Saturday, 27 July 2013
Julius Aghahowa's 11 year old daughter makes Nollywood debut
Kevin Lucciano-Gabriel and wife share their traditional wedding pics
Photos from Ice Prince welcome party
After winning the BET awards, Ice Prince toured the U.S and
Canada before returning to Nigeria on Wednesday July 24th. The Choc City
Crew, friends and press were at the Muritala Muhammed
International Airport to give him a surprise welcome. Later that day,
Ice Prince was surprised for a second time with a welcome party by M.I
at his new Lekki residence. The rap superstar was received by Chocolate
city acts Victoria
Kimani and DJ Caise, his music colleagues, Seyi Shay, Ezi Emela, Sam
Walsh, Choc City management and a couple of friends. Check on the photos
after the cut..
SinzuSMG accuires two brand new luxury rides on instagram
What’s new with My Oga At The Top?
Ever since Shem Obafaye, former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, featured on Sunrise, a live interview programme on Channels Televisions that fateful Tuesday morning, his life has been an interesting mix of pain and joy. Reporters went on Obafaye’s trail to find out how he is faring in his new place of work in Ibadan, a city generally believed to be less ‘juicy’ than Lagos as far as postings and appointments are concerned. How is he doing away from family, friends and associates… far from the maddening crowd of Lagos and its ‘busy-body’ journalists?
Fresh trouble for Buhari and Tinubu
There are indications that the
Independent National Electoral Commission may suspend the registration
of the new mega opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
It can be learnt on Friday that the decision to halt the registration was reached at a meeting involving the National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and other top officials of the commission on Tuesday.
It can be learnt on Friday that the decision to halt the registration was reached at a meeting involving the National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and other top officials of the commission on Tuesday.
It was gathered that besides putting the
APC’s registration in abeyance, INEC might write the merging parties on
Tuesday, to choose another name.
Opposition parties, including the
Congress for Progressive Change, Action Congress of Nigeria and the All
Nigeria Peoples Party, on June 5, 2013, had written the commission on
their plan to merge under a new name, APC.
Jonathan is ungrateful – Gov Nyako • It’s Nyako who is ungrateful to President – Presidency
Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of ingratitude and unfairness.
He also accused the President of
concentrating more on developing the South-South, while ignoring
developmental problems in the rest of the country.
Specifically, the governor, expressed
displeasure over the way he was being treated by the party in spite of
the sacrifices he made to ensure the President’s victory during the PDP
primaries and the 2011 presidential election.
Army corners Boko Haram leader, Shekau, in Borno hills
The leader of the Boko Haram Islamic
sect, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, may have been cornered by operatives of
the Joint Task Force in Gwoza hills, Borno State.
A top security source told Saturday PUNCH on Thursday that the JTF had located the area where the Boko Haram leader was hiding.
The source stated, “We are combing Gwoza hills where we believe Shekau is hiding.”
The ultimate mystery: Bible survives road crash, inferno
Miracles are experiential occurrences which spontaneously raise the conviction of believers and their devotion to spirituality across all faiths. One of such phenomena occurred in Abuja, last Saturday, when a Bible remained untouched by flames from a car that burnt into ashes.
The car, driven by one Jeremiah Giwa, who arrived the country from United Kingdom about five months ago after completing his tertiary education, swerved off the road, tumbled and eventually landed in a ditch, exploding in flames. Jeremiah narrates his account of the event.
ASUU may call off strike next Thursday
There are indications that the on-going strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities might be called off next Thursday.
Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam who dropped this hint Friday said ASUU and the Federal Government had reached agreements on all the contentious issues that led to the industrial action except two.
Why did Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan jump into the Lagos lagoon?
It is no longer news that 48-year-old Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan jumped into the Lagos lagoon by Leventis a few days ago. The question being asked by all who knew her, as well as witnesses to the suicide is: What could have made her choose to end her life, and in such a gruesome manner too?
Life may not have been particularly fair on Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan.
Born 48 years ago to the Amusan family and the first of three children, Oluwatoyin had looked forward to a good life with lots of good things in stock.
D’Banj’s sister’s wedding ceremonies begin today
It was back in March that the news first broke that D’Banj’s sister, Taiwo, twin of his singing brother, Kayswitch, was going to wed Cool FM’s Dotun.
Then, Dotun had just proposed to her in faraway South Africa and had just been through a minor scandal. Well, the time has come that Dotun and Taiwo must walk their talk.
Pathetic tales of abandoned PDP members involved in fatal accident on their way to Jonathan’s campaign rally
Pathetic tales of abandoned PDP members involved in fatal accident on their way to Jonathan’s campaign rally
ON Friday March 25, 2011, 50
enthusiastic members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left the
party’s secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos, to take part in the campaign rally
of President Goodluck Jonathan at the Eagle Square, Abuja the next day.
It began as a smooth journey as the PDP members sang Jonathan’s praises.
RIVERS CRISIS: Police Blindfold Rivers House Leader On Arrival In P’Harcourt
Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd,
was blindfolded by the police on arrival at the Port Harcourt
International Airport Friday, before being taken to the Police Command
for interrogation.
NE gathered that Lloyd, who had on
Tuesday July 23 reported to Police Headquarters in Abuja following an
earlier invitation by the police, was flown back to Port Harcourt
yesterday morning amidst tight security.
On arrival, the
police immediately blindfolded him and whisked him away to the Police
Headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt for further interrogation.
I missed a chance to showcase my talents – Moses
Chelsea forward Victor Moses insists he
has missed a big chance to opportunity to showcase his talents on a
bigger stage – the Confederations Cup in Brazil last month.
Nigeria beat Oceania champions Tahiti
6-1 and lost 2-1 to South American powerhouse before exiting the
competition after a 3-0 drubbing by world and European champions Spain.
The 22-year-old, who helped Nigeria win
the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February, missed out on a
place in the Confederations Cup squad due to injury.
His Chelsea teammates Mikel Obi, David
Luiz, Oscar, Fernando Torres, Juan Mata and Cesar Azpilicueta all
played for their countries in the tournament won by Brazil.
And Moses, who represented England at
the 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup won by Nigeria, has expressed his
disappointment at the injury that prevented him from being part of the
small Chelsea community at the Confederations Cup.
