UNITED NATIONS HONOURS FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO WITH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Although his tenure as President of Nigeria has long been over,
Olusegun Obasanjo seems to be getting more and more international
recognition.

In June, the former President was appointed an adviser to New World
Oil and Gas plc, an AIM-listed investment company focused on investing
in and operating oil and gas assets

Now, just a few months later, he has gotten another international
recognition, this time from the United Nations.

On Sunday, in New York, the UN conferred on him the South-South Awards
for Global Leadership.

The ceremony was part of the 2nd Annual South-South Awards which took
place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel during the High-Level Segment of
the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly.

According to NAN, the 2012 South-South Award recognises, shares and
disseminates the most outstanding success stories and lessons learned
in South-South and triangular cooperation in using ICT for
development.

The selection process for the Awards is led by an internationally
recognised jury, and the Awards are organised in close cooperation
with several international organisations under the patronage of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations
World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The criteria for the nomination and selection of Award winners focus
on achievements and initiatives, which represent outstanding
contributions and advances in the use of ICT and media in advancing
the MDGs.

The Awardees include government leaders, business, ICT innovators and
practitioners, and youth leaders.

Now would you say OBJ bribed the united nations for the award or would
you say he(, obj ) is one of the outstanding ex - president of our
time ....

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TAXI DRIVER WHO RETURNED N18MILLION FORGOTTEN IN HIS CAB IN 2007 GETS N2.5MILLION REWARD FROM SEC

It might have taken 5 years, but he finally got a handsome cash reward.

In 2007, Imeh Usuah, a taxi driver at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja picked up some passengers from the Airport, two white
men, and dropped them at the Hilton Transcorp hotel in Maitama area in
Abuja. Unknown to the passengers and to him, they forgot a bag tucked
underneath the seat which contained N18million.

He returned the bag with the money still intact to them at the hotel
when he discovered it and since then, he has become some sort of
overnight celebrity. However, despite the recognition and awards he
has received for his honesty, this is the first time he will be given
such a handsome cash reward for his action.

On Tuesday 25th September, 2012, Mr Usuah emerged the winner of the
Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC), maiden Integrity Award.

Mr. Usuah, accompanied with his wife, was awarded a plaque and N2.5
million for his honesty.

He had earlier been acknowledged and commended by different groups in
the country. The 69 year-old taxi driver had received awards from the
Nigeria Network of Women and the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC). Also the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has
given him an award and $200 for his honesty.

The Director- General of SEC, Arunma Oteh, said that the award was the
commission's contributions toward the promotion, recognition and
reward for integrity.

"Usuah's exemplary act of honesty and integrity had sprinkled a burst
of refreshing dew upon the national consciousness," Premium Times
quoted her as saying.

In his response, Mr Usuah commended the commission for the gesture and
devoted the award to the "unsung honest and committed Nigerians across
the country."

Photo Credit: NAN

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I'M SATISFIED WITH TWO WIVES – BABA GBOIN

Popular  Yoruba broadcaster, Bashiru Adisa, aka Baba Gboin,  speaks to
GBENGA ADENIJI about his 30 years in the entertainment business.

Although being in the limelight means being under pressure with the
opposite sex, seasoned broadcaster and comedian, Bashiru Adisa, says
he is satisfied with his two wives and does not intend to add another
woman to them.

The comedian, who spoke with our correspondent in his office in Lagos
last Wednesday, says much is involved concerning marital affairs.

He notes, " I have two wives and children, both male and female. I
don't intend to go beyond that because a lot is involved when it comes
to family affairs."

He recalls how he got into the showbiz business in 1982 when he formed
a theatre group called Bashi Group of Jesters. But he dabbled into
broadcasting in 1990 when he was no longer able to manage the group.

He states, "I once featured on radio programmes presented by
distinguished presenters such as Tope Saidi (Omo Olofin) and the late
Gbenga Adeboye. Then Radio Lagos discovered me and gave me a programme
titled Kasun Layo.

"From there, I was at NTA 7 where Alhaji Tajudeen Kusamotu gave us a
chance on Ni Faaji Kelele. Broadcasters such as Akanni Famoye,
Sunkanmi Aremu, Akeem Enudunjuyo and myself handled the Agbedegbeyo
segment of the programme, while Abiodun Alabi (Eleti Ofe) and Kunle
Orilawo presented the Ogbero segment. I am celebrating my 30 years in
entertainment  this year."

Currently, Baba Gboin,  together with Ambrose Somide,  presents a
Yoruba entertainment show, Mini Jojo,  on African Independent
Television and Raypower.

He further says he has produced eight albums which include
Breakthrough, Born Again, Erinwo, Talent Exhibition, Gboin Loke,
Advanced Journey and Ede Wa.

On why he abandoned his degree programme at the Lagos State
University, Ojo, the broadcaster-cum-comedian says the decision was
not due to academic incompetence.

