Nigerian Celebrities Whose Marriages Have Stood The Test Of Time

These days, all we get to read about is celebrity marriages that have tumbled and crashed. Now, how about we acknowledge and celebrate those who have been able to keep their homes steady? Here’s a list of Nigerian celebrities whose marriages have stood the test of time!
*Capt Matthew Ekehinde and Omotola Jalade Ekehinde. These couple have always had each other’s back. Capt Ekehinde is Omotola’s number1 fan and he has been supporting her all through her career. Isn’t that sweet?

* Emeka And Emma Ike. The Nollywood lover boy still holds it down with his sweetheart despite the many distractions in his field. Notwithstanding the large population of admirers among fans, colleagues and friends, Emma still remains the only one.

* Joke sylva and Olu Jacobs- I have a dream that someday, nollywood, and hollywood perhaps, would produce the love story of this couple. In spite of fame and stardom, they have enjoyed 25 years of marriage. Beat that if you can…!

* Ramsey Noah and Emike Phillips Noah. Here’s one more fiiiiiine boy of nollywood. Obviously, he knew what he wanted, went for it and stuck to it. Thumbs up handsome!

* Isaac and Nneka Ene of Goge Africa. These couple love to have fun! I’ll tell you they’ve been everywhere you can ever think of, especially in Africa. They cheer together, move together, do the same things and laugh hard; I would say they love each other’s company. Compatibility can go no further.

* Patrick and Iretiola Doyle. These couple know how to keep it on the low. They are one of the few icons whose stories don’t get splashed in the papers just like that. This could mean they are understanding and super-united. What do you think?

* Tunde and Wunmi Obe. TWO are living life to the fullest. They are one of the few couples who love to do the same things. What’s more? They look alike, when you know their kilos, you’ll see what I mean.

* Richard Mofe Damijo and Jumobi Adegbesan. What a fine couple they make. When beauty and prince charming are in sync, I can bet they’ll beget a Cinderella, a Snowwhite, a Pocahuntas or one of those belles we see on TV. Nice combo guys!

* Sonny and Betty Irabor. These couple make a good example of one who have stood the test of time. They are into different fields and they are doing well in their fields of choice. I haven’t heard one scandal about them and I do not hope to.

* Austin JayJay and Nkechi Okocha. Unlike many football stars, JayJay has been able to put all his golden eggs in one deserving basket. These couple have an inspiring story but I guess that’ll be a blog for another day. Nkechi remains the great woman behind this successful footballer.

N.B: 2face and Annie idibia: They might have gotten married recently, but their relationship has gone through a lot of ups and downs and they are still kicking it. I wonder why Hollywood is still silent about mirroring their story on stage. Or would producing a movie based on their story take as much time as it took the couple to make their marriage decision? Just thinking out loud *lol*!
And….oh…no! The list isn’t complete without the first Nigerian couple!!!

Goodluck and Patience Jonathan: Their marriage is a proof of the fact that love is indeed patient! Hate or Love “mother” of the nation, one thing that stands out is her hubby sure loves her to pieces!

Don’t Give Up On Nigeria, Says Mark At Wife’s 64th Birthday

Senate President, Mr. David Mark yesterday called on Nigerians to renew their faith in the unity of the nation despite the current wave of insecurity and socio-economic challenges. The chairman of the National Assembly made this known at a church service which held at the St. Mulumba Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja to mark his wife, Helen’s 64th birthday.

Mark enjoined Nigerians to remain steadfast and believe in the prospect of the country to overcome her challenges.

According to him: “We should continue to be our brothers’ keeper; we have gone this far and we should not wish away our strength of togetherness.

“God created us to be together as a nation. We are all made by God and we shall all stand before Him to give account of what we have done here on earth.

“So, as a people, we should learn to be tolerant and love one another.”

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President also urged Nigerians to eschew violence in any form, saying, “no matter how aggrieved a man may be, resorting to violence will only escalate the situation.”

He praised the celebrant – his wife – Helen, for her virtues, saying she stood as a strong pillar behind him over the years.

The Senate President said: “We decided to celebrate her birthday with a Holy Mass in our church to thank God.

“She has been a strong pillar behind me all these years. She has been very supportive and an ideal help-mate.

“The truth is that, if there should be people to talk of God’s goodness, my family should be in the forefront. God has been so kind and faithful to us.”

In his homily, taken from the book of Colossians, Chapter 3 verse 12, Rev. Father Innocent Jooji urged the congregation to be thankful to God in all situations.

He noted that God is a compassionate God and wants humans to live together with a heart full of praise and tolerance.

The Catholic Priest canvassed for oneness and forgiveness among the brethren just as he stated that the best way to celebrate Mrs. Helen Mark’s birthday was through a Holy Mass.

