|
ABUJA
– Nigerian Army, Thursday, unveiled and presented vehicle stoppers to
some Churches and Mosques, as part of its corporate social
responsibility in curtailing the spate of suicide bombing at worship
centres across the country.
Presenting
the devices in Abuja, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major Gen.
Bitrus Kwaji said the vehicle stoppers were designed to stop any vehicle
from all angle at any speed.
Chief
of Civil Military Affairs, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Bitrus Kwaji (L),
presenting the New Vehicle Stopper, Donated by the Nigerian Army to
Pastor Monday Chukwuemeka Okonkwo of the Methodist Diocese of Nyanya in
Abuja on Thursday.NAN Photo
He
added that the anti-bombing devices would be distributed to the
representatives of Christian and Muslim bodies, who should in turn
produce it in mass for distribution, while stressing that security is
everybody’s business.
His
words, “it has been discovered that most attacks of suicide bombers are
being carried out with vehicles loaded with Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs). The mode of operation is simple as a suicide bomber
drives his vehicle straight into his target and explosion occurs.
“In
order to disallow bombers from reaching their targets, this invention
comes in handy as it forcefully stops any vehicle that comes in contact
with it at whatever speed.
“The
unfolding security challenges confronting the nation amongst which is
the Boko Haram terrorist menace have continued to hinder the congress of
the transformation agenda of Mr President as well as the development of
the nation at large.
“The
terrorists over the years have continued to attack places of worship
(churches and mosques) in order to destabilize the nation. This has
necessitated the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to charge all corps and
services of the Nigerian Army to provide ways and means of curtailing
this menace.
“This
charge has yielded a lot of responses as we witnessed the commissioning
of an indigenous Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces during the recently
concluded Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Kaduna.
Receiving
the devices on behalf of the Religion Bodies, Very Rev. Monday Okonkwo
of the Methodist Church, Nyanya and the Executive Secretary of the
National Mosque Abuja, Alh. Ibrahim Jega expressed satisfaction with
Military Authorities, just as they promised to be security conscious, to
complement the efforts of security agents, in riding the country of
terrorism”.
They
also called on faithful to join hands with authorities in their various
churches and mosques, to prevent any further attack, and report any
suspicion to the relevant authorities, insisting that, government can
not do it alone.
|
Saturday, 28 July 2012
News : Army presents anti-bombing devices to Churches, Mosques Gallery Test1 yry 9ICE & TONI PAYNE MARRIED dwrd Female celebrities Ice Prince "All Star" Birthday Super Eagle Yakubu Aiyegbeni & Yvonne Lameen Ikhana Wedding View More ABUJA – Nigerian Army, Thursday, unveiled and presented vehicle stoppers to some Churches and Mosques, as part of its corporate social responsibility in curtailing the spate of suicide bombing at worship centres across the country. Presenting the devices in Abuja, the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major Gen. Bitrus Kwaji said the vehicle stoppers were designed to stop any vehicle from all angle at any speed. Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Bitrus Kwaji (L), presenting the New Vehicle Stopper, Donated by the Nigerian Army to Pastor Monday Chukwuemeka Okonkwo of the Methodist Diocese of Nyanya in Abuja on Thursday.NAN Photo He added that the anti-bombing devices would be distributed to the representatives of Christian and Muslim bodies, who should in turn produce it in mass for distribution, while stressing that security is everybody’s business. His words, “it has been discovered that most attacks of suicide bombers are being carried out with vehicles loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The mode of operation is simple as a suicide bomber drives his vehicle straight into his target and explosion occurs. “In order to disallow bombers from reaching their targets, this invention comes in handy as it forcefully stops any vehicle that comes in contact with it at whatever speed. “The unfolding security challenges confronting the nation amongst which is the Boko Haram terrorist menace have continued to hinder the congress of the transformation agenda of Mr President as well as the development of the nation at large. “The terrorists over the years have continued to attack places of worship (churches and mosques) in order to destabilize the nation. This has necessitated the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to charge all corps and services of the Nigerian Army to provide ways and means of curtailing this menace. “This charge has yielded a lot of responses as we witnessed the commissioning of an indigenous Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) by the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces during the recently concluded Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Kaduna. Receiving the devices on behalf of the Religion Bodies, Very Rev. Monday Okonkwo of the Methodist Church, Nyanya and the Executive Secretary of the National Mosque Abuja, Alh. Ibrahim Jega expressed satisfaction with Military Authorities, just as they promised to be security conscious, to complement the efforts of security agents, in riding the country of terrorism”. They also called on faithful to join hands with authorities in their various churches and mosques, to prevent any further attack, and report any suspicion to the relevant authorities, insisting that, government can not do it alone. Vanguard Nigeria Comments 412 Pending Comments 2 To reply to a Comment: Click “Reply” at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to. Share Your Comment Post to Facebook Post to Blogger Post to Twitter Post to WordPress Post to TypePad Post to Tumblr RECENT NEWS ABUJA CONCERT - D'Prince, Davido, Flavour, Iyanya and Rayce - August 10th 2012 1313 One girl, ten boys, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? 5321 Why Should A Lady Disgrace Herself Like This? 3855 Man released from jail re-arrested for refusing to leave 1139 Graphic Photo – Ritual Killers Behead 7-year-old Over N250, 000 1536 Falling container crushes pedestrian in Ogun 949 Halima Abubakar explodes: Why I fought Tonto Dikeh 1754 Photos: Sexy Omotola Dazzles At Friend's Party In Ghana 1091 Video Slap Me B*tch: DKB Slaps Zaniab On Big Brother Africa! 788 I didn’t love my husband at first- Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde 845 Abuja Taxi Driver Returns N18m To Owner; Gets Award 1257 Photos – Actress Uche Jombo’s Wedding Pictures Released 1284 I still call my husband’s number – Dana crash widow 978 Jealous nurse pours acid on lover 903 Army presents anti-bombing devices to Churches, Mosques 673
News : I didn’t love my husband at first- Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
|
Anytime Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde speaks about her husband, her face lights up in a smile.
