Alexander Mayshera’s Blog

Call her Margaret Thatcher of Nollywood and you will not be accused of any wrong. In deed, in most of the roles she plays in the movies, she comes across as a no-nonsense woman. But then, many wouldn’t believe that she is a direct opposite of the ‘wicked’ character she often portrays on screen. A day with Patience Ozokwor at her residence in Enugu revealed the actress popularly known as Mama Gee as a devoted Christian and dedicated prayer warrior who would not hurt a fly. The widow and mother of four children was a reporter`s delight as she kept the tape rolling throughout the exclusive interview session. She categorically told The Entertainer that though men do pester her for marriage as old as she is, she has decided not to remarry. Ozokwor, however, maintained that if she comes to this world again, she would choose her husband by herself. The actress bared her mind on a wide range of issues. Excerpts: What have you been doing lately? I have been working with the

Two monkeys have created a splash among experts after proving that apes can learn to do the chest stroke. Cooper the chimp and Suryia the orangutan have caused a monkey puzzle that has left scientists scratching their heads. Most land mammals instinctively doggy paddle in the water by paddling their paws but until now it was believed that great apes were very poor swimmers. Monkeys usually flounder around in a flurry of limbs when they find themselves out of their depth and some have even drowned in zoos that use moats to keep them enclosed. But these two have shown they can learn the chest stroke after being brought up by humans in the USA. Scientists watched Cooper swim in his pool in Missouri where he enjoys retrieving objects from the bottom. And Suryia was filmed at a private zoo in South Carolina swimming 12m independently. Both used a leg movement similar to the frog kick used by humans to do the chest stroke. Researcher Renata Bender said: “It was very su

In a chat with the media the Chocolate City rapper who was recently decorated as best Africa act by BET said ‘ My fans should expect art, that what I call my album. There are lots of surprises’. The album will feature works from producers such  Don Jazzy, Sarz,  and  Sunny Negie The much anticipated album will also feature major international collaborations with the likes of  Chipmunk, Wale  and  French Montana . Fire of Zamani is due to be released on September 7, 2013.

South Africa has marked the first anniversary of the deaths of 34 people killed during a wage-related strike at a platinum mine in Marikana last year. More than 5,000 people on Friday filled the field around the two hills outside Marikana where many of the killings took place last year. The victims, 34 of them miners at the platinum mine in the North-West province, were shot and killed by police in a crackdown reminiscent of the apartheid-era police brutality. Seventy-eight people were injured in the violence. Police said they opened fire on the miners in self-defence. The killing of the 34 miners was preceded by the deaths of 10 people, including two police officers and two security guards. The strike began on August 10 last year when Lonmin rock drillers pressed demands for a monthly salary of $1,251 . More workers joined the strike and the protesters gathered at a hill near Nkaneng informal settlement carrying weapons, such as pangas, spears, knobkerries, and

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended). This is according to a statement released by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. A.C. Ogakwu which further mentioned the two new parties registered as the Independent Democrats (ID) and the Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM). She stated also that the commission approved, apart from the  names, the Constitution, Manifesto, Logo/Flag and list of National Executive Officers. The commission yesterday in a press statement signed by Mr Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to Professor Attahiru Jega on behalf of the commission ‘vehemently’ refuted claims that it registered the Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM), purportedly floated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a claim that the former Vice-President has distanced himse

With Yomi Black directing, the debut edition of Wardrobe Insider gives viewers an experience into the lives and style of celebrity designer Yvonne Nwosu of Vonne Couture. Yvonne Nwosu talks all about her red carpet style, fashion essentials and celebrity clients – past, current and dream. “As much as I love taking pictures, I’m actually camera shy when it comes to video recordings, so I’m pretty surprised I went ahead with this. But at the end of the session, I had so much fun talking to the Losode team, and I ended up loving every minute of it!” said Yvonne Nwosu of her video. “It provided me with an opportunity to give my brand a voice, and what girl doesn’t love talking about her wardrobe!? The Losode team made me feel really comfortable in front of the camera and it was such an enjoyable experience. Thanks Losode!” she added.

