₦airaland Forum

Should we say "Congratulation" or "Sorry" ?

[size=13pt]Gaddafi’s daughter gives birth in Algeria[/size]

ALGIERS-(AFP) – Muammer Gaddafi’s daughter gave birth to a baby girl in Algeria Tuesday as Algiers said it decided to grant safe haven to the wife and three children of the ousted Libyan leader for “strictly humanitarian reasons.”

“Aisha gave birth very early this morning. She had a little girl. Mother and daughter are doing fine,” said a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Earlier Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Amar Belani insisted that Aisha, her brothers Mohammed and Hannibal, as well as their mother Safiya, Gaddafi’s second wife, were allowed into the country “for strictly humanitarian reasons.”

Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council criticised the announcement from Algeria, which has not recognised the NTC as Libya’s new authority, amid speculation that Algiers backed Gaddafi through the months-long conflict and is troubled by his downfall.

The newborn girl was named Safiya, after their grandmother, according to the daily Ennahar, which said the family crossed via the Tinkarine border post in the far south and was flown 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest to Djanet, where Aisha was admitted to hospital.

The family was placed under house arrest in the desert town, the newspaper said.

“We have informed the Secretary General of the United Nations, the president of the (UN) Security Council and the president of the executive council of the NTC,” Belani said in an e-mail sent to AFP.

Belani was commenting on a request issued by the NTC for the return of the Gaddafi family members.

When the Algerian foreign ministry on Monday announced the arrival of the Gaddafi family, the rebels’ justice minister Mohammed al-Allagya told AFP that the Algerian authorities would be asked to send them back to Libya.

The spokesman of the rebel government, Mahmud Shammam, said on Monday evening that the NTC had been told by Algeria of the family’s arrival.

“We’d like those persons to come back,” Shammam said, adding that Algeria had given them a “pass” to go to a third country.

“Saving Gaddafi’s family is not an act we welcome and understand,” he told a press conference in Tripoli late on Monday.

“We can assure our neighbours that we want better relations with them … but we are determined to arrest and try the Gaddafi family and Gaddafi himself,” Shammam went on, saying the rebels guaranteed a “fair trial.”

Algeria stands apart from other north African nations like Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, which have all recognised the NTC as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people, leading some among the rebels to accuse Algiers of supporting the Gaddafi regime.

Pierre Vermeren, a French researcher at the African affairs centre in Bordeaux and expert in north African affairs, said ties were “more than cold because the Algerians do not recognise (the NTC) and for months there have been rumours of help by some elements of the Algerian army for the Gaddafi regime.”

“While the Algerians welcomed the fall of (Zine El Abidine) Ben Ali (in Tunisia in January), they didn’t seem happy with the fall of Gaddafi.

“(Algerian President Abdelaziz) Bouteflika has said nothing,” Vermeren pointed out.

With Gaddafi’s whereabouts still a mystery, there has been speculation that he is hiding out among tribal supporters in his birthplace, the coastal town of Sirte.

Rebels say they are negotiating with civic and tribal leaders to try to broker Sirte’s peaceful surrender.

Algeria has “since February been accused of supplying military aid to Gaddafi, particularly by providing planes to transport mercenaries,” said Didier Le Saout, a north African expert at Paris university.

“Algeria will be the state in the region with the worst relations with the new Libyan authorities.”

Mourad Benmehidi, Algeria’s ambassador to the UN, told the New York Times that the spouses of Gaddafi’s two sons and daughter also crossed into Algeria, along with several of their children.

Algeria has also closed its borders with Libya in the far south, El Watan reported on its website, quoting Algerian officials.

Algiers, according to the report, wants to block Gaddafi loyalist fighters from fleeing into Algeria to avoid further strain relations in its ties with the NTC.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/gaddafis-daughter-gives-birth-in-algeria/

Plutarch:
Resignation is a strange lexicon in Nigeria. How do you expect him to refund people and banks he is owing billions he used 4 elections. Remember that his generation must never be poor again.

BTW, imagine Atiku bcoming d president in d long run and pple clamouring 4 his resignation. He will prefer death.

Exactly! No way a Nigerian politician will resign except a gun is pointed at his head.

[size=13pt]Transcript:[/size]



  The Battle for National Survival – Excerpts Part 1

, But If I may tell you the truth, though we are all living in denial including those in government sand the people of this nation, shouting peace, peace, when there is no peace. I’d like to let you know that Nigeria lies critically in the intensive care unit of the universe. We are under a severe attack by the twin forces of corruption and violence. The same forces that brought the wrath of God upon the earth of Noah in what you and I call the flood of waters, The presence of violence and corruption -you cannot separate violence from corruption.

