KakandaTemple ~ Re-understanding Political Opportunism

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Re-understanding Political Opportunism

One mystery that amused as much as it confused me was the audacity of the political aspirants who join the race for elective positions aware of the impossibility of victory. Not because they’re unqualified nor is this about political or social discrimination. Rather, this is in consideration of the absence of structures to sell them to the electorate and also because they lack resources to appeal to our prebendal politics; they can’t match notoriously generous and more popular opponents. Some call this breed of emergency politicians “jokers”, even while excusing such bids for power as exercises of their franchise. But I had never paused in my sympathy for their misadventures.

I had an opportunity to hear from one of these politicians weeks ago. Having listened to his reasons for vying for an elective position, and why he needs the support of media-savvy indigenes to legitimize the project, I had to express a concern. For he is a man I respect, and consider somewhat politically awake, and also immensely intelligent. But these are not the credentials of a politician in this space.

“You know, the odds don’t favour you in this election,” I began. “First, you’re not really popular there, and you’re also not close to the kingmakers. They may not even like your name. They go for the bigger pockets, not for the progressive.”

I couldn’t be patronising even though he was an older man. He deserved honesty. His political bid, without analyses, is a waste of money, time and energy. I was surprised that he didn’t, or pretended not to, see through the prism. And for a man whose wealth, probably chickenfeed for his legendarily extravagant opponents, is hard-earned, lacking political sociability, and also not a son of a big man or famous family, my fear for his disastrous ambition was legitimate.

“Gimba,” he said, wearing a smile, a mocking smile, the smile of an all-knowing prophet. “If somebody comes and tells me that you’re this naive, I will dismiss that.”

That preamble is his style, his way of diminishing a challenger’s ego. But, well, I was ready for the education. He continued:

“Why do people contest in an elections they know aren’t in their favour? You need the honesty? Many do it for the social relevance that comes with it. You step out of the blues, and suddenly you’re dining with the high and the mighty. As a contractor, this aspiration will boost my business.”

At that moment I was conditionally dumb to comprehend his justification of how “wasting” the chunk of his savings could redeem his business enterprise, so I muttered a faint “how”, sure that would inspire a summary of the impending lecture.

“How? Look at it this way. Do you know the opportunities that come with being addressed as a onetime legislative, governorship or presidential candidate in our society?”

That was when I got the point. But, still, I didn’t admit to doing so. So he continued:

“It opens several doors for you. Your networks expand, and the quality of your friends also improve. Let me tell you a story. I once attended a wedding Fatiha with (name withheld) and even in the mosque, he was recognised by the Imam. At the Reception, he was invited to sit with the VIPs, and this is a man whose campaigns I almost single-handedly funded. Even though he lost the election, it has opened so many doors for him. He has become friends with (the winner of that election), and you know what that means. Connections, contracts, favours, name it.”

I didn’t praise his genius until he answered my question, a reservation about his theory, on the fallout of political rivalries: what happens when the winner of the election rejects your friendship. First, in his response, some “jokers” join the race to intimidate by instigating frightening fireworks and then fizzle out, on being noticed or invited by the Establishment.

Second, he explained: for politicians who would not back out or accept the olive branch offered by the handlers and sponsors of the big-spending opponent, eschewing smear campaigns while investing in the media in your campaigns is another smart way to remain friends after the election. And, true, I know so many contenders who fit these categories.

I pondered his theory of political contests, and for once I began to connect the dots, realising why the Chris Okoties of this world waste their Church’s money in an aspiration that is unachievable. Even Obama would consider as delusional, this odd audacity of Hope. This is because Obama doesn’t know the trappings of Nigeria’s Big Man syndrome, doesn’t know that membership of the establishment is an invitation to join the scavengers in feasting on the treasury either as contractors or undeserving appointees.

Aside from self-serving politicians like this lecturer of political opportunism, there are party-designed scams. In this, the party members are not known for commendable struggles to win elections. Our multi-party system is simply a diversification of shared interests, for there’s no reasonable way to explain the existence of about 56 political parties formed by citizens only interested in being addressed as, say, Chairman or National Secretary of this-and-that parties, citizens only interested in the connections that comes with such formations. For, yes, the chairman of a party that has an indecent shop in an unknown slum as its headquarters considers himself a political mate of the chairmen of big-spending parties, hence the connections!

But political opportunism is already an enterprise in which every ambitious citizen is a potential beneficiary. At least that’s the indictment I got in another interaction with a friend from a famous family. In our heart-to-heart conversation on the state of Nigeria, he observed how he owed all he had accomplished to his being the son of a Big Man, and that, whether we both agree or not, 10 to 20 years from now, we could both be variables of the nation’s power equation: “I’ll be there being the son of my father, and you will be there either for our friendship or for your social relevance and a little favour here and there. You know what I’m talking about.”

He laughed. I laughed. But that’s a joke that should actually be a cause to cry. May God save us from us!

By Gimba Kakanda

@gimbakakanda on Twitter

#MrJudgemental: Single Reason to not Box your Wife…

The man who doesn’t know Floyd Mayweather is certainly very unambitious… Period!!!

So this guy bags a total earning of $105 Million, bringing into remembrance his September 2013 fight against Canelo Alvarez to set  the record for highest pay- per- view gross of $150 Million, live gate worth of $20 Million and a total revenue of $200 million. Also, with lucrative sponsorship agreements and merchandising machines in the background, this guy earns over half a billion dollars a year without endorsements.

My brother, why are you wasting all that Million dollar energy on a woman?

Mayweather has earned all that with just 47 fights and 47 wins in a year. Can you count the amount of times you have boxed your wife with undisputed championship?

You can generate Millions of Dollars for your family in a real boxing ring and end the frequent fights over the small change in your house.

Kindly give this a thought.

Yours Truly,

Mr. Judgemental.

Wife beating4 susan-peters-beaten-5

 

 

 

Malala Wins Nobel Peace Prize

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Pakistani child education activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

At 17, Malala is the youngest recipient of the prize.

The teenager was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012 for campaigning for girls’ education.

The Nobel committee said the pair were awarded the prize “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people”.

Mr Satyarthi, 60, has maintained the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and headed various forms of peaceful protests, “focusing on the grave exploitation of children for financial gain,” the committee said.

This year’s record number of 278 nominees included Pope Francis and Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, although the full list was kept a secret.

Chibok Girls: Ezekwesili, Ita-Giwa Voicing for Release

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Former Minister for Education and Convener of the campaign, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili with Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa are calling for the release of the Chibok girls at an event organized by the Public Affairs Department of the United States Consulate General’s office to mark the upcoming International Day of the Girl Child in Lagos.

Marking 178 days in captivity, Ezekwesili, said she cannot help put herself in the shoes of the missing girls. “If it had been thirty-five years ago when I was just about getting out of secondary school that such a thing happened to me, where would I be? And I just look at it and I say that only God knows what these girls are going through. That is why they need a voice, whether the people speaking out for them are ten or one million; the more the better for them. We must stand and insist that these girls are brought back, safe and alive. We do not know who these girls are going to be. They could be the ones that would solve our problems as a nation. So why should we give up on them. The voices of these girls have been taken, therefore we must become a voice for them. And we will be a voice. It comes at a price. I have been pelted with insults, I’ve been maligned, but it doesn’t matter, because nothing any of us is going through can be compared to the plight of those girls.”

 Ita-Giwa also added that the International Day of the Girl Child, scheduled to hold tomorrow, should serve as an opportunity to bring attention to the challenges facing girls around the world, added that the issue of the missing Chibok girls “has been a source of concern to everybody. It is so unfortunate. I do wish and hope that soon, they will come back home. According to what we are told by the security agencies, they have to be very careful so as not to put the lives of the girls in more danger.But as a mother, I cannot even think of what it would be like if it was any of my children that such a thing happened to.”

 

EU Rejects Death Sentence for Mutinied Soldiers

The European Union (EU), in a statement issued on Thursday,  has rejected the death sentence handed to 12 Nigerian soldiers by the General Court Martial in Nigeria for alleged mutiny.

The union, headed by Secretary-General, Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland, argued that execution had stopped in that region of the world for close to two decades

The statement says, “On the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their strong and absolute opposition to capital punishment in all cases and under all circumstances, and their commitment to its worldwide abolition.We are deeply concerned about setbacks in some countries, such as recent mass trials leading to a vast number of death sentences. No execution has taken place in our member states in the last 17 years. The European Union and the Council of Europe welcome the fact that all Member States of the European Union have now ratified both Protocols 6 and 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, and urge all other European States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify these instruments which aim at the abolition of the death penalty.”

 

US military Aircraft Arriving in Liberia

 Six U.S. military planes arrived in the Ebola hot zone Thursday with more Marines, as West Africa’s leaders pleaded for the world’s help in dealing with a crisis that one called “a tragedy unforeseen in modern times.”

“Our people are dying,” Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma lamented by video conference at a World Bank meeting in Washington. He said other countries are not responding fast enough while children are orphaned and infected doctors and nurses are lost to the disease.

Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said he was reminded of the start of the AIDS epidemic.

“We have to work now so this is not the next AIDS,” Frieden said.

The fleet of planes that landed outside the Liberian capital of Monrovia consisted of four MV-22 Ospreys and two KC-130s. The 100 additional Marines bring to just over 300 the total number of American troops in the country, said Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, the commander leading the U.S. response. Williams joined the American ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac, at the airport to greet the aircraft.

As vehicles unloaded boxes of equipment wrapped in green-and-black cloth, the Marines formed a line on the tarmac and had their temperatures checked by Liberian health workers.

Spain Ebola Patient at ‘Serious Risk’ of Dying

A Spanish nurse who is the first person known to have been infected with Ebola outside Africa is at “serious risk” of dying after her condition worsened Thursday, officials said.

 Teresa Romero, 44, is “very ill and her life is at serious risk as a consequence of the virus,” Madrid’s regional president Ignacio Gonzalez told parliament.

A spokeswoman for the La Paz-Carlos III hospital where Romero is being treated told reporters: “Her clinical situation has deteriorated but I can’t provide more information,” on the patient’s request.

Romero helped treat two elderly Spanish missionaries who died after returning from west Africa with Ebola in August and September. She tested positive for the disease on Monday.

Her case has heightened concerns that the worst epidemic of Ebola on record could spread from west Africa, where it began late last year. It has since killed nearly 3,900 people, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

President Jonathan Rejects Claim of $100 Million Net Worth

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan threatened legal action Thursday against a website that listed him as Africa’s sixth richest head of state with a net worth of about $100 million (78 million euros).

 The article on richestlifestyle.com provided little evidence to substantiate its list of Africa’s eight richest presidents.

But the claims about Jonathan, who has led Africa’s top oil producer since 2010, made front page news in several Nigerian newspapers on Thursday.

Jonathan’s inclusion in the article was “baseless and libellous,” his office said in a statement.

“President Jonathan has never been a businessman or entrepreneur,” it added.

“The clear and unacceptable imputation of the claim that President Jonathan is now worth about $100 million is that the president has corruptly enriched himself while in office which is certainly not the case,” it said.

Jonathan’s office demanded “a retraction and an unreserved apology from Richest Lifestyle.com and all those who have reproduced the offensive article,” and threatened action “in courts of law within and outside Nigeria.”

While there was no retraction or apology on the site, the item concerning Jonathan has been removed.

Emails to the contact address for richestlifestyle.com were not delivering on Thursday and the site’s managers were not available to comment on either the research supporting the article or why the Jonathan item had been removed.

Ebola: Liberia Cancels Nationwide Elections

Ebola-hit Liberia has suspended nationwide elections in the latest measure to combat an epidemic which has shut down society in three west African nations, restricting travel and forcing the cancellation of public events.

 Almost three million voters had been due to take part in Senate polls on Tuesday but organizers said there was no way a “mass movement, deployment and gathering of people” could go ahead without endangering lives.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was exercising powers under a state of emergency announced in August “to suspend… any and all rights ordinarily exercised, enjoyed and guaranteed to citizens,” the foreign office said in a statement issued late Wednesday, quoting a presidential proclamation.

Liberia, which has seen more than half of the almost 4,000 deaths so far in the outbreak ravaging west Africa, had been due to elect half of its legislative upper chamber.

The election commission said in a statement it had recommended the postponement because it could not conduct “a free, fair, transparent and credible election” because of the epidemic.

The elections are the latest casualty of an epidemic which has forced Liberia and neighbouring Sierra Leone and Guinea to announce a nationwide state of emergency.

Guinea Player Leaves Team to Calm Team Players’ Ebola Fears

Guinea forward Lass Bangoura says he left his national team to calm the fears of his Spanish club teammates who were worried about the Ebola outbreak.

Lass was called to play for Guinea in its 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana on Friday, which was moved from Guinea to Morocco because of concerns about Ebola.

But Lass said on Thursday, “When they told me my teammates were worried, I made the decision to come back, speak with them, and tell them that they shouldn’t be afraid.

“They called me twice, but I couldn’t answer because I was training, and later I spoke with my agent. I then spoke with my coach and I told him that I had a problem with my club because my teammates were afraid, and that if he could let me go to do things because I didn’t want trouble with my club, which is who pays me.”

Rayo Vallecano spokesman Fernando Lopez told The Associated Press that the club did not ask Lass to return, but instead it suggested he not travel to Guinea and instead go directly to Morocco. Lopez said Lass agreed to that travel plan.

Cameroon Frees 7 Accused of Breaking Anti-Gay Law

An official says seven people who were arrested this month on suspicion of violating Cameroon’s anti-gay law have been released but will remain under close observation.

Donatus Sembe, a police official in Yaounde, the capital, said Thursday that four of them were released Wednesday for lack of evidence and the other three were freed earlier in the week.

The group included men and transgender women. Lawyers working to defend them confirmed they had been freed.

Cameroon arrests and prosecutes more sexual minorities than any other country in sub-Saharan Africa, according to Human Rights Watch. The country’s penal code punishes homosexual acts with up to five years in prison.

Sembe said the seven would be re-arrested and put on trial, if they engaged in “any deviant behavior.”

Dominica Rejects Flavour for Fear of Ebola

The Caribbean island of Dominica has canceled a contract with a Nigerian band scheduled to participate in a local music festival, citing worries about the Ebola virus.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Thursday that he struck the band called “Flavour” from the lineup of Dominica’s three-day World Creole Music Festival out of “an abundance of caution.” He noted that a total of four musicians would have flown in from Nigeria.

#PAUSIBILITY: PROLIFERATION OF NONSENSE- ADEBAYO COKER

Pablo

I have not been too frequent on social media lately as I have been going through a self- prescribed curative therapy, aimed at purging myself of ‘textiety’, as I was fondly glued to the internet mainly through my phones; but here I am well drowned in a deluge of messages that have flooded my handles, some of which are soliciting my opinion on some national issues; but before I settle down to that, let me digress a bit.

I had thought it is only in Nollywood that we witness watery rushes of a lazy coloration of our common sense, until last weekend when I came in contact with a certain man, whose introduction threw me into crestfallenness, followed by resounding laughter.

“I am the Personal Assistant to the Senior Special Assistant to the Special Adviser to the Deputy Councilor of this Local Government”, thus the man introduced himself.

A certain motion picture came to mind, that which portrays Idi Amin Dada with his many titles: LAST KING OF SCOTLAND.

The same obtains in our religious settings, most especially our churches. It is a common take for purported MoG or WoG to introduce themselves with all the funny prefixes and suffixes that they can readily lay their hands on: Dr. Supreme Most Senior Evangelist/Prophet/Primate/Pastor Miracle Godson, PhD, Mss, JP, Justice of the Peace, DLitt, General Overseer of Kingdom of Darkness Fighting Ministry. Crazy!

Whatever the many appellations give, I do not understand. Of what value is a man that calls himself the head of a nation or a home, if he carries that title only in the ceremonial sense, but shirks his responsibilities thereto? “The hood does not make the monk”

Well, to the main issue at hand.

There is a common saying that it is only a crazy man that expects a different result from doing the same thing over and again.

The imbecility from Abuja that is taking a heavy toll on our national pride is the main nonsense I want to talk about here.

Any sane person will know that to have been caught with dollar bills running into millions, undocumented and airlifted into another sovereign nation, is enough slap on the face of the violating individual or nation; but to repeat same a second time should be taken as massive foolishness, in this case, of devious people in Abuja who are in one way or the other linked to our national security; no wonder the insurgents are having a leeway perpetrating their evil acts. No wonder!

I do not in any way have any grouse with the government of the Republic of South Africa, as no sane government will operate like ours, where anything goes, where millions of dollars will go missing and life will continue normally, with no one asking or answering any questions. In essence, no sane government will operate like a Pablo Escobar.2

The story we are being told that some governments, especially that of the USA, are blocking us from procuring arms to fight this insurgency, cannot be tenable to a sound mind. Let me ask:

Is it a new thing that the USA blocks the sale of arms to nations that are credited with Human Rights abuses?

Is Nigeria the only nation that has been blocked from procuring arms in the world?

How have wholesome funds, legally or illegally, been ferried across borders before now?

Many questions, but I know there can never be intelligent answers from Abuja. All they do is to perpetrate more and more foolishness. The one you hear today will be a child’s play in comparison to the madness that will be acted tomorrow.

It is one thing to believe that the monies in question are meant for procuring arms, and it is another to believe that the said funds are stolen. Whatever the case may be, the Federal Government hasn’t given us a reason to believe any explanation that is being, or may be offered for such movement of funds, because under our very nose, billions of dollars developed wings, flew away, and till date, we have not been able to tell its destination.  Government Magic just as Fela will call it.

A government that thrives on lies.

Addendum

My wife, a lawyer, and I had a chat immediately the news broke that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that Ngilari be sworn-in as the substantive Governor of Adamawa State. She said it was a wrest by the judiciary to free itself from the claws of the executive, but I haven’t seen the full fight yet. I can tell that the judiciary as it is , is drowned in the same corruption pool that the executive and the legislature are swimming in. Look everywhere and tell me otherwise.

She Bounced Back Twice! Google Restores Linda Ikeji’s Original Blogspot page

Congratulations to Linda Ikeji. Google has restored her blog. To those who  care, she has also apologised for whatever she did wrong in the past. She is certainly only going to get bigger now. It is okay to correct people and try to make them become better, what is not okay is to hate and hide under the cloak of Justice! Wish others well, the energy rubs off on you! Cheers.

Labour Party Chairman In Ogun State Defects To PDP

The Labour Party Chairman in Ogun State, Niyi Osoba, has resigned as the party’s leader in the state and decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This happened a day after former Ogun state governor, Gbenga Daniel, officially announced his defection to PDP.

Osoba, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES Thursday morning, said his resignation was his personal decision, and that his move to PDP was not at the insistence of Daniel or Olusegun Mimiko, the Ondo State governor who also defected from LP to PDP.

According to him, “I resigned my position individually with the interest of Ogun people. If Gbenga Daniel is in PDP and I’m in PDP, it is a coincidence.

Linda Ikeji: As A Fan, I Think This Is Where You Got It Wrong! – Yoma Victor

Social media sphere has for the past week been filled with stories of our one and only celebrity-gossip-blogger, Linda Ikeji’s troubles. So much has been said and there are no sides left yet untaken in the matter, but one thing that is definite, that no one can swear hands down, betting their lives on is that Linda Ikeji is done and gone. She will be back. But how? By the way, i do not reckon with domain thieves. Being a critic is different from being a thief. Evil can never produce good for the evil doer! So let’s be clear i won’t dwell on that part of the story.

In fifteen years of varying entrepreneurial pursuits, one basic law i have learnt is that, in the journey of success, failure is a necessary bus stop. Success is a story of many failures, failures that didn’t stop you from moving forward. Success is the ability to move from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Hence for those who are rejoicing in the battles Linda is fighting, i would advise you to stop wasting your energy, rather let us take the discussion to the next level. Linda built a behemoth of a media platform from scratch. By her own admission, it didn’t make any monies for four years and in time LIB became a brand, the number one in its industry/niche. You don’t come by this sort of success by chance or luck, there is an internal substance and drive that makes it possible. Now that i am done with all that praising-singing, what is there to learn?

Business is not about emotions, it is about structures, about the numbers, about the inflow and outflow, about what is done to ensure it is feeding and excreting properly (forgive my French or is it Creole? in a business discourse). Businesses are organisms, they grow and thrive, or depreciate and die; depending on how they are handled. When a child commits a crime, he or she is reprimanded and put under supervision and guidance because children have the benefit of the doubt that they are not deliberately contravening laid down rules – they are considered immature; but when an adult commits an offence, the full brunt of the law is brought to bear to ensure that the structure of justice, equity and probity in society is maintained. This is where i think Linda Ikeji runs foul in business terms. LIB is not a child, not an unknown, not a start-up, not a run-of-the-mill concern. It is number one in its field, in a nation of over 100 million people. LIB in my honest opinion did not watch its back hence it contravened adult laws.

I’ve been privileged to share in business trainings and development sessions on the difference between a self-employed person and a business owner. In summary, while a self-employed person gives himself a job, the business owner owns a system. The business of the self-employed person survives essentially because of the physical presence of the person and there is a lot of emotions at play in the business. You can hire family members, friends and cronies and when need arises, fingers are dipped into the income of the small business to solve personal problems, so there is improper-booking keeping, actually, no book-keeping. Legal issues are hardly dealt with in a self-employed system, as the owner seeks to always appeal to emotions to get sorted in legal situations like taxes, fees, etc. For the business owner, they ensure that the business has a life of its own, they understand that it is an entity, an organism – it needs to be fed to grow. Hence the structures that will ensure that it becomes independent are built. The books are properly kept, legal loopholes are plugged, relevant competencies with the required know-how are hired to provide legal, financial and technical structures for the business. The business of the business owner survives irrespective of the physical presence of the founder of the business, this is key to attracting investment, growth, and passive income.

