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Saturday 23 April 2016
Good News As Mide Martins Reunites With Afeez Owo, Her Husband
mydemartins: "The Storm Is Over!!!.... Thank You Lord For This Great Reunion!!... And I Say A Very Big Thanks To All Our Fans and Well Wishers... Thank You For Your Prayers and Concerns.. We Sincerely Appreciate You All... @officialafeezowo .... You Are Not Just My Husband... You Are My Guardian Angel ... Thank You For Always Being There For Me... I Will Forever Love You!!!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgzd1RA3Df/?hl=en
See earlier thread where the wife blasted him for leaving them http://www.nairaland.com/3052573/actress-mide-martins-blasts-husband
Arsenal wins 500th EPL against West Brom
Arsenal picked up their 500th win in the Premier League against West Brom on Thursday.
The Gunners’ favourite side to play in the past 24 years has been Everton, whom they have beaten 29 times and scored 91 goals against. West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle are their second most beaten teams (25).
Arsenal have only had three managers since the start of the Premier League, with Arsene Wenger picking up 432 wins of the 500 (86 percent) since he took over in 1996. The Frenchman has lost 131 and drawn 185 of his other league games.
http://www.ripples.com.ng/arsenal-wins-500th-epl-west-brom/
The Gunners’ favourite side to play in the past 24 years has been Everton, whom they have beaten 29 times and scored 91 goals against. West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle are their second most beaten teams (25).
Arsenal have only had three managers since the start of the Premier League, with Arsene Wenger picking up 432 wins of the 500 (86 percent) since he took over in 1996. The Frenchman has lost 131 and drawn 185 of his other league games.
http://www.ripples.com.ng/arsenal-wins-500th-epl-west-brom/
Friday 22 April 2016
CCT trial: Saraki kicks as FG applies to amend charge
*Judge orders Police to take Saraki’s lawyer out ABUJA — The ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, took a new twist, yesterday, as the Federal Government applied to amend the initial 13-count charge it entered against him. Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki during his ongoing trail on false asset declaration at the code of conduct Tribunal in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga OlamikanSenate President Dr. Bukola Saraki The government made the application on a day the CCT Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, ordered the arrest of one of the lawyers representing Saraki in the matter. However, Saraki, through his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, vehemently opposed the Federal Government’s bid to amend the charges already pending against him before the tribunal. Specifically, government added two more court charges to the previous charge against Saraki. Investigations by Vanguard, yesterday, revealed that the amendment was a fallout of some revelations made by the star prosecution witness in the matter, Mr. Michael Wetkas. Wetkas was the head of a three-man crack team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that investigated six separate petitions that culminated in the charge against the defendant. In the amended 15-count charge dated April 18, the Federal Government alleged that Saraki, while being a senator between June 2011 and October 2013, “did receive monthly salaries or emoluments as governor of Kwara State and at the same time from the Federal Government of Nigeria as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/cct-trial-saraki-kicks-fg-applies-amend-charge/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/cct-trial-saraki-kicks-fg-applies-amend-charge/
Thursday 21 April 2016
How to Buy an Engagement Ring Online
So you’ve plucked up the courage to pop the question and now comes the difficult decision of choosing a ring. Buying an engagement ring can be as tricky as getting down on one knee. After all, for some guys it take months, if not years, to say those four little words. Yet, there’s still work to do when it comes to looking for the ultimate rock.
Recently, one of the most expensive engagement rings was purchased by Jay-Z. He dropped $5 million on an audacious 20 carat job when proposing to Beyonce.
In spite of the fact that there are two of you, it can prove to be a jewel encrusted minefield when selecting the right ring. There are a number of different factors especially on the web to take into consideration. Fret not, as we give you the lowdown on how to purchase an engagement ring for your loved one online.
Setting an Engagement Band Budget
http://www.bornrich.com/how-to-buy-an-engagement-ring-online.html
Recently, one of the most expensive engagement rings was purchased by Jay-Z. He dropped $5 million on an audacious 20 carat job when proposing to Beyonce.
In spite of the fact that there are two of you, it can prove to be a jewel encrusted minefield when selecting the right ring. There are a number of different factors especially on the web to take into consideration. Fret not, as we give you the lowdown on how to purchase an engagement ring for your loved one online.
