5 Aspects In Which Chibok Tragedy Changed Nigerians

April 14, the fateful day when nearly 300 girls were abducted in Chibok town, Borno State, became something that divided the lives of Nigerians into “before” and “after”.

First we counted days of the school girls missing. Then days turned into weeks, and weeks into months… And with hopes fading away inversely proportional to the time of the girls’ absence, we have nothing to do but pray that they will be released before the clock tinkle out 1 year.

It will not be an exaggeration to say that this tragedy has changed all of us. And this process continues as more than 7 months after the incident, our daughters are still missing.
The unprecedented Chibok abduction changed Nigerians in many ways…
1. We have become more distrustful 
When the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, announced that the military found the girls’ whereabouts, weeks after the abduction, we believed that God heard our prayers. What we expected was the victims’ soon return. However it never happened and the army tops, backed by the government, continued providing the excuses for not rescuing the children. They said they would restrain from using force in order not to harm the girls.
With the time passing by and Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, mocking the rescue campaigns in the videos,  we started doubting that anyone knows anything about their location. Although the authorities insisted that they were working on the military operation aimed at releasing the victims, we could not understand why they had failed to come up with the solution for so long.
We did not and still do not know who to believe. The loud statements cause only irritation. When words are followed by zero result, these words mean nothing.
2. We have learnt the desparate truth: international intervention is not a remedy
While the response of the Nigerian government and military was characterized by many as slow and untimely, the most powerful countries in the world responded actively when authorized to do so by the Federal Government.
The breaking point was the US sending troops to Nigeria for finding and rescuing the girls. Many countries, including the UK and China, also showed commitment to helping out Nigerians…
What we though might come as the miraculous answer to the long-time question, brought same results, same nothing. At this point we stopped believing that someone would solve our problems.
3. We have started seeing political games everywhere
After the Chibok girls abduction the reports about Boko Haram sponsors began circulating in the media more often.
There came revelations by the Australian negotiator Stephen Davis who named the politicians allegedly responsible for supporting insurgency in the country.
The rival party politicians started shooting arrows at each other saying who sponsors Boko Haram and blaming each other for the mass kidnap of school girls.
Some went even further saying that the whole Chibok saga was a “scam” used for internal political games. This claim did not remain unnoticed and was followed by the protests during which the confused people demanded truth.
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the tension is growing with every single day and everything looks and seems politicized.
4. We have lost faith in the eloquent words like “negotiations”, “talks” and “ceasefire”
While we do try to cherish the hope, the meaning of these words has altered in our minds.
For months we had been hearing from various sources that the government was holding talks with Boko Haram commanders regarding the girls’ release. Several times it was provided that the Nigerian authorities and the insurgents allegedly agreed on the conditions of the “swap deal”. But every time the deal for some reason failed and every such failure was traced by mutual allegations and accusations.
The October 17 so-called ceasefire agreement, which also stipulated for Chibok girls release, was followed by several ghastly attacks and Shekau’s video, in which he dismissed holding any talks with the Nigerian government.
5. As sad as it can be… we have become united by the common grief
Looking in the eyes of the girls’ parents, who wake up and go to sleep with one and the same thought every single day, we feel helpless, vulnerable and unprotected.
The whole country is grieving with Chibok community and the children’s families. We got united by pain and fear. And by the national prayer, which is …
Dear Lord, Bring Back Our Girls.

You Are Not Going To Steal My Man this Time - Tonto Dikeh

 Controversial Nigerian Actress has expressed that she will not allow so called friends steal her man again.

In a recent post by the beautiful actress, she threw shades at one of her old friends who she alleges took her man from her.


She mentioned this as a response to people who asked her why she hid her man’c face in a kiss pic she took with him.
READ ALSO: What Did Tonto Do To Her Stylist

When one fan asked who she was referring to she did not hide the identity.
READ ALSO: Most beautiful Stars

Tonto Dikeh is a Nigerian Actress who has a mass following her, she started acting in Nollywood in 2006.
She has been alleged to be dating Kelly handsome.