The transition between being self-employed, and being a business owner is pretty much about leveraging the laws of the land, financial and business intelligence, and business skills. Business skills and determination which Linda obviously possesses is not enough. Having a blog like LIB with prospects and strong growth and market leadership potential as far back as four years ago, and not moving the structure of your business from self-employed status to business owner structure is a crime that unfortunately, cyber-squatters couldn’t leave unexploited. Generating almost half a million dollars per year needs protecting. Creating the most recognized new media platform in a country of 170 million people requires protecting. Being a media platform other media platforms get their headline news from is a big enough reason to create the right structure to protect it. There is making money, there is multiplying money, and there is managing money. Protecting your money is a huge part of managing your money. Your loopholes in business, when you get successful, will be used against you. Out there, there is the competition, the watch dogs and the haters. JP Morgan ended up owning General Electric (GE), which is about the world’s biggest corporation, yet Morgan didn’t invent electricity, Thomas Edison did, but Morgan exploited a loophole in the legal document and appropriated the company to himself and his ancestors forever. Thomas Edison got the fame, JP Morgan got the inheritance. Ignorance or procrastination is not an excuse.

I am certain that Linda is here to stay. She can easily register another blog, even with a different name and drive traffic there simply because she was wise enough to make her blog about herself. Linda, this storm came to help you see that your best days ahead are massive, but you cannot get to that future dressed in this “www.lindaikeji.blogspot.com” thingy, you need to re-brand your outlook, you need to hire a legal officer and business adviser, garnished with mentors to advise and help structure your business and advise you on issues of copyright and plagiarism, you need to run as a proper media organization. You are big enough to have correspondents attending various events to increase your brand value and to also access original content for the LIB company, big enough to attract writers and correspondents. Let me state here that I have no respect for people who are not as successful, neither have built any business, telling others how they should run their business. I am not here telling you how to run, I am only suggesting. I do not claim to know the pressure and sleepless nights that went into building your business and honestly, I admire you better than most of the very intelligent, rambling folk on twitter who have produced no value themselves.

Trust me, a lot of people are learning from your present issues, that is something you can be proud of. The problem, is not the problem. How you see the problem is the problem. You are at this failure junction, so that you can build long-lasting business structures. Do not let the crisis go to waste. Don’t be deceived by fans who will want to make you egoistic, seemingly infallible and untouchable. I look forward to seeing you in the future, mentoring young people on how to transit from running a self-employed business to owning a business system. Moving from a small business to a big business. All the best as you navigate these treacherous waters.

God bless you!

Yoma Victor
www.yomzie.wordpress.com
www.twitter.com/YomaVictor
www.facebok.com/YomaVictor

Articles on www.omojuwa.com are solely authors opinion

Sometimes You Can Be Impatient – Samuel Ufot Ekekere

Patience is a great quality that everyone needs. We need to be patient to get results from what we have sacrificed and made so much input. While we so need this quality, to achieve great things require some cool headed impatience.

I picked this line from Abraham Lincoln’s letter to his son’s teacher.  He said, “let him have the courage to be impatient.” You may be tinkling your head on why he did not say “let him have the courage to be patient.” Lincoln understood that patience does not require any courage as much. One could just quietly sit and be patient, accepting mediocrity as the rule. He knew that if he would have to achieve great things, he would have to go gaga over it. He would need some degree of impatience that requires courage to enact.

When you lead people, as much as you are positive and patient with them, you cannot get the best from them until you show some degree of impatience with their growth and capability. You will have to stand up to them and tell them at their faces that you want more from them.

It was tough for Lincoln having to work with some crazy persons in his cabinet who were dragging his government down. Some of them were imposed on him by the powers that be (the kingmakers). He accepted them anyway but expected them to work. While he needed to be patient with them, he observed that if he waited too long, he would not get results as soon as he wanted. He had to push them to act by taking the courage to stand up to them and expect results.

Abraham understood as a guiding principle that it gets to point in life when one would have to be impatient. He knew that there was a general ethical consensus on the need for patience as a necessary virtue. He felt his son could be so entangled with this life virtue that he would accept patience as the status quo. He said “teacher, teach this guy that he would have to have some impatience else he won’t get anything out of life.”

The best you want is you standing up and refusing to accept the prevailing status. While you have to be patient sometimes, patience does not work for all the cases. You have to kick your impatient aside and get to work. It won’t be easy trying to be impatient as you may act odd or be considered odd, but you have to know what you want and go for it.

Parents have to be patient with their wards, so teachers say. A child will develop slowly into maturity with time. True, but you can propel that growth by becoming impatient. An impatient parent will say, “My son cannot fail again so I have to do something about it now. I cannot be patient and continue to see you fail. No. let’s change school and get new tutors and perhaps I will get home tutors to help.” Impatience kicks you to speedy action propelling you to tinker on ways you could get faster better results.

Teachers are some of the most patient people on earth. Imagine how Abraham Lincoln son’s teacher could have felt after reading this line “let him have the courage to be impatient.” He would have thought like “Mr. Abraham is damn wrong.” Teachers do have to know that they have to be impatient sometimes. Yes, they have being taught patience at the teachers college and they have to be patient with all the students to ensure all the students understand. Sometimes the students do not understand and you throw the responsibility to patience. “With time you will understand,” they will say.

Will you patiently wait until the time they will understand? When a teacher becomes impatient, he wakes from his slumber and begins to think of what he has to change to become a more effective teacher. He thinks of what method he has to apply to pass across his idea effectively to the students. When he becomes impatient, he finds solutions to problems that had once eluded him

We do not just have to wait to get results. Yeah, patience is great especially when you have applied all the rules of the game and you are expecting results. Off course the result will come, but it will take some good time. However, impatience drives you to thinking how to get the results now.

While we must learn patience as a useful guiding principle, understand that you need impatience too to balance your patient side. You can afford to be impatient. That’s what change causers need.

Samuel Ufot Ekekere is a writer from Uyo, Nigeria. As a teacher, motivator, andwriter, he writes inspiring writs on personal development for all categories of persons. He believes everyone needs motivation. Connect on twitter @inyang21and www.facebook.com/ekekere, +2347062809301

Articles on www.omojuwa.com are solely authors opinion

I Am Not Involved In $9.3M Arms Saga – Asari Dokubo

The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo, has denied involvement in the $9.3 million botched arms deal in South Africa.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged the Federal Government to explain the ex-militant leader’s involvement in the deal.

According media reports, Asari-Dokubo spoke to reporters on telephone from Saudi Arabia where he is performing the  Hajj.

He said he was in Nigeria at the time of the incident before moving to Saudi Arabia.

He said he had not been to South Africa since 2002.

 ”Can you enter any country without a visa? I’m in Saudi Arabia performing my Hajj as the Amirul Hajj of Bayelsa State and this can be confirmed. I flew Flynass from Kaduna on September 27.

My passport is here. I flew Arik airline from Lagos on 27th and went to Kaduna where I flew Flynass airline to Saudi Arabia.

100% Bouncebackability! Ace Blogger, Linda Ikeji Makes A Rebound With New Site

Linda Ikeji’s blog got take down by Google yesterday, read the story elsewhere if you want the details but that is not as important a fact as she is back! You can now access Linda’s content via http://lindaikejionline.com . Cheers to souls who take a hit and have the stamina and courage to rebound. Bouncebackability! Access Linda Ikeji Online here.

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Andy Uba Shared His Personal Views, The Senate Never Discussed The Suspension Of New Polling Units – Senator Saraki @BukolaSaraki

Senator Bukola Saraki has come out to take a categorical position on Senator’s Andy Uba’s claims on the New Polling Units. You can read the full statement below.

“The Attention of Senator Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a statement credited Chairman Senate committee on inec Senator Andy Uba. Senator Saraki will like to state clearly that at no time did the Senate as a whole debated on the suspension of the creation of new polling units and the comment at best are the personal views of Senator Andy Uba. Senator Saraki will like to state clearly that as legislators, the same way we clamoured for politicians not to interfere with the Nigerian Police Force as an independent body should not interfere with INEC

“In the last few years, Nigeria’s electoral process has been witnessing salient changes; to a high level, candidates and masses are certain that elections will be won based on votes casted an counted legally, this is a development that we must commend the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega.”

He went further to state that, “This development does not only give confidence to electorates, it also compels political office holders to perform in order to avoid been voted out; these are good developments for our democracy as a nation. This has been seen in recent elections like Osun election where the voices of the people was heard through their votes.

However, as more developments are been introduced into the electoral system to ensure a more patterned and transparent election in 2015; it’s important not to ting or handle electoral processes politically.

As discussions are ongoing about the cancelation of new polling units created across the country, we must note that this must be the opinion of INEC as an independent organization and not that of the Senate committee on Electoral matters. The position taken on the cancellation of the new polling units is a personal one and not that of the entire Senate as the Senate is yet to discuss this in the hallowed chamber

With due respect to the Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Andy Uba who is my good friend, Politicians must allow the INEC to remain an Independent body and not interfere in situation that will compromise the electoral body.

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, I urge INEC to maintain its credibility by holding strong to the founding tenets of the organization which is independent of any political group or party. I also urge the organization to ensure it puts in all effort to ensure 2015 elections emerge the best on ground of transparency, independence and fairness.” Senator Bukola Saraki concluded.

Okorocha Commends Peter Obi For Dumping APGA

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has congratulated the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi for leaving the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Okorocha said Obi’s decision showed that he saw the dire need for the Igbos to be “competitors and not spectators” in national affairs.

Read more at http://dailypost.ng/2014/10/09/okorocha-commends-peter-obi-dumping-apga/

M.I Acknowledges Phyno As King

For those thinking all thoughts  about M.I dissing other rap acts who sprung up after him, you may have to drop such thoughts as M.I clearly has no beef with Phyno, olamide and the new cats that have sprung up .

When M.I left the music scene five years ago, many indigenous rap acts like Olamide, Phyno, Illbiss and others came up and took the shine and people beign raising up issues of him not wanting their shine .

But just when everyone thought M.I was no longer coming back, he made a rebound with new single, ‘King James’ where he rapped about being the one and only king of rap.

After the song went viral, many attributed the song to mean him dissing other rappers.

But today, Thursday, Oct.10 is Phyno’s birthday and M.I did something most people wouldn’t expect.

He took to social media and wrote a short tribute to Phyno where he referred to the Igbo rapper as “King Phyno”.

“Happy birthday King Phyno.. They won’t know how far you have come!!!! I do.. And I celebrate your hustle your strength and your kingship.. Long may you reign…”

Akpabio’s Comment: Party Top Shots React To Protest In Abuja By Akwa Ibom Elders

Three Peoples Democratic Party’s bigwigs from Akwa Ibom state have reacted to the protest in Abuja organized by some stalwarts of the state chapter of the party against the leadership of the party in the state over Governor Godswill Akpabio’s open advice to Akwa Ibom youths that “the future belonged to the youths” and that there is nothing to learn from the elders of the state.

The State Chairman of the Party, Chief Paul Ekpo, said it was curious that an Akwa Ibom matter, which had never elicited any form of protest in the state resulted into protest in Abuja, where Akwa Ibom residents were seen carrying placards and demonstrating against a party leadership elected in Akwa Ibom State.

He noted that on Monday, those who addressed the press and spoke against the leadership of the party came to the party secretariat in Uyo for a consultation and mentioned those who came to include Obong Umana Umana, former SSG; Otuekong Don Etiebet, a Board of Trustees member and many others.

Shock Of The Moment ; Man Asks Music Power Couple “Who Are You?”

Jay Z and Beyonce are few of the world’s most famous people. Their music, faces and businesses have become so popular that people around the world want to just meet them. But then again, there is one man who still asked the couple, “Who are you?” in Paris, France.

The music royalties are currently in France on vacation, even though they’ve been spotted house-hunting recently andwatching football matches with David Beckham.

Jay and Bey were seen making their way to the iconic museum in Paris yesterday along with their two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, and a group of security guards, including their bodyguardJulius, asked people not to film or photograph the couple.

Despite their recognisable faces and the fact they had a whole entourage protecting them, one tourist still didn’t have any idea who they were and asked Jay Z as he walked past: “Who are you? Who is he?

Read more at http://pulse.ng/celebrities/jay-z-beyonce-man-asks-music-power-couple-who-are-you-id3184622.html

The New Ice Bucket Challenge, #WakeUpCall

UNICEF’s #WakeUpCall campaign is created to raise awareness for the child refugees in Syria  and raise money for humanitarian aid.

“As irritating as some people find these campaigns, they really work,” Jemima Khan, the UNICEF ambassador who thought up the idea, explained. And it did for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised over $100 million dollars.

Celebrities are already  participating by taking a photo or video of themselves right after waking up and texting SYRIA to 70007 to donate £5. Here are a few selfies from the #WakeUpCall Campaign.

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Call ‘Controversial’ Mbu To Order NLC Warns FG

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has strongly condemned the detention of the Africa Independent Television (AIT) journalist-cum-presenter, Amechi Anakwe on the orders of Assistant Inspector General of Police in Abuja, Joseph Mbu, warning that “we shall resist any attempt to gag the press or harass any one going about their lawful duty in a peaceful and lawful manner”.

NLC, in the statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo- Eson, said “It is too soon to forget that the media played a leading role in securing the fourth republic for Nigerians. That task was not accomplished by playing the lapdog of everyone”.

While recalling that Mbu said, “The offence of Anakwe is that he had referred to Mbu as “controversial”, which in our view is neither derogatory nor libelous. Even if the word or sentence were otherwise, there are lawful channels of redress.

Mbu cannot be judge and prosecutor in his own case,” the Congress asserted: “Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to which we are all answerable in spite of our station in life”.

Paula Patton Files For Divorce From Robin Thicke

Paula Patton has filed for divorce from estranged husband Robin Thicke, the Los Angeles Superior Court confirms.

Patton and Thicke, who were high school sweethearts married for eight years, separated in Feb. 2014. At the time, a source close to the “Blurred Lines” singer siad it had “been a long time coming” and that “their marriage was unraveling for a long time.”

The split came after Thicke’s controversial 2013 VMA performance with Miley Cyrus and after he was rumored to have cheated on Patton after pictures surfaced of him grabbing another woman’s bare butt while posing for a photo.

miley-cyrus-and-robin-thicke Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke perform "Blurred Lines" during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York

Following their split, Thicke went to great lengths to try to win his wife back, going as far as to crying on stage at the BET Awards in June, where he told the crowd: “Good evening, my name is Robin Thicke, I’d like to dedicate this song to my wife, and said, ‘I miss you, and I’m sorry.'” The lovesick singer then released an album in her honor titled Paula.

In July, Thicke admitted he was at a loss when it came to winning Patton back. “I actually have no idea what I’m doing,” he said on Good Morning America. “I’m just kinda flying by the seat of my pants on this one.”

Ebola in Hollywood? Ghen Ghen!!!

A person who landed at LAX after traveling to Liberia has been rushed to Centinela Hospital Medical Center to be tested for Ebola.

The patient was brought to the Centinela Hospital Medical Center Emergency Department on Tuesday night by ambulance from Los Angeles International Airport.

“Ambulance personnel alerted the hospital prior to arrival so upon entry to the hospital campus, all CDC precautions were fully implemented,” said the hospital in a statement. “The hospital has been preparing for the possibility of this situation for weeks and staff has been trained per CDC protocols.”

The patient does not have any symptoms of Ebola, but precautions were taken due to travel history and the patient has not yet tested positive or negative for the virus. The patient will remain isolated in the hospital’s ER for evaluation and testing will be conducted in consultation with the CDC, according to the hospital.

The hospital remains open to seeing other patients and “are taking all steps to ensure our patients, their families, staff, and the community are protected.”

In the wake of the global Ebola scare, which has now taken the life of one U.S. patient, Eric Duncan, in Dallas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that five of the biggest airports in the U.S will have enhanced Ebola screening for passengers coming from the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Why Governor Yero Should Not Stay Beyond 2015 (Part 1)

One of my long-term established virtues has been school and hospital visitations, every now and then. Recently I happened to visit some schools within Kaduna State and what I saw were unimaginable. One of the scenarios was more perplexing than worrying – children (boys and girls), in their hundreds, sat mediating what they were being taught. While the chant – “good morning sir” – mantra droned in the hot air like the sound of bees, none of the pupils seemed worried (or so it seemed).

Cheerfully, they kept starring at me like the unexpected ghost that visits their home in a culpable dream. Being in the midst of that experience, for me, however, there was only one thought going through my mind: do we really have any sitting government in Kaduna State?

Every administration has an identity. You will not be wrong to call it an identifiable benchmark. For Kano and Kwankwaso, for instance, it is transparency in managing public funds and infrastructural investment. For Akwa Ibom and Akpabio, it is infrastructural investment, same with Dankwanbo of Gombe State and Chime of Enugu State.

Fashola and Lagos, on the other hand are, economically and IGR, world apart. None of the above-mentioned governors is a saint, perfect or without deficits. In fact, that is the nature of existence. We all are bound to make mistakes. The smart ones adapt and evolve; the idiot ones keep repeating them until they burn out before their time.

Sadly, Kaduna state governor, Ramalan Yero, whose only identifiable benchmark is flashy billboards and catchy posters, is not smart enough to adapt and evolve from his previous mistakes. A competition he, Yero, is trying hard enough to outperform his Niger state counterpart, Babangida Aliyu.

Yero’s emergence was a divine/tragic process, a situation he has abused so far to the highest order. The disconnect between his leadership and the masses is something every Kaduna state citizen can laid bare to. In their endless attempt to interpret the manifold nuances of bad leadership into a string of mindless metrics, like their superiors at the center, those at the corridor of power in Kaduna state always offer the inexcusable catchphrase that they did not created the problems.

Yes, they did not, sincerely. However, no responsible government anywhere in the world focuses on problems creators instead of addressing them, especially with regard to governance. Except, of course, one that lacks any base of identity and instinctive power to address issues using conceptualize models of leadership.

To start with, Yero’s government is one of the most dishonest governments you can find around, and continues to surprise many with its brinkmanship attitude and apparently evil agenda. This is why! There are presently two swindles going on in the state, both under education, aside the many baleful and treacherous others.

Early this year, the state’s commissioner of education, Ibrahim Ali, stated that the government has earmarked 3.5 billion – to be used for new schools, rehabilitation of existing ones, and supply of facilities across board. Today, ten months down the year, there is nothing evidently to show where those billions have been spent.

Earlier this year, a survey by an educationist and advocate of grassroots education, Zainab Sandah, shows that 90% of the primary schools within Rigasa community under Igabi LG (one of the three Local governments within Kaduna metropolis) are efficiently poor by all standards. In one of the schools, according to the survey, there are 2500 students with only 20 teachers and 6 classrooms, with student-to-classroom ratio at 400:1 and student-to-teacher ratio at 125:1.

Nevertheless, as one seeking better education for all, she went extra mile trying to secure improved standards for those schools, well, you need to know the hell she actually went through after many bureucratic dummies and countless unfulfilled promises. Rigasa community is just a model sample, but all the schools within the state represent same picture and the state government is not interested in doing anything, at least practically. Pathetic if you ask me.

Still under education, Kaduna state University currently has two sets of 300L pre clinical students awaiting admittance into the clinical. Before the coming on board of this administration, committed efforts were shown and work rate was high in an effort to upgrade the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital to a University Teaching Hospital by the late Patrick Yakowa’s government.

When the current administration came on, like many projects within the state, the hospital upgrade project hit a rock and, at best, became slow paced. Prior to that, there were options issued by the NUC for accreditation of the MBBS program at the University: the hospital to be upgraded fast or the students to be absorbed into other schools’ teaching hospitals for their clinical studies. Late Yakowa’s government chose the first option, which, logically, is the best thing to do.

Yero has now opted for the second option, albeit in a more advance fraud strategy. The first set of students will be sent to the University of Kampala, Uganda. Yes, you heard me well, Kampala, Uganda. Truthfully, that is one of the most illogical decisions I have ever come across. However, I was not surprised. Not for once! It was a deliberate and calculated attempt to siphon public funds against the 2015 general elections. One would have thought that half of that money be channeled into completing the hospital upgrade project. Alas, the government has another option – benefitting from the ill-conceived thought at the detriment of collective all.

Another issue is the postgraduate scholarship scheme the state is currently wheeling. It is on record that the sate set aside over 800 million naira for that purpose, and then went ahead to sold forms at the rate of 2000 naira/candidate. Thousands of candidates applied and only a very few will be selected, certainly.

There was nothing wrong with that, some may argue. Yes, there was nothing wrong, actually, except the process. When you multiply the amount paid by all the hopeful applicants by their numbers, it is likely for one to come up with a figure close to one-third of what was set aside for the project. And, sincerely, even if not enough to sponsor the very little (probably less than 500) that will eventually get the nod, only little addition will be needed.

One worrying trend is that those that will be selected are either part of this government or related to someone within or connected to the government. The irony is that the poor masses will be sponsoring the elites with their hard labored resources while the over 800 million or at least part of it will be looted, like many before it.

With the happenings across the state, it will be safe to say we do not have a state, what we have is more of a lawless land with no hope for a better future. Pirates and corrupt lords, with virtually no economy other than assumptive market, run Kaduna state and the word failure can be depicted from the current situation. The economic policy of the state is unacceptably incoherent.

Abubakar A. Musa
@blinkingam

Articles on www.omojuwa.comn are solely authors opinion

Nigeria’s Finest Celebrities Gear Up For #FFAC2014

In it’s 2nd year running, Football For A Cause (#FFAC2014) an annual fundraiser is set to bring together a fine blend of young Nigerian celebrities, artistes, On-air-personalities and comedians with the goal of raising funds to support education for the less privileged children in Nigeria.

The novelty match is scheduled to hold on Sunday, October 12th, 2014, where Nigerian entertainment icons such as Mr Raw, MayD, Lynxxx, Timi Dakolo, Seyi Law, Senator, Elenu, Bez, Nedu, DJ Neptune amongst others will play against the All-Star Team of the TwitPremier League at the University of Lagos Sports Center by 3pm.

