Posted by Myne Whitman on November 6, 2011 at 6:14am
So Facebook recently seem to have put more weight in pictures and nowadays, I find my timeline strewn with some of these nuggets among others. Hope you like them too...
Wise words and yes, you are beautiful. Remember, there's sunshine after every storm. Sometimes, we actually need the rain to wash stuff away so we can see clearly.
So not only is there Plan B, there's plan C all the way to Z. Pretty cool way of saying, keep trying. Perseverance sure works. Reminds me of Aaliyah's Try again. If at first you don't succeed...
True words. You'll be surprised how much of your life, including your attitude in most things, is determined by the people around you. Be careful who you choose as friends and confidantes.
OPERATIVES of the Department of the State Security Service (SSS), on Tuesday, quizzed former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu.
According to a high security source, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain was reportedly quizzed at the SSS headquarters, otherwise known as Yellow House, Abuja. Though no official reason was given by the SSS for the questioning, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that it might not be unconnected with Tinubu's pending case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as well as his recent outburst at the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rally in Ibadan, during which he reportedly called President Goodluck Jonathan a "drunkard."
It was gathered that Senator Tinubu, who received the SSS invitation on Monday, arrived at its headquarters at exactly 3.15p.m. in Abuja, on Tuesday.
According to our source, he was quizzed over his utterances which the service considered as security "risk" but was later released on self recognisance.
"He (Tinubu) has been making some statements considered unhealthy for peaceful coexistence in recent times. The service deemed it fit to interact with him over such issues," a source said.
The former governor is also said to have a case file before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Nigerian Tribune learnt that the former governor was left off the hook after the questioning around 4.15p.m.
Efforts to get official confirmation on the questioning of Senator Tinubu from the service were not successful as the telephone lines of SSS spokesperson, Maryln Ogar, an Assistant Director of Public Relations, were defective.
However, a top operative in the service, who wanted anonymity confirmed the questioning, saying it was a normal routine that could be extended to anybody.
Meanwhile, with the swearing in of the new acting chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar on Tuesday, the stage appears set for the commencement of the prosecution of past and present public officers indicted for alleged violation of the asset declaration law.
Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, exclusively reported the appointment and swearing-in of Umar by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu...
The covert swearing in reportedly took place around 10.00 a.m at the Supreme Court, with a handful staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal present.
Code of Conduct Bureau spokesperson, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, confirmed the swearing-in to the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday.
It was also gathered on Tuesday night that the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had almost concluded arrangement for the appointment of two other members that would be sitting on cases with the acting chairman.
The tribunal is a three-member panel, though two members are required to form a quorum.
It was further learnt that the tribunal might start sitting from next week, which would see to the commencement of the trial of Senator Tinubu and others charged before the tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau for violation of assets declaration law.
The two members are expected to be appointed and sworn in before the end of the week.
Meet the Top 7 of Glo Naija Sings – Find Out Who Is On TOP & Decide Who will EXIT this week
The new season of Glo Naija Sings is heating up! Only 7 contestants are left in the competition and as the weeks go by, each contestant seems to be stepping up their game. The theme of Sunday’s show was ‘Favourite Bands’, so all the contestants chose one song by their favourite duo or group and performed for the Glo Naija Sings audience.
Before the performances began, the elimination took place – Shedrack was sent home as he had the lowest number of viewer votes last week.
The performances kicked off with Rasine. Rasine was rocking a pair of red leggings paired with a black and gold top with trimmings. She sang Westlife’s version of “You Raise Me Up”.
Up next were Da Brodas. The duo performed K-Ci & Jojo’s All My Life. Their performance was well received by the audience. Boma looked pretty in a knee-length draped blue dress and she sang “Stand Up For Love” by Destiny’s Child. Not sure if it was the song choice or Boma, but this was one of our favourites that night.
Casey went for classic RnB and performed Shai’s “If I Ever Fall In Love”. Peace delivered a serene performance of Boyz II Men’s hit song “On Bended Knee” while Najite picked up the tempo when she sang En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go” – her performance got the crowd quite excited as illustrated by one audience member’s comment – “Najite, your energy performance was just intact“. The audience comments on Glo Naija Sings deserve their own show!
