₦airaland Forum

No fewer than 63 senators have
signalled their intentions to
commence impeachment moves
against President Goodluck Jonathan,
just as 215 members of the House of
Representatives have allegedly signed
the impeachment register.
Daily Sun gathered yesterday evening
that eight senators on the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
had joined the ranks of All
Progressives Congress (APC) to start
the impeachment process.
A ranking senator from the APC
confirmed the existence of the list and
also, disclosed that some members of
the ruling party in the Red Chamber
“willingly wrote their names and
appended their signatures to
commence impeachment proceedings
against President Jonathan.”
Reminded that the impeachment
process, as stipulated in the
constitution, was a lengthy process
and that the Seventh Senate might not
have the time to see through the
process, he replied: “We will start the
president’s impeachment once we get
the required number. Some of the PDP
senators have already signed the
register.”
Pointing at some of the law books on
the shelf in his office, the senator
insisted that lawmakers “are versed in
the law. We know what to do.”
It was gathered that some of the
president’s alleged offences
reportedly compiled by the senators
included police invasion of the
National Assembly on Thursday,
November 20; disregard for the
parliament as evidenced in the
invasion of Ekiti House of Assembly,
persistent non-implementation of
national budgets, even after the
National Assembly had consistently
warned that it was a breach of the
constitution.
“The president has consistently
usurped the powers of the National
Assembly and it is time to put a stop
to that. The constitution has granted
us the powers to impeach any
president that breaches the spirit and
letters of the same constitution,” he
said.
He also disclosed that the same
process was on in the House of
Representatives but declined to
confirm whether PDP members had
signed the impeachment register.

papalnuncio:
Nigeria is a seek country,
we are suppose to put hands together and move the country forward , but the revers is the case.
some people think G.E.J is not good for them, and what they think is [/b]KILL PEOPLE, SCATTER THE COUNTRY AND WE BLAME G.E.J[b]
people will believe us.
but for me, for G.E.J to go, let the country scatter and let every ethnic group rule them self
QUITE ME any where

This one schooled in Bangladesh.

Two female suicide bombers on Tuesday
morning hit a crowded market in Maiduguri,
Borno State, killing several people.
The bomb was detonated at Baba Laying, a
very popular area inside the Monday market
in Maiduguri.
However, one of the bombers was caught and
killed by an angry mob.
Details later…



Source: www.thenationonlineng.net/new/female-bombers-hit-maiduguri-market-several-killed/

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan,
Dame Patience Jonathan, on Monday
urged Nigerians, especially women to
re-elect the President in the 2015
election.
The First Lady said it is time for
Nigerian women to show appreciation
to President Jonathan by coming out
en mass to vote for him, for being
gender sensitive by appointing women
into key political offices.
She made the call while declaring open
a two- day national conference on
women and 2015 election in Abuja.
The conference with the theme:
“Making a Difference,” was put
together by the Independent National
Electoral Commission, the Ministry of
Women Affairs and Social Development
and the United Nations Development
Project (UNDP).
The Minister of Water Resources,
Sarah Ochekpe, who represented the
First Lady, stated that women must be
ready to invest their time and
resources to create more
opportunities for their participations
in policy making as well contribute
their quota to nation’s economic and
political growth.
Ochekpe, who called on the National
Assembly to implement the national
policy for gender, however charged
women especially political aspirants to
seize the opportunity of the
conference to acquire leadership
trainings and be informed of the of
the proper electoral processes that
will improve the country.



