Shock and disbelief could best describe the expression on the faces of residents of Omitola street in Agege area of Lagos, when Saturday Vanguard visited Thursday , to ascertain the circumstance that led to the death of a 12-year-old boy.
The guardians of the boy allegedly beat him to death just as a man in Oregun, Ikeja, was also alleged to have beaten the son to death for stealing N1,000.
The 12-year old boy who was identified as Onyedikachi Mbanozo, was reportedly brought from the village by Mr and Mrs Paul Obiefule, last year, with a promise to send him to school.
The couple reportedly kept to their promise by enrolling him in Holy Trinity Primary School, Agege,where he started from primary one.Information gathered from residents revealed that Mbanozo was allegedly often beaten at the slightest provocation by his guardians. He was said to have told some residents that he would leave for the village when he finished his primary school education. He never lived to see his dream come true. Life was snuffed out of him Tuesday,after one of the routine batterings.
Ironically , he died on a day children all over the world were being celebrated.
He was hungry and sought to eat at about 1pm. It was to be his first meal of the day. His guardians allegedly pounced on him in the process of which he slumped and died.
Residents told Saturday Vanguard during the visit that when the couple discovered that Mbanozo was dead, they hid his corpse under the bed. Sensing danger that all was not well , curious neighbours were said
to have asked after Mbanozo.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that: “At first , the woman told us that the boy fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Later she said he had been discharged and was inside. When we insisted on seeing him , they said he was sleeping. Some people suspected all was not well with the boy when the the couple still insisted that the boy was still sleeping the following day. It was when we insisted on seeing the boy that she opened up, disclosing that Mbanozo was dead and that her husband had gone to get a car that would take the corpse to the village. While we were waiting for her husband to return, he called his wife on the phone and told her to pack her things out of their apartment and leave with their three children. We stopped her from packing and followed her to a beer parlour where her husband was waiting for her and contacted the police.
Confirming the arrest, spokes person for the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide said:“ At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Pen- Cinema Division , while on patrol with his policemen, received an anonymous call that a man by name Paul Obiefule ‘m’ of No.22, Omitola Street, Agege Lagos and his wife had beaten a boy living with them named Onyedikachi Mbanozo ‘m’ aged 12years to death. On receipt of the information police patrol vehicles moved to the scene and brought the suspects and the deceased to the station for a detailed investigation. Case is currently under investigation at Pen Cinema Division’
In a similar incident on Monday at about 4 am, one Bright whose surname was unknown and who resided at No. 6 Olarewaju Street, Oregun, Ikeja was allegedly hit with iron belt by his father for stealing N1,000. The boy was rushed to Divine Private Hospital on Lawal Street Oregun where he was confirmed dead. The body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary where autopsy would be carried out.
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.
Twenty-four hours after a former governor of Ogun State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aremo Olusegun Osoba addressed his loyalists on the state of things in the party, Security men attached to his house in Abeokuta were allegedly withdrawn .
The withdrawal was reportedly supervised by the state commissioner of Police in the state, Ikemefuna Okoye around 12 : 15 pm yesterday and were later restored four hours later.
But, in a swift reaction, the Police denied withdrawing any of its men from Osoba’s house, describing the allegation as malicious.
But, according to a source, the development might not be unconnected with the crisis in the party in the state which had led to the division in the party.
Both Osoba and the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun are leading the two factions in the state.
Aremo Osoba had on Thursday had addressed his loyalists in his Abeokuta House where he ruled out any reconciliation with Amosun and members of his faction.
When our correspondent visited the house of the former governor at GRA Ibara, Abeokuta, yesterday, no policemen were sighted at their post except his orderlies who had been attached to him.
One of the private security guards seen in the area simply identified as Ade explained that a car just approached the police unit in the front of Osoba’s house and role out the withdrawal order.
But the command insisted that no one gave the order of withdrawal of its men from the house, saying, the Police duty is to protect the property and lives of the people including the Very Important Personalities.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi the command has been posting its men to protect the house of Chief Osoba on regular basis.
He said ” the complaint is malicious . Anyone who could have complained that to you does not have the fear of God. The policemen are posted to the place on regular basis 24 hours and if for no reason they were not seen at that beat, they ought to have complained to the Police and not journalists.
“The Policemen could have reported late. The C P has been at a meeting,so, under who were they withdrawn? Policemen getting late to the beat is different from total withdrawal from their beat.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that the Policemen could have reported to that beat late but, we expected the people in charge of Osoba’s house to have told us that the men have not reported.
“Chief Osoba is a very Important Personalty and we have our duty to protect his property most especially his house in Abeokuta. Nobody has withdrawn the Police from his house, the statement is malicious”, he said.
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.
While declaring the state of emergency, President Jonathan said, “extraordinary measures” would be brought to bear against the insurgents with a view to “restore normalcy” to the region in the shortest possible time.
Consequently, troops were given orders to carry out all necessary actions within the ambit of their rules of engagement to put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists.
In the prosecution of this war against terror, a lot has occurred to indicate that all is not well for the military as it has become obvious that equipment needed, both for the Nigerian Air force and the Nigerian Army who are in the fore-front of the battle to dislodge the hoodlums, are lacking or not in sufficient quantity while the available ones are in comatose state.
Intelligence gathering mechanism which should play pivotal role in containing the terrorists has remained nothing to write home about.
