[img]http://1.bp..com/--3lD4QNwKM8/UnDqnqHn-hI/AAAAAAACJnY/gXoADRILFh4/s280/Bisi_alimi_funmi_Iyanda.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-E6z9CQQ4GIQ/UnDrI2W4XzI/AAAAAAACJng/uYfe3CuTbe0/s1600/1.png[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-PD90tN8_a8M/UnDrJucKLpI/AAAAAAACJno/YUumlJrxe2s/s1600/Untitled1.png[/img]
Exceptionally brilliant TV talk show host Funmi Iyanda has finally opened up about how Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) shut down her live shows after she interviewed openly gay Nigerian man, Bisi Alimi, on her popular breakfast show, New Dawn, in 2004.

I remember this story pretty well. After Bisi Alimi appeared on that show his life changed forever. He couldn't even return to UNILAG where he was a student at the time. He was forced to go into hiding and eventually relocated abroad. Read Funmi's story after the cut...


It’s a good thing my meddling mum took Musibau off his alcoholic dad just before that wretch of a father was sent to jail for raping a minor. My mother went missing a year later so I never saw Musibau again but that’s another story.

He was 15 but he looked 12, l was seven but l looked 10. People generally looked weird in my neighbourhood, but nobody thought anyone one weird – odd maybe but life was odd wasn’t it?

Musibau was the first to run into Miss John who spoke Queen’s English and walked like a girl. Everybody called him Miss John, I have no idea why. But we were interested in him because we needed to walk through his garden to climb into Baba Olugbo’s compound for the agbalumo tree.

Nobody dared walked through Baba Olugbo’s compound to get to that tree. He was a wealthy molue bus entrepreneur with seven wives, a distended, shirtless stomach, marijuana thickened growl and a fast horsewhip for clueless kids.

I had four older sisters and two younger brothers but I felt closest to Musibau perhaps because we had a shared tendency to get into trouble and a common dislike of Nureni. Nureni was crippled by childhood polio and so dragged himself around on his muscular torso except when he went to school wearing his leg braces and crutches, which made him vulnerable.

We did not like Nureni; he had a caustic tongue, a reptilian ability to wrestle you down then strangle you and was genius at maths. He was faster moving dragging himself than he was on his crutches. He hated those crutches but he really liked Mulika.

Mulika was one of the two daughters of Alhaji Abara whose two wives wore hijabs so you couldn’t tell one from the other. I of course could; Mulika’s mother was the one with the two Pelé on her cheeks, right above her haughty cheekbones. A stunning woman. I knew because I saw them in the women’s quarters every time I went to play with Mulika, who had inherited her mother’s looks.

We all loved Alhaji Abara because he had the best spread for breaking fasts at Ramadan. It didn’t matter whether you were Christian, Animist or Muslim. You could come break the fast on divine akara, even if you didn’t fast. He used to say only Allah sees the good heart. We all attended Koran classes because it was fun and then went to church on Sunday because of the music and dancing.

My mother didn’t mind us going to church and Koran classes, in fact she supplemented all that with occasional visits to seers and herbalists who read our signs and cleansed our aura. Everyone did that, even that nasty priggish Catholic Mama Uche who acted like she was the pope’s first cousin.

Miss John always pretended not to see us sneaking through his garden and jumping over Baba Olugbo’s fence to pluck some agbalumo. A few times, Baba Olugbo would see us and come running belly first, whip flaying but we always out ran him, Nureni in front and Mulika, scarf flapping, at the back.

We never got caught until the day Nureni came on those damn crutches that made him slow. Baba Olugbo caught Mulika by her scarf and I tripped over Nureni’s crutches.

We knew we were in hot soup because once Baba Olugbo finished whipping us, he’d hand us over to our respective parents each of whom would apply equal supplementary punishment. That meant my tough mother’s hour-long frog jumps, Alhaji’s half day Koran writing and Nureni’s aunty’s numbing, monotonous curses.

We didn’t mind the whipping so much, a few lashes, a couple of pain killers and we’d be back trying to get more agbalumo’s off that tree. Once you’ve been whipped, you don’t get whipped again on the same day for the same offence – even the adults had some sense.

So it was I laid on my back staring at Baba Olugbo’s protruding belly button, Nureni’s fast breathing in my ear, dreading the inevitable – when suddenly Miss John walked up.

Perhaps it was his Queen’s English or our lucky day but he gently took the whip off Baba Olugbo’s clenched wrist and laughingly told him he had asked us to get some of the ripe agablumo for him seeing as it was abundant.

Baba Olugbo did not want to look like a mingy old fart; he was after all a rich man with political ambition. He grudgingly let us go, and I swore to Nureni and Musibau later that I saw Miss John wink out of a kohl-lined eye.

I remembered this story recently when I was asked why I, as a straight celebrity, a word I dislike, I support Bisi Alimi and LGBT rights.

Nigeria of today seems completely homophobic, xenophobic and religiously polarized as though that is the way we always were.

This would be an incomplete narrative. The way we are today is a result of the political and economic breakdown of our country, a topic for another day. However the ensuing widening income gaps, extreme poverty, illiteracy and crime has encouraged distrust and exclusion at every level.

