Patience Jonathan’s billion naira hotel under construction in Yenagoa

The video below:







This is the billion naira hotel under construction in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state allegedly owned by the First Lady of Nigeria, Mama Peace. I got the stills from a video shot by Kayode Ogundamisi for Sahara TV. You will find more photos after the cut…
Also see photos of the massive family compound of the Jonathans which is under full military guard in Otueke in Bayelsa State after the cut…

Jonathan, Diezani cronies To “Buy” Port Harcourt Refineries

Report according to Sahara Reporters has discovered that the shady plan to sell off Nigeria’s four refineries to cronies of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has reached an advanced stage, with cronies of President Goodluck Jonathan and Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke in line to snatch some of the best assets.
Our highly reliable sources revealed that Jide Omokore, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been penciled down to “buy” one of two refineries in Port Harcourt in what a highly reliable source described as “a rushed privatization process.” Our sources, who are in the Presidency and oil sector respectively, also disclosed that the second refinery in Port Harcourt will be sold to Benny Peters, the owner of Aiteo Energy. Mr. Peters is one of the major beneficiaries from Nigeria’s notoriously fraudulent fuel subsidy payments. A well known crony of Ms. Alison-Madueke, he is also quite close to President Jonathan.
The sources told SaharaReporters that the Warri refinery will be handed over to Igho Salome’s Televaras while the Kaduna refinery will go to Sahara Energy, an oil firm whose owners are also cronies of the Petroleum Minister.
Industry experts have questioned the Federal Government’s rush to sell the refineries when the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has not been passed by the National Assembly. The omnibus bill covers virtually every aspect of the oil industry and is currently being considered by the federal lawmakers. Various interest groups have protested and questioned several aspects of the proposed law.
“By rushing to make a pronouncement on the sale of the refineries, it does not need a genius to know that Alison-Madueke is up to something,” a source at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) told SaharaReporters. He added: “If you go to the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) today, honest officials will tell you that they are under pressure to proceed with the sale. The agenda is very clear.”
An official at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources said the major worry in the ministry was that most of those positioned toemerge as “preferred bidders” do not have any history in themanagement of refineries.
“Even though Madam (Diezani) may not listen to anybody, we believe that she should allow other players to come into the sector. All these favored guys are getting the juiciest assets in the country. The feeling we have here is that they are just fronting for her. She is basically going to sell these assets to herself. It makes sense to throw the process very open and allow new players to come in,” said the official, who added, “I am already a marked man because of the critical questions I have raised on these things.”
Last month, SaharaReporters had first exposed the scheme to hand over the national assets to friends and associates of the president and minister by any means necessary. Our sources revealed that Ms. Alison-Madueke had rigged the process to enable her cronies to emerge as the preferred bidders.
A BPE official confirmed to SaharaReporters that some of its officials were worried by the sudden haste in the privatization process, adding that the bureau was already feeling teleguided on the proposed sale.
“Under normal circumstances, and I am talking about the international standards we have adopted in this agency, the privatization would not have ended by the 2015 general election. That is if we want to do things normally. But we are being asked to sell as quickly as possible and this is certainly fishy,” the official said.
The official said, however, that he was not in support of the view that the sale of refineries should wait until the PIB is passed. He warned that “politics has already consumed the PIB and nobody knows for sure when it will be passed.”
Mr. Omokore, one of the “preferred” buyers, is a multi-billionaire PDP member who has received several lucrative deals since Ms. Alison-Madueke was made Minister of Petroleum Resources by President Jonathan in 2010. Mr. Omokore is the chairman of Energy Resources Group, whose subsidiary, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited, was involved in a highly controversial operatorship take-over of theNNPC’s oil mining licenses (OMLs) in 2011.
The other two “preferred” buyers are Televaras, owned Mr. Igho Salome, and Sahara Energy, owned by Tonye Vole, Tope Osinubi and Ade Odunsi. Little is known about Mr. Benny Peters, but his company, Aiteo, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of fuel subsidy payments from Mr. Jonathan’s government.
Televaras has been under the spotlight because of its sudden rise to prominence. It recently secured the Afam Power Plant in a privatization deal, despite not having any previous experience in the power sector. A BPE source said the company was arbitrarily announced as the “winner.” The Afam Power Plc was among the 18 PHCN successor companies which were put up for sale. None of the bids received for Afam Power Plc was deemed qualified, but Televaras was curiously announced as the winning bidder.
Sahara Energy was also indicted in a report by a Swiss non-governmental organization, the Berne Declaration. The report revealed how Nigerian oil marketing companies perpetrated widespread subsidy fraud running into several billions of dollars. Titled “Swiss Traders’ Opaque Deals in Nigeria,” the Berne Declaration also accused the NNPC of colluding with international oil traders to defraud Nigeria. The Swiss report revealed that Sahara Energy, Rahamaniyya Group, Aiteo Energy Resources Limited, Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, Tridax Energy, Mezcor Limited and MRS Group had established subsidiaries, also called “letter-box” companies, in Geneva, Switzerland, with no real business activities.
The Swiss document noted that the Nigerian oil firms established the so-called subsidiaries primarily for tax advantages and also for easy access to international capital. But four of the companies, namely Sahara Energy, Rahamaniyya, Aiteo Energy and MRS, were investigated by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee and cleared in a widely discredited report that culminated in the infamous $300,000 bribery scandal involving Farouk Lawan, the chairman of the House probe committee, and billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.
According to the Swiss report, the opaque partnership between the NNPC and some Swiss oil traders ensured that the profit generated in transactions escaped state coffers. Describing the scam as “not trivial,” the report added: “By way of example, in 2011 the amount withheld from state coffers came to $8.739 billion. The public coffers were directly penalized. The same year, the revenues from oil fell by 39 per cent against the amount budgeted. And this is despite a rise in the price of oil.”
Two weeks ago, a letter Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of the Central Bank of Nigeria addressed to President Jonathan was leaked to the media.
The letter alleged that the NNPC had failed to remit nearly $50 billion in crude oil earnings at the country’s bank. After a series of meetings between CBN officials as well as officials of the Finance and Petroleum Ministries, Mr. Sanusi disclosed a week ago that the amount of oil export earnings the NNPC had not accounted for now stood at $12 billion. Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disputed his figure, asserting that the discrepancy stood at $10.8 billion. There has been no further information about the whereabouts of the missing funds.

