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Foreign Affairs › Bâri′ M. Shabazz? by AfroBlue(op): 4:53am On Nov 09, 2011

Some great conspiracy theory reading wink

Monday, November 7, 2011
Is Putative President Barack Hussein Obama II Really Bari Shabazz, Fugitive from Justice For 21 Years Following An Auto Accident in Honolulu County, Hawaii on March 12, 1982?

http://puzo1..com/2011/11/is-putative-president-barack-hussein.html

Finally, and the most shocking part of her report is that Ms. Trowbridge contends that Bâri′ M. Shabazz is the biological son of Malcolm X.

Politics › Re: Can The North Stand Alone? by AfroBlue(m): 7:03pm On Nov 08, 2011

The Punch Interview:

http://saharareporters.com/interview/punch-interview-i-told-inspector-general-police-advance-abuja-would-be-bombed-says-boko-ha

Christianity Etc › Woman Attacks Pastor While He's Singing by AfroBlue(op): 6:37pm On Nov 08, 2011

Woman attacks Pastor while he's Singing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5TUdPjhyR2U#!

Politics › "this Government Is Entirely Illegitimate, As It Came As A Result Of Rigging And by AfroBlue(op): 6:12pm On Nov 08, 2011

Warning, powerful talk, it may ruffle some feathers, gore some oxen!

The SUN Interview: "This Government Is Entirely Illegitimate, As It Came As A Result Of Rigging And Massive Abuse Of Power"-Dr Junaid Mohammed

http://saharareporters.com/interview/sun-interview-government-entirely-illegitimate-it-came-result-rigging-and-massive-abuse-po

Politics › The Conditions Of Nigeria's Police Force by AfroBlue(op): 5:50pm On Nov 08, 2011

Politics › Re: America Is Working To Destroy Nigeria by AfroBlue(m): 12:15pm On Nov 08, 2011

martinosi:
AFRICOM, We need to counter China Penetration of Africa, We need to start regional conflicts and create Bogeymen, we need to distabilise Central Africa, Same old story, USA Empire Elite have not changed.

From my research the American (colony) military is working for the throne of England, who serves the Pope of Rome who kisses the ring of the Black Pope near the Vatican.

Ring of Power: Empire of the City-Full Length Documentary - 5 hours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w-A54h_GQ8

The Black Pope - The Most Powerful Man In The World?
http://www.illuminati-news.com/black-pope1.htm

Politics › Re: America Is Working To Destroy Nigeria by AfroBlue(m): 11:43am On Nov 08, 2011

The American War Machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl2JQfxnnHU&feature=player_embedded

Politics › Re: A Serving Nigerian Minister Bought House In Austria Worth 21 Million Euros by AfroBlue(m): 11:34am On Nov 08, 2011

That 21 million (N4.5billion) would had gone a long way for education and constructive projects in the north of 9ja. Instead those resources went to Europe (again) while the nation is griped in fear and many contemplate a division.

Foreign Affairs › Re: The Black Nobility: The Very Early History Through Time by AfroBlue(op): 10:27am On Nov 08, 2011

The History of the Illuminati - Chris Everard - Truth Frequency Radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chjz0lRAyFI

Politics › Re: The Shame of a nation. Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Allison-Madueke !!! by AfroBlue(m): 5:14am On Nov 08, 2011

read this recently ,

FUEL SUBSIDY: FG insincerity stalls new refinery projects .

Sunday, 06 November 2011 15:22 Admin Hits: 108 .

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By OLUTAYO OLUBI

• As lack of fund frustrates private initiatives

THE raging issue of the removal of fuel subsidy has again quickened some Nigerians to ask what has become of some refinery projects the Federal Government (FG) had indicated interest in. Some commentators had queried the President Goodluck Jonathan administration's insistence on removing the subsidy on fuel, arguing that there would not have been any need to drag the issue of fuel subsidy had the country had refineries meeting the needs of the people. Presently, Nigeria has an installed crude refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day but this figure is insignificant when compared to the national 32million litres per day consumption.

The Nigerian government had between year 2000 and 2007 encouraged the private sector to go into crude oil refining and had thus awarded 22 licences in principle to both local and foreign investors for the construction of new refineries.

However the situation took on a ridiculous garb when the whole nation was recently thrown into frenzy on the revelation that the Jonathan government was planning to invest $2.68 billion to fund the construction of three 300bpd refinery projects in Indonesia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Group General Manager (Group Public Affairs Division) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Levi Ajuonuma, quickly came out to deny the report maintaining that government was focusing on constructing and completing the three Greenfield Refinery projects it had started.

“The Corporation is presently on the verge of building three Greenfield Refineries in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi States with the country's international partners and therefore it does not make any sense to embark on any such project,” he said.

“The Federal Government,” he said, “does not have any hand in this fictitious project…. The Federal Government is focused on its transformation agenda and committed to delivering on the three Greenfield Refineries on schedule.”

Greenfield Refineries

It is however sad that the Federal Government has been footdragging on the issue of the Greenfield Refineries.

Indication of this first manifested last July when China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was forced to extend by one year a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed last year with the NNPC for the construction of three Greenfield Refineries and a Petrochemical plant in Nigeria.

The renewal of the MoU followed NNPC's inability to make the May 13, 2011 earlier set for the projects envisaged to boost Nigeria's refining capacity by additional 750,000 barrels per day.

Conveying the board's decision in a memo to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Austin Oniwon, CSCEC's Vice President Overseas Operations, Yu Zhende, noted that the extension was granted based on NNPC's assurance that feasibility studies for the three refineries would be carried out in July.

The one paragraph memo, read: “Further to your request to extend the May 13, 2010 MoU between the NNPC and CSCEC for one year, we have held discussions with our board and advised (Detailed Feasibility Studies (DFS) will be ready in July. Although our board would have preferred a three-month extension (because of the need to commence loan negotiations, we accept your request to renew the MoU till May 13, 2012”.

The MoU signed by Nigeria and China in May last year was for the construction of three oil refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa States under a $28 billion provisional deal. The start of the construction, according to the MoU, was dependent on the conclusion of negotiations, which had been slated for 5 July. Under the plan, each new refinery will be able to process around 250,000 barrels of oil a day, potentially meeting Nigeria's estimated need of 750,000 barrels per day over the next ten years.

Under the terms of the agreement, 80 percent of the projects cost were meant to be funded with a term loan provided by China Export Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE) and a consortium of Chinese banks led by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world's largest bank.

The project was envisaged to add 750,000 barrels per day of extra refining capacity to Nigeria's current 445,000 barrel per day refining capacity as well as stem the flood of imported refined products into Nigeria.

The parties had agreed to build two Greenfield 300,000 barrels per day refineries one each in Lagos and Bayelsa and a 150,000 b/d refining plant in Kogi and a gas refining/petrochemical plant based on the gas pipeline network envisaged under the Gas Master Plan. The estimated cost of all four projects had been put at $28.5 billion in which NNPC was to foot only 20 percent of the cost as equity contribution.

Initial request for the extension of the MoU was turned down by the CSCEC on condition that any such decision must be approved by its board. The foreign firm had also categorically stated that securing the loans for all the projects would be difficult in view of numerous requests for project financing from the Chinese Government from other African countries.

The letter for extension of the MoU was signed by the Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries Engineering and Technology Directorate, at the NNPC, Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba.

He gave the update of the feasibility studies for the three refineries as follows; that detailed feasibility study for Lagos refinery would take place in July, 2011, pre-feasibility study for Bayelsa refinery in July, 2011 and that of Kogi Refinery in July, 2011. He also stated that detailed feasibility studies for Bayelsa and Kogi refineries as well as executive summary report for all the 3 refineries would be ready in October this year. The corporation also stated that Wood Mackenzie and Foster Wheeler were working as joint Consultants on all three reports.

Private Refineries
National Daily investigation has equally uncovered the fact that the majority of the 22 private refineries licensed by the Federal Government are having an uphill task meeting the requirement for licence renewal. The challenges, it was gathered, range from funding to difficulty in reaching concrete agreements with potential partners/investors.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) revealed that only nine of the proposed refineries still have valid licences after the government agency compulsorily and generally revoked them for “lack of performance” in March 2007.

The decision to revoke the licences, according to government, was taken after an appraisal, which showed that none of the operators had concrete arrangement for full takeoff. But the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said any of the de-licensed operators could reapply.

Applicants were to meet new conditions, including paying of other fees, “since whatever payment that may have been made for the old licenses has expired with the revocation.”

Findings suggest that most of the operators, indeed, intensified efforts to reclaim their licences. So far, only moves by nine of them had been successful.

The owners have variously lamented lack of access to funds to execute the capital intensive projects.

Mr. Sunny Okoye, a director in Orient Refinery which name is not among the nine, said the company license was not revoked.

“Of course, we still have our licence intact,” he said. “I don't know about that (alleged revocation). What I know is that our own (license) is valid. Ours never entered that mode of cancellation.

In 2009, at the proposed Nsugbe site of the Orient Refinery, a layout was being set on the expanse land for what the stakeholders at the time said was the eventual arrival of the “prefabricated” structure.

But not much progress has been recorded since then. “The key point is completion of the funding process. This thing requires external funding, however you look at it, because it is capital intensive,” Okoye said.

The officer in charge of refineries at the DPR, Mr. A. O Adeleke, explained that Orient is not currently in the list of substantive licencees for private refineries.

Adeleke explained that only few of the refineries were “active and prospective and we are sure that something can come out of them.”
“The main issue,” he said, “is funding, not technology,” because “refinery business is capital intensive.”

“After that of 2007,” he explained, the DPR “has not done any kind of general revocation. They (the refineries) know when their licences expired, and, naturally, if anyone comes to us to validate, we guide him accordingly.”

Reacting to claims that some of the licences do not stand revoked, Adeleke retorted: “They can't even construct. They will come to us. We do have such requests. They come to validate, to check whether the licences can still be used; and we always guide them appropriately.”

An oil industry analyst informed that the Federal Government is merely paying lip service to and know exactly how to resolve the unbecoming issue of fuel importation and the deplorable state of the local refineries.

According to him, most of these refineries where our crude is taken for refining are owned by former and past Nigerian leaders and businessmen who have access to the corridors of power.

There is also the bunkering business where billions of dollars worth of crude oil are being illegally lifted by the day, this is the main reason behind prominent Nigerian's refusal to let the local refineries work to optimum capacity.

