Short biography for 9ice

Award winning Nigerian Artist 9ice, (born Abolore Akande on the 17th of January 1980s) known for his versatility, proverbial lyrics and unique style started his singing and writing career at the age of fourteen. Justifiable tagged “the hit maker”, 9ice conveys with his music, a new ethnic flavor and eclectic style that is uniquely his. Years of studying the industry and refining his skills, has helped him develop his musical ideology and style.

His powerful use of the Yoruba language and his lyrical abilities sets him apart from most artists in his genre and in his opinion is what makes him 9ice. This unique style, evident on all of his song some of which include his hit song Gongo Aso, Street Credibility, Party Rider, Little Money, Ganja Man, Talent dey waste as well as on collaborations like the song 'Ruggedy Baba' a hit track he did with Nigeria’s Ruggedman, and Le Fenu So, which he did with Lord of Ajasa, often leaves many listeners astonished at the magic of the delivery and the rhythmic harmony. 9ice, whose hit single “Gongo Aso” from his sophomore album also titled Gongo Aso has become a sort of national anthem in his home country, aspires to raise his game, push the creative envelope and transcend music stereotypes.

He is working hard to build a solid, outstanding body of work that hopefully will outlive him. He aims in all ways to become a reference point for Nigerian artistes anywhere. Reminiscent of the likes of Fela, Youssour Ndour and Angelique Kidjo, he hopes to someday become a cultural ambassador with his music.

He believes consistency, originality as well as old-fashioned hard work are the keys to achieving all these. His award credits include 2009 Hip Hop World Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the year as well as 2008 MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Best African Act, 2008 MTV Africa Music Awards Best Hip Hop Artist, 2008 Dynamix Awards Artist the Year, 2009 Future Awards Musician of the Year and many more. His music credits include collaborations with RuggedMan on the chart topping ‘RuggedyBaba’, the powerful social commentary ‘Make dem talk’ recorded with 2Shotz, as well as tracks from his first album “the Certificate”, and hit songs from his sophomore album “ Gongo Aso”, some of which include, Gongo Aso, Street Credibility, Pamurogo, Photocopy, to name a few.

Some of his social recognitions include, Nigerian Youth Merit Award, Youth Ambasador for Peace and more. His musical influences range from Wyclef Jean to the Miliki Maestro, Ebenezer Obey. 9ice is without a doubt leaving his mark in the Afro hip-hop circle and worldwide.
He currently has two albums to his name and is currently working on his third album titled “Tradition”. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL..

Yar’Adua’s associates unite, plan for 2015

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OBIORA IFOH 03/09/2012 00:00:00

