2face, Dbanj And Others Plans Big Concert For Mandela

As the world prepares to bid the departed Nelson Mandela farewell on Sunday, some Nigerian music artistes have concluded plans, in partnership with  EbonyLife TV and other entertainment outfits in the country, to host a rare concert  in celebration of the extraordinary life and times of the icon and former President of South Africa.

Titled The Legacy Lives, the concert will feature performances by notable singers, such as Dbanj, Tuface, Darey, Omawumi, J.Martins and Tiwa Savage. The list also includes Burna Boy, Ikechukwu, Eldee the Don, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Julius Agwu, Mike Aremu, and Rocksteady, among others.

The organisers of the event indicate, in a statement released on Thursday and made available to our correspondent, that the concert will take place in Lagos on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at the Oceanview Restaurant, Victoria Island.

With the calibre of artistes lined up to perform, the event, no doubt, promises to be one that befits a celebrity of Mandela’s stature.

But beyond providing quality entertainment for thousands of music fans expected to grace the occasion, the concert is aimed at celebrating the priceless contributions of one of the greatest statesmen that ever lived on earth.

Commenting on the event, the Chairman of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, says, “Nelson Mandela lives on as a beacon of hope and a true icon of inspiration; a man of extraordinary vision who has left such a great legacy of humanity that Africans and the rest of the world must strive to aspire to. So we are indeed very proud to put this together.

“It is a free concert for the expensive price of liberty paid for by the selfless Madiba. We made a call to the industry and we got really tremendous response. For all our music stars and partners, we cannot thank you all enough for your sacrifice, kindness and generosity, which typify the spirit of ‘Ubuntu’, which is the  South African word for humanity.”

To make the concert a worthy tribute to the icon, Ebonylife TV will partner with Beat FM, Eko Hotel, Maverick Equinox, Bella Naija, Red Media Africa, 360 Nobs, Linda Ikeji and Noel Productions, while it will be supported by African Events, GQ Acoustics, No Surprises Events, Pisces Power, Edi Lawani, Prive, South African Airlines, Discovery Brands Management, Damell Photography and K-Square.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of No Surprises Events, Funmi Victor-Okigbo, gave assurance that the concert will be one to be remembered in a long while.

“We’ll ensure that the event is orchestrated and executed to perfection according to world-class standards,” Victor-Okigbo said.

Obasanjo - Jonathan's Close Door Meeting After Controversial Open Letter

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met behind closed doors in the  Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya.

The meeting held less than 24 hours after an 18-page   letter Obasanjo    sent to Jonathan went public.

Both leaders were in Nairobi for  Kenya’s  50th independence anniversary which was held inside the Safaricom Stadium.

The former President had in the letter accused Jonathan of  condoning corruption and engaging in acts  that were capable of destroying the country.

Before  the event, Obasanjo had made an  appearance at Jonathan’s hotel on a day the  media were awash with the letter  titled “Before it is too late.”

The former President’s arrival was said  to have been heralded by the surprise visit to Jonathan by Obasanjo’s daughter identified simply as Funke.

A source told The PUNCH  that a few minutes after that, Obasanjo arrived to the surprise of Jonathan’s aides.

The source added that the ex-President, in his usual humorous manner, said, “Mr. President, I have come to pay homage.”

According to him, they   talked briefly over breakfast  after which  Obasanjo jokingly said, “Mr. President, permission to go ahead of you.”

Our source said Jonathan replied with “Permission granted,” amidst laughter by the two of them and their aides.

But The PUNCH  learnt in Abuja on Thursday  that   the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party were already  planning   a counter offensive against Obasanjo.

Some of  the  aides of the President, headed by  his  Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, met at the Presidential Villa with Vice-President Namadi Sambo,    the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; and the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,  Chief Olisa Metuh.

 The other aides in attendance at the meeting which took place in Sambo’s  office were the  Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak;  the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe;  the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Umar Sani.

Sambo, Maku and Umar later left others to attend a scheduled meeting inside one of the conference halls in  the vice-president’s office while others moved to Oghiadomhe’s office to continue their consultation.

A source privy to the meeting told one of our correspondents that they discussed  how best the Presidency would respond to Obasanjo’s letter.

It was gathered that  the meeting by the presidential aide   was approved by Jonathan, who, according  to our   source, was rattled by the  publication of  the letter by the media.

They also discussed  the way to handle the backlash arising from the letter and how to  reach out to those that Obasanjo sent copies of the letter to.

The former President  had copied two former Heads of State, Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida.

He also copied former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and a former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

One of  the decisions reached at the meeting  was that “a high-powered” delegation  be sent to  Abubakar, Babangida, Ekwueme and Danjuma   to explain   Jonathan’s angle to the issues raised by Obasanjo.

It was gathered that the team would leave for  Minna, Niger State “soon,”  to  meet with Abubakar and Babangida.

Our  source  said  there were reports that Babangida was also planning to write his own letter to the President, asking him to forget his second term ambition.

The source said, “The  two meetings are aimed at dousing tension created by Obasanjo’s letter.

“We will meet those he copied in his letter and explain our points to them before deciding on the next line of action. We know the security and political implications of the letter. So, we don’t have to leave anything to chance.”

The  source added that the President  might  personally  reply  Obasanjo   in writing.

He said, “Chief Obasanjo has said that the President refused to reply his earlier letters. He will get his reply this time round. When the President said he would personally respond to the charges, he did not mean that he would address a press conference for instance. What he will do is to write the former President.”

When asked  if the President’s letter  would  be made public,   he  replied , “When we reach that bridge, we will cross it. For now, the response is still being compiled.”

Shortly after the meeting ,  Sambo also met behind closed doors   with the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

At the end of the meeting, Anenih, who  refused to speak with journalists, also had discussions with the National Chairman of the  PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Mixed reactions  have however continued to   trail the letter in which Obasanjo lashed out at Jonathan for acts capable of destroying the country.

Those who reacted on Thursday were   a Vice President,  Atiku Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress, the Northern Elders Forum,  the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen,  the  Ijaw Youth Council  and    the  United Action for Democracy.

While Abubakar called on the two former Heads of State, Ekwueme and Danjuma  to speak up  now on the   letter, the APC, CNPAPB A, the  NEF and the UAD  cautioned the Jonathan administration against treating issues raised by the ex- President  with levity.

But the IYC chided Obasanjo, claiming that his anti-Jonathan posture was capable of putting the nation on the precipice.

Although  Abubakar said he  was not competent to speak on   the letter, he however insisted that it was expedient for Nigerian  leaders  to intervene and reduce the tension created by  Obasanjo’s weighty allegations.

In a statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the ex-vice-president  said like every other Nigerian, he  felt the allegations were too disturbing to be treated with apathy by any political stakeholder.

He said at a moment of national anxiety or uncertainty, leaders across the country should rise to the occasion and reassure their   citizens  about the future.

Abubakar  said, “Our priorities for Nigeria are forging lasting solutions to our chronic unemployment, providing safety and security for all, and vastly improving our failing education systems. President Jonathan’s government has consistently failed to address these critical concerns.

