MYSTERY:Ogun State Traditional Father Beaten, Stripped, and Palace Destroyed

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Jim Iyke named Virgin Atlantic Ambassador in N23m deal

Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has been appointed brand ambassador of the Virgin Atlantic airline.

An excited Iyke made the announcement himself on Twitter. ‘To Gatwick to shoot d VIRGIN ATLANTIC commercial. Excited beyond words! OSHE BABA! grateful!’.

NET gathered from his publicist, Mitch Ngaman that the deal was signed in Ghana, few days back and is worth over N23 million ($150,000).

We could not immediately reach the Virgin Atlantic office here.

This is the first major deal the actor will be signing since his deal with the telecommunication company, Globacom, expired.

New baby for KWAM 1 at 56!

Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose better known as KWAM 1 is super happy right now.

NET has gathered that K1′s new wife Fatia Titi Masha delivered a baby girl at 3AM on February 3, 2013 at a Chicago hospital in the US.

In October 2012, controversy sparked off when K1 married Titi Masha, who happens to be his ex-wife Salewa’s niece.

But K1, 56, confronted his critics, insisting he had done nothing wrong.

The respected musician and band leader has numerous other children from other wives.

Our Compassion In The Midst Of Madness

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama

What I know for sure is that our healthcare system is truly in the doldrums. I am not talking about the private hospitals or the rich who can afford to go anywhere. I am talking about the ordinary Nigerian who does not have anywhere to go but is hoping that if he gets to a government hospital, he will, at least, be attended to and hopefully referred to somewhere where his needs can be met.

Last year, we were told by the EIU that Nigeria was one of the worst countries on earth for one to be born. Yet, the usual government machinery was released to negate this picture, forgetting the fact that we have one of the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality. What I am about to relay happened last Friday to a close friend of mine.

His security guard called him in the office to say his wife had delivered a set of twins prematurely in a health centre in Mararaba, Abuja. However, there was no incubator to put them in and so they must look for a hospital that could take them. So, the journey began for these twin babies. They were taken to Nyannya, karu, Asokoro, and finally Maitama hospitals.

All the hospitals claimed they had no facility or incubators for the babies. In his desperation to get them medical attention, he took the wife and babies to my friend’s house, hoping to elicit pity and compassion from someone he felt would be able to help. He presented her with the twins all wrapped in blankets in tears.

With her connections, my friend was able to call a doctor friend who got them finally admitted into Garki hospital. They were also reluctant to accept the babies until one of the twins died on the spot as they were being assessed. Instantly, an incubator became available for the surviving twin.

This is what our country has become. Where a mother can go through the rigours of labour with all its attached effects and be expected to take care of premature babies alone. Surely, we are better than this. This family is lucky enough to have someone to fall back on who could, at least, help in one way or the other. We have heard how much is spent on health delivery in all areas of the country.

But how is it even possible for any hospital to turn away a woman and babies in this situation? It is simply an outrage. How much do we value the lives of our citizens? It goes to show that the horror stories emanating from hospitals are simply true. Of course, there are those who work hard but are hampered by resources, but simply getting our priorities right would be a great place to start. We have to ask what we expect from the society. Is it ‘a man eats man’ world or is it the daily corruption we live with that makes us so jaded to the human sufferings we see all around us?

Our Ministry of Health and health providers really need to step up. In a city like Abuja which is slowly becoming a glorified slum, what the ordinary citizen endures is quite pathetic. The hospitals and health centres are full to the brim with less than adequate facilities. Again, we fall into the mentality of just ‘managing’.

As the city expands, so comes many challenges. Both manpower and infrastructural resources are in short supply but at the same time, our shared humanity must always triumph. We cannot always put money before life. That is what is happening today. If you can’t afford it, then you do not get treated. Something has got to give.

We are always quick to point out that we are a spiritual people, but we contradict this by our actions. Our society must be more compassionate and take responsibility for the vulnerables in order to give them the best shot for a good, stable and decent life. Only then can we truly become a community and a real society.

