Pause to Ponder as we say Bye to 2007

Ever pause to ponder that this year starts with MONDAY and ends also on MONDAY. This year has got highest number of SUNDAYS and SATURDAYS - 104 Saturdays & Sundays.

Ever also ponder that public holidays that falls into these working days. i.e Christmas - 2 days, Eid-el-Fitr - 2 days, Eid-el-Kabir - 2 days, Moulid Nabiy, Independent, Workers day, democracy day and new year day all 1 day each makes 15 days of public holidays. Therefore, 104 + 15 = 115 free working days. This left the number of working days left in the year 2007 to just 250 days. Na wah o!

Ever pause to ponder what others are doing when the new year clocks in? Well, while others would prefer to remain in the Church praying, others prefer to be at the night clubs.

Ever Pause to ponder which country celebrates the new year first? Russia and New Zealand on the east side of Asia are the first to greet the New Year.

Ever pause to ponder why people tends to start making new year resolutions at this time, but rarely keep the resolutions?

Ever ponder that this is the last post for this blogger for year 2007 and I am using this opportunity to thank all my readers for stopping by during the year.

Adios 2007!

Are you an Arsenal Fans? Enjoy this

If you are an Arsenal fans, then you must know the great rivalry between Arsenal and Totenham Hotspurs so much that, Spurs has not beaten Arsenal under the reign of Martin Jol as Totenham Manager. That said, it given rise to the following vides. You may have seen this before, if you have not, enjoy it, if you have, why not see it again. Please note that Benayoun is an Israeli, Hitler hates the Israelis, this tip will guide you in enjoying the joke the more.

Enjoy this as a parting gift for the last weekend of 2007.

and this

Nuhu Ribadu - A Blogger's Views

This news sadden me today so much that I cant stop thinking where this country is going. First, the IG confirm that the Chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu is proceeding on a year course at NIPSS at Kuru near Jos. It is not even an overseas course to broaden his fight on corruption, but a mere strategic course here in Nigeria. The truth is the moment he proceeds on that course, two things are bounds to happen - the EFCC would be merged with other corruption fighting bodies or better still, he may be re-assign by the time he completed the course.
What is quite clear that the government does not want the public to believe is that, Nuhu Ribadu had been removed as EFCC chairman. Much as there had been no different in the leadership of the current FCT Minister as against what his predecessor in office in El-Rufai did in office, so shall it be if Nuhu ribadu is replaced by a seeming stooge who is ready to dance to the tune of the politicians.
I continue to ask myself whether the course he is to attend is more important than the job he is currently doing. If the training is important, I dont see the reason where he cannot be allow to do on-the-job training. The government should stop playing on our psyche, they should simply tell the world that he was simply sacked.
By the way, what will happen if Ribadu simply resigned from the force, whereby he wont have to proceed on any Police organized course? Would he still retain his portfolio as EFCC Chairman? The answer is Yes, but it wont take long before he will also be force to resign or remove unceremoniously. In my own view, I still find it deem fit for him to resign from the Police Force, I am sure he wont lose at the end of the day, as there will be a lot of International appointment waiting for him. The guy has create a niche for himself. In any case, we await further development on the matter, especially the reactions of our Law makers on this scenarios, since it was them the EFCC Chairman was reporting to.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing you all a belated Barka de Sallah, and a belated Barka de Christmas and Wishing all my readers Happy New Year in advance.

Alhassan Bangura's Story

Alhassan Bangura is a footballer with Watford Football club in England, he came to England at the age of 15 as an asylum seeker. Now that he is 19, and old enough, the british home office thinks he is mature enough to return back to his country. There had been 5,000 signature petition and appeal of rulings, and in the end, Al Bangura case is still on, but with a concession that he can apply for a work permit.
Read more from this blog about Bangura full story.

What baffles this blogger is the reason he adduced to his inability to return back to his country. This blogger ponder whether such babaric culture still exist in Africa. With this scenarios, will Bangura ever play for his native country - Sierraleone?

When to keep a distance

My best friend that recently got married is facing a hell of a time of marriage life. Each time we spoke, it is one counselling or the other. Some people sure dont know how to take care of the home front, especially on the right of each partners on every matter affecting the couple, and this immensely contributed to my friend marriage imbroglio.
There is no clear trust and respect for the bride on the part of the groom, while the bride feel insecure from this incessant occurrences on the part of the groom, which makes her feeling home sick and misses everybody that matters most in her life. Not to be at the centre of a young marriage problems, I guess I have to stop taking the call of my friend if it relates to matter affecting their marriage, as it is beginning to take stock on this blogger especially when he is already being put at the centre of some of their controversy.
I guess readers of this blog should take a cue from my experience, it is only wiser to maintain a respectable distance of giving advice to couples at certain stage, and I want to believe that now is the best time as far as my friend marriage is concerned.

EFCC Arrest Ex-Governor Fayose

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Sources told P.M.News this afternoon that he was picked up today by the EFCC operatives who will keep him in their custody throughout this weekend until next week Monday when he will be flown from Lagos to Kaduna for trial.

Sources at the EFCC further revealed that Fayose is to face trial over alleged corruption.

It was gathered that after his arrest, the Ekiti State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had requested that the EFCC release Fayose to answer charges for alleged murder but the EFCC turned down the request, insisting that the former governor won’t be released until he is charged to the Federal High Court in Kaduna next week.

An Ekiti High Court judge had ruled that Fayose could not be arraigned but since that order has been vacated, the former governor will now face trial over the allegation of murder levelled against him after EFCC is through with him.

Fayose had returned to Ekiti last week after almost a year of being in self exile and announced that he was ready to be quizzed by EFCC regarding the allegations levelled against him over corrupt enrichment while in office.

It was as a result of the allegations that he was impeached by the State House of Assembly late last year and he immediately disappeared to avoid being arrested by EFCC.

CUULED FROM the news

Fayose's return - What next?