Setting an Engagement Band Budget
http://www.bornrich.com/how-to-buy-an-engagement-ring-online.html
Shocking: Man rapes his children aged 5, 7, 9
A man, who reportedly raped three of his children aged five, seven and nine, has been arrested by the police in Enugu. This was disclosed at a briefing by Women’s Aid Collective, WACOL, and Tammer SARC in Enugu, yesterday. WACOL and Tammer SARC also said seven boys were among 479 rape victims repor-ted to them from April 2014 to date. The victims’ age ranged from five years to 40. Giving a breakdown of the cases reported within the period, the Executive Director of WACOL, Dr Ngozi Ezeilo, said Enugu East topped the list with 157 cases; Enugu East, 114; Nkanu, 16; Igbo Etiti, five; Aninri, four; Igboeze South, three; Nsukka, four; Udenu, two and Uzo Uwani, two. She said that the rape of seven boys by homosexuals were new, adding that the increase in the number of cases was because many victims were now reporting their experiences due to the campaign for victims to come up with their stories.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/man-rapes-children-aged-5-7-9/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/man-rapes-children-aged-5-7-9/
$2.1bn arms probe: Allow me defend myself, Dasuki tells FG
Former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), yesterday, accused the Federal Government of deliberately denying him the opportunity to prepare his defence to all the criminal charges preferred against him before three different courts. Dasuki SamboDasuki Sambo Dasuki, who made the allegation at the resumed hearing on the 22-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, entered against him before an Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama, bemoaned the fact that he had been constantly denied access to his lawyers. He told the court that operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, had since December 29, 2015, when he was re-arrested, refused to allow him access to his legal representatives. Consequently, the former NSA, through his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, urged trial Justice Peter Affen to compel the Federal Government to grant him the necessary facilities to prepare his defence to the charge pending against him before the court. The charge borders on his alleged involvement in the illegal diversion of N19 billion meant for the procurement of arms. Needs 20 sessions with lawyers Dasuki insisted that he would need at least 20 interactive and instructive sessions with his lawyers on record or any counsel of his choice in the preparation of his defence to the charge.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/2-1bn-arms-probe-allow-defend-dasuki-tells-fg/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/2-1bn-arms-probe-allow-defend-dasuki-tells-fg/
Queen cuddles Princess Charlotte as she poses with Royal youngsters
Three remarkable new photographs of the Queen have been released to mark the monarch's 90th birthday today
•They were taken by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz and echo great royal oil paintings of the past
•First shows Queen with grandchildren and great-grandchildren as she cuddles the youngest, Princess Charlotte
•Second is a rare and surprisingly warm shot of Queen with her daughter, Princess Anne, and third is of her corgis
•See more on The Queen as three portraits released to mark Queen's 90th birthday at www.dailymail.co.uk/thequeen
It is a portrait not only of a monarch, but of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother too.
Taken by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz at Windsor Castle last month, this remarkable picture – which, in its lighting and composition, echoes the great royal oil paintings of the past – has been released by Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday today.
•They were taken by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz and echo great royal oil paintings of the past
•First shows Queen with grandchildren and great-grandchildren as she cuddles the youngest, Princess Charlotte
•Second is a rare and surprisingly warm shot of Queen with her daughter, Princess Anne, and third is of her corgis
•See more on The Queen as three portraits released to mark Queen's 90th birthday at www.dailymail.co.uk/thequeen
It is a portrait not only of a monarch, but of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother too.
Taken by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz at Windsor Castle last month, this remarkable picture – which, in its lighting and composition, echoes the great royal oil paintings of the past – has been released by Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday today.
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Drama As EFCC witness disowns own document he submitted against Saraki
Michael Wetkas, a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday April 19th denied knowledge of the contents of a petition he tendered as evidence against Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The petition, which is marked “Exhibit 11″, was written by a group known as Kwara Freedom Network, alleging corruption against Saraki. While being cross-examined by Kanu Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, Wetkas said he was not involved in the investigation of the petition he tendered as evidence at the tribunal.
Regarding whether he confirmed that local government funds were being illegally deducted as alleged in the petition against Saraki, he said:
“Not part of the investigation I carried out.”
“Do you know whether the petition was addressed to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB),” Agabi asked.
“I don’t work for the CCB. I wouldn’t know.”
Agabi: “In terms illegal transfer of funds by the accountant general, was he invited?”
Wetkas: “I cannot say because I was not the one in charge of this.”
Agabi: “Did you know if this exhibit was referred to him for an answer?
Wetkas: “I wouldn’t know, but he was once invited.”
Agabi: “Did you meet with the members of Kwara Freedom Network?”
Wetkas: “It was not part of my investigation.”
Agabi: “In the course of your work, did you come upon any document in which members of this network were called upon to justify their petition.”
Wetkas: “I was involved in this investigation in 2014; the petition was in 2012.”
Agabi: “Have you read the petition?”
“I only perused through it.”
Agabi: “When you tendered this document, did it occur to you that you will be questioned?”
Wetkas: “This is not the aspect I investigated. Someone more competent than me will talk about it.”
Agabi: “Did your perusal show that the asset declaration of the defendant was the issue.”
Wetkas: “I can’t remember seeing that.”
When asked if he obtained the statements of the petitioners, the EFCC detective said he did not know.
Agabi: “Did you obtain any statement from the defendant on this petition?”
Wetkas: “It was not part of my investigation. I didn’t investigate this aspect of the petition. There are people who are more competent to talk about it.”
Agabi: “Exhibit 11 (the petition) is not addressed to the CCB. No action was taken for four years after exhibit 11 was received?”
Wetkas: “I cannot say that. I didn’t investigate exhibit 11.”
The trial has been adjourned till Wednesday 20th of April 2016
LIB
The petition, which is marked “Exhibit 11″, was written by a group known as Kwara Freedom Network, alleging corruption against Saraki. While being cross-examined by Kanu Agabi, Saraki’s lead counsel, Wetkas said he was not involved in the investigation of the petition he tendered as evidence at the tribunal.
Regarding whether he confirmed that local government funds were being illegally deducted as alleged in the petition against Saraki, he said:
“Not part of the investigation I carried out.”
“Do you know whether the petition was addressed to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB),” Agabi asked.
“I don’t work for the CCB. I wouldn’t know.”
Agabi: “In terms illegal transfer of funds by the accountant general, was he invited?”
Wetkas: “I cannot say because I was not the one in charge of this.”
Agabi: “Did you know if this exhibit was referred to him for an answer?
Wetkas: “I wouldn’t know, but he was once invited.”
Agabi: “Did you meet with the members of Kwara Freedom Network?”
Wetkas: “It was not part of my investigation.”
Agabi: “In the course of your work, did you come upon any document in which members of this network were called upon to justify their petition.”
