THE CROSS I BEAR

                    i started

                   with step so fast and assured,

                   a trek for life

                   a trek for survival

                   armed with “papers” and confidence.

                   every corner i turned

                   every place i visited   

                   the story is the same

                   no vacancy please or milder;

                   we shall contact you soon.

                   i grope on,

                   day by day i stumble

                   on the rocky floors of offices

                   with hope that had died

                   ressurated time immemorable

                   i move about, a ghost,

                   with leg too worried for cares

                   with body tired but not retired.

                   the ghost is everywhere

                   dancing to the same rhythm

                   never leaves this realm

                   yet in another world

                   hangs on spider’s thread of hope

                   seeking what had been shared

                   long before I started dreaming.

A bomb has exploded in an army barracks in Abuja,
Nigeria's capital city killing and injuring many including women and
children. The bomb is reported to have gone off at

PHOTO:GOC, 3 DIV, Nigerian Army , Jos, Sunday Idoko (L) with the Chief of Army staff ,Onyeabo Ihejirika, during his tour of the 3 DIV, Nigerian Army in Jos. Photo: NAN

around

7.00pm in the
area of the barracks locally known as mammy market.

The area was full of women, children and men relaxing ahead of New Year celebrations. The bomb is reported to have exploded specifically in the area where many gather to eat freshly roasted fish . It is not
clear just how many have died but eye witnesses speak of seeing bodies

.
The injured have been taken to a medical centre within the the
barracks. The barracks, popularly known as Sani Abacha barracks and
which is situated along the Keffi - Abuja express way close to the
Highbrow Asokoro area of Abuja; has been cordoned off. Reports also say
that building housing police headquarters in Abuja has been sealed but
it is not clear if this is related to the bombing.

Former Nigerian vice - president, Atiku Abubakar, a presidential aspirant under the People's Democratic Party has denounced the bombings and described them as '' senseless and wicked''. In a statement issued a
few minutes ago, Mr Abubakar said he sympathises with innocent
military and civilian victims caught in the bombing incident..

The former vice- president went on to say that the latest bomb targeted at a military establishment is an indication that '' President Jonathan cannot provide the type of leadership to secure the nation.''

It was learnt that the market was jampacked by many people who came to relax ahead of the New Year celebration.

The casualty figure was put at about 30 as at press time.

But no fewer than 100 people were injured at the usual busy market.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petirin, who confirmed the explosions , said: "We will get at those behind it."

Also, President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned the attack, and urged the commands of the nation's security services to rise to the occasion and arrest this new and dangerous challenge to our peace and stability.

Hear him:

“Tonight, evil people determined to turn the joys of fellow Nigerians to ashes detonated a bomb at a barracks market in the Federal Capital City”.

“Basking in their nefarious success in Jos on Christmas eve, they have once again knifed at the heartstrings of a nation decked out in gaiety, celebrating new year's eve. This is extreme evil. It is wicked. It defies all that we believe in, and stand for as a nation”.

“The president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, condemns this attack, and commands the nation's security services to rise to the occasion and arrest this new and dangerous challenge to our peace and stability”.

“There shall be no sacred cows. All, no matter how remotely connected to these incidents, must be brought to justice”.

“They must be made to pay. No one, and we

repeat, no one, can make this nation ungovernable”.

Huhuonline.com can disclose that there is serious tension in Ibadan the Oyo State capital following the killing of the ousted chairman of the state National Union of Road Transport Worker, NURTW, Alhaji Lateef Salako, popularly known as Eleweomo.

A serving Senator, Teslim Folarin, also narrowly escaped death when he was ambushed by some thugs. Two of his aides however got killed by the thugs.

Though no one has been able to say categorically why Eleweomo was shot, fingers are currently pointing at Senator Folarin who is believed to have had a long battle with the late NURTW boss.

Eleweomo had also engaged the state Governor, Alao Akala, several times this year forcing the state to shut down sometimes for days.

Loyalists of the late Eleweomo are currently threatening to a reprisal attack on the Senator and his people as they believe that he was the one who gave his boys the instruction to attack the transport boss. .

They claim that their boss was killed by mobile police brought to the venue of the voting.

As at the time of filing this report, the corpse of the deceased was still on the floor according to sources close to Huhuonline.com.

Attempts are also been made to ensure the alertness of the law enforcement agents in the state.

However, Senator Folarin, while denying complicity in the act, said he had yesterday reported to the police the impending invasion of the venue by some hoodlums, but said nothing was done about his complaints.

He also accused Governor Akala of enlisting the group which he had earlier proscribed in order to forment trouble.

