PHOTO OF THE DAY.

“I Feel So Honoured”! Funke Akindele appointed as a Polio Ambassador

Funke Akindele gets as new gig.

The Nollywood star joins the growing roster of public figures and celebrities participating in Rotary’s “This Close” public awareness campaign for polio eradication.

Her rep exclusively confirms that she will help Rotary achieve its goal of a polio-free world in a new public awareness campaign.

In the “This Close” campaign, she will raise her thumb and fore finger in the ad tagline “We’re this close to ending polio”.

“I feel so honored to be part of a charitable cause like this. I accepted this appointment because polio kills or paralyzes children and Rotary is committed to ending this terrible disease worldwide.” the Jenifa star said in statement. “I also learned that the world has never been so close to eradication of polio since the mid 80’s thanks to the vigorous efforts of Rotary International and its partners.” she finished.

She will be unveiled to the media on Tuesday 24th October 2013 as part of the activities lined up to mark the world polio day.

With her appiontment, Funke joins Bill Gates, Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, action movie star Jackie Chan and Pop star PSY.

For the brief meeting on her new assignment, Funke rocked a red lace mini dress.

'My ordeal in the hands of kidnappers' - Mike Ozekhome recounts.

The human rights lawyer (pictured above with his wife after his release) who said he will never forget his experience in the hands of his abductors, narrated his ordeal to journalists in his home in Lagos.

Ozekhome, who had grown a beard, said he was driven on a rough road for about four hours to a jungle far removed from civilisation blindfolded, after he was captured close to Benin City about 3pm on August 23, 2013.

According to Ozekhome, the abductors took him to an uncompleted building in the bush while a colony of mosquitos descended and fed on him and other hostages like barbeque in the camp.

According to him, from the moment of his abduction on August 23, he and 12 other victims were blindfolded by the gang in the camp. Continue...



Ozekhome also said any time they wanted to speak to their abductors, they must face the ground, as looking at them (kidnappers) could hand the offender instant death sentence.

 “Every 24 hours of the day, we had death sentence hanging on our head. When any of the kidnappers wanted to speak to us, we must face the wall or the ground. They treated me gently because they said they had discovered I’m on the side of the masses, that I have been fighting for the masses.

Speaking further, he explained that his psychological and physical trauma was compounded when his son, Barrister Ilugbekhai and one of his juniors in chambers, Barrister Dominic Ezerioha, were lured and eventually detained with him in the camp.

He described his abductors as highly organised and well educated, which, according to him, made it difficult for security operatives to track them down.

He said: “Even when making phone calls to the families of the victims, they travelled across four or five states so that where they make the calls was different from where their victims were kept. They discussed national issues with high intellect.

“These are graduates of various disciplines, I believe. They understand philosophy, history, political science and, as I said, they have their medical team. One of them said he had graduated for six years without a job and they argued that only 1 per cent of Nigerians have fraudulently cornered the nation’s wealth; so they raise argument to justify their actions.”

“They vowed that, in 2015, they will move against the politicians who they accused of being in the habit of using and dumping them. I asked them, what is the way out? They requested that the federal government should also grant them amnesty and that they are ready to lay down their arms if they are given amnesty just like the Niger Delta militants.

“They said they are ready to come out of the jungle to remove their masks and join the roundtable talk if there is assurance that they will not be arrested by the government.”

According to Ozekhome, the kidnappers have several units and cells across the nation. “For example, they mentioned several notable Nigerians who had been kidnapped in the past in the north, east and west, which they claimed were through their network.”

Contrary to the general belief that the kidnappers usually conduct background information about their victims, Ozekhome said his abductors told him that they just operate randomly and that they don’t profile anybody before they are captured.

 “For example, they said they did not know me. They searched through my pocket. They collected everything including my card. So when they asked for my name and I told them, they said yes it is true.”

Moving forward, Ozekhome urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity. According to him, a situation where none of us is safe on the road, in the air, on the water, in the day time or at night is a serious and monumental problem and we cannot continue to fold our hands.

He linked the problem of insecurity fundamentally to the massive youth unemployment in the country which he described as complex and gargantuan.

Consequently, he called on the government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment as any further delay may spell doom for the nation. He described youth unemployment as the father of Boko Haram, militancy, kidnapping and robbery.

Kate Middleton shines in silver as she attends first red carpet event since giving birth

The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in this glittering floor-length Jenny Packham dress and Jimmy Choo shoes as she accompanied her husband, Prince William, to the Tusk foundation gala dinner at The Royal Society in London yesterday.

Photo: 400 level student caught with cocaine at Akanu Ibiam Airport

A 400-level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra, was arrested this week at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State, for ingesting 25 wraps of male condoms filled with cocaine.

32 year old Chizoba Nwabuwa arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil when he tested positive to liquid cocaine, which weighed 1.250kg. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency officials say this is the first drug seizure to be made at the newly refurbished international airport.

NDLEA in a statement, said:

“The suspect excreted 25 wraps of a liquid substance that tested positive for cocaine, weighing 1.250kg. This is the first drug seizure to be made at the airport; it is exciting because we have just commenced operations.”