Wetkas: “I was involved in this investigation in 2014; the petition was in 2012.”
Agabi: “Have you read the petition?”
“I only perused through it.”
Agabi: “When you tendered this document, did it occur to you that you will be questioned?”
Wetkas: “This is not the aspect I investigated. Someone more competent than me will talk about it.”
Agabi: “Did your perusal show that the asset declaration of the defendant was the issue.”
Wetkas: “I can’t remember seeing that.”
When asked if he obtained the statements of the petitioners, the EFCC detective said he did not know.
Agabi: “Did you obtain any statement from the defendant on this petition?”
Wetkas: “It was not part of my investigation. I didn’t investigate this aspect of the petition. There are people who are more competent to talk about it.”
Agabi: “Exhibit 11 (the petition) is not addressed to the CCB. No action was taken for four years after exhibit 11 was received?”
Wetkas: “I cannot say that. I didn’t investigate exhibit 11.”
The trial has been adjourned till Wednesday 20th of April 2016
LIB
Tuesday 19 April 2016
China Introduces The Death Penalty For Officials Involved In Corruption Cases
Corruption they say it is menace to the society. Now that's how you run a clean government. Don't play around with the crooks and looters!
How many politicians would be left in Abuja if the Federal Republic implemented a similar law?
China introduces the death penalty for officials involved in corruption cases involving more than £300,000
President Xi Jinping waged a much-publicised anti-corruption campaign
The president had vowed to target powerful 'tigers' and low-level 'flies'
No Communist Party official is known to have been put to death yet
Embezzlement could incur death penalty, or life sentence without parole
See more news from China at www.dailymail.co.uk/china
How many politicians would be left in Abuja if the Federal Republic implemented a similar law?
China introduces the death penalty for officials involved in corruption cases involving more than £300,000
President Xi Jinping waged a much-publicised anti-corruption campaign
The president had vowed to target powerful 'tigers' and low-level 'flies'
No Communist Party official is known to have been put to death yet
Embezzlement could incur death penalty, or life sentence without parole
See more news from China at www.dailymail.co.uk/china
Monday 18 April 2016
Wizkid and Linda Ikeji met with the Commissioner of Police Today
The rest is now history if I'm right as reported by LindaIkeji herself.
Here is what she wrote: So, I am going to write about this Wizkid matter for the very last time. Anything else after this will no longer concern me. So Wizkid and I met with the Commissioner of Police today and when the Commissioner asked me what I wanted them to do with the case...I told him that I wanted peace. And the reason why I insisted on peace and not to drag the matter further i.e go to court, is because Wizkid and his lawyers have been apologizing since Friday, up until today!
I spoke with Wizkid through his lawyer on Friday April 15th where he tendered an apology to me and said he wasn't a violent person, that he didn't mean what he said, that it was just an emotional outburst. And then he asked for forgiveness. Please continue...
But despite forgiving him, he still had to show up at the Police HQ to officially apologize and write an undertaken which he did today.
I see a lot of negativity has come out of this case with Wizkid - with many folks bashing me for reporting a threat on my person. But here's my consolation and why I am glad this happened. I promise you, especially the ladies, Wizkid will never threaten you with harm again. At least not in public. I believe I am the last bus stop. He will think twice before threatening another human being again on social media. A police file has been opened for him, and he has been cautioned. The day he threatens another human being again with harm, then...
Having said that, I turned down taking a photo with him and the police commissioner this afternoon. One of his people took a pic of him and the commissioner with me in it and my people insisted they delete it. Not because I haven't forgiven him, I just don't need the extra drama.
I wish Wizkid all the best and will continue to celebrate him.
God bless us all.
Source LindaIkeji's blog
Here is what she wrote: So, I am going to write about this Wizkid matter for the very last time. Anything else after this will no longer concern me. So Wizkid and I met with the Commissioner of Police today and when the Commissioner asked me what I wanted them to do with the case...I told him that I wanted peace. And the reason why I insisted on peace and not to drag the matter further i.e go to court, is because Wizkid and his lawyers have been apologizing since Friday, up until today!
I spoke with Wizkid through his lawyer on Friday April 15th where he tendered an apology to me and said he wasn't a violent person, that he didn't mean what he said, that it was just an emotional outburst. And then he asked for forgiveness. Please continue...
But despite forgiving him, he still had to show up at the Police HQ to officially apologize and write an undertaken which he did today.
I see a lot of negativity has come out of this case with Wizkid - with many folks bashing me for reporting a threat on my person. But here's my consolation and why I am glad this happened. I promise you, especially the ladies, Wizkid will never threaten you with harm again. At least not in public. I believe I am the last bus stop. He will think twice before threatening another human being again on social media. A police file has been opened for him, and he has been cautioned. The day he threatens another human being again with harm, then...
Having said that, I turned down taking a photo with him and the police commissioner this afternoon. One of his people took a pic of him and the commissioner with me in it and my people insisted they delete it. Not because I haven't forgiven him, I just don't need the extra drama.
I wish Wizkid all the best and will continue to celebrate him.
God bless us all.
