Saturday, June 20, 2015

Stephen Keshi To Be Probed By NFF For Job Application

Stephen Keshi is set to be probed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over application for the position of manager of the Ivory Coast national football team, The Elephants.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi
Out of the 59 applicants who are vying to replace HervĂ© Renard, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) will eventually choose three candidates and interview them.
Keshi, who still is employed by Nigeria, was listed by the FIF among those who had declared interest in the job. The list, published online, has since been taken down, but the FIF have no intentions of preventing the probe.
“The NFF will open a full investigation to determine whether Mr Stephen Keshi actually applied for the vacant Ivory Coast job,” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport. “There will be no hasty decision. We hope to get a full part from the Ivory Coast football federation before making an official statement.”

In April, Stephen Keshi signed a two-year contract with the NFF, marking his third return as the coach of the Nigerian national football team.

Sickle Cell Disease: Nigeria has largest cases in the world – Research


Sickle Cell
Sickle Cell
Nigeria has the largest population of people with Sickle Cell Disease in the world, with over 150,000 babies born with the serious condition every year, researches have shown.
Mr Lanre Alege, a Pharmacist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said this in a lecture delivered during June edition of the keep fit exercise for staff of the hospital at the Kwara stadium on Saturday.
He said it was estimated that only five per cent of the children with Sickle Cell Disease live past the age of 10 in Nigeria, compared to over 96 per cent surviving into adulthood in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Alege, who is the Coordinator of the programme, also disclosed that the recurrent pain and complications of the disease can interfere with many aspects of patients life, including education, employment and psychological development.
He said that Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin in the red blood cells, called haemoglobin S (Hb S) instead of haemoglobin A (Hb A).
According to him, the red blood cells (Erythrocytes) may contain normal haemoglobin AA only, a mixture of A and S (Hb AS) or S only.
“Persons with AS haemoglobin have sickle cell traits, and are referred to as sickle cell carriers, while those with haemoglobin SS only (Hb SS) suffers from sickle cell disease.
“Those with AA are normal without sickle cell traits.
“Haemoglobin in the red blood cell is responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body,” he said.
Alege said that the topic, ‘Sickle Cell Disease’ was carefully chosen because June 19 of every year is celebrated as world Sickle Cell Day, and Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate it on Friday.
According to him, there is presently no cure for sickle cell disease, but the cost effective treatment exists for the pain and other aspects of the disease.
He listed the most important components of the treatment to include early interventions with analgesics, antibiotics, rest, good nutrition, folic acid supplementation and high fluid intake.
“At times, invasive procedures such as blood transfusion and surgery may be needed. Sickle Cell Disease is completely preventable,” he added.
Among the recommendations, he gave, for the prevention are that carriers should not marry AS or SS, education about inheritable nature of the disease.
He stressed the need for public education to determine genotype, so that incompatible people do not fall into love let alone marry each other.
Alege added that Churches and Mosques should refuse to join such people in marriage.

Ambode: Lagos state will consider ‘rent and own’ housing scheme

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, on Friday said the state would consider adopting a ‘rent and own’ policy in resolving the housing deficit in the state.
In an interactive session at his office in Alausa, Ikeja, Ambode acknowledged that it was not easy for a winner of a three-bedroom flat, under the state government’s housing scheme, to make an initial payment of about N5m, which is half the cost, before spreading the balance through monthly payments.
He noted that it was unnecessary for a bachelor or spinster to own a three-bedroom flat, stressing that it was better for those in this category to get studio apartments and upgrade to more spacious accommodations when they were married and started having children.
He appreciated the solid foundation already laid by his predecessors in office in the state, calling for suggestions and constructive criticism by all residents, including the media, so as to build on what was on the ground.
The News Agency of Nigeria quotes Ambode as noting that the multi-modal approach already in place to tackle transportation problems in the state would be improved upon.
He said his focus would be on ‘continuity with improvement’, adding that the involvement of the private sector in solving Lagos State’s transportation problems would be intensified.
Ambode explained that though about 230 private boat operators were transporting about a million people daily through the waterways, more were welcome.
“As more means of mass transportation come on board, the more than 600,000 private car owners and 120,000 motorcycles that are being put on the road in the state on daily basis will reduce in number,” he said.
On dwindling federal allocation, Ambode stated that the state would enlarge its internally generated revenue drive, without bringing hardship on residents.
According to the governor, less than half of the taxable adults in the state currently performed their civic obligations, saying it was time more are made to key into doing so without increasing taxation.
Ambode pledged that more effort would be put in place to promote tourism in the state and use this to provide jobs for the teeming unemployed.
Specifically, the governor explained that a summit would soon be convened to address the critical issues in the sector.
(NAN)

