This girl here has been through a lot of obstacles in her life and has taken a lot of bull crap from some ungrateful beings. But through it all the Lord has been with me; guiding me to succeed! Thank you Lord! I will forever speak of your goodness my faith in You forever remains the same! Thank You Lord! Amen.
“Report says: Multi-platinum artist Enrique Martin Morales, known by the stage name Ricky Martin died at 4:30 pm eastern time while driving his BMW CONVERTIBLE CAR on a freeway in Los Angeles, CA.”
“Hello from #heaven.”
One day my homie Ricky Anderson [Kanye’s cousin] hit me up and was like, ‘Kanye wants you to come work with him in Mexico,’ so I came out there [and] we did like nine songs in one day; one of them happened to be ‘Only One.’
[In] like 24 hours, [we recorded] seven songs or nine songs that day. I was like, ‘I’m here with Kanye, I’m not gonna waste my time.’ They really wanted me to stay for like a week, but I only had like two days, ’cause I was about to start the [Under the Influence of Music] tour.He was open to my input, like, ‘do whatever you want to do. Here’s your mic. Do you need anything?’ I’m like ‘Awesome! Let’s get it!’[We were] in Mexico, at this big house. The back of the house had no walls and no doors; it was just open [and facing] the ocean. You would think he would want the mic enclosed and all that but we just had the doors open, and it came out perfect. That inspired me to record like that at the crib.Everybody [on his team] is into all the dope shit that’s out and they said that my [Beach House] project was one of them.
Just take my time and really examine what’s dope and what’s not. He reminds me of myself a lot. [He has] all the homies around, everybody being like ‘yes’ or ‘no’ [about a song]. Also, be real critical about what you do, [and] not just let anything go out there.At first, I was wondering what he was gonna’ think and all that shit, but I was like ‘I’ma just do this like I’m doing it for myself’ and everybody fucked with it. I gave that nervous shit up a couple years back and that’s when I was able to get it pippin.’ At first, I ain’t gon’ lie, I used to be a little nervous about what people were gon’ think about my music but once I let that go, then everything started happening.
Me, Rihanna, ‘Ye and Paul [Mc Cartney] got a song about to drop as well… I heard they shot the video recently. I don’t know what the final title is, but I know it’s crazy so just be looking out for [it].Right now I’m focussing on — since we got all his stuff done — I’m trying to get him on my album [laughs]. I’m just waiting for that date that he’s like, “Yeah cool, let’s do it.” I’m finishing up my album right now, and I definitely want to get that ‘Ye joint on there.
Selena Gomez recently sparked controversy during a trip to Abu Dhabi with her celebrity friends Kendall Jenner, Shay Mitchell, Cody Simpson, and Gigi Hadid. Selena, who went to Abu Dhabi with her friends to celebrate New Year’s Day, posted several photos on her Instagram that shows the group visiting the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque. The goofy pictures raised some eyebrows, but one picture was deemed controversial enough that Selena had to delete it.The Boko Haram Islamist sect on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack on a multinational military base in Baga, Borno State, during which about 2,000 people were killed on January 3, this year.
The sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a new video on You tube also taunted Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and Idris Deby of Chad.
He also expressed disdain for President Goodluck Jonathan, and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the February 14 presidential election, Maj.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), describing them as infidels. Shekau, who spoke in Hausa said, “Jonathan, you are in trouble.
And Buhari, do you think he is a true Muslim? He’s an infidel.”
The insurgents, who invaded Baga early this year, razed many buildings and homes in the week that followed, shooting civilians as they tried to flee, witnesses said.
Some local officials put the death toll as high as 2,000, although the military said it was 150.
The video was in the trademark Boko Haram style, with the bearded man claiming to be Shekau in combat fatigues and surrounded by masked gunmen.
“We are the ones that carried out the attack and it is just the tip of the iceberg. There are more coming,” he said. On the weapons the insurgents seized from Baga, he said they were enough to annihilate Nigeria.
Soldiers fled the area after the nearby army base, which is the headquarters of a multinational force comprising troops from Chad, Niger and Cameroon, by Lake Chad was overrun. Chad and Cameroon are being drawn into the fight against Boko Haram, but mistrust has hampered cooperation.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, has condemned the escalation of “appalling levels of violence” in the North-East and warned that she would prosecute members of any party responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Bensouda said her office had continued a preliminary examination into allegations that Boko Haram extremists were killing large numbers of civilians, using girls and boys to participate in the conflict and forcing massive numbers of people from their homes.
She also warned the Federal Government of its obligation to prosecute crimes that “deeply shock the conscience of humanity. “No one should doubt my resolve, if need be, to prosecute those individuals most responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity,” Bensouda said in a statement from the court’s headquarters in The Hague on Tuesday.
Boko Haram has increased the ferocity and tempo of its attacks in recent weeks, with international outrage over reports that as many as 2,000 civilians may have been systematically slaughtered in the January 3, 2015 attack on Baga town and the military base at the border with Cameroon.
The sect had also increased attacks on Cameroon, raising fears that the conflict was spreading and prompting the country to deploy troops to defend its borders with Nigeria.