C’River Retires 695, Sacks 3, Disciplines 15 Others In Sanitisation Of Civil Service

The government of Cross River State has sanctioned the compulsory retirement of nine civil servants, dismissal of one, demotion of three, and termination of the appointment of three. Five others were suspended while two suffered loss of incremental step.

The recent step according to government sources, was taken in order to sanitise the civil service they said reeks of rot.

Briefing the press on the activities of the commission in the last one year in Calabar at the weekend, chairman of the Cross River State civil service Commission, Sir Brian Ekpong revealed that between January last year and now, 695 civil servants were retired after attaining the mandatory 35 years of service or clocking the retirement age.

He said the decision to wield the big stick on errant civil servants was meant to serve as a deterrent to others, given the growing indiscipline in the service and appealed to public workers to be mindful of the work ethic rather than indulging in unwholesome practices.

For the period under review, the commission promoted 2, 580 workers, employed 375, re-absorbed 2, 314 had their appointments confirmed while 135 were either converted or upgraded.

Ekpong said the state governor “has continued to approve recruitment to fill vacancies in areas of critical manpower in the service.”

“Recently, we recruited 30 accounts graduates who are currently being groomed to become auditors. We have also this year, recruited some medical doctors and pharmacists for the Ministry of Health,” he said.

He added that soon, “the commission will interview candidates for employment to fill vacancies in the Ministries for Special Projects and Youths and Sports Development just as it has obtained approval to internally source for suitable civil servants for transfer to the state planning commission to fill vacancies in planning, research and statistics cadre”.

“Following the governor’s approval, the commission recently absorbed 120 Department of Public Transportation [DOPT] staff who had been on ad hoc employment to permanent establishment as civil servants and also absorbed 18 casual workers of the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development,” Ekpong said.

The chairman also lamented the high rate of academic underdevelopment in the civil service, saying so many workers were not abreast of current affairs, cannot sing the national anthem, recite the national pledge, do not know the name of the deputy governor of the state and unable to raise a memo in simple correct English.

64-year-old Man Drags Wife To Court For Stealing

A-64-year old man, Mr. Femi Eboda, prayed an Agege Grade ‘A’ Customary Court sitting in Lagos to dissolve his 21-year-old marriage to Bolanle Eboda over stealing and embarrassing him publicly.

Mr. Eboda, who lives at No, 14 Amusan, Oko-Oba, Abule Egba, claimed to have been suffering from stroke, diabetes and ulcer for the past two years, saying the wife failed to take care of him.

Saying he resigned from Union Bank some years ago because of ill-health, the husband said his health challenges were compounded by his wife and his family. He said his efforts to ensure that his children got good education were frustrated by Bolanle. While reacting to the allegations, the wife urged the court to beg her husband on her behalf. She denied the allegations but said she was not ready for divorce.

She said the marriage was been blessed with two children and her husband should consider her and resolve it. In his rulling, the court president, Mr. Emmanuel Shokunle, asked the couple to go back home and see how to settle it amicably because the woman still believed in the marriage. He adjourned the case till August 13 for further hearing.

Osun CP Orders Probe Of Alleged Defilement Of A 4-year-old Girl

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Dorothy Gimba, has ordered an investigation into the case of attempted defilement of a four-year-old girl by one Lateef Olateju, a barber, at Yemoja area in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioner also directed the family unit of the state Police command to ensure proper medical care for the victim, a pupil of Ibiyemi pre-primary school in Ido-Osun.

It was gathered that Olateju had attempted to defile girl at his barbing salon on August 2, this year before one Obisesan Gbolahan caught him and reported the matter at Dada Estate Police Station in Osogbo.
The suspect, however, escaped from the scene of the incident and his whereabouts could not be ascertained at press time.
The victim was handed over to the police and the development prompted the state Commissioner of Police to order detectives in the command to ensure the arrest of the suspect. She also directed that the victims be given adequate medical attention.

15 Children Crushed To Death In Plateau

A commercial vehicle conveying maize to a nearby market yesterday crushed fifteen children aged between 12 and 16 to death in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau State, injuring nine others.
The children who were said to be members of the Boys and Girls Brigade of about three churches in the local government headquarters were on an early morning keep-fit exercise when the incident occurred.
The youths from the three churches, it was learnt, usually gather for the exercise by jogging to and from nearby villages, but a vehicle carrying maize from Bokkos lost control and ran into the children numbering about 40 killing 15 instantly.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Felicia Anslem said investigations had commenced and efforts were on to track down the fleeing driver of the vehicle.
According to an eyewitness, the bodies of the deceased and the injured had been taken to a nearby health centre where the injured were given first aid treatment before they were transferred to the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos.

