Saturday, 30 November 2013
Friday, 29 November 2013
Omotola, Donjazzy, named among 2013 Africa's 100 Most Influential People
Other Africans in the list include Ghanaian/US actor Idris Elba, Nigerian/UK actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sudan supermodel Alek Wek, South African comedian Trevo Noah, South African fashion mogul, Precious Moloi-Motsepe and Senegalese actor Omar Sy. Well deserved. See the full list HERE
FG deploys policemen to federal universities
Saturday PUNCH learnt this development was disclosed at an emergency meeting the Federal Government held with all vice-chancellors of federal universities at the National Universities Commission building in Abuja on Friday. The Acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, were also at the meeting.
Though Friday's meeting was held behind closed door, a source at the meeting who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, told Saturday PUNCH that the Federal Government directed the IG to draft policemen to federal universities to prevent members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from disturbing some of their members that might want to resume work in line with government's directive.
The meeting, Saturday PUNCH further learnt, also discussed other modalities for calling off the bluff of ASUU whose members have been on strike for over five months.
The Friday meeting began at 9am and lasted for two hours. Part of the meeting's deliberations, Saturday PUNCH gathered, also centred on how to recruit new lecturers to fill the space of ASUU members who might refuse to obey government's directive. Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to call students back to campus on Sunday in preparation for academic activities which should start on Monday.
Wike, had on Thursday ordered lecturers to resume duties on or before December 4 or face being sacked summarily by the Federal Government.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that already Okojie had been mandated to start the process of recruiting new lecturers by placing vacancy adverts in international journals and media.
Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to open registers in their institutions where ASUU members that resume work would sign so that those who failed to resume could be sacked.
Saturday PUNCH further learnt that the Federal Government was planning to adopt the Ghanaian method where lecturers were asked to re-apply for their jobs after two years of strike.
"Not all lecturers are members of ASUU. Most professors don't belong to the union, people think every lecturer in public university is a member of ASUU, which is not true. Government means business this time around and it is going to call off the bluff of ASUU,'' the source explained.
Nigerian universities are currently in need of at least 30,000 lecturers because of acute shortage of lecturers in the university system..
There are also indications that the Federal Government and university lecturers may be heading for a clash as the December 4 deadline given by the Federal Government for the lecturers to return to work is also the date set aside by ASUU to bury a former President of the union, Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The Federal Government had claimed it decided to go tough on ASUU because the union made fresh demands in its letter to the government as a condition for calling off the lingering strike action.
ASUU had demanded payment of the four-month salary arrears of its members from July when the strike commenced and the release of N200bn that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to inject into the university system within the next two weeks.
The union also said the agreement reached between it and the Federal Government should be signed by the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Though the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Faggae, refused to pick his calls and also did not respond to a text message sent to him on the latest development, the Enugu State Police Command confirmed that its men had been directed to man universities to quell any protest that might result from the Federal Government's order on lecturers to resume work on or before Wednesday.
The command told Saturday PUNCH that police officers had also been directed to be stationed at the universities to forestall any disturbance from various groups or lecturers on Monday.
"There is no cause for alarm and we are combat ready in the event of any violence or disturbance," the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said.
"We are not going to their houses to force them to come and teach in the universities. Even though the Federal Government has taken a stance, we are not in the military rule to molest lecturers," he said.
"We are not going to their houses to force them to come and teach in the universities. Even though the Federal Government has taken a stance, we are not in the military rule to molest lecturers," he said.
But reacting to the latest development, the Chairman, ASUU, UNIBEN chapter, Emina-Monye, said ASUU members were not bothered about government's latest strategy.
He said, "They can go ahead with that. We are not perturbed. Let them call the police; let them advertise vacant positions and see how many international scholars will want to accept what Nigerian university lecturers are taking- let them go ahead."
Also, ASUU branch at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said government's directive was an attempt to waste students' time.
The UNIUYO ASUU Chairman, Dr. Nwachukwu Anyim, said in Uyo on Friday that Nigeria was no longer in a military era and so lecturers could not be coerced by anybody to work against their wish. He said, We will see how they will come to our homes and force us to resume work.
