Friday 18 March 2016

Rihanna opens up about her rumoured rivalry with Beyoncé


The R&B singer sets the record straight about her relationship with Queen B.
She’s one of the best-selling R&B artists of all-time but according to the media, a dark cloud in the form of Beyoncé has been a constant pain in Rihanna’s growing career.

Reports of the pairs supposed feud first began when Rihanna signed onto Roc Nation, a management company owned by successful rap artist, and Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z.  After her debut album Music of The Sun(2005)and follow-up Girl Like Me(2006) catapulted Rihanna to fame, rumours that Rihanna had come between the power couple began to swirl.
With both female artists on the same trail of success and the ongoing working relationship between Jay-Z and Rihanna sparking controversy, it’s unsurprising that the rumour mill has called out a bitter rivalry between the pair. However, in a recent interview withVogue, Rihanna revealed there’s absolutely no truth to the rumours.
“Here's the deal,” the 28-year-old begins. “[People] just get so excited to feast on something that's negative. Something that's competitive. Something that's, you know, a rivalry. And that's just not what I wake up to.”
Beyoncé, 34, recently added fuel to speculation when her latest single Formation was coincidentally released shortly after Rihanna dropped her latest album Anti.
However, the multiple Grammy-award winning artist dismisses any claims that she’s trying to one-up Queen B and insists she is an artist in her own right.
“I can only do me,” she says. “And, nobody else is going to be able to do that."

World's Happiest Country Has Been Revealed...Find Where Nigeria Ranks!


Known for its high level of happiness in the midst of economy and security crises in time past, latest report has revealed that Nigeria is now ranked 103 happiest country in the world.

The United Nations world happiest ranking report for 2016 released in Rome, which ranked 156 countries also revealed that African countries are the least happy people in the world.

Reports has it that the ebola outbreak and corruption matters are part of what affected that ranking of the African continent.

Burundi was rated the least happy country in the World, according to the survey, while Benin (153rd place), Afghanistan (154), Togo (155) and Syria (156) occupied the lowest spot.

The report took into account countries' per capita gross domestic product, life expectancy, corruption, social support and freedom to make life choices as indicators of happiness.

Jon Clifton, managing partner with the United States based global research company Gallup said: “The report actually identifies that there are six things that contribute. The single biggest is actually GDP per capita or income.  The other five are trust, life expectancy, social support, freedom, and generosity.”

Clifton also included that corruption in government continues to be a hindrance for Africa’s progress, adding that “we asked people all through Africa: ‘is corruption widespread throughout the government in this country or not?’ We were able to ask that in 34 different countries, and in 30 of those countries 50 per cent or more people said they believe corruption was widespread through the government.”

Meanwhile, Denmark has been ranked the happiest country, followed closely by Switzerland.

Other countries in the top 10 include: Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden

5-year Imprisonment: Actress Ibinabo Fiberesima Bail Application Denied


Efforts by convicted actress and former beauty queen, Ms. Ibinabo Fiberesima, to secure bail at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, suffered a setback yesterday due to the incompetence of her application.
The three-man panel presided over by Justice U.I Ndukwe-Anyanwu observed that the appellant failed to attach copies of the judgment delivered by the court which affirmed the five-year jail sentence imposed on her by a Lagos High Court.
When the matter came up yesterday, Ibinabo’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Amaechina informed the court of an application dated March 14 stating that he had also served the application on the Lagos state government.
However, the application could not be heard as the court observed that the appellant failed to attach copies of the judgment of the court, thereby rendering the whole application incompetent.
Justice UI Ndukwe-Anyanwu, said the only option left was to strike out the application or adjourn it till further date for hearing.
Consequently, Amaechina sought an adjournment to enable him do the needful. The court subsequently adjourned the matter till April 7 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, Ibinabo has asked the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.  In her notice of appeal, the appellant stated that the Court of Appeal erred in law when it affirmed the alteration by the High Court of Lagos state by setting aside the option of a N100,000 fine and substituting it with a term of 5 years imprisonment.
The actress was handed a five-year prison sentence by Justice Deborah Oluwayemi for reckless driving, which caused the death of one Dr Giwa Suraj in an auto accident along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos.
The appellate court dismissed the actress’ appeal in its judgement delivered on February 11 and affirmed the decision of the Lagos High Court.

