Two female undergraduate siblings burn to death in Delta hostel

illustration pic

Two female undergraduate siblings have been burnt to death following a midnight inferno that razed their hostel in Agbor, Delta State, Tuesday.
The two girls were students of College of Education, Agbor and were among those living in a private hostel adjacent the college.
Their names were given as Favour and Ndidi from Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state. According to an eyewitness, “the unfortunate incident occurred while they were sleeping in the hostel. The fire started at about midnight unknown to neighbours that the two girls were in their rooms.”

The cause of the fire was not immediately ascertained but Vanguard gathered that men of the state fire service were called in for rescue operation after the havoc had been done. The two corpses were deposited at the Central Hospital, Agbor.
State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, had while delivering his mid-term report last year said 90 lives and property worth over N7 billion were lost to fire in the last six years.
He said over N65 billion property were salvaged.

Petrol Tanker Kills 9, Destroys Building, Buses In Lagos(Photo)

A Petrol tanker fully laden with 33,000 litres of PMS on Tuesday, January 8, killed 9, burnt four houses and four commercial buses in Lagos.

The incident occurred at cement bus stop, along mile 2 express road, Apapa, Lagos.The tanker caught fire after it summersaulted.
The Public Information Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Mr. Farinloye Ibrahim told  reporters that, the incident started at about 10:45pm yesterday night and the fire was put out at about 1:04 a.m by the combined team of federal and state fire services.
He said, "We have about nine casualties. The fire later spread to four houses and four commercial buses all burnt down." hmmm it is well

Officer Shot Driver & Passenger For Failing To Give Him Bribe

A police officer in Lagos has been arrested and charged to court after he allegedly shot and innocent driver and his passenger.
Nelson Bassey, a corporal who has since been dismissed, is said to have injured one Andrew Okoh and his passenger, Isaac Adesina, with his AK47 rifle due to their refusal to give him a bribe.
Bassey initially claimed that the victims were armed robbers until the truth was discovered and he was apprehended and charged with the crime.
Reportedly, Bassey’s trial began Monday at the Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ejigbo, Lagos State, western Nigeria.

The shooting led to protest by residents of the area who insisted that the victims were not robbers and were well known in Idimu area where the incident happened.
Bassey was immediately dismissed from the Nigeria Police for unjustly shooting the victims.
He was consequently arrested and charged before the court with assault and inflicting injury on the victims under the Criminal Code.
During the trial, Okoh told the court that Bassy shot their legs with an AK47 rifle after they explained to the police patrol team that demanded for a bribe that they had no money to bribe them.
Okoh informed the court that he was the driver of the bus and Adesina was among the passengers in the bus when Bassey shot them.
He narrated that they were not robbers but were in a traffic jam which made them get to their Idimu home late.

•The victims: Okoh and Adesina

He said that on their way home, a team of Rapid Response Squad, RSS, policemen stopped them and demanded for a bribe.

Okoh explained that after politely telling them that they had no money on them,“the next thing we saw was Corporal Bassey pointing his AK 47 rifle at us and opening fire on our legs, claiming that we were suspected robbers and that we were trying to escape.”

While testifying in the court, Adesina told the court that he boarded the bus as a passenger and was going home late because of traffic jam.

Lost: Man Shot And Killed By Police For Resisting Demolition Of Shops

A man was shot and killed Monday morning by the police at Adenta in Accra for wrestling with the police who were supervising the demolition of unauthorized structures there.

Three others, suspected to be land guards were arrested.
They were alleged to have lunged at the police with dangerous weapons in an attempt to stop the demolition exercise being carried out by a private developer at Aviation lands, Adentan in Accra.
The Commander of the Alfa Swat Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Supt T. K. Hlormenu, told Joy News' Francisca Kakra Forson, the police were left with no choice than to defend themselves.

According to him, the police opened fire, leaading to the death of one.
The Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency, Emmanuel Nii Ashie Moore, told Myjoyonlne.com’s David Andoh that the deceased is a son of the chief of the area.
As early as 6am, excavators, led by armed policemen entered the six hundred and forty acre land and proceeded to demolish makeshift homes, kiosks, shops, and some churches.
Encroachers run helter-skelter trying to move their belongings to safety as the excavators broke down wooden structures and smashed metal containers.
Nii Ashie Moore told reporters that he was upset by the manner in which the exercise was being handled, saying such exercises must be carried out humanely.
Permits produced by some residents which they claimed were issued to them by the Adentan Municipal Assembly in March last year were deemed to be of dubious validity.
Aggrieved residents told Joy News, that although they had received notice of the demolition, they ignored them because such notices in the past amounted to nothing.
The Aviation lands have been earmarked to be developed as a business district for people living in Adentan, Madina and their environs.

Nigeria’s Minister Of Aviation Stella Oduah Has Been Using A Fake MBA Degree

Stella Oduah, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation who is embroiled in a scandal of towering proportions in the ministry, faces new integrity questions as her Masters’ degree has been challenged by the United States school which supposedly awarded it.Her resume, which she presented to the Senate as a ministerial nominee in 2011, indicated she obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) from St. Paul’s College Lawrenceville, Virginia, United States.

But SaharaReporters has learned from the President of the college that it has never in its 125-year history had a graduate school or graduate program.
The Provost Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Vice President of Institutional Development said in response to our inquiries, “We don’t offer any graduate programs here.”
Similarly, the school’s website states: “Saint Paul's College is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate [bachelor’s] degrees.”  There is no mention of graduate degrees.
 The Minister’s documentation shows she received an undergraduate degree in accounting from the college in 1982, but Dr. Claud Flythe, St. Paul’s current president, could neither confirm nor deny this during a phone conversation with SaharaReporters.  Further verification with the Office of Alumni Affairs is also currently impossible, the school said, because the college has been closed since June 2013 to loss of its accreditation.

Supreme Court puts Utah same-sex marriage on hold

 The Supreme Court has put same-sex marriages on hold in Utah, at least while a federal appeals court more fully considers the issue. The court issued a brief order Monday blocking any new same-sex unions in the state. The order follows an emergency appeal by the state following the Dec. 20 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights. More than 900 gay and lesbian couples have married since then. The high court order will remain in effect until the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether to uphold Shelby's ruling.

