Photos: South African Men Pose In High Heels

A South African Magzine, Blaque, some time ago published an issue entitled ‘Men in Heels: Understanding A (Wo)man Better’, that features men wearing women’s shoes in order to celebrate ‘Women’s month’.
Some anti-gáy groups call it a gay action but there is no indication that the men are actually homoséxual.
More pics below;

My Challenges As A Plus-Size Actress In Nollywood – Adaora Ukoh

Nollywood actress Adaora Ukoh shared her experience in Nollywood as a plus size actress with TheMagazineClub.com
Here’s what she said:
I got into Nollywood when it was still a dribbling toddler. And there was a time I actually did think that I was getting the right kind of growth and progression in the industry.
It seemed slow but I was grateful for the jobs I got and I gave them my very best shot
But then…I’m not sure what happened really, but it seemed I met a brick wall, or my career was a stalemate.
I grew from confused to angry to confused again to bitter to sad, and then to prayerful. I realised when the jobs came, they were tied to particular kind of roles that had to do with playing a mother, or an over-fed bitter sister-in-law, anything but the major and glamorous roles.
I’m not even going to pretend and say I shrugged it off. I tried to, yet it still hurts like an open sore.
I know we live in a skinny world, with skinny people taking all the cream. How we got there, I am not sure.
Let’s just say it’s a tough world for plus size people!
And in all of this, I have tried so many times to lose weight, just so I can ”fit in” (not sure what that means anymore) but I have come to realise that I am who I am; what would the world be like if we all had to be slim? Where is the variety of life if God created us all the same?
I was hungry for challenging roles as an actress, and a more focused career that is beefed up with endorsements and sort, just like anyone with proper ambition would think for themselves; and to be hampered because of the way-you-look…aaaah!
It just kills!
But anyway I have gradually grown beyond it, and the healing and complete acceptance of who I am continues despite it all.
Now I am focused on things that will succeed regardless of how big or skinny I am!

ASUU Gives Condition To End Strike

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, yesterday, gave conditions for the suspension of the six month old strike. Fagge who spoke on Channels Television, yesterday morning, said once government opens the bank account with N200 billion, requested by the union, the strike would be suspended.
“Once that is done, and the committee that is supposed to disburse the funds starts working, our members will have no reason not to suspend the strike action.
He asked: “Why won’t government make available this money so that we know the money is there and the universities commence drawing from this money to address the problem of decay in infrastructure, teaching and research facilities? When that is done, our members will suspend the strike.”
The ASUU president also dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the union had been split.
On suggestions in some government quarters that ASUU was being influenced by opposition parties, Dr. Fagge said “ASUU is a union of cerebral intellectuals”. He said the union is not influenced by religion, or ethnicity, saying however that members of the union are free to associate with any political party of their choice.
Meanwhile, the University of Calabar has announced that the university resumes today for academic activities and directed all students who did not finish their registration to do so immediately.
But Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Unical chapter, Dr. James Ekprinya has warned parents that the university is still on strike and that any one that releases his ward is doing that at his own peril.
In a press release by the Deputy Registrar, Academic division, Mr. Mike Monity, the university yesterday stated that, “Normal Academic/Allied activities will resume tomorrow, the December 4, 2013 at the University of Calabar.
Monity in a release said the resumption was the decision reached at an emergency meeting of senate held at the senate chambers of the Institution.
It further stated that “the decision is in compliance with the directive issued by the Minister of Education” and that details of the revised university calendar would be disclosed in due course.
It also advised students with pending activities like second semester registration, Final year and Post Graduate research projects to start immediately as the school works out time table for lectures.
The ASUU chairman, Dr. Ekpirinya said that the congress rose from its congress with “a strong resolve to continue the strike until the agreements are implemented to the letter.
“We did not close school, we will not re-open it. We warn parents that any one who decides to send his or her ward to school is doing so at his or her peril.”
In a similar move, University of Benin chapter of ASUU, yesterday, vowed to continue the current strike action and admonished President Goodluck Jonathan to embrace dialogue with the union rather than threats.
Meanwhile, no sign of resumption of academic activities at the university yesterday, despite the announcement by the university authorities Monday, calling on students and academic staff to resume duties.
Addressing journalists yesterday, chairman of the UNIBEN Chapter of the ASUU, Dr Anthony Monye-Emina who was recently involved in the accident that led to the death of Professor Iyayi, advised parents to inform their children to stay at home, insisting that the strike action will not be called off until the Federal Government implements the agreements.
According to him: “We want to advise parents not to send their children back to campus in the event of any announcement of resumption of classes by the university administration in line with the supervisory Minister’s directive. The union has not called off the strike. The President should continue on the path of honour to dialogue with the union as this is the only way to find an immediate and lasting solution to the crisis in the university system.”
The University of Agriculture Abeokuta chapter of ASUU has vowed not to be cowed by the sack threat by the Federal Government, warning its members against signing the register by the University.
Addressing newsmen, yesterday, at the COPLANT auditorium of the University, the chairperson for ASUU -UNAAB, Dr. Biodun Badmus said the Union would not resume as directed by the Federal Government.
Badmus who was flanked by some past leaders of the union in the university advised the Federal Government to implement the agreement made with the Union for the sake of the students in the country.
Speaking on the plans by the union against any member that signs the register, Dr. Badmus said that the union would not hesitate to discipline any member of the Union who signs back to work register.
He said “ Of course, even in the days of Jesus Christ there are Judases, it is envisaged and the union has its practices and code of conduct and there are laid down procedures to thrash out such areas should anybody sign back to work”.
While proffering solution to the problem, the Union leader said “the ball is in the court of the Federal Government, ASUU has not closed its doors to dialogue. We appeal to the Federal Government to do what is needful. “If any meeting should be called, the National officers of ASUU are ready to meet the government to resolve the issue on ground”.