"Only the Federal Government can tell the world what it has in mind. We have a shortfall of 60,000 lecturers in the university system. If they are advertising this one, it means they must have an idea of where they are going to put them, and they must be people who are going to work without equipment."
However, the University of Nigeria chapter of ASUU on Friday said its members would not resume work until their demands are met.
The UNN-ASUU also described the Minister of Education, Wike, as a "tout".
The union, however, told Saturday PUNCH that it won't react officially to Wike's order until President Goodluck Jonathan speaks.
"We have not heard from the President, so we cannot speak officially on the matter. It would be senseless to begin to react to a statement from Wike since he is a tout," said Dr. Ifeanyi Abada, Chairman of UNN-ASUU.
Abada said that Wike's order cannot hold and vowed that ASUU would unleash terror if the minister attempts to carry out the order.
"We stopped the late General Sani Abacha, so stopping Wike and these bloody civilians won't be any problem to us," Abada vowed.
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday described the action of Wike as hasty.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents that Wike ought to have considered the circumstances that delayed the leadership of ASUU from getting their resolutions to the government.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Chris Uyot, said in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents that Wike ought to have considered the circumstances that delayed the leadership of ASUU from getting their resolutions to the government.
Uyot said that ASUU was not able to get the resolutions of the NEC meeting to the Federal Government because of the death of Iyayi.
Reacting to the latest development, Mr Femi Falana [SAN], said President Goodluck Jonathan should call Wike to order in the interest of the education system...He said If Wike had familiarised himself with FG/ASUU face-off in the past two decades, even under the defunct military junta, he would have discovered that ASUU members had never been cowed to submission.
He said, "In 1992, the Ibrahim Babangida junta fired all lecturers and threatened to eject them from their official quarters. When the lecturers defied the junta a decree was promulgated which made strike by teachers a treasonable felony. ASUU also ignored the obnoxious decree and called off the bluff of the military dictators. But at the end of the day it became clear to the regime that universities could not be run like military barracks. Hence the junta swallowed its pride, withdrew its empty threats and decided to honour the Agreement which it had rejected.''
TRUE LOVE: The Untold Story And Why Lola Omotayo Married Peter Okoye Despite Their Age Difference
Note: This piece was culled from Encomium Weekly.
THE love story of Peter Obumneme Okoye of P-Square and Lola Omotayo is compelling and amazing. The couple have been in a relationship for over eight years before they finally tied the knot on Sunday, November 17, 2013.
When Lola got pregnant for Peter Okoye in 2008, ENCOMIUM Weekly was the first journal to break the good news. In Lola’s word, the world was told how their affair started, how they are getting on and their plan. Back then, marriage was never in the picture.
In an interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly in April 2008, the then Business development Director, FK:G2 (a top marketing outfit) poured out her heart thus:
“My agency handles some of British American Tobacco brands and P-Square was doing a show for us at one of our events in Enugu. Though I had met Peter a couple of times before then, at the show there was some chemistry. He asked for my number and I refused giving it to him. I told him if you really want to know me, you have to find my number. So he took it as a task and found my number and the rest is history.”
Lola, said to be 35 back then, and the popular singer in his 20s, was not disturbed by the age difference. Her defence:
“Like I said, Peter is an old soul and he always tells me that I’m like a 23-year old. Age is just a number. Right now, you can see it around the world. Demi Moore, Usher and some known people. Even in Nigeria here, they are dating people far older than their age. So, we shouldn’t base it on the age factor. He doesn’t make me feel like he’s younger than me.”
DSC_5601On the future of their relationship, Lola who now has two children for the music super star had also told the journal of record, ENCOMIUM Weekly, she is not really particular about marriage.
