FEUDING BILLIONAIRES,AND THEIR AFFECT ON YOU
Nigerians love a good fight. Even better if it's the variety that pits one moneybag against the other. It is said money-making skills usually come with a personality that exudes discipline and calm; but we are often happy to see the richest among us occasionally let down their guards and reveal they are just as passionate and temperamental as the rest of us. Yes, ready to mix it up.
Such public scrapes let us know those in the monied class also have their moments of anger, that certain things make them mad and which they just won't take anymore. At those moments, the feuding rich among us are more like the touts and "agberos" of the numerous motorparks and less than the high-flying Croesus whose unfathomable wealth hold the rest of us in thrall.
But big money men (and women) do not quite fight like motor park touts and "agberos". No, it is much more serious. Others will even say "deadly". One can often hang around to see how a shouting match or brawl between two or more touts in a motor park will end. If you're unfortunate, you might probably get cut by a shard of broken glass or other objects inadvertently thrown your way by one of the urchin-like gladiators.
What happens when two billionaires fight? For one, you might not even know there is a major altercation underway. That is, until your life savings---and even your life---start melting away before your very eyes. This is the spectacle being inflicted on ordinary Nigerians caught in the middle of the on-going battle of wits---and wills---between billionaires Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola.
Both men are the only two Nigerians among a handful of others from the African continent who have managed to make it to the authoritative Forbes magazine's list of dollar-denominated billionaires in the world. While Dangote's rating improved from 334 in 2008 to 261 this year, Otedola is a new entrant to the list. Dangote, 51, is now reportedly worth $2.5 billion, while Otedola, 42, is worth $1.2 billion.
Aside from the Forbes connection, Otedola and Dangote have, until recently, enjoyed a close personal bond, which makes their present feud all the more unfathomable. Only a few years ago, it is said, the two men operated like inseparable twins. They also suckled and were extensively nurtured under the generous governmental and financial patronage of erstwhile president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Even before Obasanjo's second coming, Dangote was widely known as the scion of a rich trading family from Kano who had for decades maintained a near-monopoly on the supply of rice, sugar and cement into the vast, domestic Nigerian market. The Obasanjo Presidency and its privatization exercise brought even more opportunities for the Dangote brand. The man is now believed to have a stranglehold on the supply of these and other commodities in the Nigerian market. Those vast, new opportunities garnered during the Obasanjo dispensation surely helped a great deal to earn Dangote the honour of being named to Forbes' magazine's list of the world's richest men.
But did that particular distinction also lay the groundwork for Dangote's feud with his former "BFF", Otedola?
Not too long after Dangote's first Forbes appearance, a cryptic announcement came from his bosom friend, Femi Otedola, to the effect that his holding company planned to start making massive investments in companies engaged in sugar and cement production, starting with the Dangote Group. But one would have expected that Otedola, a diesel magnate, would direct his investment efforts to the Nigerian oil and gas sector, especially the profitable but capital-intensive upstream sector monopolized by multinational corporations.
It has been said that Otedola started buying shares in Dangote's publicly-traded sugar company in revenge for the latter's action in preventing Otedola-owned Zenon Oil's bid to buy Chevron's local Nigerian subsidiary. However, one fears this is simply a fight ignited by a much-hyped billionaires list; a fight spurred by over-sized egos pandering to entrance and retention in the big-bucks cult of Forbes.
When the announcement of Dangote's first appearance on the billionaires list was made, many must have thought the immediate danger was the opportunity created for influence-peddling by potential "Forbes brokers", both foreign and domestic, who would promise lobbying on behalf of Nigeria's tribe of billionaires to make their name appear on the list, in exchange for hefty "consultation fees".
Among the billionaires themselves, the infamous Nigerian factor now appears to have crept in. Thus, an appearance on the Forbes list has now become a title to be chased and celebrated by the billionaires and their supporters alike, much like the chieftaincy and honourary doctorate titles that have become a staple of Nigeria's monied ranks in the recent past. Even the brief description of Otedola in the current Forbes list mentioned his feud with Dangote, a distinction reserved for only the two Nigerian entrants on the list!
It is within this context that one locates the controversy regarding the alleged manipulation of Otedola-owned African Petroleum shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange by Nova Securities and Finance Limited, stockbrokers to the Dangote Group.
AP had alleged that NOVA, acting on Dangote's instructions, manipulated its share's value through incessant buy and sell transactions, a situation that caused its (AP) share price to fall steeply from around N293 per share to just N50 per share within the space of eight weeks, an 82% drop and with losses to AP and its investors in the tens of billions of naira. It was further learnt during the investigation that Chairman of Nova, one Eugene Anenih, was said to have confessed his company carried out the alleged manipulation of AP shares on instructions from certain principals within the Dangote Group.
Upon subsequent investigations, officials of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) suspended Nova Finance and Securities Limited from all capital market activities for breaching the rules of the Exchange in relation to the shares of AP. The Nigerian Stock Exchange further said Nova had failed to act with utmost regard to market integrity and the ethics of the stockbroking profession. It said its investigations and findings revealed Nova's dealings in that regard breached Articles 103 and 107 of the SEC's rules and regulations. These preclude the Exchange's Dealing Members from creating a false market on a specific security in order to effect a change in its price.
But, should we really believe Dangote or those acting on his behalf allegedly spent so much money to manipulate shares in Otedola's flagship company and dilute its value as a payback for Otedola's bid to become a sugar and cement baron overnight? One doesn't think so. The answer, to put it simply, lies in an expensive---and extensive--- bout of ego-tripping engendered by access to the giddy world of Forbes.
Think about it: if stock valuations of public companies figure so much in estimating an individual's net worth for the purpose of appearing on the Forbes' List, what better way to adversely affect that person's continued presence on the list than to manipulate the stock prices of the companies in which the (upstart) billionaire has an interest? This is probably the first time that stock manipulation and other forms of malfeances on a stock exchange will be driven not by greed and an insatiable quest for material wealth but by ego and self-aggrandizement, coupled with the need to clip someone else's "wings".
Another Nigerian first!
But this bout in ego-tripping comes at a very steep price. For Dangote, it is those shareholders of his publicly-held companies who will see the values of their shares plummet if the NSE and other authorities come up with further sanctions in response to the misguided onslaught allegedly launched against AP on the floor of the stock exchange. In more well-ordered climes, even the mere exposure of the manipulation allegedly orchestrated by Dangote would cause the shares of companies in the group to plummet, since sanctions against such acts usually run in the millions (or billions).