My sense of justice, fairness and rationality supersede any latent sense of social propriety. Gay rights, civil rights, religious rights, gender rights, child rights are human rights. Justice, equity and fairness are my idea of morality.

I was a little girl who grew up in the same neighbourhood as gay Miss John, Muslim cleric Alhaji Abara, disabled Nureni, Mulika in her headscarves and pious Catholic Igbo Mama Uche.

I saw differences in ethnicity; religion, gender, class and sexuality but these differences did not carry judgement. We lived together mostly harmoniously; any lack of harmony was on account of individual bad behaviour not genetic differences or lifestyle choices.

I miss that Nigeria. I guess in a way l still live in that Nigeria in my head.

And that was why in 2004 I risked my career to put Bisi on my sofa and conduct Nigeria’s first interview of an openly gay man on national television.

Bisi and I did pay a hefty price for that action, he more than myself.

Was it worth it? I’m afraid l have never had the luxury of absolute self-congratulations or flagellation. What I do know is, at that moment, it felt right. And every moment since then, it has felt right.

I do what feels right by a conscience conditioned by my justice-minded, meddling mother, a childhood experiencing the beauty of diversity and a belief in our common humanity.

Perhaps the childhood I speak about was a dream. If that is the case then that dream is my vision of the future to come for Nigeria.
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://3.bp..com/-cP-l-LSmVho/UnCI01eF33I/AAAAAAAAGWM/PxSgBlXPs10/s1600/obj.jpg[/img]
After a successful heart surgery in far away India, OJB Jezreel has been finally discharged.
The ace producer sent out a release stating that he’s well, has been discharged and will soon return to the country.

Read below:

Dear fellow Nigerians.

Greetings from far away India !I am sure this note from me will catch you with a little surprise. I have been reading a lot of news about ME being published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and different Blogs by my good friends.
I thought I must take out a quick moment and let you know that I am officially discharged today from the hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation Surgery, by God’s Grace. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for your prayers & good wishes, without which all this would not have been possible.
I also take this opportunity to thank my friends, fans and family for all the love, prayers and good wishes for a Speedy Recovery!! Be home with you soon …….
Thank you once again sincerely,
Your very own OJB Jezreel.

Source : http:///C2jqI
Visit Nigeria's Finest Celebrity News Source .. Breaking News/Gists @ http:///C2jqI

[img]http://2.bp..com/-VZwJACEQVIE/Um62PM4Sh5I/AAAAAAAAJXw/G_3BqtNuuLQ/s1600/wiz.JPG[/img]
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://2.bp..com/-641IA7jgEgI/Um5_FdC9lII/AAAAAAAACzk/I61H3Vg5KfM/s1600/Dillish-Matthews-and-Melvin-Oduah-copy1.jpg[/img]
Big Brother Africa The Chase winner Dillish Mathews finally hooked up with her lover boy Melvin Oduah in Nigeria.
They met at the Blue Velvet Marque in Abuja on Sunday night.
Dillish has been in and out of Nigeria since she was crowned the BBA reality show winner and she and Melvin looked radiant together.
Source :http:///C2jqI

On Wednesday, October 16, a day after Muslim folks celebrated Sallah, tragedy struck at Oniwaya Junction, Agege, Lagos, as a high tension cable electrocuted four people in the area.


A woman, identified as Mrs. Oluwajedalo but popularly called Iya Fathia, survived the electrocution but lost his three-year-old son, Ayomide, who ran towards her and embraced her as electric shock overtook her.
Source: http:///C2jqI

Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos
There was a minor accident on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
Continue..................

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxiing to stop at the airport’s apron when its wing collided with that of Max Air.
The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes and sources said they had been taken away for repairs.
An online newspaper said the Spokesman, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed the incident. He however said damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines were minor and that both planes had been taken away for repairs.
A similar incident occurred last year in Jos, Plateau State, when an Arik plane wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxiing to stop. There was also no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.
Culled From Punch

Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos
There was a minor accident on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
Continue..................

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxiing to stop at the airport’s apron when its wing collided with that of Max Air.
The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes and sources said they had been taken away for repairs.
An online newspaper said the Spokesman, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed the incident. He however said damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines were minor and that both planes had been taken away for repairs.
A similar incident occurred last year in Jos, Plateau State, when an Arik plane wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxiing to stop. There was also no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.
Culled From Punch
Source :http:///C2jqI

[img]http://2.bp..com/-ge3C64MIbfo/Umrtf1ywbWI/AAAAAAACJCw/zeIgRKFLxqw/s280/Jesse-Jagz-soldier.jpg[/img][img]http://2.bp..com/-IRSOg_BTQ-g/UmrtgYtrZcI/AAAAAAACJC0/cAblGZuu7AE/s400/brymo_chocolate-city_360nobs-3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-ayjhScNcAt0/Umrtgl0VEXI/AAAAAAACJC8/S-LpuxPyfQY/s1600/.01.png[/img]
Heard Jesse Jags doesn't have issues with Chocolate City because he left after his contract expired. Brymo on the other is seriously battling with the label. Meanwhile his new album, 'Merchant, Dealers & Slaves', Chocolate came out today!
Source : http:///C2jqI

At the just concluded Felabration 2013 festival, two of Nigerians famous musicians, Seyi Shay and rapper Vector decided to thrill the audience by sharing a passionate kiss on stage.

