Jonathan orders SSS to release Emir Sanusi’s passport

In what appears the end of the fierce face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, the State Security Services has returned to the Emir his travelling documents seized from him on May 3 at the height of his disagreement with the President.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on Chieftaincy and Emirate Council Affairs, Tijjani Mailafiya, told journalists the SSS returned the Emir’s passport through the director in charge of its Kano state command, Bassey Itang.

Mr. Mailafiya commended the Federal Government for releasing the passport six months after it was seized at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano as the Emir made to board a Turkish airline flight for a planned trip to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.

He said with his passport now in his possession, the Emir was now better placed to serve his people locally and  abroad, when necessary.

The SSS had confiscated the Emir’s travelling documents as he made to board the May 3 11: 10p.m. Turkish Airlines flight to Turkey where he would have connected another flight to Saudi Arabia.

The agency’s action was a contravention of the April 3 judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which restrained it and the Nigeria Police from arresting or harassing the then CBN Governor or seizing his passport.

Mr. Sanusi had sued after the SSS seized his passport on February 20 shortly after he arrived Lagos from Niger, where he had gone to attend a meeting of governors of central banks in the West African sub-region. He had then been suspended from office in absentia.

Shortly after his plane landed at the ExecuJet Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, he was accosted by SSS operatives who detained him briefly and insisted he must surrender his passport.

Speaking on the release of the passport Saturday, Mr. Mailafiya  thanked the Kano state government for being in the vanguard of those who pressed for the release of the document.

Some Nigerians may however see the handing over of the document as President Goodluck Jonathan’s direct gesture of saying everything is now alright between him and the Kano Emirate Council.

After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Jonathan and the Emir met on October 30 in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices.

Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was fired by the president on February 20 after accusing the government of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.
The government denied the claim, and in turn, accused Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness”.

After leaving office, Mr. Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano in June, assuming one of the most powerful traditional stools in Nigeria.
His appointment by Kano State’s Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, a member opposition All Progressives Congress, was opposed by the presidency which ordered the emir’s office blockaded for days.

The emir reportedly initiated peace moves, and the two men met for the first time in July during the breaking of the Muslim fast, a yearly routine in which the president meets top government officials who are Muslims and other prominent Islamic leaders in the country.

Our sources say the October 30 meeting sealed the reconciliation moves between the two sides.

The emir was accompanied to the meeting by all senior members of the Kano Emirate council, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that days after the meeting, the President asked the SSS to release the Emir’s passport as a further proof that he had buried the hatchet and was now ready for a warm relationship with the traditional ruler and his emirate.

I wish I was a boxer –Gov. Akpabio

Governor Godswill Akpabio yesterday said that he was motivated to build the Uyo nest of cham­pions because sports is now big business.

Akpabio noted that a boxer like Floyd Mayweather smiled home with over 120m dollars in a fight that lasted for just 72 minutes, an amount, according to him, no governor could make.

He pointed out that stars like Serena Williams and Ronaldo smile to the bank daily. He said Akwa Ibom ladies will beat Ser­ena if they are exposed to good facilities.

He stressed that this informed his decision to put in place a state of the art stadium.

“I hope new Serena Williams and Ronaldo’s will be discovered from this stadium,” Akpabio said.

He said Nigeria must invest in sports which is now big business.

Akpabio said he is happy Uyo is now in a position to host any major international soccer com­petition.

The governor stated that his administration has also built two five star hotels in Uyo and Ikot Ekpene.

“With the hotels and a world class stadium we can now host the world,” Akpabio said.

PDP shifts presidential primaries to Dec 10

Guber primaries hold Dec 8

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee at the weekend announced sweeping changes in the dates earlier fixed for conduct of its governorship primaries and Presidential convention.

In a statement signed by the PDP National Organising Sec­retary, Abubakar Mustapha, the governorship primaries and presidential convention earlier scheduled to hold on Novem­ber 29 and December 6, 2014 would now hold on December 8 and 10, 2014, respectively.

The party in the same vein has also extended date for the submission of completed nom­ination forms. Details of the reviewed timetable as released by the party at the weekend read in part: “In exercise of its powers under Section 29 (2) (a) and (b) of the Constitu­tion of our great party (2012 as amended), the National Work­ing

Committee (NWC) has ap­proved the review of timelines (time-table) for the conduct of congresses/primaries prepara­tory to the 2015 General Elec­tions.

The new timetable, which supercedes the earlier one , is as follows:

House Of Assembly: (a) November 6, 2014 – Return of Forms (Completed); (b) No­vember 7, 2014 – Screening (Completed); c. November 10, Screening Appeal; (d) Novem­ber 29 – House of Assembly primaries and November 30 – Appeals. -
B.National Assembly: No­vember 14 – Return of forms; November 19-21 – Screeing Appeals; December 6 – House of Representatives primaries; December 7 – Senate prima­ries; November 8 – NASS Ap­peals.

Governorship: Novem­ber 14 – Return of Forms; No­vember 22-25, Screening and Appeals; December 8 – Gover­norship primaries; December 9 – Appeals.
Presidential: November 15 – Return of Forms; Novem­ber 26 – Screening and Ap­peals; December 10-11 – Na­tional Convention.

The statement also noted that the INEC had been noti­fied of the review.

Ex US President, George Bush Kisses Cured Nurse

A US nurse who got infected with Ebola but has recovered got a special gift on Friday, November 7, when former President George W. Bush visited the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, where the first case of the disease in the US was diagnosed.

Bush gave Amber Vinson a kiss and a big hug during a visit to the hospital, where she works, to celebrate the end of the Ebola outbreak in Texas.

Vinson, along with colleague Nina Pham, contracted the disease while treating index patient, Thomas Eric Duncan from Liberia.

Pham also received a special hug from President Barack Obama at the White House after she was declared Ebola-free.

Chelsea Beat Liverpool 2-1 At Anfield

Costa scored the winning goal in the 67th minute after a superb cut in from the left flank by César Azpilicueta.

As a result of the victory, Chelsea now tops the EPL standing with 29 points followed by Southampton with 23  points, but with a game in hand.

10 Habits That Might Cause Male Infertility in Nigeria

The joy of a man is to reproduce and give birth to offspring that will carry his identity to future generations. But many men in Nigeria are already been robbed of this joy as they battle with the problem of infertility. No man is actually immune to infertility and that is why it's important to know the possible causes and remedies, and that's just what you're about to read in this piece.

The infertility rate in Nigeria is said to have escalated from 15% to about 40% according to infertilitynigeria.blogspot.com.

A statement credited to Professor Oladapo Ashiru, the Medical Director of Medical Art Centre also confirms that the number of men presently with low sperm count in Nigeria is on the increase. The increase in patronage at orphanage homes by infertile couples having to queue for months before they can get a baby to adopt is alarming! What exactly are things that cause male infertility and how can they be controlled? We have some points below.

Keeping Mobile Phone in Pocket

A finding by some researchers at the University of Exeter England released earlier this June shows that keeping mobile phone in the pocket could affect sperm quality. They found out that exposure to cell phone radiation lowers sperm motility by 8% and viability by 9%. This finding is still a controversial one but it would be safer to keep away mobile phones from the pocket as much as possible.

