American music maestro, Janet Jackson has revealed the difficulties she encountered when she converted to Islam after she married her oil rich Arab husband.
Janet, who is sister to the late legendary pop icon and music artist, Michael Jackson, was in February reported to be quitting the entertainment industry because of her new religion.
Janet who is married to Qatari Muslim billionaire, Wissam Al-Manna said that she almost committed suicide because of the restrictions and burden her new life and religion brought upon her, saying that it was not an easy transformation.
According to MTV News, she revealed that she had been deprived of everything in life as she could not listen to music, drive a car, wear designer clothes but only the ‘Black Abaya’ and could not even move outside her residential home in Doha as she was always surrounded by heavily-armed security men.
Janet said her new song ‘No Sleep’ feat J. Cole, says it all from her marriage about the difficulties involved in adapting to her new life, the stress involved in being a Muslim wife and the regrets she had due to the choices she made.
The Lagos State Governor, Oowumi Ambode has denied media reports to the effect that a kidnap attempt was made on his mother, Mrs. Christianah Ambode at her residence in Gbagada area of the State on Friday evening. The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said that it was not a true reflection of what transpired at the residence of his mother. The governor said: “whilst it is true that a commotion occurred at the residence of the Governor’s mother on the fateful day, it was however far from the truth that it was a kidnap attempt. “What really transpired was that a man parked his vehicle in front of the residence of the Governor’s mother and the security detail attached to the building asked him not to park there so as not to block the entrance. “The man who claimed to be military personnel was not in uniform as at the time of the unfortunate incident but he insisted on parking in front of the building on the ground that he was military personnel. “He then went on to invite military personnel attached to Operation MESA to beat Mrs. Ambode’s police details after he was advised not to park his vehicle outside the building. “The unfortunate part was that the newspaper rightly reported this aspect of the development in the body of the story but still claimed in the lead paragraph that it was an apparent kidnap attempt. “While we would like to put on record that the disturbance was not a kidnap attempt on the Governor’s mother as nothing untoward happened to her, we also like to caution against needless sensational journalism which could cause unnecessary panic. “At the moment, officials of the State Government are taking appropriate steps to sanction the unruly military personnel who joined their colleague to disturb public peace.” An online newspaper had claimed that heavily armed gunmen invaded the residence of the Governor’s mother and disarmed the octogenarian’s police detail in an apparent attempt to abduct her. The newspaper further reported that the unfortunate development took place at about 7:30pm, while a back-up team arrived at the scene at about8:10pm. [myad]
Good epitaph for a man who redefined boxing. But glasses are not clicked like computer mouses. When glasses come together, they clink. Congratulations for taking time off searching for junk to publish in your yellow tabloid -The Global Pilot. This tribute
You were one man who passionately pursued your beliefs Proud but not arrogant You saw everyone as a human being And could not be seen as a snub, even to the downtrodden. What you are remembered most for, is the glamour and flair you brought to the deadly game People made millions from your successful exploits in a game you lived for Because you are Muhammad Ali, you always refused to quit Today,you have bowed out gracefully at 74 We would have loved you around longer, but not in such pains and agony We remember you and celebrate you So also do we click our glasses, because that is what you wanted ‘To be remembered as the World’s greatest’
The former heavyweight champion was widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world’s best-known sportsmen, died at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, after being admitted on Thursday. He was suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson’s disease. The funeral will take place in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, his family said in a statement. Born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Ali shot to fame by winning light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, the American beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to win his first world title and became the first boxer to capture a world heavyweight title on three separate occasions. He eventually retired in 1981, having won 56 of his 61 fights. Muhammad Ali was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Sports Personality of the Century” by the BBC, Ali was noted for his pre- and post-fight talk and bold fight predictions just as much as his boxing skills inside the ring.
