Movie actor Steven Seagal is facing legal action from a former personal assistant who claims he sexuallyabused her and illegally trafficked women. In papers filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court, Kayden Nguyen claims she wasassaulted three times before fleeing his home in New Orleans. The 23-year-old also claims the actor kept two Russian attendants who wereavailable to him at all times. Seagal's lawyer says the allegations are "ridiculous and absurd". 'Sex toy' He added that Ms Nguyen is "a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired". Her $1m (£650,000) legal action accuses Seagal of sexual harassment, illegal trafficking of females for sex, failure toprevent sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and falserepresentation about employment. Ms Nguyen, who responded to a magazine advertisement to be the star's executive assistant, claims heasked for a massage on her first day. Seagal proceeded to use her as a "sex toy" and subjected her to a "vicious sexual assault," shealleges in court documents. Ms Nguyen adds that co-workers at the actor's production company refused to listen to complaints about hertreatment.... After her departure in February, personal property that was left behind was not returned because she had refused to signdocuments stating there would be no legal action, she further claims. Action star Seagal, whose movie credits include Under Seige and Flight ofFury, currently stars in his own US reality TV show, Steven Seagal:Lawman. | |
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He was said to have brought her from Egypt
Criticisms continued to trail the alleged marriage of former governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani to a
13-year old Egyptian girl.
The former governor reportedly paid $100,000 as bride price to the parents of the minor.
But in a statement made available to our correspondent in Lokoja on Monday,
the National Council of Women Societies condemned the action of the
senator, describing it as shameful.
Speaking through its National President, Hajia Ramatu Usman, the umbrella women’s
organisation said Sani’s action did not come to Nigerian women as a
surprise because, according to them, many northern governors had been
using religion as an excuse for not passing the Child Rights Act.
She further stated that the council had been mounting a campaign against
young girls being given out for marriage at ridiculously early ages of
12 or 13 years, adding that the action was against all reasoning.
According to Usman, “Vesico vaginal fistula has been attributed to under age
marriages due to the practice of early marriages in Nigeria, where young
girls are given out for marriage at ridiculously early ages as 12 or 13
years. They get pregnant and when they are ready to deliver, their
pelvises are so small for the babies to pass through.
“The baby gets stuck in the birth canal and in some cases dies. The baby‘s
head wears a hole between the birth canal and the bladder (VVF) or
rectum (RVF).
“So, when the dead baby is eventually delivered, the young mother is left with a dead child and she begins to
drain urine and/or stool continuously. She develops sores on her skin
and smells horribly from the constant drips of urine and stool on her
clothes.”
The body therefore advised parents to avoid giving out their under age daughters in marriage in order to check cases
of this health risk, which it said is particularly common in the
northern part of Nigeria.
The statement further said, “It is a shame that while we are seeking ways to view closely what pushes
parents into giving out their underage daughters into early marriages, a
former governor of a state is celebrating this act of child trafficking
and abuse.”
It also called on well-meaning Nigerians to mount pressure on northern governors to immediately commence work on the Child Rights Act.
PHOTO: R-L: NIGERIA ACTING PRESIDENT DR GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR AFTER THE INTERVIEW AT HIS WESTIN GRAND HOTEL SUITE. IMAGE: CNN.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Tonight, we have Nigeria's acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, leader of Africa's most populous nation and its biggest oil exporter. .
Good evening, everyone. I'm Christiane Amanpour, and welcome to our program.
Nigeria's acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, is in Washington for the nuclear security summit, and he gave us his first interview since assuming power. He took office in February after President Umaru Yar'Adua had been languishing from a mysterious illness since last November.
And within weeks, he's had to deal with a new explosion of violence in a long-running land dispute near the city of Jos in which hundreds of people have been killed. And at the same time, he's faced an insurgency in the oil-rich delta region, fueled by small arms imported from the West.
And when he met the U.S. president, Barack Obama, at the White House this week, Goodluck Jonathan was urged to tackle election reform and corruption. I sat down with the acting president after that meeting, and it's the first time he's given an interview to anyone since taking office.
AMANPOUR: Can I ask you first, what an extraordinary name. How did "Goodluck" come to be your name?
GOODLUCK JONATHAN, ACTING PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA: I don't know. I have to ask my father. (LAUGHTER)
AMANPOUR: You don't know?
JONATHAN: No.
AMANPOUR: Have you had good luck? And do you think you'll need more than good luck to face down the incredible array of challenges that's on your plate?
JONATHAN: Well, the issue of good luck, I don't really believe that the good luck is an issue. But as the president, I've been facing myriad of (ph) challenges. What some people will attribute to good luck could have been disastrous under some circumstances.
AMANPOUR: Well, let me ask you this. You are now Acting President, because the President, Mr. Yar'Adua, is unwell.
JONATHAN: Yes.
AMANPOUR: Have you seen him since he has come back from his medical absence in Saudi Arabia?
JONATHAN: No, I have not seen him.
AMANPOUR: Why not?
JONATHAN: Well, when somebody is seriously ill, either the president or a citizen of Nigeria, and by virtue of being a president is a public figure, but still when you are seriously ill, we would respect the opinion of the family. And in the thinking of the family is that (inaudible) insulate him from (ph) most of the key actors in government (ph). I have not seen him. The Senate president (ph) has not seen him, Speaker of the House of Representatives has not seen him, and other senior government officials.
AMANPOUR: Doesn't that cause, when all the senior members of government, including yourself -- doesn't that cause anxiety amongst the people?
JONATHAN: Yes, it does. It does. Obviously, it does, but we cannot over-influence his family's thinking.
AMANPOUR: Would you prefer that the family allowed you to visit him?
JONATHAN: Yes, of course. But I will not want to force.
AMANPOUR: What is his actual state of health? This also is a mystery.
JONATHAN: I can't say exactly. It's only the medical doctors that can.
AMANPOUR: Have they told you?
JONATHAN: No, they haven't.
AMANPOUR: Have they made any public statements?
JONATHAN: Not quite. Not now. At the beginning, yes, but he left for Saudi Arabia, I think in the second week or so or within the first week we are told that he has acute pericarditis. After that, no other statement has been issued.
AMANPOUR: So if he can receive religious leaders, why can he not receive at least the Acting President who's acting in his name?
JONATHAN: Well, religious leaders are there for (inaudible) blessings. But probably that is why they asked the religious leaders to go and pray for him. We are a very, very religious society.
AMANPOUR: Do you believe that those around him -- his family, his loyalists -- are trying to undermine you or your new cabinet or your efforts as acting president?
JONATHAN: I wouldn't say they were trying to undermine me, because the laws of the land are very clear.
AMANPOUR: Do you think he will ever come back to government?
JONATHAN: I can't say that. It's difficult for any of us as mortals to say so.
AMANPOUR: So you are now Acting President, and you have essentially a year, because elections will be held this time 2011.
JONATHAN: Yes.
AMANPOUR: What is your most pressing issue?
JONATHAN: The most pressing issue for Nigeria now, in terms of basic infrastructure, is power. What outside power.
AMANPOUR: You mean electricity?
JONATHAN: Electricity. But outside that, what is central to the minds of Nigerians now is an election that their votes will count, free and fair elections, because we've been accused of a country that our elections somehow questioned. And I promise Nigerians that they will surely get that, and I've done some experiments. The next thing that Nigerians get worried about is the issue of corruption. You know we've been accused of people who have privilege position in government amassing wealth at the expense of society. So they expect us to take these two issues seriously.
AMANPOUR: So what can you do to take those issues seriously? Obviously, the issue of good governance, of free elections, free of corruption is central, and you heard the United States has also said just now that you must remove the head of the election commission, Mr. Maurice Iwu. Will you do that?
JONATHAN: You see, the issue of the -- the electoral body -- the issue is that whether the president electoral body -- we called an Independent Electoral Commission, INEC -- can conduct free and fair election or not. And I told them that, yes, they can, because I have done it with the same people.
But issue of the people is INEC, I told them that, look, between now and ending of June, most of the officials at the national level -- they're called commissioners -- their tenure will end, and we're going to review them on individual merit. And if some people still cannot go back, we have to replace them.
AMANPOUR: Do you think he will stay or will he be removed? That's something that the U.S.. (CROSSTALK)
JONATHAN: ... among -- among the commissioners at the center that their tenure will end by June this year. And we are going to review...
AMANPOUR: So he will be out by June?
JONATHAN: All of them we'll review. And any one of them that we feel is not competent definitely...
AMANPOUR: Do you feel that Mr. Iwu is competent?
JONATHAN: (inaudible) I know that this question continues to come up. What I've said is the issue is beyond Mr. Iwu.
AMANPOUR: I know. But I'm specifically talking about him, because it's come up in your meetings with U.S. officials.
JONATHAN: Yes, I agree that within the period that he's chairing INEC, there are quite a number of controversies. I agree. There are quite a number of concerns. There are quite a number of controversies. There are a number -- the perception is that the feeling back home and in the international community is that he cannot conduct a free and fair election.
So I know what I'm telling you, that this (inaudible) Iwu, I'm not trying to hold brief for him. The Iwu we are talking about has conducted free elections. These past three elections were credible. So the issue is -- because the issue is beyond Iwu (inaudible) set up an electoral system and our regulations and laws that will make sure that anybody who is appointed to that office should be able to conduct acceptable elections. And that is my focus.
AMANPOUR: OK. Will you run in 2011? Will you present yourself as a presidential candidate?
