APC govs to see Buhari's ministerial list before submission

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly assured governors elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) that he will show them the list of ministerial nominees whenit is ready before submitting it to the Senate.

A top source present at the meeting Buhari held with the governors on Tuesday, however, said the presentation of the list, would be delayed by Senate's recess, which lasts tillJuly 21.

The source, however, said the president had charged the Head of Service of the Federation and permanent secretaries to ensure government did not grind to a halt pending the appointment of ministers.

Buhari had been criticised for delaying the appointment of his ministers, but the President, in response, stated that he could not understand why people were too anxious to have ministers. He had also rejected the idea of state governors nominating ministers for him.

All Progressives Congress governors, had made some demands on the presidentincluding nominating ministerial and ambassadorial appointees, but the request was turned down. Buhari was said to have told them that the constitution did not mandate him to take ministerial nomineesfrom them, advising them instead to concentrate on getting good hands to run their states with them.

Twenty eight days after mounting the saddle as the president and commander-in-chief, Buhari is yet to announce his cabinet members. Aside the appointment of former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Femi Adesina as Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Garba Shehu, former Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) and Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure as the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP),no other appointment has been made officially.

Credit: Nigerian Tribune

Keshi faces sack over Cote d'Ivoire application

THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disciplinary committee will recommend for the dismissal of coach Stephen Keshi if it were proven he applied to handle the African champions, the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire.

A member of the committee disclosed this, saying hammer would fall on the former coach of Togo if a thorough investigation ascertains that he did apply for the job.

Keshi, who appeared before a disciplinary hearing in Abuja Tuesday, has denied ever applying for the Cote d'Ivoire post, but the NFF has since launched a probe that may take them to Abidjan to uncover the truth of the matter.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick has already said Keshi would be "suicidal" to apply for another post when the football federation is up to date with the payment of his salaries.

Vice president of the disciplinary committee, Igbokwe said: "If it were proven that he indeed applied to coach Cote d'Ivoire when he is still coaching the Super Eagles, then that is a breach of trust.

"We will then recommend (to the executive committee) that he be relieved of his job so that he could go and coach Cote d'Ivoire."

Keshi who led Nigeria to win the 2013 AFCON in South Africa, has a two-year contract after he first three-year stint in charge of the Super Eagles during which time he also guided the team to the knockout rounds of the 2014 World Cup.

NNPC restructuring: Northerners may take juicy positions

BARRING unforeseen circumstances, drastic and sweeping changes are imminent in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Tribune has learnt.

Sources in the NNPC revealed that some powerful forces close to the corridors of power had submitted a proposal for the restructuring of the corporation to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate implementation.

In the proposed arrangement, eight key northerners, mainly from the North-West and North-East geo-political zones, had been penciled in for the proposed new structure, leaving out the four other zones in the country, Nigerian Tribune learnt.

The development is already creating ripples within and outside the NNPC, just as sources said some top members of the corporation, as well as stakeholders, were unhappy with the proposal.

Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that in the proposed new structure, key positions such as Group Executive Directors (GED) and other strategic ones, which include that of the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), as well as the position of the Managing Director and Group General Manager for the Crude Oil Marketers Division (COMD), have been zoned to the North, leaving out the oil producing zones.

Nigerian Tribune also gathered that some powerful forces that included a new governor in one of the core states in the North were believed to be leading in lobbying President Buhari to approve the new structure.

In the proposed structure, Dr. M.K. Baru from Bauchi, a former Group General Manager of NAPIMS, one of the subsidiaries of the NNPC, is believed to have been penciled in for the position of Group Managing Director of the corporation, while Alhaji Sa'adi Farouk, who hails from Sokoto State in another proposed structure, is to be made the GMD, same as Isa Mohammed Inuwa, whose background is in Accounting and currently the Deputy Managing Director/Chief Executive Office of Nigeria LNG Limited.

