tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51181383211582128102024-02-06T20:11:57.443-08:00welcome to charlie's blogWELCOME TO CHARLY'S BLOG****Sports, entertainment, world news, celebrity news and lots more...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-19659277490056377602013-05-05T05:18:00.001-07:002013-05-05T05:18:15.107-07:00Top 10 Richest Musicians In Africa 2013;P Square, 2 Face Idibia, D' banj and Banky W Top Wealthiest African Artiste List <br />
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<img alt="richest african artists 2013" class="alignnone" height="188" src="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558815_505393149525252_2036588248_n.jpg" title="richest african musicians 2013" width="320" /><br />
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Nigeria entertainers once more proved their worth trail blazers on the continent as answers Africa listed tuface, Banky w, D'banj and P square among Africa's top ten wealthiest artistes.<br />
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Banky W was listed number 9, Tuface Idibia on 7th position, D'banj came 3rd while P square were placed 2nd after senegalese singer Youssou N'dour, who topped the list.<br />
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Now talking about their earnings, Africa answers wrote that: P square makes more than $150,000 per show. Their squareville which is located at Ikeja is worth $3 million, and as part of their brand support, they also have a 3-year deal with Globacom:a Nigeria telecommunications company as brand ambassadors where they are paid a million dollars a year.<br />
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D'banj, they said, made $1 million dollars when he was paid by a TV station to star in his own reality show called the koko mansion. His Atalanta crib was estimated to worth $1.5 million and he reportedly charges on the up side of $10,000 per show.<br />
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Tuface, who just recently painted the city of Dubai red with his exquisite and exclusive wedding, reportedly has a vast investment in real estate across Nigeria, earns around $50k to $80k per show and owns a night club in Nigeria just to name a few.<br />
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For Banky W, Anawers Africa wrote:"His talent in music has made him one of the richest African musicians.He has been a brand ambassador for etisalat mobile in Nigeria is currentlyh the face for samsung mobile in west African nations.<br />
Out of his kind gesture, Banky W has atarted off mr capable foundation; an education charity organisation with the aim to aid in the education of children from poor families." <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-75938068303539016282013-04-20T02:34:00.003-07:002013-04-20T02:34:58.998-07:00Imo gov, Rochas Okorocha, escapes death in car crash<br />
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<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="Governor Rochas Okorocha" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="313" src="http://punch.iwayafricanigeri.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Governor-Rochas-Okorocha-360x313.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
Governor Rochas Okorocha<br /><small><em> | credits: </em></small></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was on Friday involved in a car crash on Orlu-Owerri Road in the state.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okorocha’s aide, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, told
Saturday PUNCH that the accident occurred when a Mercedes Benz 200 ran
into the governor’s convoy and had a collision with his own car.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okorocha was on an inspection tour of projects in Orlu area when the crash occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The accident led to a minor cut on the governor’s scalp,” Uzoukwa said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said Governor Okorocha’s head was bandaged, but noted that he was stable and strong.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okorocha said he would seek further medical attention due to the level of impact of the accident on him.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Although the accident left me with a
cut and some minor injuries, I am fine. I will, however, seek further
medical attention because of the degree of impact made by the crash,”
the governor was quoted as saying after the crash.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There was no information on the state of the governor’s driver and ADC or the occupants of the Benz car.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Imo State Commissioner of Police,
Mohammed Katsina, confirmed the accident, noting that the accident was a
“minor one” and that the governor was in a “stable condition.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he had dispatched a police
investigation team to ascertain the cause of the accident and would give
further information on the matter upon the conclusion of investigation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also speaking, the governor’s personal
physician, Dr. Sylvester Igwe, said Okorocha had a minor laceration of
his scalp and was very stable.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“What he needs now is further medical examination,” Igwe added.(culled from punch)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-20851401873559306982013-04-20T02:33:00.000-07:002013-04-20T02:33:05.743-07:00Producers dare not ask me for sex –Annie Macaulay-Idibia<div style="text-align: justify;">
Recently married Annie Macaulay Idibia says being music star, Tuface Idibia’s wife has been no challenge.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="194" data-width="259" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-Xp1f8JDQA6BPIJQG8aVL7B3IYFKrtV1CGVjunxQ6mjPjVony" style="height: 194px; width: 259px;" width="259" />Annie, who spoke with an online news
portal, Ibaka tv, on location of a movie, Girls in the mood, Annie
Macaulay Idibia, says if at all there is any challenge, it will be that
24-hours is no more enough for her to take care of her two babies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Beaming with smiles, she says,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It has been nice, everything I thought
and much more. There are no challenges; the only thing is shuffling my
work, my home and my kid. I have so much to attend to; I almost feel
like 24 hours is not enough. Now I have work, I have my daughter and I
have my husband -my two babies to take care of. I also have my own
personal runs. So, it is always very busy, my days are always extremely
busy.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Her husband, Tuface, actually sprung a
surprise on her on her birthday. He showed up with cake on location.
Obviously surprised by his visit, Annie describes her husband’s surprise
visit as cute.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She says, “I was supposed to film half
day but eventually filmed till pretty late, at about 9.30pm. I am sure
he got tired of waiting. I don’t know how he did it with the director
and he got the cake. I was just filming and he walked in and everybody
started singing ‘Happy birthday’. It was nice and I thought that was
cute. I was surprised that he came; I wasn’t expecting to see him.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the movie, she plays the character of
a girl named Tessy who is a drug addict. The producer of the movie,
Prince Iyke Olisa, says this about her character. “She was a drug addict
raped at the age of 13 by her uncle. The man denied and the wife sent
her out of the home. She was introduced, forced into a kind of odd life.
She started living wrong and ended up a drug addict and all manner of
things.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Tessy character however fascinates
Annie as she keeps saying how much she loves the character. According
to her, she has never played a role like that and the character is a
direct contrast to who she really is.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Annie says, “I play the character called
Tessy, I actually really love this character. It is something I have
not played before. She is a drug addict; she takes a lot of cocaine,
weed, cigarettes, drinks- she is just a very reckless girl. I think what
is fascinating about the character is that she is an addict. She is
always itchy and when she doesn’t have her fix, she needs to get some. I
love the character; it is different from anything that I have played.
There was a time she was in jail for about four days and she had had it
up to here, she was all itchy and saying she needs her fix. She is a
very reckless girl and she is the exact opposite of who I am. I love the
fact that I could step out of Annie Macaulay Idibia’s shoes and be
somebody else who is totally reckless. I love the character totally.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She adds that a character she will also love to play is either a blind girl or a hardened criminal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Annie also states that she has never got advances from marketers or producers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She says, “I really want to play the
role of a blind girl; I want to play a hardened criminal. I have not
faced advances from directors or producers. Before when they say it, I
don’t get it. I just believe that if you have what it takes, if you have
the talent, then eventually you will be called upon. I don’t think
there is any field they don’t harass women but if you have it,
eventually someone is going to see it and give you a chance. ‘Fear no
gree them o’. Nobody tried to hit on me on that level.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Meanwhile, the couple was spotted last weekend at the MTV Africa All Stars Concert where Tuface flaunted his wedding ring.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It is official for those who don’t know,” he says, while showing off his ring.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-69660679898497805882013-03-17T11:09:00.000-07:002013-03-17T11:09:34.531-07:00Naeto c and pregnant wife Nicole celebrate baby shower in USFriends and family of the beautiful couple organised a baby shower for them in the US as the couple prepare to welcome their first child into planet earth. Wish Nicole a safe delivery but they should have done the baby shower in naija for caring well wishers like us to attend..lol.<br />
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<img alt="Naeto C and pregnant wife" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-144773" height="480" src="http://www.ynaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Naeto-C-and-pregnant-wife.jpg" width="480" /><br />
