₦airaland Forum

^^^^^

You i.d.i.o.t. You tivs (70% of Benue state) are fighting over land with all your neighbors including the Idomas. True or false? And how did you know Igbos attacked first? Is it based on this one-sided newspaper report or based on facts on the ground. Aren't you all (Idoma/Tiv/Hausa-Fulani) the same bloody murderers? I am not surprised, you are a tiv after all. bloody woman sharers.

^^^^^^
Hey!! Boko Haramite:

Torkaka TIv man is not your friend. If he turns his back, you hausa fulani Boko Haram will stab him in the back

When Nigeria separates, the different groups in the south will have to start farming. For now they left it for the malus (northerners) to do while the southerners educate themselves. Farming requires little or no brain to do. The North cannot even feed itself let alone feed others. Why are they so poor and malnourished?

Jerome Nriagu, Ph.D., D.Sc.

Professor, Environmental Health Sciences

Research Professor, Center for Human Growth and Development



Website(s): Arsenic Research Project

Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Professional Summary

Prof. Nriagu's research and teaching programs center around three main issues: (i) sources, behavior, fate and effects of metals in the natural and contaminated environments; (ii) environmental justice and disproportionate exposure of communities to environmental pollutants; and (iii) environmental health problems in the developing countries. His work includes applied laboratory and field studies and has led to 30 books (authored/edited) and over 300 published articles. From 2000 to 2008, he was listed as one of the most cited scientists in the fields of Environmental Studies and Ecology (http://researchanalytics.thomsonreuters.com/highlycited/). He was the director of the Environmental Health Program from 1996 to 2006, and has been active in a number of community-based organizations. Before joining the department in 1993, he was a research scientist with Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario. Prof. Nriagu was the Editor-in-chief of the journal Science of the Total Environment (one of the leading environmental science journals), Editor-in-chief of Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (in five volumes) published in 2011, and the editor of book series published by Wiley-Interscience (New York), Elsevier Science (Amsterdam), and Maralte Publishers (Leiden). In 1987, he was awarded the first ever meritorious Doctor of Science degree by the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). Prof. Nriagu is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His other awards include Senior Fulbright Fellowship and distinguished Alexander von Humbolt Research Prize.

Courses Taught

EHS502: Environmental Health in Developing Areas
EHS574: Environmental Chemistry
EHS591: Equity Issues in Environmental Health
EHS615: Water Quality and Human Health in the Great Lakes Basin
Education

D.Sc., University of Ibadam (Meritorious), 1987
Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1970
M.S., University of Wisconsin, 1967
B.Sc., University of Ibadan, 1965
Research Interests & Projects
> > Nriagu Lab - Trace Metals, Human Health and the Environment (Leader)

Prof. Nriagu's research and teaching programs center around three main issues: (i) sources, behavior, fate and effects of metals in the natural and contaminated environments; (ii) environmental justice and disproportionate exposure of communities to environmental pollutants; and (iii) environmental health problems in the developing countries. His work includes applied laboratory and field studies and has led to 28 books (authored/edited) and over 250 published articles. He is listed (http://isihighlycited.com) as one of the most cited scientists in the fields of ... More >> http://www.sph.umich.edu/iscr/faculty/profile.cfm?uniqname=jnriagu

Science of The Total Environment

Volume 414, 1 January 2012, Pages 2–3
Cover image
Editorial
Stepping down as editor-in-chief

Jerome Nriagu, PhD, DSc E-mail the corresponding author

School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

Available online 22 December 2011.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.11.074, How to Cite or Link Using DOI
Cited by in Scopus (0)

Permissions & Reprints

Full-size image

The former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, once said that there is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction. A change in the leadership of the Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN) is one of those changes where the turn is in the right direction at this time. With the maturing of environmental studies as a science (and the low hanging fruits have been picked), research in the field has become increasingly specialized. Topics that were unheard of a decade ago are taking center stage in the environmental research agenda; examples of emerging issues that are strongly tentacled in the “relationship of humankind with their environment” (our motto for the journal) include fracking, nanomaterials, environmental inheritance, epigenetics, proteomics, e-waste, disproportionate exposure (environmental justice), impacts of globalization, ecological vulnerability, food and water security, environmental epidemiology, environmental disasters (natural and human-made), just to name a few. New and more sophisticated technologies and measurement techniques are being developed to address these emerging environmental problems. These developments and the pace they occur represent a challenge as well as an opportunity for STOTEN that can better be met by editors with skills and vision in the evolving frontiers of research on human beings and their environment. A rejuvenation of the editorship should usher in new scientific perspectives needed to guide and sustain the journal for the long haul.

