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Tag: Goodluck Jonathan

  • Praying for President Jonathan

    Praying for President Jonathan

    National President Church of Christ In  Nations (COCIN) Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, with the President Goodluck Jonathan during the First Sunday Church Service in the New Year at the Church of Christ In Nations in Abuja Sunday

    National President Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, with the President Goodluck Jonathan during the First Sunday Church Service in the New Year at the Church of Christ In Nations in Abuja Sunday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.
    National President Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri, with the President Goodluck Jonathan during the First Sunday Church Service in the New Year at the Church of Christ In Nations in Abuja Sunday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

    . PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

  • Rising political tension in Nigeria is normal, says Jonathan

    Rising political tension in Nigeria is normal, says Jonathan

    *Says US also recorded noisy political scenerio
    *Nigerian must overcome Boko Haram, Jonathan insisted
    President Goodluck Jonathan has maintained that there is nothing abnormal with the rising political noisy environment in the country.
    Speaking at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Area1, Abuja, where he observed his first Sunday Service of the year, he said that such noisy political environment goes with democracy.
    He pointed out that the United States of America with many years of democratic governance not quite long ago also had its own noisy political tension during its elections.
    Stressing that there is no cause for alarm, he said that his administration will continue to take steps to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.
    He said: “I’m not going to read a speech because I avoid making speeches this time around so that I will not be misinterpreted. We are quite please to be with you today. We have enjoyed your approach to worship. Let me again thank the new incoming President, Rev. Datiri for the sermon.”
    “I will not bore you, but let me reassure you again that myself and those who have been elected this period, that the political environment are always noisy all over the world. There is nowhere you won’t hear so much noise.”
    “Even the United States of America, not long ago, the country was almost shut down. For so many months people were worried that the country that has practiced democracy for so many years could get to that situation. But that is politics for you.”
    “But let me reassure you that we will continue to work harder to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians. …..anything you start, there is always a time. If you want to build a single storey building, it must take you some time to build. We are building one small mini private banquet for the President in the State House…. with a great company like Julius Berger what we thought will take six months is getting two years.” He added
    He assured the congregation that his administration is fully committed to tackling the challenges facing it.
    Specifically speaking on the act of terrorism in the northern part of the country, he insisted that the Islamic sec, Boko Haram will be overcome and will soon be a history in Nigeria.
    Jonathan said: “We are particularly committed to know where our challenges are, especially in some parts of the north, we are quite pleased with the measures from the outgoing President and the measures of the incoming President concerning Boko Haram,… we sympathize with those who have been affected by the executions.”
    “Boko Haram is temporary, Boko Haram will surely go. A number of countries are facing similar challenges and some have been able to overcome it and surely we will overcome Boko Haram. Life in the north must change; development must go to all parts of this country.”
    Maintaining that nobody or group can hold Nigeria to ransom, he said: “We will collectively liberate this country from the hands of any evil person, so that we can leave behind a Nigeria that our children and grandchildren will be proud of.”
    Delivering Pastoral Greetings to the congregation, the new President of COCIN, Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri noted that the church has suffered greatly from Boko Haram attacks in its branches in the North East.
    He however commended the President for declaring State of Emergency in the three northern states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, which he said has checked the activities of the insurgents.
    Datiri also commended the President for being able to ensure constant supply of petroleum products in the country in the past two years and the recently called off strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as he hoped that 2014 will be strike-free.
    “Your transformation agenda is loveable and commendable. You are always in church and God will never forget you. When a leader puts the things of God first, all other things shall be added unto him.” He said
    Noting that the storms towards the 2015 election are man-made, he prayed that they will soon be over and that no evil plan will succeed in Nigeria.
    “COCIN is ever thankful to God for giving you to Nigeria, COCIN members despite political affiliations will support you.” He added
    In his sermon titled ‘Usefulness’, he said that no individual can claim to be know the will of God without first being useful or fruitful or productive.
    Taking the congregation through 2nd Timothy 2: 14-26, Ephesians 2: 10, 2nd Corinthians 9:8, 2nd Timothy 3: 17, he said that there are some milestones to be scaled before a believer can be useful to God.
    The milestones, he said, included doctrinal integrity, moral purity, spiritual maturity and personal geniality.
    The Minister of Water Resource, Sarah Ochekpe took the first reading from the 2nd Timothy 2: 14-26.
    Among those who attended the service yesterday are the President’s mother, Eunice Jonathan, President’s Chief of Staff, Mike Ogiadhome, Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade, and Minister of State (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide.
  • PDP crisis: Presidency, Tukur’s loyalists finger South-South governor

    PDP crisis: Presidency, Tukur’s loyalists finger South-South governor

    A pro-Jonathan Southsouth governor is in trouble with the presidency over the Tukur-must-go campaign rocking the party.

