₦airaland Forum

The great American poet, Maya Angelou says
hate “has caused a lot of problems in the
world, but has not solved one yet.” Some
people, however, do not know that. Or
rather, they have closed their minds to it. So,
what did they do on Thursday last week,
when Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was to
speak at Chatham House, in London? They
also carried their bags of hate, and hired
protesters who were to heckle, harass and
pester the former military leader.
A leaked memo from official circles showed
that the Nigerian government was behind
the despicable action. The Assistant Director,
Civil Society and Support Group (Diaspora)
had asked for the sum of $20,000 (over N4
million at current exchange rate), noting:
“Nigerians in the Diaspora will converge at
Chatham House, United Kingdom on
Thursday, 26th of February, 2015 to show
solidarity and support for President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his
transformation agenda in Nigeria as a
surprise to the august visitor, the
presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress.”
The memo was copied to Professor Rufai
Ahmed Alkali, Special Adviser on Political
Affairs to President Jonathan.
Apparently, the money was released, as
what the memo said would happen at
Chatham House played out to the letter.
Some Nigerian youths in Diaspora were on
hand to attempt a verbal lynching of Gen.
Buhari as he arrived at the event. But they
made such a poor showing of it, obviously
because there was no conviction behind
their actions. They were mere hirelings who
did not even have a grasp of why they were
there, nor an understanding of the person
they were supposed to protest against. Of
course, most of them were either not born,
or were too young to know Gen. Buhari as
military head of state 32 years ago.
It was a comedy of errors, as a journalist
tried to interview the emergency protesters.
Hear the journalist:
“They are Nigerians who are struggling
here. Some of them, actually (I’m talking
about the ladies), are from the red light
districts here. Some of the youths are
unkempt… and they are obviously
struggling.”
And truly, the youths struggled to defend
what they were out there to do. One was
asked why he was part of the protest, and
he responded: “Because we don’t want
dictatorship in Nigeria anymore.” Asked
further what he knew about Gen. Buhari, he
retorted: “I just heard about him from
people I saw earlier on.”
Have you done your homework, the reporter
wanted to know.
“Not at all.”
So, how did you come about this protest?
“I don’t know what to say. I’m not prepared
for this interview,” the young man said.
A female protester was asked why she was
on the march, and she said: “I don’t really
know much about politics,” adding that she
was there to support President Goodluck
Jonathan.
But what do you really have against Buhari,
she was asked.
“I’m not against anyone,” she responded.
That was the trend that ran through the
interviews with the hirelings. Hapless
Nigerian youths, possibly forced out of their
motherland by poor and uninspiring
governance, and who were ready to be
recruited for crumbs falling from the tables
of their oppressors. What I felt for those
young people was actually pity, and a bit of
compassion. Are these not supposed to be
future leaders? Cry, the beloved country!
But the chatterboxes at Chatham House
were not done. The queen of them all was a
female caught by an undercover reporter in
what you can call a sting operation. She was
the one who organised the protest, and her
leaking mouth gave out so much
information.
She first identified herself as Abi, and later
as Adijatu. She boasted that she mobilised
the young Nigerians by bus from
Manchester to London, and that most of
them were graduates, while some others
were about to get higher degrees.
The reporter, who obviously used a secret
camera, asked if she could set up a similar
protest for him possibly in New York. The
basket mouth said it could be done in
Maryland, Dublin, anywhere.
When asked how much it would cost, she
promised to give her phone number and
other details to the reporter. And on why
she was on the side of Goodluck Jonathan,
she said he was a heavy spender, while
Buhari was a low spender. Of course, no
romance without finance! So, she went with
the deep pocket.
Privileged information later revealed that the
protesting youths were paid about 80
pounds each. Eighty pounds! That is the
worth of the Nigerian youth. For that
amount, he could be ferried by bus from
Manchester to London, to take part in a
protest he does not even understand. Those
youths, who should be getting ready to
assume leadership positions, were selling
their birthrights for a mess of porridge. And
in future they would want that birthright
back, just like the biblical Esau, and it would
be too late. They would weep and wail, but
it would amount to nothing. Unscrupulous
leaders have bought their birthright for
thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave.
Youths are the glory of any country. But the
glory of Nigeria is slain at Chatham House.
How are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in
London, publish it not in the streets of
Manchester.
Hatred is at full steam in Nigeria. Hate
campaigns. Hate documentaries. Hate
advertisements. Boko Haram is hate. Threat
of war from former Niger Delta militants is
hate. Hate at Chatham House, in Okrika
where campaign rallies are bombed, in
Bauchi and Katsina, where the convoy of the
president is pelted with stones. Hate
everywhere. Saying a presidential candidate
is brain-dead is hate. When you say a man
has no academic qualification, and his
illustrious classmates come out to vouch for
him, and his old school also releases his
result, yet you refuse to still believe, it is hate.
The onus then is on you to prove what you
claim. Finish! Hate almost killed Rwanda. It
turned Kigali to killing fields, where
hundreds of thousands of people were slain
in fits of fury. Is Nigeria on the road to
Kigali? It is hate that is the fuel of that
journey. There’s no petrol in filling stations
in some parts of the country now. But
Nigerians have plenty hate in their tanks.
And it is enough to take them to Kigali. One
religion against the other, ethnic groups
against one another. Deep seated
animosities, narrow mindedness, politics of
vendetta. All these will kill Nigeria, unless a
stop can be put to the bile, the hatred, and
the spleen. Nigeria is dying, and we don’t
seem to know it. Must campaigns be so
churlish and ill tempered? Must there be
downright lies, concocted stories, ill will and
evil machinations as we see around us? “I
will permit no man to narrow and degrade
my soul by making me hate him.” (Booker T.
Washington). But our leaders and politicians
have spawned so much hate, and those
who bought it have had their souls
narrowed and degraded. They can maim, kill
and destroy at the drop of a hat. Nigeria is
dying, and we don’t seem to take it to heart.
“Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being
intimidated.” (George Bernard Shaw). Some
people are so intimidated, terrified about
how the elections may go, so they are
sowing hate and bile in the people. Must a
country die because it held elections? Think,
Nigeria, think.
Let’s look at the brighter side of Chatham,
apart from the chatterboxes. Didn’t you like
Buhari’s poise and calm? Wasn’t the speech
he read so well put together? Didn’t you see
sincerity oozing out of his ever pore?
“I have heard and read references to me as
a former dictator in many respected British
newspapers including the well regarded
Economist. Let me say without sounding
defensive that dictatorship goes with
military rule, though some might be less
dictatorial than others. I take responsibility
for whatever happened under my watch.
“I cannot change the past. But I can change
the present and the future. So, before you is
a former military ruler and a converted
democrat who is ready to operate under
democratic norms and is subjecting himself
to the rigours of democratic elections for
the fourth time.”
Beautiful! Splendid. O pari. Shikena. Okwu
agwu. Finito. Buhari’s metamorphosis is
complete, except for those who are in the
grip of relentless hatred, consumed by
paroxysms of bitterness, grudge and acidity.
To such, I will recommend the words of
William Shakespeare in Richard III, when he
wrote about hatred, and declared: “Out of
my sight! Thou dost infect mine eyes!”