Niger’s Foreign Minister, Bazoum Mohamed, told a meeting on Tuesday of the Economic Community of West African States to discuss a collective response to Boko Haram, saying that the Islamic militants are no longer a Nigerian problem but they threaten the security of the region.
WhatsApp Web
Today, for the first time, millions of you will have the ability to use WhatsApp on your web browser.
Our web client is simply an extension of your phone: the web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device -- this means all of your messages still live on your phone.
To connect your web browser to your WhatsApp client, simply open https://web.whatsapp.com in your Google Chrome browser.
You will see a QR code --- scan the code inside of WhatsApp, and you’re ready to go. You have now paired WhatsApp on your phone with the WhatsApp web client.
Your phone needs to stay connected to the internet for our web client to work, and please make sure to install the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone.
Unfortunately for now, we will not be able to provide web client to our iOS users due to Apple platform limitations.
We really hope you find web client useful in your everyday lives.
http://blog.whatsapp.com/614/WhatsApp-Web
A 25-year-old man, Kingsley Ughala, has been shot dead while struggling to share the money dashed out by a politician after a rally of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.
The incident happened on Friday afternoon in the Gbagada area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Kingsley had followed the APC to a rally and returned with some group of boys who later besieged the campaign office of the APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, for “settlement.”
Our correspondent was told that after money was given out to the men, trouble started when a particular group wanted to pocket the largesse.
In the ensuing scuffle, the Imo State indigene was shot dead. His corpse was said to have been deposited at the Gbagada General Hospital mortuary.
It was learnt that the police, had however arrested a suspect, Abayomi Ayeni. A resident of the area, Jegede Johnson, said the victim was killed around 4pm.
He said, “It happened around the APC campaign office in Gbagada. After they finished their rally for the day, some group of boys returned to the campaign office for settlement.
“They were given some money to share among themselves.
“A fight broke out when one of the groups wanted to go away with the money.
“The struggle was intense, and at a point one of the groups brought out a gun and shot the guy dead.”
The victim’s father, Samuel, a carpenter, said he had returned from work in the evening of the fateful day when he learnt his son had been killed.
“I returned from work at about 9pm and I heard my son was killed. By that time, it was too late for me to go out so I waited till the following day which was a Saturday. I reported the matter at the Ifako Police Station.
“He had just finished his apprenticeship and we were looking for a job for him when he was killed. He was the third out of my six children.”
The victim’s elder brother, Chima, said, “I learnt that my brother was struggling for the money with those boys.
When they entered a bus, they shot and killed him.” It was gathered that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, where the suspect was also being held.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident.
One of our biggest beauty bugbears is dark eye bags. While we know the best way to mask stealthy shadows with concealer, we want to get to the root of the problem by targeting the causes.
Find out why you always seems to continually see that irritable dark circle around your eyes no matter how much you try to get rid of them.
The discolouration around the eyes is thanks to tiny broken capillaries which can show through as dark patches – and the more fragile the thin skin there becomes, the more 'shadows' show.
A variety of health and lifestyle (as well as genetic) factors can make them appear more prominent, so a holistic approach is required to eradicate them.
Here are some of the Common Causes;
1) Iron Deficiencies: "Dark circles can be a sign of an iron deficiency such as anemia. If you have low iron in your blood, hemoglobin (which carries oxygen) can breakdown more easily causing the thin skin below the eyes to appear dark or bruised." Ensure you maintain proper iron levels by eating red meat, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds - and if you're concerned visit your GP.
2) Stress: "When you're stressed more blood is directed to your main organs leaving your face looking drained and pasty." This makes dark circles appear more noticeable. "Stress can also cause the fragile capillaries around the eyes to break or leak blood. The blood spreads out under the skin (pools) and becomes oxidized forming a dark purple hue. "
3) Fatigue: "A lack of sleep causes paleness of the skin allowing darkness under the eye to be more prominent and visible."
4) Rubbing Your Eyes: The thinnest area of skin on your face is around your eyes. "This is also the most sensitive part of your face and the capillaries under this skin are more prone to breakage and leakage" – hello purple reign, again. Message: don't rub or pull your eyes!
5) Wearing Heavy Frame Glasses: "This puts stress on the delicate skin around eyes and causes broken capillaries."
6) Sun Damage: "Sun damage to this fragile skin can, as above, leave capillaries vulnerable" and you know what that means – "breakage and leakage."
Wear light-weight sunglasses in harsh sun and shield your eyes from unnecessary UV exposure
Ways To Remedy Dark Circles
1) Take a Vitamin B complex: "B vitamins help strengthen blood vessels and capillaries, to limit breakage and leakage in the eye area."
2) Up Your Vitamin C And Other Natural Antioxidants: "These help fight off damaging free-radicals that weaken the skin causing it to become thinner and more translucent, therefore making dark circles more visible." Ditch the junk food which does the opposite.
3) Avoid Certain Medications: "Anything that could dilate blood vessels results in increased blood flow around eyes which can cause shadows to darken." Check with your doctor or a pharmacist if you are unsure.
