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 Politics › Re: Members Of National Assembly Facing Criminal Allegations - Premium Times by feedthenation(op): 4:15pm On Jun 12, 2015 |
Stella Oduahhttp://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/184878-investigation-men-woman-facing-criminal-allegations-who-will-make-laws-for-nigeria.html 2 Likes
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| Politics › Re: Members Of National Assembly Facing Criminal Allegations - Premium Times by feedthenation(op): 4:14pm On Jun 12, 2015 |
Theodore Orji 2 Likes
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| Politics › Members Of National Assembly Facing Criminal Allegations - Premium Times by feedthenation(op): 4:12pm On Jun 12, 2015 |
Nigeria’s eighth National Assembly was inaugurated on Tuesday, June 9. At the chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 109 Senators and 360 Representatives were sworn in to office for a four-year term. 4 Likes
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| Politics › Re: NASS: Saraki, Lawan’s Men Close Ranks by feedthenation(m): 2:43pm On Jun 12, 2015 |
Messer Saraki and Dogara have to tread very carefully, they have to do everything to pacify other senators and reps. If not they will be held to ransom. Goes to show our politicians still have a long way to go before they can be principled, they are all there for their bread and butter. |
| Politics › Re: PDP Southwesterners , Can We Meet Briefly by feedthenation(m): 12:37pm On Jun 11, 2015 |
chukwudi44:PDP is back with the original owners from the North. In 2019, PDP will zone the Presidency to the North, with the VP to the SW, in relations to APC current composition. If Buhari should do a single term, APC will still zone the Presidency to the North, for the North to do two-terms in office. APGA should be reorganised from being a regional party to a more favourable national party if the SE wants to get the Presidency. |
| Politics › Re: Desmond Elliot Shares Photo Of His First Sitting At The Lagos House Of Assembly by feedthenation(m): 12:26pm On Jun 11, 2015 |
He should start working rather than taking selfies in the chamber. Waiting to see how many bills he will sponsor between now and 2019!! |
| Politics › Re: See Pics Of Ongoing Renovation At Asorock. by feedthenation(m): 12:22pm On Jun 11, 2015 |
What happened to property maintenance of the whole Aso Rock Villa for the structure to be in a bad state? What happened to the yearly monetary budget for Aso Rock Villa in that past 16 years of PDP govt? |
| Politics › Senate Presidency: A Second Look At Sarakism By Erasmus Ikhide by feedthenation(op): 11:55am On Jun 11, 2015 |
The emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the nation's Senate President has pointed glooming and dooming parts for the vanquished nation. By their ascendant - Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu and David Mark - Nigerians' conscious hope and crave to extricate themselves from the grip of legislative banditry, political corruption and virtual criminality has been dashed. More damning is the dampening of Nigerians' aspiration to replace the tactile of humanity that have dominated the "hollow" chambers of the national assembly, whose over-blotted salaries, emoluments, overhead, constituency allowances, and other perquisites of office have been responsible for depriving the nation of basic amenities. Those who are celebrating the elections or selections of the present national assembly leadership because it is devoid of godfathers' manipulation are either apostles of status quo or are bluntly ignorant of what they actually voted for. If Nigerians realized that the defeat of one perceived political godfather gives birth; even attenuates hydra-headed looting bandits, morbid avarice, and conscious embodiment of the Sarakis, Marks and Ekweremadus, the story would have been different. It is less likely that Nigerians averred their minds to it since sentiment takes usually the better parts of our national disequilibrium. The band and club of looters that have been parading and recycling themselves since the Fourth Republic can only become monstrous and more murderous now that a fertile ground has been yielded to them for further plundering. As Vice Chairman, it is still fresh in our minds how Senator Saraki failed to come up with the report that indicted the then minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison and NNP, which was later allegedly sexed up to shortchanging Nigerians to a whooping sum of $20 billion. How about Senator David Mark, now Senate Leader, who sat as president of the senate while the Senate Committee which investigated the NNPC over allegations of fraud by the suspended Governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, allegedly submitted its report to the Senate saying no funds were missing? The Committee in its report said Sanusi was merely spurious in his claimed in a leaked letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that $49.8 billion in crude oil revenue was missing. David Mark elixirs for political banalities, expert in political poking, longing for graft and purposeful impunity is one of the crudest deals of the present shabby epoch. All his life, David Mark has been a fraud and an ultra-conservative military impudent, who stoically but consciously advocated the retention of existing traditions and tractions so as to limit desirable changes. While the heat was on and Nigerians were eagerly clamoring for the release of the report, Senator Saraki leisurely, vaguely and evasively voiced deceptive trash: “The Committee is yet to receive the report on the forensic audit and independent analysis on the subject clearly indicate we have a lot of grounds to cover in order to determine the level of culpability or otherwise of agency on the alleged non-committal, so to suggest any clearance for anybody at this stage is out of the question. Saraki retorted further: “Nothing significant has changed to suggest clearing anybody. I can say on behalf of the Committee that these media reports