₦airaland Forum

BREAKING NEWS----TENSION IN THE U.S AS ROMNEY REJECTS ELECTION RESULTS
Latest report indicates growing tension in United State of America following the rejection of yesterday’s Presidential election results by Republican candidate Mitt Romney. States like Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts and Virginia are said to be boiling as all ballot boxes have been returned to New York for recounting.
So far, many deaths have been recorded while houses including the Empire State building have been set ablaze. Consequently, the Police, Army, SSS, Civil defence, and other security agencies including vigilante groups have been deployed to America to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, Prof. Attahiru Jega has been placed under house arrest and a tribunal headed by Justice Salami has been constituted to determine Romney’s petition, while Republicans like Gen. Buhari, Mallam El-Rufai, Tunde BAkare and Asiwaju Tinubu have been summoned to testify.
Stay tuned for further updates as they unfold.

Thisday Newspapers Kicks Out Elrufai

Controversial pint sized former minister of the FCT and now chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Malam Nasir Elrufai, has been kicked out by Thisday from his regular Friday column on the black page of Thisday.

This was confirmed by a tweet by Elrufai himself (see tweet below)

alt
Elrufai had been using the column to launch his personal attacks against his enemies and it is suspected that Thisday got tired of being used for a personal vendetta.

Nigerians Can now Secure American Visa within 20 Days – US Ambassador
Posted by Roti in Home » General, News, Nigerian News, World news on October 17, 2012 - Leave Your Comment
It is good news for Nigerians wishing to travel to the United States – and you can bet there are a whole lot of them – as it has been revealed that they can now secure the American visa within 20 days, and not 150 days anymore.
This was made known by the United States ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Terence McCulley, during an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP. According to him, “We recognise that the visa is an important part of our relationship and we have every interest in facilitating legitimate travel visas of students, people and tourists who want to travel to the US as part of dynamic series of exchanges between both countries.”
The ambassador attributed this to the hard work of the consular offices in both Abuja and Lagos. Both offices have been able to manage what is a very significant increase in work load without a concomitant increase in human or physical resources to manage the interviews that are being undertaken, he added.
Over the past years there had been a huge increase in demand for the US visa by Nigerians which led to a significant wait time to secure a visa interview. This, unfortunately, had permitted middle men and touts to grab appointments and then resell them, he said: “By reducing the time Nigerians have to wait to secure a visa, we hope to eliminate these people who are profiting on the gullibility of visa applicants and we hope to be able to offer better services,” he said.

The US presidential debate is going on live. Who is watching and what do you think?

National Association of Pregnant Corpers ( NAPC), i like the sound.

Its a personal thing but i get the feeling that the poster is looking for a reason to justify his status as an old bachelor especially in mix of friends and colleague who flaunt their marriage at him. If u no wan marry na u sabi, but dont make mockery of a sacred institution as marriage,abeg

How clever

I feel a need to offer an opinion on the debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

While everyone appears to agree on Obama's miserable performance, in my view it was a masterful, strategic move.

Consider these thoughts.

In our highly polarized politics, it is most likely that the undecided few will split 50/50. There were no votes to be gained. No Obama backer is likely to switch sides.

So it now becomes clear that the best goal is to ensure that voters actually turn out. Were Obama to soundly to defeat Romney in the debate it might lead Democrats to fail to turn out, thinking it was less important. By "losing" the debate, Obama has lost no votes on Election Day or from early-voting states.

Further, were Obama to soundly defeat Romney in the debate, it is likely that deep-pocketed Republicans would pull their dollars from the presidential election and instead invest in the House and Senate races, thereby jeopardizing the possibility to gain Democratic control.

I think this was a well-reasoned approach to the realities of the politics of the situation. It may seem to be risky, but to me seems less risky than making Romney a loser and cementing his party's disillusionment with his campaign. Obama had more to gain by losing and less to gain by winning.

That's the kind of thinking I want in a president.

What do you think?

Chinwe Biringa, mother of Chiadika Biringa, one of the four University of Port Harcourt students lynched last week at Aluu community by a mob spoke via telephone on a Channels TV program, and said that policemen were present during the killings.

She expressed her disappointment with the approach of the policemen who just looked on and did nothing to stop the gruesome murder of the four boys.

She said, “Eyewitnesses accounts revealed that policemen were at the scene of the incident. Besides, policemen at the police station confirmed to one of the bereaved parents who visited them that policemen were there.

“And the explanation they gave was that they were overwhelmed by the crowd and that they had insufficient bullets in their guns and all that thrash to confront the crowd.

“But those people were only with sticks not with guns. If they really wanted to work they would have worked. If they had done what the Joint Task Force did by firing warning shots into the air when they wanted to collect the corpses, things wouldn’t have gone awry.”

She insisted that her son and his friends were not robbers as claimed by the mob. “We don’t have security in this country. We don’t just have and our children and wards are all over the country. We are only living by God’s grace everyday, because this can happen to anybody any day.

“God knows best because nothing stops Him from doing something extraordinary to save them. But may God judge all those who had a hand in the killings.”

http://www.ynaija.com/policemen-were-there-when-they-lynched-my-son-mother-of-aluu4-victim/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter
(Quote) (Report) (Like)

arramyjay: From all u have written it is obvious u live tht community, how do u knw d ratio of students to indigens? why did u do Nothing? You speak for urself men.