Vector was brought as a surprise guest for Seyi Shay's performance. She did the remix of one of her songs 'Irawo' and after the rapper did his verse for the song, he decided to spice things up a little.

Hmmmmm, this Vector! First it was him proposing to Chidinma, 'kedike' singer on plane and now he is sharing a kiss with Seyi Shay.

It might just be a friendly kiss, but its still a kiss...

You can check out footage of the kiss below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6GgKsXJeNzU
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://2.bp..com/-z7pEltyUQ3A/UmqAYyDZAqI/AAAAAAAACuo/ozYEENU_4jI/s1600/_DSC0444.jpg[/img]
For those who’re not aware, the First Lady of Don Jazzy-owned Mavin Records, Tiwa Savage will be getting married next month.
Tiwa Savage’s traditional wedding to her manager, Olatunji Balogun aka Tee Billz will hold on Saturday the 23rd of November 2013.
The couple recently embarked on a week-long wedding shopping trip to London but the shopping has been put on hold as Tiwa Savage stormed BBC Africa office for an interview.
On the choice of wedding dress, Tiwa Savage is a bit confused on which gown to pick.
She dropped a tweet yesterday on her state of mind:
Tiwa Savage wrote, “hmmm, decisions! decisions!!” on the photo she shared.
Tiwa Savage and her husband-to-be, Tunji Balogun branched BBC Africa Office this morning for a promotional interview with Focus on Africa.
The interview will air live on Sunday.
Below are more photos of Tiwatope and her fiance at BBC.
[img]http://1.bp..com/-bUHbsF1Er04/UmqAdfZH_pI/AAAAAAAACu4/_kGzzMQYSUs/s1600/_DSC0455.jpg[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-ssPWk-lXYYI/UmqAcrCcIeI/AAAAAAAACuw/o3nwZYkh-dE/s1600/_DSC0456.jpg[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-MdNzL8sg0LU/UmqAYBsuPJI/AAAAAAAACug/vvLnDmsibeg/s1600/_DSC0429.jpg[/img]
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://1.bp..com/-1kxjH5Tzwcs/UmfcEgLnakI/AAAAAAAAzuI/E0IXo2TH55A/s1600/gg2.png[/img][img]http://2.bp..com/-LhxuYlRLnh0/UmfcGFNIOZI/AAAAAAAAzuQ/GaTnoomH3EQ/s1600/gg1.png[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-4MhFPzIPCxo/Umfep4p_HzI/AAAAAAAAzuc/9H8_wDb79y4/s1600/+3.png[/img]
[img]http://4.bp..com/-b4U9ZAeEQCk/UmfeqY_rhaI/AAAAAAAAzug/FZFpQTfZrj8/s1600/+4.png[/img]
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://4.bp..com/-I8tIYRT-4RY/Ume_NiUKe1I/AAAAAAACItc/MSzZvRYFamw/s1600/303-Paul-Ohia.jpg[/img]
Thisday Foreign and Diplomatic Editor, Mr. Paul Ohia, was found dead yesterday October 22nd in his official car, a white Kia Optima along Marine Road, Apapa, Lagos.
According to eyewitness reports, the deceased had parked his car for several hours by the side of the road, which aroused the suspicion of passersby, prompting them to move closer to check on him. The eyewitnesses said the deceased had reclined the driver's seat and lay on it as if he was sleeping; until they opened the car doors to find out that he was motionless and lifeless.

The sympathizers who noticed the Thisday sticker on the windshield of the car called Thisday office, informing them of the tragic incident. Thisday staff and the police moved Mr. Ohia to Lagoon Hospital in Apapa where he was confirmed dead.
Although, the hospital said an autopsy would determine the actual cause of death, the medical doctor on duty said the deceased might have died of cardiac arrest. Ohia is survived by a wife and two children. May his soul rest in peace...amen. (Thisday)
Source : http:///C2jqI

Warning before you watch this video, do not try this at home LOL
This is Nollywood actress Eniola Badmus teaching people how to start an Airplane Naija style.
Watch the hilarious video below:
http://ireporterstv.co/eniola-badmus-shows-how-to-drive-an-airplane-naija-style/

