₦airaland Forum

This news was featured in the Nation newspaper yesterday with the details.

NDLEA intercepts $2.1m at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted the sum of $2,198,900 from a man in Lagos.

The money was seized by anti-narcotic officials on the grounds of suspected money laundering at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

One 46-year-old Ibiteye John Bamidele is being investigated in connection with the case.

The suspect was apprehended on his way to Abuja.

Preliminary investigation conducted by the Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate of the NDLEA revealed that Bamidele’s action contravenes the money laundering prohibition act 2011 as amended.

He told the NDLEA officials that the money belongs to one Martins Olufemi Thomas, a medical practitioner in Lagos.

Investigation conducted by the agency did not link the money to proceeds of narcotics.

However, a country having a challenge of insurgency cannot afford to ignore suspicious movement of large amount of money.

Consequently, the Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has directed that the suspect and the exhibit be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further action.

Giade said, “The outcome of preliminary investigation did not link the money to proceeds of narcotics. I have therefore directed that the suspect be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ndlea-intercepts-2-1m-at-lagos-airport/

http://abusidiqu.com/why-buhari-sacked-abdulrahman-mani-as-his-cso/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday sacked Abdulrahman Mani, as his chief security officer (CSO).Although, no reason was given for his sack, insider sources according to Thecable said he was sacked over some “shady deals” and for “undermining” the president.

According to the online newspaper report, Mani committed various misdemeanours, “chief among which was a recent discovery that he was actually the one who leaked Buhari’s itinerary to Diezani Alison-Madueke when he travelled to London in May”.Alison-Madueke, then minister of petroleum resources, had surprisingly travelled on the same British Airways flight with Buhari, sitting in the same cabin and right behind the then president-elect.The former minister normally flew private jets in and outside the country and her presence on the flight was not considered a coincidence.It was alleged that she wanted to curry the favour of Buhari following a series of allegations of corruption against her, although her aides denied the claim, maintaining that she was on a private trip for her son’s graduation.

“Investigations also revealed that Mani has been actively undermining the president, working against every value the president upholds and conducting himself in such a manner as to suggest that he is out to pull down the president,” the source said.Mani was appointed Buhari’s CSO after the presidential election in March.

Buhari also fired Widi Liman, his administrative officer, who was said to be hand-in-gloves with Mani in turning securing appointments with the president into a “business venture”.

Bashir Abubakar is the new CSO to the president while Mani has been redeployed to Ebonyi state.Abubakar was until now an assistant director in the Bayelsa state command of the Department of State Service (DSS).Liman, who is yet to be replaced, was a close aide to governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai, while he was FCT minister. He has been transferred to Oyo state command of the DSS.

The western green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis), also known as the West African green mamba or Hallowell's green mamba, is a long, thin, and highly venomous snake of the mamba genus, Dendroaspis. This species was first described in 1844 by the American herpetologist Edward Hallowell. The western green mamba is a fairly large and predominantly arborealspecies, capable of navigating through trees swiftly and gracefully. It will also descend to ground level to pursue prey such as rodents and other small mammals.The western green mamba is a very alert, nervous, and extremely agile snake that lives mainly in the coastaltropical rainforest, thicket, and woodland regions ofwestern Africa. Like all the other mambas, the western green mamba is a highly venomous elapid species. Its venom is a highly potent mixture of rapid-acting presynaptic and postsynaptic neurotoxins(dendrotoxins), cardiotoxins and fasciculins. Some consider this species to not be a particularly aggressive snake, but others have suggested that they are extremely nervous and are prone to attack aggressively when cornered. Conflict with humans is low compared to some other species found in the region. Bites to people by this species are quite uncommon. Their mortality rate, however, is high; many of the recorded bites have been fatal. Rapid progression of severe, life-threatening symptoms are hallmarks of mamba bites. Bites with envenomation can be rapidly fatal. Case reports of rapidly fatal outcomes, in as little as 30 minutes, have been recorded for this species.

quote author=eagleonearth post=35459420] I've been thanking him since then. but is the snake really deadly?[/quote]

The Judge and Fani-Kayode were classmates at Law School. What did you expect? The case was dead on arrival. In saner climes, she should have excused herself from the case.

Danladi Kifasi...Head of Service
Danladi Kifasi...Member of NNPC Board

Do you see what I am seeing?

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.In a statement signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, Buhari thanked the members of the dissolved board for their services to the nation and wished them the best in their future endeavours.The NNPC is the state-run oil company which oversees Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. It’s board is statutorily headed by the minister of petroleum resources.Although the statement did not list the board of director, NNPC website report that they are : Dr. Joseph T. Dawha, Group Managing Director; Mr. Bernard O.N. Otti, Group Executive Director, Finance & Accounts; Dr. Dan Efebo, Group Executive Director,Corporate Services; Alhaji Abdullahi Bukar, Member; Mr. Danladi Wadzani, Member; Prof. Olusegun Okunnu, Member; Mr. Danladi Kifasi, Member; Mr. Steven Oronsaye, Member and Ikechukwu Oguine, Coordinator, Legal Services/Secretary to the Corporation.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti: The thing wey dem suppose to sell for people cheape, cheape, na di burn burn, naim dey sweet dem pass...