Currently, Nigeria's four refineries located in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, with combined capacity to refine 445,000 barrels a day, are operating far below their capacity utilisation.

http://www.nationaldailyngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1839:fuel-subsidy-fg-insincerity-stalls-new-refinery-projects&catid=306:business-news&Itemid=561

Foreign Affairs › The Black Nobility: The Very Early History Through Time by AfroBlue(op): 4:38am On Nov 08, 2011

The Black Nobility: The Very Early History Through Time

http://vaticproject..com/2011/11/black-nobility-very-early-history.html

Politics › Re: America Is Working To Destroy Nigeria by AfroBlue(m): 4:36am On Nov 08, 2011

US Quietly Assumes Military Posture in Africa

http://www.military.com/news/article/us-quietly-assumes-military-posture-in-africa.html

Celebrities › Nollywood Runs by AfroBlue(op): 4:28am On Nov 08, 2011

I didn't write the story. I can only guess 3 but won't name them. grin

EXPOSED: Nollywood Actresses Who Charge between $10,000 and $20,000 As ‘Working Girls’

Story by Osaremen Ehi James

[img]http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L3J1bnMtZ2lybHMuanBnfDYwMA==[/img]

There is no doubt that the make-believe section of the razzmatazz industry in Nigeria is greatly blessed with beauty queens that could make any man drop his last penny on them.

The sector has produced different types of skin colours you could be proud of and otherwise. We have the half castes, the naturally light skinned born beaus and also the otherwise. It is also blessed with the naturally dark and lovely queens, chocolaty screen idols and others one can think of, except the albinos for now.

In all these, most of the Nollywood female thespians are always in dire need by the so called and men, who want to get down with them at all cost, both in home and away matches.

According to information available to us, some of these Nollywood acts engage in this highly profitable business for the fun of it. We learnt that their charges ranges from $10,000 and $20,000, depending on their bargaining powers or by the agents involved. We learnt that some of them travel out of the country on the pretence of attending award shows or one outside functions to cash in more spendable papers into their accounts.

As we scooped, this actress, who is light skinned and likes to be happy being controversial, is said to love this trade with all her heart. She is said to charge between $15,000 and $20,000. Her preferred stadium to her play match is one high ranked public house located in one 5 star areas of Lagos State. This thespian has also taken her trade outside of Nigeria, where she has good clients who pay well for the koko. She is from one of the states across the Niger Bridge.

Also in this trade is this actress that has successfully brought big players in the entertainment industry to one of the films she acted in. According to sources, she started this cool business by charging about $3,000 but now prefers to charge $10,000 because as we learnt, she is now a superstar in the film industry. She is also in the habit of fighting for being called Aunty by some of her colleagues in the industry, and in the habit of giving good nods to bananas of fine boys she works with on location free of charge, especially for those she approaches by herself.

Another tycoon in the sporting lady work is this popular role interpreter that was once romantically linked with a former presidential aspirant in Nigeria. She was also reportedly linked with a hot romance with a point guru. According to what we were told, this Africa representer, who been on location in one of the East African countries, has her bill ranging from $15,000 to $20,000, just as her compared model in the play acting industry in one of the Oyinbo countries. Her clients are now mainly from across the seas

Also in this fancy women trade is this top actress that has kids with her hubby having a job that most women would fast and pray their heartthrobs have. She is from one of the states under the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) radars. As we leant, she is hot and satisfies her clients very well. She is said to be the one that prefers to be on top and not the other way round. She is reported to take close to $20,000 for her services, which most of her clients are always happy to part with.

This thespian, as we were informed, is a one that has something on her b**bs, she is also a mother like the last one described above. What is funny about this one is that she prefers to go local, especially with those in the centre of excellence. Her fees are not really on the high side, as she is believed to just like to be serviced regularly. She charges as low as $2,000 for a round of fight on the bed.

Another participant in this business is this yellow pawpaw babe that is not too tall. She used to always act roles with this fine boy dude in Nollywood. She is really sexy and can melt any man that dares stare at her. As we gathered, her charges are from $10,000 to $15,000. She is said to like to decides what stadium her match be played, but prefer to play away matches on stadiums like Nou Camp.

Watch out for more.

Foreign Affairs › Understanding White Supremacy by AfroBlue(op): 5:23pm On Nov 07, 2011

Article focuses on the states but also has a global theme.

HARD TRUTH

By Min. J. Kojo Livingston

Understanding White Supremacy (part 1 of 3)

When I heard Al Sharpton say it I wanted to puke.

"It" was his prediction that the recent mass demonstration in Jena, Louisiana signaled the birth of the 21st Century Civil Rights Movement.

"God forbid," I prayed silently, "They just don't get it."

Of all the things Black people need right now, another 'Civil Rights' movement has got to be near the last, if not after the last.

Yes, I supported the march. Yes, I helped dozens of people get there, even though my own transportation did not work out. Yes, I know about the euphoria of thousands of Black folks gathering to show their collective outrage and concern. Yes, I know that many felt the presence of God in that place at that time and I am excited about the possibility of a heightened sense of activism and collective commitment to the advancement of the Black race.

But no, I do not want to see a re-hash of the Civil Rights Movement. And since millions of our people at least claim to experience some form of spiritual ecstasy at least once per week in church (and nothing changes), I'm looking for something more than a momentary illumination. We need a plan and a system and a culture that produces lasting, tangible, meaningful results.

This needs to happen immediately as the post 911 USA moves rapidly toward an open totalitarian police state. Good Lord people, you're seeing White people's civil liberties being snatched in front of your very eyes in the name of public safety or security (or fear). At an anti-war demonstration in Fairport, New York, cops arrested protesters, confiscated the cameras of reporters, then told them that to get them returned they would have to identify other reporters there. Laws are being passed, as you read this, to make it easier to for this government to spy on you without cause or consequence. These acts aren't opposed by your animated conservative commentators because they seem to be directed at folks who are undesirable due to their political or religious postures or their perceived threat to the status quo.

So, what on earth do you think these people have planned for us? Here's a sample: At Knight High School in Palmdale, California a Black school girl was literally jumped on by security guards for dropping cake crumbs and not cleaning them up well enough. After three attempts she tried to walk away and they broke her arm. She was arrested for attacking the guards, a common tactic nowadays. The attack was caught on camera. Then the guards attacked and arrested the child who filmed the attack and his sister for just being there. Are you beginning to get an idea of where things are headed?

A new 'Civil Rights Movement' will not answer this kind of repression. We must move beyond begging for rights to organizing ourselves to use our vast economic, cultural and spiritual power to sustain, protect and advance ourselves.

Somehow we've got to mature to the point where we can distinguish the difference between success and a good showing, catharsis from victory and progress from bull****.

Our basic problem is not sporadic acts or instances of White racist behavior on the part of some officials or municipalities. Yes, there are battles that must be won on those levels, but the real issue is the world system of White supremacy. This will never be broken or overcome by a movement which, by definition, exists to demand better treatment from others who control all of the systems that supply, define and direct your life. Civil Rights, at best, can only make living under White supremacy a bit more comfortable and that only for a few of us. Under open martial law that comfort zone will be mighty small.

"Curing" White people is not our job. However breaking White supremacy's hold on our lives has to be the first step to true and total Black liberation. And while leaving the US could be an answer for a few of us, white supremacy is a world phenomenon that is hard to escape anywhere on the planet, including and especially Afrika.

But what is White supremacy? Who is a White supremacist and what is the difference between White supremacy and White racism? Glad you asked!!!

White supremacy is a commitment to the domination of the earth (or universe) by people of European origin. This commitment is rooted in fear, an incredibly powerful fear, of scarcity or a lack of enough resources to go around. This fear screams "If I don't have it all, I may not have enough someday." This fear gives birth to greed which becomes a god that demands to be appeased at any and all costs. No act is too dishonorable, vile or low down to reject for this cause. Ask the slaves. Ask the natives. Ask the Jews.

White conservatives, liberals, radicals, socialists and communists tend to all agree on one thing: White people should be in charge. How they should rule the other groups is another question.

White supremacy is a living drive that creates economic, political, religious and cultural systems to support itself. The cornerstone of White supremacy is the philosophy of White superiority. This philosophy says that White people are inherently superior to everyone else and therefore obligated (or 'burdened') to rule everyone else and entitled to take the best of everything for themselves. This philosophy has been and is still taught in virtually every home, classroom, church, news and entertainment medium that everyone in this society and most of the world has been exposed to since birth. That's why it seems so natural. That is why damn-near everyone in the United States and most of the rest of the planet is a White supremacist, including and especially Black people.

"Say what?"

Yes, anyone of any color who consciously or unwittingly supports WS is a White Supremacist.

The justifying tenet of White supremacy is the notion that White is right. This means that when White people are clearly wrong the only task is to figure a way to explain HOW they are right. The primary legitimizing strategy today is to claim that White racism either no longer exists or is not a real factor in today's world. When evidence to the contrary appears you must lie, distort or distract attention. For activists it's easy to get caught up wasting time proving to racists that they are racists. They already know what they are. The question is how much of your time can they tie up to keep you focused on them and not on making your own real progress. Black people don't need another 'national dialogue on race'. We just need to figure out how we are going to eliminate our dependence on other groups and how we are going to empower and protect ourselves from what the US is about to become.

So we have all of these layers of deception, delusion, repression and exploitation and the only thing a leader can come up with is another Civil Rights Movement? Get real, Quickly!

Fortunately there is a lot we can do, and although I certainly don't have all the answers, we'll look at some options in the next two installments.

Until then, we need to be seriously considering, What Are We Going to Do?

Understanding White Supremacy, Part 2

Imagine Jena, Louisiana, in reverse.

Imagine a group of White kids in the heat of a racial conflict jumped a Black student, injuring him. Imagine the Black student went to the hospital to get checked, but was in good enough shape to attend a school activity that same night. Now imagine a Black District Attorney charging the White students with attempted murder (with a tennis shoe), this after bragging at an earlier confrontation about his ability to take away their lives “with the stroke of a pen.”

Would the local and national media have been so reluctant and slow to cover the issue? Would hot headed political commentators be cheering the decision? Would a White attacker be left in jail for nine months? Or would the DA know better for fear of his job and his life?

Okay, jump to reality. There actually were attacks on Black by Whites in Jena prior to the incident involving Mychal Bell. At least one involved a gang of Whites beating a Black youth, (who was told by a responding cop to go back to his own neighborhood). Another had a gun being pulled on a group of Black youth. Of course no Whites were arrested and there will never be any media outrage about these attacks.

Let’s look at a more blatant case. Recently in West Virginia young Megan Williams was kidnaped for five days, tortured in horrendous ways and sexually assaulted by six people. What? No ongoing radio outrage? No screams for the death penalty? Why? The woman was Black and her attackers were White. The conservative strategy for this type of incident is first denial. Deny it happened or deny it was really serious. Won’t work here cause they were busted in the act. Next, make the victim responsible. What was she doing in that neighborhood? Then if all else fails, deflect attention to other issues. Well, Blacks kill each other so this should not be a big deal. Notice that honest concern about the seriousness of this crime or its implications is not an option for your media mouths. Why? Because it’s about the color, not the crime.

Black folks, if you are still trying to prick the conscience of this nation or convince others to share power or treat you better, you are wasting your time. If you are still trying to play the color-blind game in spite of the fact that Black people are behind in every aspect of life and treated worse on every level of this system then you need to wake up and face reality. But it’s okay. If you won’t listen to me, reality will bite you soon enough. Possibly sooner than that.

