Former Vice President Mike Akhigbe dies at 68

Former Chief of General Staff, and Vice President of Nigeria during the General Abdusalam Abubakar led military government, Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, is dead. The former military governor of Ondo State died yesterday Monday October 28th in a hospital in New York after battling with throat cancer for many years. He was 68 years old. May his soul rest in peace...amen

Lady Gaga performs completely naked at London show

Lady Gaga obviously has no limits. And with all that talent she has she probably doesn't need this. She performed completely naked at a London gay club on Saturday night. She began her performance at G.A.Y in this long, white petticoat-style gown, and later took off her dress in front of the audience. See more photos after the cut.

Mike Tyson On The Verge Of Death Due To Drug And Alcohol Problems

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson claims he is “on the verge of dying” from ongoing drug and alcohol problems. Tyson, 47, admitted he is a continual substance abuser but added he is hopeful of finally getting clean. “I want to live my sober life. I don’t want to die. I’m on the verge of dying, because I’m a vicious alcoholic,” Tyson said on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”. “I’m a bad guy sometimes. I did a lot of bad things, I want to be forgiven.” Tyson, who now works as a boxing promoter, added: “I hope they can forgive me. I want to change my life, I want to live a different life now.

After Rejecting France And British Citizenship,Boxing Legend,Ayodele Peters Says He Regrets Being A Nigerian.Read His Touching Story