Source:Sunnewsonline.com

Okay. I don hear.

Hmmm..

No matter how many times we talk about
worm infestation, we can never run out of
ideas! This is because worms are more
dangerous than you can ever imagine; and
in general, overall wellbeing is impossible if
traces of worm infestation is present in the
intestine.
Of importance is the presence of tapeworm
in the body. Physicians say that by the time
the tapeworm grows into an adult in the
human gut, it causes Taeniasis – an
intestinal infection.
Experts say Taeniasis is acquired by humans
through the inadvertent ingestion of
tapeworm larval cysts in undercooked pork
or beef. Even if you take care to cook your
beef or pork, the experts warn that
touching other food items that you’re likely
to eat raw such as fruits or ready-made
foods such as bread could lead to the
transfer of this worm’s larvae into your
guts!
“This underscores the importance of hand
hygiene at all times, especially after you have
handled raw meats,” says Family Physician,
Dr. Gbola Ibrahim.
He says the worm’s eggs are typically spread
via food, water, or surfaces contaminated
with infected poops.
Oftentimes, experts warn, the eggs may be
spread from the hands of infected food
handlers who do not clean their hands or
from foods fertilised/irrigated with water
containing infected human faeces.
Ibrahim notes that tapeworms linger in any
environment where personal or communal
hygiene is low or non-existent.
“Human tapeworm carriers contaminate the
environment with tapeworm eggs which
pass out with faeces,” he warns;
underscoring the need to wear bathroom
slippers whenever we are out of the house.
He explains that when someone mistakenly
ingests the eggs (larvae) of this worm, the
individual will develop cysticercosis – a
parasitic tissue infection which physicians
consider a serious disease.
Again, this is why foods that we intend to
eat without cooking, such as salad leaves
and other vegetables, should be soaked in
white vinegar-water solution for at least 10
minutes in order to kill worm larvae and
make our vegetable or salad safe.
If white vinegar is not available, nutritionists
say, you could use salt-water solution;
though white vinegar is considered optimal.
Physicians say the tapeworm larvae can
develop in a number of tissues such as the
muscles, subcutaneous tissues (the third of
the three layers of skin), eyes and brain; and
that those that are located in the central
nervous system can cause
neurocysticercosis, the most severe form of
the disease.
“The symptoms of cysticercosis include
abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation,
nausea and vomiting, headache, lethargy,
confusion, vision changes, weakness or
numbness,” Ibrahim notes.
He adds that when left untreated, the
infestation could lead to the involvement of
other body tissues, which may result in
swelling of the skeletal muscle (muscles that
make movement possible), subcutaneous
cysts (which may feel like large peas under
the surface of the skin), and vision changes
when the cysts infect the eyes.
In potential complications of cysticercosis,
symptoms may include stroke or, in extreme
cases, death, scientists warn
This is not all. Would you know that this
terrible worm can cause epileptic seizures if
it is not expelled from the body by way of
regular deworming?
Ibrahim says by the time cysticercosis sets in
and the cysts develop in the central nervous
system, it can cause neurocysticercosis – the
most severe form of the disease
(cysticercosis) and one of the main
preventable causes of epilepsy (seizures) in
many developing countries such as ours.
Neurocysticercosis is present in about 70
per cent of cases, experts say; and
symptoms may include chronic headaches,
blindness, seizures (or epilepsy if they are
recurrent), hydrocephalus (abnormal
accumulation of water in the brain),
meningitis, dementia and symptoms caused
by lesions occupying spaces of the central
nervous system.
“This is not to say that anyone who has
epileptic seizures should not see the doctor.
Rather, the individual needs to see the
doctor as a matter of urgency, because by
that time, the problem has gone beyond the
need for mere deworming. S/he needs more
urgent and radical treatment if life must be
saved,” Ibrahim warns.
In fact, a World Health Organisation statistics
reveal that more than 80 per cent of the
world’s 50 million people who are affected
by epilepsy live in low-income and lower-
middle-income countries, many of which are
endemic for pork tapeworm (Taenia solium)
which can infect humans when they eat raw
or undercooked pork.
Prevent tapeworm infestation
The prevention of cysticercosis can be
achieved through various measures,
including the following:
Public education regarding the parasite
and its route of transmission
Avoidance of raw or undercooked pork in
endemic areas
Avoidance of potential introduction of
poops into the mouth through routine
hand washing, good personal hygiene, as
well as through the proper handling and
preparation of foods
Meat inspection and the proper disposal
of infected meat in endemic areas
Improved sanitary measures for human
waste disposal in endemic areas
Screening contacts of infected individuals
and instituting appropriate treatment
Improved sanitation;
Improved pig husbandry;
Anthelmintic (deworming) treatment of
pigs;
Improved meat inspection, and
processing of meat products.
Developing a vaccine for the prevention of
cysticercosis which may be used in the
future; currently, there is no vaccine
approved for use in humans, though there
have been advances in vaccines being
used in pigs



Source: Punchng.com

Hmmmm..