JONATHAN: For now, I don't want to think about it. I came in as the vice president (ph) to run with President Yar'Adua. Of course, getting close to -- to period of election he took ill, and I have to take over under somewhat controversial circumstances. Only last week, I reconstituted the cabinet. So let us see Nigeria move forward first. If the country is not moving, what -- what will I tell Nigerians I want to contest for? Yes, I'm a politician and I would be interested in politics, since I'm still relatively young.
AMANPOUR: But the -- the reason I ask you is because...
JONATHAN: Yes, but I cannot even tell myself now. I must assess myself.
AMANPOUR: I understand.
JONATHAN: You cannot just wake up and say you want to contest an election to be the president of a country. First of all, you must say, can you really bring the dividends of (inaudible) three months after which we review ourselves. And I used to tell people, look, if I'm not satisfied with what is happening (inaudible) election?
AMANPOUR: Well, I'm asking you because there is this informal agreement amongst various locations north and south which has been closely followed about taking turns at the presidency and that power must shift. For instance, Mr. Yar'Adua, who is from the north, has not even finished one term, and he should have a second term, according to your informal agreement. You're from the south.
JONATHAN: Yes.
AMANPOUR: So it's kind of not your turn, so that's why I'm asking you -- and everybody's very interested as to whether you will present yourself for elections.
JONATHAN: Yes, those interests are there. I was part of a lot of meetings in the ruling party (inaudible) even (inaudible) within the ruling party (inaudible) but, basically, the issue of whether I will contest or not is it (inaudible) I used to say that, if I contest elections, the elections in Nigeria are not only the presidency election, et cetera (inaudible) of Nigeria.
There are options for me if I want to contest election. I recontest as a vice president to anybody. I can contest as a president, because the laws allow me. But that is not my own priority now. My priority now is to see how, within this little period left, what impact can we show?
AMANPOUR: But let me just get something straight. You say that you can contest and it's possible that you will contest, yes?
JONATHAN: It is, of course.
AMANPOUR: Yes? It's possible that you will contest then?
JONATHAN: These are options. I don't want to think about it.
AMANPOUR: One other question on elections. Mr. Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian military leader who seized power, essentially, and ruled for about eight years in the late '80s and '90s, says that he wants to contest them again in 2011. Is that acceptable?
JONATHAN: He's very free. There is no law stopping Babangida from contesting. Babaginda and any other military head of state are very free to contest.
AMANPOUR: What would that say about modern Nigeria?
JONATHAN: It depends on the people, and that's why we say that -- yes, it depends on -- I will say that the votes of the people must count. Babangida is a leader that has been head of state for about eight years plus, just like you said. Babangida has his friends. He has done some good jobs, even though some people may see -- nobody will be a leader that who will not see you from both left and right. But as an individual, Babangida is very free to contest the presidency. Other military leaders are interested in contesting the presidency, not only Babangida, and they are all free. On that 11th day, Nigerian votes will count, and not me.
AMANPOUR: Mr. Acting President, one of your big challenges, as well, is to try to re-energize the peace process, the amnesty process in, in fact, your homeland, isn't it, the Niger Delta area?
JONATHAN: (inaudible)
AMANPOUR: Exactly. So there was a whole system set in place, but it seems to be fraying, and there's a lot of concern, particularly given how vital it is as an oil-producing part of the world. What are you going to do about that?
JONATHAN: Well, the amnesty process (inaudible) what's happened is that people don't really understand the total concept of the amnesty. The amnesty is divided into three phases, the disarmament phase. That is the phase where militants surrender their weapons. Then rehabilitation phase and reintegration phase.
Some of these militants have been in that armed struggle for a very long time. And when young people are involved in carrying weapons against the state for very long time, there is a tendency for them to go into some forms of aberration-type behavior (inaudible) excessive alcohol or some of them they even (inaudible) so you have a process that you must follow.
After the disarmament, the next is rehabilitation. You have to rehabilitate them. Then you have to properly integrate them into the society. So during the process of rehabilitation, you must re-orientate their thinking and make them to learn some skills that will enable them and a decent living through the proper reintegration process. What's now -- we are trying to make the best -- up to this time, we have not gotten the kind of (inaudible) but now (inaudible) we (inaudible) Niger Delta before the minister of defense, who handled the disarmament, was also coordinating the rehabilitation, and that was giving us a lot of problems.
But now we are (inaudible) rehabilitation. The disarmament was the military exercise, so the minister of defense (inaudible) so the case of rehabilitation and reintegration has now moved into the hands of this president adviser to the president on the Niger Delta. We have a good program.
So by the first batch of trainees (inaudible) or so are going to move to their camps in the crossover state (ph) by the third week of April, so we have to do them in batches. The total number of militants are about 20,191, little more than 20,000 (inaudible) so it's a lot of youth. And it's not easy to manage those number of people.
AMANPOUR: What about Jos, which we just saw an explosion of violence there between Muslim and Christian? What can you do about that?
JONATHAN: No, no, no, it's not a problem between Muslim and Christians. That is quite wrong, actually. The problem of Jos is -- Jos occupies a plateau, quite a high land area in Nigeria. And that's an area where a number of people settle outside the indigenous population (ph). In fact, even when Lagos was a federal capital territory, most -- most Europeans who came to Nigeria, they preferred to stay in Jos.
Because of the elevation, the temperature is very low. It's like a sub-temperate climate where the temperature sometimes could drop up to minus two. No part of Nigeria that (inaudible) well, because of that climate and the mining of tin and others (inaudible) within that area.
So there's a lot of settlers from the southeastern part of Nigeria, from the southwestern part of Nigeria, and from the extreme north, so most of these settlers now play big in the economy, local economy. So the indigenous population feels that they have been excluded from the economy, and that has been bringing conflict from the early '60s.
AMANPOUR: But what can you do about it?
JONATHAN: Of course, we have (inaudible) in terms of what we are doing, we are discussing with the traditional rulers (ph), we are discussing with religious leaders, we are discussing with opinion leaders. That is to appeal to them (ph), and they are responding.
Of course, we're also providing security, because, first of all, you must provide adequate security to make sure that people don't carry weapons and intimidate or kill others, so that is being done. Then we also are appealing to their conscience using their leaders, both opinion leaders, both their religious leaders, both traditional leaders. And it is paying off.
AMANPOUR: It is paying off?
JONATHAN: Yes.
AMANPOUR: Do you think that kind of violence will stop?
JONATHAN: (inaudible) I cannot say it will stop completely, but our commitment is to make sure that it stops.
AMANPOUR: With issues like Jos or the Niger Delta, with the fact that, as you mentioned yourself, there's a severe power and electricity crisis, and all sorts of other issues, how do you make international investors feel confident? Even kidnappings there are, as you've said yourself, need to stop.
JONATHAN: Realize Nigeria is a very big country. And some of these issues people raise in the media that makes it look as if the whole country is rampant (ph).
It's not quite so. We have a letter of international investors even in the Niger Delta, you have the oil companies everywhere. Yes, we have these occasional issues of kidnapping, but it doesn't stop (ph). But we are also strengthening the local security system, the police force. We are trying to set up a special fund to make sure that we're strengthening the police to maintain law and order. In addition to making sure that we provide what the people will need and appeal to different groups, to see reason why (inaudible) we are also doing what we think is right to increase the security, because you must secure the area.
AMANPOUR: You've just had meetings with President Obama. What was the most important issue that you discussed? I know President Obama discussed many things, including the issue of a joint fight against terrorism.
JONATHAN: Yes, of course...
AMANPOUR: It was the Nigerian youth who tried to set himself and set a plane on fire over the United States.
JONATHAN: Of course, that is an unfortunate incident. But I know you know more than me. When that issue came up, it was a global issue, and everybody traced the history of a young man. This man -- this young man left Nigeria long ago, and he got indoctrinated in the West.
AMANPOUR: But do you nonetheless think it's an issue that has to be combated, terrorism?
JONATHAN: Of course. Nigeria -- you know that the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Nigeria is one of the countries that signed it. We believe that the whole globe must be peaceful. We cannot (inaudible) cannot encourage that. Nigerians are not terrorists. We know the problem as African leaders. We are suffering from the use of small arms and light weapons. In fact, in Africa, the use of small arms and light weapons is more devastating to us than even the issue of nuclear terrorism, because Africans have died from small arms and light weapons, more than the nuclear terrorism, because most of these weapons used in the former Soviet Union are no longer relevant, and they've all been shipped into Africa.
Most of the small arms and light weapons manufactured in America and other -- in European countries are shipped down to Africa, and this is a cost of most of this crisis we're having, this insecurity we're having, so we totally support.
AMANPOUR: You've got 12 months, essentially, to enact the reforms you're talking about, bringing about the changes, whether it's to election law, whether it's to the issue of peace. How much do you really think you can achieve in this short period of time?
JONATHAN: We'll do our best. Some of this (inaudible) human issues that you can achieve significantly, like we talk about electoral reforms and conducting clean elections. We don't need 100 years to do that. We don't even need a year to do that, because they're human factors (ph). And a few months, we should be able to set up a system that can conduct free and fair elections. But all that is like basic infrastructure that needs a period that -- that you conceptualize it, you figure out the design, you figure the planning, environmental assessment, and so on before you the physical execution of the projects. Those ones will take some time.
But still, people will see that you've set up a clear roadmap. If you think the most challenging infrastructure that we have, the power infrastructure, the electric power infrastructure, we must set up a clear agenda that people will know that we are moving forward and we have milestones that we can benchmark you.
