OJB on hospital bed in India

After months and weeks of empathy, prayer, and generous donations OJB finally raised the required sum of money he needed to get himself to India for his Kidney transplant. The veteran producer/artiste flew out of Nigeria on Friday August 23rd and apparently, treatment is already underway. We’re not past the finish-line yet though, OJB needs prayers for a successful operation.
Among the many donors are the popular Okoye brothers (P-square) and Vector.

The rich need love too. Davido is currently in the States gearing up for his sister’s wedding this weekend. All should be going fine with the BO last born but it doesn’t look like it. Davido took to Twitter to make public his frustration with his relationship and stated clearly that he is single!
Ladies, Omo Baba Olowo is up for grab.

A commercial bus driver and his conductor this morning stripped naked at the Allen Avenue/Obafemi Awolowo Way roundabout in Ikeja to prevent some policemen (seen in the pic) from towing their vehicle and arresting them for alleged traffic violation. Their stunt caused heavy traffic around the area this morning and I heard it actually worked as the policemen left the scene quickly.

Oga Olopa don see wetin pass them. Lol.

Nigeria’s Oil City, Port Harcourt witnessed one of the biggest parties of the year last weekend as the Hennessy Artistry 2013 club tour stormed the garden city with some of Nigeria’s biggest superstars.
Hosted by popular on air personality Olisa Adibua, the event held on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Lamborghini club in GRA, Port Harcourt and saw guests from different parts of the country come to witness the ultimate Hennessy experience. 

With energetic performances from fast rising acts: Pucado and Phyno, the event kicked off on a high note and fans sure got in the party mood. 

Dbanj brought the house down with pulsating performances also thrilling guests in attendance with his first live performance of this year’s Artistry theme song.

Port Harcourt’s biggest artiste, Burna Boy was also in town to party with Dbanj and fans present.
Dbanj will make his second club appearance in Lagos later in September. The next stop for the Hennessy Artistry club tour this weekend is Club DV8 in Victoria Island, Lagos and will feature performances from Phyno, Kay Switch and Chidinma.

This year's Hennessy Artistry 2013 supporting acts include Olamide, Chidinma, Vector, Pucado, Phyno, Seyi Shay, Show Dem Camp, Kay Switch and Sean Tizzle were announced three weeks ago and have promised fans the time of their lives this year.

 

Last week, Wizkid told a fan 'that broke people always think they have an opinion' after the fan rudely corrected his
English - a comment that angered quite a number of the pop star's fans.
Singer J Martins in a recent interview on a radio station reacted to Wizkid’s outburst, saying:

I'm not taking any side, don’t mean no beef, no disrespect, and no hate but let the truth be told. I don’t believe because you feel you have a few change you didn’t have a few years ago and which you cannot guarantee having in a few years to come then you wake up and look at those people who have cheered you up, loved you, supported your music, bought your CD’s, prayed for you, just because you can lay your hands on some phone and you call them ‘poor’.  

I'm not in and will never be in support of anyone who has such bad attitude. It needs to be corrected, we owe our fans the duty of being good examples that’s why they hold us in high esteem, that’s why you are a role model and if you know you cannot be a good role model you have no business in Music. You don’t know if it’s that person that might help you tomorrow, whoever does that should be checked.

Wizkid last night reacted to J Martins comments, tweeting at him directly. See the tweets after the cut

J. Martins immediately replied Wizkid clearing himself from the controversy...

 

But retweeted people who supported his comments...:-)

Iyanya is chopping endorsement deals anyhow. First MTN, now Zinox Group. The Kukere crooner yesterday signed a three hundred
and fifty thousand dollars one year endorsement deal with Zinox Computers. Zinox computers, which is Nigeria’s first certified branded computers, will upload all Iyanya's songs and videos to all their computers. Iyanya will also do a song for them and appear on Zinox billboards and TV commercials.

Iyanya got some of the endorsement deal money in cash yesterday and displayed it on his Instagram page. See Iyanya and his money after the cut...

Former Imo State Governor, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim has blamed the country’s travails on public officers who according to him, wrecked and destroyed it.
Ohakim was speaking yesterday in Abuja at the public presentation of the book, ‘Delicate Distress: An Interpreter’s Account of the Nigerian Dilemma,’ written by a former Commissioner of Information in Imo State, Dr Amanze Obi.
The one time governor also described anger, blackmail, blame game and poor communication as the bane of the country.
According to him, “there is distress in this country. This is a country that is on free fall; this is a country where we have hypocrites. The country is descending down the cliff.
“Even if you bring Jesus to be president, the country is running down the cliff. In 1965, the only means of transportation in Dubai was carmel so why are we descending?
“We must bring people who can think. The only way we can develop this country is minding the way we market it.
“Is the structure in this country right? Are we running democracy? If we are, what kind of democracy are we running?” He asked.
The governor while stressing that Nigeria must be totally reformed added that “This country will not collapse. It is so solid.”

Contrary to speculation in some quarters that former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris is still dictating the pace of activities in the state, his successor, Captain Idris Wada, has declared that he is fully in charge of state apparatus and won’t play to the gallery by fighting his predecessor, who he described as his ‘long time friend’. “I am in charge of the state affairs, but people are making up stories because I am not fighting with my predecessor”, he said.
Governor Wada, who made this known yesterday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital while fielding questions from journalists on the 22nd anniversary of the creation of the state, said governance is about making life meaningful for the people not engaging in needless confrontations.
“People believe that if a new governor assumes power, he must fall out with his predecessor, and that is wrong. Former Governor Idris has been my long time friend and I will not fight him for any reason. My desire to complete all the projects initiated by the former governor is aimed at avoiding unnecessary wastages and to ensure that tax payers’ money is judiciously utilized. Since governance is about service to the people, I have decided not to play to the gallery by striving to make life meaningful for the people, majority of who are living in abject poverty”, he said.
He said his administration’s core priority is on education, agriculture, healthcare delivery and social infrastructure, adding that no effort would be spared in ensuring that the state is put on a sound economic pedestal.

