The Nigerian Army said Operation Python Dance also known as 'Exercise Egwu Eke II' will commence full operation in the South East from September 15 to October 2017. The Deputy Director Public Relations, 82 Division of the Army, Musa Sagir made this known on Tuesday in a statement released to newsmen in Enugu. He hinted that the operation would cover states in the South East and South South. He listed the states to include Cross River, Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo state.

Sagir called on residents in the states to cooperate with the Army and volunteer information to assist the troops. He said the Commanders of the operation could be contacted via the following;
“Email address: egwueke2@gmail.com
“Facebook account’s name is Egwu Eke II
“The twitter handle is @egwueke2

The statement added "in addition to the Nigerian Army Information and Call Centre Telephone Number 193 (Using all Networks toll free) and Human Right Desk Number 08160134303, the under listed cell phones numbers are also hereby provided as dedicated public telephone numbers to members of the public who might have reason to pass credible information or reasonable complains to various Commanders of Exercise EGWU EKE 11"

Sector 1 (Abia State) Commander – 08023445961/07065013133.
Sector 2 (Imo State) Commander – 07030803546.
Sector 3 (Enugu State) Commander – 08023634672.
Sector 4 (Anambra State) Commander – 07037055354.
Sector 5 (Ebonyi State) Commander – 07039833547/08180605871.
Sector 6 (Cross River State) Commander – 08033865572.”

Former Minister of Education and co-founder of Germany-based global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, Oby Ezekwesili, has severely rebuked President Buhari’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu for an article in which he eulogised the President’s frugality.
In a fierce rebuke, Ezekwesili said “the sort of Genuflecting sycophancy that you, (Garba Shehu) have written on President Muhammadu Buhari makes it difficult for you to tell him the truth.”

In the article “A President and His 32″ TV,” which was circulated to media platforms, Shehu Garba cashed in on the wide publicity generated by the picture of Buhari watching the Cameroon-Nigeria world cup qualifier from a modest 32” TV in his Daura hometown.

The media aide wrote that when the President’s personal phtoographer took the evidently iconic picture, he had inadvertently opened “a window to the world on the facts of life of a man who was singly responsible for the 2015 victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

According to Garba, “a country struggling with its economy should consider herself lucky with a leader who husbands state resources as prudently as he does his personal resources.

“All politicians have their selling points. For President Muhammadu Buhari, it is his simplicity, honesty, incorruptibility and personal integrity. Let the naysayers dispute this!”

But his convictions failed to impress Ezekwesili who in a series of reactions to the article on Twitter, upbraided the controversial media aide for his “comedies.”

“Why not move over to Nollywood and write scripts for their movies? Can't you folks learn that governance is a serious matter?

“Our public officials fail to benchmark what they spend their time on against their contemporaries in say, emerging economies. It's tragic,” the former Minister said.

“When information comes out from the stable of the President of a country, Citizens should want to take it seriously. Stop your comedies please.”

Buhari’s senior special assistant on media and publicity has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately, especially since the President’s return from medical vacation.

He created the viral “rat legend” after claiming that the President would be working from home as his office was damaged by rodents. The remarks generated criticisms both within and outside the Nigeria, and for long, became a major troll against the Presidency especially among social media users.



SOURCE: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/22-trending-now/2614-move-over-to-nollywood,-oby-ezekwesili-chides-buhari%E2%80%99s-media-aide.html


CC; Lalasticlala Mynd44, OAM4J

Residents of Shiyar Ajiya, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara state have been thrown into mourning following the death of seven people. The deceased, including six members of the same family, died after eating a local food known as Fate (leaf porridge). The Acting Governor of the state, Abdullahi Shinkafi who confirmed the development in a chat with NAN disclosed that a team of medical experts have been deployed to the area to investigate the incident.
According to him, “they have already taken the sample; we are waiting for them to give us the result to enable us take action. People close to the deceased said the death was as a result of poisoned leaf porridge which was said to be contaminated by onion seeds. We cannot rely on what we heard; we are waiting for medical experts to come out with the result.”

He added that the state government was concerned that was why “I led the government delegation to condole their family.”

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/health/25-featured/2484-fate-kills-7-in-zamfara-state.html

The last is yet to be disclosed about the unexpected suspension of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
While the President's special adviser on media and publicity insists that Buhari jettisoned the meeting to receive the report of the committee investigating allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, it has emerged the President has instead grown weary of some of his underperforming Ministers.

Mr President is bent on re-jigging his team in the face of growing agitations across the country, and the need to reposition ahead of 2019.

According to insider sources, a good number of the current Ministers are on their way out and the President wanted to allow ample time, following his return, for them to put their various Ministries in order for new appointees.

Having learnt from his delayed appointment of the Ministers upon the assumption of his presidency, Buhari is also said to be disposed to have ready and competent replacements for those that will get the sack.

Top among the Ministers that may likely go are Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, FCT Minister, Muhammadu Bello and Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun.

Others include Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, Defence Minister, Dan Ali and Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu.

In Fashola's case, it is considered that the combination of critical ministries has become too burdensome for his supervision. While he may yet be retained, it is believed that he will be assigned to supervise only a section of the now combined Ministry as the Executive considers a reversal to the initial ministerial structure.

The current FCT Minister is most likely to be axed as a source claimed he has been "largely absent and redundant" while the FCT under his watch has plunged into "darkness and dirt."

The source further said that Kemi Adeosun's was a simple matter of the Ministry of Finance being bigger than the Minister of Finance. A claimed that trailed her appointment and has plagued his performance with the economy is still grappling with recession.

Also, the latest upsurge of the Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges has forced the President to consider changes in the political leadership of the armed forces with Brig. Gen. Dan Ali (Rtd) certain to see the exit door.

Inconsistency in education policy and claim that the administration planned to ban Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) has cost the President goodwill amongst Christian faithful's. As a strategy towards securing that critical base, the President’s hammer may fall on the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

Labour Minister, Chris Ngige may have also seen his last days in the Ministry, with the resurgence of sundry labour agitations not helping his continued stay while the mixed fortunes of the various national sports teams in recent times, may have finally caught up with Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

If the cabinet reshuffle happens before the next FEC meeting, Nigerians may see the likes of former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and former deputy governor of Plateau, Pauline Tallen.

Oshiomhole is highly preferred to head the Labour Ministry to halt the emergent labour agitations from snowballing into an unwanted political setback for the APC going into 2019.

Mrs Tallen has remained within the radar of possible appointments by the President after she maturely turned down her ambassadorial nomination in 2016 over the need for political "balancing of appointments" and her now late husband's poor health. The expected exit of Dalung should pave way for her appointment as she is very highly considered among presidency circles.

Meanwhile, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu is also set to emerge the substantive Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a move by the Presidency to douse separatist agitations in the South-East and to also reward his long-standing loyalty to the APC.


Source :https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/20-featured/2208-suspension-of-fec-meeting-cabinet-reshuffle-imminent-as-fashola,-adeosun,-ngige-out,-oshiomhole,-tallen-in.html


cc; lalasticlala

India's top court has ruled the practice of instant divorce in Islam unconstitutional, marking a major victory for women's rights activists. In a 3-2 majority verdict, the court called the practice "un-Islamic". India is one of a handful of countries where a Muslim man can divorce his wife in minutes by saying the word talaq (divorce) three times.
The landmark court decision came in response to petitions challenging the so-called "triple talaq" custom.