Cashless policy: PoS transactions hit N127bn in 11 months

…As NIBSS terminals fall to 110,000

 By BLAISE UDUNZENigeria’s cashless policy initiative recorded impressive patronage in the banking industry as recent statistics show that transactions on Point of Sale terminals (PoS) in 7.4 million accounts hit a whopping N127 billion between January and November in 2013. During the period, the number of terminals registered with National Central Switch (NCS) being operated by Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the Payments Terminal Service Aggregator (PTSA) for the industry, stood at 157,000 while connected devices were 110,000.
The report, however, observed a reduction in the number of deployed terminals from 150,000 in August this year to 110,000 due to a harmonisation exercise embarked upon by banks and Payments Terminal Service Providers (PTSP).
This resulted in the removal of connected terminals that are not performing transactions for a long time.
NIBSS, in an effort to sanitise the e-payment space, directed banks that deployed PoS terminals at merchant locations to deactivate all terminals that are not used for transactions. These are terminals that are registered and deployed but have been idle for a long period of time.
The harmonisation, according to NIBSS, will help in providing accurate number of functional PoS as well as encourage owners to encourage merchants at whose location such terminals are deployed to start using them.
A breakdown in the report revealed that in the week of January 7 to 14, the volume of transactions on the 120,000 deployed PoS was 41,000, while in the week August 25 to 31, 2013, the volume of transactions increased to 200,000 representing 46 per cent increase on some 150,000 deployed terminals.
Meanwhile, in the week November 9 to 15, 2013, it increased to 260,000 representing 30 per cent growth.
It was also gathered that unlike the volume transactions that recorded 46 per cent, value of transactions within the period under review did not record much increase, as only 13 per cent was recorded.
The value of transactions in the period in January was N3 billion while in the last week of August, the value stood at N3.4 billion, with the value of transactions in the week of November adding only N200 million to achieve N3.6 billion.
So far, there have been concerted efforts by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other stakeholders in the industry to increase and strengthen the use of PoS as a means of payment. The apex bank recently commenced the implementation of the policy limiting third party cheque to N150,000.
The process of deploying a point of sale terminal requires the PTSPs to first register such terminals with PTSA for the industry, which is NIBSS, before such terminal will be deployed.
The essence of registration of terminal before deployment in the present arrangement is to ensure that the terminal commences transaction immediately it is deployed.

TRAGIC: Housemaid in Abuja Commits Suicide After Stealing Employer’s Money

A housemaid, Chika Ukoha, has committed suicide in Kubwa, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by swallowing a concentrated insecticide, popularly known as sniper.
The 17-year-old girl, who completed her secondary school education in 2012, was said to have taken the action following a verbal reprimand from her employer over some missing money.
Chika, who was described as a well-behaved girl, had been living with her employer for three years and was said to have passed her Senior Secondary Certificate Examination in flying colours before the tragedy.
A neighbour, Nwosu Oke, told PUNCH Metro on Monday that Chika’s employer, identified simply as Madam Oluchi, had spent a lot of money on the girl’s education and was planning to buy her a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination form to enable her go to the university before the incident.
On the fateful day, Oluchi was said to have accosted Chika over the missing money and had also threatened to cut her hair if she did not reveal where she kept it.
“Chika brought out part of the money which she hid inside the cushion chair. But her madam insisted that she must tell her what she did with the balance of the money. The girl said she gave it to somebody, but refused to disclose the name of the person, saying she would rather die than mention the person’s name,” Oke said.
According to him, Oluchi threatened to cut off Chika’s hair, but when the girl remained adamant, she (Oluchi) stepped out of the room to the back of the apartment. Chika, however, locked herself inside the apartment and swallowed the insecticide.
He said, “After reprimanding the girl for not disclosing the name of the person she gave the money to, Oluchi and her cousin, who was in Abuja for a job interview, continued talking at the back of the house. Later, they decided to check on Chika in the house. They found that she had locked the door. So they went to the front of the house and peeped through the window. They found her lying still on the bed.
“They raised the alarm, forced the net door open and rushed into the room. They also forced palm oil into her mouth in an attempt to mitigate the effect of the insecticide. A neighbour came and assisted them to take her to the General Hospital, Kubwa. She was still alive when she got to the hospital, but she later died.”
Another neighbour, who pleaded anonymity, said Chika was usually well behaved except for occasional exuberance associated with girls her of age.
It was gathered that Oluchi immediately reported the incident at the Divisional Police Station, Kubwa, where she was transferred to the FCT Police Command, where she had been detained.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel, confirmed the incident and said that investigation was ongoing. He added that Oluchi might be charged for murder if found culpable in the death of her housemaid.

