Elijah Wood 2002

Elijah Wood 2002

















Elijah Wood 2002

















Elijah Wood 2002

















Elijah Wood 2002

Let’s go clinging in short dresses

Women love to show off what they have got, just like the saying goes, ‘flaunt what your mama gave you’.

Short clinging dresses are just perfect for an evening event or a fun night out as they draw a lot of attention these days. These dresses will cling to every curve and flatter your figure. It is also important to properly accessorise your dress as this adds beauty and sparkle to your overall look.

Wear stilettos or high-heeled shoes with short clinging dress because it makes the outfit look glamorous and stylish and would make your legs look longer. But, if you are a drama queen and want to add some excitement to your outfit, then, you could consider wearing leather boots.

However, you should ensure that you do not feel awkward or uncomfortable in your dress, which is why you have to be bold and daring to wear one out.

I used to be a classic tomboy - Zoe Chinaka

Zoe Chinaka is a fast rising artiste. She came into limelight when she came out top six in the first ever Nigerian Idol competition which held early this year. Ever since the Imo State-born artiste has not looked back. She came out with her three singles recently. She describes herself as a ‘rover’ because she appreciates and can flow with every type of music. She talked about her style, music and varied issues in this interview with us.



Who is Zoe Chinaka?

Zoe is a shy, brave woman who loves God and respects people. I am friendly but reserved. I can’t be separated from singing and dancing.



What’s your type of music?

I sing RnB, classic, soul, pop and inspirational songs. I also do love the Negro spiritual feel and I am currently working on one or two.



What is style to you?

Style is your representation of beauty and personality.



Define your own style

I am not necessarily the trend following type but I love a fuse of tom boy, classic and stylish sassy. My style evolves daily. However, small tops and big bottoms are my favourites.

My style is always to stand out; for corporate look. I love looking classy with modesty, a twist of femininity and tom boy for my casual looks.



What inspires your style?

The way I want to be seen, addressed, my moods and my nature. I used to be a classic tomboy. I love the British corset dresses and gypsies. I love Grecian looking outfits and the bohemian style works all the time for me.



Who are your fashion icons?

They are Eva Mendes, Beyonce (when she's covered), Mitchell Obama, Halle Berry and Genevieve Nnaji.



Everybody has one fear or the other. What is your greatest fear in life?

Disappointing God and the faith people have in me.

What is that fashion clothing you cannot do without as a woman?

That would be pencil skirt. However, I also love my gypsy and fish style skirts.



What is that clothing item you would never be caught wearing?

That would be cleavage exposing tops or blouses because I am hairy.



What part of your body can you flaunt?

My eyes because they are wide and big. People always talk about my eyes.



Describe yourself on and off stage

On stage, I am fierce and bold and off stage, I am reserved, prim, proper and a workaholic.



What is the misconception you think people have about you?

That I am proud, fragile (pretty dumb blonde) and spoilt because I keep to myself.



I believe you pray. What do you tell God?

I pray for greatest heights and long life for my family



What is your best colour?

White because it shows purity and it makes a statement. And maybe orange which shows sign of boldness and vibrancy and black because it is cool and fit for every occasion.



What is your favourite perfume?

Giorgio Armani (Code of seduction). It is soft yet very present.



How do you relax?

Truthfully, I have not relaxed in years. But relaxation for me would be sleeping.



How do you like your make-up?

I like my eyes accentuated, especially my lashes coated with three coats of mascara and soft lips. I hate wearing foundation but can’t help it.



Who is your role model?

I will start be saying Jesus for life journey, my mother for morals and discipline and Beyonce for hard work; passion and music and others I cannot mention but they have all affected my life in different ways.

How do you keep fit?

I am a dancer so keeping fit comes naturally just like doing my hula hoops for a trim tummy.



Describe yourself in three words

Stylish, brave and intelligent.