And
then, no question about the sort of relationship they both share is
complete without the shapely actress saying, “If I had not married him, I
would not have married anyone else.”
And
this is quite understandable, as their union of 16 years has weathered
the storm and is one of the few in the industry that is scandal free.
Surprisingly,
the actress says scandals are expected when an individual is famous. As
such, they add up in making her life story more interesting. She adds
that she is not bothered because her husband is very understanding.
“It
would have been extremely painful if my husband takes things to heart,
then it would have been a roller coaster ride for me and then I have to
go through the problem again and again. God has been great you know,
‘the guy no get wahala,” She quips.
As
a veteran in the marriage business, Omosexy, as the actress is fondly
called reveals that the love was not instantaneous. “I always tell
people that when I met him. I was not in love with him but he says for
him it was love at first sight so I had to grow to love him. I was
attracted to him because of his maturity. I saw the ability for him to
see me. I mean, he knows me more than I know myself. It is just weird I
can’t explain. You just can’t get it. But he feels my pain, it is easy
for him.
When
their paths first crossed, a young Omotola had just lost her father;
hence the emotional trauma she was experiencing at that time was
overwhelming.
Then
her husband showed up with a ray of hope and then she fell for his
charming nature. “In those days I was young so there were ways I
particularly handle things that were immature so I would snap very fast
because I was short-tempered. So many people will think I was very
difficult even my mother. But he would tell her to leave me alone. Even
then, my mother will say ‘you will not marry, there is no one that will
marry you,’’ She says with a smile.
Describing
her husband as her love ‘therapist’, Ekeinde attributes her spiritual
growth to her husband. “I have even gone closer to Christ because of his
exemplary behavior and the way he handles things. With the maturity I
find in him, I can admire that and then emulate him. That is the
connection and the way I have been able to live with him.”
Asked
if she considers herself a doting mother to her four children, the
actress lets out a gale of laughter, saying , “In my own mind yes. In
fact my kids think I am their situation too much. So I am thinking that
if I was around, they would have run away from the house. I feel I am a
very hands on mum in fact I just got back from Ghana and they were
telling me that I am always on the phone with them. Even though my
husband is always around, I know what they are doing every minute. I
think I am a bit too strict with them maybe because I am taking after my
mother. She was a disciplinarian to the core.”
Punch Nigeria
|
I’m not an actress – Karen Igho
Big Brother Amplified winner, Karen Igho, who currently works as an
on air personality for Naija FM, and privileged to feature in two
movies, “Blackberry Babes” and “Heavy Beauty” has stated categorically
that she is not an actress.
Karen said her venturing into acting was accidental, adding that her initial plan was to go into comedy business.
Speaking on the entertainment programme aired on STV, during the week, the former Next Movie Star girl said, “ I’m not an actress, rather acting came my way by chance. I wanted to go into comedy.”
Karen, however, hinted that she just rapped up shooting of the movie “Heavy Beauty”, which according to her, centred around encouraging our young girls to keep alive their dreams. “Whatever it is, don’t give up on your dream. Keep dreaming and one day, your dream will come to pass.”
The BBA reality show winner also featured in the movie” Blackberry babes” produced by Simonny Productions. “I played a village girl in the movie… Yes, there’s nothing I can’t handle… I played a village Warri girl feeling funky in Lagos,” she hinted.
Karen Igho
Speaking on the entertainment programme aired on STV, during the week, the former Next Movie Star girl said, “ I’m not an actress, rather acting came my way by chance. I wanted to go into comedy.”
Karen, however, hinted that she just rapped up shooting of the movie “Heavy Beauty”, which according to her, centred around encouraging our young girls to keep alive their dreams. “Whatever it is, don’t give up on your dream. Keep dreaming and one day, your dream will come to pass.”
The BBA reality show winner also featured in the movie” Blackberry babes” produced by Simonny Productions. “I played a village girl in the movie… Yes, there’s nothing I can’t handle… I played a village Warri girl feeling funky in Lagos,” she hinted.
News : ABUJA CONCERT - D'Prince, Davido, Flavour, Iyanya and Rayce - August 10th 2012
TON Reloaded Concert going Down in Abuja August 10th, featuring Super
Star (hit makers) artist such as D'prince from Mavin Records with hit
Song "Take Banana", Youngest bad Guy Davido with hit song "Dami Duro"
Flavour with hit song "Ashwo Nwa Baby", Iyanya with hit song "Kukere"
and Rayce with hit song "Roll"....