Nigeria Turns to Nuclear Power for Electricity

Nigeria has selected two sites for the construction of its planned nuclear power plants, as Africa's biggest economy tries to end decades of electricity blackouts that have blighted its growth.

Russia's state-owned Rosatom, which has been in talks with Nigeria over the nuclear plants, on Friday confirmed two sites had been selected in Africa's most populous nation and said they would have a total of four reactors.

Neither side would say where the sites were, but 7a source at Nigeria's nuclear agency said the sites will be in Akwa Ibom state, in southeast Nigeria, and Kogi state, in the central northern part of the country.

Nigeria, with a population of around 170 million, has installed power capacity that fluctuates between around 6,000 MW to just over 7,000 MW, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, with 80 percent of its power plants fired by gas.

By comparison, South Africa's capacity is almost seven times greater for a population less than a third as big.

Africa's biggest economy has no experience in developing and operating nuclear plants but has small reactors producing around 30 KW for research, Franklin Erepamo Osaisai, chief executive of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, said on its website.

One nuclear power plant costs between $5 billion to $8 billion, a source at Rosatom said. Nigeria has not yet said how it plans to fund the construction, a key question given its finances have taken a hit after a slump in the price of oil, its main export.

Man Stabbed To Death While Trying To Settle Quarrel

A man is arrested by the police for looting on the fourth day of a nationwide strike against the removal of the petrol subsidy in Lagos
DETECTIVES in Ondo State police command have arrested three persons, including two deaf and dumb men, for stabbing to death a peacemaker who was trying to settle a squabble between them. Vanguard gathered that the suspects include Abuchi Unegbu, Jelili Ojo and Busayo Osho, both deaf and dumb.

According to an eyewitness, the deceased, simply identified as Uwam, was separating a fight between the three men when one of the deaf persons stabbed him in the stomach with a broken bottle. It was gathered that  the deceased was stabbed by one of the deaf men who wanted to stab another person who accused him of stepping on him without apologizing.
Vanguard gathered that Unegbu allegedly accused one of the deaf men of cheating him because of his disability by stepping on his toes without the courtesy of apologizing. An argument, it was learned, ensued, which later degenerated  into a fight among the three persons. It was learned that efforts by people around the  place to resolve the squabble proved abortive.
While  the elders were still trying to placate the them and stop them from allowing the disagreement degenerate, one of the deaf persons, Osho, reportedly went for a bottle and in an attempt to stab the offender, Unegbu, inadvertently stabbed the deceased who was trying to shield him.Vanguardgathered that hell was let loose as the atmosphere  became tensed and  people took to their heels for the fear of the unknown.

Refineries: My Buhari Delivers Death To The Cabal, Change To Nigeria


 It was a simple mathematical equation. I hedged my bets on it and Buhari has proven I won. Nigeria’s privatization was always a scam. They made it seem as if it was impossible for government to keep things working and to fix them when they spoil. 

The simple minded believed them. Petty economists argued and wrote epistles explaining how this was the colonial master’s capitalist Holy Grail. I argued that if indeed the government could not run anything, it must first privatize itself, as by their own submission, it lacked the capacity to ‘privatize,’ as a process run. I labelled it for what it really was- Cabalization, and waged my bet against them.

 The only way to prove I was right was for a Buhari to win. We kicked out Jonathan. He won. I won.

What is Cabalization? I described it in detail in my article of February 8th, 2014: “Cabalization of PHCN Leads to Exorbitant Electricity Bills For Nigerians.