4) Use A Targeted Eye Treatment: Reinforce your delicate capillaries and brighten your skin with a multi-pronged products continously for desired results. Check with your beautician for recommended products available in our Nigerian stores.
It’s official folks , Windows 10 is coming to the people.
After kicking off Windows 10 with a bevy of business-friendly features, Microsoft drew back the curtain on the operating system’s new consumer-focused features at an event on Wednesday ( yesterday ), while simultaneously driving home a vision of an operating system designed to deliver a singular, cohesive experience across a plethora amount of devices and And it'll be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users for the first year after release.
Talking about holographic computing , Microsoft is going beyond virtual reality and will attempt to surpass the likes of Google Glass and Oculus Rift, inviting developers who follow said solutions to build new content for the platform.
It's not about placing the user into a virtual world, but integrate Windows 10 content on home and work surfaces. All that's required is the Microsoft HoloLens.
This headwear will enable wearers to manipulate models and other content, place instructional cues on real life objects, place a screen on the wall (view Netflix without turning on the television), access an interface into a virtual world and more.
Some applications where this can prove to be useful include construction and architecture design, medicine and surgery, video gaming and more.
Every Windows 10 device will have APIs (Application program interface) built in, both large and small devices. See photos below --------------->
Northern Youths, under the umbrella body of Arewa Youth Integrity Forum has promised to mobilise 20 million youths across the 19 northern states for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second-term bid.
They commended the President for his visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital last week, describing it as a bold step.
The youths, in a statement issued by its national president, Hamid Usman, on Sunday in Abuja described Jonathan as a statesman who was sympathetic to the plight of his followers, commending his courage and bravery.
They described the courage shown by the president in “travelling to Maiduguri which is seen as a hotbed for crisis as not only commendable but exemplary for all intending leaders.”
While expressing their support for the second-term bid of the President, the group said Jonathan had proved that he had what it takes to drive Nigeria to the next level, having defeated the local content of insurgency and ready to fight the foreign elements that had joined insurgents to make Nigeria ungovernable for the citizenry.
Hundred of youths took to the street near the palace of the Sultan of the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto, to carry out a symbolic sweeping of the floor.
It was shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage left the Sultan’s palace to Shehu Kangiwa Square today to hold a rally.
Malam Ibrahim Musa, one of the sweepers said the exercise was to demonstrate to the PDP leaders that the people of the state are bent on ensuring total victory for the APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. ”
You can see things for your self. Mr President just passed and we youths mobilize ourselves to clear our area for peace,progress and political growth of our country,” he said Another sweeper, Alhaji Abdullahi Isa described the symbolic sweeping of the roads as a clear indication that Nigerians need a change of leadership direction.
“Nothing seem to be moving hence the need for well meaning Nigerians to support the cause of political change being championed by the progressives,” he said.
He said that no one asked the youths to sweep the road, adding that they came out to demonstrate that they were tired of the maladministration of the PDP led government.
” I have three graduates in my house. No work for them. He said. He said that PDP should forget Sokoto and indeed the northwest because the people have spoken their minds.
”Mr President, don’t listen to failed politicians who have nothing to offer ” he said. The President had earlier paid a courtesy visit on Sultan Saad Abubakar at his palace where he promised to accord priority to the provision of modern farming inputs and education in the state.
He said that the PDP led administration will continue to accord great respect to Sultanate council as well as traditional rulers for the useful contribution towards promoting peaceful coexistence.
Jonathan also informed Sultan Abubakar that he was in Sokoto to formally present the party candidates before their teeming supporters.
He said that the candidates if elected will meet the expectation of electorates in ensuring good democratic governance.
Sultan Abubkar told President Jonathan that the federal government should do more in confronting the present security challenges facing the country.
He said that muslims must be seen practicing their religion in a peaceful atmosphere and this would only by possible if the federal government introduce stringent security measures that would gurantee the safety of all and sundry at home, the places of worship and public places.
After Amber Rose declared herself Queen of the No Chill Zone via her latest Instagram thirst traps, the online community was put into a frenzy. Among the thousand of individual sharing their affection for the gorgeous model, her estranged husband, Wiz Khalifa, decided to express his excitement as well. The rapper took it to Twitter and wrote the following:
Yes, my baby’s mother is fine as fuck.”
Amber is definitely going to be pretty happy with Wiz’s post, because the other day she clearly stated she wants to get back with her husband. By the looks of it, he might be ready to give another chance to his baby mama. Do you think Rose and Khalifa are getting back together? They clearly are not over each other yet!
Yesterday, Karrine Steffans took it to Instagram and posted a picture of a traffic light and a street name sign, “Wayne,” captioning the photo with a line of her poem about Lil Wayne.
And most importantly, little girl, be careful not to claim a man who belongs to the world,” reads the caption of the photo.
The vast majority of the online community took Karrine's post to be taking shots at Wayne's new fling Christina Milian . Hours after the alleged diss, the gorgeous singer clapped back by posting the following.
