In his interview with ThisDay newspaper published last Sunday February 22nd, President Jonathan accused former CBN Governor Charles Soludo of being political with his claims that N30 trillion had gone missing under the watch of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. What President Jonathan said about Soludo's claims below and Soludo's response after the cut...
"So you’ll see that there is a lot of politicking about some of the serious issues. Not too long ago I read in one of the papers, I think Vanguard, that former chief economic adviser to President Obasanjo who also went to become a CBN governor… Soludo is a professor and first class material. Yes, making a first class in economics, he is a brilliant person. His secondary school records are fantastic. So by all standards he is a brilliant person. So the Vanguard wrote that he accused Ngozi; that N30 trillion was stolen under the watch of Ngozi in four years. Ngozi became a finance minister, let’s say from 2011 till date. From that time till now, our annual budget is between N4.3 trillion and N4.9 trillion. So even if you put all together, it is about 18 plus trillion naira, & not 30 trillion.
The budget for these four years is less than N20 trillion, but Soludo said that under Ngozi’s watch they stole N30 trillion. This is in the papers, social media, stored in the clouds and will continue to be there. And when you type it in it will come out that during President Jonathan’s time they stole N30 trillion. We asked Ngozi how her colleagues in the World Bank saw the accusation and she said they were laughing and couldn’t believe it. There are certain things that you just cannot believe and if that is coming from somebody considered to be cerebral like Professor Soludo, then of course you know what the ordinary person would say. It is all political"President Jonathan said.

Professor Soludo reacted to this interview by releasing an article this evening. See it below...
My attention has been drawn this morning to an article entitled: “Jonathan Replies Soludo over “missing N30 trillion” claim”— extracting from Mr. President’s interview as published by Thisday newspaper.
ThisDay quoted Mr. President as saying that “Soludo said that under Ngozi’s watch they stole N30 trillion” but that since the sum of the federal budget over the last four years was less than N30 trillion, such an amount could not have been “stolen”.
According to the President, “it is all political”. I had earlier stated that I would not make further comments on the issues until probably after the elections but since Mr. President has decided to join the fray, I am constrained to make a further brief clarification.
For me, President Jonathan is a gentleman and a friend but I have a fundamental disagreement on his management of the economy. On the issues at stake, I believe that the pressures of office and the hectic electioneering campaigns have not allowed him time to read my articles or that his staff have not explained the contents to him hence he totally missed the point in his comments. For the avoidance of doubt, let me clarify as follows:
1. In my article entitled “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Missing Trillions”, I presented some rough calculations covering: oil theft, money that ought to accrue to stock of foreign reserves, unbudgeted oil subsidy payments, customs duty waivers, leakages through the self-financing government parastatals, unremitted sums by NNPC, etc.
I concluded that section of my article by noting that: “I have a long list but let me wait for now. I do not want to talk about other ‘black pots’ that impinge on national security. My estimate, Madam, is that probably more than N30 trillion has either been stolen or lost or unaccounted for or simply mismanaged under your watchful eyes in the past four years”.
2. It is evident that the monies I referred to are “off-budget”. These are monies that did not make it to the budget. I find it funny that the Government deliberately avoided the issues raised above but instead has sought to divert attention by focusing on the “federal budget”.
Let me state for the record that I believe that the amount of resources that are either stolen from the economy or out-rightly mismanaged by government far exceeds the federal budget per annum.
Ours is about a N100 trillion economy, and I will be shocked if the government pretends that it does not know that currently about 10% of the GDP falls into a ‘black hole’ on annual basis.
We have not added figures based on counterfactual analysis such as the cost to the aggregate economy of bad or misguided economic policy. For example, in today’s Thisday newspaper, a headline news reports that “Aliko Dangote, Africa’s Richest Man, Loses $7.8 Billion as Naira, Stocks Plunge” while reporting that “In dollar terms, the devaluation has knocked more than $40 billion off the value of Nigeria’s economy”. Of course, most people predicted that oil prices would soon fall but we were caught unprepared, and today, the parallel market exchange rate is N225 to the dollar.
Thus, the kind of analysis in today’s Thisday is just one little example of the kind of collateral damages–‘costs’ or ‘losses’– that mismanagement foists on the system. To repeat, my article did not focus on the federal budget: the mismanagement of the consumption budget and its unprecedented debt accumulation (with low value-for-money expenditures) are entirely different matters.
3. What I found particularly disconcerting as a Nigerian from the comments I read is the fixation to validation from the World Bank. According to Mr. President, “we asked the Minister how her colleagues at the World Bank saw the accusation”. I shook my head in disbelief. It is instructive that no one asked what Nigerians thought or ‘how Nigerians saw it’ but rather what was important to government was the impression of the World Bank. If this is the mind-set of our leaders, then ordinary citizens have real cause to worry.
Well, I have read several editorial comments of Nigerian media and they do not agree with the ‘impression’ of the World Bank official. I read a similar comment by a high government official stating that World Bank officials and CNN had told them that government was doing well and therefore who else could question them.
But neither the World Bank nor CNN conducts comprehensive independent surveys on the economy— they comment based on the data they are given— and their subjective “opinions” cannot substitute for hard facts.
The World Bank is not a statistical agency. I can provide a long list of countries that World Bank reports praised as ‘star performers’ and they slumped into deep crisis almost immediately after. Check out the World Bank and IMF reports on the US and other countries’ economies shortly before the unprecedented global financial and economic crisis in fifty years (the Great Recession of 2008/09).
Actually for many countries once they start getting such ‘praises’, then perceptive officials begin to worry. Nigeria is probably the only country where its government officials quote the World Bank while ignoring data from its own statistical agency!
A serious concern is that while government relies on external validation (opinion) as ‘proof’ of its performance, it is selective in the process—accepting the positive ones and disparaging the negative ones. Our recent exchanges illustrate the point. In my first article (26th January): “Buhari Vs Jonathan: Beyond the Elections”, I argued that “the economy seems to be on auto pilot, with confusion as to who is in charge, and government largely as a constraint.
There are no big ideas, and it is difficult to see where economic policy is headed to. My thesis is that the Nigerian economy, if properly managed, should have been growing at an annual rate of about 12% given the oil boom, and poverty and unemployment should have fallen dramatically over the last five years”. No one has credibly challenged the above, except what the Financial Times of London described as a “furious response by the Minister”. But, the influential Economist Magazine of London and New York Times agreed with us. According to the Economist editorial (7th February, 2015):
“… as Africa’s biggest economy stages its most important election since the restoration of civilian rule in 1999, and perhaps since the civil war four decades ago, Nigerians must pick between the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, who has proved an utter failure, and the opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari….
The single bright spot of his rule has been Nigeria’s economy, one of the world’s fastest-growing. Yet that is largely despite the government rather than because of it, and falling oil prices will temper the boom. The prosperity has not been broadly shared: under Mr Jonathan poverty has increased. Nigerians typically die eight years younger than their poorer neighbours in nearby Ghana”. I gave the Government an “F” grade on economic management, and the Economist described its performance as “utter failure”.
The Economist also basically agreed with me that the re-basing of the economy and its observed ‘growth’ have nothing to do with government policy. Again, government has not credibly challenged the above or is the Economist’s view also ‘all political ’? Government simply waved it off. My point is that if Government has to rely on the “impressions” of external bodies, then it should be consistent and comprehensive.
4. In conclusion, let me re-state that I firmly stand by my earlier statements. These are weighty statements which I weighed carefully before issuing. I appreciate that this is an election time and so attempts would be made to trivialize, or either play politics with, or divert attention from, them. In a serious society, we should have had a good debate on these matters as they could provide some of the building blocks in trying to pick the pieces after the elections.
Part of our citizen duty in a democracy is to raise such issues and demand for answers. In the meantime, I grant that our leaders are busy with campaigns but these issues won’t go away until we have a transparent resolution. Be assured that after the elections, we will be back with even more questions!