‘Sambisa forest is as big as Enugu state’ – Army chief


Nigerian Military high command, on Thursday, disclosed that an investigative panel has been set up to investigate the alleged killing of unarmed pro-Biafra protesters in Aba, Abia state.
The protesters, members of secessionist groups, Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), were reportedly shot at- while they protested the continued detention of their embattled leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The disclosure was made by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Tukur Buratai during a familiarization tour of 82 Division, Enugu state.
The COAS also revealed that Boko Haram enclave, Sambisa forest, is the main reason why the army is yet to dislodge the insurgents.
Buratai stated that: “We are already in Sambisa forest. But Sambisa is as big as Enugu State which needs thorough planning for logistics and other manpower needed.”
“That accounts for the delay. In flushing out the insurgents. The alleged incident of killing of MASSOB, IPOB members by the Army in Aba will be investigated.”
“Since my appointment,we have set out to build a professionally responsible Army in the discharge of its constitutional role which is the result of what we are seeing today. We have taken steps to ensure that education within the Army is paramount to ensure that troops operate within the rules of engagement.”

Reuben Abati: The problem with Nigeria is not the politicians but the people themselves


Whatever problem we may have in Nigeria at this or any other time, this country is sustained by the fact that we are indeed a very special people. We have been described as the happiest people on earth, we have also described ourselves as resilient, gifted and determined, and in one report, Nigerians are said to have the strongest shock absorber against some of the deadliest diseases in the world. If anyone doubted this last point, well, recall that we won the battle over Ebola virus, and polio.
The more you look at it, the more it seems as if there is something in the Nigerian DNA that defies defeat, that automatically deletes any virus that can result in system shut down, there is that X-factor in our affairs that rises when hope seems lost, and life seems tragic.  Somehow, the Nigerian spirit regenerates, recreates and reinvents itself, turns failure into possibilities, pessimism into new expectations, and tomorrowinto an anchor for renewal. 
 
We are at such a crossroad, right now. But in the midst of the despair, the listlessness, the anxiety, the what-happened-to-us and what-the hell-is-going-on, you can’t miss the fact that the average Nigerian has not lost his bounce. The biggest tragedies that can hobble other nations happen here and we just shrug them off.  Boko Haram alone has claimed thousands of lives. Hun hun. Herdsmen have killed men and women in their hundreds. Hun hun.More lives have been lost to vehicle accidents on our poorly made, badly maintained roads. Well, hun hun. Many fingers have been caught in the national cookie jar. Ha. What is this? Who dunnit? But, o ma se o. hun hun. The national leaky bucket has a thousand holes. Ha, no country can live with this? Still, hen hun hun.  We voted and there were promises of a new spirit of the age. But that spirit is yet to manifest. So? Nothing good comes easy, therefore. No miracles in the new agenda. So, ni igba yen wa n ko? So, life goes on.
 
Whatever life throws at the average Nigerian, he protests, he complains, but he accommodates it.  It is the reason why nobody will throw stones because power supply is at the worst level in years. It is the reason why workers who have not been paid for months after months will still see the same Governor who is responsible for their misery, after collecting Federal money to help them, and has refused to deliver and they will still scream: “My Excellency, sir.”  When workers go on strike, someone calls them together, says something nice, provides something nice and everything falls nicely in place. The late Chief MKO Abiola was quoted saying “eto ni gbogbo e”,that is anything in Nigeria can be arranged nicely. 
 
The June 12 debacle sadly could not be arranged nicely. It cost the Chief of native wisdom and martyr of Nigerian democracy his life, but many lessons have been learnt.  And one key lesson is that in this country, the people are determined to live no matter what. They can grumble as they wish about the public space but Nigerians are not ready to give up their will to live, their right to live and their understanding of how to live.  And if you put your neck on the line on their behalf, you will be shocked that you will the subject of memes and what’s app jokes. The people laugh at martyrs and heroes because they see no reason why anyone should commit suicide, defending Nigeria, when there is so much life to be enjoyed.
 
Nigeria is probably the global headquarters of enjoyment.  The way the ordinary man has complained in recent times, about political change and the socio-cultural changes it has brought, you would think Nigerians are in serious trouble.  But that is not the case. The foreign exchange market has gone into a crazy overdrive impoverishing the whole nation. Parents whose children are schooling abroad are afraid that they may no longer be able to pay fees. The manufacturing sector is abusing the Minister of Finance-what’s-that-her-name-again? and where-did-she-learn-finance-public-policy-and-economics, but I beg, look around, more businesses are actually springing up and all those foreign investors who are supposedly monitoring the Nigerian market are actually clinging to this market.  Why do you think MTN wants to remain in Nigeria till death do them part? Why do you think all those foreign countries want President Buhari to visit? The banks have retrenched a lot of staff but the same banks have started recruiting again. In this country, what you see is not what you get. There is problem with foreign exchange but activities at the ports have not ceased. Wait till September, you’d be shocked the number of Nigerian children heading towards Europe, North America and other parts of Africa in pursuit of expensive, forex-backed education.
 
