Maryam Abacha gives rare interview said she brought Buhari into politics' -

Former First Lady of Nigeria, Maryam Abacha hardly speaks to the press. Since her husband, former military head of state, Sani Abacha, died, the mother of 10 has been living a relatively quiet life. But she recently gave a rare interview to Abubakar Hashim of The News magazine and opened up on a few things. Find the interview below...

How has life been with you since the death of your husband?
We thank God for His kindness and love for us. We also thank those that have been around us in these moments of grief. We are still waiting for those that have distanced themselves from us to reconcile and come back. We are not angry with anybody. We are still friends to everybody. We look forward to the Almighty Allah to provide us the fortitude to bear this loss. So life has been quiet and peaceful with us. We are one and a happy family. Continue...

When you heard of his sudden death, how did you take it? How did you feel?
My husband’s death was like a coup. It was sudden and shrouded in confusion. General Abdulasalami [Abubakar] just called me, telling me to come and collect the dead body. We buried him like any other ordinary Nigerian. It was quite unfortunate the way he died. Allah knows best and unto Him we shall all return. May his soul rest in peace. I’m yet to fully recover from the shock of his death.

And how did you both meet?
Like any other would-be couple. He was a charming, handsome and likeable personality; a loving father who liked his children and loved ones. We became friends and got married. Here are pictures in the family album; before, during and after our wedding day. He was a caring husband, a dedicated father and an affectionate grandfather.

President Goodluck Jonathan awarded your late husband a centenary award. How did you feel receiving the award?
We felt happy. Maybe this is the beginning of good things to happen to Nigeria; maybe reconciliation… President Jonathan is a young man, he is using his time and energy to bring peace and reconciliation. I think it is high time we all come together to lift the country and stabilise ourselves. I hope it is the beginning of good things to come.

Do you still continue with the pet projects you embarked on when you were first lady?
I did those projects on government basis. They are still on there. Obasanjo did not change the names, neither did subsequent [Presidents]. The African First Ladies Peace Mission is still there, the Poverty Alleviation Programme, the National Programme on Immunisation, the Family Support Programme, the Family Support Basic Education Programme and the Family Economic Advancement Programme are all there. These are projects and programmes that touched the lives of the people, particularly women.

The National Hospital is there and so are the other hospitals around the country. I never did  any programme for my personnal benefit, but for the government and the people of the country. So today, in my personnal capacity, on whether I’m still embarking on these projects, I’m no longer in government so I’m not embarking on such projects. I tried my best as the then first lady to bring about all-round development, particularly for women in the rural areas. We did extensive reach-out to the rural populace and touched lives in the remote areas of the country.

Do you have any political ambition?
No, I don’t have any political ambition.

For the presidency, at least; the first woman President of Nigeria?
Not at all. I was a first lady. I just want peace for the country. Stability and development are not achieved by one person. There are governors, ministers, local chairmen, civil servants and the like. It is a cluster of people. The President alone does not make a government.

What is your assessment of General Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the All Progressives Congress, APC?
I brought General Buhari into politics; It’s not that I want to expose him. We did everything to support and encourage him. He called my son Mohammed to join Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. They rejected Mohammed by force during the governorship race. This was the trend, not only in Kano, but also in Katsina, Bauchi and other states. I think it is not healthy for democracy; not just because of Mohammed but for the smooth play of democratic norms and values. Democracy is the choice of the people. But when people put their own personal interest first and they interfere [in the process], then it is no longer democracy. It is unfortunate that elders like them could come belittle themselves in the race.
For the APC I cannot comment. It is not yet time for me to do so. However, it is good for democracy to have competition and opposition. It enhances democratic values, norms and stabilises the country’s image, and will eventually uplift our democratic credentials in the international comity of nations.

