Saturday, 5 January 2013
Yero Plans To Dissolve Cabinet, Anxiety Grips Commissioners, Aides
Indications merged last night that Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has concluded plans to dissolve the cabinet which he inherited from the late Governor Ibrahim Yakowa.
A source close to the governor disclosed that the development had led to palpable fears and anxiety among serving commissioners, top government functionaries and special advisers who are apprehensive of the impending sword of Damocles.
The source added that the commissioners were aware of the development and have started lobbying some people in the state to make a case for their retention or redeployment, adding, "The governor is not going to change the entire cabinet, but I strongly believe that a sizeable number of the commissioners will go.
Naij
PPMC Deputy Manager Kidnapped
The rate of kidnapping has become terribly alarming, and after one case is over it seem a new one always pops up. Last year the height of it was when Okonjo Iweala’s mother was kidnapped, followed by the kidnapping of Nkiru Sylvanus. Now its a case of the PPMC deputy manager.
It was reported that the senior staff of the Pipelines Products Marketing Company, PPMC, Okrika Area Office, an affiliate of the Port Harcourt Refining Company has been kidnapped, the Police Command in Rivers has said. The spokesman of the command, Ben Ugwuegbulam, said this in an interview in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The PPMC is a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission, NNPC. Mr. Ugwuegbulam said that the victim is a Deputy Manager at the PPMC, adding that the manager was abducted at Ozuoba in the outskirts of Port Harcourt on January 3.
“The details of the incident are still sketchy. Our anti-kidnap unit has commenced investigation into the incident. We will give you more details as soon as we get them,” he said.
Mr. Ugwuegbulam said no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and no ransom has been demanded.
Prayer is that he gets found very soon.
InformationNigeria
Mystery man lounging with Princess Diana in rare “NOT TO BE PUBLISHED” photo revealed [DETAILS]
Old Etonian Mr Russell, the great-grandson of former Tory prime minister Stanley Baldwin, is shown relaxing with the future Princess of Wales during a group ski holiday in Val Claret in the French Alps in 1979.
The Daily Mirror, which bought the photo two days after Diana’s engagement to Prince Charles was announced in February 1981, wrote NOT TO BE PUBLISHED in crayon on it.
Censored:
The man pictured with Lady Diana Spencer on a ski holiday in Val Claret
in the French Alps in 1979 has been revealed as aristocrat Adam RussellOxford student Mr Russell is said to have had a ‘galumphing’ crush on Diana. Nothing, however, happened between them.
According to royal author Andrew Morton, Mr Russell went travelling for a year, and when he returned to the UK in 1980 and told a friend that he liked Diana, he was told: ‘You’ve only got one rival, the Prince of Wales’.
He tactfully decided not to pursue her, but the pair remained great friends.
Mr Russell later said he initially thought Diana was a bit of a
Sloaney ‘giggler’ but got to like her when both were injured skiing.He found her ‘bubbly, giggly, but not in a vacuous way, and lacking in self-confidence’.
Aristocrat: Former Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, Adam Russell’s great grandfather
Affection: Lady Diana Spencer receiving a kiss from a friend at a polo match before her marriage to Prince CharlesMr Russell, who is now a deer farmer in Dorset and married to gardening expert and TV presenter Ali, declined to comment.
The picture shows Diana lying on a bed in a chalet with Mr Russell, who is resting his book on her shoulder. On the window ledge behind them is a bottle of Johnnie Walker whisky.
The identity of the photographer is not known.
The ‘NOT TO BE PUBLISHED’ warning scrawled on the front of the photo perhaps reveals that the Daily Mirror’s picture editor at the time had second thoughts about publishing an image of the future Queen in an intimate pose with another man.
The picture remained in the paper’s archives until it was bought seven years ago by the private Caren Archive, which is now putting it up for sale through RR Auctions in New Hampshire.
Pictured: Lady Diana Spencer would go on to become one of the most photographed women in the worldThe 8×10 inch photograph would normally sell for around £750, but because it has the ‘not for publication’ note on the top, the auctioneers expect it to fetch significantly more.
Together: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer pose in 1981 after announcing their engagementMr Caren said: ‘It’s an intimate photo – I don’t know the man in the picture and he could be a friend or a boyfriend.’