Yemi Blaq Speaks On His Relationship With Juliet Ibrahim

Yemi Blaq has settled the rumors going around of extra marital affairs on his part by revealing the truth.

In a new interview with Vanguard, he talked of his relationship with Ghanaian top actress, Juliet Ibrahim.

Yemi and Wife

READ ALSO: Yemi Shows Wife And Kid
He also said that his lovely wife is aware of the friendship between them and is okay with it.
When questioned, if he would have married Juliet if he wasn’t married, the actor said yes.
Excerpts: 
You have a very close relationship with Juliet Ibrahim, how does your wife react to that?
She’s okay with it. My wife is a professional through and through. When we were shooting ‘The Distance Between’, my wife wrote the script. She wrote my character to have a romantic relationship with both Rita Dominic and Mercy Johnson. She was on set while we were shooting and after doing a kissing scene with Mercy Johnson, my wife called me aside and said “That kiss is not real. You need to make it real”.
She knows that as long as I’m on set, it’s my job and I’m doing the kissing not because I’m enjoying a kiss from a woman, but because it’s the character doing the kissing, not me. If I kiss a girl outside the set, I’ll have a lot of questions to answer. She knows about me and Juliet.
Was it movies that brought Juliet Ibrahim and you together?
Yes. The funny thing is I’ve heard about her, seen her and the first time we really had time to relate was when we shot the movie ‘ Corporate Operations’ with Alex Mouth in Abuja, but there was no time to bond. Shortly after that, she called me while she was in Ghana and there was this movie we were shooting ‘Number One Fan’, starring myself and her.
READ ALSO: Rita Dominic’s Exclusive Look
I went over to Ghana for the movie and that was where we really had the chance to bond. I knew her real person behind the screen, she’s nice, hardworking, dedicated and focused and those are the qualities I appreciate in a human being. We are still friends till today. I was at her birthday party sometime ago in Lagos and we had a great time partying all night long. Once again, my wife knows about it.
If you weren’t already married, would you have married Juliet; is she your kind of person?
Yes, she’s my kind of person. She’s smart, dedicated, but it’s a pity I’m not single. It’s a great thing I met my wife first and if you ask me, ‘If I had to do it all over again, would I change anything?’. I’d tell you it’s nice to be with someone with whom everyday is a new day with its own challenges, rewards and beauty. My wife is creative, crazy, lovable and she’s my love.

Yemi Blaq is a Nollywood Nigerian actor and started his acting career 2005.

Two of my kids are not mine... Femi Kuti

He revealed in a one on one with Encomium Magazine a few days ago that after he ran DNA tests, he was informed that Dupe and Tosin are not his.

Femi Kuti

He doesn’t understand why a woman would deceive him.
Femi has five kids,  Made, Afolabi, Dupe, Tosin and Ayomide. Dupe and Tosin (boy and girl) have been revealed to not be his biological seeds.
Femi revealed his disappointment that women he once cared about could deceive him.
He described how he came to the discovery.

He said: “I did a DNA test and was told two of the children are not mine. The first two (after Made), a boy and a girl.  It is very serious.  I never knew somebody could give you what is not yours.  I’ve three boys now. I can’t father children I was tricked to believe I am their father,” he lamented.
Dupe and Tosin have both been returned to their mothers.
Because of the betrayal, he returned the two children, Dupe and Tosin, to their mothers.

Femi’s first kid, Made’s mother is Funke, his ex-wife.
Bisi Ajala gave birth to Ayomide and one other child that the DNA test recently proved not to be Femi’s.  The third woman’s name was not revealed.

