Showing posts with label Yar'Adua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yar'Adua. Show all posts

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Sunday Cartoons

Fresh troubles may be in the horizon for members of the kitchen cabinet of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua as they are said to be explaining how they disbursed a whopping N70 billion allegedly on behalf of the former Katsina governor as security vote between November 2009 and January 2010. Sources claimed that two former close allies of the ailing leader who failed to make it back to the newly reconstituted cabinet by acting President Goodluck Jonathan, are said to be answering questions over the manner the money was spent and for what purpose... MORE @ SUN NEWS ONLINE


Posers Over Cleric's Visit to Yar'Adua: Thursday’s unexpected visit by four Islamic clerics to ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has sparked fresh anxiety in the polity with questions now being asked about the propriety of allowing the clerics access to the President while same is denied Acting President Goodluck Jonathan... MORE @ VANGUARD


SOURCE: SUN NEWS ONLINE


SOURCE: GUARDIAN


SOURCE: PUNCH

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Hoha! (Pointblank): The Talking Heads Speak Their Minds

“what we want in the post-Yar’Adua presidency is a Northerner, who will keep to the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and in 2015, the people of the South-South will produce the president. We don’t want somebody who will come and before you know it, uses the power of incumbency to destroy the arrangement and plunge this country into a political crisis of an unimaginable magnitude.”

-------Former military junta Ibrahim Babangida's camp on the former dictator's consultation of ex-military junta Olusegun Obasanjo and the schedule to meet Southern leaders in Babangida's quest for the 2011 Presidential election


"Some close friends and associates of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua reportedly sighted him on Tuesday. On Thursday, four Muslim clerics also saw him in the presence of his wife and security aide and they had a prayer session with him. I don't have a problem with this, I grant a benefit of the doubt, assuming the clerics are willing and ready to lay their hands on the Holy Quoran and swear that indeed the man they saw and who sat down and could not utter a word, but was strong enough to raise his hands in prayer was President Umaru Yar'Adua. However, there are questions to be asked. Are these persons who have been given the special privilege of selective sighting of the President more important than other Nigerians? If the President is strong enough and can shake hands, the more dignified approach would have been to put him on national television and have him smile and wave at us. Given the amount of emotion that Nigerians have expended on the matter of his ill-health and invisibility, we would be satisfied to know that he is still alive, first, before other posers are raised. Besides, he is receiving medical treatment and has been on a protracted leave at the taxpayer's expense. Are the privileged ones who have been allowed to see the President more important than his mother who was reportedly prevented from seeing him? Surely, if he is strong enough to receive visitors as they claim, his mother should be more than happy to see him recuperating. Are the privileged visitors who are now advertising their access to the unseen President Yar'Adua as if it were a status symbol, also more important than Acting President Jonathan who now calls the shots in the Presidency but who has not been allowed to exercise control over the Presidential Villa by President Yar'Adua's very powerful handlers?"

-------Reuben Abati of President Umaru Yar'Adua marginalizing the country and the recent sensationalism on claims of muslim clerics paying homage to Yar'Adua in his Sunday column of the Guardian Newspapers.


"The present confusion in Jos and the Niger Delta are manifestations of the border game; because there are places where indigenes are the poorest in the country, in lands which are amongst the most fertile or resourceful, and therefore attract the poor from everywhere else. It sets up the poor indigene against the poor non-indigene, each side patronised by the rich indigene and the rich non-indigene. Neither side is wrong because one side says, we want our customary rights, the right of the citizens; the other side says, we want our citizens’ democratic rights, we are Nigerians, we have the right to stay anywhere in Nigeria. Both sides are right. The problem is, we have decided to play the game by two sets of rules which contradict one another, one which is the right of the indigenes and the other the rights of the Nigerian citizen. You can’t have both. I always tell those who say the problem is leadership that the problem is bigger. Any leadership you put in charge will not be able to play the game by both rules. You have to change the rules. It’s a larger problem. Societies usually get an opportunity to change the rules after a big crisis. The Americans changed the rules after the civil war."

-------Columbia University Professor, Mahmood Mamdani in an interview with The News on Odia Ofeimun's 60th birthday ceremomy


"For now, I’m not thinking about going into coaching now, but I can still do some other things that are related to football. It’s not like I don’t have interest in coaching, I think it’s too early for me to go into coaching now because I might not be able to handle the pressure coaches go through all the time. I was always under pressure during my football career and to add more pressure by becoming a coach now could be suicidal. I think my family still needs me alive...We learn everyday, and the truth in life is that nothing is impossible. I can’t rule out coaching entirely, but I’m not looking forward to it now? So now, I can give no for an answer, but I might change my mind tomorrow..."