The admission committee of the Lucknow University (LU) India had lately been wracking its brains over an exceptional case - whether or not to induct a 10-year-old girl in its BSc course.
    After some serious deliberation, the panel concluded that since Sushma Verma had already cleared her matriculation and intermediate examinations, she was entitled to study graduation courses.
    Sushma's track record has been consistently stunning. She cleared class X with 59 per cent marks from the UP Board in 2007, when she was only seven. This year, she passed the intermediate exam with 62 per cent marks from St Miraj Inter College.
    Her admission to the LU was initially withheld because of her age. However, she moved an application before the committee, urging it to reconsider the decision because she didn't want to waste a year and miss the academic session of 2010. "There is no specific mention of the minimum age limit in the rule book of the university. So, Sushma can be given admission," the committee observed, responding to her plea.
    According to university spokesperson S.K. Dwivedi, the committee was of the unanimous opinion that such students should be encouraged."While deciding Sushma's case, we have reached the conclusion that such students who have cleared their intermediate this year with good marks should be admitted for graduation courses," Dwivedi said. "Their age shouldn't be a bar. In fact, it is a proud moment for us to have a 10-year-old undergraduate who is confident of excelling in life," he added.
    Sushma's achievement is all the more creditable because she comes from a family which has limited means. Her father Tej Bahadur is a daily wager at the school she completed her intermediate course from.
    Sushma's brother Shailendra Verma, too, is a child prodigy, having secured admission in LU's Bachelor of Computer Applications course in 2009, when he was only 14.
    He, however, opted for a career in website development. "My son is doing something extra- ordinary. Big companies have hired him to tweak their websites," Shailendra's homemaker mother Chhaya Verma said. "My daughter will take admission in the CMS Girl's Degree College, which is affiliated to the LU. She has opted for zoology, botany and chemistry," Bahadur. a class eight dropout, said. "At the same time, she is preparing for medical entrance tests. Sushma wants to become a doctor," he added.
    Not only is Sushma a budding talent, the wonder kid is grounded as well. "There is nothing extraordinary about us. It is just that my brother and I take our education seriously. This is because my father is a dropout and mother unlettered. My dream is to open a hospital to treat poor people free of cost," she said humbly.
    St Miraj's principal Anita Ratra was full of praise for her. " She is an excellent student with a special flair for graphics. She secured a first division in her Class XII exams," Ratra said.

Previously:

Youngest matriculate Lucknow, June 5 A seven-and-a-half year-old city girl, daughter of a daily labourer, created a record today by becoming India’s youngest matriculate. Sushma Verma, born in February 2000, cleared the Uttar Pradesh Board High School examination today by securing 354 marks out of 600, missing a first division by a meagre six marks. A seven-and-a-half year-old city girl, daughter of a daily labourer, created a record today by becoming India’s youngest matriculate. Sushma Verma, born in February 2000, cleared the Uttar Pradesh Board High School examination today by securing 354 marks out of 600, missing a first division by a meagre six marks. Verma, who secured 58 marks in Hindi, 60 in English, 66 in maths, 63 in science, 68 in social science and 39 in computers, said she was happy for achieving the honour, but felt sad at the same time for failing to secure first division due to her poor performance in computers. The record for the youngest matriculate was held so far by Patna’s Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, who accomplished the feat when he was nine years of age. She appeared in the board examination amid media attention, which had worried her school, St. Meera’s Inter College, that her attention might get diverted, but she “excelled in the examinations as expected,” school manager Vinod Kumar said. Sushma had secured direct admission to Class IX last year, following permission given by the secondary education department. Before this she had studied at home. Her father Tej Bahadur Verma, a daily wage labourer, and mother Chhaya, a housewife, are happy at the rare feat. She is, however, not the only such genius in her family. Her brother Shailendra had passed Class XII at the age of 11 and cleared the Scholastic Assessment Test and Test of English as a foreign language. He secured admission to a US university but could not go owing to monetary problems. — PTI

President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted to engage his main opponent for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in a political debate.

Though he said this must be done at the instance of the party, he said he expected that the party’s flag bearer and other candidates will debate on issues based on manifestos rather than challenging each other as if to a wrestling competition.

Mr. Jonathan’s 2011 political ambition took a step forward when he was yesterday unanimously endorsed by South-South delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention during a meeting between the president and the south-south delegates in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

The delegates from the six states of the region openly endorsed the Jonathan/Sambo ticket as the best ticket. While thanking delegates for their support, Mr. Jonathan said he was ready to take up the challenge of his main opponent whenever the party deems it fit for them to meet.

“I am waiting for the party to invite me for presidential debate,” he said..

The president also assured the people of the region that he will do his best not to let them down, noting that whatever he does while in office will rub off positively or negatively on the people from the south-south region.

He further noted that he will ensure that he does nothing that will jeorpardise the chances of others from the region in the nearest future.

“If I mess up, the people will reject us (zone) completely, and this is why I have to do everything possible to ensure that we do well as a government,” he said.

Working for progress

He reassured the people that come March next year, the country will enjoy relative power stability, as all the efforts put in by the administration should have yielded tons of fruits.

The president said after considering the other aspirants from the party, he is convinced that he and his vice president present the best that will lead the nation out of the woods.

“That is why our administration is assuring Nigerians that if given another four years, we would try and make the country better,” he said.

Mr. Jonathan, who had earlier met with the chairman of Rivers State traditional ruler, King TJT Princewill JP Amachree, Amanyanbo of Kalabari Kingdom, also reiterated his plan to send to the National Assembly a bill that will recognise the traditional institutions in the country.

This he said he will do early next year. He asked the traditional rulers to contribute towards the bill when the National Assembly commences public debate on the it.

The president, who also reacted on the Jos killings, said the situation is a national embarrassment, adding that terrorism has become a global plague which the government is working hard to tackle and make a thing of the past.

2010 was indeed an eventful year for entertainment. The movies and music scene had never had it so good, going by the number of returnees who made it just in time to catch in on the ever vibrant and lucrative industries.

One of the earliest shockers fans got was when Nigerian traditional hip-hop artiste, 9ice, announced his separation from his wife, Toni Payne, on January 8. The news was received with mixed reactions, especially since his ‘Tradition’ album was not so much of a commercial success.

