A FAILED STATE (BENUE), AFTER THE RETURN OF DEMOCRACY IN 1999.

Benue State is one of the Middle Belt states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census . It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv,Idoma and Igede peoples, who speak Tiv, Idoma , and Igede languages respectively.

Benue have produced 3 most educated,exposed and civilized Governors since the return of democracy in 1999 but it's sad to note that none out of the three has been able to break the record the Late Apollos Aku set with a Bachelor degree in the late 70s.

Since 1999 to date we don't have a single functioning industry but we have produced 3 solid Governors, so does Benue State  worth calling a state? And does those who have ruled us between this interval worth calling them Governors or leaders? Or better still can we boast of been wiser today than yesterday? After forty something years Aper Aku is still a reference point, It's very shameful.

In Benue State,Jemgbagh is the highest producer of Tomatoes and pepper yet their is no single tomato factory, yet we still boast of our LEADERS is that not a  shamefull thing to us?.

Where as, Governor Nasiru El-rufai of Kaduna State took just 2years to build a tomato factory in Kaduna at a point Nigeria was in recession.

Also Sankera is the largest producer of yams in the whole of Africa but unfortunately their is no single and common Yam floor industry for Sankera people and in that axis.

Today, nobody seems to understand where the present administration in Benue State  intend taking the state to, it is as if a government is not in existence, and under this administration, the only surviving industry in the state (State's civil service) is in comatose, Benue State University which Late Adasu established to ease the pains, marginalization and discrimination that Benue people were facing from other Universities is no longer for a common man.

Also today, non indigene school fees from other state universities is now cheaper that what Benue parents have been forced to pay in BSU today and if not for the quick intervention of the TorTiv His Royal Majesty Professor James Ortese Ayatse, many other remaining legacies of late Aper Aku would have been sold by now yet people are still believing good deeds out this present government, it's a Shame thing to us.

The worse scenario is the issue of leadership succession in Benue, if you're opportune to go to where they do their political permutations you will be shocked to discover that instead of them searching for aspirants that have the capacity to take the State to greater heights they will only be concerned about those who will be loyal to them if given the mandate, they don't care about the waywardness of the state and they're care less about the joblessness in the state, their business is what they want to get from the state coffers at anytime they want.

We were on this same underdevelopment stage with the likes of Ebonyi,Taraba, Nasarawa, Bauchi,Ogun,Ondo,Edo and Osun but unfortunately they have all moved to the right direction whereas we are still depending on those who have failed us to give us a direction to follow.

It pains me much because the youths who are directly affected by this mess are the ones who are still celebrating them and making them to feel relevant without knowing that the conspiracy on ground is for them to continue roaming the streets with all our accumulated degrees, the conspiracy is that you should continue hanging around their gates begging for peanuts anytime you hear that they're in town.
WHAT AM TRYING TO SAY HERE?

Because Sparkling MrSparkling had an opportunity to travel to many other states in Nigeria and he has seen what Governors from other States have done for their People,he is very bold to say has not seen anything/anybody to celebrate.

I know it will pain some people Who are getting the same peanuts because i have said the truth, but its a normal thing, the truth always pains so i have no worries, or bother at all.

Let us know how to say the truth, speak the truth, and say what you see as it is.

Sparkling MrSparkling 

STOP FOOLING YOURSELF IN THE NAME OF AM ENJOYING LIFE: ITS MY TIME.

Life Enjoyment is nothing but the satisfaction that you get after doing or seeing some things or you ate something which you are dreaming of, there are many ways to describe the word enjoyment.

It depends on the perspective of a person and that word enjoyment has its own different meaning when it comes to each and every individual, Now i will say few examples how the people use the word “ENJOYMENT”.

CHILDREN

According to most of the children their enjoyment is playing video games, eating sumptuous food, playing with friends, bursting crackers and some other things, because at that stage they are giving mere satisfaction and happiness, but physically speaking they don't know all these words enjoyment, satisfaction it's just a feeling for them.

TEENS

For them, enjoyment is like having a chat with friends, watching movis, ate some good foods in restaurants, bike rides, puffs, snap Studio pix, consuming alcohol (for some), watching porn, talking with his/her girlfriend/boyfriend for a long time, chating, having talks with friends during late nights,mocking, criticizing, helping the people who are in need, and if i continue this, it will reach infinte but the above stated are the things which gives utmost satisfaction to most number of guys/girls.