Source: www.thenationonlineng.net/new/re-elect-my-husband-in-2015-first-lady/

A federal court in Abuja has freed Aminu
Oguche, the suspected mastermind of the
Nyanya bomb attack in Abuja, the News
Agency of Nigeria has reported.
The court struck out a two-count
terrorism charge against Mr. Ogwuche on
Monday, after months of trial for the
April 2014 attack which killed more than
70 people.
The court hinged its decision on lack of
diligent prosecution by the state.
Mr. Ogwuche, a suspected Boko Haram
member, was accused by the Nigerian
government of being behind the attack.
The blast at the Nyanya Motor Park
occurred during morning peak hours as
residents were hurrying to work.
The government said Mr. Ogwuche fled to
Sudan after coordinating the attack.
He was later repatriated to Nigeria to face
charges.
Details of Monday’s ruling are sketchy
and will be brought in our subsequent
updates.




Source: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/171794-breaking-court-frees-alleged-nyanya-bomber.html

Too bad.

Jonathan is drunk.

youngds:

Booked

• TAN deployed as chief tool
Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN), the
chief campaigner for President Goodluck
Jonathan’s second term, has been recruited
to spearhead the ouster of Governor Seriake
Dickson of Bayelsa State from office.
Allegedly bankrolling the campaign in
President Jonathan’s home state is his wife,
Dame Patience, who recently resigned her
appointment as a Permanent Secretary in the
state civil service.
The resignation confirmed speculations
about the First Lady’s frosty relations with
the governor.
Mrs. Jonathan, according to political
sources in the state, wants Seriake out of
power not beyond 2016 when his first term
expires.
Her move is generating ripples in the state
with some elders and stakeholders said to be
angry at what they see as a plot to
destabilise the state.
They are considering sending a high-
powered delegation to President Jonathan to
call his wife to order.
The Nation gathered that the First Lady
brought in TAN to drive the ‘Seriake-must-go
campaign’, and also consulted former close
associates of ex-governor of the state, Mr.
Timipre Sylva, to lead TAN in the state.
The plot, sources said, entails the
restructuring of TAN leadership in the state.
Tipped to lead the new TAN is a former top
government functionary in the state and
close associate of the First Lady.
The proposed TAN leader was until recently
in Sylva’s camp.
The current leader of TAN in the state, Mr.
Talford Ongolo, has been pushed aside to
give way for the new man.
The new man has started his mission by
coordinating the distribution of goodies from
a federal government agency to the people.
The source who pleaded anonymity said the
campaign is expected to be launched soon
with anti-Seriake rallies across the state.
“This is just the latest addition to the bag of
strategies mapped out by the First Lady to
remove Dickson,” the source said.
“You’ll recall that she resigned her
appointment as permanent secretary to give
her the moral ground to launch this war.
Besides, you heard of her partnership with
some federal lawmakers.
“Right now she has resolved that TAN should
drive the process. She is working with the
loyalists of former governor Sylva and they
are coming under the guise of TAN to work
against Dickson.
“That is her new strategy now. She wants to
use the TAN structure which is everywhere to
actualise her ambition.”
He said the First Lady had already promised
her foot soldiers juicy rewards after a
successful campaign.
“They are going to use TAN like a body to
fight the government and they are going to
engage in propaganda. It is the same thing
that they are doing now, everything possible
to rubbish the governor.
“Her number one agenda is to get him out of
the way.”
The source said Bayelsa elders and
stakeholders who are aware of the
development will soon be “meeting with the
President to plead with him to call his wife to
order.”
When contacted, Ongolo’s personal aide
confirmed that his boss had been sidelined
from all TAN activities in the state.
The aide who said his name should not be
mentioned said TAN suddenly accused
Ongolo of being Dickson’s man and declared
him unfit to handle its affairs in the state.
“It was a surprise to all of us. Ongolo has
been the coordinator of TAN in the state but
recently he was not allowed to handle TAN
activities any more. He was branded
Dickson’s man. We don’t know what that
means but we smell a rat.
“We were also surprised to see someone
coordinating the activities of TAN and it
became obvious when he led the distribution
of items brought for women in the state.
“My boss still has all the documents of TAN
in his custody. Nobody has had the courtesy
to officially relieve him of his position.”




Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/new/first-ladys-plot-to-unseat-dickson-gathers-stream/

Yea we love hip hop

So I made front page but nothing was really different about me thereafter. Then I ask myself, why all the hype all along? Only price I paid was getting banned twice. And trying to modify my op seems impossible.

The latest report by the International
Crisis Group has suggested that with
Nigeria’s politics sliding dangerously
towards violence, the forthcoming general
elections appeared to be in great danger.
According to the report, “Nigeria’s
Dangerous 2015 Elections: Limiting the
Violence”, the general elections,
particularly given the bitter struggle
between the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC), would be a
fierce contest that might be rocked by
violence if certain steps are not taken.
“The Boko Haram insurgency, competing
claims to the presidency between the
majority Muslim north and majority
Christian south, inadequate electoral
arrangements and apparent bias by
security agencies all point toward a very
perilous contest whose results may also
be disputed,” the report said.
The authors of the report however called
for urgent improvements in security and
electoral arrangements, as well as in
political mindsets.
The report however examined the
dangerous tide in which electoral
preparations are taking place and
outlined measures which needed to be
taken urgently to curb the already
brewing violence.
The report’s findings and
recommendations include:
. The electoral environment is highly
destabilised by insecurity, particularly in
the North East. The federal government
must strengthen its security apparatus;
work closely with relevant state
governments toward achieving better
results from its counter-insurgency
operations; collaborate much more
effectively with neighbouring countries,
bilaterally and through regional
platforms, and ensure elections are held
in all states.
Preparations for the elections suffer from
a deficient legal framework and lack of
confidence in the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and the
security agencies. The National Assembly
needs to prioritise amendment of the
electoral law, particularly establishing an
election offences tribunal. INEC needs to
build confidence, including by speedily
producing a credible voter register.
Security agencies need to demonstrate
neutrality in their relations with all
parties.
Leaders of political parties and of
regional, ethnic and religious “pressure
groups” are significantly influencing
electoral preparations and voters’
expectations of their outcomes. Party
leaders and candidates should comply
with the code of conduct their parties
signed voluntarily and hold their
supporters accountable to its provisions.
Regional, ethnic and religious leaders
must also refrain from inflammatory
rhetoric and ensure their followers
pursue their political aspirations
peacefully.
Nigeria’s international partners should
engage all major political actors toward
preventing or mitigating violence before,
during and especially after the polls.
“Boko Haram’s insurgency makes these
elections particularly fraught, but it is
only a microcosm of the country’s
deepening political, religious and ethnic
divides” said Nnamdi Obasi, Nigeria
Senior Analyst. “With only three months
to the polls, a sense of urgency is more
than ever imperative, particularly on the
part of the government and the election-
management and security agencies.”
“As Africa’s most populous country and
largest economy, Nigeria would pose a
very real security threat if it were
destabilised by election violence,” says EJ
Hogendoorn, Africa Program Deputy
Director. “Salvaging the situation requires
concerted efforts by all national actors
and international partners”.


Source: www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/171719-violence-may-mar-nigerias-2015-general-elections-report.html

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP
Suleiman Abba CFR, NPOM, NPM, mni, has
denied issuing any arrest order on any
particular person involved in the attack on
Policemen, or the disturbance of public
peace, at the premises of the National
Assembly, Abuja on Thursday, 20 November,
2014. Rather, it lies with the investigating
Police Officers to determine who to invite,
quiz and prosecute as the case may be.
In another vein, the Inspector-General of
Police has condemned in very strong terms
the unwarranted attack on Police Officers
providing security at a political rally in Oke
Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, during which
one Police Inspector was shot dead and 5
others sustained grievous injuries.
While ordering a thorough investigation into
the shooting incident and the attendant death
of a service personnel, the Inspector-General
of Police reiterated his warning to political
actors to desist from the use of thugs in
pursuing their agenda. The IGP reaffirmed
the resolve and determination of the Nigeria
Police to provide a safe and secure corridor
for all political competitors, stressing that
offenders of the Electoral Act will face the full
wrath of the law.
Ag. CP EMMANUEL C. S. OJUKWU, psc
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA.
Source: www.npf.gov.ng/news/view-news?id=374#.VHDGWmrTXbM

TheUnblinded:
contds

OP please the picture of that fellow with a shattered mouth wasn't a result of political unrest, it happened @ Dangote cement factory in Gboko and it was as a result of a quarrel dat involved a soldier and this guy was shot. These pictures are too gory. Is this NIGERIA?