Radiationresearch.org gave the following recommendations in their save-the-males campaign:

Keep your mobile phone out of your trouser pocket

· Do not text holding your phone at waist level

· Limit your daily use

· Switch it off at night (or as much as possible)

Apart from radiation from mobile phones, other factors could also be responsible for infertility in males. In fact this was the argument of some scientists against the findings of the research from Exeter: that the singular action of phone radiation cannot be responsible for male infertility. Telegraph.co.uk outlined the following as other things that can also cause infertility.

Heavy Drinking

It is said that alcohol affects the body’s ability to absorb zinc which is a nutrient vital for healthy sperm. It’s still unclear what quantity of alcohol is bad but it’s advisable to stay away from it as much as possible, especially heavy drinking.

Oxidative Stress

Another thing that can cause male infertility is oxidative stress. This is linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity, diet, pollutants, smoking and alcohol. Taking antioxidant supplements such as vitamin E, vitamin C, folic acid etc. is said to increase fertility.

Poor Diet

Diet should be holistic. A healthy diet will help maintain a healthy sperm count and an poor diet otherwise. It is advisable that one eats foods that will guarantee the general health of the body.

Excessive Exercise

Exercise is good for the body but its excess especially when it is combined with body building steroids can decrease the production of testosterone and thereby lower sperm count.

Frequent Sex

Too much sex can decrease the quality of sperm cells. It is advised that couples wishing to conceive should limit intercourse to every two or three days.

Exposure To Heat

Heat from laptops, wearing tight underpants and other things that could increase the temperature around the testicles could cause low sperm count. As much as possible, it is advised that the general crotch area should be kept cool.

Untreated Infection

When STIs are not treated on time, it could result in infertility. Chlamydia infection, Gonorrhoea, Mumps etc can affect fertility and even cause sterility.

Exposure to Pesticides and other Chemicals

It has been found that exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals can affect sperm quality and quantity. Agricultural workers and fumigators in Nigeria need to be mindful of this. Some other chemicals like paints, adhesives and coatings have also been found to double the risk of fertility problems. Men working with chemicals are therefore advised to wear the appropriate protective gear and reduce their exposure to the chemicals as much as possible.

Doping

Sniffing drugs like cocaine and cannabis can impair fertility in males. It is said that “cannabis seems to have a dramatic effect on sperm, making them swim too fast and “burn out” before they reach the egg”. Some prescribed drugs can also affect fertility; it is advised that a man seeking to conceive should consult the doctor before taking any drug.

Other things that could cause male infertility include stress, ageing, radiation (x-rays, radiotherapy etc.), and excessive weight. With this understanding, it would be wise for Nigerian men especially those seeking offspring to take note of the things that could be responsible for infertility so that they can play their part in making sure they also reproduce in life. It may not be a jinx or spell or lack of God’s favour that is causing infertility; it may just be personal negligence and ignorance. The following healthy practices are suggested by infertilitynigeria.blogspot.com for any man having problem with infertility:

· The more water you drink the better for you (at least five cups in a day).

· The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the better for you.

· The more natural your diet, the better for you.

· Drink at least four glasses of water first thing on rising daily.

· It would be good to have your supper before 7.00 p.m.

· Avoid alcohol and sugar.

· Take plenty of lime, lemon and honey.

Photo Credit: mamalette.com

Mavins Superstar Music Group Rock All White For Uyo Stadium Launch

Doro Mega Super Stars arrive in style for Uyo Stadium launch.

Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mavin Crew touched down in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the grand launch of the Uyo International Stadium.

Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, D'Prince, Reekado Banks, Aphrodija, Korede Bello and Dr Sid all look super cool and posh in their coordinated all-white outfits.

2Face Idibia Checkout Cute Photo Of 2Face And Annie

Nigerian superstar couple 2face Idibia and Annie Idibia were spotted together asleep in each others arms on a road trip to Benue State.

The lovable couple have been together for over ten years before tying the knot last year in a grand ceremony in Dubai. 2Face is seen in the photo placing his hand on his wife lovingly as she slept.

Annie and 2face were in Abuja last weekend for the Hennessy Artistry Club Tour.

BREAKING: Gunmen assassinate aide to Nasarawa Governor, Al-Makura

Unknown gunmen on Saturday morning assassinated  Abdullahi Mairuwa, the head driver to Nasarawa State Governor,  Umaru Al-Makura.

The late Mr. Mairuwa, who was in charge of all drivers attached to Government House, Lafia, was travelling to his home town in Keana local government area of the state in the company of his wife, Salamatu, when he was  assassinated close to Tudun Adabu along the Obi-Keana-Awe  road   around 8.30 a.m. Saturday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Umar Numan, confirmed the development, saying detectives have been drafted to the scene of the incident.

“We are aware and have mobilized to the scene to recover the corpse and   we have already commenced investigation into the incidence,” Mr. Numan said.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr. Mairuwa’s killers shot him at close range in front of his wife and
sneaked away through a bush path.

Family sources told this newspaper that his killers told his wife not to panic as they were only after her husband before shooting him twice on the chest.

The remains of the late head driver has  been moved to Keana his home town as sympathizers from Lafia and within continue to troop to his Lafia residence pay condolence visit.

Why I allowed Nkem Owoh to touch my boobs

Anita Joseph is a talented Nollywood actress known mostly for her controversial nature. The actress has over the  years grown a thick skin to criticisms and wants people to know that she’s in the movie industry to be an actress in the true sense of the word.

She has the ability excel in any role she is assigned and she has been a good source of entertainment for many fans.
In this encounter with Showtime celebrity Anita opens up on her music and movie career viv-a-vis other issues:

What have you been up to?

Work work work… Movies and music but I’m still recording

How many movies have you done so far?

The one that just came out is Akpabio, the Calabar Boy.   Then,   there’s Hips Don’t Lie, Festival of Village Girls, Wannabe Girls, Who runs the Village, Twins Blood, and lots of others. I can’t really count.

What is your style of music?

I do Hip-hop, I do slow songs, blues, I do every kind of music

Which songs have you released this year?

I’ve done Long Time and Go Gaga
Have you featured any artiste in

your songs?

In ‘Nyem Something’ I featured Flavour. The video came out two years ago You and Afrocandy were recently seen together, are you guys

doing a movie?

Yes, we are. We’ve not done the job yet. She just did an audition and I was invited over to help in the casting. We did an audition at Excellence Hotel so I went there to help her cast and I’m part of the movie too

Is it a porn movie?

God forbid. It’s an African movie. Afrocandy does other movies too. The one she’s going to do soon is an epic movie like a village kind of movie. Then the other one is another kind of movie, we call it Glamour.

Glamour is the one you have many rich people but the epic is the village one. It’s not a porn movie, don’t mind what people are saying. I assure you it is not porn. Anita cannot do porn. You know why I can’t do porn? Because the money will finish but the movie won’t go.

It’s not something I would like to do. Everybody in life has what he or she wants to do. I don’t care what anybody does. Some people say you’re friends with Afrocandy and all
that, So What?

Do you believe Nigerians are hypocritical about sex?

Oh yes they are, some of them do worse things behind closed doors. So don’t judge me. I do what I want to do but I can’t do porn. Anita is crazy, Anita is this, Anita is that, but I can’t do porn. There are some kinds of things I can’t do. If I’m doing business with Afrocandy, it’s movie business not porn and it’s my business. Nobody has the right to tell me I shouldn’t do it because she’s this, she’s that.   That’s their business.