It is therefore with humility that I will be stepping down as the Editor-in-Chief of STOTEN at the end of 2011. I have been with the journal for exactly 30 years, as a Member of the Editorial Board (1981–1983), Associate Editor (1983–1991), Editor (1991–2002), and Editor-in-Chief (2002-2011). During that time, we edited thousands of manuscripts and dealt with thousands of authors and reviewers from every part of the world. I cherish the opportunity we had in enabling so many people get their work published. The credit and any success we have had, however, belong to the outstanding members of the team that have worked with me over the years. They are champions in my reckoning. I would first like to thank Professor John Farmer, the Executive Editor of the journal who has made immeasurable contributions to the journal during the last 10 years. I am most grateful to all the former and current Associate Editors of the journal (James Bennett, Bryan Brooks, Neil Cape, Linda George, Mark Hanson, Chin-Pao Huang, Pavlos Kassomenos, Gus Mackenzie, Donna Mergler, Linda Morawska, Colin Neal, Simon Pollard, Charlotte Poschenrieder, James Readman, Frank Riget, Ian Snape, Christian Steinberg, and Chris Wren) who worked tirelessly to ensure that all manuscripts were peer-reviewed critically and on time. Both the standing and standard of the journal depended critically on the dedicated effort and commitment of these leading experts in their fields. My deep gratitude goes to those members of the Editorial Board who worked with us in reviewing papers and encouraging authors to submit their good papers to STOTEN. My deep-felt appreciation is expressed to the anonymous referees who put so much effort into ensuring that the science is sound and have helped to enhance the impact and reputation of the journal. Ultimately, the reputation and influence of the journal depend very much on the authors and the quality of papers they submit. I cannot fail to thank my Assistant Editors (Dr. Jaymie Meliker, Mr. Mark Livingston and Dr. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani) who bore the burden of the paperwork (or “e-work”) on the various facets of high quality review of manuscripts.

Science of the Total Environment is in good shape as it is handed over to the new editors. Paper submission is nearing the 3000 mark. The impact factor (3.19) is at an all-time high and is projected to approach 3.40 next year. The rejection rate for manuscripts is over 75% which is forcing some authors to only consider the journal for their best work. The number of downloads of articles published in the journal is over 1.5 million and climbing. By almost any measuring stick, there is little doubt that STOTEN is doing as well as or better than similar journals in the field. The ride, as they say, has been good and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I wish the incoming new editors of STOTEN continuing success in taking the journal to new heights.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711013921

Who Pays The Ghanaian Prof. George Ayittey

Written by Ross Alabo-George on 27 June 2012.
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WHO PAYS THE GHANAIAN PROF. GEORGE AYITTEY

alt
WHO PAYS THE GHANAIAN PROF. GEORGE AYITTEY
Ross Alabo-George
imaginasion@gmail.com

Before yesterday the name Prof. George Ayittey did not ring a bell in West Africa, he was probably only known in his country Ghana, and maybe in some parts of Ethiopia where he has been a regular presenter of papers. He is an economist, not exactly a sophisticated brand like the Okonjo-Iwealas or Soludos, he has managed to sustain his job at The American University in Washington DC as a professor of Economics.


Just a few days ago, he launched his trade into the Nigerian political sphere; lashing out at President Goodluck Jonathan is a manner which he will not dare to council chairman in Ghana. As a right thinking Nigerian, I felt badly insulted, that a Ghanaian will be so bold to disparage the president of Nigeria in such a scathing way. As I write, I am not entirely happy with President Goodluck Jonathan, especially with his surrender to the Boko Haram politicians of Northern Nigeria, and consequential sacking of General Andrew Azazi. However, I felt deeply miffed by the statements of the Ghanaian professor whose online statements appeared suspicious to me.

His use of language was so entirely familiar and the flow seemed too much like a script written by either Mallam Nasir Elrufai or Dr. Aliyu Tilde, both die hard revilers of the president. I immediately sought to know who exactly this ‘renowned economist’ really was. My curiosity was further stirred when I observed speed with which the Ghanaian professor had learnt the constitution of Nigeria in just a few hours, and he was quoting sections of the Nigerian constitution. He also, in his interview kept referring to President Jonathan as ‘GEJ’. GEJ is not the name foreigners call Jonathan; he constantly lashed the president as ‘clueless’ a tag operatives like Mallam Elrufai want on Jonathan’s neck.

According to his faculty profile available online, Prof. Ayittey holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon, an M.A. from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba. He has taught at Wayne State College and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.

He held a National Fellowship at the Hoover Institution in 1988-89, and then joined The Heritage Foundation as a Bradley Resident Scholar. He founded The Free Africa Foundation in 1993, to serve as a catalyst for reform in Africa

Almost immediately he got the Heritage Foundation as a resident scholar, Babangida was honoured by the Heritage Foundation, a US right wing front whose philosophy is total world domination, economically, politically and militarily.

Nana Apau, a Ghanaian journalist, in his article titled - Ghana oil: seeking national or some personal selfish interests?- described Prof. George Ayittey as a major and well known African lobbyist in Washington DC. Prof. Ayittey was member of the African Oil Policy Initiative Group (AOPIG). It is the AOPIG that formed the US-Africa Energy Association, members of which included a number of serving and former Bush administration and several oil companies such as BP, Chevron, Texaco, Marathon, Shell and Anadarko. AOPIG and the US-Africa Energy Association lobbied the Bush Administration for the creation of AFRICOM. Nana accused Prof. Ayittey of lobbying for oil companies – inn particular Prof. Ayittey was accused of pushing Anadarko, a company that has become a player in the Ghana oil find.