This blend of football, entertainment and philanthropy is another project of the StayInSchoolng Initiative which hopes to raise money to place 400 disadvantaged children in school with the aim of bridging the evident gap in the country’s education sector.

StayInSchoolng currently supports 200 children across 8 primary schools and recently held a fundraiser to provide best graduating students under the SiSNG umbrella secondary school scholarships.

Tickets for the event are available for N1, 000 and N5, 000 at www.naijaticketshop.com, Ozone cinemas, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas and Silverbird Galleria. Further details on the match and the project can be found on www.stayinschoolng.org, twitter – @stayinschoolng and on

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/StayInSchoolng-initiative/233070080154044?ref=hl.

Football For A Cause is supported by Nigerian Breweries, Chicken Republic, EXP Marketing, Lucozade Sports, Moon water Productions, Beat FM, City FM, Radio One, Forest stream studios, Sound city, HipTv and Nigezie .

2015: Baba Please Forgive Us, We Have Sinned – PDP Begs Obasanjo

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begged its erstwhile BOT chairman and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo for forgiveness.

The party, said the ex-president should overlook the past and lead it to victory in 2015.

National chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, made these pleas on behalf of the party in Abuja on Wednesday while welcoming defectors from the Labour Party, led by Gbenga Daniel, to the ruling party.

Mu’azu said, “All of us must beg Obasanjo to forgive us. We need to beg him. He is very prayerful and we need to ask him to forgive us so that we can be forgiven. We are your children.”

“We have made mistakes and baba, please forgive us. Come and lead us. We are your followers and we assure you that we are all good boys and girls. We have sinned. Baba please forgive us”.

Sir Alex Ferguson Hails ‘brilliant’ Van Gaal

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken for the first time about Louis van Gaal’s tenure as Manchester United boss and says he has been ‘brilliant’.

Van Gaal was appointed this summer at Old Trafford, after Ferguson’s handpicked successor, David Moyes, endured a torrid season with the Red Devils.

Although the Dutchman has lost twice already in the League and has been dumped out of the Capital One Cup, Ferguson feels he has enough experience and talent to turn the team’s fortunes around.

“Louis van Gaal has made a lot of changes and, thinking about that, actually, maybe he’s doing the right thing — to clear the decks and build his own team. Because he’s got the experience and coaching ability to do that.

“The way he’s approached it, I think he has been brilliant.”

Explain Asari-Dokubo’s Involvement In $9.3m scandal APC Tells FG

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to explain to Nigerians what Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo was doing on the plane that illegally ferried US$9.3million to South Africa, where he was arrested alongside another Nigerian and an Israeli.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said since the federal government had taken ownership of the funds by saying the national security adviser (NSA) issued the end-user certificate for the arms purchase, the same government ought to know the involvement of all those aboard the plane.

It said that the federal government had a lot of questions to answer on the whole deal, including whether Asari-Dokubo is the contractor or the end user, who he was procuring arms for and for what purpose.

APC said the questions became pertinent because even the NSA, who issued the end-user agreement for the purchase, does not and cannot purchase arms for any of the armed services.

“The service chiefs have separate budgets from the NSA for arms purchase. Under our Constitution, the NSA is an adviser and has no executive powers to deploy troops from any of the services or purchase arms for them.

“That the arms purported to be purchased from South Africa were ordered from the office of the NSA is nothing but a mere fabrication, and raises serious questions about the motive for the purchase.

Nobody Can Remove Me Before My Tenure Expires – Amaechi

Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has declared that he will remain in office till May 29, 2015, when his tenure expires, stating that alleged attempts to remove him from office will not work.

Amaechi made the declaration while speaking at a special thanksgiving service held in honour of the retired permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Lands and Survey, Pastor Christopher Briggs.

The service took place yesterday at Redemption Ministries, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Represented by the commissioner for lands and survey, Mr Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, the governor urged the people of the state to continue to pray for his administration.

He said, “To Rivers people, I stand on the altar of God to assure you, particularly those who have in one way or the other supported this administration, that no matter the storm, this administration will serve out its tenure.

“When you pray for us, pray with confidence; until May 29, 2015, this government will not hand over. Let me on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State thank you for your support and your prayers and hope that you will continue to support us until May 2015.

Rotimi Amaechi Rubbishes President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda programme

Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi has said the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has no positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

Amaechi stated this yesterday while inaugurating the ultra modern Pharmacology/Biochemistry building of the Medical School in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.

Amaechi, who hailed his counterpart in Ekiti, Governor Kayode Fayemi and the management of EKSU for practical management of resources, called on Jonathan to rejig his transformation agenda to meet the people’s need.

He said, “This transformation agenda has not in any way reflected in the lives of Nigerians. Go everywhere, there is poverty and wanton neglect. So what are we now transforming?

“Some of the members of TAN are those that benefited under the subsidy fund and who ought to be prosecuted and jailed. But I am sure that the All Progressives Party as a party will bring to bear more pragmatic agenda that would meet their yearnings”.

Speaking, Fayemi said he had met EKSU as a glorified secondary school during the inception of his government.

He said, “I have never regretted my commitment to intellect because of the fact that some people are desecrating the sector, saying that that is not what they are going to eat.

INEC Officially Calls Off Adamawa Governorship Poll

In deference to the order of the Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday suspended the October 11 governorship by-election in Adamawa State.

The Acting Secretary of INEC, Mr. H. Adamu, made the position of the electoral body known in a statement in Abuja.

The statement said: “The Federal High Court, Abuja on October 8 delivered judgment in a suit between Bala James Nggilari vs. Speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly and five others.

“The court declared that Ngilari did not resign from office as Deputy Governor as required by the Constitution and granted, among others, an order restraining INEC from conducting a by-election to fill the office of Governor.

“In compliance with the court order, INEC hereby suspends preparations for the conduct of governorship by-election scheduled to hold on Saturday.”

INEC also attached the judgment order of the court upon which it based its decision to suspend the election.

Court Judgment Is A Sign I Will Reclaim My Mandate – Murtala Nyako

Impeached governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako has expressed delight at the sack of Acting Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

He made his position known yesterday in a statement through his Director of Press and Publicity, Ahmad Sajoh, after the inauguration of ex-Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari who was reinstated as governor by a Federal High Court yesterday.

The statement said: “His Excellency Admiral Murtala Nyako wishes to express satisfaction with the judgment passed by the Federal High Court in Abuja declaring that former Deputy Governor Bala James Ngillari has not resigned as Deputy Governor.

“This is a further testimony to the fact that the entire process associated with the purported impeachment saga had been just series of acts characterized by extreme illegality and political brigandage.

Texas Ebola Patient Thomas Eric Duncan Dies

The first man diagnosed with Ebola in the US, Thomas Eric Duncan, has died, says the Dallas facility where he was being treated.

A statement released by the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said,”It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death of Thomas Eric Duncan this morning at 7:51am.Mr Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease, Ebola. He fought courageously in this battle.”

The Liberian national picked up the killer virus in Liberia before flying to Texas where he fell ill and was admitted to the Dallas hospital.

His family said they had visited him on Tuesday at the hospital, but declined to view him via video link because his condition was too “disturbing”.

Mr Duncan’s nephew, Josephus Weeks, said he and his mother had been unable to sleep after seeing Mr Duncan’s face over video during a previous visit. He was being treated with an experimental drug and had been on a breathing machine while receiving kidney dialysis.

Celebrity Photo of the Day!!!

Many may not consider this guy a celebrity because he may not be sagging his jeans or singing a booty song.

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Remember him? Yes that’s Nick Vujicic and he has stolen this space today with these extremely adorable photos.

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Nick Vujicic is a global motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs. At the age of seventeen, he started his own non-profit organisation, Life Without Limbs.

Meanwhile, we have “Complete and Normal” Africans begging on the streets. Here is another photo to inspire your day.

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Agony of Elizabeth Ngodoo Terfa

It was a bright and sunny day, with a mixture of haze in the air suggestive of the coming harmattan season which literally heralds the preparation for the yuletide season. It was on a Sunday, precisely the 4th of November, 2012. Elizabeth Ngodoo Terfa, 25, popularly known by friends and peers as ‘LizzyDoo’, left home for church to give thanks to God Almighty for all the good deeds in her life.

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Before the Accident…

The trip to church was usually a short routine; she takes a motorcycle from her home to church and then takes another motorcycle back home after church, period. However, in the midst of her normal daily activities, little did she know that that fateful Sunday will mark an agonizing turning point in her life. It was that day that ‘normal activities’ ground to a halt; the soothing smile which was her trademark suddenly ceased, her boisterous personality suddenly disappeared, and her aspirations I life currently hanging on a cliff. LizzyDoo boarded a motorcycle to take her home after after church and on their way, a Volkswagen Golf 3 car rammed into the motorcycle, sending both passenger and rider crashing awkwardly on the brittled asphalt of Northbank, Makurdi.

LizzyDoo, who is currently receiving treatment at DaisyLand Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital Jos, has gone through hell in a bid to fix her broken legs. Series of surgeries have been performed on the legs and monies have been expended in the process. As at the time of writing this appeal, she could not even recall how much money she has spent on the broken legs. She has her humble family and other sympathisers to thank for what they have done for her so far. And she prays that God will bless all those that have showed her love and care.

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Elizabeth Ngodoo Terfa is appealing to good Nigerians to come to her aid and assist her in any way possible so as to enable her achieve her dreams of walking again. She requires about N900,000 (Nine Hundred Naira) altogether to bring her fully back on her feet again. Nigerians are good people, and LizzyDoo hopes to reach out to someone who has the means and heart to help.

You can contact LizzyDoo on 07031312599, and 08059799880. May God Bless the potential helper; God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

By

Moses Unongu (sweetpea4awase@yahoo.com)

Concerned Citizen

#ChopChopToday: Rice and Cabbage Sauce

#ChopChopToday: Saving the lives of Women who cannot cook!!!

Rice is eaten by virtually everyone across the globe. While growing up I used to think that Nigerians love eating rice a lot, but when I started getting exposed to different people from various cultures, I realized that rice is eaten by almost everyone.
We normally cook rice in different ways, i.e. White rice and stew, Jollof rice, Fried rice, Tuwon rice and most times it becomes boring.

I started looking for a different way to eat rice but with a more healthy option. Then I discovered the cabbage sauce that could be eaten with white rice. Though there is nothing special about it, but some may like it.

You would need:
1 cabbage
2 carrots
1/2 pack of green beans
1/2 cup of peas
1 tomato
1 onion
4 seasoning cubes
spices
1 mercurial fish
vegetable oil
curry
salt and pepper.

Directions:
Wash the cabbage and slice it [finely chopped],

Then wash the green beans, carrot and peas.

Chop the green beans and carrot how you want it [your desired shape] and set aside.

Slice onion, wash the fish and cut it and spice it using salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, 1 seasoning cube, ground coriander and ground nutmeg].
Allow to marinate for 5 minutes, then put some vegetable oil in the pan or pot [depending on what you want to use].

When the oil is hot enough, start frying.

And when it is well fried, take out and set aside, using the same oil add the onions and some garlic.
Then add the chopped tomatoes and keep frying.

Add the diced carrot, green beans and peas keep stirring allow to cook for 1 minute.

Also add the seasoning cube, salt, pepper, curry and spices.

Allow to cook for another 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat and add the cabbage.

Add half cup of water allow to steam and cook for 10 minutes to allow the cabbage to get soft [depending how you want it].

When it is ready add the fish and serve with the boiled rice and enjoy.

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Contributed by Akumabee’s Plate on: http://africfood.blogspot.co.uk/

@mabastarr on Instagram

Seizure Of Another $5.7m Arms Money: APC Tells Jonathan To Stop Embarrassing Nigeria Globally

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently address Nigerians on the serial embarrassments to which his administration is subjecting the country in the comity of nations, after another seizure of $5.7 million of Nigerian arms money by the South African authorities.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the issues surrounding the first seizure of $9.3 million have yet to be resolved before this latest scandal,

Wondering why the government would want to turn Nigeria to a rogue nation by taking ownership of money laundering and other acts of illegality, thus devaluing the currency of every Nigerian.

He Dumped her After Bleaching for Him…

Hi. This is not my story but I feel like sharing it on this website. My name is Ladi and my friend is in a dilemma now. She is living in shock of the reality that her 8 months boyfriend just dumped her for “not being the kind of fair he wants.”

She once told me that her boyfriend told her that it wouldn’t be bad for her to be a little lighter because he feels he is often attracted to light skinned ladies.

I discouraged her from bleaching her skin and she told me I would not understand what dark skinned ladies like her go through. I told her that if a guy doesn’t like her the way she is, then he doesn’t deserve her.

But when I returned from a trip after 5 weeks, my friend had changed completely from the dark coloured lady she used to be to a light skinned lady; even lighter than I am.

Now she is telling me that Johnson has dumped her and told her he feels embarrassed walking side by side with her and that she has a particular ordour he can’t stand.

She said he told her all these and many more to her face after he had been avoiding her and refusing to pick her call, till she eventually tracked him down to ask what was wrong with their relationship.

I really want to help her but she doesn’t want to move on and is blaming herself for using cheap cream instead of bleaching like a big girl. Please what do I tell her to get her out of this mess?

Happening Now: Gbenga Daniel in Aso Rock To Announce Defection To PDP [PHOTOS]

Former Governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is presently at the presidential villa to formally announce his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

GBE

Daniel, who is the immediate past leader of the Labour Party, in the state, will inform President Goodluck Jonathan of his intention.

OGD, as fondly called, was accompanied to the Villa by PDP topshots including ex-ministers, Jubril Martins-Kuye and Ishola Sharafa.

Also in attendance are ex-deputy speaker, Remmy Hassan, ex-Chief of Staff, Yemi Majekodunmu, his Youth and Sports Commissioner, Bukola Olopade, ex-state PDP Director of Information, Deji Kalejaiye, Ladi Adebutu, many other party chieftains and loyalists.

A source on the delegation forwarded some photos to DailyPost.

Mr. Jonathan is expected to join the gathering any moment from now.

Details later…

#BringBackOurGirls : Global Week of Action

The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Group will next week embark on a ‘Global Week of Action’ to demand the return of the 219 girls who remain in captivity by the Boko Haram sect since they were kidnapped by the insurgents six months ago.

This was made known in a press statement signed by the group’s co-conveners Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala Usman, yesterday in Abuja.

“As the United Nations marks the International Day of the Girl Child on 11th October, we, the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the families of the abducted girls, are calling for a Global Week of  Action from 11th to 18th October 2014, to mobilize everyone around the world to demand for the immediate rescue of our Chibok girls and end this humanitarian tragedy,” the statement read.

“October 14, 2014 makes it exactly six months  the Boko Haram Sect  leader claimed responsibility for the mass kidnappings in a video where he informed the world that he plans to sell the girls into slavery. Till date, not one girl has been rescued, save for 57 girls who escaped on their own, while 219 girls still remain in captivity,” it added.

As part of the week’s programme, the group will hold a protest on Saturday, 14, October, in Abuja to mark six months since the girls were abducted from their school, Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria.

China, World’s Largest Economy; Overtakes U.S.

Us Dollar Versus China Yuan

Chris Giles at the Financial Times flagged up the change. He also alerted us back in April this year that it was all about to happen.

The simple logic is that prices aren’t the same in each country: A shirt will cost you less in Shanghai than San Francisco, so it’s not entirely reasonable to compare countries without taking this into account. Though a typical person in China earns a lot less than the typical person in the US, simply converting a Chinese salary into dollars underestimates how much purchasing power that individual, and therefore that country, might have. The Economist’s Big Mac Index is a great example of these disparities.

So the IMF measures both GDP in market exchange terms, and in terms of purchasing power. On the purchasing power basis, China is overtaking the US right about now and becoming the world’s biggest economy.

Also, according to the IMF by the end of 2014, China will make up 16.48% of the world’s purchasing-power adjusted GDP (or $17.632 trillion), and the US will make up just 16.28% (or $17.416 trillion).

IMF, Google Public Data Explorer Adjusted for purchasing power, the IMF thinks China’s economy is now the world’s largest.

It’s not all sore news for the US. It’ll be some time yet until the lines cross over in raw terms, not adjusted for purchasing power. By that measure, China still sits more than $6.5 trillion lower than the US and isn’t likely to overtake for quite some time. But in terms of the raw market value of China’s currency, it still has a long way to go.

 

Rivers PDP Chairman Talks Tough On Party’s Primaries; Says “We Cannot Be Intimidated”

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again disclosed that there is no going back on its resolve to throw the forthcoming primaries of the party open to all qualified member aspirants and ethnic groups in the State.

The party argued that this is necessitated by its strong desire to reclaim all the political offices stolen from the party and must therefore field only tested, trusted and capable candidates that can stand any opponent to be fielded by any party at anytime.

Advising critics and those opposed to the party’s decision to look elsewhere for work as the decision is irreversible, the State Chairman of the party, Felix Obuah through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media Jerry Needam said he was not intimidated by such baseless criticisms, describing them as wishes of those who do not mean well for the PDP.

According to the party Chairman, no other system could be more democratic and offer a better way of choosing popular candidates for the crucial 2015 elections than giving all ethnic nationalities the opportunity to bring out their best candidates for the respective offices so that only the best of the best and popular will be elected during the primaries.

New Coalition Airstrike Around Kobane

An aircraft of the international coalition on Wednesday carried out a new air strike against Islamic State (IS) targets around the Syrian border town of Kobane, an AFP correspondent reported.

The air strike sent a cloud of thick black smoke billowing into the air from a hill on the eastern side of Kobane, the correspondent reported from the Turkish border.

It was the first air strike witnessed Wednesday after a flurry of strikes Tuesday which some sources said had helped Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) push back the IS militants.

Idris Nahsen, a Kurdish official from Kobane, said that the air strikes had been helpful.

“The situation has changed since Tuesday. YPG forces have pushed back IS forces,” said Nahsen, who himself moved to Turkey on Tuesday but now plans to go back.

The fighting for Kobane could still be heard on the Turkish side of the border and IS fighters could be seen moving around the edge of the city. The black flags planted by IS on Monday were still in place.

Meanwhile, the minaret of a mosque in the centre of Kobane that had been clearly visible from the Turkish side collapsed, the correspondent said. The cause was not immediately clear.

So Romantic: See How This Baddest Guy Ever Liveth Proposed To His Girlfriend Using The Police

A sweet man recently used a police stop and search scenario to pop marriage proposal question to his beautiful girlfriend in Port Harcourt.

The man identified as Austin had earlier arranged for a stop and search on the road as he and his beauty head to the restaurant.

While the police were harassing the bobo, Princess look so sad, he urged her to look up to the billboard displaying her photos.

Read more at http://www.insidenaija.com/romantic-see-guy-proposed-girlfriend-using-police-see-photos/

Breaking: Court Suspends Adamawa Election, Reinstates Ngilari As Acting Governor

There is a new twist to the ongoing political squabble in Adamawa state, as just three days to the bye-election in the state; the court has delivered judgement on the case filed by Governor Murtala Nyako’s Deputy, Bala Ingilari where he challenged the swearing-in of the Speaker.

The court in its judgment has ordered that ousted Deputy Governor, Ingilari should be reinstated as (acting) governor.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday morning, Justice Adeniji said Ngilari did not resign in accordance with Section 306 (1) (2) and (5) of the country.

The Judge declared Fintiri’s occupation of the Governor’s office as illegal and ordered the State’s Chief Judge or President of the Customary Court of Appeal to swear in Ngilari forthwith.

He stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  from conducting bye-election into the Governor’s office.

Relatively, Governor Nyako’s suit challenging his impeachment by the Assembly is still going on as at press time.

APC Raises Alarm Over Fake Delegates Forms

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised an alarm over the circulation of fake delegate forms in some states and has called on members of the party to disregard them.

An official of the party informed reporters on telephone that the party has on the directive of the national secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni, issued a circular to all the 36 states chairmen of the party including FCT to disregard the fake delegates forms as they did not emanate from the party leadership.

He said it is the work of some unscrupulous elements within and outside the party who have always been seeking ways to create confusion and cause disaffection among party members especially at this time when the party is going for its primaries.

A state party official in one of the states in the north-east where the forms were reportedly distributed told reporters on telephone yesterday that the forms were allegedly brought to the state earlier in the week and that distribution started on Friday.

Forbes Richest List ; Aliko Dangote Slips Down Three Places

The Forbes Magazine latest billionaires ranking released yesterday showed that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has slipped down to 26th position from the 23rd position he occupied since March this year.

The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group’s real time net worth also reduced to $23.7bn from $25bn, according to the Forbes ranking.
Other Nigerians on the billionaires list are Globacom’s Mike Adenuga, BUA Group’s Abdulsama Rabiu and Fashion billionaire Folorunsho Alakija.

Dangote recently looked beyond cement, sugar and flour – the three commodities that built his fortune – to the oil business.

He had announced $9bn in financing from a consortium of local and international lenders to construct a private oil refinery, fertilizer and petrochemical complex in the country.

His publicly traded Dangote Cement is also grabbing new markets in Africa, with $750m in new plants planned for Kenya and Niger Republic.

Dangote also announced on Thursday new plans to invest an undisclosed sum in the development of a major coal mine in Tanzania, even as he continues to expand his business interests across the continent.

According to Tanzania’s Guardian newspaper, Dangote revealed his plans last week when he met Tanzania’s Vice President Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, during the Africa Global Business Forum in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Dangote said he plans to invest significantly in the Mbinga coal mine in Tanzania’s southwestern region, and to use the coal to produce energy  at his cement plant in Mtwara which is currently under construction.

When completed, the Dangote Cement plant will produce three million tonnes of cement per year, almost half of the country’s net production.

During Africa’s Global Business Forum in Dubai, Dangote, who recently went into an agreement with the Investment Corporation of Dubai to explore other business opportunities across Africa, applauded Tanzania for its favorable investment policies and promised that cement production will commence immediately the plant is completed.