In August, controversial actor and singer, Jim Iyke, was in the news for the wrong reason when rumours made the rounds online that he had contracted HIV from his married Sierra Leonean lover, and that she had a child by him. The actor hit back through his PR company, which took legal action on his behalf.

It was also a year of many endorsement deals and awards - P-Square’s multi-million naira Globacom deal became public after months of speculation. The talented duo were officially announced as Glo Ambassadors in August while Timaya is being rumoured as next on the list. The year was also a good one for the Glo ambassadors including Jim Iyke, Pasuma, Funke Akindele, Uche Jumbo, Chioma Akpotha, Nonso Diobi, Jackie Apphia, Kate Henshaw-Nuttall, Rita Dominic, and Ego Ogbara. They all dazzled in various campaigns and also graced the Glo recharge cards.

However, in the midst of various happy events in the industry, it suffered a dent when international star, Leona Lewis, who was due to perform at Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebration, cancelled her visit in honour of the 8 victims who lost their lives after two car bombs went off in the nation’s capital.

While we will not agree any less that the year was an eventful one, we present to you just some of those people, places, and events which will continue to make headlines and some interesting conversation even in the New Year.

MOVIES

‘Small Boy’ - May 27

African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) award winning filmmaker, Michelle Dede’s acclaimed feature film ‘Small Boy’ was premiered in Lagos months after it had had scooped wins and nominations at various awards ceremonies and film festivals.

‘Ije’ - July 30

Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated and hyped Nollywood movie of the year. Produced and directed by young filmmaker, Chineze Anyaene, ‘Ije’ parades an international cast including Nigerian movie sweethearts - Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji. The movie opened in Nigerian cinemas on July 30 to rave reviews, its tickets were sold out in a week. Due to popular demand, it had a second opening which will run from Christmas Eve up until January 6, 2011.

‘Kajola’ - July 30

Despite its huge budget and futuristic sci-fi theme, ‘Kajola’ stands out as the flop of the year. Set in 2059 and complete with stunning Hollywood style visual effects, the movie was directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and produced by Adonis Production, with visual effects by Anthill.The movie starred a crop of new actors such as Adonijah Owiriwa and Keira Hewatch alongside Nollywood star, Desmond Elliot. It had to be withdrawn from the cinemas due to complaints by the audiences across the country of its lack lustre quality.

‘Holding Hope’ and ‘Bursting Out’ - August 8

It was a double premeire at the Silverbird Galleria when ‘Holding Hope’ and Bursting Out’ came to town. ‘Holding Hope’ was written by Uche Jombo, Emem Isong, and Uduak Emem Oguwamalam and stars Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Nadia Buhari, Biola Williams, Ngozi Nwosu, Rukky Sanda, and many others.

‘Bursting out’, on the other hand, was produced by Emem Isong and directed by Desmond Elliot and features Genevieve Nnaji and Majid Michael.

Some of the works of Royal Arts Academy include ‘Guilty Pleasure’ and ‘Nollywood Hustlers’, where renowned stars such as Ramsey Nouah, Majid Micheal, Nse Ikpe Etim, Uche Jombo, Susan Peters, Charles Inojie, Monalisa Chinda, and many others did what they do best.

‘Save our Souls’ - August 26

Nollywood actress, Oby Edozieh, premiered her long-awaited movie titled ‘Save our Souls’ in some major cinemas in Lagos and Abuja. Shot on location in both India and London, ‘Save our Souls‘ dwells on the emotional and psychological trauma that people stricken with cancer suffer and its effect on their families and friends. The flick was directed by Moses Inyang. Its cast include the likes of Kenneth Okonkwo, Elebelu Elebuwa, Chioma Chukwuka, Ebere Okaro, Segun Arinze, Oby Edozie, amongst many others. The actress also launched her NGO, Oby Gold Cancer Foundation, on same date.

‘D’ Comeback’ - September 7

‘D’Comeback’, produced by Prominent Cease, a group of Nigerian entrepreneurs based in Washington, was premeired in style in Lagos. It is a fictional adaptation of the Biblical story of King David. Shot in the US, the movie was first premiered in Bethesda, Maryland, in April 2010.

‘Home in Exile’ - September 26

Nigerian movie producer and director, Lancelot Imasuen, premiered his latest work, ‘Home in Exile’ in Benin City, Edo State. According to Imasuen, ‘Home In Exile’ reveals the inherent selfish nature of man and exposes how people extol tradition when it favours them and abhor it when it comes against them. The event was hosted by the Edo State commissioner for arts and culture, Abdul Oroh, and supported by the Edo State House of Assembly through its representative, Patrick Osayimen.

‘Memories of the Heart’ - October 15

Nollywood actress, Ini Edo, joined the movie making wagon on October 15 when she premiered her movie ‘Memories of my Heart’ - a romantic comedy. The movie was co-produced by Emem Isong and stars Ramsey Nouah, Monalisa Chinda, Nse Ikpe Etim, Kofi Adjorlolo, and Desmond Elliot.

‘Inale’- November 3

‘Inalé’ is based on an old folk tale, and is a musically inclined movie. The entire project came to fruition at the hands of three major players: Bongos Ikwue, his daughter and producer Keke Bongos, and talented director, Amata. It parades the likes of Keppy Ekpeyong, Dede Mabiaku, and Omawumi Megbele.