Ekeng closed the show with his rendition of Lighthouse Family’s “High”. Ekeng is one of our favourites on Glo Naija Sings and this is one of our favourite songs, but the rearrangement of the track did not work well.
What were your thoughts on this episode?
View the videos, find out more about the final 7 and VOTE for your favorites below. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Peace Age: 24 Hometown: Umoji Biography: Peace has been singing since the age of 5, and entered Glo Naija Sings because the show is “a place for me to express what has been hidden in me for so many years”.
Peace – Boyz II Men – “On Bended Knee”
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Rasine Age: 17 Hometown: Abi Biography: She’s always loved singing, but started in earnest about 3 and a halfyears ago. When she is singing, Rasine really feels connected to the world.
Rasine – “Raise You Up” by Westlife
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Najite Age: 23 Hometown: Sapele Biography: She’s been singing from a young age and entered Glo Naija Sings becauseshe feels that she has something which the world has got to see and hear.
Najite – En Vogue – “What’s It Gonna Be?”
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Ekeng Age: 27 Hometown: Calabar Biography: Ekeng’s not sure when he started singing, but remembers his first stageperformance happening at the tender age of 9. When he’s on stage singing, he says it feels “like heaven”.
Ekeng – Lighthouse Family – “High”
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Da Brodas Age: 14 & 20 Hometown: Ibaji Biography: Jeff (14 yrs old) is the youngest finalist on Glo Naija Sings and willshare the stage with older brother Fred (20 yrs old), an undergraduate student at K.S.U.
Da Brodas – All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Casey Age: 27 Hometown: Warri Biography: Casey is a student with a Diploma in Music from Nnamdi AzikiweUniversity. He is proud to be part of Glo Naija Sings because of the platform and opportunity it has given him.
Casey – Shai – “If I Ever Fall In Love”
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Boma Age: 22 Hometown: Bonny Biography: She started singing when she was a child and thinks that audiencesshould vote for her because she brings something fresh, new and exciting to the show.
Boma – Destiny’s Child – “Standing Up For Love”
___________________________________________________________________________________________ The Judges’ Comments
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Showtimes M-Net West: Sundays at 21:00 CAT (from 19 September until 5 December)
M-Net East: Sundays at 20:00 CAT (from 19 September until 5 December)
AFRICA MAGIC REPEATS Sundays at Midnight CAT Wednesdays at 22:30 CAT
MAGIC WORLD REPEATS Mondays and Thursdays at 19:00 CAT
NTA Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 CAT
Nigeria is CAT -1 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Remember: You are voting for the Glo Naija Sings contestant that you want to win! Voting opens after the Sunday night show and closes on Thursdays at Midnight in Nigeria (01.00 CAT).
Tune in next Sunday to see how your favourite fared, only on M-Net.
Each week, lucky voters (SMS Voters only) stand the chance to win a Blackberry Bold, an iPod Touch and 10 Glo subscribers will have their accounts recharged with 1000 Naira of airtime. Plus one lucky viewer that votes via SMS also stands the chance to win a Toyota Corolla from Glo at the end of the series, so vote now to get in line to win some fabulous prizes!
There are four ways you can vote:
Via the Website You can vote once per hour per registered email address. Voting on the website is free. Go to www.mnetafrica.com/naijasings
Via the Wapsite Type www.mnetafrica.com/naijasings into your mobile browser and start voting. You can vote once per hour and voting via Wap is free.
Via Mobile:
In Nigeria: Text just THE NUMBER that corresponds to your favourite contestant to 33364. NB: Mobile voting is exclusive to Glo subscribers and SMSes cost N50.
In the Benin Republic: Text just THE NUMBER that corresponds to your favourite contestant to 7099. NB: Mobile voting is exclusive to Glo subscribers and SMSes cost 150 CFA.
Outside Nigeria and Benin: Text just THE NUMBER that corresponds to your favourite contestant to +2783142100400. This is open to all networks – international SMS rates apply.
You can vote up to 100 times per mobile number during each voting period.
The dedicated numbers for each contestant: Boma – 1 Casey – 2 Da Brodas – 3 Ekeng – 4 Najite – 5 Peace – 8 Rasine – 9
Via MXit Open your mobile phone’s browser and type in m.mxit.com to download MXit for free. Then locate MXit on your phone under the applications or games section and register. Once in MXit, go to Tradepost>Entertainment>MNET and then add the Naija Sings Voting contact.