I am not a great fan of the social media by
any means. I am shy, in fact, afraid of them.
For me, their disadvantage far outweighs
the merits. one must therefore be very
careful, especially if, like me, you don’t really
have a good knowledge of it.
Better safe than sorry is my watch word
concerning such matters. Until very recently,
when I hooked up on the WhatsApp, I only
could allow myself the luxury of the
Blackberry Messenger. For me, the Facebook
as well as several similar platforms were a
no go area.
I joined Facebook and Linkedin late last year
on the prompting of my son, who insisted
after the public presentation of my book,
Youth, Sex and Wellbeing, that they were my
best bets at promoting it. Even as I write, I
am yet to take any step in actualising that. I
can count the number of times I’ve visited
both platforms on my fingertips, I’m only
there when it’s absolutely necessary. I only
discovered in the last few days that I could
actually be more comfortable using the
Linkedin services, even as my fears of the
Facebook has so far been justified even on
the count of the hour.
On Thursday, October 23, after our
Vanguard Women’s Roundtable Conference
titled “The plight of women and children in
the face of emerging Terrorism, which way
forward?” Vanguard’s Administrative
Manager, Victor Gotebve informed me that
he had uploaded the pictures on his
Facebook page. So, I decided to check the
next day and thereafter, use the opportunity
to update some of the information on my
timeline too. The things I stumbled upon
that day and subsequent visits thereafter
have forced me to conclude that I am very
naive or indeed a novice of some of the
things happening around me.
The first headline that caught my attention
was a posting on the currently running Big
Brother game, directing one to click in to
watch clips of the shower session of three
of the housemates. My reaction was that we
have outsmarted Multichoice as usual. Then,
there was another link to watch a leaked
video of a Nigerian undergraduate girl while
strip dancing for her on-line lover. My
reaction to this was, “are people still doing
that kind of thing these days?” Then doubt
crawled in, the owner could be
misinforming people just to drive traffic to
the blog. Finally, out of curiosity, I decided to
confirm. Boy, was it for real? The face of the
young lady was not concealed in any way as
she danced her heart out for the pleasure of
whoever it was meant for before it hit the
internet, her jigida or bebedi, glistening
against the rays of light. Even as I pondered
over the rational for this lady’s action, yet
another link popped up on the same
person’s page. This time, it directed friends
to another link to see how a teenage boy
shagged his sugar mummy lover and then
posted it online. Yet another link came up
directing one to watch a school girl being
pumped by her lover. Incidentally, this was
quite dubious as it had no faces, only the
sex organs in use were visible. This girl also
had a set of jigida strings and a huge sense
of patriotism as they bore the green and
white colours of the Nigerian flag.
I logged back in on Sunday and the postings
continued. There was another of a young
lady who was being bumped doggy style
and screaming on the top of her lungs. I
wondered why since it was obvious that
she was not being raped. This video
however did not show the face of the guy
and I guessed it might have been secretly
recorded without the girl’s permission. Then
there were two other posting allegedly
leaked on the internet by the girls in the
pictures in a bid to up their clientele drive or
to simply flaunt their impressive gifts from
mother nature.
And finally, for the first time, I found the
courage to see the hideous video of the
torture of the two women in Ikotun area of
Lagos who were alleged of stealing ordinary
pepper. That marked my experience on
Facebook last week. I intend to visit more
often as a few other things also caught my
attention.
I tried to analyse the content of the various
links I viewed and several questions popped
up in my mind. Apart from the pictures and
videos purportedly posted by the owners, all
others showed only the faces of the women
and not the guys. This as I have said did not
seem right, unless, the men had edited
themselves out and then deliberately posted
the videos to hurt these poor girls. Should
this be the case, why if I may ask?
For any female, prostitute or otherwise, it
takes two to tango and you must have
arrived at that level of UnCloth through
some form of mutual agreement or
concession of sort. Even a prostitute does
not deserve to be secretly videoed and
posted on the internet for everyone to see.
That is wicked and definitely not part of the
bargain.
However, this appears to be going on every
day and no one seem capable of doing
anything about it. The girls too hardly ever
report until they are forced with no other
option but to do so.
Sometimes last year, a young, female,
undergraduate of a foremost Nigerian
University was lured into an apartment
somewhere on Lagos Island by a 300-level
undergraduate of the same University who
also happened to live in her neighbourhood.
She was acquainted with the guy and
though she’d refused his love request, they
had maintained a cordial relationship. As
soon as she stepped into the apartment,
he’d pounced on her, tore off her clothes,
beaten her blue and black, then violently
raped her? As if this was not enough, he
brought out his phone and took
photographs of her naked body. He kept her
locked up till the following day and raped
her several times through the night. Before
he allowed her out, he’d threatened to post
her pictures on the internet, should she tell
anyone what had transpired between them.
To him, it was the only way to negotiate her
silence.
Frightened beyond words, the young lady
could only tell her mother that she was
involved in an accident on her way home
and fell off a moving bus which tore her
clothes and left her with several cuts and
bruises. Naturally, they had cared for her
and everything seemed alright until a couple
of days later.
An older relative had called asking to speak
with the girl and if she was alright. Initially,
she had told the guy that she was until he
dropped the bombshell, why had she posted
her naked photographs on the internet! The
young girl thereafter confessed all that had
happened to her and took her parents to
the guy’s apartment.
In his confession at the Police Station, this
guy disclosed that it was his friends who
posted the pictures and not him. He had
only narrated his “great achievement” to
them and showed them the “trophies”, he
never knew they would post them on the
internet. The other guys were subsequently
rounded up.
If one may ask, what was this girl’s offence
that she should be dehumanised in such a
manner? Is it now a crime to turn down a
love request? There are many women who
find it very difficult and painful to even
engage in mutually consenting intercourse,
not to think of going through the horror of
being raped, then being videoed. A real case
of adding salt on injury.
But same cannot be said for people who
wilfully take selfies of their naked bodies
and sexual activities, then post same on the
internet for strangers to ogle at. If these
videos were shot by the owners of the blogs
or websites they were viewed on, then one
can understand the commercial gain to be
made in that instance. It is no secret that the
sex industry is a multi billion Naira spinning
trade across the world, Nigeria inclusive.
However, what is to gain for the ordinary
individuals who shoot self staring porn
videos or snap naked selfies and post them
on these blogs and websites? As one of the
links said, the “Ashawo” Port Harcourt babe
desired to max on clientele. Even if it is
intended to lure men, must their faces be
shot with the pictures? What will happen
when age and use begin to take its toll on
the body and the face has become known
as that of the notorious wench? Hmm!
Everyone, especially those in long distance
relationships know how difficult it is
managing a relationship were the lovers
hardly see each other physically. One of the
common ways such lovers use to engage
each other’s attention is by exchanging
selfies of sexual parts, especially by the
female.
Selfies are photographs or videos taken of
one’s self by one’s self. An innovation
apparently made possible with the coming
of camera phones with front cameras which
enable users to take photographs or shoot
videos of themselves without the help of
another. Depending on preference of the
owner or user, two or more people can
feature in a selfie. Another advantage of the
front camera is that you no longer have to
strain the eyes through a pin hole to find a
good angle for your photographs, the wide
screen of the phone allows you unlimited
space to perfect whatever you want to do
on the camera.
This DIY technology in photography has
however taken sexual acts and perhaps
pervasion to a new dimension. Many people
indiscriminately take pictures of themselves
in various states of UnCloth or sexual acts
without thinking of the likely implications
should they fall into wrong hands. The story
of Anita Hogan’s published nude
photographs still rings fresh in my memory.
She had given her laptop in which the
photographs were saved to a technician for
repair. What about the story of a senior
manager with one of the telecommunication
giants and a married, female junior worker
whose naked photographs graced the social
media about four or so years ago? The duo
had left home telling their respective
partners they were attending a seminar in
Badagry area of Lagos State. It took a lost
memory card for the world to discover the
kind of seminar they had attended.
The fear of internet hackers should be the
beginning of wisdom for all internet users
as information you push out there could be
used against you at anytime.
Above all, the implications of this trend with
regards to even legitimate relationships and
sexual affairs are grave. The average lady,
married or single needs to show great
caution in terms of the kind of relationship
she keeps and those she decides to share
her body with. As with any relationship, you
can only know your mind, you cannot know
your partner’s. You can only love someone,
you cannot determine if or how much the
person will love you in return. If you must
take pictures of your private parts, do so
without your face showing. If you visit a
lover and there is need for you to UnCloth,
shine your eyes well, you never can tell. A
guy once told me he records his extra
marital affairs to help increase his sex drive
with a wife who no longer turns him on.
And should a partner start insisting on a
certain sexual position or direction, it’s your
body too, you can always take a walk!
Do have a wonderful week!