OJB's first wife explains why she donated her kidney to him

OJB's wife of 20 years, Mabel Okungbowa, donated her kidney to the prolific music producer a few months ago. In an interview with Punch today, Mama J as she's fondly called, explains why she did it. She tells Punch "I did not even think twice about it, I had it and I gave it to him. He is my husband, the father of our children and I love him. This is somebody I have been with all my life. I did not tell anybody before I decided to, not even my parents because I had foreseen their reaction. There was no reason to inform them.  When I married him, I told God I
wanted the both of us to grow old together and live to see many generations. I am sure God knew this situation before he brought us together because not only am I a match for him, we are the same blood group and we are both stubborn.
looking for the full interview? read it Here

Woman Hacks Husband To Death For Refusing To Eat The Food She Prepared For Him In Edo State

A 35-year-old Zenab Agbontine allegedly murderd her husband, Egberise Agbontine, in Ubiane Aviele village near Auchi, Edo DState with an axe for refusing to eat the food she prepared for him after he returned from work. Despite his several years in the police force and having seen different murder cases, the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, said he could hardly conceal his shock as he related the incident to newmen. Zenab murdered Egberise while he was sleeping. The Axe Queen had allegedly been quarrelling with him for more than a week before the incident happened. On the fateful day, when the husband returned from office, she prepared food for him. Without any foreboding
of the murderous thoughts whirling around in the head of his wife, Egebrise took his bath. But when the wife later told him that his food was ready, Egberise was said to have refused to eat the food she prepared. The chain of events that ultimately led to the tragic death of Egberise began long before the incident Zenab told Sunday Sun in an interview. She said: “I have been having quarrels with my husband for a long time. We tried to settle the matter without success. One day, my husband came back from the office and told me that he was not interested in the marriage anymore. “I pleaded with him but he refused. I prepared food for him but he refused to eat the food. With annoyance he went to sleep. At about midnight when my husband was asleep I went to the kitchen and I took the axe and cut him on the neck several times, he struggled until he died. It was the devil that used me. I didn’t know what prompted me to kill him but maybe because he said he was not interested in the marriage again. “The family of my husband should forgive me. I am calling on the elders in the community in Auchi to forgive me because it was ignorance and the devil that used me as I now realize that I didn’t exercise enough patience with my husband.” Though Zenab has resigned herself to the fate awaiting her after trial, the future of the three children she had with the late Egberise is her primary concern now. Amidst tears, she remarked on the uncertain future of her children: “I know I will face the consequence of my action but the question is, who will take care of my children. I have three children for him. Their father is dead and their mother is on the way to the prison. It is only God that will take care of my children.”  Adebanjo stated that the suspect would be charged to court for murder.

I Used To Be So Poor, I Slept Under Lagos Bridge - Ramsey Nouah Tokunbo

He is handsome and cute. He is the kind of guy every woman would love to have. For his numerous roles in romantic film, his fans call him ‘lover-boy’. But most of them may never know that behind his handsome face lies ‘the bad and the ugly’.

In this exclusive chat with The Entertainer,Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah recalls the unforgettable, tormenting experiences of his life when he was humbled by poverty. Here, he remembers the dark days when he slept under the bridge in Lagos without food. His story is quite touching. Excerpts:

You are no longer constant in movie. What is happening to you?

I am still on the screen; I pray for better industry than what we have. We don’t have a proper structure and it is affecting us. It is affecting so many of us because we don’t have a secured future. For instance, some veteran actors passed on and people had to gather just to try and give them a befitting burial. That shouldn’t be the case. We have an industry that just paid you one off. It is not in any way protective of the interest of the practitioners, it is not really helping us. I believe strongly that we need to do a more integrated production, quality production that will last, like when we started at the beginning. All the stories are not encouraging and technicality we are not growing, all these help to slow down the growth of the industry. And without growth there are can never be a future, without dynamics you can’t see the frontier. Basically, that’s what we are suffering right now and there must be changes. The concern of most people shooting now is about making their money back. They don’t have passion or love for the industry like we do. So, that’s the reason why I am not acting. I love doing a good job, something that will benefit the industry, a movie that whenever you pick it up, if it is five or 20 years you can still watch and be happy. I want a situation whereby I will do a job and my great grandchildren will know me by my work. ‘Oh my great grandfather did this, yes he is the one’. That is what I want to do to leave a mark, a legacy, no just a passing face.

A lot of your colleagues have gone into producing their own movies. Is that the reason you don’t want to join the trend?

I am working towards producing mine at the moment, but the reason why it is taking me this long is because I wanted to get it right. I don’t just want to come out with something little or something that wouldn’t be of standard. I am one of the pioneers saying that we should have a better industry. Definitely, I should come out with something really nice. And that’s why it is taking me so long but I will be coming out with something this year.

You are a recipient of many awards here in Nigeria and Africa. What can you attribute that to and how does it make you feel?

It makes feel like an achiever. I really feel good about it. It is like you are appraising me for my work and my input, and that is not a legacy for me. I love the fact that people love my work and they appreciate it and rewarding me for my work. It is the same thing for any person whatever profession it may be; doctor, pilot, journalist and even market woman, as long as you are passionate about your industry and people can see it and they believe that you have given so much and deserve an award. So, if a person deserves it then they should give it to such person. I love being appreciated, but I will love it more when I do leave a legacy behind.

How do you define success?
(Smiling) A whole lot of people define success as being rich and having it all. I define success as peace of mind. To me, I am successful; I do not owe anybody and I have a clean heart and clean spirit. I am a happy man from the inside; that makes me very successful.

What is your greatest achievement as an actor?
It is yet to come, my brother. I cannot yet boast of greatest achievement in the industry. It is not by my work, input as an actor, no! Like I said, it will be by my legacy.

Most actors refer to you as their role model. Who is a good actor?
I don’t know how to put this without going by definition. If I can go by what I know, I think like I said you have to be passion driven; that is you are not acting because of the money, you are not acting because of fame. You are just acting because you love the work. I think that will totally see you through. Also, I don’t know how I can actually say it; people will actually want to debate it. Whether good acting is God given, natural talent or is acquired. I do not know how to define that now but because I know definitely that it can swing both ways. You could have a natural talent or God given talent as an actor and you could still acquire it and still be extremely good. To me, they swing in both directions. I can’t say you must be a natural or born actor to be a fantastic or brilliant actor. I know some other very good actors who weren’t born with it, but they are also extremely good because they love what they are doing. Like I said, it is the passion, whether it is natural or acquired once your passion drives you, you will achieve it.

Most actors try to act like you. Did you go for any formal training when you were coming up?
No, I didn’t. I didn’t go for any formal training to be an actor. It was more like an inborn. There are so many things I know to deliver certain lines, certain behaviour. I believe strongly that if you have a character who is going through certain pains, emotions, joy, success or whatever, there has to be a way to actually bring out that character to the best of your ability, which of course will be to drill yourself in that character at that moment and feel it deeply. For instance, if a person is emotionally broken, how do I deliver an emotionally broken character? I will personalize it; then I will ask different kinds of people who have broken down emotionally which one do I take? Which one do you think would be a market success if I apply it? That’s what I do.

