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10 Bizarre Things that Happen While You Sleep | Healthy Living
10 Bizarre Things that Happen While You SleepBy Jane BianchiSleep-such a peaceful word, isn't it? It evokes images of closed eyes, slow breathing,dreamsand relaxation. But while you're dozing, your body's systems are doing lots of crazy things that will blow your mind. Don't worry: They're all normal. Still, you may never think of hitting the hay the same way after reading this.Photo by Getty Images.1.Your body temperature drops.Just before you fall asleep, your core body temperature begins to decrease, says Michael Breus, PhD, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist in Scottsdale, AZ, and author of The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep. This drop signals to your brain to release melatonin, which affects your circadian rhythm (or sleep/wake cycle) and tells your body it's time for bed. Your temperature is lowest around 2:30 A.M., so if you're able to, program your thermostat to rise one degree at that time for an hour or two. Otherwise, you may find yourself stealing your spouse's covers for extra warmth.
Related:20 Simple Ways To Burn More Fat2.You lose weight.One reason you should always step on a scale in the morning, not in the evening: You lose water through perspiring and breathing out humid air during the night, according to Dr. Breus. This happens during the day too, but eating and drinking while you're awake negates any weight loss. If you're sleeping just four or five hours per night, you could be canceling out whatever smart diet and exercise choices you're making during the day. To whittle your waistline, get at least seven hours of sleep per night.
3.You get taller.You won't exactly wake up feeling like the Jolly Green Giant, but you do gain height while you sleep."The discs in your spine that act as cushions between the bones rehydrate and get bigger because the weight of your body isn't pressing down on them, like it is when you're standing,"says Dr. Breus."If you have a firm mattress, sleeping on your side in the fetal position may be best for getting taller because it decreases the load on your back."
Related:6 Foods That Cure Stomach Aches4. Your blood pressure and heart rate decrease.When you're resting, your body doesn't need to work as hard or pump as much blood, so these systems slow down. Blood pressure needs to dip at night so your cardiac muscle and circulatory system have time to relax and repair, says Dr. Breus. It's especially important for people with high blood pressure to get at least seven hours of sleep to experience that temporary drop-it reduces the risk forheart disease.And if you have sleep apnea, get treatment right away because that condition can increase nighttime blood pressure, says Dr. Breus.
5. Your muscles are temporarily paralyzed.Sounds scary, but it's actually what keeps you from acting out your dreams, says Lisa Shives, MD, an internist and sleep medicine specialist in Evanston, IL, and the medical expert for SleepBetter.org. Comedian Mike Birbiglia, the writer and star of the film Sleepwalk With Me, has a rare condition called REM Behavior Disorder. In his performances, he shares how dangerous it can be to do whatever weird thing is going on in your head in the middle of the night. So this is one type of paralysis you want.6. Your eyes twitch.During REM (aka rapid eye movement) sleep, your eyes dart from side to side, not that scientists know why exactly. Dreams occur during REM sleep, so it can be disconcerting to wake up during this deep-not light-sleep stage. You might feel most refreshed if you wake up right after you cycle through all the sleep stages, with REM occurring toward the end. Though it varies from person to person, one sleep cycle usually lasts 90 minutes, so try sleeping in intervals of 90 minutes. For example, you may find it easier to awaken after sleeping for 7.5 hours (five cycles) than after 8 hours (5⅓ cycles).
Related:8 Surprising Foods To Eat For Gorgeous Skin7. You get sexually aroused.Just as men get erections during REM sleep, women become sexually stimulated then, too. And no, it's not tied to whether you're having that Brad Pitt dream again. Your brain is more active during REM sleep (since you're dreaming), so it requires more oxygen-as a result, blood flow all over the body increases."There is natural clitoral engorgement because blood rushes to that area and causes swelling,"says Dr. Shives. Does that make you more likely to orgasm if you engage in middle-of-the-night nooky? Scientists aren't sure, but go ahead and experiment!
8. You're more likely to have gas.You won't be happy to hear this, but during the night, your anal sphincter muscles loosen slightly, making it easier to let out a toot or two. Luckily, your sense of smell (and your spouse's) are reduced while you sleep-that's why fire alarms were invented, because it's hard to smell smoke while you're snoozing. So even if you experience flatulence, rest assured: Nobody is likely to notice.