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/president-jonathan-missed-the-point-on-missing-n30trn-charles-soludo/

Vanguard gathered that the suspect, who was described as a serial rapist, had raped his victim more than four times before he was arrested.

Police sources told Vanguard that the suspect had been arrested over a similar offence in the past.

Speaking with Vanguard, father of the victim, who simply identified himself as Kennedy, said the suspect usually defiled his daughter whenever she was taking her bath.

He said: “My daughter normally complained to his mother, but her mother refused to tell me about it. He does it to her whenever she is taking her bath at the back of our house.

“Unfortunately for him, two weeks ago, I was in the house and I saw my wife standing beside my daughter while she was taking her bath and I went and asked her what was happening she told me that my neighbour Alloy, had been defiling my daughter for a long time.

“I confronted him and he started begging me. He ran away from his house and I did not see him for two weeks.

“Few days ago, he brought the police to my house to arrest me, complaining that I was threatening his life.

“When I came to the police station, I told them what he had done and they arrested him and took my child for medical check up.

“The report is out and it has shown that she was defiled multiple times by Alloysus.”

Denial

The suspect, however, denied defiling the victim.

He said: “We live in the same compound at Okokomaiko and I normally bath my child because my wife is not feeling very well.

“She was shot last year during a robbery incident at Alaba International Market, where I also work.

“The mother accused me of touching her child’s private part, but I only touched her head.

“When the father confronted me, I told him that I did not do it. He took me before the community people and beat me up in their presence. They begged him to allow me go, but he refused.”

Divisional Police Officer, Okoko Division, CSP Ibrahim Zango, referred newsmen to the command’s image maker.

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/police-arrest-rapist-of-9-yr-old-girl/

The House of Representatives, yesterday, hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for the impetus given to the Nigerian military that facilitated the recovery of some towns that had fallen under the control of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, particularly in Borno State.