Barely 24 hours after his arrival in the country after a long sojourn abroad where he was receiving medical treatment, Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has reportedly written a letter to the State House of Assembly seeking to resume his office. The letter was received by the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Gov. Suntai, who suffered serious injuries in an air crash in Yola, Adamawa State, last October, was flown back from the United States yesterday in a desperate bid by his associates and wife to prevent the almost certain swearing-in of the deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar as substantive governor.
In the letter to the Assembly, sources say the governor claims that he has fully recovered from his injuries even though the claim is being treated with suspicion by officials of the state, who have so far been barred from seeing or hearing from him 24 hours after his return.
The House of Assembly has said it would invite Mr. Suntai to appear before the assembly and address them regarding his health and plans to resume work.
Meanwhile, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has visited Mr. Suntai in Government House, Jalingo.
Addressing reporters after the visit, Nyako said: “You saw me sheding tears of joy.
“I am very happy; I can now go back to my state (Adamawa) and tell my people.
“I wish him (Suntai) a very quick recovery. Governor Suntai and I have a lot of struggles and grounds to cover; when he recovers, we shall ensure that justice prevails and democracy is being developed in our dear states.”

   Lady Gaga has attempted to cover herself up following her near naked performance at this weekend’s VMAs.

Lady Gaga attempted and failed to cover up as she greeted fans last night. But if her aim was to come across as more demure, she sadly failed miserably.
The 27-year-old singer stepped out last night in a bizarre see-through cut away cat suit, exposing her flat stomach and thong in the process.
Lady Gaga greeted her awaiting fans last night. Copyright [Splash]Gaga covered her modesty with a matching lingerie style bra while opting for a pair of sturdy military style heels.

[Lady Gaga offers support to One Direction after they receive boos at VMA's]

The ‘Applause’ singer finished off her look with a pair of sunglasses and wild brown wig.

Lady Gaga didn't seem too fussed that she was flashing her underwear. Copyright [Splash]Over the weekend, Gaga performed her new single for the first time at the VMAs, ending her performance in just a shell bra and g-string bottom.
Dressed in said skimpy attire, Gaga was later spotted back stage with One Direction.
At it seems that she was in a protective mood after the boys were booed on stage.
Lady Gaga offered her support to One Direction at the VMA's after they were booed. Copyright: [Twitter/MTV]She reportedly told the band: "I want to tell you that you deserve every measure of success you have.
“And I put that booing in my own show because I wanted to make a comment about that.
"I wanted to leave right now. I don't want to even stay anymore. I don't want to be in a room like that."
And just to clarify that she thinks the world of the boys, the singer tweeted earlier today: “You know what @onedirection ? Your fans REALLY love you, and it's beautiful to see! Enjoy your Moonman! Love, Seashell Girl *winks* xx”

Poor Beyonce got caught up in a vicious brawl between Diddy and J.Cole at a VMAs afterparty last night.
Bey, 31, was spotted screaming at the two rappers after they became embroiled in a feud over Diddy's girlfriend, Cassie.

Beyonce got caught up in the fight between Diddy and J.Cole.

A guest told the News: "It was mayhem. Beyoncé was yelling at them to stop and Jay Z was separating people and getting people away from Bey.
"We were all dancing and the fight breaks out, and it happened so quickly and bottles were crashing everywhere, and everyone was screaming. People got pushed into bottles"
The fight apparently started when J.Cole said some 'unsavoury' things to Cassie, which led to Bey stepping in to save the day and hubby Jay-Z on hand as back up.

   Beyonce was yelling at the pair to break them up, while Jay-Z was on hand to back her up

Another guest told the News"J. Cole was saying inappropriate things to Sean Combs and his girlfriend, Cassie.
"Sean immediately pounced. Some pushing and shoving happened. No punches were thrown, but it was a visible disturbance. A few bottles splashed to the floor and some partygoers were knocked over."
But Diddy was quick to try and smooth things over, getting up to DJ and wish Cassie a happy birthday.
He told the room: "It’s all cool! Ya’ll keep having fun! It’s no big deal, it’s over."

Cheryl Cole  has defended THAT new tattoo saying that people are entitled to their own opinions..

We were utterly shocked to discover the full extent of Cheryl Cole's back tattoo. Copyright: [Instagram]
After the word went mad after a picture of the tattoo was realeased yesterday, Chezza has taken to Twitter to vent her frustrations:
"People are entitled to their own opinion. Personally I've never really concerned myself with other people's body parts!” she wrote.
"I've had it for seven-eight months but only just had it detailed. I can pretty much safely say I'm now done!"
Well, we suppose it she wants to express herself via her bum cheeks.
They are her bum cheeks after all.
And we suppose when she is older you definitely won’t be able to see any cellulite.
Not that Cheryl Cole would get cellulite, anyway.
Cheryl Cole in a bit more of a covered up state.
Chezza’s tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado uploaded a picture of his work yesterday to Instagram (causing the interenet to go into meltdown).
Along with the image, he wrote:
‘Here is a in progress shot of a Tattoo I’ve been covering up and reworking. Really excited to show healed shots. It was some intense tattooing sessions. She’s tough as nails.’
Cheryl‘s lower back tattoo was first aired in February this year, but it appears fans didn’t realise the full extent of the dramatic design.
And now it seems everyone has something to say, with the majority of comments not being overly positive.
However, Coronation Street actress Michelle Keegan is a fan and wrote on Twitter: "No gonna lie I actually heart @CherylCole new tattoo!" Cole planning on settling down and starting a family now she is 30?

A Canadian radio host and newspaper columnist took off her top during an interview with her local mayor this week and continued asking him questions bare-chested.


Lori Welbourne, who hosts the radio show On The Rocks and writes a column for the Province newspaper, was talking to Walter Gray, mayor of Kelowna in British Columbia, about whether it was legal in the town for women to bare their br**sts in public.
‘What if I went walking down the street unclad?’ she asked in the recorded interview.

But before Gray could answer her question, Welbourne handed him her microphone and undid the strap on her dress, exposing her br**sts.
‘What are you doing,’ he asked, to which she replied, ‘it’s really hot in here.’
After regaining his composure, Gray explained that while someone may be tempted to call the police there is little authorities could do because it is in fact entirely legal for a woman to be unclad anywhere a man can be.
Welbourne’s stunt was in anticipation of Sunday’s Go unclad Day.