Reasons for these, according to Saturday Vanguard’s investigations are not far-fetched. What the Nigerian military have in stock as tools, modern military hardware, equipment needed to fight the type of terrorism we are facing are unbelievably short of the standard required.
A pilot told Saturday Vanguard that what the Air Force needed to clear the Boko Haram terrorists of f their camps and level those camps were attack helicopters fitted with sand proof facilities and night vision windscreens. These helicopters would fly into and land inside Sambisa Forest without noise. From the air and with the night vision, we can see through the jungle, map out our strategies without their knowledge. But this equipment is not there for us.
The Army, Navy and the Police bemoan lack of equipment even as many cannot vouch for the accountability of the “little” they receive. But they have a case.
Since the advent of Defence budgeting for the Army, Navy, Air force and even the Nigerian Police, there has never been a time that 100 per cent of the budgetary approvals for the services was released to them. About 60 to 70 percent is what they get at the end of every financial year, according to them.
Again, the capital expenditure under which the procurement of this military hardware falls, is such that when converted to foreign currencies at which these hardware are sold, the money is hardly enough. That is why the military would rather embark on repairs and rehabilitation of equipment bought in the 1980’s to prosecute a terrorist battle where the insurgents are armed with equipment manufactured in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Severally, the military and Police hierarchy have complained to members of the National Assembly about these problems but nothing has happened. Recently, Vanguard was told that CDS and Service Chiefs complained to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, about the paucity of funds to contain the Boko Haram insurgents and her reply was that the Federal Government had released a total amount of N130.7bn to the Ministry of Defence for military operations between January and April this year.
But of the said amount, the sum of N85billion was spent on personnel cost including salaries, allowances and other emoluments not only for the fight against terrorism but also on the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force, Ministry of Defence and Defence headquarters.
Others that benefited from the spending on personnel cost are Nigerian Defence Academy, National Defence College, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Defence Industries Corporation and Armed Forces Resettlement Centre while the balance of about N45billion which goes for capital expenditure, from where equipment and ammunition are to be procured, will also be shared by these arms of the military.
Military budgets elsewhere
Dating back to 2009, a cursory look at the Defence spending shows that in Africa, Algeria topped the military largest spenders’ chart with $5.6 billion in 2009. South Africa was next with $3.926 billion. Egypt followed with $3.665 billion. Morocco with a population far less than that of Nigeria budgeted $3.143 billion.
Angola had $2.983 billion; Sudan $1.991 billion while Nigeria came a distant seventh with $1.984 billion.
So conservatively, the total amount budgeted for the military between 2009 and 2014 by the Federal Government is N1.9 trillion out of which only N271. 4 billion was for capital expenditure, amounting to 14.3 per cent in a world that military equipment is denominated in European currency as well as the US dollar.
In 2013 for example, N281.51 billion was allocated to the three security agencies. The Army got N130 billion, Navy N73.34 billion and Air force N78.15 billion.
However, out of the N130.01billion budgeted for the Army, only N1.85bn was allocated for purchase of defence equipment, Navy and Air Force had budgets of N409.4 million and N1.51billion respectively for the same purpose.
While stakeholders told Saturday Vanguard that these amounts for modern equipment and hardware did not portray the nation as one ready or serious about fighting terrorism or insurgency, the case of the 2014 budgetary approval for capital expenditure was even worse.
Aside the air equipment needed by the Air Force for instance, the type of armoured tanks needed by the army, artillery guns, surface to air demobilizers and other technical weaponry for battle are not available.
What military forces need to invade Sambisa
Anti-landmine tanks, for instance, are needed for a land invasion of the Sambisa Forest where camps of the terrorists are scattered. Military experts say that any attempt to go in there without such mine resistant, detecting and demobilizing equipment could be suicidal.
Sources put the price of one such tanks known as the Buffalo at ($11million) N1.3billion and to be able to effectively tackle the menace of the insurgents, a minimum of 12 of such equipment would be needed.
The challenges facing the military were recently summarized as “inadequate budgetary allocations”. And that’s how the military sees it. Others admit this but note that it also goes beyond budgetary allocations.
On the part of the Nigeria Police, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar while rubbing minds with members of the National Assembly, recently, noted that going by the 2014 budgetary estimates, Nigeria Police may not be able to pay the salaries of their personnel in 2014 due to a shortfall of N14.4 billion in personnel cost.The IG said the budget office earmarked N279 billion for personnel cost against N293 billion required to pay the police personnel, lamenting the steady decline in budgetary allocations for overhead to the police in spite of the increasing security challenges. Explaining that the slight increase in the capital expenditure in 2013 budget was because of the injection of constituency projects, he noted that out of the N14 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2013, only N10.9 billion was released.
Saturday Vanguard’s investigation further showed why the quality of Police graduates from Police Training Institutions, until now that the IG stepped up the fight to upgrade them, dropped.
The budget for yearly upgrade of Police colleges and Training institutions shows that in 2009, only N700 million was allocated for Police College, Jos, Police College, Ikeja, Police College, Kano, Police College, Kaduna, Police College, Orji River and other training institutions. In 2010, N759 million was budgeted; in 2011, it came down to 291million; in 2012, it was N296 million.
Okonjo-Iweala’s assurances
Reacting to journalists’ questions on the military budget, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the Jonathan administration would give every necessary support to the troops who are hazarding their lives on behalf of all Nigerians.
