Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy aka Areafada is 62 years today June 19th.
Below is a birthday message from his wife of over 30 years, Lady Diane Oputa...
My dear Charles, you have been in our lives for many- many seasons, and I have chosen to lay my heart out for that reason. This is for the best Husband, Father and Son that I know. The one who is dedicated to his family and works hard for us. My Husband and Friend, our love shall never end, even when it goes through the fire, because you and only you are my true heart desire.
The children and I will always pray for you, the man who has inspired millions because you never gave up on your dream. I will always provide a home of love and emotional purity, and when life places pain in your heart, may I always fill it with love. Thanks for being there for us, thanks for loving me and for all the beautiful memories you have given me so far. To my soul mate, lover and best friend… Happy Birthday.”
See the birthday message from his parents;
Letter To My Beloved Son;
“Time does fly
I never want this to go unsaid
There are no words to express how much you mean to us
A son like you, I thought could never be.
God sent us a blessing, and that was you
A true definition of a son in every way.
You have shown us a new sense of being,
Out of everything we did, you are one of the things we did right.
Always remember that we know how much you care, we can tell by the relationship we share
May your children do the same for you
A very happy Birthday to a loving son.”
Justice &Mrs C A. Oputa

NAN – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said on Wednesday that the old number plates and the old driver’s licence would expire by Sept. 31
The Sector Commander of the commission in Plateau, Mr Sunday Maku, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.
Maku said that officers and men of the commission would commence enforcement by Oct. 1.
He called on motorists without driver’s licence to obtain one so as to stream into the changes taking place in the society.
He said that the new number plate would reduce criminal activities nationwide, adding that the new system had “a tremendous advantage over the old ones’’.
“Before, it was possible for you to sell your car with your number plate; but nowadays, number plates are registered in the name of the owner.
“If you want to sell the car, you cannot sell the car with number plate, you have to remove the number plate, the new buyer will have to get his own number in his own name. So, with this system, it becomes very easy to trace criminals that are using number plates for criminal activities.“

I wish God will forgive me, it started 2004 when I got married and after some years we could not conceive. Me and my husband went to hospital and I was told that am suffering from blocking of fallopian tubes while my hubby had low sperm count.

After some treatment no results and my hubby wanted to travel to London and hoping to come back in 2yrs time. So, I decided to lie to my husband...

I told him that am pregnant and he was happy, after 2months he left for London and I was staying alone. My hubby kept asking after our child and I told him the baby was kicking.

I decided to make enquiry about how to adopt. I arranged with one man in River State about adopting twins likely a girl and a boy or 2 boys. 

After 9months of faking my pregnant to my hubby, the doctor told me that the children are ready, I rented a 2 bedroom flat far away from where i was living before. I went and brought those children, I paid 700,000 to the doctor and I gave the young mother 100,000. I just felt like giving the mother the money because I know the doctor will settle her later.

I saw many young girls there waiting to deliver. I called my hubby and told him that I have given birth to twins a boy and a girl, my hubby was very happy. I hired bus from River State to Lagos here, I came back smoothly and with a nanny helping me out. My hubby kept sending me money every month.

My twins are very beautiful, I sent the pictures to my hubby, he was very happy. After 5yrs my hubby came back, he loves those children more than me.

My problem is this: How can I tell him that those children does not belong to us? How can I tell him that I adopted them with his money? How will he react to it? 

He is suffering from high blood pressure that started 2yrs ago and he doesn't joke with the kids. 

I need your sincere advice please.

Mrs Jimoh Mulikat Adebukola and her six-year-old twins were caught at Lagos Airport carrying 4.050 kg of substance confirmed as cocaine. She concealed 3.350kg in almost every part of her body, including on her breast and underwear. 

She also used her innocent six years old twins to carry about 700 grammes of the illicit drugs. Spokesman of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, quoted Mrs Jimoh as saying:
“I have problem of my children’s school fees. I have six children and I intend to give them good education. I also have younger ones and aged parents to take care of. They asked me to swallow the drugs, but I was afraid, that is why I packed them in my body.”
Now that she is going to prison, how will she pay the school fees? People really need to be wise!


In an interview with Vanguard ,handsome actor Desmond Elliot admitted he won't mind having up to 7 kids.

"My dad had 11, my mom had five. So, ours was a large family. So, it’s not because we were not many, that’s why I want to have a large family, no. I just love kids. I want to have a big family like seven. But not now, when my wife is more rested and the kids are grown more and also when I have more money, so I can give them all the best. I love kids. Definitely, we’ll have more’, he said.

Desmond now has 4 kids with his wife Victoria,hopefully he would meet up with the target of 7 kids.

A member of staff of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, northcentral Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Afolayan, has been arrested by the police for allegedly inflicting severe bodily injuries on a 12-year old girl, Favour Emmanuel, with a hot pressing iron after tying her up and beating her to the point of comma.

“He asked me to prepare rice.  While I was preparing it, he became angry that it had taken a long time for me to finish cooking the rice. He grabbed me, tied me up and used the hot iron to inflict injuries on my body.  It was really a very tormenting experience.”

It was also learnt that Afolayan’s arrest was sequel to a report to the state Ministry of Women Affairs by some concerned neighbours.

