I delayed writing this article as I was expecting a rebuttal from the affected party. As at the time I post, there were two drafts, one was written in the hope of a rebuttal, the other in case there was no rebuttal. Well, we know now there was/ was no rebuttal. It really wouldn’t have mattered though. The reason for waiting for the rebuttal was to ensure that both sides of the story were heard.

I am sure by now you all have heard about the alleged forgery of her NYSC exemption certificate by the Minister of finance Mrs Adeosun. The expose by Premium Times indicated that the National Assembly had a damaging evidence on her and were using this evidence to blackmail the Minister to release public funds to them.

Amazing was my first conclusion when I read the expose, I however refrained as I wanted to sample public opinion and get a feel of what would happen. Unfortunately, there was bewilderment and then resignation that despite this expose, nothing would happen. Shocking as that might seem, you only have to understand that this is Nigeria.

Herein lies the problem. We have a dysfunctional system that rewards criminals, dishonest folks and now forgers it seems. Apparently, another official in the administration, Okoi Obono-Obla (the Chairman of Special Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property and Senior Special Assistant on Prosecution to the President) had submitted fake WAEC results. Noticing a trend? I assure you that you are not alone. Our dear president had a “similar” case.

https//:www.megasblog.com


For all intent and purposes, I await Mrs Adeosun’s rebuttal, but tick tock goes the clock, and all we have heard so far is a claim by NYSC that she had applied for exemption and they are carrying out checks on their database to confirm.

I would expect NYSC to realize that the citizenry are not stupid though. Carrying out checks from their database which is electronic by the way according to them should take just a few keystrokes on the keyboard. That they are yet to confirm shows an inclination on their part to “collude” and save the minister. These are of course assumptions on my part but I wouldn’t be surprised what the outcome of this issue will be.

It will be an indictment on the current administration if this expose is not investigated and a logical conclusion is that we are at the very edge of condoling criminality in our nation.

Could it be that all along, we have donned the toga of a failed state, where there are no repercussions for misdeeds? What are we bequeathing to the coming generations? A legacy of forgery? At this very moment, there are outcries about examination malpractices, bribery, corruption and killings. How is this any different?

The present government can still redeem its image, by doing what is right and allowing the law to take its cause. Mrs Adeosun should also take a cue from the British government where high ranking officials have resigned, though not due to being accused of a crime. Image and perception matters a lot, and at the moment the image and perception of the government is showing a complicit and ineffectual government.

Let us not forget also, that this incidence shows gross incompetence on the part of various agencies of government and criminal intent on the part of the National Assembly, and all must be brought to book for their involvement.



megasblog.com/kemi-adeosun-and-recurring-forgery-allegations-in-apc-led-govt/

He is currently in LinkedIn headquarters. Right now.

magoo10:
Rubbish
Collect the money and vote the useless mofo out ,it is your money .

Now this is more like it. If you're offered stipends from both sides of the political divide, collect but never allow it to sway your decision.

saaron:
Never seen a pathetic hopeless article like the above.

Sometimes you have to look at things from different angle sir/ma. Elections in Nigeria has and will always be muddled with cash flow, stipends and buying of vote ( until we all stand up for our right and actively particpate in election without waiting for bribes and stipend from politicians). This article is more of a "fence" and because it doesn't favor your wish doesn't mean its far fetched from reality. This is Nigeria where the impossible is possible. Thanks.


Ps: Your analysis would have done a better judgement to showcase your own view or displeasure.

President Buhari’s Trump card that just might see him win 2019 elections has been unveiled.

Last week, it was announced that the $322 million Abacha loot returned to Nigeria by the Swiss government would be transferred to poor families in Nigeria.

Yes that’s seems like a windfall for the poor and vulnerable in the country. States who are going to be involved in the pilot scheme are Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Anambra and Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Borno.

How it would work

The funds will be disbursed via Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) which is run by the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO).
The families to be paid have been registered on The National Social Register (NSR) which is under The Nigeria National Social Safety Net Program (NAASP) is in charge and has been paying the poor a monthly stipend.

How this move would see Buhari win the 2019 elections

It is no secret that elections in Nigeria are expensive. The reason is how politicians engage in buying votes. They go around distributing foodstuffs just before elections to the vulnerable and on election day, they pay each voter to cast his/her votes for them.

Over the years, this aberration turned into a norm and now, you cannot win an election without engaging in this act. Of course, there are other people to “settle”, however the poor are not left out of the largess from each candidate vying for office.



Thus, with $322 million to share, which amounts to roughly 115 billion naira, Mr President will have a seemingly endless stream of money to share to the poor who not knowing better will remain grateful to Mr President and will want the largess sharing to continue.

Meaning any poor person who refuses to vote can be removed from this scheme. A subtle stranglehold on the majority of voters if you ask me.

Reactions

Various reactions have trailed this announcement. We will examine a few.

Serap (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) have released a statement stating that “The authorities have a legal obligation under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party to make sure that the returned Abacha loot is properly and efficiently used, both from the viewpoint of using asset recovery as a tool of ensuring justice to victims of corruption and breaking the cycle of grand corruption. But the plan to share the loot among households is mere tokenism and would neither have significant impact on poverty alleviation nor satisfy the twin objectives of justice and development,”.

