Woman strips naked to hug Mandela statue in S.Africa.

A woman stripped naked in Nelson Mandela Square in Johannesburg and caressed a huge statue of the liberation hero as astonished bystanders looked on, local media reported Wednesday. The young African woman first saluted the statue of the former president, who is revered for his role in defeating the racist apartheid system, before disrobing, witnesses said. A picture posted on Twitter showed her naked and leaning her head against the knee of the statue in an upmarket area of South Africa’s commercial capital. A waitress at a nearby restaurant told The Star newspaper that the woman’s actions, at around 4.00pm on a busy Monday, had caused a frenzy. Male waiters got their orders wrong and a male customer was hit on the head by his wife for getting up to take a closer look, she said. Nelson Mandela Square marketing manager Megan Meas said a security guard had asked the woman to put on her clothes, which she did before leaving the square without answering any questions. “This was an unauthorised incident conducted by a private citizen in her personal capacity on our property,” Meas said.

24 killed in rap concert stampede

A stampede during a rap concert on a Conakry beach Tuesday left at least 24 people dead, Guinean hospital officials said. The government declared a week of national mourning after what it called a “tragic drama” on the beach in the capital city’s northern Ratoma suburb where the popular Guinean rap group Instinct Killers was playing.

2face changes name to ‘Tu-baba’

Pop singer, Innocent Idibia  has finally dropped his stage name, 2face, saying that after ascending with the release of his sixth album, he has decided to change his name to Tu-baba. The legendary singer officially made this known,  while performing songs from his new album,The Ascension at ‘The industry Nite’,on Thursday, at Spice Route Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the former Plantashun Boiz singer, he would no longer be known as 2face Idibia on his next album, but simply as Tubaba. ”2face has been in the industry for 17 years, and still is growing stronger. I am holding a send forth party for 2face, and after tonight’s event, I will now be known as Tubaba, the African Queen crooner said. The industry Nite, sponsored by MTV had a lot of celebrities who thronged the event venue to support one of their own. Among them were, Olisa Adibua, Dr Sid, Timaya,  Dammy Krane, Ill Bliss,  Chidinma, Bizzle, Mode Nine, Bassey, Orezi, Oriste Femi, Solid Star and others.

2face changes name to ‘Tu-baba’

Pop singer, Innocent Idibia  has finally dropped his stage name, 2face, saying that after ascending with the release of his sixth album, he has decided to change his name to Tu-baba. The legendary singer officially made this known,  while performing songs from his new album,The Ascension at ‘The industry Nite’,on Thursday, at Spice Route Club, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to the former Plantashun Boiz singer, he would no longer be known as 2face Idibia on his next album, but simply as Tubaba. ”2face has been in the industry for 17 years, and still is growing stronger. I am holding a send forth party for 2face, and after tonight’s event, I will now be known as Tubaba, the African Queen crooner said. The industry Nite, sponsored by MTV had a lot of celebrities who thronged the event venue to support one of their own. Among them were, Olisa Adibua, Dr Sid, Timaya,  Dammy Krane, Ill Bliss,  Chidinma, Bizzle, Mode Nine, Bassey, Orezi, Oriste Femi, Solid Star and others.

