Sunday, 20 November 2016

Why I didn’t marry Pasuma — Ronke Odusanya, aka Flakky Ididowo

Background I hail from Ogun State. I was born into a Christian home and I had a strict upbringing. Even though my parents separated, my childhood was fun and I have so many good memories. While my mum has yet to remarry, my dad remarried and I lived with him for some time. Education I attended St. Benedict Nursery & Primary School, Lagos, and Federal Government Girls’ College, Akure. Afterwards, I studied Mass Communication at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. Acting I became interested in acting when I was at the university. As an undergraduate, I used to feature in plays that were staged in school. Professionally, I started acting about 16 years ago. I joined Nollywood and took part in some English movies. I joined Oga Bello’s Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group, in the year 2000, and that was where I honed my acting skills. Movies In 2001, I featured in my first Yoruba movie, Baba Ologba, alongside Adebayo Salami, aka Oga Bello, and Femi Adebayo. Since then, I have featured in several others and I have played lead roles in many movies as well. Challenges Life is full of challenges and I encountered so many obstacles when I started acting. Firstly, my father was not happy that I became an actress. When he discovered, he was very angry because he thought I would get a proper job. Besides, nobody in my father’s family had ever become an actress. Most of them were doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. My father and my stepmother did not support me and they tried to frustrate my ambition. At some point, he asked me to move out of his house if I was bent on becoming an actress. I went to live with my mum and even though she was not happy at what I had decided to do with my life, she did not fail to support me. Another challenge I faced was the poor remuneration. There were times when I was not even paid at all but I did not allow that to discourage me because of the passion I have for the job. Nicknames I have several nicknames. At the beginning of my career, I used to be known as Ronke AKO (Awada Kerikeri Organisation). I am also known as Becky, which was the character I played in Funke Akindele-Bello’s two-part movie, Jenifa. I think the nickname that has stuck with me is Flakky Ididowo. I got that pseudonym after I played Folake in a movie produced by someone I respect so much, Fathia Balogun. Movie production I am not only an actress, I am also a producer. I have produced several movies in the past and I just finished work on two movies. I like to make good films and that is why I don’t come out with movies every now and then. I am a professional and I know what a good movie should look like. I have set a standard for myself and I don’t want to disappoint my fans. Physique People say I have a provocative figure but I did not create myself. When I was younger, people used to taunt me and I would cry. Over time, I have come to love my body irrespective of whether I have unusually large breasts or buttocks. When I walk on the streets of Lagos, men look at me in a seductive manner but I don’t care as long as I am not indecently dressed. In fact, some people scream obscenities at me. Some call me Cowbell and I either laugh it off or just ignore them. Fame I do not care about fame. It has not changed who I am and it has not altered the way I relate with people be it my family, friends or fans. I am a very simple person and generally down-to-earth and forthright. To a large extent, I am an introvert and I like to spend a lot of time indoors. I rarely go out except it is very necessary. Marriage Being in the limelight has it disadvantages. One of the demerits of being in the limelight is that one finds it difficult to find true love. You can’t tell if that man or woman loves you for who you are or because you are a celebrity. I will get married when God says it is my time. My time has yet to come and that is why I am still single. Anyone who rushes into marriage will definitely rush out, so I am taking my time. Unlike it was speculated sometime ago, I have never been married. Pasuma and I Not all relationships lead to marriage and such was my relationship with Pasuma. Even though we are no longer dating, we are still good friends. The fact that we are both celebrities may have been responsible for our inability to get married. A lot of times, celebrity marriages don’t work out because both parties are in the limelight. This breeds a lot of distrust and problems in the marriage. Style I like simple, nice and classy wear. I also like traditional wear because I look good in them and they are super comfortable.