Voting on MXit is free and you can vote up to 10 times per voting period.........................................
The plot of the nation's political drama thickens as President Goodluck Jonathan plans to reshuffle his cabinet next week, said sources privy to the decision.
Photo:L-R Head of Civil Service, Steve Oronsaye,Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, Vice President Namadi Sambo and President Goodluck Jonathan at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja, yesterday
As politicians in the last few weeks focused on zoning and its attendant problems or benefits, Mr. Jonathan, who political watchers say never ceases to surprise, was doggedly entrenching his hold on the nation's polity.
A few days back, he forwarded the names of three nominees to the Senate for approval as new ministers. It was not immediately clear, however, who the new people will replace. The Senate has acknowledged the receipt of the nominees and decided to reconvene Tuesday next week to screen, and possibly confirm them.
Although the Senate would not reveal the identities of the nominees, it was confirmed that the candidates, two men, and a woman, are from Yobe, Delta, and Borno states. A source further confirmed that one of them is a member of an opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
Curiously, Mr. Jonathan's action is coming nine months to the end of his administration and he still refuses to confirm if he will be contesting in next year's presidential election or not. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo also effected such a cabinet reshuffle towards the end of his second term in 2006 when he re-assigned Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from ministry of finance to foreign affairs.
The usual suspects
Sources confirmed that the proposed changes will most likely affect the finance minister, Olusegun Aganga and the minister of state for finance, Remi Babalola. It was unclear if Mr Babalola's statement last month that the state oil company, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was broke led to his been considered for possible removal. Mr. Babalola had told a group of journalists during a workshop on "Understanding the operations of the Oil and Gas Industry in Nigeria" organised by the NNPC for members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), that the only reason the corporation has not paid the ₦450 billion debt owed to the federal government was "its cash flow problem." He reportedly lost favour with Mr. Jonathan after that statement.
At the federal executive council meeting that took place after Mr. Babalola's comment, the council denied, through Dora Akunyili, the Information minister, that NNPC was insolvent.
"NNPC, from the auditor's account, is a going concern, and does not have solvency issue as a corporation. Therefore, categorically, NNPC is not insolvent," Mrs. Akunyili said.
She added that there will always be an outstanding balance between the federal government and the oil giant because of the regular transactions between them.
One of the nominees is supposed to fill the vacancy in the power ministry which had no substantive minister, apart from the junior minister. The others are expected to fill the junior minister positions in the petroleum and foreign affairs ministries.
Although the cabinet reshuffle was not mentioned during the briefing that followed the federal executive council meeting yesterday, the Presidency is said to be awaiting the senate's endorsement of the nominees whose names are currently en route to the national assembly.
The on-going scramble for positions in a soon to be reconstituted Federal cabinet could shortly hit a brick wall because President Umaru Yar’adua intends to resume duties in his office next week, a top source close to the ailing president told Daily Trust yesterday. However, another family source separately told Daily Trust that Yar’adua will be fit to resume work by the end of next month.
According to the top sources, Yar’adua intends to make a national radio and television broadcast to signal his resumption of work as early as Monday or Wednesday next week. They said Yar’adua may not write a letter to the National Assembly intimating it of his return because he did not transmit a letter before he proceeded on medical vacation, even though his spokesman later said Yar’adua recognised Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President.
Both sources said Yar’adua has made much progress physically since his return to the country late last month, and that his remaining medical problem now is speech-related. The sources said the ailing president now walks around the house and also around the garden, where there are many birds and animals.
They said Yar’adua brought a speech therapist with him from the Saudi Arabian hospital and the doctor has been working since then to improve his speech. Both sources said he has made progress in his speech. One of the sources told Daily Trust that Yar’adua’s return to the country last month was “premature,” and that he was brought back before he finished his therapy “for political reasons.”
There were indications yesterday that the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may be getting increasingly uncomfortable with the continuing stay of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Jeddah, as they believe “he is well enough to travel back to Nigeria to continue his recuperation,” diplomatic sources told THISDAY.
Yar’Adua left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to seek medical attention for acute Pericarditis, a heart-related disease, 62 days ago.
