EMBATTLED President of the Actors
Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Segun Arinze has resigned from office. In a letter dated
May 2, and addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Prince
Ifeanyi Dike, which was made available to The Guardian, Arinze said following
the recent happenings in the guild, which climaxed with the last botched
elections in Benin.’ He described the April 27 election in Benin City as
‘a sad development for AGN.’ Arinze said: “My tenure as president ended last
year, December 9, but I stayed on in deference to the BoT and the vast majority
of our members who prevailed on me to oversee a successful transition through a
free and fair election.
The events in Benin City are now
a common knowledge. I even constituted an independent electoral committee to
forestall any electoral rancour or external influences. For my integrity and
honour, I hereby resign as president of Actor’s Guild of Nigeria (AGN), and it
comes into effect immediately. I thank the BoT, the state chapter chairmen,
presidents of other guilds in Nollywood, all AGN members and the media for the
tremendous support given to me during my tenure. I also thank my wife, Julie,
for holding on during the challenging period of service to the guild. I wish
the guild the very best as we move forward.’
Before he gave notice of this resignation, Arinze had issued a statement where he apologised for the electoral commission’s inability to conduct the election, which was to hold at Baden Baden Hotel, Benin City.
“To say it was embarrassing, disappointing and a blight on the image of the guild would be an understatement”, Arinze said. He assured that the kind of behaviour showed by some members of the guild, which led to the suspension of the election would not be tolerated, neither should it go unpunished, a reason the leadership of the guild arrived at some resolutions including the dissolution of the Actors Guild Electoral Committee (AGNEC).
The setting up of a three-man panel of inquiry to find out what happened and make recommendations within two weeks and a meeting of all candidates of the botched election, which was scheduled to hold yesterday. The candidates expected include the actress Ibinabo Fiberisima and Steve Eboh (a.k.a Ajebo) who both vied for the position of President.
Arinze, in that statement, also directed all state chapters that have not conducted elections to do so as soon as possible. He also stated that an all-new independent AGNEC would be set up immediately and free from any interference. Arinze stressed his commitment to the emergence of a new leadership for the AGN and further appealed for calm and restraint and assured that the leadership of the guild would do everything humanly possible to resolve all begging issues. But with Arinze’s resignation, the guild has been thrown into further confusion.
Emeka Rollas, the Secretary General, who should have taken charge in the absence of a sitting president, resigned to contest the April 27 election. The guild is now at the mercy of its sit-tight BoT, which has been fingered as responsible for the botched election. Even Arinze was accused of not allowing the electoral committee to be ‘truly independent.’
A member of the electoral committee, Ben Nwosu, lamented their failure to live to expectation because of undue interference by ‘the president and members of the BoT.’ However, a member of the BoT, Emmanuel Ogugua absolved the committee of any blame. He, however, confirmed that BoT has received and accepted Arinze’s resignation.
Ogugua, a former president and founding member of the AGN, disclosed that BoT was already shopping for a caretaker chairman that will oversee the running of the guild for another three months. “We have started talking to some people and should conclude our discussion in a few days. We would shop for and appoint an administrator to run the guild for three months, conduct elections and hand over power. We are taking our time and carefully not to appoint anyone that will become power drunk and would not want to vacate office”, Ogugua said
BETWEEN 1998 and 2010, Nigeria and other African countries attracted $554 billion Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), according to a report just released by KPMG Africa.
The report was released yesterday, at the ongoing World Economic Forum on Africa 2012, which is expected to end today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to the report titled: “African Emergence—The Rise of the Phoenix”, revealed new themes around the three mega-trends currently shaping business in Africa, specifically high demand for natural resources, increased consumerism by an emerging African middle class and large-scale investments in infrastructure.
Though the report stated that FDIs in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and other African countries increased dramatically over the last decade, from $110 billion at the end of 1998 to $554 billion at the end of 2010, it noted that the overall FDIs were still relatively small compared to other emerging market economies.
According to the report China alone attracted $578.8 billion at the end of 2010, more than all African countries combined, while Brazil had FDI worth $472.6 billion within the same time.
The report said empirical evidence has indicated that in a few years time, South Africa may no longer be the largest economy on the continent, as Nigeria and other countries are likely to close the gap.
