Esiri: actors worried, call for divine intervention

Esiri: actors worried, call for divine intervention  

Consequent on the shocking death of Nollywood actor, Justus Esiri, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, has called on practitioners in the entertainment industry to come together and put an end to the incessant deaths being experienced in the industry lately.
Ms. Fiberisima made the call in a message she sent out via Blackberry Messenger, on Wednesday, saying, “With the incessant death occurring in the entertainment industry this year, it’s high time we put a stop to it. We must surrender our lives to God, irrespective of our religious beliefs.
“Let’s come together and embark on prayers and commit our industry and practitioners to God. We need serious prayers. We must reject death in the entertainment industry. Join us, irrespective of your status, age, belief and profession. Let’s pray. Let’s save Nigeria, let’s save the entertainment industry. Only God saves.”
It is recalled that about six months ago, top Nollywood stars have gone to the great beyond, notably Pete Eneh and Enebeli Elebuwa.
More painful is the fact that in less than seven days, four people in the entertainment industry have died. First, it was Lugard, a former Lagos AGN secretary that slumped and died at the National Stadium in Lagos at about 5:30 p.m. on February 14; then pop diva, Goldie, who died same day at about 7:30 p.m. The next day, an Abuja-based actor, Collins, died, while Justus Esiri also followed on Tuesday.

...As nigerian entertainment industry pays homage
When Nigerians are still coming to terms with the death of Goldie Susan Harvey, on Valentine’s Day, tragedy struck the Nigerian entertainment industry again with the death of veteran actor, Justus Esiri. His demise has consequently elicited tributes, accolades and condolences from his colleagues in the entertainment industry. Below are some of the reactions:
Benita Nzeribe: It is really shocking and disheartening; I am yet to get over the shock. He lived a good life. He shall be greatly missed by Nollywood, the entertainment industry generally and the entire Nigerians. He was somebody I really adored and admired for his professionalism. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Mosun Filani: It is a big blow on Nollywood; he will be greatly missed. I admired his skills, while alive. It is really sad. Though death is inevitable, we should pray collectively for God to protect Nollywood and the practitioners in the industry and save us all.

Ebube Nwagbo: Death is inevitable; we will all die one day but we pray for long life in good health and prosperity. Late Esiri was an icon in Nollywood that can never be forgotten, we will miss him greatly. RIP.

J-Martins: May God grant Dr Sid and the family the fortitude to bear the sad loss of his dad, who was a legend in the movie world.

Yemi Alade: We have lost yet another legend. My condolences to Dr.Sid.

D’Banj: With a heavy heart, I sympathise with the family of Esiri, he was a great man and his legacy shall continue forever.

Susan Peters: May God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and accept our heartfelt sympathy.

Emem Isong: May his soul rest in perfect peace, Uncle Justus Esiri. You will be greatly missed.

Chidi Mokeme: Another great thespian departs to glory.

Stella Damasus:  R.I.P to my television dad, Uncle Justus. Just don’t know why
Kaffy: A legend, R.I.P

Ice Prince: Sad, sad, and sad.  What a legend. R.I.P

Akin Alabi: Things just don’t happen, people make them happen. Let’s celebrate people that made good things happen in our society. R.I.P

Ini-Edo: This month, we have lost two great talents, Goldie and Uncle Justus Esiri, plus my mother in-law who was a great woman.

Banky-W: Oh wow... RIP Justus Esiri... sending love and support to... We praying for you and your family.

Ill-Bliss: Rest in Peace, Justus Esiri; too many deaths. Lord, you are our greatest protection. We are not better than the souls we lost. Thank you for today.

Okey Bakassi: We were happy when Nigeria won the AFCON but the mood changed when we lost Goldie and now Justus Esiri is gone too. May their souls R.I.P

Uche Jumbo: it’s really sad to hear that an icon such as Justus Esiri is dead. May his soul rest in peace.

Tiwa Savage and fiancé pay condolence visit
Meanwhile, Mavin Records artiste, Tiwa Savage, and her manager/fiancé, Tunji ‘T-Billz’ Balogun, were one of the first set of celebrities to show up at the Esiri’s Lagos residence to pay their condolences.
The couple, who got engaged about two weeks ago and are close friends with Dr. Sid, the musician son of the late actor, arrived at about 12.30p.m on Wednesday.
Tiwa took time to greet and comfort the widow of Esiri, while also greeting the other older women she met there in the Yoruba traditional way.
Earlier, one of the actor’s sons, popular pop singer, Sidney, ‘a.k.a ‘Dr SID,’ Esiri put up a photo of Esiri on his Twitter avatar and updated his bio as ‘RIP Dad.’ Dr SID has since refused to pick his calls.