Inuwa, who is from Kano, had worked at the NNPC for over eight years and held various posts that included Group General Manager, Corporate Audit, General Manager, Budget and Projects, General Manager Finance, NAPIMS.

With the proposed structure, qualified contenders from other zones of the country for the GMD position had been shut out, sources said.

An oil expert from the South-South zone, Oscar Oti Abuam, told the Nigerian Tribune that the proposal did not take into cognisance the complex nature of the Nigerian state, particularly when considered against the backdrop that oil is mainly from the South-South.

"Nigerians voted for change, irrespective of religion and or ethnic background. NNPC remains the cash cow for sustaining the economy and any attempt to implement such will affect the economy terribly," he said.

Meanwhile, the Association of Crude Workers of Nigeria, has alleged that the new proposal was nothing short of marginalisation.

According to it, the proposal negated President Buhari's campaign promises, one of which was inclusivity in his administration.

It, therefore, called on the president to quash the proposal.

Nigeria Is In Trouble With Saraki As Senate President – Monday Ubani

There seems to be no let-up on the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC). The naming of principal officers for the Eighth Senate has added salt to the party’s wound. By refusing to honour the party’s position, Dr. Bukola Saraki has re-enacted the controversy that threw him up as Senate President on June 9.

Rather than read the letter written to the Senate by APC’s National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on the floor of the Upper Chamber on Wednesday, he ruled Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who brought up a motion on the matter, out of order.

The letter spelt out the party’s position and its choice candidates for principal offices in the Senate.

In it are the names of senators Ahmed Lawan (Northeast, Majority Leader); George Akume (Northcentral, Deputy Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Southwest Chief Whip) and Abu Ibrahim (Northwest, Deputy Chief Whip).

A similar letter to House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, listed the names of preferred candidates for the principal offices in the lower legislative chamber. They are: Femi Gbajabiamila (House Leader), Southwest; Alha$$an Ado Doguwa (Deputy House Leader), Northwest; M.T. Monguno (Chief Whip), Northeast and Pally Iriase (Deputy Chief Whip), Southsouth.

Saraki directed the caucuses in the senate to meet and submit their nominees for the principal offices. He discountenanced the chairman’s letter conveying the party position.

Before adjourning yesterday till July 21, Saraki named the principal officers.

Constitutional lawyer Prof Itse Sagay, (SAN), described Saraki’s defiance as a rebellion against the party.

“It is a rebellion against the process that brought him to the Upper Chamber of the National a$$embly. It is the height of indiscipline that could lead to party’s collapse if care is not taken,” he said

Sagay went on: “The leadership of the APC should take the bull by the horn and discipline over ambitious Saraki. He should be expelled from the party before he destroyed it. Saraki has succeeded in destabilising the APC through his in-subordinate and confrontational attitude.

“The party should make its position known and stand by its nominees for the principal offices in the Senate. APC should call the bluff of arrogant and power conscious senate president.

“The party should not condone indiscipline. It should mete out severe punishment to Saraki and his co-travellers in the Senate who belong to the ruling party”.

Another lawyer, Monday Ubani, described Saraki’s posturing as very sad.

According to him, with what has played out again in the selection of principal officers, if Saraki has his way, and if he remains as Senate President, everything he does will favour members of the Senate and not the APC.

Ubani, a former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, said Saraki’s allegiance will be to the members of the Senate, particularly those who facilitated his emergence as Senate President.

The former NBA chair said: “His (Saraki’s) ambition has put him in a quagmire and he is ready to do the evil. He will not take directive from the party but from members. Saraki will go back to PDP sooner or later.

“APC is in trouble with such a man occupying that position. His disposition will affect the executive arm of government. With such a conservative element at the helm of the National a$$embly, the change APC is working for will be perverted. Nigeria is in trouble.”

Gordons: The tale of an aspiring King of Comedy

GORDONS, whose real name is Godwin Komone, has done well for himself even though he wasn’t born with a silver spoon. It can be recalled that Gordons was discovered from the popular Delta state based Gospel music comedy group known as D.C Envoy. His group exported music comedy to the campus when they got admission, even in the midst of his poverty-stricken background. And as a teenager of less than 13 years of age, the star was already a breadwinner.