Up Close And Personal With P.Square's Manager, Jude Okoye
Jude Okoye is the elder brother, manager and director of Peter and Paul Okoye, popularly known as P-Square. In this interview, he talks about his private life, plans and the success of his brothers
There is no way we would talk about P-Square’s success without mentioning Jude. How does it feel being a brother to the famous twins?
I will say that I am blessed and fortunate because it’s an honour to be the person behind them, and doing all the necessary things to keep the brand relevant at all time. At the same time, it’s not easy because every arrow and weapon tend to land on me, but I can’t complain because it’s what I signed and nobody is forcing me. I am blessed and happy that they’re my brothers.
When you started with P-Square, did you envisage they would be famous so early?
To be very honest with you, I don’t think P-Square envisaged to be where they are today, not to even talk of me. This is because we just love doing music in a way the world love. The truth is that the monetary aspect was not part of it at all. Back in those days, when we watched artistes singing and dancing, we always believed that we could do better. It was when we started that the monetary gains began to come and we have to embrace it because as celebrities, we need money to support our status.
You can’t be a celebrity and still be struggling to board a public bus or okada. That’s why I always advice up and coming artistes to be passionate about their job and not the money. You must have passion for music or whatever you‘re doing and at the end, money will come.
Can you recall your most memorable experience working with P-Square?
The fact that they’re recognised globally. At times, I sit in my room and people across the world would be calling for shows and you start wondering how your music got there despite the fact you don’t have a promoter, marketer or even the label’s brand office in these places.
I think that’s just the most memorable experience. But now, it is much easier with our deals with Konvict Music and Universal.
If I have to describe them in terms of what they do (music), they’re a kind of people that always want to invent, reinvent and thinking about what has not been done, be it in Nigeria, Africa and the world, that is doable. It’s like they’re competing with what they’ve done before, experimenting with different genres of music like reggae, R&B or blues.
For instance, Danger is a song that nobody has done before. That is the kind of things they’re into. They love experimenting. Also, they like taking risks. Once they come up with a concept, they will want to do it for their fans without considering the risk, such as money, energy and time.
What about their personal life?
Paul is more on the reserved side while Peter is on the social side. Peter is like a socialite, outgoing person more than Paul. Peter has the motivating drive. He loves to ginger us into doing stuff and at the end of the day; you don’t have an option than to follow him.
As for Paul, he would not consult anybody if he has any idea before doing it, and after perfecting it, he would now call us into it.
How does your own kind of person influence their persons?
For instance, when they come up with ideas, they will need support from anyone of us before execution. But as for me, I don’t need to seek their suggestion. I would tell them straight that this is what we are doing. I don’t need to get their opinion because before I come up with that opinion, I must have thought about it and reasoned well. They are the artistes. I see them and the audience, but they see only the fans. I am in-and-out. I know what people want more than they do.
It has been observed that you concentrate more on your brothers’ career. Why don’t you direct videos for other artistes?
If I am just a producer, manager or record label CEO, I will definitely expand by signing more artistes and commercialise myself, but my hands are tied. My hands are full because I do all these works myself. I don’t have time and when I have little time to take my work outside, like producing video or audio for someone else, there is always competition, especially when the artiste is not as big as P-Square. The next thing you hear is that Jude doesn’t want me to shine more than his brothers. Besides, most up and coming artistes make the mistake of comparing themselves with the big masquerades. That’s why I have to limit myself and remain with P-Square. Soonest, I will relinquish some of the work to capable hands, so that I can have enough time to rest and promote other artistes.
Today, record label owners look out for some specific features before signing artistes. We have those that go for young kids, ladies etc, what distinguishes Square Records from others?
I don’t think there should be anything like being selective so far they’re good and talented artistes that have what it takes to be good artistes. For instance, I can’t sign somebody that sings like P-Square, 2Face, Wizkid or D’Banj because they’re already established. I want somebody that sings differently and has passion, not because he wants to make quick money. I want somebody that will work for two to three years without expecting money because he enjoys what he’s doing.
That is the kind of people you look out for, not necessarily the gender issue. It’s about what you can offer and how passionate you are.
What kind of relationship exists between Square Records, J Martins and Bracket?
J Martins and Bracket are family friends to us. We have a good relationship from the beginning up till now. When they came, they wanted to be under Square Records but I wasn’t ready. I told them that I am going to offer them all the help they would need. I told them I was going to teach them how to fish. I gave them everything and today, I am happy that they’re doing fine. If today, I have space, I will as well put some people under Square umbrella.
Was there a time P-Square fought J Martins and Bracket?
For what?
For example, P-Square beefing J Martins because of his rising career?
Never! There was nothing like that. That’s why I told you earlier that we don’t always respond to allegations on newspapers, magazines or internet. Those baseless allegations won’t help us to move – it will always serve as distraction. For me, there is no allegation that I will respond to because I don’t want those baseless things to distract me.
Peter and Paul already have kids; and we all know their heartthrobs. Can you tell us the one in your life?
Why are you people always forcing me to come to the public? I don’t want to be a celebrity and I am not one of them. I don’t sing, dance or act.
I love where I am now (hiding myself) and if I love to do that, how do you expect me to introduce the lady I am dating? Back to your question, I have somebody, yes. That’s all.
Like I said, I have somebody but I won’t tell you her name.
Who is your ideal woman?
The most important thing I look out for in a woman is understanding, aside physical beauty because everybody wants to look at the person beside him and be amazed and happy to have married a beautiful lady, not an ugly girl. Basically, your wife should understand you, especially when both male and female fans are swarming around you, wanting to take photographs with you and the rest. She must understand when you’re at work and office. That is my kind of woman.
Meaning that your lady has all these qualities?
Yes, she does. She’s beautiful and understanding.
So, when are you kicking bachelorhood?
When I will kick bachelorhood, I will call you and my fans to come and eat and drink. Already, I have purchased the bell, when it’s time, I will ring it.
Why is it taking so long, on a more serious note?
It’s taking so long because I am waiting for you people. Basically, why I am not yet married is that I don’t want to get married because I have all it takes to marry or because I am ripe. I want to get married and feel married so that I will be committed to my wife.