Maureen Solomon, Nollywood Sultry Actress Flaunts Family. (Photos)

Nollywood actress Maureen Solomon who has been off the screen for quite some time now showcased her cute kids and husband in new photos. When asked if she is ever coming back to nollywood, the sultry actress said yes…she will comeback to nollywood but right now, she is busy concentrating on her family. Lovely family!
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Boko Haram: 24-hour Curfew Imposed On Borno

Military authorities and the Borno State government, Monday slammed 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri following an attempt by Boko Haram sect to overrun the troubled state capital.
A statement by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, stated: “The Borno State Government in consultation with the GOC 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Obidah Ethan, has decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and environs starting from 11 am today Monday, 2nd December, 2013.
“The imposition of the curfew is necessitated by an attack in Maiduguri by people suspected to be Boko Haram members in the early hours of today.
“During the period of the curfew, Borno State Government pleads with all citizens to remain calm and law abiding until the situation is brought under control as the security agencies will do everything possible to maintain lives and property of the citizenry.
“Only vehicles on emergency call and essential services are allowed to move during the period. The curfew would be lifted as soon as the situation improves.”
Insurgents, numbering over 200, attacked the Maiduguri Airport, the air force base, the trailer park and many other places in the western part of the state that lead to Maiduguri from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The attack forced the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to shut down the Maiduguri International Airport and Arik Air to cancel its Abuja to Maiduguri morning flight Monday, just as several other roads leading into the city were closed.
Giving further details on the attacks, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Col. Muhammad Dole, said: “In the early hours of Monday, December 2, 2013, Boko Haram terrorists attempted to gain access to our locations in Maiduguri metropolis.
“However, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army have successfully repelled the insurgents and inflicted serious casualties on them.
“The situation around Jimtilo and Maiduguri Airport general area are calm and under control.”
He further said: “Our troops supported by the Nigerian Air Force are presently pursuing the terrorists towards the Maiduguri-Benisheikh Road. Members of the general public are requested to remain calm and comply with the 24-hour curfew imposed by the Borno State Government. The curfew will be reviewed periodically as the situation improves.”
In its statement, DHQ also confirmed that deadly attacks were carried out by the suspected members of Boko Haram sect against various military locations in Maiduguri, including the NAF base.
DHQ said the coordinated attacks, which took members of the Armed Forces by surprise, were successfully repelled, leaving two military personnel and 24 terrorists dead.
According to the statement issued yesterday by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the situation had been normalised and flights to Maiduuguri, which were temporarily suspended resumed yesterday.
“Nigerian security forces today repelled a pre-dawn attack on Maiduguri by suspected terrorists,” Olukolade said.
He disclosed that three decommissioned military aircraft as well as two helicopters were incapacitated in the course of the attack
He said: “Military locations such as the Nigerian Air Force base and some Nigerian Army locations in Maiduguri were targeted during the attacks.
“Two air force personnel were also wounded while 24 insurgents died during the exchange of fire.”
The Defence spokesman said security forces went in pursuit of the terrorists in the Djemtillo general area along the Maiduguri/Banishek axis.
He added that movement in Maiduguri and environs had been restricted.
“Citizens are enjoined to report any of the fleeing insurgents, most of whom can be identified with gunshot wounds whenever they are sighted.
“Meanwhile, normal flights operations to and from the Maiduguri Airport which were earlier temporarily disrupted have resumed,” he said.