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<img alt="Photos: Naeto C and Wife Celebrate Baby Shower in the US" class="aligncenter" data-thumb="http://olorisupergal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/naeto-c-and-wife-480x325.jpg" src="http://olorisupergal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/naeto-c-and-wife-480x325.jpg" title="" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-34039580940726148892013-03-17T10:58:00.002-07:002013-03-17T10:58:33.232-07:00I am struggling to build my village house- Jonathan<img alt="President Goodluck Jonathan" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://punch.iwayafricanigeri.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/President-Goodluck-Jonathan1-360x225.jpg" width="360" />Couldn't help but laugh when i saw this...who says the rich don't have their own problems. Imagine our very own dear president struggling to build his village house..no be small thing o.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he might even give out the house before he dies if he found out that his children are not ready to live in the village.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jonathan spoke in Lagos at a fund-raiser for St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-77303069203137237602013-03-13T14:39:00.003-07:002013-03-13T14:39:57.405-07:00A few facts about the new Pope Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio<br />
<img alt="Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio" class="size-full wp-image-104428" height="361" src="http://cdn.thenetng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CARDINAL-JORGE-MARIO-BERGOGLIO.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<strong>Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio</strong> has been elected the new Pope.<br />
He has chosen the papal name <strong>Pope Francis I</strong>.<br />
Here are a few facts about the new Pope:<br />
He’s from Argentina<br />
He’s 76 years old<br />
He’s the son of Italian immigrants<br />
He’s the first Latin-American pope … and the first from the Americas.<br />
He’s known for his advocacy on behalf of the poor, primarily in his home country.<br />
He is opposed to gay marriage…
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-30596799151187827202013-03-13T13:41:00.001-07:002013-03-13T13:41:51.580-07:00New pope elected after two days of conclave<br />
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<img alt="White smoke emerges from the chimney on roof of the Sistine Chapel to signify there is a new pope" height="276" itemprop="contentUrl representativeOfPage" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/GU_front_gifs/2013/3/13/1363198694228/White-smoke-emerges-from--011.jpg" width="460" /><br />
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The Roman Catholic church has a new pope. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/13/papal-conclave-chooses-pope-day-two-live-coverage" title="">White smoke flowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel</a> in the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/vatican" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Vatican">Vatican</a>
shortly after 6pm on Wednesday, signalling that one of the candidates
for the pontificate had obtained the necessary two-thirds majority for
election.<br />
As is customary, the identity of the new pope was not
immediately made known. And the crowd in St Peter's Square was waiting
expectantly for him to appear on the huge balcony that runs across the
front of St Peter's basilica.<br />
The <em>fumata bianca</em> – the white smoke signal that marks the successful conclusion of a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/papal-conclave" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Papal conclave">papal conclave</a> – arrived after five ballots on the second day of voting. The smoke that poured out of the <em>comignolo</em>,
the copper and steel chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, was
greeted with cries of delight and applause from the crowd below.<br />
Soon
afterwards, the bells of St Peter's rang out, confirming that a new
pope had taken over the spiritual leadership of the world's 1.2 billion
baptised Catholics.<br />
Inside the Sistine Chapel, after the final
vote was cast, the most junior of the cardinals, James Harvey, a former
prefect of the papal household, called in the secretary of the college
of cardinals, Monsignor Lorenzo Baldisseri, and the master of papal
liturgical ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini, to witness the new pope's
acceptance of one of the most daunting jobs on earth. The most senior
of the electors, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, approached the
pope-to-be and – in accordance with time-honoured tradition – asked him,
in Latin: "Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?"<br />
Having
obtained his consent, he will have asked him: "By what name do you wish
to be called?" The master of ceremonies, acting as a notary, will then
have summoned two of his staff to act as witnesses, and prepared the
document that certifies the new pope's acceptance.<br />
Newly elected
popes are taken to be robed in the so-called Room of Tears, its name an
indication of the reluctance with which most approach the task for which
they have been chosen. The last holder of the office, Benedict XVI,
introduced a change into the ritual that allows for the new pope to pray
before he is announced to the world.<br />
Benedict abdicated on 28
February, saying that he was no longer able to cope with the burden of
his office. He was the first pontiff to resign voluntarily since
Celestine V in 1294.<br />
The world's Catholics will be looking to his
successor to provide not only spiritual inspiration but also firm
leadership. The new pope was chosen against a background of turbulence
and strife unprecedented in modern times. He takes on the leadership of a
church whose faithful have been shocked by a proliferation of clerical
sex abuse scandals throughout the rich world and dismayed by events in
and around the Vatican.<br />
The day for the 115 cardinal-electors
began at about 6.30am local time in the Casa Santa Marta, their simple
but comfortable – and highly protected – residence in the walled city
state. After breakfast, they made their way to the Apostolic Palace, the
home of the popes, for morning mass in the Pauline Chapel. By about
9.30am, they had settled themselves into the Sistine Chapel for prayers
and the resumption of voting.<br />
Benedict's startling decision to
resign came after years of mounting tension and discreet but venomous
infighting in the Roman Curia, the central administration of the
Catholic church. Last year, some of the pope's correspondence, pointing
to bitter rivalries and maladministration – or worse – in the Vatican
was published in book form.<br />
Benedict's butler, Paolo Gabriele, was
tried and imprisoned for leaking the documents, but the journalist to
whom the papers were passed has said that his source was part of a much
broader network of disaffected Vatican employees and officials.
Gabriele's arrest coincided with a renewed controversy over the Vatican
bank, whose chairman was summarily dismissed last May.<br />
The
scandals – and a string of controversies over the pope's own
declarations – distracted attention from what was expected to be the
central theme of his papacy. Benedict came to the leadership of the
Catholic church as the pope who would begin the process of
re-evangelising an increasingly secular western world.<br />
That too
will be an important challenge for his successor. In the approach to the
conclave several cardinals said they wanted a great pastor for the
world's biggest Christian denomination.<br />
No indication of how or
why the new pope was chosen was expected to emerge. On Tuesday, before
the start of the conclave, the cardinal-electors took an oath of
secrecy, as had those Vatican employees and officials involved in the
election.<br />
Additional precautions included a sweep of the Sistine
Chapel to ensure that no listening devices had been planted inside and
the use of electronic jamming techniques.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-30622108662162462082013-03-06T00:27:00.001-08:002013-03-06T00:27:42.504-08:00Sephardic Jews invited back to Spain after 500 years<br />
<img alt="A boy during a ceremony in Palma de Mallorca's synagogue" height="223" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/66205000/jpg/_66205338_getty56680369.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">
More than 500 years ago,
tens of thousands of Jews fled Spain because of persecution. Now their
descendants are being invited to return. </div>
Before the infamous Spanish Inquisition of the 15th Century,
some 300,000 Jews lived in Spain. It was one of the largest communities
of Jews in the world.<br />
Today, there are about 40,000 or 50,000 - but that number could be about to swell dramatically.<br />
In November, Spain's justice minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon
announced a plan to give descendants of Spain's original Jewish
community - known as Sephardic Jews - a fast-track to a Spanish passport
and Spanish citizenship.<br />
"In the long journey Spain has undertaken to rediscover a part of itself, few occasions are as moving as today," he said.<br />
Anyone who could prove their Spanish Jewish origins, he said, would be given Spanish nationality.<br />
<br />
<div id="story_continues_3">
"My initial reaction was that this was a
really thrilling moment - that it was an act of justice," says Doreen
Carvajal, a US citizen and reporter with the New York Times in Paris.</div>
"It was a romantic notion on my part. I told my husband, 'I
think I'm going to try and get the passport because it closes a circle'.
It was very poetic." <br />
Carvajal was brought up Catholic, but a few years ago, she discovered she has Sephardic Jewish roots. <br />
She began to investigate, eventually tracing her family tree
back to the 15th Century and the city of Segovia, north of Madrid. She
has countless documents, and has detailed her story in a book, The
Forgetting River: A modern tale of survival, identity and the
Inquisition.<br />
But Carvajal says that when she contacted the Spanish
Federation of Jewish Communities, she learned that she didn't qualify.
Not yet, anyway. <br />
<br />
<img alt="A composite image showing a photo of the Carvajal family in Costa Rica (left), and in the 1930s (right)" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/66187000/jpg/_66187382_624_carvajal.jpg" width="624" /><br />
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Carvajal's family was among the estimated one-third of Spanish Jews
who converted to Catholicism to escape the Inquisition's clutches. They
were known as the "conversos".<br />
So, Carvajal is technically the descendant of converts. She's
not a practising Jew herself. She was told she would have to convert
back to Judaism before she could get Spanish citizenship.<br />
"It felt like another act of being forced. Here are these
people, the descendants of the forced ones, the conversos, being told
you have to do this, you have to be a certain religion. So what happens
if you're a secular Jew?" <br />
<br />
<div id="story_continues_4">
The fast-track procedure has not yet taken
effect - and Carvajal may well be entitled to citizenship when the rules
are finalised. </div>
The secretary general of the Spanish Federation of Jewish
Communities, Mauricio Toledano, told the BBC that the government is
still working on details of the scheme, and when the new law is
presented to parliament, it's expected to specifically state that all
descendants of Sephardic origin - whether they are Jewish or not - be
given citizenship. <br />
In total, about 100,000 Jews fled Spain in the course of the
15th Century. Some went to North Africa, but most settled in the
economic powerhouse of the day, the Ottoman Empire - which then
stretched from Hungary to Turkey, and beyond that to the south, and was
expanding. <br />
About 90% of Jews in modern-day Turkey are Sephardic Jews.