Although, I am not looking for a perfect person, but she must be a friend, partner, everything and someone that understands what I do.
What’s your projection for the next four to five years for Square Records?
We are not God and can’t tell what would happen in few seconds. The only thing we need is faith, to see tomorrow. What I always say when this kind of question comes up is P-Square, Square Records and every other thing around me are going to be great. We are going to a greater level.
We can’t say we will build a castle in five years because we can’t predict tomorrow. I know, with the way we are working, we are going to the greatest places. Things are going to get better by faith.
Tension in Benin over death of suya seller
Tension is mounting in Benin City,
the Edo State capital, over the death of barbecue (Suya) seller, Musa
Alkali in Oredo Local Government Area.
Alkali was said to have been killed,
allegedly by agents of the state revenue agency last week Friday at his
suya spot on ADP junction by Airport Road.
Members of the Hausa community on
Tuesday, staged a protest at the Oredo Council secretariat, alleging
that late Alkali was stabbed to death following his alleged refusal to
pay N100 fee to revenue agents reportedly from the Oredo Council Area.
However, Chairman of Oredo Local
Government, Osaro Obazee, while reacting to the allegation, absolved the
team of revenue collectors of complicity in the death of the Suya
seller, saying: “No responsible government would send revenue agents to
go and kill anybody on any account.”
While urging the aggrieved Hausa
protesters to be patient, Obazee said he had ordered a full scale
investigation into the incident.
However, there are varied accounts of
the circumstances of the death of Alkali, even as Oredo Council boss
yesterday scheduled a meeting between the council and the Hausa
community leaders.
An eye witness at the scene of the
incident said Alkali was killed by bullets from fleeing armed robbers
while, another source had it that revenue agents operating in Oredo
Council Area demanded the sum of N100 from Alkali at about 8:30pm,
saying his refusal led to a fight and was subsequently stabbed to death
in the ensuing
fracas.
The remains of late Alkali is said to have been buried in a cemetery at Eyaen, a suburb of Hausa dwellers in Benin.
Contacted, the Edo State Police image maker, DSP Moses Eguavoen, was
said to be at an official engagement with the Commissioner of Police.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Rivers crisis: Why I stormed Assembly, by Amaechi
Amaechi said he went to the Assembly to restore order, which had broken down when the five lawmakers, who are believed to be associates of Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, attempted to impeach Speaker Otelemaba Dan Amachree.
The governor spoke at the Chatham House in Central London where he delivered a lecture on “Resource and governance in Nigeria”. But the audience asked him about the political crisis in the state, particularly why he went to the Assembly on July 9.
He said: “When I heard the members of the Assembly had been attacked by thugs, I went there with my security attache to rescue them because the police assigned to the Assembly had been compromised.
“I abhor violence. The first thing to condemn are the policemen who had refused to perform their duties of protecting the lawmakers.”
Amaechi also said that the current political crisis involving him was “based on the assumption that I want to run for 2015 elections”.
“But again, there is no law that criminalises ambition in Nigeria, It is sad because people do everything to bring you down. If this crisis continues, one group will lose and that is the people of Rivers State.”
“Should the state suffer for the so-called ambition of the governor?” he asked.
A crowd of Rivers State’s indigenes was at Chatham House.
They carried placards, praising Amaechi’s good work. Many of them are students enjoying the state’s scholarship scheme designed to improve manpower.
Chaired by the British MP Richard Fuller, the vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria in the House of Commons, the session was part of Chatham House’s African dialogue series. Home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House regularly invites Nigerian politicians to the UK to participate in its discussions about how Africa is developing.
Outlining a catalogue of achievements his administration can boast of since assuming office in 2007, Amaechi reeled off a list that included infrastructural projects, agricultural plantations, sending hundreds of students on scholarship to the UK and Canada and the massive funding of education. He said 500 primary schools had been built during his tenure and 250 more would be inaugurated starting from October.
Amaechi said: “The academic structure we inherited was very bad as many children could not stay in school and those who did got a very poor education. We are building schools and uniforms, sandals, bags and books are free, while with healthcare, we have built 60 health centres and 70 more will be commissioned before the end of the year.
“We send 300 every year to the UK and Canada on scholarship and we have established palm oil and banana plantations that employ workers. By the end of our tenure, we would have laid the foundation for a more robust and less oil-dependent economy in Rivers State.”
Speaking about his recent political troubles, Amaechi said they all began when it was suspected that he had higher political ambitions for 2015. Stressing that he has not declared for any position yet, the governor said the impact of the clampdown was that several projects had been put on ice by the Federal Government.
Amaechi said: “When the Federal Government suspects that you have an ambition, they do everything to bring you down. For instance, we have two helicopters to monitor security that they have refused permission to be brought into the country and they have frustrated plans we have to open a syringe manufacturing factory in Rivers State.
“Even if they have an issue with me, why should the whole of Rivers State suffer? We have numerous projects which we have signed agreements with the Federal Government to introduce and implement but since this crisis began, they have suspended all of them and the people feeling it are the ordinary people of Rivers State.”
Stressing that Rivers State has the second largest economy in Nigeria, the governor said he is of the opinion that good political leadership could improve things further. However, he added that the political culture in Nigeria where politicians believe they are doing the people a favour is a huge impediment as is the refusal of certain people to leave the political scene.
According to Amaechi, certain politicians have remained on the scene despite having nothing more to offer because they have no other means of earning a living.
Stressing that the crisis in Rivers State threatens security, Amaechi said that some of the militant groups that had been disbanded are being used to cause mayhem and protest against his administration. He added that on the day there was a fracas in the Assembly, many of these thugs were brought in with the connivance of the Police.
Amaechi said: “I used to be the speaker of the house and the law is that you are not even allowed to bring your walking stick in when entering. How did these people manage to bring in thugs, weapons, a fake mace and cause mayhem while the police were not only looking on buy aiding them?”
He pointed out that the violence started long before the recording seen on the widely circulated Youtube began when five Assembly men smuggled a fake mace into the House and used their hoodlums to create chaos. According to Amaechi, after the police commissioner refused to do anything about it, he went there with his security detail and it was they who eventually restored order.