Can you do sex in a movie?

No, I can’t

Not even kissing?

That’s a normal thing. There’s a way we do kissing in the movie industry, we don’t really do the real kissing but there’s a way we do it. It’s acting.

There was a movie I saw you,where Nkem Owoh was touching your

boobs, what movie was that?

That movie was The Gamblers. In the script, they said he was supposed to touch my breasts; we have to make it real so I gave him my breast to touch and that thing blew people’s minds. That was the whole idea, he touched it for real.

Have you done any other stuff like that?

I do lots of stuffs like that. It doesn’t matter; it’s the kind of job I do, so it depends. It depends on what the script says, sometimes you just have to pretend to be there. Its pretense, Acting is all about pretense.

Which actor do you have chemistry
working with?

I have chemistry working with everybody but there are some people you work better with, lots of them. If I start mentioning the names, you won’t leave here

What do you consider the sexiest
part of your body?

Everywhere is sexy because everybody has what trips him or her.
Some like the boobs, some like the back, some like my legs, I’ve seen somebody that loves my palm. My fingers are very sexy
You say you love tattoos, how many

tattoos do you have?

I used to love tattoos. But I don’t do tattoos anymore and I’m trying to remove them. I’m not a tattoo freak anymore; I’ve grown out of that. In fact the tattoos on my body are mistakes. I advise people not to do tattoos. Tattoos are addictive. If you do one you want to do another, at the end of the day you’ll start regretting them. I don’t love my tattoos anymore. I wish I can clean them out.

Where is the mst hidden place
you’ve done a tattoo?

No hidden place, the most hidden one is the one on my waist and on my boobs

What do you find attractive in a man?

I love men that are simple. I don’t like men that are too loud, I love it simple

When did you get into music?

I started music professionally four years back but I’ve not released an album yet. I’ve not really been serious with my music because the movies took over but I’ve released two videos, Time No Dey and Nyem something

Are you currently in a relationship?

I’m single and not searching

Have you ever done a movie outside Nigeria?

Yes, I have, in South Africa. I did the movie last year but it’s not out yet.

How do you handle your male 
admirers?

They’re not easy to handle but I handle them well enough. In this kind of job, you have to be strong and bold because if you’re not, they’ll just mess you up. So, I handle them perfectly. I try not to be insulting in as much as some of them are very unbearable. Those that are unbearable, you just try and be subtle and manage them with a good smile.

What of your critics?

I love my critics because if they don’t criticise me, I won’t get better

Do you take to their advice?

I do listen but some of them don’t make sense. Some of them are beef, maybe it’s somebody that doesn’t like you, you didn’t do anything to the person but the person doesn’t just like you. They did it to Jesus Christ.

He didn’t do anything to them but some people hated him, so it happens.

Sometimes when you read some things you know that it’s just beef. You might not know the person but the person is beefing you.   I don’t care about what they say.   What I care about is I take from the ones that are good, I try to amend what is not right but the ones that I know that I’m doing right, I don’t bother

What is the craziest thing a fan has
ever done when he saw you?

Hitting my bum. Someone has seen me in Shoprite before, hit my bum and ran away. There was nothing I could do. There was a movie I did Open and Close. I was a nymphomaniac in that movie, I had sex with everybody around me because it was the story. The guy said that thing you did in Open and

Close, can you just do it to me?

He started whining in Shoprite, mimicking everything I did in the movie, the way I was doing. I just turned to leave and the next thing he did was to tap my ass. I wanted to pursue him but I wore heels so I couldn’t pursue him.

If it were before, I would have chased him all the way. Another day someone called me and started moaning ‘Anita you’re killing me, Anita whine for me’, I said hello, he said ‘Oh please, it’s me please you don’t understand’. It was one of my pictures he saw. He uses my pictures to work on himself and he told me. Mostly he uses private numbers to call me so I wouldn’t be able to call back. That ‘s why I sometimes don’t pick private numbers.

What is the craziest thing you have done to a fan ?

There was this crazy guy that got my number from somewhere. This guy sends me message everyday of my life, everyday. Telling me how he loves me and how he wants to marry me, till date. At a point I had to call him and invited him over. I mean this guy has been sending me messages for more than two years straight, everyday.

My sisters, everybody in my house knows about it. One day I decided to invite him   over but when I came out to receive him, he was nowhere to be found. He later called that he could not face me.
What is the worst scandal of your life?

There was a time I was in South Africa, they wrote something about me that an Alhaji and I were getting married in America. It wasn’t true, I was in South Africa and they said I was in America. Then I was working in South Africa. They said that I went to his office and his wife saw me in the office and embarrassed me. They said me and the wife got into a fight, that people had to come to separate us. I had a relationship and I was very heartbroken. I’ve had lots of them like that. Some people actually believed that story but there was a mix up. That story shattered me at the time.

Why did you refuse a marriage proposal from your boyfriend
A man cannot just come out and tell me to stop what I’m doing because he wants to marry me. I’m not desperate for marriage. Marriage will come when it will come. My man will come when it’s the right time for him to appear. When my husband comes, he won’t tell me to stop what I’m doing. My husband would be my fan and love what I’m doing, my husband would encourage me.
Your boyfriend was telling you to leave acting for him?
Yes, and become a complete housewife. I’m an Anambra girl, we don’t do like that. We’re hardworking women. That’s the kind of blood I’m born with; I can’t just leave what I’m doing. Marriage is not a do or die affair
What about dating Senators, Governors and Politicians, is it true or false?

I have friends all over. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re dating the person but you know how the world is, if they see you with someone or you’re friends with someone, they conclude you’re dating the person.

What more should people expect from you?

Lots of new things, it would be a surprise package.

Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, others thrill at GUS grand finale party

The atmosphere in the Women Development Centre  Awka, Anambra  state, on November 1, 2014, was electrifying as the audience was thrilled to a blend of entertainment and reward for the Gulder Ultimate Search, Season 11 contenders.

The grand event which had a cultural theme kicked off with a traditional dance which serving as an appetizer for the audience to feed on. Thereafter, the audience was shocked  to its bone marrow when the anchor of the event was unveiled in a dramatic manner.

By the time Okey Bakassi pulled off his clownish outfit the audience realized he was going to be the MC for that night taking them on a journey of rib-cracking jokes, spot on delivery, and undiluted entertainment.

Chinedu Ubachukwu, the winner of the 2014 edition of GUS smiled home with N10m and a brand new Ford Explorer Sport SUV valued at N15.9 million.

Amazingly the youngster happens to hail from Anambra state and was formally presented as the winner of the 11th edition of the GUS as a result of his doggedness and discovering the general’s war helmet in the Aguleri forest.

In his remarks, Governor Willie Obiano, who happened to be the first Governor to have payed GUS contenders a visit in the jungle, emphasized the need for Nigerians to appreciate homegrown talents and reiterated the point by calling on investors and individuals to come to Anambra to invest and contribute to the development of the state.

He interjected humour in his speech and while he was about to leave the podium, Okey Bakassi beckoned him to wait for a while as he was presented a symbolic chair by the GUS council of elders headed by Nollywood actor Chidi Mokeme for his support and contributions to this year’s edition.