‘Champions of our Time’ - November 28

‘Champions of our Time’ opened at Silverbird Cinemas, Lagos. It was produced by Chidi Nwokeabia, and Nollywood actor, Emeka Enyiocha. ‘Champions of our Time’ features Segun Arinze, Joke Silva-Jacob, Ngozi Ezeonu, Ejike Asiegbu, Ayo Adesanya, Charles Inojie, and many others.

‘Anchor Baby’ - December 10

This is another movie which has been enjoying media buzz and patronage. Produced by Canadian based Nigerian film maker, Lonzo Nzekwe, ‘Anchor Baby’, like ‘Ije’, has storylines which explore illegal immigrant themes. It also stars an international cast,except for Nigeria’s Omoni Oboli. It opened in cinemas across the country on December 10.

‘A Private Storm’ - December 18

Writer/producer, Vivian Ejike, latest movie premiered in Lagos. The romantic thriller starred Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ramsey Nouah, John Dumelo, Ngozi Ezeonuand, and Ufuoma Ejenobor. The movie was directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen and Kechukwu Onyeka.

REALITY SHOWS

MR. NIGERIA 2010 - March 2

Nigeria’s representative, 25-year old Kenneth Okolie, emerged second runner up in the keenly contested MR. World competition, which took place in Songdo Convensiona, in Korea’s city, Incheon.

MGBN 2010 - May 22

18-year old student, Fiona Aforma Amuzie, was crowned as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Onyeka Martina Udechukwu, who was chosen as Miss LaCasera 2010, received a N1m cash prize and the chance to be the Face of LaCasera for 12 months. Miss Ebonyi, Shalom Obi, won the Face of Select Pro Cosmetics Contest and a N500,000 cash prize.

MISS NIGERIA 2010 - September 25

6 years after the last Miss Nigeria was crowned,19-year old Damilola Agbajor, representing Delta State, was chosen as Miss Nigeria 2010. Damilola was crowned by the MD of the Miss Nigeria Organisation - Adenike Oshinowo-Soleye.

Agbajor’s winning package includes a full scholarship to be educated in a tertiary institution anywhere in the world, a luxury car, one year’s salary package of N3 million naira, one year’s accommodation in Lagos, Nigeria, and a wardrobe for a year, from Nigerian designers.

MTN Project Fame Season 3 - September 26

Chidinma Ekile made history as the first female winner of MTN Project Fame. Kesse Frimpong, a Ghananian, emerged 1st runner up, with Eyo Eminue grabbing the 2nd runner up spot, while Yetunde Orijah was named 3rd runner up. Surprisingly, Tolu Aadesina and Ochuko Ogbu-Sifo, who were crowd favourites, came fifth and sixth respectively.

The business promoter and student drove away with a Toyota Rav4, 2.5 million naira, and a record deal.

Genevieve Nnaji on CNN CONECTOR - November 23

The much talked about CNN’s Connector of The Day, featuring Nigerian star actress, Genevive Nnaji, finally aired ‘The Interview’ which was recorded sometime in October 2010 at the CNN International Studio in London, saw Nnaji responding to questions sent in. The actress was also listed in the October 15 issue of Entertainment Weekly, which had a cover story on ‘The 50 Most Powerful Entertainers’ (in Hollywood). Genevieve was mentioned in a small sub-feature on ‘Stars Around the World’ which alludes to Genny as “the Angelina Jolie of Nigeria.”

Glo Naija Sings Season 2 - December 6

Diploma in Music holder, Casey, won the second instalment of the musical talent reality television show, Naija Sings. The 27-year old Warri indigene won the coveted $100, 000, a Toyota Rav4 SUV, and he’s now an automatic Glo Ambassador. He beats the other finalists, Rasine and Da brodas, to the trophy on Friday at the grand finale which took place at the MNET Studios in Lagos.

Peak Talent Show season 2 - December 19

16-year old Kida Kudz emerged winner of the Peak Talent Show Season 2, beating runners-up Osagie and Super 2 to the star prize. The rapper’s real names, Kayode Odesanya, went home with N2m cash and an Ipad.

The Debaters - December 21

25-year old orator, Chinedu Chidi emerged the champion of ‘The Debaters’ Season II, winning N3.5m, Toyota RAV4, and VEDA Laptop grand prize.

‘The Debaters’ is created by TV personality, Mo, who anchors ‘Moments with Mo’.

WEDDINGS

Joseph Yobo and Adaeze Igwe December 31/January 1

Nigerian international footballer, Joseph Yobo, wedded ex-beauty queen, Adaeze Igwe, during the ‘midnight crossover’ service at the El-Buba Outreach Ministries in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Kingsley Okonkwo of KC Presh & Cynthia Ijeoma Oduah - March 12

Kingsley Okonkwo of KC PRESH fame married his heartthrob Ijeoma Cynthia Oduah at Apapa Registry, Lagos.

Helen Paul and Oluwafemi Bamisile - April 17

Comedianne, Helen Paul, wedded her lawyer beau in Lagos.

Ufuoma Ejenobor and Steven McDermott - April 23

Nollywood actress and model, Ufouma Ejenobor, wedded Steve McDermott, a Briton, at a private ceremony in Lagos.

Bella Adenuga and Jameel Disu - April 24

Belinda Ajoke Adenuga and Jameel Adetokunboh Disu, had a fairytale wedding ceremony which took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.

Saint Janet and Olukayode Samuel Iyun - May 20

Contoversial singer, Saint Janet, formalised her wedding to heatthrob, Olukayode Samuel Iyun, at the Oke-Odo local government Registry in Lagos.