But he was also a civil rights campaigner and poet who transcended the bounds of sport, race and nationality. Asked how he would like to be remembered, he once said: “As a man who never sold out his people. But if that’s too much, then just a good boxer. I won’t even mind if you don’t mention how pretty I was.” Ali turned professional immediately after the Rome Olympics and rose through the heavyweight ranks, delighting crowds with his showboating, shuffling feet and lightning reflexes. British champion Henry Cooper came close to stopping Clay, as he was still known, when they met in a non-title bout in London in 1963. Cooper floored the American with a left hook, but Clay picked himself up off the canvas and won the fight in the next round when a severe cut around Cooper’s left eye forced the Englishman to retire.
Ali’s boxing career knocked down George Foreman in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” Won Olympic light-heavyweight gold in 1960 Turned professional that year and was world heavyweight champion from 1964 to 1967, 1974 to 1978 and 1978 to 1979
Had 61 professional bouts, winning 56 (37 knockouts, 19 decisions), and losing five (4 decisions, 1 retirement) In February the following year, Clay stunned the boxing world by winning his first world heavyweight title at the age of 22. He predicted he would beat Liston, who had never lost, but few believed he could do it. Yet, after six stunning rounds, Liston quit on his stool, unable to cope with his brash, young opponent. At the time of his first fight with Liston, Clay was already involved with the Nation of Islam, a religious movement whose stated goals were to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African Americans in the United States. But in contrast to the inclusive approach favoured by civil rights leaders like Dr Martin Luther King, the Nation of Islam called for separate black development and was treated by suspicion by the American public. Ali eventually converted to Islam, ditching what he perceived was his “slave name” and becoming Cassius X and then Muhammad Ali.
Tributes to Ali “It’s a sad day for life, man. I loved Muhammad Ali, he was my friend. Ali will never die. Like Martin Luther King his spirit will live on, he stood for the world.” – Don King, who promoted many of Ali’s fights, including the Rumble in the Jungle.
“Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest human beings I have ever met. No doubt he was one of the best people to have lived in this day and age. To put him as a boxer is an injustice.” – George Foreman, Ali’s friend and rival in the Rumble in the Jungle “There will never be another Muhammad Ali. The black community all around the world, black people all around the world, needed him. He was the voice for us. He’s the voice for me to be where I’m at today.” -Floyd Mayweather Jr, world champion boxer across five divisions In 1967, Ali took the momentous decision of opposing the US war in Vietnam, a move that was widely criticised by his fellow Americans. He refused to be drafted into the US military and was subsequently stripped of his world title and boxing licence. He would not fight again for nearly four years. After his conviction for refusing the draft was overturned in 1971, Ali returned to the ring and fought in three of the most iconic contests in boxing history, helping restore his reputation with the public. He was handed his first professional defeat by Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” in New York on 8 March 1971, only to regain his title with an eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) on 30 October 1974. Muhammad Ali was crowned Sportman of the Century in 1999 Ali fought Frazier for a third and final time in the Philippines on 1 October 1975, coming out on top in the “Thrilla in Manila” when Frazier failed to emerge for the 15th and final round. Six defences of his title followed before Ali lost on points to Leon Spinks in February 1978, although he regained the world title by the end of the year, avenging his defeat at the hands of the 1976 Olympic light-heavyweight champion. Ali’s career ended with one-sided defeats by Larry Holmes in 1980 and Trevor Berbick in 1981, many thinking he should have retired long before. He fought a total of 61 times as a professional, losing five times and winning 37 bouts by knockout. Soon after retiring, rumours began to circulate about the state of Ali’s health. His speech had become slurred, he shuffled and he was often drowsy. Parkinson’s Syndrome was eventually diagnosed but Ali continued to make public appearances, receiving warm welcomes wherever he travelled. He lit the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Games in London. [myad]
Crisis rocking Nigerian football reached its climax on Friday as members of the Chris Giwa faction attempted a forceful takeover of the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in Abuja.
Staff of the football governing body in Nigeria, assisted by police men drafted to keep law and order around the secretariat, however stood their ground against the invaders and drove them out.