Who were the people that influenced your career at the beginning?
It is really hard to say because the time we started, film wasn’t palpable. It was more of foreign movies like Schwarzenegger, Rambo, and all sorts of action movies. I didn’t really have access to television because I didn’t have television at home. I didn’t have access to movies. I mean you go to see movies like ‘Sound of Music’ at your friend’s house. I couldn’t say I have role models from Indian movies; no there wasn’t anything like. When I started, I remember my love for Al Pacino and I used him as a yardstick in acting. If you want to show that you are a good actor, you shouldn’t be stereotype. You should be versatile; you should possess the ability to play different roles. I use the Al Pacino`s role in Scarface, Godfather and Sense of a Woman to show people how versatile he can be. In Scarface, he has a strict gangster attitude. In Godfather, he has a mafia attitude. In Sense of a Woman it was also different. So, three different characters and they are all distinct. It was like he has the same gesture here and he has the same mannerism there or he has the same line here or there. That’s the way you can actually know someone who is a fantastic actor. He is one of my role models.

How do you wear those characters and display different behaviours. What is your source of inspiration?
It is from the society. You look around you and see a lot of people. People wearing different kinds of faces, you realize you are going to interact with these people; everybody has a way of thinking, a way of life. They are all not the same. You can actually be adaptive of all these people. For instance, if you are meant to act like a madman, it will be very professional to actually go around and find the one you think would suit the character you are meant to play in a movie. And you follow the person and study him for a little while so you can adopt the character and you can perfect the character while you are delivering.

A lot of people think you’re a snub, arrogant and Casanova. Who exactly is Ramsey Noah?
I am a regular easy-going kind of guy. I am not a snub and I am not arrogant. Most times a lot of people had criticized me, but as an actor that is the cross I need to carry. And it is easy for you to say because you are not wearing my shoe. Nigerians are very quick in judging because they are good in throwing words before thinking about them. But the truth of the matter is that we are normal human beings like you. I am not Jesus and I am not here to save the world. I am just an actor. Some people are making my life miserable. At some point when you think that I am arrogant or proud, it might be due to circumstances. I might be having a bad day. That I am an actor does not mean I have it all good and smooth. For all you know, my daughter or my son might be sick in the hospital and you probably came at the wrong time. This could make people think that you are arrogant.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
I can’t actually pencil down any, but I have quite a few. I have had a woman stone me with pure water sachet because she felt that I was mean to some girls in a movie. A woman was sucking an orange and she threw it at me because she didn’t like my behaviour in the movies.

Would you say that was the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
I wouldn’t say that, I don’t want to go explicit. (Laughing)

How do you handle your female fans?
It is just being nice and diplomatic. You can’t be nasty to them, you can’t be mean to them; they are only doing what they are supposed to do because they are showing love.

Do you have any project you are working on right now?
Yes, I just did a fantastic movie with AY. It is like a comedy, totally different from the lover boy thing, but I still have a little of lover boy stuff in it anyway. It is a whole lot of comedy and shot in the United States. We are going to complete the rest in Nigeria. That’s the work I have pending and there are a few to come.

Tell us about your growing up?
My growing up was like tasting the two sides of a coin. When I said tasting the two sides of a coin; I mean tasting being a rich man and a poor man. I grew up with my mother, and with a silver spoon, I had it all. When I began to realize that I had good things to show off, everything disappeared. We started from grace to grass; that has helped me a lot because it totally balanced the equation of life. It gives me confidence in all spheres. For instance, I can hang out with the enlightened or the rich. I can mingle with them very easily without any complication or complex whatsoever. Also, if it is the low class or poor people, I can mingle very easily with them. I can eat a fantastic dinner in a huge, expensive restaurant and I can go eat amala at a buka and I would not feel anything. I don’t care being a popular actor or a role model. I am a role model to everybody.

Are you saying that fame has not denied you anything in life?
It has denied me a few, but it has not denied me being as natural as I want to be. I won’t let that happen. It has happened to some of my colleagues. Fame has taken them away from what they wanted to do or be. There was a time I went to a bank to pay my NEPA bill and I was wearing a short and T-shirt, because it was on Monday morning somebody came down and said ‘Ramsey Noah, you are a role model, you shouldn’t have been wearing this’. I didn’t take it likely with him.

For you, what was the worst scenario when life was so cruel?
Those were the times when things got really bad for my mother and I and we had nothing. It was so bad that we didn’t have a home or shelter to live in. We had to stay in a store, a small store that could take only one mat. My mother and I squeezed ourselves in that mat. We didn’t even have a cup to drink water not to talk of a stove to cook. And my mother had to borrow, beg and stuff like that. These were moments when I was young I didn’t realize the gravity of poverty we were in, I couldn’t tell. But it was a good orientation for me. It was moments that I thank God for making me past through, because that has sustained and helped me even as an actor. The ability to deliver all the roles they give me because I have tasted both sides of the coin.

With all these experiences, what has life taught you?
Life has taught me never to look down on anybody because the person you disregard might just be your saviour tomorrow. I realized that all my mother’s property was washed away by rain. We couldn’t sleep all through the night because of the flood. It was really terrible. Like I said, it is a life lesson.

Is there anything that can make you cry or shed tears after all you passed through?
Yeah, those moments; those terrible moments when we had nothing and we were living off people. People were just helping us out. There were times we didn’t have food to eat three or four days. You haven’t eaten and your stomach is rumbling but you don’t have any place to go. There was a time I lived on the street, in shops. There was a time I slept under the bridge. It was unfortunate that there were no records so that we can have memories we could play back now. To me, I am so extremely grateful that I went through it. At that time I hated everybody around me. In fact, I used to question why God was doing this to me. But I think God knew that I needed this for my future.

 

Tuface And Annie Idibia Welcome A Baby Girl!

Oh Yes! It's a baby girl for Africa Pop king, 2face Idibia and wife Annie Macaulay!!! 
The couple got married sometime in March 2013 and already has a 5-year-old daughter named Isabella! And this new bundle of joy will be their second child and 2face's seventh. 

Congrats to the Idibias!!!

Lagos Big Girl Dies While Giving Testimony In Church

Strange things are really happening these days. Tragedy struck in Umuogwuta in Owerri West local council area of Imo State, as a Lagos-based lady, Ifeoma Anozie, who had achieved a lot in 2013 went home and was giving her testimony during the New Year service when she suddenly collapsed and died.

To the surprise of all present in church, “The church service was designed to be a double celebration for the Anozie family. It, however, turned out to be a tragedy for the family, the church and Ndegwu community.” “The lady had hardly commenced her testimony when she suddenly slumped and died in front of the
officiating cleric and left the congregation completely perplexed.” A villager, who spoke to Vanguard on ground of anonymity, said: “The Lagos-based lady, Ifeoma Anozie, collapsed and died while giving her testimony inside Saint John’s Anglican Church, Ndegwu.”
It was gathered that Ifeoma returned to her country home not to only give testimony about her achievements in Lagos in the passing year, but also felicitate with her kith and kin.Speaking also on the issue, a woman who simply identified herself as Felicia, lamented that what ordinarily was meant to be a double celebration for the Anozie family suddenly turned sour.Other villagers that also spoke to Vanguard, said ifeoma was a very promising young lady, none could guess she would die untimely, under such controversial circumstance.
We Pray That God Comfort Her Family!!!