Mr Caren added: ‘This would certainly not be the way the Royal Family would have wanted Diana to be presented at that moment, given that two days before her engagement had been announced.
‘The fairytale between her and Charles was still intact at that point.
‘My guess is that it was a privately taken photograph that the Mirror purchased but for some reason did not publish.
‘Why the heck not I don’t know – I don’t know if it was pressure from the Royal family or an internal decision’.
Bobby Livingstone, vice president of marketing at RR Auctions, said: ‘It captures the moment when the engagement had been announced two days before and the press were going mad over Diana – but the Daily Mirror just weren’t going to publish this photograph of her in a comfortable position with a man other than Prince Charles.’
The kiss: Prince Charles and Princess Diana kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day
One of the late princess’s closest male friends at the time, James Colthurst, once recalled going with her on a ski-ing holiday around the time in question.
He said: ‘She slept on the sofa bed. It was fun. There were lots of pranks – Diana was great company – lovely, outgoing and frivolous and she enjoyed practical jokes.’
Bidding will take place over the internet between January 17 and 24.
YNaija.com
Dating Married Men can be Very Juicy –Nollywood Actress Amaka Anioji
What is the big deal about the movie,’Till Death Do Us Part’?
Amaka Anioji: It is a 15-minute film that was nominated for an award.
Role played in the movie.
Amaka Anioji: I was the female lead. I played the role of a woman who was beaten and battered by her husband.
Is this the first movie you are playing lead?
Amaka Anioji: No, this is not the first movie I played the lead character. I have played lead in several movies such as ‘Young Heritage’, and ‘Broken’ that will soon be released. I also played lead in ‘Married,in ‘Close Friends, Game Player in ‘Tinsel’.
When did you join the industry?
Amaka Anioji: I joined the industry in 2004, but I later disappeared and reappeared in 2006, when I landed a role in a new movie. I finally returned in 2010 and since then, I have been consistent.
Among all the films you have featured in, which do you consider most challenging?
Amaka Anioji: I think the most challenging is, ‘Till Death Do us Part’ because it is a short feature film.I have to go through many emotions at the same time. It was really a lot of work for me. I think it is very challenging as well as exciting such that people talked about it.
Did your acting as a battered wife affects your attitude towards life ?
Amaka Anioji: It has nothing to do with my true life situation, after all, I am not married yet. And I have been lucky with my relationships. I think what happened in the movie was what the script spoke to me. When I was called by the director, Tope Ogun, who once directed me on the set of Tinsel.
She called me and said ‘Amaka, I want you to play the lead role in the movie. I used to be crazy about her as a director before she got married.Later, she sent the script and asked me to go through it and tell her what I think about it. But while reading through the script, I started crying because, it was really emotional.However, after going through the script, I informed that I would be interested to be part of the movie.
What is outstanding about you?
Amaka Anioji: I think understanding the role I am going to play at any point in time is the secret behind that. Because every story and role is very unique and being able to understand those differences is what I feel is outstanding. Because when I was playing a Doctor in Tinsel is different from when I played a battered wife.
The same thing was applicable to the much loved wife as Allen in Married. As a matter of fact, I have some respects for the roles I played in movies because I see them as individuals. I tried to understand them, who they are and what they are really about. I take my time to communicate to myself.
After acting a particular role, it will take some people days to get off the character, does it happen to you?
Amaka Anioji: Yes, of course, it happened to me in ‘’Till Death Do Us Part.’ That’s why I said it was very challenging. When we were shooting the movie, the atmosphere was very moody. So, after a period of time, I was so frustrated, feeling so much like the role I played in the movie.
After sometime, I sat on a place and I couldn’t talk to anybody. I was crying. Even when I was not crying, tears were still running down my cheeks. I was really feeling that bad. Just like when you have to play the happy role, you will be happy throughout.
Did you work on your boobs?
Amaka Anioji: No I didn’t. I have natural nice breasts. And when it goes down with age, I will let it go like that. I am not going to work on anything. I will age gracefully. So, I do not have problem with that.
What a bout your hair?
Amaka Anioji: I actually wear a bright hair style. I can experiment on my hair because I like doing that.
So who is the man?
Amaka Anioji: Let us not talk about the man. He is not interested in this talk. Let us just leave the man out of this. I cannot have my relationship on the pages of newspaper, it is so annoying. I lost a relationship that means a lot to me some couple of years ago. We misunderstood ourselves and we went so far as if there was no room for reconciliation.