Vigil disaster One dies, 15 in coma

PREGNANT   woman and three others   were crushed to death in Aba, Abia State, while fifteen others sustained   serious injuries   when   an articulated vehicle lost control last Friday   smashing over 10 vehicles, including tricycles, in the process. In another tragic development, 15 persons collapsed   as a result   of suffocation caused by fumes from a generator during an inter-denominational fellowship at the Young Peoples Christian Fellowship located along Eziukwu, by Milverton road Aba, Abia State. The  victims of the fellowship are said to be   all indigenes of Arochukwu Local Government Area in the state. It was gathered that the vehicle with registration number Rivers: BER 27 XA, with the inscription, Kirby Farms, was coming from the Akwa Ibom State end of the ever busy Ikot Ekpene Road when the accident happened around 7pm. The accident occurred when it was descending the Ogbor Hill slope, developed faulty brake system and as the driver lost control, the vehicle which was loaded with stone chippings, smashed over 10 vehicles and tricycles before veering off the other side of the road where it used two commuter buses as wedge. An eye witness who narrated the incident blamed the accident on the presence of police checkpoint on the Aba River Bridge popularly known as waterside. One of the accident victims, the pregnant woman whose husband cried uncontrollably at the scene of the incident, was said to have gone to a nearby market to buy some food items for the weekend when on her way back, she was hit by the trailer and died instantly. It was gathered that immediately the accident occurred, policemen at the checkpoint vamoosed into thin air, leaving only the personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and passersby to battle for over four hours to bring out bodies trapped under the trailer. Emenike Kalu, an Aba-based legal practitioner, had God to thank as eight members of his family including four kids who were involved in the accident, all came out unhurt. When contacted, the Aba unit commander of FRSC, Akachukwu Chika, who led his men to rescue the accident victims, blamed it on the rickety nature of the truck. A report has it that out of the 16 persons inside the hall of the fellowship, 15 who were in various hospitals receiving medical attention as at the time of this report are responding positively to medical attention, while a boy of 6 years, a child to one of the victims, was already dead before police could gain entrance into the scene of the incident. 11 persons were currently receiving medical attention at Austine Grace Hospitals while 4 were also admitted at Goodness and Mercies hospital at Faulks Road, Aba. Dr. Mark Iwuagwu, a medical doctor at one of the hospitals were the victims were rushed to for immediate medical attention (Austine – Grace Hospitals located at Okigwe road) speaking to reporters at the end of the Abia State Deputy Governor’s visit to his hospital, attributed the cause of the incident to suffocation as a result of carbon mono-oxide poison they inhaled from a generator set outside the hall where the tarry night was hosted. According to him, “When I was invited to the place by the police, the generator they used as their source of power supply was still on, but the glasses to the hall were all locked. It was police that came and opened the place with metal equipment. It was one of the victim’s brothers that alerted the police after efforts to reach his sister he said he escorted to the fellowship failed to yield any result.” No member of the fellowship could speak to the press as at the time of the report, but the General- Secretary of pastors from Arochukwu, Dr. Phillip Richard and Senior Pastor Word Alive Assembly, Aba confirmed that the victims were all from Ututu, Arochukwu.

Body of Ebola victim cremated in Lagos

The body of the first victim of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria,   who died in Lagos on Friday, has been cremated. Details of the cremation were not available at press time but Sunday Vanguard gathered that the event was witnessed by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the  Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, led by its Project Director, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, among others. The decision to cremate the body of the victim, it was further gathered,   may not be unconnected with the deadly nature of the Ebola Virus which is known to be easily transmissible from human to human during handling of corpses of victims. The World Health Organisation recommends that in communities where there is an outbreak of Ebola, appropriate containment measures including burial of the dead should be properly handled. While stating that people who die from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried, WHO notes that cremation,  which is the application of high temperature to reduce bodies to basic chemical components (ashes), is ideal for safe disposal of bodies of persons who die during outbreaks of highly infectious diseases such as Ebola Virus in order to minimise further transmission. In 2013 the Lagos State Government introduced its Voluntary Cremation Law under which  a person may signify interest to be cremated at death or a deceased’s family members who must attain the age of 18 years, can decide to have the corpse cremated. Under the law  the state government can also cremate unclaimed corpses in its mortuaries after a period of time and the ashes disposed  after a 14-day notice with  approval of the Commissioner for Health.