Pastor Chris Okotie: “All Catholics Will Go To Hell”

I came across this report and I was stunned at the statement made by a supposed man of God.
I’m not a judge on such cases so I will just drop it how I saw it.
According to the source, Pastor Chris Okotie Of Household of God Church took some time while preaching in his church to condemn the Catholics, their beliefs and their leader, the Pope. He said;
“All Catholics in the world will go to hell because they worship Satan and are led by an Anti-Christ Pope who is a friend to the devil.
They are not Christians and have never been. They don’t know Jesus. They believe that when they eat bread on Sundays, they are eating the body of Jesus. It’s ritual.
The pope is an Anti-Christ and the Catholic church will soon declare for Satan. This is the end of times..
“They don’t believe in heaven. They believe in purgatory, the purgatory that they invented,” Okotie said.
“That church, the Catholic church has been there for Satan and at the right time, they will declare for Satan,” Okotie said.

ASUU LATEST: Presidency Blasts ASUU

The Federal Government said at the weekend that its decision to sack the striking lecturers was informed by the stance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to get its demand in one fell swoop.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told reporters in Abuja that it was wrong “for a party to a dispute to come to the table with an “all or none” mentality”.
Okupe regretted that ASUU leadership has remained recalcitrant,  despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s strenous commitment to the resolution of the crisis which he said informed his involvement in the last meeting with the striking lecturers, even as the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) slammed the government for threatening the lecturers with sack.
“In our present case, coming to negotiations as ASUU has done with this mindset, betrays a lack of understanding on the part of the body’s leadership that the nation and the government are a continuum.
“Having said that, Nigerians expected that the direct involvement of President Goodluck Jonathan who sat for 13 hours in the meeting was the high mark of the crisis, which ought to have provided the final resolution to the crisis.
“The meeting with President Jonathan ended with a definite agreement and resolutions acceptable to the ASUU leadership.
“The leadership of ASUU was expected to consult with its members nationwide and report back to government within one week, and call off the strike, all other things being equal.
“The ASUU leadership rather than take its responsibility seriously, wasted seven days before scheduling a meeting. When the meeting eventually held the leadership decided to thwart and undemocratically override the expressed will of majority of its chapters to call off the strike. This action is contrary to established practice and procedure of any democratic labour institution, which ASUU is expected to be.
“The ASUU leadership refused to accede to the wishes of 42 of its 61 chapters nationwide, who voted in favour of the agreement with the President and the calling off of the strike; but in a surprise volte face presented government again with a new set of demands and considerations outside the terms agreed at the presidential intervention.
“This is why we make bold to state that there is absolutely nothing dictatorial, draconian or undemocratic in the order by the Federal Government for striking lecturers to return to work or face dismissal.  You may wish to recall that on August 5, 1981, Ronald Reagan then American President, sacked 11, 345 Air Traffic Controllers after a two-day . Reagan took the decision after the striking workers turned down an 11 per cent wage increase he had offered them. Here in Nigeria, our labour laws contain sufficient provisions that give the right to hire and fire to the employer.

Peter Okoye: Why Will My Brother Be Against My Marriage?

Since the day Peter Okoye got married to Lola Omotayo, his elder brother, Jude Okoye has not said anything about the union, either directly or indirectly.
He had time to tweet about younger artistes and even wish one of them “Happy Birthday” on twitter, but no word from him to Peter and his wife, Lola.
Anyway, Peter Okoye has come to the defence of his brother. Below is what he said:
“I saw some of those reports and was full of laughter. Everybody is just laughing because the reports are like comedy to us. Honestly, there is no iota of truth in the rumour. But it’s one of the prices you pay as a celebrity, so I remain focused.”
It would be recalled that the same Jude Okoye was not even present at their wedding.

Genevieve Nnaji Joins Celebs With Gold-plated iPhones

The star actress showed off her new acquisition on her instagram page.

I’m Ready, If Any Man Wants to Marry Me –– Actess Collette Orji

Beautiful actress, Collette Orji is learning from the experience of older actresses who are finding it difficult to get a man to marry in their mid and late 30s. She wants to get married now that she’s young so that she wont join those who are now looking for young boys to marry and claim that ‘age is just a number’.

I was told that once a lady’s mind is at rest or she is happy, especially when she’s experiencing love, her looks are transformed. So are you in love?
I will agree with you that love brings true happiness but I am not yet in love. If you are expecting to hear from me that I’ve found love you are joking. (Laughter) For my side I no see love at all. I have so much love to share but I have not seen who to shower my love on. I am a very romantic person so I am still looking for love.
You are not telling me the truth. Are you saying with all this your beauty men are not chasing you?
Sincerely, there is no man in my life presently. You may not believe it but that’s just the truth or do you have someone who is ready to give me genuine love?
We can understand that husbands are scarce but are you also saying that boyfriend are scarce too? I refuse to accept that from a beautiful lady like you. Or is it that you have been so brokenhearted you’ve chosen to stay off men?
Please Nkechi, don’t put words into my mouth. I am not in any relationship right now I’m still looking for love.

