It is only in the dream that a rat will fall in love with a cat.

Nigeria is a great country, despite all our short and long comings. A nation of great people, in all ramifications, it is a collection and conglomeration of the good, bad and extremely ugly. Trust me; it has extremely wonderful persons, great citizens and somewhat indescribable leaders.

The nation's production line is non-stop in terms of human resources, wonderful writers, doctors that can hold their own anywhere, lawyers that are law personified, computer whiz kids and witches, fathers of the internet and children of yahoo-yahoo, in all fields of human endeavour we compete we do very well.

What then is the problem, some call it the Nigerian myth, others say its 'our way' to others it's a problem deeply rooted in bad leadership. Some say and correctly that we are a victims of our own self-destruct nature. After all these leaders do not fall from the sky, they are Nigerians too, products of the system one must admit. So what then is the problem?

We are a nation of amazing contradiction. We produce a Maitama Sule and compliment him with a Sani Abacha, we get Wole Soyinka and tag him with an Alao Akala, for every one genius we are blessed with a collection of rascals... (Apologies to Jonathan).

We all know the problem or at least have a version of what the problem is, many a reports and submissions lie in archives of possible solutions but we are just content being where we are.

Irrespective of how one feels, we are trail-blazers, record breakers. If we are not the happiest, we are the most religious and yet we engage in some of the most sadistic religious conflicts, sociologists and psychologists are still short of the most appropriate classification of human species that we fit into.

We are blessed with leadership that build bridges where there are no rivers. Give motorcycles to underage boys and label them as miscreants.

In the above paragraphs I have deliberately strayed from what was supposedly my topic for discuss on purpose but for the discerning mind I have only highlighted the discrepancies we find ourselves as a nation as highlighted by the title of this discuss.

Some five years ago I was priviledged to interview General Muhammed Buhari, then he was a 'fundamentalist' for what now I really could not tell, the interaction was sequel to my backpage comment in Leadership Newspapers, I titled it 'the president Nigeria cannot have'.

Five years on, he has become a pastor, now we all know his driver is a Christian, his cook knows the pope, and his current wife is ECWA, COCIN, or OFN, whichever? This is besides his newly found love with Idiaghbon's lost son, Tunde Bakare. However the fact remains that some of the reasons I stated then, why he could not be president are still relevant today.

The pair Buhari/Bakare make the new BB, a force sweeping many parts, take it or leave it, on a good day...with emphasis on the term ‘good day’, without the Ribadus, Shekeraus, Utomis, Momodus it would be like imagining that Arsenal would beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp by 4-0 if it were a straight call between Buhari and Jonathan.

Buhari is old...how old, Buhari is strict, how strict. He is an Islamic fundamentalist, of the Shiite order or simply Al-Qaeda. Ordinarily in a failed coup, (without all that military history of how he became head of state), he committed treason and should have been hanged.

I do not know whether it’s me, but the truth is that he is not erudite, scholarly or possess the Obama feel. But for one, I like his scary old school principal look that tells you "dare come to school late".  Are these answers, certainly not...

But beyond Buhari, for those hailing Jonathan...is he the answer?

No matter the provocation, no president should use uncouth language, calling governors rascals is not right; however how many of those governors are really not rascally in one of their behaviours or the other. Yet that does not give you right to address them as such.

Not that I sincerely care about what they call themselves, but then for the opposition to refer to a sitting president as a drunken sailor fisherman, makes ridicule of the system, and we can all thank God that it is a democracy, imagine calling Abacha, an apple eating frolicking president during his lifetime. A visit from Rogers would have put some senses into the commentator.

The above highlights the disdain that many have of the Jonathan presidency; it’s not so much about Jonathan but the PDP as a political group that is overwhelmed by itself. I mean whichever way; with an Obasanjo by one's side you can call anyone an idiot. Besides for our elite, it’s a case of bastards and bigger bastards.

Besides all the theories we know on Goodluck, apart from facebook, and how many children he has and does not have, and if Patience is older and her own sweet way of speaking English, who is this Jonathan?

What does these amiable fisherman bring, for once can we look beyond the incumbency and the money to throw around, what really has Jonathan done to impact on lives, how did Buhari impact on lives in his short reign?

In all the failed Buhari attempts, what is the guiding philosophy, what did Jonathan do in Bayelsa?

Are Nigerians asking the real questions, are we content the way Nigeria is presently structured, do we continue with the senseless killings up country, and the thuggery, robbery, arson, down south? All the stereotyping and labelling does it suit us, rascal South Westerners,  drunken Ijaw fishermen, murderous Hausa men, kidnapping Ibo men and many more?

Are we permanently confined to men that call god or the ones God calls, why should we still in 2011 be required to pray and fast while others share the money and break the fast for us? Why is governance still not a planned effort but one that is cemented to luck...so when it’s good we take and when it’s bad we simply nod?

Which of these men that want our mandate in April has a spreadsheet of how, when, where, which...they all do not have a timeline on deliverables. Ribadu talks of a million houses like it’s a Dangote bag of rice. Jonathan talks power, forgetting how that sector has become a cash cow.

The Momodus and Utomis just make up the number, if its change we should believe in and it’s all about selfless service what stopped the all mega alliance at least for now?

The old man that has not won councillorship in Yobe says it must be a Northern, why don’t you support Buhari, or Ribadu, or Shekarau. Maybe these are not convenient Northerners.

Of the men vying for the abused seat of Nigerian presidency why are we again faced with the burden of picking from a basket that has question marks written all over? Again it is business as usual; the preferable is not available, so the available has become preferred.

Buhari is strict but every crook and harry is queuing behind CPC, Jonathan is finding his feet and our money is just disappearing. Despite my largely pessimistic view, I believe that change is possible, how; I really do not seem to know these days, when...I am beginning to fear, not in our lifetime.

I therefore end this discuss challenging, the Pastor and the fisherman and other allied co-travellers to go on national television in words that the market woman, the economist, professor, and spare parts dealer can understand and tell us what they want to and can do for these slumbering giant. Let us all say enough of empty promises and film-tricking of gullible citizenry.

Between Buhari, and Jonathan they are still far away from the issues and substances of what Nigerians in normal circumstances deserve as a reward to sustained democratic practice. Seems we are content living the dream than facing reality.

This article was prompted by three objectives. First is to salute the wisdom of President Jonathan for redressing the injustice meted out to Malam Nuhu Ribadu. Second, to bring to Ribadu’s notice that although he did fairly well, the saintly posturing in which he has been portrayed is not quiet so. On the contrary, as Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he perverted justice by the administration of selective treatment and turned the Commission into Obasanjo’s attack dog. Third, to establish the fact that the fight against corruption can only record severe reverses if agencies are headed by men or women from the Nigerian Police Force.

It is a settled principle that situations and circumstances can produce leaders, and history is replete with a huge array of such leaders. It is also settled that man is a creation of society, just as an organization begets the leadership it deserves. Every individual is a mirror image of the organization he/she serves. The police institution in Nigeria is one corrupt institution that has acquired universal notoriety. Since the visit of the U.S. secretary of state Mrs. Hilary Clinton and her scathing criticism of the anti-corruption, there has been  an urgent need for  reappraisal of the crusade...
 
When the EFCC was established, expectations were high due largely to the fact that corruption has eroded public confidence in most organizations. When Malam Nuhu Ribadu was appointed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the initial steps taken by the EFCC crime buster were fair within the context of Nigeria. The major impediment was that the crusade was turned into a punic war well-orchestrated to settle political scores, especially against the anti-tenure elongation group. It was alleged (and there is sufficient proof) that the EFCC beamed its searchlight mostly on the political foes of former President Obasanjo and Ribadu could not hold his head above such executive fiat issued from Otta Farm. Rather than treat petitions to the Commission, he needed overwhelming facts before commencing investigations. Thus the clause “insufficient evidence” was used as safety valve for deliberately glossing over cases, and most corrupt public officers were shielded. The scores of petitions written against some corrupt officials in Federal Government parastatals were left unattended to.

