Tributes galore as body of Dora Akunyili arrives Anambra

.Gowon, Mrs. Obasanjo, others in attendance

…As rain maker relation vows to disrupt burial today in Agulu

Awka — IT was eulogies galore, yesterday, at the Women Development Centre, Awka, as people and government of Anambra State received the body of the late former Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili

This came as Chief Fredrick Dike, an acclaimed weather controller from Ifiteani village, Agulu, and a kinsman of Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband to late Dora Akunyili, vowed to use his mystical powers to disrupt the burial ceremony today
Among those that graced the ceremony included the former head of state, General Yakubu Gown and his wife, wife of the former president, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, Governor Willie Obiano and members of his cabinet and the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh.

In his tribute, General Gowon described Dora as a great gift to Nigeria, as she devoted herself to the service of her fatherland in all the positions she found herself.
Also speaking, Governor Willie Obiano said Akunyili used her God–given talent to work for her country, explaining that in view of what she stood for Anambra, he had concluded plans to make her an ambassador plenipotentiary for the state before her demise.

To the national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, Dora’s deeds spoke for her, adding that her demise was a great loss to the country.
He said that but for the 180 days constitutional provision that ended the election tribunal, Dora could have been in the Senate because she won that election.

Colossus
In an emotion –laden voice, the wife of Governor Obiano, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano described her as a colossus among men.
Amidst intermittent sobs,   Mrs. Obiano said: “In public service, Dora endeared herself to the people and gave hope to the hopeless.

“Even in her traumatic moment, she radiated hope. I will never forget her motherly advice and I am eloquently grateful for making herself a shining example. She was a woman who never wanted to shine alone as she always wanted stars around her.
“Professor Akunyili had promised to package me the way Anambra people will be proud of and while she lived, she encouraged me and that is what is guiding me now.”

Also speaking, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo went down memory lane to describe how she endeared herself to former President Obasanjo through her good deeds.
She said: “Dora was a role model and a legend who cannot be forgotten easily. She was an open–minded woman who staked her neck to save many lives. We remember that a bullet fired at her removed her head tie, but did not remove her head. If the bullet had removed her head, the nation would have lost all that she did for Nigerians.

“When people were putting chalk into capsules as drugs, Dora stepped in as the Director General of NAFDAC and stopped all that.”
Dora’s colleague at the National Conference, Mrs. Josephine Anenih said when people saw her at the conference, many of them started crying. But Dora told them not to cry for her as she was prepared to serve her country in that confab.

She said that even as frail as Dora looked, her voice was very strong and she made all the Igbo delegates proud.
According to her, the people Dora fought against at NAFDAC are murderers in the name of drug business.
Akunyili will be buried today at her hometown, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government area of Anambra State.

Meanwhile, Chief Fredrick Dike, an acclaimed weather controller from Ifiteani village, Agulu, Anambra State and a kinsman of Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of late Dora Akunyili, yesterday, vowed to use his mystical powers to disrupt the burial ceremony today.

Dike explained in an interview that Dora’s husband and other stakeholders, including  former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, his Special Adviser on Parks and Markets, Chief Sylvester Nwaobulor, among others, went behind him to meet other rain makers in the town and its environs without recognising him as number one rain maker in Anambra State.

He boasted:  “Dora herself is also my wife and we are all sharing in the pain of her death, but since they sidelined me in controlling the weather, they will see rainfall tomorrow (That is today) and throughout the week unless they do the needful.
“Let it also be on record that I am not insisting on loosening the heaven tomorrow because I was not consulted, but because they went to see other rain  makers with lots of gift items to control the weather which they know I can do without charging anything. We shall test powers tomorrow.”

The traditional medicine practitioner also alleged that some of his kinsmen were hitherto withholding a national award given him by President Goodluck Jonathan, warning that those in custody of the award to make it available to him before it would be too late.
“I was told that Mr. President gave me an award, but some people are still with it and I want to use this opportunity to let Mr. President know that I’m yet to get the award,” he said

Don’t blame me if my clothes do not cover my boobs - Yvonne Jegede

Yvonne Jegede, one of the girls that featured in Tuface Idibia’s “African Queen” video made a stunning comeback to acting after several years of being away from the industry.

