₦airaland Forum

Over 20 charter flight operators in the country
have suspended their services indefinitely.
The suspension was as a result of the $3,000 fee
imposed by the Nigerian Airspace Management
Agency on airlines involved in non-scheduled
operations, it was learnt on Wednesday.
The spokesperson for the carriers, who is also a
senior official of the Airline Operators of
Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Tukur, told our
correspondent that the private airlines had
decided to embark on an indefinite strike.
NAMA on Monday announced that all foreign
registered aircraft engaging in non-scheduled
operations would from November 18, 2013, pay
the sum of $3,000 as departure fee except for
round trips without changes in passenger
manifest, or return ferry.
It also stated that all registered Nigerian aircraft
that engaged in non-scheduled operations would
henceforth pay the sum of $2,500 before every
departure.
Tukur said, “We have been on strike since
yesterday (Tuesday) and we have not operated
since then. When I say we, I mean the private jet
owners, especially those who are on charter
operations and there are about 20 airlines that
have been on strike since then.
“For instance, Arik Air has its own small aircraft
that can be used for charter services but right
now, they are grounded and are not in
operation. So, no airline that is involved in
charter flight is operating.”
He named some of the carriers involved in the
industrial action as Skypower Express Airways,
Gyro Air, Skyjet Air, Skybird Air, Kings Air and
Jedd Air.
Others are Izy Air, Topbrass Air, Air Ambulance,
Pan African Air and Weaslink Air.
The President, Aviation Round Table, a body of
industry professionals, Capt. Dele Ore,
expressed doubt if the proceeds from the
charges would be used to develop the sector.
He said, “I am not
convinced that this is
not just another way
of collecting money without judiciously using it.
Because there is so much money in the system,
there is a lot of misappropriation.
“If they are going to use this to improve the
system, then it will be okay. If they collect this
amount, it should not end up in some people’s
pockets or be used for irrelevant things.”
Ore warned that other countries might be forced
to do the same to Nigerian airlines operating
outside the country, adding, “If we are doing
something that we cannot defend, people will
retaliate and take it on us in future.”
He stated that airlines and passengers would
suffer the outcome of such policy, as the carriers
were bound to pass the exorbitant charges to
the air travellers.
The spokesperson for NAMA, Mr. Supo
Atobatele, said the airlines were being charged
“on the basis of pay-as-you-go.”
He said, “No airline is grounded. They are only
asked to pay for services that they enjoy.”
NAMA said that serious non-scheduled flight
operators were still flying.
The agency refuted the claims that non-
scheduled operators had been grounded.
A statement by the agency said, “We wish to
inform the public, especially aviation
stakeholders, that serious non-scheduled
operators are still operating their normal flights
at our various airports.
“The few operators who could not operate are
those who have yet to comply with the new
regime.
“As of midday today (Wednesday), more than 30
operators had paid the requisite fee and are
freely enjoying our services.”
[Punch

