News Desk Monday, September 10, 2007

Militants Abduct 11 PDP Leaders

Some militants suspected to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta have kidnapped 11 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State. The incident, which occurred in Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area on Saturday night, came barely a month after MEND demanded N500m from the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, for the demobilisation of its members in the state. MORE>>>

FG Orders Tight Security Around Oil Installations

The Federal Government, on Sunday ordered tight security around the strategic oil installations and other nation’s business interests in the Niger Delta region. It was leant that the government also directed a fresh security web around foreign nationals and assets of the majors in the region. MORE>>>

Imo Acquires 1,500 Cabs, Bans Okada

Imo State Government is to ban commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as "okada" from plying the streets of Owerri, the state capital, in the next few days. MORE>>>

Release Uwazuruike Now, Group Demands

Political stal warts in Anambra State, under the aegis: “Andy Uba Campaign Organization”, have called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to effect the release of the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazurike and other members of the group currently languishing in various prison custodies on or before the September 27 Igbo Day Celebrations. MORE>>>

Yar'Adua Offers Nigeria No Hope - AC

Action Congress (AC) on Sunday described the state of the nation in the last 100 days of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as precarious, saying that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government does not offer the citizenry hope. MORE>>>

Obinne Emmanuel Onyeador's African Treasures

Shoppers and tourists are taking a walk and learning by asking questions regarding artifacts originating from the African continent. Just because the economy is bad doesn't mean people do not have cash to spend, especially when it comes to collectibles rarely found anywhere on Planet earth. "It's been slow this year," Obinne would say, "compared to the previous years when business really boomed." Of course, the economy has been bad, but shoppers are still buying items that they like. The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire was not an exception. Everywhere you take a look, there is a bargain for one item or the other and Onyeador's African Treasures attracted tourists alike for his original fine art collection, prints, African masks, trade beads, old tribal arts and crafts, fabrics and designers clothes displayed on wholesale and retail.

Onyeador studied criminology at the University of Oregon in Portland and decided his passion was more important to academia. Earning his masters degree in the same discipline and working briefly at the Nigerian Consulate, it was adios. His new career which is trading in African Arts has taken him places and has led him to the idea of maintaining a cultural heritage. He is now more preoccupied working with the African-American community in the Leimert Park area and has extended his gesture all around California marketing his fine prints and artifacts.

It was brisk business all through the cultural faire which started on August 18, 2007 and ran on every weekend until Labor day. Onyeador, who has been trading and collecting artifacts the past fifteen years said business wasn't that bad even though a booth at the event cost a whopping $2,000. On a busy and good market day, one of his prints sold for $800 and $1,500 while the masks and fabrics sold as high as $1,800 and $1,200.

Onyeador's African Treasures Gallery is located on the thoroughfare of "Black Township" at Leimert Park, in Los Angeles, California.

News Desk Saturday, September 8, 2007

Union Berates S. African Official For Remarks Against Nigeria

Leaders of two Nigerian unions in South Africa on Friday demanded for an apology from a South African parliamentarian who allegedly made uncomplimentary remarks on Nigeria. MORE>>

Reps Shop For Etteh's Successor

Even before the nine-man panel set to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversial N628 million contracts for the renovation of the official residence of Speaker Patricia Etteh and her deputy’s, Mr. Babangida Nguroje, as well as the purchase of additional vehicles, Saturday Champion can authoritatively reveal that the House has already started shopping for her replacement. MORE>>

ERA Alerts On Indiscriminate Siting Of Gas Pipelines In Lagos

Lagos may soon witness unprecedented loss of lives and property that will dwarf fatalities associated with pipeline explosions across the country if environmental and safety concerns are left unaddressed in the on-going pipeline projects in the city, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has warned. MORE>>

Armed Forces Allay Fears On Terrorism Attacks

The Nigerian armed forces yesterday pledged to forestall any possible terrorist attacks in any part of the country, assuring that they are battle ready to ward off any attack. This assurance came from the Director of Defence Information, Col M. D. Yusuf, following Thursday's alarm raised by the American Consulate in Lagos over a threat on western and United States' interests in Nigeria. MORE>>

The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire (8)

It got to be money or else you ain't getting any deal. Yes, ATM machines were placed at all nook and crannies at the 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire which ended on Labor Day. Running out of cash? No problem. Just insert your debit card or credit card and you will be ready to roll again.

Oluchi Onweagba, The Face Of Africa

Ain't she beautiful? I popped her up because she is just too good of a look. Born on August 01, 1980 in Lagos, Oluchi Onweagba has become a household name in international supermodelling. Her career as a model began when the South African television channel M-Net and the French modelling agency Elite organized the inaugural edition of beauty show. Her life, however, would change instantly and the rest would be history. Measuring 34-24-35, 128 lb and standing at 6ft 1in, Elite Model Management awarded Oluchi a three-year modelling contract to kickstart her career.

Moving to New York, her connections in modelling would catapult her to the top meeting and campaining for top-notch designers in the fashion industry. Feauturing in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit she made it three times in a row (2005, 2006 and 2007)making her the first model from her nativeland ever to market for SI Swimsuit Collection. She has also graced the covers of Vogue, ELLE, Marie Claire, Allure and other publications around the world. In addition to her haul of promotions in the international fashion industry, she played a major role in Victoria Secret's "Backstage Sexy."

Still living in New York and shuttling around the world for series of fashion shows, she married Italian designer, a long time companion, Luca Orlandis, in 2005.

You go girl! I like your style!

