MEN BEWARE! •More women buy love charm in lipstick, powder

By RACHAEL AGUNTA

Owerri Road in Asata area of Enugu is as popular as they come. A place where so many things take place, it is always a beehive of activities. On both sides of the road are various business concerns including Bureau de Change, bakeries, restaurants, suya spots among others.  However, one shop stands out from the rest. Situated at No 15, it has an inscription: Spiritual Shop. It is an old building with signs of wear and tear. The paint has faded and the structure begging for attention. Despite the condition of the building, customers are always trooping in and out of the shop. And most of them are women.

Saturday Sun investigation revealed that the shop is a place, where women solicit spiritual help to cage men. With the spiritual support as it were, the women ensnare men and turn them to toy to be manipulated at will. The patrons of the spiritual outfit target randy rich men in the society.  When the under cover reporter visited the shop, all the elements were in place. Pretending to be in need of the spiritual wares, she told the shop owner that she wanted a ‘package’ that would get her attracted to men and also open their purse.

The owner of the shop confided in her, assuring her that the stuff he deals in has the efficacy to achieve the desired result. Boasting that he has been helping women like her over the years to charm men, he maintained it is effective hence “a lot of girls are always coming here to do it”.  The man, who simply identified himself as Jonny, volunteered that he has different brands and specifications of the spiritual products. Explaining the various types available, he said some come in form of lipsticks. According to him, “ if you apply it and a man kissess your lips, he will give you whatever you ask from him”. The cost is N8000. 

When the reporter brought out some money from her purse and started counting same, Johnny became convinced that she was actually interested. He then suggested that there was another one called ‘Love me alone Kit’. The kit, which could be used in different ways, also costs N8000. He said that the content was in power form and usually applied on the private part “and any man who makes love to me would do whatever I request him to do. 

And if I want to have a man permanently, there is a mirror in the kit that would help me to achieve that. He said I would write the name of the man on a paper, call him seven times and place it in front of the mirror. I will also write my own name, call it seven times and place it at the back of the mirror. With this, the man would forget every other woman even if he is married.”The ‘spritualist’ described the product as “a bomb and that there is no day girls do not come here to get it”. While the reporter was there, young and not so young women were trooping into the shop to buy one product or another.

no we are just joking on that one ! Mrs Jonathans recent pattysyms on the english language has gotten fellow nationals in rib cracks . we hope that the FG gets her an image and brand coach to focus on her speaking skills . after all she has been firstlady of sorts for some time by now she should have a handle on crowd speaking techniques

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As the presidential debate organised by the Network News 24 Television (NN24 TV) kicks off Friday, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will not participate in the debate as the party was not properly invited.

And commenting on the debate controversy, Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas, said while President Goodluck Jonathan is not afraid of debate, the organisers were acting in an uncoordinated manner.

According to the schedule of programmes for the debate unveiled yesterday by the organisers, the vice-presidential candidates of four political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), PDP, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – will participate in the television debate to be aired in all Nigerian television stations, BEN TV in the United Kingdom, Sky Television from 6 to 9 pm Friday.

But the PDP Presidential Campaign Council said the party’s presidential candidate, Jonathan, and his running mate, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, were not properly invited and therefore would not be taking part in the debate.

The Council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Abba Dabo, told THISDAY that the party was currently in campaigns and that Sambo has party activities in Kano Friday.

According to Dabo, “we were not properly invited. Moreover, the vice-president will be attending a PDP reconciliation meeting in Kano tomorrow (Friday) and so he will not be attending. The party is currently in the middle of its campaigns and therefore PDP will not be participating in the television debate, whether for the president or for the vice-president.”

It was further gathered that PDP backed out of the television debate because there were no concrete agreements on the nature of questions to be asked and how to admit the studio audience.

PDP, it was gathered, felt the presidential debate was a bait for some of the political parties to embarrass its presidential candidate and the running mate.

Releasing the details of the presidential debate to be anchored by Jonathan Mann of the Cable News Network (CNN) and Khadaria Ahmed of the NEXT newspaper, the trio of Anthony Dara of the NN24 TV, Newspaper Columnist Haruna Adamu and Clement Baite said that they had an agreement in principle that all the four listed political parties would attend.

On why the organisers were limiting the number of political parties to be invited to only four, Dara, who is the Chief Executive Officer of NN24 TV, said they took into cognizance the issues of spread and reach of the political parties before extending their invitation.

But the presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Ambrose Oworu, told journalists that the organisers were myopic and out to cause mischief.

“How can they not invite all the political parties that are fielding candidates at the presidential elections? What are the criteria for inviting only four, if not for the purposes of mischief and myopism?” he asked.

Also another group, the Nigeria Election Debate Group headed by the former Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Taiwo Alimi, will between March 28 and 30 organise their own version of television debate for all the presidential candidates and their running mates.

Meanwhile, Douglas told journalists in Lagos Wednesday night that a lack of coordination among the debate organisers was the major hindrance to the president's participation.

He said so far, no fewer than four groups had invited Jonathan to participate in their debates, a situation he said was almost impossible considering the tight schedule of the president.

He said with the campaigns gaining momentum by the day, the president had been busy visiting almost two states per day, “so it is difficult to abandon the campaign for multiple debates”.

Douglas said since the campaign schedules were drawn up over a month ago, altering them at this point would create logistical problems for the campaign team.

"The president is not afraid of debate. The insinuation in some quarters that he is shying away from facing his co-contestants is not true. As a former teacher, the president is not afraid of facing such challenges. He is focussed and wants avenues to further remind Nigerians what he has done for the country and what he intends to do if elected," he said.

The presidential aide said the last few months had provided opportunity for Jonathan to reaffirm his commitment to the country, adding that already, a majority of the people had keyed into his message of unity, stability and hope.

He urged Nigerians to keep faith with the president, adding that everything promised them during the campaign would be fulfilled after May 29.

"Don’t forget the fact that Mr. President has overtime proven to be the symbol of unity for the entire country. You can see from his campaign messages that the era of divisive politics is over. He is today telling all Nigerians that they can achieve their potentials and that a conducive atmosphere is being created for all persons to achieve their full greatness," he added.

The Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, finally bowed to former president, Olusegun Obasanjo’s political supremacy, as he passionately begged for forgiveness and also admitted that Tunji Olurin is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for the forthcoming elections.

