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Ribadu to speak at US Senate hearing

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 22, 2010 at 8:09pm

The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, will Tuesday make a presentation before the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the United States of America’s Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The event is titled “Examining the U.S-Nigeria Relationship in a Time of Transition”.

Russell Feingold, chairman of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, who signed the letter of invitation, said Mr. Ribadu, a visiting fellow of the Centre for Global Development, was especially invited to give the presentation due to his work at the EFCC.

Mr. Ribadu is expected to give a 5-minute oral presentation on his “assessment of the evolving political situation in Nigeria and the different possible future scenarios”.

Concerned about Nigeria

Mr. Feingold, who is known for launching, together with Roger Wicker, the first ever Senate Working Group on Malaria, in the letter of invitation to Mr. Ribadu acknowledged Nigeria’s leading role in Sub-Saharan African while stating that the country’s political stability is of immense significance “beyond its immediate borders”.

He, however, expressed concern over the recent political logjam caused by the prolonged absence of President Yar’Adua and the failure to appoint an interim leader, stating that it is “capable of causing political paralysis in Abuja.”

According to Mr. Feingold, the elevation of Goodluck Jonathan as the acting president is a stop gap measure “as this will only resolve the paralysis in the short term.”

Mr. Feingold said the outbreak of regional and religious tensions and the renewed attacks by militants in the Niger Delta are pointers to the fact that the “potential for instability remains high”.

The man with the answers?

During the presentation, Mr. Ribadu will be expected to talk on how electoral reform can be promoted ahead of the 2011 general election. He will be also required to discuss the greatest challenges in combating corruption in the light of his recent comment that “corruption is perhaps the greatest reason for the failure of development and failure of democracy” in Nigeria, according to Mr. Feingold. Similarly, he is expected to advice the United State government on how to assist in this fight.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session. The US Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson, who was recently in Nigeria, and other non-governmental witnesses are expected to testify alongside Mr. Ribadu.

This is not the first time Mr. Ribadu will be testifying before an organ of the United States government. In May 2009, he delivered an address to the US congress titled “Capital Loss and Corruption: The Example of Nigeria”.

Winter Olympian Ghana's Nkrumah-Acheampong ! !

Posted by Choochoo Sports Book on February 22, 2010 at 8:00pm

The Jamaican Bobsled Team first gained fame during their debut in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are also well known from their portrayal in the 1993 film Cool Runnings, loosely based on their exploits in the 1988 Winter Olympics..
Well ,

move over Jamaica here comes Ghana ! Ghana’s Nkrumah-Acheampong is competing at the Winter Olympics This Year !
Africa shows up at the Winter Olympics

There is no snow in Africa (with the slight exception of South Africa), and even with the noise about climate change, it will take years for other countries on the continent to witness their children engaged in snowball fighting. But that has not stopped some African countries - six in all, from sending participants to the 2010 Winter Olympics currently taking place in Vancouver, Canada.

Trail blazer Nkrumah-Acheampong was born in Glasgow but was raised in Ghana where he never saw snow in person. In an interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, the father-of-two said: “All I had ever known about skiing was watching a James Bond film, so it really just took off from there.” After moving to London to study in 2002, he got a summer job as a receptionist at Xscape, an indoor real-snow slope in suburban Milton Keynes. “The coaches said I had a natural talent and I’ve never found skiing difficult.” His love for the sport has taken him all the way to the Olympics. The Genesis Nkrumah-Acheampong competed in his first international race in France in February 2005, finishing in 68th and last place, over 30 seconds behind the 67th-place finisher. You could not fault him for not trying, however. He finished with the slowest time in his first 11 races but did so without a single crash-out. In his 12th race, he finally climbed out of last, finishing 74th in a B-level giant slalom race, ahead of seven other racers.

Over the past five years, he has competed in events in places not known for their Alpine skiing venues, such as Iran, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He qualified for Vancouver by collecting 140 points on the International Ski Federation scale during the 2008-09 season and by competing at the 2009 World Championships. The snow leopard The best result by an African came in 2006, when Canadian-born Mathieu Razanakolona, representing Madagascar finished 39th in the men’s giant slalom. While his results may not exceed those of Razanakolana, Nkrumah-Acheampong hopes to change the continent’s view about skiing, when he competes in the slalom and giant slalom.
Closing summary on the Jamaican bobsled team :

The team returned to the Olympics in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, but finished poorly.[3][4] They qualified again for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. There, the Jamaican four sled stunned many of their critics by finishing in 14th place, ahead of the United States, Russia, France and one sled from Italy.[5]

In 2000 the Jamaicans won the gold medal at the World Push Bobsled Championships.

Omotola's husband says: After 14 years: Our sex life is still hot -Captain Mathew Ekeinde and star actress

Posted by NollywoodMohits on February 22, 2010 at 2:16pm

After 14 years: Our sex life is still hot -Captain Mathew Ekeinde and star actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

By Samuel Olatunji

Sunday, February 21, 2010

When they got married in an aircraft 14 years ago not a few expected the marriage to crash. An actress and pilot couple is a tricky combination. But against all odds, Captain Mathew Ekeinde and star actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde are still very much in love and the marriage is waxing stronger. Captain Matthew spoke to us on the marriage and their Valentine experience.

Photos by Kelechi Amadi Obi/Family magazine

What does love mean to you sir?

I don’t think somebody has ever asked me that question; nevertheless, I think love means where you heart is, and where your heart is, is where you concentrate your energy. Love is giving your best to the ones you love.

Is Valentine’s Day of any significance to you?

My brother, all this Valentine thing does not make any difference to me. I don’t have to wait till it is Valentine to buy my wife a car or buy her a gift or let her know how much I love her. I do these continuously and it’s part of me. I think Valentine’s Day is just a day set out by white men to do something extra-special which is usually not the case. It is a day to look back on your love life with your partner and see ways you two can improve, what you can add and what you can do without. For me, it’s no big deal because there is nothing I’ll do to my wife on Valentine’s Day that I haven’t done to her on a normal day.

Are you sure this is not your own way of dodging Valentines gifts?

(Laughs) It’s not my way of dodging; it is just the way I am .But she’ll surely get her gift.

So, where are you spending Valentine’s Day?

To be honest with you, I don’t even know because I might not be in the country by then .I am supposed to go for a training course. Secondly, she is actually doing a recording, so I am not really sure if she is going to be around but if we are both around, I might take her out or do something extra-special for her. I know she likes Chinese food a lot, so maybe I’ll take her to a Chinese restaurant but I don’t think I am going to travel far because of Valentine’s Day.

Are you buying her any special gift?

(Sighs) Well, I have been thinking of buying her shoes and bags because she loves them, so I’m going to buy her shoes she has never had before but she doesn’t know about it.

What is it that you cannot do for love?

I can’t commit suicide (laughs). I can do anything for love, but I don’t think I can commit suicide for love.

How long have you been together?

This year marks our 14th year.

How have you been coping for 14 years with a celebrity?

First of all, I think it is God , because a few people have asked me that question and I have searched over the years and I’ve come to know that if she was not my God- given partner, I can guarantee you that we wouldn’t still be together today and that is the problem with a lot of married couples especially the pilot and the entertainer. If you want to compare those marriages that are not God approved, you’ll see that they don’t last a year talk less of 14 years. So, if I’m opportune to preach to singles, I will tell them to wait for their God-given partner because if they don’t wait, they’ll always fall apart. She (Omotola) is my God -given partner and that is why we both can tolerate each other and be patient with one another.

Some people say to build a working marriage, you should play the fool or you need to be a fool. Sometimes, do you play the fool?

No, because I think we are open and honest with one another. I get the feeling that my wife travels much more than I do and I’ve never had to fear whether she is cheating on me or something. I trust her with the whole of my heart, 100%. So, I don’t play the fool, there is no need for it. I believe I am straight forward with her and I believe she’s straight forward with me.

Are you saying that it has never crossed your mind that she may be cheating?

No. I don’t think about it.

But is it possible not to think about things like that especially when you are married to an actress?

When I say I don’t think about it, I mean, even when the thought comes, I just change channel. It is like when you are watching the T.V. and you switch to a T.V. station but don’t like what they are doing, you just change the channel to another station to see what might interest you. So, when the thoughts come, I’m like, it’s not possible and I change my mind and concentrate on something else or do what I have to do.

What is it that your wife can do that you can never forgive her?

If she cheats on me, I’ll never forgive her.

But someone said, you have caught her once and have forgiven her.Is this true?

(Laughs); That’s the press for you. For the past six years now, there is this rumor that has been spreading, they alleged that we were no longer together. In fact, when I went to Germany last year to do some things on our aircraft, I met some Nigerians there and they said, “Oga, why did you leave your wife now? We heard that you are now married to a white woman and she has a child for you”. I was dumbfounded by this statement and I had to tell them it wasn’t the truth. We still get emails and phone calls up till date asking why we separated and stuffs like that. So, it is not true. I have never caught my wife cheating, there has not been such experience.

Recently, some newspaper had it that she wanted to go for breast enlargement; I just don’t know where people get these stories from. Some people just sit down, write a story and publish it on the net, waiting to see how people will react. My wife does not have the intention of doing breast enlargement, neither have I caught her in any unfaithful act. They are all rumors.

Are you beating your chest that your wife has never cheated on you?

I am not only beating my chest, I’m beating the back of the chest too. (both laugh)

Somebody once alleged that you are a flirt, is this true?

Have they caught me before? If I am a player, that means I am a regular player and if I am regular, I am bound to slip once if not twice. So, if they think they’ve got evidence, they can show it.

Are you saying you have been absolutely faithful?

I have been trying my best. No one is perfect but I am trying. There is nobody that doesn’t get tempted. I am sure all married men had instances where they see a pretty lady and they wished they weren’t married but the next step you take after the temptation is what distinguishes you. My wife is not the only pretty woman in Nigeria. I have had instances where is see pretty women and I am like, I wish I had this one. It’s a thought, so, I just move on and get it off my head.