Singapore court upholds anti-gay law

Singapore’s highest court on Wednesday dismissed a constitutional challenge against an archaic law criminalising sex between men, striking a fresh blow to the city-state’s growing gay-rights movement.
The Court of Appeal upheld rulings by lower courts that it was up to Parliament to repeal the provision in the penal code, known as Section 377A.
“Whilst we understand the deeply held personal feelings of the appellants, there is nothing that this court can do to assist them,” judges Andrew Phang, Belinda Ang and Woo Bih Li said in a written verdict.
“Their remedy lies, if at all, in the legislative sphere,” the judges said.
The ruling addressed two separate challenges to the law.
One was by Tan Eng Hong, who was arrested after being caught with a male partner in a public toilet cubicle in 2010, while the other was filed by a gay couple.
The judges said they only considered “legal arguments” and not “extra-legal considerations and matters of social policy which were outside the remit of the court”.
According to the judges, examples of extra-legal arguments put forward by the appellants’ lawyers included that Section 377A represented “the tyranny of the majority” and that the sexual conduct of their clients caused no harm to others.
However judges said such arguments were not for the courts to consider
In a statement, Tan’s lawyer M. Ravi said the judgment was a “huge step backwards for human rights in Singapore”.
Ravi added that it was “disturbing” that “the Supreme Court has now thrown this issue back to Parliament, when other Commonwealth countries have struck down this legislation as discriminatory and (an) absurd relic of the colonial past”.
Section 377A, first introduced in 1938 by British colonial administrators, carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail for homosexual acts.
The law states: “Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.”
Alhough Section 377A is not actively enforced, the government has said it should stay on the books because most Singaporeans are conservative and do not accept homosexuality.
A scientific survey conducted by researchers at the Nanyang Technological University in 2010 and published last year found Singaporeans’ views towards homosexuality gradually becoming more positive compared to attitudes in 2005.
The study found religion a major factor determining attitudes towards homosexuals, with Muslims and Christians being the most negative.
But the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights movement is growing steadily in Singapore, one of the world’s wealthiest and most modern cities.
Over 20,000 people gathered in a peaceful rally supporting gay rights last June despite a fierce online campaign against the event by conservative Muslims and Christians.

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PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN CLOCKS 57

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan clocked 57 years today.
He was born exactly 57 years ago in Ogbia, Bayelsa state.
We bring you the photographs of the celebration in Aso Villa today.

President jonathan, his wife and mother, Eunice

Jonathan, wife and mother joined in the cutting of the cake. Second right is ex-Anambra governor, Peter Obi

The chaplain of Aso Rock , Obioma Onwuzurumba,, second left, was also at the event to bless Jonathan and his family

And a birthday hug for Dame Jonathan, by hubby Goodluck Jonathan

Later today, the birthday boy will leave for London to preside over a meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council (HIIC) which opens in the British capital on Friday.
The HIIC which was established in 2004 advises the Federal Government on matters pertaining to Nigeria’s economic development, making the Nigerian economy more competitive globally and attracting greater direct foreign investment to boost domestic industrial growth and job creation.
Deliberations at the HIIC meeting in London will focus on the current investment landscape in Nigeria, developments and opportunities in the ongoing upgrade and expansion of Nigeria’s public infrastructure, as well as opportunities and reforms in Nigeria’s rail transportation, power and construction sectors.
President Jonathan attended same event last year. But he fell ill, triggering controversy of over-drinking.

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GENEVIVE VS OMOTALA

 

