ACTRESS UFUOMA EJENOBOR SET TO WED BRITON

Wedding bells are chiming for Ufuoma Ejenobor. Come Friday, April 23, the actress cum model will join her British lover to say ‘I do’ at a restricted wedding ceremony scheduled to hold in Lekki, Lagos. Interestingly, the wedding date coincides with Ufuoma’s 28th birthday.
Impeccable sources close to Ufuoma revealed that her British lover, who is a top manager in a Lagos-based multinational firm, is leaving no stone unturned to make the event a talk of the town. The guy is head over heels in love with the actress.
Ufuoma who bagged a degree in French and Master’s degree in International Diplomacy from the University of Lagos , has many modeling and films to her credits. By next Friday, she would be joining the like of Kate Henshaw-Nuttal who is married to Britons.

DAVID MARK’S SON IN AUTO CRASH

Tragedy was averted last week when one of the sons of the Senate President, David Mark was said to have been involved in an accident. The young man was said to be driving in his car while returning from a party. Sources disclosed that the party was organized by one of the aides of the Senate President whose son just clocked a year. The sources disclosed that the little boy’s birthday party whose name is David, drew the presence of personalities in the corridors of power. However, we gathered that although the car was badly damaged, no life was lost.

LINDA IKEJI IS INSPIRED

Linda Ikeji has been hard at work when it comes to modeling. The publisher of Fashion, Modeling and Beauty Magazine (FM&B) is happy as everything appears to be set for the launch of her book titled “It takes you”. For her, it’s enough celebration and its dancing time because so much energy, intellect and money have been committed into it, and it is a success.
She would be playing host to scores of admirers and book lovers at the presentation of the book she describes as ‘inspirational’. The event comes up at The Palms, Lekki on April 27 & 28

DANGOTE MARKS 53RD BIRTHDAY, BUYS 7B BOMBADIER JET

Dangote has taken delivery of his new Bombardier Global Express XRS. The Aircraft would be about the third in his fleet. We gathered the aircraft landed Nigeria airspace from Canada last week just as he marked his 53rd birthday in Lagos.
The 8 seater jet which he bought for himself as a birthday gift is worth about N7billion. The journey from Canada to Nigeria was said to have taken about 9 hours
“The Global Express XRS is an improved version of the original aircraft, offering higher cruise speed, increased range, improved cabin layout and lighting. The range increase is achieved by addition of a 1,486lb (674 kg) fuel tank at the wing root. The Global Express XRS entered service in early 2006. The unit price is estimated to be $45.5 million (US).
Bombardier claims it takes 15 minutes less to fuel than the original model thanks to the improved computer systems and mechanical refinements.”
Dangote, a Kano-born commodity merchant, was listed in Forbes Richest Billionaires in the world. He is the President of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, with investments in cement, sugar, oil, banking, properties and other areas.

PROVE THAT I AM A THIEF.•IBB DARES NIGERIANS •LISTS 2011 WINNING STRATEGY•HE'S WASTIME- PROPHET

FORMER military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has challenged Nigerians, particularly his critics to prove that he is a thief.
The former military president recently made public his resolve to contest the 2011 presidential polls, following which allegation that he had explanations to make over the way he allegedly mismanaged the $12.4 billion Gulf War windfall came from some quarters against him.

Babangida, who had a chat with airport journalists at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Friday, said whoever had anything against him should be ready to prove it, saying he could not be distracted from pursuing his presidential ambition.

His words: “I am glad you said distractions. If you call me a thief and you can prove it, you know what to do, not to make noise about it, go ahead and prove it.”

The former military president, who remained unperturbed by the antics of his political detractors on his ambition to lead the country again come 2011, indicated strategies to win the forthcoming poll.

Babangida noted that he would employ the platforms, including the voting public and the political party under which platform he would be running.

He said he would fall on these options if he was unable to achieve his goal under the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The former military leader, who agreed that he touched many lives in his eight years rule across the six geo-political zones, said this would be a requisite for winning the next year’s election.

He expressed his belief in using his experience to bring Nigerians across ethnic and religious divide together as one cohesive entity by delivering the dividend of democracy.

“I believe that it is true and I have the requisite experience to make it come true,” he reiterated.

Mixed reactions have continued to greet the plans by the former leader to gun for the number one seat in the country next year with his political enemies crying foul over the ambition while his loyalists across the nation have described him as the best candidate the country requires now.

In pursuit of his ambition, the former military leader has embarked on consultations across the country to sample opinions and strategise as elections draw nearer.

The General Overseer of the Evangelical Bible Outreach Prayer Ministry International, Prophet Isa El-Buba, has implored Nigerians not to bother themselves about the political aspiration of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, saying that the hand of God was not upon him and could never rule Nigeria again.

Speaking with newsmen in Jos, Prophet El-Buba said Babangida was simply dissipating his energy and resources in vain, adding that those whom God had not chosen could not force themselves on Nigerians, as leaders, otherwise they would incur the wrath of God.

The general overseer stated that all the hardship being experienced in the country currently started as a result of his bad style of leadership, induced by high level corruption.

Said he: “The pains of Nigerians originated from Babangida through his bad economic policies. He messed up the country and institutionalised corruption. If he cannot change the phase of the country as military president with such an enormous power, there is nothing he can do in this present situation.”

“The most important thing is that God has rejected him; the hand of God is not upon him as far as 2011 presidential election is concern. He is simply dissipating his energy and resources in vain,” he said.

Prophet El-Buba said the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the acting president of Nigeria depicted that the hand of God was upon him and advised him to steer the affairs of the nation in line with the desire of the common people, adding that his commitment to pursue energy and electoral reforms was a welcome development.