She admitted that calling for increased funding was normal for military prosecuting a war or any special operation and that Nigeria’s case cannot be an exception, she adding that military funding was being treated with dispatch.
She disclosed that the president was even funding the Boko Haram operations from his “contingency fund” to ensure money was no problem in the fight against terror.
Her words: “We are in close touch with the defence sector. I have just finished talking not long ago with the Chief of Defence Staff and others. We have to be very supportive of our men and women in uniform because they are laying down their lives for us and they are involved in a very difficult endeavour. I think the defence spending is treated expeditiously.
“I want to say that there is no military establishment that I know of in the world which is engaged in a war that always has enough. They will always need more equipment, this is a new type of war. They will always need things that will help them. So we have to admit that. I don’t think that the Nigerian Army or Air Force is different from any other one we know of in the world. No amount of budget can be enough. In that context, the comments you have heard may be in that context. But in terms of the budget itself the defence sector takes almost a quarter of the budget.
“This year we have disbursed to them the money they needed. We have disbursed N130.7billion of which 85.9 billion is for personnel cost. All their salaries and payments are made as at when due . There are other requirements that require extra Joint Taskforce Special Assignment and sometimes the requirements come from Mr. President’s contingent fund and we have to scramble to meet that. So we have really worked hard and we really need to be supportive of them”.
The Corruption bug
Many people, including diplomats believe that the fight against the insurgency has dragged this long owing to the corruption in the system.
The harsh verdict that the Nigerian military cannot fight Boko Haram because of corruption came from far away United States of America although many Nigerians have raised their voices over this problem. The military may not be getting enough. But what happens to the “little” that they are getting?
The US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, said that corruption is hindering Nigeria’s efforts at ending insurgency in the North-East.
Sewall, who appeared before a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, last week, alongside a Pentagon top Africa official, Amanda Dory, added that the military must overcome entrenched corruption and incompetence for it to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14.
She said that despite Nigeria’s $5.8bn security budget for 2014, “corruption prevents supplies as basic as bullets and transport vehicles from reaching the front lines of the struggle against Boko Haram.”
Sewall, according to the New York Times, also told the committee that morale was low and that desertions were common among soldiers in the 7th Army Division fighting the insurgents.
Collaboration
Although Zakari Biu was about the only publicly disgraced Police officer for helping Kabiru Sokoto to escape from police custody, it was learnt that several other top shots in various security agencies have suffered similar fates for being sympathetic to the Boko Haram cause.
It was learnt that several officers at borders who used to provide free passage for Boko Haram arms, as well as other top security men who provide counter intelligence have been variously arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
If the war is to be won, the security agencies must cleanse themselves of Boko Haram sympathizers who frustrate the efforts of their colleagues and endangering the lives all Nigerians who have become targets of the murderers. The military will need to be well funded to purchase equipment and train their officers. And the fund so provided must be judiciously spent.
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.
ABUJA- NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu told the Borno State government yesterday that he was not ready to join issues with the state and its leadership, just as he stressed that what was required at this period of Nigeria’s history and political development was for all, irrespective of party affiliation to close ranks and nip in the bud, the current security challenge.
Apparently reacting to the Secretary to the Borno State Government, SSG, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, who had described him as a pathological liar and insincere on his comments about the state Ministry of education, the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the Chibok issue, the PDP National Chairman noted that rather than respond to such issues, he was more concerned about the development of the country as well as how Nigeria can win the fight against terror in Nigeria.
Mu’azu who noted that what Nigerians needed at the moment was how to curtail the activities of members of the Boko Haram Sect.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, ICT, Akin Oyegoke, he said, “the attention of the office of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, has been drawn to a press interview by the Secretary to the State Government of Borno State Ambassador Baba Ahmed.
“In an interview posted in one of the online portals, Sahara Reporters on Thursday 29th May 2014 in which Ambassador Baba Ahmed denied the letter of advice from the Federal Ministry of Education advising the Government of Borno State and other states in the region because of security situation not to conduct WAEC or NECO Examination outside of Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital is a clear acceptance of the lopsided approach by the Government in Borno State to fight insurgency in the area.
“The National Chairman of the PDP ordinarily will not like to join issues with any Nigerian especially not with Ambassador Baba Ahmed but as an elder statesman and a stakeholder in this administration, we wish to state again that for us to win the fight against terror in Nigeria, we must all close ranks irrespective of party affiliations and heed to all popular advice from any agency of government to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram Sect.
“We wish to state again that other states in the region which adhered to this advice from WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education where able to conduct WAEC/NECO in their States capital peacefully.
“We owe our people the collective duty to protect and provide for them and we wish to once again advice the Government and stakeholders in Borno State and indeed all Nigerians to cooperate with government at all levels to stop this spate of violence.
“While we respect the office of the Secretary to the State Government and the person of Ambassador Baba Ahmed, a highly respectable Nigerian who has served the state and the country meritoriously, we wish again to advice Baba Ahmed to put his tenses together when addressing a public figure and the person and office of Ahmed Adamu Muazu, a former Governor of Bauchi State and, the Chairman of the largest Party in Black Africa.
“Adamu Muazu is definitely not a Pathological liar as referred to by Baba Ahmed, rather, he is a man highly revered by his people, a man of integrity, a refined politician and a gentleman.”