Public uncladness is not illegal anywhere in Canada unless it’s deemed to be indecent. It is also legal for women in a range of American states though plenty still outlaw.
‘So I can go unclad here in Kelowna?’ Welbourne went on.
‘Well, evidently,’ Gray said. ‘I’m not suggesting you should do that but I don’t think you’d be committing any crime or breaking any bylaw.’
Groups of women turned out shirtless in cities including New York on August 25 to celebrate a women’s right to bare her br**sts in public. The annual event was started in 2007.
Welbourne went on to ask the mayor whether he was aware we are all unclad under our clothes and whether he had any piercing and he replied in good humor

AKPOS THE TEACHER
Akpos: "who is the minister of education?"
Children: "Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan"
Akpos: "who is CBN governor?"
Children: "Aliko Dangote"
Akpos; "who is the minister for information?".
Children: "Mike Adenuga"
Akpos; "who is the minister for sports.
Children: "Stephen keshi".
Akpos: "Correct! who composed the national anthem of Nigeria"
Children: "wizkid"
Akpos: "correct" what is2 5?
Children: "25"
Akpos:- "correct"
Akpos:- "what is the capital of Nigeria?"
Children: "Abia-umuahia "
Akpos: "correct, Who is d president of nigeria?".
Children. "General Muhammadu Buhari"
Akpos:. "Correct! Who stopped the killing of twins".
Children: "Psquare"
Akpos: "correct! who is the minister for womenaffairs"
Children: "Genevieve Nnaji"
Akpos: "Correct, Who is d governor of Anambra state?
Children. "Baba Tunde Fashola"
Akpos: "Correct!"
Akpos:- "Good! Clap for yourselves...
(children claps) It's gonna Remain like that until government increases my salary!!!
ONE WORD FOR AKPOS

Join NabentertainmentAfrica.blogspot.com for more jokes to crack ya Ribs....

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been advised to ensure that a broadly attractive rate regime is maintained in the money market to attract portfolio inflows and ensure there is an incentive to hold naira denominated assets domestically.
A financial analyst and Emerging Markets Strategist at Standard Bank Plc, Samir Gadio gave this advice in a flash note made available to Daily Sun on Friday. His observation stems from the decision by the Monetary Policy Committee to raise to 50 per cent the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector funds.
The apex bank took the decision so as to address systemic inefficiencies in liquidity management. This measure was also aimed at reducing the banks’ ability to tap cheap government deposits in order to purchase higher yielding T-bills and Open Market Operation (OMOs).
But in Gadio’s words: “We’ll continue to recommend the 6- and 12-m carry trade, which certainly offers value. The CBN needs to maintain a broadly attractive rate regime to attract portfolio inflows and ensure there is an incentive to hold NGN assets domestically. This in itself makes unlikely any cut in the MPR (currently at 12 per cent) during the remainder of Governor Lamido Sanusi’s term or indeed that the CBN will allow a disorderly move down in market rates.
According to the economist, despite an initial rebound in T-bill rates, the CRR on public sector deposits has had a gentle inherent impact on the Nigerian yield curve in the absence of new OMOs.
“That said, we suspect another increase in the CRR on public sector funds will probably take place in coming months to squeeze fiscal liquidity further.
“Despite the sustained single-digit inflation environment (8.7 per cent y/y in July), Nigerian bonds have failed to rally, which reflects the increasingly uncertain global risk environment and limited foreign bid, but also the lack of domestic appetite for sub-13 per cent levels. We will continue to play a 13-13.8 per cent yield range in the short term,” he stated.
Gadio further observed that while the exchange rate has remained under pressure (N161.9 on 22 Aug), the naira has actually held up well relative to mainstream Emerging Market currencies. This he believes reflects the policy-determined nature of the dollar and naira.
“Given the country’s robust FX reserves, the elevated oil price and further likely squeeze in naira liquidity, we do not expect a qualitative shift up in the exchange rate,” he stated.

The Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance. Its key objective was to soak up non-performing loans (toxic debts), and stem threat of collapse of the banking sub-sector with loss of depositors’ funds.  The banks were consequently expected to become better positioned to offer improved services and boost employment by providing cheaper funds to the real sector, particularly the Small and Medium Enterprises, which are traditional drivers of economic growth.
By December 2012, AMCON had issued bonds with a total face value of N5.59 trillion, compared with N5.40 trillion at end-June of the same year. The proceeds of the bonds were used to purchase Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs), provide financial accommodation to the recapitalized banks, and to acquire the three bridge banks.
Data from the central bank showed that the AMCON has restructured EBAs amounting to N313.38 billion. It also showed that recoveries amounted to N23.61 billion while the balance of acquired EBAs was N3.92 trillion at end-December 2012.
Several local and international banks have expressed interest in acquiring the bridge banks but AMCON recently engaged advisers to guide it on the best approach towards divestment from Enterprise, Keystone and Mainstreet Banks which it wholly-owns.
In this interview with Daily Sun, AMCON’s Chief Executive Officer, Mustapher Chike-Obi, said  the ‘bad bank’  is making recoveries on daily basis; trying to ensure that borrowers in Nigeria imbibe the culture of “borrow from the bank pay back.” The corporation he said is targeting 40 per cent recovery of debts by the end of this year. Among other burning issues, Chike-Obi revealed that the advisers are still working on their assignments and that the corporation is yet to call for expression of interest.
Excerpts:
Quantum of non-performing loans
The problem with Non-Performing Loans is that it prevents banks from been able to make loans to the real economy and the 35 per cent as everybody will agree with me was extremely high. It had the capacity to strangle the economy at large. There are two steps here. The first step which is important is that banks are able to lend. The second step is whether banks are willing to lend. We hope that as time goes by and the bad memory of last few years begins to fade, banks would be more willing to lend. But the danger in calling for banks to lend and lend is that you have to make sure that you do it in a way that you don’t have to fall into the same old problems. I am encouraged, banks have started to lend and I think that in a year or two, they would be fully positioned . But the caution they are exhibiting now is in my opinion warranted.
Monitoring NPL
It is a delicate question. However, there is government policy that government should not own banks. So everything we do with these banks is temporary and we want to make sure that they are returned to private hands as quickly as possible. So we have to be very careful in interfering with the affairs of the banks. Yes, we do own a 100 per cent of these banks. We appointed directors and so we have a duty to make sure they report to us on a regular basis as owner, and we also monitor what the directors are doing. We are fairly certain that the banks are doing what they are supposed to do. Keep in mind they are also examined and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. That means they are subject to prudential lending guidelines.  Should their bad loans begin to exceed a certain average; I think the central bank will have a lot to say about it. So, they are well managed and well run by their board as well as being strongly regulated by the central bank. But we keep our eye on everything to make sure our investments are safe.
Local banks expressing interest in bridged banks
There have been some unsolicited expressions of interest. We have not sought   those expressions of interest because we have not in fact put in place the process to divest from those banks. When that process is put in place, there will be official invitation to qualified investors to come and express their interest in a more formal way. What we are hearing was informal expression of interest: I am interested, and I am interested. But we have not asked for anything in that regard, and there is none of those that we are taking seriously at the moment.
Why AMCON audit report was not made public
We did pick advisers to tell us what the banks were worth and the best way forward. It has been concluded, but as you must know, that report cannot be shared with the public. It is an advisory report to AMCON. That is the first step. The second step we engaged in was to decide a sequence of how we are going to divest off the banks. The third step is to appoint financial and legal advisers to assist us in the process. It is a transparent, arms-length transaction. We have appointed those. So we have done the first three steps. The next step that will follow will be for those advisers to come up with a process. When that process is announced you will see advertisement in all the major newspapers including international ones asking for expression of interest. They will be evaluated and sent to the regulators to screen the qualified ones and then we get into the process of allowing the qualified ones to do due diligence. After the due diligence will come the real bid and then we will look at those bids. I think it is an eight-step process and I think we have already done the first step.
Do you think AMCON has achieved its mandate?
I am glad you said commended. It was not the general notion at the break of that story especially when Daily Sun first came up with the caption “IMF verses AMCON.”
First of all, the true position was that IMF said AMCON has achieved its objective quicker than expected and should begin the process of winding down. But when you have a banking crisis all over the world, you estimate the size of the problem and because it is a continuous situation until you fix it, the problem keeps getting bigger and bigger. Nowhere in the world has any estimate of such problem been accurate. You look at Northern Island, the problem turned to be three times larger than they thought and it is still growing. Spain has had six estimates of the size of their financial system problem and it is still more than they thought. So, what you do is to create a structure that is flexible enough to handle unforeseen increases. We did not buy loans four times what was estimated. It was about one and half times what was estimated and AMCON has finished buying loans. So the issue of moral hazard as insinuated in IMF’s suggestion is over. That statement was a summary from the minutes of a board meeting. The full report was not read by any one of those who made much ado about it at that time.
You are aware that IMF was part of the creation of AMCON. IMF still has a consultant working with AMCON and has remained supportive. It only suggested seven years for AMCON to wind down. It will get to a certain maximum size and start winding down its assets. We are planning for ten years and we hope that if we can do it quicker than even seven years, we can do it. Nobody wants AMCON to be around forever and we do not have a different philosophy with IMF.
I want to state that AMCON has not completely achieved its mandate. A very important part of the mandate is to do the work at minimum cost. We are still engaged in a fight with debtors to make sure they pay up; and that is a long process. And when they pay up, we still have to dispose of certain assets in an orderly fashion so we don’t disrupt the market. We own about N300 billion worth of listed shares and I think that if we try to sell them in the market without plan, it will disrupt the market. It has to be in orderly manner. So, because we still have things we have to manage well, we have not completed our mandate. But let me say this: the financial sector is about 60 per cent of the stock market.  The stock market’s All Share Index has gone from about 16,000 to 40,000 in two years. I can say authoritatively that without AMCON that would never happen, because if the financial sector is not healthy, the whole of the stock market cannot be healthy. That is the objective measurement of what has been done. More needs to be done and the job continues.
Again, one of AMCON’s main objectives is to acquire eligible bank assets (EBAs) from Eligible Financial Institutions (EFIs) towards assisting them to resume lending activities. Accordingly, AMCON issued Initial Consideration Bonds for a total value of about N1.15trillion on December 31, 2010. The issuance was in exchange for EBAs. In order to ensure the full tradability of the bonds held by the EFIs, AMCON issued Series 1 Bonds to swap/ exchange the Initial Consideration Bonds with the Programme Bonds. The Programme enabled AMCON to acquire additional EBAs from the EFIs and provide them with financial accommodation that aided the restoration of Net Asset Value (“NAV”) to zero in the Intervened Banks. The Bonds also raised working capital for AMCON. They have been guaranteed in full by the Federal Government of Nigeria and bear the full faith and credit of the federal government. This was in accordance with the provisions of Section 26(I) and 27 of the AMCON Act, 2010 and Section 47 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
I think that of the three things we are supposed to do; take out the non-performing loans, recapitalize the banks, and to do these at minimum cost, we have done two of them. The third requires constant dealing with debtors which involves going to court and making sure we get our monies and trying to create a culture in Nigeria that says: if you go to a bank and borrow money, you have a duty to pay it back. You cannot expect to walk away from your obligations when you borrow money from a financial institution and we are still working on that.
Bad bank concept and AMCON
AMCON is lucky is to have a very good set of laws in terms of debt recovery. So it has not been as difficult as was the case before AMCON. But I must confess on the other hand that it is very difficult. A bank will sell you a loan when it has tried to collect it and have failed to collect the loan or believe they cannot collect the money. It is a difficult process. Many of these defaulters were unfortunate. Business conditions changed against them. A lot of them are very honest people who are running genuine businesses that went through bad times. And when banks say they won’t advance any more money it is difficult to continue. So we try to work with those people constructively. The three of the known four airlines that are flying today are supported by AMCON. Eight of the largest oil marketers that have depots today are supported by AMCON. Of the fifteen largest manufacturers that we have, about ten of them are supported by AMCON. So, if AMCON were to shut down abruptly, you will lose not less than half a million jobs and the economy would probably shut down and you will have a major crisis than you had. That means we have to be up and doing.  I think we can name about ten or twenty people who have been really recalcitrant. We have thirteen thousand loans and most people that come in here are coming with the intension of reaching a settlement. In summary, it’s not as bad as I expected.
Total recoveries
I don’t know the numbers off-hand. All I can tell you is that we have targets and we are exceeding those targets. I cannot tell you off-hand how much we have recovered at the moment because every day, we are making recoveries. So the numbers yesterday may not be the same numbers for today. But I think we are targeting fourty per cent by the end of this year.
Concern about N2.3 trillion loss AMCON reported last year
AMCON did not lose N2.3 trillion. It only absorbed a loss of N2.3 trillion. This was money that was lost by the banks before AMCON was set up. That was the reason why AMCON was set up in the first place: to absorb that loss and manage it. So, this was not as a result of AMCON activities. When you say AMCON lost money, the impression you give Nigerians is that AMCON did something and lost money. We knew it was there and as a loss manager we said there was no course for alarm. It was the result of those banks’ activities that led to the setting up of AMCON. We already knew the banks had lost N2.3trillion of depositors’ funds. We also knew that if that was to be allowed,  no depositor would have got any money and the banking system would have shut down. That N2.3 trillion was literally given back to depositors. If we go bank by bank, N600 billion was given to defunct Intercontinental Bank to restore depositors’ funds and the list goes on.  So, in order to prevent major crisis, AMCON was set up to accept that loss and manage it over ten years. That is what we are doing. How do you manage a loss of that magnitude in an economy? You can either let depositors bear it, wipe out your banking system and kill your economy or you can put it in a vehicle that can manage it over ten years. The government chose to put it in a vehicle that can manage it over ten years.
 AMCON’s 10.7% shares
We are concerned because there is a debt to AMCON and we are concerned because we are shareholders of ETI. But we think the appropriate place to express our concern is at the board meeting.