Olympian Ayodele Peters laments living in poverty despite being a former international sportsman. .Lost his wife, kids for N5, 000 medication .Regrets rejecting citizenship of France, Britain .Leaves in an uncompleted building .Forced to retire prematurely .Wants his entitlements paid A line in the National anthem says ‘The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain’ But whether this promise is strictly adhered to has become an illusion to the majority of Nigerians. But that is one promise that has been called to question in the lives of many who have spent their active years serving the nation. This particularly true of sports men and women abandoned by the nation at the most critical times of their lives. The families of sports legends like Hogan ‘King’Bassey, Rashidi Yekini, Muda Lawal, Sam Okwaraji, Christ Odumezua, Sam Ojebode, Joseph Ladipo, and lately Thomson Oliha, would testify to this fact. Even the living ones like Joe Mensah, Sebastian Brodericks, Paul Hamilton, Davidson Andeh, Tunde Disu, Sunday Onyerekwa, Peter Konyegwachie, Peter Aneke, Joe Lasisi, and the first Olympic medalist for Nigeria, Nojeem Mayegun, who now resides in Austria, cannot boast of enjoying the best of rewards for the services they rendered to their fatherland. One of the latest victims of this official neglect is Ayodele Peters, a retired boxer who went as far as representing Nigeria at the Olympics games in 1980. But all he has to show for that today is grinding poverty on account of which he lost his wife and children and now lives in an uncompleted building in a remote part of Lagos. Peters abode is situated on Kehinde Onifade Street, a lonely street in the Alaja area of Ayobo, a Lagos suburb. It is a three bedroom bungalow devoid of any identification number because of its remote nature. It has no doors or windows and looks abandoned in every sense. Tattered cloths serves as window blinds in the apartment he also shares with some domestic animals. The room that harbours him also harbours a stove, pots, and other cooking utensils, Like most Nigeria’s sport legends, his journey from grace to grass started when according to him he fell out with the officials of the Ogun State Sports Council in 1989. Having started his boxing career as a student of the Lagos State Technical College, where he graduated with a certificate in Building Technology in 1976, Peters was immediately co-opted as one of the pioneer staff of the Ogun State Sports Council after its creation same year. Recounting his ordeal, ‘Anikulapo’ as he is fondly called by his admirers narrated how he watched his wife and kids, a boy and a girl snatched away by the cold hands of death in a bizarre circumstance in 1996. According to him they had fallen ill at different times and he couldn’t provide five thousand naira for their medications. Just 56 years of age, the frail –looking ex-boxer is already looking 80. He took this correspondent through a long walk from the Megida Bus/stop, Ayobo to his resident, on Kehinde Onifade Street, as he keeps apologizing after every ten metres walked: “My brother I am really sorry taking you through this stress, I am ashamed we could not board an okada (Commercial motor-cycle), that is because I don’t have the hundred naira to spear. Please forgive me. This is what I have had to face for so many years now. At times I walk longer distance,” he had said repeatedly. Peters had represented Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, where he fought his way to the quarter finals before he was stopped by an Iraqi boxer in the 63.5 kg weight category. Before his Olympic appearance, he made his mark on the local scene as one of the most decorated boxers in the country, winning laurels at the prestigious National Sports Festival and other competitions for Ogun Statein the 70s and late 80s, with the dreaded Davidson Andeh as one of his contemporaries. “I was employed into the Ogun State Sports Council the same year it was created. So we were the pioneer employees of the state and I was placed on grade level 03. By 1978, I had four fights for Ogun State and after our recruitment, a former light- heavy weight champion then Archi More was in Nigeria on contract with the National Sport Commission and seconded to the Nigeria Amateur Boxing Association. He left Lagos and after some months came to Abeokuta. It is through him I discovered the secrets of boxing and after taking us through a course I was awarded a grade 3 coaching certificate. “Later I had to fight at the Alake area of the state against Kwara and Benue states all of which I won convincingly and I was in Ilorin and Makurdi as well and repeated the same feat. By 1979 I had boxed my way into the national team during the fourth National Sports Festival,Oluyole‘79 where I met the dreaded Davidson Andehin the finals and I had a cut on my eye-lead. I love him, I have a lot of regard for him, he’s got speed and one of the best boxers Nigeria has ever produced. I won silver for Ogun State at the competition but three months later we met again in the champion of champions’ competition (Eagles’ Belt) in Lagos, thought i had a good fight, but he defeated me again with a slim margin. “By 1980 I was one of the four boxers invited to the national camp and I was the only one that qualified because I won my three fights via knockouts to be the only qualified boxer from Ogun State ahead of the European championship, and by God’s grace I excelled. I returned from the competition and I was selected