Don’t run in 2015, APC tells Jonathan

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to drop his ambition to return to Aso Rock in 2015 for the sake of Nigeria’s democracy. The Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, said this during an interview with journalists, on Monday. Igbokwe said it had been established that it was the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party that led to the insurgency in the North-East. He said the plan was for former President Umaru Yar’adua, a Northerner to rule till 2015 while an indigene of the South-East would be the next in line but Yar’adua’s sudden demise had upset the political equation causing many Northern elements to be disgruntled He therefore, advised the President to step down so that a Northerner could emerge President next year. He said, “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, from the South, ruled Nigeria for eight years. It was also expected that the late President Yar’adua from the North would rule for eight years, all things being equal. But he died after two years in office. President Jonathan, who was the then Vice President, from the South, took over the mantle of leadership. “It was expected that he would complete the first term of Yar’adua’s tenure and step aside for the North to complete their eight years. Against protests from the North, Jonathan sought another term and got elected. By 2015, he would have ruled for six years. Seeking another term of four years will endanger our politics and create ethnic and religious tension as we are witnessing now. “We are in a democracy and if we are still in one country, there is need for equity and justice. Jonathan’s ambition to rule Nigeria for 10 years may break Nigeria.” Igbokwe said it was unfortunate that the PDP had labelled the APC as a pro-terrorism party and warned the party to stop pointing fingers and tackle terrorism. He said the revelation by the late National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi (retd), that the PDP’s zoning debacle was fuelling insecurity and his later death showed that the PDP could not be absolved of blame in the insurgency.

Army begins offensive against Boko Haram, raids Sambisa camp

Nigeria has begun an offensive against Boko Haram Islamists, raiding camps in a remote northeastern park, while more than 2,000 troops have been deployed to retake territory seized by the insurgents, a military source told AFP Thursday. “Our men raided some terrorist camps in the Sambisa Game Reserve,” in Borno state, said the senior officer who requested anonymity. “So far 2,000 troops have been deployed to Borno,” he added, declining to comment on the forces sent to the other affected states of Yobe and Adamawa.

Fans read meaning to Davido’s message to Wizkid on birthday

Davido and Wizkid are fast becoming the hot rivals in the music industry, what Genevieve and Omotola have become in the movie industry. Just as Genevieve and Omotola have said they have no beef for each other, Davido too, has shown that he has no ill feelings towards Wizkid by sending him a birthday message through the Instagram on Wednesday, which was Wizkid’s birthday. But what seemed like a harmless birthday message, the fans of both crooners have begun to attach different diverse meanings. Davido wrote “Happy birthday Oga”, to start series of interpretations with many asking the question whether Davido has finally conceded that Wizkid is his boss in the music industry. Both have fought for many different awards in the past but Davido seems to be winning all there is this year.

Are they the Top ten wealthiest African musicians?

In the recent past, it has become something of a sport for various organisations to come up with list of richest entertainers, using various parameters most convenient to them. And more often than not, their publications are either greeted with disbelief, outrage and even scorn. If not from the persons concerned, it comes from the members of the public. There has never been a time a published list of the richest African musicians was welcomed with widespread acceptability. Even when Channel O and Forbes came up with a top ten list of richest African musicians, presumably using factors such as endorsement value, popularity, show rates, sales, awards, YouTube views, appearance in newspapers, investment, social media presense, influence and so many other factors, many people still did not believe they got it spot on. Now, an African online magazine known as Answers Africa has done its own findings, using pretty much the same parameters as Forbes and here is what they came up with. Compare it with Forbes list and see which one is nearer the mark: 1. Youssou N’dour: The legendary Senegalese singer born in 1959 tops the list. He is said to own biggest media houses in Senegal, including radio and TV stations. He has served as Senegalese cultural ambassador and culture minister . Note; not on Forbes list.   2. P-Square: The singing duo of Peter and Paul sit in the second position according to Answers Africa on account of their various endorsements and returns on shows and tours. They are said to make over 150 thousand dollars per show. Their Ikeja crib is valued at 3M dollars. Note: Rated third on Forbes’ list.   3. D’Banj: The Koko master who has now gone in deep into entrepreneurship is rated third richest in Africa. He charges over 100 thousand dollars per show and he is said to have a house in Atlanta, Georgia, USA worth more than 1.5M dollars. Note: Forbes rated him fourth in Africa   4. Kofi Olomide: Real names, Antoine Christophe Mumba, born 1956 is 4th. The DR Congplese Soukous star rakes in more than 100 thousand dollars per show. Has 7 albums to his credit. Note: Not on Forbes list.   5. Salif Keita: Malian Afro-pop singer, born 1949 is a direct descendant of Emperor Sundiata Keita, founder of Mali Empire. He is said to have private island and estates in France. Note: Not on Forbes list   6. Fally Ipupa: From Democratic Republic of Congo, Fally used to be part of Kofi Olomide’s band before branching out on his own. Immensely rich. Note: Not on Forbes list.   7. 2face Idibia: Has 5 albums to his name while working on the 6th. 2Face has won over 40 awards, probably more decorated than any of his contemporaries. He has vast investment in real estate. Earns around 50 t0 80 thousand dollars per show. Note: 6th on Forbes list   8. Hugh Masekela: Born 1939, Hugh is one of the most talented jazz artiste in Africa. The South African singer and trumpeter was once nominated for a Grammy award. Note; Not on Forbes list   9. Banky W: The widely acclaimed king of African Rn B has made so much money from endorsements. Brand ambassador for Etisalat in Nigeria, Samsung in the West African region, among others. Note: 10th on Forbes list.   10. Jose Chameleone: Joseph Mayanja, popular reggae musician from Uganda is the biggest money-maker in the Eastern Africa. He is said to have a spectacular fleet of customised exotic cars. Note: Not on Forbes list.