Mu’azu however called on the members of the Boko-Haram Sect to embrace the amnesty extended to them by the federal government, drop their arms and join hands with all Nigerians and President Goodluck Jonathan, to continue to build the Nigeria “of our dream as there is no alternative to democracy.”
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.
It was the end of the road for eleven Nigerians and a Ghanian who allegedly sneaked into a Spain-bound vessel, MV African Osprey, in their search for greener pasture, following their arrest by the Nigerian Navy.
The stowaways whose ages were between 12 and 26, reportedly hid inside an unused cabin in the ship said to have been laden with hazardous materials.
The suspects were identified as Boniface Douglas, a Ghanian, Mustapha Ayinla, Bernard Amadi, Azinabor Gideon, Isaac Delight, Daniel Timothy, Justice Agburum, Anthony Oladipupo, Emma Okon, Idowu Adeyemi, Philip Israel and Holly Osatwie
Recovered from them , were kegs of water which they intended to drink during the trip, snacks and cassava flakes otherwise known as garri.
The rescue of the stowaways according to the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade was carried out in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,NIMASA, even as he reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s drive to make the nation’s waterways safe for legitimate businesses to thrive.
However, he appealed to ship owners and sea farers to ensure that thorough security checks were conducted onboard prior to departure from Harbour.”.
Explaining how they were arrested, the Commander Beecroft, Commodore Emmanuel Uwadiae, said midway into the journey the suspects who apparently inhaled the chemical substance, started banging frantically on the door of the cabin, thereby attracting the cabin crew.
He said “The Nigerian Navy took custody of 12 suspected stowaways at the Lagos anchorage. The suspects were found onboard MV African Osprey which had cast off from Tin-Can Port Apapa on May 19, 2014.
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.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – The Brazilian city where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic.
Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitos, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive.
Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died.
“It’s a record epidemic. It’s bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007,” said Andrea Von Zuben, who coordinates the Campinas dengue control program.
Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito.
The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash.
Severe cases can be deadly. Three people have died of dengue this year in Campinas, women aged 27, 69 and 81. Three other deaths are being investigated to see if they were caused by the disease.
There is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine.
The World Health Organization recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils.
It also suggests covering up exposed skin — advice that may cramp Portuguese captain Ronaldo’s bare-chested style, a topic of much commentary after his pectoral-flexing goal celebration at this year’s Champions League final.
Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013.
Von Zuben said the Campinas outbreak was being driven by a heatwave at the beginning of the year, the prevalence of a particularly virulent dengue strain and poor sanitation that leaves pools of standing water where mosquitos breed.
But she said the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be are a mosquito-control priority for health officials.
“We put larvicides and anti-mosquito poisons at the airport, in the training centers and in the hotels, so the teams will run a much smaller risk than the local population,” she told AFP.
– Team doctors ‘concerned’ –
The authorities have been in touch with the teams’ doctors, who were “concerned,” Von Zuben said.
She said her staff had recommended insect repellant.
“We’ve been guaranteed that the situation has been identified and is under control. There shouldn’t be any reason for alarm,” said the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).
In early May, when Portuguese coach Paulo Bento visited the training center, city officials told him three mosquito-control operations would be carried out before the team arrives on June 11.
The army has helped sanitation workers clean up 83,000 tonnes of rubbish and dozens of buildings have been sealed off and sprayed.
Campinas is not the only city facing the dengue threat.
Medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently said World Cup host cities Natal, Fortaleza and Recife in the northeast were also at risk.
Of course, infectious diseases are a two-way street.
Campinas has also launched a program to give citizens free vaccinations before World Cup fans descend on the city from Africa and Europe, where “polio and measles are still persistent,” it said.
Priority will be given to taxi and bus drivers, employees at restaurants and tourist attractions, and the staff of six major hotels.
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.
When it comes to top-notch acting and bringing a character to life, Kehinde Bankole knows her onions. The former Miss Lux who also had a stint in modeling has starred in countless soap operas, movies, and Kunle Afolayan‘s anticipated flick, October 1. She is a damsel, too talented to be ignored, and a breath of fresh air in Nollywood. In this interview with KEHINDE AJOSE, she opens up on how she has been able to stay out of controversy; why she would love to be paired with Majid Michel; whether she can act in a soft porn movie; and other issues:
Why did you decide to pursue a career in acting rather than music or modeling?
I decided to focus on acting at the moment because from modeling, I was not making as much money and gaining as much exposure as I would have wanted, except in the area of endorsement. Modeling wasn’t fetching me as much as I wanted.
I am good at what I do, so I wanted something that will give me visibility and also fetch me good money. That’s why I decided to focus on acting.
I chose acting over music in the last two years because these are two things that I am equally passionate about, and to combine the two would be very difficult, so I decided to push one forward first.
When that is established, then I can focus on the other one. I didn’t want to carry everything at the same time. Hence I decided to go for acting first.
Is there really tribalism in Nollywood as some people allege?
It must have existed at some time. I think it’s true … at a time. Now, they are realising that we are not here to promote tribes. We are here to promote arts. If it had existed before, it’s gradually being abolished. Now, the producers are looking for a lot of things beyond where you come from. I have worked with a lot of producers that are not from my tribe. If they see the talent, and one or two other ingredients to make it thick enough, they will definitely work with you.
How have you been able to stay out of controversy?