to represent Nigeria at the 22nd Olympics in Moscow same year where I lost in the quarter finals to an Iraqi boxer, I have forgotten his name now. Coming to Nigeria I was supposed to commence my annual leave after the Olympics, but was invited to the state camp in preparation for the all Technical Colleges Games hosted by Kano ‘tagged’Dala 80’. I reported to camp in Ijebu –Ode,my leave notwithstanding. I won the only gold medal among all the Ogun State contingents to that game. Though I got the award of the best sportsman of the year in Ogun State that year, but the sports council didn’t inform me so it was done in absential. Though I was sad about it, I had to move on. In 1981 I was selected again to represent the country at the European championship where I performed very well,” he explained. Expressing regrets at sticking with Nigeria when he had options of taking up the citizenship of top European countries like France and Great Britain, the Lagos born former athlete has had to leave from hand to mouth in his country of birth. Claiming to have lost everything he worked for in life, Peters’ only consolation is the fact that he is hale and healthy, and that his aged mother, who according to him is approaching her 90s and resides at the Magodo area of Lagos, is still alive. “I love boxing because it is a way of life. I am so sad now that I rejected the citizenship of some countries especially France way back in 1980 because I was carried away by patriotism for Nigeria. I loved representing my country, but now I don’t know how I feel about Nigeria. I feel deadness within me, I feel like I don’t exist anymore likewise some of my other colleagues, who are still alive. I am even grateful to God that I am able to walk around. There are some of my contemporaries that are very sick, blind, and yet the country they served all their lives is not looking their way why? Why are we like this? When will things change? Why do we do this to ourselves? “I regret being a Nigerian and I am ashamed. I am really ashamed; I don’t see anything good coming. This is a country where its only when you are active that you are remembered after that you are finished nobody looks after you. Look at countries as small as Benin Republic here they don’t neglect there ex –sportsmen or women. We call ourselves the largest black nation and we are like this. I am sad for Nigeria, and sad for the children coming into the world through this country. Is this what they will also face in the future? For one to spend his fruitful years serving a country and now leaving in an uncompleted building in my home state. What can I say, except that God should help me. I can’t pray for death, no. And I have become the greatest coward, the moment it comes to committing suicide, I am the number coward I can’t. I hope God will do something fast, put it in somebody’s heart to take me out of this mess. I am sorry in 1996 I lost my wife and two children to death for lack of money to purchase prescribed medicine I am a sad man. I am a loner,” he lamented. Peters continued: “I hope I will not die in this situation because it will not be a good story for the land and even those living on it. If so many of us have died mysteriously, then why do we need to serve the country? People keep billions in their accounts, what do they do with it? Our mind sets must change, what would have been enough for children yet unborn, one individual will just put it in his account. I am just praying that God will not allow me die this way. Since 1994 that the sports council threw me to the street because of money and title, yes I mean the Ogun State Sport Council. From 1976 to 1994 they pushed me out on compulsory retirement, by 1996 they asked me to write an application for voluntary retirement. I made grade level 07 since 1986, so how can the sports council place me on compulsory retirement without the Ministry of Sports? The Sports Council is a parastatal under the Ministry of Sports, so they can’t say they place me on compulsory retirement without the Ministry of Sports. “By 1991 I have made grade level 09 and this was why I was pushed out. They said I am not an indigene of Ogun State, when I was representing and winning laurels nobody saw that. The lord has been preserving my soul otherwise I would have been dead by now. I am more saddened and look humiliated being a Yoruba man from the South West, because all they want to do is to try and get you down. I watched how Abiola was killed and I cried for myself, my people are terrible. I was asked to go and box forOgun State, even when they know I was involved in a serious motor accident, I still have the scar on my head, 18 stitches and I have the medical certificate. I was asked to stay away from active boxing and the sports council asked me to go and box as the only condition to effect my reinstatement as directed by Cornel Raji Rasaki, since February 1988 before he was transferred to Lagos. Do you know I still had to box in 1989? But God helped me. The day Okwaraji died I was boxing at the University of Lagos where they put the ring. The 8th National Sports Festival and I still won a medal. Unbelievable! And the state governor, Military Administrator Navy Capt. Lawal, at the time said all medalist in the employ of the sports council should be promoted to the next salary grade level so that has put me to level 08 since ’89 but all through that year, the sports council didn’t effect it. “A new Director of Sports came on board, I went to him and