Rivers Assembly Majority Leader Chidi Lloyd, Arrested For Double Murder

The majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd has been arrested by the Nigerian Police based in the state for the suspected murder of Sgt. Urang Obediah and Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo, his kinsman and political opponent.

In a statement by its spokesman Ahmad Muhammad, the Rivers State Police Command said Lloyd was arrested while attempting to escape through the Airforce Base in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
According to the Police statement, “Hon. Chidi Lloyd on 30/12/2013 while pursuing his political opponent, he knocked down Police Sgt. Urang Obediah. In spite of his effort to stop him, rammed and killed him and went ahead to crush the Passat car Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo was driving and killed him”.

The Police further said that they thought the incidents were a mere accident which ought to have been a case of manslaughter.
“The Commissioner of Police directed ACP. Aliyu Garba, the Area Commander Metro to visit him in his hospital bed and commiserate with him. Conscious of what he did, Chidi Lloyd relocated to another hospital.
“ When facts emerged that Chidi Lloyd drove a bullet proof vehicle while pursuing his political opponent, late Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo whom he knocked down and who hailed from the same place with the Lawmaker from Emohua and is believed to belong to the PDP camp led by Elder Felix Obuah.”
According to the Police statement, Sgt. Urang Obediah died on the spot where Lloyd allegedly rammed his bullet proof car into late Mr. Kingsley Ejeuo Passat car.
Police said Lloyd sneaked through the hospital’s back door while being guarded by four policemen on his hospital bed and escaped only to be arrested on his way to the Airforce base in the convoy of three tinted bullet proof jeeps in his bid to flee from the long arms of the law.
Lloyd, who is facing a six-count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder before a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, was granted bail in August last year. Justice Latan Nyordee granted Lloyd the bail in the sum of N10million and three sureties in like sum.
Llyod was charged with the attempted murder of Mr.Micheal Chindah following the attempt by Chinda and four other lawmakers to impeach Otelemaba Dan Amachree, the Speaker of Rivers Assembly on July 9. Amachree has a commanding support of 27 lawmakers in the assembly.
There was no response from Llyod’s lawyers on this latest case.

 

An Open Letter To Stephen Keshi

Dear sir,

As we are in an open letter season, it is pertinent that we make the maximum use of this popular medium of communication, while it is in vogue.
So long as it is used positively to better our nation, enhance our collective lives, eschew errors of the past and suggest ways to make Nigeria a better place for all of us, it is a good thing.
Unlike other letters that are flying around at the moment, this one is from a friend and not a foe and be rest assured, it contains no personal attack, malice of negative criticism. This letter is designed to better our lot come June next year when the Super Eagles will be featuring in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Given your history as a former Super Eagles player, captain and assistant coach, you are fully aware of our footballing history and how we have featured ion four tournaments so far. To be honest, the last two World Cups in which Nigeria featured are best forgotten about as our senseless decision to change coaches and overhaul our teams with just a few months to go was suicidal to put it politely.
Come 2014, however, we are on the cusp of creating history and correcting the wrongs of the past as we are not changing the guard at the last minute, are African champions, are seeing a return of confidence and as our recent friendly with Italy showed, have the nucleus of a team that can compete at the highest level.  However, at this level, a few minor details, which may only account for say 5% of overall planning, can sometimes make the difference between failure and success.
In the main, we have a very kind draw, having been grouped with Argentina, debutants Bosnia-Herzegovina and minnows Iran in Group F.  We have a good chance of reaching the semi finals at the least if we get our act together but we have one major problem - Time is not on our side.
Unfortunately, there is only one Fifa window left before the end of the current season and after that, there will only be 18 days between when our camp opens on May 25 and the start of the World Cup. Subsequently, we simply do not have the time to arrange as many friendly games as we need to get our team in shape, which is a big worry.
How could we prepare:
[1] We are in the same group as Argentina, so should play Colombia. Given that Colombia are in the same group as Ivory Coast, I would imagine they want to play African opposition too
[2] South Korea are playing Algeria, so I would imagine they also want to play African opposition. Bear in mind we are playing Iran, who were in the same World Cup qualification group as South Korea (The Persians actually topped the group), I think this is a game that will also do us well
[3] Bosnia-Herzegovina qualified from the same European group as Greece, who are also in Ivory Coast's group. They play similar southern European football, just as we and Les Elephants play similar West African football, so a game will do both of us well
[4] In March, there is a Fifa window and we basically need to squeeze two friendlies into this window
[5] We could play Colombia on Tuesday March 4 and then Greece on Friday March 7, both in England
[6] We should play them in Europe, so we can fit in two games within the week. Ideally, it would be good to play both games in England, to avoid long travel
[7] At the end of the season in May, we can then play South Korea, maybe in Brazil itself
[8] In the run-up to the World Cup, we could play two or three more friendlies.
[9] While camped in the US for instance, we can play friendlies against South American countries Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia.
[10] Unlike everyone else, we need such a hectic schedule because we have to try out about 10 players who should be part of our current set-up but are not and they need to be tested
What should our friendly schedule look like:
[1] March 4 - Colombia (London)
[2] March 7 - Greece (London)
[3] May 24 - Venezuela (London)
[5] May 31 - Bolivia (Houston)
[6] June 2  - Peru (Houston)
[7] June 7 - South Korea (Cuiaba)
[8] June 11 - Local Brazilian clubside Atletico Paranaense (Curitiba)
Given that players we desperately need have not played for the Eagles for a while, if at all, we simply do not have the luxury of a leisurely World Cup run-in. If we are casual about it, we will fail as we did in the last two tournaments we participated in.
Players who desperately need at least two matches to see how they fit in with the current set-up include:
[1] Dele Alampasu
[2] Bright Esieme
[3] Leon Balogun
[4] Musa Mohammed
[5] Juwon Oshaniwa
[6] Kingsley Madu
[7] Kenny Otiga
[8] Joel Obi
[9] Ramon Azeez
[10] Michael Olaitan
[11] Lukman Haruna
[12] Rabiu Ibrahim
[13] Kelechi Iheanacho
[14] Sone Aluko
[15] Chinedu Obasi
One of the beauties of football is that it takes very little time to determine how good a person is. If any of these players show they are not up to the task, then they will of course be decamped but it cannot be right to not give them the opportunity to show their worth before discarding them.
It would have been wonderful if we were at this stage in the summer before the Confederations Cup, where we could have used that tournament to look at these players but as we cannot turn back the hand of the clock, we just have to deal with the situation as it is. Given that you have opted for a 4-3-3 formation, it is easy to tell what our team requires and where the reinforcements are needed.
Our 23-man squad to the World Cup is almost certainly going to look something like this:
[1] Three goalkeepers
[2] Four fullbacks
[3] Four centerebacks
[4] Four central midfielders
[5] Two playmakers
[6] Two targetmen
[7] Four widemen
To even the casual observer, our weakest areas are currently in the two fullback positions, where we desperately lack two crossers and in the playmaker role, where we have nobody to feed the strikers. Past attempts to play our best player Mikel Obi as a playmaker have proved disastrous as for starters, he runs out of gas after 60 minutes and secondly, it denies the team of his long-range passing from deep.
More worrying is the fact that we simply do not have the option of scoring from crosses as we saw happen for our second goal against Italy. In the modern game, about 80% of crosses come from fullbacks, so if we do not sort this problem out, we will be on the way back from Brazil sooner, rather than later.
As things stand, our best squad looks something like this:
**************************Emenike****************************
**************Aluko**********************Moses***************
****************************Haruna***************************
**************Onazi***********************Mikel****************
***Oshaniwa********Oboabona**********Omeruo**********Esieme***
*****************************Enyeama***************************
Rest of the squad
[12] Austin Ejide
[13] Dele Alampasu
[14] Solomon Kwambe/Leon Balogun
[15] Uwa Echiejile/Benjamin Francis
[16] Azubike Egwuekwe
[17] Efe Ambrose/Kenny Otiga
[18] Joel Obi/Michael Olaitan
[19] Ramon Azeez
[20] Kelechi Iheanacho/Nosa Igiebor/Rabiu Ibrahim
[21] Shola Ameobi
[22] Chinedu Obasi
[23] Ahmed Musa
However, before we can agree on this squad, these players need to be tried and tested in friendly games. I suggest we use the March Fifa window judiciously as it is the last chance we will have.
We need all these 29 players in camp on March and have to try them all out, in what will be our most important pruning exercise of the World Cup programme. Fifa's March window may well determine if we fail or succeed in Brazil 2014.
Kind regards
Ayo Akinfe
Nigerian Watch
London
UK