Definitely a government that -- we have 12 months, and especially -- especially it's an election period. Immediately after elections, government’s activities tend to slow down because of, of course, they are key positions that are in government.
So we have that kind of a challenge. We don't really even have 12 months. We can't even claim to have 5 months. But what we promise is that within the shortest possible time, we take (inaudible) cannot take everything. We take the things that we believe we can leave some footprints, but most importantly for Nigerians to see that we are -- we are serious and we are committed.
AMANPOUR: On that note, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan, thank you very much for joining us.
JONATHAN: Thank you.
AMANPOUR: And that was our conversation with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. And that's it for us now today.
Courtesy of CNN.
as the song goes by DJZEEZ !
bobby eh ,
Ronke Ojo a.k.a Oshodi-Oke has appeared in more than 300 home videos produced in Yoruba language. Easily one of the most visible Nigerian film actresses around, she speaks with ‘NONYE BEN-NWANKWO about her career and the rumoured breakup of her marriage.You seem to take part only in movies produced in Yoruba language…
No. I do both Yoruba and English movies.
But you are not prominent in English language movies…
I started with the English genre. My baby’s father was an actor here in Nigeria before he left for the US. We were always going to locations together. Later, I crossed over to the Yoruba genre. Sometimes, the English movie producers invite me to feature in their movies. I was part of the cast of Oby Edozie’s movie that was shot in London. We will conclude the remaining part of the movie here. I have produced a movie in both Yoruba and English languages.
So you produce movies as well?
Yes. I am a producer.
How come most Yoruba actors and actresses have produced movies?
In the Yoruba movie industry, I will say that is where the money is. But talking for myself, I would say I like production. I am a script writer. I write stories and things like that. I can’t keep it to myself. And I know that producing movies will be another way I can touch other people’s lives. I like being a producer because I am a writer. In the Yoruba industry, you earn more money than you get from English language films.
Are the stories you write based on true life experiences?
Some of them are products of my imagination while others are based on true life experiences. Some people give me story ideas. When they share their stories with you or give you an idea, you can develop it. That is the way I do my jobs.
Are you working on a new film at present?
Yes, I am working on a new project. I did it with Sunday Esan. When I travelled abroad, I noticed that black men there still behave like African men. Although most of them have not been to Africa, they exhibit the same traits as our African men here. Some of them beat their wives and all that. It is as if the black skin is the same all over the world. Men expect too much from us. They are older than us, yet they want to act like babies. I think people should appreciate women more. I have seen so many things and I felt it was time I did a story on that.
Going down memory lane, how did you get into the movie industry?
I have been a lover of the arts since I was a little girl. I like watching movies a lot, especially Indian films. I like entertainment. There was a day I was passing by Palm Groove/Onipanu in Lagos. This was between 1996 and 1997. I met the likes of Jide Kosoko and some other people. I talked to one of them and he said I should come and join them. Initially, I was in the English movie industry. I was going for auditions and rehearsals at the National Theatre. But I am sorry to say that in the English movie industry, tribalism is common. Only a few Yoruba actors are among them. Although crossing over to Yoruba language films wasn’t easy for me, I met a better atmosphere. Other actors and stakeholders embraced and accepted me. They encouraged me and all that. It may be because I am Yoruba, I cannot say. But they were not like the other people who would just look down on you. That was how it started..
And since then, you have not felt like quitting?
No. The industry is part of me. I love it and I enjoy what I am doing. The money is not really coming, but we are comfortable. In my own little way, I am okay. But the thing is that when you enjoy what you are doing, you may not think of leaving it. I am happy doing this and I know in my own little way, I have touched the lives of some people.
Can you count the number of movies you have featured in?
No. I have lost count. I have featured in well over 300 movies. I have lost count.
Were your parents in support of your choice of career?
Oh no! My father was never in support. He was a customs officer. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University. He wanted me to go to the university. He wanted me to be a newscaster or an air hostess.
Why didn’t you yield to his wish?
He had problems in the customs and he left. I couldn’t complete my education. Things were very bad. After I finished my secondary education, I told him I could not sit at home doing nothing. I suggested to him that I should go into acting since it is what I enjoy. My mum asked me if I really wanted to do this. In a way, she supported me. But my father never liked it. At the end of the day, he didn’t have a choice.
How was it like growing up?
It wasn’t really fine. It was bad. That is why I like Saheed Osupa’s song, ‘I remember when I was nobody’. That song goes a long way to lift up my spirit. I never knew I would be somebody in life. I went through tough times. Not that it is really easy now; but it is still better than it was when I was growing up. Some people who you thought were your friends would turn you down. We had nobody. We struggled to get to where we are now. I never knew I would get here. I may not have made it in life yet. To chop na wahala. But I thank God. It wasn’t a nice experience at all. I was the first born in my family and I had younger ones to care for. Thank God things are okay for all of us now.
Do you intend to complete your education?
I have been dreaming of doing so. I have been saying it for the past four, five years, but I keep postponing it. I don’t have any excuse. But my husband is now on my neck. I think with his support now, I will do it before the end of this year.
Most people still think ‘Oshodi Oke’ is your surname.
Yes, people think so. But that is not my real name. My name is Ronke Ojo. Oshodi Oke is just a pseudonym.
How did it come about?
I featured in a movie titled ‘Oshodi Oke’. It was the movie that brought me into the limelight. Sunday Soyinka produced it. I was working with him then. I worked with him for about four years.
You have been associated with a few scandals…
The scandals have never made me want to leave my job. There is this colleague of mine that some people barged into her private life and took some pictures from her laptop and posted them on the Internet. She was a guest at one TV presenter’s show the other day and she said, ‘When you are coming into the movie industry, you should come in with an extra shock absorber. Anything can happen at any time. If your shock absorber is not strong, you will be pulled down.’ As for me, I have extra solid shock absorber.
Do the negative things they say and write about you affect you?
At times, they do get to me. I am human. But when you look at it, it is a price you have to pay as a celebrity. Everybody cannot like you. I am used to it. The fact is that they don’t really write scandalous things about me. However, whatever anybody writes, I am okay with it. I don’t see it as a big deal.
Once, it was rumoured that your marriage broke up. How true is this?
My marriage is 100 per cent intact now.
Did you say now?
I said now because anything can happen at any time. Nobody prays for evil or for a bad thing. But as I am talking to you, my marriage is intact. As an African man, anything can happen. Things do happen. I am not different from any other person. My husband is a man. He is an African man. He would always behave like an African man.
So, how did the story come about?
I was in London when some people called me and started asking me about that. I told them I didn’t know what they were talking about. I had travelled to Canada for a film festival. When I returned to London, I told them I didn’t know what they were talking about, since I was not in the country.
What happened later?
When I came back, I had to ask my husband what happened. He told me that nothing happened.
Did he say he did not go back to his former girlfriend?
Yes. He said nothing like that happened, and I agreed with him. I accepted what he told me. My marriage is okay for now. I don’t know about tomorrow.
But did you know about your husband’s ex-girlfriend that he went back to?
The lady lives in Surulere (Lagos). I knew about her even before we got married. My husband and I have been together for 11 years. We got married last year. We had been together even before I had my baby and before he had his own baby. He has a daughter and I have a daughter too. Our relationship was on and off before we finally decided to get married and settle down. Maybe during the period our relationship was on and off, he had a lady friend and I asked him about her. I knew the girl wanted to see me. She just wanted me to know he was dating her. You know how some girls behave. But after our marriage, my husband said he and the girl had not seen each other. Since then, things have been fine with us.
You said both of you had been together for 10 years before you decided to tie the knots?
Yes.
Why did it take you that long to get married?
I have seen a lot in life. As an actress, you will be exposed to a lot of things in life. You don’t rush into marriage. You don’t marry because you want to marry. You must marry your friend, the person you understand. Having a baby for someone is different from getting married to him. If you jump into marriage, you will jump out of it as well. If you rush in, you will rush out. You must get everything right before you get into it. You have to ask yourself if you really must get into that marriage. You must be sure of what you want to go into. I know it is God that perfects marriage. But you still have to ask yourself if you are ready to get into it. You have to be very ready. That was why it took us that long. We just had to be sure.
How has it been since you got married?
It is not the same as an ordinary relationship. It is a good experience though. It has its own ups and downs. You are not as free as you used to be. As an actress, you can be called upon at any time. But now, you just cannot wake up and take off. It is fun though. I like it.
How come you didn’t marry the father of your baby?
The distance contributed to it. He stays abroad and I can’t just live abroad.
Why? You travel all the time.
Yes, I know. I only travel. I can’t just pack my things and live abroad. So many things contributed to our not getting married, but the biggest factor was the distance. I don’t do ‘abroad marriage’. I am going to make my money in Nigeria. I am a Nigeria person.
Are you still friends?
Of course, we are. We still talk. As long as my daughter lives, we will be friends. He is my friend and we talk.
Do you belong to any cabal in the movie industry?
I don’t belong to any group. I was in one caucus and we went for training together. I was there for a year and I left. I have friends in the industry but I don’t belong to any caucus.
Many people are fascinated by your large boobs
Yes. I know that.
Have you ever found the size of your boobs embarrassing?
Initially, I used to hide them. I never liked the size. I saw them as something that wasn’t normal. I felt they were too large. Before anybody would abuse me, I would abuse myself and tell the person that I am orobo. I used to wear undersize bras so that I would tuck in the boobs. I wouldn’t want people to notice them. But I later changed..
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Why the change?