This was prompted by a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Rep Muhammad Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno. The House also praised the military for its bravery and steadfastness, noting that in previous months, notably in Borno, Boko Haram had nearly over-run the state, but today the tide is turning against the insurgents as a result of the gallantry of the soldiers.

Monguno said prior to the new offensive, the insurgents had subdued some communities, hoisted their flags in the local government headquarters and subjected the people to despicable norms.

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/reps-hail-jonathan-military-for-successes-against-bharam/

PDPwayoo:


Seun e nor go better for u. U always bring yeye topics to front page and reject others u hate the posters.

lol...

ellechrystal:
People talk too much.
Now let's keep shut n do d needful in march 28th.
That's all. Not talking up n down

thank you, the date is already near

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday declared that the interview the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari had with a local television station, “All Eyes on African TV” in London, United Kingdom, was not true.

The governor said the picture taken from the interview was snapped at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and not in London as claimed by the opposition party.

The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation had last Saturday circulated a picture Buhari purportedly had during the interview with Kemi Fadojutimi of the local television station.

But speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Fayose who picked holes in the narrative of the opposition party, insisted that Buhari went to London for medical treatment.

The governor who re-enacted before newsmen the scene where the interview was purportedly held, accused Buhari and APC of cutting corners and APC of propaganda.

He said “General Buhari was in Transcorp telling Nigerians he was in London. He should stop deceiving Nigerians”.

Fayose, while trying to backup his claim, sat on the three-seat sofa which he said was similar to the sofa in the suite as well as the painting on the wall of the room.

He noted that the table lamp and the cupboard also matched those of the picture leading to Fayose conclusion that the said interview with Kemi Fadojutimi in London was not true but part of the APC propaganda that would lead to her failure in elections.

He said the level of falsehood upon which the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari was being projected to Nigerians exposes the deceitful nature of the opposition and qualifies the APC candidate for failure at the polls come March 28.

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/governor-fayose-said-buharis-london-interview-was-stage-managed/

Leadership

A former ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Ambassador John Campbell, yesterday said that the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would boost the winning chances of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the rescheduled March 28 presidential election.

Speaking in his new article, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent in New York, John Campbell added that the former president’s decision to quit the party on which platform he ruled the country from 1999 to 2003, as a result of his unending face-offs with President Goodluck Jonathan would certainly work in favour of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “This move, along with numerous other defections from the ruling party, may be a sign that the hitherto badly splintered ruling elites may be coming together again in the face of the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption, incompetence of the federal government, and the Abuja government’s declining economic performance.”

Furthermore, the former US envoy who is also a Senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations said that Buhari’s positive polling data and the anecdotal evidence of his growing appeal in all parts of the country and across religious and ethnic lines may reflect on this emerging elite consensus.

He also added that a largely reunited political class in favour of Buhari would make it difficult for Jonathan and the ruling PDP to rig the presidential elections as being rumoured and alleged by the opposition parties.

Source

http://www.safecozzy.com/news/campbell-said-obasanjos-exit-from-pdp-will-boost-buharis-winning-chances/

http://leadership.ng/news/413528/obasanjos-exit-from-pdp-will-boost-buharis-winning-chances-campbell

nigerian System of education being backward before BC
sorry i ws so blunt

these meant to be the dreams of every young girl... Please Mods to the front page to encourage younger ones that they can still succeed through education.. these are the respectable & unquestionable future leaders of tomorrow in these country of ours.

read more on
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2965362/Is-Britain-s-cleverest-girl-Ten-year-old-accepted-university-course-study-maths-degree-despite-not-going-school.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

http://www.safecozzy.com/news/a-nigerian-girl-10yr-old-accepted-in-uk-university-to-study-maths-degree/

God Help us all, we won't loose any of our loved ones this year



https://twitter.com/realomosexy

gwales:
more like otuoke imams

don't talk about them like that, dose ae servants of God & Allah

At a meeting between the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, held in his palace, the President assured the leaders that serious efforts were being put into the revival of the power sector to make good the government’s promise to the people.

President Jonathan also said that the report of the national conference wass ready and would be implemented to the letter with the help of the National Assembly.

The high powered PDP delegation at the meeting, led by the President, included the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adamu Muazu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital, Jumoke Akinjide, Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoroa and Senator Teslim Folarin among others.

The foremost monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, expressed gratitude for the visit and prayed for the country and President Jonathan. He expressed optimism that the people of Oyo State would support the president in the polls ahead.

Political analysts have stressed that for President Jonathan to emerge winner in the rescheduled polls, he would need to win the south-west, which is the geo-political zone with the second largest number of voters. It has over 13 million voters.

The north-west, where the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), is from, is the largest geo-political zone, with not less than 18 million registered voters.