The meeting which took place at the Hilltop Private Residence of Mr Obasanjo in Abeokuta on Friday was facilitated by prominent lawyer, Afe Babalola, and lasted for over three hours. In attendance were: Adebutu Kensington, Kenny Martins, Olubara of Ibara, and Jacob Omolade (a traditional ruler), among others.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Mr Daniel said, “Well in all things we have to give thanks to God. And I think what has happened today is a manifestation of work of God and I want to seize this opportunity to thank the elders and to also thank Baba for the opportunity of the meeting.” When asked if he begged the former president for forgiveness, the governor said “Let me say this, to you, I am a true Yoruba son, and in Yorubaland it doesn’t matter who is right or who is wrong. It is the younger that will beg the older person, so I have begged Baba and I will continue to beg him.” Mr Daniel, who also admitted that Mr Olurin is the authentic governorship candidate of the ruling PDP in the state added, “Of course, Olurin is the governorship candidate of PDP. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that we can work things out.

Re-uniting the party

“What we have started to do today is a manifestation of better things to come. As you have always been aware, it is true that a large number of our supporters feel disenchanted and I think even if we have to sit down and begin to find a lasting solution, that is what we have started today,” Mr Daniel stated.

“I have no doubt in my mind that we will talk to ourselves. PDP still remains a very strong and united party. And you know that there was never a time that I left. The people who left felt very aggrieved. And we are starting the process of reconciliation.” In his own reaction, Mr Obasanjo said he has forgiven Mr Daniel, adding “Well you know one thing, if you are a true Christian your prayer would be our father who hath in Heaven, and you will end up with forgive us our trespasses and those who trespass against us whether knowingly or unknowingly.” “Of course as long as I pray to God to forgive me my sins, I forgive people who sin against me, particularly those who ask for forgiveness. Then I ask God to deliver me from evil and deliver those who sin against me.” Similarly, arrowhead of the peace meeting, Mr Babalola, spoke with journalists and said, “We are happy to say we have settled the rift in PDP and it has been properly resolved today, and Governor Daniel will be at the airport tomorrow as PDP Governor with PDP members to receive His Excellency the President. We are happy that all problems are amicably resolved.” It is believed that the sudden turnaround on the part of the governor must have been fast-tracked by the planned visit of President, Goodluck Jonathan, to the state tomorrow, March 12, 2011 in continuation of his presidential campaign tour across the country.

7am Monday morning and my alarm goes off yet again, the fourth time since I pressed the snooze button thirty minutes ago. Finally I drag myself out of bed and dash into the shower. I have just under an hour to get dressed, made up, run out the door and get to the train station in time to catch the 9 o’clock train.

Dressed to the nines in my designer suits, hand bags and stiletto heels, I was always  the perfect picture of a successful city worker. Deep in the midst of the hustle and bustle of London commuters scurrying to grab spaces on the jam packed trains, I fitted in really well.

On the outside

I had what appeared on the outside to be a dream life; I was earning a very decent salary having acquired a degree in Accounting and Finance on the ‘advice’ of my parents. “It is a reputable and well paid profession“, I remember them saying. But the saying never judge a book by its cover swiftly comes to mind. Although my life was nice and glittery on the outside, the truth was I was deeply unhappy in my career.

Living the life

After years of studying and building a successful career, I was desperate to get out of the industry, but I was at a total loss as to what else I could do. I had made several attempts to change careers, but each time meant having to start at the very bottom and working my way up. I really could not afford a pay cut; I was heavily in debt with huge bills to pay. Who I was and how I perceived myself was defined primarily by my job status. My lifestyle was built on the premise of how I thought a woman of my “calibre” and “status” should live; expensive lunches, fancy health club memberships, regular shopping trips at Harrods and Harvey Nichols, spa breaks and holidays etc. True to form I ‘lived the life’ well, but deep down I was extremely miserable and totally unfulfilled.

On the inside

Relief for me always came at night after work. In the comfort of my home I would binge on food to my heart’s content, only to make myself sick afterwards. I did this almost every night for hours on end but no one knew about it. One night after a huge binge session, I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror and cried my eyes out. My life was a mess and I knew I was living a lie, pretending that I was happy and in control of my life. Far from it! I desperately needed help, but shame would not let me muster the courage to tell anyone.

A difficult decision

One morning in one of my many uninspiring finance meetings, I found myself firmly holding my legs down to stop me from running out of the meeting room, screaming and shouting “I’ve had it! I’ve had it! I’ve had it!” I simply could not take any more of living like this.  I was fed up of attending meetings that I could care very little about. I was done with talking about balance sheets and financial instruments that meant absolutely nothing to me. I was not prepared to spend hours doing something that I dreaded so much. This most certainly was not what I wanted for my life. That day I decided I needed to seek help and make changes.

Journey of discovery

I sought counselling, life coaching and spiritual guidance. I knew I had to deal with the root of my deep seated unhappiness, my bingeing and excessive shopping addictions.  I was encouraged by my counsellor to go on a personal retreat, a journey inward to discover who I really was. I discovered layers of amazing truths about me.  I had no real personal definition of myself, who I was and who I wanted to be. My desire to conform to family, cultural and societal expectations caused me to gravitate towards whatever I thought other people thought I should be.

But why did I do the things I did? Who was I really doing it for? Why did I feel the need to only wear designer brands and labels? Why was I so paranoid and overly obsessive about my weight and appearance? Why could I never leave my house without wearing makeup?  Why was I spending thousands of pounds on hair extensions when I had perfectly beautiful natural hair? To my horror I discovered that I had spent the equivalent of a small mortgage deposit on hair extensions alone, over the past ten years.

Why did I worry so much about what people thought of me? Why was I so afraid of disapproval as result of not meeting other people’s expectations of me? Why did I always want to fit in? Why did I feel the need to be liked? I simply did not have the courage to dare to be different, to go against society’s status quo.

Redefining me

After a barrage of soul searching questions, I decided to take the bull by the horns and redefine me. It was time to ‘fix’ my self identity, this time not according to anyone else’s evaluation of me, but according to my own personal convictions, desires and ambitions. What I needed was a Make-under!

I took out my 18 inch hair extensions, and reverted to wearing my own natural hair, which with every passing day I have grown to love immensely! I weeded out my wardrobe and started wearing clothes that reflected my true personality and unique style. I was done with following expensive fashion trends. I ditched some of my 5 inch heeled stilettoes for more comfortable flats. I learnt how to love my body and totally accepted that I didn’t have to look like a super model!

A career change was definitely what I needed. I went on a number of courses, studying subjects I really enjoyed, including handbag making and a diploma course in Styling. I have recently started a Counselling course.

