FELLOW NIGERIANS,

1.           Today marks 53 years of our Independence as a nation. First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations to us all. Through thick and thin, we have built this country together. Through triumphs and trials, we have developed a Nigerian identity in our own way.

2.           In truth, Nigeria is still a work in progress and we are challenged everyday to keep building in spite of the various obstacles that we face. Our strength has been in our diversity. If we look back over the years, we can say confidently that there is every reason to celebrate.

3.           Today’s Independence anniversary is unique because it is the last before we mark our centenary. On January 1, 2014, Nigeria will be 100 years old as a country, following the amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria in 1914.

4.           Beloved country men and women, traditionally, the Presidential address on this symbolic day has served two purposes.  It has, quite rightly, been used to remind all Nigerians about our heritage.  It has also allowed my predecessors and I to comment on our stewardship to the nation and make political capital out of a state occasion.


5.           But this year, I will not. Because, today of all days, we should not be scoring political points. On the contrary, in this last year of the first century of our Union, we should be addressing our future as a Nation and a people!


6.           I admit that these may not be the best of times for our nation. Our people are divided in many ways – ethnically, religiously, politically, and materially. I cannot hide from this reality. I cannot hide from my own responsibilities.


7.           As we prepare to mark the centenary, therefore, today offers us an opportunity to reflect on our long journey to nationhood and the progress we have made so far. Whatever the challenges that we may face, we have every reason to be proud of our national accomplishments; we have every reason to remain proud and optimistic. Our collective national journey has witnessed great watersheds, thanks to our spirit of endurance, perseverance and sacrifice.  Getting the rest of the job done with determination and courage is just a matter of time. We are Nigerians, a nation of talented people, endowed with resources, potentials, and Divine Grace.

8.           In our journey to greatness as a nation, we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy. Our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate. We are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong and capable of withstanding the present social, economic and political challenges that still confront us.


9.           In saying this, I am reminded of the comments I made a week ago to a cross-section of Nigerians in New York during the 68th United Nations General Assembly. I declare now as I declared then: we have a duty as Nigerians, whatever may be our differences or prejudices, to always put Nigeria first.


10.       Our politics should be an art of patriotic labour and selfless service to the community, particularly by the political elite who are placed in positions of great trust and responsibility. Politics has its own high moral principles which abhor distracting and divisive rhetoric. As men and women in leadership, we must continually focus on service, duty, responsibility, and the next generation. Those who are elected to govern at all levels must focus on improving the lives of our people, not selfish ambition.

Uchenna Nnanna’s Wedding Photo: Nigerian Actress Marries Boyfriend Secretly In Abia Today
Few weeks after her younger sister Chikodi Nnanna married an Oyinbo man, Paul Francios Wildenberg from Netherlands in Ikeja Lagos, Nollywood actressUchenna Nnannahas secretlymarriedher fiance, a Spain-based big boy named Richard Uchechukwu Maduka who hails fromAbia State.
According to sources, the beautiful actress and her boo are currently doing asecret traditional weddingat Ihechiowa in Arochukwu LGA of Abia state.
As a matter of choice, the actress made her wedding secret even her Nollywood colleagues are yet to be informed of her change of marital status.
I love their traditional wedding outfit.
Congrats toUchenna Nnannaand her husband.
Will bring you official wedding photos soon.

It seems as though our “Nollywood Bad Boy” Jim Iyke is turning a new leaf! Over the last few days, his tweets have taken a spiritual turn and now BRIM HOMEreceived photos and details on Jim’s “deliverance” at Prophet T.B. Joshua‘s Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

Students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) on Thursday in Kano gave the Federal Government one week ultimatum to meet all the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or face wrath of Nigerian students.

The students, who staged a peaceful protest under the auspices of a Student Union Government (SUG), BUK chapter, urged the Federal Government to respect and implement the 2009 ASUU/FG agreement, insisting that the two parties should come to the negotiation table and settle their scores for the interest of Nigerian students.

Addressing the crowd at BUK gate, the university’s SUG President, Comrade Sani Ibrahim, said they were forced to stage the protest, “because we are tired of staying at home. Our mates in other countries are in school; why should the case of Nigerian students be different.”

“As part of the struggle to fight for our right, I will like to salute our students for their patience while receiving the negative consequences of bad governance. We believe that the delay in resuming lectures in our universities is not only lamentable but also devastating. We believe even more strongly that now is the time to let our leaders know that enough is enough and we shall wake up and say no to injustice being meted out to Nigerian students.

“Similarly, we call on the Federal Government to respect the 2009 agreement reached between government and ASUU. We also call on the government to review the annual budget for the education sector from eight per cent to 26 per cent, so as to ensure adequate rehabilitation of infrastructures in our universities, including hostels, laboratories, potable water and constant supply of electricity.