Bukola Saraki is 52. He has been a 2 term Governor, a 2 term senator, former chairman, Governors forum, a former presidential candidate, sole king-maker in Kwara State, etc. The guy is fiercely ambitious. He is never satisfied and will sacrifice anyone to reach his goal (ask his sister, Gbemisola). My worry is Saraki wants the Senate Presidency (no 3 man) so desperately as a ladder to climb to the ultimate position of President, and still, I doubt if even that will satisfy him. Who knows what Saraki wants? If Saraki must destroy the party to realise his ambition, he will, believe me.

Juventus conceded defeat against Barcelona. Roll out the drums. They are heroes for conceding defeat! Nobel prize anyone?

I do not know how old you are, but to call someone who is perhaps old enough to be your father a brainless old man is not good. You can make your comments without being abusive. Believe me, you may inadvertently bring a curse upon yourself with such
careless language. 1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father...

shammah1:
He's going to meet his Boko Haram brothers.

This brainless old man is really clueless. Is he not same person who criticised Jonathan's collaboration with Chad and Niger in fighting the insurgents?
#BabaOneChance, on your way back make sure you bring back our Chibok girls. Nonsense

With the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as president a few hours away, it has emerged that infighting between a former Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau and top former military officers from the north over key security appointments may threaten the cohesion of the incoming administration.PointBlankNews reports that the former military leaders, it was gathered, are unhappy that Dambazzau is already asserting himself as National Security Adviser (NSA)-designate, claiming he solely determines who gets any security and military appointment in the incoming administration.While the retired officers have reportedly aligned with Buhari’s decision to appoint key security and military aides from any part of the country outside of the core north, Dambazzau may have cladenstinely effected the appointment of a certain Lt. Col M. Lawal Abubakar as Buhari’s ADC.Abubakar like Dambazzau belongs to the military police corps and hails from the same Kano State. He is a member of the 44th Regular Course of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).As Lt. Col, Dambazzau was NDA’s registrar and was the anchor person on the Armed Forces selection board that admitted Abubakar and other cadets of the 44th Regular Course. 44th Regular Course was the most controversial intake into the NDA as Kano State, against the academy’s rule of admitting equal number of cadets per state, unexplicably had nearly double the number of intakes than any other state.Aside the admission blunder, military sources told Pointblanknews.com that several members of Course 44 from Kano dn’t have the required five O’Level credits and had to be writing the examinations as undergraduates of the Defence Academy.Dambazzau had reportedly attempted to foist Lt. Col. Yakassai, who was his ADC as Chief of Army Staff on Buhari, but that the president-elect flatly rejected the proposal.Like Abubakar, Yakassai was a member of the controversial 44th Regular Course, and served as ADC during Rabi’u Kwankwaso’s tenure as Minister of Defence and Dambazzau as Army Chief.On two attempts, Yakassai reportedly failed his promotion examinations and passed on the third attempt after Dambazzau’s personally intervention as Army Chief.The former military leaders from the north are reportedly worried that handing Buhari a core northern ADC would cast the president-elect in the mould of an ethnic champion.“Look at Obasanjo. The two ADCs that served him were from Edo State. The Late Yar’Adua’s ADC is from Delta State. Jonathan’s ADC is from Kogi, so why not get an ADC outside of the north west as Buhari’s ADC?” quizzed a retired two-star general.He continued, “True, there are no hard and fast rules about appointing ADCs. Howevern, the practice both in the military and for deserving political office holders is for the principal to appoint his ADC, being a personal aide, on the basis of his“In the alternative where due to the seniority gap between the principal and the officer, the practice is for the Army to avail the principal a shortlist of competent field officers between the ranks of Major and Lt. Colonel with accompanying briefs or a ‘pen picture’ of the candidate,” he added.Pointblanknews.com gathered that the Army was to send such shortlist with briefs to Buhari, and that the president was looking forward to making his preference, but that Dambazzau scuttled the process to enable his legman emerge.“Fully aware of the powers and influence of the ADC, the most important link between the president and the military, it comes as little surprise that Dambazzau so desperately wants to be responsible for appointing one for Buhari so he can effectively be in total control,” alleged a retired officer.Pointblanknews.com also gathered that Dambazzau had raised eyebrows when he sent a long list of soldiers and officers to be trained to replace the bodyguard elements in the presidential villa usually drawn from the DSS, Police and Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), fueling concerns on his motives.Read more http://newswirengr.com/2015/05/30/dambazzau-the-infighting-ongoing-between-ex-northern-military-leaders-over-security-appointments-in-buharis-government/

Fayose went to DELIVER "dividends of democracy" to the IG.

‘Sack Our Boss Before You Go’ NIPC Staff Beg Jonathan’

Staff of the crisis-ridden Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) have renewed their call for the sack of the agency’s embattled Executive Secretary, Ms. Saratu Umar.

A statement by the NIPC Staff Union issued on May 11 2015 in Abuja and made available to Newsmen appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to remove Ms. Umar before he hands over to the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.
“We therefore renew our call for her immediate sack as any extra day she spends in the NIPC undermines the activities of the Commission and reverses the gains of Government in its bid to diversify the economy using private capital,” the union said in the statement signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Isah Ghondi.

The statement, a rejoinder on the alleged fraudulent grant of waivers by the NIPC, berated the Executive secretary for allegedly leaking a letter from Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the press.