Southwest governors inaugurate Development Agenda Commission
The governors of six Southwest states of Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti yesterday inaugurated the Development Agenda for Western Nigerian (DAWN) Commission in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The event also coincided with a meeting of the Southwest Governors Forum, which was held at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.
But Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, was absent.
Briefing reporters after the inauguration, the Chairman of the meeting, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the inauguration was an expression of their commitment to the integration of the region to fast-track development in real terms.
He said: “We have our governors from Osun, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti states.
“We have reiterated our commitment to regional integration based on social services, commerce, health, agriculture, infrastructural development and security. Based on that, we are having sub-committees that would go deeper into the areas of development.
“In the end, our objective is to turn our region into a hub for development in terms of being the first area of call for investors visiting Nigeria. What we have done today is the inauguration of the Dawn Office.”
The Director-General of the commission, Mr. Dipo Famakinwa, said the inauguration would midwife the process of ensuring that the regional integration agenda of the Southwest states begins to get attraction.
He said: “You will begin to see more activities on the regional integration agenda. The governors have made a formal declaration on the commencement of the process of integration. We will now begin to see development along the line.”
Explaining that all the governors in the Southwest, including Governor Mimiko, were expected at the meeting, he said: “All the governors in the Southwest belong to the council of the Dawn Commission.
“All of them were invited, but you can’t really say why a particular governor was absent. Some of those who came must have made a lot of sacrifices. We expect that the Ondo governor would be there at the next meeting slated for next month.
“I don’t want us to look at it as a Yoruba thing but as a development taking place in the Western part of Nigeria because we need the strength of everybody. The development of our states is not going to be by the Yoruba alone.
“Primarily, the Yoruba inhabit the place called Western Nigeria, but we are trying to annex the strength and capability of everybody, including foreign investors to enjoy the development framework that we put together.
“Also, we want to build regional co-operation on cultural development, education, health, rail transportation, governance and institution, security and all facets of development that are critical to the region.”
I’ll take a break from school - MBGN 2013
Before emerging the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), Miss Anna Banner was an unknown teenager. Today, the world craves her attention. She speaks with Entertainment Editor VICTOR AKANDE.
WHAT is your educational status?
I am a student of the University of Port Harcourt. I’m studying linguistics and communication, and I’m in my first year.
What part of Bayelsa State are you from?
I’m from Sangbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
How much of your state did you know before the competition’s tours?
Before then, I had only been to Yenagoa. But MBGN took me around and I was glad that it happened, because it made me more aware of happenings in my state, things that I didn’t know before.
What is your family background like?
We are two, my older brother and I. My mum and dad are business people, and my brother is into Marine plumbing.
What was your parents’ reaction when you entered for the competition and after you emerged winner?
First of all, there were rumours about pageantry not being healthy for young girls. But despite that fact, I convinced them that it wasn’t going to be the same.
What gave you the conviction that pageantry could be healthy for a young girl?
I feel that almost all young girls would do anything to win a pageant; and that few will let things fall into place. And that I would not do any stupid thing just to get crowned, I will not sleep around either. But most people will go to any length. So, I feel it is healthy for me because I won’t do any of those stupid things.
What battles did you have to fight?
I didn’t have to fight any battle, because I discovered that there was nothing like that in the MBGN pageant. Some of the other girls were trying to get familiar with the guys around, but it wasn’t working for me because I felt that MBGN is a different type of competition. You don’t have to sleep with someone in order to win the crown; you just need to work hard.
Don’t you think your legs are too small for the shoes you’re wearing at the moment?
I don’t think so. Though, I don’t know much about this because I’m still young, but I’m willing to learn from people.
Who are your role models and influences?
My role model is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia. She’s not into pageantry, but I love her so much because she’s very courageous, zealous, fearless, a Christian and not someone to let go of her dream because of some kind of instability. During the presidential elections in Liberia, she didn’t win via violence, she won peacefully. She motivates me a lot.
How much of political history do you follow or did you have to read up for the contest?
I’m not a politics person. I’m not into it at all, and I feel it’s really boring. But I think I should start watching the news and become informed about what is happening around me. For the pageant, I didn’t have to open any book; I just had to go online to look for questions that I should expect and other things; hairstyles, dresses, make-up and how to combine colours.
What was your beauty routine like before the pageant?
I’m not a make-up person. I prefer to go natural, the highest I could do is eye pencil, lip-gloss and a little bit of eye-shadow. I was not even a powder person before MBGN. I started getting used to all that shortly before the competition so my face could look good for the camera, and I had to buy the makeup and everything. When it comes to dressing, I’m very good, combination of colours and all.
How do you intend to convince the public that pageantry is decent, despite the bikini and ‘see through’ parades?
I’m not a bikini person, so it was somehow new. For instance, during the auditions when I was told that I would have to wear a bikini, I was like ‘what? Are you kidding?’ And they told me it was one of the requirements, so I said okay. Apart from the bikini, I don’t wear short things. I wear it only when I’m going for dance rehearsals. On a normal day, I love to cover my body, because the way you dress is the way you’ll be addressed. Dressing indecently will attract unwanted glances. You can combine different clothes and colours. As far as it’s decent, it differentiates you from the crowd.
Do you feel that bikinis are necessary in pageantries?
Yes, to some extent. They want us to show our flat stomachs and curves. It is okay for some pageants, not all, because some local pageants would like to exploit that.
What is your definition of beauty?
My definition of beauty has nothing to do with the physical look, but the inner person. A girl might be pretty facially, but inside, which talks about her attitude, personality and every other thing, she might be ugly. When the inside is really good; it covers whatever ugliness there might be, and brings out the beauty from within. When a person has a good attitude, relates well with people and humble, that’s what I call beauty.
What church do you attend?
I attend Winners City.
Did you ever believe that you would win?
I had some shaky confidence that I might win.
What lessons did you take away from your experience at the camp?
Punctuality, perseverance and humility are some of the things I learnt.
What are the packages associated with this crown?
Apart from the car and the cash prize, which amount I’m not certain of, I will also represent Nigeria in Miss World.
How do you hope to cope, especially with your studies?
I’m going to pause, because it’s easier now that I’m just starting. If I was already in my third year, that would have been a big hindrance. But for now, I can take a break and then go back as soon as everything is done. And I’m thinking of studying abroad, so I might just have to move everything over there.