...as PDP blasts Buhari
Prominent politicians, including chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, met last week to resuscitate the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, and to plan ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The meeting, tagged “A reunion/rejuvenation meeting” of the PDM, and which was held at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, was to provide a forum for the reunion of old members of the movement and also bring on-board new members.
The group also presented a road map for its immediate future activities, among which is a proposed national summit on “The state of the nation” scheduled to hold in the last quarter of 2012.
The movement resolved to rekindle the spirit of national unity, promotion of peace and good governance among its members.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated that delegates from all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were in attendance.
Also present at the meeting were key leaders, including Chief Bode Ajewole, Mr. Godie Ikechi, Sen. Abubakar Mahdi, Murtala Shehu Yar’Adua, Dr. Etim Amba, Alhaji A. A. Matawallen Hadeija, Chief Ejiofor Onyia, Hon. Dubem Onyia, Dame Titi Ajanaku, Alhaji Bashiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Prince Tonye Princewill and Otunba Oluponle Ebo.
The statement noted that the PDM was a national “consciousness movement,” pioneered by the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for promotion of the core ideals of democracy; sustenance of and support for peaceful co-existence among the diverse groups in the country; bridge building among the diverse segments of the country; promotion of good governance and sustainable development of Nigeria.
Goodwill messages were presented by eminent members of the movement from all the geo-political zones.
Representatives of women and youths also delivered goodwill messages at the meeting. Contributions from the floor were also received on the way to strengthen the movement.
Tributes were paid to the late Yar’Adua, the founder of the movement, for the supreme sacrifice he made in furtherance of unity and democracy in Nigeria as well as to other departed leaders of the movement.
A source told National Mirror that the meeting was convened to resuscitate the once vibrant and revered political machinery of the late Yar’Adua ahead of the coming general elections.
The source said that the new PDM was being anchored on the vibrancy and resourcefulness of younger politicians within the group to enhance the movement’s reinvigoration, complete re-engineering and to make it more acceptable to Nigerians.
Sources said that Chief Bode Ajewole and Godie Ikechi, the group’s new chairman and secretary, might be assisted by PDM leaders including one-time Foreign Affairs Minister of State and a PDP chieftain from Enugu State, Chief Dubem Onyia; son of the late Musa Yar’Adua and PDM founder, wife of the former Adamawa State governor, Alhaji Murtala Yar’Adua; Mrs. Zainab Boni Haruna, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf and Prince Tonye Princewill in the task of repositioning PDM.
Meanwhile, PDP yesterday expressed shock at what it dubbed “continued incitement of the people” allegedly by former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the 2011 general election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), asking him not to think that Nigerians had forgotten how he dealt with them when he ruled the country.
The ruling party asked him to show statesmanship in his assessment of the contributions of the PDP-led government to the cause of democracy and good governance, stressing that under Buhari’s watch, several people were incarcerated in prison for simply expressing their views, as Buhari is doing today without being hounded.
PDP expressed worry that Buhari could be telling lies and deceiving people just to score political points and advance his “selfish interests.” The party challenged any political party or alliance, to produce Buhari at the next presidential election and face another “shameful defeat.”
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said that political differences notwithstanding, it expected Buhari, as an elder statesman and a former Head of State, to acknowledge the significant progress that Nigeria has made in internalising democratic culture since the return of democracy in 1999.
Metuh said: “There is still room for improvement no doubt, but Nigeria under the PDP has recorded tremendous gains in terms of advancing the rule of law and the fundamental rights of Nigerians, indeed, in other indices of good governance which democracy is usually expected to guarantee.”
“We recall that while on a visit to Kano last week, General Buhari had said of the PDP-led Federal Government: ‘under normal circumstances we are supposed to work strictly within the provisions of the constitution, but this is Nigeria and nothing is perfect and the only thing they have not tampered with between 1999 to date in Nigeria is the Holy Koran’.
“We are shocked that an elder statesman could paint such an ugly picture, a tissue of lies, of his dear nation just to advance his political fortunes.
“We shudder that a former Head of State under whose watch freedom of expression landed many Nigerians in detention on account of his obnoxious decrees, and who now enjoys such freedom, is utterly ungrateful to the efforts of our great party in advancing the cause of democracy.
“General Buhari, the evangelist of the rule of law, Nigerians wishes to know if unlawful incitement of the populace to violence and attack on the institutions of democracy is part of the rule of law?
“Is the imposition that marked the congresses of the CPC in 2011, which is still hunting the party till date an act in rule of law?
“We wish to advise General Buhari to concentrate on giving Nigerians his alternative ideas and plan of action to what the PDP has at present or even engage us in a public debate on the values of good governance.
“We pray that his party or whatever alliance they are negotiating presents Buhari once more as a presidential candidate so that Nigerians will make their choice.
“However, we wish to remind the former Head of State that Nigerians are not fools and that they know what Nigeria was yesterday especially under regimes like his and what obtains today.
“There is no doubt that even the blind can distinguish between the daylight it is today and the deep dark night it was hitherto,” PDP stressed.
The PDP spokesman asked the leadership of CPC to approach it (PDP) for details if they do not understand the true meaning and principles of good and quality leadership and rule of law.
“Today, criticisms, even destructive ones are hurled at the PDP-led Federal Government and no one is harassed because we uphold the inalienable rights of the people, which is at the heart of democracy. We throw our doors open to criticism so that we accommodate alternative views.
“Today, the PDP loses elections and winners are sworn in and we do not use our incumbency at the centre to truncate the democratic wishes of the people.
“However, in the states held by the opposition parties, local elections are massively rigged as witnessed recently in Lagos and Ogun states and where we defy the odds to emerge victorious like in Imo State, machinery of government is used to frustrate the expressed wish of the people.
“The rule of law if we must state further is that in our drive for transparency and accountability, some leaders of our party have been caught by the long arm of the law and we never obstructed the course of justice.
“Do we need to add that the PDP-led Federal Government does have preference to the rule of law and that is why we enacted the Freedom of Information Act so that every Nigerian will not be in the dark as to how the nation is run, and so that they can be armed to demand for what is right.”
“Must we also tell the leadership of the CPC that in our congresses and convention, deference to the rule of law is the word.
“And that notwithstanding our size, we successfully manage dissenting views and establish strong leadership not dogged by factions like the CPC,” Metuh added.

