Neurological doctors treating Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State in the United States have told his family and the state government footing his medical bills the governor cannot return to normal state of mental health that would enable him to function as a governor.

Mr. Suntai first received treatment at the famous John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, before moving to a rehabilitation center in upstate New York, both of which have reportedly given up on the chances of full recovery of Mr. Suntai.  In October 2012, he survived an aircrash near Yola Airport and was flown to Germany for treatment for brain injuries.

A medical source told SaharaReporters that when Mr. Suntai was brought in from Germany, he had swelling in his brain and had lost significant control of his ability to recognize people or speak coherently.  The source also described the governor as drooling like a baby. Click below to read more…

After several months of treatment in the US the doctors have now told Mr. Suntai’s family and the deputy governor of Taraba State who came visiting two weeks ago that Mr. Suntai be sent home to manage his condition as there is nothing more that can be done to heal him.

The State government has spent close to $3.5 million on Mr. Suntai’s treatment in the US alone.

At a meeting with his Deputy two weeks ago, Mr. Suntai was seen in photographs laughing out loud, but our medical sources said he repeats anything told to him several times until he is told to stop.

A clip of Mr. Suntai meeting with his deputy was shown on the Nigerian Television Authority network, with the sound curiously muted.

Mr. Suntai’s wife and a few political office holders, including the Commissioner of Information, Emmanuel Bello, are reportedly manipulating the media by claiming that Suntai has fully recovered and is on his way to resuming power as governor.  He has been seen in photos that appear to be stage-managed for brief moments to show the ailing governor as though fully healed, but nobody has heard him speak or answer any questions.

Mr. Suntai, a trained pilot, was personally flying the aircraft in which he was injured.

Source: SaharaReporters

]]> http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/us-doctors-tell-gov-suntais-family-he-cant-function-as-a-normal-person/feed/ 0 http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/immigration-officer-arrested-for-burning-girl-with-iron/ http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/immigration-officer-arrested-for-burning-girl-with-iron/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:29:58 +0000 admin http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/?p=19674 Continue reading →]]>

An official of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, Mr. Yemi Afolayan, has been arrested for allegedly inflicting injuries  on a 12-year-old girl, Favour Emmanuel.

Afolayan was also said to have allegedly tied and beaten up Emmanuel before inflicting the injuries on her neck and foot.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that Favour was under the guardianship of Afolayan and his wife, who is popularly known as Iya Beji.

Emmanuel, whose mother resides in Lagos, told PUNCH Metro in Ilorin that Afolayan had asked her to prepare a meal for the family.

Click below to read more…

She said while she was preparing the meal, Afolayan  felt  that it had taken a long time for it to be ready and became angry.

Emmanuel said, “He asked me to prepare rice.  While I was preparing it, he became angry that it had taken a long time for me to finish cooking the rice. He grabbed me, tied me up and used the hot iron to inflict injuries on my body.  It was really a very tormenting experience.”

It was also learnt that Afolayan’s arrest was sequel to a report to the state Ministry of Women Affairs by some concerned neighbours.

The Director of Child Development, Kwara State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Lucy Adeniyi, said  Favour sustained serious injuries on her neck and foot.

She added that the victim had been treated at the state Civil Service Hospital, Ilorin.

Our correspondent also learnt that Emmanuel was currently at the Children Reception Centre, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin owned by the state government.

However, Afolayan, who is said to be a father of five, denied that he beat up and burned Emmanuel with hot iron.

He explained that he only scolded her, adding that she ran out of the house.  He stated that she might have sustained the injuries while running away from him.

He said, “The girl was only being naughty.  I am a father myself and I would not do that to any child. I wanted to scold her. Maybe when she was running out, she sustained the injuries but I didn’t burn her with a iron.”

But the state police command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, said the police would ensure that the suspect was brought to justice.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Comfort Afolayan, urged parents and guardians to treat their children and wards with love.

She said, “The child is in our custody. We are taking care of her and we will take her back to her family. The act is very horrible.  Such a treatment is not acceptable. This ministry will not relent on protecting the rights of children.”

Culled From: PUNCH

Jonathan Cheban and Scott Disick star in a short film for Kanye West’s “Yeezus” album. Critics say it is extremely bizarre for Kanye to use his ‘Kardashian friends’ who are non-talented reality stars for his commercial.

The video features a raving Disick, who after rattling off facts about Mr. West and his new album, proceeds to hack poor Cheban to bits with an axe. Watch!