Source: Vanguardngr.com

'My certificates got burnt' - Sambo
'My certificates are with the military' - Buhari
Na wa oo

You're indeed #Confused!!

I think say that Shekau guy don die!

Simeon Djagbo hails from Ughelli South
Local Government Area in Delta State. His
story is amazing, a perfect reason that no
young person has any excuse for failing in
life. He was born without fingers and palms.
Rather than allow the physical limitation of
this congenital deformity to seize his
destiny, he reached deep into himself and
understood the true meaning of the biblical
passage that says, ‘I’m fearfully and
wonderfully made.
From a very young age set about
overcoming the seeming obstacle posed by
his not having fingers, in the process,
Djagbo developed ability to do many things
that would even make people with complete
set of fingers green with envy.
His ability to play musical instruments is
simply incredible and leaves you giving
thanks to God. He swims, cooks and writes
with his feet. Now wait for this: he has
bagged a degree in Library and Information
Science and is currently running a Master’s
degree programme.
With determination and great courage,
Djagbo has risen above his deformity and is
enriching his life, buoyed by a strong belief
that God has a reason for letting him be
born without palms and fingers. By the time
Simeon was almost five years old, his
musical talent had become noticeable. As he
now says, his musical talent is “a gift to
showcase God’s wonders and be a blessing
to others who feel hopeless.”
His guitar artistry has endeared him to the
hearts of countless number of people. One
of Simeon’s fans says he is one of the
wonders of the world. Though he started
out as a drummer, it was one incident in his
life that led to his playing the guitar. He
recalls it this way: “My church brought a
man to teach the guitar to others. I was in
the drum section just watching as he was
teaching a lady to play a progression on a
particular song. I watched the way the lady’s
fingers were moving on the strings and I
was capturing it in my head. When she
dropped it, I picked the guitar up and played
it exactly the way she was taught and
everybody was shocked, because I was not
taught how to play it. Although, I was
always sneaking to play the guitar because
some concerned people felt I would injure
myself. I kept at it and became better. I feel
God divinely directed me to the guitar.”
When Simeon was asked whether life has
treated him fairly considering the congenital
‘amputation’ of his palms and fingers, he
wasted no time to say there is a reason God
created him the way he is. Rather, from the
parents, siblings, and relatives who loved
and supported him to the schoolteachers,
classmates, and peers that inspired him, his
gratitude is like the melodic tune from his
guitar.
“My parents never gave up on me and
treated me like a king; they supported me
financially and prayerfully. I wanted to enroll
in a primary school, but the school
administrators rejected me because they felt
I could not write. They also felt that my
physical defect would scare off children
from the school. My parents got information
about a school owned by a white woman,
St. Lukes Nursery and Primary School in
Warri, Delta State. From there I moved to
Sure Success College, Warri for my secondary
education. I later gained admission into
Delta State University, Abraka where I read
Library and Information Science. For the
mandatory National Youths Service Corps
(NYSC) scheme, I served in Okrika Local
Government Area, Rivers State and I am
presently running my Masters programme in
the same University,”
After the national service, he remained in
Port Harcourt to seek employment, a quest
that led him to apply to INTELS, a major IT
service provider to oil and gas companies.
But it was an unsuccessful effort. The
company didn’t employ him because of his
physical condition.
“I submitted my CV to INTELS in Port
Harcourt through a friend who believed in
my ability despite my challenges, but the
Human Resources Manager who had initially
promised to help later said he doubted my
competence because I had no fingers,”
Djagbo says, recalling the pain of that
rejection. But being a person with an
unstoppable spirit, he simply dusted off the
disappointment and continued as if nothing
happened.
For anybody tempted to curl into a corner
and sulk because of a disappointment,
Djagbo has this advice: “I want to say the
greatest challenge that a man can have is a
handicapped mind and not physical
challenges. I believe that God who created
me like this has a reason and a bigger and
better plan that will take me to an expected
end. Any challenge I face is a process to fire
me up to become a better person in this
world. No one is physically disabled except
your mindset is. And I believe that it does
not limit you from being who you are
destined to be in life. Everyone is born with
at least a talent. It is your duty to discover
and make use of it. Like the Bible says in
Proverbs 18:16 ‘A man’s gift maketh room
for him and bringeth him before great men.’
Trust me, no one has any excuse.”
He counsels that faith is critical in the
journey of life, saying, “The fact that Jesus
lives means I can face tomorrow. I wake up
praising Him because He owns my future,
and I know I am a great child of destiny. I
am inspired knowing that I am a friend of
God and that even the angels are envious of
me. God is alive and I see that the future is
so bright for me.
Apart from the fact that many have
confessed that Simeon’s talent has given
them a sense of hope and possibility, he is
determined to pursue his aspirations and
get to the next level. “I hope to become one
of the most sought after gospel bass
guitarists both in Nigeria and abroad. I also
want to be a blessing to people and put
smiles on their faces,” he says with so much
aplomb.
His dexterity in playing the guitar has taken
him to places he never dreamt of and met
different people, including famous artistes.
“I believe the money will come too,” he says
with infectious confidence.