It reads thus:
“The attention of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Staff Union, an affiliate of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, has been drawn to a recent publication in ThisDay Newspaper of Sunday May 10, 2015 and Daily Post of the same day purportedly credited to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. The Union is constrained to draw the attention of the public to the fact that the publication is the height of executive irresponsibility at this time when the current embattled Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ms. Saratu Umar, has been having a running battle with 98% of staff in the Commission on account of her dictatorial style of leadership and incompetence.
“It appears the current Executive Secretary has taken the staff agitation for her removal to a desperate point of dragging the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to the mud by whipping up sentiments in the media at this critical time when the Nation is undergoing transition.
“The leakage of the letter by the Minister of Finance sent directly to the Executive Secretary of NIPC on August 12, 2014 and which has been in her custody, smacks of an act of irresponsibility and immaturity. This is especially so in light of the fact that the Honorable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment had since August 12, 2014 directed the ES to comment on the letter but up till the time of writing this statement, she is yet to dignify the Minister’s directive with a response.
“While it is true that the Minister of Finance had made inquiries and some observations on the administration of the Pioneer Status incentive in August 2014, it is important to state that all the issues raised in the said letter had since been clarified to the satisfaction of Government. The letter represented a misinterpretation of the various policies and legal framework on the administration of pioneer status and the matter has since been settled.
“The decision to leak this belated correspondence of August 12, 2014 to the press is again a demonstration of incompetence, insensitivity and immaturity. For one in a highly placed position not to realise the weighty implications of the publication especially the effect on Nigerian companies that have achieved international feat by listing on the Nigerian and London Stock Exchange. Moreover, the negative effect on prospective companies is damaging and better imagined.
“This action has once again proved that the current Chief Executive of NIPC is incapable of presiding over an economic Agency such as NIPC, or any other Agency of Government for that matter. This is more so when considered against the backdrop of the fact that the NIPC Act envisages Officers not below the rank of Federal Permanent Secretaries to be members of its Council.
Meanwhile, Ms. Saratu Umar, who was sacked from NEXIM Bank as an Assistant Manager (equivalent to the position of Assistant Director) on account of incompetence and low performance, suddenly found herself as Chief Executive of NIPC at par with Federal Permanent Secretaries.
“We therefore renew our call for her immediate sack as any extra day she spends in the NIPC undermines the activities of the Commission and reverses the gains of Government in its bid to diversify the economy using private capital.
“We also advise the incoming Government not to be hoodwinked by Saratu Umar’s antics and desperation

http://www.ibtimes.com/white-house-fence-jumper-dominic-adesanya-mentally-ill-father-says-1711114

When this incident happened in October 2014, the boy's father admitted that his son, who jumped the fence was mentally ill.

Still wondering though why this stale news is on frontpage.

by Kolapo Olapoju

As Goodluck Jonathan nears the twilight of his tenure as President of Nigeria, he has embarked on sacking spree.The President has terminated the appointment of several government agency bosses and replaced them with immediate effect.A brief recap of those sacked by the President:

1. The Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Kabiru Mashi
2. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority. Mallam Habib Abdullahi.
3. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Management Development Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa.
4. The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
5. The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas.
6. The Executive Secretary of  the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Sharon Kasali.

The unexpected termination of agency bosses by Jonathan was not anticipated, especially because he’s already on his way out of office.Hence, conspiracy theorists and political analysts have gone into overdrive with various postulations as to what could be the motivating factor(s) behind Jonathan’s decision to sack the agency bosses.

We’ve also come up with our own 3 possible reasons for the sacking spree of Jonathan:

1. Is Jonathan on a sacking-spree to cover up his tracks?Perhaps, the outgoing President is clearing the house so as not to leave any loose ends behind when he leaves office. Perhaps, he is sacking persons and agency bosses who may rat him out to Buhari when it’s time for a probe.
2. Is Jonathan planting moles in Buhari’s government to facilitate a PDP comeback?Perhaps, President Jonathan is putting in place spies in the government that Muhammadu Buhari will soon inherit. Perhaps, the move to replace the agency bosses is to put his loyalists in government, so as to have people on the inside, pending the time the PDP attempts a comeback.
3. Is the President trying to do last-minute damage control in the agencies?Perhaps, the President is trying to repair his impaired image/reputation by replacing agency bosses whom he feels are performing below par.Perhaps, Jonathan is trying to be a good sportsman by laying a good foundation for the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari. 

http://ynaija.com/politico/3-possible-reasons-why-gej-is-on-a-sacking-spree/

You must understand the context in which the statement was made. Pastor Adeboye was giving an exhortation to church workers in Jos and made the statement to encourage them to remain steadfast and also to assure them that he understood their plight. The intention here is not to deride christians living outside the North please.

She had to stop the trek at Lokoja because of her parents...

In what appears to be an unusual step to demonstrate his leadership style, the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has instructed police and military security personnel attached to him to respect traffic regulations during his movements.

In a statement released by his media team in Abuja, General Buhari said law abiding would be the guiding philosophy of his administration, adding “without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders.”The President-elect explained that the “arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in his government.”

According to him, for leaders to inspire respect, they must obey the laws of country, adding that when leaders treat the country’s laws with contempt, they might send the wrong message to the citizens.General Buhari lamented a situation where fellow citizens are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the “arrogant lawlessness of the leaders.”

