Celebration As Ameachi Abolishes Discriminatory School Fees In Rivers State University

•He is a hero, a deliverer and a patriotic leader – NIPF 

It was celebration galore last Monday among non-indigenes in Rivers State when the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, announced to students and staff of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) that henceforth it would be abominable to allow the injustice in State-owned schools where non-indigenes are made to pay fees far higher than what indigenous students pay.

According to the amiable and revolutionary Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), “the so called non-indigenes – as I don’t believe in this concept of non-indigeneship – should no longer pay fees higher than that payable by the indigenes of Rivers State. To me, once you have lived in Rivers State for five years, you are an indigene of Rivers State and entitled to everything entitled to any indigene of the State.”

Upon that announcement, RSUST exploded into dancing and celebrating, with elated students singing, “Who shall we follow? Amaechi! Amaechi!! Amaechi we shall follow; he is our hero and deliverer.”

This great pronouncement on this special occasion of the Governor’s interaction with the RSUST students was a follow up on the abolishment of the concept of non-indigene in Nigeria in April, 2014. Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has in April, 2014 made history by becoming the first Governor in the annals of governance in Nigeria to abolish the concept of non-indigeneship in any State of the Federation.

He announced this while welcoming a large crowd of non-indigenes in the State who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt. On this eventful day, Amaechi told his guests, all members of the Non-Indiegne Political Form (NIPF), a support group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State: “I don’t believe in non-indigeneship. As far as I am concerned, you are entitled to everything if you have lived in Rivers State for at least five years. We are all Rivers indigenes. If you go anywhere around this State and they are segregating against you, please, call my attention. The reason is that we are all Nigerians and we remain bonafide citizens of this country. The All Progressives Congress (APC) believes that there is need for change because the government in power does not want money to reach you. We need the bottom-top approach for our people to benefit and improve their standard of living.”

Reacting to the happy news, leader of the Non-Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF), Barr. Chuma Chinye, who also doubles as the Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, stated: “I am not so sure that I have felt so elated, honoured and humbled in my life like this day when I heard this great pronouncement by the greatest leader of our time. The highest gift you can give to any reasonable Nigerian is education and for the Governor to slash the fees of the non-indigenes in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology from N85,000 to N18,000 is the best Christmas gift we can receive from the government and people of Rivers State. I therefore urge all the non-indigenes to brace up to pay back the Governor by registering and obtaining the INEC Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as a tool for us to collectively punish the PDP and its promoters during the 2015 elections. It is through this means that we can appreciate this Governor that has demonstrated such commitment towards our case in Nigeria.”

NIPF Coordinator, Chief Uchenna Okokoba, expressed similar sentiments, reacting thus: “Governor Amaechi is a true patriotic leader of our time. He is a nationalist in the mould of the Awolowos, Ziks, Ahmadu Bellos and Tafawa Balewas as these people all believed in one great virile, vibrant and indissoluble Nigeria. This is a leader who apart from appointing our people into the State Executive Council and other sensitive positions has also within a very short time empowered our people through contracts, ensured that our members are part of the 23 Local Government Caretaker Committees, ensured that our people are among the 13,000 teachers employed by the State to boost her educational advancement, reserved 20 per cent scholarship for non-indigenes in the State and included our people in all the Muslim and Christian pilgrimages amongst other largesse.

In addition, he has integrated our people in the APC structure in the State and rebuilt the Mile 1 Market that was gutted by fire last Christmas where the bulk of our people do their businesses. Apart from all these, his remarkable feats in Security, Health, Agriculture, Education and quality infrastructure places him as first among equals in the leadership spectrum of our country. We will eternally remain grateful to this man whose love for our people is legendary.”

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, 
SSA Media and Public Affairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State

How Psquare's father died in their Omole Home

The death of Mazi Moses Okoye, the father of super star musicians, P Square, was so sudden that those who saw him a few hours before he slumped in the Omole, Ikeja, Lagos home of his sons are still in shock.

