WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL SWAGGGBOOK BLOG: 2013

Monday, 23 September 2013

Presidency didn’t seize my diplomatic passport, says Mark

PRESIDENT of the Senate, David Mark, declared Sunday that his diplomatic passport was intact and was never seized.

It was also learnt yesterday that the diplomatic passport of House of Representatives’ Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was never seized, contrary to allegation by the Abubakar Baraje-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) splinter group.

The Baraje group Sunday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to restore the diplomatic passports of the two National Assembly presiding officers to avoid overheating the polity unnecessarily.

Mark, who spoke with The Guardian through his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbodion, stated that there was no time his diplomatic passport was seized by anybody, adding that “as I speak, the diplomatic passport is intact.”

In the House of Representatives, it was learnt that Speaker Tambuwal’s diplomatic passport has not been seized.

A member of the House, who would not want to be mentioned, said there cannot be any iota of truth in the statement that the Speaker’s diplomatic passport has been seized by the President.

“It is a common knowledge that both Senate President and House of Representatives’ Speaker are entitled to diplomatic passports. So, their passports cannot be seized, I can tell you this for fact,” he said.

A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP splinter group, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, yesterday and titled “PDP demands restoration of diplomatic passports of Mark, Tambuwal, and other lawmakers” reads in part: “We are worried about the dire implications of the reported directive by the Presidency for the withdrawal of the diplomatic passports of Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and all other members of the National Assembly.”

The Baraje group later Sunday withdrew its earlier statement following discovery that the allegation was not true.

DJ Switch wins Glo X Factor!! Takes home 24 million Naira

Globacom’s Group Executive Director, Mrs Bella Disu (right) handing over a cheque for N24million to the winner of Glo X Factor singing reality show, DJ Switch. Left is Sony Music Marketing Director, Spiro Damaskinos.

The 29-year-old geology graduate of the University of Port Harcourt and native of Udi, Enugu State, was declared winner at the grand finale of the show held at Dream Studios, Bamako Street, Omole, Lagos. She beat the two other finalists Ethel Eshun and Vicky Gomoti in the last round of voting to win Globacom’s N24 million cash prize and a recording contract with Sony Music. Continue...

Winner of the Glo X Factor singing reality show, DJ Switch (middle) flanked by Globacom’s Group Executive Director, Mrs Bella Disu (2nd right), 2nd runner-up in the show, Vicky (1st right), Glo ambassador, Chee the Voice (2nd left), and Sony Music Marketing Director, Spiro Damaskinos.

Before the announcement of the results, the expectation of audience, judges and contestants alike had built to a crescendo as everybody waited anxiously to find out who the first X Factor winner in Africa
would be.

The suspense was to last even longer as Glo ambassador from Ghana, Efya, came on stage for a wonderful performance that had the audience applauding rapturously. After her performance, X Factor host, Toolz, turned to the judges and sought to know how they felt about the night.

Reggie answered first, “I’m so excited that I brought my wife with me so we can both be excited together. It’s been a beautiful journey; I can’t wait to see who will walk away with the money.”

According to MI, “It’s been incredible. The crew, my fellow judges and the contestants have all been wonderful.”

Toolz asked Onyeka, “Who do you think will be the winner tonight?”
Onyeka answered with a smile, “I was so excited, I brought my Bible along with me. At this stage, I think the last three contestants have all won.”

Shortly afterwards, 2008 UK X Factor winner, delectable Alexandra Burke, got the hall on its feet with a resounding applause for a great performance of her hit track, Halleluyah. She was later joined on stage
by the three finalists, DJ Switch, Eshun and Vicky as they all spectacularly chorused the song together.

“Shake” and “Ada Ada” crooner, Flavour, came onstage next to thrill guests with a scintillating performance. He proved why he was a crowd favourite as the audience rose to their feet to dance along with him. After Flavour’s performance, the contestants came out to sing the songs they sang at the audition stage.

Vicky led the performances, and she got a standing ovation from the three judges. “How did your daughter perform?” Toolz inquired of Onyeka. “She has grown from a pupa to a butterfly. She sang with confidence and inner joy. I had goose pimples just listening to her. I have no doubt that she’ll make it. May God bless you.”

Reggie added, “You just proved to us that our work has not been in vain,” while MI said, “Wow, Vicky is just so amazing. You are absolutely stunning. The way you’re radiating joy; don’t keep it to yourself, please, share it with the world.”