“That said, it is on record that I have firmly fought for a democracy where the voters choose their future leaders, not political party bosses.

“If the incumbent President insists on continuing to destroy his own party with vindictive internal wars and thinks his record of rising youth unemployment, never-ending violence, corruption and scandals is worthy of another term, then he is welcome to run. We are confident Nigerians will exercise their democratic right to choose new leadership in 2015.”

 He agreed  that the President was free to run his government without interference, but  said sometimes even sitting Presidents needed outside constructive interventions to move their  countries forward.

 The  APC said it agreed with Obasanjo’s call on   Jonathan  not to allow personal and partisan considerations blot out his responsibility as the father of the nation.

 The position of the APC was contained in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

 In reference to happenings in Rivers State,  for which Obasanjo also berated Jonathan,  the  APC  said it had resolved not to sit by and allow anyone make the nation a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

 The statement reads in part: “We are aware of the letter to President Jonathan by former President Obasanjo, virtually accusing the President of destroying the same nation he was elected to preside over and uplift.

 “We hope he will not allow Obasanjo’s prognosis about him to come true so soon by backing any move that can plunge Nigeria into chaos.

 “This is because, we in the APC,  have resolved never to sit by and allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to engage in actions that will make our country a laughing stock and a pariah in the comity of nations.”

 The APC said there would be no peace anywhere in the country if the Federal Government supported  the perpetration of impunity in Rivers State.

 This, it said was not a threat, “but the sure consequences of any acts of impunity.”

 Speaking in a similar vein, the Convener  of the                 CNPAPB, Dr. Junaid  Mohammed,  said Obasanjo’s letter raised  a number of serious issues   that  could not be ignored.

 He said claims that the Presidency was plotting to set up “a killer squad” was particularly worrisome considering the nation’s sad history of unresolved assassinations.

 Mohammed said, “This, to me is very serious and given the way the government has been behaving from the time Jonathan came to power in an acting capacity, the way and manner he, INEC and others, were complicit in rigging the election.  I, as a Nigerian, has to be worried.

 “It is a known fact that a new think tank has been created and is being massively funded. Nigerians ought to be worried; we had random extra-judicial killings which became the norm of the government of the day.

 “As I can recall, most of the people killed have been unaccounted for.

Most of the people who were alleged to have done it or were accessories have been freed.

 “The idea that we are going back to the era where for example, Kudirat Abiola was assassinated in broad daylight, a time where the late Alex Ibru, got a snipers bullet in the head; he never was the same until he died of another ailment.”

Also, the UAD  agreed with Obasanjo’s claim that corruption had  been institutionalised  in the country.

The group, which is made up of more than 46 civil society groups, also said it  would be wrong to insulate the National Assembly from the corruption bazaar in the country.

It said corruption was being used as a patronage  mechanism of the ruling elite.

The National Convener of the UAD, Mr. Baba Aye, spoke on behalf of other leaders of the group at a news conference  in Abuja on Thursday.

Those present at the briefing were the Deputy National Convener, Abdul Yusuf; the  General  Secretary, Zulu Ofoelue; the  National Treasurer,  Jide Afolabi;  and the National Publicity,  Styvn Obodoekwe.

 Aye  said, “The UAD notes that corruption has remained institutionalised in Nigeria as a patronage mechanism of the ruling elite to foster their control over the economy and polity.

“With the recent rating of Nigeria as the 33rd most corrupt country in the world by the Transparency International, the brazen faces of corruption continue to disrupt national development.”

He  stated that  it was particularly worrisome that there was surreptitious sharpening of the teeth of state terrorism going on in the country.

“We  regard  these allegations with utmost seriousness, and demand  an urgent verifiable response from the Presidency,”  Aye  said.

  On its part, the NEF    said  even though   Obasanjo  said nothing new,   he  should be given credit for  his comment on  Jonathan administration.

Its spokesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi,  said, “This is from the horse’s mouth, if I had said this three weeks ago they would have said, Ango has been in opposition all his life but this is the man I opposed. I opposed Obasanjo, he was my friend. We parted ways in 2003.

“Here is the man who brought this man (Jonathan) to us (North), he was the one who did the mago, mago(trick) for Umaru Yar’Adua, he did the mago, mago for Jonathan.

“Now that he has at least been honest enough to speak out about the fact that, there was a one-term agreement and all of the issues he has raised in his letter, we should take him as an authority on the issue.”

The NEF spokesman also said there was no denying the fact that the nation was on its knees hence the need for all men of goodwill to abandon their ethno-religious differences and work towards rescuing the nation.

  But the IYC  accused Obasanjo of heating up the polity unnecessarily.

 President of the IYC, Udengs Eradiri, who addressed journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,  asked   Obansajo to look inwards before making spurious comments.

 He said it was unfortunate that Obasanjo associated Jonathan with violence and purported training of goons like late General Sani Abacha reportedly did.

He added that  it was not in the character of Ijaw people to take delight in killing people.

Eradiri said Obasanjo’s letter was suggestive of ill-feelings, stressing that he  was engaging in the proverbial ‘pull-him-down syndrome’ because the President had unbeatable record of achievements.

 He said, “In this country, leaders who see that others will surpass them will decide to drag  them  down and  is that is what is playing out in the case of Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan.

“The achievements that Jonathan has put on the table will be difficult for any other President to surpass in the country. But he is a man who does not know how to blow his trumpet.”.

Credit: Punch

Rose Amrayebure Laments Ethnic Bias In Nollywood

When did you start acting?
I started acting in 2005. My first job was in 2007. Then I left and came back in 2011.
Between then and now, how many movies have you done?
Between 2011 and now, I’ve done six movies and five soap operas.
Is there any soap opera you have done that is currently running?
They’ve shown the epilogue of ‘Married’ currently on TVC.
Have you taken a lead role before?
A sub-lead. The one in which I took a lead role is coming out in January. The one I played a sub-lead is already out and that was ‘Tears for Revival’. The one coming out in  January is called ‘Atmospheric Madness’ and it is directed and produced by Mr. Femi Okpeoluwa.
Why did you choose acting?
I have a flair for acting. Growing up, when I come back from school, my aunty would say, “Come and dance for me and all that”. So, I’ll say right from childhood, showbiz has been in me.
Your journey into acting, how has the experience been?
It is by God’s grace and with God, I am still pushing up.
I know it’s not a piece of cake to make it to the top in the acting industry, have you ever encountered anything like sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is everywhere not just in showbiz or the movie world.