” Here is how it works: 

1. Allow the cabal to disrupt processes of repair and utility of public assets.

 2. Make it appear impossible to run and maintain public assets. 

3. Overhaul them at a stupendous price paid by tax payer/ national income.

 4. Offer them for sale in a shoddy process to your cabal partners in whose companies you have stock. 

5. Sell them at one tenth the amount you used to overhaul them – effectively looting billions in an instant. 

6. Allow unregulated exorbitant rates for the utilities the now privatized assets provide. 

7. Enforce an oligopoly for the utilities, barring natural competition.

 8. Relax and enjoy your looted state wealth and reap crazy dividends in quarterly returns from your shares in the cabalized companies.

Yes, today we know that our refineries can work. Four will be working by this July, God willing. They were never broken, just kept out of commission by workers of Lucifer. 

They kept them off simply to make fuel subsidy bread, to pave the path for cabalization and to raise the stock of Dangote’s refinery. The vultures. Their eyes were on these refineries. Obasanjo dashed them to them earlier, along with Transcorp Hilton and other things, but thankfully Yar’Adua seized them back for us.

President Buhari is delivering the change we voted him into power for. In spite of his ineffective media team and his imperfections, like his failure to remove the innocent’s blood-soaked NSA and Security chiefs, he has defied the typical odds and shamed the Stockholm syndromed. Perhaps he will overturn many of the past privatizations as did late Yar’Adua before they poisoned him as alleged.

I call the past Babangida’s PDP governments, jackals and the cabal, vultures. In a partnership of death.

One thing is certain: the cabal will fight back! Oh yes they will. Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to fight on the side of posterity. To defend change. Our revolution that got rid of Babangida was hijacked again immediately by his adopted brother, Abdulsalami as they installed their ‘PDP’ party. 

We must never allow this revolution to be likewise hijacked. The hijack has already started in the senate. Actually it started before Buhari was even sworn in, with the bill amendments. This war against the 30-year strong and long Babangida and his PDP-sons who sold Nigeria to themselves, will not be possible or easy for Buhari by himself especially with that covetous National Assembly who did their best to put a man of the cabal at the head of the senate. Buhari cannot do it without us. Defend your revolution. Defend Change. Death to the cabal. 

Mbang, Apkabio Visit Obasanjo



Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom and his predecessor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio on Saturday paid a visit on former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun.
The duo arrived at Obasanjo’s residence at about 2.48 p.m in company of a former Prelate of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Dr Sunday Mbang and some other state officials.
The team immediately proceeded into a closed-door meeting which ended at about 4.05 p.m.
Udom who addressed journalists after the meeting said he was in Abeokuta to pay homage and to thank Obasanjo.
According to him, he consulted with Obasanjo shortly before the general elections and that his advice paid off.
“I have come to show gratitude and respect for someone whom I regard as a father and whose advice I regard as invaluable and which also contributed to my victory at the polls,” he said.
The governor acknowledges that his predecessor had laid a solid foundation upon which he would build and move the state to greater heights.
He said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remained the greatest party in Africa and would provide a credible and formidable opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) in order to move the nation forward.
Akpabio who also addressed newsmen declared support for a reduction in the cost of governance in Nigeria. (NAN)

Only death penalty for corrupt public officers will stop corruption – Cleric

The Anglican Bishop of Wusasa Diocese in Zaria, Kaduna State, Rt. Rev. Ali Buba-Lamido, on Saturday advocated death penalty for corrupt public office holders.
He made the call at the Sixth Synod of the Wusasa Diocese of the Anglican Communion, held in Zaria, Kaduna State.
According to him, the death penalty option is the only way to put public officers in Nigeria in check.
Buba-Lamido said the call became imperative in view of the fact that corruption could kill more people than a conventional weapon.
“If our leaders know that they would be prosecuted if found corrupt they would be on their toes to avoid corrupt practices”, he stated.
He appealed to politicians to do everything possible to fulfil their campaign promises with a view to bringing succour to the electorate.
The bishop described the level of unemployment in Nigeria as alarming, appealing to the new administration to adopt proactive measures to tackle the problem.
Expressing confidence in the ability of the administration, the cleric said he had no doubt that President Muhammdu Buhari would deliver.
On the security situation in the country, the bishop said it was bad for a country like Nigeria to have lost up to 11,000 people to Bako Haram.
“However, I am satisfied with the approach taken by the new administration to tackle the menace of Boko Haram,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the synod featured presentation of awards to distinguished Nigerians, comprising Muslims, Christians, politicians and non-politicians.
The awardees include the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, a former Head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and Rep. Abbas Tajuddeen. (NAN)

