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Showing posts from May, 2013
Northern Leaders Should Learn from South-South Lately, there has been so many “elderly rascality” taking place in Nigeria. From Gabriel Igbinedion’s complete disregard for the law of the land on election-day in Edo State to the recent preposterous and outlandish statements by Northern Elders Forum (NEF) regarding Nigeria’s Government fight against Boko Haram, elderly rascality is on full display all over Nigeria. Like the Governor of Edo State (Comrade Adams Oshiomhole), it is time for young Nigerians to end any form of allegiance or modicum of respect they have for these crooked elderly rascals. They have run out of ideas and have no solution to the myriad of problems bedeviling the Nigerian State. They have mortgaged our future for their momentary selfish interest and self-aggrandizement. On May 21, I listened with dismay Prof. Ango Abdullahi, spokesman for NEF interview with Peter Clottey of Voice of America. It will be an understatement to say I was infuriated. I was enraged because I am not a Northern or Southern Nigerian. I am a Nigerian. My International Passport does not say “Northern Nigerian or Southern Nigerian”. It says “Nigerian”. Any Nigerian should just be as pissed off by what Prof. Ango said in that interview. For more than three years now, Boko Haram has been freely marauding around the North; killing innocent Nigerians. A daily massacre that can only occur in failed states. Over these years, I was very concerned that President Jonathan has no inkling about the first responsibility of government – to protectthe lives and properties of the citizens. “When will Jonathan take control of the situation?” I kept asking. Even though I am a staunch critic of Jonathan’s uninspiring government, I am of the opinion that he was overly patient with Boko Haram before declaring a State of Emergency. It is interesting to know that why Boko Haram’s carnage was taking place, the so-called NEF was not aggressively engaged with their community to end the violence. Instead, they selectively, reluctantly and sporadically make insipid inflammatory statements. Until May 21, I did not know that Prof. Ango had true visibility into the degree of violence taking place. Now that the Nigeria Government has woken up to reality and taken decisive steps to stop the terrorists, NEF has suddenly become vociferous and wants to sue Nigeria Government for Human Rights violation? It makes me wonder where NEF patriotism lies. In the interview, Prof. Ango said: “There is sufficient evidence, from our point of view, in terms of human rights violations that have been going on with a lot of impunity in the last three years or so around the activities of the government and its agencies and around the country... I think it’s because nobody seems to really take the matter seriously to draw attention, not only to other parts of the world, to the Nigerian authorities themselves.” He proceeded to say, “what we are doing now is to organize our evidence that would make it possible for us to make a very strong case against the government and its agencies, or up to individuals who may be complicit, in terms of the human rights violations that have been taking place in the last few years,” Are you kidding me? One thing that NEF must be reminded of is that whatever temporary goal they want to achieve by the Boko Haram’s bedlam in Northern Nigeria, it will boomerang and come back to bite them real bad. The hen will always go home to roost. Soon, NEF will come home to roost if they do not address the situation forthe sake of future generations! They have to take cue from the kidnappings in the Southern part of the country. The crooked politicians trained and gave the youths weapons during electionsto fight the opposition. After elections, the youths used the same weapons and training to kidnap the politicians, their relatives and acquaintances. The kidnappings are so bad now in the South that during Christmas and New Year celebrations so many politicians run away from their towns to live in Lagos or Abuja because they are afraid of being kidnapped. By Paul Omoruyi. Log on to: www.diasporascope.com, for the full gist.
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Abolish Almajiri Now: Senate Tells Northern Leaders SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday, blamed leaders and politicians from the North for the growing almajiri in the region, saying they must urgently rise up to ban the system. This is even as he said the Federal Government would no longer condone criminal acts by people in the country on excuse of unemployment. Mark, who spoke during a debate on a bill, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act 2003”, sponsored by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, PDP, Cross River Central, was reacting to the issue of parental negligence raised by Senator Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere, ANPP,Yobe South. Jajere had sought a stiff legislation compelling parents, particularly in the North,to take adequate care of their wards, saying it was time for the almajiri system in the region to be done away with. He also gave a heart-rending picture of how he grew up without knowing his parents because of the system. He gave a horrific story of the life he went through as an almajiri child. According to him, it is by the grace of God that he was enrolled in school. He also recalled that many of such children never had the opportunity he had to be educated. Moved by Senator Jajere’s graphic story, Mark said, “It is amazing when we tend to make excuses for our failings. If you cannot gain employment, you go and join a terrorist group so that you can be employed. “You join Boko Haram because you have no employment. If you are poor, then you begin to trade and traffic in human beings so that you can be rich. “These are all excuses. What about the people who are buying these people outside. Is it because they can’t find employment or because they are poor? I think we should stop making excuses. “Everything is reduced to the level of unemployment in the country. Nigeria is not the only country where everybody is not employed. That you are not employed does not mean you should go and do something very bizarre. “You open up a baby factory; you begin to sedate people and remove their organs to sell. It’s just never a good excuse for some of the things that we do.” By HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE of Vanguard Newspaper, ABUJA
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Soldiers Reveal Nigerian Army's Strategies to Boko Haram Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), today revealed that some soldiers have been interacting with Boko Haram insurgents and divulging vital secrets of the army’s military operations.