Nne Cosy Joe and Afolabi Emmanuel Olusegun were presented with cash prizes of N2.75m each for their participation in the reality TV show, while Otto Canon Chimenem, who came 4th in the competition, also won the Viewers Choice award and was given a cash prize of N1.5m and a brand new Ford Focus sleek car valued at over N4.3m.Canon shared his inspirational story of persistence, saying he had applied for the GUS on several occasions and was turned down.

He however persisted against all odds. His tale was welcomed amidst rounds of applause and cheers from the audience.

In his usual humourous fashion, Okey Bakassi threw a joke at 25year old Samantha Appi who won the prize for being the ‘Last Woman Standing’ saying she has been raised in the creeks, as a result she learnt how to climb trees and perform manly duties as a Niger Delta damsel.

Samantha who hails from Bayelsa State went home with a participation fee of N1.45m and brand new Ford Ecosport valued at N5.5m for being the ‘Last Woman Standing.’

Evi Addoh and Noela Iroh, walked home with N1.4 and N1.35m respectively as participation fee. Twenty six years old Sharon Robinson also got N1.3m , followed by Nwagboso from Abia State who got a participation fee of N1.2m.

Ikenna Emedike was compensated with N1.25m for being part of the programme. The first set of evictees at the 2014 GUS, Loretta Erijakpor and Eriata Blessing were rewarded with participation fee of N1.025m while Sandra Nwagbagiro and Ikenna Iwuoha got N1.125m each as participation fees.

The event reached its climax when the Mavins crew represented by Don jazzy and Dr Sid mounted the stage. Dr Sid was clad in a black T-Shirt and jeans fêting the audience to his hit track Pop Champagne.

Emotions overwhelmed the audience when Don jazzy emerged from the back stage to perform Surulere, a song rich in lyrics alluding to the fact that patience has rewards. There after the ‘Doroboss’ as he is often called by his fans gave a spectacular performance of the Mavin crew’s hit song, Dorobucci. It was a moving melody, thrilling track, laced with pleasurable performance.

Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) is a Nigerian reality television powered by Nigerian Breweries Plc for one of its products, Gulder.

#vanguardngr

PDP suspends governorship aspirant, 10 others in C’River

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River on Friday suspended a governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Goddy Jeddy-Agba and 10 others from the party.

Mr John Okon, Chairman of PDP in the state, said they were suspended “for corrupting the process of the just-concluded ward delegate congress election in the state.”

Okon also said they were suspended for taking the hierarchy of the state party to court against party rules.

He named the other suspended as Sandy Onor, Venatius Ikem, Jones Tangban, Tony Ngban, Ubi Itam, Kenut Ndoma-Egba, Ernest Irek, Livinus Odiga, Samuel Willie and Godwin Igiri.

“We don’t have powers to suspend Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba and Rep. Chris Eta because they are members of the National Assembly; the (party’s) Constitution says so.

“Following the just-concluded delegate congress, a lot of issues occurred. We have party members that ridiculed the party; others went to court against the party rules.

“Some party members across the state also sent petitions against them.

“Following this, I had to summon the party’s exco in the state to sit over them and we took a resolution that those involved should be suspended accordingly,” he said.

According to him, the suspended members have been referred to the appropriate party committee in the state in line with the constitution of the party for thorough investigation.

Okon said the committee would be headed by Mr Joseph Effiom, adding that the committee would study the suspension and send recommendations to the party hierarchy in the state.

Reacting to the development, one of those suspended, Mr Sandy Onor, said “the action is a joke, a desperate joke by a vanquished cabal.”

Akwa Ibom Stadium Opening: 2 Feared Dead, 20 Injured

The highly-awaited opening of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium might have turned into the tragedy, with 2 people feared dead and 20 injured.

Premium Times reports with reference to the NAN, that the incident was caused by the stampede at the inauguration ceremony of the new stadium on November 7.

At the current moment it is not clear why the stampede occurred at the festive occassion, fixed to open with a friendly match between the Nigerian and the Ghanaian teams.

Uyo resident, who was reportedly on his way to the stadium, to the venue:

“It is possible football fans were scrambling to enter the stadium to watch the match. That’s what I heard.”

Meanwhile many dignitaries are expected at the edifice opening ceremony, including Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, Ghana’s President John Mahama, Brazilian football legend Pele and several governors from across Nigeria.

The new modern venue, with 30,000 capacity and a bullet – proof State Box that has 70 seats, has already been tagged by many the best in the West African region.

BRUCE JENNER IT'S ALL SO CONFUSING

Bruce Jenner clearly has a strange emotional attachment to his wedding ring.

A ponytailed Bruce stepped out for coffee Thursday afternoon in Calabasas ... and we couldn't help but notice he was wearing a wedding band.

His marriage to Kris is over and out -- they've already agreed on the money split. He has some sort of new relationship/friendship with Kris' best friend, and she's clearly moved on because she's full-on dating Corey Gamble.

Bruce is a complicated guy.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: Why I wear the same T-shirt every day

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg holds his first Q&A session, and reveals why he made 1.3bn people switch to the Messenger app

Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has opened up about the controversial Messenger app, how Hollywood has hurt him and why he wears the same T-shirt every day, in his first-ever Q&A session.

The 30-year-old billionaire spent an hour at Facebook's Californian headquarters answering pre-submitted questions from across the world as well as from those who attended the event.

Why has Facebook made everyone download Messenger?
The social network's 1.3bn users were undoubtedly keen to hear Mr Zuckerberg's reasons for forcing them to download a separate app for Messenger, after the chat function was disabled on the main site.

Why has Facebook made everyone download Messenger?
The social network's 1.3bn users were undoubtedly keen to hear Mr Zuckerberg's reasons for forcing them to download a separate app for Messenger, after the chat function was disabled on the main site.

Mr Zuckerberg admitted that he didn't get the transition right but insisted that mobile phone users, who send 10bn messages a day, would benefit from the move.

"On mobile, each app really can focus on doing one thing well, we think," he said.

"You're probably messaging people 15, 20 times a day, and having to go into an app and wait for it to load and then go through a bunch of steps to get to your messages or send a message is a lot of friction.

"Maybe we didn’t handle that as smoothly as we could, in terms of the transition."

I want to make Facebook as vital as electricity
This attempt to make the website quicker and easier to use is at the heart of Mr Zuckerberg's vision of where the company will be in the future. He admitted that he wants to make Facebook as vital as electricity.

"The services that we aspire to be like in the world are kind of these basic things that you rely on," Mr Zuckerberg said.

"My goal was never really to make Facebook cool. I am not a cool person, and I've never really tried to be cool. Our model for Facebook has never been to try to make it particularly exciting to use - we just want to make it useful."

The Social Network was hurtful

Facebook took a large leap into the mainstream in 2010, when a Hollywood film depicted how Mr Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg, created the social network while studying at Harvard.

The Social Network suggested Mr Zuckerberg only created Facebook to attract women following a break-up. The tech tycoon admitted the film makers had "made up" a lot of the events in the film and this had hurt him.

"I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about that movie in a while. I kind of blocked that one out," he said.

"I think the reality is that writing code and then building a product and building a company is not a glamorous enough thing to make a movie about, so you can imagine that a lot of this stuff they had to embellish or make up.