I do because I do everything like someone older. And at work am the youngest but always with the older folks and most of them believe am their age to the extent of referring issues to me for solutions. I feel somewhat angry when my dad even mentions it to somebody. The funniest part to me is that I told my galfrnd my age but she doubts me because it makes her older than me by a year. So for the past seven years she's never accepted she's older than me.

Congratulations Major Manga. Correct boss.

Israeli side MS Ashdod have been given 30
days by FIFA to pay Kaduna United the
agreed transfer fee of $70,000 for Celtic and
Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose.
In a judgment reached by the World soccer
governing body dispute resolution committee
Ashdod were also fined 15,000 Swiss francs
in violation of art 64 of the FIFA Disciplinary
Code.
Efe Ambrose played for Kaduna United for
four years before joining MS Ashdod in the
winter of 2010.
After two and a half years he was sold by the
club for £1.5m but the club refused to pay
Kaduna United an agreed 20 % sell on clause
aside their refusal to pay up the transfer fee.
Former Kaduna United chairman, Sabo
Babayaro said Ashdod renegaded on their
promise to pay up the agreed fee and sold
Efe Ambrose to Celtic totally ignoring a 20%
sell on clause included in the deal.
Babayaro revealed he resorted to report the
case to FIFA when it became clear Ashdod
were trying to play smart by ignoring all
reminders and mails sent to them to redeem
the fee.
“I kept quiet for four years because any move
I make might lead to the banning of my son,
Efe Ambrose, untill the club pay up the
fee,”he told NationSport.
“Unfortunately Ashdod took it for granted and
some people are presently using it to stain
my hard earned reputation with spurious
claims”
“Some claim it was $500,000 that I’am
currently under investigation over it,how can
it be when we all have a copy of the
judgment reached by FIFA?”
A copy of the judgment made available to
NationSport and signed by the FIFA
disciplinary committee deputy secretary
Bernado Palmeiro also directed the Israeli
side to pay the cost of 2,000 Swiss Franc for
the cost of proceedings.
It further directed Kaduna United and Ashdod
to inform the committee when the payments
are made.
Source: thenationonlineng.net/new/fifa-gives-ashdod-30-days-to-pay-efe-ambroses-fee/