The five
artist Currently holding down the Top 5 on the Top 5 count down of songs
this year would be performing their hit songs live at the International
Conference Centre Abuja located at the Cadastral district garki. The
event Red Carpet is Scheduled to start 6pm, while the show begins 7pm
Ticket Prices:
Regular - 5,000
Prime - 7,500
V.I.P - 20,000Tables (contact Fi'ammari M. Zoaka 08094541400)
Tickets Sold at: Silverbird Cinemas, Jenivik Restaurant, & Drumstix
For Info Call: 07067674453, 07033317151
Join on FaceBook - CLICK HERE or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/326474314110909/
This would be the Best Concert EVER!!
Now Lets fire dey go
Thank You Guys!! -- See You there
Why I’m not rich – TEE A
Tunde
Adewale a. k. a Tee A has made his mark in the comedy industry. He’s
made his mark not just in the comedy business but also in restaurant
business. Unknown to many, comedy began for the young and talented man
when as a JSS student, he was his school’s Chief speaker and the senior
prefect his deputy. In this chat, he talks about comedy business, his
restaurant, school and his wife among other issues.
What have you been up to lately?
I’ve been busy working behind the scene producing for my new TV show. It’s season three of Time Out With Tee A. That has made me withdraw from public events..
So what are we expecting in the new season of Time Out With Tee A?
We’ve created new segments and new characters. We’ve also changed the studio we’ve been using, all in a bid to make for a better production that everyone can be proud of. Our viewership has doubled since when we debuted on Galaxy and Silverbird TV. We’re now on eleven TV stations across the world- we’re in the UK, Europe, some part of the US and Ghana. We’re working on some other African countries like Kenya and Sierra-Leon.
Of course, we are on African Magic, DSTV, AIT Network StarTimes and Nigezie. So the pressure to give good contents to our numerous fans is so much that I rarely have time for other things. I’ve stopped doing my own concerts since 2004. I stopped because I wanted to focus on something else. I’d seen it all, done it all after eight years on the stage .
Didn’t you think of how your fans would feel when they no longer see you on stage?
Well, people still see me because I still get to anchor one event or the other on weekends.
But anchoring events has to do with smaller crowds when compared to a concert crowd…?
If I do an event for a beverage company people still get to see me. The difference is that I don’t put up my own shows again. However the successes of the TV show has everybody clamouring for me to return to the stage..
So are you coming back?
The kind of live shows I’m going to do now, is going to be different from my normal shows. We’re going into something more matured.
Do you really think you are funny?
I think everybody is funny. For me as a comedian, if I talk and you laugh, that shows I’m funny. If I talk and people are willing to pay for it, that shows I’m doing something right. And if I perform and get called again and again, it shows that I’m doing something right. So being funny is serious business. So I’ll say that I’m good at what I do and that’s why for almost sixteen years now, I’ve remained in the business. I don’t know the problem other people have because I’ve seen comedians come and go.
So what if you throw a joke and your audience don’t laugh?
With the amount of years I’ve spent in the business, the easiest thing for me to do is to read the mood of the audience. And where people get it wrong again is that some people think that what makes you a comedian are just the jokes- I don’t think so. There’s so much more to being a comedian. And like I said, every human is funny at one point in time. But what differentiates a professional comedian from every other person is the ability to study his audience and know what to say, when to say it and how to say it.
Does it mean you don’t prepare your jokes until you get on stage?
Don’t get me wrong. There are jokes appropriate for different occasions. Jokes for a corporate occasion will not fit into a private occasion. Also, there are jokes meant for a university crowd which shouldn’t go for a wedding reception. So, your work as a comedian is that, no matter what you’ve prepared to share on stage, you need to study the mood of the audience to determine which soothes at that time and the occasion.
So have you ever thrown a joke that the audience didn’t react to?
No.
Is this a joke?
That’s the truth. You don’t start a show by throwing a joke. It has to do with the human psychology. Performing to an audience is like wooing a woman. You don’t just meet a woman for the first time and then go ahead to tell her you love her and want to marry her. At least you start by getting to know each other. So you start by wooing the audience- getting their attention gradually. And when you have them in your palm, you can thrown anything at them and they’ll break.
How has business been after 15 years?
We thank God for his mercies. Although we had initial challenges, everything is now under control.
Has it ever been comedy all your life?
You’ve seen the way our office is structured? This is my office, that’s the clients’ office, that’s the production studio and the editing studio. It’s been comedy, television production right from the beginning. I’ve not tried to do anything else, until two years ago when I set up a restaurant.
What’s the relationship between comedy and setting up a restaurant?
People who are close to me know that one of my passion is cooking.
But you don’t go to the restaurant to cook?
What you don’t know is that most of the customers favourite menu at my restaurant were created by me. The menu are meals I’d experimented with at home- they were nice and I decided to include them.
You said you’ve done comedy all your life. How was comedy during your university days?
Comedy at the University brought me fame but it dates back to my secondary school.
How?
As a J.S.S 3, I was the school’s chief speaker while the senior prefect who was in S.S 3 was my supporting speaker. It’s unheard of for a J.S.S 3 student to be the chief speaker while the head boy was supporting. So the boldness was there and whenever I was preparing for my debates, I’d look for something funny to wrap around my debate. So that made people like me because whenever I talk, I mixed serious issues with something unserious.