Encomium findings reveal that just before the septugenarian’s tragic death, he was clad in only singlet and boxers, watching cable television (Africa Magic) with some visitors until about 10 pm  yesterday (Monday, November 24, 2014) when he disengaged to his bedroom where he suddenly collapsed.
He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but he unfortunately gave up before doctors attended to him.
The Jos (Plateau state)-based Pa Okoye, who left Jos for Lagos some two weeks ago for a knee surgery, normally had respiratory (breathing) issues, which many believe might have led to his death.
He had an appointment with his doctor today (Tuesday, November 25, 2014) over his recent knee surgery.
Before his death, he had sat upon a thriving ‘pure water’ and bakery business in Jos.
And only two years ago, Pa Okoye lost his wife, Josephine to cancer.
Now, Jude, Paul, Peter, Mary, Henry,Chris, Tony and their siblings are orphans.

How God has kept my marriage to Jonathan for 21years-Patience Jonathan

We all know President Goodluck and his wifemet  at the Rivers state College of Education where she was pursuing her Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) and B.Ed while he was a lecture at the department of Biological science...Patience has now spilled their love story and how far they have come in a new interview, see excerpts below:

"My first impression of him was of a tall, dark, handsome young man. I also found that he came from a good Christian home just like I did. His humble and gentle disposition caught my attention and most importantly, his intelligence".

Dame Jonathan, who married President Jonathan in 1993, said praying together and discussing everything together has been a sustaining force in their 21 year marriage.

"Both of us are from Christian homes and our complete trust is in Jesus Christ. We pray together as a family every morning. What keeps us together is that we are each others best friends and soul-mate. We discuss everything that comes up and advice each other accordingly. We depend on each other. We do not let the sun set on our grievances" she said

The couple are blessed with 4 children, a son Arewera Adolphus, Daughters Aruabi and Abayola and Faith Sakwe-Edwards, their foster daughter who had a grand wedding in April.

Why Yoruba Ladies Have The Biggest Butt In Nigeria-Charles Novia

Nollywood filmmaker and self-proclaimed culture critic Charles Novia says there should be no fuss about international stars who have big butts, because African women are naturally endowed will theirs are usually artificial. He explains that Nicki Minaj, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez should be jealous of Mercy Johnson, Yvonne Okoro and a lot of African women – especially Yoruba women.

Read his piece below.

I know the hidden agenda of Kim Kardashian, Nikki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez. Yes, I know.

These ladies are jealous of Mercy Johnson, Yvonne Okoro and one of my female relatives in the village.

Na today real Black women don dey get Big Yansh? Why the sudden obsession with Kim Kardashian’s butt by the Western World? Ehn?

And the funny thing is, oyinbo women are now getting butt transplants while those who can’t afford it are using butt pads, or Yansh Pads as we term it here sometimes.

Now, this is the humour when it comes to Nigerian and perhaps African women. When God made the African woman, he might have taken an extra rib from Adam to bless the African women in most parts of the continent. That is why South African women have….(*speechless)

Narrowing it down to Nigeria and the ethnic groups, it is debatable but research has shown that Yoruba ladies just might have the biggest butts in Nigeria. I am likely to concur with this because ever since I was born and all the years I was growing up, the only images of Yoruba women I could remember from the black and white music clips of those days and Owambe Parties, were images of some bad ass conservative butt shaking which never got one’s parents incensed enough to switch off the television lest we got ‘spoilt’ but would sooner ask us to close our eyes when images of oyinbos kissing came on the screen.

In fact, when I first watched a clip of Fela Kuti’s stage performance in 1977 or 1978 on NTV ( as it was called then), it wasn’t the ‘shakara, shakara’ chorus he was singing which caught my fancy. It was the unbridled butt shaking of his dancing girls which tormented my poor, young innocent soul for years.

Then, Charly Boy came in 1987, with his outrageous music video, ‘Big Bottom’ and not even the morally-correct NTA could ban it off the airwaves then even with the tempting close-ups of women with Big Yanshes in that video. Then one lady singer called Uche Ibeto released a video titled ‘Jigida’ where she did some provocative butt shaking as she screamed in a simulated moan ‘ligiligi, ligiligi, sha, sha, sha! ‘. And no one banned that video then because it ‘projected an African dance’.

Back to the meat of my story, today’s fashion is a conspiracy to ensure that Butt-om Power will keep on ruling. Everything with women’s fashion seems to bring out the shape of their butts these days. And the Kim Ks and Nikki Minajs are there to help you out, if you have any doubts.

Sadly, in Nigeria, I am told that Butt Pads for ladies are in high demand in the market. Why? Because many young ladies want to have butts like Kim Kardashian.
I need to ask why an African lady would want to put on artificial pads on what has naturally been padded from heaven. Because of Kim?