9. You may have a full-body spasm."As people fall asleep, many of them experience a full-body jerk, and it's totally normal,"says Dr. Shives. As many as 70% of people experience this phenomenon in which muscles suddenly contract (the technical name for it is"hypnic jerk". Some experts think that these spasms may have to do with anxiety and/or an irregular sleep schedule, while others think they're unavoidable. So if you like to snuggle with your spouse as you wind down in bed, be sure to pry yourselves apart before you're both out cold, or else you may accidentally shake each other awake.
10. Collagen production in your skin increases.Collagen is a protein that strengthens blood vessels and gives skin its elasticity. When you're asleep, you're in a fasting state, so growth hormone is released to tell your fat cells to release energy stores-as it turns out, growth hormone also stimulates collagen growth."Since collagen production spikes while you sleep, moisturizing facial creams that contain retinols and retinoids are best to use before bed because these products boost collagen turnover, combat pigment problems and fight fine lines and wrinkles,"says Melanie Palm, MD, a dermatologist in Solana Beach, CA, an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, and a staff physician at Scripps Encinitas Memorial Hospital.
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She was a “shy” girl from Buckinghamshire but the name Samantha Lewthwaite is once again being linked to a global atrocity.
The media have linked her to the Kenyan shopping centre attack.
Speculation has been fuelled by the Kenyan foreign minister who said one of the militants from the Somali-based al-Shabab group was a British woman.
And suspicion was heightened when international crime agency Interpol issued a wanted persons notice for her arrest.
But the warrant – requested by the Kenyans – relates to separate terror charges dating from 2011 and is not linked to the Nairobi siege.
There has been no confirmation of Ms. Lewthwaite’s involvement, either as an attacker, organiser or fundraiser. Al-Shabab has denied that any women were involved.
Whitehall officials continue to advise caution about reports linking her to the attack, says the BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner.
A photo from a fake South African passport alleged to belong to Samantha Lewthwaite under an assumed name.
Her notoriety though, confirmed by the Interpol warrant, is not in doubt.
Ms. Lewthwaite, 29, was first thrust into the spotlight after the July 7 bombings in London in 2005, as the widow of bomber Germaine Lindsay, who killed 26 people when he blew up a Piccadilly Line Tube train near King’s Cross.
A Muslim convert dubbed the “White Widow” by much of the media, she has no terrorism record in the UK but was on the run from Kenyan Police before the Westgate attack, allegedly using a South Africa passport over suspected links to a terrorist cell that planned to bomb the country’s coast
Interpol’s red notice is a recognition that she is now considered an international threat, not just someone who should be regarded as a passport fraudster, says BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani.
The notice says Ms. Lewthwaite is “wanted by Kenya on charges of being in possession of explosives and conspiracy to commit a felony dating back to December 2011.”
After the July 7 attacks, Ms. Lewthwaite condemned her husband’s actions as “abhorrent”, saying trips to radical mosques had “poisoned his mind.”
“How these people could have turned him and poisoned his mind is dreadful,” she toldThe Sun. “He was an innocent, naive and simple man. I suppose he must have been an ideal candidate,” she said.
But not long after the attack she disappeared.
She was known to be in Kenya and, last year, officials said she had fled to Somalia and the police were hunting a woman who used several identities, including hers.
Lewthwaite attended the Grange School in Aylesbury.
She spent much of her life in the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury, although her very early years were spent in Northern Ireland.
Born to English soldier Andy Lewthwaite – who met and married Christine Allen while serving in Northern Ireland during the 1970s – she spent her childhood on the Whyte Acres estate in Banbridge, County Down.
Ms Lewthwaite was still at primary school when her family moved to Aylesbury, where they lived in a modest terraced house. Her parents separated in 1995.
Raj Khan, an Aylesbury councillor who has known her for decades, told the BBC she was an average girl.
Samantha Lewthwaite married July 7 bomber Germaine Lindsay in 2002
“I knew her when she was a child,” he said. “She was very innocent, lacking confidence, shy and very easy to get on with. She was a follower not a leader.”
It is understood she has had little contact with relatives in Northern Ireland, including her 85-year-old grandmother Elizabeth Allen, since her conversion to Islam.
- Culled from www.bbc.co.uk

