Nigerian Musicians Who Are Missing In Action: Are They Alive?

 

Chux Ohai takes a look at some wave-making music artistes that are now less visible on the Naija entertainment scene in the current highly competitive era…

Mo’Cheddah

Modupe Oyeyemi, aka Mo’Cheddah, has won some awards and proved herself a worthy artiste. Since scandals are also part of the game, this pretty singer has had her fair share of darkish tales.

In one of such scandals, a naked photograph of the singer suddenly popped up on Twitter. She was said to have mistakenly tweeted the picture while trying to send it to another artiste named ElDee da Don.

As expected, the picture, which showed Mo’Cheddah in her natural ‘swim suit’ posing before a mirror in her bedroom, and an accompanying message to ElDee urging him to pretend that it was sent by one of his pals, went viral on social media and attracted shocking reactions from her followers and fans.

Embarassed, Mo’Cheddah had tried in vain to deny the tweet. But the damage had been done. The tweet subsequently fuelled the rumour that she was actually neck-deep in a sizzling romance with ElDee. Some followers of both artistes were further convinced that the photograph was a clear evidence that she was in love with him.

More important, however, is the fact that the singer, who arrived the music scene at the same time as Wizkid is far from being active in recent times. Indeed, while Wizkid and her other contemporaries including Davido and Tiwa Savage, seem to be everywhere, many fans are simply asking, “Where is Mo’Cheddah?”

Ruggedman

Rapper Micheal Stephens, aka Ruggedman, was recently the special guest of V-Channel, an entertainment cable TV channel on Startimes at its weekly ‘Celebrity Night Out’ party at Troy Lounge in Ogba, Lagos.

The event had fellow music stars, such as Kenny Saint Brown and Essence in attendance. Many music fans turned out to express their love to the rapper and Ruggedy Baba, as he is fondly called, partied the night away with attention-grabbing dance moves, amidst cheers from gathering. It was Ruggedman’s first real public appearance in a long while.

The last time he had a real outing was in 2012 when he performed alongside other artistes in a concert in Asaba. The show was hosted by the Delta State Government to celebrate its success at the last National Sports Festival. Always controversial, the rapper was said to have almost started another controversy after he goofed during a recent appearance on TV continental.

The subject was his much-publicised breakup with erstwhile pal, 9ice.

Paul ‘Play’ Dairo

Not long ago, Paul Dairo reportedly sued MTN Nigeria and Ultima Limited for allegedly infringing on his copyright. Both companies were said to have used his song ‘Angel of my life’ for the MTN-sponsored reality TV music talent hunt show, Project Fame without his permission.

The development implied that Paul, who was in the USA, had finally recovered from a spell of ill-health that kept him away from the music scene and the limelight for a while. The singer has been reportedly struck by a strange illness that almost ended his career.

Last year, after leaving his hospital bed, he had promised to head straight to the recording studio and out with two new albums at once. But so far, his fans are still waiting for the fulfilment of that promise.

Tony Tetuila

Tony Tetuila was one of the groomsmen of Tuface Idibia during the latter’s recent wedding to actress Annie Macaulay in Dubai. It was an indication that both artistes had remained close friends despite the challenges that they had to face these past years.

But, while Tuface’s career appears to be constantly on the rise, it seems that Tetuila’s quiet struggle to regain relevance is yet to yield positive results. Meanwhile, the singer, whose last successful album was recorded a couple of years ago, has been spotted in some fun spots in Lagos simply idling away. Last year, he was rumoured to have impregnated a young lady living in the United Kingdom.

Olu Maintain

After recording ‘Nawti’, his last album that enjoyed tremendous reception from music fans here in Nigeria, Olu Maintain sort of faded out of the entertainment scene. Lately it was rumoured that he had dumped his American girlfriend, Natalie Nunn, for a Nigerian female artiste.

If that story is anything to go by, it is possible that the singer, who rose to fame with the success of the hit-song, ‘Yahoozee’, is too absorbed in his new relationship to realize how much music fans yearn for his return to the scene.

Bouqui

Fans of self-styled rapvangelist Bouqui (real name is Bukola Folayan) were pleasantly surprised when she brokered a new deal with the American records label known as Xist Music, which is guaranteed to launch her career to greater heights. Even they felt better when it was announced that the award-winning rapper planned to release a double CD album titled ‘Marks of a General and Eve of Independence’. But that was where the excitement ended. The truth is that Bouqui has been ‘missing in action’. Many fans think she has skipped too many A-list concerts in town and she has been lying too low for comfort. Although she released a single album early this year, it was hardly noticed.

Faze

Having joined his pal, Tuface Idibia, at Musiz Records, one would have expected Chibuzo Orji, aka Faze, to have upped his game. But the R&B singer and ex Plantashun boy appears to be having a tough time turning his career around. Not even the arrival of his fourth and most recent album, ‘Refazed’, in which he tries to reassert his relevance on the music scene, has made a difference.

Eedris AbdulKarim

Ex-Remedies star, Eedris AdulKarim, can be seen here and there. But his efforts to reclaim his former position as a foremost rapper has not yielded results. Beyond his last single CD, in which he carried on his private ‘conversation’ with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, it is certain that Mr Lecturer ought to prepare more punchy handouts for his fans.

W*A*R*N*I*N*G! Mr. President, We Received The Message You Sent Asari Dokubo! The North Is Prepared, Ready & Waiting! - Northern Elders Forum.

**I am putting it to Jonathan on notice that he Must leave office come 2015. - Ango Abdullahi.

A member of the Northern Elders Forum. Professor Ango Abdullahi has sent out a message to Asari informing him that the North are prepared and ready for war.
Professor Ango Abdullahi blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the remark made by Alhaji Dokubo, and stressed that reaction is that, if not for the fact that I am aware that Dokubo is a spokesperson of President Jonathan, I will have ignored him.


But my reaction now is directed to President Jonathan, who sent Asari Dokubo to issue the war threat, that if Jonathan feel this is the way he will win 2015 election, I am saying on behalf of the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) that they should Start the war Now! because I am putting it to Jonathan on notice that he Must leave office come 2015.

There is no point waiting till 2015, start the War now, as We in the North are prepared, ready and waiting! Start it Now! - Professor Ango Abdullahi.

Dangote Gets N670bn Loan to Construct Nigeria’s Biggest Refinery

One of Africa’s richest men, Aliko Dangote, intends to build a petroleum refinery in Nigeria.

The Chairman, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said on Wednesday that the 400,000 barrels per day capacity refinery he plans to construct in Nigeria would be financed with loans totaling about $4.25 billion (N670 billion) provided by a consortium of some foreign and Nigerian banks.

He did not reveal the identities of the banks involved.

Mr. Dangote, who was speaking with Bloomberg in Cape Town during a business forum at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa in South Africa, said the refinery is expected to help Nigeria reduce its current dependence on imported petroleum products to survive.

Last month, Mr. Dangote had unfolded ambitious plans to invest about $8 billion in the construction of a refinery to be sited in the southwest part of the country. The construction of the refinery would commence by late 2016.

The 445,000 barrels a day combined production capacity of the country’s four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna is only able to yield an average 18 and 20 million litres of petrol to take care of the growing appetite of consumers, with current national consumption level put at an average of 32 and 35million litres per day.

The shortfall between local refining capacity as a result of aging infrastructure and poor maintenance is only bridged through massive importation, with the attendant corruption in the importation and distribution process.

When 3 Nollywood damsels went bald

Ebube Nwagbo, Angela
Okorie and Chita Agwu

The trio of Ebube Nwagbo, Angela Okorie and Chita Agwu has a lot in common and the first of those qualities must be beauty, brawn and plenty of brain.  But what on earth would make the three women go bald, looking like Hindus having  a sort of religious reverie?
The answer isn’t to be a needle-in-a-haystack kind of thing as one of the damsels, Chita Agwu has revealed they are shooting a film
in Owerri about widows who kill their husbands for money. The movie which is titled “Widows Cot” has 14 Nollywood beauties who shaved their hair to meet the requirements of the movie script.

