HermajestyQ:
Three things are common to d 3 pix. The statue or whatever are supported with staffs,it most certain the staffs bears thr weights of the statues which I presume to be light.

They are human beings....Once you drop money they will tell you to come and pose with them.

I saw these guys at Trafalgar Sq on Monday afternoon. Still trying to figure out how they did it. Magic or juju?

"The more that you read the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you will go" - Dr Seuss


[b]Reading is an extremely powerful tool but many are yet to realise its potential to literally transform lives. Take a look at world today - great men and women always point to the books they read as part of what helped them to achieve great success.
In Australia a research was carried out on two sets of 8 month old babies. One set was read to regularly while the other set was not. By the time they were ready for preschool, the set that was read to regularly had developed a rich vocabulary than the group that did not engage in any reading.
Therefore it most pertinent that parents and guardians do all in their power to get their children / wards into the habit of reading from an early age.


Creating a love of reading is one way of improving the academic standards in school. Schools should invest in a variety of books for all ages and tastes. There are many organizations worldwide that can assist schools with the provision of suitable books.
Reading aloud develops speaking skills which in turn helps build self confidence.
Helps children gain new ideas
Reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school.
Reading is about acquiring meaning, enjoyment, information and understanding. Teachers, Parents and Guardians should always bear this in mind. Reading is not reading unless what is read is understood.

Read the full article by clicking below:
http://cpandb..co.uk/2015/11/shaping-childs-future-through-reading.html[/b]

[b]Mentoring App Targeting 1 Million African Youths Unveiled

I will start by saying I AM NOT IN ANYWAY a computer guru. All I had was just an idea to mentor young people in far flung and remote places via the internet. This is the result of my very crude attempt to create an app. However I believe the articles and stories as well as our video channel contain enough materials that will inspire and motivate.

If you are an African youth looking for a new and engaging way to get inspired and stay motivated, then you need The Youth Mentor

Available to download for free from the Google Play store for all android devices, The Youth Mentor is already creating a buzz - and rightly so, it’s one of the most original mentoring apps the Google Play store has seen in months.

Most simply, The Youth Mentor is an app that acts as a one stop shop for young people seeking inspiration and motivation. The user has unrestricted access to a variety of resources contained in buttons under various headings such as Success Nuggets, Simply Inspiring, Blogs, Question and Answer, and even its own YouTube channel containing a number of inspirational videos. Users say every time they use the app its like being with a real mentor.
.

The idea behind The Youth Mentor app is Nigerian born author, mentor and Special London Ambassador who was one of the special mentors at the 2012 Olympic Games – Sina Adelaja-Olowoake. He hopes to mentor 1 million African youths via this app keeping them feeling inspired and motivated.

Download free https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TheYouthMentor&hl=en-GB


Connect with us on Social Media!
www.theyouthmentor.org
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theyouthmentor
Twitter – www.twitter.com/TheYouthMentor
[/b][b][/b]

LION OF UBIMA

AMEACHI CONFIRMED

Its Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and not Cambridge University

[b]Nigerian Universities to watch out for in 2016
The Gaskiya.net ranking of Nigerian universities for 2015 limits itself to identifying the 10 best universities in the country. Our assessment and perception survey suggested that many of the over 140 institutions of higher learning were unworthy of any credible listing. Furthermore, the cost of our enquiry was huge and we felt that it would be unprofitable to invest time, energy and other resources evaluating academic institutions which, for all intents and purposes, should be affiliates of older and more established institutions for mentorship and guidance. Many, to put it mildly, should be University Colleges, rather than fully fledged institutions standing on their own! Before we announce our rankings, given the fact that they do not exceed ten, we have elected to first announce those institutions who did not make it into our ranking but with whom our assessors were impressed and thus consider to be worthy of commendation. These universities are:
These universities are:
University of Benin www.uniben.edu.ng
University of Port Harcourt www.uniport.edu.ng
Abia State University www.absu.edu.ng
Covenant University www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Afe Babalola University www.abuad.edu.ng
American University of Nigeria www.aun.edu.ng
Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta www.unaab.edu.ng
Babcock University www.babcock.edu.ng
University of Abuja www.uniabuja.edu.ng
Bowen University www.bowenuniversity.edu.ng

Gaskiya.netranking of Nigeria’s best 10 universities for 2015
The top 10 universities in Nigeria for the year 2015 based on criteria listed in the preceding analysis are:

Check the full rankings at www.gaskiya.net[/b]

Today across the continent especially in primary and secondary schools the quality of teaching and teachers leaves much to be desired. Gone are the days when teachers chose the profession for the love of it. A lot of the teaching staff in schools currently are not trained or qualified to teach. Many only became emergency teachers after many years of unemployment.
Closely related to the issue of poor quality of teaching is the state of infrastructure. I am always shocked to see children studying under roofless classes or under trees in Africa in this day and age. In some cases, even the teachers and the school head sit under trees all day long. We have had many cases of schools lacking basic amenities such as water, toilets, etc. What kind of education are the children receiving?

[b]We know politicians the world over make promises some of which they never plan to fulfil once the elections are over yet we still believe them and vote for them based on these empty promises. In Africa, politicians have identified the magic words that gets the young, the old, the strong, the feeble trooping to campaign grounds and polling stations – free education. From Ghana to Uganda, Nigeria to Zimbabwe, African voters are still being wooed with promises of free education by politicians.
With the 2016 elections fast approaching in Ghana, the ruling party last Friday rolled out its “progressive” free education programme which also includes the construction of new classroom blocks across the country.
Free education in Africa is not a new phenomenon. Many African countries in the period immediately following independence from the colonial masters, embarked on free and in some cases compulsory education programmes to help create a new set of trained administrators to fill the void left by the departing colonialists. During this time, the quality of education from the major providers namely the government, religious bodies and private organizations was at par with what was obtainable in the developed world. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for what passes for free education today.
Today across the continent especially in primary and secondary schools the quality of teaching and teachers leaves much to be desired. Gone are the days when teachers chose the profession for the love of it. A lot of the teaching staff in schools currently are not trained or qualified to teach. Many only became emergency teachers after many years of unemployment.
Closely related to the issue of poor quality of teaching is the state of infrastructure. I am always shocked to see children studying under roofless classes or under trees in Africa in this day and age. In some cases, even the teachers and the school head sit under trees all day long. We have had many cases of schools lacking basic amenities such as water, toilets, etc. What kind of education are the children receiving?

Read more at http://cpandb..co.uk/2015/09/africa-needs-free-and-qualitative.html[/b]

“ There’s no substitute for experience, so children should be given the opportunity to visit new places – and have a few adventures along the way - Mike Abraham"


I have been waiting for a long time to do this article but having just finished working through the summer with a number of youth organizations at various summer camps in the United Kingdom, I felt there was no better time than now as most of summer camps made fantastic use of the outdoors.
Despite the great benefits associated with outdoor education, I am still at a loss as to why it is not yet a popular part of our education curriculum in Nigeria.
Outdoor education includes things like engaging in physical activities, going on excursions, camping, adventure treks to drawing lessons out in the open and going to observe certain insects or animals in relation to the biology lessons. Pupils learn many skills by taking full advantage of the great outdoors – working on their own initiative as well as working as part of a team. The activities they engage in challenge them helping them to find solutions by thinking outside the box.

Click on this link to read the full article. http://cpandb..co.uk/2015/09/a-case-for-outdoor-education-in-nigeria.html

This is the same exam a lot of Embassies are asking for regarding relocation Particularly the Canadian High Commission

safarigirl:
She should be banned. Why tell lies? Does C. Ronaldo resort to lies to skip obligations? It's only in Nigeria such unethical behaviour is condoned and encouraged. Make we go mark attendance, no wahala, abi Blessing been no dey London in 2012? She win medal? She can sit home next year and watch others in Rio. And please, she can't make the US team

I respectfully disagree. It is not only in Nigeria that this happens. I don't know why you people are quick to condemn your country. It happens in England. Alex Ferguson Yes Sir Alex has been accused by the English FA of telling his players to duck national duty. Mourhino of Chelsea has told English players to duck national duty especially where it's a friendly. So why not blame these managers too? Stop jumping the gun.

[b]How Do You Choose A Good School For Your Child?