Tiwa Savage and her manager, Tee Bills, got engaged few months back and it appears they are ready to have their big wedding. At Sharon Adeleke’s (Davido’s sister) star studded wedding which held yesterday in Lagos, Tiwa Savage  told her fiance that their wedding must be next! See message below. “I aint no Connoisseur but I am sure that she loves my taste” – he posted this on his instagram page too.

Arsene Wenger has given subtle hints, that he might return with an improved offer for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, while he might also consider submitting an opening bid for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. The Frenchman was speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa. When he was asked about the two players and the planned bids, he affirmed that the media were “well informed”, but refused to be drawn on names. “I don’t want to come out on specific names as that would not be right, but the first request we have is do they have the quality to play for Arsenal Football Club,” Wenger said. “We are not scared to spend money, but only on the right players. We would like two or three players, possibly more, but we will not compromise on the quality. I understand every frustration [of the fans]. What is important is the quality we put on the football pitch, but let’s not create a crisis from nothing. “We played a good game last week [to be

The people of Jigawa state were thrown into mourning following the death of two prominent politicians, Deputy speaker, State House of Assembly, Honourable Inuwa Sule Udi and former Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Salisu Ibtahim Dandoka. Honourable Inuwa Sule Udi a third term member representing Ringim constituency at the Jigawa State House of Assembly died along with his driver Malam Mas’ud Ringim in an accident along Kano-Ringim road, the accident on Thursday night during the heavy down pour. The former Commissioner in the State Ministry of Education and Information during Ex-Governor Saminu Turaki’s regime, Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim Dandoka died after a brief illness at the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. The deceases Deputy Speaker, Inuwa Sule and Alhaji Salisu Dandoka will be buried in their home towns Ringim and Kazaure today according to Islamic rites, they were survived by wives, children and grand children. May Their Souls Rest In Peace !!!

The Joint Task Force(JTF) in Kano arrested a suspected Boko Haram member at the residence of the son of late former Head of State Sani Abacha, Mohammed, Daily Trust reliably gathered. It was gathered that the suspect who is a domestic aide of Abacha’s son at his residence located on Magajin Rumfa road at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Nasarawa local government area of the state was trailed to the house following the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram member in Maiduguri, Borno State. Security forces comprising men of the Nigerian Army and those of the State Security Service (SSS) went to the residence at around 1pm on Wednesday. A source close to the family told Daily Trust that the security operatives arrived the house at a time when the aides of Mohammed were saying their Zuhr prayers. “They came during the Zuhr prayers; in fact the people around in the house were observing the prayers. The security men alighted from their cars and about 10 of them who were

The feat made her the third Nigerian woman to run in the finals of the 200m at the IAAF World championships after Mary Onyali and Fatimah Yusuf. Running in the second semi-final alongside three-time winner and one of the big favourites for the gold medal, Allyson Felix of the USA, the Nigerian ran a relaxed race to pick the second automatic ticket for Friday (tonight’s) final behind Felix who ran a new personal season’s best of 22.31. Okagbare, with a season’s best of 22.31 seconds is one of the athletes tipped for medals. She is up against formidable foes in Felix; 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pyrce and Cote d’Ivoire’s Murielle Ahoure who is the fastest African woman this year at 22.24 seconds. Okagbare said after her race on Thursday that there are no favourites in tonight’s final. Although the reigning Nigeria 200m champion admits she is not in the shape, she is however determined to race to the podium to become the first Nigerian woman to win a 200m medal a