The movie is still being shot and already the talking point has been about Ebube, Angela and Chita shaving their hair for money as Chika Ike was recently taunted for shaving her hair for cheap money even when some reports had it that she was paid N5 million for the effort.
But Chita on her part has said that shaving hair for movie roles is not a new thing in the movie industry, it is part of the trade that actors  must go through image transformation just to fit in for a particular role. When asked how much they were paid, she simply said “They tried”.
Ebube, Chita, and Angela aren’t the only ones to shave their hair for movie roles there has been many others in the past. Mercy Johnson, Halima Abubakar, Nuella Njubigbo,  Oge Okoye, Uche Jombo, Adaora Ukoh and a host of others have done so in the past.

Sexiest in Nollywood 3: Who makes the last 5 from the Best 10

Now the journey is almost over.  20 of the 25 Sexiest in Nollywood have emerged, leaving the remaining slots for 5 women and 5 men to complete the picture.
However, last week’s voting wasn’t convincing enough to come up with the last 5 men and women. So, to give our voters the picture of how things stand at the moment, we present the best ten men and women who are pushing the hardest to make the final list.

The ten men who are giving a good fight include  Emeka Enyiocha, Francis Duru, O.C. Ukeje, Gideon Okeke,  Alex Ekubo, Gabriel Afolayan, Kalu Ikeagwu, Femi Branch, Muna Obiekwe and Kunle Afolayan.
The ten women at the nick of making it into the ‘quest’ are Nuella Njubigbo, Yvonne Nelson, Yvonne Okoro, Halima Abubakar, Omoni Oboli, Uche Iwuji, Ejiro Okurame, Mercy Aigbe, Benita Nzeribe and Ijeoma Imoh.

Already in the house for men are Yul Edochie, Joseph Benjamin, Benson Okonkwo, Ken Okolie, Sunkanmi Omobolanle, Ali Nuhu, Chigozie Atuanya, Bobby Obodo, Michael Okon, Gbenro Ajibade, Van Vicker, Pat Attah, Odunlade Adekola, Majid Michel, John Dumelo, Pope Odowondo Jr., Ramsey Nouah, Uti Nwachukwu and Mike Ezuruonye.
The women are made up of Anita Joseph, Queeneth Hilbert, Cynthia Agholor, Tope Osoba, Colette Orji, Jackie Appiah, Chita Agwu, Biodun Okeowo, Queen Nwokoye, Angela Okorie, Damilola Adegbite, Rita Dominic, Amanda Ebeye, Nadia Buari, Ebube Nwagbo, Stephanie Okereke, Chika Agatha, Tonto Dikeh and Maureen Cyril.
Who are they going to be? Only your votes will determine who joins the first 20. Remember, counting is done between Saturday and Thursday, so, get to it and bring in your choice candidate in the last minute dash for the nominees who slug it out in the Sexiest in Nollywood, Season 3! Keep voting
How to vote simply text name of your choice:  Sexiest Man and Woman to 08052201215 or 08052201251

Friends, Nollywood, Govt abandoned me, says ailing Actor Peter Bunor

VETERAN Nollywood actor and one of the industry’s patriarchs and pioneer role interpreters Peter Bunor has been to death and back since he was struck by a deadly stroke.
His state of health presently is so bad to the extent that except help comes to him urgently, the industry may witness the loss of another star actor after Enebeli Enebuwa. To many who know how bad his health conditions have been in the last one year, his being alive today is a miracle.
There are even rumors that he has kicked the bucket. However, Bunor is alive but not a happy man.
Reason  being the ill treatment he has suffered in the hands of former colleagues in the makebelive industry. The Ogwashi Uku, Delta State born actor who narrated his ordeal in tears recently, said he is bitter with his colleagues and pray for God to touch their hearts.
He revealed how everyone including some of the young actors and actresses he mentored in the industry have abandoned him simply because of  ill health.
The actor who spoke to Vanguard Arts  in Asaba, where he is recuperating also expressed his disappointment with Delta State government , which he accused of  also ignoring him.
Concerning his plans to reaching Delta State  Government for assistance he said :  “ I want to speak with the State Governor and I believe he is a wonderful man. He has a great passion for all Deltans. But I am still trying my best to see how I could reach Governor Uduaghan, which has not been possible. I believe that if I can have access to him, he will do something for me. Since this thing happened there has been no single actor that called me to ask about my condition. It is a shame  on their part. Would they say they don’t know that I am sick?’
Sick Bunor  also said that since his travails started last year that  he hasn’t even received a common phone call from any of his former colleges not to talk of assistance.
He said that his colleagues rather prefer to hear his obituary news or any other bad news as they have started spreading rumor that he is dead.

*Peter Bunor

‘I had a stroke and that was the end of it. I was unconscious, and if you are unconscious you are dead. It was when I opened my eyes that I realized that I was in a church here in Delta State. I didn’t even know when they brought me down to this place. When I open my eyes, I was so hungry. I had not eaten for a long time. All I could remember is that I was on admission for a long time before they took me to a church where God healed me.’ He said.
Continuing he added that : All I can say now is to thank God that I am alive. I have also given my life to Jesus Christ as you can see that I am now a Pastor.”
Asked to throw more light on when he was  struck  by the illness, he said that it would be difficult to remember as the after effect of stroke is something that makes anyone to forget his past.
“If I tell you that this was the particular day I had this stroke then I did not have stroke. Up till now, I am still trying to find out how they brought me here in Asaba. Because when you are hit with stroke you will even forget your own name. I forgot my name. In fact I never knew I still exist. Up to the time they took me to the Bible school I never knew. That is stroke for you. I pray that no man experiences it. I am happy, I’m getting better. God is in control.”
Though sidelined from the stage for the past one year, the popular actor thanked God that the stroke did not  snuff life out of him.
He noted that the journey of his life in the past one-year has been an uncharted script that has taken him from the throes of death to the land of the living.
“Let me tell you the truth. After I had this stroke I did not know how I was looking. That is why I am not happy with this so-called people you call my colleagues.
Bunor who still remember how he joined the movie industry said whatever he achieved was not by any favour but  through his talent.
According to him:“I didn’t study Theatre Arts. I started while looking for avenues to make little money for my school. I was paid about N10 per episode in any soap that is local production, but on network programme like Cock Crow at Dawn I got about N150 per episode, which was a big money then.
I did this continually and that was how I found myself in the industry. I didn’t actually know that it was going to be like this.
I was just doing it then to put something in my pocket. While I was in Jos, I used to go to act with the NTA Jos, between 1980-82.
I even took part in the first soap opera that went on network and also had a stint with some of the local television productions like Mirror and others.
I have equally taken part in different television soaps like Memorial Hospital, Checkmate, Sound of Destiny, Second Chance, Third Eye and several others.
So, when the home video thing came up, it was like a joke but I found myself in one of the major English video called Glamour Girls in 1994.
It is the first English movie that started off what we are doing now.
Otherwise, I would say the first movie that was produced in the industry is Living in Bondage.’ Throwing more light as to his acting prowess, he said, “I still act in soap because before I had this problem I was involved in Treasures.
But let me just say clearly that the difference is clear. When you talk about Nollywood video, you know it involves money and you know you need to live up to your billing to prove that what they are paying you is worth it.”

First flying car is finally here, to go on sale 2015 • Can take off vertically in traffic jam

Designer and maker of the first flying cars, Terrafugia has announced that its transition design are set to go on sale to the public as early as 2015.