Can you tell us about your love story so far?

Our love story so far has been great though it’s been quite challenging. Challenges especially from the press about things they write about her but like the bible says, those who know their God shall never be shaken like Mount Zion. So, for me, I know my wife and my wife knows me and like I said earlier, I trust her with everything I am. When these issues come up, we talk about it and we move on. Our love story so far has been good and I know a lot of people look up to us. So even when we don’t have any other reasons, we’ll stay together because of the people that look up to us.

How did you meet her and how did the loving start?

I met her in church. My immediate elder sister introduced us because I was ready to get married. Then my sister said, there is this cute girl in my church, although, she is a bit young. Tola, was just sixteen (16) and I was twenty-six (26). So, she invited me to their Wednesday service. I got there from work around 7:30pm when the service was up and I met her there. We were friends until she turned eighteen (18), but I have always liked her but I wasn’t really interested because of her age. When she turned eighteen, I saw her from another perspective and that was when I told her I was going to marry her. At first, she thought I was joking, so I went behind her back and told her mom because during our two years of friendship, I have known her mom very well.

So, you went to church looking for a wife?

(Laughs) No. I didn’t go to church to hunt for a wife, I went to church to meet Tola because my sister wanted to introduce her to me. So, I didn’t go to church hunting for a wife, rather, I went to church to meet Tola. To me, hunting for a wife means, to scan all the women in the church and finally pick one. I didn’t do that, I was only there to meet her.

How has it been with the press? Has any of those reports gotten to you?

Some of them give me cause for concern. I just wonder why people would go out of their ways to imagine things, just like the recent one that has been going on both in the papers and on the internet that she is going to New Jersey to go and do breast enlargement so that she can compete with Mercy Johnson. I don’t know why people will just sit down and come up with such a story, I don’t understand. It amazes me.

Have you seen anything that made you call your wife to ask questions?

Yes, when she played in the movie, Prostitute. That was the film where they showed a purely naked woman with her nipples, her buttocks and all that. She didn’t know and we bought the film like any other person and watched it. When I saw it, I asked her ‘what is this! That definitely can’t be you’. Of course, I know my wife’s breast and my wife’s body and what I saw was different plus the person was a lot darker in complexion. Immediately, she called KINGSLEY Ogoro, who was the producer, and she said, ‘Kingsley, you never told me you are going to show something like this, why did you do that?’ I also spoke to him and I told him it was unprofessional, to deceive your artistes after you have finished a movie.

Aside the movies, has there been any other thing that made you ask her questions?

No. There have always been rumors. A rumor had it that my wife wanted to do breast augmentation because she was dating Desmond Eliot. They said, Desmond did not like the size of her boobs, that they were too small, that he wants it like Mercy Johnson’s. So, that is why Omotola wants to go to New Jersey for breast augmentation so as to satisfy Desmond Eliot. (Laughs) I am sick of their rumors. They once alleged that she has gone out with RMD and some producers. One of the things I enjoy about the rumor is that, when they will report the truth, it will be too hard to believe. I have come to realize that most of the stories they write have no substance.

Does it cross your mind that it could be true ..?

No. Tola has been very fortunate with the press. They started writing anything after six, seven years of our marriage. She never got any negative story from the press during our first six, seven years. When it started, of course, I was concerned but I later got to understand that, they write these things because they are looking for what to write and if you are in the public eye, they will try to trump-up something that is not true about you to make the headlines. So, initially when it started, I was worried but when I investigated and found it was without substance, I just didn’t worry about what they say. They can say she’s sleeping with Yar’Adua, for all I care, it doesn’t bother me.

So, there is nothing they will say that will shake your marriage?

Nothing, though they have tried. If you have been in this media business since ten years, you’ll know that they have tried. There is no kind of story that they haven’t tried. I try to buy every magazine that has her story, either good or bad. I wonder why they continue to try.

Why did you decide to get married in the air?

Oh, excellent; that was my idea. I told her and she complied. We’ve always wanted to do something different and in the uncommon way. If you’ll remember, I was the first to start using a personalized plate number and she was the first in the industry when I bought her a brand new car .The number plate was ‘OMOTOLA1’. A few months after I bought her the car , Saint Obi bought the same car and used ‘SAINT’ as his plate number. I like to do my things in a unique way; I mean, everybody goes to church to get married, let’s do ours differently. Luckily for me, I was able to convince the MD of the Israeli airline (Sky Line) that I was working for then and I told him that it would be a marketing medium for airlines because I know newspapers and television will cover it. So, we got married because we wanted to do something different.

There is this tendency for one to be married and the love fades, when you get to that stage, what do you do to renew your love?

The good thing about it is that it is God’s doing. Don’t forget that it is not your doing that makes a marriage work. You do 10% and God does the rest because if you are married to your God-given partner, there’s nothing that can break you two up, nothing. Not only that, you need to be strong in the Lord as well. There are a lot of people that have gotten their God-given partner but they have allowed the devil to come in to scatter it. So, spiritually, it is God that is renewing it. Of course, there are times I don’t feel like I am 100 percent in love, but it happens once in a blue moon and for just few minutes. I mean there are times I see her maybe after taking her bath and I still get turned on and she’ll say ‘oh boy, you no dey tire? After fourteen years your blood is still pumping’ (Laughs). For me, I am not tired at all and the good thing is that she keeps her figure and that was why I gave her the nickname because the first car I bought her was ‘OMOTOLA1’, the second was ‘OMOT’ and third one, which is the Jeep, is ‘OMOSEXY’ because she has got this sexy figure that is a turn-on for me.

What do you do to renew the love when you have a down moment?

I don’t do anything.

Some people will go on vacation or do away with the kids, what you do think?

I don’t think that will renew anything. It is all in the mind. It’s your mindset that matters. For example, If you and your wife are having a misunderstanding, especially during this Valentine period, and you took her to Dubai for a day, will that bring the love back? I don’t think so. If you guys were fighting from home and you had to go to Dubai because you have booked the flight like two weeks before the day and you go, do you think because you are travelling now, you guys will come back? No. So if your mind is programmed to always love your wife even when she is wrong or when she’s not happy, you’ll have a good home. I don’t know how to keep someone in mind, so when you offend me, I tell you immediately and it ends there, I learnt that from my dad.

Have you had a serious quarrel before?

Ah, I can’t tell you that.I can’t tell you that, you can talk from now till next year laye, I can’t tell you that.

I noticed that the children are in the boarding house… are you not scared that they might imbibe foreign values?

No, my kids are in a very good school and their school is costing me a lot…a beautiful school that they treat them like an ajebo. Too much of an ajebo self and they are here in Nigeria. It’s a private school and we see them once every month. It is just the last one that is with us because he is not old enough to go to secondary school.

Has sex actually become boring for you and your wife?

If I tell you this you may not believe but God is my witness, 14 years on sex with my wife is not boring, you can understand why I could dig deep to give her that name omosexy. When you find something sexy can you be tired of it? You see the same appetite a man has to look for different women because they are bored with one, is the same appetite I use in looking at her all the time . That is why I gave her that name and like I said she has managed to keep her figure even after four children …she is looking more gorgeous. That is the truth my brother.

So despite the fact that you said it is not boring, why do you get tempted and you still fall sometimes?

Well I don’t fall, if you say I have fallen that means I’m done but I have not fallen.

So you’ve not fallen to the hands of another woman?

No.The bible says resist the devil and he will flee.

Sometimes you see the devil and you don’t want to resist him…

(Laughs) I agree with you my brother, that is why I said for me the way I have decided to handle it is that when I see them I think… yes you can admire but I move on. By the time you stay concentrating on looking at the woman and you are admiring her and by that time you know you are lusting after her, before you know you are tempted to say ‘Hi’. That is where the problem is but if you discipline yourself, there is no crime in admiring a girl after all, when we go out, she’ll say, ‘men that guy is fine o’ and I’ll say he’s a fine guy. So, for me, that is the way I have trained myself to deal with it; I admire and I move on.

Has money been an issue before because your wife once said that romance without finance is not sweet, what’s your take?

Well, she can say that now because I am there buying her all the cars. (Laughs) If I didn’t have the money to buy her a thing, I don’t know what would have happened; but then, she’s a well brought up child; there is no woman that doesn’t like to be pampered, there is no woman that doesn’t like money, there is no woman that wants to suffer; but I thank God that we are both independent. In fact, it is one of those things we’ve never argued about from day one. Sometimes, when we talk about it, I call her attention and say, ‘OMOT’; you know we have never argued about money? The reason is simple, my salary and my allowances as a captain is paid into an account that she has access to and her money is also paid into that account. So, what we do is that, whatever project we have, either to build a house or buy a car, travel abroad and stuffs like that, we’ll put it in our monthly budget and if the money we have in the bank is not enough to cover to budget, we sit down and sort out things we can eliminate or carry over till next month. So, we do it together and that is one reason why we have never quarrelled over money matter. We are open to each other, we know how much we have and then we do things together and that is where some people have problem.

Do you maintain a joint account?

Yes. All our joint accounts and current accounts, our shares, our house, our cars bear our names, Matthew and Omotola Ekehinde.Yes because we have learnt and by God’s grace, we watch T.V. programmes and we hear what’s happening. It has been in my upbringing because if you are open from day one, there is nothing that can bring you back.

Do you foresee anything breaking your marriage?

Only God can and I am sure He won’t because the Bible says “what the Lord has joined together, no man should put asunder” I trust my wife to the extent that, even if she’s in bed with a man, naked, nothing can happen. (Chuckles)

When did you put that thing there?