Rose Amrayebure
What has your own experience been as regards that?
My own experience has more to do with the language barrier, it’s not easy. They prefer giving their own people the jobs. Like the ones I have done so far are mostly from friends. I’ve gone for auditions but I have only gotten two movies from auditions. There is this ethnic bias, you are not Igbo and all that. Though I speak Igbo.
When you say language issues, is it that you are expected to speak Igbo?
Not really, but they tend to see you as their own person.
Has any director ever asked that you do otherwise before you could be given a role in a movie?
Not a director, but some producers. I’m not going to mention names, but they tell you if you don’t do it, no job for you!
Have you ever been tempted?
No. One thing I have at the back of my mind is any job that comes, let God take the glory. No, I have never been and will never be tempted.
What’s the highest fee you’ve been paid so far?
(Laughs).Highest fee, wow! A hundred thousand naira, and it was for a sub-lead role with ‘I beg’. Some people will tell you, it is when the movie comes out, they’ll pay. But you are doing it because you know the person will pay, you guys have a relationship. It isn’t everybody that will just say, come, after the job, I’ll pay. You guys must have an understanding.
Which role do you really like to take, that you believe you have natural affinity for?
I don’t think there is any like that. I am an actress and if I am given any role, I put myself into the character.
Most upcoming actresses are desperate, how desperate are you?
Desperate in what sense, I don’t understand.
If a big budget script falls into your laps now where you are required to do certain things like showing parts of your body, will you pick up the script considering the fact that it’s going to give you the big break you need ?
I won’t do it, I can’t expose vital parts of my womanhood if that’s what you mean. I can’t!
What about sexual scenes where you and a guy have to do a lot of smooching?
In this job, there are people you have good chemistry with. It depends on who you’re dealing with. If I have good chemistry with you, I might say okay, let’s do this thing for real. When I say for real, I mean when you guys are under the sheets, you make it look so real, meanwhile nothing is actually happening.
When I mean chemistry, I mean people you like working with, that you flow with.
You’ve been in the movie industry for six or seven years, which actor do you have good chemistry with?
Don’t get me wrong when I say chemistry, what I mean is for instance, you could be in an office, and there are five people in that office, but there is one person that you like working with.
The way you are putting it across, your chemistry thing is sounding like a crush ?
No, it’s not a crush. It is just work chemistry.
So, in your time as an actress, you’ve actually developed a chemistry with certain people?
(Laughs) Fine. I have friends I like to work with……
Even under the blankets?
No, I have never done any under the blanket job. It isn’t under the blanket chemistry I’m talking about, just work chemistry.
But these friends you are talking about, even though you’ve not had any under the blanket job with them, you wouldn’t mind having it with them because you have a good chemistry with them?
No, they are females not males.
That brings me to another question, there’s so much about lesbianism in the industry, have you heard?
I have not seen. Nobody has come to me.
So no female has come to woo you or proposition you?
No
What actually is your mission in Nollywood?
To make it to the peak of my career. I have people I want to carry along in the sense that whatever God gives to me, I want to be able to give it back to the society.
Who do you look up to in the industry?
None.
So you don’t have mentors in the industry?
No, God is my mentor.
No role model?
No.
Is there any particular Nollywood movie that you think is a good film?
The movie that really motivated me is an old film, ‘My Love’. Then I hadn’t dreamt of even coming to Lagos. I was watching that movie and shedding tears. One uncle who was watching the movie with me said, “Are you crying? One day, you too will be doing this thing” and I said “No, I can’t act o, I can’t cry now”. The movie featured Chiege Alisigwe, Ramsey Noah and Hank Anuku.

PHOTO: Could Tonto Dikeh Be So Much In Love With D'banj Or Something Else?

Tonto dikeh is no doubt really happy or less busy today with he uploading so much photos on her instagram today. But the one that caught my eyes is the photo below where tonto was really good looking and sexy but guess what.....the caption of that photo is EJANLA, was that meant for D'Banj or she is the new ejanla?

OBJ Blasts GEJ In An 18 Pages Open Letter

President Goodluck Jonathan is under  a fresh attack . This time, it  is a stinker  from a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

 The Balogun of Owu, Abeokuta, did not make an impromptu speech at a public forum, he took his time to pen what he felt to be Jonathan’s  failings.

In  an 18-page  letter to  the President, Obasanjo  accused  him, among other things, of  not honouring his words  and  taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria.

The  letter dated December 2, 2013 and titled, “Before it is too late”  became public  knowledge on Wednesday. Only on Monday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said Jonathan was paying lip service to  the anti-corruption campaign  in the country.

In the letter, Obasanjo accused the President of  pursuing “ selfish personal and political interests based on advise from his “self-centred aides.”

He also alleged that the President had  failed  to deliver on his promises to Nigerians and to  curb insurgency and corruption in the country.

 “Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped,” an obviously angry Obasanjo lamented. He went ahead to declare that  “Jonathan had betrayed God and   Nigerians,” who voted him into power.

Obasanjo further alleged that Jonathan  had not only   placed more than  1, 000 Nigerians on a political watchlist,   he had  succeeded in destroying  the ruling  Peoples Democratic Party and  polarised Nigeria  along regional and religious lines.

He also said the President was involved in anti-party activities.

• PDP crises and Jonathan’s personal agenda

He said the President was using the PDP  National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, to cause the lingering crises in the party.

Obasanjo said, “Let me start with the leadership of the ruling party. Many of us were puzzled over what was going on in the party. Most party members blamed the national chairman. I understand that some in the Presidency tried to create the impression that some of us were to blame.

“The situation became clear only when the national chairman spoke out that he never did anything or acted in any way without the approval or concurrence of the party leader (Jonathan) and that where the party leader disapproved, he made correction or amendment, that we realised most actions were those of the chairman but the motivation and direction were those of the leader.

“It would be unfair to continue to level full blames on the chairman for all that goes wrong with the party. The chairman is playing the tune dictated by the paymaster (Jonathan). But the paymaster is acting for a definitive purpose for which deceit and deception seem to be the major ingredients.”

Obasanjo stated that Jonathan’s  failure to keep his promise not to seek a second term   had also worsened the crises in the PDP.

“Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me. And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honourable path.”

He added that  before the 2011 general  elections,   the President told  some governors and  the PDP     stakeholders, including himself,   that he would not seek reelection.

He   specifically mentioned  Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam,  as having  told him that Jonathan accepted not to run for Presidency in 2015.

The former head of  state said,  “ He (Suswam)  told  me  that  you  had  accepted  a one-term Presidency to allow for  ease of getting support across  the board in the  North.    I decided  to cross-check with  you.    You  did  not  hesitate to confirm to me that you are a strong believer in a one-term of six  years for the  President  and  that  by  the  time  you  have  used  the  unexpired  time  of your  predecessor  and  the  four  years  of  your  first  term,  you  would  have almost used up to six years and you would not need any more term or time.”

According to the former Nigerian leader, Jonathan’s failure    to keep the  promise had made him appear like a  man without honour.

Obasanjo told the President that it would be  “fatally morally flawed” for  him  to contest in 2015.

He wrote,  “As a leader, two things you must cherish and hold dear among others are trust and honour both of which are important ingredients of character. I will want to see anyone in the office of the Presidency as a man or woman who can be trusted, a person of honour in his words and character.”

The former President accused Jonathan of  supporting the candidates of opposition parties in governorship elections in Lagos, Ondo, Edo and Anambra states  and causing disagreements between  party members.

He said, “Maybe you also need to know that many party members feel disappointed in the double game you were alleged to play in support of party governorship candidates in some states where you surreptitiously supported non-PDP candidates against PDP candidates in exchange for promise or act of those non-PDP governors supporting you for your election in the past or for the one that you are yet to formally declare.”

