The death toll keeps increasing while the politicians, who are charged with protecting the people, are busy positioning themselves for power come 2015.

Only in Nigeria will a ruling party seeking re-election not think that improving the security situation in the country could enhance their chances of winning the election because there’s actually no connection between providing good government to the people and winning elections in Nigeria – what we have in this country are not elections but selections.

In the last one week there have been at least three reported terrorist attacks in Nigeria, each attack killing not fewer than forty people:

1. A week ago on Wednesday 19th Boko Haram Militants killed at least 45 people in Azaya Kure in Borno State
2. Day after the Azaya Kure attack, it was reported that 48 fishermen were slaughtered near lake Chad
3. Yesterday, 25th November two female suicide bombers killed about 78 people in Maiduguri.

The previous week a suicide bomber disguised as a student set off a bomb killing 48 students and injuring 79 others in Potiskum.

It is almost becoming a daily occurrence now, which makes you wonder if anybody, apart from the families of the victims, is even paying attention any more.

I often ask myself if the president or any of his ministers care for any of these causalities.
President Jonathan chose the day after 48 students were killed in Potiskum to organise a fanfare to declare that he will be running again. Like I mentioned earlier, only in Nigeria will a president not consider the slaughter of 48 innocent students a stain on his leadership.

The final report on the murder of Lee Rigby, the soldier killed on the streets of London, was released yesterday. 18-months after the death of a soldier in London, British authorities are still investigating to find out how the murder could have been prevented. Hours after dozens of people are slaughtered in Nigeria, the ‘temporary distraction’ is quickly forgotten forever and life returns to normal in the Ivory palaces of Lagos and Abuja – Nigeria is a perfect example of a tragic comedy.

Along with the report on the murder of Lee Rigby is another report that since the June 2005 terrorist attack in London killing 49 people, the British security services have been able to disrupt 40 terrorists plots.

The reason there has only been one terrorists attack in Britain since 2005 bombings is because security services have been able to disrupt the plots before they were ever carried out.

That means the reason we have been having terrorists attacks on a daily basis in Nigeria is because the security services are doing absolutely nothing to disrupt the plots despite budgeting billions of Naira for security.

Apart from preventing not fewer than 40 terrorists attacks, British authorities have made 753 arrests since 2010 and jailed 138 terrorists since David Cameron became Prime Minister in May 2010.

It was also revealed that 13 suspects have been extradited since the same period. Those familiar with the extradition process will realise how difficult it is to extradite any suspect. It took about 10 years to finally extradite one of those terror suspects to Jordan and about 13 years to successfully extradite another one to the US.

If we ask the Nigerian security services what progress they have made since 2009 when Boko Haram started operating what will they report?

The first and only terrorist attack that has taken place on US soil since the devastating attack on 11th September 2001 was the 2013 Boston marathon bombing about twelve years later.

One of the two culprits was killed during a shootout with the police and the other is facing justice now. As of today, the security services are not looking for any other suspect in connection with that incident.

Until the Snowden revelation we were not sure why there has been no other terrorist attack on US soil for over ten years but now we know – the US authorities are monitoring every phone-call, e-mails, text messages and web-site visit not only in the US but elsewhere in the world.

Has this action earned them reprimands from some of their closest allies? Off course it has but the US government don’t care because they realise that their top priority is to keep US citizens safe.

What can be considered as the top priority of the Nigerian government?

We heard over the Weekend that less than 24 hours after al-Shabab militants slaughtered 28 Kenyans the Kenyan military retaliated by sending troops to Somalia where they killed over a hundred militants.

“I can assure you that those behind the attack did not even take their supper,” The Kenyan Vice President, William Ruto, boasted.

The Kenyan retaliation hasn’t been independently confirmed and al-Shabab spokesmen denied the claim.

I tend to believe the Kenyan VP because that is what a responsible government does when innocent citizens they are supposed to be protecting are being attacked.

What is the Nigerian government doing about the incessant terrorist attacks on Nigerian soil?

- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/save-nigeria-boko-haram/#sthash.twLKkl6D.dpuf

The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her second child, Clarence House has confirmed, according to a BBC report.

A statement said the Queen and members of both families were delighted with the news.

As with her first pregnancy, the duchess is suffering from acute morning sickness and is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace.

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted he was “delighted by the the happy news that they’re expecting another baby”.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/duchess-cambridge-pregnant-child/#sthash.zsnMbf1z.dpuf

kultimate009: Wonderful write-up.... I really needed 2 knw all dis.... @op, thanks

You're welcome!

As a second case of Ebola has been reported in Nigeria, It should interest Nigerians to learn that one of the most interesting facts about the dreaded virus is that it is as fragile as it is deadly.

It can be killed easily and doesn’t spread quickly like common cold.

The virus was first discovered by one Dr. Fredrick A Murphy, a doctor of veterinary medicine in 1976.

It got its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There is enough material on the Internet about the gruesome, unpleasant symptoms of the disease and fatality statistics so there’s no need repeating those facts in this write-up.

The most important things to know about Ebola is not to panic but learn the best way to protect yourself from contracting the disease because with Ebola, prevention is definitely better than cure.

There is actually no known cure for Ebola, which is why the fatality rate is almost 100%.