Clearly, the president was right when he said “criticizing Goodluck Jonathan has become a big business in Nigeria”. Who paid this lobbyist to disparage the president?

Washington lobbyists like Prof. George Ayittey work hard for their money, but the nature of their work is to use their position and influence to push the interest their paymasters. This is exactly what Prof. George Ayittey has done – to amplify the mutterings of General Ibrahim Babangida his paymaster and friend. Ayittey’s sponsors belong to the same circle with the sponsors of Boko Haram, and their objective is to adequately embarrass the president internationally, so much so that the United States and our Western allies will see the Jonathan as a weak president. The end game however is the next elections in 2015. The sponsors of Ayittey are fraudulently building up a strong case against the president and his party.

SourceWatch, an international magazine exposed Prof. Ayittey as one the major West African lobbyist in Washington. See: CLICK HERE Prof. Ayittey has consistently used his status as an African frontline economist to push the interests of his clients.

The Centre for Media and Democracy (CMD) publishes SourceWatch, this collaborative, specialized encyclopaedia of the people, organizations, and issues shaping the public agenda. SourceWatch profiles the activities of front groups, PR spinners, industry-friendly experts, industry-funded organizations, and think tanks trying to manipulate public opinion on behalf of corporations or government. SourceWatch also highlights key public policies they are trying to affect and provide ways to get involved.

With his strong conservative leaning, being an associate of the Heritage Foundation, a fundamentally Republican think tank with long standing IBB affiliations, Prof. Ayittey’s comment on Goodluck Jonathan must not be taken lightly by this administration. It is an indicator that if US Republican candidate Mitt Romney wins in the coming US elections, right-wing lobbyists like Ayittey will drop rapid punches for their paymasters. This government must seek to counter this now, or else risk irreparable embarrassment in Washington DC.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/who-pays-the-ghanaian-prof-george-ayittey

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The Punch

Monday, June 25, 2012

Far North, South lobby for defence portfolio

by Niyi Odebode, Olusola Fabiyi and David Attah

Following Friday's sacking of Dr. Haliru Bello, an intense jostling for the portfolio has commenced in the corridors of power.


Sacked Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello

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Investigations on Sunday by our correspondents indicated that the lobby had polarised the Presidency as some of the loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan were urging him not to appoint another northerner into the sensitive office.

This is, however, against the advice of some, who are saying that a competent hand should be picked from any of the six geo-political zones of the country.

Those against the appointment of another northerner anchor their argument on the appointment of a northerner to replace the sacked National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoye Azazi.

The Presidency while announcing the sacking of Azazi,on Friday named Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) as his replacement. While Azazi hails from Bayelsa State, Dasuki is from Sokoto State.

A source in the Presidency, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, said the battle was between those who wanted a replacement for Bello to come from the North and those who would want the President to pick his successor from the southern part of the country.

The source said, “Their argument is that it will not be proper for the President, who does not have any military background and is almost naive on military tactics to put all his defence in the hands of northerners alone.

“They are saying that the President had hitherto removed a southerner as the Inspector General of Police (Mr. Ogbonna Onovo) and appointed a northerner (Hafiz Ringim) as his replacement. Ringim was succeeded by another northerner, Mohammed Abubakar.

“They also said he had removed Azazi and replaced him with another northerner. The police are strategic; the office of the NSA is also strategic. Therefore, the President ought to appoint a southerner as replacement for Bello to balance the equation.”

Investigations on Sunday showed that prominent politicians from the South, including chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, had contacted Jonathan to appoint a southerner as Bello's successor.

However, it was gathered that the North insisted that the exigencies of the present period demanded the retention of the post in the region.

A prominent South-South leader, who pleaded anonymity, said that if some powerful Northerners, who had the ear of the President had their way, two former generals would be back to power by proxy.

He stated, “Our stand is that the principle of federal character demands that the minister of defence portfolio should go to the South.

“Since the North has been given the NSA position, the President should appoint a Southerner as defence minister. We will get across to the President to make him see reason.”

The South-South leader also faulted the appointment of Dasuki, a former aide-de-camp to a former military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as the new NSA.

“I don't want to sound pessimistic. But let's wait and see whether Dasuki's appointment will solve the problem of Boko Haram. He is not an intelligence officer. He is an artillery man,” he said.

But a PDP chieftain from the North told our correspondent that though the region was not opposed to the demand of the South, the country was going through a difficult period.

“These are unusual times that require unusual decision. The President should do anything that will put an end to the Boko Haram crisis. Since the problem is restricted to the North, the President should retain the defence minister's portfolio in the North,” the PDP powerbroker, who spoke under anonymity said.

Investigations showed that a former Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.) has become a power broker in the Presidential Villa, and would have a say in who becomes the next defence minister.

Bamaiyi, it was gathered, was one of the few former military officers that have the ear of the President, especially on how to tackle the insecurity problem in the country.

Apart from him, a former military Governor of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe (retd.), is also said to be advising the President on the modalities to use in picking the next minister of defence.

Meanwhile, socio-ethnic groups on Sunday cautioned the President on security appointments.

The National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, Mr. Robinson Esitei, warned Jonathan against Boko Haram's infiltration into the Presidential Guard.