PDP Urges Fayose, Security Agencies To Prosecute Ekiti APC Chair, Awe, Others For Murder

Jide-AweThe Ekiti State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked Governor Ayo Fayose to prosecute the state’s All Progressives Congress, APC, Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, and four other APC leaders for their alleged complicity in the murder of Foluso Ogundare, Mr. Ayo Jeje and Mrs. Juliana Adewumi.
The three PDP supporters were killed in 2013 during the past administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The PDP had vowed last year that the state government would use legal and constitutional means to ensure that Awe and the others were prosecuted for the alleged murder.
The four other APC leaders were: Faboro John, Aniramu Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo on Friday, the PDP said that “the blood of innocent people spilled in broad daylight must not be in vain”.
The statement added, “Justice must be done to prevent a situation whereby some people would believe that they could do anything and go away with it. The blood of Ekiti men and women shed by bloodthirsty individuals is crying for justice.
“The blood of Foluso Ogundare shed on November 3, 2013 in Emure-Ekiti is crying for justice and those indicted by the police over the matter must face the full weight of the law.
“Also, the blood of Ayo Jeje and Rebecca Adewumi, who were killed in Erijiyan-Ekiti on March 31, 2013 because they wanted to defect from the then Action Congress of Nigeria to the PDP is demanding for justice.
“The PDP takes exemption to a situation in which those quizzed and arraigned before courts were literally allowed to go home without the law taking its course.
“The era of impunity is gone and nobody is above the law. We are hereby calling on the state government and other relevant agencies to bring the culprits to book”.

Garba Shehu And Reuben Abati All Smiles During An Encounter In Aso Rock. Photo

And this is how the story should be...

No bad blood between them. Pictured -The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in an handshake with Reuben Abati -the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, during an encounter at the Aso Rock villa before the inauguration. 




Ambode Announced Agosu as Acting CEO of LSDPC

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi AmbodeFriday approved the appointment of Engineer Jacob Agosu as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC).
Agosu

Governor Ambode also approved the immediate reorganization of the LSDPC to stem the tide of negative capital returns in the corporation, according to a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Habib Aruna.

“Consequently, Mr Taofeek Abiodun Oki, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer and three Principal officers of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSPDC) have been relieved of their appointment” he said.

Prior to his new appointment, Engineer Jacob Agosu was the Deputy General Manager (Joint Ventures) in the Corporation and a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers.
He joined the services of the LSDPC in March 1984.

Buhari will determine the fate of SURE-P : Chairman

The Chairman, Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Mr Ishaya Akau, on Friday, said its future and fate were with the new administration.
Akau said this while exchanging views with the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, in Abuja.
Akau noted that SURE-P was originally meant to function between 2012 and 2015.
He said the provision made for SURE-P in the 2015 budget was mainly to address some of its ongoing programmes across the country.

“Initially, provision was not made in 2015 budget for SURE-P until after some discussions.
“And perhaps after that, a decision will have to be taken by the new administration for the way forward; that is where we are now’’, Akau said.

He noted that NOA, through its structures at the local level, contributed significantly to ensuring the success of the numerous programmers executed by SURE-P.

“We sought your engagement for the programmes we had on ground. NOA has the structures at the local level to have effectively participated in some of our programmes.

“These were particularly the community services of women and youth employment and empowerment programme”, he said.

Akau said the current focus of SURE-P was to ensure that ongoing projects were supervised and delivered to the extent of the finance made available to SURE-P.

He noted that the proceeds from the partial subsidy removal had contributed to the reduction of the challenges encountered by Nigeria.

“I think our success will be determined by the people of Nigeria, the recipients of what the organisation has done.

“We have done community services; there is the Maternal and Child Health Programme which employed many people. We have provided funds for agencies of government to promote healthcare.