According to him, his name would go down in history, if he can show full and total commitment to the sectors as one of the great leaders of Nigeria.

He added added that to achieve this, the acting president must shut his ears to those parading themselves as godfathers.

The clergyman condemned those clamouring for power to remain in the North, adding that the era where the North thought it could go it all alone as far as leadership of Nigeria was concern was over. He scaid what the nation needed now was a leader that could address the myriad of problems confronting the country.

“We the North should not think we have the monopoly of power, we cannot do it alone. It is high time we put aside the mentality that the vote of the North can make any candidate become the president of this great nation.

“All what we need as a nation is a good leader no matter where he comes from, a leader who can pursue the need of the common man,” he said.

2011: RIBADU EXPECTED ROLE

INEC CHAIRMAN OR PRESIDENCY BEING CONSIDERED

Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, maybe ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s joker in his quest to have one of his associates occupy the presidential villa next year or take charge of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was gathered that drafting Ribadu into the presidential race next year is the Plan B of the Obasanjo camp, in case the desire for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to contest in the election, owing to the zoning arrangement in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fails. Also, the other option is for him to be INEC chairman.

Jonathan had told the Cable News Network (CNN) that he had many option regarding next year’s elections. According to him, he has the option of running as somebody’s vice presidential candidate or, in the alternative, running for president, despite saying that this is not his priority at the moment.
However, sources close to Obasanjo said that realising that it could be difficult to sell the Jonathan 2011 presidency to the North, most especially, since the zone wants to also have eight years rule, as the South did between 1999 and 2007, the former President’s camp considered the option of getting somebody, who is popular, from the North, to contest for the number one seat.

It was gathered that Ribadu was considered, as the Obasanjo camp reckoned that with his popularity, garnered while he was chairman of the EFCC, he would be accepted by most Nigerians, if presented for the election.

Plan to remove his blemish
To set the tune for the option, the camp pressed for the withdrawal of charges against the former EFCC chairman before the Code of Conduct Bureau. With this done, it was learnt that the next plan is for Ribadu’s dismissal from the police to be converted to retirement. Also, the group is working to get the court to speed up the case Ribadu filed against the police, challenging his dismissal, where it is expected that the police action would be voided by the court.
Sources revealed that contrary to the belief that Jonathan wants to reappoint Ribadu as chairman of the EFCC or presidential adviser on war against corruption, the real plan is to clear whatever encumbrance may hinder the former anti-graft czar from contesting election so that if the group settles for Plan B, he would be drafted into the 2011 race.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Mohammed Adoke, had, during a visit to the EFCC recently, said that government had no plan to reappoint Ribadu as the anti-graft agency chairman. Ribadu himself, while speaking from the United States, had also said something to the effect that he was not aware of any plan for him to return to the EFCC. He had hinted that he would return to the country in May.

Ribadu expected back next month
When Ribadu returns, he would make himself visible, by what he would be saying as well as his daily activities. This is in order for him to return to public consciousness, while he awaits the greenlight for his role in 2011 elections.

It was gathered that media teams were being set up for the former EFCC chairman, with a view to managing his image boosting campaign.

The INEC option
Saturday Sun gathered that with Jonathan’s promise to ensure that the country conducts credible election next year, Ribadu may play a role in the conduct of the election. Specifically, sources close to the presidential villa said that he maybe appointed to replace Prof Maurice Iwu, whose tenure as INEC chairman will end in June.
The option to have Ribadu at INEC, it was gathered, is to have an electoral body Nigerians and the international community will have confidence in. His activities at the EFCC, it was learnt, gave the impetus that he would do well as INEC chairman.

Jonathan had hinted that there would be a shake-up at INEC during his trip to the US. He had told the CNN that the tenure of Iwu and other commissioners of INEC would end by June, by which time, he revealed, the government would review their cases on individual merit.
He had said in the interview with CNN: “On the issue of the people at INEC, I told them that, look, between now and ending of June, most of the officials at the national level – they’re called commissioners – their tenure will end, and we’re going to review them.”

He also said: “So, the issue is beyond Iwu because we must set up an electoral system and our regulations and laws that will make sure that anybody who is appointed to that office should be able to conduct acceptable elections. And that is my focus.”

Jonathan’s meeting with Ribadu
The Jonathan camp is in the know about the plans for Ribadu. This is why charges against the former police officer were withdrawn. This is also why the acting president met with him in the US, during his five-day visit.
In the meeting, Jonathan was said to have assured Ribadu of his safety in Nigeria. He also told him that he would get a role in the coming days in the country, without specifically revealing his plan.

A DAY WITH REV. GEORGE ADEGBOYE

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview one of the greatest men in Christendom; Rev. George Adegboye, the founder of the popular Rhema Chapel International. I was glad and honored to hang out with one man who has touched so many lives. The interesting thing is that his ministry touched my life in a very remarkable way while still an undergraduate. Then, anytime he visited Ibadan for special ministrations, we couldn’t get close to him because there were so many protocols to overcome. So when I got an invitation to come to Ilorin, the headquarter base of the church, to interview this man of God of high repute popularly known as “Walking Bible”, I quickly grabbed the opportunity. The trip to Ilorin was long and tiring, but I didn’t mind because I couldn’t wait to interview this man of God. And when we finally got there, Rev. George stunned me with his humble and down-to-heart personality. He is so influential, famous, yet very humble.
The interview lasted for 2 hours and he opened up on his life, ministry, marriage and success secrets. Trust him, he was so eloquent and dished out the right answers without hesitation, for each questions.
Afterwards, he treated me to a first class reception. It was really good and a very memorable experience.
I will post the full interview on this Blog soon. It’s quite interesting and revealing!!!