He claimed that a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu “was nocturnally brought to Abuja to strike a deal for support “ for Jonathan’s  personal election at the expense of the  PDP  and its governorship candidate.

 “If you as leader of the party cannot be seen to be loyal to the PDP in support of the candidates of the party and the interests of such party candidates have to be sacrificed on the altar of your personal and political interest, then good luck to the party and I will also say as I have had occasions to say in the past, good luck to Goodluck,” he said in the letter.

• Insecurity/Boko Haram

Noting   that the President had not been able  to tackle the remote  causes of insurgency in the country, Obasanjo again advised him  to adopt “a carrot and stick approach”  to stem  the problem.

He stated  that “conventional military actions based on standard phases of military operations alone will not permanently and effectively deal with the issue of Boko Haram.”

• Factionalism/clannishness

 Obasanjo also  took on Jonathan for being clannish and wondered why he had not quietened some Ijaw leaders who  publicly  attack those opposed to  his leadership style.

The former President said,  “For you to allow yourself to be ‘possessed’, so to say, to the exclusion of most of the rest of Nigerians as an ‘Ijaw man’ is a mistake that should never have been allowed to happen.

“Yes, you have to be born in one part of Nigeria to be Nigerian if not naturalised but the Nigerian President must be above ethnic factionalism. And those who prop you up as of, and for ‘Ijaw nation’ are not your friends genuinely, not friends of Nigeria nor friends of  the ‘Ijaw nation’ they tout about.

“To allow or tacitly encourage people of ‘Ijaw nation’ to throw insults on other Nigerians from other parts of the country and threaten fire and brimstone to protect your interest as an Ijaw man is myopic and your not openly quieting them is even more unfortunate.”

• Political watchlist

Obasanjo also  alleged that the President had  not only  placed more than  1, 000 Nigerians on a political watch list, he had encouraged the  “training of  snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely.”

He added that  weapons  were being purchased   them   for political purposes and training given to them  where Abacha trained his killers.

The former President  wondered why the Presidency was providing assistance for “a murderer” to evade justice.

He said, “Presidential assistance for a murderer to evade justice and presidential delegation to welcome him home can only be in bad taste generally but particularly to the family of his victim.

“Assisting criminals to evade justice cannot be part of the job of the presidency. Or, as it is viewed in some quarters, is he being recruited to do for you what he had done for Abacha in the past? Hopefully, he should have learned his lesson. Let us continue to watch.”

Obasanjo did not  give the  name of the   but he  was apparently  referring to  the  former  Chief  Security Officer to   Abacha,  Hamza Al-Mustapha.

• Corruption

Obasanjo  called on Jonathan to take at least, “one effective corrective action against high corruption which seems to stink all around you in your government.”

He mentioned the  recent allegation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to remit billions of dollars in proceeds of crude oil sales to the federation account.

“This allegation will not fly away by non-action, cover-up, denial or bribing possible investigators,” he  told the President.

He added,  “Please deal with this allegation transparently and let the truth be known.

“The dramatis personae in this allegation and who they are working for will one day be public knowledge.

“Those who know are watching if the National Assembly will not be accomplice in the heinous crime and naked grand corruption.

 “As  head  of  government,  the  buck  of  the  performance  and non-performance  stops  on  your  table  and  let  nobody  tell  you  anything  to the  contrary.    Corruption  has  reached  the  level  of impunity.    It  is  also  necessary  to  be  mindful  that  corruption  and  injustice are fertile breeding grounds for terrorism and political instability.”

He also told Jonathan to do the right things because God and Nigerians would hold him responsible for “whatever happens and fails to happen in the country.”

“I have had opportunity, in recent times to interact closely with you and I have come to the conclusion painfully or happily that if you can shun yourself to a great extent of personal and political interests and dwell more on the national interest and also draw the line between advice from selfish and self-centered aides and advice from those who in the interest of the nation may not tell you what you will want to hear,” Obasanjo said.

The former President told  Jonathan that  nothing, at this stage of his life, would prevent him from standing up for whatever he considered  to be in the best interest of Nigeria, Africa and the world.

He added that  he was ready for whatever reaction  the  letter would provoke from the Presidency.

He  said, “Knowing what happens around you,  most of which you know of and condone or deny, this letter will provoke a cacophony from hired and unhired attackers but I will maintain my serenity because by this letter, I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the  PDP, and to our country, Nigeria.

“I have passed the stage of being flattered, intimidated, threatened, frightened, induced or bought… Death is the end of all human beings and may it come when God wills it to come.

“The harassment of my relations and friends and innuendos that are coming from the government security apparatus on whether they belong to New PDP or supporters of defected governors and which are possibly authorised or are  the  work  of  overzealous  aides  and  those  reading  your  lips  to  act  in  your interest will be counter-productive.

“It is abuse of security apparatus. Such abuse took place  last  in  the time of  Abacha.    Lies and untruths  about me emanating from the Presidency is too absurd to contemplate.    Saying that I recommended a wanted criminal by United Kingdom  and United States  authorities to you or your aides to supplant legitimately elected PDP leader in the South-West is not only unwise  and  crude  but  also  disingenuous.    It is a clear indication of how unscrupulous and unethical the Presidency can go to pursue your personal and political interest.

The former Nigerian leader  urged the President to share the contents of his letter with former Heads of State, Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida as well as a former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

He told Jonathan that  he should do so because  Abubakar and Babangida     had shared the concerns he raised in the letter with him (Obasanjo).

Obasanjo said, “I crave your indulgence to share the contents of this letter, in the first instance, with Generals Babangida and Abubakar, who, on a number of occasions in recent times, have shared with me their agonising thoughts, concerns and expressions on most of the issues I have raised in this letter concerning the situation and future of our country. I also crave your indulgence to share the contents with Gen. Danjuma and Ekwueme, whose concerns for and commitments to the good of Nigeria have been known to be strong.”

Initial fear that the letter did not emanate from Obasanjo was  doused by  his Chief of Staff, Deacon Victor Durodola, who confirmed its authenticity to one of our correspondents.

Durodola said the elder statesman decided to write Jonathan despite their perceived close rapport.

“The reasons are already stated in the letter, including where Baba (Obasanjo) said the last letter he wrote was not even acknowledged; so, the reasons are there, about 10 of them. So, he wrote the letter.”

He also confirmed that Obasanjo left South- Africa on Tuesday after the memorial service for the former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

But the   Presidency   described the allegations  by  Obasanjo as “most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who confirmed  receipt of the letter by the Presidency,   added that it was “highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative” that it    (letter)  was  deliberately leaked to the mass media in an effort to impugn the integrity of the President.

The presidential spokesman   said  in a statement that  Jonathan, at the appropriate time, would offer a full personal response to the allegations.

The statement reads, “We have noted the publication on several websites today (Wesnesday) of a letter recently written by Chief Obasanjo to President  Jonathan.

“The Presidency acknowledges that it has indeed received the said letter from Chief Obasanjo.

“We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that a letter written by a former Head of State and respected elder statesman to President Jonathan  has been deliberately leaked to the mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the President and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership.