I will not tell you, when you see God, you ask Him. She can go anywhere in the world, act a nude film, of course, she can never act nude, but just for the sake of argument, if she’s in bed, naked with seven men, nothing can ever happen; that is how confident I am.

It started from day one. She knows; it is just like saying, if you eat this thing, you will die, so if you don’t want to die, will you go and eat it?

What is your advice for married couples?

Well, the first advice I have for them is that, they should stick to the Lord; they should continue to have the fear of God in them. God will show you how to treat your spouse, how you guys can live in harmony, how you can raise your kids, how to relate with your relatives. So, the first thing any person that wants to get married should do, is to seek the face of God because marriage is a life-long thing. So if they can observe a three- day fasting and prayer session and have their Pastors pray with them they will succeed. Once they can pray and God gives them the go-ahead they should proceed. Also, they both need to be disciplined because the devil is always at work, they must learn to resist temptation

U.S. probes two Nigerian pastors alleges Daily Sun news papers !

Posted by jackie webLondonGirl on February 22, 2010 at 2:10pm

U.S. probes two Nigerian pastors

By Ike Nnamdi, The Sun reporter, New York

this Story was carried out in 2006 see link http://geoconger.wordpress.com/2007/11/18/senate-panel-probes-top-us-evangelists-cen-111607-p-6/

There was no mention of any naija pastor .Our investigations revealed this was a complete rehash of the news by the Daily Sun coming in the wake of Benny hinns Divorce

Two of Nigeria’s most popular televangelists are among six high profile preachers under investigation by American authorities for making false miracle claims and allegedly spending church funds without approval.

The probe is headed by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether the pastors complied with IRS rules for nonprofit’s. The tax exempt non - profits are not allowed to spend funds for non - religious purposes but Grassely has accused the pastors of dipping their hands in church funds to maintain lavish life styles, including luxury private jets and summer homes.

The Nigerian pastor include a prosperity preacher whose members include some serving and former heads of state and another with high profile government officials as members. He recently bought a personal jet. Senate sources said the probe was launched when members of their American branches petitioned the authorities over the use of church funds by the men of God.

The investigation may have claimed its first victim as the wife of televangelist Benny Hinn filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle. Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Florida Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage.

The papers noted the two separated on January 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County. “Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice,” Benny Hinn Ministries said in a statement. “Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice,” the statement said.

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime. His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly everyday. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family. Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.

Televangelist Benny Hinn's Divorces wife of 30years

Posted by jackie webLondonGirl on February 22, 2010 at 1:30pm

Benny Hinn's Divorce May Damage His Credibility

Benny Hinn, a televangelist who brings in millions of dollars annually, has some explaining to do to his followers since his wife of 30 years, Suzanne Harthern, has filed for divorce. Hinn, who preaches that those who are right with God will receive great wealth and good health in this life, is a controversial figure among Pentecostal preachers due to his lavish lifestyle.

Benny Hinn

Hinn's wife, who is represented by prominent LA divorce attorney Sorrell Trope, filed divorce papers with the Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1 for irreconcilable differences. Hinn's many followers will likely want to know why their leader, so blessed with wealth, health and a seemingly loving family, is going through a divorce. According to papers, the two have been split since Jan. 26.

Hinn, who is one of several featured personalities on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, is currently under investigation by Senator Charles Grassley over whether he is fully compliant with IRS rules regarding religious non-profit organizations. Hinn claims on his website that 88% of the money he collects is put back into the ministry.

J. Lee Grady, a religion writer with Charisma magazine, told the Los Angeles Times via email that Hinn could suffer a backlash from his divorce proceedings.

"It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn's evangelistic work around the world," he said.

In a recent development Daily Sun carried out headlines yesterday claiming:

U.S. probes two Nigerian pastors alleges Daily Sun news papers ! Read more: http://bit.ly/a2QkJd

Thisday Awards 2010 Kudos to Nduka Obaigbena The Master & commander

Posted by 9jabook.com on February 22, 2010 at 5:00am

Nduka Obaigbena ? According to wikipedia .Thisday grosses 30Million USD yearly with a circulation of an odd 100,000. The explosion of a Newspaper into a major Events Company in a space of time only equivalent to Einstein special theory of light.
Thisday awards have drawn in the likes of Famed Celebrities from all walks of life .We applaud the Master & commander of this ship for his laudable efforts within such a time frame .
Now playing the Devils Advocate,
whose bottom did he kiss ? Thisday awards Invitees who is who in the World pedigree is only overshadowed by the notoriety of its awardees from Nigeria ! Please Mr Nduka ! in this day and age bringing Beyonce ,Jayzee and Co. does not hide the facts . HOW ? How in the world did you do it ?

Congratulations Anyway : More Dollars/Beyonces continue to grease eyour elbow
Photo:The Famous Shot of Nduka gazing at Beyonces Necklace

Article:

Ok so I usually try to stay out of politics and controversy
If you have seen the list of people being honored at the Thisday awards 2010, you will say to yourself what a great idea but THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT

1. Ibrahim Babaginda is on that list.
2. Ibrahim Babaginda is on that list
3. Point one and two needed to be repeated. and also
4. Only one woman is on that list and Nigeria is NOT a country where women are not in the public sphere. This is not even about feminism. This is about fact. Only Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made it on there. Obi Ezekwesili? Dora Akinyuli?? Chimamanda Adichie? and this list is just scratching the surface.

Nigerians, we should STOP letting this jokers represent our media and our opinions. Frankly this list made me ashamed, as foreigners are trying to sympathize with us because of our history of TERRIBLE leaders and here these *&$#&*^% people are honoring them.

I mean some people definitely deserve their awards (Fashola is an example)

But as one of my friends said when she told me about this DISGRACE

Be ashamed, be very ashamed.

re written from thenigerianwordsmith

Find more photos like this on 9jabook.com Re-braining 9geria Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr, oil baron, bank executive and telecoms magnate, has been voted Nigeria’s most outstanding business personality in the last 50 years by THISDAY readers. In an online poll conducted by the newspaper, the chairman of Globacom polled 4272 votes to edge out Alhaji Aliko Dangote who scored 4156. Others are Paschal Dozie (3316), Michael Ibru (3073) and Subomi Balogun (2801).

Maga no need pay one day for guyman another day for the Maga !

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 22, 2010 at 3:51am

Two men, Ahmed Sanusi and Busola Obadara, who over the weekend confessed that they have cloned over 250 ATM cards and stolen over N1million from their victims' accounts since August 2009 have been arrested by the police. The two men, both from Ogun State, were caught by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, at a new generation bank in Abeokuta. They said they chose a fraudulent business because they realised they could make easy money from it.

Explaining their mode of operation, Mr. Sanusi, 28, said he had a website claiming to be the bank's, built for him by an Indonesian. He then sent thousands of e-mails to unsuspecting customers, asking them to reveal their ATM card details.

"When the customer reveals their card information, we will store the information into our laptop and then we'll clone the card with the information and go and withdraw the money from the person's account," Mr. Sanusi said.

Made in China

Mr. Obadara, 32, who said he is an Accounting graduate from Ibadan Polytechnic, claimed he bought the cloning machine and two blank ATM cards from China for about N14,000 through the Internet. He said he learnt how to use it himself by reading the accompanying manual.

"I saw the Read and Write Machine on the net and ordered for it from China through DHL. It cost me $80. I'll then connect the machine to a computer and swipe the blank reusable card in the machine. Automatically the person's details are stored on the blank card," Mr. Obadara said.

Speaking on the arrest, the Ogun State commissioner of Police, Saba Ndagi, said following several complaints of ATM fraud from the bank, a trap was laid leading to the arrests of the accused persons.

"From the bank's reports together with the footage obtained from the ATMs, we identified the suspects. We first arrested Busola and then his partner, Ahmed. We then searched his residence and discovered the cloning machine, two laptops containing personal card details, including pins of the bank's customers and other documents," Mr. Ndagi said.

When asked what they did with all the money they had stolen, they said they had nothing to show for their crime...

"I don't have a car, land or home, nothing. I don't have anything to show for what I have done. The harm has been done already. I don't have anything to say anymore. My mind is not stable," said Mr. Obadara.

Yahoozeee ! e no dey payeeeeee !

Why We should Fail More !

Posted by 9jabook.com on February 21, 2010 at 10:30pm

1. First I ask, "Can failure be an important learning experience?" Everyone usually answers, "yes."

2. Then I ask, "Don't we often learn more from failure than we do from success?" People again answer, "Usually, yes."

3. I go on to ask, "Aren't we as leaders and followers ought to be learning and growing at all times throughout our life?" Once more, the answer that comes back is "Yes!"

4. Then I conclude by asking, "Then shouldn't we be failing as often as possible?"

At that point, the room usually falls silent.

That reasoning is why I believe it's important not just to tolerate failure, but to celebrate it, which we will do all next week. I have my list of my personal failures to study, and I want to milk them for all they are worth to prepare for my future successes.

Poison Goodluck, Revealed, Another Plot to KILL Goodluck Jonathan

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 8:53pm

Emerging facts show that the life of President Goodluck Jonathan is currently in severe danger as fresh plan which is driven by forces opposed to the emergence of Vice-President Jonathan as the acting president, has a budget of N30 billion. The plot was said to have been uncovered by security agents. Intelligence reports have it that the idea was to poison Jonathan through those who are close to him. Those behind the plots are also said to be considering using women to reach Jonathan.

It was gathered that this was one of the reasons the acting president banned solidarity visits to the Presidential Villa in Abujalast week.

A source said, “Their thinking is that they can apply the late General Sanni Abacha formula by using women to poison him. Unfortunately, this plot has been blown open and the acting president, also unfortunately for them, is a very quiet man who does not go after women.”Many of the suspects to the plot, who are government officials, have been identified as people who are “unhappy with the emergence of the vice-president as acting president.” The source also informed that the suspect would be charged for treason when arrested.