ADULTHOOD

For them their children growth and comfort is the biggest satisfaction and nothing more than that and slightly the things which i stated in the teens also applicable to most of the people here.

OLD

The only satisfaction or enjoyment for them is our presence,nothing much they feels even more happier if u spent some time with grandma or grandpa, they will feel satisfied when they feed you with Good food with their own hands.

TO OUR YOUNG GIRLS OR BOYS OF NOWADAYS

Young guys or girls of nowadays thinks enjoyment is to dress half naked, put low waist, wear eye lashes, wore show bele, mini skirt, rugged jeans and all of that.

Let me tell you, you are just fooling yourself there is no time, especially to girls, if at your graduating class, whether you are the virge of graduating ND, HND, B.Sc,or NCE and you are yet to know where your focus is, and you are still playing games, any man that comes in your life you take him as a game player, just to chop and go, my sister you will remain Aunty at home.

I remember one of my Oga back then in BSU once love a girl with his whole heart, when this girl finally accepts him, he was actually a Technician in Mass communication department, this girl was in 300level, my Oga came with a true heart to even marry her, but as she wants to get what she want( good scores to graduate with good grades) he continue playing games, when ever its time for this girl's happiest moment, she make sure both of them are in a querell so that she will have her time with who she want most immediately after it, she will come begging to settle the querell.

The last time i knew was on her birthday, that was last year September 9,2017,where both querell and nearly fight to each other, my Oga did not go her birthday, and immediately after the birthday she came begging indirectly through my Oga's mother.

Reader, what am i trying to say here, what am saying here is this, sometimes you go on playing games in the name of enjoying life, what God trully sent to you will pass you by, just in the name of let me enjoy my life, its my time.

Think about it, especially our young girls.

Sparkling MrSparkling

TONTO DIKEH’S human trafficking awareness tour gets hype

Nollywood actress and humanitarian, Tonto Dikeh universities’ tour on human trafficking has gotten more hype than expected. The tour tagged ‘The uncomfortable truth,’ is a project organised by The Tonto Dikeh Foundation and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP).

The event which held at the University of Abuja, Management Science Hall, Main Campus, was put together in commemoration with World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

According to the actress, the campaign is set to create awareness on human trafficking in an innovative way.

Experts and ministry leaders such as NAPTIP DG Barr Julie Okah-Donli, Prof Adikwu and many more created time out of their busy schedules to educate the audience on pressing issues and topics that have been overlooked.

Entertainers at the event as hosts included Bobrisky, Toyin Abraham, Halima Abubakar, Style Plus, Maivano and others.

Why We Shot KAMSI In Jos -Film Director Uzodinma Okpechi

If the successes of music videos like 2face’s ‘African Queen’, Nkem Owoh’s ‘I’LL Chop Your Dollar’ and Sunny Neji’s ‘Oruka’ are anything to make out of a man’s career, director Uzodinma Okpechi could be said to have returned with an audacity that will reference Nollywood. The ‘madness’ of this man of the camera to make a strong statement in the motion picture industry is the peg leading up to KAMSI, the anticipated Nollywood thriller he is pitching for the rare blend of artistic and commercial end. He spoke with VICTOR AKANDE, ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR about this action-packed film.

Why your choice of a thriller?

Thriller because I believe filmmakers; ‘the good ones’ must be bold and audacious.

 And how bold are you to release soon?

KAMSI will be released by FilmOne on November 23, 2018.

 To FilmOne, is this a commercial film; because there is this crazy preference for comedies and a cluster of popular actors in recent times?

They are yet to see it, but they are anticipating it. However, it was shot with the audience in mind. And I have been proven right that producers should not spend their entire production budget on hiring actors.

 Why is this?

A lot of the films with the so-called stars have failed. The audience demands a performance not faces.

 Largely, what are your expectations for the market? I hear of arty films and I hear of commercial films… Which side does this tilt to the more?

I have always been an advocate of both. I will never support shooting a movie solely for the arts, except of course, it’s a funded movie or a grant and I have to adhere to certain submissions.