Esitei said that the President had the powers to appoint any Nigerian into the position of the NSA.

He however warned Jonathan to be very careful in appointing people to that position in order not to create the opportunity for the Boko Haram to infiltrate the Presidential Guards.

He recalled that the security crises in the country were not because of Nigeria but because of Jonathan.

The Secretary-General of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Dr. Femi Okurounmu, faulted the North's desire to retain the defence portfolio.

According to him, it will be against the principle of federalism if the defence minister is appointed from the North.

He, however, said that the President could appoint the minister from the Middle Belt.

“Both positions for now should not go to Northerners because of the security situation there. You cannot trust any Northerner now. The President should appoint the minister from the Middle Belt,” Okurounmu stated.

He blamed the security situation in the country on corruption, saying most political appointees were only interested in enriching themselves.

The Afenifere secretary said, “They are only committed to what they can get. We need somebody with an analytical mind as the NSA and a President who cannot be intimidated from taking correct decision. Both of these are lacking.”

Also, a former Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said Azazi and Mohammed were scapegoats.

He said, “They were not responsible for the insecurity in the country. It is the system and the political leadership that brought about the negative state of the nation, including insecurity.

“This is a system that is based on self interest against public interest which is directly responsible for the disabling level of corruption and criminal waste. It is also responsible for unemployment, poverty and unless the system and the political leadership are changed there is nothing the National Security Adviser and Minister of Defence can do.”

http://odili.net/news/source/2012/jun/25/831.html

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976
Volume E–6, Documents on Africa, 1973–1976, Document 208
208. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (Reinhardt) to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, August 18, 19751

Washington, August 18, 1975

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

BRIEFING MEMORANDUM

August 18, 1975

To: The Secretary

From: PA - John E. Reinhardt

Nigeria After the Coup of July 28

This memorandum is presented in response to your request of August 14. It is concerned with the nature of the new government, its prospects, and continuing American interests.

The New Leadership

The leader of the coup against General Yakubu Gowon is an erratic, vainglorious, impetuous, corrupt, vindictive, intelligent, articulate, daring Hausa. Brigadier MURTALA MUHAMMED was a prime force in the Nigerian coup of July, 1966, which brought GOWON to power, and is one of the two principal plotters against GOWON for the past two years. He commanded a division during the Nigerian civil war, was involved in the only documented cases of genocide, won one important battle, and thereafter coasted for upwards of two years until GOWON finally removed him from command and placed him in charge of Army signals, a position which he held until last month, though he combined his military role with the civilian position of Commissioner (Minister) of Communications from July, 1973, until the coup.

MUHAMMED inherits from GOWON vast petroleum resources (potentially 3-3.5 million BPD, based on known reserves), considerable but neglected agricultural wealth, tremendous but untapped natural gas reserves, other minerals (coal, tin, columbite, uranium), by African standards an excellently trained civil service, and the dubious asset of eighty million people.

To match his assets, MUHAMMED also inherits - and has contributed to - a tradition of corrupt civilian and military officials, urban problems second only to those of Calcutta, drift and inepitude in development, insoluble but containable ethnic problems, and a national temperament which combines pride, aggressiveness, arrogance and patriotism into a brand of xenophobia best labeled Nigerianism.

Prospects for Survival

Almost six years after the civil war, MUHAMMED is probably ushering in a period of coups. As a corrupt Hausa, he automatically attracts Ibo and Yoruba enmity, which he knows and has attempted to reduce by early appointments. As a Northerner and a Muslem, he will be expected to consolidate once and for all the leadership role which his fifty million brothers are certain is theirs. MUHAMMED will agree, of course, but will seem to the Hausas to vacillate as he sings "One Nigeria.”

While there is no reason to believe that he can approach GOWON's success in accommodating ethnic rivalries, there is also no reason to think that he will be any more successful in rapidly developing the country, and rapidity is the great need if he is to avoid GOWON's political problems stemming from stymied development. Money is obviously plentiful, but absorptive capacity is low (corruption, unrealistic planning, confused priorities, and a demonstrated reluctance to turn to the outside).

Finally, MUHAMMED and his co-plotter and now deputy, Brigadier OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, are the most militant of Nigerian military leaders on the Southern African question. GOWON and his principal lieutenants burned with the rage of all Africans when considering this issue, but they were realistic. MUHAMMED and Obasanjo are advocates of a NATO-type military command within the OAU having the avowed objective of strengthening liberation movements. More responsibility may bring more realism. On the other hand, formidable ethnic and developmental problems could convince the new leadership that they should deal repressively with the domestic scene while joining militant Arabs and Africans in organizing a Pan African jihad for liberation. (A large Libyan delegation visited Lagos last week.) MUHAMMED and Obasanjo are unlikely to bring any more inspiration to this enterprise than Nkrumah and Amin. At any rate they do not enhance their prospects for survival by any launchings on this uncharted course. Yorubas and Ibos, at least, will be disinclined to travel with them.

Nature of American Interests

An early but undocumented and probably inaccurate assessment is that certainly MUHAMMED and perhaps Obasanjo are anti-American. I believe that this initial reaction is based on no more than an unfortunate U.S. visa restriction entered in MUHAMMED's passport and Obasanjo's impulsive move to evict our Embassy from prime Lagos property. Nigerian leadership is far more pro-Nigerian than anti-any cause or country, which is the essence of Nigerianism.