[img]http://2.bp..com/-H7W7qq58fP8/Uma9Y_AxTMI/AAAAAAACIhY/VN7fmRvO3F0/s1600/Ice+Prince+4.jpg[/img][img]http://1.bp..com/-umCOZjf4I8w/Uma9Z2XwoII/AAAAAAACIhg/4vbC6gYEZQk/s1600/Ice+prince+5.jpg[/img]
Chocolate City artiste Ice Prince Zamani today announced the launch of a limited edition clothing line to commemorate the release of his second album ‘Fire of Zamani’.
Ice Prince says the presentation of his fashion line will coincide with the release of his hugely anticipated ‘Fire of Zamani’ album because the album, nicknamed FOZ ‘inspired every piece we’ll make available on the line.
Products, according to Chocolate City CEO Audu Maikori, will include T-Shirts, Snapbacks, Sneakers, Belts and Pants. The album title was inspired by Nigerian pop icon 2face Idibia. Continue..
[img]http://3.bp..com/-IOur3kyZ2_s/Uma9bYxMLmI/AAAAAAACIho/_8ApKdGyMyk/s400/Ice+Prince+1.jpg[/img][img]http://4.bp..com/-bkHf0Z_v96I/Uma9b2MkC-I/AAAAAAACIhs/M6MmzE1tWuY/s400/Ice+Prince+3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-xwe1kA_u0Oo/Uma9cVO1WmI/AAAAAAACIh0/eN7BHDtv7hY/s1600/Ice+prince+2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-5wOEWJ4OgY8/Uma9cwFLXLI/AAAAAAACIiA/NTy1PDbZSZQ/s1600/Ice+Prince+6.jpg[/img]
Fire of Zamani album cover and track list below...
[img]http://3.bp..com/-H_gEjja7qHE/Uma9dpfZLSI/AAAAAAACIiI/9-QUz3e7sUI/s1600/FOZ+Album+Cover.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-JdPB2GO3aqA/Uma9eC2AHQI/AAAAAAACIiM/FxcAv6cpfi4/s1600/FOZ+Track+listing.jpg[/img]
Source : http:///C2jqI

One of Nigeria’s most popular actors Pa Kasumu lives in a Lagos slum. We were shocked to discover that an actor of Pa Kasumu’s calibre resides in a multi-tenanted rooming apartment building, commonly referred to as ‘face-me-I-face-you.
Continue..................
No 9 Alayaki street in the densely-populated Mushin area of Lagos where Pa Kasumu lives is no different from your typical Lagos slum. It’s surprising to discover that an actor of Pa Kasumu’s calibre resides in a multi-tenanted rooming apartment building, commonly referred to as ‘face-me-I-face-you’.

‘Can you imagine I pay N150,000 every year for this apartment’, Pa Kasumu told our correspondent, referring to his one bedroom and parlour apartment. The actor’s room is in the upper part of the building where he shares a toilet and bathroom with many other occupants also living on the top floor. The building is not only dilapidated but also gross with filth and debris in and around the compound. Typical of this kind of living environment, households have to share facilities like the toilet, bathrooms and kitchen.

Nigerian Entertainment Today visited the actor on Thursday October 17 , 2013. Pa Kasumu tries to speak, but is clearly inaudible enough to overcome the loud noise coming from the speaker of a nearby mosque. His second son, Babajide Odumosu who was at home to take care of him was happy to give our correspondent an update on the events so far.

‘This environment is really not helping him’ Babajide said. ‘The doctors say he needs a lot of rest. As you can see, there is no way he will be able to get that with this noise you are hearing right now. The worst part is, there is another speaker very close to his window on his bedside’

A week ago, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola became interested in Pa Kasumu’s condition and offered to help with the treatment. Babajide told us that they had undergone the series of test like the Governor instructed and are still waiting for further instruction from the governor. ‘The Governor had asked for my father to go through series of tests. The doctors have fully examined him and have sent Governor Fashola a report. We are still waiting to for the next step.’

The actor shares this toilet and bathroom with many other occupants also living on the top floor.

Meanwhile the family told us that the Lagos State Government’s effort to ascertain the nature and extent of Pa Kasumu’s ailment has taken him to three specialist centres.

‘We were referred us to First Cardiology Consultants somewhere in Ikoyi. They did some test there and they referred us to a specialist laboratory, Mecure Diagnostic Centre in Lekki. There some more tests were done and we later proceeded to Crestview Radiology in Victoria Island. The results of the tests have been concluded and I’m sure the report would have reached the governor by now’.

From the recent tests carried out, it was discovered that the ailment is spreading to other organs in his body. ‘According to the results, not only are his heart and liver affected, his brain and sight have become slightly affected, hence his inaudibility and inability to see as well as before.’

But there is also good news. ‘The good news is that, the doctors have said that there wouldn’t necessarily be a need for a transplant or surgery’, Babajide explained. ‘He would have to undergo heavy physiotherapy and expensive medication for the rest of his life’

In 2011, news went viral that Pa Kasumu reportedly suffered from stroke, but was able to bounce back and made it to the first edition of Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) held in Lagos in March 2013.

Reacting to some of the reports that Fashola has made the N12 million donation, Pa Kasumu’s first son, Tunde Odumosu told us,‘The Governor himself has not said that he will foot the entire bill. He paid for the series of medical tests and so we as humans are just being hopeful that he will do more’

Tunde also expressed his excitement over the Governor’s interest in his father’s case. ‘We know that the Governor is a very busy man and we cannot expect him to leave other things he is doing and focus on my father’s problem. That’s why we are still keeping our options open by seeking funds from other sources and hoping that Nigerians will help’

On how much has been realised from the donations made so far, Babajide says just a little above a million. ‘A commissioner in Lagos State made quite a huge donation and a few friends of my father in the industry also made donations. I think right now, we have a little above one million Naira so far if I am not mistaken’

Visit Nigeria's Finest Celebrity News Source...Breaking News/Gists@ http:///C2jqI