It will be a show that has never been seen in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as the Ginger and swagger master, otherwise known as Terry G begins earnest preparation towards a world-class concert tagged, “the Book of Ginjar.” Speaking with our correspondent, the event coordinator, Mr. Ozone who is already on ground at the FCT in preparation for the concert, disclosed that as rightly called, the book of Ginjar was aimed at exposing the entire musical work of Terry G, as well as the official launch of his new album.
According to Ozone, the book of Ginjah will not only showcase all Terry’s songs, including his latest hit, but will pull majority of Nigerian heavy weight stars together. Expected at the event are Kcee, AY D Comedian, Davido, Akpororo, Klint D Drunk, Gordons, Urch Baby, Reminisce, Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, Don Jazzy, Donna Dive, Chuddy K, Jaywon, Dj Jimmy Jatt, Ozzy Bosco, Mc Tripple White, Agoha, Skales, Eva, Charly Boy, Samklef, Slizzy E, W4, Vector, Morachi, Dj Alex, Solid Star, Denrele Edun, DJ Stramborella, MC Rolex, Feidel Baba, Mr Page, Tekno and Bad Guyses. Asking why Abuja was chosen to host such a big concert, Ozone affirmed that it’s not possible to ignore one’s root.
“You see, if you don’t know, Terry actually started his Career from the FCT. Abuja is like his hometown, and like one can never forget his root, so Terry would like to put some smiles on the faces of Abuja residents. Come 5th July, at the This Day Dome, Abuja will witness what it has never seen before in the history of entertainment.”He disclosed. Terry G who spoke with our correspondent on the phone affirmed that it is always good to turn back and examine where one is coming from. He said the aim of an Abuja concert was to take a time out and reflect over the good old days, and to appreciate Abuja fans for believing in him through these years. He said, “Abuja is like my second home, and I’m appreciative of all the supports I have gotten from Abuja people. It’s like returning home to say, hey! This is me, I’m here to make you smile again. The aim is to ponder for a while over our success story and to put a smile on the faces of our friends in the FCT. I love them. We will ginger it together.
It will be a great show as I’m getting lots and lots of supports from friends and colleagues in the industry. Majority of them will be at the concert.” You may recall that Terry G’s concert was to hold in April this year, but was shifted due to his numerous production works. The concert will be hosted by AY D Comedian and Uche Obodo.


The federal government yesterday attributed its inability to curb illegal migration into the country on the porousness of the borders, which he said are barricaded only with woods and tyres.

The minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who made this revelation yesterday during the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja, noted that no fewer than 1, 497 illegal routes and 84 legal routes had so far been identified by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

“The condition of our borders is alarming. It is unfortunate that the illegal routes are barricaded by tyres and woods, which create an easy route for terrorists into the country. I want to assure you that we will contain the situation that has beclouded our country for a long time.

Moro revealed that the ministry had procured a large cache of firearms to improve security and border patrol.

“HP CDAN Voice and Data Radios have been procured and are being installed in 59 Immigration locations nationwide,” a strategy, he said, would provide effective communication links between the state commands and border control posts.

Comrade Moro expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon return to peace and gave a pass mark to the four para-military agencies under its supervision in their effort to actualize the transformation agenda of the present administration. He noted that efforts put in place by the NSCDC in ensuring the protection of major assets of the nation, which include oil pipelines and prevention of oil theft through bunkering among others, were yielding fruit.

He  also noted  that NSCDC had also embarked on aggressive training and retraining of its armed squad,  adding that a sizeable number of its armed personnel was working jointly with the Nigerian Army to enhance their capacity to tackle the present security challenges facing the nation.

On the issuance of visas to foreigners, Moro said that President Goodluck Jonathan had also approved the issuance of visas to genuine businessmen and top management staff of multinational organisations at points of entry into the country.

He  also said that the e-passport registration embarked upon by the NIS would replace the era of duplication where one person can duplicate over 20 passports.