“SURE-P has provided funds for infrastructure development, railways, roads, among many safety net intervention programmes.’’

Akau said the programme did Kano-Maiduguri road, Abuja-Lokoja road among other achievements.
He added that a comprehensive documentation of the achievements of SURE-P has been made available.

Earlier, Omeri said SURE-P programmes had affected the lives of many youths in the country positively.

He noted that in the course of discharging its responsibility across the country, NOA observed that SURE-P programme had created jobs for Nigerians.

Omeri said NOA had noted the disagreement between government and oil marketers over oil subsidy.
He said the agency was engaging other relevant agencies to advise government on the matter.

Omeri also said the agencies would assist in bringing appropriate message to the citizens to consider if subsidy was still the way to go.

He said the engagement was to ensure that citizens do not suffer fuel subsidy. (NAN)

APC Zoning - South-South Group Cries Out to Buhari Over Marginalisation

As the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government puts finishing touches to appointments at the federal level, the South - South Community, Abuja chapter, has cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari over marginalization of the zone.
The group decried in strong terms the outright marginalization of the South-South geo-political zone of the country.
Speaking to journalists, President of the group and former FCT Commissioner of Police, Compol. Lawrence Alobi (rtd.) has expressed worry over the lopsidedness of the appointments made so far.
He said with the North West taking the position of the president, North Central, Senate President, North East, Speaker of the House of Representatives, South East, Deputy Senate President, South West, vice president and Deputy Speaker respectively, only the south-south has been left out of the scheme of things.
Alobi argued: "While the president is free to stick with the best individuals with cerebral potentials, the present outlook of leadership at the federal level as reflected is with seeming national spread except that the south-south is yet to be integrated."
He maintained that it will be in the best interest of the nation if the south-south is also considered in the leadership hierarchy of appointment at the federal level.
The group further stressed that the allocation of the Office of the Secretary to the Federation (SGF) to the zone will lend credence to the aspirations of the APC leg government, as a party that adheres to the tenets of justice, fairness, equity and national unity.
The appeal came on the heels of several intrigues within the APC over the SGF slot and other ministerial appointment, with the South East and South-South favoured to get the position of SGF.
The name of APC chieftain and former Governor of Abia State, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu has been mentioned prominently as the likely candidate for the plum job.

FG inaugurates committee to probe NIMC labour crisis

The Federal Government has inaugurated an independent committee to address the labour crisis between the National Identity Management Commission and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.
Deputy Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Samuel Olowookere, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
The statement noted that the committee, inaugurated by Dr. Clement Illoh, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, would look into the purported certificate forgery and irregular career progression in the commission.
It quoted Olowookere as saying that the upgrade and promotions resulting in proposed dismissal of some staff of the commission were also to be considered by the committee.
He said, “I have no doubt that the outcome of this assignment will put to rest all the suspicious misconceptions, ill feelings, emotional outbursts and tension this crisis has generated in the commission.”
He said members of the committee were drawn from the ministry, NIMC, ASCN, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Other members of the committee were drawn from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the Federal Civil Service Commission.
He added that the single term of reference of the committee was to ascertain whether the disciplinary actions taken by NIMC were based on due process, transparency and accountability.

Fani-Kayode’s Ex-Wife Shares her Experienced With the Politician

Beautiful Mrs Yemisi Wada and the ex-aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, stayed married for about three years before the love turned sour.
The now happily married 50-year-old beauty in a new interview with The Punch has talked about her brief marriage to the 54-year-old politician and her new marriage.

Has anybody told you that you don’t look 50?
I thank God that all my life, I have been told I look younger than my age. Of course, I hated it then but now, I find it hilarious sometimes. I have been asked for my identification in the US and UK before I could purchase alcohol as recently as two years ago. Meanwhile, I was sure I was old enough to give birth to the boy asking me. Then again, my daughters’ friends ask if I’m their sister. I don’t like it. I tell people in firm tones I certainly am not. But it’s good genes. Both my parents look very young and my siblings too.