I gave you your first collabo, Sound Sultan tells Wizkid

Hey, before it begins to read like there  is a rift between the Naija Ninja, Sound Sultan and the Star Boy, Wizkid, what Sound Sultan told Wizkid on his birthday was actually to appreciate the music sensation. In a birthday wish to him, Sound Sultan writes:  “I always remember the first day you called me on the phone . I was like, ‘you ain’t a girl? Then you must be a kid’ , he said yes, ‘Wizkid !’ Correction that was essential ! ‘Wiz’ as a prefix makes sense 7 years later, wizard , Layon(lion),  fame didn’t give him the Lion heart, he had it from day one . Gave him his first collabo he gave me my latest ! Ayo S.Balogun, happy birthday”.j

N3B Nollywood Largesse:How President Jonathan’s cash gift is being shared

That historic Saturday, March 3, 2013, will surely remain imperishable in the life of Nollywood. It was a gaily evening inside the State House, Marina, Lagos. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, sat in the midst of an expectant Nollywood crowd. It was a rendezvous of everybody that was somebody in Nollywood. Even the most elusive man, in Nollywood, Kenneth Nnebue, the inspiration to the very industry being celebrated was present. It was the first time a Nigerian President would be sitting with Nollywood practitioners for a dinner just to say, “hey guys, you have done well; I appreciate your contribution to job creation in this country”. President Jonathan was hosting Nollywood to celebrate with them 20 years of the home video industry. He had demonstrated an unshaking love and recognition for Nollywood. He had earlier in 2010 announced a $200 Million loan for the creative industry. But collateral clogs had made it practically impossible for practitioners to access the loan managed by the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM). But this evening in this finest hour for Nollywood, the President decided to demonstrate his love further. If the loan was interpreted to be political because election was drawing close, he was now a bonafide President, not canvassing for votes. And so, having treated Nollywood to some delicious meal plus a fabulous patriotic song performed by Timi Dakolo, the President of the world’s most populous black nation, Dr. Jonathan literarily sent even the roof of the State House flying as he announced a grant of N3 billion for Nollywood. Celebration! Jubilation! Wow! Wow! Wow! Nollywood went wild. This is no loan! This is ‘dash’. A gift! A grant! Right there and then, questions, apprehension, fear followed. Who will receive the money? How will it be shared? “Nna, how we go share this money? Is the cash here,” a producer teased. But the President soon provided the answer. “This grant will be managed by the Ministry of Finance under the supervision of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy”. The mention of Okonjo-Iweala added to the joy of the practitioners. This was one minister that had spoken so eloquently of Nollywood. She had spoken unequivocally on many occasions about the capacity and capability of our motion picture industry to create jobs. She believes that if Nollywood is given support and properly managed, it could be a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She is therefore a loyal advocate of Nollywood. Above all, Nollywood sees her as an exemplary government official with an untrammeled integrity. And, so, Nollywood felt safe, sure that in a matter of weeks, the money would be in their pockets. It was not to be. It will turn out a long, tortuous journey through the wilderness, a grinding odyssey to a grant. GLIMPSES OF THE GRANT: HOPE RISING On Saturday, April 27, 2013, some Nollywood practitioners vowed they smelt their money. They could see it and almost touch it, they said. And the reason for this is simple. The Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, and the Honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and Strategy, High Chief, Edem Duke, who was the second Minister appointed by President Jonathan to join in the fund’s management, had gathered them once again. This time, it was at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Over 60 practitioners but essentially heads of guilds, associations, and generally stake holders gathered in this arena of hope. The much awaited money now seemed available. The ministers had come to consult the owners of the money to know how to ‘share’ it. “I swear, I can smell this money”, an old practitioner enthused; ecstatic that in a matter of days, he would have his share. “What we have come here to do is to continue the initiative of Mr. President in trying to support our creative arts industry, particularly Nollywood”, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala opened up. “The idea is to recognise the talent in this industry and the fact that it is a generator of jobs for our young people. As you know, the industry has generated over 200,000 direct jobs, one million indirect jobs, US$250 million, equivalent in value and we believe that we could double and triple all these, if government has some supportive measure to help the industry”, Dr Okonjo-Iweala said with candour to the delight of Nollywood. The minister finally revealed that she and her team had been