₦airaland Forum

The three children who suffered serious
injuries following an unexpected attack by a
monkey in Illado, Ikorodu, Lagos, are receiving
treatment at the Shallom Hospital in the area,
the Police in Lagos said on Thursday.

The children, attacked on Tuesday, are eight-
year-old girl, Funmilayo Gbadegeshin, two siblings
Roda and Emmanuel Alombo.

Eyewitnesses said that the monkey is owned by
one Mrs Daniel, popularly known as “Iya Ibeji’ who
also resides in Illado also.

Mr Babatunde Oyesola, one of the residents, who
said he witnessed the incident, said that the
monkey left the owner’s house and went into the
Gbadegeshin’s home.

It attacked Funmilayo right in the parents’ home
as she just returned from school.

He added that after the she was rescued and was
rushed to a nearby hospital the monkey moved to
another house belonging to Mr Alombo to attack
Roda and Emmanuel.

The children had just returned from school also.
Oyesola said that neighbours on hearing the shout
of the girl, felt she was being scolded by her older
sister.

“The incident happened at about 4.30 p.m. when
the children had just returned from school.

“I heard Funmilayo shouting and crying, so, I felt
her sister was beating her for something she did,
but when the cry did not stop, I decided to check
what was happening myself.

“When I got there, I saw blood all over the place
and saw a monkey jumping out from the window
but because of what I saw, I had to save the girl
first.

“We noticed that the vein on her right hand has
been cut off and the blood was seriously rushing
out of it,’’ he said.

Oyesola added that while Funmilayo was being
attended to in the hospital, other children who
were attacked by the monkey too were rushed in.
Another eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said
the monkey had been attacking people in the area
and that necessary precautions had not been
taken by the owner.

The victim’s father, Mr Mojeed Gbadegeshin, who
was away when the incident occurred, said he was
called from work that the monkey had attacked his
daughter.

“When I got to the hospital, I met a crowd and I
was asked to go inside and see the state the
monkey left my daughter.

“Afterwards the owner of the monkey came
without uttering a word of sympathy and she only
left with the monkey,’’ he said.

Gbadegeshin said that a report was made by well-
wishers in the area to Igbogbo Barracks Police
Division.

The police were said to have arrested the monkey
and its owner.

Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police
Command’s spokesman, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said
the owner and the monkey were already in
custody.

“One of the children was badly injured and the
other two were mildly injured but they are
currently being treated.

“Also, necessary precautions will be taken to
check such attacks by animals reared by people in
communities.

“Necessary tests will be carried out on the
children to ensure that the monkey is a healthy
animal and that the children are free from any
form of disease,’’ he said. (NAN)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/monkey-attacks-three-kids-in-ikorodu/

The National Universities Commission
(NUC) on Thursday commended the Redeemer’s
University, Ede, Ogun State, for its contributions
toward the diagnosis of Ebola virus.

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius
Okojie, made the commendation at the signing of
Performance Contract between NUC, World Bank
and 10 Nigerian Africa Centres of Excellence
(ACE) in Abuja.

Redeemer’s University, a centre of excellence,
developed a rapid response diagnostics test that
can detect Ebola virus in 15 minutes.

Okojie said that ACE’s project was instituted in
2013 by the governments of Burkina Faso, Benin
Republic, Ghana, Cameron, Nigeria, Togo and
Senegal with support from World Bank.

“Redeemer’s university had a very unique project
in Ebola research when the virus came on board
and they responded very quickly to the challenge
Ebola; we are still celebrating our success.

“Following a competitive process, 19 Centres of
Excellence emerged from the West and Central
African sub regions, out of which Nigerian
universities won 10.

“The ACE project has the capacity to transform
the economic landscape of the sub-region, only if
we can look inward and come up with innovations
that can address our common problems,’’ he said.
Okojie said that the project was initiated to
promote regional specialisation among
universities in the participating countries within
the West and Central Africa to deliver high quality
training and applied research.

Speaking, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the Minister
of Education, disclosed that the World Bank
assisted project sought to promote research in
Agriculture, Health, Science and Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics.

Shekarau said that the signing of the
performance contract was the last hurdle toward
making ACE effective in Nigeria.

“NUC will work with the World Bank in the coming
days to release 10 per cent of your approved funds
to enable you commence work on your projects
activities.

“We are in an era where our lives are, to a great
extent, defined by the innovations in the world of
technology.

“I, therefore, challenge you to be focused and
innovative because the challenges facing us
nationally and regionally are enormous and you
are looked upon to provide solutions,’’ he said.
On his part, a representative of the World Bank,
Mr Bayo Awosemusi, said that the process of
selecting the universities for the project was
transparent and fair.

He said that all universities were given the
opportunity to submit proposals after which a
rigorous screening was carried out.

He urged the participating universities to utlilise
the opportunity maximally as it was the first of
its kind in the world that the bank was embarking
on a massive regional intervention.

The Nigerian ACE universities that signed the
contract were African University of Science and
Technology, Abuja, University of Port Harcourt,
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and
Redeemer’s University, Ede, Ogun State.

Others were Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
University of Jos, University of Benin, Bayero
University, Kano, Benue State University and
Federal University of Agrculture, Abeokuta.
(NAN)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/nuc-lauds-redeemers-varsity-for-ebola-diagnosis/

ABUJA—President-elect, General Muhammadu
Buhari (retd), said yesterday that he was not
aware of the temporary ban imposed on African
Independent Television, AIT, not to cover his
official functions.

Consequently, he instructed all his aides,
including the security team, to steer clear of all
media activities and allow those assigned the
responsibility to solely play the role with their
colleagues.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by Directorate
of Media and Publicity of All Progressives
Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council,
Buhari said he read about the ban in the papers,
stressing that he was neither consulted nor
informed about the development.

The President-elect, however, aligned himself
with the pronouncement of his party, which had
since reversed the ban on AIT.

According to him, sticking to the ban can only
bring the party at par with the outgoing People’s
Democratic Party, PDP.

Buhari said: “I would like everyone to henceforth
stay within his/her defined area of responsibility.
“The time of change has come and we must avoid
making the same mistakes as the outgoing
government.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/i-am-not-aware-of-ban-on-ait-says-buhari/

Eco2580:
How expensive is marrying an Igbo Lady?

go and find out your self

As mobile phones remain the most popular device
to access the internet and use content services,
latest Internet Goes Mobile Country report in
Nigeria by Ericsson has revealed that smart
phones are among the most owned devices used by
Nigerians as eighty four percent are connected to
the internet.

The study, an Ericsson Consumer Summary report,
April, 2015 was released to the Nigerian market
yesterday in Lagos by Ericsson Head, Sub-Saharan
African , Fredrik Jejdling.

The report, according to him, analyses evolving
consumer expectations and requirements for
mobile broadband and other changing services in
Nigeria.