Roni Rodrigue, 55, a car dealer in Istanbul, has already claimed his
Spanish passport.<br />
"I just thought I have a right to apply for citizenship, so why not."<br />
He did this four years ago, under a pre-existing scheme, and
got his papers in 11 months - though some of his friends have been
waiting years.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-20684143325839523392013-03-06T00:16:00.002-08:002013-03-06T00:16:24.076-08:00Iconic Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez dies<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Hugo Chavez on the campaign trail in Barquisimeto on 2 October 2012" height="216" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/66221000/jpg/_66221040_63260068.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="384" /></div>
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<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has died aged 58, after 14 years in power.</div>
Mr Chavez had been seriously ill with cancer for more than a year, undergoing several operations in Cuba.<br />
Crowds of supporters gathered outside the Caracas hospital where he died, chanting "We are all Chavez!" <br />
A self-proclaimed revolutionary, Hugo Chavez was a
controversial figure in Venezuela and on the world stage. A staunch
critic of the US, he inspired a left-wing revival across Latin America. <br />
Following his death, Vice-President Nicolas Maduro will
assume the presidency until an election is held within 30 days, Foreign
Minister Elias Jaua said.<br />
"It is the mandate that Comandante President Hugo Chavez gave
us," Mr Jaua told state television, adding that Mr Maduro would also be
the candidate of the governing United Socialist Party (PSUV).<br />
It was not immediately clear when the election would take place.<br />
Mr Chavez's illness prevented him from taking the oath of office after he was re-elected for a fourth term in October.<br />
The exact nature of his cancer was never officially
disclosed, leading to continuing speculation about his health, and he
had not been seen in public for several months.<br />
<div class="videoInStoryC">
<div class="emp page-bookmark-link-aware" id="emp-21677889-11793">
</div>
<div class="caption">
Vice-president Nicolas Maduro was emotional as he announced Hugo Chavez's death</div>
</div>
Seven days of national mourning have been declared and his body will lie in state until a funeral on Friday.<br />
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, whom Mr Chavez defeated
in October's election, called on the government to "act in strict
accordance with its constitutional duties".<br />
Mr Capriles offered his condolences to Mr Chavez's family, saying "we were adversaries, but never enemies".<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-39219529714240082892013-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:002013-03-04T12:05:08.268-08:00Jonathan splashes N3 billion new grant on Nollywood<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/03/jonathan-splashes-n3-billion-new-grant-on-nollywood/jona-9/" rel="attachment wp-att-364672" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="L-R Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state; President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience; Wife of the Senate president Mrs Helen Mark; Nollwood actor Chinedu Ikediezu (aka Aki) and President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Chief Kola Jimodu at the Presidential dinner to celebrate Nollywood " class="size-full wp-image-364672" height="250" src="http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/jona.jpg?cb5e28" width="412" /></a>President Goodluck Jonathan at a presidential dinner to celebrate the
industry at 20, held at State House, Marina, Lagos unveiled a N3
billion package to help turnaround Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood,
which has seen growth in production and sales within past years, but
remains heavily criticized for low content quality.<br />
The president said the package, to be launched as “Project
Nollywood”, will include grants for the best film scripts, a capacity
development fund, and funds for supporting the industry’s
infrastructure”.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-26080001864782894042013-03-04T11:59:00.001-08:002013-03-04T11:59:03.793-08:00Denrele Edun, family robbed!Barely one week after burying bosom friend Goldie Harvey, Eccentric
Channel O presenter, Denrele Edun, escaped death by whiskers when gun
totting robbers invaded his family’s Yaba, Lagos home.<br />
Denrele disclosed this on twitter @DENRELE_EDUN ’<em>HELP. My family
house was just robbed, five robbers broke into our house and carted away
everything. My grandma and dad r in shock: HELP.’</em><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_232310" style="width: 422px;">
<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/denrele-in-love/denrele-3-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-232310"><img alt="*Denrele" class="size-full wp-image-232310" height="197" src="http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/denrele-31.jpg?cb5e28" width="320" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
*Denrele</div>
</div>
He continued…<br />
<em>The thieves threatened to shoot me in the yes if my grandma hadn’t begged for mercy’ .</em><br />
According to reports, the robbers broke in between the hours of 1am
and 2am, Sunday morning and left with phones, laptops, watches, gadgets
and even his father’s new plasma screen TV. Denrele’s Ipad was only safe
because his sister threw it under the bed as the robbers busted in.<br />
The incident has already been reported at the Adekunle Police Station, Yaba.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-43236718387845087992013-03-04T11:58:00.000-08:002013-03-04T11:58:10.091-08:00Rainstorm destroys 200 houses, renders 5,000 homelessDestroyed at least 200 houses and rendered over 5,000 homeless at
Akwukwu-Igbo, headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area of
Delta State, weekend.<br /><br />
Rainstorm pulled off roofs of houses and deposited them at diverse
places in Ogbe-Iyase, Ogbeani, Umuonai, Ogbeonihe, Umuekeke, Ogbeobi and
Achala villages in the community.<br /><br />
The traditional ruler of the community, His Royal Majesty, Obi David
Azuka, described the incident as a calamity and called on the Governor
of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State Emergency Response
Agency, Oshimili Local Government Council and other relevant agencies of
government to come to the aid of the victims.<br /><br />
Managing director of Haalimonwo Ventures, Akwukwu-Igbo, Mr. Jude Eziuno,
whose company was affected told our correspondent yesterday, on phone,
'what happened in Akwukwu-Igbo was a calamity. I can tell you that no
fewer than 200 roofs were carried away by rainstorm.'<br /><br />
'The rains was severe and stormy. It started at about 5.30 pm, everybody
in the community was affected, if it is not your house, it is your
kitchen, toilet or shops in front of your house'.<br /><br />
'There is wailing everywhere, we have never seen this kind of hurricane before,' he added. VanguardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-70369149275512371322013-03-04T11:55:00.000-08:002013-03-04T11:55:00.814-08:00Another LASU student killed by suspected cultistsAnother student of the Lagos State University (LASU), simply
identified as Kabiru, was on Sunday night allegedly killed by suspected
cultists.
<br />
Sources said that Kabiru was shot dead at about 10:00 p.m. at Abeokuta St., Okokomaiko, Lagos.<br />
A 400 level Banking and Finance student of the university and a
musician, Damilola Damochie was on Feb. 28 shot dead by suspected
cultists at the institution’s main gate.<br />
The sources alleged that the killing of Kabiru was a reprisal to the murder of Damochie.<br />
“There are three main cult groups in LASU. They are Eiye, Buccaneer
and Black Axe. Eiye and Buccaneer have lost one member each. The war is
between the two groups now.<br />
“Members of on the cult groups were celebrating the death of the
opposition group member in a hotel, when police arrested them,’’ a
source said.<br />
Contacted, the Lagos State Police Spokesperson, DSP Ngozi Braide,
confirmed the death of Kabiru, but did not say if he was a cult member.<br />
Braide also confirmed that more than 20 persons have been arrested over the killing of Damochie.<br />
She noted that the suspects were arrested at Beno Hotel, Isashi, Okokomaiko, Lagos, when the suspects were having a party.<br />
“We are screening the suspects with a view to ascertaining their
involvement in the killing of the student-musician. Anyone found to be
involved will be prosecuted in court,’’ Braide said.<br />
NAN reports that Damoche was killed by two suspected cultists on a motorcycle, on Feb. 28 at LASU gate. (NAN)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-92148134421684916172013-03-04T11:52:00.002-08:002013-03-04T11:52:50.426-08:00Boko Haram: We did not declare ceasefire – ShekauBARELY 24 hours after the Boko Haram sect denied a ceasefire and
dialogue with the Federal Government, gunmen suspected to be members of
the sect attacked the Monguno Military Barracks in Borno State. They
were repelled by men of the Forward Operation Base, FOB, and Joint Task
Force, JTF, who killed about 20 of the sect members in the early hours
of Sunday.