My brother, am not from Aluu and i wasnt there when those innocent boys were killed. But i know that coomunity very welll and anybody who have been there will agree that those boys died because we let them down, as fellow human being, students and the police

Alot has been said about the killing of four promising young men by some members of the Aluu community. But a critical look at the whole incident points to our collective failure as a people. The lynching of those young was made possible by a culture of jungle justice and illegality which we have come to accept. Lynching of suspected thieves has become a regular occurrence from Oshodi to Kano, Makurdi to Onitsha. In the aftermath of the reaction to the killing, the following groups must accept the blame for the role they played, actively or passively in killing Ugonna, Tekena, Lloyd and Chidiaka. Outside the traditional ruler and the people of Aluu.

1. Uniport students: Aluu is a community with more student residents than indigenes. Infact the student to indigene population ratio should be in the ratio of 2:1.  Yet, they did nothing to save one of their own. I can almost bet that some of them actually participated in the lynching while others watched as these boys were pummeled with sticks like snake. It is my believe that some of the student felt they deserved to die. And did nothing to rescue them. It was only after the issue assumed a National dimension and wide condemnation that they, the student suddenly felt the need to protest. What took them so long to express their dismay if they were not part of it or at least in support of the action?

2. The Nigerian Police: Aluu is hosts to a Mobile Police unit stationed at the new Airport road /west road link road that pass though  the community. For an action that took hours, where was the Police. It is my submission that the NPF creed that you are guilty until proven innocent prevented them from intervening. Infact, they actually welcomed the action as they felt it was well deserved. Now, its time for them to further enrich their pockets with mass and illegal arrests.

3. You and I: we must accept the blame for their death for allowing illegality and injustice to thrive in our homes, offices and communities.  Everytime we fail to speak up against injustice, corruption and illegality, we are emdorsing jungle justice. It is unfortunate that we have retrogressed from civilised human beings to barbaric animals. Our value and regard for the sanctitity of the human life is depreciating by the day. The statement that the world is now a global village, must guide all our actions. We must begin to demand that things be done according to international standard in accordance with the global village which we are now living in. There is nothing  like remote villages again. With a 3k phone, u can reach remotest parts of the world. Lets use this tools in calling for the change we need in this country. 
May the soul of these young men rest in peace from the loveless society we live.
May God help us all.

Alot has been said about the killing of four promising young men by some members of the Aluu community. But a critical look at the whole incident points to our collective failure as a people. The lynching of those young was made possible by a culture of jungle justice and illegality which we have come to accept. Lynching of suspected thieves has become a regular occurrence from Oshodi to Kano, Makurdi to Onitsha. In the aftermath of the reaction to the killing, the following groups must accept the blame for the role they played, actively or passively in killing Ugonna, Tekena, Lloyd and Chidiaka. Outside the traditional ruler and the people of Aluu.

1. Uniport students: Aluu is a community with more student residents than indigenes. Infact the student to indigene population ratio should be in the ratio of 2:1.  Yet, they did nothing to save one of their own. I can almost bet that some of them actually participated in the lynching while others watched as these boys were pummeled with sticks like snake. It is my believe that some of the student felt they deserved to die. And did nothing to rescue them. It was only after the issue assumed a National dimension and wide condemnation that they, the student suddenly felt the need to protest. What took them so long to express their dismay if they were not part of it or at least in support of the action?

2. The Nigerian Police: Aluu is hosts to a Mobile Police unit stationed at the new Airport road /west road link road that pass though  the community. For an action that took hours, where was the Police. It is my submission that the NPF creed that you are guilty until proven innocent prevented them from intervening. Infact, they actually welcomed the action as they felt it was well deserved. Now, its time for them to further enrich their pockets with mass and illegal arrests.

3. You and I: we must accept the blame for their death for allowing illegality and injustice to thrive in our homes, offices and communities.  Everytime we fail to speak up against injustice, corruption and illegality, we are emdorsing jungle justice. It is unfortunate that we have retrogressed from civilised human beings to barbaric animals. Our value and regard for the sanctitity of the human life is depreciating by the day. The statement that the world is now a global village, must guide all our actions. We must begin to demand that things be done according to international standard in accordance with the global village which we are now living in. There is nothing  like remote villages again. With a 3k phone, u can reach remotest parts of the world. Lets use this tools in calling for the change we need in this country. 
May the soul of these young men rest in peace from the loveless society we live.
May God help us all.

ifyalways: Thanks for sharing,OP.Im hoping that the recruiting process would be strictly on merit not pocket

My dear we can only hope for the best.

Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (TAC) Job Vacancies 2012

Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, invites applications from suitably qualified Nigerians for the recruitment into the Nigerian Aid Corps Scheme for the 2012 – 2014 Biennium.
The Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme is a viable volunteer programme operated by an African country across ACP countries. From independence, aid and technical assistance have been at the core of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.  
TAC began in 1987 to complement direct financial aid from Nigeria to ACP countries through skills exchange towards strengthening international understanding and cooperation.
The Federal Government of Nigeria in 1987 established the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme as a foreign policy tool that would serve specific national interests.
The statute establishing the scheme – Decree 27 – was signed into a law on 22 January 1993 and officially documented on 5 May 1993, thus giving it a legal backing and framework.
As an instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy, the TAC programme is an alternative to direct financial aid for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations.
It is designed, not only to provide manpower assistance in all fields of human endeavour, but to also represent a practical demonstration of South-South cooperation. (South-South refers to underdeveloped and developing countries in the southern hemisphere).

Objectives
Key objectives of the scheme are:
Sharing Nigeria’s know-how and expertise with other ACP countries
Giving assistance on the basis of assessed and perceived needs of recipient countries
Promoting cooperation and understanding between Nigeria and recipient countries
Facilitating meaningful contact between youths of Nigeria and those of recipient countries
Complementing other forms of assistance to ACP countries
Ensuring a streamlined programme of assistance to other developing countries
Acting as a channel through which South-South collaboration is enhanced
Establishing a presence in countries which, for economic reasons, Nigeria has no resident diplomatic mission.
Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Massive Volunteer Recruitment 2012
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified Nigerian professionals for the recruitment into the Nigerian Aid Corps Scheme for the 2012 – 2014 Biennium. The scheme is designed to provide manpower assistance in specific area, on request, from African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Prospective candidates are therefore expected to be highly competent in their respective professions and of impeccable character. Applications are invited from the following professionals:
 
1.) Medicine
Professionals needed include General Practitioners, Cardiologists, Orthopaedic Surgeons, Pathologists, Pharmacologists, Hematologists, Histopathologists, Surgeons, Micro-biologists, Radiologists/CT-Scan, Urologists, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Paediatricians, Psychiatrics, Forensic, Medicine, Physicians, Epidemiologists, Entomologists, Dermatologists, Neurologists, Anesthesiologists, Plastic Surgeons, Physiologists, Anatomists, Physiotherapists, Ophthalmic Retinal Surgeons, Optometrists, Occupational Therapists, Dentists, Endoscopists, Pharmacists, Radiographers, Radiologists, Laboratory Technologists, Laboratory Technicians, X-Ray Technicians, Chemical Pathologists, Medical Electronic Engineers, Lep/TB Specialists or MO with Lep/TB Background, Health Planners/Administrators and Clinical Chemists
 
2.) Nursing And Midwifery:
Midwives, Nurse Anaesthetists, Psychiatric Nurses, Theatre Nurses, Nurse Tutors, OR-Nurse and Public Health Nurses. Etc

3.) Teaching:
Teachers in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English Language, Agriculture, History, Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic Religious Knowledge, General Education, Home Economics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Economics, Arts & Crafts, General Science, Vocational/Technical Education, Food Science Technology, Hotel Service, Tourism Studies specializing in travel operations, Special Education, Educational Administration, Educational Psychology, Curriculum Development, Childhood Education, Technical drawing, Economics, Business Education, Marketing, Purchasing, Banking and Finance, Accounting, Information technology, Geography and Health Science.
 
4.) Lecturers:
Lecturers in English Language, African Literature, Modern African History, English Literature, Linguistics, Theatre Arts, Library Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Architecture, Textile & Weaving, Music, Art & Crafts, Quantity Surveying, Land Surveying, Chemical Pathology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mass Communication, Organic Chemistry, Banking and Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Coaches/Instructors, in Football, Basketball, Boxing, Athletics, Physical Education, Biochemistry, Computer Programming & Technology, Geography, Sociology and Social work, Anthropology, History, Genetics, Botany, Zoology, International Relations, Comparative Government/Politics, International Law, Policy Analysis, Urban/Regional Economics, Urban Transportation Planning, Planning Theory, Environmental Planning, System Dynamics & Technology Policy, Research & Planning, Educational Administration, Curriculum Development, Testing and Evaluation, Educational Psychology, General Agriculture, Soil Science, Animal Science, Agriculture Economics, Wood science, Forest Science, Bio-diversity, (Environmental Management), Criminal Law, Torts, Family Law, Legal Research, Labour Law, Human Rights, Beef Cattle Production, Water resources, Animal Ecology, Rangeland management, Irrigation Agronomy, Tropical seed, Technology, Biometrics, Crop Protection, Plant Biotechnology, Cooperatives, Economics, Econometrics, Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Economics/Policy, Experimental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Bio-statistics ecology, Food Microbiology, Entomology, Environmental Microbiology/ Biotechnology, Vector Biology/ Parasitology, Quality Assurance and Laboratory management, Toxicology.
 
5.) Engineering:
Water resource/Hydraulic, Thermal Machine Design, Industrial, Manufacturing, Mineral Processing, Agriculture, Mining, Geology, Electronics, Automobile, Communication, Microelectronics, Road and Transport, Applied Mechanics, Computer, Highway, Electronics or Nuclear Physics, Sanitary, Food Technology, Process Control and Instrumentation, Chemical process, Re-inforced Concrete, Control System, Plant Layout and Production Planning, Engineering Materials, Garment Technology, Fashion Design, Textile Chemical Process, Quality Control in Textile, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Geo-physics.
 
