Dome” shoot, but it could have been part of the company’s contract with the entertainer, which reportedly had provisions for the release of musical recordings and videos. MTV News could not reach Roth for further comment at press time.An anonymous source said a very thin, pale Jackson left a strong impression on the crew during the production, arriving in a caravan of SUVs with “hulking security guards in tow” and introducing himself to workers on the set. The singer was described as having a “spring in his step,” but it was noted that at one point he needed help while walking down a set of stairs on the stage.The shoot reportedly included one scene on the construction site set featuring scantily clad male dancers wearing construction belts.In addition to the “Dome” project, AEG Live is reported to have filmed 100 hours of rehearsals for the London shows, including last Wednesday’s final rehearsal, which wrapped up just hours before Jackson’s death. That footage could be used to create what would be Jackson’s first-ever live CD and DVD.Video of Rehearsals Just Days Before His Death
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Now I need y’all to help me out here. I really don’t understand what it is with these actors that make them decide they want to go into music. What exactly is wrong with the world today? Why can’t folks just be content with the amount of talent they have been allocated with in life… why do they want to force themselves into different aspects that they are CLEARLY not supposed to be in? When are you guys gonna get it into your brains that it is not gonna work, except… of course, you are Nkem Owoh or Patience Ozorkwo a.k.a Mama G (yea… I know, I was also shocked when I found out that she too had an album) whose albums were more comical than they were professional- totally understandable for their age. I even heard that they are giving Akanchawa a run for his money in the East.drama to Rap RnB could be better
comedians to highlife musicians doing well !hit song I GO CHOP YOUR DOLLAR Nkem Owoh aka Osuoffia
Mama G iyo gwo gwo
omotolas Dance feat rugged man
Jim iyke feat 2Face&Micheal blakson Who am I
Oh… don’t get me wrong; there are a few good eggs whose venture into music was not a wasted effort. I am talking about the likes of Stella Damasus Nzeribe who has a relatively good voice and a fairly good stage presence… nothing to make you go WOW but something to make you get that warm fuzzy feeling on the inside of you. Oh yea… that’s right! Some of y’all don’t know that she has remarried. Well, just keep logging on and I promise to give you an inside scoop on that gist. And of course there are the wanna bes like Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Genevive Nnaji, both extremely gorgeous women with absolutely NO talent in music. All well and good, they are fantastic when it comes to acting but someone needs to tell them not to quit their day job to go into singing. It is a dead end… period!
9JABOOKSHAKARA TODAY Special Focus (JI) aka Jim Ikechukwu Jim Iyke .He can he become the P-diddy of Naijana wa o where was I going to with all this… (Scratch my head ) Ah yes! Reports have reached us that the talented and handsome actor, James Ikechukwu popularly known as Jim Iyke has been as busy as a bee lately. Why…? Well… apparently, he has put finishing touches to his (eyes rolling) album… yea! You heard me right… HIS ALBUM! Now before some of you ladies get all excited about your favorite actor venturing into music, I think it’s only fair that I remind you that others (actors) have tried and come up with nothing… NADA! ZILCH! Folks like Genevieve, Desmond Elliot, Omotola and the rest of them actors who tried… failed. So I wouldn’t be counting my chickens before they hatch if I were you. I mean, I could be wrong but I rarely am. Now the gist is that our boy Iyke has released his musical video which he spent quite a load of cheddar to shoot in South Africa. It is a video he features Two Face and Micheal Blakson the US based Standup comedian from Ghana. It is really amazing how everyone… and by everyone I mean actors, seems to have hopped onto this band wagon hoping to be the next 9ice or D’banj or Asa out of Nollywood. Yea… like that’s gonna happen. Pff! Iyke seems optimistic though and who could blame him?Now the boy is said to have golden fingers… who said it? I haven’t the foggiest but IT has been said on a few occasions. The boy is currently shuttling between the U.S where he is shooting a new home video. Reports call it a movie but we all know that it is actually a home video. You all know the difference right? Home videos are those really awful stories being played by absolutely untalented actors shot with the same kind of cameras folks use at funerals and oh… lets not forget the ridiculous dialogues and stupid soundtracks… (Head shake) (sigh) Sources say that Iyke’s new movie will have a lot of Hollywood stars… (eyes rolling) in it. Pa..leaseeee… they ought to say that the film has plenty oyinbo waka pass. Hollywood stars? Haba! Yea… I’ll believe that when akamu gets sold in Tesco UK and my man Osita aka Jadon the gangster grows 7feet tall and Nepa functions 24/7 non stop.Anyways, asides his successful career in acting and the non-existent but ‘here’s hoping’ one in music, Iyke is doing extraordinarily well for himself; having recently moved from his 3 bedroom apartment in Ikeja to a palatial mansion in lekki area, near Alpha Beach. The former