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'I brought Buhari into politics' - Maryam Abacha gives rare interview
4/8/2014 8:59:00 PM
How has life been with you since the death of your husband?
We thank God for His kindness and love for us. We also thank those that have been around us in these moments of grief. We are still waiting for those that have distanced themselves from us to reconcile and come back. We are not angry with anybody. We are still friends to everybody. We look forward to the Almighty Allah to provide us the fortitude to bear this loss. So life has been quiet and peaceful with us. We are one and a happy family. Continue...
My husband's death was like a coup. It was sudden and shrouded in confusion. General Abdulasalami [Abubakar] just called me, telling me to come and collect the dead body. We buried him like any other ordinary Nigerian. It was quite unfortunate the way he died. Allah knows best and unto Him we shall all return. May his soul rest in peace. I'm yet to fully recover from the shock of his death.
And how did you both meet?
Like any other would-be couple. He was a charming, handsome and likeable personality; a loving father who liked his children and loved ones. We became friends and got married. Here are pictures in the family album; before, during and after our wedding day. He was a caring husband, a dedicated father and an affectionate grandfather.
President Goodluck Jonathan awarded your late husband a centenary award. How did you feel receiving the award?
We felt happy. Maybe this is the beginning of good things to happen to Nigeria; maybe reconciliation… President Jonathan is a young man, he is using his time and energy to bring peace and reconciliation. I think it is high time we all come together to lift the country and stabilise ourselves. I hope it is the beginning of good things to come.
Do you still continue with the pet projects you embarked on when you were first lady?
I did those projects on government basis. They are still on there. Obasanjo did not change the names, neither did subsequent [Presidents]. The African First Ladies Peace Mission is still there, the Poverty Alleviation Programme, the National Programme on Immunisation, the Family Support Programme, the Family Support Basic Education Programme and the Family Economic Advancement Programme are all there. These are projects and programmes that touched the lives of the people, particularly women.
The National Hospital is there and so are the other hospitals around the country. I never did any programme for my personnal benefit, but for the government and the people of the country. So today, in my personnal capacity, on whether I'm still embarking on these projects, I'm no longer in government so I'm not embarking on such projects. I tried my best as the then first lady to bring about all-round development, particularly for women in the rural areas. We did extensive reach-out to the rural populace and touched lives in the remote areas of the country.
Do you have any political ambition?
No, I don't have any political ambition.
For the presidency, at least; the first woman President of Nigeria?
Not at all. I was a first lady. I just want peace for the country. Stability and development are not achieved by one person. There are governors, ministers, local chairmen, civil servants and the like. It is a cluster of people. The President alone does not make a government.
What is your assessment of General Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, the All Progressives Congress, APC?
I brought General Buhari into politics; It's not that I want to expose him. We did everything to support and encourage him. He called my son Mohammed to join Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. They rejected Mohammed by force during the governorship race. This was the trend, not only in Kano, but also in Katsina, Bauchi and other states. I think it is not healthy for democracy; not just because of Mohammed but for the smooth play of democratic norms and values. Democracy is the choice of the people. But when people put their own personal interest first and they interfere [in the process], then it is no longer democracy. It is unfortunate that elders like them could come belittle themselves in the race.
For the APC I cannot comment. It is not yet time for me to do so. However, it is good for democracy to have competition and opposition. It enhances democratic values, norms and stabilises the country's image, and will eventually uplift our democratic credentials in the international comity of nations.
Your son, Mohammed, wanted to be governor of Kano State.
It is the people of Kano that wanted my son to be governor. They still want him to be governor. They've been calling us to come and intensify his campaign. In fact, they are even campaigning on his behalf. So it is people of Kano that want him as governor because they appreciate his father's contribution to various fields of endeavour.
They also appreciate the little projects and programmes I did in Kano and in the country. They say he should come and continue the projects and programmes in Kano.
The late General Sani Abacha contributed to the restoration of democracy in Sierra Leone. Could you comment on the role he played in the process.
I cannot tell you exactly how he played this role as I was not a soldier, I was just a housewife. But he tried his best for Sierra Leone and thank God it was a success and indeed, peace returned to Sierra Leone. The late Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was restored to power. It was indeed a tragedy to hear about his death recently. He was an African statesman of international repute.