[img]http://3.bp..com/-rBug8qBLDU8/UmVUpTINR1I/AAAAAAACIWs/cK4XRNQSPLY/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG[/img]
Beverly Osu was one of the special guests at the Hennessy Artistry finale on Saturday, October 19th, and joined Dbanj on stage during his performance surprising the audience while dancing and singing along enthusiastically with the popular entertainer. At one point, the Kokomaster was photographed checking out Beverly's butt on stage...lol. See more photos after the cut...
[img]http://3.bp..com/-uXv84JfrDdo/UmVUqsOf3FI/AAAAAAACIW0/LuDJnZ6Z9Ps/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG[/img]
[img]http://4.bp..com/-Edr4UBk_5gE/UmVUrQukv3I/AAAAAAACIW8/_lN0RevV_Vw/s1600/DSC_0658.JPG[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-ryorsP6Zg5E/UmVUsPcLl6I/AAAAAAACIXE/l3Tg3jU6SIs/s1600/IMG_9435.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-x0G-FCata-8/UmVUsWTisRI/AAAAAAACIXI/dwhn2i3d1Wc/s1600/IMG_9434.jpg[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-PDLfXWKOvCI/UmVWY0J5t5I/AAAAAAACIXU/QfqZD77-4qw/s1600/DSC_0665.JPG[/img]
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://2.bp..com/-IQeVyEldjn4/Ulvj2LLQe8I/AAAAAAAACdo/ilMZvwbpbvQ/s400/Graphic1.JPG[/img]
The driver of the truck you see above lost control, veered off the road and crashed his truck into the building. It happened this morning at Igbo Elerin interlocked road, close to Badagry Express road coming through from Lasu. Fortunately the shop on the ground floor wasn't opened yet when the accident occurred.
Source : http:///C2jqI

[img]http://4.bp..com/-En9IldD4nJA/UlkMrarmFhI/AAAAAAAACZQ/Gzgj2WU6QMM/s400/lilon.jpg[/img]
Creativity at its peak…lol
Source : http:///C2jqI

Stella Damasus sheds tears for World International Day of the Girl Child(Watch) >> http:///C2jqI

[img]http://1.bp..com/-lB8MEpGMzoU/TfD6gyYAJvI/AAAAAAAADnw/Kiy-IkJQF1M/s1600/.jpg[/img]

The encounter was pretty fortuitous. I had gone to a have lunch at a restaurant somewhere in Ikeja GRA, and was busy doing justice to the chilled bottle of Gulder beer, while waiting for my food to be served, when the gentleman who was addressed by the friend who had accompanied him as ‘captain’ walked into the restaurant and sat right next to me.

There was a certain air of professionalism and savoir-faire about him and soon, the journalist in me- ever curious kicked in. I wanted to initiate some conversation with him- just friendly conversation. “Are you in the armed forces, since you were addressed as ‘captain’? I had asked, trying to break the ice, Displaying a willingness to also engage me, he had answered in the negative “I am an airline captain. I fly planes” he had intoned, and considering the tragedy that had occurred last week, with the crash of The Associated Airline that was conveying the corpse of the late Ondo state Governor-Dr. Olusegun Agagu to Akure, I felt a strong push to ask the captain some pertinent questions about the state of aviation given his experience as a captain and an aviator of more than 30 years as he had told me.

As most of the readers of this column would have known, I am very particular and concerned about safety and how friendly our skies are for air travel, having last year, to the glory of God, narrowly missed the Dana Air that crashed on June, 3, and my earlier experience aboard a British Airways flight from JFK, New York, to Heathrow Airport, London, in 2005 that caught fire upon take-off, but managed to make an emergency landing that was truly miraculous.

The captain was surprisingly candid and answered all my questions without hesitation. “The state of our aviation” he had told me point-blank, “is not too encouraging. We take a lot of things for granted with safety. We cut corners on things that demand strict compliance with what obtains elsewhere. For instance, there are some aircraft parts that may have ‘timed-out’ and need to be replaced with newer versions. We sometimes allow those parts to remain because they are still functional and the newer ones are too expensive. That should not be. The manufacturers of those aircrafts were conscious of the fact that at certain point, those parts need to be changed. I have seen maintenance being carried out on aircrafts in the open space as opposed to being done in hangers- that should not be. We skirt around vital issues of safety, and that again, should not be.”

I asked the captain if he had ever been pressured by his employers to fly an aircraft that he knew was not completely airworthy, but had to be ‘managed’ to the next destination. He looked at me for almost a minute and in a very concerned tone said “yes, I have” and added rather reassuringly that “that has stopped over the years and as we speak, I will not jeopardize the safety of my passengers whose lives have been entrusted under my care.”

One area the captain harped on ceaselessly was the emotional and psychological state of our pilots and how that is very critical to the safety of passengers. He went ahead to illustrate that with a personal experience. “When I used to fly with one of the airlines (name withheld) and it was run by white guys, I remember coming to work one day and did not exhibit my normal exuberant self. The MD had invited me to his office and asked what the matter was, and I told him the truth that I had a little issue with my wife that morning at home and that I was ok. He looked me straight in the eye and said I should go home and resolve the issue and return to work in three days. In his considered opinion, I was not in the right emotional/ psychological state of mine to fly and the safety of the passengers was of utmost concern to him.