Shocking… Two UNILAG Students Commit Suicide in One Month

The family and friends of a student of University of Lagos simply identified as Seun, who took his own life on Tuesday 19th January 2013 are still in shock over his death. Suicide among Nigerian youths is not a common occurrence.  It is therefore disturbing to read the Punch report which claims that two undergraduate students of UNILAG have committed suicide in the last one month. The first one happened earlier in the year.

On New Year’s Eve, Damilola Durojaiye, a Computer Science student of the university, also allegedly committed suicide at his parents’ Akute-Ajuwon, Ogun State home. The 19-year-old was said to be a brilliant student with a cumulative grade point average of about 3.9. He reportedly stayed at home when his parents went for the cross-over service, only for them to come back and see his body dangling from where he hanged himself. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said at the time that a suicide note was found where Durojaiye hung himself .

The circumstances surrounding Seun’s death is also quite mysterious. He lived with his aunt in Mafoluku, Lagos, where the incident was said to have occurred. When Punch visited his family, Seun’s aunt was still in shock.

“Please, I cannot say anything because this is a big tragedy for us,” she was quoted as saying.

However, some neighbours spoke about his character and the events of the day he died.

“I knew he was a student. I just did not know he attended UNILAG. He was an easy going and quiet man. We probably would have been close if he was not the quiet type. The day of the incident, I just got home from an errand and I was told Seun had been rushed to a hospital. When I asked what happened, I was told he went out to buy a substance and locked himself inside his room.

“I still don’t know what happened to make him take that action. I think those in the house when he went to buy the substance must have suspected he was going to do something drastic because they later forced the door open, but he had already ingested the substance he went to buy. They quickly took him to the hospital,” a young woman told Punch.

It was learnt that Seun died later that evening in the hospital.

Another resident in the area described him as  “a very quiet young man of about 27 years old.”

Unlike Damilola who left a suicide note, Seun’s suicide remains shrouded in mystery as it may never be known what drove him to commit suicide. Moreso, the police have said no report was made about it as the Public Relations Officer of the Airport Police Command, Lagos, Dennis Ifijen told Punch that they have no record of the case.

Their deaths are very sad and we pray their souls rest in peace.

