She also accussed President Goodluck Jonathan's aides as hindering the resolution of the crisis caused by Boko Haram.
Senator Obasanjo also blasted the sect for abducting 230 school girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State saying that lack of female companion is no excuse for the abduction and also betraying the true essence of revolutionaries in directing their venom against the lower class.
She also noted her suprise that less groups like Boko Haram has not formed in the nation given the poverty and unemployment level.
Letter below
Dear Boko Haram
"The fact that you have taken arms against the Nigerian state is no surprise. The question should be why haven't more young people organised themselves against the state? "Even the fact that your motto, 'Against Western Education' is in a way reasonable given the fact that your leader, martyred by the Nigerian state had university education and found no reasonable employment but had to resort to thuggery for politicians to survive, as the story goes. "He, like millions of Nigerian young people and college graduates, seeing a blighted future are doing anything to survive.
"They have become opportunistic desperados, almost sub‑human as the stepping on and trampling on each other to death at the Immigration employment debacle indicates.
'Where you're wrong'
"Where I think you have gotten it wrong are in two areas, if you can pardon my giving you some unsolicited advice. "First, your victims are becoming more and more the people you should be attracting to your side. Take the Nyanya bus massacre.
"The people that live in Nyanya are usually the clerks, messengers and other lowly office workers that live out in relative slums compared to the rest of Abuja and take public transportation to work to receive monthly salaries they barely get by on.
"Consult any written work of successful revolutionaries be it French, Russian, Cuban or even the more recent uprooting of communism in Eastern Europe, to succeed you need the people to be on your side. Right now you are not achieving this. "You are targeting the group you need most.
This does not make for a successful revolution but you are making yourselves into nuisances to the people and in the end while the state, including its military machine may not be able to conquer you, your downfall will be alienating these potential allies, i.e. the oppressed and down-trodden.
"Secondly, the abduction of girls. It must be hard to stay in the bush as all male revolutionaries fending for yourselves with no sexual gratification.
Cuban example
"But again, reading up on past bush revolutionaries like the Cuban, for example, indicates that they were able to convince some women to go voluntarily with them into the bush. "Somehow, revolutionary zeal does not include sexual abstinence and cooking and cleaning by yourselves.
"Reading must be hard for you since you hate education but the past is a good guide to the future and if you can't read, you are done for in organizing or succeeding in most endeavours as most things have been done before and reading up on how it was done can only serve as good guidance.
"The parents of the girls you abducted are just trying to give their daughters a chance at having successful lives. Without an education there is very little anyone can achieve in this early 21st century.
"I know living in the bush; it must still seem like the dark ages but the truth is that even with the lack of jobs and opportunities for young people in Nigeria currently, it is still better to be educated.
"An educated university graduate who was selling food from a food cart ignited the Arab Spring which was spread by use of the internet which is hard to use if you are not educated. "There are writings, videos and stuff you post on the internet which I haven't seen. But think of it, you can only post and use the internet because some of you have some education.
"But in the end you have no control over the distribution of your advertising and recruiting information because as you may know, the internet is really part of the western system you despise.
Why you're succeeding
"The truth is that you have succeeded because the Nigerian state has failed to provide jobs and opportunity for its young people who you can now easily recruit. By disrupting education, you are adding to the burden of the people.
"You may say, but how about our religious issue? Let the truth be told, just as there are indigenous southern Muslims, there are indigenous northern Christians even from your epicentre in Borno State and just as you are zealous for your religion, I don't see them giving up their religion either.
"The reasonable solution to this impasse would be for you to advocate for everyone to be able to practice their religion as they see fit with respect for each other's beliefs. "Remember, a couple of centuries ago, all of our ancestors below the Sahara were all animists worshipping various 'gods.'
"This 'One God' - us against them situation - is a relatively recent one in our human history and you will be advised to let the originators fight it out and let your people be."
Via: Vanguard
Chairman of National Conference, Hon. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi with his gavel at Conference on Monday in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
Denying reports of extension of Conference by Six weeks, Kutigi who explained that at meetings held, most of the committee chairmen complained of the shortness of time for committee work, where they indicated the heavy workload and relevant assistance they would require from external sources to do a thorough job, said that it was at this point that, "As part of its engagement with delegates, the leadership of the Conference had a meeting with Chairmen, Co-Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the 20 standing committees to keep abreast with the activities of the committees and also find out if there are challenges that the intervention of the secretariat would be required.
In a statement signed by Conference Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, James Akpandem, the secretariat said, " It was then agreed that one extra week should be added to enable the committees tidy up their activities and present meaningful reports.
