Eghosa1:
An Article Written by Joy Iwezu.


When I think about the girl child, I think about me. The Girl Child is a powerful being that possesses unique traits and characteristics that makes her not only a woman but a force to be reckoned with in a world where strength and virtue is on a constant decline. There is more to the Girl Child that meets the eye; she is more than a wife, a mother, a sister; she is the channel through which the balance of human existence is built upon. She is a life giver and the sole connection between the idea of life and life itself.
With all of these in mind, one will expect that the Girl Child will be the most respected and accomplished being across nations taking giant strides in the different sectors available within her immediate environment and beyond but this is not the case in our present day society. Today, the Girl Child is marginalized; she is abused, relegated, shoved aside and given second place where first can be attained. Her gender has become the unacceptable standard with which her accomplishments are weighed.
This is the GLASS CEILING that must be pulled down; it is the veil that separates the Girl Child from becoming all that she can be. There is an innate greatness in every Girl Child, it is like the light described in the bible that can only shine when displayed rather than hidden and it is a light of greatness that should be encouraged from infancy to adulthood.
In a bid to celebrate the Girl Child, the United Nations marks an observance day known all around the world as, The International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October every year, the first of which was celebrated in the year 2012. This observance day, advocates more opportunities for girls, increased awareness on gender inequality, right to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and all round protection for the Girl Child. For the celebration each year, the day of the Girl has a theme that reflects the urgency in getting the Girl Child to her pride of place. In 2015, the theme was “the power of adolescent Girl; Vision for 2030”. The efforts by the UN in raising awareness all over the world, is quite laudable as, people are becoming more aware of the need to empower the Girl Child yet, the Glass ceiling remains. How can this board of restriction hovering over her be removed for good?

A major path towards girl child recovery today lies in our established mothers, women, sisters and aunts alike. As today marks International Women's Day 2016, it is sad and totally unacceptable that women still pull women down in a cycle where everything is benigh at them. It mocks the question of what women really want for themselves of they cannot support and lift themselves from the glass ceiling placed on them. Domestic violence, forced marriages, rape incidences, child trafficking, kidnappings, the baby mama syndrome, prostitution and other immoral sorts are souring at alarming rates and it is time women stand for women and be their sister's keepers against these vices. We must look beyond the flummoxed objectivism the world has placed on us and partner to rise continuously out of the murky waters. Some of the ways we must act include -

“EDUCATION IS THE GREATEST EMPOWERMENT”

What better way to empower the Girl Child than through the greatest tool of all time; An Education. The importance in gaining an education as a female in a world that has been strongly dubbed “a man’s world” cannot be overemphasised. Educate a girl child and a whole nation receives the benefit that comes with it. When talking about an education, it goes beyond the boundaries of cognitive knowledge and the four walls of an educational institution. I believe education is an unending process of learning where the mind is constantly stimulated to produce ideas that will ultimately affect the course of one’s life and society in a positive way.
In most countries in Africa, the Girl Child doesn’t have complete access to the cognitive part of education. This is as a result of certain factors that has bedevilled the African continent for decades. The cognitive is just the foundation for the stimulation of the mind and if this isn’t accessible then how can the Girl Child begin to think? How can a strong woman emerge? How can she use her imagination to solve problems within her sphere of contact? How can she make notable innovations that will affect the course of history? These are questions that need answers. I was born into a family of six with four children (all girls) and all through my life, my parents made sacrificial efforts to give my sisters and I an education at least to the best of their ability. This move of theirs, has become the bedrock on which my motivation to succeed as a woman lies. Every Girl Child should have a motivating factor that can make her dream, imagine and become a success story. Thus, armed with the cognitive skills and motivation, she can shatter the glass ceiling that society and circumstances has placed before her.

“INTELLIGENCE + CHARACTER. THAT IS THE GOAL OF TRUE EDUCATION” Martin Luther King Jr.
Societal ideology and self-motivation are two factors to consider in breaking the Glass Ceiling. There is an erroneous assertion in some societies that the most notable achievement/accomplishment a woman can get to is marriage. In our country Nigeria for instance, a woman is deemed not have "arrived" in the comity of women if she hasn't "put a ring on it". This has become a sold out lie that has affected the output of some women and driven young girls into early marriages without requisite understanding of tenets and principles. I quite agree that marriage is of utmost importance and every girl should aspire to start up a family of her own someday. However, this shouldn’t be the basis on which her success should be measured. A woman must be seen for her independence, managerial skill, astuteness, intellectual diversity, integrity and an exuding calm charm. When a Girl Child has been raised her whole life to believe that all she can amount to in life is a wife/mother then she no longer gets motivated. This curse, especially on the African continent must be revoked and given to extinction. Thus, there is a need for a complete change in what we tell our daughters. We must get them to believe in the power of their dreams and the possibility it holds by helping them remove the ‘t’ in can’t. The sheer determination and power of a strong girl / woman in our world is a force even men attest to. How about when we come together with that same power to form a bond? The benefits will be immeasurable.
From My Darling Mother to Genevieve Nnaji, from Wangari Maathai to Malala Yousafzai, from Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde to Ese Oruru, From WAJE the songstress to the many upcoming girls finding their path to womahood, motivation must be our lot. The women above have carved a niche and built solid rocks for themselves without being culturally inept. We are strong and can rule the world positively if we can come together. It is why it is pertinent that a lot needs to be done in the empowerment of the Girl Child. The ground breaking achievements in the world today of the above few points towards that a strong girl conquers. The Girl Child must look to these women as role models, follow the trail of excellence they have left behind, study their accomplishments and begin her own pursuit for greatness. Our women we celebrate today must begin to teach us, inspire and as well give us a level footing for our aspirations.
The Glass Ceiling can be broken. The limitations can be dissolved and greater things can be accomplished by the Girl Child even in the face of opposing factors. The Girl Child is a special being created by the almighty to give the world the balance it needs. I strongly believe that with an education (in mind and in school), with societal support of her dreams and a renewal of her imagination, she can become all that she was created to be and more.