Jonathan had earlier on Friday visited monarchs in the Ogun-Central Senatorial District, the same region where a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who withdrew his membership of the ruling party last week, hails from on Friday.

The traditional rulers who attended the meeting with Jonathan in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were about 20 and they were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. Others at the meeting were the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.

The Awujale and the Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle were absent

Source
http://www.channelstv.com/2015/02/22/jonathan-seeks-yoruba-leaders-support/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

http://www.safecozzy.com/news/president-goodluck-jonathan-seeks-yoruba-leaders-support/

Do you think this music needed a remix video at this time
MY humble thought he would have waited for like 6 month or a year like oritsha Femi did on his double wahala

Source & More Photo's On
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/woju-remix-by-kiss-daniel-ft-davido-tiwa-savage-btspics/

Background

My name is Precious John and I am the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Model of the Year 2014. I am 22 years old. I am studying Mass Communication at Lead City University, Ibadan. I am from Anambra State.

Modelling

I started modelling at the age of 19. I have done lookbooks for designers like Clan Diaries, Maki Oh and Phunk Afrique to mention but a few.

Pageant

Growing up, I developed a passion for modelling and also wanted to be a beauty queen. Last year, I felt the time was right for me to go into pageantry. MBGN was my first choice and I bought the form.

Camp

Life in camp was tough. All the girls wanted to win but only one winner emerged at the end of the day. Even though I did not win, I am happy I emerged MBGN Model of the Year. I was rewarded with a one-year contract with a modelling agency and the opportunity to attend the New York Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and other notable fashion shows in Nigeria.

Family support

My parents did not support my decision to become a model. They believe only badly-behaved children become models. With time, they saw reason with me and approved of my decision to take part in MBGN.

Role models

I admire Tyra Banks. She has achieved so much on and off the runway. I look up to Agbani Darego. We have met before and we compared notes. I also admire Millen Magese and Naomi Campbell.

Pet project

As the MBGN Model of the Year, I do not have a pet project because I am a model.

Fame

When I go to the market to buy things, people point at me. Sometimes, I am not free to do some of the things I want to do because it appears everyone is looking at me. Being famous is an advantage because people know me and it keeps me in check.

Men

Being polite and being a lady comes in handy when dealing with men. Men will always come, but I let them know I am not ready for a relationship.

When I am ready, I pray to get a good man because every lady deserves one. I want someone that is God-fearing and understanding. He has to be good -looking too. He must be comfortable but not extremely wealthy. I want a man that we can build our fortune together.

Nudity

Alek Wek is an African model and she has nude pictures, Naomi Campbell has posed nude several times. I have posed nude before and it is part of my portfolio. My mum did not like it, but I had to explain to her that it was something I needed to do. After all, I am above 18 years old. My nude pictures are part of my portfolio. I am a model and a model is like a mannequin. I would pose nude again if there is need for me to.

Beauty

I work hard to stay slim. In my family, we are chubby. I go to the gym when I am free and I also eat healthy. My statistics are 34, 27, and 36. I am six feet tall. I do not like heavy make-up, except if I have a photo shoot. I make sure I wash my face before I go to bed.

Style

I like to wear dresses that look good on me. I don’t like to dress like a tomboy, because I like to look like a lady.

Aspirations

I want to be known on the international scene. I also hope to raise a family.

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/i-will-pose-nude-again-by-mbgn-model/

Isn’t this Awesome, Current President of Nigeria dosent practice nepotism in religion and he tries to show that as he visits all Islamic Clerics In Lagos State. President Jonathan yesterday met with Islamic Clerics and Scholars at the State House in Lagos.

these Literally shows he isn't biased.. My Own Opinion

Source & More Photo's On
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/president-goodluck-jonathan-meets-with-islamic-clerics/

Read More On
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/jonathan-said-he-underestimated-boko-haram/

President Goodluck Jonathan said he underestimated Boko Haram Islamists who have overrun swathes of the country’s northeast and defended an election postponement in an interview published Sunday.

Jonathan, facing a tight re-election bid against ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, has faced criticism over the vote delay, which critics argue was designed to give him time to shore up his campaign.

The military pushed for the six-week delay eventually granted by the electoral commission to allow it to secure the country for the vote, though Boko Haram’s insurgency has raged for six years.

Presidential and parliamentary elections are now set for March 28.

“Probably at the beginning, we, and I mean myself and the team, we underrated the capacity of Boko Haram,” Jonathan said in an interview with influential newspaper ThisDay.

He said that the military has recently acquired more arms and ammunition to do battle with the Islamists, vowing that their suppression and the capture of the group’s leader were near.

“God willing, we will catch (Abubakar) Shekau before the elections,” he said.

Asked why six more weeks would make a difference in the years-long conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people, Jonathan said the military could make reasonable progress in that time.

“We are not saying we must finish Boko Haram to conduct elections, but we should get to a point where they will not cause havoc if they make an attempt,” he said in the interview.