Unintelligent men talk from both sides of the mouth – they do not know what they are saying. Look, it is unlike Nigerians to commit suicide by bombing themselves. A little while ago in the midst of serious suffering, economic disaster,  and joblessness, Nigerians were voted the happiest place on earth, because no matter how difficult it is, there will still be a cousin, there will be an uncle, there will be an aunt, there will be a friend somewhere you can go to. When Nigerians become suicide bombers, you should be saying Come Lord Jesus! Because it means the hazardous times prophesied by Paul through the Holy Spirit that in the last days perilous times shall come.

There will be no perilous times if there are no perilous people. And those who are looking for ways to blame Buhari-Bakare for the violence and for the bomb; the table knife I have on my table is just for food – I can’t kill chicken. General Buhari might have been a soldier, a General and a former Head of State – I don’t see him stirring up all this kind of nonsense that is going on. Those who dig their hand deep into corruption are the ones who orchestrated the violence upon our land., Because a people that are pushed to the wall must react one way or the other, But my real issue is this; corruption is ravaging this nation, has eaten deep into the fabric of this nation, and violence is already here, as a twin devil. In the present dispensation, it does not matter where you hide, it does not matter how tall your security measures or how toughened they have become, it does not matter who is watching (guarding) you, remember it was the private guards of Indira Ghandi that shot her. And when the justice of God will start, the mill of God grinds slowly but surely. It does not matter where you hide, whether Aso villa or Bottom villa, you will be shot where you are, except you right the wrongs.

Hell on earth – that is what Nigeria has become, Hell on earth! Hell on earth – that is what this nation has become. This is hell on earth!! Just imagine how many people have died since the advent of the PDP. Go back to Obasanjo’s regime, join it to Yar ‘ Adua, and bring it to the crescendo of Jonathan, and see how life is no longer of any value in our nation. Rome burns, Nero fiddles   It is the mercy of God that we are not yet completely consumed. The way it is going, you will hide in your house, and to come out will be difficult. And all those lovely cars you have, you might need to go learn how to ride Okada  - except the Lord of heavens will intervene in our situation. There is fear – palpable fear, everywhere. The president - they can even write it on paper, in the newspaper, that they have strengthened security around the president – how about the citizens you are meant to serve and protect – they can die? You can live, ? Because you mother has two heads.

Nigeria lies critically in the intensive care unit of the universe. We are under attack by the two forces of corruption and violence. We are in a state of anarchy and lawlessness. These are diagnosis, as I taught on the 7th of August. Major economic crisis is knocking at the door, all the arms of the government, and virtually all of them, the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary are in disarray. T o compound the matter, the leadership of the nation and the people, are living in denial, saying one thing in public and fearfully wondering in private, looking for a way of escape from our present national dilemma. Our hitherto esteemed elders, like a drunk on the brink, are making fools of themselves everywhere. God is not going to fix Nigeria until he fixes his temples.

Judgement will begin from the house of the Lord – those who pervert the truth, and see the hand of God in wrongs – they will pay dearly for it. You can write it in capital letters IT IS TOO LATE. You all see how politicians think – many of them have their brain under their foot. They just trample upon it – they treat symptoms and leave the real root or the cause of the matter. They have forgotten that years of neglect, years of abandonment, years of fatherlessness, “motherlessness”, “directionlessness” in a nation will raise children who are lawless, and who don’t care whether they live or die. And they will be prepared to take anyone down to the grave with them including the society.

What you have seen is the tip of the iceberg – a people deprived and pushed to the wall, will be ready to die but they will take you with them. And they will target your most noble institutions, children, wives, You wait and see. The President had better keep his mother, in the villa and not let her go to Bayelsa because they will kidnap your mother and nothing will happen – they have kidnapped the mother of a governor, they kidnapped the father of a star footballer, who then is your mother? That is the stage of anarchy that we are in – that they have not landed in your house is still God’s mercy. They are looking for your son and are looking for your daughter, because you did not read the handwriting on the wall, and they read it that you are their problem – that what should come to them, in terms of education, in terms of medical care, in terms of infrastructural development, in terms of job creation, you are the one that sat on their money – Anenih, OBJ, all of you that have one time ruined this nation cannot go down in peace. It is not possible! You will not go down in peace!! Because they will rise up against you, I refuse to be angry, 

If they had perceived in their hearts that God brought them into a position of authority and exalted them for his people, like David knew, they would not have behaved the way they behaved, they will not be stashing the resources of this nation in foreign banks, and still walking free and calling the shots, and now becoming drunk to call themselves fools and greater fools at seventy and beyond seventy. Is it not a shame that Nigerians are idiots presided over by fools? , Because we now know the quality of those who ruled us. It would take idiots to have fools ruling them. Just say it quietly and accept, don’t say it loud, “ I accept, I have been an ” for there is no way all this nonsense should have been going on,