A Happy International Women's Day to the Strong Women in Our World.

http://www.informationng.com/2016/03/empowering-the-girl-child-to-become-a-woman-breaking-the-glass-ceiling.html


******

Eghosa1:
An Article Written by Joy Iwezu.


When I think about the girl child, I think about me. The Girl Child is a powerful being that possesses unique traits and characteristics that makes her not only a woman but a force to be reckoned with in a world where strength and virtue is on a constant decline. There is more to the Girl Child that meets the eye; she is more than a wife, a mother, a sister; she is the channel through which the balance of human existence is built upon. She is a life giver and the sole connection between the idea of life and life itself.
With all of these in mind, one will expect that the Girl Child will be the most respected and accomplished being across nations taking giant strides in the different sectors available within her immediate environment and beyond but this is not the case in our present day society. Today, the Girl Child is marginalized; she is abused, relegated, shoved aside and given second place where first can be attained. Her gender has become the unacceptable standard with which her accomplishments are weighed.
This is the GLASS CEILING that must be pulled down; it is the veil that separates the Girl Child from becoming all that she can be. There is an innate greatness in every Girl Child, it is like the light described in the bible that can only shine when displayed rather than hidden and it is a light of greatness that should be encouraged from infancy to adulthood.
In a bid to celebrate the Girl Child, the United Nations marks an observance day known all around the world as, The International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October every year, the first of which was celebrated in the year 2012. This observance day, advocates more opportunities for girls, increased awareness on gender inequality, right to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care and all round protection for the Girl Child. For the celebration each year, the day of the Girl has a theme that reflects the urgency in getting the Girl Child to her pride of place. In 2015, the theme was “the power of adolescent Girl; Vision for 2030”. The efforts by the UN in raising awareness all over the world, is quite laudable as, people are becoming more aware of the need to empower the Girl Child yet, the Glass ceiling remains. How can this board of restriction hovering over her be removed for good?

A major path towards girl child recovery today lies in our established mothers, women, sisters and aunts alike. As today marks International Women's Day 2016, it is sad and totally unacceptable that women still pull women down in a cycle where everything is benigh at them. It mocks the question of what women really want for themselves of they cannot support and lift themselves from the glass ceiling placed on them. Domestic violence, forced marriages, rape incidences, child trafficking, kidnappings, the baby mama syndrome, prostitution and other immoral sorts are souring at alarming rates and it is time women stand for women and be their sister's keepers against these vices. We must look beyond the flummoxed objectivism the world has placed on us and partner to rise continuously out of the murky waters. Some of the ways we must act include -

“EDUCATION IS THE GREATEST EMPOWERMENT”

What better way to empower the Girl Child than through the greatest tool of all time; An Education. The importance in gaining an education as a female in a world that has been strongly dubbed “a man’s world” cannot be overemphasised. Educate a girl child and a whole nation receives the benefit that comes with it. When talking about an education, it goes beyond the boundaries of cognitive knowledge and the four walls of an educational institution. I believe education is an unending process of learning where the mind is constantly stimulated to produce ideas that will ultimately affect the course of one’s life and society in a positive way.
In most countries in Africa, the Girl Child doesn’t have complete access to the cognitive part of education. This is as a result of certain factors that has bedevilled the African continent for decades. The cognitive is just the foundation for the stimulation of the mind and if this isn’t accessible then how can the Girl Child begin to think? How can a strong woman emerge? How can she use her imagination to solve problems within her sphere of contact? How can she make notable innovations that will affect the course of history? These are questions that need answers. I was born into a family of six with four children (all girls) and all through my life, my parents made sacrificial efforts to give my sisters and I an education at least to the best of their ability. This move of theirs, has become the bedrock on which my motivation to succeed as a woman lies. Every Girl Child should have a motivating factor that can make her dream, imagine and become a success story. Thus, armed with the cognitive skills and motivation, she can shatter the glass ceiling that society and circumstances has placed before her.

“INTELLIGENCE + CHARACTER. THAT IS THE GOAL OF TRUE EDUCATION” Martin Luther King Jr.
Societal ideology and self-motivation are two factors to consider in breaking the Glass Ceiling. There is an erroneous assertion in some societies that the most notable achievement/accomplishment a woman can get to is marriage. In our country Nigeria for instance, a woman is deemed not have "arrived" in the comity of women if she hasn't "put a ring on it". This has become a sold out lie that has affected the output of some women and driven young girls into early marriages without requisite understanding of tenets and principles. I quite agree that marriage is of utmost importance and every girl should aspire to start up a family of her own someday. However, this shouldn’t be the basis on which her success should be measured. A woman must be seen for her independence, managerial skill, astuteness, intellectual diversity, integrity and an exuding calm charm. When a Girl Child has been raised her whole life to believe that all she can amount to in life is a wife/mother then she no longer gets motivated. This curse, especially on the African continent must be revoked and given to extinction. Thus, there is a need for a complete change in what we tell our daughters. We must get them to believe in the power of their dreams and the possibility it holds by helping them remove the ‘t’ in can’t. The sheer determination and power of a strong girl / woman in our world is a force even men attest to. How about when we come together with that same power to form a bond? The benefits will be immeasurable.
From My Darling Mother to Genevieve Nnaji, from Wangari Maathai to Malala Yousafzai, from Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde to Ese Oruru, From WAJE the songstress to the many upcoming girls finding their path to womahood, motivation must be our lot. The women above have carved a niche and built solid rocks for themselves without being culturally inept. We are strong and can rule the world positively if we can come together. It is why it is pertinent that a lot needs to be done in the empowerment of the Girl Child. The ground breaking achievements in the world today of the above few points towards that a strong girl conquers. The Girl Child must look to these women as role models, follow the trail of excellence they have left behind, study their accomplishments and begin her own pursuit for greatness. Our women we celebrate today must begin to teach us, inspire and as well give us a level footing for our aspirations.
The Glass Ceiling can be broken. The limitations can be dissolved and greater things can be accomplished by the Girl Child even in the face of opposing factors. The Girl Child is a special being created by the almighty to give the world the balance it needs. I strongly believe that with an education (in mind and in school), with societal support of her dreams and a renewal of her imagination, she can become all that she was created to be and more.