What started in the House of Representatives
as a plot to initiate impeachment
proceedings against President Goodluck
Jonathan has spread to the Senate,
according to indications yesterday.
A growing number of Senators are said to be
enthusiastic to team up with the Reps to get
the President impeached.
One hundred and thirty Reps were known to
have signed up to support the plot on
Thursday, but by yesterday, the figure had
risen up to 148, sources close to the bid
said.
The plot was sparked by alleged growing
impunity by the Federal Government, the
latest being Thursday’s attack on the
National Assembly by armed policemen who
tear-gassed Reps and denied Speaker Aminu
Tambuwal access to the Chamber.
Senate sources said yesterday that some
senators were inclined to get President
Jonathan impeached.
The arrow heads of the plot in the Senate are
from the Northeast where the President
proposes to extend the emergency rule in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The arrow heads, one source said, “have
been meeting to plan how to convince and
win other senators to buy into and support
the pro-impeachment lawmakers.”
The source said “things will get clearer by
Tuesday 25 when the Senate will resume
plenary.”
But the source could not confirm if a register
is already in place for interested senators to
indicate their willingness to join the plot.
“I know of a fact that there have been series
of clandestine meetings where the plot was
mooted,” he said.
The senators say Jonathan must go to “save
the country from unbridled impunity” by
President Jonathan.”
The source described Thursday’s invasion of
the National Assembly as “the height of
impunity that must not be condoned by right
thinking Nigerians.”
The Senate leadership is said to be labouring
to calm frayed nerves.
A South West Senator who spoke on the plot
noted that it is obvious “things will no longer
be the same in the National Assembly.”
He said: “At this stage, it is still a matter of
wait and see. Things can no longer be what
they used to be. Even the most conservative
in the Senate were agitated by the action of
the police yesterday (Thursday). The police
could not have acted without order from
above.”
In the House of Representatives, more
members are said to be considering joining
the 148 that have already indicated their
willingness to be part of the impeachment
process
Many Reps are still aggrieved by the
Thursday action of the Police which they cite
as one of the several impunities of the
Jonathan administration.
“Since 1999, this is the first time in the
history of democracy that such a thing has
happened,” a Rep said of the attack
The motion for impeachment may be moved
as early as the 3rd of December, it was
learnt.
It was also gathered that the legal team of
the Speaker may head to the court on
Monday to file a contempt of court case
against the President and the Police over the
invasion of the National Assembly.
According to a source, the Speaker is hinging
his action on the fact that a court ruling
exists that asks all parties to maintain the
status quo over the issue of defection.
The legal team would look at the possibility
of getting the court to declare that the action
of the Presidency/Police is subjudice.
Also yesterday, the Minority Leader of the
House and the leader of the APC Caucus in
then Green Chamber, Femi Gbajabiamila,
vowed that the opposition will not go to
sleep in the House.
In a statement entitled: “We Will Continue to
be Vigilant Against Unlawful Tactics of
Jonathan, Gbajamiamila expressed sadness
over the events that led himself and other
members into scaling over the National
Assembly gate before gaining entrance into
the National Assembly on Thursday.
He said: “What happened in the National
Assembly yesterday (Thursday) will forever
live in infamy. Never thought I would see the
day when I would be forced to go over the
assembly gates where I work to gain access
into the chambers. But then our democracy
has to be saved.”
Gbajabiamila expressed surprise that the
Presidency, through its agents, could
undermine a court injunction restraining
them from acting against the Speaker,
“It was pretty clear the Presidency in spite of
a court injunction wanted to do something
sinister and illegal. They perfected the plot to
stop the Speaker and the opposition leader
from gaining entry.
“ My members were already in chambers
waiting for me to come in so as to provide
leadership and direction. Most of them had
gone over the gate too. I had to do the
needful to save our democracy. We thank
God we foiled their evil machinations. We
will continue to be vigilant”.
Meanwhile, The Nation learnt that PDP
members in the House are under fire from the
Party and the Presidency for not delivering
on the plan to remove Tambuwal on
Thursday.
According to a source, the strategy was to
hijack the plenary after the Speaker might
have been prevented from gaining access
into the National Assembly by the Police who
were deployed by the Inspector General of
Police for that purpose.
Trusted lawmakers from the PDP, with no
allegiance to the Speaker, would then seize
the House, and impeach the Speaker. The
police would provide them cover and the
Presidency would grant immediate
recognition to the new Speaker, who
naturally would have been the Deputy
Speaker.
However, the plan was thwarted by the
vigilance of the opposition lawmakers, who
smuggled Tambuwal into the Chamber,
where he took charge of proceedings before
the PDP lawmakers could act.
Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/new/impeachment-plot-against-jonathan-thickens/

See Hon Members of Parliament
Western House of Assembly in 1962 !
Nigerian politicians never learnt from
the past !

SEP 1962 – Diary Of Western Nigeria’s
Political Crisis – As parliamentarians in
the Western House of Assembly riot,
some MPs seek any means of exit. This
record of the crisis in Western Nigeria
serves as a reminder that we must
never again allow political difference to
get so disastrously out of hand.