It was gathered that while a minister involved in the plot was disposed to the assassination of the acting president, another minister prefers the option of killing through food poisoning. The source said those involved in the plot have started approaching close associates of Jonathan with monetary offers. It was learnt that a prominent family from the South-East was approached by those behind the plot due to the closeness of some of its prominent members to Jonathan.

The source said that the plot was uncovered through one of such close associates of the acting president who was contacted for the plot but decided to spill the bean.

The source said, “Security agents are already trailing those suspected to be behind this plot.

“We have adequate information about their activities and we will bid our time before we make their arrest and charge them for treason.” Huhuonline.com also gathered that the development formed part of the reasons why Jonathan banned courtesy visits. Another security source had earlier said the decision of the acting president to stop courtesy visits was because “some of the so-called visitors could be agents of security breach,” the source said. Meanwhile, the Presidency is said to be considering a pre-emptive step in the likelihood of the government of Saudi Arabia preventing the Federal Government delegation from having access to the President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.

The Federal Executive Council(FEC) had, last week, mandated six ministers to visit the President six ministers have reportedly been granted visas. Available facts revealed further that the Federal Government has started oiling its diplomatic machinery in preparation for the challenge of the position of the government in Saudi Arabia. However, in another twist in the current power play, there are strong indications that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is already mounting pressure on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan over the choice of a vice-president. The pressure from Obasanjo is in anticipation that President Umaru Yar’Adua would be declared incapacitated, and Jonathan will be sworn-in as full president. Obasanjo is pressing it on Jonathan that he must accept his nominee for the position.

It would be recalled that Obasanjo had mandated a former super permanent secretary, Ahmed Joda, from Adamawa State, to lead the search team for a Vice-President to Jonathan. Those shortlisted as likely nominees are: the governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Bello; the governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje and his Adamawa State counterpart, Murtala Nyako. There are also reports that some groups are backing former National Security Adviser to Obasanjo, Aliyu Gusau. Gusau was a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2007. The development is however creating confusion among political forces in the north because majority of opinion leaders in the region believe that Obasanjo should not be allowed to nominate the deputy to Jonathan. The pro-north politicians have however penciled both the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed and the governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, as their nominees for the position. .

In another development Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), and a former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), are both stakeholders in the proposed mega party. It was learnt, one of the groups in the proposed party, the National Democratic Initiative (NDI), revealed that both Babangida and Gusau have told some of their loyalists to be involved in the proposed mega party. The party, which will be unveiled this week, will publish the names of all the stakeholders of the party. It was learnt that the list will include the names of loyalists of Babangida and Gusau.

According to the source, the decision to unveil the party came after sessions of marathon meetings from Wednesday into the early morning of Thursday last week in Abuja, which members of the Mega Summit Movement (MSM), led by the octogenarian statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, and former presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, had with the NDI, which is led by a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari. It would be recalled that Buhari (former Presidential candidate for 2007 poll) recently left ANPP, where this alliance and sheer horse-trading will lead this political juggernauts to, only time will even as Nigerians and the international communities are watching with keen interest.

ASSASINATION: Former EFCC investigator, Danjuma Mohammed, assassinated

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 2:00pm

A former top investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Danjuma Mohammed, was shot dead today in the
Gwarimpa area of Abuja by assassins who invaded his home. Mohammed, a
Deputy Superintendent of Police who worked as an investigator with the
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was a close associate of the
exiled former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu.

He was also one of the first casualties of the power play in the EFCC when Mrs. Farida Waziri took
over the reigns of the commission three years ago. Along with Ibrahim
Magu and several other experienced investigators at the EFCC, Mohammed
was sent back to the police by Mrs. Waziri..

But Saharareporters sources said the FIRS found Mohammed to be a
valuable tool and had recruited him to engage in investigating and
prosecuting tax defaulters. He reportedly met stiff resistance in the
department handling the job in the FIRS before he undertook its
reorganization.

Mohammed's assassination would be the second against financial crimes
investigators. In November 2009, Abubakar Umar, a lawyer and special
assistant to Ahmeed Al Mustapha, registrar of the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC), was found brutally assassinated and burned in his car
in Abuja. Abubakar had been trailed by unknown assailants after he left
work. He was abducted, shot to death, and set ablaze. His badly burnt
body was found near Utako Market in the opposite direction of his
residence in Maitama. Before he was killed, Abuabakar had had some
disagreements with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Usman Bayero Nafada, over land ownership.

Police claim they are looking into this case, but such proclamations in past assassinations have amounted to nothing.

RELATED ASSASSINATION:

The family of late Abuabakar Abba Umar is offering N10m to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of his killers. Abuabakar Abba Umar until his
death was an Assistant Director and the Special Assistant to the
registrar general at the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja. Mr Umar
was also a board member of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission.

He was trailed by trailed by his assailants on 11th November 2009 who
shot him and burnt him in his Toyota Camry car. An autopsy carried out
at the National Hospital Abuja revealed a bullet wound in his skull.
Initially, the police believed that it was accident. However, after the
autopsy report was released, some suspects were arrested but no
breakthrough was made in finding his killers. .

The family of the later Umar is offering the N10m in an effort to
assist the law enforcement agencies in apprehending his killers. Anyone
with useful information should contact the

mobile number: 0706 7868 334 or email abuabba67@yahoo.co.uk

3-Point Agenda: How Jonathan runs Nigeria • Power, Niger Delta, Electoral Reform top priorities

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 1:40pm

How Jonathan runs Nigeria • Power, Niger Delta, Electoral Reform top priorities (3-Point Agenda)
By Emmanuel Aziken, Abuja
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Cover Stories Feb 20, 2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck-Jonathan-21%5B1%5D.jpg

* The weight on Yar’Adua, Jonathan relationship

* Gags aides, N-Delta Elders

* Reduces Yar’Adua’s 7-Point Agenda to 3

* The Abiola connection

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan is set to confound political pundits and jobbers with a resolve not to contest next year’s presidential elections, associates of the Acting President have told Saturday Vanguard.

Jonathan, the first Acting President in the nation’s Fourth Republic, it has been learnt, is poised to leave a history that will differentiate his legacy from that of many of his predecessors after May 2011.

The Acting President, according to associates, has set power, Niger Delta and electoral reform at the top of a sub-set of an agenda derived from the seven point- agenda inherited from President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

Giving an insight into how Jonathan’s is running the country, one of his associates who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the basis of confidentiality said:

”He is a highly consultative person and you need to see this in how he responded to the crisis in Jos. Besides the strict instructions to the security agencies to restore normalcy on the Plateau, he has also had many consultative meetings with Plateau stakeholders that have greatly helped in defusing the tension and reducing mutual suspicion among the people,” one source said of the meetings that were held without media exposure.

One notable effort by Jonathan in addressing the Jos crisis was his decision not to set up another panel of enquiry on the most recent crisis.

“He said that there were many panels of enquiry that were established in the past on crises in Jos since 1994 and he pledged that this would be the last one and one of his directives was that the reports by past panels should be implemented.”

It was thus not surprising that the reports of some of those panels are now being released, it was noted.

Also indicative of the direction of the Jonathan presidency, according to his associates, was his attitude towards the recent Anambra gubernatorial election and the re-run election for the Etsako Central Constituency seat in the Edo State House of Assembly.

Remarkably, Etsako Central is the home base of his Principal Private Secretary, Chief Mike Oghiadome, who served as deputy to Governor Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2007.

“In both elections, he called the Inspector General of Police to ensure that there is no security incident and he vowed that the will of the people must prevail.”

“Etsako was indeed a test case for anyone watching the resoluteness of Jonathan as he did not mind the interest of Oghiadome.”

In both Etsako Central and Anambra, Jonathan’s dominant Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost and without much security incidents.

His consultative approach it was learnt is, nevertheless, time stretching.

Jonathan, it was learnt, wakes up around 5 a.m. in the morning and between 6.30 a.m. and 7.00 a.m. he attends the daily morning devotion that holds in the chapel within his Akinola Aguda residence within the Presidential Villa. From there, he commences a daily routine of presidential activities that many times stretch up to 11.00 p.m. and sometimes when he takes files and memoranda home for further action.

Jonathan, according to one of his associates, is also determined to remain faithful to his boss, President Yar‘Adua in the belief that the more than two months stalemate that affected the governance of the country was deliberately stoked without the President’s knowledge.

In exonerating President Yar‘Adua, the associates point to the political background of the President’s family. “The Yar‘Adua family has paid its dues to Nigeria and have also paid the cost and don’t forget that the President’s elder brother died in prison on account of his inclination to democracy,” the associate said in reference to the suspicious death in Abakaliki prison of Gen. Shehu Musa Yar‘Adua, the former Army General who later became a thorn to the military dictatorship of Gen. Sani Abacha.

Noting the bond between Jonathan and President Yar‘Adua and how the kitchen cabinet repeatedly sought to damage that relationship, one insider disclosed how President Yar‘Adua gave Jonathan the task of filling board appointments in the nation’s parastatals.

That job, it was learnt, was subsequently subverted by some elements within the kitchen cabinet.

Besides, it was also disclosed that when President Yar‘Adua wanted to go on leave last year, that he wrote a letter to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives informing them in fulfillment of section 145 of the constitution. That constitutional requirement was meant to transfer power to Jonathan as Acting President.

The letter, Saturday Vanguard was intercepted by elements within the kitchen cabinet who instructed the National Assembly Adviser, Senator Mohammed Abba Aji not to deliver it.

“Their argument was that Obasanjo didn’t do it. But they also said that it could set up a dangerous pattern that could cost the President much politically.”

”The President was told that the National Assembly could refuse to acknowledge his letter when he tells them that he is back,” one source privy to the development disclosed.