The organization is of the opinion that investing the funds in essential public services which will be properly monitored would have been better.
Here is Dr Joe Abah’s brilliant reaction to this news as well.

https://twitter.com/DrJoeAbah



Here is Oluseun Onigbinde’s reaction as well.


[url]https://twitter.com/seunonigbinde
[/url]


The reality

This particular project is laudable but only in the right conditions. There are risks of it being railroaded. As is common, we have seen politicians and top government officials put the names of their own people in such lists.

We also are borrowing just to supplement our budget, making it seem like the government is inept, or maybe it is.

The dangers of having a majority of voters being paid wil skewer their judgement and is really going to have a main say in the forthcoming elections. The poor know no better and will even kill just to get paid 5000 naira. A sum which is barely enough to feed a family for a week. Stomach infrastructure at its finest right there.

The odds are now stacked against President Buhari’s contenders who have no access to such funds and who are better suited to be president. Like is said, las las na who fit drop for the tummy go win.

Sad but true, maybe we should start saying congratulations to Baba ahead of a predetermined election.



http://megasblog.com/buharis-trump-card-that-just-might-see-him-win-2019-elections/

The latest data from Brookings suggests Nigeria has the poorest people in the world. We took this position from India, with the figures stating Nigeria has 87 million poor people compared to India’s 73 million. .The federal government has come out to dismiss these claims as per usual.
It is sad how the government is not taking on its responsibility. I have to point out that whilst this government did meet challenges, their response has been nothing short of catastrophic.

It is telling that the richest man on earth Bill Gates had to tell our government that they need to invest more in human capital. And what did we have shortly after he left? The same government claimed that the ERGP actually did address what Bill Gates said and he was merely being misquoted.

Do we need foreigners to actually tell us the right things to do to grow our nation? Do we go on the defense anytime we are presented with facts? The undoing of this government would be its undeterred belief that they are the best thing since butter and bread, and failing to see the reality on ground; the country has never had it this worse.

Let us examine this new claim and the government’s response and the reality we have on ground.

Brookings Report

The report titled ‘The Start of a New Poverty Narrative,’ released recently states that data from January 1 2016 to July 2018 suggests that there are 87 million people in extreme poverty in Nigeria, with an average of 6 people being poor every minute.

Further studies show that “by the end of 2018 in Africa as a whole, there will probably be about 3.2 million more people living in extreme poverty than there are today”.

We are being presented with facts and you have to ask what the Institution stands to gain from this report? Political gains? Or what? I am inclined to believe this report.


Federal Government’s Response

On the 27th of June, the federal government issued a response through the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, who painstakingly wanted to point out that the data used to come to this conclusion was sourced during the recession. According to him, “we need to understand when we get these reports, there are reports that are lagging in indicators which means, people are reporting on history”.
He further stated that “So, I think we should roll up our sleeves as a people and do the work because, if we don’t do it, our people continue to bear children obviously, they would get poorer.”

I must say this response was not well thought out. Even data from the National Bureau of Statistics states that unemployment has increased from 14.2 % to 18.8%. All indices so far aside from that of unemployment shows that the country just might have the poorest people in the world.


The reality on ground

We have a government that is filled with sycophants, hypocrites and praise singers. They are so blinded to the poverty in the land and refuse to accept the honest truth that the present government only made things worse. With inflation still at 11.61% and prices of goods and services still on the high side, it is safe to say we might be the poor capital of the world. We must also disregard the belief and narrative from some quarters stating things must get tough before they get better. With the peculiarity of our nation, things must not get tough before they get better, history has shown things only get worse from thereon.



Source: www.megasblog.com

Folarinde Falana


Folarinde Falana popularly known as Falz (theBahdGuy) is no newbie to the Nigerian entertainment industry at large, the lawyer cum entertainer came into the spotlight after releasing Marry Me FT Yemi Alade and LadiPOE which set the foundation blocks for his rise to stardom today.

Falz who many people regard as “intelligent” is a unique artiste who knows how to rightfully blend comedy into music with hit tracks such as Something Light Ft Ycee, Soft Work and Wehdone Sir, he sure has the music industry in love with him.

He was said to have started singing in secondary school where he formed the group “The School Boys” and released “Shakara: The mixtape”. In 2014, he released his debut studio album “Wazzup Guy” a 19 track album with seven (7) features and has since dropped projects back to back with works such as Stories That Touch Album, Chemistry EP—a collaborative EP featuring Simi— and most recently 27 Album which he released to mark his 27th birthday.



Awards[b][/b]

Encompassed with talent, Folarin (Falz) who also has a comic personality ventured into the movie industry and in no time clinched “Best Actor in a comedy” award at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA) 2016 for his character “Segun” in the series “Jenifa’s Diary” edging out old existing and top actors like Bishop Umoh and IK Ogbonna which makes him the first Nigerian musician to win the award.