Setting up MY business

My greatest achievement to date is setting up a Style Consultancy called “Style ‘n Shine” which is focused on helping women discover their authentic style as part of their journey of self-discovery. Today I am so much happier and fulfilled in doing what I love most – making a difference in the lives of women like myself.  I have come to appreciate my natural affinity for the fine things in life, beautiful clothes, hair, bags and shoes. The difference is now I understand that these things must never be acquired at the expense of one’s true happiness. What I wear and how I look is simply an extension of me, not a definition of me.

About the author: Oby Bamidele has years of business experience and now runs a successful style consultancy helping women with their journeys toward self-discovery. email her at oby @ stylenshine.co.ukor visit her website www.stylenshine.co.uk

Article extracted from  : http://www.women-unlimited.co.uk/redefining-me-starting-my-own-business/

Nigerian business mogul, Mike Adenuga the founder of Globacom- the mobile, fixed, broadband, and international gateway carrier, has joined Forbes Magazine’ billionaires list with a net worth of $2 billion. He joins his countryman, Aliko Dangote, a regular feature in the list, whose furtune surged 557 per cent to $13.8 billion, up from $2.1 billion during the period.

On top of the billionaires' list is Mexico's Carlos Slim Helú, who added $20.5 billion to his fortune, more than any other billionaire. The telecom mogul, who gets 62 per cent of his fortune from America is now worth $74 billion and has pulled far ahead of his two closest rivals.

Photos: Left New "kid on the block Otunba Adenuga,right:Aliko Dangote aka Chemical ALi Richest Person in Africa and getting richer by the day even richer than facebook founder !

However, the Microsoft Guru, Bill Gates came second and the investor magnate Warren Buffett came third. Both added a more modest $3 billion to their piles and are now worth $56 billion and $50 billion, respectively.

Gates, who now gets 70 per cent of his fortune from investments outside of Microsoft has actually been investing in the Mexican stock market and has holdings in Mexican Coke bottler Femsa and Grupo Televisa.

Adenuga, owner of several high profile firms which include Conoil Producing, Conoil Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank (ETB), launched Globacom services in Nigeria in 2005, in the Republic of Benin in 2008 and has licences to operate in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire (with Togo and Senegal next).

He took a big gamble laying a $1 billion undersea fibre optic cable, Glo-1, to link Africa with the rest of the world. (partnered with Alcatel-Lucent). The connection will help lower prices for customers as well as help Adenuga expand more quickly.

As for Dangote, who is now the number 51 in the Forbe's list from 334 position in 2008; a step ahead of the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg,  who made the list for the first time with a networth of $13.5 billion at the 52nd position.

Dangote fortune surged during the period, after he consolidated all his public and private cement holdings throughout Africa into the continent’s largest cement manufacturer and took it public on the Nigerian stock exchange in October.

Dangote Cement now has a market value in excess of $13 billion, and accounts for a quarter of the Nigeria Stock Exchange’s total market capitalization.

The dearth of native suppliers to meet increasing cement demand is driving the stock price. Dangote projects demand at 72 million metric tons and growing because of the drive to build infrastructure in Nigeria, Africa’s most populated nation, as well as other countries; current supply is 67 million metric tons, a shortfall of 5 million metric tons.

For perspective, he is now richer than longtime white South African billionaires Nicky Oppenheimer of Debeers and Johann Rupert of luxury goods group Richemont, which owns Cartier, Dunhill and other premium brands.

For now he’s gearing up to introduce Dangote Cement to foreign investors. Companies listed on the Nigerian stock exchange are required to have a minimum free float of 25 per cent, Dangote initially listed 5 per cent of shares. According to analysts at Thaddeus Investment Advisors, the Nigerian market is too shallow for a stock of Dangote Cement’s size to be listed on the exchange; this is why the balance of the free float will be listed outside of Nigeria. Dangote, who recently bought himself a $45 million Bombardier aircraft for his birthday, has been shuttling back and forth to London for months, in anticipation of a public offering in London later this year.

He is certainly one to watch. After a lucrative career in trading, Dangote ventured into manufacturing pasta, salt, sugar, and flour in 1997, in part encouraged by the policies of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Eventually Dangote went from importing and rebagging cement to production as well; he was awarded the government’s then state-owned cement business and began building his own plant in 2003. Cement revenue which has been primarily based on imports grew 15% a year between 2001 and 2005; once the Obajana plant was fully operational in 2007, revenue quadrupled; in fiscal 2009 revenue was $1.2 billion.

Dangote Cement now owns three cement plants and two terminals in Nigeria where he both produces and still imports cement. The Obajana plant is Dangote’s largest to date and controls the largest market share in Nigeria; Dangote terminals at Lagos and Port-Harcourt have the highest import quotas of all local companies. With additional capacity coming on line this year, total capacity is expected to reach 26 million metric tons by the end of 2011. (also helping boost profits: Dangote’s newly combined entity is tax exempt through 2017.)

But he won’t stop there. Dangote has started building investments in cement plants and terminals across Africa including Senegal, Zambia, Tanzania, Congo, Ethiopia, Cameroun, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Ghana.

Meanwhile, Egypt led other African countries in the Forbes billionaires' list, with eight billionaires on the list, followed by South Africa with four billionaires,  while Nigeria came third with two billionaires. Chief Mike Adenuga  joined Dangote on the Forbes’ list rated 597 in the world, and worth $2 billion. Mr Femi Otedola who was previously with Dangote in the list is no longer there.

According to Forbes Magazine, this 25th year of tracking global wealth was one to remember. The 2011 Billionaires List breaks two records: total number of listees (1,210) and combined wealth ($4.5 trillion). This horde surpasses the gross domestic product of Germany, one of only six nations to have fewer billionaires this year.

Whereas, BRICs led the way: Brazil, Russia, India and China produced 108 of the 214 new names. These four nations are home to one in four members, up from one in 10 five years ago. Before this year only, the United States (U.S.) had ever produced more than 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101.