He states that having earned professional certificates from the
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Training School and the British
Broadcasting Corporation, his resolve has always been to acquire
certificates he could defend anywhere.

"I want a certificate I can defend anywhere and anytime. I don't want
a situation where I will be somewhere and another person will be
writing an examination for me," he states. The humour merchant, who
says he wanted to study Business Administration before fate ruled
otherwise, adds, "Since there is life I know there are many
opportunities out there for me academically."

He further says his spontaneity in drawing out humour in every
situation is a divine talent.

"That is why I am called Gboin – which means to be alert."

Senate's President ,David Mark said Our Infformation Minister does not think properly before He talk

Senate President David Mark is apparently very angry with the
Information Minister Labaran Maku. Senator Mark had been reacting to a
statement credited to the information minister on Senate's stand on
the introduction of the N5000 note. It will be recalled that the
Senate had advised the president to put the introduction of the new
note on hold. In response to this, the information minister had said
that the resolutions of the Senate were not binding on the Presidency.

The angry Senate President was speaking on Tuesday during a debate on
the menace of flooding in the country, and he warned that henceforth
any minister who smears the reputation of the legislature would
attract its wrath. He went as far as threatening to pass a resolution
urging President Goodluck Jonathan to sack ministers who make
unguarded statements capable of undermining the legislature.

According to Senator Mark, "Maku is a careless talker; he does not
think properly before he talks… Maku cannot educate us but we are to
educate him… The President should caution him and the President must
call his ministers to order… Next time a minister talks any how about
the Senate, we shall take a resolution that such a minister be
removed."

So, Mr Labaran Maku should be careful next time as we all know that
the majority of Nigerians are particularly against the idea of the
single N5000 note.

STUNT GONE WRONG: AMERICA’S GOT TALENT STAR BREAKS BONES, SOILS PANTS

"The Horse", real name Zac Gordon known for his nut-smashing
performances on "America's Got Talent" became famous for abusing his
testicles on TV, but was seriously injured in a stunt-gone-wrong
suffering several broken bones and a soiled pair of underpants.

Gordon said he was filming a stunt last weekend with some of his "AGT"
buddies in which he was supposed to jump from a two-story roof and
land crotch-first on a wooden plank, but he ultimately landed on a
bucket of cement that was being used to hold the wood in place.

Show's over, Gordon. Sorry.

NOLLYWOOD Surprise : Terry G Cuts Off Dreadlocks Too like Waconzy, Basket Mouth & Timaya

A new wave is sweeping across the Nigerian entertainment industry and
is catching up one by one with the big fishes. Call it coincidence or
re-branding, these guys are determined to leave you second guessing
their next move.

Timaya led the pack when he appeared without his signature dreadlock
that many fans had come to recognize him with. Then Basket Mouth in an
unexpected move, also chopped of his own dreads and while we were yet
to get over that, 'I celebrate' crooner, Waconzy even took his own
further by not onlt cutting off his dreads but also dyeing his hair
blonde.

This one should be the most surprising and who else would give us this
type of shock effect than the Akpako master himself, Terry G. The
singer was seen wearing a new look which makes him look very much like
a gentle R&B singer – yes, I know, looks don't make singers but his
persona as a weird, 'crazy' and energetic performer was sort of
attached to that old look.

HOLLYWOOD: Perry Is Billboard's Woman of the Year

Katy Perry** will take home the Woman of the Year Award at the 2012
Billboard Women in Music event on Friday, Nov. 30, in New York City,
capping off a year that's seen the pop star break chart records,
release a 3D feature film and bring her candy- colored tour all over
the world.

After launching into the mainstream with the saucy single "I Kissed a
Girl" and hit album "One of the Boys," Perry set fire to the charts
with 2010's "Teenage Dream." The record-setting
album notched five Hot 100 No. 1s, a first for an album by a female
artist, and has sold 2.5 million copies in the U.S., according to
Nielsen SoundScan. "Dream" spent over 100 weeks
in the Billboard 200.

BREAKUP : DIRTY SECRETS UNFOLD IN COURT

A grade 'A' Customary Court in Agege, Lagos, became a theatre of sorts
when a couple pleading that their marriage be dissolved presented
their case to the court. They also did what can only be described as
washing their dirty linen in the public.

Adesuwa Oluwalere, the petitioner, who lives at 18b, Kayode Joseph
St., Powerline, Oke- ira, Ogba, told the court that her husband had
made love to her in the presence of her mother. She told the court to
dissolve her 12-year-old marriage over threat to her life and frequent
beating.

According to her, "My husband had wanted to make love to me in the
presence of our children but I refused. He then beat me mercilessly to
the extent of removing one of my teeth… If my husband has money, he
won't give me and the children, he prefers to go to the club and
declare surplus and when the money is finished, he comes home to steal
my money."