Ask anybody in the Nigerian music industry and they’ll tell you that it is a cut-throat world, in the sense that competition is rife amongst all involved in Nollywood, be it record labels, marketers, entourages or the actors themselves. Competition is definitely one of the things that keep the industry going. ESSENTIALS examines two of Nollywood’s most talked about actresses who have earned more than their fair share of bragging rights. Nollywood’s story won’t be complete without tales of their supposed rivalry and who is better. We set their statistics side by side – not judging.
Genevieve Nnaji
Born Genevieve Nnaji on May 3, 1979, Genevieve started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television soap opera Ripples, at the age of eight. She was also featured in several commercials, among which were some for beverage brand Pronto and detergent Omo. In 1998, at the age of 19, she took her first big step in acting with her debut movie Most Wanted.
Her subsequent movies Last Party, Mark of the Beast and Ijele endeared the Imo State-born actress to movie lovers everywhere.
In 2002, she starred in the movie Sharon Stone and after its release; it is safe to say that Nnaji’s reign as one of Nigeria’s top actresses began.
Nnaji doesn’t just appeal to Nigerians alone. She can count many Kenyans, Liberians, South Africans and Ghanaians, who are avid followers and dedicated lovers of Nigerian home videos, both home and abroad, as her fans.
Not only is ‘Genny’ (as she is fondly called) an actress, she is also a fashion designer. She launched her clothing line St. Genevieve in 2008. Though much hasn’t been heard about the clothing line, she did promise, at its launch, to donate a percentage of its proceeds to charity.
In 2009, Nnaji made history by being the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on The Oprah Winfrey Show, on an episode about the most popular people around the world. As one of the highest-paid and most desired actresses in Nollywood, Nnaji is also referred to as “Nigeria’s Julia Roberts”.
She has featured in over 80 films in the course of her acting career, but she will be best remembered for her roles in Ijé: The Journey, Mirror Boy, Half of a Yellow Sun, Most Wanted, Blood Sisters among many. She has endorsed companies such as Etisalat Nigeria, Lux Soap, MUD Cosmetics, among others, with some still on-going.
In an ill-advised attempt to, perhaps, branch out, Nnaji ventured into music, with the album One Logologo Line, with the most notable number from the album being No More.
Nnaji is also not immune to controversies. Her seemingly eternal single status has been fodder for many gossip blogs and magazines. The ‘lesbian’ rumours surrounding her seems to keep rearing its ugly head and her perceived rivalry with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is also the stuff of legends.
In recognition of her contribution to Nollywood, Nnaji was awarded the national merit award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011. Nnaji has also won various awards, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for best actress in a leading role and the City People Awards for Best Actress.
Nnaji By The Numbers
35 Nnaji is currently 35 years old. She was born on November May 3, 1979.
8 Nnaji was 8 years old when she scaled the auditions for a role in early ‘90s soap Ripples.
N100m The reported worth of Nnaji’s endorsement with telecommunications company Etisalat Nigeria.
2 Genevieve is currently a brand ambassador for two companies, Etisalat Nigeria and MUD Cosmetics.
1 Genevieve released just one album in her short-lived musical career.
10 Nnaji has won over 10 major awards in the course of her career.
80 Number of movies in which Nnaji has starred in the course of her career.
671,400 Nnaji has a total of 671,400 followers on Twitter (as at the time of this publication).
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
Born Omotola Jalade on February 7, 1978, Ekeinde made her acting debut in the movie Venom of Justice in 1995. Since then she has appeared in over 300 movies. She came to limelight after she starred in the critically acclaimed movie Mortal Inheritance.
Also, Ekeinde doesn’t just appeal to Nigerians alone; she enjoys a large international following. The actress has won awards in almost all the continents of the world.
Not only is ‘Omosexy’ (as she is fondly called) an actress, she is also a singer, philanthropist and former model. The actress who became a United Nations WFP (World Food Programme) Ambassador in 2005 has also been active in the Walk the World Project and participated in the Walk the World Campaign in Liberia, with President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson. Ekeinde is known as a fierce human rights campaigner and her philanthropic efforts are centred on her NGO, Omotola Youth Empowerment Programme (OYEP). Ekeinde became an Amnesty International campaigner in 2011 and has participated in campaigns in Sierra Leone (on maternal mortality) and Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
She also takes advantage of the social media to connect with her fans and share her own unique views with the rest of the world. Ekeinde is regarded as the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page.
In 2013, she was honoured in Time Magazine’s list of the ‘100 most influential people in the world’ alongside Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.
In 2012, CNN Travel noted Ekeinde’s famous accent on their list of the ‘world’s 12 sexiest accents’, with the Nigerian accent ranked 5th on the list. She is also regarded as the first Nigerian celebrity to star in their own reality show – her reality show Omotola: The Real Me was launched in 2012 on Africa Magic Entertainment, a subsidiary of M-Net, broadcast on DStv.
In early 2013, Ekeinde made her US television debut in VH1’s scripted series, Hit the Floor. Some of her most prominent films include Ijé: The Journey, Last Flight to Abuja, Amina and Mirror Boy and Blood Sisters. She has endorsed products of Ghadour Cosmetics, online store Konga, Hollandia, Proctor & Gamble, amongst others, with some of these endorsements still on going.
Ekeinde has proved to be more versatile when it comes to music. She released her debut album GBA in 2005. The singles Naija L’owa and The Things you do to Me were included in the album. Her sophomore album Me, Myself, and Eyes was released soon after.
Ekeinde has managed to remain scandal-free throughout her career. The only time controversy was added to her name was when she lashed out at journalists who labeled some of her 12-year old daughter’s photos “sexy”.
Omotola is married and is a proud mother of four lovely children.
In recognition of Ekeinde’s contribution to Nollywood, she was conferred with a chieftaincy title in her home-state of Ondo. She has also won various awards, including the Ebony Vanguard Award, the Screen Nation’s award for Best Actress, Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, the ELOY Award for Actress of the Year and a host of others.
Ekeinde By The Numbers
36 Ekeinde is currently36 years old. She was born on February 7, 1978.
1995 The year in which Ekeinde made her acting debut.
4 Ekeinde has endorsed the products of four companies; Ghadour Cosmetics, online store Konga, Hollandia and Proctor & Gamble.
2 Number of musical albums the actress has released.
4 Number of children Ekeinde and her husband have.
300 Number of movies which Ekeinde claims to have appeared starred in in the course of her career.
16 Ekeinde has won over 16 major awards in the course of her career
478,800 Total number of followers Ekeinde has on Twitter (as at the time of this publication).