"However, since the following week beginning from Monday May 5 to Thursday May 8 (sitting days), will see Abuja hosting the World Economic Forum, and because some delegates, and facilities used for the National Conference will be involved and engaged respectively for the Economic Forum, the week following from Monday May 12 to Thursday May 15 was consequently approved for the extension, for conclusion of committee work.
"It must be emphasised that the Conference Secretariat lacks the power to extend the Conference duration and has made that position very clear at every point the issue is raised. If there is need for an extension, a request for that would emanate from the Conference Secretariat to the Presidency, and as at the time of issuing this statement no such request has been made to the Presidency."
"As a follow-up to that agreement, the Conference Secretary, Dr (Mrs) Valerie-Janette Azinge, formally communicated the decision to all Committee chairmen on Wednesday, April 30. It was clearly entitled "EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMMITTEE WORK".
The full text of the letter reads:
"Please recall that the meeting of the Chairman of the National Conference and Principal Officers with the Chairmen/Co-Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of various committees agreed that the time allotted for Committee Work in the Work Plan was inadequate.
The meeting also took consideration of the adjournment during the May Day and World Economic Forum events which requires the active participation of some delegates.
"As a result, I hereby convey to you the decision to extend the time allotted to the Committee Work as reflected in the attached revised Work Plan.
Kindly ensure that you conclude the work of your Committee during this allotted period. Thank you."
"During the Monday meeting, the Committee leaders also expressed concern over the time allotted for the Drafting of Conference Report and noted that it was too short and may not allow for effective and thorough job. A suggestion of four weeks (of four working days each) was proposed.
"The Conference leadership pointed out that if that is done, it would mean an extension of the Conference duration, which the Secretariat lacks the authority to do.
"Accompanying the letter to the Chairmen, on Wednesday, was a tentative Work Plan which was to explain the possible scenario should the proposal to use four weeks for drafting of the Conference Report be adopted. It was an internal document to guide Committee Chairmen in their work, and not a notice of extension of the duration of the Conference.
"The Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi CFR, had similarly told the Committee leadership on Monday that if it "becomes absolutely necessary" to have an extension of time, a formal request would be made to the relevant authorities, and the Secretariat will only act when express approval is granted.
"It is rather unfortunate that in spite of the availability of this information, which was further made clear to journalists who sought clarification on this matter on Wednesday, most of them still went ahead to rely on information they got from delegates who were not well informed on the matter, and who themselves are neither chairmen nor deputy chairmen of Committees; and who were neither part of the Monday meeting with the Conference leadership nor were directly notified of the extension of time for Committee Work.
Via: Vanguard
Wednesday, April 30, 2014, marked the 11th year since one of Nigeria's most charismatic entertainers died. The humour merchant and legendary king of traditional 'Oduology' tragically surrendered himself to the cold hands of death after a battle with kidney-related diseases.
Months before his death, the late comedian and radio presenter was woven in mysteries after he was reported to have woken up after he was confirmed dead. The Osun State-born entertainer sparked off controversies with tales of his journey in the underworld and his interactions with 'God'.
A singer, comedian, radio presenter and Master of Ceremony, Gbenga Adeboye, who was born in 1959, was a man of multiple talents. He hosted one of the most popular radio shows in Lagos in the 1980s, and had a massive following. The spell binding programme of the early '80s on Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation gave him the household name, 'Funwontan'.
He brought so many unique perspectives to radio. Apart from his humour, which was often on full display in his popular radio programme, Gbenga Adeboye was also a staunch advocate of the Yoruba language and traditions with his various Yoruba language oriented programmes aimed at promote reading culture in the Yoruba language and a revival of old cultures.
Gbenga Adeboye's creativity gave him the freedom to be a Muslim and Christian at the same time. With the moniker Alhaji Pastor Oluwo, the ace humourist, who claimed to be a devoted Muslim, also displayed a deep knowledge of the Bible. The name Alhaji Pastor Oluwo was justified as he often eloquently quoted from the Quran and Bible and also chanted incantations with great ease.
Gbenga Adeboye was bestowed with numerous nicknames. The all-round entertainer was known as Funwotan, Jenbetiele I of Africa, Alaye MI Gbengulo, King of traditional Oduology, Alhaji Pastor Oluwo, Booda Gbenga, World Officially Crowned Oduology King (WOCOK), Okanlomo of Europe, Amuludun of London, Apagunpote of Yorubaland, Grandfather of Oduology and so many more.
With humourous lyrics set to a gyration kind of sound, Gbenga Adeboye also conquered the music world. He was one of the first Nigerian comedians to have a successful foreign tour, performing across different cities in America in 1994. The tour clips were used as visuals for his music series titled 'American Exposure'.