Hausa Facebook Forum Praying for
President's Death Emerges After
His Sickness in London
Unbelievably, a Hausa Facebook forum erupted
spontaneously in prayers for the President's
death after it was revealed that he had been
admitted in a London Hospital after a slight
indisposal. Unfortunately for the group, God
quickly healed the President and he was
discharged this morning in time enough to attend
the Honorary International Investors Council
meeting in London where he gave his speech to a
resounding ovation.
It would be recalled that there was wild
jubilation in certain parts of the North, especially
Kaduna state, after the death of Patrick Yakowa,
the first Christian governor of the state.
Please see the evidence of the forum's hatred
below.
www.naijapundit.com/news/hausa-facebook-forum-praying-for-president-s-death-emerges-after-his-sickness-in-london
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa
17 HOURS AGO via mobile
DAGA BIRNIN LONDON. game da rashin
JONATHAN.mai magana da yawun
jonathan,REUBEN ABATI,ya bukaci yan nigeria
dasu kwantar da hankalinsu domin shugaba
Gudluck yana samun sauki daga gadon asibitin da
aka kwantar dashi acan birnin london,abati yace
ciwon baiyi tsananiba sosai.
Like · Comment · Share
Bashir Argungu likes this.
Khalil Sani Allah ya rabamuda mugun iri
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Koh?
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Umar Bello Umar kai mustafa kafito fili
katayamu dacewa Allah yaraba mutanen nigeria
da wannan mugun iri muhuta.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Ajnabi Shugaba allah yasa yayi tsanani
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa @UMAR BELLO
UMAR.ka rufa mani asiri idan na mutum maza su
binneni ba mata ba.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Galadiman Ruwa Babba Allah yasa Adawo da
gawanshi Dan mu bamu bukatan yadawo lafia
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Auwal Babajo Allah yasa dagachan yashige
Barzaku.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmm.
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Ibrahim Sale ALLAH yatsanantamai yaddaya
tsanantamana
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Husaini Umar Yamusa zakara garin tone-tone zai
tono wuqa fa!
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Jamilu Valdez Allah yakara stanantawa ameen
16 HOURS AGO · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa @HUSSAINI
UMAR.kamar yaya?
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Yusuf Mai Rakumi
Dankande Aibaarokamamutum mutuwa ai
murnarmutuwa murnarbanza kuce allah
yashiryeshi
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Kaji gaskiyar
magana@dankande>
15 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Hassan Abubakar Sadeeq Allah yagaugauta
mutuwarsa yakawo mana shugaba mafi adalci
ameen.
14 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmmmm.
13 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Abu Sha'aban Mudai haryanzu hankalinmu
baikwanta ba dayamutune dahankalinmu zaifi
kwanciya
7 HOURS AGO · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Baban sha,aban ya
lagos?
5 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Austine Nicholas YA YESU KA BABAWANKA
LAFIA DA HAMZARI.
4 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Abu Sha'aban Lafiyaqalau malam mustapha
nadawo kaduna yanzu
4 HOURS AGO · Like
Mohammed Saleh Ayidai mugani gaba mubada
labari wait ana cinikin kura da akaba kare la, ada
saiyace karba tafikyau.
2 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Tahir Tanko Abin na bani mamaki yadda wandan
su ke fatan mutuwan wani,ba shiriyan sa ba, duk
kafircin sayyidina Umar (r.a) a lokacin da bai
musulunta ba, annabi muhd (s.a.w) bai mai fatan
mutuwa ba sai da shiriya da ya shiga
musulunci.To in tunamaku,wai shin bai hallata
bane ba mu yi mai fatan shiga musulunci sai dai
fatan ya mutu ba musulmi ba?
2 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Hadiza Mohammad MALAM KA ZAMA
SAKATAREN YADA LABARAI NE?
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO · Like · 1
Choose…
1. Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa
2. 18 HOURS AGO via mobile
1. An garzaya da GUDLUCK JONATHAN asibiti a
kasar london,ayau ne dai shugaba jonathan
yakamata ya halarci taron da masu zuba jari a
birnin london,to amma bai samu dama halartar
taron ba samakon rashin lafiya me tsanani da ya
gamu dashi a birnin london,likitocin shidai sun
bukaceshi da yasamu waje ya huta maimakon
halartar wani taro.source from sahara reporters.
2. Like · Comment · Share
1.
2 people like this.
Aliyu Abubakar Pressure "tsuntsun da yaja ruwa"
allah ya kawar mana dashi zuwa mafi alkhairi.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa @ALIYU.bazaka
yimashi adu,a bane?
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Aliyu Abubakar @yamusa wannan ba addu'a na yi
ba?ko dama kayi postin ne don ayi mashi addu'ar
lafya?
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Ummmmh
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Dini Madu Birni Zazzau Fatanmu allah abunda
yaniya akansa karya fasa.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Ya za,ayi inyiwa
gudluck adu,a?
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Galadiman Ruwa Babba Allah karkasa yadawo da
kansa sai dai adawo da gawarsa
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Nifa babu ruwa na da
gudluck.saboda shima baya yiwa kasarnan fatan
alheri.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Auwal Babajo Allah yasa dagachan yashige
barzaku.
17 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Ibrahim Sale ALLAH yasadagacen sai barxawu
karyadawo nigeria
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 2
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmmmm.
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmmmm.
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Auwal Babajo UHmmmmm
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmm.no comment.
16 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Lawal Salisu Zaria yadai Alh mustaphaSee
Translation
15 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Hassan Abubakar Sadeeq Ai bawanda zaiyiwa
shugaba azzalimi adu'a @ yamusa rigasa.
14 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 2
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa koh?
13 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Galadiman Ruwa Babba Allah dan zatinka kai
gaggawan daukan ransa
13 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Katung Habila Allah yasj jonathan ya samu yaji
sauki ameen.pdp power
12 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Abdulbasir A Kuraye Ya Allah don Sunayenka
kyawawa kada Ka tada kafadunsa. Ka karbi
rayuwarsa domin bawanKane azzalumi.
12 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Abu Sha'aban Kaga rashin adalchi kamata yayi
adawodashi gida nigeria yakwanta a asibitin
gwamnati tareda talakawa Allah duk abinda
yafizama Alkhairin agaremu Allah katabbatar
mana dashi
11 HOURS AGO · Like
Hassan Ibrahim Musa Allah kasa karshen
zaluncinsa ne yazo,idan kuma zai tashi to Allah
ka hadashi da cutar barin jiki.
11 HOURS AGO via mobile · Edited · Like
Mustapha YaMusa Rigasa Hmmmmm.
5 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like
Austine Nicholas YA ALLAH KA BASHI LAFIYA
SOSAI A CHIKIN SUNAN YESU CRISTY. AMIN
4 HOURS AGO via mobile · Like · 1
Usman Jalal TOFA ANA DADA GA DARE YAYI!!,
DADINA DA MUTUWA BATADA SABO; AMMAFA
KADA KUMANTA ZAFIN CIWO BASHINE
MUTUWABA KUMA MRNAN MUTUWA MURNAN
BANZA' (YA ALLAH KAJIKAN SHUGABA YAR
ADUWA KA KAI RAHAMA KABARINSA)DUK NA
ANNABI YACE AMIN!!!
ABOUT AN HOUR AGO · Like
Abu Sha'aban Ameen
44 MINUTES AGO · Like
0 comments

President Jonathan addressed the ongoing Honourary International Investors' Council meeting today in London having made a speedy recovery.

After apologising for his absence yesterday, President Jonathan said Nigeria's attained momentum on the drive to attract new investors.
In sickness and in health President Jonathan continues to look for avenues to advance the interest of Nigeria.

For the full statement on the President's comments to the HIIC, pls see http:///oGosAXeKTA

GOD BLESS THE PRESIDENT!
GOD BLESS THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA !!

Photo credit : Reno Omokri

Lusola15: With or with npdp. I don't think dey can

I can't agree with u. More

Malam Nasiru Elrufai made a big political blunder today painting the APC as a party that can not win Election without G7
as soon as soon as Reno Tweeted his surrender' he cried foul forcing PREMUIM TIMES to pull down the story

Below is the message u will see when u visit their website



APOLOGIES: We have pulled down the story as we investigate allegations of wrong quote(s) in it.

SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW BEFORE THE PULL DOWN


The interim deputy publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that the need for an ”incremental change” made it inevitable for the opposition party to seek alliance with strong and willing politicians across the country.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory made this known at the ongoing 15th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival, LABAF, during a discussion focused on his book, The Accidental Public Servant.

Mr. El-Rufai was responding to a member of the audience who was critical of the recent visit of APC leaders to some members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The national leaders of the APC had, in the last two weeks, being on a tour of some states ruled by the PDP, taken advantage of the myriad of crises tearing the PDP apart by visiting the party’s leaders in order to woo them to the APC.

To emphasise the need for a broader alliance to defeat the ruling party, Mr. El-Rufai made reference to the few number of votes, about 100,000, polled by late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi.

Mr. El-Rufai noted that the late Mr. Fawehinmi had massive goodwill from the people and was detained over 30 times, yet, he could not command a political fight against the ruling party. He also referenced a similar alliance formed against former military Head of State, Sani Abacha.

