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Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, says paucity of fund is not the major challenge to the completion of ongoing Federal Government's road projects.
Fashola spoke to reporters on Saturday in Port Harcourt after an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in the South-South zone.
"There is no problem of paucity of fund on this road again; this road is now a function of man hours.
"If you have all the money needed to construct this road, you would not finish it today.
"So let us understand that these roads are built long and wide, and so will take years to be completed because roads are connecting several states.
"As we are building, it will get better but funding is not going to be a problem on this road again because we make sure that the contractor are paid," he said.
He said the contractors handling the road projects would be paid based on presentation of certificate of performance.
Fashola
Fashola cautioned contractors against the use of budgetary provisions as excuse not to be on site, adding that the budget had not solved the problem in the past.
"As at the time we had money, when a barrel of oil sells for 100 dollars per barrel, we did not take the issue of roads seriously, because the capital budget then use to be 15 per cent.
"It is Buhari's administration that is increasing capital budget to 30 per cent, which means that this government is taking the issue of roads seriously and that is why we are here.
"Contractors are coming to site after three years of lay off and as you pay a contractor, you are invariably bring people back to work, and that is the commitment that I made," he said.
The minister expressed dismay over failure of the past administration to fund the projects it originated.
"You heard the contractors saying they were not able to continue with the projects because funds were not released until December, 2016.
"You also heard from all the sites we visited that contractors were not paid for three to four years and that was at a time we were having income of 100 dollars per barrel of oil.
"People were laid off by the contractors, they could not continue the projects, so the foundation for the recession was built three years.
"In spite of the fall in oil income, the Buhari government is now saying that whatever it will take, we must pay contractors and that is why they have all returned to sit," he added.
Newsmen report that the projects visited by the minister during tour in Rivers were the Aba-Port Harcourt dual carriage way and the Bodo-Bonny bridge projects.
The minister said the Bodo-Bonny bridge, when completed, would be the only road linking the people of Ogoni land to Bonny Island.
He said the project was awarded several years ago but the contractor abandoned the site because it was not funded.
He said the Federal Government made provision to finance the project in partnership with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in the 2017 budget proposal.
Following the Port Harcourt ruling that sacked Senator Ahmed Makarfi but recognized Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the legitimate chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose has said that Ahmed Makarfi remains the recognized Chairman of the party until the Supreme Court decides otherwise.
Fayose who gave the statement in Ado-Ekiti, said the Makarfi-led faction of the party has already appealed the Appeal Court’s ruling, adding that “when we got the judgement at the lower court, affirming the Caretaker Committee, Sheriff was still parading himself as the chairman.”
Fayose equally said that although he knows that some people are apprehensive about whether he would win or lose the election come 2018, he is going to get to greater heights because he has the backing of the people.
Ayodele Fayose
I’m aware that some people are apprehensive of 2018 but I want to say it here that they should worry not. What I know that will happen tomorrow is that I will get to greater heights.”
“There are three major important factors in elections, the people is number one, followed by the party and the candidate. You can have a party and candidate, if you don’t have the people, you will fail because the power of the people is greater than the power of those of us in power.”
“Here in Ekiti, we have the people. I am saying it here that we are under the leadership of the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee.”
“When we got the judgement at the lower court, affirming the Caretaker Committee, Sheriff was still parading himself as the chairman. This time around too, we have appealed the Appeal Court judgement and as such, Makarfi remains our chairman until the Supreme court decides.”
The Chairman of National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has summoned an emergency meeting of stakeholders of the party to discuss the decision of the Appeal Court which went against his leadership.
A notice of the meeting signed by the publicity secretary of the group, Dayo Adeyeye idicated that those invited to the meeting are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly members, former governors of PDP, former ministers under the platform of the PDP, former National Assembly members and party elders.
The meeting is in apparent reaction to the verdict of Port Harcourt Division of the court of Appeal which annulled the May 21, 2016 national convention which had given birth to the caretaker committee and upheld the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the party.
The meeting has been scheduled for Monday for 2pm at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja.
All invited members, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said in the notice if invitation, urged all invited to attend “unfailingly as crucial party matters will be discussed.”
The priest, St. Mary's Church, Ifo in Ogun State, Monsignor Sylvester E. Osigweh, has appealed to Nigerians to acknowledge sacrifice, commitment and patience as a way of reviving the ailing economy Nigeria is facing.
Osigweh, who is also the Spiritual Director, Jesus is Love and Power Catholic Healing Ministry, made this remark during a sermon he delivered at the opening ceremony of the church Annual Business Retreat held under the theme: 'Business Progress in a Distressed Economy'.
The cleric lamented that people's indifference to prayer and inability to understand God's purpose and will in their lives bring more suffering against proper reasoning and patience.
"Every business in the world demands services and commitment no matter how small. To make progress, therefore, in a distressed economy, sacrifices and patience must be applied. Nigeria's situation now is a clear example of what we are talking about, and a clear cut answer is we must turn to God who knows all for proper direction", he stated.
"All over the world, people resort to prayers for every unhealthy situation. This is because everybody knows that God when properly consulted makes the impossible things possible. Nobody should understand stress to have permanent stay in a country state or individual. Liberation exercise must be taught by those who wish to make progress and people should see that God is not absent in every approach to make progress in their lives including business".
Guest speaker at the retreat, Dr. Chidi Okpaluba, a life coach and CEO of CEFARRD, in his remarks, stressed the need for Nigerians to have mindset shift while believing that the economic situation is a momentary situation that can be quelled with self belief.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – THE Presidency disclosed Saturday that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has already signed seven bills into law.
Following Osinbajo’s assent to these bills, they have now fully become Acts of the National Assembly.
The Bills are Oaths(Amendment) Act, 2017; Defence Space Administration Act, 2017; Veterinary Surgeons(Amendment)Act, 2017; National Film and Video Censors Board(Amendment)Act, 2017; Pension Rights of Judges(Amendment) Act, 2017; Nigeria Institute of Soil Science(Establishment, etc.) Act, 2017 and Mortgage Institutions(Amendment)Act, 2016.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate), Senator Ita Enang read, “His Excellency the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has assented to the following Bills passed by the National Assembly and transmitted for assent ,and the Bills have accordingly become laws, namely; Oaths(Amendment) Act, 2017; Defence Space Administration Act, 2017; Veterinary Surgeons(Amendment)Act, 2017; National Film and Video Censors Board(Amendment)Act, 2017; Pension Rights of Judges(Amendment) Act, 2017; Nigeria Institute of Soil Science(Establishment, etc.) Act, 2017 and Mortgage Institutions(Amendment)Act, 2016.
“The Acts, other than the Defence Space Administration Act and the Institute of Soil Science Act are mainly amendments to the principal Acts intended to bring the Acts in conformity with current realities.
“The Oaths Amendment Act specifically enlists courts which were not in existence at the time the Oaths Act was made and which came into being upon amendment of the Constitution creating courts such as the Federal High Court, F.C.T High Court, National Industrial Court, among others named in the Amendment Act.
” Defence Space Administration Act establishes the Defence Space Administration, to develop satellite technology and ensure security of the nation's cyber activities.
“VeterinarySurgeons(Amendment)Act reduces the membership of the Veterinary Council.
” National Film and Video Censors Board(Amendment)Act reduces the membership of the Governing Board and empowers the Board to regulate the import and export of movies.
” Pension Rights of Judges(Amendment) Act expands the meaning of a judicial officer to cover the offices of the Chief Judge or Judge of the Federal High Court, President or Judges of the National Industrial Court and Chief Judge or Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
” Nigeria Institute of Soil Science(Establishment, etc.) Act establishes the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science which is charged with the responsibility of regulating the profession of Soil Science.
” Mortgage Institutions(Amendment)Act reviews the prescribed penalties.
“For bills transmitted but not listed herein, there are appropriate communication by the constitutional authority remitting same as allowed by law.”
Reinstated National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said he would organize a national convention of the party within the shortest time.
He said the convention was imperative as it would enable interested party members to aspire for positions.
Sheriff, who addressed a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, said that Friday's Appeal Court judgment in Port Harcourt affirming his chairmanship of the PDP was the beginning of good things to come to the party.
He said that he was not interested to be chairman of the party, but was more interested in reuniting the members and made sure the party had credible leaders, who would make it win the 2019 elections.
He said that following the judgment, he had received many telephone calls from PDP leaders and that he had also reached out to many persons over the unity of the party.
"All the leaders of the party will be consulted between now and the next one week and we will come out with a firm roadmap that will lead to successful convention.
"I can assure you that within the shortest possible time we will organize a successful national convention so that people can aspire for whatever positions they want.
"Regarding the ruling of the Appeal Court on Friday, I want to assured that nobody is victor and no one is a loser.
Alimodu-Sheriff
" In fact, I have spoken to almost all the people that are affected by the court decision and assured them of my readiness to work with them to ensure that the party returns as one family,'' Sheriff said.
He added that he would also reach out to the party's reconciliation committee to ensure that it came up with roadmap leading to the national convention.
Sheriff said that though he had full confidence in the country's judiciary, he believed that litigation was not the best way to settle a dispute.
"I am determined to make my honest contributions to the success of this party. By doing that, I am ready to make any sacrifice for the success of this party.
"We don't want PDP to lose elections again. It is painful to lose elections.
"We need people to patronize our party, democracy is about people, you either give them their right or they leave.
"What we are trying to do is to give the party back to the people," he said.