It’s such a shame a woman has to settle for that mentally when no man has ever cared to claim that. #whatsMineisMine straight up. :) #tnt …… Guess IT IS #TBT”
Seeing Milian’s post, Steffans had to clear things up, because according to her own words, this was a huge misunderstanding, due to the fact none of Wayne's women are a factor in her friendship with Weezy, including Milian, whom Karrine believes has “deep seeded insecurity,” if she thinks the post was about her.
There is no story between Christina and me. I don’t know her, nor has she ever been acknowledged in my presence — not her and not any of Wayne's other women. None of them are factors in my friendship with him, which has been ongoing for eight years now. Therefore, I wasn't thinking about her or any of the others when I posted a line from a poem I wrote about my relationship with Wayne, years ago, and a photo of Wayne Street, here in Los Angeles. I don't think about his women in real life and I certainly don't think about them on Instagram. That's his job. My job is to continue to be his friend and to be there for him, in good and bad times, no matter who is in and out of his life. Now, if Christina was in any way convicted by an Instagram post that had nothing to do with her, that seems like a personal issue and a deep seeded insecurity – all of which has nothing to do with me,” said Karrine. She explained the situation to VladTV , adding, “I don't need to be “claimed,” like lost luggage. I have a husband. Going forward, I wish her the best of everything life and love has to offer.”
However, it appears as if her statement wasn’t clear enough, because she had to hop on Instagram again and explain the situation to her fans. This time, she did it quite good. In a well-put expression of the facts, she wrote what life really is and that not everything is about, “you,” referring to Christina.
Here's the thing about life. Not everything is about you. And if someone says or does something that has nothing to do with you but, somehow, you feel convicted by it, that says a lot more about you and your insecurities than it does about the other person. Not everything is shade. Some shit is just the truth. But not every palm tree or personal truth belongs to you. Other people have experiences, too, and their account of those experiences has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. Confidence is key and not everyone has it. This is obvious. Also, here's the thing about men. They do what they want, how they want, when they want, and with whom they want. Just like women. Because of this, be careful when pouring expectations into people. We all have a history but look at a person's patterns. I have mine. You have yours. The next person has theirs and they all tend to repeat. Know the difference between being one option on a very long list of options and being the one and only. Be truthful with yourself about the state of your affairs and you'll never be mad a day in your life. None of us belong to each other and we all belong to God. Be well.”
Do you expect Milian to respond? Karrine unraveled the situation like a truly classy lady! Watch her closely girls, you can learn so much from her.
On a related note, did you read our exclusive interview with Christina Milian ?
The Lagos state Governor has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has always been his choice candidate all through the build up to the APC governorship primaries held over a month ago.
He stated this during a parley organized by the Lagos APC to formally present their gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule, to media executives in Lagos.
The governor noted that the party was actually “spoilt for choice” by having a pool of competent aspirants to elect from, but that he was happy that Ambode emerged as the victorious flag bearer.
“It was a healthy problem; that we had many competent and accomplished aspirants to choose from.
It clearly demonstrates the rich human capital we have in Lagos, in Lagos APC” He added, “Our party had a democratic and transparent gubernatorial primaries, and I am proud and happy with the results it has produced.
This is because Akin has been my choice from the beginning, and I say this unequivocally” In his presentation, Governor Fashola described Ambode as “someone who has the ability to rigorously ensure that things tally, his accountability is just unmatched.
He has the befitting skill-set needed to build upon the successes we have recorded so far, and that is why I am happy at his candidature”.
While reflecting on his 8-year tenure, Fashola noted that Lagos has consistently undergone enviable and noteworthy transformation, adding that Akinwunmi Ambode had the experience to sustain and even better such transformation.
“I have worked with Akin and I can attest to his vast experience. He knows the government and understands governance, and his application of this capacity-enhancing know-how will surely ensure that there is continuity in the tradition of excellence we are now known for in Lagos”.
In his response, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who was full of appreciation to the Governor and the Party for making the parley happen, stated that public service was a form of nobility for him.
“All my life, I have practiced selfless service to humanity in varying capacities. This has enabled me to take public service as a noble one”. About his gubernatorial intention, Ambode echoed that despite being an accountant, his love for public service and natural knack for leadership led him to secure a Fullbright Scholarship for Public Leadership in Boston University, Massachusetts. He said such leadership know-how and a diligent skill-set gave productivity to his public service career, reiterating that the time seems right to take it to the next level.
In his words, “the success and productivity that characterized my public service career makes me believe strongly that I was conscripted to excel in service to the people, and this is the reason why I desire to serve Lagos as the Governor of the state”.
Apart from this leadership capabilities, Ambode intoned that the very helpful experience secured while he worked with former governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and also Governor Fashola, have equipped him with rich administrative bandwidth that places him in good stead to keep up with the tradition of excellence that the state and the party is known for.
The media parley gave him the opportunity to further intimate his audience with well thought-plans on how to sustain the successes already recorded.
While answering questions, Ambode said he sees a Lagos that is “safe, secure, cleaner and more prosperous, that is driven by qualitative service, equity and justice”.
He promised “strong leadership, selfless service, accountability and an excellent governance”, adding that “we have proved that governance can work, and I promise you that it will keep working”.