News Desk Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Etteh: Reps in Rowdy Session

*Adjourn in honour of Late Enwerem

*Opposition, AC insist on Speaker's probe

*Supporters say she won't step aside

ABUJA—IT was a rowdy session in the House of Representatives yesterday when Speaker Patricia Etteh decided to adjourn proceedings in honour of deceased former Senate President Evan Enwerem. This was against expectation of the institution of investigations into the alleged N628 million contract scam.
The adjournment was abrupt. MORE>>

Yar'Adua Ruling Without Clear Agenda 100 Days After - CNPP

ABUJA—The conference of Nigeria Political Parties yesterday accused President Umar Musa Yar’Adua of running a regime with no clear agenda on several burning issues facing the nation saying his first 100 days in office was characterized by inconsistency, reversal and somersault. MORE>>

The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire (7)

As the yearly event ends on Labor Day, The African Television Channel left no stone unturned featuring Los Angeles area kids for some audition and impro at the 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire. These kids performed to a cheering crowd making the audience wanna holler. They were beautiful and energetic. It was an excellent performance.

News Desk Sunday, September 2, 2007

N628m Contract Scam: National Assembly Top Officials Disown Speaker

ALMOST one week after the embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, reportedly, directed the management of the National Assembly to come out with a statement in defence of the N628million contract scam rocking the House, the top officials have practically dissociated themselves from the contract for fear of implicating themselves. MORE>>>

Voters Have Right To Protest If Shortchanged At Poll - Cardinal Arinze

Vatican cleric, Nigeria‘s Cardinal Francis Arinze on Saturday said voters in the country had a right to protest if they felt shortchanged during an election. Arinze, who heads the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments in the Vatican, spoke with newsmen at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State, on Saturday shortly after he delivered a lecture titled, ”Leadership as Service: The Nigerian Experience.” MORE>>>

Obasanjo Vs. Press: Who Is To Blame ?

The immediate former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, made a pathetic statement recently when he openly confessed (The PUNCH, 21-08-07) that reading Nigerian newspapers was not part of his business. Reason? The press, according to him, is in the habit of ”abusing” him all the time. Comparing himself with Jesus Christ, Obasanjo took solace in the fact that even Christ Himself, according to him, was also maligned and eventually ”crucified for no other reason than doing good.” MORE>>>

Why I Fell Out With Awo

Former governor of old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo has spoken about his bitter departure from the Unity of Nigeria (UPN) and his subsequent separation from his political mentor and Yoruba sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1983. MORE>>>

Ekweremadu: Nigeria Gets New Constitution Next Year

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwerema-du at the weekend in Abakaliki said the Nat-ional Assembly has decided to initiate a constitution review process which will culminate in the passage of a new constitution for the country next year.
Addressing a special session of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly during a two-day visit to the state, Ekweremadu said the process of producing a new constitution would begin later this year with wide consultations across the six geo-political zones. MORE>>>

The Port Harcourt Situation

THE Niger delta, once also called the oil river, is an intriguing theatre of history. Its complexity resonates in the various struggles to subdue and maintain hegemony over it, as the epicenter of international trade, dating back to the fifteenth century, when it was one of the major ports of the global trade in slaves, followed by palm oil. Far less discerning Nigerians who buy into the current rhetoric by economic conjurers often imagine that “globalization” is a recent thing that began with computers and the World Wide Web. MORE>>>

Man Runs Amok, Beheads 5 Women

Great calamity has befallen the Mbaise community in Imo State where five women of the same family were beheaded at the weekend in Amukwu Onicha , Ezinihitte local government area, by a 30- year- old man, Bartholomew Uzoegbu, whose state of mental health is a subject of controversy. MORE>>>

The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire (6)

This is not a corrupt bargain. It's not trade by barter, either. It's the 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire where tourists and shoppers of antiquity, African accessories and clothings shopped around for their basic needs. Despite a slowing economy, there was still little change to spare in exchanging goods and services.

News Desk Friday, August 31, 2007

House of Reps Crisis: Madam Speaker's Moves to Douse Tension

With the resumption of the House of Representatives next week, Speaker Patricia Olubunmi Etteh is set to confront her accusers and explain herself to members of the House. Since returning from abroad, she has made useful attempts to douse the tension already generated. This report examines the issues and concludes that whereas she may have being a victim of her own indiscretion, the opposition would not hold water. MORE>>>

GSM at Six: The Good and Ugly Side

That the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can bark and bite was demonstrated by its recent order to the Global System of Mobile (GSM) communications companies to stop all sales promos until they had expanded their networks to accommodate the expected traffic from such activities. MORE>>>

Obasanjo Should be Probed - Ojukwu

ENUGU—PRESIDENTIAL candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, yesterday, accused former President, Chief Olusegun Oba-sanjo of ruinning the nation’s economy saying he must be made to face prosecution if the Federal Government was serious with its fight against corruption. MORE>>>

No Emergency Rule in Rivers, says Yar'Adua

President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday said he had no intention of declaring emergency rule in Rivers State. Yar’Adua, who spoke when an 11-member delegation of the state’s representatives in the National Assembly visited him, also vowed that the government would deal with criminal elements in the Niger Delta. MORE>>>

NLC Threatens Nationwide Strike

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, on Thursday warned that the congress would lead workers on a nationwide strike over the planned deduction of five per cent from their salaries under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). MORE>>>

In Ghana, New Cedi is Fun

When Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced his plans to redenominate the naira, Nosike Ogbuenyi travelled to Accra, Ghana, to feel the pulse of Ghanaians as their country transits from the old cedi, which exchanged 10,000 cedis to US$1, to the new cedi which is at par with the dollar. He saw a country that is gradually adjusting to the new reality. MORE>>>

The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire (5)

The School of Scientology brought its business to the 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire perhaps to sell its ideas of a controversial stuff that was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, based on a person being an immortal spiritual being clearing itself of past painful experiences through self knowledge and spiritual fulfillment. Hard to believe as it sounds too good to be true. Nevertheless, tourists and curious-minded folks still checked it out.