Source: Sunnewsonline.com

Nigeria football looks to be, unfortunately,
heading into a long, dark night as world
football –governing body is set to wield the
big stick today against the most populous
black nation on earth.
Even as the Super Eagles still have a chance
of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of
Nations to defend their crown, despite a
poor start in the race; even with the Golden
Eaglets, the reigning champions of the
world, ready to compete at the African
Championship to be eligible to travel to Chile
to defend their world title next year, and
with the Super Falcons reclaiming their
continental title in Namibia on Saturday, non
–conformity to simple football rules and
regulations has put Nigeria at the danger of
a big slam.
On Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia, CAF
President Issa Hayatou told Nigeria’s Sports
Minister, Tammy Danagogo in clear terms
that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s
incorrigibility in the area of football
administration.
Issa Hayatou
Issa Hayatou
Hayatou’s words: “I had to plead
passionately with FIFA President, Mr. Sepp
Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on
Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of
the African Women Championship and a ban
on your country would have been bad for
the competition and our sponsors. We all
heard the news of the court ruling on
Thursday, and the football world is angry
with Nigeria. That is the truth.
“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation
before the elections of September 30 was
very clear about an automatic suspension
should there be any interference with the
political process, and after the elections
went ahead, we all thought you had settled
your issues.”
The CAF supremo, at a meeting that had
Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy
Danagogo, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to
Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi,
Nigeria’s Deputy President of the CAF Appeal
Board, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, CAF
General Coordinator, Mr. Paul Bassey and CAF
Media Committee Member, Aisha Falode in
attendance, said there was no going back
on suspension of Nigeria this week if
football matters are not withdrawn from
civil courts.
“I appealed to FIFA to give until Monday for
Nigeria to put its act together. After that,
there is absolutely nothing I can do. It is all
very disappointing because we have over 50
National Associations in Africa, but a big
country like Nigeria is the one always giving
us the biggest headache.
“Nigeria signed to be part of the football
world by joining FIFA, and opted to abide by
the FIFA –approved Statutes that you have.
How many times do we have to tell your
country that football matters are not taken
to civil courts? If Nigeria no longer wants to
be part of the football world, then so be it,”
an obviously exasperated Hayatou said. His
French words were translated to the rest of
the Nigeria delegation by the multi-lingual
Paul Bassey.
It would be recalled that FIFA President
Blatter and CAF President Hayatou, as well as
several National Associations and NFF’s
partners and political leaders around the
world, congratulated Amaju Pinnick
following his victory at the September 30
elections.
NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who
was, inexplicably, stopped by security
operatives at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos on his way to
Namibia on Friday night with the Sports
Minister, monitored the meeting on phone.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court, Jos
gave a ruling setting aside the FIFA –ordered
elections of 30th September, 2014 into the
NFF Executive Committee, stoking the fire of
anger at the world body’s Zurich
headquarters.
The NFF Executive Committee, led by Amaju
Pinnick, has filed for a Stay-of-Execution of
the order at the same court, which the court
said it will be hear on Wednesday.
Falode, who spoke from Windhoek on
Sunday, said it was obvious the Government
of Nigeria has to now intervene to avoid the
hammer falling on Nigeria football.
“The future of millions of Nigerian youth is
being put at risk by some persons who feel
they have nothing to lose in the case of a
FIFA ban. It is now for the Government to
wade in. If we get suspended from
international football now, FIFA will not
revisit the matter until their 65th Congress
on May 29, 2015. That would be too bad for
our country’s football,” Falode said.