Source LindaIkeji's blog
Fayose is on the road to self-destruction — Prof. Sagay
PROFESSOR Itse Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption and one of the country’s foremost experts in constitutional law. A human rights activist, Sagay has undoubtedly paid his dues in the struggles for egalitarian society. Sagay who was part of the pioneer law class of the former University of Ife, subsequently took to academics and rose to become the dean of the law faculty of his alma mater before transferring his service to the University of Benin. At the height of military rule in 1986 he was one of those who ran into trouble with the authorities of the University of Benin for supposedly teaching what he was not paid to teach; which was an axiom for his perceived inclination to the promotion of civil rights in the university campus.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/fayose-road-self-destruction-prof-sagay/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/fayose-road-self-destruction-prof-sagay/
Sunday 17 April 2016
Linda Ikeji Reports Wizkid To Police Due To Threats On Her
This is getting more deeper day by day as the issue between the two celebrities going to another level. According to Linda Ikeji herself she said:
I'm sure many of you have read that the police is now involved in my issue with Wizkid. Yes, I reported his public threat to me two Sundays ago to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and I want to explain why I did it! Please pay attention and keep an open mind.
I've read a lot online from people saying I don't like Wizkid. Even Wizkid himself thinks I don't like him. Why he or anyone would think so is puzzling to me to be honest. Apart from his achievements after he started insulting me online a few weeks ago...everything else, every success Wizkid has recorded in the last 3/4 years is on LIB. All the awards, all the record breaking feats, his sold out concerts, his foreign magazine features, and collaborations, everything that has built him up to the young man he is today is on LIB. Please verify! Search my blog. Please continue...
I was a huge Wizkid fan. The only song I danced harder to than his 'Dance For Me' track was Fuse ODG's 'Antenna and Kiss Daniel & DJ Shabzy's Raba. So, no, I had no dislike for Wizkid. But about a year ago, I noticed his indirect snide remarks at me...and when some other music star beefed with me, Wizkid showed his support and made disrespectful comments. That was when I noticed he had issues with me... but that didn't stop me from writing about him and celebrating him.
Now to the issue at hand. When I reported that he was served quit notice at his Lekki home, I stated fact and I didn't write it out of malice. It's not everyday you get exclusive stories...and I'm sure any other blogger who got the story first would also have published it. So, there was no beef, I was just doing my job. A day or so after I wrote this story, Wizkid went on my instagram page to call me names and lied that I slept with some director of his...which I have said before is 1000% lies! But the insult and lies is not why the police is now involved.
Here's the thing; You can insult me, insult my family, call me any names you like, even lie that I slept with your forefathers...but don't threaten me. If you threaten me, I will act!
I read people online saying that I reported to the police because I am scared of Wizkid. No, my darlings, I am not afraid of Wizkid. Though I do not take his threats lightly. I went to the authorities for two reasons...and please young boys of our generation, pay attention to what I am about to write below.
You see, violence against women and threat of violence against women is not okay. Threatening harm to someone in a public space is a criminal act in every country of the world, including Nigeria. I bet some of you didn't know that, yeah? You can not publicly threaten someone with harm. You will only get away with it if your victim doesn't report to the authorities. If they do, you will have a case with the police and I promise you, the police take these things seriously.
I reported this case to the authorities because I want our young men to know this is not okay. You should not raise your hands on a woman. You shouldn't even threaten to raise your hands on a woman. Wizkid wrote that he would send his 16 year old cousin to beat the shit out of me. Letting Wizkid get away with it is basically telling our young men that this is okay...and it's not!
After Wizkid made the threat to me, I saw a lot of teen boys hailing and applauding him. To them, this was okay. If their idol can threaten a woman with harm, and use derogatory words, they also can do it...and that's how the circle of abuse of women continues. Women being called 'smelly pussy' trended online for a day or two! Little boys were happy to use the words. Sad!
It is appalling to me that anyone, especially women, would cheer Wizkid on. When he wrote RIP Linda, I saw a few young girls write same, laughing. This is not a laughing matter. It doesn't matter whether you like me or not! This is not about Linda Ikeji. This is about abuse of women which has eaten deep into our society, so deep that it has now been accepted as normal. Men do it all the time and get away with it. So many women are battered by their husbands and they refuse to speak up because of the stigma. They refuse to seek help because they are afraid of what people will say. I am sorry, I am not one of those women. I refuse to be victimized. And as long as I have my voice and my platform, I will speak up.
We women have to come together to lend a strong voice to the plight of women in our continent. When we see a woman being physically and mentally abused, let's act. Let's speak up. Let's not laugh and say she deserves it. If we continue to keep quiet, the circle of abuse will continue. And one day, You, yes You, will find yourself in the receiving end of a thundering slap, followed by heavy blows. If not you, then maybe your daughter? Let's condemn violence and threat of violence against women! This is not acceptable!
Young men like Wizkid, a father of two young boys himself, should never advocate violence against women. One day, he will have a daughter, how would he feel if another male threatens to put hands on her or even calls her a hoe?
I can't count how many times Wizkid called me a hoe in his rant against me. That's what boys do. When they get into a fight with a woman, they try to slut-shame her. Smelly pussy, hoe, ashawo etc. You call a woman, who gave another young woman, whose real name she doesn't even know N500,000 just because she said she would rather work by carrying cement than prostitute herself (yes, Blessing Nicholas got N500k from me), that's the person you call a hoe? When your mind is so warped you can't differentiate between a woman and a hoe, then this is what happens. Except you drive to Sanusi Fanfuwa at 2am to pick up a prostitute, who proudly describes herself as one, then you shouldn't call any woman a hoe.
Even Tupac who was a well known thug could differentiate between the types of women he dealt with. When asked in an interview why he called women bitches, he said people shouldn't confuse things, that he wouldn't address a mother or a sister the way he would address a bitch, that the bitches were the ones he dealt with in the clubs who behaved like one. He reiterated that he respected women!