Ernest Obi and Evi Oki - May 30

Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Ernest Obi, wedded his long time heartthrob, Evi Oki, in Lagos.

Sammie Okposo and Ozioma Mkparu - July 1

Gospel musician, Sammie Okposo, tied the knots with his sweetheart, Ozioma Mkparu, at the Lagoon Restaurant and Banquet Hall.

Jeremiah Gyang and Ladi Otache - August 28

Nigerian singer and producer, Jeremiah Gyang, married his longtime love and P.A., Ladi Otache, in Jos, Plateau State.

Cynthia Okpala and Ozoemena Mbanefo - October 23

MTV VJ, Cynthia Okpala, wedded Ozoemena Mbanefo at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers.

Mike Ezuruonye and Nkechi Keke - November 13

Nollywood actor, Mike Ezuruonye, wedded his sweetheart, Nkechi Keke. Mike and Keke’s love story began when they met while he was filming a movie. The two had earlier celebrated their traditional wedding on May 2010.

Basketmouth and Elsie Uzoma - November 26

After a 7-year romance, comedian Bright ‘Basketmouth’ Okpocha, married his sweetheart, Elsie Uzoma, in glamorous style at the Eko Hotel and Suites.

Cobhams Asuquo and Ojuola Olukanni - December 2

Nigerian music maestro, Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo, wedded Ojuolape Veronica Olukanni at the Redeemed Christian Church of God , The King is Coming Parish, at the Redemption Camp. After the church ceremony, Cobhams and Ojuola proceeded to their wedding reception at the Redemption Resort.

AY.COM and Joy - December 4

‘Pass me your Love’ crooner, Ayoola Johnson, popularly knowns as AY.COM, tied the knots with his undergraduate girlfriend, known as Joy.

Tuvi James and Tshimologo Igwegbe - Decemeber 19

Nigerian actor, Tuvi James, married Tshimologo Igwegbe, a South African model who works with NedBank in South Africa, whom he met at the Big Brother Africa party.

Queen Onakola and Dotun Omotoye - December 21

The two love birds tied the knot at the Onigbongbo local government registry, Ikeja.

DEATHS

Sikiru Ayinde Barrister

62-year old Fuji maestro, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, after a protracted illness.

Sazzy

Aspiring MC/producer, Sazzy, real name Osaze Omonbude, passed on after a brief illness. His most memorable achievement was the release of the DJ Atte-hosted mixtape - ‘The Take Over’ which featured a gang of stars including M.I, 9ice, and Ruggedman. Sazzy was 26 years old at the time of his death.

Toun Oni

Veteran Nigerian actress, dancer, and vocalist, Toun Oni, passed away while being rushed to the hospital. Mama T, as she was popularly known, was one of Nigeria’s most successful cross-over actresses. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Order of Niger (OON), conferred in 2006. Her most memorably roles were undoubtedly on television, with parts in one of Nigeria’s longest running soap opera,‘Checkmate,’ and the popular ‘Fuji House of Commotion,’ where she played Mama Moji. She was aged 67.

FEATS

Omawummi and Dr. Frabz break up - March

After a short lived romance which began late last year while working on her debut album, Omawumi and producer and singer, Dr. Frabz parted ways.

Jay Martins Joins Storm Records - September

Talented songwriter, producer and singer, Jay Martins, signed a deal with Storm Records to manage him.

Terry G - September 4

Singer and producer, Terry G, real name Gabriel Amanyi, survived a horrific car crash after he ran his car into a street demarcation. The ‘Free Madness’ singer was subsequently rumoured dead minutes after the accident which happened in Ogba.

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde Album - September 14

Nollywood actress and singer, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, treated fans and friends to a 5-star album launch event at the Eko Hotels.

Desmond Elliot - September 17

Actor and director, Desmond Elliot, welcomed a set of twins - a boy and a girl. This would be the second set of twins for the actor and his wife, coming after three year ago, when his wife gave birth to their first twin - Desmond Jr and Denzel.

Nse Ikpe Etim Speaks at Harvard October 1-3

Award-winning Nigerian actress, Nse Ikpe-Etim, was a guest of the Nigerian Students Association, Harvard University, to be a part of a distinguished panel to share with the world the growth and potential of the Nigerian film industry.

Tuface and One 8 - November 5

Eight African celebrities including Nigerian’s superstar, Tuface, featured on One8, a project that seeks to unify eight major African countries to create an African super music group. These artistes recorded an album in Chicago alongside American super star, R-kelly.

SCANDALS

Tonto Dikeh’s steamy sex scenes

Since getting her big break in 2006 through a Nigerian reality TV show, The Next Movie Star, where she emerged the first runner-up, Tonto Dikeh has worked her way to the top. However, lately, she has been making headlines as a result of steamy sex scenes. The movies ‘Dirty Secret’ and ‘Men in Love’ got tongues wagging.

Toni Payne and 9ice break up - January 8

Nigerian traditional hip-hop artist, 9ice, announced his separation from his wife, Toni Payne, through a statement released by his publicist, Ayeni Adekunle. The couple agreed to separate for a while, even though they continue to remain good friends and business partners while their baby, Zion, will reside with Payne.

Sammie Okposo and Scottish law - July

Newly-wedded Sammie Okposo was arrested in far away Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was honeymooning with his wife. According to the report, the couple and another couple-friend were at Jimmy Chung’s, a Chinese bar and restaurant in Aberdeen Beach Esplanade, which operates an all-you-can-eat menu featuring starters, main courses, and desserts when the gospel star was angered by a supposedly truculent waitress.