I remember one of his visits [to Nigeria] after he was restored to office; he was so calm, amiable and indeed, supportive of a just pan-African solution to African crises. He was indeed, a true democrat of continental proportion. My late husband honoured him and appreciated him.
What message do you have for the people of Sierra Leone on the death of Kabbah?
I send my sympathy, my condolence and my prayers. May God give them peace, may God give them the fortitude to bear the great loss of the father of democracy in that country. May God give the present president, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, the power to emulate what the previous president had done, particularly entrenching stability, peace and democracy in Sierra Leone. I wish President Koroma all the best. He is a young man.
I wish the people of Sierra Leone all the best. I have never been there but I hope to be there in my lifetime. I learnt it is a small and beautiful country with about six million people, with lots of natural resources including diamond and oil. May God Almighty grant the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah eternal rest. May Allah also grant my late husband eternal rest. Nigeria and Sierra Leone have a long, historical relationship.
We look forward to building on the strong ties that have cemented us for so long a period. That was why my late husband stood by Sierra Leone in the time of her crisis; to restore democracy, sanity and stability in the country. We couldn't stand by and watch Sierra Leone fall into anarchy, because the entire West African region would have been affected. So we moved in to bring back normalcy and sanity to the country.
So my wish for Sierra Leoneans is that they maintain peace and stability, especially the peaceful democratic course we've seen in past elections. We want this to continue so that other countries will emulate it.
…Published in TheNEWS magazine
Introducing June Ubi...
4/8/2014 9:19:00 PM
Beautiful, talented and exciting British Nigerian rapper and songwriter June Ubi is making her first arrival into the African music scene with two hot new songs - her debut single "One For Me" and its captivating B-side "Get Down" featuring R&B crooner Yemi Rush.
Born and bred in London and of Nigerian and British heritage, June Ubi first gained recognition when she made it to the last six out of thousands of people who entered the Manchester auditions for Chancers, a nationwide talent show helmed by Matthew Knowles – Beyonce's father and former manager. Continue...
Young, driven and musically gifted, unique and with an outstanding ability to weave wit throughout her lyrical creations, June Ubi is grounded yet fiercely passionate - she thinks, walks and talks music. She has been working hard on her craft and is now ready to take the world by storm with her first two offerings.
"One For Me" is an amazing energetic up-tempo Afro-Pop song produced by Delerious, which sees June Ubi displaying more of her rap ability and her enchanting witty flow and versatility with a catchy chorus and melodic bridge. Whilst "Get Down" is a fun, feel good song which shows June Ubi flowing over another up-tempo track, with Yemi Rush adding his smooth and sultry vocals into the mix, making for a very exciting collaboration.
STREAM + DOWNLOAD "ONE FOR ME:
STREAM + DOWNLOAD "GET DOWN":
DOWNLOAD "ONE FOR ME" + "GET DOWN" DIRECTLY TO YOUR MOBILE:
MEDIA & BOOKINGS:
Please direct all media and booking inquiries to infojuneubi@gmail.com
CONNECT WITH JUNE UBI
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juneubi
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/juneubi
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/juneubi
Photos: Beyonce goes 'topless' for Out Magazine
4/8/2014 10:59:00 PM
"There is a double standard when it comes to sexuality that still persists. Men are free and women are not. That is crazy."
"You can be a businesswoman, a mother, an artist, and a feminist - whatever you want to be - and still be a sexual being. There is unbelievable power in ownership and women should own their sexuality."Beyonce's Out issue hits stands at the end of April. Continue to see the cover and another pic...
980 out of 126,000 applicants to get job in Delta State Civil Service
4/8/2014 10:10:00 PM
He made this revelation during a courtesy call to the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Onwusanya, where he went to seek the continued support of the house leadership in enacting laws that would support the state civil service.
Oscar Pistorius recounts moment he shot his girlfriend at his home
4/8/2014 10:00:00 PM
Now which girlfriend locks herself in her boyfriend's toilet at 3am in the morning if she's not trying to escape from someone? And how do you not check that your girlfriend is safe & around you before you start firing shots? I don't understand this, but anyway below is how he describe what happened..