<br />
A statement issued by JTF spokesman, Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said gunmen
came in four SUV vehicles and eight motorcycles to attack the military
barracks at Monguno, a border town with Chad Republic.<br />
The town is 175 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the epicentre of
activities of the Islamist sect. The clash lasted over an hour. He said
apart from killing some of the suspects, it recovered arms and
ammunition, including 10 units of Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPG, and
two RPG tubes.<br />
<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/escape-of-boko-haram-suspects-army-general-docked/lt-general-oa-ihejirika/" rel="attachment wp-att-189252" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lt General O. A Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army speak to press" class="size-full wp-image-189252" height="250" src="http://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Lt-General-OA-Ihejirika.jpg?cb5e28" width="412" /></a>JTF’s statement<br />
The statement said: “Information available to the Joint Task Force
operation indicated that some Boko Haram Terrorists attempted to attack a
military barracks at Monguno, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno
State at 5am today (yesterday).<br />
“The attack was repelled by the FOB and JTF troops at the outskirt of
the barracks. The encounter led to the death of 20 Boko Haram
Terrorists.<br />
“Three four-wheel vehicles and eight motor cycles used by the
terrorists were destroyed. Arms and ammunition recovered in the clash
include seven Kalashnikov rifles, 10 rocked propelled grendes, two RPG
tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted
magazines.”<br />
In a related development yesterday, JTF also arrested two top Boko
Haram commanders that were allegedly responsible for the Maiduguri
multiple bomb blasts of last Thursday, while 11 governors were holding
their meeting on the new All Progressive Congress, APC, party at
Government House.<br />
The arrested suspects, according to the statement, are in JTF custody undergoing interrogations.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-23066735692366106892013-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:002013-03-03T11:48:01.171-08:00Gunmen Kill Kwara State Police CommissionerThe Kwara State Commissioner of Police (CP); Mr Chinwe Asadu, has been killed by unknown gunmen in Enugu state.<br /><br />The
Police boss was killed Saturday night at gunpoint in his car at Amorji
Nike, near the densely populated Abakpa Nike area in Enugu East local
government area within the state capital.<br /><br />The Orderly of the
Commissioner and driver escaped the attack but they sustained gunshot
wounds and they are reported to be in a critical state at the National
Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.<br /><br />Reports from the state has it that,
Mr Asadu who was on a visit to Enugu-his state of origin- had a visitor
and he decided to escort the guest in his own vehicle with only his
driver and Orderly coming along with him.<br /><br />While the trio were
returning to the Commissioner’s residence, they reportedly noticed a bus
trailing their vehicle and as they veered into the street, the gunmen
who must have laid an ambush for the Commissioner a few metres away from
his private residence, started firing at the vehicle from the rear.<br /><br />It
was during the sporadic shooting that the Mr Asadu was killed on the
spot while the Police Orderly posted to guard the CP’s residence from
Abakpa Police Division, sustained bullet wound all over his body and his
rifle taken away before the gunmen escaped.<br /><br />The official escort
team that came with the Commissioner from Kwara State Police Command
that were left behind in his compound, got wind of the attack but not
until the gunmen had routed their escape.<br /><img alt="<b>LATE CP CHINWIKE ASADU</b>" border="0" height="239" src="http://img.thenigerianvoice.com/thumb.aspx?img=XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XHR4bzByZmVxcWxfY3Brd18yNTM4NjQyODguanBnfDc1MHwzLzMvMjAxMw==" width="320" /><br />They quickly rushed the
Commissioner and his aides who were in a pool of blood to the
Orthopaedic Hospital but it was at the hospital that Police boss was
confirmed dead.<br /><br />He reportedly gave up the ghost before arriving at the hospital.<br /><br />His aides who were badly wounded were immediately admitted but they gather that they are in a critical state.<br /><br />The
State Police Public Relations Officer has confirmed the incident,
adding that “a serious manhunt has started to track down the gunmen
behind CP Asadu’s killing.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has described the murder of Mr Asadu as shocking and unfortunate.<br /><br />A
statement issued by the state government noted that “it is
particularly painful that late CP Asadu has become another index in the
annals of the growing national insecurity, adding that it has become
very expedient for Nigerians to rally round in finding enduring solution
to the national malaise of insecurity.”<br /><br />The statement described
the death of Mr. Asadu as a huge lose not only to the Nigeria Police
but the Kwara State security apparatus in particular as he exhibited
high sense of discipline and professionalism in the course of duty in
the State.<br /><br />”Late CP Chinwe Asadu , in the discharge of his duty
in Kwara state contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the
state and in the upholding of our values as a state of harmony” the
statement read.<br /><br />The Governor, who described Late CP Asadu as a
quintessential police officer, prayed to God to grant the family, the
rank and file of the Police in the state and the Nigeria Police, the
fortitude to bear the loss.<br /><br />CHANNELSTV<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-77328924574029701362013-03-03T11:24:00.000-08:002013-03-03T11:24:01.200-08:00Picture of Teacher arrested for allegedly having lesbian sex with 12-year-old student
<a href="http://www.azfamily.com/news/Phoenix-teacher-arrested-on-sexual-conduct-with-a-minor-charges-193984011.html" target="_hplink">Nicole Wooten</a>,
36, is charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Tempe
police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pooley told independent Phoenix news station
KTVK that the victim, a female, “decided to come forward” and speak to
detectives.<br />
The incidents allegedly occurred in 2005 and 2006, when the <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/20130228tempe-police-arrest-pe-teacher-sex-conduct-minor-abrk.html" target="_hplink">victim was about 12 years old</a> and in eighth grade, per the Arizona Republic.<br />
According to SexLaws.org, there is <a href="http://www.sexlaws.org/answer_board_question-statue_of_limitations" target="_hplink">no statute of limitations in Arizona</a> for
sexual conduct with a minor under age 15, molestation of a child or
continuous sexual abuse of a child, which is defined as “three or more
incidents of abuse.”<br />
ABC Phoenix reported that the alleged incidents included <a href="http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/tempe/pd-tempe-pe-teacher-nicole-wooten-arrested-for-sexual-conduct-with-a-minor" target="_hplink">inappropriate touching and occurred at Wooten’s residence</a> in Mesa, Ariz. A school spokeswoman said that no incidents happened at the school itself.<br />
Police said Wooten admitted to the allegations in an interview
following her arrest. Authorities said the accused woman was placed on
unpaid leave Thursday.<br />
Wooten began working at the Herrera School for the Fine Arts and Dual Language, a Phoenix elementary school, in 2000.<br />
<em>Nicole Wooten’s mug shot:</em><br />
<img alt="nicole wooten" height="320" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1016655/thumbs/o-NICOLE-WOOTEN-570.jpg?6" width="283" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-6773949838254106192013-03-01T05:03:00.000-08:002013-03-01T05:03:33.115-08:00<script type="text/javascript">
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<script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.addynamo.net/ad/js/deliverAds.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-25094238634551405792013-02-28T03:17:00.000-08:002013-02-28T03:17:03.677-08:00Gay Man Dressed As Woman Causes Chaos At Abuja Hotel<strong>These pictures was sent from people present at Transcorp
Hilton yesterday afternoon when the ‘lady man’ you see below put on a
show for everyone. </strong><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBnNCE1Dsg333wWUjyQj6AZWL_lEJito1HyX3SlyyJ8RwhRRezbXYS6mP2SIknED8vljxujAYhe3EkaUcQ34xdAecPujsPqXlsKYLlI3AIcYwt7I68S0eUBLRhrbkVuSE3_1YprOl7F6P/s1600/reg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBnNCE1Dsg333wWUjyQj6AZWL_lEJito1HyX3SlyyJ8RwhRRezbXYS6mP2SIknED8vljxujAYhe3EkaUcQ34xdAecPujsPqXlsKYLlI3AIcYwt7I68S0eUBLRhrbkVuSE3_1YprOl7F6P/s320/reg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The security guards at the hotel said she initially came into the
hotel as a man, then probably went into the restroom to turn herself
into a woman…with those b**bs and things stuffed in her tracksuit
pockets to create fake hips.<br />
<div class="wpInsert wpInsertInPostAd wpInsertMiddle" style="margin: 5px; padding: 0px;">
<ins style="border: none; display: inline-table; height: 15px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 468px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="border: none; display: block; height: 15px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 468px;"></ins></ins></div>
When quizzed, she said her name was Regina who just returned from the
US and came to the hotel for business. She told people she was a model
and gladly posed for pictures.<br />
Do you think fierce Regina is a man or a woman?<br />
<a href="http://www.informationng.com/2013/02/photos-man-dressed-as-woman-causes-chaos-at-abuja-hotel.html/reg1" rel="attachment wp-att-56065"></a> <a href="http://www.informationng.com/2013/02/photos-man-dressed-as-woman-causes-chaos-at-abuja-hotel.html/reg2" rel="attachment wp-att-56066"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-81774539082531888592013-02-28T02:16:00.000-08:002013-02-28T02:16:45.888-08:00Abia politics gets messier as…T.A. Orji moves to revoke Kalu's ABSU degree Abia State governor, Chief Theodore A. Orji may have taken the fight
against his predecessor and benefactor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to a more
desperate level as Daily Sun reliably gathered that he is making
subterranean moves to revoke the degree awarded the former governor by
the Abia State University (ABSU) in 2002.<br /><br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="235" data-width="214" height="235" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 235px; width: 214px;" width="214" />Gov. Orji who is invoking his powers as Visitor to the university is
said to be behind a move compelling the varsity authorities to consider
the recommendations of a kangaroo investigative panel that allegedly
looked into a spurious petition lodged against the award of the degree
to Kalu by the university several years ago. Kalu who had abandoned his
degree programmme at the University of Maiduguri had his transcript
records and other details transferred to ABSU while he was serving as governor and eventually completed the programme some eleven years ago.<br /><br />
In fact, photos of the then Governor Kalu sitting among other students
to write his semester exams made interesting news for several newspaper
houses then, as they lavishly splashed them in their publications.
Eleven years down the line, however, Gov. T. A. Orji is said to be
desperate to withdraw the degree to score a political point against Kalu
whose return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sent cold
shivers down the spine of the governor and his allies.<br /><br />
Daily Sun gathered that the Senate of the University met last Tuesday to
consider the report of the investigative panel hurriedly set up to look
into the curious petition filed by a yet to be unmasked petitioner. The
panel alleged, in an excerpt of its report obtained by Daily Sun, that
although there indeed 'was a student by name Kalu, O.U. with
Matriculation Number 00/42226, who supposedly transferred to Abia State
University,' the process of the transfer and the documentation was
incomplete and that 'In effect, the said transfer of Kalu, Orji U. into
Abia State University was irregular ab initio.'<br /><br />
The Senate was, however, said to have dismissed the report and
recommendations of the panel, saying it was hurriedly put together and
did not follow due process. Apart from the fact that the report was
hurriedly done, the Senate also noted that the Vice Chancellor as at the
time of the report, was never invited to give evidence during the
so-called investigation. Similarly, the Senate noted, neither Kalu who
is a central figure to the petition nor any other key figure to the
matter was invited to testify.<br /><br />
Not satisfied, however, those believed to be bent on scoring cheap
political point with the matter are said to have mounted pressure on
most members of the Senate to re-visit the matter. Consequently, an
emergency meeting at the university Senate has been convened tomorrow
with Kalu's degree as the only item on the agenda. A member of the
Senate who spoke to Daily Sun last night on the condition of anonymity
said the development is dangerous. 'They should not bring politics into
academics because it will destroy the institution,' he said.<br /><br />
Confirming that some members of the university Senate have been under
pressure since Tuesday, the source said: 'Yes, offers have been made to
some members after majority of us rejected the bid on Tuesday. With the
way things are now, I doubt whether we will have quorum on Friday.'