A statement from the Media Department of the NFF Friday evening narrated how Giwa and his group launched an attack on the NFF secretariat.
“Giwa and his group, who continue to claim they have a ‘court order’ to take over the NFF, had arrived in a convoy of cars at the period that some of members of staff had gone for the Friday Jumat service. They drove into the premises around 2pm.
“Chris Giwa led Effiong Johnson, Sani Fema, Rumson Baribote, Ben Agary, Yahaya Adama, Jide Fashikun, Fatai Olayinka, Abdulazeez Mohammed and a number of thugs came to the Glass House when only a couple of management staff were around.
“Also typical of the group and the way they operate, they came 24 hours after a peace meeting by the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives, at which the House Committee members met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Giwa, and announced to the world that they were close to reaching a resolution on the ‘crisis.’
“They met the entrance door locked, and fiercely broke it down with accompanying thugs. The group swept into the office, and with the unruly cohorts, started to harass members of the Staff.
“Dr. Christian Emeruwa, the National Security Officer and special assistant to the NFF General Secretary, was pushed by one of the thugs. Members of staff in the administration department were shoved around. Tunde Aderibigbe, NFF’s coordinator of political matters and Ademola Olajire, head of communications, were punched by one of the thugs, and they responded in like manner.
“It was at this stage that members of staff decided that enough was enough. Bola Oyeyode (director of competitions), Olajire, Aderibigbe, Emeruwa and other staff joined hands and repelled the group.
“With the assistance of policemen, Giwa and group were dislodged from the Glass House.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, held separate closed door meeting with the two former Presidents: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Obasanjo, decked in white flowing big gown, known as agbada, arrived for the meeting which was held inside the President’s office at about 12.30pm while Dr. Jonathan came around eveing time.
The meeting between Buhari and Obasanjo lasted about an hour. Obasanjo did not speak with State House news men at the end of the meeting.
But a source said that the meeting centred on the outcome of Obasanjo’s recent international engagements and that he used the opportunity of the meeting to formally brief Buhari on the report of the Eminent Persons Group he presented to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Summit of Heads of States which ended in Papua, New Guinea on Wednesday.
A Presidency source who pleaded anonymity said that the meeting between between Buhari and Jonathan addressed the renewed violence in the Niger Delta by a group called the Niger Delta Avengers.
“Indeed, the two leaders met. The meeting was a private one. I believe it has to do with the militants’ attacks in the Niger Delta. The former President must have offered useful suggestions and assistance on the way out,” a source said.
Jonathan had on Wednesday returned to Nigeria after a month’s trip to the United Kingdom and Côte d’Ivoire. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that some fraudsters are all over the place now, asking for money to negotiate the release of over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, who were abducted from their school premises by members of Boko Haram in April 2014. The President made it clear that he would not fall flat for the antics of such fraudsters even though the rescue and safe return of the girls remains a top priority of his administration. Buhari, who received the Primate and Archbishops of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, said that his administration will continue to insist on a thorough authentication of the identities and bona fides of any persons or groups claiming to have custody of the girls before entering into negotiations with them. The President assured the Anglican Bishops of his steadfast commitment to the rescue of the Chibok Girls, saying that their safe return will be one of his greatest fulfillments in office as President. He also assured the clerics that the Federal Government will give maximum attention to the clean-up of Ogoniland which was launched yesterday. ‘‘We inherited the United Nations Environmental Project report from the previous administration. We decided it needed urgent attention, in spite of the economic crunch, because of our concern for the welfare and environmental comfort of the people of Ogoniland.” Earlier, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh pledged the support of the church in helping the Federal Government to achieve its objectives of improving security and the welfare of Nigerians. [myad]
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional aircraft to the Niger Delta in support of the military operations code named “OPERATION PULO SHIELD” against militancy, economic sabotage and all forms of criminalities in the South-South region of the Country.