Source: Vanguardngr.com

Despite its growing acceptability within the
country’s political circle, all appears not to be
well with the All Progressives Congress as a
crisis over power sharing and control is
brewing in the party.
Investigation by Saturday PUNCH showed
that the five governors, who defected to the
APC from the Peoples Democratic Party, were
locked in a supremacy battle with some
leaders of the three political parties that
merged to form the APC.
The parties that merged to form APC are the
Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria
Peoples Party and the Congress for
Progressive Change.
Saturday PUNCH’s investigations in Abuja on
Thursday showed that the looming crisis
was threatening the nationwide
membership registration, which the party
had scheduled for early this year.
To forestall problem, however, the party has
set up reconciliation committees in some of
the affected states.
The governors, who left the PDP for the APC,
included Alhaji Muritala Nyako (Adamawa);
Dr. Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Alhaji Aliyu
Wamakko (Sokoto); Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed
(Kwara) and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
It was gathered that besides the struggle
for position between the defected
governors and ‘old’ members of the fast
growing party, the APC was also contending
with various crises in the states it is
currently controlling.
The tussle for power in the APC states is
principally between the governors and
those who are against their total control of
the state party structure.
It was learnt that the problem had
manifested in Kwara, Kano, Sokoto and
Adamawa states among others.
Findings showed that the outcome of the
party’s reconciliation efforts would
determine when the membership
registration would hold.
The defected PDP governors that are said to
be engaged in power struggle with old APC
members include Nyako, Kwankanso,
Wamakko and Ahmed.
In Kwara State for instance, members of the
parties that merged to form the APC have
described the leader of the PDP defectors,
Senator Bukola Saraki, as a burden instead
of an asset to the APC. Saraki is the political
godfather of the state governor.
The members are of the opinion that the
party does not need Saraki to win elections
in the state. A former governorship
candidate of the defunct Action Congress of
Nigeria, Mr. Dele Belgore, is the leader of the
APC members opposed to Saraki’s take-over
of the party.
A leading member of the Belgore group, Rev.
Bunmi Olusona, said this in a statement, in
Ilorin on Thursday.
In the statement titled, “Issues before the
John Oyegun mediation committee,”
Olusona stated, “We aver that we do not
need Bukola Saraki to win elections in
Kwara. In fact, the coming of Bukola Saraki
is a huge burden on the Kwara APC.
“We now have a daunting task of
convincing Kwarans that we remain a part
of their hope for change. Without federal
support, Bukola Saraki cannot win any
election!
“We will never accept the leadership of
Bukola Saraki and we will never accept any
arrangement that cedes the party structure
to any new entrant into the party.”
Another prominent member of the Belgore
group, Dr. Saad Omo-Iya, also explained the
group’s stand in an interview with one of
our correspondents.
Omo-Iya said, “Saraki is a soloist and (a)
despot. Some of us cannot work with him.
That is why we are in the APC. Now that he
has come to the APC, and it is being
speculated that APC has handed over the
party structure to him, that means some
individuals own that party.
“It equally means that the party is no longer
a party. It is like a property of some
individuals. That does not really reflect
democracy. Basically, looking at it, you can
see that there is no basis for further
relations.”
He said that the structure of the party
should not be handed over to an individual,
adding that registration of members should
be free and fair.
However, Mr. Yemi Afoloyan, a former state
Secretary of the Saraki-led PDP faction, told
Saturday PUNCH in an interview that claims
that Saraki was a despot were untrue.
He described Saraki as a grass-roots political
leader, who stepped into the shoes of his
revered father, the late Chief Olusola Saraki.
Afolayan said, “One of the best things for
Kwarans and the APC in the state is the
handing over of the APC’s structure to
Saraki. We have the election winning
machinery and we win and deliver wherever
we go. We have come to the APC with an
election-winning machinery and we are
sure the machinery will not fail.
“It will deliver anytime. Saraki has not said
he is going to the APC to take over
everything. He believes in egalitarian society.
The door is open for integration of all the
stakeholders and shades of opinions.
“What is paramount in the mind of our
leader, is the continued transformation and
development of our dear State of Harmony.”
In an attempt to douse growing tension
between supporters of the Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau-led former members of the ANPP
and the Kano State Governor, Rabiu
Kwankwaso, the national headquarters of
the party has set up a reconciliation
committee headed by the Zamfara State
Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, and a former
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Aminu Masari.
Yari and Masari were given the task of
drawing up a workable arrangement to
accommodate the two leaders and their
followers, and to prepare the ground for the
party’s mobilisation and registration of
members scheduled to begin this month.
A party source confided in Saturday PUNCH
that the situation in Kano was “a little
complicated.”
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said:
“Members of the political parties that
merged to form the APC are suspicious of
Kwankwaso.”
They argued that even while in the PDP,
Kwankwaso scuttled attempts by Vice
President Namadi Sambo to reconcile him
and other aggrieved party members.
“Sambo was in Kano twice and each time an
agreement was reached, Kwankwaso’s
group breached the terms,” the source
added.
When contacted, the Director of Press to
Kano State governor, Baba Dantiye, said
fears about Kwankwaso’s commitment were
misplaced.
“His only concern is the salvation of this
country. It is not about his interest; he is
committed but it will be unfortunate if they
feel that way even before the committee
starts its work. His Excellency has an open
mind and is ready to work with everybody.”
Also speaking on the issue, Shekarau’s
spokesman, Sule Ya’u Sule, said, “We have
always insisted on justice and fairness to all.
We are waiting for the committee to come.”
However, other chieftains of a faction of the
ANPP such as Alhaji Bashir Tofa and Senator
Kabir Gaya among others, have since
pledged allegiance to Kwankwaso,
recognising him as the leader of the APC in
the state.
The situation in Sokoto State is not any
different as loyalists of former governor
Attahiru Bafarawa have accused a former
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Bello Masari, who heads the state
reconciliation committee, of bias.
They insist that his actions have been
tailored in favour of Governor Wamakko to
the disadvantage of old members.
It was also learnt that there was a power
tussle between Nyako and a former
governorship candidate of the defunct
Congress for Progressive Change in
Adamawa State, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa.
A source admitted that teething problems
were bound to occur when a new party of
APC’s magnitude is formed.
Marwa expressed confidence that the
national leadership of the party was up to
the task of dealing with the challenge.
He said this in a short message to one of
our correspondents.
He said, “These teething problems will come
up but I am aware that the national
hierarchy of the party is attending to the
issues and hopefully, will be resolved very
soon. APC stands for internal democracy any
day.”
Fears being expressed by party members
are not limited to northern states.
Some members of the National Assembly
have also cautioned the party against
allowing state governors to hijack the
process.
Senator Adegbenga Kaka (APC, Ogun-East)
warned that any state governor, who
attempts to hijack or manipulate the party
membership registration exercise would be
doing so at a great risk.
Kaka said any governor who attempted to
do so would incur the wrath of party
members.
He said, “No governor that is desirous of
building a virile party will ever attempt to
hijack or manipulate the registration of
party members. They will not want to incur
the wrath of would-be-members. I still
maintain that we are all equal until
registration is carried out. All intending
members are equal no matter how highly
placed anybody may be.”
But the Publicity Secretary of the APC in
Ogun State, Alhaji Sola Lawal, also dismissed
such fears.
He said those expressing fears over the
membership registration exercise were only
crying wolf where none existed.
Lawal said it would be impossible for any
APC governor to manipulate or hijack the
membership registration process in his
state due to the magnitude of the exercise.
He said, “There is no reason for anyone to
be apprehensive of the exercise. For one,
the process is too open for anyone to
manipulate. Every polling booth constitutes
registration unit. In other words,
prospective members of the party who vote
in a polling booth in general elections are
expected to be bona fide party members in
that unit.
“It is therefore impossible to deny anyone
registration. The governor or anyone for
that matter is not capable of manipulating
things in thousands of registration centres.
It will be lazy of anyone to hide behind fear
of interference to fail in doing what is right
to mobilise supporters for the exercise. The
field is free.”
Also speaking on the issue, the Senator
representing Oyo-South, Senator Olufemi
Lanlehin, allayed such fears.
The senator explained that the major task
before the party at the moment was to
register as many members as possible.
He said, “There are guidelines for party
registration. We will follow the rules in Oyo
State. As it were, our party is in the
dominance in the state. The forthcoming
registration of new members is a collective
effort. Everybody is involved.
“This is not the time to start talking about
someone using the exercise to hijack party
structure. We are all using our political
strengths and popularity to get as many
members as possible from other parties so
that we can retain our leadership position in
the state.”
Lanlehin said, “We are all mobilising and
sourcing for members now. We are fishing
in the same water into the same boat. It is
after that that the leaders could be talking of
having those that will be loyal to them in the
executive of the party during the congress
that will come up later.
“We are working out modalities for that but
it is not what you referred to as power
tussle. It is just obvious that as leader you
will want to have loyalists among the
executives of the party but like I said it is not
an issue that can lead to crisis at all.”
Attempts to get the reaction of the interim
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, were unsuccessful as he did
not pick our correspondents’ calls to his
phone.
Also, a text message sent to him was not
replied as at the time of filing this report.
But in his reaction to some of the issues
raised, the former National Publicity
Secretary of the defunct CPC, Mr. Rotimi
Fashakin, said the apprehension among
some people was understandable.
He said, “All these apprehensions will be
taken care of. We understand the
apprehension of people but we are going to
make sure there is real equality and that no
person is unduly marginalised in the scheme
of things because we must build a party
where opportunities for all abound.”

Source: Punchng.com

LOS ANGELES (AFP) –US actor James Avery,
most famous as Uncle Phil in hit 1990s
sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” died on
New Year’s Eve aged 68, his publicist said
Wednesday.
With a deep baritone voice, Avery regularly
played judges, professors or doctors in TV
shows in the 1980s and 90s, as well as
extensive voice work, including on animated
projects.
This June 3, 2009 file photo shows US actor
James Avery arriving at the Palm Pre Launch
Event to Benefit Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America held at Raleigh Studios
in Los Angeles, California. AFP Photo
His first big-screen role was an uncredited
part in 1980s classic “The Blues Brothers,”
and he enjoyed a prolific TV and movie
career stretching over three decades.
But the role most people will remember him
for is as Philip Banks on the 1990s NBC
series, who played a role model to the
young Will Smith’s character, a fictionalized
rapper version of himself.
“I’m deeply saddened to say James Avery
has passed away,” his “Fresh Prince” co-star
Alfonso Ribeiro tweeted. “He was a second
father to me. I will miss him greatly.”
Born James LaRue Avery in Virginia and
raised in New Jersey, he had worked until
September, shooting the film “Wish I Was
Here” directed by Zach Braff, which will
premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this
month.
Avery died late Tuesday in hospital in
Glendale, outside Los Angeles, “due to
complications from open heart surgery,” his
publicist Cynthia Snyder told AFP in an email.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years,
Barbara Avery, his mother Florence Avery,
and his stepson Kevin Waters. Plans are
being made for a memorial service, the
spokeswoman said.