Even more, this strange fight between two rather mis-matched billionaires throw up certain issues regarding shareholders' rights. One is specifically referring to the ability of shareholders in publicly-quoted companies to file shareholder derivative lawsuits under the relevant securities laws, to target mismanagement by those in control of their company.
An obvious target in that regard will be owner-billionaires inclined to sacrifice the value of their companies' publicly-quoted shares in a fight over another person's net worth or appearance on the Forbes' billionaires list. When such a misguided fight ultimately and surely proves costly, either through litigation brought against the initiator-company by its adversary or sanctions imposed by authorities, then the shareholders should be empowered to recover against the "gladiator-owner or director" on behalf of the company, by pleading a breach of the duty of care.
Such a duty would also run to the owner/director of the company which stock was so allegedly targeted, in this case, Otedola's AP. That is, it is not just enough for him to enter into a truce with Dangote; he must also ensure, if he has not already initiated moves to do so, that whatever settlement is arrived at between him and his erstwhile friend leads to the recovery of the value in shares lost to the alleged manipulation, and restitution for his shareholders. Failure to do this justifiably leaves Otedola open to charges of breaching the duty of care owed his shareholders, who can then seek redress by filing a derivative lawsuit on behalf of the publicly-held company.
Beyond the potential reliefs to be obtained from courts, however, one feels strongly inclined to caution Nigerians who are on the Forbes list or eyeing same (or scheming to keep others off it) to check their egos when such come in conflict with the interests of shareholders in their publicly-quoted companies. Afterall, shareholders essentially "loaned" them the money raised from the capital market.
Granted that these massive capital market funds have swelled some of our billionaires' coffers well enough for them to be considered worthy of mention in the prestigious Forbes List. But didn't one of these home-grown billionaires say sometime ago that you're not really a billionaire if you owe equally massive amounts of money to someone else?
Like shareholders…
ok conclusion if Otedola lost half a billion how do you think he would get it back,1.Increase the price of Diesel etc and other products he controls.2.The NSE if and when they pay him will have to get that money from somewhere .3.If you bought shares in AP lets just also assume you have lost big time .4.If you own any Dangote Stock Please shine your eyes . The grass effect is the worst thing that can happen in this period of economic uncertaintys.Culled and Recut from nigeria World .comments are required . Thanks
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NEWCASTLE United’s Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, says Inter Milan would be a good move for his compatriot, John Obi Mikel.Inter boss, Jose Mourinho, is chasing the Chelsea midfielder and Obafemi said: “I speak often with Mikel and he recently asked me how to live in Italy.
“Mourinho has launched him into the great football at Chelsea and the Portuguese coach likes him.
“If one day he went there, he would be happy to play for Inter; the Nerazzurri club makes you feel like a special player.”
Meanwhile, Obafemi has also joined the chorus of Magpies players singing the praises of Alan Shearer.
Shearer took over at St James’ Park at the beginning of April on a short-term deal in a bid to keep the club up in the top flight and the Nigerian believes his arrival has boosted the players’ morale.
“Alan Shearer has come to try to help the team and I think he did right because a lot of managers wouldn’t have,” he told nufcTV.
“You know, he had the guts to come and he’s a legend of Newcastle United.”
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The people of Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been fleeing from the area following the killing of two naval ratings and the abduction of four others by militants.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the people were relocatingfrom Nembe due to fears about retaliatory attacks by soldiers deployed by the Military Joint Taskforce (JTF) in the Niger Delta to the area to fish out those behind the act.A military source told NAN that militants often used the Nembe creeks as a launch pad for their attacks.The source said that the authorities had commenced the deployment of troops to the Nembe creeks to apprehend the three suspected militant leaders responsible for the killing and abduction.However, the JTFís Spokesman, Col. Rabe Abubakar, advised law-abiding citizens not be afraid because of the development, saying that the soldiers were only deployed to the area to maintain law and order.Abubakar on Monday confirmed that there were two attacks at Tebidaba flow station, belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), and at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) facility in the Nembe creeks.He, however, said that the attacks were allegedly carried out by three militants, Ogunbus, Kitikata in Bayelsa and Fara Dagogo in Rivers.
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KADUNA- The abductors of Mrs Julie Ann Mulligan, a Canadian, have asked for N20 million ransom for her release, the police command in Kaduna has said.Mulligan, a Rotarian was on Thursday night abducted by unknown gunmen in Narayi Quarters, Kaduna.The incident took place shortly after she left the Tafawa Balewa Guest Inn where she attended a Rotary Club meeting with four of her colleagues.The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Tambari Mohammed who addressed a news conference in Kaduna on Monday confirmed that the abductors asked for the money to free her.Mohammed said the police traced the kidnappers through the mobile phone number of the complainant, Mr. Moses Kadeer, a Rotarian, who hosted Mulligan.He said the victim in company of Kadeer were on their way to her host’s house at No. 29 Unity Link Road, Narayi high cost quarters when the abductors in a Toyota Corolla car blocked their car at gunpoint and took her away.He said while Kadeer was helping the command with relevant information, the police were making all efforts to trace the location and track down the abductors.Mohammed, however, blamed the club for not informing the security agents of their meeting and the arrival of the Canadians in the state.When contacted, the Kaduna President of the Club, Mrs. Lami Abdullahi, said the club’s national headquarter did not authorise her to speak on the incident.Report say that Mulligan, 45, came to Kaduna with four Canadian Rotarians on Exchange Programme under the auspices of the Rotary Club International.The team had gone to Kano and Katsina states before coming to Kaduna on April 15, from where they were expected to proceed to JosBy CLIFFORD AGBAJOR