It's September and the school gates will open to students again. Some of these students will be attending these schools for the first time while others will be returning to a familiar environment. For a number of parents and guardians, the holiday period and even before that had been dedicated to finding “ a good school” for their children.
So how does one go about finding a good school?
There are those who will choose a school based on the national and international examination results. There are others who will choose a school based on the fees it charges believing in the unsubstantiated saying that ” if it’s expensive then it must be good”. Yet there exists another group who will only go by testimonials from parents who already have kids in these schools. Some will however adopt a mix to help them arrive at a decision.
As a parenting skills strategist and youth mentor I believe your child is the most important factor and therefore should be at the centre of your decision making. But first, this will entail that you know your child very well. Then and only then can you start looking at schools that will support him or her in his learning process. Are there any particular needs that may affect learning? If so which school offers the best support ?
If your child is about to go to nursery or preschool, what you want to consider most is the relationship between the teacher and these little children most of whom are leaving their parents for the first time. Is the classroom a loving, caring, environment? Do the children feel safe and secure? Does the teacher demonstrate an understanding of the needs of these little ones? The worst thing that can happen is to get this foundation wrong and throw the child into a harsh learning environment where their self confidence and emotional well being suffer terribly. In really bad cases this has been known to affect some children right up to their teenage years.

Click on this link for more http://cpandb..co.uk/2015/09/how-do-you-choose-good-school-for-your.html
[/b][b][/b]

Opportunities for resale are available. Call the numbers attached.

Next time this is what you should to try and identify the driver. Describe vehicle with details of make colour and model time of accident and direction in which the driver was heading.
Circulate via social media and ask individuals to look out for such vehicle looking out particularly for dents, broken lights and cracks on windscreens. When a car hits a human at anything over 50 kilometres per hour, it usually leaves huge dents on the vehicle. Hopefully we can apprehend the culprit this way.
Just my 2 kobo

Suleiman Baba Ali SBA- The Change That Works.................

5 pages long and yet very little or no comments at all from Naija babes. Hmmm. Are they are like this babe in the story?

[b]P R E S S R E L E A S E


The Youth Mentor – Just What The Youths Need

June 01 2015 - If you are looking for a new and fast way to get inspired and stay motivated, then you need The Youth Mentor

Available to download for free from the Google Play store for all android The Youth Mentor is already creating a buzz - and rightly so, it’s one of the most original mentoring apps the Google Play store has seen in months.

Most simply, The Youth Mentor is an app that acts as a one stop shop for young people seeking inspiration and motivation. The user has unrestricted access to a variety of resources contained in buttons under various headings such as Success Nuggets, Simply Inspiring, Blogs, Question and Answer, and even it’s own YouTube channel containing a number of inspirational videos. Users say every time they use the app it’s like being with a real mentor.
.
Download free from Google Play. Follow this link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TheYouthMentor&hl=en

Connect with us on Social Media!
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theyouthmentor
Twitter – www.twitter.com/TheYouthMentor
[/b]

[b]It’s true that no one is perfect, and this shows itself in the business world as much as it does anywhere else.
While entrepreneurs strive to do their best, mistakes are sometimes unavoidable. However, we small business owners can take some comfort in the fact that we’re not at the helm of a massive corporation where a mistake can cost millions. As you’ll see, even CEOs of some of the world’s biggest corporations get it wrong sometimes.

Bill Gates: Ignore upcoming areas of your business at your peril
There’s no denying that Bill Gates is a visionary, founding Microsoft in 1975 and monopolizing the tech industry for decades. However, one area where he fell short was in ignoring the search engine market. While Microsoft introduced MSN Search in 1998, the site purely used an existing search engine, Inktomi, to gather results. It seems all Gates’ attention was focused on browsers, allowing Google to come along and become everyone’s search engine of choice. In 2009, Microsoft introduced Bing, but it has never measured up to the popularity of Google.
If we can learn anything from Gates’ mistake, it’s that you shouldn’t ignore your competitors or an upcoming area in your field, particularly in the technology sector. Technology is evolving all the time, and it’s in your best interests to keep up, adapt quickly, and stay one step ahead whenever possible.

Ronald Johnson: Know your customers, or face losing them
When Ronald Johnson took the helm of the failing J.C Penney corporation in November 2011, he received a warm welcome. Many were intrigued to see what the former head of retail at Apple would bring to the company.
Unfortunately, a series of bad judgments followed, including firing the company’s long-time ad agency, laying off 10% of its corporate staff and thousands of middle managers, and ridding the stores of sales and discounts. The company saw its revenue drop by 25% in 2012, and Johnson was unceremoniously ousted from his position in April 2013.
While Johnson’s radical changes may have worked elsewhere, in this instance it shows the importance of knowing your audience. Avoid making the same mistakes by carrying out focus groups, speaking with your customer base, and keeping communication open to see how your customers would react to big changes in the way you operate.