The report further revealed that Nigerian
consumers were replacing their devices such as
mobile phones and desktops with smart devices like
smartphones and laptops which have higher
proportion of internet connectivity.

Key findings from the report:

Irrespective of their location, key findings from
the report also revealed that users want to
remain connected with messaging and calling,
updated with browsing and social networking
and have access to entertainment , mainly music.
According to the report, forty five percent of
those who send messages regularly use internet
based instant messaging services mobile phones
have the highest device share of internet
services

Eighty two percent of mobile phone users, the
report said access the internet with their device
on a daily basis.

Similarly, forty five percent of PC users and 44
percent of tablet users, the report said do the
same

Widespread usage of mobile broadband (MBB)
services

More than ninety five percent of mobile broadband
users, the report noted access mobile broadband
on smartphones, adding that the availability of
good network and voice quality drives up consumer
satisfaction

According the report, wanting to remain updated
and connected was a strong motivator for
consumers when opting for internet services.
Having access to internet services, the report
added enables Nigerians to lead a more socially
connected life.

The pursuit of better access, the Ericsson study
noted often makes consumers switch connection
from fixed broadband to mobile broadband or the
other way round.

“The common reason given by the consumers when
switching connections concerns changes of
location, with around 58 percent citing this as the
primary factor affecting their decision . The
other determining factors include the availability
of internet connection and better speed or
reliability. If Nigerian consumers are provided
with consistently good quality connections at all
times, irrespective of location, they are likely to
spend more time online and remain connected,
unaffected by geographically imposed barriers”,
the Ericsson Consumer Insight Summary Report
April, 2015 said.

Having established the observation that better
speed and reliability were a major reason for
switching connections, the new study revealed
that that once consumers are exposed to a good
connectivity experience and better speeds, they
are more likely to want to upgrade or improve on
it.

Operator satisfaction

Considering how much consumers value being able
to connect to the internet, the demand for quality
data services and network connections, according
to the report is high.

The report also showed that most mobile phone
users in Nigeria were satisfied with parameters
of operator services such as quality of network
coverage (data and voice), initial purchase
process and account management.

These parameters, the report noted reflects the
demands of mobile phone users in Nigeria. To
ensure higher loyalty and lower churn, operators
have to ensure that customers remain satisfied,
especially around factors related to internet
services (data) and network quality.

Mobile phones by far remain the most popular
device to access the internet and use content
According to the study, the significant use of
mobile broadband on mobile phones, PCs and
tablets provides consumers with more mobility,
further allowing them to remain connected and
updated

“Internet users in Nigeria mostly perform online
activities on their mobile phones. Ninety four
percent of consumers use social network sites and
ninety three percent browse the internet on
their mobile phones. The usage of online activities
on laptops and tablets is lower than on mobile
phones. Only forty four percent of consumers use
social network sites and fifty percent browse
internet on their PCs”, the study further
revealed.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/84-of-smart-phones-in-nigeria-have-internet-connection-ericsson-study/

ONITSHA — Former Military governor of old Anambra State, Col. Robert Akonobi (rtd), has pleaded with Igbo parents to reduce the bride price of their daughters so that ‘’our young boys can marry them.” ‘’To me, this topic (bride price) has been dealth with in the past by Ndigbo, who came out with a reduced bride price, to enable our young boys marry our young girls,” Akonobi said.

Akonobi also cautioned that men should study their proposed wives closely and longer before engaging into marriage because “once you marry, no one else can put it asunder.” He spoke at the industrial city of Nnewi, Anambra State during the traditional wedding ceremony of the daughter of a business mogul, Chief Louis Onwugbenu, Onyinye and her husband, Bosah Chukwuogo, weekend.

Nnewi was agog as dignitaries from all works of life trooped to the residence of Chief Onwugbenu for the memorable event. The dignitaries who were from both the military, political and manufacturing circles, including Col Akonobi, Hon. Clement Nwankwu, former member of the House of Representatives; Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Gabros International Limited and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Limited, Chief Gabriel and Innocent Chukwuma respectively, among others.

The issue of high bride price was discussed extensively on the occasion. Hon. Nwankwu, in his own speech, prayed that Chief Onwugbenu and his wife would live long to enjoy the fruits of their children, especially those who married from outside their areas.

Also, speaking, Mrs. Onwugbenu expressed gratitude that her daughter’s hand was given out in marriage and prayed that her in-laws who came all the way from Awka to marry her daughter, would go back home safely. Father of the bride, Onwugbenu, in his own speech, said he had already blessed his daughter and her husband to go and make a good home.

On the bride price controversy in Igbo land, Onwugbenu declared: “We do not charge money as bride price for someone to marry my daughter. To me, what is important is that my daughter should live in peace with her husband. Let her husband’s family members accept her as part and parcel of their family.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/reduce-bride-price-akonobi-ex-military-governor-of-anambra-pleads-with-igbo-parents/

Nigeria is set to be the first African
country with an economy larger than $1 trillion,
according to the latest projections from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture .

Africa's most populous nation, which recently
held peaceful elections , revamped its gross
domestic product data in 2014 and pulled ahead of
South Africa to become the continent's largest
economy with a GDP of $469 billion. Between now
and 2030, experts predict annual growth rates as
high as 7.92% resulting in a GDP of $1.05
trillion.

"A lot of Nigeria's growth will come from
agriculture and services are huge in Nigeria,"
says Charles Robertson , global chief economist at
Renaissance Capital. He adds that he actually
expects the country's GDP to reach $1 trillion
before 2030. "Banking, retail, telecoms and
Nollywood has been an explosive growth story in
past couple of years."

As a source of employment for 70% of Nigeria's
population in 2013, the country's $56 billion
agriculture sector currently accounts for 24% of
GDP and the country's minister of agriculture,
Akinwumi Adesina, has said "the new millionaires
of Nigeria will be in agriculture."

Relative view

These are huge numbers by Nigerian and African
standards -- however, they look less impressive
next to others from around the world.

By 2030, the U.S. economy is expected to reach
$24.8 trillion, China's GDP will approach $22.2
trillion and Indian output will be at the $6.6
trillion mark.

African view

Closest behind Nigeria, when it comes to
economic clout on the continent in 2030, is South
Africa with a projected GDP of $810.6 billion.
Given that power shortages have caused the
country to cut its economic growth forecasts for
2015 by 0.5%, this will be a key area of the
country's infrastructure which number crunchers
will be watching.

In February, during his first full budget speech,
finance minister Nhlanhla Nene identified the
need to focus on the country's power crisis,
saying "electricity constraints hold back growth
in manufacturing and mining, inhibit investment
in housing and raise costs for businesses and
households."

