₦airaland Forum

Congressman apologizes for criticizing Michelle Obama’s ‘large posterior’

By Holly Bailey
Senior Political Reporter
By Holly Bailey | The Ticket – 13 hrs ago, Email

A Republican congressman from Wisconsin has offered a personal apology to First Lady Michelle Obama after he was overheard at an airport lounge criticizing her "large posterior."

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner was overheard loudly complaining on the phone in the Delta Lounge at Reagan National Airport outside Washington about Obama's healthy food initiative.

According to Fishbowl DC, which first reported the lawmaker's remarks, Sensenbrenner was recounting a recent conversation he'd had at church event in Wisconsin.

Obama, Sensenbrenner said loudly, "lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself."

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Daniel Bice, Sensenbrenner made a similar remark at the Wisconsin church he was referencing in his phone call, telling attendees there that Obama has a "big butt."

The Wisconsin lawmaker—who, it must noted, is a bit rotund--sent a personal note to Obama apologizing for his remarks, his spokeswoman Amanda Infield tells Yahoo News. She declined to go into detail about what the note said.

In a statement to reporters, the lawmaker reiterated his apology. "I regret my inappropriate comment, and I have sent a personal note to the First Lady apologizing," he said.

A spokesman for Obama did not respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Republicans have mentioned Obama's looks in criticizing her campaign to end childhood obesity. Earlier this year, Rush Limbaugh trashed the initiative, suggesting Obama doesn't physically appear to practice what she preaches.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/congressman-apologizes-criticizing-michelle-obama-large-posterior-183923894.html

2AMLasgidi:
Call it another Alternative route to the toll gate!!!, Now shame to those who claim government is here to milk them. Most people working in Lekki axis are living on the island all they need do is just drive into Admiralty Road link the bridge. pronto, you on your way to the 3rd mainland bridge. Now I can see a Fashola decongesting Lekki Road especially for people coming to Ikoyi and going to the island.

Welcome to New Lagos.

Please answer this one question. A simple yes or no will do:

Will the bridge be tolled?[color=#990000][/color]

Thursday, 22 December 2011 00:30
FIRS arrests FCDA boss over N28.2bn unremitted taxes
Written by Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja

The Federal Inland Revenue Service on Wednesday arrested the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, for N28.2bn unremitted taxes.

Adamu was picked up in his office at about 12.03pm by an enforcement team from the FIRS led by the director in charge of Large Tax Department, Mr. Ajayi Bamidele.

The team said the arrest was a warning to other government ministries, departments and agencies to remit their taxes to the service.

Ismaila, who was detained at the services’ Intelligence and Enforcement Department in Abuja, admitted to the non-remittance of the amount.

He blamed the Treasury Department directly under the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, for not remitting the said amount

He said, “I just assumed duty about three weeks ago. My Director of Finance and Administration came with a letter and told me its about remittance of taxes to the FIRS.

“And she told me that they did a reconciliation with your (FIRS) own staff in her office and everything was okay but that the only thing was the remittance point and that she has presented this matter to the treasury for them to make this remittance.

“We do not operate all our accounts, even our payments are made by treasury department for our contracts and even our salary and tax deductions.

“We have a central account in the FCT which is operated by the treasury department under the FCT minister’s office.”

The money included taxes collected by the FCT ministry on behalf of the FIRS from 2006 till date which have not been remitted to the federation account.

Also arrested and detained was another senior official of the FCDA whose identity as at the time of sending this report could not be ascertained.

However, the Director, Abuja Geographic Information System, Isa Jalo, could not be arrested as he allegedly fled when the enforcement team arrived.

The enforcement team was also prevented from entering the main office of the director.

A month ago, the team arrested the chief executives of 31 hotels in Abuja for similar offence.

The arrests were aimed at recovering the N170bn outstanding taxes by government and private organisations.

Following the establishment of the committee charged with the recovery of outstanding tax liabilities of the FCTA and its agencies, it was learnt that a series of meetings were held and a number of decisions were taken.