“My belief is that by 28th of next month, when the elections will be conducted, Boko Haram may not even be in a position to attack any town, God willing.”

Nigeria‘s military authorities on Saturday claimed to have recaptured the fishing town of Baga from the Islamists, more than a month after it was overrun in what is feared to be the worst massacre of the six-year insurgency.

There was no independent corroboration of the claim, as thousands of Baga residents had fled the town after Boko Haram attacked on January 3 and hundreds, if not more, were killed in the following days.

Over one million people have been left homeless since 2009 as the rebels try to carve out an Islamic state in northeasternNigeria.

The Islamists have recently extended their violent campaign into nations neighbouring Nigeria‘s northeast as regional forces pursue them.

Source

http://www.safecozzy.com/news/jonathan-said-he-underestimated-boko-haram/

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/i-underestimated-boko-haram-jonathan/#sthash.9UB9oBun.hogrVu2C.dpu

miraclewonder:
OMG! people can be so wicked. This is greed at its peak. Thanks be to Baba God for exposing them & delivering the pastor & family.

God would protect us all this year

okonja:
In Summary



The bolded so touching

y?

Afrok:
Okay! Wi yaf head , next...

temitemi1:
No be today nah don dey predict doom n at end of the day GOD is always showing his mercies . GEJ till 2019!!!

i support GEJ tooooo

When celebrity photographer and singer, Toyin Bello aka T Y Bello welcomed a set of twin boys in October 2014 after waiting for 9 years, many of her fans and well wishers were so happy her.
While inspiring married women waiting on the Lord for the fruit of the womb, T Y Bello shares her struggles with dealing with pressures from friends and family, dealing with the Endometriosis disease and the birth of her adorable twin boys, Christian and Christopher.
Read excepts from her interview with Genevieve Magazine below:

My journey to pregnancy was a very intense one. I had just been through the toughest nine years of trying to get pregnant, being confident that it would be a breeze since I had always known that I would make a great mother. It was quite humbling when it didn’t happen as I had envisioned it. It was grueling actually.

“At first we didn’t know I was carrying twins. When I was going for my test, I didn’t feel pregnant. Before I went, I heard in my spirit, ‘Wear something nice’. I questioned the voice and wondered if it was nice to dress so nicely and get disappointed, setting myself for a heartbreak. In the end, I obeyed. I decided in my mind that whether I was pregnant or not, I was not going to stop believing. My doctor was very dramatic about the announcement too. She screamed so much we couldn’t even decipher her words. I had a delayed reaction as her words wouldn’t sink in. It was overwhelming, We were truly happy and couldn’t stop crying. I remember two people, Pastors Obi Pax Harry and Angela Ashong telling me matter-of-factly that I was going to have twins. It happened to the detail. My friends know how I have always made it a joke about having twin boys to make up for lost time. I wanted boys because I joked that I was an eternal fourteen year old lanky boy myself and so we would all get along. I can’t believe God was listening. It was few months before we could confirm that we were having boys”

Battle with Endometriosis

“In perfect timing though, two older friends of mine, Dr Odaga and Mrs Morin Desalu came into our lives and helped us be more proactive in our journey to becoming parents. What started with dark clouds took a turn. For instance when Aunty Morin whisked my husband and I to see her doctor at George’s hospital. We discovered that a long standing yet undiagnosed battle with Endometriosis was responsible and I just assumed I had the worst period pains. Shortly after that, through Dupe Kupoluyi, we met a fantastic doctor named Yemisi Bero at the Arc Clinic who became our fertility doctor. I went through my IVF cycle with her, probably in the middle of the busiest seasons in my career. I remember jabbing myself at airports sometimes just to keep with the schedule as I worked like crazy. Sometimes I think I stayed so ridiculously busy just to keep my mind off the difficult process. To the glory of God, that cycle was successful and everything inside of me screamed for me to slow downed but I didn’t just know how. I decided to start a pregnancy journal and instinctively titled it “Quiet Streams” Immediately I knew then that everything was going to change and it did. It was like a switch was flipped and my body went rest mood”

Pressure from family members:

“Oh you can’t even begin to imagine. Society and even your personal fears can pressure you before a desire manifests. In our society, as with most, once you hit a four year mark after your wedding, everyone around you starts to blare their alarm. Nine years? Now that was deafening. Every time I prayed, I knew everything was going to be fine and my life was in the course set for me. The pressure gets more difficult when you are trying and it isn’t happening. It was important I turn a deaf ear sometimes. It was important that I didn’t feed my doubts. Someone once said to me after the babies came, “You can’t call your experience waiting, you were living your life to the full before their arrival”. I explained that that was exactly my waiting experience. I always say that Christ came to die that we may have life and have life abundantly and that I want to live life to the maximum. If you allow yourself to sustain a state of misery because you don’t have something, whether marriage, children or a dream career, then you can’t have a full life. It is in the place of living outside of the tyranny of the desire that it comes to you in its full glory. I knew for sure I was born to be a great mum. I just wasn’t sure on how it would play out but I knew it would happen nonetheless”