DJ Switch came up next, garbed in a tight black trouser with black top to match. Her entry engendered a boisterous response from the crowd with her performance of Jay Z’s “Forever Young,” which was heavily
spiced up with raps. In a mild drama, the contestant switched over backwards, precariously clutching the mic as she raps. Her stagecraft even drew a wider applause when she stepped down the stage to hug hermother, while still singing without losing concentration.

Reacting to her performance, MI said, “Switch, people scream when you perform because you inspire us all. When you came for the audition, I felt you tried. I had already made up my mind that you wouldn’t make
it to my final three mentees, but you changed my mind. Everybody here needs to know that no matter what people say about you, it doesn’t matter as long as you fight.” he concluded. Reggie gushed, “DJSwitch, you are inspirational; you excite me. My children love you; everybody loves you!” As for Onyeka, she opined, “Unlike the other judges, the moment you stepped on stage, I knew you had it.”

When asked why she should win the X Factor, Switch simply said: “I work hard; I pray hard.”

Eshun was the next to perform, and she pulled out all the stops as she shimmered in her green attire. “One of the best things on this program is that I got to mentor Vicky and Eshun. She is exquisite, beautiful, gorgeous and talented. She walks onto the stage and lights it up. You have something that is very special. No matter what happens here, youhave me permanently in your camp. You will take the world by storm!” Onyeka declared.

MI said, “You are a perfect example of what this show is all about. You epitomises everything X Factor stands for. You’ve been one of my favourites.” Her Ghanaian compatriot, Reggie, said, “My story with my sister is different. We come from the same place and people expect me to give her a pass. It often seems as if I’m tough on you, but look at where you stand now. You have done well!”

On why she thinks she should win the competition, Eshun said, “The potter in the Bible goes around looking for clay to mold them into the type of pots that he wants. X Factor came looking for me; found me and I am glad. These past weeks, I have gone through moulding, and now, I’m ready.”

Then the climax! The contestants held hands together as they anticipated the results that would change the lives of one of them forever.

As Toolz invited the representative from Alexandra Forbes to the stage, she lingered a bit, teasing the audience as she twirled the green envelope containing the results in her hands.

“The first winner of the Glo X Factor West Africa is DJ Switch!” she announced as the crowd erupted in jubilation.

“How do you feel?” Toolz asked Eshum. She answered, “Fortunately, the Lord did what He wanted to do, and I’m happy for that.”

Vicky said, “I want to thank Glo for this platform, and I think DJ Switch deserved to win.”

Thereafter, DJ Switch performed her single, “Safe Landing” which is billed for release next week.

The first runner-up was Eshun and she got the sum of N1m for her efforts, while Vicky, the second runner-up, also got N1m.

Glo ambassador Omawunmi flanked by Sony Music Marketing Director, Spiro Damaskinos (left) and Duncan Irvine, CEO of Rapidblue Format.

2nd runner up in the Glo X Factor singing reality show, Vicky; 2008 winner of UK X Factor, Alexandra Burke, winner of Glo X Factor, DJ Switch, and 1st runner-up, Eshun, at the grand finale of the show in Lagos.

Winner of the Glo X Factor singing reality show, DJ Switch (middle) with 2nd runner-up, Vicky (left), 1st runner-up, Eshun (right),Globacom’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel (2nd right)
and the company’s Regional Director, Marketing Communication, West Africa, Charles Jenarius, at the grand finale of the show in Lagos.

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Saturday, 21 September 2013

May D buys N150m 6-bedroom duplex in Magodo, Lagos

According to a press release sent out by his PR people, Ekiti state born dancer turned music sensation May D recently moved into his new 6-bedroom duplex in Magodo Phase II GRA said to be worth N150million. They didn't say rented, they said bought, hence my headline. Big congrats to May D. Another photo after the cut...

Photos: Footballer Ronaldinho pays $58,000 to get his teeth fixed

After years of refusing to fix his crooked teeth, saying his fans loved his trademark grin, 2-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner (2004/ 2005) Ronaldinho has changed his mind and finally gotten it fixed. The Brazilian football superstar paid $58,000 to have his teeth realigned, and gums altered.

Rohaldinho had the procedure at an orthodontic clinic in Brazil last month but the photos and video of the surgery were only released to the public two days ago. See the before and after photos after the cut

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/09/ronaldinho-gets-his-teeth-fixed-pays-58000-to-alter-iconic-smile-video/

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Friday, 20 September 2013

ASUU STRIKE UPDATE: Strike may end next week..