In more civilized countries, Wizkid would have lost his endorsements and spent the next year or so apologizing and being in the fore-front of promoting anti-violence crusades against women. It took Chris Brown years to get back on his feet after his assault on a woman. Up till today, he doesn't have any major endorsements and some countries still deny him entrance into their country i.e Australia for something he did 7 years ago. Yes, violence against women is serious!
And there's the case of incitement. When you have power and influence, you have to be careful what you say in public. Because you have such power, something you say can influence your followers. A fan can commit acts that even you may not support or might not even condone. But because it came out of your mouth, they think you mean it. So it is irresponsible to say things that might be inciteful. In Law, you can be held responsible when people act based on what you said in public. Tupac was charged to court and indicted after some thugs killed a police officer. The thugs went to court and mentioned that their idol encouraged violence against LA police officers in a song where he said 'Drop a cop'. So, we folks with some measure of influence should be more careful with our utterances. People are watching and listening!
The second reason I filed a police report is to encourage other women in similar situations to do same. My dear ladies, if a man threatens to puts hands on you, and you feel the threat is real, report to the authorities. Don't wait until he does it. What if you don't survive it? If he's picked up and may be charged to court (yes, you can be charged to court for making threats...it's a misdemeanor with a prison sentence), then he will think twice before making threats against you in the future or any other woman for that matter.
I went as far as I did for me and for other women. This is to pass a strong message to our young men that these kinds of behaviour towards women will not be tolerated. Should not be tolerated. If you assault or even threaten to assault a woman, the law will come after you if she chooses not to be silent. Women, don't be silent. Let's break the circle. For your sake, for my sake, for the sake of our daughters, grand daughters, great grand daughters and all other women that will follow them.
And that's really all I have to say in the matter. Thank you guys for reading
And to Wizkid fans, please be rest assured that I wish him all the best in life. He will continue to grow from strength to strength (as long as he doesn't endorse violence against women) and his light will never diminish. God brought him to this level and will continue to keep him. I have nothing but love for his craft and hope that one day, we will put this behind us.
God bless him, me, you and everyone else in the world
Cheers.
Oh and by the way, I'm starting my vlog series soon. #excited!
Source LindaIkeji blog
I'm sure many of you have read that the police is now involved in my issue with Wizkid. Yes, I reported his public threat to me two Sundays ago to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and I want to explain why I did it! Please pay attention and keep an open mind.
I've read a lot online from people saying I don't like Wizkid. Even Wizkid himself thinks I don't like him. Why he or anyone would think so is puzzling to me to be honest. Apart from his achievements after he started insulting me online a few weeks ago...everything else, every success Wizkid has recorded in the last 3/4 years is on LIB. All the awards, all the record breaking feats, his sold out concerts, his foreign magazine features, and collaborations, everything that has built him up to the young man he is today is on LIB. Please verify! Search my blog. Please continue...
I was a huge Wizkid fan. The only song I danced harder to than his 'Dance For Me' track was Fuse ODG's 'Antenna and Kiss Daniel & DJ Shabzy's Raba. So, no, I had no dislike for Wizkid. But about a year ago, I noticed his indirect snide remarks at me...and when some other music star beefed with me, Wizkid showed his support and made disrespectful comments. That was when I noticed he had issues with me... but that didn't stop me from writing about him and celebrating him.
Now to the issue at hand. When I reported that he was served quit notice at his Lekki home, I stated fact and I didn't write it out of malice. It's not everyday you get exclusive stories...and I'm sure any other blogger who got the story first would also have published it. So, there was no beef, I was just doing my job. A day or so after I wrote this story, Wizkid went on my instagram page to call me names and lied that I slept with some director of his...which I have said before is 1000% lies! But the insult and lies is not why the police is now involved.
Here's the thing; You can insult me, insult my family, call me any names you like, even lie that I slept with your forefathers...but don't threaten me. If you threaten me, I will act!
I read people online saying that I reported to the police because I am scared of Wizkid. No, my darlings, I am not afraid of Wizkid. Though I do not take his threats lightly. I went to the authorities for two reasons...and please young boys of our generation, pay attention to what I am about to write below.
You see, violence against women and threat of violence against women is not okay. Threatening harm to someone in a public space is a criminal act in every country of the world, including Nigeria. I bet some of you didn't know that, yeah? You can not publicly threaten someone with harm. You will only get away with it if your victim doesn't report to the authorities. If they do, you will have a case with the police and I promise you, the police take these things seriously.
I reported this case to the authorities because I want our young men to know this is not okay. You should not raise your hands on a woman. You shouldn't even threaten to raise your hands on a woman. Wizkid wrote that he would send his 16 year old cousin to beat the shit out of me. Letting Wizkid get away with it is basically telling our young men that this is okay...and it's not!
After Wizkid made the threat to me, I saw a lot of teen boys hailing and applauding him. To them, this was okay. If their idol can threaten a woman with harm, and use derogatory words, they also can do it...and that's how the circle of abuse of women continues. Women being called 'smelly pussy' trended online for a day or two! Little boys were happy to use the words. Sad!
It is appalling to me that anyone, especially women, would cheer Wizkid on. When he wrote RIP Linda, I saw a few young girls write same, laughing. This is not a laughing matter. It doesn't matter whether you like me or not! This is not about Linda Ikeji. This is about abuse of women which has eaten deep into our society, so deep that it has now been accepted as normal. Men do it all the time and get away with it. So many women are battered by their husbands and they refuse to speak up because of the stigma. They refuse to seek help because they are afraid of what people will say. I am sorry, I am not one of those women. I refuse to be victimized. And as long as I have my voice and my platform, I will speak up.