Rank   Name  Net Worth      Age     Source of Money      Country of Citizenship

1          Carlos Slim Helu & family   $74 B  71      telecom         Mexico

2          Bill Gates     $56 B  55      Microsoft       United States

3          Warren Buffett       $50 B  80      Berkshire Hathaway  United States

4          Bernard Arnault      $41 B  62      LVMH  France

5          Larry Ellison $39.5 B         66      Oracle United States

6          Lakshmi Mittal        $31.1 B         60      Steel   India

7          Amancio Ortega      $31 B  74      Zara   Spain

8          Eike Batista $30 B  54      mining, oil      Brazil

9          Mukesh Ambani      $27 B  53      petrochemicals, oil & gas     India

10        Christy Walton & family     $26.5 B         56      Walmart        United States

11        Li Ka-shing   $26 B  82      Diversified     Hong Kong

12        Karl Albrecht          $25.5 B         91      Aldi     Germany

13        Stefan Persson       $24.5 B         63      H&M    Sweden

14        Vladimir Lisin          $24 B  54      Steel   Russia

15        Liliane Bettencourt $23.5 B         88      L'Oreal France

16        Sheldon Adelson     $23.3 B         77      casinos          United States

17        David Thomson & family    $23 B  53      media  Canada

18        Charles Koch          $22 B  75      Diversified     United States

18        David Koch $22 B  70      Diversified     United States

20        Jim Walton   $21.3 B         63      Walmart        United States

21        Alice Walton           $21.2 B         61      Walmart        United States

22        S. Robson Walton   $21 B  67      Walmart        United States

23        Kwok Thomas & Raymond & family         $20 B  N/A     real estate     Hong Kong

24        Larry Page   $19.8 B         37      Google United States

24        Sergey Brin $19.8 B         37      Google United States

26        Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud    $19.6 B         56      Investments   Saudi Arabia

27        Iris Fontbona & family       $19.2 B         N/A     Mining Chile

28        Lee Shau Kee         $19 B  83      real estate     Hong Kong

29        Alexei Mordashov    $18.5 B         45      Steel   Russia

30        Michael Bloomberg $18.1 B         69      Bloomberg     United States

30        Jeff Bezos   $18.1 B         47      Amazon         United States

32        Michele Ferrero & family    $18 B  84      chocolates     Italy

32        Mikhail Prokhorov   $18 B  45      Investments   Russia

34        Vladimir Potanin      $17.8 B         50      nonferrous metals    Russia

35        Alisher Usmanov     $17.7 B         57      steel, telecom, stocks         Russia

36        Azim Premji           $16.8 B         65      Software       India

36        Oleg Deripaska       $16.8 B         43      aluminum      Russia

38        Michael Otto & family        $16.6 B         67      Retail  Germany

39       German Larrea Mota Velasco & family     $16 B  57      Mining Mexico

39        Rinat Akhmetov      $16 B  44      steel, coal mines       Ukraine

39        John Paulson          $16 B  55      hedge funds   United States

42        Shashi & Ravi Ruia $15.8 B         67      Diversified     India

43        Mikhail Fridman      $15.1 B         46      oil, banking, telecom Russia

44        Michael Dell $14.6 B         46      Dell     United States

44        Susanne Klatten     $14.6 B         48      BMW, pharmaceuticals        Germany

46        Steve Ballmer        $14.5 B         54      Microsoft       United States

46        George Soros         $14.5 B         80      hedge funds   United States

48        Berthold & Theo Jr. Albrecht & family      $14.4 B         N/A     Aldi, Trader Joes       Germany

49        Birgit Rausing & family      $14 B  87      packaging      Sweden

50        Vagit Alekperov      $13.9 B         60      Lukoil  Russia

51        Aliko Dangote         $13.8 B         53      sugar, flour, cement Nigeria

52        Mark Zuckerberg    $13.5 B         26      Facebook       United States

53        Anne Cox Chambers         $13.4 B         91      Cox Enterprises        United States

53        Roman Abramovich           $13.4 B         44      steel, investments     Russia

55        Jorge Paulo Lemann          $13.3 B         71      beer    Brazil

56        Savitri Jindal & family        $13.2 B         60      Steel   India

57        Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family      $13 B  59      real estate     United Kingdom

57        Paul Allen     $13 B  58      Microsoft, investments        United States

57        Viktor Vekselberg   $13 B  53      oil, metals      Russia

60        Phil Knight    $12.7 B         73      Nike    United States

61        Robert Kuok          $12.5 B         87      Diversified     Malaysia

61        Carl Icahn    $12.5 B         75      leveraged buyouts    United States

63        Mohammed Al Amoudi       $12.3 B         66      oil       Saudi Arabia

64        Donald Bren           $12 B  78      real estate     United States

64        Ron Perelman        $12 B  68      leveraged buyouts    United States

66        Alberto Bailleres Gonzalez & family         $11.9 B         79      Mining Mexico

67        Francois Pinault & family    $11.5 B         74      Retail  France

68        Joseph Safra         $11.4 B         72      banking         Brazil

69        Abigail Johnson       $11.3 B         49      Fidelity United States

70        Viktor Rashnikov     $11.2 B         62      Steel   Russia

71        Leonardo Del Vecchio        $11 B  75      eyewear        Italy

72        John Fredriksen      $10.7 B         66      shipping         Cyprus

72        Stefan Quandt        $10.7 B         44      BMW   Germany

74        James Simons        $10.6 B         72      hedge funds   United States

75        Luis Carlos Sarmiento        $10.5 B         78      banking         Colombia

75        Horst Paulmann & family    $10.5 B         76      Retail  Chile

77        Nasser Al-Kharafi & family $10.4 B         67      construction   Kuwait

77        Eliodoro, Bernardo & Patricia Matte         $10.4 B         N/A     paper  Chile

79        Sammy Ofer & family       $10.3 B         89      shipping         Israel

80        Len Blavatnik         $10.1 B         53      Access Industries      United States

81        Hans Rausing         $10 B  84      packaging      Sweden

81        Ernesto Bertarelli & family $10 B  45      biotech          Switzerland

81        John Mars    $10 B  74      candy, pet food        United States

81        Jacqueline Mars      $10 B  71      candy, pet food        United States

81        Forrest Mars          $10 B  79      candy, pet food        United States

81        Klaus-Michael Kuhne         $10 B  73      shipping         Germany

81        Gautam Adani        $10 B  48      commodities, infrastructure  India

88        Iskander Makhmudov        $9.9 B 47      mining, metals, machinery   Russia

89        Johanna Quandt      $9.8 B 84      BMW   Germany

89        George Kaiser        $9.8 B 68      oil & gas, banking     United States

89        Maria-Elisabeth & Georg Schaeffler         $9.8 B N/A     ball bearings   Germany

92        German Khan         $9.6 B 49      oil, banking, telecom Russia

93        Ananda Krishnan     $9.5 B 72      telecom         Malaysia

93        Dmitry Rybolovlev   $9.5 B 44      fertilizer        Russia

95        Robin Li       $9.4 B 42      Internet         China

96        Serge Dassault & family    $9.3 B 85      aviation         France

97        Kumar Birla  $9.2 B 43      commodities   India

97        Petr Kellner $9.2 B 46      insurance       Czech Republic

99        Leonid Mikhelson     $9.1 B 55      Natural gas    Russia

100       Cheng  Yu- tung     $9 B    85      real estate     Hong Kong

That former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the previous and first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, have had more than a passing relationship has been popular street gossip in Nigeria for a long time. But the Americans took the matter beyond chatter. In an October 19, 2007 cable to Washington, Lisa Piascik, the Charge d'Affairs of the US embassy in Nigeria, stated that both politicians were sweethearts.