Source: Fashion Bomb Daily

Tope Oshin-Ogun is a Theatre Arts graduate and has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade. She started as an actress but later abandoned acting for directing and producing. The multiple- awards-winning filmmaker, speaks on her 11 years marital experience and her fashion preferences.

EXCERPTS:

Growing up.
Some people will say dull but it wasn’t really dull. I come from a Christian family, so we didn’t do a lot of socialising. We would go to school and return home to do whatever needed to be done. So, there wasn’t any socialising or partying for us.

Foray into the entertainment industry.
I started acting in 1997 and was an actress for about 12 years and featured in movies like Accursed, Whatever it takes and Heritage by Tade Ogidan. I am now into directing and producing. I have produced five movies. I can’t say it was one film that specifically brought   me to limelight because I had different responses and got different things from them. I was a director on Tinsel for five years and that brought its own level of recognition mainly because I was the only female director, the other three were men and in this part of the world, we are not used to having female directors, so people were like,” “oh!  She is a girl” and the show itself is popular. Click below to read more…

On my awards.
My short films, The Young Smokers and Till Death Do Us Part, brought multiple awards, for two years back to back. IN-Short Film Festival, Worldwide Festival of Extreme Cinema, Mexico, my first two films won best film award. I also won the best director award. I got the best actress for my lead actress twice. Last year, at the Abuja Int’l  Film Festival, I won the best director.  I also got audience choice awards at another festival.

Combining my career with the home front.
I will say I am particularly blessed because I have a husband who is in the same field with me and who is very understanding. Also, I have wonderful children so, we all work together to make sure the family does not suffer.

Philosophy of life.
I believe whatever your hands find to do, do it well as unto the Lord, because you never know where that is going to lead you. So, for me, whatever I put my hands on, I make sure I do it very well. I’m a perfectionist, my husband always makes fun of me concerning that. I just believe in doing things well. So, apart from God, this philosophy has gotten me to where I am today, because I am known for being perfect and thorough in whatever I do.

Description of self.
First and foremost, I am a child of God. I am reserved. I am not quite open, as I am selective about the people I let into my close circle. I’m not flamboyant or loud. I’m very much a personal and family person.

Definition of style.
Style for me should be comfortable. It should be elegant and respectable. So, whatever I decide to wear, it must be elegant, comfortable and I must look respectable in it.

Beauty regimen.
Nothing much. I wash, cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise.

Choice of accessories.
I like unusual accessories. I’m not a fan of yellow gold, I prefer silver, white gold or stainless. I like the unusual, I don’t like what you can find anywhere else. I like things that are unique. I can use beads necklace but not earrings.

Favourite designers.
I’m not so much a designer-person. I go for whatever makes me comfortable, elegant and stylish, whoever makes it, I don’t care.

Favourite colours.
I don’t have a favourite colour.  I love wearing dark colour clothes, black and brown. You will find a lot of them in my wardrobe.

Favourite perfume.
Bvlgari and Gucci by Gucci.

Opinion on toning.
I’m not a big fan of it but if it works for the people who do it, then, so be it. They should do whatever make  them happy. I will rather moisturise and protect what I have than try to change my skin tone to become someone else.

On cosmetic surgery.
For the people that have done it, there are lots of philosophies, some say it has given them a new lease of life, made them attractive again and all that. I have never done it and I don’t think I ever will. But if it makes them happy, if it makes them sleep at night, I will say go for it but it is not what I will personally want to do. There is nothing on me that I made by myself so I don’t know why I will want to change anything and go for cosmetic surgery.

My take on provocative dressing.
I’m not a fan of it. I will not do it but it makes some people comfortable, it makes them feel sexy. I believe sexiness is in the mind. It is in how you reason, how your mind works and how you converse and discuss not what you look like. You don’t have to trendy to be sexy.

What I won’t be caught dead wearing.
I won’t be caught dead wearing indecent dresses.

 Special treat.
I go to the cinemas because I love watching movies a lot. I read books and spend time with my family.

Role model.
Different people for different reasons. One of them is Mo Abudu. I’ve worked with her a couple of times and one thing that has always drawn me to her is her goal-getting spirit. She doesn’t believe that anything is impossible. There is no No in her dictionary. She goes, she achieves, and she gets everything.

Most expensive item in my wardrobe.
I can’t easily think of that.

Keeping fit.
From time to time, I try to watch my calorie intake. I do exercise as much as my schedule allows me to.

Greatest physical asset.
My brain because with it, I am able to achieve much more than anyone could. With it, I am able to carve a niche for myself.