I try as much as possible to stay out of trouble by keeping my social life at minimal. I keep the all-night partying at minimal. It’s not like I do not do it once in a while, but I try as much as possible to keep it a bit low, so that I don’t get certain kind of attention. And when you don’t get that kind of attention it’s equal to being out of a lot of media trouble.
What kind of attention are you talking about?
As a woman, there are certain tools you can use to get attention. Nudity or scantily dressing can get you attention. Showing off how pretty you are in different ways, putting your romantic life in the public glare, and a couple of other things that can eventually turn scandalous for you. So I just try as much as possible to keep those things under wrap.
How have you been able to handle stardom?
I am not where I want to be. I am still a work in progress. There is still so much I want to achieve and so much I want to do which I know will still expose me much more. The extent I have gone, I have been able to handle it by being myself as much as possible. That thin line between being oneself and what stardom can make one, I keep myself from crossing it by making sure I still have a hold on who I really am. So every time I tend to be straying, I just remember: ‘This is who I am.’ I just strive to be true to myself and that has helped me so far.
Tell us about your giant strides?
There is my performance at the London Shakespeare globe to globe festival, where we performed The Winter’s Tale in Yoruba. We also represented Nigeria through Wole Oguntokun’s production. It’s called Renegade Theatre. The next milestone is featuring in October 1 by Kunle Afolayan .I am really excited about being part of that project. He is passionate about his productions. My Lux endorsement then is also a giant stride. I love to identify with initiatives that have to do with beauty.
What is your opinion about the injection of soft porn into Nollywood movies?
Sex sells. But the question is how soft that porn is. In reality, these are factors that are very strong in human existence; religion, sex, sensual things and politics. There are some key things that drive people and these are a very important part of our lives. However, how it’s projected and how much of it is shown is what matters. I think it is part of our daily lives. Using the word porn is what I am not comfortable with. May be it’s better to say ‘sensual things.’ I would say some sensual things are okay. But whether they are soft porn as you put it, I don’t know about that. We can’t live without certain things. It can be a part of it, but nothing on the heavy side.
Have you ever acted in soft porn?
Would you do that?
No. I won’t.
Why?
Because it’s soft porn, I wouldn’t act in a soft porn movie. But if it’s a sensual material in a movie and I know it’s relevant to telling a story I don’t have a problem with it.
What factors do you look out for before picking up a sensual role?
Whether sexual or sensual, the first question is its relevance to the story. Now, if it’s relevant and I see that I may not be able to pull it off due to certain sentiments I have, I won’t take the job. If I look at it and see that it’s not so bad, I can take it up. If it’s relevant and the sensuality is not too much, I can take it. But in a situation whereby it’s too much and it is not relevant to the story, then such a job is not meant for me.
So have you ever been approached to shoot a sensual material?
I have been approached to shoot a sensual material in Canada and I explained my own angle of it to the director and producer. I told him what I wanted. He still hasn’t shot the movie and we are still in touch. Over the years, I have grown to accept some things I wouldn’t have contemplated in the past. I have become a bit more flexible. Before now I wouldn’t have dared to kiss in a movie. But now I understand it could have a relevance to the scene. It was a very raw and sensual material he had – fantastic story, but extremely raw and sensual.
What is your opinion about sex for roles?
My opinion is that if anyone is willing to give sex for a role that is their business. They should go ahead and give. But it may mean they will have to continue giving sex before getting a role. Because word will go round that you gave this to get that when you get to the next production company, except you are lucky they didn’t hear. I will say it’s wrong to give sex before you get a role.
Have you ever been approached?
They do it all the time. Stylishly, they would ask you out for lunch right after you’ve just finished an audition. They’d ask you if you’d like to hang out, and when you check the timing you will understand what the person is trying to say. They won’t tell you that if you don’t come for dinner you are not going to get the role. Such proposals usually come after an audition or just before an audition. I want to believe most female actors will be getting it, or may be male and female actors will be getting it with the way things are going these days.
Who is that one actor you would love to be paired with?
That will be Majid Michel. He is good at what he does. The guy can interpret roles. He takes his time to break the work down.
What is the limit for you when it comes to fashion?
The limit for me is not being stark naked. I can only show a little at a time. I am not the type that will show off my boobs, my thighs, and my back. I can only show off a little at a time, and there are some times I don’t want to show anything. It all depends on the occasion and what I am going for at that time.
There is this perception that Nollywood actresses don’t get married early. What is your opinion about that?
I don’t have a particular answer to that, but I think it maybe that they spent a lot of years trying to build their careers, pursuing it, and trying to put it together. We are in a hostile environment that doesn’t really provide opportunities. We don’t have studios; we don’t have agencies or agents that handle the actors. Everything has to begin from the scratch. You do everything by yourself until when you have the money to employ someone to do it for you, or you are wise enough to know how to go about it. But you start from the scratch. Secondly, it’s also possible that there may be some negative perceptions men have about Nollywood actresses which make men not to come for them as quickly as they would have gone for any other young woman who is not an artiste.
In the course of your career what advice have you been given, and who gave it?
Three people gave me three different pieces of advice, and it has been working for me .Mildred Okwo told me, “Kehinde, be visible. Come out and be seen.” Wale Adenuga, Super Story boss, keeps telling me: “Don’t wait for the opportunities the government can give you. Create whatever opportunity you can create, and if you find any, don’t waste time, take it.” And lastly, Kunle Afolayan says to me: “whatever is what doing at all is worth doing well. Pursue excellence.” Those three pieces of advice are the most important ingredients in my career.