Cossy Orjiakor’s first time in native attire

 

PDP Crisis:Tambuwal sets to join APC

Another bomb is set to explode in People Democratic Party as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal is set to formally decamp to the rival All Progressives Congress, APC, in January.
Tambuwal decision came as a shock to the leadership of the PDP, who earlier in December had extracted commitment from the House leaders that member’s defection will no longer be tenable.
But National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur denied that he was filing a legal action to prevent the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party from removing him.
According to report, Sokoto State chapter of the APC has mandated its Tambuwal Local Government chapter to formally present a membership card to the Speaker who has been asked by the state Governor, Aliyu Wamakko to formally declare his stand.
Tambuwal has been seen as a beautiful bride by both APC and PDP, and has attended meetings with both parties.
It was gathered, however, that Tambuwal would retain his seat as Speaker due to the numerical strength of the opposition party if he decides to decamp.
It will be recalled that the defection of some members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the ruling party into APC has brought the number of the federal lawmakers of the opposition party to 172. The PDP presently has 171.
The likely defection of Tambuwal will further alter the equation in favour of APC in the House, with its membership increasing to 173, with PDP coming down to 170.
It was being speculated that other members of the House were also planning to join Tambuwal to pitch tent with APC.
Tambuwal was elected on the platform of the ruling party from Sokoto State.
Already, his colleagues from the state have followed the path of Governor Wammako to decamp.
One of the principal officers of the House, who confided that Tambuwal had perfected the plans to move into the opposition party.
“The Speaker of the House (Tambuwal) is moving into APC and that movement is sure. The speaker is to formally declare for the opposition party as soon as the House reconvenes from recess.
“But Mr. Speaker is going to retain his seat as he is set to tap the numerical strength of APC in the House to retain his seat. The defection of Mr. Speaker is going to alter the political equation in the House substantially because many other members of the House are likely to join him to move to APC.
“The speaker has made up his minds and he has perfected the strategies with the leaders of APC and he is not likely to go into APC alone as some of his colleagues in the House have also decided to follow him into the opposition party.
“The transition of Mr. Speaker is going to be smooth and his seat is not going to be threatened in any way. The movement of the speaker is going to deal a death blow on the ruling party. Just let us wait for the outcome of the suit challenging the defection of some House members into APC by the leadership of PDP.
“There is going to be exodus of members, including members of the National Assembly, out of PDP, if the court judgement allows defection,” added the federal lawmaker, who craved anonymity,” the source said.
Reacting to the defection plot, Special Adviser on Media to the Speaker, Imam Imam said that those reports remain rumours and as a matter of rules, they have refused to react to speculation.
He said: “The Speaker is in PDP, he remains a PDP member and there is nothing to suggest that he is moving to another party.
“All of those reports remain speculation and like you know as a matter of policy, we do not react to specualtions. The Speaker has not defected.”
In a related development, Tukur, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Prince Oliver Okpara, denied insinuation that he plans to sue the party’s NEC.
The national chairman disassociated himself from such move, describing it as unthinkable and unimaginable.
He wondered how he could initiate such an action against a body he is part of and an organ of the party that has the highest say and policy making body in the party.
His words: “How can somebody destroy his own house? The intended legal action only exists in the minds of the writers of the false story. I am a member of the PDP NEC and I respect the body and the members.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency has said that unprecedented policy decisions were taken and major projects executed for the good of Nigerians in spite of pockets of distractions during the year 2013.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe stated this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday.
Okupe noted that contrary to impressions being created by the opposition, Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan has moved significantly forward in many sectors than it was in 2011.
The Presidential aide said the transformation, which has taken place in the area of transportation, agriculture, power and other critical sectors are the routes which all developed nations had taken before now but which unfortunately had not been taken by Nigeria before now.
Okupe said: “It is an incontrovertible fact that Nigeria under Jonathan has reduced its food imports by about forty percent and increased its local production of rice, cassava, sorghum, cotton and cocoa in percentages ranging from 25 to 56 in the last two years.
“For the first time since independence, the Nigerian agricultural sector is attracting unprecedented Foreign Direct Investment. Over the past 2 years, the sector has attracted $ 4 billion in private sector executed letters of commitment to invest in agricultural value chains, from food crops, to export crops, fisheries and livestock.
“The number of private sector seed companies grew from 10 to 70 within one year. Over $7billion investments from Nigerian businesses have been made to develop new fertilizer manufacturing plants, which will make Nigeria the largest producer and exporter of fertilizers in Africa.
“It is also noteworthy that agricultural lending as a share of total bank lending has risen from two percent to six percent in two years.”
According to him, the major component of the power sector reform, which is the privatisation of the generation and distribution of the sector, was successfully accomplished in 2013, thus putting Nigeria on a sure path of steady power supply in no distant future.
He explained that with the completion of the privatisation process this year, as well as the completion of 10 National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, Nigeria for the first time, has moved away from vertically integrated state owned and poorly managed electricity industry to a modern private sector-led fully regulated market with the right incentives capable of attracting new investments to kick start the re-industrialisation of the country.
Other major achievements of the Jonathan administration in the outgoing year, according to the Presidency, include the recovery of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which was made possible by a combination of sound fiscal and monetary policies as well as a transparent conduct of state affairs in a manner which has rekindled investors’ confidence in the Nigerian market.
Okupe said those who always seek to use the security challenges in some parts the country as the only barometer to measure the present administration are not being fair to the President, considering the fact that the war on insurgency and terrorism has never been a quick fix anywhere in the world.
While reminding the public that bombings and killings by insurgents happened in Kano, Kogi, Niger, Yobe, Borno, Sokoto,A damawa and the Federal Capital Territory in 2011 and 2012, the Presidential aide noted that terrorism has been largely contained and restricted to one or two states in 2013.
“Yes, we are not where we hope to be but it will be sheer mischief to insist that we are where we were or as some wickedly say we are worse than we were. Definitely, their position is not based on facts and so should be ignored by Nigerians” Okupe stated
While reiterating the determination of President Jonathan to remain steadfast in his pursuit of accelerated economic growth and stability, peace and development of all parts of Nigeria, Okupe said the Federal Government will consolidate on the growth recorded in the outgoing year by completing all ongoing projects as well as initiating new programmes and projects, especially in sectors that will create jobs and empower Nigerian youths

Atheist Kemi Olunloyo Brags About Her Success In Cancelling Pastor Adeboye’s Rally In Ibadan, What a bull shit

Sounds like she needs attention.
In case you don’t know who she is. Kemi Omololu is a daughter of Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former Governor of Oyo State. According to her, she’s the only brave and outspoken woman in Nigeria.
Here is what she posted on her facebook page




This is more serious that we thought. Kemi thought She has succeeded in stopping Pastor Adeboye from holding his church rally in Ibadan. According to her, Ibadan is her hometown and she owns Ibadan she also said God told her the rally won’t hold. When her mission was accomplished, she took to her facebook page to thank her fans for helping her succeed.

Could this be a brain issue? because according to the profile she wrote on her blog, She suffers from brain damage.

In case you are still wondering how she succeeded, Here are the things she wrote that made the Man of God cancel his rally..
———————————————————————————————————————————————–
People are starving on the streets and many don’t have light or water. Adeboye is not
planning to move around the city today to give to the poor. Instead, he is planning to cause fanatical gridlock around Adamasingba.
———————————————————————————————————————————————–
I simply told RCCG, I will organize a poverty PROTEST. Take that rally to Borno state. He’s heading to Ilorin now in his private jet.
#BREAKING Adeboye’s trip to Ibadan tomorrow CANCELLED!
No more rally at Adamasingba stadium.
This city does not need fanatism.
#Wonderful
7 days to go!
———————————————————————————————————————————————
I am the MOST hated woman in Nigeria now just like Kim Kardashian is the most hated in America. We are LOVING it. BE HATED! Don’t HATE!
———————————————————————————————————————————————
RCCG COUNTDOWN: ZERO more days and its over for Pastor Adeboye.

