Photo of the day: Mercy Johnson the bush-meat seller

Mercy Johnson, one of the most sought after and (arguably) the highest paid actress in Nigeria plays the role of a bush-meat seller in an upcoming flick. If it’s not Mercy Johnson, it can never be the same as Mercy Johnson. 🙂

Needless to say her expansive acting range has landed her over 100 unique and diverse movie roles such as a student, prostitute, hawker, doctor, street fighter, village girl to mention a few.

"We will all come out at the other end"- An open letter from David Moyes to Manchester United fans

In the wake of Red Devils’ woeful performances this season, Manchester United boss, David Moyes has written a letter of gratitude to fans for their support thus far. The former Scottish player while craving their indulgence added that the tumultuous season is not something he envisaged. He is however confident that the club will be back to winning ways again.
“While I knew that this job would be a challenge when I took it on, the difficult season we have experienced was not something that I envisaged, which I am sure is the case as well for you supporters – and my players, staff and I are desperate to compensate for that.

“You are accustomed to seeing a successful Manchester United and the backing you have given the players and me throughout the season has been incredible. Away from home the travelling fans have remained the best in the country while at Old Trafford your unwavering faith has been noticeable and hugely welcomed. Supporting your team when they are winning is easy but much harder when things are not going as well, and the loyalty you have shown us has been magnificent.”

Everywhere we turn people outside the club have a lot to say about Manchester United but we all have stuck together through some tough times this season and I firmly believe that, in the long run, we will all come out at the other end, stronger for the experiences. Everything we have been through will make us a better, stronger team and club in the future.

Over the years you have seen great winning sides here and, in time, I have absolutely no doubt that we will see great winning sides here again. A big step towards that will be transforming Old Trafford back into the fortress it has long been renowned as, and we will do everything in our power to get the positive performances and results to do that, so that we can give you Season Ticket holders and all our supporters something to shout about.









Signed

David Moyes

Short Story: Fool's Gold | By: Victor Olugbemiro

‘Hello!‘ Effy, (Oghenekemvefe), looked up from her computer and her jaw almost dropped. The definition of ugly had shifted to the dude standing in front of her. In complexion, he wasn’t dark, he was black, crisp black; like a malicious burnt offering to the gods from disgruntled worshippers.
Not only was he black, he had a mouth that always curved into an ‘O’ no matter what he said. That and so many other things that could go wrong with a guy were wrong with this guy and Effy couldn’t help but wonder why she had to be the one stuck with such a horrendous site as her first customer on a Monday morning. But pushing all that behind her, she attended to him robotically, wearing her plastic smile like she was paid to do
‘Good morning sir, please take a seat, My name is Effy, how may I help you?’
He took his seat and stated his business; he wanted to open an account. After walking him through the procedure, she gave him the necessary forms to fill out and buried her head behind her computer, hoping that would be the end of the encounter. She wanted to make his stay as brief as possible, but no way, he wouldn’t fill his form in silence, he started a conversation;
‘Your face looks pretty familiar you know’
Oh no was he trying to chat her up and with that line? Aargh! It didn’t help that the sadist head office sent to carry out a Customer Satisfaction Survey was prancing round the banking hall like he owned the place and she had to maintain the plastic smile that was already beginning to hurt.
This was not the beginning of the bright and cheery week she had pictured in her mind in church yesterday when the handsome Pastor Moses was prophesying good things for the coming week. Hmm, Pastor Moses… tall, dreamy eyes, thick hair, sharp dresser, hunk of a…
‘So when will you be free for dinner?‘ His last statement snapped her out of her reverie.
‘Huh?‘ she replied, looking up in time to catch his ‘O’ mouth close, blinking at him, clueless. How on earth could he have moved so quickly from ‘familiar face’ to ‘free for dinner?’ He repeated himself. Hia, Pastor James said it o, that enemies of progress would come disguised in various forms; this one did not even bother disguising himself.
If not for where she was, she would have unleashed her arsenal of insults that she reserved for people like him. Instead, still smiling, she said jokingly, ‘with the nature of this job, will I ever be free?’
Undaunted, he dropped his card on her table as he got up to leave and asked her to give him a call whenever she could find the time.
‘I sure will‘ she said as she flung the card into her drawer without even as much as a glance. She allowed him step out of the banking hall before she released her rattlesnake hiss, ‘thunder fire you, bad market.’
As ‘Debo stepped out of the banking hall, he began to whistle. He hadn’t felt so lightheaded in a long time. The pretty face that attended to him in the bank was dancing before his eyes and that cherubic smile that didn’t waver for a second was turning his insides to Jellyfish and making his heart melt into a million pieces like butter in a hot frying pan.
Surely, she must have enjoyed his little chit chat for though she didn’t contribute, she never stopped smiling. He could spend the rest of his life gazing into those hypnotic eyes that blinked innocently adding a certain quality to the smile, and those dimples…hmm. He had definitely encountered the definition of beauty today.
He was happy with himself that at least, he was able to overcome his usual shyness and start a conversation even though it was quite one-sided. At a point, he felt like he was babbling, good thing she seemed not to be listening, but asking her out to dinner sure caught her attention and the fact that she kept his card in her drawer, unlike many others who tossed it in the trash right in his presence, gave him hope. Even if she eventually wouldn’t call, he knew where to find her.
As far as he was concerned, judging from her body language, the stage was set for a romantic journey that he foresaw leading all the way to the altar. With these happy thoughts in mind, he got into his car and drove off to his other engagements, approaching his day with as much enthusiasm as Romeo approaching Juliet’s window.
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Victor Olugbemiro loves literature, music and photography, among several other interests. He currently teaches in Lagos and writes as a hobby.
Twitter: @oluvickie
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Are you a writer? Interested in sharing your short stories on this platform? Be our guest on our Short Story Fridays segment.
Email: ololade.olatunji@yahoo/gmail.com