-------International soccer superstar Austen "Jay Jay" Okocha on being a coach in an interview with Sun News Online

Friday, March 12, 2010

Nigeria: A Troubled Nation and the Murderous Islamic Jihadists



They started from slaughtering my kith and kin in the early years of the republic -- beheading them, murdering pregnant women and their unborn children. A horrific event and a tragedy. They kill and brag about it and I have been weary of pointing out.

Killing their fellow human beings especially when it comes to the Christians is baked in their genes. They murder their victims -- Christians -- mercilessly in the name of radical Islam. They have never stopped being bloodthirsty even with a declaration of an "undying commitment" by the West to the security and survival of the Christians could halt the blood lust Jihadists in their quest to eliminate their victims in the most brutal way.

It has become their way of life and a sport. They believe as the satanic verses of the Holy Quoran prescribes, that what they do is the right thing to be done, ala, their heroic welcome to heaven for destroying lives and killing en masse we who they call infidels. And, in most cases, particularly in Nigeria, they walk away free of charge and praised by the "brains", the bankrollers behind the massacres for all the atrocities they unleash to innocent civilians and Southern Christians

And there is no end in sight in the cycle of violence carried out by these northern Islamic Jihadic hoodlums and nihilists. It has been their nature ever since the fabricated state called 'Nigeria' came into being, to be positively bloodthirsty.

They are mass murderers and proud of it. They have done it over and and over again without remorse. They just love it and, ironically, the world watched as it unfolded, doing practically nothing like the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Their sponsors, the cabals and caliphates run the country as if it's their own personal property -- from the military juntas to the civilian regimes. They have been untouchable with the help of their colloaborative Southern bigots.

Their goal is a "Holy War," to wipe out the "infidels" from the face of this planet. Several millions of Christians including Nd'Igbo have perished in their desire. And they will never stop, taking a look at the chronology of events since the nation's sovereignty which could be easily traced to the pre-independence era when the Founding Fathers collectively agreed to form a union of different cultures and nationalities without realizing the consequences. Had the problem been detected and made clear that coexistence was impossible and addressed appropriately like in all confederacies, perhaps 'Nigeria,' by now in 49 years of its existence, would have been stable, or probably with an intact and viable government.

Since independence, Nigeria has been disturbed by internal strife and power struggle among the three major ethnic groups and other ethnic minorities. The question here is, can Nigeria still survive as a nation under the pressure of power games, religious differences and political rivalry? How long is the country going to continue to fertilize its land with human blood? And at what cost?

The chronological list below and the tragic events that followed suggests the country is in dire need of a sense of purpose to avoid more ominous consequences.The problems the country encountered since its birth speaks clearly for itself, that no such thing as Nigeria. It is a fabrication which brings to mind the case of the Balkanization Theory which eventually came to terms with reality and endorsed by the League of Nations, though violent and series of wars, and finally a plebiscite. Nigeria is typical:

October 1, 1960: The Founding Father's vigorous fight with the colonial masters would bring along with it an independent nation; and the Northern Peoples Congress overwhelming victory would elect Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of the First Republic in a doctored parliamentary system devoid of who the people are and how they could have governed themselves better.

1962: A power tussle between Obafemi Awolowo's Action Group and Samuel L. Akintola's defection in alliance with the northern caliphates would result in chaos and lost of lives in the Yoruba dominated Western Region. Brothers would kill brothers, and Awo and some of his followers would serve time in federal penitentiary for treason.

May 1965: Confusions in the military -- rumors of attempted military coup by top military officers of the Nigerian Army did not hold water, dismissing it as heresay and overlooked as a mere rhetorical balderdash. But a serious stuff was in the making.

January 15, 1966: A coup was planned and foiled and the military came in wrestling power from an inept, corrupt civilian administration that was barely six years old. Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, an Igbo, would take over the affairs of state as a result of being the most senior military officer, and the rest would be history.

May 29, 1966: On the orders of Major Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Ironsi would be flogged, kidnapped and dragged on the streets, and murdered in the most brutal of circumstances. The then most senior military officer in the army, Brigadier Ogundipe, a Yoruba, would be compelled to leave for London in order to pave way for the Hausa-Fulanis and their brutal Islamic Jihadists to sought Igbos wherever they could be found for a pre-meditated and diabolical act of genocide.

August-late September 1966: Anarchy, mayhem, rape of Igbo women, lynching, arson and the list goes on and on, becoming the order of the day. More casualties and more Igbo women and children were gruesomely murdered on the course of human error intended to take out the Igbo nation from the map of a concocted Nigeria.