Hyperbole was my thing and I was very big on satire. Because of that, I developed interest in reading books on riddles and jokes. And any time we went for debates, before it starts, I’ll be called out to entertain the students. So I became the official riddles and jokes person across all secondary schools in Lagos State.
You attended a public school right?
Yes, Betrima High School. My secondary school experience was one of the best experiences of my life and I keep saying that the only thing with the school is that you’re only known by your school mates and few students from other school. It’s unlike the University where there were thousands of students who knew me.
But Betrima was one of my fondest memories of performances because that’s where it all started. And a couple of great people have passed through the school as well. Although it was a public school, it’s not like those we have today. It was a very prim and proper public school because we were like ajebutters (kids from rich homes).
So how did your parents react when they learnt you wanted to go into comedy?
Everybody already knew I like making a nuisance of myself and making fun of people. So right from my secondary school days, they’d known I love to entertain people. So, when I got into the university, I had a bigger platform to practice comedy. It came natural for me. But my grand mother used to tell me to first graduate from the university before taking to comedy. In the past, comedy wasn’t lucrative but with the way things are going now, people are beginning to like the art.
So how did you survive with earning peanuts back then?
I grew up with my grand parents and one thing they always told me was that, if you work well in anything you do, don’t seek for money first. Just keep doing it, money will come later. As at when they were saying it, I didn’t even know I would turn out this big because comedy was a virgin territory. Ali Baba was just trying to make ends meets, sticking to standup comedy.
Danjuma Mohammed used to do a programme on NTA. Basorge also used to act, Okey Bakassi used to act too. These were the people who were doing anything like comedy then. So I always admire Ali Baba for choosing standup comedy and decided o get close to him. So there was a time Ali Baba came to my school and I was performing at the show as well.
After my performance, he commended and gave me his number to keep in touch. I kept in touch for a while. Then came another show and we shared the stage. After our performance, he commended me again and we became close friends. By this time he was already earning enough to rent a 5 bedroom duplex at Ilupeju.
What about you?
I was living with him then. From there, we moved to Lekki Phase 1. Even though we were making enough money then, we operated below our earnings. We were surprised at our success. We fed well, wore good clothes, cars and other things.
So you didn’t even suffer?
Thank God for the kind of family I come from- we were not rich but we weren’t poor either. We were a middle class family. Our parents were able to send us to school and we had shelter over our heads. My grand parents were educationists. My mother was into buying and selling which was in vogue then. So, we were not beggars. I don’t believe I have to lie and say I used to eat from the dustbin in order to impress you.
So you didn’t have pressures from parents who needed your financial support as their child?
No I didn’t. My parent were okay and even now when you give them, they appreciate it. But they’re okay on their own. They’ve worked well early in their life time and invested well too unlike these days when the first money we make would be spent on flashy cars. They didn’t think about all that during their time- they were the 504 and 505 people and not the Mercedes type.
But talented and cute guys like you usually get invited by cultists in the university?
Funny enough, they never came to me at any point in time. Even I used to wonder how I escaped them. And I never had a friend who was a cultist. I played with everybody- male female, lecturers even the cleaners who used to wash our clothes and clean our rooms. So, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been an asset to cultists because they’d just seen me as a loafer.
How was transition from school life to real life?
That alone is a really long experience that this interview will not contain. It wasn’t an easy journey trying to turn talent into business- that’s the shortest way I can put it. At first, talent was driven by passion and passion alone can’t make business. The basic objective of business is profit but passion doesn’t look at profit first. Sometimes, I didn’t even care about money.
All I wanted was for people to see me and know that I’m good at what I do. So that’s the first challenge- people calling you and you trying to be your manager, the artiste, secretary, PR all at the same time unlike now when the industry is developing to a stage where you now have people who can take the responsibility off you. When we started, you were everything- you’d perform on stage, print your invoice, write it, sit at the reception and account to collect your check, take it to the bank, pick up your calls, go for negotiation and drive yourself to events.
So now, life is easier?
It can only get better. No matter what I make financially, I still re-invest it into my business. So I’m not a really rich artiste because I’ve invested into structures, things that are not tangible yet but may yield dividends in future.
What’s the smallest fee you earned when you started?
The smallest amount was free. But really, the smallest amount I was paid is N200. And the N200 was during a departmental show back then in school. They were supposed to pay me N500. They gave me an advance of N200 and didn’t give me the balance till today. I gave them a discount and they’re still owing me.
So how much is Tee A worth now?
I honestly don’t know. I used to be the one handling that but now, I don’t know.
How do you handle female admirers?
I always tell this to upcoming guys that it’s only in Nigeria that we trivialize fans’ love. That a female fan comes to you does not mean she’s throwing herself at you. Eighty percent of them are genuine fans who just appreciate your work. Sometimes, the artistes get it twisted.
But take away the artiste, as an individual; every human being should have some level of self control, discipline and fear of God. If one has the fear of God, there are many things one wouldn’t do even if you find yourself in that particular situation because you’ll put that lady in the position of your sister and you wouldn’t want to mess your sister up.
I’m sure you’d have met some crazy female fans who wanted to date you by all means?
Sure, that exists everywhere. For me, I’m lucky because I’m not the very outgoing type even before I got married. I only go to events where I’m invited. If I’m not on a show, you’ll rarely see me. If I go to a club, there must be a reason why I’m there. I was walking on the street of London and two girls saw me and they screamed, jumped at me and wanted to take pictures. People around were just wondering and those girls had to start explaining that I’m a star in Nigeria and that my show is on TV.