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Boko Haram and Nigeria Military Troop Clashe in Abadam Over 2000 civilians have on Saturday evening and Sunday morning fled Abadam Local Government Area of Borno North Senatorial District. A journalist travelling in the Nigerian-Niger Republic border confirmed to Reporters that between the said period over 2000 civilians have fled their homes and crossed over into Niger Republic. The strange sounds of weapons and explosives being exchanged reminded the villagers of the recent Baga killings, which made them decide to flee. It was also gathered that the arrival of hundreds of soldiers in the villages made the villagers uncomfortable. The fleeing Nigerians are camping in Bosso, Diffa State, of Niger Republic. The villagers fled in large numbers, running out, some on cars, motorcycles and bicycles and others on foot, into neighbouring Niger Republic.
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As the Nigerian Army recently deployed troops to Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States, where the President declared a state of Emergency, telecommunication services to Borno has been cut off. The Force however sent this; PRESS RELEASE DHQ/ABJ/901/32/ DDI l9 May, 2013 DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS MINISTRY OF DEFENCE P M B 309 GARKI - ABUJA UPDATE: BATTLE AS TROOPS PURSUE TERRORIST Troops have continued the advance and attack on identified terrorists' camps in the Northern part of the country. Patrols are also ongoing to secure towns and villages from infiltration, while curfew on identified flash points are being enforced. Dislodged terrorist have been spotted to be in disarray with a large number of them heading backwards towards border. Their bases are being deserted while they are making efforts to evacuate most of the large stock of logistics including scores of vehicles in there holdings. In the course of special forces pursuits and operations, a number of encounters have ensured since yesterday. After a mop up of scenes of battle, 14 terrorist were confirmed dead, while, 7 vehicles and 13 telephone handsets were recovered. A total of 20 terrorist were apprehended as they were fleeing. Altogether, 3 soldiers died, while 7 are wounded and are being treated in military medical facility, one soldier is missing. Meanwhile the required reinforcement and logistics have been delivered to forces in front where the forces have been engaging a large number of heavily armed terrorists since yesterday, (18th of May). Defence Headquarters is quite satisfied with the high standard of compliance with operational order and strict observance of the rules of engagement so far. The forces have been directed to maintain the robustness of the patrols and enforcement of curfews where emplaced and ensure that civilians are kept out of harms way as much as possible. Thank you for your usual cooperation. AC OLUKOLADE Brigadier General Director Defence Information.
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The 148 staff of Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Radio/ Television, Awka and Onitsha, who were recently disengaged have petitioned Mrs. Chinwe Nwaebili, Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, asking her to look into their predicaments.
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Robbers Target Bieber's South Africa Concert, Cart Away $330,000 Robbers equipped with ropes, hammers and chisels broke into a strong-room at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium after a Justin Bieber concert and made off with 3 million rand (216,791 pounds) in cash, local media and police said on Monday. An officer from the nearby Booysens police station in the sprawling Soweto township said officials at the stadium, which hosted the final of the 2010 football World Cup, only realised the cash was missing on Monday morning. The haul included takings from Sunday night's concert by 19-year-old Canadian pop sensation, Bieber and a gig the previous evening by U.S. rockers Bon Jovi. "The money was taken from the building and they only realised today," the police officer, who declined to be named, told Zandi Shabalala, Reuters' reporter, "We don't know how many people were involved as we are still gathering evidence."