——————————————————————————————————————————————–
Good Morning Ibadan. To all my REAL loyal fans in this city, THANK U for helping me SUCCEED in stopping Adeboye’s Expressway church from infiltrating our city.

——————————————————————————————————————————————-
We don’t need all that here. Our people are starving on the streets and many don’t have light or water. Adeboye is not planning to move around the city today to give to the poor. Instead, he is planning to cause fanatical gridlock around Adamasingba and a total disaster that will cost our city MONEY we have to pay the NPF to direct traffic and many of you stuck under Mokola bridge on your way to Shoprite for food shopping.

——————————————————————————————————————————————
Take that nonsense elsewhere. I counted down here that it WON’T happen cos GOD said so. Not today, I wrote them that I will organize a huge protest disrupting his preaching. We don’t want fanatical Christianity anymore.

——————————————————————————————————————————————
ADEBOYE spelled backwards means EYOBEDA “Take the Knife out where?” Not in my city. Take it out in your church on the Express and stab every congregation member in the back as you’ve done. Don’t let any mega pastor stab u in the back. They cannot pay your child’s school fees or let u attend their schools easily. N630,000 per term.

——————————————————————————————————————————————
ADEBOYE ANSWER: Pastor Enoch Adeboye is a GAY HOMOSEXUAL PASTOR who preaches HATE while he’s FUCKING men

I think what She needs or wanted is ATTENTION

Facts You Might not Know About Chidinma Ekile a.k.a Ms Kedike

Petite Singer and Kedike Coroner Chidinma Ekile was the winner of Project Fame West Africa Season 3, and that was when she Hit the limelight, coming out with her singles “Jankolikoko”, “Kedike” and Emi ni baller, which she won an award for Best Female Act West Africa for. So here are just a few of the Many things you just didn’t know About her.
1# Chidinma Ekile grew up in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
2# Of all her songs, Emi ni Baller is her Favorite
3# Aside music and before Project fame, Chidinma’s interest was in TV Broadcasting, To be a TV presenter and Acting.
4# In 2010, she got admission to study Mass Communication, but she couldn’t go and had to forfeit because of Project Fame.

Timi Dakolo Delivered of a Baby

The singer and his wife, Busola welcomed a baby girl on, 25th of Dec., 2013.
Big congrats to the couple.

Genevieve, Don Jazzy Are Lovers! Details that will shock you

We are shocked. And we are sure you would too. But those who know are swearing by their progenitors that the acrimony between erstwhile collaborators, Don Jazzy and D’banj would never thaw as both have now started getting even with each other through the most unexpected channel. Reliable and redoubtable sources tell us that Don Jazzy has been knocking knees, merging sweaty bodies and burrowing at will into the widely sought-after sanctum of popular actress, Genevieve Nnaji’s.
Confirmed by two A-List celebrities, the shocking tryst between the producer and the star actress, we gathered, has been on for a few months. “Since D’banj heard the story which he also confirmed from his own independent investigation, he has been unhappy and telling those within earshot how he further feels betrayed by Don Jazzy,” one of the sources told Epochng. Apart from the understandable sense of jealousy and anger, D’banj, we hear, is sad that of all women, Don Jazzy could croon his ways into Genny’s heart.
Nigerians have not forgotten the much talked about but oft-denied relationship between two of Africa’s biggest entertainers, D’banj and Genevieve, at the height of which the actress featured in the singer’s ‘Fall in Love’ video, which further fuelled tales of a robust romance. Sighted in several exotic places across the world, the innuendoes and insinuations of marriage were never proved. Recently though, D’banj was quoted in a newspaper interview as saying that he would really love to marry Genevieve.
Now, Don Jazzy has taken over where he left off with Genny. Yet, this is not the first time such incident is happening. Over the years, especially in their Mo’Hits days, we hear that this trend began with the producer. A source close to both parties recalled the story of a Dolapo who is married and now based in Malaysia; “Dolapo was D’banj’s girl but Don Jazzy used money to lure the girl into sleeping with her, the first instalment, I remember was N300, 000. Don Jazzy can give a limb when he likes a woman.”
The source is however critical of D’banj whining about Don Jazzy making out with Genevieve saying, “After all, he is also dating An A CLASS contovisial Actress who was Don Jazzy’s babe for a long time. In fact, they were at the grand finale of the Hennessey Artistry together so why is he making it look like he had been betrayed?”

MMMG Co-Owner, Iyanya Hosts All-White Private Boat Party In Lagos

Iyanya is one Nigerian artist that had huge success this year with several multi-million naira deals, and sold-out concerts in Nigeria and abroad.
The co-owner of MMMG, and his crew got together for an all-white boat cruise, which set sail at the Lekki waterways to Ilase private beach, Lagos.
See more photos

Governor Fashola pays condolence visit to the Ogunro Family

The family of murdered Mr Sesan Ogunro during a condolence visit by Lagos State Governor, Raji Fashola on 25 December, 2013. A pic of popular music video director Sesan with Governor Fashola after the cut…

Jennifer Hudson Shows Off Her Dramatic Weight Loss

It looks as though J. Hud is now part of team slim waist! Werk!
Over the last few years, we’ve seen Jennifer Hudson drop major pounds as the spokesperson for Weight Watchers, and judging from a few new photos, she’s at her smallest size ever. This week, photos emerged of the actress in a bra and jeans combo and reactions from her fans varied, with some feeling as though she’s too thin [earlier in her career, she was told she was too big, so it seems as though she can't catch a break!].
It’s true that Jennifer looks even slimmer than usual, but it’s because she had to lose weight for a new movie titled “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete,” where she plays a heroin addict named Gloria. Back in October she told Huffington Post:
They did request that I lose about 10 pounds for [the movie.] I don’t know that I did. [Laughs] But for “Winnie,” I did. But for this one, it was just like, “Oh, if you could lose a little more weight.” But I did learn eventually that with heroin addicts, in doing our research, that it’s not necessarily like a physical thing where you’re too thin or too heavy. [Director George Tillman Jr.] had this thing where Gloria was so into her drugs that she sacrificed the food, like, “I don’t want to eat, I just want to get high.” So that’s what stemmed her to look like she’s lost weight or she wasn’t eating or taking care of herself.

Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala replies Sahara Reporters over Import waiver granted First Lady to import 200 cars

Sahara Reporters published a report a few days ago, claiming that the office of the 1st Lady obtained import waiver to import 200 BMW cars for her “Africa First Ladies” summit in 2012. The ministry of Finance says the report is false. Saharareporters insists it’s true & has responded. Find a statement from the ministry of finance below and SR’s response after the cut…

Saharareporter’s story on waiver granted office of the First Lady is a complete distortion 

The story by Saharareporters on the so-called waivers scandal in which the notorious news website made outrageous allegations against the Office of the First Lady is a false exclusive based on distorted information.

The website merely extracted and distorted information on the list of beneficiaries of the revised waivers policy which the Federal Ministry of Finance voluntarily published as part of its drive for transparency and accountability. Continue…

The revised waivers policy replaces the old regime of individual waivers with the objective of boosting key sectors such as agriculture, power, gas and mines/steel. The strategy is to deploy waivers as a stronger tool of economic development.

Part of the information published by the Federal Ministry of Finance was a list of state governments, private sector organizations and other institutions which were granted waivers to bring in vehicles for various events including sports festivals, conferences and workshops. This practice did not begin with the Jonathan administration.

Beneficiaries of the waivers for vehicle imports include state governments such as Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Lagos as well as organizations such as the continental First Ladies Forum which was granted a waiver for vehicles required for their event hosted by Nigeria. The First Lady did not in any way personally benefit from this waiver.

It is important to recall the fact that the country has a nascent leasing industry and no company in the sector currently has the quantity and quality of vehicles required for such events. Government is encouraging private sector organizations with the requisite focus and expertise in this area and the hope is that soon it would no longer be necessary to grant such waivers.

The resort to falsehood by Saharareporters based on a distortion of information voluntarily made available by government underscores the desperation of this scurrilous medium and its paymasters.

Paul C Nwabuikwu

Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance.
 

The Truth about the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Waiver Policy

1.      You may recall that the

Punch Newspaper published editorials accusing the government and the Federal Ministry of Finance of running a corrupt waiver policy, and challenged the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish those waivers. (http://bit.ly/1jCH3j4)

2.     The Federal Ministry of Finance categorically refutes the allegation that it is running a corrupt waiver policy.

3.      Two years ago the Executive introduced a total reform of the waiver policy. Waivers are now only granted on a sectoral basis. This means that every company in the sector enjoys the same waiver privileges. All companies or entities involved in a sector or given activity will benefit from the same waivers once they meet the necessary criteria.

4.      The Federal Ministry of Finance published an abbreviated version of the full waiver report in several newspapers. It was also announced that the full version is available at www.budgetoffice.gov.ng and on social media (http://on.fb.me/1fWHYG5).

5.      The SaharaReporters claim that the Federal Ministry of Finance surreptitiously released an updated waiver list on the web only on December 22^nd, 2013 is categorically false. In the spirit of transparency, the full waiver list was made public on December 3^rd  

6.      For the avoidance of doubt: the Federal Ministry of Finance has never denied issuing waivers to African First Ladies Forum conference. This official event for First Ladies of all the other African countries necessitated vehicles for the transport of these visiting dignitaries. The waiver granted for this occasion is similar to other waivers issued to various state governments and government institutions such as Rivers, Lagos, and Akwa Ibom for similar official sporting and conference events.

7.       As always The Federal Ministry of Finance welcomes all legitimate inquiries and criticisms. The Ministry of Finance cannot be expected to remain silent when falsification and distortion of facts occurs.

Paul C Nwabuikwu

Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance.

Sahara Reporters Response below…
By Omoyele Sowore
Dear Minister Of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala : It has come to our attention that your Special Assistant on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, is circulating a press statement to a select group of news outlets and bloggers describing as false a report by SaharaReporters about import waivers obtained by Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s office to import 200 BMW cars for her “Africa First Ladies” summit in 2012.
While your aide’s statement did not dispute the existence of waivers that were ultimately granted to Coscharis Motors to import the cars, he went to great lengths to accuse SaharaReporters of distorting the information released by your office.
We are not in the least surprised that you would authorize your aide’s misleading press release aimed at casting aspersions on us. This mendacious release is consistent with your style of responding to legitimate questions about your conduct as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance. You have established a reputation for intolerance of principled and accurate media reports once they raise questions about your ministerial judgments or reflect poorly on your performance.
You would recall that, on December 3rd, 2013, you published a doctored list of beneficiaries of import waivers in response to pressures mounted on your office by Nigeria’s PUNCH newspaper. Without question, you had hoped to bamboozle the public with this incomplete list. However, we refused to accept your list for publication, having received information from officials who should know that your list was distorted and incomplete, indeed an attempt to hoodwink gullible reporters and Nigerians. Yesterday, your office surreptitiously released an updated list on the web. It is this fuller list that revealed part of how the First Lady has benefited significantly from the questionable dispensation of import waivers to politically connected individuals and firms. We duly acknowledged our source.
The tone of your aide’s press statement makes it clear that you had hoped that your updated list would not become public knowledge. That explains the harsh and predictable attack on our medium.
Since your statement claimed that Mrs. Jonathan did not benefit from the imported BMWs, we urge you to go a step further: produce the list of beneficiaries and providing the chasses numbers of the BMWs imported under the questionable waivers you granted to Coscharis Motors in 2012. In addition, we challenge you to provide evidence that Coscharis Motors imported the vehicles for which the waivers were granted.
You should also do the Nigerian public the great service of explaining why presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, claimed that the Federal Government had not contributed a dime to the importation of the BMWs, when your office had indeed granted waivers worth N560 million to the controversial auto dealer.
Since you claimed that your latest release was driven by your desire to ensure transparency, we await a detailed response to the issues raised here.
Sincerely,
Omoyele Sowore
For Saharareporters.com

SSS Parades Airforce Official, Six Other Alleged Kidnappers of Sokoto Billionaire

The Department of State Security Service (SSS) paraded an Air force Lance Corporal, Suleiman Mohammed, and six others for alleged kidnap of one Abu Dankure. The suspects were paraded at the SSS headquarters in Abuja on December 24, 2013, Tuesday.