NUJ Mourns Journalists Killed In Ghastly Crash

Members of the Nigerian Union of journalists, NUJ, has described the auto crash in Ilesa, Osun state, where three members of the union lost their lives as shocking and a great loss to the nation.
The dead journalists are Olatunde Ojenike of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan, Adolphus Okonkwo, Champion Newspapers, and Kafayat Odunsi of Nigeria Television Authority.
Ten others sustained injuries in the accident, which occurred near Ilesha in Osun, and are receiving treatment at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
Fatimah Abdulkareem, National Treasurer, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) and the Oyo State Chairman of the union, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun who were injured in the ghastly accident were later moved from Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital, Osogbo to University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on the orders of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
The Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Dr. Adeolu Akande and Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye pledged that the state government would foot the bill of the victims in UCH.
They described the incident as very pathetic stressing that the government has urged the management of UCH to try its best in ensuring that the two NUJ officials in their care are given the best treatment.
The journalists were returning to their bases from a national assignment of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which held in Abuja on Thursday.

The National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Shuibu Leman, said: “it was a sad moment for the union and the nation as a whole.”
In his reaction, Chairman of NUJ, Abuja Council, Mr Chucks Ehirim, said, “it was indeed a great shock as the three late journalists were very alive and active on Thursday at a meeting of the union.
“We are all shocked by the incident. They were our colleagues and we were all together in the meeting till late on Thursday. It is unfortunate because they died in union activities.”
Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun has offered to pay the medical bills of 10 journalists injured in the accident. near Ilesha,incidentally, the governor’s hometown.
The Osun Chairman of NUJ, Mr Abiodun Olalere said the survivors were in stable conditions.
According to The News Agency of Nigeria, the accident occurred when the driver lost control after the tyre of the vehicle in which the journalists were travelling burst about 7p.m near Ilesha on the Ife-Ibadan Expressway.

Jonathan Calls For Greater Sophistication In Tackling Security Challenges In Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan has tasked members of the Armed Forces to discover new approaches and greater sophistication to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
Making the call in Abuja on Saturday, at the graduation ceremony of participants of Course 21 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, the president who was represented by the Senate President, David Mark, said it was evident that national and regional security in the 21st century was determined by forces that were operating within and beyond national borders.
He added that adversaries in the past were easier to identify and confronted in open hostilities. But dealing with these unseen enemies require new thinking, new approaches and greater sophistication in equipment and capabilities.

The president who said that the armed forces must be agile, proactive and remain vigilant at all times, further assured the military that government would continue to implement measures to reposition the forces to ensure that they were properly equipped to carry out their constitutional mandate and other responsibilities on behalf of the nation.
Jonathan congratulated the graduating officers of Course 21 for their hardwork and commitment during their time at the college.

Oil Spill: Kukah Tasks Niger Delta Youths On Peaceful Resolution To Grievances

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has admonished Niger Delta Youths not to resort to violence while trying to explore solutions to their grievances.

He made this known while addressing a delegation from the Ogoni Generation Next Project.

Bishop Kukah, who is the Presidential Mediator on Ogoni, promised to draw President Goodluck Jonathan’s attention to the non-implementation of the report of the United Nations Environmental Programme on Ogoni oil spill.

He thanked the group for seeking a peaceful resolution of the oil spill crisis and promised that the President will take necessary steps to address the environmental degradation in Ogoni land.

PHOTO: Fearless Mouse Attacks Snake To Save Friend

A mouse has been given its freedom after it tackled a poisonous snake in a bid to save a fellow rodent at a zoo in China.

The two mice were served up as a live dinner for the snake at Hangzhou Zoo in Zhejiang province, eastern China.

Keeper Wen Shao said: “We always give the snakes live food and we put the two mice into the snake enclosure, but instead of trying to hide like they usually do one of the mice attacked the snake when it saw it trying to eat the other mouse.

“I have never seen anything like that before, usually the mice keep as far away from the snake as possible but this one caused a lot of damage.

“It was biting the snake on the head as the snake was trying to eat the first mouse.”

He added that the mouse had deserved its freedom after putting up such a brave fight.

“In any case it didn’t do the snake any good either, it was expensive and the mouse did a lot of damage by biting it on the head,” he added.

Sadly the mouse did not succeed in its bid to free its pal. It died and was later eaten even if mighty mouse was no longer around to witness it.

“President Goodluck Jonathan Lied”

President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent Facebook claim about three weeks of uninterrupted electricity supply to Anambra state capital, Awka, is nowhere near the reality, residents of the town said in a quick rebuttal that again casts doubt on the president’s public claim about his achievements.

Residents from several streets of Awka said while power supply had improved in their areas in the past couple of weeks, the difference was fairly minimal to be regarded as “steady” since interruptions have continued.

“They give us light mostly in the day time and take it during the night when we need it most,” said Mike Nweke, who lives along Zik Avenue, and runs a shop at Eke Awka market. “In spite of the fact that our NEPA credit finishes within days of recharge. There is nothing to celebrate.

Four other residents of the area corroborated that claim of improved power supply over the past three weeks, but they all added that the usual power failure persisted.

