I can’t wear revealing clothes – Sasha

Rap artiste, Yetunde Alabi, popularly known as Sasha tells ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo about her fashion and style

What does fashion and style mean to you?

Style is an extension of your personality. Fashion is the vehicle that you use to express your style.

Would you say Sasha is a fashionable person?

Of course I am. I love fashion.

As much as you have your own label, do you wear other labels?

I wear other Nigerian designers. I also patronise international designers. I am a fashion lover. I like to switch things. My label is high street fashion and there are occasions that I should wear such high fashion. As long as the label looks good on me, I wear it.

Should we call you a fashion designer?

I call myself an entrepreneur since my design is a high street label.

Many pastors and imams secretly come to me to consult Ifa – Ifayemi Elebuibon

Prominent ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon in this interview with FEMI MAKINDE shares his experiences as a traditional priest

Which schools did you attend?

I did not attend any formal school. I had all my education at home. Many people erroneously believe that you can’t be educated until you go to school. I did not step into any classroom to be taught anything. I learnt Ifa at home and I learnt reading and writing also at home

How long did you spend to learn Ifa?

I started learning from my father at the age of four. My father later gave me out to another priest who taught me.  I stayed there for 10 years and six months. After that, I started learning from my father’s colleagues at different locations. I moved from Ilobu to Ede, Ibadan and Oyo to add to my knowledge of Ifa. Ifa knowledge is extended, so you continue to learn until you are dead.

Oduah: We’re shocked – Kinsmen

The kinsfolk of embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, have said they are surprised at the groundswell of public opinion running against their most prominent daughter.

The people of Akili-Ozizor in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anamba State told Saturday PUNCH that as far as they were concerned, the minister is the best thing that has happened to them.

They said she has not only regularly empowered young people and widows, the minister has built schools and churches for them. They listed some of the projects she has done for the community to include the building of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, the rehabilitation of the Josephine Oduah Secondary School and the provision of a borehole.

One of the chiefs, Boniface Osakwe, who is the Onya of Akili-Ozizor, told Saturday PUNCH that Oduah’s philanthropy extends beyond the community to the entire Ogbaru l           Local Government Area, spanning all the towns located along the lower bank of the River Niger in Anambra State.

Osakwe wondered why she was being persecuted in an office that she will leave one day.

Car scam protest: Melaye released, commends CP

The Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network, Otunba Dino Melaye who was arrested on Wednesday afternoon at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja while leading protesters against the N255 million scam perpetrated by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has been released.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday morning, the former member of the House of Representatives stated that the Commissioner of Police in FCT was very civil and exhibited professionalism in the discharge of police duties.
He said, “I was released about 5:30 pm; I was taken to the Department of Criminal Investigation, then taken back to the Commissioner of Police after keeping me for a while in the office of the Commissioner of Police (Operations).
“From there, I was moved to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (CID) and from there to the State Criminal Investigation Department; I was later transferred to CP.
“The man just said I should go. Nothing more, they didn’t ask me anything and that was all. He pleaded with me concerning the way the Area Commander treated me. I must confess that the CP in FCT was very civil and nice.”

Amazing benefits of papaya (pawpaw)

Papaya enjoys a rich history, and has been used since very long for medicinal uses in day to day life. The Mayans used to worship papaya trees and called it the “Tree of Life”. It is said to be one of the favourite fruits of Christopher Columbus.

The leaves, seeds and the milk of the papaya tree are used to cure intestinal problems and kill intestinal worms and parasites. Above all, papaya is a very delicious food that has been enjoyed lavishly by people as a part of cuisines and salads.

Health Benefits of Papaya:

•Skin & Papaya- It is great for the skin and can be used as a face pack to get its benefits. It helps to get rid of acne and skin infections as it helps to open clogged pores. The fermented flesh of papaya also called as papain helps to dissolve the dead cells, giving fresh and glowing skin as a result. It is good to cure the skin infections and wounds that don’t heal quickly.

My President, This Is My Story: Minister Of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah

The embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has written to the president to explain her side of the purchase of N255m BMW 760 cars story.

We gathered that the President on Tuesday issued query to her to explain her role in the purchase of the armoured cars. Her defence titled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NCAA OPERATIONAL VEHICLES, she wrote: “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is the statutory regulator of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Industry.