Richard Branson: Don’t underestimate your competitors
With over 100 companies under his “Virgin” brand, it’s not surprising that Richard Branson will have had a few failures along the way.
One of his biggest mistakes since starting his business came in 1994, in the form of Virgin Cola. Originally only available in Virgin cinemas and on their planes, the market shares for the drink peaked at only 0.5% in the three years it was on sale in the US, while the UK producers went bust in 2012. While Branson could afford to make such a big mistake, it’s unlikely the majority of businesses could. Branson said, “I’ll never again make the mistake of thinking that all large, dominant companies are sleepy!”
Branson’s mistake demonstrates the importance of never underestimating competitors, and shows that it’s vital to carry out detailed market research before releasing a new product into an already saturated market. However, perhaps the biggest lesson we can take from Branson is that we shouldn’t be afraid to take risks, but we should be aware that they might not pay off![/b]
See more at http://saotheemploymentcoach..co.uk/2015/05/10-ceos-who-made-huge-mistakes.html

YOUR FOOD OR YOUR MONEY: SURVIVAL TIPS FOR STUDENTS

by Carol Akiwumi & Angelica Udueni (www.Money4Youth.com)

Food is both essential and enjoyable, so often we don’t like to compromise our spending on it. A survey by moneysavingexpert.com saw that students prioritised spending on food above all else. However, it need not be expensive. It is entirely possible to have a varied, healthy and delicious diet whilst on a budget. Here are five easy tips to help you get more money-savvy with food:


1. Plan meals in advance

If you schedule your meals on a daily or weekly basis, it will make it easier for you to allocate your money accordingly so save one day a week to do a budgeted big shop. Whilst having spontaneous lunches and coffees with friends is okay once in a while, you should pay attention to outings like these because if they become a habit, they will negatively impact your finances over time. So try to plan your meals so you don’t get tempted to overspend.


2. Make the most of student discounts and loyalty cards

If you do plan to eat out, it’s worth investigating if the restaurant or café you go to offers a student discount. Often you can get 10% off your meal if you show a valid student ID. Also, most supermarkets offer some kind of points based loyalty card scheme, where points can be saved up as you shop and substituted for money off groceries in the future.

3. Invest in a flask

Rather than wasting money on overpriced cold drinks from Stores, why not make your own cold drink and take it out and about with you? You can purchase a 500ml flask from most markets, which is excellent value for money. They often last for years and can hold more liquid than the average coffee cup from high street Cafés.

Read More

http://www.theyouthmentor.org/blog

[b]Jonathan or Buhari—Are these the issues to decide the poll?

In the run up to an election, various issues might dominate the political space but only a few key ones tend to have any significant impact on voters to the extent that they influence how these would vote. Also, those issues which have a potential for influencing voters are often not static and could change severally between when electioneering began and when voting actually took place.

When he won the 1999 election, President Olusegun Obasanjo—who in Mandela’s absence appears to be Africa’s most visible statesman today—was essentially expected by voters to keep the country together, given the tendency of the country’s south-west to break away following the perceived injustice of the annulment of the 1993 election that was won by the late African business mogul and billionaire, MKO Abiola. He was also expected to lay the foundation of what would ultimately keep the military out of politics for good. In a rather unexpected turn of events, Obasanjo appeared to have indeed constrained the military, douse separatist tendencies, and by the time he left office, had also paid off the country’s external debt—which never even featured in any campaign manifesto!

The issues that tended to dominate the political space in the elections that have been held after Obasanjo’s exit often revolved around the poor quality of health care, growing unemployment and significantly embarrassing low power generation (which resulted in the shut down of many factories and contributed to worsening the unemployment situation). In the election that brought the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to power, one more item made up the list drawn up above—Niger Delta militancy as it was then called. That militancy led to reduced oil production that, for a spell, saw Angola overtake Nigeria as Africa’s biggest producer.