About 50 people were killed yesterday in Kizara village of Tsafe local government area of Zamfara State by group of gunmen suspected to be cattle wrestlers.
The gunmen numbering about 150 and riding motorcycles besieged the village at about 4am, and suddenly opened fire on any adult community member on sight.
The gunmen also killed the village head, Mallam Lawali Madawaki, the chief Imam Mallam Liman Usman and the leader of the vigilante group.
Eyewitness, Yahaya Bale, said it was a reprisal attack following an earlier organised mission by the community vigilante group who chased the castle wrestlers to recover some animals they have stolen from the community.
He said the wresters had earlier been sending notice to the community that they will ambush them to encounter and break the persistent resistant against their nefarious activities, ‘but every time they send the signal, they would fail to come’ he added.
Yahaya further explained that it was in the early morning of Tuesday that the attackers besieged the village in large number, shooting only adult men, but sparing women and children, on the orders of their learders.
Another survivor, Halilu Kizara, blamed the complete or near-absence of the police or any security drafted in the village to maintain social security, except only one policeman who is in charge of the outpost in the community with over 5,000 people.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command, Mr. Akila Usman Gwary, who spoke to journalists said however that the official number of casualties is 32, but gave assurance that his command has drafted team of policemen to maintain law and order in the area. 
The development came just as rsidents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said suspected members of Boko Haram on Monday killed 22 persons in separate attacks. They said the terrorists were on a revenge mission against youth vigilante groups that have been hunting them.
According to the residents, the gunmen attacked a secondary school, Ansarudeen Private School, Maiduguri at about 3pm, and opened fire on students writing their final year exams. Nine students were killed, while several others were seriously injured in the attack.
The incident occured less than 24 hours after gunmen attacked a school in neighbouring Yobe State, killing seven students and two teachers. Borno and Yobe, alongside Adamawa, are under emergency rule with a massive deployment of soldiers to the states.
In another incident in Borno on Monday, the gunmen attacked a group of fishermen on the banks of the Alau River, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, killing 13 of them.
Some of the witness who were spared by the attackers said most of those killed at the river bank were relatives of the youth vigilante group currently hunting Boko Haram members.
“I was lucky to be left out because I am not a resident of Gwange or Hausari where the Civilian-JTF (the youth vigilante) came from,” said a fisherman, who pleaded anonymity for security reasons.
A resident of Bulumkutu in Maiduguri, Inuwa Umoru, said a prominent fish merchant, Garba Garus, was among the 13 killed.
“We were busy fishing at Alau River when suddenly a gang of gunmen appeared from nowhere, rounded us up and asked all those who are residents of Husari and Gwange to fall on one side. After sorting us out, they said, “Your children brought this fate upon you; they are busy catching our members and handing them to soldiers to be killed.
“They then shot them dead and asked the remaining of us to run for our lives and take the message to the youth vigilante,” he narrated.
A top security official in the state, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the attacks but declined further comments on the number of casualties.
But the youth vigilante have been commended by President Goodluck Jonathan and the military for helping in the battle against the terrorists.
The JTF spokesman in Borno, Sagir Musa, could not be reached on telephone for official reactions to the incidents.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Boko Haram, Abu Zinnira, has said his group will launch a manhunt for youth in Borno and Yobe states who partake in vigilante activities to identify and arrest members of the terrorist group.
Some youth in both states have formed vigilante groups to assist the military to identify and arrest the terrorists in the towns. Their activities have been commended by the presidency and the military; but has now put them in a battle with the terrorists.
Abu Zinnira said his group is also waging a bloody war against the government of Borno and Yobe states in reaction to the massive arrest of their members by youth in the states.
The terrorists’ spokesman, stated these in a statement written in Hausa and emailed to journalists.
He added that they are waging a war against Nigeria in order to establish a Sharia legal system. He said while they maintain their hostility against the police, soldiers, politicians and other symbols of authority, they have now added the youth in these states to their kill-list.
“We have established that the youth in Borno and Yobe states are now against our course. They have connived with security operatives and are actively supporting the government of Nigeria in its war against us. We have also resolved to fight back,” he said.
Some members of the youth groups, who did not want their identity disclosed for security reasons, have also vowed to continue their fight against the Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, saying that they will not be deterred from carrying out their mission and there will be no going back.
Borno and Yobe, as well as Adamawa, are under emergency rule with heavy deployment of soldiers by the federal government. This has, however, not stopped the terrorists who have killed dozens of people in separate attacks in the states.


Nigeria on Monday beat Tahiti 6-1.
FT: (54′ Jonathan Tehua) Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria (5′ 80′ Uwa Elderson Echiejile, 10′ 26′ 76′ Nnamdi Oduamadi, 69′ Jonathan Tehau)
Tahiti scored a historic goal in their first match at a senior FIFA tournament, but they could not handle Nigeria, who took no mercy in a 6-1 victory.
The Pacific Islanders went behind in unfortunate fashion. Echiejile hit a speculative effort from distance, which first struck Jonathan Tehau before hitting Tahiti captain Nicolas Villar to take the ball past a stranded Xavier Samin.
Nigeria then doubled their lead with a well-taken effort by Nnamdi Oduamad. A slack Tahiti pass was pounced upon and the ball found its way to the forward, who calmly slotted home.
Nigeria extended their lead shortly after. Ahmed Musa broke down the left and his rather tame cross was spilled by Samin, allowing Oduamadi to tap home the rebound.
There were loud cheers as Samin partially made up for his earlier mistake after a brave challenge at the feet of Anthony Ujah, who found himself one-on-one with the Tahiti goalkeeper.
The moment of the game came when Tahiti scored their historic goal. The side’s only professional player Marama Vahirua whipped a corner to the back post, where a rising Jonathan Tehau thumped his header past Vincent Enyeama.
The celebrations by the players on the pitch and from coach Eddy Etaeta on the sideline were something to behold, as the Tahitians revelled in the limelight.
They were quickly brought down to earth though, as the goalscorer of that historic effort poked an Oduamadi cross past his own goalkeeper, with Brown Ideye applying pressure.
Oduamadi then wrapped the game up, and claimed the match ball, completing his hat-trick with a simple tap-in, with Echiejile completing the rout with his second.
Nigeria will face a sterner test when they come up against South American champions Uruguay in their next game. Tahiti, meanwhile, face the small matter of a trip to the Maracana to face FIFA World Cup holders Spain.
Credit: FIFA
Starting line-ups in the Confederations Cup Group B match between Tahiti and Nigeria at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte on Monday:
Tahiti
Xavier Samin; Vincent Simon, Teheivarii Ludivion, Nicolas Vallar (capt), Ricky Aitamai; Henri Caroine, Heimano Bourebare, Jonathan Tehau; Alvin Tehau, Marama Vahirua, Steevy Chong Hue
Coach: Eddy Etaeta
Nigeria
Vincent Enyeama (capt); Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Uwa Echiejile; John Mikel Obi, Fegor Ogude, Sunday Mba; Agmed Musa, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Anthony Ujah
Coach: Stephen Keshi
Referee: Joel Aguilar
- Sapa-AFP