What are your projects as MBGN?
My projects are on both formal and informal education, redefining the lives of youths in Nigeria. I’m not going to do this alone, as I will liaise with the runner-ups.
I want to make sure people understand that education is wealth and knowledge, and to also let them know that those who have proper qualifications are able to achieve better in life. I want to encourage people to quit violence and any other form of abuse. We are all humans with different talents, but it’s left for us to find it and then build it.
Why are you focusing on education?
I see education as one of the most important things in life. I remember the ups and downs I went through before paying my school fees at a time, until God sent a helper.
You look like an ‘ajebutter’, no one would have believed you ever had problem paying your fees.
People always say that. But it’s not always the way it looks, because you can’t judge a book by its cover. Most successful people struggled, even our president, Goodluck Jonathan. I’m sure that if someone had told him that he’ll be a great man and president of Nigeria, he might not have believed.
Do you already have an agenda of becoming a Miss World?
When I become Miss World, I can then start thinking of the problems of the world and not just Nigeria. Like in Africa, one of the problems most countries have is lack of good water, good education and even quality medication. I want to also open a modeling agency that’ll help girls of different sizes achieve their modeling dreams.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are writing, laughing and singing.
What is your favourite meal?
You might be expecting me to say spaghetti and all that. But my best food is actually pounded yam. But for now, I have to cut down on that because I don’t want to add too much weight.
What talents would you say you have?
I’m good at counseling. I’m also good at convincing people; and I can convince you that the red you see is not red. I’m good with business and I’m inspirational, because I get inspired by everything around me.
What does your boyfriend think about your new life?
I’m just eighteen, I don’t have a boyfriend. That’s not really my priority right now.
What’s the most stupid thing you’ve done?
I haven’t done anything stupid except when I drove my friend’s car and bashed it. Busybody made me do that because I didn’t know how to drive, the car was in reverse gear; and I didn’t know. The gateman had to jump into the garden, while the car hit the gate and the bumper came off.
If you could change or make something happen, what would it be?
What I want is to be closer to God than I am now. I want to be a better Christian than I am now.
When was the last time you had shed tears?
When I won.
What was your father’s reaction after you won?
I didn’t call him that day. But when I did, he just shouted, told me he was proud of me, and that he knew I was going to be the best.
TRAGIC: Two-month-old baby, parents die in midnight fire
A two-month old baby and her parents lost their lives in a midnight inferno that razed their residence in Kajola community, Osun State, in the early hours of Wednesday.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said
the couple and their baby were consumed by the fire without anyone
noticing in the neighbourhood.
It could not be ascertained whether the tragedy occurred before a light rain on Wednesday or after.
Our correspondent, however, noted that the incident had thrown the community into grief.
One of the children of the deceased, who
went for a vigil, wept uncontrollably when she returned home in the
morning to meet the charred bodies of her parents and sibling.
All the household gadgets of the family were burnt in the inferno suspected to be caused by a power surge.
The state Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, who visited the scene, expressed shock.
Laoye-Tomori, who gave an undisclosed
amount of money to the family, said, “The government will henceforth be
responsible for the upkeep of the surviving children.”
Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps took the corpses of the victims to the mortuary.
The Public Relations Officer, Ife-Ile
PHCN Business District, Mr Akin Otaraki, said the fire outbreak could
not have been cause by a power surge because the area had been
disconnected from power supply by Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
“The community and some others had been
in darkness since Saturday, July 20, 2013 due to a yet-to-be identified
fault. The fact on the ground is that the inferno could not have been
caused by a power surge because there has not been power supply to the
affected communities, including Kajola,” Otaraki said
First, let’s kill all the herbalists!
She was carrying a big coffeemaker on
one hand and a bag of plastic cups on the other. From the way she walked
and darted her eyes around expectantly, it became apparent that she was
a peddler of some sorts – maybe an itinerant beverage brewer, or one of
those new-product canvassers. A workman in a nearby garage called her,
she stopped at the front, laid down the giant flask, carefully brought
out a cup from her bundle, poured out a fuming hot, dark liquid into the
cup, and handed it to the customer, who gingerly took it from her and
began to sip with total concentration. The lady, noticing that I was
engrossed by the transaction, turned to me with a sweet smile, “This is
herbal tea. It is very good for your health. It has authentic medicinal
properties; many people now drink it every day. It is from China.”
Now, can somebody tell me the difference
between what this herbal tea seller described above is doing from what
the many Nigerian girls hawking bottles of herbal brews popularly
called “agbo” are doing? Well, the difference might be in the fact that
the Chinese herbal concoctions are masterfully packaged and marketed. In
fact, even our elite are proud to consume them. But in contrast, our
own herbal solutions are perceived as dirty and dangerous to health; and
no member of the elite would like to be seen patronising any of those
“agbo” sellers. But the irony is that Nigeria, and indeed Africa, has
more raw materials for these herbal medicines than China and all other
developed nations. We are blessed with so many bioresources that it is a
pity to think of the money we are missing in the global herbal medicine
market, estimated to be worth over $100bn. For the sake of definition,
herbalism (commerce in herbs) means the growth, collection, and sale or
dispensing of aromatic herbs, especially those considered to have
medicinal properties.
It even goes beyond just herbalism;
orthodox medicine depends on herbs. According to the Nigeria Natural
Medicine Development Agency, it is estimated that about 25 per cent of
the drugs prescribed worldwide are derived from plants, and such active
compounds are in use. Of the total 252 drugs in World Health
Organisation’s essential medicine list, 11 per cent is exclusively of
plant origin. Nearly 80 per cent of African and Asian populations depend
on traditional medicines for their primary health care. In Nigeria,
more than 80 per cent of the rural population use medicinal herbs or
indigenous systems of medicine. A comprehensive review of African
medicinal plants listed more than 2,000 plant species that are used in
traditional medical practice in various parts of the continent. These
rich arrays of plant species notwithstanding, Nigeria, like most other
African countries, plays very insignificant roles in the estimated
herbal medicine global trade. Laughably, China not only gives us
technology now, they give us herbs too.