As a person, Malam Nuhu Ribadu could have resisted the temptation of acting out the script of his paymaster, but as EFCC Chairman, he could not live above board. It was his ability to act the choreographed scripts that might have prompted Aso Rock to give him double promotion, without regard to the Police Service rules. For instance, the EFCC confessed that 30 Governors were being investigated, but until he left office, not up to four of them were actually investigated, and only two were actually prosecuted. But there were very reported cases of corrupt Governors who were deliberately ignored by the anti-graft agency. Ribadu only brandished his Interim Report on Governor Peter Odili a few days to the PDP Convention, ostensibly to disqualify him from aspiring to the Presidency. He was left off the hook as soon as the contest was over. 

The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) started the probe of allegations of corruption in the PTDF, the Campaign for Accountable Governance through Elections (CAGE) had asked the Committee to uphold transparency, accountability and fairness in undertaking this important constitutional task. The Senate Committee was established following reports that out of about $700 million realized during the 2002/2003 bidding rounds only about $145 is known to have been transferred to the PTDF account. Cases like this are legion, but the EFCC under Ribadu did not investigate these cases of corruption.

In the words of Femi Falana “It robs citizens of their potential and aspirations for a brighter future, as well as fuels transnational crimes and threatens a nation’s collective security. Dishonest, corrupt, and unethical behaviour among public officials undermines the trust and confidence of the people that government can do "good" and advance the public interest”. To these lines could be added the inherently destructive tendency of corruption of democracy and the rule of law. The picture is worse in a nation like Nigeria, which is struggling to break the cycle of poverty, corruption and pave the way for accountability and good governance.

It is evident that the political leadership in Abuja lacks the political will to advance democratic reforms and implement anti-corruption laws consistently and impartially. The lack of political will, coupled with double standard, is mostly evident in the government deliberate policy of relying on a diluted and politically motivated notion of the rule of law to justify many of its actions. What is needed therefore is for the government to do what it preaches by ensuring that no one is above the law, and by demonstrating a faithful commitment to the anti-corruption fight.

The appointment of Mrs. Farida Waziri as the head of the anti-corruption apparatus following Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s demotion and subsequent dismissal was greeted with approval by Nigerians. This is understandable following series of compromises witnessed under the latter’s leadership; Ribadu became a handy tool of vendetta in the filthy hands OBJ during his era of ‘democratic dictatorship’. The Ribadu led war on corruption lost public acceptance when his EFCC started prosecuting OBJ’s political foes in what best passes as witch-hunt reminiscent of medieval Europe. The flagrant disregard of court orders is one of the trademarks of Ribadu’s EFCC. A member of the House of Representatives – Hon. Morris Ibekwe died under EFCC detention despite a court order that granted him access to medical treatment.

Towards the end of the Obasanjo administration phrases like “soft landing” and “plea bargain” were introduced as patchworks into the lexicon of the anti-corruption outfit. There was deep-seated suspicion the ex-President OBJ was using EFCC to protect those he loved and to persecute those who had fallen out of favour with him. Such fears were confirmed by the behaviour of the then EFCC Chairman. The alacrity with which the EFCC pursued the cases of Governors Joshua Dariye and DSP Alamieyeseigha portrayed him as a man waging a war of vendetta of some sort. It was the same “holy war” he waged against the succession bid of Atiku – his Vice-President. As long as the battle against Atiku lasted, the then EFCC Tzar was never known to be an impartial umpire.

Another case Ribadu treated with levity was the case involving Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello. When the bribery scandal of Senator Wagbara, Professor Fabian Osuji came up, the EFCC swooped on Prof Adenike Grange and she and the junior Minister of Health were promptly sacked but Senator Iyabo  Obasanjo-Bello was not touched because she is the President’s daughter. Ex-President OBJ has retired into stupendous wealth and albeit even clerics have been calling for his probe, EFCC has ignored such calls.  The case of Olabode George was prosecuted by EFCC to save its face in a matter that was bad from the onset. It will be recalled that Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Belo was involved in a N3.5bilion contract scam, which was not investigated by Ribadu, but Waziri has since commenced investigations into allegation of fraud levelled against some members of the Senate Committee on power.

The extremists’ traits manifested in Mallam Nuhu’s EFCC, contributed grossly to the lack of sympathy visited on him when the table turned. Till date the Ribadu debacle concerning the sales of ex-governor Alamiesegha’s confiscated assets to fraudulent and unregistered companies is yet to be resolved. The continued appointment of police officers and those with police credentials maybe slowing down the fight against corruption, following their (police) antecedents we may well consider the thieving tendencies of their ranks on our roads to be manifest following allegations and counter-allegations of extortion by Farida’s deputies from corrupt individuals and public officials. In Nigeria, corruption seems to exist in the DNA of every policeman. This is not to say that there are not a few who do policing with dignity and honour. 

Although Ribadu is not a saint, he fought a patriotic battle but deliberately covered-up some corrupt people who are either Obasanjo’s cronies or PDP apologists. That was why the Pentascope saga; the yet to be resolved PTDF scandal; the financial malfeasance of the ex-inspector General Sunday Ehindero; the corruption earthquake in the Siemens and Halliburton have not been thoroughly investigated. But in the case of the Former Inspector General Tafa Balogun, he was not only arraigned but also maltreated like a common criminal, maybe because he fell out of favour with former President Obasanjo.

Malam Ribadu also played a less than edifying role in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,. Several Civil Society Organizations petitioned the activities of the Commission, especially the nearly N45 billion the NDDC spent on the 259 page Master Plan. Ribadu never wanted to examine such petitions, fuelling rumours that so much water might have passed under the bridge and the bridge might have been broken.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu made most Nigerians believe that Nigeria is George Orwells Animal Farm, but the divine standard of judgment is not crooked. As human mortals our standard of judgment should be a reflection and approximation of God’s divine standard of justice.  But unfortunately Ribadu’s behaviour was most of the time inconsistent with his role as an impartial umpire. Plus or minus Malam Nuhu Ribadu increased the momentum of the anti-corruption war which is now being sustained by his successor. Beatifying Ribadu is giving him too much accolades for a crusade he started well but twisted to the megalomania of his paymasters. Most often he consulted with the gods of Ota Farm before taking crucial decisions- an indication that Ribadu was bent more on satiating OBJ than pursue the crusade with zeal and according to the rule of Law. Mallam Ribadu was never and is never a saint.

While this writer expresses gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for undoing the injustice meted out to Ribadu – who is a product of a corrupt establishment - the Nigerian Police Force. No Nigerian policeman or politician for that matter can be a saint at least not now. Ribadu cannot be a saint because he was a police officer who worked under the preponderant influence of a civilian dictator-OBJ. It is the wish of this writer that EFCC investigations be conducted with fairness and in such a manner that is not persecutory, sensational or political. When Mrs Farida’s tenure expires, a replacement should not come from the NPF but from other institutions. In any architecture, there is equity between the pragmatic function and the symbolic function. The anti-graft agencies in Nigeria should place premium on the pragmatic rather than the symbolic, for there is but one law for all, namely the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice and equity.

Idumange John, wrote the article when he was replaced by Mrs Farida Waziri. iduagreen@uahoo.com

The United States Department of Justice (USDOF) has said it has detained five Nigerians and one foreigner after it indicted them of billing the United States Government of nearly $30 million dollars in a fraudulent medicare scheme where they submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, mostly for electric wheelchairs that were never delivered.