Strike: ASUU is lying, says FG on September 29, 2013 at 12:45 am in News
By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & CALEB AYANSINA
The Federal Government has accused the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) of being economical with the truth on lecturers prolonged industrial action in the universities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Com. Jude Imagwe, stated that the claim by the union that its action was to restore infrastructural decay in universities was nothing but a lie, noting that ASUU was fighting for allowances.
Imagwe was speaking in Abuja when he received some youth groups, who were on a visit to his office.
His words: “They initially told us that it was about infrastructure, but it is about allowances. N30b has been released for the payment of their accumulated allowances, and N100b earmarked for infrastructural development. It is important for the public to know that government did not say this is all that it will give, but government says go and start the payment with this amount and let us know the amount it will add”.
Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, will tomorrow join ASUU on strike as the union said it has mobilized its members across the country to embark on industrial action over alleged stoppage of their salaries for two months.
SSANU, in a letter, dated 27 September, 2013, and addressed to its branch chairmen in all the universities in the country, directed its members to stay away from work from tomorrow until the salaries are fully paid.
The President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, said the strike will be total, while the General Secretary, who signed the letter directing members to stay at home from tomorrow, Comrade Promise Adewusi, said no member should go back to work until a counter directive was given.
Adewusi stated that the union took the decision following its letters to the vice-chancellors in universities, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and Education, Nyesom Wike, as well as the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.
In the meantime, the suspended strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is to resume on Friday.
The union alleged insincerity and failure of the Federal Government to honour agreement entered with the union.
The union also passed a vote of no confidence on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), alleging that the board has failed to meet the needs and demands of polytechnic education in the country.