"They went out of their way in the movie to try to get some interesting details correct like the design of the office, but on the overarching plot... they just kind of made up a bunch of stuff that I found kind of hurtful.

"[I met] the guy who played me in the movie [Eisenberg]. I tried to be nice."

A key part of the film he pointed to as being factually incorrect was the suggestion he was single while creating Facebook. Mr Zuckerberg said he had been dating his now-wife, Priscilla Chan, at the time.

"There were pretty glaring things that were just made up about the movie that made it pretty hard to take seriously," he said.

Does Mark Zuckerberg wear the same T-shirt every day?

One aspect the film makers did get right was Mr Zuckerberg's wardrobe, including the famous grey T-shirt that he reportedly wears every day.

Mr Zuckerberg said he owns multiple versions of the same T-shirt, as clothing, along with breakfast, is a "silly" decision he doesn't want to spend too long making. He is also too busy looking after the world's largest social network.

"I really want to clear my life so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community.

"I'm in this really lucky position where I get to wake up every day and help serve more than 1bn people, and I feel like I'm not doing my job if I spend any of my energy on things that are silly or frivolous about my life, so that way I can dedicate all of my energy towards just building the best products and services."

Most of Facebook will be videos by 2020

Those products and services and what Facebook's users have done with them have evolved substantially since the service was founded in 2004.

In the early days, most users updated the site with short messages, but that trend is changing towards video, according to Mr Zuckerberg, and the site is changing with it.

"Five years ago most of Facebook was text, and if you fast-forward five years, probably most of it is going to be video, just because it's getting easier to capture video and the moments of your life and share it," he said.

“Our goal is to build the perfect personalised newspaper for every person in the world. We’re trying to personalise it and show you the stuff that’s going to be most interesting to you.”

RAPPER BIG PAYBACC SHOT AND KILLED Inside a McDonald's

Rapper Big Paybacc was shot and killed Thursday inside a McDonald's in Palmdale, CA and police say this was no random shooting ... it was personal.

The 38-year-old rapper (real name Habeeb Ameer Zekajj) was reportedly eating lunch at 12:30 PM when someone walked in and shot him once. Police say there were about 15 other customers inside at the time.

LA County Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Corina told reporters, "There was no altercation ... This guy just walked in through one door, shot him and left out another door. So it looked like something personal. He had something against this individual. It wasn’t like he shot up the McDonald’s. He just shot him and left."

His girlfriend told reporters he left behind three children.

US Soldiers, Egyptian Pilots 'Storm' Nigeria to Fight Boko Haram

According to New Telegraph, no fewer than 40 US soldiers have landed in Nigeria to assist the country in combating the dreaded Boko Haram sect which has seized some local governments in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.

According to the paper, plans are being made to bring in Egyptian pilots to strengthen the aerial bombardment maneuvre of the captured territories (Mubi especially.)

A source, optimistic about a soon-to-be-seen reversal of events in Northeast Nigeria, said: “I can confirm to you that about 40 US military personnel, all in combat gear, have arrived in the country. In fact, they arrived at the DHQ today (yesterday), and I’m sure they met with the military high command, for briefing and other necessary operational issues.”

Source: #NewTelegraph

Many Feared Dead In Lagos Pipeline Explosion

Vandals were scooping fuel from the pipeline, which belongs to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when an argument ensued and one of them lit a fire.

A massive inferno in Lagos has claimed many lives after a vandalized pipeline burst into flames.

Vandals were scooping fuel from the pipeline, which belongs to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) when an argument ensued and one of them lit a fire, Vanguard reports.

The incident reportedly occurred in the Ijedodo area of the state on Thursday, November 6, at about 6pm.

The incident has been confirmed by the spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the South West, Ibrahim Farinloye who said:

“There was pipeline explosion at Ijeododo this evening (Thursday).  Vandals were suspected to have broken the pipeline, scooping the product and in the process the pipeline exploded.”

An official casualty figure has not been released but scores of people are believed to have been killed in the inferno.

14-Year-Old Housewife Kills Brother-in-law To Punish Mother-in-law

A 14-year-old housewife who was sent packing from her husband's house, took her revenge too far by killing her 10-year-old brother-in-law to punish his mother.

For sending out a 14-year-old housewife from her son's house, a mother-in-law in Kano State, has had the pain of seeing her 10-year-old son killed by the bitter wife whose name was as Nafida. The young girl was so angry for being sent parking by her husband's mother that her only means of revenge was to kill her young brother-in-law to punish the mother.

After killing  the 10-year-old younger brother of her husband, the child bride allegedly threw his corpse inside a deep well.

The incident which occurred last week in Dawanau, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state has had many wondering why the young Nafida could go to that extent in exacting her revenge.

According to reports, the accused abducted the 10-year-old boy from Dawanau and took him to Dambatta from where she committed the gruesome act. Having accomplished her revenge mission, she used the phone of a friend to put a call to her former mother in-law, intimating her that she would never get back her son.

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, A. S. P Magaji Majiya, who confirmed the incident said:

When the police from Dawaki Tofa Division, who were investigating the crime arrived Dambatta, they discovered that the members of the Dambatta community had previously briefed the ward head of the discovery of a strange corpse, who himself had reported the matter to the police station there.

The police had taken the corpse to the morgue by this time and when the family was called upon to identify the corpse in the hospital, they found the mystery corpse to be that of the missing 10-year-old boy.

The case has since been taken over by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in Kano.

Hmm!

Ghosts created by scientists in 'disturbing' lab experiment

Scientists in Switzerland have shown that ghosts are probably just an illusion created by the mind when it momentarily loses track of the body’s location

Ghostly apparitions and hauntings have pervaded folklore and legend for thousands of years, but now scientists have shown that they are just a figment of the imagination.

Artificial ‘spectres’ were conjured up by an experiment which proved so disconcerting for participants that two begged for it to stop.

Scientists have long suspected that ghosts are an illusion created by the mind. Patients who suffer from neurological or psychiatric conditions often report ‘strange presences.’

And people experiencing extreme physical or emotional pain often claim to have seen ghostly outlines or felt that departed loved ones were back in the room with them.

Now, however, scientists in Switzerland have shown that ghosts are probably just an illusion created by the mind when it momentarily loses track of the body’s location because of illness, exertion or stress.

Volunteers took part in an experiment which mixed up their movements and brain signals.

They saw up to four phantoms positioned around them and believed that ghosts were touching their backs with invisible fingers.

Professor Olaf Blanke, from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, said: "Our experiment induced the sensation of a foreign presence in the laboratory for the first time.

“It shows that it can arise under normal conditions, simply through conflicting sensory-motor signals.

"This confirms that it is caused by an altered perception of their own bodies in the brain."

To manifest their ghosts, the scientists set up a robot device that allowed volunteers to control the movements of a jointed mechanical arm with their index fingers.

The movements were relayed to another robot arm behind them which touched their backs.

When both the finger-pushing and back-touching occurred at the same time, it created the illusion that the volunteers were caressing their own backs.

That felt weird enough to the blindfolded participants. But something a lot stranger happened when the back-touching was delayed and about 500 milliseconds out of sync with the finger movements.

Suddenly the volunteers felt as if they were being watched, and touched, by one or more ghostly presences.

At the same time, they had the disconcerting sensation of drifting backwards, towards the unseen hand.