No other word describes Falz better than “gifted” as he has been consistent over the years gaining international recognition and winning top notch awards both as a musician and an actor like Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act at the 2016 BET Awards, Best Collaboration at the Headies 2016 Award, Best Actor in a Comedy at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA), Album of the Year at City People Entertainment Award and many more.

With pressing issues craving solutions in the Nigerian society, Falz has been able to lend his voice to speak out against wrongdoings with songs like Wehdone Sir and This is Nigeria: drawing his inspiration from Childish Gambino’s “This is America”.

For an intelligent artist with a unique style of music, Falz is definitely on his way to becoming an African legend whose music would still have an impact over the years to come.


Source: http://www.megasblog.com/

Thursday 28th June 2018 will go down as one of the darkest days in the history of Nigeria. Events of that day will be spoken about with trepidation and sullen looks. With a heavy heart, we heard of the deaths at bodija market. Then the tanker that exploded on Otedola bridge, Lagos, sending to untimely deaths Nigerians, all struggling to survive.

As though these were not enough, we had the worst news ever. Femi Adeshina, special adviser to Mr. President had released a press statement albeit earlier before the incidences, to counter the opposition PDP. He had juxtaposed deaths from avoidable violence during his principal’s tenure to that of the PDP.

I once mentioned that the present administration of President Buhari has officials who do not think about their actions before it is carried out. This is a prime example and I must say that Mr. Adeshina will go down the annals of history as the man who justified deaths of Nigerians to score a political point.

In his statement, he tried to exonerate his action by asking that it not be misconstrued. Funny how whilst conjuring his statement, he perceived it could be taken the wrong way himself, yet decided to tow that path.

His press release however was callous and if ever there is anything like posterity, then I would expect that it judges Mr Adeshina for his role thus far.

It must be stated thus that the present crop of federal government officials are well aware of their actions and the perception that the public might allude to it, and yet are not bothered.

So far, their actions have shown a complete disregard for the people and an adamant belief that their way is better. They have come across as vindictive and incapable of good judgment. The impunity that has stemmed from them has trickled down to the lower echelons where you would expect service but now you are confronted with dictatorship.

Are we to then accept the cruel hand that fate dealt us under PDP under the APC, when APC was voted in to change all these?

I veer too much as I engage in verbose which are justified and vivified.

The tragedies that we have faced in the past couple of days as a nation should serve to bring us together. In doing so, we should as a people learn to hold people accountable. The government, government officials, private companies etc. should all be held accountable.

For every life lost to negligence or dereliction of duty. They must be held to account. Praying to God and leaving it at that won’t serve no purpose.  We need to ensure that things work and are done the right way. God will not come from Heaven to make Nigeria a better place, we owe that much to ourselves to make it work.

May the souls of the dearly departed rest in perfect peace.



Source: http://megasblog.com/thursday-28th-june-was-a-dark-day-in-our-history/

The 2018 budget leaves a sour taste after being signed by Buhari 7 months after it was submitted. Yesterday President Buhari blamed the Legislative arm of Government for the delayed signing of the 2018 budget. The House of Representatives themselves have blamed the executive for the delay. And that’s how we have the blame game all over again.

It really is a shame how every year, we have the blame game, a cacophony that is indication that our leaders thrive in the confusion they have created.

We are however not here to discuss the blame game. We are more interested in how Baba threw the Legislators under the bus when he stated that the cuts they made in the budget would have impacted on the economy more as the projects they were meant for are critical projects.


President Buhari let Nigerians understand that the National Assembly had on their own accord cut off N347 billion meant for critical projects and inserted their own projects worth N578 billion.

This sparked a debate which we have every year again as to the extent of the powers of the legislators regarding the budget. I will be quoting Femi Falana (SAN) and Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN) interviewed last year by Punch who have different views as to this.



Chief Sebastine was of the opinion that the legislators by virtue of sections 59 and 81(1) have all rights to “edit” the budget, whilst Mr Falana believes that due to a lacuna, the National Assembly is not to just rubber stamp the budget as presented, but adding projects of theirs is outright unconstitutional.

What we are presented with therefore is the fact that our legislators are empowered by law to make their additions and subtractions from the budget. It is therefore the duty of the Ministers, Directors et al to lobby and make the legislators see reason as to why their various estimates are approved.

If a minister has failed in that regard, the blame shouldn’t be ascribed to the legislators who are maybe not convinced by the need for such amount as contained in the budget.

It is however against the law for legislators to “determine a project”, estimate what it would take to have the project completed and input such into the budget. These constituency “projects” are a sham and all tools should be employed to ensure that such never again happens trough a constitutional reform.

As stated by Mr Falana it is a lacuna and this lacuna will continually be exploited every year except we put an end to it via a much needed reform. Hoping that our legislators tow a moral path is obviously too much to ask for.



Source: http://megasblog.com/the-2018-budget-leaves-a-sour-taste-after-being-signed-by-buhari/

It is time for us to make the constitution work for us. Time to make the FG less powerful and the state governments more responsible. Time to amend our constitution and devolve power.

How do we have governors who are supposed to be the Chief security officer of their states who hold this title without any powers attached to it? Since 1999, there have been calls for the constitution handed over to us by the military to be reformed, amended to suit democracy and the people themselves.