I’m entangled in relationship with my suitor’s father (1)

It was a boring Saturday morning. My mother and younger sister had gone to visit our uncle, Anthony. Absolutely bored alone at home, I decided to go and see a movie on the Island.



Luckily, when I got there, a romantic film had just started. Glued to the big screen, I laughed at funny scenes, cried in touching scenes and also apportioned blame where necessary. At the end of two hours, I knew my day was made. It was time to head home and have a quiet siesta. Immediately I left the movie venue and crossed over to the other side of the road, I saw a woman in her 50s vomiting by the road side. I noticed that everyone passed by without looking at her twice.



I quickly walked up to her and asked what the problem was. “My daughter, I just felt dizzy and sick all of a sudden,” she told me. She then begged me to take her to a particular hospital. “Madam, did you come in a car?” I asked. She simply nodded no. I hurriedly got a taxi because at this point, she was becoming unconscious. On our way to the hospital, I wondered why a woman so expensively dressed from head to toe did not come out in a car. “O God, please let her not die in this taxi, spare her life,” I prayed.



When we got to the hospital, she was recognised by virtually all the staff. Immediately, she was taken to a private room and put on drip while I sat by her bedside. The doctor and nurses checked on her every 15 minutes to ensure her condition was stable. When she was fully conscious, the doctor informed us that he had called chief. “Madam, you will be fine. I have called chief and he is on his way here.”



Later, she introduced herself to me as Madam Joyce. She told me she actually left the house with her driver but the car developed a fault and she asked him to fix it while she hurriedly left in a taxi to catch up with her appointment before she suddenly took ill and started vomiting. “Please, pardon me. What is your name?” she inquired. “My name is Veronica, but everybody calls me Vero,” I told her. And she said, “Thank you for saving my life. You are indeed God sent.” While we were behaving like mother and daughter who have not seen for years, her husband, Chief came, rushed into the room and said, “My dear what is it this time? The doctor told me you were rushed here.”



Madam Joyce then told him how I helped her and he also thanked me for saving the life of his lovely wife. “Madam Joyce, since your husband is here and you are in good hands, I think I should leave now,” I told her. She gave me her complimentary card, took my phone number and made me promise that I would come over to the house for lunch whenever she invites me which I promised and left. On Sunday afternoon, I called to find out how she was doing and she excitedly informed me she would be discharged that evening.



She called within the week and invited me over for lunch on Saturday. After lunch, she told me she has only one son, Elvis who has been in the United States for about 10 years now and wishes he would come home soon so that he could take me as a wife. “Vero, you are a nice, young woman. You are the daughter I never had. I would want you to marry my son when he comes back if you don’t mind,” she said. I just laughed and refused to give her any answer.



Just then Chief walked in and said, “Vero my dear, you are free to come here whenever you like. See this place as your home.” He asked me what I do and I told him I was looking for a job. A few minutes later he asked me to see in his office on Monday. I was so excited and hoped for the best. I went to see Chief and he bluntly told me, I did not need a job.



“Vero, you don’t need a job. I can give you whatever you want, just be my mistress. I loved you since the first day I saw you at the hospital. Just be my mistress and all your problems would be over. I will take care of you and your family.” I was not surprised he said these things because of the way he was staring at me back at his house. I told him I was not interested because his wife sees me as a daughter and I would not want to disappoint her. Chief kept pestering me but refused to employ me in his company.



When the pestering became too much and my mother took ill and we needed money to take her to the hospital, I had to turn to Chief for financial assistance when Uncle Anthony refused to help us. Chief still insisted that I should be his mistress before he could assist me. I had to give in at this point to save my mother’s life. Chief and I started dating, and he spoilt me silly but he was too jealous. He does not like to see young men come any close to me.



