Nollywood: Tonto Dike Defends Her Role In New “Soft P*rn” Movie On Twitter

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Read Time:33 Second

In a new movie by Sanga Entertainment, actress Tonto Dikeh and host of others Muna Obiekwe got really explicit kissing, spitting into each other’s mouth, going nude, exposing boobs and genitals in a flick titled ‘Dirty Secret’ including Gay scenes guys kissing each other.

Tonto took to Twitter to defend her role in the movie, saying she was only being professional according to what is obtained in Hollywood, Slamming Critics as Pretenders.

Tonto took to Twitter to defend her role in the movie, saying she was only being professional according to what is obtained in Hollywood, Slamming Critics as Pretenders.

Watch Trailer Below:

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About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: ARIK Airline set to build own Terminal

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Read Time:3 Minute, 9 Second

Contrary to expectations by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airpot 2, MMA2, that Nigeria’s biggest airline, Arik Air, will relocate its domestic operations from the General Aviation Terminal, GAT, to MMA2, the airline has announced that it is set to build its own terminal in Lagos, South West Nigeria.

 

The newly appointed Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, told journalists at the weekend during a press conference to mark the airline’s fourth anniversary that Arik Air is only awaiting approval from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to commence work.

The terminal building, if approved, will be contrary to an agreement signed between FAAN and Bi-Courtney some years ago that all domestic operations in Lagos should take place from MMA2.

“We are hoping that we will have government approval to develop a terminal in Lagos. We want to develop a terminal operated by FAAN and I am surprised as well as you are that the government hasn’t approved it,” Ndulue told journalists, with Chairman of Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide Johnson nodding in approval.

“Terminal is a major challenge for us and GAT is grossly inadequate. There is no terminal like GAT all over the world,” Ndulue said.

He revealed that once the terminal is built and completed, modalities will be worked out with FAAN on how to manage it.

The Chief Operations Officer at MMA2, Mr. Jerome Marinho, however, reiterated that Arik Air has been violating the concession agreement Bi-Courtney signed with FAAN. According to the agreement, he said, the airline should not be allowed by FAAN to operate from GAT.

Marinho said that MMA2 is operating below its capacity at the moment while using an average of 50, 000 litres of diesel every week to run the terminal on generators.

“The temperature of every terminal building should be 22 degrees. But when there is no electricity from the government’s agency, we have to run on generators to maintain that standard for our passengers to be comfortable in our world-class terminal. How can any sensible man operate from GAT? That is not a terminal,” he said.

With every passenger travelling through MMA2 paying N1000 to the terminal operators, Arik Air’s 120 domestic flights can greatly boosts Bi-Courtney’s revenue generation and prevent the first Public Private Partnership in terminal operation in the country from collapsing.

Meanwhile, Arik Air has disclosed that it spent about $6.8 billion (about N900 billion) in its operations since it started business four years ago.

“From three aircraft on 30 October 2006 when we started operations, presently Arik Air has the largest fleet in Nigeria with 26 short, medium and long range aircraft. Arik Air has carried 5.8 million passengers in four years of operation and now controls over 40% of the total domestic market share.

“Arik Air does about 150 daily flights from its two hubs in Lagos and Abuja and serves 22 airports across Nigeria, six in West Africa (Cotonou, Accra, Monrovia, Freetown, Banjul, Dakar), one in South Africa (Johannesburg), one in Europe (London Heathrow), and one in America (New York JFK).

“Arik Air also services 44 routes across the world and has invested over $6.1 billion on aircraft acquisition including orders. We also invested over $2 million on training of cadet pilots in Nigeria (NCAT) and South Africa and another N1 billion on staff training including pilots’ simulation and $4 million on explosive and narcotic trace devices as well as screening machines,” Ndulue said with Arik Chairman adding, “those who say we are indebted should continue to say so.”

