Pastors in politics will liberate Nigeria’

National Vice Chairman (South-South), Action Congress of Nigeria, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, on Wednesday, called on clerics and other men of God to participate actively in politics.

Ize-Iyamu, who flayed clerics absence in politics, said their involvement would help to uplift the quality of governance in the country.

Speaking ahead of the conferment of an honourary doctorate degree on him and four other Nigerians by the Benson Idahosa University, the ACN chief said it was erroneous for clerics to shy away from governance.

He said, “For me, the more Christian people come into government, the more chances of Nigeria liberating itself from the darkness that we have seen now. But if we continue to leave politics because we think it is dirty, then we should be ready to continue to remain in the dark.

“The nation’s realistic growth and development must hinge on positive encouragement of decent men to hold public offices. There is an urgent need for improvement and therefore it is expedient that Christians participate actively in decent politics, devoid of corruption, thuggery and other forms of criminality, in order to improve the living standard of the people.” by punch

Man attempts suicide twice over eye problem

Taofeek Muraina never had it good as a child. His adulthood is not even better. This, perhaps, explains why the 40-year-old bricklayer thought it wise to die rather than being put to shame by friends and neighbors.

Twice this year, he has attempted suicide. The first time, PUNCH Metro learnt, was about five months ago, while the second one was on December 5.

On December 5, he had wanted to poison himself when a neighbor arrived on time and raised the alarm.

Muraina has been battling with an acute eye condition since when he was a child. As he grows, his condition worsens, making life unbearable for him.

Explaining reasons for attempting suicide, he said, “Life is unbearable for me. I was born with an eye problem. My wife, Tawa, left me and dumped our 10-year-old son with me. I learnt that she has got married to another man.

“I attempted to commit suicide by poisoning myself while my son and neighbors were not at home but my landlady got home while I was preparing the mixture.

His landlady, Mrs. Aminat Oseni, who said that Muraina had been her tenant for five years, explained that it was the second time that he attempted taking his own life.

Oseni said, “He (Muraina) is a friend to my son, Fatai, who is a welder. My son appealed to me that we should accommodate him when he came begging for accommodation.

“According to him, he was sent packing by his former landlord on the ground that the landlord’s family wanted to make use of the apartment. But he said the landlord only ejected him because of his eye problem.”

Muraina, whose left eyeball gorge from the socket, said, “This is causing acute pain for me. I have been living in pain since I was born. It became worse during the crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers three years ago at Moniya. I was hit in my eyes by an object and since then it had been worse.”

His relatives, according to him, came with a promise that they would help him but they never showed up again.

Muraina’s landlady said, “When they saw him they burst out crying. They said that they would take him to the hospital but they could not do so for lack of funds.”

A Mass Communication Student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Yusuf Oseni, said Muraina had not been having any medical attention as a result of poverty, adding, “That is why five months ago he attempted to commit suicide by hanging.

“Having tried all available means to help himself, he decided to take his own life. He has no money to treat himself in the hospital. He is alone with his problem. When he went to the University College Hospital, he was asked to pay N10m.

Muraina, a resident of Gunwin Akingbile, Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State, said the excruciating pains he experienced on a daily basis had made life difficult for him.

He said, “I am a bricklayer and I mould blocks. People in the neighborhood always make jest of me. I take native treatment because I cannot afford the cost of surgery.

“I decided to end it all because I could not afford the cost of surgery and no one wishes to help me. With my condition, I still manage to work to feed myself and my son but people hate me.”  by punch.

Premature Pregnancy Love Making Threat

It's actually safe to have sex during pregnancy. Your man’s penis can't penetrate beyond your vagina, and the baby cannot tell what's going on. It is normal for your sex drive to change during pregnancy, though. Don't worry about this, but do talk about it with your partner

Sexual closeness and sex are safe during pregnancy, all the way to end. It cannot hurt the baby, who is not aware of what you are doing. Having orgasms does not cause you to go into labor or have a miscarriage. Orgasms can sometimes cause uterine contractions, though. In an otherwise-normal pregnancy, this poses no risk. However, if your pregnancy is at high risk for premature labor or delivery, it is not clear if orgasms that cause contractions may pose a risk; you should speak with your health-care provider.