January 4-5, 1967: Ghana's Head of State, Lt.-General Joseph Ankra would chair a meeting at Aburi, Ghana, to decide what solution would address the Nigerian conflict and determine how the mass killing of Igbos could be stopped. The meeting ended well, on a consensus, but the Nigerian vandals negated the resolution in a sudden 180-degress turn and continued apace their rounding up of Igbo people.

Nevertheless, when on January 19, 2010, the bloodbath in Jos erupted between Moslems and Christians, I had told a colleague that violence is in the blood of the northern Islamic Jihadists which has been their only strategy in place of diologue and diplomacy, and that there has not being a way to figure the whole thing out; and that it will -- predicting with certainty -- erupt again, sooner than later and knowing who these cold-blooded murderers are. After the wantom killings of January which left over 200 dead and series of others injured, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan's Office on Media and Publicity issued out a press release on January 20, 2010, guaranteeing "never gain":

“Once again, there has been an eruption in Jos, the Plateau State capital, accompanied by a most regrettable loss of lives and property. This is one crisis too many, and the Federal Government finds it most unacceptable, retrogressive, and capable of further sundering the bonds of unity in our country. The country cannot afford these constant eruptions, and while the situation has been brought under control by the security agencies, government is determined to find a permanent solution to the Jos crisis. Today, the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, convened a meeting of security chiefs to review the situation and initiate forward processes to reign in the violence. This is in addition to the initial orders for the urgent containment of the crisis. He has further directed an urgent meeting of all key stakeholders, towards achieving lasting peace in the area..."

It wasn't even two months from that cycle of violence that spread to Bukuru and Apata area of the state before another cycle of violence erupted, and this time around, about 500 innocent civilians were feared dead.

The upshot is that, radical Islam has been the origin of all conflicts in Nigeria and until the cabals and caliphates who had thought that power is their birthright are made to know in concrete terms that Nigeria is nobody's personal property, and that the rule of law must be upheld and respected, prosecuting to the limit of the law the nihilists and hoodlums, and the cabals behind all that, what happened on Sunday, March 7, 2010 with graphic scenes of mass burial will surely happen again.

And since former President Olusegun Obasanjo lost out in his bid for a third term, and deliberately handpicked Umar Yar'Adua to succeed him fearng his political foes might be after him, and recognizing that neither carrots nor sticks nor any combination of the two can work in a fragile state like Nigeria; and now that the cabals are also losing out resorting to all kinds of games and violence to keep the presidency within their enclave which did put the country into political limbo since the ailing President Yar'Adua's condition has been permanently locked in the closet, now what?

The saga continues!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Hoha! (Pointblank): On Yar'Adua's Return and the Affairs of State

“He (Jonathan) cannot go back to Vice President until the National Assembly reverses their resolution that made him Acting President, which was even supported by the Federal Executive Council and more importantly by most Nigerians.”

-------Information Minister Dora Akunyili on Goodluck Jonathan continuing to be Acting President until resolved by a National Assembly resolution.


"The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor, OFR, on behalf of the National Working Committee warmly welcomes the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, back to Nigeria from his medical leave. The safe arrival of Mr. President from his sojourn in Saudi Arabia is a testimony to the fact that the prayers of all Nigerians for his quick recovery have been answered. We, therefore, rejoice with our fellow citizens for this unique favour done to us by the Almighty God."

-------PDP's statement on Yar'Adua's return.


“Personnaly, l don’t belief Yar Adua has come back to Nigeria, if he has returned, he would have talked to the nation via aTV. lf you want to convince us that Yar Adua is in Nigeria, let him talk to the the press."

-------Ekiti State former governor Ayodele Fayose speaking to the press, doubting the arrival of Yar'Adua after declaring for the Labour Party.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Wed. Cartoons

Examining the U.S.-Nigeria Relationship in a Time of Transition: Mr. Chairman, Ranking member Isakson, and members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity to testify before you today on Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the two most important countries in sub-Saharan Africa and a country of great significance to the United States. I have just returned from a five-day trip to Nigeria and I am pleased to share my insights on the evolving situation there as well as the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship. MORE @ US STATE DEPARTMENT


SOURCE: NIGER DELTA STANDARD


SOURCE: GUARDIAN


SOURCE: SUN NEWS ONLINE


SOURCE: PUNCH


SOURCE: DAILY TRUST

Monday, February 15, 2010

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Thursday Cartoons

FG Moves to Probe Yar'Adua's Health: The Federal Executive Council, FEC, at its weekly meeting, yesterday, resolved to commence the process that could lead to the invocation of Section 144 of the 1999 constitution... MORE @ VANGUARD


Defeat of the Power Cabal: Members of President Umaru Yar'Adua's infamous kitchen cabinet are forced to throw up their hands in defeat as sustained public pressure forces the National Assembly to compel the investment of full executive powers in Vice President Goodluck Jonathan... MORE @ THE NEWS