“The G18 was formed by northern leaders who felt the fight against Abacha must be seen to start from his backyard (the north), and in alliance with the ongoing clamour by leaders from the south, such as Afenifere.

”G18 were all enemies before (but) they managed to push the envelope and reach out across the Niger to fight Abacha; this is what led to the founding members of the PDP,” he said.

Mr. El-Rufai lamented that in 2013, the nation was back to that era. He added that it was, therefore, necessary for leaders, who wanted to save the country, to come together.

”Political parties have become the cancer that is destroying the country. That is why leaders are coming together to form APC. Ten years ago, Bola Tinubu and co were just happy about their control of the southwest, but they decided to take a quantum leap to join the central move because they realised that if we have a wrong president, it will wrongly affect their region.

”The country would run better if the president had less power,” he noted.

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/149669-apc-must-seek-alliance-estranged-pdp-members-el-rufai-elrufai.html

A legally blind man was kicked off a US
Airways flight Wednesday night after
crew members grew upset over his
seeing eye dog, Doxy. Also given the
boot? About 30 other passengers, who
effectively mutinied over the man's
treatment, causing the flight to be
canceled.
In an interview with ABC Philadelphia,
Albert Rizzi explained that after the
flight took more than an hour to take
off, his dog became restless and
moved out from under the seat in
front of him to curl up under his legs.
At that, he says a flight attendant
instructed him to move the dog, which
he attempted to do.
"[The flight attendant] came back and
said to him, 'You've got about a minute
to get this straightened out,'" one
passenger recalled to ABC New York.
"And he tried to do whatever he could,
and she went back to the front of the
plane. We were taxiing like we were
going to take off. And at that point in
time, we're about to take off, and all
the sudden the captain gets on the PA
and says we have to head back to the
terminal."
The airline told NBC Philadelphia that
Doxy had walked into the aisle, a
statement Rizzi denies. Either way, the
plane returned to the terminal, where
Rizzi and his guide dog were escorted
off.
Once other passengers realized Rizzi
was getting kicked off, however, they
started to voice their disagreement.
"When we, the passengers, realized
what was going on, we were, like,
'Why is this happening? He's not a
problem. What is going on?'"
passenger Frank Ohlhorst told ABC
Philadelphia. "And we all kind of
raised our voices and said, 'This is a
real problem.' The captain came out of
the cockpit and he basically asked us
all to leave the aircraft."
The flight was subsequently canceled,
and many passengers traveled from
Philadelphia to Long Island, N.Y., their
intended destination, via a bus paid
for by US Airways.
In an emailed statement to The
Huffington Post, US Airways says Rizzi
"became disruptive and refused to
comply with crew member
instructions when the flight attendant
asked him to secure his service dog at
his feet. As a result of his disruptive
behavior, the crew returned to the
gate and removed Mr. Rizzi and his
service dog from the flight."
As for Rizzi, he says he's grateful for
the support of other passengers.
"These people, all of them, got on a bus
and drove 3 and a half hours from
Philadelphia," he told ABC
Philadelphia. "They could have stayed
on the plane, but they chose not to. I'm
so humbled.



m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4275353?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Electoral reforms = promise fulfilled
Jega is doing well. Zero interference

Boko Haram Promise fulfilled SOE in place good progress mad .

Asian Tiger = go to Aba , Onitsh Nnewi ass see how he has encouraged Local manufacturer BOI is doing a good Job as locally Manufactured Vehicles now favoured ask Innoson bizness has been good


Corruption ? He has not fulfilled this ,the Odua case will be a litmus test , but the prosecution of the oil thieves is progressing well but Naija Judiciary is too slow !

Agriculture with the massive production of Excess rice and the cocoa been Nigeria's second highest export earner that's a promise fulfilled

Rail = promise made promise delivered , air-conditioned coaches with full entertainment services. Nigerian railways have never had it this good


Steel = promised delivered ,after obasanjo bas deal with Indian global steel he was able to secure the ajaokuta steel complex via arbitration with the russians now set to take over . Private sector steel manufacturing now at its peak with several multi million dollar factory been commissioned

Power ?? Promised yet to be delivered , PHCN now privatised the process has began time will tell!

Give GEJ some credit he has not done badly

A president, APC said was clueless is revamping sports ,
For the First time in our countries History we were on the Medals Table at IAAF

After almost 2 decade of disappointments at the African cup of Nations the CUP returned to Naija

Yes we failed woefully at the Olympics but our galant paralypians wiped our shame and were duly rewarded

On fri we made history as the first nation to lift the U17 world cup 4 times with a goal tally never before matched by any team .

Sports has been given its rightful place by a president who knows how to get results APC had no choice to than to hail this achievement that was made possible by early camping and good motivation .

GOD BLESS NIGERIA

Despite attempts by Enemies of this Nation to make the President spend A chunk of the Budget Tackling Boko haram , he Has made good progress, it was Albert Einstein who said ''you don't solve today's problems with yesterdays Solutions '' with GEJ I see Innovation and unique actions geared towards taking us to the promise land, these were missing in previous administrations and despite the activities Of e-rats ,e-lizards and e -leeches ,he is Not A SHOW MAN his achievement will speak when the time comes .

GOD BLESS NIGERIA

While we are quick to hail pot bellied men who demand a respect they never deserve this picture should remind us of something

Lesser men demand respect without earning it
while great men command respect without
uttering a word. Shared by Reno Omokri
Special Assistant to the president on New Media
pic.twitter.com/c4fVeNUtlR

Motorists driving along the Abuja-Lokoja
highway at this time should be extra careful.
A thick fog has enveloped some parts of the road,
rendering visibility difficult beyond 70 metres on
most stretches of the highway.
Overtaking is difficult and fraught with danger,
a PREMIUM TIMES reporter driving on the road
said a while ago.
Although officers of the Federal Road Safety
Commission, FRSC, were sighted on the highway,
they were of little help.
It was not known if the FRSC issued any advisory
to guide motorists on this development. No such
advisory is available on its Facebook page and
twitter handle.
The road safety agency is one of the most
efficient government parastatals in Nigeria at
this time but has clearly missed out in warning
motorists on the danger of driving on the Abuja-
Lokoja highway at this time.

premiumtimesng.com/news/147761-breaking-danger-fog-envelopes-abuja-lokoja-highway-visibility-difficult.html

Degis: My friend, did you hear that Ekiti state Government has started her Employment drive for youths like you. Please, hurry while the offer last!

