Tsunami 10 years on:Cities rebuilt, but other scars remain

The before and after pictures say it all. And now, exactly 10 years on, it is almost unimaginable that Aceh was left devastated by a massive tsunami, triggered by an undersea earthquake so powerful it made the earth itself wobble on its axis. 

On the western tip of Indonesia, Aceh province was the closest landmass to the earthquake epicentre, and by far the worst affected. About 170,000 people died, hundreds of thousands more lost their houses and livelihood. Most man-made structures, some of them three miles inland from the 500-mile coastline, were completely destroyed.

Nigerian Military kills Hundreds Of Boko Haram

The Nigerian military has reportedly killed hundreds of Boko Haram members and recovered large cache of weapons.
PRNigeria reports that military confiscated the weapons in Maiduguri and Damboa in Borno state after an attack on the terrorists.
It was gathered that a large number of the terrorists died in a gun battle that ensued between troops and the sect members.
The sect’s improvised explosive device (IED) laden Hilux truck vehicle was also destroyed in the process.
The troops also reportedly captured a Hilux vehicle earlier stolen by the terrorists from the Borno State Ministry of Education, which they have repainted and mounted with an anti-aircraft gun.
Other weapons recovered by troops comprised a rocket propelled grenades and rifles. It was gathered that the sect members fell into an ambush laid for them by Nigerian military who, were on a mission to stop the terrorists from attacking the electricity engineers who were working to restore power to parts of Borno State.

Muslim youths protect Christians during Xmas service in Kaduna

More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers are part of those protecting Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in Kaduna, says Pastor Yohanna Buru.

Buru, a cleric of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South, disclosed this in an interview with pressmen in Kaduna.

He confirmed that over 200 Muslims were at his church to help protect the faithful from any attack during the church service.

According to him, the feat is the first of its kind after the series of crises that rocked the state in recent past.

Synagogue: TB Joshua flies families of South African victims to Lagos

Nigerian preacher TB Joshua has invited to Lagos the bereaved families of the South African victims of a fatal church building collapse for a trip of “spiritual and emotional support”, a spokesman said Tuesday.
A guesthouse for foreign followers of the pastor and televangelist Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as TB Joshua, collapsed on September 12 killing 116 people — including 81 South Africans.
Remains of 74 of the South African victims were repatriated home two months later and 11 more remained behind awaiting DNA identification.
“The healing process is continuous but it was very important that the families be part of the year-end candlelight service — it’s spiritual and emotional support,” the church’s spokesman in South Africa Kirsten Nematandani told AFP.

Incendiary comments by politicians: APC urges Jonathan to lead by example

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to show leadership by example instead of engaging in mere rhetoric, saying talk becomes cheap the moment words lose their meaning
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan’s exhortations at a Christmas service in Abuja on Thursday would have carried weight if the President had acted in such a way that his compatriots would not doubt his sincerity.
It wondered how the President could admonish others to avoid sowing the seeds of discord and hatred through their utterances when that is exactly the stock in trade of his political associates, supporters and spokespersons.

Funke Akindele survives cruel fate in Sababi

Although fate may defeat the efforts of virtue to avert misfortune, it cannot deprive us of the power to endure it with equanimity’

Funke Akindele’s production outfit, Scene One Production in conjunction with Adekaz Production Ltd presents a new Yoruba  movie titled ‘Sababi Eda’(Fate), fully subtitled in English.

Sababi Eda depicts the life of a single mother (Funke Akindele), and her struggle with fate.    She used to be a tomboy in  the village before she got engaged and relocated  to the city.

However fate played a fast one on her in her journey of life and she could not avoid it.  Her fiancée eloped with another woman, leaving her to cater for their only son.

My wife is no flirt —Ekeinde, Omotola’s husband

Let me start first by saying that I am humbled by the popularity of this column, only six weeks after it made its debut. I am told, and this has been verified by random Google search, that this column has been culled and appropriated by practically every social media platform including leading bloggers all over the world.
One of such bloggers called me, to say she has been eagerly awaiting my column every Sunday, and updates on my blog, EkereteUdoh.com, so she would be the first to post my stories. I must say that I am flattered.
Last week, I published on this page, excerpts of an interview that Omotola Jalade Ekeinde granted my New York-based newspaper, The Diasporan Star, in December 2009, and also on my blog. The interview, though done some years ago, was still relevant. (the kind of interviews that have no time-limit or currency). The story has become a hit on social media and some other newspapers here. The popular blogger, BellaNaija, culled the story, and a day after, Omotola, through the same BellaNaija, denied ever granting the interview to Sunday Vanguard. She, however, did not deny that the said interview did take place and that some other excerpts of the same interview were published in The Diaspora Star, which she had read when it was first published.

My political lessons — Kenny Saint Best

Gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best, who recently lost out in the All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary elections to Folajimi Lai Mohammed has declared that she has learnt a lot in her new found romance with politics.

“The experience is that of inner strength. I got stronger because this was a new terrain, unlike entertainment that you have gotten so used to and you take everything for granted. I also got humbled. In entertainment, you have ego but in politics you dare not bring up that ego or you will be messed up” she told Potpourri

What growing up in the slum taught me — Ruth Kadiri

Ruth Kadiri is one of the fast rising actresses cum scriptwriters you would love to meet some day. Soft-spoken, easy-going and highly articulate Ruth has built for herself a name that may get the likes of Geneiveve and Omotola going green with envy in no distant future. The Edo State born actress who debuted as an actress in “Sincerity”, a movie that she also wrote, in recent times, has upped the ante. She opened up on her relationship, lessons she has learnt as an actress, childhood experiences and other interesting revelations.
What lessons have you learned as an actress?
Ruth-Kadiri-1I have learned to be patient. I have also learned to understand that our destinies are different. More so, I have realized that not everybody would appreciate your style, or understand where you are coming from .All you need as an actor is to be focused. It’s easy to get distracted, or follow the trend. But if you have a style and you are able to stick to it, as long as  you know that you are doing the right thing, you will surely get to your promised land.
Who is that director you can’t wait to work with?

Many awards for Bob Manuel-Udokwu

Veteran Nollywood actor and Governor Obaino of Anambra’s Senior Special Assistant on Movie/Entertainment industry, Bob Manuel Udokwu may have lost his intent to represent his people of Idemili North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly in the 2015 elections but he still has good fortunes coming his way. Just days ago the gangling actor bagged the Karifest award for Best of Nollywood Actors, to add to his collection of awards this year.

Speaking to Potpourri, the anchor for Gulder Ultimate Search reality TV show said that would be his third award this December alone. The two others received this December are Excellence/Man of Honour Award by National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu Old Boys Association and Award of Recognition as Outstanding Figure & Role Model for the Youths by Anambra State Students Association, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.