Tuesday, 25 December 2012

CPC: Why Nigerians Should Not Trust Jonathan


The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Tuesday said Nigerians have every reason to doubt President Goodluck Jonathan's ability to deliver on his promise of bringing about positive changes in their living conditions.

While responding to the President's new year speech, the party said apart from the poor management of fuel subsidy regime, the administration has demonstrated lack of capacity in tackling the myriad of insecurity issues that have assailed the nation in the outgoing year.
President Jonathan in his season’s message to Nigerians said that no one should doubt his administration's political will and determination to deliver on its promise of positive changes in the living conditions of our people in the shortest possible time
However, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, issued Tuesday, CPC said the hopes of Nigerians for a better and more prosperous country were dashed in the last 13 years by the PDP- controlled Federal Government.
"It is doubtful if the President truly believes that Nigerians can trust him on this one, after many broken promises in the past one year and sheer unwillingness to assuage the cruelty unleashed on them by his administration’s lethargy and incompetence."
Fashakin said the President and his forebears in the ruling PDP "have collectively mismanaged in the last thirteen years, the hopes of Nigerians and brought the Nation into impecunious status through unprecedented corruption and profligacy".
"The administration of the fuel subsidy, under the regime, has become a phenomenon in legendary opacity and monstrous corrupt tendencies. With N2.67 Trillion and N1.05 Trillion said to have been spent on fuel subsidy in 2011 and 2012 respectively, this administration has unwittingly created a bleeding pipe – in which the scarce resources of State are siphoned into private pockets of cronies and acolytes of the regime.
"The conundrum that this administration has brought the nation is that: any increase in world crude oil price would not translate into the prosperity of the Nigeria and her citizens.
"An administration that continually carries on with nauseous impunity, whilst the people’s rights to good living are continually being trampled upon, cannot be trusted. An administration, that is incapable of prioritizing the nation’s need as against the avaricious comfort of its principals and minions, cannot be trusted"
On security, Fashakin alleged that the administration has demonstrated lack of capacity in tackling the myriad of insecurity issues that have assailed the Nation. According to the CPC spokesman, it had become a regular template of the President to give assurances of investigation and security cover after each deadly bomb blast by terrorists.
He said the President’s speech was meant to fulfill a hollow ritual and not the communication based on perspicacious planning for a better future.
"On our part, we wish the Nigerian people Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. We heartily congratulates the Nigerian people for stoically wading through a very horrendous year, largely made so by the deliberate pauperization policy of the PDP-led ruling Federal government, " he said.
Naij

Gunmen set ECWA Church ablaze during Christmas service, many worshippers missing



DailyPost has received reports that unknown gunmen, attacked a branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Potiskium, Yobe State, during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
According to eye-witnesses, six people including the pastor, before setting the church building on fire.
“A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church,” Usman Mansir, a resident of Peri village near Potiskum, said.
“They opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers. They then set fire to the church,” he added, specifying that a branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) was targeted.
Idi Garba, the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Yobe, says many worshippers are still missing.
Yobe police chief Sanusi Rufa’i said “this is a security issue” and refused to comment further.
Although Yobe’s population is majorly Muslim, Potiskum, the commercial hub of Yobe has a significant Christian minority
 DailyPost

"My Mum Is Still My Girlfriend" — Wizkid



The name Wizkid is right now about the hottest in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. The young man, whose real name is Ayo Balogun, speaks on how he met Banky W, his plans, the deal with Akon and his speculated rivalry with Davido.
You dropped the Thank You single some days ago. What was the motive? - After having a successful year and touring the United Kingdom and the United States and going everywhere for shows, I feel it’s just right that at the end of the year, I say thank you to my fans that have shown me love and support. I know it’s just my little way because I can’t go to everybody and say thank you; so I decided to do a song and appreciate my fans and friends.
2012 has been a wonderful year for you. How do you feel? - I’m thankful to God and my fans; they’ve bought my CDs. I’m just on my first album and I’ve done a lot with it. I feel so blessed and I know it’s the grace of God, the support of my fans and my hard work.
Naij

I’m afraid of going back to school —WhizKid


The name Whizkid is right now about the hottest in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. He is immensely talented and full of potential. The young man, whose real name is Ayo Balogun, tells TUNDE AYANDA his story, how he met Banky W, his plans, the deal with Akon and his speculated rivalry with Davido.
You dropped the Thank You single some days ago. What was the motive?
After having a successful year and touring the United Kingdom and the United States and going everywhere for shows, I feel it’s just right that at the end of the year, I say thank you to my fans that have shown me love and support. I know it’s just my little way because I can’t go to everybody and say thank you; so I decided to do a song and appreciate my fans and friends.