Nollywood actress, Chika Ike in a recent interview bares her mind on the reason for her divorce.
According to her: ‘Well you get to a point in your life where you have to stop lying to yourself, you have to come terms with your person and tell yourself the truth. If it’s something that is working, it’s working and if it’s not, it’s not.
I believe in something, I believe happiness is everything to me so I just had to take that decision because it wasn’t working and I just thought I should tell myself the truth’.
Anambra State-born Chika and now ex-hubby, Tony Eberiri were married in 2006, but got separated in 2011 and finally sealed the divorce in May 2013.
Watch video below

Fast rising Pop singer Seyi Shay is the latest artiste to be featured on ‘The Juice‘ interview session with Toolz.
Apart from talking about her music and return to Nigeria to make a headway, the singer boldly revealed that she’ll obviously end up dating someone in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
And does she get to pick who she wants? Seyi jokingly talked about dating one of the Psquare brothers (we thought they were taken?), Timaya, Ice Prince or Vector.
Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwura in a recent interview shares her  acting and growing up experiences.
I lost my father when I was 11 years and one week old; it was only my mother that I can say reacted when I started acting. But she was never against my acting.

I actually began acting in the university community. My mother spoke with Bayo Oduleye (then a lecturer at the University of Ibadan.)
She also spoke with Yomi Shohunde. My mother, being an educated woman, did not have problem when I began acting, though she thought I would study law. 


The fact that I became a star early did not let me have the problem my pals were having. I became a star at 15. When I got pregnant, there was a crack between me and my mother – which any mother would react to.
At that time, I was 17, and an undergraduate. She felt it was her fault, having lost her husband, she had the responsibility to look after us so that she would not lose any of us.

I started acting (stage and television) in 1979, when I was 15 years, and I joined the Nigerian film industry in 1982 with Ola Balogun’s Money Power. But if you want to talk about home video, I joined the home video industry in 1994. I was the lead female character in the first attempt at home video production in Nigeria by Jimi Odumosu, Fiery Force (1986).
**the North wanted an alliance or merger because of the Presidency.
**though Buhari might not like to contest the next presidential election, but we will pressure him change his mind.

The acting chairman of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Katsina State chapter and former gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu, yesterday declared that northerners would force former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to contest the Presidency again in 2015.


Aliyu who was speaking as ‘Guest of the Week’ on a Kaduna-based radio, ‘Liberty FM’ noted that though Buhari could decline to contest the next presidential election, his supporters would pressure him to the extent of making him change his mind.

Aliyu, a former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, averred that at the moment, no one has the qualities of Buhari “to rescue the nation.” According to him, “the north wanted an alliance or merger because of the Presidency, because ACN does not need CPC or ANPP to win gubernatorial election in the South-West of the country; they already have their governors.

Then who among the conglomerate of the APC likely presidential materials such as (former Governor Bola) Tinubu, Buhari or (former Kano Governor Ibrahim) Shekarau, can garner sympathy of followers in Nigeria? I don’t think there is anyone like him (Buhari).

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He is one of the most popular actors in Nigeria. This is because he’s probably one actor who has kissed all the ladies who ever acted love roles in Nollywood films featuring him.
Emeka Ike is a role model to  youths too. Ike has acted in a good number of classic movies like  Leap of faith, Love doctor    amongst others.   In spite of the glamour and fame of being an actor,  Ike said  he sometimes regrets being a celebrity. In this encounter with  The Entertainer, Ike explains why he regrets being a celebrity and bares his mind on other issues.
Excerpts:
You seem to be taking a break from acting. Why ?
It’s not only me you don’t see in  movies these days. You don’t see other big names as well. You don’t see all of us the way you used to see us then. We aren’t that current and regular as before. This is because lately, a problem I have been lamenting over has sent everybody back to the drawing board. So, we are all making one movie in a year now. I just made my own movie recently. What they are doing now isn’t the Nollywood l know. Now, they are making a movie and cutting it into 10 parts.