So was your wife one of your fans who you met at an event?
No, she wasn’t. She’s been my friend from school, long before we got married.
So how did it happen between you two?
We were friends for five years, dated for another five years.
So you knew each other for ten straight years without any break?
I think the first five years we were just friends, not very close ones. Work took both of us to different direction but we got really close in the fifth year. I suddenly realized I’ve known her for such a long time and we decided to kick start it.
So how do you combine work and family stuff?
Actually, God is yet to bless us with children. And thank God that kids have not come yet but I know they’re coming soon. And I’m sure by the time they come; it’ll be a different ball game. But even now, being away for days and leaving just my wife in the house has been challenging but she’s been very understanding because she knows that whenever I’m not busy; I’ll be at home than be anywhere else.
What have you been up to lately?
I’ve been busy working behind the scene producing for my new TV show. It’s season three of Time Out With Tee A. That has made me withdraw from public events..
So what are we expecting in the new season of Time Out With Tee A?
We’ve created new segments and new characters. We’ve also changed the studio we’ve been using, all in a bid to make for a better production that everyone can be proud of. Our viewership has doubled since when we debuted on Galaxy and Silverbird TV. We’re now on eleven TV stations across the world- we’re in the UK, Europe, some part of the US and Ghana. We’re working on some other African countries like Kenya and Sierra-Leon.
Of course, we are on African Magic, DSTV, AIT Network StarTimes and Nigezie. So the pressure to give good contents to our numerous fans is so much that I rarely have time for other things. I’ve stopped doing my own concerts since 2004. I stopped because I wanted to focus on something else. I’d seen it all, done it all after eight years on the stage .
Didn’t you think of how your fans would feel when they no longer see you on stage?
Well, people still see me because I still get to anchor one event or the other on weekends.
But anchoring events has to do with smaller crowds when compared to a concert crowd…?
If I do an event for a beverage company people still get to see me. The difference is that I don’t put up my own shows again. However the successes of the TV show has everybody clamouring for me to return to the stage..
So are you coming back?
The kind of live shows I’m going to do now, is going to be different from my normal shows. We’re going into something more matured.
Do you really think you are funny?
I think everybody is funny. For me as a comedian, if I talk and you laugh, that shows I’m funny. If I talk and people are willing to pay for it, that shows I’m doing something right. And if I perform and get called again and again, it shows that I’m doing something right. So being funny is serious business. So I’ll say that I’m good at what I do and that’s why for almost sixteen years now, I’ve remained in the business. I don’t know the problem other people have because I’ve seen comedians come and go.
So what if you throw a joke and your audience don’t laugh?
With the amount of years I’ve spent in the business, the easiest thing for me to do is to read the mood of the audience. And where people get it wrong again is that some people think that what makes you a comedian are just the jokes- I don’t think so. There’s so much more to being a comedian. And like I said, every human is funny at one point in time. But what differentiates a professional comedian from every other person is the ability to study his audience and know what to say, when to say it and how to say it.
TEE A
Don’t get me wrong. There are jokes appropriate for different occasions. Jokes for a corporate occasion will not fit into a private occasion. Also, there are jokes meant for a university crowd which shouldn’t go for a wedding reception. So, your work as a comedian is that, no matter what you’ve prepared to share on stage, you need to study the mood of the audience to determine which soothes at that time and the occasion.
So have you ever thrown a joke that the audience didn’t react to?
No.
Is this a joke?
That’s the truth. You don’t start a show by throwing a joke. It has to do with the human psychology. Performing to an audience is like wooing a woman. You don’t just meet a woman for the first time and then go ahead to tell her you love her and want to marry her. At least you start by getting to know each other. So you start by wooing the audience- getting their attention gradually. And when you have them in your palm, you can thrown anything at them and they’ll break.
How has business been after 15 years?
We thank God for his mercies. Although we had initial challenges, everything is now under control.
Has it ever been comedy all your life?
You’ve seen the way our office is structured? This is my office, that’s the clients’ office, that’s the production studio and the editing studio. It’s been comedy, television production right from the beginning. I’ve not tried to do anything else, until two years ago when I set up a restaurant.
What’s the relationship between comedy and setting up a restaurant?
People who are close to me know that one of my passion is cooking.
But you don’t go to the restaurant to cook?
What you don’t know is that most of the customers favourite menu at my restaurant were created by me. The menu are meals I’d experimented with at home- they were nice and I decided to include them.
You said you’ve done comedy all your life. How was comedy during your university days?
Comedy at the University brought me fame but it dates back to my secondary school.
How?
As a J.S.S 3, I was the school’s chief speaker while the senior prefect who was in S.S 3 was my supporting speaker. It’s unheard of for a J.S.S 3 student to be the chief speaker while the head boy was supporting. So the boldness was there and whenever I was preparing for my debates, I’d look for something funny to wrap around my debate. So that made people like me because whenever I talk, I mixed serious issues with something unserious.
Hyperbole was my thing and I was very big on satire. Because of that, I developed interest in reading books on riddles and jokes. And any time we went for debates, before it starts, I’ll be called out to entertain the students. So I became the official riddles and jokes person across all secondary schools in Lagos State.
