₦airaland Forum

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2⁠and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3⁠When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4⁠“Woman,⁠a⁠ why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5⁠His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6⁠Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.⁠b⁠

7⁠Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8⁠Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9⁠and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10⁠and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

Jesus said 4⁠“Woman,⁠a⁠ why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” Yet He did it, even though His hour hadn't come. Why?

[quote author=Human_being1st]NFF say Kenya responsible for their troubles

Nigeria say Kenya are responsible for their own travel troubles in Nigeria, and chose a dilapidated primary school to train despite being offered a much better pitch at National Stadium, Lagos.

On Wednesday, pictures emerged showing Harambee Stars players training on a grassless ground in Lagos, and their officials reportedly blaming their Nigerian counterparts for shoddy arrangements

But NFF official Bola Oyeyode, who is the coordinator for the game, told KickOffNigeria.com that the Kenyans had no one to blame but themselves.

“To start with, they were playing hide and seek about their travel arrangements,” Oyeyode began. “They refused to communicate their arrival date to us despite numerous letters from us to them.

“In all those communications, we copied their embassy here and Fifa and we still have the letters here.

“It was only on Monday afternoon that they wrote to us informing us they would arrive on Wednesday afternoon.

“Even their embassy was finding it hard getting information out of them. an embassy official called Mr Tony was doing his best to help us, but even he could not get anything out of them.”

When information eventually came, it was too limited, according to Oyeyode.

“They told us they were coming with a 25-man delegation, but didn't give us any names, so we could not book the connecting flight to Calabar early.

“When it was getting late, we used our relationship with the airline to book 25 seats with no names, only for them to arrive with a 35-man party.

“In their letter, they never said they wanted to train in Lagos. The arrangement was for them to come in and fly straight to Calabar. But their flight arrived at noon, and the flight to Calabar is usually at 11am.

“At no time did we discuss anything about a chartered aircraft. Even our own team, who are African champions, flew to Calabar on a regular commercial flight.”

Regarding the training ground, Oyeyode said the Kenyans picked the substandard ground on the advise of one of their ‘consultants’.

“We went out of our way to book the training pitch of the National Stadium in Surulere for them at very, very short notice.

“But they refused to go there, after they were advised but one their men on the ground here, and they chose that primary school to train.”
Article by: Colin Udoh

http://www.kickoff.com/news/33404/nff-say-kenya-responsible-for-their-troubles[/quote]

ogaemma: They deserve an apology.
Am waiting for FIFA.

Not if what NFF says is true. They said they repeatedly wrote to the Kenyans requesting for information and they copied the Kenyan Embassy in Nigeria, the Nigerian Embassy in Kenya and FIFA in all their communications with the Kenyans.

Bagauda Kaltho and Dele Giwa, journalists who risked their lives to report the truth.

Bagauda Kaltho was killed by a bomb believed to have been planted by security operatives, but the police twisted things and said that the man bombed himself to death.

I believe we all know Dele Giwa's story.

There is something that really bothers me. I guess I first encountered this phenomenon on nairaland. Some people believe that Nigerians are not ready and have never been ready to unite and confront the government. To demand for a better life. I actually find it quite insulting. Insulting, not to me, but to the memory of certain people.

Like the students who died on Onikan Bridge in 1988. They were marching to the NTA to take over the station. They over-ran police checkpoints. They were singing "how many students soldier go kill". Then they were mowed down in a hail of bullets fired by soldiers from Bonny Camp.

The College of Medicine, University of Lagos students who risked their lives in make shift "ambulances" to rescue protesters who had been injured by soldiers and mopol.

Dr Tai Solarin, who, when Gowon said he wasn't going to hand over power, published the "Beginning of the End" pamphlet and distributed it on the roadside.

Students of Uniben who marched to Army Children School and got the pupils to stand at the head of their protest march in order to prevent soldiers from firing at them.

The guy who was given electric shock treatment on his penis by SSS operatives until he passed out and died.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi (where do I even start?).

The Tell staff who defied Abacha and published and distributed their magazine, even though hundreds of soldiers, policemen and SSS agents had stormed their offices and seized all copies of the magazine (even seizing their computers). One of their editors was detained without trial for over 2 years. His family didn't even know where he was detained or who detained him. His wife gave birth while he was in detention and the little girl did not see her father until she was above 3 years old.