Remarkably, associates of then VP who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed Dr. Jonathan’s abiding loyalty to President Umaru Yar‘Adua, even as they absolved the ailing President from the perceived disdain poured on him by elements within the President’s kitchen cabinet.

Besides drawing a scene of efforts made by the kitchen cabinet to break the initial bond of comradeship that trailed and followed President Yar‘Adua and Dr. Jonathan in their first days in office, the associates disclosed how Dr. Jonathan bound his immediate staff not to talk on the issues of the President’s illness and the transmission of a letter to the National Assembly on his medical vacation.

Following the President’s medical evacuation and the brouhaha that followed, Dr. Jonathan it was learnt, instilled dread into his aides when he told them that their mobile telephones were being monitored and warned them not to discuss or insinuate anything that would bring disharmony within the presidency.

Besides his aides, the VP, it was learnt through one of his trusted aides, also mobilized political leaders from the South-South not to see the issues affecting the transmission or lack of transmission of a letter of medical vacation to the National Assembly as his issue or a South-South issue.

“Abiola’s mistake was that his June 12 mandate was reduced by some people from a national issue to a South West issue, and those around him learnt from and so when this issue started, the first thing he did was to help silent opinion leaders from the South-South.

”The issue of transmitting a letter or not is not a South-South issue. It is a national and constitutional issue which he, from the beginning, determined not to see as a personal issue or from the prism of a South-South issue,” a long standing associate of the Acting President confided.

Turai's Plot Her secret emails to El Rufai revealed

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 1:30pm

Turai’s consummate power play...Her secret emails, others facts

In the period between December 15, 2009 and January 17, 2010, the ailing President’s wife, Turai Yar‘Adua, was aggressively engaged in an intricate power manoeuvre to rally support for her

husband; reaching out and offering carrots to those previously classified

as ‘enemies’ of the administration; and building new allies with the sole purpose of keeping the seat of power safe. From her new base in Saudi Arabia, where she manages her husband’s health, fresh facts emerging from email
exchanges made exclusively available to NEXTonSunday, reveal the
fascinating web of the power machinery organized around Mrs Yar‘Adua
who, as the perfect Amazon, is emerging as perhaps the most politically
shrewd, even if desperate, ‘First Lady’ in the history of Nigerian presidency.

While Nigeria’s President, Umaru Yar’Adua lay critically ill in King Faisal hospital in
far away Saudi Arabia, throw the country into confusion over the
leadership vacuum, to Turai Yar’Adua the President, was surreptitiously
orchestrating an elaborate power scheme and was, in effect running the
affairs of the country. Fresh
evidence, obtained exclusively by Next, shows a ground plan in which
Mrs Yar’Adua, assisted by some politically connected Northerners,
curbed the power of the Executive Council of the Federation and tried
to curry the favour of loyalists and foes alike in an effort the
family’s hold on power. For more than 2 months, the group- the
‘‘cabal’’- succeeded in warding off all efforts to fill the leadership
vacuum and thereby frustrated constitutional processes. It is not clear
whether Mrs. Yar’Adua was protecting the interests of her ailing
husband; indeed, it appears that she may have more interested in
holding on to the influence that her current position afforded her.

Spanning a period of about five weeks from December 15, 2009, series of email
show the lively discourse that took place between Mrs. Yar’Adua,
members of the executive council, legislators, presidential aides, some
prominent Northern elites. Events took a dramatic turn when in late
December, she went beyond her loyalists and reached out to a well
antagonist, Nasir, el-rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT). Analysts believe that this may have been an attempt on
her part to garner support of the politically strong Northerners while
also bridging the gap between loyalists and rivals. Mrs. Yar’Adua’s
says otherwise.

‘‘Nasir Wallahitallahi duk yadda ka dauka bah aka bane (Nasir, by God,
honestly, it s not what you think) I just want to help you out,’’ the
first lady said in an email to Mr. el-rufai on January 14, 2010.

Seeking Power

While the nation simmered and accusations and counter accusations flew across groups, the parliament and the Presidency, Mrs Yar’Adua was subtly making plans on how to retain power. According
to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the 80 day delay in
handing over Presidential powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was engineered by the first lady’s to solidify her power in the light of her husband’s dwindling health.

‘‘This whole thing was about power. You must remember that she had the hope
that if her husband became incapacitated, she would be made the Vice
President,’’ our source said.

Having been assured of the loyalty of her husband’s cronies, Mrs. Yar’Adua took the next step to woo her antagonists.

‘‘It is all about power. She was trying to gather friend and to neutralize
enemies. Because she wanted to be made the VP, she felt that if she
could win over enemies, then they would not oppose her ambitions,’’
another source said,When
contacted by Next, Mr. el-Rufai, who is currently exiled in Dubai and
has been in the fore front of asking for the President’s resignation,
said he did not know what sort of help Mrs. Yar’Adua wanted to offer
him.

‘‘I did not have a clue what help she was offering. I did not care and I
did not think that she was in a position to help me,’’ the former
minister, said.

A subsequent email sent by the first lady to the former minister of
however gives a clue on what Mrs. Yar’Adua hoped to offer Mr el-rufai
in return for his support.‘‘Amma
nayi maka Alkawari ba wani wanda ya isa ya kara wata Magana Akanka (but
I make you a promise that no one will ever again complicate your
situation) if I remain the firs(t) lady,’’ Mrs. Yar’Adua promised in an
email sent to Mr el-Rufai on January 18, 2010. She may have been
referring to the eight-count charge, brought against the former
minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Last year, on Wednesday , May 6, 2009, the EFCC charged Mr. El-Rufai to
Court on charges including abuse of office, and followed this upnby
declaring him wanted on account of his failure to appear to appear
before the Courts. Mr el-rufai insists that he did no wrong and that he
was being persecuted by those whose toes he had steeped on while he was
the FCT Minister.

The Middle man

Serving as the channel for the initial correspondence between the two parties
was Baba Adams. Mr Adams, a Nigerian who serves as the director of
Research and Assessment at the North central University,
Prescott Arizona, presented himself as the middle man trying to
establish contact between the first lady and different parties. In one
of the messages sent on December 24, 2009, Mr. Adams in an email to the
President, via the first lady, appealed to him to cede power between to
his deputy. Mr Adams copied several parties in the Mil including
members of the Executive Council of the Federation, some legislators,
aides of the President, and some prominent Northerners. Mr Adams copied
Sultan of Sokoto; Buba Marwa, a former military Governor and current
Ambassador to South Africa; Mohammed Abba Aji, the Presidential adviser
on Presidential matters; David Mark, the Senate President; Taminu Yakubu, the President’s economic adviser; Babatunde Osotimehin, the Minister for health and a close ally of the Mrs Yar’Adua; Michael Aondoakaa, former Attorney General; and Ojo Maduekwe,
the Foriegn Affairs Minister among others. It is unclear what Mr Adams’
relationship is with these people but a legislator who was copied in
the email, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a House of Representatives member, denied having a personal knowledge of Mr Adams while also denying a personal relationship with the first family.

‘‘I have no idea of what you are talking about. If you are talking of my role as a parliamentarian, and a member of Action Congress, no problem. But in terms of personal relationship, none at all. I met Yar’Adua once as Governor of Katsina State, when some House of Representatives members were on a visit to Katsina. Perhaps Mrs. Yar’Adua might recognize me as a member of the parliament, and a former NTA staff she
probably sees on TV sometimes. My stand was very simple: handover to
your deputy.

I believe Mr Adam copies his mail to some senators and members, as he normally
does,’’ Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said to NEXT. Mr Adams’ next step soon after
that email was to take steps to link up Mr. el-rufai with the Mrs.
Yar’Adua.

‘‘I just got an email from Her Excellency Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Saudi Arabia. She wants to speak to you by telephone-so please can you email me your
best contact phone number. With all due respect to you and the First
Lady, we would appreciate if you will keep the communication
confidential to avoid any unnecessary altercations,’’ Mr Adams said in
an email dated December 26 2009. Thus began the correspondence between the former and the first lady.

‘‘Maganar taimakon da kike cewa za ki yi mani, nag ode amma ban a bukatar
taimakon wani dan Adam, domin na kai kara wurin Allah, Subhanahu wa
ta’ala (As for the assistance that you want to render to me, thank you
very much, but I do not need help from any human being because I have
left everything in the hands of Allah, Subhanahu wa ta’ala),’’ was the
final response sent by Mr el-Rufai to the first lady in an email,
dated January 16, 2010. Mr. Adams did not respond to email enquiry on
his motivation for the various mails sent to the different parties.

Neutralizing enemies

Mrs. Yar’Adua’s quest for power led her to seek reconciliation with those
who had hitherto fallen out of favor with her family. Mr el-Rufai was
just one of many. According to acknowledgeable sources, the aim of the
reconciliation exercise was for the sole purpose of neutralizing
opposition by renewing friendships which had long gone sour. Others who
Mrs Yar’Adua reportedly approached were Ahmed Muazu, the former
Governor of Bauchi State; Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former Governor of Sokoto State; Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President; and Ibrahim Babangida
former military President. ‘‘Initially, these people were her friends
but the relations between them deteriorated,’’ sources said.

You can’t run in 2011, Obasanjo tells Jonathan • North tackles ex-President over new VP

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 1:20pm

You can’t run in 2011, Obasanjo tells Jonathan • North tackles ex-President over new VP
By Olusola Balogun

Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fresh facts have emerged on what transpired at a recent secret meeting between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

Obasanjo

obasanjo%5B1%5D.jpg

advertisement

Sunday Sun learnt that Obasanjo told Jonathan that he may have to pay a price by not contesting the 2011 presidential election if the ongoing effort to make him substantive president sails through.

A source at the meeting said the parley was principally convened to chart the way forward politically for the country.

Although the advice appears to be in the interest of Jonathan and the stability of the country, it was gathered that it was equally a ploy by Obasanjo to push through another agenda of imposing a candidate on the nation like he did in 2007.