Your son, Mohammed, wanted to be governor of Kano State.
It is the people of Kano that wanted my son to be governor. They still want him to be governor. They’ve been calling us to come and intensify his campaign. In fact, they are even campaigning on his behalf. So it is people of Kano that want him as governor because they appreciate his father’s contribution to various fields of  endeavour.
They also appreciate the little projects and programmes I did in Kano and in the country. They say he should come and continue the projects and programmes in Kano.

The late General Sani Abacha contributed to the restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone. Could you comment on the role he played in the process.
I cannot tell you exactly how he played this role as I was not a soldier, I was just a housewife. But he tried his best for Sierra Leone and thank God it was a success and indeed, peace returned to Sierra Leone. The late Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was restored to power. It was indeed a tragedy to hear about  his death recently. He was an African statesman of international repute.
I remember one of his visits [to Nigeria] after he was restored to office; he was so calm, amiable and indeed, supportive of a just pan-African solution to African crises. He was indeed, a true democrat of continental proportion. My late husband honoured him and appreciated him.

What message do you have for the people of Sierra Leone on the death of Kabbah?
I send my sympathy, my condolence and my prayers. May God give them peace, may God give them the fortitude to bear the great loss of the father of democracy in that country. May God give the present president, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, the power to emulate what the previous president had done, particularly entrenching stability, peace and democracy in Sierra Leone. I wish President Koroma all the best. He is a young man.

I wish the people of Sierra Leone all the best. I have never been there but I hope to be there in my lifetime. I learnt it is a small and beautiful country with about six million people, with lots of natural resources including diamond and oil. May God Almighty grant the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah eternal rest. May Allah also grant my late husband eternal rest. Nigeria and Sierra Leone have a long, historical relationship.

We look forward to building on the strong ties that have cemented us for so long a period. That was why my late husband stood by Sierra Leone in the time of her crisis; to restore democracy, sanity and stability in the country. We couldn’t stand by and watch Sierra Leone fall into anarchy, because the entire West African region would have been affected. So we moved in to bring back normalcy and sanity to the country.
So my wish for Sierra Leoneans is that they maintain peace and stability, especially the peaceful democratic course we’ve seen in past elections. We want this to continue so that other countries will emulate it.

…Published in TheNEWS magazine

Funny Pics From National Conference,

The confab that will last for three months and cost around N7bn ($42mln) is meant to provide a platform for Nigerians to discuss issues of common concern.
These issues that are likely to be at the top of the agenda are Islamist-linked violence in the north, corruption, a more fair distribution of oil wealth, and the effectiveness of the country’s political structure.
Former Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada (right), Legal Practitioner, Adeniyi Akintola (middle) and Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Isa Aremu during a voting pattern on the resolutions of the conference in Abuja yesterday

A visibly angry delegate, Naseer Kura (left) being calmed down by the President , Market Women Association of Nigeria, Felecia Sani during a debate on the voting pattern of the resolutions of the conference in Abuja yesterday

One of the delegates taking a nap during yesterday’s session. You should remember that the delegates Of National Conference get paid N1.45 million after sitting for one week.

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani(left) Senator Musa Adede and Dr former PDP National Chairman, Dr Haliru Mohammed at the session yesterday

Chief Niyi Olaniwun(left) Chief Ayo Adebanjo and others during session

Dr Joe Okei Odumakin(left) Mrs Ezenwa Okoroafor and Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi during confab session on March 25

Gen Alani Akinrinade(left) Mr Fola DSaniel and Alh. Magaji Dambata on March 25

Nigerian Teenager gets Stabbed, Burnt to Death in Russia: PHOTO

A 17-year-old Nigerian girl Forester Samson (pictured above) was stabbed and burnt to death in Moscow, Russia by yet to be identified Russian gangstars, according to a report by Sunday Sun. Find the full report below

Sunday Sun gathered that she was murdered  by yet-to-be-identified Russian gangsters. According to a family source, the perpetrators went further to lock her body in a room and set it ablaze. Though, the police took her to the  hospital, it was rather futile.