She continues: "We live in one room but my husband won't wait till mid
night when our children will be asleep before drawing my pants… My
husband started going to white garment church since April and so he
brings home different colours of candle, he told me that his priest
said he should throw me out of the house… He left the church we were
both going because he accused me of going out with our pastor and I am
fed up with all of this behaviour, " she said. She then told the court
that she wanted the marriage to be dissolved and also wanted the
custody of the children.

However, in his own response, the husband, Ibukun, 39, denied some of
the allegations. His own case: "My wife flirts with different men; she
even goes to the extent of sending money and recharge cards to them
from my money… I traced her to where she was going one day and saw her
entering an hotel, the man she was going to meet had already waited
for her… She, however, told me she was going to night vigil in the
church. When she came back the next morning, I saw that her pant was
wet with sperm. So, why won't I beat her?"

"I saw a lot of love text messages on her phone, and the account
number of one of her lovers and the one she sent to him that she had
paid the money… She has denied me sex since April because she goes
about sleeping with different men, whereas I don't have a girl
friend," he said.

Also, in a rather funny twist to their story, Ibukun told the court
that if his wife was ready to reconcile with him, she had to be three
month pregnant for him: "I told her in April that I still want a
fourth child and she denied me access to herself. I am ready to take
her back if she agrees to my terms," he said.

Meanwhile, in his ruling the Court President, Mr Emmanuel Sokunle told
the couple to go back home and call their families for settlement:
"Maintain the peace while you are on reconciliation moves," he
advised. He then adjourned the case to Oct. 22, for further hearing.

BBC APOLOGIZES TO QUEEN ELIZABETH OVER PRIVATE TALK REVELATION

The BBC has apologized to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II after a
reporter revealed the monarch was "pretty upset" that British
officials had failed to arrest radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza
al-Masri.

Usually private conversations with members of Britain's royal family
remain private. But in an extraordinary breach of this convention on
BBC Radio 4, security correspondent Frank Gardner said the queen told
him she had asked a government official why Hamza remained at large
during his days as the imam of a mosque in London.

The revelation that the queen had personally lobbied a government
official over Hamza, convicted in Britain for soliciting murder and
inciting hatred in 2006, came as Gardner was discussing Hamza's
probable extradition to the U.S. on terror charges.

Speaking to Today program host James Naughtie, Gardner said:
"Actually, I can tell you that the queen was pretty upset that he was,
this man was, there was no way to arrest him.

She couldn't understand why – surely there must have been some law he
must have broken. Well in the end, sure enough there was. He was
eventually convicted and sentenced for 7 years for soliciting murder
and inciting racial hatred."

Naughtie, clearly taken aback by Gardner's revelation of a private
conversation he'd had with the queen, called the disclosure a "corker"
and said, "That's a fascinating piece of information, Frank." Gardner
replied: "Yes, I thought I'd drop that in – she told me."

Garnder said: "She spoke to the home secretary at the time and said,
'surely this man must have broken some laws, why is he still at
large?'"

The queen rarely expresses her opinions – let alone political views –
in public. Her role is to stay above politics, so Gardner's disclosure
is a rare insight into how she privately engaged with Britain's
government on a specific subject.

CNN's Royal Correspondent Max Foster says the convention for anyone
meeting the queen at a palace event is that the conversation is
private. He said: "If you accept the invitation, you accept that
anything said is off the record."

In a statement on its website, the BBC wrote: "This morning on the
Today programme our correspondent Frank Gardner revealed details of a
private conversation which took place some years ago with the Queen."

"The conversation should have remained private and the BBC and Frank
deeply regret this breach of confidence. It was wholly inappropriate.
Frank is extremely sorry for the embarrassment caused and has
apologised to the Palace."

When reached for a comment, a Buckingham Palace spokesman told CNN:
"We never comment on private conversations."

BOKO HARAM: ELECTION LOSERS SPONSORS BOKO HARAM – ORITSEJAFOR

The President of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor
Ayo Oritsejafor has debunked the claims that poverty was the major
cause for the emergence of the Boko Haram sect, that it was aggrieved
bitter persons who lost their electoral bid that are responsible for
the creation of the sect.

Saying this at the opening of a six-days meeting of the Niger Delta
Christian Leaders Forum in Calabar, Cross River State, he said
sponsors of the Islamic sect want to divide the country along the
religious line.

Boko Haram is a fundamentalist Islamic religious group created and
sponsored by selfish politicians, who want to create political space
for themselves and in the vent of failure to achieve that, resort to
dividing Nigeria along religious line, he further stated.

He said: "Boko Haram is fueled by extreme religious ideology and not
poverty because they have not come out to tell us that they are
killing people because they are poor or hungry."

Oritsejafor said the claim that Boko Haram was a creation of poverty
was a blatant lie by those sponsoring the organisation or its
apologists just to mislead Nigerians and the world.

"The leader of Boko Harm is from a very wealthy family background and
even that young man who wanted to blow up an American airline, his
father was a retired Permanent Secretary and one of the richest men in
Nigeria. The claim that the fundamentalist group was created by
poverty is a false claim by its sponsors and apologists," he said.