A month later, he bought me a car, gives money N250,000 every week for my upkeep and we started spending most weekends together in exclusive hotels in and outside town. He tells his wife that he is going on ‘business trips just to be with me. I knew I had stolen the weekends he was supposed to spend with Madam Joyce, but there was nothing I could do because I was now enjoying every bit of it. I could remember one weekend when Chief and I were in one of our hotel hideouts that Madam Joyce called me, complaining about Chief and how she suspects that he was having an affair. She told me she was ready to kill any woman just to get her husband back.



I was scared by that statement but I summoned courage and assured her that I would talk to Chief during the week when I see him since he sees me as his daughter. At that point I felt a sense ofguilt and I told him immediately. “Chief I think we should end this. Your wife is beginning to suspect something.” He told me that we should take things easy for a while to allay her suspicions.



So he decided to get me a three-bedroom bungalow apartment in my choice area, which he furnished to my taste. I had to move out of our house which my mother bitterly complained about because she said I was dating the husband of a woman who has accepted me wholeheartedly as her daughter and a man old enough to be my father. But, I did not listen to her. I left the house and started living big courtesy of Chief, my sugar daddy. My house became the love nest for Chief and he warned me seriously that no other man must step foot there. “Vero, I don’t want to see any other man in this house. The day I do, I will kill both of you.” I promised him that he would never meet any other man in my house. One Tuesday, about nine months after meeting Chief and Madam Joyce, she called and asked me to come over to the house. “Vero, please I want you to come over to the house,” she pleaded. “Madam Joyce, I hope there is no problem,” I asked.



She assured me that there was no problem but that she has a surprise for me. I was so scared because I thought she had found out about Chief and I. I quickly dashed there, only to see Madam Joyce with a tall handsome man whom I believe was her son, Elvis. Immediately she saw me, she rushed and hugged me before introducing us. “Elvis, this is Vero the young lady I was talking about. Vero meet my son, Elvis. He arrived this morning without informing us. But, all the same, I am glad he is back home,” she revealed. We shook hands and had some chat. His mother encouraged me to take him round town once in a while and I agreed. Three weeks later, Elvis told me he thinks he had fallen helplessly in love with me.

A woman should not dress to expose all that makes her a woman- Emelda Osuji

As a growing young girl, she sneaked out from the eyes of her parents to wear skimpy clothes which they advocated against. Today, Mrs. Emelda Osuji is the founder of Women and Modesty International, a non-governmental organisation which promotes decent dressing and decent look in our society especially among young girls and women. She spoke with us.



Where are you from?

I am from Umuchu, Aguata LGA, Anambra State but I am married to an Mbaise man.



How would you rate the dress sense of Nigerian women?

Looking out there, you see how indecently our women dress. To them dressing is all about exposing what makes them a woman. And when you ask them, they will tell you that it is the fashion in vogue. That is why Women and Modesty International is set to counsel our women on the need to dress decently and still look fine and cute. A woman should not dress to expose all that makes her a woman, before she achieves her beauty. She can dress covering up and still look unique and beautiful. That is the aim of the NGO. And I can day that women are beginning to change the way they dress.

The truth is that it is not easy changing ones habit, especially habit that has been formed for long. So it will take time but we pray that with time we are going to achieve it effectively.



What motivated you to set up Women and Modesty International?

After I have won several awards on modesty, I sat down and taught it wise to have a NGO where our women would be counseled on the need to dress decently. Many women think that they can dress any how and it ends there, but it does not. When we talk about indecent dressing, we should also talk about the negative effect on the person and the society at large. That was the motivation, the need for women to wear a decent look. We take our campaigns to primary schools, secondary schools, high institutions and anywhere that we see women gathered.



What is the effect of indecent dressing in our society, especially on our young female girls?

It is not limited to only our young girls, even married women. The truth is that every woman should dress decently. If you don’t dress decently as a woman, the negative effects will be there. The negative effects include divorce, destruction of home and even rape. Today, the level of divorce is high; it was not like this in the past. In a situation whereby a woman comes out exposing all that makes her a woman, she is out to attract millions of men and remember, men are moved by what they see, but women are being moved by what we hear. When a man sees a woman who dresses indecently, the only thing in his mind is to get closer to her and touch all she has exposed. When this happens, many marriages are in trouble.