Goldie: Why we kept our marriage secret –Andrew Harvey

Barely 48 hours after pop singer, Oluwabimpe Susan Harvey, fondly known as Goldie Harvey died,  new facts, especially about her marital status have emerged.

It was apparent that in view of her music career, the late singer decided to play down on her marital affairs, including the need to make her participation at the Big Brother Stargame House, dramatic moments without her colleagues getting less acquainted by treating her as a married woman.
In our encounter with Andrew Leonard Harvey, a senior contract engineer based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the deceased acclaimed husband, everything that happened in Big Brother House was a game that was long over after the Nigerian singer was evicted.

But the internet has gone viral ever since these fresh facts emerged, including the marriage pictures released on Goldie’s facebook page by her husband. Fans of the late singer have been reacting to the ensuing controversies, one of which centers on her alleged romance with Prezzo, a Kenyan rapper and one of the contenders in the BBA Stargame House. He was reported to be in Nigeria on St Valentine’s Day with an engagement ring for the late songstress.

As if that was not enough, another woman, by the name Ifeoma Harvey, is claiming the late singer ‘stole’ her husband. The anonymous lady, who claimed to have two kids for Harvey, said that she was Goldie’s best friend until the deceased seduced the man into a secret wedding in Nigeria.

But the wedding pictures which Harvey posted online do not suggest any thing secret about the union. Both parents and family members were at the wedding which looked elaborate. Harvey’s dad and mum, who flew in from the United Kingdom were attired in traditional wears during the engagement ceremony. There were also evidences of an elaborate church wedding.

Again, Harvey was quick to shut up rumour mongers  who were insinuating that his late wife may have died of drug related ailment. According to him, Goldie never used drugs in the last 10 years that he knew her. They were married in 2005.

Perhaps, apart from the fact that the late singer never wore a wedding band, was part of the reasons people never took her seriously each time she mentioned casually that she was married. Harvey said, even he had not been wearing their wedding ring; adding that it was a matter of providence: “We had wedding bands and swapped them at the church wedding, they were oversize.”

“After the wedding I was on assignment in Houston and took them for resizing. The day of leaving, all my things were stolen from my hired car and I had to delay my journey to get new passport and visa. We both agreed that as the blessed rings had been stolen, we did not want to wear unblessed rings. From there, we decided that neither of us would wear ring again.”

He said, the reason she wasn’t flaunting her marital status was their preference as husband and wife. This, they believed would keep their private life out of paparazzi. He noted that, you won’t even find any pictures of their wedding in their Ikoyi home, as all the pictures and reference stuffs have been kept in the UK.

On the purported engagement ring that Prezzo was meant to give to Goldie on Valentine’s day, Harvey admitted spotting it on the internet, but said, since the Kenyan guy never knew about him and his marriage to Goldie, it would be difficult to accuse him of poaching: “But now he knows, the family and I would prefer he maintains a low profile and allow us to grieve our loss. The BBA game is over now,” he said curtly, adding that they had asked the ‘lover boy’ not to attend the burial. He said the family is not happy with the development, and that he thought that Prezzo should respect the wishes of her parents.

On why he is just publishing the photographs of their wedding, Harvey said it was the decision taken by him and Goldie’s family and that it was necessary for the world to know everything before the pop singer is buried.

100 opposition parties cannot defeat PDP – Patience Jonathan

ABUJA— WIFE of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan Thursday boasted that 100 political parties put together can never defeat the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, come 2015 presidential election.
Also Thursday aspirations of some politicians to the most exalted position in the land may have been dashed as the PDP through the National Women’s Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe disclosed that as a party, it will bring out President Goodluck Jonathan to contest for the position in 2015.
Both Dame Patience Jonathan and Chikwe spoke at the presentation of “PDP Women in power” calendar 2013 in Abuja.
Chikwe, a member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party explained that with President Jonathan coming out as the party’s candidate in 2015, it would increase women participation in politics by 50 percent.

