I almost ran mad the first time I got N100,000 –Timi Dakolo

The story of Timi Dakolo could be likened to that of a popular cliché, grass to grace.

Before he won Idols West African in 2007, the soulful singer was just ‘a nobody.’ In fact, at a point in his life, he resorted to menial jobs in order to survive.

Now, his story has changed, Timi now wines and dines with the President, performing with the elite and travelling all over the globe.

But he cannot forget in a hurry his humble beginning.

A marketer stole my N2m when I released my first album –Ogogo

Unknown to many, veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan fondly called Ogogo, is a singer who specialises in Yoruba poetry. He infuses the poetry with songs to make it melodious.

In a recent chat with Saturday Beats, Ogogo recalled that being a novice in the industry, a marketer stole N2m from him when he first ventured into music but he said he has since forgiven the marketer even though he refused to divulge the name of the said marketer. He however said the incident did not deter him from singing.

“After my illness, I released an album which I titled ‘Appreciation’ in 2009. It is more about Yoruba poetry. I had it in mind to produce the album but I had kept procrastinating. One day, I went into the studio with some of my younger ones and I produced the album. It was launched in America and was well accepted, so I decided to do the same in Nigeria. I produced the album but unfortunately for me, the marketer I was dealing with stole over N2m from me. I did not make noise about it; neither did I chase him about with the police. To be honest, I felt the impact of the theft but I thank God that I am hale and hearty today,” Ogogo said.

BUHARI CONCEDES VP SLOT TO TINUBU

Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has conceded the picking of his running mate to Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party, Ashiwaju.org can report. This has in effect diminished the chances of Chibuike Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, who was all along tipped to be the vice-presidential candidate. Further discussions are going to be held this weekend, but a quick decision may not be reached. The party still has up till December 18 to submit the name of the nominee to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Buhari’s decision to give Tinubu the slot is

B’Haram: External, internal sabotage frustrate me –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday admitted his frustration with the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in some parts of the country, which he described as being hampered by sabotage.

Jonathan spoke while receiving some Nollywood and music stars under the auspices of “Creative Professionals,” who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President described the alleged sabotage as a frustration, occurring both internally and externally.

He however did not explain further on the nature of the sabotage or whether the saboteurs are in the government or in the military.

PDP, APC primaries: Dollar, Naira rain for delegates

The delegates that participated in the just concluded primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress across the country have been laughing to the bank following the huge amount of money some aspirants reportedly paid to them.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the aspirants sent some of the money to the delegates through the leaders of their parties.

It was learnt that apart from the money, incentives such as promise of automatic employment, among others, were also deployed in wooing the delegates.

A jungle in the city: Story of a 500-room house where tenants live as prisoners

Covered in a stream of sweat as he made for the narrow entrance leading outside the block, Okoli Nwabueze (not real name), cursed and grumbled angrily. He was deep in slumber by the time the fan in his room stopped rolling that afternoon and so couldn’t make it out on time to enjoy cool, ‘precious’ breeze. Lacking proper ventilation, electricity supply was the only means to keep the temperature within the room normal. Last year, when he paid N140, 000 as rent and related charges for 12 months to move into Agboye ‘Estate’, a gigantic structure with over 500 rooms stretching on about four plots of land on Oduntan Street, Ketu, Lagos, this was not what he expected. The situation leaves him deeply frustrated.

EXPOSED: Ex-militant, Tompolo, buys six warships

A former Niger Delta militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, alia Tompolo, has bought seven decommissioned Norwegian battleships, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

Reports by a Norwegian newspaper, Dagbladet, said that the fast-speed Hauk-class guided missile boats had been re-armed with new weaponry.

The report also revealed that Ekpemupolo’s most recent purchase is a KNM Horten, a fast-attack craft now used in fighting piracy in Nigeria’s waterways.

VP slot: APC considers Buhari’s list of three

The All Progressives Congress is considering the list of three nominees by its presidential candidate for the 2015 elections, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) The party is to select one of the three names as the running mate of the general.

A high ranking member of the party, who confided in Saturday PUNCH in Abuja on Friday, said the presidential candidate has been under pressure by power blocks within the party long before he emerged.

I don’t use sex as propaganda to sell my music – BabaDee

Dare Fasasi otherwise known as Baba Dee, has beaten his chest that he doesn’t use sex as a propaganda to sell his music.
The dancehall star and actor, who recently co- produced a movie with his brother Sound Sultan said: “It is the normal thing that happens in America and other countries.

How Bokiestar fought off mum and dad for music

Ekperigha Binta Bokizibe, known as Bokiestar in the music industry, didn’t just follow her heart to satisfy her passion for music, she also studied the art to be complete as a musician. But, So far, the journey has been an uphill experience for her, where joy comes with pain, where every smile comes with a sigh but as they say “whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger’. Hear her story:
Bokiestar-1What are you working on for now?
I am working on so many things; I am trying to bring out another track. It is not going to take long, I will soon be dropping the single and I am hoping it is going to be a hit.
How soon are we expecting an album from you?