With just a few days to go to Nigeria’s re-scheduled Presidential election being contested by incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and very strong contender Muhammadu Buhari, Gaskiya.net can authoritatively report that from its own investigations, analysis of the prevailing situation in that country and interviews with knowledgeable Nigerians and foreigners with good knowledge of the country, it would appear as if those issues that will decide who gains access to Africa’s most fortified State House—the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja—are the ones identified and discussed as follows:

· Security

(a) Threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty—the insurgents who have made life a harrowing hell for many in Nigeria’s north-east invariably re-wrote the manifesto of the two main political parties (the ruling People’s Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress), firmly inserting threats to the nation’s existence into them. By seemingly adding conventional warfare to their doctrine, they played into the hands of the Nigerian military and were decisively routed in several campaigns, after usually and briefly occupying some territories. The initial setbacks of the army gave way to better organised operational assaults against them and the government came back looking good. The resurgent military action assuaged Nigerians who had been terribly aghast at the seeming lack of an appropriate response by the authorities—military and civilian—to the insurgency. It is a plus for President Jonathan who has had to contend with Gen Buhari’s rising electoral profile boosted by the perception by many Nigerians that as a retired army chief, Buhari would better secure the country.[b][/b]

Read More at http://www.gaskiya.net/

Before I post this story, I will advise your people who travel by air to be careful regarding what you eat before boarding a plane. See what one passenger caused now? And he or she will sit down quietly as if no be im do am.
Well God knows this passenger's address O. Ehen
But wait...The poo must be really bad for pilot to turn back O claiming that if he continued it can affect peoples health. Father God hep us.

A British Airways flight to Dubai was forced to return to Heathrow Airport when a “smelly poo in the toilet” became unbearable for passengers.
The pilot announced that the long haul flight had to be aborted, after cabin crew were unable to prevent the pungent odour emanating from an overflowing toilet.
Around 30 minutes in the seven-hour flight, the plane returned to London amid health and safety concerns.
Hertsmere councillor Abhishek Sachdev, who represents Potters Bar Parkfield was on the plane and said it was “insane” that passengers had to wait 15 hours for another flight due to a “smelly poo in the toilet”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/11472627/British-Airways-flight-to-Dubai-forced-to-return-to-Heathrow-due-to-smelly-poo-in-toilet.html

WRONG SPELLING OF MARCH........................It is not MATCH. Young people. See what has happened to our education?

Hi Guys I am back again. My last article on CV's had over 17,000 views on nairaland alone, 20,000 views on my blog SAO The Employment Coach and I was getting close to 30 CV requests a day. Obviously I am only one man doing this to help young people out there so I had to slow down cos I couldn't cope. Also took time out to update and upgrade myself by attending a few courses. Well here is an opportunity to have all those questions you've always had regarding your CV answered. I have also attached copies of really captive one page CV's for fresh graduates. Sometimes it's not what is in the CV it's the way it looks. Spend sometime and be creative with your CV. Take time to visit my website and follow me on twitter @sinatwitt. Wishing you all the best as always.[i]
[/i]
Q: Does a CV always need to be only one page?

A: CV length should not exceed two sides of A4 paper. How much of those two sides you fill depends on how much you have done. Undergraduates and school leavers may be hard pushed to fill two sides of A4 simply because they may not have very much experience, if this is the case one side of A4 will suffice. Conversely candidates who have established a career history will have to be selective as to what they include so that it all fits on, in this case make sensible use of margin and paragraph sizes.

Q: Should the education section always be near the top?

A: If you still are in or have recently completed formal education your academic achievements will form a major part of your qualifications, and it is recommended to place these near the top of your CV. Also some industries, notably communications, value related experience above degree work and therefore, place your academic qualifications further down the page.

Q: Is an objective always necessary?

A: No, it is not crucial, however an employer will be impressed if you have a focused idea of where you want your career to be heading, especially if it is in line with their planned development.

Q: What if I haven’t done very much to fill up my CV?

A: This does not matter, everyone has to start somewhere, if sparse content is a problem use sensible formatting and fonts so that you comfortably fill one side of A4.

Q: Do hobbies and personal interests need to be shown?

A: It is not imperative to show your interests however it can provide an employer with an insight into your personality. This will undoubtedly be covered at interview so the more you can prepare them the better.