Shocking: Warri-Based Prophet Disappears After Auto Crash In Osun State

According to V. NewsAnxiety is mounting over the sudden disappearance of the General Overseer of Christ Worshippers Church with headquarters at Osubi, Effurun, Warri, Delta State Prophet Duromola Adedayo Samuel. One source said Prophet Duromola might have met his death in a ghastly auto crash that occurred, yesterday, between 6.00 p.m and 8.00 p.m. along Akure-Ilesa expressway. But another source said he might also have been a victim of kidnap. A source in Ikeji Arakeji area where the crash occurred disclosed that after the crash and the vehicle veered into the bush, they tried to give a helping hand but did not meet anybody inside the vehicle with the number plate already removed.

Osun State police command spokesperson, Mrs Folasade Odoro, said there was no official report to that effect while family members from Owo, Ondo State claimed that they had gone to various hospitals in Owena, Ikeji-Arakeji, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ilesa as his whereabout was still unknown at press time.

According to the family members on search party, the vehicle was found but the prophet was not found, adding that no blood stain or anything curious was noticed at the scene of the accident.

Elder Boro, a member of the Board of Trustees of the church in a telephone interview said Prophet Samuel phone rang throughout  the night without response.

He added that may be he was praying on the mountain in Ilesa.

This was corroborated by Pastor Paul Opoweh, the Prophet’s personal assistant, who said efforts to reach him on phone proved abortive.

When the wife, Prophetess Eseoghene Blessing Duromola was contacted, she said Prophet Sanuel went to a mountain at Ilesa, with a promise to return  to Akure to pick her and the children to Warri for the end of the year vigil but that did not happen.

Photo of the day: Elephant Chases Husband and Wife on Wedding Day(Photo)

This is really serious, elephant chases husband and wife on wedding day as they try to take over the elephant's zone lol.

Shocking: Husband Catches Cheating Wife with Another Man In A Car

 Immoral sex is fast raising in africa and people act so rampant in recent times. Now the main question is ''Why do most people now prefer to have s*x or do what they are supposes to do at the comfort of their home in the public without shame? this is serious.

Breast Cancer Survivor, Debby Osarere Shares New Photos Of Herself Looking Healthy

 Beautiful Debby saved by the well meaning and kind hearted Nigerians. share new photos with a wonderful smile.Debby had to have her 2 breasts surgically removed to save her from breast cancer. the Surgery was successful and she's to return back to Nigeria very soon.
So happy for Debby.

See another photo after the cut....

Shocking:Dead Man Placed on Bike During His Wake Keep Ceremony( Photo)

This is really a shocking photo of a dead man, The man pictured above is dead, he was a lover of bikes during his lifetime, so his family decided to honour him while dead by placing him on a bike during wake keep...This is so weird!!!
How can wake keep be like this?
If you walk into a funeral and you saw this, what will you do?

see more photo after the cut.........

2014 Prophecy by Dr. Dk.Daniel Olukoya, General Oversear Of Mountain Of Fire And Miracle Ministry

The sharp prophetic picture for the year 2014 was vividly painted by Dr. Daniel Olukoya at the cross-over night. To the millions of worshipers who gathered physically and watching online globally he painted the picture the prototype of possession of the promise for 2014 which he called “A PASSOVER YEAR”. Exodus 12:21-31; with special attentions to verses6 and 18.

30 Things That Would Characterize Year 2014 nationally and globally
“2014: Our Year of Extraordinary Deliverance and Advancement”
[1] A year of great revival. (Those who can’t stand it or hinder it shall be “MOVED!”).
[2] A year of many questions but very scanty answers (Coded).
[3] A year when strong prayers would be needed to destroy so many strange powers at the entry points of nations.