On the lowest points during her journey

“There were some tough days especially towards the end when I battled with thoughts that God had given me everything else I asked him for and that maybe this was the one thing I would have to let go of. I however knew deep down that this was untrue. I concluded that our desire for parenthood was persistent only because it was a prayer answered. Faith opened me up to the reality that God would answer me and I didn’t need to hand-twist him as to how. This was what helped open my heart to an IVF process in the first place “

On whether she ever considered adoption or surrogacy

“We put every option on the table. It helped that we had so many friends who had gone through the different paths to parenthood. Ironically while trying, I had photographed a family that had tried for over a decade and had just welcomed a bay via a surrogate mother. I have done countless baby shoots before and I saw no difference between theirs and others. It was really comforting when I observed the bond was exactly the same across board. I also have friends that adopted children and they are not in anyway less happy. Motherhood is truly spiritual. I think considering other options isn’t giving up but letting go. It’s in this place that Miracles happen”.

On the effect of the illness, Endometriosis during her pregnancy

“Endometriosis can make conception more tricky and difficult but I and countless other women stand as testament that it doesn’t make it impossible. But at the end of the day, people react differently so its difficult to generalize. For me once my pregnancy progressed, it seized to be a major concern”

Addressing rumors that she did not carry her boys herself, that she engaged the services of a surrogate

“Funny enough I had a shoot during my pregnancy and the makeup artist who did my makeup during my maternity shoot was in a room where this was being thrown around and she couldn’t stop laughing as she spent enough time with me when I was pregnant. I was blessed to have Kelechi Amadi-Obi make the photographs and it was special as he had photographed our wedding as well. Its beautiful to have your bump photographed in appreciation but not necessarily as evidence of your being with a child. There are women who would become mothers via adoption or surrogacy. The difference is insignificant. We all carry our children”

Her advice to women who are waiting for a child

“Waiting of any kind can be very troubling. You can’t imagine what a waiting woman goes through. I have sooken to may women and they described the process as getting an endless cycle of hope and disappointment. That is what breaks the spirit coupled with the stigma, especially in this part of the world. My advice is to never let go of the desire to be parents as God himself put it there. Celebrate the fact that you are alive and never take it for granted. Give yourself permission to experience joy, to dream and fulfill purpose as you wait. It adds value to the type of parent you become. It is always worth it in the end”

Celebrities suffer in silence ohh

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/t-y-bello-talks-about-her-tough-9-years-journey-to-having-her-babies/

The Nigerian Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, on Saturday paraded a pastor, Olufemi Timothy, and four others accused of child trafficking in Ibadan. The command also paraded 12 boys and four girls allegedly being used by the accused persons in a slavery ring.
The Controller of the command, Innocent Akatu, said the accused persons were apprehended in various locations in Ibadan, adding that they would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons for legal actions.
Our correspondent, who was at the command when the culprits and their victims were handed over to NAPTIP officials from Lagos, observed that the children were not well fed and clothed. One of the children, who identified herself as Glory, said that she had been in Nigeria for three years without being paid. She could not recognise places where she had worked or whom she had worked for. She also said her mother was told by someone that she was coming to Nigeria to work and earn good money.
Akatu said, “Human trafficking is a serious crime that we are trying to end. We have very young children being taken away from their parents under the pretext that the traffickers would get jobs for them or give them a better standard of living. Many of them are brought into Nigeria from Benin Republic, Togo and other neighbouring countries. They are sold into slavery by those who brought them into the country.”
He made reference to a boy of nine years old, who was brought to Ibadan from Benue by his brother and sold into slavery, saying, “He does not know where he is. These children do not receive the wages paid for them. The money goes to the people who brought them. So it’s pure slavery. In the past, when we arrested children like these, we reconciled them with their parents. Even the foreigners would be taken to their countries. But we now felt that the method did not help to check the problem. That is why we are handing them over to NAPTIP for appropriate legal action,” Akatu said.
While explaining how Timothy and 12 of the victims were arrested in Iwo Road area of Ibadan, the controller said the pastor was arrested with another man who brought the children from Benin Republic.
In an attempt to exonerate himself, Timothy said he had only come from his farm to help a labourer when he was apprehended.
He said, “I am a pastor and a farmer. There is a labourer in my farm who called me from Ibadan. He said he was stranded in the city. I ran down quickly to help him out at Iwo Road. He had 12 children with him from Benin Republic but I never knew he had such people in his company.

He was travelling to Ikire with them but my farm is in Ajoda Farm Settlement. I cannot deny knowing him but all I was trying to do was to help him, not knowing that he was trafficking children to Nigeria. I have foreigners in my farm but I don’t know how they entered into Nigeria. They were already here before I employed them.”