—Simon Ateba

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Olusegun Obasanjo : I knew I would leave prison alive

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Read Time:1 Minute, 17 Second

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday recounted his Yola prison experience, declaring that there was a divine message that he would leave prison alive and that former military Head of State, late Gen. Sanni Abacha, whose administration sentenced him, would not be the one to release him.

Obasanjo was in 1995 sentenced to life in prison by the Abacha administration over an alleged coup plot, but was released by the administration of Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalam in 1998 after the death of Abacha. Upon his release, he vowed to dedicate a church for the propagation of Christianity which was formally done yesterday amid preaching, prayers and thanksgiving.

In his thanksgiving address, Obasanjo told the congregation at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King inside the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library that he was quite sure that he would survive the prison travails alive, with the man at the centre of his predicament not going to be responsible for his release. He said the experience in the prison made him to be more committed to God even though the pressure to come and be president in 1999 took him years back from realizing his dream. He thanked God for sparing his life to fulfill the promise to build a church to appreciate Him.

“When I was in prison, I knew two things. One, that I would come out alive; secondly, that the man who imprisoned me would not be the one to release me. And these two came to pass. I want to thank God for that”, he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Kidnapping will soon be over- says Nigeria President Goodluck

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Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

ABUJA – PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has declared that in the nearest future, Nigerians would celebrate the end of the  menace of  kidnapping in the country.

The President who expressed optimism that kidnapping in Nigeria has reduced significantly, said  very shortly it will be wiped out from the country.

Speaking at an interactive session with Nigerians resident in Chad Republic, President Jonathan described kidnapping as a receding nightmare.

CHAD SUMMIT: From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; President Idris Derby of Chad, and President Muammar Ghadafi of Libya, at the opening of the 13th summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission at N’djamena, Chad, Sunday.

In response to a question on how kidnapping had prevented some Ibos from visiting their homes in Nigeria, the President assured that government has put in place elaborate measures to counter the menace and restore  peace.

President Jonathan further assured Nigerians in Chad Republic that their complaints of constant harassment of Nigerian fishermen and others on legitimate businesses by Chadian security agencies would be addressed with the host authorities.

President Jonathan also promised to look into the issue of building a permanent office and residence for the Nigerian Ambassador, to secure the country’s pride of place in Chad.

He thanked all the speakers at the event who wished him success at next year’s polls, stressing that he and the Vice President Namadi Sambo “are totally committed and will do our best.”

Those who spoke during the meeting included representatives of various Nigerian ethnic groups resident in Chad Republic as well as the Chairman of the Nigeria-Chad Association, Stephen Osagie.

Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State, the Minister of Water Resources, Obadiah Ando and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Salamatu Suleiman were among top Nigerian government officials at the interactive gathering.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Uneasy calm in Ohanaeze Ndigbo over Jonathan’s endorsement

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Read Time:1 Minute, 8 Second

UNEASY calm is now brewing in the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, over the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 presidential election by a caucus of the organisation called Imeobi without the approval of the general assembly.

The controversy is coming on the heels of  the approval of the extension of the tenure of the President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Ralph Uwache, by the same Imeobi, its highest decision making body.

It was reliably gathered that some prominent members of the organisation had concluded plans to factionalise the highest Igbo decision making body following the recent endorsement and extension of the tenure, Chief Uwache by the same Imeobi.

The Imeobi meeting presided over by Uwache had on Saturday, endorsed Ndigbo’s support for the presidential bid of Dr  Jonathan.

It also approved the extension of the tenure of the president-general of Ohanaeze and its executive by two years.

But, the developments had continued to generate negative reactions from members of the organisation.