The cable is part of a cache of secret US diplomatic dispatches leaked to the whistleblower site Wikileaks and made available to NEXT. In the dispatch, which details the different contending groups pulling and pushing for the soul of the ruling People's Democratic Party, Ms. Etteh was described not only as a member of the former president's network of the PDP, but also as Mr. Obasanjo's girlfriend. In profiling Ms. Etteh, the American official described her as: "former hairdresser, romantic interest of Obasanjo, current Speaker of the House of Representatives." Other party chiefs profiled as members of Mr. Obasanjo's camp were Senate President David Mark; multibillionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote; businessman Chris Uba; former presidential aide, Andy Uba; former governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu; former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Mu'azu; former PDP national deputy chairman, Bode George; former PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Ali; and Ojo Maduekwe, former minister of foreign affairs. Dubious rise Ms. Etteh rubbished political permutations in 2007, when, in spite of her little education, she emerged the House Speaker, beating stronger and better educated contenders..

It was believed at the time that she rose to the position on the back of Mr. Obasanjo. Four months after she became speaker, Ms. Etteh and her deputy, Babangida Nguroje, were accused of financial malfeasance by their colleagues. They were accused of authorizing the spending of N628 million for the renovation of their official residences and the purchase of 12 official cars. While majority of the members of the House demanded Ms. Etteh's resignation, Mr. Obasanjo and the PDP leadership insisted and lobbied that she remain in office. But the opposition to the speaker was massive and overwhelming, and about eight weeks after the allegations were first levied against her, Mrs. Etteh and her deputy resigned from office on October 30, 2007, although they remain members of the House. Although Mr. Obasanjo left office as president about four years ago, as chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, he has remained an influential member of the ruling party. Both politicians have remained close. Ms. Etteh was one of the few party chiefs at Mr. Obasanjo's 74th birthday celebration in Abeokuta last Sunday.

‘I can romance anybody' Contacted yesterday, Ms. Etteh responded that she was at liberty to have a romantic affair with whomever she chose. Raising her voice, the former speaker said, "I don't bloody care. I can have romantic interest with anybody. I am free to romance anybody. I don't fear you media boys anymore. Go and write whatever you like." Adeoba Ojekunle, spokesman to Mr. Obasanjo, did not answer his calls and has not responded to text messages sent to his phone.

Rank   Name  Net Worth      Age     Source of Money      Country of Citizenship

1          Carlos Slim Helu & family   $74 B  71      telecom         Mexico

2          Bill Gates     $56 B  55      Microsoft       United States

3          Warren Buffett       $50 B  80      Berkshire Hathaway  United States

4          Bernard Arnault      $41 B  62      LVMH  France

5          Larry Ellison $39.5 B         66      Oracle United States

6          Lakshmi Mittal        $31.1 B         60      Steel   India

7          Amancio Ortega      $31 B  74      Zara   Spain

8          Eike Batista $30 B  54      mining, oil      Brazil

9          Mukesh Ambani      $27 B  53      petrochemicals, oil & gas     India

10        Christy Walton & family     $26.5 B         56      Walmart        United States

11        Li Ka-shing   $26 B  82      Diversified     Hong Kong

12        Karl Albrecht          $25.5 B         91      Aldi     Germany

13        Stefan Persson       $24.5 B         63      H&M    Sweden

14        Vladimir Lisin          $24 B  54      Steel   Russia

15        Liliane Bettencourt $23.5 B         88      L'Oreal France

16        Sheldon Adelson     $23.3 B         77      casinos          United States

17        David Thomson & family    $23 B  53      media  Canada

18        Charles Koch          $22 B  75      Diversified     United States

18        David Koch $22 B  70      Diversified     United States

20        Jim Walton   $21.3 B         63      Walmart        United States

21        Alice Walton           $21.2 B         61      Walmart        United States

22        S. Robson Walton   $21 B  67      Walmart        United States

23        Kwok Thomas & Raymond & family         $20 B  N/A     real estate     Hong Kong

24        Larry Page   $19.8 B         37      Google United States

24        Sergey Brin $19.8 B         37      Google United States

26        Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud    $19.6 B         56      Investments   Saudi Arabia

27        Iris Fontbona & family       $19.2 B         N/A     Mining Chile

28        Lee Shau Kee         $19 B  83      real estate     Hong Kong

29        Alexei Mordashov    $18.5 B         45      Steel   Russia

30        Michael Bloomberg $18.1 B         69      Bloomberg     United States

30        Jeff Bezos   $18.1 B         47      Amazon         United States

32        Michele Ferrero & family    $18 B  84      chocolates     Italy

32        Mikhail Prokhorov   $18 B  45      Investments   Russia

34        Vladimir Potanin      $17.8 B         50      nonferrous metals    Russia

35        Alisher Usmanov     $17.7 B         57      steel, telecom, stocks         Russia

36        Azim Premji           $16.8 B         65      Software       India

36        Oleg Deripaska       $16.8 B         43      aluminum      Russia

38        Michael Otto & family        $16.6 B         67      Retail  Germany

39       German Larrea Mota Velasco & family     $16 B  57      Mining Mexico

39        Rinat Akhmetov      $16 B  44      steel, coal mines       Ukraine

39        John Paulson          $16 B  55      hedge funds   United States

42        Shashi & Ravi Ruia $15.8 B         67      Diversified     India

43        Mikhail Fridman      $15.1 B         46      oil, banking, telecom Russia

44        Michael Dell $14.6 B         46      Dell     United States

44        Susanne Klatten     $14.6 B         48      BMW, pharmaceuticals        Germany

46        Steve Ballmer        $14.5 B         54      Microsoft       United States

46        George Soros         $14.5 B         80      hedge funds   United States

48        Berthold & Theo Jr. Albrecht & family      $14.4 B         N/A     Aldi, Trader Joes       Germany

49        Birgit Rausing & family      $14 B  87      packaging      Sweden

50        Vagit Alekperov      $13.9 B         60      Lukoil  Russia

51        Aliko Dangote         $13.8 B         53      sugar, flour, cement Nigeria

52        Mark Zuckerberg    $13.5 B         26      Facebook       United States

53        Anne Cox Chambers         $13.4 B         91      Cox Enterprises        United States

53        Roman Abramovich           $13.4 B         44      steel, investments     Russia

55        Jorge Paulo Lemann          $13.3 B         71      beer    Brazil

56        Savitri Jindal & family        $13.2 B         60      Steel   India

57        Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor & family      $13 B  59      real estate     United Kingdom