The cases were filed by five Muslim women who had been divorced in this way and two rights groups.

Women's rights campaigners have hailed the court's decision as a historic win.

There have been cases in which Muslim men in India have divorced their wives by issuing the so-called triple talaq by letter, telephone and, increasingly, by text message, WhatsApp, and Skype. A number of these cases made their way to the courts as women contested the custom.

Triple talaq divorce has no mention in Sharia Islamic law or the Koran, even though the practice has existed for decades.

Islamic scholars say the Koran clearly spells out how to issue a divorce - it has to be spread over three months, allowing a couple time for reflection and reconciliation.

Most Islamic countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned triple talaq, but the custom has continued in India, which does not have a uniform set of laws on marriage and divorce that apply to every citizen.

Three of the five Supreme Court judges called the controversial practice "un-Islamic, arbitrary and unconstitutional". One of the judges, Justice Kurien Joseph, said the practice was not an essential part of Islam and enjoyed no protection.

The judges also said it was "manifestly arbitrary" to allow a man to "break down (a) marriage whimsically and capriciously".

Chief Justice JS Khehar, in a differing opinion, said that personal law could not be touched by a constitutional court of law. The opposing judgments also recommended that Parliament legislate on the issue. However, this is not binding and is up to parliament to take up.

The Indian government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has supported ending the practice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought up the issue several times including in his Independence Day address on 15 August.

The judgement is being widely hailed as a major win for Muslim women and women's rights. The prime minister praised the "historic" ruling.

The Prime Minister tweeted on Tuesday morning, “Judgment of the Hon'ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment.”

Shayara Bano, one of the main petitioners, said she appealed to people to accept the ruling and not politicise the issue. "I have felt the pain when the family breaks. I hope no one has to go through this situation in future," she told reporters.

On social media the hashtags #TripleTalaq and #SupremeCourt began trending on Twitter India even as the verdict was being announced. The hashtag #Tripletalaq is also trending globally on Twitter.

Source : https://www.vigil360.com.ng/global-news/14-middle-east-news/2177-triple-talaq-india%E2%80%99s-supreme-court-bans-islamic-instant-divorce.html

cc; lalasticlala

In what may be the largest award so far in a lawsuit tying ovarian cancer to talcum powder, a Los Angeles jury on Monday ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $417 million in damages to a medical receptionist who developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s trademark Johnson’s Baby Powder on her perineum for decades.

Eva Echeverria, 63, of East Los Angeles is one of the thousands of women who have sued the consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson claiming baby powder caused their disease, pointing to studies linking talc to cancer that date to 1971 when scientists in Wales discovered particles of talc embedded in ovarian and cervical tumors.

Only a few lawsuits have gone to trial, but so far most of the decisions have gone against the company. In May, a Missouri jury awarded $110 million to a Virginia woman, a year after Missouri juries awarded $55 million to one plaintiff and $72 million to a woman who died before the verdict. Another woman, Deane Berg of Sioux Falls, S.D., won a lawsuit, but the jury did not award damages.

In March, a St. Louis jury rejected a Tennessee woman’s claim that Johnson & Johnson’s powder caused her ovarian cancer, and a New Jersey judge dismissed two talcum powder lawsuits against the company, a company spokesman said.

Many women sprinkle baby powder on their inner thighs to prevent chafing or use it on their perineum, sanitary pads or underwear for its drying and freshening effects.

Ms. Echeverria, who was too sick to testify in court and gave a videotaped deposition, started using Johnson’s Baby Powder when she was 11 and continued after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, unaware that some studies had linked talc to cancer, said her lawyer, Mark Robinson. She stopped using it after hearing news reports of a verdict in another lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, he said, and now wanted to warn other women.

“She told me, ‘I’m not doing this for myself,’” Mr. Robinson said. “She knows she’s going to die. She’s doing this for other women. She wants to do something good before she leaves.”

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, Carol Goodrich, said the company would appeal the verdict handed up by a jury in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County and was preparing for additional trials. The company “will continue to defend the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder,” she said.

“Ovarian cancer is a devastating diagnosis and we deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by this disease,” Ms. Goodrich said in a statement. But she added, “We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”

The New York Times reports that the company statement pointed to a National Cancer Institute report in April that said, “The weight of evidence does not support an association between perineal talc exposure and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.”

But elsewhere, the cancer institute uses more ambivalent language, saying “it is not clear” if talcum powder increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

Though numerous studies have linked genital talc use to ovarian cancer, the research findings have not been consistent. They consist mostly of epidemiological or population studies, which cannot conclusively prove a cause-and-effect relationship between an exposure and later development of cancer.

But scientists have hypothesized that talc might lead to cancer because the crystals can move up the genitourinary tract into the peritoneal cavity, where the ovaries are and may set off inflammation, which is believed to play an important role in the development of ovarian cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2006 classified talcum powder as a possible human carcinogen if used in the female genital area, but no federal agencies have acted to remove talcum powder from the market or add warnings.

Talc is a naturally occurring clay mineral composed of magnesium and silicon that is mined in proximity to asbestos, a known carcinogen, and the Food and Drug Administration asks manufacturers to take steps to avoid contamination with asbestos.

Talc is used in many cosmetics products, including one formula of Johnson’s Baby Powder; another formula uses cornstarch, which has not been implicated in any studies or lawsuits about ovarian cancer.




https://www.vigil360.com.ng/health/27-trending-now/2170-johnson-baby-powder-linked-to-cancer,-as-court-awards-$417-million-to-victim-in-us.html



Cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44, Fynestboi

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held a closed-door meeting with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, after he returned from Logos where he attended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference. Recall that the President fully resumed duty today after transmitting a letter to the National Assembly as required by law. The meeting took place after the President addressed the nation in the morning, having been fully briefed by the then Acting President.

A credible source in the Presidency told Vigil360 that the "President and the Vice President held a crucial meeting to review recent developments in the country" The source added that the duo agreed to reshuffle the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday. He explained that they both considered inputs made by the 'kitchen cabinet' although certain gray areas were left for the President to use his discretion.

According to him, "actually the President held a very crucial meeting with Osinbajo today. They both agreed that the FEC should be reshuffled and the list presented was considered. To be frank with you, the Vice President had issues with some of the recommendations and President assured that he would consider the concerns he raised."

"Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the President will Chair the FEC meeting on Wednesday and the council could be dissolved. Only few Ministers are expected to retain their positions from what I gathered. But I must tell you that critical figures are working to ensure that their candidates are not thrown out"

The source also said though Nigerians were waiting for the President to make his position known on the investigation report on the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Director of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Buhari was reluctant to take a definite position on the matter despite persuasion from Osinbajo.

The source concluded that the President and the Vice would meet on Tuesday to harmonize various positions. He said if both parties agree then Wednesday will be full of activities.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that some Ministers are already packing their personal belongings out of their offices preparatory for the rumored change. The Ministers claimed that "the President was unpredictable as anything could happen on Wednesday".

I have been asked severally why I chose to stand against a fellow Igbo brother over the rejuvenation of Biafra dream. Several aspersions have been cast on me simply because I differ with the fraudulent approach of Nnamdi Kanu and his scamming of the entire Igbo nation in the name of Biafra.