Reacting to the endorsement, immediate past president-general  of the organisation, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, described the action as “premature and hasty”,  insisting that it was too early “because a socio-cultural organisation like Ohanaeze  cannot endorse an aspirant when the person’s  political party has not done so.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Why Women Go After Married Men like Angelina Jolie did

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Read Time:3 Minute, 41 Second

A sparkly engagement ring used to be the symbol of ultimate security for single girls. However, a dangerous ilk of women is on the rise: those who don’t consider a wedding band a deterrent, while searching for Mr. Right. They crave the excitement of a passionate romance, but one with an added challenge on top. In other words: They want your boyfriend or husband and aren’t the least bit afraid to go after him.

If the tabloids are any indication, one may assume that chasing married men is largely a habit formed in Hollywood – from Rachel Uchitel’s recent confession to bedding actor, David Boreanaz (a married father of two), to stripper Michelle “Bombshell” McGee’s tryst with Sandra Bullock’s soon-to-be ex, Jesse James, to her fling with shamed golfer, Tiger Woods.

However, this recent batch of philandering female star-chasers is indicative of a real-life trend that’s been taking place for a while, say scientists at Oklahoma State University.

In a prominent and highly publicised study, researchers divided bachelorettes into two groups and showed them photographs of a hot guy – telling one group he was single and the other he was in a relationship; then, they asked the women how likely they were to pursue him. Only when the woman believed he was committed to someone else did interest in the male subject skyrocket.

So what gives? It’s not like mate-poaching is a new concept. The idea of seeking several partners – even those who are taken – well, that’s classic Darwinian thinking. However, some experts say the more sexual equality females gain in society, the more Rachel Uchitel types are likely to come crawling out of the woodwork.

“Research shows that in societies where women are economically powerful, the more sexually and socially-aggressive they are,” says anthropologist Helen Fisher, Ph.D., author of Why We Love. “And today, with more men out of work than women (due to the recession cutting more male-oriented jobs), we’re seeing women become bolder in every area of their lives.”

There’s even a chemical explanation for why many women pursue guys in relationships.

“Any block to romantic love drives up dopamine – a brain chemical associated with love and reward,” says Fisher. “That brain rush can feel addictive.”

And, for the female mate-poacher who Oklahoma researchers say bases her self-esteem on her looks and romantic status, that brain rush can be an intoxicating and driving force, causing her to view already-committed men with rose-coloured glasses.

“Men in relationships have already proven their willingness to commit, which is a major draw to these women,” says Ian Kerner, Ph.D., sex and relationship therapist. “The possibility of landing him may make her feel special and maybe even superior.”

But this high doesn’t last for long. Expending all their energy on already-committed men is a risky business, says Kerner. That’s because these men are often happy to have sex on the side, but are rarely willing to leave their wives or girlfriends.

Proof can be gleaned from Michelle McGe’s infamous quote in Steppin’ Out magazine: “I think men are made to spread their seed. Women need to accept that. If you’re going to be married to somebody, you need to know that men are not meant to be with one woman. I think you can totally love your spouse and still sleep with other women. That urge will always be there, if you’re a man. I believe you can love your wife 100 per cent and still stray.”

But in the end, both women get shafted. “The problem is, by expending all their energy on men in relationships, female mate poachers are overlooking potential guys who could be compatible long-term mates,” says Kerner.

Yet, sometimes it does work out. Angelina Jolie – no doubt our generation’s most famous mate-poacher – snatched Brad Pitt from Jennifer Aniston; five years and six kids later, they seem to be going strong. But in Angie’s darkest hour, does she ever wonder whether one day she could become the next scorned wife?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria’s downgraded alleged sovereign risk rating

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Read Time:4 Minute, 59 Second

(Codewit.com) On Friday last week, Fitch – an international credit ratings agency – reportedly kept the nation’s sovereign credit rating at BB-minus, while downgrading its credit outlook from stable to negative. Finance Minister Olusegun Aganga roundly condemned the agency’s decision (on Nigeria’s credit outlook) as “unduly punitive,” even as he also crooned that Fitch’s decision to retain the risk rating “underscores that the ongoing reforms being implemented by the Federal government are on the right track and (that) prospects for economic growth remain bright.”