The Fine and Applied Arts 400-level student said he agreed to carry the drugs because his cohorts promised him N500, 000 as compensation and he wanted to use the money to develop his art gallery. Chizoba said his handlers assured him that authorities will not be able to detect liquid cocaine, so he was confident. Well, they did and now he will be facing the full wrath of the law. Sad situation

Kim and Kanye inspect construction of their $11million mansion

Kim and Kanye, who have been living with Kim's mum since welcoming their daughter, were seen yesterday inspecting on-going construction of their $11million mansion in Bel Air. Kim bought the stunning Mediterranean-style mansion brand new last month but wanted some renovations before moving in.

Emmy Collins likens Omotola’s “Muyiwa goes to Nollywood” outfit to Big Bird from Sesame Street

When Nollywood sensation, Omotola Ekeinde  arrived at the “Muyiwa goes to nollywood” event in a feathered pink dress days ago, the outfit got tongues wagging.
Many of her fans were impressed with the gorgeous outfit but several others didn’t find it attractive.

Unfortunately, Designer and blogger, Emmy Collins has likened Omotola’s purple lace and fur dress to ” Big Bird from Sesame Street” and Bjork swan dress – a character in the long running children’s TV show.

He wrote;

Please take a good look at big bird from Sesame Street and you will agree with me that there is a striking resemblance to Omotola in this outfit. One could say that both images may seem a little disparate in the sense that Omotola`s outfit isn`t as bird-y as big bird’s(I am not even sure there is a word as bird-y but I’m just short of words here that I have resulted to a little innovation).The only difference here is simply the choice of colour.Mr Big bird went for yellow feathers while Omo-sexy (ok,that was so tongue in cheek) opted for purple.On the other hand Omotola could have been looking to recreate the Bjork swan dress but I am a bit gutted that she developed cold feet by doing away with what could have completed the joke,the swan`s head.
Now,I dare any ardent fan of Omotola to argue that she doesn`t need another stylist?You need to be skinny to have the slimmest chance of pulling off this dress as the feathers or whatever it is, makes you appear bigger than you actually are.

Annie Idibia breaks down in tears during interview on Inspiration FM

On Wednesday, Annie Macualay-Idibia was at Inspiration FM for a 45minutes interview with OAP Nana King and she surprisingly broke down in tears when talking about her relationship with 2face.

During the interview, the actress, wife and mother cleared the air on the many controversial issues that fans have been willing to ask.

On the Dubai wedding “Dubai wedding was 2face’s idea not mine. I wanted a very quiet wedding in Abuja but 2face wanted a dream wedding in Dubai.”

Girls in the mood controversy: “That photo of me on the movie cover with a towel and panties, was photo-shopped, that girl wasn’t me, my face was used on someone else’s body. I wanted to sue the movie producer but my husband said I should ignore it.”

Her takes on blogs “they are annoying but I will never say any word against them…they love making news out of nothing, so most times I ignore the stories”‘

On her controversial wedding gift “We received just one car from the Governor not two, it’s just one”

On her relationship with 2face Idibia’s baby mamas and sons “I love them. When you love someone, you get to love or fall in love with what they love too so I love those boys, they are just as sweet as my Isabella and I have a good relationship with their mums too”

Insulting her daughter on social media “I will rather have anyone insult me and my husband than insult my daughter,I won’t let people insult my daughter”

Giving back to the society “I am starting an NGO to help women and kids from Akwa Ibom state.

She broke down in tears when a fan called to wish her well and thank her for standing by 2face when he was a nobody…

Oh by the way she says is not on Facebook so every Facebook page with her name is so a fake one.

Jonathan Administration Burning N662m On 53 Gold Iphones

Gold Iphones

Confirming its reputation for corruption and irresponsibility, the Goodluck Jonathan government has ordered 53 gold-plated iPhones at an incredible N662 million to “celebrate” 53 years of political independence.

Amjad Ali, the 42-year old British owner of Gold and Co., based in Dubai, told London’s The Independent newspaper he received an order from the Nigerian government for the 53 gold phones to mark Nigeria’s independence from Britain in October.  Basic models of the gold or rose gold start from £3,000.  “We will engrave them with the coat of arms, a shield and two horses,” he said.
According to The Independent, Ali supplies royal families, governments, and minted customers across Russia, China and the Middle East with gold-plated devices that cost up to £50,000.
Ali has pre-ordered hundreds of the new iPhones which he will then work on for the luxury market, such as Nigeria, where federal universities have been closed for nearly 10 weeks because the government has refused to pay university teachers.
“We strip the units down and then plate them in copper, nickel and then pure gold,” he told the newspaper. “We have limited units per region and each is numbered and placed in a handmade wooden box with a certificate of authenticity and wax seal.”
Jonathan is embroiled in several political battles in Nigeria, where the floundering economy, ravaged by corruption, is being held together by band aid policies.  His governing Peoples Democratic Party broke into two in front of him days ago during a political convention where seven governors and a former vice-president walked away from undemocratic practices to form the ‘New PDP.’ 
Although he fired nine Ministers earlier today to give the impression of motion within the government, the most corrupt ones were left untouched.
At Nigeria’s independence commemoration in three weeks as he prepares to run for the presidency again in 2015,  Mr. Jonathan is expected to announce that his government is doing very well.  He has previously stated that only the United States is combating corruption more than he is doing.