It is a shame though that this is yet to be achieved. This is why the governor of Zamfara, Abdul-aziz Yari Abubakar in frustration decided to resign as Chief Security Officer a few days ago. Speaking to the press, he said

“We have been facing serious security challenges over the years, but in spite of being governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot direct security officers on what to do nor sanction them when they err.

As Chief Security Officer, the nomenclature is just a name,”


His words though sad are an indictment of the current arrangement. It also pleads a case for state policing which is being clamored for in some quarters.

What the Constitution says about policing
In the constitution, 215 (4), it states that

(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Governor of a state or such Commissioner of the Government state as he may authorise in that behalf, may give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary, and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with:

Provided that before carrying out any such directions under the foregoing provisions of this subsection the Commissioner of Police may request that the matter be referred to the President or such minister of the Government of the Federation as may be authorised in that behalf by the President for his directions.

And therein lies the problem. Governors in Nigeria are not empowered to control the policing structure in their states. Any police commissioner can request to get approval from the President first before carrying out the instructions given to him by the governor of the state he was posted to.

While this might have been done to curtail the governors using the police for political gain, it has seen governors handicapped and at the mercy of Mr President. This was and is a dangerous precedent and should have been amended by now. The police should be able to carry out their duties without having recourse to the president before they protect and serve without fear or prejudice.

Also, governors should have inputs into how their states can be secured, without necessarily employing the police to intimidate political opponents.

Solution
To resolve this malady before a constitutional reform is carried out, I propose that certain changes be enacted to ensure the police are independent just like INEC. This is key.

Every IGP ever appointed has always sworn loyalty to the president. And by their actions as well, it was obvious and is in the current dispensation the bias of these IGP. This allowed the Presidents to deploy security forces for selfish gains.

Hence appointment of the IGP of police should be subjected to ramification by the Senate. The IGP should be required to provide periodic reports to the Senate. This would provide the much needed checks and balances. The Nigeria Police council as presently constituted is just not working.


Also legislation should be made to ensure that the funding of the police is adequate and goes directly to the police.


Furthermore, state governors should have supervisory control over the police structures within their states. However, directives that are designed for selfish purposes should be brought to the attention of the State House of Assembly who will be require to have such directives nulled.

Additionally, modern international policing practices should be adopted. This would go a long way towards curbing crimes and the ceaseless slaughter going on in the country. Or we could consider privatizing the police.

Afterthought
At the moment, governors are given a security vote that is not accounted for. Reports state that governors receive up to 500 million naira monthly depending on the needs of the state. That translates to roughly 6 billion naira yearly per state.

It is ridiculous that despite the huge amount set aside for security, Nigeria is anything but secured. I recommend that the amount being voted for security should henceforth be accounted for. If the governors are not ready to be held to account, then the security vote should be scrapped.

The lives lost to insecurity were avoidable, the fact that the killings continue unabated and a governor has spoken out in frustration is a sign that now more than ever we need to get things right.



Source: https://megasblog.com/it-is-time-to-amend-our-constitution-and-devolve-power/

Were you born in the 80s? Did you witness the 3 orange men who were part of the campaign to introduce Miranda into the Nigerian Market by Pepsi. Ah, yes the nostalgia is coming back.

Those were the days ekana Abacha reigned. The days of the #1 ice cream which became ice blocks after you must have sucked out the sugar and coloring in it. Those were days devoid of the internet when you were left to your imagination to entertain yourself. You had to be extra creative during the day especially when you knew the TV stations started work by 4pm.

Those were the days when Indian movies reigned in Nigeria. I remember after each movie, we attempted the stunts in the movies we had just seen. It was also fun singing the songs from the movies. Knowing the songs and accompanying dance steps was seen as evidence you had seen a particular movie.

Today we are going back to the past. We are going to examine 5 Indian movies from the 80s that we all loved to watch. Here we go:

1. Mard

Release Date: 8th November 1985

Director: Manmohan Desai

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Amrita Singh, Nirupa Roy, Dara Singh Prem Chopra

Plot: Raju, the son of Raja Azad Singh (an immensely strong man) grows up as the adopted son of a blacksmith not knowing his parents, after his father was captured by devious British officers and the traitorous local doctor.

I was smitten with the performance of Amrita Singh in the song “Will you marry me”.



2. Toofan

Release Date: 11th August 1989

Director: Ketan Desai

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Amrita Singh

Plot: The story revolves around two brothers, both characters played by Amitabh Bachchan, one of which has super powers and is an avid follower of Lord Hanuman, the other is a magician.


3. Ghazab

Release Date: 28th May 1982

Director: C.P. Dixit

Cast: Dharmendra, Rekha

Plot: A remake of the Tamil film Kalyanaraman, it is the story of a murdered twin who sets out to find his hitherto unknown brother to avenge his death.

This particular movie holds a special place in my heart while in primary school. I watched and watched it times over. I knew all the songs by heart, and the dance movements. Do you doubt me? You can challenge me to a faceoff over the tunes of “Jan-E-Mann Jan-E-Jigar”.