First Kanu is self-centered, attention-seeking, greedy and highly opinionated. He lacks fundamental qualities of a leader. For instance, while mobilizing for Kanu’s release from detention and other IPOB leaders including Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, and David Nwawuisi, we discovered that our wholesale strategy aimed at securing their simultaneous release from detention at the same time was not feasible.

Hence we changed strategy and focused agitations on Kanu’s release, with the aim that upon his release he will spearhead the release of other comrades in detention at the Kuje Prison. However, since his release, Nnamdi Kanu has hardly done anything to ensure the release of these fellows. He has hardly mentioned their plights not to talk of him initiating concrete action(s) for their release. Rather Kanu has made the Biafra struggle all about himself, his opinions and views.

Second, during a strategy meeting with Kanu’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor (Barr.), it was agreed that Kanu will abide by all aspects of his bail conditions, which came about after a lot of lobby and interface with relevant stakeholders. Amongst other conditions, Kanu was required not to grant interviews, involve himself in any rallies, and not found in a group exceeding ten (10) persons. In her ruling, Justice Binta Nyako warned that a violation of any aspect of the bail conditions would see Kanu return to prison.

However, Kanu has remained adamant and chauvinistic in his gross attempt to make himself the center of the struggle. He has practically violated vital aspects of the bail conditions, and if the government comes after him today, many well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters will not blink an eye. He has toed the path of violence and remained a threat to our collective political fortune. It wouldn’t make sense for us to lose on both ends, especially as the 2019 general elections draw near. Our stand still remains that we work together to ensure that Ndigbo gains her rightful place in the Nigerian project; we have examined it back and forth and come to this conclusion that we may be better for it.

Third, Kanu’s audacious call for a boycott of elections in Anambra State is not just appalling but a total demonstration of irresponsibility and a lack of focus. This singular posture has waned Kanu’s popularity amongst the Anambra people, where he commanded a large following until recently. The people of Anambra are ready to resist Kanu’s antics any day. Anambra has remained the shining light of Ndigbo in the past six to seven years, so the people are not ready to throw away their destiny on the basis of such uncertainties which Kanu and his group of agitators represent.

Fourth, with the launch of the rag-tagged Biafra Security Service (BSS), Kanu has publicly presented himself as a militant leader. This may come with its own consequence(s), as the Nigerian government may be provoked to act in ways that would see Kanu return to Kuje prison.
The question now is what if Nnamdi Kanu is rearrested? My answer is – Ndigbo would go to sleep. Nnamdi Okwu Kanu is a scammer. He is a criminal mind who is out to take advantage of the same people he claimed to be fighting for. He is not worth the attention he craves for.



Frank Eze

Frankeze1967@gmail.com

Twitter: @realfrankeze




Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/2152-the-impending-re-arrest-of-nnamdi-kanu-frank-eze.html

Our mumu too much sef. Even Kanu knows this. Me, I am not part of this nonsense, Biafra is a scam.

Members of Coalition of Nigerian Youths for Change Initiative have called on the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to remove the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) from office over his alleged indictment by Air Commodore Mohammed Umar's revelation that he was fronting for Magu in the arms deal scandal.

The group made the call in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Group, Oladimeji Ayo. The statement maintained that for Umar Rtd to have awarded a contract worth N43 million for the furnishing of Magu's apartment which was rented at the cost of N40 million when the country is in economic difficulties was enough to relieve Magu of his appointment.

The statement reads in full;

“Magu led EFCC is not different from his predecessor, Ibrahim Larmorde whose tenure witnessed the outright stealing of N1trillion Naira of recovered funds by the commission, an allegation that made Mr Lamorde disappeared from public scene instead of defending himself before the Nigerian Senate. The way and manner Ibrahim Magu is handling the operation of the commission where EFCC has become more powerful than the Nigeria law court has raised suspicion among Nigerians.

This is an era of Anti corruption crusade where we are expected to witness the liberation of the Nigerian State, where we expect all Nigerians to support Mr President in restoring dignity and sanctity to the people, where the rule of law is supreme as preached by Mr Magu upon resumption as the Chairman of the commission, but today, Mr Magu as the head of EFCC is playing the script of some powerful persons by collecting money in dollars thereby setting them free, while those legitimately set free by the law court are being held to ransom".

Look at the forwarding of Magu’s name for confirmation, immediately Mr President travelled to London, some persons prevailed on the Vice President and Magu’s name was forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. This shows that Magu’s loyalty is not for Mr. President. We hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sweep under the carpet, the revelation by Thisday Newspaper of the 10th of June, 2016 that Mohammed Umar who was a member of the Presidential Arms procurement probe panel that the $1.5 million recovered from him is for a ranking member of the panel from EFCC which Magu is the only representative of EFCC in the panel.

This is a verifiable report and it's still happening. It is high time we call a spade a spade by bringing to book those with corruption tendencies that could damage the good image of Mr President and his administration. Mr President has a divine mandate to rescue the country, with his wisdom, our economy is being diversified.

For the first time since the exploration of crude oil in Nigeria that, we have a founded budget of over 600 billion Naira with 20 percent contribution from the sale of crude oil. It is amazing, it shows we are moving forward, but with some people like Mr. Magu as the head of our Anti Corruption Agency, we shall move nowhere.” he said.

According to a latest research, people who drink alcohol after studying are better at recalling information than those who do not consume alcohol. Alcohol often makes one forgetful due to its high toxicity but not according to a research by the University of Exeter.

According to a research by the university, drinking alcohol can help in boosting one's memory.

The team of researchers found that people who drink alcohol after studying are better at recalling information than those who do not consume alcohol.

The study included 88 people, 31 men and 57 women aged 18 to 53. They were given a word learning task.

Then, they were divided into two groups. One group was told to drink as much as they like and the other was asked not to drink at all.

The next day, it was found that people in the first group, who consumed four units of alcohol on average, were better at retaining the required information.

Though, the causes of these effects are not fully understood but the prime explanation is that alcohol blocks the learning of new information due to which, the brain has more resources available to lay down other recently learned information into long-term memory.

Professor Celia Morgan said: "Our research not only showed that those who drank alcohol did better when repeating the word-learning task, but that this effect was stronger among those who drank more," The Telegraph reported.

"The theory is that the hippocampus - the brain area really important in memory - switches to 'consolidating' memories, transferring from short into longer-term memory."

Another task was given to the participants which involved looking at images on a screen.

This task was completed once after the drinkers had drunk alcohol and again the following day, but the results did not reveal any significant differences in memory performance post-drinkin

http:///2uZb0Vu

The brilliant brain behind the witty EFCC tweets, yesterday, announced that he is leaving the agency.
Olufemi Olukayode Adeyemi, better known as F.Shaw, won the hearts of many Nigerians with his brilliant and witty engagement on the agency's official handle @officialEFCC.


Announcing his departure @officialEFCC tweeted: “you are an excellent communicator; you are special; good luck for the future and thank you for your service”.

Responding through his personal twitter page, @FshawKingFisher, said: “Thank you for trusting my judgement and thank you for the privilege to serve. I wish you greater success going forward.

“Esprit the corps” he concluded.

@FshawKingFisher joined the agency and built up their twitter handle to rank among the best in public engagement with his quick and witty response to enquiries.