I don't Blame you ,guess you are one of those who feed from the ignorance of Nigerians

Jobless and lazy men have found a cheap way to defraud Nigerians , claiming ''pastor '' and desecrating the alter of God with all manner of Gymnastics and strange attitudes , what kind of deliverance will require a man Woman of ''GOD'' to place his/her hand on a woman'/mans private area this is satanic !

Nigerian churches just can’t stop giving us
something to talk about; if it’s not about the
“holy slap” it’s about extreme deliverance. Or
how can we describe the photo above with a
lady lying on the bare getting errm…
‘dispossessed’.
The deliverance style raises one too many
eyebrows though with hands strategically
placed on her private region all through the
session. Who knows, some sort of demon
might be lurking around that area which needs
to be urgently exorcised.
We still can’t get over deliverance style
though. What do you think?
www.ynaija.com/photo-of-the-day-this-is-one-church-deliverance-taken-too-far-below/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

There have been reports of missing Somali Pirates off the coast of the Horn of Africa. Many news sources over look this story but Somali pirates are disappearing, or to say when they set sail, not all of them return.

Tales of ghastly evil creatures lurking below devour their tiny boats and some use ammo too quickly which then can anger those slimy beasts whatever they are.

seamonster

Perhaps its a submarine, but more likely a living breathing squid like giant sea serpent monster that lurks in the oceans below.

Even the Somali Pirates are scared of the unknown when large vein like tentacles wraps itself around the person leaning over the edge and his team mates can not kill the bizarre beast!

seamon2

Underwater submarines won’t even tell the general public whats down at those or any depths of the sea. As long as the crew in the submarine keeps provoking those creature things to come up to the surface, its a perfect Somali Pirate deterrant. Its much an easier way to use the beasts of the sea to attack the enemy instead of using regular man power and search and rescue resources need not wasted.



http://www.boltedmedia.com/sea-monsters-are-eating-somalian-pirates/?utm_source=taboola

In a world where two men were insensitive enough to dress up as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman for a Halloween party, and a black college student is arrested at a high-end luxury department store for buying a belt, this teen's story will restore your faith in humanity.

In a series on kindness, the BBC recounted the incredible moment in 1996 when Keshia Thomas, an 18-year-old at the time, protected a man believed to be a white supremacist affiliated with the KKK from an angry mob.

127877391

In June of that year, the Ku Klux Klan held a rally at the city hall building in Ann Arbor, Mich. The town, whose population is known to be home to mostly liberals, came out in large numbers to protest the presence of the notoriously racist group. According to reports 300 anti-clan protestors showed up, while just 17 Klansmen were present.

Thomas was in the crowd of anti-clan protesters, when someone spotted a man in the crowd amongst them with an SS tattoo and a confederate flag shirt. The group, including Thomas, immediately chased the man.

keshia thomas

But, in a flash, the crowd went from controlled protestors to an angry mob, hitting the man with sticks and kicking him as he lay on the ground. In that moment, Thomas separated herself from the mob and threw herself on the man to protect him.

"When they dropped him to the ground, it felt like two angels had lifted my body up and laid me down," Thomas said.

keshia thomas

Thomas' act of true altruism was captured by photographer Mark Brunner in a series of photos, and it still inspires people to this day.

"She put herself at physical risk to protect someone who, in my opinion, would not have done the same for her," he said. "Who does that in this world?"

Even the police assigned to protect the Klan members felt conflicted. A retired police officer, shared his story with Ann Arbor news last year.

“Behind the faceshield, what bugged me was when the crowd chanted, "The cops and the Klan go hand in hand!" Inside you want to scream, "No! No! Don't you understand that is completely false? I'm here because it is my duty to protect all of you." Outwardly you stand, you say nothing and get ready to duck if necessary.”

Today, Thomas continues to work to make a difference, by doing simple things each and every day.

"The biggest thing you can do is just be kind to another human being. It can come down to eye contact, or a smile. It doesn't have to be a huge monumental act."

For more on Thomas’ story and how it serves as a catalyst for inspiring others to be kind take a look at the BBC story.

Nigerians have dominated Forbes Africa Person
of the Year shortlist, the US base business
website has announced. In its Forbes Africa page,
Forbes announced it had narrowed down its
shortlist, dominated by Nigerians, for the 2013
Person of the Year Awards.
The awards will take place in Nairobi, Kenya at
the beginning of December this year.An official
voting is also open to the public who can make
their selection of the individual they deem most
worthy of the Person of the Year title.
The Person of the Year Awards celebrate 'the
individual who, for better or worse, has had the
most influence on events of the year gone by' and
Forbes Africa has welcomed the participation of
the public in what is fast becoming one of the
most momentous and anticipated annual events
in Africa.
"Every year, we are excited to decide the Forbes
Africa Person of the Year. We want to honour the
big hitters of the continent who are making a
difference in people's lives and we hope that in
doing so, it will inspire others," commented Chris
Bishop, the managing editor of Forbes Africa
magazine.
The shortlist, comprising three Nigerians, one
South African and one Zimbabwean, is as
follows: *South African mining magnate, Patrice
Motsepe, plans on giving away more than half his
fortune over the next five years.
* Akinwunmi Adesina is Nigeria's Minister of
Agriculture and his vision is to make Nigeria a
self-sustaining, food-producing nation and
register 20 million farmers by 2015.
* Aliko Dangote is Africa's richest man and his
net worth has significantly increased on the back
of his continued business success, allowing him
to better the lives of millions.
* Strive Masiyiwa is the founder of global
telecoms group, Econet Wireless, and through
Capernaum Trust he educates tens of thousands
of Zimbabwean orphans.
*Jim Ovia established Zenith Bank Group in 1990
– now West Africa's second largest financial
services provider. His focus has turned to
helping grow Africa's budding 'techpreneurs'.

reubenabati.com.ng/THREE-MEMBERS-OF-PRESIDENT-JONATHANS-ECONOMIC.html

Photos: President Jonathan meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem http:///hdZpwQIqwX

A Ho Chi Minh City court on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old Nigerian man to death for smuggling more than 3.4 kg of synthetic drugs from Qatar to Vietnam in June 2012, VietnamBreakingNews reports.