ASUU STRIKE May End Next Week ::
Hope of an early resolution of the strike
embarked on by the public universities’
lecturers rises as the Vice-President Namadi
Sambo met with the leadership of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities in Abuja
on Thursday.
The meeting held behind closed doors had in
attendance the supervising Minister of
Education, Nyesom Wike and the Executive
Secretary of National Universities
Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.
The union was led by its National President,
Dr. Nasir Faggae, and two former Presidents
of ASUU; Dr. Dipo Fasina and Dr. Abdullahi
Sule-Kano.
Others at the meeting were the Vice-
Chancellors of Bayero University Kano, Prof.
Abdulrasheed Abubakar; Prof. Isaac Adewole
of the University of Ibadan; and Prof.
Muhammed Hamisu of the Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa University, Bauchi.
It was however uncertain if yesterday’s
discussion was fruitful as the two parties did
not disclose the outcome of the meeting
which lasted for two hours to journalists.
Fagge, however, told State House
Correspondents that the union would make its
position known after the National Executive
Council meeting.
Wike assured Nigerians that students would
soon return to school as government was
ready to make sure all the contending issues
were resolved as soon as possible.
But a source at the meeting, who pleaded
anonymity, however, told one of our
correspondents that going by the new offers
made by the Federal Government, the strike
might be called off within the next two weeks.
This, the source said, was because the Federal
Government had agreed to inject fund to
revitalize the university system.
“The meeting went well, the vice-president
made some new offers that were different
from what was on ground before. For
instance, the Federal Government had agreed
to start the injection of revitalisation fund
into the university system starting with
N100bn this year and N150bn in 2014 and
this will continue until the university system
is solid enough to stand.
The source, however, said that the ASUU
team promised the vice-president that the
union would make it decision on the strike
known after its NEC meeting unconfirmed
source said had been scheduled for Saturday.

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AMAZING!!!!! A Woman, 20, tortured and lynched by her family and her boyfriend beheaded in horrific honour killing!!

Gruesome: The body of one of the two honor killing victims lies under a sheet in Gharnavati village in the Indian state of Haryana

A young Indian woman was beaten to death by members of her own family and her boyfriend beheaded in an horrific honour killing after they were lured back to their village thinking were going to be allowed to marry.
Nidhi Barak, 20, a fine arts student, and Dharmender Barak, 23, who was studying at technical college, were killed last night as locals in Gharnavati village in the Indian state of Haryana watched on.
The pair had eloped to nearby Delhi on Tuesday because their families did not approve of their relationship.

But they had been lured back with promises that they would not be harmed and would finally be allowed to marry.
Miss Barak's parents and uncle have been arrested and police are now trying to trace her brother and other family members who disappeared missing since the crime.

According to police the couple were tortured for several hours at Miss Barak's home before she was beaten to death in full public view.
Dharmender Barak was beaten and his arms and legs broken, before he was beheaded. His body was allegedly dumped near his family's home at a public square in the village.
Police, who had been alerted by a villager, reportedly caught Miss Barak's family cremating her body on a pyre.
Her half-burnt body and that of Dharmender Barak have been sent for a post-mortem.
Local police chief Anil Kumar said: 'While murdering the boy they also beheaded him.
'We have arrested her father, mother and uncle and we are looking for her brother, a friend and driver of the car in which the couple were brought back to her home in Gharnavati village.
'Both belonged to the same village and the same caste. It is an honour killing but the murder was not approved by society.'

Police say they discovered the girl's parents cremating her body on a pyre. The body of the boyfriend was dumped outside his family home

India has for centuries seen killings that often target young couples who have relationships of which their families, clans or communities, particularly in traditional rural areas, disapprove.
Reasons for disapproval are numerous, but they sometimes include having relationships outside of their caste or religion.
The killings are carried out by relatives to protect the family's reputation and pride.
Police in Haryana have been conducting a campaign against honour killings in the state, where the sex-gender ratio is skewed in favour of men because of an outlawed but still existing tradition of female infanticide.
'We hold seminars and our women officers visit villages but the ultimate weapon against the scourge of honour killings is (more) education,' Kumar said.
India's Supreme Court said in 2010 that the death penalty should be given to those found guilty of honour killings, calling the crime a barbaric 'slur' on the nation.
There are no official figures on honour killings in India, but the All India Democratic Women's Association says its research shows about 1,000 such cases nationwide a year.