The chairman announced that all states congresses held prior to the Port Harcourt national convention remained valid, adding that congresses would only be conducted in states where it was not held.
He, however, warned those speaking for him on the social media to desist from that in order not to compound the problem of the party.
He advised that people should not look at the leadership tussle as fight between him or Makarfi or any other leader of the party.
On the reopening of the locked PDP national secretariat, Sheriff said that it would be done as soon as an order on it was given by the Police.
Chief Patrick Egone, has said Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's achievements was commendable and urged Deltans to support him in developing the state.
Egone, who spoke to newsmen yesterday at his Ughelli residence, noted that Governor Okowa has executed numerous projects across the state in fulfillment of the his SMART Agenda.
He said: " Let me also commend Deltans for supporting the governor, their continued support and cooperation were encouraging Okowa to do more for the people of the state".
According to him: " Evidently, since Okowa assumed office on May 29,2015, Delta has witnessed tremendous human and infrastructural development, this is commendable, even as I urge Deltans to sustain the peace and business-friendly environment to attract more investors to the state".
The former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, on Saturday said that not all Nigerian Judges were corrupt.
Abdullahi made the remark during a public presentation of the journal on Private and Comparative Law, organised in his honour by the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
According to him, the Nigerian judiciary has come of age as a very solid institution.
He said that in any human society, there must be good, bad and worst elements. "So, the judiciary is a human and Nigerian institution.
"Therefore, it is not surprising that some few judicial officers are been picked up for going out of their parameters of judicial function.''
He said the judiciary had been delivering services to the continuity of the country and was in the forefront in providing solutions to some of the problems facing the country.
"We are not disputing the fact that there is no bad element in the judiciary, but not all in the system are bad. "If you compare the number of the bad ones, the good ones out-number the bad ones.''
Judicial symbol
Abdullahi, therefore, said it was unfair to condemn the judiciary because of the few bad ones, as there is no sector in Nigeria that was insulated from corruption,
He however said, "There is the machinery the government can use effectively to flush out bad elements in the judiciary."
Abdullahi added that the government also has the machinery to ensure that only credible persons were appointed as judges.
Meanwhile the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said the judiciary had been trying its best in the fight against corruption.
Bulkachuwa said the judiciary has a standard of measuring judges.
"We have our code of conduct the judicial officer is expected to abide with, If you see anything different from our code of conduct, that officer would have gone astray.
"If you go strictly by the code of conduct you can't go wrong; So, we are committed to the fight against corruption,'' she said.
Permit me to begin this contribution with an aside.
It is only a weak, insecure, paranoid, wicked, heartless, ignorant, lawless and callous government that refuses to identify, apprehend, prosecute and hang the bloodthirsty, psychopathic and murdering Janjaweed Islamist Fulani militants and herdsmen and instead arrests an innocent and accomplished young man like Audu Maikori who simply had the courage to cry out to the world about the barbarous genocide that the people of Southern Kaduna and members of his ethnic group and religious faith are being subjected to all over the north.
I am convinced that my old friend Governor Nasir El Rufai has lost it. He has literally been driven mad by the power that he now wields. If he wants peace in Kaduna state and in the entire country is this the way to achieve it?
Does he really believe that locking up his critics and those that have expressed concern about the mass murder and crimes against humanity that are being perpetuated in his state by his Fulani friends and kinsmen who he publicly admitted that he sends public funds to is the way forward?
Does he not know that the suppression of dissenting voices and intimidation will only lead to more anger, resistance, violence and dissent?
Can he not build bridges rather than burn them? Can he not make friends rather than make enemies?
Here is my message to him: the people of Southern Kaduna are NOT your slaves and neither are the northern minorities, the people of the south or the Christians of Nigeria.
You can kill and lock up as many of us as you like: our faith will only continue to grow, we shall continue to go from strength to strength and we shall oppose and resist you till the bitter end.
At the appointed time the Lord will strike back at you for your power show and sheer wickedness and He shall deliver His people.
I will not beg you to free Audu Maikori but instead I will strongly advise you to do so.
This brings me to the meat of this intervention.
One of the qualities that a Prince must have is the ability to speak truth to power no matter the price, no matter the consequences and no matter whose ox is gored.
Today I will share a truth which many may not like but which, as a leader and a Prince, I am constrained to share.
Some have suggested that every Nigerian is compelled by God to pray for our ailing President. I disagree. I do not wish him ill or wish him dead but at the same time I do not subscribe to the view that I am compelled to pray for him.
I would rather save my prayers for the thousands of Audu Maikori’s of this world who are suffering persecution and who are languisjing in dingy cells all over our country for doing absolutely nothing wrong.
I would rather save my prayers for the souls and families of those that have been cut short by the guns and bullets of government security forces, the bombs of radical Islamic terrorists and the matchetes and knives of the Fulani militias and herdsmen.
When the Holy Bible says we must pray for our leaders the author was referring to God-fearing and Godly leaders and not usurpers and tyrants.
The Bible says we must ‘resist evil’ and few would dispute the fact that with the economy in shambles, with the naira at its lowest value in its entire history, with the level of impunity and corruption in government and with the amount of brutal persecution, politically-motivated arrests and prosecutions and the massive shedding of innocent blood that goes on in our countrt today, Buhari and his Federal Government are pure evil.
As a matter of fact they are a cursed government that have come to do nothing but spread death, disease, poverty, tears, hardship, suffering, division, hatred, persecution, injustice, destruction and wickedness.
To those that insist that even evil tyrants are worthy of our goodwill and prayers I put the following questions.
Would you have prayed for Herod, Pharaoh, Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar, Jezebel, Ahab, Athalia, Nimrod, Adolf Hitler or Idi Amin?
Again would you have had night vigils or made passionate supplications for Emperor Bokassa, Josef Stalin, Pol Pot, Nero, Caligula, Sennacherub, King Leopold 11 of Belgium, Count Vlad the Impailer of Transylvania and Tsar Ivan the Terrible of Russia?
Would you have conducted Holy Mass or rolled your rosary for Osama Bin Ladin of Al Qaeda, Muhammed Al Baghdadi of ISIL, Abubakar Shekau of Boko Haram or Usman Dan Fodio of the Fulani Caliphate?
Again would you have fasted and prayed for Atilla the Hun, Genghis Khan, Kaiser Wilhelm 11 of Germany, the Inca and Aztec Kings of South America, the Borgias of Spain, King Darius of Persia and so many more of history’s monsters and beasts to remain alive and to continue to torment and rule their people?
Do you know that those listed above collectively killed or caused the deaths of over 500 million people between them?
Do you really believe that they were God’s choices and that it was wrong to pray them out or remove them from power?
Did God make a mistake when He killed Pharaoh and slew Herod for their wickedness and evil against the children of Israel AFTER their victims rose up in prayer and cried to Him to deliver them?
Did you read anywhere in your Bible that the holy Prophets and believers prayed for the wicked Kings and rulers to continue to rule?
Did Elijah not oppose Jezebel and did David and Samuel not renounce and stand against Saul?
Do you not know the difference between a righteous ruler whom God loves and whom He installed and a blood-sucking demon and vicious tyrant whom the devil is using?
Do you know the number of people that has been killed whether they be Biafran and IPOB youths, Shiite Muslims or Christian refugees?
Do you know the number of Christians that are being slaughtered in the north on a daily basis by Government-backed and protected Fulani militias and herdsmen?
Do you know that Buhari once said that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on the north? Do you know that he once said that he believes that sharia should be spread throughout the federation?
Do you know thay he once said that Muslims should only vote for Muslims? Do you know that he once said that Christians should not be concerned about sharia because it is the limbs of Muslims that are being cut off and not theirs?
Do you know that he once went to Oyo state and accused Governor Lam Adesina’s “people” (meaning the Yoruba) of killing his own Fulani people?
Do you know that the Minister of Information of his Government, by the name of Lie Mohammed, once said that it was wrong and unconstitutional to proscribe and ban Boko Haram?
Do you know that about one year ago the same Liar Mohammed said that Boko Haram had been “technically defeated” and that a few days ago he said that it was “a fallacy” to say that Muslims killed Christians in Nigeria?
This was after 808 Christians were slaughtered in cold blood on Christmas eve and Christmas day a few weeks ago.
Do you know the third Mahdi of Nigeria? The first was Usman Dan Fodio, the second was Sir Ahmadu Bello and Muhammadu Buhari is the third.
Do you know that their vision and dream is for the Fulani to be the “first amongst equals” and to conquer, rule, dominate and subjugate the people and numerous ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria in perpetuity and “dip the Koran in the Atlantic ocean?”
Do you know that they have gone very far in this quest and almost achieved their objectives? Do you know that restructuring the nation or, failing that, a complete break up of Nigeria into two or more pieces is the only thing that can save the people of the south and the Middle Belt from serfdom and slavery?
Do you know that Herbert Macauly, Bode Thomas, Obafemi Awolowo, Kaduna Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Victor Banjo, Fajuyi, Emeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu, J.S. Tarka, Isaac Boro, Solomon Lar, Josiah Olawoyin, Paul Gindiri, J.D. Gomwalk, Silas Janfa, Zamani Lekwot, T.Y. Danjuma, Jolly Tanko Yusuf, Gideon Orkar, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Tony Nyiam, Saliba Mukoro, MKO Abiola, Bobo Nwosisi, Franklin Atake, Alfred Rewane, Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Olaniyonu Ajayi, Bola Ige and so many others that saw this satanic agenda coming and unfolding many decades and years ago and resisted it with every fibre of their being have now been vindicated?