It was given a wide publicity yesterday when the impeached former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose make a seeming triumphant entry into Ekiti State. The way and manner he arrived, certainly shows that it was a bold entry. His address to his supporters put a credence to this, when he stand on the podium to address them.
This blogger has since his returned pause to ponder where exactly he hide himself for the period of his absence knowing fully well that he might be arrested. Now that he had shown himself, since yesterday, there was no news of his arrest, does it mean there is no tag on him for arrest during the period he ran away? Was it that, those who promise to deal with him after impeachment had relaxed, and that explained why he surfaced triumphantly?
I think that it is only a matter of time before the Police will pick him up, or better still, the EFCC might also invite him for a chat. There are some matter pending against Fayose before he took a french leave. The poulty project matter is still pending. There is also a case of murder hanging on his neck. We awaits future developments.

The Pretenders (1)

Apart from corruption which has eaten deep into conscience of Naijas, Pretending is another vices well noticed by this blogger but hardly noticed by most Nigerians.
From the top, I can count the number of pretenders on the part of our leaders who pretended not to want the coveted seat of leadership as President, whereas they are scheming underground to realise their ambitions. The irony however, is that it is always those who pretends not to crave for it that ended up getting the job. Of recent example, while the Odilis and co. were busy touring the country lobbying for the mission to succeed the OBJ, the present President hardly consults wide enough, and he ended up getting the job. Same story with the past President.
Now to the issue of nudity, sex and pornography, Naija people are known for their pretences that such should be discouraged. They achieved this pretences by making it loud and clear that no obscenity should appear on our local TV stations. That probably give room for inquisitiveness, as a lot of people are known to imbibe the habit of watching the pornography movies. A visit to those selling pirated CDs and DVDs will butress this point. A recent interactions with a vendor of this pirated CDs and DVDs revealed that the pornography CDs and DVDs sell like hot cakes. Now what would have happen to their market if such obscenity is permitted on local TVs?.
In the last Big Brother Africa, if Mnet were to release the figure of Nigeria women that seek to participate in the event, I am sure the figure will be alarming, despite the fact that they known there is going to be shower hour on the reality show which will make them revealed their nakedness. One would also be amazed to known the number of parents who does not care whether their daughter participated in such an event.
Having said this however, this blogger continue to ponder why we pretends that all is well, while in actual fact, we all know it is a mere pretences. As long corruption can never be nip in the bud, pornography too can never be nip in the bud. Government probably know they cant control the racketeering surrounding pornography, no wonder the only fight they can muster is to pretend to us all that Nigerian prefer not to publicise owning to love watching pornography.
Visit any of Nigerian forum and you will be amazed with the rate at which Nigerian pretends in their views and opinions. When an issue that is very common in our daily life crop up for discussion, Nigerians are quick to condemn such acts while in actual facts, that is exact replica of what is happening in their lives. I guess Pretending is entrenched on our psyche right here in Africa.
Look, I gotta go, I must however confess that, if anyone read this piece and hiss or believed it is another figment of my imagination as regard the points raised, I guess the bug of pretending also reign supreme in your life. How sad!!!

This is cool - So who was driving?

I got this in my mail box. It is cool though.

One night Jack Evans, along with his 3 university friends went out drinking till late night, as many college students are prone to do, and didn't study for their test, which, of course, was scheduled for the next day. In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as dirty and weird as they could with grease and dirt. They went up to the dean and explained that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return the tire of their car burst. They continued to explain how they had to push the car all the way back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test. The dean, being a compassionate human being said that they could take the test after 3 days. The students graciously replied that they'd be ready by that time.
On the third day, they appeared before the dean. The dean explained that since this was a special test all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the duration of the exam. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last three days. The test consisted of 5 questions with total of 100 points: MID SEMESTER COURSE WORK EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS : All questions are required. Any inconsistencies on any of the questions among the four students will result in all the candidates getting a zero mark.
Q.1. Write down your name. ----- (2 POINTS)
Q.2. Write the name of the bride and bridegroom at the wedding you attended. ----- (30 POINTS)
Q.3. What type of a car were you driving? ------(20 POINTS)
Q.4. Which tire burst? ------- (28 POINTS)
Q.5. Who was driving? ------ (20 POINTS)

2 years....... Still very much in mind.

The incident of 2 years ago today, is still very much in my mind. A day hardly pass without thinking about the incident. May the lord continue to forgive your sins. Rest in perfect peace my son. I missed you very much in my life. Adieu.

Read this Picture

HAZARDOUS - Emissions From Cell Phones and Base Stations

Fear of uncertainty still envelopes users of cell phones as to whether radioactive emissions from cell phones really endanger their health.

Several unconfirmed reports from local and international research have put confusion in the minds of users, as some reports suggest that emission from cell phones and base stations could cause health risk such as dizziness, headaches, cancer, brain tumor, hearing defect, among others. But some research reports suggest otherwise, claiming that the amount of emission from cell phones and telecommunication base stations are too small to cause health risk in humans.

The cloud of confusion was, however, cleared at the weekend in Lagos, where the National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS) held a one-day seminar on "radiation health risks associated with the use of mobile phones."

National President of NATCOMS, Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, said in his opening remarks that the seminar was organised to clear the confusion about the perceived health risk associated with emissions from cell phones. According to him, the seminar was not meant to raise fears, but aimed at enlightening Nigerians and cell phone users on the need to play safe, while communicating with cell phones.

The seminar was attended by officials from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecom operators, and radiation emission researchers, and cell phone users.

Presenting a paper at the seminar, Dr. Moses Aweda, research medical physicist of the Department of Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, described cell phone communication as voice transmission from the antenna in form of radiofrequency radiation. He insisted that continuous use of cell phones could pose health risk to users.

According to him, frequency of cell phone radiation is between 800 and 1,990 mhz, and that the human brains may absorb up to 60 per cent of the radiation energy.

He explained that much microwave or cell phone radiation exposures could adversely affect health. Radiation, he said, is electromagnetic and consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together through space at the speed of light.

"We live in a world of radiation and we are exposed to both natural and man-made radiations," he said.

According to him, Nigerians are exposed to all forms of radiations such as ultraviolet light from the sun and radio waves from radio and television broadcasts, and that the effects of cell phone radiation may be immediate or delayed. Some tissues are highly radiosensitive and each tissue has its own risk factor, he said.