The source revealed that Forester was sponsored abroad by one Mercy who is suspected to be trafficking  Nigerian girls  on the promise that she would assist them  with  decent jobs in Russia. The teenager  without hesitation, but with the approval of her mother jumped at the offer with high hopes.

According to the deceased’s elder sister, Sonia Samson, they got a call from  Mercy, on Tuesday March 4,  2014 that Forester had died in an inferno. She added that the family was later told that Forester was stabbed before being set ablaze.
Sonia said,  “Her madam is the one that called us on Tuesday and told us she was locked in a room and set ablaze by some unknown Russians. She told us that she was rushed to the hospital, that they were treating her.
“Later that day, she also told us that she was initially stabbed before she was burnt. Not too long after, she told us that she was dead. The madam said she was not the only victim in the attack. She said there were five other Nigerians, that another one died four or  five days after the attack.
“My sister died mysteriously, just as another sister of mine was also killed by  armed robbers. Sincerely, I am confused because I don’t know why all this is happening to us. Particularly for me, it is so painful that I don’t really know what to say or do. This is a difficult time for the family and I believe we need to be more prayerful more than ever before.”
The late Forester, who would have been celebrating  her 18th  birthday on March 30  hails from Igbekhue in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. She   completed her secondary education  in 2013.
Forester’s father, Friday Osazuwa  Samson was killed four years ago in Benin by suspected armed robbers. He was shot in broad daylight in front of his shop at Upper Sakponba. Until Friday’s death, he was a successful businessman, a distributor  with Sona and Bendel breweries.
Siblings and other relatives of the late Forester’s father are worried and pained by circumstances surrounding how Forester was lured into traveling to Russia, which they described as shady. Recognizing the fact that she did not travel to Russia for further education, even as they were not also informed of such plans, they are calling on concerned authorities to wade into the matter.
They are accusing Mercy of human trafficking and  calling on National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to investigate the activities of this said Mercy. They also want the Nigerian Embassy in Russia to as a matter of urgency unravel the mystery surrounding the death of their daughter.
The dastardly act took place on March 3,  2014. Since the news  broke, the entire family has been thrown into mourning.
Sonia, who still finds it difficult to believe that her sister was gone, lamented that Forester’s death was too painful for her to easily accept. To her, she would have better been dreaming and be glad  that the story was not true.
Meanwhile, Forester’s uncle, Mr Saturday Samson Osazuwa accused Forester’s mother of conniving with the said madam (Mercy) to deceive and persuade the teenager to travel abroad. He queried why Forester’s mother, Elizabeth, decided to hide his niece’s whereabouts from him. Saturday, who now acts as a father figure to the children since their father’s death, said the mother refused to disclose where Forester was, even as he insisted on seeing her.
Said he: “The mother was aware that Forester had traveled abroad. Not just that,  I believe she was part of the arrangement that her  17-year-old daughter  should  travel abroad. It is really unfortunate and wicked of her to have taken that decision.
“If my brother, her husband was alive, he would never allow such a thing for any of  his children. What was Forester looking for in Russia? Was it to go there and school? Certainly not. Now, she has caused the entire family pain and sorrow. The girl was beautiful and intelligent. I still cannot understand what she was sent to Russia to do at her tender age.
“For more than five months, her mother was dribbling me whenever I wanted to see Forester. I sent for her to come and see me on a number of occasions but they kept telling me that she was residing with her mother’s relatives in Benin here only for me to receive a call from them that she was dead in a fire accident in Russia. This is the girl that they kept telling me was in Benin. Until her death, the mother refused to tell anybody in our family. If she thought that the children belonged to her alone, that is where she’s mistaken.”
Also, an uncle of late Forester’s father, Mr Evabayekha Christopher, described Forester’s mother as  callous. He wondered why any reasonable mother would send her own daughter  abroad for monetary reasons.
His words: “What exactly will Forester be doing  abroad when she was supposed to be studying at the University of Benin or any other higher institution of learning in Nigeria? What she did is unacceptable to every member of our family.”