Ejiogu Benjamin Ikechukwu, who arrived at HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport on June 23, 2012, was charged with illegally transporting drugs, the HCMC People’s Court said.

While examining Ikechukwu’s luggage upon his arrival, customs officers discovered 19 bags of white powder hidden in 16 metal cylinders and a laptop adapter. Tests conducted later showed that the powder was methamphetamine, a kind of synthetic drug.

Ikechukwu was arrested the same day and confessed that he was carrying the cylinders and adapter for a man named Onyekachi, who is still at large.

According to Ikechukwu’s testimony, Onyekachi said that when he arrived in Vietnam, someone would contact him to take pick up the goods.

Under Vietnam’s Penal Code, those who are convicted of smuggling more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine will be given a death sentence.

The capital penalty is also applied for those who are indicted for producing or selling 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics.

Several foreigners have recently been sentenced to death for smuggling drugs into Vietnam.

In June 2012, a Ho Chi Minh City court handed down the death penalty to a 23-year-old female student from Thailand for trafficking three kilograms of methamphetamine from Benin to Vietnam.

Death penalty statistics are not released in Vietnam, but the punishment is handed down most frequently to those convicted of murder or drug-trafficking.

Vietnam officially switched from the firing squad to lethal injection in November 2011.

However, a lack of lethal injection doses led to a delay of executions because the original decree stipulated that the drugs be imported from the European Union (EU).

On February 2, 2012 the southern Tay Ninh provincial court sentenced Chinese national Zhu Yin Xiang, 48, to death for trafficking over 1.3kg of heroin from Cambodia into Vietnam . Xiang was arrested on August 16, 2012, at the Moc Bai boder gate in the province .

Last October, a court also sentenced a 61-year-old Filipino woman to death for smuggling five kilograms of methamphetamine into the country.

In regards to the execution of death sentences, Vietnam switched from the firing squad to lethal injection in November 2011, under a decree from the Law on Criminal Verdict Execution, approved by the National Assembly in 2009.

However, the new execution method took years to implement due to a failure to import the necessary materials from the European Union (EU), which banned the exportation of lethal injection drugs because it considers capital punishment a violation of human rights.

Therefore, the Government amended the decree, allowing domestically produced drugs to be used for executions.

The decree took effect on June 27 and the first execution by lethal injection was carried out in Hanoi on August 6.

The EU banned the exportation of lethal injection drugs because it regards capital punishment to be a violation of human rights.

The Vietnamese government later amended the decree, which took effect on June 27, allowing domestic-made drugs.

Last August, Vietnam executed its first prisoner by lethal injection , ending a two-year pause in capital punishment.

There are currently 586 people on the death row in the country.

http://www.newissuesmagazine.com/vietnam-court-sentences-nigerian-man-ejiogu-benjamin-ikechukwu-death-drug-trafficking/

The pressure put on youths by the culture of get rich at all cost is responsible for such crime as drug trafficking. The culture of achievement is money and nothing else but money is responsible. I am not saying other tribes don't get involved in drug trafficking but when I was in Europe it seem to be one business . Boys are involved in. They just keep spoiling the image of Nigeria. We hope the Nigerian government will fight corruption within and help make Nigeria better for our youths.

GEORGE ONMONYA DANIEL
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10201572778895213&set=a.2185445389565.2123828.1049911280&type=1&theater

The Edo State
government has denied hosting Big Brother
Africa winner Dillish. According to a statement
from Prince Kassim Afegbu, Special Adviser to
the Governor on Media, the reports are false as
“ the Governor’s daily routines which are
usually available for public consumption and
can be confirmed from the Protocol
Department of the Governor’s Office or
Government House.”
However foremost Nigerian blogger, Linda
Ikeji countered the claim, stating that
technically Dillish did not visit Governor
Oshiomole in an official capacity but did so in a
private capacity.
Ikeji said, “So there’s a press statement from
Edo State government denying hosting BBA
winner, Dillish, last weekend. Well, they kinda
have a point…they can say the government
didn’t host her, but Governor Adams
Oshiomhole hosted her…and that’s fact! She
wasn’t hosted at the government house, but
the governor’s private house in Edo state.
“Dillish and a few other girls were there on
Saturday October 19th (for those wondering
why she didn’t make an appearance at Selly’s
party in Abuja that day) and I have the low
down of everything that went down but I will
leave all that out because after all said and
done, Gov Oshimhole is a single man. I can also
tell you one thing for free, Dillish gave a
condition for accepting the invitation..she
would only pay a courtesy visit and nothing
more. All parties agreed!”
Ikeji pointed out that the response from the
Government was not completely true.
The statement from Edo State Government is
found below:
EDO STATE GOVERNMENT DID NOT HOST
BBA’S DILLISH.
Our attention has been drawn to a news report
in Daily Independent of Friday, October 25,
2013, where one Mr. Eddie Iroh was quoted as
expressing displeasure on a rumoured hosting
of Dillish, the winner of Big Brother Africa. In
the said report, Eddie Iroh was said to have
“condemned the Governor for spending state’s
funds so recklessly”.
The report added that “ the likes of Governors
Oshiomhole, Fashola and Dickson who are in
the habit of dipping their hands into public
funds on such ventures should have known
that in civilized climes, such celebrations were
funded from the Governors’pockets and not
public funds”. How libelous!
From the above, it is obvious that Mr. Eddie
Iroh is suffering from brain wave. First, it
would have been a thing of interest for Edo
State Government to host the said BBA winner,
Dillish, to justify her well-advertised
declaration in the BBA House that Edo State
people are very hospitable. That in itself was a
global endorsement that is purely priceless.
Again, if Dillish would agree, as a BBA
ambassador, Edo State Government would be
willing to host her in future to prove to cynics
and naysayers like Eddie Iroh that Edo State is
indeed, not only hospitable, but also a safe
haven for those who intend to do legitimate
business in the State. It will be a departure
from orchestrated and concocted stories often
peddled by jobless people like Eddie Iroh, who
rather than devote their old age to reflect on
their absurdities when they called the shots,
have now taken to the cyber space for surfing
cheap gossip, chit-chat and unfounded
allegations.
To the best of our knowledge, Edo State did not
host Dillish in whatever material particular.
This could be verified from the Governor’s
daily routines which are usually available for
public consumption and can be confirmed from
the Protocol Department of the Governor’s
Office or Government House. Mr. Eddie Iroh’s
comment is pure hallucination. Eddie Iroh’s
story is an open sore that is festered with
several incongruities, inanities, ambiguities
and failing memory. He should provide
evidence to show that Governor Oshiomhole
dips his hands into public funds to host his
private visitors or simply keep his mouth shut.
We have gone past the age of Eddie Iroh, an
age of those men of yesterday, who abused
public institutions they presided over, to fest
their nest at the expense of tax payers’ money.
In Edo State, we are not only accountable to the
people; we have also earned their respect and
trust.
Signed
PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBU
SPECIAL ADVISER MEDIA & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
TO THE EDO STATE GOVERNOR

mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/clara-chime-first-lady-enugu-state-begs-human-rights-groups-release-her-house-arrest-impos

Clara Chime, the First Lady of Enugu State,
says Governor Sullivan Chime, has placed her
under house arrest, and has cried out for
assistance to reach human rights bodies to
rescue her.
In a letter dripping with pain and suffering,
Mrs. Chime disclosed that she married Mr.
Chime in October 2008 but that she has been
unable to share the matrimonial bed with
him for over four years.
Describing her desperate situation, she said
that even President Goodluck Jonathan and
First Lady Patience Jonathan have intervened
with her husband without success.
“My father is late, my Mum and few of my
siblings are confused and have done all kinds
of prayers they know of, 3 of my siblings
prefers me dead than to see me leave the
Government house. He treats my Mum and
my siblings bad,” she wrote.
The Enugu State First Lady said she has been
introduced to two psychiatrists whose names
she gave as Dr. Onwukwe and Dr. Agumo,
who have prescribed “all kinds of drugs that
ends up keeping me acute depressed and also
drives me into hallucinations.”
The doctors, she noted, are scared of her
husband the Governor, to whom nobody can
tell the truth.
According to the letter, the Catholic Bishop
of Enugu state (Callistus Onaga), and top
priests have come to intervene, as have
the President and the First Lady of the nation,
without success.
Mrs. Chime further complains that Governor
Chime has ordered her to leave with her four-
year old son whom she conceived before
their wedding. However, the governor,
according to her, later threatened to disown
the boy should she leave with him.
“He has told everyone he can reach that there
is no marriage between us that I can leave if I
wish to but whenever I plan to leave he
instructs them to lock me in. I have told him
through Sms that I will leave my son behind
and leave alone but still he instructed
his securities to lock me inside the house.”
Mrs. Chime further complains she has lost
touch with the real world and all that makes
her beautiful because of the side effects of
the drugs she is taking, stressing that she is
under house arrest for committing no crime.
Of the situation in Government House, she
said, “He does not take care of me personally,
the government gives me allowance to run
the house and that's where I save little from
to take care of my elf, my Mum and few of my
siblings,” she said in the letter. He shut me
out of his life years ago; I don't have access to
his apartment. The problem is enormous; I
don't know where to start to explain from.”
She said that even the security detail in the
lodge has resorted to praying for her, while
the few that can be bought with money are
taking advantage of the situation.
“Police and SS men have been instructed by
Br Sullivan Chime to confine me in a place for
a long time now against my wish [but] it is my
wish to leave these premises,” she said,
begging, “Please assist me to reach to the
human rights and say to them to please come
hastily and release me.”

“They (Nigerian scammers) all have been hired to
run the Obamacare website,” the senator was
quoted as saying.
The Nigeria Embassy in Washington on Friday
formally protested the slandering of its citizens
as `scammers’ by U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz of Texas,
on Monday.
“You are no doubt aware of the reaction of
Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to a statement
credited to your good self on the above.
“Our immediate reaction at the Embassy is to
assume that you were wrongly quoted and that
the statement would be denied. We are,
however, surprised that this has not happened.
“We have no choice than to assume that the
statement was deliberately made by you,’’ Ade
Adefuye, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., said in
a letter addressed to the congressman on Friday.
“For a start, we are shocked that a high profile
senator of a country, which is at the forefront in
building a peaceful and stable world in which
nations and peoples treat each other with mutual
respect could be engaged in an act which offends
the sensitivities of an important component of
his constituency.
“Distinguished senator, I am sure you are
sufficiently familiar with the constructive
contributions which Nigerians have made to
economic, social and political lives of Texas,
especially in the Houston area.
“Every country has its own share of law
breakers. To use the activities of few as an
opportunity to cast aspersions on the integrity of
a country and its people is not only unfair but
also excessively offensive.
“You yourself made the point that the so-called e-
mail scammers have disappeared from the scene.
But it is not because they were recruited to work
on Obamacare.
“It is because of the successful efforts of our
government working through the embassy and
the international law enforcing agents to curb the
activities of these few law breakers,’’ the envoy
said.
He, however, noted that it was not the practice of
any Nigerian diplomatic mission to interfere in
the domestic affairs of the host country.
Mr. Adefuye added that Nigeria would not sit
back, fold its arms while a politician assaulted the
integrity of the country and people in the process
of appeasing the base instincts of a few
misguided elements in his constituency.
“Distinguished senator, the least we can say is
that Nigerians feel offended by you. They
demand an apology,’’ Mr. Adefuye said.
More Nigerians react.
More Nigerians have expressed displeasure over
the remarks made Mr. Cruz.
Mr. Cruz was quoted as saying that the new
Affordable Care Act exchange Website of the U.S.
was being run by Nigerian email scammers.
“You may have noticed that all the Nigerian email
scammers have become a lot less active lately,”
Mr. Cruz was quoted by U.S. media as saying at a
gathering with supporters in Houston. “They all
have been hired to run the Obamacare website.”
Habib Habu, the Consul General, Consulate
General of Nigeria in New York, urged the
senator to withdraw the comment and offer
unreserved apology to Nigeria and Nigerians.
“I would remind Senator Cruz that Nigerians are
the most educated immigrant community in the
U.S.
“There is no sphere of human endeavour that a
Nigerian has not excelled in the U.S…
“Nigeria doesn’t deserve this unfortunate and
unwarranted maligning of its people for a cheap
political shot,’’ Mr. Habu said in a note to the
North America correspondent of the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
Acho Orabuchi, a Nigerian Community leader in
the U.S., said it was rather unfortunate and
unbecoming of a Senator of the U.S. to denigrate
another country, especially a friendly country to
the U.S…
“For Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to ridicule and
disparage Nigeria and its citizens in an effort to
appeal to his Tea Party congregation or political
base is beneath his esteemed office.
“In fact, I’m appalled and terribly disappointed in
Sen. Ted Cruz’s comment about Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a peace-loving country that cherishes
its friendship with the U.S., I hope that people
like Sen. Cruz would not strain a relationship
that has been nurtured for so long.
“It will be appropriate for Sen. Cruz to apologise
to Nigeria and Nigerians, who are law-abiding
citizens of the U.S,’’ Mr. Orabuchi said.