 “I am sure the southern part of Tanzania will automatically change in terms of economic prospects due to investments in the area,” he said.
He also has reiterated his plan to invest $12bn in the Nigerian economy.

He made this known through his Eid el-Kabir message which he issued in Lagos on Saturday. Of this amount, he said his Dangote Group will invest $2.3bn in sugar and rice production in Adamawa State to create about 180,000 jobs and combat terrorism.

Rebels Seize Priest & 20 Christians in Syria

Jihadists in Syria have seized a priest and 20 other Christians in the latest abduction by militants in the war-torn country, the Franciscan Order said on Tuesday.

A statement from the order’s Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem said that parish priest Father Hanna Jallouf was seized on Sunday night in the village of Qunyeh, northwestern Syria.

It said that his abductors were “linked” to Al-Qaeda affiliate the Al-Nusra Front, and added that following the incident an unspecified number of Franciscan nuns took refuge with the villagers.

Senior Franciscan official Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, said the 62-year-old priest was seized along with 20 villagers.

“He has been kidnapped,” he told AFP in Jerusalem, expressing deep concern over the fate of the priest, a Syrian who has worked in Qunyeh for 12 years after a posting in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

“They are accusing them of being collaborators” with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Pizzaballa said, insisting that this was not true.

“We don’t know what to do. We don’t know with whom to talk, we’re totally unable to get in touch with anyone,” added Pizzaballa, the guardian of the Catholic Church’s sites in the Holy Land.

Borno PDP Finally Admits Modu Sheriff Into Party

After months of disagreement, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State have agreed to admit former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff into the party.

Sheriff had over three months ago indicated interest to join the PDP and had written the state chapter of the party stating his interest, but nothing serious came out of it since then, a development that raised suspicion among observers that something was wrong.

Our correspondent learnt that the PDP in the state has been sharply divided, with most of the leading members and founding members not favourably disposed to Sheriff’s defection based on suspicion that once he picked the PDP ticket, he would snatch the political machinery from them.

The issue was however resolved in favour of the former governor due to the interest shown by the national leadership of the party, mandating the leadership of the party in the state to write Sheriff a letter in preparation to his formal defection to the party, a source informed our correspondent.

The approval for Sheriff’s defection was contained in a letter to the former governor, signed by the state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Baba Basharu,  which was made available to newsmen yesterday.

The letter reads in part:  “The PDP in the state is extending greetings and compliments to the former governor and we are honoured to have a man of such magnitude to lead the PDP to glory come 2015.

Cech Ready To Quit Chelsea

Petr Cech has hinted he may be forced to quit Chelsea if JoseMourinho continues to pick Thibaut Courtois as his first-team goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge.

One of pre-season’s biggest debates was whether Cech or Courtois would receive more game time now the latter has returned from multiple loan spells with Atletico Madrid. The answer has been emphatic: 

Courtois has started all nine games across the Premier League and Champions League, while Cech‘s only start came in the Capital One Cup tie with Bolton.

The Czech Republic international suggests this cannot continue,

I have not spoken to anyone, but I think they know me well enough at the club (Chelsea) to know that the situation is definitely not the way I would imagine.

With the Euros (in 2016) and the national team in mind, there is no time for me to sit on the bench and not to play. If the situation will not start to improve for me, then I will want to solve it.

We Won’t Rest Until We Rescue Those Nigerians From Boko Haram’s Den – FG

Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, has said that the federal government would not relent on its oars until it rescue all Nigerians currently held captive in the camp of the Boko Haram sect.

The agency in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, said the insurgents could never win the war against the country and urged the Boko Haram fighters to lay down arms as their colleagues had done.

Omeri, who coordinates the National Information Centre, said, “The NIC appeals to funders and agents of insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria to see the wisdom of abandoning its fight against our people by immediately surrendering to security forces in the manner others have done in Kondunga. They should know that this war can never be won by them.

Ebola-Hit Sierra Leone Launches School by Radio

Sierra Leone on Tuesday launched an ambitious schooling effort for more than a million children denied their education due to the Ebola epidemic, saying lessons would be delivered via radio.

Classes in a variety of subjects will be broadcast for four hours, six days a week, on 41 radio stations and the country’s sole TV channel, the government announced.

“The plan is to provide a suitable option for our school-going population as the entire school system has been disrupted since the outbreak of the Ebola disease,” said Education Minister Minkailu Bah.

Schools have been closed since the government announced a state of emergency in July in response to an epidemic which has killed 3,500 people in west Africa, more than 600 of them in Sierra Leone.

More than two million of its population of 5.7 million are aged between three and 17, although in reality the secondary school attendance rate is less than 40 percent for both boys and girls.

Bah also admitted that reaching many of the nation’s schoolchildren would be difficult in a country where radio ownership is around 25 percent and fewer than two percent have access to a television.

“As things now are we cannot expect schools to reopen until early 2015,” said Sylvester Meheaux, of the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools that is helping the government run the classes.

“In the meantime, we are worried some children would end up being dropouts, pregnant and otherwise. These developments are a major concern for us in the educational sector.”

Public reaction to the announcement — which did not include details of how the scheme would be funded — has been mixed.

“This is not the type of tuition we used to know for our children, but we have little option,” said Sam Mbayo, a retired clerk from the eastern district of Kailahun.

“Any means to educate our children rather than leaving them idle is welcome. Otherwise we are going to have a generation of illiterates.”

Fatima Sheriff, a single mother from Freetown, said she was worried in particular about the damage the closures of schools was doing to the prospects of young girls.

“For many of them this is the end of their educational dreams as the choice of the going into prostituion and other vices loom,” she said.

Manuel Fontaine, the regional director of UN children’s fund (UNICEF) which is supporting the initiative, said the radio classes would be focussed on teaching children “life skills” and maintaining their contact with the outside world.

But, he added, it was important that schools reopened as soon as possible, “partly because there is a problem of long-term damage in children who have no education, and because there is a risk that children will drop out of school, of education in general”.

Bah, the education minister, said Sierra Leone authorities would “be devising other means (of) accommodating the hard-to-reach areas” without access to radios.

“We are quite aware that not all children will benefit from this method of teaching, but we are doing our best to reach as many children as possible”, he said.

Babatunde Michael Ruled Out Of Nigeria’s CAN Qualifier

Super Eagles forward Babatunde Michael, will miss the first leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan because of injury.

The Volyn Lutsk man, has been ruled out of the game in Khartoum, after failing to recover from a knock he picked up while at his club.

“We have good cover for him and we pray that he bounces back before the return leg against Sudan in Nigeria,” Keshi said on Tuesday

Michael, who fractured his wrist at the 2014 World Cup, was not in action when Volyn Lutsk drew 2-2 with Vorskla in the Ukrainian League on Friday.

He expressed his regret at not being part of the team that will travel to Sudan, but says he is optimistic of playing the return leg in Nigeria.

“I really want to play this game against Sudan but fate says I will not,” he said.

“I should be back for the return leg in Nigeria. The doctors have assured me that I will be fit between four and five days’ time.”

Liberia’s Justice Minister Quits

Liberia’s justice minister has resigned, complaining that she was barred from investigating the country’s main spy agency, run by the son of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

 Christiana Tah said in a statement on Monday she had been told she could not look into fraud allegations against Fombah Sirleaf’s National Security Agency. She did not give details of the alleged fraud. “I cannot be the minister of justice and not supervise the operations of the security agencies,” she said.

In a letter full of dramatic language but short on detail, Tah claimed her job had become “unbearable” since she had noticed a “determination to systemically undermine and gut the portfolio of relevance and effectiveness”. She did not single out any individual for criticism or give further examples of how she had been undermined in her work.

Tah, who was also the government’s main legal adviser in her role as attorney general, says she offered to resign in March but was turned down and did not raise the issue again because of the Ebola epidemic.

The president’s office made no comment on Tah’s statement other than to confirm her resignation had been accepted.

PDP Decries South Africa Actions, Says APC Being Used By Foreign Interests To Destroy Nigeria

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday said its attention has been drawn to a statement by the All Progressives Congress, APC, wherein “it again embarrassed itself on issues regarding the genuine efforts by the Federal Government to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.”

Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary, in a statement said party members were solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan in the steps he is taking to ensure the safety of citizens and defend the country’s sovereignty as a nation, especially in the light of APC connivance with foreign interests to embarrass the government and people of Nigeria.

The statement decried recent actions preferred by some foreign nations against the country, describing it as unacceptable and totally uncalled for, “especially given cordial relationship with them and the roles Nigeria and Nigerians citizens played in assisting them in their internal struggles.”

It reads further: “Given the rush with which the APC attacked the presidency, it is clear that they are working hand in glove with foreign interests in a concerted effort to tarnish the image of our dear nation, ridicule our government and frustrate genuine efforts towards ending the insecurity challenges we face as a nation.

Ebola Victims may Include Dog in Spain

Ebola’s victims may include a dog named Excalibur. Officials in Madrid got a court order to euthanize the pet of a Spanish nursing assistant with Ebola because of the chance the animal might spread the disease.

DOG

At least one major study suggests that dogs can be infected with the deadly virus without having symptoms. But whether or how likely they are to spread it to people is less clear.

Lab experiments on other animals suggest their urine, saliva or stool might contain the virus. That means that in theory, people might catch it through an infected dog licking or biting them, or from grooming.

“Clearly we want to look at all possibilities. We have not identified this as a means of transmission,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The nursing assistant and her husband have been in isolation since she tested positive for Ebola earlier this week. She was part of team at a Madrid hospital that cared for a missionary priest who died of Ebola.

The Madrid regional government got a court order to euthanize their dog, saying “available scientific information” can’t rule out it could spread the virus.

The dog’s owners don’t want it killed. Carlos Rodriguez, a Spanish veterinarian and host of a talk show about animals, said the husband messaged him from the hospital, trying to grant him temporary custody of the mixed-breed dog.

But now that there is a court order, “I can’t stop this happening,” Rodriguez said. The husband “asked me, crying, to at least make sure the animal does not suffer.”

The Spanish animal rights group Animal Equality complained that authorities wanted to “sacrifice the animal without even diagnosing it or considering the possibility of placing it in quarantine.”

It’s not clear how effective quarantine would be, since infected dogs don’t show symptoms and it’s not known how long the virus can last in them, or how long tests would have to be done to check for it.

Dr. Peter Cowen, a veterinarian at North Carolina State University who has advised global health experts on animal infection disease risks, says killing the dog is “clearly an overreaction.”

“I think it’s very unfortunate they are thinking of euthanizing that dog. They should really study it instead,” he said. “Ebola has never been documented to be spread by a dog,” and that’s clearly not a major route of spread in the outbreak in Africa, he said.

Ebola’s source in nature hasn’t been pinpointed. The leading suspect is a certain type of fruit bat, but the World Health Organization lists chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines as possibly playing a role in spread of the disease. Even pig farms may amplify infection because of bats on farms.

The possibility of spread by dogs — at least in Africa — was raised by a 2005 report. Researchers tested dogs during the 2001-2002 Ebola outbreak in Gabon after seeing some of them eating infected dead animals. Of the 337 dogs from various towns and villages, 9 percent to 25 percent showed antibodies to Ebola, a sign they were infected or exposed to the virus.

“I think it’s possible” that dogs might spread Ebola, but it’s not likely in the U.S. or other places where dogs aren’t near corpses or eating infected animals, said Sharon Curtis Granskog, a spokeswoman for the American Veterinary Medical Association.

In Dallas, health officials are monitoring 48 people who may have had contact with Ebola patient Thomas Duncan, but “we are not monitoring any animals at this time,” said Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Heads of States Beefs up Fight Against Boko Haram with Troops & Command Centre

Leaders of Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Benin on Tuesday announced plans to step up the fight against Boko Haram with an additional battalion and a command center to tackle the militants whose insurgency has spread beyond Nigeria, a statement said.

In the past two months, it has progressed from bombings, raids and kidnappings to trying to seize territory in remote areas near the Cameroon border. The militants have also carried out incursions into Niger and Chad, and authorities fear the attacks will continue to spread if left unchecked.

The four heads of states and a representative of Cameroon’s president said after meeting in Niger’s capital Niamey that a command center for an already agreed-upon multinational force, led by a chief of staff will be in place by Nov. 20.

“The heads of state regrets the persistence of Boko Haram Islamic sect’s atrocious acts of terror on people and security forces in Nigeria and other neighboring countries,” the statement said.

The leaders agreed to finalize the deployment of troops promised by member states to form the multinational force within their national borders by Nov. 1.

Benin, Nigeria’s western neighbor, whose border stretches from the Atlantic to the Sahel north, was also asked to deploy a military battalion to its border with Nigeria.

The Niamey meeting is a follow-up to a May summit in Paris where the leaders promised to improve cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram after the group kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls and threatened to destabilize the wider region.

UN Troops Hit by Another Deadly Attack in Mali

 A Senegalese peacekeeper was killed on Tuesday as a UN camp in northern Mali came under rocket fire in an attack blamed on a jihadist leader driven from the country by French troops. The strike came just as the UN vowed to bolster defences for its troops in Mali after suffering its deadliest attack on Friday — an ambush by Al-Qaeda-linked militants that claimed nine peacekeepers’ lives.

“This is no longer in the context of maintaining peace,” said Herve Ladsous, the UN’s head of peacekeeping operations, as he announced deployments of drones and armoured vehicles.

“We are required to take a series of measures … to toughen up our bases, and boost our protection,” he said at a press conference after a attending the nine peacekeepers’ funeral in Mali’s capital Bamako.

As he spoke, the UN mission came under a fresh attack, this time blamed on Iyad Ag Ghaly, who led a Tuareg rebellion in the Sahara before setting up the armed group Ansar Dine.

The jihadist had disappeared in January 2013 soon after France intervened to drive Islamist insurgents back from Bamako but resurfaced last month to issue a video message signalling his return to combat.

He said his group was “ready to unite with our brothers on the ground to face up to the crusaders and infidels who have united to fight Islam in our land”.

“The Malian Islamist Iyad Ag Ghaly has carried out his threat by attacking the camp of the UN mission in Kidal,” a source from the UN’s MINUSMA force in Mali told AFP.

The source said at least five rockets were fired and added that the “provisional death toll” was one peacekeeper, giving his nationality as Senegalese.

A resident of Kidal contacted by AFP by telephone confirmed the information.

“The camp was attacked, we heard loud noises. It’s rockets. It’s dark here now and we don’t know what is happening,” he said.

In New York, the UN Security Council condemned the attack and called on Bamako to launch an investigation and “bring the perpetrators to justice”.

 

David Cameron to Hold Emergency Ebola Talks

Prime Minister David Cameron will hold an emergency Cobra committee meeting Wednesday on how to coordinate the country’s response to the Ebola outbreak after Britain pledged troops to help combat the virus in West Africa.

Dozens of British military personnel are due to fly to Sierra Leone next week to help build medical facilities to tackle the epidemic, the Ministry of Defence said Tuesday.

The Department of Health said there were no plans to introduce entry screening in Britain for Ebola, after the United States said it planned to increase checks at airports.

In a statement, the prime minister’s office said Cameron had spoken to President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone to discuss the situation.

“The president said the situation continued to be very serious and they were increasing their response, with a need to train more medical staff, have a better system for servicing treatment centres and improve the burial process,” the statement said.

“The prime minister said the UK would continue to do all it could to support their efforts.”

Around 100 British troops are expected to travel to Sierra Leone to provide assistance, including building a 12-bed treatment unit.

“The Ebola virus represents a global threat to public health and we will not stand idly by,” Britain’s minister for the armed forces Mark Francois said as he visited troops preparing for their mission at a training facility at Strensall barracks, York.

There are already about 40 military personnel in Sierra Leone.

Britain has pledged to provide infrastructure for 700 beds and training for medical staff.

2015: Buhari Moves Public Declaration Of Ambition To October 15

Report reaching jounalist indicates that the official declaration by former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the 2015 election, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress has been shifted. The event which was earlier scheduled to hold on October 8 will now hold on October 15.

This is contained in a terse statement issued on Tuesday afternoon through the desk of the coordinator, Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organization in Abuja, Dr. Audu Ogbe.

The statement reads: ”The formal declaration ceremony by General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) of his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential Election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been postponed by one week.

FOI Compliance: ICRC & Accountant-General Office lead list, Petroleum Ministry flops

An Abuja-based non-profit organization, the Public Private Development Center (PPDC) has released rankings on the compliance, disclosure and transparency of public institutions in Nigeria based on benchmarks in the Freedom of Information Act 2011. Having made over 100 FOI requests in the past one year through a network of procurement monitors, PPDC has provided a ranking to show how Government ministries have complied with the law considering the length of days of response, proactive disclosure and level of disclosure.

Using a methodology which is available on its website (procurementmonitor.org), PPDC rankings showed Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and Accountant-General of the Federation as leaders with partial proactive disclosure, quick response in compliance with the Act,  depth in terms of disclosure and at no cost to the requesters.

It is clear that Ministry of Petroleum Resources has the least score among over 67 agencies involved affirming the opaqueness of  the extractive industry as the institution failed to respond nor acknowledge a request by Zero Corruption Coalition regarding procurement documents for development of East-North gas pipeline transmission systems.

Based on the serial requests to public institutions, some ministries hide under the cover of the National security crisis to deny access to information as such as evident in the FOI request to the News Agency of Nigeria on the public relations consultancy contract to Levick, a US PR firm.  Some institutions will affirm that the requested information belongs to a third party or the information is proprietary thereby denying the public vital access.

The FOI Compliance and Transparency ranking project is an initiative of Public Private Development Center with support from BudgIT and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. The platform can be accessed on its website – http://procurementmonitor.org/site/

For more information, please send a mail to ppdc@procurementmonitor.org or call 08029455583

CAN Qualifiers; Sudan Moves Match Against Nigeria To Artificial Pitch

Officials have confirmed that Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifying game between Sudan and Nigeria, will be played on the artificial turf of the Municipal Stadium in Khartoum.

“We have just been informed that the match will now be played on an artificial pitch and not natural one. That is why we are now training at the FIFA Goal Project,” africaFootball.com quoted Eagles’ co-ordinator, Emma Attah, as saying on Tuesday.

“It’s a late change, but we have to rise up to the challenge. We will play even on a concrete floor to win this match.”

According to Attah, the number of players in the Super Eagles camp in Abuja, has risen to 17, with the arrivals of Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, Kenneth Omeruo, Emmanuel Emenike and Elderson Echeijile.

Stephen Keshi is understood to be clamouring for early departure to Sudan, to avoid fatigue among the players.

Dear Wenger, Flex Your Muscles In The Transfer Market Not On The Touchline By ‘Ifreke Inyang

March 22, 2014. It is a grand affair for Arsenal. Long serving manager Arsene Wenger, is set to take charge of his 1,000th game in charge of the Gunners. It is a landmark occasion by every scale.

The party did not end well. Jose Mourinho and his gang inflicted a 6-0 thumping on 10-man Arsenal. It was Mourinho’s biggest Premier League victory as Chelsea manager. It was also the first time in Chelsea’s history that they put six past their London rivals.

In the end, though, it counted for nothing. For Chelsea that is. Mourinho endured a trophyless season, while Aaron Ramsey’s delicate outside-of-the boot flick ended Arsenal’s barren run without silverware.

The Portuguese was very aware of what just happened. And he acted swiftly. I am a huge Mourinho fan. For all his uncouth nature, he is very pragmatic and proactive. Hardly dithers. And he did not. Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas had signed for the Blues by the end of the 2014 World Cup. Mourinho knew exactly what was missing in his team and sorted it out.

Wenger did not do badly though. Alexis Sanchez arrived from Barcelona, while Mathieu Debuchy was bought as Bacary Sagna’s replacement. However, the Frenchman failed to buy a proper defensive midfielder and a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen. Like I have tweeted severally, those two decisions might cost him dear this season.

October 5, 2014. It’s another London derby. Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge. Of course, we are not expecting them to blow the Gunners away like they did. But for some brutally honest Gooners like me, we know that a draw will be a miracle.

It was a simple affair really.

Twinkle-toed Eden Hazard slalomed through the heart of Wenger’s team and drew a foul from Laurent Koscielny. Martin Atkinson had an easy call to make. Penalty. The Belgian dusted himself and coolly put the home side in front. Imagine a player in the mould of Nemanja Matic, allowing Hazard all the time and space to dance through the middle. Just imagine.

While Arsenal huffed and puffed, passing for fun, Mourinho introduced another defensive midfielder in Mikel Obi (oh yes, he is a DM! Forget he masquerades as an attacking player for the Super Eagles). His plan was simple. Mikel Obi would sit along with Matic and give Fabregas room to create.

It worked a treat.

The former Gunners skipper lifted a pass through for Costa to expertly steer it past Woijiech Szczensy. Game over.

It was a limp performance from Arsenal. But their manager offered more fight on the touchline. When Gary Cahill drove through Sanchez, Wenger tried to get a good view and ended up flinging handbags with Mourinho.

Let’s be honest. When it comes to a wrestling match, Wenger might crush Mourinho. But when it is comes to speed and efficiency in transfer dealings and tactics, there is only one clear winner here. And we know who.

 Ifreke Inyang tweets via @Ifreke

Articles on www.omojuwa.com are solely authors opinion

#PFLExpo International Education Expo

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You can get scholarships and instant admission into your dream higher institutions at our education fairs and expos. Please come with your credentials that you can be assessed by our officials on the Venue.

Attend our October 2014 Expo in your city. Entry is FREE.

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11th October 2014
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PDP Politician Gets Jail Term For Raping APC Member In Osun

Obafemi Kolawole, one of the chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Ilesa, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a female member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kolawole was alleged to had on September 15, 2007, raped Tosin Ajakaye, an Action Congress of Nigeria (now All Progressives Congress) member who was pregnant as at the time of the incident.