Since her return two years, she has been inundated with movie scripts that have kept her very busy. In this interview, she recounts the story of her journey into Nollywood and her personal life.

Since you came back to acting after years of being away,  how many films have you featured in so far?

You know I have been away for five years. I returned to the country in 2012, after my studies abroad. From 2012 till date, I have featured in about eight to ten films.

I travelled to America for further studies immediately after featuring in 2face’s “African Queen” video. I studied International Relations in a University in Cyprus.

Why didn’t you study Theater Arts?

A lot of people have asked this question. But I think I just wanted to study something outside of what I am used to, so that, I can broaden my mind.

Your name has become a household name in Nigeria. What would you say is the secret?

I cannot tell you what the secret is. But I am just doing what I know  how to do best. I leave the rest to God. He has been the one who has  lifted me up and I am very grateful to Him.

Aside, acting, what else do you think you can do better?

I am solely into acting for now, trying to reach a level where I can now live and divert into so many other things.

At the moment, I am trying to stablise myself in the industry having been away for a long time. I want to get used to the new Nollywood that is quite different from the one I left behind several years ago.

You said, new Nollywood? What’s new about the industry?

Before I left the country for America, there were certain set of practitioners in the industry. But today, the story has change. We now have new faces, who have genuine love for the industry.

People who have so much talents that they want to explore. It is very interesting to have such people in the industry. It more challenging now because, everybody is bringing something new in the industry. The stories are changing and they are becoming more diversified.

So, how do you intend to find your place again in the industry?

The people are not my business. I am just here to work.  I just want to put heads together with whoever I come across. Give me what you have, and I bring what I have on the table.

What can you not do without as a very pretty girl?

My eye pack because I love my eyes. I always like to make my lips look good. For the accessories, I can not do without my golden wrist watch. I wear it anywhere I go every day  because it gives me good luck. I like big things and that’s why I have to get a big wrist watch.

What does love mean to you?

I am a lover of love. I love to love. I love to be emotional.Love is  something that I appreciate a lot. Trust me, I am a good lover. I love my fans, my folks, I love the people that matters to me. I love to have people around me.

What is an ideal man to you?

I don’t even know what it is any more. But I think people at different ages have different perspection in respect of what an ideal man is. He should be  more intelligent than myself.

I need somebody I can learn from him. He should also be able to take care of himself.  That’s  an ideal man for me. He should not be ugly.

Which part of you body do you think is your selling point?

I think it is my brain. Talking about the physical things that attracts men to me, it depends. Some people say, it’s my eyes, others prefer  my lips and my boobs. So, I do not know. When I love into the mirror, I love everything about myself.

How was your growing up like?

While growing up, I wanted to be a beauty queen. I just like getting attention. I was the first child. For the first five years of my life, I have the whole attention in the world. I am so used to  people coming around me. As a child, I got everything I needed.

Tell us about your evolution into Nollywood?

As a child, I never dreamed  of going into acting.  I loved modeling, and how paparazzis run after models. I never had acting in mind until I met Charles Novia.

When I saw him somewhere in Surulere, I was like; is this Charles Novia! And he turned around and looked at me and said, do I know you? I replied him, saying I saw you on the television yesterday .

He quickly asked me if I  wanted  to become an actress? I replied in the affirmative. He later gave me his call card  and invited me for an audition the following day.

That was it. While I was still working on the set with Charles Novia, Uzodimma saw me and insisted taht he would  feature me in his music video. The next day, I featured in the African queen video. That was how I started my acting career.

Who are the actresses you look up to?

I love Genevieve Nnaji. I am also a fan of Omoni Oboli, and many others.

Recently you featured in the music video of Sound Sutan. Do you have passion for dancing?

Sound Sultan is  a big brother. He called  me and said, I am shooting my music video. Can you come around and give me your support.  When I got there, I ended up featuring in the video. This is the third time, I would be featuring in a music video. I featured in African Queen video, Ego and now, Sound Sutan’s video.

Does that mean you are a dancer?

