IKEDI OHAKIM WRITES PRESIDENT JONATHAN.

MEMO TO MR PRESIDENT

REPOSITIONING THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN IMO STATE.

PREAMBLE

I think I need not bore Your Excellency with details of the conduct and outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Imo state, since that is already well known to the President.

What I think I ought to restate is my commitment to ensuring a lasting legacy of peace and true democracy in Imo. I have already demonstrated this by quickly moving in to douse the political temperature in the state by accepting the result of the election as it is and announcing that I will not go to court.

The decision not to challenge the election in court is simply predicated on my avowal that the good people of Imo state should be saved the trauma of passing through another spate of court litigation that characterized my tenure. Differently put, I believe that I would, by this decision, save my successor the problem of facing the type of detractions I faced during my tenure.

As I prepare to leave office, I do so completely satisfied that I was, in spite of promptings from sundry quarters to do otherwise, able to allow a level play ground throughout the period of the electioneering campaign and the election proper. Apart from that this was in keeping with Mr President’s personal commitment to the growth of true democratic culture, I am certain that I have laid a good foundation for the growth of orderly democratic practice in Imo state. For example, my people in Imo state now know that it is possible to conduct party primaries that are devoid of intervention by the sitting governor.

THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN IMO STATE

In the time being, however, what I consider my immediate preoccupation is to take immediate steps to galvanize and reposition our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in Imo state.

With the outcome of the election, there are palpable fears that the PDP in Imo state would be like sheep without shepherd. Against the backdrop of certain external forces that are bent on controlling the political fortunes of the state, I hate to contemplate the prospects of our great party becoming an underdog in Imo state, the very heart of Igboland.

Consequently, there is need to evolve a deliberate strategy for galvanizing and sustaining the image of the party in the state and give our party faithful a sense of belonging. One sure way of doing this would be to empower the leadership of the party politically at the federal level. This may mean setting aside an important federal political position for me or any other party chieftain in the state as the President may deem fit as well as considering more Imo PDP members for appointment into Federal Commissions, agencies and parastatals.

If the President deems it fit, I would, with all sincerity and the deepest sense of responsibility, suggest that I be consulted while such appointment are being made; the reason being simply that having presided over the state in the last four years, I am in the best stead to evaluate the potency of federal appointments coming to the state under the new dispensation; in terms of which area gets what among the three zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri. This is especially so because there is need to avoid the same scenario wherein some areas would go into opposition simply because they felt that federal appointments did not favour them.

I OFFER TO SERVE

One thing Your Excellency may wish to bear in mind is that with the Governor and Deputy Governor going respectively to Orlu and Owerri zones, a Ministerial appointment coming to Imo should go to Okigwe zone, my home zone. In this regard, I offer myself for further service at that level if given the opportunity. Without any prejudice, I wish to remind Your Excellency that three areas I have demonstrated flair in the National Economic Council are:

(1)        Oil & Gas

(2)        Police Reforms

(3)        Urban Development and Renewal.

For example, with the benefits of my experience in recovering Owerri to make it the cleanest city in Nigeria, I could articulate an Urban Renewal Initiative to be known as The FCT Environserve Initiative to make Abuja the most organized and cleanest city in Africa.

CONCLUSSION

I shall remain ever appreciative of the support and personal love the President showed on me during my tenure. In all my tribulations, especially in the hands of hawks who never wanted to give me any chance, the President stood by me.

As Your Excellency continues on the mantle of leadership of our great country, I pledged my unalloyed royalty to him and his administration. I will continue to see myself both as a personal friend to Mr President and a patriotic citizen of Nigerian. Even as I step aside momentarily, I consider myself extremely lucky to be among the few in our generation who helped midwife the emergence of a fellow in the mould of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to stir the ship of the Nigerian state in the 21st Century. I wish you well, Sir. My family and I will continue to remember you in our prayers for the good Lord to continue to bless, guard and protect you.

Ikedi Ohakim                

EFCC After Governors Daniel, Akala, Ohakim and 6 Others...

Immunity clause may have prevented the long arm of the law from encircling them but that will soon be over for nine outgoing state governors across Nigeria. Sources at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC told P.M.NEWS this morning that the anti-graft agency is going after the nine state governors it perceives have cases to answer over how they spent the billions of naira allocated to their states throughout their tenure.

According to our sources, loads of petitions against the nine governors are now with the EFCC and in a matter of days the governors will be made to account for their deeds as the commission says it has begun to investigate them. The nine outgoing governors, according to P.M.NEWS findings, are Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State.