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BENIN CITY ––In a renewed effort to check the recent spate of kidnappings in Edo State, Police in Benin City have apprehended six suspected kidnappers.Among the six suspects, are two persons believed to be the brains behind last month’s abduction and gruesome murder of a famous Benin – based transporter, Deacon Godwin Ajere, Managing Director (MD) of “ God is Good Motors”, Benin City.The six suspected kidnappers, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER authoritatively gathered, were nabbed at various locations in the city, including Uwelu Motor Spare Parts Market following intelligence reports received by security operatives of the State Police Command Headquarters, Benin City.One of the suspected killers of Deacon Godwin Ajere, MD, “God is Good Motors”, now in police net, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER investigation revealed, is his close family member who on his arrest had with him the hand-set of the victim.Though the suspects are yet to be paraded before newsmen, some of the victim’s relatives and clan’s-men who thronged the State Police Headquarters yesterday morning,possibly to see the faces of the suspected killers told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that one of their own was among those arrested.Two of the men who claimed to have left their village in the Eastern part of Nigeria because of the development, however, disclosed that the arrest had made the deceased’s family to postpone indefinitely the burial ceremony earlier scheduled to begin tomorrow.While confirming the successful arrest of the six suspected kidnappers, the Command spokesman, ASP Peter Ogboi stated that the police in the state would not allow hoodlums to wreak the economy of Edo State, maintaining that the implication of kidnapping on a state’s economy could best be imagined in the face of the current global meltdown.He however assured investors and every law-abiding resident of adequate police protection, just as he sued for a collaboration in the renewed and re-strategised onslaught on criminals.Benin City has recently be on siege of kidnappers with over 10 victims, including a seven-year-old child and two women reported in the last few months.It will be recalled that the late Deacon Godwin Ajere was reportedly abducted in front of his church on Sunday, March 15, 2009 by some gunmen and two days later his corpse was found in a town near Benin City.Apparently worried by the increasing spate of kidnapping in the state, the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole last month reportedly pledged the sum of N1 million reward for any person who provided useful information that could lead to arrest of kidnappers.Also, a middle-aged woman slumped and died soon after she alighted from a commercial motorcycle that brought her from unknown destination to Ring Road, yesterday morning.The sad incident which attracted large crowd of sympathisers at the front of Urhokpota Hall where her corpse was lying, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered, occurred about 7:30 a.m. yesterday.Though no one knows what transpired between her and the commercial motorcyclist, eye witness disclosed that the victim had successfully paid the commercial motorcyclist before she slumped and died.Hours after the incident, men of the Oba Market Police Division arrived the scene and took the corpse in their patrol van marked NPF 3392 to a mortuary.The victim’s relatives who were at the scene however declined comment.By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
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A survey online claim that men are bigger liars than women and that the most common lies by men include:Nothing’s wrong, I am fine.Nice to see you.I don’t have cash on me.I’ll give you a call.I am on my way.No your bum doesn’t look too fat in that.I think this are the most common lies by white, but that naija people will include others such as husband claiming I am in a meeting or have work in the office, this line is not clear when we don’t want to take call, and I am in the go slow as an excuse for missing appointment for Lagos people…..Which other lie is very common? TELL ME ABOUT WOMEN
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We used to have 3, later it became 4, increased by 300% to 12, and people still wanted more. It became 19, later 21, we increased it to 30 and its now 36 but the agitation for more states never ends.People are asking for such states as Katagun, Apa, Shira, Adada, Equity, Orlu, Aba, Ogoni, Ugwuka, Tiga, Gari,Savannah, Njaba Remo-Jebu, Anioma, Obigbo, Ibadan Kaduna south and even Oduduwa and Equity.Let me use three of the names, Equity, Gari and Apa to explain my view, to have ‘Equity’ (just imagine a state with a name like that) my father's house must be given a state of its own, and you know its all about ‘Gari’ we are all fighting about what we are going to eat. Finally most of the agitators are just ‘Apa’, wasters who just want to waste the country’s scarce resources to pay more public office holders than to develop the country.Create more states so I can get my own share of the national cake.
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Posted by 9jabook.com on April 23, 2009 at 10:57pm
Otedola Shun Reps, seeks N117 billion damages
African Petroleum (AP) Plc's President, Chief Femi Otedola has petitioned the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), seeking a mouth-gaping N117.18 billion; being losses incurred as a result of the share manipulation scam involving AP shares, which he blames on his erstwhile friend, but now bitter enemy, billionaire business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. The SEC has not commented on the damages and Dangote has denied any involvement in the scam. It is all but certain that the matter appears heading for the courts.
But last Thursday, Otedola, in yet another dramatic twist in the festering business tussle, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja, accusing Dangote; President of Dangote Group of Companies, and the Managing Director of Nova Finance and Securities Ltd, Mr. Eugene Anenih, of orchestrating the AP share price scam that made 160,000 AP shareholders to suffer over N240 billion loss between August 2008 and March 2009.
Specifically, Otedola accuses Dangote of conniving with Nova Finance; the stock broking firm handling Dangote's investment portfolio in the stock market to run down the share price of AP which dropped from a year high N293.98 per share to N48.91 per share as at March 2009. Nova, which perpetrated the scam crossed AP shares 30 times in eight weeks, allegedly using Dangote's mandate, and making the price to lose value by five per cent daily.
For several hours Tuesday, April 21, 2009, Dangote was guest at the EFCC where he was grilled at the Operations Department by a team led by the anti-graft agency’s Director of Operations Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin. An EFCC source told 9jabook.com that Dangote was asked to review and respond to some of the issues raised in Otedola’s petition. Although no details of his discussion filtered to the public, an EFCC source said Dangote, gave useful information to the EFCC regarding his involvement or otherwise in the matter. "In four hours, he had written his statement and our investigators had started interrogating him on grey areas and his relationship with Nova Finance Securities,” the source said, adding: "We also asked questions on his background, past investments, and his relationship with the AP." He was "released on administrative bail on self recognition but may be invited again as the EFCC investigation into the matter is continuing".
learnt that last week Otedola also appeared before the EFCC to shed more light on the petition, and according to him, “take the matter a step further.” A source quoted Otedola as telling EFCC Chairperson, Mrs. Farida Waziri, that “as a matter of urgent importance,” Dangote, who doubles as Vice-President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), must not be allowed to go scot-free for his alleged role in the manipulative and deceptive plot to run down the price of AP shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. (NSE)
Otedola’s petition to the EFCC came after Dangote, Nigeria's richest man according to Forbes magazine, was exonerated by both the NSE and the SEC. The NSE had earlier sanctioned Nova when the saga came to the open, through media advertorials placed by AP over the share crossing scam, perpetrated by Nova, allegedly through the mandate of Dangote. Apparently not satisfied, Otedola petitioned the SEC, seeking general damages to the tune of N117.18 billion. The SEC, after investigation suspended Nova and Anenih from all capital market activities for one year for employing "manipulative and deceptive devices and contrivances in its transactions on AP Plc shares."