Gordons studied Integrated Science and graduated in 1998. Before venturing into standup comedy, he actually tried his hands in running a church in the capacity of a pastor. With his church background, it is no wonder he always adds ‘hallelujah’ to his jokes and does more gospel music when he has the opportunity.

Today, Gordons is considered one of the best in the business and charges mouth- watering fees for his shows. He has a comedy show known as Gordons Comedy Clinic with its fifth editions in running. In this edition, I introduce to you, a brother, artiste, husband and father to his four beautiful children. Enjoy!

Gordons hails from the Urhobo speaking tribe of Delta state. He is the first child in a polygamous family in Warri. Young Godwin attended Ighogbadu Primary School in the heart of Warri and later attended Nana College. He stage name coined by his friends was acquired when Gordons Spark and Gordons gin came into the Nigerian market.

Music discovered him in his twenties when his childhood friend, Obus Zelee, created their group. And what started way back on Karien Street, near Emiberen Street, Okumagba Avenue, like a joke took these young stars everywhere in Nigeria for performance.

After graduation in 1998, the ever evolving Gordons got married while trying his hands in many things including going solo in music and becoming the resident pastor of Rainbow Christian Assembly, Jakpa branch, also in Warri. He joined the team of Made in Warri created by Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD). While being featured on the stage of Made In Warri, he got launched on the big stage of Experience in 2006, where the big story of his life actually began.

Since then, he has grown the brand to the extent that he has been showcased in different platforms including AY Live Shows, A nite of a thousand laughs, and several others too numerous to mention. Gordons has anchored thousands of events and appeared on stages abroad where he was paid handsomely for his craft. His Gordons Comedy Clinic is among the popular CDs sold in town as he has done the fifth edition already.

Challenges

Gordons tried his hands at several entertainment projects that didn’t pay off, but he persevered until his break came in 2006 at the Experience held at TBS.

Belief

He believes that humility is the foundation to every success because when a person sees himself as something and acts rudely towards others; then God takes him down, but when he brings himself down in humility, then God would take him up in His time. According to him, the way up is down, meaning that if you want to get up, you would have to be down first so you can appreciate it better when you get up.

Accolades

Gordon has been able to take his style of comedy to the public via his comedy clinic while anchoring events and other businesses he is doing. He single-handedly anchored ‘A Nite of a thousand laugh, the 11th and 12th editions. The star gets to be paid good money for his talent. Today, he lives in his own house in Lagos and in Delta state. He buys himself expensive cars, wrist watches, perfumes and can afford to take care of his family.

Credit: Vanguard

Nigerian women are too sexy to go nude – Yisa

Patience Erdoo Yisa is fresh in the Nigerian movie industry and has only started acting last year December. Prior to becoming an actress, she was in the spotlight for winning Miss Glo Rock and Rule and also for being Miss Culture and Tourism Benue State in 2013. In this exclusive interview, she talks about her career, life and more

What are you up to now?

Right now I’m doing a movie titled ‘The Misery Lane’; it’s a horror movie and it’s a two- man cast with Yvonne Jegede and I. It’s a movie about a girl who on her way from a party got an accident and she needed a place to pass the night because she wasn’t close to her house before the accident happened

Horror film with zombies and ghosts?

Yeah, stuffs like that. I’m Yvonne Jegede’s twin sister and those zombies you talked about, they came through me and they were tormenting her in a room. She saw a house and she tried to enter inside with intention of resting till tomorrow. I came tormenting her and after everything, she found out that it was just a dream and it was on her birthday. It’s a very nice movie.

How has life been so far in Nollywood?