The others paraded were 31-year-old Mustapha Isah, a.k.a. Chief Coordinator; Mohamed Abubakar, Faruku Waziri, Mohammed Bukar, Usman Idah, and Abdullahi Musa.
SSS reminded that victim, a Sokoto-based businessman, Abu Dankure, was kidnapped at his construction site in Kofar Kwari, Sokoto on November 6. He was released on November 11 after a $290,000 (N45m) ransom was paid to his abductors. However, he died 11 days later.
Mr. Isah, who said he got N2.2 million from the ransom, said he left Sokoto two days after the kidnap of Mr. Dankure to negotiate with the family of the victim. He said he rented a three-bedroom apartment at Mabera, Sokoto, where they plotted and detained Mr. Dankure.
He said that on November 11, when he received the ransom at Kwali area of the Federal Capital Territory, he ordered Mr. Bukar, the chief custodian of the victim, to release him.
He also denied torturing or feeding Mr. Dankure with any kind of food that could have led to his death.
The Air force official, Mr. Mohammed, denied having links with the kidnappers. He told journalists that he met Mr. Musa, a friend to his cousin, when he sold a Samsung galaxy Note 2 to him.
He also said he travelled to Kaduna twice to collect money for the phone: N45,000 and N20,000 respectively.
While he denied supplying guns to the others, he said Mr. Musa only asked him if he had an idea on how he could acquire guns, to which he replied that he does not deal in guns but could ask his uncle in Jos, Yakubu Mohammed, who deals in guns.
He said he also told Mr. Musa that two AK47 riffles would cost him N500,000.
“I am not working with any of them, I don’t supply riffle to them. Abdullahi asked me if I can get riffle to them, I told him I don’t sell but can ask my uncle in Jos,” Mr. Mohammed said.
A 45-year-old Mr. Musa is an indigene of Mallam-Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State and was convicted of car theft in 2008. He served a six-year jail term in Kuje prison.
The kidnap kingpin also confessed to being a member of a car-snatching syndicate operating in Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Abuja, among others states.
While other members of the gang denied knowing or having contact with Mr. Mohammed, Mr. Musa insisted that the soldier promised to procure two pistols at N500,000 for his friend Ali.
Doyin Adetuberu, who represented the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, said the gang will be charged to court soon.

Peter Okoye poses with scantily-clad ladies in sexy christmas outfits

 Remember he’s a married man now..Well it’s showbiz and his wife isn’t complaining

A Bowl Of Rice Registered As A Voter In Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented a bowl of rice as one the registered voters during the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State.  The bowl of rice pictured in INEC's voter's roll was registered as a 37 year old male voter in Umuerodili township in Anambra State.

My Abductors Took My Shoes, My Shirt says Primate Akinola

Primate Akinola

The immediate past primate of Anglican Church, Peter Akinola who was abducted by gunmen in Abeokuta yesterday and was rescued later by the Policemen from Ogun Command today recounted his ordeal in the hands of his abductors.
The clerygman,who worshipped today at the Abeokuta chapel of his church thanked everybody who had shown love and affection to him and his family members during his hours of predicament.
Addressing the congregation at Anglican Communion Church at tkhe Olusegun Osoba Hilltop, Abeokuta appreciated the concern shown and efforts made by individuals when he was abducted by the hoodlums.
According to the former CAN President, “I want to thank all of you for your outpouring of love and prayers, what happened yesterday was what I used to think is drama; something that we used to see on the television, until much more later that I realized it was real”.
Narrating how the incident happened, he said:”I left the house about 11 a.m to go to our site where we are building structures to train young people in Nigeria who are unemployed. The irony of it is that as I was coming out of the place where I had gone to give food to our workers for Christmas, as I was stepping out, these two young men came out of their car from nowhere. They asked me to open the door, knocking the window with their gun butt.
“I instructed my driver, Jonah, to open the door for them, they sandwiched us at the back of the car and they drove off. They told us to put our head down and that they would blow off our heads if we looked up. They drove for about an hour, where we don’t know until we discovered that we were in the midst of a thick forest. Then I requested to talk and informed them that there was no enough fuel in the car.
"They querried us for not having enough fuel in the car and my driver responded that we just returned from a journey. In the bush there, I was suprised at how they were able to locate a filling station, bought N3000 fuel and continued with the journey that was about three in the afternoon.
“They started asking questions about dollars, which I said there was none, i told them I was a village pastor that has just retired and that the car was given to me by the church. They asked about the security of the car and I told them there was none. They searched for it for almost two hours but couldn’t find anything”,he explained.
Akinola further stated,”I was just praying that God of mercy should come to our rescue; I was just remembering how God saved some believers in the Bible and I concluded that if I must die, how can it be in the hands of these people. Unknown to us, the news had started circulating around and people started praying. Meanwhile they have taken everything from us, they have taken my shirt, my shoes. I was left with my singlet and trousers, but my driver was not so lucky. His cloth, trousers and shoes were taken, he was left with boxers.
“They said i should walk on, when we moved about 100 meters from the car, I was asked to take the left while my driver was asked to take the right inside the bush. I was hearing how they were threatening my driver. After a while, we started hearing gun shots, apparently, the police were around. Later we learnt that the Governor himself with the Commissioner of Police, the secretary to the state government led the rescue team. When I couldn’t hear any more gunshots, I trekked back to the footpath shouting for my driver.
“Not quite long, I saw a vehicle coming, they approached me , I raised up my hands and told them it was my car they took and that am looking for my driver. They said they were police and they said I should come into the car. The leader of the police team, the State Anti-robbery Squad, they called him TJ, was a wondereful man, for the first time in my life,I doff my hat for the police for their performance.
“This same man, a muslim, approached me and said they have heard about what am doing that I should not stop, saying God has preserved my life for this purpose. He charged me to do more.
“Right from Imasayi to Ayetoro and right to Randa, it was just beyond my imagination that I came back in peace, but was worried about my driver who I later found out was at the hospital”,he recounted.

‘You can’t give an award like the Ballon d’Or to Ribery,’ claims Coentrao

The Portugal international has dismissed the Bayern Munich man’s claims on the prestigious prize, while also stating that Lionel Messi has been out of action for too long to win









Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has rubbished Franck Ribery’s claims on the Ballon d’Or, arguing that “you can’t give an award like this” to the Frenchman.
The Portugal international believes that the Bayern Munich ace should not be mentioned in the same breath as the two other players shortlisted for the accolade, compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
Even then, Coentrao is of the opinion that there is only one obvious choice for this year’s Ballon d’Or, given Argentina’s finest has been plagued by injuries in 2013.
“Messi is an excellent player, but he has been out of action a long time,” the full-back told A Bola. “And you can’t give an award like this to Ribery, who only scored 22 goals.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has always been at the top of his game and scored [more than] twice as many.”
The winner of the 2013 Ballon d’Or will be announced at a special ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland on January 13.

Comedian Klint Da Drunk, Shares Family Christmas Pics (PHOTOS)

Comedian Klint Da Drunk, shared joyful photos of his happy family at Pre-Christmas photoshootCard.

The father posed with two of his cute kids, and a beautiful wife.
See the photos below:

Oduah’s Comment On The Recommendation To Sack Her Left Journalist Flabbergasted

The Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, said she would not resign. She expressed her position on Tuesday, while inspected remodelled facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.







When a journalist asked Oduah if she would resign following lawmakers’ recommendations to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister replied:

“I think it means you don’t read or you probably don’t understand English because I read it too. What is there is that Mr. President can and should review. That is what they said there. Probably, you should go back to school.”

Oduah’s statement left a mammoth of journalists who had thronged the airport bewildered.

From Minister’s point of view, the lawmakers had neither indicted her nor called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack her. Rather, she said, the House of Representatives recommended the presidency to review some of the issues in the aviation sector.
To recall, last Thursday the House of Representatives endorsed the report of its Committee on Aviation, which had indicted Oduah over the purchase of two armoured BMW of N255 million.
The report concluded that for approving cars that were not budgeted for in 2013 and for an amount far above the approval limit of the ministry, Oduah had broken the law.
The House, therefore, asked Jonathan to decide whether Stella Oduah should continue to retain her services as a minister.
The endorsement of the report by the House elicited a prompt response from Oduah, who described the action as premeditated and with a hidden agenda.