Egypt is due to follow South Africa, with the
continent's third largest GDP of $471.5 billion.
The U.S Department of Agriculture foresees
annual grow rates consistently surpassing 4.2%
in the next 15 years and Renaissance Capital is
bullish on the North Africa country.

"Only 10% of Egyptians have bank accounts," says
Robertson, "so we can image banking will be a big
story [In Egypt] in the coming years."
Problem with projections
While these numbers suggest significant growth
is on the cards, projections for African
economies have been revised in the past.

"Forecasting tends to be optimistic, especially in
underdeveloped countries," says Morten Jerven,
author of 'Poor Numbers: How We Are Misled by
African Development Statistics and What to Do
about It' .

"Models often over-predict GDP and under-
predict inflation...U.S. Department of
Agriculture is predicting a stable growth pattern
for Nigeria, and that is curious given that we
have not seen that pattern in the past."


http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/27/business/nigeria-gdp-1-trillion-2030/index.html

Visit the link below to download the forensic audit report on NNPC

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/forensic-audit-report-on-nnpc/

President Jacob Zuma on Monday hit out at other
African countries after South Africa faced a
backlash over the wave of anti-foreigner attacks
in the country.

While Zuma condemned the violence, saying
immigrants contributed to the South African
economy, he also questioned why so many had
flocked to South Africa.

“As much as we can have a problem alleged to be
xenophobic, our brother countries contributed to
this,” he said.

“Why are the citizens not in their countries?”
Earlier in April, mobs in Johannesburg and in the
port city of Durban targeted migrants, ransacking
their homes and burning shops.

Seven people died and thousands were displaced.
South Africa faced a backlash over the attacks
and regional relations have been strained, with
Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique organising for
some of their fearful citizens to return home.

Nigeria has also recalled its ambassador in
Pretoria over the attacks while there have been
widespread calls for South African products to be
boycotted.

But Zuma went on a counter-offensive Monday,
saying his government would strengthen
measures to tackle illegal immigration.

“Some of them (immigrants) had very serious
allegations against their own countries to explain
why they are in South Africa,” Zuma said,
speaking on Freedom Day that marks the
country’s first democratic elections in 1994.

“In fact, some of them warned us that there is
almost certainly another wave of refugees coming
given the developments in their own countries.

“We have to address the underlying causes of the
violence and tensions, which is the legacy of
poverty, unemployment and inequality in our
country and our continent and the competition for
limited resources,” Zuma said.

Many South Africans have blamed the attacks on
poverty and a severe jobs shortage in Africa’s
second biggest economy. Undocumented
immigrants are often accused of accepting work
for less pay.

The spate of attacks has revived memories of
xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people
were killed, tarnishing South Africa’s post-
apartheid image as a “rainbow nation” of
different groups living in harmony.

The South African army was deployed in some of
the worst hit areas last week in a bid to crack
down on the violence against immigrants.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/xenophobic-violence-why-are-the-citizens-not-in-their-countries-zuma/

Ogun State government, Monday, signed a $3.2
billion light rail project contract with Chinese
Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC)
for the intracity and intercity rail network in the
state.

The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,
while signing the contract at his office, Oke-
Mosan, Abeokuta, with Consul General , the
People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Kan Liu
said the project would cover cities such as
Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Idi-iroko among
others.

According to Amosun, when completed, the
project will take pressures off the roads as well
as open up the cities for further development.
The Governor said that within the next three
years, the Abeokuta intra city Project would
have taken shape.

He added that the contractors would be
encouraged to ensure that feasible development
of the project is witnessed by the time Ogun
State celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.

The project which has two phases will be have one
aspect cutting across the entire cities in the
state, while the other phase will be for the
Abeokuta intra city light rail. Governor Amosun
however assured that all ongoing roads and bridge
projects in the state would be completed with the
laying of the final asphalt, before the
commencement of new projects.

While giving insight to the scope of the project
noted that at first instance the intracity rail
network that would commence from Abeokuta-
sagamu- -Ilaro-Ota and Idiroko would be the
priority of the State in the next 2-3 years while
the intercity network to Lagos and other
neighbouring states which may stretch to about 8
years would follow.

Chairman CCECC, Mr. Cao Bao Gang said the
company was fully ready to work with the Ogun
Government noting that they more motivated to
do the job because the Governor was focused and
determined to make life better for the people.
Gang said the intra city Rail network was
achievable within three years and the company
would also help the state to raise fund for the
project.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/amosun-signs-3-2bn-light-rail-contract-with-chinese-govt/

An Australian drug trafficker married his
girlfriend Monday on the Indonesian prison island
where he is set to be executed soon, his brother
said, urging the country’s president to show
compassion to the newlyweds.

Andrew Chan, 31, married his Indonesian
girlfriend Febyanti Herewila in a ceremony on
Nusakambangan Island, home to several high-
security prisons, his brother Michael said.

He could be put to death by firing squad as soon as
Tuesday, along with seven other foreign drug
convicts, after authorities at the weekend gave
then formal notice of their executions. “We’ve
had a special day today,” Michael Chan said as he
announced the marriage after returning from a
visit to Nusakambangan. “We’ve celebrated with
some family and close friends.

“Hopefully the president will show some
compassion, some mercy, so these two young
people can carry on with their lives. “It’s in the
president’s hands.” Chan met his future wife
several years ago when Herewila, a pastor, began
helping inmates in the jail where the Australian
was imprisoned.

Chan and fellow Australian Myuran Sukumaran,
both among the group facing imminent execution,
are ringleaders of the so-called “Bali Nine”
heroin-smuggling gang and were sentenced to
death in 2006.

Australia has mounted a diplomatic campaign to
save the pair but President Joko Widodo has
vowed there will be no clemency for drug
traffickers on death row in Indonesia. He says
the country faces an emergency due to rising
narcotics use.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/man-awaiting-execusion-by-firing-squard-come-tuesday-weds-first/

Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders
unsurprisingly feature heavily while there is also
room for Harry Kane, Alexis Sanchez and David De
Gea

Chelsea have dominated the PFA Team of the
Year, with six Blues players named in the line-up,
including Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Nemanja
Matic.

John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill
complete the list of Chelsea stars although there
is no place in the team for Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal have just one representative with Alexis
Sanchez making the team while Liverpool are
represented by Philippe Coutinho.

Manchester United's David De Gea is the team's
goalkeeper while Tottenham striker Harry Kane
and Southampton's Ryan Bertrand complete the
line-up.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2015/04/26/11150812/six-chelsea-stars-named-in-pfa-team-of-the-year?ICID=HP_BN_2

The Liga giants are reportedly weighing up a mov
for the Belgian but the Chelsea boss does not
think his talisman is interesting in leaving
Stamford Bridge

Jose Mourinho has warned Real Madrid that Eden
Hazard would cost "£100 million, each leg" if the
Spanish giants plan on bidding for the Belgian.
Madrid Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane revealed hi
admiration for the No.10 this week, adding that
he is "keeping an eye on" the player as reports of
Real's interest ahead of the summer transfer
window grew.