The journalist that was tortured by SSS until he ran mad. He now wanders aimlessly around the streets of Benin Republic.

And so many more people.

CFCfan: ^^
That game at the Kasarani Center ended in a draw. In the match at the National Stadium in Surulere, Nigeria won by 3-0.
Oliseh was amongst the goalscorers, scoring with a fierce shot from outside the 18 yard box.

Thanks. Now I remember very well. It ended in a draw and the Kenyans celebrated as if they had won.

Let me see if I still have the Complete Football magazine pictures of that Kasarani disgrace. Remember, this was not a training pitch, the actual match was played here! We did not play mind games, they knew about our travel plans, etc.

It seems people don't know the history of Kenya vs Nigeria matches. [size=14pt]What happened in 1997[/size]

The Harrambe Stars played the first leg in Lagos. We treated them very well! The match was at the National Stadium in Surulere (they lost. . . I think it was 3-0).

The return leg in Kenya; the Eagles were lodged in a crappy hotel and had to play on that desert patch called Kasarani Sports Centre. [size=14pt]The heavens did not fall!!![/size] (I think the game either ended in a draw or we won 1-0)

So what are we talking about here?

The question we should ask is, does the school team train/play on that ground, or did the Kenyans choose to train on that ground because the space is available?

The Lagos State Government has a programme of setting up mini-stadiums with synthetic pitches in districts across the state. School teams go to these stadiums to train/play (for example, we've got the Campos Mini-Stadium, the Ebutte-Ero Mini-Stadium, etc), so the fact that there's space in a school does not mean that the school team plays/trains there.

All we need to do for the return leg is to get our own "coordinator" who will make alternative arrangements. My dad had a habit of calling the Nigerian ambassador ahead of time and asking him to book hotels for the delegation.

Orji Uzor Kalu would get alternative hotels and buses ready. It's only Nigerian journalists that would use the buses and hotels provided by the hosts. Enyimba would be in a hotel that's booked by either the Nigerian Embassy, Orji Uzor Kalu's friends, or the Enyimba advance team.

The person at fault is the Kenyan "consultant". I've been involved in football management and my dad was also involved in football management, so I know how these things work.

Sometimes the host country treats visiting teams badly, for example, back in the '80s when we go to North Africa to play, the host country will lodge us in hotels that have lots of prostitutes. They'll erect giant loudspeakers outside the hotel and blare loud music all night, so that the players won't get any sleep.

When you suspect that the host country will treat you badly, you play mind games and make alternative arrangements. You get a coordinator in that country, who will book alternative hotel accommodation and transportation for you. You don't let the host country know when you will arrive, etc.

The Kenyans kept NFF in the dark about their plans. They had a "coordinator" here. Yet they didn't make alternative hotel and transport arrangements. How was the NFF supposed to plan and make proper arrangements to receive them? If you don't know when the Kenyans will arrive and how many they'll be, how can you book hotel rooms and flight tickets?

[quote author=omo_to_dun]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Obasanjo_Carter_3.gif[/quote]This picture and the one below, were taken at the White House, during Lt Gen Obasanjo's visit to the US.

https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300973_10150393554932790_1177277804_n.jpg

#someonetellKenya Hey! Y'all Stop Being Mean To The Kenyans! I Don't Support Animal Cruelty!

NFF say Kenya responsible for their troubles 9they were playing mind games and it backfired on them).

https://www.nairaland.com/1232625/nff-say-kenya-responsible-troubles

OmoEziokwu: This man (the encircled name) has been there all these years...

Zbig served as National Security Adviser to Jimmy Carter. I always loved his analysis on Newshour with Jim Lehrer. He's currently a professor (he is over 80 years old).

ypzilanti: The POTUS (president of the united states) is a big deal, even in Washington DC gan.

I shall copy the opening post to your thread in a few minutes

Arrival ceremonies during President Clinton's state visit to Nigeria in 2000.

