Former President Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital in South Africa with a lung infection. A presidential spokesman said he is in a "serious but stable condition", although he was able to breathe on his own - a "positive sign".

Mr Mandela, 94, has been ill for some days but deteriorated overnight and was transferred to a hospital in Pretoria. He led the fight against apartheid and is regarded as the father of democratic South Africa. He has recently suffered a series of health problems and this is his fifth visit to hospital in two years. In April he was released from hospital after a 10-day stay caused by pneumonia......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/world-mob/item/442-nelson-mandela-admitted-to-hospital-in-serious-condition

Microsoft and the FBI say they have taken down a sophisticated ring of cybercriminals responsible for over $500 million in financial fraud. The software giant said Wednesday that it successfully disrupted more than 1,000 networks of computers infected with "malware."

"This cooperative action is part of a growing proactive effort by both the public and private sector to fight cybercrime," Microsoft said in a statement. The company said the malware affected roughly 5 million people around the globe........http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/tech-mob/item/441-microsoft-and-fbi-take-down-global-cybercrime-ring

I must have overslept through the so called "democracy day celebrations", or shall I say "the democracy day imbroglio" –only to wake up confused and perplexed in the typical fashion of our leaders, with a lingering hangover.

During this deep sleep however, I found myself in the "birthplace of democracy" -Greece, then I zoomed to the place it was nurtured –USA, and then I was quickly teleported back to Nigeria. Here, I witnessed the caricature version of Democracy, and I wondered whether this version was fit to still be called democracy. For instance, it was alarming to see that the fourteen-year-old child called democracy, who was born from military dictatorship in 1999, was still perambulating in diapers and was still learning to walk instead of strutting and running like a like a teenager.

Anyway, it was his birthday so we overlooked the quagmire and took part in the celebration. In fact, a public holiday was declared in the usual Nigerian manner –adding to the number of idle days that are inimical his economic growth.In the first place, our annual Independence Day celebration is sufficient to encapsulate any sort of democracy or national celebration we deem fit. But currently as things stand, the Government annually declares at least three full public Holidays in celebration of our centenary as a nation. Public holidays are as affordable as garri in Ijebu market; when a notable personality dies, a public holiday is announced; when a trophy is won, public holiday; when the president or a governor feels happy a public holiday is declared.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/438-democracy-day-hangover-by-bizum-yadok

I never had the intention of developing a discourse on this topic but it has become of utmost necessity and urgent importance given the manifestation of heart irking happenings in our society nowadays.

I wouldn't, have thought of writing this piece if Nigeria is perfectly sailing smoothly in the ocean of peace and harmony towards a bleak-free future. In fact, it would be a misplaced priority and utterly pointless to begin to think of craving the indulgence of Nigerians to bury their differences and work as a people with a common destiny if Nigeria is ranked a peaceful and secured haven......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/437-nigeria-in-dire-need-of-peace-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

Wednesday 5th June 2013 - About two years ago, as a government, we were driven by a collective drive of consolidating the gains of Redemption phase I in our first tenure (2007-2011), which was anchored on the vision of 'building a new Plateau in the plan of God; a people working together; responding positively to the developmental challenges of building a new era of progress'.The implementation blueprint of the Redemption Phase II in this second term was premised in the Ten Point Agenda that rests on the Three Pillar Policy of Human Capital Development, Infrastructure and Financing Options........http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/436-5th-june-2013-da-jonah-jang-s-address-at-the-redemption-phase-ii-mid-term-review-retreat-in-jos

Chelsea have appointed Jose Mourinho as their manager for the second time, two days after he left Real Madrid.The Portuguese has signed a four-year contract and returns to the club he led to two Premier League titles, and FA Cup and two League Cups between 2004 and 2007. Although he was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich, Mourinho remains a hugely popular figure at Stamford Bridge. His return will be greeted with delight by Chelsea fans, who protested bitterly against his predecessor Rafa Benitez.................http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/sports-mob/item/432-chelsea-re-appoints-jose-mourinho-as-manager

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has restated his resolve along with his colleagues to work and strengthen the bond of service in the Forum.

Governor Jang maintained that the NGF is a family in which there is no issue that cannot be resolved or settled among them, as family members.

He stressed that the modalities for this reconciliation are being implemented with the result of which more Governors are making solidarity calls to him and pledging their cooperation. He appreciated his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him and urge the forum to be driven by the collective desire to build a strong and prosperous Nigeria.

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/431-press-release-jang-restates-resolves-to-work-with-colleagues

Plateau State Police Command has recovered a consignment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) materials and dragged the landlord in whose house it was found as well as one other person before the Federal High Court for criminal conspiracy and act to wit terrorism........http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/430-police-discover-explosives-drag-landlord-tenant-to-court-nigerian-tribune

A fraudster who impersonated a former Plateau State Governor, Fidelis Tapgun and allegedly duped a serving senator of N5 million has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement, Vincent Bulus Venman a.k.a Fidelis Tapgun was apprehended at a First Bank of Nigeria Plc branch in Jos, Plateau State while attempting to withdraw the sum of N2 million sent to him as a bait by the serving senator whom he had earlier defrauded of N5 million by claiming to be Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun.