The automaker said the flying car is in part a sedan and partly a private jet with two seats, four wheels and wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car. The car will be on sale in less than two years.

The Massachusetts-based firm has also unveiled plans for a TF-X model that will be small enough to fit in a garage, and won’t need a runway to take off.

Last year, the Transition successfully flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes.

Commercial jets fly at 35,000 feet.

However, it will not be cheap, as the Transition will cost £190,000 ($300,000), N46,686,800 in value.

Terrafugia said owners must have pilot’s licenses, and will need to pass a test plus complete 20 hours of flying time to be able to fly the car.

Despite the advances in technology the Transition demonstrates, critics have said that it is still not the vision of flying cars seen in many sci-fi films.

To answer these critics, Terrafugia has now also released designs for a TF-X Model of its Transition range.

Whereas the Transition requires a runway, the TF-X can take off from a vertical position because of motorized rotors on the wings.

These rotors will work in a similar way to helicopter rotors.

Being able to take off from standstill means owners will be able to go from the road to the air straight from their driveways, car parks and even when stuck in traffic.

Although you will still need at least 100 feet in diameter in order to open the wings.

According to Terrafugia, the vehicle will carry four people ‘in car-like comfort’.

It is expected to be able to fly, nonstop, for 500 miles.

The TF-X model has not been tested yet, and prices haven’t been announced.

Terrafugia hopes to have working models of the TF-X available for sale within eight to 12 years.

Like with the Transition, you will need 20 hours of flying and a pilot’s license to drive it, though.

The flying car has always had a special place in the American imagination.

Inventors have been trying to make them since the 1930s, according to Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst who owns R.W. Mann & Co. in Port Washington, New York.

But Mann thinks Terrafugia has come closer than anyone to making the flying cars a reality.

The government has already granted the company’s request to use special tires and glass that are lighter than normal automotive ones, to make it easier for the vehicle to fly.

The government has also temporarily exempted the Transition from the requirement to equip vehicles with electronic stability control, which would add about six pounds to the vehicle.

Mann said Terrafugia was helped by the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision five years ago to create a separate set of standards for light sport aircraft. The standards govern the size and speed of the plane and licensing requirements for pilots, which are less restrictive than requirements for pilots of larger planes.

Mann questions the size of the market for the Transition. The general aviation market has been in decline for two decades, he said, largely because of fuel costs and the high cost of liability for manufacturers. Also, fewer people are learning how to fly.

“This is not going to be an inexpensive aircraft to produce or market,’ he said.

“It has some uniqueness, and will get some sales, but the question is, could it ever be a profitable enterprise?’

Mann sees the western US as the most likely market, where people could fly instead of driving long distances.

Terrafugia has been working on flying cars since 2006, and has already pushed back the launch once. Last summer the company said it would have to delay expected 2011 deliveries due to design challenges and problems with parts suppliers.

‘Destructive Instinct’: Afro-Candy under fire as Baby Mama sends porn partner packing

American based Nollywood actress, Judith Okpara Mazagwu popularly known as Afro-Candy is at the moment under fire to do the obvious.
Few days after releasing the trailer of her upcoming eyesore movie, “Destructive Instinct”, one of the major actors in the movie is threatening  fire and brimstone, as he has asked her to remove the trailer from the internet or have his scenes deleted.

Afro Candy

According to Afro-Candy herself, the actor claimed he had been chased out of his home by his baby mama, and is threatening her to take them all down.
The movie featured the 41-year old mother of 2 completely nude in sexually explicit positions as she tries to make a daring impact on the industry.
Narrating her frustration in her facebook page, Afro-Candy writes, “My people judge this case for me. This shit is just about to blow up and I think I need more than an Entertainment Lawyer right now. I cast this guy in my movie, he came on set, I explained everything to him and asked him if he would have any problems with playing the role the way I wanted it.
He said, he was okay with it and I quote him, “ I am an adult, I can do whatever I want and nobody pays my bills”….Then Camera was rolling, action, he jumps into bed with me, squeezes my boob and my butt enjoying himself. Now, the trailer came out with an explosion, and he is threatening me to ‘Remove the Video from the Internet, and remove him from the movie cos’ his ‘Baby Mama has thrown him out.
Also, his family and everyone that knows him is crying……Please tell me, what am I supposed to do now? Shut down the production cos of him? It’s too late to re-shoot the movie now. My premiere is almost here God punish enemies of progress”

Wigan stun Man City in FA Cup final upset

LONDON – Substitute Ben Watson scored an injury-time winner to give Wigan Athletic a sensational 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday in the biggest FA Cup final upset in 25 years.
With extra time beckoning, Watson met a Shaun Maloney corner with a near-post header to stun 2011 cup winners City and give Wigan the first major trophy in their 81-year history.
Victory represented a fairytale moment for the modest northwest club and their chairman, Dave Whelan, who punched the air with delight at the final whistle, after a shock that stands comparison with Wimbledon’s 1988 success over Liverpool.
He had earlier led the team onto the pitch, having broken his leg while playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 1960 FA Cup final in an incident that ended his top-level football career.
Beneath driving rain, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez celebrated with his players on the pitch, as the Latics temporarily forgot their perilous fate in the Premier League, where they are on the brink of relegation.
Watson’s goal completed a miserable season for City and their manager, Roberto Mancini, who awoke on Saturday to media reports that he is about to be replaced by Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini.
League champions last year, City will finish the season without a trophy after being burnt off by Manchester United in the league and crashing out of the Champions League in the group phase.

Manchester City’s Serbian defender Matija Nastasic (C) reacts at the end of the English FA Cup final football match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium in London on May 11, 2013.Photo: AFP

City were overwhelming pre-game favourites but Mancini showed how seriously he was taking the game by starting with Joe Hart in goal, despite having previously vowed to persevere with deputy Costel Pantilimon.
Wigan welcomed back Antolin Alcaraz following a hamstring problem, but Maynor Figueroa, Ivan Ramis, Ronnie Stam and Jean Beausejour all missed out out through injury.
True to expectations, City started on the front foot, with Wigan goalkeeper Joel Robles forced to parry a dipping Yaya Toure half-volley in the fourth minute after Carlos Tevez hit the wall with a free-kick.
Wigan refused to be cowed, however, and City soon found themselves on the back foot.
Callum McManaman should have done better than curl wide from seven yards after cutting inside Matija Nastasic from Arouna Kone’s sweeping pass, while Gareth Barry had to produce a carefully timed challenge on McManaman right on the edge of the City area.
It was not until the 29th minute that City showed signs of life as an attacking force, with Robles narrowly diverting an effort from a sliding Tevez over the bar with his foot following a cut-back by David Silva.
City ended the half strongly, with Robles saving from Barry and then springing to his left to fist away a well-struck curler from Nasri.
Mancini’s men remained on the front foot in the second period and Emmerson Boyce had to produce a timely block to prevent Aguero from turning in Tevez’s low cross at the near post.
Mancini introduced James Milner and Jack Rodwell from the bench and the pair nearly combined for the opener in the 72nd minute when Rodwell got his head to Milner’s free-kick, only for Robles to save.

Wigan Athletic players hold aloft their Spanish manager Roberto Martinez (top) as they celebrate winning the English FA Cup final football match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium in London on May 11, 2013. AFP Photo:

Wigan had been subdued, but with 15 minutes to play, Maloney almost broke the deadlock with a cunning free-kick from wide on the right that bounced off the top of the bar.
Wigan were given further reason for optimism in the 84th minute, when Pablo Zabaleta was shown a second yellow card for felling McManaman as he bore down on goal.
Maloney whipped the resulting free-kick wide, but Wigan had the momentum and in the first minute of injury time, Watson glanced Maloney’s corner past Hart to write his name in cup final history.