Ambode noted further that the party’s ideology is an ideology of progressives, and which is responsive and people-oriented.
“This ideology covers the two fundamental responsibilities of any serious government; that is, the protection of its citizens and their welfare. I humbly assure you that these are the two areas my government will also successfully address”.
He asked for their support in this election period to achieve it, while also saying there is need to replicate such good at the Federal level. Governor Fashola corroborated Mr. Ambode’s reply by stating that “government is something no one should experiment with.
Getting this government going will not be difficult for an experienced Ambode”.
Governor Fashola and Ambode both appreciated the media men and women whose expertise in terms of constructive criticisms and ideas, contribute a sizable quota to achieving good governance.
The state APC party Chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, capped off the interactive parley by remarking that the forthcoming election is a “simple choice between experience and experiment, I trust you all to make the wise choice and vote for the APC”.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Tuesday, publicly disagreed with President Goodluck Jonathan over the statement that his generation has failed Nigeria, saying "You (Jonathan) failed Nigeria because my generation did not fail this country."
According to Vanguard, President Jonathan made the statement last Thursday while addressing youth at the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP campaign held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS Lagos.
Fashola however reacted at the 2015, First Quarter of the Town Hall meeting with stakeholders in the transportation sector held in Agidingbi, Ikeja, which also had in attendance Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and others.
President Jonathan and Gov Babatubde Fashola of Lagos The governor urged Jonathan to accept responsibility over his failure to address the challenges confronting the nation over the last six years of his administration rather than point accusing fingers to past leaders, "late President Musa Yar 'Adua's short tenure was better than that of this administration."
Fashola said; "He (Jonathan) said his generation has failed, he should account for himself because I refuse to join the generation the President was referring to.
According to him, "He is in his 50s, I am also in my 50s, and we appear to be, because I don't even want to join that generation because my own generation has not failed, I have done well on my job and I am proud to say so. If he has failed, let him account for himself, he should not join us".
Seven years ago, they started with Vision 2020 but later they said that they are transforming. And all these have yielded no result. And that was why they have stopped working.
On Boko Haram He lamented that the situation in the North-East region of the country was pathetic because citizens have become refugees in their father land due to the inability of the present administration to tame the Boko Haram insurgency.
“And rather than the President using the recent campaign in Lagos to gain the support of the citizens the president was busy telling you they tried to kill him four years ago and we did not know.
That is a serious national security issue because nobody wants our Commander in Chief dead. If anybody tries to kill him, we should have known.
And if I was Commander in Chief, and the person who tries to kill me is in a South African jail, I will ask that he should be repatriated to Nigeria to come and face punishment. “ He (Jonathan) also claimed that General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) didn’t buy arms in 1985.
And after Buhari left office, the Nigeria army got recognition for their role in protecting West Africa and was the guns bought 30 years ago be effective to fight today’s insurgency.” Fashola added that President Jonathan made the statements to gain the sympathy of the electorate and woo them ahead of the presidential election.
He said: “In 2011, it was no shoes, now he is saying they tried to kill him, it won’t work this time. This time it is the job record, the promise that you must look at”.
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Paul and Tunrayo Alagbe were married on September 3, 1998 and had their first child on December 29, 2014. RITA OKONOBOH chronicles the couple’s journey through the years of trials to the unfolding of boundless blessings.
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him (Psalm 40: 1-3).
The above Psalm verses aptly describe Mrs Tunrayo Alagbe’s testimony of the Lord’s goodness as she finally gave birth to a daughter at a few months shy of 60 years of age. It was a sunny afternoon on Monday, January 5, 2015, and the atmosphere was radiantly purpled by the stylish outfits of many who had come to witness the naming ceremony of the lovely daughter of the Alagbes.
The crowd was surprisingly large, even for the African setting, as many braced the burning rays beating down on the premises of the Women Missionary Union (WMU) headquarters of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), Total Garden area, Ibadan, just to show their solidarity with the couple. As the President of the NBC, Reverend Dr Supo Ayokunle, affirmed during his address at the naming ceremony, “This child has, from the beginning, started breaking records.
I have never seen a naming ceremony that attracted this kind of crowd. Also, no naming ceremony has been conducted on the premises before now. This goes to show that God can do anything, anytime, anywhere and anyhow, pleasantly, for his own people. For those who wait upon God, it is never over until it is over. This is an occasion for us to understand that God’s ways are not our ways.”
The Retired Executive Director, Women Missionary Union, Nigeria, and a close friend of the family who anchored the naming of the baby, Reverend Mrs Yemi Ladokun, took the audience through the time of waiting.
She showed to the crowd some flowers from the bouquet used during the wedding and stated that she had kept the flowers thinking she would use them during the year after the wedding during the naming ceremony of a child but she was wrong as she had to wait for almost 17 years.
The child was given close to 40 names including, Halleluyah, Testimony, Esther, Jesulayomi, Ileri-Ayo-Mi, OkikiJesu, Adepate, Oluwatoyin, Omoronike, Ibiyemi, Oluremi, Motunrayo, Mo-F’Oluwa-ke, Aderonke, Odunola, Eri-Ipe, Ewa-Iyin, Itan-iyanu-ife, IturaOluwa, Favour, Oluwadamilare, Titilayomi-niwaju-Oluwa, among other significant names.