bear no correlation to the content of the Senate Committee report and I would urge the public to disregard it in its entirety. “I will further advise that the media should wait for the senate to release the details of the Committee report to the public before they jump into spurious conclusions". Painful, no significant reports or bills were credited to Senator Saraki as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment as well as Ecology and a member of the Senate Committees on Capital Markets and Finance in the last four years. Rewarding a blatant fraudster with the nation's exulted Senate Presidency and his co-travellers in crime is pure delusion, diluted change and a putsch, stage-managed by the same political class Nigerians have supposedly ousted in the last elections. Except Nigerians only have their memory to forget, the inglorious escapade of Senator Bukola's financial recklessness that rocked his post-political engagement and drown several families will not escape unnoticed. Mr. Bukola has been severally fingered in the financial scandal that rocked and ultimately grounded the once boisterous Societe Generale Bank, GGB, owned by the Saraki family. Mr. Bukola was reported to have siphoned the bank’s depositors’ money to the sum of N17 billion to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in 2007, in the wake of an unprecedented political battle the family faced in the hand of another former Governor of the state, late Alhaji Mohammed Lawal. At another occasion, the police repeatedly sought after Mr. Bukola to explain how a debt of N9.7 billion was dramatically written off in a certain account, which was suddenly closed by one Abdul Adamu, who they found out to be an aide of Mr. Saraki. This is different to the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police Force trail on his heist with revelation that the former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, was wanted over a N21 billion-bank loan fraud at the defunct InterContinental Bank of Nigeria. Now, who says crime doesn't pay? How would Mr. Saraki attain his present prestigious position without his ugly past? Who will tame him now that he rose on the people's grave to the pinnacle? Mr. Bukola through his unholy acts sent tens of thousands of bank depositors to early grave without remorse. Those who survived from the brazen looting and mindless fraud are yet to recover from it. The current scenario playing out at the national assembly should further constrain Nigerians the more to know whether they are in for better times or in despairing conditions after they have been roundly cheated and raped by David Mark and his minders. If we have not, we may need to learn one or two things from The Economist Magazine, which exposes the former and present national assembly, as presently reconstituted. About two year ago, The Economist Magazine came up with the report that Nigerian legislator are the highest paid in the world. The magazine reveals that Nigerian federal legislators are the highest paid in the world with an annual basic salary of $189,500 (N30.6 m). The report, quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), considered the salaries of lawmakers around the world and expressed it as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. It reveals that the annual salary of a Nigerian federal lawmaker at $189,500 is 166 times the country's GDP per capita, estimated at $1,600. According to the Daily Trust, British MPs earn 2.7 times their country's GDP per capita. The study listed the annual salaries of legislators from different parts of the world: The US ($174,000), and Brazil ($157,600), UK ($105,400) yearly, South Africa ($104,000), France ($85,900), Kenya ($74,500), Saudi Arabia ($64,000). Other countries according to the Daily Trust: Ghana ($46,500), Indonesia ($65,800), Thailand ($43,800), India ($11,200), Italy ($182,000), Bangladesh ($4,000), Israel ($114,800), Hong Kong ($130,700), Japan ($149,700), Singapore ($154,000), Canada ($154,000), New Zealand ($112,500), Germany ($119,500), Ireland ($120,400), Pakistan ($3,500), Malaysia ($25,300), Sweden ($99,300), Sri Lanka ($5,100), Spain ($43,900) and Norway ($138,000). It sounds out of place that Nigerian federal legislators receive higher salaries than lawmakers from richer countries such as the US should strike anyone as outlandish, but according to The Economist magazine that is the obvious truth. The Economist report on the Nigeria thieving legislators firmly established the massive gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria, which the figure of $1,600 as Nigeria's per capita income conceals. The annual income of middle class professionals would range between $15,000 and $30,000, senior middle class professionals up to $60,000, while executives would typically exceed $100,000. Nigerian lawmakers' allowances include accommodation (Senator N4m, Rep N3.97m), vehicle loan (Senator N8m, Rep N6.948m), furniture (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m) and severance gratuity (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m), which are due once in four years. Other allowances, which are payable every year, are car maintenance (Senator N1.52m, Rep N595,563), constituency (Senator N5m, Rep N1.687m), domestic staff (Senator N1.5m, Rep N1.488m), personal assistant (Senator N506,600; Rep N496,303), entertainment (Senator N202,640, Rep N198,521), recess (Senator N202,640; Rep N198,521), utilities (Senator N607,920; Rep N397,042), newspaper/periodicals (Senator N303,960; Rep N297,781), house maintenance (Senator N101,320; Rep N99,260) and ward robe (Senator N405,280; Rep N397,402). There are also estacode (Senator $600, Rep $550) and duty tour allowance (Senator N23,000; Rep N21,000) payable per day when a lawmaker is on official trip. The RMAFC submitted a report alleging that the various government departments were violating the rules and provisions governing appropriate remuneration through lavish allowances. Before the expiration of his tenure as two times Senate President, David Mark never spare a thought on