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/429-efcc-arrests-impersonator-of-former-plateau-state-governor

It is no coincidence to assert without mincing words that Nigeria is a nation-state in dire need of political stability, progress and emancipation. But how can the aforementioned be achieved in a country that harbors over 80% tolerance for political and civil unrest?......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/428-nigerian-governors-and-political-instability-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

In conformity with the "Great Commission", which mandates believers to take the Gospel to the four corners of the earth, the Church of Christ in Nations -COCIN (Formerly Church of Christ in Nigeria) has commissioned and sent one of its pastors, Rev. Kefas Amos Tang'an to the UK to explore the feasibility of starting-up churches in England and Scotland.

In an address at the 3rd congress meeting of the Plateau State Association (PSA), UK held in Acton, West London, Rev. Kefas Tang'an stated that COCIN has identified the need to return the Gospel back to its source (England, Scotland etc), given that people from these countries, who are the original forebearers of the Gospel and who lovingly brought it to us have abandoned its teachings and imbibed secularism as their way of life.

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/lifestyle-mob/item/424-cocin-sends-pastor-to-the-uk-to-set-up-new-church

I am not oblivious of the fact that the topic of my discourse is capable of provoking mixed feelings among Nigerians and global citizens. Nonetheless, I have deliberately written this discourse to join other progressives in clearing the air and settling the dust that had been raised by some Nigerians from Northern extraction calling on Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the incumbent president of Nigeria to quit and vacate the presidential seat by 2015 for a Northerner to mount the saddle.................http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/423-dr-jonathan-is-free-to-contest-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state has blamed the security conditions of the country on failure of the nation's legal system. He was speaking at the swearing in of three high court judges. Messrs Arum Ashom, Ishaku Kunda and Samson Gang were sworn in at the main conference hall of Government house Jos.............http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/422-jang-links-insecurity-to-weakness-on-judicial-process

London - A soldier of the Royal British Army has been murdered in an alleged terrorist attack in Woolich, South East- London just outside the army barracks. One of the alleged terrorists has been confirmed as a British man of Nigerian origin, named Mujahid Adeboloja.

ViewPointNigeria learns that at 2pm this afternoon, the two suspects were said to have rammed their car into the soldier who was walking on the pavement, knocking him down and then subsequently using matchetes to maim him in a barbaric attack that has shocked the UK.

In a video shown on ITV, the man of Nigerian decent was seen making threats and saying that unless the British Army left their lands the acts of terrorism would continue. He was further quoted as saying an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/420-another-nigerian-man-involved-in-a-shocking-terrorist-attack-in-the-uk

Nigeria with a population of 160million people, out of which 73 million were registered to vote as at the last general elections in 2011, also has a very vibrant social media community: with an estimated 43 million said to be online, Facebook has 4.3million, Twitter where they are the 3rd most active African nation on the network, with nothing less than 700, 000 users, 2.4 million Blackberry users logged into its Blackberry Messenger network, and very high numbers in the millions for other social networks such as 2go and Eskimi. This is not to mention the thousands of individual blogs and sites that aggregate articles by Nigerians......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/418-dear-social-media-user-the-nigerian-politician-doesn%E2%80%99t-care-about-you-by-mark-amaza

The president of the federal republic of Nigeria Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who became apparently concern and worried over the unending spate of violent and deadly insurgencies in North eastern Nigeria being perpetrated by Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday the 14th of May 2013 in a nation-wide broadcast declared a state of emergency in three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in a bid to further curtail gross insecurity in those states.......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/417-state-of-emergency-and-opposition-parties-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

The story of Mohammed Umar, a 13-month old boy, the second of three children, was admitted for two days at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Sandamu in Katsina State, Nigeria is not uncommon. He looked pale, eyeballs paper-white while his skin, with papular rashes running the length and breadth of his body, did not look as fresh as a child's should be. He had been running temperature, his lips chapped and he was restless throughout. His eyes were bloodshot red, swollen from an opportunistic bacterial infection. His parents, visibly worried, hovered over him restlessly. His mother, Zainabu Umar from Kwadagai village, held him tight to her bosom breastfeeding him openly, a rare sight in a typically Muslim-dominated environment. She is a full time housewife who makes some local snacks, groundnut cakes, to complement her cattle-rearer of a husband.......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/lifestyle-mob/item/416-a-measles-polio-mix-of-evil-spirits-and-failed-charms

Despite Monday's suspension of the three months strike embarked upon by workers of tertiary institutions in Plateau State, the leadership of the union of Plateau State Polytechnic lecturers has stated that its members may not shelf the strike until the national industrial action was fully called off.