You attended a public school right?
Yes, Betrima High School. My secondary school experience was one of the best experiences of my life and I keep saying that the only thing with the school is that you’re only known by your school mates and few students from other school. It’s unlike the University where there were thousands of students who knew me.
But Betrima was one of my fondest memories of performances because that’s where it all started. And a couple of great people have passed through the school as well. Although it was a public school, it’s not like those we have today. It was a very prim and proper public school because we were like ajebutters (kids from rich homes).
So how did your parents react when they learnt you wanted to go into comedy?
Everybody already knew I like making a nuisance of myself and making fun of people. So right from my secondary school days, they’d known I love to entertain people. So, when I got into the university, I had a bigger platform to practice comedy. It came natural for me. But my grand mother used to tell me to first graduate from the university before taking to comedy. In the past, comedy wasn’t lucrative but with the way things are going now, people are beginning to like the art.
So how did you survive with earning peanuts back then?
I grew up with my grand parents and one thing they always told me was that, if you work well in anything you do, don’t seek for money first. Just keep doing it, money will come later. As at when they were saying it, I didn’t even know I would turn out this big because comedy was a virgin territory. Ali Baba was just trying to make ends meets, sticking to standup comedy.
Danjuma Mohammed used to do a programme on NTA. Basorge also used to act, Okey Bakassi used to act too. These were the people who were doing anything like comedy then. So I always admire Ali Baba for choosing standup comedy and decided o get close to him. So there was a time Ali Baba came to my school and I was performing at the show as well.
After my performance, he commended and gave me his number to keep in touch. I kept in touch for a while. Then came another show and we shared the stage. After our performance, he commended me again and we became close friends. By this time he was already earning enough to rent a 5 bedroom duplex at Ilupeju.
What about you?
I was living with him then. From there, we moved to Lekki Phase 1. Even though we were making enough money then, we operated below our earnings. We were surprised at our success. We fed well, wore good clothes, cars and other things.
So you didn’t even suffer?
Thank God for the kind of family I come from- we were not rich but we weren’t poor either. We were a middle class family. Our parents were able to send us to school and we had shelter over our heads. My grand parents were educationists. My mother was into buying and selling which was in vogue then. So, we were not beggars. I don’t believe I have to lie and say I used to eat from the dustbin in order to impress you.
So you didn’t have pressures from parents who needed your financial support as their child?
No I didn’t. My parent were okay and even now when you give them, they appreciate it. But they’re okay on their own. They’ve worked well early in their life time and invested well too unlike these days when the first money we make would be spent on flashy cars. They didn’t think about all that during their time- they were the 504 and 505 people and not the Mercedes type.
TEE A
Funny enough, they never came to me at any point in time. Even I used to wonder how I escaped them. And I never had a friend who was a cultist. I played with everybody- male female, lecturers even the cleaners who used to wash our clothes and clean our rooms. So, I’m sure I wouldn’t have been an asset to cultists because they’d just seen me as a loafer.
How was transition from school life to real life?
That alone is a really long experience that this interview will not contain. It wasn’t an easy journey trying to turn talent into business- that’s the shortest way I can put it. At first, talent was driven by passion and passion alone can’t make business. The basic objective of business is profit but passion doesn’t look at profit first. Sometimes, I didn’t even care about money.
All I wanted was for people to see me and know that I’m good at what I do. So that’s the first challenge- people calling you and you trying to be your manager, the artiste, secretary, PR all at the same time unlike now when the industry is developing to a stage where you now have people who can take the responsibility off you. When we started, you were everything- you’d perform on stage, print your invoice, write it, sit at the reception and account to collect your check, take it to the bank, pick up your calls, go for negotiation and drive yourself to events.
So now, life is easier?
It can only get better. No matter what I make financially, I still re-invest it into my business. So I’m not a really rich artiste because I’ve invested into structures, things that are not tangible yet but may yield dividends in future.
What’s the smallest fee you earned when you started?
The smallest amount was free. But really, the smallest amount I was paid is N200. And the N200 was during a departmental show back then in school. They were supposed to pay me N500. They gave me an advance of N200 and didn’t give me the balance till today. I gave them a discount and they’re still owing me.
So how much is Tee A worth now?
I honestly don’t know. I used to be the one handling that but now, I don’t know.
How do you handle female admirers?
I always tell this to upcoming guys that it’s only in Nigeria that we trivialize fans’ love. That a female fan comes to you does not mean she’s throwing herself at you. Eighty percent of them are genuine fans who just appreciate your work. Sometimes, the artistes get it twisted.
But take away the artiste, as an individual; every human being should have some level of self control, discipline and fear of God. If one has the fear of God, there are many things one wouldn’t do even if you find yourself in that particular situation because you’ll put that lady in the position of your sister and you wouldn’t want to mess your sister up.
I’m sure you’d have met some crazy female fans who wanted to date you by all means?
Sure, that exists everywhere. For me, I’m lucky because I’m not the very outgoing type even before I got married. I only go to events where I’m invited. If I’m not on a show, you’ll rarely see me. If I go to a club, there must be a reason why I’m there. I was walking on the street of London and two girls saw me and they screamed, jumped at me and wanted to take pictures. People around were just wondering and those girls had to start explaining that I’m a star in Nigeria and that my show is on TV.