Do you know that the principle of self-deterimination and the concept of Biafra and southern and Middle Belt liberation is more alive today than ever before?
Do you know that there are millions of youths all over this country today that are prepared to sacrifice their lives for this principle and concept and resist ethnic and religious bigotry, subjugation, domination and tyranny with the last drop of their blood?
Do you know that those that have been subjected to genocide by the usual suspects for the last 56 years of our existence as a nation are now saying “enough is enough?”
Do you know what northern Christians have been and are still being subjected to over the years and particularly today?
Do you know that Igbo youths and Shiite Muslims have been subjected to crimes against humanity by the Nigerian state in the last one year and seven months?
Do you know that Nigeria under President Buhari is a failed state which lives on lies, thrives on deceit, breathes on persecution, feeds on supression, energises on intimidation and is fuelled and propelled by the most basic, crude and primitive form of Goebellian propaganda?
Do you know anything at all? Do you know how many people are being locked up and persecuted in the name of a fake and selective anti-corruption war in this country?
Do you know the level of wickedness and injustice that is being perpetuated by this government?
Do you know how many families have suffered and been destroyed by them? Do you know about the abuse of power and the gross violation of human rights and civil liberties that is going on?
Do you know how corrupt and deceitful thiis government is? Do you know how much blood they have on their hands?
Then you say that we should pray and support such people? There is nowhere in the Bible that we are called to pray for liars, cheats, sadists, anti-Christs, cold-blooded murderers and pyschopaths as our leaders.
Rather the Bible says we must resist evil and injustice and stand up for the weak, the persecuted, the hungry, the suffering, the vulnerable and the poor.
There is no where in the Bible that we are enjoined to support and encourage genocidal maniacs, the killer of believers, the tormenters of the faithful, the persecutors of God’s servants and the destroyers of the Church.
Nigeria has no place for quislings and psychophants that are trying to curry favour with or impress those that are desperately trying to enslave our people and islamise our country.
My position is simple and clear. I will never pray for those who I consider to be evil and I will never allow myself to be subjugated, silenced or turned into a second class citizen in my own country.
Whatever the consequence is for my defiance, if the Lord wills it, let it come. Let us finish this thing once and for all. I would rather be a free soul in heaven than a quivering and gutless slave on earth.
I speak for millions when I say that we will NEVER bow to those that believe that they were born to rule and that seek to impose their faith, their values and their way of life on us.
Unlike others in these shores, those of us that are prepared to stand up and say “no more” are captains of our ship and masters of our soul.
We either forge our own destinies, chart our own course and free our own people or we shall die trying. God wills it. And so it shall be.
As part of preparations for the 2016/2017 season of Nigerian National League (NNL), the Mighty Jets of Jos has recruited 25 new players and retained 20 old ones.
Usman Adams, the club's Technical Adviser told journalists on Saturday in Jos that the overhaul was to fortify the team to fight for laurels.
Adams said that the massive recruitment was to strengthen the team to fight for promotion to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) which is the team's main target.
The technical adviser told journalists that all departments of the team ranging from goalkeeping to striking were considered in the recruitment.
He said that most of the players were signed from Plateau United after they were placed on transfer.
Adams expressed optimism that their experience playing in the top flight would count in the team's quest for promotion to NPFL.
He listed some of the players recruited from Plateau United to include; goalkeeper Abayomi Olorunda; defenders Adeiza Suberu and Charles Okafor with forwards, Caleb Baba, Emmanuel Odafe and highly gifted midfielder Edward Bewarang.
Kids in action at a football match.
According to him, striker Moshood Kasali who had a brief stint in Sudan is making a return while veteran Kolade Abobade, who played for Plateau United and JUTH FC, has joined the club.
"Another gifted Midfielder, Mamaya Yusuf, who played for Ranchers Bees of Kaduna, Katsina United and Sharks of Port Harcourt was also recruited", Adams said.
Adams also stated that a total number of 45 players , including the newly recruited and retained players, were registered for the new season.
He commended the Chairman of the club, Chief Alexander Wukari and the entire management for the confidence reposed in him and his technical crew.
The technical adviser said that the management wasted no time in approving the list submitted to the technical committee by the coaches. Newsmen report that the draws for the NNL is expected to take place in Abuja on Feb. 24, while the league is to commence on March 5.
The full list of the new players : Mamaya Yusuf, Edward Bewarang, Abayomi Olorunda, Bolaji Muhammed, Eziekel Ofum, Danlami Ibrahim, Chijioke Ekezie, Charles Okafor and Emmanuel Odafe.
Others were Adeiza Zuberu, Abia Abdulahi, Rotshak John, Manga Kuchili, Anwal Barde, Musa Musa,Tony Igoche, Kingsley Oguche and Bala Peter.
Also recruited were Caleb Baba, Ali Mondula, Ali Ibrahim Pele, Moshood Kasali, Kolade Abobade, Haruna Babalo and Nanle Christopher.
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has assented to seven bills passed by the National Assembly. The bills which include Oath (Amendment) Act 2017, Defence Space Administration Act, Veterinary Surgeons(Amendment) Act) have now become Nigerian laws.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senator Ita Enang confirmed Osinbajo endorsement of the bills.
Other bills signed by Osinbajo are National Film and Video Censors Boad, Pension Rights of Judges, Nigerian Institute of Social Science(Establishment ACT and Mortgage Institutions Amendment Act.
Ag Pres Osinbajo
Enang said the Acts, other than the Defence Space Administration Act and Institute of Soil science are mainly Amendments to the Principal Act and they are intended to bring the Acts in conformity with current realities.
Osinbajo has been acting for President Muhammadu Buhari since 19 January, almost a month today.
President Buhari, who is in London, partially on medical vacation, was initially intended to resume on 6 February, but he asked for an indefinite extension, to enable him get the results of some medical tests from his doctors.
The first ever Executive Council of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Sokoto State has been inaugurated on Saturday.
The new council has Kabiru Gobirawa as Chairman, Adeniyi Olagbemi and Usman Zubairu as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
Others are Umar Shehu as Assistant Secretary; Aminu Manyanchi as Treasurer and Abubakar Gani, Financial Secretary.
Gobirawa, the new chairman pledged to reposition the association to promote sports development in the state.
He solicited the support of members and other stakeholders, to succeed in discharging their mandate.
In his remark, the state Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Musa Ausa, said the government would work with the association to push sports to the next level.
He announced plans by the government to construct stadias in Tangaza, Sabon-Birni and Tambuwal, to promote grassroots sports.
Also, the state Chairman of NUJ, Isa Shuni advised the new executives to live above board in discharging their responsibilities.
Shuni said, "This great occasion is historic in the sense that this is the first of it's kind since the existence of the NUJ council in the state."
The Nigerian Conservation Federation (NCF) has warned that anyone found guilty of exploitation and commercial hunting of wild animals risked 10-year imprisonment with an option of N1million fine or both.
Director-General of the federation, Mr Adeniyi Karunwi, gave the warning in Ibadan on Saturday at a workshop organised by the Pangolins Conservation Working Group, Nigeria.
The workshop organized in collaboration with National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), South West Zone and entitled "Speak Up for Pangolins" was in commemoration of 2017 World Pangolins Day.
"Our environment is in danger; a lot of wild animals like pangolins are at the risk of going into extinction and there is over-exploitation of these animals.
"People need to know that exploitation and commercialisation of wildlife identified under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Amendment Act is a criminal offence that attracts a 10-year jail term," Karunwi said.
According to him, conservation of wildlife is important in order to promote ecological tourism to the country.
The Jos-lion
On her part, Dr Olajumoke Morenikeji, Coordinator, Pangolin Conservation Working Group, said that pangolins risked going into extinction, because they were the most illegally hunted and traded mammals.
Morenikeji, who is an Environmental Biologist, said that pangolins were illegally traded for their scales, meat and body parts which were in high demand in Asia, especially in China and Vietnam.
"Pangolins' meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies to treat a range of ailments.
"There is insatiable demand for pangolin scales, especially in China where they are used for traditional medicines.
"There is a belief that the scales has curative properties like keratin and can be used to treat skin diseases.
"There is also the claim that its liver, throat and toes can successfully treat asthma, goitre, elephantiasis and impotence," she said.
She, however, said that the claims of the traditional medicine practitioners were yet to be scientifically evaluated.
"If pangolins go into extinction before research can be done, the human race would have lost a lot of benefits.
"The issue of pangolin is a shame to the country for a recently seized shipment in China contained kilograms of pangolin scales, which totaled 7, 200 pangolins, got from Nigeria. "We are appealing to hunters to stop the exploitation and trafficking of these animals.
"Pangolins, like all animals going to extinction, serve as buffer for human beings. If we remove all the buffers in the ecosystem, one day, the human race will also go into extinction.
"We need a grassroots approach to education and awareness on the importance of pangolin conservation to the ecosystem; humanity should be the guardian of pangolins, not the predator," Morenikeji said.
In his view, Mr Adeleke Ajani, South-West Zonal Director, NESREA, said that pangolins were important in the maintenance of ecological balance.
"Pangolins need to be sustained because they are very important in the ecosystem; they also serve as biological pest control.
"They are very voracious ant eaters; one pangolin can eat 70 million insects, including pests in a year. This means if you remove all of them you are calling for trouble," he said.