Consequently, the NCAA is charged with oversight responsibilities over all civil aviation operations in the country, including safety, security and strict compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, NCARs.

2. Towards the effective implementation of its statutory regulatory responsibilities, therefore, it is imperative that the NCAA is fully equipped with highly specialised tools and facilities, including adequate operational vehicles to cover all 22 national airports and over 400 airstrips. In keeping with standard practice, provision is therefore made annually for the replacement of obsolete, inadequate and unreliable monitoring equipment.

Police arrest Melaye, other anti-Oduah protesters

A bloody clash was on Wednesday averted at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja as members of the Anti-Corruption Network led by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Dino Melaye and a group of youths allegedly sponsored by the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah clashed during a protest against the purchase of two armoured vehicles worth N255m for the minister.

Melaye, a former member of the House of Representatives and his group were held hostage for about 50 minutes by a team of about 200 riot policemen led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya.

Melaye was arrested around 12.55pm and driven in a police Toyota Hilux Car (open roof) with registration number NPF 2128 C to the FCT Command for interrogation. This was after 28 anti-Oduah protesters had been arrested by the police.

The protesters’ offence, Odukoya said, include traffic obstruction and disturbance of public peace.

PDP crisis: Tukur begs Akpabio, Shema for funds

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, on Wednesday appealed to Godwill Akpabio and Ibrahim Shema, governors of Akwa Ibom and Katsina states respectively, to help the party source for funds.

Tukur, who spoke at the inauguration of the party’s National Finance Committee in Abuja, asked the members of the committee to move round the country and appealed to PDP supporters to donate money to the party.

While Akpabio is the chairman of the committee, Shema is the deputy chairman.

Some other members of the committee included Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, two ministers, representatives of the six geo-political zones and some members of the National Working Committee of the party.

Aviation minister to lobby Jonathan in Israel

MINISTER of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, has taken the lobby to retain her job to Israel, where she plans to see President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister, who was said to have found it difficult to see the President in Abuja since the scandal broke out, was said to have also sent many emissaries to speak with the President on the matter.

Though official sources said Oduah was in Israel to sign Bilateral services agreement on behalf of Nigeria with Israel.

It was gathered that she would use the meeting to inform the President that those mounting pressure on him to sack her were his political enemies who did not want him to contest the presidential election in 2015.

A source close to Oduah said, “The minister would use this argument to sway the President to her side.

“She would inform the President not to allow his enemies triumph over him and should also know that if those enemies succeed in pushing her out, then many of the trusted aides of the President would be the next target.”

Robbers on power bikes attack bullion van

Commercial activities at Ijora Badia, in the Apapa area of Lagos State, came to a halt on Wednesday when policemen and robbers engaged in a gun duel.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers, who had arrived Marine Bridge on several power bikes, dislodged a bullion van laden conveying a huge amount of money from its escort vehicle by opening fire at them.

It was said that the robbers started shooting sporadically into the air to scare motorists and residents, and attempted to escape with the bullion van. Their progress was said to have been slowed down by heavy traffic.

Our correspondent learnt that the Divisional Police Officer, Apapa, Usman Ndanbabo, and policemen from the Area B Command arrived at the scene after being alerted by the sound of gunfire. The robbers reportedly disembarked from the bullion van and engaged the police in a shootout.

I am not the kind of girl a man beats - Chika Ike

"Growing up as a girl. I was always known as the sweetest kid on the bloc. Before I got married, I have been through some relationships and for once no man had ever laid a finger on me. The first time it happened in my marriage I didn't understand it because I am not the type of woman a man beats but I guess there are no types. It just happens and no woman deserves it.

"As a young girl, I thought it was love or his way of expressing his emotions, [but] after every beating, he pleads, cries and says it won't happen again, once again I thought it was love and made excuses for him.

Car scandal: Security beefed up at TRACON site

Stern security operatives on Tuesday prevented journalists from gaining entry to the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria site.

TRACON is the place where the four Toyota Tundra and limousine vehicles allegedly purchased by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, were parked at the Abuja Airport.

This is coming as a senior personnel with the agency told our correspondent that the cars had nothing to do with NAMA or the ministry.