At Ifite Awka, mostly habited by students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, residents said the only difference they witnessed in recent weeks has been the stoppage of the power rationing called “One day ON, one day OFF”, which makes light available to different areas on alternate days.

“Before they use to share light for us and that made us to be having light once in two days but now that has become history because they are now giving us light everyday though the power supply has never been stable as claimed by the president,” one student said.

The responses, randomly drawn from several parts of Awka, particularly refuted the president’s claim about “uninterrupted public power” in a Facebook comment on Thursday.

In the unusual post, which the president said was meant to “drown out the unacceptable negatives in the polity”, Mr. Jonathan highlighted the appointment by telephone company, MTN, of its first Nigerian Chief Executive, as the proceed of his administration’s resolve to build local content; and spoke of steady electricity in Awka, and the registration of the new party, All Progressives Congress, as a reflection of the success of his government’s reforms.

“The second occurrence is the celebration by the city of Awka, in Anambra state of three weeks of uninterrupted public power supply and counting,” Mr. Jonathan wrote. “More cities will soon be able to have such celebrations because the Roadmap to Power Sector Reforms is having the desired effects with almost all of Nigeria’s electricity Distribution companies (Discos) and Generating companies (Gencos) now in private hands as I promised on the 26th of August 2010 in Lagos when I launched the Power Roadmap.”

For a president whose past claims on achievements, particularly about power supply had all turned out fictitious, and were roundly refuted by Nigerians, his remarks about Anambra state immediately stirred swift reactions from Nigerians.

Readers who responded to PREMIUM TIMES’ call on Facebook, asking Awka residents for response, provided mixed opinion of the situation in the commercial state.

While a majority denied the president’s claim, a few admitted the situation had improved.

A respondent, Oraneto Ndubuisi, affirmed, “For real, four weeks now”, while another, Toby Obaji, interjected, “Wait a minute, are you guys trying to say three hours or three weeks. Well, if its three hours …yes, sometimes. If you actually mean three weeks, then it’s not this Awka, might be the Awka in Japan.”

Other residents from different parts of the town, interviewed by our reporter in Awka, returned a verdict that largely disclaimed Mr. Jonathan’s.

At Ogechuckwu Street, five people interviewed said there was no difference in power supply in the area over the past three months because they still used generators at night.

At Emma-Nnaemeka Street, residents also denied there was stable power supply in the area as claimed by the president.

“Enough of that lie and those people presenting those lies to Mr. President should stop it,” one man, visibly angered by the question, said.

In Akoyele Street, one resident who gave his name as Uche, said although an equipment was stolen from the transformer in his neighbourhood weeks ago, resulting in total outage in the area, the situation has only improved to the previous unstable power after residents contributed money to replace the equipment.

“Light no dey my house now as I dey talk to you,” he said in pidgin English.

At Ichida Street, two residents there dismissed the president’s claim as political rhetoric that sought to woo supporters ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“I think this is a campaign style of the PDP, they want to use lies to capture Anambra in the forthcoming election and we shall resist them,” a resident who refused to disclose his name said.

Those who spoke at Araba Street, said although they had witnessed a little improvement in power supply over the past few weeks, the power was never stable. One resident in the area further said that while power in the street improved minimally in the past three months, it was “nothing to celebrate”.

A similar reaction came from Arthur Eze Avenue, where locals chided the president for often failing to verify information passed to him.

“Oga Goodluck should always cross-check every information given to him before announcing them to the public. He should stop betraying our trust in him,” one residents who gave her name as Florence said.

At Dike Street, a resident who gave his name as Nzekwe Echezona, gave a similar response about improved but never stable electricity.

I Would Have Proposed To Omotola —Ali Nuhu

Ali Nuhu is one of the most popular actors in the Hausa movie industry. A producer and brand ambassador, he talks about his job, his 10-year-old marriage and other sundry issues

 How challenging is the job of producing Hausa movies? 

Most times, challenges come up when you don’t do your homework the way it should be done. I don’t produce more than one or two movies a year and I do a lot of pre-production planning before going on set. That removes all the challenges.

It seems just a handful of producers are from the north

Yes. There are just a couple of us. The reason could be cultural barriers; people seem to be just contented with what they do and they don’t want to branch out into wider areas.

How did you break into the English movie sector?

When I first started appearing in the English movies, the challenge I had was the perception of my people. Most people misunderstood what I was trying to do. But with time, when the movies started coming out, they became acquainted with what I was trying to do.

At 39 you have already been married for 10 years, why did you have to marry so early?

I was fortunate to meet a wonderful lady when I was 29. I did not want to let the opportunity slip by; it would not have been easy to find another like her at any other time.

Which means as a Moslem, you are not contemplating polygamy?

I am not contemplating polygamy. I know that my religion permits it but then, you don’t just jump into it because you see others doing it, it has set conditions and none of the conditions affect me, so there is no reason for me to practise it.