Reacting to the move yesterday, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu who is abroad said
that the Abia State government's latest move has shown the level of
desperation of the government. Kalu who spoke through his aide, Kunle
Oyewunmi, said that 'it is obvious that this shameless desperation was
provoked by my return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).<br /><br />
If the governor is popular as he claims, why is he jittery and desperate
that one man is re-joining a party he co-founded.' Kalu called on
well-meaning Abians and Nigerians to call Gov. T.A. Orji to order,
adding that Abians are yearning for dividends of democracy and the
governor has the responsibility to provide them. Sounding philosophical,
Kalu said that he is confident that this 'move will also come to pass
because no human being except God has the power to determine any other
person's destiny.' The Sun<br /><div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
country lost $50bn (N8tn) in the last two years to neighbouring
countries as a result of illegal mining and exportation of unprocessed
gold.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Linus Awute, said this on Wednesday
during an interview on the sidelines of the Nigerian-Brazil Investment
Forum in Abuja.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He described the loss as monumental, adding that the activities of illegal gold miners were far beyond control.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Awute, however, added that the Federal Government had put in place mechanism to address the problem.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “What the country loses to
illegal mining is tremendous; but the truth is that the amount of gold
that left this country because of the illegal mining activities was more
than $50bn in the last two years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The amount of unprocessed gold that has
left this country through the neighbouring countries, Ghana in
particular, and being processed in Ashanti, is enormous.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Awute, however, said the Federal
Government had begun the process of formalising the operations of
illegal miners in the country, adding that such a move would help to
generate revenue in the form of royalties to the government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “The solution to informal
mining or illegal mining is to get them formalised and that is what we
are doing right now. We have over 600 groups that formed themselves into
cooperative societies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The most exciting thing is that there
is tremendous increase in the percentage of accruable royalties to the
government through the regularisation of their activities.’’</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Awute pointed out that a road map for
the development of the mining sector had been produced by the ministry,
adding that the framework would help to set out vital programmes to be
implemented in the short, medium and long term.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The permanent secretary said a new
policy that would help to enhance performance and regulate the sector
adequately had been put in place.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He also said the ministry had forwarded a
draft Metallurgical Bill to the Ministry of Justice to provide a
veritable tool to regulate and monitor activities in the metal sector.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bill, according to him, will ensure
efficient operations in the industry in line with world best practices
as well as improve the working conditions of the people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “If the sector is well
developed, it will provide alternative sources of internally generated
foreign exchange that can be used to fund critical infrastructure
projects.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It will also aid the creation of
economic activities and organised settlements in the rural and
semi-urban centres as well as create employment opportunities.’’</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/nigeria-loses-n8tn-to-illegal-gold-miners/#sthash.6JdtG0wf.dpuf</div>
<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div class="post-info">
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<div class="entry-content">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="The protesters ... on Wednesday" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-protesters-...-on-Wednesday-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
The protesters ... on Wednesday</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scores
of youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, rampaged through the town on
Wednesday to protest the death of six pupils in a fatal road accident.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The deceased were pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Eket.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eyewitnesses said the pupils, whose
identities could not be ascertained, met their untimely deaths when
their school vehicle fell into a ditch on Eket-Ibeno Road, last month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said before the school driver lost control of the vehicle, he tried in vain to dodge many bad spots on the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The eyewitnesses said apart from those
who died on the spot, other undisclosed number of pupils sustained
severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was learnt that the deaths of the
pupils sparked off Wednesday’s protest as youths felt the pupils would
have lived if the road was in good order.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the protesters, who craved
anonymity, said because of the dilapidation of the Eket-Ibeno road, many
road mishaps had taken place there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the road had paved the way for
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies, as criminals usually
capitalised on the bad road to waylay innocent road users and residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said due to the situation of the
road, youths in the area had given the relevant authorities several
ultimatums to rehabilitate the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said unfortunately, their appeals and threats to the authorities and major stakeholders had always been ignored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Youth President, Afaha Eket, Mr.
Emmanuel Sakey, lamented the poor state of the road, saying the bad
roads claimed the lives of those “innocent” children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the communities had been
experiencing accidents on many roads in the areas on a daily basis,
saying that many pregnant women had had miscarriages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Why we are demonstrating this morning
is because of the way government is treating us. If you look between
Eket and Ibeno, you will see that we don’t have road here. For a number
of years, we have been suffering from this road and many other roads in
this area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We have lost many school children to
accidents apart from the six which happened recently. There have been
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies and more as the hoodlums
seize the opportunity to lie in wait for road users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are aware that an oil firm had paid for the construction of the road, but it is still a deathtrap.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eket community leader, Mr. Nsini Eduok, said he woke up in the morning to see youths block the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he did not see anything wrong
with the youths’ action, insisting that if the right thing had been
done, the accident, which triggered their protests, would not have
occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He claimed the community had complained
to state government and other bodies about the deplorable state of the
road but they had kept adamant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have just been informed that
the youths are protesting against the bad roads leading to where the
resources of this country come from. The condition of this road is worse
than any other roads in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The rehabilitation of the road was
given to FCC Nigeria Limited but we were told the government asked them
to stop. Why they did that, we cannot actually say.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since then we have not seen any sign that this road is going to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa
Ibom Police Command, Dickson Etim, said it was only one pupil out of
eight that were in the school bus that died, against six as given by the
protesters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added that seven others sustained
different degrees of injuries, stressing that the accident occurred when
the children were going to school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I heard of the accident, I called
the DPO in the area and he confirmed to me that it was only one person
that died against six given by the protesters,” Etim said.</div>
</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#sthash.IZLUipyn.dpuf<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div class="post-info">
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<div class="entry-content">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="The protesters ... on Wednesday" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-protesters-...-on-Wednesday-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
The protesters ... on Wednesday</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scores
of youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, rampaged through the town on
Wednesday to protest the death of six pupils in a fatal road accident.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The deceased were pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Eket.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eyewitnesses said the pupils, whose
identities could not be ascertained, met their untimely deaths when
their school vehicle fell into a ditch on Eket-Ibeno Road, last month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said before the school driver lost control of the vehicle, he tried in vain to dodge many bad spots on the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The eyewitnesses said apart from those
who died on the spot, other undisclosed number of pupils sustained
severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was learnt that the deaths of the
pupils sparked off Wednesday’s protest as youths felt the pupils would
have lived if the road was in good order.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the protesters, who craved
anonymity, said because of the dilapidation of the Eket-Ibeno road, many
road mishaps had taken place there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the road had paved the way for
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies, as criminals usually
capitalised on the bad road to waylay innocent road users and residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said due to the situation of the
road, youths in the area had given the relevant authorities several
ultimatums to rehabilitate the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said unfortunately, their appeals and threats to the authorities and major stakeholders had always been ignored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Youth President, Afaha Eket, Mr.
Emmanuel Sakey, lamented the poor state of the road, saying the bad
roads claimed the lives of those “innocent” children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the communities had been
experiencing accidents on many roads in the areas on a daily basis,
saying that many pregnant women had had miscarriages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Why we are demonstrating this morning
is because of the way government is treating us. If you look between
Eket and Ibeno, you will see that we don’t have road here. For a number
of years, we have been suffering from this road and many other roads in
this area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We have lost many school children to
accidents apart from the six which happened recently. There have been
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies and more as the hoodlums
seize the opportunity to lie in wait for road users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are aware that an oil firm had paid for the construction of the road, but it is still a deathtrap.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eket community leader, Mr. Nsini Eduok, said he woke up in the morning to see youths block the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he did not see anything wrong
with the youths’ action, insisting that if the right thing had been
done, the accident, which triggered their protests, would not have
occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He claimed the community had complained
to state government and other bodies about the deplorable state of the
road but they had kept adamant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have just been informed that
the youths are protesting against the bad roads leading to where the
resources of this country come from. The condition of this road is worse
than any other roads in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The rehabilitation of the road was
given to FCC Nigeria Limited but we were told the government asked them
to stop. Why they did that, we cannot actually say.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since then we have not seen any sign that this road is going to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa
Ibom Police Command, Dickson Etim, said it was only one pupil out of
eight that were in the school bus that died, against six as given by the
protesters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added that seven others sustained
different degrees of injuries, stressing that the accident occurred when
the children were going to school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I heard of the accident, I called
the DPO in the area and he confirmed to me that it was only one person
that died against six given by the protesters,” Etim said.</div>
</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#sthash.IZLUipyn.dpuf</div>
</div>
<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
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<div class="entry-content">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="The protesters ... on Wednesday" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-protesters-...-on-Wednesday-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
The protesters ... on Wednesday</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scores
of youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, rampaged through the town on
Wednesday to protest the death of six pupils in a fatal road accident.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The deceased were pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Eket.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eyewitnesses said the pupils, whose
identities could not be ascertained, met their untimely deaths when
their school vehicle fell into a ditch on Eket-Ibeno Road, last month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said before the school driver lost control of the vehicle, he tried in vain to dodge many bad spots on the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The eyewitnesses said apart from those
who died on the spot, other undisclosed number of pupils sustained
severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was learnt that the deaths of the
pupils sparked off Wednesday’s protest as youths felt the pupils would
have lived if the road was in good order.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the protesters, who craved
anonymity, said because of the dilapidation of the Eket-Ibeno road, many
road mishaps had taken place there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the road had paved the way for
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies, as criminals usually
capitalised on the bad road to waylay innocent road users and residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said due to the situation of the
road, youths in the area had given the relevant authorities several
ultimatums to rehabilitate the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said unfortunately, their appeals and threats to the authorities and major stakeholders had always been ignored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Youth President, Afaha Eket, Mr.
