Diezani Alison-Madueke, a controversial minister from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was recently interviewed by Dele Momodu, a renowned Nigerian journalist, publisher, businessman and Ovation International magazine owner.
During the interview which was published on The Boss online newspaper, the former minister of petroleum who is undergoing cancer treatment in a private London hospital, opened up on a number of issues.

An exclusive with the former oil minister was the central topic for the launch of The Boss
Below are revelations from her.

1. My sister doesn’t have a child for Jonathan:
The former minister wondered how anyone could fabricate such tales saying, “That is totally untrue as I don’t have any such sister or relative!”

2. My relationship with Patience Jonathan was cordial:
Diezani said she gave the former First Lady the respect she should give the wife of her boss.

3. I never had intimate relationship with the former president:
According to her, Jonathan’s family and hers have been family friends for long as her mother Beatrice Agama, has always played the role of a godmother in the Niger Delta and is loved by all the militants.
“If you are in the corridor of power, you must expect anything, including mud and even bricks being thrown at you,” she said.

4. She denies being involved with many young men:
When asked about the relationship between her and Chris Aire, Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore, Tonye Cole, Dapo Abiodun, Wale Tinubu, Igho Sanomi and others, she replied: “I vehemently deny any intimacy or liaison with any of these gentlemen.”
She explained that some of these men were unknown to her until she became a minister and they later enjoyed a cordial relationship.
According to her, she is happily married and would not do anything to jeopardise her marriage or smear herself in the eyes of her husband, children and family.

5. I’ve never stolen Nigeria’s money:
Speaking on the alleged disappearance of $20billion and other wasteful spending authorised by her, the ailing minister wondered how such an amount would disappear just like that.
She said: “If there is one issue I must pursue in this world it is the biggest lie of this money. How can $20billion disappear just like that? Where did it disappear to? Is it possible that such an amount would not be traceable? This is more painful coming from someone I considered a good friend who should appreciate the gravity of such allegation. I challenge anyone to come forward with facts showing that I stole government or public money. I’ve never stolen Nigeria’s money…”

6. Emir Sanusi wanted to be president of African Development Bank (AfDB):
The former minister said she and the former CBN governor who is now the Emir of Kano were good friends. She disclosed that he came to her house to inform her about his interest in heading the African Development Bank. They discussed for about two hours and she promised to support him.

7. I don’t own choice properties everywhere:
According to Diezani she has been living with her husband in the same house since their marriage in 1999. She said her husband bought their house in Abuja in 2007 and she decorated it to their taste which is not over the top.
She said: “Anyone who tells you I have houses anywhere should feel free to publish them. That was how they said I bought an expensive property in Vienna. I went to court and I won the case. I never saw the house before except in picture. The house I stay in London is rented. As a woman I love to look good. Some of my dresses and jewelleries are often dumped on me by those I buy from and I pay them when I can.”