( Photograph by Matthew Faji ©BAHA)
Nov 20 ,2014.In modern day Nigeria ,
the same hing is playing out . See Hon
member jumping the gate to get into
National Assembly .

The 1962 pix culled from TJ Bello: The
Nigerian Nostalgia 1960 -1980 Project

chesterlee:
He should be locked behind bars...Him and his bunch of shameless 'gate climbing' touts disgraced the country.

Imagine,the video is all over youtube...Kai!!

Your President disgraced the country, and not the lawmakers.

Breaking News: Inspector General
of Police
orders arrest of speaker Tambuwal
IGP AbbaThe Inspector General of
Police, Abba Sulaiman may have
given orders for the arrest of
Speaker
of the House of RepresentativesHon
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Daily Trust
has learnt.
Sources told Daily Trust a similar
order
has been handed down to the
Department of State Security
(DSS.)
The orders were given following the
fracas that broke out at the
National
Assembly on Thursday where
members of the House of
Representativeswere confronted by
armed security personnel who threw
canisters of teargas at the speaker
and other lawmakers to stop them
from accessing the parliament
building.
The speaker and some of his
colleagues who supported him beat
the security cordon and later held a
brief plenary thereby stopping some
members in their tracks who had
gathered protected by scores of
Police and DSS operatives to initiate
impeachment proceedings against
the
leadership of the House.
Sources at the Police headquarters
revealed that the Police chief gave
the order for Tambuwal's arrest
after
a meeting with Vice President
Namadi
Sambo and the National Security
Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
"I can confirm to you that the order
for his arrest has been given today
(Friday). The signal from the IG's
office specifically directed the FCT
and Sokoto State commissioners of
Police to serve Tambuwal with notice
of invitation to the force
headquarters and if he resists, he
should be arrested immediately,
“the
source revealed.
"The involvement of Sokoto CP was
because the Speaker was sighted in
Sokoto on Friday where he picked
the All Progressive Congress (APC)
governorship form for the coming
elections. It was assumed that he
was
out of Abuja as such other police
divisions were involved in the
matter."
Sources at the meeting in Villa
indicate that both the Vice President
and the NSA chastised the Police
boss
for the failure of his men to
prevent
Speaker from entering the national
assembly premises.
"The NSA was particularly angry and
told the IG in clear terms that he
doesn't know his job. He said how
did
the Speaker and the members break
a cordon organised by the FCT
Police
commissioner. The NSA then made it
clear that the Police authorities
must
rectify the anomalies or they will
face
the consequences. The IG then said
Tambuwal will be arrested for
questioning.”

AgapeCharis:
Who is onyeka onwenu??

Over here in France, we don't know him

Now that wasn't sarcasm, but total foolishness. #NotFunny

simplemach:
Dont even understand what i just read.
BTW op whats ur source?

WWW.premiumtimes.com

smile4kenn:
You are a very dangerous person. It seems you have missed the last 20 years in molecular genetics, molecular epigenetics, systems biology and complex systems and you write from a fundamentally misinformed base. Let’s just get this straight, you don’t understand how genetics works in a developmental context, and that’s a shame because information ONLY WORKS IN A DEVELOPMENTAL context. You have consistently unabashedly demonstrated that you fundamentally don’t understand, and rather will not even consider the probabististic nature of developmental processes. Your 5th grade conception of biological processes does not qualify you to possess the opinions you have which is because you write in pop-blog. The only thing that bothers me is that people with even less understanding might read your misinformed opinions and mistake them with a scientific consensus.

Sorry, but what are you saying?

"The presidential invasion of the National
Assembly which was unscrupulously
executed by its pursuivant inspector general
of police had all the trappings of an entebbe
raid and executive rascality which is
deservable of an acidic excoriation and
corrosive pummeling.The impeachment
gambit is however a frankeinstous yoyo with
a potency for an erebus prone whirligig," --
Patrick Obahiagbon commenting on the
"show of shame" at the National Assembly
yesterday.