Others are Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, Ibrahim Shinkafi of Zamfara State, Muhammadu Goje of Gombe State, Modu Sheriff of Borno State and Akwe Doma of Nassarawa State. On 29 May, precisely 19 days from today, these governors will lose their immunity as none of them will return to office, having either completed their two terms in office or lost their re-election bid in last month’s governorship election.

P.M.NEWS gathered that one of the petitions sent to EFCC against Akwe Doma, the outgoing Nassarawa state governor, was written by Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau Musa, Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Nasarawa State. In the petition, Alhaji Musa alleged that Akwe Doma’s son, Umar, is one of the fronts the governor is using to siphon money to the tune of N9 billion.

It was also alleged that the state’s Ministry of Water Resources raised the sum of N900 million through a backdated memo for the purported supply of chemicals. The Ministry of Housing and Health were also allegedly ordered to raise N200 million and N340 million through a fictitious backdated memo for the construction of the Banquet Hall of Government House.

It was further alleged in the petition that a backdated memo was used to raise an additional N68 million to cover the cost of accommodation for pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj operation. EFCC has already moved to Nassarawa state as well as the other 8 states whose governors are under probe.

Already, EFCC is prosecuting 14 former state governors for alleged corrupt enrichment while they were in office between 1999 and 2007. The former governors are Joshua Dariye of Plateau State whose case is pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja; Abdullahi Adamu of Nassarawa dragged to the Federal High Court, Lafia; Abubakar Audu of Kogi State with case at the Federal High Court in Lokoja; Saminu Turaki, former governor of Jigawa State who is being tried at the Federal High Court, Abuja; Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State facing trial also in Abuja; Boni Haruna of Adamawa with case at Federal High Court, Abuja and Michael Botmang of Plateau facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Other former governors on trial at various Federal High Courts are Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, James Ibori of Delta, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu, Jolly Nyame of Taraba, Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo and Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State. Ibori is also currently facing trial in the United Kingdom after he was extradited from Dubai to face money laundering charges.

His wife, sister and associate have been jailed for the same offence in UK. EFCC operatives had tried to arrest Ibori last year but he escaped to Dubai where he was eventually arrested and extradited to the UK.

By Ada Owojela

Culled from PM News.

President Zuma hails Nigeria’s elections, says they’ll be a model for other African countries.

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has joined other world leaders in commending Nigeria’s recently concluded 2011 general elections, saying in a congratulatory letter to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Tuesday, May 10, that the elections will serve as a model for other African countries.

“I would like to commend the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the credible and peaceful manner in which these elections were conducted.

“I am confident, Your Excellency, that these elections will serve as a model of political maturity for future elections on the continent,” President Zuma wrote.

The South African President praised the “sterling work” carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other institutions and persons who contributed to the success of the elections.

“Your Excellency, I look forward to working with you to further strengthen bilateral ties between our two countries as well as towards the promotion of the interests of our continent and the consolidation of the African Agenda,” President Zuma wrote.

He wished President Jonathan a successful term of office and prosperity for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Folarin: Open Letter to Mr. President.

I AM a citizen of Nigeria and a fresh graduate waiting to be called for the mandatory one- year youth service. I have great dreams and aspirations that I am daily working towards and one of them is to be the president of this great nation, just like you Sir. But I am afraid, and this was what informed my decision to write this letter in the hope it will be published and you’ll get to see and read it. My decision to communicate with you through this medium is anchored on my faith in your leadership and your ability to listen. Sir, the recurrent spate of violence in the North and the consequent murder of some of my colleagues is what has driven me to write. I guess I have the solution to the crisis.

Your Excellency will agree with me that it will go down in history that the youth of this nation contributed their quota in giving Nigeria a free, fair and credible election. It will also be recorded that many of them were haunted and some slaughtered for being too bold to disrupt the old order. Reports had it that 50 youth corps members were forcibly locked up in a building in Yola and the house set ablaze. Eleven others were slaughtered in their prime and many of the ladies were raped by hoodlums and unfortunately a randy monarch joined the ignominious fray. When the press reported these sad incidents, Nigerians predictably lashed out and called for the heads of these unpatriotic elements in our midst. The cause of their wrath is evident in the moving stories of the casualties of the April 16 presidential election.