Emmanuel Sakey, lamented the poor state of the road, saying the bad
roads claimed the lives of those “innocent” children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the communities had been
experiencing accidents on many roads in the areas on a daily basis,
saying that many pregnant women had had miscarriages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Why we are demonstrating this morning
is because of the way government is treating us. If you look between
Eket and Ibeno, you will see that we don’t have road here. For a number
of years, we have been suffering from this road and many other roads in
this area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We have lost many school children to
accidents apart from the six which happened recently. There have been
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies and more as the hoodlums
seize the opportunity to lie in wait for road users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are aware that an oil firm had paid for the construction of the road, but it is still a deathtrap.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eket community leader, Mr. Nsini Eduok, said he woke up in the morning to see youths block the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he did not see anything wrong
with the youths’ action, insisting that if the right thing had been
done, the accident, which triggered their protests, would not have
occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He claimed the community had complained
to state government and other bodies about the deplorable state of the
road but they had kept adamant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have just been informed that
the youths are protesting against the bad roads leading to where the
resources of this country come from. The condition of this road is worse
than any other roads in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The rehabilitation of the road was
given to FCC Nigeria Limited but we were told the government asked them
to stop. Why they did that, we cannot actually say.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since then we have not seen any sign that this road is going to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa
Ibom Police Command, Dickson Etim, said it was only one pupil out of
eight that were in the school bus that died, against six as given by the
protesters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added that seven others sustained
different degrees of injuries, stressing that the accident occurred when
the children were going to school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I heard of the accident, I called
the DPO in the area and he confirmed to me that it was only one person
that died against six given by the protesters,” Etim said.</div>
</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#sthash.IZLUipyn.dpuf<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div class="post-info">
<span class="post-comments"><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#comments"><span class="dsq-postid" rel="94110 http://www.punchng.com/?p=94110"></span></a></span> </div>
<div class="entry-content">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="The protesters ... on Wednesday" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-protesters-...-on-Wednesday-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
The protesters ... on Wednesday</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scores
of youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, rampaged through the town on
Wednesday to protest the death of six pupils in a fatal road accident.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The deceased were pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Eket.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eyewitnesses said the pupils, whose
identities could not be ascertained, met their untimely deaths when
their school vehicle fell into a ditch on Eket-Ibeno Road, last month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said before the school driver lost control of the vehicle, he tried in vain to dodge many bad spots on the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The eyewitnesses said apart from those
who died on the spot, other undisclosed number of pupils sustained
severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was learnt that the deaths of the
pupils sparked off Wednesday’s protest as youths felt the pupils would
have lived if the road was in good order.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the protesters, who craved
anonymity, said because of the dilapidation of the Eket-Ibeno road, many
road mishaps had taken place there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the road had paved the way for
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies, as criminals usually
capitalised on the bad road to waylay innocent road users and residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said due to the situation of the
road, youths in the area had given the relevant authorities several
ultimatums to rehabilitate the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said unfortunately, their appeals and threats to the authorities and major stakeholders had always been ignored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Youth President, Afaha Eket, Mr.
Emmanuel Sakey, lamented the poor state of the road, saying the bad
roads claimed the lives of those “innocent” children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the communities had been
experiencing accidents on many roads in the areas on a daily basis,
saying that many pregnant women had had miscarriages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Why we are demonstrating this morning
is because of the way government is treating us. If you look between
Eket and Ibeno, you will see that we don’t have road here. For a number
of years, we have been suffering from this road and many other roads in
this area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We have lost many school children to
accidents apart from the six which happened recently. There have been
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies and more as the hoodlums
seize the opportunity to lie in wait for road users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are aware that an oil firm had paid for the construction of the road, but it is still a deathtrap.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eket community leader, Mr. Nsini Eduok, said he woke up in the morning to see youths block the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he did not see anything wrong
with the youths’ action, insisting that if the right thing had been
done, the accident, which triggered their protests, would not have
occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He claimed the community had complained
to state government and other bodies about the deplorable state of the
road but they had kept adamant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have just been informed that
the youths are protesting against the bad roads leading to where the
resources of this country come from. The condition of this road is worse
than any other roads in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The rehabilitation of the road was
given to FCC Nigeria Limited but we were told the government asked them
to stop. Why they did that, we cannot actually say.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since then we have not seen any sign that this road is going to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa
Ibom Police Command, Dickson Etim, said it was only one pupil out of
eight that were in the school bus that died, against six as given by the
protesters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added that seven others sustained
different degrees of injuries, stressing that the accident occurred when
the children were going to school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I heard of the accident, I called
the DPO in the area and he confirmed to me that it was only one person
that died against six given by the protesters,” Etim said.</div>
</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#sthash.IZLUipyn.dpuf<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div class="post-info">
<span class="post-comments"><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#comments"><span class="dsq-postid" rel="94110 http://www.punchng.com/?p=94110"></span></a></span> </div>
<div class="entry-content">
<div class="story-featured-image" style="width: 368px;">
<img alt="The protesters ... on Wednesday" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-protesters-...-on-Wednesday-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><div class="featured-image-caption">
The protesters ... on Wednesday</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scores
of youths in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, rampaged through the town on
Wednesday to protest the death of six pupils in a fatal road accident.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The deceased were pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School, Eket.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eyewitnesses said the pupils, whose
identities could not be ascertained, met their untimely deaths when
their school vehicle fell into a ditch on Eket-Ibeno Road, last month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They said before the school driver lost control of the vehicle, he tried in vain to dodge many bad spots on the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The eyewitnesses said apart from those
who died on the spot, other undisclosed number of pupils sustained
severe injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was learnt that the deaths of the
pupils sparked off Wednesday’s protest as youths felt the pupils would
have lived if the road was in good order.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the protesters, who craved
anonymity, said because of the dilapidation of the Eket-Ibeno road, many
road mishaps had taken place there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the road had paved the way for
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies, as criminals usually
capitalised on the bad road to waylay innocent road users and residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said due to the situation of the
road, youths in the area had given the relevant authorities several
ultimatums to rehabilitate the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said unfortunately, their appeals and threats to the authorities and major stakeholders had always been ignored.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Youth President, Afaha Eket, Mr.
Emmanuel Sakey, lamented the poor state of the road, saying the bad
roads claimed the lives of those “innocent” children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the communities had been
experiencing accidents on many roads in the areas on a daily basis,
saying that many pregnant women had had miscarriages.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Why we are demonstrating this morning
is because of the way government is treating us. If you look between
Eket and Ibeno, you will see that we don’t have road here. For a number
of years, we have been suffering from this road and many other roads in
this area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We have lost many school children to
accidents apart from the six which happened recently. There have been
frequent cases of kidnapping, armed robberies and more as the hoodlums
seize the opportunity to lie in wait for road users.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We are aware that an oil firm had paid for the construction of the road, but it is still a deathtrap.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eket community leader, Mr. Nsini Eduok, said he woke up in the morning to see youths block the road.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said he did not see anything wrong
with the youths’ action, insisting that if the right thing had been
done, the accident, which triggered their protests, would not have
occurred.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He claimed the community had complained
to state government and other bodies about the deplorable state of the
road but they had kept adamant.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I have just been informed that
the youths are protesting against the bad roads leading to where the
resources of this country come from. The condition of this road is worse
than any other roads in the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The rehabilitation of the road was
given to FCC Nigeria Limited but we were told the government asked them
to stop. Why they did that, we cannot actually say.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Since then we have not seen any sign that this road is going to be done.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa
Ibom Police Command, Dickson Etim, said it was only one pupil out of
eight that were in the school bus that died, against six as given by the
protesters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He added that seven others sustained
different degrees of injuries, stressing that the accident occurred when
the children were going to school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“When I heard of the accident, I called
the DPO in the area and he confirmed to me that it was only one person
that died against six given by the protesters,” Etim said.</div>
</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/news/death-of-six-pupils-sparks-off-protest-in-akwa-ibom/#sthash.IZLUipyn.dpuf</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What’s
your BB pin?”, she asked conceitedly, raising her BlackBerry
screen-glazed eyes. Her fake Yankee accent was drowned by rancorous
voices and the din of the heavy metal music blaring from the Hi-fi
speakers of the high-end nightclub in the heart of Victoria Island,
Lagos. Even when she was just sitting across the table as we both share a
drink, I could barely hear her. Just as I could not make any sense out
of our conversation in the entire time we spent together that evening.
To add to my misery even now as I reflect on my experience that night,
it is difficult to tell if my inability to understand my young female
guest was due to her contrived foreign accent or the frequent
interruptions from her “pinging” and the instant messages that kept
coming into her BlackBerry phone.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Her obsessive romance with her phone,
which repeatedly came in the way of our acquaintance, can be likened to
having a conversation with the deaf. So, I had proceeded to ignore this
new question; one of the many she had asked, while she took intermittent
pauses, with the usual vacant look, from her dialogue with her
imaginary phone character, intent on ruining my evening. I was going to
treat her new enquiry like a rhetorical question; but leaning close to
me, she asked the question again, insisting on an answer. Her persistent
question about my BlackBerry status threw me off balance for a moment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But when I recovered, my response was
quick and brusque, “I don’t use a BlackBerry” Her reaction was
immediate. The shock in her eyes was unmistakable. Her unspoken
expression was; how would you not have a BlackBerry in this age and
time? Then, she seemed to switch off completely. Her expression became
distant. From that moment, each time we manage to find to something to
talk about, she would look past me, as if addressing a phantom.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was amused by it all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I had met the restless 20-something
university belle some hours earlier in the company of my young cousin.