It’s never been about equality. The founders of this country made it clear in the constitution that Black people were less than human. It’s never been about justice. The Dred Scott philosophy still stands; we still have no legal rights that a White man is bound to respect. It’s always been about power.

The issue for the people who run this nation is keeping a handful of White people in control and exploiting everyone else. Today it’s about tightening that control to the maximum using Black people as both the testing group and the excuse. It’s never been about freedom’ or justice’, especially not for all’. It’s always been about control of people and resources. White supremacy (WS) is the name of the game and Black people have been its greatest asset and promoter.

We came as slaves to build their economic system. Since slavery we still continue to use most of our waking hours and energy working for peanuts to advance some White owned or controlled business or agency. After working all week for this system, we take nearly a trillion dollars (annually) of the money we earned and put in right back into the hands of other ethnic groups. We either ignore or find reasons not to support Black-owned businesses. Then we brag about which expensive auto, jewel or clothing company has ripped us off.

We tend to define success in terms of which White corporation we work for. We have the gall to tell our children to go to college, get in debt, study hard and graduate. Why? So they can go find a wealthy master to work for life. Ask a group of Black college students (as I do often) how many are in school to get a good job’ and most will raise their hands. Ask how many plan to ever work for themselves and you get little or no response. We are teaching them to aspire toward a life of subservience. And almost none of our leaders in the religious, political or academic fields will encourage our children to become owners. So Black kids aspire to be sports team players instead of team owners; actors in movies instead of owners of production and distribution companies; rappers instead of radio or TV station owners. We actually push our future leaders to strive to perform on stages, studios, arenas and in media that are owned by someone else. No other ethnic group even thinks this way.

Then we even lend our spirit-force, or faith to White supremacy. When we close our eyes to pray, the image we address is either an old White man with a white beard or a young blond White guy, neither of whom could possibly be the image of God or Jesus. If the first nation mentioned in the Bible is Ethiopia and the first people made in God’s image came from that region, then the old White guy could not possibly be what God looks like. Maybe a’ god but definitely not The God. We already know that Jesus and his family were dark skinned enough to go and hide out in Egypt (which is part of Afrika, for those who have been lied to). These bleached images were sold to us and beaten into us for hundreds of years so that today most Black people see a White person they believe that they are looking at the image of God. Our folks even get mad when you question that image.

Most racists would probably be surprised to know the degree to which most Blacks really do feel that we as a group are inferior and that the best we can do is to either become more like White people or to get them to accept us. Five hundred years of brainwashing has been very effective.

Contrary to the whining of racists, most Black folks don’t spend our energy trying to be different. We go overboard, spending billions per year trying to dress, speak, think and even alter our bodies to look like White people. This is our cultural contribution to the continuance of WS. The average Black woman will go to her grave putting acid in her hair to make it look and behave like a White woman’s hair. Some of you know people who still press their lips against their teeth so the lips will look thinner. Some of our educated’ folks even try to sound British to appear more intelligent. Most of our people scoff at any mention of our own history, especially pre-slavery. And we’re trying to be different? We’re not trying to be different enough!

To get beyond the alarmist game of the conservative/racists you have to look at the real facts. White people still own most of everything good in this country. Black people still own the least. We have given up virtually every industry and own less than 2% of the nation’s wealth. We are not a threat in ownership of anything and Black elected officials rarely help us because their money comes from outside the community. We may dominate as players in sports, but our athletes are owned by White teams or groups. So why do racists get so upset whenever we get a little bit of something? Because the imperative of WS is to have it all. Total control, total dominance, total submission.

It’s not a conspiracy. There is no secrecy. This society is openly moving to the point where you are not allowed to do anything that is cannot be tracked by some agency via camera or computer. When buying groceries, to get a discount you have to have a card that identifies you and tracks all of your purchases. This means they can tell whether you purchased more corn than peas or dirty magazines. Remember when you could ride the Greyhound without picture ID? No more! To use a library computer you have to be identified so that someone can tell where you went, how many times you went there and how long you spent or who you communicated with. It’s life under surveillance in the name of fear. We are already in Orwell’s nightmare. But it’s not enough for this government.

For Blacks it’s worse because we are the testing ground and the justification for a repressive society. Katrina proved that you could abandon over 20,000 Black folks to face death, hunger, filth and squalor for days without any national repercussions. In San Francisco, where eight ex-Panthers are on trial, again after 20 years, a judge decided to allow confessions secured under torture. In New Orleans members of a second line were arrested and beaten for well, having a second line. In Jackson, MS Katrina evacuees picketing the Red Cross office were confronted by police who told them they had to register’ to have a picket line. There are enough stories to fill up website and keep all organizations busy chasing justice. That approach won’t work.

The racist/conservative talk show hosts are effective at diverting attention from the extinction of civil liberties and toward an imaginary Black threat. While they whip up anger or fear of Blacks, liberals or Muslims, the folks who are electronically peeking in your shower are fighting for more access to your life. Most Whites will be glad to see undesirables’ contained or eliminated and won’t wake up until those neighborhood cameras are used to enforce a curfew on their own block. When a guy in uniform is pointing a gun at them telling them to go back in their home, they will finally get it’ and say to themselves, “It wasn’t the n*goers after all. We should have been watching our own folks.”

While that may be a satisfying admission, I would like to propose that Black people cannot afford to wait for that day to come. There is a lot that must be done quickly. What I am able to understand of what must be done will constitute the third and final installment of this series.

Until then, have you considered Whatchagonna DO?

HARD TRUTH
By Min. J. Kojo Livingston
liberationzone@aol.com
Destinyone.org

Understanding White Supremacy (Part 3 of 3)

"So this is it. The single most important column I've done in 29 years as a journalist and 35 years as a ground-level activist for Black Liberation. But I'm not good enough. Sitting here, surrounded by the ancestors, I realize that I am hardly adequate to share the fullness of their counsel. But the Spirit of God says 'Try, make the effort, go for it.' Deep breath. Let's DO this".

How do you stomp a child to death on camera and be declared 'not guilty' in a court of law? The same way you the same way you ignore the televised pleas of thousands of hurricane victims that you have the ability to rescue in a matter of hours. It's the same way you could re-enslave or annihilate an entire un-desirable element of a society. It worked for Hitler and has worked before and since him.

It was about two years before Katrina that Dr. Samuel F. Yette came to New Orleans . My pastor, Dwight Webster, had studied under him in Howard and invited me to have lunch with them. It was a dream come true. I admired this man since 1973 when I read his book, "The Choice: The Issue of Black Survival in America ." In it he used publicly available documents to expose the rationale and plans to contain and exterminate Black people. The book was so powerful that President Richard Nixon attempted to prevent it from being published. (Of course, today he would have succeeded.) Like a kid in a candy store, I must have asked him at least half a million questions. One answer froze me in my tracks.

"I imagine a day when the other nations will have to meet to decide whether or not to try to save us from annihilation. I imagine them saying, 'They don't produce anything. They are not contributing anything of value to the world. There is no justification for taking the risks and making the sacrifices necessary to rescue these people from a nation that powerful.'"

It's time for us as a people to reposition ourselves.
Some of our better minds believe that we have about five years to do this before the term 'ugly' takes on a new meaning for us. I hope they are right. The totalitarians may not want to have another national election. That would give us about one year. But five years of vigorous work could put us on the path to real empowerment and serious national change. Doing nothing could leave us either non-existent on in some modified form of mass enslavement.

It's not about a being protected by a system where you have rights. We're not and we don't. It's about possessing the power and position to provide for and protect ourselves. Now, more than ever, Black people need a Black Power or Black Empowerment Movement that has clear, long and short range objectives and rational strategy for achieving self-sufficiency and self-determination with justice.
How do we come out of this mess and rise to the level of greatness of our ancestors? There are many ways. So to organize this brief synopsis we'll go from the big picture to the little picture, what we must do and what you can do, starting today, immediately, right now.

THE BIG PICTURE

The first thing is to realize that our struggle is part of the universal battle between good and evil. There is no cause on this earth more sacred than the pursuit of the destiny (God's plan) and restoration of Black people!
Therefore my first piece of practical advice is to PRAY. (Where did you expect me to start? I'm a preacher.) Pray according to your own tradition. Pray by yourself and with groups. Pray often and expect to get answers.

Having trouble getting past the image of the old White guy in your head? Here's a technique that I use. When in prayer or meditation imagine the blackness of space. Now imagine a deeper blackness within that Blackness. Now speak to the core of that Blackness but not with your head but from your heart. You are now communicating with the Creator. (Apologies to 'those-who-know', but we really need this right now.)

Next, the most critical thing that Black people must do at this point is to begin to aggressively LOVE ourselves. Sounds mushy? What was the first tool used to enslave us? An aggressive, international campaign to reduce us to less-than-human status in our own eyes and the eyes of the world. It is this self-hatred and self-doubt that allows, causes and mandates that we accept a lower position in life. Carter G. Woodson said a person taught to be subservient would make a back door to go in if he did not find one. We need to use every possible vehicle to promote the concept of Black self-love. Music, spoken word, images on t-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, flags, caps will all help. We need to talk and teach the mechanics of self-love using TV, radio, movies, the net, books, tapes, brochures, posters, classes and mass rallies and anything else we can find. We are good at dissing each other, now we must learn the habit of appreciating each other and building our people up.

Then we must change the culture of activism. This is the mantra of our ministry. We've got to grow up as people. We must move from being short-sighted and re-active to operating based on a long-term vision with clear objectives and plans. We could keep re-acting to racist offenses for the next 400 years (if we had that long) but it would not advance us as a people. We need to agree to a definition/vision of what we want, develop a credible strategy and then refuse to stop until we have fulfilled it. This is called becoming responsible for one's Destiny.

Since we spent most of our physical, mental, spiritual and financial energy supporting the world system of White supremacy, we must begin to take some of our power back from that system in simple, practical ways. Put more of your labor into liberation activities. Start spending more money with Black businesses. Make your dollars work to strengthen your own community. Teach our children the value of business ownership. This could help our people to start really supporting our businesses. Brother James Clingman recently pulled together groups to revive a new MATA movement. You can also go online and check The Black Business Network and IZANIA.com.

We must develop active relationships with other nations, especially Afrika. These can be business relationships, cultural exchanges, academic and other types of activities that expand our horizons. Black people must start doing business with Afrika. When I was in South Afrika a brother practically pleaded with me, "Everybody is coming here and getting rich except the American Blacks." It's no accident. Oppression-induced Afri-phobia prevents us from taking advantage of partnerships that could help both us and the Motherland. These relationships will expand our understanding of the larger world, greatly enhance our financial wealth and bring active allies that can be of some help in a worst case scenario.
We must develop strategies and resources to generate meaningful consequences for those who violate our people. People should know that if you mess with us we will not only 'express collective outrage' but we will find a way make you pay and do the right thing. One short-term tactic I like is picketing homes of offenders. It's how we shut down the South African consulate in New Orleans . Heck, we went to jail picketing the consulate office and Kruggerand shops but when we showed up at his home he left and took his staff with him.