I have so many detractors in the industry and this resulted from my  many grouses  with  some stakeholders. Another problem I  have stems from my opposition to  the international cable system.   I questioned why they should be showing many of our movies without paying us, which is against the UNESCO charter. Contract or no contract, there is a UNESCO charter that mandates them to pay us and we are signatories to it. I’ve been complaining about it before 2009. I have been warning that Nollywood was dying. Now, is Nollywood not dead? Is Idumota open? There’s crisis in the Actors Guild. Why are Pound road and  Ebinpejo lane shut down? Where are all those marketing places in Aba where we used to make noises, they are all shut down.
(cuts in) Isn’t that as a result of piracy?
No. Were you not there when the former Censors Board chairman, Emeka Mba, which you have made your NBC chairman now,  stood up and said if you don’t pay me N5.5m don’t release any movie? The marketers supported him and  arrested everybody and that    pushed everybody out of the market. DSTV and HI TV were reigning and they were pushing for these television stations to be the most watched, so that Nollywood could go under  and everyone watching Nollywood could then watch the movies on the cable. That was the trick, the game plan, but I stood up against that and they went around and started using  divide and rule. Some actors would talk  both left and right. “Emeka Ike says  T.V stations are not honoring  our rights” and some actors would go behind to the stations to say “no you are the best. These T.V stations are doing us proud”,  when the stations have not been paying them  entitlements. Such entitlements  should be  enjoyed by their children’s children even when they are gone. That’s the crisis and they began to turn other colleagues  against me. Anyone that is fighting Emeka Ike among other actors  would be given free publicity. They would sponsor the person and give him or her heavy money, because Emeka Ike wants them out of business and they don’t want to stop the multi-billion Naira business. It’s like I’m carrying the whole Nigerian problem on my head. Everyone is saying “oh! Nollywood is going to the next level. We are doing the best and the next level is now we are doing three movies in a month!” What happens to the job of those who employed hundred people. They say those are bad movies but I ask, what happens to progressive rise, what happens to competition? Do your good movies let me do my bad one? Does your celluloid let me do my HD 1?. Let me go and shoot for CDs. All the scandals  about Emeka Ike today are just  attacks on my person for daring to be outstanding.
How can  government resolve the crisis?
The government can only address the situation by calling on all the aggrieved parties. If they can invite  my guild, the Actors’ Guild, every other guild  would fall in. If they can unify the  various factions in the guild, every other guild would come together. Other guilds or associations come second, but they are using the producers to cause havoc. They are causing divisions, tribal divisions and segregating  us  and because many of us do not really think of the future of the Nigerian movie, they go and collect the $10,000 or  $5,000 they’re offered. This is just  part payment for showing our movies once on their channel , but they accept these peanuts and the T.V stations show the movies everyday. I have the statistics.  Ambassador Chris Chukwu once said that a certain entertainment firm wanted to buy our movies for $120,000 back then, but  then we were just struggling to make quality movies that could pass through. Now we are making such movies, yet our movies are selling to cables for N40,000 and even less. Who does that take care of? No wonder many of my colleagues are dying. An actor who used to land five or ten jobs in a month now can’t even boast of a job in six months. The ones he did before have become a problem. He has become too popular for his pockets. He can’t even take care of himself. There’s no piracy anywhere. Television stations are the pirates because they show our movies with impunity.  The boys in Alaba are the ones now doing parts 1 to 20 movies. So, they can’t pirate themselves. Then television stations can afford to shun  Emeka Ike’s noise  because they know all the government functionaries. So, who is Emeka Ike to stop them? My colleagues have kept quiet about it and I sometimes wonder why I should stand alone. My wife sometimes tells me that even the people I am fighting for don’t even know the importance of the fight. They are moving on as if nothing is at stake and they are even playing with these stations. But I usually say that the fight is for our children. That is what l keep telling her. But sometimes I get tired of it all.  This is because the people I am fighting for are even against me. That’s a man that has not been paid royalties for years.
If you were to come again to this earth, would you still tread same path?
No, I won’t. In fact, to tell you the truth, I sometimes regret being an actor and  a celebrity. I don’t have  privacy. Sometimes, people embarrass me  by addressing me rudely on the streets. Some say, hey! O’ boy how now? No be you we dey call? So, because you don become star you dey do Shakara?
I am also unhappy about  the way we handle things in this part of the world. We don’t like people who say the truth. There are so many sycophants out there and they only want to pull others down to rise. People that even got up riding on your back, now try to pull you down in order to be relevant.
What’s your  driving force in  your career?
Apart from working with God, my ability  to formally attend  school and  wanting  to obtain a better degree  makes me   strive for excellence in all I do.  This helped me to acquire more skills and I read engineering. I am sure if you go to campuses they would tell you that engineering students are brilliant .
How about the training of 40 Niger Delta ex-militants we learned you were doing?
We trained  Niger Delta militants at the  Youths Academy ,West Africa in Ghana (MY Academy). It was pleasant  working with them.  We found out how innocent and sincere they were to know the truth and  learn . It was a pleasure to be used by God to relay their next phase in  life to them. Our aim was to train and empower them and we have trained them now. I worked with them at the National Institute for Film (NAFTI) in Ghana and  we’re impressed about the results of their projects. When we came back to Nigeria for the market place experience, we were able to make a more fantastic discovery. It was fun working with them, we were able to shoot and edit a film in five days with HD 1 camera. We were able to realize a fantastic project. They served as both the cast and production crew of the production. They watched me shoot and edit the film on set.  It was just a relaxing  experience for them. The film we shot is about malaria and it has been nominated by the American Embassy for this year’s World Malaria Day. It would be screened at the World Intellectual Property/ Anti-counterfeit Day.  We edited and shot the film in less than one month. You are going to see a showcase of rare talents and if these boys were able to make such  quality films in such a short time, less than a month, it shows we have a lot to offer.
Ordinarily, it was something we would have gone to South Africa to shoot and make it look like the ones we have in Nigeria to look like they didn’t know what they were doing.  So, what my company did was to relate with people at  the grassroots and relate with the very core professionals and we jointly trained them to shoot the movie.
Tell us about your love life?
As a man, your parents would have trained you to know the qualities to look for in a lady you could have as yours. When I met her, she was down to earth. She was very humble. She was not over assuming, assertive or arrogant . She wasn’t putting on an act, and l like someone who is very natural. That was the attraction.
She is an educationist and her first degree was in English. She also holds a Masters Degree in Education Management. She upgraded her studies in my home and soon became an educationist but she had been an organized person and well-groomed before we met. She was a young girl  when we met.
Outside the glamour of a screen god, who really is Emeka Ike?
I cherish my privacy so much. I have not been to a beer parlor in  a very long time. I am a  highly organized person. Emeka Ike is not out there where it is loud. I don’t do clubs. You don’t see me in functions all the time. I appear in places where my business interests would be protected. You find me in a serene and private place.
What’s your take on drinking and smoking?
When we attained stardom, we were so excited and we wanted to celebrate it. We took beer, Hennessey and all that. But now, I am grown-up, I don’t drink beer or any alcohol anymore. The doctor has warned me against drinking and l am adhering to his warning  . I have grown up and I am now a father. I am a married man.  I hope I haven’t painted an angelic image of an Emeka Ike. I’m just a human being. I am just a young man striving for excellence in my career, not a saint. My detractors should mind their business and allow me to be focused on my career.
What values did you learn from your parents?
My father is mostly responsible for the kind of personality l have grown to be over the years. I always protect my integrity. He wasn’t a cleric but he  sheltered many worshippers, people from lowly backgrounds. Many who never even met him. Their welfare meant a lot to him.
What pranks did you play as a boy?
Ah! in those days, I remember we ate from rituals placed at three-way junctions. We reasoned that those who placed those eggs there were fools. We ate and enjoyed the eggs and nothing happened to us, because we never believed anything evil could happen to us.
A popular actor in the United States, Arnold Schwazeneggar, once campaigned for political office and became a governor of California. Do you nurse a political  ambition later in life?
The humanitarian work I am doing is not for political purposes, but if  I am invited to lead, if Nigerians or people in my state see the leadership traits in me, my integrity , I can offer myself for service. I have been a leader all along. I have led the actors’ guild, I have led several youths organizations in Nigeria too . I have led  Nollywood actors even without being their leader. I have given inspirational speeches on many campuses in Nigeria. I am a motivational speaker. I was at the national youth summit at the National Arts Theatre to give a motivational speech to millions of Nigerian youths. So, it’s not something l can’t do. I think the elite in Nigeria should now get involved in politics. This is because it’s when the sane people say no to politics that the insane ones took to it and have taken over.  Christians  say this world is not my home, I am just passing through, then some people heard that and said so, this world is not your own, and took  guns and started killing people. Anyone can  go into politics. That’s part of what I have preached in my forthcoming movie; a sister who became aware of malaria took the campaign to the villages to enlighten the people about it and succeeded in educating her people on how to prevent malaria. The movie ended on a note that anywhere you are and whatever you are, take your civility to your village and see how you can assist the dying ones. It was a movie  ex-militants produced and acted in.