Ijebu Ode stands still as Kwam 1 gives daughter out in marriage

Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) gave out one of his daughters; Hidayat Abolaji Anifowose out in marriage few days ago; March 4, 2014 to be specific. The talk-of-the town wedding also coincided with the ace musician’s 57th birthday.

The Nikkah ceremony of Hidayat and Lekan Bizzinlahi, son of the Asiwaju of Oyo town, Abdulwahab Alao Yusuf Biizinlahi was held at Ijebu-Ode. Ogun State. Kwam 1 will be giving out three daughters out in marriage this month; March 4,6 and 9.  1wedding gone, two more to go.

Inside Emmanuel Adebayor's magnificent haven

Togolese international, Emmanuel Adebayor is living his life and he has no apologies for that! Here’s a peek into the Tottenham forward’s magnificent haven.

“Everything I do in life I put in the hands of God, my creator. He gave me the chance to be where I am today and He’s the one that can take it all away from me. There is nothing more important for me than God.” The 30 year-old footballer shares his philosophy.

Headmistress calls police after pupils won't smile for school photo

Ann Hughes; an headmistress in a village primary school in Anglesey, Wales invited police after she found out that students were planning not to smile on a school photo. The cops arrived and persuaded them to pose correctly.

She’s actually a high-handed person and students do not like her.

The committee of the General Teaching Council for Wales while investigating the several cases against her found out that she was also into the habit of bullying and calling students names. Infact, a pupil, Ysgol Goronwy Owen narrated how she tore his examination paper right in front of him because he spelt his middle name wrong.

"I am inconsolable, I am a mother shattered". Popular sports correspondent, Aisha Falode pens emotional tribute to late son.

The remains of Oloruntoba Falode, the 19-year old son of top sports analyst and National Women’s Team (Super Falcons of Nigeria) coordinator, Aisha Falode who died on Saturday, 15 February 2014 after been reportedly pushed off a 17 storey building by an Arab man, has been committed to mother earth. The funeral service was held at the Trinity House, Victoria Island, and internment at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens, Lagos.
Until his shocking death, Toba was a student in a Dubai-based institution and a rapper. His grieving mother has however written an emotional tribute to the late boy. May God continue to comfort the ones he left behind and may his soul find repose. Amen!