So are you indirectly attributing divorce to indecent dressing? How?

Exactly because when a woman dresses covering all that makes her a woman, she is not only helping herself, she is helping the society in which she lives, she is helping marriages to grow and she is helping the youths to learn that decent way of dressing and decent look. We should embrace this decent way of dressing. We should try to do away with indecent look. Exposing all that makes you a woman is not where fashion ends. A woman can still cover up and look good and fine.



What is style to you?

Style is all about bringing out the picture of what you have in mind through the way you look. But you as a woman, you should be creative in a very decent way. My own definition of style is trying to bring out the picture of what I have in mind that will command respect because each decent woman, carries a respect that follows her.



What kind of a woman are you?

That I dress decently does not make me a perfect being. I have my weak points and short comings. What I am saying and what the NGO is saying is that we should dress decently and work on our short comings and weak points.



What is your greatest fear in life

I fear death. It must surely come but what matters most is where you are going after death.



Tell us about your beauty secret

I have no beauty secret. I rub my powder and my wet lips which is my lipstick. For me, I like looking just natural.

Your style signature is your long hat. How did you come about the hat?

I wear low cut, I don’t like hairs on my head because I have long hair. So growing my hair gives me heat, apart from that I stay too long under the hair dryer and I don’t have such patience so I decided to cut my hair. And I have been carrying low cut for a very long time. As a woman who carries low cut, I sat down and thought of the best way to bring out my face. So, I decided to wear big earrings and the long hat. That was how it came about.



What advice do you have for girls and women generally when it comes to dressing?

Believe it or not, we Nigerian women we are the most beautiful in the world. My advice to them is they should remember that they are all beautiful, there is no ugly women depending on how you keep yourself. Dressing and exposing all that makes you a woman will never make you beautiful instead, it will bring you down. It will make you look cheap, unkempt, frustrated, and make you look as if you want to destroy the people in your society. Women should dress and look decent to cover all that makes them a woman. They should wear a decent look and work on their weak points.



As a young growing girl, how was your dressing like?

I as a woman, I must have had many experiences in the area of indecent dressing. There was a time I use to dress indecently and there is no man that passes by me that will not turn back to look at me. I dressed to expose all that makes me a woman. My parents were hammering on it but I continued. I was born and brought up in a very strict family environment; my late father was a headmaster. Growing up with a headmaster as a father was very strict. He did not want us to wear trouser nor anything revealing because he knew the negative effect of exposing the body but to us as growing children we sneak out and dress the way we liked.

But those times I wore these clothes in hiding, I knew how it was for me. I have a fatty body, if I wear jeans or skimpy clothes; there is no man that will pass me without looking back because all my curves will be showing. But when I saw the negative effect, I told myself this is what my parents were trying to teach us. When I started dressing decently, men appreciate me but in a very decent way. I command more respect wherever I enter. Whatever I wear, my hair must be covered because that is my style.

My dressing now, has won me several awards. The first was given to me by the Oba of Egbeda. It was an award on modesty; Philosophy department of UNILAG gave me an award on modesty, LASU, efizzy magazine and some others.



Does your husband love the way you dress?

Yes. But there was a day he said I must dress like a chic and I said it was alright. I told him I won’t wear trouser but I will wear skirt jeans. He brought it with a fitted top which I wore. Immediately he dropped me off at where I was going, as I turned, one young guy just stopped in his jeep and said, baby where are you going? My husband pursued the man. So, since then, he does not disturb me the way I dress. The following day, when I tried wearing the same outfit, he said no, I should dress the way I want.



You have been married for 11 years. How has it been?

It has not been easy but you have to wear that cloth of patience to be under a man. Nigerian women take a lot just to be under a man that is why you should keep your hands clean and pray for them.