After sometime, I sat down and pondered over what happened between us and discovered that it was something we could have settled amicably. Really, that relationship meant a lot to me. Each time, I remember how compatible we were then, I feel bad. I still miss my ex… But that’s is a forgone issue, I still count myself as being lucky because life has to go on.
Can you date a married man?
Amaka Anioji: Well, it is frustrating. It can be tempting sometimes when you meet married men who are really very charming especially, when you have dated a single guy who is very annoying. You run into a married man who is good looking and experienced, you would be tempted to fall in love with him.
But for me, I will always think of how dating a married man will affect people’s perception about me. Afterall, I am not going to marry the person but I’m more concerned about what people are going to say. I also considered how that thing will affect my relationship with God. Though it can be very juicy, I consider all that. I like to work and earn my living, it gives me joy.
Would you do a toy boy?
Amaka Anioji: I wouldn’t. I cannot have a toy boy. But I will have a valued friend.
There are so many people in Nollywood who sleep their ways to the top, what do you have to say about that?
Amaka Anioji: I don’t have much to say about that because it is common everywhere, people sleeping their way to get what they want. They sleep their way to become Executive Assistants and Managing Directors of blue chip companies. It is not only in Nollywood that such things happen.
Naijaurban
Jay Jay Okocha reportedly going bankrupt, puts up properties for sale
According to reports, it appears former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, is going bankrupt.After selling his popular hangout, Club 10 to music producer Don Jazzy, the former Bolton Wanderers and Hull City player, has also put up another property for sale.
The property which is located in Akute, Ogun State, still has tenants occupying it but the former midfield maestro, is willing to listen to offers starting from N17 million.
Okocha has been conspicuosly absent on the social radar recently, adding substance to the speculations.
Dailypost
Maurice Iwu, others record breakthrough in HIV/AIDS treatment
Maurice Iwu
The latest invented drug is the second botanical, and an orally administered drug to be approved by FDA since 2006.
Former INEC chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, an acclaimed pharmacologist and tropical medicine expert, was among the team of scientists who carried out the research in the United States.
It would be recalled that the first botanical drug to be approved in the United States was a topical green tea extract, Veregen, in 2006.
However, the drug, Crofelemer is the first to be approved in the United States to treat HIV -associated diarrhoea.
Crofelemer was from the latex of the South American sangre de drago tree (dragon’s blood, Croton lechleri). A red, blood-resembling latex leaks from the tree when its bark is cut, and it is this substance that contains the novel polymolecular structure crofelemer, originally developed and standardised by Shaman Pharmaceuticals. Fulyzag is the second botanical drug approved by the agency. The drug’s approval marks an important event in the decades-long history of crofelemer.’’
The latest ‘’Healthnews,’’ in a report entitled, ‘’Nigeria’s Maurice Iwu, others record breakthrough in HIV/AIDS treatment: Amazon tree-derived medicine cleared for usage in HIV patients with diarrhea,’’ stated, ‘’On New Year’s Eve of 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of crofelemer, marking the second time a botanical, and the first time an orally administered botanical, has received drug approval from the Administration. The first botanical drug to be approved in the United States was a topical green tea extract, Veregen in 2006. Both botanical drugs meet all US pharmaceutical requirements and can be dispensed only by prescription.
“The latest breakthrough owes its success to a pioneering research carried out in the United States by a team of scientists which included Nigeria’s Professor Maurice Iwu, an acclaimed pharmacologist and tropical medicine expert.” The news said.
DailyPost
Jonathan Out to Slaughter PDP, Party Youths Cry Out, Tell President to Resign If Out of Ideas
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Council has strongly criticized President Goodluck Jonathan for flooding Nigeria’s federal capital with 2015 presidential electoral campaign posters, accusing him of violating existing agreements and trying to perpetuate his failed leadership.
In a statement signed by its Publicity director, Comrade Bala Usman, and National Director, Fidelis Uzoka, the group said it would not stand idly by while the structure that their founding fathers labored hard to build is now “used in dancing the one legged dance of the spirits that leads to doom.”