balancing the National Assembly satanic remuneration package with a view to equalizing Nigeria's GDP with their criminal salaries and allowances so as to reflect it on the development index as obtained in other developed democracy's. From the benefit of hindsight, the APC ought to have drawn the battle line from the very beginning and tame ambitious and corrupt individual like Bukola Saraki in the fold. The abrasive prevarication of the APC leadership was uncalled for, where concentrate on the managing of victory was all that was needed. Allotment or zoning political position before elections is a timeless political strategy for party stability. The APC has to strategize now that her political nose has been bashed and blooded. Buhari and the APC may well fritter away the hope of the Nigerian people, so earnestly entrusted to them a few months ago, if the crisis rocking the party remains unresolved, and timely too. Erasmus writes in from Lagos, Nigeria. Follow me on tweeter@Erasmus_Ikhide http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/10/senate-presidency-second-look-sarakism-erasmus-ikhide |
| Politics › Boko Haram And The Global Terror Network By Nuhu Ribadu by feedthenation(op): 10:49am On Jun 11, 2015 |
When Boko Haram’s murderous campaign got to a head in Nigeria, and the media is everyday awash with, largely, uninformed commentaries, I kept mum. I refrained from saying anything. It was the period of confusion and blame game. The accusing fingers were (still, are) being pointed across divides and everyone was coming up with conspiracies that suits the person’s idiosyncrasies and alliances. Saying anything at the time would earn one a label; a bigot or a traitor. It was a good thing for the terrorists. Confusion usually afflicts people faced with new incomprehensible thing such as terrorism, in the scale of Boko Haram. It is the confusion and the buck passing that the terrorists, in turn, feed on to grow and defy measures. It is a good thing that the theories are now piping down, and the theorists on sabbatical. Background Boko Haram, like many trending isms, is a product of globalisation. It is a global phenomenon that borrows on many backgrounds and climates. The idea of militant Islamism, has ideological roots in the Middle East but was nurtured most ironically in the mosques of London by preachers from the Middle East who moved to the United Kingdom in the 1980s and the 1990s. It is in UK that many would be terrorists, hot-headed young men, imbibed the ideology whose complete circle ends with full indoctrination in Yemen and elsewhere. There is no pointer to the global nature of what is presently the world’s highest security risk than this. The growth of Nigeria’s Boko Haram followed almost similar pattern. The present anti-modernity version of extremism we are witnessing in the Northern part of Nigeria started when just two Nigerians; a certain Mohammed Ali from Borno State and Abu Umar from Kano met a Syrian preacher, Abu albasir al Dardusi in Yemen. It was this preacher who indoctrinated them in the line of rejecting western education and all symbols of modern governance, based on corrupt interpretation of a single hadith. Al Dardusi was one of the preachers who settled in the UK. When the duo of Ali and Umar returned to Nigeria they started converting people especially young Sunni preachers who already had extreme interpretation of Islam. Two smart and intelligent local preachers, a certain Bello Doma and Mohammed Yusuf were among their early converts. By his charisma, education and followership strength, Yusuf quickly got frontline prominence within the circle and, subsequently, emerged the leader of the group. From 2001 onward the group passed evolutional stages in nomenclature, structure and base. Disagreements on methodologies and other egoistic reasons also lead to formation of factions within the larger group which, however, reunited at a later time when Ali was killed and Abu Umar captured. Most of the known figures of the movement were variously arrested and jailed. But ironically the consensus on jihad and decision to begin offensive was reached while some of the ring leaders were in custody in one of Nigeria’s major prisons. Because many of the arrowheads were influential clerics in their own rights, recruitment was initially through persuasive preaching and sermons, as well as one on one brainwashing encounters. Some of the leaders would go on itinerant preaching tours to towns and villages recruiting largely frustrated young men disenchanted about life. At the initial stage, the groups survived on contributions from members some of whom were traders or engaged in menial jobs. In fact, many of them sold off their assets to contribute money towards keeping the movement alive. However, when the violent campaign commenced, and to maintain growing number of recruits, the group took to kidnapping for ransom, bank raid and armed robbery. The money was also used in inducing recruits and families of deceased members. Of course, the level of illiteracy and endemic poverty among the populace of Northern Nigeria provided a fertile ground for Boko Haram to quickly expand. This, as we shall come to see, also played a role in fuelling the confusion and conspiracy theories that come with the insurgency. Some of the early fatalities from Boko Haram operations were some of their own teachers in the past who voiced disagreement with the weird theology of the terrorist group. They deliberately used terror to intimidate all other preachers and dissenting voices. With this tool of terror, opposition to their own ideological position from theological standpoint became difficult as scholars became afraid of the fate that befell some of their colleagues. On the other hand, the group was consolidating its own ideological incursion through production and distribution of sermons and propaganda materials in print and electronic. It was also at the same time reaching out to similar groups in Africa and the Middle East, including al-Shabab. This culminated in the allegiance paid to Isis which was coordinated