Wande Coal nude picture saga - July 14

Mo Hits star, Wande Coal, real name, Ojosipe Wande, became the hottest trending topic on social networking site, Twitter, when pictures alleged to be his nude shots, surfaced on the Internet.

9ice and Rugged Man - September 14

The last not has been heard about the 9ice and Rugged Man feud which has been on for months now shortly after Rugged Man leaked a phone conversation between him and 9ice. Both artistes have since released a Diss tracks targeted at each other.

Ufouma Ejenebor vs Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly - October

Nollywood actress, Ufouma Ejenebor, claimed one of the vehicles (the Pilot) in the lawmakers’ convoy hit her Nissan Xterra. The incident, which occured on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, had two different accounts from the two parties.

October

Mo’Hits rapper, Ikechukwu, kept entertainment portals buzzing, as rumours of his supposed departure from the ace record label dominated various forums in the cyber world. Although the rumours are yet to be confirmed, they get stronger, with different entertainment websites attributing the source to a Mo’Hits mole.

Emem Isong / Vivian Ejike

Both filmmakers are said to be in silent rivalry after it was rumoured that Ejike stole Isong’s story ‘Silent Scandal’. In her defence, Ejike said ‘I wrote ‘Silent Scandal’ in 2007 and the person you are talking about wrote her movie in 2009. How is it possible that I stole her concept? Please, let’s not get into that.’

GT Da Guitarman leaves Storm Records - November 11

Soul singer, Gbemiro Tokunbo Akinbogun, popularly known as GT Da Guitarman, officially called it quits with Storm Records. He has floated his own record label, Ember Records. GT Da Guitarman joined Storm Records in 2007 and released his debut album, ‘The Truth’ in 2009.

Uche Jumbo age scandal - December

The future awards nominated actress, Uche Jumbo, in the best actress award category, was involved in an age falsification scandal. After critics petitioned the awards committee saying that the actress was not 31years old as published by the Future Awards, but 42 years old.

Star Mega Jamz death rumours - December 17 and 18

Rumours had it that there was a stampede at the Abuja concert, leading to multiple injuries. But while there are reports that some fans died as a result of the stampede, the organisers, through a statement insisted nothing of such happened.

Genevieve and Dbanj

These two have been rumoured to be an item. However, while Dbanj has not denied it, the sultry actress has kept mum. The two arrived hand in hand at PSquares birthday bash and were paired together to present an award at the just concluded MAMA Awards.

Reseller Web Hosting

Qualitative and Reliable Reseller Hosting

Reseller web hosting is when you buy server space, market it yourself, and sell it on to your own customers. Since you're selling a service provided by someone else, it's extremely important that you can trust your provider. Below, you will find a list of companies that we've found to be the most reliable, and that offer really good, profitable reseller deals. We recommend that you read all reviews before deciding which one that is the best reseller web hosting for you since all of them have their pros and cons...

What is Reseller Web Hosting?

Reseller hosting is one type of web hosting. Here the account owner may divide up their selected hard drive space and bandwidth and resell web hosting.

Usually, resellers are web consultants who are also web developers and designers and a web or a system-integration company. Web hosting for them is an extra service along with other host of services.

Web hosting provider often gives a discount of 50 percent or more to the resellers on the price of a reseller hosting account.

Web hosting resellers are normally not in charge of maintaining web server services or other maintenance related responsibilities but just a "web hosting provider." In cases of any technical problems, such as server down and access problem, the responsibility falls on the owner of the dedicated server in which the reseller host is hosted.

Generally, a web hosting reseller can set up its web hosting company on the Internet and start selling web hosting plans under its own brand name.

Web host reselling is made very easy through "GUI Control Panels" (Graphical User Interface). Some of the reseller programs offer customs Control Panel for their resellers' customers, but a major part of the reseller programs offer the popular, well-known Control Panels.

Examples of Well-Known Control Panels:

• DirectAdmin (Linux / Unix)
• Ensim Pro (Windows & Linux / Unix)
• Helm (Windows)
• Webmin (Linux / Unix)
• Hosting Controller (Windows)
• WHM/cPanel (Windows (beta)& Linux / Unix)
• Plesk (Windows & Linux / Unix)

http://www.webhostingsearch.com/reseller-web-hosting.php

In line with the CBN regulation, the bank has also appointed Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri; Tunde Hassan-Odukale; Khadijah Alao Straub; and Obafemi
Adedamola Otudeko as Non-Executive Directors.

While Bello Mohammed Maccido replaces Dr. Yerima Ngama, an executive director, who was muzzled to resign.

Other members of the board removed alongside Oba Otudeko are Alhaji Abdullahi Mahmood, General Garba Duba (Rtd.), and Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale.

A statement issued by the bank management reads:

Bobby Farrell, the energetic frontman of 1970s disco band Boney M, died on Thursday (December 30) in his hotel room in St. Petersburg, Russia, at the age of 61. Reuters reported that Farrell was found dead in his room the day after a show in the city where the band achieved some of its career highlights during the Soviet era. "He did a show last night as part of Bobby Farrell's Boney M and they found him this morning dead in his hotel room," agent John Seine told Reuters. "He did not feel well last night and was having problems with his breathing, but he did the show anyway."