We women have to come together to lend a strong voice to the plight of women in our continent. When we see a woman being physically and mentally abused, let's act. Let's speak up. Let's not laugh and say she deserves it. If we continue to keep quiet, the circle of abuse will continue. And one day, You, yes You, will find yourself in the receiving end of a thundering slap, followed by heavy blows. If not you, then maybe your daughter? Let's condemn violence and threat of violence against women! This is not acceptable!
Young men like Wizkid, a father of two young boys himself, should never advocate violence against women. One day, he will have a daughter, how would he feel if another male threatens to put hands on her or even calls her a hoe?
I can't count how many times Wizkid called me a hoe in his rant against me. That's what boys do. When they get into a fight with a woman, they try to slut-shame her. Smelly pussy, hoe, ashawo etc. You call a woman, who gave another young woman, whose real name she doesn't even know N500,000 just because she said she would rather work by carrying cement than prostitute herself (yes, Blessing Nicholas got N500k from me), that's the person you call a hoe? When your mind is so warped you can't differentiate between a woman and a hoe, then this is what happens. Except you drive to Sanusi Fanfuwa at 2am to pick up a prostitute, who proudly describes herself as one, then you shouldn't call any woman a hoe.
Even Tupac who was a well known thug could differentiate between the types of women he dealt with. When asked in an interview why he called women bitches, he said people shouldn't confuse things, that he wouldn't address a mother or a sister the way he would address a bitch, that the bitches were the ones he dealt with in the clubs who behaved like one. He reiterated that he respected women!
In more civilized countries, Wizkid would have lost his endorsements and spent the next year or so apologizing and being in the fore-front of promoting anti-violence crusades against women. It took Chris Brown years to get back on his feet after his assault on a woman. Up till today, he doesn't have any major endorsements and some countries still deny him entrance into their country i.e Australia for something he did 7 years ago. Yes, violence against women is serious!
And there's the case of incitement. When you have power and influence, you have to be careful what you say in public. Because you have such power, something you say can influence your followers. A fan can commit acts that even you may not support or might not even condone. But because it came out of your mouth, they think you mean it. So it is irresponsible to say things that might be inciteful. In Law, you can be held responsible when people act based on what you said in public. Tupac was charged to court and indicted after some thugs killed a police officer. The thugs went to court and mentioned that their idol encouraged violence against LA police officers in a song where he said 'Drop a cop'. So, we folks with some measure of influence should be more careful with our utterances. People are watching and listening!
The second reason I filed a police report is to encourage other women in similar situations to do same. My dear ladies, if a man threatens to puts hands on you, and you feel the threat is real, report to the authorities. Don't wait until he does it. What if you don't survive it? If he's picked up and may be charged to court (yes, you can be charged to court for making threats...it's a misdemeanor with a prison sentence), then he will think twice before making threats against you in the future or any other woman for that matter.
I went as far as I did for me and for other women. This is to pass a strong message to our young men that these kinds of behaviour towards women will not be tolerated. Should not be tolerated. If you assault or even threaten to assault a woman, the law will come after you if she chooses not to be silent. Women, don't be silent. Let's break the circle. For your sake, for my sake, for the sake of our daughters, grand daughters, great grand daughters and all other women that will follow them.
And that's really all I have to say in the matter. Thank you guys for reading
And to Wizkid fans, please be rest assured that I wish him all the best in life. He will continue to grow from strength to strength (as long as he doesn't endorse violence against women) and his light will never diminish. God brought him to this level and will continue to keep him. I have nothing but love for his craft and hope that one day, we will put this behind us.
God bless him, me, you and everyone else in the world
Cheers.
Oh and by the way, I'm starting my vlog series soon. #excited!
Source LindaIkeji blog
My Candid Letter To The Senate President By Dele Momodu
In determine directions in life, it begins from the mind. Cheif Dele Momodu has once again write an extensive piece to the embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki on the various allegation bordering on false asset declaration.
READ:
Your Excellency, I’m convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe I’m your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. I’m aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains. But before I go into the meat of this letter, I need to state my background briefly as I’m sure you don’t even know me well enough to understand and appreciate my socio-political trajectory.
I have read all sorts about you and I and it is necessary sometimes to put the records straight for the sake of doubting Thomases who can never see anything good in others. You were a Governor for eight years and I can’t remember ever meeting you one on one. The only time I believe we exchanged physical pleasantries would have been at the 70th birthday dinner hosted in honour of your mother-in-law, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora at The Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos some years back. I remember seeing and greeting you and a few of the former and current Governors present including Olusegun Osoba, James Ibori, Babatunde Fashola and others.
I would later see one of the pictures I took at the party and read many years after that I was busy drinking champagne with James Ibori who was being wanted for several cases of corruption and so on. I could not believe my eyes because the picture showed clearly that I was chatting with Chief Olusegun Osoba while Ibori minding his business behind me but someone needed to rubbish me for reasons I could never fathom. Not just that, Ibori was still a Governor and would I run away from a function or refuse to greet people so as not to be accused of hobnobbing with corrupt leaders?