He said in a democracy, leaders should not inflict inconveniences and other unbearable ordeals on the citizens for their own comfort.The President-elect advised his military and police security personnel to be in tune with his philosophy of “bringing the rule of law in the conduct of leaders during their movements on public roads.”

http://theeagleonline.com.ng/buhari-orders-his-security-personnel-to-obey-traffic-rules/

TEMILADE ENIOLA 
It was a mitaclous escape for Big Brother Africa contestant, Melvin Oduah as he managed to wriggle out of a fatal car crash.The ghastly car accident occurred along the Benin-Ore Expressway yesterday.He explained, “Aero Contractors’ decided to refund us due to scarcity of aviation fuel. I had an important appearance to meet up wit last night in Benin so i decided to hire a car to take me to Benin since i didn’t have any oda option. Just as we were approaching ORE in Ondo State, One of the back tires bursted. The driver lost control……..The picture you are seeing right now explains d rest of d story. Now the interesting part…… I came out of this vehicle without a scratch.0My tab that i was holdin was intact. The dark sunshades dat i wearing was also without a scratch. Not one single injury was recorded in this accident. Even the driver was not injured at all. I was still able to meet up wit d event in Benin and everything went on successfully. My people, Help me thank God for this wonderful miracle. The God i serve neither slumbers nor sleeps. He will give his ANGELS charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. He who did not make u cannot break u. Thy shall walk through the fire and thy shall not b burnt. God 1st always.

chimoskyg:
How and when was all this women kidnapped that Nigerian was not aware

This, to me, is the real tragedy. Over 500 girls and women missing since God knows when, this excludes the Chibok girls o, and we carry on as if everything is normal. This can only happen in Nigeria, surely and it is a clear example of failure of leadership.

A peace meeting brokered by the elders of Ekiti State was yesterday shunned by the 19 All Progressives Congress members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly over their believe Governor Ayo Fayose was not ready to have the crisis resolved once and for all.The meeting which held at the private university of legal luminary, Afe Babalola amidst tight security had Governor Fayose and the seven Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers attended the meeting.Other personalities at the meeting were, Chief Deji Fasuan, a retired permanent secretary in the old Western Region and Co-Chairman, Ekiti Council of Elders, former Minister of National Planning, Chief Ayo Ogunlade, former Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, among others.

Also in attendance at the meeting were, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Joshua Ibine and the Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Duke Fubara, who led over 200 security personnel  to provide security at the meeting

.Explaining the reason for the action, the APC lawmaker said they are not comfortable with the security arrangement of 200 policemen said to have been made to protect them into and out of Ado-Ekiti which, according to them, had given away the motive of the meeting.The APC lawmakers wondered why the peace effort would include provision of security to escort them out of the state instead of escorting them to the House of Assembly to continue their legislative duties.

The lawmakers in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, said their resolve on the rule of law and defence of the Constitution should not be subsumed under the need to pay them their entitlements which was one of the resolutions agreed at the meeting.They said: “We cannot hold any meeting on the basis of monetary settlement in isolation of the consideration of the constitutional breaches by the governor.“It is amazing that the truce terms will not include resumption of our duties?, but just to settle us monetarily and escorting us out of Ekiti State.”Picking holes in the entire arrangement for the meeting, the lawmakers wondered why the governor was announcing the peace meeting intermittently on the state media while secretly mobilising Peoples Democratic Party members from the 16 local government areas in the state to storm the venue of the meeting.“What is this all about if not coded incitement for mob attacks?” the lawmakers queried?.They also insisted that the security agents told them in clear terms that they could not guarantee their security and warned them against passing through the streets of Ado-Ekiti to the venue of the meeting?.

Source: http://abusidiqu.com/ekiti-apc-lawmakers-shun-peace-meeting-with-fayose-explains-reason-for-their-action/

Martins301:
If Buhari is said to have made some mistakes since winning the election, then Jonathan blunders since he lost his re-election bid must also be brought to light. Now lets consider them briefly.

1. Releasing The PwC NNPC Audit Report
Why didn't he release the report prior to March 28th? Yeah! You guessed right. He knew he would have even lost Bayelsa state if Nigerians saw the content of the report. By releasing the report afterwards, he has shown Nigerians that he abhors corruption even though he himself MAY be innocent. He has also shown that he was prepared to win the election even at the cost of surpressing the truth

2. Sacking Galore
Choi! Baba GEJ has sacked over 4 persons since he lost his re-election bid (less than 1 month ago). From NPA boss to NHIS boss, FAAN and even the Inspector General of Police, non has been spared the wrath of a sour loser.

3. Accepting & Then Questioning His Defeat
Why did he publicly accept in the first place?
Is he now jealous of the attention Buhari is getting?

4. Hindering A Smooth Transition
Moving the date already agreed for handing over notices to be submitted from April 20th to May 14th is a covert way of jeopardizing a smooth transition. He probably doesn't want the incoming government to do a thorough job of screening and scrutinizing the handover notes.

5. Covertly Removing Fuel Subsidy
By doing this, he is openly setting a trap for the incoming government. But angry Nigerians should know where to direct their anger.

Feel free to add to the list. I will come and add more later. I wan go cook my funky okro soup.


Source: Martins301

6. Hasty appointment of cronies into Federal Government institutions.

7. Pretending on live TV that he didn't know why PEJ was not in Otuoke during the guber elections when he knew she was in Rivers State to help rig Wike in.

qualityovenbake:
What! 6yrs for laundering N25 billion.