UCC final year student releases her own sex video

A student of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Nana Abena Korkor Addo, whose sex video went viral has revealed interesting details after the ordeal that nearly ruined her life. She revealed how she was the one that leaked her own sex video on social media, blaming it on mental ailment. According to Nana Abena, her bipolar disorder caused her to leak the explicit video showing her private parts on social media. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A screenshot from the video In a candid interview with Adom News on Friday, November 18, Nana Abena said before the sex video was released, she was aspiring to be the SRC president. The release of the sex video crashed her dreams and nearly forced her to lose her life. In the controversial video, she was filmed stripping and dancing seductively in the presence of a female friend while revealing her private parts. The video generated a lot of controversy given the position she was vying for in school. Many thought it was rather her competitors in the race for the SRC President position who might have leaked the video to thwart her chances of winning the election. However, Nana Abena Korkor Addo shocked everyone when she admitted to posting the explicit video herself. But years after the incident, the repentant lady said her action was due to her mental condition diagnosed by doctors at the Accra psychiatric hospital. She however noted that, through the positive encouragement from family, students and faculty at UCC while on admission, she has been able to recover. Nana Abena who was then in her final year said she had to repeat because the condition adversely affected her academic performance. She also appealed to young women not to ever attempt recording themselves when naked since “you might not know what would happen to it”. Read more: https://www.naij.com/1055406-female-ucc-student-releases-video.html

Saturday, 19 November 2016

HUSBAND SCARCITY

This may not be the best time for me to write on this because of misinterpretations, but I can no longer resist the push. "Husband Scarcity" has become one of the challenges faced by many young girls today. If you go to prayer houses, majority of the intentions are prayer for a life partner. And this calls for concern. Casting our minds back to the time of our mothers and grandmothers, was there really much of a "Husband Scarcity" problem? Or, maybe there were more men than women then, or there was an adequate corresponding numbers of both genders. I don't think so. Maybe then, the women had values and were prepared to build a home and not park into a built home. Then, once a young man comes of age and can at least feed himself and his wife, he goes out in search of a wife and the woman really appreciates him and helps him to build a future. What am I really trying to say? We created what we now see as "Husband Scarcity" for ourselves. Today, the reverse is the case. Ask an average girl to define her dream husband; you get things like "he has to be tall, handsome, fair, and rich, own a house at least, and be presentable" and then she adds "God fearing" in order not to sound so worldly. Then, check the number of girls around you and the number of men that meet that standard, and you will see the problem. You hear girls say, "I cannot suffer in my father's house and then go and start suffering with a man." What a wonderful dream! What if from the beginning, you have everything you want and there is no suffering, and later in the marriage, the table turns around, then comes suffering? Will you run away? No one prays for suffering, but it is good to start small and end big, than start big and end small. The problem is that the description majority of girls give of their ideal man is virtually the same. When 50 girls want the same kind of man and the man that fits what they want is just 1 man, and the man can only pick one. Then, what becomes of 49 others? They simply start lamenting of "Husband Scarcity". Another irony of our time is that it is hard, due to the face of our economy to find a man who is of marriage age who possesses all those things these ladies want, legally (except those involved in Internet fraud); even the number of those in Internet fraud is not enough to match all those searching for already made husbands. Let me drift away....If you look around, most of the ladies of substance, of good value and virtue, who are ready to build a home with a man who has prospects, are the ones being taken for granted because it seems like the guys do not use their head too, you come across this kind of lady and you are still waiting Keep waiting until someone serious puts a ring on her finger. Back to the subject matter.....The easiest way to find a husband now, is to change your view of who a husband is. A husband is that man God made and then saw that it may be hard for him to really actualize his purpose for making him, without a help meet and then made the woman and gave to him, and he felt complete and fulfilled MARRIAGE IS NOT A POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAM. It is a mission of building the family of God here on earth. For those who see marriage as a way out of poverty, it is a way into bondage. Women are HOME BUILDERS, not HOME WARMERS... DON'T CONFUSE A MAN'S PATH WITH HIS DESTINY. Where he is today, may only be a route to where God has destined him to be tomorrow. Another truth is that YOU MAY BE THE ONLY FAST MEANS TO THAT HIS DESTINATION. Join in alleviating "husband scarcity". PICK UP THE RIGHT VALUES. I am not saying that you should pick anyone that comes your way and talks of marriage, not all men are husband materials. What I am saying is that you should stop setting your standard on material acquisitions or physical appearances. Look beyond the physical. WHAT MAKES A MAN WHO HE IS, IS NOT WHAT HE OWNS OR HOW HE LOOKS, IT IS WHAT HE IS MADE UP OF. And that which he is made of is, most times, not seen with the physical eyes, only its effects can be seen. Marriage is a permanent thing. Whatever is seen is temporal and that which is not seen is permanent..... And to the guys, do you know that there is a dimension of favour and breakthrough in your life that can only come through marriage......just so you know....