How do you maintain your figure?
I watch what I eat. I have never liked pastries or sweet things that are fattening anyway, so I guess I am lucky. Even though I love cooking, I am not a foodie. I also exercise a lot. I love walking. I am always busy and on the go. I would take the stairs instead of using the elevator in most cases. I would walk up and down an escalator instead of just standing. All these are conscious efforts to keep fit. It is interesting that growing up, I did all it took to put on weight and now with middle age, I am busy doing the opposite. I was a confirmed tomboy growing up and was very nonchalant about my looks. But once I turned 40, the story changed. Now, I make sure I make the extra effort before stepping out. When I look good, I feel good. I also think when you look good and feel good, you are a nicer and more pleasant human being.

What has life taught you at 50?
At 50, life has taught me a lot. I have lived through so many experiences that at times I wonder what guided my thinking when I was younger. I have learnt that truly, patience is a great virtue. I have learnt that I need to do what makes me happy and not wait to derive happiness from others because it’s a tough task especially in an atmosphere where survival is tough. I have learnt to feel pity for people who go out of their way to hurt you because the truth is, it is because they wish they had peace. I have learnt that in truth, money can never buy you happiness or fulfillment but a relationship with God has amazing dividends. Many people get it wrong making assumptions of other people’s lives and they are bitter and unhappy because they feel they are worse off. They make assumptions or listen to what they are told and set ridiculous standards for their partners.

How do you feel having a daughter who is getting married?
I am ecstatic. My daughter is getting married in July by the Grace of God. I got married at 24 and I am reaping the benefits as I have had the opportunity to grow up with my girls. I feel it has made us closer. I am happy because people are different and in her case, she is mature enough to take up that role. She has also found a good man by the grace of God from good stock and surely that must be every mother’s prayer.

Why did you choose to study law?
My father was a lawyer but that was not my motivation. It was the courtroom drama I used to watch on television and the whole wig and gown that attracted me. My father worked for the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. He was State Prosecutor at some stage and in those days, if I was home and he was trying any interesting case like the ‘Iyabo Olounkoya’ drug case, my mum and I would go and watch.

Your parents must have been very comfortable for them to send you to study in the UK.
To be honest back then, our economy was okay. The year I went abroad to school was when the Naira became N3 ->1 pound. Life was easier. My father came from quite a wealthy family and he inherited property but didn’t really like the idea of receiving income from them. He used to go out of his way to tell us he would not leave any property in his will and that we should work for our own money. He had property in Ikorodu and Ogba, which some companies were renting. My mother left work when I was still young and till today she’s a very successful business woman. So between them, we got by.

Did you ever consider practising in the UK?
Yes I did and even went to the College of Law in England before coming home to the Nigerian Law School but once my mates came back to Nigeria, it was a very lonely place, I, too, came back home.

Would you still remember those days you used to work in your ex father-in-law’s law firm?
I actually never worked in Chief Fani-Kayode’s Law firm. When I got married straight after Law School, my father wanted me to work. After my youth service when it seemed my then husband didn’t want me to work, my father threatened to pull me out of the marriage. Chief had some election petition cases in Kano, so he drafted me into his team to work on them and later the appeals in Kaduna. That was how I met Mr. Raji Ahmed who was in the team as well and we later set up a law office together, along with Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo. Working on those cases were the best times I had at the time. That was also the first salary I earned as a lawyer.

Why did you even quit practising?
Law is a long-term earner. At the time, being a single mother with three children and wanting to give them the best like I had as a child, I could not afford to stay in practice. Besides, I needed to be the boss of my own time to be available for my children when I was needed.

Don’t you miss the gown and wig or anything related to law at all?
To be honest, after a stint practising in Nigeria, I was not interested in continuing. The system was slow, tedious and I didn’t have enough passion to be patient with it.

What inspired you to establish Haven for Nigerian Children?
Seeing that there were children living on the streets and I was going up and down cuddling mine made me sit up and think. I decided to do something about it and pray my own children if they were ever in need, would meet a helper. I have often wondered if this is a selfish notion. If it is, well I am not a saint and that’s my Achilles heel. At least, it has created a passion and I intend to keep running Haven as long as God grants me life.

Why are you so passionate about the street kids?
I’m passionate about rendering assistance in any way. I counsel very well. Nothing gives me more joy than knowing whoever meets me or comes into my life in any way gains something from my experiences. That’s where I derive my joy.

