Paris - President Goodluck Jonathan has said
that the crisis rocking the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) notwithstanding, it
remains a party to beat in the country.
The President made the disclosure on Saturday in
Paris in an interview he granted to the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and France 24 Radio.
The President granted the interview shortly before
departing Paris to Abuja at the close of a two-day
summit on peace and security in Africa, hosted by
President Francois Hollande of France.
Jonathan was reacting to the recent defection of
some of the seven aggrieved governors of the
PDP to the opposition All Progressive Congress
(APC).
He said that while the party would continue to
pursue the paths of reconciliation, the move by
the governors would not hamper the success of
the PDP in future elections.
"We want those governors to come back to PDP,
but in an event where some of them feel it is
better outside, they can also go and try.
"We will work harder to make sure that we get
more supporters so that at the end of the day,
that equilibrium will be maintained.
"But I still believe that in Nigeria today, PDP is
still the party to beat.
"As they are leaving the ruling party to the
opposition, there are other key political actors
who are ready to come to PDP.
"At the appropriate time, we will also receive
them."
The President said that "the game of politics is
dynamic and a governor elected by the people
must not see himself as a king who can lord
himself over the electorate.
"I was elected by Nigerians and I will not say
because I am the President of Nigeria now, 100
per cent of Nigerians are for me and when I am
moving to the left or right I will be moving with the
whole 100 per cent.
"When you are moving you should know that you
are an individual, not all your supporters will want
to move with you.
"They are not your employees, therefore, some of
your supporters might stay."
Jonathan hinted that "in some cases, the deputy
governors in the states are saying they are not
ready to move.
"It will be an interesting thing, and I have said that
let us see how it will play out.
"However, in politics any party will want
everybody in its camp and in PDP we want
everybody."
The President clarified that not all the seven
aggrieved governors have moved to the
opposition party.
He said they have some grievances with the
party and some of them said they were going to
leave.
"But so far, two have openly declared that they
are not leaving the party and we are talking to
them.
"Out of the remaining five, two appears that they
have actually moved to the other political parties,
while some are still on the fence.
"I believe in a couples of weeks, it will not be too
long. it will be very clear whether they are leaving
or not.’’
The seven aggrieved governors are Sule Lamido
(Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rotimi Amaechi
(Rivers) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
Others are Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Gov.
Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Gov. Aliyu
Wamakko (Sokoto).
Lamido and Aliyu had openly declared that they
were not part of the announced merger of the
group with the APC.
Sunday 8 December 2013
PDP remains the party to beat, says Jonathan
Rodgers: Suarez is priceless
Liverpool - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers
says that he will never put a price on Luis
Suarez's head as he never wants to see the
striker leave the club.
Suarez scored his 14th Premier League goal this
season as Liverpool beat West Ham United 4-1 at
Anfield on Saturday.
It was the fourth time in a row that the Reds had
scored four goals at home and Suarez was again
one of the shining lights.
"I don't think you can put a price on him and I
wouldn't want to," Rodgers said of a player who at
one point seemed destined for pastures new
during the close season.
"He has two and a half years here left on his
contract and if you look at his consistency and
how he is playing, at this moment in time, he is up
there with the best players in the world.
"Most teams in the world would want Luis
Suarez. I wouldn't swap Suarez for anyone. I get
the chance to work with him every day and what
he gives is a relentless desire.
"When you have that, you don't want to let him
go. It has been a real privilege to work with him. It
hasn't always been smooth sailing. He is a very
humble man. Beneath it all, he is a real good guy
who is a true professional.
"His will and desire oversteps the mark
sometimes, but he is a brilliant player to have."
Guy Demel turned into his own goal before half-
time to give Liverpool the lead before France
international Mamadou Sakho scored his first goal
for the Reds just after the break.
Martin Skrtel then gifted West Ham a lifeline when
he inadvertently sent the ball past team-mate
Simon Mignolet and into the Liverpool goal as he
tried to cut out a clearance.