The spokesperson of NAF, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the deployment was necessitated by the recent spate of attacks on the Nation’s oil and gas installations by the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
The additional platforms, comprising fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveillance aircraft, are intended to enhance the capability of the NAF to undertake offensive air operations and intelligence gathering in support of the surfaces forces.
Since the recent deployment, the NAF has increased air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. These include but not limited to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in Ondo State.
Meanwhile, the NAF advised members of the public not to panic at the sight of low level flying aircraft but to go about their legitimate businesses.
The NAF called on members of the public to avail it or other Security Agencies with useful information about the where about or activities of the militant group. [myad]
Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has acquired honker scorpion vehicles as part of the latest move towards coping with the dynamism of emerging security threats, especially, the war against Boko Haram.
NAF said that it is adopting the new concept of base defense to protect its air assets and critical installations, saying that besides reorganizing, retraining and re-equipping the Regiment Specialty to effectively defend NAF Bases against attacks, the Service has also employed the use of Closed Circuit Camera to provide surveillance around perimeter fences of NAF Bases while monitoring the entire Base from the Base Defence Coordination Centre.
Under the new concept, effort is geared towards expanding the Regiment Specialty to be able to take over all ground defence duties with a view to securing NAF Bases and critical assets.
A statement from NAF said that the acquisition of 10 specialized Honker Scorpion Vehicles is in furtherance of this objective by providing guards with the capacity to respond quickly to security breaches.
The vehicles possess armoured capability thus offering additional level of protection to guards. Speaking during Commissioning ceremony, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin said that the induction of the Honker vehicles will enhance the capability of NAF Regiment personnel to effectively contribute to the collective efforts at addressing the security challenges facing the nation, adding: “the procurement was a testimony of the importance the NAF attached to the protection of its critical assets and personnel.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar has reiterated that the nation and NAF in particular, cannot afford to lose its critical assets to the activities of insurgents, terrorists and militants.
Air Marshal Abubakar said that NAF is committed to adopt all necessary security measures to forestall occurrence of past mistakes.
He said that the deployment of the Honker vehicles is intended to significantly enhance the NAF Base Defence System as well as security of key and vulnerable points around the nation including the airports.
Another major advantage of the Honker vehicles is that it helps to eliminate the system hitherto in place where guards were made stationary at their guard posts. [myad]
Ecobank Nigeria has sacked over 1,040 even as the minister of labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has asked banks to stop retrenching their workers.
Top officials of the pan-African Bank confirmed that the initial list of those to be sacked was over 1,400, workers but was later reduced to “a little above 1,000.”
Ecobank spokespersons would not comment on the number of workers who were disengaged.
Ecobank Nigeria is a member of the Ecobank Group, which is present in 36 African countries. The Group employs nearly 19,000 people from 40 different countries in over 1,200 branches and offices.
The bank had earlier posted over N40 billion declines in its profit for the 2015 financial year owing to high impairment charges.
This was even as Dr. Ngige asked banks, insurance and financial institutions to stop the on-going retrenchment in the sector.
In a statement on Friday, Dr. Ngige said: “following spate of petitions and complaints from stakeholders in the banking, insurance and financial institutions, I hereby direct the suspension of the on-going retrenchment pending the outcome of the conciliatory meetings in the industry.
“This is as a result of the apprehension by my office of the various disputes in the sector in accordance and in compliance with the provisions of the labour laws of Nigeria.”
The statement said that the decision was further predicated on the fact that the continued retrenchment and redundancy by the sector were jeopardising the outcome of the reconciliatory and mediatory processes undertaken by the ministry.
“In this wise, all the retrenchments and redundancies done in the last four months and all proposed ones should be put on hold, pending the outcome of the proposed stakeholders’ summit for the banking, insurance and financial institutions’ employers and employees, slated for the first week of July 2.”
Dr. Ngige advised all parties in the interest of industrial peace and harmony to maintain the status-quo. [myad]
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