Still, we can probably do little or no political business with the new regime, which of course does not distinguish it from the old. We are simply too far apart on the political issues which they exalt, mainly Southern Africa and the whole range of UN controversies. (The Communist countries have no better political opportunities, unless they foment and become involved in the jihad scheme, which I believe to be as imprudent for them as for us.)

It is in the economic-commercial area that the USG will have greatest opportunities. Even in this area it is the private sector, motivated by the USG, which is in the best position to advance our interests. And it is in this area that MUHAMMED has demonstrated some responsiveness.

When the corrupt MUHAMMED succeeded the more corrupt J. S. Tarka as Commissioner of Communications, he immediately perceived that at least the telephones must operate properly if his fate were to be any different from Tarka's. American businessmen, in extended conversations with me, described MUHAMMED as being un-Nigerian in his acceptance of their proposals. Specifically GTE and ITT were close to multi-million dollar contracts when MUHAMMED turned from communications to plotting. (These deals have all the earmarks of Ashland and Mobil Oil arrangements, which is another problem. The point is that they are deals in a country where Americans have not enjoyed much success outside the petroleum sector.)

MUHAMMED is intelligent enough to realize that he cannot survive unless he can convert oil revenues into tangible development. Among his considerable faults is not Idi Arminian stupidity. His questionable maneuverings as Commissioner reveal a respect for American technology and a realization that capital markets do not begin and end in London. (British and Canadian communications interests have absorbed Nigerian revenues for years without producing a workable system. Other fields point up similar examples, as USG policy has deferred to a British sphere of influence.)

What we badly need, to put it bluntly, is focused American investment and economic penetration of Nigeria. The planes between New York and Lagos are filled with American businessmen, most of whom return frustrated because their proposals are a part of no plan other than their own. Our AID program, even when it received substantial appropriations, demonstrated the same shortcoming.

It ought not be beyond USG ingenuity to organize appropriate sectors of American private industry to spend Nigerian money to gain perceptible development in response to Nigeria's economic and Muhammed's political (survival) needs. Emphasis is on the U.S. private sector: (1) USG foreign assistance funds cannot be appropriated and are not needed; (2) USG political closeness to the MUHAMMED regime is probably unobtainable and undesirable.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Determine critical Nigerian development areas in which American private industry can make unique and mutually advantageous contributions. Organize a high level economic-commercial mission with demonstrated technological skills in these areas, and send this mission to Nigeria, after proper advance preparations here and there.

2. Avoid even semblances of close political ties to the incumbent Nigerian leadership, until and unless it proves more durable than now seems likely.

3. Gradually phase small AID mission into Embassy Economic Section, which should be staffed with carefully selected State/AID personnel competent to foster and continue objective of Recommendation 1.

4. Maintain discreet, friendly State ties with GOWON, though avoiding commitments. After another coup or two, probably bloody, GOWON may seem more and more to be the indispensable military leader, or at least the only acceptable one.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 202, Geopolitical Files, Nigeria, January-August 75. Secret. Drafted by Reinhardt without clearances

http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve06/d208

Oya Buhari boys, make una come defend una masa

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/buhari-has-taken-the-hausas-hostage-sule-lamido

Buhari has taken the Hausas hostage –Sule Lamido

Written by BLESSING OLAIFA on 24 June 2012.
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[Sule Lamido, governor, Jigawa State]

Sule Lamido, governor, Jigawa State

Muhammadu Buhari has faulted the 2011 elections and warned of a likely revolution should there be any rigging in 2015 general election. What is your take on his statement?

Buhari said that he won the 2011 elections, and after the Supreme Court verdict, he said that his supporters were not allowed to vote in the southern part of the country, which means in the west, south-south and south-east. He also said that his supporters in the north were chased away by soldiers.

But the same Buhari won in Kano, Sokoto where soldiers were supposed to have chased away his supporters. He won in Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe. He won in Nasarawa, Gombe. Yet he said his supporters were chased away. Then after being chased away, who won the election there? By his own submission that means INEC might have rigged the election for him since his supporters were chased away by soldiers.

Are you saying that Buhari is not a democrat going by his comments?

No, it is not the issue of being a democrat. It’s the issue of self-gratification, because what he is saying is beyond human comprehension.

How do you rig election, where we won he said there was no election.

Then how did we win? He won in the entire north yet he said he didn’t win, that his supporters were chased away, they were not voting him. So what is the purpose?

What is your interpretation of the Hausa idiom which Buhari used in his statement on 2015 elections?

Kare jini biri, jinni, this is Hausa proverb which simply means that if dog keeps on pestering the monkey, one day the monkey will fight back and both will sustain bloody injuries. Buhari has taken the Hausas hostage. He can’t go to the south and ask them to fight for him; he can’t go to the west and ask them to fight. Will Bakare fight for Buhari in the west? Will people in the east fight for Buhari because he loses an election? Even the Idomas, people from the middle belt will they fight for Buhari because he lost an election? Who are those he is asking to fight? The Hausas. So the rest of Nigeria is wishing us luck on how we are killing each other. From what he said it means Hausas should be killing one another. I don’t see any Igbo man dying because of Buhari, not even Tony Momoh the CPC chairman or Bakare the pastor, I don’t see them dying because Buhari did not win an election. Even the Yorubas cannot die for Buhari. He is asking the Hausas to kill one another.