My hair and nails.
My hair is always short because it is convenient and I am comfortable with it. Most of the times, I like to keep my nails short and natural, the way they are but once in a while when I want to attend events and want to look glamorous, I fix and paint them.

On married life.
The secret I will say is God and a partner who believes in marriage as much as I do. When two people are in a marriage and you have different beliefs and goals, you will have discord in the marriage.

It is very important to my husband as well to keep a harmonious home and keep it under the dictate of God. It’s been eleven years. It has not been a joy ride all through, it has been a ride of experiences, of bitterness, of joy, sweetness. Above all, I will say God and a partner that works in line with God’s words.

Interview Culled From: Tribune

In a case of the hunter becoming the hunted, President Goodluck Jonathan has succumbed to pressure and backed off from getting rid of the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who is accused of running the party into the ground.

His removal through resignation next Thursday along with members of the National Working Committee (NWC), was recommended by a committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim.

Sources told SaharaReporters that following heavy pressure brought to bear on him, Mr. Jonathan this evening at the presidential villa decided that Mr. Tukur, along with the PDP Financial Secretary and the Auditor, be spared the humiliation of removal.

Click below to read more…

This means that all of the other members of the NWC, including National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, will still have to resign on Thursday, but that leaves all of 48 hours in which Mr. Jonathan, who is trying to ensure his party does not stand in the way of his re-election, may still change his mind once or twice.

Our sources say President Jonathan capitulated to the pressure mounted by Tukur to make the situation appear to be solely a legal issue, with the argument that only those individuals affected by legal tussles in the NWC or who have been legally challenged in their various zones will now be show the front door of Legacy House.  It is unclear if Tukur used any other pressure points on the president.

Mr. Jonathan’s inability to make up his mind means that the fissures and divisions within the party may continue to grow, with some of those who feel aggrieved by Tukur’s retention becoming instant brides of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Even then, Mr. Tukur may not be totally out of danger.  Zonal meetings are now scheduled to take place on July 13, to be followed by the National Convention two days later at which the party might still remove the troubled National Chairman, with Mr. Jonathan unable to prop him up.

Even now, some PDP members were also today complaining that Alhaji Tukur, following a meeting with Andy Uba, the perennially-controversial former domestic aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and Olisa Metuh, illegally recruited a Director-General for the Peoples of Democratic Institute, a “research” arm of the PDP. Mr. Ubah is also believed to be instrumental to President Jonathan’s capitulation on the PDP crisis tonight.

Tukur’s new hire, given the job completely without due process, is Chinwe Nnorom Onuoha, who assumed duty at 4PM Nigerian time.

Our source said although the position was advertised as far back as December 2012, the group bypassed thousands of applications to ensure the employment of Ms. Chinwe.
Some of the spillover of Mr. Jonathan’s flip-flops may occur within his own cabinet, including the Anyim committee, which identified the weakness of Tukur and accused him of running the party aground.

With Tukur regaining some control, at least for the moment, his position pitches him against Anyim and members of the committee who, the chairman must now feel, have brought him to the cliff of infamy and disgrace.
Culled from: SaharaReporters

]]> http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/president-jonathan-reverses-decision-to-fire-pdp-chairman-bamanga-tukur/feed/ 1 http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/deeva-prose-the-old-woman-who-lived-in-a-shoe/ http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/deeva-prose-the-old-woman-who-lived-in-a-shoe/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:52:22 +0000 admin http://www.peacebenwilliams.com/?p=19659 Continue reading →]]>

This article was written by me two years ago, and left unpublished. I hope it can still touch the life of someone out there…

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.

She had so many children; she didn’t know what to do.

She made them some broth without any bread,

And whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.”

Do you remember this famous kindergarten poem? I remember back then after reciting the poem, I’d wonder why the woman had to live in a shoe. Why would she whip her children and even so, very soundly? I didn’t like the old woman very much. Not that I knew her. I just thought she wasn’t a very nice mother who probably was also crazy.

Fast forward thirty four years after, with five kids and trying to get my career and life back on track; I have come to know this woman very well. I now know for a fact she wasn’t old or unkind or crazy. I know this because I and every woman who is struggling to win the ‘supermom’ trophy have at one time or the other; become that ‘old woman’. We’ve been in her ‘shoe’ – excuse the pun. Click below to read more…

It’s weekend and the kids are all at home. I’ve got two teenagers, one six-year old, one toddler and a three-month old baby boy who sucks on me every half hour or less. I am down with the flu. I’ve just fed the baby and I put him to sleep.