Already, the plot has rankled some politicians in the North who fear that a fresh attempt by the former leader to impose his candidate on the nation in the 2011 presidential contest might be in the works.

The North and, indeed, other parts of the country are said to be blaming Obasanjo as the architect of the present political logjam in the country, because of the imposition of Yar’Adua on the nation in 2007.

The present fear is hinged on alleged plan by the former president to line up an array of his candidates as likely Vice President to Jonathan in an arrangement that will also allow the same candidate succeed Jonathan in 2011.

Sunday Sun gathered that the acting president is under intense pressure from the former president to consider one of his candidates.

However, the move, which has leaked to northern leaders, is being resisted by the oligarchy in the region, which has also been advising Jonathan to be his own man and resist pressure from the former president.

According to some of them working quietly to checkmate Obasanjo’s moves, any attempt to allow him impose a northern vice president who will succeed Jonathan in 2011 will be tantamount to allowing him get his aborted third term agenda through the back door for the second time.

Some of the candidates Obasanjo is already pushing forward from the North East, according to sources, are his former Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Bello, the present Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, who also served under Obasanjo, the Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje or his Adamawa State counterpart, Murtala Nyako.

The Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, is said to be reserved as a joker from the North West, if the position is eventually zoned there.

Some groups are also backing former National Security Adviser to Obasanjo, Gen. Aliyu Gusau. Gusau, a presidential aspirant in 2007, is from the North West.

The case for Nyako, it was learnt, was that since he is old, he would have to leave the stage in 2011, along with Jonathan, paving the way for the emergence of another candidate.

But the dummy may not sell since Nyako is already campaigning for a second term in Adamawa.

Obasanjo was also said to have told Jonathan that he should not expect to be vice president again in 2011, after serving as the Commander-in -Chief for close to 15 months.

In the same vein, it was learnt that former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, are also mounting pressure to be allowed to return home.

The two, who are also confidants of Obasanjo, it was learnt, are canvassing the position that younger elements in their mould from the North should be considered for the plum job.

However, some elements in the North stoutly against allowing the former President railroad the region into picking a candidate are already plotting to stall whatever move he makes in that direction.

They are said to be adopting “a two-pronged approach of stalling Obasanjo’s plans and at the same time coming up with a viable alternative to whatever plan that the PDP Board of Trustees chairman might put forward.”

Part of the plan, it was learnt, is for the northern oligarchy to queue behind a non-politician as deputy to Jonathan, while at the same time canvassing the need not to allow a politician be a deputy to Jonathan..

The source, however, said: “We might be looking at the possibility of a man that has no ambition to contest the 2011 election because we feel that the election should be credible for the stability of the country. The person too must understand the workings of government and be able to speak up for the North in the present set up.

“We need to shoot down the idea of using a politician if we want a credible election in 2011. Sincerely, we can do well without ambitious politicians supervising elections here. They don’t do sincere jobs,” the source said.

It was further revealed that the names of a former minister, Gen. Ali Magoro, as well as that of former defence minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, were penciled down as possible deputy in the event of Jonathan becoming substantive President.

“The two are people that are not interested in any election and they knows their onion. We know they are honest and love this country, and you can be sure they will do a good job. We will eventually settle for one of them after consultations,” our source added.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo’s Abeokuta Hilltop home has become a beehive of activities as favour-seeking politicians flock to the mansion to seek the former President’s assistance.

A source claimed “the place is already a Mecca of sorts for all manner of people seeking one favour or the other from Jonathan, like those who want to be in the next ECF, those who want to be governors and those seeking second term in the national assembly. The man is holding court and he seems to be enjoying it.”

Lukman backs Barkindo on Northernisation of NNPC

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 1:18pm

Lukman backs Barkindo on Northernisation of NNPC • Mass replacement of qualified senior officials from the South in NNPC with new officials being recruited from Northern States

INDICATIONS have emerged that Dr. Rilwan Lukman, Minister of Petroleum Resources, is responsible for the mass replacement of qualified senior officials from the south of Nigeria in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with new officials being recruited from the states in the north.

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Recently, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was redeployed for protesting the appointment of Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, Group Managing Director of NNPC as the governor of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

This position, in the past, was consistently occupied by Permanent Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry and Head of Petroleum Inspectorate Division, now Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), since Nigeria joined OPEC..

A senior official of the Petroleum Ministry disclosed in Abuja during the week that Lukman has consistently frustrated other board members of NNPC from bringing an end to the recruitment of mainly top officials from the north taking over from qualified southern officials.

This backdoor recruitment, which was started few months ago by Barkindo, it was gathered, involves placing new officials from the north as general managers, managers and deputy managers above those already in service without promotion for several years.

The implementation of the northernisation project, the official said, was enhanced by major changes made by President Umaru Yar'Adua in NNPC whereby 67 top senior management staff were redeployed in July 2009.

In the changes approved by Yar'Adua during the period, 13 senior officials of the corporation were retired.

Our source said further: "To strengthen the recruitment of northern candidates into key positions in the corporation, key officials from the north were approved for the replacement of officials affected by the changes at the group human resources of NNPC."

The new appointees included Dr. Attahiru Yusuf, Group Executive Director (GED) Corporate Services; Mr. Auwalu Abubakar, (GGM) of Group Human Resources; Hajia M. Sanni, General Manager of Human Resources Division and Malam I.M Bawa, General Manager, Admin Services.

"From the top positions being occupied by officials from the north, it is clear that it will not take a year before NNPC will eventually be dominated mainly by northerners because the recruitment organ of NNPC is manned only by northerners," he noted.

The source added that several northerners have been employed by the NNPC through the backdoor without following due process of employment and input of other board members. He added that these young northerners were placed in management positions, whereas there are several qualified staff of the corporation who are in positions of chief officers for several years without promotion.

Yar’Adua’s pilot stranded as cabal seizes crew’s passports

Posted by Paul "EFCC" Hawk Adams on February 21, 2010 at 1:17pm

From AMOS DUNIA, Abuja

Sunday, February 21, 2010
Following the National Assembly resolution empowering Dr Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, the cabal sympathetic to ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua has intensified moves to ensure the status quo is maintained.
.

Sunday Sun gathered that as part of the plot to convince Nigerians that Yar’Adua was recovering and would soon return to the country to assume duties, the presidential fleet crew comprising the captain, co-pilots, flight engineer and attendants have been prevented from returning home even as they are said to be missing their families and dependants.

It was gathered that the passports of the crew members has been confiscated to ensure they do not leave Saudi Arabia while being confined to their hotels.

A dependable source informed Sunday Sun that even the movement of the crew members was being monitored in connivance with the Saudi Arabia authorities.

Back home in Nigeria, the powerful group is said to be working towards reversing the resolution of the federal legislature and paint the new leadership of the country as incompetent.

It is also said to be behind the worsening electricity crisis in the country and plans to sabotage fuel distribution across the nation, in an attempt to portray Jonathan as incapable of ruling Nigeria.

Sources said the group made up of some serving ministers, a handful of senators, House of Representatives members and some powerful businessmen from the northern part of the country was working to frustrate the government.

It was gathered that the same group has plotted to ensure that the power supply in the country gets worse. Electricity supply to major towns and cities in the country has plummeted in the past two weeks.

They are equally said to be targeting the petroleum sector to create artificial scarcity of petroleum products, all in an effort to discredit the Jonathan leadership.

It was learnt at the weekend that some members of the group in the House of Representatives were responsible for the death of the Bill for the alteration of Section 144 of the Constitution, which would have legitimized the action of the National Assembly in addressing the power vacuum created by the absence of Yar’Adua.

The group, which met in a Minister’s house on Wednesday night, resolved to ensure the death of any bill to alter the Constitution to favour the resolution of the National Assembly authorizing Vice President Jonathan as Acting President.

The group was reportedly formed to counter the growing influence of the National Interest Group (NIG) led by Bala Mohammed, which ensured that the National Assembly passed the resolution empowering Jonathan.

But, the pro-Yar’Adua group is said to be hampered by revelations that Yar’Adua is still believed to be in coma.

It is, however, said to be working towards selling a dummy to Nigerians that the ailing leader was recuperating fast. Although details of the plan are still sketchy, it was learnt that an official in the President’s office and others in the office of the first lady were coordinating the new dummy.

Lagos: Brother marries sister in desperate bid to secure UK visa

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on February 21, 2010 at 1:15pm

Lagos: Brother marries sister in desperate bid to secure UK visa
By Chioma Igbokwe

Saturday, February 20, 2010
It could be described as a taboo for siblings to marry one another, but Anthonia and Victor in desperate bid to secure UK visa decided to be known and addressed as husband and wife. On the fateful day, January 28, 2008, Anthonia dressed in a flowing white gown, marched to the Ojo marriage registry with Victor to be joined as husband and wife. This was done in a bid to convince the British High Commission to grant them a visiting visa since they can never meet the criteria needed to secure such visa.

Anthonia and Victor
antoNvictor%5B1%5D.gif

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With the aid of a naval officer, (Kayode Olaniyan) they were able to secure forged documents, which portrayed them as highly placed individuals in Nigeria. The expectation was that the forged document would guarantee them a visiting visa, and they applied to spend two weeks in UK.

To further convince the BHC, they went along with their wedding photograph, especially where they were cementing their ‘marriage’ with a kiss. Bubble however bust on February 16 when the British High Commission that was not aware the ‘couple’ is related by blood discovered that the bank statement presented was slightly altered. They alerted the police at the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi who in turn dispatched an officer to stand by for any possible arrest.