When asked by reporters how much Hazard would
cost, Mourinho replied: "£100m (€140m) each
leg, because he's very young.

"If [Real Madrid] want him I think I would be the
first one to know because my relationship with th
president and with the CEO doesn't give space for
something to happen behind me.

"I trust them completely. If they want him, they
get on the phone and call me to tell me they want
him."

Mourinho insisted on Friday that Hazard, who is
the leading candidate for the PFA Player of the
Year award, was not interested in moving to
Santiago Bernabeu , adding that the Chelsea mod
suits him far better.

He said: "We are not the kind of group that is
looking for somebody to be special, for somebody
to be more than the others. This is not our
culture. I think [Hazard] doesn't belong to that
culture too.

"He knows that he's a special player for us and
that we need him to be decisive, but he's such a
normal boy that he doesn't belong to that glamour
He wants to be a special player and a normal
person.

"Eden is in a state of mind, and a tactical
approach, where this season we have won matche
because of him and have not lost because of him.
He is a talented player that understands what the
team needs.

"He's a fantastic boy. A golden boy. The way he
behaves, the way he respects people, even the
way he respects opponents ... He doesn't cheat,
he doesn't dive. Nothing."

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4102/transfer-zone/2015/04/26/11145662/mourinho-warns-real-madrid-hazard-will-cost-140m-each-leg

Doris MacDaniels is the Chairperson of
Ijaw Mothers Union, a group at the forefront of
the campaign for a better Niger Delta. She is also
a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
in Rivers State and the Deputy Publicity
Secretary, South South Peoples Assembly, SSPA.
In this interview, she speaks on the just
concluded governorship elections in Rivers and the
fate of the Niger Delta following the emergence
of General Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect.
What is your assessment of the just concluded
governorship and House of Assembly elections in
Rivers State?

You will agree with me that this is the first time
we are involving social media in monitoring and
expressing our views in an election in Nigeria. I
have been a grassroots politician for about
25years. The elections held in the 1990s were
conducted in an orderly manner. We never had
ammunition in my community, Okrika. In the late
90s, we had communal clashes with a neighboring
town and some boys were frantically looking for a
gun to ward off some intruders, they were unable
to access gun easily. A boy later brought his
father’s dane gun. Violence associated with
elections in the state started in 2003 and there
after we have been having Carry Go elections,
meaning endorsement for candidates.

The March 28 and April 11 elections are the only
ones that have been competitive and I disagree
that they were marred by killings. The killings we
had in the state were more from cult rivalry.
Certainly there were pockets of violence here
and there but it was a similar thing during the
elections in other parts of the country.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi described the
elections as a sham, saying it was rigged.

If the April 11 elections did not hold, how come
he voted? How would anyone doubt Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, winning Rivers State ? If
Buhari won Sokoto, Kano, Borno, etc, then there
is no way PDP will lose its stronghold states like
Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom.

I was not supporting Nyesom Wike initially. I had
wanted the power rotation arrangement between
the upland and riverine to be effected but we did
our best but our best was not good enough.

When Wike won the primaries and I knew anybody
that got the PDP flag will win the election, I gave
him 100% winning chance. I never thought the
governorship candidate of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside, will ever
win the election because he was Governor
Amaechi’s candidate. Besides, he was forced on
his party by the governor. So a lot of people were
not happy.

Some people also have issues with the governor
over his relationship with President Goodluck
Jonathan. Don’t forget that Mr President is an
Ijaw man and their are Ijaw in Rivers.

Apart from the Supreme court judgement that
brought Amaechi to power in his first term, he
never won the House of Assembly election. It was
when Dr Peter Odili won his governorship election
that they went to court to get victory for
Amaechi so he could go the House of Assembly. In
essence Amaechi does not have the strategy to
win election. Buhari’s victory cannot be
attributed to Amaechi because it was obvious the
people with Jonathan were working to fail. Even
Amaechi re-election was difficult for him. The
First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan pleaded on his
behalf and campaigned for him.

She came to Okrika, specifically, to plead with her
people to give him a CARRY-GO.

The April 11 elections were well managed.
Elections held but there were pockets of violence
here and there. But nobody can say elections did
not hold.

Some people have called for the cancellation of
the election. What do you think?

The situation in Rivers on April 11 was like the
moment of truth. A lot of lies had been told about
Rivers being an APC state but that is a lie .
Jonathan is an Ijaw man from Bayelsa , the
riverine people in Rivers are Ijaw, the First Lady
is from Rivers .The loss of Jonathan at the centre
was like mourning for Rivers people. And then the
guber election came up. They were angry that
Amaechi was part of the PDP problem.

This was a governor that had neglected his state
in pursuit of national politics; so how was he
expecting to project Dakuku for victory? As a
matter of fact, Amaechi presence in APC ruined
Dakuku’s chances and APC getting a better grip in
the state. if Amaechi was not involved,a lot of
people may have decamped to APC but nobody
wants to be associated with a governor that was
talking the way he was doing. Riverine people
don’t act like that. We have typical Rivers men in
the calibre of Mr Odein Ajumogobia, SAN,l, Atedo
Peterside, Fafaa Princewill and so on. We are
very respectful.

What are your expectations from the governor
elect, Wike

The much I know about Wike is that he is a man of
great courage and determination. He has
succeeded in being Obio Akpor local government
Chairman,Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi and
he supported Amaechi to interpret Amaechi
dreams.

The truth is if we have to have a re-run, Wike will
beat Dakuku. You are contending against Wike
who is a master of the game, he has his strategy,
his schemings, his boldness.

Now we have Buhari as president. What is the
future for the Niger Delta?

We opposed Buhari obviously but now he is
president-elect. I believe it is an act of God and
no God-fearing person will oppose God’s verdict.
Based on this, I call on my sisters and brothers to
render their support .I think the Niger Deltans
want to see how the things will unfold. They
want to see whether they would be respected or
disrespected. Niger Deltans are not troublesome
people but they fight injustice. Our brother did a
lot for the North regardless, if Buhari comes with
such gestures of non-tribalistic rulership like
Jonathan, then we may witness peace .

The oil producing states must not be treated with
disdain like it happened in the past. There is so
much awareness in these communities and it will
not be business as usual, the PIB provisions on oil
producing communities should be adhered to.and
these communities must be treated with utmost
care .

Do you see boys going back to the creeks
I don’t think it is in their program for now but let
us not rule that out. It all depends on how tactful
the president handles it. If he listens to the likes
of Amaechi on how to handle Niger Delta, then a
lot could go wrong.