A colleague, Foluke Daramola, made me to appreciate my boobs. She told me I was okay. Now, people want to have big boobs. Initially, it wasn’t like that. Foluke told me I should not hide them because my boobs fit me. She encouraged me a lot. I decided to listen to her and people started liking them. People appreciate them a lot.
Do you wear clothes that expose your cleavage?
I used to wear such clothes when I was much younger. That was before I had my baby. But now, my baby is about six years old. I wouldn’t want her to see my picture later in life and feel embarrassed. I see myself as a mother now. I don’t really wear such clothes unless I am on a set and the script says I should wear them.
What are your aspirations?
There are many things that I want to do. I am planning to go into music. I want to have my own studio. I want to have my own drama school. Singing runs through my family, but I never took it serious. I went to the US the other day for the premiere of my movie. I was given the mic to sing for 10 minutes, but I ended up singing for more than four hours. Nobody sat down. People danced and danced. That was when I decided that I should think of getting into music professionally..
Do you think you will be an actress for life?
I want to be a champion forever. I want to remain at the top. That is when I will appreciate what I do. The likes of Bukky Ajayi are no longer stars; they are moons. I want to be like them. I want God to help me to get to that level.
From MOLLY KILETE, Abuja
Monday, April 12, 2010Friday, March, 19, 2010 will forever remain indelible in the mind of Richard Jideaka, the Sports Correspondent of The Sun Newspapers, Abuja office. It was a day the former Secretary General of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), lost his car, a Toyota Sienna space bus to armed robbers.
After robbing him of the car, the robbers asked him to give his life to Christ if he survived the attack. Jideaka’s ordeal in the hands of the robbers, started shortly after he left the office on the fateful day at about 7.30 pm. After work, Jideaka headed for his home in Kubwa, a satellite town in Abuja.
The journey to Kubwa, was smooth as usual until a few metres to his house. His driver had barely stopped to buy him a recharge card when four young hefty looking robbers suddenly overtook his vehicle and ordered his driver out of the car at gun point. They forcefully moved the driver out of his seat and ordered him to take to the passenger’s seat behind...
Obviously confused about the attitude of the strange men, a now distraught Jideaka, requested to know why they were manhandling his driver. The response was precise. “You will find out when we get to the police station.” Immediately, Jideaka was also forced to move to the back seat of the car at gun point. The robbers sped off with him and his driver. The incident soon attracted his neighbours and family members, who ran to a nearby police station where the case was reported.
Richard took up the story: “It was when they forced me into the back seat with my driver that it dawned on me that they were robbers and not policemen as they claimed to be. They took my phones and the money on me and within three minutes they drove off with us with their gun pointed at my head to an unknown destination.
“While in the car, the robbers called me a 419ner. That I should regard myself kidnapped and that they were sent by my colleague to kill me and steal my car. Next they said if I am not a 419ner, where did I get money to buy a big car. When they saw my laptop, they felt convinced that I was actually a 419ner or that I was into yahoo, yahoo deals. I told them I am a journalist but they refused to believe me until they saw my tape recorder.
“They took the rings on my finger and asked me which one of them was my juju. I told them that none of them was a charm. One of them then threw the rings into his pocket and asked me to bring my wristwatch and the money in my pockets. I quickly handed them over. They commended me for cooperating with them and promised not to kill or harm me because I am a good man.
“Along the line, they asked me to pray that they do not encounter police on the way. That if they do, they would shoot me first. I prayed that we do not meet police on the way and they said ‘Amen’. Thereafter, they urged me to give my life to God if I survived the attack and I told them that I had since given my life to Christ. They said I should do that again, and I said okay.
“At a point, they asked me where I work. Sensing that they were thinking of asking for ransom, I told them I work for a new newspaper based in Abuja. The next question was where my wife works and I told them my wife is a retiree who was still waiting to be paid her gratuity by the ministry she worked with in Abuja. One of the robbers then concluded that I had nothing and that holding on to me would be of no benefit and therefore, I should be dropped in the bush. All along, I and my driver were not to fix our gazes on any of them. They had their guns already pointed at our heads.
“When I stole to look at the speedometer, I discovered that they were almost running the full speed of the car. I said silent prayers that we do not crash. I discovered that they were heading for the city centre instead of the Zuba they made us believe they were going. After about eight kilometres drive at break-neck speed, they branched off the expressway into the bush and asked us to come down and run for our lives. We obeyed immediately and dashed into the bush.
Together with their operation car [a Camry 1996 model] they drove off
“After spending sometime in the bush, we eventually trekked out and met some securitymen guarding some equipment and asked them where we were. They told us we were between New Tipper Garage and Katampe Hill. We then crossed to the other side of the road and boarded a bus back to Kubwa where my wife had already reported the incident to the police. “All my neighbours had gathered in front of my house and were offering prayers for my safety. As soon as they sighted us, the shout of praise the Lord rented the air even as they rushed to greet me.
“My wife and children who had locked themselves in the house, praying for my safety, rushed out of the house when they heard the shout of praise the Lord to find me in the hands of our jubilating neighbours who were too happy to see me return safely.”
As at press time, last weekend, Jideaka, was yet to recover his car.
Ramsey Noah emerges AMAA Actor of the Year
Popular Nollywood actor Ramsey Noah on Saturday emerged the Best Actor of the year at the African Movie Academy (AMAA) Award held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
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The award was for his spectacular performance in the flick, The Figurine, which also emerged the best film of the year..
The sixth AMAA award was witnessed by an array of movie stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and the Diaspora. Two American movie stars, Ms C.C.H Pounder and Glynn Turner, also attended the event.
Nollywood acts alone carted away nine of the twenty-four awards handed out including Cinematography and Visual Effects of the year won by the film The Figurine..
Ghanaian, Ugandan and Kenyan movie industries also proved that they had a considerable acting and production talents as they carted away awards in eleven categories including the Best Actress of the year won by the duo of Ashaku Mensa-Doku and Lydia Forson in a movie The Perfect picture.
In his speech, Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa said though the economy of the state and indeed the nation needed all the revenue that could be accruable, his administration is convinced its investment in the AMAA is not wasted as the award has shown to the world that the state and the Niger Delta is safe and ready for tourism, which is the new forte for Bayelsa.
Sylva noted that the continued hosting of the event would encourage the anticipated investors to come to the state to invest and also come into a Public-Private Partnership initiative with the state government.
“This administration places huge importance on arts and culture for the promotion of the African values. We will encourage home grown talents.
“Beyond the glamour of the award, it is expected that the talents discovered would be used to correct the wrong impression about the African continent. I hope they would be used to switch the paradigm from the negative to the positive story of the African people and culture.
Use it to tell the story that Bayelsa State is safe for investors to come,” he said.
The Chairman of the state Hosting Committee and Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, Mr. Nathan Egba, said the state shares a mutually benefiting relationship with the AMMA organization, which has helped to promote the fielding tourism industry of the state over the years.
Addressing the huge gathering of movie stars, producers and politicians, the representative of the Group Executive Director, Communications of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Mr. Charles Aigbe, said the relationship between the bank and AMAA award had hit three years and the partnership was in furtherance of the firm belief of the bank in the promotion of the African culture through the movie industry.
In her comment on the noticeable developments in the African Movie industry, the Chairperson of the Award Jury Committee, Keith Shiri, said though the number of entries for the awards for 2010 increased with over 280 entries received for 24 categories, the harsh economic condition grossly affected the industry with a reduction in film production and exit of professionals from the industry.
Shiri, however, noted that the few movies produced and submitted for entry for the award showed an improvement in technical and production expertise and increased number of the involvement of the women behind the cameras.
Masaba shut out: PDP denies man with 86 wives membership
From AKIN ALOFETEKUN, Minna
Masaba
![masaba[1].gif](http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/12/sun/masaba%5B1%5D.gif)
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Alhaji Bello Masaba, remember him? The 87-year-old world renown polygamist, then married to 86 wives, may soon be back in the trenches with the Niger State Government over the refusal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to register him as a member of the party.
Masaba was for most part of last year engaged in legal battle with the state government which charged him under some curious provisions of the sharia law for marrying more than four wives prescribed by the Quran for Moslems. Government later withdrew from the case for want of evidence.
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This time, the battle may have moved from the legal turf to the political battle ground, where Masaba has vowed to engage both the state government and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, in a battle of political supremacy.
Daily Sun reliably gathered that when the Islamic cleric appeared at the Etsu’s palace where the registration was taking place, he was turned back by the registration officials who claimed to be acting on orders from above.
Masaba was said to have stormed out of the palace in annoyance, vowing to make sure that no single vote from his Masaba ward will go to PDP in next year’s general election. A chieftain of the party in Bida, Alhaji Isah Lakpene, who confirmed Masaba’s denial of registration said the matter has become a source of concern to PDP members in the area, as no constitutionally sustainable reason has so far been adduced for the refusal to admit him into the PDP fold.
“I have to find a way of getting the governor to know about this. If we fail to register Masaba we stand the risk of losing about 1,500 of the 2,000 votes in the ward,” Lakpene lamented, stressing that he was sure Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu may not be aware of the development.
Meanwhile, the Islamic cleric last weekend gave five of his daughters in marriage in Bida. Family sources revealed to our correspondent in Minna that despite the hue and cry over Masaba’s perceived unislamic matrimonial status, two of his sons-in-law are said to be children of highly placed personalities in Bida. One is even said to be the son of a traditional title holder in the ancient city. Daily Sun can also authoritatively reveal that the number of Masaba’s wives has since risen to 100, and he is still counting
Pa Alimi Olarenwaju Amodu, popularly known by his admirers as the ‘youngest student,’ is a 73-year-old man whose story is unique. From Pa Amodu, the saying that what the mind can imagine the man can accomplish comes true. For him, the brain is like a battery and if charged, it works effectively. His educational activities have shown that no time is late for one to achieve his heart’s desires...