Aside from being an immensely talented entertainer, Gbenga Adeboye was also a generous man. Either through gifts — veteran Yoruba actress Iya Rainbow's first car was a gift from the late Gbenga Adeboye — or through mentorship to comedians like Abbey Fagboro, Ereke Ni Shoopu, Bashiru Adisa AKA Baba Gboin and so many others, he was a source of inspiration to many successful entertainers and comedians. Popular Yoruba actress Fathia Balogun also had her big break when she featured as a dancer in one of Gbenga Adeboye's music video.
The Nigerian entertainment industry, during the time Gbenga Adeboye made fame and fortune from it, was an industry devoid of the glamour and glitz it has today. It was an industry reserved for dropouts and it was often overlooked, but Gbenga Adeboye created a brand despite all that. With comedy and entertainment, he stood above his peers and shone bright for all to see. 11 years later, his art, his name and what he achieved all through his life still stand out.
Vanguard gathered that the suspect thereafter attempted suicide by slashing his throat with the same knife he used to stab the lover.
The ugly incident according to police source occurred at Ayeka new site, in Okitipupa area of Ondo state at about 1:30pm on Monday.
Sources said that the lover boy has been having a running battle with the deceased for having another lover despite being adequately taken care off by him
The suspect was said to have complained to his friends and those close to the deceased that he is not pleased with the double dating activities of Tope.
He was said to have told those who cared to listen that there was nothing Tope requested for from him that he has not given him and wondered why she was still double dating.
The deceased it was learnt had brushed aside the threat of the suspect on several ocassions accusing him of being jealous and over protective.
She reportedly denied having any other lover and that those seen with her are just acquaintances and not her lovers.
However. Police source said the matter got to a head when the suspect accused the deceased frontally of dating another man.
As usual the deceased reportedly denied and made a joke of the matter which according to source infuriated the suspect who rushed to get a knife and stabbed her.
Sensing that the girlfriend was about dying, the suspect allegedly used the same knife to slash his on throat but was saved by neighbours who heard the cries and groaning of the deceased girlfriend.
Both lovers were rushed to the Okitipupa specialist hospital where the girlfriend was confirmed death having bled to death.
The suspect was treated and thereafter transferred to Ondo state trauma center , in ondo town for further treatment.
Contacted the State Police Image Maker Wole Ogodo confirmed the incident.
Ogodo said that the suspect stabbed to death his girlfriend for allegedly double dating despite spending " lavishly for her"
He pointed out that preliminary investigation in progress while the suspect who was on conscious is now responding to treatment. End
Via: Vanguard
His wife, 27-year-old Mrs. Grace Obayuzo Okoye is yet to accept the reality of what might have befallen her husband since he left their Iyana Isashi, Lagos home since May 23, 2013.
According to Sun ,to compound her anguish, the Ebira woman from Kogi State, said she was two months pregnant when he vanished. She was delivered of a baby girl on December 23 last year while the baby died three weeks ago. As the stress of searching for her husband is already taking its toll on Grace, she is faced on another front by in-laws the battle to dispossess her of her husband's property.
Narrating how she began her life journey with her missing husband,Grace told Saturday Sun that all was well until the fateful day.
"I got married to Emmanuel Uchenna Okoye from Ojoto, Idemmili South LGA of Anambra State in November 2011. I had my first son, and then I was pregnant when I did my traditional wedding." She said her marital bliss of about two years crumbled in just one day. "Everything started last year, May 23, 2013. My husband left the house about 3.40pm that he was coming. Before he left, he gave me money to cook soup for him, that I should pay NEPA bill that was due. That he was coming back soon. Since then I've been trying his phone number, till now. No information about him.""He went to Spain and came back. He stayed almost nine months in Spain. He came back in December 2012, but he didn't stay long and went back. He went from Spain to China and back to Nigeria. That was how he came. That was in February 2012. Before he returned last year.: "He's someone that used to import spare parts, he deals mainly in batteries. He sells men's shoes. That's what I know he does. He has a shop at the Trade Fair, Abia Plaza."
Clues on disappearance
"His business was going on fine before he started having problem with his business associate, one of his cousins that was staying with him before. He had problem with him, since then his business started going down. That his cousin, Oluchukwu, died about three years ago. They said he died around Festac, I don't know what caused his death. They even accused my husband of his death. My husband said he didn't know anything about his death. My husband was in China when it happened."