In Jena this could be tried with the DA or other officials. It doesn't take 40,000 people to make an impact this way and you can maintain consistency, say one hour per day at some strategic time, until your objective (and you must have an objective) is achieved. On a larger scale, strategic boycotts, lawsuits and even exposing embarrassing or incriminating information are all fair in war, and we are at war, we just keep losing.

THE SPECIFICS

To win we've got to build a real base of economic, political and cultural power. This involves short-term, practical self-sufficiency work as well as bold national moves. Both types of endeavors are listed below:
START A GARDEN. Yes, a GARDEN. A one-foot square project in your back yard can grow into an economic engine for your entire community, if you use your danged Kuumba, B that's creativity. Believe it or not, gardening projects make communities safer and more unified. There's something about people working together that strengthens and puts the 'neighbor' back in the 'hood.'

Even a small garden can generate income by selling to stores or individuals. Since most of our people rarely eat real food nowadays, there are serious health benefits and even behavioral benefits for our children. Since land is the basis for political and economic power, learning how to relate to the land and feed ourselves is a practical first step that you can begin THIS VERY DAY.

Imagine massive gardening projects in every city that also connected with Black farmers, (who really need our support). Imagine vacant, nasty lots replaced with life-affirming, organized vegetation. Imagine having an Afrikan marketplace set up where people can sell their wares and that the community truly supports. Imagine a goal of re-directing 1% of the grocery dollars of the Black community in your city in the first year's time and 5% in three years. That's a lot of money and a lot of power. Since I'm no expert on this, you might want to contact the Federation of Southern Cooperatives to help you get going.

BREAK THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE. Our schools were bad before high-stakes testing. Now they are becoming drop-out factories to feed the new slavery, the prison industry. We simply need our own national school system that could start with mass home schooling. This week you can begin tutoring or participating in an after-school or weekend program that teaches children their history and culture. You can become an advocate for education change. CIBI- the Council of Independent Black Institutions may be a place to start. The Children's Defense Fund is also working this issue.

INCREASE THE PEACE - especially with our youth and young adults. We've got to take our children back from the 'drug/thug' culture. We've got an entire generation of born warriors who simply need direction. Let's go get them. Programs that combine cultural orientation with employment or (legal) income producing training have been effective across the country. If necessary, you can start one in your living room. We're going to do an entire column or series on this.

HELP STOP RECIDIVISM. Visit or write someone in prison, help others do the same. What if every Church adopted two prisoners who are about to come out and helped them find work and stay out of the joint? Check out my friends at NABSIO - the National Association of Brothers and Sisters Inside and Out.

CHALLENGE THE PRISON-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. This thing is a racial reality. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, White people are arrested for way more crimes, even violent crimes than anybody else in the country. No surprise there, since they are 'way' the majority. So why are we over-represented in the prisons? Guess the Whites are all false arrests. We need to work with folks like The Sentencing Project, to expose and oppose how this system treats our people. Groups like Critical Resistance are doing this work.

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT. Read something everyday. Check out some of the empowerment plans other leaders have laid out for our people. The works of Marcus Garvey, Chancellor William's Destruction of Black Civilization, Amos Wilson's epic 'Blue Print for Black Power' (no, I didn't finish it either), and don't miss Claud Anderson's "Powernomics" because his Harvest Institute is actually doing the stuff he writes about. Start a book club and PLEASE get the books from Black-owned bookstores. Check out website you're not supposed to know about such as Democracy Now.org or Copwatch, or Project Censored. If you are a fundamentalist, biblical literalist with high blood pressure, or a heart condition, please DO NOT visit wblr.com, that's WBLR.COM. Do not click on the radio and do not listen to Dr. Ray Hagins. (Okay, at least I warned you.) Also check out wlib.com.

ORGANIZE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. Develop a neighborhood vision and a plan for realizing it. Get prepared for natural or human generated disasters. Learn how to protect your community. My ministry does it through setting up Liberated Zones. For info check our website (under construction) at destinyone.org.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY. Look up 'REX 84' or 'Operation Garden Plot' (they're about you). Like to hear the other side raw? Search terms like 'paramilitary' or 'RaHoWa'.

JOIN SOMETHING. Other groups that are already doing self-determination work include: 10$10$50.org; - a campaign I just got involved in that is dedicated to creating synergy among Black organizations. They don't duplicate, they coordinate! Other groups include, The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, National Black United Front, the New Afrikan People's Organization, INCITE! Women of Color vs Violence (family violence is a threat to our future) and The Millions More Movement . Most of these either have a group near you or would be delighted to have you start one in your area. You don't have to re-invent the wheel.

There's much more than can fit in this or several columns, but I hope you've got the urgency and some ideas that can help you become active and effective in pursuing total Black Liberation. I promise to provide more information of these and other solutions in future columns. I value your input and ideas.

So, Whatchagonna DO? As we say at Destiny One, "Let's Go Get Our People!

Celebrities › Re: Nigerian Model In The Uk by AfroBlue(m): 5:08pm On Nov 07, 2011

u look great and gotta tight body Ma. tongue

https://www.nollywoodgossip.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Yemzi2-560x1024.jpg

Celebrities › Re: Nollywood's Patience Ozokwor Joins Hollywood. by AfroBlue(m): 5:04pm On Nov 07, 2011

Big ups to Mama G.

' Fire on the Mountain ' is my favorite work of this talented lady.

Romance › Re: . by AfroBlue(m): 4:56pm On Nov 07, 2011

OP, if allowed take either your father, uncle, or older brother/cousin to the festivities. It shows more class. Please don't go the fake route. There's enough fake ppl in the world now. Make your hair, lose or gain a few kg to make your dress/outfit look sharp and meet and greet your female competitor with style and grace. This will stay on your ex's mind after the ceremony with thoughts of how dignified you presented yourself in public. Most men want ladies in public and a ashy in the bedroom. As soon as your ex and the new girl have a argument or blowup he will come running back to you. Be his friend and give him mental comfort and peace of mind, but by all means keep your legs closed until he closes out his relationship with your competitor. This hook is guaranteed to work. Happy hunting! grin

Sports › Re: Africans Win The 2011 New York City Marathon by AfroBlue(op): 10:35pm On Nov 06, 2011

Sports › Africans Win The 2011 New York City Marathon by AfroBlue(op): 10:09pm On Nov 06, 2011

Geoffrey Mutai Wins New York Marathon With Course Record

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Geoffrey Mutai breaking the tape in the record time of 2:05:06.

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Firehiwot Dado caught Mary Keitany in Central Park to win the New York City Marathon in her debut

November 6, 2011
Geoffrey Mutai Wins New York Marathon With Course Record
By LIZ ROBBINS
Race after race this year, the footsteps kept getting faster as runners approached the limits of marathon performance. Course records had fallen in frenzied fashion at the other major marathons — Boston, London, Chicago and Berlin, where the world record was set.

Would New York, the hilliest of the majors, follow that blistering path for a record on its own course?

If so, Geoffrey Mutai was the man to do it, and he did not disappoint on a gloriously crisp New York day.

Not quite seven months after shattering the Boston Marathon record in a world-best time of 2 hours 3 minutes 2 seconds — a time that was ultimately not sanctioned as a world record primarily because Boston is a point-to-point course — Mutai crushed the New York record, which had stood for a decade.

Mutai, a 30-year-old Kenyan, dashed past the finish line in 2:05:06, beating the 2:07:43 course record set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia in 2001. But he was not the only one who bettered the old record: Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya finished second in 2:06:28 and Tsegaye Kebede third in 2:07:13. All three men will receive bonuses of $70,000 for going under the previous record.

Geoffrey Mutai also won $130,000 for winning the race.

Last year’s winner, Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia, was fourth in 2:08:00. Meb Keflezighi of the United States, who won here in 2009, finished sixth with a personal-best 2:09:13.

The world record is 2:03:38, set by Patrick Makau of Kenya in Berlin on Sept. 25.

A world best has not been seen on the New York course in three decades, when the American Alberto Salazar ran 2:08:13 in 1981. That era is long gone, replaced by a brave, blistering new crop of runners who are gunning, someday, to break two hours.

On this first Sunday in November along with a record starting field of 47,107, Geoffrey Mutai made this a race to remember.

With a bold move in the Bronx to separate himself from a tight pack of seven men, Mutai broke open the race before charging back into Manhattan. He ran the final six miles alone, his victory never in doubt.

Mutai said the New York course was tough.

“I try at the last minute to push it a little more,” said Mutai, who is not related to Emmanuel Mutai. “We all worked together — and then it was time to push it. For me, I was trying to run my own race.”

For Mutai, the exhilaration and ultimate deflation of his Boston performance served as motivation while training in the remote hills of Ethiopia’s Central Rift Valley. He trains without a coach, with a group of about 50 runners. This way, he can tell himself just what to do.

Mutai acknowledged that he was disappointed by not being able to call his 2:03:02 a world record. It was not sanctioned as a record course because of the elevation loss and because its start and finish were separated by more than 50 percent of the race distance.

Did he consider himself a world-record holder? “I am still fighting to be,” he said.

Emmanuel Mutai, who won the London Marathon in the spring with a course record, collected a $500,000 consolation by finishing second here and winning the World Marathon Majors series.

Mutai sets NYC Marathon mark; Dabo top female
The Sports Xchange

Geoffrey Mutai can officially claim the fastest time in New York City Marathon history —even if his record time for all marathons, earned in Boston, seven months ago was not deemed official.

Muttai shattered the New York City course record Sunday with a time of two hours, five minutes and six seconds—about a minute-and-a-half faster than the old record, set by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia.

Firehiwot Dado completed a stunning comeback to capture the women's title.

Mutai said his final push in the Bronx, in the five-borough, 26.2-mile race, clinched it for him.

"I try at the last minute to push it a little more," Mutai, who made his separation move in the Bronx, told reporters after the five-borough race. "We all worked together—and then it was time to push it. For me, I was trying to run my own race."

The 30-year-old did not, however, top his record for the quickest time in marathon history. He set that in Boston last April in 2:03:02. The mark was not dubbed an official world record though because the course was labeled too straight and downhill. While Mutai acknowledged disappointment at not having the official mark, he said he was happy to be at that level and that he was "fighting to be" the record-holder.

Jifar had run the race in 2011 in a time of 2:07:43, but will now go down as having the fourth best time in race history. Emmanuel Mutai, who is not related to the race winner, finished second Sunday. The Kenyan also passed Jifar with a time of 2:06:28. So did Tsegaye Kebede, of Ethiopia, who was third at 2:07:13.