57        Paul Allen     $13 B  58      Microsoft, investments        United States

57        Viktor Vekselberg   $13 B  53      oil, metals      Russia

60        Phil Knight    $12.7 B         73      Nike    United States

61        Robert Kuok          $12.5 B         87      Diversified     Malaysia

61        Carl Icahn    $12.5 B         75      leveraged buyouts    United States

63        Mohammed Al Amoudi       $12.3 B         66      oil       Saudi Arabia

64        Donald Bren           $12 B  78      real estate     United States

64        Ron Perelman        $12 B  68      leveraged buyouts    United States

66        Alberto Bailleres Gonzalez & family         $11.9 B         79      Mining Mexico

67        Francois Pinault & family    $11.5 B         74      Retail  France

68        Joseph Safra         $11.4 B         72      banking         Brazil

69        Abigail Johnson       $11.3 B         49      Fidelity United States

70        Viktor Rashnikov     $11.2 B         62      Steel   Russia

71        Leonardo Del Vecchio        $11 B  75      eyewear        Italy

72        John Fredriksen      $10.7 B         66      shipping         Cyprus

72        Stefan Quandt        $10.7 B         44      BMW   Germany

74        James Simons        $10.6 B         72      hedge funds   United States

75        Luis Carlos Sarmiento        $10.5 B         78      banking         Colombia

75        Horst Paulmann & family    $10.5 B         76      Retail  Chile

77        Nasser Al-Kharafi & family $10.4 B         67      construction   Kuwait

77        Eliodoro, Bernardo & Patricia Matte         $10.4 B         N/A     paper  Chile

79        Sammy Ofer & family       $10.3 B         89      shipping         Israel

80        Len Blavatnik         $10.1 B         53      Access Industries      United States

81        Hans Rausing         $10 B  84      packaging      Sweden

81        Ernesto Bertarelli & family $10 B  45      biotech          Switzerland

81        John Mars    $10 B  74      candy, pet food        United States

81        Jacqueline Mars      $10 B  71      candy, pet food        United States

81        Forrest Mars          $10 B  79      candy, pet food        United States

81        Klaus-Michael Kuhne         $10 B  73      shipping         Germany

81        Gautam Adani        $10 B  48      commodities, infrastructure  India

88        Iskander Makhmudov        $9.9 B 47      mining, metals, machinery   Russia

89        Johanna Quandt      $9.8 B 84      BMW   Germany

89        George Kaiser        $9.8 B 68      oil & gas, banking     United States

89        Maria-Elisabeth & Georg Schaeffler         $9.8 B N/A     ball bearings   Germany

92        German Khan         $9.6 B 49      oil, banking, telecom Russia

93        Ananda Krishnan     $9.5 B 72      telecom         Malaysia

93        Dmitry Rybolovlev   $9.5 B 44      fertilizer        Russia

95        Robin Li       $9.4 B 42      Internet         China

96        Serge Dassault & family    $9.3 B 85      aviation         France

97        Kumar Birla  $9.2 B 43      commodities   India

97        Petr Kellner $9.2 B 46      insurance       Czech Republic

99        Leonid Mikhelson     $9.1 B 55      Natural gas    Russia

100       Cheng  Yu- tung     $9 B    85      real estate     Hong Kong

 .

Sixteen year old Nigerian, Agnes Sina-Inakoju, was shot as she queued for pizza in Hoxton, East London. She died two days later in hospital in April of last year the Daily Mail reports.Her Trial iso ngoing in the UK

 
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The schoolgirl died after being shot through the neck with a sub-machine gun in a random attack, a court heard.
She was queuing for a pizza by the window of a takeaway with her friends when the two killers in hoodies pulled up outside on bicycles, it was said.
Calmly and without aiming at anyone in particular it is alleged Leon Dunkley who has the street name 'Bacon' casually pulled out a 9mm sub-machine gun without even stopping his bike.
He then fired through the window while Algerian-born Mohammed Smoured acted as lookout and back-up, it was said.
The single bullet hit the teenager in the neck and she collapsed immediately as the two cycled away as 'casually as they arrived'.
She died two days later in hospital following the incident in Hoxton, East London, in April last year.
The Old Bailey heard Agnes was the innocent victim of gang rivalry that plagued the area where she lived with her family.
It is alleged Dunkley and Smoured were members of the London Fields Gang who had an ongoing feud with a gang in Hoxton.
A week after the murder officers on patrol in London Fields spotted a youth carrying a rucksack who ran away when he saw them.
As officers gave chase the youth then aged 15 threw the bag over a garden wall and inside they discovered the sub-machine gun used to kill Agnes along with a second gun and bullets.
Detectives later raided the home of another 15-year-old who was being used by the gang to store guns and weapons and recovered a loaded Mac 10 sub-machine gun, a loaded shotgun and a loaded .38 revolver.
Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: 'This case is about murder and guns and gangs. Agnes went to a local school where she was popular and successful.
'Her future was taken away from her in an instant just before 7.15 in the evening of Wednesday April 14 last year.
The court heard the teenager was queuing for a pizza by the window of this takeaway with her friends when the two killers in hoodies pulled up outside on bicycles
'It was a bright and sunny spring evening. Agnes had gone with friends to the Hoxton Chicken and Pizza shop in Hoxton Road.
'As you might expect it was a popular meeting place for young people in Hoxton.
'She was standing inside the shop next to the window. Two young men on bicycles wearing hoodies with the hoods up cycled up to that window.
'One of them calmly took out a gun, pointed it towards the window where Agnes and her friends were and fired.
'It was very quick. He did not even stop his bicycle. He did not pause to see who was in the shop or aim at anyone in particular.
'The bullet hit Agnes in the neck and she collapsed immediately and she died in the early hours of Friday April 16.
'The two young men cycled off as casually as they arrived. It was callous and cold blooded as it could be, carried out in broad daylight in a busy street in Hoxton.

watch news reel here : http://www.9jamovies.com/play.php?vid=1117

Yesterday was the first day of Lent, where Christians choose to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness by giving up certain foods or drinks or abandoning bad habits.

Even for non-believers, Lent can be an ideal time to set a target and break a few habits which can be bad for your health.

Candy

You may think that three wine gum packs a week are a reasonable indulgence, but at 170 calories per pack, over 40 days of Lent you could give up 2900 calories.

Likewise, if you usually go through three packs of chewing gum weekly, giving your jaw a break over Lent would also spare you about 2900 calories.