While the Saudis are “happy and indeed honoured” to host the Nigerian leader, they are worried that “his continuing stay in hospital may lead to other complications resulting from long hospitalisation which may expose him to other ailments.”
Signals from the Saudi Royalty coupled with last Friday ruling by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Dan Abutu, that the Executive Council of the Federation should within 14 days make public resolution to determine the state of health of the president have intensified the pressure on him to return home to restore his presidency in the face of mounting protests at home over his continuing stay abroad and refusal to constitutionally hand power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan to act on his behalf.
Aside from the Saudi authorities growing unease and the court ruling, the statement on Thursday by former President Olusegun Obasanjo calling on Yar’Adua to take the path of honour and morality if his health would not allow him to perform his responsibilities, has also become a strong source of pressure on Yar’Adua to return to Nigeria as many of his supporters, especially among governors and lawmakers are jumping ship in droves.
Obasanjo’s statement had divided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as some believe the ex-president had spoken the minds of many party leaders who are only exercising restraints for the sake of decorum.
The Saudi authorities believe doctors have done their work and that he is well enough to return home while the rest can be taken care of by Nigerian doctors and post-hospitalisation consultations.
THISDAY checks reveal that Yar’Adua often moves around his hospital suite unaided but may have lost as much as eight to 10 kilos of his normally lean weight, prompting his wife, Turai and family members to wanting him to regain some of his weight and stability before returning home.
It is also believed that his continuing stay in hospital could lead to unenvisaged problems, which long stay in hospital can bring, especially through nurses and other hospital staff.
The Saudis are believed to be reaching out to influential Nigerians to urge the First Lady, Turai, to persuade her husband to return home as soon as possible.
Hajia Yar’Adua, the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Abdullahi Aminchi, who was deputy to Yar’Adua as governor of Katsina State, and a few personal aides are said to be the only ones that have access to the President at the hospital. The access, is said not to always translate to influence while those with influence and constitutional authority have no access to the President in his hospital suite.
The Saudi thinking feeds on the political dynamics in Nigeria. For example, it is believed that the Friday court ruling has added to the pressure on ministers who will now have to show their hands in the face of mounting public outcry.
The full import of the ruling is such that in line with the provision of Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution, ministers cannot take an informed decision to comply with the court ruling without access to the president by the minister of health and other senior cabinet members.
Said an analyst in Abuja, “how can ministers pass a resolution on the health of the president they have not seen or spoken to? Such a resolution would not only expose them to legal challenges, but make them a laughing stock of the nation. For them to pass a credible resolution, they must have access to the president.”
It is also believed that since the last Thursday statement by Obasanjo on the options available to Yar’Adua, there are fears in the president’s inner circle that he may return to Nigeria and become a president lacking in crucial support as several governors and lawmakers have jumped ship.
The fear of the unsettling impact of the various developments on Yar’Adua’s absence from the country may be constituting intense pressure on the President to return to Nigeria earlier than he and his wife have envisaged and that may be as early as next week.
Read more…
Posted by Jane Okinedo on December 22, 2009 at 11:07pm
The Palace of Benin Kingdom on Monday gave the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, one week within which to show remorse by apologising to the Omo N’ Oba, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa for his sin against the palace.advertisementPublic Relations Consult to the Oba of Benin, Obi (Dr.) Martha Dunkwu, conveyed the palace position on the face-off between the palace and Igbinedion during the quarterly media briefing with the Benin monarch.Igbinedion, who was suspended from palace functions 18 months ago by the Benin Council of Chiefs over allegation of parading himself as the Oba of Benin outside the shores of the country among other offences, was advised to do the right thing by going through the palace chiefs to apologise to and seek forgiveness from the Oba.In the same vain, the Independent Television station (ITV) owned by the Igbinedion was asked to also tender unreserved and unconditional apology to the Oba of Benin for allegedly despising the Oba of Benin.The palace also on Monday asked the Benin Market Women Leaders Association led by one Mrs. Josephine Omoregie, to come to the palace of the Oba and tender apology to the monarch over their conduct and utterances at the palace ground two weeks ago.The women were said to have protested to the palace in their bid to seek forgiveness for Igbinedion by the Benin monarch.Their action, which was given wide publicity in electronic media reportedly, angered the palace, which had queried the behavior of the women.Meanwhile, chairman of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Friday Obanor, however tendered apology to the Oba over comments he reportedly made in electronic media when the market women protested to the palace.Reports had it that journalists who had gone to the palace to cover the protest were restricted by palace security, but the NUJ chairman reportedly berated their actions, which were said to emanate from palace authority.The comments of the NUJ chairman on television, it was learnt, angered the Oba of Benin.Consequently, the palace on Monday during the parley demanded apology from the NUJ Chairman and he was subsequently forgiven by the Oba.Vice Chairman of the Edo NUJ, Ms Flora Bassey, who stood in before the arrival of the chairman, had earlier urged the Benin monarch to continue his good relationship with journalists in the state, noting that no other traditional institution in the country was doing what the Oba of Benin was doing to journalists in hosting them quarterly for the past 11 years.