    Some forces in the presidency and loyalists of the Nationa Chairman of the PDP Mahmud Tukur have identified the governor as the brain behind the anti-Tukur’s campaign and are rooting for him to be sanctioned.

    The situation has sparked a cold war between the governor and one of his colleagues who is also die-hard loyalist of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But it was learnt last night that some PDP governors and leaders were trying to build a consensus on retaining Tukur.

    It was gathered that the governor had been under watch for some time now to establish precisely the camp he belonged to in the crisis tearing the party into bits.

    It was learnt that some loyalists of the president and Tukur had stumbled on some documents on why a change must be effected in the party the authorship of which they traced to him.

    It was gathered that some forces in the presidency were shocked that the governor could work against the interest of the National Leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan.

    A top source said: “We thought the anti-Tukur’s project was dead with the defection of five governors to APC only to be faced with the antics of some PDP governors who are obviously acting a script to hijack the party for their presidential ambition.

    “These few PDP governors are behind the present anti-Tukur’s plot. And it is unfortunate that security reports have implicated a South-South governor as the brainchild.

    “This is why they make a mountain out of a mole hill of the forthcoming NEC meeting. These few governors however cannot succeed because it looks impracticable and strategically defective to change PDP leadership in what I may call an “election” year.

    Sources alleged a hidden agenda to cause confusion in the party, ease out Tukur and stop President Jonathan from securing a second term ticket.

    The situation in the party now is such that two South-South governors are not on talking terms over agitation for Tukur’s removal.

    One source said that while there are a few others supporting the Tukur-Must-Go campaign, they cannot go far and expressed surprise at the ‘overnight ambition’ for the presidency by some people. “These are the elements magnifying the crisis in the party for selfish reasons,” the source said.

    It was also gathered that the need to build consensus among PDP governors and leaders on Tukur’s retention partly informed the shift of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party from January 16.

    A source said: “We are already trying to build consensus among governors and party leaders on why Tukur must remain in office in the larger interest of the party’s success in 2015.

    Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Idris Wada (Kogi), and the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, were named as the arrow heads of the campaign to retain Tukur.

    Party leaders are hopeful of agreeing on some key issues such that the exit of Tukur will not be on the agenda.

    Another source said the retention of Tukur might be based on some concessions from the presidency and the party leadership.

    The source said: “For instance, if Tukur remains in office, he cannot be talking of transformation or rigid nomination process for 2015 poll. The PDP National Chairman has already started the concession process when he went to the National Assembly and offered automatic tickets to those performing very well and those intending to defect.

    “The concessions will be such that the party would be united and its electoral chances unhurt.”

    “NWC members must learn to put the interests of the party first by abiding by the provisions of the party’s constitution.”

  • Elechi’s short-lived borrowed robes

    Elechi’s short-lived borrowed robes

    ON December 27, Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State was widely reported by many newspapers to have condemned President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed national conference. Everyone was befuddled. Obviously pleasantly surprised, the Southeast zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) was quick to hail and endorse the governor’s position, which they described as courageous and wise. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform the Democratic Republic of Congo-trained economist was elected, was, however, quick to deplore Mr Elechi’s uncharacteristic deprecation of the confab. It turned out the governor’s critics were all mistaken and unduly hasty.

    Going by what was attributed to the governor on that controversial Friday in December, it is not surprising that a huge fireball of controversy followed it. He had said, “The National conference to me is a big joke, waste of time and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan. I’m skeptical about it. It will not achieve anything. The constitution gives the National Assembly the power to makes laws and the referendum cannot override the deliberations of the National Assembly. The best was the colloquium by former President Obasanjo in 2005. There, all segments of national life talked and took far-reaching decisions. I will still consult my people, but if at the end they decide to participate, I will not stop anybody but I will distance myself and be an on-looker.”

    Three days after this alleged denunciation of the national conference, Mr Elechi published a denial in Nigeria’s leading dailies. In it he claimed he was misquoted, as they often say in these parts, for mischievous reasons, and that the attribution to him amounted to ‘wicked distortions.’ He claimed that what he really said was that it would be a huge joke to campaign for zonal representation of delegates to the conference on account of the existing 36-state structure supported by the constitution. He also added that he merely referred to the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo 2005 confab to draw the attention of the new confab to existing work on the issue.