I beg, leave matter. And if you don’t want to leave it go to the nearest fuel station where many Nigerians are queuing up for fuel with power generating sets and jerry cans. The people are going through the hardship but they are laughing at their leaders. You think you can mess us up, na lie. If you people like, sell fuel for N150, we go survive.They stay in front of that fuel station and they review Nigeria’s history and lament the choices they have made, but their spirit remains strong. That is what makes them Nigerian. Go to the vendors’ stand. The crowd of poor people who cannot afford to buy a newspaper copy, have all the same listened to the news and the only place where they can compete as pundits is that roadside corner, where sometimes one drunken idiot loses control behind the wheels and sheds human blood, wasting those who have gathered not to buy any newspaper but to debate Nigeria. This special crowd knows it all. You don’t want to get involved with them. They will remind you that a Ph.D holder is actually a real idiot, and that nobody needs certificates of any type to be a Nigerian, and well they add too, that if you ever worked in government, then you are a confirmed idiot, and a professional trickster.
 
Nigerians are so inventive, they find every way of beating bad news, bad experience, or anything that tries to defeat them.  Everyone says there is no money in town, they claim things have gone from bad to worse but the parties have not stooped. Go to any of the joints around Lagos, nothing has been spoiled. Isi ewu, nkwobi, asun, sawa, orisirisi, point and killhave all defied the Forex market. Yes, the price of staple commodities has risen, but that has not stopped the people from throwing lavish wedding parties. Nor has it stopped anybody from marrying three times when once is enough: our people do traditional wedding – valid, they go to the registry: valid, they rush to church- valid: rather than marry once, they do it thrice all within a week. Nor has the austerity in town stopped anybody from burying the dead as if the more money is thrown at the grave, the likeliest the possibility of the dead suddenly becoming a Lazarus of the 21stcentury.
 
Is there poverty in town? You answer that question based on the evidence of your eyes. What I have seen is that Nigerians are still living as if there is too much money in the country. Take a look at the garments Nigerians wear every week. We certainly don’t look like electricity is a problem or that money is in short supply. Soon it will be another Ojude oba among the Ijebus, for example.  You go and check them out. As a teacher at Ogun State University in those days, (I served later as member of the Governing Council), we used to go from one party to the other, guzzling free food and quaffing free drinks. Today, those lavish parties have not ceased. Nobody eats like that in Europe or North America. When you go to all the old joints, in Agarawu in Lagos or Tarmac, nothing has changed either. The music still flows, the swag is on. Elsewhere, new buildings are springing up; new cars are being “washed”, additional wives are being acquired. Leave matter, I beg. Nigeria will survive, and these same people who are complaining about change, you’d be shocked, they’d still vote for their stomachs in 2019. 
 
And that is why Nigeria is one country that beats all the textbook theories. We are just something else. There is more in the social arena that defines who we are, than in the theoretical arena.  The same people who are complaining that they have not seen change are actually hoping for more. They are not ready to adjust. They are not ready to make sacrifices. If they have an opportunity to be close to government in any way, they will jump at it. The corruption that we talk about is not just in government corridors, it is in society, but the one inside society is so difficult to trap because it is amorphous and inchoate in so many respects. Invariably, the snake feeds on itself:mobius strip.
 
What we are left with is the image of the people laughing at government and themselves. Have you taken time out to check what happens on social media?  Anybody who ever ventured into governance is easy game. The people design caricatures and mock them. Nigeria produces more memes and graphics than any other country in Africa not necessarily because of the events that happen here but because of the people’s consciousness, and if I may add, private greed. In that other world, political change is ridiculed, poverty is deplored, GEJ is becoming a saint and PMB a villain, but the people are still having fun, and blaming Nigeria and the politicians.
 
I tell you, the problem with Nigeria is not the politicians but the people themselves. We are very special people, but we don’t really know what we want, and because we are like that, we confuse the politicians and the nation. But for as long as we can wear those impressive attires and throw those parties and dance to old music and pay our private bills, we see no reason to care enough.  Pity is: no country can ever move ahead if the people do not care enough. For us, life goes on, no matter what.