Or pay N3million out of the loot and go home free. What justice is that?

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The recall of Nigeria's top diplomat after a spate of xenophobic attacks in South Africa follows several similar spats that expose the two countries' deep rivalry for economic and political dominance in Africa.

Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Martin Cobham said on Saturday he had been "invited" to Abuja to discuss this month's anti-immigrant attacks in South Africa, which have killed at least seven people.

Televised images of armed gangs attacking immigrants and looting foreign-owned stores in Johannesburg have sparked a backlash in Nigeria, where hundreds protested in front of shops owned by South African brands like MTN and Shoprite.

South Africa's foreign ministry on Sunday called Cobham's recall an "unfortunate and regrettable step", before taking a swipe at Abuja for its own record on protecting foreigners.

Last September, a church hostel collapsed in Lagos, killing 115 people, most of them South African. Nigeria was criticized for its slow response to the disaster and what some saw as a haphazard rescue effort.

"It would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda," a foreign ministry statement said in response to Cobham's recall.

"We did not blame the Nigerian government for the deaths and more than nine months' delay in the repatriation of the bodies of our fallen compatriots."

Such tit-for-tat slights are becoming increasingly common.

Weeks after the hostel collapse, South Africa seized $9.3 million from a private jet carrying two Nigerians, funds Abuja said were for a legitimate arms deal. South Africa said the deal was being conducted without relevant permits.

Abuja accused South Africa of xenophobia when Nigerians were deported after staff at Johannesburg airport believed their yellow fever certificates were fake. Arik Air, Nigeria's biggest airline, briefly canceled flights to South Africa.

CANNIBALS

Nigeria banned 2009 film "District 9", a hit movie directed by a South African that depicted Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes who had sex with aliens.

Rows over Hollywood movies and yellow fever certificates are reflective of a more serious battle for economic dominance and control over Africa's representation on the global stage.

"It's no secret that Africa's would-be superpowers don’t like each other very much," analyst Simon Allison wrote in a column in the Daily Maverick, a leading South African political online newspaper.

"For all their lofty talk of unity and pan-Africanism, both Nigeria and South Africa are actually locked in a fierce struggle to be sub-Saharan Africa's pre-eminent superpower."

Nigeria overtook South Africa as the continent's biggest economy last year after re-basing its GDP. Pretoria said the numbers reflected Nigeria's larger population and not the sophistication of their respective economies.

"Despite what was said publicly, Nigeria's rebasing was resented by the South African government," a Pretoria-based Western diplomat told Reuters.

Diplomats say that when South African politician Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma, won a close race to chair the African Union Commission in 2012, Nigeria strongly backed her opponent.

Both countries are also lobbying for a permanent position to represent Africa on the United Nations Security Council.

Given their political and economic heft -- together, the two economies are larger than the rest of sub-Saharan Africa's combined -- relations between South Africa and Nigeria could be decisive for the future of a continent of 1 billion people.

"Nigeria and South Africa are like two prisoners in the same cell of poverty, inequality and bad leadership," Nigerian writer and political commentator Elnathan John told Reuters.

"Together they could muster the strength to break their bonds and overpower the jailer but instead they spend time feuding with each other in a needlessly fractious relationship

Caracta:
What do we do instead?

No, I'm not a commercial driver.

The best way to prevent such attacks, obviously, is for the owner to train their dog not to do it in the first place, and to always make sure their dog is in a secure yard, inside the house, or on a leash. Unfortunately, some people are not responsible enough to do this, so it falls upon us to know how to protect ourselves in such situations.

Why do dogs attack?

In the case of joggers, runners, bikers, etc., it’s because the motion of the person triggers their prey drive. However, not every dog will naturally decide to chase down and bite someone who’s moving too quickly. Those dogs that do have learned to do it — again, because of human negligence.

It starts with a dog that barks to defend its territory as a jogger runs by. Why does the dog bark? To make that person go away. And what happens when the jogger keeps running? They go away, and the dog has “won.” After this happens repeatedly, the dog learns that barking will make the invader leave, so its excitement level goes up in anticipation. This continued reinforcement really is the definition of a “vicious cycle.”

Eventually, this increased excitement can lead to the dog becoming bolder and more aggressive to the point of actually rushing toward or chasing the jogger. With enough excitement and unbalanced energy, this may lead to a bite or an attack, and the dog isn’t really consciously doing it.

How to avoid being bitten

If you are confronted by an aggressive dog, the most important thing to remember is this: Stay calm. Don’t give in to fear or anxiety, and don’t start yelling or kicking at the dog. An aggressive dog wants you to be stressed out before it attacks, but if you remain calm and in control, it slows them down and throws them off.

Also avoid direct eye contact with an aggressive dog. Stand slightly sideways (which also makes you a narrower target) while keeping the dog in your peripheral vision.

Once you have successfully used calm assertive energy to keep that dog back, claim your own space. If you happen to be carrying anything in your hands, like a cane or an umbrella, place it out in front of yourself to appear bigger and be more in command of your space.

What this tells the dog with your body language is, “I don’t want your space, I just want this space that I am in.” Maintain your very calm and assertive state; this energy creates a barrier that automatically demands the dog’s respect by letting it know that you are not afraid.

