What's wrong with south Africans, the way they are turning against their president because of that singular act is shocking, they simply can't tolerate anything that has to do with Nigeria
Nothing in this world will take me to south Africa
Why do these people hate us so much? this is unacceptable
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a simplified visa process for Nigerian nationals has ignited a rising backlash in South Africa with some citizens taking to social media to call for his resignation.
This initiative, intended to enhance economic growth and promote tourism, was unveiled during the 11th Session of the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission held in Cape Town on December 3.
Critics have called for the reversal of the decision, accusing the government of prioritising foreign relations over domestic concerns. The outcry has included an open letter to the president and widespread criticism online.
Responding to the backlash, the presidency clarified that the initiative was part of broader efforts to modernise and streamline visa application processes globally.
“Our efforts to create a favourable environment include introducing a simplified visa process for Nigerian business people.
Those who qualify can be granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” Ramaphosa explained. He added that Nigerian nationals would no longer need to produce a passport to apply for the visa.
The announcement came at a time when relations between Nigerians and South Africans have not been smooth, often reflected in h£ated exchanges on social media.
Critics argue that the relaxed visa policy could exacerbate existing social and economic challenges within South Africa. Despite the criticism, the government maintains that the policy is part of a strategy to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.
Election day has arrived in Ghana, where a debt crisis and high living costs mean the economy is uppermost in the minds of many voters.
The West African nation is guaranteed a new president as Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after reaching the official limit of two terms in office.
But he could be replaced with a familiar face, if former President John Mahama succeeds in his comeback attempt for the NDC party.
His main challenger is expected to be Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who would become the country's first Muslim leader if he wins for the governing NPP party.
Other candidates include Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman popular with young voters and Alan Kyerematen, who defected from the ruling NPP party last year.
Close to 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.
A man is once again guaranteed to become the next president, despite Ghana recently bringing in tougher legislation to drive up the numbers of women in frontline politics.
The only female presidential candidate in this election - Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party - died in October. Yet her name will still be listed on ballot papers because the candidate chosen to succeed her was disqualified.
Saturday's general election also sees voters in 275 constituencies across the country choosing their members of parliament.
Since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, only candidates from either the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have won the presidency.
No party has ever won more than two consecutive terms in power.
Voters have a 10-hour window on Saturday to cast their ballots - with polling stations set to open at 07:00 GMT and close at 17:00.
Results are set to be announced within three days.
In order to win in the first round, a presidential candidate must gain more than 50% of the vote. Failing that, the top two contenders will enter a run-off vote to take place by the end of December.
As campaigns came to a close on Friday, Bawumia said of his main rival: "What is clear is that notwithstanding the challenges we've had, we have performed better than the government of John Dramani Mahama."
While Mahama told supporters "it is a choice between the Ghana we have today and the Ghana we want together. A Ghana of opportunity, prosperity, and justice for all."
Ghanaians have been hit particularly hard by inflation in recent years, which reached a peak of 54.1% in 2022. Although it has since come down, many thousands of people have been pushed into poverty and living standards have suffered, says the World Bank.
That same year, Ghana defaulted on its debt repayments and the government is still in lengthy negotiations with international lenders to try and restructure the loans.
Unemployment is also at a high - particularly among the young, whose views could have a big impact on the outcome of the election.
In a sane and lawful society, none of those people would be in danger for stating honest views, US has become something else, None committed a crime like their accusers, Donald trump is too vindictive, he's on a witch-hunt this time
Pres. Biden and his senior aides are discussing possible preemptive pardons for people who might be targeted by the incoming Trump administration, according to a source close to the president.
Possible names include current and former officials such as retired Gen. Mark Milley, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Hmm, if Jonathan decides to run in 2027, it will be a big challenge for Tinubu and APC considering the poor performance of this administration, infact it's going to be a landslide victory for Jonathan
I'm sure they will try to persuade and negotiate with him
Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential posters for the 2027 elections appeared across major streets in Kano on Thursday, sparking speculations about his possible return to the political arena.
The posters, seen at strategic locations such as Gyadi-Gyadi/Zoo Road flyover, Kofar Nasarawa, and State Road, featured messages like “Team New Nigeria 2027; The Goodluck Nigeria Needs—Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.”
This development has intensified conversations about the 2027 presidential race, with prominent figures like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and the incumbent president expected to contest.
Jonathan’s spokesperson, Okechukwu Eze, has yet to comment on the matter.
However, the emergence of the posters echoes a similar incident before the 2023 elections when supporters purchased nomination forms for Jonathan under the All Progressives Congress, a move he later distanced himself from.
The recent campaign posters are said to be spearheaded by a political movement known as Team New Nigeria, which has been promoting its activities across the country.
TNN leader, Modibbo Farakwai, when contacted, explained that the group’s efforts are informed by public demand for transformative leadership.
