Prof. Okonjo's Kidnappers Demand $1B

Kidnappers of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's mother, Professor Kanene Okonjo, has made a $1 billion demand for her release.

I know this is a trying time for the Minister, but I have a strong feeling that she must have laughed when she heard the amount. 

$1 billion!!!!!! Is she in charge of the foreign reserve?

Longest Time!

It's been a while, people. truth be told, I was just fed up with all the junk journalism in the name of blogging. So,I decided to let things be until 'the dust settled'. Looks like I'm good to go now. So, let's do it this way:
It's December again!

Ex-Banker Goes on Hunger Strike over Unpaid Benefits

A 53-year-old ex banker, Olubiyi Odunaro, has embarked on hunger strike to protest the non-payment of his terminal benefits. Mr. Odunaro was a Senior Manager with the defunct Hallmark Bank, one of the banks that folded up in 2005 because of its inability to recapitalise.

He repotedly began the hunger strike on Novermber 12.

The former banker has also turned a garden on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way to his new home; and has vowed to remain there until his benefits are paid.

Wow! This is certainly a first in Nigeria.

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Peter of PSquare Poses with Son, Cameron

I just love it when parent(s) and child(ren) bond. Peter, I hope the next 'bonding photo' will include the mother ooooo. Nice one.

President Jonathan Loses Brother

President Jonathan may be 55 years old today but he is certainly not a happy man right now. On a very sad note, the President's younger, Meni Jonathan, passed on earlier today. The late Meni died at the Aso Rock clinic after a brief illness. Until his death, late Meni Jonathan was a member of the traditional council in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

May his soul rest in peace.

Catching Up...............

It's been a while I blogged; I've being busy with work, cakes and fatherhood. Yes, fatherhood has been a very wonderful experience, and holding a life I jointly created always gives me an overwhelming feeling. I also read and experienced a whole lot in the last few weeks, and while most of these news/experiences have been pleasant, a few of them have left a sour taste in my mouth.

The policemen have used the okada ban in Lagos as an excuse to re-introduce checkpoints and harass innocent citizens. What is most annoying is their crude and uninformed manner of arresting okada riders. Not surprisingly, a number of deaths have been recorded against them, and neither the state government nor the Commissioner of Police is saying anything about it. 

On a lighter note, someone tweeted that Chelsea FC has not won any Premiership match since the okada ban, implying that okada riders make up the fanbase of Chelsea FC in Nigeria.

The issue of pastors and their private jets also gave me a disturbing thought. I know that many of us are dogmatic and 'over respect' the Men of God in this country, but I won't stop saying this: pastors owning private jets in the midst of poverty-stricken congregation is the highest level of hypocrisy. End of story!

What else happened sef? Yes, D'Banj dropped the audio and video of another single off his yet-to-be-released album. Personally, Bachelor - that's the song title- sounds sooooooo 'un-D'banj'. To make matters worse, the video did not do any better. In my honest opinion, D'Banj has done better in collabos this year.  Ehen, Tonto Dike also released 2 singles but I don't know if she has an album in the offing. The songs generated the worst review I've ever read but Tonto was not moved. That's the spirit, dearie.

Then there was the Presidential Media Chat. Emmmmm......... That's all about the chat.

There are many other issues that caught my attention in the last few weeks, but fatherhood beckons again. I need to rock my baby.

Bye!

John McAfee, Anti -virus Billionaire, Wanted for Murder

This is how TMZ reported it:

The billionaire software genius behind the McAfee antivirus programs is wanted for murder in Belize - this according to reports.

According to Gizmodo.com, Belize police claim John McAfee is the prime suspect in the shooting death of an American expatriate named Gregory Faull.

Faull was reportedly gunned down at his home in San Pedro Town on the island of Ambergris Caye on Saturday - after an argument with McAfee had turned deadly.

McAfee - whose software company sold to Intel in 2010 for $7 billion - has been living in Belize for a while now.

Details around the alleged argument between McAfee and Faull are unclear, but police claim Faull had filed a formal complaint about McAfee with the local mayor's office recently, claiming McAfee had been firing off guns and exhibiting "roguish behavior."

Gizmodo has published a statement from the San Pedro police, which says Faull was found lying face up "in a pool of blood." Police have not established a motive. 

According to Gizmodo's report, police claim McAfee is currently "on the run from murder charges."

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Bieber and Selena Split

I was so sure that the relationship wouldn't last. Selena Gomez is a blossoming beauty, while Justin Bieber has many godfathers watching his back. So, after 2 years of the most talked out teenage celebrity relationship, Selena Gomez reportedly called it quits with 19-year old Justin.

Best of luck, guys. Life goes on. 

Mandela Graces new South Africa's Currency

The South African Reserve Bank on Tuesday rolled out new bank notes bearing the face of the country’s first black president Nelson Mandela, the latest monument to the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon.