One worry couples might have is that oral sex might bring up bacteria into the vagina.  This is really only a concern if your partner could have an STD.  If you are in a monogamous relationship and there are no risks of getting an STD from your partner, oral sex is really not much different than the exchange of fluids that happen during kissing.

As you move into the third trimester, however, you may find even simple movements—such as getting in and out of bed, bending forward, and even standing, walking, or sitting—to be very awkward and difficult. This physical clumsiness may keep you from enjoying sexual intercourse. On the other hand, increased pelvic congestion may arouse sexual desires, which are limned by orgasm. Your partner may also feel some restraints in enjoyment. He may be uncomfortable feeling the baby moving while he is making love to you. He may also initiate sex less frequently as he assumes a more protective role. Do not misinterpret this as rejection.

Elliot unveils the skeleton in his cupboard

 Gone were the days when number, in terms of the volume of films produced, worked for Nollywood. The reality of growth has dawned on practitioners: you either step up professionalism or simply fall by the roadside.

Part of the ways out of the volume syndrome, the film makers have been advised, is to explore themes that are hitherto considered a no-go area. The fact that Nigerian films also have to compete globally means that they have to enhance the technical outlook of the works. The question is: What is a story if it is not well told? Or what is a film if the cinematography is not right and arresting?

Some of the movies recently produced in the country have been taking care of this. A good number of people have, for instance, applauded Tade Ogidan’s Family on Fire, Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap and Kalejaye Paul’s Married But Living Single.  Another film that promises to impress the market is In the Cupboard, produced by popular actor, Desmond Elliot. While approaching the questions of death and inheritance from a fresh perspective, it also takes on the controversial subject of lesbianism.

In the Cupboard is a story that revolves around the lives of six siblings born into the rich, aristocratic De Souza family; a name synonymous with wealth and power. Everything seems perfect in their lives until their father dies unexpectedly and all of them gather from different parts of the world to be with their mother, the elegant matriarch Veronica “Ronnie” DeSouza,  played by Biola Williams. What ensues is a series of events that threatens to shake the family to its very foundations.

In the cast are celebrated figures that include Ini  Edo,  Big Brother Africa winner Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo and  Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson. It has received five awards since its release in August – including, Best Original Story, Best New Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 GIAMA Awards in the US and the Most Promising Actor at the 2012 Best of  Nollywood Awards. By punch

Acid attack: Accused charged with attempted murder, granted bail

David Sulaimon, who allegedly bathed his estranged fiancée, Chika Egbo, with acid in Igando, Lagos State, has been charged with attempted murder.

He was arraigned on two counts of attempted murder and “causing grievous bodily harm” at an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos a week ago.

The police stated in the charge sheet, a copy of which our correspondent obtained on Thursday, “That you (Sulaimon) on November 5 at Bakare Street, Ikotun, Lagos, bathed Chika Egbo and Sunny Daniel with liquid substance suspected to be acid, to wit; attempted murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 228 (1) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos 2011.”

Magistrate O. Olatunji granted him N500, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

The magistrate stated that the sureties must be blood relations and must present evidence of tax clearance.

The case was adjourned till December 20.

But, Egbo family lawyer, Mr. Nnabuike Edechime, has berated the police for neither informing him nor any member of the victim’s family that Sulaimon was going to be arraigned.

Edechime said, “Why did the policemen who investigated the case at the State Criminal Investigation Department not inform us? I was informed only after the court hearing.

“They could not even give us the copy of the charge sheet. I was directed to get it at the court.”

The lawyer also expressed surprise that Sulaimon was granted bail.

He said he would have tabled his concern before the magistrate if the police had informed him about the date of the arraignment.

Edechime said, “For this kind of charge, the defendant should not be granted bail, at least not on liberal terms.

“The victim (Chika) is still in danger. Right now, she is at the point of death. What if he (the accused) absconds? God forbid, what if the girl dies?”