So was your wife one of your fans who you met at an event?
No, she wasn’t. She’s been my friend from school, long before we got married.
So how did it happen between you two?
We were friends for five years, dated for another five years.
So you knew each other for ten straight years without any break?
I think the first five years we were just friends, not very close ones. Work took both of us to different direction but we got really close in the fifth year. I suddenly realized I’ve known her for such a long time and we decided to kick start it.
So how do you combine work and family stuff?
Actually, God is yet to bless us with children. And thank God that kids have not come yet but I know they’re coming soon. And I’m sure by the time they come; it’ll be a different ball game. But even now, being away for days and leaving just my wife in the house has been challenging but she’s been very understanding because she knows that whenever I’m not busy; I’ll be at home than be anywhere else.
Black Friday: JTF, terrorists in Maiduguri gun duel
Y NDAHI MARAMA
It was a bloody weekend as two JTF Soldiers were killed along Baban Layi ward of Maiduguri Metropolis when some suspected terrorists laid ambush in one of their base few metres away from the Shehu’s palace where a suicide bomber struck at a Central Mosque yesterday.
The incident, Saturday Vanguard gathered took place at about 2pm which forced residents of the Shehuri ward and environs to vacate their homes as they would no longer resist the sound of sporadic gunshots that followed from the JTF upon their arrival at the scene.
The JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa who confirmed the incident, said, a JTF patrol vehicle was attacked at about 1300 hrs of the day in Shehuri general area by suspected Boko Haram terrorists and the attack was resisted.
The incident, according to Sagir led to the killing of two members of the terrorist group, 2 JTF personnel who were unfortunately wounded, and are stable but are now responding to treatment at UMTH.
Sagir explained that 25 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the incidence.
Similarly, an improvised explosive device was detected by own troops and detonated by the bomb disposal unit of the task force. The incident occurred at Bulunkutu area, of Maiduguri metropolis today at about 1130 hrs. Thus, the shootings and explosion are the result of the mentioned occurrences. Earlier,
Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, the JTF spokesman stated that “Following intelligence report, a special operation was conducted on Thursday, July 26, and early hours of Friday, 27 July, 2012 in Maiduguri.
“The operation led to the arrest of 26 suspected terrorists believed to be members of the terrorists group at Biafra Bula-Bulin, Kasuwan Shanu and GRA in Maiduguri metropolis.”
Musa said that the suspects were believed to be the brains behind the killing of two Indians on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
“Some of the suspects were responsible for the killings of two Indians, a cleric and several others in Maiduguri in the
recent past.’’
Musa said that two AK 47 Rifles, three magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition were also recovered during the raid.
“We also recovered a primed Improvised Explosive Device, which was detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the JTF as well as cutlasses, daggers and charms.
“There was also a blood stained cloth used during the killing of a cleric in Kasuwan Shanu, Maiduguri.”
Musa said that the items and suspects were kept in the custody of the JTF for necessary action. (NAN)
It was a bloody weekend as two JTF Soldiers were killed along Baban Layi ward of Maiduguri Metropolis when some suspected terrorists laid ambush in one of their base few metres away from the Shehu’s palace where a suicide bomber struck at a Central Mosque yesterday.
The incident, Saturday Vanguard gathered took place at about 2pm which forced residents of the Shehuri ward and environs to vacate their homes as they would no longer resist the sound of sporadic gunshots that followed from the JTF upon their arrival at the scene.
The JTF Spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa who confirmed the incident, said, a JTF patrol vehicle was attacked at about 1300 hrs of the day in Shehuri general area by suspected Boko Haram terrorists and the attack was resisted.
The incident, according to Sagir led to the killing of two members of the terrorist group, 2 JTF personnel who were unfortunately wounded, and are stable but are now responding to treatment at UMTH.
Sagir explained that 25 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the incidence.
Similarly, an improvised explosive device was detected by own troops and detonated by the bomb disposal unit of the task force. The incident occurred at Bulunkutu area, of Maiduguri metropolis today at about 1130 hrs. Thus, the shootings and explosion are the result of the mentioned occurrences. Earlier,
Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, the JTF spokesman stated that “Following intelligence report, a special operation was conducted on Thursday, July 26, and early hours of Friday, 27 July, 2012 in Maiduguri.
“The operation led to the arrest of 26 suspected terrorists believed to be members of the terrorists group at Biafra Bula-Bulin, Kasuwan Shanu and GRA in Maiduguri metropolis.”
Musa said that the suspects were believed to be the brains behind the killing of two Indians on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
“Some of the suspects were responsible for the killings of two Indians, a cleric and several others in Maiduguri in the
recent past.’’
Musa said that two AK 47 Rifles, three magazines, 200 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition were also recovered during the raid.
“We also recovered a primed Improvised Explosive Device, which was detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the JTF as well as cutlasses, daggers and charms.
“There was also a blood stained cloth used during the killing of a cleric in Kasuwan Shanu, Maiduguri.”
Musa said that the items and suspects were kept in the custody of the JTF for necessary action. (NAN)
Post-UTME candidates write screening exam at UNN under tight security
Nsukka(Enugu State) – Security was beefed up at University of
Nigeria Nsukka, on Friday as the university conducted the post-UTME
test for students seeking admission into its programmes.