6.) Health Science:
Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, radiology, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Technology, Human Anatomy, Stress Physiology, Embryology, Histology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Adult Care Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Dental health, Physical pharmacology, Pharmacology, Community health science, Psychiatrist/Mental health, Occupational health specialist, Immunology, Haematology, Chemical Nursing (Medical surgical), Peadiatric Nursing, Public nursing, Midwifery nursing, Environmental/occupational hygiene, Anesthesiology, Pychiatry, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Medicinal Chemistry.
 
7.) Veterinary: 
Anatomy, Farm animal anatomy, Physiology, Immunology/Phraseology, Animal Health.
 
8.) Others:
Production management (with engineering background), Management science, materials Management, Management Economics, Public/Social Service/Industrial Economics, Cooperative Studies; (Theory and Practice, Legal systems, Organization and Management, Agric Cooperative Management, Auditing and Accounting), Business communication, Risk Management and Insurance, Hotel and Tourism Management, Hotel Food Production, Hotel Economics, Management Information Systems, Accounting Information Systems, Auditing Zoology.
 
9.) Law:
Lawyers, Prosecutors, Magistrates and Legal Draughtsmen.
 
10.) Agriculture:
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, Agric Extension and Development Officers, Nutritionists, Agronomists, Livestock production Experts, Horticulture.
 
11.) Artisans:
Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing, Welding, Automobile Mechanics, Brick-laying, Tailoring and Vulcanizing.
 

Requirements:
Candidates must be in possession of a First degree or its equivalent in designated disciplines from recognized universities.
They must have at least 3 years post NYSC experience.
Candidates applying as Artisans must possess Full City and Guilds certificate and other professional certificates in their respective trades.
Additional higher degree as well as ability to communicate in French, Spanish and Portuguese Languages may be an added advantage.
Lecturers in all disciplines must possess PhD or Masters degree with a minimum of 5 years lecturing experience.
Knowledge of ICT is compulsory.
 
Application Closing Date:
14th November, 2012
 
Method Of Application:
A typewritten application should be submitted to the Directorate with the following details:
Curriculum Vitae
Photocopies of Certificates
Photocopy of NYSC discharge Certificate/Exemption certificate
Testimonials
All foreign certificates are to be authenticated by the Federal Ministry of Education.
 
Applications should be addressed to:
 
The Director/CEO
Directorate of Technical Aids Corps
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
No. 35, Alex Ekwueme Way, 
Cadastral Zone Jabi District,
Abuja, FCT. 
P.M.B 102,
Garki Main Post Office, 
Abuja, FCT.
 
Note:
Candidates who had previously undergone orientation are still eligible and therefore need not apply
Applications would not be entertained after closing date....

The din of riots
Still, this means that we find ourselves in this odd balancing act where many Christians, including committed believers, take it for granted that questions can be asked about the founding and spread of Christianity and the nature and authorship of the gospels.

It goes with the territory. But it's not a universal practice.

(As for the Hebrew Bible, it's pretty much accepted by all reputable scholars that its books were compiled and edited during the long Babylonian captivity and at other times in Jewish history. One noted literary critic, Harold Bloom, even contends that parts of the Old Testament were written by a woman.)

Now, we all realize that there are many reasons for the riots that broke out across the Muslim world recently over the movie trailer (unseen by many, surely) for a different film, not Holland's, that caricatured the life of Muhammad.

We also all know, from the reporting, how militants hijacked and exploited this video for their own purposes, and how the vast majority of Muslims, while no doubt angry about this incident, were not up in arms.

Canadian writer Irshad Manji has been arguing for years now for a more progressive interpretation of Islam. (John McConnico / Associated Press)
Still, from the discussions that followed, like the one recently on Cross Country Checkup, people are clearly walking on eggshells, even as there are notable Muslim writers and scholars who want their history thrown open.

That list would include the Canadian Irshad Manji who now teaches at New York University and who believes that any religion, including her own, deserves scrutiny.

As she told an interviewer in the spring, the debate should be about how, not whether, freedom and Islam should be harmonized.

Others, such as Raza Rheel, the author of Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: a Muslim Canadian woman speaks out, echo these sentiments, though the din of the riots may drown out these voices, for now.

Certainly there are disputes and arguments within the Muslim world about these issues, about the whole nature of what's acceptable criticism of Islam. We haven't heard the last of any of it, that's guaranteed.

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Allegory and belief
But put aside the outright provocation (and that might be hard, I know). It does seem that it is acceptable to air critiques about the most sacred aspects of Christianity — even question the identity of Jesus Christ — and that this has been the case for some time.

Living faith. A Lebanese girl holds a copy of the Qur'an during one in a series of worldwide protests in September over the controversial movie trailer that ridiculed the life of Muhammad. (Associated Press)
Liberal-minded Christians like John Shelby Spong, an Episcopalian bishop in the U.S. and Richard Holloway, the former bishop of Edinburgh (both articulate Tapestry guests), argue, along with many others, that the Bible should be read not as history but metaphorically, in an allegorical and symbolic manner, which was Harpur's point as well.

Was there a "real" Adam and Eve? I would say that most people see this as an obvious allegory, with a deeper meaning. So be it. One can be a pious Christian and still believe the poetry.