Truck crushes 12 in Ogun
September 27, 2013by Segun Olatunji, Samson Folarin and Olatunji Obasa
Scene of the incident
No fewer than six people were feared dead, while six others were critically injured after a tipper driver rammed into roadside traders at old Ota Toll Gate in Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the accident, which happened around 11am on Thursday, was caused by brake failure.
Eyewitnesses said the sand-filled tipper marked STOCKINGER STEYR and with number plate JJJ 551 XB, ran into the traders who were selling pepper, oil and bread among others.
An eyewitness said, “The incident happened around 11am. The tipper was coming from Lagos when it had a brake failure.
“As the driver struggled with the vehicle, the vehicle veered off the road and rammed into the traders.
“It was not a beautiful sight; the tipper was climbing over the women, men and children selling bread, pepper and other wares by the roadside. Those buying too were not spared.”
He said the driver of the vehicle immediately fled to avoid mob attack.
Our correspondent observed that the area was covered with blood stains, and smashed wares.
As tears flowed, the residents of the area and other sympathizers started making frantic efforts to take some of the victims to hospitals.
The police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance Enforcement Corps later arrived at the scene.
The FRSC Ota unit Commander, Mr. Sunday Omafu, said two people died in the incident, while seven others were critically injured.
He said one of the dead was an official of NUPENG, while the second victim was a woman buying pepper for a naming ceremony.
He said, “These two people have been identified by their relatives and taken to the Ifo General Hospital mortuary. The rest who are in critical condition have been taken to the Sango General Hospital for treatment.”
He said that the tragedy was caused by disobedience to the state’s traffic rules, adding that the corps would continue to organise sensitisation programmes for members of the public.
He said, “We have always advised that they should not be selling at the toll gate because it is dangerous. We have been driving awayokadariders from the road, but they keep returning because they think you don’t want them to make money. We hope to increase our enlightenment programme because this period of the year can be challenging.”
Omafu added that the tipper had been towed to the premises of the Ota Area Command of the Nigeria Police.
The spokesman for the state police command, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, however, said three people died, while four were injured.