All is now set for today’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State. For obvious reasons, it is one exercise critical observers and bookmakers have been waiting for. APGA under the leadership of Governor Peter Obi whose tenure ends in March next year had held sway in Anambra State since 2006. But, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new candidate that would fly the party’s flag in the November 16  governorship race would emerge in the next 24 hours.
And predictably, like in every power struggle, a lot of political undercurrents would play out as the party settles for a candidate of choice. Beyond other variables, the two major players whose interests would determine who emerges at the end of the game are Governor Peter Obi and the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh. As the political battle incubates in the womb of time, many are patiently waiting to see how the interests of Obi and Umeh would either clash or coalesce in the journey toward the November 16 governorship poll.
Already, as major APGA stakeholders go for broke in today’s exercise, there are fears that the peace deal between Governor Obi and Umeh before the primaries may be heading for the rocks over the choice of candidate. For instance, Daily Sun learnt that Governor Obi may have literally ‘blessed’ a retired banker and former Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Chief Willy Obiano to fly the party’s flag in the governorship race. Obiano is from Anambra North, a zone which Obi is supporting to produce his successor. There are permutations that Umeh is not comfortable with the choice of the retired banker who was said to have been drafted into the race just two weeks ago. The thinking in Umeh’s camp is that Obiano is not the kind of brand that can make APGA have a smooth ride in the coming election.
But Governor Obi’s supporters think otherwise and insist that Anambra state, indeed, does not need a conventional politician at this point in its history.
The calculation in the camp is that only a technocrat like Obi is needed to consolidate and sustain the culture of prudence established by the outgoing APGA governor.
Daily Sun gathered that except a last minute change of heart by the two major actors in the ensuing power struggle over the choice of APGA candidate, another political battle is imminent between Obi and Umeh again immediately after the primaries.
The signs of the current fears among APGA members emerged shortly after the Appeal Court ruling reinstated Umeh and ruled that there should be a return to status quo. What the ruling meant was that all those elected with Umeh should return to their positions. Majority of the party officials had pitched tents with Umeh during the crisis and they returned with the determination to take their pound of flesh from Governor Obi.
Daily Sun learnt that Umeh’s supporters saw their first chance when they drew up the guidelines for the council polls. It was gathered that they ensured that nobody from the transition committee at the councils was eligible to contest the October council election. This was a ploy to oust Obi’s supporters who had held sway and looked forward to the council elections as a chance to continue their tenure.
Having seen his supporters lose grip of the party ahead of the council election, Obi is said to be worried trying to ensure that his commissioners are selected as delegates for the governorship primaries.
Recall that out of the 13 APGA aspirants that initially declared interest in the race, only seven eventually scaled through with the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Prof Chukwuma Soludo becoming the major casualty of the party’s screening exercise.
The successful candidates include Hon Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, Paul Odenigbo, Hon Uche Ekwunife, Chief Willie Obiano, Mr John Nwosu, John Okechukwu Emeka and Nwachi Patrick Obianwu.
Those screened out were Chukwuemeka Soludo, Emmanuel Nweke, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, Chinedu Idigo, Dr Chike Obidigbo qnd Mr Oseloka Obaze.