Was Jesus "divine"? These disputes riled members of the United Church of Canada in 1997 when Bill Phipps, the newly elected moderator, said that Jesus was not God but a human being. What really matters, he was quoted as saying, is the church's role in "mending a broken world."

As the historian Karen Armstrong reminds us in her magnificent A History of God: the 4,000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, religion is a complex assemblage of ancient tales, reconstituted narratives and mystical impulses, recast to serve people seeking contact with a divine reality.

For Armstrong, studying the history of a religion can only augment the core messages — it doesn't have to violate its beliefs. Criticism is an absolute necessity.

The story of Islam
Religious scholarship is encouraged pretty much everywhere, in every faith, as far as I can tell. But when it comes to popularizing this research there is a huge schism developing, particularly when it comes to Islam.

The most recent case in point was when Britain's Channel 4 decided last month not to rebroadcast the documentary Islam: The Untold Story, which was written by the popular historian Tom Holland and was part of an ongoing series of serious-minded programs on faith and the history of religion in general.

After the initial broadcast at the end of August, a planned second airing was cancelled after Holland received many abusive messages, including threats to his life.

Holland's thesis, was much like Tom Harpur's: that Islam appeared to emerge over a period of time and probably after Arab armies had begun a long period of conquest in the Middle East, bringing them into contact with Christianity and Judaism.

But that argument angered those Muslims who believe the Qur'an is the literal word of God, recited to Muhammad, his Prophet, in Mecca on a particular date.

For these Muslims, their sacred history cannot be questioned and their opposition is posing a very delicate problem, not just for TV presenters but for those of us who want to understand more deeply what might be the common roots of our respective beliefs.

According to his supporters, Holland was respectful in his approach and was essentially summarizing the historical research that's been going on in scholarly circles. This is material from available evidence and documents, some of which he cites on his own website, in response to the critics.

What seemed to touch off the controversy in large part was that he was trying to present these tentative findings in a popular medium.

Just to ask these sorts of questions, on television, rather than in a secluded seminar somewhere, can cause more than a few headaches, it seems. Though in cases like this one, it may depend a bit on who — Muslim or non-Muslim — is doing the asking.

I just cam across this article and thought i should share . It is not intended to malign any religion, but to provoke objective assessment.

[color=#000099][/color]
The Pagan Christ is a provocatively titled documentary that first aired on CBC TV in December 2007, just in time for Christmas.

The film made the case that the person called Jesus Christ was a fiction based on Egyptian and other myths that date thousands of years before the gospels were written. This argument was based on a 2004 book of the same name by the journalist and author Tom Harpur.

No doubt there were letters to the CBC about this, though I can't recall there being a huge hue and cry.

In my experience as the former producer of Tapestry, CBC Radio's program on spirituality and religion, some evangelical and fundamentalist Christians — as well as adherents of other religions — believe that CBC (and the majority of the mainstream media) are hostile to religion, or at the very least unsympathetic.

I know that because I would entertain letters on these very points for years, and would have to write back to these listeners.

Now, Tom Harpur was not viciously mocking anybody's faith or any sacred figure when he wrote his book. Nor is he is some fanatic Florida pastor, burning holy books of other faiths.

Harpur is, in fact, an ordained Anglican minister, a very liberal, progressive one to be sure, and he considers himself a good and faithful Christian.

For years he was a columnist and religion editor for The Toronto Star and his books have a pastoral, faithful quality. He isn't one of the angry New Atheists, nor some in-your-face artist who dips a crucifix in a cup of urine.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/10/05/f-vp-handler.html


To be continued

CHECKMATEc

according Rueben Abati in his tweeter handle, @abati1990: President Jonathan has appointed new Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs for d armed forces. Vice Admiral O. S. Ibrahim is new CDS.Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral D. J. Ezeoba, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall A. S. Badeh. Chief of Army Staff retains position.

gempo: this country don tire me. When will we start hearing something positive in this country. Management at all levels in shambles.

We dont like positive news, so we wont be hearing anyone soon. We are more accommodating to negative reports about the country, thats why we celebrate them and reject positive ones.

AT the rate ACN is going, soon they will start demamnding apology for rain, sun shine, if their wife dont give them food at home, if they have a flat tyre etc. honestly, these guys are becoming pathetic.

If the spokesperson is not dead, why are he speaking on his behalf? they are shopping for another person to present himself as Abu Qaqa or is it Abu Dada, Abu Koko or Abu Titi? No doubt d heat is on him.

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Nigeria joined a key JP Morgan local currency government bond index on Monday, becoming the second African country after South Africa to be included in a widely followed index thanks to its improving liquidity levels.

The country’s entry into the JP Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) from October 1 could translate into at least $1.5 billion of inflows to the bond market, the bank estimates.

It will raise the country’s profile and is expected to lead to greater foreign participation, given that Nigerian yields offer a significant premium to established sovereign lenders.

“It’s now seen as a market that can’t be ignored internationally and one of the frontier markets where you need to have a position,” said Samir Gadio, emerging markets strategist at Standard Bank.

Nigeria’s entry into the GBI-EM comes as South Africa joins Citigroup’s World Government Bond Index, although funds tracking the latter are estimated at $2 trillion compared with $180 billion for the JP Morgan index.