Is your wife comfortable with some of the roles you play?

A couple of times she told me she was not very comfortable with some actresses that I was paired with and I had to turn down the job. The peace and comfort of my home is more important than any movie role.

In the soap ‘Wetin Dey’ you played Ibrahim, an AIDS carrier who deliberately infected his cousin with the virus, how were you able to relate with the character?

I had to go through counselling before I could take on that role but after the programme, I stopped being afraid of AIDS victims. I now sympathise with them and I understand their situation.

You spent almost two years on that project, was the price worth it?

It was worth it.

How much were you paid?

In movies we don’t discuss our fees.

You were quoted as saying Omotola is your most favourite colleague, if circumstances were different, would you have married her?

I was pretty young when I first saw Omotola in ‘Thorns of Roses’ and liked her performance. After that, when I saw her in ‘Mortal Inheritance,’ I fell in love with her as a person because she gave a perfect interpretation to the character. Of course, if we were both single, I would have proposed to her.

How many phone calls do you receive from fans in one day?

I cannot count them.

Are they up to 1000?

They could even be more than 1000, sometimes. The phone keeps ringing and I don’t want to change my number because it is my contact point. But if I leave it open all the time, the calls could be very distracting. For instance, someone calls and says, ‘I just want to say hello to you.’ Then another person calls and says, ‘I just want to say hello to you.’ Sometimes, I need to work and also spend time with my family. I cannot concentrate and I had no choice than to install a blocker on my phone.

How does it feel to be an ambassador to two huge brands?

They are very caring brands and they deliver when it comes to paying the model.

What determines the way you dress?

I don’t have a particular mood or pattern of dressing but I have designers that make clothes for me. One is based in Lagos and he provides clothes for me when I am in the South. The one based in the North also styles me when I am in the North.

What is your favourite fashion accessory?

I love shoes a lot as well as wrist watches. I love silver wristwatches but I don’t have a particular designer.

What is your favourite food?

It is my local language dish—Tuwo shinkafa

What was your childhood like?

I grew up in Kano—in no man’s land. It is a society that consists of people from the South and North. We have a lot of Yoruba, Igbos, the Igalas, Idomas etc. I am sure this is responsible for my perception and the fact that I feel very free in whatever part of Nigeria I find myself. When I go to Asaba, I eat pounded yam and when I come to Lagos, I eat amala and ewedu.

By next year you would be 40, what are going to do before then?

There is the saying that you may make plans but at the end of the day, it is God who determines the outcome and the course that your life is supposed to follow. I am leaving everything in His hands for the moment.

Illuminati: Locals call Beyonce and Jay Z Demons in Washington D.C.

It is no longer news that most religious people think power couple Jay Z and Beyonce are occultic and belong to the acclaimed evil cult – Illuminati.
However, this is officially the first time any individual has publicly accused the couple.
Two protesters, probably husband and wife, held cardboard papers with words written on them accusing the infamous couple.
They stood outside The Mrs. Carter Show at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. warning  Mrs Obama and the general public that Beyonce and Jay Z were possessed by demons.

Founder of the Pray at the Pump movement, Rocky Twyman, tells Afro.com

“We believe that this couple is virtually destroying our youth. If you go on the Internet, you’ll see stories about how they’re both part of the Illuminati and you can see Jay-Z’s use of the Satanic triangle symbol when he performs.”

“Jay-Z even declared himself to be God by referring to himself as Jehovah, and we don’t think that this is the image that our young people need to be glorifying.”

The pastor also hopes his movement will catch on with protests in every city on the rest of Beyonce’s tour.

Amaechi’ll Not Sleep With Two Eyes Closed Again Until He Comes And Beg Me – Wike

NYESOME WIKE AND SOME CHIEFTAINS OF THE PDP AT THE RALLY OF THE GDI IN PORT HARCOURT YESTERDAY

The political crises in Rivers State which seemed to have simmered down a little bit was yesterday fired-up by the Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, who has promised that Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his supporters will not sleep with their two eyes closed again because danger will be lurking around the state.

The minister’s latest warning shot was a veiled reference to Gov. Amaechi’s recent statement to a delegation of Niger Delta Bishops who paid him a visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, the State capital on Friday over the lingering political logjam in the state.

The governor, who initially noted that he refrained from making comments about Wike because he is a subordinate, was quoted as saying: “Nyesom Wike was appointed Chief of Staff by me. Nyesom Wike as a Minister of State, I nominated him. I was under pressure by the President to drop him, I refused. The President persuaded me to drop him and bring a woman but I refused.

”I heard he is going all over town saying I didn’t appoint him, I didn’t appoint him, the President appointed him but I nominated him to be a minister as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum. I did, but you know character doesn’t come easily, character is a very difficult thing and I am a man of character.”