Read more…
It has been revealed how Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, extranvagantly squandered about N3.1 trillions while a player of Newcastle.MartinsadvertisementHis former management company, NVA Management Limited who has dragged the player to court over breach of contarct, told the jury how the player’s account almost went red because of his lifestyle.Obafemi Martins was paid £75,000, but allegedly squandered the earnings on an extravagant lifestyleA former Premiership footballer routinely blew his £75,000 a week wages in a matter of days and was constantly overdrawn, a court was told yesterday.Obafemi, ex-Newcastle striker 25, was paid the handsome salary after he joined the club for a £10million fee in August 2006.But despite his extraordinary earnings, his former management team yesterday claimed they repeatedly bailed him out after his bank account continually slipped into the red.The High Court heard that the Nigerian international player would withdraw £40,000 in cash from his bank account at the end of the week.But that would only last him two days, the court heard, as he topped up with a further £25,000 on the Monday morning.He was always overdrawn and repeatedly relied upon NVA Management Limited to ‘manage his life’, the High Court was told.Martins, who owned several fast cars including a top of the range Porsche 4X4, spent the money funding an extravagant lifestyle of luxurious penthouse homes and fine dining.He is now being sued by his former management company which claims that he still owes them 300,000 for sorting out his finances.He told the court that Martins would withdraw £40,000 for the weekend, followed by another £25,000 on the Monday.‘Despite earning these vast sums of money he was constantly overdrawn,’ added Mr Tennink.He said the firm, which looks after the affairs of several footballers, film and music stars, said that Martins had agreed to pay them for simply managing his life.It was under their stewardship that Martins agreed a £2million image rights deal ‘simply for being Mr Martins’.It’s claimed Martins was constantly overdrawn despite earning £75,000-a-weekHe also had lucrative sponsorship deals with various companies including Pepsi and Nike but had not been paid.When the company stepped in to run his affairs they sorted the unpaid contracts, bringing in thousands of pounds.They also organised visas when he travelled to Italy, where he once played for Inter Milan, and sorted out his passport, his mortgage and property valuations.They even arranged critical illness cover and were constantly running up and down the motorway from their London offices to Newcastle in a bid to do all that he required.‘But surely these were things a secretary could do?’ asked Judge Richard Seymour QC, referring to the size of fees charged.‘It was a Jeeves-type of role that they performed.’Mr Tennink protested that managing every aspect of his life was just part of what they did, and asked the judge to bear in mind the sort of figures these players earned.He said Martins had come to them in July 2007 and had agreed a fee of around £300,000 plus 20 per cent of any sponsorship monies they managed to acquire on his behalf.“He asked for these services to be carried out,” Mr Tennink told the court.Before they managed his affairs, Martins had not been paid a penny for his image rights for the use of his name on Newcastle shirts and mugs and had received nothing from his sponsorship deals.He could not even find the contracts he had originally signed, Mr Tennink added.Martins paid the company £67,500 in January last year and another £25,000 in April last year.But the question for the court to decide, said Mr Tennink, was whether there was a ‘binding obligation’ for him to pay the outstanding bill of over £300,000.After Newcastle were relegated from the Premiership last summer Martins was sold for £9million to German Bundesliga Champions Wolfsburg.Martins, who once owned a penthouse apartment overlooking Newcastle’s exclusive Quayside, is fighting the claim.The hearing is scheduled to last for three days.Read more…