Disagreement over the running of the agency by the Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and the suspension of the Commission by the EGMONT group were cited as some reasons behind his resignation.

The “handler” is now one of many highly trained and very competent professionals that have left EFCC since Magu took over the leadership of the Commission.





https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/20-featured/1503-efcc-twitter-handler-resigns.html


LALASTICLALA DOMINIQUE FYNESTBOI MYND44

We must understand that any action that deny the people their most sacred rights of voting in a democracy, is already heading towards a dictatorship. We must rise to condemn Nnamdi Kanu’s penchant for violence; his continued misinformation and deception, and a total lack of common sense.

This is the thrust of the write-up. Obiano must continue the good work that Obi started.

ANAMBRA ELECTION: WHY NNAMDI KANU AND HIS SOCIAL MEDIA WARRIORS LACK COMMON SENSE -Frank Eze

It’s been a while since I visited home, and so when the opportunity presented itself recently, I took it with all candour. Driving through Akwa to Enugu-Ukwu, I couldn’t have been more excited and proud of the enterprise of my people. Their creative spirit and zeal of buying and selling filled the air. The peaceful but highly enterprising nature of the people couldn’t have gone unnoticed; they are just a beauty to behold. I said to myself that these people are the heart of those making Ndigbo proud at home and abroad.

But of note also is the landmark transformational leadership of Governor Willie Obiano. The three flyovers in Akwa are now asphalted, a development which speaks volume of the ambition of the peoples’ governor to indeed transform Anambra with world class infrastructure. I must confess that the State has been fortunate to have two extraordinary Governors, Peter Obi and Willie Obiono, in quick succession. While Anambra was the laughing stock of Nigerian politics between 1999 and 2006, when the gladiators fought for political control and foisted their protégés on the people, the landmark judgement by the Appeal Court on 15th March 2006, indeed heralded the beginning of great days.

One other thing that stood out for me during the trip was the fact that I hardly noticed Biafra agitation(s) in any shape or form. I had thought that if the concept of Biafra was actually genuine, the people would have identified with it in one way or the other. The Biafra ideology as presented by Kanu and his band of IPOB agitators couldn’t have stem from the people’s will, but the ambition of a man to curry some form of political capital for selfish interest.

I realized that Biafra is more a “reality” on the social media than amongst the natives of Ndigbo land. And because Kanu has mastered the art of propaganda, he has continued to feed Nigerians and the international community with lies that Biafra is our collective dream.

One of the most appalling moves by Nnamdi Kanu was his audacious call for boycott of elections in Anambra State. I am not surprise by such irresponsibility and a total lack of focus. Without sounding arrogant, the leadership of Anambra State remains the most focused in the entire Southeast. Infact apart from Lagos State, hardly any other State in the entire Federation can compete with the developmental strides of Governor Willie Obiano. So on what basis is Kanu making his empty threats? Who made him judge and ruler over the Ndigbo people?

His exploitation of the social media to mislead the people while making merchandize of our collective sensibilities must be resisted. Anambra people see and know better. They know how it feels to suffer from the molestation of impostors like Nnamdi Kanu. They understand better how some gladiators, forming “messiah”, exploited them for financial and political gains. And most importantly they now know how to resist ambitious criminals who masquerade as fighting the peoples’ cause. This is the very reason every son and daughter of Anambra and Ndigbo at large must queue behind Governor Willie Obiano to resist the machinations of Nnamdi Kanu.

I have said it times without number that Nnamdi Kanu is a fraudster. He is already demonstrating to the entire world his berserk style of authoritarian leadership, and that is why reasonable people are backing-off his idea of a Biafran Republic, where “force” reigns. Anambarians must ensure that Kanu’s comic threats do not have a foothold in the psyche of the people. They must rise to sensitize the people and avoid needless bloodshed, as more Igbo leaders come out to condemn Kanu’s latest pronouncements in its entirety. If he succeeds in Anambra, he will surely mobilize his gangs to other parts of the Southeast with possible adverse implication(s) for law and order.

No doubt Kanu and his bands of IPOB agitators are already losing steam; as such resorts to violence appear to be one of their “last cards”. We must take this card away from them and ensure that the November election is held peacefully in Anambra. The Governor and security agencies have already expressed their commitment that the election will hold; but much more, the peoples’ resolve against violence is vital in conducting a hitch-free exercise.

In an era where sensationalism reigns, fraudsters like Kanu will continue to mobilize his “social media warriors” to sustain his campaign of calumny. I call on young men and women on the social media space to vehemently resist every move that tends to stir emotions and possible violence in any part of Igboland. We must understand that any action that deny the people their most sacred rights of voting in a democracy, is already heading towards a dictatorship. We must rise to condemn Nnamdi Kanu’s penchant for violence; his continued misinformation and deception, and a total lack of common sense.

Frank Eze
Frankeze1967@gmail.com

Source:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/1433-anambra-election-why-nnamdi-kanu-and-his-social-media-warriors-lack-common-sense-frank-eze.html

CC:mynd44, lalasticlala

Hip-pop sensation, Wizkid has unfollowed US star Drake on Instagram in was is seen as his growing frustration over the latter’s lack of support for his international penetration.

Currently, Drake’s handle @chmapagnepapi features in Wizkid’s @wizkiddayo followers but not on his following suggesting that the US rapper may yet be oblivious that the “Baba Nla” crooner has unfollowed him.

It has been speculated that Wizkid is unhappy that Drake is yet to appear in his music videos, the latest being “Come Closer” where only the recorded audio of Drake’s rap was played over Wizkid’s performance in the video.

It was also rumoured that Drake even wanted the 'Come closer' song for himself. The fact that there was a version of Drake's 'Come closer' featuring Popcaan adds more substance to that speculation.

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/entertainment/46-trending-now/1327-wizkid-unfollows-drake-on-instagram-he-fails-to-come-closer.html

Government and by extension the people must do everything to stop the trend. This is counter productive to the global effort to eradicate polio

A video showing an Emirates airline steward pouring champagne from a glass back into a bottle has gone viral. The clip, which was taken by a passenger on board the Airbus A380, was shared on Reddit.
The few second clip, was also posted on Streamable and had received over one million views at the time of publishing this story. According to the user who shared the video, the incident was accidentally captured on camera.

While many users criticized the airline for pouring in half consumed champagne back into the bottle, some said it is possible the steward poured the drinks that were not consumed.

This year has been quite rough for airlines as many videos have surfaced on social media pointing out the flaws of the cabin crew. However, most of these incidents did not involve Emirates airline or its staff.

Earlier this month, United Airlines issued an apology to a Hawaii middle-school teacher as the airline gave away her 27-month-old son's seat to a standby passenger. In another incident, United Airlines' employees were accused of destroying a custom wheelchair belonging to a 24-year-old man who suffered from a severe spinal condition.

International Business Times tried to reach Emirates airline for a comment, but there has been no response from the company so far.

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/global-news/14-middle-east-news/1256-emirates-airline-caught-refilling-champagne-bottle-with-leftover-drink.html

Cc lalasticlala

A traditional ruler in Ungogo local government area of Kano, Abdulkadir Ahmed, has disclosed that some parents are reportedly putting fake inks on their children to deceive vaccinators that their children had already received polio vaccine.
Ahmed stated that parents who prevent their children from getting vaccinated against polio will be arrested.