An end may be in sight for the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, as the Federal Government is said to be offering N30 billion as earned allowances to the striking university lecturers. According to a top official of the Federal Ministry of Education, due to the dwindling revenue base of the government, it was ready to offer N30 billion to the striking lecturers to end the strike. The official believes government’s position is a sincere approach in ending the strike amid dwindling revenue profile occasioned by oil theft and macro-economic measures aimed at diversifying the economy. All the demands of the striking lecturers had been resolved except one, the issue of ‘earned allowances’, which they have put at N87 billion. The N30 billion, which the federal government was offering, according to the source, was in the conviction that considering the nation’s current revenue base, ASUU would make some sacrifices and go back to work in

A certain young man, Ahmed Indimi, in a bid to show off his wealth, munched his account balance and posted it on Instagram yesterday. Ahmed, who is the marketing director for Oriental Energy Resources, is the son of Billionaire Mohammed Indimi.

Somewhere In Africa is a powerful film that resonates with Africans as it captures the heinous stories of how some African regimes have maltreated their citizens. It is a total deviation from the popular love stories that have previously dominated Nollywood movie markets. It won an Africa Movie Academy Award in 2012 where Majid Michel was awarded Best Actor. It also won 5 awards at the Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards 2011 and 3 awards at the Ghana Movie awards 2011. The movie tells the story of a bloodthirsty military leader who establishes a new regime in Kimbala, a fictional African country, overthrowing the President and assuming position as of Head of State. A brave journalist heads on a mission to expose injustice there, under the guise of being a Reverend visiting on religious pilgrimage. Starring: Majid Michel, Amanobia Opoku Boakyi, Martha Ankomah, Eddie Nartey, Roselyn Ngissah, Kofi Adjorlolo, David Dontoh Directed by Frank Rajah Arase iROKOtv is the w

Los Angeles - Justin Bieber has been spotted on a date with a model. The Beauty and a Beat hitmaker was photographed picking up Ashley Moore before the pair enjoyed lunch at French restaurant Bouchon in Beverly Hills. The 19-year-old star collected his possible new love interest in style, impressing her with his blue Ferrari. The pair were first spotted together when photographs surfaced on New Year's Day, and according to reports in the Daily Mail newspaper they met through Justin's best friend Lil Twist. Reconcile with Selena In an interview, Ashley has explained she is kept "pretty busy" by her career - which she started professionally six months ago - but likes to keep active both physically and artistically in her spare time. She previously said: "[I go] surfing and I love the beach. I go to the beach a lot, or I like to write. "l'll go to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) gym from time to time to just play [basketball] but

Cambridge - Research has shown that people who have sex more than four times a week are more likely to make more money, Huffington Post reports. Nick Drydakis, a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labour at the University of Patras (Greece), reported this in a discussion paper. Drydakis performed a year-long survey of 7 500 Greek households. He asked the sample questions such as how many times they had sex per week, how much money they made and the amount of hours that they worked. According to the research, those who have sex frequently tend to be healthier and happier, and thus do better at work and make more money. The research was true for both homosexual and heterosexual people.

Abuja - The Academic Staff Union of Universities has faulted the statement by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that the union demanded N92bn, Vanguard reports. ASUU said it never demanded such an amount as earned allowances in the 2009 agreement it reached with the Federal Government. Okonjo-Iweala said on Wednesday that the Federal Government couldn’t meet the N92bn allowances as demanded by the union. ASUU, in a statement by the University of Ibadan branch chairman, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, described the amount mentioned by the minister as “the imagination of the minister.”

Gombe - The Police in Gombe have confirmed the killing of eight robbery suspects in Barunde area, a suburb of Gombe metropolis, in the early hours of Thursday. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday that the suspects were killed during a shoot-out with members of the Joint Task Force (JTF). “Upon receiving a report early this morning, members of the JTF moved to a criminal hide-out in Barunde, where they engaged some criminals in a gun duel that lasted almost three hours. “Eight of them were killed while many others were wounded,” he said. Atajiri appealed to the people of the state to report any person they see with bullet wounds to security agents. He said the suspects were among those that attacked a petrol filling station in Gombe metropolis recently, killing two policemen and later ransacking a supermarket. The spokesperson urged residents, especially landlords in the st