I am sacrificing a lot as a father – Seun Kuti

Seun Kuti

Afrobeat artiste, Seun Kuti, opens up on fatherhood, his forthcoming album and the state of the Nigerian music industry, in this interview with Jayne Augoye

It is less than a month to the release of his third studio album titled Long Way to the Beginning and Seun Kuti already has a lot on his plate. When he ushers E-Punch into his Allen, Ikeja, Lagos home, the fiery artiste who recently welcomed his first child, a daughter, with his partner, Yetunde, in December, cuts a picture different from the masculine type you see when he is performing.

The love birds who seem to have eyes only for each other occasionally engage in public display of affection, before he settles down for the interview.  Not minding the presence of the poke-nosing journalist, they kiss and touch each other at delicate places.

Dr. Reuben Abati: Oh, my boss; oh, my job!

It can’t be easy being a presidential spokesman. Not now. Not at any time in history. Whether you speak for a well-loved president, a man of history like President Goodluck Jonathan, or a much-hated tyrant in the tower of power like the late maximum ruler of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha, the challenges are more or less the same. Sleepless nights. Frequent travels. Tackling journalists. Dealing with all kinds of intrigues and interests. Speaking the master’s mind whoever’s ox is gored. Risking hard-earned reputation to defend the master, sometimes defending the indefensible.

Nigeria’s policemen are least paid in the world – IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on Friday said Nigeria’s policemen are the least paid in the world.
The IG made the startling revelation at the opening of the renovated Peacekeeping Hall at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.
“This is the only country in the world that police are least paid; this is the only country in the world that the police welfare is least considered.
“Our officers and men have made Nigeria proud at all times and at all places they served and are serving.
If we were able to do it outside, why are we failing here? We are not able to do it here because of the lack of equipment,” he said.
Source: Punch

Fresh twist in Davido’s assault case

On Aug. 12, 2012, CRIME DIGEST reported that popular singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido, allegedly assaulted a taxi driver in Lagos and that his publicist, Valerie Obaeze, claimed via an e-mail that the singer knew nothing about the incident.

In a related development, Hashiru Azeez, the employer of the taxi driver, whose name is Femi Ajibola, told CRIME DIGEST that Davido himself said that the taxi driver was assaulted by his cousins.

Azeez confirmed that he gave a Toyota Corolla to Ajibola on hire purchase.

Bank customers can reject N5000 note – CBN

N5000 Note

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that it  will be  illegal for banks to compel their customers to accept the  N5000 note when it comes into existence.
The apex bank, which denied allegations that it was forcing the new structure of the naira on Nigerians, said customers could reject N5000 note from banks
“I say this with all sense of responsibility as the deputy governor of the central bank that we shall ensure that no bank imposes N5000 on anybody who does not want it. You can go to your bank and say you don’t need N5000 note,” Deputy Governor (Operations) of the CBN, Mr. Tunde Lemo, said in a Channels Television interview programme on Saturday.

Nudity saga: KSB challenges Wande Coal, Don Jazzy

Contemporary gospel singer, Kenny Saint Best, has publicly told MAVIN Records boss and respected producer, Don Jazzy, and his prized artiste, Wande Coal, that if they do not stop parading nude girls in their music videos, ‘God will stop you.” The Kennis Music artiste had posted a series of tweets lampooning the duo shortly after the release of Wande Coal’s new video, Go Low. Maintaining that the quasi-nude dancer in the video was a thumb down for her, KSB avers, “My dear brother, Wande Coal, the mercy and favour of God are the elements that brought you this far not nude girls in your video.” Now addressing the duo, she continues, “You are bringing nudity back to Nigeria videos to increase cases of rape in our society. Please, stop it.”

Further, KSB warns, “We don’t want rape cases o. Please, Wande Coal and Don Jazzy, stop this nudity before God stops you.”

Indeed, rape is a sensitive issue in the Nigerian society and elsewhere but taking on these artistes especially on Twitter where they have a groundswell of fans and followers was perhaps KSB’s greatest undoing as she inadvertently opened a floodgate of hate tweets. Mum was the word from Mavin Records.

Address by President Jonathan at the NBA Annual Conference

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

At the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, Held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja
Monday, 27th August, 2012

The Jonathan They Don't Know by Reuben Abati

 "They" in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan. This army of sponsored and self-appointed anarchists is so diverse; many of them don't even know why or how they should attack the President.
     The clear danger to public affairs commentary is that we have a lot of unintelligent people repeating stupid clichés and too many intelligent persons wasting their talents lending relevance to thoughtless conclusions.

Okupe Lawyers Admit He Did Fraudulent Contracts With Imo And Benue

New presidential attack dog, Dr. Doyin Okupe, road construction contracts from the governments of Benue and Imo States and got substantial payments, his lawyers have admitted.
On his behalf, the Lagos law firm of Yemi Gbonegun and Co said today that the rural road construction contracts were awarded in 2004 and 2005 to companies in which Dr. Okupe has substantial interests and served as Chairman, but denied they were awarded to him personally.

Jonathan And The London Olympics By Reuben Abati

It is no longer enough to participate in the Olympics. Nations go to the Olympics to win medals, because an Olympic victory is an effective vehicle of national rebranding and assertion. The Jamaicans have Usain Bolt. They beat the Americans in the 4x100 men's relay. They won 4 gold medals, broke two world records, and grabbed a total of 12 medals.
All that raised the level of Jamaican patriotism a few more notches. It was a case of a country re-affirming its confidence in its ability to impress the world. The Americans, forever sure of their own supremacy, were again excited by their dominance at the London 2012 Olympics.

Denrele's passion for high-heeled shoes

Weirdos like the Channel O on-air personality, Denrele Edun and Lady Gaga have a raging passion for fashion. For these ones, fashion is a mode of self-expression and means more to them than religion.

While some people expect Denrele to outgrow his eccentricity soon, he laughs at them and says, “They are just being conservative. Such personal talks used to hurt a lot when I first started out. Now, I say to such people, ‘I have one life to live. I make many heads turn and I make the news. This is my life, what about you?’”