When questioned, several reported a strong feeling of invisible people being close to them. On average, they counted two, with up to four being reported.

Two of the 12 healthy participants were so disturbed by the experience that they asked the scientists to halt the experiment.

Co-author Dr Giulio Rognini, also from the EPFL, said: "Our brain possesses several representations of our body in space.

“Under normal conditions, it is able to assemble a unified self-perception of the self from these representations.

“But when the system malfunctions because of disease - or, in this case, a robot - this can sometimes create a second representation of one's own body, which is no longer perceived as 'me' but as someone else, a 'presence'."

Cashews: Natural Antidepressants (And 15 More Incredible Health Benefits)

2 handfuls of cashews is the therapeutic equivalent of a prescription dose of Prozac. Inside you, the essential amino acid L-tryptophan is broken down into anxiety-reducing, snooze-inducing niacin. Even more important, tryptophan is also made into serotonin, one of your body’s most important neurotransmitters. Serotonin gives a feeling of well-being and mellowness, or as the Australians would say, “no worries.” This is such a profound effect that Prozac, Paxil and similar antidepressants usually either mimic serotonin or artificially keep the body’s own serotonin levels high. You can do the same thing with your food. And no one can tell us that beans, peas, cheese, nuts and wheat germ are toxic if you eat a lot of them!

Plenty of carbohydrates (starches) in your meals help tryptophan get to where it does the most good: in your brain. In order to cross the blood-brain barrier to get in, carbos are required. So cheese and crackers provides a better effect than the cheese standing alone. An egg or two on toast is better than just the egg. Beans, peas, and nuts already contain carbohydrate, so you are all set there.

Consider that five servings of beans, a few portions of peanut butter, or just one big handful of cashews provides one to two thousand milligrams of tryptophan, which will work as well as prescription antidepressants… but don’t tell the drug companies. Some skeptics think that the pharmaceutical people already know. Here are two quotes in evidence:

“Pay careful attention to what is happening with dietary supplements in the legislative arena… If these efforts are successful, there could be created a class of products to compete with approved drugs. The establishment of a separate regulatory category for supplements could undercut exclusivity rights enjoyed by the holders of approved drug applications.” (Source: FDA Deputy Commissioner for Policy David Adams, at the Drug Information Association Annual Meeting, July 12, 1993).

Here are 15 other Amazing Health Benefits Of Cashew Nuts

Who doesn’t know about cashew nuts? Caju is what we call them in India. We use them mostly in sweets and children love to eat them as they are. They are full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals which are required for the normal functioning of the body. They actually belong to Brazil but Portuguese brought them to India in the 16th century. The kidney shaped or bean shaped nuts have many health benefits, a few of which are presented below:

1. Prevents Cancer:

Proanthocyanidins are a class of flavonols which fight against tumor cells by stopping them to divide further. These proanthocyanidins and high copper content in cashew nuts help fight against cancerous cells and keeps you away from colon cancer. This is one of the major cashew nut benefits.

2. Healthy Heart:

Cashews contain low fat content when compared to other nuts and that too in the oleic acid form which is very healthy for heart. They are cholesterol free and the antioxidants present keeps you away from heart diseases.

3. Lowers High Blood Pressure:

Cashew nuts lower your blood pressure with the help of magnesium present in them.

4. Helps Hair:

Copper is the mineral which helps your hair get that color. So if you take cashews which are full of copper content, you can get that black hair that you always wished for.

5. Healthy Bones:

Like calcium, magnesium is also important for bone health which is the main content in cashew nuts.

6. Healthy Nerves:

Magnesium is stored on the bones surface which prevents calcium from entering the nerve cells and thus keeps the blood vessels and muscles relaxed. Insufficient amount of magnesium can lead calcium to enter the blood vessels leading them to contract. It also leads to high blood pressure, migraine headache etc.

7. Prevents Gallstones:

Daily intake of cashewnut can reduce the risk of developing gallstones up to 25%.

8. Helps in Weight Loss:

Even though cashew nuts are considered as fats, it contains good cholesterol. So contrary to popular belief, those who eat cashews at least twice a week gain less weight when compared to those who eat less.

9. Anti-oxidants:

Selenium, copper, magnesium etc. act as co-factors for many enzymes.

10. Helps Digestion:

Cashew nuts help in growth and development, nucleic acid synthesis and digestion.

11. High on Vitamins:

Cashew nuts are rich in vitamins like riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, niacin etc. These vitamins keep you safe from sideroblastic anemia, pellagra, etc.

12. Healthy Gums and Teeth:

As mentioned before, the magnesium content present in cashew nuts is very good for bones. So it gives healthy teeth as well as strong gums to hold them.

13. Pleasant sleep:

After menopause, these cashew nuts can give you relaxed and pleasant sleep during nights.

14. Free Radicals:

Cashew nuts help our body to utilize iron properly and eliminate free radicals which cause health problems.

15. Macular Degeneration:

Cashew nuts have the ability to filter Sun’s UV rays and protect us from macular degeneration.

Now that you know the health benefits of Cashew nuts, ensure that you eat a few once every week I am sure you already love them.

Britain's police 'struggling to cope' with immigration, says Met chief

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warns of the difficulties his officers face with the influx of foreigners into Britain

Britain’s police forces are “struggling to cope” because of the pace of immigration, the country’s most senior officer warned last night.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, told an international terrorism conference that his officers face challenges not only because of the speed of growth but because those coming to Britain had different languages and views of authority.

He also used the conference in New York to warn that the internet is becoming a “dark and ungoverned” space in which too little is done to guard against paedophiles, murderers and terrorists, and called on technology firms to do more to provide online protection.

“People arrive with different languages, different perceptions of the police so that in itself can be part of the challenge,” he.

Sir Bernard said that 25 percent of the population growth in the UK had arrived in London in the last 10 years.

“We have all seen growth but not at the pace we have seen more recently, so it’s a simple logistical point that the more people that arrive, the more quickly they arrive, all our bureaucracies struggle to cope and the police are no different,” he said.

Sir Bernard emphasised the importance of the community beat as much as high-level counter terrorism in the effort to combat the radicalisation of some of Britain's youth who become driven to plot attacks or head overseas to join the jihad of ISIS.

"As much as we are talking about very specialised areas of counter-terrorism, we are careful not to forget we have got officers on the street talking to people," he said.

But he warned: "That can be a challenge for new communities."

Sir Bernard's controversial remarks came after an annual conference of law enforcement chiefs held in New York, this year's attended by police chiefs from Washington DC and Los Angeles as well as the FBI and New York police commissioner Bill Bratton.

Mr Bratton said the chiefs had discussed the explosion in the use of social media networks in the last three to four years and their growing role as a tool for terrorists and would-be terrorists.

"It's a whole new area and four years ago it barely existed, " said Mr Bratton.

Sir Bernard said he was concerned that "access is getting reduced" for police forces and other security personnel to be able to reach data that could fuel terrorist attacks or the spread of radicalism.

Internet companies such as Apple and Google are fast increasing the amount of encryption of individuals' data away from the eyes of security forces in the wake of the outcry following the revelations from American whistleblower Edward Snowden that the US security services were leading a programme to allow government monitoring of ordinary citizens' phone records without judicial permission or the public's knowledge.

"We need to work make sure that the internet doesn't go dark," said Sir Bernard on Thursday.