    It is hard to tell where the mistake came from, if indeed it really was. If the misrepresentation came from reporters, it was an unpardonable blunder. If, however, the governor misspoke, surely reporters who knew him well, and were conversant with his antecedents, should have reported his remarks guardedly. How could they dress a governor who is an unrepentant conservative and pro-presidency politician in borrowed, progressives robe? The newspapers should have contextualised their reports with facts suggesting that Mr Elechi’s purported statements were shocking and uncharacteristic, especially considering how in his about seven years in office he never for once made a controversial statement, nor did anything unusual worth anyone taking the trouble of remembering. They should have underscored their stories by drawing readers’ attention to the fact that the governor, in words and actions, always detested publicity of any kind, whether positive or negative.

    Except he was in a state of suspended animation, Mr Elechi could never make a statement that would challenge his party, not to talk of the president. And except everyone is mistaken, Mr Elechi will now retreat deeper into the self-imposed obscurity he had been enamoured of since he assumed office in 2007.

  • Jonathan: We cannot lose terror war

    Jonathan: We cannot lose terror war

    THE fight against terrorism is one Nigeria cannot afford to lose, President Goodluck Jonathan stated yesterday.

    The president spoke at the combined passing out parade of Cadet Officers comprising Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs) and Inspectors at the Police Academy in Wudil Kano.

    Not less than 677 cadets graduated from the Academy.

    Jonathan reassured that the federal government will continue to support all security agencies in the war against insurgency.

    He charged the combined graduating cadet officers to use the techniques acquired during the 19- month course to reposition the act of fighting crime and terrorism.

    He promised that the federal government will continue to support the efforts of the various security agencies in tackling the lingering security challenges in the country, pointing out that the government is determined to promote and ensure a combat-ready Police Force.

    Addressing the graduating officers, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, tasked them to translate the lessons into action.

    ‘’Our mission and vision is to promote a combat- ready Police Force that will tackle the daunting security challenges confronting the nation,’’ he stressed.

    The Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, commended the foresight of President Goodluck Jonathan in upgrading the Academy to a degree -awarding university which engages in research aimed at renewing strategies in combating crime.

  • 2015: Chime endorses Jonathan

    2015: Chime endorses Jonathan

    ENUGU State Governor, Sullivan Chime, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election in 2015.

    Chime, who spoke before a large crowd of people at the Okpara Square, yesterday, said the president needs not campaign if he intends to contest in 2015.

    Chime was speaking on behalf of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 4th inauguration of elected local government council chairmen in the state.

    “He (Jonathan) should go to other states to campaign. Enugu state is intact for him. Any time he declares interest to contest let him rest assured that Enugu is already won by him,” he told the cheering crowd.

    While emphasising that there is no opposition in Enugu, the governor told other political parties to forget about contesting any election in the state because the state is 100 percent PDP.

    Chime pointed at the just- concluded council poll in the state where the PDP won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats.

    Already, posters of the president for 2015 election were adorning the streets of Enugu as at yesterday.

    While congratulating the 17 council chairmen, he enjoined them to learn how to embark on projects while advising them to adopt the bottom to top approach in embarking on projects.

     

    Chime said: “Do not embark on selfish projects. Start meaningful projects which if uncompleted before the end of your tenure, your successors would complete them.”

    Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani as well as members of the National Assembly from the state except Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, attended the event

     

  • 2014: Year of decision

    2014: Year of decision

    There is hardly any Nigerian who does not believe that 2014 is perhaps the most fateful year in their country’s history. It is not only the 2015 elections that will be decided by this year’s events, the country’s very existence, its peace, development, unity and stability also seem almost certain to be hinged on the political and social dynamics of 2014. But it is not certain that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is as clear in their minds just how portentous the year is as the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to show with their desperate political re-engineering designed to pip the ruling party to the post in the next polls. By its attitude and methods, the ruling party gives the impression that what needs to change is not how it has governed the country since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, but simply how it can retain power, assured that it is too big to fail, too inclusive to be pigeonholed, and too long in power to be dethroned.

    On the other hand, and like the rest of the country, the APC appears to think that the ruling party’s methods have so undermined democracy, impoverished the people and stoked the fire of sectarian, ethnic and class revolts that the country seems assuredly headed for the precipice. It believes that the PDP suffers from intellectual paralysis and lacks the hunger to remould and redefine the country away from the mediocrity and stultification of the past years. I fear they may be right. My fear is worsened both by the low calibre of ministers President Goodluck Jonathan has assembled and the manner the president himself has subjected the presidency to unyielding policy inertness and lack of vision and innovation. If the APC should win the elections in 2015, there is a sense in which both the party and the rest of us expect radical changes that would permeate the entire body politic. But if the PDP should retain power, there is a sense in which they would see it as an endorsement of their jaded methods and sterile ideas.