Continued Secrecy On Jumbo Payon September 26, 2013 at 4:01 am in Editorial
FOR the umpteenth time, the nation was again, told that Nigeria holds the dismal record of having the highest paid legislators globally.
Had this report not emanated fromThe Economistof London Magazine, it would have been dismissed as a none issue since the matter has been in the public domain and Nigerians seemed helpless about the situation.
The report said that federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.
Quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) andThe Economistof London, the study looked at the law makers’ basic salary as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product per person across countries of the world.
It further suggested that the lowest paid legislator in Nigeria earns N30.6 million ($189.5,000) per annum which was put at 116 times the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, per person. As a ratio to GDP per person, Kenya was second with 76 times, Ghana 30 times and Indonesia 18 times.
While the report did not add anything new to the debate on the take home of our lawmakers, it however, reactivated public consciousness about the issue.
The actual take home of the federal legislators has continued to remain in the dark, for reasons best known to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC).
However, the RMAFC report of 2007, said the subsisting approved packages for National Assembly (NASS) members include accommodation: (Senator N4m, Rep N3.97m), vehicle loan (Senator N8m, Rep N6.948m), furniture (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m) and severance gratuity (Senator N6m, Rep N5.956m), which are due once in four years.
Other allowances, payable annually, are car maintenance (Senator N1.52m, Rep N595,563), constituency (Senator N5m, Rep N1.687m), domestic staff (Senator N1.5m, Rep N1.488m), personal assistant (Senator N506,600; Rep N496,303), entertainment (Senator N202,640, Rep N198,521), recess (Senator N202,640; Rep N198,521), utilities (Senator N607,920; Rep N397,042), newspaper/periodicals (Senator N303,960; Rep N297,781), house maintenance (Senator N101,320; Rep N99,260) and wardrobe (Senator N405,280; Rep N397,4020).
The Senate and the House of Representatives, through their spokesmen, have alleged mischief in the report, saying it was a figment of imagination of the authors.
Civil society activists have denounced the legislators, saying they could bankrupt the economy, a sentiment that Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, once voiced.
Against this backdrop, we call on the RMAFC to make public the actual take home of our law makers. There is need for adjustment of the wages of the legislators to reflect the pay structure in a country where the minimum wage is N18,000
The Nigerian public also has the right to know the actual earnings of those elected to represent them in the legislature.
We frown on any act of impunity whereby legislators, simply because they are in charge of the public purse, help themselves to jumbo packages without resort to constitutional checks and balances.

“I Don’t Care How She Feels” – Says 12-Year-Old Boy Who defiled 6-Year-Old Girl Twice
Posted by: Deoluon September 25, 2013
A young boy who defiled a 6-year-old girl twice has been spared any charges and has walked free from court.
The 12-year-old boy, who showed no remorse for the assault, admitted her forced the girl to carry out a s*x act on two occasion.
When asked what he felt about the impact of his crimes on his victim he reportedly replies ‘I don’t care how she feels.’
It was also reported that the boy, who lives on the Suffolk and Norfolk border, was given a 12 month referral order and a 12 month restraining order banning him from contacting the victim or her family.
He was also ordered to pay £300 in compensation to the girl, having admitted two counts of r*pe at an earlier hearing.
The court heard that the boy’s parents took him to a police station when they heard about the s*x attack allegations where he admitted what he had done straight away.

Oritsejafor: Respond to El-Rufai’s accusations, Eyieyien urges Christianson September 24, 2013 at 1:36 am in News
By Sam Eyoboka
A senatorial aspirant for Edo Central, Mr. Egheomhanre Eyieyien, yesterday, urged Christians to respond to recent outbursts of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, concerning President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.
In a statement, yesterday, Eyieyien said El-Rufai remains the National General Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, and some people listen to him.
He said: “CAN cannot and should not ignore El Rufai’s outbursts because lies have a way of being perceived as truth when often repeated. El-Rufai has taken up a crusade against CAN President, Pastor Oritsejafor and has said several damaging things.
“He claims he knows the person that bought the jet which members of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Delta State, contributed money to buy as a gift for Pastor Oritsejafor to celebrate his birthday and his 40th year in ministry.”
He said that the umbrella body of Christians in the country should challenged El-Rufai to disclose who he says actually provided the funds.
He said: “How can such an issue be ignored by CAN, when it calls to question the integrity of the official leader of Christians in Nigeria?
“How can El-Rufai say that the President of CAN is the ‘propaganda spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party’ and some people cannot see the agenda at play? Is the CAN President a politician? Is he a member of any political party?”