he gave me a new appointment, placing me on grade 07, a position I attained in 1986. I was advised to take it because it will give me better opportunity to fight my case. So I took it and started writing letters and by 1991 the Commissioner for Sports who signed my reinstatement, Dr. Ibikunle died suddenly, and since then the sports council have failed to implement what has been given to them,” he narrated. According to him by 1989 the Director of Sports and the Administrative Officer in the state’s Sports Council were removed by the state government for financial impropriety. A Sole Administrator was appointed in person of one Mr.Runsewe. He went to him and presented his case again, but to his amazement, Runsewe expressed fears, revealing that those behind his case were too powerful to handle. “He said to me in confidence, Peters I have seen your paper but I am afraid, your people here are too powerful, I don’t want to die. Your case is before me but there’s nothing I can do. He then said if I can win a medal for the state at the sports festival he will have the basis to do something. I felt so bad after I have been asked to stop active boxing, but like I said earlier I won a medal to the glory of God. In 1991 a new Commissioner for Sports was appointed in the person of Mrs Oshifunke Kuku, you remember I said the other Commissioner, who signed my reinstatement died suddenly. I went to Kuku with my petition, and she assured me that I will receive a letter from her office, which I truly received three days later. I wrote the petition through the Sports Council as directed, and she confirmed that truly my reinstatement has been sent since 1988. She said she has effected it including the outstanding promotions for the medals I won. She told me that I will be given grade level 09 step 2. And I was congratulated by the Honourable Commissioner,” he said. He wallowed in that situation for some more years before a certain Military Administrator ofOgun State, Cornel Daniel Akintande warded in. He was addressing a forum at the Cultural Centre, where Peters indicated his intention to present his case. The governor requested that he’s allowed to speak despite efforts made to shut him down. And after presenting his case, he was asked to rout the details through the Director General Bureau of Establishment and Training at the Sports Council, Alhaji Egberongbe. The details was sent to the Sports Council as directed and three days later he was attacked by nine men for going to the cultural centre to talk to the Military Administrator. “I still have the Police and hospital reports in my hands. Despite the fact that I recognized two out of the nine men, who attacked me the Police didn’t arrest any of them in 1994. They said I must have stepped on powerful toes. I almost died after the attack but thank God for the passersby who untied me. My hands and legs were tied together and I was dumped in a thick forest for over three hours. That was at Ayeloja Village, behind the mechanic village Ita-Oshin. “All I am asking for is that I should be reinstated and paid my arrears of pension. It is my entitlement and I should not be denied. I also want to beg Governor Fashola to help me with a descent place to leave in and a job I can do for the state, I am a qualified boxing coach. Boxing gave us the kind of recognition we enjoyed on the world stage. It started in 1968, you remember Nojeem Mayegun, who won the first medal for Nigeria at the Olympics. Thank God he does not leave here but in Austria. I am grateful to God for him. But recently I learnt he said he was home sick and want to return home but that he’s afraid to come home. I love Governor Fashola for what he is doing for sports. Have you watch him play football, he is a beautiful footballer. I love him so much, and I know that if he was a boxer, things would have been better for the ex- boxers because those in boxing don’t value their own. “Go to the National Stadium and see where my coach Hogan Bassey is buried, he was buried like a pauper. I have told myself that if I have the money I will go and rebuild his tomb and make it more beautiful. His tomb should be a tourist attraction, he was a world champion. I don’t know but I pray His Excellency Governor Fashola can give me a place to leave. I want to discover and develop boxers for Nigeria. Already he has made a name for himself for what he has done as far as sports development is concerned. I love him for that and I don’t care about his religion,” he said. Comparing his situation with that of the biblical Job, Peters is fast losing sight of the fond memories he enjoyed representing Nigeria in boxing as he seems to have nothing to be proud of anymore. His present condition is so devastating that he feels abandoned by a country he spent his youthful years serving in the area of sports. Praying that succor will come his way soon, he is however determined to keep hope alive until his change comes. “I don’t think there’s any future for the sports in the country. If I had children I won’t allow them represent this country. My only option for them will be that they rather represent a country that will see to their welfare when they grow old. Even if you are injured while representing the country, they will still take care of the individual not a country like Nigeria. I am just being frank with,” he said. But if Peters’ claims are anything to go by, then something drastic should be done before we lose another sports legend as a result of negligence.