Is dat so

ALKARULEZ615:
Who/What is Brymo?

Well, we don't know him/her/it here in Papua New Guinea

Chixox!!!! FTC Again!!!!!
Hehehehehehhehehe....
God is Great!! (Sign of good tinz to come)
#team1960b*t must pay on Saturday


Btw,
Nairalanders....
Vote Wisely tomao....Vote "NaijaBoiy"
God bless yhu'all

Certainly u guys live in caves or under water.

Obaino is confused at the moment. Better still, dat was a promotion strategy. Good morning/night

samurairulzz:
Rich and he no fit go Covenant university *smh*

Madness is not welcomed there.

(CNN) -- The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has taken
a new twist as football's world governing body FIFA lodged a criminal
complaint with the Swiss judiciary Tuesday.
The complaint relates to the "international transfers of assets with
connections to Switzerland, which merit examination by the criminal
prosecution authorities."
The FIFA statement added: "The subject of the criminal complaint is the
possible misconduct of individual persons in connection with the awarding
of the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup."
FIFA lodged the complaint with the Attorney General of Switzerland in
Berne on the recommendation of German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert --
FIFA's independent ethics adjudicator.
"I lodged the criminal complaint upon the recommendation of Judge
Eckert," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.
"I cannot, however, comment on any possible criminal offenses. I am not
a lawyer.
"I also was not the addressee of the investigatory report, which I have
never seen. However, given Judge Eckert's recommendation, it was my
duty -- as the President of FIFA -- to lodge the complaint."
Eckert's recommendation was based on the evidence compiled by Michael
Garcia -- chairman of the investigatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics
Committee -- who has been examining the awarding of the hosting rights
of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
However Blatter insisted there was no change to Eckert's statement "that
the investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World
Cups is concluded." Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/18/sport/football/fifa-criminal-complaint-world-cup/

13th December. Anybody else?