Besides, Nova and Anenih were jointly and severally fined N190,000, - N5,000 per day for 38 days, for violating rule 177 and the code of conduct for market operators. Anenih was also banned from being employed in any arm of the securities industry for five years and referred to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
However, the SEC absolved Dangote of blame, saying there was no evidence to show that he instructed Nova Finance and Securities Limited and its Managing Director, Mr. Eugene Anenih, to carry out illegal transactions on AP shares on his behalf. Apparently miffed by the clean bill handed Dangote by the SEC, Otedola reported the matter to the EFCC. Among other things, Otedola rejected as fallacious, the claim by Dangote that he was not privy to the share-crossing saga, as Nova could not otherwise have had any primary motive for the action.
Otedola also averred that with the trade alert mechanism in the stock market, it stretches credulity for Dangote to feign ignorance of the deals being reflected in his account, more so as he is vice president of NSE. Besides, Otedola wants the EFCC to peruse earlier written mandates of Dangote to Nova, to establish relationship between them and those suspected to have been given without written authorization. Otedola also would want the EFCC to examine what mitigating factors might have caused Anenih to recant his earlier confession that he was mandated by Dangote to cross the AP shares.
The shares scam had pitted Otedola against Dangote, with the former accusing the sugar cum cement merchant of colluding with Nova to perpetrate the fraud. The scam has cost Otedola an estimated $700 million. Otedola; hitherto Nigeria's only other billionaire in the Forbes list, has seen his net worth dropped from $1.2 billion to $500m. Aliko Dangote is now the only Nigerian in this prestigious billionaires club. Otedola has vowed to exact his pound of flesh and whether or not he will succeed in getting the damages from the SEC remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: these latest developments might just be another chapter of this unfolding saga. Just before press time, feelers emerged that Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Musa Al-Faki, is to proceed on an accumulated leave prior to his retirement. Though AL-Faki `s tenure expires in October, 9jabook.com learnt that the embattled D-G, whose leave takes effect mid May would use the leave as an exit strategy out of Security and Exchange Commission . In a related development, The House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market threatened to arrest business mogul and Chairman of African Petroleum, Mr. Femi Otedola over his failure to honour the committee’s invitation
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'A day at Uniport': Ugochukwu missed the point (1)By Williams Wodi wodikaz @yahoo.comI want to, first of all, express immense gratitude to you for judging me a fitting subject for your column, Scruples, published in the Daily Independent edition of April 1, 2009. Being an All Fools Day, I initially came away with the idea that your fine article was a bad-tempered joke in the spirit of the day. At least, that was how I took it until it dawned on me that you meant real business indeed.Let me notify you that I am extremely circumspect about rejoinders as a means of seeking redress in the popular press. I am very hesitant to trade, either on retail or wholesale basis, in rejoinders as choice commodity because their second rate value in stating the other side of the story has never impressed me.After reading through your column, however, I thought I owed you an undiluted apology and yes, some explanations too. Let me confirm to your numerous readers that you did indeed edit the defunct UNIPORT MIRROR; this is contrary to my suggestion that you did not edit that once famous student newspaper in the University of Port Harcourt. After the event in which this unnecessary dust was raised, and before you rightly complained rather loudly and aggressively in your column, I had cross-checked your claim and found it to be 100 per cent accurate. On that score, you deserve an unreserved public apology for my post-haste conclusion that obviously turned the fact on its head. Again, I apologize to you for the faux pas, my brother.Even with that done, the question must be asked: how did I get it all wrong to the extent of antagonizing you to draw your sword against me? I shall not trace the history of the Mirror newspaper which you did admirably well in your column. Let me inform your readers that even before I took over editorship of the paper in 1987 (my final year), the Mirror had unfortunately come under grave financial pressure as a result of dwindling financial allocations from the Student Affairs Department that funded and supervised it.In the 1987 edition, I had contracted an artist who sketched a cartoon that reflected the anticipated demise of the paper on account of poor funding. I was extremely worried at the time of being referred to as the last editor of Mirror newspaper. When I enrolled to pursue a graduate programme in 1990, the first thing I did was to ascertain the fate of my beloved Mirror newspaper that brought me so much visibility as an undergraduate. It became clear to me then that the reduction of critically needed statutory allocations from the Federal Government had inevitably moderated the interest of the University authorities in Mirror newspaper and such other "sundry" expenditures. There was little else that I could have done under the circumstance, believe me, Sir.Again, when I was engaged as a staff of the University in 1997, I quickly cast about for ways to resurrect the doomed paper. A group of students, who clearly exhibited creative instinct and visible enthusiasm, offered to spear-head the resurrection of the paper. Having identified me as a former editor, the new "editorial board" saw me as a rallying point. We held several meetings in my office, but unfortunately, the most enthusiastic amongst them subsequently graduated and abandoned the project to their apparently less- committed colleagues. Funding, of course, remained a problem that had no immediate remedy. The Student Affairs Department had totally lost interest in funding the title, complaining of poor allocation from the University.I have gone to this length to try to convince you that I had absolutely no hand in the demise of Mirror newspaper as you appeared to insinuate when you wrote "... as a former Editor of Mirror, he (meaning me) could not have afforded to be indifferent, but should have risen to put in a word for the newspaper..." At no point was UNIPORT NEWS which I currently edit conceived to kill the Mirror that was no longer in existence as at the time I joined the services of the University.Having not remembered meeting you before our latest ugly encounter, it probably was out of place for you to claim that my comment after you spoke at INC Aniebo's 70th birthday, was "a deliberate mischief" to slight your person, or "a carefully executed drama by a fawning courtier". Knowing Aniebo as a serious-minded, disciplined and taciturn personality, the organizers rightly excluded comedians from the event. It would have been foolhardy of me to assume the role of a "fawning courtier" at the solemn event as you observed. Dr Dipo Fashina's commendable portrait of the inscrutable novelist, in my view, reflected the solemnity of the occasion. It was simply my unnecessary comment that made you "sick" and I am relieved you didn't need a doctor. I totally agree with you that being the last editor of a defunct student publication is inconsequential to you as an established writer with wider readership; and you may graciously concede the same to me too!I was probably a marked man the day I foolishly gave you a copy of UNIPORT News, rather than your beloved Mirror during that visit to my office. On that occasion, you left my office "thoroughly disgusted". Translation: your contempt for me did not just start with my unfortunate query of your unquestionable editorship of Mirror. It is then questionable that "somebody" sitting by you at the event told you "who the fellow was". This fellow was already slated for the cleaners long before Aniebo's event. It is safe to assume that since you already had a pre-determined mindset about me, I quite inadvertently placed my neck on the chopping block to your delight. And you carved me up like a carcass fit for the hounds (excuse me Shakespeare). I still believe that you probably over-advertised your grievance- part of which was undoubtedly genuine.