When I learnt about Messha’s death a year ago (for those who don’t know her, she was a fashion designer), I was in shock for like an hour. I had that my rechargeable torch-like kind of eye that was plotting to explode in tears. The truth is, the kind of electrical shock that went through me that day eh, PHCN would have wanted to use me immediately for their laboratory research as an alternative source of power if they had known; because never had it occurred to me in my wildest dream, that someone as vibrant and sensational as Messha could pass away so suddenly and in such a horrid manner.
Yet, that was precisely what happened o.
It was like an Indian film without English subtitle.
I got into my office one day, turned on my PC, logged on to Facebook and then gboah!-Gory pictures of her, dead (two shots to her head).
As in, just like that.
But there was also a picture of the man who did it.
Her Ex-boyfriend.
Apparently (from the gist I gathered) Bobo had been physically abusing Aunty Messha for like so many years and it even started with a pinch (this is perhaps the reason I keep telling people: Not every pinch is pre-intimacy material o. So please, be inspecting the pinches you receive). From pinch, Oga graduated to all those Comot-for-here-kind of slap and I-was-just-joking-with-you-na kind of push. Then, to How-could-you-do-this-gboah kind of slap. Then to the unadulterated kind of punch, then to the gbisah-kind of kick and soon, the in-no-particular-order kind of beating followed.
And then, Aunty fled.
One would think that should have been the end of the whole ordeal, at least she had fled, but Oga could not imagine his life without Aunty. As far as he was concerned, he loved her too much to let her go. If he couldn’t have her, no one else could and so he went searching for her. He found the address of her new residence and while Aunty slept, dreaming of the potato chips she was going to make for her kids for breakfast, Oga shot her twice in the head.
A very sad ending.
But then we all know that this may perhaps rank least of the worst case scenarios we’ve seen or heard of. As a matter of fact, the newspapers/internet these days, are bombarded with different headlines about domestic violence and abuses, ranging from “he poured me acid” to “She cut off my pee-pee” to “He drove us off the bridge. I barely suffered”
Now personally, I get why anyone married to an abusive partner would be slightly afraid of walkaing-away despite the rough-handling (but then I don’t think there is any reason ghen-gheneous enough for that kind of lifestyle abeg. Jesus did not die on the cross of cavalry only for me to come and be enjoying battery. Hian no o!). There are the kids to consider, societal stigmatization attached to failed marriages, family, emotional and financial blackmail. However the part of this whole wahala that I I don’t understand is when Uncle has not married Sister yet and she is there taking backhand slap and uppercut from him.
Na to just call T.B Joshua o! For deliverance abeg.
Which one is “I luff him, he is nice and you don’t understand” kind of lamentation is that?
Biko, na to just bundle you o, throw you inside a pickup van and drive you all the way to Yabba-left and after like three months of their craze-medicine, you go begin see well.
Abi no be so?
Because frankly, I have no idea why anyone would want to remain in an abusive relationship where you and I know that the door is wide open and you could leave at any time.
Don’t get me wrong, I know and perfectly understand what the word ‘commitment’ means in a relationship. It’s honorable to be committed, but when your life is at stake and in danger, biko, na to pick race o! luff can wait abeg.
“He threatened to kill me” A friend of mine had said to me one day and I had stood, dumbfounded.
“He said if I ever leave, he is going to kill me”
“My God!” I exclaimed, finally finding my tongue.
“I swear, I don’t know what to do”
“Report to the police na. Hian! My darling, Report as in osiso and then, run for your dear life” I replied still flabbergasted
“I did my dear. I told the police but you know our police Na…they refused to take me seriously. So I dropped it”
Imagine!
Then, it occurred to me that even when we try our possible best to make the necessary complaints, our security agencies don’t take it and/ us seriously. They prefer to rather wait for us to kpemen first so that they would now-nah come and be writing police report.
Hian o! God forbid abeg! May that never be our portion in Jesus’ name.
However I would still like to use this medium to beg them-our security agencies especially the Nigerian Police:
In Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon’s voice:
Our ogas, we know you people are incredulously efficacious in your devoir ….to…accord Magnificoes… in the propaganda of… dubious vagabonds in the societal splendor. So take care, to ameliorate your lackadaisicalness in in-toto towards the safety and barricading of the masses…. Thank you
In other words, biko you people should just protect us abeg.
But what is your take on this my people? Why do you think victims of domestic abuse still remain with their partners especially in a relationship? Is it really out of love or just a clear case of low esteem? Why would they think people who hit them still or actually do love them?
I would really love to know your thoughts.

Just a day after she revealed her fitness secrets (eating healthy, working out, cutting down carbs and eating vegetables), Ini Edo has flaunted the results once again. This time, the star rocked a stylish jumpsuit at the 2015 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) last night.

Just a year ago , Ini also wore a jumpsuit to the 2014 Golden Icon Movie Awards in Houston, Texas. She looked lovely, however, with her new healthier fit lifestyle, we can see a clear difference.