4. Nagin

Director: Rajkumar Kohli

Release date: 23rd January 1976

Cast: Sunil Dutt, Feroz Khan, Reena Roy, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Rekha, Mumtaz, Kabir Bedi

Plot: A female cobra is on a revenge mission to hunt down those who killed her male partner.


5. Teri Meherbaniyan


Director: Vijay Reddy

Release Date: 1985

Cast: Brownie as Moti, Amrish Puri, Jackie Shroff, Poonam Dhillon, Raj Kiran, Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Asrani, Swapna

Plot: A dog avenges his master’s death.





So those are the 5 Indian movies from the 80s that we all loved to watch. Tell us what you think of this list and what your best 80s indian movies are.

Source: http://megasblog.com/5-indian-movies-from-the-80s-that-we-all-loved-to-watch/

[center]The botched kidnap of Alhaji Umaru Abdurrahman Dikko in London[/center]



We head down history lane today with our focus on Alhaji Umaru Dikko. He was kidnapped on the 5th of July 1984. Before we examine the events of that day, let us introduce Umaru Dikko to you.

Born on the 31st of December 1936 in Wamba, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, he died in London in 2014 at the age of 77. He was a former commissioner in the North Central state of Nigeria (now Kaduna State). In 1979, he was appointed Shehu Shagari’s campaign manager. He was also Shagari’s son in-law.


Alhaji Umaru Abdurrahman Dikko was appointed as transport minister and also head of the presidential task force on rice. Accounts state he was one of the most powerful individuals during this period. His position as the chairman of the task force on rice meant he could issue the rice import license at his whim to anyone he felt like.

Cue the coup on the 31st of December 1983, Umaru Dikko fled Nigeria with his secretary, Elizabeth Hayes who would go on to become his wife, after he was named top of a list of looters. It is estimated he had embezzled almost 6 billion dollars.

The kidnap
There are varying accounts to the kidnap. One account (CIA) states that Dikko’s associates who had been jailed told the Nigerian secret police they could arrange for Dikko’s return. Other accounts state that it was a joint operation planned by TY Danjuma and was approved by Buhari.

What is known is that the Mossad were involved in the operation to retrieve Umaru Dikko back to Nigeria.



Since his whereabouts was unknown, Mossad operatives were mobilized to track him in London, due to the fact that London was the rallying point of the exiled politicians who were against Buhari’s regime.

On the 30th of June, a Mossad operative spotted Umaru Dikko and tailed him to his apartment at Porchester Terrace. The apartment was placed under surveillance and the kidnap plan was set in motion.

Dr. Levi-Arie Shapiro, an Israeli doctor was recruited to participate in the operation. His assignment was to drug Umaru and keep him from choking on his own vomit in transit. Also recruited were Alexander Barak a former Mossad agent, Felix Abitbol all Israelis and Maj Mohammed Yusufu a Nigerian intelligence officer.

On the 3rd of July 1984, at the Stansted Airport, a Nigerian Airways Boeing 707 landed empty. Its pilot informed authorities that the plane was deployed to pick diplomatic baggage from the Nigerian Embassy in London.



On the 5th of July, Umaru Dikko stepped out of his apartment and was grabbed almost immediately. Elizabeth Hayes had seen this happen though and quickly informed the police who started a search for him.

Events shifted to Stansted Airport where the Nigeria Airways aircraft patiently awaited arrival of its cargo. So far so good, the kidnap was going smoothly. However the kidnap started to unravel when with the arrival of the cargo, the handlers refused to have it manifested, claiming it was a diplomatic bag.



Diplomatic bag under the Vienna Convention is not to be opened by customs officials. However Mr Charles Morrow the officer in charge had already seen the APB issued regarding the kidnapping and there was something suspicious about the cargo and the plane itself. He was able to exploit a loophole, to get the cargo opened. The documents presented were not the right ones and the cargo was not labeled Diplomatic Bag.

When the cargo was opened, the Nigerian diplomat present who went by the name Mr Edet was reported to have started running and then stopped when he realized no one was chasing him and that there was empty space for miles.


Inside the cargo were the kidnappers and there victim Umaru Dikko who was unconscious. That was how Umaru Dikko was saved.

Aftermath

The kidnappers were jailed with sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years. Though the Nigerian and Israeli governments both denied involvement, the British government expelled two members of the Nigerian High Commission, and broke off diplomatic relations for two years. Requests to extradite Umaru Dikko and other politicians were refuted.

So that is the story of the infamous botched kidnap of Umaru Dikko. What do you think? Do let us know in the comment section.


Source: http://megasblog.com/botched-kidnap-alhaji-umaru-abdurrahman-dikko-london/

As humans, our needs are substantial, hence solutions are sought every day. Any little help we can get is appreciated and this is where the internet of things becomes useful. Today we will be examining how Internet of Things (IoT) will greatly impact lives in Nigeria if deployed on a large scale.

Recently, a self-driving car was seen on the streets on Lagos, with people shocked. From the video online, people could be seen moving closer to the car out of curiosity. One can only wonder what was going on in the minds of those who marveled at this “feat”; superstition maybe.