Taraba State governor Danbaba Suntai has been discharged from the John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland State, three months after he was brought to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a result of the injuries he sustained during the October 2012 plane crash that involved him and some of his aides in Adamawa State.
Our correspondent, who got the information at the weekend that the governor had  be discharged from the hospital, went immediately to the Suntai’s residence in New York, reports that Governor Suntai was truly discharged.
According to one of his personal doctors, who gave his name as Dr. Andrew Smith, Suntai will be advised to return back to Nigeria the moment it is confirmed that he can undergo a long distance flight.
It was learnt that apart from his wife, Hajia Hauwa Suntai and their children that were in the house, a top delegation of the state was also there to felicitate with the governor who had spent well over eight months both in German and United States hospitals.
Members of the delegation were a member representing Taraba state at the House of Representatives, Hon Haruna Manu, member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Mark Useni, former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Abel Peter Diah and Hon Rebo Usman.
The governor, whom our correspondent was introduced to shortly after his arrival at the residence, confirmed that he was medically okay and asked the people around him if he looked like someone who suffered from memory loss.
When LEADERSHIP pressed him to speak further on his health issues, one of the Suntai’s physicians, Dr. Andrew Smith, declined, saying that it would not be wise for the governor to start talking about the incident since he had just been discharged from hospital.
He said the governor should be allowed time to rest before being asked to narrate his ordeal.
Smith hinted that plans to make him return back to Nigeria were ongoing, but promised that the governor would speak intensively with our correspondent sometimes week before a date is finally fixed for his return back to Nigeria.
Asked if the governor was fit to walk around as part of the things required of him to function as a state governor, the doctor said “yes” and asked if the delegation from Taraba State could stand up with the governor for a photograph, an idea that was adopted to show his fitness.
The doctor also dismissed the rumour that Governor Suntai was having memory loss, saying that his client was very conscious and could see, stand, eat and recognise all the people around him by their names.
Asked why the governor was not allowed to go to Nigeria immediately he was discharged, the doctor said that the idea would be unwise, stressing that it was normal to let him stay in his house in New York for a little while so as to allow the medical team access to monitor him to be sure that he could undergo a long distance flight.
When asked by our correspondent about the other ailments that were reportedly discovered in Governor Suntai when he was brought to John Hopkins hospital in March, Smith confirmed the report but said that none of the ailments was terminal as reported.
He said the governor did not have any terminal disease as reported by some newspapers (LEADERSHIP not among), adding that all other ailments discovered in the governor’s system were the first to be tackled by the medical team when he was brought to the hospital.
The doctor pressed further that the other ailments which had been cured over two months ago were normal ailments that any human being could have. “They were not as serious as reported. They were not serious ailments anyway and they have bee cured,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the wife of the governor, Hajia Hauwa Suntai, said that all she could say was to thank God for bringing her husband back to life, having undergone very serious pains both in hospitals in Nigeria, Germany and the United States.
Saying that the Suntai’s family had nothing to hide about her husband’s health, the Taraba first lady said that her door was opened to anybody who wished to come and see the governor’s present health situation at anytime.
Hauwa also confirmed it to our correspondent that plans to have the governor return back to Nigeria were in a top gear, just as she promised that she and her husband would speak with the press at the right time.
It would be recalled that Governor Danbaba Fulani Suntai had on the 25th October, 2012, involved in a plane crash which left him and some of his aides critically injured in Taraba state.
After spending some days in a hospital in Nigeria, he was flown to Germany for proper medical attentions where he spent almost five months before being moved to John Hopkins University Hospital in the State of Maryland towards the end of March, 2013.
During these periods, there were different reports saying that the governor had been permanently incapacitated. Another report said that the governor was having terminal diseases while some said that he was suffering from memory loss.
Mewnwhile, the acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, has said he cannot tell when Gov. Suntai will return to the state, saying only the medical experts at John Hopkins hospital could tell.