through the effort of one Abu Basir al-Barnawi, a Boko Haram member from Nigeria. The Response As I pointed earlier, because Boko Haram was a new phenomenon, it created a lot of confusion both in security and government circles as well as among the citizenry. Understanding the motif and workings of it became a problem. Many took advantage of it including politicians to throw blames at each other. In fact, the insurrection became a potent mirror of Nigeria’s ethnic tensions as conspiracies were tailored along ethno-religious lines. Coincidentally, the Boko Haram’s declaration of jihad came at the time when a Muslim Northerner died in office and a Christian Southerner became the president. At various points, the Northern Nigeria was blamed for creating the Boko Haram to make the country “ungovernable” for a president who was not from there. Some had a theory that says it was the government that was supporting the insurgents in order to diminish the numerical strength and, ultimately, political influence of the northern part. The Muslims contended that it was the work of the Christians. The Christians blamed Muslims for it. Even within the Muslim community there were accusations among sects. The bucks keep passing. The military operation is not spared from these disjointed criticism which confounded the problems of an institution already bedevilled by corruption and incompetent leadership. The mutual suspicion created by the Boko Haram was extended to the military with attention given to tribes and religions of officers and men in ascribing motives to what the military has done, or failed to do. While Boko Haram would wipe out an entire village or stop commuter bus and execute all occupants, the harshest criticism was spared for the military on any slight operational lapse or excesses. International organisations, such as the Human Rights Watch and, more recently, Amnesty International also got entangled in the wave of the anti-military/government conspiracy theories which substantially affected their reports. This demoralised the army and created international anathema for the military. However, this is not to discount the fact that the military’s blunders and panic in facing a new challenge also played role in alienating it from the civilian population and gave credence to most of the allegations. International response followed the pattern of the local reaction largely in line with the narrative in the press and the undue, even unguarded, utterances by some otherwise respectable elders. The West, especially the United State, was looking for reason to escape engaging in military operations abroad. Thus, it was convenient for the international community to take the position not to help Nigeria, which has always been a hard sale for international support in the first place. The leadership then also failed to convince the world of its competence and seriousness to fight the war. The West, particularly the United States was looking for excuses and they got one in the lack of consensus among Nigerians. These distractions and lack of support make Nigeria lag behind while the terrorists became emboldened and they began annexing territories, with alarming cruelty against defenceless victims. Global Action to end Boko Haram Boko Haram as part of the global terror network, has always been loosely connected to al-Shabab, Alqaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) and Isis. Most of their weapons came from Libya and Boko Haram fighters have fought alongside Mujao in Mali. Therefore, tackling a group like Boko Haram requires global action. It cannot be treated in isolation of say, Alshsabab or Isis. Several countries that passed through insurgency, at one time or the other, have to be supported by the world in containing the insurrection. Countries like Pakistan, Yemen, Mali, Afghanistan and Somalia are still battling with their own versions of Boko Haram. The global support for them has also being overwhelming, helping in reversing the tide in most cases, as seen in Mali more recently. Nigeria, on the other hand, got no support as it was left alone to face the music. The political pressure on the government and the pressure on the military to deliver necessitated evolution of other measures including the need to get weapons by all means as well as involve civilian vigilantes. These measures helped greatly in liberating captured territories, with the support of neighbours, especially Chad – at a heavy financial cost to Nigeria. In the last two months, the Nigerian military has gotten back on track with better equipment and other logistical support, leading to major successes of flushing out the insurgents from most of the towns and villages they hitherto occupied. What is needed now is consolidation on the victories and further push out the terrorists from every inch of Nigeria’s land. The dislodging of the terrorists from their bases, as being witnessed currently, comes with the challenge of suicide bombings and drive-by attacks – the same pattern noticed in many other countries. This may continue for a while until the training bases and recruitment opportunities are denied of the terrorists. To achieve the latter target, there is the need to come up with strong community participation strategy. Religious leaders and opinion moulders need to be brought on board for the purpose of ideological warfare, as a long term strategy. Since we now have a new government with a leader who is from the Muslim North, largely affected by the insurgency, there are new windows. The world should, for once, come together and help Nigeria in all aspects necessary to tackle this problem. We still need the weapons and the know-how to route the terrorists from their remaining enclaves and to begin de-radicalisation and reconstruction programmes in earnest. The government needs to help urgently in restoring the lives of the affected victims, in terms of economic and social wellbeing. As the terrorists resort to suicide attacks, the security strategy also has to shift significantly to intelligence-based operations. For