2012 has been a wonderful year for you. How do you feel?
I’m thankful to God and my fans; they’ve bought my CDs. I’m just on my first album and I’ve done a lot with it. I feel so blessed and I know it’s the grace of God, the support of my fans and my hard work.

The EME Baddest Concert is forthcoming; personally what should we expect from you?
Definitely something different. You know in concerts in Nigeria, we are used to an artiste going up, a comedian coming up and another artiste going up again. That’s the normal routine and the way it has been with every show for the past two years. So we just feel we need to do something different and have everyone on EME get on stage and showcase their talent. For Whizkid, I feel this is going to be a different performance. My fans are going to see the other side of me.

What do you mean ‘another side’ of you?
Another side of me, like a performance you have never seen before; something very different from what you have seen in the past.

People always commend your stagecraft. Looking at you now, you look very different from what we used to see on the stage. Is there anything you do to boost your performance?
When I’m on stage, it’s different from when I’m just Whizkid. Once I step on stage and get the microphone to perform my songs, the energy I feel from the crowd is enough to get me going. It’s different because this is what I love to do; so it’s definitely going to be different from who I am. It’s not that I’m a loud person or that I jump up and down, but in my performance, I always give my best.

Why do you always re-echo your past in some of your songs?
Because I want people to know. A lot of people see me and they don’t think I’ve gone through anything tough in my life; they see me and feel I just woke up one morning and started making money. Not a lot of people saw me when I was walking the streets of Surulere. So I need people to know that I didn’t just get things for free. Nobody gave me anything, my parents gave me nothing. This is something I did for myself. I took a loan from my friends, I jumped my books for loans and nobody saw that part of the hustle, and I think it’s just relevant for me to point it out so that my fans will be sure of where I came from.

Did you really envisage this sudden success?
I was working hard and preparing myself for the success that would come. I wasn’t thinking I wanted to be bigger than anybody; I just wanted to be able to feed myself and my family, live a good life and make music – which I love to do.

When did you finally decide you were going to do music?
I started when I was 11 years, in church; and from then on, I’ve been in love with music and everybody in my family knows that. I dropped an album in church. I performed in church. I go from church to church for performance. I did a couple of concerts and later when I told my parents that I wanted to take music serious, they refused. They told me if I wanted to do this professionally, I had to stay in school. I had to stay in school and again do music professionally. So, it was like a double task for me. I’m thankful to God for where I am now.

Starting from the church to secular music, what was the transition like?
If you listen to my songs, you will see I’m always thankful to God. My relationship with God is private; it’s between me and God and I don’t feel anybody should come and judge based on what I do. The music I make is for the pleasure of it. The music I make, I thank my God as well.

You said your parents wanted you to go to school. When are you fulfilling that?
I’ve fulfilled it already. I was in university and I left in my second year. Before I left, I was doing very fine academically and my parents had no problem with that; but when the music and the brand became bigger, I couldn’t stay in class because people were mobbing me. It got really crazy and I don’t think there is any university I will go in Nigeria without getting mobbed. So, I just had to take a break from school and focus on my music for now.

Meeting Banky W was a turning point in your life. How exactly did you meet?
We met at the show. It was a friendship thing and later, he said he thought we could do business. We started talking. There are some things you can’t really explain. We started flowing and I think that was how God planned it to happen.

Listening to your music, one will easily experience a blend of different genres of music. What can you call your biggest musical influence?
My biggest musical influence is definitely Fela. Everytime Fela gets on stage to perform, you can’t hear his song and not be blown away. So, I just felt I wanted my own song to be a little different. I grew up listening to a lot of songs; my dad played a lot of Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. So, growing up, (the influence) was just kind of subconscious. It stuck to my head. This has really helped me because I draw inspirations from songs I listen to and create my kind of music.

What are you working on now?
My second album is ready. I’m waiting for us to finish the campaign. I’m going to drop my album next year; it’s ready. I’m always working, so I have ready-to-go songs a lot. I think this new album will be a better album than what we had last year. Sometimes when I listen to some of my songs, I feel like I should have done it better; but there is still time for that.