Source: Vanguardngr.com

Hmm..

I saw this on a friend's wall on Facebook and thought it best to share this, make una see for yourself! Princess Fateema Shindai posted this. I think she is really foolish. But, her english is horrible so please, be prepared for the worst before reading. Thanks. Happy reading
Ritualist = Igbos
Baby factory = Igbos
Arm Robbry = Igbos
Human trafficn = Igbos Prostitution = Igbos
Salen Fake and expear drugs=Igbos
Pushn Cocain and hard drugs=Igbos
98% of Nigerians sarving gel term in Abroad= Igbos
The first tribe to kill our good leaders in Nigeria= Igbos
The first tribe to take arm agains her fellow citizn = Igbos
The only tribe that value money than human bn = Igbos
Igbos are the only tribe that hate to be criticise, even if there brother is wrong, E.g.... Minister of Aviation Princess Stella tell me how on earth a country will grow and live in peace with this set of wild Animals call Igbos..? I still insist that, as long as Igbos exist in Nigeria, Nigerians should forget about anything call, 1 people 1 Nation. We should stop pretendn as if we dnt knw what is going, since the day our great leaders were killed by Igbos, that was the begining of Nigeria problem tle today, and the problem will never end, untle Igbos generation are wipe out completely or alout them to go to there evil country call Biafra if u are not happy with my post, pls Block me, cos i dnt owe any Baboon Apology i still insit that Igbos should be wipe out completely or alout them to go, cos we are no longer 1 Nigeria as most of u think pls keep on dreamn on 1 Nigeria while ur Enemies are planing how to destroy ur region in the name of Religion!! Cos that is the only way to devide North if u are a fool, i'm not a fool, i knw we hv bad leaders in the North, but we dnt support them, we criticise them and tell them the naked true, same with my brothers in South West, Igbos are the only tribe in Nigeria that criticise orthers but hate to be criticise!!! Tel me how on earth a country will grow with this set of wild Animlas call Igbos.......??


And yet we Igbos/Christians pray for one Nigeria! Now tell me, if u give someone with this mentality bomb and matchet won't she butcher me

The discovery of the naked and lifeless
bodies of a man and his lover in a room
threw into shock the residents of Ago-
Iwoye; a community in Ijebu North Local
Government Area of Ogun State.
According to sources, the deceased man
was identified as Akeem, a 50-year-old
married father of four children, who lived in
a one room apartment with his family
before the unfortunate incident occurred.
It was gathered that Akeem’s wife and
children were said to have travelled to Imodi
Imosan to celebrate Sallah with his relatives
before the incident occurred.
Reportssay:
Sources claimed that Akeem had brought in
the yet to be identified lady on the same
night his wife travelled with his children. In
the morning, both of them were found dead
in the room, with the man lying naked on
the bed, while the lady’s body was on a two-
seater couch.
According to findings, Akeem and his legal
wife were both fashion designers. They
both own Alubarika Fashions located at
Atomotele compound in Igan road, Ago
Iwoye.
“Akeem brought his lover to come and stay
with him over the night, since his wife and
children were not at home,” said a
neighbour, who identified himself as Idowu
Odunsi.
However, when other tenants did not see
Akeem in the morning, one of them said he
saw him with a lady inside the shop the
previous night, prompting them to go to his
room.
Idowu said after several knocks on the door
with no response, they forced broke the
door, only to discover the dead bodies.
“We were shocked and dumbfounded to
see him naked on the bed and the lady on
the chair,” he stated, adding that, “We
cannot say precisely what caused his death
and that of his strange lover,” he stated.
Landlord of the house, where the late
Akeem was living, 70-year-old Pa Oluwakemi
Odunsi, said that the deceased had
slaughtered his Eid -el Kabir ram that day,
after which he informed him that he wanted
to retire to his shop.
He said, “it was this morning (Wednesday)
around 10am that I ordered that his shop
door be forced opened; that was after we
did not see him throughout the previous
night.
Divisional Police Officer of Ago Iwoye, Mr.
Peter Idenhe, who led police team to the
scene of the incident, said, “I suspect
generator fume because we found some
evidence of generator in the same building
where the deceased were.”
He stated further that, “Though I cannot
categorically determine the cause of the
death until autopsy is carried out,
preliminary investigation shows that they
might have died from inhalation of
generator fumes.”

Metronaija.com

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved
the appointment of a Fellow of the Nigerian
Academy of Science and a former director-
general of National Mathematical Centre,
Prof. Anya. O. Anya, as a member of the
Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.
The Special Assistant (Media) to the
Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, said on
Thursday that he would replace Prof. Ben
Nwabueze (SAN) “who is still abroad on
health grounds.”
The President also approved the
appointment of Mr. Pius Osunyikanmi as the
Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of
the Nigerian Technical Aids Corps.
Jonathan had, in his Independence Day
address on October 1, 2013, named
Nwabueze as a member of the 13-member
committee headed by Senator Femi
Okurounmu.
But the 83-year-old don was absent at the
swearing in of members of the committee
held in Aso Villa on October 7 having
written the President earlier, seeking to be
replaced by Solomon Asemota SAN, because
he (Nwabueze) was still abroad recieving
treatment.
Nwabueze, who had earlier nominated
Asemota to replace him on the committee,
said he had been in London since
September treating prostate cancer.
According to him, he had to cut short his
medical trip on October 12, “to keep a long-
standing commitment to chair the Anambra
Literary Creativity Festival at Awka on
October 15.”
He added that he was expecting that The
Patriot, through the contacts it had with the
President, prior to the setting up of the
committee, would be asked to nominate a
younger person to serve on the committee.


Punchng.com

Tragedy struck on Saturday night at
Palmgrove Bus-stop, Somolu after a young
lady simply identified as Oluchi was killed by
a hit-and-run driver.
Ironically, the deceased died while trying to
cross the ever-busy Ikorodu road, just a
few inches away from a pedestrian bridge.
The incident was said to have occurred
around 8pm.
An eyewitness, who declined to identify
himself, told PUNCH Metro, that Oluchi was
hit by a Toyota Camry and the driver of the
car had tried to avoid the accident, which
almost compounded the situation.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the driver, in an
attempt to avoid hitting Oluchi, almost
caused multiple accidents as other drivers
around him, were forced to suddenly apply
brakes.
The source said, “Oluchi had crossed the
service lane and was about to cross the
expressway when the accident occurred.
“As she ran, the driver was on full speed,
but seeing what was about to happen, he
tried to apply his brakes but it was too
late.”
The impact of the accident was said to have
lifted Oluchi from the middle of the road to
the BRT lane where she was said to have hit
her head against the road demarcation
block.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene,
observed that the deceased was in her early
twenties.
She was surrounded by passers-by and a
crowd of sympathisers, who tried to
identify her after carrying her corpse to a
side of the road.
A team of policemen from the Somolu Police
Station were observed coordinating traffic,
while waiting for an ambulance.
However, when Oluchi’s relatives who had
been alerted to the incident, sighted the
Lagos State emergency services ,vehicle,
they quickly took the corpse away from the
scene.
The unidentified relatives, who attempted
to transport the corpse on a motorbike,
eventually changed their minds and hired a
commercial vehicle. PUNCH Metro gathered
that the decision was taken to avoid
government bottlenecks which could arise
before the corpse would be released to
them. The Police Deputy Public Relations
officer, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, confirmed the
accident to our correspondent on the
telephone.
He said, “A woman was knocked down at
Palmgrove. Police have been able to recover
her corpse and it has been deposited at
Gbagada General Hospital. We are trying to
investigate and track the vehicle that hit
her.”