A Happy International Women's Day to the Strong Women in Our World.

http://www.informationng.com/2016/03/empowering-the-girl-child-to-become-a-woman-breaking-the-glass-ceiling.html





Extensive piece... Proud of u...ify

******

Bevista:
There you have it. Treat your dad/child/wife/etc the way you want others to treat them.
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We abuse GEJ and PMB without realizing that we are inadvertently desecrating the seat of The President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Other Nationals now have the temerity to call a former Nigerian president a Buffoon. Would they address president Obama or Bush like that?

Sadly, this despicable tag on GEJ will resonate with a lot of Nigerians who will throng this forum to validate their prejudice, instead of them to call the newspaper to order. It is totally unacceptable for the Economist to address a Nigerian president with those words.
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Irrespective of whatever grudges we may have, I think it's better to focus on criticizing the policies, actions or inactions of the president (GEJ/PMB) rather than hauling insults on their person.

SignalNG1:

…Says President Should Apologize for Labeling Nigerians ‘Difficult Lot’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the WednesdayPresidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Thursday also said the President confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

“Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

Read more: http://www.signalng.com/presidential-media-chat-shows-buhari-is-not-different-from-adolf-hitler-pdp/

vicmela:
He tried but gej does it well

barcanista:
The task of keeping Jonathan in Aso Rock is one that is patriotic and must be achieved. Nigerians support continuity and stand for President Goodluck Jonathan.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/2244662_img201501210002524_jpeg4af309be5bebafa1c7d32faa616bfaf1

PhockPhockMan:
Political activist and National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, talks about why he is now an ardent supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan with GBENGA ADENIJI

In 2011, you were the spokesperson for Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) who was then vying for the presidency. He is now contesting same position on the platform of the All Progressives Congress but you are no longer speaking on his behalf. Why did you shift camp?

There are so many shiftings. Gen Buhari himself has shifted. When I worked with him in 2011, he was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change. In 2015, he is now with the APC. APC is not CPC. The characters around him in 2011 are not the same characters around him in 2011. In all honesty, Buhari is an honest man. I have made my feelings known to him that I cannot function in a new environment. I was with him in 2011 within a period of six months. I have been on the public scene for two to three decades in Nigeria. I have my goals and objectives. My being in politics is not for any pecuniary means. It is about issues that I think are fundamental to me, what I represent and the people I represent.

Some think these issues fundamental to you may be driven by whoever is able to pay for your services.

Those who canvass such viewpoint are people of low intellect who cannot understand me. What did Buhari give me in 2011 to support him? I see a lot of childish comments all over the place. Interestingly, many of the people that are saying these things read themselves into others. Those who clearly have taken a position based on pecuniary interests begin to point fingers at other people or what they would do if they take such a position. That is what I see in Nigeria. I see a lot of false moral grounds in this election. The truth of the matter is that I see a lot of funny people all over the place now congregating or taking positions and trying to demonise others as if we do not even know what is going on. For me really, between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, there is no difference. The only difference is that we have Jonathan who convoked a national conference, which we had stood upon over the years. We have the report of the confab on the table.

Now, on another side, we have those who campaigned vigorously against that conference; who worked tirelessly against it; and who said nothing about it in their manifesto. And now, they are promising us change. Which change? Change from what to what? Who are the change agents? You take half of PDP and you sprinkle it. The only change that we need before we can move to any other policy change is to change the structure of Nigeria. The current structure of Nigeria cannot work except we change it. People of low intellect insinuate things. They do not react based on convictions. The best thing is for one to pursue one’s goals and history will vindicate who is right and who is wrong.

One of the leaders of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said the group endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan because it was convinced he would implement the report of the confab. Is this enough to earn the president an endorsement?

It is more than enough. Afenifere has taken a position. The leaders of the Oodua Peoples Congress have taken a position that based on the national conference, they are supporting Jonathan. Let us check history. When Chief MKO Abiola’s mandate was annulled, members of the National Democratic Coalition and Afenifere were in the trenches for years. One of the plans of NADECO, Afenifere and others was to have a national conference. In 1998, after Abiola and Abacha died, the position of NADECO and others was that we should demand a new constitution before conducting elections. But some people said, ‘No, let us go for the elections. Don’t let this opportunity to slip by. When we get there, we will even get more resources to finish the struggle for the restructuring of Nigeria.’
The same people today are the ones who opposed the national conference; they are telling people now that we have passed the stage of restructuring Nigeria because they have restructured the country to their own interest. They have taken what they want from Nigeria because we know what they were worth in 1999 and today they are multibillionaires and trillionaires at the expense of our people. They are now pumping money all over the place for people to write nonsense; maligning people that they have been bought. We are bought by our convictions that Nigeria is not going to work as it is. It is only political merchants who want to short-change our people that are selling a lie to them and calling it change. Which change? You can see the billboards all over Lagos: One meal for pupils in school in one day. Is that a change for us in Yorubaland?