PHOTO:Pa Amodu in class at LASU
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At 60, the Lagos-based Ibadan indigene retired from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), as a clerk, after which he went back to his hometown to engage in farming. During the time, he attended a professional course in Agriculture. At 68, in 2005, he returned to Lagos, with the quest to have a university education.
Shortly, he enrolled for a diploma course in Philosophy at the Lagos State University (LASU). Two years after, he converted to a degree course in Sociology, in the same university. After all challenges and struggles, he graduated last January, in Sociology. Now, he plans to go for his Master’s degre and afterwards, PhD.
Perhaps, one would want to know why the grandpa is still struggling, with those young enough to be his grandchildren, to acquire university education up to doctorate degree level in the eve of his life.
Saturday Sun had an encounter with the supposed oldest graduate in Nigeria and he told the story of his journey.
He said: “Though I am old, I still believe that I can achieve my heart’s desires. I had my early education in 1945, at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Aba Oke Village, in Oyo State. That time, there was no means of transport and it was not easy for me to go to school. My father was an active farmer, so, I used to go to the farm before going to school. But in spite of the stress, I passed very well because I have always been a determined person. Having passed standard three, I moved to Ibadan and my first point of call was St Paul’s School, Yemetu. There, I read up to Standard Four and proceeded to St. David’s School where I obtained standard six certificate in I952. I was lucky to meet Mama Morakinyo, our class teacher, who did her best to give us a good foundation. Former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Dr. Adebisi, was my classmate. We used to close at 6pm, as a result of tutorial,” he said.
Pa Amodu was an intelligent pupil and would have continued his education, but for lack of finance. Yet the obstacles did not stop him from doing his best as a young man.
Meanwhile, having obtained the Standard Six certificate, which was an outstanding qualification those days, Pa Amodu secured a job at Costain West Africa. He worked there briefly and moved to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Ibadan in 1958, as a clerical assistant. In 1962, he was transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to assist in establishing the Medical Records Department. In the process, he attended overseas correspondence courses to upgrade his status.
“While in service, I had the interest to further my education because I knew that I have the brain. I attended some overseas courses. And in 1987, I registered for the GCE, but I did not do well. At the second attempt, I made five papers, which qualified me for university admission. So, after my retirement in 1992, I went back to Ibadan to farm. After sometime, I returned to Lagos with the intention to go back to school. When I told my children that I wanted to go back to school, they did not believe me; they asked how I could go back to school when I was supposed to be resting, but I insisted and told them that the brain is still active. I only needed to charge it. At a stage, they agreed to sponsor me to any level. Later, I enrolled for a diploma in Philosophy at LASU in 2002. In 2004, the university placed an advert for admission, I did the exam and passed and they offered me admission in Sociology; so I had to switch over,” he stated.
Narrating his university experience and activities, he said: “Though it was challenging, I enjoyed it because I have been able to achieve much. I studied Sociology for five years, and by the grace of God, I did not have any carry over. During my university days, I discovered that the brain is like the battery and if charged, it will start working again. Take, for instance, if you don’t charge the handset battery, it will stop working; so also the brain. The moment one stops reading, the brain will go down. Therefore, the brain battery needs regular charging to remain effective. I really enjoyed my university education to the fullest. I observed that there is discipline in LASU. One needs to behave well and work hard to make it there.
“As an elderly person, the school authorities respected me, but they never compromised disciplining me when necessary. We were always asked to put off our phones, while the lecture was on. There was a day I forgot to put off my phone, and it rang during lectures and our class coordinator seized it. Also, when I was in the 100 level, there was a day I slept off while lecture was on and my lecturer asked me to stand up. After sometime, he warned me not to sleep and later asked me to sit.
Thereafter, he asked me what I ate before coming to school, and when I told him that I ate rice, he advised me to always take tea instead to avoid sleeping in the class. In LASU, one has to work hard in order to pass exams. If they give you assignment, they give you deadline and there was no variation of the rule for an old student.”
At 73, one would expect that Pa Amodu should be thinking of relaxing and enjoying his investments, having trained many graduates, but he has a different plan for himself.
“I work according to my name, Olanrewaju (someone that always looks forward). I am someone who always wants progress and I still crave to contribute my quota anywhere I find myself. In fact, I want to be more relevant. My main aim is to be addressed as Dr. Alimi Olanrewaju Amodu. Then, after my doctorate degree, I hope to be a consultant or I may go into business. I am still strong at 73. I read always, sleep between 10 and 11pm and wake at 3am. If you come to my house, you will see my library. My final exams at LASU was on January 28. And the result so far was good. By the grace of God, I will commence my master’s degree programme in Social Work. Thereafter, I will go for my PhD. I decided to enroll after retirement because I want to have enough time for my education and I thank God that I have good children who really support my ambition. They cater for my education and other needs and they have promised to support me achieve my goals,” he stated.
As an elderly person among the young, Pa Amodu garnered himself so much respect that fostered good relationship among him, his lecturers and course mates. Because he actually integrated well with the system, many students got so close to him, so as to tap from his gifts and the wisdom and experience of his age.
“My relationship with the lecturers was so cordial, and they did their best to put me through. They saw me as a father and a student as well and I took them as my lecturers and children. In fact, we related very well. My relationship with my course mates was great and exciting. Even as we have graduated, we still relate. I was their key informant because I was always at the library reading. I gave them relevant materials without charge. Almost everyone in my class liked me and I played the role of a father to all of them. They respected me, as a father, but when it was time for the real business, you hardly know who is older; we played, chatted and studied together. My first grandchild is in the 200 level in the University of Lagos. That shows that most of my classmates were of my grandchildren’s age. You can see that I am now competing with my grandchildren. All my children graduated before me, and I struggled to graduate before my grandchildren.”
The advantages of his going back to school at old age are so enormous that he cannot forget them so easily. Before he enrolled in school, he could not read or write without eyeglasses. And when he got admission, he used it during lecture. But a miracle happened and he regained his sight. Today, he does not use eyeglasses again. Pa Amodu narrated: “One day, I forget to wear it. While lecture was on, I was seeing as if I was wearing the glasses. When I wanted to adjust it, I did not find anything on my eyes. So, since that day, I have not used glasses again. The more I read the more I see clearly. In fact, it was like a miracle.”
In as much as he enjoyed his educational career, Pa Amodu also met a lot of challenges, but put extra efforts to meet the required demands. “As an old man struggling with those of a different generation, I had a lot of challenges in the process. I had to struggle to board the bus and sometimes, trek in order to catch up with my lectures. I also studied day and night to ensure that I passed my exams and assignments because at my age I cannot cheat. It is just unimaginable that a grandfather should cheat where his children are the examiners and his grandchildren the course mates. I always go to the library to read. My experience in LASU opened my eyes to the truth that it is very difficult for people to survive in this country due to lack of encouragement. The government has no provision for the aged and does not encourage them in any way. So, it was just by sheer perseverance and resolve that made me succeed.”
Interestingly, Pa Amodu’s seven children, Ade, Funmilayo, Dr. Akeem, Morenike, Niyi, Sikira and Azzez, who initially did not support the decision of their aged father to return to school, but later gave him full support, were surprised at how their father excelled in an environment dominated by young people. They were later to describe their father as one who believes that learning has no limited time in human life.
One of his sons, Dr. Akeem Amodu, a senior lecturer at the Leads University, Ibadan, who spoke with Saturday Sun, admitted that he opposed his father’s decision to return to school at old age, but after much pressure, he accepted his position.
“Really, when our father told us that he wanted to enroll for his first degree at LASU, after his retirement, we advised him not to do that, because, having worked for many years and retired, the next thing is for him to rest, so that we can take care of him. But, when we saw that he was serious, we allowed him. Since then, we have been sponsoring him and we are ready to sponsor him to any level he wants to go,” he said.
At the beginning, Pa Amodu trained and sponsored the education of his seven children, and at the end, the children now sponsor Pa Amodu’s education. One good turn or investment really deserves reciprocity, you may say.
SSS quizzes ex-NNPC boss, Barkindo * Seizes passports of Yar'Adua's men *FG restricts movement of ex-ministers *Aondoakaa delayed at airport
FACTS emerging in Abuja indicated that security agencies have opened up investigations into activities of the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Mohammed Barkindo..
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Sources said that he was being probed on the orders from above over alleged misdemeanour while in office.
It was gathered that operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were involved in the ongoing probe and that the former NNPC boss was questioned by some officials of the SSS in Abuja last week.
It was learnt that the former NNPC boss was being investigated over alleged anti-government activities, especially the purchase of some high calibre equipment which were not covered under the budget of his corporation.
It was gathered that the NNPC boss was fingered as one of the alleged sponsors of the widely discussed cabal around ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Sources said that the organisations had been investigating some officials and their link with the importation of certain equipment in the build-up to the surreptitious return of ailing President Yar'Adua to Nigeria.
Some life support machines were brought into the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano without inspection by men of Customs.
Investigations had linked some top Nigerians and a retired general to the importation but details were still being pieced together when Barkindo was sacked.
A source said that Barkindo had appeared before a team of SSS operatives to answer questions on certain issues last week.
It was also learnt that the ex-NNPC boss was also being investigated over certain issues relating to the oil industry.