But Suarez scored with nine minutes to go with a
powerful header before dispatching a shot that
Joey O'Brien deflected in for another own goal,
thereby securing victory.
Liverpool had some tough moments in the game
when West Ham clogged up the midfield, but they
were deserving winners, with Philippe Coutinho's
creative play and Suarez's threat complemented
by Joe Allen's intelligence in midfield.
The win moved Liverpool up to second place in
the Premier League, but there was concern after
captain Steven Gerrard was forced off in the
second half with a hamstring injury.
"I think we just need to assess Steven's injury,"
Rodgers said. "Hopefully it is just a strain."
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce bemoaned
Kevin Nolan's late dismissal for a nasty challenge
on Jordan Henderson, having earlier seen Stewart
Downing forced off by injury at half-time.
"Kevin Nolan shouldn't have lost his cool, but he
did, and Stewart Downing is in hospital having his
Achilles and calf stitched up from a nasty
challenge from (Jon) Flanagan," he said.
The east London club are now only above the
relegation zone on goal difference, but Allardyce
does not believe they deserved should a heavy
defeat.
"I think it was a harsh scoreline," he said. "I think
we showed in the first half that we didn't deserve
to be 1-0 down.
"Suarez scores the third and it shows you how
ruthless this league is when you miss
opportunities. When you play Liverpool, your
opportunities are going to be limited."
President tips Super Eagles for victory in Brazil 2014
Paris - President Goodluck Jonathan has said
that the Super Eagles will have a victorious outing
in the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil.
Jonathan was reacting to the group draw for the
preliminary stages of the World Cup tournament
held in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil on Friday night.
Nigeria emerged in Group F with Argentina, Iran
and Bosnia.
"We are quite hopeful that Nigeria will do very
well.
"We have won the Olympic gold in soccer before,
we have won under-17 thrice and we have been
doing quite well in the U-22.
"So, I believe and the world knows that Nigeria is
a football nation even though we have not had the
opportunity or luck of winning the World Cup,’’ he
said.
Jonathan added that the team will perform well,
particularly at the preliminary stage of the
tournament.
"Within the zone that Nigeria will play, Argentina is
a strong soccer nation but, Nigeria is also
strong,’’ he said.
Friday 6 December 2013
Nigeria declares days of mourning for Madiba
Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan has
declared three days of national mourning
following the death of Nelson Mandela, South
Africa’s first democratically-elected president.
The revered former statesman and ant-apartheid
activist passed away on Wednesday evening at
his Johannesburg home aged 95.
He had been critically ill for some time.
"President Jonathan has declared 3 days of
national mourning for former South African
President, Nelson Mandela who passed away
yesterday," stated the presidential special
assistant on new media, Reno Omokri.
He said the national flags would be flown at half
mast during the period.
“Flags are to be flown at half-mast across
Nigeria during the period. President Jonathan
urges Nigerians to unite in solidarity with South
Africa,” said Omokri.
"The President also calls for special prayers in
mosques and churches in Nigeria during the
period of mourning which begins today, for the
peaceful repose of Dr Mandela’s soul."
The president had earlier expressed immense
sadness over the death of the former South
African President.
In a condolence message to President Jacob
Zuma, President Jonathan conveyed the
sympathy and solidarity of the Federal
Government and people of Nigeria to him and all
South Africans.
He added that Mandela served as a source of
inspiration to the oppressed peoples all over the
world and will always be remembered and
honoured by all mankind.
It was reported South Africa would declare ten
days of mourning for the late statesman.
Mandela: Flag at half mast in South African High Commision
Abuja - The South African flag was at half mast
on Friday at the High Commission of South Africa,
as hundreds of people mourn the death freedom
fighter, Nelson Mandela.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria,
who visited the high commission reports that a
condolence register was opened at noon. The high
commission was located at 71 Usuma St.,
Maitama, Abuja,
NAN reports that hundreds of people, including
members of non-governmental organisations,
queued to sign the register.