 RIO FERDINAND has warned Manchester United’s rivals: We are desperate to win the title again for our new boss.
The veteran defender said: “To win the league under David Moyes would be phenomenal.
“Last season was one of the best when we won title No 20 but this could go beyond that.
“To win it at the first attempt with a new man in charge would be something special.”
Ferdinand is staying on at United despite Alex Ferguson leaving.
And he is convinced the Premier League champions will be as strong as ever next season with Moyes at the helm.
The former England centre-back, 34, added: “Moyes is a real football man and an honest guy.
“His hard working ethic reflects the man himself and he obviously wants success. We’ve got a great chance with this manager.
“Every year when we have the end-of-season party we are thinking about the next season and what we are going to do.
“We always talk about improving on the previous season. That was no different this year just because the manager has changed.”
Ferdinand has also told top players round the world that if Moyes wants to sign them they should seize the chance of going to Old Trafford.
He said: “If United come in for you, you take it.
“Even if you are a great player you become a better one at this club. Cristiano Ronaldo became the best player in the world having come from Sporting Lisbon.
“The likes of Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Andy Cole all became great players at United. With this platform you cannot believe anyone would ever turn it down.
“We are well paid, of course, but it’s more important for me to be at a club which enjoys success, and historically is the greatest in the world, than to earn a bit extra somewhere else.
“I could have left United for more money but that’s never stimulated me. I’ve had the greatest stage here.
“If you have ambition your aim has to be to make a name for yourself at a top club. Money should not be the over-riding factor.
“As a player aged between say 23 and 27 that is what you should be looking at. It shows you are going somewhere and want to win trophies.”
But Ferdinand hopes returning Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho will not be back on the trophy trail anytime soon.
He said: “As a fan it’s good to see personalities like Mourinho coming into our league.
“But, hopefully, he can wait till I’ve retired before he wins anything at all.”
BT Sport is free with BT broadband and is available via BT’s own TV service, the Sky Digital Satellite Platform and online at btsport.com or via the BT Sport app.
They will be showing 38 live and exclusive Premier League fixtures during the new season — including 18 top matches.


The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Canada chapter sympathizes with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National leader of the party and former Governor of Lagos State, on the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria.
In a letter sent by its General Secretary, Yemi Adegbite to Osun Defender’s chief editor, the ACN Canada chapter expressed their heartfelt sympathy with the most celebrated, adorned and revered opposition party’s leader in Nigeria. The letter reads:
We the entire members of ACN Canada Chapter send our condolences to our leader and mentor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the loss of his renowned mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji. We thank God for the life well spent, and for the legacy she left behind. We pray that God will grant her gentle soul eternal repose and give her children and family the fortitude to bare the loss. We urge Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take solace in the fact that mama touched many lives positively, and also relish the fact that mama left great virtues behind that will serve as guides and vanguard for the teaming followers she left behind.
We also send our condolences to the government and the people of Lagos state, Lagos state and the entire Nigerian market women and indeed the entire Nigerians. The void left will be hard to fill, but death is inevitable end, we pray that God will comfort the family and friends of the deceased.
Adie Mama Alhaja!
Signed Yemi Adegbite
General Secretary ACN Canada Chapter.

Having rapëd a 17-year-old daughter of a Pastor (names withheld), two notorious rapist, Ernest Steve, 30 and Jerry Godwin, 29 were recently sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delta state high court sitting in Ughelli.

DailyPost gathered that the rapists broke into the residence of the victim’s parents
at Young Africa Close, Ovwian, armed with a gun and knife on November 5, 2007 to carry out the distasteful act.

The Prosecution told the court that after robbing parents of the young girl of valuables, they again had carnal knowledge of the girl , causing her severe injuries and psychological trauma.



Delivering the judgment, the trial judge, Justice O. Tobi said the confessional statements of the accused who admitted in evidence during trial passed the veracity test and was not in doubt, saying the prosecution led by P. T. Daubry had proved the essential ingredients of the three-count charge preferred against the accused persons.