Kim K pictured with Beyonce and Solange

It's long been rumored that Jay Z, Beyonce and Solange were not exactly fond of Kanye's baby mama, Kim Kardashian and kinda banned her from their inner circle. Well, that may not be exactly true as the reality star was pictured with the sisters at the Met Ball in New York on Sunday night. Maybe the Knowles sisters were just being nice! :-)

Funny photo: US Singer Keri Hilson Makes Fufu In Her Kitchen

She must have tasted and loved it when she came to Nigeria last year. Plus she's dating an African man, NBA player Serge Ibaka. Sweet!

4 killed in Kogi election violence, 28 others in Taraba, Adamawa

At least 25 people were killed in violent clashes, at the weekend, between Christian and Muslim mobs in Taraba State, prompting a round-the-clock curfew, an aid worker has said.
This happened as gunmen suspected to be armed robbers killed three persons in Yola, Adamawa State capital.
The toll of the weekend violence reached 32 after local government elections in Kogi State left four, including an aspirant, dead.
“We have recovered 20 bodies from the violence so far,” the Taraba aid workers  said about the Friday unrest in the town of Wukari, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the state capital Jalingo.
“We are still going round the town in search of more bodies,” he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media about death tolls.
Authorities have imposed a curfew in the area following the bloody clashes, officials said.
Local residents said  the violence erupted when the funeral procession of a traditional chief from the predominantly Christian Jukun ethnic group marched through a Muslim neighbourhood chanting slogans, which Muslims viewed as an act of provocation.
Tensions have been on the rise in the mostly Christian town of Wukari since February, when a dispute over the use of a football pitch between Muslim and Christian soccer teams set off sectarian riots that claimed several lives.
In the Adamawa incident, the  three victim were killed at a popular shopping centre in Vinikland along the every busy Yola – Mubi Road.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen earlier robbed an NNPC Mega Filling Station and another private filling station before they proceeded to the shopping centre.

*Gov. Wada

According to the eyewitnesses, the gunmen drove to the filling stations and the shopping centre in a  Peugeot 406 car as they pretended to be customers before carrying out their operations.
At the two petrol stations, it was gathered that their sales for the day  were carted away by the gunmen.
Two of the victims of the incident at the shopping centre were said to be to staffers of  a  new generation bank in Adamawa, though this could not be ascertained at press time.
Following the incident, the ever busy Yola – Mubi Road linking Borno, Yobe and other parts of the North East sub-region was cordoned by a joint military operation.
It was not clear whether arrests were made, though the state police command confirmed the robbery incident.
Kogi: Polls violence
In Kogi State, yesterday, violence marred council polls in some local government areas with four persons reported dead and an election office razed.
A councillorship aspirant in Awo Ward 1 in Ojoku District of Ankpa, Adonis Omeh, one of the victims, was, on Friday night, allegedly shot at close range by unknown assailants.  Omeh, who allegedly contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the ward with two others, was said to be  returning from a meeting with party members when he met his untimely death.
Reports from Odu Ward 1 in Dekina Local Government said two persons were killed during a clash between PDP and ACN supporters over distribution of electoral materials.
The identities of the victims (both from the governor’s ward) could not be ascertained.
At Alloma, former Governor Abubakar Audu’s home town, Mr John Okpanachi, a youth leader, was allegedly shot dead by assailants in police uniform for challenging them over non-receipt of electoral materials.
The assailants were said to have also abducted the ACN councillorship candidate in the area, Mallam Danjuma Yunusa, along side some youths who were thrown into their vans and driven away.
Confirming the incidents, Kogi Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Amadi Nwaneri, said only one person was killed in Dekina and was yet to get the reports on the Awo and Alloma killings.
In MopaMuro, the Deputy Governor’s Local Government, elections were marred by people suspected to be members of the opposition who stalled the polls till noon.
The Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, said: “From Friday night the opposition were playing out their words to stop the elections. For six hours this morning, they were causing riot and beating people. We had to call for (police) reinforcement before they could allow materials to be used. You can go to the hospital to access for yourself”.
One of the victims, Mr. Juwon Elekula, who is the NULGE secretary and was to serve as presiding Officer, said he was dealt machete blows on the head when he insisted to conduct the elections.
Election office razed
The state Independent Electoral Commission office in Bassa local government area of the state along with election materials were burnt by unidentified party supporters on Friday night.
Dino’s arrest
The spokesperson for the opposition in Kogi, Dino Melaye, was arrested on the eve of election but released four hours later.
Dino, leading a protest from the G.R.A, Lokoja, was accosted at the Kogi Hotel Roundabout and  apprehended by security personnel shortly after addressing a press conference stating the opposition’s stand to boycott the council polls.

Pini Jason, Vanguard columnist, is dead

Vanguard columnist, Chief  Pini Jason Onyegbaduo,popularly known as Pini Jason, is dead.  He died Saturday afternoon in a Lagos hospital after undergoing a surgical procedure a few days ago. He was 65.
Mr. Jason was a long time Vanguard columnist who took a leave of absence in 2007  to work as special assistant on special duties to  former governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State.  He returned to writing his column at the newspaper following Mr. Ohakim’s  exit as  governor in 2011.
Pini’s last column was published Tuesday April 30 2013 and  was titled,” A letter to Yushau Shuaib”,  on the travails of  the former spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.
Tributes followed swiftly.
General Manager, Publication/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, described him as a Nigerian who dreamt excellence and a wholesome regeneration of our nation.
Vanguard Editor, Mr Mideno Bayagbon, said Jason embodied “the best in journalism.”

*Pini Jason

Adefaye said: “Chief  Pini Jason Onyegbaduo was  that indelible part of the Vanguard character who worked for a better Nigeria with every talent in him before his death. An unpretentious humanist, you always knew where you stood with Pini. Fair, broadminded as he was analytical, Pini was the Nigerian who dreamt excellence and a wholesome regeneration of our nation even as we are hunted by pettiness, ethnicity and cronyism. He will be sorely missed even as Vanguard may find it difficult to replace him. Rest in peace Chief and may your dream for Nigeria come through.”
In his own tribute, Bayagbon said: ” It seems so unbelievable that Pini Jason, one of the most lucid voices in our quest for a greater Nigeria and indeed a greater Africa, is dead. Just like that? It shows how ephemeral life is, how illogical our inordinate materialistic ambitions are. Pini embodied the best in journalism. At the Vanguard family, we will sorely miss his friendly but matured voice and humaneness.

Kidnap Of Shettima Ali Monguno : Boko Haram Amnesty Committee in crucial talks

*No contact with insurgents yet
24 hours after the abduction of 87-year old statesman, Alhaji Shettima Ali Monguno, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the 26-man committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to explore the possibility of resolving the insurgency in the northern part of the country will be meeting tomorrow for crucial talks.
The meeting would be its first major engagement since inauguration penultimate Wednesday.  It has 60 days to complete its assignment.
Tomorrow’s meeting, which, though had been scheduled before Friday’s kidnapping of the elder statesman, “has only become more urgent and very crucial in the light of the kidnap of an 87-year old man”, one of the committee members told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend.
And whereas it has been independently verified by Sunday Vanguard that members of the committee are yet to make any form of contact yet with members of the dreaded Ahlan Sunnah Lid Da’waati wal Jihad Yaanaa (brothers), popularly known as the Boko Haram sect, a leader and spokes person for the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi maintained that this should not give anybody cause for concern.
Conversely, however, National President of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, expressed doubt that the committee may achieve success.
COMMITTEE’S PLAN TO RESOLVE CRISIS
In separate interviews with members of the committee, Sunday Vanguard discovered that the meeting slated for tomorrow would take the “form of a preliminary stock taking”.
Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that “those who had been given light assignments immediately after inauguration would be expected to report back to the committee at tomorrow’s meeting”.
Sunday Vanguard has also learnt that the committee would be looking beyond the issue of insurgency in the North alone; beyond making initial contact with the group.
According to one of the more respected member of the committee with broad national disposition, “a national plan would be drawn up by the secretariat of the committee and all members would be expected to look at it thoroughly and add or subtract, all with a view to ensuring that the larger interest of Nigeria is served and served well.
“Mind you, there are three very major issues at the heart of what is expected of the committee.  Nigerians need to be educated on what we are expected to do”.
Sunday Vanguard discovered that the three “major issues at the heart” of the committee’s work starts with the process of dialogue, disarmament and then followed by amnesty.

First Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, CFR

The second issue, investigations have also revealed, “is the type of package that would be worked out for the victims of the insurgency”.
In this category of victims are widows, orphans, traders, as well as institutional orphans domiciled in churches and mosques.
Sunday vanguard was told that the committee members would also be very “mindful of those who have relocated from the areas of insurgency back to their villages and states of origin.  And to this end, we would be working closely with state and local governments, in liaison with civil society groups just so the compensation package would not go into the pockets of state governors and council chairmen.
“The third core issue would be the engagement of a process that would lead to the preparation of a blueprint that we hope, honestly, would stop a recurrence of insurgency in any part of the country.
“This would mean creating an anti-poverty master plan for Nigeria because the issue of poverty is not a northern problem; it is a national problem that requires a national approach.”
Asked why nothing much has been heard of the activities of the group after 12 days of inauguration, Sunday Vanguard was told that “the work of the committee is not meant to be celebrated on the pages of newspapers but must be effective in the pursuit of peace.  Of what value would our efforts be if newspapers report it on a daily basis while the problem persists?
“Tomorrow’s meeting becomes more crucial because of the kidnap, in Borno, of an elder statesman.  That singular act would make people appreciate the enormity of the task we have at hand”, the member said
NORTHERN ELDERS WANT UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY
The NEF is optimistic that the committee would be able to achieve its mandate of successfully dialoguing with the sect and restoring peace to the north.
The spokesman for the body which actually set in motion the accelerated facilitation of the committee, Prof Ango Abdullahi, told Sunday Vanguard that it was too early for Nigerians to begin to judge whether the panel had established contact with the sect leadership with a view to achieving its goal.
“I believe they still have over two months to do their work and they should be given that support and cooperation to do just that.
“But my appeal to them is that the panel should ensure some level of confidentiality for those who want to come out and sign up for amnesty. We all pray that this phase of atrocity stirring the north on the face should become a thing of the past before long,” the former Vice chancellor said.
OUR FEARS, BY ACF
Reacting to the development, Alhaji Shettima, said he doubted the ability of the amnesty committee to perform the task set before it, pointing out that the government made a serious blunder in the appointment of the panelists.
According to him, the members are not people trusted by Boko Haram leaders and will only end up dashing the hopes of the people.
Shettima said, “There are certain persons in the north that the sect respect and will be ready to listen to at any time. Government should have sought them out and saddled them with the assignment.
”The whole Boko Haram crisis will not end until the government arrests some very powerful politicians in Borno State and bring to justice all those who took part in the killing of the leader of the sect, Yusuf Mohammed.
Another very competent source, who is familiar with what has been going on in the north since the committee was inaugurated by Jonathan on April 24, 2013, pointed out that it would be an uphill task for members of the committee to win the support of the sect to accomplish its assignment.
The source said, “to be very honest with you, the amnesty committee members cannot achieve the required peace because in the first place, they cannot even reach the sect leaders. To that extent, the Jonathan government is merely wasting public funds.
“We believe that the government raised the committee principally to win the support of the members and enable them to reach out to the north so as to win their support for his 2015 election and not for ending the violence in the north.
“Now, if you doubt what I am telling you, ask any of the members of the amnesty committee to go to Maiduguri or Damaturu to go and discuss with Boko Haram members even for a second. They cannot and will never try that because the sect has no respect for the members put on the panel by the President.
“The government must have made a mistake by taking a political step in order to solve a problem that should have been handled with tact by sending people who have the ears of the sect leaders and members to dialogue with them before coming out with a committee.
“These people know and respect some persons; we believe the government should have relied on this group of people to work out the modalities for ending the violence quietly. Now, with the kind of media attention that has preceded its formation, fear and distrust have been built into the whole process and the purpose defeated”, the source concluded.
Anxiety over Mongunu’s health
…whereabouts still unknown
Meanwhile, Alhaji Baba Ibrahim, secretary to the kidnapped Borno elder statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, yesterday, said the whereabouts of  his principal remained unknown, even as he denied that the kidnappers had communicated with the family and demanded ransom  running into millions of naira.
Ibrahim spoke as Governor Kashim Shettima  of Borno State left Maiduguri  for Abuja to brief  President Goodluck Jonathan on the incident.
Ibrahim spoke to newsmen on  telephone, yesterday.
The elder statesman, who is also the Chairman of Borno Elders Forum, a strong agitator for the withdrawal of JTF troops from Borno and also  at the  forefront of the call to grant amnesty to Boko Haram, was, on Friday, after performing his Juma’at prayers in Mafoni mosque in Maiduguri, kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram.
Monguno’s secretary said, “As I am talking to you now, nobody or group has contacted the family for  ransom, and the speculation that the kidnappers have freed Dr. Monguno is unfounded.
” We are still praying to Allah (God) that whoever is/are involved in this act should please free this innocent old man”.
Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr. Yuguda Abdullahi, and the Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, Leuitenant Colonel Sagir Musa, could not be reached on the abduction as their phones  rang without response.
Governor Shettima, also, yesterday, said expressed concern that the elder statesman may be without some drugs made of food supplements some of which were said to have been Monguno’s companion in the last twenty years.
The governor’s  adviser on communications, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau, said information  reaching his principal through family members indicated he was concerned that, given his age, Monguno should eat less food and take more supplements.

Check out Toolz outfit to the X--Factor auditions in Kumasi

The bootylicious OAP is the host of X-Factor Africa and they are currently in Kumasi, Ghana, for auditions.
Damn gurl, You really got toolz  or what do you guys think?

PHOTOS: Married Abuja Based Female Artiste, Gina, Pays N13.5 Million Surgery Fee For Angelina Jolie's Lips

While some are crying for food, some have more than enough to even throw to the bin.

One of the people who have more than enough is a married Abuja based artist, Mrs. Regina Adeola, popularly called Gina, who allegedly said to have paid a whopping $85,000 as surgery fee to have her lips restructured to be like the American super actress, Angelina Jolie’s.

 With this new development, no doubt, the lifestyle of entertainers in Nigeria, has massively taken a new turn. These new generation artistes imbibing all sorts of habits from their fellow American counterpart and the plastic surgery which was popularized by American celebrities seems to be the in-thing for these our Nigerian celebrities these days. 


However, whatever that is done under the sun must always come to light, no matter how perfectly orchestrated and concealed, that is the case of the not too sexy singer.
Strong facts surfaced earlier this week, indicating that the lips of Abuja Based Pop-tar Mrs. Regina Adeola a.k.a. “African Jolie” are Pure Fake!

The secret of her artificial lips was disclosed by her intimate friend named Aisha, the two were said to have been at loggerheads over matter relating to men and Aisha spilled the beans of Gina’s deal in Spain where she went to do the lips surgery for $80,000 and additional $5000 for ‘after surgery’, maintenance and healing drugs. 
 

Photo of the day: Desmond Elliot and his lovely family

A photo shoot they did for Genevieve Magazine. Lovely family!

Photos: Harrysong caught kissing Nollywood actress Uche Obodo

The singer and the actress were spotted locking lips in public. New couple alert? See another photo after the cut...