How many of our operators today pay such attention to the emotional state of our pilots? I am aware of the fact that some pilots in the employ of some our airlines are owed salaries for months. How do you expect a pilot who is struggling to pay his bills and meet some basic financial obligations to his family to be in the right frame of mind to fly? Someone once told me that airline business is not supposed to be run by black people, since we seem not to pay attention to critical issues in the industry. I refuse to buy into that notion, but I must confess certain things I have seen in the industry almost has forced me to think the guy may have been right. Look at even the simple issue of parking space at our airports. Do you know that pilots don’t have parking slots at airports allocated to them, as is the case elsewhere? A pilot who is scheduled to fly say at 8 am, may have already been stressed by the time he mounts the cockpit, having already circled around for minutes, looking for parking space for his car- that is if he does not have a driver. Such minor thing can impact negatively on the pilot’s state of mind.”

When asked how safe it is to fly within the Nigerian airspace, the captain was brutally frank “It is relatively safe, I must say. But you should fly those airlines that have been audited by foreign technical partners. Any airline that you see some expatriates fly with regularly, tells you that their employers and their embassies must have been satisfied with the auditing that those airline technical partners had carried out, because those partners will not compromise safety, neither will they cut corners unnecessarily. “

As the captain made his exit, I did an analysis on what he had just told me, and I became very afraid and angry. Why should safety in air be compromised based on the need to make profit? Why would an operator willingly put an aircraft up in the sky that he knows is not airworthy? According to sources, one of the airlines whose operational license was suspended almost had a mishap because an engine packed up on a flight from Port-Harcourt to Lagos, but thank God, the second engine was able to power the plane to landing.

I hope and pray that the regulatory agencies of the industry will put the safety of passengers first over and above all other considerations. Nigerian is adopting the best practices in so many aspects of our globalized space, and these are very heartening. We must extend same to our critical sector of aviation. Air travel is considered the safest means of transportation; it should not be a scary proposition in Nigeria.

[Source: This Day Live]

More Gist/News @ http://.com

[img]http://3.bp..com/-qgT6W_GhOU0/UlcGdYnjxII/AAAAAAACGew/uKhF8WPHFuk/s400/Yvonne-Nelson3.jpg[/img][img]http://4.bp..com/-IBxx7umdMvA/UlcGfNo8NEI/AAAAAAACGfA/sRAl6MqBDkM/s400/karen-igho1-399x600.jpg[/img]
Apparently Karen Igho is one of the many who does not believe that Yvonne Nelson was hacked. She took to twitter to tear the Ghanaian actress apart..choi! Check out her Tweets below.....
[img]http://3.bp..com/-9PGcBpU6XLs/UlcGfNIareI/AAAAAAACGfE/ir-lEQNUCeA/s1600/Screen_20131010_201718.jpg[/img][img]http://1.bp..com/-Bjf0o049VsQ/UlcGecL9vAI/AAAAAAACGe4/VDwPDzPR8NY/s1600/Screen_20131010_201738.jpg[/img]

Karen later deleted her tweets and jokingly claimed she was was also hacked. Continue...
[img]http://3.bp..com/-DX45lxtzk6U/UlcGf42euDI/AAAAAAACGfQ/9-5cXZknIMA/s1600/Untitled.png[/img]
http:///C2jqI

[img]http://3.bp..com/-EQFKc6oSceo/Ulbb-EQfQKI/AAAAAAACGcA/1UF7uJke34c/s400/yvnel2.jpg[/img]
Just a few days after Iyanya was hacked on Twitter and Facebook, hackers have turned their attention to his ex-girlfriend, actress Yvonne Nelson...and some of the crazy stuff they are tweeting from her account will crack you up. Find them below..
[img]http://3.bp..com/-PqGxeWNp_Os/UlbbsFsSDHI/AAAAAAACGbg/zQWhLnKbq54/s1600/Screen_20131010_17234.jpg[/img]
[img]http://2.bp..com/-u1a5BsSProU/UlbbsWQ9dlI/AAAAAAACGbo/ZRhlBwMkMpY/s1600/Screen_20131010_172334.jpg[/img]
[img]http://2.bp..com/-Af5IMs5qt6U/UlbbtwD6-rI/AAAAAAACGbw/U8U6jxHRrU8/s1600/Screen_20131010_172942.jpg[/img]
[img]http://2.bp..com/-i2E9xMgdjkA/UlbbweROpbI/AAAAAAACGb4/Kb8PFS0NuXU/s1600/Screen_20131010_172344.jpg[/img]
Hackers stop! Lol. See more Tweets after the cut...
[img]http://3.bp..com/-Vim0Ll4G_Pg/UlbedzPXtsI/AAAAAAACGcM/n8tYSj5krd0/s1600/Screen_20131010_175957.jpg[/img]
And Karen took it personal...lol

[img]http://1.bp..com/-wADuDwjUJG8/Ulbi3p2prAI/AAAAAAACGcY/q6IYIKu1OGU/s1600/Screen_20131010_181032.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-GEdmuL5CH8E/Ulbi4WLjgjI/AAAAAAACGcg/0kDmodlVOgs/s1600/photo+%281%29.png[/img]
Checkout more entertainment gist/news @ http:///C2jqI