No, Mr. Finance Minister, you simply cannot speak from both sides of the mouth! The action by Fitch is either an indictment of the way fiscal and monetary policies have been implemented so far, or an endorsement – not both. There is a preponderance of evidence to show without equivocation that the former is clearly the case in this instance.

That the rating agency maintained the same rating of BB-minus – even without additional comments – should not be a reason for self-indulgence. This is why we wonder why the Finance Minister chose to misrepresent facts and downplay the gravity of the downgrade, by reportedly telling an audience at the annual conference of the Nigerian Economic Society in Abuja, “If you read the Fitch report, it appears that, globally, we have one of the lowest.”

As a former Managing Director of the world renowned investment powerhouse, Goldman Sachs, Mr. Aganga certainly knows that a Fitch rating of BB-minus cannot by any stretch of the imagination be described as “one of the lowest in the world.” As a matter of fact, a BB-minus rating is three notches below ‘investment grade’. With this type of rating, any hope of attracting genuine investors – as distinct from economic leeches – will remain a pipe dream, not to mention the higher costs the nation will have to incur on external borrowings!

In deciding to revise the rating downwards, the agency’s sovereign ratings analyst, Ms. Veronica Kalema, cited – among other factors – the near total erosion of the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government, unsustainable depletion of the foreign exchange reserves, and short-term political uncertainty in the build-up to the 2011 elections. Ms. Kalema is not saying anything the media in particular and Nigerians in general have not been saying through editorials, commentaries and public debates. Rather than choose to live in self-denial and pick on the rating agency, the government ought to re-focus its energy on turning the unsavoury situation around.

Mr. Aganga has laboured to convince a skeptical audience that the recent measures adopted by the government – principally aimed at revitalizing the financial sector – are developments which indicate that the country is on the right track. Is this really true? If he answers in the affirmative, then how come nothing significant has changed in the economy or appears likely to change in the near future? And for him to go as far as maintaining that the nation is set to record “another year of exceptional growth in 2010, with our economy expected to expand by 7.75%” is simply to engage in unwarranted sophistry. How real is this frequently touted growth? Is it not largely driven by rising crude oil prices in an unpredictable world oil market – a case, essentially, of growth without development?

How many new jobs has the 7.75% ‘growth’ created? Is the manufacturing sector now set to contribute more than the paltry four percent to the GDP, which has sadly been its lot? Are we not still living witness to unbridled violence and assassinations attendant on such mundane activities as party membership registration, ward congresses, by-elections, party primaries and local government council elections, even as the Federal Government continues its avowal, ad nauseam, to deliver a free and fair, credible poll in a few months’ time? Has the lingering disquiet in the ruling party over its zoning formula, or the proliferation of light firearms or the tardy preparations for the 2011 elections not contributed significantly to mounting political tension and a climate of uncertainty?

It needs emphasizing, incidentally, that the mere depletion of Nigeria’s windfall savings and foreign exchange reserves does not by itself constitute heightened risk. The question ought to be, and primarily is, a matter of how the funds were utilized. The economy gains when investments are geared towards increasing productivity, generating higher revenues and/or executing cost-reduction programmes. But it suffers when funds are squandered (e.g. through white elephant projects), frittered away on recurrent (consumption) expenditures, or diverted into the private pockets of public officials and their cronies. The naked truth is that Nigerians are yet to see any tangible results of previous massive ‘investments’ in sectors like power and infrastructure, making them highly skeptical and distrustful of the government’s promises to “make more investments aimed at improving the economy.”

We advise the nation’s Economic Management Team to see the Fitch report for what it is – a timely wake-up call. Those at the helm of affairs should consider taking the following remedial actions: re-ordering government priorities to place more emphasis on increasing production rather than consumption; introducing fiscal discipline in order to curb the widening budget deficit and burgeoning public debt (with their attendant adverse impact on monetary indices); seriously tackling the hydra-headed monster of corruption in a more transparent manner; introducing well-targeted financial stimulus measures aimed at empowering the real sector to absorb the army of jobless youths and graduates by creating new jobs; and diversifying the economy away from the present hazardous dependence on a mono-product.