The PDP chieftain was charged before the State High Court sitting at Ilesa, on a two-count charge of rape and indecent assault contrary to Sections 358 & 360 of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol II, Laws of Osun respectively.

The prosecution called four witnesses including Tosin Ajakaye, Lawal Sikiru and Dr. A.I Isawumi. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Sergeant Olatunji Arojo, said the case had been properly investigated.

Kolawole testified in his defence and called additional four witnesses including Chief Ganiyu Oladiran, Adediran Kehinde, Adewusi Olowolodu and Olayinka Alege.

The victim at the trial narrated her ordeal. She stated that on September 15, 2007, Kolawole and his cohorts, who are not police officers, came to arrest her at her house at about 7:30 pm for an unknown offence.

Securitymen Bar Ex-Gov Daniel From Entering Obasanjo’s Home

Securitymen attached to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, yesterday, prevented a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from gaining entry into Obasanjo’s palatial home.
 
Reports gathered last night that, Daniel who was billed to declare his defection into the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, very soon was at Obasanjo’s house to seek his blessing and possible forgiveness.
 
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, Daniel allegedly sat at the back of a vehicle driven by former minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafa Ishola but, was uncovered and reportedly turned back.

“Ishola who drove the vehicle, who was earlier granted entry, was also turned back when his trick was uncovered.
“The incident occurred at about 10.30 am and it reportedly left the embattled former governor humiliated and traumatised”, the source said.

Daniel was engaged in supremacy battle with the former President which caused him to  vow never to return to the PDP, despite his declared  interest to work for the re-election of  President Goodluck Jonathan.
Efforts to get Daniel  or his aides to respond to the development were futile as their phones could not be reached.
PDP  reconciles  Daniel, Kashamu
Meantime, the PDP has reconciled  former Governor Daniel and Chairman of  Mobilisation and Organisation  Committee of the party in South West,  Buruji Kashamu.
The National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Adewale Oladipo disclosed this when Daniel made a surprise appearance at  a Sallah party organised by Kashamu at the Goodluck Jonathan Political Centre, Ijebu Igbo.

APC Presidential Candidate Not Bound To Emerge From North —Oyegun

NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday said the party’s presidential candidate could emerge from the South and not solely from the North as was being speculated.

He declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had “run out of steam”, asserting that  “as at today, all those who have indicated interest in one form or another in the Presidency under APC, were capable of beating whoever the PDP presents, including Jonathan.”

read more at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/2015-apc-presidential-candidate-bound-emerge-north-oyegun/

Jonathan Meets With Neighbouring Leaders Over Terrorism In Niger Today

President Goodluck Jonathan will today undertake a one-day official visit to Niamey, capital of Niger Republic to participate in an Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission over the menace of terrorism in the region.

According to a statement signed by Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr, Reuben Abati, the meeting would review ongoing collaboration against terrorism and agree on further joint action to further curb the menace and insurgency within and across their national boundaries.

Pregnant Beyonce and Cheating Jay Z Divorce Rumors Resurface After On the Run Tickets Disappoints

Rumors are once again flying that Beyonce, who the tabloids claim is pregnant with her second child, and Jay Z are headed towards divorce. Claims that Jay Z may be guilty of cheating on his beautiful wife have resurfaced after disappointing ticket sales for their joint concert tour, On the Run.

It’s no secret that Beyonce and Jay Z have had a pretty rough summer. Not only was Jay Z savagely attacked in an elevator back in May, but footage of the assault leaked online.

Read more at http://www.classicalite.com/articles/12013/20141006/pregnant-beyonce-cheating-jay-z-divorce-rumors-resurface-run-tickets-update.htm

Gay Lover Publicly Proposes on Ellen DeGeneres Show

A gay man proposes to his boyfriend during a live session of Ellen DeGeneres show.

After a recent taping, Ellen kept people in their seats so she could introduce them to Benjamin and Justin, a gay couple from Fort Myers, Florida.

Following a ground breaking refusal by the US Supreme Court to take up appeals against rulings to allow same-sex marriage in several states yesterday, same-sex marriage is set to become legal in eleven new US states, but unfortunately Florida is not one of them.

Singer Omawumi Marries Baby Daddy Tosin Yusuf

One of Nigeria’s female singers, Omawumi has finally confirmed her marriage to baby daddy, Tosin Yusuf.

 Reported had it that the duo had a secrete wedding on September 13, 2014 in Warri, Delta state

The confirmation actually came up at a show in Warri where Ali Baba joked at her about exposing her laps in a short skirt and she replied by saying;
“Bros leave am o, na market be that”,

“Which kind market, your market wey dem don buy naim you dey talk abi na another one?” Ali Baba asked.

To the awe of all, the songstress agreed to the statement by saying, “yes, I’m taken” flaunting her wedding ring to the public.

There are also reports that the ‘Bottom belle’ crooner is pregnant, but that is yet to be confirmed.

Recall that in 2011, she welcomed a baby girl; Kamillah with her new husband; Tosin Yusuf.

400 Boko Haram Fighters Killed as Nigerian Troops Battle for Seized Towns

The Nigerian military launched heavy offensive attacks in Adamawa State to recapture towns that have been siezed by Boko Haram.

Boko-Haram

The attack launched on Monday, which lasted through the night touched the towns of Bazza, Michika and Madagali was launched from the town of Vimtim.

Sources reveal that about 400 boko haram members were killed, while the Nigerian Military had about 70 casualties.

Contacted on the development, Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade confirmed the fighting but stated he cannot give casualty figures or full details as operatives on ground were yet to furnish him with the situation report. He said he would give details when the operation is concluded.

Another source reveals that the army came in on Sallah day and since then fierce fighting has been on. But, as you can see the insurgents are moving away and the military are following them, adding that the insurgents who were in their thousands came through Uba and attacked the Nigeria troops. That is, the Nigerians soldiers were attacked from the rear by the militants but the military men engaged them in fierce battle over five hours .

Acting Taraba Governor Declares Suntai Missing

The acting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has declared his ailing boss, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai missing.

Umar, who made this shocking disclosure yesterday in Jalingo during a media chat with journalists, said that he had not set his eyes on his boss, Governor Suntai, since he was flown into the country by a certain cabal.

“Few of my aides and I were already at the domestic wing of the airport to receive my boss but, unknowingly to me, the cabal was already waiting at the international wing of the airpot where the plane conveying my boss was directed to land.

When I got to know that the plane landed at the international wing, I rushed to the place to receive him, but he was in an SUV, which immediately drove him to T.Y. Danjuma Lodge”.

On the crisis in the state, he said, “I thank God this year’s sallah was peaceful; peace has returned to some of the crisis areas in the state. And I have also constituted a reconciliation committee to ensure that those who fled their homes because of crisis return”.

PDP Says Amaechi Speaks Like A ‘Motor Park Tout’, Warns Him About Insulting Jonathan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has warned Governor Rotimi Amaechi to stop insulting President Goodluck Jonathan or be ready to face the consequences of his actions.

The party, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, described recent comments by Amaechi against the Jonathan-led federal government as childish and unwarranted, adding that the governor’s outburst was shameful.

The statement, signed by Jerry Needam, media aide to the state PDP chairman, noted that “Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says unwarranted name-calling, attacks and rabble-rousing comments of Governor Rotimi Amaechi against President Goodluck Jonathan at a recent function is shameful and childish.”

10 Eagles Arrive Camp Ahead of Crucial Sudan Clash

The Super Eagles camp in Abuja, is beginning to swell with the arrival of 10 players, ahead of this weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

The foreign-based players in camp include Hull City’s Omatsone Aluko, Hope Akpan of Reading FC, Babatunde Michael, Aaron Samuel and Nosa Igiebor.

Warri Wolves’ Gbolahan Salami is also in camp and the other home-based players include Azubuike Egwuekwe, Emem Edward , Chigozie Agbim and leading Nigerian league scorer, Ighodalo Osagunna.

More squad members are expected in camp, as Stephen Keshi prepares his team for the make-or-mar double header against the Sudanese national team.

Kganyago, new South African Central Bank Governor

South Africa’s President on Monday tapped deputy governor Lesetja Kganyago to lead the country’s central bank, hoping to reassure jittery markets after respected governor Gill Marcus resigned.

“It is my pleasure today to announced by decision to appoint Mr Lesetja Kganyago as governor of the South African Reserve Bank with effect of the 9th of November 2014,” said Jacob Zuma in Pretoria. Kganyago has served as deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank since May 2011. Previously, he served as director general of the National Treasury. He now has the tough task of steering monetary policy in a country beset by chronic labour disputes, slow growth and an ever-widening account deficit.

In September, Marcus announced she will not be renewing her five-year term after guiding Africa’s most developed economy out of a recession in the wake of the global economic meltdown. During her tenure, Marcus has with sober frankness criticised the government for failing to address systemic problems within South Africa’s economy and society — including unemployment and obscene executive wages — which are seen hampering growth.

In his acceptance speech, Kganyago said he would continue to follow in the footsteps of Marcus. “I shall not disappoint,” he said, “I do not have to reinvent anything I just have to carry from where she has left.” Kganyago praised Marcus’s leadership. “She has guided us through the dangerous forest that is the global economy,” he said. “She knows where the drinking holes are.”

“Elephants don’t forget, we will find those drinking holes because she has guided us through the forest.”

Economists welcomed Kganyago’s appointment.

Christian Militia calls for Central Africa President’s Resignation

The Christian-dominated anti-balaka militia in the Central African Republic has demanded the country’s president resign and asked its members to quit the transitional government, one of their chiefs told AFP on Monday.

 The 48-hour ultimatum to President Catherine Samba Panza came after a media report that $10 million (7.9 million euros) of Angolan aid had been pilfered.

“The coordinators of the anti-balaka movement are of the view that the transitional authorities no longer inspire confidence and ask all its representatives in government and in the cabinet of the prime minister to resign,” Patrice Edouard Ngaissona, the national coordinator, told AFP.

The CAR, an impoverished former French colony, has been wracked by coups, unrest and misrule since it gained independence.

The country plunged into fresh unrest and bloodletting after a coup last year which felled president Francois Bozize, a former army chief who himself seized power a decade earlier.

Human rights abuses against civilians by mainly Muslim former rebels from the Seleka alliance and vengeful militias from the Christian majority have claimed thousands of lives since March 2013 and displaced more than a quarter of the population of 4.6 million people.

A transitional government was formed at the end of August comprising representatives of civil society, political parties and the Seleka and anti-balaka alliances.

Two ministers close to the anti-balaka movement hold the tourism and environment portfolios.

“The anti-balaka movement gives (President Samba Panza) 48 hours to step down,” the national coordinator added, without specifying when the deadline ended.

The president, who was appointed in January, has denied siphoning off Angolan funds. She has been struggling to bring peace to the country and heal wounds opened by the bloodletting.

ISIS Seize Parts of Key Syrian Town

Islamic State jihadists pushed into the key Syrian town of Kobane on the Turkish border, seizing three districts in the city’s east after fierce street fighting with its Kurdish defenders.

Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, has become a strategic battleground between the IS group and its opponents, who include the United States and its Western and Arab allies.

Fresh air strikes by the US-led coalition on Tuesday hit positions held by Islamic State jihadists in the southwest of Kobane, according to an AFP journalist just across the border in Turkey. Taking Kobane would give the IS organisation control of a long stretch of the Syria-Turkey border.

The jihadists launched their latest assault on Kobane after a three-week siege with a wave of suicide bomb attacks, Mustefa Ebdi, a Kurdish activist from the town, said on his Facebook page.

After penetrating the city, they waged street battles against Kurdish defenders, sending hundreds of civilians fleeing towards the Turkish border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“They have taken the industrial zone, Maqtala al-Jadida and Kani Arabane in eastern Kobane after violent combat with Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters” who had far fewer men and arms, said the Observatory.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said street battles were now being fought in the south and west of Kobane.

IS jihadists had “retreated by a few streets in the eastern areas they seized yesterday, but the fighting has now spread to the south and west of the town,” Abdel Rahman said.

He said IS fighters had seized a number of buildings in the south and west of the town, including a hospital under construction on the western outskirts of Kobane.

Kobane activist Mustafa Ebdi said the latest air strikes had little effect.

“The strikes hit the Mishtenur area,” he said, referring to a plateau south of Kobane.

“But they (IS) aren’t gathered there. There are other places they should be hitting,” he said.

Kurdish fighters meanwhile ordered all civilians to evacuate Kobane, Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for Kurds in the city, told AFP, adding that some 2,000 people had left the city.

U.S. wants to Learn how Nigeria Contained Ebola

GUINEA-HEALTH-EBOLA

US teams are headed to Nigeria to learn about its success in using ‘contact tracing’ a significant practical step that limited the spread of the virus.

The possibility that Ebola would reach and spread in Nigeria was broached with great trepidation by public health experts. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country.

But those doubts proved wrong. This week, teams of American health officials are Lagos-bound to learn from Nigeria’s experience in defying expectations and stopping the outbreak before it could wreak havoc.

Since July 20, the day Nigeria’s so-called “Patient Zero” arrived in Lagos, officials have recorded a total of only 19 cases, with no new cases since Aug. 31. Last week, on the same day the US confirmed its first case of Ebola, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) proclaimed that Nigeria had stopped its outbreak.

#DGtrends: Remarks By The C.E.O Rwanda Governance Board Prof. Shyaka Anastase, at the opening of the AU Gender Pre Forum Consultation

It is with great pleasure for me and for the whole entire Organizing Committee to welcome you to this Important Forum, a policy discussion on “Silencing the guns” Women and in Democratization and Peace Building in Africa.

Bienvenue au Rwanda, Karibuni sana Rwanda and feel at home.

This Gender Pre Forum Consultation is the preparatory for the upcoming Third Annual High Level Dialogue on Democratic Developmental Governance in Africa. It has brought up together nearly 200 leaders and experts across Africa and beyond. Honorable Prime Minister allow me to mention a few………….

Honorable Prime Minister,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Main Objective of this forum is to provide a platform through which challenges facing women in conflict situations shall be examined and policy recommendations provided with the aim of improving the role of women in eliminating conflict in Africa and Strengthening Democratic Governance.

Let me also note that this Forum, is intended to support the previous International efforts to empower women, such as Beijing Declaration, the Millennium Declaration, MDG three, and other UN resolutions. The AU Commission in partnership with UNDP Regional center for Africa, UN Women, The Rwanda Governance Board, The Rwanda Ministry of Gender Family Promotion, and The GIZ Regional Governance Program Support to the AU, and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies of the University of Addis Ababa are convening this Gender Pre Forum. On the African Continent women represents 50% of the Population and therefore their role in peace building, democratic governance and development in general cannot be underrated. It is a known fact that in violent conflict facing African continent women and children are the prime victims; and measures to stop this kind of conflicts should come out by the recommendations from this Forum.

Honorable Prime Minister,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Rwanda we have a saying  Umugore ni n’umutima wurugo literally meaning a “woman is the heart of the family”, a broader meaning would mean that our nation will never function without women and that their role had never been under estimated even in our culture.

Once again a warm welcome to Rwanda, a country with thousand hills, thousand smiles and thousand innovations.

Murakoze, Ikaze mu Rwanda

 CEO/Rwanda Governance Board Prof. Shyaka Anastase

#DGtrends: Remarks By Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa, Minister of Gender & Family Promotion Rwanda, At The AU Gender Pre-Forum

 

  1. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, I am pleased to welcome you all to Rwanda and to this important Gender Pre-Forum Conference on the Role of Women in Democratic Governance and Peace Building in Africa under the theme “Silencing the Guns”.
  1. Let me thank the leadership of the African Union through its African Governance Architecture (AGA), for successfully co-organising this conference with the Government of Rwanda and development partners. Thank you for choosing Rwanda to host this forum.
  1. The nexus between governance, peace and security is at the top of policy agenda in Africa as manifested by the commitment of African Heads of State in 2013 to silence the guns in Africa by 2020.
  1. As reflected in the theme, this forum is a clear manifestation of Africa’s commitment to ensure a broad-based participation of all its citizenry, women inclusive, in democratic governance and peace building.
  1. Indeed, Africa has registered commendable progress in good governance and democratisation process. For the last 50 years, Africa has established governance norms and architecture to promote human rights, rule of law, democracy, and socio-economic development aimed at transforming the lives of the African peoples.
  1. Today’s dialogue comes at a time when Africa has registered good achievements in consolidation of peace in post conflict countries such as Sierra Leone, Ivory Cost as well as Rwanda. However, at the same time, Africa is faced with challenges of insecurity in some countries mainly caused by governance deficit.
  2. A continent at peace with itself requires more than absence of war, it requires to embrace good governance values of respect for human rights, rule of law, transparency, effective, inclusive as well as accountable governance and citizen-centred development.
  1. Rwanda’s experience offers both the worst and optimistic scenarios of bad and good leadership. Bad governance characterized by genocide ideology, discrimination, exclusion and culture of impunity were at heart of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
  1. With committed and visionary leadership and determined citizens, the country has been able to rise from the ashes of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi to a beacon of reconciliation, hope and inclusive governance.
  2. Notwithstanding the success stories of the African continent, let me point out that the journey is still long. Governance issues are part of the structural causes of protracted violent conflicts that much often undermine Africa’s progress.
  3. The consequences of conflicts range from loss of life, traumatised population, to vicious cycles of poverty and under- development. Amidst these destructive conflicts, women bear the greatest brunt.
  4. We also know that in post conflict reconstruction, women once given opportunity play a leading role in reconciliation, conflict resolution and peace building. This is why today we are discussing the role of women in silencing the guns and enhancing democratic governance values in Africa and beyond.
  5. The role of women cannot be overemphasized. In Rwanda, in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, Rwandan women have been at the forefront of national healing, reconciliation, socio-economic transformation as well as decision making at all levels of the national development. This has been possible because of political will at the highest level that has translated into an enabling legal, policy and institutional frameworks for gender equality and women empowerment.
  6. Therefore, in silencing the guns in Africa, the issue of gender equality and women’s participation should be an integral part of our values as a continent. It is our obligation to empower men, women, girls and boys to a level they can play their rightful role in democratisation processes, peace building and development.
  7. As we strive for a peaceful and prosperous Africa, Let us rededicate our efforts to accelerate our progress to attain MDG’s and engage in the formulation of the post 2015 development agenda.
  8. While Africa is struggling to achieve MDG’s, it is imperative for Africa to rethink innovative approaches that link the issue of peace and security with the post 2015 development agenda and the Africa’s agenda of 2063.
  9. Let me share with you, Rwanda’s modest progress in implementing MDGs. In less than 10 years, a million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty. The Rwandan annual economic growth has been averaged at 8% with the target to become a middle income economy by 2020. In addition, more than 95% of Rwandan boys and girls have access to universal education; infant mortality rate has declined from 86/1000 live births to 50/1000 in 2010, while 3 quarters of the population have access to clean and safe drinking water.
  10. As stated by H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, “The MDGs are a floor, not a ceiling. Being “on-track” does not mean that a problem is solved, far from it. Even in the face of setbacks, which will always be there, it is useful to see them as opportunities to strengthen institutions and improve service delivery.
  11. In the area of regional peace and security, Rwanda continues to contribute to various peace keeping missions. Among the Rwandan UN/AU peace keepers, over 400 women Police and Army officers are participating.
  12. As I conclude, I would like to rally our efforts in consolidating peace and democratic governance while harnessing the role of women. I trust that in the course of the next two days of this conference, you will come up with concrete action-oriented recommendations.
  13. May your recommendations help We Africans, to understand, as H.E Paul Kagame said, that what we have “in common is not the burden of dependency but the solution of self-reliance” and that the dignity that we all want “cannot be donated to us. We must give it to ourselves”.
  14. I hope during your stay, you will find time to visit Kigali and the countryside as well to share our experience, and enjoy the beauty of this country.
  15. It is now my pleasure to declare the AU Gender Pre-Forum Conference on the role of Women in Democratic Governance and Peace Building in Africa, officially open!

I thank you for your attention,

God bless all of you.

Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa, Minister of Gender & Family Promotion Rwanda

Spanish Nurse First to Contract Ebola Outside Africa

A Spanish nurse has contracted Ebola after treating two patients who died from the disease at a Madrid hospital, the government said Monday, in the first known case of transmission outside of Africa.

The 40-year-old began to feel ill on September 30 but did not go to hospital until Sunday, complaining of a fever.

Two tests have now confirmed that she has been infected with the deadly virus that has killed more than 3,400 people in west Africa.

Spanish health officials are scrambling to find out who she may have come into contact with, and are monitoring 30 people — including her co-workers and husband — closely for symptoms of the deadly disease.

The woman was part of a medical team at Madrid’s La Paz-Carlos III hospital that treated two elderly Spanish missionaries who died of Ebola shortly after they were repatriated from Africa.

She had gone on holiday the day after the second patient died on September 25, Madrid’s primary healthcare director, Antonio Alemany, said at a news conference, without specifying where she had travelled to.

The nurse, who is married without children, is now being treated in isolation at a hospital in Alcorcon, a southern Madrid suburb.

She is in a stable condition although still running a fever, Alemany added.

#DGtrends: The Gender Pre-Forum to the 2014 High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa

The Gender Pre-Forum to the 2014 High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa

 

“Silencing the Guns: Women in Democratization and Peace Building in Africa”

Kigali, 6 October 2014 – The inaugural Gender Pre-Forum to the Annual High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa under the theme “Silencing the Guns: Women in Democratization and Peace Building in Africa” has opened in Kigali, Rwanda. The forum was officially opened by Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa, Minister for Gender and Family Promotion of the Republic of Rwanda on 6th October and will close on 7th October, 2014.