When the dog senses that you aren’t threatening it — and are not threatened by it — it will probably lose interest and the situation will de-escalate. Unfortunately, though, this process is not always possible.

What to do if you are attacked

Especially for joggers and runners, there is a danger of being completely blindsided, so that a dog attack is happening before you can even have a chance to try to avoid it. If you have enough time, the first line of defense is to let the dog attack something on you that isn’t you — for example, if you’re wearing a sweater, get your arm out of a sleeve and get that sleeve in the dog’s face. If the dog takes the bait, let it pull the sweater off, then slowly back out of the area. To the dog, it has just gotten hold of a piece of you, and this may distract it long enough for you to get to safety.

It’s probably good practice to always have something on you that you can use in this manner, whether it’s a sweatshirt tied loosely around your waist, a stick, or even a stuffed dog toy. If you can pull it off quickly enough, you can also use one of your shoes for this maneuver.

In all cases, remember to protect your face, chest, and throat. Also keep your hands in fists to protect your fingers. If you must be bitten, the safest place for it to happen is the shin or forearm; a dog bite to the thigh can cause fatal bleeding.

If you are bitten, resist the natural urge to try to pull away. This will just make the injury worse through tearing your flesh. Oddly enough, if the attack escalates to this point, then you actually want the dog to latch on. Why? The dog only has one mouth, but you have two hands. If you can manage it at this point, grab its back legs and lift them off the ground.

You can find more information on what to do to defend and protect yourself in this WikiHow article. http://www.wikihow.com/Handle-a-Dog-Attack

Remember: Dogs are not naturally inclined to attack humans unless they feel a threat to themselves, their pack, or their territory. We cannot always avoid the problem because some dog owners are irresponsible or negligent. However, we can arm ourselves with the knowledge that will prevent a situation from escalating, and minimize the damage if it does move on to an attack.



Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/biting/When-Dogs-Attack#ixzz3YbIN1Tnh

My name is Lovelyn Chidinma Nwadeyi. I am a Nigerian. Born in Nigeria to two Nigerian parents. Raised in Queenstown, Eastern Cape by those same Nigerian parents right up until I completed my Bachelors at Stellenbosch.
Lovelyn Chidinma Nwadeyi
Lovelyn Chidinma Nwadeyi. Photo: supplied

Growing up in South Africa, I was always reminded by those around me that I was different to everyone else. In primary school, I had a much darker complexion than I do now, and super white teeth – the telling marks of a foreigner that betray you even when you put on your best English accent. It is just too obvious.

I bear citizenship of both worlds. I speak fluent Xhosa, Igbo, Afrikaans and English. I can make sense of Tswana and Sotho. I enjoy a good braai, I love vetkoek and bunny-chow. I can’t get enough of Bokomo WeetBix, I love Ouma’s rusks and I can pull off my panstulas with any outfit on a lazy Saturday when I want to head to town. I am the first to break it down with the ngwaza and the dombolo at the sound of some decent house music or kwaito be it in Pick n Pay or at a party.

I can sokkie and I enjoy it (albeit with my two left feet). My darkest moments can be reversed by koeksisters and a cup of rooibos tea any day. I can jump between the high pitched and arguably annoying accents of some Constantia moms, the lank kif and apparently sophisticated English of my Hilton brothers and the heavy accents of my fellow Eastern Capers. I can attempt the fast paced, lyrical Afrikaans of my coloured brothers in the Cape and I can serve you the best butternut soup you have ever known.

I am as South African as you need me to be.

But my ability to navigate all these spaces did not just happen. Learning to blend into all these spaces was a matter of survival for me.

You see from the day I set foot in Queenstown and started primary school, it was always made very clear to me that I was an outsider. I only had white friends from my first few years in school, because the other black girls couldn’t understand why I was black but only spoke in English. They thought I thought I was better than them. So I spent most of my breaks humbly eating my peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich, surrounded by those who had Melrose cheese and Provita Crackers with Bovril and/or marmite sandwiches in their lunchboxes. The rest of the time I spent alone, save the few brave souls of similar complexion who tried to befriend me.

What nobody knew was that for the first three years of my life in South Africa, my little brother and I barely saw my dad more than twice a month. What was he doing absent from the home, other than selling pillowcases, duvets and bedsheets, from door to door on foot through the streets, villages and side roads of the old Transkei and Ciskei? My father would leave the house on Monday mornings after him and my mom got us ready for school, and he would be gone for days and weeks, selling the few pillowcases and bedsheets he had from door to door. On foot. We were never sure when he would return. But when he did, we were always more grateful for his safety and aliveness than anything else.

From Queenstown to Cala, Umtata, Qumbu, Qoqodala, Whittlesea, Mount Fletcher, King Williamstown, Mdantsane, Bhisho, Indwe, Butterworth, Aliwal North and even as far as Matatiele and Kokstad. There are so many other places he went to that I do not even know.

That is how my parents put us through school, until they saved up enough money to open their own little shop where they then started selling sewing machines, cotton and then community phones. Then sweets and chips and take-aways; and then hair products and the list goes on and on. It was on this that I was able to go through primary school, high school, and university. My parents have no tertiary education; it was only in their late 40s that both of them decided to register for part-time studies at Walter Sisulu to get their Diplomas. Note: Diplomas.

It took them four years, because they were busy trying to keep their kids in school, and keep selling their sweets and sewing machines while attempting to dignify their efforts with a degree.