Contrary to what you may have heard Ebola is not air-borne like flu so there is no reason to wear masks or respiratory aids. It spreads only through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. Bodily fluids like saliva, blood, urine, faeces or semen.

Travellers are also said not to be at risk, as patients are contagious only when they start showing symptoms. Health workers, family members or others in close contact with infected people, mourners who have direct contact with the bodies of the deceased as part of burial ceremonies and hunters in the rain forest who come into contact with dead animals found lying in the forest are the most susceptible to Ebola infection.

Another way by which the virus spreads is the improper handling of the corpse of an Ebola victim.

As long as you don’t come into contact with any of these things you are safe from contracting the virus.

One more thing, semen from a survivor of Ebola infection can remain infectious for two months, so girls, be careful!

It is also advisable to regularly wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water at every available opportunity because one of the interesting things about the virus is that it can be killed with soap, detergent or disinfectant.

As a matter of fact taking a shower and thoroughly lathering your body with soap every time you return home from outside is not a bad idea.

Most commentators believe that containing the virus should not be a very difficult task as it is not air-borne and spreads only through close contact with an Ebola patient who is already showing symptoms of the disease.


- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/ordinary-soap-water-kill-ebola/

When I was really young, my late grandfather told me a story titled, ‘Shame Of An African President’.

The story goes like this: Long, long ago there was a President in an African country. Let’s just call this man, Mr. President. In this African country, the only time there ever was a general election that was considered free and fair that election was annulled. Till this day, there has been no free and fair election in that country.

Anyway, there was a time when a terrorist organisation controlled a substantial part of the country. The terrorists killed, looted and raped innocent citizens of that African country at random and Mr. President and his ministers couldn’t do anything about it. They were completely useless at fighting these terrorists.

One day the terrorists decided to go and kidnap some girls from a secondary school in this African country whom the terrorists said they would sell as slaves and child brides. Mr. President’s initial reaction to the kidnap was silence as if it never happened. As a matter of fact, on the day the girls were kidnapped Mr. President was seen dancing at a party.

The whole world was now shouting, ‘bring back our girls, bring back our girls’ then Mr. President decided to talk about it, thirty days after these girls were kidnapped, he asked for help to rescue the girls.

Everybody got involved, shouting ‘bring back our girls!’ Then some of Mr. President’s men said he was going to visit the parents of these schoolgirls who were kidnapped but the parents waited in vain for Mr. President. They thought Mr. President was coming to, at least, commiserate and sympathise with them. They were surprised when they were told that Mr. President had gone for a meeting in the land of the Franks.

You see, my grandfather told me that the Franks were very bad people who pretended to be good people. They were also very rich and powerful and a long time ago they signed an agreement with the people from the land of the Great Queen to both bleed Africa dry. The agreement stated that whatever treasures any of the two countries stole from Africa, they would both share equally. The agreement was like an ‘Etente Cordiale‘.

The land of the Franks and the land of the Great Queen used to have territories in Africa. Between these two countries, they had over forty different territories in Africa. However, one day, someone came up with an idea. The man said, “why are you risking lives and wasting money putting civil servants in these African countries to live among those African savages? Why don’t you appoint some of the natives loyal to you as rulers over them and you control those loyal natives from your countries? After all, you have telegraph and telephones now.” Good idea!

So, the people from the land of the Franks and the land of the Great Queen appointed some of their loyal servants to rule their territories in Africa and they controlled these servants, which is why there has never been free and fair elections in Mr. President’s country before. They called this arrangement, ‘independence’.

So Mr. President went off to the land of the Franks. Like I mentioned earlier, the Franks too had puppets installed in their territories who spoke their language. Mr. President went to the land of the Franks to have a meeting with the leader of the Franks and his African puppets who were speaking his language. Mr. President was the only one speaking the language spoken in the land of the Great Queen.

They were supposed to be discussing about the terrorists who had kidnapped those girls but Mr. President did not understand the language being spoken in the Land of the Franks, which the leader of the Franks was speaking with his African puppets. Two days after Mr. President returned to his own country, the terrorists, that the leader of the Franks promised to help Mr. President fight, attacked a town that was even far away from where the terrorists usually operated and killed a lot of people. The terrorists continued to attack Mr. President’s country, killing, raping and looting.

At that point I asked my grandfather, ‘was it because Mr. President did not understand the language spoken in the land of the Franks? My grandfather told me to keep quiet and listen to the rest of the story.

Meanwhile, the schoolgirls remained missing and people were fed up with Mr. President’s incompetence. Some of the parents of the girls were dying without seeing their children. Reports had it that some of the girls too had died.

Every time people protested or demanded that Mr. President should go and see the families of these girls they would be arrested by Mr. President’s soldiers and locked up.

Then one day a little fair skin girl, 17-years-old, grandfather said she was, came from the land of the Great Queen to see Mr. President.

You see, this little girl was not originally from the land of the Great Queen but they liked her so the rulers of the land of the Great Queen sent her on an errand to see Mr. President.

The errand was a simple one, ‘tell Mr. President to invite the families of the kidnapped girls to visit him at his palace and you will take the glory. We will give you that prestigious award that you narrowly missed last year’.

So, Mr. President sent out an invitation to all the families of the kidnapped girls to come and visit him at the villa as instructed by the little girl who was sent from the land of the Great Queen.