Mutai, of Kapng'etuny, Kenya, earned a total of $200,000 in taking the race ($130,000) and setting the course record ($70,000).

London Marathon champion Mary Keitany led Dado for the women's title by almost 2 ½ minutes with 11 miles to go, but Dado, of Ethiopia, surprised Keitany by passing her with a mile to go.

Dado won with a time of 2:23:15, beating fellow Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba, a fan favorite who lives in the Bronx, by four seconds. Keitany finished third by 23 seconds.

"Because she'd been running so fast from the very beginning, I didn't imagine that we'd catch her," Dado said after the race of Keitany, who was on a course-record pace before tiring. "But when we did get closer and we saw her, I was very surprised and I was very happy."

A record 47,107 runners started the race.

Politics › Re: How Many Nl Witnessed The Civil War (1967 - 1970)? by AfroBlue(m): 9:41pm On Nov 06, 2011

I did a quick read of the topic and was surprised to see two Commonwealth Nations supporting opposite sides. Canada supported Biafra, and the U.K. supported the FG of Nigeria. Amazing how western powers played both ends.

Nigerian Civil War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Civil_War

The British and Soviet Union supported (especially militarily) the Nigerian government while Canada and France helped the Biafrans. The United States seemed to be neutral but helped the Biafrans through the Red Cross.

1 Like

Romance › Rich Hubby, Poor Hubby: The Difference by AfroBlue(op): 9:25pm On Nov 06, 2011

Good interviews!

Rich hubby, poor hubby, the difference

By VICTOR EBIMOMI, OGE OKONKWO and CHUKS EZE

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Marriage is divine and sacred. Every individual who did not opt for life of celibacy eagerly looks forward to the day he or she will say “I do.” But just as every individual is different, every marriage is also different. While some husbands are well to do, others are not. But does the economy of a man determine the level of love, peace and understanding that exist between him and his wife?

Sunday Sun went to town to get the views of ‘Lagosians’ about the differences between rich and poor husbands and how it contributes to the success of marriage.

No difference, whether rich or poor, men don’t take care of women - Uju
I am not among those who believe that men take care of their wives. I don’t think any man can take care of his wife in the actual sense of it. As far as I am concerned, any woman who sits back to wait for her rich or poor husband to come and pamper her is wasting her time. He may brainwash you to believe that, but it’s all deception. The best bet is for every woman to realize that over 90 per cent of men hardly create time to be with their wives. So, many women are there in their marriages just because of money but we all know that money cannot buy love. Any woman who wants to take care of herself can do that without waiting for her hubby.

Rich hubby’s never there but his money speaks for him - Mrs Ndubu, Head Teacher
When you look at the differences between rich and poor husbands, you notice that the rich have so much to spend while the poor have so little or even nothing to spend as the case may be. Likewise, rich husbands have so much to think and worry about more than their poor counterparts. All these affect marriage differently.

Rich men are highly respected and valued both in the church and society because of their donations as against poor men who always toil to see that works are accomplished. The rich are not always there but their money is speaking for them, but the poor who usually have so little to give are always available . If you go to any church or even social gathering, you’ll see many wives of rich men without their husbands. So, rich men’s money is always there as they travel around but poor husbands may not always have enough to give but they are always there in person to share the little they have with their wives.

Rich hubby insults, poor hubby respects - Azuma Koffi, Togolese
I am a father of five and from experience; I’ll not want any of my daughters to marry a rich man because it is usually associated with insult, embarrassment, and neglect. No matter how strong they loved each other during courtship, quarrel is bound to come and he would surely utter contemptuous statements. So, I’ll not want any man to tell my daughter that it was because of his wealth that she ran to him.

I would rather want a man that would settle disputes with my daughter amicably. Such things have happened severally in my home country, Togo. It is better for a woman to marry a man whom she would partner with to build their marriage. If one’s husband becomes rich after their marriage, there would be no room for such insult . Poor husbands do not have such attitude. Also, women always enjoy watching their husbands eat their cooking. Rich husbands hardly stay around to offer their wives such privilege, while their poor counterparts are always there to give their wives warmth and tenderness.

Most rich husbands pay more attention to their wealth than their manrriage - Hon Boniface Ike
There are different categories of riches and wealth. As far as I know, most rich husbands only pay attention to their business and wealth. Love and understanding is what matters in any relationship. I know of a man in my village who was so poor that he and his wife did menial jobs to sustain themselves. They never quarreled for one day. Today, their son is adjudged the richest man in our town. I also know a number of women who got married to rich men only to separate shortly after. So, intending couples should look out for love rather than riches. Where there is inadequate love, no amount of wealth can buy peace and understanding. So, the poor couple that I spoke about earlier were poor laborers, but they were peaceful and happy with each other even in poverty.

Poor husbands better with tender, loving care - Chukwudi Chiaghanam
Some girls scramble to marry rich men because of the status they aim to attain in the society. You know, almost all young ladies in Nigeria want to belong. They want to be pace setters. Any man who can satisfy their financial need is their dream man. So, since it is only steady supply of money that can guarantee targeted status, they just grab any rich man that comes their way not minding how he made his money.

The result is that soon after such marriage is contracted, it heads for the rocks because the lady finds out that money can’t buy everything. She may attempt to use her hubby’s money to buy love from another man. Politicians, business men and top government officials who always travel from place to place for meeting and rallies, only make more than enough money available for their wives but they are hardly there for them in person. Those married to poor men have access to whatever their husbands have, including adequate love and tenderness. Their husbands are always available for them.

Poor husbands help with house chores—-Fidelia Anocha
My husband and I live like brother and sister. He assists me in doing household chores. Sometimes he helps to do the laundry. He would not live home to anywhere without telling me. Whenever he is away from home, he always calls to know the situation at home. We are blessed with four children and we are happy and contented. I don’t remember when last we quarreled. Though sometimes we argue but it is for the good of the family and our children. He is a very caring husband and I don’t have any regrets marrying him. He is a mechanical engineer.

I need a man who understands me——Regina Omosola
I feel happy getting married to someone who understands me. He buys me anything that he thinks can make me look fine. He is a man that does not bother much about what people say. He likes keeping to himself and his family. Sometimes he goes out with friends probably to enjoy himself, but I am sure he does not womanize. Naturally, we quarrel sometimes but we never allow it to last till another day. He buys things like foodstuff himself on his way home from work. He is a salesman.

Though we’re not rich, but we’re comfortable——-Anthonia
I’m happy getting married to my husband. Although we are not so rich but we are comfortable. We have our own house and our children are in good schools. He is a clearing and forwarding agent. There are times he goes out without telling me but he will call later to let me know his whereabouts. He buys me anything I want. If he is annoyed over anything I know, because he will either be moody or he will stay at the veranda and take a drink probably two or three bottles of beer. Once I notice that, I know that there is something troubling him. He sometimes helps dress my youngest child for school. Apart from that, my oga does not have time for anything.
My husband knows the size of everything I wear—-Moji Adewunmi
My husband shares everything with me. He does not keep anything secret from me. He is a different husband who can do anything to please his family. He buys anything for me. He knows the sizes of everything I wear. I don’t know or I can’t remember when last we argued over anything. He is caring not only to me but to his children as well. That’s important for me . He is an engineer.

Mine surprises me with gifts—-Clara Olawunmi
I don’t like discussing my family in public, but I can tell you that I have a good husband. Well, I would not say he is very rich but he is capable of taking care of the family. Sometimes we go out for shopping together and he is a man who delights in surprising you with unexpected gifts. He is not a night crawler. Most times he stays in door with his family. He is into estate management.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/explore/2011/nov/06/explore-06-11-2011-003.html

Celebrities › Dad Bought Me My First Bra – Nse Ikpe Etim by AfroBlue(op): 3:42pm On Nov 06, 2011

[b]I like this actress and her work.

[img]http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L0lrcGUtRXRpbS1icmEuanBnfDYwMA==[/img]

Dad bought me my first bra – Nse Ikpe Etim

By Our reporter

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Nse Ikpe Etim is the sweet lovely star with an unassuming air; an actress with extraordinary talent. In this interview, she shares the pain of her father’s death and how she learnt to become a survivor. Excerpt…

When actually did you start acting?
I tried it years ago. Then I didn’t take it serious because I saw it like I was doing the producer a favour, and after that, gradually.
Your career didn’t blossom until after your return

Should we say things happen for you when you are ready for them? I think that’s how it happened. In all honesty, I think it’s the hand of God. I cannot attribute it to anything else. I cannot attribute it to any man or person or even my own effort, not because I am good or a professional. It’s just God. That’s all I know,

It wasn’t until you did the movie, Reloaded
Yeah, it was not until Reloaded. I got into the character; I imagined how some married women would react in such situation. I have never being married but I just imagined how they would react from my line as a woman. I pictured it as a situation whereby it is the woman that owns most of the money. That’s why it hurt her that much. You know, sometimes women love so much they won’t let go, and sometimes they love so much they have to let go so that the person can be happy. So, the character was a strong woman. I don’t even know how I got into the character, because I just got the script few weeks to production and I was just coming back. I don’t even know how I managed to interpret the role perfectly.

How did you get the role?
The producer gave it to me. She felt I could work around the character, although I initially didn’t want to play the role.

Was it a blessing?
Yeah, it was a blessing in disguise. But I don’t wish my enemy to be an actress.

Why?
Because it’s a hard life.

If it were that hard, why did you not choose to stay in banking?
Banking is a harder life.

What is hard in acting? You smile to the camera, collect big money, people write about you, what is hard in that?
That’s the thing. You lose your privacy and that’s something you can never get back. It’s like losing your virginity, which you know you can never get back. That’s what happens in acting. As an actor you lose your privacy.

What’s the big deal about losing your privacy?
Oh, you think it’s not a big deal? I am a very private person, but as an actress you cannot be private. It’s very difficult.

Let’s talk about your recent movie, Phone Swap. During filming you dislocated your arm, what happened?
During filming I fell off a motorbike (okada). The character I was playing was meant to take a bike. So after several takes I just found myself on the floor. Initially, I didn’t feel anything except pain on my back. Then three days later I wanted to wear my slippers, then I leaned on my arm and the arm just gave way. That was when I felt the real pain.

What did you do?
I crawled to the door, opened it and called for help. By divine intervention, Kunle Afolayan called at that particular time to check on me, and when he got to know he called a few people around Ikeja to check on me and some friends came to my aid. I really appreciate them all, although it took like an hour and a half for them to set my arm back. When I got to the hospital, there was a lot of drama but in the end they got it right.

Have you felt any pain since then?
I think it’s today that I have been able to lift the hand well. I have been taking some muscle relaxers to help and it is getting better. But I still have to wear a pouch.

I hope the money was worth the dislocation?
Yes, it was worth it, even more. And the experience was worth it too.