Toke Makinwa & Gbemi O, Billy Ocean At The Corporate Elite Event

It was the 7th edition of the Corporate Elite event and it held, Sunday 1st December 2013 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Attendance was strictly by invitation, and the show featured Billy Ocean, Dru Hill, Joe, Maxi Priest, Shabbaranks, Awilologomba, Mafikizolo, Kool & Gang and Tevin Campbell.
See more pics

 

Billy Ocean performing

Actresses Kate Henshaw & Chioma Akpotha Without Makeup

We all love our beautiful actresses and sometimes, we would like to see them without the makeup they are usually rock when in public.

So when actresses Kate Henshaw and Chioma Akpotha were spotted looking fresh faced and makeup-free, fans eagerly wanted to take a look.
What do you think?

Woman spends days in police cell with N.85m stolen gold necklace in private part

By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
Like a scene from  a vulgar drama,  26-year-old   Tessy Emorvon, who allegedly stole a gold necklace shocked operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos State Police Command, when she suddenly dipped her fingers into her vagina and produced the N850,000 necklace after several days in detention in another police station.
She was re-arrested by detectives at SARS, Ikeja when the owner of the gold necklace, Cosmos alerted them that she had been granted bail.
Trouble started when Cosmos,her boyfriend, realized that the gold necklace that he wore while having sex  with her was missing. He raised the alarm and the occupants of the hotel, including Tessy, were arrested. They were all searched and the gold chain was not found. Not satisfied with their claim that they were not aware of where the gold chain was kept, Cosmos quickly alerted the police at Area F, Ikeja.
At the police station, Tessy insisted that she knew nothing about the stolen gold necklace. Having been detained  for two days, she was granted bail while investigation continued.
Still not satisfied, Cosmos quickly reported the matter again at SARS, Ikeja and she was picked up as soon as she was granted bail at Area F, Ikeja.  The officer in-charge of the department, SP Abba Kyari ordered his men to take her in for the normal process of interrogation. Terrified that she could be treated like an armed robber, Tessy quickly confessed and agreed to produce the golden necklace from where she had kept it.
The policemen however got the shock of their lives when she started undressing. Embarrassed, the officers asked if she had lost her senses and Tessy insisted that she was trying to bring out the necklace. She dipped her fingers inside her vagina and pulled out a piece of cotton wool soaked with blood. Inside it  was the stolen necklace. She also confessed how she smuggled out the pendant undetected.
Meanwhile, Cosmos said  he had strong feelings that the gold necklace was with Tessy as she had  threatened severally that she would disappear with it.
“I have heard so much of the exploits of SARS, Ikeja, so I quickly rushed to the office and filed a fresh report when I learnt that they wanted to release her. Actually, she drugged me, before taking the necklace,” Cosmos said.
At the police station, Tessy who claimed to be a whore confessed that she felt that the safest place to hide the stolen gold necklace was  her vagina.
She  said: “This man is very stingy and hardly pays well at the end of a hot sex session with him. He is actually my boyfriend and I have dated him for more than a year. Most of the time, he will have sex with me and go home giving excuses why he would not give me a kobo. I always let it go because I knew that at the end of the day, I would make money from other customers. Since he is the only one that I normally had sex with  without condom, I was enjoying the relationship.
“Few days before the incident, he came with a gold necklace and told me that it was worth N850, 000. I felt bad that a man who can afford to buy a necklace that’s worth that much could not give his girlfriend money for maintenance.  The next day, he came with another necklace and  at that point I made up my mind that I would steal it. He slept a lot after sex, so it was easy for me to take the necklace and hide it. Naturally, I knew that they will strip me in an attempt to find the necklace, so I had no choice but to hide it in the safest place in my body. My vagina.”
According to Tessy, “ It was when the argument started that she got to know that Cosmos is a married man with children.  “His brother suddenly surfaced and accused him of abandoning his wife who is a nursing mother at home. I was so disappointed because, he had promised to marry me. He claimed that the gold necklace was his property and that it was worth N850, 000. It was then that I decided to steal it. I knew that no matter how bad it turns, so long as the gold necklace will not be found, I would be very rich at the end of the day.
Continuing her tale, Tessy said: “I was so happy when the police at Area F agreed to release me on bail and I was already making plans as to what to do with the money.  We were on our way home when some mean looking men re-arrested us . I was shattered,because I knew that my game was up. I tried to be strong but when they took me in for interrogation, I had no choice but to tell the truth on time. No criminal should pray to be taken to that place, because you will surely confess no matter how long.”
On how she managed to keep the necklace in her vagina for days unharmed, Tessy said: “In the business of prostitution, your vagina is the safest place to hide things especially money. We encounter all sizes, therefore your body adjusts easily.  When I stole  the necklace, I folded it in a cotton wool before I inserted it into my vagina. I couldn’t push the pendant completely inside but I managed the pains till I got to the police station. They all felt that I had kept it in the house or given it out”.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Briade said that the suspect confessed to the crime and pulled the necklace out from her vagina, adding, “Investigation in the matter is ongoing.”