“Nigerians are yearning for change and for new party faces to drive that change. They want a transformation in the culture and efficacy of governance at all levels,” Farakwai said.
TNN has constituted a harmonisation committee in Kano State and is on the verge of registering as a political party with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Already, the group is claiming to have mobilised 26,382,000 registered voters across Nigeria and has developed essential party structures, including a flag, logo, constitution, and manifesto.
When contacted for his reaction, a foundation member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said Jonathan, like other qualified Nigerians, is at liberty to contest for the presidential race.
Yakasai added, “Jonathan did not complete his second mandate, as he lost the race to former president Muhammadu Buhari. This is another opportunity for him to complete his tenure.”
This is a welcome development, why would you obtain a fake degree and use it to get a job, we keep blaming our leaders for wrongdoings and ignore our own misdemeanors, be the change you want to see
The Federal Government has fired some civil servants with degrees from private tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo, The PUNCH reports.
The directive affected federal workers who graduated from the institutions from 2017 to date.
The Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, confirmed the development to one of our correspondents on Wednesday.
In August, the Federal August announced that only eight universities had been accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic.
This followed an undercover investigation report in which a Daily Nigerian journalist acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic in two months and used it to participate in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Following the report, the government banned the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from tertiary institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.
The Federal Government also set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to probe the activities of certificate racketeers.
The then Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo and such certificates would be cancelled.
Mamman explained that the revelation was part of a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council by the investigative committee instituted to probe degree certificate racketeering by foreign and local universities in Nigeria.
He insisted there was no going back on the Federal Government’s decision to cancel the about 22,500 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in the two francophone countries.
Mamman maintained that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not harsh as Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such tertiary institutions dent the country’s image.
He said, “Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.
“The fake universities capitalised on the gullibility of Nigerians patronising such fake schools. The Federal Government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.”
Although the exact number of affected civil servants could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Cabinet Affairs) had issued a memo to all the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to implement the order.
A source, who pleaded anonymity because she was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed that the sacking of the affected workers was based on the inter-ministerial committee’s recommendation.
The official stated, “There was a letter from the SGF cabinet affairs directing all ministries, departments and agencies of government to identify and terminate the appointments of workers employed with certificates obtained from the private universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo from 2017 to date.
“The decision is part of the recommendations of the committee set up to investigate the certificates of people who graduated from the universities.”
Our correspondent also gathered that some agencies like the National Youth Services Corps have commenced the implementation of the directive.
The NYSC Director of Information, Caroline Embu, confirmed to our correspondent that five members of staff had been sacked in line with the SGF’s directive.
She said, “Five members of staff were affected by the directive contained in the letter from the office of the SGF.
Not even the highly referenced USA have had a female President 250years after its independence
Electing a female president is now a rubbish to you, you must be a misogynist, forget USA with their wahala
According to June 2024 data from U.N. Women, "113 countries worldwide have never had a woman serve as Head of State or Government." This means that among the 193 United Nations member states, at least 80 countries have had a female head of state or government.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo), has been voted in as Namibia's first female president after last week's disputed election.
The electoral commission said she had won more than 57% of vote, with her closest rival Panduleni Itula, getting 26%.
Following logistical problems and a three-day extension to polling in some parts of the country, Itula said the electoral process was "deeply flawed".
His Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party said it would challenge the results in court.
Most opposition parties boycotted the results announcement on Tuesday evening in the capital, Windhoek, the Namibian newspaper reports.
Windhoek is reported to be calm on Wednesday, with neither celebrations nor protests and people carrying on with their normal lives.
After the announcement of her victory, Nandi Ndaitwah said: "The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability."
Swapo has been in power in the large but sparsely populated southern African country since independence in 1990.
A party stalwart, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the vice-president, is a trusted leader having served in high government office for a quarter of a century.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his congratulations to Nandi-Ndaitwah on X on Wednesday.
"Your election as fifth President of the Republic and the first woman in our region to hold this high office is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies," his statement read.
Once sworn in, she will join an exclusive club as at the moment Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan is Africa's only female president.
In the parliamentary elections held at the same time, Swapo narrowly held on to its majority, winning 51 of the 96 elected seats - a loss of 12. The IPC won 20 seats, and will be the official opposition.
Tirivangani Masawi, a political journalist based in Windhoek, told the BBC Newsday programme the election was Swapo's "worst performance since independence".
A trained dentist, Itula is seen as more charismatic than Nandi-Ndaitwah and managed to dent Swapo's popularity in the last presidential election in 2019, reducing its vote share to 56% from 87% five years earlier.
The IPC said it would “pursue justice through the courts” and has encouraged people who felt that they had been unable to vote because of mismanagement by the electoral commission to go to the police to make a statement.
Claus Goldbeck, from the IPC, told the BBC voting was an "organisational mess".
Some people were sent home after standing in line for 14 hours because there weren't enough ballot papers, and scanners broke down at numerous polling stations.