The Fitch bitter medicine is one that the present administration must drink to the dregs – for the health of the nation.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Meet Pastor Kumuyi’s new wife, Esther Blaize

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Read Time:2 Minute, 57 Second

Although, many received the news with mixed feelings because they thought he will be unmarried for the remaining part of his life,

eighteen months after the death of his wife, Biodun, Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, remarried in London some days ago.

That Wednesday, after the church and the court wedding, a low-keyed reception which was devoid of glamour was hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, London. The new wife, Esther Folashade Aduke, popularly known as Queen Esther, was the London parish secretary.

Interestingly, 65-year old Queen Esther was never married; she is one of the 15 founding members of the ministry.

Why I took 65-year old wife, by Kumuyi

{div width:250|height:250|float:right}{module Inside Advert|none}{/div}General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi took a new wife last week in London. When the news broke, it sparked mixed reactions. While some felt it was in order, not a few wondered why the 71-year old cleric needed a new wife. The church has opened up on the turn of event, reports Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU

Dressed in a modest suit, Pastor William Kumuyi and Esther Blaize , clad in a pink and purple skirt suit, exchanged the marriage vow last Wednesday. Guests were later ushered into the Crowne Plaza Hotel, London for a reception ceremony. And just like that, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry got married for the second time. Two days ago, key leaders of the church across the country, who were not privileged to attend the modest ceremony, were made to watch the video of the proceedings.

Pastor Kumuyi lost his first wife, Biodun on April 11 last year. He took the news with calm. He even went on to handle the convention and shocked many by preaching at the funeral of his late wife.

At the time of her death, Kumuyi was 70 years old. When asked last year if he was going to take a new wife, he said it was too early to think of that. With his age, not a few also thought he might just stay unmarried for the rest of his life.

A statement by  the church yesterday said Kumuyi’s decision to remarry was not entirely his. The statement  endorsed on his behalf by the church’s Secretary, Pastor L Nnadozie said his marriage to Esther sparked joy and spontaneous happiness among members of the church.

The statement reads: “Pastor Kumuyi had lost his wife, Biodun in April last year. The death of the woman affectionately called ‘mummy’ or ‘mama’ by members of the church, became a cause for concern for leaders in the church as she was almost inseparable from her husband. The church leaders were so concerned that the pastor must not remain lonely, that they led a delegation to encourage him to begin praying to God to give him another wife. The leaders also began praying for their pastor to get another partner. Although initially reluctant, Pastor Kumuyi later prayed and testified to the leaders that God had answered their prayers. This is what culminated in the marriage ceremony in London.”

The statement revealed that the new wife, whose other names are Folashade Aduke, is the National and International Woman Co-odinator of the church.  She is 65. And wait for this: she was never married, because, according to Nnadozie, she committed her life to the Lord.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Meet Pastor Kumuyi’s new wife, Esther Blaize

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Read Time:2 Minute, 57 Second

Although, many received the news with mixed feelings because they thought he will be unmarried for the remaining part of his life,

eighteen months after the death of his wife, Biodun, Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, remarried in London some days ago.

That Wednesday, after the church and the court wedding, a low-keyed reception which was devoid of glamour was hosted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, London. The new wife, Esther Folashade Aduke, popularly known as Queen Esther, was the London parish secretary.

Interestingly, 65-year old Queen Esther was never married; she is one of the 15 founding members of the ministry.