brainstorming on how Nollywood would use its money. They came to the conclusion that the grant should be put into Distribution, Capacity Building and Film Production. Script writing was to be part of film production. They needed to seek Nollywood’s opinion in order to move forward. Apart from some little suggestions, the practitioners were in consensus that the two ministers and their team had done a good job. But the questions in the inner recesses of the practitioners’ minds remained, “where is the money? When are we getting it?” AND THE WAITING BEGINS By August, 2013, my office as President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) had come under permanent siege. “When is this money going to come? Or have they spent it like they do in Nigeria? Is this money real or a mirage? How long are we going to wait?”, So many questions rained as producers became impatient. Many actually accused me of ineffective representation. “You are not pushing enough. Go to Abuja and bring our money. Tell those people the money is for Nollywood and not for government officials”, they fired. This grant almost cost me my re-election as AMP President in January 2014. But with the inestimable wisdom of hindsight many of them are beginning to realise that the corrosive attack directed at my office was absolutely unnecessary as grants usually come with snail speed. Importantly this was despite the fact that application for capacity Building Fund had opened. But I understood their plight and aggressive quest for the grant. With their own meagre resources, they seem to have reached the limit of possibilities. Nollywood therefore needed this splendour of Aso Rock generosity and hospitality, even if a drop in the ocean, to re-oil the wheel of their checquered professional journey. Here was an industry they created with sheer grit and granite will, an industry that has changed Nigeria’s story and image abroad; yet an industry that past leaders have paid only scant attention and lip service. Only President Jonathan has turned his promise into possibilities and these practitioners do not want to hear stories about this grant. And, as long as they have not seen the money in the vaults of their banks, as long as this grant remains something of a mystery, they needed to keep the pressure, if nothing else, to crack the carapace of the fund managers’ conscience. That way, they believe, the grant managers would understand the crucible they have been through to create an industry that now seems to offer its viewers laughter and pleasure at the expense of these oracles of zest – the content creators. ON- LINE APPLICATION AND THE UPROAR THAT FOLLOWED The month of July 2013 heralded the arrival of ‘Jonathan’s money’, in Nollywood’s lingo. The N300 million earmarked for Capacity Building was ready. Nollywood could now apply online for the fund and it was open till the end of December 2013. By February, 2014, the N700 million fund for Film Production was also ready and open for application. This, ordinarily, should speak joy to Nollywood’s ears and minds. But this was not to be. The forms especially that for Film Production, was complex, complicated and intricate. Here was a people that their whole life is governed by caprice and their trade by whim. Now they had to cope with this acidic test of dealing meticulously with forms. It was a tedious examination for many a practitioner. Some had to hire consultants to overleap this intellectual and indeed highbrow hurdle. Not even a seminar held by the fund managers on the filling of the forms could bring any succour. But the worst crisis came with submission of the applications. Apart from the acknowledgement of successful submission of the first phase of the application, which is in fact an automatic response from a programmed computer, many did not receive the form for the second phase which is like the semi-final round to the fund acquisition. There was uproar. As the AMP president, my office was once again besieged by producers. They want to know why the Project Act Nollywood managers had failed to reach them. They wanted me to reach Dr. Supo Olusi, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance and the man saddled with the responsibility of dealing with Nollywood on this much awaited fund and issues arising from it. Sadly, no one could reach Dr. Olusi. None had his phone number except one of the guilds’ heads. But he was hoarding this ‘all important’ number. In response to my request to get this number he seemed to have ‘colonised’, he told me he needed the man’s approval and later called to say Dr. Olusi would call me. He never did. Many started wondering whether Project Act Nollywood had become a mystique that only the initiates could access. I finally reached through phone a lady in Dr Olusi’s office who explained that some of the forms were not properly filled while some had clear errors. She still wouldn’t give me Olusi’s number. I couldn’t spare her a bit of my caustic tongue. But it had also become clear to me that equipment failures in their office must have complicated the problems. For instance, some forms duly filled and sent to their office online got there with some sections blank. Twice this writer had to correct his own form and that became a testament to