‘A childless woman has no honour, no respect, no place’
Speaking with Sunday Tribune on the experience during the years of anxiety, Mrs Alagbe noted that the many years of worrying, coupled with the delay before marriage, contributed to making the experience quite worrying.
According to her, “I wouldn’t say we were not worried, but God was comforting and encouraging us. It was not a pleasant experience at all. We experienced delay before marriage but this one was more excruciating. However, God sustained us.”
On the most nagging worry during the times of trial, the couple notes that the African tendency to look down on a childless couple was a constant source of concern. According to the mother, “In Africa, having children is very important. If you’re married and childless, it’s like you have no honour, no respect, no place. You’re nobody, so to speak.”
The father, Paul Alagbe, further stated that “She would sometimes say if she had known that it would be like this, she would not marry me as it seems like she is a problem to me.” His wife affirmed this by stating that “Medically, I was told he has no problem, but I was the one whose fallopian tubes were blocked. I felt like I was a burden to him, like I shouldn’t have come his way and instead allowed him to live his life.”
‘Childlessness does not mean you are married to the wrong person’
The president of the NBC, Reverend Ayokunle, who spoke on challenges and godly responses noted that nobility and godliness does not immune an individual from trials. According to him, “Childlessness is not a modern-day challenge. The fact that your family is childless does not mean you are married to the wrong person. Some couples who do not have the problem of childlessness have other problems. Would you rather exchange childlessness for blindness, for instance? A problem is a problem but God is always there.”
On her general outlook during the period of not knowing how things would turn out, Mrs Alagbe, whom many describe as cheerful, warm and always ready with a smile, narrated “I kept hoping. I cherished my personal relationship with God because I know that the day you die, this issue of having children no longer has meaning. So, I was jealously guarding my personal relationship with God, especially in relation to eternity. I tried to enjoy other things God has blessed me with. Although, I was often disturbed by that one thing he had not done, I tried to enjoy what he has done and in my own little way, I served him, hoping He will do it. I thought that if He doesn’t do it, He knows why and knows how to sustain me. That’s also why I didn’t visit all sort of places because I know that if I eventually get a child from the wrong source and I end up in hell, what use will it be? Besides, God encouraged me that He will do it and I trusted in His promise.”
‘There was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child’
Her husband, Mr Alagbe, was not also without his own troubles. According to him, he was constantly reminded about the need to take the alternative option by getting a second wife. This was further hinged on his position as the only surviving male child of his family. As Mr Alagbe puts it, “We were six in my family; four of them died and it was just me and my sister left. All my siblings who died did not have any children and there was pressure on me as the only surviving male to have a child. However, I was convinced by my faith not to do anything negative.”
In his advice for men who are currently undergoing the challenge of childlessness and who, like him, had been advised to take a second wife, Mr Alagbe encourages them to fear God, stating that “If they go for more wives, they are asking for more problems. The best thing is to hold on to God and see beyond the immediate situation. Right from time, I knew there was a problem but I also considered what the situation would be if I was the one who had the problem.”
The couple attempted to relive the priceless memory of viewing the child for the first time. For Mr Alagbe, “There was anxiety at the time of delivery. I read Tribune newspapers a lot and I had read something about a similar case in which the operation was not successful and I kept thinking about it. But when I saw the baby, I almost cried. I was very happy.”
For Mrs Alagbe, “I was just happy. I don’t know the words to use. I was excited. I was thrilled that the baby had come at last. I had her through Caesarian section at Vine Branch Medical Centre and at the theatre, when they told me ‘this is your baby; it’s a perfect baby,’ I wanted to scream and say ‘Wow! So this is what was in my womb!’ I lack words to explain.
Even though I was in pains, I couldn’t sleep throughout that day. I was just looking at her and I kept saying to myself, ‘So this is you I have been waiting for. Where did you hide?’ I was really very happy.” The President, Ibadan Baptist Conference, Reverend (Dr) Yemi Adekunle, in his prayers for the family, prayed that their faith remains unshaken and that God’s favour will radiate not just in the family but through all present.
For prayers, encouragement and for witnessing the ceremony, the Pastor, First Baptist Church, Ibafo, thanked and prayed for God’s blessings upon all.
Harmattan affects our health in many ways: our skin, eyes and respiratory tract most vulnerable to the effects of this weather.
The skin suffers dryness with accompanying cracking of lips, soles of the feet and sometimes the skin itself.
The eyes also suffer from the abundance of dust particles carried along by the winds, thus itching, foreign body sensations and redness may be common especially in those with allergic eye diseases.
A lot of diseases are easily triggered due to this change in weather and lots of care must be taken to avoid fatal consequences.
Here are a few tips on how to make it through this dry patch;
1. Drink lots of water!
2. Avoid carbonated soft drinks. They dehydrate your skin quite bad.
3. Avoid antiseptic soaps during this weather. Use them only when you have a skin infection it is meant to treat.Use it even then for a short period and stop.