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.
1980 African Nations Cup winner, Henry Nwosu in this interview with JOHN EGBOKHAN says that Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi must change his playing style at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
What are your expectations from the African champions in Brazil? Do you see them doing better than they did in their previous appearances?
I do not belong to the category of people who are already saying that the team will get to the semifinal. I am a great believer in the Super Eagles ability to excel in any international tournament but I strongly believe that before we can begin to run, we must first crawl, not to talk of flying into the semifinal just like that. I am patriotic but it is important to put things into context and not start counting your chicks before they are hatched.
Even if we are so good, we cannot say for now that we are getting through or not to the quarterfinal round. But I see us doing well if the players show enough passion and discipline on the pitch.
Who in your consideration are the players who you feel will make the difference for us in Brazil?
The team is essentially a good and strong one. The players have shown that they can hold their own amongst their peers in the world. Like I said earlier, team is going to be vital for our success in Brazil but when you want to single out some players who can make the difference for us at the World Cup, then you cannot overlook Emmanuel Emenike, who I dare say will shine in Brazil.
Emenike will do very well for us, likewise Osaze Odemwingie. I also believe that Ogenyi Onazi will do very well for us. I also believe that Obinna Nsofor, if chosen by Coach Stephen Keshi, will do very well for us because he is strong, aggressive and determined.
Surprisingly, you did not mention Mikel Obi as one of the players who can make the difference for us.
I did not mention Mikel’s name because the Chelsea player does not believe a midfielder can score goals. He is not adventurous and only adventurous and daring players can make the difference for their teams at the World Cup. Mikel likes making square passes and that cannot do us any good in Brazil. Mikel must stop his backward movement in Brazil or else, we will suffer from his actions. He plays negative football. He must change in Brazil. The era of playing backward has stopped and I am surprised that he has not changed.
The players I mentioned earlier are those who can win games for us at the World Cup and Mikel, unfortunately, does not fall into that category, unless he changes now.
It is always unfortunate that instead of attacking and creating chances for his teammates to score, Mikel is always giving square passes. Even if that is the pattern used by his club, when he comes to Nigeria, he must change to suit our style and quest for glory.
There is a general agreement that we are taking good goalkeepers to the World Cup, except that there are concerns surrounding the suitability of Chigozie Agbim for the tournament. Do you see Daniel Akpeyi beating Agbim to the final third choice?
Generally, Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide are good goalkeepers who have earned their way to the World Cup. I do not have any fear concerning both players. Between Agbim and Akpeyi, I do not have a preference but I know the coaches will select the better one from the pair.
With about 12 days to the start of the World Cup, the talk in Nigeria has been about our match against Argentina on June 25. The focus is on Lionel Messi as people talk less of the first match against Iran on June 16 and the following one against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 21. How dangerous can this be to our World Cup aspirations?
Honestly, I am taken aback with this our over-concentration on the match against Argentina. They are not the only ones we will play in Brazil. We know Argentina as we have played them thrice at the World Cup, so they are no strangers to us. They are our perennial opponents at the World Cup and even though they have beaten us three times, they did not get the victories on a platter of gold.
I am more concerned about Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran because they are the unknown teams and we we must be very careful with them. Unknown teams come with the surprise factor and such surprises can shock teams who take things for granted.
How do we prepare and approach our matches against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina?
We must be very conscious of our defence because any silly mistake can be costly. In as much as we must be conscious of our defence, we must be an attacking team. World Cup is about goals and only teams who score goals get to win laurels.
What kind of World Cup do you see us having in Brazil?
World Cup is the greatest show on earth. It is where all players want to be and I hope that our boys make us proud. Even if they do not go far, I hope they will do well for themselves and the country..Speaking after the team had their first training at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium in Philadelphia, Keshi said he was thrilled by the level of tactical and technical depth displayed by the players but noted there was need to be cautious.
“Yes, I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list”, he was quoted as saying by Team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya.
Keshi said he was delaying naming the list so as to have a second look at those who are not measuring up.
Asked when is the last minute for him to make public his list, Keshi responded “June 2 is the date we arelooking at”
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.
I have an exercise I always conduct in my pre-marriage class. I normally ask the participants if their parents are still alive. If the answer is yes, I will ask if their parents have health challenges, faulty or old cars, leaking roofs or broken walls or other problems the parents need money to solve. Normally, they also answer “yes”.
Then I will ask why they are ”here preparing for a wedding that will cost huge sums of money instead of channelling the money to solve their parents’ problems”.They normally look at me bemused (Recently I insisted on an answer and one of the participants told me that ”life has to move on”). Then I will add, ”You know why? It is because your parents are no longer your priority, that is, if they ever were. But this is not really about your parents; the issue is you. The treatment you are meting out to your parents now should give you a foretaste of what awaits you. I am not cursing you, but you may also not be your children’s priority. So, start preparing for your retirement/ old age to save yourselves the experience your parents are now going through.”
Some still do not get the message because old age/retirement is something young people (some of them are in their early 20s) see as ”distant future” and so they have ”all the time in the world.” But retirement planning experts advise that preparing for retirement should start from the day you start earning an income. Starting early has benefits: your little drops of water can become a mighty ocean of wealth to float on by the time you retire or are old. It also eases pressure as you get older because a sense of panic can set in once you get into your late 40s and early 50s and you have not set aside anything reasonable yet, either in the form of investments or cash in a retirement account.