“We are shocked and disappointed that in spite of the deluge of representations and evidences provided by the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah and all invited stakeholders on the matter, the House would reach conclusions that have only confirmed that there was a hidden Agenda in the entire exercise from the beginning,” said Joe Obi,Odua’s spokesperson.

Speaking on the remodelled airport, Oduah assured that the airport would be commissioned before the end of first quarter of 2014.

National Carrier To Take-Off Very Soon says Oduah

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, on Tuesday said that the inauguration of re-modelled airports in the country would begin in January 2014.
 Oduah spoke while inspecting ongoing work at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
She said that after the remodelling of the airports, Nigerians should expect an aviation industry that would create wealth and jobs for the populace.


The minister said by the second quarter of 2014, the MMIA would have new bridges/fingers and passengers would have better experiences at the airport.
According to her, the Federal Government will continue to ensure the safety and security of passengers at the nation’s airports.
She also said that the government was prepared to give Nigerians a national carrier that would give the best experience to air travellers.
“We are experiencing some challenges at the moment, but once the issues are resolved, the plan will continue.
“We are going to rectify those challenges very soon. The important thing is to give Nigerians the national carrier that we will all admire”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister inspected the newly installed screening machines at the ‘D’ and ‘E’ wings of the MMIA.
She also inspected some office projects within the re-modelled terminal. (NAN

Deposed Wife-Beating Akure Monarch, Pleading For Reinstatement, Sends 18-Page Apology To Governor Mimiko

Late Olori Bolanle

The deposed former Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oluwadare Adepoju Adesina, has written an emotional letter of consideration to the Ondo state government to reinstate him as the paramount ruler.
Mr. Adepoju was deposed after this website revealed his battery of his wife, Olori Bolanle, in May 2010.   His battered wife took ill and subsequently died in July 2011.  Mr. Adepoju then relocated to the United Kingdom.
In the letter, obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters through his lawyer, Barrister Olusola Oke, the deposed Deji appealed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, for whom he claimed to have worked tirelessly during his election campaign, to consider his plea.
"I must passionately plead with your Excellence to remember how well I stood behind you and fought with you towards ensuring that you won the election and to ensure that you also recovered your stolen mandate,” he said.
Recounting how he was deposed from the town because he allegedly poured a concoction on his estranged late wife, Olori Bola Adepoju Adesina, he said the avoidable communication gap was the reason behind the widely-reported incident.
He claimed that the escalated fracas between him and the late Olori was misconstrued by the press which, he also alleged, refused to report his own version of the story.
Dr Ige Ogunleye, the Chairman of the Osupa Ruling house which Adesina hails from, confirmed receipt of the letter, but he declined further comment.
Many sources in the ruling house disclosed that the letter comes at an important time, as the Deji throne is vacant.  SaharaReporters had earlier gathered from a kingmaker in the palace that the Osupa Ruling House is the next family to present candidates for the throne.
We also learnt that chiefs in Akure will this week complete traditional rites for the late Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida. A source revealed that the daughter of the deceased, Princess Adetutu, is expected to be installed as Regent of Akure pending the emergence of a new king.
The palace source told our reporter that the belated installation was on account of family exigencies.
“The issue is that Princess Adetutu was nursing her baby when the sudden death of her father was pronounced.  But immediately after the whole rites she might will be installed as the regent of the kingdom this week or early in the New Year," the source said.
But an aide to the Lisa of Akure, High Chief James Olusoga, told SaharaReporters in a phone interview that the traditional rites would be completed with the installation of a regent, most likely between Christmas and the New Year festival period.
With just 23 days since the death of Adebiyi Adesida, the jostling for the throne has begun at a frantic pace, with members of the Osupa Ruling House lobbying kingmakers for the vacant sit.
While some seem to favour the return of the deposed Adesina to the throne, others object, fearing victimisation should he re-emerge the king.
In the letter, however, the former and perhaps future Deji seems to have leant his lessons of his experience and reconciled with those who worked against him.
Dated December 19, it was addressed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko through his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).  It was copied to the Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Samuel Adesina; the State Chief Judge, Sehinde Kumuyi; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bamiduro Dada; and the Akure Council of Chiefs through Lisa of Akure, High Chief James Olusoga.
Source: Sahara reporters

Jonathan drags Obasanjo to rights commission

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan submited Himself to the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, for probe over criminal allegations against him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Former President Obasanjo had written an 18-page open letter to Jonathan, accusing him of incompetence, engaging in anti-party activities, ethnicism and training about 1,000 snipers ahead of the 2015 polls.
Jonathan, who denied the allegations in his response, is specifically inviting the rights commission to unravel the truth in the allegation that his government had begun training over 1,000 snipers to terminate his political opponents.
In a letter to the commission, President Jonathan is seeking for a thorough investigation of the allegations against him, touching on alleged human rights abuses.
The letter, signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, on the directive of Jonathan, had already been submitted to NHRC.
The letter dated December 23, 2013 was submitted yesterday. Sources close to the Presidency told National Mirror that similar letters had been written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The two anti-graft agencies are to probe allegations of economic crimes and official corruption against the Jonathan’s administration as contained in Obasanjo’s letter.
Although, National Mirror could not get copies of the letters, a copy of Jonathan’s letter to NHRC confirmed yesterday that both the ICPC and the EFCC had also been directed to handle allegations touching on economic crimes.
In the memo signed by Adoke (SAN) and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, the AGF requested the commission to investigate the allegations on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the letter dated December 2 written by former President Obasanjo to President Jonathan.
The memo with number HAGF/NHRC2013/Vol2/5 reads in part: “Re: Before it is too late: “May I draw your attention to the above and the attached State House memorandum dated December 23, 2013 in respect of the above subject matter.
“I am to request you to investigate the allegations bothering on the human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the latter dated 2nd December 2013, written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to President Goodluck Jonathan, attached to the memorandum under reference.
“In order to properly delineate the issues within your sphere of competence particularly as other issues raised in the letter are being investigated by appropriate agencies of government, I have decided to reproduce the relevant paragraphs below.
According to Adoke the paragraphs to be investigated by the commission are: “Allegations of keeping over 1,000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list and training snippets and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons to match for purposes like Abacha and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, it cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and people of Nigeria. “Here again, there is lesson of his to learn from anybody who cares to learn from history.
Mr. President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.
“The Yoruba race adage says ‘the man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit’. Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies.
“Democratic politics admits and is permissible of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lessons. “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 the 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 learnt his lesson.
Let us continue to watch,” the memo added. The Presidency had attached two exhibits to the letter including the original letter written by Obasanjo and the reply by President Jonathan.
Both letters were replete with accusations and counter- accusations, some of which were criminal. National Mirror gathered yesterday that the NHRC would invite the two dramatis personae in the crisis: former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Jonathan to expatiate on the allegations contained in the two letters.
A source at the commission, who did not want his name mentioned, also said that those connected in the allegations would be invited to assist the rights commission by providing particulars to the allegations. The particulars, it was learnt, would guide the commission to arrive at a just conclusion on the sensitive issue. Although the commission had acknowledged the letter, no formal step has so far been taken on it.