4. Keep the skin healthy by applying oily creams and wearing weather friendly clothing.
5. Use lip balms and apply Vaseline to the soles of the feet to prevent them from cracking.
6. Remember to keep your hair moisturized and also do hairstyles that keep your hair ends hidden. You can also wrap up your hair to protect it from the dust.
7. Wear warm clothes; they will protect you from the severe cold.
8. Rinse your eyes with clean water and reduce the exposure to the dust by wearing protective spectacles.
9. Asthma patients or those with chronic respiratory conditions should pay special attention to their health and take all possible and practicable measures to reduce exposure to the dusty atmosphere and they should carry their inhalers with them at all times.
10. Sicklers should be vigilant and keep warm as much as possible to prevent any crisis.
11. Due to the dusty atmosphere we should practice a healthy food preservation culture. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating and those of us that store our drinking water should always ensure that the containers are always adequately covered.
12. We can also keep our homes warm but please be careful as this is also the season when we have the most fire accidents. All fires should not be left unattended and we should avoid indiscriminate burning of refuse during this season.
By Val Okara,
Owerri The Imo State Police Command Bomb Disposal Unit yesterday uncovered bomb at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the State.
Also another bomb reportedly planted under a palm tree at the Owerri Capital Development Authority, (OCDA) few metres away from the INEC Office and the state secretariat along Port Harcourt –Owerri Road was found.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Andrew Enwerem who confirmed the two incidents said that the Police acted on a tip off to avert what could have been a total calamity if the two bombs had been exploded.
“On arrival at the scene we discovered it was an Improvised Explosive Device, IED planted somewhere near OCDA.”
He said that the bomb was detonated without any harm, adding that the police had thrown its dragnet to fish out those behind the act.
When our correspondent visited both INEC and OCDA along Port Harcourt Road at about 10 am, there was heavy presence of armed Policemen that condoned off the entire areas.
The Secretary of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Obi Olucha said, “we saw something when we reported to work this morning and we called in the police who said it was fertiliser chemical.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday confirmed that about 50 percent of eligible voters in the State are yet to get their Permanent Voter’s Card(PVC).
The Commission also disclosed that some electoral Wards in eleven Local Government Areas out of the 27 Council Areas of the State would not be part of the fresh distribution of PVC that would commence today (Thursday).
The affected LGAs include Oru East, Okigwe, Ohaji/Egbema, Ezinihitte, Isu, Obowo, Nkwerre,Njaba, Ngor Okpala, Ideato South and Orsu Council Area where no PVC was supplied at all.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday at the INEC state headquarters, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada, disclosed that the PVC yet to arrive the State, but expressed worry that the people are yet to collect the once available.
He said, “the statistics of the card distribution in the state is still below 60 percent and this does not augur well for a full participatory democracy which we anticipate. This is totally unacceptable to the Commission”.
He stated further that, “given this, the Commission has recommended that we go back to the field for another ten days to distribute these PVCs to their rightful owners, but at the Registration Area (Ward) level.
This is in bid to ensure that every Nigerian is given an opportunity to exercise his/her franchise”.
Biu town in Borno state was attacked by members of Boko Haram this morning. Fortunately, the military was able to repel the attack and kill/arrest many militants. I just got a gruesome pic after the cut supposedly from a military officer at the scene in Borno which purportedly shows members of Boko Haram killed during the attack earlier today. See it after the cut...*viewer discretion advised*
Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola earlier today paid a visit to the section of Balogun market that was gutted by fire yesterday January 12th. While sympathizing with the traders, the governor advised them to insure their properties so that in situations such as a fire outbreaks, their insurance would cover their losses. View pics after the cut...
Snoop Dogg, 43, is a grandpa for the first time! His first son, 21 year old Corde Broadus welcomed a son with his girlfriend, a white woman said to be in her 30s and was once 'friends' with Snoop Dogg. The baby boy named Zion was born on Saturday January 10th. That's Corde and his newborn son pictured above. I remember him from that their reality show. He was so young then, now he's grown and having a baby of his own. Congrats to him. A pic of him and his baby mama after the cut...
VIEW: PIC 1 || PIC 2 || PIC 3 || PIC 4 (With his parents and siblings!)
The whereabouts of a 38-year-old man, simply identified as Mr. Ojuigo of Upper Sakponba Road in Benin City, remain unknown to family members and friends following a revelation by their nine-year-old house maid, Ada, who accused him of forcing her to engage in MouthAction with him when the wife had gone to work.
Ojuigo, who is said to have lost his job six months ago in one of the new generation banks along Airport road in Benin, got into trouble when the nine-year-old girl revealed to his wife that the husband had on several occasion forced her to perform sex acts with him with a promise to give her money.
He also threatened to kill her if she told his wife or any other person.
However, the victim was said to have confided in another girl who lives in the same compound who later told the wife of former banker.
Angered by embarrassment, the wife who is a banker, was said have publicly confronted the husband who stoutly denied the allegations.
She was said to have reported the matter to his in-laws and church elders, but he declined several invitations to appear before them.
DELTA State Police Command has arrested one Belynda Chinwe Bosa, a student of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka for staging her kidnap so as to extort money from her parents.