“Wow, what an interesting story, papa! So did the little girl get that award?” I asked
“The story is not complete”, grandpa said. “I’ll tell you the conclusion later. I’m tired now I have to go to bed”.

Sadly, my grandfather never told me the concluding part of the story as he died shortly afterwards.


The story above is fiction and any similarity to anybody, place or event is purely coincidental.


- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/shame-african-president-short-story/

ROSSIKE:

You lack common sense even after what has been explained to you. I repeat: No developing nation of more than 30 million people has ''stable power supply''. What you are saying is tantatomount to saying, ''we cannot be developing until we are already developed''. It is ONLY developed nations that have stable, widespread power supply. So it is ST.UPID to say ''we cannot get where we want to get until we have stable power''. India are still doing all sorts of things even though they have problems of power, illiteracy, crime, you name it. Like Nigeria, their power supply is increasing year by year, but it is by no means ''stable'' or widespread. Yet. But it will be. And by the time it does, THEN they will be a developed nation.

Just like Nigeria is moving forward in all facets INCLUDING power supply, yearly increasing its output. Stable power accessible to all is an element of being a developed nation. It is not something you attain BEFORE becoming a developed nation. It is something you attain when you ARE a developed nation. Just like affordable food for all, excellent schools, great roads, health care for all, excellent rail networks, huge, advanced manufacturing industry, jobs and opportunities for all, etc are what you get when you are ALREADY A DEVELOPED nation. You do not get all those things in place when you are a DEVELOPING nation. That is what it MEANS to be a DEVELOPING state. It means you are NOT YET THERE BUT ARE HEADING THERE.

Hopefully this bit of common sense will sink into someone around here.

''we cannot get where we want to get until we have stable power''. Were the words you put in quotation marks. Please read my post again and show me where you lifted that quote from. That's not my quote and you cannot claim to be paraphrasing since you put it in quotation marks. You lifted a quote from God knows where, attributed it to me and you say I lack common sense! What you quoted was not what I said so your submissions were completely irrelevant, sir.

Pakistanis are paying tribute to Aitazaz Hassan Bangash, 14, who became the hero that died while preventing a suicide bomber from entering his school.

According to Time magazine, the deceased and his cousin, Musadiq Ali Bangash, were on their way to Ibrahimzai School in a Shia dominated area of northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, when a man raised their suspicions by asking them for directions while clad in school uniform.

“The other students backed off, but Aitazaz challenged the bomber and tried to catch him,” Musadiq told CNN. “During the scuffle, the bomber panicked and detonated his bomb.” Both died and two others were injured. Nearly 2,000 students were gathered for morning assembly at the time.

Pakistanis have been venting their outrage at Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ), the militant group that has claimed responsibility for the attack, and calling for the nation’s highest military award for Aitazaz.

Aitazaz is survived by his parents and two sisters. His father, Mujahid Ali, has returned from his work in the United Arab Emirates not to mourn his son’s death, he told the Express Tribune, but to celebrate his life.

“My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children.”



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/pakistani-boy-dies-while-preventing-suicide-bomber-from-attacking-school/

@LRNZH Mehn! This Rossike dude is just impossible. Cannot imagine anybody disagreeing with the fact that without stable power supply this country can only be shadow of what she could be! Talk about blind patriotism and nationalism. Its @Fhemmmy's type of patriotism we want not Rossike's.

Fhemmmy:

I honestly dont care what party is in power nor does it matter to me what region the person is from, and the gender is of no use to me, i just want someone that really have a vision and zeal to make that great nation be as great as she could be.

Go away Jor, Fhemmmy. You're not a Nigerian! What do you mean it doesn't matter what region the person is from? Nigerians dont talk like that. (Ok end of sarcasm)

Honestly, I've been using this forum for a long time and its difficult to come across reasonable voices like yours, Fhemmmy. What's stopping people of like minds like you from getting together to start demanding justice and good governance? With contributions like the ones you've made I'm beginning to have hope in Nigeria's future.

Oh, dont get me started on people taking camera phones to polling stations...unless you have all day to talk about that. Even if you do I'll be using up all of poor Seun Osewa's cyber space.

Please make your voice heard more often. Please, lets drown out the bigots and tribalists on Nairaland.

The British government is considering controversial plans to hand out settlement visas and citizenships, eventually, to foreign millionaires who wish to settle in the UK.

Government advisers are already drawing up the plans suggested by Migration Advisory Committee. The Committee suggested that people who give money to schools, universities or hospitals should be ‘let in’ to the UK.

It also proposes holding auctions for visas to be sold to the highest overseas bidder,

Some MPs have warned, however, that the plan would bring ‘no benefit to the citizens of this country’.

The irony of the plan is the Home Office has previously opposed plans by other EU countries to effectively sell citizenship which would give them the right to settle in Britain.

Malta caused controversy when it announced plans to sell passports for half a million pounds.

Being a European Union country itself, holders of a Maltese passport would have had the right to settle in any other European Union state.

Chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor Sir David Metcalf, told MPs that Britain had to examine new ways to attract wealthy investors to the country.

‘It may very well be that we should be auctioning some of these slots/
‘There should be proper discussion about it. Equally it may very well be that we should be letting people in if they endow a Cambridge college, a major teaching hospital or the London School of Economics with £10 million.’ He said.