The video shows his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, 21 gun salute, national salute and traditional dancers at the airport. It also shows presidents Clinton and Obasanjo's media conference at the fore-court of the Aso Rock Villa.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AZSZywZCGc

Policewoman: The dude at the 2nd left standing looks like my Dad. Wowww!!!!! It's actually him.

Please can you show him the picture/video?

Policewoman: The dude at the 2nd left standing looks like my Dad. Wowww!!!!! It's actually him.

That's soooo cool.

I wrote this article in 2009.

naptu2: [size=14pt]THE BEAST AND ITS ESCORTS[/size]

This month we look at the wheels of the most powerful man in the world, The President of The United States, Barrack Hussein Obama.

https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_111712187789_5165259_n.jpg
Cadillac One

The current official car of the President of The United States is a Cadillac. It is the first presidential limousine not to have a specific model name (The previous presidential limousine, used by George W. Bush, was a modified Cadillac D.T.S). It has the call sign, Cadillac One (The presidential plane has the call sign Air-Force One and the presidential helicopter is known as Marine One). It looks so imposing that it has been nicknamed “The Beast” by the Secret Service. It first came into service on January 20th 2009. Like any presidential limousine, the security features are a closely guarded secret, but you can trust us, we’ve been able to unearth them for you.

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/4781_111713322789_646606_n.jpg
The New (Obama) Cadillac One (in front) with George Bush’s Presidential Limousines (Behind) on inauguration day.


SECURITY FEATURES

Cadillac One has eight inches thick armour plated doors that are the weight of the cabin door on a Boeing 757. The door handles incorporate a special system, which can only be opened by trained personnel (secret service). The driver’s window can withstand armour piercing bullets. It is the only window that opens, by just 3 inches, so that the driver can pay tolls or talk with secret service agents. The chauffer is trained by the CIA to cope with the most demanding of circumstances. The driver’s compartment contains a standard steering wheel, but the dash board contains a communications centre and GPS tracking system.

The petrol tank in the beast is armour plated and filled with a specially designed foam that prevents it from exploding if hit. Its bodywork consists of a combination of dual hardness steel, aluminium, titanium and even ceramic to break up possible projectiles. A reinforced five inch steel plate runs under the car for protection in the unlikely event of a bomb being placed underneath. The car is built on the platform of a GMC truck. The tyres are reinforced with Kevlar (the material used in bullet-proof vests) and are shred and puncture resistant, with steel rims underneath, enabling the car to escape at speed, even if the tyres are blasted away. The boot holds oxygen supply and a fire-fighting system. The limousine, like the Cadillac DTS, is equipped with night vision cameras, but the location of the cameras have been moved & are a secret. It is also armed with pump-action shotguns and tear gas cannons. Bottles of blood (the president’s blood type) are kept on board, in case he needs an emergency transfusion. The limousine is environmentally sealed against chemical and biological weapons.

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_111714967789_6300246_n.jpg

FLAGS AND SEALS

When the president is in the limousine, the presidential seal is affixed to its side and it flies two flags; the U.S flag on the right fender and the presidential flag on the left fender, for domestic trips and the U.S flag on the right fender and the flag of the host country on the left fender for trips abroad. The flags are ventilated and illuminated by High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D) directional flood lights, mounted on the hood.

https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112006697789_4377756_n.jpg

The limousine is maintained by the Secret Service, which, on delivery, took it apart and swept it for bugs. Two dedicated mechanics travel with the limousine wherever it goes.


TRAVELS

When the president travels out of Washington, Cadillac One is transported by U.S Air-Force C-17 Globemaster III or C-5 Galaxy transport planes to wherever the president is going to.

https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112007027789_1998050_n.jpg

https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/4781_112007337789_3319177_n.jpg

https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112007597789_1197643_n.jpg



The president never uses foreign “assets” overseas. He either uses Cadillac One, a Secret Service Chevrolet Suburban (Suburban One), or U.S embassy vehicles (indeed, Marine One, the presidential helicopter, is transported abroad by cargo planes anytime the president needs to use a helicopter overseas). This wasn’t always the case in the past. President Jimmy Carter rode in a Nigerian owned Land Rover when he visited Lagos in 1978.

https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112007852789_1585121_n.jpg
Jimmy Carter and Mohammadu Magoro at Apapa Port.