Describing their sustainability as crucial, Ajani said that pangolins were peculiar animals, which mated only once in a year and gave birth to just a single young one.
"Pangolins are very vulnerable creatures which cannot breed in captivity; they only breed well in their natural environment.
"We need to go into research as well as get the actual inventory of these animals in the wild and see possible means of domesticating them," he said.
According to Ajani, NESREA, as a regulatory body, is scaling up efforts to prohibit and prosecute the illegal trafficking and international trade of pangolins and their scales.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has cautioned communities having boundary disputes not to take laws into their hands.
The minister spoke on Saturday in Abuja when the 10-member FCT Boundary Committee visited him.
According to Bello, peace remains the best approach to resolve issues, adding that peaceful co-existence has no alternative.
He urged community and political leaders to encourage their subjects as well as followers to embrace peace at all times.
The minister, however, warned that the FCT Administration would not hesitate to sanction community or political leaders that allowed boundary disputes to cause breakdown of law and order.
He urged the communities to follow due process to get disputes resolved amicably in the interest of peace.
"I want to state here very clearly, in all the communities, whether it is inside the FCT or at the bordering communities, any community that takes the law into its hands or tries to create misunderstanding that results into violence will be dealt with.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa-Bello
"The traditional rulers of that community and the relevant political and administrative officers of that community will be held fully and squarely responsible,'' he warned.
The minister listed the terms of reference of the committee which include -"dealing with inter and intra Area Council Boundary disputes, define and delimit Inter Area Council Boundaries, intervene in areas of potential disputes,'' among others.
Responding, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, FCT Permanent Secretary, and Chairman, FCT Boundary Committee, assured they would do a thorough job. "We are going to do this professionally and dispassionately.
"The committee will not take sides. The committee will ensure that everything is done with the fear of God because it is God that gives absolute peace," he said.
Members of the committee include- representative of the Attorney General of the Federation, FCT Police Commissioner, Director of FCT Command of DSS, among others.
The Director of FCT Survey and Mapping will serve as Secretary.
The victorious Senator Ali – Modu Sheriff, has described the judgement by the Port -Harcourt Court of Appeal on Friday, as a victory for the party.
Alimodu-Sheriff
However, he said that the interest of the party supplants his office as the National Chairman. 'I am willing to relinquish the position for the party to move forward into achieving its goals'. He said.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja over the weekend, he said 'I will consult other leaders of our party to see how we can organise our national convention, to stop our division and leadership tussle.'
Following intense backlash from Nigerians and human right groups, the Nigerian Police Force has released Chocolate City boss, Audu Maikori whom it arrested yesterday over alleged “inciting comments” on the killings in Southern Kaduna.
Maikori’s lawyer, Mark Jacob who confirmed the news said Maikori was released on bail on Saturday.
Earlier, the police had confirmed his arrest, noting that he was being investigated for false information capable of causing religious and communal crisis.
Audu Maikori released
Though the officer who confirmed the news declined to disclose the exact department that made the arrest, he however said the Police has a duty to ensure investigation of allegations and petitions made by Nigerians especially one that is capable to threatening peace and stability in any part of the country.
However, according to reports which had flooded the social media, the arrest was allegedly on the orders of the Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai who took to the offensive following Maikori’s advocacy wherein he was condemning the killings in Southern Kaduna.
Audu’s lawyer had equally told newsmen yesterday that "Audu has been detained. There was nothing we could do as the detention order had been signed before his statement was even taken. The superior officers that could vary the detention order had all closed for the day leaving only the rank and file who were apparently, just obeying orders."
Recall also that Maikori’s troubles began when he wrongly tweeted that 6 students of a college of education were killed by Fulani herdsmen. The story which later turned out not to be correct saw Maikori writing a retraction to that effect.
Gareth Bale made an instant impact on his return from injury as Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points with a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday.
Bale had been sidelined three months and on his return took just 13 minutes to score as he swept home into the far corner after coming on as second-half substitute in a much changed Real line up.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring of an otherwise uneventful contest when he bulleted home Isco’s cross 12 minutes before half-time.
Earlier, substitute Kevin Gameiro hit a five-minute hat-trick as Atletico Madrid maintained their grip on fourth with a 4-1 win at Sporting Gijón.
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane made seven changes to the side that started Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League last 16, first leg win with difficult La Liga trips to Valencia and Villarreal to come in the next week in mind.
Morata was one those handed a rare chance to start up front with Karim Benzema left out of the squad altogether.
The Spanish international hadn’t started any of Real’s previous five league games, but made his case for more minutes as he powered home Isco’s fine in-swinging cross for his 11th goal of the season.
Morata just failed to get on the end of a tantalising Cristiano Ronaldo cross and Ronaldo also had a goal ruled out for offside as Real bossed a first-half short on clear-cut chances.
Ronaldo should have made the game safe when he headed over from close range midway through the second-half.
Bale’s much-anticipated return since injuring ankle ligaments away at Sporting Lisbon on November 22 came 20 minutes from time when he replaced Morata.
And the Welshman showed the home fans what they have been missing for the past three months as he finished off a lightning quick Real counter-attack by firing into the far corner.
– Quick fire Gameiro –
In Gijon, Gameiro was seconds away from making history as he just missed out on beating David Villa’s record for the fastest hat-trick in La Liga history.
Gameiro was only introduced 28 minutes from time but struck in the 80th, 81st and 85th minutes and dedicated the hat-trick to his recently deceased grandmother.
“Those goals are for my grandmother, who died this week. I scored three for her.”
Yannick Carrasco had bundled Atletico into the lead seconds into the second-half before Sergio Alvarez levelled three minutes later.
Defeat leaves Sporting still languishing in the relegation zone, two points off safety.
The visitors got a break right at the start of the second period when Carrasco was allowed to bear down on goal despite Antoine Griezmann standing in an offside position and tapped home at the second attempt after Ivan Cuellar had saved his first effort.
The lead lasted just three minutes as Atletico’s once solid defence was breached by Alvarez as his effort evaded the attempts of Stefan Savic to clear off the line.
Atletico have now conceded more goals in La Liga so far this season than all of last season in La Liga.
Gameiro was summoned from the bench just after the hour mark as Atletico upped the pressure in search for a winner.
Griezmann was harshly denied by the offside flag 15 minutes from time.
However, the French international did have a vital role to play in Gameiro’s first as it was his through ball from which Gameiro rounded Cuellar to slot home.
Thomas Partey teed up Gameiro to thrash home seconds later and Gameiro completed his hat-trick with another composed finish on the counter-attack.
The Nigerian Community in South Africa have confirmed attacks and looting of Nigerian-owned businesses in Pretoria West on Saturday.
Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, President, Nigeria Union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria, South Africa, that the attacks began at 4.00am.
He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria mission and South African police.
" As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church have been looted and burned by South Africans.
" One of the buildings is a mechanic garage with 28 cars under repairs, with other vital documents, were burned during the attack.
" Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is in the hospital receiving treatment," he said.
Anyene said the union had informed Nigerians in South Africa to be vigilant in the face of renewed xenophobic attacks.
According to him, the union received information that there will be xenophobic attacks against foreigners on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.
" We began taking precautionary measures when the incident took place today.
" The attack in Pretoria West is purely xenophobic and criminal attack because they loot the shops and homes before burning them," he said.
Anyene called on the Federal Government to persuade its South African counterpart to protect Nigerians in their country.
" These attacks should not be allowed to continue because it is a big setback," he said.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rained down ten aces, finishing off Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 in 72 minutes on Saturday to power into a second Rotterdam World Tennis final and record his 400th career win.
The French sixth seed will compete for his first title at the Ahoy stadium after finishing runner-up six years ago.
He faces the winner from Belgian third seed David Goffin and surprise semi-finalist Pierre-Hugues Herbert, a French qualifier and member of the top ATP doubles side.
Tsonga was unstoppable against Berdych, the 2014 champion and 2015 finalist playing his fourth semi-final at the Dutch event.
Tsonga came good in his second semi-final of the season as he bids for a first trophy since winning at home in Metz in 2015.
Berdych came to the court with an 8-3 lead in the series, including wins in their last two meetings, one a Doha quarter-final last month.
Tsonga finished with two breaks of the 13th-ranked Czech while never facing a break point in what quickly became one-way traffic.
“My only goal is to win the next match, this would be important for me,” 2011 runner-up Tsonga said.
“I’m not too worried about my (14th) ranking unless I were able to get to eighth, that is the position where you are protected in the draw from other seeds.
“Berdych played a tough match, he’s a power player, hitting the ball hard like me. My strategy is always the same — the best strategy is to just play well.”
Goffin, who earned revenge in the quarter-finals as he beat Grigor Dimitrov five days after the Bulgarian won the Sofia event at the Belgian’s expense, will be facing Herbert for the first time.
A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
'Blogger's Wife', produced by Seun Oloketuyi berthed in cinemas on Friday, February 10 for the viewing delight of the larger public.
Various celebrities and audience trooped out in enormous numbers to watch the movie. The likes of Tamara Eteimo, Feyi Akinwale, Gbenga Adeyinka, Aishat Lawal, Aderounmu Adejumoke, Adunni Ade, Deyemi Okanlawon, Funmi Awelewa, were among the numerous celebrities that turned out to see the movie.
"Blogger's Wife is a story with a unique dimension; it has a depth of story and has so many lessons to teach everyone. It stresses on understanding and lack of communication spouses face in marriages.