[OPINION] Why MTN Should Make Blessing Okagbare An Ambassador Before Don Jazzy

Only 2 days ago, President Jonathan at a ceremony organised for Blessing Okagbare announced a cash gift of N3 million for her and N3.5million for her coach. Blessing is Nigeria’s golden athlete of the moment and has won medals for the country at the Olympics and the recently concluded World Athletics Championship where she won the silver medal in the long jump and also placed third in the Women’s 200m race. Read more after the cut President Jonathan also said Blessing, who happens to be Africa’s 100m record holder, and her coach would be considered for national honours. I personally believe that 3M is pretty small to appreciate this young woman who has single-handedly brought honour to a country of 160M. She made history when ended Nigeria’s 14-year wait for a World Championship medal of any colour at the IAAF in Moscow becoming the first Nigerian to win a medal at the Championships since Seville’99 where Gloria Alozie won a sliver medal in the 100m hurdles and Francis Obikwelu won a bronze over 100m. I’m glad that the President takes time to honour our footballers and athletes but then government shouldn’t be saddled with the responsibility of rewarding athletes for their performances. A government should focus more on building ultra modern training centers, facilities and programs for sports to thrive. I believe she deserves a lot more than 3M cash reward but that can only happen if the private sector see the opportunity to contribute to the development of sports instead of looking for quick wins. If this happens our athletes will make a lot more money through endorsements as done in the developed nations. Footballers like Messi, Basket ballers like Lebron James, Golfers like Tiger Woods and Tennis Stars like Roger Federer all make millions of dollars from Nike, Rolex and Pepsi endorsements. Going back to the title of my post. I have nothing against Don Jazzy or the musicians or the actors who get millions in endorsements from Glo, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat. What I have a problem with is where someone like Blessing goes unnoticed without being celebrated. She has done a whole country proud and there are not many like her. How about giving upcoming athletes something to aspire to. If we only celebrate music and movies in our dear country why won’t every Tom, Dick and Harry want to go into music and create some false talent for themselves. In terms of priority, I think a Blessing should be endorsed ahead of a Don Jazzy but then Don has a higher fan base and appeal than she does. It shouldn’t always be about business and profits though. (Disclosure: I think Don is a fab producer and has done well for Nigerian Music) This is a call for sports and athletes to be celebrated more in Nigeria. We can do a whole lot more. We have what it takes to dominate athletics, football, boxing, weightlifting, cycling, tennis etc globally but we need our government and private sector to invest more in facilities and talent. Football is one of the major points that unites Nigeria and we can have a lot more points through other sports. Lets keep the green flag flying. As you can see from the picture below by Asukwo. Someone said; “when it comes to endorsements you have to have a manager who will convince companies to use you to promote their products. You can’t sit and wait to be called, you have to market yourself”. Well, I want to serve as Blessing’s manager for today, MTN go and endorse Blessing quick quick!

This 14-Year-Old Nigerian And Chelsea Wonder Kid Habib Makanjuola Currently At The FIFA Under-17 World Cup Who Wants To Be Best In The World By Age 17

Habib Makanjoula is currently representing Nigeria at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, despite being just 14-years-old. Ever heard of a young man by the name of Habib Makanjoula? No, well get used to it because at 14-years-old he is the youngest player to have played so far at this year’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The FIFA Under-17 World Cup is currently under way, and the tournament that has previously unearthed gems such as Cesc Fabregas, Toni Kroos and Landon Donovan is sure to discover a few more for teams from thePremier League and around the globe to purr over. Makanjoula however is already one of them, after signing for Chelsea in August 2012. He said at the time that Barcelona, Lyon and Manchester United were all also interested in his talents, but he liked the development facilities at Chelsea so chose The Blues as the club to help him realise an ambitious dream: ‘’I settled for Chelsea because of their youth development programmes. I am confident that with what I saw in the club, I will realize my ambition to become the world’s best football player at the age of 17.’’ Wow, such self-belief for one so young, but he does have the skills to achieve his dream – at least, ball juggling skills that is. Makanjoula won the Red Bull World Football Juggling tournament in South Africa back in 2010 – at the age of 12. He even performed in front of 80,000 people at a Christian convention in the same year, receiving a scholarship to study in England as a reward for his excellence. He moved to Cambridge, and then had his trials at Chelsea which got him to this point today – 14-years-old and playing among the best 17 and 16-year-olds in world football. How he can translate his mesmerising skills onto the pitch remain to be seen, and despite wearing the number ‘7’ shirt in UAE he has only so far featured as a late substitute against Mexico. But Chelsea fans, remember the name Habib Makanjoula – because if he lives up to his own expectations, he is going to be a household name in three years’ time. Here is a video of him performing his ball-juggling routine … and before you criticise the final minute or so remember this… He is 12-years-old at the time in front of 80,000 people!

It's getting nasty! Brymo calls out Choc City boss Audu Maikori on Twitter

Really feel sorry for Brymo. So anyway, two things I will do here because I'm not on any party's side. 1, is to tell you that his new album, M, D & S is out. It came out today and I hear it's a good album, so go out there and buy it. 2. Show you guys the exclusive leaked photos of a court injunction against Brymo, making the release of his new album today illegal. See them after the cut...