How can Nigeria organise credible elections in future so that Buhari’s fears could be assuaged?

What is credible election by your own definition? In 2011 elections, there were three major candidates; we have Jonathan, Buhari and Ribadu. Are you saying that Ribadu won the election or that he was rigged out? Are you saying Buhari was rigged out of the election? And because they are scared of election. So the 2011 election would have been fair if Buhari had won the election, that’s the logic. Go to the south-south or go to Ihiala in the south east, ask them of Buhari, they will tell you that they don’t know him. We know Buhari as a coupist. These are facts. It is the Hausas in the north that are dying for Buhari and therefore, if you don’t support him you are dead, if you don’t vote for him they will lynch you because today we have become his prisoners. I want to see where a Birom man or Igbo man will say he wants to die for Buhari. If you are talking about a Nigerian president, then it will be for all Nigerians and he should have passionnationwide.

There is this agitation by kinsmen of President Jonathan urging him to contest in 2015 and that nobody can stop him. What is your take on that?

Those who are talking about Jonathan now have no idea how he became a vice president and how he became the president and what transpired within the governors to make him the president. So people are talking about Jonathan the finished product and not the raw material. And they are free to appropriate him, to localise him. Was that how he emerged, were they the ones who voted him, were they the ones who made him the VP. These people, who are now talking, were they the ones who made him the vice president, had they any input. When he became the president, had they any idea that he was going to run in 2011. We will not allow anybody to appropriate or create a local president for their own locality; we are looking for the Nigerian president. Not president of the Nigerian Hausas, the president of the Nigerian Yorubas, the president of the Nigerian Igbo, the president of the Nigerian Urhobos or the Munchis. We are looking for a Nigerian president whether Yoruba or Igbo.

Does Jonathan have these qualities you have mentioned?

Jonathan is a president of Nigerian consensus. Nigerians made him. Jonathan symbolises Nigeria because he is a creation of all Nigerians across all divides. Jonathan is not the president of the Urhobos, Jonathan is Nigerian president and therefore nobody should appropriate him. Now whatever is going to happen by 2015 is going to be by the same Nigerian consensus.

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar said zoning was dead in PDP, is his views in line with the party’s manifestoes?

You see, democracy has a universal definition but then it has no universal application. The application of democracy is beyond the definition. When you are talking of zoning or no zoning, Nigeria is a democracy and should be able to apply democracy to her comfort. Zoning is a kind of mechanism. The application of zoning is based on the existing realities.

[quote author=Kay-Dee]In the spirit of bipartisanship, members of different political parties can work together, the different political parties are not @ war with each other.[/quote]Has the ACN ever worked with PDP?

My question is asked on the basis of the seeming fact that Aregbesola and his ACN cohorts do not believe that GEJ is the president of all of us. Have they ever commended him for any single action he took? And BTW, was it not the ACN goons here crying that his entourage was too large? Did they bother to tell us that the large entourage included at least one ACN governor (and most certainly the aides of the ACN governor)?

I hope his entourage is no longer large now that we know ACN people were among them?

^^^^^^
Click on the photo slide on that same front page you mentioned. NB: The slides are changed daily, so you will not find it tomorrow.

That said, the question is, what is an ACN governor doing amongst a supposed large entourage of a PDP president?

Dr. Olusegun Aganga (left), Governors Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) on Friday in Brazil

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/

Kanu launches N5b cardiac centre, heart surgery test-run begins

From Ezeocha Nzeh, Abuja

FORMER Captain of the Super Eagles, Kanu Nwankwo, yesterday launched a lottery fund for his Kanu Nwankwo Cardiac Centre, which is estimated to take about N5 billion.



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The project will be executed through the Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation, with money that will be raised from the lottery tagged: "Kanu Heal the Heart Lottery".

According to coordinator of the foundation, Onyebuchi Abia, the project will include a well-equipped hospital that will major in cardiac cases and it will be set up within the Federal Capital Territory.

The coordinator, who revealed that the Foundation had handled over 450 heart cases since it was established in 2002, also disclosed that the Federal Government had already shown its support for the Foundation by approving a piece of land in the FCT for the location of the estimated 40-bed hospital.

According to him, the Foundation, as well as other Nigerians, have been spending a lot in foreign currencies when they travel abroad for heart-related treatments, adding that it would offer free heart surgery to Nigerians within the ages of one and 12 if completed.

Abia also revealed that a test-run of the heart surgery in Nigeria had already been conducted by the Foundation in Enugu with about 20 doctors from the various parts of the world, an exercise he noted, gave the Foundation the courage to commence its bid to establish the centre in Nigeria so as to reduce the pains of Nigerians who suffer from heart-related sickness.

At the media launch, Nwankwo noted that he initiated the lottery programme to urge Nigerians to contribute their own quota in his efforts to save those suffering from heart diseases.