In her welcome remarks, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Laraba Abdullahi noted the imperative of a more sustainable and meaningful response to violence through improvement of inclusive democratic governance systems on the Continent.  She stated that the AU, through the Africa Governance Architecture is committed to working with the various AU organs, institutions, RECs and non state actors to strengthen platforms that allow women and young girls to play pivotal roles in strengthening democratic governance.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Governance Board, Prof. Shyaka Anastase in his own remarks stated that the partnership with the African Union Commission and other international development partners on the forum is intended to support various national, regional, continental and inter-continental efforts to empower women, such as Agenda 2063, African Common Position on Post 2015 Development Plan, Beijing Declaration, the Millennium Declaration, MDG three, and other UN resolutions.

The Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa, Minister for Gender and Family Promotion of the Republic of Rwanda while welcoming participants to Kigali argued that a continent at peace with itself requires more than absence of war but also a continent that embraces good governance values of respect for human rights, rule of law, transparency, effective, inclusive as well as accountable governance and citizen-centred development. She posited that with committed and visionary leadership as well as determined citizens, Rwanda has been able to rise from the ashes of the 1994 genocide to a beacon of reconciliation, hope and inclusive governance. She concluded that the issue of gender equality and women’s participation should be an integral part of our values as a continent and an obligation to empower men, women, girls and boys to a level they can play their rightful role in democratisation processes, peace building and development.

Participants at the Pre-Forum will be visiting Post Genocide Reconciliation Villages and the Gisozi Genocide Memorial as part of the experience sharing components of the pre-forum.

The gender pre-forum is convened under the auspices of the African Governance Architecture and Platform of the African Union. It is convened to provide a platform through which the vulnerabilities and challenges facing women in conflict situations can be examined and policy recommendations made on enhancing the roles of women in strengthening democratic governance and addressing violent conflicts in Africa.

The gender pre-forum is part of a series of participatory engagements with young people, women, civil society, Member States and indeed all stakeholders towards the Third High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance. The theme of this year’s High Level Dialogue is “Silencing the Guns: Strengthening Democratic Governance to Prevent, Manage and Resolve Conflicts in Africa. It is scheduled for 30 – 31 October, 2014 in Dakar, Senegal. The High Level Dialogue and pre-consultations are convened by the African Union in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and GIZ.

For more information, please contact George Mukundi Wachira: + 250 781293981; wachiraG@africa-union.orgor visit the website http://pa.au.int/en/ ,www.dgtrends.org and also follow live updates on @AUC_DPA and the hashtag #DGTrends

Firstbank @FirstbankNGR Gives Out 4 bedroom Duplex Grand Prize In 120 Years Anniversary Promo

As the FirstBank anniversary promo reaches a home stretch, Mr. Frank Uchenna Kelechukwu has become a proud home owner of a 4-bedroom detached duplex in Lekki, Lagos, having emerged the grand prize winner of the mega savings promotion.

The FirstBank Big Splash promo, which kicked off in July 2013, featured the biggest rewards for the bank’s customers, with 12 winners of brand new Toyota Corolla cars, over 2,000 winners of various items ranging from refrigerators, standing gas cookers and 720 winners of N50,000 each.

The Big Splash savings promo according to the Head, Consumer Banking Services, Adebimpe Ihekuna was designed to reward customers for their patronage and loyalty to the brand over the years, especially in commemoration of the 120 years of memorable banking services in Nigeria. The promo also provided a platform for creating and deepening awareness about savings culture in the country and encouraging the youths as well as the unbanked to embrace the financial services system.

This is the 5th season of the FirstBank Savings Promo and interestingly this year marks the 5th anniversary of Mr. Kelechukwu’ s savings account relationship with FirstBank. The Bank started 6 years ago to reward customers for their patronage and loyalty and is delighted to have Mr. Kelechukwu emerge as the proud winner of the grand prize, even as he joins over 6000 thousand customers of the Bank that have won prizes worth over N500, 000,000.00 in the FirstBank Savings Promo series.

Speaking at the official presentation ceremony, GMD/CEO of FirstBank, Bisi Onasanya stated that the Bank is committed to putting the customer first and would continuously generate initiatives programmes that resonate with customer needs and aspirations whilst delivering the ultimate gold standard of service always. “At FirstBank, we recognize the immutable merits of maintaining a “You first” mindset and culture, as a critical component of our business strategy. Our brand has evolved over the years, with strengthened brand muscles to match the constantly evolving expectations of today’s increasingly discerning stakeholders” he said.

Speaking on the integrity of the draw, the DG of the National Lottery Regulatory Council, Adolphus Ekpe stated that while the bank partnered with world class consultants, KPMG, to ensure adoption of global best practice. The draws, which grand finale took place in Port Harcourt on July 16, 2014, was fully automated and randomly selected winners for the various prizes. The e-draw was also audited from the back end to ensure that the numbers were not pre-selected.

Commenting further on the promotion, Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications said the bank will continue to deliver memorable customer experience that is consistent, deliberate and differentiated, one that both delights and surprises. “We must remain dynamic by continuously innovating in line with the consumers’ changing preferences while re-aligning our operations in response to market trends. As a major player in the Nigerian economy, it is only logical that we must be the change leader and adapt to meet the needs of our consumers. For those desirous of taking advantage of the growth opportunities in Nigeria, there can be no substitute for our on-the-ground presence in Africa’s biggest economy. FirstBank has been investing continuously in Nigerian for the better part of 120 years. This experience has yielded many lessons that have continued to help us in developing and implementing strategies and initiatives for sustainable growth,” she said.

The promo which has been extended till May 2015 will see more winners carting away mouthwatering prizes in the next few months. Speaking on this, the Group Executive, Technology and Services, FirstBank, Akin Fanimokun emphasized that to emerge as one of the prize winners in the FirstBank promo, customers just need to save N10, 000 and leave it in the account for the monthly draw, while to qualify for the quarterly draw, a sum of N60, 000 must be saved and left in the account for a period of 90 days. He concluded by saying everybody is a winner in the FirstBank savings promo, but was quick to add that you can only be a winner if you participate.

House Aerial view

House Aerial

Our Legislature Needs to Change – Ayisha Osori

On September 30, I had the opportunity of being on NTA’s Tuesday Night Live program to discuss the state of Nigeria at 54 with Senator Adetunmbi of Ekiti State and Honorable Chudi Uwazurike of Imo State.

It was heartening that we all agreed that the reviews for Nigeria are mixed. We have a lot to be grateful and appreciative of such as our vibrant freedom of expression and a lot to be concerned about with insecurity and our persistent underdevelopment.

We agreed about the need for rule of law and a firm application of equality to check the impunity of those in power. We even agreed that the life of the average Nigerian was hard and the environment not conducive for replicating the type of innovation and excellence that Nigerians are known for in developed societies.

However when it came to the role of the legislature we had different views. The first point of divergence was about the powers of the legislature. In their minds, the Seventh Assembly was doing it’s best with probe committees and recommendations to the executive on national issues (which usually go unheeded). They gave the impression that their hands were tied in getting the executive to do what it should do – for instance, the continuous application of subsidy for kerosene, even when the current Minister of Petroleum has admitted that the Ministry is deliberately ignoring President Yar’adua’s directive on the removal of the subsidy and despite that fact that kerosene is in fact not subsidized for Nigerians.

I reminded them of Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution which provides the legislature with the powers and process to impeach; a tool which state assemblies are using to good (or questionable) effect in some parts of Nigeria. The question is: why isn’t our legislature an effective check against executive abuse of power? The simple answer is that the legislature is not really independent of the executive. Many of the federal and state legislators are hand picked by the governors and party hierarchy. This lack of independence is compounded by the developing tight loop of power where members from the executive retire into the legislature, ostensibly to preserve immunity from prosecution while many in the legislature have their eyes on executive positions– why should they want anything to change? It would not be in their ultimate selfish interests to strengthen the powers of the legislature over the executive.

Next, according to Senator Adetunmbi, on budgetary and extra budgetary applications, the questions Nigerians and civil society should be asking is ‘where does the money go?’ and not ‘where is the money?’ Not hung up on the technicality of the message I agreed and commented that this was rich coming from a National Assembly that will not tell Nigerians how much of the National Assembly’s annual budget of 1 Billion Naira goes into the pockets of federal legislators. For years civil society has advocated for the release of this information and not even the Freedom of Information Act has resulted in success. Our legislators are also aware that since 2010, no annual budget has been fully implemented. Citizens Wealth Platform reports that in 2013 implementation was just 40% and this year– the year before the general elections, it is likely to be even less. Our legislators do not think this is their concern even though responsibility for appropriation and financial oversight lies with them.

A third point of departure was on the expectations of the public for financial support from public officers. Both shared their experience: they receive dozens of messages daily from people requesting money for naming ceremonies, school fees, hospital bills etc. Maybe it is justification for their huge salaries – they need to earn a lot in order to support stomach infrastructure. But how about the states and local governments providing a social security system, jobs, decent health care, quality free basic education and a system for student loans so that those who cannot afford fees can borrow? Is it not better, I ventured, to not cater to these individual requests (how many Nigerians have access to the small number of public officials) but to spend resources ensuring that citizens live in communities where basic government services are delivered? Hell would freeze over. According to them, Nigerians prefer instant personal gratification and would punish them by withholding votes if they stopped giving handouts.

Our legislature can do a lot to improve our lives and strengthen checks and balances on the Executive and Judiciary but the combination of our warped political structures and abused citizenry who no longer trust the system makes it difficult. If there is no demand, where is change going to come from? While leaders and followers have their responsibilities, the burden lies predominantly with the leaders. They are supposed to be visionary, to understand sacrifice and to make the hard decisions for the public, with the certainty that in the future, society will be better of. This forms the basis of the leadership of people like Lee Kwan Yew, Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi which our Nigerian politicians are so fond of comparing themselves with but in practice are as different as chalk is from cheese.

The 2011 elections brought in 333 new federal legislators –71% of the 7th Assembly was fresh but nothing much has changed. As we prepare for the polls in a few months, we need to apply dispassionate analysis – what is the value of continuity for those who want to return? Did their tenure improve our lives and processes? What is the enduring legacy of this Assembly? Equally important, can or will our political parties and structures as currently constituted deliver quality representation to Nigerians?

It is time to encourage and vote in Nigerians who will change the system from within and make the sacrifices necessary to restructure our federal system and support constitutional amendments required to build a strong, inclusive and functioning democracy for the benefit of the majority.

Celebrity Photo of the Day!!!

Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, popularly known as Akon has stolen our space today.
IMG_1674 (1)
The “Locked Up” Crooner looks pretty busy, not to pile up his paper or buy up more blings; he is rather busy, occupied and concern with the growth of his Africa. He posted this photo of himself with the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, discussing tough issues on Africa’s development.
We discovered that Akon  has committed to assist in lighting up Kibera as part of a major Kenyan government-led transformation of the slum to a modern neighbourhood.

Akon is also working with President Uhuru, Energy CS Davis Chirchir, Kenya Power MD Ben Chumo, President’s Private Secretary Jomo Gecaga and Rural Electrification CEO in regards to the new “lighting up” Kibera project.

Kudos to this guy and we hope to see his efforts paying off soon as he sets an excellent example to other celebrities.
akon-lighting-africa

 

 

APC Commends Adeboye For Disowning ‘Offensive’ Sermon

The All Progressives Congress has commended the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for dissociating himself and the church from what the party called “offensive and divisive audio Compact Disc” that is being circulated by certain political Pastors.

In a statement in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by his action, the GO had “again exhibited his characteristic exceptional leadership” and shown what religion should be about, which is love, rather than hate and incendiary
statements.

It expressed satisfaction that the GO specifically asked the RCCG Pastors to ignore the contents of the audio CD, especially all the references to political parties, including the APC.

The party said, ”The GO’s statement, in his response to the APC, which had written to protest the divisive and corrosive statements contained in the audio CD, which has been smuggled into some RCCG parishes, made it clear that the RCCG is neutral and apolitical, and that it prays for all irrespective of political persuasion or creed.

”We in the APC are delighted at the GO’s prompt action and statement that the RCCG did not endorse divisive comments in any form or shape, that it has sons and daughters in all political parties, and that the allegations contained in the audio CD are wickedly false, unsubstantiated,
ill-conceived and mischievous.

”Equally satisfying is the GO’s directive asking everyone in possession of the audio CDs to return them, and the directive to the Church’s Pastors to communicate such to their respective congregations immediately.”

On the audio CD, allegedly produced by one Pastor Bosun Emmanuel, the party wondered why a man of God would engage in what it described as “outright lies to propagate hatred, incite Christians against Muslims so brazenly, as if the adherents of both religions are not children of the same God.”

It faulted the cleric for using “the platform of the church to campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party while seeking to destroy the APC.”

South Africa Seizes $5.7million In Another Nigerian Secret Arms Deal

South Africa-based City Express today reported that, the government of South Africa has again seized US$5.7 million arms money from Nigeria, barely three weeks after confiscating $9.3 million in cash transported by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase.

City Press revealed that South Africa’s Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority seized the $5.7 million (about N952 million) for allegedly being the proceeds of an illegal transactions.

The paper reported that the latest transaction was between an arms broker in Cape Town identified as Cerberus Risk Solutions and Societe D’Equipments Internationaux, said to be a Nigerian company based in Abuja.

According to the medium, the deal fell apart after Cerberus which had earlier received from Nigeria R60?million (N1.02 billion) in its account at Standard Bank, tried to repay the money as it it could not resolve its registration formalities with the South African authorities.

The report reads in part, “Cerberus was previously registered as a broker with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), but the registration expired in May this year,

“The marketing and contracting permits also expired at the same time. The company has since applied for re-registration, but the application lay in the NCACC’s mailbox for more than two months.

“Sources told Rapport that Cerberus apparently tried to pay the money back to the Nigerian company, after which the bank became suspicious.”
It added that while the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit subsequently obtained a court order in the South Gauteng High Court to seize the money, the NPA spokesperson Nathi Mncube, said there were no indications the two transactions were related.

NLC Vice-President Says N18,000 Minimum Wage No Longer Sustainable

At a time some states are still grappling with implementing the current national minimum wage, the Vice-President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has demanded for an upward review of the N18,000 minimum wage, arguing that it is no longer sustainable under the prevailing circumstances. According to him, the minimum wage is due for review by next year.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Human Resource as a Critical Factor in National Development”, at a dinner organized by the Third Estate Organisation in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, Aremu, who is also the Secretary General of the National Union of Textile Garment Workers, said the minimum wage should not only be increased next year, but that salaries must no longer be delayed.

The labour leader described delay in the payment of salaries as “wage theft”, pointing out that there is no excuse for delaying workers’ salaries. He was of the view that labour is critical to national development and growth.

While disclosing that candidates in the 2015 elections would be judged by their treatment of workers, the NLC Vice-President posited that there should be reward for performance and sanction for non-performance.

He flayed the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), calling on him to resign his position as governor.

Three Win Medicine Nobel for Brain Study

U.S.-British scientist John O’Keefe and Norwegian husband and wife Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain.

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska institute says their discoveries have helped explain how the brain creates “a map of the space surrounding us and how we can navigate our way through a complex environment.”

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Babatunde Fashola: Governance, Protocols, Frills And Cost – My Takeaways

As we grapple with the challenges of participatory governance and the cost implication of keeping the wheels of government turning, it seems to me that there are little things that can be done that may lead us to big things. I like little things because they are simple to understand. They are also useful for preparing to do big things. One of the little things is the protocols of governance. Is it a frill or a necessity? If it is a necessity, does it apply at all times or at some times? If it applies at some times, have we defined those times, and if we have not, should we not? As I will show later, they have cost consequences, but for now let me get to the specific protocols.

The National Anthem

I know that Section 24 (a) of the Constitution impose an obligation of respect on citizens for the National Anthem whenever it is rendered. The constitution provides, and I paraphrase: “It shall be the duty of every citizen to…respect…the National Anthem…” What the constitution does not provide for, is when the National Anthem should be rendered. Should it happen at every event attended by our president and governors, such as social parties, political party rallies, book launches, conferences, seminars and all types of events to which our public officers are invited? Should the National Anthem be rendered at the beginning or at the end or at both times, or indeed at any time these public officers arrive even if the event is halfway through and has to be interrupted for the National Anthem, as is sometimes the case? Indeed, there is the wider question about the appropriateness or otherwise of inviting public officers to these events and the infringement on executive time on the one hand, and their own response or refusal to respond on the other hand, and the political costs of their decisions. How many times are presidents, governors, ministers and commissioners in other parts of the world invited to these functions as ‘chief host’, ‘chief guest of honour’ etc, and what is the impact on national productivity? But this is a matter for another discourse. For now, I will return to the subject of protocols. I must confess that the limited research that I have had the opportunity to conduct has not revealed the existence of any laws or regulations on this matter. But I can assert that these are matters where the federal government, whether through the National Assembly or the Presidency, can help to establish clear guidelines by legislative action or executive orders. In case you are wondering how this affects the cost of governance, it might interest you to know that people are hired and paid to provide electronic equipment, speakers and amplifiers; and in some cases full bands such as the police, navy, army or prison bands to render the anthem at some of these events. Rental costs, transport costs, honoraria all go into the costs of government where the contract is at the instance of government. The issue therefore is not about rendering of the anthem. It is about direction as to when it is necessary to do so and, consequently, when it is necessary to spend public funds. In Lagos, I have issued an executive order since October 2010 to direct that the rendering of the National Anthem be done by singing rather than by electronic recording of the instrumentation, so that we can at least internalise the words which are rich and inspiring; and in some way hope to act and live those words.

Receiving Visiting Dignitaries at the Airport or Border Post

This is perhaps a more difficult protocol to understand. My attention has not been brought to any clear directive or regulation about what type of dignitary is deserving of an airport reception party or delegation, and if we have identified the dignitary that is deserving, what type of ‘visit’ deserves an airport reception? Is it every visiting head of state who is on a personal visit to our country or a state within it, that should be received by the governor or his designated representative? Is it every time the president visits a state (whether or not on a state visit) that he must be received at the airport by the governor or his delegate, irrespective of the commitments of the state on that date? Put differently, does every visit, even for a political rally, qualify as a state visit? In other words, if a governor and a president are of opposing parties, should the governor go to receive the president when he comes to that state to campaign to defeat the party of the governor? What is the appropriate protocol when governors of opposing parties visit each other’s states for campaign rallies? What kind of reception should they get at the airport? It might surprise members of the public that a serving governor is raising these issues. The truth is they are simple, as I have said. But I am not aware that there are clear or set rules on the matter. When you factor the number of vehicles that are deployed from one end of town to the other, the cost of fuel, the man hours lost, the work not done, the gridlock that characterises VIP movements and the cost of governance in actual terms and in lost opportunities, you are likely to see the point that small things are simple, but very important, because they accumulate to big things. Personally, speaking for myself, the only reception I expect at the airport is the vehicle that will take me to my destination. But my personal disposition cannot be the rule.

Salutations, Public Speaking and VIPS

“All protocols observed.” That must be a familiar phrase. To my mind, this is uniquely Nigerian, as I do not know any other country where this is done. Why is this important? It consumes time, it diminishes the real message, confuses people, and it is expensive.

Time Consumption

I think the accepted practice from where these protocols originated is to acknowledge the most senior public office holder, your host, if you are a guest at the event, to end by saying “distinguished ladies and gentlemen”. The truth is that if you are at any event worthy of the name and you do not find yourself able to fit into the class of those addressed as “distinguished ladies and gentlemen” then you are probably undeserving of being at the event. I once attended an event in “you know where”, and it took all of one hour and seven or so minutes to recognise all the guests and address protocols before the event started. Our country is behind on many developmental fronts, and we must be seen to seek to gain time, optimize its value and avoid waste of time, because the world will not slow down or wait for us. Time is the REAL MONEY.

Message Diminishes

It is now customary for aides of public officers to go ahead of them and write down a list of VIPs to be recognised by their principal before he gives his speech. Because we are all VIPs with brittle ego that have become bigger than ourselves, we take offence when our names are not mentioned. My stomach turns when I see aides of public officers, getting on the podium after their principal has commenced his address to pass notes of names of persons he did not acknowledge or even walking behind him on stage back and forth. Only in Nigeria. Somebody (not one of my staff) once walked on to the stage while I was speaking, to pass me a note that I did not mention a particular public servant’s name. I believe he now knows better not to do it again. It is nothing but bad behaviour. What you then see is a protocol list that is two pages long which the speaker must go through before his message. In the event he first gets a huge applause for reading people’s names, and it may be either the speaker’s biggest applause for the day: because there may really be no message thereafter or “it is lost”. Try to see if you can connect this with idea of “Talk Shops”. When you evaluate what has come out in terms of development or quotable quotes that are indigenous, from the many conferences, summits and seminars that we hold. Put the best of these seminars together, and see if you can find the value that they have delivered in terms of speeches and contents.

Confuses People

Everybody now apologises for messing up the protocol or mixing it up simply because we have not stayed with the simple one of “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen”. Instead, after going through a two-page long list of names, we then say “All protocols observed”. This in itself is contradictory in my humble view. If you choose to observe all protocols, it should automatically dispense with the need or desire to mention anybody by name.

Expensive

I take this opportunity to suggest for our consideration a draft like the one below as a full version: “Mr President/ Governor (if he is the most senior public officer present or represented), Your Excellencies (to cover vice-president/deputy governors, and other governors, diplomats present), Your royal majesties/highness (to cover traditional institutions where present) Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.”

It seems to me that in this its longest format (which may be shorter, where some classes of people are not present), we can dispense with salutation protocols in under one minute and save a lot of time and money. These uncertainties about protocols of governance make it difficult to totally disagree with those who contend that our democracy is nascent. That said, it must be beyond contention that their resolution is one of the challenges that we must overcome in our democratic journey. As we seek to rebuild our union and renew our nation, we must find consensus on these little issues because they have larger consequences on time management, productivity and national development.

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Article written By Babatunde Fashola, the governor of Lagos State and Culled from Thisday Newspaper

Who Is Afraid Of Being Defamed? By Collins Chu

“Man hates (despises) the truth because it exposes him for what he is and it troubles what still remains of his conscience.”-Paul Washer.