Top Richest Nigerian Footballers

The adventure of the likes of Stephen Keshi, Etim Esin, Daniel Amokachi, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George overseas changed their fortunes from ordinary amateur footballers struggling with daily existence to professional footballers worth millions of naira. Investments of those who play the round leather game already amounts to billions of naira. Here is Sugarsport’s list of some richest footballers in Nigeria. YAKUBU AIYEGBENI Yak as he is popularly called is still widely regarded as the most successful Nigerian footballer to play in England. His assets include a mansion on Manchester Road, London, a duplex in VGC, 2 massive buildings in Benin city and hotels in Auchi,Edo State. The former Boro man owns a petrol station in Benin City which is run by his brother Momo Aiyegbeni. In his garage back home in Nigeria are a fleet of cars including a Range Rover and a BMW. OBAFEMI MARTINS He’s been everywhere. The on loan UD Levante of Spain forward has played for top clubs like Inter-Milan of Italy, Newcastle united of England , Birmingham City of England, Vfl Wolfsborg of Germany , Rubin Kazan of Russia and currently Seatle Sounders in the US. Obafemi Martins is the fifth highest paid player in US Major League Soccer for the 2013 season, according to a players’ union release. He is also the highest ever paid player for Seattle Sounders with an annual basic salary of $1.6million. The 28-year-old striker owns 2 mansions at VGC Lagos worth N500 million, a massive home in Como, Italy valued at N800 Million, and top hotels in Italy. He splashed N400million on his charity foundation not too long ago. He drives a Lamboghini worth N50m,Porsche Gemballa worth N20m, Bmw X6worth N 18M,and a Ferrarri sport car. JOHN MIKEL OBI Sources say John Mikel Obi, the Chelsea midfielder is the current highest earning Nigerian footballer. He joined Chelsea in 2006 from Norwegian club Fc Lyn Oslo on a US$25 million. He is currently on US$120,000,(N20m), per week excluding bonuses, and income from participating at the UEFA Champions League. The 25-year-old Jos born player owns mansions in Jos, Lagos and London worth about N800m. He has shares in top companies, and he recently launched a record label, MATURED MONEY MIND (MMM). He drives a Mercedes G Wagon, Black Mercedes G 500, a Range Rover Sport and a N30Million Bentley Continental. He once said, its very difficult finding a wife. Why won’t it be with all that cash

Ex-PMAN president Mustapha Amego dies after battle with cancer

Former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Mustapha Amego, has died after a long battle with colon cancer. The musician and former TV personality, who relocated to the US many years ago, died yesterday October 23rd in Baltimore, Maryland, US. For those who don't remember him, he was one of the host of popular 90's weekly music-dance show, Sunday Rendezvous. Mustapha was also PMAN president from 1993 to 1996. After his tenure, he relocated to the US where he worked with the Discovery Channel as a content producer and editor. He will be buried today according to Muslim rites. May his soul rest in peace...Ame

Atiku Abubakar vows to follow rape case...victim committed suicide

The Nigerian police in the southern state of Bayelsa has confirmed that an 18-year-old girl committed suicide after a gang rape by three unidentified men. The Spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr Alex Akhigbe, told newsmen in Yenagoa that the girl killed herself in Amarata, Yenagoa, Local Government Area of Bayelsa, southern Nigeria. “I believe the deceased decided to hang herself due to the attendant shame and stigmatisation she experienced after the rape incident,” Akhigbe said. He said that the command had launched investigation into the alleged rape charges filed by the deceased family. One of the family members, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the girl was reportedly gang-raped last week. “She was on errand for her elder sister and was allegedly raped at gun point by three boys who forced her into an uncompleted building. “The girl was devastated after the incident. “After some days she told her sister and the husband her experience. Her sister’s husband who is a Pastor, asked her to describe any of her attacker. “She described one of the boys, but the boy could not be found; I believe Pastor counselled her (the victim). “The pastor has promised to pursue the matter to the court. “She swallowed a poisonous substance known as Sniper and she was discovered while groaning in pains and rushed to GloryLand Hospital. “The victim was discovered through the note she dropped before taking the poisonous substance,” the source said.