Confusion trails PDP’s election
•It’s recipe for disaster -Nwosu
•It was expected - Iwuanyanwu
From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja and GEOFREY ANYANWU, Awka
Barely 48 hours after the Anambra State governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Awka, confusion continues to trail the exercise which produced two candidates.
While the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba emerged the winner of the primary election conducted by the Ejike Oguebego-led faction, Tony Nwoye became the candidate of the parallel congress held by Prince Ken Emeakayi’s  faction.
The PDP National Working Committee had given recognition to the Ken Emeakayi faction while INEC had insisted that only the Ejike Oguebego-led executive is known to the commission.
It was learnt that aggrieved by alleged injustice done to him by the party, one of the major stakeholders, Chief Chris Uba got INEC through his brother, Andy who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC and gubernatorial aspirant, to recognize the chairman of his faction, Chief Ejike Oguebego instead of Emeakayi.
Daily Sun learnt that INEC obliged him by putting out a statement to that effect adding that it would only monitor the congress being conducted by Oguebego and that any other one was considered illegal by the commission.
As the development was unfolding, all the 13 cleared aspirants except Senator Uba were working with Emeakayi and the NWC until Saturday when about four of them joined Uba at his own primary election  held at Emmaus House, Awka.
While it was obvious that Senator Uba would carry the day at the Emmaus House primaries, the result of the one held at Ekwueme Square surprised many as the former state chairman of the party, Comrade Tony Nwoye emerged winner and beating Hon. Nicholas Ukachukwu who was tipped to win the ticket with a good margin. The emergence of Nwoye has been attributed to his antecedents in politics dating back to his time as the National President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Though it was rumoured that he was being sponsored by an oil magnet, Prince Arthur Eze, Daily Sun gathered that his main sponsors are the party people as majority of them contributed money to ensure that he won.
For Senator Uba, though money was not his problem, he was said to have been drawing strength from President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience who allegedly supported his candidature as a way to appreciate his role in making Jonathan emerge as Vice President to late Yar’Adua.
It was further alleged that between Tuesday and Thursday last week, some of the aspirants were taken to the Aso Rock Villa where they were appealed to by the First Lady to step down for Uba and support him, hence the cross over by some of them on Saturday.
Nwoye, Anenih, Obiogbolu and Walter Okeke were not at the Emmaus House primaries, while Ugochukwu Okeke participated in both exercises.
Reacting to the outcome of the primaries, former Health Minister, Professor ABC Nwosu described it as worrisome and a recipe for disaster.
That’s a recipe for disaster in an election.
PDP would again end up with litigations.
The party should explore its internal mechanism to settle it,” he said.
He said he declined from attending any of the congresses held at the weekend because of the confusion.
Also in his reaction, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu declared that the outcome was expected because of the factionalisation.
Prince Ken Emeakayi said that PDP remains a party and could not have held two governorship primaries in the state.
Also speaking to Daily Sun, one of the aspirants that contested in the Primary election, Senator Emma Anosike said, “Having two candidates emerging for PDP is not a problem, it has been happening; if you follow the trend of PDP or other political parties, it happens like that but by the time they finish, the stakeholders of the party at top will now take their decision.
For one of the contestants, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, he summarized it thus: “I am not aware that there was any parallel primary, you know we’ve been here since morning and the announcement that was made and the instructions from the National was that there should be state congress held at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square.”

Fear has gripped many politicians in Oyo State as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), penultimate Sunday, sealed off the private residence of the immediate-past Head of Service (HOS) in Oyo State, Alhaja Kudirat Adeleke.
The palatial building is located few metres away from the state Government House, Agodi, in Ibadan.
Alhaja Adeleke served in the administration of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who was also being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency for alleged fraud-related offences.
The EFCC’s operatives were said to have swooped on the house and pasted its posters tagged: ‘Under Investigation’ on the fence of the palatial building after efforts to arrest Alhaja Adeleke allegedly failed.
Daily Sun sources said she was away in London when the operatives came for her but some said she already got a hint of the operation and bolted away before the anti-graft agents came calling.
It could not be confirmed whether the action was in connection with the case of alleged fraud preferred against former governor Alao-Akala by the EFCC or a new case.
The incident also generated an instantaneous reaction from Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao and the Iyalode of Ibadanland, Alhaja Aminat Abiodun, who were said to have rushed to the house immediately the EFCC operatives left, to see things for themselves.
Alhaja Adeleke is a senior member of Iyalode-in-Council and daughter of a prominent late Islamic cleric in Ibadan.
Arisekola and Iyalode Abiodun were said to have been infuriated by the development and rained curses on whoever was behind Alhaja Adeleke’s ordeal.
Sources within the family of the former HOS, however, accused the state administration of victimizing Alhaji Adeleke for being a close ally of Alao-Akala.
A close aide to the former HOS, who would not want her name in print, however, told Daily Sun that she was outside the country and not hiding as being speculated in some quarters.
When contacted at the weekend, EFCC’s Head of Media, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said he was yet to be briefed on the operation.

Disembarks from plane with aide’s assistance

AbujaAs speculated at the weekend, the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, returned to the country yesterday after a prolonged medical treatment in Germany and America due to injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Yola, Adamawa State in October 2012. Suntai, who had been recovering at the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York, United States of America, flew into the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in a chartered aircraft at about noon but journalists were prevented from speaking with him. Only a few photojournalists were allowed to take some guided shots.
One of the close associates of the governor, who would not like to be named, told our correspondent that Suntai was helped down from the aircraft, regretting that after 10 months of treatment in both Germany and the USA, he could still not walk on his own.
“The fact is that he is still recuperating because even at the middle of the aircraft, he could not move but muttered some words which were only audible to those close to him,” the source said.
However, after the brief reception, Mr. John Dara, a personal friend to the governor, told journalists in a chat that he had been in touch with him since the accident and had fully been in the picture.
When asked to assess the governor’s situation, Dara said he was excited but explained that after the long flight from America, he was weak and tired.
He however, stressed that Suntai was able to recognize everyone that came around which, according to him, indicated that he was still mentally alert contrary to speculation in some quarters.
On whether he could run the affairs of Taraba State, Mr. Rime Shawulu, also a friend and former NDDC board member, said it would be up to his doctor to determine when he could resume.
“He was prevented from talking to newsmen because he was weak, but when he must have rested, he can talk to journalists. Though doctors say he is okay, he still has physical challenge on his legs.
“When he goes back to Jalingo and maybe transmits a letter to the House, he can resume, but if he cannot, there are constitutional provisions to follow.  However, he is not in any competition with his deputy,” Shawulu explained.
As at the time of filing this report, family members and associates were making arrangement for the governor to board another chartered flight to Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
It could be recalled that Governor Suntai’s long absence from the seat of power in the state and his ill health had spurred agitations from some quarters for his removal to enable his Deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar who had been acting, take over control of the affairs of the state as governor.
Those who were at the airport include the deputy governor, some members of the state House of Assembly and friends, relations and sympathizers.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika at the weekend in Kaduna, stated that crushing insurgency was to ensure national security and not religious war. The Army Chief offered the explanation during the closing ceremony of a workshop organized for Nigerian Army Commanding Officers from North-West and North-East part of the country at Division one Headquarters, Kaduna.
Ihejirika, who was represented by the GOC, Division one, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Garba Wahab said: “Like I keep on saying, what we are facing right now is not an issue of religion, because there is no religion that allows any individual to slaughter a fellow human being. So, it is not a religious issue. If you understand what we are facing, you will get a solution to it.
Whatever you plan for or hope for, there must be massive friction to your plan and reality on ground. You have to plan for those frictions.
“If there is a country that should not have any problem in the world, it is Somalia, because 99.9 percent of the people of Somalia are Somalis, 98.5.7 percent are Muslims; so, you can imagine.
“We can’t continue to do the same thing. The adversary has advisers, the adversary has sympthisers, who are as well-read as you are. They are human beings who will sit down on a computer and access it.
“Even if they don’t understand what the Nigerian Army is doing, they can read about the US Army and British Army on the internet on the way they think. “There are some documents that are coming out now, most from the CIA of the 50s.
“If somebody can get through all these things, he needs not to listen to you; all he needs to do is to see how it will work. So, gentlemen, you have to work hard, you have to be ingenious, you have to be bold and aggressive.
“You cannot afford to be timid. The man there is heartless. If somebody can grab a fellow human being, put him on the ground and slaughter the person like a goat and information has gone out that any security person grabbed should be treated that way, then, you should know that you must be bold and aggressive in all you do,” the Army Chief stressed.

