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[size=18pt] Weekend Embarrassment: Man Steals Cutlery After Meals[/size] A middle-aged man was napped yesterday in Abuja for sliding cutlery into his pants after he finished his meal at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers. Reports say that the man, simply identified as Saidu, was picked up by a curious mobile policeman who noticed the bulge in his trousers on his way out and decided to frisk him. The incident happened at the reminiscence night/dinner for past governors of the CBN which was part of the events to mark the 50th anniversary of the apex bank. The master of ceremonies, Julius Agwu, had raised security alert at the event when three guests complained that their wallets and mobile phones were removed midway into the event. “This was embarrassing. We had to start keeping an eye on some of the guests leaving the hall and for some of the suspicious looking ones we did a quick frisk,’’ a policeman said. The policeman said it was when the alert was raised by the MC that they noticed the bulge in Saidu’s trousers. “We stopped and searched him and found a spoon and a fork on him, ” he said. Saidu, who was dressed in a jeans trouser, T-shirt and rubber slippers was taken away by the police for interrogation. A staff of the hotel told newsmen that the hotel had been noticing shortage of its cutlery after every major event, pointing out that uninvited guests sometimes slipped into major events to fill their stomachs. The staff said that a tight security was put up at the entrance of the Ladi Kwali Hall to screen guests, but some of the uninvited managed to slip into the hall. The three former CBN governors at the event, Alhaji Adamu Ciroma, Mr.Joseph Sanusi and Mr. Ola Vincent, narrated their experiences to the audiance. http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/17052009/sundayobserver/indexnews2.html |
[size=28pt]Nigeria Is A Country Of Good People - EFCC[/size] Mrs. Farida Waziri, EFCC Chairman, said in Abuja on Thursday that Nigeria is a country of good people. She told the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, whom she visited, that the fact that one or two Nigerians transgressed against the law once in a while did not mean that Nigerians are bad people. “Nigerians are many, but unfortunately one negative thing done by a Nigerian is taken as what Nigerians do. “The perception of people outside the country about us as a nation of fraudsters is totally wrong. We are a country of good people. “The problem is that the good we do is never published,’’ she stressed. Waziri said, however, that Nigeria and Nigerians needed to effect some changes to reverse the negative perception of the country by the outside world. “The fight against economic crime and corruption is not just about taking people to court or investigating them, but getting the anti-corruption message across to the people in a manner that will lead to a change of mindset about corruption and the few corrupt people,’’ she said. She expressed her determination to partner with the media to get the anti-corruption message across effectively. Earlier, Oyo told Waziri that the Nigerian media, particularly NAN appreciated the work of the EFCC in stamping out http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/17052009/sundayobserver/othernews2.html |
[size=15pt] Everyday, a lecturer sees over 50 women of different shapes and sizes[/size] By Kemi Ashefon Published: Sunday, 17 May 2009 Prof. Muhammad Mainoma lectures International Accounting at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and he shares the story of how he rose from grass to grace with Kemi Ashefon Prof Muhammad Akaro Mainoma loves books. Not because he is a professor of Accounting but it was a passion from childhood. Like an unquenchable fire, not even his father, who was a farmer, could put it off. ”He never saw reasons with me desiring to attend school but wanted me to stay at home. I had 11 older siblings who were not in school and I was also expected to be like them,” he reminisced amidst laughter. Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Kemi Ashefon Prof. Muhammad Mainoma Even when he attempted attending primary school, it was war. ”I had Koranic education and some of my friends were attending primary school. I wondered why I was not in school and I decided following them. The year I went, my family came and took me away from the class. I waited patiently. By the time I was nine years old, I decided going to school again and enrolled myself. When I returned home, I told my father that I didn‘t want to go to farm but the school. There were 19 of us and none went to school.” Definitely, he won the battle and now lectures International Accounting at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Also the Dean (Administration) Professor Mainoma is an indigene of Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State . A member of many academic boards, he currently serves as the president of the Institute of Financial and Investment Analysts, Nigeria . Dark, tall and very well dressed in a babariga; he seems to belong to the clique of new generation lecturers. ”Lecturers nowadays are not as pauperised as people think,” he corrected. Though in his 40s, he would never agree that being in the academics should make anyone poor. ”I have always loved to lecture but before my job at the university, I had an appointment with a firm in Lagos where I was well paid. I was there with a friend of mine, who now works in an oil company. I was there for five months and I left Lagos . My passion is for the academic where I would be fulfilled and not money. Today, I am the first person to be a professor in my village and we are just 13 in Nigeria who are professors of accounting. I would not have achieved that if I had stayed put in that company.” But what attempts have been made by him to see that his younger siblings are also educated? ”I have done that already because then, I made sure I withdrew one from the Koranic School and made sure he was enrolled in school. Others too have joined him. There is awareness on education now and some parents have decided sending their wards to school. My father is proud of me and would tell anyone who cared to listen that he has a son in the university,” he enthused. As president/chairman of council, Institute of Financial and Investment Analysts, Nigeria, he elaborated on the objectives: ”It is basically about teaching people on investment and it is positioned as a veritable organisation and strategic change agent. The institute came to being as a result of a need to provide a bridge within two key elements paramount to every individual and nations‘ economy which are finance and investment. Though our target is to get graduates in related fields, we want to develop the professional and technical expertise in the economic, financial and investment sector of Nigeria through dedication to true professionalism, humanitarian efforts, educational advancement, corporation and understanding. To develop a formidable institution; as a catalyst and change agent in financial and investment analysis globally.” Happily married to two wives, how would he resist temptation from younger girls on campus knowing about some lecturers and their escapades with female students? ”It is only those that are not used to seeing women