My story is not unique – it is the story of most foreigners in South Africa. Very few foreigners come into SA with skills that make them employable here. Unless you are a medical doctor, an academic and maybe an engineer or well-established businessman before coming here, your chances of getting meaningful employment in SA are as limited as those of the United States letting Al-Qaeda members off the hook – almost impossible.

Most foreigners come to SA with the ability to braid hair, carve wood, or sell fruits, veggies, clothes, fizz pops, carpets and soap before they can find their feet here. Some are graduates…but what can another African degree do for you in SA? And any foreigner in SA will tell you that that is the truth. All of us started from below the bottom. Doing work that carries no dignity, no respect and very little financial gain. But when you have left or lost everything that you know and love and end up in a foreign land as unwelcoming in its laws and restrictions as South Africa, you have little choice available to you.

I can bet you that there is not up to 10% of South Africans who would be willing to do the menial and embarrassing work my parents and other foreigners did for as long as they did it, and for as little as they did it, were you to ask them today. So it annoys me, to the deepest part of my being when I see a South African open their mouth and cry “foul” against innocent foreigners. Let’s discuss this:

Arachnophobia – the fear of spiders.

Claustrophobia – the fear of small/tight/enclosed spaces.

Xenophobia – the fear of foreigners.

However individuals who are afraid of spiders do not go around killing spiders, rather they avoid spiders. Equally, individuals who are afraid of small and tight spaces do not go around trying to eliminate the existence of small spaces.

Thus xenophobia does not by definition imply the killing of foreigners. Yet, we continue to label this current wave of killings and murders in SA as xenophobic – and now the cooler term – “Afrophobic” attacks. Can we please just get real? What is happening in SA is a genocide, a genocide fuelled by a deep-seated hatred for which no single foreigner is responsible.

Before, you say this is too extreme, allow me to explain.

Genocide is the systematic/targeted killing of a specific tribe or race.

In South Africa’s case, this would be the senseless killings of non-South Africans, mostly those of African origin and some Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other non-African minorities.

I think the government, South African and international media are being too cowardly to call it what it is. They know what is going on in South Africa and yet they refuse to acknowledge it for fear of who knows what. Is it because their numbers are not high enough? Should we wait until a few good hundred thousand foreigners have been murdered before we speak the truth?

So now the value of human lives is being reduced to a debate on politically correct terms and phrases to protect certain interests. People are being butchered in the streets, and the country is worrying about bad PR. I hate that now, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, everyone is now trying to say, “Oh no, it’s not all South Africans that are doing this, hey. Just a few of those people there.” South Africans are trying to distance themselves from what is happening in their own backyards as though it is of any consolation to those watching their family members being sizzled in rubber rings. As if that is what matters – true South African style.

This is not the first wave of attacks of this nature in South Africa. In fact, the 2008 attacks were much worse in terms of raw numbers of casualties suffered than these have been so far. The issue of xenophobia is not a new one in SA. However, the differentiator in 2015 is that this wave is backed by a strong ideology; that somehow these attacks can be and are justified.

An ideology that sees merit in the argument that foreigners are stealing the jobs of locals, that they are stealing their women, that these “makwerekwere” are the cause of most ills in South African society.

It is a shame how uninformed and how baseless these arguments are. Foreigners do not and CANNOT steal jobs in SA. Do you know how hard it is to get South African papers, just to get into the country – not to talk of getting a work permit and convincing any company to take on the cost of employing you as a foreigner? Unless you have some freaking scarce skills in the country – it just does not happen like that.

Secondly, just shut up and stop it. South Africans who embibe these arguments are lazy. There is a disgusting entitlement that is attached to this notion that jobs can be stolen. This implies that there are jobs waiting for you – of which there are none.

There are no freaking jobs waiting for anyone. Pick up a bucket and start washing cars. Put on your shoes and walk through your streets, sell tomatoes, eggs and tea – anything people eat, they will buy. Or pick up a book, hustle your way into university, work for a scholarship and get yourself an education. But stop this senselessness. Nobody is stealing your jobs.

I got my first job when I was 11-years-old. I worked on the school bus in my town. I collected money for the bus driver, wrote out receipts and kept order on the bus. I didn’t get paid much, but it helped me learn first that nothing comes easy, I learnt to be responsible and accountable to someone else. Secondly it helped me pay for little extramural expenses I did at school which were not the priority for my parents at the time (and rightly so). In ‘varsity, even though I had a tuition bursary, I worked two part-time jobs and one contract job for the entire three years at Stellenbosch so I could pay for my good, clothes and some additional materials etc. Yes my parents supported me as best they could, but naturally, part of growing up is that you don’t bother your parents for every Rand you need.

So people see me and my family now, several years later driving a decent car and living in an average house and they say, “Ningama kwekwere, asinifuni apha. Niqaphele, aningobalapha.”

“You are foreigners, we do not want you here. You better watch out, you are not of this place,” – unaware of and unwilling to hear of the years of struggle and hustle that came with the decent car and the average house. [Which, by the way, you can never fully own as SA law now restricts ownership of property by foreigners – but that is another discussion.]

And what has been the government’s response to the worsening unemployment and crime situation in the cities and suburbs that incites this violence and dissatisfaction amongst its people? To tighten immigration laws, border controls and any little room the foreigner may have had to just maybe survive in the menacing streets of Johannesburg. As if that is where the problem began.

