Former Delta state governor, Senator Felix Ibru dies at 80
Saturday 12 March 2016
Former Delta state governor, Senator Felix Ibru dies at 80
At 70, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa Still Hopes To Find The Right Man
At 70, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa Still Hopes To Find The Right Man
She is one of
the most powerful women in Nigeria. A one-time medical professional now
politician, she is known for the struggle of the Bakassi people.
She is a quintessential Nigerian decorated with the
honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger. Even at 70, her
age-defying beauty and youthfulness are superlative. Senator Florence
Ita-Giwa is a robust personality. In this interview with
THISDAY, Ita-Giwa speaks about her desire not to remain single for the
rest of her life and still hoping to find the right man to spend the
rest of her life with.
How do you feel at 70?
I feel
much fulfilled and I give glory to God that I am celebrating 70 and by
the grace of God in good health, both physically and mentally; I feel
very settled in my mind. The most interesting thing is that I am very
certain that I am in the right place that I should be. I feel much
fulfilled with my family, with my work, with my charity and the position
I rose to in my career as a politician.
You hardly look 70; any secret?
I think
the answer I always give first is that probably because the year runs
so fast; the number of the years you are carrying or you have attained
doesn’t allow your body to adjust to the time. However, naturally in my
family, we age gracefully and from where I come from as an Efik woman –
from the time you come into this world as a female you are made to
appreciate the fact that it is beautiful to be a female. Whatever your
aspirations are, whether you aspire to be the president of a country or a
medical doctor, the number one thing is, don’t lose your femininity. As
a Calabar woman one is taught how to look after oneself; so we age
gracefully. The idea is not to look young. I don’t want to be young –
the idea is to age gracefully. So for that reason, knowing that my body
is very receptive to food, I have a tendency to be fat, all my life, I
have battled with weight gain leading me always to watch what I eat and
it has turned out well. I made it a routine at the end of every day to
find at least one hour where I relax my mind and my body. At the end of
the day I enjoy a good dinner, listen to news, watch TV, listen to music
and then before I go to bed, I give myself some 30 minutes of
pampering.
Do you sometimes feel intimidated by men?
I look
at myself as a human being and I don’t allow myself to be intimidated
and I don’t go out of my way to intimidate people. I just know that all
of us are in the business of nation building. It is for you to show your
political strength.
What are your regrets in life?
Absolutely,
no regrets. I thank God for every good thing and every bad thing that
has happened to me. But I am very grateful because God has compensated
me with good things for the bad things that happened to me. If I come
back, I will still do it the same way. I have enjoyed everything that
came along with what I chose to be in life. From my career as a nurse to
venturing into politics, I have enjoyed everything. I have enjoyed it
up to the point of still dancing in the street at age 70. It’s all part
of it because politics is liberating and so I can dance in front of a
crowd of one million people because it is my work. I am totally
liberated.
Why have you remained single since the demise of your husband?
I
remained single because I live by example. I have brought up children
that as soon as they graduated from school, they got married and have
their own children. If your environment is rough, when you change
partners then your children are likely to grow up rough and to change
partners and as such I didn’t want to take a risk of changing partners.
However, I am a human being, there is need for me to have a relationship
but I decided that at one point I have to be sure. I don’t want to say
that I didn’t see anybody that was worth it but I am still sifting
through so that I don’t ever change partners. At this stage of my life,
if ever there will be a partner, that partner would be my partner for
life. Secondly, I live a very busy life and for most part of my life in
the last 10 years, I have done some very serious things that I didn’t
need that distraction. I had to take care of my business and my service
to humanity. I did a lot of things that I was not sure that I could have
found a man that will buy into that vision and again there is issue of
men feeling intimidated by successful career women and there is no way I
would have negotiated my career because I have children. Though I do
not intend to ever change my name which has become a brand I am not
guaranteeing that I would remain single.
I have
amazing friends; I am socially very busy as well but I have friends that
respect me and will not take advantage of that friendship. I have very
civilised male friends who do not want to take advantage. So if I want
to go for dinner I have friends both Nigerian and non-Nigerians that
will take me out. I have friends that will travel with me; we have very
excellent and decent relationship. However, I cannot guarantee that I
would remain single for the rest of my life.
You had a successful working relationship with former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and perhaps, ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua. What did you learn from them?
I think
with Obasanjo, initially, we didn’t take off well. While I was at the
Senate and he was the President, I think in the course of my struggle
for separation of powers I joined the Okadigbo group to fight for
separation of powers. To be candid, Obasanjo was a straightforward
military man and his desire to get things done at the appropriate time
is not negotiable. Eventually, we became very good friends with due
respect; because today he is my friend, my father and my mentor. I like
him tremendously. I still do not know any human being who is more
committed to the success of this democracy and development of this
country than Obasanjo. For the four years I worked with him, he refused
to go to sleep and I saw that. It was pleasantly and excitingly tiring,
because he worked round the clock, and I got to know my country; so that
is what he did to my life. I got to know my country and got to know
Nigerians. I could make a good president because of what I learnt from
him. Obasanjo believes in speed, efficiency and superior arguments and I
think till today I am very impatient with anybody that does not apply
speed to the things they do.
Checkout the Traditional Wedding Photos of the Ooni Of Ife
Checkout the Traditional Wedding Photos of the Ooni Of Ife
The Ooni Of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi wedded Wuraola Otiti today In Benin City,Edo State.
Though the Oba was absent at the ceremony but was ably represented.Today the Olori will be driven down to
Ife in a white Limousine to be presented to her Husband and tomorrow
Sunday March 13,2016,there will be a thanksgiving service followed by an
exclusive party.
SDK
2 Face's wife & his mother-in-law cover the maiden edition of Impelling Africa
2 Face's wife & his mother-in-law cover the maiden edition of Impelling Africa
Impelling Africa Nigeria is out with its maiden Issue and Special
Motherhood Edition featuring beautiful Annie Idibia and her mom, Grace
Essien as its cover page personalities.
This edition which is themed around the strength of women and joy of
motherhood focuses on the trials and triumphs of both mother and
daughter as mothers and as entrepreneurs.
The revealing interview brings to limelight the great bond between these
two as it is seen behind the scene and on camera.
The issue also features MTV Shuga cast, Jemima Osunde where she talks
about juggling her career and education and a special feature of Ayodele
Dada as man crush of the month.
Photography by Diko Photography
Hair by BeOlive; Styled by @hairbysleame
Outfit by Divine Endownment; Styled by @thevirtousstyle
Make Up by Maiworld Makeup
Hair by BeOlive; Styled by @hairbysleame
Outfit by Divine Endownment; Styled by @thevirtousstyle
Make Up by Maiworld Makeup
Nigerian Military troops destroy Boko Haram camp at Alajeri. kill many insurgents
Nigerian Military troops destroy Boko Haram camp at Alajeri. kill many insurgents
Following
reliable information on the presence of some Boko Haram terrorists,
troops of 113 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to Dunga general
area on Thursday
during which they discovered and destroyed a Boko Haram terrorists’
camp at Alajeri village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno
State.
The troops are in high spirits
because of the success of the operation coupled with the fact that there
was no casualty or injury on the part of the troops.
Operations to clear all known Boko
Haram terrorists camps and hideouts are ongoing as troops remain
committed to the clearance and apprehension of the Boko Haram terrorists
in the country.
Long Live Nigerian Army!
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