Mariah Carey Reveal She’s Not Having Any More Kids

Mariah Carey said that after her experience with being pregnant with her now 2-year-old twins,Monroe and Moroccan, she is done having children. She revealed that she would be up for expanding her family, however, if her husband Nick Cannon would be the one to deliver the babies!
Mariah, 43, is happy with the size of her adorable family — unless her husband wants to step in and take over the whole pregnancy process!
“If Nick could have the babies himself, then yeah, bring ‘em on. We love kids,” Mariah joked during her Watch What Happens Live appearance. She then explained her humorous aside with a more serious reason for why she’s done having kids. “Here’s the thing: This is real. I’m responsible for the kids for like forever,” she said. “I look at it like, they didn’t ask for this lifestyle but here they are.”
”To anyone who has ever carried twins, it is a totally different experience … You don’t even know who you are,” Mariah revealed.
Mariah also explained that Nick’s busy schedule kept him away from her side for much of her pregnancy. “I had a very difficult pregnancy, but I was alone most of the time,” she shared. ”We love Nick, but he’s working. He’s the hardest-working man in show business.”
Mariah Carey opted for a tight leather skirt and matching boots for a shopping spree in icy conditions during her latest strip to Aspen, Colorado

Saudi Cargo Plane That Blocked Abuja Airport Runway Was Carrying Bulletproof Cars For Another Govt. Agency

The uproar generated by the purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has barely died down than another government agency has been revealed as being behind the purchase of 10 bulletproof cars, of which at least no fewer than five them were flown into the country by a Saudi Airline cargo plane that was involved in the Abuja airport mishap about three weeks ago.
The Saudi embassy in Abuja, which made the disclosure weekend, said the cars were meant to be delivered to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Kaduna.
It would be recalled that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was shut down for almost 24 after a Saudi airlines plane hit runway repair equipment and got stuck there until it was removed several hours later.
In its statement which was meant to clarify reports in a section of the media that the cargo plane contained illegal arms and weapons, the embassy said the cargo was neither “dangerous nor prohibited,” as it was conveying 100 tonnes of bulletproof cars which were part of a supply contract for delivery to DICON in Kaduna.
“The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has confirmed that the aircraft was chartered by Saudi Arabian Airline, carrying bullet-proof cars and its final destination is Murtala Muhammad Airport, Lagos, Nigeria,” the Saudi mission said in a letter dated December 20.
“The detailed description of the content of the plane is as follows: -A set of bullet-proof cars weighing 58 tonnes. (And) another set of 5 bullet-proof cars weighing 42 tonnes.
“The goods were a portion of a supply contract for 10 bullet-proof cars to a government agency in Nigeria, which were to be conveyed from Sharjah (UAE) via Abuja, through: fast forward cargo US UAC, to: Defence Industries of Nigeria (DICOM), 45, Ahmad Bello Way, Kaduna, through the companies contact person: Mr Nwajpudu Livinston/CCC. (sic).
“The goods were manufactured in South Africa.
“It is important to note that, the goods the aircraft was carrying were neither those considered as dangerous nor prohibited, this is absolutely in contrary to your esteemed newspapers report which stated that the aircraft was carrying weapons”, the statement read.
It is not clear who would use the 10 bulletproof cars as efforts to get the reaction of a spokesman for DICON, Mohammed Lawal Kurfi, did not yield any useful information as he claimed ignorance of the contract and the cargo.

Letter to Jonathan: Al-Mustapha challenges Obasanjo to public debate

Mr. Al-Mustapha said he has forgiven everyone involved in his incarceration.
The former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, has reacted to postulations by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in his famous letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that he (Al-Mustapha) was released from prison to help the president train assassins to eliminate opposition politicians.
Speaking to the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, VOA, monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Al-Mustapha challenged the ex-president to a public debate on the allegations he raised.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he was away in India receiving treatment for injuries he sustained while in detention during the administrations of Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mr. Obasanjo when he heard of the allegations via a letter published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES.
“I read Obasanjo’s letter and subsequent comments by Nigerians, I would have responded immediately, but I was away in India receiving treatment,” he said.
He also said although his name was not mentioned in the letter, he was sure the former president was referring to him.
“If he has anything to say on me, he should mention me directly or even challenge me and not make allusions,” Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
The former presidential security chief challenged Mr. Obasanjo to publicly ask him anything; saying he would provide him with answers.
Mr. Al-Mustapha swore that the allegation that he is being used by Mr. Jonathan to train assassins is false. He said he has always been in the vanguard of coming to the aide of people from the north to be recruited into the military and para-military agencies; and would therefore never involve himself in anything that would hurt the region.
“Perhaps it is Obasanjo and his cronies that are planning what he was insinuating,” he added.
I have forgiven all
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he had decided to forgive all those who had a hand in his incarceration when he was being tried for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Kudirat Abiola. He was initially convicted for the murder by a Lagos High Court but was discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
He, however, added that such people, including Mr. Obasanjo failed to accept that fact and still harbour fears about him and what he knows about them.
“I urge everyone to pray for Obasanjo to accept my challenge for a public debate so that the truth will come out,” he said.
Mr. Al-Mustapha said he is focused on helping Nigeria find its rhythm by uniting the people, especially the youth and the poor.
“From 1974 to the present, a lot of things are buried with all sorts of lies. But all would be revealed one day,” Mr. Al-Mustapha said.
Source: Premium Time

Jack Wilshere: Arsenal player explains reason for gesture

wilshere

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere says the abusive hand gesture he aimed at Manchester City fans came as a result of jibes about his children.