I appeased my father with a goat - Mercy Aigbe

I was sitting in the front seat of a bus and feeling stuffy and sweaty despite the weather. Gusts of wind sent dust spiraling, giving the streets a much needed sweep as pedestrians and hawkers rushed by, eager to make it to the safety of shelters before the water gates of heaven go burst.
It began with just a few drops. As the tiny drops hit the earth, the aromatic smell of the first rain of the year pervaded my nostrils as I hopped off the bus at Oregun bus stop, Ikeja. I had scarcely made it out of the bus when the rain burst out in fury. For an instance, I toyed with the idea of doing a detour but I changed my mind, the venue of the interview was less than 200 meters away and so I made a dash for it.
I had scarcely settled into a seat when star actress, Mercy Aigbe stepped into the reception clad in a tight fitting split orange pants and a black top that displayed a lot of cleavages. What struck me about her was that determined look in her eyes.
She threw me the brightest smile I had received that day. On the surface, she cut the image of a happy-go-lucky, carefree woman and beneath that I could perceive a lot of talent. It was exciting to know that the woman standing before me made her debut in 2006 in a flick entitled, Ara and six years later, she has emerged a major force to reckon with in Nollywood, and what’s more, she has her finger in every pie. Aside being an actress, she is also a scriptwriter and movie producer.
What gave you the inspiration for your comedy flick, Osas? I asked, throwing my first question as the interview kicked-off. She threw me a smile as she began to speak, picking her words. “It’s actually my desire to connect with my own people. I am a Yoruba actress with strong Bini roots. I was born in Lagos so I can claim to be a Lagosian but I am from Benin City, Edo State. I am very proud of my Yoruba people but I also wanted to connect with my own people, the Bini people.
“I wanted my people to know that there’s a young Bini girl who is in Nollywood and who is very popular in Yoruba flicks and also for my Yoruba fans to appreciate me more because they made me who I am; that’s what inspired Osas. The success was overwhelming. People are asking, ‘when is the Part 2 going to come out?’” she says laughing softly, a glow in her eyes as she adds that work has begun on the Part 2 which is entitled, Osas Reloaded and scenes have already been shot both in Nigeria and the UK.
One problem plaguing Nollywood is the absence of verifiable figures hence it has failed to attract investment from financial institutions. Despite being aware of this, Mercy refuses to disclose the exact figures Osas grossed while conceding that the flick was a resounding success.
“I am not going to declare my figures publicly,” she says defiantly, again throwing that heart warming and disarming smile my way, “if I want a loan from a bank, of course I will present my figures but aside that I won’t make my books open for public scrutiny.”
Mercy laughs playfully as she continues: “Let me tell you something, it’s not the figures that I reveal to you here that will prove that I am a bankable actress. I can give you any figures I want. Do you understand what I am saying? I don’t think it’s the amount of money that you make in a particular movie that makes you a bankable actress. I am not going to make how much I made from Osas public; it’s a private issue and I have my reasons.”
Childhood
Born to a family of five, Mercy is the second child of the family. She reveals that growing up was not a tea party as she received a lot of flogging from her dad who wanted her to study Accountancy.
“Growing up was tough,” she recollects, a look of nostalgia beclouding her visage as she stares into space, reaching back to those early years. Then a smile etched on her lips as she continues: “I am from a Christian home and my father is very strict. I had to always follow rules and regulations at home. It wasn’t easy for me. When I was much younger I always made sure I got my way. I was very stubborn. I was always getting into trouble with my dad and he was always flogging me!”
We both burst into laughter as she mentions the word ‘flog’. Really? Your dad flogged you? I enquire in mock shock.
“Yes,” she retorts as we both share a laugh.
Fela once disclosed that he got over 300, 000 strokes of the cane from his dad. How many did she get, I ask jokingly.
“I can’t count. All I can tell you is that I was thoroughly flogged by my father. He did not use wooden cane. He used electric wires twisted together. Growing up was fun but my father was always flogging me because I was very stubborn. I always wanted to have my way,” Mercy explains as we both burst into laughter again.
However, today, the actress views the experience rather philosophically as she says that despite the flogging, she has no scars on her body because her father took extra care when he flogged her.
“The good thing about it is that my father actually wanted to instill high moral standards in us. So, whenever he flogged me it was either on my bum or my hand,” she states.
The light skinned actress, however, confesses that the floggings helped mould her into a responsible child and had shaped her into whom she is today. But then, one experience Mercy won’t forget so soon is the running battle she had with her dad who believed that acting was not the way for any responsible child to go.
“For my dad, acting should just be a hobby and not a profession. In fact, he did not want any of his kids to be actors so, he forced me to go to Ibadan Polytechnic to study Accountancy. I am not trying to praise myself but I was a very intelligent kid; I was very good with mathematics and sciences so my dad believed I would make a great Accountant.
“Along the line, I discovered that I had this outgoing nature and I loved acting and loved meeting people and so eventually, instead of going back to study for my HND, I went to UNILAG where I studied Theatre Arts.”
Rejected
And you could guess her dad’s reaction. He was livid and practically disowned her. Eventually, Mercy had to get elders and uncles from her village that went to plead with her dad to take back his erring daughter. In order to finally settle the case, she bought a goat for her dad to appease him.
“He did not take it likely. He was broken hearted! He was so mad at me. To show that he meant business, he did not pay my first year’s school fees. I had to beg, I had to buy a goat to appease him according to tradition. I had some of my uncles come over to beg him and later, he came around and said, ‘anyway, in Nigeria, it’s not what you study that determines the job you do. My daughter, you can study Theatre Arts and still be my Accountant someday.’ He eventually gave me his blessings.”
Answering the call