[4] A year of Deliverance great afflictions and bondages (A Year of Freedom).
[5] A year of MONUMENTAL FAILURE for those who trust in occultic, fetish or magic powers.
[6] A year of uncommon salvation from sin. Many people surprisingly would give their lives to Jesus
[7] A year of new born babies, many barren would smile with testimony of fruitfulness.
[8] A year of wonders and mysteries.
[9] A year of very intensive angelic traffic and visitations.
[10] A year for prophetic dreamers (There are 14 major dreamers in the Bible… pay close attention to your dreams, many will be saved through angelic encounter in dreams).
[11] A year when God will raise up women with prophetic voices for the nations.
[12] A year of awesome restorations.
[13] A year of both positive and negative things (depending of which side of God you stand).
[14] A year of conflict of altars (There are 14 altar-builders in the Bible).
[15] A year of escalation of many conflicts.
[16] A year of scary wars.
[17] A year when strong prayers would be needed to keep a lot of companies from going bankrupt.
[18] A year when prayers would be needed against earthquakes and famine.
[19] A year when so many people would be POSITIONED for great achievements.
[20] A year of marine madness that is greater than last year.
[21] A year when kidnappers and occultic and magical merchants shall fail.
[22] This shall be a very tough year for many political leaders who don’t stand strong with God.
[23] A year when ‘traders’ shall be chased out of the temple of God.
[24] A year where all First-borns must have a rugged determination to be spiritually serious in order to avoid being wasted.
[25] A year in which strange hands will compete for many national flags and sabotage them.
[26] A year deliverance from violent storms both in the spiritual, financial and physical realm.
[27] A year of uncommon healings.
[28] A year of total freedom from sorrow for those who cry unto God.
[29] A year when caging powers shall lose their detention powers.
[30] For the righteous, the mad opposition against you shall become powerless.
SEVEN PRAYER STRATEGIES FOR THRIVING IN 2014 (7-Ps):
[1] YOU MUST CARRY THE DIVINE PRESENCE.
[2] YOU NEED DIVINE POWER TO MANIFEST.
[3] YOU NEED DIVINE PROTECTION TO ENVELOPE YOU.
[4] YOU NEED DIVINE PROVISION TO SHOWCASE.
[5] YOU MUST KNOW THE DIVINE PURPOSE OF GOD BEFORE EMBARKING ON ANYTHING.
[6] YOU NEED DIVINE POSITIONING TO CLAIM THE BLESSINGS OF GOD IN 2014
[7] YOU NEED TO PRAY FOR DIVINE PROMOTION AS PROOF OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN YOUR LIFE IN 2014.

Gunmen invade Plateau church and shoot worshippers

The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the Christmas celebration in Plateau State was shattered on Wednesday when two people were reportedly killed while 16 others were wounded when a group of gunmen invaded the Church of Christ in Nations on the eve of the New Year at Maiakworigold Maikatako village in Bokkos Local Government Council of Plateau State.

One other person was said to have been killed in Manguna area of Bokkos Local Government of the state in the early hours of Wednesday.
The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were said to have stormed the COCIN Church Maiakworigold Maikatako and started shooting sporadically. The two people were killed on the spot while the 16 people sustained various degrees of injuries in the ensuing stampede.

The third victim in Manguna area of the same local council area was said to have been killed by the retreating gunmen.
One of the eyewitnesses, Mr. Augustine Bim, told newsmen that during the service to usher in the New Year, some gunmen stormed the church and started to shoot at different directions.
He said that the casualties were recorded when the worshippers started escaping through various directions.
Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Titus Alams, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate.
Alams, who is the member representing Bokkos State constituency, said that five of the victims were currently on admission at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.
He said they were in a stable condition while 11 people were receiving treatment at Barkin Ladi General Hospital.
While commending the security operatives for their prompt response, he also urged them to do everything possible to fish out the perpetrators of this act.
He said, “This latest incident is regrettable because we have been doing a lot to sustain the current peace we are enjoying in the state. We are appealing to security agents to do everything in their power to fish out those responsible for this heinous crime against humanity.”
Alams appealed to the youths of Bokkos to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands. He also urged them to report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agents in their area.
While reiterating the importance of safeguarding themselves against further attacks, the Speaker urged the people to avoid making themselves vulnerable to attack by congregating in large numbers at any point at night.

 

Broom Revolution: 2,300 PDP Members Decamp To APC

The hour has come, it appears the resolved by All Progressives Congress, APC, to take over Nigeria's political landscape is not an empty boast as the broom revolution started the new year 2014 on a very high note. As you read this, another batch of 2,300 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the APC in Kaduna State in Vice President Namadi Sambo's stronghold. "We have the Vice President and Governor but nothing is happening in Kaduna state despite the loan being collected for the state. We don’t even know what they are using the loan for because they have nothing show in the state."

This is just a day after the ruling party lost about 1,200 members from the vice president’s council area to the APC.The 2,300 PDP members who joined the APC are from Kaduna South local government, a local government located in the heart of the state capital.It was gathered that among the defectors are five serving and eight former councillors in the council.Receiving the defectors at the APC state secretarial, APC’s interim chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, said the party will continue to receive PDP members who are tired of deceit and want genuine change.Dr Hakeem blasted the Vice president of the country Namadi Sambo and the state governor Muktar Ramalan Yero saying their positions have not in anyway benefited the people of the state.
Leader of the PDP defectors in the state and former Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama said they have long been in the ruling party without the party benefiting the state and country in general as he promised that come 2015 PDP will be no more in the state."We want our children to be proud of us some day and we cannot remain in a party that has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to its citizens. Those who think we cannot deliver they should wait and see during the 2015 election if PDP will make it,” he said.

Awolowo Was Greater Than Mandela-Odia Ofeimun

Writer and poet, Odia Ofeimun, has confirm that  the late Premier of old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, above late former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The social critic, in a chat with Sahara Report/TV which was uploaded to YouTube said although “Mandela was good for the liberation” of his people, Awolowo made far-reaching impacts on the lives of many Nigerians.

"People talk about Mandela’s capacity to put various classes (of people) together as theory, but Awolowo ironed it out very clearly, why you don’t need a class struggle, in order to create a society in which all
children can go to school; in which everybody can get a job, and in which old age pensions will be paid to people."Ofeimun, while comparing the two leaders, said:

The processes leading to independence in South Africa and Nigeria “followed exactly the same pattern” but it is unfortunate that the liberation struggle championed by Mandela did “not create the end of apartheid.”
He said Awolowo negotiated Nigeria’s independence just as Mandela did, adding that it would amount to a “hype” to think that there were differences in what the two leaders essentially fought for in their respective countries to end colonisation.
Ofeimun said, “I am too much of an Awolowo man not to see that the process of moving into independence in South Africa and in Nigeria followed exactly the same pattern. It was based on a negotiated settlement. The liberation struggle did not create the end of apartheid. It was a negotiation and Nigerians negotiated exactly the way Mandela negotiated.
“You can hype it if you like, but the pattern was exactly the same. You move from one meeting to the other, discussing politics and economics, and they successfully convinced Mandela to buy the pig in a poke of an economy and they also successfully succeeded in convincing Nigerians to buy the pig in a poke of an economy.
“The only man in Nigeria, who stood up against it, was (Obafemi) Awolowo. He was quickly jailed and all his men scattered across the prisons in Nigeria. Some driven abroad and the educational system that he had put in place was smashed.”
While choosing Awo above the late anti-apartheid leader, Ofeimun said the philosophical postulations about the workings of a state put forward by Awolowo were superior to those credited to Mandela.
Insisting that Mandela could not match the stature of Awolowo, the Edo State-born poet said Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah was the only African leader that could be seen to rival Awolowo.
But he however added that Nkrumah’s ideology of pan-Africanism lacked the capacity to "save Africa" when compared to Awolowo’s brand of socialism. 

Video – Ex-Girlfriend Turns A Wedding Ceremony Upsidedown In The Church

Angry Ex girlfriend has turn a wedding ceremony upside down when the paster asked if anyone knows the reason why the two people should not be join or forever remain silent but the Ex girlfriend of the man took a bold step to stop them and scatter the wedding ceremony. see video below.....