Some ex militants have been voted into the state
House of Assembly
People have wrong perception about these former
militants. Niger Delta ex-militants are not like
Area Boys. Some of them are educated,

intelligent, some are engineers, master degree
holders who had no job,then got affiliated to
MEND. These are forgiven militants for whatever
role they may have played in the past. Some of
them are people from good homes.

Those that made it to the House of assembly are
level-headed young men I personally respect and
they are qualified. We did not vote in miscreants,
we know these boys are responsible.

The nation watched with horror seeing some so-
called honorable members in their true colour,
fighting, breaking heads. These ex militants will
never act that way. These are boys I am ever
proud of because they have distinguished
themselves as respected sons.

These are freedom fighters. They are very
organized.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/what-n-delta-wants-from-president-buhari/

According to a 2005 report, South Africa is the
number one destination for foreign students in
Africa. Considering the fact that a South African
University education will cost a foreign student
one-third of what he or she would have spent in
Britain or the United States, as well as the
relative closeness to home and the quality of
education the country can boast of, this is a good
deal. But, with the recent wave of xenophobic
attacks in South Africa, it has become a tricky,
more dangerous deal.

Elizabeth Johnson left Nigeria four years ago to
study law at North-West University, in South
Africa. Although, killing of foreigners in the
country by a section of disgruntled youths may
come as a surprise to many across the globe, she
says that Xenophobia in itself is not a new
phenomenon in the country. She told Saturday
School Life, SSL that “there is nothing really
surprising about it. Xenophobia has always been
a lifestyle that sufficed across the country only
that one couldn’t have imagined that it will
escalate up to the current level after so many
years of civilisation.”

Zimbabwean, Nomatter Ndebele who recently
graduated from journalism school at the
University of the Witwatersrand is very surprised
at the turn of events in the country she has come
to call home. Her country, along with Botswana
and Namibia, is one of the biggest providers of
students to South African universities. Her
words: “I am very surprised at these attacks. I
have studied in South Africa all my life; at every
level. After the 2008 Xenophobic attacks I really
thought that the general idea amongst the
masses was that it was a terrible and an unjust
thing. People were so outraged, that I never
imagined that they would willingly go back to that
place.”

Johnson on the other hand, admits that
“insecurity raged severally as soon as her peers
spotted her as a “foreigner.” ‘I have
encountered xenophobia on several occasions
since I came here, but you just have to continue
to keep your head high! The fact that I could not
speak or understand any of the 12 official
languages in my first days in the Republic
deterred me severally from getting assistance
from natives.”

Ironically, Xenophobia seems to be the case of the
Black South Africans. Foreign students told SSL
that most often the whites are always of
assistance, easily approachable and easy to get
along with. ‘It doesn’t makes sense,” says
Johnson. “There really isn’t any reason to hate a
fellow black African or any foreigner for that
matter.

As there are foreigners in South Africa so also do
we have South Africans as foreigners in other
countries. Foreigners pay taxes and add to the
development of the country sometime we pay
double to get services. South Africans in the
days of Apartheid sought refuge in other
countries and were accepted with love. Why should
they decide to pay back with so much hatred?”
Individuals and groups responsible for Xenophobic
attacks blame foreigners for taking opportunities
meant for indigenous South Africans. But
Johnsons brings in logic to this twisted tale. Why
should an uneducated person think that a qualified
medical Doctor from another African country is
the reason for his unemployment? People travel
long distances not to play but to work hard.

Xenophobia, I believe, is an extension of racism.
Knowledge and exposure still has a paramount role
to play. Everyone is a stranger somewhere. I love
South Africa. It’s so beautiful here with the
European weather to go with; fascinating
Landscape, Mountains and Wild life. We are one
Africa, and we should stick together and say no to
Xenophobia.’ The latest wave of xenophobic
attacks has left seven people dead, hundreds
injured, and thousands without a place to call
home.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/learning-in-the-face-of-xenophobia-foreign-students-in-south-africa-speak-up/

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, on Friday said that
125 of its 10,600 graduating students for the
2014 session had finished in the First Class
Division.

Bello said at the convocation media briefing in
Lagos that the event for the award of degrees,
higher degrees, Diploma, certificates and prizes,
would hold from April 27 to April 30.

He said that 1,664 of the students bagged the
Second Class Upper Division while 2,827 were in
the Second Class Lower Division.

Bello said that 963 others would be graduating in
the Third Class Division; 90 with Pass degrees
while 167 others would be under the unclassified
degrees in Medicine and Pharmacy.

“I am also proud to announce Mr Korede Akinpelu
of the Department of Chemical Engineering as the
best graduating student of the university with a
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96.
“Mr Sedan Shittu of the Department of Finance is
the second best graduating student with a CGPA
of 4.91,” he said.

Bello said the institution would also be graduating
103 Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.Ds.), 4,330 with
Masters’ degrees and 331 with Postgraduate
Diplomas from its School of Postgraduate Studies.
He said that Dr Isaac Akpan, with the thesis
entitled: “ Processing and Characterisation of
Selected Biodegradable Fibre-PLA Composites,’’
emerged the best Doctorate student.

The vice-chancellor re-emphasised UNILAG’s
resolve to continue to produce quality first class
graduates capable of competing favourably with
their counterparts in any part of the world.
He said that the university had continued to
witness appropriate growth and development in
all facets, particularly in infrastructure and
academic leadership.

Bello said that with the resuscitation of its
students’ union 10 years after it was proscribed,
the institution now had the full complement of
education.

According to the don, students can now fully
exhibit their leadership potentialities in
readiness for roles in the larger society.
The vice-chancellor said the university recently
produced a 25-year strategic plan, spanning from
2012 to 2037.

Bello said the document contained all facets of
the institution and how they should grow or
develop in tranches of five years.

He said the convocation programme would kick off
with a convocation lecture entitled: “ Taking
Advantage of a Depressing Nigerian Economy to
Accelerate Socio- Economic Development.’’
Bello said that the lecture, slated for April 27,
would be delivered by a former National
Universities Commission Executive Secretary,
Prof. Peter Okebukola.

He also said that honorary degrees would be
conferred on emeritus professors of the
university, including some eminent Nigerians, for
their outstanding contributions to education and
quality of life in Nigeria.

Some of the awardees include retired Lt.-Gen.
Theophilus Danjuma, Mr Gamaliel Onosode and
Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

Bello congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan
for entrenching democracy in Nigeria by conceding
defeat to the President- elect, retired Maj.-
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, before the final
declaration of result.

He also congratulated Buhari and wished him a
tenure that would meet the expectations of the
teeming Nigerians.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/unilags-best-student-scores-4-96-cgpa/

you can add me too

08137356822

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Wednesday
faulted PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PWC) audit
report recommending that the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, remit $1.48 billion
to the Federation Account.