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Thursday, 19 September 2013

Nigerian woman Ajibola Obabiyi wins Muslim World Beauty Pageant

21 year old University of Lagos student Obabiyi Aisha Ajibola, beat 19 other beauty hopefuls to emerge Muslimah Queen 2013. Ajibola won the exclusive beauty pageant for Muslim women which took place today Wednesday September 18th in Jakarta, Indonesia. She received 25 million rupiah ($2,200) and trips to Mecca and India as prizes.

The contestants were all required to wear headscarves, covered from head to foot. They were judged on their looks, how well they recited Koranic verses and their views on Islam in the modern world, in front of an audience of mainly religious scholars and devout Muslims

This pageant was actually staged as a retort to the Miss World pageant holding in the same country. The organizers said they wanted to create an awareness within the muslim female community that there is a better form of beauty than the one being portrayed by the Miss World. They said the pageant is Islam's answer to the glamorous Miss World Pageant. Congrats to her!

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Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Man caught with 6.5kg high grade Brazillian cocaine in Lagos

32 year old Francis Bawaba, a Nigerian based in Spain was this weekend arrested by the men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 6.5kg high grade Braziillian cocaine.

Bawaba was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos as he arrived aboard an Etihad flight. NDLEA officials found 364 wraps of cocaine said to be worth N72million concealed in the luggage of the trafficker. They said he took off from Malpensa Milan and collected the drug on transit while in Abudhabi.

Bawaba told officials that he agreed to carry the drugs because of a promise of N3.3million by his handlers. "This is my first time and I was lured with N3.3million. I used to work at a construction company in Madrid but due to the Economic meltdown, it has been difficult securing a job". he said.

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Iyanya and P-Square nominated for the 2013 Soul Train Awards

P-Square got nominated for the 2013 MTV EMA and now another nomination at this year's Soul Train Awards. They nominated alongside Iyanya for the 'Best International Performance' category.

Best International Performance (CentricTV.com)
Differentology - Bunji Garlin
The Fog - Machel Montano
Next To Me - Emeli Sande
Personally - P-Square
Ur Waist – Iyanya

Kendrick Lamar leads the Soul Train Awards with six nominations, including new artist and song and album of the year; he's closely followed by Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, Miguel, Chris Brown and Tamar Braxton, with five each. The award will be taped Nov. 8 at the Orleans Arena.

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Happy birthday to 2face Idibia, see his wife's loving birthday message

Happy birthday to music superstar 2face Idibia. Wishing him many more successful and happy years ahead. Check out Annie Macaulay Idibia's loving message to him. Sweet!

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Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Fight breaks out at House of Reps as new PDP meets lawmakers

A meeting between the seven governors of the new Peoples Democratic Party faction, and members of the House of Representatives has ended after fighting broke out.

The governors, alongside the chairman of the faction, Abubakar Baraje, met first with senate president, David Mark. A follow up meeting at the House of Representatives with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, and members of the House, degenerated into chaos with supporters of the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP jeering at remarks made by Mr Baraje.

The chaos soon escalated after two members, Dagogo Peterside and Henry Ofongo, from Rivers and Bayelsa states respectively, went up against each other.

Mr. Baraje told Mr. Mark that President Goodluck Jonathan must give up his ambition for a new term. (Source: Pemium Times)

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Lagos Raises Alarm On Lagos HOMS Fraudsters

The Lagos government has said that members of the public should be on alert concerning activities of fraudsters, which has recently shifted to the Lagos State Government Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

In a statement, a website the fraudsters direct people to, to begin their subscription process was quoted as www.nigeriapropertycentre.com/blog/buying.selling/.

The fraudsters put in place false information which was ascribed to the Lagos State Government while interested individuals visit the website in question, also requesting payment to some banks.

The statement warned further that the fraudsters also have agents to sell printed forms to innocent members of the public who seek allocation of flats under the Lagos HOMS Programme.

The Lagos state government however distanced itself from such information, invitation and demands saying such individuals should be reported to the nearest Police station or Law Enforcement Agency.

The statement said on the Lagos HOMS programme, that it is yet to finalise and put into public domain the modalities for accessing the units which the government is assiduously developing housing units and sustainable mortgage scheme for, in its drive to ensure people oriented programmes and projects.

The Lagos government however assured that it will track down these suspects for prosecution while assuring that full details of the Lagos Homs programme will be presented and widely publicized at the appropriate time.

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Monday, 16 September 2013

AMAZING:Man Buys Goat For $3.46M In Saudi Arabia

A Saudi businessman is said to have sold a goat for $3.46 million for another business man who was interested in itA local newspaper, Okaz reported that the sale of the animal for 13 million Saudi riyals ($3.46 million) has caused a stir on social media.