On the day of his disappearance,He just walked out. He didn't go in his car. He said he was going out, he didn't tell me the particular place. He doesn't tell me where he goes, he will just say am coming and that's how he left that day. After waiting for him till the next day, I thought he travelled and maybe had a problem on the way because he was supposed to travel out of the country on 25th, but he left the house on 23rd, so I waited till the next day. I was at home. He left with his passport, that's the only thing he left with. No travelling bag. I was even arranging his bag for his journey on 25th but he left on 23rd. After I waited for a week I started calling all his friends and family and asking, if they have heard from Emma?"
In what appears to be a reinforcement of claims by security agents that the missing businessman may still be alive, Grace said she used to get strange text messages on her phone from some foreign numbers which would not accept calls. According to her:
"I went to Iyana Isashi Police Station to make a report, with his brother, Ebuka living with us. From that day till now, still nothing. All I get is strange international numbers sending me messages. But If I call them back, it's not going. The person will be sending me message as if I'm his wife. Kind of 'Good morning dear, how are you doing?', 'Err, baby I can't talk to you now', 'I will like to talk to you, call me now.' This has been going on since September last year. I even sent some of the messages to my husband's lawyer, Mr. Uduak. He said he would go and find out the country it's coming from. That's what he told me. As am here, another message came to me last Sunday, saying: 'If loneliness kills you.' I don' know who is sending these messages. I don't know the person."
"I've not heard from them (police). Instead they were telling me I should bring N15,000, to go to MTN and get his call log. His lawyer said he knew someone at the DSS Ikoyi that we should go there and hear what they would say. We were there; me, Ebuka, my husband's younger brother, and the lawyer. Later, they said I should go out, so I left them and they were discussing. Later, they called me. The man said my husband was alive and that they would start their investigation.
They later called me again that my husband made contact with somebody in July, they didn't tell me the day, and he left the house in May. So, I was thinking, who would he have contacted without contacting me in the house. They said he called one Obiora. Did I know any Obiora? I said no. They told me Obiora was in detention here. I told them I don't know anyone called Obiora. The man said Obiora is Ebuka's friend. So, I said I don't know. They said how come Obiora and my husband have been interacting?
I said I don't know him. They said it's because of accommodation. Since that day they have not called me. Ebuka, who is my husband's brother came one day and said he wants to go to DSS. Then my second son was very sick. I said I would have loved to follow him but I was heavy and my son was very ill. I was scared. I told him to go. That I was taking my son to the hospital. He said when he got there, they told him to give them some time that they were still investigating. Since then, no call, nothing from them. The police at Iyana Isashi directed us to Ijanikin.
One of our neighbours connected us to one Inspector at Ijanikin. We went to Ijanikin, still no information. It was at the DSS that they told us that the message I sent to my husband was received but he did not reply. He has been gone for 10 months plus now."
Abuchi and Ebuka went to the mortuary to check. I don't know the particular one they went. They said they did not find anybody like him",
As if her missing husband and breadwinner is not enough woe for a lady of her age, Grace said some of her in-laws who would not wait to know whether her husband is confirmed dead or still alive have been demanding the documents of his property. "Most of them have been there for me. But his younger brother has been asking for land documents, and even bringing somebody to come and live as a tenant here. I refused and told them we are still searching for my husband and until we find him or get evidence of what has happened, every other thing should wait"
Khayiya was picked up by police after she invaded Patricia Tshabalala's house just before 2AM and claimed that her friends "dumped her".
Dressed in a wrapping scarf with no shoes and holding a plastic bag with pieces of cloth, mysterious objects and some concoctions, Khayiya shocked Mpopoma residents after she apparently found her way into the house through a locked door.
Ellen Khayiya Mpofu who was caught trespassing while half naked at a Mpopoma house.
Stunned residents thronged the house to catch a glimpse of the "witch" before she was whisked away by the police at about 7AM.
Tshabalala said she was asleep when she heard someone scratching the main door from outside and she rushed to check, suspecting that thieves were trying to break into her house.
"I heard what sounded like a pet scratching the door at about 2AM. I listened carefully and the sound continued until I rushed to the door and asked who the visitor was. Before I could get an answer, the door was flung open and a half-naked woman, carrying a plastic bag stood before me," said Tshabalala.
"I asked her how she had opened the door and she told me she used her fingers. While I was still shocked she tried to push herself into the house and I screamed, alerting neighbours who came and beat her up before interrogating her."
Tshabalala said the woman, who gave contradictory statements, claimed she had travelled by taxi to Mpopoma from Hillside before her friends dumped her and later revealed that she was riding on a child.
"The woman had two twisted fingers on her right hand. She told us it was caused by opening people's doors during her night escapades. She bragged that she never worries about relish as she feeds on people's blood and flesh.