Consequently, when Mercy graduated from UNILAG, in order to appease her dad, she got a job in a bank and worked as a marketer. However, there remained a vacuum in her life, as she was not fulfilled. Eventually, Mercy had to resign even though the job was paying well and she had a car and could afford anything she wanted.
“Any time I came back from work and I watched TV and saw people acting, my mind kept telling me ‘no Mercy, this is where you should be, this is where you belong.’ It’s not like I did not like my job. I am a restless soul. I was marketing and was always on the road and enjoying my job but I was not fulfilled so, at a point I just had to take that bold step and resign.
Stepping into the unknown
With acting calling and Mercy growing even more restless, she was compelled by her passion to resign her bank job and step into the unknown. However, success would not come over night as she hopped from set to set looking for a job and when eventually a job came along, she got a paltry N2000 after spending two weeks away from home on location.
“I wept,” she recalled. “I was comfortable. I had everything that I wanted including a car and was earning a good salary. Now somebody was paying me N2000 and making me feel like he was doing me a favour. I made up my mind as the tears rolled down my cheeks that I had had enough; I was done with acting!”
Mercy says as soon as she got home that day she dusted up her CV and began applying for jobs again. In fact, she even wrote a couple of tests and the prospects were bright. But then, acting kept haunting her and in her quiet moments she was forced to admit that her fate was tied to the silver screen.
Recalling that period of her life, the actress said: “I told you earlier that I am very stubborn. If I want something I go for it and I hate failing at achieving whatever I have set my mind. I was convinced beyond doubt that God had ordained me for acting. So, I said to myself, ‘Mercy, this is not what you want, that is what you want. No matter what you’re going through in life, no matter the challenges, life is not a tea party. Why don’t you just take the bull by the horns and confront your challenges and with time and prayers, you will get to your dreams.’ In my quiet moments, the thought of returning to acting kept haunting me.”
Finally, Mercy got her first big break when she acted in Wemimo Olu Paul’s Ara, a movie that transformed her career and ever since, she has never looked back.
Marriage & stardom
Today, Mercy hugs the limelight as she has starred in over a dozen movies and successfully branched into movie production. What’s more, she is happily married to a loving husband and blessed with two kids, and her debut movie production effort, Osas, has been described as a success. But how is her husband coping with her stardom?
“Men like women who depend on them. I think that is part of the qualities that attracted me to my husband and it is the same qualities he saw in me that made him fall in love with me,” she says with a smile, displaying a perfect row of teeth.
Isn’t he scared he could lose her to some other guys?
“I don’t know,” she says, laughing, “I think you should ask him when you see him.” We both share another round of laughter as she continues: “he is actually in the best position to answer that but for me, I have not giving him any reason to doubt. He knows me and knows the kind of person I am, he knows that since I have made up my mind to be with him, I will always be with him.”
A stern look descends over her visage as she speaks further: “I hate failing at whatever I do. This is actually my second marriage and I know I am not going to fail because I know this is different, I am more matured, I have embraced God so I know it’s gonna work.”
Mercy says she is now much more mature, insisting that in her first marriage she was very young but her approach to issues now is different from the way it used to be. The actress says she has been praying to God to sustain her.
However, one thing Mercy thinks is unfair is the way celebrity break-ups are treated in the media. She argues that there are a lot of marriages that are in trouble but are not celebrated because those involved are not popular.
Mercy admits that over time she has developed tough skin over reports in the media about her and these days she merely laughs when she sees such negative stories. “I married my husband because he is very mature; that’s the number one reason. For you to be an actress and still want to be in this business and get married, you have to marry a man that is mature and understanding. Because it only takes a mature and understanding man to cope with an actress,” she explains.
Why? I enquire and she responds thus: “As an actress, you’re going to have a lot of negative stuff flying around. Some people will just beef you and the next thing they will call a journalist and give them false stories about you. And a lot of journalists are lazy; they don’t even authenticate or try to get the other view when they do their stories. They just publish without a care in the world. And of course, your family is going to read it, your husband is going to read it so, if you don’t marry a man that’s mature and understanding, you’re going to have problems. Then at times you have to go off on set for like two weeks so, it’s only a mature man that can let his wife out of his sight for two weeks.”
Home front
Despite her busy schedule as a mother, wife and actress, Mercy still finds time to be with her kids and family. How does she handle it?
“Its not easy,” she confesses. “Marrying all these is a big challenge. I love my job, I want to be on top of my game, I love my career; it’s something that gives me fulfillment and it’s not easy wanting to be on top of your game because it takes a lot of hard work, you understand?
“I love my kids; they are everything I have, they are my world and I always want to be the best mum for them no matter what it takes. I love my husband; he is my big baby. Marrying these roles as a mother, a career woman and as a wife is hectic and very demanding. Somehow I find a balance; I guess it’s the grace of God in my life.”
Male fans
Despite having two kids, Mercy still cuts a great figure. How is she handling over bearing male fans?
“You know men, if you are a good looking woman, men will make passes at you. I am used to it and I know when to draw the line especially if it’s a male fan. When you go beyond your line, I just tell you, ‘look, I am a married woman’.
“I don’t care about how they react. Some might even say it does not matter but that is offensive already! All I want them to know is that I am married and I never ever will have an extra marital affair because I don’t want to break my home. I love my kids very much and I don’t want them to go through any problems.”