Directed by Toka McBaror, Blogger's Wife tells the story of a male blogger (Deyemi Okanlawon) whose power was his internet-enabled laptop; his downfall is almost his wife and his weapon, sex. The quest to overcome his challenges and meet his wife's expectation leads to the various intense scenes that add a twist to the story.
It stars talented actors like; Deyemi Okanlawon, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Adeniyi Johnson, Seun Omojola, Segun Arinze, Adunni Ade, Aisha Lawal, Adejumoke Aderounmu, Bukunmi Oluwashina, and many others.
R n B singer Niyola made a daring move that caused several men to drool and go green with envy at the recently concluded 'Eargasm' concert which held on the 11th of February, 2017 at EKO Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Niyola opened her performance with a number of songs; singing with an all-female live band and showing off her vocal deftness; to which the audience continuously applauded in glee. During her performance, the singer asked the band to mute; before going on to request for a male volunteer among the audience for her next performance.
Trying to randomly pick a lucky guy from the excited volunteers who frantically raised and waved their hands, a random guy; about 6'5ft with a husky physical appearance boldly strode towards the stage; causing Niyola to exclaim excitedly before taking his hand to help him ascend the stage.
Niyola Eargasm Concert
The singer then told the guy to sit on a chair, which had been on the stage prior to her own performance. She moves on to bellow at the audience "This is how you treat a man!".
Slowly, with a suggestive gaze at the audience; Niyola sat on the lucky guy's lap; rotating and twisting her waist back and forth; inducing a frenzied loud roar from the entire audience.
After a few titillating minutes, the 'Toh Bad' songstress thanked the lucky fan before ushering him out of the stage.
The audience also witnessed a slew of remarkable performances from other talented musical acts, including 2Face, Adekunle Gold, Tekno, Kelly Hansome, Yinka Davies and a host of others.
The Sen. Ahmed Markafi-led, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the party would appeal the Court of Appeal Judgement affirming Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as chairman of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Committee, Mr Dayo Adeyeye disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. Adeyeye described the judgement as a "big disappointment, travesty and miscarriage of justice."
"The minority judgement is very sound in law, logic and fact. It gives us hope that we will have our day in the Supreme Court.
L-R Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Member; Sen Ahmed Markafi, Chairman of PDP National Care-Taker Committee and Sen Ben Obi, Secretary, PDP National Care-taker Committee all taking Oath of Office during the PDP 2016 National Convention.
"Whereas the lead judgement left out the main issues and laboured unconvincingly to work to a preconceived answer, the minority judgement thrashed all the issues and upheld the judgement of the High Court in Port Harcourt, delivered by Liman J on July 4, 2016. ` "We will certainly appeal to the Supreme Court. No reconciliatory effort will stop it.
"We need the Supreme Court to make a pronouncement on the issue, once and for all,'' he said.
Newsmen report that apart from affirming Sheriff as the National Chairman of the PDP, the appellant court also nullified the party's National Convention held in the Rivers capital in 2016 and the National Caretaker Committee of the party constituted at the convention.
Two out of the three-member Appeal Court, Justice B.G. Sanga and Justice A. Gumel, in the judgment, said the Port Harcourt convention was an abuse of court process.
Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.
Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho has gotten a pat on the back for his professionalism despite failing to get the much-craved playing time in recent times."Man City Coach, Pep Guardiola told journalists on Friday that he knows that it is not easy for players to be happy when consistently being left out of action but the way Iheanacho and his teammates have taken the development is quite encouraging for the Spaniard.
"It's not easy for the players who do not play and be out for a long, long time in many cases, like Kelechi Iheanacho, Nolito or the other players. Their behaviour has been more than professional, it was perfect, and Sergio too.”
21-year-old former Miss Nigeria International 2015, Mercy Atang is poised to launch her career on the world stage as she represents the country in the forthcoming Miss International World Contest, in Miami, the United States of America.
The glamorous event which is billed to hold on the 26th of February, will mark a turning point in the life of this fair-complexion beauty, who is optimistic that she will bring the crown home.
Mercy said, she's hitting the international runway to boost the image of the country as well as to encourage young girls never to give up on their dreams, no matter the challenges they are facing. An undergraduate of Business Administration, University of Nnamadi Azikiwe, Mercy is striving to carve a niche for herself in the pageant world.
According to her, she ventured into pageantry because while in school she got hypnotized by school beauty queens and so she was inspired to be part of it and today she is happy because she is living her dream. Every venture in life comes with its own challenge, her own case wasn't different but then she surmounted them to be where she is today. With her charming smile and exotic look, Mercy is set to conquer the world. Her manager, actress Chinwe Isaac, who is already in America ahead of the grand finale, is hopeful that the Akwa-Ibom- born beauty queen will make the country at the event, which will also have beauty queens from across the world battling for the crown.
Expectations are high as the Yoruba movie, Omiran, (Giant), starring award-winning actor, Femi Adebayo alongside delectable actress, Tolulope Oke premieres in London.
According to Oke who doubles as the producer of the movie, the premiere which is organized in collaboration with Naija fm and Godfather Promotions, London, holds at Planet Nollywood in Camberwell
Green, London on Friday, February 24, and Adebayo is expected to be on hand to wow his London fans.
Tolu
Oke, who is already in London ahead of the premiere date, hinted that the event is being planned on a grand scale to give the guests an indelible experience.
Basking in the euphoria of the premiere of two of her previous movies also in London "Bi Ala and Adun", Oke, who was the star actress in M-Net TV series, Zone 222, is yet poised to make another mark on the nation's entertainment scene with the premiere of her latest movie. Also starring notable thespians like Funsho Adeolu, Muyideen Oladapo and Rose Odika, the movie, directed by Oladapo, was shot on locations in Ibadan. It explor the theme of love and integrity and has a duration of about one and half hours.
A sneak preview reveals Raphael Olakunle-Collins (Adebayo) as an under-world king pin dealing in illicit drugs. His seemingly-cool mien drastically changes when his relationship with Ayinke (Oke) brings to fore his hidden secrets. The movie, a sequel to Home Sick produced in 2015, is the fourth from Oke's Edge 17 Production's stable.
Oke revealed that Omiran is a true-life experience meant to give movie buffs an exhilarating experience. "I produced Omiran with a view to availing the public opportunity to learn from a true life experience which gave me food for thought," Oke who started acting back in her high school days, in Ibadan, affirmed.
Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin was among the 5,809 students who graduated from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Tuesday, January 31 2017. The highly successful thespian bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree, Bsc. in Transport Planning and Management.
Elated Lizzy who was celebrated by her family members and close associates was spotted among other graduating students, posing for shots.
Lizzy said, she had no regret graduating after her course mates left the university several years back. She was very happy to be back on the campus on a convocation day, having pursued her acting career and made it big.
Lizzy
According to the Head of Department for Transport and Management Planning, Dr. Cornelius Akanni, Lizy who was admitted in 2003 was jovial as a student and also dedicated. "Before she left the University, she has shown her career part. She showed her interest in acting before she left the University. We are proud of her. She is a no-nonsense person. She was a unionist and I was a unionist too. So, I understand her struggle to life."
Speaking further, Dr. Akanni said, "During her time in the department, if there is any problem with her class, I will only ask them to call Lizzy for me. I was her lecturer then and I'm the HOD now. I know her academic abilities. My only advice for her is to enroll for her Master's Degree programme."
One of Lizzy's former lecturers, Mr. Raji Bashir Adisa, while speaking on the Kofo Tinubu star said, "We call her Lizzy on campus. She has the leadership quality. Immediately she entered the University system, she was recognized in her ability to do lots of things. The leadership quality has always been in her. She wants to be the class representative. she wants to be the first to make photocopies. She wants to be in possession of all the course materials given to her class. She also has the interpersonal relation with both the teaching staff and her course mates. All lecturers in the department know her. Lizzy was a household name in the campus environment. We are always proud she is a product of this department. We also have shebaby as another celebrity in the department."
Football fans will enjoy another action-packed weekend with top stars and round-leather game gladiators in hot battle of rivalry as top Bundesliga and Serie-A clubs battle one another for the ultimate trophy.
Champions League campaigners, Dortmund will tackle Wolfsburg and Bayern will battle Hertha BSc both on Saturday 18th February, 3.30PM, while AC Milan will meet Fiorentina on Sunday 19th, 8.45PM. Ranked 4th on the table and with 2 winnings, 2 draws and a loss, inconsistent Dortmund will be counting on star-striker Aubameyang as they chase leaders, Bayern with 15 points deficits. Under-performing Wolfsburg hope to keep the fight alive with Mario Gomez leading the onslaught for a possible catch-up.
Bayern hope to hold on their grip on the league with four wins in the last 5 games, scoring the highest numbers of goals, six and conceding the least, with strikerRobert Lewandoski in great from.
StarTimes subscribers can enjoy these and all other live Bundesliga and Serie A games on StarTimes dedicated sports channels, including ST World Football (channel 245 or 254), ST Sports Premium (channel 246 or 252), ST Sports Sports (channel 251 or 241), and ST Focus (channel 250 or 240).
StarTimes has lined up exciting mix of live football games and entertainment for maximum viewing pleasure of subscribers who crave for sporting actions, with exclusive broadcast rights to Bundesliga, Serie A, ligue One, Chinese league as well as select EPL games on its partner channel, NTA Sports 24.
James Bond, the savviest super spy in the world of cinema, has been handed an intriguing assignment: to infiltrate the homes of DStv Premium customers, and keep them spellbound for two weeks.