"The Electoral Commission of Namibia [ECN] had four years to fix things," he said.
The ECN admitted to failures in the organisation of the votes and ballot shortages. But the chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, denied any allegations of fraud.
"I urge all Namibians to embrace the results with the spirit of unity, diversity, understanding and reconciliation," she said.
Swapo led the struggle for nationhood against apartheid South Africa. Ahead of last Wednesday's general election there had been some speculation that it would suffer the fate of other liberation parties in the region.
South Africa’s African National Congress lost its outright parliamentary majority in May and the Botswana Democratic Party was kicked out of power after nearly six decades following October's election.
‘’Since You Left, The School Bus Doesn't Come Again” — Actor Francis Duru Mourns His Son, Ifeanyi, Who Would Have Turned 16 Today
He wrote: ‘’Nna, today ,you were going to be 16
But the cold hands of death snatched you from us...you looked forward to this day..was so excited...we all looked forward to it...but life happened to you and you retired so early son,
it has not been easy because you left a very big hole in our hearts. why you left and how you left, still bothers us, it's not been easy, non can ever or will ever replace you, it hurts but God knows why, your fond memories, they comfort us all, we miss you, your warm smiles, words of affirmation, miss your arms on my shoulder, the last mayonnaise is still I see your friends remaining.
since you left, the school bus doesn't come again, can't remember when I last ate bread...such a big vacumm, I see your friends, and the look in their eyes still asking what happened, mummy weeps each day while I do mine in the dark, Frances and Soso all of us, grand ma has your picture always, tnx for parenting you, Nna we can't cut your cake today. we still love you and still feel you are around, you were such a wonderful kid, all same happy posthumous birthday day my champ, continuously rest in the bosom of the lord, Adieu son, we love you loads.''
Beyoncé has been named the greatest pop star of the 21st century by Billboard, the music outlet says it picked the artists who have most defined pop stardom for the last 25 years.
"Beyoncé tops our staff-chosen editorial list based on her full 25 years of influence, impact, evolution," Billboard's Andrew Unterberger wrote.
In their analysis, the publication wrote that Beyoncé's place at the top of their list stems from the record-setting Grammy-winner being a performer and creator "whose commitment to innovation, evolution and all-around excellence has made her the bar against which all other pop stars this century have long been measured" over the past 25 years.
Beyoncé is the most Grammy-winning artist, with a record 32 wins, and - after earning 11 more nods for her 2024 album "Cowboy Carter" - is expected to scoop up more trophies come January.
The "Texas Hold 'Em" singer has a deep history on Billboard's charts, as well. She has nine No. 1 songs and 24 top 10 songs on the Hot 100. Eight of her albums have claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album's chart, starting with her 2003 debut solo album "Dangerously In Love." After previously dominating the airwaves as part of girl group Destiny's Child, 11 of Beyoncé's solo albums have charted in Billboard's top 10.
Since August, Billboard has been ranking their staff picks for the top 25 pop artists of the past 25 years. The publication's picks are artists who they believe have most defined pop stardom and have "exemplified pop greatness" since the turn of the millennium.
Last week, Taylor Swift was announced as Billboard's No. 2 pick, with Rihanna claiming the third spot.
Adele, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Drake round out the top 10.
At No. 25 is Katy Perry, with other pop artists including Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Eminem, Usher and others ranking in between.
Krismas: Biden is hopelessly corrupt. His son is a predator guilty of all manner of crimes, in his work for Biden. I will be surprised if Trump does not arrest Biden for his role in Ukraine. U called Biden and Harris light? U have no clue
no human being is 100% perfect, I'm not even a fan of Biden anymore because of his involvement in Gaza genocide, but when it comes to US domestic politics, Biden is far better than the convicted felon
Botragelad: Saying Trump doesn't read books is a cheap shot. Lol But, let's focus on the the part we here for.
BRICS is never a viable alternative to the US-led global order as you guys call it, because it's just a loose association of countries with different economic systems, political structures, and interests. They're not exactly a cohesive unit, if you know what I mean. The US has been using tariffs and other trade restrictions to protect its interests for ages. It's not like Trump invented protectionism. Lol
Now, about those tariffs. Yeah, other countries can impose tariffs on the US, but it's not a straightforward game of tit-for-tat. The US has a massive economy, and its trade relationships are large. Imposing tariffs on the US would likely hurt other countries more than it would hurt the US. China for one doesn't want that.
[b][/b]!
At the bolded, I think they understand their differences fully well before going ahead to form the organization, so just leave that to them.
And don't forget that China is also a massive economy and can fight back, Donald trump needs to wake and tread with caution or US consumers will be at the receiving end
Foreign Affairs › Re: Bashar Assad Has Fled Syria, War Monitor Claims, As Insurgents Enter Damascus by God1000(m): 5:51am On Dec 08, 2024*. Modified: 6:37am On Dec 08, 2024