Why I took 65-year old wife, by Kumuyi

{div width:250|height:250|float:right}{module Inside Advert|none}{/div}General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi took a new wife last week in London. When the news broke, it sparked mixed reactions. While some felt it was in order, not a few wondered why the 71-year old cleric needed a new wife. The church has opened up on the turn of event, reports Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU

Dressed in a modest suit, Pastor William Kumuyi and Esther Blaize , clad in a pink and purple skirt suit, exchanged the marriage vow last Wednesday. Guests were later ushered into the Crowne Plaza Hotel, London for a reception ceremony. And just like that, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry got married for the second time. Two days ago, key leaders of the church across the country, who were not privileged to attend the modest ceremony, were made to watch the video of the proceedings.

Pastor Kumuyi lost his first wife, Biodun on April 11 last year. He took the news with calm. He even went on to handle the convention and shocked many by preaching at the funeral of his late wife.

At the time of her death, Kumuyi was 70 years old. When asked last year if he was going to take a new wife, he said it was too early to think of that. With his age, not a few also thought he might just stay unmarried for the rest of his life.

A statement by  the church yesterday said Kumuyi’s decision to remarry was not entirely his. The statement  endorsed on his behalf by the church’s Secretary, Pastor L Nnadozie said his marriage to Esther sparked joy and spontaneous happiness among members of the church.

The statement reads: “Pastor Kumuyi had lost his wife, Biodun in April last year. The death of the woman affectionately called ‘mummy’ or ‘mama’ by members of the church, became a cause for concern for leaders in the church as she was almost inseparable from her husband. The church leaders were so concerned that the pastor must not remain lonely, that they led a delegation to encourage him to begin praying to God to give him another wife. The leaders also began praying for their pastor to get another partner. Although initially reluctant, Pastor Kumuyi later prayed and testified to the leaders that God had answered their prayers. This is what culminated in the marriage ceremony in London.”

The statement revealed that the new wife, whose other names are Folashade Aduke, is the National and International Woman Co-odinator of the church.  She is 65. And wait for this: she was never married, because, according to Nnadozie, she committed her life to the Lord.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria: Zoning And Southern Opportunism: The Dangers Ahead

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Read Time:10 Minute, 38 Second

There is a popular parable that “what an elderly man can see sitting down, a young man cannot see standing up”. This parable is instructive to the short-sightedness, lack of tact and crass opportunism being exhibited by the South in the ongoing debate on zoning.  With the accidental emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan following Yar’Adua’s death, there has been a sudden and sustained campaign against the zoning arrangement by Southerners who see it as an opportunity to have President Goodluck Jonathan continue in office beyond 2011.

The problem however is not President Goodluck Jonathan continuing beyond 2011 as I personally have no problem with that, the real problem is that in their haste to cling to the opportunism of Jonathan’s  presidency, many characters from the South who should know better,  now argue that zoning as a concept of nation building and national cohesion should be dumped altogether.  Except there is a collective amnesia in the South, the characters now arguing that zoning should be dumped could not have forgotten that it was the South who as a result of Nigeria’s peculiar history and pattern of Northern domination stridently advocated the principle of zoning.

In 1994, due to the deafening complains of Northern domination and strident calls for a sovereign national conference and power rotation by Southerners, the then General Sanni Abacha convoked a national constitutional conference which produced a draft constitution that recommended the creation of the six geo-political zones and the rotation of power amongst the six zones as a nation building  strategy.  Gen Abacha’s draft constitution thus became the first official seal of the concept of zoning in Nigeria’s political history through the efforts of the same Southerners who now argue out of opportunism and  short-sightedness that zoning should be dumped.

Many of the later day anti-zoning Southern proponents have never bothered to ask themselves the fundamental questions; what happens after Jonathan completes his tenure and power returns to the North? What happens if President Goodluck Jonathan being mortal falls down dead tomorrow and power returns to the North?  What happens if President Goodluck Jonathan becomes incapacitated out of illness or an accident and power returns to the North?  And indeed what happens if he loses the PDP primaries or the elections and power returns to the North? These are fundamental questions that the present day Southern anti-zoning opportunists have never bothered to ask nor answer.