Aweda advised cell phone users to spend the minimum possible time on phones even when the call is justified.

When people are not making calls, they should be able to keep the set at the farthest possible distance from the body, he said, insisting that the use of headset hand free is highly recommended, as well as other devices that reduce the power of emission reaching the body.

He, however, said that a cell phone user's level of exposure to radiation depends on several factors which include amount of cell phone traffic, quality of the transmission, how far the antenna is extended, size of the handset, among other factors.

He called on cell phone users to consider using cell phones with low power rating and ensure that they do not use cell phones with power rating higher than the national/international standard limits

Another researcher, Dr. O.B. Eletu, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology, who presented a paper on the effect of cell phone radiation on youths and children, explained that the widespread use of mobile phones is a recent phenomenon and that the use of cell phones and related technologies will continue to increase for the foreseeable future

Wireless devices such as cell phones, utilise radio waves (radiofrequency or electromagnetic fields) to transmit information, adding that reports have suggested that cell phones radiation may impact on children’s health.

Although he said the use of cell phone is important to man, he stressed that a mobile phone provides an "emotional and functional prop" for children as well increased vulnerability of preadolescent children.

According to Eletu, pre-adolescent children can be expected to be (potentially) more at risk than are adults for the following reasons:

Absorption of microwaves of the frequency used in cell phones is greater in an object about the size of a child’s head - the so-called head resonance – than in an adult’s. Smaller skull of a child allows more penetration of the radiation into the brain than in an adult. The developing nervous system and associated brain-wave activity in a child are more vulnerable to the pulses of microwaves used in GSM than in a mature adult

The increased mitotic activity in the cells of developing children makes them more susceptible to genetic damage.

The increased mitotic activity in the cells of developing children makes them more susceptible to genetic damage.

He said in Oct 2004, a Swedish research concluded that those who used mobiles for 10 years were almost twice as likely to develop an acoustic neuroma - a tumor on a nerve connecting the ear to the brain and that in Jan 2005. He advised parents not to allow children under nine to use mobiles because of potential but unproven risks.

However, in December 2006, a Danish study of people with brain tumors concluded there were no increased risks for heavy users.

Apart from cell phones, there have also been conflicting reports that emissions from base stations can pose risk to human health.

Celtel, however, said it holds tenaciously, the company’s electromagnetic emissions compliance policy.

According to mobile operator, the objective of the Celtel electromagnetic emissions policy is to ensure that the general public is, at all times, exposed to safe levels of the radio frequency fields known to emanate from its base stations. It further explained that in line with the position taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on what constitutes safe radio frequency exposure, Celtel shall at all times adhere to the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) public exposure guidelines.

Culled from Independent Newspapers

Big Brother Africa II - Where Immoral triumphs over Moral

The Big Brother Africa II reality show ended yesterday, and as was expected and unexpected, the Tanzania candidate, Richard won by a slight margin. He beat the Nigerian contestant Ofunneka to the 100,000 dollars prize.

The outcome of the results clearly shows that Immorality triumphs over Morality. Richard it was, that is very popular with the reality show for his glaring immoral and uncare attitude while the shows lasted. His love escapdes with the Angolan contestant Tatiana is well known to the followership of the reality show. One would have thought that, following the patterns of voting from the beginning of the show, where those who throw immoral to the wind ended up being evicted, Ofunneka who is more decent and represent a true African Women with her disposition, character and conduct, should have won the prize, but, it was Richard, who epitomises all the names calling that has the face of immorality that won the prize.
My candid opinion however is that, it wasn't Richard character or his popularity that earn him the prize, but his supporters did the outside job for him. This is possible because of the voting patterns adopted by the Big Brother. All participating country represent one vote each, while the rest of Africa represent one vote. In all, there is a total number of 13 votes, since there are 12 countries participating. A look at the voting pattern of the grand finale clearly shows that the southern African countries voted in favour of Richard, and I hasten to add that, it wasnt because of his popularity, but because of the background work of Richard's supporters. His supporters resides in countries in the Southern Africa i.e Tanzania, it is easier for them to garner supports for him by travelling to the participaing southern african countries, buy phone credit, and vote massively for Richard in each of the countries.
As far as I am concerned, if the rest of Africa were unbundled, to represent various number of votes, Ofunneka would have beaten him to it. To buttress my point, if Richard indeed won because he "entertained" us with his immoral performances as his supporters would want us to believed, how come his co-adjutor in the immoral acts i.e Tatiana ended up with only one vote from her own country, Angola. The fact that Ofunneka captured the "rest of Africa" vote means that, she won the heart of African people who truly appreciates moral values.
From the outcome of the grand finale, it clearly shows that there is no any single lesson from this Big Brother Africa, It means it promotes immoral values, encourages and rubber stamped adultery as seen with the way Richard who suppose to exhibit great caution being a married man, throw caution to the wind and had sex during his sojourn in the house. The only losers amongst them is the Angola contestants, who was seemingly used by Richard and ended up with only one vote and of course may lose Richard to his wife, and probably lose (Gustavo) her boyfriend too. To those who believed the lady in this picture is Ricki, Richard's wife, she is not, she is Linda, Richard's sister.
There is also Richard wife's antecedents while the show lasted. At a time she open a blog in the name of her husband where she updates Richard fans. But as soon as Richard started having immoral acts with one of the housemates, she withdrew from the blog, but later issue a statement towards the end telling whoever care to listen that she intend to open up as at when due to the media. Now that Richard is a rich man, and Tatiana has confirmed to the whole world that she and Richard will hook up and continue if their both lovers abandoned them, the BBA II continues. This blog will keep you posted.
I hasten to add however, that this blogger and his entire household do solemnly declare henceforth not to watch or participate in the programme again.
Those who were greatly dissappointed with the outcome of the grand finale are beginning to wonder whether Ofunneka would go ahead and sue the organiser of the reality show for the ugly incident that involved her and the eventual winner Richard during the show. Ofunneka sure did her best, and it should rest on the conscience of those who know what true moral values are to mourn her loss of the prize money. Truth is, she did earn a much more coveted prize than the 100,000 dollars - a true African Woman whose moral values will be well respected and cherished by all African, as seen with the way the rest of Africa voted for her.