    Clearly, whichever fork in the road we take will have monumental repercussions on the future and destiny of the country. Indeed, given the paralysis and retrogression of the past 14 years, it is shocking to still hear some enlightened commentators argue for continuity. I am convinced that the age of active or passive neutrality has long passed. At the risk of being labelled partisan, I am today advocating drastic and urgent change with all the fibre in my being. The PDP has outlived its usefulness; it is time to try the APC. But here is the dilemma we must confront. The PDP is no longer able to govern; can the APC get its act together to win office, and if it does, will the process of winning leave the party with a substantially sound party structure and a reasonably coherent ideological rampart to satisfy national expectations?

    I think 2014 will offer the PDP enough chance to demonstrate just how incapable it has become in governing, and enough room for the APC to prove that the process of cobbling a platform or a rainbow coalition together does not deprive it of the sound structure a party needs to win as a political party, and the rudimentary ideology it also needs to prepare a concise, practical and unique roadmap out of the hell the ruling party has driven the country into. The PDP needs little effort in reinforcing its infamous ways. The harder task lies with the APC, which has surprisingly managed to assemble under one roof what may pass as the most fractious, most disparate and probably the most cantankerous political leaders and followers Nigeria has ever seen. The party’s leaders must resist the temptation to see this observation as unduly harsh – for even their PDP opponents bank on the party’s centrifugal forces to manifest dramatically as the elections draw near – but as a challenge they desperately need to confront boldly and overcome with all the innovativeness, resilience and diplomacy nature endows.

    As every rainbow coalition knows from experience, and as the fractiousness in the states is already showing, the APC won’t find its task of unifying rebels from other political parties easy at all. What is even worse is that rather than embrace and project a brilliant ideology indispensable to the remaking and revival of the country, the APC will find itself in the ghastly and uncomfortable role of embracing and projecting a single-minded grab for power. Even if it manages to cobble up a platform for the elections, it will not be because its members believe the ideals the party purports to stand for. Compromises will be necessary to create a semblance of unity in the party, no matter how tenuous and disingenuous. Members will block their nostrils just long enough until the party takes office, whereupon the logic of being in office will either compel obedience down the rank and file or produce a sound party leader who will begin the arduous and thankless task of gently nudging the party in the right ideological direction, softly and gingerly. Any attempt to put the cart before the horse would spell disaster. So, when next opponents and commentators ridicule the APC for being insufficiently ideological, they should take the insult in their strides, for it is not only a true reflection of the party’s current make-up, it is also a political exigency the party should be glad to have the opportunity of riding into office.

    To win in 2015, the APC will have to overcome two main challenges, and either is capable of destroying the party or truncating its noble aspirations. The first is its ongoing effort to reconcile the contentious political structures forced by circumstances to coexist and cohabit in many of the states now under the party’s control such as Kwara, Kano and Sokoto, among others. The APC, it must be remembered, is an amalgam of three parties in its first layer, to wit, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Even before this layer of contrasting linear expansivities coalesced into a solid foundation, wider and more transcendental political goals compelled the amalgam to bear the additional layer of defecting PDP governors and lawmakers, with all their idiosyncratic foibles.

    The truth is that the APC is now indeed a boisterous and fragile mixture of incendiary elements with inadequate bonding electrons necessary to guarantee its stability. Whether its two or so mercurial leaders – both of whom are far more mercurial than anything we have ever seen in one party since the First Republic – can stabilise the party and steer it away from implosion remains to be seen. But the incentive to get it right is that if they do not manage the elements within the party well, subordinate their ambitions properly and also get other smaller party leaders to surrender their own ambitions for the common goal, they are unlikely to get another chance. Worse, their failure may also doom the country and render future coalitions difficult to cobble together.

    The second main challenge, which is closely leashed to the first, concerns how the party would manage the ambitions of its leaders especially at the candidacy level. Who should be the presidential candidate of a party widely expected to take office in view of the abject failure of the PDP? What of the running mate? How should power be shared between the political zones? What are their heads telling them about the kind of leaders the country is willing to vote for as distinct from what their minds are saying? Assuming the country is ready to put them in office, are they capable of providing the young and dynamic faces the country wants? In my opinion, this will be the most difficult challenge they will face. I expect them to surmount the difficulty of uniting their party’s many factions. But I am less sanguine about how readily they can read the mind of the country, not to say how easily and quickly they can get their powerful and notable aspirants to submit to new realities.