premiumtimesng.com/news/147327-nigeria-formally-protests-slander-citizens-u-s-senator.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nigeria-formally-protests-slander-citizens-u-s-senator

There was pandemonium in Gada-Biyu
community in Kwali Area Council when a goat
delivered a kid with only two legs and without
eyes.
The owner of the goat, Malam Muhammadu
Dantani, told City News that the delivery, which
occurred at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday caught him
unawares.
He said since he bought the she-goat over five
years ago, it has always given birth to two kids
without difficulty.
He described the incident as the supremacy of
God.
“Residents from neighbouring communities as
well as some passers-by who got wind of the
incident have been trooping into the community
to catch a glimpse of the young goat,” he said.
Dantani said the kid goat could neither crawl nor
move, as such he carries it in his hand while the
mother breastfeeds it.
He added that his family members were scared to
go close to the goat.
“But unfortunately, the goat died later in the
evening and was buried at the backyard,” he
added

The Federal Government said on Tuesday
that it had surpassed its growth targets in
eight out of the 14 broad sectors of the
Nigerian economy under the Transformation
Agenda.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran
Maku, stated this in Abuja at the monthly
news conference on the performance of the
economy and the power sector.
Maku listed the sectors as solid minerals,
financial institution and insurance, building
and construction, transport, education, road
and estate, public administration and
agriculture.
According to him, the feat acheived is an
indication that the Transformation Agenda is
on course and that the economy is growing in
the right direction.
He said that claims by some analysts that the
nation had gone bankrupt and that the
economy was performing poorly was
deceptive.
The minister said that apart from the
unprecedented growth recorded in some
sectors, other micro and macro-economic
indices sanctioned by reputable global
organisations had indicated growth in the
economy.
Maku said the most interesting thing about
Nigeria’s economic growth pattern was that
the Gross Domestic Product growth was
largely driven by the non-oil sector.
“There is something that Nigerians need to
know about this economy that has been run
down by some pessimists, and that is the
growth, which is driven largely by the non-oil
sector of the economy.
“Agriculture has recorded 27.64 per cent,
wholesale and retail trade has 28.4 per cent,
telecommunications – 24.38 per cent.
“Foreign Direct Investments averaged 7.97
billion dollars in 2011 and 2012 from 6.10
billion dollars in 2010 and is still the highest
in Africa.
“Home remittances increased from 19.20
billion dollars in 2009 to 20.61 billion dollars
in 2011 and 21.89 billion dollars in 2012, Gross
External reserves improved from 32.34
billion dollars in 2010, to 48.8 billion dollars
as of April 26, 2013,’’ the News Agency of
Nigeria quoted the minster as saying at the
briefing.
On anti-corruption campaign, Maku said the
administration had adopted electronic means
to block leakages in the system and minimise
waste.
According to the minister, N118.9 billion has
been saved from 215 Ministries, Departments
and Agencies (MDAs) under the electronic
payroll system.
He reiterated government’s resolve to block
avenues for corruption in public service,
hence the resolve to adopt automated means
of resource management.
Source : The Nation Newspapers

It's has become a Norm for Aero Contractors to Always Damage passengers' checked in luggage.

2 weeks ago on a scheduled flight from Abuja to Lagos to catch another flight to Addis the tyres of my laugage was completely ripped off I took solace in the fact that it was the smaller of the two bags and as such I can still cope , the Baggage. Handlers of Ethiopian airlines did an excellent job packaging the luggage from Lagos to Addis and from Addis to Mumbai a 10 +hrs journey, the Bags were clean and properly managed no issues at all ,Not Even with Jet Air the Local Indian carrier whose security and Luggage management is one of he Best I have seen

The return flight was excellent, but the return flight from Lagos Yesterday,with Aero a flight of 55 min ( AJ343) 15:00hrs the whole luggage was again messed up completely, bags turn ,steel label broken not yet done ground staff will still ask for cello tape Money to Fix the mess they created. I left the Airport Completely disillusioned. Aero will consistently Lose patronage unless they figure out away to manage passenger luggage Better. I pray their management or whoever they contracted the handling to will take Note

Otorkpa Oche | Ochejoseph@yahoo.com

I always Knew that Dude was been inspired by extremist elements, what in Gods name brings Mosque into an academic struggle,towing the religious line is setting a dangerous precedent