BBA II - Would Ofunneka follow the footsteps of Cherise?

After 98 days of intense maneuvering and backbiting among housemates, the curtain finally falls this weekend on the M-Net Big Brother 2 Television Reality show. Without a doubt, the big question on the lips of every BBA fan in the continent is, who among the trio of Nigeria’s Ofunneka, Angola’s Tatiana and Tanzania’s Richard, will clinch the coveted $100,000 or N12.6 million on offer this Sunday?
I am not good at predictions, but sometimes, I do predict silently to myself which most times come into pass. I remember, I had supported Katung during the BBN, and he won gallantly. As for this BBA 2, my support is with Ofunneka, the Nigeria contestant in the house. Each day I think about how the voting will look like, I ended up finding it difficult to believe that she wont win. All the aces are on her side. But if recent text messages by Richard fans which are being shown on the screen, is anything to go by, I am beginning to have jitters. However, the contest is certainly between Ofunneka and Richard. I have to say it with all sense of modesty however, that I believe that Ofunneka will win and join the Cherise the winner of BBA first edition. If Ofunneka wins, it will be the second time in the running that female would win the Big Brother Africa.
Most of the evicted housemates has come out to say that Ofunneka would win, One of them even said it recently that she is the only housemates who had stick to her game plan since the beginning of the show.
What is more, something keeps telling me that Ofunneka would win comes this Sunday. Best of luck Ofune-Mama.

HAZARDOUS - Liverpool Fan Kills Arsenal Supporter

This should be the third or fourth time this is happening in Nigeria. That is of course those that were reported. The hazards of supporting English premier League has claimed another victim. This was reported in the news newspapers yesterday. I had also reported 2 of such incidence in another blog operated by myself but now merged with this one, where a Bolton fan also stabbed an Arsenal fan in the last year Carling Cup. Is this madness not getting too much?

Here is the story.

A 28-year-old fan of Arsenal FC of England, Mr. Femi Ajibola, has been stabbed to death by a Liverpool FC supporter. P.M.News learnt today that the incident took place at Afijuomo area of Mile 12, Lagos, after the 1-1 draw between the two teams last Sunday.

Sources at the scene of the incident told P.M.News learnt that the suspect, Mr. Wahebi, a fan of Liverpool FC, engaged Mr. Ajibola, an Arsenal fan, in an argument over which club is superior.

“The heated argument led to a fight but the intervention of neighbours and other fans, brought the situation under control. Ajibola and Wahebi thus went their separate ways,” he said.

It was learnt that not satisfied, Wahebi went to his house, picked up a knife and went to Ajibola’s house where another fight ensued and Wahebi stabbed Ajibola.

Ajibola, P.M.News learnt, was taken to Ikeja General Hospital but he died on the way due to excessive bleeding.

It was further gathered that after Wahebi learnt of Ajibola’s death, he fled the area along with his entire family.

When P.M.News visited Wahebi’s house this morning at 20, Afijuomo street, Mile 12, the two storey building where over six families lived before the incident was completely deserted.

P.M.News learnt that tenants and Wahebi’s family fled for fear of being arrested by policemen from Ketu who are investigating the murder.

It was gathered that after the incident, the youths in the area attempted to burn Wahebi’s house but were advised by the elders in the area not to take laws in their hands.

The atmosphere in the area this morning was still tense days after the incident happened.

A Governor by Supreme Court not by the People

I blog about the sacking of Governor Omeiha in my blog yesterday in a hurry and quickly wondered aloud how it is possible to install Amaechi as the Governor without contesting an election.
This makes him the first Governor in Nigeria who did not stand before the electorates before becoming a Governor. I still find it very hard to believe that someone who did not stand for an election, did not campaign for an election, present a manifesto for an election, did not even tell the people his programme of action if elected is now a Governor - What a judgment!
Perhaps, it is only in Nigeria that we now have a Governor who was not duly elected by the electorates. By the way, I hail from Kwara State, Nigeria and I have no support for either Celestine Omeiha or Rotimi Amaechi.

What is more, the man that was now installed as Governor has been expelled from PDP along with Ararume in the wake of 2007 Governorship election. The Supreme Court is even silent on whether he should be re-instated into PDP or not. Now that he is not a member of PDP, on which manifesto platform would he based his government administration?

The matter of his deputy is also there. Who is going to be his deputy? the incumbent deputy or he will be choosing his own deputy. How about the control of the state assembly? For how long will he be in the stewardship as Governor before the PDP controlled State Assembly impeach him.

Whatever the travails of Amaechi regime as the Supreme Court installed Governor, I suggest he should not be pity, such is what is applicable to those that use the back door to be Governor without being elected by the electorates who in the first instance has the right to elect a Governor to rule over them.

With this judgment, a precedent is set again in Nigeria. Once there is a problem during the party primaries, an aggrieved contestant can win an election without facing the electorates if he/she goes to court. This will greatly be capitalized upon by the ruling party, once it is sure that the candidates it was trying to field would not win an election if he/she is made to face the electorates, they can simply cook up some hankypanky similar to that of Rotimi Amaechi and thereafter seek legal redress citing the Sujpreme court judgment that single handedly handed the Governorship to Amaechi. I hasten to state it once again that from my own layman point of view, this judgment is flaw with error.

S'Court sacks Omehia, okays Amaechi as Rivers gov

The Supreme Court on Thursday removed from office Mr. Celestine Omehia as governor of Rivers State. In his stead, the court's seven Justices that sat over the suit unanimously ruled that the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, should be sworn-in immediately as the governor of the state. The judgement was read by Justice Katsina-Alu Amaechi, who won the state governorship primaries of the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP) last December but was later substituted with Omehia by the ruling party, had gone to both the Federal High Court annd Court of Appeal but failed in both bids to restore his mandate. Amaechi again headed for the Supreme Court to appeal the verdict of the appellant court.

Now from a layman point of view, isnt this judgement by supreme court full of flaw? For God's sake the people of Rivers State voted for a candidate in Omehia and not PDP, so I dont see why Amaechi should be the Governor without contesting an election. Methinks, a re-election should have been ordered. Pause and ponder over this!!!