An announcement by the USDOJ said the arrests are part of a nationwide crackdown on Medicare fraud.

Three indictments charging six defendants were unsealed on Friday in a United States District Court in Los Angeles. The local charges are among cases filed in nine cities across the United States that charge a total of 111 defendants, who cumulatively are accused of being involved in nearly a quarter-billion dollars worth of false billings submitted to Medicare.

The announcement listed the defendants arrested Friday as:
• Camillus Ehigie, 50, of Woodland Hills;
• Evans Oniha, 48, of Rancho Palos Verdes, who self-surrendered this morning;
• Charles Achike Agbu, 56, of Carson;
• Obageli Brooke Agbu, who is Charles Agbu's daughter, 24, of Carson;
• Joseph Ofoegbu, 58, Gardena; and
• Sarah Hua, 64, of Monterey Par.

The six defendants were arraigned on the health care fraud charges on Friday in federal court in downtown Los Angeles, with the exception of Ehigie who is being treated for an undisclosed medical condition.

Over the course of nine years, the USDOJ said Camillus Ehige and Evans Oniha allegedly submitted more than $16 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for durable medical equipment and in-home nursing services that typically were not provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

Ehige and Oniha were the owner/operators of Caravan Medical Supplies in Culver City and Prosperity Home Health Services in Lawndale. Ehige owned and operated Osbed Medical Supply in Woodland Hills. Ehige and Oniha were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and several substantive counts of health care fraud for billing the Medicare program for durable medical equipment and home health services that were not medically necessary and, in many instances, not even provided. Ehige and Oniha allegedly paid "marketers" for access to Medicare beneficiary information or to have Medicare beneficiaries obtain fraudulent prescriptions for equipment or services. Ehigie and Oniha were also charged with making a false statement in a health care matter, and Ehigie was charged with obstructing an investigation into a healthcare offense for instructing a co-conspirator to lie to law enforcement agents about the scheme run out of Caravan, Osbed, and Prosperity.

In the second case, Charles Achike Agbu and his daughter, Obageli Brooke Agbu, were charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and several counts of health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment through their Carson companies. Charles Agbu owned and operated Bonfee, Inc. and Obageli owned and operated Ibon, Inc. The indictment alleges that the Agbus billed Medicare for durable medical equipment, such as electric wheelchairs and orthotics, that was not needed, wanted, or even delivered to the Medicare beneficiaries for whom the bills were submitted. As part of the scheme, the Agbus allegedly obtained prescriptions from doctors for the medically unnecessary equipment and then used those prescriptions, along with the Medicare beneficiary information, to submit fraudulent claims to the Medicare program. Bonfee and Ibon allegedly submitted to Medicare a total of approximately $12 million in fraudulent bills for durable medical equipment.

Joseph Ofoegbu, the owner and operator of Iyke Associates in Torrance, and Sarah Hua, a marketer who procured beneficiaries for Ofoegbu, were charged with three counts of health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement for motorized wheelchairs. The indictment alleges that Ofoegbu used marketers, including Hua, to recruit beneficiaries who were then seen by physicians who prescribed medically unnecessary durable medical equipment. The prescriptions were sent to Iyke Associates, which fraudulently billed Medicare using those prescriptions. According to the indictment, the beneficiaries either did not receive the equipment or they received less expensive equipment than the items Iyke billed to Medicare. Iyke billed a total of approximately $1.5 million in claims for DME it purported to provide to Medicare beneficiaries.

In announcing the nationwide crackdown on Medicare fraud today, Attorney General Eric Holder said: "With this takedown, we have identified and shut down large-scale fraud schemes operating throughout the country. We have safeguarded precious taxpayer dollars. And we have helped to protect our nation's most essential health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid. We are waging an aggressive fight against health care fraud."

Actress Omotola

Jalade Ekeinde made history last Sunday being the first Nollywood actress to walk the red carpet at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. But her well-intentioned appearance was jeopardised by her black and white prom-like dress which dealt dastardly with her tummy, arms, over-sized butts, miniature breasts, doing absolutely nothing to flatter any part of her body.

From her hair down to underwear, fans criticised the otherwise gorgeous screen diva. Many felt badly represented by her fashion sense, comparing her to ‘rival’ Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic and even Ini Edo. It’s obvious that more than 60 per cent of Nollywood fans expected a more ‘decent’ show off from the respectable wife and mother of four.

While many agree that she needs a gym membership urgently, a few others opine that patronising Ardyss Body Magic would have solved some of the problem apart from the bad dress pick. Below is an excerpt of some of the grievances and defense as posted by Omotola’s fans on the internet.

The budding singer was reportedly accompanied by her new international management team “Bishop Entertainment consult & Bungalow/Universal records.

Another Revelation was another Photo Same dress Same Pose But Spot the differences !

Fans & Foes Comment:

Note that the grammatical errors in the comments are deliberately retained

Pinapple

Is like this babe is pregnant cos she has added a lot, well you look good all the same

R*bb**h

I can’t believe Omotola wore dis r*bb**h (rubbish) 2 d grammys. like r u 4 real? is dat all she can afford? talk abt dressin 2 suit ur body…her tummy is protruding, her arms r thick…wat ever happened 2 a long gown 2 cover d legs, n did she hav 2 show her black bra like dat? c’mon omotola, i kn(o)w u cud hv (have) done better…u can afford a stylist girl…don’t b a scrooge…

Anonymous

That‘s not the real omotola. This is fake omotola That lady is not omotola. That‘s fake omotola right there.

bigossip

If na Geni or Rita Domnic walk this red carpet America go know say them come. See the prom gown she s wearing. Pls (please) actors guild should contribute money for her, she needs an emergency lipo- suction. See how ruff her front hair is. And who is this guy grabing her a**

Eye wey see

Bigossip na true u talk. She luk(looks) lik(e) just a house girl. Maybe her husband no allow her go initially but she managed 2 jump d fence wit dat gown. Guy as 4 d grabing a** dat one done pass a** na (sheet box) dem go call mu

Melford

This Omotola is looking so aweful (awful)… well, I think say na because she don dey age. I mean, nothing good about Omotola here at all. Wait a minute, why did that guy put his hand on her butt? Naija men, they can’t stop tresspassing.

Ugo

Where Omotola come throw way her marriage ring put abi she think say we no go see am? Wow, it means she didn’t want people around to know she’s married. I for descipline (discipline) am if to say I be her husband. You are a disgrace to womanhood….looser!!!

Onome-(Dublin Ireland)

Why should Omotola allow that American dude to place his hand on her huge buttocks? Secondly, the mimi (mini) gown she wore is too tight, revealing her shape. She suppose to have gone for a cute dinner gown, she also need to shade (shed) some weight, instead she is adding more flesh. Honestly, am not too impressed.

She look like any other lady on a casual date. Those belly fat needs to be lost. Is not only for her kind of job also for her health wise!!!!!!!!!

Denty

Nawa o I saw dat hand on her bum. Omosexy pls give urself (yourself) some respect ur (your) kidz are watching.

Lena

How could u? Hope u didn’t tell any body there that u from Nigeria. U look so trashy, ur dress is too short, ur bra is showing, ur hair is messed up, no class at all. Look at ur tummy, when are u going to start dressing according to ur size…I cant believe u did this. Stop calling urself Omosexy. There is nothing sexy about u.

Watsup with that dress? its too short, ur bra is showing, ur hair is messy, no wedding ring on ur finger, another man’s hand is on ur butt, ur tummy is all out, please start wearing clothes that suits ur body. U so classless, not the diva u claimed to be. Very soon Ini Edo will start teaching u how to dress, Hisssssssssssss

Sholey

How can a decent married and mother dress like this? And how indecent can it be for anoda man put his hand on ur butt like that? And again, u don’t av to wear a revealing dress like that to look sexy. Do you not see how Genevive and Rita dress{sexy and very very decent}.