Commenting, the Chairman, KPMG Africa Limited, Yunus Suleman said, “FDIs are essential component of Africa’s sustainable, positive future. And it’s good for investors too. There is undoubtedly money to be made in Africa, which is recognised today as one of the world’s most attractive high growth markets.”
Suleman said that improvement in the business, political and macroeconomic environments across the continent have made African economies more attractive for FDIs than ever before.
He explained that the end of the Cold War which ended in more than two decades ago brought new freedom to Africa, adding that people started to demand political representation, beside calling on governments to be more transparent.
In his own remarks, CEO, KPMG, East Africa, Josphat Mwaura said Unlike China, India and Brazil, Africa is a continent of 54 very diverse countries, each with its own natural and cultural endowment as well as regulatory environment to be navigated through. He noted that whilst regional economic integration was creating greater economies of scale and lesser complexity, doing business in Africa required a deep understanding of the landscape and experience in translating the immense opportunities into rewarding returns.
“Without this direction, many international investors have burnt their fingers and somewhat contributed to the earlier skepticism about the prospects of the continent. Those who have been guided through the complexity of Africa have realised premium returns unseen anywhere else in the world and are part of the emerging story of Africa as a priority investment destination”, he stated.
Mwaura explained that Africa still exports mainly minerals and hydrocarbons. He said the top five hydrocarbon exporters namely Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Libya and Nigeria account for 50 per cent of all exports from Africa and have experienced an 89.2 per cent increase between 2001 and 2010, mostly due to an increase of petroleum exports.
According to him, of all oil exports from Africa, Europe and the United States account for about a third, with gradually decreasing amounts during recent years, adding that China and India has most of the market share and have maintained robust economic growth rates despite the global financial crisis.
“Demand for non-oil commodities from Africa, such as gold, platinum, diamonds, iron and copper are equally shifting from Europe and the United States mainly to China. By the end of 2010, 12.9 per cent of Africa’s non-oil exports went to China, almost five times more than 10 years earlier. This dependence on exports of natural resources makes Africa vulnerable to volatility of global commodity prices”, he stated.
The clash between Manchester City and Queens Park
Rangers on Sunday will be one of the most watched among the 10 games on
the last day of the 2011/2012 Premier League season.
For the
not-so-simple reason that City need the game to win the league for the
first time and QPR need at least a draw to survive relegation, the game
will draw attention even from the fans of rival clubs.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni is already in a dilemma. He will
have to decide whether to remain at Blackburn Rovers or not after the
club were confirmed for relegation following their loss to Wigan
Athletic last weekend.
Three other Nigerians – Taye Taiwo, Nedum Onuoha and Danny Shittu — in the Rangers squad will not want to join Aiyegbeni in the lower division. It will be a battle of their livesto keep the team in the elite division. Besides their commitment to the club, they all have their personal reasons to ensure City don’t win at the Etihad Stadium.
Taiwo was a leading player in France at Marseille,
winning the Ligue 1 title and other domestic competitions with the team
but he moved to AC Milan last season and was tipped to hit his best form
at the Italian giants. Unexpectedly, however, he made just four
appearances for the Serie A club before his surprise loan move to QPR.
Taiwo’s loan deal means he would have to return to
Milan at the end of the season should QPR be relegated just as the club
have the option of buying him for £3.5m if he succeeds with them.
The problem is that the left-back does not want a
return to Italy where Milan manager, Massimiliano Allegri, was not keen
in fielding him during his short spell at the San Siro. Therefore, the
solution to keep playing regular topflight football by next season is to
get result at the Etihad Stadium.
For Onuoha, the story is not completely different; but he faces a little more complex situation.
The defender grew up supporting his local club,
Manchester City, he was a ball boy at the club and subsequently joined
their Academy. He graduated to the first team and played 95 games for
the Blues. No doubt City have been his first love, and they will always
be, as he has admitted. But duty calls on Sunday and he must make sure
City don’t win.
“If City could finish it off and win the title without finishing us off then I couldn’t be happier,” Onuoha told the London Evening Standard.