The Second Coming Of Goodluck Jonathan - Dele Momodu

EXTRACT FROM DELE MOMODU's ARTICLE TITLED 'THE SECOND COMING OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN' I have been reading about the rising profile of our former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and wish to state without equivocation that no one should rule him out of the 2019 presidential race. I first hinted this possibility about two months ago and wish to reiterate that Nigerians should prepare for the shock that awaits us. The story of Donald Trump should bring us back to our senses. Nothing is impossible. The second coming of Goodluck Jonathan may be so far-fetched or even belong in those categories of impossibilities but I wish to plead with our government and my fellow citizens not to rule it out. As one of those who made our modest and humble contributions to the coming of this Buhari government, I’m pleading with trepidation. Jonathan’s popularity is rising not because of anything he has done to atone the sins that must have led to his waterloo but as a result of what our change government has failed or refused to do. The obsession of our government with going all out after Jonathan is the main reason the Otuoke man is beginning to smell like roses after the odoriferous position he landed himself last week. Only if our government had succeeded in maintaining the economy it met, Nigerians would have been ready to enter fire with Buhari. But there are just too many unresolved problems and challenges. The excuses that Jonathan and company left this peculiar mess behind has refused to fly. The groans might not be loud enough to reverberate all the way to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, as of now, but trust me it may become deafening, sooner than later. I do not care if men and women of power dismiss my submission with a wave of the hand but they should mark my word, there is a thickening conspiracy in the clouds. It would be a shame if we inadvertently play into the hands of those hovering and ready to pounce on Buhari. I read about “persecution complex” long ago and I understand how it works. If you beat your own child so ruthlessly as if you want to kill him, the tilt of public opinion would always go against you. Many would wonder why you want to kill your own child. In our anger, let us pick our fights. There is too much tension in the land. I would be delighted if anyone could educate and convince me that Nigeria has gained much more than we’ve lost to this war of attrition. If we haven’t, we may need to retrace our steps urgently. The BBC reported on Friday how Jonathan caused a stir in Sokoto State during his visit to the state to pay his respects to Ibrahim Dasuki, the late former Sultan of Sokoto. According to the report, Jonathan was received by a large crowd of admirers, some holding banners bearing the words “Come Back Baba Jonathan”. The same voices that chanted “Sai Baba” and “Jonathan Must Go” are now fiddling with the tunes of the possibility of a Jonathan to stage a comeback. Here lies the irony of political triumph and the paradox of high expectations. The euphoria and momentum that saw the exit of Jonathan and the emergence of the Buhari change administration has since begun to wane following the inability of the new government to hit the ground running with the tenacity of a government in a hurry! There are many who believe that the poor management of the ensuing economic recession didn’t help matters. Suddenly, Nigerians who had high hopes and voted massively for change are now caught in a limbo between confusion and uncertainty. As it stands today, the average Nigerian is confronted with the reality of an economic recession they never planned for; a situation they did not experience under the Jonathan administration and under previous governments. Many of President Buhari’s supporters are worried that the humongous goodwill that engineered the Buhari change mantra is now being frittered away at the speed of light. The unfolding plot has now thrown up former President Jonathan as a new protagonist in Nigeria’s theatre of the absurd. For many of us who are ardent students of history, we have since learnt that nothing is impossible in the game called politics. Will history repeat itself again? Time is pregnant with answers!