In a condolence message, Dr Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma, the African Union Commission
Chairperson, described Mandela, the first black
South African President, as a symbol of pan-
africanism.
The condolence message was made available to
newsmen at the high commission.
"Mandela has fought a good fight and bowed out
with great reverence. His passing on is a great
loss to his family, our continent and indeed to
humanity. At this time of sorrow, our hearts are
with his widow, Graca Machel, his ex-wife, Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela, his children, grand and
great-grandchildren and the people of South
Africa and Africa. Tata Madiba Mandela will
forever be missed,“ she said.
She urged Africa to continually honour Mandela.
NAN reports that the revered statesman and
Nobel Peace Prize winner died peacefully in his
home in Houghton in northern Johannesburg
before 9p.m. on Thursday.
President Jacob Zuma announced his passing to
the nation and the world.Mandela was born on
July 18, 1918. He was an anti-apartheid
revolutionist, a politician and philanthropist.
He served as President of South Africa from 1994
to 1999, and was the first South African president
to emerge through a fully representative election.
7 die in Philippine store fire
Davao - Seven store employees were killed in the
southern Philippines when a paint shop burned
down while they were sleeping inside, the
provincial police chief said on Friday.
The fatalities - three men and four women - died
when the Palomares Paint Store in the rural town
of Manay in Mindanao island caught fire late on
Thursday, said Senior Superintendent Jose
Carumba.
"The victims were stay-in storekeepers and
helpers. All of them were burned beyond
recognition when found," he said.
The bodies were found still in their beds,
indicating the fire spread quickly due to the paint
and other flammable materials in the store,
Carumba added.
Police are eyeing faulty wiring as the cause of the
fire, he added.
It is common in the Philippines for people with
low-paying jobs to "stay-in" or sleep in their
place of work.
This has led to tragedies including a fire in a
department store in the southern Philippines in
May 2012, which killed 17 employees sleeping
inside.
Hit show tells tough truths about Nigerian wealth
Lagos - With its tales of infidelity, backstabbing
and money-grabbing, "Lekki Wives" has become
one of the most talked-about television
programmes in Nigeria.
But the edgy portrayal of life in one of Lagos'
newest suburbs is far from imagined -- and a
sharp turn for an entertainment industry long
shaped by outlandish plots and, at times,
supernatural storylines.
Instead, the series dives straight into key issues
facing the country, notably "the ills of what people
do for money", said its creator Blessing Egbe.
She wanted to show how Nigeria's so-called
economic boom has brought untold riches to a
lucky few but left life unchanged for most.
"We have pushed the envelope," she told AFP.
"We didn't try to be nice about it."
And the scripts push the limits in this largely
conservative, God-fearing country, as one where
a character seeks a partner to indulge his need
for sado-masochistic sex.
Smoke and mirrors
With Africa's biggest population and largest oil
industry, Nigeria has averaged more than seven
percent economic growth over the last decade,
among the highest rates in the world.
But poverty has worsened since 2004, the
government conceded last year. And while the
middle class has expanded, a good part of the
wealth is concentrated at the very top.
The show's tension is driven by such nuances --
how all is not what it seems: a tiny minority have
gotten rich quickly but many are just faking
wealth. Destitution largely remains the norm.
Egbe said her plotlines were "99 percent" inspired
by real stories of people craving to be seen as
elite, even if the show -- whose title was inspired
by the US hit "Desperate Housewives" -- is
highly stylised. Characters deliver monologues
straight to the camera and performances could
not unfairly be described as over-the-top.
Public reaction has been largely positive and the
next season, currently being edited, will be even
bolder than the first.
"I hope I don't get chased out after season two,"
Egbe said.
Like a visa to America
A blue tollgate spanning a six-lane expressway
marks the entrance to the real Lekki, one of
Lagos' fastest-growing and most-coveted
neighbourhoods.