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/pastor-arrested-for-child-trafficking-in-ibadan-photo/

A former United States’ ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has warned of likely large scale violence in the March 28 and April 11 polls.

A new report published and released by the US’ Council on Foreign Relations and authored by Campbell, said the 2015 elections may “precipitate violence that could destabilise Nigeria.”



The report noted that the US government was at a loss as its influence on the Nigerian government has waned over the years.

“The upcoming elections are a rematch of the 2011 elections between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan (a southern Christian) and Muhammadu Buhari (a northern Muslim and a former military chief). Tension between Washington and Abuja is higher than in 2011, largely over how to respond to the radical Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, which is steadily gaining strength in northeast Nigeria,” it said.

According to the report titled, ‘Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election: Contingency Planning Memorandum Update,’ Jonathan will face a stiff competition from Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in the March 28 presidential poll.

“The APC is stronger than its predecessors (Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressives Change) and reflects a splintering of the political classes. The government’s inability to defeat Boko Haram, the economic hardships brought on by falling oil prices, and a growing public perception that the Jonathan administration is weak have fueled support for the All Progressives Congress. Though the APC’s voter base is in the North, it enjoys support all over the country, unlike the opposition in 2011,” Campbell stated.

He, however, pointed out that Jonathan had significant advantages over Buhari. According to him, the President is “is at the centre of extensive patronage networks; he has access to the government’s oil revenue; and he and his party largely control the election machinery and ballot-counting infrastructure.

Though the former US ambassador to Nigeria said would-be voters in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe were likely to cast their votes for Buhari and the APC, he tipped the incumbent President to win the poll.

“It is uncertain whether any provisions will be made for voters in the three northern states placed under a state of emergency because of Boko Haram, as well as the estimated one million people displaced by the insurgency. These displaced voters would likely support Buhari and the APC; their exclusion would benefit Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Thus despite the strength of the opposition, Jonathan remains the likely—but not certain—winner.”

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/expect-violence-in-2015-elections-campbell-warns/

Young Nollywood star OC Ukeje surprised many when he tied the knot to his Canadian-based love Ibukun Togonu.

In a recent interview with Punch, he talked about his long-distance marriage, receiving ‘hate messages’ from female fans and more.

On Female Fans’ Reactions to His Marriage
“I got so many hate messages from female fans. We get messages like that every day but you do not know who is serious and who is joking. I just take all of them at face value and move on because at the end of the day, they are just fans.”

On Being in a Long-Distance Marriage
“We spoke about the distance between us before we got married. It is something that must be addressed. I do my best to stay faithful to the one that I decided to remain faithful to for the rest of my life. We do our best to stay in touch with each other every day so that we would know what we are up to. We make sure we stay in constant touch with each other.”

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/oc-ukeje-said-i-got-so-many-hate-messages-when-i-got-married/

Right at the beginning of 2015, ThisDay columnist Azuka Ogujiuba went in on Toke Makinwa’s hosting skills at the Headies.

In an article published today, she talked about D’banj‘s humble beginnings, ascent to fame, his alleged debts, and how she thinks he should have handled his 10th anniversary celebration.

“Anyway, l think D’banj should have celebrated his 10th anniversary on stage by giving back to the music community and to the country whose fans made him. He should have had a black tie event. Where family, close friends and not ass lickers (that is if he still has close friends),the big wigs in their Nigeria entertainment industry, his contemporaries, young and old will come on stage and tell the world how he has inspired their career, sing any of his hit songs or sing a tribute song specially composed for him. D’banj loves everything America, so by now he should have seen how BET organizes such events for their big stars or legends and not spend hard earned money bringing Amber Rose, who is no nowhere near a role model but a glorified stripper who felt too big to twerk but ordered her ‘assistant’ like Dominic to twerk for sponsors like Diamond Bank and made his guests look stupid because everybody who came wanted to see Amber Rose twerk. Two lies D’banj told was that Amber will host his show, she never did, for the host of the show was Jimmie ofBeat FM, and she also did not twerk like the impression D’banj gave.

D’banj should have played the role of a god-father by inviting budding artistes like Runtown, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Dija (l call them the Mavin babies that is if Don Jazzy will release them though) Brain, Skales, B-Red, Lil Kesh and Teckno. The list goes on. These chaps would come and rivet all on how D’banj has inspired their careers. And if he wants a big star to host his event, we have Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw or Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde who are people’s delight any day. They will be supported by my new favorite anchor man, Jimmie, he will soon be my “man crush” after Phyno, we would have had a beautiful and memorable night; biko.

He would have promised an unknown artist a record label deal in his newly formed Bangalee family; though we are yet to hear any singles from the ones on board.