Haters go dispute the fact now,where is insincere nigeria

Nice write up

As for me it is women, they are serpent

I felt like crying,what a hard touching fact

The crisis over who flies the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State has taken a new twist.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has voided the candidacy of Mr. Tony Nwoye who emerged winner of the August 14 primary election conducted by the Ken Emeakayi- led faction of the Anambra PDP.
The suit was filed by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP for the Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/296/2013 on August 28. Ukachukwu, through his lead counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa SAN, had sought the leave of the court to void Nwoye's candidature as declared by the PDP and accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In judgment delivered by Jusice S. A Aliyu on Tuesday, the court held that Nwoye was not eligible to participate in the August 24 primary election conducted under the supervision of Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.
The judge declared Ukachukwu the candidate of the PDP for the election on the ground that he was the only qualified aspirant in the said primary election. According to Justice Aliyu, Ukachukwu scored the highest number of votes cast at the election.
He restrained Nwoye from parading himself as the candidate of the PDP for the election. The judge also restrained the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, leadership of the party and the INEC from presenting Nwoye as candidate for the poll.
"It is hereby declared that based on the dictates of paragraph 4(a) of Part IV of the Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections 2010 of the Peoples Democratic Party, the first defendant (Tony Nwoye) was not eligible to participate and or take part in the gubernatorial primary election conducted on the 24th day of August 2013 by the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the selection of its candidate for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to hold on November 16, 2013 or another date.
"An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the 4th defendant (INEC) to recognise, screen the plaintiff (Ukachukwu), publish and put his name on the ballot paper as the authentic candidate of the 2nd defendant (PDP) for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled to take place on November 16, 2013 or any other date," Justice Aliyu ruled.

ASUU Strike: NANS Passes Vote Of No Confidence On Jonathan’s Administration
Posted by: danielon September 17, 2013
The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) on Monday passed a vote of no confidence in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to elevate the educational sector to international standard.
National President of NANS, Prince Miaphen, in a statement distributed to reporters, said that the Jonathan administration had failed to address the lingering ASUU crisis and by so doing caused major setback to past efforts aimed at revamping the standard of education in the country.
“It worrisome and infuriating that the administration of Goodluck Jonathan has failed to implement the 2009 agreement reached with ASUU. This as a result has caused a great setback in the pursuit of education by Nigerian students.”
The NANS president said the present administration was toeing the path of past governments that paid lip services to education and other sensitive sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He added that President Jonathan’s non-challant attitude had resulted in the current rot in the academic sector.
“NANS therefore pass a vote of no confidence on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the poor pursuit of qualitative education among students in Nigeria,”
The student leader lamented that despite the fact that Mr. Jonathan and the out gone Minister of Education – Prof. Ruqqayatu Rufa’I were both academics, they failed to proffer lasting solutions to the problems confronting the educational system.
The statement said the situation in the education sub-sector has resulted in Nigerian higher institutions producing unemployable graduates.
“As a result of persistence strike each academic calendar, our universities and other high institutions churns out half-baked graduates every year due to incessant strike action, we cannot suffer in silence while individuals responsible for our travails send their own children to choice universities school abroad,” he said.

gbadexy: Obviously the person killed was just a commander in the sect.

don't jump to conclusion

gratiaeo: That is his opinion
Oya speak your own

labour party will fall come nov

Licensed-2-Kill:
I see jonathan offerin dem amnesty in d not too distant future

that cannot happen

Sincere 9gerian: All these unnecessary cries about Soludo must stop. Yes, I was all for Soludo initially but now he is no longer a candidate and we must choose from the existing candidate. Soludo must also share in the blame for his failure at the primary election. No matter how good you are as a person or politician, you have to play the right politics. Where else in the world do you join a political party at the 11th hour and expect to crowned the party's candidate? That can only if you'r a compromise candidate of the power brokers in the party. Unfortunately, Soludo was not this time around. I will once again urge Soludo to remain in APGA or any other political party of his choice and join hands with the leaders of the party to grow the party. That way, he may earn confidence of the leaders of the party, enough to be a serious contender in the subsequent elections.