www.punchng.com/metro/hit-and-run-driver-kills-girl-under-pedestrian-bridge/

MS Ankio Briggs, rights activist and one of
the leaders of the National Summit Group,
says there is nothing to celebrate at 53 and
the amalgamation of Northern and Southern
protectorates to create Nigeria was a
mistake. Excerpts:
How do you view Nigeria at 53?
I’m yet to see what we are celebrating. If we
are celebrating the fact that we have had
independence for 53 years and lived
together for a 100 years then, 100 is just a
figure. When you are celebrating, you have
to show what you have achieved. And the
question I’m asking is what have we
achieved?
Unity? We are not united in this country.
Developmentally, what have we achieved? I
mean in things like roads and what have
you? These are the things that should
matter as we are progressing. We shouldn’t
now be building roads at 100.
We should be improving on what we have
built may be at 30, 40, 50, 60, not starting
the development of Nigeria after a 100 years
of being together.
So, for me, those are the things I use as
yardstick to measure Nigeria. Like other
countries are sending satelite into the space,
Nigeria sent a satelite and lost it.
So, we should ask ourselves if Nigeria is not
too big a country to be governed the way in
which we are being governed today? Should
we not have states being responsible for
themselves? This is why national
conference is necessary.
We have been like this for 100 years, aside
the fact that we have been together and this
is what everybody tells us as if it’s such a big
deal to be together.
America is still together and look at what
they have achieved, likewise other countries.
Other countries like the Soviet Union, Sudan,
have broken up.
For Nigeria, I think by age alone, we are
matured enough to ask ourselves some
questions and answer them in a truthful
manner. We are just deceiving ourselves.
People have said the coming together of
different parts of the country is a mistake,
do you agree?
I totally agree, but we can’t take
responsibility for that, I might say, because
it’s not Nigerians that created Nigeria.
It’s Lord Luggard who created Nigeria that
brought us together and called us one
people. But it’s very clear today that that’s
not so. The North is the North and the South
is the South.
These regions are made up of so many
people with different cultures, religions,
foods and different ways of looking at
things.
And when you bring them together to say
they should look at things the same way,
you are telling them to look at Nigeria in
only one way.
But one day, some of this people will wake
up and say, look, things are not working for
us this way.
The people it works for will resist other
people who don’t want the process to
remain like that. So, this is the problem
Nigeria is having and anybody that doesn’t
see it like that is not telling himself the truth.
Do we have any basis for Nigeria’s unity?
We have basis in the sense that it’s our
choice. It should be our choice and it will be
our choice, because that’s why we have
these discussions going on now. I believe
Nigeria can be a great country and that
Nigerians can live together.
Look at the circumstances we are in and we
are still able to manage it and to drag it
along. But we shouldn’t be managing. We
should have some rules and regulations that
we all accept.
We should agree on how and when we are
going to do it and once we agree, it will be
much easier. The problem we are having is
that we didn’t agree. And we have not
found the basis on which we are agreeing.
We must find that basis. It’s possible to live
together. But the question is how? What are
the terms and conditions?
Nobody is saying we shouldn’t live together.
We are saying how? Who brings what? Who
owns what? Who controls what? How much
should I bring? How much should you
bring? How much
What if we keep everything and pay
something to the centre? These are the
things we need to look at together. We can
live together, but how?
Now, how do you think we can live together
in peace and harmony in Nigeria?
Well, it won’t be for one person alone. I can
only speak for my people. Like for instance, I
come from Rivers State, which is in Niger
Delta region.
For instance, most of what we are using to
develop the country today is coming from
my region, from my state.
Now, all I’m saying is that that should not be
so. It has made every other state which does
not have oil not to bring anything to the
table.
So, what I’m saying is that we should have
ownership of our resources and pay tax to
the Federal Government. That way,
everybody will be responsible for
themselves.
And then, we from the Niger Delta will not
feel that the weight of developing Nigeria is
on our back and that we as a people are not
gaining anything from it.
What percentage of tax do you think the
regions should pay to the centre?
Taxes are usually 5 per cent, 2 per cent, 40
per cent and whatever. It’s something we
must all agree upon. I mean, it’s not
something that I will say, it should be like
this.
What percentage do you suggest?
Well, I think 10 per cent.

Vanguardngr.com

No fewer than eight persons were feared drowned, yesterday, after a commercial boat capsized around Apapa area of Lagos.

The engine boat conveying passengers, majority of whom were traders, was reportedly coming from Sagbokoji Village, when tragedy struck.

Lagos State Police Command said only two persons were suspected to have drowned in the boat mishap, while seven persons were rescued.

Information available to Vanguard revealed that the commercial boat, conveying about 19 passengers, left the village at 7.30a.m., heading towards Lagoon area of Apapa.

Midway into the journey, the boat reportedly developed a fault, but the operators assured the passengers they would fix it.

Apprehension, however, set in when it became apparent that the boat operators could not rectify the problem. Some of the panic stricken passengers, who could swim, reportedly plunged into the river before the boat reportedly capsized at about 8a.m.

Fishermen around the area reportedly rescued some of the passengers.

Eyewitnesses said about nine persons were rescued and conveyed to their destinations.

One of the rescued passengers included a young girl that was said to be carrying dried fish to an unknown destination for sale.

Identities of some of those suspected to have drowned were given as Toume, Fajuwa and Tomiwa.

When contacted, Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Damasus Ozoani, confirmed the incident, stating that information at his disposal had it that two persons were suspected drowned.

He said rescue operation by operatives of the Marine Police was still on. As at 4.30pm, bodies of some of the victims were yet to be recovered.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/8-drown-in-lagos-boat-accident/#sthash.eW4K9L1F.dpuf

Vanguardngr.com

Why not post the damn thing here? Must I register?

Nice tips..

So that what will happen? Medicine after death. Nonsense!

Hmm.. Candid advice, greatly needed.

Feed me more: Is this what is trending now?

Ask me again..

Rubbish!!!