Banks, hotels, shopping centres and mega-
churches line the well-paved roadway. Many of
the buildings are under construction and others
look brand new.
The expressway's exits lead to gated
communities, partly filled with US-style suburban
homes.
Rents in Lagos's posh neighbourhoods have long
been astronomical and Lekki is no exception: a
studio apartment can cost $24,000 (18,000 euros)
per year, with payment due in full up front.
Egbe, a 37-year-old mother of three, moved eight
years ago to Lekki, a community she says is full
of people "who will do anything just to be seen,
just to be looked upon as wealthy".
But the pretence does not always hold up.
"You see a big mansion and you go in there and
maybe there is no electricity, empty rooms, or
maybe the living room is so well-furnished and
when you go into the rest of the house there is
nothing. It is not real," she said.
Blogger Chigo Compere, who has written about
the show, said that for some Nigerians, a Lekki
address is "not quite a visa to America" but
considered a decent consolation prize.
She recounted a widely shared story about a man
who supposedly cannot afford to live in Lekki but
has chosen to sleep there in his used Range
Rover, parking it in a different location every night
to avoid notice.
"Not everyone in Lekki is crazy" and parts of the
show are embellished, said Compere, but she
calls it a much-needed departure in a domestic
industry which can be "very conservative".
Huge demand
Cast member Kiki Omeilli, 29, who plays the bed-
hopping Lovette, said Nigerian film and television
creators tend to "shy away" from basic realities
about society.
"Even if everybody knows what is going on,
nobody wants to put it out there," said Omeilli,
admitting it's Lovette's extra-marital antics that
allow the character to maintain a luxurious
lifestyle.
As for the show's popularity, the actress said she
is constantly stopped on the street.
"People used to recognise me from past
productions but nothing like this," she added.
Egbe, herself, is "shocked" by the broad appeal of
season one, which was first broadcast online in
April, then on DVD.
When it caught fire, satellite television provider
DSTV took notice and began broadcasting an
episode each week.
"I thought I was feeding the upper class but I
ended up feeding everybody," said Egbe of the
appeal, which cuts across socio-economic
groups.
The ramshackle DVD shop run by 29-year-old
Uchenna Theelar in Lagos' Obalende market is a
good example. Demand for the "Lekki Wives" has
been overwhelming and she has been sold out for
three months.
"People are still asking me for it," she said.
fifa 2014 world cup Final Draw reveals intriguing groups
Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia will make
up the proverbial ‘group of death’ at the 20th FIFA
World Cup™, while Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa
Rica will comprise another intriguing pool.
Germany, Ghana, USA and Portugal will make up
Group G, while hosts Brazil have Croatia Mexico and
Cameroon for company in Group A,
Colombia, Greece, Côte d'Ivoire and Japan, along with
Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras and France, appear to
be in wide-open sections.
The Final Draw took place at the luxurious Costa do
Sauípe in Salvador. It was conducted by FIFA
Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, assisted by Cafu,
Fabio Cannavaro, Alcides Ghiggia, Fernando Hierro,
Sir Geoff Hurst, Mario Kempes, Lothar Matthaus and
Zinedine Zidane, who were representing the eight
World Cup winners.
Brazil and Croatia will participate in the opening match
at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on 12 June
2014. Germany, meanwhile, will become the first team
to reach 100 World Cup matches when they face
Portugal five days later.
The Final will unfold at the cathedral of Brazilian
football, the iconic Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, on 13
July.
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Côte d’Ivoire, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
Wednesday 4 December 2013
Wonders shall never end, group ask court to recognise chimps as humans
NEW YORK (AFP) – Walking, talking chimpanzees
may be TV comedy gold but now three courts in
New York are being asked to recognize four chimps
as “legal persons” with fundamental rights.
The move would allow the animals to be released
into sanctuaries where they could live out the
reminder of their days in freedom, says the
Nonhuman Rights Project behind the initiative.