Does D’banj have an inferiority complex problem even as big as he is in Africa? Why does he think being in American will put him a better and a bigger platform? Why doesn’t he think of ruling Africa and let the likes of Kanye West, that he was one time chasing around, Jay Z, John Legend and Common search for him? Why does he think these American stars are better than him? Now he has brought in Amber Rose, only God knows how much she got paid just for seven minutes on stage, to do what now? This is exactly what Darey Art Alade did too with Kim Kadashian. What is wrong with all these dudes? Meanwhile, ex- presidents like Bill Clinton will visit and give lectures. They will stay till the end of the events and the shallow and empty ones just spend three to seven minutes on stage doing nothing yet they are heavily paid. D’banj and co please give back to your society who made you and stop wasting money on these American stars who don’t give a hoot about you. Now when Kim Kadarshian was getting married to Kanye in Paris, did she remember that Darey Art-Alade paid her so much money to be at his show? Did she send him an invite? And what about Kanye West did he remember to send D’banj an invite for his wedding? Nigerian artistes should please stop worshipping these guys and build their brands. Nigerian artistes are so big and talented, maybe the best after American artistes in the world. And that’s why l like P-Square. Can’t D’banj take a simple cue from his contemporaries like P-Square and 2baba, Flavor and Jay Martins who are making cool millions all over Africa? I heard with all the money he has made all through his career he is still living in a rented property like me, while P-Square, 2face even the Dr Sid (whom he kept accusing broke Mo’hits up) is happily settled in his career, marriage and has moved to his personal house. I am still not married so l have no moral ground to question why he is still single. When D’banj is sober he should ask himself what was the significance of bringing Amber Rose to Nigeria? l think among all the celebrated women he dated, he lost a good woman in Jennifer Obayuwana, a kind hearted hardworking and supportive woman. I am sure he secretly regrets losing the newly engaged Jennifer, a smart guy called Peter has taken over that jewel. Who knows? Jennifer may be secretly thanking God the affair ended.”

Whats your Opinion

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/azuka-ogujiuba-questions-dbanj-living-on-rented-property-critiques-his-latest-show-love-for-foreigners-lists-his-alleged-debts-more-in-latest-article/

Amen

PM News is reporting an attempted plot by 2 domestic staff to poison Pastor of Trinity House Church Ituah Ighodalo and kidnap his wife Elizabeth R CEO Ibidunfor an 80 million Naira random.

Three people are currently under arrest – a dog handler and security guard both employed by the Ighodalos at their home alongside a native doctor. Their plot was in motion but was foiled at an early stage when the couple’s dog died suddenly. Read an excerpt from the PM News report. You can read the complete story HERE.

Police investigation revealed that nemesis caught up with the suspects when the couple’s pet dog named Simba suddenly died from food poisoning at their residence at Ikoyi, Lagos.

Suspecting a foul play, the couple contacted their dog’s doctor to conduct an examination on it to know the cause of its death and the doctor’s report revealed that the dog died from food poisoning.
The couple reported the incident to the police and the dog handler was arrested and taken to the station for interrogation.

During interrogation, according to the police, the dog handler (Mohammed) from Borno State, allegedly confessed that he mixed poisonous substances given to him by a herbalist with food for the dog to eat and after the dog ate the food it died.

In his alleged confession to the police, Mohammed further said: “The security man in our estate, Eze, brought the information that if we poison my boss to death, kidnap his wife and demand for N80 million ransom we would be rich overnight. And to actualise our mission, I went to consult a native doctor, Ewuosi for help.

“And after explaining my mission to the native doctor, he gave me poisonous black powder, black soap and sponge with a directive that I must use the powder to poison my master’s dog to know the effectiveness of the poison and if it vomits and dies, I should use it to poison anybody.

“After the dog died, we were still planning how to use the poison on my boss and kidnap his wife for ransom before I was arrested. But I don’t know how the devil used me to plan such evil against my employers because they were taking good care of me. I pray to God to forgive me.”

The prosecutor for the case, Chidi Okoye revealed more disturbing details of the plot to Leadership Nigeria Newspaper.

He alleges that the first defendant, who allegedly had sexual fantasies towards Mrs Ighodalo, planned to kill her husband after killing the dog, so that the affection she has for her husband and the dog will be transferred to him.

The defendants were later apprehended after Mrs. Ighodalo said she “prayed and the Holy Spirit revealed” to her that something was wrong.

When the defendants were confronted with the allegation, they confessed to have poisoned the dog and that they were also planning to getting rid of her.

The prosecutor also told the court that the first defendant claimed that he got a black soap and powder from the herbalist who asked him to buy a sponge, bath with it and throw it into the river.

According to Okoye, the native doctor had assured Mohammed that after the bath he would be able to demand for N10m and any other thing he wanted from Mrs Ighodalo and she would give them to him.

Though Mohammed confessed, the 3 accused have all entered non-guilty pleas. They are currently being held at Ikoyi Prisons

Source
http://www.safecozzy.com/news/police-uncover-evil-plot-by-domestic-staff-to-poison-pastor-ituah-ighodalo-kidnap-his-wife-ibidun-for-n80m-ransom/