that would become notorious when they see them. Everyday, a lecturer sees more than 50 women of different shapes and sizes. At a point, you become a part of them and you don‘t see them as sex objects. I can‘t be involved with any of my students because I am happily married to two beautiful and wonderful women,” he reiterated. But some female students could want to tempt male lecturers. Has he had such experiences? ”Professor Mainoma, whose middle name means warrior, replied: ”I would not say a yes or no but this is a challenge to many lecturers because some of these girls come and offer to be your friends. These are lazy students who would not read and want to pass. The issue of any lecturer harassing his female students cannot be over-flogged because these girls are also to blame. They don‘t dress properly, they are lazy to read and they also come to [size=14pt]these innocent lecturers[/size]. With experience, I believe a lecturer should be much disciplined and resist whatever temptations because of his integrity.” [size=18pt]naiga get innocent lecturere. rubbish. na deeper life abi? [/size] A good dresser, he would tell you he is a Babariga person. I wear suits too but I prefer native attire due to the comfort I derive from there. I do a lot of work and I need enough comfort from whatever I wear. Comments:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009051715253289 |
I cried for first-class graduates who couldn’t spell ‘graduate’ By CHINYERE FRED-ADEGBULUGBE Published: Sunday, 17 May 2009 Detoun Ogwo is the Managing Director, Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, whose core task is to improve the Nigerian graduate employability. In this interview with CHINYERE FRED-ADEGBULUGBE, this mother of four reveals why she abandoned her high flying career just to reach out to people struggling with career- related challenges Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Photo file Detoun Ogwo Her voice over the phone can easily fool you and so her average physique and very regular facial structures. These might easily lead you into waving her aside as just one of the crowd. And that would be wrong because Detoun Ogwo is one woman who is quite determined to make a change in the society. Her father wanted her to study medicine. But she studied biochemistry and even at that it was a struggle for her to go through the course. ”This is because that was not who I was, I was running a script that was not my own,” the 38 year-old Ogwo explains. Finding her own script, however, wasn‘t something that happened just overnight. Just like the average person next door she had to navigate her way through several life vistas. But she was helped along the way by a strong conviction she had that she was someone who was born for a purpose. ”My mother had me seven years after my brother, so growing up I just felt there was a reason for which I was born. And I had constantly been on a search to find out what that reason is. I have always had that feeling that everyone had an assignment but sometimes it takes a certain method to find out what that thing is, otherwise, because of the way the world is, you might find yourself chasing other thing and getting distracted,” she states. And today she‘s quite convinced she has only found what she believes to be her God-given purpose which invariably is about helping others in their careers. Finding her rhythm in life, so to say, automatically gave rise to the birth of AGDC, a partnership between her and her erstwhile Fate Foundation mentor, Mrs Ibukun Awosika of the Chair Centre fame. According to her, what they do at AGDC is all about bridging gaps. She says, ”We know that the educational system really hasn‘t served us as much as we would like. So we are trying to equip the young person, who is actually the future in a way that when he gets to the economy he can be more productive and useful.” She is not by any means writing off the Nigerian graduate but she strongly believes there is an urgent need for guidance here. ”I remember the day I made the decision to do what I am doing now is when I was at Guinness in 2005 and we were shortlisting from 96,000 to 15,000 applicants. They needed 15 graduate management trainees and 96,000 applied. They all had first class and second class upper degrees which employers were looking for but some of them could not even spell the word ‘graduate‘. Those days I would just be crying,” she recalls. Having worked as human resources executive in multinationals, Ogwo is sufficiently equipped to know what a regular employer wants from a prospective employee and this she says, goes quite beyond brandishing a first class or second class upper degree. ”We have seen people who have been unemployed and still waiting to get into a big multinational because they have certificate. And then you imagine what they could have done in those 10 years for themselves. I tell my people that ‘nobody owes you a job. If it is going to be it is up to you to see what you can do for yourself from where you are in terms of vocational training and career direction as well because you don‘t need to go to the banking industry if your calling and interest are not there. ”I got a CV from someone in the Diaspora last month, she was just 25 years old and her CV was four-page long. I told myself that that economy has prepared her, that educational institution she went to has groomed her and made her ready for somebody useful in an economy. They have given her part-time vocational experience, they have given her internship experience so she is prepared to walk into any organisation and say, look, this is who I am, this is my time, this is my educational qualification and I know how to add value to you. But that‘s not the language we speak around here. Around here, it‘s my parents owe me a job, the government owes me a job; it is someone else‘s responsibility to get me fed because I have a certificate,” she insists. Her life is ruled by passion. This time, passion for her lofty ideals and that leaves her more often not almost too involved to even think about herself. ”I think I am a bit of an idealistic person; there is a way I think that the world should be and then I try to make a difference in making the world be that way. But I have also realised that I have to be a realist; that there are human conditions you just cannot change. Therefore you really need to navigate along the lines of what you can change and what you can contribute to humanity,” she offers. There is no need asking if she finds personal fulfilment, the enthusiasm she displays is enough proof. ”There is nothing like waking up in the morning and being excited to go to work. I wouldn‘t say that my bank account feels it because we all had to invest our money in the centre. But there is a satisfaction knowing that you are making a difference in some people‘s lives. You can‘t quantify the feeling you get, knowing that you have invested in someone‘s life and money cannot buy that,” she enthuses. Ogwo started working very early in life, (at a point she had to work at the Kirikiri prison) no thanks to her loving but tough parents. ”We had housemaids, but my mother would tell you that the housemaids are not for you. I used to tell my father that he couldn‘t be my father because he was just too mean to me. But now I look back and find out he was just preparing me for life. But nowadays we tend to spoil our kids by giving them those things we feel we did not have and sometimes we really have to balance it with the values of prudence, hard work and dignity because you can‘t own what you didn‘t earn,” she says. http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009051715293170 Comments:seun gave us free spell checker. wetin be all these story about graduate? thank God say i no waste govt. money take go school |