Traditional wedding of Mercy and Odiase

Here are two pictures from the traditional wedding of screen diva, Mercy Johnson and Prince Odiase which took place today at the family house of the Johnson's at Iba Housing estate today.

Congrats, girl.

Forbes Ranks Ngozi Okonjo Iweala as 87th Most Powerful Woman in the World

Nigeria's Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Iweala is ranked by Forbes as the 87th Most Powerful Woman in the world.

At the age of 57, she became the Managing Director of the World Bank before leaving to become the Finance Minister in Nigeria.

She is from Delta State and is married with four children.

Other women who made the list include Beyonce at 18th position, Michelle Obama is 8th, Oprah Winfrey 14th, Sonia Gandhi came in at position 7, Queen Elizabeth at 49th position while President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia claimed the 62nd position.



I say a big congratulation to all these women.

I never signed any divorce papers, Odi and I are still married - Lovely Okojie

The news making the rounds is that Prince Odiase Okojie has formally divorced Lovely Okojie, his estranged wife to wed Mercy Johnson tomorrow.

The said divorce we learnt took place in Edo State on Tuesday August 23 but when Linda Ikeji spoke with Lovely Okojie, below were her exact words on the matter.



“Odi and I are divorced? (laughs). I never signed any divorce papers. No member of my family signed any divorce papers. In fact there was no court hearing on Tuesday August 23. There was a hearing last week Wednesday where my father, sister, and lawyer represented me, but the case was postponed to Monday August 22. My family members didn't show up on that day. So who signed the divorce papers? Also how can a court in Edo State divorce us when we got married in Italy? The only way Odi can divorce me is to go to the courts in Italy after a 3-year official separation or ask Italy to transfer the case to Nigeria, which I have told him to do, but he would rather bribe a court in Nigeria to dissolve the marriage, which is not legally binding. If we are truly divorced, tell him to produce the divorce certificate...

Is it not this same Odi who denied ever being married to me? Now all of a sudden we are divorced? The same Odi who said the photographs I sent to you were of him signing our child's birth certificate? Do you exchange rings at child birth certificate signing? (laughs) Linda, I can give you my lawyer's number, please call him and ask him if he signed any divorce papers or if he was in court on Tuesday. I'm still legally married to Prince Odi Okojie, I have not returned any bride price and if Mercy Johnson wants to marry him, let her go ahead. She should just know that she's a second wife. Odi and Mercy Johnson can deceive Nigerians but they can't deceive God.

This whole thing seems like a dream to me, I am beyond confused. I can't believe how a man can suddenly turn against his own family, his own children. I'm beginning to think Odi is not doing all this with clear eyes.

Mercy Johnson to go on with wedding this weekend

Kogi State born screen diva, Mercy Johnson is still going ahead with her planned wedding with Prince Odianosen this weekend in spite of controversy beclouding the marital status of her would-be-husband.

It would be recalled that a woman, Loveth Okojie who claimed to have two kids for Prince Odianosen appeared on the scene few weeks to the wedding, thus, stirring some air of confusion.

Slated for this weekend, the wedding plans are still in top gear as invitation card and text messages are dispatched to friends in preparation for the weekend event. The controversy surrounding the impending wedding seems to have no effect in stopping it.

But from recent development, it is obvious that Mercy will no longer be wedding at Christ Embassy Church after all. However, the traditional wedding would hold somewhere at Iyana Oba on Friday, August 26 under tight security while the white wedding would take place at 10 Degrees at Oregun. It would be strictly by invitation though.

We learnt that Ghanaian sexy actress; Yvonne Nelson has been named as the maid of honour while comedian, Ay would be the MC of the day.

Due to recent happenings which made Mercy’s numerous fans to be in doubt whether the much talked about wedding would still hold or not, her publicist came out with this statement.

Read the official statement from her publicist below...