How Buhari failed Nigerians, by PDP

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend considered the place of former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the polity and arrived at this verdict: He has failed Nigerians and inflicted pain on them.

The PDP took this position against the backdrop of a statement credited to Buhari that the only thing that the PDP government had not tampered with was the Holy Koran.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party expressed shock that Buhari could make such a statement despite huge efforts being made by the PDP government to transform the country.

The party said: “There is still room for improvement no doubt, but Nigeria under the PDP has recorded tremendous gains in terms of advancing the rule of law and the fundamental rights of Nigerians, indeed, in other indices of good governance which democracy is usually expected to guarantee.

“We are shocked that an elder statesman could paint such an ugly picture, laced with tissue of lies, of his dear nation just to advance his political fortunes. We shudder that a former head of state under whose watch freedom of expression landed many Nigerians in detention on account of his obnoxious decrees, and who now enjoys such freedom, is utterly ungrateful to the efforts of our great party in advancing the cause of democracy.

“If the CPC leadership does not understand what the rule of law is, let’s oblige them with little details.

“Today, criticisms, even destructive ones are hurled at the PDP-led Federal Government and no one is harassed because we uphold the inalienable rights of the people which are at the heart of democracy .We throw our doors open to criticism so that we accommodate alternative views.

“Today, the PDP loses elections and winners are sworn-in and we do not use our incumbency at the centre to truncate the democratic wishes of the people. However, in the states held by the opposition parties, local elections are massively rigged as witnessed recently in Lagos and Ogun states and where we defy the odds to emerge victorious like in Imo State, machinery of government is used to frustrate the expressed wish of the people.

“The rule of law if we must state further is that in our drive for transparency and accountability, some leaders of our party have been caught by the long arm of the law and we never obstructed the course of justice.

“Do we need to add that the PDP-led Federal Government does have deference to the rule of law and that is why we enacted the Freedom of Information Act so that every Nigerian will not be in the dark as to how the nation is run, and so that they can be armed to demand for what is right?”

PDP also said that it had demonstrated rule of law in congresses and national conventions.

“Must we also tell the leadership of the CPC that in our congresses and convention, deference to the rule of law is the word? And that notwithstanding our size, we successfully manage dissenting views and establish strong leadership not dogged by factions like the CPC?

“And for Gen. Buhari, the evangelist of rule of law, Nigerians wish to know if unlawful incitement of the populace to violence and attack on the institutions of democracy are part of the rule of law?

“Is the imposition that marked the congresses of the CPC in 2011 which is still hunting the party till date an act in rule of law?

“We wish to advise Gen. Buhari to concentrate in giving Nigerians his alternative ideas and plan of action to what the PDP has at present or even engage us in a public debate on the values of good governance. We pray that his party or whatever alliance they are negotiating presents Buhari once more as a presidential candidate so that Nigerians will make their choice”, the statement added.

It was alleged that while on a visit to Kano State last week, Buhari attacked the PDP, saying: “Under normal circumstances, we are supposed to work strictly within the provisions of the constitution, but this is Nigeria and nothing is perfect and the only thing they have not tampered with from 1999   to date in Nigeria is the Holy Koran.”

N5.6bn oil pipeline monitoring contract: Ex-militant leaders feud

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Faction challenges sharing formula

AT a time the Federal government is fiddling with the methodology to adopt in tackling the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in the country, an uprising is rearing its ugly head among the ex-militant leaders in Niger Delta. The burning issue at stake is the recent “largesse” extended to the ex-militant leaders by the Federal Government. It involved a N5.6billion contract awarded to the ex-leaders of the Niger Delta militant groups for monitoring of oil pipe-lines in the sub-region.

Among those believed to have benefited from the N5.6 billion contract are Tompolo,  Ateke Tom, the former leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, and General Bollof.