Our correspondent learnt that the committee reviewed actions taken so far on the issues raised in their report and resolved to give the FCDA an ample opportunity to respond to a letter asking it to remit the said amount of money.

http://www.punchng.com/index.php/news/item/8545-firs-arrests-fcda-boss-over-n282bn-unremitted-taxes

The Chevron Toll Plaza, less than ten minutes later.

Finally linking the expressway at Amazon Energy junction (Marwa Bus Stop) at 6:16 p.m.

Going to the expressway  through T.F. Kuboye Road

.

pic 1: turning into Market Road (this sharp corner presents its own traffic challenge)
pic 2: one of the inner roads in the estate

Still on the same road.

Why has the traffic suddenly disappeared?

There were some flimsy speed breakers installed on the road.

By who?

I don't know. Maybe the residents of the street or those boys.

On the other side of the road is the sandy patch adjacent to the ocean. This is where the coastal road is supposed to run through (from V/I to burst out to the expressway near Abraham Adesanya Estate through Okun Ajah).

Can you see those boys. They are going to "assist" that motorist whose vehicle seems to have got stuck in the sand. They call themselves to the scene with mobile phones when there is a "kill" so don't think there are just three or four of them.

These are ones I fear would turn on motorists in that traffic when the opportunity presents itself!

.

In front of Atlantic Beach Estate

Pictures taken on the "alternative" route in Oniru Private Estate on my home yesterday.

I took the first picture at 6:03 p.m.

maclatunji:
It is either some of them have been arrested or they have been warned. I am sure this thread has played a role in this happening.

The lesson here is that we as citizens need to expose the negative elements in the society. Criminals as a rule do not like publicity or exposure. As a result let us have the spirit of exposing them. If you cannot trust the police. Post it on websites like this or through social media.

Evil can allow prevail when good people keep quiet about it.

That's good to know!

Tolling: Lagos govt action is subjudice – Agbakoba
On December 22, 2011 · In News
Tweet

By DAYO BENSON
LAGOS—Former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, president, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has described the action of Lagos State government over tolling on Lekki-Epe road as subjudice since an action for stay of execution on the matter is pending before the Court of Appeal.

Agbakoba also challenged Governor Babatunde Fashola, SAN, to make a public pronouncement on whether or not the controversial toll plaza belongs to former Governor Bola Tinubu, just as he faulted government’s claim on existence of an alternative route.

The prominent human rights activist, who spoke yesterday, in Lagos, in an interview, also pointed out that since the concession agreement violated the constitutional right of movement without impediment, Fashola had not fulfilled his contractual obligation to the people of the state.

He said: “The matter is subjudice, it is in court. The very example the Lagos State Government gave for not obeying LASTMA (court) decision is that it is on appeal. That is why they should have obeyed this one. As far back as the case of Savalak in 1971, the supreme court decided that once an application for stay appeal is on notice to you, it stays your hands.

The moment you file a notice of appeal, and you file an application for stay and I serve you and you receive it, it is a stay. You take the law into your hands by continuing; it doesn’t mean that Adegboruwa is right. If you do what you want to do, the rule of law is that the res is gone. It is for the court to decide. So, that is unfortunate.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/tolling-lagos-govt-action-is-subjudice-agbakoba-2/

johnie:
Because citizens will use government as example of lawlessness and anarchy. For instance, after the toll fee collection started on December 18,  thugs invaded the Oniru Private Estate and started collecting their own toll fee from motorists, citing the example of Governor Fashola on the main road.

This is one of the fears I had about this 'alternative route.' Even though it is close to the Maroko police station, the route could become a haven for hoodlums who attack motorists in traffic, if care is not taken. Conversely, asking policemen to mount road blocks will also aggravate the traffic situation!

johnie:
Because citizens will use government as example of lawlessness and anarchy.

Reminds of a sticker I used to see some year back with the inscription: "Don't cheat. The government hates competition."