Still on Big Brother Africa II

I just need to say this that most Africans are pretenders when it come to the matter of morality. Take the case of Big Brother Africa II for instance, they are the one to quickly condemn the shower hour and also the first to watch it with a great attention.
Mnet is at liberty to show the content of Big Brother Africa as long as the content does not violates the age restrictions. The TV station put the age restrictions on the screen and this shows that certain category of people should be restricted. TV is meant to entertain and relax from a hard day's job, and it goes to show that what is a one man's meat is another man's poison. What some people are quick to condemn is another person's fantasy.
Truth is, if the content of Big Brother Africa II is too much to bear for those who are complaining, let them just switch to other channels or better still block the channel. Enough of shifting blame to other places for what we ourselves have absolute control over.

The birth of a Nigerian Nollywood Photo blog

For a long time, I had nurse the idea of starting a photo blog, the idea give birth to Nigeria nollywood photo blog. The reason behind it was that, it took a long search on the net most of the times to get at least some reasonable pictures of Nigerian actors or actresses. This does not go down well with me. So I thought if I started the Nollywood photo blog, pictures of nigerian nollywood actors and actresses will be more celebrated as would be display by this blogger.
Interested bloggers should take a trip to this blog and chip in suggestions as to how to make it more better than it is now. I am still experimenting and researching into how it will be better than it is now, your constructive criticism is highly welcome.

Welcome to Nigerian Nollywood Photo blog.

What a coincidence?

I added another year on 11th October. This goes to show that, the salah day also happens to be my birthday! So it is double celebrations. I guess this type of celebrations happens rarely in a lifetime. What a co-incidence!
Barka da Salah to my dear readers! and did I hear someone say Happy birthday!?

When Dida took a 'dive'

'Diving' is the right football terms to use to describe the action of AC Milan goaltender Dida, when he did theunthinkable during the last UEFA champions league involving Celtic FC. A crazy Celtic FC fan invaded the pitch after his team had scored the winning goal to 'tap' (I wont say slap) Dida on the shoulder or was it neck? Dida responded by trying to pursue the fan, when he couldnt catch up with him after about three strides, he felt on the ground as if the effect of the tapping has just gone down on him. The resultant effect of the scenarios was that, Dida was stretch out of the field of play because of that incident. Now that is what I called diving in the field of play.
This whole scenarios further put paid to my believe that those Italian clubs are known for one thing in the game 'cheating'. What Dida failed to achieved from his 'diving' act was that the referee has no power to decide on this particular type of 'diving' but the UEFA itself. They subsequently subject him to disciplinary action. We awaits their decision.

She wont resign? - So What?

So what if Madam Speaker does not want to resign? To me, I want to believe that the whole saga is being politicised, and definitely not on the fact of fighting "due Process" as our Lawmakers want us to believe. Truth is what was the precedence before she became speaker? I am quite sure if the probe covered the past speakers of the house, we will discovered that due process wasnt follow during their terms. Why was her own different? Was it because she is a woman, no wonder there was no a single woman in the panel that probe the scandal? or perhaps because she step on some toes who are hell bent in keeping certain key Chairman of certain committees as their birthright? Was it because she has the rubber stamp of the former President? or better still because some adversaries want to take her position by all means.
Whilst I am not saying this in her support, I however hold the firm belief that those Politicians are all the same. There is no gainsaying in it that the next successor will follow due process. It is when those lawmakers want to deal with any of their colleagues who seems not to dance to their tunes or follow the lay down "systems where rub my back I rub yours persist" that they invoke some nice tune like ("due process") that the public will want to hear to crucify each other. They are all the same. I hasten to add however that all their in-fighting was not because of we the electorates they represents, but because of their pockets no wonder they can descend so low as to box shamefully at the House while their children are watching the show of shame. I beg let us hear words. If she said she wont resign, who cares! One thing is quite clear, her resignation can never set things right as long as her successor continue to sing the tune they want to hear and not the tune the electorates wants. To hell with their lots.

The Mandara Margi: A Society Living on the Verge

The above topic was first inspired by Jeremy's blog. But while I was going through the web site, I came across the Ethnographer's note. What catches my attention was the above picture which appear at the bottom of this page. Read the preceding paragraph and, like the writer do say - "Think about it"

Was that fighting for our sake?

I was so much consumed with work that I hardly find time to comment on last week show of shame at the House of Representatives. The question that keep ringing in my mind since then was whether those boxing, those shouting, those temper flaring and of course those show of same were all for our sake. I mean we the masses are the one those legislators claimed they represent at the House, therefore, was all those fighting for our sake? Are they doing that to defend our interest?
The answer of course is a capital NO. They are doing that to defend their own selfish interest and I made bold to say that they are defending their pocket as well as fighting for the money they have collected.
Like I had commented earlier on this blog, what Madam Speaker did was not a new thing, it has always been the case at the House, I wonder why there was so much noise on this particular Speaker probably because she is a woman. Of course, I need to bring gender into it since the whole house did not deem it fit to include a woman on the panel investigating the whole saga. I think the whole fighting and noise making was the fall out of the appointment of the House Committees Chairman and other juicy positions. Some people are hell bent that the Speaker must go, to pave way for their parochial interest.
Mind you, I am not saying I support the Speaker, what I am saying is that they are all the same, it will still be the same story, should another person come on board.
Enough of those show of shame, we the masses are not impressed one bit other than that they are showing their real self to us - Thieves!
So, pause and ponder along with me whether those fighting are being embark on by our Legislators to protect the interest of electorates. I dont think so.

Joan Agabi of Big Brother Nigeria

Yes, Joan of Big Brother Nigeria, I had a chat with her of recent and was able to extract some answers to questions a lot of her fans had wanted to ask her. Here goes

PTP: How have you been coping with fame after the BBN?
Joan: we handle it as it comes.

PTP: After your participation in BBN, what have you been doing?
Joan: Acting in movies and soaps.

PTP: Can you mention some of the films you have participated in?
Joan: A price to pay, be my val, duty, twisted.