You produced a movie some time ago, is it a one off thing? When will you produce another?
In trying to get the message across about these children living on the streets really needing our help, we produced a docu/drama called ‘Oluranlowo Mi’ which means ‘My Helper.’ Basically it chronicles the lives of four street boys. It starts from their lives at home, why they took to the streets and how they end up depending on the type of intervention they got whilst on the streets. The boys acted in the film themselves, though they didn’t act their own stories. After shooting the movie, the production bug bit my ever restless self and now we have just produced a crime series based in Lagos State called Lasgidi Cops, Serious Crimes Unit.

How is life being Mrs. Dahiru Wada?
It’s very interesting. My father in-law loves me very much and my husband has many brothers who are like him, very loving. So you’re living in an atmosphere of love. It’s a very nice feeling. The best description of my husband is that he is a gentleman’s gentleman. He is also very cultured and well traveled. He loves good food and travelling. He is very well read and extensively knowledgeable in all things. He is very generous and for us kind almost to a fault.

You reportedly said your husband doesn’t like partying and dancing but these are things you love doing. So how do you manage this?
If I want to party and dance, he is not in my way. We understand each other perfectly. Many times, you will see us at parties and before long, you will not see him because he would have left quietly. Having said that, my husband observes more at that same party and when we analyse the proceedings after, I would be amazed. Seriously we complement each other nicely.

Can you tell us about growing up?
Growing up for me was awesome. We lived in GRA Ikeja, we walked and cycled about in clean and safe environment by ourselves. Most of our activities were centred on the home and the street. We climbed trees, raised dogs, rode bicycles. It was bliss.

What fond memories do you have when you were still growing up?
I have several. The best was how my paternal grandmother ‘Iya Alaje’ would come and stay with us when our parents travelled. She was very wealthy but not literate and she loved a good life. She would ask us what we would normally eat and my brother, Bayo and I would lie that we didn’t eat pepper. That would mean no eba and amala. She would take us to Kingsway Stores and buy us ham and all the nice things for sandwiches. The funny thing though was only Bayo had a palate for those things. I preferred my eba, so why I went along with it still baffles me. I guess it was the thrill of getting away with such nonsense.

As a young girl, if anybody had told you your marriage would break up, would you have believed it?
No, I would not have. That is why even after three children, I knew I would remarry. I don’t know if it is that love of being a wife or to run a home. Whichever, I love being married.

Can you still remember those days you were with your ex-husband, Femi Fani-Kayode?
I have no fond memories of then except having my daughters, as I am sure he would say same if asked. What people do not seem to realise is that we were together for only a very short while. The marriage itself lasted less than three years. The fact that I have three daughters makes it seem longer but I left just when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.

Did you decide to marry him because his family was influential?
I don’t know what that means because I grew up in a home where I had all I wanted. There was nothing I got there that I didn’t have before. Actually I had more at home.

What was the attraction back then?
It was a long time ago but I think at the time, all the men I knew were clubbing like I was but he was already serious in politics. He was a national youth leader of his party and the proposal was very direct as he said, ‘I am in politics and I need a homemaker.’

Since the marriage produced beautiful kids, would you ever say you regret it?
No way. In fact, I always say if I came back in another life, I would do it again to have these same beautiful and dramatically intelligent daughters. I would just have a better exit plan.

How did you meet Mr. Wada?
Dahiru and I met at a party in London. It’s funny how we met. I thought he was someone else and planned to tease him but his incredible wit got the better of me and in the end, the joke was on me. He actually insinuated that I was a airhead!

What do you love about him?
He’s gentle, he is patient and he is kind. He has a wicked sense of humour and he can gist. He has an infectious laugh and like me, he loves to entertain. Like me also, he is a very good cook. He is the king of roasts and curries. He is an amazing father. He loves his kids to bits. I am always complimented about how well behaved my boys are but it is because they live with a gentleman father and they live by example.

Nigerian Woman Shows Off Giant Cassava Tuber She Harvested From Her Farm (Photo)

  A woman from Orlu, Imo State showed off a giant Cassava tuber she harvested from her farmland, NairaNaijaNews reports. See photo below.