From Thursday, February 23,through Sunday, March 5, M-Net Movies will be screening every single Bond film ever made- from 1963's vintage Dr No to the latest explosive big-budget blockbuster Spectre (2015)- on an extra-special M-Net Movies pop-up channel.
All the action will play out on DStv Premium. It can also be streamed live on DStv Now and enjoyed at your convenience on DStv Catch Up Plus (where available), which is available with a DStv Wifi Connector.
James Bond
The M-Net Movies James Bond pop-up channel pays tribute to one of Hollywood's biggest movie franchises, celebrating 55 years of Hollywood's most charming secret agent. Over the course of two weeks, fans will be able to experience all the dapper tuxedos, iconic fast cars, sultry Bond girls, exotic locations, mind-blowing gadgets, deadly villains, unforgettable music, incredible title sequences and martinis… shaken, not stirred, of course.
The explosive 24 Bond films will be screened in chronological order with Sean Connery, the first actor to incarnate author Ian Fleming's suave creation, embarking on the first mission on Thursday, 23 February. Thereafter, he will hand the Bond baton over to Roger Moore and the rest of the Bonds until Daniel Craig has dismantled Spectre on Sunday, February 26.
Set to bring exhilaration to cinema lovers, 'Hire A Man', directed by Desmond Elliot, is currently one of the biggest and highest selling
Nollywood movies in cinemas right now, and has sold over N8 million since its release on Friday, February 10.
Speaking about the success of the movie, the producer Chinneylove Eze says, "Hire A Man" is a romantic comedy movie, which was inspired by the pressure that single, successful women face to get married in our immediate society. It brings a sense of reality that is rarely explored in Nollywood cinemas. I am really elated about the success of the movie. To my entire colleagues and media platform that has supported me, I really appreciate. Hire A Man is one of the most trending films at the moment, it recorded sold out tickets in majority of the cinemas it showed. I give God the glory."
A staff of a cinema who doesn't want his name disclosed had this to say, "It is indeed a griping and engaging comic love story. Your valentine is incomplete if you don't see this movie." 'Hire A Man' is indeed a blockbuster movie. It feels as if we have a new 'Wedding Party' with us. Whenever people come out of the theater after watching the movie they come out smiling and their side comments are always positive."
Produced by star actress, Omoni Oboli, the much talked about 'Okafor's Law' will start showing in the cinemas from Friday, March 31. Starring notable actors and actresses including Omoni Oboli, Toyin Abraham, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Gabriel Afolayan, Ufuoma McDermott, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Yvonne Jegede, Richard Mofe Damijo, Halima Abubakar, Mary Lazarus, Uche Nnaji, Betty Irabor, Tina Mba, Gabriel Afolayan, and Funke Bucknor, the movie is set to raise the bar in Nollywood.
Ace Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe Damijo played the role of Mr. Omene in the movie. He was a business mogul who provided his wife with every financial aid she needed but neglected her sexually. Is RMD trying to tell us his 'Okafor's Law' experience in a fictional manner? We certainly can't wait to find out.
Gareth Bale is set to make his Real Madrid comeback against Espanyol today after three months out with an ankle injury.
The Welshman returned to full training last week and only narrowly missed out on being named in the Madrid squad to face Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Zinedine Zidane did not want to take any unnecessary risks in rushing Bale back too soon for that match, however the 27-year old rejoined the rest of the squad for training on Thursday morning, and everything now points to a return this weekend.
Nollywood producer, Blessing Egbe who has just released the trailer for her new movie, 'The Women' has revealed some daring details about the upcoming movie.
Egbe has decided to answer some knotty questions people have about her new movie in order not to put anybody in the dark.
The award winning producer has been greeted with many compliments all due to her latest effort, 'The Women'. Praises have been flying in the air based on the trailer alone. A blogger even went ahead to write a great review for the trailer alone.
Egbe
The great reviews are not surprising considering Blessing Egbe's successes with her past works such as Lekki Wives, Two Brides and a Baby, Iquo's Journal and others. '
According to Egbe, "The Women is not just another movie. It is full of drama, suspense and intense thrill that keep you glued to your sit till the movie is over. If I can say so myself, this movie is bae."
ALEXIS SANCHEZ plans to quit Arsenal after a furious dressing-room row.
The fuming frontman let rip at team-mates after the humiliating 5-1 Champions League thrashing by Bayern Munich.
Angry Gunners No 2 Steve Bould hurled a water bottle against a wall as players blamed each other for their shambolic defeat.
And fans fought among themselves in the stands over manager Arsene Wenger's future.
Arsenal’s Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez vies with Bournemouth’s English defender Steve Cook (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on November 27, 2016. AFP
Sanchez flew out of Heathrow yesterday and is looking at his options — despite Arsenal's offer of a new deal.
Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are interested.
Fans called for Wenger's head and Jens Lehmann, a member of their 2003-04 Invincibles side, demanded the 67-year-old decide on his future NOW.
Wenger has a two-year contract extension offer on the table.
He admitted he will make a decision "in March or April", with the board fearing he will quit in the summer.
But title-winning keeper Lehmann told talkSPORT: "If he wants to extend his contract, he should do it now so everybody is clear what is going on.
Emotionally troubled star actress, Tonto Dikeh-Churchill, has requested actor, Uche Maduagu to stop writing about her crisis rocked marriage to billionaire CEO of Churchill Group, Dr. Olakunle Churchill, because they are not friends and his continuous write-ups are not healthy for her and her baby. She however expressed profound gratitude to the controversial actor for taking it upon himself to defend her, but appealed to him to correct the wrong impression he has created in the mind of the public about her, her husband and her troubled marriage. She pleaded with him to oblige her as a birthday gift to her son, King Andre, who recently turned a year old.
Tonto-Dikeh
"Hi Uche, it's been brought to my knowledge about our supposed friendship, about me opening up to you about my life. I appreciate you as I see 'Actor' written on your page, this post is not to ridicule you but please I beg you to stop! I don't have friends, I don't speak to people about my life be it good or bad. Yes, I will love to be your friend someday as I will never be one to judge or condemn but for now we are not because we don't know each other; we don't even have our digits to talk more of to have Phone conversations! Please I have a son I am living for and I want him to grow up to love and respect me and his father no matter what. Not to discredit you I have read incredible stuffs off your page but this isn't healthy for me and my Baby at the moment. I also understand that we have too many imposters as Tonto Dikeh, Just to make excuses for all of this, maybe you are being scammed thinking you are talking to me but my colleague, I'm a simple little girl who minds her business and keeps away from People.
uche
Please do this as a birthday gift for my son, make it right, let these people know what the truth is; this is hurting too many people. Please I beg of you. It's your page I can't tell you what to post and not to but I'm begging you to stop personalizing your messages like I said.
Remember this post isn't to bring you down, I would love to be your friend someday but Am not the friend you have now you are speaking with. God bless you for understanding why this post has to go up here. I will be deleting this ASAP. I love you with the love of God and I pray you take this well, thank you so much", she pleaded.
Chris Kitcher can vividly recall the moment that a consultant radiologist showed him a scan image of the tumours in his prostate gland.
'There were just two tiny, dark spots — like worm bites in an apple,' says Chris, 69.
Back then, the lecturer from Hassocks, West Sussex, had no idea that this scan was very special indeed. He was looking at an mp (multi-parametric) MRI scan, dubbed by some the 'manogram'.
And now, a major study published in The Lancet has found that the technique radically improves the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis.
The charity Prostate Cancer UK has described it as a game-changer for men's health.
The study has shown that the mpMRI scan can achieve for prostate cancer what mammograms have long offered in breast cancer: the ability to accurately locate potential tumours.
It means doctors can be more sure about which patients need to have a biopsy — an invasive test that can result in infection — and who can safely avoid one.
It can also help differentiate between cancers that require treatment and slow-growing 'pussycat' tumours that can be safely left where they are, sparing men side-effects such as impotence and incontinence from treatments they don't need.
But experts fear many men will miss out on this technology because of a shortage of equipment and staff qualified to use it.
At the time, Chris had no idea he was one of the lucky ones: his local hospital in Brighton offered the scan routinely to men suspected of having prostate cancer.
Chris's diagnosis came about after he began feeling unusually tired, often falling asleep in the early evening.
This prompted his wife to arrange an appointment with his GP, when the doctor suggested lightly: 'While you're here, let's get you a blood test for your prostate.'
The results showed raised levels of PSA (prostate-specific antigen), a possible sign of cancer.
The grandfather of seven, who has written bestselling textbooks on testing electronic devices, was then referred for an MRI scan.
Prostate cancer, which claims the lives of 11,000 British men every year, is difficult to diagnose.
This is partly because a raised PSA may also reflect a benign condition, such as an enlarged prostate, or even occur transiently after cycling.
Then, if the man is referred for a biopsy, the most widely used diagnostic test is with TRUS (Trans-Rectal UltraSound), a problematic technique.
Carried out under local anaesthetic and lasting around 20 minutes, it involves inserting an ultrasound-guided probe into the rectum and then putting up to 12 fine needles into the prostate, each of which removes a tissue sample from the walnut-sized gland.
Unlike a biopsy for suspected breast cancer, where, thanks to the mammogram or ultrasound scan, the technician knows exactly which spots of tissue are suspect, TRUS is carried out 'blind'.