Websites have published images of the multimillion-goat and the cheque that sealed the deal. Experts interested in goat trading said the animal had unique features and is a rare breed. Find the cheque below.

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E-X-P-O-S-E-D! RE: Jonathan Bribes PDP Governors With $12Billion. By Harry Slim Omoakhia, Benin.

I said sometime ago that the social media will be used to cause war in this country if we are not careful.
Anybody will just wake up and write nonsense on a blog or website, get people to share it and Gbam, people will swallow it hook, line and sinker without scrutiny or appeal to common sense especially if the person the news is against doesn't share same ethno-religious or political affiliations with the audience.

Yesterday a certain "activist" and a USA based Lawyer who has a standing legal tussle with the Nigerian government because he was alleged to have defrauded the Nigerian government of £1.5million, wrote on a blog that President Goodluck Jonathan gave £12billion to governors and party elders to support him and within minutes people have started sharing it and calling the president names.

When I read comments yesterday especially from supposedly "educated" people, my Hope For Nigeria dwindles.
If educated people can reason this way, what about the common man on the street. Rumour mill is now a thriving business in Nigeria and it has continue to gain profit and turnover because of the gullible masses. $12billion is approximately N2Trillion, about half of the Nigerian 2013 budget and someone said the money was given to 16 PDP governors, people have started their usual invectives.
If President Goodluck Jonathan is given $12billion to forfeit his 2015 election, I believe he will even accept it.

Let's be watchful and discourage people from spreading falsehood because nobody knows the falsehood that will cause chaos tomorrow and since news fly faster on the internet, anything can happen and lives and properties could be lost within the twinkle of an eye.

Those who have been making a mountain of the PDP crisis especially the opposition who have become the mouthpiece and defenders of Rebel PDP governors, I hope they are aware about the outcome of yesterday meeting.
Instead of concentrating on their party, the opposition was busy meddling in the affair of PDP as if they don't have anything important to do in their own party. When you state this anomaly, some people will have the guts to call you names. Anyway let's continue to watch the conundrum in Nigeria and wish it does not lead the nation to perdition

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Pics:Davido UK Tour 2013: The Hottest Concert Of The Year

If how well one performs with a live band is a test of how great of a musician they are, then everyone who performed at the Davido concert passed with flying colours.

What took place in the Indigo2 was nothing short of amazing. The crowd was buzzing with excitement from the opening act to the headliner and the performers left the crowd begging for more.

The concert could have easily been mistaken for a festival show with the amount of top class artists that graced the stage. Opening acts, the D3 Dancers, Moe Logo, Mo Eazy, Mista Silva, Lola Rae and Tillaman gave electrifying performances filled with theatrics, killer dance moves, amazingly talented dancers and a sound performance by the Empire Sounds live band each time they played their instruments.

By the time Davido hit the stage, the crowd was more than ready to feast their eyes on what they had been longing for. After a brief UK grime introduction to Lethal B’s 2003 hit song “Pow”, Davido jumped on stage to “All of you” as a rain of confetti, fireworks and fancy light work lit the stage, courtesy of Hephizbah Productions. Davido quickly reminded the sold out London crowd of his long list of hits despite his short time in the industry so far.

Giving the people an energetic show, Davido went from “Back When” to the hottest song in Nigeria right now, “Skelewu” alongside HKN members Shina Rambo and B-Red. He even included an interlude of the hottest US rap songs out right now while Wande Coal who was seated in the balcony sprayed money onto the lower standing area.

Davido did everything from pull a young lady from the crowd to serenade to pulling a young lady from the crow to twerk on stage. He was also joined by the now famous CEO Dancers as well as the D3 Dancers.

If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind that the young Nigerian superstar wouldn’t be able to deliver the goods, he shot it down the moment he had the crowd screaming his name.

From the moment he stepped on the stage to the moment the moment he took his last bow the crowd was on their feet grooving and gyrating with their hands up in the air.

Let’s not forget to give credit where it is due since the running of the how wouldn’t have been smooth sailing if not for the organisers: Smade, Cokobar, Lian Okolie of Vox Africa and CEO of Milestone Entertainment and Fatimah Morafa of Creative Sparks Media ltd.

This was most definitely the biggest, hottest and best concert (of any genre) of 2013, so far.

Written: Mariam Ajibola | Images: Michael Tubes