Why Buhari Has Not Sacked Emefiele, CBN Governor

On the sidelines of a CBN Foreign Exchange (Forex) policy dialogue which held in Lagos recently, resource persons and prominent private sector stake-holders complained to Pulse about]how the monetary policies of the CBN under Emefiele have eroded investor confidence, created uncertainty in the market and left the lot of the citizenry in dire straits. Renowned economists like Bismarck Rewane and Ayo Teriba warned the CBN to stop rigging its own Forex market. The CBN has been at pains to explain whether it's operating a float or a devaluation. A few days after that Forex policy dialogue which had the Adviser to the CBN Governor, Emmanuel Ukeje in attendance however, CBN commissioned DSS (Department of State Services) personnel to raid Bureau De Change outlets in Lagos in a bid to force the value of the Naira to appreciate against the Dollar--proof that old habits die hard. Most financial analysts have described the CBN commissioned DSS raid as primitive and draconian. The exchange rate has only worsened since the raids, with traders now hoarding Forex. But if Emefiele and his CBN staff have learned anything from forcing the exchange rate, they are yet to show it. Bankers spoken to for this story lament that the CBN under Emefiele has driven the economy under. Emefielemustgo.com--a website opened by anonymous Bank executives, has since gone viral. Its main mission: to pile pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to dispense with the services of Emefiele. According to the website, Emefiele stopped influx of much needed Forex into Nigeria through Standard Chartered Bank, but allowed the same Forex into the country through Zenith Bank; Emefiele’s last workplace address; at a cheaper rate. Standard Chartered was immediately sanctioned by the CBN Governor after the bank went ahead with another transaction without first calling to inform Emefiele. Presidency sources have told Pulse that Buhari hasn’t axed Emefiele yet because he doesn’t want to create more panic and crisis in the market. The President is also wary of sending the wrong signals to foreign investors by sacking his CBN Governor. The President is also mindful that he has to go through the Senate to sack the CBN Governor, the source added. Emefiele's term as CBN Governor will be up in 2019--the year Nigeria heads to the ballot to choose a President. He was appointed to head the apex bank in June of 2014 by former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.

PDP Calls For Postponement Of Ondo Election

Press Statement November 19, 2016. Yesterday, the Court of Appeal Panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa set up to determine the appeals of Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) against the scandalous judgment given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja controversially adjourned all proceedings sine die. In doing so, Justice Ibrahim Salauwa stated that the decision to adjourn was taken in the face of a petition written against the panel to the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) alleging acts of corruption, bias and breach of oaths of office amongst others. Furthermore, the respondents had filed a motion at the Supreme Court in which the Justices of Court of Appeal Panel were named as co-respondents in their personal capacities. The indefinite adjournment is a consequence of the latest of several mischievous actions taken by Messrs Biyi Poroye, Jimoh Ibrahim and their legal team led by Mr. Ben Nwofor (SAN). These actions, ranging from unsubstantiated allegations of corruption to outright disrespect and disregard for the Justices of the Court of Appeal to disruption of Court proceedings and flagrant abuse of Court processes, are all designed to achieve one aim – stall proceedings and ensure that the legitimate Candidate of the Party is prevented from contesting the November 26th, 2016 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State. This outright bullying and intimidation of Justices of the Court of Appeal is enabled by the recent invasion of the homes of Justices of the Supreme Court, and the arrests and harassment of several judges by men of the Directorate of State Services. These actions are achieving the desired effect as Judges are now compelled to refrain from furthering the course of justice by unsubstantiated allegations of corruption. We are aware that this is only a part of a much bigger plan to use all available resources of State to prevent the legitimate Candidate of the Party from running for and winning the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election. We are aware that this is part of the plan to use the Judicial process, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election in favour of the Ruling Party (APC) before the Election Day. We call on all well meaning Nigerians to urge the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to desist from the use of organs of the Nigerian State as a tool with which to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. At this point, we must urge all Nigerians to hold the Federal Government, INEC, APC and the Jimoh Ibrahim group for any consequences of the dangerous games that they have chosen to play with the Nigerian people. The judiciary is seen as the last hope of the common man. When the freedom and independence of the judiciary to further the course of justice is tampered with, people often resort to self help. The current situation must not be allowed to deteriorate to that point. We call on INEC to postpone the Election pending the determination of the Suit before the Supreme Court. We make this call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC is a party to the suit before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and is well aware of the steps taken by certain parties to the Suit to frustrate the course of justice. We also make this call against the backdrop of the fact that INEC postponed the Edo State Gubernatorial Election and recently postponed the Rivers Rerun elections without any cogent or visible reason. We urge the Justices of the Supreme Court to stand fast in the face of this existential threat to the independence of the Judiciary and democracy itself. We urge the Justices of the Supreme Court to remember the maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied” while determining the issues before it. We use this opportunity to ask our teeming members and supporters in Ondo State and across the Country to remain calm. We believe that there are men and women of integrity in the Judiciary who will ensure that this act of injustice does not stand. May God bless Nigeria. Signed: Prince Dayo Adeyeye National Publicity Secretary