The cause of death was not immediately released. The group, which formed in West Germany in the late 1970s, was put together by German record producer Frank Farian, best known for assembling the musicians who sang the vocals for sham 1990s pop duo Milli Vanilli. Farian, who made a career out of ghostwriting songs, was unable to make it as a singer, but when his tune "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" became a hit in 1976 under the stage name Boney M, he hired Farrell to act as the lead "singer" of the group. .

Though former exotic male dancer Farrell and fellow Boney members Marcia Barrett and Liz Mitchell sang live during concerts, Farrell's vocals were largely absent from their biggest hits, including "Daddy Cool," "Sunny," "Ma Baker," "Rivers of Babylon" and "Rasputin." The group was well-received and scored a string of hits in Europe and Russia, but never really crossed over to the United States. They sold 80 million albums in their heyday and 1978's "Rivers of Babylon"/"Brown Girl in the Ring" is still the fifth-best-selling British single of all time. By the time the group's fifth studio album, Boonoonoonoos, was released in 1981, Farrell, known as the "King of Disco," had been kicked out and replaced by another singer. Farrell (born Alfonso Farrell in Aruba on October 6, 1949) was slated to perform on New Year's Eve in Italy.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of
gaining weight, often coupled with a distorted self image^[1][2] which may be maintained by various cognitive biases^[3]
that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her
or his body, food and eating. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to
feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food.
The average caloric intake of a person with anorexia nervosa is 600-800
calories per day, but in extreme cases self-starvation is more extreme. ^[4]It is a serious mental illness with a high incidence of comorbidity and the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.^[5]

It can affect men and women of all ages, races, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} Anorexia nervosa occurs in the ratio of 1:10 in males:females.^[11]

The term anorexia nervosa was established in 1873 by Sir William Gull, one of Queen Victoria's personal physicians.^[12] The term is of Greek origin: an- (ἀν-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis (ὄρεξις, "appetite"), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat.^[13]

Though she died last month, the world is just now learning about the passing of French model Isabelle Caro. The 28-year-old Caro bravely
became the face of eating disorders in 2007 when she appeared in a
shocking billboard campaign warning of the dangers of anorexia during
fashion week in Italy. In the ads, a painfully thin Caro, who weighed
less than 60 pounds at the time, was depicted peering over her shoulder
with the words "No. Anorexia" plastered in large letters across the top
of the nude image.

Caro became one of the leaders of an effort to warn about the dangers of eating disorders, but after the health effects of the
disorder weakened her body, she died on November 17 following a long
sickness, according to her acting coach, E! News reported.

Caro said in interviews that she had suffered from anorexia nervosa since she was 13, telling CBS News in 2007 that she agreed to do
the ad because "I said if I can put my years of suffering to good use
then it will not have been pointless. ... I know it's a shocking photo,
and I want it to shock. It's really a warning that it is a serious
illness."

In addition to working as a judge on "France's Next Top Model," Caro was featured in the second episode of Jessica Simpson's VH1 reality series "The Price of Beauty," in which the singer traveled the globe to uncover the lengths to which
women go to attain what society believes is perfection.
Caro's appearance on the show brought Simpson to tears. "What you are
doing right now makes you more beautiful and I hope women all over the
world hear about the story," Simpson told Caro on the show, during which
the model described how even as a teenager who weighed just 89 pounds
she was told she needed to lose weight. "To us, what you're doing right
now makes you one of the most beautiful people that we have ever seen.
And we really just appreciate you sitting in front of us and having such
powerful words. God bless you. ... And I think it's important for women
to know that the skinnier you are doesn't make you more beautiful."

Despite her disturbing image in the 2007 ad, Caro worried that some anorexia sufferers (sometimes known as pro-ana for their support of
anorexia as a lifestyle choice) might misinterpret her message. "I hope
not. To see my tailbone like an open wound, I show myself as I am. I'm
not beautiful, my hair is ruined and I know I will never have long hair
again. I've lost several teeth," she said of her looks on the billboard.
"My skin is dry. My breasts have fallen. No young girl wants to look
like a skeleton. ... You couldn't believe anyone would want to look like
that. I don't think there's any question about it."

So next time you wonder why African Orobo Ladies have big bums . Remember that Wande Coal song. Orobo ko Bad o  !

THE GOOD

How would you  like a device that opens up a world of new possibilities making you work smarter and your life delightfully easy?This is what the Samsung Galaxy Tab/ Etisalat bundle offer is giving you….the opportunity to explore more virtual possibilities.

Business or pleasure, the Samsung Galaxy Tab/ Etisalat bundle offer provides the upwardly mobile and dynamic business executive a rich dataexperience. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Android powered tablet computer is a beautiful device with a 7-inch display and thinlightweight design combined with premium content and functioning toolsthat deliver total effectiveness. It is truly a mobile tablet that isas comfortable to carry around in meetings as it is to use whilerelaxing on the couch at home. It is a perfect device for workingsmarter, watching movies, reading e-books, catching up on your favoriteTV shows or even chatting with old friends. Plus, the Tab is sleek andappropriately sized that it would fit easily into jacket or trouserpockets.

What you get from the Samsung Galaxy Tab/ Etisalat bundle offer

The Galaxy Tab is bundled with a free Etisalat SIM card that comes with:

• Free monthly voice [25 minutes], Text [25 SMS] and data [250MB] bundles for a 12-month duration. The bundle is awarded on the first dayof  every month for 12 months beginning from the day of activation.This way, you get the feeling of availability of free services everymonth for 1 year.
• Free platinum 0809 special number
• Access to installmental payments and consumer loans (terms and conditions apply)

To order yours, visit any Etisalat Experience Centre or Samsung Brand Shop nearest to you or call us on 08090000200.