“The truth is I’m not particular about marriage. Marriage is not something you rush into. To me, it is over rated in Nigeria. Here, they say marriage completes a woman, but I don’t believe in that. There is so much that completes a woman and marriage is not it. I’ve never focused on that. I’m not the little girl who dreams of her wedding day. I’m not afraid to be alone. I pray, I am not going to end up alone for the rest of my life, I want a life partner. But the tag, marriage is not something I think is the ultimate. I would take my time rather than rush into marriage only to later discover that it is not what to expect.
“And Peter, as well, is dealing with his own career and he wants to focus on that. And you know, may be in a year’s time, I would be ready to get marriage and if he’s not ready then, we get to go our separate ways. The truth of the matter is that marriage is not in the picture for me right now.”
Lola further narrated how she was struck by cupid’s arrow: she confessed they were friends for a while before they got intimate: “Not that long. He was too fine, so I had to kiss him. In the beginning, we were coming from different walks of life and there were later adjustments. When I’m into something, I’m into it, 100 percent. People just look at the social status thing. He’s an entertainer, she’s a career girl, but it’s not about that. He’s not the first artist I’ve dated, not a Nigerian though. He was an international act.”
Peter of P-Square had always told his family and friends it is either Lola or nobody. Even when a former beauty queen and a struggling rapper allegedly got romantically involved with him, he had to disown her for the sake of his love for Lola Omotayo.
Despite their different cultural backgrounds and career paths, the popular artiste’s love for Lola did not wane. Even when she got pregnant for their first baby, he didn’t shy away from his responsibility.
“The pregnancy is mine and nothing on earth can make me deny it. After all, I didn’t impregnate a street girl. The person carrying my baby is an independent and responsible lady who I love with all my heart. So, the baby is mine and I’m proud to be the father. As for marriage, I don’t have plans for it yet.”
Pretty Lola Omotayo, a native of Osogbo in Ifelodun local government of Osun State has obviously got more than she bargained for from her more than eight year romance with the Anambra-born Peter Okoye. From leisure trips to exotic car gifts, the half-caste in her late 30s has been pampered far beyond her dreams by the singer whose songs are the toasts of many in Nigeria and beyond. And now they have consummated their union the traditional way, their family, fans and associates are wishing them everlasting marital bliss.
SHOCKING: Ex-footballer Discovers 3 Children With Wife Of 20-Years Are Not His
After over 20 years of marriage, former Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Coventry City and the Ghana national team footballer, Nii Ordartey Lamptey, has just shockingly discovered that all 3 children he has fathered all these years with his wife are not his biological children.
The footballer made this shocking revelation during an interview on radio when he was asked why he and his wife were getting divorced.
"I thought they were my children but upon a DNA test, I got to know that they are not my biological children. The issue is in court so I’m pleading, because it is a legal issue I don’t want to go through so many things, but I am 100% sure that the children are not mine after 20-years of marriage. We had five children but two passed away so we were left with only 3 and they are not mine," Odartey said.
According to report, his wife known as Gloria Lamptey is claiming her husband, Odartey is infertile and he was the one who suggested they use artificial insemination. A claim Lamptey denies.
However, a source close to the former footballer said he'd on several occasions caught his wife cheating on him but stayed with her because of his love for her and the businesses they own together.
The estranged couple are now in court.
Kanye's call for boycott of LV fails miserably. Fashion brand sells out
After Kanye West told people to not buy any Louis Vuitton until after January the company took action and sent an e-mail to their best customers who responded in a huge way. The company says that sales surged this week and when final numbers came in that a new record was set for online sales and that customers responded to the attack by Kanye by coming to the brand for the first time and there were many small transactions by people who wanted to show their support for anything that is anti-Kanye." CDN reportsDuring that radio interview Kanye said "They think I don't realize my power." Guess he's not as influential as he thinks he is.
Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher Are Finally, Legally Divorced!
Nearly two years after they announced the end of their six-year marriage, Demi Moore and ex-husband Ashton Kutcher are finally, legally divorced. According to TMZ, the couple's split was finalized on Nov. 26.
And the reason it took them this long was because they were squabbling over money.
Demi had initially wanted spousal support even though she was worth way more millions than Ashton.