The APC was of the view that the amount to be
remitted by the NNPC is more than the $1.48
billion stated by the PWC in the audit report.

Head, Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate
of the APC Presidential Campaign, Mr. Kayode
Fayemi, told Bloomberg that the APC has reliable
information about the actual amount the NNPC is
to refund, adding that the party will release the
report immediately it has full information on the
issue.

Fayemi, who was also the former governor of Ekiti
State, said the incoming administration of
Muhammadu Buhari will publish the full audit of
the NNPC and compel it to repay the government
more than the amount that was previously
recommended.

He said, “I have a figure that is more than $1.5
billion that had been talked about. We have seen
credible information that what PwC says is more
than that. We will release the report. We will
make it available to Nigerians as soon as we have
full information on this.”

Fayemi further stated that the incoming
administration may reorganise the NNPC, saying
that, “NNPC will not be in the form or shape it is
currently in. Some measure of unbundling will
happen.”

Meanwhile, Trafigura Beheer BV, the third-
largest crude oil trader, yesterday confirmed that
it had stopped doing business in Nigeria due to the
controversy that surrounded the product-swap
deal with the NNPC.

The reason it stopping doing business in Nigeria,
according to Bloomberg was due to criticism from
Non-Governmental Organisations, NGO, including
the Swiss-based Berne Declaration over swaps
deals Trafigura had conducted in Nigeria to
exchange refined petroleum products for crude oil
because the non-cash deal took place outside
regulations for banks providing trade finance.
So-called swap deals, where no money is
exchanged, have been criticized by the Berne
Declaration and other non-governmental
organizations because they take place outside the
banking system and the oversight of regulators
who supervise lending for commodity trading
transactions, Bloomberg stated.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/audit-apc-faults-audit-report-on-nnpcs-unremitted-1-48bn/

After tonight's show, "The Originals" returns
next Monday (April 27) with another exciting
all-new episode! Care for some spoilers? In
"City Beneath The Sea," Episode 20 of Season
2, we'll see our favorite characters deal with
"looming deadlines and enticing propositions," a
CW press release describes. Read on for a
spoiler-filled "City Beneath The Sea" (S02E20)
synopsis, plus even more spoilers and news
below!
What should fans expect next week on "The
Originals"? (Warning: spoilers ahead!)
According to a new CW press release, you can
expect "looming deadlines and enticing
propositions" in Episode 20.
In "City Beneath The Sea" (S02E20), "When
Dahlia (guest star Claudia Black) devises a
clever way to get Klaus' (Joseph Morgan)
attention, she reveals some startling details
about baby Hope and leaves him with an
enticing proposition to consider," explains the
CW synopsis.
"Elsewhere, while Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and
Freya (guest star Riley Voelkel) find
themselves with opposing views on how best to
handle Dahlia's looming deadline, Rebekah
(guest star Maisie Richardson-Sellers), Davina
(Danielle Campbell), and Cami (Leah Pipes) work
together to come up with their own strategy,"
suggests the official press release.
"Meanwhile, following a tense stand-off
between Elijah and Jackson (guest star Nathan
Parsons) in the bayou, Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin)
is left to make a difficult decision about her
and Hope's future," continues the synopsis for
the upcoming episode.
"Finally, Vincent (Yusuf Gatewood), who is
eager to leave his witch past behind him,
approaches Davina with an offer that leaves
her intrigued," concludes the CW's Episode 20
synopsis.
The episode is directed by Leslie Libman and
written by Carina Adly MacKenzie & Charlie
Charbonneau, adds the official press release.
After reading the Episode 20 synopsis and
spoilers, are you excited to see "City Beneath
The Sea" (S02E20) yet? What else do you think
will happen in the all-new episode? Sound off
with your thoughts in the comments section
below!

klaus is going to kill them all… I'll prefer if he starts with Hayley.. . .she's annoying

klaus is going to kill them all

why am I just seeing this thread now

Ogun state repsentatives, Comprehensive High
School, Aiyetoro has won the 19th National Junior
Cricket Championship in Ughelli, Delta state.
Competing with twelve other schools representing
different states of the federation, the Ogun-
state flagbearers beat Onitolo Community High
school, Surulere, Lagos by 7 wickets to emerge
champion.

Onitolo boys batted first, scoring 34 runs all out in
7 overs. I reply, Comprehensive High School,
Aiyetero scored 35 runs for loss of 3 wickets in 7
overs.

Ambrose Alli University Staff Secondary
School,Ekpoma,Edo state came third.
Aside from emerging winners, Adeleke Olumide of
Comprehensive High School won the Man of the
Match Award. He also bagged the Batsman and
Man of the Series Awards.

Receiving the team after their victory, the
Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of
Youth and Sports, Mrs Moyosore Olowonmi praised
the cricketers and their handlers for doing the
state proud at the junior national competition.
She said their victory was a testimony to Senator
Ibikunle Amosun’s huge investment in sports
development in the state.

In the meantine,the Badminton Federation of
Nigeria BFN has invited Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan
from Ogun-state as part of Team Nigeria to the
forth coming 2015 Badminton World Cup Team
Event- the Surdiman Cup scheduled to hold in
Dongguan, China from the 10th to the 17th of
next month.

Aside from the Surdiman Cup, Adesokan will also
be in the Team Nigeria that will take part in
various competitions such as the Kenya
International, Botswana International and the
All-African Games.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/ogun-wins-nat-junior-cricket-championship/

In an essay he wrote for Paper magazine, the
same magazine that helped Kim K break the
internet, Kanye West said he's tired of the
notion that celebs are controlling society as
members of the secret group, The Illuminati. He
said celebs don't have that kind of power.
"I heard a comment -- a joke -- about the
Tidal press conference being an Illuminati
moment. If there was actually an
Illuminati, it would be more like the
energy companies. Not celebrities that
gave their life to music and who are
pinpointed as decoys for people who really
run the world. I'm tired of people
pinpointing musicians as the Illuminati.
That's ridiculous. We don't run anything;
we're celebrities. We're the face of
brands. We have to compromise what we
say in lyrics so we don't lose money on a
contract. Madonna is in her 50s and gave
everything she had to go up on an award
show and get choked by her cape. She's
judged for who she adopts. F**k all of this
sensationalism. We gave you our lives. We
gave you our hearts. We gave you our
opinions!"