Wilshere, 21, sat out Monday's draw with Chelsea and misses the trip to West Ham after landing a two-game ban.
"Suppose I will just have to take the abuse about my kids in future," he tweeted.  "Anyway, one more game to go! Can't wait to be back."
Wilshere will return for Arsenal's match at Newcastle on 29 December.
After Arsenal were beaten 6-3 by City at the Etihad, the Football Association decided to suspend England international Wilshere after viewing the incident retrospectively.
In another tweet, Wilshere said  he was "gutted" not to have been able to play against Chelsea, adding: "Shouldn't of reacted the way I did but I know all you dads out there love your kids the way I do."
Source: bbc.co.uk

I Love Tattoo says Iyabo Ojo

I don’t really have as many tattoos as people think I do. I just have three on me and they all have their significance. The one on my hand is a rose and it signifies love. The one on my chest is a crown and it means that I am a queen in whatever I do – I call the shots. The one I have on my back means that I see you even though you think I don’t. I see everything you are doing, so watch it. They all have meaning and I am just someone who loves tattoos. There are no negative reasons I love them. I am not the only one wearing a tattoo, there are so many celebrities, both local and foreign, who wear them. It is just something I like. I can not describe why I like it. I feel it is sexy.
Life as a single mother
My daughter is an award-winning actress. She is going to be 12 but she is not a full time actress. She is still a baby and I try to restrict her acting so that she can concentrate more on her studies. Once in a while, we allow her act and only when she is on holidays. It has to be once in a while. When I started, it was a bit stressful because my kids were quite young. I had to be a working mother and business woman at the same time. I am someone who always strives for perfection. I am a very organised person. I draw out my time-table. I have a schedule of my day-to-day life so I am never caught unawares. That is why I don’t work too much. If I have planned my month and a sudden job comes up, I will not take it. I always have a schedule I follow in life and it has always helped me. When I am working, I know how to place my kids in the right place, sometimes with my mother. When they were much younger, they used to go with me but because of school, they stayed with my mother. I have some of my sisters that stay around. Now, my kids have grown up because my boy is 14 years old and the girl is 12 and they are both in secondary school. They take care of themselves more now. Apart from that, I still try to spend time at home more than I used to when they were younger because they need my attention now. I need to be sure that they are studying. They are becoming teenagers. Teenage pressure could be much on them so I have to be the father and mother to them at all times. It was not easy initially but as time goes on, you learn how to manage it. It becomes easy as time goes on.
Their father
I relate with their father. I do not talk about it because I give respect to my children, it is their privacy and they want to keep it private. Like I said, we were not just compatible, I met him and in a very short period of time, we got married. We really did not have much time to date. I was 21 years old then. In less than three months, I was pregnant and in less than six months, I was married to him. It was a very short period of time. We basically got married because of thepregnancy. We did not want to have the baby out of wedlock. We got married and we later discovered that there was some part of him that I did not like and there were certain things about me that he did not also like. We were not friends and that was the disadvantage. He was not my first, he was actually my third. I feel apart with my first boyfriend. My second boyfriend, we did not get intimate. So my ex was actually the second but my third boyfriend. I was young, I had my first boyfriend when I was in SS3 and I was about 18 years old. Then we broke up and I had somebody else. We were more like brothers and sisters in Christ so we really did not have any s*xual relationship. Then, I met my ex-husband. He was the second man I was intimate with when it came to a relationship. I was young and the kind of life he wanted was to be married and still live the bachelor life while I wanted him to be married and stay at home. That was were we started having issues and problems but we are still friends. He still communicates with his kids.
Regrets
I do not regret leaving the marriage because I am better off. I regret rushing into marriage, but I do not use the word ‘regret’ anymore. It has become a lesson; I had to learn from that. Every disappointment is a blessing. Even though I felt disappointed that I got married at a young age and did not get to study the man I got married to and whose name I bear now, I still profited from it by having two wonderful kids. It is more than any other thing in life.
I vowed never to get married again
I said so back then when I was disappointed. When you are going into a marriage with so much expectation, hoping that is where you will end your life, you try all your best to make it work. If it does not work, you begin to have problems. Why I came back to the industry was because I found out that my marriage was not working. My job had nothing to do with my marriage. I knew my marriage was collapsing. I just needed something to keep me going. Since I had so much love for acting, I felt I should go back to what gave me so much happiness and joy because I knew that my home was not giving me that joy I needed. I felt it was not enough for me to sacrifice what would give me joy when I knew the reason why I was sacrificing it was not being appreciated.
I am an emotional person
I am a very emotional person. I am very loving but I am a one-way traffic kind of person. When I am in love, I am fully in love with the person. I give my best to the relationship. I am a very lovey-dovey kind of person and I love my man to always be there for me. Sometimes, it seems as if I am over-possessive. It is not that I am over possessive, I am just someone who wants to give everything into the relationship and expects to get the same back. When I do not get the same, I start having problems with that person. That is why I find it difficult to say I want to settle with a person. To me, marriage is a 50-50 thing. If I put in my 50, you have to put in your 50. In a situation where you cannot give me 50, then we are going to have a problem.
Rumours about me
I have cleared the air about so many things. When I was growing up and I read some things about certain people, I always used to say that there would be an element of truth in every rumour. If they talk about me and Muka Ray, I understand because we are very close. In this society, when a man and a woman are very close, people tend to think that they are dating. That is understandable, but when it comes to the case of someone like Pasuma, it is very strange to me. He never asked me out, we are friends but not as close as people portray it. For crying out loud, we are not dating. I don’t have an intention of dating him and I am sure that he does not too. He is my friend, maybe because I have been to one or two of his events. He respects me and I do too but just as a friend. He is a friend and a brother; nothing beyond that. Muka Ray and I became very close and working business partners. My boyfriend understands that. He did not bring me into the industry. He helped me because he was there before me. He helped me grow. I came into the industry myself and I got into the Yoruba movie industry through Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo, in 2001. Bimbo Akintola brought me into the industry when I joined AGN in 1998. About a year after I joined the Yoruba movie industry, I met Muka who believed he could help me build my career. I told him I wanted to be a producer and he told me that it was good as he was also a producer. He said we could work hand in glove and that is what we have been doing. Sometimes he works, I contribute; I work and he contributes, both financially and physically. I am not dating any politician. Can’t I afford a car and a house? I am a producer, I produced about 13 movies and I’m not from a poor background. Whatever it is that I have today, I started with my father’s money. I am okay on my own. So nobody has to get me a car or a house.
My father
I come from a very well-to-do family. My grand father was very okay – Adekunle Ogunro. We are a very comfortable family. My father was a very lively man who lived life to the fullest. People call me daddy’s girl. My father ‘met money at home’, his parents were very wealthy especially my grandmother. We lived in Obanikoro. My father was someone who was so much into enjoying life that it cut his life short. He did everything in excess -drinking, smoking, spending money and having fun. I appreciate my dad for the fact that he was my father and we were more like friends. He also had me when he was young. He was 21 years old when he had my brother and 22 when he had me. He lost his life at a very young age, that is why whatever I do, I don’t get addicted. I don’t drink too much if I have to. I don’t smoke at all, only when I am on set and I have to. I don’t do drugs, never have and never will. When he died, there was some money left for us. His ownmoney. It was shared between my brother and I. It is that money I used to start my life and business – a better apartment, a shop, I travelled. My first car was from my father’s money.
About my boyfriend
He is a very caring person. It was not easy for him. He was really after me because when men come, I shut them off. I always put this defensive mechanism up. He was very patient and came in a very soft manner. We started as friends and we became lovers. His relationship with my kids is wonderful. My kids love him. He is a very busy person but any little time he has, he comes to see them and takes care of them. We have been together for a while. I keep my relationship very private. I made it public at a time and it was very stressful. When it is private, you enjoy it more because there are no third parties. He understands the nature of my job. He understands where I am coming from and I understand his too.