Fela Kuti did sing that the African People’s problems start from the back. ‘Na from BACK yioooooo’.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate butt. Good butt. And for those who got it among the ladies, thank God for ‘butt’ering your bread. But when butts are being used now as weapons of distraction, Houston, we have a problem!

Why did I write this satire today? Two days ago, at Garki 2, a young lady with well-formed hips came out of a building and stood by the road to flag down a taxi. I tell you, Kim K has nothing on this woman’s butt and I wasn’t looking at her o. I was humming Tisha Cobbs ‘Break Every Chain’ when I saw her. The next thing I knew, an SUV rammed me from behind. Gbosa!

A well-dressed young man came out and apologised profusely as I looked at my dented rear bumper. Whilst apologising, he kept glancing at the young lady a few metres away.

‘Mr Man!’ I said, ‘before Yansh will kill you, go and meet that girl and take her contacts so that you will know that the bills you will pay for fixing my dent will be worth it!’

The Guy nor slack. He went to the Lady and a couple of minutes later, they both walked back to his SUV.

I don’t care to know what went down with him and the endowed lass but all I know is that I have a new rear bumper at his expense which was fixed yesterday.

Obviously that kind of person would not care to pay for bumpers. What with the way he rammed my car from behind, it doesn’t take much imagination to visualise the other types of ramming he loves doing behind closed doors.

Kidnappers pose as Aliko Dangote on Facebook,kidnap beauty queen

The Lagos state Police command has rescued one Miss Sa’adat Bibire, who is the current Miss Nigeria International 2014 & daughter of an aide to Kwara state Governor, from her abductors.

The beauty queen was abducted two weeks ago by a gang of kidnappers who lured her into visiting Warri, Delta state from Lagos by impersonating Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote on the social media platform facebook.

Pardaing the suspects before journalists on Wednesday, the Lagos state police commissioner, said “the gang is made up of students of the Delta state Polytechnic Ozoro…they opened a Facebook account disguising as Aliko Dangote and contacted Sa'adat.

They invited her to Warri with the promise to make her Dangote brand ambassador. On getting to Warri, Sa'adat was kidnapped and taken to a place on the outskirts of Ozoro town in Isoko Local Government Area in Delta state. The kidnappers then contacted her family and asked for N20m ransom, which was supposed to be paid into a Malaysian account.  We began a manhunt for them after they contacted the girl’s family but only one of them was arrested while the others are currently on the run.”

In his statement to the police, one of her abductors, 23 year old Patrick Ifada said he was lured into the kidnap gang because of the money offered

"I accepted to join the gang because of the money involved. We opened a fake Facebook account pretending to be Alhaji Aliko Dangote and we convinced her to come over to Delta State to meet the businessman. At first, our ransom was N20 million.

When they were not forthcoming with the money, we brought it down to N15 million and then N10 million. I was the one staying with the victim in our hideout. We were using the quarters of one of our members, Destiny. We are five in number and I was promised a huge sum. Other gang members are Destiny, Marcus Omajuwa, Ugada and Chuka.

We are all students of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, ND 1. I was studying Computer Science. She was in our hideout for about two weeks. We asked the Special Adviser to pay the ransom into a Malaysian account that one Fred helped us to set up. None of us raped her. Destiny told us we were only going to make money from her family, and not to assault her"

Happy Birthday Don Jazzy

Today the 26th of November 2014,our very own Don Baba J clocks 32...wishing him more blessings.

Happy birthday Mama HiD Awolowo

 

Mama Hannah Dideolu Awolowo today the 25th of November clocks 99yrs...........God is great!wishing you sound health ijn

Mama with her son

I have not slept with another woman since I married in 2007-Keneth Okonkwo

Veteran Actor cum politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has revealed that he has not slept with another woman since he got married to his wife, Ifeoma in 2007.

In a weekend chat with CityPeople magazine, the Actor claimed thus: “Since I got married, I have not had a carnal knowledge of any other lady but I have been very close to it, been tempted but Jesus has been helping me, it has not happened.”

On how he controls his sexual urge when far away from home, he said

“What does it take? If I am on location and I feel the need, I can fly in, see my babe and fly back to location. At times, I would be on location and after a while, I will scream,, I just have to go home. I don’t know how my body is feeling. I am that straight forward. I will announce it in public. And if I don’t run that time, something will happen.”