Look at places you would consider stable, like Tunisia, only one citizen got fed up, poured petrol on himself, set himself ablaze, before the fire could go down, the president had run away – just one citizen, Mubarak had been in power for over 30 years, he thought he was in charge,  he waiting to make his son his own successor. Ordinary young people began to text themselves and say ‘enough is enough!’ and they went there, not for one day, not for two days, not for one week, not for two weeks. They kept on there, staying there, by the time you ask Nigerians to sacrifice for one hour; they are looking for bathroom – Idiots! O ye foolish Nigerians, who has bewitched you? Except the blindfold is removed from your eyes, your university certificates, papers are like toilet roll – worthless because it cannot fetch you any job – Idiots! The bible says the profit of the land is for all – where is your own share, idiots?! Your roads are un-passable,  you take pride in ‘I better pass my neighbour’ , buy useless 1 KVA generator polluting the atmosphere, making noise everywhere, calling yourself Mr Big shot, idiots!

My message is to you Nigerians today, because, fools have ruled you for too long a time, and all we will do is sporadic, haphazard, demonstration s in the street, “we are going to Fashola’s office – we will march there” and Fashola will give us a pep talk. We will give him a letter for him to give to the president, Idiots! Has it worked at any time? Time has come for Nigerians to rise up – East, West, North and South, and to say “Enough is Enough!”  I have told you before that my marching days are over – I am putting the toga on again, we are going to pull this house down and rebuild it in the name of Jesus! Enough is enough!

Transcribed by Aina Olatunji-Mason

Whao! Tough words spoken there!

^ The standard procedure is for you to be banned after insulting another poster's parent for 120 hours. Dayokanu did not insult any poster's parent but a public political figure. If you find it offensive, you should have reported it rather than insulting the poster's parent.

I will plead with the authority and see if they can reduce the hours to let this ban serve as a warning, but if you do it again, expect a very long ban.

Kelvinj:
well it goes like this, first we're friends then we be came lovers. u have 2 be friends before u take anything 2 the next level, so no specific time frame

Exactly! I totally agree with you.

Pweety4me:
[color=#550077]^^That makes sense, but what if she ends up seeing you just as a 'friend' and nothing beyond that?[/color]

All serious relationships should start from friendship but not all friendship relationships will lead to serious relationships.

Some people are better remaining as friends. Also if while u are friends you discover you are not that compatible, then there is no reason taking it to the next level.

[size=13pt]Anyaoku, Ogbeh, Others Seek People’s Constitution[/size]

A gathering of eminent Nigerian personalities, frontline politicians and constitutional experts in the country, under the aegis of Project Nigeria (National Consensus Group), have advocated a people’s constitution for the country.

To this end, the parley has resolved to launch a national movement for a people’s constitution in Nigeria and “To advocate the establishment of a ‘National Constitutional Convention’ that will bring about a popularly negotiated constitution for Nigeria.”

The group has also resolved to meet President Goodluck Jonathan, senate president, David Mark and speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal on the state of the nation.
These were some of the resolutions reached at the first public interaction of the group, which had in attendance eminent personalities, among them, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, former Nigerian ambassador to the USA, Prof George Obiozor, Chief Mike Ozekhome and Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.

A communiqué signed by the national facilitator, project Nigeria, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba and the chairman of the National Consultative Forum, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the meeting was convened to chart the way for political negotiation and stability in the country.

The stakeholders lamented the tension generated by high level of insecurity in the country now at a crisis point, arising from poverty, political instability, religious intolerance and general lack of faith in governments and politicians and placed the present dimension of instability in the country on failed leadership, value decay, structural and systemic crisis, thrown up by long years of neglect and political disenfranchisement as being the root of these crises.

The conference in a review of President Jonathan’s proposal for a single term for president and governors and the plan by the National Assembly’s for constitution amendment, commended the president’s courage and openness on the issue and noted that the proposal had strategically assisted the people of Nigeria in putting the debate about the desired political reforms of Nigeria on the front burners. It, however, expressed pessimism about the potential of achieving a resolution of these issues from any narrow and disjointed approach.

Participants further noted that these proposals should form part of issues in a fundamental dialogue on the constitution by the people of Nigeria

The Parley also condemned the misappropriation of the country’s wealth by successive corrupt and insensitive political leadership of the country, resulting in wide spread and abject poverty.

Participants blamed the over concentration of authority at the centre for the worsening state of the nation’s economy and observed that nations and governments are established to serve economic and social welfare of its people, rather than of the interest of a few powerful individuals and attributed the destruction of the promises of democracy and fortunes of the country to the imposed constitution of the country.

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/4472/2011/08/29/anyaoku_ogbeh_others_seek_people%E2%80%99s_constitution.html

[size=13pt]20 feared dead, 5o vehicles burnt in fresh Jos violence[/size]

By Taye Obateru

Jos the Plateau State capital which had enjoyed relative peace for several weeks was engulfed in bloody violence, Monday, leaving over 20 dead and over 50 others injured .