It is often said that we women are our own worst enemies, because we often judge each other based on looks, age, hair (permed vs team natural soul sistas) shoes, bags, complexion (too many bleaching trolls) and everything in-between which builds unhealthy competition among us.
Will a female boss not promote her female subordinate because she wears human hair, is prettier (I believe this is a very relative adjective by the way) than her or owns a Hermes Kelly bag?
Several women believe she won’t… and this view is one of the reasons women prefer male bosses. They claim that female bosses:
“Have issues and hate their female subordinates for no just cause”
“See younger women as threats”
“Are difficult”
“Do not mentor”
“Are passive aggressive”
Now, what was interesting about the views of some of these women was that it was prejudice, because they had never worked with women. They just made assumptions without any prior experience or facts.
Truth be told, I was one of those women when I started my career about 9 years ago.
I was an investment banker in my rookie days and I remember the sigh of relief I heaved when I realised on my first day at work that I was the only female on the trading floor. There was just one other female in the entire investment bank. As time went on, it got really lonely in there and to my utmost surprise, I was happy to have a few other females join the team, though my bosses remained male.
Fast forward to the time in my life when I realised that as much as I loved crunching figures, I loved people more and when you love people, you make even more money (Well, maybe not initially, especially when you leave investment banking ). Thus, my sojourn to advertising began.
My first interview for an advertising job was with the Marketing Director of a bank, Celine. Since I had no prior experience in the industry, I went the extra mile and some, to prepare. At the interview, I appraised the brand, presented my fact finding on a few inconsistencies about the brand, proffered solutions and ultimately brought my value A-game to the table. After the initial 1 hr interview, we had an extra 15 mins personal chat about her journey to her current position and I felt an unusual bond with her I never had with any of my male bosses.
I was invited for a panel interview a week later and I can’t explain what happened, but I flunked so bad and I could see the disappointment in her eyes. I sent her an sms expressing my disappointment in myself and to her. She responded, saying she would give me a 2nd chance. I never got to work with her, because she moved to the CBN almost immediately after but not before she taught me a life lesson
‘You never get a second chance after a bad first impression but you can get several chances after a good first impression”
And that was the moment I really began to view female executives in a different light.
A few weeks later, I started a job in an advertising agency (Whoop! Whoop!!) which was male dominated (again) . I was given my first assignment which entailed sending emails to 53 Marketing Directors. I was new, hadn’t built a reputation for myself yet so it was no surprise I didn’t get any response from all but one Marketing Director and yes, she was female – Lola , GM, Marketing of another bank. The deal didn’t come through but she gave this nervous, ‘I may lose this job’, newbie a ray of hope and inspired me to keep going no matter what.
And keep going I did. I started getting my own accounts and worked with several female executives like Hannah , who was a Marketing Director at a multinational and so many others (I’ve listed too many names already so I’ll spare you the rest) who have gone on to become mentors and strong pillars in my life.
I’d be lying if I said it’s been all rosy working with female executives. Besides, working directly with a female boss in an organisation is different from a female executive client right?
Well, after several years in advertising, I realised that not only did I love people more than figures crunching, I also wanted to help bridge the gap between the rich and poor in my own little way and that landed me a job (of course you know it didn’t just fall on my laps right?) in African Development Aid and not only did I have a direct female report, I had 2 female bosses.
Initially, I struggled with one of my female bosses who interestingly was located 6 hours across the ocean from me, because there was a lot of micromanagement which I wasn’t used to from male bosses in previous roles and it was almost driving me out of my mind.
Over time, I came to appreciate her attention to the fine details of my work as grooming and mentoring and this change in perception brought out in me a level of perfection I never knew I had and made us work in perfect synergy. In fact at some point she would ask for my feedback on her own work
From my experiences (Trust me this is not even 10%, there’’s just no space for extra), I’ve realised that contrary to what social stereotypes propagate about female bosses, the women I worked with did not :
“Have issues with me for no just cause”
“See me as a threat”
Neither were they “difficult” or “passive aggressive”
Were they strong and assertive? Yes, in a way any leader should be regardless of gender.
Anytime I relate my experiences to support female bosses (that we’re also becoming). I get the eye and I’m always reminded of just how lucky I’ve been! But hold on, one, two, five, seven? Surely that can’t be luck? Or not?
Before we go back to pointing fingers, can we take a minute and look in the mirror and ponder on the possibility that our dislike for female bosses could be because they don’t cut us any slack when compared to male bosses? And have we considered that male bosses may be easy on women because they don’t expect much from us? Whereas, a female boss expects more from us because she drives herself and expects us to do same?
Have we also considered that there are several of us women who think our only value is in our beauty so we spend all our time on getting our make-up and clothes right and none on developing our intellectual capacity and then try to bat our eyelids out of assignments? And because female bosses won’t let us hand in half-baked work we think they are bossy?
Besides, I know several women groups such as WIMBIZ who have mentoring programs where women support each other and even programs like the Access Bank’s W initiative who also celebrate female bosses so it can’t be that bad or is it?
Have I really just been lucky?
Are the social stereotypes of bad female bosses true?
What have your experiences been? Please do tell.

Justice always prevails no matter how long it takes

The Décor is very tasteful God bless their union HML.