In one moment, the defender talks with genuine
excitement about what winning the Premier League would mean to City. The
next, he ponders the devastating impact relegation would have on QPR.
But Onuoha will still win even if QPR lose providing
Bolton don’t triumph at Stoke; that could also be said of City as long
as Manchester United fail to beat Sunderland.
The 25-year-old leaves no room for doubt that his loyalties are firmly with his new employers.
He said, “QPR staying up is the biggest thing for me,
no question. As long as we experience that emotion (of having secured
their Premier League status) then everything else is a bonus.
“The Etihad Stadium could be the best place in the
world this weekend if they win and we stay up but unfortunately that is
only one of many scenarios.
“But if it happens then there will be hugs for the QPR players and fans first and then I will give City the credit they deserve.
“I don’t think I’d be invited to their party if they win the league as I only played five minutes for them this season.
“However, it’s all about QPR. It’s in our own hands. We know we can’t rely on anyone.
“On a personal level it will be emotional, though,
going back to where I spent so many years. But to think they could win
the league and we could stay up — it would be one of the best days of my
career.”
Unlike Taiwo and Onuoha who joined QPR during their
topflight campaign, Shittu has a longer tie with the London club.
He
joined them in 2001 when they were still in League One. He helped them
gain promotion to the Championship in 2005 before leaving for other
clubs. He rejoined the club last year just before they gained promotion
to the Premier League.
He has not played any league game since his return
but that will not make him lose his commitment to the club. Besides,
should QPR go down, Shittu could be among the players to be shown the
exit door following the expiration of his contract at the end of the
season.
The Nigeria Football Federation has finally confirmed the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar as venue for next month’s 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches involving the Super Eagles.
The decision to play in Calabar follows the meeting between the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji. The venue will host the matches against Namibia and Rwanda respectively.
“The venue issue is now settled. We looked at all the options available to us and we decided Calabar is the best choice for now.
Although work has started on the pitch of the National Stadium, Abuja, it will not be ready to host the match, especially with FIFA asking us to confirm a venue by Friday,” Maigari said.
The search for the venue for the Eagles became extra
ordinary due to the twin factors of bad pitch and security problems as a
result of bombings in the northern part of the country. The poorly
managed National Stadium in Abuja now has a bad playing pitch. The
Kaduna venue, which would have served as the alternative venue, was
ruled out due security worries despite the behind-the-scenes political
manoeuvrings to have the match played at the venue. The NFF had to
jettison that idea when it became clear that the Eagles themselves, fans
and the visiting countries were not going to accept that venue.
Nigeria will take on Namibia for the FIFA World Cup
qualifying race on June 3 before flying to Blantyre the following
weekend to face the Flames of Malawi. The Eagles will return to Nigeria
to clash with the Amavubi of Rwanda in the return leg of a 2013 African
Cup of Nations qualifying fixture on June 17.
As the Eagles prepare with the friendly match against
Peru, the Namibians will train in Germany and play a warm-up game
against Mozambique as they prepare hard for the game against Nigeria.
Namibia, led by German technical director, Klaus Stark, will set up a
training camp in Kaiserau, Germany, from May 21.
During their 10-day stint in Germany, they will test
their readiness with warm-up games with Mozambique as well as German
lower league sides. The Brave warriors have called up 23 players mostly
drawn from the country’s league as well as from neighbouring South
Africa.
"Thompson has quickly lost the confidence of many employees, who think he has to go," one senior Yahoo executive told CNN. "A lot of people are saying, 'How can Yahoo let this happen?'"
The scandal ignited late last week when activist shareholder group Third Point alleged that Thompson lied about his college degree.
Thompson's published Yahoo bios -- including the one in the company's latest annual report, a legal document that CEOs must personally swear are truthful -- have claimed that he holds a bachelor's degree in both accounting and computer science from Stonehill College. His degree is actually in accounting only.
Yahoo (YHOO, Fortune 500) called the mistake an "inadvertent error." The board said Tuesday that it has hired outside counsel to conduct a review of the false statement. Soon after, the director who led Yahoo's CEO search committee announced that she would step down at the end of her current term.
One executive recruiter says she's surprised Yahoo let things get to this point.