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Hardly would the story of comedy in Nigerian Television be told without recalling his comic name. Chika Okpala who went by the stage name Chief Zebrudaya, played a prominent role in the popular sitcom comedy New Masquerade a T.V. Series that kept households glued to their television sets in late 1980's. Even after the series, he remains a brand in the nation's entertainment industry. In this interview with REPORTER, Ifeoma Meze in his Enugu residence, Okpala talks about his life as a comedian and why he is hardly seen in nollywood movies, among other issues. Excerpts:Who really is Zebrudaya?
My name is Chief Chika Okpala otherwise known as Chief Zebrudaya Okorigwe Nwogbo alias 4:30, Chief His Royal Palm Wine Powerless, M.O.N without E.Y. because when I was given the title of M.O.N, I did not see the E.Y. attached to it. I was given an ordinary title with no money attached.
How has life been so far after the Sitcom comedy The Masquerade?
Life has not been smooth in terms of drama. I have tried my hands in so many other productions but they don't seem to catch the same flavour and attention as Masquerade, may be because of language or style. I cannot really say where the problem is from because I use good actors for the show and still it does not really go like Masquerade. I think they prefer masquerade to me in other Television shows.
Is that why we have not been seeing you in other Nollywood movies?
Not exactly for that reason, we started Nollywood. We initiated what today is shaped to be Nollywood. What we had in mind was to boost the image of Nigeria, boost the image of the black man especially the Igbo man mannerisms and ways of life. That was what we had in mind by putting up Masquerade. Masquerade is a kind of comic relief that x-rayed the public and character of people in their different performances. The comedy brought them out for people to see the foolishness in man. So it became interesting. This was done in 1970 and it became increasingly interesting when it had a video and was shown on TV in 1974 in Enugu when Enugu State TV (then Anambra State) was reactivated. We lifted it up to television and it caught fire. Everybody wanted it. Formerly, it was an imagination when it was a radio programme. It was an imagination of who could this man be? How would he look? How can we meet in real life? With that we were on for over two decades on TV, performing every week, writing scripts every week, which was no joke at all. Even after that, which was beyond the two decades, we were still on sparingly because sometimes we were sponsored and some of the time, we did not have sponsors.
So we initiated what is today known as Nollywood. It is reshaped to Nollywood because now they shoot entirely on locations while the Masquerade shot in the studio but they are all entertainment. The message seems to sink down to our people not minding where you shot the movie or drama. When they started Nollywood, they started deviating, they started moving into a no go area, the areas of cultism, juju and all other negative things. We called them and said no, that this was not what we had in mind, that what we wanted was entertainment for our people. There is no entertainment in juju neither is there entertainment in murder cases. It is all full of tragedy. There is a difference between comedy and tragedy and we were for comedy. They took the line of tragedy most of the times, going to sacrifice somebody in an evil altar to make money which is not a success story. This is why I criticised it and because I do not like it, I cannot be part of what I am criticising. That is why I made it known and stayed away from it. But eventually, they started coming back to realise that what we were saying was true. Most of the stories they tell in the movies were branding us poorly and painting us black. All those juju and ritual acting did not appeal to my conscience and that is why I did not feature in them. But now they have started coming back into what I call real entertainment. That was when comedy started coming up; stand up comedy started to join in. They tell good stories in a way that no matter how bad the story is, it will make you laugh and not to make you weep.
That is the sort of entertainment that I was looking for because I know that in every part of Nigeria, there is a sort of entertainment and there are people who generate entertainment. For instance where there is a wedding ceremony, there is always someone that is looked up to as an entertainer. It is only lately that I have taken part in some comedy shows and some movies. But I read the scripts carefully to make sure I was not going into what I was against. Most of the movies I featured in were very recent and are not yet out. I saw some light in them and they were very inspiring and that was why I decided to give it a try.
What is your view on the level entertainment has gotten to in Nigeria?
It is improving tremendously. Nigeria is beginning to realise that with entertainment they could push education. So most of our entertainment now embodies education. We call it entertainment education programmes. Here you find out that entertainment becomes instructive like we used to have in those days. When instructions are interwoven into entertainment, into comedy or even music, people learn more from it. To me most of the shows I have participated in are worthwhile.
What are the challenges that you have been facing so far, how easy has it been?
The challenges are that we do not have sponsors. Nigeria has not come to a stage where they know that there is division of labour. There are people whose work is to write scripts, there are people whose work is to produce the scripts then the people that their job is to act the script. To crown it all, you have sponsor and executive producer. The sponsor says where he or she wants to put his money not necessarily looking at how much he is going to get back but having the audience at heart and looking at script that can move Nigeria forward or a script that can help education system. Once it is a good show, it must pay back. I am currently working on a re-branding Nigeria programme with Coal City FM. The manager called me to say that people would like to hear the Zebrudaya language and hear my own views about the re-branding of Nigeria.
It has not been easy to find out a sponsor who can come back and say 'I want this' or 'give us this' and this makes us continue beating around the bush. You write on a topic and you don't know if any sponsor will come to buy the idea or concept. There are so many scripts on my desk right now waiting for whom to say 'put this forward;' that is to sponsor the script into production. I, on my own, cannot sponsor every script because it takes a lot of money and I don't have all the money in the world to do that. It is my business to think out and it is not my business to put the money down.
So that is how tough it has been for us especially for people like us in the movie industry.
Do you think government has a stake in this?
Yes, the part they have to play is, first of all, to make a good market for us. That is to give us an enabling environment. Enabling environment in the sense that we have good market each time we come out so that even if we do not have money or sponsor, if we go and borrow money from the bank and make the movies, whatever we sellout of it will be what we have produced. Not when someone gets a copy of my show, he goes and duplicates it and sells it even abroad and starts driving big cars and building houses from someone else's sweat and the person will come back to me to say "have you any other show to produce, in fact that other one paid me well oh!" While you that did the job have nothing to show for it. If government can support the Nigerian Film and Movie Censors' Board fully and they are able to put things in order, then those of us in this private sector can survive. Government secretariat and ministries are over saturated with workers and this is why there is retrenchment and so many more workers are qualifying everyday in millions. They have to do something to eat and survive, trying something privately. They borrow money from bank to sponsor their business and when someone else undercuts them and they cannot pay back to the bank, bank refuses to give out money to such people, resulting to increase in crime.