Tottenham, Sunderland and Manchester City during his time in England, passed away after a battle with cancer. A statement by MTK Budapest, another former club, today read:
"We are deeply sorrowful and grieved to announce that after a long illness, Marton Fulop has died. Hungarian international Fulop played in England between 2004 and 2010.
Fulop joined Spurs from Bodajk in 2004 and went on to play for nine English clubs. He also had spells with Stoke, Coventry, Leicester, Ipswich and West Brom during his time in England. He had a tumour removed from his arm in 2013 - but never played professional football again. After undergoing an operation in June 2013, Fulop said: ''I am sure that after a few months I will be ready both physically and mentally to continue playing football. "I'd like to train between treatment courses, as the doctors have said this is fine and heartily recommend it." Fulop last played professional football for Asteras Tripoli in 2012/13 and won 24 caps for Hungary.

Former Lagos state governor and APC National leader, Bola Tinubu says Fashola becoming a Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has made him a proud grandfather. Tinubu said this while speaking at the commissioning of the Mile 12-Ikorodu road widening and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operation.

“We conquered the enemy when they said it was impossible through Babatunde Raji Fashola. You saw what happened when he was made minister yesterday. Lagos took the front seat. I am now a proud grandfather and I have no doubt he will succeed in that assignment. Leadership is about how many people you are able to bring up, build up and develop. I have many of them who are extremely gifted and talented.” he said

Thursday, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, became one of the hospitals in Nigeria that offers kidney transplant services following a successful kidney transplant on a 56-year- old man in Lagos.
The life-saving procedure which took two and half hours was the first of its in LASUTH.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Wale Oke, said the successful kidney transplant was part of the state government’s promises to deliver excellent healthcare services to the people of Lagos State. He added that several consultations were made before the surgery to make sure that the patients were well selected to avoid complications after the exercise.

He said: “But thank God today, both the donor and recipient are in sound health,"
Oke explained that the patient, who was at the end-stage renal disease, was selected for the maiden surgery, and after about six-hour surgery (organ harvesting and implantation), the operation was successful.

The elated CMD said:

“LASUTH has come of age and we are glad. We are able to harness what we have and so we will continue to improve on infrastructure. Kidney transplant is not free; it cannot be free, but with us doing it here, the cost will be affordable (compared to traveling to India or United Kingdom for operation).”
The Chief medical Director assured Lagosians that the hospital will continue to bring excellent and special services at the hospital.

The leader of the transplant team, a Consultant Nephrologist, Dr. Jacob Awobusuyi, said the initiative was conceived three years ago.

He said that the latest of several services offered in the hospital would help stop the trend of patients going to India and returning with complications that often eventually kill them.

Awobusuyi, said that the patient, who is still recuperating in the ward, had to be persuaded to have the operation here in Nigeria instead of India.
So after a year of dialysis, the patient came up with his nephew as a donor which made LASUTH medical team start the operation.
He said that both the 56 year old recipient and the 26-year-old donor expressed concern before the surgery but that they were both relieved and happy after the successful operation.

National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, today November 12th endorsed actress Uche Jombo-Roodrigez as one of their Goodwill Ambassadors. She joins Ini Edo, Kenneth Okonkwo and others..

New Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi says he does not want to go to jail and so will not be stealing from the accounts of the ministry. Amaechi said this while speaking to members of the ministry after his swearing-in as Minister yesterday November 11th.

“I am not as bad as people from the outside say I am. I only engage based on principles. I neither take nor give bribes. If you want to relate with me, don’t give me money. I will also not give you money. I don’t want to go to jail so I won’t steal. But I won’t spare thieves,” he said

Footballer, John Ogu who plays for Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Be'er Sheva, got married to his woman, Vera at the Ikoyi registry today November 12th. John proposed to Vera on the pitch after a match on October 3rd . Congrats to them.

Cancer respects no one. RIP Boss.

Your Boyfriend has probably seen all of you and there is nothing left to be imagined.
He has access to you 247 and enjoys all the benefit of a married man, you cook clean , wash and sleep with him all for free, you probably cohabiting with him in his small space then why would he think of spending millions on the wedding day or moving out to get a bigger space. He has seen all of you and would have definitely used the lady so badly and if he considers marriage it will be to a fresh blood. Ladies Be Wise.

i am proud of U-17 they have done Nigeria so proud up team

They both looked good, but I think Freda killed it more

Its her choice and her body she would be accountable for it

I am so happy hat BRF is the new Minister of Power Works and Hosing, this shows that Nigeria will truly experience change. kudos to you BRF we trust you will perform with God on your side.

Avoid eating after 6 pm daily.
Exercise Daily and concentrate on specific areas.
Drink a lot of water
Eat small meals about 5-6 times daily
take a lot of fruits and vegetables
ensure you sleep well minimum of 8 hours per day.

Please feel free to add more tips we are all learning on this.