[size=28pt]When there is no mate, [/size] By Kemi Ashefon Published: Sunday, 17 May 2009 For Kate, the past weeks have been hell. ”Ironically, it was my 35th birthday and I was summoned by my mother for a family meeting,” she said. ”Though I guessed it had to do with my status, I never knew it would take another turn. She told me that I either present a husband on or before the end of June! Failure to do this, she said, would see me packing out of her house. This was no joke because she wept and confessed to have been an object of mockery among friends and relatives. I was angry and went to see a very close friend of my mother who lived close-by. Had I known what was in store for me at her place, I would not have gone to see her. She said exactly what my mother said but with a promise to match-make me with one of the teachers in her private school. So, who did my mother want me to marry? Steven, a married man who was not ready for a second wife? A man who would beg me to abort pregnancies in my 30s? I broke up with him last year when he insulted Ken, a friend. If he didn‘t want me for marriage, why is he blocking other younger men from dating me? Ken was a friend to my colleague and asked me out but after a year, I knew he was not ready to marry me. He was always postponing engagement and introduction dates. For over 20 times he promised taking me to his mother but failed. Whenever I asked to be taken to see any of his relatives, he would refuse. After all entreaties to see his mother failed, I knew he was not mine and I let go of him. The last suitor would have been Greg. He wanted marriage but his mother wanted a Yoruba bride. She threatened to disown him if he married ‘omo Igbo‘. Do I dump my Anambra birth certificate for a guy from Ondo state? Though he loved me, he had to obey his mother. I have started a house-hunt and I am ready to get an apartment of mine since getting a mate between now and the end of June is not realistic.” Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Chukky JUST SINGLES 17 MAY 2009 Benedicta also wanted another flat. This time not because of her mother but her neighbours. At 37 and still single, she had been careful about relating with neighbours especially the men. ”Except for the bachelors who I relate with very well, I hardly greet married men,” she confessed. ”I moved to my apartment last year and I enjoyed the serenity till lately when my neighbour became very nasty. Her children were always in my flat to watch cable television. That did not bother me because I loved kids. This gesture must have opened a room of friendship between their parents and me. Last week, as I alighted from my car, their father walked up to me and asked after the state of stocks. Being a stock-broker, I was ready to market some products to him and we talked for about 12 minutes. Just some few minutes after I entered, I had a visitor – his wife. She was fuming and spitting fire! She called me names – prostitute, old mama, husband-snatcher etc. She accused me of sleeping with her husband and called me a witch! Though I didn‘t utter a word, I stopped talking to other married women (three of them) in the compound and I observed that their husbands didn‘t greet me again. I knew I was ridiculed because of my status and I have employed the services of an estate agent. I must pack out of that compound, Men are not excluded from the must-get-a-mate saga either, at least not Mike. ”I was surprised when a ‘powerful delegation‘ arrived from the village to see me,” he recalled. With just a few months to his 40th birthday, he was not surprised to see them. ”I was only surprised at their words. The oldest man in our family, who headed the ‘delegation‘ made me realise that I must get married before August or the family would announce that I am impotent! Immediately, I ruminated on who would be the bride-to-be. Nkechi? Of course not! She was my mother‘s friend‘s daughter and very proud. Anytime we met, she would boast about her work as a banker and other property she had acquired. I had told my mother many times that I would not marry that proud girl. Maybe my family wanted me to marry Agnes, who they all knew. Everybody in the family loved her but they refused to realise that I was not happy dating a lady who did not know how to cook well! Her dishes were tasteless and she would sleep on a bedspread for two weeks without wash. To my siblings, I was unfair to Agnes but I knew there was more to marrying a woman than the family loving her. I have employed a matchmaker to get me an educated girl who is employed, neat, young and would bear children.”http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200905171873525
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[size=18pt] A woman should prove to be more than make-up or jewellery[/size] By KEMI ASHEFON Published: Sunday, 17 May 2009 Senator Patricia Akwashiki, representing the Nasarawa North senatorial district tells KEMI ASHEFON how she came into politics and other interesting issues Her huge frame is a replica of what she is inside – bold, fearless and unwavering. There is no Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Photo file Sen. Patricia Akwashiki need saying she treads where angels dread because that was exactly what she did during the 2007 election. A former member of the House of Representatives, she wanted another four-year term in the House, declared her interest, participated in the party primaries and then the drama occurred. ”I was in the Peoples Democratic Party and by December 2006, I wrote my letter of resignation,” she stated. Tagged to be one of the intelligent female senators in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the interview with Senator Patricia Akwashiki, who is representing the Nasarawa North senatorial district, was almost marred. Why? She was a member of the planning committee for the 47th birthday dinner held in honour of the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu. But even as she moved from one end of the venue to the other, she was still able to talk. ”I contested for the primaries and was not satisfied because it was obvious there was a pre-determined stand on the candidates they wanted. I felt it was unfair and I left the hall before the end of the elections. I was disappointed, wrote my letter of resignation and I joined the All Nigerian Peoples‘ Party because it was the strongest opposition in Nasarawa. I picked the ticket in ANPP and was advised to go for the Senate.” For a woman, her purse was lean but not her will. ”From the moment I made up my mind to leave PDP, I did not rest. I mobilised my people and they came out in their thousands. I have always believed in the people’s will and I was campaigning from one polling unit to the other and I was telling them that I had left the umbrella (PDP) and they should vote for Masara (maize) which is the ANPP. It was tiring, rigorous but exciting. They knew my stand and my