Unknown to them that their game was up, the BHC invited the ‘couple’ for a final interview, where they would be issued a visa. They were careful to ensure that they appeared in uniformed attire so that the difference would not be spotted. Passersby commended their choice of spouse as they looked alike. In the visa section, holding each other closely they stepped into the interview room. The man meant to interview them enquired if they had a swell time on Sunday being Valentine. They were still waiting for their Visa to be issued when the police arrested them for forgery. They were arrested alongside the visa racketeer, Kayode Olaniyan who is alleged to have forged the entire document used for the act.

The PRO SFU, CSP Akan, explained that when Victor discovered that the game was up, he shouted that the man (Kayode) who gave them the document was waiting outside to collect the balance as soon as they collect their approved visa. Unknown to Kayode, the game was up; he was arrested where he was waiting for the balance as soon as the deal clicks. In the course of interrogation, ready to vomit all the illegal things, they have done, Victor confessed that Anthonia was not his wife but his blood sister.

Victor told Saturday Sun that he was tired of struggling to survive in Nigeria that was why he quickly grabbed the opportunity when Kayode promised to assist them to travel out. “He gave us instances of people who he had travelled as ‘couple’. He requested that we should pay N900,000 for the deal but we ended up paying N180,000 with the promise to pay up as soon as the visa is granted.

“He promised that it was easier for couple to be granted visa so we quickly bought the idea to pose as couple. Part of the criteria was to get married, he arranged and we paid at the Ojo marriage registry. He also got some document which shows that I am a marine engineer, working in a company where I am paid more N300,000 monthly. I am an OND student of Lagos State Polytechnic where I am studying Banking and Finance.

I am not a marine engineer and do not have an account in WEMA Bank. I have never attended Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island. My real names are Ayeye Victor Adejobi. My younger sister who posed as my wife is Antonia Ayeye. Nebelisa is not my father’s name at all. Kayode gave us the surname ‘Nebelisa’ and instructed that we should obtain the passport. He took us to Ado Ekiti where we obtained the passport in the name of ‘Nebelisa’.”

When asked how he felt, kissing his sister, Victor said: “ It was disgusting but then I had no choice. I felt very bad knowing that it is an abomination, but because we wanted results, we had to comply. Take a look at the picture it will show that I was not comfortable with what I was doing.” Anthonia saw herself as an actress that was why she was very comfortable when it was time to kiss the bride.

On why she decided to embark on such mission, Anthonia explained that she did it to better her life and would not hesitate do whatever it took to get to the promised land. “I am a stylist and my office is located at Onobotubon Street, off Asho Street, Benin. Victor is my blood brother from the same father and mother. We were introduced to Kayode by a family friend who claimed that he has assisted a lot of people to secure UK visa.”

She explained that: “one of the ways to perfect the plan was to marry my brother, Victor. I saw that as a mere act, since I know that I am not married to my brother in real life. As agreed he took us to the marriage registry at Ojo, Lagos, to get married. At the end we were issued a marriage certificate. To perfect the business, he said we are to pay N900,000, but we managed to drop N180,000 as part payment. I am single and still searching ”

Their rip-off games man, Olaniyan, was not satisfied with his pay in the Navy and he chose to go into visa racketeering to add to his monthly salary. With his experience in the Navy, he was able to reproduce documents used to facilitate his clients’ visa requests, which depict the applicants as having military background.

Kayode who lives at No. 42 Olajumoke Street, Ikotun, Lagos, claimed that he joined the Nigerian Navy in 2005, and still works in the Navy. He explained that he knew his clients “through a family friend of mine, Tunde who told me that they were desperate to travel out of the country. I was the one who arranged for the forged marine documents and marine certificate of competency.

I brought the sample and it was reproduced just like the original document. I then hired the services of a good forger, Isaac, who brought the bank statement, sales receipt and the other documents that were presented. I asked them to pay, N900,000 to process the document which they agreed to but I only collected N180,000 based on the agreement that I would receive the balance at the end of the business. I would have collected the remaining sum today if the visa was issued.”

To the amazement of the British High Commission, Victor presented a document showing that he is working at the Durba Shipping (DNL). He also furnished the Commission with an internal memo approving 30 days annual leave, payment slip indicating a monthly salary of N310,000, letter of employment showing that he was employed as 2nd Engineer with effect from May 12, 2003 and a letter of introduction from the company. Victor further gave the Commission a certificate of Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island Lagos.

Anthonia, the hair stylist on her part appeared before the interview panel claiming that she is CEO/Chairman of the Emmanuel Sidah Ventures. She presented an introduction letter of herself as the owner of the company. Also in her custody was a document from the Corporate Affairs Commission showing when the business was registered. This document was a certificate to authenticate the registration of the business.

FREE Midnight calls cost me my marriage –Woman monster

Posted by Akin Osunlaja WebLagosian on February 21, 2010 at 1:13pm

By Chioma Igbokwe

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Visualize a scenario where you are fast asleep beside your partner and at 2.00am, the ring tone of your phone disturbs your sleep. With your eyes heavy with sleep after a hectic day and retiring to bed just an hour earlier you pick the call only to hear the voice of a stranger you never met.

The voice is that of the opposite sex. You try to fix a face or incident to it but cannot. While you battle with ‘I can’t remember who you are’ interjection, he/she insists loudly that you gave him/her appointment to call you because you would be sleeping alone in your room.

He/she further puts you on the spot that you had always talked at such hours in the past and you are merely pretending not to know the caller. Your spouse at last takes the caller for real and counts you a liar who deliberately put up denial to save face. Problems arise from there and at last the relationship crashes.

To you, this is just a conjecture. But to many Nigerians, it is real life drama that changed the course of their lives and happiness. Despite the gains of free midnight calls offered subscribers by GSM operators, many Nigerians have such adverse stories to tell about free midnight calls that became a monster to them. To such persons who have suffered the negative impact, the free calls are not worth the trouble and the effects they inculcate.

“It has caused more harm than good to the society, the individual and families”, said a respondent who fumes at the hazards. Before the promo started any child who is awake till 1.00am must be a student who is seriously preparing for his or her forthcoming examinations. Then with the dilapidated state of the power sector, such a person would risk the effect of candle to the eyes and burn it for hours just to ensure that he/she graduates with a good grade.

But today the reverse is the case, at 12.am on the dot, children and adults, especially the singles embark on compulsory vigil just to tap into the gains of free calls that enable them talk sense and nonsense endlessly. A phone user who cannot spend three hours in a church or mosque for vigil will have his eyes wide open because of midnight call till morning. Some use the opportunity to engage on conference calls where families would seize the opportunity to chat.

Others use it as an avenue to engage in fraudulent act while most use the period to woo and toast ladies or men, even the married. Saturday Sun found that such clandestine raunchy calls are laden with romance and deep frolic that go beyond the ordinary level. And there is no need to emphasise that these midnight call have shattered and destroyed marriages and other relationships.

One of such victims of free romantic midnight calls is Jide Adesanya who lamented that it was midnight call that crashed his marriage, which he had been managing to stabilise. “I am a divorcee today because of midnight call. I was battling to save my marriage, which was on the brink of collapse because of a mistake I made in the past.

I had promised my wife that it would not repeat itself, till one night that I had convinced my wife to spend the night in my room. The grave mistake I made was not to switch off my phone. At 1.00am, with my wife in my arms my phone rang. Blood of Jesus, I pleaded hoping that my wife did not hear. I was about to switch off the phone when she asked me to answer the call, as it could be an emergency.

Could you believe that it was a voice of a woman who claimed to know me? I tried my best to pretend it was a mistake. Only for the idiot to call back insisting that I used to be her lover.

Even when I told her that I am a married man she insisted that we could always handle the affair the way we had always done. My wife got mad and that was it. Till date, I have not seen this woman who I have been begging to come help me clear the crisis that broke my marriage. Today, my marriage is over but what I do is to arrest anyone that dares call my number at night.”

Mr. Paully Onyeka blamed midnight free calls for his children’s poor attitude to reading at night and thereby performing poorly in school. “The advent of GSM has caused more harm than good especially among our children. The problem is not the midnight call but the fact that these phones are accessible. If you decide not to buy a phone for your child, one way or another, they will raise money and buy one.

I am not saying that it is not good that these products are cheap and affordable all I am hammering on is that it they have caused more bad than good to Nigerians. I was shocked one day when I woke up at 3.00am and heard voices. I quickly grabbed my cutlass and moved towards the direction of the noise only to discover that it was from my 13-year-old son. He was making a call at that unholy hour. This is a boy that has been performing badly in school, instead of reading he spends his time making irrelevant calls. How can this boy stay awake in class when lectures are on? No wonder the, performance of our children is dwindling by the day. I suggest that free midnight call should be abolished. If they want to subsidise, let them reflect it on our tariff.”

Nnenna, a journalist decided to find out who and how on earth a crippled man was able to get her number and wake her up at 2.00am. “At 2.00am, my phone rang, my husband who was by my side woke me up to pick the call. Scared that there might be an emergency, I picked the call.”

She was disappointed and relieved when he discovered that it was an unknown person.

How did you get my number? she queried and the caller, a man confessed that he asked God to ensure that whoever owns this number would turn out to be a friend. Nnenna explained that she is married and lying beside her husband. The caller who identified himself as Steve encouraged her that their relationship would be the perfect one since he was also married. He told her that the only way to control it was for her to learn to sleep in her own room.

With the consent of her husband, Nnenna decided to follow up the matter by conceding to the man’s request. They agreed that Steve should call her every Friday at 4.30am to help her wake up and receive the call. In the course of their discussion Nnenna sought to know why he chose to call an individual who he had not met. Steve’s excuse was that he has never been lucky with women. Ladies always abandon him because of his looks and the fact that he has no money. His wife, Steve lamented left him and followed another man. He decided to embark on such calls to try his luck if he would be able to get one who will agree to befriend him.’’