On Monday it petitioned a court in Fulton County
Court, New York State, in the name of Tommy, a
chimpanzee held captive in a cage at a used trailer
lot in nearby Gloversville.
On Tuesday it did the same for Kiko, a 26-year-old
chimpanzee who is deaf and living in a private
home in Niagara Falls.
The group will Thursday lodge a similar petition on
behalf of Hercules and Leo, who are owned by a
research center and used in locomotion
experiments on Long Island.
“The lawsuits ask the judge to grant the
chimpanzees the right to bodily liberty and to order
that they be moved to a sanctuary,” the organization
said in a statement.
There the animals can live out their days in an
environment as close to the wild as is possible in
North America, it added.
The challenge is based on the principle of habeas
corpus, which the petitioners said was used in New
York and allowed slaves to challenge their status
and establish their right to freedom.
Under habeas corpus, a person being held captive
can petition a judge to have the captors explain why
they think they have the right to hold that person.
“Our legal petitions and memoranda, along with
affidavits from some of the world’s most respected
scientists, lay out a clear case as to why these
cognitively complex, autonomous beings have the
basic legal right to not be imprisoned,” the
statement added.
The courts can decide whether or not to take up the
petitions but if they refuse the organization has the
right of appeal.
The Nonhuman Rights Project works to change the
common law status of at least some animals to
“persons” who possess fundamental rights such as
bodily integrity and bodily liberty.
The organization’s web site features what it calls
bios of the four chimps at the center of the lawsuit.
It said that the day its investigators visited the
chimp named Tommy, the temperature in the shed
was about 40 degrees below what it would be in his
native land.
“The only company he had was a TV that was left
on for him at the other side of the shed,” the
organization said.
As for the one called Kiko, the Nonhuman Rights
Project said he is partially or totally deaf because of
abuse he suffered while on the set of a Tarzan
movie before being acquired by the current owners.
“He suffers from an inner ear condition that
requires him to take anti-motion sickness
medication from time to time especially during
changes in barometric pressure,” the group’s web
site says.
President goodluck Jonathan to leave abuja for france
President Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja
tonight for Germany en-route to Paris, France
where he is scheduled to participate in the Summit
on Peace and Security in Africa.
About fifty heads of state and government are
expected to participate in the Elysee Palace Summit
which will be hosted by President Francois Hollande
of France.
The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki
Moon, heads of European institutions and leaders of
Africa’s sub-regional and continental organizations
such as the African Union and ECOWAS will also
participate in the summit which has economic
partnerships, sustainable development and climate
change on its agenda as well.
President Jonathan will be accompanied by the First
Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, relevant ministers
and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dasuki (rtd.).
He will stop-over in Germany for a private visit on
his way to Paris and return to Abuja at the
conclusion of the summit on Saturday.
Unilag, LASU lecturers say they will not resume work
Lagos - Lagos State University
(LASU) branch of ASUU, on
Tuesday said its members would
not resume duty unless so directed
by its national chapter.
The Chairman of the branch, Dr
Idris Adekunle, announced this at a
news conference in Lagos on
Tuesday.
Adekunle said the LASU branch of
ASUU had resolved to continue
with the indefinite strike.
He said that members had also
resolved not to sign any register if
the university’s management
decided to open any.
“The Congress unanimously
resolves that if for any reason the
management opens any register,
no member of ASUU shall sign
such.”
“ASUU, particularly LASU chapter,
is as solid as ever and will not be
moved by any threat.”
“We are not having serious
problems with the management
because we have been educating
them on the developments,” he
said.
Adekunle said that the lecturers
had also resolved not to attend the
academic meeting called by the
Governing Council of LASU.
“ASUU LASU resolves that no
member shall attend the meeting
called by the LASU Governing
Council because we are still on
strike,” he said.
On the reopening of some
universities, the chairman said it
was “mere propaganda” as they
were not closed in the first
instance.
“University gates have never been
closed since the strike started
because research work and
community service have been
going on.”