12 December 2011 Last updated at 15:04 GMT

Zimbabwe chief fines Morgan Tsvangirai over 'wedding'

Morgan Tsvangirai accuses security agents of interfering in his private life

A traditional court in Zimbabwe has fined Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for breaking a cultural taboo by paying a bride price in November.

He was ordered to pay two cows, two sheep and 10 metres of cotton cloth.

The prime minister refused to attend the hearing because it was "manifestly illegal", his lawyer said.

Mr Tsvangirai paid a bride price to marry a businesswoman before calling off their relationship, saying it had been "hijacked" for political reasons.

He was ordered to appear before a court headed by chief Negomo in Mashonaland Central province.

"Our hearing went on well, despite the prime minister's decision to disrespect the court by absconding," chief Negomo's assessor, Maj Cairo Mhandu, is quoted by Zimbabwe's privately owned The Standard newspaper as saying.

'Sacred month'

"We gave him 30 days to pay and if he doesn't, we will send debt collectors after him and attach whatever we can."


Maj Mhandu said the family of his former fiancee, Locadia Tembo, was also fined.

"His in-laws were ordered to pay two cattle, two sheep and a goat because they agreed to receive his money during a sacred month," he said, The Standard reports.

Mr Tsvangirai and Ms Tembo belong to the Shona ethnic group, which believes that marriage proceedings in November bring bad luck.

Mr Tsvangirai's lawyer Selby Hwacha said the court had no power to hear the case.

"From a legal point, Tsvangirai will not appear before your court because the entire process is manifestly illegal and void," Mr Hwacha said in response to the chief's summons, The Standard reports.

"It appears to us that you have not read and/or that you do not understand the law, province and your limits as a traditional chief."

The traditional ceremony, where the bride price of several thousand dollars was paid on 18 November, took place in Christon Bank, about 25km (15 miles) north of Harare.

The area falls under the jurisdiction of chief Negomo.

[b]On 30 November, Mr Tsvangirai said he had called off his relationship with Ms Tembo - a commodity trader and sister of an MP in President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF.

He accused the security services of interfering in his private life and said that his relationship with Ms Tembo had been "irretrievable damaged".

[/b]Mr Tsvangirai's first wife, Susan, died in a car crash soon after he became prime minister.

Tension between Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party and Zanu-PF has been growing ahead of elections, expected next year.

The two parties have been in a coalition government since 2009, following elections marred by violence and allegations of vote-rigging.

Mr Tsvangirai boycotted a run-off vote, claiming he had been cheated out of victory in the first round.

He and Mr Mugabe agreed to form a power-sharing government following mediation by regional leaders.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16144507

Lekki/ Epe Expressway Toll Plaza: Lagos govt violated our fundamental right to protest – Adegboruwa
On December 22, 2011 · In Law & Human Rights


By Dayo Benson
Ahead of Sunday’s commencement of toll collection at the Lekki/ Epe express toll plaza, residents who have not hidden their opposition to the toll collection, stage a peaceful protest Saturday. But they got more than what they bargained for as they were molested by suspected hired thugs and armed policemen.

Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, who had dragged Lagos State government and Lekki Concession Company to court over the issue spoke on the protest experience, the legal issue involved and his next line of action.

Excerpts.

What is your assessment of the situation unfolding over toll collection at the Lekki /Epe express toll plaza and How would you describe the experience as one of the arrow heads of Saturday protest?

My honest assessment of the unfolding situation on the Lekki/Epe road is that of total bewilderment. I am still shocked that th How would you describe the experience as one of the arrow heads of the protest e toll has actually commenced.

It seemed like a drama or a movie, something that is too bad to be true. My understanding so far has been the Lagos State Government has been a role model to other states of the Federation in many areas, especially that of respect for the rule of law, setting the pace of transparency in governance.

The Action Congress of Nigeria had offered its platform as the progressive alternative to the despotic tendencies of the Peoples’ Democratic Party. So I had always thought that the day ACN grabs power at the federal level, then democracy will take root firmly in Nigeria.