[img]http://4.bp..com/-4Rfh069OsRE/UlWkU6YOuOI/AAAAAAAACWA/GmUdJYer47c/s400/rukky6.jpg[/img]
[img]http://3.bp..com/-11IbZycMMxU/UlWj0r26UPI/AAAAAAAACV4/y1HzMH6pY64/s1600/rukky+sandra.png[/img]
Ooops you know she just released her new movie..Keeping my man..Someone must have insulted the movie..Lol
http:///C2jqI

[img]http://3.bp..com/--R-VWwLthTw/UlWV4RNO0iI/AAAAAAAAp1w/VIsXQNYuOps/s1600/Untitled.png[/img]
Rihanna decided to pay homage to New Zealand where she just wrapped up one leg of her Diamonds World tour. She got a permanent traditional Maori tattoo inked on her right hand.
This tattoo is very painful because modern tattoos are usually completed using a needle machine while the traditional Ta Moko tattoos use a chisel, ink pigment and a mallet.

See the end result below
[img]http://2.bp..com/-xr0sMIWfv3A/UlWULbv5RqI/AAAAAAAAp1U/3190kJAmAEw/s640/tarr.jpg[/img]
[img]http://4.bp..com/-PNrMXNBMRM4/UlWXc3cazDI/AAAAAAAAp18/JqVXv7SdUTs/s1600/Untitled.png[/img]
Checkout More Celebrity gist @ http:///C2jqI

[img]http://1.bp..com/-e2QCECxRTfc/UlVQRjK514I/AAAAAAAAe0s/eSzp8rHLhSc/s1600/76f3841a30cd11e39d9c22000ab69be4_7.jpg[/img]
Hot Or Not?
http:///C2jqI

[img]http://1.bp..com/-FhGdhmER5T0/UlUwV7gpdBI/AAAAAAAACT4/Snzlv7qScak/s400/yvonne-nelson-iyanya.jpg[/img]
It is apparent that Ghanaian star actress, Yvonne Nelson, is still very bitter over her split with Nigerian singer, Iyanya Mbuk. The Nollywood actress is not in a hurry to forgive the ‘Kukere’ crooner for hurting her after she spent over 8 months of her life dating him, giving him her ‘waist’ and love. She is angry that after all she did for him, Iyanya still had the heart to leave her. The distraught Yvonne further said that her ex-lover will not end well if he continues breaking ladies’ hearts. “Iyanya needs to be more honest and be a man of his words. It’s not good if he keeps taking advantage of women. My mum always says any man who takes advantage of women won’t end up well. It’s called Karma; it’s going to come back to you. He will not end well,” the heart-broken Yvonne said. She further advised the ‘Your Waist’ singer to “treat women fairly and be an honest person.”
http://.com

[img]http://3.bp..com/-zvxU6XA4EQ8/UlSaEVGvEBI/AAAAAAAAews/AXCy5Xx8rRA/s1600/1.jpg[/img]
The Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, yesterday Tuesday hit back at Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, describing him as an ignorant individual, who “should hide his head in shame.” after he said it was wrong for the minister to tell Nigerians that ‘’accidents are inevitable’’ and that they were ‘’acts of God.”
Oduah said:

“I have huge sympathy for them, the ignorant people in particular. Because when you speak out of context, when you speak under the influence of whatever it is you are under, you speak incorrectly and you mislead innocent Nigerians and that is what he has done. And he really should hide his head in shame.”


Fani-Kayode, while reacting to Oduah’s comments about him, asked the minister to grow up and stop being petty.
He said:

My advice and counsel to her is to grow up and stop being petty. She is meant to talk like someone who befits her office and not like a market woman or a fish wife.

I do not like joining issues with women publicly which is why I was very gentle with her in my essay though I made my point.

But this particular woman is endangering the lives of our people with her incompetence and insensitivity and we cannot just keep quiet.

This is a woman under whose watch almost 200 people have been killed as Aviation Minister and instead of focusing on how to save lives her obsession has become smearing and abusing Femi Fani-Kayode.

This is a woman who thinks more about how her headscarf looks, her jewelry and the jewelry of others more than she does about protecting Nigerian air travellers,”.

Fani added that if anyone should bury his/her head in shame it should be the minister and not him.
http://unbukkieblog..com/

im Patch is an artist from Australia, whose nickname is Prickasso. The Australian gained a worldwide recognition as he uses his pénís instead of a paintbrush to create pictures!
The artist became popular after exhibiting on 10th Annual Sexexpo Show back in 2006. Tim presented his pictures and declared himself as the founder of a new genre – pénís-art.

Since then Tim Patch has really became a master of such an unconventional painting technique. More pictures after cut:


It's really symbolic that Prickasso, who uses his child-making órgán, therefore gives birth to new pictures.

Tim Patch admits that he is more interested in drawing women’s portraits. Politicians celebrities and nature have a lower priority in his works.

It’s hard to imagine how these ladies feel, as they see a nakéd man is just several meters away from them




Stay updated!Kindly Download Allgist Blackberry App on Blackberry world ( search for allgist) OR http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/37099905

[img]http://3.bp..com/-w23_QK8DcpA/UkLwHmgBAEI/AAAAAAACD1Q/lB1LylOveMQ/s1600/diddyandnickiminaj.jpg[/img]
Diddy tops this year’s Forbes list of hip-hop’s top earners, pulling in $50m over the past 12 months - June 2012 - 2013. See the top 20 highest paid hip-hop artists below...