the failures of equipment in some cases. But more problems kept springing up and it was becoming a horrendous challenge. Since we could not reach Olusi on phone, we decided to take our problem to his office. A kind member of my association was, however, able to finally, and to our infinite joy, obtain Olusi’s number from an Abuja based friend and gave it to us. We, at long last, reached the seemingly elusive Olusi on phone and most surprisingly he gave us an appointment without any qualms. THE ABUJA MEETING I arrived the Ministry of Finance with a strong lawyer, Barrister Sam Kargbo, who is also a member of my association. The Dr Olusi we met, again to our utmost surprise, came across a delightful character, hospitable, business-like, no fuss, no semantics, his language within the precincts of civility, devoid of unnecessary preambles. He gave us his call card with his phone numbers without any hesitation. In fact, he was only a surprise because there was nothing surprising about him. We then brought the uproar in Nollywood to his attention. The complicated film-fund form and the awaited fund for Capacity Building. Specifically, we told him of the many practitioners that have been given admissions in US Universities for three weeks intensive training but are yet to receive funds from Project Act Nollywood. We also stressed in crystal language Nollywood practitioners’ determination to get the N10 million Film production fund. Having told him about Nollywood practitioners’ rough and tough road to creating an industry, we made it known to him that this money, to some, “is not a matter of life and death. It is more than that”. Dr Olusi was precise though with some understanding. Having explained that they were working assiduously on the applications and trying to correct the errors and mistakes from Nollywood and perhaps his office, he shocked us with the news that the N300 million set aside for capacity building had been exhausted. We sat mouth agape. With all the guilds in Nollywood, only the Directors Guild, about 28 of them, had been sent to the US for training and each had a total of US$6000 for tuition, ticket, accommodation and welfare. So, where has all the money gone to? What happens to all the members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, the largest guild in Nollywood? What will be the fate of over 60 producers who have been given admission for their training and many more still waiting? What about the editors, the cinematographers? Dr. Olusi was not about to answer the salient questions that cascaded our heat oppressed mind. His words were concise. “We are going to publish how your money was spent. The money is for Nollywood and we will spend it only on Nollywood practitioners and projects”. Zik Zulu His words spoken with granite cast conviction and confidence sounded to us more like sophistry and poetics of pseudo tradition, that made our ears tingle. He then told us that he had advised that since we are very passionate about the capacity building, we should apply for additional fund to be injected into that segment of the project from the budget for distribution. It was an advice that Nollywood easily bought. All the guilds’ heads have since jointly written to the Minister of Culture and Tourism on this development as directed. And so the waiting game, like their histrionics calling, is once again being acted out even as I write this piece. Phone calls continued to come and the same questions again and again – where is the money? Some asked if the directors’ trip to USA was a mere facade. What exactly is holding the money? AT LAST, THE FILM PRODUCTION FUND! On the cloudy evening of Friday, July 4, I received a call from our National Financial Secretary. “Presido, she said excitedly, the money don land o!”. What do you mean, I quarried amidst laughter. Chinasa Joy Onyechere, our ever buoyant and sprightly Fin Sec then told me that some of our members had just received mails inviting them to come physically for an interview on the Film Production Fund. This is the final stage. Once you appear and successfully defend the form you filled, then you are in business. The ‘Jonathan cash’, ‘GEJ’s largesse’, whatever you call it will be yours. The ball is now in everyone’s court. It has been one long dizzying walk to a place called hope. This grant does not hold a financial revolution for Nollywood, but it could rev the sound of change and begin the reconstruction of a promise, the journey of history that Nollywood encapsulates. And that is why President Jonathan will have a hallowed place when the story of Nollywood is told. It is that uncommon tale of silent mystery; a story of an industry, started by ordinary people for ordinary Nigerians; but an industry that is today not only an African pride but a stunning subject matter the world over. The President has made the very first audacious move, ever, by a Nigerian leader to give Nollywood a nudge up the ladder of hope. We urge our trusted ally, Dr Okonjo-Iweala therefore to assure the success and survival of this initiative even as we believe that she, with the President’s support, could do more for this authentic Nigerian brand- Nollywood! *Zik Zulu Okafor, award winning journalist, scholar and President of AMP, lives in Lagos.