"As the security services we need to maintain access to digital data and that's a joint concern (with the US), that access is getting reduced . It's not to intrude into privacy but to maintain the safety of the public," he said.

Along with the growth in the use of social networks as a medium for terrorism, Sir Bernard continued his controversial theme that the increase in immigration and the arrival of economic migrants can present difficulties to the Metropolitan Police and other agencies in the UK and beyond.

"Our societies are changing apace. Here in New York society is changing - with immigration many people are coming to live here and you will find the same in London," he said.

"That brings us great benefits, these two great cities are great places to invest, have great economies, great business. But they also bring other challenges and I think the fact that we are able to share experiences and obviously get better plans for the future is a great opportunity," he continued.

"What happens in New York and London is we are seeing growth and with growth there is migration as an element of that but what it means is for the police to have community-based policing, it sometimes can be more difficult to integrate with new populations," he said.

Adamawa: Teacher Stabs Female Student, School Shuts Down inShare

The Government Day Secondary School in Yola, Adamawa State, on Thursday had to be hurriedly shut down after a teacher stabbed one of his female pupils with a knife.

PUNCH reports:
It was gathered that the teacher, simply called Mr Babbal, and a Senior Secondary 2 student, Zainab Adamu, had a misunderstanding over an issue that had yet to be ascertained.

The teacher allegedly brought out a knife with which he stabbed the student in different places.

The attack was said to have angered other students, who allegedly descended on the teacher, beating him to a pulp before he was rescued.

The stabbed student is said to be responding to treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

Scientists Develop Alternative To Antibiotics

Scientists have developed a highly effective alternative to antibiotics which can destroy bacteria in seconds.

The drug, called Staphefekt, is based on a naturally-occurring enzyme that side-steps the defence mechanisms that superbugs have evolved to fight off traditional antibiotics.

It is already available in Holland and Germany as a cream to treat skin infections such as acne, but researchers hope to develop a tablet form of the drug within five years to treat serious infections.

Mark Offerhaus, chief executive of Dutch firm Micreos, told Sky News that bacteria are unlikely to evolve resistance to the treatment.

"(It) will drill holes in the bacterial cell wall from the outside," he said.

"This goes really fast, in a matter of seconds. There is no time to develop resistance. This is a really important day in the history of antimicrobial treatment."

Overuse of antibiotics has led to a growing problem of drug resistance.

Around 5,000 patients a year die from once treatable infections and Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that the rise of superbugs could take medicine "back to the dark ages".

Staphefekt uses an enzyme called endolysin, which is found in viruses that attack bacteria.

Studies on small numbers of patients have confirmed it can eradicate Staphylococcus Aureus - the species of bacteria that includes MRSA. 

But scientists at a London summit on antibiotic resistance warned that proven treatments need to be used with care until new drugs come on stream - with GPs set tough targets to reduce prescribing.

Jayne Lawrence, chief science advisor to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: "GPs are going to have to explain more carefully to patients why in some cases they won't be given an antibiotic because they don't really need it.

"Alternatively, they might be given a prescription that is post-dated so it can't be used for a few days - the idea is to check the patient has an infection that needs the antibiotic."

My fears about marriage — Terry G

How down-to-earth could Terry G be?
All the way may just be the answer. The ‘Mad man’ on stage as he is called is a talented and successful entertainer, instrumentalist, singer and music producer. In this interview with Weekend Groove, the father of one talks about his pure water business, his marriage plans, and much more.

How has life been treating you lately?

I thank God, life has been so good, positive and I have been working on the brand, Terry G; making it look more attractive and appealing so that it can be widely accepted.

Why did you venture into pure water business when there are other lucrative businesses?

You know music is a special part of my life; music is a hobby, it is what I love doing. To obey the rule of diversification, I ventured into other businesses beside the music business. Terry G’s water is the first business I ventured into apart from music and it has helped guide me into other businesses.

How is the Terry G’s pure water doing in the market?

It has been doing massively well since we started. Though the challenges we are facing are high; the trucks we are using for distribution are not enough to move the goods around but the demands are very encouraging. In the first two weeks of operation, we ran out of stock, the customers’ requests were beyond our imagination. Meeting up with consumers’ demands is the biggest challenge we are facing but I can tell you it’s quite interesting.

Is Terry G’s pure water acceptable only within your vicinity or it goes beyond?

It’s 100 percent accepted within the factory’s vicinity and beyond. Like I said earlier, we ran out of stock due to demands. People’s response to the brand is highly inspiring and I’m glad about that. I also thank God for the acceptance because it’s everywhere now.

Why are you yet to get married to Mimi, the mother of your child?

She’s my fiancée; we are getting married one day but I don’t want everybody pushing us to settle down as if they own our lives. One thing many of them have not realised is that marriage is a decision we have to make once in life. I don’t want to make a decision now and change my mind later or else everybody looking up to me as a role-model will see me as an irresponsible guy. Besides, I don’t want to make a rash decision that I’d regret for the rest of my life. That is why I have been taking my time, putting things that make marriage worthwhile together and at the end, when that fruitfulness is everywhere we can live our lives together forever. I thank God I have a good and understanding partner and we are working together.

What do you understand about marriage?

I don’t know anything about marriage, because I have never been into it, but I believe marriage is when two opposite sexes are living together as couple. Technically, I’m married because my fiancée lives with me and my son. I live like a married man, though without any ring or court pronouncement. Everybody asks me about marriage but hardly talks about divorce. Let’s not go into that aspect so we don’t hurt the victims of that circumstance and if I can say it here, I don’t want to rush into marriage so I won’t become a victim of the circumstance called divorce.

You recently posted a picture of your son on a social network playing musical instrument; but you earlier said you wanted him to be a footballer?

Yeah, it’s true. All I know is that he will be a great man in life. But I want him to learn how to do many things while he can, so at the end of the day when he gets to a certain age, he will be able to choose and make a decision that suits him. What I’m trying to do is to make him understand different parts of life. I’m not God, to boldly say he’s going to be a footballer but that’s just what I want him to be. I’m going to put him through by registering him in a football academy in London but when he gets to the age of decision making; he can choose to do whatever pleases him. In any case, we are going to support him with everything we have as parents.

Recently, you reconciled with your long-time foes, including Ozone, Timaya and others, why?

Yes, there’s something about life and it is called maturity. It breeds changes both biologically and psychologically. Change is the only constant factor. At a particular time in life, I realised I need people in my life to be happy and people also need me to meet their needs. I won’t block the flow of love by being adamant. I may be a source of an opportunity and at the same time I don’t want to be an endangered type or a barricade to other people’s progress. I believe in peace, so we make peace to make things happen.

There are speculations that you are relocating to your house in Lekki?

Me ke? I didn’t buy any house in Lekki and I’m not relocating to Lekki. Even if I’m going to relocate to Lekki, it has to be my own house. Lekki is another environment I would love to reach out to because of my business because my water factory is still in my neighbourhood for now, I can’t just leave here or my business.

As a son of a deaconess, in the church how do people relate with your personality as Terry G?

Actually, I don’t go to church always, due to time and my kind of job. But any time I show up in church, people look at me in an odd way. I just have to convince myself that I am in church to serve God.

How do you find time to serve God?