I settle down to a nice cup of tea. Then I hear a loud noise coming from the kids’ room. My toddler has bumped her head hard on the wall; flung by her teenage brother. She’s howling her eyes out.  The noise has woken the baby up and he’s crying too.  I pick both of them in my arms cooing at the baby and pacifying the toddler.

Just as things seem to quiet down, my six year old who believes she’s a diva walks in all dressed up, screeching Beyonce’s ‘Who run the world, girls!’ I tell her to quiet down. Barely five minutes later, is she banging the door of her room, yelling at her teenage sister to let her in. So much for enjoying my nice cup of tea!

Like any typical Nigerian middle class family, we live in a three-bedroom flat with barely enough room for all of us. You have to practically be on your toes every second if you want to win the war against clutter. Every day starts and ends with me cleaning and re-cleaning up after the kids, doing laundry, cooking, supervising the re-washing of dishes because they were not properly done the first time by my teenagers. More so, it starts and ends with you begging or yelling: “Stop this!” or “Stop that!”

If you can’t pull yourself together, everyday for you will become a bad hair’s day. If you loved to doll up and stay at home; you may be tempted to waive it. What’s the use? You’ll end up smelling of baby puke anyway. Perfume makers should think of making a fragrance called ‘vanilla baby puke’. It would save mothers all the stress. They’d just slather some on and never be bothered.

Most frustrating, is having a large family in a big city; the finance. Your brain is constantly spinning 360 degrees. You’re thinking of how to save up to pay the next house rent and how to pay the exorbitant school fees bearing in mind that both the rent and fees keep increasing.

The children can’t do without their cereals and beverages. If it were me alone, I would drink garri and be content; but they need to eat the best. In the midst of these tensions, the kids are cooking up a storm. So I get my whip. Then I suddenly remembered…

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe…”

“So this is what was driving her crazy?” I chuckled. She wasn’t living in an actual shoe! She was in a stifling situation. I must certainly look old and crazy to my kids now, with rollers in my hair, no makeup on, drab clothes and a terrible temper. I suspect it was one of those naughty kids who wrote that poem about their mom, and it became a kindergarten hit. So I put my whip down.

Whenever you see a well-dressed mom who has two or more children; career woman or not, know that she’s not only a hot mom; she’s a super mom. If you also happen to see a mom with a nasty mien, don’t go writing silly poems about her. Appreciate the fact that she is on her way to taking control and becoming a supermom.

I’m now repentant. I do not despise that ‘old woman’ any more…in fact, I respect her. I respect her ‘shoe’ just as much as I respect mine. Experience they say is the best teacher, and it took experience for me to see the light…as well as know that our shoe can be downgraded to flip-flop slippers if we don’t get our acts together.

To all you super moms out there, keep your head up. You all are doing a great job! May our shoes never downgrade to flip-flops. 

Article Written By:  Peace Ben Williams

This is an original article written by Peace Ben Williams. All rights reserved. Do not lift or copy this article in part or full without the express permission of the author.

The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe ©2013

This interview was culled from Tribune. Please read…

Majekodunmi Fasheke,  known more as Majek Fashek, is a well- known Nigerian reggae musician, whose popularity reached the zenith in the late 80s with his popular song, “Send down the Rain.” For many years, he was not only a darling of reggae music lovers, but also those who like good music. He later went to the United States of America, from where different stories trailed his life. He spoke on many issues in this interview with AJIBADE. Excerpts:

IT seems reggae music is going down in Nigeria. Unlike other genres of music, there has not been any new thing in reggae music. So, as a reggae musician, how do you intend to revive it?
Reggae music cannot go down, because reggae music is like a gospel music, we just need the right people to play it,that is it. But, why reggae music is going down is just because we don’t have the right people to play it. In our time, we had competition, Kimono, me, Oritz Wiliki, we had what I can call destructive competition like what they had in juju music then.

(Cuts in) do you mean destructive competition?
Yes, even among big musicians in those days. I was very, very impressed when I came back from America and I met my young brothers, who are into constructive competition, which never happened during our time then, no killing, no babalawo.

It’s gets more interesting. Click below to read more…

We came through the time of Fela, Sunny Ade, Obey, Sir Shina Peters, Barrister, Kolington, Orlando Owoh, Charley Boy, at that time, it was destructive competition and jealousy. They were very destructive and jealous. So, when I came back from America, I was very happy to see that the young guys are doing very well. And that is why Hajia has decided to invest in me and some young musicians. That is why I decided to strike a deal with Hajia because she is been trying to help musicians. The contract I signed with Aprel Management is called underground system.