You seem to be getting the big jobs,
This is just guest appearance. In this case I wasn’t originally cast for the role. I just got a call. I had already left for Abuja, then I got a call from Rita saying Mildred said bla bla bla. Then I spoke with Mildred, asking her how come I just got my script and would be shooting tomorrow? It was very funny. Then I came and only God knows how I got into the character in one day. But like Shakespeare said, “apparel does maketh a man.” So, I think as soon as I was adorned, and Ugo made my hair, the director started with me and I just got into the character.

What is it like working with Jim and Kunle, the fact that Jim is white and Kunle a black guy?
There is really no difference, even their attitude to work isn’t really different. You know Kunle likes doing things to perfection, which is also the same with Jim, and Mildred as well. So it’s all the same attitude but different projects. I don’t see any difference, and you know it’s good to always work well when you work so that you don’t disgrace yourself.

Tell us about your childhood?
The early part of my childhood I didn’t stay with my parents. I grew up with my god-parents; they are both white and English is like my first language. I grew up with a total mentality. My mother was very young when she had me; she was still going through school. She was about 14/15.

It was so bad I didn’t even know my mother. She told me that when she came back I asked her to carry me if she was my mother. That is just the mind of a child. I could have said that to anyone. I always wanted her to prove that she was my mother, and it was so bad that when they wanted to take me with them, my dad was like ‘is this how my first child would go and become an oyinbo?

He didn’t want that to happen. It was so bad I couldn’t eat our food. I was always eating chips every other day. My dad was mad he actually told them to stop giving me chips and I would cry in front of his door until I had it. Sometimes I would even lick ketchup. But now I can’t do a lot of these things. Every weekend we would go to this popular hotel in Kaduna and just hangout as a family and have fun. It was so much fun. I had one of the best childhoods anyone could ever wish.

What are the not too pleasant childhood memories you have?
I dislocated my arm when I was young because of rice and stew; I love food a lot. The turning point for me, where childhood stopped, was when my father died. I really loved acting like a child, but immediately my father died, everything changed for me. It made me become an adult when I shouldn’t be. So I lost my childhood when he died. I had to play more roles and live up to expectation. It was too much and my mother, God bless her, at 31 she had six children and I am the first. But now I look back and can only thank

God. That is all I can say. It was mentally draining.
My father was misdiagnosed of gall stone, which was really not the problem compared to what we discovered after surgery. After surgery they found they were treating him for something else, while his liver had deteriorated completely. It was really painful because of the signs, and there was nothing like liver transplant at that time. So nothing could be done. That was in 1989. He passed on in 1990 (January 1).

Do you think if he was properly diagnosed, something could have been done?
Well, I think if you know what is wrong with you, you can deal with it. Maybe something could have been done. That is the thread I like to hang on to. But it is very sad, really sad. Sometimes I wonder why we have professionals and people still get misdiagnosed. We only knew when he finally went to England.

What memories come to your mind when you remember your dad?
My dad was an amazing person. He would set you right; he really loved us. He was the type that would let you do whatever you want to do. The only misunderstanding we had was the fact that I chose to do art, but over time he agreed with me.

In 1989, you were not acting
Of course, I wasn’t. I was in secondary school. He wanted his daughter to be a doctor, but that wasn’t for me. Yet he encouraged us. My dad was that kind of person. He was very caring. For example, my first purple bra was from my father because I sent him a message that every girl is wearing this type of bra in school, and he bought it for me even when I didn’t need it. He bought me shorts and always encouraged me to dress smart, saying long things don’t make you look smart. That is how my father was and I really miss him.

How did you survive the period without a father?
By the time I got into the University of Calabar, my mum still tried to make it look as if nothing had happen. She did her best to give us all we wanted.

What memories of him do you still have?
Most are fun memories, because I used to follow my dad around a lot. I used to follow him to play tennis and we go on road trips together. My dad would wake up in the morning and tell me to come along with him to Bauchi, just like that. And we would drive from Jos to Bauchi. I remember thinking once that my mom would kill me when she sees this. I think they had a misunderstanding and weren’t talking. My dad would buy suya and bring home, and open a bottle of beer and eat the suya.

The second day when they made up, my mom called us to eat from the suya my dad brought home, but when he came out of the room we had eaten his suya. So he had to eat the food my mother cooked, because there was nothing for him to eat. So that actually took care of the misunderstanding. I would say to myself that marriage can be easier judging by my parents, because my mum always made it look funny. If something was going to happen, my mum would turn it around and make it appear funny and we would all laugh about it and they would sort it out. Even when my dad tried to ‘bone’, my mum would say something funny and everybody would be at ease.

Was there any particular trying moment when your dad was not there?
There were lots of trying moments.

Let’s hear one or two that come to your mind?
I will tell you one. When you have to pay school fees, what would you do? You would look for money, and you know I had younger ones in school too.

What did your dad do for a living?
He was a banker.

Was that why you went into banking?
Maybe he influenced me, or even my mother, but in the end I didn’t do it.

What’s your experience in the banking hall?
Well, I wasn’t in the banking hall. I was more into commercial banking and treasury. I just think it wasn’t meant for me. I thought I was having fun, but when I looked at it again, it wasn’t the type of thing I wanted to do for too long. I didn’t want a career out of it. Maybe if I was into corporate management I could have done better.

So, why didn’t you pursue a career in TV broadcast?
I did a bit of TV shows for some time. I actually had a particular programme I wanted to start, but after a while I just forgot about it.

What does your mum do?
My mum was a teacher and she taught at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) school. She is retired now. The fact is, it wasn’t easy at all but she tried her best. My godfather, my father’s friend, also tried as well to support us and before I knew it my mum said to me, listen, you can learn how to cook, you can make extra money.

So she opened a small restaurant, which I ran single-handedly, cooked all the food and made money from it. For a while it kept me going and it was amazing. It was small, yet people came. By the time I was in school, I did a mini-programme on breakfast television show for NTA Calabar and they paid me, not big money, but something. I think N500 at that time.

Would you say life has been fair to you?
I wouldn’t complain, but really I think life has been fair, though it could be better. But life has been fair and I have good people around me, great friends and I am thankful to everybody in my life.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/explore/2011/nov/06/explore-06-11-2011-002.html[/b]

Music/Radio › Re: House Music In Nigeria? by AfroBlue(m): 7:07am On Nov 06, 2011

[quote author=chukwuma_a link=topic=166020.msg8333528#msg8333528 date=1305573933]jide, email me, i'd love to talk house music and spreading it in naija with you

http://www.anonomi.com/Chukwuma

[/quote]you got skillz kid, good luck in Nja

Foreign Affairs › Re: An Excerpt On Obj And Usa by AfroBlue(m): 6:39am On Nov 06, 2011

An intriguing piece of research, reminds me of Patrice Lumumba history.

Politics › At Least 69 Dead In North Nigeria Sect Attacks by AfroBlue(op): 5:05am On Nov 06, 2011

Sounds to me like outside third parties are trying to instigate another Civil War in Nja which would send global oil prices soaring.

At Least 69 Dead in North Nigeria Sect Attacks

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Residents fearfully left their homes Saturday to bury their dead in northeast Nigeria following a series of coordinated attacks that killed at least 69 people and left a new police headquarters in ruins, government offices burned and symbols of state power destroyed.

A radical Muslim sect known locally as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in Borno and Yobe states, with the worst damage done in and around the city of Damaturu. The group also promised to continue its bloody sectarian fight against Nigeria's weak central government, with residents nervously moving through empty streets, waiting for the next attack.

"There's that fear that something might possibly happen again," Nigerian Red Cross official Ibrahim Bulama said.

In Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, a car bomb exploded Friday afternoon outside a three-story building used as a military office and barracks, killing many uniformed security agents, Bulama said.

Gunmen then went through the town, blowing up a bank and attacking at least three police stations and five churches, leaving them in rubble, officials said. Gunfire continued through the night and gunmen raided the village of Potiskum near the capital as well, witnesses said, leaving at least two people dead there.

On Saturday morning, people began hesitantly leaving their homes, seeing the destruction left behind which included military and police vehicles burned by the gunmen with the burned corpses of the drivers who died still in their seats.

Bulama spoke to The Associated Press by telephone Saturday morning from a common Muslim burial ground in the city as his family buried a relative and friend, a police officer who died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in the fighting.

Officials anticipated a dusk-till-dawn curfew to fall over the town, though state officials repeatedly declined to comment on the violence. The violence destroyed federal offices, public buildings and an immigration office, said Aliyu Baffale Sambo, an official with Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency.

Nigerian Red Cross statistics showed at least 65 people died in and around Damaturu. Four other people were killed by four bombs in Maiduguri, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) east, officials said. One of those blasts detonated around noon outside an Islamic college, another alongside a road, local police commissioner Simeon Midenda said.

A short time later, suicide bombers driving a black SUV detonated their explosives outside the base for the military unit charged with protecting the city from Boko Haram fighters, military spokesman Lt. Col. Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed said. That blast injured several soldiers.

A Boko Haram spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks in an interview Saturday with The Daily Trust, the newspaper of record across Nigeria's Muslim north. A Boko Haram spokesman using the nom de guerre Abul-Qaqa promised that "more attacks are on the way."

"We will continue attacking federal government formations until security forces stop their excesses on our members and vulnerable civilians," the spokesman said.

His comments come as human rights activists say soldiers have beaten and killed civilians while trying to search for the sect in Maiduguri.

Two suicide bombers detonated explosives inside vehicles in Maiduguri on Saturday night, but caused no casualties, police said.

Boko Haram wants to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of more than 160 million which has a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim north. Its name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, but instead of schooling, it rejects Western ideals like Nigeria's U.S.-styled democracy that followers believe have destroyed the country with corrupt politicians.

Boko Haram's attacks occurred ahead of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, when Muslims around the world slaughter sheep and cattle in remembrance of Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son. Police elsewhere in the country had warned of violence ahead of the celebration in Nigeria, a country largely split between a Christian south and a Muslim north. On Wednesday, police in Maiduguri had said they broke up a plot to bomb the city over the holiday.

President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian who took office amid religious and political rioting that saw at least 800 die in April, canceled a trip to Bayelsa state for his younger brother's wedding Saturday, spokesman Reuben Abati said. He said the presidency did not consider those who launched the attacks "true Muslims," as the assault came during a holy period. <------

Abati also promised that "every step will be taken" to arrest those responsible — the same pledge made again and again as Jonathan has visited other sites bombed by Boko Haram.

"The security agencies will tell you that what happens on this scale is even a fraction of what could have happened considering the scope of the threat," Abati said. "The security agencies are busy at work trying to make sure the will of the majority of the Nigerian people is not subverted by a minority (group) with a suicidal streak."

However, the Nigerian government faces an increasingly dangerous threat from Boko Haram. The group apparently has split into three factions, the AP has learned. One faction remains moderate and welcomes an end to the violence, another wants a peace agreement with rewards similar to those offered to a different militant group in 2009.