“While many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.

“The President himself will, at the appropriate time, offer a full personal response to the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and his administration by the former Head of State.”

The PDP, in a statement by Tukur  also  called on  Obasanjo to tread with caution. It said the letter was  a direct assault on the person of Jonathan.

It added, “ For such a statement against the person of the national chairman of the PDP, to come from Chief Obasanjo, a former head of state  and President is most unfortunate.

“For him to insinuate that the President is using the national chairman to cause multiple problems for the party doesn’t in any way portray him as a true democrat.

“Obasanjo’s letter  is certainly an attack on the personal integrity and credibility of  Tukur.”

Man who Interpreted With Fake signs at Mandela's memorial Said He Was Hearing Voices On His Head

The organizers of the Mandela Memorial had come under serious stick after it was discovered that the person interpreting into sign language for deaf people was making things up.

The interpreter, identified as Thamsanqa Jantjie, 34, said he started hearing voices in his head and hallucinating, resulting in gestures which made no sense during the memorial, which was watched by millions of TV viewers across the globe.

Mr Jantjie has apologised for the incident and said he did not know what triggered the attack, saying he took medication for his schizophrenia.

He told Johannesburg’s Star newspaper: ‘There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on.

‘I am very sorry. It’s the situation I found myself in.’

Viewers saw Mr Jantjie interpreting on Tuesday at the Mandela memorial attended by leaders from around the world, but South Africa’s leading deaf association yesterday claimed he was a fake and said he was inventing signs.

Asuu Stikrs update:Finally! Fg Signs Agreement With Asuu, Versities to Open Soon

After five months and 10 days that the public universities have been on strike, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday finally signed a fresh  agreement.

The fresh pact is the review of the Federal Government/ASUU 2012 Memorandum of Understanding reached on the 2009 agreement.

Both parties, however, refused to reveal the details of the agreement to journalists who witnessed the signing of the agreement.

The meeting was almost boycotted by the union until the intervention of stakeholders.

ASUU had on Tuesday vowed not to attend the meeting because there was no commitment and proper invitation from the government.

The union had demanded for proof of the payment of the N200bn into a Central Bank of Nigeria account for public universities, non-victimisation clause, review of the agreement in 2014 and that a representative of government, preferably the Attorney-General of the Federation to sign the agreement as conditions to call off the strike which began on July 1.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that the union got three of its demands while it relinquished one to the government.

The Federal Government agreed to present evidence of payment, implement the non-victimisation clause and that the agreement was open to re-negotiation in 2014.

But it was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, MacJohn Nwaobiala, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government contrary to the demand of the union.

ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Faggae, signed on behalf of the union while the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar, signed as a witness to the agreement.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who presided over the meeting, said there was “no victor no vanquished” in the dispute.

He said the Federal Government was alive to its responsibility to restore normalcy to the university system.

Wike argued that government only directed the vice-chancellors of federal universities to immediately reopen the universities for academic activities pending when other minor discrepancies would be sorted out.

“Today, I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.

“Let me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU’s patriotic role and commitment towards ensuring that our universities are well-funded, resourced and run like their counterparts in other parts of the world.

“Thus, we are all partners in progress and there is no victor; no  vanquished in the struggle of this nature for as long as our goals remain noble, not actuated by parochial interests, but targeted at moving our nation forward.”

The minister on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan thanked Nigerians, the National Assembly, the labour unions, traditional rulers, parents and students for showing understanding.

In his response, Faggae commended the President for his intervention in the dispute.

He, however, stressed that the strike could not have lingered if government had agreed to document the agreement reached with the union.

“If what we have agreed with Mr. President at that 13-hour meeting had been judiciously documented and our members were convinced that it was going to be implemented, we wouldn’t have waited this while because we also have a lot of respect for the office of Mr. President and that of the Vice-President.

“But you see our members are intellectuals, I keep saying this. It is simply because  over the years particularly since the signing of the 2009 agreement we have been pursuing government to get that agreement implemented.

“We rarely succeeded in getting a portion of that agreement implemented by the government. Here we are, we have gone for about four years but it is never too late to turn a new page  and make sure we do what is right with our universities.”

Faggae said the country must place high premium on education if it hoped to catch up with developed world.

Faggae who said the decision to call-off the strike lied with the National Executive Council of the union, promised that the message would be delivered within one week for a final decision on the strike.

“We would now take this document to our members and we are confident that our members will do the appropriate thing.

“It was a sacrifice that was worth taking to ensure that we do what is right for our country,” he added.

In an interview, Faggae said ASUU would make its position known to government “within one week.”

Credit: PUNCH.

Alex Ekubo, from Uti Nwanchukwu TO IK Ogbonna

Now that uti and Alex are no more what they use to be after so much reports about them been g*yes, seems Alex have ow moved onto ik, they are fondly seen together at most event of recent....see them below...lips sealed

Mandela's Memorial in 95,000 Capacity Stadium And mourners Comments

Joyous, singing South Africans gathered Tuesday to honor Nelson Mandela at a massive memorial service that is expected to draw some 100 heads of state and other luminaries, united in tribute to a man who became a global symbol of reconciliation.

Rain fell as mourners converged on FNB Stadium in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that was a stronghold of support for the anti-apartheid struggle that Mandela embodied, as a prisoner of white rule for 27 years and then during a difficult transition to democracy.

"I would not have the life I have today if it was not for him," said Matlhogonolo Mothoagae, a marketing student who arrived hours before the gates opened. "He was jailed so we could have our freedom."

Workers were still welding at a VIP area as the first spectators arrived, reflecting the enormous logistical challenge of organizing the memorial for Mandela, who died Dec. 5 in his Johannesburg home at the age of 95.

U.S. President Barack Obama landed in South Africa just hours before he was due to speak at the memorial service.

The sounds of horns and cheering filled the stadium ahead of the ceremony, due to start at 11 a.m. (0900 GMT, 2 a.m. EST). Rain sent those who arrived early into the stadium's covered upper deck.

The 95,000-capacity soccer venue was also the spot where Mandela made his last public appearance at the closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. After the memorial, his body will lie in state for three days at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, once the seat of white power, before burial Sunday in his rural childhood village of Qunu in Eastern Cape Province.

Police promised tight security, locking down roads kilometers (miles) around the stadium. However, the first crowds entered the stadium without being searched.

John Allen, a 48-year-old pastor from the U.S. state of Arkansas, said he once met Mandela at a shopping center in South Africa with his sons.

"He joked with my youngest and asked if he had voted for Bill Clinton," Allen said. "He just zeroed in on my 8-year-old for the three to five minutes we talked."

Credit: huffpost

PHOTO: Femi Kuti Covers The Issues Of December Edition Of OK! magazine

1,350 Viewers Complains Of Excessive Coverage Of Mandel's Death

According to Daily Mail, more than 1,000 viewers have complained about ‘excessive’ coverage of Nelson Mandela’s death on BBC services, including some who grumbled about a repeat of popular sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys being interrupted.