Abiding by elements in the perceptual manifold, our country is in a bad-news default mode. In giving systematic judgements to daily events, each breaking of the sun brings us with yet another ‘new’ problem and issue to deal with, which sadly, we can’t seem to confront, thus, compounding our woes.

The grave situation of the Nigerian polity and the graver and darker consequential character awaiting its socio-political shorelines forecast by many regarding its guaranteed existence as an indivisible entity continue to hedge closer towards fruition.

Political transactions, as of late have all contributed in no small account to the veritable stance that the country is more than fast sloping down the hill of crisis and meltdown.

Yet, time after ti me, we have found it hard to boldly face and tackle our problems, not because we couldn’t do such or lacked the requisite will to do it, but because we are always afraid of rising up and facing our problems with the intent to at least frontally confront or fight them.

Needless to say, corruption has found its strongest potency to deeply thrive in the Nigerian atmosphere. It is no longer news that politics and the rule of law are dead in Nigeria.

In their place we now have blatant money laundering, large-scale looting, outright stealing and outrageous illegality. The befetting requisite appendage of the country would therefore be ‘The World Capital of Lawlessness’. Due process is now an alien and scare commodity in the country.

At every yearly rating by Transparency International (TI), Nigeria finds herself ‘proudly’ jostling top positions with other corrupt countries in the world.

Successive Governments of the day would boast of how far good and well they’ve been able to fight corruption, but the evident truth remains that their efforts can be compared to trying to stay clean in a muddy pool while engaged in fierce fighting with your staunch enemy. Enough being said about the grave situation of the Nigerian polity.

But it certainly needs no saying, verification or validity that Nigeria is corrupt, and most Nigerians are corrupt. This clearly cannot amount to defamation. The tort of defamation arises where an individual’s reputation or image is being tarnished by another.

That is to say, where one person through the instrumentality of words uttered or words written reduces or ridicules the worth of another before right-thinking members of society, such person has committed the tortious act known as defamation, and consequently has incurred some tortious liability on himself.

The redress by law given to a defamed individual is awarding monetary damages to such defamed individual from the pockets of the defaulting party, in so much as such damages seek to restore the defamed party to his former high-ranking position and standing in society.

However, surrounding factors come into play when accessing the claim that an individual has been defamed by another. That said, who then can be defamed? Of course, every member of the society can be defamed. For everybody has a right to protect his good name, whenever he feels his name is being dragged into the mud.

Thus, applying an objective and simple understanding of the tortious act of defamation through a psychological investigation to the overt manifestations of our leaders or as can be inferred from their implicit thought-processes, can it be said without a cloud of controversy that any person who therefore pronounces that our leaders are corrupt is defaming them?

First of, who is afraid of being defamed? From earlier established findings, only the one who has an upright and unblemished reputation can be afraid of the reward of defamation hanging over his head. Where a leader has resorted to, after careful consideration, align himself with lawlessness and perversity, what reputation is there to protect when somebody else decides to point it out?

Better put, what ‘good’ image and name is there to protect, starting from the Presidency, down to most of our Governors, Local Government Chairmen and Councillors? It is quite common knowledge a present-day Nigerian politician is incompatible with a good name and reputation.

After leaving office, if a former public officer fails to be rich in falsely-acquired real estates and looted wealth, I am sorry to say, that such official was outrightly stupid! To give an outstanding example, former Delta state Governor James Ibori, is currently serving jail term in the UK for money laundering committed while in office as Governor.

Could the prosecuting lawyer in the Ibori case be said to have defamed Ibori when he called Ibori a common thief?

The Abacha family were reported to have shamelessly declared that should the Nigerian government recover all their (Abachas’ family) stolen loot, they would never be as poor as Dangote! In the same unsavoury manner, Rt.Gen. T.Y Danjuma, a former military Chief of Staff ingloriously uttered, probably in a state of stupor, that he was so rich and was bereft of what to do with money! Perhaps, these people were prompted to make those declarations by that indifferent silence particular of the Nigerian arena.

The disinterestedness of many Nigerians towards political happenstances has made political office in the country a ‘loot-as-you-like’ affair. Not surprisingly though, Nigerians are still living in silence as to the whereabouts of the fuel subsidy loot, the CBN’s missing #20 billion (or is it #10 billion, as they later admitted), the Aviation Ministry’s #225 million used for procuring bullet proof cars, the unaccounted-for amount realised from the Immigration Exam Scam, and many other similar scenarios of monumental sums missing from government coffers…meanwhile, millions of the half-interred Nigerian populace don’t even have the slightest intimation of where their next meal might come from.

Could anybody who portrays this truth be then said to have defamed the ‘vested interests’ concerned? Truthfully, however, there is no exclusivity to the fact that the Nigerian society is bipolarized into the corrupt few and docile majority.

That of course, is coming on the heels of the glaringly unsavoury fact that the country has sadly been balkanized along the lines of religious zealotry and bigotry. On many occasions than necessary, the high and mighty in society had exhibited acts which brazenly negate the rule of law, but all that could ever be gotten from Nigerians was silence.

Would those who choose not to remain silent by pointing out such ‘vested interests’ then be said to have defamed such ‘vested interests’? Judge for yourself. The un-peculiarity and incoherence that characterizes the momumental corruption resident within public service in the country defies any attempt at adequate description or precise classification.

But, this attempt at classifying the decay in Nigerian political office is achieved at the price of the over-simplified word: ‘corruption’. And in a vaguer perception, corruption in the country has gradually and consistently become purposive without purpose. The wide and unlimited realm of corruption in the country has now made it even difficult to mentally conceptualize the antinomy called corruption.

The crux of this piece would chiefly then appear thus: since Providence had been at least gracious to hand down the natural law that, ‘reactions must follow actions’, it is only probable and conceivable that when some ‘high and mighty’ in the society choose to poison our spirits by engaging in irregular, illegal and unlawful acts, those of us who have chosen not to remain silent- not withholding our imperfections-will have no option than to spew up defamatory words (if they so view it).

For one should not be afraid to spit out ‘poisoned’ words (and in the process, offend others), how much more when shit is forced into our mouths? He who has no skeleton in his cupboard would not be apprehensive at the mere mention of skeletons, and as such, should not be afraid of being defamed.

#SmartStart Teacher Tribute: “Bitter are the roots of Study, but how sweet their Fruits”

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Today, I want to use my column in celebrating and helping you celebrate our TEACHERS. Firstly, I want to help you remember by asking you these simple questions.

Would you be able to read my write up at all if it hadn’t been your teacher who sweated it out that you knew your A to Z? Some of us, our friends and we ourselves believed we were dullards. But these teachers kept trying. Remember?

Ok? What is 6multiplied by 6 divided by 6? You sabi answer abi? (Don’t laugh) Do you know how long it took you to remember the multiplication table? 7 times, 8 times, 9 times… Chai! Me sef hated them.

Let me share with you this story before I go, my teacher in Primary 5 saw that the whole class was excellent with Dictations, so she said… Hey class! It’s time for dictations. Number 1, she said TAWEL (As she pronounced it though), the whole class spelt it as pronounced except me, I was quite smart though (Laughs). The whole class scored 9 over 10 except me; I went home with a brand new pencil. I can never forget how kingly I felt going home and how much I can’t forget that very day till this day. That teachers name is Mrs. Adewunmi.

Read through these 10 quotes, it helped me brew back those memories and it can help you appreciate them better.

  1. “Anyone who teaches me deserves my respect, honoring and attention.” Sonia Rumzi
  2. “Bitter are the roots of study, but how sweet their fruit.” Cato
  3. “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well” Alexander the Great
  4. “In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.” Jacques Barzun
  5. “Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.” Chinese proverb
  6. ”Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher.” Anonymous
  7. “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” Anonymous
  8. “A good teacher is like a candle: it consumes itself to light the way for others.” Anonymous
  9. Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges. Joyce Meyer
  10. Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives. Andy Rooney

 Our teachers deserve to be remembered and deserve to be proud. They aren’t perfect but they gave their all, especially the best ones. I celebrate all of whom made me so smart by foundation, made my accent prime by flogging out my wrong pronunciations and made my esteem so cool by appreciation.

Mind you, my primary 2 teacher was the first to tell me… “Adeshope, you are handsome, tell your mum I said that”. I heard it first from my teacher and not even my parents. I have not forgotten till today.

I celebrate my teachers!

And proudly, today I can say that I am a Management Consultant and Corporate Trainer.

I am reachable at haastrupsteven@gmail.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Share this as much as you can till you know you have put a smile on a teachers face. Happy Eid-El-Kabir. Happy Holiday!

Have a great week ahead.

Djokovic Brushes Berdych Aside To Win China Open Title

It took World No 1 Novak Djokovic, just 66 minutes to beat Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-2 and win the China Open title on Sunday.

The top seed fired 19 winners and took six of the eight break points offered to him, finishing the tournament with an unblemished record of 24-0.

“This has been, under the circumstances, probably the best performance in all finals in my career I played. It was incredible. Incredible,” Djokovic said after his stunning victory over the third seed.

“It was six Love, five Love, under an hour. Everything I tried worked. To be proud of the performance is the least I can say of what I played tonight. Beijing is definitely my lucky place, I enjoy coming here.”

The beaten Czech admitted that Djokovic was too good for him and he was no match.

“I met somebody in the final who I’ve never seen before. Really the way that he performed today was really outstanding,” he said.

“There is really not much I can add to that because, really, I was just swept out from the court. Yeah, that was it.

“They’re all the Same” is not a Political Party in Nigeria! – Lauretta Onochie

I cannot count how many times I have been told, “This is Nigeria, not UK”. It’s usually in response to my democratic nonsense. I am a democrat. I also live in a democratic society. I was born in Nigeria. I grew up in Nigeria too. So I have a fairly good understanding of how we do things in Nigeria. I also have an understanding of what governance means in Nigeria. It’s meaning and style are a far cry from what they mean, even in Ghana.

Then I stumbled on a word, an English word. “Change”. So many of us’ Nigerians, began to dream. We began to imagine how this word, “Change”, could transform the lives of all Nigerians. We dreamed of heights hitherto unattained by Nigerians that we could now attain as individuals and as a nation because of “Change”! We dreamed of reclaiming our position as the giant of Africa that roared in the days of apartheid and the world listened. We dreamed of our leaders standing shoulder to shoulder with world leaders and other lesser nations, queening to have audience or even a glance at our leaders.

We began to imagine that the 6-3-3-4 system of education, one of the best in the world would now be properly implemented in its original form, fulfilling the aspirations of many young Nigerians who have been shoved into higher academic institutions when apprenticeship schemes in technical education for requisite skills acquisition would have sufficed.

We also began to dream that change would revamp and resuscitate our comatose health sector that has sent the few remaining middle class Nigerians to Indian hospitals and our elites, including our political captors, to the United Kingdom, America and Germany. The same sector that has not met the needs of ordinary Nigerians who die daily from common ailments and manageable health conditions.

We thought “change” would repair our dilapidated roads that have become death traps for thousands of road users around our nation. We believed strongly that change would finally, bring about an end to the incessant power failure that Nigerians have become accustomed to, that has crippled small business and left all Nigerians with the burden of generating their own electricity, noise and environmental pollution.

Yes we hoped that change would reverse the state of lawlessness that has overwhelmed our nation where the law descends heavily on small time criminals while our elected and appointed political office holders, their spouses and friends, commit every known crime, including mass murder of immigration jobseekers and yes, they go free. Sometimes with a pat on the back.

We hoped that “change” would usher in accountability, efficiency and restore some sanity in the way we view public service. We also believed in the ability of change to put an end to vices such as corruption, tribalism, nepotism, discrimination of all kinds and high level impunity.

Religion is good but when it becomes the only focus of a people, it’s an indication that such a people have lost hope in all else. They begin to have their vision clouded as they can no longer decipher between normal occurrences and miracles. We became a nation where giving birth to babies, securing a jobs, waking up to a new day, a new week and a new month are now miracles that have to be celebrated. So we began to hope too that change would support the refocusing of Nigerians on themselves with a view to rediscovering their God-given potentials to do great things. We had hoped too that religion would return to being a medium of doing good and fostering peaceful coexistence among the multi ethnic people of Nigeria.

Those were some of the hopes we had that “change” would usher in. But everywhere I turned, there was someone reminding me that this is Nigeria, not the United Kingdom. Even those I thought would understand democracy would say to me, “Yes we understand what you are saying, but that’s not how we do it in Nigeria”. Those in government see those of us who insist on democratic principles as enemies. Anyone or anything that is inimical to anything should be eliminated. That you are reading this piece is a clear evidence that our people do not mean it or do not understand the meaning of “Enemy”. Finally I decided to examine how it is done in Nigeria.

I have put in so much effort but have found nothing. I have not found out how it is done in Nigeria. What I have discovered is that those in the political arena make it up as they go along. They change their own rules to favour them. When opponents or the competitions catch up with then, they change the rules again and again.

In the past, political party godfathers would chose their political sons or daughters and then they were foisted on the people. Ballot boxes were stuffed and/or snatched in favour of the selected one. Later on, church thanks giving services would be organised and that act of electoral fraud and treachery, would be dedicated to the glory of God!

Today, it’s no longer called selection, its called “Anointing”. Once one has been anointed, all the other aspirants are expected to close shop and queue behind the anointed one. This anointing is also now followed by a gale of endorsements from various groups, known and previously unknown. Many of these endorsements are quite damaging to the endorsee as they are badly written in poor English language with no substance to the endorsement of mostly people that have not even declared their intention to stand in the election. But it’s not just at the state level as President Jonathan, who has still not declared his intention to stand in the election, is receiving endorsements too.

At this stage, I do not know what name to call the system of government we practice in Nigeria. I would opine that it’s closer to traditional rulership than it is to democracy. So I would say that it’s more like a mixture traditional rulership and a bad military regime. I will mention two facts about our government, or is it an empire which should add to how I would arrive at a name for our peculiar kind of government. The first is that it’s a government run by old men and their women. This is known as gerontocracy. Secondly, It also has a massive dose of religion as the leaders attribute everything to God or evil spirits. It is known as theocracy.

Since the system has no known name, I will try to fashion one. So what do we call the system of Government in Nigeria seeing it’s not democracy?

Gerontocracy + Theocracy = GeronTheocracy

 GeronTheocracy  is the government of Nigerians by Nigerian Elders and for Nigerian Elders, their friends and families. I have already established that candidates are usually selected and then anointed. After many years of burying my head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich that Nigeria is a democratic nation, I have now come to the realisation that democracy is not a word many of our people understand.

Many Nigerians would come out openly to defend Old men who impose their stooges on us claiming its God’s doing. “It’s God that gives power”, they would say. But just as I decided to shut my mouth about democracy and swallow what Nigerians believe work for them, those who have been defending imposition as God’s handwork are now screaming that imposition is undemocratic! The reason being that their own aspirants have had another aspirant superimposed on them.

What! How can imposition be undemocratic? When did we return to democracy to become a democratic nation? When last did we elect many of our leaders on merit? When did INEC recognise majority votes as the voice of the people?

This is the reason we are now all saying, “They are all the same”. This is nothing but pure and undiluted cop-out! Nigerians, he who stand for nothing gets nothing. Thirteen years of Labour government in the UK, brought the economy on its knees, in the worst recession in modern and peace times.

The British people voted Labour Party out and the Coalition government under a Conservative leadership emerged. They are now taking very difficult decisions and the economy is recovering faster than predicted. But If the British people are no longer happy with the Coalition, they will vote them out and Labour will be back……

That is democratic politics. It’s not church. It’s politics. We must choose one of the parties. “They’re all the same”, is a statement that confronts us as we go knocking on many doors in the UK. But they also know they must choose one or be stuck with one chosen by others.

“They’re all the same”, is now a common saying amongst Nigerians too. But what then do we do? “They’re all the same” is not a registered political party in Nigeria so can never win any election.

It’s through the process of voting the Parties, in and out of power, that change will happen. We cannot afford to stick to one party. Parties may have great ideas but at some point, they run out of steam and ideas.

We must make a choice. We cannot have nothing. It has to be people in PDP or APC or Labour etc. These are the only choices we have been presented. We must hold our noses and support individuals we consider straight enough in this messy political environment. To stand aloof would pertuate, forever, the mess that is our nation today!

Would it be a return to democracy or would we continue with Gerontheocracy? The choice is ours.

 @ Laurestar

 laurestar@aol.co.uk


Views Expressed are Solely Author’s. 

Underwater Hunt for Malaysian Airline Resumes

The hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 resumed Monday in a desolate stretch of the Indian Ocean, more than six months after the jet vanished.

The GO Phoenix, the first of three ships that will spend up to a year hunting for the wreckage far off Australia’s west coast, is expected to spend 12 days hunting for the jet before heading to shore to refuel.

Crews will use sonar, video cameras and jet fuel sensors to scour the seabed for the Boeing 777, which vanished for reasons unknown on March 8 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

The search has been on hold for four months so crews could map the seabed in the search zone, about 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) west of Australia. The 60,000-square kilometer (23,000-square mile) search site lies along what is known as the “seventh arc” — a stretch of ocean where investigators believe the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed. Officials analyzed transmissions between the plane and a satellite to estimate where it entered the water.

Two other ships being provided by Dutch contractor Fugro are expected to join the Malaysian-contracted GO Phoenix later this month.

The ships will be dragging sonar devices called towfish through the water about 100 meters (330 feet) above the seabed to hunt for the wreckage. The towfish are also equipped with sensors that can detect the presence of jet fuel, and are expected to be able to cope with the dizzying depths of the search zone, which is 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) deep in places.

If anything of interest is spotted on the sonar, crews will attach a video camera to the towfish to film the seabed.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan, whose agency is leading the search, has expressed cautious optimism that the plane will eventually be found.

“We’re confident in the analysis and we’re confident that the aircraft is close to the seventh arc,” he said.

Between NYSC’s Alternative Call-Up Letter Platform and the National Assembly’s Predictable Reaction – JJ, Omojuwa

My first reaction was anger. Why should government charge prospective corps members for deciding to serve their country? It looked all shades of wrong. I sent a tweet out about how charging every corps member N4000 would help the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) make a kill. At this point, the impression was that the said N4000 was a charge, a fee every corps member had to pay to serve.??A friend of mine, an international student, was the first to break the news to me. I immediately told her that was probably exclusive to international students, may be, according to my expectations; the NYSC had finally created an avenue for the international students to sort their verification process online. Then the tweets came, it was not just international students; it was everyone.??Every corps member would be charged N4,000 to access their call up letters. I was open to another NIS-esque protest. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) had charged job seekers N1000/head without offering them any value in return.  As it turned out, we were misinformed.

At an interview with the NYSC Director General, I learned that the status quo remains: prospective corps members are still at liberty to collect their call-up letters from their various schools, and international students, from the NYSC Headquarters. The NYSC’s role here has always been to make the call-up letters available to the schools; prospective corps members go to their schools to collect same. This option remains available even as we speak. Case settled on that front as it meant that one could still serve today without paying the N4,000.??The controversial issue in question is the alternative offered by the NYSC. Instead of traveling to your school, with the cost of travel and the attendant risks in most cases, you could have the call-up letter printed online and have your data accessed via the NYSC digital platform. It costs all of N4,000. It obviously comes with advantages. For example, you save travel time and if like most people you are resident much farther from your school, you save money. On arrival at camp, your registration process is online. And were you to miss your call-up letter while traveling to camp, all that’d be necessary to get another would be to access your data online.??Like I put it to the DG, the natural question would be that, why can’t the NYSC provide the service for everyone free of charge? The age-long question of limited resources resurfaces. The government didn’t budget for the online platform.

The NYSC already takes a lump sum from the total youth budget and were you to ask an average corps member ‘if the government increased the NYSC budget, would you rather your allawi gets increased or would you rather the money gets invested to build a platform to have prospective and current corps members register online?’ most would naturally prefer more allawis.??It always cost everyone something to get the call-up letters from the various schools anyway, and in some tragic cases, it cost some their lives. The ideal thing would be to have the government provide the resources for the online platform. The ideal is often hardly the case. Should the NYSC discard the alternative altogether or would it be better to make an option available to those who would take it? The answer is obvious, the more our choices, the better the expression of our liberty.??If the NYSC waits for the government to fund this and hence cancels it for now, a Lagos resident schooling in Adamawa would have been cheated because it certainly costs more to travel to and from Adamawa, and that is before taking the travel time and risk of travel into consideration. For the same of people like this, let this alternative remain, especially as it doesn’t unsettle the former order of physical collection at the various universities.

If the government didn’t cater for the cost of building and managing the platform, it certainly means a private firm did. Charity organisations are not involved in projects like this. The software, hardware and personnel required to manage same expect to be paid and will be paid for their service. The DG clearly stated that the coming years would see the NYSC equipped with the human resources to be able to own and manage the platform itself. Today, that is not yet the case.??Reports suggest the House of Representatives in its usual knee-jerk ‘make-them-see-say-we-dey-work’ reaction to things has asked for the initiative to be halted. All it would have taken for them to know that theirs is such a poor decision would have been to ask, does this serve prospective corps members better? Does the NYSC provide an alternative to those who would rather continue with the old order? Does this idea make things better or worse???Governance is not a popularity contest. It is a contest between doing what is right and what is not right. It is a contest between providing alternatives or providing none. And it is a contest between costs and benefits. If the benefits outweigh the cost, emotions weigh lesser than rational realities.

The National Assembly should be looking at ways to see avenues where the providers of the platforms could be offered other incentives that’d help reduce the cost to corps members using the platform or better make available resources for it to be provided free to everyone. Doing away with the idea altogether? That certainly is not what anyone who understands the essence of alternatives does.