If the latter day anti-zoning opportunists dare to ask or answer the fundamental questions above, they would realise that the new strategy of campaigning against zoning by the South portends grave danger  for the future when and if the North returns to power.   Power in Nigeria has always been subject to manipulation and in the absence of zoning as many Southerners now argue,  the danger lies in the North manipulating the process to prevent  Southerners   from  coming to power as they have done successfully in the past.  The fact of Northern manipulation and domination of power to the exclusion of the South is a historical reality that the South has lived with which led to the strident advocacy for rotational presidency. It will be foolhardy for those who now out of opportunism argue that zoning should be thrown away to assume that the North cannot and will not continue their well oiled scheme of manipulation and domination if they return to power in the absence of zoning.

Like the Aburi accord negotiated in Ghana in 1967, which was a constitutional masterpiece that settled all the issues of resource control and regional autonomy, but was scuttled by the greed, opportunism and short-sightedness of the so called Southern permanent secretaries and other notable Southern leaders, the arguments by some Southerners to dump zoning might yet come back to haunt the South as the Aburi accord that was truncated by Southerners continues to haunt us all.

Decades after the truncation of Aburi accord, the same Southerners who truncated it, are now in an ideological trench campaigning for a sovereign national conference and resource control. In other words, they are campaigning for a constitutional arrangement they wilfully threw away decades earlier out of sheer opportunism. If the Southern  anti-zoning opportunists do not take time, they will end up returning to the trench to campaign for the zoning they are now out of opportunism wilfully dumping decades later, but by which time it might too late.

As I have previously written, Nigeria’s peculiar post-independence history of long years of Northern domination requires a rotational system based on the subsisting six zones that would serve as a strategy for nation building.  For those who argue that zoning will deprive Nigeria of the emergence of the best candidates, empirical evidence in our chequered history provides evidence that the best candidates have never emerged when elections were conducted without zoning. Instead,  it heightened ethnic tensions and produced winners or alleged winners through a manipulated process or through tribal and religious allegiance.

In the 1st and 2nd republics, Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo contested against Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and Alhaji Shehu Shagari. While it could easily be concluded that Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo were better candidates than the other two, none of them won. This clearly provides evidence that ethnic and religious considerations has in most cases always trumped the choice for a better candidate in Nigeria’s elections, and in a nation  which has increasingly become an ethnic jungle, this trend is not about to change soon.

Thus a rotational system which would  be a peculiar though not exclusive Nigerian solution and strategy for nation building would most likely guarantee the emergence of better candidates as the removal of  the ethnic tensions and ethno-religious considerations that go with an election involving candidates from different tribes would give way to Nigerians making their electoral choices only on merit. Since every zone has more population than Ghana and indeed most African countries, there will be no shortage of good candidates and most importantly every group including minorities will have the opportunity of ruling Nigeria. The rotational system itself is not a new concept as many diverse nations and institutions around the world already practice variants derived from it.

In Switzerland, the presidency rotates among the various ethnic groups and in the European Union; the presidency rotates among the member states. The rotational system is quite remarkable in Switzerland where the German ethnic group with 65% of  the population constitute an absolute majority capable of perpetual political dominance, but yet subscribed to the rotational system in order to accommodate the minority ethnic groups. Switzerland is consequently one of the world’s most stable, democratic, harmonious and prosperous nations just as the European Union is one of the most functional and prosperous institutions in the world. Together, Switzerland and the European Union are notable examples in the successful application of  the principle of  rotation along ethnic and national lines, all designed to suit the peculiarities of their geo-political realities.