By today the corporation had received 1,350 complaints about too much coverage across its news services, with some saying the emphasis had reduced the coverage of severe weather across the UK that day.

Programme chiefs broke into a repeat of BBC1 sitcom Mrs Brown’s Boys to break the news.

The BBC has defended its coverage and said Mandela’s death was of ‘considerable interest’ to audiences in the UK and across the rest of the world.

Fuji Artiste, Pasuma wonder Denies Wedding Plan With Flakky Ididowo, He has Dumped Her _ Aide

Fuji musician Wasiu Alabi Pasuma who granted an interview few months back about his plan to marry Nollywood actress Ronke Odusanya alias Flakky Ididowo has denied the wedding report.

In an exclusive phone chat yesterday, Pasuma’s spokesperson said the interview was not recent and that the two have separated long ago.

Here is what the singer said in an interview with Kayode Aponmade:

You have dated some actress in the past.

Yes I have dated one or two actresses.

Which of them have you dated?

That’s personal.

Are you getting married to any of them?

Well I am in a serious relationship with Ronke Odusanya a.k.a Flaky Ididowo, if things work according to plan we might get married soon.

So is it a probability?

If you say so fine, though everything is in God’s hand but I can assure you that we are in a serious relationship.

‘This is an old interview, he’s not planning any marriage at the moment and not with any actress, so there is nothing like that happening.‘ – said Pasuma’s aide

Denrele's Unusual Crazy Posses @ Mac Devine Night -out

TV host and socialite, Denrele Edun was spotted at the Mac Devine Night out..as usual he displayed his unique, crazy, and creative style in his clothing and poses.See more….

Annie And 2face Idibia's Daughter, Isabella Clocks 5 Today!

Annie idibia took to instagram today to shower love on daughter Isabella as she clocks five today.....wishing Isabella many happy returns, congrats!

Saucekid Reveals Music Is Second choice For Him

American based Nigerian rapper sauce kid  who is fondly called sinzu shared a photo of himself making music in the studio on his instagram page , what caught my eyes in this photo is it's caption which goes thus...still got time for this music shit, not hard to be found....industreet.

Looking at this critically, I personally think sinzu is only admitting to the fact that he is getting more busy outside music and music is now he's second choice........is sinzu giving up gradually on music?.......see photo below

I will Do It Again, Mandela Is My Hero, Drogba Responds To Turkish FA Threat

Mandela: I’ll do it again — Drogba
Drogba has responded to threats by the Turkish FA to sanction him and his compatriot over their tributes to Mandela by posting a picture montage on Instagram including a photo of his own meeting with the former South Africa president.
“I’d be very interested to see your comments on this…but I’m sorry if I had to I would do it again and again. Not because of political beliefs but because this man inspired me, a country, a continent, the world!!!!! Thanks again Madiba

Turkish Sport Minister Backs Drogba And Eboue Over Mandela Shirt

Turkey’s sports minister lashed out on Monday at moves by the football authorities to punish two top Ivorian club players for paying homage to Nelson Mandela.

Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboue have been threatened with disciplinary action by the Turkish Football Federation for violating a ban on wearing political slogans on T-shirts – triggering outrage on Twitter.

Turkish Sports Minister Suat Kilic called on the federation to review its decision against the two star players with Istanbul giant Galatasaray.

Eboue and Drogba

“I don’t find it a healthy choice in terms of Turkey’s image abroad and the two footballers’ (freedom of) expression,” he said.

Drogba removed his club shirt after a match Friday against SB Elazigspor to reveal a T-shirt that read “Thank You Madiba”, using Mandela’s clan name.

Teammate Eboue also honoured the South African anti-apartheid hero who died on Thursday with a T-shirt that said “Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela”.

The federation defended its decision to summon the two players, saying they had not sought permission for their action.

But the move caused fury among scores of Twitter users, with some accusing the body of “fascism”.

“There’s a minute of silence for Mandela before a match in Britain but in Turkey, there are fines,” said one tweet signed by Erce Sahin.

Another Twitter user with the handle Hevallo, said: “TURKISH FASCISM in FOOTBALL like everywhere in Turkey!”

The minister also blasted a federation decision last week to initiate disciplinary procedures against a Turkish club whose footballers wore T-shirts paying homage to the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Mandela: I’ll do it again — Drogba

Drogba has responded to threats by the Turkish FA to sanction him and his compatriot over their tributes to Mandela by posting a picture montage on Instagram including a photo of his own meeting with the former South Africa president.

“I’d be very interested to see your comments on this…but I’m sorry if I had to I would do it again and again. Not because of political beliefs but because this man inspired me, a country, a continent, the world!!!!! Thanks again Madiba

Alqaeda Has Infiltrated Nigerian Security System - NSA

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd.) has said that international terror organisation, Al Qaeda, has made inroads into Nigeria’s security system.

Dasuki however said that the country was responding effectively to the threat of terrorism through the making of relevant laws and policies to destroy the terror networks in the country.

The NSA’s comment was contained in a keynote address read on his behalf by Ambassador Layiwola Laseinde, who represented him at a one-week Strategic Communications Plan workshop for counter-insurgency organised by the  National Defence College, Abuja on Monday.

The event declared open by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Aliyu Ismaila, who represented the Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, was organised in collaboration with the United States Department of State’s Centre for Strategic Counter-Terrorism Communication, the British Ministry of Defence, and Albany Communications.

Dasuki said that the country had come to the realisation that military action alone would not suffice in the campaign against terrorism. He stressed that an enlightenment campaign was a necessity in the quest to defeat fundamentalists’ ideologies and  terrorists’ tendencies.

Dasuki said that the need to build a consensus against violent acts of terror remained one of the reasons strategic communications was included in the nation’s counter-terrorism operations.

He said, “Global terror, championed by Al-Qaeda, has encroached upon the frontiers of Nigeria’s security and well-being. Nigeria is responding to this threat on all fronts.

“Through new and relevant legislations and policies, security agencies have continued to dismantle terrorists’ infrastructure in Nigeria.

“Nigeria realises that military action on its own will not counter terror if not accompanied by a robust public diplomacy aimed at defeating the ideology of hate and building consensus against violent extremism.

“This is why strategic communication is an essential part of our counter-terrorism operations…”

Dasuki said that strategic communication in the country would enhance the exposure of the true intent and form of government “that the Al Qaeda-modelled Boko Haram seeks to impose.”

He said that the strategic communication strategy would also strive to place emphasis on the fact that terrorism was un-Islamic and that counter-terrorism was not targeted at Islam.

Dasuki said that efforts would be made to improve Muslim-Christian relations and promote the rate of literacy in the North as the fundamentalists were exploiting mass illiteracy in the area.

The NSA stressed that the Federal Government would promote inter-party collaboration in counter-terrorism so that all stakeholders would contribute to the efforts designed to provide safety and security in the society.

Family Denies Sam Sodje's Arrest Over Match Fixing

Footballer Sam Sodje’s family has reacted over reports in the media that the Nigerian was arrested over match-fixing allegations in the UK on Sunday.

The former Portsmouth defender was secretly filmed by an undercover reporter for The Sun on Sunday, describing how he was paid £70,000 to get a red card in a League One game.