Are you still working with Samklef this time around?
I work with everybody. The reason Samklef had more songs on my album last year was because I chose all the songs I recorded with him. Though I worked with other people, the songs I did with him were the ones I really liked. Samklef is my guy and I work with him and I still work with a lot of people. I work with anybody that has a good beat.

Don Jazzy tweeted that you were in the studio with him. Is this part of what to expect?
Yes. My first single I’ll drop in January is produced by Don Jazzy.

What’s the experience with him in the studio?
I’ve known Don Jazzy since I got into the industry. He was there when I performed majorly for the first time on stage and we’ve been friends since then. He is like a brother, and for us to just be getting into the studio together is something long overdue. We’ve been trying to work together for years, I feel great.

Whizkid is a very popular name at the moment. How have you been coping with the fame?
Sometimes I feel bad that I can’t walk on the streets freely; I feel bad I can’t walk like the normal boy I was in Surulere then without attention. But for me getting acknowledged based on my hard work, it’s a good feeling and I know everything is a blessing.

Celebrity’s life is always considered as ephemeral. Are you putting something down for the future?
Every smart person will do that. Investment is very key and I know I’m not going to be jumping around as Whizkid for the rest of my life. In 10 years’ time I might not be doing this if I know I’ve made a lot of money. I wouldn’t be jumping on stage. I can stay in my house and produce music. Investment is key; so I’m doing that. I’m doing a lot of merchandise next year, but the real business is very personal.

How will you discipline yourself from making fame and money get into your head?
I know what it feels like not to have (a presence). I grew up like that, and for me to now have it and start acting up will mean I’m a fool. I think it would be senseless for a boy like me that works hard to make money, to blow it. It’s a personal decision I took for myself; it’s how I grew up and I won’t say I’m Whizkid and go and jump off the bridge or do something crazy. I love what I do and I understand it. I can’t allow anything to get into my head.

Can we take a peep into the EME family? You live together?
We used to live together, but we don’t live together anymore. But we work together and use the same studio everyday. The relationship with EME is crazy; our work ethic is mad because we are always working.

For someone that works hard, how do you relax?
I don’t get enough rest, but I try to sleep anytime there is chance. Right now, I don’t think it’s time to sleep, because I’m still trying to build a brand globally. My relaxation time will soon come.

What’s really the relationship with Akon?
It’s a work relationship and a friendship. Akon is like a big brother to me. When he heard my stuff, it took us a year to actually finish all the documents. We’ve been talking for a year back and forth, signing law documents and so on just to make the stuff works. I feel Akon came at the right time because when he heard my music, he just wanted to work with me when he realised how talented I am. And I went to America to work with him as well. We did a lot of collabos. Our relationship is very cool and I feel he sees a younger me in him. There is a new album coming out, Stardom, which I featured in.

Fame comes with women. How do you manage yours?
Same way all other artistes manage theirs.

It can’t be!
I show love to everybody. I’m not stupid.

You once mentioned your mum was the only woman in your life. Is it still like that?
Yes. I’m still very single. My mum is still my girlfriend; till I find that woman I can call mine.

Who are the people you look up to in the industry?
D’banj and Tuface are my biggest inspirations ever in the Nigerian music industry, and the only people I do shows with a lot in the industry. Definitely, I have to perform before D’banj or Tuface. I look up to them and watch their performances. It motivates me a lot. Tuface is a legend; I grew up listening to him when I was in secondary school. I was following Tuface, and for me to be performing on the stage right now with him is a blessing.

What’s your relationship with your peers in the industry? There is some talk that there is a rivalry between you and Davido.
I think it’s the media and the fans that are trying to create what I will call an entertainment. There is nothing like that in Nigeria right now. When I came out, everybody was comparing me to Wande Coal, until now that they all know me as Whizkid. If they compare me to him, it means I’ve done well.