In the violence, over 50 vehicles and 100 motorcycles were burnt with some of the occupants trapped as their vehicles were torched by rampaging youths.

Top security chiefs in the state had last weekend met with religious and community leaders to fashion out strategies for a peaceful Sallah celebration in the state.

Eye witnesses gave different versions of what led to the fresh violence. A version said members of the ‘Izala’ Islamic Group who celebrated the end of the Ramadan yesterday were attacked by youths along Rukuba Road, a Christian dominated area while going for prayers at an abandoned mosque located in the area. The mosque was abandoned in the wake of the previous crisis.

However, another version said the Muslim youths going for the prayers, contrary to the directive of the police that they must not carry dangerous weapons to the praying grounds during the Sallah, brandished daggers, knives and other dangerous weapons which they waved dangerously at residents of the area as they drove past.

This was said to have infuriated the residents who were said to have mobilized in preparation for a showdown with the Muslims after the prayers, but were dispersed by members of the Special Task Force (STF) who allegedly shot and killed some of them.

The youths were said to have gone berserk when they were allegedly shot at from inside the mosque and in retaliation they stormed the mosque where they torched parked vehicles and motorcycles. They also allegedly attacked and killed some people inside the mosque.

Unconfirmed reports said some of the rampaging youths were killed when soldiers opened fire to curtail the violence while several were injured and rushed to hospital.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/20-feared-dead-5o-vehicles-burnt-in-fresh-jos-violence/

[size=13pt]‘Nigerians should expect more bombings’[/size]

Nigerians should expect more bombings in the months ahead, sources in the nation’s security services have said.


Top security officials who spoke to our correspondents on Sunday said the security agencies were not capable of stemming the tide of terrorism in the country.


A source said sensitive positions in the country’s security establishment were occupied by agents who were not properly recruited, were poorly trained and lacked the competencies needed to gather actionable intelligence.


“We are not making any attempt to stop bombings in the country. We simply lack what it takes to do so,” a senior official in one of the security services told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday.


The shocking revelation came on the heels of the death of at least 18 people in last Friday’s bombing of the United Nations office in Abuja. The fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the bombing which has attracted condemnation globally.


The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “One would have thought that by now, the security agencies would have been able to find a lasting solution to the bombings.


“Then, we would expect that security agencies would also have been able to infiltrate the ranks of those responsible for the attacks.


“But I can tell you that there is nothing like that here. We are practically not doing anything either to stop the bombings or to even infiltrate the ranks of the bombers.


“The thinking in the security circle is that the bombing is a phase that would soon fade away. What we are doing now is what we call ‘fire brigade approach’.


“When bomb explodes somewhere, we go there with guns, metal detectors and other minor equipment. But after that, what else do you see? We leave after a few days and the old order continues.”


Another source in the security establishment said the government appeared not to be interested in making the agencies in charge of the nation effective. The source, who also requested anonymity, said government was only “interested in playing politics with everything.”


The source added, “When last did our people go for training? Even the so-called Anti-Terrorism Squad in the Police, where were they trained? Majority of them were drawn from the riot police without being given further training.


“It will be interesting to note that most security agencies rely on newspaper reports to get information. It is like we are being trained by investigative journalists now.”


The source and others bemoaned the fact that the government often sacrificed experience and competence for other considerations while making appointments into key positions in the security sector. They added that this situation had turned otherwise brilliant agents into frustrated personnel.


According to the sources, ethnicity, religion, political affiliations, personal relationships and other irrelevant factors are considered before merit.


One of the sources cited the appointment of one of the security chiefs as an example. He said when it was time to find a replacement for the former head of one of the security agencies, one of his deputies who had been prepared to succeed him “was dropped at the last minute because he was suspected in some quarters to be sympathetic to an opposition party.”


The US in a recent security appraisal report titled, “Country Reports on Terrorism 2010,” an annual congressional report that provides trends and events on global terrorism, states that Nigeria lacks the security apparatus and capacity to combat terrorism.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108292394298

@OP

Please can you always add the source link to your story. Thanks.




Source: http://247ureports.com/index.php?s_id=2&a_id=760

[size=13pt]We informed govt of threat – UN[/size]

The United Nations’ Security Chief, Gregory Starr, on Sunday said the United Nations country office’s security team discussed the “general” threats it received with Nigerian officials a month ago.


He, however, declined to be specific of the threats or the officials involved in the discussions.


Starr said this while responding to questions from journalists during a press conference addressed by the visiting Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, in Abuja.


He said, “I will not discuss the specifics of these threats. However, about a month ago, we received general threats.


“It was very general, it was non-specific, it did not give us any details.