“We have been working, but only
suspended the teaching aspect, we
still do our research and
community service,” he said.
The ASUU chairman said although
the lecturers had not been paid for
months, they were joyfully going
on with the strike because it was a
community service in the interest of
the nation.
Adekunle said that the threat by the
government to sack lecturers “was
an empty one, as the philosophy of
ASUU is “Sack one, sack all and an
injury to one is an injury to all.”
According to him, although the
directive by the Federal
Government is to federal
universities, state universities are
in support of their members in the
federal institutions and are not
backing out.
“Our rank and file do not
discriminate between state and
federal universities because we are
one,” he said.
He urged the State Government to
reduce school fees and make the
institution affordable for the
common man.
Meanwhile, two students who were
seen on the campus said they were
there to do other things and there
was no circular on when the school
would resume.
The Acting Director, Information,
Press and Public Relations Unit of
LASU, Dr Sola Fosudo, had told
NAN on Monday that the
management would have to meet
to decide on the issue.
“The decision of the management
would be relayed to the public as
soon as the meeting is held”, he
had said.
At the University of Lagos, there
was no sign of lecturers ready to
resume work.
NAN reports that apart from a few
fresh students who were carrying
out their registration, there was no
trace of academic activities.
Most of the lecturers’ offices and
the lecture theatres were locked.
Business activities on campus
remained low as there were no
customers to patronise the various
operators.
NAN also reports that there were
no registers for the lecturers to sign
on the campus.
Dr Olubunmi Ajibade, Senior
Lecturer, Mass Communication
Department, said that there would
be no academic activities come
Dec. 4, in the institution.
He said that the lecturers could not
be forced into carrying out services
against their wishes, going by the
federal government’s directive.
“As far as lecturers in Unilag are
concerned, the strike continues
until government does the needful,”
he said.
Dr Samuel Ugo, of the Political
Science Department of the
institution, said lecturers would
work with the directive issued by
the National Executive Committee
of ASUU.
Ugo noted that the universities had
been open all through the strike but
that the lecturers had withdrawn
their services.
He said that it was a
misconception for people to say
that the universities were closed.
“Students have been directed by
NEC to also steer away from
classes,” Ugo said.
The Federal Government had
directed Vice Chancellors to reopen
federal universities and that those
who did no resume by December 4,
automatically ceased to be
employees of the institutions.
The deadline had now been shifted
to December 9.
ASUU had, however, vowed to
continue with its five month old
strike.
- NAN
Tecno launches latest Phantom
Lagos - Tecno Mobile has
launched the latest addition to its
popular Phantom series of phones-
Phantom A111 - into the local
market.
Through such products, the
Jordan-based company said it was
hoping to intensify its smartphone
penetration and market share
expansion in Nigeria with the new
phone.
Speaking at the launch of the phone
in Lagos, Arif Chowdhury, Vice
President, Tecno Group, said that
the device was designed with a
passion to give everybody access
to innovation.
He explained that the new addition
is part of Tecno’s unwavering effort
in expanding its offering which can
be seen in the superior and
innovative phone.
The Phantom AIII smartphone is an
upgraded version of the TECNO
Phantom
A+. It has a sleeker body and bigger
screen than that of its A
+predecessor, it comes with 6.0”
captivating HD touch screen, 4.2
android operating system. It has
3.75g network capability, with 1.5
GHz quad core processor.
It is equipped with memory
capacity of 16 GB RAM, 13 MP rear
camera and 8 MP front camera.
The smartphone also has social
media application like Facebook,
Whatsapp and Palmchat.
Meanwhile, Chowdhury announced
a new collaboration with
BlackBerry, which allows
customers to purchase Tecno
devices, pre-loaded with the
famous BBM application.
Also speaking at the launch,
Boukali Mounir, Digital Marketing
and Public Relations Manager West
Africa at Tecno, said the Phantom
AIII came with free monthly 500
MB free data for 12 months from
Etisalat.