At around $25 billion, Nigeria’s sovereign debt market is still dwarfed by South Africa’s $100 billion. Secondary market turnover is also around a fifth of its more developed peer.

However, analysts said Nigeria’s addition to the GBI-EM marks it out as one of the more accessible markets on the continent for foreign investors.

“Nigeria has done a lot of work in recent years in developing its bond market to improve liquidity,” said Leon Myburgh, sub-Saharan Africa strategist at Citi.

“In most African markets, foreign participation is largely limited to the Treasury bill market, but Nigeria has been able to cross the threshold and see foreign investors enter its bond market as well.”

Nigeria has a weighting of roughly 0.72 percent in the index and three bonds, maturing in 2014, 2019 and 2022, have been included as they are the most liquid.

Yields have fallen around 300 basis points since JP Morgan announced the inclusion on August 14.

The bank estimates that about half the $1.5 billion in expected inflows may have already come in, largely from hedge funds and niche investors.
“Now I think we’ll see the people that are less familiar with this market coming through – the benchmark investors, the big real money accounts that may have taken some time to internalise this decision to include Nigeria in the index,” said Giulia Pellegrini, JP Morgan strategist for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria could end up attracting more than $1.5 billion in inflows given that its bonds offer a yield premium of around 700 basis points over the index, Pellegrini wrote in a note to clients published on September 25.

Strong growth, a low debt-to-GDP ratio, rising foreign exchange reserves and a stable currency could spur additional inflows, the note said.
Nigerians also hope the GBI-EM entry will also help bolster the case for reforms such as the introduction of securities lending and a deeper repo market.

“We think this will help focus minds and get that moving faster so that the legacy can be a deeper, more diverse market,” said Akin Dawodu, treasurer at Citibank Nigeria.

REUTERS

While i must concede that Nigeria has not made much progress given the abundant resources at its disposal, we must also not forget that the present crop of opposition in Nigerian were core members of the PDP and contributed immensely to keeping us where we are today. mallam Nasir El-rufai who is now the chief strategist of the CPC, held variois positions under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration including the Chairman of the BPE which gave out our national assets to their cronies. A crime for which he was indicted and banned from holding any public office. Why would any right thinking Nigerian condemn the privatisation of NEPA/PHCN unless he is benefiting from the status quo? The story of NiTEL should tell anybody who is sincere that Govt business in Nigeria is nobody's bizness.lets welcome an opposition that represent the true interest of the people, not those who choose opposition as a way of remaining politically relevant. Not those who only remember the masses when they are out of the corridor of power. Today, i choose to be optimistic about my country. Long live the federal Republic of Nigeria.

Pint sized controversial former minister of the FCT and chieftain of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC), Malam Elrufai, has sensationally criticized President Jonathan for succumbing to the wishes of the Nigerian people by suspending the introduction of the 5000 note. According to Elrufai, the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is the only person with a brain in the government of President Jonathan. Unknown to many, the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is also married to the younger sister of one of the three wives of the pint-sized ex-minister.


The controversial former minister also said the President  is indecisive and fickle.

He said this on his profile on twitter and NaijaPundit exclusively brings you the tweets below.

1025: if there is anyone on blackmail here, i think it is u. u and ur types keep condemning the few that speak for masses. even if Dino is doing what you claim here, do u know of any of his noises that was not true? he spoke during fuel subsidy and now the N5000 note. do u know of any normal nigerian that wants to buy fuel for N141? do u think what nigeria needs at this point in our lives is to waste N40B on printing a note that will aid these looters to loot us dry?
at this point, what nigerians are looking at are not those that will speak against Dino rather we need truthful men like u who will be different from dino in the fight to change things.
many paid labourers like you are only out to see the bad sides of those who voice out their problems but you don't seem to see anything wrong in our governance.
pls put urself in order and prove me wrong in what i just said and be ready to argue this topic with facts and figures because will be here to prove that u are nothing but a govt agent of distraction.
be assured that i for once do not know dino and i don't care about his school days.
before u respond, i would want you to look at the following characters;
1. labran maku - information minister
2. reuben abati - presidential spokesman
3. doyin okupe - information ministion

i will wait to hear from you.

Mr Dino, stop hiding under th id 1025. I know it is you. Only those who dont know u in person will believe all d crab and noise u make. I see u everyday and am appalled at the way you have exploited d poor masses to further ur selfish interest. Enriching urself with govt proceeds while coming to television screen to shout. I see u everyday as u parade different exotic cars on d street of Abuja and still make a mockery of d people by riding a BMX bicycle and telling them u are poor and cant afford fuel for ur cars. Only God go judge you

Datti Ahmed: The Only Man Who Can Stop Boko Haram  
Published on August 24, 2012 by   ·   No Comments
Renowned medical doctor and President of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmed is the only man who can stop Boko Haram hostilities, a Muslim organisation has revealed.