According to ThisDay, Naziru Salihu, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official, had raised alarm over the fake thumb printing during a review meeting of the routine immunisation against polio in the state.

Salihu explained that during their visit to some households in the area, some parents claimed their wards had been vaccinated against polio by some health officials.

He said parents used the usual mark of thumb printing on the children’s finger but the ink used by parents was different from that of vaccinators.

Reacting to the development, the district head said the traditional rulers and other key stakeholders would not tolerate any attempt to scuttle the efforts of stakeholders to eradicate polio virus in the state.

He warned defiant parents to refrain from the act or face the wrath of the law.

Nigeria had been declared polio-free in 2015 until new cases were discovered in 2016. As at July 10, Nigeria had four reported cases of polio.

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/health/27-trending-now/1255-polio-vaccine-parents-%E2%80%98using-fake-ink-on-children%E2%80%99-in-kano-to-avoid-vaccination.html

Cc lalasticlala See how backward and wicked some parents can be.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, unanimously adopted a motion which among others sought to reverse Federal government’s policy which merged both Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK), Islamic religious Knowledge (IRK) and Civic Education as one subject in the Secondary School curriculum.
The motion titled “Call to make Civic Education an optional instead of a compulsory subject for Senior Certificate Examination” was sponsored by Mrs. Beni Lar, PDP, Plateau State.

The motion, asides making civic education an elective subject will make CRK and IRK be taught independently as was initially obtainable before the controversial subjects merger by government.

Members were unanimous in their view that the merger was against constitutional provisions on religious liberties and that it was only proper that students who still under parental guidance should be taught religious studies of their choice in schools.

The development is expected to douse the unnecessary controversy generated by the merger of both religious subjects and civic education into one subject termed Religious and National Values.
Source:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/1184-house-of-reps-returns-crk,-splits-religious-and-national-values.html

cc; lalasticlala

In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recommended that July 11 be observed by the international community as World Population Day, a day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues.
But when the first World Population Day was marked in 1990 after the UN declaration, the global population stood at a little over 5 billion. 27 years on, and it is now over half that number, measuring 7.6 billion.

A review of where the numbers are growing fastest reveals quite a lot, even for Nigeria.

According to a BBC report, though there’s been a decline in fertility rates since the 1960s, roughly 83 million people are still added to the world’s population every year.

It is projected that the world’s population will reach 9.8 billion in 33 years, by 2050 and then hit 11.2 billion by 2100. Of this figure, Nigeria and 8 other countries are projected to contribute 50%. The others include the US, India, Congo, Algeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Tanzania and Indonesia.

Much of the forecasted growth will be driven most by African and least by Europe as researchers found birth rates to be at 4.7 and 1.6 births per woman respectively in the continents.

According the UN population division Director, John Wilmoth, “the population in Africa is notable for its rapid rate of growth. It is anticipated that over half of global population growth between now and 2050 will take place within that region.”

Within the period of Wilmoth’s forecast, India with a current population of about 1.3 billion people is expected to overtake China (1.4 billion) as world’s most populous country.

And while China is relegated to second, Nigeria will come up just behind having been anticipated to overtake US as the third most populous country in the world.

The predictions invariably pose human development challenges especially for African countries where existing indexes largely point to poverty, illiteracy and disease.

This year's world population day theme is “Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations” and will be particularly instructive for several African nations, including Nigeria.
Source:https://www.vigil360.com.ng/global-news/12-africa-news/1167-world-population-nigeria-to-overtake-us-by-2050.html

The internet has redefined human existence. From education to manufacturing, healthcare, religion, politics, and economy, our lives have been reshaped forever. However, beyond its overwhelming advantages, the human race faces a new threat to its existence, Internet Pornography.
Prior to the development of internet pornography, a person had to go through a lot of trouble to get involved in any form of external sexual activity. In order to get a prostitute, engage in an affair, or even go to a strip club, an individual had to take the risk of being caught and exposed. With pornography being marketed as a healthy behaviour, many people turned to it to satisfy their sexual desires. A trip to a shop that sold pornographic material still has proven to be a relatively dangerous activity, with a risk of being noticed by family members or friends.
However, with the development of the internet technology, men and women no longer have to risk an embarrassing exposure in order to access pornography. Now they could watch an unlimited amount of obscene material from the comfort of their home. They could even get involved in the “harmless” internet sex with the help of video cameras.

Types of Porn Viewers
There are a range of people who watch porn. Some are more casual viewers, while others could very easily be considered addicted. While there are differences from one viewer to another, research indicates that none of it is healthy on their brain or relationships. Like we commonly have words to describe degree of an individual’s involvement in alcoholism, e.g. social drinkers, binge drinkers depending on how much alcohol he or she consumes. Similarly, there are terms like these for people who watch porn too. Three of such classifications were identified in http://fightthenewdrug.org/.
Recreational Viewers
Recreational viewers are the people who watch porn occasionally. This could mean they just watch here and there, or they only watch a couple hours of porn a week, maximum. Mostly they seek it out for sexual stimulation and entertainment, and it’s not a substitute for their social or love life. As harmless as that all sounds, this group of viewers is not totally in the clear. Research has shown that even exposure to soft-core porn makes viewers objectify the human body, and even feel dissatisfied about how their partner looks.

Even if a recreational viewer is just watching porn casually, their habit is still conditioning their brain to view people as sex objects, which is likely harming their relationship with their partner, and is still contributing to the demand for sexually exploitative material. Also, there’s the simple fact that every addiction had to start somewhere. Casual viewing may seem harmless, but it can easily lead to a full-on porn addiction.
Sexually Compulsive Viewers

Sexually compulsive viewers have typically been watching porn for years and the content they watch now is a far cry from what they watched in the beginning. And not only has their choice of porn turned more hardcore to satisfy them, these viewers turn to porn as a way to deal with their problems. When they’re happy or sad, angry or just plain bored, those with a compulsive porn problem turn to porn as an escape, a way to self-medicate. Because internet porn is a convenient, private, and cheap way to avoid dealing with real life issues, compulsive viewers use it as a means of managing life issues like depression, rage, disappointments amongst other stress syndromes. However, the relief of this sexual release only lasts a short time. When the viewer watches porn to deal with or avoid their problems, it only fuels a vicious cycle of addiction.
At-Risk Porn Viewers

This group defines the large group of people who watch porn habitually and regularly. They might not be considered full on compulsive viewers with a raging addiction, but they certainly have created a strong habit and regular routine of watching porn. People that fall into this group have likely tried to stop watching porn before, but have been unsuccessful. They’ve noticed that the material they watch has increased in both frequency and graphic content, and they also notice that they tend to feel a little lonely or depressed after finishing. At-risk viewers are right on the edge of becoming compulsive viewers, but haven’t yet seen porn affect how they live their daily life. They realize porn is a negative influence in their life, but can’t seem to kick the habit. Their partners likely aren’t happy with their habit and they find themselves unsatisfied at times by having real sex.
Porn and Relationships

How does porn cause these problems or make them worse? It’s the same with any addictive substance and behavior. When you view porn, your body starts to build up a tolerance to what you’re seeing, until the images that used to give you sexual arousal don’t do the trick anymore. So you end up spending more time looking for images that will give you the satisfaction you once felt. What used to take only a short amount of time turns into hours of clicking, searching, fast forwarding, rewinding, and viewing. The more time you spend chasing the perfect image, the less attention you give to your relationships, hobbies, work, and social life. This causes unhappiness and discomfort, and in order to deal with those feelings, you spend more time looking at porn to make them go away.
People who have slipped out of the recreational user category and into the sexually compulsive or at-¬risk user category have said that the addiction cycle made them feel guilty, frustrated, dissatisfied, and out of control. That makes total sense, especially when you consider that researchers have identified four levels of addiction that people cycle through.