The committee has been asked to examine the issue by Home Secretary Theresa May, and is expected to submit a report in February.

While giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Sir David set out how an auction might work.

One option would see wealthy foreigners making investments of £1million, £5million or £10million in government bonds or UK businesses.

In return, the investor would be able to apply to stay in the UK for two, three or five years and after that could apply for UK citizenship.

The gilts could later be sold, meaning the money is effectively a loan and not a long-term investment.

Sir David said the country did not ‘need’ the money. ‘Sometimes they borrow the money and then they keep the gilts for five years. They get indefinite leave to remain, and then they sell them. We do not need their money.’

One of the MPs who oppose the idea is chairman of the powerful Home Affairs committee, Labour MP Keith Vaz. He was alarmed by the idea and suggested the plan would allow people to obtain a British passport without benefiting the country.

He told The Times: ‘‘What was very clear from David Metcalf and what causes us concern is that this is not a way of getting money into Britain to produce more jobs and ensure the economy benefits,’ he said.

‘This is a way in which those who have money available to buy gilts, get citizenship and then sell them at personal gain. There is no benefit to the citizens of this country.

‘The whole area around the investor route towards citizenship needs to be examined. We need to have a better way. At the moment the route ensures benefits to individuals but not society as a whole.’



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/british-passport-for-sale-british-government-considering-selling-citizenship-to-rich-foreigners/

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, has opened himself up to a torrent of abuse on Twitter after he tweeted his admiration for Thomas Hitzlsperger, the former Aston Villa player who recently came out as gay.

In reaction to the revelation by the former Germany international, the Prime Minister tweeted, “As an #AVFC fan, I’ve always admired what Thomas Hitzlsperger did on the pitch – but I admire him even more today. A brave & important move”.

No sooner had he released the tweet than the torrent of abuse flooded in:

“@David_Cameron do you sing OOH AHH PAUL MCGRATH to your willy in the bath? y/n” was the response he got from @RachealvsWorld

@Davearmitage7 said, “@David_Cameron Yes, but he’s still too embarrassed to say he’s a Tory #notcompletelyout”

@Primlystable said, “@David_Cameron STOP PRETENDING TO BE A VILLA FAN”.

@JamesMawFFT said, “@David_Cameron You’d never bloody heard of him, Tarquin.”

@Will_Beckman asked, “@David_Cameron name one thing you remember him doing at Villa”.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/cameron-attacked-on-twitter-after-praising-hitzlsperger/

David Cameron’s barber, Raffaele Claudio Carbosiero, known as Lino, has been awarded an MBE in the UK New Year honours list for “services to hairdressing”, the Guardian reports.

The barber has styled the hair of the rich and famous for decades and is known for changing the prime minister’s hair from a right to a left-hand parting in 2010 as it appears in the picture above. In the Prime Minister’s image to the left his hair is parted to his right hand side but in the image to the right (taken after ‘Lino’ took over) his hair is parted to his left hand side.

The hairdresser has also styled the hair of Madonna, Jason Donovan and X Factor contestants for the first three series, and counts celebrities such as

Philip Schofield and Ant and Dec among his friends. He now works at the upmarket Daniel Galvin salon in Marylebone, central London.

“As a ‘showbiz’ stylist, Lino’s renowned skills of celebrity hair-cutting and styling are recognised throughout the world,” his website says.

Asked about the honour for Carbosiero, Cameron’s official spokesman said: “Gosh. Decisions around honours – there is an independent process. It is one for them.”

The prime minister’s hair has provided much material for sketchwriters over the years, most notably in 2008 when the then leader of the opposition briefly opted for a centre parting. Carbosiero was named as Cameron’s hairdresser in 2010, prompting speculation he had been recommended by the prime minister’s wife, Samantha.

Carbosiero told the Evening Standard that getting the official letter initially left him shocked and panicked, before he found it was giving him an honour.

“I thought I hadn’t paid my taxes,” he said.

He added: “[The clients] have to trust you. I have been in situations where people have talked about things and I’ve not blinked an eyelid. I don’t blab and I’m respected for it.”



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/camerons-barber-awarded-mbe-for-changing-his-parting-from-his-right-to-his-left/

Nigerian-British Film star, Chiwetel Ejiofor, has been nominated for the Best Actor award in the recently announced BAFTA nominations according to a Sky News report.

Ejiofor was nominated for his role in ’12 Years a Slave’.

Dominating the nominations was ‘Gravity’, starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. The Sci-fi film received 11 nominations.

The announcements were made Wednesday morning at Bafta’s HQ by Hobbit star Luke Evans and Helen McCrory from the Harry Potter films.

The film’s British director Steve McQueen was also recognised with a nomination.

Also nominated was American chat show host Oprah Winfrey for best supporting actress for her role in The Butler.

- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/chiwetel-ejiofor-nominated-for-bafta-best-actor/

A BBC reporter, John Sudworth, reporting from BBC in Shanghai, has reported that the recent story about how the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un, executed his Uncle by feeding him to 120 staving dogs may be a fabrication, after all.

The story was reported by blogs and news sites all over the world. Not Urnaija, however.