Plot to remove David Mark gets underway

Even as the National Assembly is yet to resume from its long recession, there is fear amongst members who have their ears on ground that the ongoing crisis in the folds of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, may be extended to the National Assembly in a more intense manner.
Popular report has it that some Senators in the National Assembly who are loyal to the faction of the “New PDP” under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje are plotting for the removal of the Senate President, David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark. The said party faction are said to have resolved to take early step towards Marks removal, after having failed to remain sensitive to their plights and the plights of his other colleagues in the National Assembly.
Also jittering over the fever of the impeachment plot is the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Chukwuemeka Ihedioha who represents Aboh/Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency in Imo state. Ihedioha has been in the position since 2003.
A member of the House of Representatives from one of the North Central states who had pleaded anonymity disclosed that the move against these two principal lawmakers was not unconnected to the lingering crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, which he said resulted from the 2015 ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The source had revealed that the Senate President, David Mark is allegedly sympathetic to the cause of President Goodluck Jonathan and has not been walking on the “the path of revolution” that is expected of the 7th Senate like that of House of Representatives.

The Senate President was also blamed for taking All Progressives Congress(APC) members “as friends”, thus, dinning and winning with PDP members in the day while fraternising with APC in the dark, especially on issues of national concern, a state development, the source avowed was detrimental to the expected harmony and peace of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
DailyPost had learnt that since rumours raided the air over the 2015 ambition of Senator Mark, some members of the Senate, especially those from the North-East and North-West geo-political zones have remained on the watch, and strategizing on the possible approach to remove the Okpokpowulu, as he is fondly called by his kinsmen, from office.
Undoubtedly, the National Assembly has since the beginning of the ongoing PDP crisis been divided against itself. The division has been aggravated by the recent national convention saga, after which the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha has gone into galvanising and mobilising members of the House of Representatives from SouthEast and South-South to support President Goodluck Jonathan. The Northern lawmakers, especially those loyal to the ‘nPDP’ have as a result of this development vowed to unseat both Mark and Ihedioha, by making them the first victims of the crisis.
DailyPost has gathered that some influential members of the“New PDP” are already lobbying and negotiating with the APC to actualize their interest. One of the gladiators in this ongoing negotiation as revealed by our source is Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, representing Kaduna North Senatorial District. Another PDP heavyweight who is also in the ‘lobby’ front is Bukola Saraki.
Meanwhile, our source has revealed that Mark is said to have travelled out of the country and may be returning to the country as soon as the recession is over.

Governor Amaechi barred from entering Rivers Government House

Rivers state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, said on Thursday that Governor Amaechi and no fewer than 70 visitors were denied access to his private residence in the Government House.
“The governor was coming back with his visitors, former speakers of Houses of Assembly, he was blocked on his way into the government house, leading to his private entrance.
“The police blocked the road, the governor came down and identified himself, but they told him they had orders from the commissioner of police.
“Gov. Amaechi, therefore, had to go through a longer route to get to the Government House,’’ Semenitari said.
Semenitari described the action of the police as illegal, unconstitutional, and an insult on the office of the governor of Rivers.
Meanwhile, the police command in Rivers said that its men did not block the entrance leading to Gov. Chibuike Amaechi’s residence.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe, stated that the state commissioner of police did not give such order.
“I am aware that the state commissioner of police did not give such order to block the entrance leading to the governor’s residence.

“He did not do it and did not instruct our officers to do such a thing,’’ Agabe said.

2015: Stop deceiving yourself, you can’t win without us – New PDP tells Jonathan

As the crisis currently rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continues to deepen, the ‘New PDP’ has told President Goodluck Jonathan that his 2015 second term ambition remains unrealistic without them.
According to them, Jonathan should stop deceiving himself as those behind him are just wolves in sheep clothing, as they can not even deliver their own wards to the president come 2015.
The ‘New PDP’ stated this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze in Abuja on Wednesday.
Eze said, “Mr. President should not be deceived by some party leaders who are making him believe that he can do without us.
“Most of these leaders currently cannot under a properly organised free and fair elections win their wards.
“It is obvious that no presidential election in Nigeria can be won without states like Rivers, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, Niger States, Jigawa and Kebbi states; and these are states we are controlling.

“Check the past general elections and see that some of these media-created PDP leaders have no followers in their states at the moment, let alone making any impact come 2015.”
The governors in the New PDP include the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Governor of Kano State, Mr. Rabiu Kwankwanso; Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida; Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
However, the inclusion of Kebbi State among other states was not clear at the moment as the governor, Alhaji Seidu Dakingari was yet to make up his mind.
Eze also dispelled ongoing rumours that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo was behind the ongoing crisis in the PDP.
According to him, “We view this as creating the impression that we are not mature enough to determine our political future and most importantly, it was an attempt to smear the international image of Obasanjo as a distinguished statesman and father of PDP and rubbish his current efforts to restore peace to a party which is being threatened by the undemocratic acts of some of its leaders,” the statement added,” he added.