She later backed off that claim... but Ashton had to give her somewhat more than he had to before they reached a financial settlement.
US rapper Wale explains why he's never been to Nigeria until now
"I grew up poor. We lived in DC, in the projects. Getting a ticket to Nigeria on $20, 000 income yearly, to my family that wasn't really... you know...like I was a 15 year old with a decent job, I'm not going to save up to go to Nigeria. That wasn't what I was thinking when I was that age. And then I was in college and the money tight right then. And then I get this record deal when I dropped out of school, you're running around so much you don't even have time to see your own parents"
Why I Initially Denied My Baby - Ice Prince Zamani
In this interview with Showbiz plus, rapper Ice Prince who welcomed a baby boy last year with a 20-year old undergraduate student denied the said baby when news filtered out that he was a father. He however explains his reasons for doing that..
You initially denied having a baby?
It was complicated back then, I didn’t really know what was happening and I wasn’t sure of certain things. So the best I had to do then was denying it and sort out things first. Now I know he is my child and I have done everything as a father ever since.
What is the relationship like with his mother?
I speak with her often and it is usually about the baby. That is all for now.
Have you started thinking about marriage?
No, I’m fully focused on my music.
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"I Was Angry" - Gov. Oshiomole Apologises Over Statement To Widow
The governor apologised when the leadership of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Benin. He said that he made the comments in anger and he regretted the comments.
He noted that though the challenge of modern times had bestowed on the shoulders of some women and single mothers the status of bread winners of their homes, such should not be used as an accuse to flout the laws.
INCREDIBLE: 30 Most Powerful Photos Ever Taken. The Kind You Never Ever Forget
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These 30 powerful photos are famous and poignant, they will forever be cemented in history. The images that were captured are so intense, they are impossible to be forgotten. They said a picture is worth a thousand words… but it’s impossible to say just how many words these are worth. Prepare to be left speechless.
2. An Afghan man offers tea to soldiers
3. During massive floods in Cuttack City, India, in 2011, a heroic villager saved numerous stray cats by carrying them with a basket balanced on his head
5. Demonstration of condom usage at a public market in Jayapura, capital of Papua, 2009
6. Greg Cook hugs his dog Coco after finding her inside his destroyed home in Alabama following the Tornado in March, 2012
8. A woman sits amidst the wreckage caused by a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunam, in Natori, northern Japan, in March 2011
10. An old WW2 Russian tank veteran finally found the old tank in which he passed through the entire war – standing in a small Russian town as a monument
11. “Wait For Me Daddy,” by Claude P. Dettloff in New Westminster, Canada, October 1, 1940
12. A dog named “Leao” sits for a second consecutive day at the grave of her owner, who died in the disastrous landslides near Rio de Janiero in 2011.
13. Hhaing The Yu, 29, holds his face in his hand as rain falls on the decimated remains of his home near Myanmar’s capital of Yangon (Rangoon). In May 2008, cyclone Nargis struck southern Myanmar, leaving millions homeless and claiming more than 100,000 lives
14. Five-year-old gypsy boy on New Year’s Eve 2006 in the gypsy community of St. Jacques, Perpignan, Southern France. It is quite common in St. Jacques for little boys to smoke
19. Zanjeer the dog saved thousands of lives during Mumbai serial blasts in March 1993 by detecting more than 3,329 kgs of the explosive RDX, 600 detonators, 249 hand grenades and 6406 rounds of live ammunition. He was buried with full honors in 2000
20. Indian homeless men wait to receive free food distributed outside a mosque ahead of Eid al-Fitr in New Delhi, India
22. A firefighter gives water to a koala during the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia, in 2009
23. Christians protect Muslims during prayer in the midst of the 2011 uprisings in Cairo, Egypt
26. Diego Frazão Torquato, 12 year old Brazilian playing the violin at his teacher’s funeral.
28. Heart surgeon after 23-hour-long (successful) heart transplant. His assistant is sleeping in the corner.
30. A starving child and missionary
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