The Massive Real Estate of the Jonathans' in Bayelsa

A billion naira hotel belonging to Nigeria's first lady Patience Jonathan under construction in Bayelsa State. Lying next to it is an elephant project that could not be completed since tenure of corrupt former governor of the State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. President Goodluck Jonathan while he was governor of Bayelsa State took over the project but also did not finish it. The first lady's new hotel is only few months away from completion and almost ready for business.

Also in Otueke the family compound of the Jonathans is being fully guarded by military men.

Photo:Actress Chika Ike Conferred With Chieftancy Tittle

more photo after the cut........... congrates to her

I'm disappointed in D'banj, other celebrities that lied about donations - OJB Jezreel

In an interview with Inspiration FM's Gloria Maduka post surgery, veteran music producer OJB Jezreel addressed controversy surrounding his donations, said celebs used it as competition and calls out Dbanj. 

Here's why he's unhappy with D'banj. During his fund raiser many months back, there were rumours that D'banj gave his former music producer N7m, a report that D'banj didn't deny. OJB says D'banj didn't give him a dime and was upset that he didn't try to set the record straight
  "The most disappointing one for me is D'banj because he passed through my hands, he was trained under
my tutelage. That is offensive. I don't care if you're with Kanye West, you can't forget your root. I won't call anybody else's name but I will call his because it hurts. His own hurts very deep. And he never tried to reach out to me. It's not like we parted on fighting terms.  He told me he had to go to London and he went. And when he came back it was Don Jazzy, and I said OK, that's fine. And what he did worked and I'm very proud of him, the love, that's why it hurts more. He should have come out to say no, I don't know why you people are saying all this, I didn't give OJB N7million, maybe a part of him felt embarrassed because at the end of the day, really, are you not supposed to do something?" OJB says during the interview
He also talked about how people used his fund raiser as competition and once again addresses the bounced cheques.

"When P-Square gave me N5million cheque, everybody started treating as a competition. They were like, they brought N5m, I want to show that I can do more, or equal it. So they will come to my house, some will drop N2m, N1m, you say thank you, they take pictures and go away. Then you drop the cheque in your account and you see that almost N4/5million is being returned back to you that it didn't clear. You call them and tell them and they tell you they are coming but they haven't picked the cheques till now.

"The shocking ones are not even the bounced cheques. It's the ones that when they are coming to meet you in the house to give you money, they come with a whole camera crew. Then they will say I'm donating one million naira to you and the cameras start recording and maybe the guy's tape stops, and he says let's take that again (Laughs).

"There were people in my dialysis that I gave N100k each to pay for their dialysis, we didn't publicise it, we didn't take photos with them, because I felt that was unnecessary."

"I Am The Boss", Angry Afrocandy Says, Shares More Raunchy Photos & Tweet

Known professionally as Judith Mazagwu, stage name AfroCandy is a Nigerian born, USA base actress, Artist,  Commercial model, who has become a woman of many talents. Having written the script for her upcoming T.V project, as well as being the complete filmmaker, Mazagwu is also a song writer and a recording artist. She released her first hit single “Somebody Help Me” late 2009 which still plays in most clubs and on the radios. And also her album "My Love" which the title was later changed to "Ikebe Na Moni" was released December 2010. At the moment AfroCandy is working on a couple of Movie projects and also on her 2nd Album which has just droped a single "Voodoo-Ju Ju Woman" January 1st, 2012.

 

Afrocandy is really furious that slim and sexy Maheeda is taking over game while she's still alive. See her tweets and pics below:

Nollywood Stars: Rich Industry, Big Cars On Screen, Poor Actors and Actresses

Do not be decieved all the big cars and big houses you seen on screen are just movies and fashion. the luxury is complete. even the  fat bank accounts and pretty girls…at least in the movies. But the real lives of many Nollywood  actors and actresses do not reflect what they portray on screen. The Nation's Seun Akioye examines the real lives of the movie stars.

      Whoever has seen Kayode Odumosu, known widely by his stage name Pa Kasumu in any of his       numerous films, would believe the veteran actor epitomises the perfect life. Sometimes, he was the rich and influential father and at another time, he rose from grass to grace. But most of the time, he was the voice of reason, intelligent, a disciplinarian and an honest fellow. Many envied him and thought that Pa Kasumu, now 60 years old, must be very rich.


That was Pa Kasumu, the veteran actor in Nigeria’s make-believe world called Nollywood. To know Kayode Odumosu, you will have to alight from your day dream of cozy world of wealth and glamour, the mansion in Lekki, fine clothes and easy life. You will have to descend into the often dangerous and perilous streets of Mushin, a ‘ghetto’ in Lagos where even the average Nigerian may not contemplate as a place of permanent abode.

Alayaki Street is one of the hundreds of streets in Mushin. The street begins from the junction where Odulami Street crosses into it. There are about 70 houses on the street, nearly all of them built in the ‘face-me-I face-you’ fashion which has become the preferred choice for Lagos poorest. Around 4 pm on Christmas day, several parties were underway on Alayaki. Loud fuji music blared from loud speakers deliberately directed at the road and passersby.

The inhabitants of this street as well as all the adjoining ones are tough-looking young men and women. As they danced in the streets to the music from the parties, they cursed each other using some of the slangs taken from the songs being relayed. The old were not spared; some of them engaged the young people in a game of wit and argument. This combined with the cacophony of sounds coming from several generators placed strategically at the back of the rooms, which complete a picture of chaos.

The house numbered nine is a non-descript storey building. But judging from the dilapidated state of the other houses, number nine fares better and it looks cleaner. There are 12 rooms downstairs and four others are joined to the main house at the back. There are 10 rooms upstairs; this is because the first two rooms serve as kitchen. At the back is a one-bedroom apartment. Though it has its kitchen, the occupants of the room share the toilet and bathroom with other tenants. In this house, tenant number 10 is Kayode Odumosu, also known as Pa Kasumu.

In October, Pa Kasumu was in the news. His family raised an alarm about his failing state of health and their inability to fund his medical bills. The family said he needed N12million to undergo medical treatment abroad. Failure to raise this money would endanger the life of the veteran actor.

Many Nigerians who heard this were shocked. But the greatest shock was when the media focused on the house where the old man lives. Many do not understand how such a man who had lived all his life on the screen, bringing joy to many homes would be in such terrible state. For them, N12million is a small deal for Pa Kasumu, but for Kayode Odumosu, it is a life-threatening sum.

No Christmas for Pa Kasumu
The reporter climbed the staircase two at a time and at the top came face to face with a budding youth. On enquiry, he directed the visitor to the last room by the left.

“That is Pa Kasumu’s room,” he said.