So, since you returned from America, what efforts have you made to revive reggae music?
I don’t play reggae music; I play African music and rock music. I did not return to Nigeria to revive reggae music but to help Hajia Dangaji (PMAN President) become first female governor in Nigeria.

Some people are saying Majek is from Ilesa in Osun State, others are saying you are from Benin in Edo State. Can you clear the air?
My father was from Ilesa and Abeokuta, that is, my father’s parents were from Ilesa and Abeokuta, but my mother came from Benin. No mixture.

Let’s talk about friends; before Hajia came into the picture, people said your friends abandoned you. How true is that?
I came to save Nigeria.

(Cuts in) I mean how do you feel about being dumped by friends, I am not asking you why you came to Nigeria…
Hold on, forget about friends. I came to Nigeria, I am revisionary, and why do you think I am sitting down here? People are coming to enslave Nigeria again, and I am here to save Nigeria and you are here talking about friends. God sent me to come and save Nigeria, they want to come and overthrow Nigeria again through subsidy. If that subsidy succeeded. Nigerian would have died.

Your music, Send Down the Rain, was a hit then even up till now. What gave you the inspiration for that track?
It was God. God did everything.  See, let me talk about Nigeria. People are suffering, people are dying and yet government is not doing anything about it. Government is expected to be paying our electricity bill, people pay their bills, yet they are not enjoying it. I want  to become the president of Nigeria but I need $100 million to make that dream come true.

Is presidency for sale?
No, it’s not for sale, but I want to be a revisionary president

But I am sure if you have $100 million, you would not bother to run for presidency again?
No, I am very serious o; I want to be the president of Nigeria. We are leaving in hell in Nigeria. One doesn’t need to die before going to hell. We are already in hell in Nigeria.

You have many albums to your name. Which one will you say is your best? Many people believe Prisoner of Conscience is your best; at least he won you many local and international awards. Will you agree with that?
If people say it’s the best, then it’s the best. Apart from fetching me many awards, that album was from God, because you can never stop the rain, neither can you stop God’s creation, the wind must blow, and life must go on.

Who are your 10 greatest musicians, dead or alive?
I don’t know. I don’t know of any.

What is the difference between music then and now?
The music now is rock, as in, we are now into the music of computer, it’s an exciting thing for the youth. For me, I don’t like computer, it is too possessive, and computer is for young people. We are now into computer music.

What message do you have for people; especially those who say you are sick?
Me? I don’t have any message for anybody, the message I have for the Nigerian press is that they are going to hell.

Why? Hell? And do you know you are also including me?
Not you, but for those who always write and give false information about me and for blaspheming the prophet. Me and Jesus Christ, we are one, me I no dey follow Jesus Christ like Christian o, I am following Jesus Christ in a different way and in different form.

So, the Nigerian press that is running against the truth will go to hell, it’s not you I am referring to. Okay, who gave me rain maker? It was the Nigerian press that was good press like you. May God help you in your press profession.

It was good people like you then that gave me rain maker in the late 80s and I am sure you must be in secondary school then, abi I lie? They don’t take bribe, it is you that will use your sense to give them envelope, they don’t demand anything from you, and it is you that will give them, not them demanding for it.

But the press we have now will always demand for bribe. So, Nigerian press, no don’t let me use Nigerian press, let me say African press, is fed up because of bribery and corruption.

But would you agree with me that you are sick?
Yes, I was sick, anybody can be sick. What I have is spiritual problem which I am dealing with. Even in the Bible, it was stated that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but wickedness in high places. I am a freedom fighter, I can never be shot like Lucky Dube, I am invincible, you can’t shoot me. I am Anikulapo.

Source: GlobalGrind

Green eyed monsters is what the Housemates have been turned as their unrequited love has filled their hearts with jealousy.

One of the biggest confessions to come out of today’s Diary session was fromFatima who finally admitted that she feels jealous over Pokello and Elikem’scloseness. “Now that there is a woman involved I feel that my friend is being taken away from me.” The Malawian is clearly feeling very frustrated at the moment as she told Biggie that she is grateful to be portraying a lion in this week’s Task because she feels just like this beast. “I want to eat everybody, I want to destroy,” she professed. Wow those are some strong words lady. It looks safe to say that Fatima wishes she and Elikem could be more than friends.

Click below to read more…

After the Malawian, Angelo took to the Diary Room where he confessed to being miserable without Maria. “I wish that we could work it out,” he told Biggie. He also shared that he is a very jealous man and that he would see green if he found out that the Namibian has moved on with someone else in the Diamond House. Say what now?! We wonder how Maria feels about being treated like owned property?

Source: Big Brother Africa