The Federal Government yesterday advised
the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU) to end its four-month old strike by
rethinking its “take-it-or-leave-it approach to
negotiation”.
Talks between the government and the
teachers broke down when ASUU accused the
government of being uninterested in
implementing the 2009 agreement.
In a statement yesterday, Coordinating
Minister for the Economy and Minister of
Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, accused
ASUU leaders of “distributing pamphlets and
flyers with abusive and inflammatory
messages against the Finance minister in
mosques and other places”
The minster described ASUU action as “taking
academic unionism to a new low and infusing
it with unnecessary politics”.
The statement added that the messages
contained in the pamphlets and flyers “are
directed at using falsehood to demonise the
minister as callous and unsympathetic to the
plight of students and parents”.
The major lie being peddled in the pamphlets
and flyers is that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has
insisted on a “take-it-or-leave-it approach” in
the negotiations with ASUU.
Contrary to some recent media reports, the
Federal government the statement said, has
not adopted a take-it-or-leave-it approach in
its negotiations with ASUU.
Rather, the government’s “approach is
focused on positive engagement and
achieving sustainable solutions to the
challenges facing higher education in the
country”.
It said government “has demonstrated its
commitment to improving the university
system. And it is even ready to do much more
going forward. ASUU should listen to the
voice of reason and the yearnings of
Nigerians on this issue.
“Government is working hard to seek
practical and sustainable solutions to the
challenges facing higher education in
Nigeria.”
“Already, President Goodluck Jonathan has
made available N100 billion a year, in the first
instance, to repair hostels, laboratories and
classrooms and other facilities. An offer has
also been made to ASUU of N30 billion
towards their earned allowances. In fact,
negotiations have even gone further than
this.”
The statement added: “It is the first time, in
years of negotiating with government, that
significant sums of money have been put on
the table for ASUU and universities on this
particular set of issues and the coordinating
minister is fully part of this.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ASUU-distributing-pamphlets-abusing-mosques/

From Political to Religious this ASSU strike is taking a new Dimension!!!!!!

Reno_Omokri_on_W.A.T.C_Atlanta_Live

Where shall we shelter’ they said, ‘who will save us from the coming storm’? They ran to the tiny tree but it had little room and could not shelter everybody. Then they ran to the Iroko tree and it sheltered everybody under its branches.

The Chinese have a greeting which goes ‘may you live in interesting times’. Somebody must have said that to me because I am witnessing some of the most interesting times. I am witnessing a series of events that are proving to be more entertaining than the best Hollywood and Nollywood can offer.

Since these events have been more of a case of life imitating art, I feel that I should also go poetic.

I am in a forest with many trees and all of a sudden I find myself watching a comedy of a tiny desperate tree that is shedding crocodile tears over a fruit from the mightiest Iroko tree. Both the tiny tree and the fruit from the Iroko tree have agendas that set them at cross purposes but both think they can use the other. The tiny tree wants nourishment from the fruit of the Iroko tree in order that it might become as big as the Iroko tree. The fruit thinks it is ripe and wants the tiny tree to rock the forest so that it can be detached from the parent tree and fall to the ground where its seeds will germinate in the fertile soil. It also imagines that it will become a great tree.

But what the tiny tree and the fruit it wants to suck on for nourishment do not realize is that fruits that are ripe will fall to the ground at the slightest breeze from God. As for the tiny tree, in its eagerness to cheat nature it forgets that the juice from one tree may nourish it for a day but it requires regular daily nourishment to grow into a big tree. If its roots do not reach far into the grounds it can never get the nourishment it needs. A nourishment that is daily available to the big Iroko tree.

And so the comedy continues and I keep watching. I see the unripe fruit condemning the Iroko tree that has given it nourishment to the tiny tree and I wonder at its naivety. How can a fruit condemn its tree to a shrub and expect the shrub to treat the fruit better than the tree that gave birth to it?

Does this fruit have memory at all? The spirits that ensure the codes of the forest are obeyed had once told the Iroko that it (the Iroko tree) is the source of the nutrients that nourish its fruits and that since that is the case the previous fruit in the place of the ambitious fruit could not lay claim to the nourishment and should thus shrivel away and give way to the ambitious fruit. Being that that is the case, should the fruit bite the tree that nourishes it? Who is the ultimate loser in this comedy if I may ask?

As I watched on I saw that the desperation of the tiny tree and the ambitious fruit of the Iroko tree grew such that they hatched a plan to get the monkeys in the forest to throw stones at the Iroko tree. And so the stone throwing began. The monkeys threw stones and more stones and as they threw stones a little bird flew past and whispered to them the following words ‘the Iroko tree is not upset when monkeys throw stones at it. It takes it as a compliment because nobody throws stones at a tree without fruit’.

And when the monkeys heard this, they reasoned amongst themselves that the bird’s saying was true and they sought to make a deal with the Iroko tree so that it would lower its branches in order that they could climb onto it and pluck some fruit. But the Iroko tree ignored them.

Then they said to the Iroko tree, ‘we would help you destroy the tiny tree if you will only lower your branches’. The Iroko Tree spoke for the first time and responded thus ‘why should you destroy the tiny tree? Leave it alone. I am not in competition with other trees, I am in competition with my potential. It is only those without potential that compete with those with potential in the same way as a blind man follows a man with sight’.

The monkeys saw the wisdom in this logic and left the Iroko tree and I kept on watching because the comedy was so engaging. I had never seen anything of the sort.

Pretty soon the clouds above the forest became grey and it was clear that a heavy storm was approaching. All the animals in the forest began to seek for shelter from the storm. I saw the birds and the monkeys and the elephants and the deer and the antelopes and the warthogs and all their fellow forest dwellers running to and fro seeking shelter.

‘Where shall we shelter’ they said, ‘who will save us from the coming storm’? They ran to the tiny tree but it had little room and could not shelter everybody. Then they ran to the Iroko tree and it sheltered everybody under its branches.

Finally, the storm hit. It brought with it lightning and thunder, rain and more rain but the forest animals were not affected. They were safe under the Iroko tree. And what was more, I beheld a wonderful thing. The storm caused the ripe fruits from the Iroko tree to fall to the ground to the great pleasure of the forest animals whose hunger was quenched thereby.

And after everybody had learnt their lessons, the forest animals and all the trees in the forest lived happily ever after.



- Reno Omokri is Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media.