The incident occurred in February during a match between Portsmouth and Oldham, when Sodje was sent off for punching Oldham’s Jose Baxter twice in the groin.

The National Crime Agency in England is already looking into video evidences supplied by The Sun on Sunday that Sodje said he could arrange for footballers in the Championship to get themselves booked during matches, in return for money.

The NCA said, “We can confirm that The Sun on Sunday has passed material from its own investigation to the NCA.

“An active NCA investigation is now under way and we are working closely with the Football Association and the Gambling Commission. Six people are in custody and are being questioned by NCA officers. We cannot comment further at this stage.”

Blackburn Rovers striker DJ Campbell and Sodje’s brothers Akpo and Steven alongside Ian Goodison and Cristian Montano are the other people allegedly arrested by the police in connection with the match-fixing scandal.

But the Sodje family denied the story, saying the former Reading defender was not arrested.

The statement titled ‘Re: Sam Sodje match-fixing claim’ read, “The true story so far is that there is an allegation of match fixing against Sam Sodje. An undercover reporter of The Sun newspaper contacted the police with this allegation.

“Sam was invited (by the police), he went with his lawyer to the Southampton Police Station, where he was interviewed and released. He was neither arrested nor charged.

“However, police investigation of the issue is ongoing. The family has decided against making any further statement on this issue so as not to interfere with the police investigation of the issue.”

In an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH in September, Sodje had said that Baxter used foul language against him during the encounter.

“I got sent off but he (Baxter) said something I didn’t like and I didn’t take it well. That is football.  I won’t repeat it because he has seen me and apologised but he said something that wasn’t right.”

However, the 34-year-old was also filmed saying that he had arranged for another player to be paid £30,000 for getting a yellow card in a Championship match.

The former Nigerian international reportedly boasted that he could rig Premier League matches for betting fraudsters and was prepared to fix matches at next year’s World Cup. He claimed he could set up a bet an entire week before a game saying it was “easy.”

Sodje’s elder sibling, Efe, who also played for Nigeria, told our correspondent that the issue would be sorted out but refused to comment further.

“For now, I don’t have any comment until everything is sorted out. But we will provide you with a statement tomorrow (Tuesday),” Efe said.

Credit: punch

Bamanga Tukur's Son Re- arraigned By EFCC For Fuel Subsidy Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned Mahmud Tukur, son of Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; and others for alleged N1.8bn fuel subsidy fraud before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

Others who were charged with Mahmud are Alex Ochonogor, their firm, Eterna Plc; and Abdullahi Alao, who is a  son of an Ibadan-based businessman, Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao.

The re-arraignment took place before Justice Lawal Lawal-Akapo. It followed the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, out of the Criminal Division of the Lagos State Judiciary.

The accused persons were initially arraigned before Justice Onigbanjo on July 26, 2012.

All the accused again on Monday pleaded not guilty to the nine counts of conspiracy and fraud preferred against them by the EFCC.

After the defendants took their plea, Lawal-Akapo ruled that the accused be allowed to continue enjoying the earlier bail granted them by Onigbanjo.

Onigbanjo had among other conditions on July 26, 2012 granted bail to the accused in the sum of N20m each.

EFCC, through its prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

Jacobs alleged that the defendants had between January and April 2011 in Lagos,  fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.8bn from the Federal Government under the fuel subsidy scheme.

The commission alleged that the defendants had fraudulently obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of petrol.

The commission also alleged that the accused persons forged a bill of lading dated April 28, 2011, which was used to facilitate the fraud.

The accused persons’ alleged offences were said to have contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.

Jacobs said it also contravened Sections 467 and 468 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State 2003.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Mr. Olaniran Obele, informed the court on Monday that his clients had filed notices of preliminary objection against the charges.

The court adjourned till February 24 for hearing of the application.

Asuu Strike update: Our Effort would have been wasted if.....- Asuu

Striking lecturers in the nation’s public universities on Monday made good their decision not to return to work as directed by the Federal Government.

The striking teachers also refused to sign the attendance registers in their respective institutions as ordered by the government.

They said they were only waiting for the sack letters the Federal Government threatened to give them if they did not return to work.

In many of the universities visited by our correspondents, only administrative offices opened for business while the lecture rooms were empty. Particularly, lecturers’ offices remained shut.

Among some of the universities visited by our correspondents were the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Calabar, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, and the University of Uyo.

Others are Obafemi Awolwo University, Ile-Ife, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had urged the striking lecturers to return to work or on before December 9 or risk being sacked.

But the leadership of ASUU had remained unfazed by the FG’s directive and threat. They accused the government of insincerity in the resolution of the face-off.

At the NAU, Awka on Monday, though some of the lecturers were on campus, they did not teach. The institution’s Faculty of Social Sciences, for instance, had its classrooms and laboratories shut.

The hostels were opened but students had yet to return to the campus.

At UI, only a few lecturers were on the campus. They neither taught nor signed the attendance register.

The institution’s chapter of ASUU earlier in the day had sent a message to its members, urging them to be calm and resolute in their demands.

The National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola Aremu, said they would have wasted their time and effort if they caved in and returned to work under threat.

He said, “How can you call off a strike when there is nothing to show for it? The government is not qualified to call off the strike. Our union is awaiting the government to state all it has done in black and white. However, it is a serious insult on us for the government to be harassing us with sacking threat. We are not casual workers or labourers. Our research work has been ongoing.”

Also, at UNICAL and at the Cross River University of Science and Technology, students and their teachers stayed away from the schools.

The UNICAL ASUU Chairman, Dr. James Okpiliya, insisted that the Federal Government must meet the lecturers’ demands before the strike could be suspended.

Lecturers also shunned work at OAU even though  a few of the students were on the campus.

One of our correspondents observed that many of the students who returned to campus were those residing within Ife and its environs.

The Chairman of ASUU at the university, Prof. Adegbola Akinola, who spoke to one of our correspondents, said that the strike was still on.

He said, “Our union did not close the universities, what we did was to withdraw teaching services and they will remain withdrawn until the government properly documents the agreement reached with us on November 4, 2013.”

Lectures did not also hold at ABU. The two campuses of the institution at Samaru and Kongo had only a negligible human presence as of Monday.

Lecturers’ offices and lecture halls were shut, just as the students did not show up as directed by the government.

ASUU Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Kabir-Aliyu, told journalists that they had yet to call off the action.

The UNIJOS ASUU chapter Chairman, Dr. David Jangkam, said striking teachers in the university were just waiting for their sack letters from the Federal Government.

Jangkam said, “We are waiting for their sack letters. Any government that is toying with education is not worth its salt. We expect firm commitment in solving the issues, but if the government is playing to the gallery, it is very unfortunate.”

When our correspondent visited the various departments, only a few departments had opened registers as demanded by the governing council.

There were no studies too at UNIUYO, UNIJOS, FUNAAB, LASU and UNILAG as lecturers boycotted classes.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, urged the striking teachers to call off the industrial action.