To read more:

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/409-plateau-state-union-to-continue-strike-action-despite-calls-to-end-it

The fragile peace in Southern Kaduna State has once again been interrupted with an overnight attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen. Reports reaching us indicates that soldiers stationed around Kagoro township were engaged in fierce gun battle with suspect Fulani herdsmen last night following series of attempts by the marauders to access the area.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/408-southern-kaduna-another-attack-by-suspected-fulani-herdsmen

It is crystal clear that political power whether at the local, national, or international level is inestimably juicy. It is equally true in all ramifications that before one could clinch victory to occupy Nigeria's apex position, to benefit its juicy nature; such a person must pass through fiery moments and daunting challenges. As the saying goes "nothing good comes easy. Even gold passes through fire, for it is to be refined and admired."......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/406-2015-presidency-between-north-and-south-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

Jos North - The Hausa Fulani community living around "Kwanan Shagari" in Jos North Local Government area of Plateau State have come out to vehemently rebuff insinuations, that they were habouring foreign assassins who were saddled with the responsibility of killing the honourable member representing the Jos South/Jos East federal constituency, Hon. Bitrus Kaze.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/404-hausa-fulani-community-in-jos-north-we-are-not-harbouring-assassins

One of the major ills militating against the growth and development of Nigeria is the injection of religious sentiment into politics. It remains an uncontestable fact that religious bigots in Nigeria have over the years used religion as a tool to shape and direct how politics ought to be played in the country. A situation where political aspirants and religious leaders mobilize their followers to cast aspersions on opponents because of differences in faith, is not only absurd and outrageous but a gross and flagrant abuse of our belief system.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/403-religion-politics-and-under-development-by-dapar-satmak-alexander

Chika Chukuwumerijie, a one time Olympic bronze medallist in taekwondo was in Jos to train over 100 kids with the aim of making the game popular. His Chika Chukwumerijie Sports Foundation (CCSF) was set up to train young people across the country and was in Jos for the second exercise after the maiden launch in Abuja last month......read more http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/sports-mob/item/401-100-kids-in-jos-get-taekwondo-training

Whenever the time for elections and political campaigns come around in Nigeria, there are broadly two demographics that politicians and political parties try to win over in exchange for votes: those who are won over by the policy proposals of politicians, their characters and records; and those for whom the most important things are the ethnic, religious or regional backgrounds or their combination of the political candidates.

The first demographic, mostly the educated, exposed middle class, is unfortunately, not taken with all seriousness because their numbers are not large enough to solely win a politician an office. Most Nigerians and Nigerian voters are still beholden to their ethnic, religious and regional sentiments before being nationalistic.....continue reading on http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/opinion-mob/item/398-mark-amaza-keeping-nigeria%E2%80%99s-new-power-bloc-happy

The relative peace being enjoyed in Plateau state suffered unfortunate setback at the weekend with beheading of a berom native in Gyel area of Jos South Local government area.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/397-berom-man-beheaded-in-jos

The relative peace being enjoyed in Plateau state suffered unfortunate setback at the weekend with beheading of a berom native in Gyel area of Jos South Local government area.

To read more: http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/397-berom-man-beheaded-in-jos

The Nigerian government has summoned the management of Elbit Systems, an Israeli security firm contracted to spy on Nigerian Internet users, for a meeting to explain why the contract should not be revoked after it allegedly breached a confidential agreement in the contract.......http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/tech-mob/item/390-the-president-is-angry-jonathan-%E2%80%98summons-israeli-firm%E2%80%99-over-internet-contract-expose-ynaija

Rising from a two days peace building conference in the heart of Jos city, the participants of the conference have lamented the segregation of markets within the Jos and Bukuru metropolis as unhealthy for genuine peace and reconciliation. The gave the examples where the Rukuba road satelite market was used and patronised exclusively by Christians and the filin ball market by their Muslims counterparts as totally unacceptable. To read more, go to the link below:

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/394-conference-participants-oppose-separate-markets-for-christians-and-muslims-in-jos

Reports reaching ViewPointNigeria suggests that unknown gunmen may have struck again in the restive Southern Kaduna region, killing one of the villagers. To read more, follow the link below:

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/393-gunmen-attack-zangon-kataf-area-of-kaduna-state

In the whole of Africa, one country stands out as the most religious, surprisingly however, the same nation is also known to be the most corrupt.

To this extend, we are still searching for theories which can juxtapose these two facts and probably establish a strong correlation between the two. Corruption has bred violence, vandalism electoral malpractice, robbery, moral decadence and many others vices you can possibly thing of. In the midst of all these, Government (the three tiers) is seen to be entangled in a very romantic relationship with religion. In other words, religion takes a centre stage in almost every decision or policy the government intends to make. To read more go to the link below:

http://www.viewpointnigeria.com/politics-mob/item/389-the-imperative-of-separating-religion-from-governance-by-bizum-yadok