Datti Ahmed
In a passionate letter of appeal to Ahmed, published by Daily Trust newspaper, the Muslim group called on the highly respected Northern leader to “call off the Boko Haram beasts,” adding that the Islamists have done nothing to further Ahmed’s objectives and his Sharia plan for Nigeria.
“Enough is enough. Boko Haram has done nothing to further your objectives and your Sharia plan for Nigeria. Indeed, Boko Haram with their devillish tactics have only painted our noble Deen in bad light,” the group wrote.
It recalled that Ahmed founded the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria with the noble aim of implementing the Sharia Law while nothing that it has been implemented to a great extent in some Northern states, without shedding blood or killing innocent people.
According to the Muslims, before the advent of Boko Haram, the North was reported even in foreign editorials as “the best states for doing business in Nigeria” because of the peace existing in the states then.
The group noted with regret that since the menace of Boko Haram, with their killings, maiming and arson, they have frustrated Christians and Muslims from doing business in the North and they have turned the entire North to a hell on earth.
The Muslims said that Ahmed who has friends across Nigeria including Christians like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will not be happy to see Boko Haram slaughter any of his friends.
They quoted a letter written by columnist Bala Muhammad published in the Saturday Weekly Trust of 05 May, 2012, “you have spoken. And Nigeria has heard you. Indeed, you have every right to be angry and frustrated. Your single-minded initiative to intervene in this ongoing national calamity was unprecedented.”
Muhammad recalled that some years back, a former Nigerian president said this of Ahmed: “Is it the same Dr. I. D. Ahmed that I know? That brilliant University of Ibadan-trained medical doctor, one of the North’s first? The Dr. Ahmed I know to be a core nationalist and patriot? What got into him to become a religious fanatic?” He acknowledge Ahmed as a Muslim leader who cannot be bribed or compromised.
Quoting several religious activities and utterances of Ahmed that made him a trustworthy Muslim leader, the group wrote: “please, we Nigerians, we Muslims, we beg you, call off Boko Haram.”
Meanwhile, the Leadership newspaper has reported the readiness of Boko Haram members to cease fire on two conditions after years of frequent bomb attacks on security formations, religious houses and killings of innocent citizens within the northern states.
The group has named the president of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Sheik Ahmed Datti, as their mediator. It said the choice of Datti was based on the fact that its former leader, the late Mohammed Yusuf, served as a member that represented Borno State in the council of Sharia in Nigeria, and that the cleric could be trusted not to betray the confidence reposed in him to speak for the Boko Haram sect, a source close to the group told LEADERSHIP yesterday.
The source added that Boko Haram was ever ready to stop the bombings in the next four weeks only if the Federal Government would release all its arrested members as well as guarantee the security and safety of all members whose names would be given to the federal government through Datti.
The source said: “What the boko haram sect is asking the Federal Government now is to give them the assurance that once they come to the public after the hostilities, their safety and security would be guaranteed.
“The sect members have also agreed that once the two conditions are met, within four weeks, they will put an end to the hostilities. I am afraid, the members of the Boko Haram sect may resume to more action should the Federal Government fail to heed the conditions.”
—Moyo Fabiyi
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Abubakar Shekau – Wanted Dead Or Alive; $10,000 Reward: Nigeria Muslim Group
18.08.2012, 23:36 Local
In what seems to be 'the taking of the hunt back to Boko Haram', a vocal Muslim group, MuslimsAgainstTerror.com issued a press release offering a reward of $10,000+ to bounty hunters for the head of Abubakar Shekau, leader and spokesperson for the Boko Haram notorious terror group operating from the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Boko Haram has been blamed in over 1000 deaths in the current year.

This appears to be the first bounty - reward placed on the head of a terrorist in Nigeria. The site also offered rewards for all valuable tips on the Boko Haram group.

MuslimsAgainst Terror:

Abubakar Shekau: WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE! $ REWARD FOR CAPTURE OR INFO.
Salam Alaikum

Firstly, let me mention that your real reward will be in heaven, Insha Allah. Allah(S) promised that whoever saves a life, it is as though you have saved the entire humanity.
Abubakar Shekau leads a deadly terrorist cult that continues to murder innocent people and damage the name of Islam and the Deen of our noble Prophet Muhammed (S). He embarrases us and causes secterian grief and strife in Nigeria. This is unbecoming for us Muslims. Enough is Enough, WALAHI! We will not keep living under his threats and attacks!

We are hereby grateful that Allah in His mercy has given us the financial capacity to offer this cash compensation as motivation to help soon end the days of this cursed man and stain to Islam. His days are numbered Insha Allah for all the harj(killing) that he encourages.

Whoever of the brothers is skilled in head-hunting, please join the ranks that go after this menace in a Jihad of our time. Allah(S) will be with you. Verily the protection of Allah(S) is sufficient for us all. Ameen.
We welcome more donations from brothers, Insha Allah we will increase the reward for his head and we also offer rewards for all useful information on his terrorist group and their sponsors. Nigeria's security services needs the help of us brothers. Simply email us and you will be sure of 100% anonymity, fully confidential. We shall forward the information to the appropriate quarters, local and international, and arrange your compensation with you by email, Insha Allah.

http://www.?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.naij.com%2F5922.html&h=pAQHnv_LpAQEFRIMMFsoPJM6dwJk1CZqaF-aOBp7iNmJ_8w&s=1