Why I’m still in PDP –Gov Aliyu

From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna
Three days after five governors of the G-7 defected to All Progressives Congress, (APC), Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, a strong member of the group, has explained why he is still in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Aliyu who doubles as the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) spoke in Kaduna yesterday when he presided at the public presentation of a book on girl child education in Northern Nigeria, written by Dr. Asma’u Sani Maikudi, a management staff of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna. Represented by his deputy, Hon. Musa Ahmed Ibeto, Governor Aliyu said: “You are aware of what I said the last time I came here. There is a process in place and that process is the discussion with President Goodluck Jonathan, unless that discussion is concluded we cannot say anything, I am still in the PDP.”
Speaking on girl-child education, the Governor lamented that it has been documented that in a typical Northern school, there is only one girl to every six boys.
He noted with dismay that some cultural practices and the misinterpretation of religious tenets in relation to girl-child education have contributed in worsening the situation. “It was on that basis that the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) resolved that girl-child education should be the cornerstone of our various education transformation programmes,” the governor said.
Earlier in her remarks, the author of the book titled, “Girl Child Education in Northern Nigeri,” Dr. Maikudi said she was inspired to write the book to serve as a medium of enlightenment to parents who deny female children education.
“I am a benefactor of western education. Therefore, I want parents to know that education is the best they can give to their children, especially female children. By so doing, they will help the girl-child and she will be empowered to help her family,” she said.

Supplementary election: APGA sweeps Nnewi South

From DAVID ONWUCHEKWA, Nnewi
Despite efforts by the Labour Party candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah to stop the supplementary governorship election in Anambra State yesterday through a court injunction, the poll held nontheless.
In Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled 26 votes; PDP and LP had three and two votes, respectively. There were two invalid votes at 003 polling unit located at Community Central School Ward 01.
At Unubi, still in Nnewi South, APGA polled 30 votes; PDP scored eight votes, while LP and APC had two and three votes, respectively at the polling unit 014 located at Boys’ Secondary School, Unubi. The other contending parties scored zero throughout.
At the polling units monitored by our reporter, APGA, PDP, LP, APC, PPN and other parties had their polling agents on ground. It was also observed that voters turned out early for the election in most of the units monitored. However, the turnout of voters was not quite impressive.
Commenting on the election, the former Nnewi South Council Chairman, Hon Okwu Epuechi commended the effort of INEC in delivering election materials early, describing the election as very peaceful. He, however, regretted that “only 40 per cent of the total registered voters participated because of the Afor market day.”
According to the co-ordinator of APGA continuity in Nnewi South, Mr. Ekemezie Dalu Jude, the success recorded by APGA was not a surprise package. It was his view that “the party deserves it as Governor Peter Obi has performed very well in office and his successor must come from the APGA.