For instance, a source said that the agencies wanted to know whether there was a deliberate sabotage by some forces at NNPC, as it took a threat from the former minister before sanity returned to the oil supply chain
Said the source: "We have it on good authority that security operatives are looking for details relating to the sources of funding for the shipment of certain security equipment. It is necessary to get to the root of some of these things for the sake of the nation's future."
There were reports that the shipment of a particular equipment through Aminu Kano International Airport led to a row within the Customs because the equipment was said to have been moved into the country without due inspection by men of the Customs.
Sources said that the said equipment was allowed to enter Nigeria through Aminu Kano Airport, though the owners refused to disclose what was in the container and that a retired general had to intervene to ensure passage.
It was also learnt that the international passports of members of the cabal, who are already being investigated by the security operatives, had been seized by the government.
A source said that the passports of close presidential aides, who are regarded as members of the kitchen cabinet or the cabal around Yar'Adua, had been being seized by the security agents.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has restricted the movement of all former ministers, as well as those currently serving in the cabinet, for close monitoring.
It was gathered that the order was said to have been forwarded to security officials at all airports and borders so as to prevent those who were still being investigated from travelling outside the country.
It was also learnt on Sunday that the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mike Aondoakaa, became the first victim of the directive, when his protocol officer was barred from checking in his luggage for a trip to Rome at the Abuja airport.
It was gathered that Aondoakaa's aide had gone to the airport to check in his luggage for a trip to attend a programme of the United Nations.
A source confirmed that the aide was told he could not check in the luggage as he could not produce a clearance from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the purpose.
One source close to the ex-minister said the former Attorney-General got in touch with the office of the NSA, where he was fully briefed of the new directive.
According to sources, Aondoakaa was told that no former minister was allowed to travel out of the country without a clearance from the NSA.
He was also told that the directive did not exclude serving ministers and that what he needed to do was to apply to the office of the NSA for clearance.
A source said Aondoakaa immediately applied and his clearance was released on Sunday evening.
A source said the former minister informed the NSA that he was due for a meeting at the UN Informational Institute for the Unification of Private Law and he was representing both Nigeria and the African Union (AU).
It was gathered that the directive to security agencies was in line with the decision to probe the activities of all former ministers and while some of those people with critical cases would have their passports seized, those who were only under investigation would be required to secure clearance from the NSA whose office would confirm the status of the affected minister and either approve the trip or refuse clearance as appropriate.
Babangida, 68, seized power in the OPEC member state in August 1985 and went on to rule Africa's most populous nation for nearly eight years. He was forced to step down in 1993 after he canceled an election that was generally regarded as fair.
"Yes, General Babangida has decided to contest for the presidency under the (People's Democratic Party) in the 2011 presidential election," spokesman Kassim Afeagbu told Reuters.
"He is only waiting for the party timetable before he will formally declare."
He is the first major politician to publicly announce his intention to run, and he will campaign for a smaller federal government focused mainly on defense, foreign policy and the economy, leaving the rest to the states and local councils.
The ruling PDP party is expected to hold primaries in the next few months to choose their presidential candidate for the general election, which must be held by April 2011.
The race for president is expected to be wide open since many believe ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua will not seek re-election..
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed executive powers in the absence of Yar'Adua, who remains too sick to govern and has been out of the public eye since November.
Though 17 years have elapsed, Babangida's reputation has not fully recovered since he annulled the poll, in a move that paved the way for another army dictator Sani Abacha to take over.
Age old problem
Analysts say voters will also be concerned about his age, reluctant to vote for another leader who may not survive a full four-year term.
"After his June 1993 election problems. He will have considerable challenges in terms of his credibility," said Bismark Rewane, head of Lagos-based Head of Financial Derivatives.
"He will also have a generational problems at his age. You need someone with a lot of vigor and energy to deal with Nigeria's huge problems."
Rewane said Babangida would be good for business as he initiated crucial economic reforms during his administration.
"There's so much bureaucracy in government. It makes government too expensive," Afeagbu said. "He wants to run a slim gove
Mean while his father is dead many years ago, it is only his mother, brothers and sisters who are a helping hand to the poor woman. So this sickness continue disturbing this man for over 35 years they have carried him in many Churches, native doctors many hospital yet no veil, many lands have been sold in the name of this sickness yet no solution to the problem.
Till last year some thing strange happen Devil enters into his senior brother’s heart. On that fateful day his mother want to market to go and buy what they will eat, it is only him and that of his brother, mean while the Elders of the village have already announce that they about to give them their father’s properties according to the way they senior each other in the family because they are still small when the death took their father way.
The Senior brother say that this is an opportunity to remove this man on the earth he decide to go and buy yogurt and mix it with acid and gave it to his BLOOD BROTHER, and the man collected it drink, immediately he finish taking it his mother came back from market, he told the woman that his senior brother gave him yogurt and he have already drink it.
It is about 30 minutes later the man started vomiting blood till 9:pm in the night, when it was exactly 10:pm that the same night the man gave up the ghost. The senior brother pick up his phone started calling others that their junior brother is dead.
Other strange things continue happening in the family, it was last week that God use a Rev. Pastor the whole secret came out.
The World Bank's outlook was significantly below the central bank's forecast of 7.53 percent last month, and a 6.4 percent estimate from nine analysts polled by Reuters in January.
Sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy, once a darling of frontier market investors, hopes its fortunes improve as the global economy gradually recovers, and after fixing problems in its banking sector rescued in 2009 by the regulator.
"This economy is just waiting for a bedrock of right and consistent policies ... to get some of our sectors going," said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the World Bank's managing director for Africa, at an economic conference in Lagos.
To improve the OPEC member's economy in the long run, she said Nigeria's leadership must find a way to solve the country's unemployment problem, especially among its young.
She estimated unemployment for 15-24 year olds at around 31 percent..
Africa's most populous country of 140 million people will need to create 24 million jobs over the next decade to cut unemployment by half, Okonjo-Iweala said.
"The most worrying is that an estimated 50-60 percent of our graduates from tertiary institutions cannot find an adequate job on completion of studies," she said.
The vast majority of Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, despite having Africa's biggest oil and gas industry.
Widespread poverty has led to the growth of militant groups in the oil-producing Niger Delta in recent years, and has helped stoke sectarian tensions in the country's "Middle Belt."
CAMAC bought over 62% shares in PAP, and accordingly changed PAP's name into CAMAC Energy Inc on Wednesday at an impressive formal signing ceremony witnessed at CAMAC's head office in Houston, Texas by top American and Nigerian government officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
Empowered Newswire reports said while speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Lawal, CAMAC's founder and Chairman stated that "our first meeting with Pacific Asia was 4 years ago and we talked about collaboration. We wanted to diversity, we from West Africa to China, where PAP has substantial oil holdings."
He added that CAMAC was attracted to PAP because of that diversity, "and they knew our focus was Africa," he added.
Praising the President of PAP, who will continue as President of the new CAMAC Energy, Frank Ingriselli, Lawal said he had been formerly Texaco president before leading other senior Texaco Management officials to start PAP in 2005.
According to Lawal, the current management team at PAP provided strong leadership at Texaco and "gave the shareholders real value," adding that in the new CAMAC Energy Inc, the new management is also going "to earn the respect" of the shareholders and the public.
In his remarks, Ingriselli expressed similar sentiments, assuring that the new company will "grow shareholder value." According to him, "we are looking forward to the future, we will work hard to make this a profitable venture"
In fact by close of trading at the NYSE on Wednesday the company was trading at $4.09, indicating a 9 cents rise or a 2.25%. The following day, by close of business Thursday, the company was trading at the NYSE at $4.45. And at the end of the week on Friday, the stock had recorded an high of $4.94, a further rise indicating investor confidence since CAMAC took over.
Both officials of CAMAC and PAP noted at the signing ceremony that with the take-over and merger this week between CAMAC, a Nigerian-owned US based oil and gas exploration firm, and New York Stock Exchange listed Pacific Asia Petroleum, the potential to raise greater capital to finance oil and gas operations including at the Oyo Oilfield has increased tremendously
A joint statement issued on the day of the formal signing between CAMAC and Pacific Asia, quoted Pacific Asia Petroleum President and CEO, Frank Ingriselli, stating "Today's closing caps a many months-long process and hard work by all of the parties involved in the transaction."
"We are now prepared to capitalize on the opportunities presented by this acquisition. We expect that the addition of the Oyo Oilfield asset, combined with our existing China assets and the wealth of experience from the new board members and CAMAC, will further enhance our capacity to achieve the Company's strategy to aggressively grow shareholder value with high-return and early cash flow assets."
On his part, Dr. Kase Lawal, Chairman and CEO of CAMAC International, and new chairman of the Board of Directors, noted, "We are very excited about the possibilities our new relationship presents. We are very pleased to be a part of the next phase of the development of CAMAC Energy Inc. on the NYSE Amex platform. I look forward to working with the management and the Board to continue creating value for all our shareholders."
Frank Ingriselli, who is continuing as CAMAC Energy Inc president added that the overwhelming approval from the shareholders for the transaction, is "a manifestation of their confidence in the Company's future. We are very excited to close this acquisition ... so that the value we anticipate to be generated for our shareholders from this acquisition and our continuing operations on our China assets can grow shareholder value."
An earlier statement from Pacific Asia on Wednesday just before the formal signing ceremony and change of name disclosed that the company shareholders already voted to approve the company’s take-over of the Oyo Oilfield of CAMAC’s Nigeria’s affiliate Allied Energy, a vital aspect of the deal by CAMAC to take over the company.