The next time I interfaced with you was after you employed Mr Bamikole Omishore who was my American campaign coordinator in Washington DC, when I joined the Presidential race from 2010-2011. I was happy that you got such a brilliant young man to manage your social media. But you and I got closer for only one reason in the past one year plus because we both campaigned vigorously for Major General Muhammadu Buhari and you and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi were the best of pals and he has been my friend long before he became Governor of Rivers State. I loved the way you, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Wamako, Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, and others took the bold decision that would change the course of Nigerian history for better or for worse when you abandoned PDP despite threats and harassments. I must have met you about twice in your Lagos home to strategise and was particularly impressed with your ability to rally the likes of Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Wale Tinubu and others who ordinarily would have felt a need to support the government in power. I was informed you were able to raise some stupendous amount of money during and after the APC primaries. We talked more on phone and you assured me constantly that everything was on course. The rest is history.
However trouble started as soon as victory came. I knew you had only one ambition and that was to become the Senate President. I thought that was a legitimate dream but did not envisage that it would turn out to be your albatross. Politics in Africa, and probably elsewhere, is a deadly game. You’ve fought several battles in your life but I doubt if you ever bargained for this one. It all started like a joke. Your party apparatchik was obviously opposed to your candidacy. You were equally determined to realise your life ambition. One of the rumours then was that you could not be trusted with power and that in the next four years you would have become unstoppable if you decide to go headlong for the Presidency. I’m not a member of your party so I could not understand what the hullabaloo was all about. The manner you emerged caught everyone unawares. The biggest problem was the fact that you sought and got the unequivocal support of members of the PDP in the Senate and even did a deal that made it possible for one of them to become your deputy. That was the hara-kiri you committed and your enemies would never forgive you for that.
One thing led to another, and things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold. You probably underestimated the resolve of your enemies to cut you down to size. The next we saw were allegations of impropriety levelled against you at the Code of Conduct Bureau. You were said to have been dodgy in your assets declaration forms. Anyway, it seemed you had touched the tiger by the tail and it remained to be seen how you would wriggle out of the monumental trouble you had inadvertently courted by your rebelliousness and bellicosity. I was personally irked that we were back to the Nuhu Ribadu days and I voiced my opinion openly. I was not defending you but defending the rights of man. I had thought naively that APC knew what it was getting into with an ill-assorted assemblage of different characters from varied backgrounds. I presumed there was an accord that all sinners became saints once they migrated and amalgamated with APC. The deluge of immigrants from PDP convinced me that President Buhari would have to sanctify the pollutants if any in the new party. Not once did I hear of any objection to the proliferation so I assumed all was well.
I never said you should not be prosecuted but that we should discourage a situation where every successive government uses anti-corruption camouflage to punish its enemies. This position was not meant to protect you but to discourage a perpetuation of such tradition. I wrote copiously against the harassment of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he went on similar trial. I had demonstrated publicly against the Yar’Adua cabal when they tried to stop Dr Goodluck Jonathan from assuming power when his boss was terminally ill. I remember also when I wrote an open letter to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 and how I was viciously attacked by his supporters. But what happened after? Nuhu himself was forced into exile as a victim of impunity. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and The Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, formerly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, became veritable victims of impunity and I was vehemently opposed to their ordeals.
I needed to state this background very well as a way of documenting my modest contribution to the discouragement of impunity as a former victim myself under the military regimes. Now that it seems many Nigerians are comfortable with setting fire to an entire village in order to catch some rats, I will not belabour the issue further. Please, permit me to now address the case at hand. I want you to know that no matter what you do henceforth, the case against you will go on. The earlier you resign yourself to fate the better. You have done all you can to prevent this from happening and the time has come for you to defend yourself as best as you can. I understand the psychological trauma you are under. You are in utter shock that a party you laboured with others to build and nurture has decided to treat you as a pariah. You are stupefied at the sudden turn of events.
But let me advise you, the Judiciary is still the best arbiter and if you’re truly innocent, you will be vindicated but if you are found guilty after exhausting all legal options available in the land you must take a bow and accept the judgment with equanimity. Even if the APC decides to sweep this under the carpet, someone may still bring it up tomorrow. It is in your best interest to face the bullet and hope for a miracle. I’m not one of those who have written off the Nigerian Judiciary. I will also not join those who have already convicted you in the court of public opinion. I’m a Christian and I know none of us can cast the first stone and we should be careful not to gloat over anyone’s misfortune.
Please, note that you must do nothing to pervert the course of justice by enacting hurriedly-packaged laws ostensibly meant to block your trial. It will further diminish you and make your sympathisers recoil in shame. To whom much is given, much is expected. God has been very kind to you and as a Muslim you must submit yourself only to the will of Allah, the only one who can forgive our sins. Who knows what the outcome may be at the end of the day?
I beg you in the name of God to take courage. Stand like a man and carry your heavy cross.
Culled from ThisDay Live
READ:
Your Excellency, I’m convinced the time has come to write you this letter despite the fact that I have some measure of access to you. I decided to do this in order to tackle the mischief makers who believe I’m your very close friend and as such must be a rabid supporter of yours. I have been accused of all sorts of garbage including being paid heavy sums of money from your bottomless pocket. I’m aware that most of these guys can never believe that anyone could stand up for principle without pecuniary gains. But before I go into the meat of this letter, I need to state my background briefly as I’m sure you don’t even know me well enough to understand and appreciate my socio-political trajectory.
I have read all sorts about you and I and it is necessary sometimes to put the records straight for the sake of doubting Thomases who can never see anything good in others. You were a Governor for eight years and I can’t remember ever meeting you one on one. The only time I believe we exchanged physical pleasantries would have been at the 70th birthday dinner hosted in honour of your mother-in-law, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora at The Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos some years back. I remember seeing and greeting you and a few of the former and current Governors present including Olusegun Osoba, James Ibori, Babatunde Fashola and others.