As for the upcoming election, we must say NO to Ifeanyi Ubah. I've not seen a more fraudulent campaign all my life. Can you imagine, the guy is promising heaven on earth if elected- modern railways, 24/7 power supply, etc. The ignoramus is promising to deliver even in areas state governors have not control over. To make matter worse:
-Ifeanyi Ubah is a chronic illiterate
- Ifeanyi Ubah is loud and lives an extra-vagant lifestyle. If elected, he'll use Anambra wealth to sustain his expensive life style.
- Ifeanyi Ubah's company is in serious debt crisis. Perhaps he hopes to use the state's resources to settle some or all of his debt.
Ifeanyi Ubah can only be summarized in one word- FRAUD.

Andy Uba is another clueless, fraudulent and chronic illiterate who should not be allowed to smell Awka govt house.

The other PDP candidate (Tony Nwoye), has a bad history and antecedent right from his days as a student union leader. But he is a lesser devil when compared to Andy Ubah and Ifeanyi Ubah.

Chris Ngige is a discredited politician. He and his masters manipulated and STOLE the votes of Anambrarians in 2003. In trying to free himself from his masters, he embarked on massive road construction to impress the people. Well, that worked. But for the 3 years he was in charge, the health sector, education and other sectors were ABANDONED. Governance is much more than building roads. He has been in the senate for about 2 years with NOTHING to show. To make matters worse, Ngige supported the recent Fashola's satanic deportation of Nigerians in their fatherland. Well, my verdict is that Ngige is better than Ifeanyi Ubah and Andy Ubah. He may also be possibly better than Tony Nwoye (possibly because Tony Nwoye has not been tested).

Willie Obiano is the only candidate coming from a background of a very SUCCESSFUL and un-blemished career in the private sector (worked at a multinational oil company and Fidelity Bank). He appears a simple and unassuming personality. Those who have something against him during his stints in the private sector should feel free to let us know. But for now, he is my prefered candidate. He is my FIRST CHOICE.

how much are u paid

Guy go get a life

deeptesting: I am yet to see the developed Lagos that is not meant for the poor..

go for eye check up

chukwudi44: Tis one we de stay for Ajegunle hut follow de make mouth

must u stay in lagos by force

They are free to leave lagos

Nigeria media with fake story

Wike should Focus on how to solve ASUU crises instead of him fighting amaechi

Thank God

e
Private jet: El-Rufai dismisses CAN’s threat
September 17, 2013by Temitayo Famutimi
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress, Nasir el-Rufai, says he is not perturbed by the seven-day ultimatum given to him by the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
El-Rufai had, in an interview with a national newspaper (not The PUNCH) described the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, as the “propaganda chief” of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party; adding that he “knows who gave him (Oritsejafor) his private jet.”
But the CAN leadership on Sunday asked el-Rufai to, within seven days, mention the name of the person who bought a private jet for Oritsejafor, threatening that failure to do so will force the association to “open up” on the former minister’s “dirty life.”
However, some of el-Rufai’s Twitter followers have tweeted at him, saying they were worried about the ultimatum.
One of his followers with the name Demola, who tweeted at el-Rufai on Monday asked, “CAN gives @elrufai seven days or what will happen?”
Responding to this, el-Rufai tweeted, “Nothing. And I am waiting for the days to pass.Hehehe.”
Meanwhile, el-Rufai’s statement has pitched some of his social media fans against him. The former minister had posted the full text of the interview on his Facebook page.
Some of his followers on the social network described his diatribe against Oritsejafor as rude and uncalled for. According to many of them, insulting the CAN President, who is also the head of the Christian community in Nigeria, amounts to taking a swipe at the generality of Christians in the country. To this end, some of them dropped angry comments on his Facebook page.
“Look Nasir, withdraw those statements you are making against a man of God! But, if you still insist, then, the anointing upon his life will respond to you drastically. Remember that a man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself. Thank you,” one Okechukwu Chukwuemeka wrote.
Osita Ndidi-Opurum described el-Rufai’s allegations as “rubbish” and one that is capable of causing disaffection between the faithful of the two main religions.
“All this lengthy speech amounts to talking rubbish and insulting Christians and their leader in Nigeria. When can you (el-Rufai) ever be a man? You don’t even have respect for those in authority. I wonder where and how you will feel in 2015 if your preferred presidential candidate does not win the election. May be you will run out of Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, some Nigerians have slammed the CAN leadership and asked it to leave its battle for God to fight. One Emmanuel Chidiogo in a Twitter post asked, “Is CAN trying to fight for God? All the rain of abuses on @elrufai is uncalled for and immature.”
Some Nigerians, while reacting to the ultimatum on various social networking sites, said the ultimatum appeared more like blackmailing el-Rufai. Those who belong to this group wondered why CAN waited for a time when “unguarded statements” were made against its president before threatening to expose the “dirty life” of el-Rufai.
“So, CAN is using it now as blackmail when they should have, indeed, exposed him as genuine Christians without giving him conditions. It shows how biased all of them are,” one Auchman stated on punchng.com.
As if that was not enough, some Nigerians said Oritsejafor made himself susceptible to such attack due to the alleged ostentatious life he lives.
A Facebook user, Augustine Oregie-Okpomeh wrote, “In the first place, what are pastors doing with private jets worth billions of naira in a country where a large percentage of your members can ill afford three-square meals daily? Christ never preached expensive lifestyles and neglect of the poor while He was alive. You (Oritsejafor) called the insults to yourself!”
Arguing in line with Oregie-Okpomeh, a reader on punchng.com, Frank stated, “Inasmuch as I don’t support El-Rufai’s statement concerning Christians, the question is: Is Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor a saint? Where does he have the money to purchase a private jet?
“The so called Pastor Oritsejafor is a disgrace to Christendom in Nigeria. Anyway, he should allow God to fight for Himself; who is he to fight for God? Our Lord Jesus Christ oversees the affairs of Christians and Muslims alike; so, allow God to fight for Himself.”