Regret my past? No way – Waje

Sitting relaxed in a well equipped salon somewhere in Lekki area of Lagos, her stylist carefully adorns her head with the Brazilian human hair in preparation for her album launch. As our reporter approached her, Waje, as she is popularly called, said in a very comic way , “welcome my brother. As you can see, I have been very busy, e no easy to launch an album”. If you’ve never been close to her, hardly would you know how jovial and friendly she could be.
Aituaje Iruobe, a.k.a, Waje, in this exclusive interview with SHOWTIME CELEBRITY, talks about her music career, journey to fame, and taking us personnal in the end.

What are we expecting tomorrow (last Wednesday)?
Well, you should be expecting the release of the album, that’s all. It has been a long time project. A lot of my fans have been asking to know when the album will drop, and I’d promised to give them  unlimited dose of my music outside of the singles I have done in the past.

How many singles have you dropped so far?
If we start from my solo, it would be about six singles. They included “Not the Way, I Wish, Orumeni, solo” among others. But my album is not a compilation of all these singles anyway.

How long did it take you to put the album together?
Well, it took a while. It is not a matter of months. We have been working on this project for the past three  years.

Waje

What were some of the challenges you faced while working on the album?
For me, my career is not necessarily based on how many albums I have dropped or not. Dropping an album is not my goal. It’s just about using the right materials, shooting the right video and so many other things . What I feel is very challenging to me has nothing to do with the album. It is towards my career as a whole.
Not just thinking about coming out with a new album, it is all about rebranding  myself.  I perform with a live band and I have a 10-man band. So, I am thinking about making sure that my band and my brand are consistent.
Another major challenge I have is working with different people and trying to fix their time to accommodate my own time. Working with people like producers, director, executive producers and lots of people has also been so challenging.

How long has the 10-man band  been in existence?
We have been together for about a year and half now.

To your album, what is the title of your new album?
Simple, it is self titled “Words aren’t just enough”, “Waje”

Why did you choose that as the title?
It is my world. All I’ve done is try to tell people what has happened in my life, the challenges I’ve faced, my high and low times. So, in other to make it interesting, I just added some melody to those stories.  That’s where I got the acronym, Waje from ,which means, “Words aren’t just enough”. And I think for my first album, it would be great to have it as the title.
The album talks about love, fun, caution, some level of things. And you know, there are different aspects of it, heartbreak, all these are the things that I go through in my head. It is either my experience or other people’s experience. Just that the album is a way of welcoming you to my own school of thought  and how I do my own things.

Even before the album launch, your name has been a household name. What is the secret?
I am still not satisfied. What I would say is that, it is all by the special grace of God. There are limits to what we can do and God takes control of other things. I was not one of those people that knew what to do before coming into the industry. When I joined the industry, I didn’t know anything about publicity, manager and other things. The only thing I knew was how to sing.
I didn’t even know that people have agents that book them for shows. For me, it is while sojourning in the industry that I learnt many things. I think that was what has helped the brand to grow, knowing fully well that I want to do this and I am willing to overcome all the boundaries. Also, I have a higher goal for myself.

You said you have not reached the turning point. What are the strategies you ‘ve put in place to get to the peak of your career?
Those strategies, I can’t disclose to you because it is my thing. If I  tell you my strategy, it would be like someone revealing her secrets to another person. So, that is my own secret.

Which of your tracks do you think brought you into limelight?
I think the one that really projected me very well was “So Inspired” which featured Mona. This is because, after that song, I was nominated for Channel O award. I think that was the song that brought me into limelight and  it is known across Africa.
I won a couple of international awards that year because of the song. I won Defa award in UK. But to me, if you ask me, I would say that everything has just been a gradual process. Each track I drop opens a different door for me. As So Inspired   won me an award, so also is I wish.

Did you actually pose nude in your new song, I Wish ?
I don’t think there is anything about the song. I know most people have not taken time to watch the song and they are criticizing it based on what others are saying. They cannot speak from their own angle. Well, I am an artiste and the work of an artiste is to be able to express his or herself  the way the script is.
So, I have decided to express myself the way the script says I should. The song is about  heartbreak  and when you are singing it, you have to connect with what is in the script. There is no need  singing about  heart break  and at the same time smiling. It’s acting. It’s like when you want to make a painting, you must make it look real.
One of the reasons why Monalisa’s painting has been one of the most celebrated paintings in the world is that, one side of her face was smiling while the other side was not. She was almost sad and at the same time, you could see the emotion on her face. That is what being an artiste is  all about. It is about being able to express yourself and not lying about your feelings.

Aside music and acting which you recently started, what else do you do?
Tunnel was the first big movie I featured in. I have been on the set of “Heaven’s Help” which is a new movie we are shooting at the moment. You have one of the best casts you can think of. It was directed by ex-BBA winner, Katung. I also run a private school with my mother. These are some of the things I do when I’m not in the studio.

What is your driving force?
My driving force is my passion for what I do. Aside music being my passion, it is also like a hubby to me. I am also driven to make ends meet. For me, it is now a business because the Bible says that anything we lay our hands on shall prosper. I intend to prosper in it. When I say prospering, it is not only about music but also being able to encourage young people.
I want young people to know that if Waje can win a Grammy award, then, they can also do the same. I want them to know that if I can conquer Africa then, they can do the same. I know how many people that have approached me and said that they are inspired by my music. I don’t think I am worthy of all those praises but at the end of the day, it makes you feel good that you are doing something good that people want and appreciates.

Are you signed to Chocolate City?
No, I am not signed to Chocolate City. I wonder why everybody is saying that I am signed to ChocolateCity. I am signed to Waje Music Entertainment.

Are you telling us that you have a record label?
Yes.

When did you unveil the label?
I have been running the label for a long time now. Artistes have been coming to me to sign them on but I keep telling them that we sign artistes on a partnership level. So, it has always been there.

You still look stunning without make up. What’s the secret?
The secret of my beauty is God. I am the careless type, I don’t know how to act what I am not. You can ask my hair stylist, Elijah. He has been making my hair for a very long time now. I really don’t know the secret. Sometimes, I wear bogus clothes to Shoprite. Sometimes, I wear shots and T-shirt to go and buy bolle.
That’s the kind of person I am. I feel that whatever we are doing, we should be able to defend it. I don’t want a situation where tomorrow, I would be a shadow of myself because of the way I have lived . I want a situation that people wouldn’t be surprised if they heard I walked down the street to buy something.

What is you favourite fashion item?
I am a very free person. I wear easy clothes like  T- shirts and jeans, knicker, sandals, slippers. As you can see how I’m dressed to the saloon- my short with T-shirt and slippers; that’s my kind of dressing.

How do you feel being a single mother?
When people ask the question how you feel as a single mother, I don’t get it because, regardless of the circumstances, a child is a blessing from God.  Whether the father is there or not, a child is a huge blessing from God. So, when people ask how I feel as a single mother, I don’t understand. Do they expect me to regret being a single mother?

Don’t you regret why you had a child out of  wedlock?
I don’t regret my past. If you see my daughter, you know I have no  regrets. This is the picture of my daughter(she scrolls through her phone to the point where her daughter is). Is she not worthy to be called my daughter? In fact,  if you have this type of daughter, you would feel so fantastic to be a single mother.

What was your growing up like?
My growing up was fun. I am the first child and the first daughter in my family. I was a tom boy as a child. I was born with a plastic spoon, nothing like silver spoon. My parents got divorced when I was young. So, I had  a few challenges just like any other growing child. I had issues of youthful exuberance and my mother working so hard to provide for her kids. These were some of the challenges I faced as a child.

Did you have music in mind while growing up?
I had in mind that I wanted to do music but I didn’t see the picture.
How did music begin for you?
I started early enough. I was singing in my church choir. I would gate crash and go to sing at shows. And whenever  I heard that my  school is doing something, I would go and plead with them to allow me perform. And at the end of every show, they would give me transport fare to go  home. Those were the kind of things I did.