But Wike has taken serious exception to his description as a subordinate as he used the occasion of the inauguration of executive members for Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of his Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) sponsored programme in Port Harcourt on Saturday, to address the governor’s remarks against his person.

“They said we are nobody”, the minister started. “Then they have seen; when you are dealing with nobody, be careful. The nobody will show you that he is somebody. We will make sure they will not sleep again. As they are sleeping, they will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open, because they know there is danger.”

On the governor’s remark that he resisted pressure from President Goodluck Jonathan to drop Wike as his nominee for minister, he stated:

“Those who are saying they must remove me, I have even overstayed. For you to be minister for two years, you must thank your God. If today we are no longer minister, do not worry yourself. It will not change us. We will continue to fight for what we believe in.

“We were not minister when we fought for them in 2007. When we were here, they were not having problems. Now, we have gone, they are having problems.

“We have always told them: you cannot do it. What you do not know, you do not know. It does not matter, whatever money you have, money cannot buy everything. Now, they are having sleepless nights. When we were here, were they having sleepless nights?

“When we were here, were they not travelling up and down? Are they travelling again? Tell them, they should come and beg us. Tell them to come back and beg us. We will tell them the secret. What God has not given to you, you do not need to do anything about it.”

Putting up an indifferent posture to the repeated demands for the removal of Mr. Joseph Mbu as the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Wike said, “I can assure you, all they are asking for: they want a commissioner of police that will be arresting you. Anytime they call the CP, he will arrest you. But let me tell you, we are not interested in whoever comes here (CP), all we are interested in is to have somebody who will not be partial.

“Let them bring whoever they want to bring (as CP).We want somebody who will want democracy to be practised in Rivers State. They said one man, one vote. Now, they do not want one man, one vote again.”

Deriding the governor for suspending the Obio/Akpor council officials, Wike said Gov. Amaechi and his supporters thought the move would bring them ‘sleep’ but unknown to them, they ‘touched the Lion’ and it came with consequences.

“The party has suspended them, because they have touched the lion and when you touch the lion, you know the consequences. Since they said the councillors will not take their salaries, they also will know that they will not belong to the PDP”, he said.

The minister boasted that Gov. Amaechi and his supporters would lose all the pending cases they have before the courts because according to him, “All the ones they have gone, we have been winning them and we will continue to win them.”

“They are doing everything they can. They are using their power and their money. Money cannot solve all problems. Sometimes, you have to come back home and realise that the people matter a lot. It is the power of the people that has put us in positions and you must come back to thank the people.

“Forget about what they are doing to you (his supporters). Do not worry. We are all together. Do not lose hope. God is on the throne.”

Wike, who revealed that the suspended Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG, Mr. Timothy Nsirim and his deputy, Solomon Eke, and the 17 councillors have been denied their salaries since April, said it is a sacrifice they have to make to make democracy survive.

The minister drummed up support for President Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid at the event and charged members of the GDI; of which he is the grand patron, in particular, to go to all the wards, communities and families in the state to support the President.

Wike added: “In Rivers State, Jonathan is our son, Jonathan is our in-law and his wife is our daughter. So, we have no choice, but to continue to support him. Your duty is to mobilise the entire state for our son when he decides to run eventually.

“We believe that the people of South-South cannot sacrifice, whatever it is, our own son for anything less than President,” he said.

Wike, who is aspiring to become governor of Rivers State in 2015, is an Ikwerre man just like Amaechi and hails from Obio/Akpor where he was a two-term chairman of the council.

Why Five Northern Governors Are After Jonathan – Presidency

The Presidency, yesterday, raised the alarm that five northern governors, who are currently moving round the country holding consultations with political stakeholders in Nigeria, have a hidden agenda to ease President Goodluck Jonathan out of the 2015 election “in order to enhance their selfish political interest”.

 According to the Presidency, the so-called consultations by the governors, which had not been authorised by any organ of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or the Presidency, was a selfish political move aimed solely at distracting President Jonathan from his people-oriented programmes and heat up the polity, so as to give the erroneous impression that the country was on fire. = Wammako, Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Nyako Wammako, Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Nyako Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, made the accusation by the Presidency notwithstanding, the governors, yesterday took their grievances against President Jonathan and the Tukur-led PDP, to former Vice President and founding member of the party, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, in Abuja.

We have gathered that four out of the five governors – Sule Lamido, Murtala Nyako, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Aliyu Wamakko, met behind closed doors for several hours on Saturday with the former Vice President on what a source close to the governors described as a ‘further consultation’ with the founding fathers of the PDP.

“We met with the former VP and explained our grievances to him as a member of the G-34, which founded the PDP,” one of the governors said, without disclosing the details of their discussion. The meeting with Ekwueme brought to five the number of top profile Nigerian leaders that the aggrieved governors had so far visited and explained their grievances to.