THE BAD

Early this morning, I got a headsup from bosun99uk via Twitter notifying me of a Starcomms Android tablet named myPad.

According to the tweet, the tablet runs Android version 2.1, has a 10.1-inch display, is packaged with a free iZap wifi internet router and free 3 months internet subscription. The package is said to cost N75,000.

I was able to source for the image below:

Oh,notice the hilarous part – the tweet says that Starcomms used the picture of an iPad to advertise their tablet. Yup, that is certainly aniPad in that picture – notice the Apple icons on a supposedly Androidtablet. Hope Apple won’t sue. What happened? Haven’t Starcomms takendelivery of a copy of the tablet they are advertising?

No other details on the device yet, but we are hunting. Hang around.

THE "UGLY"

A lot of people at Gizmodo are psyched about the iPad. Not me! My god, am I underwhelmed by it. It has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make buying one the last thing I would want to do. Updated

Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.

No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement fornetbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying Ican't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have myTwitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM openat the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guaranteesthat I will not buy this product.

No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either?Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including atleast one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?

Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs;this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on othertablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees proppingit up, it'll be awkward to use.

No HDMI Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on yourTV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTValready.

The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!

No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch.On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? Itwill leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care aboutstreaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait,nevermind, they all do.

Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.

Update: Why stop at 8? Here are more things we are discovering that suck about the iPad.

It's Not Widescreen
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!

Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G
Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.

A Closed App Ecosystem
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store.. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you'd like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!

Ten Rules for Being Human

1.	You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2.	You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3.	There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4.	Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5.	Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6.	"There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7.	Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8.	What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9.	Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10.	You will forget all this. and eventually you will Lose a body

The disagreement between the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Senate president, David Mark, deepened on Wednesday with Mr. Aregbesola describing Mr. Mark as “a loud noise maker”..

Reacting to statements credited to the senator, where he demanded an apology from Mr. Aregbesola and advised him to “behave like a governor and not like an area boy”, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in Osun State disclosed that he is out to make history in the country.

“It is not my business joining issues with them for I have told Nigerians what I’ve found out about them; let him deny or affirm what I have said. Name calling is unbecoming of any statesman. All I know is that I am making history. He is making a loud noise,” said Mr. Aregbesola during a brief interview with reporters at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

No apology

President of the Senate, Mr. Mark, through his chief press secretary, Paul Mumeh, on Tuesday requested for an apology from the Osun State governor over allegations of plans to destabilise the state.

Media reports had quoted Mr. Aregbesola as saying that prominent Nigerians including the country’s vice president, Nemadi Sambo, and the president of the Senate, David Mark, were involved in a scheme to raise funds of up to N1 billion aimed at destabilising his new administration.

The Osun State governor further argued that in due course, the Nigerian public will decide who among the warring factions is a man of honest report..

“My response again is this; we will be making history while they will be making the noise, and it is left to you gentlemen of the press to decide who is the man of honour and integrity and who is not decent, honourable, and a man of civil disposition,” he said.

Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the 2007 governorship candidate on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, was last month proclaimed winner of the Osun State elections, putting an end to the seven-year government of the former governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

1. What’s important today won’t matter tomorrow

Yeah, so you got a problem. Sleep on it, sunshine. Put it off. Most problems can be safely ignored. You’ll be amazed how often they sortthemselves out.

And the gravity of any given problem is inversely proportional to the hour of the day. At three in the morning,  you’ve got an insurmountable issue. Afterfour whisky and cokes at nine in the evening, you haven’t even got an inkling of a problem.

2. Everybody else is furiously improvising, so you can too

Show me an expert and I’ll show you a charlatan. FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU MAKE IT, amigo.

21 year old lifestyle design guru? Hell yeah! Fat, unemployed life-coach? Why not? Homeopathy professional? Whatever, bring it on!

3. Nobody thinks about you as much as you think about you

Really. They don’t. For example, I’m not thinking about you now. But I bet you are.

4. It’s OK to piss people off

But if you’re pissing everybody off, all the time, it’s time to stop being a dick.

5. Aspiration is for suckers

(arf)

6. Nobody tells all the truth, all the time

So lower your expectations of people. When put in a spot, people fib.

We men lie about our alcohol consumption all the time.

When we’re young and say we had six beers, we probably only had three. Nowadays, if we say we only had three beers, you can be sure itwas closer to six.

It doesn’t mean we don’t love you

7. Life doesn’t get better – only your perception of life improves

There was a little man with a lame left leg. He lived on the outskirts of town in a tumble-down house. He had a hole in his roof, andwater would come in day and night. His lame left leg meant he couldn’tgo out to work, so he survived on the charity of others, who would givehim scraps of food. Sometimes he would go for two days and nights withnothing to eat.  One day, the town council decided to fix his roof. Thelittle man with the lame left leg became the happiest person you haveever seen. He was so grateful to be dry that he would smile and sing forthe passersby all day long.

***

There was a healthy, beautiful woman who lived in a huge house with six servants and manicured lawns. But alas, she was permanently angry,because Jeannine, that bitch, had told her that her handbag was so last season.

8. Your family comes first, but not to the detriment of everything else

You want to go out with the girls? Tell your husband to make his own dinner. And gents, you don’t need permission for that once-a-year trip to Vegas, you just need to communicate it properly.

9. You’re wrong as often as you’re right

So don’t dwell on either.

10. Men should never wear wig