“Nevertheless, the security apparatus here did in fact, inform the host government; we can’t figure out specific actions that were taken.


“These are general threats we receive from UN offices all over the world.”


Earlier, Migiro told journalists that she and her team will be discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan and the country’s security team on what exactly happened on Friday and what could be done to strengthen security.


She said there was no justification for terrorism adding, “The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”


Attempts to get the reaction of the Police high command to the UN claim failed as a senior police officer who did not want his name mentioned, said that only the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, was in a position to comment on the matter.


Also, a text message sent to the IG’s mobile telephone at about 7.37pm was not replied as at the time of filing this report.


Migiro explained that victims of the attack were only in Nigeria to help.


She expressed sadness that cleaners, security guards as well as UN humanitarian partners and an official of the (Nigerian) Ministry of Health were among the dead.


“This was an attack on a working community that was helping the people of Nigeria-plain and simple” she said.


Migiro stressed that if the aim of the attackers was to deter the UN from its work in Nigeria and elsewhere, they would continue to fail.


She said, “Such attacks will neither deter us in our work, nor win any new sympathisers to whatever cause might be the motivation.


“Hunger and disease and the need to promote human rights does not stop or allow us to pause-the United Nations staff around the world must therefore carry on their duties and responsibilities.”


“And we do so on daily basis and we will continue to do so on daily basis, and we will continue to do so despite this barbaric attack.


“There can be no justification for terrorism. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”


She also confirmed that the death toll of members of staff of the UN has increased to 21 as at Sunday.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108292165695

[size=13pt]Why I Visited UN House The Day After The Bombing - GEJ[/size]

I just returned from a visit to the U.N. building which was the object of an attack by a suicide bomber. Again, I commiserate with the victims and their families. I had wanted to give enough time for rescue efforts to go on and did not want my presence to interfere with those efforts which is why I have visited today rather than yesterday. One thing is very clear, a terrorist attack on any individual or any group is a terrorist attack on the rest of the world, it is not just about the UN office in Nigeria. We will work with the UN and world leaders. Of course, many of them have contacted me between yesterday and today and we are cooperating in an effort to tackle this global scourge. GEJ

https://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s320x320/308463_227566750627040_105479482835768_667327_3437277_n.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/jonathangoodluck

Eid-el-Fitri: FRSC begins special patrol nationwide

ABUJA-As part of measures to ensure sanity on the highways during this year’s Eid-el-Fitri, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, yesterday commenced a nationwide special patrol, to curb the spate of avoidable road crashes usually associated with surge of human and vehicular traffic across the country.

The patrol exercise tagged ‘Operation Barka Da Sallah is slated to take off from today August 29 to September 5 2011.

FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka, while speaking on the Sallah special patrol said the nationwide exercise forms part of the Corps’ sustained efforts to build a consistent tradition of enforcing traffic rules and regulations throughout the year to avoid a one-off approach to road safety management in Nigeria.

According to him: “The Sallah patrol is a build up on last Easter’s special patrol to address traffic peculiarities associated with the festive seasons.”

He said, “road accidents are avoidable and only obedience to road use best practices will guaranty safety of all road user’.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/eid-el-fitri-frsc-begins-special-patrol-nationwide/

Bombing of UN Building: Death toll rises

LAGOS – As condemnations continue to trail last Friday’s bomb blast at UN House in Abuja, the death toll from the incident yesterday rose from 18 to 23 with 73 others hospitalised, just as the security agencies alerted of an intelligence report indicating that Boko Haram sect has planned to carry out more of such attacks targeting churches, mosques and national institutions.

Meanwhile the United Nations yesterday vowed that the bomb attack will not deter it from its humanitarian work in Nigeria while President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that Nigeria will assist in the reconstruction of the UN building.

The planned attacks according to the intelligence report was to avenge the attacks by the Joint Task Force, ‘Operation Restore Order’, which the sect said has hit hard at its headquarters, thus affecting its overall aspirations.

Disclosing this to Vanguard yesterday, a top intelligence source disclosed that before the attack last Friday, intelligence findings had shown that “the group was planning an attack, aside that of the UN house, probably that of a landmark government agencies or concerns, that will rock the nation.

Towards this end Vanguard gathered that Churches and other places of worship will be given top priority henceforth in the area provision of security in the FCT and other Northern states, while important government assets like the CBN, NNPC, National Assembly Complex, Accountant General’s office, Ministry of Petroleum and ministry of Defence, federal Secretariat and the Defence headquarters complex, would be given round the clock protection.

Meanwhile, Police authorities in the federal capital disclosed that though no arrests had been made regarding the bombing of the UN house in Abuja, there was progress in the investigation to ascertain how the bomber passed through the streets and highways of Abuja and made for the UN house without being detected.

