"When Will You Settle Down"? Dbanj's Father To Dbanj

Nija Music supe star, D’banj has revealed that his father isn’t overjoyed about his music career.

Even though the Nigerian star enjoyed international success with his 2012 smash hit Oliver Twist and has sold over 11 million albums in his career, he revealed that his dad remains concerned that a career in music isn’t sustainable.

’Don’t do music’ is what my father told me,” D’banj told The Voice. “Even now, he says to me: ‘Are you sure this music thing is right for you?’” Asked what career path his father would have preferred for him, D’banj, who released his first hit Tongolo in 2004, said: “Any other thing apart from music!

My father is so quiet and reserved, whereas music puts you right out there. “He knows that fame can destroy things and he worries about me sustaining success. “He also says: ‘When I was your age, I was married and I already had you! When are you going to settle down?’’

Still, the singer-songwriter says that settling down isn’t part of his immediate plan. “I think I want to get a Grammy first! But if an angel should pass, I might just be distracted!”


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Aliyu Gusau; The Newly Sworn In Defence Minister Resigns

The newly sworn in minister of defence General Aliyu Gusau rtd. has resigned his appointment barely a week after.

According to a saharareporters, Gusau’s sudden decision to quit President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet arose from what the former minister considered an act of insubordination and indiscipline from Nigeria’s top military brass.

Several sources at the Defense Ministry Said that Nigeria’s top military officers yesterday refused to have a joint meeting with Mr. Gusau and his deputy, Musikilu Obanikoro, a former senator. The top military henchmen kept Mr. Gusau waiting for two days after he summoned them to a meeting, with different military service chiefs making excuses for their inability to meet with him and his deputy immediately.

Finally, the situation turned testy yesterday when, after keeping Mr. Gusau and Mr. Obanikoro waiting for several hours, the Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, showed up alone for a meeting. “When Air Marshal Badeh showed up, the Minister of Defense told him he was expecting all the chiefs of staff within the military, but Badeh reportedly told him there was no need,” said one source at the ministry. The sources added that Badeh also told Mr. Gusau that he alone would be meeting with the minister as the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), stating that this arrangement was the collective decision of military officers in the country.

One source said an attempt by the junior minister of defense, Mr. Obanikoro, to intervene was rudely brushed aside as Badeh asked him to “shut up.” “Air Marshal Badeh is said to have called Senator Obanikoro a ‘small boy’ and warned him that the military was not going to be taking orders anymore from bloody civilians like him,” one source stated.

Soon after the altercation, General Gusau (rtd) reportedly ended the meeting and asked the Permanent Secretary in the ministry to transmit his letter of resignation to President Goodluck Jonathan. The sources learnt that Mr. Jonathan, who was rattled by the development, immediately charged Senate President David Mark with the task of prevailing on Mr. Gusau to rescind his resignation.

The president reportedly promised to see that the issue was resolved expeditiously. However, a source stated that Mr. Gusau remained infuriated and refused to back away from his decision to leave the cabinet. Late last night, President Jonathan paid a visit to Mr. Gusau’s home in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to stay at his ministerial job, but Mr. Gusau refused to see the president.

Mr. Gusau kept away from today’s session of the Federal Executive Council, a weekly meeting of all ministers with the president. He reportedly told aides that he could not serve in a situation where military officers would show open disdain for their civilian leaders and him an experienced retired military man.

When contacted Mr. Obanikoro who admitted obliquely that there was what he termed a “slight disagreement,” but added that there was nothing serious. An aide to Senator David Mark Said that Mr. Gusau had sent his letter of resignation to the Senate, which confirmed him after his nomination. The source added, however, that Mr. Mark had refused to have the resignation letter read because the senator was still hopeful of convincing Mr. Gusau to remain at his post.



UPDATE:

In a new development General Aliyu Gusau has apparently come out to deny the report. He spoke to @bbchausa while debunking the resignation reports moments ago.