Another notable exception was when President Richard Nixon visited China for the first time in 1972. The U.S sought permission to fly in their presidential limousine, but Mao Zedong said that there was no need for that, because there were vehicles in China that were good enough to transport Nixon. Nixon agreed, because of the historic nature of the visit. He used Chinese made Red Flag limousines during his trip, though the limousine was taken apart by the U.S secret service and swept for bugs and other dangerous materials. Presidents Kennedy and Clinton used a white U.S embassy Rolls Royce, when they visited Northern Ireland.

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112008237789_6931208_n.jpg
Chairman Mao Zedong’s Red Flag Limousine (Why do communists need a limousine? Aren’t they all meant to be equal?)


MOTORCADE

The length of the U.S. president’s motorcade varies, depending on the threat level and nature of his trip. It could vary from ten vehicles to forty vehicles (wonder what the POTUS’ carbon footprint is like). When the president is out of Washington, his motorcade usually consists of about thirty-five vehicles. Approximately the first half of the motorcade is known as the “secure package” and contains the presidential limousines, police cars and essential secret service vehicles. The “secure package” breaks away from the rest of the motorcade in the event of an attack. There are usually 2 or 3 identical limousines in the motorcade, one of these limousines carries the president, while the other acts as backup. The second limousine also serves as a decoy and it flies the two flags and carries the presidential seal, just like the limousine carrying the president. The two limousines usually switch positions several times during a journey.

https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112008632789_2873562_n.jpg
The two limousines, the radio jamming SUV (with antennas) and the war truck.

The route the president takes is usually cleared of traffic by local police lining the route. About 6 – 10 local policemen on motorcycles ride ahead of the motorcade to ensure that no other cars are on the route (this is very dangerous work and some policemen have been killed in accidents, while performing this duty). A local police car also drives ahead of the convoy to do a bomb sweep (equally very dangerous work). The local police play a very important part in planning the route, because they know the area, control traffic lights and are better able to plan against traffic jams and assist the secret service in planning escape routes and alternative routes.

Some of the main vehicles that travel with the president are: -

(1) Chevrolet Suburban (The War Truck): - Several Chevrolet Suburbans are in the motorcade and some of them carry the Secret Service Counter Assault Team (C.A.T), whose members are mostly ex-marines. They are well trained and well armed. Under U.S law, the secret service can request for the latest training techniques and weapons from any branch of the military and the military must comply with such request.

There was a proposal that some of the SUVs (particularly the SUV behind the President's limo) should carry the Dillon Aero Mini Gun. It is not known if the proposal was accepted. Some secret service agents expressed concern over possible collateral damage. The Dillon Aero Minigun is a gatling gun that fires 3,000 rounds a minute (50 rounds a second). The SUV is known as “The War Truck”. Its roof opens up (much like a sunroof) and a secret service agent, wielding the gatling gun, pops up on a revolving gun turret. The agent is protected on his left and right flank by the doors of the “sunroof”. The Suburbans will surround Cadillac One if there is an attack on it.

https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/4781_112009082789_4631270_n.jpg
The Dillon Aero Mini Gun in action

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112009357789_6604640_n.jpg




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nug5FZgxuk

https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112009747789_7667222_n.jpg
Secret Service Counter Assault Team (CAT)


2)Frequency Jamming Vehicles: - There is usually a vehicle (sometimes a suburban, sometimes a van) which sends out jamming signals across different frequencies. This is to prevent the detonation of road side bombs using mobile phones, remote controls, garage openers and other devices that emit radio waves. Sometimes, a helicopter, which flies over the motorcade, is used to jam frequencies.

https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112010102789_1699578_n.jpg

3)Mobile Intensive Care Unit: - An ambulance (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) is always in the motorcade. It is equipped to handle surgeries and carries bottles of the president’s blood type in case an emergency transfusion is required. It is usually a big black armoured truck in the middle of the motorcade, though there are sometimes decoy white ambulances, which are usually full of secret service agents, at the rear of the motorcade.

https://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112010742789_7148283_n.jpg

HISTORY

President William McKinley was the first to ride in an automobile, but it wasn’t until the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt that the first government owned car was used.