So, to mimic the popular Nigerian
lawyers’ catchphrase, “First thing we do, let us kill all the (Nigerian)
herbalists!” Well, it is also important to point out that the origin of
the expression is in William Shakespeare’s book, “Henry VI”, where Dick
the Butcher stated in Part II, Act IV, Scene II, Line 73, “The first
thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Dick the Butcher was a
follower of the rebel, Jack Cade, who thought that if he disturbed law
and order, he could become king. Shakespeare meant it as a compliment to
attorneys and judges who instil justice in society. On the same hand, I
recognise the importance of herbalists in our world, and it is high
time we utilised our own herbalists to attract some foreign currencies
to Nigeria, and also to create the much-needed jobs.
Interestingly, earlier this year, the
Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed that the ministry
was working on the integration of traditional medicine practice into
medical school curriculum in Nigerian universities. Against this
background, it is noteworthy to remember that traditional medicine
practitioners in Nigeria have been clamouring for formal recognition and
acceptance just like the orthodox medicine practitioners. Therefore, at
a first glance, this move by the Federal Government would seem like the
veritable jump-start needed to push the country into a herbal medicine
revolution. However, when we consider the fact that the Nigeria Natural
Medicine Development Agency, under the Ministry of Science and
Technology, has been in existence since 1997, we can see that the
Minister of Health’s plans might just be another manifestation of the
unfortunate Nigerian federal fiscal waste syndrome, where a lot of moves
are made without any action.
To be sure, the mandate of the NNMDA
reads thus: “This is to enable government through the Federal Ministry
of Science and Technology to actualise its critical and strategic
mandate to research, develop, collate, document, preserve, conserve and
promote the nation’s indigenous (traditional) health care systems,
medication and non- medication healing arts, sciences and technologies
and assist facilitate its integration into the National Health care
Delivery System, as well as contribute to the nation’s wealth and job
creation, socio-economic growth and development effort.” From this, it
is obvious that, had the agency, and in fact the Federal Ministry of
Science and Technology, been carrying out its gazetted functions
creatively and proactively, the nation would have by now become a major
exporter of herbal products. This is because we have all the raw
materials, natural and human, needed to attain any global height in
herbal medicine practice, also known as alternative medicine.
Granted, in developed countries there
are schools and colleges that offer courses in alternative medicine; the
practitioners have the title of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in
front of their names. In 16 American states and six Canadian provinces,
for example, the title refers exclusively to a medical degree granted by
an accredited naturopathic medical school. But I do not think this is
the time for Nigeria to complicate issues by incorporating traditional
medicine into its medical schools’ curriculum. The poor students are
already burdened with enough study modules and materials while
struggling under our peculiar harsh academic environment; they do not
need extra herbal lessons. What our government can do is to create
special medical schools, or/and special degrees, for natural medicine
practice; and then establish a comprehensive linkage with the NNMDA,
which is basically a research agency. The National Agency for Food and
Drug Administration and Control will then effectively team up with them
in order to bring sanity to the herbal medicine sub-sector.
This will solve the current problem of
name-dropping by some unscrupulous herbal remedy manufacturers. The
Minister of Health has complained that some traditional herb producers
come to them and obtain listing status approval: which shows that the
medicine is safe if taken according to the required dosage. But these
practitioners then go ahead and begin to make claims of curing all sorts
of diseases including HIV, just because the herbal medicine they market
has an authentic NAFDAC number by virtue of the listing status
obtained. Uninformed and illiterate Nigerians are easy preys to such
shenanigans.
The flip side of the integration of
traditional medicine practice into mainstream medical practice is that
it might end up edging out the grassroots practitioners, when
overzealous government regulators start demanding a degree in medicine
before allowing these ones to practise. We must not lose sight of the
home truth that most people who practise it here engage in it as a
calling or vocation, with some having a spiritual angle to their
passion. Therefore, what the government needs to do is to work hard and
mainstream our own traditional potential into a modern professional
structure like other nations are doing, and getting economic mileage for
it.Presidency attacks four govs for visiting Amaechi
The Presidency on Wednesday condemned
the solidarity visit of some Northern governors to Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State following the political crisis in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who said this at a
briefing in Abuja, also dismissed the insinuation that Amaechi had
offended President Goodluck Jonathan.
Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sule
Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Babangida Aliyu (Niger)
visited the Rivers State governor on July 16 following the political
impasse in the state.
Okupe, who frowned on the visit, said
the move showed that they were “more interested in political maneuvering
and grandstanding at the expense of the well-being of the people in
their states and the stability of the nation at large.”
He added, “We therefore admonish
governors having serious issues with their party to take advantage of
various channels within the party machinery to resolve it. Also, they
may first of all try to show good example of their commitment to peace
by working to put their own house in order through restoration of peace
and consensus within the NGF.
“While we note their current political
moves, they should be mindful that in all they do as political leaders,
they ought to put the interest of the nation and our democracy first.
This indeed, is the hallmark of true patriotism.”
Okupe, who described the crisis in the
state as a local political matter, added that the impasse had not
affected the peace and security of the nation.
According to him, the insinuation that the state is on fire is unfounded and lacking in evidence.
He said, “A pointer to the prevailing
peace in the state is the fact that Governor Amaechi, who is the Chief
Security Officer of the state, felt confident enough to travel to the
United Kingdom on official assignment.
“It is doubtful he would have had the luxury of leaving the country if his state is in turmoil as is being canvassed.
“Developments in Rivers State do not pose any threat to our democracy. Our democracy remains robust, alive and well.
“In politics as in every sphere of human
activity, different shades of opinion on issues are not uncommon within
the polity but often get resolved either politically or through legal
channels.
“It is therefore disingenuous for anyone
to suggest that the political disagreement in Rivers State would
imperil and ultimately derail our democracy.
“We recall that in Ogun State in 2010
after a series of sustained fracas and attempts at impeachment and
counter-impeachment, the Inspector-General of Police locked up the House
of Assembly for several months.
“In all that time, nobody in the whole
country suggested that the situation was a threat to our nascent
democracy, and no state governor went on any solidarity visit.”
PHOTOS: Meet 7 International Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Nigerian
This list has dug a little deeper and discovered 7 more celebrities you never thought could be Nigerian.