Let’s not get too carried away. Let me define what Internet of Things means. We will try to avoid technical jargons so as not to create confusion.

What is Internet of Things? [/i][/color]

Internet of Things is “the interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data”.

What this means is the communication of devices, like your light bulb, your Television, your refrigerator, your thermostat or any device which is not expected to be connected to the internet but which can due to improvement in technology (cheaper processors, better connectivity). These devices require little human supervision to carry out their functions.

It is pertinent to note that Artificial Intelligence and IoT are not the same thing. However they both need each other to work. Internet of Things

How does Internet of Things work?[i][color=#990000]

Internet of Things works via a process called Machine to Machine Communication or M2M communication. And it means the process machines communicate with each other without any form of human interference. The communication can be carried out via wireless connectivity, serial connection or power line connection. Modern devices are basically equipped with sensors, processors which allows for these devices to connect to each other and exchange information.

How has Internet of Things impacted the World?[/i][/color]

In an article written for the World Economic Forum by Maciej Kranz, Vice President of Strategic Innovation, Cisco Systems Inc, posted on the 11th of January 2018, 6 points were raised on the impact that Internet of Things is and will impact in the world. These 6 points were listed as:

1. Smarter Cities
2. Cleaner Air and Water
3. Smarter Agriculture
4. Cutting food waste
5. Connecting Patients
6. Fighting breast cancer.

To read more on this, here is the link to the article. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/01/6-ways-the-internet-of-things-is-improving-our-lives/


How Internet of Things will impact businesses?[i][color=#990000]

Businesses are yet to really tap into IoT and who can actually blame them. The businesses that have tapped into IoT are the tech world mostly. The potential that IoT holds for businesses is massive. It would see costs reduce, and performance optimized. The biggest gain it would hold for businesses is the data that will be gained. Imagine having insight into your customers and potential customers’ needs. That is just huge information in the hands of businesses.

How Internet of Things will impact personal lives[/i][/color]

Imagine not worrying about when your groceries will get exhausted as your refrigerator takes stock and orders for you. Also imagine not worrying about your fitness as it is being taken care of by wearable devices, which also can share data gotten with your physician.

How internet of things will impact lives in Nigeria[i][color=#990000]

There might be arguments about the peculiarities of internet of Things working in Nigeria due to infrastructural issues such as the poor penetration of broadband, epileptic power supply, and probably superstition.

Internet of Things will impact lives in Nigeria through:[/i][i][color=#990000][/color]

1. Handle basics household functions without need for supervision.
2. Reduce human error (accidents and traffic jams being a major aspect)
3. Increase productivity and reduce stress.
4. Reduce crime rates
5. Save lives

These are just few ways with which Internet of things will impact lives in Nigeria. It however is susceptible to security risks such as hacking. Its benefits though outweigh whatever disadvantage it has and Nigeria should look towards adopting this technology sooner than later.


Source: http://megasblog.com/how-internet-of-things-will-greatly-impact-lives-in-nigeria/

Having first debuted in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spiderman (1982), their on-screen debut has been long awaited. With a Rottentomatoes score of 86 % Marvel Television’s new offering Cloak and Dagger is definitely worth your time. Over the years, we have seen Marvel being beaten hands down when it comes to the television industry, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe is trailing a blaze with blockbusters like Infinity Wars, Captain America, Black Panther etc.

Marvel Television has in its stables the likes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Agent Carter, The Inhumans, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Punisher, etc. Most of these shows have had poor ratings most especially The Inhumans which is rumored to have been cancelled following a dismal first season.

This is why it was necessary that Cloak and Dagger avoid the pitfalls associated with Marvel TV shows which are rated low. And Cloak and Dagger hasn’t disappointed so far. With just two episodes released, the initial feeling is that Cloak and Dagger will be a big hit.


Synopsis

“In New Orleans, teenagers Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson come from different backgrounds and acquire superpowers after two life changing events that revolved around the collapse of an oil rig that is owned by Roxxon. While forming a romantic relationship, they soon realize that their powers work better when they are together, “but their feelings for each other make their already complicated world even more challenging.”*

Verdict

So far from the two pilot episodes released, I have been impressed. The story has been woven round the two main characters in a way that appeals to its audience. The characters develop in our very eyes and we can feel their struggles as they grapple with the fate life has dealt them. It is to the show runners’ credit that the story doesn’t not feel rushed. The pace feels just right and its action sequence is ok. I feel that making Tandy and Tyrone confront their demons early on in the show gives us insight into whatever action they take in future. With an abundance of source material, we should see an abundance of superheroes and maybe a cross over series as was with The Defenders, Cloak and Dagger is a hit in the making and is surely worth your time.

*Synopsis culled from Wikipedia

source: http://megasblog.com/marvels-cloak-and-dagger-is-definitely-worth-your-time/

With June 12 just right around the corner, we remember the events that occurred around the annulment of the most free and fair elections ever held in Nigeria. Today we are looking back at the infamous hit man of General Sani Abacha, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila aka Sergeant Rogers.