And again, u avnt (haven’t) got the shape to flaunt for God’s sake. U could be pardoned wearing that kind of dress if ur well trimmed. Omotola God knows I love you to bits. but i get dissapointed with you sometimes. Ur well loved by people,so don’t take that love away pls.

Jaxin

Omotola looks like a big bag of garri. Gosh she looks terrible. Cant imagine how a star of this kind shud look like dis. No wonder nobody noticed her. She probably took the last picture with the guy holding her ass when all the stars had gone

Miala

Who invited her anyways and who advised her to wear this number? She looks like a sack of potatoes, Omo, americans white/black are all slim with flat stomach,, she looks terrible.

Amebo

I think she is pregnant,

Oma

Everything I wanted to say has been said. First omotola, pls go and buy ardyss body magic, biko. Secondly loose weight, i mean I’ve seen U slimmer. Thirdly, PLEASE stop embarassing ur husband. He loves U n respects ur chosen path. Don’t abuse it or make him feel s**p*d. U r married. Respect that and finally ,U can try being close friends with Rita D, I’m sure she’ll let U in on some secrets of dressing up.

BNF

I think omosexy went to the salon to make her hair and there were lots of people waiting so, she had to start goin cos she wz runing late…As for the cloth, the gown she wz meant to wear, got burnt while the dry cleaner wz getting it ready…so she had to go to a close by bend down boutique to get smthing… but on getting there, they had only size 10 dresses so she had to manage it dt way…Go on omosexy at least u tried..but it jus didn,t work out…hahahahaa

Tete

All u guys are just hating I mean omotola is better dan all des girl nd who said ini edo should have came plaease!!! omotola is da best nd i love all her movies so don’t put Ini Edo and Genieve and Rita Dominic omg (oh y God) they are going to ruin it!!! so Omotola was right cominh….

Mama G

This woman was up to something, cos she was wearing her wedding ring on thumb. About the man she was with, trust Nigerians very soon we go hear the story

Lolo

Very disappointed with Omotola’s dress. This is low class, unsophisticated, cheap, ugly, too tight, poor color coordination and a mis-representation of African movie stars. What was she thinking wearing that garbage of a dress at the Grammy awards, did she think she was attending one of the Nigerians or Gh***ian red carpets? ..Humm unbelievable.

Ngozi

Omotola, you said you used to preach in the bus? where are your christian virtues? you should have done better than dress in this unGodly manner, exposing your inner wear, then allowing another man touch your private part like that.

What example are you teaching your kids and other youths who look up to you as a role model? Please people repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Fame, money, acting, music, beauty will fade away but your salvation in Christ Jesus is your assurance to eternal life.

Linn

Actually, this is not omosexy at her best at all. Her hair undergrowth is showing -look closely. She just was not up to her old usual beautiful self here. and she needs the gym now to shed that weight.

Del

1st she was trying 2 hard to get noticed behind d E! Cameras,but dressed lyk dat maybe dey thought she was smebody’s assistant. Wats wit naija celebs and international recognition? Na by force to be tuface or genevieve? get a life and get a gym membership!

Dare

u are a f**l Gene cant stand near omotola we all know dat she has only one child and was fat and ugly with her bum dropping on her legs, it took her years 2 dry out like an okporoko so darlin let gene get married and have three more and u will know omotola is d real deal.

Zino

When you put up a headline like Omotola at 2011 grammys it makes readers feel like she was in the grammy hall. Truth is she wasnt. She sat in a hall outside the main grammy award hall and wacthed the occasion like the rest of us on a large screen.

The awards are for a rated musicians, music execs, producers, and their family members etc. even American stars sit in the outside halls because they havent achieved world wide acclaim. This is just a pr thing that went wrong. She travelled to america to sit in the a hall outside the main grammy hall. No wonder she couldnt take any pics with one music star...

27 calibre (Ghana)

Omotola I have been your fun since thykingdom come, well you did not reveal yourself as the real omosexy I know and you are married with kids too ,please next time dress very ,well I hate when people insult you even though I 27 calibre i am a gh***in ,please stop calling her names.

The management of financial institution, Equitorial Trust Bank are in a frenzy of worry.Julie Mowarin, a Regional Manager at the bank owned by business mogul, Otunba Mike Adenuga is presently in the hands of kidnappers.

She was abducted in the early morning of Sunday February 20 2011 in Warri, Delta state.Findings revealed that she was carted off at the entrance of her place of worship Christ Missionary Church Warri.According to a source, the kidnappers stormed the church, shooting into the air before forcefully dragging her out of her car and taking her away.Julie Mowarin drives a Mercedes Benz 750 Kompressor.

The abandoned car is presently with the Delta state police command.The victim is the elder sister of popular man about town Elkannah Mowarin.Sources divulged that the Kidnappers are yet to contact the family or Julie’s employer about their demand at press time..

The Delta state police command and Governor of the state, Emmanuel Uduaghan are said to be working hand in glove to unravel the victim’s whereabout...As a regional manager Julie oversees Benin, Warri and Asaba operational areas of the bank.Spokesperson for E.T.B Andy Chukwu Ijekwe claimed ignorance of the development

Does Your Vagina Smell? Here Are the Major Reasons Why You Have That Fishy Smell 

Here are 7 reasons why your vagina smells. 

Improper hygiene ranks first in the list of reasons causing vaginal odor. Not keeping your vagina clean and dry will result in bacterial infection and eventually result in the unbearable odor. 

Bacterial infection is one of most common reasons why your vagina smells. Yeast infection is again the outcome of improper hygiene. This can cause strong odor that is noticeable in public or when in company. 

Wearing tight panties that do not let in air are also known to cause the odor. Synthetic panties are known to hold on the smell making it even stronger. 

Many women are prone to excessive sweating. The sweat that gathers in and around the vagina can lead to an odor. Sweat also leads to the formation of vaginal infections which is another cause of the odor. Wearing sweat pads can solve the problem. .

Improper ph level in the vagina can also lead to the odor. Many women tend to wash their vagina with scented products that takes away the ph level. Imbalance in the ph level is another major cause of vaginal odor. 

Not changing the sanitary napkins and tampons frequently also leads to the foul smell. Not following high level of hygiene during the menstrual cycle leads to the fishy smell. 

Leaving your vagina wet after bath or after visiting the wash room causes foul smell. It also serves as the breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to yeast infection. 

So, henceforth make it a point to take care of your vagina just the way you take care of your face. Keep it clean and say goodbye to the odor. 

Yes Minister to Women ! 

Rwanda Youth And Sports Minister Joseph Habineza Resigns After Photo Scandal-BBC

Posted: February 18, 2011 - 01:12

Posted by siteadmin

 

Joseph Habineza

Minister Habineza pinned to the wall by university student

The minister of youth with Rwandese youth at his apartment

Habineza ministering unto the youth

Minsiterial squeeze

Haba! minister Habineza

The minister, the youth and no sport!

BBC News

Rwanda's youth and sports minister, Joseph Habineza, has resigned following allegations of improper behaviour.

The announcement came after photos began circulating on the internet showing Mr Habineza in intimate poses with several women.

Mr Habineza told Rwanda's The New Times newspaper that he had resigned for personal reasons.

"But when you see people publishing pictures and all that, it is not good for your image as a minister," he said.

The photos, which Mr Habineza says were taken in 2008, were published on Sunday on an opposition website called Le Prophete.

Most of the 11 photos show the minister dancing or cuddling with one woman in particular in a well-furnished room.

The person who posted them said he was a university student and wanted to show how the government was spending lavishly.