* Dame Patience Jonathan

She said: “We are even more confident that when President Goodluck Jonathan returns in 2015, women would be talking about 50 percent, no longer 35 percent. As we give him unequivocal, undiluted, unreserved and unlimited support and as we march with him to 2015, PDP women will reach the promised land.”
The national women’s leader while emphasising the position of PDP, however urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, who represented President Jonathan at the occasion to tell the President that PDP women were behind him.
Kema said, “tell him that PDP women in every nook and cranny, wherever we are, young or old, beautiful or ugly, tall or short, small or big, we are chatting to Nigerians: all we are saying, give us Goodluck.
“We need to start moving fast to prepare women for future elections. Until we elect 35 percent or more of women in the legislature, the impact of our progress will not be complete. We know of course that next dispensation will attract possible PDP female governors and more deputy governors.”
Jonathan benevolent to Nigerian women — Kema Chikwe
Hailing President Jonathan for dedicating the 2013 budget to the women, the national women’s leader said, “he has virtually dedicated the 2013 budget to the women.
Chikwe said: “Mr. President, the dedication of 35 percent of all construction contracts to women is really mind blowing to say the least. President Jonathan’s benevolence to women is unbelievably phenomenal.”
I ‘ll never contest election — Dame Jonathan
Speaking further, First Lady Patience Goodluck Jonathan said that even if 100 parties ganged up against PDP they will never defeat the party, adding that it was only the PDP that has implemented the 35 percent for women.
She said that she will never contest election in Nigeria and that anytime her husband retired she would go back home with him.
First Lady Peace Mission Building
On the First Lady Peace Mission building, Mrs. Jonathan who appealed to the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the N4 billion budgeted for the project, explained that the building was not for her, but for Nigeria, which she said would generate employment for Nigerian youths.
She explained that when Maryam Babangida and Mariam Abacha built the Women Centre and the National Hospital they did not carry the buildings when they left government, adding that she will not go with the peace mission building when her tenure expires.
According to Jonathan’s wife, the peace mission project was initiated by late President Yar’Adua, adding that other countries lobbied for the mission to be in their countries but it was given to Nigeria on a platter of gold. She noted that the United Nations and ECOWAS buildings are being maintained by Federal Capital Territory Administration.
She cautioned women to resist being used to kick against the project, as women recently demonstrated against the project, adding that if the project was for men the budget for the project would have long been passed.
She disclosed that by March, 70 percent of women will be employed, adding that Nigerian women can be President and governors of this country.

paul play sues mtn

Paul Play Dairo has reportedly sued mobile telecommunications giant, MTN and Ultima Limited for the unlawful use of his smash song ‘Angel of my life’ in the popular TV show, MTN Project Fame West Africa without his consent.
The music star was faraway in the United States of America last year when the song was used without proper licensing.
Speaking on the matter, Paul Play confirmed that his management was hiring the legal services of Festus Keyamo chambers to serve both organisations the suit.

“Yes, it is very true that I am suing MTN and Ultima Limited for the unlawful use of my song. I have contacted my lawyers and they are on it” he said.

Bill Clinton, Goodluck Jonathan, Babatunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu & More Dignitaries at the Eko Atlantic City Opening Ceremony in Lagos | Photos

Bill Clinton, Goodluck Jonathan, Babatunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu & More Dignitaries at the Eko Atlantic City Opening Ceremony in Lagos | Photos

The first phase of the Eko Atlantic City was inaugurated in Lagos yesterday at an event which attracted some top dignitaries. Former President of America, Bill Clinton; President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan; Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola were among those who graced the occasion.

Eko Atlantic City is a planned district of Lagos that is being constructed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean. Upon completion, the new island which is still under development is anticipating 400,000 residents and a daily flow of 250,000 commuters. The development will also have a positive environmental impact as its main purpose is to stop the erosion of the Lagos coastline.

Here are some photos from the ceremony:

Social science a core for national development By: Adefolarin Oluwaseun

Social science is of great importance to national development. It’s imperative to define the two key concepts which are “social science and national development” before delving further. National development is the gradual political, social and economical growth or development in a nation which makes such nation stronger and more advanced, in other words development can come to a nation as a result of social, political and economical development. Social science on the other hand is the scientific and systematic study of the behavior of man and his interrelationship with other groups in the society, it is an in-depth and critical look at human behavior and it could use scientific analysis which could be qualitative or quantitative. Social science could be objective or subjective unlike natural sciences.