Why are you still single?
Well, I am not God. I don’t know why, but in case you know, please, let me know. I don’t think anybody knows why he/she is still single if they are really single.

Who is your kind of man?
A God fearing man is my kind of man. A man that has respect for himself. Because, if you don’t respect yourself, you can’t respect another person. I always tell people that you can’t confidently say you can fall in love if you don’t love yourself. Because if you love yourself, you would respect yourself, you would work hard to provide the things you need for yourself.

Is there any man in your life now?
No, there is nobody.

What’s your take on female artistes going for married men?
I am not a moral teacher, so, it is not my business. Everybody has their purpose for coming to life and we are entitled to our actions. God would not be judging us the same time, we will be judged separately.

Is it true that you are dating M.I?
No, I am not. We are just good friends, nothing more than that.

How do you handle your male fans?
I find it very surprising because I don’t even see the male fans. To be honest with you, I really don’t know the answer to this question. The only thing is that  I know where to draw the line.

What does love mean to you?
To me, love is simply respect. I know why I am always hammering on respect. I know that this our generation, we have lost respect for ourselves.

Have you been sexually harassed before?
Not directly. I haven’t  been sexually harassed before.

Why good posture is important.

Pain, stiffness, fatigue are issues that affect us all as we age, but, how many times has someone asked the question, “What is good posture?”  Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities.
When it comes to posture, mother knows best. Her frequent reminders to stand up straight and stop slouching are good advice. Good posture contributes to a good appearance. A slumped posture indicates a curvature of the spine. Good posture keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. It helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis and decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Good standing posture
When standing, keep these tips in mind: Hold your chest high; keep your shoulders back and relaxed, pull in your abdomen and buttocks, keep your feet parallel and balance your weight evenly on both feet. Try not to tilt your head forward, backward or sideways, and make sure your knees are relaxed — not locked.
Take the wall test
To test your standing posture, take the wall test. Stand with your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touching a wall, and your heels about two to four inches (five to 10 centimeters) away from the wall. Reach back and slide your hand behind the curve in your lower back, with your palm flat against the wall.
Ideally, you’ll feel about one hand’s thickness of space between your back and the wall. If there’s too much space, tighten your abdominal muscles to flatten the curve in your back. If there’s too little space, arch your back so that your hand fits comfortably behind you. Walk away from the wall while maintaining this posture. Keep it up throughout your daily activities.
Proper posture requirements:
Correct sitting position
Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair. Distribute your body weight evenly on both hips. Bend your knees at a right angle. Keep your knees even with or slightly higher than your hips. (use a foot rest or stool if necessary).
Your legs should not be crossed. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Try to avoid sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes. At work, adjust your chair height and work station so you can sit up close to your work and tilt it up at you. Rest your elbows and arms on your chair or desk, keeping your shoulders relaxed. When standing up from the sitting position, move to the front of the seat of your chair. Stand up by straightening your legs. Avoid bending forward at your waist.
Correct driving position
Use a back support (lumbar roll) at the curve of your back. Your knees should be at the same level or higher than your hips. Move the seat close to the steering wheel to support the curve of your back. The seat should be close enough to allow your knees to bend and your feet to reach the pedals.
Correct lifting position
If you must lift objects, do not try to lift objects that are awkward or are too heavy. Before you lift a heavy object, make sure you have firm footing. To pick up an object that is lower than the level of your waist, keep your back straight and bend at your knees and hips.
Do not bend forward at the waist with your knees straight. Stand with a wide stance close to the object you are trying to pick up and keep your feet firm on the ground. Tighten your stomach muscles and lift the object using your leg muscles. Straighten your knees in a steady motion.
Don’t jerk the object up to your body. Stand completely upright without twisting. Always move your feet forward when lifting an object. If you are lifting an object from a table, slide it to the edge to the table so that you can hold it close to your body. Bend your knees so that you are close to the object. Use your legs to lift the object and come to a standing position.
Best position for sleeping and lying down
No matter what position you lie in, the pillow should be under your head, but not your shoulders, and should be a thickness that allows your head to be in a normal position. Try to sleep in a position which helps you maintain the curve in your back (such as on your back with a pillow under your knees or a lumbar roll under your lower back; or on your side with your knees slightly bent).
Do not sleep on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest. You may want to avoid sleeping on your stomach, especially on a saggy mattress, since this can cause back strain and can be uncomfortable for your neck. Select a firm mattress and box spring set that does not sag. Try to do what’s most comfortable for you.

This information could save your life! Beware of pain medications
Whether rescription or over-the-counter, there are incredible hazards linked to pain medications.  The concern about pain medications is significant to the point that the risk of someone dying directly from a side-effect from pain medication is higher than the chance of dying from illegal narcotics, diabetes, lung disease, or even an automobile accident. Take note of the following:
Opiates
Common opiate-based prescription drugs such as Codeine, Morphine, Hydrocodone, Vicodin, and Oxycodone are often prescribed after surgery, major accidents, severe injuries or for painful medical conditions. Research shows that the number of overdose deaths from opiate pain medication overdoses is now greater than those of deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.
Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
You have heard the names before: ibuprofen, naprosyn, Motrin, etc. Research shows that patients with a history of prior heart attack that took NSAIDs — even in the short term—  had a greater risk of death, or another heart attack.
COX-2inhibitors
The National Cancer Institute discovered that those taking 400mg doses of the drug had a 250 percent greater risk of dying from heart attack or stroke and those taking 800mg had a 340 percent higher risk.
Message: Beware. Avoid self-medication and do not use any drug without doctor’s advice.

Culled from Vanguard.

External reserves now $50b, says Okonjo-Iweala

Nigeria’s foreign reserve has hit about $50 billion, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala revealed  and declared Nigeria as Africa’s current best investment destination

Okonjo-Iweala

“With a foreign reserve of nearly 50 billion dollars, a stable exchange rate, strong banking sector, massive human and natural resources, Nigeria has indeed become one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world”, a statement from the ministry quoted the minister as telling visiting British investors led by the Lord Mayor of the city of London, Mr. Roger Gifford, in Abuja, yesterday.
The British investors are in Nigeria to explore investment opportunities in the country.
Speaking on Friday on the country’s economy, Okonjo-Iweala told the investors that Nigeria currently was the largest economy in West Africa, second largest in Africa with potential to become the largest African economy in the next five years.
The Coordinating Minister proudly told the investors that Nigeria has managed to bring her inflationary rate to a single digit of 8.6%.
In her explanation, she assured the investors that Nigeria is relatively enjoying a stable exchange rate, clean and strong banking sector.
Notwithstanding, the Minister of Finance told the investors that despite the huge success the country has recorded in the macro-economic sphere, there are other challenges staring at the nation which include unemployment, poor infrastructure, corruption, governance challenge and power. According to her, Nigeria is not relenting in tackling these challenges through several reforms in various sectors in order to rank among the eight strongest economies in the world, in no distant time.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, while detailing the steps so far taken in addressing these challenges said that through the Transformation Agenda of the present administration, Nigeria has tried to diversify the economy instead of depending on oil as the only source of income. In her words, Agriculture and Entertainment have been given enough priority owing to their capacity to create jobs for Nigeria teaming unemployed youths.
The Minister said that the government has made frantic efforts to reduce infrastructural problems that were inherited from past administrations in Nigeria. She said that the present government is partnering with China in order to revive the rail sector. Other areas that have received attention are construction and rehabilitation of roads which according to the Minister will boost easy movement of goods and services.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala assured the investors that the power problem would soon be a thing of the past as government has taken a bold step to privatise the power sector. She told the British visitors that the privatization had almost been completed.
On the aviation sector, the Minister informed the investors that there was serious re-modelling of the country’s airports to meet with international standards.
As a follow up, the Mayor of London, Mr. Gifford asked the Minister of the time frame for the completion of the privatization of the power sector, the Minister assured him of a speedy completion as all bottlenecks to the privatization process had been removed.
On the question of Nigeria debt management, the Minister informed the investors that due to past experiences, Nigeria is now allergic to borrowing and has also reduced its domestic debt to 19% and external debt to 2%.