The Action Congress of Nigeria on Wednesday morning restated its call on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, for alleged criminal conversion of state funds.
The party had made the call on Monday, asking Jonathan to take cognisance of the fact that Okupe was allegedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for failing to execute a contract for the Benue State Government.
It had also asked Jonathan to hand Okupe over to EFCC for prosecution and apologise to Nigerians for appointing him in the first place.
However, Okupe had dismissed the call in a statement on Tuesday.
But the party restated the call on Wednesday in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The party described as “false and deliberately misleading” a statement credited to EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaaren, that Okupe was not under investigation.
“It is on record that Dr. Doyin Okupe was in the custody of the EFCC in Lagos for almost one month between July and August 2006, on account of a contract he obtained this time from Imo State but which he failed to execute after collecting a hefty mobilisation fee,” the statement said.
The party, therefore, warned the EFCC and other relevant agencies against obliterating the records “in order to give Dr. Doyin Okupe a clean bill of health in relation to these allegations.”
“The party reiterates its earlier position that retaining Dr Doyin Okupe as the administration’s spokesman on Public Affairs is not just an insult to the collective integrity of all Nigerians but also flies in the face of the administration’s flaunted commitment to fighting corruption.
“It reminds the Presidency that the President’s spokesman is the face not only of the President but of Nigeria as a whole and that responsibility cannot rest on the shoulders of a person morally damaged.
“Nigeria is definitely not in want of qualified individuals with talent and credentials for the position of a Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and retaining Dr. Doyin Okupe in this position in the face of incontrovertible evidence as to his unsuitability will only give credence to the widely held belief that this administration is a haven for persons with criminal pasts,” the ACN added.

http://news.naij.com/5594.html
Why are u so afraid of Doyin??

Lets not post misleading thread here before people start seeing this forum as a garbage site. I happen to use pre-paid meter and from what u have said, its obvious you are being charged at the rate of about 11 naira, putting u in d same bracket as myself. Also. It means you didnt pay for two much meaning a deduction of 1000 naira for two months at 500 naira fix charge per month. In essence, you bought 2000 actual power value which should be the 160kw/h. Now the use of thos unit is purely at ur discretion. While u may turn off security light in ur house. You failed to tell us what appliances you use in ur house. In all, the truth is u alone exhausted your power recharge and not a ghost. Neither are u being cheated. I know hoe long 160kw/h of electricity takes me. Prepaid meter stll remain d best option of power estimation. If u have to use more appliances, pls increase the amount you spend on your power purchase and stop crying wolf where none exist.

Up NEPA, sorry PHCN!!!!
09 August 2012, 13:34





Somehow, the cry for electricity by Nigerians seems to have started getting answers. I hear there has been increase in power supply in the past weeks.
People have taken to the social media to give thumbs up to the power minister and his people but in that happiness and excitement, the pessimism that corruption has etched in the mind of an average Nigerian still seeps through. This is because many have started saying that once the rainy season is over; we would go back to status quo with the powers that be telling us the Kainji Dam does not have enough water to generate power.
While many smile at having conserved the money for fuelling their generating sets, I moan in agony wondering when my area of abode will be remembered in this power giving frenzy even if for the period of the rainfall.
Every day, I come home hopeful that all the bulbs I see lighted all around would be powered by PHCN but imagine the heartbreak when I hear the familiar drone of the generators. I just heave a sad sigh and walk into my apartment.
I find that irrespective of how I felt the previous day, I still come home every day hopeful. Could this be a sign that there is indeed hope for a better Nigeria?
I have heard from a lot of mouths uttering the testimony of improved power supply that I cannot wave it aside as a rumour. I even saw for myself an area having power supply for complete 15 hours uninterrupted. I unconsciously had my eyes go to the clock all the time I was in that area waiting for the dreaded moment the power would go but alas! PHCN didn’t give me that ‘painful’ pleasure or disappointment as the case may be.
Even as I pray and hope that my area is remembered in this electricity give-away, I see a little ray of optimism in a nation that even children voice pessimism.
If electricity supply can improve like this in various parts of Lagos state, that means a lot of infrastructural decay in this country is fixable. Yes! Except some people just choose to ignore it.
What this increased supply of electricity has done is give us hope where it looks like there has been no hope.
Let us savour this delight throwing into the dustbin our pessimism and believing that every other sector will emulate what is being done in the power sector at present; while hoping that the power supply keeps improving.
I and I believe a great majority of people look forward to a time where we can smile when paying our electricity bills knowing we are getting value for our money.

While many have agreed that the Boko Haram sect have foreign sponsors, the link between the group and the foreign sponsors have remained a mystery. However, it has been revealed that Mallam El-Rufai has been playing the middle man role for the group. Infact, it was revealed that his trip to Dubai yesterday was simply his first stop enroute Iran which has been indicted in the activities of Boko Haram. Recall that iran was also linked to the intercepted arms at the Lagos Port. According to the report, El-rufai has been collecting money from Iran and distributing to the BH group in Nigeria. His trip yesterday is one of those trip. Right now, he is believed to be in Iran meeting these foreign sponsors to collect about $5million for the group. Thats why he has been placed under security watch. Lets watch these desperate politicians before they destroy our country after sending their children abroad.