The BBC's Geoffrey Mutagoma in the capital, Kigali, says the affair has become the talk of the town.

He says it is the first time a minister has tendered his resignation in such circumstances.

Fola Adeola , Ex-MD,GTBank Plc

By Olawale Olaleye

Barring any last minute changes, Mr. Afolabi Tajudeen Adeola, former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc,  former chairman of the National Pension Commission (Pencom), and former member on the (Tony) Blair Commission on Africa, may have been named the running mate of the fledgling candidacy of the anti-corruption czar, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ribadu is the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). If this happens, it would follow on the heels of the Chief MKO

Abiola-Alhaji Babagana Kingibe Muslim-Muslim ticket, which was widely accepted by Nigerians across regional and ethnic lines in the annulled 1993 presidential election.

Analysts believe it may work again because both Ribadu and Adeola are not known to be religious champions, practising their faith privately and quietly. They are equally known to work across religious and tribal lines.

Party sources confirmed that discussions and consultations are still on-going on the choice of Adeola, and it is expected that matters relating to the pairing of duo will be concluded later today in the evening to beat the INEC deadline tomorrow (February 21) for the substitution of presidential candidates and their running mates.

When contacted last night, Adeola confirmed that he had been approached by the leadership of the ACN but that they were yet to conclude discussions.

The former banker, who likened the decision to a marriage between two people, also admitted that issues relating to the development must be concluded today.

“By the grace of God, everything will be resolved by this time tomorrow (today, Sunday).”

Adeola added that all related issues have to be carefully looked into before a final decision is taken. He said the offer is not what he is taking lightly.

Also confirming the story, one of the ACN governors said the choice of Adeola as Ribadu’s running mate is one of the intelligent decisions the party has taken at this time of the year.

He described Adeola as a detailed person who would naturally pair with a Ribadu, an administrative hand.

The governor said there is the need for a running mate, who would take up all the detailed assignments that the presidential job demands, especially in the quest for a better Nigeria.

He said the Ribadu-Adeola ticket would go down in history as one of the best ever produced in the country by any political party, adding, “We are in this to win and not to consider what some class of people would think about a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“Even the political class is waiting to break away from the old order. They don’t just know how to go about it.”

The governor, who sounded excited about the development said Adeola is a respectable young man who has paid his dues in the development, of the country.

As co-founder and ex-managing director of GTBank, he said Adeola walked away when the ovation was loudest. He posited that Adeola had also handled many sensitive and vital assignments in the country and beyond...

“He has what it takes to rebuild this country. This country needs rebuilding and not rebranding like the PDP is doing. Nigeria needs root and branch reformation.

“So, we can’t have people who are part of the problem as part of the solution. It would not work. That is the difference between the PDP candidate who is though a nice guy, but is clueless,” he said.

For trying to have sex forcefully with his wife, a commercial motorcyclist, Adebunmi Makinde, got more than he bargained for in the hands of his wife, Omowunmi, who bit him on his penis.
His wife, a hairdresser, while defending herself in a divorce suit filed against her by Makinde at an Alimosho Grade ‘B’ Customary Court, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, Nigeria, told the court that she bit him because he wanted to sleep with her every night without taking care of her.

According to the 28-year old mother of two: “This man did not perform any formal marital rites on me as he claimed. We met at Egbeda in 2005 and because I had accommodation problem then, he accepted me and from there we became lovers.

“We fight everyday because he doesn’t give me feeding allowance. He gets drunk everyday and whenever he comes back home, he will start cursing me and the children. He also expects me to give him all the money I have for him to drink. The worst part of it is that he wants to sleep with me every night. Whenever I disagree, there is always a fight.

.
“There was a time I was cooking in the kitchen when he called me on the phone. He gave the phone to a woman who started cursing me. She said I should pack out of the house. Also, there was a time my daughter was sick and the same woman called me the same day she was discharged from the hospital, telling me that I have not seen anything yet.”

Omowunmi told the court further that she still loved her husband because she has nowhere to go and prayed the court to beg him on her behalf.
The petitioner, Adebunmi Makinde, who resides on 35, Uwagboe Street, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos had in his petition before the court, described his estranged wife as a stubborn woman and urged the court to dissolve their marriage.
“My wife is too stubborn to the extent that I left home for her in September, 2010 when the quarrels were getting out of hand. She is not submissive at all. She always provoke me and if I had not been careful, I would have killed her a long time ago.
“She has destroyed all the properties in my room. Whenever we fight, she bites me on my penis and this led to my leaving her eventually because I don’t want her to destroy me. I have scars on my penis to prove this. I would have loved to show the scars to the judges, if permitted,” he stated.
After listening to both parties, the court adjourned the matter for further hearing and appealed to them to maintain absolute peace.

London:  Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs has terminal pancreatic cancer and may live for just six more weeks, a media report said on Thursday.



The 55-year-old Jobs in January announced that at his request, the board of directors granted him a medical leave of absence so that he could focus on his health.

Since then, employees have said Jobs can still be seen at the company's headquarters in California and is also calling all the strategic shots from his home.

Now, new pictures have been published in the tabloid National Enquirer, which suggest things may be worse for the man behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

 The report said Jobs is stricken with pancreatic cancer and may have just six weeks to live.

The new photos show him looking painfully frail and weak, with his jeans and dark top hanging loosely on his six-feet-two-inches, frail body, the Daily Mail reported..

The pictures were not yet available online, but Jobs's weight is said to have dropped from a pre-cancer 175 pounds to 130 pounds now, according to the National Enquirer.

His thinning hair was a sign of the effects of chemotherapy used to treat the disease.

The photos, which were taken Feb 8, showed Jobs going for breakfast with his wife Laurene Powell before heading to the Stanford Cancer Centre in California.

Jerome Spunberg, a doctor, said: 'Mr. Jobs is most likely getting outpatient chemotherapy at Stanford because the cancer has recurred.'

Gabe Mirkin, a physician with 40 years' experience, said: 'He is terminal. What you are seeing is extreme muscle wasting from calorie deprivation, most likely caused by cancer. He has no muscle left in his buttocks, which is the last place to go.'

'He definitely appears to be in the terminal stages of his life from these photos. I would be surprised if he weighed more than 130 pounds.'

Critical care physician Samuel Jacobson also said: 'Judging from the photos, he is close to terminal. I would say he has six weeks.'

A source, who recently saw Jobs, added: 'He is very frail, moving like a weak, feeble old man. He weaves back and forth when he walks, as if he is having trouble keeping his balance, and the pain of every step is evident on his face.'

From India 

CHENNAI: Is Steve Jobs terminally ill? The National Enquirer, an American tabloid, reported on Thursday that Apple CEO Steve Jobs is seriously ill and quoted a doctor saying that Jobs might live for only six more weeks. The doctor came to the conclusion by "analyzing recent photographs of Jobs". The tabloid claimed to have taken the photographs while following Jobs to the Stanford Cancer Center at Palo Alto in California. Apple did not react to the report till late on Thursday night. 
While some may rubbish it as speculation, not everyone is optimistic because Jobs had taken his second medical leave in January, leading to renewed talks about his health. Besides, the medical history of Jobs is not too encouraging either: In 2004, he had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer and in 2009, he underwent a liver transplant. 

The reaction over the report across India ranged from incredulity to worries over Jobs' health. "The six-week figure was arrived by someone looking at just the photo published by National Enquirer. That obviously can't be taken as credible information," said Amit Agarwal, renowned tech blogger who writes at Digital Inspiration. "Right now, Apple is very secretive and assertive with everything. Whether it's the procedure for allowing apps in app store or not allowing Adobe Flash on the iPad. A big part of this decision-making process is Jobs. If he leaves, maybe we can expect Apple to be a little less restrictive," he added. 