CAMAC had earlier in November bought controlling shares, over 62% in Pacific Asia, giving it the inroad to the take over and change of name this week.
With CAMAC's controlling majority of the Pacific Asia, and the name change to CAMAC Energy Inc, CAMAC, the company’s new trading name on the New York Stock Exchange is the first Nigerian originated company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the third in Africa, coming after Ashante from Ghana and South African Telecom, two previously listed African firms on the NYSE.
However CAMAC also became the first African energy firm and first African-American energy firm to be listed on the NYSE.
According to the statement issued in New York by Pacific Asia Petroleum, "more than 99% of the shareholders voted at the meeting approved all of the recommendations made with respect to this acquisition, including the issuance of shares to CAMAC which will constitute 62.74% of the outstanding shares of the Company, and the change of the Company's name to "CAMAC Energy Inc."
Before CAMAC bought over controlling shares in Pacific Asia, it already had substantial oil investments in China, being a leading global oil firm.
Now, the new firm will now own the Oyo Oilfield, which commenced production in December 2009. Dr. Kase Lawal said while Ingriselli will continue as President, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the new firm operating Oyo Oilfield will come from Nigeria.
CAMAC owns 60% of the interest in the Oyo Oilfield, with the other 40% owned by the field's operator, Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd., a subsidiary of Italy's ENI SpA. In 2008, CAMAC earned revenues of $2.43 billion.
CAMAC bought over 62% shares in PAP, and accordingly changed PAP's name into CAMAC Energy Inc on Wednesday at an impressive formal signing ceremony witnessed at CAMAC's head office in Houston, Texas by top American and Nigerian government officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
Empowered Newswire reports said while speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Lawal, CAMAC's founder and Chairman stated that "our first meeting with Pacific Asia was 4 years ago and we talked about collaboration. We wanted to diversity, we from West Africa to China, where PAP has substantial oil holdings."
He added that CAMAC was attracted to PAP because of that diversity, "and they knew our focus was Africa," he added.
Praising the President of PAP, who will continue as President of the new CAMAC Energy, Frank Ingriselli, Lawal said he had been formerly Texaco president before leading other senior Texaco Management officials to start PAP in 2005.
According to Lawal, the current management team at PAP provided strong leadership at Texaco and "gave the shareholders real value," adding that in the new CAMAC Energy Inc, the new management is also going "to earn the respect" of the shareholders and the public.
In his remarks, Ingriselli expressed similar sentiments, assuring that the new company will "grow shareholder value." According to him, "we are looking forward to the future, we will work hard to make this a profitable venture"
In fact by close of trading at the NYSE on Wednesday the company was trading at $4.09, indicating a 9 cents rise or a 2.25%. The following day, by close of business Thursday, the company was trading at the NYSE at $4.45. And at the end of the week on Friday, the stock had recorded an high of $4.94, a further rise indicating investor confidence since CAMAC took over.
Both officials of CAMAC and PAP noted at the signing ceremony that with the take-over and merger this week between CAMAC, a Nigerian-owned US based oil and gas exploration firm, and New York Stock Exchange listed Pacific Asia Petroleum, the potential to raise greater capital to finance oil and gas operations including at the Oyo Oilfield has increased tremendously
A joint statement issued on the day of the formal signing between CAMAC and Pacific Asia, quoted Pacific Asia Petroleum President and CEO, Frank Ingriselli, stating "Today's closing caps a many months-long process and hard work by all of the parties involved in the transaction."
"We are now prepared to capitalize on the opportunities presented by this acquisition. We expect that the addition of the Oyo Oilfield asset, combined with our existing China assets and the wealth of experience from the new board members and CAMAC, will further enhance our capacity to achieve the Company's strategy to aggressively grow shareholder value with high-return and early cash flow assets."
On his part, Dr. Kase Lawal, Chairman and CEO of CAMAC International, and new chairman of the Board of Directors, noted, "We are very excited about the possibilities our new relationship presents. We are very pleased to be a part of the next phase of the development of CAMAC Energy Inc. on the NYSE Amex platform. I look forward to working with the management and the Board to continue creating value for all our shareholders."
Frank Ingriselli, who is continuing as CAMAC Energy Inc president added that the overwhelming approval from the shareholders for the transaction, is "a manifestation of their confidence in the Company's future. We are very excited to close this acquisition ... so that the value we anticipate to be generated for our shareholders from this acquisition and our continuing operations on our China assets can grow shareholder value."
An earlier statement from Pacific Asia on Wednesday just before the formal signing ceremony and change of name disclosed that the company shareholders already voted to approve the company’s take-over of the Oyo Oilfield of CAMAC’s Nigeria’s affiliate Allied Energy, a vital aspect of the deal by CAMAC to take over the company.
CAMAC had earlier in November bought controlling shares, over 62% in Pacific Asia, giving it the inroad to the take over and change of name this week.
With CAMAC's controlling majority of the Pacific Asia, and the name change to CAMAC Energy Inc, CAMAC, the company’s new trading name on the New York Stock Exchange is the first Nigerian originated company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and the third in Africa, coming after Ashante from Ghana and South African Telecom, two previously listed African firms on the NYSE.
However CAMAC also became the first African energy firm and first African-American energy firm to be listed on the NYSE.
According to the statement issued in New York by Pacific Asia Petroleum, "more than 99% of the shareholders voted at the meeting approved all of the recommendations made with respect to this acquisition, including the issuance of shares to CAMAC which will constitute 62.74% of the outstanding shares of the Company, and the change of the Company's name to "CAMAC Energy Inc."
Before CAMAC bought over controlling shares in Pacific Asia, it already had substantial oil investments in China, being a leading global oil firm.
Now, the new firm will now own the Oyo Oilfield, which commenced production in December 2009. Dr. Kase Lawal said while Ingriselli will continue as President, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the new firm operating Oyo Oilfield will come from Nigeria.
CAMAC owns 60% of the interest in the Oyo Oilfield, with the other 40% owned by the field's operator, Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd., a subsidiary of Italy's ENI SpA. In 2008, CAMAC earned revenues of $2.43 billion.
Nigeria’s Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan yesterday arrived the United States of America for a four-day working visit during which he will participate in the international Nuclear Security Summit to be hosted by US President Barack Obama.
Mr. Jonathan, who was on his first official visit to a foreign country since he assumed leadership was scheduled to meet with Mr Obama at 5-30pm (11.30pm Nigerian time) and is expected to have lunch with US Vice President Joe Biden today.
Details of the meeting with Mr Obama were not known at press time, but a presidential source said the US had previously indicated interest in electoral reform, returning peace to the Niger Delta, the country’s unity, and Nigeria’s cooperation in the war against terrorism and nuclear proliferation, so these will probably form the focus of the discussions.
A Nigerian, Farouk Abdulmutallab, is facing trial in the US for attempting to blow up a US plane over Detroit on Christmas day and this led the American government to put Nigeria on its list of ‘countries of interest’ in terrorism.
The acting president arrived the Andrews Airforce Base, Virginia, at 9.30am local time (3.30pm Nigerian time) and was received by US Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders; her Nigerian counterpart, Ade Adefuye and other ranking Nigerian and US officials.
The Andrews Airforce Base is reserved for use by select foreign leaders and special dignitaries of the American government.
Mr Jonathan was accompanied on the trip by Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia and former Nigerian ambassador to the US, Hassan Adamu.
On arrival, he proceeded to Westin Grand Hotel, Washington DC, where he was received by governors of Imo, Edo and Zamfara States, Ikedi Ohakim, Adams Oshiomhole and Aliyu Shinkafi; as well as Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and other top diplomats at both the Washington DC mission and the UN office.
Important meetings
The acting president’s itinerary, released by presidential officials, shows that after lunch with Mr Biden, he will proceed for a meeting with the President of the World Bank, at the World Bank Building, also in Washington DC and later, in the evening, join other visiting Heads of Government and delegations for a working dinner with Mr Obama.
Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State and her energy counterpart, Steven Chu, will host Mr Ajumogobia and Diezani Allison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Tomorrow, Mr Jonathan will join other world leaders for the first plenary session of the Nuclear Security Summit before proceeding for a working lunch with the US president. He will thereafter participate in the second plenary, which marks the end of the nuclear summit.
The Acting President will begin his schedule for Wednesday with a breakfast meeting with officials of the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC. The governors of Imo, Edo, Rivers and Zamfara along with the foreign affairs, petroleum and finance ministers are expected to be in attendance.
He will later meet with members of the Nigerian community in the US and the President of ExxonMobil Oil Company. These meetings are also to be attended by the governors and the ministers, along with other presidential aides.
The Acting President returns to Nigeria on Wednesday, 14th April,2010.
Closing gaps
Mr. Jonathan’s trip to the US also marks the first time in almost three years that a Nigerian leader will be visiting the US. Nigeria’s president, Umaru Yar’Adua studiously refused to visit the US after the caustic comments of US officials on the election that brought him to power. His ill health also stopped him from attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting which held in New York - leaving the former foreign affairs minister, Ojo Maduekwe, to meet US and UN officials.
Mr Obama pointedly avoided Nigeria during his last trip to Africa but he used his trip to Ghana to lecture African leaders on the virtue of free elections and financial accountability.
Commiserates with Poland
Mr Jonathan, yesterday sent his condolences to the acting president of Poland, Bronislaw Koromowshi and the Polish people over the death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and other ranking officials of the Polish government in a plane crash on Saturday.