Nigerians, it is imperative to be united as one nation and fight a common enemy. And in fighting the enemy that is Boko Haram, Nigerians have to realise that no one can do it for them other than the security forces. We cannot afford to vilify our military, as any condemnation of the fighting forces demoralises the military and empowers the terrorists. We have to collectively fight to stop Boko Haram. If we fail to end Boko Haram we are going to be left with a failed, disintegrated state. Nigeria, like all nations faced with similar challenge needs help. Terrorism is a fight beyond borders, the response has to be beyond the shores of Nigeria. And your true friend, as the saying goes, is the one who is there at your hour of need. I therefore anticipate something positive to come out of the G7 Summit that the Nigerian president is invited to attend. This should be the turning point. *A talk on “Fight against Religious Extremism: What Role for Diplomacy?” given at Global Diplomacy Lab hosted by German Foreign Ministry in Istanbul, Turkey. http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/10/boko-haram-and-global-terror-network-nuhu-ribadu |
| Politics › Re: Jega To Retire With Seven National Commissioners, 16 Recs by feedthenation(m): 5:50pm On Jun 10, 2015 |
I think he should be given another assignment in a different establishment - EFCC or NAFDAC |
| Politics › Re: Bukola Saraki Is The Judas Iscariot Of Nigeria By Dr. Wumi Akintide by feedthenation(m): 11:52am On Jun 10, 2015 |
This cannot happen under the presidency of OBJ who always have his way in choosing his preferred candidates. 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Modified by feedthenation(m): 11:31am On Jun 10, 2015 |
Na wa o...wonders they say, shall never end. So Barcanista & Firefire used to be opponents firing at each other? 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Tinubu’s Political Career Is Over - Bode George by feedthenation(m): 10:40am On Jun 10, 2015 |
Bode George's relevance in PDP is next to nothing! 1 Like |
| Politics › Re: Dr.reuben Abati Moves To Oxford's SAID Business School (photos) by feedthenation(m): 10:23am On Jun 10, 2015 |
Money & connection is good. |
| Politics › Re: A Call For Preservation Of The Memories Of Today's Events by feedthenation(m): 10:10am On Jun 10, 2015 |
seguntijan:Very well articulated. PMB did the right thing by not interferring in the selection of the Saraki. |
| Politics › Re: Gov. El-rufai Reduces Number Of Commissioners In Kaduna From 24 To 13 by feedthenation(m): 4:09pm On Jun 09, 2015 |
barcanista:So when will the South East be ready to present a formidable candidate for the presidency, if going by what you wrote, it means that the North can be in power for another 12 years (until 2027) if Kwankwaso or another name from the North contested to be president in 2019? 11 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: Gov. El-rufai Reduces Number Of Commissioners In Kaduna From 24 To 13 by feedthenation(m): 4:03pm On Jun 09, 2015 |
Seems El-Rufai is the only governor serious about governance in Nigeria presently. 10 Likes 1 Share |
| Politics › Re: Bukola Saraki Is The Senate President Of The 8th NASS by feedthenation(m): 2:51pm On Jun 09, 2015 |
Pangea:Exactly my thoughts - he can never enjoy the Senate President positon, one way or another, his shady dealings will catch up with him. |
| Christianity Etc › Life Under Islamic State - Mosul In Iraq by feedthenation(op): 9:45am On Jun 09, 2015 |
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32831854 1. Control of women The videos, filmed over several months last year, reveal the reality of life under IS. The first series shows how women are forced to cover up, with one woman challenged for not having her hands fully covered. Hanaa: "IS is very strict about the dress code for women. Women have to be fully covered up in black, head to toe. "One day I felt so bored at home that I asked my husband to take me out, even if I had to wear the full khimar [a long, cape-like veil that covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but leaves the face clear]. I had not left home since IS took over the city. As I was preparing, he told me I would be forced to put on a niqab [veil for the face]. I was shocked at this and considered staying at home for a moment, but eventually I relented. "We went to a nice restaurant by the river we used to frequent during our engagement. As soon as we sat down, my husband told me that I could finally reveal my face as there was no IS presence and the restaurant was a place for families. "I was very happy to oblige and so I revealed my face with a large smile. Instantly, the restaurant's owner came over begging my husband to ask me to hide it again because Islamic State fighters made surprise inspection visits and he would be flogged if they saw me like that. "We had heard stories of men being flogged because their wives didn't put their gloves on. Another woman's parents were banned from driving their car. Those who objected would be beaten and humiliated. "We complied with the owner's request. I started wondering about how ignorant and merciless the state of affairs had become. As we left the restaurant, I saw a father searching for his daughter, who was concealed in a sea of blackness." 2. Persecution of minorities The footage reveals how homes belonging to Mosul's ethnic and religious minority communities have been confiscated by Islamic State. Many residential areas once popular with minorities now stand empty. Mariam, a gynaecologist who is a Christian: "I'm known to be an avid reader and own a large collection of books. My collection kept on growing as friends and family leaving Iraq used to send me their books because they knew I wasn't going to leave and that I would take care of them. "I was threatened and harassed [by Sunni extremists] before the capture of Mosul, but I kept on delivering babies for women from all religions and sects. I never differentiate between my patients as I believe everyone deserves equal care. "However, I had to flee as Mosul fell. I escaped with my body unharmed, but my soul remained where I had left it: at home with my books. "After moving to Irbil [in Iraq's Kurdistan region] I received shocking news: Islamic State had confiscated my house and marked it with the letter 'N' [for Nasrani - a word used by IS to refer to Christians]. I immediately telephoned my friends in Mosul and begged them to save my books. "But it was too late. They called back saying my library had been emptied onto the street. However, some of my neighbours were able to rescue some precious books that remain hidden." 