The Supreme Court has cut short its vacation to begin hearing  on the multiple appeals filed against the judgment of the Court of Appeal that declared Governor Olusegun Mimiko as validly elected Governor of Ondo State.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, brought forward  the hearing date earlier fixed for September 24, to August 27.
The four appeals were filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as Governor Mimiko and his Labour Party (LP).
However, following  protests from some quarters that the September 24 would be outside the mandatory 60 days to determine the election petition appeals, the court had to cut short its vacation to hear the appeals.
Already, the media aide to the CJN, Ahuraka Isah, has confirmed the development.
Section 285(7) makes it mandatory for the Supreme Court to hear the case within 60 days of the judgment of Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court has up to August 29 to give its judgment in the appeal because  the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, gave its judgment in July , 2013.
In the Notice of Appeal before the Supreme Court, which was anchored on 13 grounds, the ACN and its candidate, Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu (SAN),  complained that the learned appellate justices erred in law when they held that the appellants failed to prove how non-compliance of the voter register used for the election with the Electoral Act affected the result of the election.
They said the lower court’s findings that the voter register used for the election did not comply with the statutory requirement rendered unnecessary, any proof of how the non-compliance affected the result of the election and the effect of the said ruling before the Court of Appeal is that there was no valid voter register for the election.
The appellants said there was sufficient witnesses evidence before the court to prove that the non-compliance affected the result of the election.
ACN and Akeredolu said the learned appellate justices erred in law when they ruled that the appellants did not show how the judgment appealed, occasioned substantial or miscarriage of justice when the appellate court in its judgment, found many miscarriages of justice and injustice suffered by the appellants, which made the tribunal dismiss their petition.
They prayed the Supreme Court to nullify the governorship election held in Ondo State and order a fresh poll based on a valid voter register.
The appeal was filed by 52 lawyers led by Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN), Lasun Sanusi (SAN) and Oluwole Aina.
Also dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal judgments on three rulings by the Election Petition Tribunal, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has headed to the Supreme Court to seek redress on the verdicts.

After the Ejike Oguebego led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP concluded their primary election at the Emaus House, Awka, Senator Andy Uba was declared winner with 645 votes.
Declaring the results, the Chairman of the Electoral Pannel and former Speaker of Anambra state House of Assembly, Mr. K.C Enemuo announced that Senator Uba polled total of 645 votes ahead of other 15 aspirants.
The results showed that Senator Andy Uba got 645, Emma Anosike polled 110, Mike Okoye, 22, Patrick Ugboma 89, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke 20, Tony Nwoye,  1, Jery Ugokwe, 86, Josephine Aneni, 3, Walter Okeke, 2 and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, 17.
Mr. Enemuo who further disclosed that the total number of invalid votes were 48, declared Senator Andy Uba winner of the PDP governorship primary election. Responding, Uba thanked the delegates for electing him the party’s flag bearer, promising to lead the party to victory in November 16 governorship election in the state.
In the other congress, Mr. Tony Nwoye won with 498 votes to beat his closest rival, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who scored 357 votes.

Twitter

People were talking about the MTV Video Music Awards, all right—and not just about the night's big winners.
British rockers Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding set the Twitterverse afire when they were seen sitting together and holding hands while watching the show Sunday night at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
The sweet moment quickly went viral as fans began speculating whether the two were more than just friends.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

The 26-year-old Goulding, however, seemed far from amused by the chatter: Immediately afterward, she took to Twitter to set the record straight.
"I love that holding hands with my friends means we're an item," she wrote. "In that case I am in many relationships. Lover not a hater. #whatthef*ck"
Sheeran isn't the only pal of Goulding's who's piqued fans' interest. Media reports recently surfaced claiming that she was spotted kissing One Direction boy bander Niall Horan.
On Aug. 18, the two reportedly watched Kings of Leon perform at the V Festival in Essex, England, and at one point, Horan supposedly leaned in for a kiss.

The duo were purportedly flanked by bodyguards, who helped shield the stars from onlookers' prying eyes.
A source tells E! News, though, that there is "no truth" to the romance rumors and that Goulding is still with her boyfriend, War Horse actor Jeremy Irvine.
"She and Niall are just friends," the source added.
Sheeran, for his part, seemed happy to put an eventful evening at the VMAs behind him, regardless of the chatter: Early Monday morning, he simply tweeted, "Bed."

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Julie Harris, a Broadway legend and award-winning actress of stage and screen, died Saturday at her Massachusetts home of congestive heart failure, per published reports. She was 87.
Harris will be remembered for portraying a wide range of characters, from Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera to Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst, during a theater career that spanned over 60 years.
And she sure had the accolades to prove it.