Going to church doesn’t mean serving God, but I have time for God always. My conscience is for God. I fear God and I know that the grace of God is more than sufficient for me. If you fear God and know that he exists and he’s always around to assist you, you are connected to him.

You recently disclosed on a live programme that you’ve stopped taking hard-drugs, but do you still take little before going on stage to perform or do you always ginger yourself with alcoholic drinks?

I don’t drink or take anything before going on stage. I live a normal life like every other person but when it comes to a job that makes you who you are, you have to take it very serious, I don’t drink before going on stage because it takes a whole lot of energy and performance requires energy. Once you drink, it exhausts all your energy, so I drink only after
performances.

Do you have any retirement plan?

I can never retire from music. Music is for life and forever. I’ll never retire. I’ll keep spreading my tentacles. I have a dream that one day, my type of music will be like a mission and every member of the society will adore my music more than I expect.
How supportive are you to your brother doing music business like you?
I’m very sure of his confidence, beliefs and creativity. Apart from singing, he also produces. I’m very optimistic that he’ll prove himself worthy in the music scene. He just released a single entitled ‘Salama’ and its video will be shot soon. People can judge him when the video is out.

Do you have plans of going into politics like other artistes?
I’m not a politician; I’m not planning to go into politics. It’s not my way; I can keep fighting for the people with my voice and music. We speak the minds of the masses with our songs and that’s what makes us role models, not politics. I don’t believe we need to join a particular party before we can fight or speak for the people.

But do you support entertainers going into politics?

Yes, I support them. It’s their choice and in another way, it will help boost the entertainment industry and more money may come into the industry.

Glo-CAF Awards: CAF names Musa, Enyeama, 23 others as contenders

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday in Cairo announced the nominees for the 2014 African Player of the Year and the 2014 African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) in the Glo-Caf Awards.

Twenty-five players were nominated for the African Player of the Year, while 20 players made the list for the Player of the Year (Based in Africa) category.

Super Eagles’ duo of Ahmed Musa who plays for CSKA Moscow and Vincent Enyeama of Lille, France are the two Nigerians who made the list of topmost twenty five players in the main Award category while Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers International, Enugu is the only Nigerian shortlisted in the 20-man list of Africa-based Player of the Year.

Ahmed Musa, a very resourceful player and Vincent Enyeama, the outstanding goalkeeper were members of the Super Eagles team that won the 2013 African Nations Cup in South Africa and also participated actively in the Super Eagles’ campaign in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.Ejide Uzoenyi on the other hand made his international debut for Nigeria in 2012. He was called up to Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and was named to Nigeria’s squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship where he emerged the most valuable player of the tournament. He was also named in the Nigeria’s provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and made the final squad after Elderson Echiejile was excluded by injury. The list was compiled through a vigorous exercise by the Confederation of African Football that took into consideration the performance of the nominees for their national teams and clubs from January to November, this year.

Other Players shorted listed for the African Player of the Year award include the Ghanaian duo of Asamoah Gyan of  Al-Ain  and Kwadwo Asamoah  Juventus, the Senegalese:  Dame N’doye of Lokomotiv Moscow and Sadio Mané of Southampton, Emmanuel Adebayor  of Togo and Tottenham and the Cameroonian trio of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting of Schalke 04, Stephane Mbia of Sevilla and Vincent Aboubakar of Porto.

Others are Yao Kouassi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ of Cote d’Ivoire and AS Roma and his fellown country men: Wilfred Bony of Swansea and Yaya Toure of Man City as well as Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Ferdjani Sassi from Tunisia and CS Sfaxien.

Also listed are Algerian quartet of Islam Slimani of Sporting Lisbon, Raïs M’Bolhi of Philadelphia Union, Sofiane Feghouli of Valencia and Yacine Brahimi of Porto. Yannick Bolasie of DR Congo and Crystal Palace, Thulani Serero of South Africa and Ajax, Seydou Keita of Mali and As Roma, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund and Mohamed El Neny  of Egypt and Basel completed the list.

In the African  Player of the Year (Based in Africa) category, the twenty players short-listed are South Africa’s: Bernard Parker, Bongani Ndulula and late Senso Meyiwa of Kaizer Chiefs Amazulu and Orlando Pirates, Amr Gamal  of Egypt and Al Ahly, the duo of Akram Djahnit and El Hedi Belamieri  of Algeria and ES Setif. The list also included Tunisian and CS Sfaxien players: Fakhereddine Ben Youssef and Ferdjani Sassi.

Others are : Congolese quartet of Firmin Mubel Ndombe of As Vita, Jean Kasusula of TP Mazembe, Kader Bidimbou of AC Leopards and Lema Mabidi of As Vita.

Also nominated are Geoffrey Massa of Uganda and Pretoria University, Mudathir Al Taieb of Sudan and Al Hilal, Roger Assalé of Cote d’Ivoire and Sewe Sport, Solomon Asante of Ghana and TP Mazembe, Souleymane Moussa of Cameroon and Coton Sport and Yunus Sentamu of Uganda and AS Vita.

The winners of the two categories will be decided by votes from the Head Coaches and Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF.

The Glo- CAF Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, 8 January 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ivorian Yaya Toure was crowned African Player of the Year for the past three years whilst Mohamed Aboutreika of Egypt was named African Player of the Year (Based in Africa) last year.

No president resigns during war, Jonathan tells APC

The Presidency has said there is no part of the world where the President resigns during an ongoing war.

It therefore challenged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to tell Nigerians where such presidents had resigned during war time.

The Presidency was reacting to the demand by the leadership of the APC, including its National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign because of the on-going war against the country by the members of the Boko Haram sect.

Reacting on behalf of the President, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, asked Nigerians to ignore such calls.

He said, “The suggestion by one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Tinubu, that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign from office as a result of the activities of insurgents in the north-eastern part of the country, has once again shown beyond doubt that the former Lagos State governor and his colleagues in the opposition are a bunch of political anarchists and charlatans blinded by an unbridled appetite for power.

“The assertion by Tinubu at a political rally in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday that in ‘civilised’ societies, the President should have resigned is unfounded and lacking in historical precedence.

“We challenge him to tell Nigerians which part of his ‘civilised’ world has there been a call on a President to resign during an on-going war.

“When terrorists attacked the United States of America in September 2001, the leaders of the Democratic Party did not demand a resignation of President George Bush but rather they rose in defence of the American nation to support the various measures taken by the President to defeat the al Qaeda terrorists.”

He said it was necessary to remind the APC leader that it was leading members of his party who vehemently opposed and openly criticised the proscription of the Boko Haram sect by the Federal Government in 2013 with some of them even going as far as describing it as a move against the North while others tried to incite the civil society to condemn this anti-terrorists’ action.

Okupe said that it was therefore unfortunate that the APC, in its desperation for power and eagerness to make selfish political gains from insecurity, had shown a total lack of the spirit of nationalism and statesmanship in its public comments on the challenges of insurgency in the North-East.

He added that it was particularly sad that the leaders of the APC would mount every available podium to pour invectives on the President and ridicule members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria who were in the battlefield against terror.

“Telling the President to resign because of an ongoing insurgency is the height of insensitive, indecorous and bad politics which ought to be roundly condemned by every patriotic Nigerian,” he added.

He said that by the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, the only recognised means of changing a government was through the electoral process.