OJB recuprating well after surgery

OJB has finally had his kidney surgery in a hospital in India and is said to be recuperating well. We thank God!

Chocolate City gets a Court Injunction against Brymo

Oh OK, now I see the reason for Brymo's tweets yesterday. He literally can't work as an artist until he sorts himself out with Choc City. Apparently his former record label Chocolate City through their law firm, L & A legal Consultants on Monday October 21st got an injunction against him, 'restraining him from recording, releasing, distributing any composition, song, musical works or carrying out any activity as a recording or performing artist through or for the benefit of any person or organisation other than Chocolate City pending the determination of the suit against him. Chocolate City says Brymo's contract remains valid until 2016. Brymo is too talented not to work... please y'all should sort this out!

Kwara State governor sacks all his commissioners and advisers

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, this afternoon Wednesday October 23rd sacked all the state commissioners, his special advisers, senior special assistants, and special assistants. He basically dissolved his cabinet. He then asked all the sacked commissioners to hand over their ministries to their respective permanent secretarie

The truth about Govt's position on ASUU strike - Finance Ministry

This is a press statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance about the ongoing ASUU strike. It's been four long months (Quite shameful I must add) with no apparent resolution to the conflict in sight...and some people are blaming the Minister of finance Dr Okonjo Iweala for what's going on. Some people in ASUU have been distributing flyers with abusive messages against Dr Okonjo-Iweala and now the ministry is issuing a statement about it, saying the minister is not the problem. I'd rather read about when ASUU is calling off this strike to be honest. Find the press statement below Contrary to some recent media reports, the Federal government has not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in its negotiations with ASUU. Rather, the approach is focused on positive engagement and achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in the country. That is why President Goodluck Jonathan recently appealed to ASUU to respond to government’s positive steps by calling off its strike in the interest of suffering students and parents. Despite this, for several days now, some elements in ASUU have been distributing pamphlets and flyers with abusive and inflammatory messages against the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in mosques and other places. This is taking academic unionism to a new low and infusing it with unnecessary politics. I am sure majority of ASUU members are not in support of this. These messages are directed at using falsehood to demonize the Minister as callous and unsympathetic to the plight of students and parents. The major lie being peddled in the pamphlets and flyers is that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has insisted on a “take-it-or-leave-it approach” in the negotiations with ASUU. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the daughter of two retired professors and her father is presently a member of ASUU’s Board of Trustees and has been one for a long time. She speaks with her father everyday on the issue so how can be insensitive to issues concerning the sad state of tertiary education in the country? She understands and sympathizes with the plight of both students and lecturers. She wants our children back in school as soon as possible. Remember she is a mother and two of her young relatives are sitting at home due to the strike. This is why government is working hard, under the leadership of the President, to seek practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing higher education in Nigeria. The President has made available N100 billion a year in the first instance to repair hostels, laboratories and classrooms and other facilities. An offer has also been made to ASUU of N30 billion towards their earned allowances. In fact, negotiations have even gone further than this. This is the first time, in years of negotiating with government, that significant sums of money have been put on the table for ASUU and universities on this particular set of issues. The Coordinating Minister is fully part of this. Against this background, ASUU elements who want the strike to continue should have a heart and rethink their current take-it-or-leave-it approach to negotiation. Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the university system. And it is even ready to do much more going forward. ASUU should listen to the voice of reason and the yearnings of Nigerians on this issue.

Burna Boy performs in his underpants + Is that an erection?

Burna Boy played at the New Afrika Shrine Felabration final last night Sunday Oct 20th and decided to imitate the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti by performing in his underpants. And is that an erection? #ojigbijigbijigbi in Papa Ajasco's voice. More photos after the cut...

Kanye West brings Jesus lookalike on stage during concert opener

Kanye West kicked off his 'Yeezus' tour in Seattle, yesterday Saturday October 19th and before his performance of his College Dropout hit song, Jesus Walks, a man dressed as Jesus walked on stage and Kanye jokingly asked "White Jesus, is that you?… Oh, shit!,". Later, Kanye and his female back-up dancers bowed to the Jesus look-alike as he stood on the mountain top. Kendrick Lamar was Kanye's opening act. He performed a nine-song set which included songs off his "good kid, m.a.a.d. city" album. Watch the video of Jesus Walks performance after the cut..