sincerity. In politics, once a people believe in you and you don‘t go halfway with them, they would be willing to die for you. Though I was offered the deputy governorship of the PDP, I refused. It is a sin to dump your people for any position. I stuck to my gun!” Born in Jos and raised in practically all the states in the North, she is one of eight girls and two boys in her family. ”My father was a policeman and was always on transfer. I grew up in Adamawa and almost all the states in the North. I was also in Akwa Ibom at the then college of education on an exchange programme. It was a fun-filled childhood. My parents are Christians and had 10 of us,” she reminisced. A trained teacher, Senator Akwashiki confessed that her certificate was utilised in the banking sector instead of education. ”I decided not to be a teacher then because it did not give me enough challenges and the condition of service was poor. I went into banking, where I spent 15 years. I later retired into politics and contested elections.” But what enticed her about politics, knowing the dangers and discrimination for women? ”When I told my husband, he was afraid like any other person and had his reservations. But when he saw my will and determination to be of service to my people, he supported me. I have observed that many elites, average and middle class Nigerians were not ready to go to politics initially. They left it to people of low minds and would sit at home criticising. Why criticise someone who was working according to the capability of his brain? That was why I joined politics in 2002 and I don‘t think I have any regrets.” Back to her tortuous journey to the senate, Akwashiki who was installed the Gimbiyan Eggon recently in her village would not forget her day of victory. ”Having been in the banking world for so long, I had learnt the art of gambling. I knew I was taking a risk and it was either a victory or defeat. But I knew we would win because the people came out in their thousands. Already, we had known from the constituency that we won and by 4.00am the last result came to the coalition centre, where it took another 12 hours for them to announce the result!” She would not fail to advise women at this point: ”Never give up,” she sermonised. ”In politics, as long as you are determined and allow the men know that you are ready to slug it out, you would be respected. Don‘t beg anyone to step down for you and you test your popularity in your locality. I now encourage many women to be in politics and we have a woman representing us in the House and at the state House of Assembly, which was never like that. Women have started proving their worth in politics and I know that the present crop of female senators is such examples. A woman should prove to be more than make-up, jewellery or clothes. You are a creature of potential and should not be trampled upon.” Is she encouraging women to abandon their homes, kids and be in politics? ”Of course not,” she corrected. ”I always advise that women who are still nursing babies or whose children are still young should not venture into politics. Wait till they are grown and can be put in the boarding schools. Moreover, have your husband‘s support. Even when there are mudslinging and other petty talks, he knows who he married and would not believe them.” With her age, (her first daughter is 31) she is quite fashionable and also a precious stone freak. ”I had my daughter at 22. Then, it was an abomination to be in your parents‘ house at 21! Immediately I left the college of education, I got married and had my baby. On fashion, I think I love precious and gemstones because they are durable. They are unique and always in vogue,” she said. http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009051716295921 |
sleekdoc:free for all |
[size=18pt]What makes women feel loved?[/size] By GIDEON OPARINDE {08076616717 tomgidops@yahoo.com] Sunday, May 17, 2009 •Opeyemi Photo: Sun News Publishing * Mores Stories on This Section Some people wonder whether there is anything more pleasurable than a world of opulence, in which all the good things of life are at one’s beck and call. But in reality, does money answer all questions in the home? When it comes to matters of the home and, perhaps, the heart, women have proved to know where the shoe pinches. But what exactly would make them feel loved aside money? MRS ONUNYERE RUTH There are various ways a woman can feel loved. For instance, women love husbands who appreciate them when they prepare a good meal. Wives also love husbands who correct them with love; but should not be done in the presence of his in-laws, her in-laws or before the children. Also, the husband should endeavour to send love text messages to his wife. This would assure her that there is someone there for her, who thinks well of her at all times. Husbands should be of help to their wives, especially if she is sick or when she returns tired from work. This gives the wife a sense of belonging and that she is still part of the family. Lastly, the wife needs attention whenever she is trying to communicate or discuss vital issues with the husband. Women don’t like being shunned or ignored. SENAMI OKOOSI A woman needs love, tender care, attention and closeness in order to feel loved. GRACE AMEH A woman feels loved when she is given genuine attention and care. The man must accept us the way we are. If there must be complaint, it should be done with love. Men should not compare their wives with other women and should be willing to show adequate commitment. An important aspect is that infidelity should never set in. He should not give me reasons to doubt him. There must be mutual understanding. As my pastor would say, “marry your friend, who you can be free with and open to.” MRS TEMITOPE OKOOSI For a woman to feel loved, she needs to be appreciated whenever she does what is right. When a man snubs a woman, it is as bad as making her sad for the rest of her life. So no matter what a woman does in the home, she should be appreciated. She will cherish this more than any other gift. OMOWUMI FALOLA Every woman needs attention, to be appreciated and adored. Wives love husbands who communicate regularly. For instance, text messages are an assurance that she still holds a special place in her husband’s heart. When women are not shown enough love, negative thoughts creep in, and can be the beginning of sorrow for them. No woman wants to be isolated. Sex alone is not what makes a woman feel she is loved. There is more to it than sex or romance. Women believe in what they are told. So when a man tells his wife sweet words, she is always happy. AWI FUNKE A woman feels loved when the husband shows concern, care and corrects her with love. My husband should accept me the way I am because no one is perfect. We are all human beings and as long as we remain at the flesh, we are bound to make mistakes. He should be able to show more commitment in the home and be nice during my birthday, our wedding anniversary through gifts. MRS CHRISTIANA JAMES Men, sometime, think sex is the only way to make your wife feel loved. On the contrary, some men are wicked in the area of care. They have sex with their wife only because they want children, after which they leave the woman dejected and frustrated. Very few men really care for their wives while a few others fall below average in the ratings. When