“In the same vein, we are calling on ASUU to give government more opportunity to dialogue so as to quickly resolve the differences in the best interest of Nigerian students. We are giving ASUU and Federal Government one week to sort themselves out and resume lectures, otherwise, Nigerian students will look for other alternatives to fight for our right. Education is our right and no one should take it away from us,” Ibrahim noted.

What’s the secret to your success?
It’s been challenging but I give the glory to God because He has been faithful. It’s not been easy trying to climb the ladder of success. You encounter all kinds of challenges. A lot of people will love you and a lot would hate you. But so far I give Glory to God; I thank God for being there. He has always been my strength. I always run to Him when I have challenges.

What’s been your most challenging role?
All the movies I have done are very challenging. Basically, I could say that movies like Warri Girl and Tough Wife were the most challenging.


Outside of acting, who is Ejiro?
Ejiro is just a normal girl from Delta State. I am the last from a family of seven. My parents are in Lagos.


What’s your assessment of Nollywood?
It has created jobs and provided food for many families. Nollywood has taking a lot of people to many places and opened a lot of doors. It has built many career men and women. Although, we still have some challenges here and there but we are doing our best.

Were you sexually harassed as an upcoming actress?
I didn’t set myself up to be sexually harassed. However, the issue of sexual harassment is in every organization not just Nollywood. It happens everywhere.


So, you are in a relationship now?
Yes, I am seeing my boyfriend.

What attracted you to him?
His composure and understanding makes him different. Generally, he is that kind of a man that understands the nature of my work. If I want to go anywhere, all he needs is for me to tell him where I am going to work.

You are not getting younger. When is he taking you down the aisle?
You will get the invite soon; I am old enough to get married and have children.

What kept you long from getting married?
What kept me long was that I had not found the right man.

Was it in Nollywood that you lost your virginity?
(Laughter) No comment bros, no comment. When did you lose your own?

What is your view about lesbianism in the industry?
I think it is demonic. I won’t say much about it because a lot of people are involved. The industry needs divine intervention so God can erase such people from the industry. It has eaten deep and it is affecting us. That’s why we need to seek the presence of God. Lesbianism is a sign of the end of time.

Have you been a victim before?
No, not really. I think it is when you give room for these things that they occur. I was in Abuja for a particular event when a lady asked me to sit on her laps. I was like ‘what, sit on your laps! For what?’ I left and got my own chair.

 Yaya Toure volleyed in the opener to give City hope of recording a first away win of the season.

Karim El Ahmadi's close-range finish levelled matters only for Edin Dzeko to head City back into the lead.

But Villa equalised through Leandro Bacuna's free-kick before snatching the three points when Andreas Weimann raced through and poked home late on.

The win was Villa's first at home this season and the second half performance will have given home fans plenty to be happy about - particularly the display of Dutch midfielder Bacuna.

The summer signing from FC Groningen provided the assist for Villa's first, while his equalising free-kick - his first Premier League goal - would have been difficult for any goalkeeper to keep out.

City had arrived at Villa Park looking to maintain the momentum built up from their impressive 4-1 defeat of Manchester United last weekend, a third successive home win in the Premier League.

But for all their dominance at the Etihad Stadium this season, they have been disappointing on the road.

Paul Karason was born a fair-skinned, freckled boy with reddish blond hair. But later, he developed skin with a bluish tinge against his shock of white hair, the result of a rare medical syndrome known as argyria or silver poisoning from dietary supplements.

Karason died at the age of 62 this week after being treated for pneumonia at a Washington hospital after having suffered a heart attack. He'd also previously had a severe stroke, his estranged wife Jo Anna Karason told NBC's Today.

ABCNews.com interviewed Karason in 2008. At the time he lived in Oregon. He said the blue tinge had started more than a decade before that when he saw an ad in a new-age magazine promising health and rejuvenation through colloidal silver. He drank about 10 ounces a day of the home-brew that he dissolved in water.

Karason said he hadn't even realized his skin had turned a shade of blue until an old friend came to visit.

"And he looks at me and he says, 'What have you got on your face?' 'I don't have anything on my face!'" Karason said. "He says, 'Well, it looks like you've got camouflage makeup on or something.' And by golly, he came in and he was very fair-skinned, as I used to be. And that's when it hit me."

In those first months, he didn't notice a change in his skin color. But there were changes in his health.

"The acid reflux problem I'd been having just went away completely," he said. "I had arthritis in my shoulders so bad I couldn't pull a T-shirt off. And the next thing I knew, it was just gone."

As for whether it was the colloidal silver that had cured him, Karason said, "There's not the slightest doubt in my mind." As recently as the 1950s, colloidal silver was a common remedy for colds and allergies.