Samples are taken from 12 pre-determined points on a circle, 'so the tissue is taken from wherever the needles enter the prostate gland', says Dr Jonathan Richenberg, a consultant uro-radiologist at the Royal Sussex County Hospitals NHS Trust in Brighton, where Chris was treated last summer.
'If a biopsy on the breast was carried out on the off-chance that the cancer would lie on one of 12 spots on the breast, women would say it was barbaric lunacy — and rightly so,' says Dr Richenberg.
Of the 100,000 or so men who have such prostate biopsies every year, two out of three are later found to have no cancer at all, or a tumour that is so slow-growing it is unlikely to pose a health threat.
At the same time, the test gives false reassurance to one in four men who are later found to have life-threatening prostate cancer, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
What's more, men who have the procedure face a 2-3 per cent risk of developing serious, potentially fatal infections, including sepsis.
It is this level of uncertainty that the new type of MRI scan looks set to remove. By ruling out cancer, it could allow some men to avoid biopsy altogether.
The mpMRI scan is an enhanced version of standard MRI, with two new functions.
The first, known as fusion-weighted imaging, identifies dense spots of water molecules that are known to collect around cancerous tissue.
A second function enables radiologists to pick up 'chaotic' networks of tiny blood vessels, also known to form around tumours.
In the recent study, 576 men with suspected prostate cancer had the scan and were then given two types of biopsy: first TRUS, and then a Template Prostate Mapping (TPM) biopsy, a newer and more accurate diagnostic test carried out under general anaesthetic.
With the help of conventional MRI scans (rather than ultrasound), this method involves taking up to 50 tissue samples through needles inserted via the perineum.
As expected, these biopsies revealed that fewer than half the men had a life-threatening cancer.
What was surprising was that an mpMRI scan then correctly diagnosed 93 per cent of men with aggressive tumours, while slow-growing cancers simply didn't show up on the new scan.
As with a mammogram, a positive mpMRI doesn't diagnose prostate cancer: men still need to have a biopsy — normally initially TRUS.
But helping to identify 'tiger' tumours from the pussycats, the technology could reduce the number of men who need a biopsy.
Further, as Dr Hashim Ahmed, the study's lead investigator and a consultant urologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, explains: 'Combining the image from mpMRI with biopsy improves the detection of aggressive prostate cancers, reducing the need for repeat biopsies.'
But how many men actually stand to benefit from this technology?
Only one in two hospitals has the technology to offer mpMRI, according to Prostate Cancer UK.
Of these, say some clinicians, only a handful have the level of expertise demonstrated in the recent study.
'In order to interpret this type of MRI scan, radiologists need to develop a sufficiently trained eye to be able to say with confidence whether the tissue contains a life-threatening cancer,' says Dr Richenberg.
'That can take up to a year for someone to learn.'
Freedom of Information requests by Prostate Cancer UK show only one-third of eligible men with suspected prostate cancer have access to mpMRI scans.
After his scan, Chris underwent a TRUS biopsy but, because his scan had pinpointed the suspect areas, only five samples were taken, not 12.
When this was inconclusive he was given a TPM biopsy, where 50 tissue samples were taken, which confirmed he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
'It's been a bit tender since,' he says. 'But at least I know that the cancer hasn't spread.'
He has now been offered a choice between 'watchful waiting' (where doctors monitor the cancer, but do not treat it unless the patient develops symptoms), radiotherapy or surgery to remove the gland — and has opted for surgery.
As well as improving the diagnosis of this disease, the new scan technology offers the possibility of introducing a national screening programme.
Until now, PSA testing has been ruled out for this because of the risk of over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
The manogram 'won't in itself eliminate the risks of treatment', says Chris Booth, a retired urological surgeon and trustee of CHAPS Men's Health Charity, 'but the benefit of mpMRI is that men will not be offered this invasive treatment unless they have a proven life-threatening prostate cancer.'
There are signs the technology may soon become more widely available.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has agreed to review its 2014 guidelines and is likely to recommend the scan before biopsy.
And Dr Richenberg says the sheer force of patient demand should help make it more available.
'Techno-savvy men will talk about it and want to participate.'
Afro-beat singer, Seun Kuti, and leader of his late father's Egypt 80'Band, has called on his fans and patriotic Nigerians to rise up against bad governance and corrupt leadership in Nigeria.
In condemnation of the present government, the revolutionary singer encouraged Nigerians to be the change they have been advocating. In a statement made on his social media page, he advised Nigerians to desist from following corrupt orders from corrupt leaders as it may eventually result to shooting one's self in the foot. According to Seun, Nigerians ought to organize themselves and resist any form of corruption and bad governance.
seun kuti
"If you follow corrupt orders because you don't want to lose your job, you should be ashamed of yourself. While you carry out that order to protect your job, it has led or will lead to the direct death of thousands of people, millions even. You and your loved ones might be among, resist! Let's all connect and organize, join me abeg", he wrote.
The Inspector- General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, says the force will establish special tracking unit in Lagos and Port-Harcourt to check kidnapping and other crimes.
Idris made this known when he was interacting with civil society groups and crime reporters in Lagos on Friday.
He noted that kidnapping was becoming more serious than other crimes in the country.
The IG said that the tracking machine established in Abuja had helped to resolve about 90 per cent cases of kidnapping with victims rescued and suspects arrested.
"Already, tracking machines have been deployed to states and will start functioning in few weeks time, so as to reduce pressure on those in Abuja.
"This will enhance the police anti-kidnapping drive.
"The machine in Port Harcourt, Rivers will cater for the South-South and South East zones, while the one deployed to Lagos would focus on the west," he said.
The police chief also said that there were plans to reinvigorate the force forensic laboratories, noting however, that funds constraints were hindering its implementation.
Idris urged Nigerians to assist the police in tackling armed crimes, reiterating that the fight against kidnappers was a community fight.
According to him, it is not what the police alone can handle. It has become a community fight and can only be solved with the help of the people.
"When I assumed duty, one of the plans we came up with was to rehabilitate our forensic units. I outlined the challenges of the police and how to handle them.
"The thing is that we have been having funding challenges.
Mr. Ibrahim Idris beaming with smiles following his confirmation as the substantive IGP by the Council of State on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. With him are his officers
"We are trying to address it in a holistic manner. Very soon, we are going to have National Security Summit. Kidnapping seems to be a community problem.
"Over 90 percent of victims have been rescued. I agree that it is becoming a major challenge. It cuts across the entire country. It has to be addressed in various forms.
"It is not just the police or security agencies. Take for instance where the Turkish School students were kidnapped. That school is situated at the foot of a swamp.
"Despite that parents pay huge amount of money, the school did not invest much in security.
"So, we are going to use the summit to address these issues as well as others like the herdsmen and farmers issues.
"These issues are further dividing us as a nation and we need to solve them.
You cannot have the maximum support of security in an area without the support of the public.
"Everybody has one thing or the other to make our society safe," Idris said.
He expressed the need for the media and civil society to be advocates of improved funding for the police through the Police Trust Fund.
"The funding of the police is costly. What we are trying to do is to pursue 50 percent of our budgetary requirement from other sources.
"We are also looking for other avenues where we can address the problem of the police.
"At the same time, we are hoping that the National Assembly will pass the bill establishing Police Trust Fund, by so doing, open up other sources for the police to generate money.
"It is already happening in Lagos (Security Trust Fund) and has been working wonderfully.
"We are aware that the Federal Government is financially constrained and so, we do not think it is right to over burden the system by creating other agencies.
"These agencies would require funding and create rivalry. But if more money is available for the police and more people recruited, we can achieve so much more," he noted.
Idris also stated that there were plans to professionalise the police by establishing specialised schools such as Finance, Marine, among others for training.
He urged civil society organisations to support the police in training its personnel on professional conducts.
The IG expressed satisfaction at the scorecard of the rebranded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
"We are working hard to restore the integrity of the police. Earning the confidence of the people is important to us and we can only achieve that by changing the attitude of some of our policemen.
"By the time we achieve that, the people's trust will be regained and things will be better.
"This is one of the reasons we make it compulsory for officers from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and above to declare their assets.
"My management team and I declared our assets when we came on board," he said.
On the strength of the police, Idris said that the service was understaffed and would need over a million policemen to meet United Nations standard.
"Thankfully, the government has given approval for yearly recruitment of 10,000 policemen. For so many years, there was embargo on police recruitment.
"Besides, the police lost so many personnel in the course of the Boko Haram insurgency. We were the worst hit and still we were not recruiting.
"All these affected the strength of the police," the police chief said.
He revealed that of the N300 billion budgeted for the police in 2016, only N4 billion was eventually released.
Following the Appeal court’s ruling in Port Harcourt on Friday that recognized Ali Modu Sheriff but nullified Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s, legitimate chairman, former Spokesperson to ex- President Goodkuck Jonathan’s campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode has said that “It’s time for us to gut the PDP, leave its carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.”
Fani-Kayode made the statement on Friday in a series of tweets while reacting to the Justice B.G Sanga-led three member-panel ruling.
Describing the decision that gave victory to Sheriff as absurd and simply a victory to President Muhammadu Buhari, Fani-Kayode said it is time he and supposedly other members of the party from the Markafi faction to leave the party and it’s carcass to Sheriff and form a new one.
Femi Fani-Kayode
“The decision by the Court of Appeal in PH to recognise Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the Nat. Chairman of the PDP is a victory for @MBuhari.”
“The C of A decision is absurd.Its time for us to gut the PDP,leave its carcass for the treacherous mole called Sheriff and form a new party.”