According to Chika Agina, a banker, midnight call is meant for irresponsible men and women who have no value for their health, thereby use the opportunity to shop for trouble. “I do not make midnight calls and would not take it lightly with anyone who calls me at such an ungodly hour. Irresponsible men or women use it as an avenue to toast the opposite sex. Any man who toasts a woman through free call is a beggar. Initially, when the promo started, I was one of those who stayed awake till 5am, just to chat with friends who wanted to. But gradually it started telling on my health.

As a banker, I had terrible errors in my job, I slept while counting money and I paid dearly for over paying people. It has no gain and I wish that it would be abolished so that people will value every call they make since they are paying for it.” Taiwo Oluwadare, student makes free night calls strictly to save cost and the night is a very peaceful time to discuss at length without fear of anyone eavesdropping.

I make night calls to save cost and also to be in relaxed mood to talk as tortuous moment in the day may not let me attend to some people especially my friends and relatives. No unknown person has called me in the night but it has cost me a dearest girlfriend. That night, I received the call and the person said I should guess who was calling, but unfortunately I mistook the person for an old girlfriend. That made my girl part ways with me bluffing my apology.

Although Chigoziem Ehirim, businessman, admits that the promo saves costs, he however warned that Nigeria is not strong enough to cope with the after effect on their health. “I make midnight calls because, its saves money. The disadvantage is that it takes your sleep away and the next day you become stressed up. Because of the effect on my health, I stopped the habit. Despite the economic benefit, I would want it to be banned. You receive all kinds of useless calls from people who are out to ruin your life. People abuse free things and this free midnight call is one of them. The habitual callers have ruined homes, the children no longer read their books or study because they spend their leisure time on phones.”

Tayo 14, is rather happy with free night calls. To people of his age bracket, it is the only source of communication since their parents would not afford to buy credit for them. “It is very good, since my parents will never buy credit for me, I wake up at night and call my friends. MTN is doing that promo for the sake of children who do not have the money to buy credit. We can talk for hours and when it is about 4.00am, you go to sleep so that you can function the next day.” A nurse, Chikezie Okezie, could not hide his face in shame as he voiced out that he makes midnight call frequently although it is not healthy.

“I make free night call but I have to sacrifice the next day with serious headache. It saves cost but has its own disadvantage. I suggest it should be banned as, it will curtail the abuse by children who will prefer to talk throughout the night and sleep during the day. I am preparing for JAMB and you can’t believe that if I decide to do midnight call I will not blink an eye, but once I pick up my book, I will doze off. It’s terrible but still saves cost.”

Beware of 'hot' love

Posted by 9jabook.com webmadam on February 21, 2010 at 1:06pm

Beware of 'hot' love

Kemi ashefon.

SENI, 35, is heartbroken. But that was not her state a few months back. "Then, I was excited to have got a mate after many years of searching," recalls Seni. "Dehinde came and proposed to me. He had seen my picture on my friend's laptop in his office and decided to call. By the time we went on our third date, he told me he was single, was searching and was ready to get married within six months.

Live-in lovers, live-in trouble

"That was what I needed to hear. Promptly, I started telling everyone who cared to listen that I was getting married. Dehinde was not talkative about it, but smiled whenever I told a friend or relative about our wedding plans. He said our honeymoon was going to be in the Caribbean and I would have to stay abroad and have our baby when I got pregnant.

"Though he had an old car he was using, he was expecting a contract worth billions of naira and would change his and mine. Little wonder, I quickly gave in to his suggestion that we sold my car, got a house and used a part for furniture. I was in love and all that he suggested were accepted.

"I sold my car, which was worth N1.2m at N700, 000. I sold my jewellery and my shares for the new set of furniture he desired and to buy him a brand new car. I was happy doing all this because I wanted a home and a husband. I was happier when our wedding invitation cards were out and eventually, we got married.

"I settled down to my new life, only to discover I was the third wife he would be marrying in seven years. Two other women had kids for him, but later divorced him due to his womanising ways. He confessed these to me when I discovered some strange text messages in his phone and some receipts of school fees he paid.

"He had five kids. After a year, he stopped coming home and was said to be dating another lady. It was a terrible year for me: two miscarriages, lost my job due to negligence, was broke and had to run back to my sisters for help. Just two months ago, I heard he was married again. I'm back to my single state and so scared to date again."

Seni was not the only victim. Mike, 32, met Meg at a party. "I was 32 and my mother wanted me to get married," he says. "Not that I was desperate, but I wanted to get it over with marriage and children so that I could face my career. Meg was 22, looked innocent and was an undergraduate.

"I fell head over heels in love with her and took up her educational expenses. I was shocked recently when she decided to call off the relationship. She confessed to me that she was seeing another guy, where she was having her internship.

"Though she confessed to have loved me, her other excuses were that we quarrelled a lot on the phone and she could not cope with the distance (I was in Abuja; she in Lagos) because she believed in regular physical contact. She confessed to have slept with the guy and left me with no assurance of coming back because she said the guy in Lagos was fun to be with.

"I was shattered and I stopped calling her. But she had not stopped calling me. She spent more than five minutes talking to me, but she didn't talk about the broken relationship and sometimes, she sent platonic text messages. Really, I don't know why she called me. Knowing that I loved her, she knew I would readily accept her back, but why would Meg play on my emotions? Do I stop her from calling me or not?"

With Bitrus, 33, and Beatrice 26, everything came in a rush and they did all things with the speed of light. Bitrus says, "I was posted to Abuja on official duties and while trying to settle down, I met Beatrice, who was a civil servant," recalls Bitrus. "She was young and she helped me with whatever I went to do at the ministry.

"Because she spoke my language fluently, we became friends and I knew my way round the city, courtesy of her. Suddenly, we became lovers and neither wooed nor spoke to her on marriage, but I thought I was in love. I didn't have any time with other women because she was all over me. At work, she called, before I closed, she would have arrived and made sure we went home together.

"She packed her things to my place and assumed the role of a wife without any of our parents knowing. I couldn't travel to anywhere but was always with her. She put a check on who I called, who called me and went through my text messages. But I have discovered that she would run after men, close late from work and abandon me at home. She would feign pregnancies and after three months, would declare she had miscarriages. I have fallen in love with her and would not think of leaving her."

Bush, Blair, Rice Arrive for THISDAY Awards

Posted by 9jabook.com webmadam on February 21, 2010 at 12:59pm

All is now set for today's THISDAY Nigeria-at-50 Awards as the immediate past United States President, George W. Bush; the Secretary of State to his government, Prof. Condoleezza Rice, joined former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, in Abuja for the event..

Bush and Rice arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport amid heavy security provided by both Nigerian and American personnel.
Blair arrived quietly on Friday and had visited Action President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock and participated in other public service engagements.

Bush and other world leaders are in the country for the awards ceremony set to recognise and honour 50 distinguished Nigerians who have played critical roles in the country’s developmental efforts since 1960.
The THISDAY Nigeria-at-50 Awards would be a major kick-off for the celebration of Nigeria’s golden jubilee anniversary as an independent nation.

The leaders would hold a discussion on the theme: “Nigeria: The Next 50 Years”. Also, THISDAY Lifetime Achievement Awards would be presented to 15 nominees, whose names were earlier announced by the Board of Editors.
Nigeria’s Acting President Goodluck Jonathan would be special guest of honour along with former Ghanaian President, John Kufour.
At the THISDAY Dome located at the central area of the Federal Capital Territory and a distance of about a few metres from the Three Arms zone, which is housing the National Assembly, Presiden-tial Villa and the Supreme Court, security was very tight.

Most of the nominees for the awards and their well-wishers had already arrived and were lodged in different hotels in the city and the security arrangement was extended to some of the hotels like Transcorp Hilton, NICON Luxury, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chelsea 2, Rockview Hotel among others.

As world leaders and heads of their respective governments, both Blair and Bush cultivated meaningful relationships with Africa and Nigeria in particular.
In line with the sober mood of the country, music sensation, Asa will be the only performer. The performance by Earth, Wind & Fire has been postponed.

Google rules: I Googled in Now I cant Google out !

Posted by technology on February 20, 2010 at 11:33pm

I like Google, but the contextual advertising can still step way over the line.

My wife and I had an argument a couple of years ago, and sent a fewnot-terribly-pleasant emails back-and-forth. So I'm sitting therereading an email from her, and what do you think was being displayed inthe gmail banner ad?

"Need a divorce lawyer?"

I'm sorry, but I found that pretty damn offensive.

You know they just revealed that Google can nowrun as a power company right? It won't be soon till they control yourwater mains and your trash collection.

Google will rule all. It's not a matter of if, but when.

I have to agree with the CEO of Google. If there'ssomething that you're doing that you dont want other people knowing,maybe you should quit doing it or quit being so iffy about it. 99% ofthe time I've learned people just don't freaking care when they findout.

I don't care about my privacy, I don't do anything wrong. Hell, I'd even walk around naked if it wasn't illegal.

As a moderately honest individual that likes a tightly integrated service, I have nothing to lose.

Now I log into Google and everything is there. Nohaving to log into multiple services on multiple websites and having toread multiple agreements and set multiple privacy settings.

Google will not share any more about you then you set in your privacysettings. It's just that most people don't bother going over them andthen complain later.

Even the Buzz launch. I just read the opening screen, clicked yes,logged into my privacy settings, made the changes I wanted to make andeverything was done and set.

Don't call them evil just because you didn't RTFM.

My tip: Don't leave. If you leave and join aservice that a lot of other people join, Google will see it asvaluable, buy it, and then once again own you. You. Can't. Escape.

Idon't know why everyone keeps complaining about the accelerator pedalsin Toyotas. Only an ignoramus wouldn't know that you can easily open upthe hood, cut a few wires, reprogram a couple modules, and the carworks perfectly fine. Who expects their products not to have a fewminor, fixable glitches? Clearly, all those people blithely assuming itwill just work deserve their collisions.

Turai’s consummate power play...Her secret emails, others facts

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