3. Intimidation, punishment and torture Clips also show mosques and shrines being destroyed. Residents speak of brutal punishments for anyone contravening the jihadists' interpretation of Islamic law, which is imposed across the "caliphate" whose creation they proclaimed weeks after seizing Mosul. Zaid: "Since IS took the city, it has been applying the 'Laws of the Caliphate', as it calls them. The minimum punishment is flogging, which is applied for things like smoking a cigarette. "Theft is punished by amputating a hand, adultery by men by throwing the offender from a high building, and adultery by women by stoning to death. The punishments are carried out in public to intimidate people, who are often forced to watch. "I know many people who have been arrested by IS. Some of them are my relatives. Some were killed because they were in the security services. Others have been released. They tell unimaginable stories of atrocities committed by IS in its prisons. "Many who come out prefer not to speak. They stay silent, because they're terrified that if they speak, they'll be rearrested." Fouad: "I was arrested by IS. They came to our family home looking for my brother. When they couldn't find him, they decided to take me to prison instead. "Then they tortured me. The guy who did it wouldn't stop unless he got tired. He was edgy all the time and he wouldn't listen to what his prisoners said. He flogged me with a power cable and also tortured me psychologically. "When my brother handed himself in, they found out that the accusations against him were false but they still kept me in prison until they judged me well enough to leave. "They had hit me so hard with the cable that the marks are still visible on my back." 4. Disruption of daily life Life for the city's residents has changed beyond recognition. The footage reveals how fuel is in short supply, pollution widespread, construction halted and many schools closed. Hisham: "Daily life has changed in an indescribable way. Those who were in the military and day labourers no longer have any income because there are no jobs anymore. The rich have been relying on their savings, those with a salary are just about getting by, but the poor have been left to the mercy of God. "I have lost my job and have been forced to abandon my studies. Like everyone else, I am denied my basic rights. According to IS, everything is 'haram' (forbidden) and so I end up just sitting at home all the time. Even simple leisure activities like picnics are banned now in Mosul, under the pretext that they are a waste of time and money. "IS takes a quarter of everyone's salary as a contribution towards paying for rebuilding the city. People can't say no because they would face harsh punishments. The group controls everything. Rent is paid to it and the hospitals are for its members' exclusive use. "The group has even replaced the imams in the mosques with pro-IS people. Many of us have stopped going to the mosques because those attending are asked to give an oath of allegiance and we hate that. "Meanwhile, my brother was given 20 lashes just because he didn't shut his shop during prayer time - as if you can just impose religion by force!" 5. Indoctrination and surveillance Footage also shows how the militants have used increasingly sophisticated techniques to control the city's population, such as "media points" to disseminate their messages. Mahmoud: "My 12-year-old brother remained in school despite the fact that it became controlled by IS. We thought that, with no alternative available, he would at least be able to continue some sort of education, and that it would be better than nothing. "But one day I came home and found my little brother drawing Islamic State's flag and humming one of its most famous songs. I went crazy and began yelling at him. "I took the drawing and tore it to pieces in front of him. He got scared, ran to our mother and started crying. I warned him that should he ever draw that flag again or recite one of those people's songs, I would ground him, ban him from seeing his friends and stop talking to him altogether. "We immediately removed him from school, as we preferred that he had no education at all than the one IS is promoting. "I've come to the conclusion that the goal of this organisation is to plant the seeds of violence, hate and sectarianism into children's minds." 6. IS tactics and logistics The militants can also be seen moving heavy artillery - some captured from fleeing Iraqi forces - and responding to attacks with anti-aircraft fire. Zaid: "IS knows the army will try to retake Mosul, so they're taking precautions. They've destroyed the city by digging tunnels, building barricades, planting mines and bombs, and filling the city with snipers, which will make it very difficult for the army. "Despite this, if the government manages to take Nineveh Plains and Mosul back I will be very happy. I hope that the internally displaced people and refugees will be able to return so that we can work together to build a safe and united Iraq. IS is the enemy of humanity. "I do worry about how the army will take the city though. I think the violations committed in Tikrit by the Popular Mobilisation [a pro-government volunteer force comprising mostly Shia militias] are going to happen in the Nineveh Plains and Mosul, and that the whole situation will just be whitewashed again. "The government should arm local people so that they can protect the city themselves. With the help of God, we will defeat IS." |