It was said that one Beatrice Bosa of Kwale, Delta State reported that last December her daughter, Chinwe, residing at Lagos, who was travelling from Lagos to Abraka in Delta State was kidnapped along the way by unknown hoodlums.
She claimed her abductors were demanding a ransom of N500, 000.00 but was surprised that her boyfriend and his brother demanded N10 million from her parents.
The boyfriend, who was also arrested, confessed to the crime, lamenting that he came from overseas and that both of them wanted to use the money to settle down inform if renting a flat, equip it and use part of the money to start a business in Nigeria. Sequel to the report, operatives of Special
Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Asaba, swung into action and arrested one America Sunday Ogagawotu at Oyiobo, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, after withdrawing the ransom money which was paid into his Ecobank account in Port-Harcourt.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Alkali Baba Usman, when contacted over the incident revealed that the victim, on leaving Lagos went to her boyfriend, one George Itietie at Port-Harcourt where herself, the said Itietie and America Sunday Ogagawatu planned to inform her parents that she was kidnapped so as to extort money from her parents.
He further disclosed that the victim got N100, 000.00 as her own share from the ransom of N500, 000.00 paid by her parents just as he claimed the trio of Ogagawatu, Itietie and Chinwe have confessed to the crime and are helping the police in investigation.
Similarly, one Alfred Ibinagator has been arrested by detectives at Ogbe-Ijoh Division in connection with a case of stealing a speed boat. Parading him, Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta Command, disclosed that when search warrant was executed in his house, 228 rounds of Lar rifle live ammunition, five rounds of K2 rifle live ammunition and two pairs of army uniforms were recovered.
She said the suspect is undergoing investigation at SARS office, Asaba and would be arraigned in court soonest.
Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti took to his Facebook page this morning to deny saying in an interview with Tribune that folks shouldn’t vote for Gen. Buhari. Seun even called out the reporter he had the interview with. Continue to see what Seun allegedly said.. From Sunday Tribune January 11th, Seun Kuti was quoted as saying…
“I will only urge Nigerians, especially her youths, to come out enmasse to elect the ruler of their choice so that Nigeria’s democracy will continue to grow. As for me though, I will never vote for Buhari because of what he did to my father. It is a personal grouse. Buhari denied me the chance of seeing my father in the early stage of my life. He arrested and detained Fela in Kirikiri for the same number of years I was growing up without a father, and even did not allow his family members to see him on a daily basis. He eventually jailed my father and I will always remember that. He jailed my innocent father on currency trafficking, but he is claiming to be a saint now. Truth is that I have no reason to give my vote to any of the two contestants, but more especially Buhari because of the eternal emotional damage he caused the Kuti family, especially me”
Cameroon’s army has said it killed 143 Boko Haram fighters, with the government saying it was the biggest defeat it had inflicted to date on the Islamist group.
The government spokesman, Issa Bakary , made the announcement on Tuesday in Yaoundé.
He said the insurgents were killed after they attacked a military camp in Kolofata, in the north of Cameroon.
The military initially said that 143 Boko Haram fighters had died in the over five hours of fighting.
Bakary said the battle ended after the army bombed the attackers, forcing them to retreat to the Nigerian border.
“However, Cameroon lost one soldier,’’ he said.
The Central African country has deployed over 1,000 troops in its Far North region, where Boko Haram members frequently enter from Nigeria to stage attacks.
Boko Haram, which wanted to create an Islamist state in Nigeria, has killed thousands of people in the country’s north east.
Photo Credit: www.voanews.com
APC Presidential candidate Gen Buhari and other party leaders visited former President Obasanjo at his home in Ota, Ogun state today a day after president Jonathan visited the former president. Obasanjo reportedly told the group;
“I am a card carrying member of another party but what is paramount in Nigeria so I wish you the best”. More pics after the cut…
Usher, 36, is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, manager and business partner Grace Miguel. The 46 year old mother of one showed off her huge engagement ring as the couple took a stroll in Miami beach recently. There are reports the couple are planning to marry this year. So what happens to Tameka and the Raymond she’s still bearing? There can’t be two Mrs Raymonds na…abi?
TubeMate YouTube Downloader is an app for downloading YouTube videos directly to your mobile phones. It allows you to have your favorite videos on your device’s or SD card to watch them whenever you want as you may not have enough mobile data to stream online.
Using the app is as simple as accessing the video that you're interested in on the "browser" that comes integrated in the app itself. TubeMate YouTube Downloader is a very easy-to- use video downloader whose main strong point is exactly that--you can have get your hands on any video in seconds.
All you have to do is:
1. Download Tubemate Youtube Downloader and Install it. Note: There are so many infected fake TubeMates app on 'Google Play' and internet. Please get TubeMate from their official site provided above for your phone safety.
2. Browse to your desired video
3. Click the Green arrow on the top right click here to view image,
4. It normally has many different resolution options adapted to the different Android devices compatible with the application.Select your desired file format (screen resolution), and Download.
The downloaded videos will be stored on your SD card by default, but you can move them around from one location to another, however which suits you best.