    However, I suspect that given the brilliance with which they have consistently wrong-footed the PDP, especially the Jonathan presidency, and the adroitness with which they have expanded the base of their party, not to talk of the uncommon passion with which they have approached the entire project of building a grand coalition capable of winning major elections, I am a little hopeful they will competently knit together a durable party structure ahead of the elections and balance the ambitions of their leaders to avoid a debacle. Their passion seems to suggest that their priorities, in descending order, are to legitimately defeat Jonathan in a free and fair election, take power from the PDP in order to effect change and foist new political and bureaucratic paradigms on the country, and put the right APC leaders in office. It is inevitable that such zeal should create the necessary conditions for the subordination of ambitions and the management of internal divisions and dissensions.

    I think they have gone too far forward to look back or to allow personal interests to stand in the way of victory. They will now need to work on the more unmanageable and excitable substrata of the party leadership to imbue them with the spirit of sacrifice without which it would be impossible to unhorse the PDP. I think the APC leaders will pull through and win, even if by the skin of their teeth. And who knows, 2015 could even turn into a rout.

  • How I plan to revolutionalise Nigerian fashion

    How I plan to revolutionalise Nigerian fashion

    Merit Obua is wife of the Chief Security Officer to President Goodluck Jonathan and patron of the World Fashion Organisation Africa in collaboration with Lexy Mojo-eyes led legendary Gold Limited. In this interview with Adetorera Idowu, the fashion enthusiast speaks on her plans for the Nigerian fashion industry and how she hopes to make the industry a world brand.

    HOW has Nigeria’s involvement with the African Fashion Reception helped the image of the Nigerian fashion industry?

    Our involvement in the African Fashion Reception organised by Legendary Gold Limited in collaboration with the World Fashion Organisation has opened up the opportunity for me to be honoured as patron of the World Fashion Organisation Africa, the only African so honoured. With my influence, Nigeria will be hosting for the first time, the African Fashion Reception. I strongly believe that the government of Nigeria will be fully involved because it will bring development and empower the youth. Another thing a lot of Nigerians have not realised is that fashion is another money-spinning industry. This event will therefore be a welcome development to showcase Nigerian fashion to the world.

    Within this short period, what have you been able to achieve so far as patron?

    A whole lot, I must say. First of all, the African Union is planning to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and through my negotiations with them, they have given Nigeria one full day to showcase our products.

    Apart from that, I am bringing in the World Fashion University. The World Fashion Organisation has started building universities within the six continents, and the one for the African continent will be in Nigeria.

    I am also bringing in the garment manufacturing industry. With these two major programmes – the World Fashion University and the garment manufacturing industry, there would be a whole lot of attraction to the people and further bring in tourists and investors into the country.

    A lot of people have started recognising Nigerian fabrics and I believe this will cause a major boom in our fabric industry. Don’t forget that 20 years ago, Nigeria was the highest exporter of fabric, but that is no longer the case. Why? Maybe because our government keeps transiting or maybe we are not getting enough patronage. I believe that after this event, a time will come when Nigeria will not focus solely on oil because our fabric industry and our involvement in the world fashion event will divert a lot of attention to fashion because it is a money-spinning industry. When you study Indonesia and some other countries, you’ll see that a major part of their economy was built on the fashion industry.

    I’m also working on a situation where our fabric will be showcased to the world, where, during summer, our clothes can be used. After this fashion event that I’ll be hosting next year, by the special grace of God, by 2015 I hope to bring in all the highest top designers like Gucci, Roberto Cavalla and other top designers that Nigerians are used to. Now when I bring them, it will be a married idea. We will take their own, how do they make their own perfect? How do they perfect their finishing? They will take our fabric and they can say, aaah these fabrics are good, they can use it during summer, so you can see that by 2014/2015 as they are preparing for 2015, you will see them using our fabric and then I’ll call you to say, are you watching fashion TV, because you will start seeing our product.

    Are you organising a mentoring programme or some kind of training for those who do not have the education?

    There would be other plans but the event will kick of first in order to gain the trust of people. Some people may even doubt if I’m sure of what I’m saying and they would like to see it.

    So, I’m bringing in the World Fashion Organisation, the president, chairman will be here.