PTP: How have you gone with furthering your studies?
Joan: School starts in febuary.

PTP: Going personal now, a lot of your fans will want to know candidly, what has been happening between you and Chinedu?
Joan: We have remained good friends.

PTP: What is your general view about Nollywood?
Joan: It is a work in progress.

PTP: Who is your favourite housemates in Big Brother Africa.
Joan: I dont watch much of TV but i would say richard is ok.

PTP: Can you compare the BBN and BBA.
Joan: It is different a lot.

PTP: How had it been going with you and other BBN housemates after the show.
Joan: Everyone is doing fine.

Next on this blog will be her Vital Statistics. Watch out!

NFA/NFL Crisis

Even FIFA the highest ruling body of the game had not laid an example of banning its official for 3 years despite the offences as serious as mismanaging money. But, here in Nigeria, anything is possible. For merely fighting to save our league and pivoting it to a better standard and refusing to allow the laid down foundation to be jeopardised, the NFL Chairman Obaseki and its deputies got suspended for 3 and 2 years respectively.
Nigerian football is in for another problem this year. Despite the fact that, it was planned to start our own league to run parri-passu with that of eruope, the league has not yet start up till now due to NFA/NFL Crisis. The bone of contention this time around is appointment of referees for league matches even though everyone knows it wasnt that but globacom money to run the league. The truth of that however came out when the seeming bone of contention i.e appointment of referees for matches was settled when the NFL agreed that it was NFA who could appoint referees. The imbroglio continued with the NFL chairman getting suspended along with his deputies.
Now, our football is in problem and the league might take a while before it commences unless the Senate successfully waded into the matter and resolved it amicably. What is more, the Club Owners Association had take a stand that it will not ordered its clubs to participate in the league scheduled to take off this weekend if the NFL officials suspended are not re-instated. What an Impasse!
When will our football be run by the professionals and not by politicians? When would NFA be run like the real NFA and not like a Federal Ministry or Parastatals? When would NFA be more responsible and avoided ugly incidences like unpaid bonus to Super Eagles, Super Falcon and of course glaring neglect of the Golden Eaglet before their triumph at the U-17 African Nation Cup as well as their shot at the real thing - U-17 FIFA World Cup which they won, but which NFA has been going about with the accolades as if they were the true brain behind the achievement.

See My Daddy's Car

My Son is 2 years old and you can never guess what his daddy's car look like, but the truth is he can recognise the make of the car at any slightest sight of it. He is now accustomed to the phrase "See my daddy's car" each time he sighted the make of the car irrespective of colour or model. Nobody seems to know how he was able to photographed the make of that car in his brain. On a long journey that involves him of recent, he actually make the journey less stressful because each time he sighted the make of his daddy's car, he will draw our attention to it. If you are lock in a deep conversation and you seems not to listen to his 'phrase' he continue to shout your name until you discard such conversation and reply with another phrase he is accustomed to i.e 'yeah, See this boy daddy's car'. Kids!!!

Be careful how you list names on your cell phone

I got this from my mail box, and felt I should share it with those who might not have received same. Here it goes....
This lady has changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag which contained her mobile, credit card, purse...etc....was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says "I've just received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago." When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.
The pickpocket had actually used the stolen hand phone to text "hubby" in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from the bank account. Moral of the lesson: Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, sweetheart, Dad, Mum etc....... And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked thru texts, CONFIRM by calling back. Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet "family and friends" who text you.

What about the Silver Eaglets?

When the Ugbade led Eaglet won the maiden edition of the U-16 world youth Tournament in china in 1985, all the sets of the recently crowned Golden eaglet were yet to be born, neither were they when the next eaglet failed to lift the trophy again in Canada 2 years later. How time flies.
While we are quick to remember the three occasions where we triumphed in the competition, it is a pity how we are quick to forget to celebrate the period when we came close to winning the trophy i.e Canada in 1987 and Trinidad & Tobago in 2001. So I said what about the Silver Eaglets? Those of us who still cares, does these names still rings a bell as regards those who took Silver in Canada 87 even though they lost on penalties, or these names that clinch Silver in 2001?

I am back

3 weeks now I have left this blog unattended. I explained the reasons when I took the leave of absence. My 3 weeks absence open my eyes as for the first time in my life I travel all the way from Abuja to Ilorin all by myself and alone in the vehicle, and indeed a smooth journey. My journey also took me to Lagos where also for the first time in my life, I saw how the Area Boys do their things. I witness the way and manners they collect toll from the danfo drivers as if they are the one they are working to take care of, I however do not pity my danfo driver I boarded because he tried to take a fast one on us (Me and my friend who is my guide). In all, he had to settled about 11 different groups of area boys on our way to Oshodi bridge from Ojota. Lagos will always be Lagos, probably the only city in Nigeria that bear a native name and English name - Eko and Lagos.
While away, I also visited Ilorin town in Kwara State. It is still its old self, with the idea of blocking the road just to hold festivities. I had trouble making my way around. But I must confess that the town is very neat and tidy, the Governor is doing an excellent job on this part.
Now, while I was away, I wasnt current with much of the news around, but I heard of the suspension put on denomination of the Naira. Some even argue that, the government had to veto its suspension because of some powerful people it will be affected, other even argue that its suspension is political in nature because at the end of the day when the action become successful, the CBN Governor will be more powerful than the President himself. Can you believe that, what an arrant nonsense.
I cannot but also comment on the Madam Speaker's 'Contract Gate'. I wonder what the fuse is all about, all the present crop of legislators needs to do is to check on the precedents before the advent of this new speaker what has been the practice. I am quite sure she follows the footsteps of her precedecessors in office. Perhaps there is so much dust on this one because she is a MADAM Speaker. It is the systems that is bad, not the Madam speaker herself.
During my leave of absence, I also happen to get in touch with Joan Agabi - remember her? Well, let me reminded you of her, she is one of the housemates of the famous Big Brother Nigeria. I had some interesting vital statistics on her which I will publish in due course.
Now that I am back, I guess I am back with a bang!