nPDP fattens APC, as PDP shrinks

By Chidi Obineche
The Phoenix
In the run-up to the commencement of political hostilities in 1998, three major parties emerged on the scene – All Peoples Party (APP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There were no ideological persuasions in their formations. People just banded together to take their chances as the military retreated to the barracks. In the beginni                                                                                     ng, there was nothing to suggest that the PDP would grow overnight to become a behemoth. Tension, disagreements, disenchantment and desertion reared  their  ugly heads early in its odyssey. The AD metamorphosed from this grave misunderstanding, when some leaders of the PDP led by the late Chief Bola Ige opted out to form the AD. At the time, there was a rash of criss -crossing across the three parties as the politicians sought for nesting, positioning and relevance.
Former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme was the interim leader and had an illustrious following of associates within the fold. A huge number of them came from the second republic National Party of Nigeria, NPN, and commanded heavy influence within. Calculations were wrought and Ekwueme dumped the interim leadership for the presidential slot of the party. He failed to take cognizance of the lurking, interloping military overlords, who were keen and determined to regiment the process and enthrone their lackeys. Against all calculations and predictions, they hijacked the party from outside and foisted former military leader Gen Olusegun Obasanjo on the party using tendentious military, Machiavellian tactics, and carrot and stick approach made popular in the preceding years by General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd).
Ekwueme was defeated in the national convention of the party held in Jos in early 1999. The emergence of Obasanjo as the presidential candidate of the party signalled the first major face-off within the party, as he immediately sidelined most of Ekwueme’s henchmen in planning campaigns and major decisions. Opposition within the party grew in leaps and bounds. The late Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Wada Nas, Chief Onyeabor Obi, among others took up the gauntlet as opposition mounted against Obasanjo and the PDP. Obasanjo and the PDP nonetheless coasted to victory in the April 21, presidential elections, won 21 governorship seats across the states, and an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly. The total control of all power levers did not bring much comfort and stability to the party, as it slipped into more ferocious crises at all levels. Obasanjo’s courage, lack of inclusiveness in his decisions, and independent mind created ripples and internal opposition. 16 state chapters of the party were embroiled in crises. Contrary to popular expectations that Okadigbo was to become the senate president, the table was overturned and the late Evan Enwerem emerged. His choice of Abubakar Atiku as against tested Northern politicians like Rimi  and Adamu Ciroma as running mate pitched the northern oligarchy against him.
Political groups and associations flourished within the party and struggled to wrest power from Obasanjo, who though without any discernible structure, managed to stay afloat.
An exasperated Nas described the former president in late 2000, as “power drunk, whose politics and regime will  ultimately lead to the implosion of the party”.
Onyeabor made allusions to a man “who is eating a food he did not know how and when it was prepared, and since he has  no sense of history of the party will definitely destroy it”,.
Barely one year in power, the word “implosion” sneaked into the political lexicon and was banded about with great relish. The long wait for the implosion began as the  party rocked from one crisis to the other. So many were the crises, ahead of the 2003 presidential primaries of the party, that there were heightened fears of a possible military intervention. Democratic dividends and developments took the back seat as the battle to seize control of the party raged on all fronts. Inspite of these sombre pictures, peace moves for reconciliation continued unabated as the party held on to power till date.
Playing hamlet without the prince
The PDP under unrelenting convulsions over the years had managed to rule in utmost instability. No major party  had emerged to give it a strong run, a situation  former nationalist, and first republic minister of aviation Chief Mbazulike  Amaechi sees as “the lack of challenge which has made it to be docile and self-serving.
“The fact that it survives every crisis in its way has made it too over confident and relaxed, believing that it will overcome whatever comes its way. This belief is entrenched and that is why the leaders are hardly moved. Infact sometimes they look for the trouble themselves”.
Somehow, the latest crisis which led to the formation of the New PDP by some aggrieved governors and leaders  and the lack lustre manner in which it is being managed may become the first real major test for the party. The pioneer chairman of the Lagos chapter of the party, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, admits that the party’s bad day has come.
Bashorun, who is now in APC, told Sunday Sun that “Every dog has its day. PDP’s luck cannot drag forever. Yes, they have survived many upheavals, but the magnitude of this one is nothing compared to previous ones. Again, you have to look at the nature and character of the person in power as president.
How weak is he? How acceptable is he to  all segments of the country? How knowledgeable and skilled in politics is he? Who are his henchmen? What are the dynamics for the next election?” A professor of political science and former minister of information, Sam Oyovbaire posits that the sociology of Nigeria must be taken into consideration when analysing the outcome of the 2015 elections
“First, there has been an unnecessary hype and exaggeration of the possibility of two major parties. We have failed to take into consideration what I call the sociology of the Nigerian political process in the sense of the fragmentation of interest and the ethnicisation or regionalisation of the overall landscape”.
He continues “Though it is the ideal, nothing dramatic has happened in the sociology of the political landscape of the country that would throw up such a development”.
Death for PDP
The general excitement of  the merger of the new PDP with the All Progressives Congress, APC, signposts the death, through weakening, of the PDP. So much is this belief that supporters of the APC and cronies of the merging rump from PDP are already basking in euphoria and dreaming of outright victory in 2015. The timing of the mergers, including the coming together of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Congress for Progressive Change,CPC, and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, is instructive.
It came two years ahead  of the elections, giving enough room for stability and planning. Previous mergers and alliances in Nigeria’s history were usually snapped-up in a hurry just months before a major election.
For Akwa-Ibom state Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum,Chief Godswill Akpabio, the merger is a welcome development. Indeed, he had called on them to leave the party before they eventually did.
His cold warning to them is that ‘you will lose your followers. They may not be ready to go with you. We leaders always exaggerate our importance believing that our followers will always follow us to any where without question”.
But the Director of Press and Publications to Adamawa state Governor ,Murtala Nyako, Sajoh Ahmed has a different rationale for their action. “This party, PDP will die and we will help in burying it”.
Oyovbaire however contends that the PDP should immediately retool itself before the elections, otherwise it will face serious challenges.
But while the excitement is in the air, there are niggling posers on the fate of PDP. These posers include issues like the capacity of APC to wrest power as it is not imbued with common enrobing manifestoes or ideology.
The central objective of all the people in the party is to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from winning the 2015 elections.
Nothing more. Having failed in stopping him in PDP, through surreptitious control of the party machinery, their sights are set on 2015. And if that fails, that is the end as you will see most of them crawl back to the party.
For the APC, Oyovbaire cautions that it must go beyond being a platform for election only, and plan to be a serious political party with long term objectives.” The battle for the control of the political space has just begun. The party with more vision, guts, and poise will emerge victorious at the end of the day.