Messi didn’t deserve Golden Ball— Maradona

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona said compatriot Lionel Messi did not deserve to be named best player of the World Cup, arguing it should have gone to Colombia’s James Rodriguez. “I’d give Lio the sky, but when it’s not deserved and it’s just marketers who want to make him win something he didn’t win, it’s unfair,” Maradona said Sunday after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Germany 1-0. “Rodriguez was the best player of the World Cup,” said Maradona on his TV program “De Zurda,” which is broadcast by Venezuelan network Telesur and retransmitted in several Latin American countries. The 23-year-old Rodriguez was the revelation of the World Cup and the top scorer with six goals. Messi dazzled in the group stage with four goals, but failed to score in his last four games, including the final. Maradona said Messi himself did not seem to feel he deserved the trophy. “It looked like he didn’t want to take it,” he said. But Maradona praised Argentina and said the match could have gone either way. “I’m sad about Mario Goetze’s (game-winning) goal,” he said. “But we can’t forget that we took this World Cup step by step. If we had scored (Gonzalo) Higuain’s (disallowed) goal we would be partying. Germany were not dominant.” Maradona, 53, was Messi’s childhood idol and is his rival for the title of greatest-ever Argentine footballer. To many fans, the 27-year-old Barcelona striker still needs to add a World Cup win to his resume to match the greatness of Maradona, who led his team to the title in 1986.

NFF: Keshi can go

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not stop Coach Stephen Keshi from vacating his post as Super Eagles coach, after the ‘Big Boss’, as Keshi is fondly called expressed his desire to step down following Nigeria’s ouster from the World Cup. Vice president of the NFF, Mike Umeh spoke about Keshi’s impending departure and confirmed that they will not be standing in Keshi’s way as he has decided to quit. “We cannot stop Keshi from moving if he wants to. He is a grown man and knows what is good for him. If he so desires a greener pasture, then we can’t stop him, it’s up to him to decide,” Umeh said. He however denied claims that the NFF have not been supportive of the former Togo coach, saying, “It’ll not be fair to say we haven’t supported Keshi. We have given him tremendous support, more than anyone could imagine. So the thought that he hasn’t been adequately supported isn’t true.” Umeh also spoke on the possibility of getting a new coach in time for the 2015 Africa cup of Nations qualifiers expected to start soon. “I’m sure a new coach will come in immediately Keshi’s departure is finalized, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” Umeh noted. Immediately after the loss to France, another NFF top gun, Deji Tinubu tweeted, ‘and off his goes to S.A’, which obviously confirms Keshi’s exit.