    Those involved in the world fashion week will be here, I am expecting about 200 models all over the world. It will be a world class event that Nigeria has ever seen. I am also bringing in a special designer who designs for the royal family alone; he doesn’t design anything less than Queen Elizabeth’s family in London. I’m also bringing in a designer who designs exclusively for a special class of people; for the elites only. This designer specialises in shoes. He’ll take the measurement of your shoe and while waiting he’ll produce the shoe right on the spot and your design will never be another person’s design.

    After this event has come to pass, we will source for people. We have talented Nigerians; it is not everybody that will be in a white collar job. Like this young lady I’m talking about, she’s a graduate, she’s a master’s degree holder but she’s in the fashion industry. So you can see that fashion is a world of its own and except you’re into it, you may never understand. For example, if you have one million naira, 800, 000 naira is going on fashion because by the time you shop for shoes, clothes and bags, what goes into your body is less than 100,000, so you can see that fashion takes a greater part of our wealth and we don’t know, it’s a money-spinning industry.

    So far, you have been helping and inspiring a lot of young people. What spurs you on?

    Well, that has been my nature right from my childhood and I have come to understand that the major investment one could have is when you make the people around you happy and secondly you don’t need to know these people. I would say that when you help people you make yourself to pray less. For example, if on your way to this place, you helped like six people they will say thank you, God bless you, but if you don’t help them you will be the only one to pray for yourself, so you can imagine where you pray for yourself and extra six people pray for you so you can see that you have seven blessings that day, you understand. Besides that, I have a theory that people should not measure you based on what you are but I believe people measure others based on the people around them. So when people around you are prospering, then you see yourself prospering. I came from a family where my father has sixteen children, he retired as a senior civil director, and how much was his salary? My initial desire was to be a lawyer, I got admission into the university and I said if I go into this who will train me – I can’t go on the road to prostitute in order to train myself, so I stopped and went into farming. I farmed a vast land of cassava started preparing garri, frying garri doing fufu, here you people call it amala then I sold it and kept the money. You can imagine where I was trekking a long distance as a young lady, then I was pretty but I said I can`t go into this. So that is how I started. I decided to read management that wasn’t my desire right from time I studied management. Now while studying, during vacation, I painted houses to make school fees, if you are conversant with Port Harcourt, I can tell you the number of houses I’ve painted in Port Harcourt. At times, when I`m painting outside the building men with their vehicles will just drive and park and say “wow it is only in your case that I`ve seen a woman painting houses I have not seen a woman paint houses in Nigeria.” Initially I was ashamed, so one day when this thing was happening, the director that I was painting his house said “Come on! Why are you ashamed, don’t you know that you are better than those young girls that will sell their bodies for money?” So that encouraged me. So, these were the things I did before graduating and you see, whatever you put in your efforts, God will always make it to come to pass.

    Who has been your mentor so far?

    I will say my mentor is God and basically you would ask me to mention someone that is living, I would say it is my father, but above all it’s my grand mum. I lived with my grand mum from the age of three months, so I lived with her till she passed on. So I would say it is my grand mum because she had only three children but she cooked with the biggest size of pot, so we eat with people that are not even our relations.

    When did you become passionate about fashion?

    I cannot say why I found myself into this, but the only thing I know is when I was a little girl I grew up to hear a story that my father used to tell me even in the village. You know I came to the city after secondary school. I`ve been a typical village girl, so to say, when I was a little girl. I never liked dirt around me, meanwhile I`m not wearing shoes, so after walking around I would go and fetch a cup of water to wash my feet. I would always wash my feet because they were dirty so that was one way and as a teenager I just found myself sewing clothes. I`ve never learnt sewing before, it is just that now I don’t have the time. I can`t make your clothes but I can make clothes for myself. How do I make it? You may ask, I would just cut the cloth, I don’t use tape when I cut the cloth. I will put it on my body, before joining I will look at the cloth and be like this one should be okay for me and I will just cut it. I can make straight skirts, I can make skirts, I can make a top. That is why if any tailor makes clothes for me I must find faults. So, anywhere I`m living I have a sewing machine. Even now I have a sewing machine in my house.

    What is your definition of style and what are we likely to find in your wardrobe?

    Well, style is something that fits well on your body and doesn’t make you look too extravagant. You don’t need to wear what I’m wearing. What you will always find in my wardrobe depends on the period, but currently you will see skirt and blouse, a few of trouser suits that I may not wear because of my tummy then you see leggings and tops.

    How do you want people to remember you?

    I want people to remember that at a particular time this woman brought this into Nigeria, this woman facilitated this that has helped a great number of people and God too should keep me at least for a longer time so that I will do more.