Chocolate

If,  you have resolved to give up chocolate for Lent, good for you. The average sized Mars bar contains 230 calories (as well as 12g of fat) and a Snickers bar contains around 218 calories.

If you are in the habit of snacking on these twice a week, you will be saving about 2500 calories if you give these up for Lent. As for chocolate being good for boosting your mood? So are friends.

Alcohol

Gram for gram, alcohol is nearly equal to fat when it comes to calories; one  unit of alcohol contains eight grams of alcohol and 56 calories.

A medium glass of red wine (175ml) contains around 120 calories. If you give up your evening glass of wine, you would reduce your intake by around 840 calories per week or 4800 for the period of Lent.

Similarly, giving up a bottle of shine shine bobo and odeku (5%) after work, would save around 1750 calories a week and 10,000 calories for the period of Lent. You would also be doing your liver a favour!

Cigarettes

Coincidentally, the first day of Lent is also a National No Smoking Day in some countries. If you smoke, the single best thing you can do is to quit. Smoking increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke and cancer and causes around 120,000 deaths every year. It's also expensive.

It usually takes more than one attempt to kick the habit, but studies have shown that people are four times more likely to quit with support compared with those who go it alone. So contact your GP or practice nurse to get the support you need.

Facebook

Not much of a sacrifice you might think. But calculate how much time you spend on Facebook. Many studies have linked "screen time" to an increased risk of heart disease and obesity. Instead of browsing on the internet, why not go for a walk?

Walking around 10,000 steps a day will burn off 300 to 400 calories, or up to 16,000 calories in total for Lent. It's good for the heart, helps with weight loss and can help lower your risk of cancer. It's also free.

Nollywood movies

we all know that nollywood movies are very addictive but we also know how many nollywood movies will end so giving it up for lent might just be what you need ! no mercy johnson for 40days !

ps.

you can also dump facebook for 9jabook.com which is attempting to rebrain nigerian youth lol !

Happy lent !

readapted for a nigerian audience

The senatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue South senatorial district, retired General Lawrence Onoja,  was shot today in a village near Otukpo, Benue state where he was billed to receive People's Democratic Party (PDP ) decamps to his party.

retired army general Onoja told SaharaReporters over the phone that he was shot before he could reach  the decamping ceremony at Otukpo-Icho township near Otukpo where a PDP politician, Oko Iklagher and 3,000 decamped to ACN.
 
He claimed that armed men suspected to be PDP thugs shot him in the left arm while he was traveling in the same vehicle , an Ash-colored Toyota Prado Sports utility Vehicle-with "Young Alhaji", a popular businessman in the area who contested again Mr. Mark in the 2007 elections. Young Alhaji is currently the deputy goober candidate of the ACN in the state. he too sustatined some injuries from broken glasses from the vehicle.

Onoja is running against the current Nigerian  Senate President and PDP candidate, David Mark.

General Onoja expressed concern about the activities of the supporters of the Nigerian senate president in their area. He state that two days ago, PDP thugs attacked "Hausa quarters"  targeting ACN members who boldly display the party's broom emblem with the Senate president campaign vehicles openly used in harassing opponents...
 
 Calls to Mr. Mark's phones were not returned as at the time of filing this report.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, said yesterday that he would not spare any corrupt leader in his party if elected president in next month's presidential election. Mr. Ribadu spoke yesterday at a forum organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in Abuja for five presidential candidates who presented their plans to Nigerians. Mr. Ribadu and the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) candidates, Ibrahim Shekarau and Pat Utomi, participated in the programme. President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhmmadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) did not show up for the event and gave no reason for their absence.

"I want to assure you that I am Nuhu Ribadu, and I will remain Nuhu Ribadu forever and ever," the Adamawa State native told the audience. "It is too late for me to change. I am 50 years old. I can assure you that I will do what is right. I will do justice. I will stand by the people. There are areas I can never compromise. I can assure you I will not be corrupt, and I will not allow corruption in my government. I will not allow anyone close to me to be corrupt. If you cross the line, you will face justice."

The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman criticised the PDP, saying its administration had failed Nigerians. He expressed his disgust with the way government officials, including former ministers, enriched themselves before moving on to other parties where they were celebrated. Mr. Ribadu, who described the late Murtala Muhammed as his hero, said that the country needed redirection to make it work.

"If given the chance, I will give the country the best direction," Mr. Ribadu said. "We will not cheat Nigerians. We will tell the world and Nigerians that hard work is what is needed."

Promoting social justice

Mr. Shekarau, on his part, promised to focus on human development and social justice. The Kano State governor said that he would continue with the privatization process involving government-owned agencies, but would ensure that it was properly implemented. He also said that in order to achieve adequate power supply, his administration would bring clusters of states together to initiate a system to improve power generation.

"The earlier we decentralize power generation, the better for us," he said.

Mr. Shekarau said that he would improve security by adequately funding the police and other security agencies. He also said that to enhance the performance of the force, his government would address the payment of retirement benefits, the issue of welfare, and the provision of adequate facilities and training.

Passionate about education

Mr. Utomi described Nigeria as one of the world's poorest nations, adding that he had a blueprint with which he could reposition the country. The presidential hopeful from Delta State said that he would embark on massive infrastructural development, if elected. Mr. Utomi also talked about revamping the country's education sector.

"The system has broke down completely," he said. "If garbage goes into university, what exits is garbage. Let us start with primary education and we will get it right. It is the foundation."

Mr. Utomi said that he would free up funds for existing universities by reversing the government's decision to open new federal universities.

"I am not in politics because of position but because the country is dying," he said. "If the opposition progressive parties had united, I do not mind if I am given the role of cleaner."

The vice presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Fola Adeola, who narrowly escaped harm when the plane conveying him and other ACN leaders crash-landed at the Bauchi airstrip, said yesterday that the occupants never knew of the accident until they disembarked from the plane. He gave kudos to the pilot for exhibiting experience and professionalism in saving their lives.

He spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, explaining that the forceful landing of the 5N BMR aircraft they boarded was initially thought to be a minor incident. He has, however, called for probe of the incident.

Mr. Adeola, who said he was in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to seek support of his party members in the forthcoming elections, revealed that it was on getting off the plane that he and others realised the incident could have been fatal.

"We never knew that our plane crashed-landed. I was amazed until somebody told me. It was Ribadu who later told me that I have just escaped death. When I looked outside from Ribadu's plane to view our own plane and I discovered that it was full of blood stain, but we were not conscious as at the time it was landing and I started wondering; is the situation that bad?"

Mr. Adeola said it is shameful that animals are found on the runway.