Describing the events leading up to Reeva's death, Oscar said Reeva cooked him dinner and they ate together at around 7pm. He went to his room just before 8pm and opened the balcony because it was "very humid". He said he fell asleep between 9pm and 10pm, then woke up in the early hours of 14 February because it was "extremely warm" in the bedroom."I wasn't sure where to point the firearm. My eyes were going between the windows and the toilet. I stood for some time. I just stayed where I was and kept on screaming. Then I heard a noise from inside the toilet that I perceived to be somebody coming out of the toilet. Before I knew it, I had fired four shots at the door." He said. Continue...
"I noticed that the fans were still running and the door was still open. Reeva was still awake. She rolled over to me and said 'Can't you sleep my baba?'", to which I replied: "No I can't, not tonight".He said he grabbed a fan, locked the sliding doors and then drew the curtains. He then returned to the room and heard the sound of "window sliding open". He thought the noise was coming from someone who had climbed inside the house from the bathroom window.
It was at this point that I heard a window sliding open in the bathroom. I heard the window hit the frame. I thought that a burglar had got into the house. I think I initially just froze. That's the moment that everything changed.
The first thing that ran through my mind was to protect Reeva and I and to get my gun. I rushed as quick as I could, with my hand in front of me, at times touching the floor before grabbing my firearm from underneath the bed.
At that point I just wanted to put myself between the person who had gained access to my house and Reeva. I slowed down and had my firearm extended in front of me. I whispered to Reeva to get down and phone the police.
As I entered where the bathroom passage is, I was overcome with fear. I screamed at the person to get out. I screamed at Reeva. I was constantly aware this person could come at me at any time. I did not have my legs on. Just before I got to the bathroom, I heard a door slam. It could have only been the toilet door. It confirmed that there was a person or people inside the bathroom.'
'I got to the entrance of the bathroom at the end of the passage where I stopped screaming. At this point I was certain that the intruders were in the bathroom.
I had my pistol in my right hand and peered into the bathroom.I didn't have much mobility on the tiles. I had my pistol raised to the corner of the entrance of the bathroom. I noticed that the bathroom window was open. I was with my back against the wall. I wasn't sure if the intruders were in the toilet or around the corner at that point. Then I heard a noise from inside the toilet that I perceived to be someone coming out of the toilet. Before I knew it I had fired four shots at the door. My ears were still ringing - I couldn't hear anything - so I kept shouting for Reeva to phone the police."
When I didn't hear anything from Reeva, I panicked. I didn't want to believe it could be Reeva inside the toilet. I didn't know what to do. I kicked the door. I was crying out, I was screaming. I used my cricket bat to smash down the toilet door and found Reeva. I have never screamed like that. 'I said "Oh, Reeva". I sat over her and cried."Who believes him?
Nex2, Miss Oge and Xolani Proceed to Nigerian Idol Top 12 Stage
4/8/2014 10:50:00 PM
The results are in! Nex2, Miss Oge, and Xolani make the Top 12 list in the ongoing Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol season 4. When asked how it felt to be part of the Top 12, Xolani said it was a "brand new opportunity" for him, Miss Oge said she is "gaining more confidence and learning a lot" while Nex2 said it was an opportunity to "showcase his innate talent". Continue...
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| Last Group of 10 (L-R): Esther, Mel, Bukezi, Nyro Love, Tobore, Teenah, Antwon, Obed and Beebee Bassey |
On last Sunday's show, the final group of 10 contestants: Mel, Nyro love, Bukezi, Duchess Itua, Obed, Teenah, Tobore, Esther, Antwon and BeeBee Bassey turned up the heat with their scintillating performances but unfortunately only three out of the ten will proceed to the next stage.
To get your favourite contestant to the Top 12, simply dial his/her number from an Etisalat line or send it via SMS to 33680. Voting closes 12 midnight on Wednesday April 9th.
Etisalat is the official telecom sponsor for Nigerian Idol.
Michael Adebolajo appeals life imprisonment sentence
4/8/2014 10:25:00 PM
While handing out the sentence, the judge said Michael was condemned to life imprisonment without any minimum years because he led the attack on the soldier and "had no prospects of rehabilitation".
Adebolajo and Adebowale killed the father of one in broad daylight near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on May 22nd 2013.
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