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Burna boy was part of a gang that stabbed some one to death?
I did a double take after reading this
report on Thenet.ng. According to
the investigative news portal, singer
Burna Boy was part of a gang that
stabbed someone to death in the
UK in 2010. See it below...
Burn Boy’s ‘uncontrollable’
mannerism and persona didn’t
just start yesterday; NET
investigations and sources
have linked him to a criminal
past, a period of his life he
would rather not make public
knowledge.
We are told on good authority
that while in the UK back in
2010, Burna Boy was arrested
by London Police for allegedly
being part of a gang and
stabbing someone to death.
He was tried as a minor and
sent to jail.
After 11 months, he was
released and given two
months parole plus
community service on the
grounds of being of ‘good
behaviour’. But Burna is said
to have disobeyed authorities
and travelled back to Nigeria
where he signed a record deal
with Aristokrat.
He later travelled back to the
UK but was arrested at the
airport and deported to
Nigeria. He is currently barred
from the UK for the next 15
years.
Oh wait, or did they say he was the
one who stabbed someone to
death? Oh dear..
Ann njenanze on older husband issue.
In a recent interview with
Leadership Newspaper, actress Ann
Njemanze admitted being older
than her new husband, Silver
Ojieson. Ann and Silver got married
on Saturday Nov. 9th after courting
for several months.
"Yes he is (younger), with a
few years. My husband and I
do not share up to 5 years
difference and he is not
bothered about it." Ann said in
the interview
She also talked about how they met
and how he proposed. Find that
after the cut...
How did you meet your husband?
My husband, Silver Ijieson is a
lecturer. I met him at a lecture
organized by the University of
Lagos some 3 years back. Dr.
Barclays Oyakeruma was supposed
to give a lecture that day titled,
‘Nollywood and its effect on
globalization’. My colleagues who
were at the lecture encouraged me
to come back and further my
studies, I gave the excuse of no
time. But Dr Oyakeruma urged me
to enroll so as to broaden my
knowledge. So a senior colleague of
mine, Martins Odaji introduced me
to my husband and we exchanged
pleasantries and he said that if I
needed help with my studies, I
should not fail to call on him. A
year later we met at the point of
registering for my program.
When did he propose?
He proposed to me early this year;
he just said he was going to marry
me. I took it for granted, like he was
just joking about it. I never saw the
possibility because then he did not
know much about me. I thought he
just saw a woman he could
exchange a lot of ideas with. He
proposed to me properly seven
months later, he gave me a ring. He
was shaking all over like a leaf. He
is light complexioned, so as he was
proposing, he was all read. I love
him so much because he is very
courageous.
Has he ever been married before?
No, he’s never been married, no
way. This is his last marriage in
Jesus name. He is the only son of
his parents too from Edo State.
Do you regret your first marriage?
Regret it? My daughter is taller and
finer than I am. She is the headgirl
of her school. In less than 2 weeks,
she is going for a photo shoot. At
16, she has started earning money.
She is writing for a magazine and
you ask if I regret it? I thank him
(Segun Arinze)!! Without him I
would not have met my Silver.
Are you not afraid that your
marriage might crash again?
No! I reject it. We have our
differences, just like other couples
do, but it is not enough to say, we
no do again. Before we got married,
we told ourselves that divorce and
separation are no option.
US Rubee fans caused earthquake
Fans cheered a touchdown by
Seattle Seahawks defensive end
Michael Bennett (left) during a game
on Monday
A celebration by football fans in the
US city of Seattle grew so loud on
Monday evening it registered as a
minor earthquake, a research group
has said.
Raucous fans jumped up and down
during an early first-quarter
touchdown in the game between the
Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans
Saints.
The Pacific Northwest Seismic
Network detected the vibrations,
measuring between a magnitude 1
and 2 earthquake.
The Seahawks won the game at
CenturyLink Field 34-7.
Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
director John Vidale told CNN his
staff recorded five separate seismic
events during the game.