It was gathered that the registration number which was removed from the wreckage of the Honda Accord car was being traced to ascertain whether it was genuine or fake, and if the CCTV cameras’ in the FCT captured the vehicle with a view to ascertaining the identity of the bomber, in order to assist the investigation, before further steps would be taken.

We ‘ll assist in reconstruction —Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has assured the visiting Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, that Nigeria will assist in the reconstruction of the United Nations’ building destroyed by the bomb blast.

President Jonathan who received the UN second-in-command at the State House, Sunday, said the Nigeria Government would offer temporary accommodation to the UN to enable them “continue doing the good humanitarian work you have been doing”.

The President expressed condolence to the United Nations’ family for the loss of lives and pledged assistance to enable the immediate evacuation of the dead to their countries and the wounded for medical treatment.

He commended Nigerians and foreign nationals who helped in the rescue operations and all efforts to bring relief to those affected by this condemnable act of destruction of lives and property.

We’ll not be deterred —UN

The UN top shot however vowed that the blast will not in anyway deter the UN from carrying out its duties in the country; maintaining that “we will never be deterred, we believe in global peace, we believe in global security, we believe in development. And here in Nigeria, the people are working hard to improve their lives and the United Nations is here for that”.

UN DEPUTY SCRIBE VISITS VICTIMS —United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro (R) with to a man injured in the August 27 suicide attack on the United Nations House in Abuja, as she visits victims of the blast in the intensive care unit of the National Hospital in Abuja yesterday. Photo: AFP

Dr. Migiro, said she came to observe and assess the situation after the bombing of the UN House, adding that this condemnable act would not deter them from doing their work.

She requested assistance to enable the quick evacuation of the dead and injured, and thanked President Jonathan for offering to assist in the reconstruction of the UN House, as well as the temporary accommodation to enable the UN continue its work in Nigeria.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General said other top-level officials would remain in Nigeria to carry out a thorough assessment and examination of the whole building and advice the Secretary-General accordingly.

UN top officials to remain in NIgeria

Fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the closed door meeting, the top UN top official said “we have discussed the question of the terrorism bombing that happened at the UN facilities here.

We have brought our appreciation to Mr President and the people of Nigeria for the quick response that we got from the government, from the rescue team and also we shared our willingness to continue the work we have been doing, that our people have just paid the ultimate prize for and we also look forward to also see how we address some of the concerns that must have come up as a result of the attack”.

Asked if the attack was capable of hampering the operation of the organisation in Nigeria, she disclosed that “we will never be deterred, we believe in global peace, we believe in global security, we believe in development. And here in Nigeria, the people are working hard to improve their lives and the United Nations is here for that. And you should also remember that this attack is attack on communities, it is an attack on families, it is not all about the United Nations. So, we will never be deterred, we will move on and the staff are ready to do that and the government is also ready to help us continuing to do our business here in Nigeria and in the world”.

On new security measures, by the UN, she said “we are currently doing a thorough assessment of what happened and how it happened and how we should strengthen whatever measures we have that are of security nature”.

Present at the talks were the National Security Adviser, Gen Owoye Azazi, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru and Minister of State, FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide.

4 seriously injured UN staff flown to South Africa

At a press conference she addressed later Dr Migiro disclosed that four staff of the agency who were critically wounded in the attack have been flown to Johannesburg South Africa for further treatment. Dr Migiro said a total of 21 persons died in the attack while 73 people were injured out of which 26 are still in intensive care.

According to her, the attack on the UN office in Nigeria ‘was an attack on a working community that was helping the people of Nigeria’ adding that ‘targeting such people is outrageous and morally reprehensible’.

“Such attacks will neither deter us in our work nor win any new sympathizers to whatever cause might be the motivation. Hunger and disease, the need to promote human rights does not stop or allow us to pause- the United Nations staff around the world must therefore carry on their duties and responsibilities. And we do so on a daily basis and we will continue to do so despite this barbaric attack” she said.

The Deputy Secretary General maintained that ‘there can be no justification for terrorism and the perpetrators must be brought to book.

She added that despite the shock and pain suffered b y the staff of the UN, ‘they want their vital work to continue. For one woman who is a cleaner there is an obvious desire that she will be able to continue her work for her family’.

Buhari, ACN accuse securities of incompetence

Erstwhile Head of State and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC 2011 presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in their reactions lamented that the security agencies were lazy, incompetence and unprofessional and are incapable of addressing the security situation in the country.

While Buhari flayed the official government response to the security challenge as lazy, the ACN on its part chided President Goodluck Jonathan’s security advisers for running out of ideas on the insecurity in the land.

In two separate statements yesterday, Buhari and the ACN nevertheless condemned the spate of bombings in the country and called on the Boko Haram group to lay down their arms.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro with journalists.