I am not a dancer. I am not a video vixien. I can go and sit down and have a class cup and champagne. That is different from dancing. I am not a dancer.

What will you say fame has robbed you of?

The good and the bad. Good, in the sense that I can walk into anywhere and get favour ,especially in the banking hall. Sometimes, I would be standing in the quene and somebody would walk up to me and asked me how much do you want?

And the person would help me to make it faster. But the ugly thing is that, you will not live your life the way  you would want to.

You attacked  Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson on your twitter handle last year. What triggered off the attack?

I am not going to comment on it. Everybody took side with Yvonne Nelson, including my friends. So,  I am  not going to say anything about it. The whole world was against me. I read the negative reactions of Nigerians online. I was not expecting anything less. Even my own friends who never had any encounter with Yvonne Nelson took side with her.

You have a penchant for revealing some part of your body, may be your boobs. What happened today?

Well, it depends on the clothes. I have big boobs, so, if the clothes are not big enough to cover my boobs  you would  not blame me for that. I am not the person who made my clothes . I just put the clothes on.

You have passion for revealing some part of your body?

It depends on my mood. If I want to expose my back, I will do that. It goes with my mood.

Is it true that you dated 2face?

I didn’t date 2face. I only featured in his “African Queen” video. I have never  kissed him before.

Are you not planning to get married?

When the time comes, I will get married. I have never given it a thought.

It’s not about thinking, it is about the right person coming my way. Many ladies have been thinking about settling down for years now, but Mr. right has not come their way.

You are saying that Mr. right has not come your way?

Let’s take it like that. I don’t even have any relationship right now.

Why is it that most actresses do not want to get married?

How do you mean? Do you think that a lady would  decide to remain single. As a woman, she still needs a man. If  you do not have a man in your life, it is so bad.  She can never be a  happy woman.

Among the actors in the industry, who do you have crush on ?

Someone asked me this question recently. But, even if I have anybody in mind, do you think I would disclose the person to you.  It is a secret that I keep to myself. I am not going to elaborate on that.

What is your take on the same-sex  law in Nigeria?

The answer to the gay law is that, we got some group of people.  If you support it, you will have some people that will support you.

But if you are against it, you will also, have some group of people who will also support you. So, I am sitting on the fence. I do not want to be on anybody’s bad  record. But sincerely speaking, I think for the federal government to pass the bill into law, it must be a very serious matter.

Can you play the role of a lesbian in a movie?

I can play the role but depending on the script. If the script is conveying a moral lesson, yes, I can do it.

So, it has to do with what message you are conveying to the people.  Secondly, notwithstanding,  as an actress, I should be able to play any role. But, I will gladly play the role as long as I’m not going to kiss a  fellow girl on set.

What of acting  nude?

No, I cannot for no reason. I have people I am answerable to.

Have you been sexually harassed before now?

Sexual harassment in the industry have to do with what you want. If you want to be sexually harassed, you will be. I am saying that because, even when I am walking on the road, or in the  banking hall, I usually get passes.

But it depends on what you want. I do not think every  director would  want to sleep with every girl he comes across. Maybe, I am wrong but, I don’t think it is possible. I have had the experience where a produced would refused to feature me in his movie because I did not  sleep with him. They might make their advances to me.

Having featured in many movies, which of them would you say challenged you most?

The more challenging movie I have done since my return is James Town by Ifeanyi Onyeabor.

In the movie, I played a role that I have never done before. Most of roles have always been someone who is going to cry, or who has been abandoned and so on.

But in the movie,  I played the role of a drug seller. I sold all sorts of drugs. I was meant to move about with a guitar all the time. In this guitar, I concealed all the drugs that I was selling. But when nemesis caught up with me, I got bruised. I was busy hurting myself and I enjoyed every bit of the movie.

Would you say that the role interpreted your real person?

My real person is funny and  loving. I have got a very good sense of humor that my friends can’t even contend with, when I start making them laugh. But, the roles I have gotten have nothing to do with my real self. All the roles I have played, none have really shown my real self.

Impeachment: I will return to my seat – Nyako

ABUJA — Forty days after being removed from office, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) has expressed hope that he will return to his post since his traducers did not follow the laid down procedure in ousting him.