Now said to be a pastor, Sergeant Rogers was involved in the assassination of the wife of Moshood Abiola, Kudirat Abiola on the 9th of June 1996. He was a member of the Strike Force and Presidential Body Guard believed to be a death squad under the command of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, a trusted ally and the Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha.

During the Human Rights Violation and Investigation Commission proceedings, he was called to bear defend himself against the petitions written against him. Accounts from the commission indicate he believed he was carrying out orders in the belief he was protecting the interest of the Country.

He was let go and was readmitted back into the Nigerian Army till 2009 when he was involved in an accident that affected his spinal cord.

During the dark days our dear country faced, Sgt Rogers held sway alongside several others serving the late General Abacha. Their reign was a reign of terror and it is sad that after the crimes committed, not a single person has been held to account for the roles they played.

Those who died for our democracy or were maimed deserve better than what has happened and while it could be argued that Sgt Rogers was merely carrying out orders, he should be held culpable as an accessory to the murder of innocent people.

As we approach June 12, we should remind ourselves every day the sacrifices made, for us to have democracy and ensure that never again will we be held captives within our own country.


http://megasblog.com/sergeant-rogers-the-infamous-hit-man-of-abacha/

Who will bell the cat is apt in this instance after the joint session held by the Senate and House of Assembly members yesterday. In their resolution was a thinly concealed threat to impeach President Buhari if the terms of their resolution was not met.


This has sparked a lot of conversation since yesterday between political analysts and the general public. It came as a shock though when opposition came from within the ranks of the legislature themselves. Some members have distanced themselves from this move and in doing so have cast aspersions over the true intent of the legislature. So who will move the motion to impeach Buhari?

Should the National Assembly go ahead with their threat to start impeachment process against Mr President, we will be treated to an event the likes never seen before in the country. And I will say this might not bode well for our democracy. Already there have been widespread fear about the use of security forces, the police in particular to subdue opposition and in case the National Assembly institutes impeachment process, we would be looking at full scale war declared on the legislature by the Executive arm of government.




It is pertinent to point out that no president has ever been impeached by the National Assembly and some view this as just a threat to get President Buhari to dance to their tune. It is unfortunate that whilst the resolution was made to look like it had the interests of citizens, it was really the National Assembly leaders trying to save their own hides from a perceived witch hunt.

What is sad for most observers is the state of our union. Never have we been more divided and polarized along political and religious lines. And the end is not in sight just yet, as this confrontation between both arms of government does not have the interest of the masses at heart. With the threat of impeachment hanging now, who will move the motion to impeach Buhari?

https://megasblog.com/who-will-move-the-motion-to-impeach-buhari/

Olamide Adedeji, born 15th March 1989 and also known as Olamide Baddo is a Nigerian Rapper and also a hip hop artist who records mostly in his native tongue (Yoruba).




Over the years, Olamide has grown in leaps and bounds. From Coded Tunes to YBNL, he has shown himself as an advocate for the streets and is highly respected by all and sundry. He is also an astute businessman with a keen eye for talent. This is evident from the stars he signed onto his label when he first launched. Stars such Adekunle Gold, Lil Kesh, Zaltan are some of the stars he unearthed.

His Impact

Before Olamide came into Lime light, we had the light of Idris Abdulkareem, Rugged Man, Dagrin of Blessed Memory, Eldee, e.t.c. who defined RAP in Nigeria.

Dagrin however took an indigenous part and was being accepted but died before he could fulfill his potential. Of course, Lord of Ajasa et al rap in indigenous language, however he had minimum impact in rap genre in Nigeria. His critically acclaimed single “Eniduro” changed the face of the indigenous rap in Nigeria. He won over fans of Rap music who believed he was picking up the gauntlet from whens Dagrin had dropped off.


His impact has seen a rise of centennials such as Small Doctor, Adekunle Gold and Lil Kesh who are making waves in the music industry as well.

The plethora of awards he has won is testament to his impact in the music industry and we hope he would continually make music his fans love.

It is telling though that he hasn’t taken that step into the international stage. Wizkid and a few artists have taken that step and are reaping the fruit. Aside his fame as well, we cannot really define who Olamide is. Is he a hit maker or an artist?



Source: https:///L1KE7E

Last week, Falz the bahd guy released his cover for Childish Gambino’s This is America titled This is Nigeria. He received praise from people who were impressed with the way he was able to depict issues wrong with Nigeria. However some folks pointed out rightfully that what he released was a cover of a work of another artist. The truth is that This is Nigeria despite its success falls short of expectation.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW_xEqCWrm0

Falz replied with a video stating he knew exactly what he did and that basically people should wake up. Let state here that Falz is a brilliant artist.

I however believe his take on This is America comes across as creatively lazy. This is my opinion however and I will tell you why I believe so.

This is America is an art piece that is relevant in just about any society the world over. Like a template you can use in any situation, it can be edited to suit that situation no matter how peculiar. The keyword here being edit. And this is where Falz would have in making his own version done great justice to the original work and maybe even made it better.