Seun Adewunmi was the only graduate in his family and he had promised to take care of his aged mother, a retired cleaner from the Judicial Service Commission, Lagos State. He was butchered to death by rioters. His labour and struggle to survive and be a respectable Nigerian was wasted by a blood-thirsty mob in Bauchi. Ukeoma Ikechukwu’s story is more touching. He had proudly written on his Facebook page after he heroically fought election fraud in his duty-post, ‘These CPC supporters would have killed me yesterday, no see threat ooo. Even after forcing under-age voters on me, they wanted me to give them the remaining ballot papers to thumb print. Thank God for the police and I’m happy I could stand for God and my nation. To all corps members who stood despite these threats especially in the North, bravo! Nigeria our change has come’ he had said on his Facebook wall few hours to his death.

About 249 youths have formed a group to demand justice for his murder. Kehinde Adeniyi was said to have been identified by one of his pupils in the school he taught and subsequently hacked to death. Obinna Okpokiri left UK for Nigeria to serve his fatherland. He had perfected plans to have his post-graduate studies in a British school before he walked into the chilly hands of death in Bauchi. He was beaten to death and burnt. Anslem Sylvester Nkwazema, a few days to his death, had become friends with Ukeoma Ikechukwu on Facebook. He had written on his page ‘if you can’t thank God for what you received, thank God for what you escaped. I may pray 2 fly like an angel, but don’t know what tomorrow may turn out to be.’

He was one of the corps members chased into a police station before being sent back into the bloody hands of the rioters because a stone reportedly hit the DPO’s head. And out he went with others, into the waiting hands of these cannibals. The horror, trepidation and strange thoughts that raced through their minds in this deciding moment of their existence as they scamper into machete cuts and eventual death can only be imagined. And I see these killers basking in the euphoria of an ecstatic sphinx.

Sir, these incidents are not new. Over the years many of our promising corps members have died under reprehensible circumstances. The ladies have not been spared either, as they are subjected to inhuman treatment and sexual harassment. Scores of female corps members have been raped in Bauchi, Yola, Niger. In 2008, the media reported that militants ravished 28 female corps members in Abonnema, Rivers state after invading their residence and rounding up the ladies on primary assignment in the area. But the truth is that these are the snippets that filter out to the media. I can confidently say that for every reported case of rape, 10 must have gone undisclosed for fear of stigmatization and defamation. I could have gone to serve in one of these states too. But my school had a delay in the submission of our names. I had criticised the authorities and questioned the competence of the administrative staff. After I heard of the gruesome murder of these youths, I was sober. If my school had out of desperation succeeded in smuggling our names to NYSC in February, it could have been any of us, I thought. For how long will this continue? How do we stop this bloodbath?

I have listened and read the reactions of parents and intending corps members who were shocked by the development. While some have called for secession, others have opined that the best solution is to scrap NYSC because it has outlived its usefulness. After all, it was created in the wake of Nigeria’s survival of the 1967 civil war for the reconstruction, reconciliation and rehabilitation of the country. A few others have said that Nigerian youths can still serve in the geo-political zone of their states instead of risking their lives among strangers. The answers to the question I posted on my Facebook wall also straddled between scrapping and geo-political zone service.

Sir, I have put myself in your shoe (although it’s too big for me). Certainly the first option is not good enough. If Yakubu Gowon could fight for Nigeria’s unity, you will not want the country to disintegrate in your era. That will be a bad name for you though it may be a welcome development in some quarters. The second option also comes with its burden of breeding disaffection, fostering primordial sentiments on national issues and bringing about disconnection among the over 250 ethnic groups in the country. The last option is just a recasting of the former. It defeats the essence of NYSC, which is to make Nigerian youths mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds for cross-fertilization of culture and ideas.

But here is my thought. Nigeria has a big problem, which underlines this entire avoidable carnage. Just last year in Jos, over 500 were reportedly slaughtered; indigenes and non-indigenes fell victims. It was the same in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Borno, et al where hundreds of poor Nigerians fell to the brutality of their countrymen. The slain corps members were just victims of our carnivorous system. Insecurity looms large. The booms of bombs and bullets that marred this election in which many lives were lost merely exposed the age long cracks in our security and intelligence gathering system.  The callous DPO who left those helpless corps members at the mercy of their assailants might have wondered why he should die for them. He must have been overpowered and in a bid to save himself felt he had to sacrifice these youths who ran to him for protection. However, he cannot be totally absolved of culpability since it was his duty to protect them even at the expense of his own life. But if he had died who would mourn him? Who would celebrate him? Who would pay his children’s school fees when he’s gone? A demeaning hush envelops the rest of the story. There is therefore the urgent need to salvage our security system. The armed forces will need to have proper education on their roles to safeguard the lives of citizens. Actually what we need is not a strong and coercive leader as many erroneously believe, what we need are strong institutions.