An online medium, SaharaReporters, had reported on Monday that NAMA purchased four Toyota Tundra and four stretch limousines vehicles for the minister.

It said the vehicles were in addition to two armoured cars purchased for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority at an allegedly inflated rate of N255m, a development that had sparked criticisms among Nigerians.

Jonathan leaves for Israel today

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday (today) embark on a Christian pilgrimage  to Israel.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Abati said contrary to media reports that the President would be traveling with 19 state governors and about 30,000 Nigerians, Jonathan would be accompanied by four ministers.

While describing the reports on the bogus number of entourage as a misrepresentation of facts, the presidential spokesman gave the names of those in the President’s entourage to include Senator Emmanuel Paulker; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi  Adesina; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri; and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Oduah car scandal: Angry Reps order probe

Members of  the House of Representatives on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the N255m bulletproof cars purchased for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

 In a resolution in Abuja, the lawmakers, who just reconvened after the Sallah break, gave their  Committee on Aviation one week to conduct the probe.

 The lawmakers were angry as they debated the controversial car purchase, which came under matters of urgent public importance.

The  Minority Whip,  Sampson Osagie,  an All Progressives Congress member from Edo State,  sponsored the motion.

 Leading the debate at the session presided over by the Speaker,  Aminu Tambuwal, Osagie observed that the action of the minister and the NCAA had raised doubts over the “sincerity of the Federal Government to fight corruption.”

Jonathan leaves for Israel today

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday (today) embark on a Christian pilgrimage  to Israel.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Abati said contrary to media reports that the President would be traveling with 19 state governors and about 30,000 Nigerians, Jonathan would be accompanied by four ministers.

While describing the reports on the bogus number of entourage as a misrepresentation of facts, the presidential spokesman gave the names of those in the President’s entourage to include Senator Emmanuel Paulker; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi  Adesina; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen; Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri; and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.

FG ’ll not demolish New PDP secretariat if…

The Federal Government has said it will not demolish the national secretariat of the New Peoples Democratic Party, being led by Abubakar Baraje, if the owner of the building reverts to its original plan.

It said the owner of the building must stop using it as a commercial building.

Public Relations Officer of Development Control, an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Kalu Emetu, said this in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We marked it in order for the owner to revert it to its original status. When this is done, there would be no demolition,” he said.

The FCTDA said that the building, located at No. 4, Oyi River Crescent, Maitama District in the FCT, would be demolished for violation of land use.

The Director of Development Control of the FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf, said the location of the building was meant strictly for residential purposes and that converting it to a party secretariat had violated the Abuja master plan.

Presidential fleet larger than three domestic airlines

The declining fortunes of the domestic airlines have made President Goodluck Jonathan’s 10-aircraft Presidential Air Fleet larger   than the fleets of three domestic airlines combined, investigations by our correspondent revealed on Tuesday.

The three carriers are Chanchangi, MedView, and FirstNation airlines. Chanchangi has one aircraft; Medview Airlines, three; while FirstNation has  two.

IRS Airlines, with five aircraft in its fleet, has only one that is currently operational. The four others have been sent overseas for routine maintenance for a long time now.

It can be technically assumed that the PAF is bigger than the four domestic airlines, according to industry experts.

Aerocontractors, the second largest domestic airline, which currently has about 12 aircraft in its fleet, is struggling under sundry debts like every other domestic airline.

Aviation crises: Nigerians shun domestic air travel

The crises in the aviation industry have taken a toll on activities at the domestic terminals of the Lagos airport, with airline officials lamenting low patronage in the past few days.

Some airline officials told our correspondent in confidence on Monday, that the passengers seemed to have developed apathy towards air travel, stressing that they might have become scared of flying following recent developments in the industry.

The officials confirmed that some passengers had called in to cancel earlier bookings, while most of the aircraft taking off from both the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 and the General Aviation Terminal to various destinations in the country  have had to depart with fewer passengers on board than usual.

Analysts say the development is a setback to the operators because flying with fewer passengers can make the airlines run at a loss.

NIPPs to increase power generation by 5,000MW –FG

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

The Federal Government on Monday said it expected power generation in the country to increase by 5,000 megawatts in the next few months.

It said this would be achieved with the inauguration of the National Integrated Power Projects across the country in few months from now.