According to the BBC, the source of the story was a posting contained in a blog hosted by a certain Choi Seongho who is claiming to be a North Korean newspaper editor studying in China. According to Sudworth, his blog on Tencent, the country’s second most popular microblogging platform, carries satirical comments about life in North Korea. He has 30 thousand followers and he doesn’t reply to direct messages.

There is another Choi Seongho, however, who hosts his blog on Sina, China’s biggest blogging platform. The content is very similar, a mix of seemingly tongue-in-cheek North Korean patriotism and mild satire. But he has more than 2 million followers, was the first of the two to open an account, and although he keeps his identity anonymous, does reply to direct messages.

When the more popular Choi (the one with 2 million followers and whose blog is hosted on Sina) was asked by the BBC if he was the originator of the story he replied that, “The person on Tencent is someone trying to be me, who is not me.”

The “execution by hungry dogs” version was never confirmed by the North Korean regime who had earlier said Kim’s uncle was executed with machine guns.

Sudworth concluded with this warning, “It (North Korea) is certainly a dark and secretive place, but that makes it all the more important that we report the truth, not a sensational parody of it”.

- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/kim-jong-un-fed-uncle-to-dogs-story-may-be-untrue-bbc-reporter/

Evander Holyfield, former World Boxing heavyweight champion has incurred the wrath of Homosexuals and gay-rights campaigners over comments he made in the UK celebrity Big Brother House about homosexuals.

The former heavyweight champion was prompted by Luisa Zissman (to whom he is currently chained in the house), and he appeared to have referred to homosexuality like a ‘handicap’.

The Apprentice star asked Evander whether many boxers had come out as gay in the past, and he made it clear he thought that sexuality was a choice and that being open about it “ain’t normal”.

“If you were born and your leg were turned this way – what would you do? You go to the doctor and get it fixed back right? All I’m trying to say, you know handicap people are born, you can’t say because they are born that way you can’t fix them,” he said.

When Luisa disagreed with his opinion, he added: “Yes it is a choice. C’mon, how can you not say you ain’t gay unless you sleeping with the opposite sex?”

After making the comments, he was called to the Diary Room for a telling off by Big Brother, who told him that his remarks which had caused offence would not be tolerated.

The 51-year-old’s comments have caused complaints, with many on social media asking for the sportsman to be booted out of the CBB house.

A part of Evander Holyfield’s ear was bitten off by former Heavy-weight boxer, Mike Tyson, in the duo’s second title fight on 28th June 1997.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/former-heavyweight-boxing-champ-hollyfield-in-hot-water-over-gay-comments/

@adegwurulez. Thanks again for your intelligent and unbiased insight, my guy. I will go and read up about this guy. Unfortunately, there's very little people like you and I can do if the Super Eagles coaching crew dont get a comprehensive, one-on-one assessment of every single player in the other teams including our likely opponents in the second round and quarter-finals. Lord knows they have all the time in the world to do that.

adegwurulez: I pity you if you think sanderos is the only player to be wary of in the swiss squad. Ever heard the name xherdan shaqiri?

No sir, I haven't heard of him but I've heard of Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Oscar, Torres, Rooney, Benteke, Hazard, Pique and Xavi. The list is endless. I'm not underrating any player who is qualified and selected to play at the World Cup. The point is that if I haven't heard of him maybe it's because he is not much of a threat.

Thanks for your contribution, anyway. Really appreciate you joining the debate.

At the end of the day Nigeria may become the weeping baby of the group and lose to Iran that everybody believes we can beat.

I was only saying we may have a good chance of getting to the Q-finals because we are not likely to meet any very serious opposition like Brazil, Spain, Germany or Belgium on the way. The chance is for them to blow and knowing Nigerian players they may very well blow it.

[quote author=emiye]
just seeing this, apart from espn, all other european football analysis i encountered tipped bosnia ahead nigeria, except the americans who seemed to have a higher opinion of us. I do not share the opinion in the link below btw.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1878878-world-cup-predictions-2014-projections-for-all-groups-after-critical-draw

http://www.bsports.com/world-cup[/quote

Thanks for the insight. I'd say, 'interesting'. The second link, Bsports even went ahead to predict all the way to the final. How over-ambitious of them. When I said most European analysts, I meant the serious ones who have been in the business long before every Tom, Dick and Harry could set up a website and start making predictions. People like espn that you mentioned.

Chelsea Midfielder and Nigerian international, John Obi Mikel, scored for Chelsea for the second time this season in his club’s 2-0 victory over Championship club Derby County in their 3rd Round FA Cup encounter Sunday afternoon.

The first 45 minutes of the FA Cup match played at the ipro stadium in Derby ended goalless with John Eustace and Will Hughes both of Derby County bagging a yellow card each.

The second half resumed and eleven minutes into the half John Obi Mikel headed home at a very close range a cross from Willian following a set piece situation.

Chelsea’s second goal was scored by Oscar in the 71st minute of the match. He right footed a shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner from an assist provided by Eden Hazard.

The match ended two nil in Chelsea’s favour.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/john-obi-mikel-scores-for-chelsea-in-fa-tie/

A four-year-old girl fell from a fifth floor window of an apartment block in China – but was luckily stopped midway by an air-conditioning unit according to a Sky News report.

Video shows firefighters rushing to the scene in the Fuling District of Chongqing, in the southwest, and rescuing the girl within minutes.