So the government should ensure that those of us who are in the private sector are protected. They should sponsor shows from different parts of the country so that we can blend and also package them for international market. There are people for our kind of movie outside Nigeria.
How good has your comedy life been?
It has been wonderful. We thank God. My comedy life has taken me to places outside Nigeria. It has taken me around Africa, like Liberia, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and even U.S.A. I doubt if a good number of Nigerians know me by my real name because Zebrudaya has taken over my God-given name, but it is all-good. It is what happens when you deliver a good job as supposed to be.
What part of the country are you from?
I'm from Anambara State, Nnobi in Idemmili South, to be precise.
Is the character Zebrudaya still in you?
It is for other people to identify. I don't know if it is in me or not.
Is any of your children taking the line of entertainment?
No, unfortunately. I have two children, a boy and a girl. None of them is toeing my path. They are all in Sciences, none in Art.
Is the comedy part of you something you read in school or a talent?
I had finished acting Zebrudaya before I went to school. So it is a talent. I had almost given up my acting before I went to university and came out with a Master's degree in Mass Communication in Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). I felt I was communicating with people with the right language that they understood and so I said, why don't I go ahead and communicate more.
Are you still in contact with your colleagues at The New Masquerade?
Yes, we were supposed to perform last Easter but it was postponed. We all will be performing at Markudi with exemption of Clarus (Davis Offor), because he does not want to take part because of his sight and Jegede (Claude Eke), now late. We will have to find replacement for their roles.
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Lanre Adewole, Abuja
Wednesday, April 23, 2009
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested billionaire-businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his alleged involvement in the African Petroleum (AP) shares trading scandal.
A source in the commission confirmed that he was quizzed in Abuja by the operatives of the anti-graft agency.
AP Chairman, Femi Otedola, and the company’s shareholders had reportedly petitioned the commission over the alleged indictment of Dangote over the shares scandal, which had seen the Securities and Exchange Commission sanctioning Nova Securities, owned by a son of Chief Tony Anenih, former chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nova Securities and Dangote’s company had been reportedly involved in the alleged illegal sale of AP shares causing a free fall in the stock’s value. Otedola who is ranked behind Dangote as the second richest in Nigeria had accused his erstwhile friend of plots to ruin his business empire, an allegation which had been denied by Dangote’s camp.
Dangote is the vice-chairman of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and had been reportedly planning to succeed the incumbent chairman, Mr. Obadele Otudeko.
Another source, however, said that Dangote surrendered himself to the commission in Abuja, following a summons sent to him by the commission over the alleged scam.
Another source, however, said that Dangote surrendered himself to the commission in Abuja, following a summons sent to him by the commission over the alleged scam.
As of press time, he was said to still be undergoing interrogation. However, there were indications that he was released on administrative bail last night.
Meanwhile, the trial of the chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) chairman, Dr. Ransome Owan, and six other commissioners of the agency will commence before Justice Salisu Garba of the Abuja High Court today.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that a 121-count charge had been slammed on the accused over an alleged N1.5 billion scam. The accused were re-arrested by the commission yesterday preparatory to their arraignment today.
The affected commissioners are Alimi Abdulrazaq, the commissioner in charge of Legal Licensing and Enforcement; Mallam Abdulrahman Ado, Commissioner, Market Competition and Rates; M.B.G. Bunu, Commissioner, Finance and Management Services; Grace Eyoma, Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs.
Others are: O.C. Iloeje, Commissioner, Research and Development and Abimbola Odubiyi, Commissioner, Engineering Standard and Safety. A source said that the commission, in an attempt to avoid returning unspent fund to the treasury, bought 54 vehicles valued at N350 million between December 22 and 29, 2008 without due authorisation.
The commission was also alleged to have moved N500 million to a mortgage finance bank, also without authorisation. The money was meant for staff housing financing since April 2008.
The commission, which was funded 100 per cent by the government, collects from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) N70 million every month, amounting to N840 million for last year, which allegedly could not be accounted for.
Its budget for 2008 was N2 billion, but “as a matter of fact, government gave it N5 billion” for that fiscal year, the source revealed. The commission also allegedly awarded contracts to companies that were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
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Brand names are the first step to building a presence online. This is what new marketers need to focus on first. Pushing products and programs from the beginning is a critical mistake that many people seem to make. You want to build up some credibility first. Try not to come off as an opportunity pusher. This is someone who joins a program selling product after product claiming that it is the next big thing. You're campaigning a companies qualities, not your own.Here is a real world example. Take any pro athlete or movie star that we see on TV, they are pushing everything from cell phones to underwear. People are swarming to the stores and buying these things just because their favorite player or fan has a pair or uses the product. They do this not because those golf balls are the best, or those are the most comfortable boxers. They swarm to the stores and get those items because they admire and have a feeling a trust when it comes to their favorite actor or athlete. Those actors and ball players have built strong brands. There names alone hold strength and value. You have the same ability to do so. If you brand yourself first and develop a feeling of trust and provide value, you can get out here and sell anything. Look for a targeted area you want to focus on. It is much easier to appeal and attract people with things that you already have knowledge of and are interested in. Your goal is to gain trust and let people know that you only supply things that are of value.Get yourself together first. Build up your brand name and then start to introduce products later. When you have established your brand, people will buy the things that you believe are worth their time and money. You do not want to take them to places you have never been. Provide them with products or opportunities that are good and you would actually use. It can be computer supplies, maybe its studio equipment. Whatever the targeted market is, become an expert in it. Take the role of authority and provide them with the right products.This Article Was Brought to You Courtesy by Nuke Energy DrinkFor more information Visit: www.bidbranding.com
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It's a pirate's life for me'
Somali pirates pictured on 5 November 2005
A 25-year-old Somali pirate has told the BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan by telephone from the notorious den of Harardhere in central Somalia why he became a sea bandit. Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says he and his big-spending accomplices are seen by many as heroes.
I used to be a fisherman with a poor family that depended only on fishing.
The first day joining the pirates came into my mind was in 2006.
A group of our villagers, mainly fishermen I knew, were arming themselves.
One of them told me that they wanted to hijack ships, which he said were looting our sea resources.