Finally !!! Actress Biola Ige Speaks on this controversial b**b-sucking photo with Muna Obikwe

The pic on the left went viral online in recent days. It shows actress Biola Ige in what would appear to be a compromising situation with actor Muna Ibekwe. But the actress has reacted to the pic saying its from a movie scene. Read her official statement below...

    "I was going to remain silent on the photo being displayed on the internet however I realise that I need to set the record straight for my family, friends and fans who I love and respect.

    The photo in question was taking from the set of a movie called "Pregnant Hawkers" in which i played a Hawker who was in a romantic situation with a man (The actor in the photo). This movie was shot and aired two years ago. The photo circulating the internet right now is the photo from a scene in the movie and nothing more.

Police Arraign Pastor For Cutting Off 2-year-old’s Fingers

The Sabo Police Station on Tuesday arraigned a 49-year-old pastor, Moyo Martins, before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly cutting off the fingers of a two-year-old child, Saidat Faleye.

The incident happened on Olumo Street, Iwaya Onike, Yaba, Lagos State.

It was learnt that the mother of the victim, Mrs. Bola Faleye, had left her in the care of Martins on Thursday, when she wanted to take her bath.

After she was gone, the child and the suspect were said to have been together in his room.

About five minutes later, the child suddenly let out a loud shriek of pain which drew the attention of neighbours.

They reportedly alerted her mother who equally rushed to the scene in panic. She found her child’s ring and little fingers chopped off.

It was alleged that Martins sawed off the fingers in his room.

The kid was said to have been rushed to a hospital within the area for treatment.

The suspect initially denied knowing anything about the incident. However, upon his arrest, he allegedly confessed that he did it in error and pleaded to be forgiven.

He was arraigned on one count,  which reads, “That you, Moyo Martins, on March 6, 2014, about 1.10pm, at 5, Olumo Street, Iwaya Onike, Yaba, Lagos in the Yaba Magisterial District, did use sharp saw to cut off the left finger of one Saidat Faleye, aged 2 years.”

The police prosecutor, Mr. F. Ifijeh, said the offence was punishable under Section 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and elected summary trial at the magistrate’s court.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Aje-Afunwa, admitted him to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till April 24, 2014.

culled from punch

Mother sells three-day-old baby for N260,000 in Akwa Ibom

According to a report by Punch, a nursing mother in Akwa Ibom named Imaobong Udoh (pictured above) has been arrested for allegedly selling her 3-day old baby girl for N260,000. Full report below

Also arrested along with Imaobong were four persons for allegedly participating in the theft of the baby.

They are the buyer, Mrs. Regina James; her husband, Mfon James; the traditional birth attendant who delivered the baby, Mrs. Comfort Henry; and Mr Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic doctor, who arranged the sale.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, said in Uyo on Monday that the father of the baby had reported the theft to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Gwadabe said, “On March 3, 2014, a case of child stealing was reported by Mr. Eteobong James, of No. 33 Urua Ekpa Road, Itu Local Governmnet Area, to the police, where a three-day-old baby girl was sold for N260, 000.

“Based on the report, the suspects were arrested.

“Mr Emmanuel Etim Okon, was the one that arranged the infamous deal and personally conveyed the baby from the point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Uruan Local Government Area to the buyers at No. 37 Church Road, Uyo.”

The police boss explained that Regina allegedly paid N150,000 to the mother of the baby and N110,000 to Okon, the homeopathic doctor, for his services.

The commissioner stated that the accused would soon be arraigned in court and warned child thieves to steer clear of the state.

He explained that the state would not be conducive for their illicit trade.

Husband of the buyer, James, who spoke with PUNCH METRO said when his wife told him she was pregnant, he gave her money for ante-natal care, but was surprised to hear that she bought the baby.

He said, “l am a trader. My wife, Regina, told me she was pregnant and I gave her money for ante-natal. One day, she told me she was in labour and later informed me that she had been delivered of a baby girl.