He stressed the need to have a functional cardiac centre in Nigeria considering the number of people from the country who travel abroad for treatment of heart-related cases.

"I have won a lot of trophies and medals in football. Till this day, the best trophy I have won and cherished more has been saving souls through the Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation. Whatever we do in trying to save a life will not be forgotten and I urge Nigerians to key into this effort of ours to save the numerous souls who are suffering from heart-related problems", he said.

The former Arsenal and Portsmouth FC player once had a heart problem.

http://odili.net/news/source/2012/jun/22/6.html

Yoruba villagers cannibalized bodies of 2005 Bellview Airline crash victims

euben Abati: Ogun Villagers Robbed And Cannibalized Bellview 2005 Crash Corpses
« on: July 30, 2011, 08:35 PM »

The Millionaire gods Of Lisa
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Monday, November 14, 2005 - By Reuben Abati


For the avoidance of doubt, Lisa is the village in Ogun State where an ill-fated Bellview aircraft crashed on October 22, resulting in the death of all the 117 persons on board. This tragic incident affected the entire country, as it brought out the humanity within us, but one aspect of it that deserves further exploration is the reaction of the people of Lisa to the tragedy and their circumstances since the accident occurred. I had pointed out on an earlier occasion that the accident gave the people of this hitherto unknown community an opportunity to bring their plight to the attention of government and to proclaim their seeming neglect over the years by the authorities. Before the accident the people of Lisa were untouched by the processes of social advancement in the shape of access to modern facilities and a good quality of life.

It took a plane crash in their backyard for government to start constructing a road through their community. Electricity is also being provided; and the village has been linked to the telecom network. The point about the neglect of rural Nigeria where incidentally, the majority of Nigerians live is apposite and cannot be overstated. But what should now be considered is the humanity of the people and the leaders of Lisa village. What is being reproduced in that village is a typical Nigerian story, a strong indication of how poverty has robbed the people of basic human values, driven them to desperation, cynicism and cruelty. One sad fact of our lives is that the average Nigerian is forever looking for profit, always looking for an opportunity to cheat the system. When he is in that mood, he suspends his own humanity or beliefs; he is motivated by a burning desire for momentary gain. He comes across as an unreasonable person; something in him or her suddenly changes, he is transported to a temple of human desire where all that matters is greed.

It is true that this descent to the animal level is a given illustration of the duality of the human nature, and the complexity of man. But here in Nigeria, especially in the context of the recent event, it says something far more fundamental about the fault lines in our land in relation to the human index. The lesson is that we still have to do a lot about values in our society, about the moral question and the building of a sense of citizenship and community. In making these declarations, I am reminded of the interesting example of the Pastor of a church who had gone to his daughter's school to ask that the teachers should help to make sure that the daughter passed her school cert exams. The pastor sounded as if he would not mind if this would require helping the poor girl to cheat in the exams. When the pastor was reminded that the school was a Christian School and would not encourage such practice, the man of God flared up: "Please keep Christianity out of this. We are talking about my daughter here, please!". The thoroughly scandalised listeners had to remind the church Pastor that he, a man of God should not talk like that. When Nigerians want anything at all, they place values in a state of suspended animation.

And so as persons trooped to Lisa village, weeping, helpless and worried, the people of that community saw in other people's grief, their own opportunity to make profit. Cab drivers and motorcyclists plying the route increased their fares. Young men in the village and the neighbourhood became pick-pockets. They moved near the mourners and removed their cell phones and wallets. They besieged the crash site and began to remove whatever valuables survived that dramatic destruction of lives and property. If they saw a severed hand lying on the ground and it happened to still have a wrist-watch on it, they picked up the hand and removed the wrist-watch. If they saw a cell phone or SIM card that had been thrown out of the plane as it nose-dived into mother-earth, they took that too and thanked their stars. The Ogun state Commissioner of Police AIG Tunji Alapinni has confirmed that the villagers swooped on the site of the crash and made great fortunes looting and grabbing before the rest of the country got to know the location of the missing aircraft. Some families who lost their dear ones in that incident have said that they are convinced that the people of Lisa removed human corpses from the scene of the crash. Their fear is that those mangled bodies may have been sold to ritualists. Sadly, we live in a country where people trade in virtually anything including human body parts.

But perhaps the more shocking development was the declaration by the village head of Lisa, Chief Sadiku Odugbemi, that his community will need a sum of N2 million to appease the gods to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic in the village, and to exorcise the ghosts of the victims of the crash who are reportedly disturbing the villagers. There have been reports of strange noises at night. Chief Odugbemi's request for N2 million attracted great attention. He has since issued a statement denying that he ever made such a request. But the Baale is lying. He made the case for a N2 million ritual grant at a press conference.

He also granted an interview to the Sunday Champion (October 30, p. 20) in which he was quoted as having said inter alia that: ", the government should provide a big cow and some reasonable amount of money for us in order to appease the gods of the land so that calamities and untimely deaths will not occur in the vicinity again. You see, this is very crucial, because we cannot run away from our tradition, the gods should be appeased because they are angry. The enormous corpses buried in our village can cause epidemics if we failed to appease the gods. Do you know how much the government is spending to appease Osun goddess every year? Here in the village we need to appease the gods of Oro and the big masquerade to protect the village from imminent epidemic". In these words, the village head had exposed the widespread nature of ignorance and superstition in our land. What is the connection between gods and the threat of an epidemic?