'National service'
He told me it was a national service with a lot of money in the end. Then I took my gun and joined them.
Now I have two lorries, a luxury car and have started my own business in town
Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi
Somali piracy: Global overview
Years ago we used to fish a lot, enough for us to eat and sell in the markets.
Then illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes by foreign fishing vessels affected our livelihood, depleting the fish stocks.
I had no other choice but to join my colleagues.
The first hijack I attended was in February 2007 when we seized a World Food Programme-chartered ship with 12 crew.
I think it had the name of MV Rozen and we released it after two months, with a ransom.
One last job
I am not going to tell you how much it was, or three other hijackings I have been involved in since.
A Somali pirate on board a French yacht on 10 April 2009
Pirates have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks
My ambition is to get a lot of money so that I can lead a better life.
Now I have two lorries, a luxury car and have started my own business in my town.
I only want one more chance in piracy to increase my cash assets, then I will get married and give up.
Piracy is not just easy money - it has many risks and difficulties.
Sometimes you spend months in the sea to hunt a ship and miss.
Sometimes when we are going to hijack a ship we face rough winds, and some of us get sick and some die.
Sometimes you fail in capturing and sometimes you come under threat by foreign navies, but all we do is venture.
Heroes
Let me give you a good example.
Thousands of young desperate Somali [migrants] continue to risk their lives in the sea in search of a better life abroad.
Patrol boat checks out fishing vessel off Somalia
Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says foreign navies will not stop piracy
So it is no surprise to see us in the same water, pirating in search of money - there is no difference.
We have local support; most of the people here depend on pirates directly or indirectly.
Because if there is a lot of money in the town they can get some through friendship, relatives or business.
Also our work is seen by many in the coastal villages as legal and we are viewed as heroes.
The only way the piracy can stop is if [Somalia] gets an effective government that can defend our fish.
And then we will disarm, give our boats to that government and will be ready to work.
Foreign navies can do nothing to stop piracy.
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It melts my heart seeing people working 2 to 3 jobs just to provide for their family. Something wrong with the picture if we are working 8-14 hours a day to provide for our family. While at the same time home based business owners only work about 5 to 15 minutes a day to provide for their family.Who is losing out, we the employed or the business owners. We are working so many hours just to pay the bills while the business owners are working so little hours just to play with their kids. Which one sounds better to you? Apparently the business owners understand the power of leverage. If I paid you $1000 for every 1000 trash cans you moved back into peoples yard what would you do? I would pay 10 people $50 for every 100 trash cans they move while I went home and went to sleep with $500 dollars in my pocket. This is the power of leveraging time and money. It would take you all day to try to move 1000 trash cans by yourself but this is what we do every day on our JOB, just over broke.J Paul Getty stated I would rather have 1 percent coming out of the efforts of 99 people than have 100 percent of the effort coming out of myself. This is why a home business will make you rich and give your time freedom back. How much is your time worth to you? Think about this if you make $15 an hour, then an hour of your time is worth 15 dollars. Well if you make a million dollars in a year then your time is worth about $1380 an hour. What does this mean some of us cant even afford to spend one hour with a millionaire.Now adays it is easier and easier to become wealthy. You don't even need allot lots of money to get started. Some people are so afraid of taking risk they will not even try to get involved in a business. What is the risk if their is no risk. You have to start somewhere to get anywhere. Of course you will not get rich over night, but one day you will have about 5000 people in your downline then you will understand the power of leverage. How would it feel to be able to make enough money to say I quit to your boss one day.If you want to do something today to change tomorrow go to following links in the resources tab and get started. www.edmarker.com
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Posted by 9jabook.com on April 21, 2009 at 11:33am
He's a one-season wonder. He's too old for a big move now. He's too expensive. He's not what Arsenal need - another attacking midfielder.
Actually, he's the man who just scored four goals against Liverpool at Anfield. He's Andrey Arshavin.
They don't make good signings. Everyone they snap up is either too young, too old, or too injured. Arsenal can't leap forward again. They need to put their hands in their pockets. What's Wenger up to?
Well, it may be true that Arsenal have had their transfer market scrapes, but in Andrey Arshavin they have, in a sense, unearthed an absolute diamond.
In fact, unearthed is completely the wrong word, for this diamond was on a pedestal in St. Petersburg. Like a Romanov heirloom he was on display for all to see - but not to be touched.
That was until after his UEFA Cup and Euro 2008 campaigns which saw him not only alert Europe's top clubs to his expertise, but also awakened him more than ever to the prospect of the chance at trying his luck at a higher level than the Russian Premier League.
True, one can say that his attempts to secure a transfer undermined his boyhood club and at times were undignified. But from Arsenal's side of things, the Gunners plugged away quietly, without ostentation, until they got their man.
When they did, many of the same pundits who had spent 2008 praising Andrei were quick to cluck their tongues. After all, he was 27 by then, barely had any continental experience, and had been involved in transfer negotiations so Byzantine that he only just beat the extended deadline to head to English. He was a parvenu in every sense.
But in Arshavin's performance on Tuesday night at Anfield, we saw that class, in fact, is not the privelege only of the high-born. Arshavin is every inch a Premier League player - and a Premier League star, to boot.
Witness his showing against Liverpool. To be uncharitable, one would say: four shots, four goals, a fluke. Nonsense. Predatory instinct, and a classy finish, is exactly what you need when you come up against a European-place contender on their own patch. Arshavin had this in spades.
What's more, he also had speed to cope with what we are told is the fastest top-level league in the world. Even though he's been playing summer football for years, even though prior to joining Arsenal he was sitting in the stands, even though he's wrestled with injury, he unleashed pace that was, in the words of my colleague Greg Ptolomey, "terrifying".
In other words, Arshavin has proved beyond doubt that he is the genuine article, and Arsenal have a legitimate claim to having made the best signing of 2009 so far - and possibly of the year to come, too.
As for Arsenal, their softly-softly approach to the transfer market may not have been vindicated this season, but if they can make one other mid-to-high signing, perhaps in defence, it may well be next year. This is one fiscal decision the London club definitely got right. For the sake of their fans, and indeed Premier League viewers the world over, here's to many more.