The President, who spoke at the All Nigerian Judges Conference organised by the National Judicial Council in Abuja, on Monday, said the industrial action would prevent the country from achieving the Vision 2020 target of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.

Although the Federal Government had recently threatened to sack the lecturers for going on strike, Jonathan noted that ASUU had the right to embark on the industrial action.

He said, “This administration recognises and respects the right of workers, including the right to embark on industrial action to press home their demand and have taken concrete steps to address the grievances of ASUU.

“I therefore use this occasion to call on ASUU to call off its strike.”

“With this Nigeria’s quest to become one of the world’s 20th  largest economies by the year 2020 cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of industrial disharmony.

“Nigeria’s geopolitical history has been characterised by incessant labour dispute and industrial action.

“While views may differ on the utility of industrial action as a means of advancing the collective interest of workers in the polity, it is an unassailable fact that labour and industrial harmony is sine qua non to the socio-economic development of any nation, Nigeria inclusive.”

Asuu Strike update: Asuu Task force Disrupt Lectures in uniben, Clashed With police ( photos)

There was pandemonium at the University of Benin today Monday December 9th as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) UNIBEN chapter disrupted an ongoing lecture at the Faculty of Law at the university.

Some UNIBEN lecturers resumed last week following the Federal Government’s directive to resume work and as one lecturer gathered his students to begin his class, The Union members stormed the lecture room and stopped it.

The Vice Chancellor of the University was forced to call the police to intervene but the unrelenting ASUU task force members clashed with them, putting an end to all on-going lectures at the University. The strike continues.

PHOTO: Timaya Spotted Chilling With Kanu Nwankwo On A Flight To London

The photo below shows egberi papa 1 of bayelsa with ex super eagles captain, papillo, chilling on a first class flight to London.....some big boys thang!

Photos From Toyin Lawani Baby Shower

Friends of the Tiannah Styling CEO surprised her with a baby shower yesterday Sunday December 8th 2013

See pictures below

Mandela Family At War Over Money

He was a celebrated symbol of peace and democracy the world over.

But in the last years of his life, Nelson Mandela’s own family has been at war, bickering between themselves over his many millions. And in the wake of the anti-apartheid leader’s death at 95 today, it is feared his surviving family will be plunged in to deep rifts over who stands to gain his fortune. Mandela was married three times and fathered six children – only three of whom, his daughters Makaziwe, Zenani ‘Zeni’ and Zindziswa, are still alive. His daughter Makaziwe, from his first marriage, and Zenani, from his second marriage, have reportedly already become embroiled in a legal battle earlier this year over the control of a £1million trust fund. Mr Mandela’s third daughter, Zindzi, is not involved in the court action, the Star of South Africa reported.

Bitter dispute: Makaziwe Mandela, left, and her sister Zenani, right with Nelson Mandela

But Makaziwe and Zanani are demanding access to the fund and have begun legal action against the trust’s two directors; 84-year-old lawyer George Bizos, who defended Mandela in the 1963 Rivonia Trial, and 60-year-old Tokyo Sexwale who was a prisoner alongside Mandela on Robben Island. Supported by almost all of Mr Mandela’s grandchildren, Makaziwe and Zenani allege that the trust was intended for them and that Mr Bizos and Mr Sexwale ‘hijacked’ it. Makaziwe and Zenani have also launched a legal battle against the same two men and another lawyer Bally Chuene who are all directors of companies whose main purpose was to channel funds from the sale of Mandela’s handprints. The two daughters claim that Bizos, Sexwale and Chuene were never appointed by Mandela as major shareholders or directors. Bizos claims the allegations are completely false. It is understood that Mandela has accumulated a fortune of more than £10million from his many autobiographies, intellectual work and after turning his family name in to a brand – a move his family have been more than happy to take advantage of. The family is active in more than 110 trading companies, according to records compiled by Beeld newspaper. His daughter Makaziwe has founded the House of Mandela wine label and is reportedly an active director in 16 other companies, although she insists some directorships have lapsed. Addressing claims that the Mandela family are exploiting their name, Makaziwe has been quoted as saying: ‘It’s our name anyway. Why should we apologise for our name? ‘I’m in the wine industry. There are families who’ve been in the wine industry for 500 years and no one says they are cashing in on their name. ‘Every child in this family who wants to use the Mandela name has a right to do, so as long as they do so with honour and integrity and upholding the values of my father.’ Meanwhile, many of his grandchildren control other franchise companies or products. He has 17 grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren – several of whom have been accused of trying to make money off the back of their family ties with the famous leader. The money was placed in the fund by Mr Mandela in 2005 to be distributed to his daughters only in the event of hardship as he wanted them to forge a career of their own rather than live off his money. He is said to have set up around 27 such funds over the years after ‘losing trust’ in his children with the money intended to last generations for ‘specific circumstances’ and not general use. Legal rows: Nelson Mandela, centre, is surrounded by his grandchildren – many of whom supported a legal bid to gain control of a Mandela art merchandise company – at his house in Qunu, Eastern Cape, on his 90th birthday MANDELA’S FAMILY TREE Nelson Mandela married three times, fathering six children, only three of whom are alive today. Mandela married his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase in 1944 but they divorced 13 years later. The couple had two sons, Madiba ‘Thembi’ Thembekile, who died in 1969, and Makgatho Mandela who died in 2005. They had a daughter named Makaziwe ‘Maki’ Mandela who died a few months after being born in 1947 and named their second daughter in her honour. He married his second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 1957 and they divorced in 1996. They had two daughters, Zenani ‘Zeni’ and Zindziswa ‘Zindzi’ Mandela-Hlongwane. Mandela remarried on his 80th birthday in 1998 to Graça Machel who he was still married to at the time of his death. He has 17 grandchildren – the oldest born in 1965 and the youngest in 1992 – and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Two of his granddaughters – Zenani’s two daughters Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway and Swati Dlamini who are both in their 30s – appeared in a reality TV show called ‘Being Mandela’. While the 94-year-old former South African president does not appear in the show, his second wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – ‘Big Mommy’ to her grandchildren – has a central role. The sisters, along with two brothers, also launched a fashion line, called ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ in honour of their grandfather’s autobiography. Many family members have also become embroiled in scandals – with his grandson Mandla Mandela being accused of bigamy when he wed French teenager Anais Grimaud while still apparently married to his first wife. The pair then later split when the couple’s child was alleged to have been fathered by one of his brothers. Mandla is the oldest son of Nelson’s late son Makgatho. He was born in 1974, followed by Ndaba (1983), Mbusu (1991) and Andile (1993). It is not known which brother was involved with his wife. Mandla has also been accused in the past of trying to sell the TV coverage rights of his grandfather’s funeral for £225,000. Family members have also accused Mandla of wanting to evict a cousin from her home near Johannesburg in order to turn it into a tourist attraction. Mandela denied the allegations. As well as financial rifts and court battles, Mandela’s family has also been struck by many tragedies over the years. His son, Makgatho Mandela died of AIDS in 2005 and Mandela’s great-granddaughter, 13-year-old Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car crash caused by a driver travelling at twice the 80km/h speed limit on a motorway in South Africa in 2010.