Views expressed are solely the author’s

Boko Haram: Defend Yourselves, It Is Not A Sin – Bishop Bagobiri Tells Christians

The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri has declared that it is biblical for Christians to defend themselves against the endless attacks of the Boko Haram sect on them, using what he termed: “moderate and proportionate force”

Bagobiri, a former Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kaduna State Chapter, described the act of silence by Christians over the continuous attacks on them by the insurgents as, “gross act of irresponsibility”

The cleric stated this at a reception organised for the immediate Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr Andy La’ah Yakubu, in Unguwan Wakili, Zangon Kataf Local Governenmt Area, LGA, in Southern part of Kaduna state.

He also lambasted some generals from Southern Kaduna, where he alleged Fulani gunmen have killed several hundreds of persons since 2011.

His words, “The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it as an act of love towards one self and carried out in defense of God’s gift to life, which we are merely custodians. The theological authorities of the Church are emphatic: Love towards oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality.

“Therefore, it is legitimate to insist on respect for one’s own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow. Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one’s own life than of another’s.

#DGtrends Remarks By Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs At The Women In Democratization Session In Kigali, Rwanda

WELCOME REMARKS

BY

H.E. DR. AISHA L. ABDULLAHI

COMMISSIONER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS

AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE GENDER PRE-FORUM TO THE 2014 HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA

KIGALI, RWANDA

6 OCTOBER, 2014

Your Excellency, Mr Anastase MurekeziPrime Minister of Rwanda,

Mr. Lamin Manneh, Regional Coordinator One UN Rwanda

Prof. Shyaka Anastase, CEO, Rwanda Governance Board

Gender Experts

Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure and honour to be with you during this first ever Gender Forum held as part of the built-up to the Annual High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance in Africa planned for Dakar, Senegal on 30-31 October 2014. About a month ago, we held the Youth Forum in Nairobi, Kenya as part of this process.

I also bring you sincere and warm greetings from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, whose leadership and commitment to women’s empowerment remain a guiding light for our work at the Union.

Allow me to begin my brief remarks by thanking the Government and people of Rwanda for the warm hospitality accorded to us since our arrival in this beautiful and serene city of Kigali, the land of a thousand hills as it is famously known. We remain proud of the strides that Rwanda has made as a shining light capable of helping to achieve the silencing of guns on our Continent by 2020. In this vein, let me thank very specifically our partners, the Rwanda Governance Board, under the able leadership of Prof. Shyaka Anastase and Amb. Fatuma Ndangiza for their commitment to ensuring the realization of this important meeting.

Our gathering here today in Rwanda is not by accident. We have chosen this country as an example of what investments in strengthening democratic governance institutions can lead to in terms of democratization, peace-building and sustainable human development. Rwanda provides a justification for the active participation, at all levels, of women in peacebuilding, leadership and development spaces. Though we concede that gender is not only about women, we made the strategic choice for this inaugural Gender Forum preceding the High Level Dialogue to focus on women and girls, given the specific and particular vulnerabilities and issues faced by women in conflict situations, democratic governance, peace building and development. It is also in recognition of the fact that women suffer the most in times of conflict and yet remain relegated to the periphery of initiatives aimed at building peace, democratic governance and achieving development.

It is therefore inspiring to look around the room and see so many vibrant people ready to tackle the challenges women and young girls face in order to contribute to silencing the guns by 2020. In particular, I am delighted to see so many of you standing together to address the issues faced by our sisters, mothers and daughters across the continent. When African leaders adopted the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration in which they committed to achieving a conflict-free Africa by silencing the guns by 2020, they understood that this vision could not become a reality without the efforts and leadership of a multitude of social groups including women and youth, among others. Your participation in this Forum, therefore, is an important step towards achieving the AU’s commitment to peace-building and democratisation on our beloved continent in line with the Africa Agenda 2063 and the Common African Position on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Distinguished Guests and Participants,

Why are we here today? The purpose of bringing you together for this preparatory Forum to the Third High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights and Governance is to provide a platform through which the vulnerabilities and challenges facing women in conflict situations can be addressed. We have provided this platform to aggregate the views and perspectives of practitioners in government, civil society, academia and think tanks in addressing the varied challenges inhibiting the active engagement of women and young girls in peacebuilding, preventive diplomacy and post conflict reconstruction and development efforts. We believe this forum will afford us an opportunity to air our views and perspectives on the opportunities and prospects of a conflict free continent by the year 2020.

The theme of this forum is in direct response to the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration adopted on 26 May 2013. The Declaration marked the beginning of the year-long celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the African Union (AU), where African leaders committed to ending “all wars in Africa by 2020.”

However, without democratic and participatory governance, the guns in Africa will not be silenced. The twin-problem of development failure and governance deficits lies at the heart of Africa’s violent conflicts. A lack of democratic governance on the continent has hindered development and triggered violent conflicts, threatening the peace and well being of millions. It is, therefore, imperative that a more sustainable and meaningful response to violence is entrenched by strengthening governance systems, institutions and embedding a culture of democracy all of which are conducive for inclusive development.

It is our firm belief that the AU’s commitment to promoting democratic governance, as enumerated in the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration can only be achieved by the collective efforts of all stakeholders. Through the Africa Governance Architecture, we are committed to working with the various AU organs, institutions, RECs and non state actors to strengthen platforms that allow women and young girls to play pivotal roles in strengthening democratic governance. Silencing guns calls upon concerted effort in (i), rejecting unconstitutional changes of government, (ii) promoting integrity by fighting corruption in the management of public affairs, (iii) improving public service delivery, (iv) managing diversity in a constructive manner; (v) encouraging leadership that is committed to the interests of the people, and finally (vi), fostering the participation of African peoples through democratic elections to ensure accountability and transparency.

The AU Assembly of Heads of State adopted the Africa Governance Architecture (AGA) at the 16th ordinary session as the overall continental framework for promoting, nurturing, strengthening and consolidating democracy and governance in Africa. The High Level Dialogue (or DGTrends) is the flagship dialogue programme of the Africa Governance Architecture. For the past three years, we have been organising these dialogues in order to provide a unique platform for frank, open and inclusive conversations among Member States, AU organs and institutions, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African citizens, think tanks, civil society, media, women’s organisations and other stakeholders in order to share lessons and experience as well as tease out the best practices for improving governance, consolidating constitutional democracy and fostering the effective realization of human and peoples’ rights on the continent in order to avoid humanitarian crises. The recommendations from this forum will be presented at the upcoming 2014 High Level Dialogue which will focus on the theme: “Silencing the Guns: Strengthening Governance to Prevent, Manage and Resolve Conflicts in Africa”.

Distinguished Guests and Participants,

We believe the AU vision is not a mission solely for the AU to pursue. Through the work of AGA, we are increasingly focusing our work on young people, women and the larger civil society as a collective framework for driving the agenda for the development of the continent and strengthening democracy and durable peace in Africa. In particular, the AGA framework identifies gender equality and participation of women in strengthening democracy and peacebuilding as central to achieving sustainable peace and development in Africa.

It is clear that women suffer disproportionately from the effects of armed conflicts in Africa. Rape, forced pregnancies, abduction into sexual slavery and assault have become deliberate instruments of war. The exclusion of women from peace negotiations have limited their access to opportunities for recovery from the effects of violence, ability to get redress for human rights abuses, and participation in shaping reform laws and public institutions

In addressing these challenges, the role of women and young girls cannot be overstated. Women’s full participation in national and local politics, in the economy, in academia and the media is fundamental to democracy and essential to the achievement of sustainable development and peace. If a political system neglects women’s participation and evades accountability for women’s rights, it fails half its citizens.

At the Department of Political Affairs we are committed to the AU aspiration of silencing the guns by 2020 and eager to support women’s initiatives towards building a culture of democracy and peace in Africa. Through the African Governance Architecture, we are taking the deliberate decision to develop a strategy that will focus on empowering women to solve the challenges they face, particularly in conflict zones. The strategy will be to implement a bottom-up approach in order to link the creative work and ideas of women at the grassroots level to policymaking at the continental level.We hope that through the discussions at this Forum, we will be able to provide concrete recommendations to implement this strategy for effective engagement of Africa’s women on the Africa Governance Architecture and Platform.

Distinguished Guests and Participants,

As I end these remarks, let me take this opportunity to appreciate the tremendous effort from the entire team at the African Governance Architecture Secretariat, and in particular Lettie Longwe, for pulling together a vital agenda and bringing such a diverse and talented group together for this dialogue. In spite of the challenges inherent in organizing a conference of this magnitude, every member of our team handled the difficulties with grace and determination, and I thank them for it. I would also like to recognize and acknowledge our UNDP colleagues at the Regional Service Centre in Addis Ababa especially Ms. Rose Mwebeza, for her leadership, commitment and support to this forum.

Next, we will be heading to Dakar, Senegal for the High Level Dialogue. It has been a fruitful year of preparation, and I look forward to the ideas and recommendations that will flow from this Forum and carry us into the High Level Dialogue. Again, I would like to express my appreciation to our organizing team for your immeasurable efforts towards the preparatory processes ahead of the High Level Dialogue.

We would be thrilled if you can follow us throughout the sessions on twitter and Facebook. Our twitter handle is beamed on the wall @AUC_DPA and hashtag #DGTrends

I thank you for your attention.

Parents of American held by I. S. Release Letter & Photos

The parents of an U.S. aid worker held hostage by Islamic State militants on Sunday released photographs of their son and parts of a letter he wrote them from captivity in which he says he is scared to die but at peace with his belief.

Peter Kassig, 26, was taken captive a year ago while doing humanitarian work in Syria, his family has said. He was threatened in an Islamic State video issued on Friday that showed the beheading of a British aid worker.

Ed and Paula Kassig of Indianapolis, Indiana, appealed for his release on Saturday in a video message.

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On Sunday, they called for people to use the name he has taken since converting to Islam, Abdul-Rahman Kassig.

They also released photos of him working as a medic in Syria in 2013, fishing with his father on the Ohio River in southern Indiana in 2011, and – much younger – standing in his mother’s arms by a waterfall during a family camping trip in 2000.

Kassig’s parents said they were overwhelmed by the response from those who thought their boy was a hero for the humanitarian work he had been doing.

“We have also received many questions about our son’s conversion to Islam,” they said, adding that friends said his journey toward Islam began before he was taken captive, and that he voluntarily converted between October and December 2013.

Quoting from a letter he wrote them in June, they said he prays five times every day and takes the religion’s practices seriously, including adopting the name Abdul-Rahman. “We see this as part of our son’s long spiritual journey,” they said.

In the parts of the letter they released, Kassig thanked his parents and said it could not have been easy raising him.

“I am obviously pretty scared to die but the hardest part is not knowing, wondering, hoping, and wondering if I should even hope at all,” he wrote.

The letter added that he was in a “dogmatically complicated situation here, but I am at peace with my belief.”Kassig had been doing humanitarian work through Special Emergency Response and Assistance, an organization he founded in 2012 to treat refugees from Syria, his parents have said.

They have also said their son served in the U.S. Army during the Iraq war before being medically discharged. Pentagon records show he spent a year in the army as a Ranger and was deployed to Iraq from April to July 2007.

After leaving the army, Kassig became an emergency medical technician and traveled to Lebanon in May 2012, volunteering in hospitals and treating Palestinian refugees and those fleeing Syria’s civil war.

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Borno: Military Wants Army General Arrested For Running Away With Troops From Boko Haram

Indications emerged weekend that the Army High Command has ordered the arrest and detention of a Brigadier-General attached to the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army (names with-held) over negligence to duty.

According to report, the general’s laxity to duty gave Boko Haram terrorists the chance to capture some communities in Borno State recently.

Vanguard reports that the senior officer, a native of South West Nigeria, was the officer coordinating the military team to outrun several Boko Haram terrorists from Bama, Gwoza, Madagali, Michika and other communities in Borno and Adamawa but failed.

He was further accused of providing poor leadership and failed to instil confidence in the soldiers, which led to some of the troops being decimated.

The source hinted that the insurgents entered the Brigade Headquarters and Armoury freely and carted away vehicles and Tanks.

Vanguard was told that some of the commanders were rescued from the bush by a battalion deployed at Konduga, which was stationed about 15 kilometers behind Bama, the last deployment before Maiduguri.

Hong Kong Protest Declines as Workers Resume

Hong Kong started to return to work on Monday after more than a week of pro-democracy protests disrupted the Chinese-controlled city, with the protest movement facing a test of its stamina after more clashes with police and pro-Beijing opponents.

Civil servants began arriving for work at the main government offices of Hong Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, which have been the focal point of protests that initially drew tens of thousands onto the streets. The bureaucrats were allowed to pass through protesters’ barricades unimpeded.

Numbers of protesters fell sharply overnight into the hundreds. The protesters remained at a stalemate with Leung’s pro-Beijing government and there was no sign of movement on talks that were proposed to end the stand-off.

The protests have ebbed and flowed over the past week, with people leaving the streets overnight to return later. The test on Monday will be whether that pattern continues in the face of the government’s determination to get Hong Kong back to work.

Fearing a crackdown after city leaders called for the streets to be cleared so businesses, schools and the civil service could resume on Monday, protesters who have paralyzed parts of the former British colony with mass sit-ins pulled back from outside Leung’s office.

Over the past week, tens of thousands of protesters have demanded that Leung quit and that China allow them the right to vote for a leader of their choice in 2017 elections.

Facing separatist unrest in far-flung Tibet and Xinjiang, Beijing is fearful that calls for democracy in Hong Kong could spread to the mainland. The Communist Party leadership has dismissed the Hong Kong protests as illegal but has so far left Leung’s government to find a solution.

The protest groups bowed to pressure from the government, businesses, shop owners and taxi drivers and said they would dismantle barricades barring the way to key government buildings and allow civil servants to get to work on Monday.

Sallah: Two Killed As Eiye, Aiye Cult Groups Clash In Ogun State

This year’s Sallah celebration turned bloody in Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State yesterday as two rival cult groups engaged in a clash leaving two persons dead.

The victims were identified as Abiodun Adeneye and Taiwo Yussuf.

It was gathered that the annual Aleke carnival in the town provided the ground for the Eiye and Aiye cult groups to engage in a supremacy battle leading to the serious fight.

The State Police commissioner, Ikemuefuna Okoye, who confirmed the death of the two, said that three suspects had equally been arrested.

He said a special patrol team from the Police command had been drafted to the town to calm the situation.

Kurds battle ISIS for Key Syria Town

Kurdish fighters backed by US-led air strikes battled Islamic State jihadists for control of a key Syrian town Sunday, while Turkey evacuated some border areas as mortar fire spilled over.

ISIS fighters seized part of a strategic hill overlooking the town of Kobane late on Saturday, a monitor said, but their progress was slowed by new strikes from the coalition of Washington and Arab allies.

A Kobane local official, Idris Nahsen, said ISIS fighters were just one kilometre (less than a mile) from the town and that air strikes alone were not enough to stop them.

He complained of a lack of coordination between the coalition and Kurdish fighters of the ground.

The dusty border town has become a crucial battleground in the international fight against ISIS, which sparked further outrage this weekend with the release of a video showing the beheading of Briton Alan Henning.

AFCON Qualifiers: Eduok Replaces Victor Moses In Super Eagles Squad

Dolphins forward Emem Eduok, has been called up to replace injured Stoke City winger Victor Moses, ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON double header against Sudan.

Moses has reportedly suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury against Sunderland last week and is expected to undergo scans this week.

Eduok’s has risen this season and the former Flying Eagles star has scored 13 goals for the Rivers-based club.

The Super Eagles training camp ahead of this weekend’s game in Sudan, opens on Monday in Abuja.

Nigeria are currently third in the group with one point, behind Congo who have six maximum points and South Africa with four points.

Jonathan’s Ex-Political Adviser, Gulak Loses Father To Boko Haram

The father of the former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak is dead.

He was found dead after Boko Haram’s recent raid in his hometown, Gulak, in the Northern Senatorial District of Adamawa State.

The decomposed body of late Alhaji Ali Gillari, who was among those trapped in the community when the insurgents struck, was found after three days of his demise.

Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, in a press statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Solomon Kumangar, announced the death.

According to the statement, Pa Gillari died in his residence.

The governor, who lamented the situation that led to the death, also commiserated with relatives of others found lifeless in similar circumstances.

He particularly sympathised with Gulak on the loss of a great father, whom he described as a man of integrity and a devout Muslim.

African Troops Take Key Port from Al Shabaab

Somali troops backed by African peacekeepers on Sunday recaptured the last major port in Somalia held by Al Shabaab, removing a key source of revenue for the Islamist militia.

The move was another blow for Al-Qaeda’s main affiliate in Africa and came just a month after the death of their leader Ahmed Abdi Godane in a US air and drone strike.

The African Union’s AMISOM force, which draws 22,000 soldiers from six nations, said Barawe, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Mogadishu, fell without “much resistance from the terrorist group.”

“The terrorists used the port there to import arms as well as receive foreign fighters into their ranks,” an AMISOM statement said.

“The group also used Barawe to export charcoal to the Middle East, a lucrative multi-million dollar business that served as their main source of funding,” the statement said.

Provincial governor Abdukadir Mohamed Nur said the situation was “calm and the militiamen had fled before the forces reached the town”.

“They could not put up resistance and have emptied their positions,” he said.

Al Shabaab exported charcoal through Barawe to Gulf countries, earning at least $25 million (19 million euros) a year from the trade according to UN estimates.

Anita Oyakhilome Moves To Take Over Christ Embassy In UK, Removes Pastor Chris As Trustee Member

According to a report, Anita, now presides over a seven-man Board of Trustees of the church branch, which values N8.2 billion.

This is not surprised because the pastor and his wife have been at warpath over some irreconcilable marital differences.

The six other members of the board, according to the report are Obi Chiemeka, Ifeoma Onubogu, Nkem Odiakah, Raymond Okocha, Tony Obi and Uche Onubogu, all pastors believed to be loyal to Mrs. Oyakhilome.

Insiders alleged that the removal of Pastor Chris as a trustee was a plot by his wife, Anita to take total charge of the affairs of the branch even as her relationship with her husband of two decades worsens.

Anita had already filed for a divorce in a London court.

However, the husband said his wife wants to take over the ministry he laboured to establish before he married her.

5th American with Ebola going to U.S. for Treatment

 American photojournalist who contracted Ebola while working in West Africa began his journey home for treatment Sunday, while a man who recently arrived in Dallas from Liberia remained in critical condition with the disease.

Ashoka Mukpo, 33, will be the second Ebola patient to be treated at the Nebraska Medical Center’s specialized isolation unit.

Mukpo was working as a freelance cameraman for NBC News in Liberia when he became ill last week. NBC reported Sunday evening that Mukpo had started his journey to the U.S. for treatment and that he would arrive Monday morning. Mukpo’s family said Friday he would be treated in Omaha. Hospital officials said they expected an Ebola patient to arrive Monday, but declined to provide a name.

Mukpo’s father, Dr. Mitchell Levy, told NBC Sunday that his son was “counting the minutes” until he could leave Liberia but that he was not feeling that ill Sunday.

Celebrity Photo of the Day- Ciara Buying Roasted Corn!!!

Amazing singer, super Mom and eccentric dancer, Ciara, is in the spotlight today! We caught her wanting to eat roasted corn… Yes roasted corn!!!

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The adorable and sexy mom has been travelling and is pretty excited sharing her photos for her fans to see on Instagram.

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From Paris, Cici is seen in Turkey and she has been up and doing with so much excitement as she also shares a video of herself speaking in the Turkish language, revealing that she loves Turkey and is having a blast.

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Police Withdraws Charge Levelled Against AIT Journalist

The Nigerian police have withdrawn the charge of defamation of character filed against Amaechi Anakwe, a journalists working with the African Independent Television (AIT).

The First Information Report which contained the charge was withdrawn by the police, following which, an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court struck it out. This led to the discharge of the journalist who has since walked out of the court premises a free man.

Joseph Mbu, currently an Assistant Inspector General of Police, whose tenure as Rivers State Commissioner of Police was characterized by controversies, was alleged to have ordered the arrest and detention of Anakwe for describing him as “controversial” on a TV programme, titled Matters Arising.

The reporter cum presenter was detained Thursday morning after he reported at the Zone 7 police headquarters in Abuja, on the the invitation of Mbu.

36 Killed In Libya’s Renewed Clashes

Renewed clashes in Libya’s second largest city Benghazi have killed at least 36 people and injured 71 others, military sources said .

A spokesman for the Libyan army’s Special Force said that “a total of 36 people have been killed due to a double suicide attack and the clashes with Islamist militants, who were advancing towards the Benina airport.

” The spokesman said the death toll quickly rose after many of the injured died of their wounds, according to Al-Marj General Hospital.

Since Thursday, renewed clashes have erupted around Benghazi’s Benina Airport between Islamist militants and pro-secular militias who are loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar,

who launched Operation Dignity last May against Islamist militants in what he described as an anti-terror campaign.

Local media reported that the Islamist militants, including those with Ansar al-Sharia, Shura Council and Libya Shield, were trying to seize the airport before Eid al-Adha, or Muslim’s feast of sacrifice.

The crucial air hub was considered as Haftar’s last stronghold to house heavy weaponry and ammunition.

Local citizens also saw Haftar’s helicopters and warplanes taking off from the airport to launch several sorties of attacks on Islamist militant bases on Thursday

Turkey Backs Action Against ISIS

The Turkish government won parliamentary approval to deploy troops against the Islamic State group as Australia announced on Thursday that it was joining combat sorties against the jihadists in Iraq.

The vote by Turkish MPs came as IS fighters pressed an assault on a Syrian frontier town, whose capture would give the jihadists unbroken control of a long stretch of Turkey’s more than 900 kilometre (560 mile) border with Syria.

An AFP correspondent on the frontier saw huge plumes of smoke above the town of Kobane as outnumbered and outgunned Kurdish militia put up a desperate resistance.

Early Friday, the town’s defenders destroyed two IS armoured vehicles which had reached less than two kilometres (little more than a mile) from the town, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.