The Apple CEO, who is worth $6 billion, is currently on his third medical leave, and has battled a rare form of pancreatic cancer for seven years and had a liver transplant in 2009.
An Apple spokesman did not comment on the new photos.

The presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday, unfolded his party’s plan for the country with a promise to run a transparent government.

Speaking at the launch of the party’s presidential campaign in Abuja, Mr Ribadu said if voted into power in April’s election, he will run an “accountable, competent, experienced and virile” administration.

Mr Ribadu promised to bring change to everyone’s doorsteps, adding that while the other parties cannot grasp the significance of the silent revolution going on around the world, his party will help advance it to the next logical level.

Building a modern Nigeria

In a nine-page speech entitled: “Our nation’s journey begins,” the ACN presidential candidate noted that, “if we fail to urgently realise the vision of a modern Nigeria, the echoes of currently muted, but potentially destabilising change will soon consume our land.” He added, “This is the season of change, and its sweet scent is in the air. It is expressed in the image of our young people, and their demand that the business of governance can no longer be business as usual. Today, we are the vehicle of change. We are, because we are disciplined and we put Nigeria first in all that we do.

“It has become fashionable for everyone to talk mechanically about change in the country today, even those who have inflicted the worst injury to our treasury and our values speak glibly about change. But for us, the distinction is clear as daylight.” Mr. Ribadu stressed that the leadership the country needs is the one that will create a united, modern, secured and just society that will meet the demands of the 21st century, saying such a leadership must be ready to address the three fundamental ills plaguing the country; corruption, insecurity and economic failure.

Speaking on the party’s vision on a new Nigeria, Mr Ribadu said his administration will be guided by an unalloyed loyalty to party principles and programmes.

According to him, “Our platform is a social justice compact targeted to the transformation and development of the nation on the ethos of distributive justice. The cardinal principles of the administration we shall run will be defined by a keen sense of humility in government, a touching sense of compassion and a clear sense of integrity in government. The current asymmetric ratio of 75% recurrent budget allocations over 25% capital allocations will become a thing of the past. This odd priority in budget making does not support the true development, and only fuels corruption.”

Economy is power

He promised that his government will revitalise the economic and social sectors of the country such that the chronic problems of power, infrastructure, social amenities and unemployment get the true attention they deserve.

He added that his government will not condone corruption, pointing out that it will actively disable the capacity of corruption to regenerate, through a cocktail of excellent laws, professional enforcement, engagements and vigorous public education. Mr Ribadu said to achieve all these lofty goals Nigerians must vote out the government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he said has done more harm than good to the country.

“As we are here, we are running a generating set. I slept in my house without electricity, even though it is very close to the Villa. Worst still, the government of PDP does not keep it promises, even to itself. In the face of its shoddy report card of abysmal failure at governance, the PDP can at least be self-respecting to excuse itself from the dignified gathering of the true apostles of change,” he said.

He said since the ACN has exhibited evidence of competent leadership in the four states it is administering, it has clearly earned the historical responsibility of leading the mission of change.

“Our challenge now is to reproduce that example of competent leadership at the centre when we take over the reins of power and form the next government come May 29. Nigeria is in dire need of transformation that is happening at the ACN’s states,” he remarked.

Our mission

The Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, represented by the Deputy National Chairman, Boss Mustapha, said the party organised the colloquium for its flag-bearer to provide an avenue through which it will define its political philosophy and present to Nigerians its thought, ideas and policy options on fundamental issues of national development.

“This, we intend to do through concrete political engineering and consciously redirecting the nation’s politics from that of big men to that of big ideas. Our first step towards doing that is to come up with concrete and practical measures to eradicate absolute poverty, secure life and property, expand capacity in science and technology, facilitate and promote massive public and private investment in agriculture, housing and rural development among other critical areas of national development,” he said.

In his contribution, Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State governor faulted the inconsistent fiscal policies of the federal government, saying such policies send conflicting signals to manufacturers and do not protect the local industries.

He said, “In the morning, you prohibit the importation of item X and in the afternoon you legalise the importation. By the following day, you have changed the policy again. So it is difficult for those doing business to formulate long-term policies on the basis of the policies that government turns out every day. I think the challenge for the now and the foreseeable future is that we must put in place well-thought-out policies that would put Nigeria back to work. We must reclaim those industries that have been shut down.” Mr Oshiomhole noted that job creation is key to development saying, “when we report on the performance of the economy, we are criminally silent on job creation.” He noted that when people have jobs with decent pay,

they will not only look after themselves but after their families. As a former labour leader the governor expressed regrets that government after government close down factories, leading to the loss of over fifty thousand jobs in the textile factories in Lagos alone.

An endorsement for Ribadu

On his part, the former governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Tinubu, stressed that Nigerians have a new hope in the ACN which aims to sweep out the dreadful PDP government.

He said, “The PDP has no agenda for our country; the infrastructure is not there. Today, we cannot travel by road any longer. Ours will be a generation shift. Our presidential candidate is able, courageous, competent and well educated. They accuse him of stepping on many toes. But he stepped on many toes because the toes are infested with corruption.

‘‘I was the most haunted by the Obasanjo jack-boot democracy. Mallam Ribadu, the then EFCC chairman, investigated me severally. I was invited to EFCC. I was there from 10am to 7pm. But with the EFCC searchlight, they did not find anything against me and Ribadu did not manufacture any case against me, even though his boss wanted me nailed. This is the kind of man we must vote for because PDP is a blackmailer, a liar,” he said.

The colloquium was attended by the governors of Lagos (Raji Fashola), Edo (Mr Oshiomhole), Ekiti (Kayode Fayemi) and Osun (Rauf Aregbesola) states. Others were former chairman of PDP, Audu Ogbeh; National Secretary of the party, Lawan Shuaibu; former governors of Jigawa and Anambra states, Saminu Turaki and Chris Ngige; National Vice Chairman for southwest, James Kolawole; and Yusuf Alli, among others.

Preamble:
This tie has got a bigger build-up than the impending royal wedding and, happily, cannot fail to be more interesting than that (but ooooh, what will Nicklas Bendtner wear?). Arsenal's task, of course, is to ensure that it is a good deal more closely contested than the last joust between the pair, which was as one-sided as a dissected frog – Barcelona, lest we forget, completed twice as many passes as Arsenal over the two legs last season and struck three times as many shots on target, leaving 22 tiny footprints on the Gunners' collective backside. Not ones to turn the other cheek Arsenal seek revenge and look better equipped than last season – the fitness of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas' is a huge factor in their favour since then, as is the emergence of Jack Wilshere and the progressions of Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou. If they actually get the ball Arsenal could do serious damage, especially with Eric Abidal in centre of Barca's defence instead of Puyol and Maxwell unlikely to cope with Walcott's speed. Unfortunately I do not have a font big enough to properly represent the size of that 'if' ...

Teams:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy; Song, Wilshere; Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott; Van Persie
Subs: Almunia, Roicky, Denilson, Squillaci, Arshavin, Gibbs, Bendtner

Barcelona: Valdes; D Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa
Subs: Jose Pinto, Bojan, The Argentinian Card-Magnet, Keita, Milito, Afellay, Adriano

Referee: N Rizzoli (Italy)

7:15pm: "It's the middle of the working day here in New York so I have to wait until I get home tonight to see a rebroadcast of this game," foghorns Daniel Barron. "Could you do me a favour and leave out the goals, red cards, serious injuries, head butts etc so as not to spoil it for me?" If it's purely boring commentary you want, I'm your man.

Predictions: I wouldn't be shocked if Arsenal won but reckon that to do so they will need to score more than once because they won't keep a clean sheet. They may also struggle to keep 11 players on the pitch, with Song, Fabregas or Wilshere the most likely to get sent off for desperate attempts to stop blue-and-purple imps flitting past them. All in all I'm going for 3-2 Arsenal but am not prepared to put any money on that. How about you?