Psquare Loses Dad

Two years after losing their mum, the Okoye boys have lost their father. He died today November 24th. A source close to the family said that the late Mr. Okoye recently had a successful knee surgery and was about going for physiotherapy when he just fell.May his soul rest in peace...Amen.

I almost quit my marriage-Gospel singer,Lara George

Lara, hubby and their two kids :)

Gospel artiste Lara George recently marked her 10^th year wedding anniversary.

In this interview with Sun Newspapershe gives an insight into what her marital journey has been like so far, the challenges faced and some of the things she had to overcome.

Read excerpts from her interview below!

Lara George with her husband

What inspired your latest album, Love Wantintin? I feel love should be celebrated. 10 years in marriage is a milestone but when I look back, it feels just like yesterday when I got married and to be honest with you, there was a moment in my marriage when I was not that sure if I could make it to the next stage and then, suddenly, I woke up one morning only to find out that I am 10 years old in the marriage. I was so excited I wanted to celebrate and throw a party; I wanted to write a song that talks about long lasting love; that was what inspired Love Wantintin.

Talking about marriage, 10 years is a long time to stay married, what is the secret? It is all about believing in God. You know, every day you have to pray and commit your family to God; it is all about prayer. The entertainment industry is very challenging because the spotlight is on us. Consequently, every flaw that you have is magnified a million and one time over. The bottom line is that one has to be very prayerful and that’s what I do. I go on my knees and commit my family to God in prayers and the prayers have been working; I just have this firm belief in God.

Ten years after, could you say that your marriage has been blissful all the way? Of course not. It has not been blissful all the way. I will be lying through my teeth if I say that. No marriage is blissful 100 per cent of the time. I think the joy is being able to overcome the challenges that come, because I will be lying if I say there have been no challenges these last 10 years. Yes, my husband and I have had our own fair share of challenges but by God’s grace, we have surmounted each and every one, and my prayer is that we will continue in Christ every day till death do us part.

Could you share some of those challenges you faced in the last 10 years? You know patience could be very challenging because it is the ability to understand and overlook the flaws of your partner. And you know, there are days that you just want to explode! But remember, the anger of a man is not worth the righteousness of God. So when you allow anger to becloud your judgment, you create a lot of problems. My husband and I had to learn to take every negative emotion aside and dump them in the backburner and make the Spirit of God our watchword so that our home will be where the Holy Spirit abides.

Helen Paul Gives Birth To A Baby Boy

Popular comedienne, TV and radio host, Helen Paul has just welcomed her second child - a baby boy. Helen and husband Femi Bamisile who got married in 2010 already have a 3 year old son.Congrats to them!

Photos from the 2014 American Music Awards + List of Winners

The 2014 American Music Awards held in Los Angeles last night Sunday November 23rd and the stars came out in style. See the red carpet photos and full list of winners after the cut...

 

Photo credit: Getty Images/Rex/AP

Full list of winners below...

ARTIST OF THE YEAR 

One Direction 

DICK CLARK AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE 

Taylor Swift 

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S

5 Seconds of Summer

SINGLE OF THE YEAR 

Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J - Dark Horse 

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK 

Sam Smith  

FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK 

Katy Perry  

FAVOURITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK 

One Direction   

FAVOURITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK 

One Direction - Midnight Memories  

FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY 

Luke Bryan 

FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY 

Carrie Underwood

FAVOURITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY 

Florida Georgia Line 

FAVOURITE ALBUM – COUNTRY 

Brantley Gilbert - Just As I Am

FAVOURITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP 

Iggy Azalea  

FAVOURITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP 

Iggy Azalea - The New Classic 

FAVOURITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B 

John Legend 

FAVOURITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B 

Beyoncé 

FAVOURITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B

Beyoncé - Beyoncé 

FAVOURITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK 

Imagine Dragons 

FAVOURITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY 

Katy Perry

FAVOURITE ARTIST – LATIN 

Enrique Iglesias  

FAVOURITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Casting Crowns 

FAVOURITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM) 

Calvin Harris 

TOP SOUNDTRACK

Frozen 

Ten things you should know this morning

Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning according to Daily poSt:

1. Latest reports on Boko Haram attacks say the insurgents reportedly ambushed and slaughtered 48 fish vendors around Nigeria’s border with Chad. Detailed account of the attack shows that the fighters blocked a path linking Nigeria with Chad, close to Doron Baga on Thursday and killed 48 of the fish vendors.