For those anti-zoning advocates in  the South who may be suffering from bouts of amnesia, a quick look and reminder of  Nigeria’s history would reveal that minorities and Southerners with the exception of Olusegun Obasanjo’s 2nd coming have only ruled Nigeria by accident. General Aguiyi Ironsi from the East became the first to emerge through such a system after the assassination of the then prime minister Tafawa  Balewa in the Jan 1966 coup. General Yakubu Gowon a Northern minority from the middle belt became the 2nd beneficiary after the assassination of General Aguiyi Ironsi in the July 1966 counter-coup. General Olusegun Obasanjo from the West also became a military head of state after the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed in 1976 and lastly President Goodluck Jonathan who ascended the throne in 2010 after Yar’adua’s death.

Indeed, it is also noteworthy that  Moshood Abiola who as an exception won in 1993 was nonetheless denied his victory on an ethnic premise, and Olusegun Obasanjo’s 2nd coming in 1999 as a civilian president which was another exception was nonetheless facilitated by the accident of General Sanni Abacha’s sudden death and the zoning arrangement. Nigeria’s chequered history thus lends credence to the fact that political power has overwhelmingly concentrated in the Muslim North and only moved to minorities or non-Northerners by accident. A heterogeneous nation with such a peculiar history rightly deserves to have a specially designated and structured rotational system that would be a strategy for nation building and inter-ethnic cohesion.
The overwhelming evidence of  historical   injustice and domination in no way supports the arguments of the anti-zoning advocates who because of President  Jonathan’s accidental emergence now indulge in the opportunism of advocating the dumping of zoning without reflecting on the long term consequences of  their logic.  In reality,  zoning in no way affects president Jonathan’s bid for the presidency as he is the beneficiary of  a joint mandate with a late president, and there is no constitutional  provision that forbids him from contesting.

However,  while  we acknowledge the flaws,  breaches  and imperfections  so far in the zoning arrangement which is not president Jonathan’s fault and which should not prevent him from running for the presidency, he can now use the period of his presidency  to consolidate the zoning arrangement  as proposed below, by fine tuning and enshrining it in the constitution  to prevent a relapse into the domination of the past and the kind of acrimony and power struggle that has trailed his bid for the presidency as a result of  the absence of  a well spelt out constitutional process for power rotation.

Constitutional Review Options Of Power Rotation And Succession
(1) The present structure of six zones with three each in the North and South presents a perfect match for the purposes of rotation. In a practical and common sense way, the presidency could be rotated in alternation between the North/South and among the zones in alphabetical order preferably for a 6 year single term or alternatively for an 8 year double term as the case maybe. In the case of an 8 year double term, all political parties will also be obliged to field candidates only from the designated zone for the subsequent election of  the remaining 4 year tenure.

In the event of another political party and candidate winning the subsequent election, he or she can only serve the remaining 4 year tenure for the designated zone. The introduction of rotation in alphabetical order will remove every confusion, make it possible for all existing political parties to field candidates from the same zone and prevent acrimonious power struggles between different zones.
In case of death and succession, there is the option of a constitutional review to introduce the office of a deputy president in addition to the already existing office of the vice president. The vice president should continue to be from other zones as is presently the case, but the new office of the deputy president should be occupied by someone from the same zone as the president for the sole purpose of  completing  the presidents tenure in case of  incapacitation, impeachment,  resignation or death.
(2) Another option is to have a constitutional provision that stipulates the organization of another election within three months in case of incapacitation, resignation, impeachment or death to elect someone from the same zone as the president to complete the constitutional tenure of the exited president.

Conclusions:
Instead of throwing away zoning as we threw away the Aburi accord, we should move to consolidate it because of its potential for nation building and national cohesion. A well structured and successful rotational system in Nigeria could in time be a model for other heterogeneous nations in Africa and around the globe struggling with the challenges of nationhood. As has been the case in Switzerland and elsewhere, rotational presidency amongst a cocktail of other measures will prevent protracted and acrimonious power struggles in future  and potentially usher in a more harmonious, stable, democratic and prosperous nation. Achieving this feat would surely be President Jonathan’s greatest legacy.

Email: lawrencenwobu@yahoo.com

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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