In 1964, in one day, Chief Obafemi Awolowo enrolled 400,000 pupils into schools. The children of those enrolled that day are now professors. Fifty years after, some people now turn us to almajiris, putting billboards all over the place to tell us that one meal a day for oubr children in school is change. We have a history; we have a place where we are coming from. Strange children have taken over this place and people should know better. The people carrying all kinds of things are the ones who cannot question what is going on. They are the people who have sold their conscience. This is what Awolowo lived for all his life that this structure cannot work. Go and read Awolowo’s ‘Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution.’

Awolowo wrote the book on June 12, 1966. He made it clear in on page 52 of the book that any attempt to run Nigeria on a unitary constitution would make the government unduly complex, unwilling, in disharmony and the administrative machine of governance would collapse under bureaucratic centralism except we get super humans to run the affairs of Nigeria. Is that not where we are today? Somebody is now telling me that at this stage, I should abandon the path of freedom. The APC said in its first manifesto that the 1999 constitution is sacrosanct. When the party got the views of those close to it, its leaders brought another manifesto out which is silent on anything relating to the restructuring of the country.

The only person who has commented on this in the party is Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said they would study the report. Now, let look at this analogy: I am in a cage and somehow wants to open the cage so that I have my freedom. But someone now says I should stay in the cage but will make sure my children get a meal a day inside it. If the only thing I will get to stay inside the cage is for my children to have a meal a day, I will not stay. Even if the person has a political party willing to make my father its presidential candidate and my mother his running mate, I would go on the path of freedom.

Why didn’t you see the ruling party as the path to freedom in 2011?

I have told you that this is not about political party. What is party? Let no one deceive me with any label. Some of us work on convictions and principles. When we worked for Gen. Buhari and Bakare in 2011, we were largely influential to the manifesto of the Buhari/Bakare campaign. We said we could restructure Nigeria through elections. We have not abandoned our beliefs. That is our conviction. It is online. The twelfth item on the document is on restructuring. There is nothing of such in the APC manifesto.

What makes you think that your convictions are sublime and genuine?

My convictions are my convictions. We have not attacked anybody for believing in the change mantra. Why are they now attacking us for taking a position? We believe our beliefs are right, they also think their positions are right. We should go with our different views since March 28 is just around the corner. Why the blackmail?

Don’t you think the ruling party is also not free from the situation you just painted?

I do not know about that. I am talking about the one I know. I do not trade in abuses. I engage people on salient issues. Now they are talking about corruption. If not that the world is coming to an end, is it some of the people in APC that will be talking about corruption? Individuals who are poster boys of corruption; some have cases before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The way some people are desperate for change, if some notable armed robbers were placed before them and they were told to chant change for such individuals, some would still shout it. For me, it is not about APC or PDP, there is nothing being put forward that is different.

We keep talking about corruption as if it is limited to only the federal level. Which of the states under APC can pass a corruption test? I once took a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala to the EFCC because he asked all the local governments in the state to award five kilometers of road at N50m each. I wondered how there would be such uniform road project. When the commission charged him, it was part of what he was charged with. But given what APC is doing in South-West now, if I see Alao-Akala today, I am going to apologise to him. A five kilometre of road awarded for N50m which I frowned at, is now awarded for N1bn. These are the change agents. When the elections dates were shifted within the law, we saw many things flying about. We read several vitriolic editorials on that postponement when things actually showed that the commission was not fully ready to conduct the elections. Local government elections were supposed to have held in Lagos State since October, no one has questioned that. I am certain that anybody who says he wants to fight corruption yet keeps the 1999 Constitution is a fraudster. This is because the constitution encourages corruption by giving immunity. This is part of the things the confab addressed. There are a lot of criminals in government who have enjoyed immunity over the years. They will not want it to be removed. Are we not in a democracy? Is there a law mandating that if A supports B, I must support same?.

What will your group do if the Presidents wins and reneges on his promise to implement the confab report?

When he met with us in Akure, he told us categorically that he would implement the confab report within the 12 months of his return to office. If he reneges, we will mount the barricade.

You don’t think it could be late in the day then?

Nothing is going to be too late in the day. A philosopher said if we fight we can win. If we don’t fight, we have lost. We can hold President Jonathan to the promise but we cannot hold APC to it because its leaders did not participate in it.

You were vocal in condemning the oil subsidy scam. Don’t you think your stance now contradicts what you once stood for?

What is the contradiction there? This is why I said there is little scholarship in the land. That I opposed certain policies of Jonathan does not make me his enemy. If there is any untoward policy, I will still oppose it. Since the protest, the administration has not increased price of fuel.

Are you not bothered working for the same administration that made you return to the streets then?

Is Nigeria now a one-party state where there is no freedom of choice? I am not working for any administration. I am working for issues. Intelligent people should be able to separate issues from personalities. Fuel was increased, we called people out and the price was reduced. What happened to those who protested against the Lekki Toll Gate? They were beaten by the ‘change agents.’ Was the toll reduced?

Does your wife, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, who is an activist, support you in your convictions?

It is not question of whether she supports me or not. She is an independent person and I am too. She is not political. I am political. She is a civil society person.


Don’t you think your current political posture may affect public perception of what she stands for?

What have I done wrong? That I am pursuing my beliefs and should not run contrary to people who do not know what I know. If you wake me at 3am to tell you what my convictions are I will not scratch my head before reeling them out because I am convinced about them. Many of us know the issues that are stake and can see clearly. We cannot follow the madding crowd. I belong to the Awolowo political ideology. He said Nigeria could only work if we changed the present structure.

Many believe that the bearing of the current government pampers corruption. Do you have a different view?

Corruption is everywhere in Nigeria. The only way we can change it is to change the structure of the country.