Gov. Nyako

Nyako, who has already filed an appeal at the Appeal Court against his impeachment, said there were justifiable reasons to prove that he was unjustly sent packing from his office by his opponents, who breached all the rules all in their desperate bid to get him out.

Nyako in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja yesterday, by his media adviser, Mr. Sajoh Ahmed, said he was confident that the court would return him to office since the process leading to his forceful and undemocratic sack was illegal.

The former governor said he was optimistic the Nigerian judiciary, which is blessed with men of integrity and honour, would not find it difficult to restore him to his position given the gamut of evidence that his opponents violated all the provisions of the law in edging him out for political reasons.

He said he was confident that since the judiciary had in the past upturned the removal of governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau, Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo and Peter Obi of Anambra, it would not be difficult for him to be restored since he was forced out of office by desperate elements.

While remaining upbeat about his return to office, Nyako urged his supporters in the state to embrace the current reality and prepare for the October 15 by-election, which he believes would be a repeat of the case in Anambra State when Andy Uba assumed office after winning an election, only to vacate office after 16 days when the courts returned Peter Obi.

I can’t support PDP

Nyako also vowed to remain within the APC and support only APC candidates in all elections at all levels and at all times.

He said his faith in the APC was bolstered by the fact that the party has proved to be truly democratic and progressive by the manner it has handed over its nomination process to the people at the grassroots as opposed to those who hand over the process to some unknown political godfathers in Abuja or the state capitals.

The former governor denied claims that he was supporting a certain PDP governorship aspirant for the forthcoming by-election, saying that his support remains with the APC at all times.

He said: “Anyone who supports a PDP candidate in the state has done so in exercise of his or her democratic rights as citizens but not as a result of a directive from Admiral Nyako or in support of his political position.
“This clarification is necessary in order to debunk the rumour being peddled by some mischief makers in Adamawa State.”

Van Gaal hard to please – Klose

Miroslav Klose claims the years he spent playing under new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal were the hardest of his career.

Klose, Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer with 71 goals, left Bayern Munich in 2011 after struggling to satisfy the Dutchman. The 36-year-old played 60 games while Van Gaal was in charge of Bayern, but scored only 12 goals.

“It was a tough time, particularly working with Van Gaal,” Klose told Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper.

“I didn’t feel free. It was very difficult for me to fulfil his expectations. He was asking me to make runs I just couldn’t see. I didn’t feel free. It was very difficult for me to fulfil his expectations. He was asking me to make runs I just couldn’t see.”

“I gave it all I could, but sometimes it just wasn’t enough.”

Had it not been for the backing of the fans and the faith shown in him by Germany coach Joachim Low, Klose says he may not have emerged from the two years he spent under Van Gaal the way he did.

Klose has since gone on to score 41 goals in 101 games for Lazio, and broken Gerd Muller’s goalscoring record for his country on his way to winning the World Cup last month.

Eto’o thanks Mourinho

Samuel Eto’o has rubbished talk of a rift with Jose Mourinho as he prepares for the possibility of an Everton debut against his old boss, Sky Sports reports.

Eto’o was part of Mourinho’s Champions League-winning side at Inter Milan and came to England a year ago to rejoin the Portuguese at Chelsea.

But the pair’s relationship was questioned when Mourinho was caught on camera joking about Eto’o’s age, and the 33-year-old left Stamford Bridge in the summer before joining Everton this week.

Samuel Eto’o gave his first press conference on Wednesday as an Everton player, and explained why he chose to join the club.

Chelsea visit Goodison Park on Saturday evening and speaking at his official unveiling as an Everton player Eto’o said, “I am not concerned about that aspect of it, that it is against my ex-team.

“The important thing is to integrate myself into my team-mates’ way of working and get myself ready during the training and preparation, potentially, for that match.

“The only thing I have to say vis-a-vis Jose Mourinho is to thank him. It is down to Jose Mourinho that I had the opportunity to be accepted and integrated into the Premier League, to play some great matches. That is the end of the discussion.”

Eto’o’s attitude may persuade Roberto Martinez to involve the striker against Chelsea – earlier than he had envisaged.