LMC, Clubs declare state of emergency in leagueon September 17, 2013 at 12:19 am in Sports
A state of emergency have been declared for the remaining seven round of matches in the Glo Premier League starting with the Week 32 matches coming up midweek at various centres. The declaration is the highlight of a 12 points resolution reached at a joint consultative meeting between the League Management Company (LMC) and Club Owners held on Sunday at the Grand Bee hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Signed by all the Clubs present at the meeting, the resolution is part of other intervention measures designed to curb the growing incidencies of intimidation of match officials and crowd encroachment on the field of play.
“State of emergency is hereby declared for the remaining seven round of matches in view of the present spate of disturbances and aggitations going on for sometime in the League”, the communique read.

Love of money, it is the begining of hell

• Braithwaite, Utomi, Falana, Asobie, Others Call For National Renaissance To ‘Save Nigeria’
CITING the decline of the country into what they described as a failed state, a consequence of pervasive corruption in governance, eminent Nigerians, among them academics, leading lawyers and human rights activists have called for national renaissance ahead of 2015, in order to avert a looming catastrophe.
Speakers after speakers at the Inaugural Annual Tunji Braithwaite Birthday Symposium, part of activities to mark the 80th birthday celebration of the legal icon and political thinker held in Lagos Friday, were unanimous that there was urgent need for the people to come together to launch a new national liberation movement to free Nigeria from political and economic thralldom imposed upon the country by its pseudo-capitalist, irresponsible politicians and their neo-imperialist allies.
Firing the first salvo, celebrant, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, in his remarks said that a year ago, on the occasion of public presentation of his book The Jurisprudence of the Living Oracles, encouraged President Goodluck Jonathan to make the most of his unique opportunity, give a good account of himself, for the benefit of the nation that there could be no way out for a sensible and peaceful resolution of the grave issues of corruption and bad governance in this almost failed state other than by a national sovereign conference.
But, unfortunately, said Braithwaite, it would appear that the political elite was not amenable to the idea of a national conference.
Delving into his area of expertise, the legal luminary advised that the “burning issue of a legitimate constitution instead of the military-hatched decree of 1999, imposed on a sovereign people, must be, and I repeat, must be finally dealt with to the satisfaction of a sovereign people.”
Continuing, Braithwaite said: “We have consistently admonished against the on-going manipulative tinkering of the constitution in the pretext of constitution amendment by the National Assembly, largely motivated by its collective membership’s self-interest, which runs parallel to those of the masses.”
Lamenting that corruption reigns supreme in every area of governance, legislative and to a less extent, in the administration of justice (and this condition of the latter is unacceptable by virtue of its sacred duty) in Nigeria.
Braithwaite added: “We have persistently demanded the dethronement of King Corruption before another charade elections are stage-managed. These are minimum national renaissance imperatives that must be accomplished before 2015, if we are to avert the looming catastrophe.
Keynote Speaker and Professor of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Assisi H Asobie said that Nigeria, in its entirety, was beset by the twin challenge of political instability and national insecurity. “Kidnapping of persons, ritual murder, armed robbery, trafficking in human beings (adults and children), even slavery, are on the rise. There is growing threat of ethnic and religious conflicts partisan political disagreements, acts of corruption are interpreted in ethnic or religious terms, and even portend to ignite inter-ethnic, inter-religious war or war between an imaginary north and an imaginary south. Such is the extent to which people’s nerves are frayed by mindless bad governance, in our dear country, that an outbreak of civil war appears imminent every minute,” he said.
Asobie added that Nigeria was already in the throes of a civil war, because in reality, Boko Haram insurgency was a war against the Nigerian state. According to him, the strategy employed was that of guerrilla warfare that could be sustained for a very long time if it was confronted with just violence and nothing else.
The former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) then said that the only foreseeable solution was for the people to come together in a conference to decide how they would want to live in one country.
Presidential candidate in 2011 election and professor of political economy and management expert, Pat Utomi Okedinachi said: “One of my favourite ways to measure the health of an economy is to assess it through the quality of life of the people. Very closely tied to the quality of life of the people is the level of employment or unemployment, because if people are going to live decent, quality of life, they need to have income. One of the problems of using GDP or output to measure the economy is that you can have a situation in a country where some individuals can have an unfair proportion of the output of the country, as was in the case with Brazil, and a few people getting wealthy with very little production where national revenue is mainly extracted as rent or stolen by the way of corruption, as is the case in Nigeria. So the use of GDP as the basis for evaluating economic growth has limited value in terms of issues that are before us.”
He added: “With statistics, you can tell a lot of lies about anything because statistics is the father of lies. But, the most important thing is the quality of life of the people. It is correct to say the Nigerian economy is growing at 7 per cent, but what is the value of the growth when the people cannot feel the impact of the growth? It is growth for those who are profiting from it, who are very few.”
This, he said, therefore meant that there were leakages (corruption) in the system, which ought to be plucked for any meaningful development to take place in the country. Utomi lamented that corruption had thrown the country into so much disequilibrium that in any major statistics like Human Development Index (HDI), Transparency International rating, Global Stability Index, Nigeria featured precariously near the bottom.
“We are a society that has no balance,” he surmised, hence the need for a round table on how to fashion out the right balance.
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, said the ruling class in Nigeria was very selfish and irresponsible and that it was only Nigerian government in the whole world that kept kidnappers in its payroll.
He explained that what was needed in the country was not the “New PDP” but a new liberation movement. He suggested that instead of state governors illegally deporting Nigerians from one state to another, government should pay all unemployed graduate unemployment benefits.
Renowned policy analyst, Galtima Liman advised that the people and policy makers and moulders should go back to the drawing board to decide how Nigerians should pick their leaders.
While agreeing with the call for a sovereign national conference and call for revolution, Liman however, suggested “revolution without violence”, the type the Martin Luther King led in the Civil Rights era America. This, he said, would ensure that country did not fall into the trap of people fuelling the Boko Haram insurgency, which, according to him, was aimed at destabilizing the country.
Other speakers like Professor of International Relations and Jurisprudence at the University of Lagos, Akin Oyebode lamented that one sign that Nigeria was a failing state was the fact that multinationals were relocating from the country because of the rising spate of insecurity, resulting in abductions of their expatriate workers and even indigenous ones for ransom.
Oyebode expressed regrets that “Aso Rock seems to have lost its marbles, incapable of tackling the rising state of insecurity.
Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams decried the lack of political boldness of the political leadership and elite to admit the truth: that Nigeria is in a deplorable situation, adding that this admission would enable them appreciate the enormity of the task before them.
Fatayi-Williams therefore, wondered aloud: “Can we have an Arab Spring in Nigeria? Can we occupy? Are the ordinary Nigerians ready to die to liberate the country from the yoke of a leechin political elite?”

The Nation Newspaper
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