It’s been great; I keep telling people that I’m very lucky in Nollywood. When I came in, I asked questions and so many people kept telling me they’ve been in Nollywood for five years, six years. I was really shocked because It must be very tough if they have been in the industry for five-six years and I haven’t heard their names. I’m here less than six months and I’ve really done very good movies. I really thank God, he’s treating me very well.

Did you always want to be an actress?

I love to entertain but I never knew I was going to be an actress. Last two years I never thought of being an actress, I started thinking about being an actress last year while I was serving (NYSC).

What is that one thing producers always look out for when they see an actress?

It varies from producers to producers and it depends on the script. Sometimes the looks matter, If you look the way they want. You might not really be delivering the lines but your looks may get you the role. They would tell you your looks fit in with the picture and before you know it you are given the role. But that does not mean you have to fluff your lines. The looks can get you started but it is your ability to interpret the roles that will see you through.

Can you wear a bikini or go nude in a movie?

I can wear a bikini but I can’t go completely naked on set.

But you can wear something provocative?

To me, I don’t think a bikini should be provocative, a bikini is like normal beachwear; it is we that see it as something so big. I’ve watched so many foreign movies where you see them when they are dressing up but we cannot do it here because we tend to very fleshy and more so, we’re hotter than them.
If a Nigerian actress were to go nude, it would cause a lot of commotion because we have this hot body that they don’t have. Imagine Mercy Johnson and Angelina Jolie in bikinis, who would you be looking at? We don’t necessarily need to show off all that much to look as hot as they want it to be like in our movies.

You once said you like a man who has confidence in himself, what do you mean by that exactly?

A man who believes in himself; you have to believe in yourself for you to be able to believe in someone else.

How would you describe yourself, are you a party girl or an indoor girl?

I have a bit of everything in me. Being indoors is cool but when it’s time to party, I party hard. When it’s time to do anything, I do it very well so I have a bit of everything in me. I do almost everything well but when it comes to acting, I give my 100% because I love to act.

What do you love most about acting?

I love almost everything about acting. I like to be watched, I like to be that person that is making everybody want to watch TV and feel entertained. I think I can play almost every role in a movie and so far, I’ve not really had any big challenge playing any role.

Can you do something sexy in a movie?

I have a very good body so it would be a very great thing to flaunt it. I can be very sexy in a movie.

As a pretty actress, you obviously have a lot of male admirers. How do you handle them?

I don’t think I have problems handling them; it’s nothing new to me because right from Secondary School, I have been handling men. When I was 13, I was already like 5 ft 8 so I grew very big while my mates were still small. People were already seeing me as a very mature girl while I was still young.

How many are you in your family?

We are 4; 2 girls and 2 boys. I am the second child

Are you currently in any relationship?

No, I’m not in a relationship now.

Where did you have your university education?

I schooled at Benue State University and I studied Chemistry.

What inspires your sense of style?

I like to go simple. My role model when it comes to fashion is Genevieve, I like the way she dresses. She does not go too complicated; she dresses so simple and very elegant. I like to be elegant.

What are your hobbies?

I like to swim, I like travelling and I like to write a lot. I’m actually writing a book now titled ‘Deserve it’ and it’s a very motivational and inspirational book. When I came into acting, I never had an idea of what a script looks like because I was a science student back then in School. When I came here and I saw a script, I was like I can do this so I just saw myself writing scripts and now I have more than seven scripts I’ve written.

GHANAIAN FOOTBALL STAR ASAMOAH GYAN CHARGED FOR RAPE AND SODOMY

The captain of the national Ghanaian football team, Asamoah Gyan, has recently been charged by police for rape and sodomy of Sarah Kwablah, a 22 year old student at the University of Ghana. Kwablah’s lawyer, Maurice Ampaw, said the complaint was made two days ago at the Victim Support Unit (DOOVSU) of the Ministry Police Station in Accra.

Gyan has admitted to having sex with Sarah Kwablah. However, he claims that the sex was entirely consensual.