1.Diddy - $50million
2. Jay Z - $43million
3. Dr Dre - $40million
4. Nicki Minaj - $29million
5. Birdman - $21million
6. Kanye West - $20million
7. Lil Wayne - $16 million
8. Wiz Khalifa - $14million
9. Ludacris - $12 million
10. Pitbull - $11million
Continue...



11. Drake - $10.5million
12. Snoop Lion - $10million
12. Eminen - $10 million
14. Kendrink Lamar - $9million
14. Pharrel Williams - $9million
14. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis $9 million, tie
17. Swizz Beatz - $8.5million
18. Tech N9ne - $7.5 million
19. 50cent - $7million
20. Lil Jon - $6million
20. Rick Ross - $6million
20. Mac Miller - $6 million
20. Young Jeezy - $6 million
20. Questlove - $6 million

So wait Nas, 2 Chainz, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky etc didn't make up to $6million in a year?
http://www.facebook.com/allgistblogspot

[img]http://1.bp..com/--rBggeka7bs/UkF5EonUW1I/AAAAAAAAxmE/IReg7AXJccI/s400/gen.png[/img]
Can you?
Like This Page http://www.facebook.com/allgistblogspot For Latest Hot Gist

[img]http://4.bp..com/-OcpbfLd_bS8/UkFI_QJteJI/AAAAAAAABrY/WyhTAGuZS1g/s1600/11.jpg[/img]
2face & Annie Idibia are expecting their second child together and I have exclusive photos of Annie's baby bump. Pregnant Annie was spotted at the 2face Peace Awards which held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja last Saturday September 21. Annie is said to be about 5 months pregnant. Big congrats to them. See more photos after the cut..
[img]http://3.bp..com/-3ETkta0OU_o/UkFI_rNQqdI/AAAAAAAABrk/QG8ZWOcc_qY/s1600/1111.jpg[/img]
[img]http://1.bp..com/-zc45okiou_g/UkFI_axAjVI/AAAAAAAABrc/XZojpsLZg0Y/s1600/1112.jpg[/img]
More Hot Gist @ http://www.facebook.com/allgistblogspot

[img]http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L3VzZTIzLnBuZ3w3ODA=[/img]
As the 2nd year remembrance of late Biafra leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odemegwu-Ojukwu, comes up in a few weeks, his widow, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu is still mourning him. As she told an interviewer sometime back: “It will be contradictory to say that
one has ‘finished mourning.’ You can never finish mourning such a man because he is irreplaceable. Yes, the external, the mourning attire can go, but it’s still a very raw pain and it’s a wound that will take quite some time to heal.

Because it’s not just a function of missing him, there were so many aspects that he dominated. He was like glue. He was like a stabilising factor. He had an answer to anything. Any challenge that you are faced with, he could almost dissect and give you a sensible way forward and he was very accommodating of other people’s views. He didn’t believe he had a monopoly of wisdom.

These are the qualities that very few people possess. These are the qualities that he will be remembered for a long time.

He was a wonderful father to our children and did most things that a lot of fathers didn’t have time to do. Even days when he didn’t feel too well and I am going to their school to visit them, he would always want to go and personally buy gifts for them on their birthdays. He would sit with them, tell them stories, teach them songs, he would come down to their level and he was always worried about their welfare. He was a gentle giant. He was good with the kids and they miss him, I’m sure, even more”.

http://allgisttest..com

[img]http://1.bp..com/-6FyTucOhA9A/UkEMe-pv0pI/AAAAAAAABpI/RrZCmmAypwQ/s400/anotherback-540x304.jpg[/img]
Say goodbye to Blackberry. Well we can say goodbye officially considering we all have known this was coming for quite some time. Not to mention the earnings report last week showing nearly $1 billion in loss, things weren’t looking too good. Just hitting the wires is news that BlackBerry has been acquired by a Canadian Financial company for the tune of $4.7 billion.


Fairfax Financial, which is a company in Canada that specialized in insurance, has reportedly just agreed to purchase the company at $9 per share, coming in at around $4.7 billion US dollars. The company deals with lots of financials, and engages in property, casualty, and life insurance and reinsurance, investment management, and insurance claims management. At least according to their own webpage. This is a major shock, as we all thought another mobile or electronic company would snatch them up
Personally, we were hoping someone like Lenovo would acquire BlackBerry to help with their Android smartphone and tablet aspirations, but clearly that won’t be happening now. After multiple failed promises, getting complacent and showing up late to the smartphone game, and other things we’re sure you all know, BlackBerry has struggled. Here’s to a new chapter. Whatever that may be.

Shares have been halted for the company, and they will resume at 2:00 PM according to statements from media, and earlier they were already down 5 points on the day. We’ve learned Fairfax was already Blackberry’s largest shareholder, but that’s all we know at the moment. This news has just hit the wires and we’ll be learning more soon enough. This also means those rumors on why BBM for Android didn’t launch on Sunday were just excuses, and they were simply waiting for this deal to be finalized. Now we’ll have to wonder if they’ll ever release the app. Stay tuned.
More Hot Gist @ http://allgisttest..com