The youngster was said to be in a state of shock, but her condition was described as “good”.

Authorities said the girl was with her grandfather in the apartment when the accident happened on Friday afternoon.

He was said to be watching television at the time.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/falling-girl-saved-by-air-con-unit-in-china/

Heavy snow storms battering New York and other parts of the Eastern coast of the United States have claimed the lives of at least 16 people, Sky News reports.

The heavy snow storms, which began on Thursday left nearly two feet of snow.

Almost 2,000 flights have been cancelled across the country as howling wind and sub-zero temperatures wreaked havoc.

Governors in New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency and urged residents to stay at home, while hundreds of schools were shut down in Boston and New York.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: “This is nothing to be trifled with. People should seriously consider staying in their homes.”

The deaths include those caused by difficult traffic conditions in Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

A massive pile of salt fell on a worker at a Philadelphia storage facility, killing him. Authorities also report that a woman with Alzheimer’s disease froze to death after she wandered away from her rural New York home.

Forecasters say temperatures were plummeting to well below freezing, and wind chill readings could hit minus 10F (-23C).

Another wave of cold air was already blasting through the Midwest after moving down from Canada.

Outreach teams were searching streets in New York City and Boston for homeless people at risk of freezing to death.

Meanwhile, some major highways in New York state were shut down overnight, and some commuter trains around New York City were operating on a reduced schedule.

Amtrak planned to run trains on all of its Northeast lines on Friday but operate on a modified schedule, spokeswoman Christina Leeds said.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered non-essential state workers to stay at home, with state offices and courthouses closed.

The snowstorm worked its way east from the Midwest, where it dropped up to 17 inches of snow in parts of Chicago and prompted the cancellation of hundreds of flights at both of the city’s airports.

- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/bad-weather-claims-16-lives-in-the-us-grounds-services/

raphroye: hope I no be first person to comment sha??
come to tink of it 160kh too much o

160kph, wayyyy too fast, Man!

I know APC is an abbreviation for All Progressive Congress but that is not what this article is about.

If you have never visited the APC website before you may not even know what the acronym, ‘APC’ stands for.

There were no websites in 1979 and 1983 when the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was the leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) but everyone knew UPN was synonymous with free education. The slogan in those days was, “Free education, Awolowo lo le se” (Free Education only Awolowo can do it).

I completely agree with Odia Ofeimun who said, “Mandela was good for the liberation of his people, Awolowo made more impact in the lives of many Nigerians”. He absolutely did. This writer is one of the beneficiaries of his free education scheme.

This article is not to be seen as a criticism of APC but to wish them well in their political endeavours. However, in an earlier article I have identified the problem with Nigeria’s politics as being centred around personalities and not ideology. APC seems to be going down the same route.

We know the key players in APC but don’t know exactly what they believe in apart from the fact that they have sworn themselves into enmity with PDP.
Nigerians deserve more than sworn enmity with PDP. Every reasonable Nigerian is a sworn enemy of PDP.

I wouldn’t be qualified to write this article without having studied the manifesto written on the APC website. First remark, it was well written and certain important issues were addressed in it but we all know actions speak louder than words.

I am particularly impressed that they have made provisions for the environment, persons living with disabilities, women and gender issues and Senior citizen, Youth, sports and culture. Senior citizens in particular. They plan to ensure timely payment of retirement benefits for all pensioned senior citizens and create poverty safety net for all aged citizens above the age of 65. That is good.

Also, their plans to assist Nollywood to fully develop into a world class industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course sounds very promising.

Their manifesto is silent on some very important issues, however. Issues like the economy! Unless I’m missing something, I couldn’t find the Economy as a sub-topic on the APC’s manifesto page. It talked about Mineral & steel development, oil & gas and agriculture but the writers of the manifesto didn’t deem it fit to talk about Nigeria’s economy. Unless APC politicians think every Nigerian is a fool there should be some number crunching on that manifesto. Have they not heard the phrase, ‘it’s the economy, stupid!’ No wonder one of the comments on the website says, ‘APC is dead on arrival’.
There was also no mention of how they intend to create jobs or stop the downward slide of the value of the Naira.

On Women and gender issues, I’m also surprised that APC has no plans to address sexual harassment and molestation with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice or protect the rights of women in marriage and widows from greedy in-laws.

On political violence here is what the APC manifesto says, ‘the inability to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections has been the major cause of political violence in the country. When the people are unable to change Government, they know has not performed well, through the ballot box, they become helpless and resort to self-help. This situation, if not properly handled, can lead to violence’.

I completely disagree with the inference above that Nigerians resort to political violence as a result of an inability to change a government through the ballot box.

Political violence is caused (always) when an unpopular government resorts to intimidation of voters to perpetuate itself in power. The politicians hire thugs to beat up supporters of the opponents and disrupt peaceful elections in areas where their opponents are popular. A lot of APC politicians would know what I’m talking about.

Their theory on political violence is insulting to Nigerians and dishonest, to say the least.

If APC wants to convince Nigerians that they are a serious party who intend to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians they need to start talking more about policies and less about who is defecting to their party. Unless, of course, they have no intention of winning via the ballot box but simply rig the elections like every victorious political party has been doing since independence.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/what-does-apc-stand-for/

Hit Me Baby One More Time’ singer and mother of two, Britney Spears, had to be rescued from an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction while she was performing during her Las Vegas concert.