He described the incident as tragic, noting that Poland had, in one fell swoop, lost the commanding heights of its political leadership.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, I condole with your good self and the people of Poland over the death of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, high ranking officials of your Government and other nationals in the tragic plane crash of Saturday.
“Poland has lost some of its best and brightest to this accident, and Nigeria mourns with you at this moment of grief.”
Utomi announces formation of Social Democratic Party.
Nigerians should not allow the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), run the country aground, the Protem National Chairman of the mega party, the Social Democratic Movement Party (SDMP), Pat Utomi, said yesterday in Lagos.
Mr. Utomi, who spoke during a chat with journalists, outlined the policies and priorities of the new party and its desire to rescue Nigeria from the brinks of collapse under the PDP.
“There is a consensus that our country is in very serious trouble, and that at the heart of the trouble is a fundamental-cultural challenge with the PDP, which has been the dominant political party in Nigeria for the last decade,” he said.
The former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2007 elections, said if the PDP continues to run the affairs of the country, the nation is bound for failure.
“There is a conviction amongst people who are giving to thinking that if the PDP runs Nigeria for the next four years, there will not be a Nigeria,” he said, saying it was for this reason that some people of goodwill, integrity and competence have come together to decide that “it is time to work together to create a political party that can pull Nigeria away from the brink and show it a new light.”
Mr. Utomi said a two-year long meeting around the Mega Summit Movement has led to the creation of a new party, the Social Democratic Movement Party (SDMP), which he claims will be an entrepreneurial party focused on market economy and backed by the goodwill of all the people.
He traced the beginning of the party’s initiative to elder statesman, Anthony Enahoro, who consulted with leaders around the country on the need to save the country with the formation of a broadbased political party, with a spirit opposed to that of the PDP, which he described as “dominant, narcissistic, self-loving, and self-serving.”
Mr. Utomi said himself and Sule Amman, the co-chairs of some of the mergers that led to the movement, agreed with other leaders in the early days of the party’s formation that the fundamental values and goals of the party would force people that are not so well-aligned to its goals to depart the party.
Education and Health as priority
The party, he said, would be one of discipline, service, integrity and with very clear ideas of how to solve identified Nigeria’s problems. He listed education and health as the main priority of the party. Other priorities will be power supply, stimulating economic activities through job creation, fighting corruption, and electoral reform.
Ahead of the 2011 elections, Mr. Utomi called for the quick commencement of electoral reforms, saying, “if we do not start now, there might not be election in 2011.”
The SDMP application would be officially submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) office on the 19th of April.
“We will give INEC 30 to 31 days after which, if we do not hear from them, we will take it that we have being registered and kick off our programmes, because that is what the law says,” he said.
According to reports, Jim Iyke, in a fit of anger, following a personal issue had put a choke hold on the Abuja based Rhythm FM radio presenter, injuring her severely in the process.
According to the Sheriff’s account on the night in question, they had gone out clubbing in Abuja and she had run into a friend, whom she hugged. That friendly and innocent hug triggered an uncontrollable rage in Jim Iyke, who later went and fought with the guy physically. She said she was thoroughly embarrassed and told Jim so in no uncertain terms. Jim later apologized to her for his conduct, and they went home together.PHOTO:Tutupie
The next morning, Jim began talking about the guy she had hugged at the club, and she told him to get over it, that she had nothing romantic to do with the guy. Jim according to her, lost his cool, and choked her, leaving her gasping for breath “I thought I was going to die” she had stated.
She later ran out of Jim’s house, and drove away her neck full of cuts and in pains. She said Jim was always fond of fighting guys who talked to her; that Jim is a sociopath, very narcissistic and controlling.
She also accused Jim of being fraudulent in his dealings with his foundation. She said the money she helped raise for the foundation was not remitted to the charity he had purported to helping, and that of the millions of Naira raised, only 40.000 Naira (Nigeria’s local currency) was given to the charity.
The entertainment world has been running wild with all manner of analyses and interpretations of this story. In all of this, Jim had maintained a studious silence…until now. In maintaining our editorial policy of not just running stories based on conjectures and innuendos, and determined to get to the heart of the matter, I had called Jim Iyke on the telephone from his set in Accra, Ghana where he is currently shooting a movie and demanded that he broke his silence on the issue, given the severity of the allegations made by his ex-lover.
Sounding calm Jim told me he had all along shunned the media, and had instructed his publicist to issue a statement which he did, and that was all he had to say on the issue. But because of the respect he has for The Diasporan Star, he would finally break his silence and speak for the first time on the issue. “I thank you for giving me the platform to state my own side of the story” Jim had begun. “I want to state categorically that I did not choke Tutupie. I want my fans and admirers all over the world to know this: Of all the things the media has ascribed to me, I am not a woman batterer. I have never put a finger on a female. I am rather a protector of my female friends and I think it is a sign of weakness of character for a man to put his hands on a woman. My preferred means of settling fights is to go the bedroom, talk things over and end it there amicably in an adult manner.”
THE GENESIS OF THE ACCUSATION
“Tutupie and I had a relationship, and eventually I decided to end it and move on. She was very distraught and couldn’t find closure to the whole situation and felt the best way to get back at me was to frame me the manner she has done. I am revealing this to your readers that she has apologized to me for blackmailing me.
She said I choked her and that she had medical records to prove that I injured her badly. As we speak, the record is yet to be tendered. I am a Black Belt in Karate, if I had choked her, she would have bruises and a black eye, but that did not happen. The same day she said I choked her, she went out partying with her friends, and was back at work the next day.”
Jim said he understands Tutupie’s frustration “Sometimes, breaking up with someone whom you had invested your emotions and soul to, can be difficult. Tutupie is still dealing with the pains of the breakup. I will not denigrate and demonize her, but the approach and method she employed to get back at me is what I find completely objectionable.
She claimed that I fought a guy who hugged her at the club, which is totally false. People who know me can attest to the fact that, when I go to clubs I try to make myself as unobtrusive as possible. I do not do the posse thing or be loud and cantankerous. Tutupie is a radio personality and naturally she would have fans – male and female. Why would I lose my cool because she hugged a friend? Does that sound logical to you at all? It is sad that Tutupie would go the route she took to get even, when she knows the claims she made against me are totally false.”
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS AMERICAN FIANCEE – KETURAH HAMILTON
For the past four years, Jim Iyke has been in a serious relationship with the Jamaican born New York based actress and model – Keturah Hamilton. In an interview I had with him over two years ago, he told me pointedly that he has finally found the woman of his dreams in Keturah. They are said to be engaged.
Given all the negative publicity that has attended his current situation; I asked Jim if the revelation that he carried out a torrid affair with Tutupie while he was still engaged to Keturah may not have put a damper in the relationship. Sounding very contrite and remorseful Jim said “It has been a very difficult time for both of us. I have apologized to Keturah profusely and told her that we are all human-prone to all the frailties and foibles. I fell off the wagon and betrayed her faith and trust in me, and for that I have told her how deeply sorry I am. This has been a teachable time for me. It is also a time for redemption and I dare say it has made me a better person. I am more perceptive, more in tune with the concerns and feelings of other people. I am happy that I have such a sweet and beautiful soul in Keturah and she has found it in her heart to forgive me. She actually flew to Nigeria to be with me in the heat of the whole situation, and that was very helpful. I have assured her that I will never betray her trust again in me.”
THE ACCUSATION THAT HIS FOUNDATION DID NOT REMIT FUNDS TO THE INTENDED CHARITY
“I think it was a very unfortunate thing for Tutupie to say. She knows that some of the people who made financial pledges have not redeemed their promise as of yet. She knows how committed I am to those children – for her to level such unfounded accusation is very depressing. I’m consoled by the fact that we are determined to improve the condition of those innocent kids, and nothing – no blackmail or scandal will derail me from that course. Naysayers may say all they want – just as they recently did to Wyclef Jean’s foundation, but the truth is that we will continue to support the kids.”
JIM’S FIANCEE – KETURAH HAMILTON SPEAKS
After getting Jim’s own side of the story, I had called his fiancee – Keturah Hamilton to get her reaction to the whole affair. I wanted to know if the revelation of an affair that Jim had with Tutupie had shaken her faith in their relationship. “Of course, it has. Who would not feel betrayed if your man had an affair with another woman? But the question remains: do you walk away from a four year old relationship simply because your man cheated on you? I have decided
to stay with Jim. He has apologized and confessed that he strayedEven though I was angry, I have forgiven him. He has also promised never to cheat on me again. It was a very difficult moment for us. If I had walked away from the relationship, I think I would have given the other lady what she had all along desired to fulfill: the breakup of our relationship. She knew all along that Jim and I were in a serious relationship. The Nigerian media know us, they have written about us, photographed us together, they have seen us at clubs and functions all over Lagos, Abuja and other major cities.
The other lady is in the media, and she knows all this, yet she went ahead and had an affair with Jim. She obviously wanted to break us up, but I would not give her that satisfaction.” On the accusation that Jim choked her, Keturah said “I asked Jim if he did that, and he said it was not true. I have told Jim that I can deal with the cheating, but if he indeed had put a hand on her, I would not tolerate that. No man as far as I am concerned should lift his finger on a woman. That is a no, no for me. The Jim Iyke that I have known for four years now, is incapable of hitting a woman, so I believe him.”
Asked if she still loves Jim unconditionally she said “Yes. As a matter of fact, I just came back from Nigeria. I went to be with him and to provide support during this trying period. No relationship is without challenges – the true test of such a relationship lies in the way and manner you handle things when you hit bumps on the way.”.