model and proud owner of a car dealership who hails from Enugu state is showing that he has all it takes to be a typical Ibo man… Nna meeeen! All that’s missing are those trousers they all wear that reach their chests.Iyke has been voted one of ‘the most sought after five’ in Nollywood, as a matter of fact, he has occupied the all important A-list of male actors since the last four years. Yet, the process, rather than tire him out, has seen him rejuvenated and even better in the interpretation of his roles…. Now I stole this paragraph word for word from a local newspaper… you’ll forgive me if I don’t believe a word of it.I do have to say that Jim Iyke has fared better than most of his peers, as a matter of fact; he is, to an extent, a better actor that a good number of the male folks in the industry, even though he is fond of scaring the kids when he enlarges those massive eyes of his when he is in character. Between his and Segun Arinze’s, I don’t know who is better (pls your comment ). He has made a fortune from the acting. That’s right, movies have paid off so well that jim has transported himself from that role seeking, broke dude who just dropped in from Jos in the mid 1990s, to the super star he is today who is completely swimming in cash.Now, Iyke place in Lekki is said to have cost the Nollywood star a whopping N50 million; land, building and all. The duplex is also said to have 10 rooms with imported furnishings and marble works from Italy. Oh… and for all of y’all who have that little devil on your shoulder telling you to plan some kain strong thing for the brother, you will be wasting your time. Iyke’s security gadgets are one of a kind. What do you expect? He is Ibo, dem no dey play with dem money o!The house boasts of a swimming pool to impress the ladies, a well stocked bar for all his drunkard friends, a kitchen that ought to be in vogue homes, a private lounge and den and we must not forget to hype the bedroom. Careful ladies… try not to get a crease in your knickers okay? You know what…? on second thoughts, I am gonna skip this part before some of you ladies get any bright ideas.There is no doubt that lyke has it all. His taste in clothes and cars are impeccable. His wardrobe boasts of different brands of designers and I am not talking about the cheap ones. I mean the really big labels. From shirts to shoes to belts to sunglasses… you would think you were in the best fashion house for men in Naija. Not only does the dark handsome actor have an eye for clothes and cars, he is also a huge collector of accessories- bangles, rings, chains, wristwatches… name it. Bros dey rock jewelry pass woman. At least the lucky lady ought not to be scared about her man picking out her engagement and wedding rings but she should be worried that he wouldn’t rock the engagement ring as part of fashion… if you know what I mean.
Iyke is also an auto freak! He buys them, he drives them and he sells them. His garage looks like a freaking car dealership. Folks barge in, see his cars and make him an offer he can’t refuse. He takes it and then gets a better and more expensive model for himself, all for another friend to come pick it up. Ha! Ibo sense. But this is just like his second habitat because this original ibo boy has an auto sales business which his father manages for him.
Specially adapted and rewritten from various sources contact me for more details or if you have more details.
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I think when the world (or even Nigerian federal officials) talk about Nollywood, they are not thinking about the Hausa film industry, a.k.a. Kannywood. Nollywood is simply the Nigerian movie industry WITHOUT its Hausa component. Surprisingly, Nollywood includes the Igbo and Yoruba productions. The question is: why are Hausa movies not included? In my view, it has to do with the fact that federal officials working in the culture sector - Ministry of Information and its parastatals such as the National Film and Videos Censors Board and the Nigerian Film Corporation - hardly remember Kannywood when they are designing policies. Until in recent years, they scarcely included Kannywood stakeholders in their programmes.Of course, things have been changing in recent years. Kannywood stakeholders have been making an in-road into the federal culture sector - participating in film festivals, awards and meetings. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before we get THERE, largely due to the dominance of non-Northerners in the sector and in the mainstream mass media. If you take a look at the entertainment pages of Nigerian newspapers where news and gossip about the Nigerian movie world are told, you will hardly see anything being said about Kannywood. That is, with the exception of northern papers like Leadership, Trust, New Nigerian and Triumph.The senseless attacks on Kannywood operators by officials of the Kano State Censorship Board in the bogus name of sanitising the industry appears to have taken Kannywood back in reckoning. That's the actual target of the censors. But theirs is a futile exercise because only a dimwit will presuppose that a censorship regime can destroy the progress of the new information technologies, of which movies are a significant part.This is more so in a democracy, which has a preset tenure. As the Hausa say, "Zalunci ba ya karewa!"Posted by Bahaushe Mai Ban Haushi! at 14:01
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