Omotola, Genevieve, Others Unite To ‘Stop Ebola’ In Africa

The African continent has been battling with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) scourge and only recently was Nigeria declared an Ebola-free country by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The deadly disease found its way into the country after a Liberian American named Patrick Sawyer, who was believed to be an Ebola patient, entered Nigeria for a summit in Calabar, Cross River State. Shortly after arriving Lagos, he was rushed to a hospital, but later died and threw Nigeria into panic.
The Federal and Lagos State governments battled hard to win the war against the virus. Though few persons died in Nigeria of the disease, but many who were infected were cured.
Ahead of the 2014 edition of the annual and prestigious ‘The Future Awards Africa’ (TFAA) has announced Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Asa Elemide and others for its global campaign to get 1million young Africans to act against Ebola in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
To this effect, the #StopEbola campaign has been launched and will be led by TFAA Young Person of the Year 2013, Ashish Thakkar.
The #StopEbola campaign will get young Africans to support WHO by donating social media updates and a minimum of $25 between now and the awards date via the www.stopebola.com portal.
According to a statement made available to Nigeriafilms.com, the funds go directly to the United Nations Ebola Response Fund.
Speaking on the initiative, Genevieve said, “Ebola has been defeated in Nigeria.” She added that, “This shows that with the will and resources it can be defeated anywhere else. We need to get involved beyond talk and beyond sympathy. As long as it remains anywhere in Africa, we are all at risk, and we can come together to stop this from happening. Join me, and join all of us now.”
In the same vein, Omotola said, “This goes to the core of what is important to me, and what should be important to all of us who are very concerned about our continent.
“Just when the world has begun to pay attention to Africa as a destination for rapid growth and investment, we cannot allow Ebola define the narrative. We need to put a stop to this immediately, and young people need to take the lead.”
Others expected to join in the campaign include 2Face Idibia, Van Vicker, Joselyn Dumas, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Dayo Israel, Denrele, Dakore Akande, Juliet Ibrahim, Funke Akindele, Omoni Oboli, Ohimai Atafo, Joseph Benjamin, Ice Prince, MI Abaga, Omawumi, Waje, Lynxx, Yemi Adamolekun, Gbenga Sesan, Kunle Afolayan, Osas Ighodaro, Yegwa Ukpo and Kathleen Ndongmo.
The Future Awards Africa holds on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at the Intercontinental Hotels in Lagos.