YOU ARE ME, I AM YOU.
I held you in my arms and my heart burst into a million pieces of joy. It was an indescribable moment. You were adorable as I touched every bit of you. Giddy with joy, I counted your toes, your fingers, tiny and wriggly; a tough bundle of joy. Your innocent gaze upon my face, those two adorable eyes, wide and searching as only a child’s would. All the gems in Arabia would fade into insignificance at the emergence of your presence. My son had come into the world, whole and complete you were. I had looked forward to having my own son. I carried you with pride and honour in my womb for 9 good months. Knowing that you will eventually be born made the discomforts of 9 months seem like chewing a candy bar. Here at last you were.

As you grew up into a most interesting young star, you were my joy. In all of my trying moments, knowing that you trusted me and believed in me spurred me through even the roughest terrain. Your childhood was joyful. Your sister and you were my life. You still are my life. Nothing can erase your memory, not a thousand winds or a million rainfalls can replace those memories, not even a fearsome volcano can wipe you from me. You are me, I am you.

I am devastated, I am pained, I am inconsolable, I am a mother shattered. Who can console me but God? He knows best and did they not say those HE loves HE calls home early?
My Son, the curtain fell too early for you, for us. I am in the audience; I cannot jump on the stage where you are. Even if I could, the curtain is drawn already. I cannot reach you. I am tempted to say, why me, but why not me? God loves us. HE took you my bundle of joy, even now I lean on HIM. I can see you, stretching out those strong arms, I see you trying to console me, I see you saying:

“Mum, it was meant to be, it is not your fault”, I see you. I see you everywhere.
Together, we walked for 19yrs, you brought me joy. You excelled in your academics, you made me a proud mother as you grew into a handsome, responsible, caring, humane, disciplined man. I will forever remember you my son. Those fun times, the times you held me when I was down, like the man of the house, which you became so early in life…I am consoled because I know for sure that you are in the bosom of the LORD.

I know for sure that we will meet again. You have not died, you are only asleep. This thought will keep me going until I behold your delightful presence again. I know you are here for I am you and you are me.











Bukky Wright is giving herself a birthday treat

Fair-skinned actress, Bukky Wright will be adding another year to her age in 27 days time; that’s March 31st. And sources in the know have disclosed that she’ll be opening her well-appointed beauty spa, Bwright Charisma that same day. It’s the mother of two’s way of giving herself a special birthday treat.

“I am giving myself a birthday present, which is my spa on the island (Ikota). Am a kind of person who always attaches importance to my birthday, I always want to review on what I’ve been able to do over the years not just inviting people to come and eat my food and drink, let them come and spend money”.

"I'm truly blessed." Chris Attoh throws the sweetest shout-out to fiancee, Damilola Adegbite

When a man is in Love! This is the first “unofficial” statement from Chris Attoh after news of his relationship with fast-rising beautiful actress, Damilola Adegbite filtered into the air. Kwame Mensah of the Tinsel series few hours ago posted this short but sweet message to his wife-to-be on his official Instagram page.

“Imagine waking up to a face like this everyday for the rest of your life, with a great personality to go with it. I’m truely blessed cus I wont have to imagine. Counting my blessing each day. Thank you all for all the congratulatory messages and the immense love you guys have sent our way.”

Meanwhile the celebrity couple’s wedding is holding next month- April 12!

Photo: Italy's World Cup jersey can massage players during the game

I also hope it prevents Mario Balotelli from going berserk. According to BBC, Italy’s new national team jersey contains a special tape that provides micro-massages for the players. The massage strips maximise muscle power by allowing the body to recover from exertion more quickly. Manufactured by Puma, the jersey is being showcased on a truck around italian cities.
Source: BBC
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