Sir, I recommend that these fallen ones be accorded national burial and their families impressively compensated. They died in the course of their service to the nation. They were valiant heroes who gave their lives for the resurrection of true democracy that was murdered in 2007 under the poor midwifery of Maurice Iwu. Besides sir, it is now a refrain that Nigeria’s judicial system has been compromised. Many have also dismissed you as too soft to confront the multifaceted problems of the country. Sir, you must rise to the occasion. Justice must prevail regardless of whose ox is gored. Isn’t it rather shameful and disgraceful that a whole chief justice of the federation was murdered in his own house and eight years after, we are still clueless? Nobody is greater than the law. These recent killings should not be swept under the carpet in the name of political expediency. If the prosecution is dragging its feet, you could invite the help of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which mediated in a similar event in Kenya, making six politicians, ex-head of police, a radio DJ and government ministers to face the full wrath of the law for inciting violence in the Kenyan 2007 election.

I wish you a fruitful time in office sir. May you give us uninterrupted power supply as you have promised and may God give you skilled and experienced Josephs who will cooperate with you to make Nigeria regain its place in the comity of nations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria; long live our democracy; long live the youths; long live your Excellency.

• Folarin just graduated from the Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos.

I’m happy Ohakim lost, says activist flogged by Gov.

Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim

An Imo State-based rights activist allegedly flogged and stripped by Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Mr. Samuelson Iwuoha, said on Sunday that he was the happiest man on earth that the governor lost in the governorship election concluded on Friday.

Iwuoha, who spoke with THE PUNCH on the telephone, said that with the defeat of Ohakim at the governorship election, he was vindicated that the governor was cruel and incapable of leading the state.

He said that the scars of the koboko flogging he received from Ohakim in his office on January 21, 2010, were still visible.

He said his sins before the governor was that he wrote petitions and articles to expose the governor’s financial recklessness and anti-people’s policies by the state administration.

He said, “Naturally, I am the happiest man on earth. The people of the state have spoken that he is not the right material for the state.

“When I exposed him and wrote petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and series of articles about his financial recklessness and anti-government policies, he became uncomfortable.

“He lobbied me through influential people in the state but I did not budge. One day, I was bundled to his office. When I got there, he stripped me naked and flogged me several times with koboko. The scars of the flogging are still there. I was not surprised that he lost the election. He deserved to lose. Whatever any man sows, he reaps. With his defeat, I am vindicated that he is cruel, wicked and lacks the skills to govern a state.”

Iwuoha urged the Governor-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to set up a commission of inquiry to look into the running of his administration.

“I wrote petititons also to the Presidency, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and Code of Conduct Bureau. I also expect Okorocha to ask them to make public their findings and investigation on Ohakim so that the people of Imo State and Nigeria will confirm the kind of character he is,” the embittered Iwuoha appealed.

He said since the governor would lose his immunity after May 29, his legal team were on stand-by to revisit his case in court against the governor for assault, abuse, financial reckless and bad governance.

Meanwhile, some members of the opposition political parties on Sunday hailed the defeat of the Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, saying the defeat was a testimony that the defeated governor was not popular in the state.

The Citizens Popular Party and the Progressive Peoples Alliance said that voters in the state had shown that they were no longer docile and asked those sympathetic to Ohakim not to cry for him.

A statement by the National Chairman of the PPA, Lisa Olu Akerele, said politicians should learn from the conduct of the elections that “things are no longer the same.”

Akerele added that the electorate was no longer docile as the people now voted out non-performing politicians.

“The elections have taught us that we cannot toy with the electorate by waiting till the last moment to storm them with transformers, bags of rice and cartons of money,” he added.

Also, the chairman of the CPP, Mr. Maxi Okwu, congratulated Okorocha over his victory and advised him to listen to the electorate while carrying out his duties.

He said the result of the election had shown that the people of the state voted for change, and therefore urged the governor-elect to formulate and implement people-oriented programmes that will raise the living standard of the people.

Akala Insists on Paying N18,000 Minimum to Workers Before Leaving Office.

The out-going Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has insisted on implementing the N18,000 minimum wage for the workers in the state to the state workers before leaving office. He spoke in response to the warning by the Governor elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi that he should not sign the implementation of the said wage.