Cycles of Pornography
i. The obsessive/preoccupation stage
ii. The ritualization stage
iii. The compulsive sexual behavior stage
iv. The desperation stage
It’s probably not a coincidence that those same levels are used to describe people who suffer from clinical depression.
Bottom line—viewing pornography is damaging to relationships and to quality of life in general. At first, a user may think they have their porn viewing habit in control and that it’s not a big deal. But after a while, it won’t be easy to stop. Pornography is changing our world but don’t buy the lie that porn use is okay or healthy, because it isn’t.

Mabel Ejoor
mabelejoor@gmail.com
Check vigil360.com.ng for your latest download.
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Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/1148-how-pornography-is-hurting-many-%E2%80%93-part-1-mabel-ejoor.html

ABUJA-Reactions have continued to trail the ongoing raging battle between the Senate and Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo over the latter’s questioning of the Senate powers to confirm Ibrahim Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Reports in the traditional tabloids and online platforms had credited Professor Osinbajo as saying that the Senate’s confirmation of some presidential nominees was not needed; a development that reportedly infuriated the lawmakers to the point of threatening not to screen nominees send to them for confirmation in the future.

Matters got to a head at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday when the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) reportedly stated that Osinbajo’s position was largely his own and not a reflection of the position taken at the FEC meeting. In a chat with Vanguard yesterday, former University Administrator and Newspaper columnists who pleaded anonymity said a “cabal” was out to cut the Acting President to size, adding that there are subtle moves by the power brokers to elevate the AGF as Vice President in the event of President Buhari’s inability to carry on with his duties as President and Commander-in-Chief.

“A terrible war is raging between the cabal and Osinbajo. The cabal, we learn, wants the AGF AS Vice President if Baba (President Buhari) can’t resume duties,” he said. On his part, Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has warned Professor Osinbajo of possible impeachment over his stand on Magu, stressing that the continued retention of the EFCC Acting Chair constitute “gross misconduct” as spelt out in the laws of the land. He said: “It is an impeachable offence for the Acting President to continue to retain Magu in office as Acting Chairman, as it amounts to “gross misconduct” as defined by section 143 of the 1999 Constitution.

This is because a deliberate breach of the Constitution, or violation of extant laws, is an impeachable offence.” Explaining further, the renowned Rights Activist noted that “The provisions of section 2(3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 are all too very clear and straightforward to admit of any ambiguity. They simply provide that the President shall appoint the EFCC chairman subject to confirmation by the Senate. “This simply means the EFCC chairman cannot act in office without approval by the senate.

It becomes patently illegal and unconstitutional for Magu to continue to be brazenly retained in office, in spite of the hallowed doctrine of separation of powers and of checks and balances provided for in sections 4, 5, 6 of the 1999 Constitution


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/terrible-war-raging-cabal-osinbajo/

The bribe scandal rocking the Kano State House of Assembly has taken a new twist as emerging facts suggest the involvement of other parties in the melee; of note is ongoing desperate measures by the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, to finally “kill” the matter.

The news of the resignation of the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, last Monday, came to many as a surprise. The Speaker resigned amid allegations that he received N100 million from Aliko Dangote to subdue investigation into allegations of financial impropriety against the Emir.

Although Dangote has since debunked reports linking him to the bribe scandal, information reaching Vigil360 indicates that it was Emir Muhammad Sanusi II who actually released the huge sums of money used to bribe the Speaker instead. The embattled Emir, in a bid to scuttle the investigation had enlisted the support of the Speaker, who he gave the sum of N100 million to share amongst members of the House.

The Speaker being a funny fellow quietly pocketed the money upon the insider knowledge that President Muhammadu Buhari had already intervened in the matter by prevailing on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to give the Emir a respite. This saved the Emir and his throne from an embarrassment of eternal proportion.

According to one legislator who spoke to Vigil360 on condition of anonymity, the Speaker got into troubled waters when he thought the matter was over, and that the House members will never know the truth.

However, sources within the Kano Emirate Council believe that the Emir is not yet done in putting a final stop to the investigation. He has reportedly reached out to the Ag. Chairman of the EFCC to tie loose-ends from the outcome of the anti-graft agency’s investigation into the matter.

Our sources revealed that Magu has offered to cooperate with the Emir, and is willing to expunge facts of the investigation from EFCC records to ensure that Emir Sanusi, the “almighty crusader” is left permanently off the hook.

Meanwhile, the Kano Emirate is jittery as this drama continues to unfold. Already some interest groups within Kano and beyond have resolved to ensure that the EFCC does not cover this up again.

Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/1092-sanusi,-dangote,-magu-and-100-million-naira-bribe-scandal.html

The newly appointed Director General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, has resumed office. She takes over from Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, a respected Economics who was appointed to head the agency in 2007.

Oniha a former staff of the DMO but seconded to the ministry of finance, Businessamlive reports, The new DG was the former Head of the Efficiency Unit of the federal ministry of finance.


https://www.vigil360.com.ng/politics/21-top-news/954-oniha-takes-over-from-nwankwo-as-dg-dmo.html

A gunman shot several people inside a hospital in the Bronx borough of New York on Friday, police said, amid reports three doctors were hurt in the incident. “We are actively looking for the shooter,” a New York police spokesman said, adding: “It is a very active scene, we have not determined who the shooter is at this time.”
“Multiple people were shot” in the incident at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, located north of Manhattan, the spokesman said.

According to the New York Times, three doctors were injured.

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/global-news/15-us-canada-news/953-breaking-gunman-opens-fire-in-new-york-hospital,-several-hurt.html

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday signed the 4th Executive Order (EO) on Tax Amnesty during the flag off of a time bound Volunteering Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to encourage tax payers regularize their taxes during the new tax regime in the country.
Osinbajo equally declared every Thursday, "Tax Thursday" to sensitize tax offenders and the general public on the need to maintain an excellent tax payment culture. According to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, "Nigeria is not broke, but poor due to inconsistent tax payment culture by citizens".