For a long time, power generation in the nation had hovered around 3,500MW and 4,000MW.

During at the inauguration of the 2x60MVA 132/33KV transmission sub-station in Karu, Abuja, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the 434MW Geregu 2 power station two weeks ago in Kogi State.

He said the President also inaugurated the Omotosho 2 power plant with capacity for 500MW on Saturday, adding that the projects were increasing the quantum of generated power in the country.

Falana demands information on bulletproof cars from NCAA

LAGOS lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, on Monday asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to within seven days release information on the purchase of the two BMW bulletproof cars it bought for the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that the Managing Director of NCAA, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, was mandatorily required to release the requested information by the virtue of the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

In his letter to NCAA, Falana asked the NCAA boss to supply copies of “all the documents relating to the purchase of the cars, including budgetary approval and due process for the entire transaction”.

The letter dated October 21, 2013, was written on behalf of the activist by a lawyer in his law firm, Mr. Adedotun Isola-Osobu.

FG marks New PDP HQ for demolition

The Federal Government has, through the Federal Capital Development Authority, marked the  national secretariat of the New Peoples Democratic Party at  the Maitama District in  Abuja for demolition.

Inscriptions on the wall and the gate of the building   on 4, Oyi River Crescent, show    that it was marked on October 11, 2013.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Monday, noticed  that an agency of the FCDA, Development Control, used red ink to inscribe the demolition notice on the wall and the gate of the building.

However, an Armoured Personnel Carrier, hitherto  stationed close to the building  and  a Police Monitoring  van   have  been  removed.

Only a riot policeman was seen  moving  round the area when our correspondent visited.

However, the FCDA has unsealed the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge, where the New PDP relocated after its Oyi River Crescent office was sealed off  by the police.

ASUU to Jonathan: Begging’ll not end strike

National President, ASUU, Nasir Issa-Fagge

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has turned down President Goodluck Jonathan’s plea  for  the lecturers to  end their 114-day-old strike.

 The Chairman of ASUU at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Adegbola Akinola,  and his   University of Ibadan chapter counterpart, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye,  said university teachers would only  return to the classrooms if  the government honoured the 2009 agreement it entered into with them.

They spoke just as the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, berated the union, saying it had taken unionism to an all time low.

 But Akinola  told  journalists   during a rally staged by members of the union in Ile-Ife on Monday, that  Jonathan  needed not beg  for the strike to be called off.

Eagles’ coach, Keshi, owed 7 months salary

For Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, and the entire training crew of the national team, it has been “all work and no pay” in the past seven months. According to SuperSport’s website, Stephen Keshi is owed seven months salaries by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
It was emphatically stated that the Super Eagles trainer and members of his back room staff had not been paid salaries by the NFF since March 2013. President of the NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who was quizzed about this on Sunday confirmed the situation, but also revealed that the “hands of the federation are tied” over the issue.
“It is true that Keshi has not been paid for the past seven months but the hands of the federation are tied over this matter. It’s not as if we are hoarding this money and have refused to pay him. The NFF is in dire straits as far as financial resources are concerned. We have even had to slash the winning bonus of players of the Super Eagles from $10,000 USD to $5,000 USD as a result,” Maigari exclusively told Supersport.com.

PDP crisis: Five more govs ready to join us – Baraje

Barely one week after a court declared the parallel National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) illegal, the leadership of the group has boasted that five more governors have indicated interest to join the seven already with the group.This is coming at a time when the Baraje group has vowed to remove Alhaji Bamanga Tukur from office as national chairman of the party. Justice Elvis Chukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja had Friday last week proclaimed the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP National Working Committee, (NWC) as the authentic national leadership of the party.
Reacting to this, the group, in a statement signed by Kawu Baraje, disclosed that it would  abide by the court’s judgment but would hold a meeting this week to decide another line of action.

I only regret not practicing law when my tailors misbehave–Davida Okpara

Davida Okpara,the Creative Director  of  Davida Shirts is a law graduate who  has been making  an enduring statement  with classy and trendy shirts since  1998. The ace shirt maker has won several fashion awards. The brand boasts of an enviable network of stylish clients and her shirts appeal to individuals who want to make a statement anywhere. She was one of the designers who showcased their brands at the just concluded Native and Vogue International Fashion Show in Port Harcourt. In this interview she explains  why she is not visible in  fashion shows and other things. Excerpt:

Why are you  hardly seen in fashion shows these days?
I just have a lot of work on my hands, taking care of my customers who are my primary concern. When you have to prepare for a fashion show, it takes a lot of planning and I do not have  the   time.