Our correspondent visited the Burn Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where Chika is receiving treatment, on Thursday but could not see her because she was being prepared for a second round of surgery.

She had undergone a surgery to remove the dead skin on her body last week .

Her father, Matthew, told PUNCH Metro that his only prayer is to see his daughter get better.But he said he was financially handicapped.

He said, “Even transporting myself here and there and eating is becoming very hard right now. But my relations have been really helpful. They are the ones who have been paying for her treatment.

“Chika has not been able to eat solid food. A pipe was passed through her to allow her breathe.”

Our correspondent also learnt that she had been feeding on liquid nutrient through a drip.

Chika, a student of the Enugu State College of Education, was allegedly bathed with acid by, Sulaimon on November 5.

Their relationship reportedly went sour after Chika gave birth to a girl said to be fathered by Sulaimon.

According to Chika’s father, Sulaimon invited her to Lagos from Enugu under the pretext that his mother wanted to see her and he poured the substance on her on their way to his mother’s home.

The okada rider (Daniel) who took both Sulaimon and Chika on his motorcycle before the alleged attack sustained some burns in the process. By Punch

Buhari loses 40-year-old daugther to sickle cell

Zulai, the first daughter of former  Head of State and a former presidential candidate, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is dead.

She died on  Thursday evening after delivering a baby in Nasara Hospital,Marafa Estate in Kaduna.

Nigerians only got to know the 40-year-old lady after her death.

Zulaiha, who was  born on December 5, 1972, studied at the Department of Economics Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

She left behind Amira, Moh’d and the two-day-old  baby girl.

The former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir el-rufai, said, “May the soul of Zulaihatu, the eldest daughter of General Muhammadu Buhari, rest in perfect peace.”

The spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, described the death as sad. 

By Punch 

Unprotected sex causes cervical cancer

An Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Consultant, Dr. Olaleye Olalekan, has warned women against unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, saying it causes Human Papilloma Virus, which always leads to cervical cancer..

Speaking at a health awareness seminar on the theme, “Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer,” organised by Lagoon Hospitals in Lagos on Friday, Olaleye said the disease is sexually transmitted and  peculiar to women.

According to him, abnormal menstrual bleeding, bleeding during sexual contact or after menopause remain the symptoms of cervical cancer over the years.

“Human Papilloma Virus, which is responsible for cervical cancer, genital warts and vaginal, vulvar, anal and penile cancers is the most common sexually transmitted disease, infecting about 80 per cent of young women within five years of becoming sexually active. An estimated 630 million women worldwide are infected.

“This virus is spread during sex from contact with the sores, or lesions, that develop around infected cells.

“Often, the virus is killed by the immune system, but in some people HPV can take hold and cause lesions that can turn cancerous years later,” he noted.

Olaleye, however, urged women observing symptoms of HPV to seek medical attention early to avoid complications. He added, “HPV vaccines are always recommended in pre-pubertal girls.

“Also surgery and radiotherapy are other remedies that are suitable for cervical cancer if the victim seeks medical rescue as early as possible.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Ikeja, Dr. Olajide Ojo, stated that the hospital decided to intervene and educate the public on salient health issues due to increasing late presentation of terminal diseases.

Ojo admonished Nigerians to priorities their health and not allow the cost of medi-care  to discourage them from seeking quality care.

“In this country, screening services are readily available and accessible. So, why should our women continue to die of cervical cancer,” he added.

Also speaking on Prostate Cancer, a consultant urologist, Dr. Andrew Mene, said the disease only affect men above 50 years of age but some cases have been recorded in younger men.

Mene noted that though smoking increases the risk of developing the disease, the cause of prostate cancer has not been established.

He noted that prostate cancer is yet to be linked with sexually- transmitted disease. “Most prostate cancer cases are growing slowly. The symptoms include blood in the urine, seizure in urine flow, loss of appetite, weight loss and bone pains.

“Patients with these symptoms must visit medical experts or a hospital on time for either surgery or radiotherapy,” he added. By Punch