But with what I personally witnessed yesterday December 17, 2011, it is clear to me that the ACN is probably worse than any other government in Nigeria.

I mean we had a situation whereby we duly applied for police permit before the commencement of the protest, we met with relevant police officers responsible for the maintenance of law and order, from the DPO of Maroko Police Station even up to the Commissioner of Police and we were well assured that the police will offer protection for the peaceful protest.

And we kept our own side of the bargain, by just sitting on the sidewalk, without any violence or disruption. Suddenly armed policemen and hired thugs who came in danfo buses descended on us without any provocation at all. They were just beating us, manhandling us while the police were busy shooting live bullets and cannisters into the crowd of defenceless and armless civilians.

They chased us all into the Lekki Phase 1 Estate and indeed entered into the private estate and into our various homes. I was actually chased into a bush where I hid myself with some journalists. I then remembered the whole June 12 struggle when we were been chased all over town by hatchet men of the Abacha regime and I could not but weep inside. That I was experiencing all over again what I went through in the hands of military dictators.

The scenario that is unfolding now is that the government has ignited a fire that it can never quench, in Lagos State. This is because when lawlessness and brutality starts from the state, then it will go down to the citizens who will be using the state as example for impunity.

And to make it worse is that it is a government that is led by very learned people in law and knowledge. It is quite unfortunate. So what is happening in the Lekki area now is a state of general tension and apprehension, waiting for the day the gun powder will explode. And I foresee that this will not be too long.

Resident stage a peaceful protest ahead of the toll collection which began Sunday . would you say the protest achieved anything ?

Our protest has achieved a lot in the sense that it has drawn world attention to the exploitation of the Lagos State Government and its concessionaire, the Lekki Concession Company. This is a project that was conceived as a means of alleviating the stress and suffering of residents of the Lekki Epe axis but has turned out to be the very opposite of what it was advertised to achieve.

With the toll fee now in place, we will be spending more hours on the road, we will burn more fuel and we will lose a lot in terms of manpower and energy. The whole transaction was previously shrouded in mystery and secrecy.

Nobody knew exactly what was contained in the contract between Lagos State and LCC, for instance that under Clause 7.7.2 and 7.7.3 of the Contract, Lagos State is to build an alternative Coastal Road for those who may not want to pay toll fee.

There is no mention of Oniru Private Estate as an alternative route in the contract at all. So we have succeeded in demystifying the whole contract to the people. The lies that were fed to the public by LCC we have succeeded in debunking them totally. So the effect of the protest may not be seen physically but surely we have gained a lot in terms of education and enlightenment of our people, and that is very crucial to us.


There were insinuations that those who attacked the protesters were sponsored . How do you react to this ?

Those that attacked us were thugs and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers that were recruited by the Lagos State Government and LCC. This we confirmed because there was an open alliance between the police and the thugs.

The thugs were attacking journalists and protesters to the face of the police. It was quite an experience, to see armed thugs being used to disperse women and innocent elders, retired judges, retired generals and even sickly people amongst us.

It was the height of state terrorism and barbarism. I do not think that Adolf Hitler could have done more. There is no way that the Lagos State Government and LCC could deny any link in the attack.

The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Task Force directly supervised the brutality, led by Chief Superintendent of Police who indeed ordered the police to shoot into the crowd. The police was assisting the thugs to shoot live bullets and tear gas on the protesters so that the thugs will have free hand to assault us.


You reportedly alleged that Governor Babatunde Fashola gave Lekki Concession Company LCC , go ahead to commence toll collection when a law suit which you instituted is pending before a Federal High Court . Could you put the legal issues involved in perspective and Is there any subsisting restraining order against Lagos State government and LCC on the issue?


On December 7, 2011, I filed an application for an order of injunction against the Lagos State Government and LCC at the Court of Appeal, Lagos. I served LCC through its lawyers, Aluko and Oyebode at Moloney Street, Lagos on December 7, at exactly 3.30 pm.