“Madiba is really a South African extraordinary human being, and somebody all of us relate to in one way or another,” said Governor Gill Marcus, as she used the notes for the first time.

“We felt it was time to reflect a new image that builds us. Everyone is excited about the new notes,” she added.

Now, this is what it should be; not a clueless and criminal serving politician naming major roads after himself and his cronies!

Dangote Group Drivers: 6 Ph.D Holders Apply!

I find this hard to believe but this is how the The Punch reported it:

The ugly unemployment statistics of Nigeria has been highlighted by the number of applications from higher degree and first degree holders who sought employment as drivers in Dangote group. The staggering figure stands at 13,000.

Of the 13,000 applications received by the Dangote Group for the Graduate Executive Truck Driver, there were six Ph.D, 704 Masters and over 8,460 Bachelor degree holders. Speaking during the mentor-ship meeting of the World Bank Youth Forum, Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said that the company only needed 100 drivers, but received the overwhelming applications.

I also understand the drivers will possess the trucks after covering 300,000 Km.

“Despite the fact that the drivers get trip allowances on each trip along with their salaries, the arrangement is that they will own the trucks at no interests or repayments after they must have reached 300,000 kilometres, which is about 140 trips from Lagos to Kano and a hard working driver can complete in two years, while lazy ones can take maximum of four years.”

Hmmmmmm....... All those years in the university only to become a truck driver? Wow!!!!!

"Ref Called Mikel a Monkey"

The race row involving referee Mark Clattenburg in last Sunday's Chelsea/Manchester United match has gathered momentum as 2 unnamed Chelsea players stated that they heard the referee call Mikel Obi a monkey.

According to the players, Clattenburg was alleged to have said "Shut up you monkey" as he booked the Nigerian international for dissent. He also allegedly referred to Juan Mata as "Spanish twat".
Although the allegations have been denied, investigation is ongoing and the PFA Chief Executive, Gordon Taylor has promised Mikel and Mata "100% support".

November is Here!!!!!

Happy new month, people!

Bloggers as Liars

In recent times, so many people have become bloggers - a development that's really pleasing to me. Information dissemination is a worthwhile activity, especially at this time and in this generation. I have read several blogs and thoroughly enjoyed them. While many of them provided celebrity news and never-seen-before celebrity photos, others provided political and life analyses from an angle I never even thought of.

But then, as interesting as this development is, I am getting worried about the fact that blogging has become a competition in some quarters, as everybody wants to report 'breaking news' first. The effect of this 'competition' is that such 'breaking news' have ended up becoming 'breaking lies'. These days, I read some blogs and just shake my head. 

I have always believed in objectivity; so the pull-him-down stories are really not going down well with me. As much as I believe that celebrity buzz generates traffic, there's a need to be objective and rely less on rumours. When Zaaki Adzay's news broke, I just laughed at many bloggers' versions of the story because a friend of mine who happens to be Zaaki's neighbour gave me the gist before the news broke. Except for Linda Ikeji and those who copied from her blog, others just cooked up lies.

Then came the 'Lagbaja unmasked' story. Again, unverified rumour was published as though the musician unmasked in the presence of the bloggers.

And on Sunday, the 'Ayuba beaten to stupor for lateness' story went viral. As soon as I read the story, I just shook my head in sadness. Yes, Ayuba got to the venue of the event late because of the Lagos-Ibadan  expressway traffic; yes, the client was angry; but NO, he was not beaten at all. I got the blow-by-blow account of the event because my friend was there!

I know that many of us are in it for the money, but we must also realise that damaging other people's lives because of our quest for money is as good as armed robbery. The power of a blogger is more massive than we can ever imagine, and the uproar that greeted the Aluu killing is a pointer to this fact.

We all cannot be like Linda Ikeji, Olorisupergal or Omojuwa, whose occupation is blogging; but we can be like Ali Baba - blog when you have a material and make your blog as personal as possible.

Most importantly, blog for the passion you have for it. Linda didn't get to where she is by chasing money first. Anybody can blog, but it takes passion to build a brand.

I rest my case.

Rivers State Government Acquires $45 million Jet for Governor

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi

The Rivers State commissioner for information,Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has confirmed that the state government bought a brand new $45 million Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS) jet for Governor Chibuike Amaechi. According to the commissioner, the jet was paid for two years ago, and they bought it for 'safety reasons'. She said the governor consulted the Rivers state House of Assembly and they approved the purchase.

This is coming at a time when Rivers State is battling with flood crisis, and the government already has an aircraft. Expectedly,the old aircraft, an Embraer Legacy 600, will be sold.

Seriously, I can't stopping shaking my head for this country. Why would any reasonable government spend over N7 billion of tax payers' money on a 'private jet', when the citizens can barely feed?????