Are you not convinced that a new leader may tackle corruption better?

Fighting corruption in Nigeria today is not about one man but the whole country. For goodness’s sake this is not a military administration where tribunals could be set up and throw people to jail to serve 300 years term. In 1999, how many governors were convicted for corruption except those former President Olusegun Obasanjo exposed for political reasons? There are cases that are 10 years old in courts now which have not been heard. Corruption is so endemic in Nigerian and that is why we have to go to the root. This is why we believe they (political office holders) should be stripped of immunity so that they can be tried while in office if accused of corruption. Immunity is dangerous and Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that even if a person has a criminal case before, once he gets immunity, that is the end of the case.

By the time these people are in office for four or eight years and they have amassed enough, they would ensure that the wheel of justice would not move. If anybody says he wants to fight corruption in Nigeria without the desire to make sure the constitution is changed, it is a fraud. Under this arrangement, one cannot gather the proceeds of corruption, make new leaders and promise to fight corruption holistically. It is not possible.

Your book, ‘Watch the Watcher,’ was published three weeks after former President Olusegun Obasanjo released his controversial autobiography, ‘My Watch.’ Was it a coincidence or a commissioned documented response?

People make all kinds of insinuations. Go and read the book. I wrote it as far back as 2005. I have not read Obasanjo’s book. Some Nigerians are intellectually lazy and all they make are insinuations. I do not need the permission of anybody to title my book.

Why did you delay its release?

I am at liberty to release my book anytime. That is my last answer on that.

You were part of the Save Nigeria Group delegate to the President and you were offered a bribe. What does that episode tell about the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration?

Yes, I was part of the SNG delegate to the President then. When we were leaving, they offered us money for transportation and we returned it. That is the end of it.

You once identified Jonathan as winner of Osun and Ekiti elections. What made you say so?

Yes, he won the elections by his disposition. Under past administrations, election results were changed and they were do-or-die. Election tribunals proved all these. After the Edo governorship election, the governor, Adams Oshiomhole, gave the victory to Jonathan who ensured adequate security.

You left Afenifere to Afenifere Renewal Group and later returned to Afenifere. Why did you go back?

Many people do not know the history of ARG. In 2007, when there was an intractable disagreement between former governors and the leaders of the Afenifere, some of our friends; Wale Oshun (a former chief whip of the House of Representatives), Ayo Afolabi (who is currently the director of publicity of the APC in the South-West) and others said we the below generation should come together and see how we can bring ideas together. We decided to chart an independent course, if that would put an end to the crisis among the leaders.

That was how the idea of ARG came. Some of us were very weary because we knew that some among us were neck-deep in the then politics of the Action Congress of Nigeria. We asked ourselves if we were ready. We said we would be independent. That was how we started it. We mobilised others so we could pursue the cause of the Yoruba. I was in Ekiti State during a bye election in the state. It was there I read a congratulatory advert by ARG in a national newspaper congratulating Bola Tinubu as its leader for reconstructing Fajuyi House. I called the chairman, Oshun to know when we decided on the advert. I said since people were then accusing us of being a Tinubu group, the advert just confirmed it. I told others that I was leaving but was begged that they would get to the root of the matter. I had boasted to the public that we were independent only for the advert to happen. I just decided to withdraw from ARG without making a fuss about the issue. There are some issues that one will not want to talk about but people who do not know what happened begin to talk.

Is Afenifere not tied to the apron strings of any individual?

Whose apron strings? Name, if you know any. Afenifere is independent and that is why it was able to take an independent position.

What is your relationship with Pastor Tunde Bakare now, since you have different convictions?

Our relationship is cordial and super. As a matter of fact, we are pursuing the same thing but our approach may be different. I am not a run-of-the-mill activist. I am a political person.


http://www.punchng.com/feature/interview/why-i-dropped-buhari-for-jonathan-odumakin/

aze:


What do you know about WW2, war on Terror and The Army?

1LRNZH:
While the battle to route Boko Haram insurgents within six weeks as promised by the Federal government rages, an army officer, nursing the wounds and deep feelings over the whole incident, spoke exhaustively to Saturday Vanguard about his battle field experiences at Gombe and Yobe axis and why he deserted the profession he loves so much.

His narration which runs like a ‘war memoir’ is as interesting although the military has recorded reasonable success with more equipment with which they have attacked terror camps and killed a great number of them. However we present to you an interesting account of an officer who deserted the army from the battle front.
Excerpts:

BACKGROUND
‘’I have served Nigerian Army for about twenty years. I enrolled through the regular course.
I have served in almost all formations in the country. I am from the middle Belt part of the country, married with two children, a boy and girl. I have also served in foreign missions in Sierra-leone, Liberia and Dafur and we always came out in flying colours. Sierra-leone and Liberia were for peace enforcement while Dafur was for peace support missions. We fought real battles at Sierra-leone and Liberia for about one year. We were there as a member of ECOWAS and we proved our mettle. It was popularly called ECOMOG. The battles were tense but rewarding in the sense that we were heavily equipped and all we needed for the war were adequately provided for us. During the battles we recorded very minimal casualty though. You know that it is difficult not to record casualties in war situations.