In line with the declaration, VAIDS launched a campaign on "10 Takeaways" ahead of July 1st, 2017 commencement date to inform Nigerians on all the need to know about the scheme. These include;
1. VAIDs will last from July 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.
2. VAIDS is supported by an Executive Order that was signed into law by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on 29 June, 2017.
3. For the last 15 months, a high-level team worked with the Federal Ministry of Finance on Project Lighthouse, for gathering tax information from a wide range of sources.
4. Nigeria has a total of 69.9 million economically-active individuals, but only 14 million of such people are tax payers.
5. Only 214 Nigerians pay N20,000,000 or more in taxes annually. All of them are based in Lagos State.
6. Under the N-Power scheme, 7,500 CTLOs will be trained to educate and sensitize citizens on tax.
7. The Federal Government has declared every Thursday from June 29, 2017, #TaxThursday.
8. Nigeria is now party to the new global standard on Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI).
9. Upon the expiration of VAIDS, the Federal Government will commence criminal prosecution of tax evaders.
10. For more information, visit www.vaids.gov.ng

As part of sustainability expectations, Osinbajo encouraged State governors to support the scheme, as the Nation GDP growth depends on the new tax regime initiated through the Scheme.

https://www.vigil360.com.ng/economy/30-latest-news/950-10-things-to-know-about-the-new-executive-order-on-tax-amnesty.html

Recently, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, asked that the governorship election in Anambra State as well as other elections in Nigeria be boycotted. The belief of Kanu and IPOB is that such an act would “send a strong signal” to Nigerians that it is serious about its quest for a referendum on Biafra.
While that was still causing ripples, IPOB was quoted as saying that it would soon announce its Day of Rage when Biafrans would publicly burn their Nigerian voter cards and passports to show their disgust with Nigeria.

Kanu is addressed as the Supreme Leader and people prostrate or kneel before him to receive blessings or prayers with the laying of hands. A few people have even called him their “messiah”, with some claiming that they were cured of their illnesses after he prayed for them.

Then, there is the new weird trend among young Igbo members of IPOB who have become so uncouth and caustic in their language that it is shocking and embarrassing. They create fake social media accounts with the Biafran flag as their profile picture. If you agree with them, you are their darling, but once you disagree or ask for caution, you are assailed with all manner of insults and attacks. They mill around like soldier ants from one online thread to another, reasoning the same way, talking the same way and acting the same way, as if they are high on something. They have been schooled in the ghoulish art of rudeness and verbal attacks; they believe that to be seen as fearless one has to be exceedingly rude.

Ethnic bigots and tribalists have been capitalising on the rudeness of these apostles of Kanu to tar the Igbo with the same brush.

How can Kanu adopt the title of Supreme Leader among a people who never had all-powerful kings, a people who reached every decision through a general assembly, otherwise called Ohanaeze? “Supreme Leader” is used in countries like Iran and North Korea, where the leader has power over life and death; where nobody questions the authority or decision of the leader.

Kanu does not speak with phrases like “after due consultation” or “after the meeting of the governing body of IPOB or leaders of thought in Igboland.” He issues “orders.” Before the May 30 sit-at-home, it was announced, even while he was still in detention, that Kanu, the Supreme Leader, had ordered that everybody in Biafra must sit at home on Biafran Day, May 30, 2017.

Unfortunately, the huge success of that May 30 sit-at-home deceived Kanu and IPOB into believing that the moment Kanu speaks, everybody must obey. But what they did not know was that people did not sit at home on May 30 in Igboland strictly because of Kanu’s order but because of many factors. The fist was that President Muhammadu Buhari had made it clear by his actions and pronouncements that the Igbo were not equal partners in the Nigerian project. The sit-at-home was therefore an avenue to show him and Nigerians that the Igbo can be united on an issue. The second point was that the killings carried out by security operatives during the ceremonies to mark the 2016 Biafran Day put fears into many people not to step out of their homes this year. Third, the utterances of the security authorities and the size of troops and equipment deployed in the South-East before May 30 put fear into people that anybody who stepped out could be a victim of “accidental discharge.”

This order for the Anambra election to be boycotted is another unilateral decision from Kanu. The argument from his supporters is that it is an act of civil disobedience meant to show their seriousness about a referendum on Biafra. But it is like cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. Kanu and IPOB have no army or police with which to prevent people from voting. So, people will vote. The issue is that the turnout may be low. But the low turnout will not invalidate the election. The consequence is that the wrong candidate and party may win the election and reverse the progress the state has made. Whoever becomes the governor may even be a fierce opponent of IPOB and its Biafran cause. So, in all ways, only losses will be incurred by the Igbo from the election boycott, just as only losses were incurred from the order by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra to boycott the 2006 census.

Burning of passports or voter cards is a personal decision. I wish those who want to do that good luck. But the problem is that when they have an urgent need to travel out of Nigeria, they may see what they have done to themselves or they will be forced to go back secretly to ask for a new passport.

The hard reality is that all those asking for the Republic of Biafra are full-bloodied Nigerians for now. It is not a crime to pursue the Biafran independence while remaining Nigerians after all Catalonians are still Spaniards even while calling for an independent state of Catalonia. When Kanu was granted bail, it was not a Biafran Senator that stood surety for him. He was not told to deposit the Biafran pounds as his bond. Forty six-year-old Nicola Sturgeon, who is leading the Scottish independence campaign, is a Briton. She has been the First Minister of Scotland and the leader of the Scottish National Party since 2014. The same thing obtains in Spain where Catalonia is seeking independence.
The same piece of advice goes to those asking the Igbo to leave other parts of Nigeria, if they want secession. Relocation is not the same thing as secession. Those who will be citizens of a proposed nation remain the full citizens of their current nation until the new nation emerges.

When Kanu started his campaign with vitriol, his supporters said he was using vitriol merely to get the attention of the Nigerian authority. Now that he has got it, it is time for him to change his approach. Kanu should turn IPOB into a group of respectable freedom fighters with a convincing message, not foul-mouthed young men that repeat whatever they are told by their “Supreme Leader.” He should have an organised group of strategists working in consultation with various Igbo leaders of thought and interest groups. He should even form a political party or take over a political party to help his campaign, even though fears of election rigging are real.

He should drop that ridiculous Supreme Leader title. Ndigbo don’t follow a man who knows it all. Kanu should stop behaving like a god. The Igbo exhibit the highest level of respite for their elders but they find it repulsive to kneel down, prostrate or even genuflect to greet their elders or leaders. That is reserved only for the Almighty.

Kanu has no weapons. Ndigbo value human lives a lot and hardly resort to violence unless in self-defence or as a last resort. So, Igbo are not looking for a civil war. But they are not also willing to die running. The Catalan independence movement began as a political movement in 1922. But the modern movement started in 2006. The Scottish National Party began in 1934. Kanu should bear in mind that the struggle he has embarked upon will mostly not be a short one. So strategic planning is critical.

He should also exclude the non-Igbo-speaking people from the new Biafra. Igbo receive a lot of insults because of this inclusion. If any group wants to join the proposed Biafran Republic, let that group show interest. Then, it will be given the terms and conditions for joining. The United States of America started with “13 colonies.” Other people joined later and today it has 50 states.

Nnamdi Kanu has become hugely popular among the Igbo. Undoubtedly, he is the most popular Igbo man today. But he should not misunderstand his popularity to mean that whatever he says will be obeyed. If he does not repackage himself and his approach fast, he will fizzle out as quickly as he rose.

Being a piece written by Azuka Onwuka
azonwuka@yahoo.com
Source: https://www.vigil360.com.ng/exclusive-report/875-nnamdi-kanu-and-the-lure-of-megalomania.html

In my last article, I promised to espouse further on lessons learnt from the American Civil War of 1861, especially as they affect ongoing agitations for a Biafran Republic.
However, I rather wish to lend my voice to the growing criticisms of Nnamdi Kanu’s corruption-induced propaganda and his “bewitchment” of the very people he promised to liberate from the clogs of “marginalization” and “political exclusion”.