SOURCE: GUARDIAN


SOURCE: SUN NEWS ONLINE


SOURCE: DAILY TRUST


SOURCE: NIGER DELTA STANDARD

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Cartoons

ABUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declared that Vice President Jonathan Goodluck is empowered by the 1999 Constitution to exercise, in the absence of President Umaru Yar’Adua, all the powers vested in him, including signing of sensitive documents, so far such powers are delegated to him. The presiding high court judge, Justice Dan Abutu made the pronouncement while interpreting the meanings and intendments of sections 5(1) and 148 (1) of the 1999 constitution in a suit brought by a lawyer, Mr. Christopher Onwuekwe. Onwuekwe, in his suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2010, had requested the high court to declare that in the absence of President Yar’Adua who is receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, the Vice President, by virtue of the provisions of Section 5(1) and 148 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, could exercise all the powers vested in the President in the interest of peace, order and good governance pending when his boss, Yar’Adua, would resume office. He sued the Attorney General of the Federation and the Executive Council of the Federation. MORE @ VANGUARD







href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3wxgNoVlp82RWFG0T8ghhuTC2VtjR1bxvGjd7519wt6Yi2glQjeB6b6K5UgTGbcYb6QisFUReXSjc1UpPHyvJX2Q6QKb7TFBsKmvQ3MJrxjT9vawrVbxuEX0XOcNFp1KoW1Es4OLFGY/s1600-h/sunnews.gif">SOURCE: SUN NEWS ONLINE





SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE





SOURCE: GUARDIAN





SOURCE: BLACK NEWS

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Sunday Cartoons

Even though those who profess to be close to President Umaru Yar’ Adua are going on as if they have all been briefed to talk only about the weather, medical experts have thrown more light on why the President may be spending a long time in his hospital bed. Sunday Sun sources said all the talks about the President returning soon are just proceeds of spin doctors’ imagination.Playing politics with President’s health “Some people are just trying to hide behind a finger while trying to play politics with the President’s health. When next anybody tells you the President is returning soon, ask the person when last he spoke with Yar’Adua. If he or she says they saw him, ask him how many life support machines are in the President’s room. MORE @ SUN NEWS ONLINE


SOURCE: GUARDIAN


SOURCE: SUNDAY TRUST


SOURCE: SUN NEWS ONLINE

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

News Desk (Late Edition) Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009

The Yar’Adua we saw in Saudi, by Saraki, Yuguda

ABUJA— Governors Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Bukola Saraki of Kwara State who visited the President in Saudi Arabia, returned to the country, yesterday, and declared to their colleagues in the Governors’ Forum that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who is undergoing treatment in a Saudi Arabian hospital for heart ailment, is responding well to treatment... READ MORE


Ban names Ibrahim Gambari as new head of joint UN-AU force in Darfur

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon seeks to appoint veteran Nigerian diplomat Ibrahim Gambari, who has most recently served as his top envoy to Myanmar, as the new head of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, it was announced today. Mr. Gambari’s appointment as the Joint Special Representative of the mission, known as UNAMID, will be effective 1 January 2010... READ MORE



Nigerian Cabinet Backs Yar'Adua Amid Calls to Quit

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's cabinet unanimously agreed on Wednesday there were no grounds on which to seek the resignation of President Umaru Yar'Adua, rejecting calls for him to step down or prove he is fit enough to govern. At least nine Nigerian newspaper front pages carried a statement, which they said had been signed by more than 50 public figures, calling on Yar'Adua to resign immediately or allow a medical panel to determine his ability to rule... READ MORE


Delta Explores Partnership With Nigerian Airline

Delta Air Lines Inc. is mulling a partnership with a Nigerian airline that could result in joint marketing efforts between the two carriers as they seek to build business in Africa's most populous nation. Delta, the only U.S. carrier currently flying directly to Africa, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigerian Eagle Airlines, a domestic carrier operating out of Lagos. Both sides have committed to exploring commercial collaboration... READ MORE


Sirius Petroleum Identifies Marginal Field Opportunities in Nigeria

Sirius Petroleum Plc announces that it has identified its first marginal oil field opportunity. In the circular sent to shareholders on 23 July 2008 when the Company embarked on its new strategy, Sirius announced that it proposed to raise between £500,000 and £2,000,000 in order to pay for technical, legal and financial due diligence on potential acquisition targets. Now that the Company has progressed identification of its first opportunity... READ MORE

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Nigerian Jungle Blues and Saturday Cartoons

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia...where President Umaru Yar'Adua is being treated for pericarditis

Causes: Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like covering of the heart. There are many possible causes. At times it could be idiopathic (unknown cause), but often it is the result of a minor viral illness, “cold” or a mechanical injury or trauma to the heart.