I served the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State at his office in Alausa, Ikeja on December 8, at exactly 9.40 am. With this done, what is expected in law was for the Lagos State Government and LCC to await the hearing and determination of the application for an order of injunction pending in the court of appeal.

That is what is meant by following due process and the rule of law. But the Lagos State Government went ahead with the collection of the toll fee, not withstanding the case pending in court. Now, when government cannot abide by the rule of law, then it is provoking a situation of complete anarchy and self rule.

Because citizens will use government as example of lawlessness and anarchy. For instance, after the toll fee collection started on December 18, thugs invaded the Oniru Private Estate and started collecting their own toll fee from motorists, citing the example of Governor Fashola on the main road.


I believe that the Court of Appeal is in a position to reverse the gross abuse of the rule of law by the Lagos State Government and LCC by stopping the toll fee collection, pending the determination of the appeal.

What I will do is to gather enough evidence of toll collection to show to the court of appeal that despite the application for injunction pending in the court of appeal, the Lagos State Government and LCC have gone ahead to be collecting toll fee.


What do you intend to do on the issue of the protesters who were brutalised while exercising their fundamental right ?

We will continue to demand for the release of all the protesters. They cannot be held in unlawful custody against their will. The rented thugs of Lagos State have been carrying out their own protest and rallies on the main road, disrupting vehicular movement. They have not been arrested or dispersed by the police.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/lekki-epe-expressway-toll-plaza-lagos-govt-violated-our-fundamental-right-to-protest-adegboruwa/

Why is this thread now under Money/Business?

^^^

You mean PAY AS YOU GROAN!

Any updates?

Read my comments of July 14 2010 and July 20 of 2010:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-367311.288.html#msg6417832

megastu:
Dear Posters,

I have never been so pained in my whole life like now. What pains me most is not that Tinubu and Fashola are using us like guinea pigs, rather it is the fact that Lagosians and probably Nigerians (Apart from northern Nigeria) are real cowards. Imagine people paying toll and complaining. I live in lekki and i will never pay that toll. This is total bull poo. Imagine, if you leave Ikoyi at 6pm, u get to chevron at 6.30pm, u dont get to Ajah until 9.30pm everyday. AH, THIS IS REALLY PAINFUL.

Megastu, you still that our end?

Long time! Na only once in a long while you[i] dey [/i] show face for these our Lekki threads nowadays.

Anyway, take am easy o. E go better!

The last picture was taken at 7.35 a.m.

naptu2:
Please forgive me for any mistakes, still getting used to posting pics here.

Omo nothing do you!

Your pictures are on point! More will be appreciated as the work progresses.

. . . the traffic light at the Oniru junction.

. . . of the traffic imemdiately after the plaza emanating from . . .

We drove through the plaza without being asked to pay probably because . . .

The hotel is owned by the current minister of culture and tourism - Edem Duke.

FIRS seals off minister’s hotel over tax evasion

The management of Mirage Hotel had to part with N1m part payment to stay open
Article | December 21, 2011 - 11:32am

The Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), on Tuesday, sealed off Mirage Hotel, Calabar, believed to be owned by a serving minister.

Solomon Ajimotokin, who led the FIRS enforcement team which sealed off the facility for a while, said that the action was taken over the alleged default in the payment of tax for two years.

The hotel was later reopened after its management issued a cheque of N1 million as part-payment of the amount owed.

Ajimotokin had earlier said that the hotel’s management only produced tax records of payment for 2009 and had refused to pay taxes for 2010 and 2011.

He said that FIRS was working within its mandate to ensure that tax defaulters were not allowed to continue to defraud the federal government.

http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/firs-seals-minister%E2%80%99s-hotel-over-tax-evasion

When I passed the toll plaza this morning.

Pictures taken from 7:26 a.m.

naptu2:
However, the government needs to engage residents and let us know if we are going to pay tolls to cross this bridge. The key question now is, will it be a toll bridge?

Let me refer you to a similar question asked about this time last year:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-480322.32.html#msg7346856