The examination is holding on Friday and Saturday.
The university authorities had cancelled the test midway in June after they discovered that the questions had leaked.
A security officer in the university, who pleaded anonymity, said in Nsukka on Friday that some roads were cordoned off and security agents deployed to strategic places as part of measures to control human traffic during the test.
“All vehicles are searched thoroughly at the university entrance gate. Both commercial and private motorcycles are not allowed entry into the university.
“There are designated places for private cars during these two days of the exam. Candidates are scanned by police anti-bomb squad before they are allowed into exam halls.
“All these measures are to ensure a hitch free examination,” he said.
A candidate, Mr Mellitus Okafor, commended the university’s arrangement, saying that there was 100 per cent improvement compared to what obtained in the previous exercise.
“Do you know that by 10. 54 a.m. exam had started whereas in the last one, by 3p.m. clearance of candidates was still in progress.
“ Peoplewho were not writing the exam were chased away.
“Checking of names by invigilators and supervisors were very fast and with seriousness.
” What I have seen today impressed me, I am no longer annoyed over the cancellation of the screening exam last month because there is better arrangement now,” Okafor said.
Another candidate, Miss Grace Ade, said that she was satisfied with the arrangements and conduct of the test.
“There is no much stress this time when compared with what I suffered in the one that was cancelled.
‘I am happy with UNN management for correcting many faults that marred the last screening,” Ade said.
When contracted, Mr Gabriel Ndu, the university’s Public Relations Officer, said that it was the hard work of the university’s management that translated into the success of the examination.
“Management looked into the factors that led to the cancellation of the last one and made necessary corrections.
“The management has been working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free screening exam,’
“UNNis happy on the orderly conduct of candidates today and urged those who will write on Saturday to show the same high level of discipline,” Ndu said. (NAN)
The examination is holding on Friday and Saturday.
The university authorities had cancelled the test midway in June after they discovered that the questions had leaked.
A security officer in the university, who pleaded anonymity, said in Nsukka on Friday that some roads were cordoned off and security agents deployed to strategic places as part of measures to control human traffic during the test.
“All vehicles are searched thoroughly at the university entrance gate. Both commercial and private motorcycles are not allowed entry into the university.
“There are designated places for private cars during these two days of the exam. Candidates are scanned by police anti-bomb squad before they are allowed into exam halls.
“All these measures are to ensure a hitch free examination,” he said.
A candidate, Mr Mellitus Okafor, commended the university’s arrangement, saying that there was 100 per cent improvement compared to what obtained in the previous exercise.
“Do you know that by 10. 54 a.m. exam had started whereas in the last one, by 3p.m. clearance of candidates was still in progress.
“ Peoplewho were not writing the exam were chased away.
“Checking of names by invigilators and supervisors were very fast and with seriousness.
” What I have seen today impressed me, I am no longer annoyed over the cancellation of the screening exam last month because there is better arrangement now,” Okafor said.
Another candidate, Miss Grace Ade, said that she was satisfied with the arrangements and conduct of the test.
“There is no much stress this time when compared with what I suffered in the one that was cancelled.
‘I am happy with UNN management for correcting many faults that marred the last screening,” Ade said.
When contracted, Mr Gabriel Ndu, the university’s Public Relations Officer, said that it was the hard work of the university’s management that translated into the success of the examination.
“Management looked into the factors that led to the cancellation of the last one and made necessary corrections.
“The management has been working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free screening exam,’
“UNNis happy on the orderly conduct of candidates today and urged those who will write on Saturday to show the same high level of discipline,” Ndu said. (NAN)
Another police officer killed in Bauchi
Bauchi – Barely 48 hours after three police officers were ambushed
and killed by unknown gunmen along Bauchi-Gombe road, another police
officer has been assassinated at his residence in Bauchi.
The deceased, Abdullahi Shehu, former ADC to the former Deputy Governor of the state, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, met his untimely death on Friday night when unknown gunmen invaded his Zango residence in Bauchi metropolis.
A family source on Saturday in Bauchi, that the gunmen arrived at the residence of the deceased on a motorcycle at about 8.45 p.m. when he was having the Ramadan evening meal with some friends and relations.
The source said that one of the gunmen asked the gathering who among them was called Abdullahi, adding that the deceased then stood up to identify himself and was shot by one of the assailants.
“We took him to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where he was confirmed dead,’’ the source said.
The family source added that the deceased had been buried in accordance with Islamic rite.
The Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Auyo, confirmed the incident and said that investigations had commenced into the matter. (NAN)
The deceased, Abdullahi Shehu, former ADC to the former Deputy Governor of the state, Abdulmalik Ibrahim, met his untimely death on Friday night when unknown gunmen invaded his Zango residence in Bauchi metropolis.
A family source on Saturday in Bauchi, that the gunmen arrived at the residence of the deceased on a motorcycle at about 8.45 p.m. when he was having the Ramadan evening meal with some friends and relations.
The source said that one of the gunmen asked the gathering who among them was called Abdullahi, adding that the deceased then stood up to identify himself and was shot by one of the assailants.
“We took him to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, where he was confirmed dead,’’ the source said.
The family source added that the deceased had been buried in accordance with Islamic rite.
The Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Auyo, confirmed the incident and said that investigations had commenced into the matter. (NAN)
Monday, 23 July 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
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