A picture taken on February 17, 2015 shows Cameroonian soldiers patrolling in the Cameroonian town of Fotokol, on the border with Nigeria, after clashes occurred on February 4 between Cameroonian troops and Nigeria-based Boko Haram insurgents. Nigerian Boko Haram fighters went on the rampage in the Cameroonian border town of Fotokol on February 4, massacring dozens of civilians and torching a mosque before being repelled by regional forces AFP PHOTO

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE
‘’In spite of the fact that the war was being fought outside Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria under General Abacha provided us with all we needed and when ever we complained of any inadequacy, the Federal government provided them without delay. That was the spirit and we relished and cherished it. It was such that we were all looking forward to being drafted back to continue with the war. But it is a totally different thing with the against Boko Haram in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

FEARS OVER ILL-PREPARATION
This is a war in which almost 95% of our soldiers fear to join. Our fears are not that we were not trained enough to face the challenges but simply because we seem not to be prepared, at all, for the war. A lot of sabotage, politics and other extraneous factors are seriously inhibiting the success of the war. Unfortunately, we are loosing a lot in men and material. It is so much that whenever the toll will be taken, the world will weep for this country. Already, thousands of families are in deep grief, having lost their dear ones in the war.
As we speak, I have deserted from the battle field at Bajoga, Yobe State. Let me give you a vivid account of the circumstances that led to my deserting the profession I love so much.

MY STORY
Until the unfortunate and very painful AWOL, I was serving in Bauchi as a Sergeant. While carrying out our normal duties, I was abreast of the ongoing war my colleagues were waging with Boko Haram and I was inwardly praying for an action whenever I would be drafted to the front. Alas, my battalion was informed of a certain foreign mission. I was ecstatic, knowing that we always triumphed during such missions. Unfortunately, when the real action came, I regretted joining the Nigerian army.

FOREIGN MISSION SIGNAL
After the signal came for the mission, we started training from Ohafia in Abia State. Later on, we heard that the operation had been changed from peace keeping in Liberia to Zaman-Lafia in the North East. We thought it was a joke and when we finished the training at Ohafia, we were sent to Jaji in kaduna State. It was at Jaji we realised that the rumour of going to the North East was true and we all knew that it meant going to fight the insurgents called Boko Haram. We were very sad because most of us were due for compensation and that was why they selected us to go for foreign mission. About 90% of us were victims of previous attacks at Bama and other areas and we lost both our loved ones and properties. So, military authorities selected us for foreign mission as a way of compensating us but unfortunately, we were diverted to go and fight Boko Haram insurgents.

MOVEMENT TO GOMBE
We, however, took it in good faith and after we completed our one month training, they moved us to Gombe. That should be around early January this year. On arrival around 2pm the next day, the Brigade Commander came to address us. To our chagrin, he told us that even members of Boko Haram were aware that we were coming, that they had sent a text message to him that we were coming to attack them with the local hunters and heavy equipment and that they were ready for us.

DISAGREEMENT WITH COMMANDER
The following day, he wanted to move us (about 600) to Mallam-Sidi area of the state but we objected because our Commanding Officer had not come and those heavy tanks, like the APC’s and other supporting weapons were not equipped for the battle ahead.


Soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants arrive to face trials for mutiny in Abuja on October 2, 2014. Nearly 100 soldiers tasked with fighting Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s far northeast appeared at a military court martial on Thursday, facing a range of charges including mutiny. The hearing comes just weeks after a tribunal sentenced 12 soldiers to death following their conviction for shooting at their commanding officer in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, in May. AFP PHOTO

The following day when the Commanding Officer came, he compelled us to move to the place, saying that it would be more conducive and safe for us to stay there than being left at the open and ill-equipped barrack in Gombe. We then moved to Mallam-Sidi where we spent almost two weeks before advancing to the war front. While we were there, they told us they were making provision for all those weapons that were not available. And, actually, while there, they brought three armoured tanks, replaced some of the APC’s that were in bad condition and brought new ones.

MOVEMENT TO THE BATTLE FIELD
On a Sunday, precisely on the 8th of February, around 2am, we advanced towards Bajoga, a town between Yobe and Gombe States. We were there before 6am. Before advancing to the battle field,we were fed with tasteless jollof rice that was as dinner. About 9.30 to 10 am we started advancing to the location where the insurgents were. While we were advancing, the three helicopter gun -ships that we were earlier promised would assist in the operation hovered round and landed. Even the Alpha jet came and all of us were jubilant and battle -ready to win at all costs.

HOPE DASHED
However, five minutes before we met with our target, the helicopter and alpha jet disappeared. Even at the peak of the battle, our commander called them for backup but they did not surface. The battle raged for over four hours, they were surging like locusts towards us with sophisticated weapons including ant-aircraft guns. In conventional wars, such weapons are not used on human beings. They are used to fell air crafts. But, the insurgents use them brazenly to kill our soldiers. It tears human body into shreds on contact.

OUR EQUIPMENT
It is pertinent to let you know how we were equipped for the war. Before the battle, they gave us three armoured tanks, three artillery guns, five APC’s, grenade launchers and AK47 rifles with three magazines per soldier. But on the day we started advancing, only one armoured tank , five APC’s, and artillery guns advanced with us. If we had gone into battle with, at least, the three armoured tanks, nothing would have made us lose the war. As the battle raged, it did not take time for their fire power to surpass ours.

SUICIDE BOMBING
Initially, we had upper hand, but they struck with two golf cars loaded with bombs and dislodged us. It was a suicide mission. The explosion covered the whole area with thick smoke and the insurgents used the opportunity to advance towards us. In the process, we were asked to withdraw because they were coming ferociously. We were killing them but they kept on advancing like bees. Then, it was almost 5pm.

RACE FOR SURVIVIAL
That was how the race for survival by our men started. You know the terrain is a very open and large expanse of land with scanty vegetation. It was just like running in a football field with no place to hide. We ran into a small settlement and they pursued us. They were quite familiar with the terrain but we were not.



We succeeded in crossing the first stagnant river, before we noticed the presence of our alpha jet which started backing us up. That did not deter the insurgents from pursuing and killing our soldiers one by one.