Let's just tap back into the real world for
a second -- we can have children. Let's be
thankful. We can raise our kids, let's be
thankful. But how about we raise our kids
in a truthful world, not a world based on
brands and concepts of perception?
Perception is not reality. When I look in
North's eyes, I'm happy about every
mistake I've ever made. I'm happy that I
fought to bring some type of reality to
this world we choose to stay in right now,
driven by brands and corporations.
I also love people being inspired to follow
their dreams, because I think people are
oppressed by smoke and mirrors, by
perception. There isn't an example of a
living celebrity that has more words
formed against him, but just a little self-
belief can go a long way. I think the
scariest thing about me is the fact that I
just believe. I believe awesome is possible
and I believe that beauty is important.
When I say "beauty," what's your current
definition of beauty? When I think
beauty, I think of an untouched forest,
only created by God's hand. I think of a
gray sky that separates the architecture
from the background and creates these
amazing photographs because you don't
have to block the sun above you when
you're taking the photograph. I think
beauty is important and it's undermined by
our current corporate culture. When you
think about the corporate office, you
don't see the importance of beauty. I
think all colors are beautiful and in a
corporate world only one color is. But
another thing is that I believe money is
important. I think that artists have been
brainwashed to look at money as a bad
thing, and it's not. I think they're equally
important in our current civilization.

When I was 10 years old I lived in China,
and at the time they used to come up to
me and rub my face to see if the color
would rub off. It was really bleeped up, but
I feel like it was preparing me for a world
perspective that a lot of my friends who
never got a chance to travel didn't get.
Now my perspective, a lot of times, is so
much wider than someone who's limited to
the concept of any particular so-called
world that's not the real world. I take into
account all of what's happening, from the
boom of business in San Francisco to the
poverty in Africa -- and that is wide
perspective. When I was in fifth grade in
China, when kids would come up to me and
touch my face, it was like they had never
seen a black person before, but that was
a while ago. That was 20 years ago and of
course we've come a long way now. That's
not the current state of mind. On "Never
Let Me Down" I rapped, "Racism's still
alive, they just be concealing it," but for
the next generation that's not
necessarily true. Racism is something
that's taught, but for the new post-
Internet, post-iPad kids that have been
taught to swipe before they read, it's
just not going to affect them as much.
They realize that we are one race. We're
different colors -- my cousins and I are
different shapes and we're all from one
family. We're all from one family called
the human race. It's simple as that. This
race is up against some interesting things
-- poverty, war, global warming, classism
-- and we have to come together to beat
this. It'll only be as a collective that we
can beat this, and we can. We can create
a better world for ourselves.

People have asked why I don't speak out
-- on social media, for example -- about
events in this country. The way I see it,
it's not about a post on social media from
me when there are people dying. There's
people in Chicago dying. There's people all
across the globe dying for no
reason! There's people who'll never have
the opportunity to live their lives for
terrible, nonsensical reasons. I care
about people. I care about society. I care
about people being inspired. I care about
people believing in themselves, because
that's the scariest thing. The modern
population cannot be controlled by the
system -- they break the system.

http://lindaikeji..com/2015/04/celebs-not-illuminati-they-dont-have.html?m=1

UNTIL 1994, for over a century South Africa was
locked against the rest of Africa and indeed the
country and her people were not easily accessible
to the rest of the world as the white minority
used their might to impose racial segregation,
which denied the majority black of everything,
including quality life and the rest of the world
rose in support of the majority black in popular
agitation for the liberation of a country held in
the worst and unusual form of domination in all
spheres of life.

The “support” given by the rest of the world was
not because it was South Africa. It was because a
part of humanity with legitimate rights to their
land have been deprived and decimated only
because they have resources of global economic
values, and not just because of the colour of their
skin. Everyone saw the anti apartheid struggle as
a liberation struggle, an integral part of the
global struggle against oppression, all forms of
oppression.

South Africa and her exceptional experiences in
severe oppression and exploitation, even before
the advent of apartheid, is one country whose
people got the best global solidarity during the
years of the struggle against apartheid. No one
saw that struggle as “their” struggle. It was our
collective struggle.

The leading anti apartheid organisation, the
African National Congress, ANC, maintained
offices in several countries abroad, including
Nigeria. Not a few South African citizens
attended public schools, including universities in
Nigeria, with full scholarships/fellowship paid for
by the Nigerian government. There were several
organisations involved in mobilising people and
resources, organised by Nigerians, in our
voluntary quest to be part of the liberation
struggle.

Indeed, there was the Nigeria-African National
Congress Friendship and Cultural Association,
NAFCA. There was the Youth Solidarity on
Southern Africa and Nigeria, YUSSAN. YUSSAN
was in most campuses of Nigerian universities and
other tertiary institutions, mobilising students
across the country against apartheid South
Africa.

Other organisations, including the Nigeria Labour
Congress, National Association of Nigerian
Students, Women In Nigeria as well as the
Government of Nigeria were actively involved in
mobilising people, opinions and resources against
apartheid.

Nigeria was certainly not the only country whose
citizens and governments actively participated in
the international struggle against apartheid.
Many African countries indeed provided cover for
leading South African activists in exile.

That some South Africans have decided to unleash
deadly violence on immigrants, especially of
African extraction is nothing but a failure of post
apartheid leadership who have done very little to
reorientate, rehabilitate and effectively
empower the people in a way that reconnects
them with the reality of their history and culture
as Africans and position them for the socio
economic and political challenges of post apartheid
situations, situations that posits them in a world
of fierce social, economic and political realities of
our collective contemporary predicament.

Most South Africans have been made to think or
believe they are not part of Africa. References to
other African countries is often derogatory. In
fact, President Jacob Zuma sometime in October
2013, while defending his government’s
introduction of e-tolls on roads in the Gauteng
Province during the ANC Gauteng Province
Manifesto Forum held at the famous University of
Wittswaterstrand in Johannesburg said “we can’t
think like Africans in Africa. Its not some national
road in Malawi.”

Though his spokesman, Mac Maharaj struggled to
moderate that statement after some diplomatic
skirmishes with the government of Malawi, it
however captured the impression of most South
Africans.

This is why, in the so called xenophobic attacks,
which first occurred in 2008 and left about 60
people dead, the targets are Africans, from other
African countries mostly Nigerians, Mozambicans,
Somalians, and Congolese.

Most businesses in the informal sector are
operated by immigrants from these countries,
particularly Nigerians.

There are immigrants also from India, Pakistan
and even Britain. In fact, British citizens don’t
require a visa to enter South Africa. These
category of immigrants are carefully exempted
from the attacks. This gives clear indication that
it is an extension of afrophobic beliefs of the
leadership.

The country’s political leadership seem to have
ignored majority of the citizens in economic
empowerment as the citizens still see imbalance in
the socio economic life of the country. They are
yet to see the dividends of the liberation struggle
as the minority white population either as
citizens or immigrants get the priority in blue
chip businesses except in few cases where those
who were in key leadership positions during the
apartheid era, like Cyril Ramaphosa are involved
in telecommunications, minning and service
industry. The people see Cyril, the country’s
Deputy President as part of their problems. His
alleged involvement in the Marikana massacre
reminds the people of the emergence of a new
bourgeoise class that have privatised the
collective benefits of the liberation.