What we got however was a watered version of named This is Nigeria and an eerily similar work. Those who have seen This is America and appreciate it for the masterpiece it is might have watched This is Nigeria and cringed.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY

I remember watching “The Italian Job” (which is a remake of the 1969 classic) some years back and I was impressed. Then seeing the Indian version (titled Players) very much later which turned out into an eyesore for me.

Falz, the onus was on you to make your mark on this masterpiece which I believe was the reason for the backlash. You see, This is America is replete with symbols, and calls for its audience to question what they see and form their own opinion. Your take was rudimentary like someone said and like I say, eerily similar.

This however does not take away the brilliance of Falz and the fact that he is one of the few artists who uses his platform to speak against socio-economic vices and still entertain us at the same time. Most important is the fact his message is resonating round the nation at the moment and that is all that really matters.

source : https://megasblog.com/this-is-nigeria-despite-its-success-falls-short-of-expectation/


Compare both work of art and contribute your opinion.

Mamoudou Gassama now known as the “Spiderman of Paris” has been given honorary citizenship and also got a job as a fireman.

see video here https://youtu.be/WISmbOw_bMk



The Malian immigrant had climbed up an apartment building to save a child seen dangling from the balcony. It took Mamoudou Gassama less than 40 seconds to get to the child and take the child out of danger.

His heroics made national news and he is viewed by many as a hero. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo praised him for his courage saying on twitter that “his heroic act is an example to all citizens and that the city of Paris will obviously be very keen to support him in his efforts to settle in France.”



This promise has come to fruition after French President Macron met with Mamoudou Gassama this morning. Mamoudou Gassama was awarded a medal for his bravery and also landed a job as a fireman. He will also become a citizen of France with President Macron stating that “all the documents will be put in order”,

When he had climbed the building to rescue the child, the Malian immigrant who had only just arrived in France late last year was not thinking about any reward for his action. He had simply done what was human to do with little thought towards his safety.

The child is unharmed save for a torn nail and the father will be charged to court after he was detained for questioning.


Source: http://megasblog.com/mamoudou-gassama-spider-man-of-paris-given-honorary-citizenship/

Today we are examining the top five grossing 2018 movies so far. These movies have and are ruling the Box Office this year. All Movies in our list bar for one have grossed over $500 Million domestically and internationally. They are probably movies you’ve heard about and watched as well, and you would agree they deserve to be on our list.

Here are our Top Five Grossing Movies so far this year in no particular order …….

Dead Pool 2


Avengers 3: Infinity War


Black Panther


Solo: A Star Wars Story


Ready Player One.



visit www.megasblog.com for reviews of each movie.

If you've seen any of these movies kindly drop your reviews and rating too.

Are you looking for a phone that packs power? A phone that is sleek and as powerful as the Samsung S9 but not as expensive. Cue the OnePlus 6. The OnePlus6 is a beast despite its relatively cheap price.

For those who do not know the brand, the OnePlus is a Chinese phone maker founded in 2013. Its earlier offerings like the OnePlus One were sold based on an invite system which was altogether stopped as at the launch of the One Plus 3.

The brand’s mission statement has always been to provide cheaper alternative mobile devices that balance high-end quality with a lower price than other phones in its class. This is why with its impressive features, the One Plus 6 is going for a retail price of $529 compared to Samsung S9’s $855.

There are certain compromises but this does not deter the OnePlus 6 standing its ground against the Samsung S9. For detailed specification of the OnePlus 6, kindly click here http://megasblog.com/the-oneplus6-is-a-beast-despite-its-relatively-cheap-price/


Reviews so far the OnePlus 6 states it comes in variants such as 6 GB RAM + 64 GB internal storage, the 8 GB RAM + 128 GB internal storage and the 8 GB RAM + 256 GB internal storage variant. For Marvel Fans, there is the limited edition as well.

Review sites rate the OnPlus 6 high on performance and design but are worried about it’s lack of wireless charging and an average camera quality. Also, complaints are that it looks like a mix between the Iphone X and Samsung S9+.

Should you buy this mobile device? I would say yes if you are on a budget and need a phone that works, but if you have the cash, then go for established brands like the Samsung S9 and the Iphone X.

It’s that time again in Nigeria; election time. It’s time again to share bags of rice, garri and groundnut oil. It’s that time again to sell your votes to the highest bidder. It is that time when the “enlightened and educated” leave the business of governance to “sycophants and pot-bellied narcissists”.

Am sorry to disappoint you though if you politicians think that time is around the corner again. You see we have learnt the hard way. We have learnt with avoidable deaths, loss of jobs and families struggling to survive.

[img][/img]
We sure have learnt the hard way with the insults heaped on us. We ask now with months to the election, will we be reduced to change seekers? Are we going to be complicit in this façade? Are we going to allow sentiments, ethnicity, religion sway us from the truth?

The truth that governments past and presents have failed us? Even the generations unborn are not spared the torture and agony, the killings, the anguish.

I ask again “are we going to be complicit in this façade?”.

I sure will not and come Election Day, I and my vote will certainly have a say about the direction I feel this country should be headed.



More thoughtful piece at http://megasblog.com/time-nigeria-election-time/