Harris won a record five Tony Awards for best actress in a play. She was honored again with a sixth Tony, a special lifetime achievement award in 2002. The only other star to come close was Angela Lansbury, winning four Tonys in the best actress-musical category and one for best supporting actress in a play.
"I'm still in sort of a place of shock," family friend Francesca James, who appeared in daytime soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, said.
"She was, really, the greatest influence in my life," said James, who had known Harris for about 50 years.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Harris also dipped into television, starring as Lilimae Clements on the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. She also took on numerous movie roles, including starring opposite her romantic (and dreamy) costar James Dean in East of Eden.
However, the stage was always the heart of Harris' career. "The theater has been my church," the actress once said. "I don't hesitate to say that I found God in the theater."
Harris' last Broadway appearances were in revivals, playing the domineering mother in a Roundabout Theatre Company production of The Glass Menagerie (1994) and then The Gin Game with Charles Durning for the National Actors Theatre in 1997.
Harris was married three times, to lawyer Jay I. Julian, stage manager Manning Gurian and writer William Erwin Carroll. She had one son, Peter Alston Gurian.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.

yourtube

Apparently, Taylor Swift's fierce musings aren't confined to just her songs' lyrics.
The singer appeared to throw some shade at her ex Harry Styles and his band, One Direction, when she seemingly unleashed a potty-mouthed zinger Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards while the boy banders took the stage.
And it was all caught on camera.
Sitting with pal Selena Gomez, the 23-year-old Swift was watching One Direction from the audience when she appeared to mouth the words "Shut the f--k up."
Chalk it up to yet another watercooler moment from the singer at the VMAs: Earlier in the night, while accepting the award for Best Female Video for "I Knew You Were Trouble," Swift gave a shout-out to "who I wrote this song about cause you know who you are and now I have this award."

The camera then cut to Styles, who smirked as he kept chewing his gum.
(Not quite the stellar night for the 1D boys: At one point, they were briefly booed while accepting their Moonman for Song of the Summer, for "Best Song Ever.")

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV

Then again, Styles seems to have resigned himself to the fact that he—along with any other guy Swift has dated—will always be fodder for savory musical material.
During an interview with Us Weekly, the 19-year-old Styles said, "It would be hypocritical for me to say she couldn't do it because everybody writes songs based on personal experience."
But he did give props where they were due: "At least she's a great songwriter!"

Twitter

Guess who's back?
Eminem used Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards to unveil the street date for his next album along with its title.
The follow up to 2010's Recovery will hit stores on Nov. 5 and be called MMLP2—as in Marshall Mathers LP 2. The set is a sequel to 2000's critically acclaimed The Marshall Mathers LP, which spawned such megahits as "The Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am," and "Stan" and went on to become the rap superstar's biggest-selling effort, with 27 million copies sold worldwide.
Eminem announced the news in a commercial for Beats by Dre, the hugely popular headphone line launched by his mentor and longtime collaborator, Dr. Dre, who coproduced MMLP2 with Rick Rubin. He also hyped the release on his Twitter feed here and here and premiered a snippet of the first single, "Berserk," in the ad as well.

Twitter

Slim Shady got the PR machine rolling last week when he dropped another of the album's anthems, "Survivor," in a trailer for Activision's first-person shooter video game Call of Duty: Ghosts, which is due out on the same day MMLP2 arrives.
At the same time, Eminem also took the opportunity to join Instagram, posting a pic of his computer screen with a shot of the 40-year-old hip-hopster holding up both middle fingers and flipping the bird with a link to his website.
Yup, Marshall Mathers, you've been missed all right.

Facebook

Justin Timberlake, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez and Lance Bass are still 'N Sync!
On Sunday, Aug. 25, at the 2013 MTV VMAs, the boy band reunited at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., during Justin's epic, multi-song performance. This was the first time the guys had shared a stage in over a decade, and everyone—from pop stars to politicians—was happy to see 'N Sync back together.
Here's whey had to say.
Kaley Cuoco: "Finally just saw timberlake and nsync reunion. #VMA. Dream!!!!!! #PresidentofPop"

Scooter  Braun: " ....this dude @jtimberlake was AMAZING! and my boys from NSYNC were back together. great moment. brought back memories."

Harry Shum: "JT. So awesome seeing the old & new school dancers rip it on stage! Amazing performance! #thankyou #NSYNC #2013VMAs"

Hailee Steinfeld: "Just had a solo dance party to this JT/NSYNC performance. Now I'm crying. Not because I'm alone. But because it was SO GOOD."

Michelle Trachtenberg: "That was not nearly enough of #NSYNC #WhyWhyWhy :-("
Snooki: "Me over NSYNC tonight. Clearly I'm obsessed and 10 again. #1fan bringing it back. Now this is a boy band."

Facebook

Ted Deutch (Florida Congressman):  "If it were OK for me to tweet about Justin Timberlake and NSYNC, I'd be really excited to do it. #VMAs"
Ellen DeGeneres: "Portia just fainted. @NSYNC #VMAs"

Ashley Tisdale: "I literally just started jumping up and down on the couch when #nsync came on"

Jenna Dewan-Tatum: "Oh that nsync reunion just made me so happy...and dear Lord Justin just killed that performance #dropthemike"

As for the guys themselves? They seemed pretty excited to be back together, too. Justin, who received the 2013 Michael Jackson Vanguard Award for his career achievements (which include 14 VMA wins), made sure to thank his fellow bandmates. "Half of the Moonmen I won, I won with those four guys over there," he said. "We can keep it at my house but I share this award with them."
JC tweeted that it was "a pleasure #NSYNC performing with you guys," adding, "It was amazing supporting my friend @jtimberlake tonight. No one deserves the awards more."

Chris wrote, "Was so great to be with the greatest 4 guys on the planet!!!!!"

"Love my @NSYNC brothers," tweeted Lance. "@iamckirkpatrick @JCChasez @jtimberlake and @realjoeyfatone"

OK, guys, what's it gonna take? We want you back!