The first car specially built for presidential use was the 1939 Lincoln V12 convertible, called the “Sunshine Special”, used by Franklin Roosevelt. The Ford Motor Company leased the car to the office of the President for $500 a year. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the secret service became concerned about potential assassination attempts. The following day, 8th Dec 1941, a heavily armoured 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan was used to transport the president to the Capitol for the famous “infamy” speech. Originally belonging to Al Capone, the car was confiscated by the treasury department following Capone’s arrest and stored in a government impound lot until its ironic final duty. Roosevelt used the car until his “Sunshine Special” was modified to be bullet-proof.

The Kennedy White House purchased a Lincoln Continental convertible, which was stretched into a limousine for the president by Hess and Eisenhart. It was the car President Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated. It had a plexi-glass “bubble” top in case of inclement weather, but this was often removed (as was the case on the day Kennedy was assassinated) because the air-conditioner was not strong enough to deal with the heat in the vehicle.

https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/4781_112121402789_2892153_n.jpg
President Kennedy in the Lincoln Continental, minutes before his assassination.


George Bush’s modified Cadillac DTS (Deville Touring Sedan) once broke down in Rome, Italy, when the president was being driven back to the U.S embassy. Surprised Italians could be heard giggling as the driver tried in vain to restart the car. Bush’s embarrassment was compounded when his back up Suburban was too wide to pass through the embassy gates, so he had to walk into the compound.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4-a7VBr4c


Wouldn't you like to roll like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mazcrYX6Eeg

George Bush’s modified Cadillac DTS (Deville Touring Sedan) once broke down in Rome, Italy, when the president was being driven back to the U.S embassy. Surprised Italians could be heard giggling as the driver tried in vain to restart the car. Bush’s embarrassment was compounded when his back up Suburban was too wide to pass through the embassy gates, so he had to walk into the compound.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4-a7VBr4c

I've got the diary of events on my laptop. I'll post it when I get back.

Note picture above: it is unusual for a US president to ride in a foreign owned vehicle. However, President Carter and Colonel Magoro rode in Lt Gen Obasanjo's Land-Rover when they toured Apapa Port.

Three US presidents have visited Nigeria (all the visits occurred at times when Olusegun Obasanjo was head of state). They are Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George Bush.

President Obama was supposed to visit Nigeria during his first term, but events (including elections in both Nigeria and the US) prevented the visit from taking place. Talks about a planned visit during his second term are ongoing.

Ishilove: wow, that guy can shout!

Obasanjo was a lot sharper when he was younger

The shout shook me the first time I watched the clip (I was only expecting him to give the order for the national salute. I forgot that he would bring the guards to attention when the president stepped out of the limo).

George Bush’s modified Cadillac DTS (Deville Touring Sedan) once broke down in Rome, Italy, when the president was being driven back to the U.S embassy. Surprised Italians could be heard giggling as the driver tried in vain to restart the car. Bush’s embarrassment was compounded when his back up Suburban was too wide to pass through the embassy gates, so he had to walk into the compound.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4-a7VBr4c

The same thing happened to George Bush's limo in Italy circa 2005.

From Wikipedia:

Intersex, in humans (not to be confused with hermaphroditism, which since the 20th century has only referred to animals), is a variation in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, and/or genitals that do not allow an individual to be distinctly identified as female/male sex binary. Such variation may involve genital ambiguity, and combinations of chromosomal genotype and sexual phenotype other than XY-male and XX female.

As with all humans, gender identity for intersex individuals may often be complicated. Some individuals may be raised as a certain gender but then identify with another later in life, while others may not identify themselves as either exclusively female or exclusively male. Some may opt for surgical procedures in order to align their physical sex characteristics with their socially prescribed gender, and some will not even become aware that they are intersex—unless they receive genetic testing—because it does not manifest in their phenotype.

Research has shown gender identity of intersex individuals to be independent of sexual orientation.

Intersex people are humans too and have rights just like any other person. Many intersex people have served Nigeria creditably and you might not even know that they are intersex unless you see them naked. Of course the most famous case is that of the former Super Falcons player Iyabo Abade, who is now known as John Johnson.

Stop stigmatisation of intersex people.