"The plastic bag contained blood-stained pants, a bra, a petticoat, a T-shirt, a jersey, some jewellery and pieces of cloth. She was also carrying all sorts of strange things," said Tshabalala.
Khayiya reportedly told stunned residents that she had three children from different fathers but stayed alone in Pelandaba as she could not stand men.
The woman, who kept on falling into a trance and changing voices, claimed she inherited the witchcraft powers from her sister, a teacher at a local school.
"One of my neighbours who knows the teacher phoned her and she disclosed that the woman was her sister. She pleaded with us not to beat her up, but she did not come to take her until the police came.
"The alleged witch claimed that her whole family was into witchcraft and said they rode on different people's backs during the night to travel to different places for witchcraft purposes," said Tshabalala.
However, Judge Victor Greenberg denied the request until a probation revocation hearing takes place on Thursday, May 1, 2014.
Chris' arrest for the assault, which took place in Washington D.C. in October, marked a violation of the probation which was set in 2009 following his assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna, but he was allowed to enter rehab rather than prison.
However, when he was kicked out of the clinic for rule breaking, he was subsequently jailed and his lawyer argued it was unfair that he had been in prison for 39 days without a hearing.
Another lawyer for the 'Yeah 3x' hitmaker, whose bodyguard Christopher Hollosy has been convicted of assaulting Adams, branded the ruling 'over the top'.
Mark Geragos said earlier in the day: 'I think it's a little over the top to have him in custody on this misdemeanour when everybody saw the bodyguard's trial and which was nothing more than a bloody nose.'
'And you have got the bodyguard who was convicted and who readily admitted he was the one who did the punching. So all of this is much ado about nothing.'
Chris' trial has suffered delays since his bodyguard was found guilty of misdemeanor assault stemming from the incident last October on Monday April 4, 2014, and is now expected to take place in June.
Hollosy, who will be sentenced in June and faces a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, was originally scheduled to testify on behalf of the 'Turn up the music' singer, but after he was found guilty, he decided he would not testify unless the prosecutors offered him immunity, as he plans to appeal his conviction.
If convicted, the entertainer faces a maximum of six months in jail and $1,000 fine, but he also faces up to four more years in jail in California as a result of violating the terms of his probation.
Nigerian film-maker and Nollywood icon Amaka Igwe has shockingly passed on at 51.
A spokesperson for Amaka Igwe studios told source the sad incident occurred in Enugu where she had gone, in company of her husband, for pre-production preparations for a new Igbo soap.
'She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital after initial interventions had failed. She passed on before getting to the hospital', a statement issued this morning read.
Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm. Asthma attacks are triggered by a number of environmental and genetic interactions and usually come unannounced.
Mrs Igwe is survived by her husband of 21 years Charles Igwe, three children, an aged mother, siblings and a large extended family.
Mrs Igwe's last major outing was at the inaugural edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference held on April 26, 2013 at the Grand Ball Room of Eko Hotels and Suites. Participating as a keynote speaker, Mrs Igwe delivered a speech on the 'Reflections from an unapologetic commercial Nollywood filmmaker'.
Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher.
She is the founder of BoBTV Expo, founder and CEO of Top Radio 90.9FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks.
The Lagos mainland based Top Radio station was launched years ago, with preparations underway to launch Q Networks, a DSTV channel in a few weeks.
A visionary and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and film, she hit national limelight as the writer and producer of award-winning TV soap 'Checkmate' and its off shoot 'Fuji House of Commotion'.
Her Nollywood projects include RattleSnake and Violated – two critically-acclaimed movies that set apart Amaka Igwe Studios in the much-criticised Nollywood industry.
Amaka Igwe studied Education/Religion at the University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). She had a Master's Degree from the University of Ibadan. She had her early education at All Saints School (Now Trans Ekulu Primary School), Girls High School Awkunanaw, Enugu and Idia College, Benin.
Interestingly, Amaka Igwe wanted to study law but officials of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) offered her a chance to study Education and Religious Study instead. From OAU, Mrs Igwe signed the MNET short celluloid film 'Barbers Wisdom' as director and then proceeded to the University of Ibadan where she grabbed a master degree in Library and Information Services.
She married her longtime partner Charles Igwe in 1993. They had three kids together – Ruby, David and Daniel.
She worked as a lecturer at the Anambra State University of Technology and briefly in oil and Gas, before settling for the motion picture industry.
Mrs Igwe will be remembered for raising the bar in movie and TV production in Nigeria, creating high standards with her company Amaka Igwe Studios at a time when Nollywood wasn't taken serious, for not conforming to low standards as a means to achieving success and inspiring many Nigerian movie makers.
Rest in perfect peace