2. Following last week’s invasion of the National Assembly by the Police, former PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur has called for an immediate investigation into the chaos, saying that Nigeria’s democracy was presently being threatened. He called on the need for politicians to uphold national interest instead of personal interest

3. There was chaos in Oka-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo state during the weekend when a truck belonging to a manufacturing company crushed two residents of the town. Out of anger, youths of the community allegedly razed 10 houses, motorcycles and cars as well as the truck that killed the two victims.

4.Despite that the Super Eagles crashed out of the Nations cup, Nigerian coach, Stephen Keshi has said that he remains the best man to lead the Super Eagles. He said the best solution to Eagles trouble was not to fire him as he has all it takes to lead the Eagles to victory in future.

5. Department of State Security, DSS has given reason for its invasion of APC data office, saying it got information that the APC was duplicating INEC’s Permanent Voter Cards. Spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar disclosed this on Sunday.

6. President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to a statement credited to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo where he said Jonathan’s government had performed below average. Jonathan, while speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in Abuja on Sunday said he was the best President the country had ever had since independence.

7. Judiciary workers, under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria have vowed to resume their nationwide strike over the refusal of state governments to implement court judgment barring piece-meal funding of the nation’s judiciary. The Union took the decision to resume the strike action during an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council on Saturday.

8. The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lai Mohammed has said the only option left for lawmakers in a situation where they are being prevented from gaining access into their chamber is to scale the fence, advising that if they are stopped any other day, they should repeat their action.

9. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has again come hard on President Goodluck Jonathan, saying his government was supervising a highly corrupt government. Speaking in Abuja on Saturday,the Rivers Governor said that he had no personal quarrel with President Jonathan, but insisted that there was a total absence of Democracy in Nigeria.

10. President Goodluck Jonathan has asked youth corps members who will be working with INEC in the 2015 general elections to display high sense of patriotism while discharging their national assignment. The President gave the advise at a special exhibition of arts and crafts floated by Batch C of the National Youth Service Corps members posted to Plateau State in Jos on Saturday.

Stephanie Linus addresses rape allegation against relative

 “Rape is Rape, Regardless of Who the Face of the Accused is” – Actress Stephanie Linus 

I am distraught and devastated to hear of the recent allegation of rape brought against a relative of mine,Daniel Okereke (my brother).

While it is a very difficult time for me, and my family; I feel the need to make clear my position, lest there be any doubt. Rape is rape, regardless of who the face of the accused is.

Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I have spent my lifelong career

advocating and living my conviction that women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual harassment or any form of abuse against their persons. This conviction led me to be involved in numerous initiatives combating violence against women in several countries including the U.S, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The conviction also led me to place much of my energy on my work with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a passion that dates back to my time at the University of Calabar.

As a student, I heard a story about young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering the negative and embarrassing effects of VVF. The story stayed in my consciousness and drove me, for years, to seek ways to raise awareness on the condition; leading to my work with a team of dedicated doctors to carry out repair surgeries for VVF victims across the country; and my self-produced, soon to be released movie, ‘DRY.’

So, again, it is indeed heart breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I am devastated.

This case is now in Nigeria’s criminal justice system as the accused awaits arraignment. I have also encouraged and assured the alleged victim of my stance against rape and applaud her for her bravery to upset the culture of silence, in Nigeria; even as I accord deference and patiently wait for the criminal justice system to determine the guilt or innocence of my brother.

For Nigerian press and blogs; I call on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not make it mine. The focus should be the impact of rape on the alleged victim,and resources for other alleged victims, not me.

Some members of the press and blogs have turned me into the accused; using my name for sensational headlines and putting my images, exclusively, in their stories. This is a form of Victimization of me as a woman, it is unethical and extremely hurtful. I am not the alleged accused. 

I therefore please ask all Bloggers and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story. 

I thank my fans, and all well-wishers for your continued support and ask for your continued prayers.

God bless.

Stephanie Linus

LAGOS,Nigeria (November 24, 2014)  

Culled from SDK's blog

Couple's day out:Peter Okoye posts pic of him and wifey getting their nails treated

I just love them both