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HP PAVILION DV5-1153ei NotebookIntel Core 2 Duo 2.0ghz Processor15.4 inch WXGA Screen250gb Hard Disk2gb RamDVD Double Layer WriterWifi - WirelessBluetoothHP WebCam 2.0 Mega Pixels6-Cell Lithium BatteryQuickPlayHP Mobile Remote Control5 in 1 Digital Media ReadernVidia GeForce 9600M GT with 512mb DDR2 Graphics Memory.Microsoft Windows Vista Home PremiumFull Entertainment Edition.Free Shipping within Lagos.Price: 122KHP 550INTEL CORE 2 DUO160GB HDD,1GB RAM,BLUETOOTH,DVDRW,WI-FI WIRELESS ETCPRICE: 90KNew HP 6735S Laptop; 1gb Ram, 160gb HDD, Bluetooth & WebCamAMD Processor1gb Ram160gb Hard Drive15.4 Inch WXGA Screen5 in 1 Memory Card Reader4 USB portsDVD WriterWifi - WirelessWebCamBluetooth 2.0Windows VistaBritish StandardPrice: 85KNew HP 6735S Laptop; 4gb Ram, 320gb HDD, Bluetooth & WebCamAMD turion Processor4gb Ram320gb Hard Drive15.4 Inch WXGA Screen5 in 1 Memory Card Reader4 USB portsDVD WriterWifi - WirelessWebCamBluetooth 2.0Windows Vista Home PremiumPrice: 120KHP PAVILION DV5-1133ei; 2gb, 160gb, WebCam, Bluetooth, & RemoteIntel Dual Core 2.0ghz Processor15.4 inch WXGA Screen160gb Hard Disk2gb RamDVD Double Layer WriterWifi - WirelessBluetoothHP WebCam 2.0 Mega Pixels6-Cell Lithium BatteryQuickPlayHP Mobile Remote Control5 in 1 Digital Media ReadernVidia GeForce 9600M GT with 512mb DDR2 Graphics Memory.Microsoft Windows Vista Home PremiumFull Entertainment Edition.British Standard.PRICE : 117KFree Shipping within Lagos.Call Now!07029363445 or 08098777059 or mail me on lejbalo@yahoo.com and to place your orderGreat discounts on bulk purchase
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Nigerian artists and entertainers are taking advantage of their fame and using it to make money outside the typical entertainment channels. Actresses like Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde have been the face of various products marketed and sold to Nigerians. And, considering the size of Nigeria's domestic market, there is still room for other entertainers to affiliate their brand and product with various businesses and corporate products. I even believe that one of my favorite rap songs, "Da Finest" by Knighthouse featuring Mo Chedda and others, could be easily manipulated to sell Blackberry phones and equipment to Nigerians and others on the continent (you will have to listen to the song to understand why).
THE 'KOKO' ENTREPRENEUR
REALITY TV SHOW: ‘Koko Mansion’ debuts June 1,2009 on the screen.
12 GIRLS
1 MANSION
1 WINNER
- The Prize -
• A Chris Aires Diamond ring,
• A brand new convertible car
• N5,000,000
• In addition, the winner will be D’Banj's Kokolette for one full year and will be his companion at all public events both within and outside Nigeria.
Despite the growing success enjoyed by Nigerian artists, it seems that no one has managed to create a brand as well as musician D'Banj. An engaging performer with the ability to entertain and sway everyone from young children to old women, D'Banj came onto the music scene and in no time his music was used for everything - even political campaigns. Calling himself the "Koko Master" and his many female fans "Kokolettes", D'Banj has managed to not just cement himself in the Nigerian entertainment industry but he has succeeded in cementing his brand in Nigerian culture. There are talks of him selling 'Koko Garri', 'Koko Water' and even 'Koko Mobile' to anyone that will buy it, and given his popularity, I daresay many will. It is clear that D'Banj doesn't just want to be a musician or producer, he wants to be an entrepreneur.
http://www.bloggersmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dbanj.jpg
D'Banj
And now, D'Banj will allegedly enter the foray of reality television. Reality television shows are very successful in Nigeria and shows like West African Idol, The Apprentice Nigeria, and Big Brother Africa have been a launching pad for many an individual. One reality contestant even went on to act in Nollywood films. But, D'banj's reality show will not focus on highlighting talented individuals. Well, actually it might focus on certain 'talents' because D'banj's upcoming reality show, The Koko Mansion, will have many women, living together to become his main kokolette, all be it for a short period of time. One can only imagine what talents will be displayed to win the ultimate prize. The show will apparently be based on VH1's Flavor of Love and if that show (all 3 seasons of it) is anything to go by, viewers and D'Banj himself must prepare themselves to expect the unexpected. At the end of the day, however, the Koko Master would have lined his pockets nicely with lots of Koko cash, and the show will be another experience used to further build and market his brand.
Nigeria's entertainment industry highlights how Nigerians can circumvent the failures of the government to create opportunities for themselves. Those who have managed to find success prove that despite the fact that the odds might be against them, enterprising individuals will always find a way to flourish. It will be interesting to watch as more Nigerian entertainers and even average Nigerians choose to brand themselves and market their brands to their personal advantage.These are definitely exciting, and interesting, times.
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The monarch will be spending the day privately at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Union flags will be flown above Government buildings until sunset in her honour, while the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will provide a 41-Gun Salute in central London using six 13 pounder First World War guns drawn by Irish draught horses.
The gun salute tribute takes place in Green Park this year because of refurbishments under way in the usual venue, Hyde Park.
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2.40am on April 21 1926 - the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York - at 17 Bruton Street, the Mayfair home of her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.
She is the great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, the last female sovereign.
The octogenarian Sovereign carried out 417 engagements in 2008.
Queen Elizabeth II, who is Head of State, the Armed Forces, the Commonwealth and the Church of England, has been married to Prince Philip for more than 61 years, has four children and is grandmother to eight grandchildren.
Her official birthday in June, is celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade.
The Duke reached his own milestone last week. He became the longest serving consort in British history, overtaking the record of 57 years and 70 days set by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.
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Anyone Can Become a Millionaire by Following a Few Simple StepsBecoming a millionaire isn’t all that difficult and there are countless ways to achieve that milestone. Some people do it through real estate, others start their own business, while some simply get lucky by winning the lottery or winning big on a game show. What is even more interesting is that you don’t have to be wealthy to begin with nor do you have to earn six figures to reach this goal.I know some people who earn well over $100,000 and all they have to show for it is a large mortgage payment and a fancy car that depreciates faster than a glass of milk left outside in the summer sun. Anyone can become a millionaire and there are five things you need to do to have the best shot of making that a reality.
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