I would later see one of the pictures I took at the party and read many years after that I was busy drinking champagne with James Ibori who was being wanted for several cases of corruption and so on. I could not believe my eyes because the picture showed clearly that I was chatting with Chief Olusegun Osoba while Ibori minding his business behind me but someone needed to rubbish me for reasons I could never fathom. Not just that, Ibori was still a Governor and would I run away from a function or refuse to greet people so as not to be accused of hobnobbing with corrupt leaders?
The next time I interfaced with you was after you employed Mr Bamikole Omishore who was my American campaign coordinator in Washington DC, when I joined the Presidential race from 2010-2011. I was happy that you got such a brilliant young man to manage your social media. But you and I got closer for only one reason in the past one year plus because we both campaigned vigorously for Major General Muhammadu Buhari and you and Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi were the best of pals and he has been my friend long before he became Governor of Rivers State. I loved the way you, Amaechi, Kwankwaso, Wamako, Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar, and others took the bold decision that would change the course of Nigerian history for better or for worse when you abandoned PDP despite threats and harassments. I must have met you about twice in your Lagos home to strategise and was particularly impressed with your ability to rally the likes of Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Wale Tinubu and others who ordinarily would have felt a need to support the government in power. I was informed you were able to raise some stupendous amount of money during and after the APC primaries. We talked more on phone and you assured me constantly that everything was on course. The rest is history.
However trouble started as soon as victory came. I knew you had only one ambition and that was to become the Senate President. I thought that was a legitimate dream but did not envisage that it would turn out to be your albatross. Politics in Africa, and probably elsewhere, is a deadly game. You’ve fought several battles in your life but I doubt if you ever bargained for this one. It all started like a joke. Your party apparatchik was obviously opposed to your candidacy. You were equally determined to realise your life ambition. One of the rumours then was that you could not be trusted with power and that in the next four years you would have become unstoppable if you decide to go headlong for the Presidency. I’m not a member of your party so I could not understand what the hullabaloo was all about. The manner you emerged caught everyone unawares. The biggest problem was the fact that you sought and got the unequivocal support of members of the PDP in the Senate and even did a deal that made it possible for one of them to become your deputy. That was the hara-kiri you committed and your enemies would never forgive you for that.
One thing led to another, and things fell apart and the centre could no longer hold. You probably underestimated the resolve of your enemies to cut you down to size. The next we saw were allegations of impropriety levelled against you at the Code of Conduct Bureau. You were said to have been dodgy in your assets declaration forms. Anyway, it seemed you had touched the tiger by the tail and it remained to be seen how you would wriggle out of the monumental trouble you had inadvertently courted by your rebelliousness and bellicosity. I was personally irked that we were back to the Nuhu Ribadu days and I voiced my opinion openly. I was not defending you but defending the rights of man. I had thought naively that APC knew what it was getting into with an ill-assorted assemblage of different characters from varied backgrounds. I presumed there was an accord that all sinners became saints once they migrated and amalgamated with APC. The deluge of immigrants from PDP convinced me that President Buhari would have to sanctify the pollutants if any in the new party. Not once did I hear of any objection to the proliferation so I assumed all was well.
I never said you should not be prosecuted but that we should discourage a situation where every successive government uses anti-corruption camouflage to punish its enemies. This position was not meant to protect you but to discourage a perpetuation of such tradition. I wrote copiously against the harassment of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he went on similar trial. I had demonstrated publicly against the Yar’Adua cabal when they tried to stop Dr Goodluck Jonathan from assuming power when his boss was terminally ill. I remember also when I wrote an open letter to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 and how I was viciously attacked by his supporters. But what happened after? Nuhu himself was forced into exile as a victim of impunity. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and The Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, formerly known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, became veritable victims of impunity and I was vehemently opposed to their ordeals.
I needed to state this background very well as a way of documenting my modest contribution to the discouragement of impunity as a former victim myself under the military regimes. Now that it seems many Nigerians are comfortable with setting fire to an entire village in order to catch some rats, I will not belabour the issue further. Please, permit me to now address the case at hand. I want you to know that no matter what you do henceforth, the case against you will go on. The earlier you resign yourself to fate the better. You have done all you can to prevent this from happening and the time has come for you to defend yourself as best as you can. I understand the psychological trauma you are under. You are in utter shock that a party you laboured with others to build and nurture has decided to treat you as a pariah. You are stupefied at the sudden turn of events.
But let me advise you, the Judiciary is still the best arbiter and if you’re truly innocent, you will be vindicated but if you are found guilty after exhausting all legal options available in the land you must take a bow and accept the judgment with equanimity. Even if the APC decides to sweep this under the carpet, someone may still bring it up tomorrow. It is in your best interest to face the bullet and hope for a miracle. I’m not one of those who have written off the Nigerian Judiciary. I will also not join those who have already convicted you in the court of public opinion. I’m a Christian and I know none of us can cast the first stone and we should be careful not to gloat over anyone’s misfortune.
Please, note that you must do nothing to pervert the course of justice by enacting hurriedly-packaged laws ostensibly meant to block your trial. It will further diminish you and make your sympathisers recoil in shame. To whom much is given, much is expected. God has been very kind to you and as a Muslim you must submit yourself only to the will of Allah, the only one who can forgive our sins. Who knows what the outcome may be at the end of the day?
I beg you in the name of God to take courage. Stand like a man and carry your heavy cross.
Culled from ThisDay Live
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