ACC holds roundtable Dec. 4

The Anti Counterfeiting Collaboration (ACC) is set to hold its fifth round table on Thursday, December 5, at the Four Points by Sheraton by 8:30 am. And the theme for this year’s edition is: Fostering Investment By Ensuring Protection of IP Rights & Making the IPCOM Bill A Reality.
According to the Chairman of ACC, Teemac Omatsola Iseli: “ACC Roundtable 2013 is organized in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA). The main objectives of the ACC is to promote Intellectual Property Law reform in Nigeria and to ensure that legislation is updated such that it comparable to international legislation thereby providing greater protection for intellectual property rights.”
He also stated that one of the agreed points of action highlighted in a communique issued at the close of the ACC/INTA Roundtable last year was that a committee be set up to work on the passage of the IPCOM Bill into law.
Expected to grace the event are members of the National Assembly, regulatory agencies, brand owners and IP practitioners.

Pope’s call for power devolution, reforms

The recent call by the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, for devolution of power in the Church from the Vatican could not have come at a better time than now that the world is witnessing rapid political, socio-economic, cultural and religious changes. Pope Francis, in a mission statement for his papacy on Tuesday, said that some of the church’s historical customs could even be cast aside if they no longer serve to communicate the faith. The Pontiff, who harped on the need for the church to embrace change, said there could be moderation in norms “so as to not burden the lives of the faithful.”
The 85-page document entitled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) outlined how the Catholic Church and the papacy itself must be reformed to create a more missionary and merciful church that seeks out the poor and the oppressed. The Pope’s references to various documents from bishops’ conferences from around the world, in the mission statement,    indicate the importance he attaches to giving local churches greater say in church governance and decision-making.
The Pontiff, in the document, said he was open to suggestions on changes in the power of the papacy, and explained his most controversial remarks criticizing the church’s “obsession” with transmitting a disjointed set of moral doctrines. He stressed that in the church’s “hierarchy of truths,” mercy is paramount, proportion is necessary and that what counts is inviting the faithful in.
Francis, who cited Vatican II documents calling for a more decentralized church authority, said that he, too, must rethink the papacy to achieve the goals of spreading the faith. He made it clear that the church’s opposition to abortion is a non-negotiable doctrine that is at the core of the church’s insistence on the dignity of every human being. The Pontiff chastised Catholic priests for their complacency, gave them guidelines on how to prepare more interesting homilies and clearly stated that confession should not be “torture.” He also urged Catholics to get out of their sacristies, get involved in the lives of their faithful and not be defeatist.
While he ruled out women’s ordination, the Pope seeks a greater role for women in decision-making in the church. He also said that the faithful ought not to think that just because priests preside over Mass, they are more important than the people who make up the church itself.
We welcome the Pontiff’s move to devolve power from the centre in the church and introduce reforms to guide the institution and its faithful in the 21st Century. There is no doubt that the Catholic Church is long overdue for change. The ultra-conservatism of the Church is driving many faithful, especially the youths, away from the church to newer churches in practically all parts of the world. The number of the clergy is also decreasing due to low enrolment of prospective priests into the seminaries, especially in Europe and America. The celibacy of the Catholic priesthood is a disincentive to potential priests. Non-ordination of women priests in the Church also alienates many females from the fold. The church is also burdened with the problematic issues of homosexualism, divorce, abortion, contraception, lesbianism and abortion. These are some of the grey areas the Pontiff and the church should consider in this move to reform the church. The church in modern times must shed its orthodoxy and embrace change to reflect the modern times we live in. We commend the Pope for coming out with the proposal for liberalization and change in the world’s largest church. Since change is the only constancy in life, the Catholic Church must not stand against the winds of change.
In Africa, the church is also faced with lots of socio-cultural challenges including polygamy, native customs, modes of worship and insistence on the use of names of saints for baptism and confirmation. The Catholic Church in Africa should be in tune with Africa’s cultural sensibilities, norms and values. The best in these cultures should be preserved alongside the creed of the faith.
We enjoin Catholic faithful to be supportive of the changes being canvassed by the Pontiff. The church must also curb the excesses of some of its clergy. The important thing is for the church to take the gospel message to the people rather than sticking to its orthodoxy. There is no doubt that there is need for reforms in the Church. But in carrying out the reforms, the essence of Catholicism should not be sacrificed.