“I did not know she bought the baby since she has given birth to four children, though three died.”

However, the homeopathic doctor said Regina brought the mother of the baby, Imaobong, to him so that he could take care of her during ante-natal.

He said Regina had explained to him that the father of the baby was not financially buoyant to take care of her.

He denied collecting N110,000 from Regina, stating that he only collected N30,000, which was the cost of delivery of Imaobong’s baby.

“When Regina brought Imaobong to me, she told me that the man responsible for the pregnancy was unable of take care of her.

“The N30,000 I collected from her was for the upkeep of Imaobong before and during delivery of the baby. I did not collect N110,000.”

Source: Punch

Police release images of men who boarded Malaysian Airline with stolen passport

Malaysian Police have released images of the two men who boarded the missing Malaysia Airlines flight with stolen passports but say one of the men, 19-year-old Iranian Pouria Nur Mohammad Mehrdad, (pictured left) is known to them and they do not think he is a terrorist. 

The police say the teenager is an Iranian asylum seeker on his way to Germany

Malaysian police say the identity of the other man is still under investigation and no longer strongly believes that the missing plane was attacked by terrorists. They say are now looking into four main areas: sabotage, hijacking or psychological problems among either the crew or the passengers.

Aliko Dangote ready to redeem $1million promise to Super Eagles

Billionaire business man Aliko Dangote says he is ready to redeem his promise of awarding $1m to the Super Eagles for winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations last year in South Africa. He said this a few days after goal keeper and Super Eagles vice-captain Vincent Enyeama begged him and others who pledged various things to the team to fulfill their promises.

"We understand the busy schedule of Alhaji Dangote, we are just asking his aides to help remind him of the promise to us. It’s just a reminder to patriots who are very busy and may not have been prompted after they made their pledges, because the players are determined to bring more honours to fatherland at the forthcoming World Cup” Enyeama said

Speaking with BBC Sports, Dangote said the only reason he hasn't redeemed his promise was because nobody from the team or NFF had contacted him

"We’ve been waiting for Nigerian officials to collect the money but nobody has written to us. We will write to them, asking for the account numbers of the players, then we’ll make the transfer immediately.”

Phones of passengers on missing plane still ringing, relatives claim

This Malaysian plane disappearance has to be the most mysterious incident that has happened in recent history. Late yesterday, relatives of some of the passengers on board the vanished aircraft who are lodged in a hotel, claimed they were still able to call the cellphones of their missing loved ones.

Washington Post reports that some relatives said that they were getting ring tones and could see them active online through a Chinese instant messenger service called QQ. One man in particular claimed he could see that the QQ account of his brother-in-law showed him as online, but when he sends a message, he gets no reply. The calls have also not been picked up. This is scary!

Fear of Boko Haram: 250 female students of FGGC relocated

Over 250 female students of the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Monguno in Borno State have been relocated to another school in Maiduguri following recent attacks on public schools in the North by Boko Haram members.

The Principal of FGGC Maiduguri told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri yesterday that the students were relocated last week

“The students started coming on March 3, shortly after the mass transfer, they are still coming. As at this morning (Monday), we have about 225 students. But I believe by now the figure will have risen to 250.

“We have already accommodated them in our hostels, especially where we had vacant rooms. Since they are all girls, we have identified an unoccupied three bed-room bungalow for possible conversion into a hostel accommodation for them if their number increases. They were transferred with 70% of their teachers, who have also started reporting for duty,” The principal said.

Nicki Minaj shows off hot bikini body... Photos

Nicki took the photos while on holiday in Mexico and shared them on her instagram page. See more photos below...

Obafemi Martins babymama sends message to those hating on their relationship

Abigail Barwuah posted this pic on her instagram and wrote "Whom God has blessed no one can course. We will be forever together...If you love it, I don't care, if you don't that is ur f**king problem ...Go and die...u enemies of progress." Enemies of progress please stay away from them o...lol