It was not the first time fan
celebrations shook Seattle. In 2011,
the response to another US football
touchdown registered at nearby
seismic recording stations.
CenturyLink Field, which is open to
the air, also set a Guinness World
Record for noise in September.
Brazil grounds to miss fiffa deadline
Three stadiums being built for the
2014 World Cup in Brazil will not be
ready for the deadline of the end of
the year, according to Fifa.
Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Curitba's
Arena da Baixada and Sao Paulo's
Arena Corinthians stadium are all set
to to miss the 31 December date.
Two workmen were killed in an
accident in Sao Paulo last month.
"We're feeling sad for the families.
Sao Paulo will be ready for the
opening match," president Sepp
Blatter said.
"We deplore the loss of the two
people who lost their lives."
Blatter added that the issues with the
stadiums are "so small we can close
our eyes".
The 43,000-seater Arena Pantanal,
where a plan for a retractable roof
has been abandoned, and the 41,000
Arena da Baixada are also behind
schedule.
But Fifa general secretary Jerome
Valcke says they will all be ready by
February.
Valcke said: "We don't know when
the green light [to resume work] will
be given [in Sao Paolo].
"We are not in a crisis mood, looking
at an alternative to Sao Paulo but
Curitiba is facing the most problems
and clearly won't be delivered before
February 2014.
"The people from Curitiba attended a
meeting [on Monday] and promised
to organise themselves to get the
stadium ready by the end of February
2014."
The draw for next year's tournament,
which starts on 12 June in Sao
Paolo, takes place on Friday.
Americans see US in decline
majority of Americans say the US
plays a less important and powerful
role in the world than it did a decade
ago.
The Pew survey also found that 70%
of Americans saw the US as less
respected than in the past, nearly the
same (71%) as under President
George W Bush.
More than half of Americans (52%) -
for the first time in 50 years - said
the US should "mind its own
business".
Some 56% disapproved of President
Barack Obama's foreign policy.
Fifty-three percent of the public felt
the US played a less important or
powerful role as a world leader than
a decade previously. The last time
more than half of the public held that
view was in 1974.
A decade ago, just 20% of Americans
felt the same way.
International disengagement
In Tuesday's survey, only 17% of
Americans said the US had a more
important or powerful role in world
affairs than 10 years ago.
Republicans were more likely to view
the US as having declined in
influence - 74% of them thought so.
But 55% of independents said the
same thing, up from 23% in 2004.
The survey also showed support for
a less active US in world affairs.
Some 51% of respondents said the
US does "too much" to solve world
problems.
Fifty-three percent of Republicans,
46% of Democrats and 55% of
independents said the US should
mind its own business.
The public also thought the US
should be less engaged
internationally.
A plurality of respondents (39%)
believed the US should be less
involved in seeking to resolve the
Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Some 36% thought Washington's
current level of engagement in that
issue was enough.
But the survey did not suggest an
entirely isolationist outlook was
taking hold among Americans.
US support for more participation in
the global economy has increased, it
found.
Some 77% said the growing trade
and business ties between the US
and other countries was a good
thing.
However, there was a mistaken belief
among many that China is the
world's top economic power - 48% of
respondents thought so. Just 31%
correctly said it was the US.
America's gross domestic product is
nearly twice that of China, according
to World Bank data, although the
gap between the two has been
closing.
President Obama's foreign policy
was approved of by only 34% of
respondents in the Pew survey.
The public overwhelmingly viewed
dimly his handling of Syria, Iran,
China and Afghanistan. Only on
terrorism did more respondents
approve (51%) than disapprove of
his approach.
While Islamic extremist groups such
as al-Qaeda were still considered
the top threat by survey respondents,
70% ranked cyber-attacks from other
countries as a major threat, placing
them on par with concerns about
Iran and North Korean's nuclear
programmes.
The survey of the general public was
conducted between 30 October and 6
November among 2,003 adults, said
Pew Research Center.
Americans see US in decline survey
