ALLEN JOBIS

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Pope Francis named TIME's Person of the Year 2013

After only nine months as the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has been named TIME magazine Person of the Year 2013. TIME said the former Argentinian Cardinal has become the 'new voice of conscience and is the person who had the greatest impact on the world in 2013.

"Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly - young and old, faithful and cynical - as Pope Francis," editors at Time Magazine said.

The runner-up to the Pope is the National Security Agency whistle blower, Edward Snowden.

Pics:Nelson Mandela's body lying in state in Pretoria

The body of late anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela this morning arrived at South African government Union Building, Pretoria, where it will lie in state for three days.

The public, invited heads of states and international guests will be able to view his body from today till Friday. He will be buried in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday Dec. 15th.

FG cancels resumption ultimatum, pays N200b requested by ASUU

With the apparent stance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities on non resumption until the agreement between them and the Federal government has been honored, the Federal Government in a re-conciliatory move removed the ultimatum earlier placed on lecturers to resume otherwise their appointments would be terminated. FG has also provided proof of disbursement of N200billion to the educational trust account which was one of the criteria earlier given by lecturers for resumption.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, showed a letter with reference number GVD/DGO/GEN/MP/05/151 which was addressed to the Auditor-General of the Federation and titled: “Confirmation of the Execution of your Mandate for the Credit of Account No…Revitalization of Universities Infrastructure Account.”
The letter stated: “I write to confirm the execution of the following mandates by the Central Bank of Nigeria for funding of the above mentioned account as follows:
Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/30/DF – 129,300,000,000.00
Mandate FD/F124/Vol XII/120/DF – 20,700,000,000.00
Mandate FD/LP2013/40/1/DF – 50,000,000,000.0
“I wish to further confirm that the available balance in the aforementioned account is N200,000,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Billion Naira Only).
“Please, accept the assurances of my best regards.”

As regards cancellation of the ultimatum, Doyin Okupe said about 90% of the lecturers had resumed nationwide so the talk of deadline resumption has dropped.

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

"Lots of cheques that people donated bounced" OJB says in new interview

During a recent interview with HipHop World magazine, OJB said that many cheques given to him towards his kidney transplant, bounced.

There are well meaning and bitter people in Naija. Most people were just complaining and these people didn’t even donate. All the figures flying in the air then were just fake and make-belief from different angles because if we had the money we wouldn’t have the governor donate N16million.

Lots of cheques that some people donated bounced. I don’t want to mention names and when we called them to come for their cheques they didn’t come for it. We didn’t want to talk about it in the media because it was about saving a life.

He also talks about his gratitude to his wife for donating her kidney to him, and about the man who gave him N6m to renovate his house, $10,000 for medical expenses and bought him a 2010 Land Rover.
About his wife, he says:

I will say she is a wonderful person because it is one thing if God is telling you to do something but another to do it. It takes a lot of courage to actually do it. Just as Jesus had made the water for Peter to walk on, Peter needed a lot of courage to take that step and that was what she did at that dying minute.

Even when the doctors came to tell her that they would have to cut her all the way to the back and would have to remove a rib so they could have access to the kidney and if after that you still go ahead to do it then that is serious courage.

About the man who gave him a lot, OJB tells Encomium magazine

A man named Felix Edebor who lives in Abuja has been very helpful. The first day he came he dropped N6million cheque, and it really encouraged us to start the building. When we were India he visited us and gave us $10,000. He later started talking about my mobility and days after he bought me a Land Rover LR 3 2010 model for me. And I didn't know the guy from Adam. I just feel what happened was not human.

Photos from Nelson Mandela's Memorial Service

Today Dec. 10th witnessed the greatest gathering of world leaders in modern history. 91 Presidents of the world, including the US president, UK PM, and Cuba president attended the memorial service of late Dr. Nelson Mandela, at the FNB Stadium (Soccer City) in Johannesburg.

Messi, Ribery and Ronaldo head three-man Ballon d'Or shortlist

Bayern Munich player Frank Ribery, Barcelona player Lionel Messi & Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo are the final contenders for this year's FIFA World Footballer of the Year.
Messi has won it 4 times, Ronaldo once while Ribery has never won it. Who do you think deserves it this year?

Photos: Africa Magic @10 and AMVCA nominee announcement

The Africa Magic at 10 birthday and the Africa Magic Viewer's Choice Award nominee announcement held on Thursday December 5th at Landmark Events Centre, Oniru. Above are Uche Jombo, Eku Edewor and Damilola Adegbite on the red carpet.