Get ready to be shocked as we present you 7 well-known International celebs who are Fellow Nigerians;
1) Hugo Weaving- Do you remember Agent Smith in Matrix? Yes! Neo’s arch-rival is Nigerian. How? Well the 53 year old actor was born in Nigeria at the University College Hospital in Ibadan. This makes him Nigerian by birth. His parents moved back to England a year after. Hugo Weaving has acted in several blockbusters such as V For Vendetta, The Matrix Trilogy and Lord of The Rings Trilogy, Transformers Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy and Captain America. Who said Ibadan boys don’t go far?
2) Taio Cruz- The 25 year old British singer is of Nigerian heritage. He was born to a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother. Taio Cruz who started penning songs at 12, began writing professionally 7 years later. He released his debut album Departure in 2008. The following year he released his sophomore Rokstarr which featured the hit song ‘Dynamite’. He dropped his 3rd album TY.O three years ago. Taio Cruz has won several awards including the BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ASCAP Awards and American Music Awards.
3) Tyler the Creator- Yes, do not be shocked. The ‘Black Eminem’ is Nigerian. Tyler the Creator’s actual names are Tyler Okonma. His father is Igbo. The leader of the music collective ‘Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All’ claims he never met his father. Maybe that is why he is not too fond of him. In 2009 Tyler released his first album Bastard. His buzz started growing from then on mainly backed by his offensive, homophobic and disgusting lyrics. He released his second album Goblin two years later and became a national sensation without the backing of any major record label in America. He released his third album Wolf this year.
4) Dizzie Rascal- Dizzie (Dylan Kwabena Mills) is one of the most respected rappers in the UK and also happens to be Nigerian. His Nigerian father died when he was young and he was raised by his Ghanaian mum. He had a rebellious childhood and that’s how he got the name Rascal. He was a friend of Nigerian footballer Danny Shittu when he was a kid. At 16 he produced his first single ‘I Luv U’ and in 2002 formed the collective Roll Deep Crew. Dizzie Rascal has released 5 solo albums till date making him one of the biggest rappers in the UK. He performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London and won the Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2010.
5) Richard Ayoade- This is another Brit-Nigerian. Richard Ayoade was born to a Nigerian father and Norwegian mother. The 36 year old comedian, actor and writer has written several awards winning stage plays in the UK. He is also a known face on British TV having starred in the highly popular The IT Crowd. He made his Hollywood debut in 2012 after starring in the comedy The Watch alongside Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.
6) Donald Adeosun Faison: Fans of the popular television Comedy-drama "Scrubs" would know this one. Not only is he one of our favorite character, you probably didn't know this American actor's middle name is Yoruba.
7) Lemar: Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978), professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English R&B singer–songwriter and record producer. His Nigerian fans probably didn't know that the UK singer who was born in Tottenham, England is son to Nigerian parents of Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria.
Constitution amendment: Reps reject immunity for President, govs
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed 85 new clauses to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), among which was the rejection of immunity for the President and state governors facing criminal charges.
By the new provision on immunity, the
President, Vice-President, governors and their deputies will vacate
office, if convicted of any criminal offence.
A total of 339 out of the 360 members of the House voted on Wednesday to pass the clauses.
Voting and collation of results ended at about 10.43pm.
On immunity, 306 members voted to remove it, 17 opposed it, while 14 abstained.
The House retained four years as the tenure of office of elected officials.
Similarly, 293 lawmakers voted to endorse autonomy for local governments, as against 39 who opposed it. Seven others abstained.
This development meant that the House
took a different position on the issue, compared to the Senate, which
rejected autonomy for the councils.
Lawmakers also scrapped State
Independent Electoral Commissions and transferred the responsibility of
conducting council polls to the Independent National Electoral
Commission.
Independent candidacy was also endorsed
by the House, meaning that in future, persons who do not belong to any
political party, can stand for elections as individuals.
A total of 313 lawmakers endorsed the provision, while eight opposed it. Twelve others abstained.
Like the Senate, the House retained the
controversial proposal on life pension for the President,
Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of
Representatives and Deputy Speaker.
A total of 284 lawmakers endorsed the provision, with only 18 opposing it. Thirty-six others abstained.
Other highlights included the transfer
of health, housing, electricity and railways from the Exclusive
Legislative List to the Concurrent List.
This implies that states can now make laws on these issues.
However, the issue of minimum wage and labour matters were retained in the Exclusive List.
The House adopted all the
recommendations of its report on the Peoples’ Public Sessions it
conducted across the Federation on November 10, 2012.
The sessions were conducted by its Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review headed by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha.
Lawmakers had to resort to voting manually on Wednesday as attempts to use electronic voting system failed.
The much-hyped intervention by NigComsat to rescue the situation failed to work after more than three hours of trying.
The House had co-opted NigComsat on
Monday to assist, by installing an improvised electronic voting system
with the aid of ipads.
The improvised system was to serve as temporary replacement for the faulty voting system in the House.
The Director-General of NigComsat, Mr.
Ahmed Rufai, who supervised the installation of the temporary system on
Tuesday, had assured lawmakers that it would work perfectly for the
purpose of voting.
However, as members got set to vote on Wednesday, the system failed to work.
Members waited for over three hours as Rufai and his technicians battled to fix the problem to no avail.
Rufai claimed to have tested the system
earlier in the morning and ascertained that it worked, but it suddenly
failed to transmit signals as voting was about to start around 11am.
In the face of the development, the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, opted for manual voting.
The manual voting was a tedious process,
involving voting by 339 sitted lawmakers, collation of results and
analysing the results to meet the constitutional requirement of
two-thirds majority (240) to pass any proposal.
Each member voted using a document containing the 87 changes (clauses) proposed for inclusion in the constitution.
Two of the clauses were later dropped, leaving 85 as passed.
Child marriage: we were blackmailed to vote - Senate President, David Mark
Senate President David Mark said yesterday that the Senate was blackmailed to vote against deletion of Section 29(4)(b), which deals with renunciation of Nigerian citizenship.
Mark also noted that following the outcry over the outcome of the vote on the section, the Senate would revisit it.
The Senate President spoke when a coalition of Nigerian women under the aegis of Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN) visited him in Abuja.
The coalition was led by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina.
Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Women Affairs Mrs. Josephine Anenih and a host of other women stormed the Senate to protest against the alleged move to endorse “underage marriage”.