Genevieve, Omotola: No more war?

Star actors, Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, may have finally decided to sheath their swords. In the past, the wave -making acts had been reported not to be the best of friends.
Although they denied the report at various times and featured side by side in blockbuster movie, Ije, those who are conversant with their no-love lost relationship, say the reverse was the case.
Not too long ago, both attended the birthday soiree of the Actors Guild of Nigeria’s president, Ibinabo Fiberesima, where they at least got on well with each other just as much as they did with other colleagues present

Genevieve Rubbished By Producer, Says Her Role Is Insignificant

Genevieve Nnaji is undoubtedly a very talented actress who has paid her dues in the motion pictures industry in Nigeria called Nollywood. When the roll call of top actors is made, Genevieve will unarguably take the top spot. In the adaptation of Nigeria's Chimamanda Adichie's award-winning book 'Half of a Yellow Sun' into a big screen film, Genevieve was supposed to play some roles in the movie but as things stand now, her scenes may be finally yanked off. Reason being that the producers of the film reportedly feel her scenes in the flick may drag the movie backward with unnecessary scenes for the big budget film. Genevieve was put in the movie to play Ms Adebayo, a professor who developed a flirtatious relationship with her colleague Mr Odenigbo, which was played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. It is still uncertain if her scenes might eventually be considered in the movie. For now, fingers are still crossed.

10 Interesting Things About Guys That Girls Must Know

Note: There are two types of males: Dishonorable males and honorable men. Don’t date or marry until you know how to tell the difference between the two.

1. Honorable men are protectors and will guard your heart, protect your emotions, defend your honor and support you for your spiritual, mental and physical well-being.

2. Dishonorable males treat sex as a sport and for fun, females as trophies. Never allow yourself to become their next score or sperm bin.

3. Don’t judge ALL men by one man’s actions, unless you want ALL men to judge you based on the acts of amoral women.

4. Guys love their moms ,so don’t speak anything about their mom’s that might provoke them.

5. If a guy seriously loves a girl he would make everything possible for her because she means the world to him.

6. Beware!!! Guys can spread a gossip like fire, faster then a girl will spread.

7. If a guy likes a girl ,he will always tend to tease her or find a way to talk to her.

8. To understand a guy you need to listen to him first.

9. Guys prefer girls who have beauty with brains rather then beauty with miniskirts.

10. If you tell a guy a secret , stop telling because they do not have a tendancy to keep them like girls