  • Movies that may rule 2014

    Movies that may rule 2014

    “Whenever I travel abroad, many of my colleagues and presidents of other countries ask me about Nollywood.” Says President Goodluck Jonathan recently.

    To the avid followers of the nation’s thriving movie industry, otherwise called Nollywood, the events of the year 2013 will live in their memories for a long time. Apart from the occasional rancour that rocked the various guilds in the industry, the affair of the industry went without any hitch. This, perhaps, provided the ambience for producers and directors to get to work, churning out some of the finest movies for release in the later part of the year, some of which are listed below.

    Invasion 1897

    LAUNCHING the year in full swing is Nollywood producer and director, Lancelot Imaseun, with his latest effort, Invasion 1897.

    The flick is a re-enactment of the story of the invasion of the Benin Kingdom by the British Empire in 1897.

    Invasion 1897 is the story of Oba Ovonramwen, the then monarch of Benin who was exiled to Calabar after his kingdom was invaded, his palace sacked and several bronze artifacts carted away.

    Coincidentally, the year 2014 marks the centenary celebration of the death of Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. It also marks the centenary anniversary of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates to form the entity called Nigeria.

    Invasion 1897 is said to have been endorsed by the monarch of the Benin Kingdom, Oba Erediauwa.

    It stars the likes of Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele, Mike Omoregbe, Charles Inojie, Nigerian-born Charles ‘Chucky’ Venn, Tremaine Gidigbi, St. Lucian-born English actor and Joseph Marcell.

    It also features a special appearance by the late Justus Esiri.

    Dazzling Mirage

    BY all standards, Tunde Kelani is a veteran. As a celebrated filmmaker, his flicks have always had a human angle touch.

    So, perhaps, out of a sense of duty, Kelani has set out to make a flick that touches on sickle cell anemia titled Dazzling Mirage.

    According to him, “All of us are connected directly or indirectly to the sufferers of this ailment. I’m intrigued by the writer’s approach to weave a love story with it. To me, that is an attraction. I have also had a personal relationship with sufferers of this ailment and I consider it my responsibility to bring their stories to the fore.”

    Dazzling Mirage tells the story of a sickle cell patient who struggles to overcome social stigma, prejudice and her own low self-esteem to achieve success.

    The movie, which stars Lala Akindoju and Kunle Afolayan, is an adaptation of Yinka Egbokhare’s literary piece by the same title.

    October 1

    THOUGH it is yet to hit movie shelves, Kunle Afolayan’s latest effort, October 1 is already picking up laurels. Only a few months after the release of its official trailer, it won the prestigious International Movie Trailer’s Festival’s (IMTF) award in the Best Fiction Trailer Category, earning the filmmaker $250.

    The movie is built around Dan Waziri, a police inspector who is sent to the trading town of Akote by the then colonists to solve a series of murder cases. He must solve the mystery of these attacks before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on the Independence Day on October 1.

    Among the stars in the flick are ace actor and broadcaster, Sadiq Daba, Kehinde Bankole, David Bailie, Kayode Olaiya, Nick Rhys, Fabian Lojede and Demola Adedoyin.

    Deola Sagoe of Haute Couture plays the legendary Funmilayo Ransom Kuti.

    Clinching an award, prior to its release, pitches October 1 as a flick to watch out for in the year 2014.

    Father Moses

    BILLED for release in the later part of the year, Father Moses already has movie lovers anticipating, especially as it brings Yomi Fabiyi and Ini Edo Ehigwina in holy matrimony.

    Written and produced by Yomi Fabiyi with Taiwo Oduala as director, Father Moses has to do with the governor of the state, Jide kosoko and his rascal son, Yomi Fabiyi. It is tied around various Catholic families.

    Desmond Elliot plays Father Moses, who falls in love with Ini Edo, a girl from one of the Catholic families. Their love spawns a lot of conflicts.

    The flick also stars Bimbo Akintola, Ayo Mogaji, Hafiz Oyetoro, Keji Yusuf, Buki Awoyemi, Kemi Afolabi, Hakeem Rahman, Ara, Niyi Johnson, Tola Ayeni ( Agbelebu mi), Segun Adekoya (Chamelion) and Remi Oshodi.

    Half of a Yellow Sun

    FOLLOWING a successful world premiere at the 38th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, Half of a Yellow Sun, an adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s novel by the same title, is rated among movies that will make 2014’s cinema calendar worth following.

    The movie is directed by UK-based Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele and produced by Andrea Calderwood. The British/Nigerian co-production was shot at the Tinapa Film Studios in Calabar and in London.