Retirement planning is not simplistic and straightforward, especially in a volatile and unstable socioeconomic and political environment where changes occur with the rapidity of desert sand dunes and a change in government policy can turn a comfortable person into a pauper overnight. You need a lot of knowledge and expert advice.
I also advise my marriage course participants who are in paid employment to be wary of investing in transportation, restaurants and fast food, supermarkets and other forms of retailing because the owners of such businesses need to devote time to them and they do not have such time. Even when the owners are around and systems and processes are in place to drive the operations, some workers still circumvent the system and pilfer, steal or loot. I advise them to rather invest in property, stocks, money market instruments and other investments that do not require their daily attention. It is up to each investor to thoroughly educate himself and understand the sector he/she is investing in before plunging in.
The need to make personal arrangement for retirement/old age [you can call it Plan B] has even become more urgent with what we read and hear in the media. From Abuja to Oyo State, billions of naira of pension funds have been stolen by civil servants and their collaborators, so that people who spent all their lives in government hoping to fall back on pension in old age can get stranded. From military, police to civil service retirees, we have been reading about how they die in queues waiting for their pension over the years. This is no way to spend retirement or old age (The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, recently said there is a positive change. The Pension Reform Act 2004 also gives workers some hope).
Old age is a delicate and critical time of our lives. It is dangerous to make it another person’s responsibility, whether government or children. Oh your children are not ”another person?” That is true, but do you have control over their money? Can you sign their cheques? Some of us treat our parents like everybody’s property and so everybody thinks somebody is going to sort out daddy and mummy, and they end up not being sorted out because everybody ends up not doing something anybody or somebody could have done.
The Bible says we should take care of our parents, but do not bank on it. The same Bible also says thou shall not steal, thou shall not kill, thou shall not covet and many other don’ts, but do we obey everything? If we did Nigeria will not be in a mess.
Nigeria, as it is now, is ill prepared, ill equipped and unwilling to take care of its senior citizens and what the current senior citizens are going through in the hands of this generation is what will likely befall the next set of senior citizens.
Unless urgent and genuine steps are taken to stem the tide, what our children are going to inherit is a massive mess of a country (I pray and hope Nigeria will still be intact by that time. I am for a strong and united Nigeria with strong federating units and a less powerful centre). If they manage to fix it, I get this sinking feeling that they are going to make themselves and the future generations their priority. The implication is that it is not only at the family front that many senior citizens will not be priority; even at the government level they will also not be priority. See why it is terribly important that you have a Plan B for your old age/retirement?
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.
FORMER Police Affairs Minister and Military Governor of defunct Western State, General David Jemibewon (rtd), has called for the creation of National Security Trust Fund to cater for the needs of troops and arms training for National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members to boost the war against terrorism and insurgency.
Jemibewon, who is thoroughly disturbed by the rising waves of insecurity in the country and acerbic remarks directed at the military wondered what he would have done if he was still young and in the army.
The retired general spoke to reporters at Ado-Ekiti, Wednesday, where he chaired the sensitization workshop for stakeholders in Ekiti State governorship election organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi. Rather than criticisms, he said the troops combating the Boko Haram insurgents need the support of all Nigerians to succeed because this is not a conventional war and instead of being rescued the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls might be killed if full force was applied.
His take on the Ekiti governorship election sensitisation workshop
When something is good you build on it. The objective of this seminar is to promote peace and harmony before, during and after the election. So, I think it’s a good idea and strategy to promote peace in our country.
On series of violence trailing the campaigns in Ekiti and how to curb it
It’s unfortunate but to put a stop to it or to reduce the intensity of such unworthy actions is the reason for this workshop.
I am sure one of the objectives of this workshop is to bring all the contestants together, the stakeholders and even those of us who stay by the side to look, including the press, to dialogue and arrive at a consensus to promote peace and understanding. Let’s face facts, what is election? Election is just a way of selecting leadership, particularly in a democratic setting and if the constitution makes provision for just one person to occupy a particular position, whether there are 10 or 20 contestants, it is one person that will get there.
So, we must learn to accept the winner. However, those who lose must be convinced that the process leading to the emergence of the winner was a proper process. That is to say that the purpose of this workshop before the elections is that we can all come to a conclusion that we want peace so that whoever deviates from that decision will be held responsible.
On how he perceives the Boko Haram insurgency and what could be done to address the challenge
I must be honest with you, what is happening in the country today is very sad. I just imagine: If I were still in the army as a young man, what would I have done? I don’t have what I may call total solution. It’s just to express a view based on your question and then also to work on the suggestions being put forward by most Nigerians. I think it’s unfortunate but we must understand that conventional war is slightly different from the situation we have today.
It’s not exactly a total war because in a war, you know your opponent and your opponent knows you. Even by the uniform he wears and the weapon he carries, you will know your opponent such that when a gun is shot, from the sound, by your experience, you can almost say this is the calibre of gun that is being shot. Now, you won’t know who a member of this group is.
So, to say that our soldiers are not well-equipped and well-armed are not appropriate statements. But I can understand that many people who do the writings or make the statements never had any form of military training and this is why in some societies they advocate compulsory military training. If everybody had gone through military processes, they will know that this is not total war and that makes it more difficult to fight.