The minister told Mark that their visit was informed by their desire to seek clarification on some issues that arose from the voting of Senators during the Constitution amendment.
Saadatu Mahdi, who presented the group’s position paper to Mark, said that they were in the Senate to seek deletion of Section 29(4)(b).
Mahdi said it was the desire of Nigerians, who treasure their citizenship, to remove the provision that young Nigerian girls, who are not old enough to vote or to obtain a driver’s licence, are somehow old enough to renounce their citizenship.
She noted that the harm of maintaining Section 29(40(b), which is open to manipulation arising from the ambiguity, far outweighs any arguable benefits a few women might obtain.
She said: “Contrary to the position conveyed for the retention of the section, that under Sharia, a girl, once married, automatically assumes full mental and intellectual capacity, we posit that there is certainly no unanimity of positions on such matters among Islamic jurists, which therefore allows the society to determine for itself what is in its best interest.
“We further posit that there should be no basis to compel a girl to deal with matters of such gravity as the renunciation of citizenship merely because she is married.
“Islam is certainly not presumptuous or harsh as to burden her with what she is mentally and physically incapable of bearing.”
The Senate Committee on Constitution review recommended deletion of Section 29 (4)(b), which deals with renunciation of citizenship to cater for child rights and gender protection from discrimination.
Section 29. (1) states “Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for the renunciation”.
UK to deport ‘dangerous’ rapist to Nigeria
A rapist, who claimed deporting him from the United Kingdom would breach his human rights, Ekene Anoliefo, will be sent home to Nigeria after losing an appeal against the order.
Mr Justice Blake said the public interest in getting “dangerous sexual predator” Anoliefo, 38, out of the country far outweighed his right to respect for his private life.
Anoliefo was jailed for 12 years, later reduced to nine, in May 2009 after he was convicted of the brutal rape of a 19-year-old, who he held captive in his car after pretending to help her.
The Nigerian computing student drove the young woman to his Aberdeen flat, forced her onto a bed and raped her in what the sentencing judge described as “particularly brutal and degrading” circumstances.
He was ordered for deportation last December and now, after an appeal to the Upper Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, has failed in his human rights’ bid to be allowed to stay.
Anoliefo’s lawyers had argued that he had lawfully lived in the UK for four years as a student and had hoped to be granted indefinite leave to remain once he finished his studies and found a job.
But rejecting his appeal, Mr Justice Blake said a more substantial private life would need to be shown in a case where someone had not previously had indefinite leave to stay in the country.
“It is unfortunate that permission to appeal was granted, since this appeal is wholly without merit,” he said.
“It is obvious that, where a claimant has been convicted of rape and the conviction upheld on appeal, no properly self-directing judge could have done other than to have dismissed the appeal on the basis that the public interest manifestly outweighed it.”
In sentencing Anoliefo to a 12-year jail term, which was later reduced to nine years, Lord Pentland said: “You are, in my judgment, a dangerous and determined sexual predator who has not the slightest respect for women.”
Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge said he had to reflect society’s abhorrence.
Anoliefo listened through an interpreter as defence QC Donald MacLeod told how he had brought shame on his wealthy family.
His father is a politician in his local state parliament, the court heard, and had paid for Anoliefo to come to Scotland to study computer technology to prepare him for a career in the Nigerian oil industry.
Mr MacLeod also told the court that Anoliefo still maintained he was innocent although a jury had found him guilty.
Lord Pentland said: “You stand convicted of a series of incidents involving the assault, molestation and harassment of six women and a female child in the streets of Aberdeen over a period extending from the autumn of 2007 to the summer of 2008.
“In addition to these serious offences, you have been convicted of the cruel and degrading rape of a young woman whom you detained against her will in your car after you had pretended to help her late at night.
“The sentence I impose must reflect the abhorrence that society feels towards persons like you who prey on women in this way and who are willing to resort to violence and rape for their own sexual gratification.”
He added: “I note that you have not, at any stage, expressed the slightest degree of remorse or empathy for your victims.”
The judge said he would also recommend a deportation order due to the gravity of the crimes.
Grampian Police Det Sgt Neil Kennedy, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: “This sentence sends a clear message to those prepared to commit these appalling and cowardly crimes.
“The witnesses in this case behaved with great courage after being traumatised by these crimes.
“They will take comfort from the fact that he will be deported at the end of his sentence.”
Lagos dumps 70 beggars, and homeless people in Onitsha
No fewer than 70 beggars and the homeless were on Wednesday dumped at the Upper Iweka Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The destitute told journalists that they
were dumped about 3am at Upper Iweka after being detained in Ikorodu,
Lagos, for over six months for alleged wandering and other minor
offences by the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline officials.
The destitute said they were brought to Onitsha in four buses, escorted by riot policemen.
One of them, Mr. Osondu Mbuto, from
Ohaozara in Ebonyi State and a petty trader in Lagos, said he was
arrested by the Lagos State Government officials while going to his shop
on December 18, 2012.
Mbuto added that the Lagos State Government officials were in company with some policemen.
The Chairman of Nigeria Red Cross
Society in the South-East, Dr. Peter Katchy, described the action of the
Lagos State officials as condemnable.
He said, “It’s very deplorable; it’s
very disheartening that a state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria will
bundle people, who are not even indigenes of Anambra State, and dump
them under the flyover at Upper Iweka in Onitsha.
“Many of the people, we have interviewed
are not indigenes of Anambra State. Some of them are from Ebonyi State;
some are from Imo State among other states.
“It is an insult to Anambra State. We
shall draw the attention of the governor of Anambra State to ask the
reason for such an invasion of his territory.
“We will find out why Lagos State should
invade Anambra State territory; and why Lagos State should dump people
here and leave them helpless.
“We are here on humanitarian purposes
and in response to an emergency. From what we discovered here, this is a
human emergency and a human callousness.”
Katchy, however, promised that the
society would move the destitute to the Anambra State Social Welfare
Centre in Onitsha South Local Government for rehabilitation.
The Lagos State Government had dumped another set of beggars at Upper Iweka late last year.
Calls made to the mobile phone of the
Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, for his
reaction, did not go through.
He also did not respond to a text message sent to him by one of our correspondents.
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