But there are strong indications that the lump sum of money has become “a torn in the flesh,” for the affected leaders.

National Daily investigations showed that most ofthe ex-militant leaders, who were part of the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta people might have been denied access from being part of the money.

As a result, dependable sources said, “they are threatening that there will be no peace in Niger Delta unless the leaders of the ex-militant groups give them their own package.”

Specifically, a section of the ex-militant leaders “are at a loss as to the method and how the money was shared.”

A spokesman of the group, Mr Gabriel Asabuja, raised the alarm during an exclusive interview with National Daily in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Asabuja, who is second in command to Alhaji Asari Dokubo, who is one of the beneficiary of the contract award said it was basically for the purpose of “preventing vandalization of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta Region.”

He regretted that there was still incessant oil bunkering in the Niger Delta  because, “there is no job created by the federal government.”

As a result, he said, “kidnapping and bunkering are the present day bunkering in Niger Delta.”

As if justifying such a resort, he said, “we do not want to continue in wasting lives of the people, hence we have preferred bunkering and kidnapping as means of living because of unemployment in the country.”

On the issue of Boko Haram, Asabuja, who is a strong member  of the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)urged the operatives “to stay clear from  President Goodluck Jonathan and allow him to complete his tenure, whether he is doing well or not.”

Any threat to the life of the President, he said, “may compel us to go back and pick our guns because days are gone when guns are only at the Norths, but now guns are all over the country, and if they need peace, Niger Delta Youth will give them peace but where they want war, we will give them war.”

Meanwhile, stake holders in the South South regions of the country believe that, “only the families of those that were murdered during the hostility period in the region should be compensated by the federal government and not those who were terror to the cooperate existence of Nigeria.”

Similarly, observers are of the view that the action taken by the federal government to appease the leaders of the Niger Delta militant groups may go a long way to escalate another level of unrest in the Niger Delta Region and will bring another threats to investors who may like to invest in the oil and gas industries which is the main stay of the Niger Delta economy.

Subsidy probe not a witch-hunt –Tambuwal

Hon. Speaker, House of Representative, Aminu Tambuwal
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Speaker of the  House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, insists that the fuel subsidy  investigation is not a witch-hunt but rather to instill transparency in the running of public offices.

The Speaker said this through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Imam Imam, in an interactive session with newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday.

According to him, the House of Representatives believes in the growth of the country, hence corruption must be tackled.

He said, “The whole idea of the subsidy investigation is not to witch-hunt. In fact, it is to bring sanity to the system.

“Nigeria as one of the largest producers of (crude) oil, must have a workable system that is devoid of corruption; “a system that all Nigerians and indeed, Africans will be proud of; system that is world standard. We want to ensure in the 7th Assembly that we uphold the confidence Nigerians reposed in us by providing good governance to the people.

“The subsidy investigation and others in the House were never intended either to rubbish or witch-hunt anyone.”

Tambuwal expressed his concern at the profile of corruption in the country.

He added, “The rate of corruption in the country is high, particularly in the public offices. This   must be tackled from the root if Nigeria as a nation must be among the developed nations in the year 20-20-20.”

The Speaker also noted that despite the  internal wranglings  in the House which had portrayed the House in bad light,  the House would ensure good governance in the country.

He urged Nigerians to support the lawmakers in their efforts in moving the nation forward.

“The bills and resolutions passed by the House are in an effort to change the face of Nigeria and Nigerians in entrenching transparency and accountability in the system and in governance at all levels,” he said.

The Speaker  further urged the media,  as the fourth  estate of the realm,  to partner with the House in order to move Nigeria forward, urging media practitioners  across the country to always adhere to the ethics of the profession in the  discharge of their duties.

While receiving the Speaker’s aide to the Secretariat of the Kaduna Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,  the Chairman, Mallam Yusuf Idris,  noted that the aide could remember his days as a reporter before his ascension to  his current position. “Several others were raised by God to a higher status but have forgotten where they started from,” he said.

Nigerians living in fear, uncertainty – Obasanjo, IBB

Obasanjo, Babangida
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Former heads of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida have expressed concern over the growing insecurity in the country, saying “Nigeria is currently under fear and uncertainty.”

In a joint statement obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, they warned that the consequences were capable of affecting the unity of the country.