Ajimobi said doing so would be tantamount to undermining the in-coming administration and it would be unfair now that the Governor was at the twilight of his tenure. Governor Akala, in a statement signed by his Special Adviserr on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade,  regretted his inability to accede to the request under any circumstance, saying that the promise to pay the minimum wage, which he voluntarily made on Tuesday March 29, 2011, a clear 29 days before the gubernatorial election, had become a covenant between him and the workers.

The governor Akala took exception to the description of his action as suspicious and controversial adding that he gave the promise with a conviction that he would be the one to implement it. “What kind of leader will I be, if I have to acquiesce to reneging on a promise I made to my people?

I wish to leave behind a legacy of policy consistency”, he said. He disagreed with Ajimobi that it was morally wrong for him to initiate a project that he would not implement. Akala said, “ while it is morally and legally correct for him to effect minimum wage, governance is a continuum and its entity remains potent until the last admissible date.

In any case, the former Governor Lam Adesina sealed a whooping N1.8 billion contract for an International Market and Water Projects in the dying days of his Administration, while Senator Ladoja increased workers’ salaries and allowances a few days before his departure.The workers in Oyo State will enjoy minimum wage of N18,000 from May 1, 2011 and it is their right to reject the offer.

By Ola Ajayi

Culled from VANGUARD.

Lagos orders removal of abandoned vehicles from streets.

Abandoned, disused, and wrongly parked vehicles have not only become 

haven for criminals but posses as a security risk.

By Segun Balogun

The Lagos State government has ordered the immediate removal of all abandoned and disused vehicles on all roads and streets within the state. The order was made as a necessary precaution against the recent spate of detonation of explosives in some parts of the country and the threats of same which has been making the rounds in Lagos. “Such abandoned, disused, and wrongly parked vehicles have not only become haven for criminals but posses as a security risk,” said Kayode Opeifa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation. 

“Members of the public should see this as the government’s desire to further ensure the continued security of lives and property enjoyed of the entire indigenes and residents of the state in view of the current spate of explosions in some parts of the country in recent times.” Mr Opeifa urged residents not to allow any such vehicle on their streets any longer, and advised members of the public to find a better place to keep their vehicles.

According to him, the order also affects “any vehicle parked on any road or street in Lagos for two days without being moved.” He said officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, members of the Abandoned and Disused Committee of the Ministry of Transportation, and officials of the Environmental and Sanitation Special Offences (Task Force) have been mandated to constantly patrol Lagos streets in order to identify and remove such vehicles. According to him, the vehicle will be towed to LASTMA’s enforcement yard at owner’s cost. 

Vehicles for auction Consequently, the commissioner advised all motorists to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations and keep their vehicles properly maintained. He also urged auto dealers operating in the state to stop displaying their wares on walkways, medians and road setbacks. He advised auto dealers who are yet to register with the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency to do so. 

On the issue of vehicles confiscated by LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officers, which have been advertised for auctioning, Mr Opefia said owners will be able to reclaim their vehicles “after meeting all necessary conditions” by going to the ministry of transportation with proof of ownership. According to the new order, impounded vehicles that are not claimed by their owners will be auctioned.

I didn’t know I was pregnant for seven months.

She did not have the so-called ‘normal’ childhood. Her teenage life was truncated. She became pregnant at 17. Much was not expected from the little girl who did not follow the ‘golden rule’ of right upbringing (from secondary school, university and to career), however, against all odds, Genevieve Nnaji has broken, recreated and became the rule for many and is now a success story.

On May 3, 2011, the Nollywood star clocked 31. She marked her birthday in far away London, full of smiles and in company of hip pop star D’Banj, friends and fans. Yes, Genny has many reasons to smile. Out of the lot that passed through Nollywood she has risen to become one of the very few iconic movie figures in Africa. Cable News Network (CNN) even dubbed her Julia Roberts of Africa.

In an interview she granted Treasure Magazine, Genevieve shared the story of her life. The Mbaise, Imo State-born actress didn’t grow up in the East. She is what you call the typical Lagos girl. Speaking on her childhood, she said: “I grew up in Lagos basically; my family is here in Lagos. I went to Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, Lagos. My mum is a teacher and my dad is a retired banker. Okay, I’m from a family of 10, eight kids, mummy and daddy. I left school in 97, went to UNILAG to do Creative Arts (part time); it was difficult keeping up because of doing movies, so I decided to drop and continue with the movie until I’m ready.”