The statements followed last weekend bombing of the Abuja United Nations building.

Whilst condemning the UN bombing as horrendous and a scare on the emotion, Buhari commiserated with the families of the bereaved and the injured.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Buhari was quoted as “frowning at the lazy official response that has accompanied serial challenges to security in the country.

Coordinated response

“There has yet to be any coordinated response by the security forces in the country. It is unprofessional and incompetent for our security agencies to surrender to this omnibus Boko Haram as the only clue to every security challenge.”

He said such portends serious danger to the country: “What that means that even foreign interest can enter Nigeria today and wreck havoc and issue a statement in the name of Boko Haram and we will bury our dead and life continues”.

Expressing his condolence to the families of the victims the former Head of State said:
“It is my prayer that the Almighty will comfort all the bereaved and bring speedy recovery to all the wounded” he said.

The ACN on its part equally affirmed that the President’s advisers may have run out of ideas.

In the statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said that the continued insecurity in the land had the potential of scaring foreign investors away from the country.

‘’The President should know by now that his advisers have run out of ideas as far as the issue of Boko Haram and insecurity in the land is concerned. He should therefore look beyond himself and his advisers in seeking a way out of the quagmire in which the country has found itself.

‘’When we called for some form of engagement with Boko Haram, many criticized the idea. But we will like to repeat here that nothing short of a constructive engagement with the sect will give an insight into whatever its grievances are.

‘’For those who are more fixated on whether or not members of the group should be granted amnesty, we say engagement is not the same as amnesty,’’ ACN said.

The party also repeated its call for a National Stakeholders Security Meeting to help find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity of lives and property in the country as it assured the government of its readiness to cooperate with the government on the issue.

The party said it is indeed very worried at the ease with which Boko Haram has penetrated military barracks, police headquarters and now the UN building, all of them supposedly well fortified, saying the sect has struck at the time and place of its own choosing, without any hindrance, and could do it again.

‘’This is one more reason why the government should rise up to the occasion. After all, the raison d’etre of any government is the welfare and security of its citizens,’’ it said.

The party lastly warned against any knee-jerk reaction that may result from the government being driven into a panic mode, saying indications are that the increasing militarization of the polity has failed to stem the attacks.

It’s time to unmask these evil doers, Makinde, Osu plead with FG

The Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Ola Makinde and the Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, in their reactions said this is the time for the Federal Government to muster the political will required and unmask the perpetrators of these evil acts.

Meanwhile in a telephone interview, Monsignor Osu described the attack as a very sad development, saying that the Federal Government must demonstrate to the international community that we are serious about the war on terrorism by unmasking the perpetrators of the incessant bomb attacks on innocent citizens.

According to him, the nation’s security outfit cannot tell the world that they do not know the perpetrators because even the members of the so called Boko Haram that have claimed responsibility for the attack are not spirits. “They are people known to the security operatives and they must move in to arrest them and prosecute them for crimes against the nation,” Osu argued adding that the time to do that is now.

Attack is a ploy to make country ungovernable —Police Affairs Minister

Police Affairs minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) has said that the attack on members of the global community in Nigeria has clearly shown that some people were just bent on making the country ungovernable and create international embarrassment for the nation.

“Enough is enough. Government will take all available measures to get at the perpetrators of this act of wickedness and their backers. We have a legitimate government in place and will not allow anybody or group to undermine the security of its people and foreigners alike” he said.

According to him, “No religion or political leaning justifies this kind of wanton destruction of innocent lives and property; so Nigerians must rise and not only condemn those behind this and previous attacks but join hands with the police and other security agencies to forestall future occurrences”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/bombing-of-un-building-death-toll-rises/

I am 110% sure that your mum didn't pronounce it like that, definitely someone has lost touch with her Yoruba writing skill and has been taking lectures from the wrong teacher.

[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=590933.msg9021761#msg9021761 date=1314464468]Nice.  I heard a lot of Obey and Barrister as well, while growing up.  Being more of a traditionalist in my music taste, I am really happy to be rediscovering the earlier ones all over again.  Haruna Ishola - I was familiar with the name, but really didn't remember much of his songs. 

Another thing I'd love to see more of is an avenue for the "no-name" Nigerian traditional musicians to get their music out there and gain some fame and more financial reward for their talent and hard work.  For example, we have this drummer/singers that come to our house every holiday and play the most lovely brilliant praise-songs.  With their talking drums and impromptu orikis, it is truly something to witness.  I used to look forward to it every year.

I have a video of one of the bands during the last holiday, but you can see mother in the foreground getting her musical groove on, lol.  If I could edit her owanbe-loving self out, I'd post it. lol.  I wish those travelling musicians had an avenue to get their music to a wider audience, similar to what American no-talents are able to do by inundating Youtube with their karaoke nonsense. 