Her gold glittery leotard split down the middle during a very energetic routine while she was singing “circus” and dancing around the stage with a team of back-up singers.

Two of her male back-up singers quickly rushed to her rescue to zip up the outfit again while she continued singing.

Britney remained calm and continued singing almost as if the incident never occurred.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlOKE6litjY

- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/oops-shes-done-it-again-britney-rescued-from-wardrobe-malfunction-video/

creazor: @All, @Mods.
My sincere apologies for dis misinforming post. I actually got d news from sports radio and uncharacteristic of me, I cosidered it true without verifying it. I feel very embarrassed.
This piece of information is not true. David Moyes has not been sacked neither has it been officially made known.
I will modify d topic asap.
Pls accept my apology.

Very matured and responsible of you. I have also apologized on my own thread for coming at you so strongly. Hope you accept my apologies.

creazor: My sincere apologies for dat misinforming post. I actually got d news from sports radio and uncharacteristic of me, I cosidered it true without verifying it. I feel very embarrassed. I will modify d topic asap.
Pls accept my apology.

My guy!!!! Thanks for that retraction creazor. Its my turn to apologize for coming at you so strongly. I actually checked your profile and saw a really nice picture there. With this retraction, You've confirmed my thoughts, upon seeing the picture, that you're a very responsible forum user

However, (On a much friendlier note) I would still disagree with 'On the verge of getting sacked' but let us leave that for now.

Have a wonderful day and a happy new year.

There's a thread on Nairaland that David Moyes has been sacked by Man Utd. Its not true. He hasn't been sacked.

I'm not one of those who like to insult people on this forum but this is my advice to whomever started the thread: If you want attention or traffic on your site, please do some serious work, write something profoundly groundbreaking and honest. What you've done is really simple and unimpressive. Anyone could start a thread now saying '.........is dead'! and people will rush to read it but what will he or she gain from that?

emiye: Contrary to the report's claim, virtually all european football analyst has tipped Argentina and Bosnia to qualify from Group F.

Thanks for your contribution but analysts writing for the "Independent" a well respected daily publication in the UK tipped Nigeria and Argentina. Could you please provide a link or source for your claim? Very much appreciated.

Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, was right when he told the Nigerian Football Federation to be realistic when he was asked to ensure that Nigeria gets to the Semi-final stage of the World Cup in Brazil.

Keshi educated the officials by telling them that the World Cup tournament featured the best footballing countries in the world and not a single country participating at the tournament should be underestimated.

Keshi spoke before the draws were made last month when Nigerians discovered that the Super Eagles will be playing against Iran, Bosnia-Herzgovinia and Argentina in Group F. Despite the relief felt by Nigerians, Keshi’s caution still cannot be ignored. For instance in the latest FIFA ranking, Bosnia-Herzgovinia is ranked 21 ahead of Nigeria’s 36 so we have no reasons to believe our match against them will be a walk-over.

Iran on the other hand is ranked 45 but this is still no indication that we can easily win our match against them.

Having considered other strengths like experience and exposure of players, however, many leading European football analysts predict that Argentina and Nigeria would qualify from that group.

These football analysts also believe that if Argentina tops the group they have a clear route to the semi-finals.

Nigeria on the other hand may be heading towards the quarter-final stage if the players and the NFF get their acts together and that is a big ‘IF’.
Assuming Nigeria qualifies in second place from the group we would be meeting the winners of group E, most likely France or Switzerland.

It’s not entirely impossible for Switzerland to emerge as winners of Group E and face Nigeria in the Round of Sixteen.

Again, I’m not saying it will be a walk over because Switzerland shocked the world when they beat eventual champions, Spain, 1-0 at the 2010 World Cup and hopefully for them Fulham’s Sanderos, formerly of Arsenal, will remain fit. Apart from that, Switzerland now have the best ever team they have assembled in history.

What I’m saying is that it could have been Brazil, Spain or Germany but thankfully it’s not. Its only Switzerland and Sanderos can be contained.

The other likely opponent, France, shouldn’t be a threat either. Let’s face it, the glory days of France are over. The days of Henry, Deschamps, Barthez and Patrick Vierra are over. Nigeria should be able to hold its own against France should we meet them at the second round of the competition.

It’s not impossible for Nigeria to qualify for the quarter-final stage of the World Cup for the first time in Brazil.

It’s at that stage that we are likely to meet the German machine or Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal or worse still, the star studded Belgian national team and almost certain to be sent packing from the competition.

Caveat: It would be completely unwise for anyone to stake money on the accuracy of the predictions above as the variables are too numerous.



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/world-cup-draws-quarter-finals-achievable-for-eagles/

As incumbent New York City Mayor, Bill De Blasio, was sworn into office this morning, 1st January 2014, facts have emerged that the former Mayor, Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, spent 650 million Dollars of his personal money on being Mayor.

Bloomberg is reported to have spent a fortune on New York City during the three terms he served as New York Mayor. As a matter of fact, the New York Times, which did the compilation say that estimate is well below the true figure.

Bloomberg, 71, gave $30m of his personal money to a project designed to improve the lives of black and Latino men in the city, spent $890,000 on 12 years worth of breakfast and Lunch for his staff and gave $7m to encourage gun control.