Photos from Okon Goes to School actor Ime Bishop's white wedding

kon goes to the altar...:-). Comic actor Ime Bishop Umoh married his boo Idara Saviour yesterday Saturday October 19th in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Congrats to them. See more photos after the cut.

Jeta & Mbong Amata have separated after almost 10 years together

For all the fans of Jeta and Mbong Amata, I am about to break your hearts. The prolific movie director and his beautiful actress wife of five years Mbong Amata, 28, have separated. They have actually been separated for about a year now but y'all are just hearing about it. And from what I gathered Jeta and Mbong didn't fight, they just decided to let each other go. Jeta met Mbong when she was only 16 years old in Calabar in 2001 during a movie audition. He waited for her to mature and they started dating when she turned 18 two years later. In 2008, they welcomed a daughter, that same year, Jeta married Mbong. They later moved from their base in Abuja to Los Angeles so Jeta could work on his movie projects. Continue to read why they broke up...so heartbreaking for such a young couple and maybe there's a lesson to be learnt here. Here's what I heard happened between them. Mbong met Jeta when she was so young, married him and became a mother in her early twenties. She is a former beauty queen (Miss Akwa Ibom 2003) and her dream was to be an actress. Jeta didn't mind his wife being an actress but he didn't want her featuring in Nollywood movies, so he restricted her. Mbong, some of you may have noticed, only featured in Jeta's movies. And because she met Jeta so young, Mbong didn't get a chance to date other men, never partied and until they separated, never earned a living on her own. She relied on Jeta for everything. When they moved to the US, it became a little worse for Mbong. She became lonely and instead of being the star actress she's always dreamed of, she became a housewife, caring for Jeta and their five year old daughter. Mbong became resentful and left Jeta in 2011 and returned to Nigeria. Jeta went after her and they reconciled after Jeta promised to give her a bit more space to pursue her dreams. Jeta tried to live up to his promise, but as an African man, just couldn't compromise much and so last year Mbong wanted out of the marriage and Jeta let her go. Mbong and Jeta have been living separately in Los Angeles for about a year now. When I asked if there was any hope for reconciliation, my source told me 'it's only a matter of time before they file for divorce. They have moved on and the love is no longer there. Mbong is very happy now that she can do whatever she wants without a husband to stop her or tell her what she can or can't do" I've known Jeta Amata for a long time, since the 90's in fact and so before writing this I reached out to him to get his own side of the story, and because we are friends, Jeta opened up to me. He confirmed that they have indeed separated & partly blamed himself for the break up. He told me; "Mbong is an amazing mother, an incredible wife...all the time we were together she would never let any other person cook my food...she was faithful and good to me and gave me the best gift in the world, our beautiful daughter. If I didn't cage her so much maybe we would still be together. I stole her youth and didn't let her live her dream so it was better to let her go and find new adventures. She's happy and so am I. Despite the fact that we are no longer together, we are still good friends. She even lives close to me here in LA. Things are great between us and I'm happy to see her happy." Since the separation Mbong has featured in two Nollywood movies, one of them is Forgetting June produced by Emem Isong, which she came back to Nigeria to shoot. She also revealed her sexy bikini body some months back. Y'all didn't know she was a single woman then...pic below... As for Jeta, I heard he now has a new girlfriend. Jeta is dating Australian actress Viva Bianca, best known for her role as Ilithyia in Spartacus (Pic below)

B-Red releases hot new promo photos

HKN Music’s B-Red is looking dapper in these new promo pics. The handsome green-eyed drummer who is also Davido's cousin, is prepping for a rigorous media tour to promote his hotly anticipated single ‘Booty Things’, slated to be premiered in hours. Fine boy looking sexy...hehe...but please biko cougars stay away, he's only what, 20, 21? For ladies 25 and below only..:-). See more photos after the cut