Some called it a trial of love while others said it is a triumph of love, but for Mercy Johnson, it is simply a leap of faith.

We would like to formally inform the general public especially Mercy Johnson fans that after several legal and spiritual consultations, Mercy Johnson has decided to go ahead with the wedding plans.

MJ will be walking down the aisle come Saturday, August 27. She however urges her fans and friends to pray along with her and appreciates those who stood by her.

Signed

Bigsam Media

What can we say but to wish her all the best.

Irina Shayk John John Denim

Irina Shayk John John Denim

















Irina Shayk John John Denim

















Irina Shayk John John Denim

















Irina Shayk John John Denim

‘Growing up, I thought my mother was wicked’

Precious Okon is the reigning beauty queen of the Miss Museum Tourism pageant 2010/2011. The Akwa Ibom State damsel spoke about her style and varied issues with us.



Tell us about yourself?

I am from Akwa Ibom State, Ikotubo town; the third in a family of seven. I am a 200-level Public Administration undergraduate of Lagos State University (LASU).



What is the pageant all about?

Miss Museum Tourism is all about promoting African culture. As you know, Museum is a form of culture, so it is to project our culture and break the societal apathy about the museum. It is about bringing tourism into the museum. The pageant was done by the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.



How was your growing up like?

It was fantastic. While growing up, we thought my mother was wicked because of the kind of discipline she instilled in us, but today I know better. All she did was to make us better in future. The growing up experience makes it fantastic.



As a beauty queen, what is style to you?

To me it’s what makes you comfortable and also stands you out.



Define your own kind of style

My style is simple and African. I love simple styles designed with African fabrics.



How do you love to carry your hair?

My hair is very important to me. I can carry it in any way that suits me bearing in mind that a woman’s hair is her crowning glory. The way you carry your hair gives your face a different look, it makes you look gorgeous and beautiful. It is the hair that actually makes a woman and that is why it must always be neatly done.

What’s your best colour?

I love purple because it depicts royalty.



Your best perfume

I use any perfume that has a nice and fantastic fragrance.



What kind of shoes do you love to wear?

I like high-heeled shoes because they project you and give that elegant look.



What is your height?

I am 5 feet 9 inches.



I know you pray. When you do, what do you tell God?

I always pray to God to make me a vessel of honour and a good role model, especially to the young ones.



How do you relax?

I watch television



How do you keep fit?

I go to the gym or sometimes to the stadium to work out.

How do you like your make-up?

I like it simple.



What are your hobbies?

Travelling, meeting people, cooking and swimming. I like being adventurous.



Who is your role model?

My role models are Onyeka Onwenu, Dora Akunyili and Emelda Osuji, also known as Madam Modesty. These women are disciplined, firm, gorgeous and also they promote African culture



Describe yourself in three words

Simple, loving and gorgeous.



What’s your philosophy of life?

Be cautious of what you do and always show regard for your fellow human beings.

‘My husband withdrew our joint-saving and eloped with a woman’

Life blows a big one on us when we least expect and from the people we least expect too. I am a very hard working woman who equally loves her family. I used to be a manager in one of the big textile companies until about three years ago when I had to resign. My husband, Akpan, holds an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Business Administration while I have a Master’s in Business Administration.



I was aware of his lower educational qualification but I married him because he was hard working. He used to work with one construction firm but was sacked when they were downsizing. For me, aside from being a top manager in my organisation, I also have two big shop where I sell foodstuff such as garri, beans and rice in bags and palm oil and groundnut gallons. When Akpan lost his job, we decided that he should start managing both shops and concentrate on them as well instead of looking for a job.



I discovered that he is also business inclined and was in a better position to run the shops since I don’t even have the time until weekends to show up at the store. Akpan was really doing well in the business and we were all happy. A few months later, I decided that we should open a joint account for capital intensive projects in the future. About four months later, we bought a land at Ikorodu so that we can start building our own house and also shops for rent to earn more money. I was so excited that things were going on well until I received a phone call from my account officer one fateful Wednesday afternoon, “Madam, good afternoon. Please I want you to come to the bank.