If pericarditis occurs after a heart attack, it is known as Dressler’s Syndrome (named after Polish-born American physician William Dressler who lived between 1890-1969. Other known causes include heart surgery, bacterial, fungal or viral infection including HIV, cancer tumours, rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), sarcoidosis, scleroderma and metabolic diseases such as uremia (kidney failure) and hypothyroidism.
More @ VANGUARD


SOURCE: DAILY TRUST


SOURCE: THE PORT HARCOURT TELEGRAPH


SOURCE: GUARDIAN

Sunday, May 3, 2009

That African Presidents Wives' Annual Health Summit In Beverly Hills



Not much was talked about it. Not much was known about it. Not even the mainstream media mentioned it. In fact, it was not a big deal, because, as usual, knowing what should be expected from such a gathering of the wives of inept and corrupt African presidents, the errand boys, the opportunistic organizers had to run the show their own way which is typical of deceit and fraud. We've seen this kind of stuff happen many times as it ends up being a picnic and a loophole for money laundering.

I was socializing with some friends when the event and its issues popped up. We were discussing about a retarded African continent, Nigeria in particular, and what should be done about it until one curious-minded fella among us brought up the topic, and stressed on how we lost it here in Diaspora as a collective and the failure to complete ourselves.

"Did any of you hear about the summit held in Beverly Hills? Can you imagine the wife of our president was here and nobody knew about it?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yes, I heard about it but it was nothing to talk about," I responded without feelings.

As it happened, most, if not all, among us never heard of Nigeria's First Lady visiting the Los Angeles area for a summit, except, probably, the organizers who were the opportunists. I am not sure why it was too much of an event from the errand boys who ran their mouth in praise of the First Ladies of Africa visit, and particularly, "our own" Turai Umaru Yar'Adua who sneaked in and the numerous Nigerian women's organization in the Los Angeles metropolis did not know or heard about it and did not do anything about it.

The health summit which was held at the Jewish Skirball Cultural Center was attended by Turai Umaru Yar'Adua (Nigeria); Queen Inkosikati Mbidiza (Swaziland); Ida Odinga (Kenya); Laraba Tandja (Niger); Penehupito Polamba (Namibia); Thandive Banda (Zambia); Maria da Lu Dai Guebuza (Mozambique); Mathato Sarah Mosisili (Lesotho); Sia Nyama Koromo (Sierra Leone); Adelcia Barreto Pires (Cape Verde); Chantal Bida (Cameroon) and Ana Paula Dos Santos (Angola).

After the summit at Skirball which eventually would produce no effective result for what the continent has been known for over three decades since the colonists of various European enclaves had left for the new rulers to figure things out. Nothing in the long run was figured out but widespread scandals of bribery and corruption, political and economic instability, and anarchy coupled with civilian and military staged coups.

The gist: The summit gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was sponsored by US Doctors for Africa and ExxonMobil which is a clear indication that the organizers were up to something.

Who does not know ExxonMobil and other oil companies and how they destroyed the environment of the oil-producing countries in that ailing continent? Who does not know how the doctors in collaboration with the medical errand boys to save according to Amanda Peabody who reported the event for The Beverly Hills Courier the "critical issues of HIV/AIDS, infants and maternal health and girls education?" Who does not know how the US DOctors for Africa and the so-called medical mission and how they misused the priorities meant to carry out a sound, thorough and effective project that should have been in the obvious?

Unfortunately, it is pointblank. The motive is deceptive, unclear and fraudulent on the ground it is evident that all the money being poured in by charity organizations, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, World Health Organization and several other independent caring institutions over the years for the projected developments, has not yielded any meaningful dividend save for misappropriation of funds and things like that. In most cases, these funds are wasted due to lack of accountability and transparency.

But the irony of this kind of disturbing propanganda is when well-intentioned people get involved by way of financial contributions and other voluntary works "to provide primary care, strategic planning, education and training first as aid and then to empower the people of Africa to respond to the health crisis they face" and later to find out something is not right somewhere; and that the whole project has become a cock and bull story.

Hollywood celebrities -- Sharon Stone, Kristin Davis, Danny Glover, Paris Hilton, Naomi Campbell, Rosario Dawson and Chris Tucker -- who came to the gala and got excited about a comatose summit, had no idea what the entire event would lead to. Deadend, to be precise.

Has any of these celebrities who've been giving their moral and financial support ever asked why Africa remains toxic despite its enormous natural resources and abundant human capital? Has any asked why would such staggering amounts in the millions, if not in the billions, been invested in the continent annually yet there's nothing to show for it? Has any attempted to approaching the root cause of the problem dealing with it once and for all so the continent can march toward onward objectivity? Has any considered the importance of a radical step by way of an organized and timed political revolution to effect change? Has any thought of the normalcy of due process taking into account prosecuting to the limit of the law those that raped their country's public funds and caused all sorts of hardship to its people, as a result, and learning from the steps taken by Paul Kagame of Rwanda?