men don’t care as they should, it indirectly pushes the woman to begin to look outside their marriage. IDOWU BUKKY Women feel loved when their opinions are appreciated, accepted and implemented. Wives like to be given freedom of expression while the husband, in turn, gives his rightful support. ADEYEMI OPEYEMI Despite his tight schedule, if a man sends romantic text message to his wife during the day, the woman will feel loved just the way she will feel if he is proud enough to kiss her in public. Women feel loved when they are appreciated by their husband in whatever they do. MRS AUGUSTINA BIEM As love is the bedrock of every successful marriage, so is every man the architect of either the success or failure in marriage. Men, as we know, are our motivators. But when this is not the case, we feel disappointed. Without encouragement from the husband, a woman cannot do much. Some men do not appreciate their wife’s meal or the time spent in the kitchen. Some do not value the stress it took the wife to go to the market to get foodstuff for the house. The worst is that some men see nothing painful in giving birth. When a woman lives under the same roof with a man legally married, he has the responsibility of making her happy. That was why her parents handed her over to you, with the belief that you will take up the mantle from where they stopped. But many wives today are not happily married. Some have died suddenly from high blood pressure and heart failure due to lack of happiness. FADAHUNSI DAMMY Husbands should make sure they live up to expectation in the home. He should be able to defend the wife/family and meet the daily challenges. He should speak good and sweet words that would encourage her at all times. The husband should lift her spirit when she is going through any odd experience, whether psychological, emotional and otherwise. Once in a while, the man should endeavour to take his wife out, especially at weekends. ABIKE RACHAEL The man should not concentrate on the weaknesses of the wife. If there is something to be corrected, it should be done with love. There should be understanding in whatever we do as the family. |
spoilt:and u are all saying OBJ and RARASUAH are naija headache |
nigerians are very funny it is unbelievable. just read the replies and comment section if you cant read this guy. [size=18pt]'I took a second wife to avert impending scandal’[/size] By ADEOLA BALOGUN Published: Saturday, 16 May 2009 Popular Islamic singer and President of Islamic Musician Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Wasiu Sidiq, talks about his music career and explains why he took a second wife in this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN. What does it take to be an Islamic singer? To be an Islamic singer, talent should be the number one thing. Number two is a solid knowledge of the religion and the Quran. Acquiring western education in addition would be a big plus. As far as I am concerned, these are the basic things for someone to be an Islamic singer. Skip to next paragraph click to expand image Adeola Balogun Wasiu Sidiq How did you get into it? I think it was the will of the almighty Allah, because I had an National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Ogun State Polytechnic. I can say the MSS (Muslim Students Society) discovered me, because during my secondary school days, the society used to organise various activities among various schools where various events like quiz, debate and Quranic competitions took place. From there, I discovered that I had a talent for Islamic music. On account of that, I was advised by a Muslim brother to form a band, which I did in the 80s and called it The Voice of Islamic Charity. The likes of Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode and Alhaji Wahab Falowo were reigning then, and I can say they are my mentors. So you started singing while in secondary school? Yes, I started in secondary school. Then, I was singing for various Islamic organisations like the MSS, Young Muslim Progressive Association of Nigeria and so on. But I ventured fully into music after I finished my diploma programme in the polytechnic, and that was 1988/89. Since then, you have not gone back for your HND. Why? I decided to change my course and do a degree in Islamic Studies instead. You know I told you that I read Mass Communication for my ND. I intend to go to the Lagos State University this year, even though I had been trying to do that for a couple of years without success because of music. Though it is not going to be easy, I will try and do that. Why did you study Mass Communication for your your diploma? I was an art student in secondary school. Moreover, I wanted to become a journalist. To be specific, a broadcaster. These days, there are so many people who want to be Islamic singers. Why is it so? It is because it has become a very lucrative venture. Trust Nigerians, wherever they find money, everyone will want to be a part of the crowd. When you started, was it lucrative? No, it was not. There was no money. I remember that I did not get a kobo for the first five albums that I waxed. In fact, my first album, I sponsored it myself. I paid for the studio, did everything, and at the end of the day, I didn‘t get anything in return. And you were not discouraged? I was not, but at a certain stage, I wanted to give up. Then, a brother in Islam called me to boost my morale. I can easily recollect that the first album launch that I organised, nobody turned up, either as guests or the audience, I didn‘t see anybody. You know as a young boy, I felt so bad but the brother told me that the downfall of a man was not the end of his life. He said I should not look at it that way, that one day, I would look back and thank God. So far, you have how many albums? Today, I have about 20 albums. Some people say they get inspiration to sing when they are asleep. In your own case, where do you get inspiration? Like I told you earlier on, to be a musician, you must first of all have the talent, then after that, everything else follows. There are various categories of musicians. There are those who can not compose on their own. They hire producers who package the music for them. But for the mere fact that they have the talent, they will be able to present whatever that the producers package for them. But on my own, I am a composer, a producer and a musician, all rolled into one. I do everything on my own and I compose when I am alone. Inspirations come at times when I am in the toilet or at a secluded place or even asleep. I have a recorder which I carry about everywhere and immediately I receive inspiration, I quickly record it before it flies away. And if the recorder is out of reach, I put it down in writing. You seem to be versed in the Quran too, when did you learn it? Well, you may see it that way but I think I am more versed in western education than in Islamic knowledge. I spent more of my time pursuing western education, though I have a basic knowledge of the religion. People have accused Islamic singers of copying Fuji music… I have always told people that the message in our music is very important. The problem is that the origin of Fuji is Were, a genre of music sung during the Ramadan. It was Were that metamorphosed into Fuji. To distinguish our music, you have to listen to the message, because there is no instrument we are using that Fuji musicians are not using. Not all Fuji musicians are praising Allah. Not all of them are passing a message. Ours is message-based, and that is the hallmark. Is it even correct to assume that the thought of making money is the motivating factor for venturing into Islamic music? They all work together. When I started Islamic music, it was not because of wealth. But at present, it may be difficult not to think about wealth, because it looks very lucrative now, once the musician knows his onions. Alhaji Akinbode used to be the leading Islamic musician around, but all of a sudden, he dropped all that and some people say he did so because it is against the tenets of Islam to sing and drum… What happened is that Alhaji Akinbode dropped out of active music because of his involvement with NASFAT where he is the missioner. He is the one that leads the huge congregation every week, and you don‘t expect the same man to still be active in the music industry. Where would one find your fan base? You would find my fan base among the youth, market women, everywhere. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Mushin and Agege in Lagos. Ironically, these two places are synonymous with thuggery. How was life in Mushin? I was very young when I left Mushin. I had my primary school education there and I went to secondary school in Agege. I left Agege when I was in class three. You can see that I may not be able to describe what life was in Mushin. You are married to an equally popular Islamic singer. Was it music that brought you together? It was not music that brought us together. We attended the same secondary school. It is wrong to think that it was music that brought us together. In fact, it was after I got married to her that I saw the talent in her and I helped her to nurture it. She has the talent, no doubt. I formed the band for her and I support her in every aspect. She was my junior in secondary school when we started courting. And you courted for how many years? Almost seven years. People are surprised that despite the closeness between you, you still have another wife… We are close, no doubt, but as a Muslim, I think I am allowed to have more than one wife. And I believe you will agree with me that it is better I have a wife than keep concubines. Being a musician, women would want to get close, and if you are not very careful, you can fall into temptation. I am sure your senior wife did not find it funny when you brought in another wife. How did you manage the crisis? All marriages have their ups and downs. But I thank God, Allah is in control. Are you saying that it is easy to keep two women under the same roof? They are not living under the same roof. That might be suicidal, because women will always be women. Did you set out to have a second wife or you got involved in an affair that later led to marriage? She used to be my back-up singer. When I found that the situation might become scandalous, I decided to marry her. Some people said you had to take another wife because your first wife had a challenge with child bearing. That is a lie. This is not the first time I am hearing it, but I am telling you it is baseless because I have male and female children from her. There was this rumour that the likes of Ayeloyun and Labaika have run you out of the scene. That is baseless as well. It is expected that new artistes will always come on the scene, and that does not mean that their entry will run out the existing ones. The ones you mentioned are just new artistes, and as their albums are selling, mine are also selling. There is no problem between us. Why then are Ayeloyun and Labaika always fighting? They are not fighting. It is not true. But you know, fans are our greatest problems. What is happening in all genres of music is also happening here. Ayeloyun is from Ilorin, Labaika is from Ilorin, so why should they be fighting and over what? I am the president of the Islamic Musicians Association of Nigeria, and I think I am in a better position to tell you that. What new things are you bringing in your forthcoming album? You know in my last album, Tani, I introduced hip hop and it sold like hot cake. I am bringing in something new. But people believe that Islam is conservative… It depends on what you mean by conservatism. I am a musician and I know what I am doing. I have a reason for introducing innovations. When I introduced hip hop into Islamic music, the message sank and the album was a complete sell out. In the coming one, I am infusing another thing which will blow the minds of Muslims. The aim is to win more souls for Allah through Islamic music. If that is all I achieve, I am glad. Comments:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009051611281559 |
justwise:love is blind mariage will open your eyes. how many christians in naija na the mole you see. no worry he go let you practise your religion. |
Busy_body:jenny, you are something else. |
[size=16pt]•IBB’s ADC, UK Bello, pretended to be with us and was killed in crossfire — Col. Nyiam replies Major Mohammed on Orkar coup[/size] By EMERSON GOBERT, JR. Saturday, May 16, 2009 Col. Tony Nyiam Photo: Sun News Publishing More Stories on This Section Though he maintained a philosophical stoicism expected of a disciplined military officer, it was apparent recently that fiery Col. Tony Nyiam, the most senior officer involved in the April 1990 military coup against the government of General Ibrahim Babangida, was furious. What provoked his spirit this time is what he saw as calculated plots to distort facts on the Major Gideon Orkar coup. Major Abubakar Mohammed, who said he was Gen. Babangida’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), recently spoke on why the Orkar coup failed. Among the reasons he gave were that Col. Nyiam and Major Orkar, the coup leaders, disagreed on the killing of Col. U.K. Bello, Aide-de-camp to Gen. Babangida, which Abubakar alleged was carried out by Col. Nyiam. Also, the CSO said that Nyiam used inexperienced soldiers to execute the coup. Reacting to these, Nyiam did not only shoot down Abubakar’s allegations, he even questioned his identity and competence as a CSO to Gen. Babangida. “I find it ridiculous that a so-called Chief Security Officer could misrepresent the facts of the matter and indeed, if he was a CSO, as he claims, why was he not at his duty post at that critical moment? What is his knowledge of the standard operational procedure of a military officer in such a strategic security position? Why did he Abubakar Mohammed not get into action in time?,” Nyiam fumed. Nyiam used the opportunity to reveal, for the first time, some secret details of that bloody coup, the specific assignments of the participants, how UK Bello was killed and why the Orkar coup failed. It’s a Saturday Sun hot exclusive. In a recent interview, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to ex-military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, Major Abubakar Mohammed, touted reasons the Major Gideon Orkar coup of April 1990, which you were the most senior officer involved failed. He said confusion between you and Major Orkar over the killing of Gen. Babangida’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Lt. Col. U.K. Bello, was one of the flaws, which caused your collective failure. He said that Orkar did not want Bello killed. How do you react to this? Thank