IT IS NOT THE WAR YOU KNOW
While we were running for dear lives, some soldiers were falling by the wayside after losing strength to continue with the long race for survival. In fact, because of the fact that we were not equipped with water bottles, our throats were drying up as we continued running. It got to a stage when dehydration set in and if you try to swallow saliva, it will be almost impossible and choking. Our spit was so white, slimy and it splattered on the faces of most of us due to exhaustion.

One of the most pathetic cases was that of a colleague who got exhausted and simply collapsed on the ground. He was even pleading with us to continue without him because he could no longer make it. One of our officers, a Lieutenant pleaded that we should lend a helping hand by jointly helping him to continue with us. His plea touched us and we tried our best to help but we were also too exhausted to help offer help.

BUT THE WAR THEY FOUGHT
Nevertheless, some of us tried to help him but we could not continue when we saw the way the insurgents were running towards us. We dropped him and only God knows what happened later. As we were running, bodies of many of our soldiers, both wounded and killed littered the open field. It was heart-rending seeing a close friend lying helplessly and you could not help because your own life was in grave danger and you were not sure of survival.

When we were about crossing the second shallow river, the villagers we met told us that we were in between Borno and Adamawa States, that from there to Bajoga was 75klm. Surprisingly, the villagers were very friendly and even gave us water. They were about giving us food but advised that we should quickly continue with our journey in order to avoid the insurgents meeting us.

They arranged three vehicles that lifted us for about a kilometre and the driver refused to proceed further claiming that the road was not good. We quickly disembarked and trekked all night till around 5am when we entered a village and met members of the local vigilante who helped us to arrange for two Diana Trucks that carried us to Bajoga junction. From there, we entered another vehicle to Mallam-Sidi and that was where we met some of our soldiers with serious bullet wounds.

The wounded among us pleaded with the second in command to take them to the hospital in Gombe but he objected saying that order has been given to move everybody to Ashaka where we use as harbour. After some deliberations and objections, we had no option than to obey him. When we got to Ashaka, to our chagrin, instead of taking urgent care of the wounded, feeding us and even given us a day rest after our narrow escape, the Commander ordered that we should turn back and advance, back to the battle field. That was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. At that stage, many of us decided inwardly to dessert the army and that was exactly what we did.

I handed my gun to one of my colleagues to return to armoury after I left through the nearest way in the midnight. I trekked for two hours to the main road before I boarded a bike that unfortunately missed the road and we saw ourselves back at Ashaka.

I then disappeared amongst the crowd at one of the checkpoints and went to the motor park where I boarded a vehicle towards Abuja. It took time for me to take that decision because this is a profession I love so much and I have put in about 20 years. Agreed that from day one, we signed to fight and die for our dear country, but of what use will it be when it was obvious to me that things could be done differently and we would have results. For instance, we were supposed to be paid N5000 daily but what our Commanders paid was N1000.

If you sustain injury in the battle field, you spend your money treating yourself. The worst is that we were not adequately equipped for the war. We only got to battle field with our rifles, no kits, no vision goggles etc and this is an oil rich country where politicians are embezzle trillions yet, this battle that calls for the best in both incentives, morale and equipment is being fought this way at the grave expense of our dear lives. Our military is strong and can do better if well funded and equipped. As I speak, many soldiers have deserted the army.

Their families are starving in the barracks. The most painful aspect of the whole thing is that after the battle, no efforts were made to ascertain or give account of our dead and wounded soldiers. The dead ones are left in the battle fields while most of the wounded die face agonising death. What the authorities do is to close account of soldiers not seen after some days.

In the past few days, however, it has been reported that the military has received more equipment and their forces have made reasonable inroads into terrorists camps and they have recorded reasonable success although the battle is far from being won.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/b-o-k-o-h-a-r-a-m-battle-field-account-of-a-military-deserter/

Omexonomy:
Fellow nairalander methink we should learn to ignore people toeing this line. Who ever posted these things is a crook trying to make immaginary things rule people live.

ZACHIE:
Olorunsogo is OBJ,s project

SomebodyLovesMe:


Keep deceiving yourself. Reality will hit you hard like a tsunami, in no time. The only thing worse than corruption in Nigeria is the stupidity of many Nigerians.

Iluv:
For anyone to confidently be sure of winning an election even before the vote is cast means that he has some hidden agenda.

The fact that social media has a strong affinity for APC does not guarantee the election will be won.

remember that the percentage of Nigerians without access to internet still surpasses the ones online so i suggest he should still calm down and continue his campaign till election day.

uchkochi:
Is love SEX!!!!

What is the difference between sex and love making?

1. You make love to your wife. While you have sex with a girl friend or a prostitute, hence the term PRE-MARITAL SEX.

2. Sex is self centered, wanting to satisfy self. But love making is mutual and the satisfaction of your spouse is primary.

3. Sex is just the use of the sex organs but love making is the use of the whole body.

4. Sex does not depict love but love making is love.

5. Sex is for pleasure, love making is for expression.

6. Sex is short, love making is long.

7. Sex is without romance, love making is romance packed.

8. Sex is taking, love making is sharing.

9. The pain of a person during sex gives the other person pleasure but in love making it is not so.

10. Sex may be bad but love making is true.

11. Eyes are closed during love making. Eyes are opened during sex. Love making blends couples because they are doing the right thing.


Many have been deceived that a guy loves them because he had sex with them. A guy can only love you and make true love to you after marrying you.

So even in this valentine season show love, don't allow a person who is not your husband have sleep with you.