T he parents of a child who has
begged for the latest Lego
spaceship, or merchandise from
Disney’s Frozen film, probably won’t
have uttered the words “delayed
gratification” in their response.
However, such terms could become a
valuable tool in teaching children about
money.
Most parents excel when it comes to
teaching safety and good manners, but
with money few know where to start.
Money skills can be a blind spot because
so many feel financially inept
themselves. Yet research suggests
parents’ behaviour is the biggest
influence.
“As a society in Britain, we don’t talk
about money – it’s a sort of massive
taboo,” says clinical psychologist Dr
Elizabeth Kilbey. “Unlike other parts of
parenthood, there is no playground
chatter about the topic and, as a result,
parents revert to what they know –
passing their habits down to children.”
So how do you teach your children to be
financially astute and, eventually,
independent?
Lesson 1 Start early
Teach them well – and early – says the
government-backed Money Advice
Service. Its research suggests that adult
money habits are set by the age of
seven. But financial lessons must be age
appropriate to resonate, says Kilbey:
“Young children are not miniature
adults. Lessons should be tailored for
their age, rather than just made
simpler.”
Start as soon as they are able to count
and make money the topic of regular
family discussions. Time these around
dates when they are due to receive a
cash gift so that you can talk about
saving versus spending.
Lesson 2 Want versus need
While your child will naturally ask for
the latest games console, making them
understand the difference between
needs and wants will help them make
sensible spending decisions from a very
young age.
One way to do this is to put it into a
context that your child can understand,
says Kilbey. “If they want the latest Star
Wars Lego set that costs nearly £300,
explain how long it would take an adult
to earn that amount of money.”
She suggests creating a specific example
to put it into perspective. How many
hours would a teacher, for instance,
have to work to pay for that item? “This
demonstrates delayed gratification which
is an important part of learning about
money.”
It is OK to say no. As adults
we are often told no, and
children need to hear it
Parents should reinforce through words
and actions that it’s important not to
spend more money than you have. One
good way is to keep the just-for-fun
purchases in check by not giving in to
every request.
“It is OK to say no,” says Kilbey. “As
adults we are often told no, whether it
is from employers or the bank, and
children need to hear it.”
However, experts warn against saying
you can’t afford it. It’s easy to use this
default response when your child begs
you for the latest toy. But doing so sends
the message that you’re not in control of
your money, which can be scary – and
create future anxieties.
Kilbey suggest that a more appropriate
way is to say: “We choose not to spend
our money like that.”
Lesson 3 Know the difference
It is crucial you show your children that
money can play a variety of roles in
their daily living, whether it is spending
today, or saving for tomorrow.
Providing pocket money in lower
denominations makes it easier to
allocate a proportion of income to
different goals.
Labelled jars work to separate money –
one for saving, one for spending, and
one for donating. Any time they make
money by doing chores or receiving
birthday gifts, encourage your child to
divide the cash equally among their
jars. It’s not a huge act, but it does
show that it’s OK to spend some, money,
as long as you’re giving back to others
and saving as well.
Once they’re older, their bank accounts
can mirror the split.
Lesson 4 Learn from mistakes
When kids have their own money, it is
essential that they make choices and
deal with the consequences of their
actions. By experiencing negative
consequences first hand, they will learn
to make smarter financial decisions.
“Let them take responsibility for small
amounts,” says Kilbey. “Allow them to
make mistakes. It really is the best way
to learn.”
Lesson 5 Make it relevant
Enable children to experience using
money on a practical level to experience
the emotional highs and lows.
“First, they must save it, then spend it,
then experience the euphoria that comes
from buying the item they wanted, but
also what it feels like to lose some
money in the process. This will reinforce
the idea that it must then be saved
again.”
Use the weekly food shop to
talk about planning, saving
and finding the best value
One way to teach children how to
handle money is through routine tasks
and household chores. Use the weekly
food shop to talk about planning, saving
and finding the best value. Let your
children hold the list and tick off each
item or, if they’re older, give them a few
items from the list to find on their own
at the best price.”
Using actual cash is important. “It’s only
once they have grasped ‘real’ money can
you move on to the more difficult
concept of virtual or digital money,”
Kilbey explains.
When your children are very young,
work money concepts into their
imaginary games, such as playing
pretend store or restaurant. However,
Kilbey suggests avoiding play money:
“Parents should role play with real
money and model the importance of
giving it the care and attention it
deserves.
“Store it properly at the end of the
game, as it will show that it needs to be
looked after.”
Lesson 6 Lead by example
Parents have a great deal of influence
on their children, and it is not just the
positive messages that resonate. Children
tend to copy what we do rather than
what we say, so limit the amount of
shopping trips as a leisure activity, as
they might start to think that money is
an unlimited resource and that spending
is fun.
What’s more, research suggests that a
third of parents lie about money. Studies
show this will only send the wrong
message. They may learn that lying is a
good way to cover up financial problems,
or that lying about money is acceptable.
If your child asks a financial question
that you’re not comfortable answering,
be honest and say you don’t want to talk
about it.
STARTING POINT
If you are a parent who won’t hand
over any cash until your offspring have
earned it, you are in the majority.
Halifax research has found that around
two thirds (65%) of children aged
between eight and 15 are doing some
form of household chores to earn their
pocket money.
So when do you start paying? Dr
Elizabeth Kilbey suggests a weekly
amount during infant school then
spaced out to fortnightly or monthly by
the time they are finishing secondary
school.
“There has to be some sense of the real
world, and pocket money is a good way
to do that as it teaches short- and long-
term saving and good spending habits,”
she says.
The average weekly amount given to
children between the ages of eight and
15 is £6.35, according to Halifax.