The contribution of social science can be seen in its disciplines which include economics, psychology, sociology, mass communication, political science, language etc. Geography is the spatial distribution of phenomena on the earth surface, geography helps because it knows where minerals are located which can call for exploration of such resources, mass communication is simply broadcasting information to a large group of people at the same time, knowledge of this aids because government can disseminate news to a lot of people at the same time. Social development which is a bane of sociology is connected with the advancement in the mode of human interaction and relationship in the nation.

Political Science is the study of how men acquire, execute, distribute and manage power and authority in a state. The central focus of political science is on power and it studies the way this power is utilized for maximum national development. Power, when utilized as supposed or expected brings about national development. Example, a democratic system of government is a political system where people are allowed to voice their opinion or the government seeks for the majority opinion of the public. A government under this system) that provides this as supposed, will find out that there will be state stability, economic progress, social cohesion. Political science gives the information on how power and authority can be secured, managed to bring about national development.

Economics is a social science concerned with the behavior of man in relation to efficient allocation of scarce resources to achieve maximum optimization of resources. Economical development includes good economic policy aiding economic development and growth. With the right policy there will be efficient allocation of resources which will reduce poverty, create employment, increase balance of payment i.e. more export and less import as a result of knowing commodities have favourable comparative advantage on commodities which would make the nation have more nation wealth and have more money for spending on capital projects which will benefit citizens of the nation

Each day thousands of extraordinarily gifted economists, lawyers, historians, linguists, philosophers, mass communicators, psychologists, critics, archaeologists, geographers, sociologists, anthropologists and psychologists make important contributions to our shared public life. How can we tackle terrorism without a deep cultural understanding of it?  How can we make medical and scientific advances without analysing their human and ethical implications? Their endeavours extend beyond the immediate needs of the economy, underpinning the culture of open and informed debate essential to any civilized, democratic society.

Social science a core for national development

Social science a core for national development

By: Adefolarin Oluwaseun

Social science is of great importance to national development. It’s imperative to define the two key concepts which are “social science and national development” before delving further. National development is the gradual political, social and economical growth or development in a nation which makes such nation stronger and more advanced, in other words development can come to a nation as a result of social, political and economical development. Social science on the other hand is the scientific and systematic study of the behavior of man and his interrelationship with other groups in the society, it is an in-depth and critical look at human behavior and it could use scientific analysis which could be qualitative or quantitative. Social science could be objective or subjective unlike natural sciences.

The contribution of social science can be seen in its disciplines which include economics, psychology, sociology, mass communication, political science, language etc. Geography is the spatial distribution of phenomena on the earth surface, geography helps because it knows where minerals are located which can call for exploration of such resources, mass communication is simply broadcasting information to a large group of people at the same time, knowledge of this aids because government can disseminate news to a lot of people at the same time. Social development which is a bane of sociology is connected with the advancement in the mode of human interaction and relationship in the nation.

Political Science is the study of how men acquire, execute, distribute and manage power and authority in a state. The central focus of political science is on power and it studies the way this power is utilized for maximum national development. Power, when utilized as supposed or expected brings about national development. Example, a democratic system of government is a political system where people are allowed to voice their opinion or the government seeks for the majority opinion of the public. A government under this system) that provides this as supposed, will find out that there will be state stability, economic progress, social cohesion. Political science gives the information on how power and authority can be secured, managed to bring about national development.

Economics is a social science concerned with the behavior of man in relation to efficient allocation of scarce resources to achieve maximum optimization of resources. Economical development includes good economic policy aiding economic development and growth. With the right policy there will be efficient allocation of resources which will reduce poverty, create employment, increase balance of payment i.e. more export and less import as a result of knowing commodities have favourable comparative advantage on commodities which would make the nation have more nation wealth and have more money for spending on capital projects which will benefit citizens of the nation

Each day thousands of extraordinarily gifted economists, lawyers, historians, linguists, philosophers, mass communicators, psychologists, critics, archaeologists, geographers, sociologists, anthropologists and psychologists make important contributions to our shared public life. How can we tackle terrorism without a deep cultural understanding of it?  How can we make medical and scientific advances without analysing their human and ethical implications? Their endeavours extend beyond the immediate needs of the economy, underpinning the culture of open and informed debate essential to any civilized, democratic society.