The third faction, though, refuses to negotiate and remains the most radical. This faction is in contact with al-Qaida's North Africa branch and likely the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabab, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity according to embassy orders.

That sect likely is responsible for the increasingly violent and sophisticated attacks carried out in the sect's name. In August, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria's capital, which killed 24 people and left another 116 wounded.

An AP count shows the group has killed at least 329 people this year alone.

___

Associated Press writer Njadvara Musa in Maiduguri, Nigeria contributed to this report.

___

Music/Radio › Top 7 Queens Of The Nigerian Music Industry by AfroBlue(op): 12:29am On Nov 06, 2011

Top 7 queens of the Nigerian music industry

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/top-7-queens-of-the-nigerian-music-industry/

on NOVEMBER 5, 2011 · in SHOWTIME PEOPLE

THEY are women with substance, with something to offer their generation in terms of music. Closing the gulf that existed between the male and female artistes in the industry, they proved pundits wrong that what their male folks could do, they could equally do, if not even better.

Here are these females who have survived the gap between time and space, passed the test of time behind the microphone, who have worked against all odds and have written their names in gold…

WAJE

OUTWARDLY, she is a determined woman. Inside her is equally a bigger spirit of survival. Added to her quality is that strong sonorus voice which makes her irresistable.
Born on September 1st 1981, in Akure, she was brought into limelight on the platform of MTN/Zain’s Advance Warning Competition where she ranked top 3.

Then she featured as the amazing voice behind P-Square’s video Do Me. After that, she made a follow up with her single Kolo and lastly So Inspired where she featured sexy Muna.

She’s won the Hip Hop World award and is still striving to become a stronger force to be reckoned with in the industry.

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Music-Queens.jpg

KEL

She also ranks among one of the best when it comes to rap music. Kel began her music as far back as 2002 after engaging in it as a passtime. Her singles Wa Wa Alright, was a song where she appeared so strong and confident, speaking her mind to music lovers. The song broke into the hearts of music enthusiats, making her as strong as wild wind.

Later, she was signed on to Clarence Peter’s Capital Hill records but she’s since parted ways with the label.

The Satelite born and bread rapper is currently working on her new album. The album is said to feature collaborations with Artistes and Producers including Tha Suspect , Dr.Frabs, TY Mix, Bigfoot, Knighthouse and J. Martins

OMAWUMI

She’s known for the excellent fussion of English and pidgin in her songs. This has clearly stood her out among contemporaries in addition to her strong vocals.

For her, her music career started when se enlisted as a contestant in the 2007 West African Idol. She came out as the semi finalsit and followed soon with an outstanding single, In The Music.

Other top list singles of hers include Love Nwantinti, Today Na Today, Niger Delta, Thank God and of recently, If You Ask Me.

Aside singing, she’s been seen picking up roles on movies including Funke Akindele’s Return of Jennifer.

She’s also involved in humanitarian activities in support of female like Project Alert, Pink Pearl Foundation and Notes2Notes .

TIWA SAVAGE

She came from the blues, all the way from the U.S and blewour minds away. Kele Kele Love is one song both old and young can’t forget in a rush.

Tiwa is also signed on as a Songwriter with Sony/ATV, and has worked with big names such as Mary J. Blige, Fantasia Barrino and Babyface.

She contested on the UK’s X-factor, and was among the 24 finalists. She’s also released another singles Love Me Love Me which is presently rocking the airwaves.
MO’CHEDDAH

Nicknamed the hip hop princess because of her versatility in both rap and singing, Mocheddah ranks among one of Nigeria’s best female acts.

Born Modupre Oreoluwa Oyeyemi, she’s a graduate of Creative Arts from the University of Lagos.

Her debut album, Franchise Celebrity which swallows songs like Ko Ma Roll, If You Want Me and thirteen other tracks was the bump. Other singles are See Me, 24/7 etc.

https://vml1.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Mocheda.jpg

She was also the 2nd place winner on the Hennessy Artistry 2009 competition, where she competed alongside the likes of Bez and Cobhams Asuquo, Ice Prince and Jesse Jagz, Jimmy Flames and Dr Frabz.

She was also one of the headline Artistes on the Girl Power 2009 Tour, alongside Ashionye, Nikki Laoye and Sasha, amongst others.

She is passionate about Nigeria and is involved in causes that promote Youth Empowerment and the abolishment of Child Labour.

GOLDIE

She ranks among those artistes with the best costumes and creativity when it comes to her videos.

Born Susan Oluwabimpe Harvey, she made her debut in 2007 with Ko Mole. Then she followed soothe with Spin Me.

She’s a graduate of Business Management of the University of Sunderland. According to her, her advenrure into music was an accident. However, she’s had no regret for getting involved in music.

SASHA

She began with the Trybesmen, back in her days as an Undergraduate of the University of Lagos.

Since then, she ranks as one of Nigeria’s foremost female rappers.

Her debut, First Lady received a huge welcome, pushing her into the list of rappers to be reckoned with.

She was the first Nigerian female artiste to win an MTV MAMA Award for Best Female in 2010. she Sasha also received a KORA Award Nomination as the Most Promising Female Act in Africa.

won the “Best female artist ” award at the women in entertainment awards held in England (February 09) for her first single titled “Adara” ,and was nominated in two categories ( Best female video and Best cinematography) by the prestigious Nigerian Soundcity Video Music Awards for her second single “Only One” which was held on the first of August 2009.

[img]http://nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L1RJV0FPTk4uanBnfDYwMA==[/img]

[img]http://nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L1RJV0FPTi5qcGd8NjAw[/img]

[img]http://nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L3Rpd2Fsb3ZlbWUuanBnfDYwMA==[/img]

Honorable mention, per Afro Blue

https://hangout.altsounds.com/attachments/reviews/5388d1280958985-nneka-walking-single-nnekasign.jpg

Politics › When 80-year-old Pensioner Slumped, Died During Verification by AfroBlue(op): 11:57pm On Nov 05, 2011

[img]http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L2FicGVuc2lvbmVycy0zLmpwZ3w2MDA=[/img]
One of the three retirees that slumped at the verification exercise

[b]When 80-Year-Old Pensioner Slumped, Died During Verification

Written by Dare Adekanmbi
Saturday, 05 November 2011

When a civil servant reaches 60 years of age or has been in public service for 35 years-whichever comes first- he or she is considered ripe for retirement. A lump sum of money, known as gratuity, is expected to be quickly paid to such person as part of the reward for his or her years of service. Afterwards, the retired worker awaits a monthly payment of pension to sustain the worker till death comes knocking.

The ideal situation captured above is far from being the case in Nigeria where the story of the welfare of retired workers is a tale of mournful lamentation over a backlog of unpaid pension and even gratuity.

Just last week, an 80-year-old man, Mr Samuel Olatunji, slumped and died in Ibadan, while waiting to have his fingerprints captured during a verification of pensioners exercise by officials from Abuja.

Three other pensioners became exhausted as a result of the slow pace of the exercise held at the federal secretariat in Ikolaba, Ibadan and also slumped but did not die as they were quickly rushed to hospitals.

The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Alhaji Lateef Adegoke, in an interview with newsmen, said Olatunji collapsed because he was unable to stand the rigours of waiting to have his thumbprints registered.

“When he slumped, we rushed him to a car nearby and got him stabilised in the car. But suddenly, he just gasped for breath and passed on. It is unfortunate,” he said.

According to him, the slow pace of the exercise was occasioned by inadequate biometric machines. He explained that out of the three machines brought to capture the finger prints of about 9,000 retired workers, only two were working. He stated further that all the pensioners in the entire states under the defunct Western Region were lumped together in Oyo State for verification.

Mr Samuel Olatunji, who is the chairman NUP, Eruwa branch, where the deceased was a member, said the late Olatunji retired many years ago and was being paid N1,000 monthly. He was being owed a year’s pension by the Federal Government before he died.

The late elderly pensioner retired in 1995 from the Forestry Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as a Grade Level 1 worker. After his retirement, he went into full-time farming before he was hit by diabetes until his death last week.

For most of other pensioners, it is the same tale of jeremiad. Mrs Agnes Ayinde from Oyo State retired from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture about a decade ago. She remarked that since they started going for the verification exercise, they had been tossed around by officials like chaff.

“They discriminate in deciding those who they attend to. They attend to those who they know and we do not know anyone except God,” she lamented.

Continuing, Mrs Ayinde said, “Two days ago, a vehicle hit one of us, though unknowingly, and broke the leg of the old pensioner. Do you know that if we had been paid well and in good time, we would not have experienced this artificial hardship? When the officials came for the last exercise, they said our names had been removed from the payroll because we joined service as labourers.

“They said those who got employment through government gazette would not be paid, that such is not valid without a letter of appointment. Since that time, they had stopped my pension.

“The Federal Government has a lot to learn from states in pension payment, especially in Oyo State. State officials will provide canopy and shelter us from inclement weather while attending to us. They don’t lump us together like this; they decentralise points of verification and even come to us in our domain.”

For Mrs Felicia Omoyinbo, 75, a 1999 retiree from Military Hospital in Ibadan, life after retirement has been cruel and brutish, like in the Hobbesian State of Nature. Although she had been paid her gratuity, 11 years after she was put out to the pasture by the Federal Government, she has not been paid her pension.

“I served this country for 33 years and 11 years after I retired, my pension is not forthcoming; no farthing. I have been surviving on the grace of God. It is a shame that after so many years of hard work for this country, I still labour as a maidservant as well as a washerwoman to make ends meet,” the pensioner, who spoke with teary eyes, lamented.

Amid sobs and dabbing of her wet face, she appealed to the Federal Government to lessen the plight of the senior citizens of the country. She said she had spent all she had on transportation.

“I submitted all the necessary documents since October 12 and as I speak, I have not been attended to by the officials. We have seen that it is only those who bribe the officials that are cleared. Let government pay us one or two year’s pension and save us from this frequent tragedy among us.

“We know there is government in this country, at least elections are held every four years and people are sworn in. What we have not had for a long time in this country is a compassionate government. We don’t know who to turn to for help, but we know that God is watching,” said Joseph Ojo, a 67-year-old federal retiree.

Out of 9,000 to be covered in the verification exercise, about 7, 000 pensioners had completed the verification process. The exercise has also been extended by two weeks as requested by the pensioners.

What the senior citizens are also calling for is the decentralisation of the verification as the concentration of all the federal pensioners from the defunct Western Region in Ibadan is considered cumbersome.[/b]

http://tribune.com.ng/sat/index.php/features/5744-when-80-year-old-pensioner-slumped-died-during-verification.html

Politics › Re: Are Foreign Investors Colonizing Africa? by AfroBlue(m): 5:08pm On Nov 05, 2011

Yeap ,

[img]http://api.ning.com/files/ay*58JTPaOKDmOvGI*E4qeSjy2HfmfF9SlXN6U9nhBWtCWzmOsuxIi56eyHSiQsr5Kac*IFtks25e6sKJ4AZVk*4t4H7gblQ/WVb6I.jpg?width=737&height=552[/img]

Scramble for Africa

The neocolonial scramble for Africa has truly begun with the installation of the National Transitional Council in Libya.