I need to see you,” she said. “Aisha, I hope there is no problem?” I asked. She assured me that there was none but only wanted to confirm something from me. On Thursday afternoon, I went to see Aisha and I got a shocking news. She told me my husband withdrew and had been withdrawing large sums of money for about two weeks, which was strange. But I assured her that it was to purchase goods for the shop. But from her reaction, I knew that she was not satisfied with my answers and she said, “Madam, he has withdrawn N6, 000,000 in two weeks. Are you aware of that?” she asked. “Did you just say N6,000,000? What is he doing with such an amount?



He only told me he withdrew some money for goods,” I told her. I rushed back to the office. I could not concentrate. I just forced myself to stay focused throughout in the office. When I asked him about the money that evening, he told me he put the them into a new business which he just discovered but refused to give me the details. “But why didn’t you discuss with me before taking such a risk?” I asked. “Don’t worry Josephine, the money will soon double, it’s a good business,” he assured.



While I was still trying to comprehend that, one of the boys in one of the shops called me five days later and told me I should come over to the shop. I took permission and rushed down there only to discover that Akpan had sold off both shops. “Oga, please I am the owner of this shop, what are you doing here?” I asked. “Well, Mr Akpan sold everything inside here for three million naira. He said he needed the money urgently to meet up with some family needs. He also sold the land at Ikorodu to my friend in case you don’t know, according to him to add up to the money,” he informed me. I did not know when I sat down on the floor with tears rolling down my cheek.



I later summoned courage and asked all my workers to go home until I sort things out. When I got home, Mirabel our daughter told me their father said he was travelling out of the country with his new wife. In the letter he dropped for me, he said he has found his soul mate and that they were travelling out that night. “Josephine, I have emptied our account, sold the two shops and the land at Ikorodu just to make sure I leave this country with my new wife. I am sorry but it was something I had to do. Take care of Mirabel and Junior, I know you will understand and forgive me some day. -Akpan.” It was a big blow. In less than two weeks, all I have ever worked for was gone.



My children are my only consolation. It affected me so much that I could not concentrate any more at work. My immediate boss, a white man noticed it and asked me to resign instead of being sacked. I gladly did. I told myself I was down but not out, so, I decided to pick up the pieces of my life. I decided to start a small business so that I can at least feed my children and train them in school even though I knew they cannot continue with their present school. After what Akpan did, I was left with less than N400,000 in my account, so I decided to sell my car and the money was enough to start the second-hand clothing business I wanted. I rented a shop and started my business, changed my children’s school and life continued. Thank God, my business is booming and my children are doing well in school.



They do not even ask after their father, they are old enough to know about life. It is four years since Akpan left us but recently I was sitting in front of my shop with my children when I saw Harry, one of his friends who told us that Akpan was back in the country. He told us how things were rosy between them until Akpan discovered that the woman brings and sleeps with men in their home which made him beat her occasionally. She later duped and ejected him out of her house; this forced him to return to the country because he could not face the humiliation any more. “He has been looking for you and the children. He went to the former house but was told you have packed out.



He desperately wants to see you,” he said. When Harry left, Mirabel and Junior asked me if I was going to accept back their father and I said I don’t know. As if they planned it, they warned me not to think of accepting him because if I do, I should also think of choosing between them and their father. He came to the shop, went on his knees to plead with us to forgive them but my children still stood their ground. In his presence, they told me “Mummy, it is either this man or us. After what you did to our mother you still have the nerves to come here. Please leave before we hurt you.” I looked helplessly as they humiliated their own father, but do I blame them. I know I still love Akpan and I love my children dearly, they have been my source of strength and they have also been there for me. I have forgiven him but do I have to accept him? I know I still need a man. What do I do?