See more questions at http://www.sinaolowoake.com/q--a.html

[b]It was precisely on the morning of February 2, 2013. We had landed in the city of Gao on board a Nigerian Air Force aircraft carrying Seyni Garba, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger and many senior officers in the military hierarchy. The plane landed at an airport still bearing the scars of the strikes of recent battles but well secured by the Nigerian Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Roger Gabriel Issa, the Commander of the Nigerian battalion, did not know we were gone Gao to stay a little longer than initially planned, along with his men. (This he only discovered when the plane took off to return to Niamey with the rest of the delegation). But this was only a postponement. When we informed him that we wanted to just do our job as journalists, the officer received us warmly at the location where the Nigerian soldiers had erected their headquarters. His men immediately accepted, housed us and ensured we were secured.

We would be pleasantly surprised when we were allocated a room complete with beds and other facilities to ensure our comfort at their base (a vocational training centre that had been destroyed and vandalised in the fighting). Men and weapons cohabit. One surprise, though, was that we were p[b]ut under close observation by the soldiers, while on our part, we recalled previous warnings ''… to beware of the military, to get away from it as if it is dangerous.” The first hours of observation passed.

As journalists, we watched them with a sense of suspicion and fear, while some of the soldiers, not also understanding who we, civilians dressed in simple shirts, were doing in such a place—a theatre of war. To them, we must have seemed a little odd at first. But the mutual suspicion soon dissipated and mistrust gave way to confidence. We were accepted without eventually, the officers and troops became quite friendly in every way available and were very courteous.

The men of Lieutenant Colonel Roger Gabriel adopted us as their own, and gave us everything we needed during the two weeks we were to spend with them. We ate together and spent hours together in an atmosphere of familiarity. We accepted each other the more with each passing day, so much so that on the day of departure, we parted with remorse, like old friends who came together after a long separation and wanted to spend just a few more days to record many more good memories (to be recalled later). They were particularly fussy about our living conditions and our security. All our trips were done under escort and with much care.
Read more http://www.gaskiya.net/[/b][/b]

“Gaskiya.net will find it difficult to believe in such claims, but given the way issues relating to this election are playing out and in the interest of Nigeria’s peace and stability—which has direct implication for the entire African continent—the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan needs to do a quick re-assessment of the negative reactions trailing the postponement and take urgent and credible steps to re-assure all Nigerians and the international community that there will be no interference in the work of INEC, that Nigeria’s security forces will remain absolutely neutral, and that that a stable environment will be created for the polls.”

[b]Over the weekend, domestic and foreign media reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) had announced the postponement of the country’s general elections that had been scheduled for 14 and 21 February 2015. The sole reason given was insecurity in Nigeria’s north-east, a tacit reference to the insurgency unleashed by the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad ("People Committed to the Prophet's Teachings for Propagation and Jihad" also known as Boko Haram. Reportedly, this insurgent group controls 17 local council areas in that part of Nigeria (out of 774 local council areas in the whole country) and going ahead with the elections would deny citizens in those places of voting in the said elections.
At the Council of State meeting just days before the announcement by INEC, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had called for a postponement. That Council comprises of current and former Heads of State / Presidents of Nigeria, former Chief Justices of the Federation and current State Governors. According to the reportage of its proceedings by most domestic media, only President Goodluck Jonathan and the Service Chiefs (Chief of Defence Staff, heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force) had called for a postponement. Most former Presidents asked that the elections proceed as scheduled, while Governors from the two main parties—PDP and the All Progressive Congress (APC) were naturally divided. Some smaller political parties—who do not control any tier of government in the country—had also been divided on the issue.
It is instructive to note that according to the same reportage, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, had insisted on proceeding with the elections, though he admitted that the situation in the north east was not conducive. He was said to have been contradicted by military chiefs who openly said they could not guarantee security in those areas. Gaskiya.net will return to the assertion of these chief in a moment.
Not a few Nigerians are already getting seriously worried with the way issues relating to these elections are playing out, especially the way its postponement has been arrived at. For a start, they argue that several weeks before, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) had called for a postponement of the elections, in far away London, and the barrage of criticisms that greeted that call resulted in the INEC responding that it was going ahead with the polls as planned. That they would be re-scheduled as Dasuki had called for, according to them, suggests that it was contrived.
On the resistance by Nigeria’s military chiefs to elections being held as planned on grounds of insecurity, such resistance flies in the face of their own very claims that several towns taken by the insurgents had been liberated in on-going joint operations with Chadian forces. What is immediately interesting here too is that these same military chiefs, through the spokesperson at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, had painted a rosy picture of on-going joint operations to rout the insurgents. Critics would wonder therefore if, given the ‘success’ of those operations, the same military could now insist it can not guarantee security in areas it has supposedly ‘liberated.’ In effect, given the role it has played in the postponement of these elections, the neutrality of the leadership of Nigeria’s own security forces will be under critical and intense spotlight within and beyond the country and it becomes necessary. Needless to add that, being the professionals that they are, Nigeria’s military must take steps to quickly re-affirm its neutrality now.