By John Cherian

November 02, 2011 "Frontline" -- THE installation of the National Transitional Council (NTC) government in Libya by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) could signal the beginning of an open neocolonial scramble for Africa. Suspicions about such a blueprint were first aroused when President George W. Bush set up the United States-Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2008, months before demitting office. The demand for a permanent American military footprint on the African continent had come from right-wing think tanks that enjoyed great clout in the corridors of power during the eight years of the Bush presidency.

A background paper prepared in 2002 by the influential right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation had called for the creation of a military command for the continent so that “direct military intervention”, using air power and naval forces, could become possible to “protect vital U.S. interests” in Africa. Such interventions, its authors wrote, would not necessitate the deployment of U.S. forces on the ground. Such wars, the paper proposed, should be fought with the help of local allies. The U.S. Defence Department's African Contingency Operation Training and Assistance Programme is deeply involved in training the armies of many countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, America's close allies in the region.

The authors of the paper clearly spelt out what they meant by vital interests: “With its vast natural and mineral resources, Africa remains strategically important to the West, as it has been for hundreds of years, and its geostrategic significance is likely to rise in the 21st century.” According to the National Intelligence Council, “the United States is likely to draw 25 per cent of its oil from West Africa by 2015, surpassing the volume imported from the Persian Gulf”, the Heritage Foundation study reported. The Bush administration's Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Walter Kansteiner was quick to echo the views expressed by the foundation. He went on record stating that Africa's oil had “become a national strategic interest”.

Libya is among Africa's biggest oil producers. China was importing 11 per cent of Libyan oil for its domestic needs before the NATO-instigated civil war in the North African state started seven months ago. It could now find itself locked out of new oil contracts. Top functionaries of the NTC have said that China, Russia and Brazil would be frozen out of contracts.

These countries had criticised the misuse of the United Nations Security Council resolution on Libya to bring about a regime change. China gets around one-third of its oil from Africa. The French newspaper Liberacion recently published documents revealing the NTC leadership's offer of 35 per cent of Libya's oil production to France in return for its “total and permanent support” for the new government. Gene Cretz, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, recently blurted out that “oil is the jewel of the crown of Libyan national resources”.

President Barack Obama, who famously claimed that he was leading the war in Libya “from behind”, used precisely the tactics prescribed in the Heritage Foundation report. AFRICOM played an important behind-the-scenes role in planning the U.S./NATO bombing of Libya. U.S. Special Forces teamed up with its counterparts from France and the United Kingdom to arm and organise the ragtag rebel forces into a fighting unit. It was the coordinated air strikes, coupled with an amphibious operation led by the U.S., that finally led to the fall of Tripoli. South African President Jacob Zuma complained bitterly that it was NATO bombing that prevented the African Union (A.U.) from hammering out a negotiated settlement to the civil war in Libya. More than 200 prominent Africans wrote an open letter in August criticising the recourse to “militarised diplomacy to effect regime change in Libya”.

In early October, a few days before the fall of Sirte and the killing of Muammar Qaddafi, Obama ordered the despatch of 100 U.S. Special Forces troops to Uganda. He said the decision to send the troops was taken to help the U.S.' ally in the region, Yoweri Museveni, defeat the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), which was engaged in a guerilla war with the central government in Kampala. Obama told Congress that the troops were deployed in order “to assist African forces in the removal of Joseph Koni [the LRA leader] and the LRA leadership from the battlefield”. Museveni, one of Africa's long-serving authoritarian rulers, was a one-time friend of Qaddafi. Qaddafi had extended support to the rebel army that brought Museveni to power in 1986. After coming to power, Museveni became one of the trusted allies of the West and was regularly feted at the White House.

At America's bidding, Uganda has sent peacekeepers to Somalia under the A.U. umbrella to keep the Islamist Al Shabab militia out of the capital, Mogadishu. Two years ago, Ethiopia despatched its troops to Somalia to drive away the Islamic Courts Union government from Mogadishu after it had managed to unite most of the country. In the face of immense resistance, the Ethiopian troops were withdrawn, but the country was left in chaos again. Al Shabab exploited this and now poses a potent threat to U.S. interests in the region.

In the middle of October, Kenya replicated what Ethiopia did. Encouraged by the U.S., it sent its troops deep into Somalia to fight Al Shabab. The U.S. is providing air support to the Kenyan military. The Kenyan invasion has already led to terror attacks in Kenyan cities. Only a handful of African states have bothered to send peacekeepers to the war-ravaged country, viewing the conflict there as one mainly instigated by the West.

Observers of the African scene are suspicious of the Obama administration's sudden decision to send Special Forces to Uganda. Obama has also indicated that the U.S. forces will be sent to the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, ostensibly to help the governments there to crush rebel groups. AFRICOM provides billions of dollars worth of equipment to the armies of countries that are friendly to the U.S. The U.S. military is already helping counter-insurgency operations in Mali and Niger, where the marginalised Tuareg ethnic group has raised the banner of revolt. “With Libya secure, an American invasion of Africa is under way,” observed John Pilger in a recent article.

The LRA, which operates along Uganda's borders with Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic, was never considered a serious threat in the 24 years that it has been active. It is said to have around 500 fighters, many of them child soldiers. Many African commentators suspect that the real goal of the Obama administration is to start preparing the ground for a permanent military base for AFRICOM on the continent. AFRICOM is currently headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, but it has a major military facility in Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, a small state located in the Horn of Africa. In all, 1,800 American troops are permanently based there.

In the island state of Seychelles, the U.S. has secretly deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones. These “hunter-killers” have been deployed extensively over Somalia. African civil society is very much opposed to U.S. military involvement in Africa. No African country has until now openly offered permanent basing facilities, although there were reports in the media that Liberia and Morocco were among the countries that were being short-listed by Washington. The regional grouping, Southern African Development Community (SADC), has refused to give any kind of support or access to AFRICOM.

Military analysts say that from the strategic point of view, land-locked Uganda provides the ideal location for a permanent U.S. military base on the African continent. With Libya already under NATO stewardship, the U.S. can regain control over the military bases it was ousted from following the removal of the pro-Western King Idris. It has been a long-term U.S. goal to occupy the strategic crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Arab world. The death of Qaddafi has made this goal an achievable reality. The next step is to ensure the U.S. military's stranglehold on Central Africa to control the region's hydrocarbon and other mineral resources. Uganda's neighbours, such as Congo and Southern Sudan, are rich in mineral resources, which include diamonds and precious metals such as gold, platinum, lithium and cobalt.

According to oil industry experts, Uganda has huge untapped oil resources. A UPI report in March said: “East Africa is emerging as the next oil boom following a big strike in Uganda's Lake Albert Basin. Other oil and gas reserves have been found in Tanzania and Mozambique and exploration is under way in Ethiopia and war-torn Somalia.” The region is rich in rare earths, which remain largely unexploited. Currently, China has a monopoly over rare-earth production located within its borders.

The Economist had noted that “several jealous western governments and companies want to stall China's advance into the Congo basin, with its vast reserves of minerals and timber”. The big economic and diplomatic stride made by China on the African continent has caused a lot of heartburn in Western capitals. China has been focussing on Africa since the 1960s. China started investing heavily there ever since it began to emerge as a big economic power. Its investments in 2010 were estimated at $47 billion. Beijing's policy of giving liberal “no-strings-attached” loans to African nations has won it a lot of goodwill. But with Chinese labour and capital moving into the continent in a big way, the resentment that has been building up in some countries has come in handy for the West.

Politics › Re: The Shame of a nation. Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Allison-Madueke !!! by AfroBlue(m): 4:43pm On Nov 05, 2011

Rumor!

PETROLEUM MINISTER DIEZANI ALLISON MADUEKE ACQUIRES $25M HOUSE IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Story by AKINNAGBE AKINTOMIDE/NIGERIAFILMS.COM

[img]http://www.nigeriafilms.com/image.aspx?img=Y29udGVudC9jb250ZW50L0RpZXphbmktQWxsaXNvbi1NYWR1ZWtlLUhPVS5qcGd8NjAw[/img]

According to news from grapevine, Federal Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke just acquired a 'wondrous home abroad'.

The purchase tagged 'an architectural master piece' by those in the know is said to be located on all of 12 plots of lands.

The buy is said to be located in Vienna, Austria.

We gathered that she shelled out about $25M for the house.

Her husband is said to recently staged a get together for friends at the place.

http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/14424/4/petroleum-minister-diezani-allison-madueke-acquire.html

http://news1.ghananation.com/nollywood/230813-petroleum-minister-diezani-allison-madueke-acquires-25-m-house-in-vienna-austria.html

http://www.ghanamma.com/2011/11/petroleum-minister-diezani-allison-madueke-acquires-25-m-house-in-viennaaustria/

Foreign Affairs › Iran Is Run By Western Intel Agencies by AfroBlue(op): 2:43am On Nov 05, 2011

If you have time to read the links pay attention to how the global powers control oil resources and play high level chess.

NL Oga, please don't ban this thread. Thank you.

IRAN IS RUN BY WESTERN INTEL AGENCIES

http://aangirfan..com/2011/11/iran-is-run-by-cia.html

The British and U.S. governments put Khomeini into power in Iran in 1979

http://disquietreservations..com/2011/11/british-and-us-governments-installed.html

Foreign Affairs › Re: How Did Ancient Black Egyptians Become White Or Lightskinned. by AfroBlue(m): 11:59pm On Nov 04, 2011

morpheus24:
Thats kinda far fetched seeing that present DNA evidence demonstrates that human beings DNA sequencing is about 97.3% the same indicating that they are of the same species.

Yes it is far fetched but so is the story about a UK 9ja couple producing a white (non-albino) child. Modern science doesn't always have all the answers. Centuries of interbreeding may have all present day inhabitants of the planet related.

Nigerian Couple Stuns Genetic Experts, Give Birth To White Baby Girl

[img]http://bossip.files./2010/07/black-parents-white-baby-2.png?w=450&h=599[/img]

[img]http://bossip.files./2010/07/white-baby-black-parents.png?w=450&h=659[/img]

Politics › Re: The Shame of a nation. Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Allison-Madueke !!! by AfroBlue(m): 11:47pm On Nov 04, 2011

Great job Oga Gbawe, your thread is power packed with the truth, and is most informative and educational. Kudos and respect to the brave journalists that go deep to research a story. Sad thing is that there is corruption all over the world.

Also, much props to Oga Oyb for posting those supporting threads on the topic. I read every one to gain some knowledge of the quagmire.

I've only been on NL (which I love the 9ja repartee) for a month and it seems like I get that ban bot almost every other day.

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