Today, Nigeria in particular, is on the list of the world's highest number of malnourished children and yet it is the one called the giant of Africa.

Until the thought of the above-mentioned necessary steps is taken, the African continent will continue to sink beyond imagination and like in a situation where no matter how many gallons of palm oil is used in preparing a dog's meal, its stool will not change; it will still be black. Since the event was a success as the organizers made us believe, the point here is, as the First Annual Health Summit by Africa's First Ladies, its too early to start applauding because from my observation it will end up like any other African summit where nothing gets done. Davis who was at the gala pointed it out clearly: "It's really amazing to have the First Ladies (in Beverly Hills) and hear what their countries are going through and what they need..."

Yes, everybody wants to help but the people in question are cocky and crooked. So why don't we weep for those shattered people and also for the poor and penniless who have been oppressed and crushed instead of applauding a sect that intends to rape the peoples fund.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Nigeria Does Indeed Belong To A "G-"!

By Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe


An important development that must not and cannot be ignored… Until last week, 43 years to the day since the beginning of the Igbo genocide perpetrated by Nigeria and its allies, no head of regime in power in Nigeria had ever admitted, albeit unwittingly, the utter worthlessness of Nigeria in the pecking order of the countries of the world. On Nigeria’s non-invitation to the April 2009 G-20 London economic summit, regime head Yar’Adua mournfully noted: “Today is a sad day for Nigeria as a country. This is because we are not invited to a meeting of the 20 world leaders. We have the population, we have the resources and we have the potential.” Predictably, Yar’Adua refers to those hackneyed, bogus indices (“population”, “resources”) that everyone knows obfuscate the immanent fragility, infamy and hopelessness that chart the Nigeria quagmire. In response to Yar’Adua’s pain, Kevin Ani, the lucid analyst, is succinctly upfront: “Even if one extends (sic) this list to G-1000, Nigeria still will not make it.”

It cannot be overstated that the Igbo genocide put paid to any Nigeria pretensions to transform itself to a serious state of global contention. Nigeria, which the Igbo had strategically led to liberate from 60 years of British occupation, collapsed, irremediably, in May 1966. This was when its troops, police, students, teachers, civil servants, community leaders, clergy, alimajiri and the like in north Nigeria planned and descended on Igbo children, women and men domiciled in the region – killing, raping, maiming, looting, destroying … A total of 100000 Igbo were murdered between May and October (1966) in this first phase of the worst genocide in Africa since the previous century. The Nigerians later expanded their murdering zones of operation to liquidate the Igbo by attacking the entire stretch of Igboland (from Issele-Ukwu, Agbo, Anioma, Ugwuta and Onicha in the west to Ehugbo, Aba and Umuahia to the east; from Nsukka and Eha Amufu in the north to Igwe Ocha, Umu Ubani and Igwe Nga to the south) between July 1967-January 1970. A total of 3 million Igbo were murdered during this second phase. Altogether, the Igbo lost one-quarter of their population as a result of the genocide.

On the morrow of this pulverising season of murdering, the only tangible capability that the murderers had acquired was one to commit even more murders – nothing else … definitely, not the more challenging capacity to develop and transform an economy to, in turn, attract and merit the accolades and recognitions from peers elsewhere. The tragedy of the otherwise farcical so-called “rebranding” of the Nigeria state is that this current “quest” is supposedly overseen by an Igbo academic (Dora Akunyili) who presumably is unaware of the history of her people in Nigeria or is probably biding her time to tell her employers the blunt truth of Nigeria’s inexorable cascade into irrelevance.

Yet, contrary to Yar’Adua’s angst over Nigeria’s non-membership of the G-20, Nigeria actually belongs to a “G-” grouping. It is called Group-G and Yar’Adua must know that not only does his country belong to this outfit but it also heads it as its undisputed supremo presently. In this club, the “G” letter stands for the beginning of that dreadful word which Nigeria has at once operationalised and institutionalised as the legacy of its vicious existence and has since exported across contemporary Africa – Genocide.

Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe is the author of Readings from Reading: Essays on African Politics, Genocide, Literature (Fortcomung, 2009)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

News Desk Wednesday, December 10, 2008


Nigeria Depreciates Naira Rate in $200 Million Currency Auction

The central bank sold $190 million dollars, $10 million less than offered, in foreign reserves to the nation’s commercial banks today, making it available at a rate of 132.5 per dollar, according to Leon Myburgh, a fixed-income and currency strategist for sub- Saharan Africa at Citigroup Inc. READ MORE>>>


Nigerian court to rule on presidential election

Abuja, Nigeria -- The Supreme Court will hand down its verdict Friday in a lawsuit by top Nigerian political opposition leaders who seek an annulment of the 2007 election won by President Umaru Yar'Adua, lawyers involved in the case said. READ MORE>>>

Nigerian Cholera Outbreak Kills 10 People in Rivers State

(Bloomberg) -- An outbreak of cholera in the riverine community of Kula in Nigeria’s Rivers state killed 10 people, a health official said. READ MORE>>>

U.S. sailor says not guilty in Japan slay

Attorneys for Seaman Olatunbosun Ugbogu, a 22-year-old Nigerian national serving in the U.S. Navy, say he was not mentally competent when he fatally stabbed taxi driver Masaaki Takahashi in Yokosuka, Japan, this year, Kyodo News reported Wednesday. READ MORE>>>

Bomb scare in Delhi's CP, cops seize bag with safes

Senior police officers said that from his description, the men seemed to be of Nigerian origin and initial investigations revealed two electronic metal safes inside the bag. The safes could not be opened for a long time as officers present at the spot thought it unsafe to do so till the bomb squad arrived. READ MORE>>>

Monday, November 24, 2008

Seun Kuti Storms Abuja's Velodrome in MTV Africa Music Awards

Yes, like father, like son; and he is following the footsteps of his father, the legendary Chief Priest and Baba of Afro Beat, Fela. I watched this young kid perform last Summer here in Los Angeles and he was just a carbon copy of his dad, in gestures and performances. Seun started playing the sax and piano at the age of eight and by the time he was 15 he was already a master of the wind instruments.

Well, while there is still chaos in the Niger-Delta region of that troubled country called Nigeria, at the same time, the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards in Abuja, Nigeria, at the Velodrome, had already watered down and folks out there in that corrupt capital city, yes, corrupt (Nuhu Ribadu is locked up for no reason, remember?), were stomping and made some noise as Compton-bred The Game, Kelly Rowland, Flo-Rida and many other poerformers were in the house that was jamming with the wizard dribbler Austen "JJ" Okocha as presenter of some of the awards, political tussle in a do-nothing Umaru Yar'Adua's administration continued apace.

Seun who opened the show performed "Army Arrangement" and accepted the inaugural Mama Legend Award in honor of his late father, the Chief Priest.

According to media reports, the occasion was electric and Nigerian performers took home most of the awards on that Saturday, November 22, 2008, when it was all magic and not darkness. The vibes seems to be grooving with a newer generation and let's bring it down.

Monday, November 17, 2008

News Desk (Early Edition) Tuesday, November 18, 2008


Egwu, Akunyili, 11 others make ministerial list

THREE weeks after sacking 20 ministers, President Umaru Yar’Adua, yesterday, presented a list of his nominees to the coveted positions to the Senate. The nominees are, however, seven short of the relieved ones. READ MORE>>>


Nigeria conducive for poverty alleviation scheme — UNDP partners

CAPE TOWN—TWO major partners to the United Nations Development Programme UNDP on poverty alleviation in the rural African communities, Ericsson and Zain groups, at the weekend in Cape Town, South Africa, revealed that Nigeria’s political and economic environments so far, have been favourable to the millennium READ MORE>>>

Community warns Chevron

THE Orere-Yanagho Coastal communities have warned Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to desist from further dealing with a cartel instead of the Council of elders of the communities, saying the practice has continued to wrath undevelopment in the entire area. READ MORE>>>

Martin in pledge on gender violence

Ms Izevbekhai, whose case comes before the High Court today, says she lost a baby daughter after the child was forcibly genitally mutilated in Nigeria and fears that the same fate awaits her two other children should they be deported. READ MORE>>>

Energem Resources reports Q3 loss of US$2 million, down from year ago (Energem)

VANCOUVER _ Energem Resources Inc. (TSX:ENM) narrowed its loss in its most recent quarter compared with a year ago as the company refocussed its business on in its Mozambiquan-based bio-diesel project READ MORE>>>

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

News Desk (Early Edition) Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ambassadorial nominee fails test on capital of Jigawa State

THE Senate yesterday commenced the screening of ambassadorial nominees with one of the eleven nominees failing to name the capital of Jigawa State just as the Senate disclosed its abandonment of its "bow and go" policy in its consideration READ MORE>>>

MOSOP tells Useni to apologise to Ogoni people over Saro wiwa

THE Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has told former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Lt-General Jeremiah Useni to apologise to the Ogoni for saying the late Ken Sarowiwa deserved to be hanged READ MORE>>>