Is it not the way our economy is structured? That there is limited room for unskilled labour in the workforce? That those who are not vocationally trained must then settle for employment outside of their existing areas of knowledge such as artisans, plumbers and electricians – whereas these skills are equally needed in a developing economy? That we have this thing called BEE which in practice just ensures that the Black bourgeoisie get wealthier by hook or by crook while still protecting and cushioning the impact of democracy on old, white money and big business?

Is it really the little Ethiopian man with his spaza shop that is threatening your progress na Bhuthi? Is it really the Nigerian woman who braids hair and sells Fanta that is stealing your job and place in your own land na Sisi? I can’t deal.

If none of these arguments have merit for you, then think of the fact that during apartheid, Nigeria spent thousands of dollars on the ANC protecting and moving its members across borders; Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda all housed, supported and/or trained struggle heros with open arms and with no strings attached. How dare South Africans forget how much Africans did for them during apartheid. How dare you!

South Africans, go and learn your history. When you have read your history, then please teach the correct version to your children. Let them know that Africa helped put SA where it is now. Let them know that all blacks are not Xhosa or Zulu, but that that is irrelevant to the amount of dignity you accord to another human being. Teach your children that they must work for everything they want to have except your love as a parent. Teach your children that they are nothing without their neighbour – stop being selective about who Ubuntu applies to and does not. Teach them the truth about you.

The greatest enemy of the black man has always been himself. Not the colonialists. Not the apartheid architects. Only himself.

And as long as you refuse to take responsibility for where you are now, you will remain there. Kill us foreigners or not, it actually makes very little difference to your fortunes in life, people of Mzansi.

Lovelyn Nwadeyi
20 April 2015

I am very proud of my country, Nigeria. Beyond politics, GMB is being accorded the honour due to a President elect as it is done in virtually all developed countries. His security is now the responsibility of the State. Good.

Jonathan under pressure to sack IGP

April 18, 2015

Written by Yusuf Alli (The Nation Newspapers)

There were indications yesterday that the Presidency is unhappy with the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, for alleged security and protocol breaches.

Some forces in government have started mounting pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to drop the IGP, but the President was said not to be interested in taking any disciplinary action against Abba.

It was learnt that Jonathan has made up his mind to leave the fate of the IGP to the incoming administration.

Investigation revealed that there had been disquiet in the Presidency over certain steps Abba took during the recently concluded presidential election and since Jonathan conceded defeat to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Some forces in government were disturbed that with the exception of Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom and the entire South-East region, the Nigeria Police did not act the election script written for the force in strategic states like Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Kaduna and Kwara.

The IGP was said to have instructed the Divisional Police Officers in Lagos to comply with the directive of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and not any Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

It was gathered that upon the ‘failure’ of the police in the strategic states, the Presidency was angry that the IGP was at the presentation of certificate of return to the President-elect by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, contrary to the norm.

The Presidency had also noted that Abba was at the airport at a time to receive the President-elect.

But a source said that what really “pissed off” the Presidency was the alleged leakage of the presidential directive to redeploy Assistant Inspector-General Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll.

The covert decision was said to have been taken in the Presidency by three officials, including the IGP.

A reliable source said: “There is disquiet in the Presidency on whether or not to drop the IGP for certain missteps. Some forces are angry that the police failed to back the status quo in some states during the recently-concluded poll.

“I think the IGP chose a neutral position and opted to live up to his oath of office during the general election.

“The IGP’s presence during the presentation of certificate of return to Buhari left many presidency officials dazed because it was alleged not to be within his official “mandate.”

“The presence of the IGP at the National Collation Centre with Buhari was rated as a partisan move and a provocative initiative.

“Some forces in the Presidency believe that Abba should be asked to step aside. The leakage on the redeployment of AIG Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll has fueled the demand for IGP’s sack.”

It was however learnt that the President is not disposed to the exit of the IGP.

Instead, he was said to have left the fate of the IGP and service chiefs to the President-elect.

Another source added: “The President might not bow to the demand by some forces to drop the IGP because he is not a vendetta person. He has decided to leave the fate of the IGP and other service chiefs to his successor.

“The fact that a former President sacked some public officials few days to his exit does not mean that Jonathan would follow in his footsteps.”

A police source said: “You see, the IGP made sure that the police force was non-partisan throughout the election period, and this was a departure from the practice in 1983, 1993, 2003, 2007 and 2011 polls.

“Naturally, some government officials, governors and politicians will not be happy at all. This IGP is professionally inclined and he has been enforcing this.

“If you look at his antecedents even when Rivers State was volatile, he made sure that he was non-partisan. Up till today, the people of Rivers State still celebrate Abba for his professionalism.

“He remains loyal to the President irrespective of the outcome of the election. To the best of my knowledge, he has not eroded the confidence reposed in him by the President. He keeps official secrets and he has never leaked any. Since he came on board, signals or information flow had become more compact.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “How can any IGP ignore the President-elect at any airport? Is Gen. Buhari not a former Head of State? Does he not deserve respect as an elder statesman? All these issues they are raising are petty.”

...If any of you has any reason or reasons why you should not be legally joined together, say it now. This is part of the wedding vows in most marriages. Concealing information about her HIV status could mean that they have not been legally joined together imo.