7:25pm: "It's the middle of the working day here in New York so I'm going to ignore my paymasters and piss off to the bar to watch this game live," drools Ian Brunsdon. "What the hell does Daniel Barron do that's so important? I work in Kings County ER and I'm not missing this for all the gun shot wounds and broken limbs in Brooklyn." Wouldn't it be a rum thing if you got maimed in a fight in that bar?

7:27pm: "Everybody's talking about how Arsenal are stronger than last year with some justification, but on the other side of the coin it's worth noting that Barcelona have since acquired probably the best striker in the world and also have Ballon d'Or runner-up Iniesta fit this year, unlike last," hollers Nicholas Einhorn, who's forgetting that Arsenal have Koscielny and Djourour to contain Villa. Oh.

7:30pm: ITV has just shown footage of Messi warming up ... and as he attempted to control the ball with his instep, it instead whacked him in the swingers. What can that portend?

Atmosphere update: It seems Arsenal have provided all of their fans with little red and white flag, which are now being fluttered with twee gusto. As my colleague Gregg Roughley points out, "it's all very Last Night of the Proms".

Complacent Catalans? "Hi London, we'll be back for the final!" declares one bold banner in the Barca section.

1 min: Action! Villa and Messi take the kick-off and duly complete the first of their thousand passes tonight. "I'm watching it in Seville, and even here local TV are quite happy to bill this as 'probably the best football match in the world'. This in Andalucia, which is not exactly a Barca fanbase," yammers Charles Antaki.

2 min: Ominous start for Arsenal: Barca have monopolised possession so far ...

3 min: Alves sells Pique short with a pass and Van Persie nips in to nick the ball away and gallop down the left ... but the ref brings him back to award Arsenal a freekick. He should have played the advantage. Nasri whips in the freekick and the Barca defence fail to deal with it, but no Arsenal forward can punish them and the ball bounces into Valdes's hands.

5 min: Better from Arsenal! Walcott strikes fear into the heart of Barca's defence by skedaddling straight at them. He has Nasri free to his left but instead pass to Van Persie on the right ... and the pass was inaccurate. The chance dies.

6 min: Splendid save by Valdes after an excellent move by Arsenal! Walcott ducked and dodged his way across the box before feeding Fabregas, who hooked it over the top for Van Persie, who boomed it at goal from close range. Valdes parried superbly. Barcelona then tear down the other end, until Song curtails their counter-attack with cynical chop. A deserved yellow for him.

9 min: After Barca's bold gambit Arsenal have gained the upperhand and are looking brisk and confident, circulating the ball crisply and purposefully when they get it, which is more often than expected. "For some reason, I always focus on the upper-left hand three- letter team name abbreviations on the telecasts (MAD MAN for Real v. Man Utd. was a favorite)," honks TJ in California. "If this turns out to be the delicious fixture that most expect, a certain confectionary company is missing out on an easy product placement: Mmmmm ARS BAR!"

10 min: Fabregas misdirects a pass intended for Nasri. If he'd found his man an Arsenal attack would have been in full flow.

13 min: Excellent interception by Koscielny, who read Barca's intentions and strode out of defence to collect the ball in front of Messi.

15 min: Ohhhhh! Messi misses a sitter! He created it brilliantly, in fairness, cushioning an Iniesta through-ball into the path of Villa and then spinning and dashing for the return pass. With a dainty feint he put Szczesny on his arse but then dinked the ball inches wide from five yards!

17 min: After another long period of Barcelona possession Clichy wins the ball off Dani Alves by Arsenal's corner flag. But the respite is only fleeting as Barcelona quickly regain it and resume their probing. "I have the same fixation as TJ - a propos the letters in the top left corner," confides Bill Chilton. "My favourite was a Liverpool tie when they were playing Lille. The abbreviated Liv vs Lil sounded like an Eastenders old bat deathmatch."

19 min: Szczesny shows he is a member of what Ron Atkinson dubbed the Wide Awake Club by surging off the line to reach a Iniesta pass just before Villa.

21 min: Arsenal are just about keeping Barca at bay with frantic pressing but it's been quite a while since they had the ball in their opponents' half. "Please tell me that TJ in California is TJ Hooker," implores Phil Sawyer. "It would explain his obsession with confectionary. I would imagine the tightness of his belt looks even more uncomfortable nowadays."

23 min: Wilshere clears in extremis after yet another cutting move by Barca ...

24 min: As soon as Arsenal win the ball Barcelona buzz around them, win it back and fly forward. Wilshere was dispossessed mid-way inside his own half just now and within second Messi was meandering into the box and flipping a mercifully tame lob into Szczesny's arms.

25 min: Arsenal go close with another counter-attack and again Walcott's pace was crucial! He skedaddled past his markers and fed Fabregas wide on the right. The captain pulled a fine cross towards Van Persie, who would have had a free header into the net if it weren't for the meddling Abidal, who nodded clear.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Barcelona (Villa 26') As Brian Clough said, it only takes a second to score a goal. A second and a dawdling Arsenal defender in this case. As Djourou and Koscielny pushed out to catch Villa offside, Clichy wasn't in synch. Hence the striker latched on to Messi's throughball and rolled it under the keeper.

28 min: Nasri booked for whingeing.

29 min: Van Persie slashes badly wide from the edge of the box a sweeping Arsenal move in which Wilshere was to the fore. And that came moments after Szczesny saved at the feet of Villa to prevent Barcelona from doubling their lead after they had carved Arsenal apart again.

31 min: Tippy-tappy-tippy-tappy-tippy-tappy .... Barcelona are taunting Arsenal with their passing. Arsenal are being reduced to the role of ghost-hunters as they seek someone to tackle ...

33 min: Koscielny ventures deep into Barcelona territory to rob the ball off Messi and instigate a helter-skelter Arsenal attack that culminates with a Van Persie shot being charged down at the edge of the box. "If Everton drew Godmanchester Rovers in the FA Cup, we'd have Eve vs God in the top left hand corner," bellows Gary Naylor. "A re-match that's been a long time coming."

35 min: Greedy Barcelona are hogging possession. In this week's France Football none other than Marco Van Basten declared that Barcelona would struggle against a team from "the English second division". He didn't specify which team - any ideas? London Welsh, perhaps?

NO GOAL! Again Barca pick their way through Arsenal but this time, after Szczesny saved from Pedro, Messi strayed offside before nodding into the net. Happily for Arsene Wenger the linesman was able to keep tack of the Barcelona forwards movements better than Djourou & Co.

39 min: Some encouraging interplay between Nasri and Fabregas around the Barca box before the latter shanks his cross. "I was impressed by Arsenal's control and patience earlier," announces Will Oliver. "But now they've gone down a goal, it looks like they're going to start kicking the Barca players. Can they play well and ugly at the same time, I wonder." Arsenal do look dangerous on their rare breaks but at this point I'd say they are more likely to get a red card than a goal.

41 min: Nasri tricks his way past Dani Alves down the left but, as ever, is quickly engulfed by other Barca players. Arsenal do manage to retain possession, however, but now with the level of serenity to which they are accustomed. They eventually do forge an opening of sorts, Walcott lashing at goal from 25 yards. But it was easily blocked by Abidal.

Half-time: Well that was breathless, engrossing entertainment. Arsenal need to stage a comeback as improbable as last year's. Barca have been brilliant. "If Oldham came over to the states for a preseason tour and took on the New England Revolution, it'd be Old vs New," belches Daniel Barron. "Fitting, seeing how you were once our colonizers." Me? Not guilty.