Recall that the three-man panel of justices delivered the judgment that sacked Makarfi on Friday.
The Appeal court in Port Harcourt on Friday nullified the PDP national convention in Port Harcourt that established his committee and described the process that led to it as an abuse of the court process.
Two out of the three member-panel, Justice B.G Sanga and Justice A.B Gumel, in their judgment said the convention disobeyed the court order and the court would not close its eyes on such illegality.
They thus upheld the judgment of Justice Ibrahim Buba and set side the judgment of Justice Muhammed Liman of Port Harcourt Federal High Court .
Delivering the lead judgment, Sanga said that PDP convention of 21 May 2016, did not follow the provisions of Article 47(3) of its Constitution in the removal of the Sherrif-led National Working Committee.
According to him, no vote of confidence was passed on Sheriff or the committee as provided by the said article, and the national working committee was not put on notice.
He stated that Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, held in error when he said the appellant committed abuse of court process by postponing the PDP convention.
On his part, Justice Gumel, who is also the Presiding Judge of the court, stated that the preliminary objection filed by the PDP was incompetent.
He held that Sheriff and his executive could not be removed until August, 2017, except the party held an election.
Gumel described the originating summons in the suit at the Federal High Court as over-reaching, and ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.
The judges said that the convention disobeyed a court order and that the court would not close its eye to such illegality.
They upheld the judgment of Justice Mohammed Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, and set aside the judgment of Justice Mohammed Liman of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, which upheld the convention and its outcome.
The court awarded N100, 000 to Sheriff, to be borne by the nullified national caretaker committee's Chairman, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Service (DSS).
Meanwhile, the third member of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Justice T.S. Orji-Abadua, upheld Justice Mohammed Liman's judgment, saying that the Port Harcourt convention was legal.
According to her, the PDP national convention was in line with the 2012 amended Constitution of the party and not an abuse of court process.
The judge held that Ali Amodu Sheriff had no powers to cancel the party's national convention.
She said that Sheriff was only appointed to in an acting capacity, pending election.
Justice Orji-Abadua said "going by Article 33(3) of the PDP Constitution, Sheriff does not possess overriding powers over the PDP National Executive Council and therefore, had no right to unilaterally cancel the May 21, 2016, convention.
She further said that Sheriff erroneously and unwittingly absented himself from the May 21 convention after being screened, which prompted the party to invoke Article 31(1) of its Constitution and set up a caretaker committee.
She also held that Article 47 did not make it mandatory for the PDP to pass a vote of confidence before removing its officers and therefore, upheld the outcome of the convention and the caretaker committee.
Orji-Abadua stated that Sheriff had no powers to cancel PDP national convention.
She awarded a cost of N100, 000 against Sheriff.
Meanwhile lawyer to PDP, Oladeji Laminkanra SAN told correspondents that his client will go to Supreme court to appeal the judgement.
Ali-Modu Sheriff said in his reaction: "I will engineer a restructuring of the PDP such that characters like Wike and Fayose cannot find a way through to attain any position of prominence in our party in the future.
"They have brought shame and agony through the application of their crude and godless politics which is at variance with the principles upon which our founding fathers built our great party. We must find a way to sieve things so that only men of character and integrity can come through for positions of responsibility at all levels of our political engagement in the country.
"We must urgently steer the ship of PDP clear off the path of infamy which Wike and Fayose have brought to our party, making Nigerians to mistake PDP as a training ground for thugs. That is the urgent task we have. We cannot continue to advertise thug brand and expect Nigerians to take us seriously".
Senator Makarfi who was toppled by the ruling accused the ruling APC of masterminding the judgment to impose a single party regime in the country.
"Two out of the 3 man Justices of the Appeal Court gave a scanty judgment in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff while one for Makarfi," he said.
"The Judgment has finally shown that the ruling Party, the APC is out to create a one party state in the country.
"The Party is proceeding immediately to the Supreme Court to file an appeal against the ruling of today's appeal court judgment."
AS I bent over Ken, a truncheon in my hand, he looked up at me with a strange sort of longing in his eyes. I kissed him hard on the lips and moved my mouth over his neck and chest. I let him get a good look at me in my American cop uniform before I took off my top and threw it on the floor. I stepped out of my knickers and straddled
him on the bed, kissing him again and stroking his body. And then it happened. I saw him get aroused as I watched. 'Bingo,' I thought, and slipping on protection, he maintained his erection as we had sex. You see George has an intimacy problem. He's in a long-term relationship and madly in love with his girlfriend but he struggles to get an erection during sex. My job is to help him—and other men like him—find their confidence sexually…."
Ashley Grayson is one of a growing number of sexual surrogates all over the world. She is married and what she does is far from prostitution. She continues:"I'm not a prostitute, although I have been called one by people ignorant of my profession. I'm a sex surrogate. I help men with sexual or intimacy problems. I step in for their partner when there's a problem and I coach them through it. I also work with single men who
have sexual anxieties and need help to overcome them. I'm in partnership with a qualified sexual psychologist who holds therapy sessions with clients. There, she will talk to them about their most intimate thoughts, experiences and issues and draw out their insecurities and anxieties. We then work together to devise a 'sexual programme' to help the client overcome his problems.
"And that's where I come in. I work one-on-one with the men over several sessions, sometimes as many as a dozen. We start off very slowly and I usually start by working on eye contact and holding hands. My job is to help the man overcome his problems with intimacy. So he can go back to his partner a confident sexual being. Or, if he's single, he can initiate a sexual relationship and follow through with it, without crippling fear or insecurities stopping him. Sexual therapy of this kind enables the client to discover intimacy as a healing experience, free from the pressures, potential rejection and judgemental attitudes they have experienced in their sexual conditioning.
"The therapeutic relationship is a three-way thing involving the therapist, the client and the surrogate partner. The surrogate partner—that's me—combines psychological training with a genuine desire to help people, together with a deep connection to their own sexuality. Many of the men I see suffer with erectile dysfunction.
These are often young, fit and healthy men who simply can't get an erection. Through hours of therapy, we strip back their issues and insecurities to uncover the root of the problem. Very often, it's an emotional hang-up that's affecting their ability to be adept lovers. It is very rarely a physical issue. Once the problem is established, we move the session from the therapy room to the bedroom and I set about doing my best work.
"After coaching the man on the basics of intimacy, using prolonged eye contact and touching, I use massage and touch therapy to move things to the next level. I teach the men to be in the moment, to be comfortable with their own bodies and become aware of the sensations. We built up mutual trust and over several sessions. Then move onto more sensual work, involving touching each other's genitals. Still in the early stages, this is especially important, and teaches the man how to touch a woman sensually and how to receive pleasure without embarrassment. If they are inexperienced sexually—which many of the men who come to me are—I will teach them the methods to pleasure a woman physically and how to bring her to orgasm.
"We then move on to oral work, which is self explanatory. After that, I like to spend a session discussing sexual fantasies. By now we are doing this in an environment of trust where nothing is off limits." Ashley believes if you can uncover a man's deepest sexual desires, you can unlock the secret to his sexual dysfunction. "By working with the fantasy," he says, "you bring about a sexual awakening in him. Ken's fantasy was to have sex with a cop, wearing full uniform. He had a thing for women in authority and that was what did it for him.
"When moving into the final few sessions, where penetration is the goal, I will often try to incorporate the man's fantasy. For Ken, it was the cop outfit. And it worked. As we lay in bed afterwards, Ken turned towards me. 'Thank you so much,' he said. 'You've really helped me. I really feel like I've overcome something. That's the first time I've been able to have full sex in 18 months.
I've decided to use Ashley's story because there are lots of her in our midst but they don't see what they do as a profession. That's why their 'clients' go back to them again and again, fearing they might not be so successful with their wives or regular partners. There is need to separate the two so the can discuss what they really want in the bedroom with their partners.
"Many people who know what I do for a living don't understand. "It's the same as being a hooker," some of them said. "You have sex for money. It's a financial transaction—you're selling your body. How can you be okay with that'? But they just don't get it. I'm a qualified psychotherapist with a college degree and a smart mind.
My job is to help people. Because of me, the men I work with make better lovers, better boyfriends and better husbands. This in turn, helps them become better people. Many of my clients' wives and girlfriends know they are seeing me and are okay with it, even encouraging it. Working closely with me, their partners will get better in bed. They'll be more fulfilled sexually and, as a result, happier in the long run.
"I enjoy my job and can't deny I get a kick out of helping men overcome their sexual setbacks. I admit I often enjoy the sex. But that is a happy side-effect of my profession, rather than the objective. I have a wonderful, loving husband who is fully aware of my job and supports it wholeheartedly. He is a doctor and understands the psychological aspect of sex and sexuality. I often discuss my clients with him over
dinner. I keep their names anonymous but my husband will come up with suggestions I may not have thought of."
Ashley believes sex surrogacy is a growing industry and is campaigning for it to be taken seriously. "Surrogate partners are extraordinary people, willing to give themselves emotionally and physically to help others," she says. "We need to remove the taboo surrounding sex so we can all reach our sexual potential and live sexually fulfilled lives."
The rise of sex surrogacy
There are over 30 surrogates currently registered in the United States under the International Professional Surrogates Association. Surrogates must complete a two-week training programme with the society to become registered. They must also work with a licensed sex therapist.
In the UK there is no official association, but sex surrogates do practise, often working closely with traditional therapists and psychologists. It is a very controversial industry and many—including lawyers—still classify sexual surrogates as sex workers.