Finance officer Peter Voser takes command at Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell, the world's second-largest oil company, named Peter Voser, its chief financial officer, as its new chief executive yesterday. Swiss-born Mr Voser, 50, will replace Jeroen van der Veer on July 1 next year. READ MORE>>>

Policemen defy IG, still mount checkpoints on Lagos roads

Policemen in Lagos still mount checkpoints on the highways in the metropolis in defiance of last week’s directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, that such acts should stop. READ MORE>>>

Yar’Adua drops 20 ministers

The much-awaited cabinet reshuffle by President Umaru Yar’Adua took place on Wednesday with the removal of eight full ministers and 12 ministers of state. READ MORE>>>

Monday, October 6, 2008

News Desk (Early Edition) Tuesday, October 7, 2008

We are curbing crude oil theft - Military

Nigeria’s military assured on Monday it was making significant progress curbing crude oil theft, an illegal trade worth millions of dollars a day and the financial lifeline for militants in Africa’s top producer. MORE>>>

Ribadu: Sacrifice on the Nigerian altar

John Adams, son of Deacon and Susanna Adams and the first American president to live in the White House prayed with his wife, Abigail, as they entered into the lavish U.S. presidential residence on November 1, 1800 that “Lord, bestow the best of blessings on this house MORE>>>

Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index

Togo, Sao Tome and Principe tied with Nigeria in the 121st place. At the top of the list three countries tied for the first place, namely, Denmark, Sweden MORE>>>

North has World's highest illiterate children —World Bank

ABUJA—The Northern Nigeria Economic and Investment Summit, kicked off in Abuja yesterday with the World Bank, saying that Northern Nigeria has the highest number of children not going to School in the world. MORE>>>

Yar'Adua's secrecy oath, slap on Nigerians — Mudiaga-Odje

CONSTITUTIONAL Lawyer, Dr. Akpo Mudiaga-Odje, has described the oath of secrecy on some public officers appointed by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as a slap on the face of the entire Nigerian citizenry. MORE>>>

10 Nigerians begin economic dev. training in S/Korea

A News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) Correspondent in Seoul reports that the programme is sponsored by the South Korean government to complement President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s seven point agenda in the area of Human Capacity Development. MORE>>>

Sunday, October 5, 2008

News Desk Sunday, October 5, 2008

Niger Delta gives me nightmares —Yar'Adua

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar’Adua yesterday said that the Niger Delta crisis gives his administration nightmares. He regretted that the crisis in the region had become a major concern to the Federal Government...MORE>>>

Presidency, Senate Begin Fresh Probe Of Oil Companies

THE probe of the activities of the nation's oil industry may enter a new gear within the next few weeks when the Senate turns its searchlight on the international operators of the upstream sector. MORE>>>

Fraud: Pastor sells landlord’s house for N13m

Delta State Police Command, Asaba, has again recorded another major breakthrough when its men apprehended a man of God who thought his long-conceived ambition to join the millionaire pastors had been achieved. MORE>>>

Corrupt leaders should be executed — Northern CAN scribe

Secretary of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Elder Saidu Dogo has advocated death sentence for corrupt leaders as the only way to checkmate corruption in the country. MORE>>>

Thursday, October 2, 2008

News Desk (Early Edition) Friday, October 3, 2008

Nigeria's jobless eke a living from garbage heaps

KATAGUA, Nigeria (AFP) — As a rickety garbage truck rattled to a halt and discharged its contents Francis Adigwe, an unemployed textile engineer turned scavenger, rushed over and emerged with his find of the day, a piece of metal he estimated will bring in more than two dollars. MORE>>>

Nigeria drifting to a failed state —Buhari

In a message to mark the country’s independence, Buhari, who is currently in the Supreme Court to quash the election of President Umaru Yar’ Adua, said it was depressing that Nigeria is still regrettably classified among Low Income Countries Under Stress (LICUS)…" despite its stupendous wealth. MORE>>>

RSVM: Nigeria Joins the rest of the World

Aircraft with the required Minimum Aircraft Systems Performance Specifications (MASPS) and approved by their respective States (in Nigeria NCAA) for RVSM operations will be permitted to fly in RVSM Airspace. MORE>>>

New Ministers: Senate insists on federal character

There are strong indications that the Senate will insist on a strict adherence to the Federal Character principle in Yar’Adua’s choice of ministerial nominees. MORE>>>

Yar’Adua fires back at Buhari

President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday said he had not made overtures to the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in the April 21, 2007, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, because he believed that he (Buhari) was “swimming against the tide.” MORE>>>

Weeping for Nigeria at 48

Last Wednesday, Nigerians once again, in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), gathered to undergo the rituals of celebrating independence. This time, the nation is 48 years old MORE>>>