The Presidency, which initially spat fire over the action of the governors for their audacity to confront the President on issues relating to the PDP and the 2015 election, has however soft-pedaled and begged them to give peace a chance. The Presidency which, though accused the five governors of having a hidden agenda against President Jonathan, also admonished them to desist from such antics in the interest of the nation.

The Political Adviser also pleaded with the quintuplet to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign in the land. Gulak said, “I want to plead with the four or five governors from the north, who are trying to precipitate crisis to give peace a chance and spare the country avoidable trouble. “They should realise that without peace none of them would be governors.

They should subsume their interest. That is my plea to them”. Reflecting on the current crisis in the ruling party culminating in predictions about Nigeria’s disintegration in 2015, Gulak stated that the nation would wax stronger rather than break up.

BBA: Fans Attack Beverly After Sleeping With Angelo

Nigeria’s other representative in the on-going Big Brother reality TV show, Beverly Osu who finally gave in to s*xual urges and had s*x in the house with fellow house-mate and boyfriend Angelo Collins from South Africa has  received criticisms fans.

Well, BBA fans in Nigeria have set social media on fire with mostly condemnation for Beverly for the act, which the video vixen may hold no regret for.
The romp took place Friday night, under sleeping sheets which unfortunately couldn’t muffle their moans.
The week has seen Beverly consistently tell Angelo how much she’s in love with him with Angelo returning the favour. They’ve both shared heavy make-out sessions; seizing every opportunity to be alone. Their intimacy grew in intensity and ultimately climaxed with s*x at the weekend.
Nigeria has still got both of its reps still in the house but with this act of Beverly, I’m not so sure of her lasting long in the game.

2Face Speaks On His Babymama’s Marriage To Pastor Adeoye

it’s kind of funny though for anyone to have thought of asking AfroPop star 2Face Idibia how he felt over his babymama, Sunmbo’ marriage to Pastor Adeoye in Lagos recently. But he was asked the question anyway, and his answer is as cool as would be expected:

2Face, who has two kids from Sunmbo when their love was hot, said:

“Sunmbo deserves all the best, I wish her many good things in her marriage. She’s a nice person,” he told an online magazine.

Many had thought he actually loved Sunmbo more than his other babymamas and would marry her. It seems her deep involvement with church activities later made him change his ming. #GoFigure. Lols!
Figo

Revealed: Prostitution Runs In Abuja

After visiting several locations known to be red-light districts, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its secretary for social development, Mrs Blessing Onuh, announced a “total ban” on próstitution throughout the nation’s capital city. A 48-hour ultimatum was issued for all women of easy virtue to vacate the city and quit the job “because they constitute a nuisance in the city”.

She added a fatwa on their male patrons who ruined “some of the girls [who] are under-aged”.

Other severe measures were lined up; security agencies actually combed some of the red-light districts and made several arrests. But rather than the scourge abating, it appears undying like the proverbial phoenix.Próstitution in Abuja has metamorphosed from the conventional sedentary practice in local brothels to a sophisticated cartel of “runs babes” and the corporate realm. The “executive” type now holds in many luxury hotels in the Abuja metropolis and the exquisite homes of the super-rich.

Notorious spots include Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Garki; Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent and Sheraton Junction in Wuse II; and virtually all the discotheques. Even in poor neighbourhoods like Nyanyan, Mararaba and Gwagwa, little girls have joined the illicit trade. They parade a horde of half-unclad girls and women of various ages and sizes brazenly exposing themselves, while openly and desperately beckoning on motorists and passers-by to pick them for the night.

They insult, poke rude jokes and pour vituperation on those who look at them scornfully or ignore them.Indeed, for Abuja’s affluent and powerful men, it has become commonplace to place order for these women on the street or import them from other states and even from far-flung countries in the Caribbean and Asian countries. High-society social, political functions are incomplete without a harem of these shadowy women. The import of these is that the upsurge requires a holistic framework to be able to deal with this seemingly intractable scourge.

Although the focus is typically on the females, no heteroséxual próstitutes exist without willing male companions ready to pay the price for their services. Blamed for the resurgence of this social vice are the lack of job opportunities, the lack of education, and other socio-economic issues such as low self-esteem or psychosis. The flourishing religious centres have provided no succour either.
Since the menace is defying these stereotypes – for example, a former minister once confessed that our tertiary institutions were churning out more prostitutes than career-ready graduates — education and religion must be tweaked towards combating it. Parents, civil society and the traditional institutions should embrace family values and expose those who flaunt illicit wealth and inculcate the right ethos in the adolescents to discourage the evil act.

Most importantly, the government should provide jobs, encourage entrepreneurship and provide an enabling environment for the realisation of opportunities and sense of self-worth. Our young daughters and sisters must be discouraged from selling their bodies to filthy and immoral men who have nothing but money, HIV/AIDS and other venereal diseases to offer.