Don’t you feel challenged?
I’m still making money and getting shows, so why should I be bothered about anybody’s success? I’m very straightforward and the sky is big enough for everybody to fly. You get your money and I get my money. Before now Tuface was there and he was collecting money, now I’m collecting money too. Will Tuface be mad at me for making money? It’s not possible.
NigerianTribune

Revealed: Minister Paid N40m For Mom’s Release… Suspects Nabbed While Making Deposit


In what might be termed a sting operation, operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, have arrested six of the abductors of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala.
PROF. KAMENE OKONJO (L) DR. NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA (C) & OBI
THE OKONJOS: PROF. KAMENE OKONJO (L) DR. NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA (C) & OBI OF OGWUASHI-UKWU, PROF. CHUKWUKA OKONJO
Recall that the minister’s mother who also happens to be wife of the Obi of Ogwuashi-Ukwu, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, was kidnapped on December 9, 2012 at the palace of the traditional ruler but was released five days after following concerted efforts of the combined security agencies in the country.
But in a bid to unravel the masterminds behind the kidnapping, arrests were made by the police, Army and men of the SSS.
Last week, 63 of the suspects earlier arrested by the Army were released unconditionally when their culpability could not be established. However, yesterday, six of the real suspects were eventually arrested in Asaba, Delta State, and might be flown to Abuja today.
We also gathered that a N40m ransom was actually paid for the release of the 82-year- old retired professor of Sociology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.
A security source while narrating how the suspects were arrested said: “The N40m, which was paid to the kidnappers was marked money from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. What happened was that the money was paid on Wednesday by our men and by Thursday, two persons had gone to the Nebisi Road branch of an old generation bank to deposit N15m out of the money.
“Because it was marked money, they were promptly arrested. Our men were able to track four of the kidnappers with the aid of the two persons. Right now, we are on the trail of the remaining four suspects.
“The six suspects are supposed to be brought to Abuja tomorrow (today) to face further interrogation.”
When pressed on why the operatives did not immediately apprehend the suspects when the excahnge was made, the source explained: “Don’t forget that as at that time the woman was still with the kidnappers and they could decide to kill her if they suspect anything phony. Our major concern then was to ensure that the woman regained her freedom and was not harmed in any way.
“In fact, that was the point the minister kept hammering to us. She said that we should do everything possible to secure her mother alive, even if it meant paying whatever ransom the kidnappers asked for. If you know how this is done, once they came for the money, we knew that the game was up for them. We knew that we must get them unless they would not spend that money in Nigeria.”
InformationNigeria

FG Cancels Controversial Recruitment Into Nigeria Immigration Service


Following allegations of skewed recruitment in favour of applicants from certain section of the country and non-advertisement of its recruitment process, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has directed the immediate cancellation of the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service.
MRS ROSE C. UZOMA ENMESHED IN RECRUITMENT SCANDAL
MRS ROSE C. UZOMA ALLEGEDLY ENMESHED IN RECRUITMENT SCANDAL AT THE NIS
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, George Udoh, the Minister stated that “following apparent controversy trailing the ongoing recruitment exercise in Nigeria Immigration Service the responsible  thing to do is to cancel the exercise until a more transparent, acceptable and efficable platform is established to enlist qualified Nigerians into the service.”
Comrade Moro directed further that all appointment letters  issued and documentation carried out stand cancelled until the Civil Defence immigration and Prisons Service board, meet to consider the waiver granted the Nigeria Immigration Service to recruit men and women into the service.
It would be recalled that the Controller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Rosemary Chinyere Uzoma, who has just three months to the expiration of her tenure, while defending the secret recruitment exercise into the service at the insistence of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, said, the decision was taken so as not to unknowingly recruit terrorists into the highly sensitive organization.
InformationNigeria

Passenger Arrested With N71m At Lagos Airport


The Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, on Monday arrested a passenger, Mr Ikebude Akoma, with $456,000 (N71,660,400) during the outward clearance of passengers of Qatar Airways flight to China en route Doha.
The Public Relations Officer of the Airport Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs Thelma Williams while reacting to the arrest said that the passenger was apprehended for not being able to explain to the Customs authorities the source of the foreign currency with either bureau de change or bank slip which was a prerequisite for a proper documentation of the currency.
According to Mrs Williams, the passenger with the passport number A04073478, was arrested at the ‘E’ wing section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport screening hall from where he was interrogated by officials on duty before being handed over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
She noted that the passenger was guilty of the law for his inability to convince relevant authorities over the source of the money as well as his defiance of rules concerning the movement of huge sum of foreign currency outside the country.
“During the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight to China via Doha, our officials reported that one passenger identified as Ikebude Akome with passport number A04073478 declared f$456,000 at E Wing screening hall of the Lagos Airport,” Williams said.
“On further investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had no proper document like the bureau de change or bank slip.” she added.
Williams, however, pointed out that the passenger had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigations and necessary actions
Naij