I am out for a while

Starting today, posting to my blog may remain stagnant as I intend to travel away from my base. If however I have access to internet, I shall surely update the blog. I will be proceeding on a one week course sponsored by my employer and will proceed on another 2 weeks leave thereafter. I am in for a long absence if things go on as planned.
Also, for the first time, I intend to undertake a journey by driving myself, one actually needs such adventure in life. You need to see the way I am preparing, it is as if I am going out of the country. Please wish me safe journey. Peace out!!!!!!!

More Questions about the CBN New Naira Reforms

The Central Bank of Nigeria announced major currency reforms whereby the naira is being transformed by dropping two zeros or moving two decimal points to the left which is also aimed at reducing the quantum of money in circulation and preserve the value of the naira. Under the new reforms, 100 naira now becomes one naira. See full story

Now that is a preamble, the real thing is what happens if the regime take effect from August next year? There had been some opinions on what the regime will look like and there had been some insight into it as could be seen from this article in the Thisday

Now having said all this, there are still many questions, some rhetorical in nature since we both know what will happen, but I tell you, there are some that can best be answered when the regime actually take effect. But first, the matters arising.

No doubt, there would be a lot of coin carriage as against the present regime where we deal so much in paper money. Most of the daily transactions of buying and selling will be done through coins. There wont be ignoring of coins change as every coins is very important now.

Vending machine will spring up all over Nigeria, mostly those selling soft drinks. Phone booth will spring up also that will require coin slot while Kalo Kalo machine will continue to reign.

Beggars will have a field day since there will be large amount of coins in circulation, this may promote street begging.

Customers would be more interested in their bank balances to the kobo since Coins would be so much involved in daily transactions of buying and sellings.

Prices of commodity would also be affected as some items that price ceilings could not be fixed minimally before would have different coins denominations to rest on. For instance, a sachet of Pure Water cannot jump from 5k to 10k, it could rise from 5k to 6k as against the present regime where it rose from 5 naira to 10 naira.

What will happen to the Phone tarrif in Nigeria? In the present regime it is 50 - 60 kobo per second, what would it change to?

What about price of fuel? would it change to 7 kobo per litre?

Would the Fulani traders who are selling Cow still understand that the Cow he used to sell for 40,000 naira is now 400 naira?

What will happened at Owanbe parties? Would the people still spray 20 naira denominations being the highest denominations but equalled to 2,000 naira of present regime?. Would 50 kobo paper money that will be introduced gained popularity in owambe parties as it used to be in those days?

Would Murtala edifice still appears on the yet to be introduced 20 naira note? Would Illiterate Yoruba people still prefer to call the 20 naira note (Muri kan?)

Would ATM machines be programmed to dispense coins?

What will happen if US also decided to decimalise its own dollar such that the present 100 dollar is now 1 dollar? Would Nigeria again decimalise its own naira?

How many Nigerians would lose their precious title of Millionnaire and Billionnaire?

I beg I don tired jare, if you know of more questions email me or better still the comments is open for your contributions.

The Killer Kerosene

Kerosene explosion has reared its ugly heads again in Nigeria. Of recent, in parts of Delta State, particularly Ughelli and Warri, kerosene explosions claimed no less than 11 lives and left a number of property destroyed. As if that was not enough, the ugly development spread to neighbouring Rivers State where at the Nigerian Railways Quarters in Port Harcourt five people lost their lives. Earlier, kerosene explosions had occured in Okoduiri in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State and in Borokiri area of Port Harcourt.
These explosions are mainly caused by adulterated Kerosene. In order to make higher profit, since Kerosene is more expensive than Petrol, they probably mixed the content of Kerosene with Petrol fuel. This always resulted in explosion moreso because of the presence of Petrol in the kerosene mostly when the end user are using it to fuel their Kerosene Stove or carelessly display near a naked fire with the understanding that ordinary Kerosene will not cause explosion.
It is high time the distribution of this items is regularised to avoid this ugly incidence. I had paused and ponder that this is what is obtainable from Kerosene distribution that are adulterated, the consequences of this adulterated items could only be made known because of explosion it caused, what about those who had died one way or the other through other means of adulterations viz drugs, water and of course baby food items all in the way of making quick profits. Truth is, there are lots of victims these adulterations had claimed their lives which we dont know of, since most of the people that are affected simply buried their dead without conducting autopsy to determined the cause of death.
This country Nigeria, may God continue to save us from those who wants to get rich and maximise their profits at the expense of the lives of some innocent citizens.

At last, VP - Goodluck Jonathan declare assets - worths N295.3m

Bowing to public opinion, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has released the details of his assets totalling N295, 304, 420. Details of the assets declared on May 30 this year before Justice Muktar N. Dodo of the Abuja High Court show that the Vice President has no foreign accounts or assets. The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President (Media and Communications), Mr. Ima Niboro, told journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that, "this merely shows that in the affairs of man, there comes a time when even the law must take a second place, and the public mood must define our actions." To the Vice President, this is such a time, hence the choice to send you a copy of his declaration of assets for publication. There is nothing to hide, as you can very well see," he added. The total worth of Jonathan's private residences is N67, 990,000 according to the declaration, which is already with the Code of Conduct Bureau. The residences include a four- bedroom duplex in Kpansia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, valued at N15 million; a four-flat storey building extension of the family house in Yenagoa valued at N10 million; and a four-flat storey building. The rest are his seven bedroom village personal home at Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, which was bombed days before his inauguration as Vice President, valued at N18 million and a five-bedroom personal residence in Gwarinpa, Abuja valued at N24, 990,000. Under the vehicles and household items, the Vice President declared assets of N41.8 million. They include a BMW car in Abuja valued at N15 million, generators, electronics, air conditioners, furniture, kitchen utensils and others in Kpansia, Yenagoa and Gwarimpa, Abuja valued at N26 million. The BMW car was declared as a gift while the other items were declared to have been procured from savings. Jonathan also declared vacant and undeveloped plots of his to the tune of N60.538 million. They include five undeveloped plots of land in Bayelsa State, two undeveloped plots of land in Cadastral Zone BO2 and AO6 in Abuja. He disclosed also a yearly income of N62, 072, 200. These comprise investments in stocks in 16 Nigerian blue chip companies managed by City-Code Trust & Investment Company Limited. His investments also cover four 16-seater passenger boats which he hires to companies and other agencies. The Vice President's total cash in Nigerian banks (Bank PHB, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBA and others) is put at N58, 984, 123. He stated that the total income includes personal savings and income from his investments including performing stocks and hiring of the boats. Niboro said the assets declared do not include those of the Vice President's wife. This, he explained, is because "the wife of the Vice President is a public officer, being on the staff of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, Yenagoa. She could, on her own, still being in service, declare her assets through the laid down procedures." He added that the Vice President's children do not own assets. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had on June 28 released his assets declaration forms, putting his total worth at N856.64 million.
Culled from Nigerian Guardian