And because it was a Friday night, we all ended up in one of those
nightclubs on Victoria Island where you will have to spend some nervous
moments scrutinising the menu.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was immediately struck by my female
guest almost compulsive attraction to her BlackBerry phone. All through
our conversation that night, she stayed glued to it. Her fingers tapped
furiously at the tiny buttons on the keypad. She was a sight to behold.
Her addiction, her obsession, became a spectacle. As she tapped
frantically on the tiny keypads, she would pause occasionally, a frown
appearing on her brow. At another time, she would laugh out
hysterically, rocking back and forth on the chair with a loud yell.
People turned to look. She hardly noticed, or did not care. When the
waiter appeared to take our order, she was not listening. She was
completely oblivious of the happenings around her. As soon as she
realised I was not a BlackBerry phone user, our conversation seemed to
freeze out. I became another statistic, another face in the crowd.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But I had it coming.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Long after the BlackBerry phone made its
classy foray into the telephone consciousness of the upwardly mobile, I
had been indifferent to its ability to quickly transform one’s status
symbol; or doesn’t it? I have never taken myself seriously. For example,
many years after Nokia 3310 became embarrassingly outdated, I had
carried mine with pomp.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Recently, I walked into one of the mobile
telephone shops, just as I had done in the last few years, and each
time, I had come out with my wallet intact. I have never been able to
justify the reason why I should spend so much money on any hand-held
device. Despite the craze that followed the introduction of the
BlackBerry and the iPhones, androids and iPads of this world, I have
always considered them as passing fads for those who find them as status
symbols.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For example, a majority of young
Nigerians who carry these phones around hardly maximise the use of the
features that come with them. But I guess it is fashionable to be seen
with the most expensive phone in town. What, for example, are the unique
features of a BB, aside from instant messaging, that make them
a-must-have other than the status symbol that goes with logging it
around?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, maybe it is useful for folks who
have loads of emails to answer per second. Otherwise, what is the point
of a young person barely 17, paying monthly surcharges just for
chatting, <i>tweeting</i> and <i>Facebooking</i>? Or does it have to do with the good feeling of owning a BB? Ok, you may say it’s cool to <i>tweet</i>, <i>Facebook</i> and <i>ping</i>
at the same time. But what makes them desirable apart from these
features? Are there no other phones performing the same functions?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My grouse with these new mobile phones is
the frequency at which new models of the same phone are released into
the mobile telephone market by the manufacturers. As soon as you buy a
new phone, at the blink of an eye, another newer model with supposedly
superior features is released into the market. In less than a month,
your new phone suddenly becomes the older version of the new one. And
the cycle continues. What phone fashionistas fail to realise is that
although the new model may appear sleekier than the ones they have, in
reality, the manufacturers have only added a feature or two to make them
the new model of the old one.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One feature of a BlackBerry phone which
makes it attractive to users, especially young people, is the instant
message feature, popularly known as “pinging”. Now that comes with its
own hazard. Recently, careless and indiscriminate pinging has become
fatal. Inside a Lagos bus, I sat with a guy who ensured that his
BlackBerry was conspicuously angled in a position where everybody could
see it. He was barely 16. My young cousin told me that in students’
parties on campus (even secondary schools), you will be “gated” without
possessing the most expensive type of BlackBerry!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now the BlackBerry craze has claimed its first casualty.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Ajah, Lagos, a girl chatting
passionately while crossing the road was knocked down recently. In Ogun
State, it was reported by <i>The PUNCH</i> recently that a youth corps member, one Egbe Ogbu, lost his life while <i>pinging</i>
in the middle of the road — I mean the guy simply committed suicide. In
the report, a learner driver was said to have knocked down the guy as
he crossed the road while pinging. He was chatting on his BB that he did
not realise the danger to his life. The statement by the driver was
shocking and revealing of the danger this BB crazy posed to users. She
said: “Mr. Ogbu was busy pinging on the road; I did not know when he got
in front of my car.’’</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now, who do we blame? The corps member or the driver?</div>
- See more at: http://www.punchng.com/opinion/an-encounter-with-a-blackberry-babe/#sthash.ibQvCdf0.dpuf</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-90011947478868786132013-02-25T12:05:00.002-08:002013-02-25T12:05:54.053-08:00God told me to go —Pope Benedict<br />
<img alt="Pope Benedict XVI" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="225" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Pope-Benedict-XVI2-360x225.jpg" width="360" /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In an emotional goodbye to 100,000
supporters, the Pope revealed on Sunday that he was stepping aside
because God told him to do so.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a voice raw with emotion, Benedict
XVI told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square that he was resigning on February
28 because God had called on him to devote himself to prayer. He said
God had told him ‘to climb the mountain’.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mail Online reports that pilgrims filled
the piazza to witness a historical moment and thank the Pope for his
eight year Pontificate at the Angelus Prayer, his penultimate public
appearance as the Pontiff.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite recently looking tired and
frail, he spoke in a clear, strong voice, repeatedly thanking the
faithful for their closeness and affection as they interrupted him,
again and again, with applause and cheers. Police estimated some 100,000
people turned out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Benedict insisted he was “not abandoning
the church.” Instead, speaking in Italian, he said he would serve the
church with the same dedication he had until now, but would do so “in a
way more suitable to my age and my strength”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He also said he would continue to serve through meditation and prayer after his historic abdication.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He completed the last Angelus of his tenure by saying he would always be close to the Church and its people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A child in the crowd held up a sign on a
yellow placard, written in Italian, ‘You are not alone, I’m with you’.
Other admirers held signs simply saying ‘Thank you’.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Heavy rain had been forecast for Rome,
and some drizzle dampened the square earlier in the morning, but when
Benedict appeared, to the peal of church bells as the clock struck noon,
blue sky crept through the clouds.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
‘We thank God for the sun he has given us,’ the Pope said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The 85-year-old will spend his last years in seclusion in a cloistered monastery within the confines of Vatican City.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Pope officially steps down on
Thursday. He resigned two weeks ago, saying he no longer had the mental
or physical strength to lead the world’s 1.2bn Catholics. It is the
first time a Pope has stepped down in 600 years.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Vatican-watchers have speculated that his declining health is a key factor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has subsequently emerged that the Pope had had a secret heart operation to replace a pace-maker three months ago.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-13509728726007544032013-02-25T12:01:00.001-08:002013-02-25T12:01:35.601-08:00Tributes, tears as Goldie is laid to rest<img alt="Goldie Harvey" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="320" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Late-Goldie.jpg" width="320" />Emotions rang high on Monday as late Hip-Hop star and former Big Brother Africa housemate, Susan Harvey, was laid to rest.<br />
The deceased, popularly known as Goldie, was buried at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens, Lagos.<br />
The deceased’s colleagues in the industry such as Kenny Ogungbe, Denrele
Edun, Essence, Kenny st. Brown and Weird Mc were all in attendance.<br />
Friends and family rendered written tributes to the 31-year-old whom they described as determined and loving.<br />
One of such tributes was a written one from her husband, Andrew.<br />
Andrew said, “Susan you walked into my life. It was like God sent you as
a fresh breath. I still remember your response to my first love
message. You said, ‘Love killed Romeo, sent Diana to an early grave and
killed jack on the Titanic, forget about love, just have friendship and
live long.’<br />
“Over time our love grew to a depth I have never known. You were the
best years of my life, your smile, your desire to live your dream.”<br />
Goldie died on February 14, 2013 of cerebral haemorrhage and hypertensive heart disease.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-887025693595862862013-02-25T11:53:00.001-08:002013-02-25T11:53:42.924-08:00Gunmen kill 11 in Kaduna, Yobe attacks<br />
<img alt="Gunmen" class="attachment-bigstoryimage" height="188" src="http://edge.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Gunmen.jpg" width="250" /><br />
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NO fewer than 11 people were killed in separate attacks in Kaduna and Yobe state on Saturday.</div>
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Palpable tension enveloped Kaduna
metropolis and environs following the killing of five persons by
yet-to-be identified gunmen at Aduwan in Zango-Kataf Local Government of
the state.</div>
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The development led to hundreds of
residents of the state scampering for cover as it was rumoured that
there was fighting in the Sabon-Tasha area of the state, forcing the
state government to issue statement debunking the rumour.</div>
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Our correspondent gathered that hundreds
of unknown gunmen invaded the village of Aduwan, in the Southern part
of the state, wielding sophisticated weapons, killing about five persons
while scores of others sustained various degrees of injuries.</div>
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An eyewitness told our correspondent
that the killing took place on Saturday at about 10pm in the Aduwan
village when residents were mourning the death of a ward head(Dakachi
Aduwan), Chief Dodo Mutua.</div>
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Another eyewitness, James Adeleye, told
our correspondent that “when I was coming from the church, I heard
rumour of crisis in Sabo but honestly, I was in the area and there was
nothing like crisis.”</div>
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The confusion started about 12pm, when
most churches are rounding off their services. As soon as news filtered
in of the violence in the southern part of the state, many worshippers
rushed out without sharing the closing prayers.</div>
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However, the state security outfit, <i>Operation Yaki</i>, took over the major roads while many vehicles went off the streets.</div>
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The state Governor, Ramallan Yero, in a statement appealed for calm over the incident in Aduwan village.</div>
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He said, “Government has launched investigation in to the cause of the matter.”</div>
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He, however, warned that security
operatives would deal ruthlessly with those that would breach the
relative peace enjoyed in the state.</div>
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Yero also directed security agencies to
maintain law and order in the area and the state in general as well as
protect lives and properties of the people.</div>
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Also, the state Commissioner of Police,
Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, while confirming the attack in Aduwan village,
said command had deployed armed policemen in the area to maintain law
and order in the troubled area.</div>
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Meanwhile, at least six people were killed in an attack in Yobe State.</div>
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Lt. Eli Lazarus said on Sunday that the attack happened on Saturday night in Ngalda area of the state.</div>
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Lazarus said no one had been arrested for the attack.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-9876712114486441882013-02-23T02:04:00.000-08:002013-02-23T02:04:25.675-08:00Elton John: parenting has been easier second time round<h2>
Elton John and David Furnish have told how parenting the second time round has
been easier.