Ngozi Nwosu speaks from London! “I‘ll soon return home”

Ailing actress, Ngozi Nwosu, of Fuji House of Commotion who has been placed under doctors watch after her surgery in a London hospital, has raised hopes of her returning to the country soon. Ngozi recently flew to the United Kingdom to have a kidney transplant, and according to an insider, she has bounced back to good health after the surgery.
In a recent telephone chat with HVP,  the actress said, “ I’m getting better and by the grace of God, I will soon return home.”
She noted however, that her returning to the country will  depend on the approval of her doctors. “I will return home when my doctors certify me fit to return to the country,”she said.

*Ngozi Nwosu

Ngozi’s recent pictures which she uploaded online showed how she has dramatically transformed from her emaciated look to good health. For some time, the Fuji House of Commotion star, who plays a troublesome character called Peace, had been a shadow of her old self as she battled with kidney-related ailment.
Thanks to Lagos State Government under leadership of  Babatunde Raji Fashola and other  well-meaning Nigerians who came to her rescue. The governor donated N4.5 million after reading of her ailment in a publication. Her friends and corporate organizations donated another N2 million she needed for her treatment.

The most scandalised Nollywood damsels!

There is hardly a Nollywood actress who has  not tasted the sting of a scandal at one time or another in her career. While it appears some of them go courting controversies, others have had controversies tossed their way either by some overzealous  press guys  who  dig up stuffs about them and mixed it with a little bit of dirt or by some circumstantial happenings that caught them right in the middle.
While some of these actresses have ignored many scandals trailing their career, others have simply laughed them off. Like, in every movie industry, there are practitioners who crave for attention and thus ,go the extra mile to expose certain aspects of their lives to make the headlines.
Here are the top ten  actresses who have been severally scandalised. Interestingly, these scandals, true or false, have never dented their careers, instead, they  have come out of them stronger, bigger and more popular:

Tonto Dikeh
Tonto is arguably the most scandalised actress in Nollywood. Every time her name comes up in the papers it seems to be about one controversy or the other. Some have said she found her way to stardom riding on the wings of controversies and it seems  much of it is true as Tonto seems to take up roles most of her colleagues wouldn’t dare. The daring actress has played all kinds of roles, most of which bothered  on near nudity and soft porn.

*Tonto Dike

She astounded the movie world not too long ago when she revealed that it was Jimmy Jatt who  deflowered her. Such is the boldness of the Rivers State born actress. There have also been rumours of her sexual involvements with several artistes including Tuface, KC Presh, Wizkid and even Iyanya.
When she veered into music, like some of her peers have done, it was controversy galore again as many critics took her to  teh cleaners, hinting the actress has nothing of a singer in her. And just
 recently she posted  a near naked picture of herself on Twitter with large tattoos on her back.

Nuella Njubigbo
‘Ella’ as she is fondly called by her many fans have been linked to series of romance tales within and outside  the industry. The first tale that went viral was the romantic involvement with Yul Edochie and it appeared there was an element of truth in that. At least, the dashing actor once owned up to the relationship and asserted it happened long before he met his wife.
Though Nuella has come out to deny all these series of romances, however the echoes still linger. The one about her and the director, Tchidi Chikere was particularly poignant to her as her PR person had to come out and release a statement on the matter. She has also been alleged to be in a relationship with a state governor from the South-South region, which reportedly earned her a SUV. Others who have been linked with her in the past include footballer Emmanuel Emenike and a few others.

Cossy Orjiakor
Cossy has said she is one of the most misjudged persons in the entertainment industry but that does not excuse her image of ‘high octane sensuality’. Her boobs have become the label through which people identify her and she doesn’t help matters as she flaunts these at every occasion.

*Cossy

The most popular scandal about her is that of her sleeping with a dog for a fee but Cossy has denied this at every turn. If she is truly misjudged it cannot be about her excesses in exposing her sexy body. Recently she tweeted  near-naked pictures of herself just to show off her new panties and also posted in the social media a picture of herself  in ‘orgasmic bliss’, possibly giving her fans the picture of herself at the height of a sexual act. But with all her excesses, Cossy is down-to earth and focused.

Lola Alao

Lola was recently thrown into a controversy involving her good friend, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye. It was a messy affair and Lola, who said she was wrongly accused and implicated in the matter, was at the centre of it all.
Before the Lola-Bisi-Dino saga, there was the issue of her husband, who labelled her on the pages of newspaper as “diabolical” but Lola said in a recent interview that she doesn’t bear grudges against anyone. In spite of her former husband’s campaign in the media to drag her name in the mud Lola has never once spoken ill of the man and even saying “I liked the guy. He was a nice guy. It just didn’t work out”

Funke Akindele

Funke was really an actress with many sex scandals. It was  rumoured that she had escapades with some notable men before her marriage to  Oshodi big boy, Alhaji Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede. Even her marriage which held the movie world spellbound was enmeshed in controversy. She has been implicated in secret relationship with many of her colleagues
Bisi Ibidapo Obe
Bisi Ibidapo-Obe is not new to controversies in fact this beautiful actress has always had one controversy or the other trailing her. Her alleged relationships with Timaya, K1 and several others made headlines not too long ago. And recently her controversial personality took a dive after she announced that Dino Melaye was responsible for her pregnancy.
The tabloid again was filled with tales of Bisi and Melaye’s alleged romance-which the ex-honour bale member denied. Seven months after she claimed she met the father of her child, she was delivered of a baby girl and she was once again in the news when she named the child after Dino Melaye.

Genevieve Nnaji
Despite her super star status in the industry, Genevieve has had her own fair share of  controversies to add to her growing profile.Before she became as big as  she is today she was reportedly involved in romanctic affairs with several actors,  such as Pat Attah, Kunle Coker and others. And when the tale of a man who claimed to be the father of her only child waged a media blitz on her, Genevieve’s popularity soared.

Genevieve at AMVCA …

She was even said to have dated an ex Vice President. On top of all that there is a lingering rumour of her secret affair with D’Banj, which many have said could lead somewhere.

Foluke Daramola

Before her blissful marriage to her heart-throb,Kayode Salako of Change Agent of Nigeria Network, Foluke was fingered in the break-up of Kayode Salako and his estranged wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Bukola Salako.
Before then there was also a controversy that Foluke was evicted from her home by her landlord for inability to pay her rent. But most of the scandals about her have been put to rest as the actress has been vindicated.




Tayo Odueke (Sikiratu Sindodo)

Popularly known as Sikiratu Sindodo, a name she got from the movie that launched her into stardom,her romance with  National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oshodi, Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya also known as MC Oluomo which ended prematurely rocked the movie world. The said MC Oluomo bought a Murano car and a duplex in Maryland for her.
She was also rumoured to have dated actor and producer, Kunle Afod. Just few months ago, the gist went round town that she was having an affair with younger brother of Kunle Afolayan, Aremu which she has profusely denied. She is presently rumoured to be in a sizzling romance with top Fuji artiste, Malaika.

Faithia Balogun

This estranged ex-wife of top Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun, Faithia is surely not free of some scandals in Nollywood. She was once rumoured to have fought her colleague in the Yoruba movie industry over a young Ibadan politician, Rotimi Ajanaku whom she accused  of snatching from her. She was once reported to be in sizzling romance with the Director of Corporate Pictures. It was also reported that this almost destroyed the marriage of the top marketer.