you for this opportunity and I thank The Sun for giving me a chance to respond to an interview that was done through The Sun. Before I start, let me just make a brief remark. Major Abubakar’s interview, in his reliance on concoction and wanton misrepresentation of event, is reminiscent of that given not too long ago by a dubious 419-nish character through a national paper. This self-styled ex-soldier claimed, in a wicked attempt to malign Major Orkar’s name and reputation, that the late officer and gentleman was a regular visitor to a hemp-smoking den in Ilorin. This is patently false. Even more revealing of the man’s utter unreliability to his claim to be close to Major Orkar’s family as a friend and yet did not know the ethnic group of the late Major’s wife. I find myself compelled to speak again and again in defence of our dear patriots’ memory in order that these various falsehood are not perceived as truth. As to the specific response to your question, it is completely false. I did not wish my friend and course mate, Col. U.K. Bello,(may him soul rest in peace), dead. Such a disagreement with Major Gideon Orkar wouldn’t have and did not happen. Major Orkar’s area of operational responsibility (AOR), both in the plans and the execution of the plan of action was not FRCN or Dodan Barracks sector. He was not at all in Ikoyi. He was instead operating in Bonny Camp, Victoria Island. That is the second lie. The third lie: Some may have thought Major Gideon Orkar was in the FRCN on that night because of the broadcast. The broadcast was pre-recorded and Orkar was not there in person. Orkar’s operational area was in Bonny Camp; so Orkar could never have been there. Just to show you the fourth lie, Orkar is not U.K. Bello’s mate at all. I am U. K. Bello’s mate. We are course mates in the 9th Regular Combatant Course of Nigerian Defence Academy. We went into the NDA in 1971 to 1973. Orkar came in almost a year and a half or two after us. The first lie that Orkar was close and was taking U.K. Bello’s wife to FRCN for his broadcast sounds ridiculous. To start with, the timing of the action; broadcast started long before U.K. was even woken from sleep and misled into the action, which had already been joined almost two hours after U.K. Bello was woken up from sleep and sent into operation by his boss, Gen. Babangida. What is sad is that Gen. Babangida shouldn’t have misled U.K. Bello to go into an already charged war situation because he had already sent his scout, who had come and seen how overwhelming our force was. So, to have sent U.K. Bello to come into such operation and he ran away is the problem. As to the lie that I killed U.K. Bello, far from it. U.K. Bello, as I’ve said over and over, came into a charged situation; he came in and purported to be part of us and in the crossfire, he was shot. I never shot a pistol or any gun on that night. Mohammed claimed that U.K. Bello’s confidence in Orkar, who you have said was not his course mate, caused the lapses that enabled you people to gain access to Dodan Barracks. How true is this? First of all, all are completely false. To start with, he gave the impression in that interview that Major Orkar was serving in Lagos. Orkar was actually serving in Shaki. He was commanding the Armoured Battalion. Babangida knows that. Everybody knows that he was commanding a unit outside Lagos. He was not based in Lagos and this is why I find it ridiculous that a so-called Chief Security Officer, because I don’t believe he was, could misrepresent the facts of the matter. Indeed, if he was a CSO, as he claims, why was he not at his duty post at that critical moment? Two: What is his knowledge of the standard operational procedure of a military officer in such a strategic security position? Three: Why did the Abubakar Mohammed not get into action in time? It seems to me that here was a serious dereliction of duty; that he was nowhere to be found when his presence was most required. The way the chap has relayed the whole information does not tally because, first of all, the Chief Security Officer, as you see in the days of Mustapha and Abacha, was actually the senior. Here, U.K. Bello was the de facto Chief Security Officer; so there was no purported Chief Security Officer to the president. He also said in the interview that you people ran into the bush along Ikoyi cemetery and that that was how the coup ended… We fought until about I o’clock when the main battle tanks were brought against the light battle tanks, which had changed sides and were in action with us. When we were overwhelmed by the arrival of the main battle tanks, we could not resist. Otherwise, we had control of most of Lagos till about 1 o’clock. One of the flaws I’ve said over and over is our failure to have captured Ikeja cantonment, where those main battle tanks were stored. If we had captured them, as planned, we would never have had the problem. Major Mohammed also said that the coup failed partly because you people used inexperienced soldiers, as most of them were just leaving the NDA and recruitment depots. This is completely false! Again, the guy has no clue. If he was indeed the Chief Security Officer to Babangida, he would have been privy to the Board of Enquiry, which Gen. Abdulsalami chaired, prior to the court martial. He would have also read Gen. Ike Nwachukwu’s court martial and also would have read Gen. Y.Y. Kure’s court martial. He would have seen, from there, that his facts are completely not in tune and I’m surprised for a Chief Security Officer to be completely unaware of these facts. The action was, in the main, full of civilians. The few officers and soldiers that we mobilized for the action were experienced and competent officers and that was why they were effective. Take, for example, the actions of Major Empere and Dakolo in Ikeja cantonment. They were so effective that the commander, Bamaiyi, as I said before, had to run away into the bush and the commander of the Armoured Corps ran away into the cassava farm in the cantonment. It was later in the morning when it was realized that these chaps weren’t many in number that they were overwhelmed. And what is the reason we were few in number? As I’ve said repeatedly, the coup was a pre-emptive action we had to take because there was a leakage and we had to take that pre-emptive action before people started rounding us up. That’s one. Secondly, all the soldiers we used were experienced soldiers. We also used, as records would show and it was public knowledge, ex-service men – people who fought the civil war and who were experienced. So, the idea of us getting inexperienced officers and recruits just shows that the so-called Major Mohammed Abubakar is speaking like a civilian. He is completely ignorant. If he was a Chief Security Officer, he would have had access to all those documents that I have mentioned. He bluntly said you killed U.K. Bello and that you are trying to make people believe you are one of the persons who brought in democracy. First of all, I’m no hero. The Lord Jesus Christ is the hero. If there are any mortal heroes in our action, they are Major Gideon Orkar, Major Empere, Major Charles Idede, Captain Dakolo, Lieutenants Odey, Mukoro, Akogun and all others who lost their lives fighting for the restoration of free and fair elections, transparent national census, freedom and properly elected federal democratic order to Nigeria. Those are the true heroes and among those, I would include people like Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, Brigadier Ibrahim Bako, Gen. Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Isaac Boro, M.K.O. Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Fela and Beko Kuti. You’ve been writing some books. When are you coming out with your documented account of this coup? A lot of people have been putting pressure on me to write this book. I’m going to give it some thought. What has happened is that for the last six years, I’ve, instead, been concentrating my efforts in trying to unravel the deep reasons we are deep in the hole we are and in that enquiry, I begin to find that it is our lack of true spirituality that is the problem. And on discovering that, I then asked myself a question. And the question led me into going back to the scriptures, to be reading the Bible and reading the Quran and other books and in so reading, the more I read, the more I realize the greatness of the Holy Bible. In that discovery, I discover that those who are supposed to be our men of God are themselves not well aware of themselves; not well aware of the real teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and of course, I will say the same for those who are leading our Muslim brothers too, because if it weren’t so the Christians and the Muslims would always be Christ-like or Mohammed-like, in the sense of living the life of peace, truth and unconditional love. I’ve been writing and I have a column in the National Life and the two or three books, which are basics of spirituality for thinking humans, will soon be out. After that, I will then consider doing a book on the pro-democracy action. You overtly supported the candidacy of Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. How do you take the outcome of the re-run election? Very sad for the country and a big shame for President Yar’Adua’s government because here is a government that purports to be based on the rule of law and order. Rule of law and order, like I have written in a column once, cannot exist without free and fair elections. Clearly, what one personally witnessed in Ekiti is the greatest injustice that has been done to President Yar’Adua’s government. Take, for example, Ido/Osi. You don’t need to be a genius to know that the total votes in that area cannot amount to the figure being claimed. In fact, I would say that out of the total votes of 18,000 being claimed, I’d rather argue that 6,000 would be the true picture. Why is it that Ido/Osi, which is one of the smallest local government areas, has three times the strength of those who voted compared to the other local governments, which are bigger? Isn’t that ridiculous? In any case, this lie will be exposed soon in the law courts. That’s one. The other point is that the attempt, which is continuously blackmailing and using paramilitary or threatening to use military to rig election for people, has a limit. What is the difference between one who comes into power illegally, by depriving the people of their right to vote and one who comes by the use of other means? What is the difference? I think people should not be inviting inadvertently what we do not want for Nigeria. We want democracy to stay. People should not be pushed to the wall. |
babzyshe:why does naija have all those pepper soup pot belle men all over the place if GOOD FOOD at home was a cure for relationships. |
Busy_body:thank you my dear. how are you and the family? i would have asked for my offerings now i will leave that for another day. i am very allergic to quarrels and strife environment. if you look at Joseph and his brothers wahala he could have told them not to do anything but he said dont quarrel. he knew it was quarrel that got the family in troubles in the first place. Genesis 45:24 (New Living Translation) Genesis 45:15-29 (The Message)mr alloy, sorry for preaching in your business premises |
why must we always waste our resources and time helping thieves? |
@ alloy, if you want to do well trading i will tell you that trading and quarelling are 2 enemies. i dont know why but that is how i see it work. it is good to argue but try seperate it from your business life my dear brother. i hope you know i dont mean no offence. |
dayokanu:enjoy her. she is one of NL of best |
una don drive the poor girl away. is this not a common thing in naija? sweetnekys:nice one |
amlos007:what did you steal for her? is that you and her in your profile? |
lawyer:bros what is wrong in sending pics via email? i can understand not showing pics on NL but not on their websites. it took me ages for some one to get a property viewed on my behalf. the guy said when he got there the idiot wanted to use him as cab all over town. estate agents should be big business and done proffessionally not employing people who treat you like they are doing you a favour |
hackney:not true sir. pics makes a whole world of difference. it is sad that even the bigger estate agents in naija only excuse for not showing fotos online is thieves or "the seller dont want anyone to know they are selling". one had the cheek to ask for proof of funds before he could send photos to my mail box as if that is a gaurantee of sales for him. i think some of these guys need to up their game. in this day and age you dont need to go into any property before you make first move. i think digital cameras are cheap enough for an estate agent to afford. Busy_body: |
good development. all this no pics business should stop in nigeria. what a shame people have to build protectors like this inside house because of robbers. someone asked me what will happen in case of fire out break.
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archemedes:2.5 to 8m . naija and over inflated prices. promise72:promise leave my sister alone i beg. she is usually a very nice person. people like you keep looking for her trouble as if u didnt know she wont leave u alone once she start. OP, thanks for pics |
dayokanu:dayo, did i hear you insult mukina? start your obituary announcement cos her team of loyal fans are coming for you very soon. this is supposed to be a quiet place why bring your abuse here? |
keisha08:the girl in question is a Christian. i am wondering how people allow people whose lifestyles/characters are miles from theirs into their lives in the first place. @keisha, he refuses saying there is nothing wrong with what he is doing, I am reevaluating this relationship as our beliefs are too differenttell him i say there is something and everything wrong. if you already have kids is the kind of lifestyle you want them to copy? while at it check why you attract this type of men. you are not a bad person but you must ask yourself why you attract or get drawn to them. it is your life you must choose who you allow into it. |
bblacky:you are very normal. you write your rules. it your life and responsibility to choose who you allow into it. dont feel presured to have female friends for the sake of it. |
sexyLeamon:this thread may help answer your question. If Your Wife-To-Be Can't Cook https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-7287.0.html |
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Na wah oh, is it that preposterous for a serious buyer to request for pictures of properties they are interested in, via email