So, I am just hoping that solving this problem will require a combination of most of the suggestions being put forward by various Nigerians; that is that it would be solved through dialogue, negotiation and a little bit of application of force and action.
Again, we must realise that with these girls abducted in Chibok, if we apply full military force to attempt to liberate them, they would be killed. So at the end you will ask yourself what have we achieved.
Some people are not happy with the way the military is tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, efforts to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls, the contradictory comments they make and exposing of their strategy. How do you view all of these?
I think there ought to be a central point where information must go to and where decision as to what goes out or diseminated is taken. But I know that there are competent people there that probably know better. However, what we need to do now is to encourage the military and wish them well.
I am using this opportunity to put forward a suggestion. I have sat down to look at it critically. If we all believe that what is happening is a national tradegy, something that every Nigerian should be concerned about then we ought to make an effort at the national level to support our security men. I deliberately didn’t use armed forces but security men –the Army, Navy, Airforce, Civil Defence, DSS, police, etc. During the Nigerian civil war, some people came up with the Troops Comfort Fund and it encouraged us. The fund raised was applied in many ways, providing food and other needs.
So, I advocate the setting up of Security Trust Fund. All those involved will know that the Nigerian society sympathise with them and know how this money will be used. Now, many of our troops including the police may come back with amputed legs and hands. This money can be ploughed into a central medical centre for the rehabilitation of those who would have been maimed during this crisis.
And the fund will be such that every Nigerian who believes that what we are facing now is a big tragedy for us will contribute to the fund. This is my idea. We need a National Security Fund to assist our security men in this operation particularly if you believe that this a national problem and needs the support of everybody.
On comments that poor intelligence gathering is hurting the anti-terror war
What is intelligence gathering? Intelligence gathering is simply information gathering before and during events and then you project into the future to see what is likely to happen. For example, I will expect that some people ought to be assembled somewhere to be thinking what would happen if this Boko Haram crisis comes to an end because it will still have some after effects. It is just like what we are doing in this workshop, trying to promote peace before, during and after the election.
Perhaps, our problem as a nation is that we did not anticipate what is happening so as to get prepared for it. But now that it has happened, how do we get information, analyse the information and also anticipate; when this will come to an end what should we do? This is important because even when it ends, something will come out. We ought to learn some lessons. For example, how are we going to rehabilitate those who are bereaved and what actions are we going to put in place to prevent recurrence of such attacks?
Intelligence comprises of many things. For example, those giving us headache today, it must have taken them some time to acquire the strength and weapons they have acquired. They live within human communities. Soldiers were not based in those areas. If these people had come to the appropriate authorities to say we are seeing some strange faces in these areas, etc, that is intelligence.
On comments that military intervention is responsible for Nigeria’s problems
That sounds ridiculous to me because it is similar to the general statement that the British created the problem of Nigeria. If 54 years after independence we are still blaming British, then I feel sorry for Nigerians.
On military training for our youths
It has been canvassed for in the past; it is becoming very stale now. In fact, basic military training should be introduced to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). They should be taught how to handle weapons, and through that you we will move the nation from a general level to reasonable level of general knowledge and understanding in the handling of weapons.
On fear that current security challenges could actualise the American prediction that Nigeria would breakup before 2015
They did mention it. At that time, many people were writing in newspapers insulting the source of the information instead of working towards ensuring that it didn’t happen. So, I am praying that the country doesn’t break up. The information that was brought to our knowledge many years ago, which is what I said in terms of intelligence, was the kind of information we ought to have worked with but unfortunately, we didn’t.
On whether the National Conference could halt the break-up that appears imminent
I wouldn’t say our break up is imminent. But in any case, what we have to do is to work towards ensuring that the prediction does not work. And to ensure it doesn’t come to reality, it is the responsibility of all of us to promote peace and understanding.
On South-West delegates’ demand for restructuring of the polity as the surest way to move Nigeria forward and their minimum condition for remaining part of Nigeria
Perhaps, they should let us know what they mean by restructuring and the nature of that restructuring. There was a time there were no states in Nigeria. Then we started with 12 states, went to 19 and wow we have 36 states. That is restructuring. Those who are advocating restructuring, I don’t think they are wrong but let them tell us exactly what they mean.
Other regions also have their positions. What does an association mean? It simply means a group of people who have agreed to form an association. There will certainly be discussions, disagreement and agreement but at the end, if they really cherish their coming together, there must be a way by which they must reconcile their differences and come to a consensus for the good and unity of that association.
What is the necessity of holding these workshops since most states are not learning from past experiences in Edo, Ondo and Anambra given the level of violence trailing the campaigns?
Have you sat down to imagine what could have happened if these seminars were never held? When you are teaching something, you should allow for gradual assimilation. So, without those workshops, maybe the situation would have been worse. And I am sure that as this seminar holds, each state will ensure that the result of its own election will be better than the previous ones. I don’t think because one or two of your children didn’t do well in school, you won’t send the third one to school.
Thursday, May 29 was democracy day. What do you make of democracy Day 15 years after?
To be honest with you, I don’t understand what Democracy Day means. We had democracy before in this country but unfortunately something went wrong politically and the military came in. Thereafter, between the various military governments they attempted democracy again. Then from 1999 to date, we thank the Almighty God that there had been no political disruptions. So, to just select a particular day as democracy day, I don’t understand.
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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