Hiring a top executive like Thompson usually involves extensive background checks conducted by a specialized search firm, which digs into candidates' credit histories, arrest records, past employment and more.
"I can't remember a search I've ever done in which [education verification] wasn't something we did," says Jane Howze, managing director of The Alexander Group, which has worked with tech giants including Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) and Cisco (CSCO, Fortune 500). "Clearly something went wrong at major points in the process."
The Olympics are as much
about tradition and legacy as they are sporting events, with none so
vivid as the lighting of the torch which will now wind its way from
Olympia to the Games in London.
The solemn ceremony, held
in the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, saw actors in
ancient Greek costume use a mirror to harness the sun's rays and light
the Olympic torch.
It marks the start of the
flame's week-long journey to Britain, where it will begin an 8,000-mile
(12,875-kilometer) route across the country before entering at the new
stadium in east London.
Taking center stage in the lighting ceremony was
Greek actress Ino Menegaki as the traditional high priestess. Among the
dignitaries present were International Olympic Committee president Jacques
Rogge and London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe.
The first relay runner to take the flame was
Greece's Liverpool-born open water swimming champion Spyros Gianniotis.
He then passed it to 19-year-old British boxer
Alexander Loukos, who grew up in east London where the Olympic Stadium is now
situated, but whose father hails from Greece.
Making its way to Britain, the flame will first take
in Greek archaeological sites including the Acropolis and Olympic Stadium in
Athens, site of the first modern Games in 1896.
Arriving on May 19 at Land's End in the far
southwest of England, it will then wind its way through 1,019 communities,
carried by 8,000 torch-bearers.
The final leg will run from Hampton Court Palace,
the former home of King Henry VIII, before arriving at the opening ceremony on
July 27.
A report on a U.S. Internet Web site says British intelligence agents have reopened their investigation into the mysterious crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet January 25. The Boeing 737 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea minutes after takeoff from Beirut airport, killing all 90 people aboard.
News reports initially quoted witnesses as saying the plane had broken up in the air and fallen into the sea in a ball of flames. But Lebanese officials immediately ruled out terrorism, and suggested pilot error was to blame.
The "G2 Bulletin" Web site, which calls itself an independent online intelligence newsletter reports an operative of the group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula told interrogators the aircraft was destroyed by a suicide bomber trained in Yemen.
The operative is said to be among more than 100 terrorism suspects recently arrested in Saudi Arabia. He is reported to have told his captors the Beirut bomber trained in the same camp as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to set off a bomb in his underwear on a plane landing in Detroit on Christmas Day.
Ethiopian Airlines chief Girma Wake has been critical of what he called premature and misleading speculation about the cause of the Beirut crash. In a telephone interview, he cautioned that this latest report must be checked thoroughly. But he said it raises questions about why Lebanese politicians were so quick to rule out foul play and blame pilot error.
"The very fact the Lebanese authorities were saying the aircraft exploded in the air, or when they say there was a trace of fire as it was coming down. All this leads you to check it. I'm not saying that is the cause, but it leads you to check this," said Girma.
Girma declined to say what he thinks the cause may have been. He said, 'if you rush to conclusions, they will be the wrong conclusions.'
News reports from Saudi Arabia say the recently arrested terrorism suspects were part of a network of al-Qaida-affiliated radicals that included two suicide bombing cells.
Mahboub Maalim, head of the six-nation East African regional economic group known as IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), says al-Qaida-linked terror cells in the Arabian Peninsula are working with like-minded groups in the Horn of Africa.
"We're almost certain in Somalia the group al-Shabab is not a Somali group any more, and we think a lot of other nationalities are there in the name of that cell, the al-Qaida cell, and definitely we feel there is also a link with the group in Yemen," note Maalim.
A statement from the Saudi interior ministry last week said the recently arrested terrorism suspects were plotting attacks on oil and security installations. Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil exporter.
There has been little speculation about any terrorism motive in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines crash. But experts have noted that the crash occurred almost exactly five years after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, after whom Beirut's airport is named.
A Special Tribunal into the Hariri killing is reported nearing a conclusion that would bring the perpetrators to justice. An earlier United Nations backed probe said it had found evidence implicating senior officials of the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services.