The frustration of the economic disempowerment
of majority of the citizens gives them the
impression that immigrants who control informal
sector of the economy are their obstacles. And its
easier for them to get at these immigrants as
they do business and live in areas easily accessible
to the victims of economic exclusion.

To the ordinary South African, apartheid is yet to
end. The system only assume a different shape
and coloration.

Yes, a black man is in politcal leadership in an
alliance with those who should have been leading
voices of the ordinary people to lead the country
to final liberation.

With ANC in power and in an alliance with the
South African Communist Party, SACP and the
Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU,
two main organisations, aside the ANC who
fought apartheid. SACP and COSATU were in the
main centre of actions that blew off apartheid.
The alliance worked against apartheid, but since
apartheid ended, this tripartite alliance have only
worked against the South African people as socio
economic and political policies of the government
are mostly driven by interests other than those of
the majority. Global neo liberal interests drives
the way, policies and directions of the
government, leaving majority of the citizens
widely ostracised from benefits of the bloody
struggles of more than a century.

South Africans fought against oppression and
exploitation but lost power and leadership to
compradors of contemporary global economic
warfare, and its sweeter for capitalism when the
poor take on themselves. The circumstance that
led any Nigerian to leave his/her country for
another is the same circumstance that led
neglected South Africans to attack immigrants.
Lack of good governance is the father of all
frustrations in citizens.

The only solution to the phobias, whether it is
xenophobia or afrophobia is for the South African
people to re-discover and re-focus themselves.
The alliance South Africans need, like most
countries, is an alliance of all oppressed people
against the anti-people alliance of our various
governments with institutions that create the
wedge between our governments and our people.
South Africa, like Nigeria and most African
countries need a second liberation against second
slavery which the alliance between our various
governments and global anti people neo liberal
institutions represent. If the people live well,
they won’t care where the next person comes
from.

Mr.Denja Yaqub, an asst. secretary at the
headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress,
Abuja.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/xenophobia-or-afrophobia/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has praised drivers and motorcycle
riders associations for refusing to obey Governor Ayodele Fayose’s inciting order to
foment trouble over alleged plan by the 19 APC lawmakers to storm the House of Assembly
with thugs to impeach him and asked Why must a governor choose violence as a religion?.
The governor had yesterday made a live broadcast on the state media urging drivers,
motorbike operators, market women and workers to rise up to protect the mandate they
gave him.
Few minutes later, state radio and television stations ran public announcements
intermittently urging drivers and motorcycle operators to be on the look-out for strange
faces invading the town to work for the APC lawmakers while also urging them to mobilise
to the House of Assembly to prevent the governor’s impeachment.
But on Monday, the drivers and many okada riders refused to protest, saying that they
would not be used as cannon fodder while the governor’s children were kept in safety and
luxury abroad.
In a statement, Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, praised the transport workers
for their courage and wisdom, saying it is callous for a man to put fellow human beings in
harm’s way over protection of his interest while keeping his own children out of danger
to enjoy safety in luxury.
“We praised the drivers and motorcycle operators for their courage and wisdom. Fayose is
used to protecting his own interest and keeping his children in safety while he distributes
guns to the children of others to foment trouble.
“The day he was first impeached in 2006, he asked his supporters to meet at Fajuyi to
confront the soldiers. It is later that his supporters discovered that the governor had
bolted in the booth of his car to safety while his supporters were tear-gassed with
several of them wounded,” Olatubosun said.
APC spokesman said the matter at hand was not about partisanship but about the abuse
of the constitution, and wondered why Fayose believed he must win through violence all
the time he tramples on the constitution.
“He first led thugs to sack the court and beat up a judge while court records in the Chief
Judge’s office were torn. The Chief Judge’s Secretary was beaten. Now, he openly made
a live broadcast in the state media inciting his supporters to an act of insurrection by
disallowing the lawmakers to do their lawful duties.
“Even during Sunday service in the church, Fayose, to the shock of everyone, was
inciting worshipers to protect the mandate they gave him through violent resistance to
the lawmakers. Why must a governor choose violence as a religion?
“He effectively grounded the judiciary and now it is the turn of the parliament. Nigerian
democracy is on trial and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is in chains
if Fayose can single-handedly cripple these two sacred democratic institutions through
violence and he appears winning all the way,” Olatubosun said.

He wondered why Fayose preferred violent option in the resolution of constitutional and
democratic matters. He also asked Ekiti elders preaching peace to Speaker Adewale
Omirin that they must first start with Fayose on the need to embrace peace by operating
within the ambit of the law instead of inciting people into violence.

Olatubosun also regretted that the governor’s inciting media statement had created
panic among parents who kept their wards at home for fear of attacks on their way to
schools.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/why-must-a-governor-choose-violence-as-a-religion-ekiti-apc/

The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has
maintained that he is ready for genuine
reconciliation with the members of the opposition
party, All Progressives Congress, APC but argued
that the leadership of the APC want to takeover
Ekiti state government by force.

He said he took the step to seek a genuine
reconciliation in the interest of the state with
the APC, whose 19 lawmakers in the state House
of Assembly were plotting his impeachment.
The governor spoke on Sunday at the thanksgiving
service organised for him at the Cathedral Church
of Emmanuel, Anglican Communion, Ado Ekiti, to
celebrate his electoral victory at the Supreme
Court.

Fayose said, “I asked for forgiveness for
reconciliation and to pursue genuine peace.
Waiving the olive branch does not mean
cowardice, it is for peace.

“Conspiracy is against God’s will. What better way
could one seek peace other than asking for
forgiveness.”

“When I contested for Senate they said I lost and
I did not fight anyone. I did not go to the tribunal
and I was saying good things about the
government then. The opposition should be
courageous enough to accept defeat. I follow
Jonathan in and out of office. Jonathan gave up
for survival of Nigeria. Jonathan prevented the
prophecy that Nigeria would break up in 2015.
“I’m enjoying the mandate of God through his
people and that cannot be controverted. My sin is
because I allowed the common man to breathe the
air of hope.

“The people have spoken (governorship election),
they said it was military intervention. They spoke
the second term (presidential election), is that
one photochromic? And they spoke again the third
time (House of Assembly election).

“If God that gave me victory cannot defend me, I
better go home. If the people cannot defend the
mandate they gave to me, I better go home.
Power doesn’t come from man. Power belongs to
God. Anyone against the voice of God is following
Satan’s way.

“In a democracy, you need a simple majority to
win elections, but I enjoy total majority. They
want to take government by force, firing shots at
people; that is coup against the people. They said
they are coming again tomorrow, we are waiting
for them.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/apc-want-to-take-ekiti-govt-by-force-it-is-coup-against-the-people-fayose/