For those who never lived in such apartments, it may be difficult to appreciate the conditions under which this veteran actor lives. The living room was crowded, a result of trying to fit in too many furniture in a small space. At the north was a 14-inch television set, which stood on a shelf, also housing an old VCR video player and radio– which from all indications are not working.

There were four seats in the room and on the longest, a child slept peacefully oblivious to the chaos and noise of the environment. A small centre table completed the modest furnishing. On the table was a black nylon containing bread-the Agege variant- while at the back of one of the seats was the dining table moved closely to the wall such that it could only accommodate one chair. The dining table also played host to several books as well as the microwave.

On the wall were several self portraits of Pa Kasumu. There was one with his wife and another with Chief Lateef Jakande, the revolutionary second republic governor of Lagos State. Another picture revealed Odumosu is a member of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

“Pa Kasumu is at the backroom, you can wait for him if you are not in a hurry,” his daughter, who received the reporter, said. Twenty minutes later the actor arrived; he seemed to have difficulties walking and he could not keep his eyes straight for long.

“You want to see me? Please wait for me, I will have to take my bath,” he said. The bath took a whopping 25 minutes and when he arrived, he had a white kaftan on and blue slippers. His hair and beard had been finely combed and he smelled nice. He took his seat on one of the single seat chairs, wiped the water which was forming on his brows with his left hand and apologised for taking so long in the shower.

Since his illness was disclosed, Pa Kasumu has received many visitors in this humble abode, but on this Christmas day, the old man was alone– save for a couple of young fans who came to see him in the morning. He spent his Christmas in bed, no feasting, no killing of chicken or any of those festivities. For the Odumosus, Christmas was just any other day.

Rich industry, poor practitioners
Honest Nollywood actors would admit that the Nigerian film industry preceded the 1992 release of Living in Bondage by NEK video link owned by Kenneth Nnebue. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, filmmakers, such as Hubert Ogunde and Ola Balogun were involved in film production. But Living in Bondage set the stage for the blockbuster that is Nollywood. Since then, movie producers have not looked back, churning out about 2,000 movies a year.

In 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared Nigeria’s Nollywood the second biggest film industry in the world after India’s Bollywood. The industry took Africa by storm and also soon dominated the world. The Ghanaians, seeing the enormous opportunities in Nollywood, joined the bandwagon. Today, Nollywood is reputed to be worth between $200 and $500 million. True, over 21 years, Nollywood had turned out several millionaires and had changed the lives of many. But these are mainly the directors and distributors as many of those who act have remained poor and frustrated. The bulk of these could be seen in the Yoruba section of Nollywood.

Femi Brainard, Bayo Bankole, better known as Alinco, and Wale Adebayo, better known as Sango, are three larger-than-life Nollywood actors. If the creative works to their credit are anything to go by, they should be ‘swimming in money’. But the reverse is the case as they are barely managing to live well. They are neighbours in Mende, Maryland, Lagos where they live in rented apartments. A source said their homes are not one of those modern edifices often associated with their Maryland neighbourhood, but old apartments in serious need of face-lifts.

But they are the lucky ones. Many of their colleagues cannot even afford to live in highbrow areas such as Maryland. They live in Lagos suburbs such as Alagbado, Ikorodu and Agege. The likes of Babatunde Omidina, better known as Baba Suwe, have houses of their own but in Lagos suburbs. Their houses in Ikorodu do not measure up to their inputs in the industry. They have been in the industry for many decades with little to show for it.

The lowly lives of these Nollywood practitioners are hardly known until they are plagued with one ailment or the other and have to cry out for financial help. That was the case of Ngozi Nwosu, who dazzled in the popular television soap opera, Fuji House of Commotion. For many years, she entertained Nigerians on the popular show. Then early this year, news of her ailment filtered in the media as she begged Nigerians to save her life after she was diagnosed with kidney problems. Kind-hearted Nigerians raised the N6million needed for the life-saving operation in a United Kingdom hospital.

She said of her colleagues: “I don’t have friends in the industry. When you are rich, they are your friends, but when you are not, they leave you. Most of them are a flash in the pan; so, I can’t keep them.”

She survived the ailment and is now back on the beat. But not so lucky was prolific actor Enebeli Elebuwa, who died in December 2012 in an Indian hospital after he underwent treatment for stroke. For many months, the actor battled for his life but was always hampered by funds. One of the most sobering moments of his ordeal was when he was shown on a hospital bed appealing for funds from kind-hearted Nigerians. It was difficult for many to reconcile this Elebuwa to the one they saw on television with fast cars, big houses, fat bank accounts, pretty girls and abundant Moet champagne.

The case of ace Yoruba actor Dento was heart-wrenching. After many months of being bedridden, he cried out to Nigerians for a paltry N250, 000. Many Nigerians responded with disbelief initially but rallied round him, but few months into his treatment, he lost the battle.

‘Why we remain poor’
Many of the actors, especially those belonging to the Yoruba genre, readily admit that not all that glitters is gold. Kareem Adepoju, known as Baba Wande, said his only regret is the poor remuneration which usually followed the hard work actors put into their work.

“My only regret is the way we are being treated by the marketers. We do a lot to prepare a story. We look for money to shoot the film and go through all sorts of sufferings at the various locations to shoot a movie and at the end of it all, getting to the market, you will not be paid; that is my only regret. Every now and then, I just sit back to think on what can be done because we just toil and we don’t reap the fruit of our toiling. It is really sad.”

Many observers agree with Baba Wande over the treatment usually meted out to actors, and because the reward for their hard work is meager, many of them live in abject poverty, a sharp contrast to the roles they portray in the movies. The Nation learnt that the average fee of Yoruba actors and actresses ranges between N150,000 and N250,000. And that is for those on the A-list.

According to findings, apart from stars such as Adebayo Salami, Funke Akindele, Bukky Wright and Odunlade Adekola, most other practitioners earn only peanuts per movie. This has made it extremely difficult for them to live a reflection of the lives they live on stage in real life.

Baba Wande said: “Most of the times, once the ‘area boys’ (street urchins) sight you, they will rush at you telling you that they want to ‘eat’ out of the money you have made. They always think that the way we act in movies is the way things are in real life with us, which is not so at all.”
The lucky few
Mention Nollywood actors such as Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Mercy Johnson, Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is now a commissioner in Delta State, Jim Iyke, Desmond Elliot, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Ini Edo and a few others and not a few in and out of the industry will agree that these guys are members of the elite club of Nollywood. Jalade-Ekeinde was recently listed by Time as one of the most influential people in the world. Nnaji has featured on the Opra Winfrey show, in which she was described as the Julia Roberts of Africa.

These men and women live in good neigbourhoods such as Lekki and Omole Estate. The popularity they have earned in Nollywood has also brought them money through other sources such as product endorsement. Like their colleagues in Hollywood, they are also getting paid for being product ambassadors. They have become brands and the money keeps coming from sources other than acting.