    Set in 1960s Nigeria, Half of a Yellow Sun is an epic love-story, weaving together the lives of four people caught up in the Nigerian civil war.

    The romantic drama chronicles the lives of Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), two glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family who return to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria.

    The sisters make starkly different choices back at home. While Olanna, to the chagrin of her family, moves in with her lover, the “revolutionary professor”, Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) in the university town of Nsukka, Kainene, once the rebellious tomboy, turns to business and proves fiercely successful at it.

    Kainene surprises herself and the family even more by falling in love with Richard (Joseph Mawle), an English writer. The relationship between the sisters turns sour as betrayal tears them apart. The sisters become victims of the civil war that threatened to divide Nigeria in two and pits the world in polarised halves.

    76

    FORMERLY titled Lions of 76, the movie, 76, is built around the botchery of the historical putsch of 1976 that ousted the then military regime and led to the death of the Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, Gen. Murtala Muhammed in Lagos.

    Aside its historical nature, 76 comes across as a star-studded flick, especially as it features some of the industry’s finest actors, including Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Chidi Mokeme, Memry Savanhu, Adonijah Owiriwa, Daniel K. Daniel, Nelly Ekwereogu and Shuaibu Ebenehi Adams.

    The flick is set in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, and is based on the era when soldiers called the shots in the country and how the wives of the officers coped.

    The Visit

    THE visit, which just entered the post-production stage, falls in the category of limited cast flicks by KOGA Studios.

    Going by its new movie concept, KOGA Studios appears to be leveraging on the success of its first film, Heroes and Zeroes, an award-winning flick.

    With the cast and crew of the movie calling it a wrap recently, the movie is already being tipped for the biennial Federation of Pan African Film Festival (FESP)ACO) in Ouagadougou, with plans to also subtitle it in French language.

    Shot on location in Lagos, the movie is directed by Funke Fayoyin, director of the highly acclaimed The gods Are Still Not To Blame, a contemporary adaptation of Ola Rotimi’s book.

    In a chat with the cast, Ikpe-Etim who is known to have played a relatively emotional movie role noted: “My role in The Visit and Mr and Mrs are two different people and the only similarity is that they are married. The woman in Mr and Mrs was more of a different character who tries to save her marriage; but in The Visit, the character has a loving relationship with her husband. Because it is a four- man cast, it was an extremely challenging role for m, because I have to be engaging enough for me not to lose my audience. I have to carry them along through every sentence. My character in The Visit is a non-conformist, who does not believe in what the society wants, but in what she wants as long as she’s not hurting the next person.”

    Femi Jacobs who is the husband of Mcwinzu in the movie says “My character in The Visit is also a challenging one. Apart from being married to a geek, the script is totally different. I have never done anything like this before, having your neighbour in the same house with different characters and 80 percent of the movie shot inside the house. Though my character is not the non-conformist, but the quiet part of my nature helps me to mask my character like I should.”

    Blossom sheds light on the moral lesson of the movie when he said; “the moral of the movie The Visit is to be truthful to your partner because once you lie, you would have to keep lying to cover up the previous lies. It also tells us not to judge until you walk in people’s shoes, even if you do walk in their shoes, no two different persons will have same experience.”

    The Visit is a come-back movie for Mcwinzu, who admitted that “It is a challenging role for me because sometimes I find it difficult to be in character. But with the help of my three most amazing colleagues and director, I am able to perfect it. It is a wonderful experience on set. I had so much fun.”

  • We cannot afford to lose battle against terrorism, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has renewed the determination of the Federal Government to battle insurgency in the country.
    At the combined passing parade of the combined passing out parade of Cadet Officers, comprising Assistant Superintendent of Police ASPs and Inspectors at the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State said the government cannot afford to lose the  battle against terrorism.
    Jonathan reassured that the Federal Government will continue to support all security agencies in its war against insurgency in the country.
    He charged the combined graduating cadet officers to use the techniques acquired during the 19 months course to reposition the act of fighting crime and terrorism, so as at the close of the day get rid of security challenges, which has been causing the public sleepless nights.
    He however promised that the Federal Government will continue to support the efforts of the various security agencies in tackling the lingering security challenges in the country, pointing out that the government is determined to promote and ensure a combat-ready Police Force.
    Addressing the grandaunts, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar  tasked them to translate into action the lessons acquired, while the course lasted, just he charged to graduands to reposition for effective service delivery.
    ‘’Our mission and vision is to promote a combat ready Police Force that will tackle the daunting security challenges confronting the nation.’’