Eagles not out for Italy revenge – Keshi

Nigeria  coach  Stephen Keshi  insists the  Super Eagles are not out for revenge against Italy when they clash with the Azzuri in a friendly affair in London on November 18.

Nigeria were sent packing in the second round of USA’94 World Cup after Roberto Baggio’s brace for Italy at Foxboro Stadium on July 5, 1994 made the Eagles’ early lead through Emmanuel Amunike unimportant.

And Keshi, who was an unused substitute in the encounter, says he has  since put the game behind them.

“I am not thinking of revenge at all. 1994 was a long time ago,” Keshi told supersport.com on Sunday.

“Italy have some of the best players in the world and this game will serve as a very good test for us. I am looking forward to the game.”

Nigeria  will face Jordan in a friendly game in Amman  on October 28 before playing Ethiopia in their second leg 2014  World Cup qualifying playoff  in Calabar on November 16. Keshi has since invited 28 domestic league  players for the clash.

Policeman brutalises eight-year-old daughter over witchcraft

A police sergeant from Ibiaku community, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ita Ayamba, has allegedly brutalised and abandoned his eight-year-old daughter, Goodness Ayamba over her refusal to confess to witchcraft.

Ita was said to have paraded the little girl along the village streets naked, declaring that Goodness was responsible for his retrogression in the Police Force.

A source and relative of Ita, told our correspondent in Eket on Saturday, on the condition of anonymity,

that the police sergeant tortured his daughter for several hours in an attempt to extract a confession of being a witch from her.

He said, “When he discovered that Goodness had passed out, Ita abandoned her, having hit her chest with the butt of his AK 47 Rifle.

Embattled Oduah seeks audience with Jonathan

The embattled  Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has commenced last- ditch efforts to save her job.

The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that she  had  used the last few days seeking  private audience with  President Goodluck Jonathan.

On Friday for instance, she  was sighted at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as calls by groups for her removal over  the purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation authority heightened.

The NCAA spent   a whopping $1.6m(N225m) on the two cars which market value is N36m each.

A  very reliable Presidency source, who disclosed Oduah’s visit to the Villa, said she “wanted to explain herself to the President, who like every Nigerian, was embarrassed by the media reports and the evidence of the purchase of the two cars at an outrageous sum of N225m.”

The source said, “She was here (Villa) on Friday but like you know, Mr. President was busy throughout the weekend.”

Amaechi, Oshiomhole, Okorocha shun govs meeting

Three Governors – Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Rotimi Amechi of Rivers – did not attend the South-East/South-South governors meeting held on Sunday in Enugu.

The meeting was attended by eight of the 11 governors in the two geo-political zones.

Governors who attended the meeting include Theodore Orji of Abia; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom; Liyel Imoke of Cross River; and Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta.

Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu and Peter Obi of Anambra also attended the meeting.

Senate resumes tomorrow, to probe aviation crisis

The Senate will on Tuesday resume after its sallah break to consider various contending  national issues, including the current crisis rocking the aviation industry.

The Senate  had  summoned the Minister of Aviation,  Mrs. Stella Oduah, and heads of agencies under the  ministry to appear before it in order to explain the real state of the aviation industry.

The decision was taken after the Senators exhaustively discussed a motion moved by senator Hope Uzodima from Imo West Senatorial District, who drew the attention of his colleagues to the air crash involving a 23 year-old Propeller aeroplane on the fleet of the Associated Airlines three weeks ago.

Uzodima had  expressed concern that the incident which had left families of the victims in agonies and pains, had underscored the need for the country to re-examine its aviation sector to ascertain the real causes of frequent crashes.

APC condemns alleged plot to unseat Amaechi

The All Progressive Congress on Sunday described the alleged plot to force Governor Rotimi Amaechi to resign, as a ‘’last desperate act’’ to frustrate him out of office.

The APC in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also condemned the reported plot to abduct and blackmail the governor.