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Rio Ferdinand Retires From International Football http://voiceoffutureleaders-david.blogspot.com The 34-year-old Manchester United defender made his debut in 1997, and had represented his country at three World Cups. But following a falling out with fellow central defender John Terry and his strained relationship with manager Roy Hodgson, the latter years of his international career were dogged by bitterness and controversy. "It is important to pay tribute to someone of Rio’s status and the achievements he had in a senior international career with England over 14 years at the highest level," Hodgson said. "To have captained his country, to play at three World Cups and indeed scored in one of those, marks him out amongst a very special group of players. "I appreciated the call from Rio to inform me of his decision, which glaringly he had spent much time considering." Hodgson added. Ferdinand is out of contract with Manchester United in the summer but is optimistic of penning a new deal at Old Trafford in the coming weeks. He has not played for his country since June 2011. He was famously left out of Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad for 'football reasons', though it came against the backdrop of Terry's court case for a racially aggravated public order offence against his brother Anton. Impressive form for his club earned Ferdinand an England recall in March - but the defender dropped out of the squad for the two World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, and upset some fans by flying to Qatar to work as a punditon the San Marino game instead. Ferdinand said in an FA statement: "After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football. "At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career. "The team looks in great shape and there is an influx of young, talented players coming through the ranks which bodes well for the future. "I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have represented my country at every level from U17s upwards. "I have always been very proud to play for England. I would like to wish Roy and the team all the best for future tournaments. "A big thank you to all the fans, managers, coaching staff and players that I have worked alongside - the journey has been incredible."
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Rio Ferdinand Retires From International Football http://voiceoffutureleaders-david.blogspot.com The 34-year-old Manchester United defender made his debut in 1997, and had represented his country at three World Cups. But following a falling out with fellow central defender John Terry and his strained relationship with manager Roy Hodgson, the latter years of his international career were dogged by bitterness and controversy. "It is important to pay tribute to someone of Rio’s status and the achievements he had in a senior international career with England over 14 years at the highest level," Hodgson said. "To have captained his country, to play at three World Cups and indeed scored in one of those, marks him out amongst a very special group of players. "I appreciated the call from Rio to inform me of his decision, which glaringly he had spent much time considering." Hodgson added. Ferdinand is out of contract with Manchester United in the summer but is optimistic of penning a new deal at Old Trafford in the coming weeks. He has not played for his country since June 2011. He was famously left out of Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad for 'football reasons', though it came against the backdrop of Terry's court case for a racially aggravated public order offence against his brother Anton. Impressive form for his club earned Ferdinand an England recall in March - but the defender dropped out of the squad for the two World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, and upset some fans by flying to Qatar to work as a punditon the San Marino game instead. Ferdinand said in an FA statement: "After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football. "At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career. "The team looks in great shape and there is an influx of young, talented players coming through the ranks which bodes well for the future. "I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have represented my country at every level from U17s upwards. "I have always been very proud to play for England. I would like to wish Roy and the team all the best for future tournaments. "A big thank you to all the fans, managers, coaching staff and players that I have worked alongside - the journey has been incredible."
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By
Davronlive
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Rio Ferdinand Retires From International Football http://voiceoffutureleaders-david.blogspot.com The 34-year-old Manchester United defender made his debut in 1997, and had represented his country at three World Cups. But following a falling out with fellow central defender John Terry and his strained relationship with manager Roy Hodgson, the latter years of his international career were dogged by bitterness and controversy. "It is important to pay tribute to someone of Rio’s status and the achievements he had in a senior international career with England over 14 years at the highest level," Hodgson said. "To have captained his country, to play at three World Cups and indeed scored in one of those, marks him out amongst a very special group of players. "I appreciated the call from Rio to inform me of his decision, which glaringly he had spent much time considering." Hodgson added. Ferdinand is out of contract with Manchester United in the summer but is optimistic of penning a new deal at Old Trafford in the coming weeks. He has not played for his country since June 2011. He was famously left out of Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad for 'football reasons', though it came against the backdrop of Terry's court case for a racially aggravated public order offence against his brother Anton. Impressive form for his club earned Ferdinand an England recall in March - but the defender dropped out of the squad for the two World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, and upset some fans by flying to Qatar to work as a punditon the San Marino game instead. Ferdinand said in an FA statement: "After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football. "At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career. "The team looks in great shape and there is an influx of young, talented players coming through the ranks which bodes well for the future. "I regard it as a great honour and a privilege to have represented my country at every level from U17s upwards. "I have always been very proud to play for England. I would like to wish Roy and the team all the best for future tournaments. "A big thank you to all the fans, managers, coaching staff and players that I have worked alongside - the journey has been incredible."
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By
Davronlive
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