When Chioma Amaryllis, Nnamdi Kanu’s ex-girlfriend raised alarm over some unanswered questions about Kanu, she was slandered to pieces. She was called a prostitute, a spoiler, and described as living in the grudge of Kanu’s refusal to marry her. The odious curse rained on Chioma by avid supporters of Kanu is indeed worrisome. I can relate to the venom of such irate fellows because I also have continued to receive unprintable threats for daring to express a different opinion.

Nothwitstanding, I shall continue to push this narrative until other well-meaning sons and daughters of Ndigbo join hands to forcefully pull our people out of this LIE.
Joseph Goebbels was one of the hatchet men of Adolf Hitler during the Second World War. Goebbels, using his well oiled propaganda and deception machineries drove Germans to frenzy with Hitler’s unrealistic ambitions during the War. Goebbels practically made Germans believed a lie. Through his deceptive antics the Germans suddenly felt invincible. They called other races, especially Caucasian Whites, pigs. Their emotions ran wild, as they built their castles in the air. Goebbels was reported to have once said, “...when you tell a lie a 1000 times it becomes truth”. Truth in this context is not a function of reality but the falsehood a misguided audience has chosen to believe.

As one who has a fair understanding of propaganda and deception, Nnamdi Kanu remains one of the smartest cons around. He started this charade when he registered his media company, Media Management Consultancy, in the UK. In other to make inroads in Nigeria, he equally enrolled as an international member of MASSOB. He promised to give MASSOB comprehensive coverage of their secession agitations, especially on the global stage. Using the social media and other internet platforms, Kanu became louder than the movement he represented. He was able to reach a new array of people, while projecting the image of a more astute personality with wide range of “connections” in the United Kingdom and the US.

To consolidate on this gain, he convinced Mazi Ralph Uwazuirike that some of his partners in diplomatic circles in Britain and the US had expressed willingness to partner with MASSOB to set up a radio station. The excited MASSOB leader offered to sponsor the project. But unknown to him, Radio Biafra London (RBL) was registered as a subsidiary of Media Management Consultancy, UK; a company which KANU and wife, Uchechi, remain major shareholders till today.

To validate his claims, Kanu quickly acquired transmitters and receivers which he smuggled into the country. By using basic technology, he hosted these transmitters on telecommunication masts throughout the South-East and broadcast recorded messages to the people. Indeed, Kanu successfully changed the paradigm of the agitation. His voice suddenly became louder, as he fed the people’s emotions with hate and sentiments which only pointed to him as the deliverer of Ndigbo and the new leader of the Biafran movement. Consequently, Mazi Ralph Uwazuirike was edged out of the equation seamlessly, as Kanu’s personal ambition became the people’s dream.

Kanu who still holds a Nigerian passport advanced his campaign of delusion by creating this utopia of a new Biafra. He became guest to several fora he organized to gather promising young men and women across Europe and America. He called Nigeria a zoo and its citizens baboons. He stirred emotions everywhere he went; but ended each visit with a call for financial support. Special accounts were opened in America, Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Online financial payment platforms were quickly set up, as Biafran hopefuls were made to part with their hard-earned money.

Using the social media and internet Kanu projected the entire world as having embraced and recognized Biafra. From Donald J. Trump, to Theresa May, to Benjamin Netanyahu and the United Nations, Kanu constantly dished out the lies of international endorsement.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s “breakthrough” actually came with his arrest and detention by the government. Oh! Kanu was adorned with the messianic status by his followers who turned churches, schools and even public buildings into prayer grounds. His political profile also soared to high heavens, as the Kuje prison became a pilgrimage site of some sought. The political expediency of the time all the more made Kanu the new bride of South-East politics, as political suitors from across divides and business moguls from all walks of life sought his hand in marriage of convenience. Indeed, the LIE has paid off.

I watched in awe as a former Minister of Aviation drove Kanu with reckless abandon out of the court premises in Abuja. The former Minister was all smiles and cheers, as he scored yet another “political point” ahead of his contest for the Anambra State gubernatorial election. Certainly, Kanu has become a political demagogue, who has achieved both political and financial fortunes in such a short time.

While Kanu is still consolidating his gains, with negotiations to “settle” him with a possible senatorial slot in 2019, young men and women who bought Kanu’s lie hook, line and sinker have continued to day-dream. This is not minding the fact their extortion by Kanu’s henchmen have continued unabated. These secessionist jobbers now coerce market men and women to pay all manner of levies. Using locally printed bulletins and other propaganda materials they sustain their lying business while searing the conscience of gullible followers.

Particularly, State and Zonal Coordinators of IPOB now use every fraudulent means to defraud the people, as they divert monies realised from levies to personal accounts; at least not after remitting the share of Nnamdi Kanu through proxies.

My dear brothers and sisters, it is good to dream. But when a LIE becomes our dream, then we are doomed. As long as we keep this “utopia” of Biafra before us, several Nnamdi Kanus would continue to take advantage of a pain we have collectively refused to let go. Nnamdi Kanu CAN NEVER AGAIN be poor. He has made it politically and off-course financially. By taking advantage of our collective fear he has risen to the top and set to abandon the very LIES he once fed the people with.

“Nwata kwuwa ọnụ ọ si na ya agwagbụe okenye na okwu” - meaning a child (Nnamdi Kanu) has uttered abomination, and he thinks he has outspoken all of us including the elders. But we must rise and let the voice of reason prevail against this merchandize.
Frank Eze
frankeze1967@gmail.com

Share your comment and views on this. This is Ebony Lavette who is a registered nurse. Interestingly, you will never know, as she manages her night business as a prostitute.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, has launched a campaign to ban smoking in 9 public places across the country. Ministry of Health in a communiqué issued yesterday said according to Section 9 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act 2015, once convicted, offenders are liable to a fine of at least N50, 000 and/or six months’ imprisonment.
Tagged the Clean Air Campaign, the ministry said the law would be taken seriously to protect and promote the citizens’ right to health, life, physical integrity and safety.

It reads, “The World Health Organisation estimates that worldwide, second-hand tobacco smoke is currently responsible for the deaths of about 600,000 people yearly, 80 percent of which occur in low-income and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

“Smoking in public places is now banned in Nigeria. Section 9 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act 2015 stipulates that offenders, once convicted, are liable to a fine of not less than N50,000 or not less than six months’ imprisonment, or both.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is committed to the fight to ensure a tobacco-free Nigeria, and will in the weeks and months ahead actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure enforcement of the Act, and with the National Assembly to ensure that necessary supporting regulation is passed.”

The enlightenment campaign is being supported by the Cancer Society of Nigeria, World Health Organisation, ONE Campaign, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Civil Society Organisations and the Tobacco Free Kids based in Washington DC, United States.Public places where smoking is prohibited by law in Nigeria include:
Public places where smoking is prohibited by law in Nigeria include:
Child Care facilities
Educational Facilities
Health Care Facilities
Playgrounds/amusement parks
Public parks (gardens)
Stadia
Restaurants/bars
Public transportation parks and
Plazas.


https://www.vigil360.com.ng/health/25-featured/673-nigerian-government-to-enforce-%E2%80%9Cno-smoking%E2%80%9D-ban-with-heavy-fine,-jail-term-in-public-places.html