Kwablah, is also accusing Gyan of fathering her pregnancy. Hospital scans have shown that she is indeed pregnant but Gyan claims that the child is not his. He has demanded a paternity test to determine the veracity of her claims. Reports say he is prepared to take responsibility of the child if it is proven that he is the father.

According to numerous reports, Kwablah is also asking for a fully furnished apartment, a housemaid, and a $1,000 monthly stipend from Gyan. The Black Stars captain, Gyan, has called the demands outrageous.

Kwablah has also threatened to release a sex tape of the couple, from the time they had a relationship, which supposedly began in February. A case of blackmail was subsequently filed by Asamoah Gyan’s lawyer, Kissi Adjabeng, at the Ordorkor Police Station.

In light of the madness, Gyan spoke to the Ghanaian radio station, Happy FM, saying “all through my career, I have always contended with obstacles whenever I’m trying to do anything but I never give up because I am mentally strong. I have not always had things running smoothly for me but I try to sail through."

"What has kept me going up to this time is my mental toughness," he went on, confident that his history of dealing with challenges on his way to greatness will come in handy again.

"You will notice that at almost every point in my life I have had challenges. I am blessed to have been able to go through all the time so I will go through this one too, again."

PLAYERS BRIBE TO PLAY IN THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM - TAYE TAIWO

Super Eagles defender, Taye Taiwo, has revealed what has been keeping most good players away from National team especially in Nigeria which is quite shocking and might cost him his career in the National team squad if he is being interrogated base on his allegations.

The player disclosed to Football Africa 365 that unlike young players who are genuinely picked to play for the National team, some other players will have to bribe their way through to be selected.

Taiwo who is currently in Nigeria with his family, seems not to buy the idea which might be one of the reasons he has not been seen in the Nigerian National team for a long time since he last featured for Nigeria during the goalless draw against the Rwanda, in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in February 2012.

“I'm not going to be some who owe their selection of gifts to the coach. In Nigeria, it still happens that way unfortunately," he said.

BISHOP IMEH REGRETS MARRYING HIS 'WIFE'

Marriage, these days, is fast becoming a thing of sorrow for many, yet some still struggle to get into it. For Bishop Imeh, fat women are a turn down for him which has pose a much regrets for him marrying his wife.

Although as a man who runs away from responsibilities, Bishop Imeh would sure face the consequences.

In a movie directed by Tom Robson and produced by the Royal Arts Academy, ‘Visa Lottery’ reviewed an irresponsible man who fails in his duty to cater for his immediate family, yet he still goes around chasing anything in skirt.

The polygamous man tries to run away from his matrimonial responsibilities in bed to his wife claiming she is too fat and will crush him to death.

The second wife who overheard their husband, mocks the first wife while she was lamenting not enjoying her husband and a fight ensued.

Their husband settles the fight when he dropped the bombshell of taking a third wife. 'Visa Lottery' will crack you up.

Watch the full clips this comic Nollywood movie. Ime Bishop Umoh, Eniola Badmus are a match with their hilarious acts.

I CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR - JACKIE APPIAH

Lovely Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah, has called on celebrities who chose to invest their money in luxury things especially cars, to think twice as a car can never last forever.

The actress in an interview with Razz Newspaper, when asked when she was going to change her old cars, the actress stated that she would rather invest her money in helping the needy and in business than getting new cars.

Jackie explained that cars tend to wear out between 10-15 years no matter the amount of maintenance given it unlike the house that holds the car.

"For now apart from my yearly donations , and supporting the less privileged, I am also into real estate, so my focus has shifted from buying new cars , to doing more business now" She said.

"A car tends to wear out in 10 years (or 15 if you're lucky) no matter how much maintenance you do. And the cost to fix them back to "brand-new" is more than the cost of buying a new car. So after some time you find you need to buy a new car, and you can't sell the old one for much.

The depreciated value of the car after 10 years is approximately the price you'd get if you sold it,the combination of the land holding its value or even appreciating, and the house building also holding its value through good maintenance means that houses generally don't lose much value over the years unlike cars,” she said.