Said the group: “The events of the last few days [have] ignited outrage and public condemnation because of the deliberate and well calculated commencement of a Presidential campaign by President Jonathan even in the face of his so called ban on political activities is an unwarranted test of the will and patience of Nigerians who has tried to exhibit high level of tolerance to a regime which seems in the last two years to have lost the focus of true leadership and proper understanding of the ideals of our party’s founding fathers. The choice of the midnight of the new year for such wasteful gamble of flooding Abuja with the Presidents campaign posters is very embarrassing and show of leadership idleness on the part of the Presidential hawks.”
Reviewing those events, the group described the timing of the campaign posters as “ill motivated, diversionary, high level of childish prank” and a calculated attempt to test the will of Nigerian people and members of the ruling party by a regime that has burned the goodwill that Nigerians gave to the party.
“We have watched and read the reactions of Nigerians to this new year gift which came at a time Nigerians where trying to enjoy their new year, same way they returned last year to grace the hike in the price of fuel which was an anti-party decision and an inhuman treatment which was contrary to the dreams of our party’s founding fathers of build a strong economic base for the Nigerian Citizenry.
“The President and his team after seeing that this attempt to fly the 2015 kite has failed and backfired with outrage from Nigerians, hurriedly put up a disclaimer which was neither here nor there, aimed at pulling wool over our eyes. Nigerians cannot be hoodwinked by this last minute exoneration attempt, not even when the same president has filled another defense at the federal high court where he is battling to prove that he has a right to second term. Who is fooling who?”
The PDP Youth Council then asked a series of questions regarding why Mr. Jonathan wants to run for a second term when he had repeatedly committed only to one.
It also dismissed Jonathan’s abysmal performance in office. “What will the President gain from abandoning his responsibility of governance to pursue a phantom 2015 project without a single achievement?”
It said that as members of the ruling party, the youths had resorted to shouting because the President is on the path of “slaughtering” the party, and warned that the national stability and intra party cohesion and trust which Jonathan is about to breach a second time will rip the party apart and set it on a journey to eternal burial.
“We say NO to this,” the statement said. “Posters or no Posters, the PDP has suffered greatly in the hands of President Jonathan, the public rating of the party has gone down below 30 percent, our electoral strength has dwindled, our party intra unity and cohesion has been broken. WE MUST REPAIR PDP NOW. The PDP has been so kind to Jonathan, by keeping him uninterrupted in power since our return to democracy from 1999 till date, the President must pay the party back by been honorable and placing the unity of the party and interest above his personal ambition.”
It warned that the party cannot withstand the firepower of the Mega party and Nigerian electorate if Jonathan fails to perform, and that the PDP must save itself by getting Jonathan to be accountable, focused and competent as his continuous slide to failure and confusion is not a Jonathan problem but a party problem.
The survival of the PDP, the group said, depends on the ability of Jonathan to clear the leadership mess that has been imposed on Nigeria.
“Our PDP must get President Jonathan to come clean before 2015 by cleaning the corruption mess all over Nigeria which has increased both in the judiciary, legislature and executives in the last 3 years.
“The subsidy mess which the President created must be handled and resolved.
“The level of unemployment which is on the rise must be contained now.
“The level of insecurity and armed robberies/kidnapping which has become part of our hourly life in Nigeria must be resolved.
“The issue of terrorism and wanton destruction must be resolved not by VIPs riding in security cars but ordinary Nigerians having the secure environment to carry on their legitimate activities.
“Religious worship must not be a thing of fear under a Jonathan government but joy and celebration.
“The elevation of ethnicity and petty issue to governance level must be reversed.”
The youths predicted that before the day runs out, they expect to be cajoled, intimidated, called names and harassed by security agencies because they have dared to speak publicly the truth they had previously said within only to be ignored, but warned that the dangers they have identified, if not dealt with, will see the curtains come down on their party.
"We wish to state that the gathering storm against our party both internally and externally is building and if the President has finally run out of ideas to lead our nation and provide leadership unity, honor and respect to the dreams of our party's founding fathers and the electorates who innocently entrusted him with a mandate he has betrayed, We urge our party leader to do the honorable and courageous thing and resign from office and hand over power to his deputy, so that the process of rebuilding our party and giving focused leadership can commence in earnest as we have less than two years to the next election. "
Full text of the press statement:
PRESS RELEASE
PDP YOUTH COUNCIL
Naij
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