Half-time analysis: "For being such a pretty team to watch, Barcelona's kit looks like low-quality toothpaste, or a bar of soap, or a Post-It. Who picks out these colours?" wibbles Seth Sawyers.

"Colonizers? Sounds like a band of renegade robots with a penchant for performing impromptu enemas on their foes." - Phil Sawyer

"Pardon my Spanish, Paul, but seeing as Barcelona are pissing all over Arsenal at their own turf, would it be a too bold statement that this is the finest football team in history? I have rarely seen such a gulf in quality in a latter-stage fixture in the Champions League, ever." - Trygve in Oslo. Well I recall the AC Milan of Boban, Saviecevic, Desailly, etc dismantling Barcelona 4-0 in the final many years ago and that was mighty impressive. Mind you, could Van Basten & Co have done it against an unnamed English second division side?

"In last years Europa League semi-final second leg we could have had FUL vs HAM for Fulham against Hamburg, but no the directorial decision went with FUL vs HSV. Shame." _ Tom O'Dwyer.

46 min: Arsenal get the second half under way. "Hugo Chavez would relish the opportunity to watch friendly match between Chelsea and Maori Park FC as it would be shown on TV as Che vs Mao," whoops Pangeran Siahaan.

47 min: Strong start to the second half by Arsenal, with Wilshere at the hub of everything positive that they do. He has been their best player tonight, showing composure, drive and vision. His snapshot from 20 yards just now, however, did not trouble Valdes.

49 min: Clichy strains to cut out an Iniesta pass intended for Pedro. Smart work. "Arsenal should have ploughed the pitch yesterday like Man U did on their visit," haws Dave from Luxembourg. "Puts a stop to all this tippy-tappy football."

50 min: Arsenal are trying to unhinge Barcelona with their speed - there's a frantic air to their play as they seek to zip forward as soon as they get the ball. Barca are much more composed and precise. Have I said that already?

52 min: Song dives in full-length to dispossess Messi. Mis-time that by an instant and he would have been off. "I held my breath for what seemed like an eternity there when I saw him flying through the air," gulps Andy Townsend on ITV, seemingly having flirted with death.

54 min: In tonight's other game Shakhtar are roasting Roma 3-1 in Italy. That Serie A revival isn't going too well, is it?

56 min: Nasri releases Walcott, who teases Abidal before firing a low cross towards the penalty spot. Maxwell scrambles it clear, but Walcott picks it up again and knocks a cross back in. Barca's clearance is again unconvincing, allowing Van Persie to take possession at the edge of the area. He blazes over.

58 min: Strong defending by Pique to corral Nasri out of play after the Frenchman had threatened to burst into the box. Arsenal do get the corner, though. Chaos ensues in the Barca box but the Catalans eventually scramble it away. Promising signs for Arsenal as the visitors begin to look flustered. Pique, indeed, has just been booked and will miss the second leg.

60 min: Arsenal continue to pressurise and force a succession of corners. This half has been much better from them. An equaliser is certainly not out of the question. "I'm sure Sky used to use four letters to abbreviate each team, because I clearly remember a west ham vs Birmingham game being shown as WHAM/BHAM" Thank you, Christopher Ballard.

63 min: Eboue has been hurtling forward much more in this half, compensating for the fact that Barca had got a grip of Walcott after the Englanders early vibrancy.

65 min: Van Persie and Fabregas exchange passes before the Dutchman, rather predictably, curls a gentle shot into the keeper's arms from 20 yards. He's been tepid tonight, Van Persie.

67 min: Barca begin to reassert themselves. And Messi should probably have made it number two just now. Iniesta slipped the ball through to Messi and the Argentinian slotted under the advancing Szczesny ... but into the sidenetting. "A few years ago in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Bradley played Pittsburgh," drones Michael S Raum. "They show all of the scores from the other games in the corner, and so that game appeared as BRAD PITT."

68 min: Substitutions: Song off, Arshavin on. Villa off, Keita on. Intriguing.

70 min: Clichy intervenes to beak up another menacing Barca move. Arsenal were bewildered there for a minute or two. "If Watford played Rotherham United, it would be WAT ROT," squawks Namratha Hegde.

72 min: Koscielny cops an accidental boot in the face from Messi after beating the Argentinian wizard to the ball. Arsenal fan rather desperately call for a card. "Sky usually abbreviate team names to two letters these days, AV v MC for example," bawls Mark Gillies. "Thankfully there's no interest in Northampton Town's visit to Carlisle United."

74 min: It's all Barca, who are frustrating the home side, again, with their incessant keep-ball. In other news, Klasnic has put Bolton 1-0 up at relegated Wigan. "Playing against Barca a goal down and trying to get the ball off them must be like pushing two inverted magnets together," notes Stanley Lee. "The harder you push the harder the resistance becomes."

76 min: Arsenal substitution: Walcott off, Bendtner on. Walcott has been more polished this season but tonight he was back to his younger self, frequently wasting opportunities with wild passes or wrong choices.

77 min: The splendid Wilshere wins a corner for Arsenal. Valdes comes to clutch Arshavin's harmless delivery.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Barcelona (Van Persie 78') He's looked a little out of sorts tonight but Van Persie has just scored with a freakishly accurate shot! Clichy released him with a canny ball over the top but from almost dead against the by-line the Dutchman seemed certain to cross. Instead he fizzed past the keeper at the near post and into the net. A preposterous goal!

80 min: Arsenal have their dander up now and are pressing for a winner, without any penetration yet. "I'm surprised no German came up with a fictional match between Borussia Dortmund and secnd division Ingolstadt 04," blurts Pedro Fernandes. "Surely the most BOR-ING match anywhere, ever?"

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona (Arshavin 83') Wonderful goal! Fabregas sent Nasri scampering clear from half-way. He could have shot himself but instead the Frenchman cut back and laid the ball across the box to Arshavin, who guided a fine shot into the net from 18 yards, completing the perfect counter-attack!

84 min: There is an incredible din in the Emirates now! This has been a superb turn-around.

86 min: Bendtner barges his way past Maxwell and Dani Alves in the Barca box and the tries to do a Van Persie by scoring from an absurd angle. This time Valdes saw it coming and was well positioned to divert it behind for a corner.

88 min: Chance here for Barca ... but Messi overhits his pass to Dani Alves, forcing the Brazilian to receive it wider than necessary. With the angle unduly narrowed, Szczesny is able to parry the ensuing shot.

89 min: Barcelona change: Iniesta off, Adriano on.

90 min: Since Wenger has often been accused of lacking tactical nous it is worth mentioning that his substitutions tonight have played a large part in this victory. If it is to be a victory, that is. Fourth official is maintaining the suspense by not yet disclosing how much added time there will be ...

90+1 min: Desperate defending by Arsenal, who eventually shank the ball clear after Barca provoked panic in their box. Koscielny, who may finally have won Arsenal's fans over with a fine performance tonight, was the saviour after Arshavin had goofed to allow Dani Alves a sight of goal. "You can go back to your 'intriguing' comment on the subs to find the source of this turnaround," howls Craig Smaaskjaer. "It was such a bizarre decision by Guardiola. Why change the way you play when the consensus is you are the greatest team on the planet? 1-0 up? Who cares! Terrible decision. Now Barca have to play their way back without that same shape or personnel. Wenger was chuckling to himself as he ushered Arshavin out onto the park."

Full-time: Arsenal have beaten Barcelona for the first time thanks to poor Catalan finishing (and perhaps even complacency) and a magnificent second-half fightback. This was a game that lived up to its hype. And the hype surrounding Jack Wilshere is just going to get louder and louder following this marvellous display. In this fabulous week for London clubs Arsene Wenger has just trumped Harry Redknapp. What price an Arsenal-Spurs Champions League final at Wembley?