| Politics › Re: Let Me Nominate Your Minister, Fayose Urges Buhari by feedthenation(m): 4:39pm On Jun 02, 2015 |
Why can't Fayose focus his full attention of governing Ekiti state, reason why he was elected inthe first place. |
| Politics › Re: The Official Cars Of The Nigerian Service Chiefs by feedthenation(m): 3:37pm On Jun 02, 2015 |
Gone are the days when the service cars were just regular Peugeot 504... |
| Politics › Re: Buhari Meets Service Chiefs (Photos) by feedthenation(m): 2:45pm On Jun 02, 2015 |
deebsman1:Meaning no condition is permanent - look at Dasuki now reporting to PMB - a leader will always be a leader - only God knows what Dasuki will be thinking at the moment standing in front of PMB during the meeting. 2 Likes |
| Politics › Re: Photos : Namadi Sambo Hands Over Aguda House To Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by feedthenation(m): 3:08pm On May 28, 2015 |
otr1:Very true...he should be tried for being the most ineffective VP ever. 2 Likes |
| Travel › Re: A Nairalander Road Trip In Las Palmer Majorca. by feedthenation(m): 5:28pm On May 26, 2015 |
Beautiful holiday pictures |
| Christianity Etc › ISIS Brutal Sexual Crimes - Burnt Woman For Refusing Extreme Sex Act by feedthenation(op): 5:08pm On May 26, 2015 |
Islamic State (IS) reportedly burned alive a young woman for refusing to take part in an "extreme sex act," it has been claimed. The violent extent of the Islamic State's shocking war crimes have been revealed by a UN worker, Zainab Bangura, with refugees speaking of the terrifying and abhorrent treatment of women in IS-held areas of the Middle East, with young virgins being bought and sold at auction by wealthy sheikhs. Bangura said the woman burned alive was Zuhour Kati, 20. Speaking as the United Nations' special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Bangura told of how female refugees had escaped the shocking conditions forced upon them by IS, sometimes known as ISIS or ISIL. Iraq's minority Yazidi women are particularly at risk, with the extremist group believing them to be "devil-worshippers" and "apostates". A jihadi bride recently wrote in the Islamic State's propaganda magazine Dabiq of how raping Yazidi women is considered acceptable "because the Qu'ran condones it". "They commit rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution and other acts of extreme brutality," Bangura said. "We heard one case of a 20-year-old girl who was burned alive because she refused to perform an extreme sex act. We learned of many other sadistic sexual acts. We struggled to understand the mentality of people who commit such crimes. "After attacking a village, [IS] splits women from men and executes boys and men aged 14 and over. The women and mothers are separated; girls are stripped naked, tested for virginity and examined for breast size and prettiness. The youngest, and those considered the prettiest virgins fetch higher prices and are sent to Raqqa, the IS stronghold. "There is a hierarchy: sheikhs get first choice, then emirs, then fighters. They often take three or four girls each and keep them for a month or so, until they grow tired of a girl, when she goes back to market. At slave auctions, buyers haggle fiercely, driving down prices by disparaging girls as flat-chested or unattractive. "We heard about one girl who was traded 22 times, and another, who had escaped, told us that the sheikh who had captured her wrote his name on the back of her hand to show that she was his 'property'." Having worked on similar cases of sexual violence across the world, Bangura says the Islamic State's crimes were the worst she has seen. The UN specialist collected information, which she said left her sick, from Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. The hardline extremist fighters of IS have even banned their female slaves from wearing headscarves after some used them to hang themselves. Aid workers have reported finding a nine-year-old girl pregnant after being released by the group, having been subjected to a horrific barrage of sexual exploitation by at least ten men. Speaking to CNN, a Yazidi and escaped slave said: "They would line about 50 of us up at a time, in rows of 10. They would say don't move, don't cry or we will beat you. The men would come in and describe the kind of girl they wanted and then they would pick and choose as they pleased." http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/05/25/isis-islamic-state-sex-crime_n_7434948.html?utm_hp_ref=uk |
| Islam › Re: Laughable Hadiths: When Muhammad Became A Comedian by feedthenation(m): 3:55pm On May 26, 2015 |
truthman2012:Pre-Islamic period - the Pagan Arabs, that constitutes majority of the population in Arabia lived a very primitive and simple astral and animistic religion of at least 360 gods & goddesess. Among these gods & goddesses, Allah was one of the chief god. Aside from Allah, other animistic objects are worshipped, namely trees, caves, wells etc. Besides the Kaaba ofMecca, there are other holy sites in pre-islamic Arabic period are located in Petra (modern day Jordan), Sana'a (presently located in Yemen) and Najran (Saudi Arabia). The sun was worshipped but not to the same level as the moon. The moon worship is closely associated with a nomadic & pastoral society. Most importantly, the sun is seen as an enemy of the nomads because of the scorching heat of the Arabian desert depriving them of pasture, shade & water. However the moon is their friend providing them with light, coolness in the night, dew and shade, thus making the moon a 'diety' of great importance to them. One of the reasons why Muslims around the world look to the location of the moon pre & after ramadan. To the question about jinns, pre-islamic Arabs believed that the desert was full of living creatures/spirits called 'jinn'. These living creatures / spirits are viewed that their main purpose was to blight the lives of the desert people with mischief and difficulties - hence reason why in the Quran - jinns are mentioned by Mohammed. For further info: http://www.inthenameofallah.org/preislamicarabia.html 1 Like |