latieplanet.nlPrince, one other charged for stealing in Lagos

The Police, yesterday, arraigned a 24-year-old man, Ayinde Oniru and one other before a Lagos chief magistrate’s court, sitting at Ebute Metta, for allegedly stealing from two women under the pretence of importing and delivering some goods to a Lagos Oba, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi. Oniru, who claimed to be from a royal family in Lagos, was charged alongside one Adekunle Usman. The defendants are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and impersonation preferred against them by the Police. The prosecutor, Feddy Asu, told the court that the self-acclaimed prince, his co-accused and his other accomplices, who are at large, had sometime in September 2013, in Surulere area of the state conspired to fraudulently obtain N470,000 from one Adeola Babatunde with the pretence that they would assist her to import some goods from abroad, which they failed to do. He said the defendants fraudulently obtained some goods worth N3.5 million between March and May from one Princess Adeleke with the pretext that the goods would be delivered to a Lagos monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi. Asu also stated that the items that were collected from the victims included some note books, one i-phone 5, one i-pad tablet, assorted wrist watc hes, gold jewellery and cash sum of N250,000. The duo were also said to have obtained N500,000 from one Jelli Elias with a promise that they would help him to buy a landed property at Lekki. The prosecutor further informed the court that Oniru, falsely represented himself to a Diamond Bank branch as one Adeniyi Elegushi. According to the prosecutor, the offences, committed, is contrary to sections 409, 311 (1) (a) and punishable under section 285 (1) and 378 (1) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011. Section 285, prescribes 14 years imprisonment for any offender. Earlier the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. However Magistrate F.I Adefioye, admitted the defendants in bail, in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Law To Make Nigerians Poorer

TODAY, the House of Representatives will hold a public hearing on the bill for an Act to “regulate the acceptance and utilisation of financial/material contribution of donor agencies for voluntary organisations”. Whereas the legislature is meant to make laws for the good governance of the people, this is one law that would make our people poorer and freeze their constitutionally awarded liberties. Should operations involving foreign financial and material donations to voluntary organisations be regulated? Yes, in fact various laws already do. They are probably not enforced. A new law does not guarantee improved enforcement. We praise the House of Representatives for not falling into the temptation of proposing a new body for the law. At least, it listened to the public outcry against mounting costs of maintaining multiple bureaucracies that duplicate functions. They are new wastes that ensure almost 70 per cent of annual national budgets is spent on re-current expenditure – salaries, furniture and a new favourite, maintenance of computers. Section 2 of the bill proposes that voluntary organisations would be restricted from accepting any foreign financial and material contribution except with the permission of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. The Section would create a new centre of corruption in ICPC, which is groaning under constraints of staffing and funding. ICPC gives these as reasons for its lethargic results. The law would shackle flow of foreign remittances by families to groups like town unions, churches, mosques, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, foundations, charities, schools, and homes for the less privileged. Where branches or partners of these organisations abroad make the remittances, the funds cannot be accepted without the permission of ICPC. What are the implications? g for organisations like Red Cross, Red Crescent, or foundations that have led the fight against river blindness and guinea worm eradication. By the proposed law, ICPC would approve their operations. In case of emergencies like the 2012 flooding that ravaged parts of Nigeria, foreign organisations that intend to assist, would be hindered. The promoters of the bill hardly know Nigeria. For more than a decade, foreign medical intervention teams, involving massive movement of resources, have saved Nigerian lives. Yearly, Nigerians in diaspora, with their partners set up these teams to carry out surgeries and other interventions, mostly free. What alternatives would the House of Representatives provide for these? Disclosure of sources of the funds is important. The Terrorism Prevention Act, the Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act cover this. The bill, if passed, would hamper remittances and contributions from Nigerians abroad to Nigeria. Nobody needs a law that would make Nigerians poorer.