Seriously, eni to l'ori o ni fila, eni to ni fila o l'ori.[/quote]Am waiting for the unedited video please. Thanks in advance for posting it. 



[quote author=isale_gan2 link=topic=590933.msg9023199#msg9023199 date=1314477729]She just called me on phone now - I tell you no lie.  What should I tell her? 

She's fretting about the Abuja bombing; says she was told not to travel near mainland bridge in Lagos, nitori won n so'pe won tun ma so bomb si'be na. 

And of course, she went to a party today. lol.  Is the sky blue?!  A friend's birthday:  "Nise ni ori mi n wu ni.  Gbogbo awon omo e. . .won plan 60th birthday e, won surprise e ni o.  Gbobgo won no wa!"  hahahahahahaha.[/quote]What is that? Yoruba or Egun? I guess Katsumoto has been giving you some Yoruba lessons. 

chaircover:
As for me I prefer practicality to style

They both look pretty uncomfortable to lie on

The sofa below is excellent for those winter nights watching nollywood & smooching Mr CC

Hmnnnnn! I didn't read that. I comment my reserve.

What is wrong with your legs? In fact you should pack the car you are driving now.

Haven't you heard that 5 miles walk a day is good for your health?

He is more concerned with you getting to point B healthy, than getting there in style

[quote author=tony_runo link=topic=266144.msg9024930#msg9024930 date=1314510392]Sup y'all,

Need the forms for the police report as well. My email ad: tonyruno@yahoo.com

Thanks a lot.[/quote]http://www.nigeriacrb.com/Police%20Report%20Form.pdf

citisecure:
Hello,

It's always online with full information on how to complete the form and sample of the completed form on www.nigeriacrb.com

also you can check the nigeriacrb.com group on facebook.

Hope people gain from this.

David

Thank you David.

Women! Shouldn't you be praising and worshiping him now?

What shall it profit a woman if she gains an X5 and continue to pay high rent to her landlord? 

In others words, the experts are saying our commander in chief and our security officers are incompetent

[size=13pt]Blast could have been averted – Experts[/size]

Security experts are blaming government bureaucracy and lethargy on the part of the intelligence community for the ease with which terrorists pick their targets leaving behind  casualties.

Diplomatic sources told Sunday Vanguard that those charged with tackling the security challenges posed by Boko Haram are playing with the destiny of the nation. “See how these terrorists strike their targets at will. From tomorrow, you will see the National Security Adviser summoning meetings of security chiefs, you will see them blocking all the exit and entry points in and out of Abuja, yet simple intelligence have been failing them”, one of the sources stated.

The source said the attack on the UN building in Abuja could have been averted if the security and intelligence communities have  been proactive and global in their interpretation of the events around them.  “We warned that the events in the Arab world, specially the political turmoil in Libya, could filter to Nigeria because of the religious colouration.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/blast-could-have-been-averted-experts/

[size=13pt]UN House attack: FBI agents storm Nigeria[/size]

LAGOS – (AFP) – FBI agents have arrived in Nigeria following a suicide attack at UN headquarters in the capital Abuja that has left at least 19 people dead, a US embassy spokeswoman said Saturday.

“The FBI is on the ground at the request of the Nigerian government,” said Deborah MacLean. She said she was unsure of the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and could not provide further details.

Friday’s suicide attack saw the bomber penetrate tight security and ram his car into the building.



A man claiming to be a spokesman for Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attack, but there has been no proof and police were considering all possibilities.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/un-house-attack-fbi-agents-storm-nigeria/

^You have been unbanned. Dont repost your last posts. It will become visible when un-tagged by the antispam bot

^Thought as much. Will get the authority to look at it. Sorry about it.

who are you? list all your monikers ban by the anti spam bot

What a reason for killing people

[size=13pt]Drogba taken to hospital after head injury[/size]

LONDON-(AFP) – Didier Drogba was taken to hospital after suffering a horrific head injury in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over 10-man Norwich on Saturday.

Drogba was knocked out in a collision with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy and was carried off on a stretcher wearing what appeared to be a breathing aid after receiving treatment for seven minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas revealed Drogba had remained unconscious “for quite some time” and he confirmed the 33-year-old had been taken to hospital for further examination.

“We are just waiting for the full exams on his concussion and hopefully nothing is wrong,” Villas-Boas said.

“He is showing some good signs of recovery for us to be a little bit more tranquil.”

Villas-Boas cleared Ruddy of any blame for the challenge, but admitted he had been shocked by the incident.

“It looked pretty nasty. He lost consciousness completely on the pitch,” Villas-Boas said.

“I have to be very, very grateful, not only to my players but to the Norwich players and to my medical staff for reacting so quickly to a potentially dangerous situation.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/drogba-taken-to-hospital-after-head-injury/