SEX DOES NOT MEAN LOVE!!!

raumdeuter:
Excellent thinking. This is why I chose APC. Sensible thinking. Whats the purpose of a debate where. they just repeat the same thing and argue among themselves

Let them go and meet the people they would govern who would ask them UNEDITED questions that concerns them not moderated questions by the media

I would suggest they split Osibanjo and Buhari so they can cover more locations in the next 10 days

Lagos, Ibadan, Akure(SouthWest), Benin, Port Harcourt, Warri(SouthSouth) Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri(SouthEast), Jos, Minna, Makurdi(NorthCentral)

2 or 3 Cities in each region

Alphaoscar:

http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=166647

barcanista:
All the Agberos, touts, street urchins, kidnappers, NURTW park members, fraudsters and other notorious elements will definitely vote for him. Most Chelsea fans are thugs except the progressives among them

argon500:

Source: http://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/news/44681-jonathan-will-concede-defeat-if-he-loses-presidency

slimmy05:
do you have a TV programme where I can atleast get information? I sometimes get to watch Grail message preachings.

slimmy05:
do you have a TV programme where I can atleast get information? I sometimes get to watch Grail message preachings.

slimmy05:
do you have a TV programme where I can atleast get information? I sometimes get to watch Grail message preachings.

literarymathy:

Ignorance is really a disease. For your own illumination my brother, there is NO AMORC GRAND MASTER in Nigeria. . Please take note. Meanwhile if Reuben Abati is a member and he is working for the president, that tells you how trustworthy he is. Anyway, usage of the word CULT to refer to AMORC is libelous. You need to take a dictionary to know the meaning of the word then study AMORC and cross examine. mr mathy my man..

Peace profound

yaskarahyelhope:
They are ROSICRUCIANS. Carved out from FREEMANSORY. A former Jesuit created it. It is purely ILLUMINATI. Don't ask me aw I knew. But that's who they are. They are a cult which controls d personality of one.

Jesus pass dem. They deceptively say they are more enlightened. They are full of d atheists. They are science-based. They try to compete with God. They are perfectly WICKED!

God will judge them all if they don't repent in Jesus' name!

jamesw:
AMORC don't know don't want to know my believe in Christ Jesus is enough for me








French Kim Kardashian stabs fiancée, Faces 30-year jail time
Source: e reporter.com.ng/index.php/entertainment-news/item/1759-french-kim-kardashian-stabs-fiancee-faces-30-year-jail-time

tmotmo:


Head of Government that took more than 18 days before he could believe that over 200 girls (mostly Christians forced by senseless terrorist to claim a change of faith)

I think you are not sincere, how do you want APC to join Jonathan?
In what?
In looting?
In deception?
In claiming to have done a project that have not even been initiated?
In depleting Nigeria foreign reserves that was built by previous regime with no tangible usage for it?
In Giving Official backing to corruption by saying "Stealing is not Corruption"
In intimidating political opposition and militarizing election process (edo, osun and ekiti are known examples)
In not telling us till date, what happens to the 2.4 trillion naira oil subsidy
In not coming out clean on the Malabu oil scam
In rowdy sacking of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and subsequently that of Yakub Andrew (As both relates to oil production and its revenue scandals)
In returning to Capital oil its operating licence through AMCON (this is a company that was involve in the oil subsidy scam to the tune of 40.3 billion naira)
In not knowing that the same Man that owns capital oil, is the coordinator of saTAN.

They are so many, fact and figure will be presented to sane Nigerians to tell them that someone and some people have borrowed and spending what will be repaid by our grandchildren and great grandchildren unborn.

Delafruita:

LWKMD.imagine the words used to describe borgia:noble.borgia was nowhere near noble.he was a bloodthirsty vampire.he was made a cardinal just because alexander became pope after bribing all the other cardinals and murdering those against him.borgia's dream was to conquer the world like alexander the great and he was able to get his father to finance his wars with money made from sales of indulgence.
borgia was indeed painted as jesus while lucrezia's pictures adorn the world as the image of mary.the child lucrezia/mary carries in pictures which are intended to depict mary and jesus was actually the child she had with pope alexander,her own father.how sick is that?

jcflex:
Hassan Taiwo Soweto writes on FB

Today, i did my part, i made my stand. Happy joining OAU students to show President Jonathan his government and poverty-inducing capitalist policies are not welcomed. He expected a rousing welcome, instead he was confornted with a protest. Fayose got perhaps the biggest embarrassment of his life today. He walked confidently to Ife students expecting to be applauded. I can't yet forget the look of shock on his face as shout of Ole! Ole ! (Thief! Thief!) rented the air. Hastily his security details whisked him away. President Jonathan's convoy was delayed as students sat on the road chanting slogans. Clumsily one by one, the royal fathers made their way out not sure who next would be greeted with shout of "thief!" Those to be pitied (not sure if they even deserve it though) were the hundreds of PDP supporters who had thronged the campus with different banners to welcome Jonathan. They looked dejected, their banners hanging around them. How could they start dancing as they planned with the hundreds of students chanting solidarity songs just beside them? At the end, as the helicopters lifted from the ground, i didn't see a single person waving the President goodbye. It was like good riddance. If my guess is right, someone might soon be fired for fixing OAU on the President's itinery Despite attempts by a wing of the union leadership to sell-out, great Ife students have demonstrated how oppressors and exploiters should be treated. I would do it again anytime, any day. Doing this isn't because we support the APC. Years ago, i carried placards to give Tinubu the same welcome i joined others to give Jonathan today in the same University and at the same Oduduwa hall. I would do it again today just as my organisation, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), played leading roles in the struggle to defeat the APC attemps to deny the downtrodden public education in LASU. PDP and APC supports the same ruinous capitalist philosophy that has created the embarrassing inequality in Nigeria despite massive oil wealth. Only the building of an alternative political party to fight to end capitalism and enthrone socialism can ensure our problems begin to have genuine solutions. To all those with whom we made the stand against president Jonathan today, Solidarity!