That is not all, she grew up with strong Catholic background, a church she claimed impacted conscience into her, and it was that conscience the made her take a stand against abortion when she became pregnant as a teenager. Speaking on her child and pregnancy, she said: “Yes, I have a child. I was pretty young though. What happened? What I learnt was that no matter how much I try to control myself and be preserved and everything, sh*t still happens to me. So, I think what is meant to be will be.

You can only try to avoid it or prolong it, but it will be. The truth is, if it hadn’t happened I won’t be here now, because it had a way of shifting my life. So, it is like falling to one side and trying to make the best out of it. I probably would not be here. It happened and the best I did was not to dwell on it. It affected me in a way, but I didn’t dwell on it. I just felt it was not about the downfall, but how to pick up yourself that makes you a strong person, and not everybody would understand. And there is this thing I keep telling myself; life is once. So, life starts and ends with you. You live once, try to make the best of it. Don’t let people discourage you, people are going to talk, they are going to judge, but truth is, people who talk the most are those who do the worse. If you are not important, people won’t talk about you. Be yourself, be happy.”

The pregnancy was seven months gone before Genny’s Catholic mum discovered it. Genny said, “She couldn’t believe it, ‘how can she be pregnant when she was very careful’.” A test confirmed it, her parents were disappointed but stood their ground against abortion. “I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t even know till I was about four months. It was there, but I was still in shock. I didn’t believe it. The only time I actually believed it was when I saw it in a scan. Seven months! And I saw it’s in there and I said, “Okay, it’s true!” I was like, “Oh, it’s like some disease....” I think I was pretty much hard on myself then than my parents or people. I was harder on myself, really. My parents reacted the way any parent would react – disappointed. I didn’t know. My mother discovered it for me. I didn’t know anything really. She discovered it for me and it was too late, we couldn’t do anything and we’re Catholics and I’m glad I didn’t do anything funny really.”

Speaking further, she said: “Getting rid of the pregnancy was an alternative then, but it was too late, because not until I was four months before we discovered it and so it was not what we could do, and my dad was like, ‘it’s a child for Christ’s sake. God knows why he wants to bring that child into life”. We are Catholics and it’s just that conscience, you do wrong once and doing another would not make the first right. So, you either correct your mistake by doing the right thing. If I was pregnant, and then have an abortion, it would have been like murder after fornication! So, that was basically wrong.

“I’m sure everywoman knows the feeling of pregnancy, but for the young girl – it is difficult for me to say now, because I have grown much older – but I know at that time it was, let me see... Anyway, I’d just wake up every morning hoping to wake up from a dream... but you know it doesn’t happen so. It’s more like giving me hope that ‘no, it wasn’t...’ I was like looking forward to sleeping and waking up, then it wasn’t getting any better anyway.”

Were her parents at fault? No, Genny took responsibility, “Mine had nothing to do with it, it was a different case entirely, which I wouldn’t want to go into. My parents did their jobs and I did my own job of listening and everything. My parents were fantastic. I got the best of home training. It’s none of my parents’ fault. I was close to mum and Dad and they told me everything I needed to know, okay. But what happened had to happen, somehow. So, I didn’t think it had to do with my parents, although some people could suffer from not getting enough education from their parents, but I think my mum did her part as a mother. Yes, she did.”

On the lesson life taught her, she said: “Like I said before, I have learnt that life is the way you live it. It is not about theory, no lecturer can tell you what life is. Life is what you make of it. Life is what you want it to be, basically. For somebody like me, if I say I want this now and I work towards it, nothing is going to keep me away from that, I’m going to get it. Even if it means me drawing up my account, I want that, and I’m happy. I always think of today and not tomorrow. It is not like, ‘Oh, my children in the future...’ whatever I do right now, I believe I’ll dig into it. Yes, I will try to be considerate later... but life is too short, you go now and whatever you’ve achieved other people will enjoy it.

“I think it is doing what you love doing, that’s what life is basically all about. Be happy; whatever you do let it be worth doing well. Don’t do things because other people expect you to do it. Please yourself, but don’t be selfish about it. You know it’s not like when you enjoy killing; that’s not what I mean. Whatever your direction, if your father wants you to be a doctor and you want to be a musician, follow your dreams! At the end of the day, if you have a gift for it... (go for it).”

All in all, Genny has come of age and done well for herself. She is a role model, not just to teeming aspiring actresses but to those who had a truncated/pause in the journey of their dreams, but are trying to pick up the pieces. And as icing on the cake, the beautiful actress is on the verge of inking a document that would see her pair with a Hollywood star in a multi-million naira movie. Happy birthday to Africa’s queen of the tube!