Read the conclusion at www.gaskiya.net[/b]

REALHEROES
Fellow Nigerians, as you can see these soldiers came from all parts of Nigeria, different religions and died serving their fatherland. Out of respect to them, let us refrain from tribal and religious colouring and come together to celebrate Nigeria.
Only we can make Nigeria great again.

God Bless Nigeria

[b]By JOHN MUCHIRI THE NATION


During the requiem service for the late Fidel Castro Odinga at the All Saints Cathedral last week, his younger brother, Raila Odinga Jnr told the congregation that Fidel loved his toys, which included sleek cars and licensed firearms.

This elicited laughter from the congregation but what they didn’t know was the depth of that statement.

With a palatial home in the leafy suburbs of Karen, Fidel had a wide range of vehicles, most of them sports utility vehicles.
If one can afford such a lifestyle, the only other thing to possess would be a firearm to protect yourself and your belongings.
This has become the trend for many young Kenyans Fidel’s age roughly between 30 and 40 years, mostly sons of politicians, successful celebrities and rich businessmen.

What is interesting is the fact that these relatively young heavy spenders have formed a tightly knit network among themselves that transcends tribe and could loosely be described to hinge more on class than anything else.

Most of them only “hang out” with each other on a regular basis, blocking anyone who does not fit in or belong to the same class regardless of tribe or religion. To fit in, you must be from a similar social and economic stratum.

But how heavily do they splurge and where do they spend the money?

Lounges
The answers can be found in high-end clubs in Nairobi and other major urban centres across the country. Other than the Capital Club, which is a members-only club, other venues they frequent regularly include Ebony Lounge, Skyluxx (VIP) Lounge, Mercury Club (ABC Place), Havana Club, Sohos, Vineyard and Cedars Restaurant, among others.

In these clubs, the average cost of a bottle of Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin, Glenfiddich or Johnnie Walker brands like the Black Label, Gold Reserve and the Blue Label is anything between Sh10,000 and Sh30,000.

“An average of three to four bottles would be drunk on a night out,” says one of the club managers, who requested anonymity.
“These people are big spenders, they always reserve tables and they spend heavily. In one evening, they would spend anything between Sh60,000 to Sh150,000, depending on how many they are.”

Other than Fidel, who was not only known as a heavy spender but also a philanthropist, there are others like Jeff Kiboro, Robert Gichuru (son of former Kenya Power managing director), John Muhoho (son of former Kenya Airports Authority chairman George Muhoho), Mabior Garang de Mabior (son of former South Sudan leader John Garang).
Others include James Karanja, popularly known as Jaymo Keroche (son of Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja) and John Malogo, a popular young Nairobi businessman, among others.

According to Amor Thige, the proprietor of Ebony and Skyluxx lounges, this group does not stay in one club during a night out.
“In one sitting only they spend anything between Sh20,000 to Sh40,000. Now you can imagine how much they would spend if they went to four or five different joints in one night,” says Amor.

However, most of these heavy spenders don’t like frequenting clubs where there is the attendant risk of loss of privacy, especially when they want to avoid paparazzi.
They prefer private parties in the leafy suburbs, says Morris Kihang’u, who has previously organised some of these parties.

Private party
“Almost every weekend, there is a private party in Lavington, Kileleshwa, Karen, Gigiri, Westlands and so on,” says Morris. “If the parties don’t happen, an out-of-town road trip to Kajiado, Magadi, Naivasha, Nanyuki or Mombasa, happens.”

He adds: “If they haven’t organised their own events, they target outdoor events like the Rhino Charge, Lewa Marathon or Safari Rally, among others, where they bring out their big toys (read SUVs) as well as women to accompany them and a wide variety of expensive liquor.

“I remember attending one of the recent Lewa Marathons with John Malogo and his very close friends where we spent over Sh300,000 on drinks only in one weekend.”
Malogo, popularly known as Johnny Subru, owns the Subru Motors car yard, located at Lavington Green Centre in Lavington.

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