| Politics › Jonathan ‘rejects’ Pdp’s Offer To Chair Board Of Trustees by feedthenation(op): 12:24pm On May 26, 2015 |
President Goodluck Jonathan turned down his Peoples Democratic Party’s offer to head the party’s Board of Trustees, before a former minister was appointed on Monday, a senior party leader has said. The outgoing president was rumoured to be preparing the grounds to take over as chairman of the troubled party’s BoT, following a precedent set by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. That speculation gained fillip after the party’s BoT chairman, Tony Anenih, who resigned last week, said he was stepping down to pave way for the president to assume the post as he leaves office. But on Monday, the party’s BoT named Haliru Mohammed Bello, a former defence minister and acting chairman of the party, as its new acting chairman after a late night meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja. Speaking to journalists after the meeting which ended at about 11:15pm, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Mr. Bello was nominated to act for the next few months. “Haliru Mohammed Bello was selected as the Acting Chairman of the BOT during the BOT meeting to serve for the next few months,” he said. On his part, BOT Secretary, Walid Jibril, said President Jonathan had rejected the offer of becoming the party’s BOT Chairman. According to him, Mr. Bello is to act for about two to three months when election will be conducted to choose a substantive chairman. Mr. Bello accepted the position and promised to work hard to bring the party back to its feet. Among those who attended the meeting are the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, Acting National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus. Others include a former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, PDP Women National Leader, Kema Chikwe, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, Chief of Staff to the President, Jones Arogbofa, Senator Hope Uzodinma, BOT Secretary, Walid Jibril, former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/183682-%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bjonathan-rejects-pdps-offer-to-chair-board-of-trustees.html |
| Family › Re: Babyosisi's Marital Advice To New And Intended Wives by feedthenation(m): 3:08pm On May 22, 2015 |
fxbot:Really, this is serious... |
| Politics › Re: Suicide Bomber Attacks Shia Mosque In Saudi Arabia by feedthenation(op): 2:36pm On May 22, 2015 |
Macelliot:One of the longest on-going tribalistic family feuds for many centuries. |
| Politics › Suicide Bomber Attacks Shia Mosque In Saudi Arabia by feedthenation(op): 1:16pm On May 22, 2015 |
A suicide bomber has detonated his explosives at a Shia mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia during Friday prayers, killing four people and wounding several others, witnesses said. One witness described a huge explosion at the Imam Ali Mosque in a village in the province of Qatif, where more than 150 people were praying. An activist told the AFP news agency that at least four worshippers were killed, while a source told the Reuters news agency that there appeared to be at least 30 casualties in the attack. Pictures posted on social media purported to show the devastation, with dead bodies strewn across the floor and shattered glass covering the courtyard of the mosque Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from the capital Riyadh, said authorities expected the death toll the rise. Saudi Arabia's Shia population is mostly based in two oasis districts of the Eastern Province - Qatif on the Gulf coast, and al-Ahsa, southwest of the provincial capital al-Khobar. Qatif and al-Ahsa have historically been the focal point of anti-government demonstrations. The kingdom's Shia community accounts for between 10 to 15 percent of the total population. They say they face discrimination in seeking educational opportunities or government employment and that they are referred to disparagingly in text books and by some Sunni officials and state-funded clerics. They also complain of restrictions on setting up places of worship and marking Shia holidays, and say that Qatif and al-Ahsa receive less state funding than Sunni communities of equivalent size. The Saudi government denies allegations of discrimination. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/05/saudi-arabia-shia-mosque-attack-150522101243243.html |
| Travel › US Willing To Discuss New Visa Policy With Nigeria by feedthenation(op): 12:50pm On May 22, 2015 |
Addressing a conference in Abuja on Thursday, the Country Consular Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Williams Laidlaw, said the US government will discuss with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with focus on extending the two year reciprocity agreement, where it provides two year visas with six months entry on arrival, to Nigerians. He, however, said the new visa policy would be possible only after Nigerian Embassies abroad and the Nigerian immigration officials consistently give Americans two-year visas with six months entry on arrival. For some Nigerians, getting an American visa can be a nerve-racking experience. Almost on a daily basis many Nigerians, who apply for US visas in the country, are denied visas. But getting a US visa, need not be a dreaded activity. According to officials of the US Embassy, while some Nigerians are denied visas, many are successful in getting visas. The Consular Chief, US Embassy, Stacie Hankins, took Channels Television on a tour of the embassy, listing the processes visa applicants go through. Another official of the Embassy, the US Country Consular Co-ordinator, William Laidlaw, also spoke about the possibility of extending the time frame for visas. The US Embassy processes 400 visas per working day in Abuja and 900 visas in Lagos. This is aside the 100 visa applications by those who apply by drop-box per day. http://www.channelstv.com/2015/05/22/us-willing-to-discuss-new-visa-policy-with-nigeria/ |
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