The village head was not asking for government assistance to provide necessary medical care for his people nor was he concerned about the protection of the environment, rather he was asking for N2 million to buy cows for the money-guzzling gods of his ancestors. He made this request out of the unmistaken conviction that Nigerian leaders also worship and support traditional gods, and that the state is too actively involved in religion. The issue however is not about Chief Odugbemi's faith, but his opportunism. He wanted to make millionaires out of the gods of his people! But the truth is that those gods if at all they exist, do not eat beef, nor do they spend money: the real gods of Lisa are the Baale and his cohorts who are seeing an opportunity for quick business in other people's misfortune. The cow that he requested for would end up in the pots of his wives and the wives of other chiefs. The Baale in council would share the two million naira with some amount of money going into the pockets of virtually very important chief including the abore and the apena!

It is important that the authorities refused to succumb to Chief Odugbemi's blackmail. Rather than give him the N2 million that he asked for, the man was arrested by the police and interrogated. Seven elders of Lisa, accused of having looted the property of the victims, were also arrested and detained. A Non-Governmental Organisation, Feed Nigeria Initiative (FENI) has condemned this response as an abuse of human rights. I don't think so. Nothing gives the village head and people of Lisa and the neighbouring villages the right or the powers to behave so badly. If it can be established that they looted the belongings of the victims or that they stole handsets and robbed the mourners, then the police should do its job and whoever is found guilty should be treated according to the relevant laws. The excuse that the people are poor and therefore desperate cannot be a sufficient excuse for any wrong-doing.

It is interesting that following government's reaction, the leaders of Lisa have had to modify their position. They have denied ever asking for two million. They still want to organise a feast for their gods but the money will no longer come from government. Every adult in the village has been asked to contribute a sum of N1, 000 each. This is fine, let the people who will share the cow pay for it. The people are also denying that they ever looted at the site of the crash, more than two weeks after the event, they are now showing concern about the tragedy. It is either the village head has actually been called to order or he has been given some money and advised to speak differently in public.

Without any doubt, the people of Lisa have been greatly affected by the crash that occurred in their village. It has changed their lives, possibly forever. They deserve sympathy and support. In particular, the issues that they have raised about the neglect of their community by successive governments should be addressed. They want potable water in their community, a good road, access to quality health care especially in the face of danger. Many of them saw Nigerian leaders for the first time in their lives. One of them was so excited seeing President Obasanjo in flesh and blood, he had to report his excitement to a newspaper reporter. Bellview Airline has dug boreholes for the people; the government is constructing a road through the village; there is a lot more that can be done. Beyond this episodic focus on Lisa village, the challenge that has been thrown up by the people of Lisa is the need for government to be brought closer to the people at all levels. In the eyes of a growing number of Nigerians, government is an abstraction which holds no meaning for the people.

The people of Lisa also need to be counselled. They had asked government to sponsor the feast that they are planning for their gods because they are aware that every year government spends money on Muslim and Christian pilgrimages to Mecca and Israel. Government constructs churches and mosques, and patronises herbalists and futurologists. Governors grant interviews and boast about the ritualists that assist them to hold on to power. And yet the Nigerian Constitution says the state shall have no religion. Because Nigerian leaders have politicised religion in the country, they are asked to worship all kinds of gods. Certainly, the people of Lisa must have heard about the gods and priests of Okija and how they have enjoyed government patronage and protection. They too want their own gods to get a share of "the national cake".

What they may not know is that the millionaire gods of Lisa are not the ones to be appeased. The real gods that should be appeased are the policy makers in the aviation sector and the field operators who have refused to do what is right; the gods that caused the crash at Lisa village can be found at the airport; they are in the air traffic control tower, in the offices around the place, all those men and women in uniform who play ludo with other lives. These are the gods to be appeased. And doing so would not require any N2 million; cows won't be needed as well. What is required is a "broom" in the hands of President Obasanjo and the courage to sweep all saboteurs out of the aviation industry. This is why there must be a thorough investigation of the Lisa plane crash.

[quote author=Rhino.5dm]^
Here you have it from the most civilised tribe of cannibals in nigeria.



Money rituals made easy!. Go and buy Obinna or annayo for just 192 dollars, while a puppy go for almost twice that amount. Fools![/quote]Yoruba man sells his baby for 350.000 Naira

http://thewilfreds.com/2012/01/a-nigerian-man-sells-his-baby-off-at-n350000/

[quote author=Rhino.5dm]A tradition that allows you kidnap your mother and sell off your babies like puppies for less than 200 dollars is what? You ibo fools are so funny.

I can get Obinna and Nwankwo with less 300 dollars from baby farm in aba. That is how civilised the ibos are. Pathetic.[/quote]
A tradition that was acquired by Igbos living in your Yorubaland. There is a Yoruba word called gbomogbomo and we understand it has been there since the beginning of the Yoruba race