</h2>
<img alt="Elton John: parenting has been easier second time round" height="248" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02489/elton-john-baby-fu_2489489b.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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The couple, who already have one child, two-year-old Zachary, became parents
for the second time in January when their youngest son Elijah was born.
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They said having "great support" around them in a good nanny and paeditrician
has made parenting a lot easier, and Furnish praised the people who have
helped them with the children.
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"It feels a lot easier, a lot more comfortable - the routine is already in
place with Zachary in a way, and all the stuff that was so scary the first
time around isn't quite so scary the second time around," said Furnish,
speaking before the Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar viewing party.
</div>
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The couple made headlines around the world when they became parents for the
first time in 2010, when Sir Elton was 63 and David 48. Their civil
partnership was formalised in 2005.
</div>
<div class="fifthPar">
Zachary was born on Christmas Day 2010 and Elijah on January 11 this year. The
identity of the surrogate mother, who is from California, has remained a
closely guarded secret but the two boys are believed to be half brothers.
The Centre for Surrogate Parenting in Encino, California, has strict rules
on who can be surrogate parents, and surrogate mothers have to be non
smokers and already bringing up a child of their own.
</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-51780999347276762162013-02-22T13:56:00.000-08:002013-02-22T13:56:42.245-08:00Goldie`s Family Says Police May Go After Denrele<br />
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<img alt="Click for Full Image Size" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://img.thenigerianvoice.com/images/content3/204x_mg_hlco26rfe8_goldenreleeee.jpg" vspace="0" /><br />
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The last good glimpse Nigerians had of Goldie was of her photos on the
red carpet of the 55th Grammy Awards, where she appeared as a woman full
of life. Her death four days later on Valentine's Day was one hell of a
shock for her fans, friends and family. Her demise evoked a volcano of
mixed feeling as many haters took to the social media to further hex the
soul of the deceased. In the wake of the Valentine's Day tragedy,
damning reports began to emerge: drugs, hedonism, a little-known
marriage, and husband-snatching allegations.<br /> <br />Goldie's untimely
death stirred a storm of controversies that cannot simply be wished
away. The big question revolves around her marriage. Before her death,
if you'd ask showbiz followers about Goldie's marital status, two out of
three responses would be “single.” The remaining would be “no idea.” It
hardly occurred to anyone outside her close circle that the Harvey
surname she was bearing was not a stage but her marriage name. Indeed,
the Skibobo singer created a cloud of deceit around her marital status.
During press conferences, questions about her marital status were curtly
cut off. On Facebook, Goldie's marital status was inconclusive.
“Single” but not searching and an occasional vague affirmation that she
was “in a relationship,” was all Goldie offered as explanation for her
marital status.<br /> <br />Many did not know Goldie wedded let alone,
married a white man. Now a certain Andrew Harvey, a Briton, has
announced himself, by uploading photos of their wedding that proved
beyond doubt the verity of their 2005 wedding. So Goldie was married?
Really?<br /> <br />At the BBA Stargame, Goldie was viewed through the lens
of a single girl. Against this new background, you begin to wonder, what
the hell was a 30-year-old woman with a seven-year-old marriage doing
in the wild, whimsical house of the Big Brother Africa, where sex can
happen at a short notice?<br /> <br />Then you begin to wonder, where was
Mr. Andrew Harvey when Goldie was gallivanting with Prezzo? A married
Goldie flirted and got cosy with Prezzo, going as far as kissing him.
For a married woman, that was so un-African. Even outside the BBA, her
love chess with Prezzo continued. There were strong indications that at
the time of her death, the Nigerian pop diva and the Kenyan rapper were
still love interests. One doesn't have to be a Sherlock Holmes to deduce
that the marriage was not the made-in-heaven picture Mr. Harvey is now
painting. Now Harvey is not making Goldie a saint as much as he is
further casting aspersion on her image as a married wife.<br /> <br />Toxic
reports in the wake of her shocking departure insinuated that Goldie's
was into drugs. These allegation, debunked by close pals, are just mere
conjectures. What is common knowledge was that her friendship with
Denrele Edun, the eccentric Channel O presenter, who also happened to be
her business partner and co-presenter of their impending reality show,
was not ordinary.<br /> <br />Now talking about Denrele, the initial story
was that Goldie died in Denrele's arms. The question is: where, in the
house, or on the way to the hospital, because the hospital declared the
singer dead on arrival. There had been different accounts about Goldie's
last minutes. The stories, sketchy but riddled with inconsistencies. So
who is going to give us a blow-by-blow account of the last minute,
including the names of people who were there? One report said her
brother was in the house with her. When Entertainment Express visited
her apartment at No 30B Ologun Kufere Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi,
Lagos, the following day, the apartment was deserted save for a weeping
househelp who went in, packed her two suitcases and fled from the house.
<br /><br />Then you ask again a whole lot of questions: What is the police doing about it? Where are her family members?<br /> <br />The
autopsy report indicated that Goldie died of hypertension. But the
public needs to know the back story, particularly, the details of the
last few minutes before her death. What, where, when, how, and who were
the eye-witnesses? <br /><br />Questions, questions, questions. It is better
to let the dead to rest in peace. And in this clime, we do not speak
ill of the dead. But this has to be said about the late entertainer:
Goldie lied to us. It is no crime for a celebrity to keep her marital
life out of the public radar - Onyeka Onwenu did it successfully. A
stern I-am-married-but-my-marriage-is-not-a-matter-for-discussion
response from Goldie would have been enough.<br /> <br />Goldie misinformed us by her utterance, she misled us by her actions. She owed us an apology, even in death.<br />An
insider, who spoke with us recently, said the family of Goldie wants
the Police to invite Denrele, for questioning, since he claimed that
their hale and hearty daughter died in his arms. “This I can tell you is
the family's position's. They want Denrele to tell them and the world
the circumstances that led to Goldie's death”, disclosed this insider
who does not want his name in print.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118138321158212810.post-20123538983104469732013-02-22T13:48:00.002-08:002013-02-22T13:48:43.297-08:00Living Dead: Majek Fashek Runs Mad?<img alt="Click for Full Image Size" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://img.thenigerianvoice.com/images/content3/204x_mg_majekfashekr.jpg" vspace="0" /><br />
<br />
Despite all effort to reinvigorate the dwelling career of this reggae
legend, Majek Fashek, it's obvious that he needs serious attention
spiritually and otherwise.<br /> <br />Recently, the living but half dead
reggae legend was sighted staggering and murmuring some inaudible at
Ogba area of Lagos. Veteran reggae artist, Majek, no doubt is now a
shadow of his former self, the once handsome looking, bubbling fellow is
now in a pitiable condition.<br /> <br />He is now mentally unstable and
sources say he is already in rehab but from a recent report, the 'Send
Down the Rain' crooner is not getting any better. A source informed
www.nigeriafilms.com that he was spotted last Friday at Ogba, Ikeja
Lagos clutching his guitar, staggering with a cigarette in his mouth,
murmuring incoherent words. Though, he resides at Gowon Estate of Egbeda
area of Lagos, his mission at Ogba was not known.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img border="0" src="http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L21hamVrLWZhc2hlay5qcGd8NjAw" style="border: 0px solid #000;" /><br clear="all" />
“Fashek is gone; I'm not sure any kind of rehab will bring him back. He
messes up in the estate; he drinks and staggers around with crowd
gathering around him. He's dried up. He has body guards and a deep blue
jeep, but most times, I think he sneaks out of the house and ends up
misbehaving. The first time I saw him, I thought he was a mad man. He's
gone!,” said a source who reside close to him.<br /><br />The main cause of
Majek's condition is none other than his addiction to marijuana, cocaine
and alcohol (three of the most dangerous hard drugs in the world).<br /> <br />Sometime
in 2012, we heard he got a music deal of N15 million naira and was
scheduled to release an album…no one has seen any album or heard any
single but from the look of things, all did not go well. We only pray he
recovers and God help him quit hard drugs otherwise Nigeria might lose
another musical gem.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12273242357191349662noreply@blogger.com0