“I have shot a couple of movies in Jos in the past in 2000 and 2001 precisely; as a Producer and Assistant Director. The weather and topography is any good filmmaker’s delight. And contrary to what people think, Jos is actually a safe and conducive place to shoot. The people are welcoming and they are ever willing to help.”

What aspect of the production is taking the chunk of the budget in this case?

Production values and logistics of movement of equipment and people to and from Jos, and, of course, accommodation

Why the choice of Jos?

I have shot a couple of movies in Jos in the past in 2000 and 2001 precisely; as a Producer and Assistant Director. The weather and topography is any good filmmaker’s delight. And contrary to what people think, Jos is actually a safe and conducive place to shoot. The people are welcoming and they are ever willing to help.

Tell us more…

We went there during the Harmattan; cold and rustic which go with the theme of the movie. We wanted to see foggy background and withered vegetation. We wanted the background to envelope our main character, Dozie, who is himself in a valley until the end of the movie. We wanted a location that resonates with our colour theme of shades of Brown, Blue, Wine and dull Silver.

Is the crew entirely local? What brand of camera did you shoot with?

Yes, entirely local crew. KAMSI was shot on Arri Alexa Classic.

Kindly refresh our memories of those previous movies shot in Jos; ‘Battle of Love’ was one of them, I guess…

‘Battle of love’ was produced by me and directed by Simi Opeoluwa. It was financed by Kingsley Ogoro and that year, it won Best Overall Picture and Best English Picture in THEMA Awards then organized by Fame Weekly. ‘Blood of Jesus’ was produced and directed by Simi Opeoluwa in 2001. I was Co – producer and Assistant Director.

Is KAMSI influenced by a true life event or is it a fiction?

Fiction, but I wanted that father-daughter connection. What wouldn’t you do to save your only child’s life?

Is this the moral of the story?

Yes. Drama and film are formed on unpredictability and the complexity of humans. Different strokes for different folks. A widower whose daughter is about to lose her arm and who, by calculation got saved by the same man who used his daughter as a bargaining chip… Come on, put yourself in his shoes. What would you do? Or what wouldn’t you do? You can cage a man but not his will.

“Fiction, but I wanted that father-daughter connection. What wouldn’t you do to save your only child’s life?”

Any challenges; may be things you didn’t foresee?

Yes, there were challenges as expected but nothing out of the ordinary. Principal photography was 16 days, although I went back to shoot for another five days. So, yes I never envisaged going back but I did.

Screenplay and Sound are some of the major challenges of Nollywood films, how were these handled?

We had the 1st, 2nd and final draft. Two script writers: Sola Osofisan based in the US and Anthony Kehinde Joseph who wrote the final draft. The 1st and 2nd drafts were from Sola Osofisan. There was also a script conference before the final draft. Location Sound was fairly good but I am doing ADR (Automated Dialog Replacement).

Tell us about your influences… on the need to do it right

Doing it right can never be compromised by me. I love it and I preach it. Reason I went back after first cut and I noticed that some scenes can be better. I live it.

“Doing it right can never be compromised by me. I love it and I preach it. Reason I went back after first cut and I noticed that some scenes can be better”

 KAMSI Synopsis:

A loving father, Dozie Nnamani (Wole Ojo) deals with the struggle of being a single parent after his wife passed. 13 months passed and while on their daily commute, Dozie and his daughter KAMSI (eight years old) fell victims of a violent crime. This incidence puts KAMSI in a very precarious situation needing surgery or amputation. Raising money for the surgery becomes an uphill task for Dozie, having spent his life savings on his wife who died eventually. Dozie, now forced to extreme measures finds out how crazed a father can be when his only child becomes the bait for him to join a notorious gang whose leader believes everybody is disposable. In this thriller, Dozie must not only try to stay one step ahead of the gang leader, Nicholas Katanga (Sam Dede) and the police, but not to allow violence consume him.

Cast: Wole Ojo, Sam Dede, Kiki Omeili plays detective Adesua, Timini Egbuson, Bimbo Ademoye and Ben Lugo play University students. Olakunle Abounce Fawole plays Brutus, Sam Dede’s second in command.