Panic In Abuja As Army, Police Prevent Mob From Burning Church

A joint effort by the Nigerian army and police earlier today prevented the attempted burning  of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nyanya area of the federal capital territory in Abuja.

Sources at the church told SaharaReporters that trouble started when a Hausa-speaking Muslim man in the area was prevented from parking his car too close to the church building. The measure was put in place as a way of preventing Islamist militants from attacking Christian places of worship on Sundays.

The man, however, resisted the police and soldiers guarding the church. An argument ensued leading to his arrest and humiliation by the security agents who told him to “frog-jump” in front of the church.

After his release by the police, the man reportedly went into the community to mobilize some people to attack the church and burn it down.

Panicked church members left the church leaving their cars behind.

However, a swift intervention by police and soldiers prevented the man and his mob from burning the church. The security agents then started shooting in the area leading more residents to flee the immediate vicinity of the crisis.

According to Saharareporters the man  arrested and tortured by the soldiers died after he was tortured. The  events following this was a protest by commercial bike riders in the area to protest his death at the hand of the soldiers guarding the  church.

There is still no official confirmation at to what really  transpired in Nyanya. All church members have been released from the  church to go home as shooting the area has died down.

Policeman Kills Colleague At A Bar In Ondo

A policeman in Ondo state has shot dead his close friend and colleague over a beer parlour argument.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kazeem Shehu, attached to the Ajagba Divisional Police Station in Ajagba town, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State eyewitnesses say shot his friend, a policeman attached to Yaba Divisional Police Station after an argument ensued between the two at a relaxation centre at Ejankole Street in Okerowo area, Ondo town at the weekend. The argument became hot, but all effort by others at the relaxation centre to call them to order was rebuffed.

It was gathered that after the hot argument, Shehu reportedly drew out a pistol which was hidden in his pocket and shot his friend at a close range.

The sound of the gunshot attracted others in the relaxation centre who rushed the victim to the state Specialist Hospital in Ondo town.

The suspect in an attempt to flee from the area was apprehended by those present at the relaxation joint, after he found out he might have killed his friend.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command Wole Ogodo confirmed the killing.

Ogodo said the suspect was in detention, and pointed out that investigation into incident was ongoing, adding that the suspect would face the full wrath of the law after investigation into the incident.

The corpse of the slain policeman had since been deposited at the morgue of the Ondo State Specialist Hospital.

1-year-old baby kills 35-centimetre-long snake

An encounter between a snake and a baby ended unexpectedly when the boy killed the reptile – by biting off its head.

The 1-year-old, named ImadGadir from Shfaram in northern Israel, found the 35-centimetre-long snake in his room Thursday morning and was chewing on it when his mother found him, the Ynetnewssite reported Friday.

Her horrified screams alerted a neighbour who rushed to the house and grabbed the remains of the snake from the boy’s hands.

“I guess the kid acted out of a childish instinct when he put the snake in his mouth,” Ynet quoted snake catcher Eli Cohen as saying. “Luckily for him, the coin snake isn’t poisonous; otherwise, it could have ended in a tragedy.”

The bite of a coin snake is not poisonous but can be dangerous to anyone allergic to it. The snake chokes its prey, Cohen said, adding that had it been larger, Imad could well have been strangled.

The infant sustained no injuries from his encounter but was taken to a hospital in Haifa for a medical check to be on the safe side.

Police Arrest Three For ‘Premature Burial’ Of 18-year-old

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested three persons at Oriokuta Community in Akoko South-east Local Government Area of the state for allegedly burying an 18-year-old boy, Sanmi Kehinde, who reportedly killed himself last week with his father’s gun.

Confirming the arrest, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the Ondo State Command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said the suspects were arrested because the family of the deceased did not make any attempt to report the suicide to the police before hurriedly burying him.

Ogodo said the police had commenced investigation to unravel the circumstance that could lead to the death of the teenager, adding that the police was still awaiting the autopsy report to progress on the investigation.

“Immediately the incident happened, neither the family nor the neighbours reported the case to the police before they went ahead to bury the deceased, that is why the police make some arrest on the incident.”

“When the boy killed himself, the police is supposed to be informed, so that the police would have visited that scene of the crime, and if the boy would be buried the order should come from the police.

“The post-mortem examination would be carried out because it is one of those things to be done. We should know whether it is true that the boy shot himself or not, if it is true that he shot himself, where is the gun? Why should they hurriedly buried him, that is why we are suspicious, and made the arrest,” he said.

The deceased was said to have climbed the ceiling to carry his father’s gun which was said to have been loaded with bullets in company of his friend identified as Bolu.

The people at the vicinity, it was gathered, heard a heavy gunshot immediately Bolu left the scene. But on rushing to the scene, they met Sanmi rolling in the pool of his own blood.

The family hurriedly buried the deceased without informing any of the security agencies shortly after the incident, prompting investigation into the true cause of his death.