Mohammed noted that the alleged plot, which was exposed by the Rivers Peoples Forum, should be taken seriously, against the background of a similar occurrence in the past and the outcry by Amaechi that his life was in danger.

The APC spokesperson said, “Anyone who thinks this alarm by the Rivers Peoples Forum is outlandish should remember what happened to the  then Anambra State governor Chris Ngige, who was abducted and rough-handled in 2003 in what is undoubtedly the most egregious violation of democratic institutions in our country’s history.”

My ordeal as a teenage mother - Stella Monye

After three decades on stage, Stella Monye is not resting on her oars. The singer who is popularly known as Samba Queen has a lot up her sleeves. She is planning to drop an album as well as organise the WHIN Concert featuring juju maestro, King Sunny Ade. Stella opened up on why she’s involved. Excerpts:
After 30 years on stage, you are coming up with a new project, WHIN. What exactly is WHIN?
WHIN means Women Help Initiative Nigeria. It is a non-governmental organization that I founded when a teenage girl abandoned her one-week-old female child in front of the gate of my house. I took up the matter and resettled mother and child. Since then, I have done programmes like 1000 Mics recruiting female singers for charity work and the HUK (Harvest of the Unique Knowledge) UP show, a monthly live show that showcased very talented female singers that did not have a break.

I run from female fans — Skales

Raoul John Njen-Njeng, popularly known as Skales, is a rapper who was discovered during the 2008 edition of Zain Tru Search talent competition and the Soundcity Blast concert in 2009.  The songwriter talks about his career

Tell us about yourself

My name is Raoul John Njeng-Njeng. I am from Edo State and fans know me as Skales.  I am a hip-hop artiste/songwriter and I was born on April 1, 1991. I studied Office Management and Technology in Lead City University.

What does your name Skales mean?

Skales is an acronym for Seek-Knowledge-Acquire-Large-Entrepreneurial-Skills.

I wear what fits — Agbani Darego

Years after winning the coveted Miss World crown, Agbani Darego remains beautiful like a gazelle, with little or no additional flesh on her slim frame.

But if you ask her how she has managed to stay so slim and beautiful through the years, the elegant former beauty queen has a simple answer: “I eat well, work out, do some yoga and generally take care of my body.”

With a smart head on her shoulders, Darego recently added ‘entrepreneur’ to her already crowded curriculum vitae with the launch of her own denim line.

But that does not make everything rosy. To the former world’s most beautiful woman, there are challenging moments which she did not allow to daunt her.

“I am human,” she says.

President will probe minister — Presidency

PUNCH - President Goodluck Jonathan will soon order relevant government agencies to investigate the purchase of two bulletproof vehicles for the Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah.

The vehicles valued at a whopping $1.6m (about N225m) were said to have been  delivered to Oduah in August by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, in an interview with our correspondent on Friday said Jonathan would not shield the minister.

Gulak, however, said the President would not take a decision on the fate of the embattled minister based on media reports.

He said Jonathan’s decision would be based on verifiable facts, which could only be achieved when relevant government agencies investigate the matter.

The presidential aide said Jonathan would not hesitate to show anybody found guilty of corruption or impunity the way out of his government.

He assured Nigerians that the President was on top of the situation.

He did not, however, disclose when the President would order the probe. He also did not name the agencies that would probe the allegation.

Gulak said, “I can assure you that President Jonathan will not shield the minister or any government official for that matter if he receives information that is true.

“In this particular instance, the reports are in the media. But media reports are not    enough to act on.

“The President is on top of the situation. He will direct appropriate authorities to investigate the matter.

“Anybody found wanting in terms of corruption or impunity, President Jonathan will not hesitate to show such person the way out of his government.

Jonathan under pressure to sack Oduah

PUNCH - President Goodluck has come under intense pressure to sack the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, over the bulletproof car scandal rocking the ministry.

The call for the minister’s removal followed the ministry’s  confirmation on Wednesday  that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority bought two bulletproof vehicles worth $1.6m (N255m) for the minister.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered on Friday that the president’s associates have told him to remove Oduah to save the reputation of his administration.

“She has to go. We have told the President that. This disgrace is too much,” one of the president’s close associates told one of our correspondents.