He also reportedly paid £62,000 to clean out two tropical fish tanks located in the City Hall. He also paid for all the official trips he made while in office as Mayor.

Michael Bloomberg refused to take the $2.7m salary he was offered as Mayor but donated $263m to arts, civic, cultural and health groups in New York.

Some people reckon Michael Bloomberg is the most generous politician ever.

When would Africa ever have a politician like that or should the question be, 'would Africa ever have a politician like that'?



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/bloomberg-leaves-office-after-spending-650m-of-his-money-as-nyc-mayor/

May those of us who have witnessed the beginning of 2014 also see the beginning of 2015 and beyond!

This thread is dedicated to thousands of Nigerians who, in 2013, have met their untimely deaths at the hands of terrorists and armed robbers due to the security situation; those whose lives have been cut short brutally in road and air accidents as a result of poor maintenance and those who have succumbed to death as a result of preventable medical conditions brought about by the crumbling health system.

I may not know all your names but my heart is with you and my prayers with loved ones you left behind.

...And to those, all over the world, whose names we are more familiar with.

Iyatade Soyinka, 48, Doctor (December 29)
Mikhal Kalshnikov, 94, Soldier (December 23)
Peter O’Toole, 81, Actor (December 14)
Nelson Mandela, 95, Politician (December 5)
Paul Walker, 40, Actor (November 30)
Lewis Collins, 67, Actor (November 28)
Mike Akhigbe, 67, Politician (October 28)
Festus Iyayi, 66, Academic (November 12)
Sean Edwards, 26 Actor (October 15)
Solomon Lar, 80, Politician (October 9)
Deji Falae, 42, Politician (October 3)
Tom Clancy, 66, Novelist (October 1)
Kofi Awonoor, 78, Poet (September 21)
Ken Norton, 70, Rtd Heavy-Weight boxer (September 18)
Olusegun Agagu, 65, Politician (September 13)
Ray Dolby, 80, Engineer (September 12)
Sir David Frost, 74, Broadcaster, (August 31)
Betty Maxwell, 92, (August 10)
Alhaji Ademola Fashola, 79, (August 5)
Christian Benitez, 27, Footballer (July 29)
Cory Monteith, 31, Glee Actor (July 13)
Alan Whicker, 87, Broadcaster (July 12)
James Gandolfini, 51, Actor, (June 19)
Jiroemon Kimura, 116, World’s oldest person until his death on June 11
Sir Robert Edwards, 87, IVF pioneer, (April 10)
Margaret Thatcher, 87, Politician (8th April )
Hugo Chavez, 58, Politician (March 5)
Susan ‘Goldie’ Harvey, 29 Singer (February 14)
Reeva Steenkamp, 29, Model (February 14)
Michael Winner, 77, Film Director (January 31)


Feel free to add other names.

See pix at http://www.urnaija.com/in-memoriam/

Former French international, ex-Chelsea, ex-Arsenal striker, Nicolas Anelka, could face a minimum five-match ban from the FA and a Police probe after producing a goal celebration branded ‘disgusting’ and ‘clearly anti-Semitic’ according to the ‘Daily Mail’.

The incident occurred on Saturday after Anelka scored his second goal for West-Bromwich Albion during their 3-3 draw with West Ham at Boleyn Ground, West Ham.

The West Bromwich Albion striker is set to become the first player sanctioned under rules brought in by English football’s governing body in May to combat racist behaviour.

The European Jewish Congress have called for police involvement and for Anelka to receive the same punishment that would be handed down for a Nazi salute.

On Sunday night the Metropolitan Police said it takes all allegations of hate crime seriously and will consider whether action is required.

The FA have launched an investigation into Anelka’s ‘quenelle’ gesture, used after scoring at West Ham during Saturday’s 3-3 draw, and are consulting anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out and Jewish community groups.

The new guidelines mean that Anelka, if found guilty, can receive at least five matches and it could be ‘significantly’
longer. No timescale has been placed on when a decision will be reached.

Anelka, 34, a practising Muslim, is said to be astonished at the controversy and tweeted that he was only giving a ‘special dedication’ to his comedian friend Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, who regularly uses the gesture on stage.

Dieudonne has convictions for spreading race hate, and last week interior minister Manuel Valls announced that ‘all legal means’ to ban Dieudonne from making public appearances were being considered, saying: ‘He attacks the memory of Holocaust victims in an obvious and unbearable way.’

The ‘Quenelle’, which means ‘scoop’ or ‘dumpling’ — touching a shoulder with one hand, keeping the other arm pointed downwards — is said to be an inverted Nazi salute. Dieudonne and his supporters claim it is merely an anti-Zionist, anti-establishment signal and the 47-year-old has threatened to sue those suggesting otherwise.

The gesture has gone viral on social media and two soldiers were sanctioned by the French army in September for performing it in uniform in front of a Paris synagogue.

Anelka took to Twitter again on Sunday night to insist that his gesture had no religious or anti-Semitic connection. He wrote: ‘Meaning of quenelle: anti-system. I do not know what the word religion has to do with this story!’



- See more at: http://www.urnaija.com/anelka-may-face-5-match-ban-police-probe-for-racist-gesture/#sthash.P0IJVJ6O.dpuf