The court declined the plea for mercy by the defence counsel, Mr. M. Oshemele, and proceeded to hand down the mandatory punishment for the offence they committed as prescribed by the law.

Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi is the commissioner of political affairs at the African Union (AU). She speaks to Abdulkadir Isa on efforts being made by AU to restore peace in Guinea Bissau, Mali and the challenges involved to safeguard these countries from total system collapse.
The African Union (AU) is holding a high level consultation on Guinea Bissau IN Nigeria, what is the aim of this move?
We are here for Guinea Bissau, as you all know, the country has been plunged into a socio-political crisis. The standard of living among the people has been deteriorating despite concerted efforts by the international community, notably the ECOWAS, African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language countries (CPLP), the UN and Nigeria.
This consultation that we are having is coming after a new chronogram has been made out by the major political actors. So we are just trying to fast-track and ensure that we comply with the chronogram so that we shall have not only free, fair and credible elections in Guinea Bissau, but also have stability, peace and development in the country.
The experts that we have are from all over the continent, we have representatives from the African Union, ECOWAS, professors from various universities, civil society is also represented, we also have the regional community bodies here too and representatives from Guinea Bissau itself. We are bringing in these experts to help us study the case and chart a way out on the present impasse in Guinea Bissau.
Earlier in your speech, you spoke on financial challenges facing the roadmap. What is the AU doing to counter this?
Yes I made mention of this in my address, and I must emphasize that the AU is seriously committed to ensure that the process goes on. Nigeria almost on monthly bases do send her support, paying salaries of retired soldiers, retired workers, supporting the country in whole. Nigeria has been involved in the crisis in Guinea Bissau from the onset and this has helped in reducing the possibility of war in that country.
From the controversy in Guinea Bissau, consultations have revealed what the people want, what the parties involved want and what the African Union wants. Is the African Union doing what the people want or what it thinks is best for them?
What the poor helpless people in Guinea Bissau want is peace, stability and development. This is what the AU and ECOWAS also wants for them.
The major problem is that, anytime a government is put in place in Guinea Bissau, it doesn’t last and that is why we are having this consultation because until we contain these forces in Guinea Bissau, we can’t ensure stability. These are the issues and what the people want is not different from what the AU and the rest of the international community wants. But we always have these intervening forces coming in to create instability. This time around we’ll have a stable government and the one that will last. This is our aim.
Is there any role the five parties involved are playing to facilitate the process and making sure that post-election peace is maintained?
Where that commitment is lacking, there might not be peace. So we want to make sure we get them to commit themselvesto the code of conduct that they have signed. So they will all be there.
We also want to make sure that we are mindful of the process –before, during and after the elections. The AU now is not only involved in short term monitoring. We are embarking on long-term plans as is obtained in Mali. Already our long-term team is scheduled for Mali in July and they will be there until after the elections. The short-term team will join them later and leave after the elections.
The major problem in Guinea Bissau today is more of security, in your on-going consultations, has there been anycommitment from both serving and ex-service men to a smooth process?
This consultation that we are having is just one of a series to come. It is not going to be the final. This one is geared to bring in all those that have been observing the country to bring in their own view, so we all understand the situation. For sure we will meet people of the armed forces and get them committed as well.
The colonial masters have a vital role in cases like this as was seen in Mali by the French. What has Portugal done to address this and possible plans it has outlined?
Everybody says that until we get not just Portugal, but the CPLP involved, we cannot solve the problem in Guinea Bissau because they are a major stakeholder. They are the equivalent of the commonwealth and subsequent consultations that we are going to have will involve them. ECOWAS, the CPLP and the AU are the major players in this and will see to more parties in future discussions.
You complained about instability of governments in Guinea Bissau. What are the major steps the AU is taking to ensure a stable government?
Political stability goes along with development. Where you have poor infrastructure, where the people feelleft out in the government, where the institutions, the public service, the local governmentis weak, then the country becomes a fragile state and this is the situation in Guinea Bissau. Wecannot hold elections in Guinea Bissau and move out immediately,the department of political affairs which I supervise is also in charge of public service and also local government and decentralisation will be involved to make sure that these institutions are have been weakened as are strongly back.
Usually after the elections we do have a donor round table, where organisations, member states donate to help kick-start activities for the country.
In Mali today, there have been concerns on human rights abuse. What is the AU doing to make sure that humanitarian challenges re dealt with?
There was a lot of displacement in Mali and a lot of them left to neighbouring countries to seek refuge particularly from the northern part of Mali. The international community is doing all it can to address the these needs of the refugees, but most importantly, the AU as it has deployed human rights observers coordinated by Commissioner Gansu, a commissioner in the African commission for human and people’s rights an organ that relates with the political department of the AU. These observers have been to most parts of Mali and reports reaching us suggest that human rights abuses have been on the decline and this is positive news. The territorial integrity in Mali has been restored except in Kidal, but recently the Tuareg’s have agreed to a seazefire with the Malian government and to hold elections. So we hope that things will get better to ensure a stable government.
Is the AU financially prepared to match the challenges ahead of the elections in Guinea Bissau?
The AU is giving all it can to ensure a smooth transition. Most of AU’s funding comes from its development partners until lately during the 50th anniversary summit when it was declared that there is a need for a paradigm shift for the AU to fund its own activities. The AU willmake available what it has to restore peace and stability in Guinea Bissau.

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