He lamented that the incident was turned into an issue because of the personalities involved, pointing out that if it were to be relatively unknown passengers, it would have been kept under the carpet, adding that everybody should be treated equally..

"It is a matter of lives, and I think we should not toy with any lives no matter the position of the person involved; we are all equal. It can happen to anybody, and there should also be probe. Thank God I am not dead neither am I injured, but it gave me a lot of concern."

On how he joined politics and became Vice-Presidential candidate, Mr. Adeola said, "It took me one week to accept to be the vice presidential candidate to Nuhu Ribadu."

Fourteen people were, on Tuesday night, killed in a car crash on the Benin-Ore Road. The accident involved a commercial bus heading to the eastern part of the country and a truck. Five people reportedly sustained serious injuries in the incident which occurred close to Ogbemudia Farms in Edo State.

Witness accounts state that the bus ran into the on-coming truck at about 7:20 pm. The corpses of the dead, six females and eight males, were deposited at the University Teaching Hospital, Benin. Passersby and police officers on routine check close to the area assisted to pull out some of the trapped victims...

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Olatunji Sunday, confirmed the incident. He attributed the apparent cause of the accident to either over-speeding or overtaking on the party of the driver of the bus, adding that both the dead and survivors were taken to the hospital.

Huhuonline.com can disclose that James Ikechukwu Esomugha a.k.a Jim lyke, a foremost Nigerian Nollywood actor was today, arrested for failure to comply with a government directive, asking all operators of motor vehicle to remove tint from their windscreens(glass).

Nigerian Government had given deadline of February 28 2011, for all owners of vehicle with tint to cease and desist from operating.

Mr. Esomugha who was apprehended by a combined team of law enforcement agency (Police and Federal Road Safety Corps), was subsequently ordered to remove the tint.

Mr. Esomugha arrest was not without incidence, as the Nollywood actor,

threatened a photo journalist for taking his photograph

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SURGEONS at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) have successfully separated conjoined twins.
 
Dr. Auwal Abubakar, a paediatric surgeon, who led the team of experts on a 15-hour operation, told journalists yesterday in Maiduguri that the twins were joined at the pelvis.

Abubakar said the operation was conducted on Monday at the main theatre of the hospital.

His words: "I am happy to announce that we have successfully separated co-joined twins joined at the pelvis.
photo is strictly for illustration and not related to this story
"The separation of this kind of co-joined twins is one of the most difficult operations. In fact, this is the third to be carried out in Nigeria".

Abubakar explained that most surgical operations on co-joined

twins were carried out the world over on those joined at the chest because they were easier to separate...

"This type of co-joined twins is more difficult to separate but their chances of survival after the operation are higher than those who share a common heart or other vital organs", the surgeon said.

He disclosed that 20 medical experts, comprising paediatrics, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons, technicians and other specialists conducted the operation.

Abubakar, however, said that each of the separated babies would have to use a rubber limb to walk, as they grow older.

"The co-joined twins had only three legs before the operation, we left each of them with one leg after the operation because the third leg does not have a bone so it was cut off", he said.

Abubakar added that the reproductive system of one of the separated twins had also been changed to that of a female during the surgery.

He said: "They shared a single male genital before the operation but we realised that it was easier to leave one with the genital and construct a female genital for the other. The female will function normally like other persons but will not be able to bear children because she does not have a fallopian tube".

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that on August 30, 2010, surgeons at the hospital had a successful kidney transplant on 31-year-old Usman Suleiman.

Conjoined twins (also known as Siamese twins) are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 100,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa.[1] Approximately half are stillborn, and a smaller fraction of pairs born alive have abnormalities incompatible with life. The overall survival rate for conjoined twins is approximately 25%.[2] The condition is more frequently found among females, with a ratio of 3:1.[1]Two contradicting theories exist to explain the origins of conjoined twins. The older and most generally accepted theory is fission, in which the fertilized egg splits partially. The second theory is fusion, in which a fertilized egg completely separates, but stem cells (which search for similar cells) find like-stem cells on the other twin and fuse the twins together. Conjoined twins share a single common chorion, placenta, and amniotic sac, although these characteristics are not exclusive to conjoined twins as there are some monozygotic but non-conjoined twins that also share these structures in utero.[3]

source wikipedia

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, said yesterday that he would not spare any corrupt leader in his party if elected president in next month's presidential election. Mr. Ribadu spoke yesterday at a forum organised by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in Abuja for five presidential candidates who presented their plans to Nigerians. Mr. Ribadu and the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) candidates, Ibrahim Shekarau and Pat Utomi, participated in the programme. President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhmmadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) did not show up for the event and gave no reason for their absence.

"I want to assure you that I am Nuhu Ribadu, and I will remain Nuhu Ribadu forever and ever," the Adamawa State native told the audience. "It is too late for me to change. I am 50 years old. I can assure you that I will do what is right. I will do justice. I will stand by the people. There are areas I can never compromise. I can assure you I will not be corrupt, and I will not allow corruption in my government. I will not allow anyone close to me to be corrupt. If you cross the line, you will face justice."

The former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman criticised the PDP, saying its administration had failed Nigerians. He expressed his disgust with the way government officials, including former ministers, enriched themselves before moving on to other parties where they were celebrated. Mr. Ribadu, who described the late Murtala Muhammed as his hero, said that the country needed redirection to make it work.

"If given the chance, I will give the country the best direction," Mr. Ribadu said. "We will not cheat Nigerians. We will tell the world and Nigerians that hard work is what is needed."

Promoting social justice

Mr. Shekarau, on his part, promised to focus on human development and social justice. The Kano State governor said that he would continue with the privatization process involving government-owned agencies, but would ensure that it was properly implemented. He also said that in order to achieve adequate power supply, his administration would bring clusters of states together to initiate a system to improve power generation.

"The earlier we decentralize power generation, the better for us," he said.

Mr. Shekarau said that he would improve security by adequately funding the police and other security agencies. He also said that to enhance the performance of the force, his government would address the payment of retirement benefits, the issue of welfare, and the provision of adequate facilities and training.

Passionate about education

Mr. Utomi described Nigeria as one of the world's poorest nations, adding that he had a blueprint with which he could reposition the country. The presidential hopeful from Delta State said that he would embark on massive infrastructural development, if elected. Mr. Utomi also talked about revamping the country's education sector.

"The system has broke down completely," he said. "If garbage goes into university, what exits is garbage. Let us start with primary education and we will get it right. It is the foundation."

Mr. Utomi said that he would free up funds for existing universities by reversing the government's decision to open new federal universities.

"I am not in politics because of position but because the country is dying," he said. "If the opposition progressive parties had united, I do not mind if I am given the role of cleaner."