They said the loss of innocent lives being experienced across the country was no longer bearable.

The two leaders said, “The loss of innocent lives by the day across the nation is simply unbearable.

“Currently, the nation is gripped by a regime of fear and uncertainty that virtually all citizens have difficulties going about their normal day-to-day activities with great anxiety and trepidation. This cannot be allowed to continue.”

They said unfolding events had posed threats to the labour of the nation’s founding fathers and subsequent generations in building a strong, united, peaceful country that can accommodate and cater for the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities.

Obasanjo and Babangida also lamented the untold hardship in the country.

They claimed that a deeply worrying trend that was emerging from this terrible situation was that a pervasive cynicism was beginning to set in, so much so that millions of true Nigerian patriots were starting to question the platform upon which the unity of the country rests.

However, they appealed to Nigerians not to allow frustration, fear and despair to supersede their hope for a collective destiny, which lies in their continued existence as a nation.

Both leaders declared that as for them, and some millions of other Nigerians, the continued unity of Nigeria was not only priceless but non-negotiable.

Their statement reads in part, “While we are very much aware of the efforts various governments in the country are making to confront the escalating security challenges across the country, we believe that it is time that these efforts are scaled up to be more involving and inclusive.

“In this regard, whatever robust security measures are put in place to contain the situation, as is normal in such circumstances; they must be complemented with an equally intensive process of community involvement.

“We therefore urge all governments in the country, starting with all the 774 local councils to comprehensively engage their communities at the various levels, including elders, youth organisations, trade union and associations, women bodies, clerics and other community stakeholders.

“We also call on the Federal and state governments not only to encourage these grass roots engagements for peace and beneficial coexistence but should work out the framework to sustain the engagement.”

They said that in all these efforts, it was important to emphasise that Nigeria’s diversity should be a course for celebration and not a cause for lamentations.

Both leaders, who recently abused each other on the pages of newspapers, however appealed to Nigerians to use the holy month of Ramadan to turn the tide against insecurity, violence and hatred.

They also appealed to religious leaders, in particular, to have an even greater challenge to use the immense virtues of this holy period to inculcate among the millions of citizens, the spirit of mutual respect, humility and forgiveness.

They furthermore revealed that ample opportunities were at hand to bring all armed belligerents to table for meaningful dialogue with the authorities for Nigerians’ future.

Obasanjo and Babangida added that no meaningful development could ever occur in an atmosphere of violence and hatred.

History, they said, had shown that any society built on the structures of violence and intolerance would not prosper.

While they said that God has blessed Nigeria with abundant resources and talents, they however said there must be peace and harmony to harness them.

They also said they were ready to do whatever was possible to promote the quest for peace and harmony in the country.

Blast kills 10-yr-old in northern Nigeria

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Kano - A bomb blast in restive northern Nigeria killed a 10-year-old boy and wounded 10 others on Sunday, police said, in an area repeatedly targeted by a radical Islamist group.

The explosion went off at about 18:30 in Bauchi city's Tundunwadan Dan-iya area, a neighbourhood known for its cluster of bars and other entertainment spots.

Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists, responsible for scores of deadly attacks across the north, have previously struck social venues including those that serve alcohol, although no group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday blast.

"There was an explosion from an improvised explosive device concealed in a wheelbarrow which killed a 10-year-old boy and wounded ten other people," said Mohammed Ladan, police commissioner of Bauchi state, where Bauchi city is the capital

"The wheelbarrow was abandoned by a man disguised as a grocery vendor at a beer garden in the area. No arrest has been made and it is still not clear who was responsible for the explosion," he added.

The Islamists claimed a suicide blast at a church in Bauchi city on 3 June that killed at least 15 people.

The group also carried out a daring prison raid in the state in 2010 that freed scores of its alleged members.

Boko Haram has said it wants to create an Islamic state in Nigeria's mainly Muslim north, although its demands have varied widely as its insurgency has intensified in recent months.

The United States last month designated three of its presumed leaders as global terrorists and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has faced mounting criticism over what some say is his failure to stem the violence.

The radical group, responsible for more than 1 000 deaths since mid-2009, has also consistently carried out attacks on Sundays, although typically targeting Christians worshipping in church.

Boko Haram has also attacked the security services and other symbols of authority in Africa's most populous nation.