HITV and its Exclusive EPL TV Rights

Ever since the exclusive TV rights to English Premiership (EPL) which saw Nigeria bundled together with Africa was unbundled last year with High Entertainment Company known as HITV winning the right for Nigeria, a lots of Nigerian heave a sigh of relief that the monopoly of Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) is eventually broken. I remembered that some people are quick to point out that it is not the broken monopoly that matters but whether there will be a continuity of enjoyment of the English Premier League as was the case with the former owner of the rights DSTV.
Truth is 3 days to the commencement of this year league, the HITV is yet to commence its much talk about satellite bouquet that will enable all parts of Nigeria to view its channel. As at the time of writing this, it is only in Lagos that their services operates and that too is on terrestrial platform, which is not 100% quality of service.
For those of us who are ardent fans of English premier League (EPL), our hope of watching the commencement of the league is dashed as news emanating from HITV office indicates that those outside Lagos might have to wait a little longer if they have to hook up with their TV channels. I bet we have to depend on the one match per week free live broadcast by Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and the weekly highlights.
When would a Nigerian wholly owned companies rise up to the occasion like its counterparts in Globacom? HITV Do something fast and I am tired of having to call your office to find out what is happening. You owe Nigerians and lovers of Soccer updates, and please make sure your e-mail address is working, my last mail to you to inquired about your satellite bouquet was returned.

Down, Very Down

This is the second day in the running that nothing interests me one bit. I guess it started through the weekend, but the feeling wasn't as high at it is during the working days. A number of things could be the reasons, as one of my friend would want to agree that it could be due to old age or middle age as she put it. That reason I found very amusing because I am a lively person who knows what makes my day and go for it. But these days, they just don't interest me any more.
But what I felt could be responsible is someone that is part of me is due to sign the dotted lines in a couple of weeks. I guess losing the person to marriage life is beginning to occur to me as it is quite clear that the friend in question means a lot to me. But what can I do, I just have to let go, even though it is very painful and a very difficult thing to do, life must go on.
Now I know how it feels to let go, especially when the person concerned means a lot to you and contribute to your happiness in your life. I now know why some people are so selfish enough to do everything to frustrate their friends wedding because of what they shared together that is going down the drain. But I learn it the hard way that even though I felt the same, I am not brought up that way not to understand when to let go, and let friends move on with their life.
If you are reading this my dear friend, I want to tell the world that I cherished so much what we share together and want the world to know that I can never find another person to fill the vacuum you left in my life. You are everything to me and for ever what we share together that makes our friendship so deep in my heart will never be forgotten. As you leave the life of single for double, I can only but wish you a happy married life. I love you so much!

On NigComSat and NCC Imbroglio

In a publications placed by the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat) in some national dailies, it stated that they had applied for the use of certain frequencies and licences to enable them provide fixed, mobile and last mile services.
However, Engr Ernest Ndukwe the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) disagrees with NigComSat’s position saying its request for a license is against its original plan to provide transmission infrastructure for operator. He said further that the NigComSat request is totally against NCC regulatory environment. He said when NCC initiated this process, what it understand was that the satellite solution is desirable for providing long distance transmission, and assist to take the telecoms Operators to remote locations. He wondered why NigComSat will now abandon this objective to pursue a 3G Licence to provide last mile solutions.

The truth is the Memorandum and Article of Association which NigComSat claimed clearly empower it to provide end-to-end solutions alongside satellite owner is not enough to entitled it to telecom Licence.

It is still fresh in the memory of every Nigrians with the way Ndukwe handles GSM auction which led to the emergence of MTN, Econet and Nitel and of course the imbroglio of CIL (Communications Investment Ltd) which could not meet the auctioning licence at that time. We all coult still remember the transparency of how Glo later emerged as the Second National Carrier which is also transparency. There is also the auction of 2.5Ghz frequency which NigComSat now want, which was auctioned in 2003, of all those that won the bid, it is small proportion of them that was able to deploy because the technology to deploy is very exhorbitant. The fact that some group wants the job of Ndukwe does not mean we should take the NigComSat matter as if the regulatory body is not transparent anymore. Now, if NigComSat wants the 3G Licence at all costs, what will happen to those that paid exhorbitantly to be in business? What happen to their business? That is why reason should prevailed on NigComSat to concentrate on deployment of its satellite to vendors instead of being a last mile vendor.
The argument that its services will take care of the quality of service does not hold any water, it cannot provide GSM services through its satellites, and in any case if it can, what happens to the investments of the GSM Operators majority of who are foreign investors?
The Licence issued to Mubadala is in order since they are an investment company of the Government of United Arab Emirates. Records of the company performance in telecom industry is there to be seen, they excel, and it is a welcome development that they deploy their services in Nigeria. If NigComSat wants to be like Mubadala, then it has to pay as much as what Mubadala pays to win the Unified Access Licence.
What is more, The role of government is to provide overall direction to telecommunications development and ensure policy consistency. This role does not include participating in the provision of telecom services which NigComSat is seeking.
It is even worse for NigComSat to start mudfight with NCC Executive Vice Chairman, all in the name of trying to get a telecom Licence. NigComSat is established to provide satellite services as its name implies, and its purpose in Internet services is already felt with drastic reduction in bandwidth, to me, it cannot operate as satellite service provider as well as end-to-end service provider, it should leave the job of regulatory of telecom sector to NCC which NCC is clearly charged by the policy and the law to issue licences to all operators and service providers in Nigeria. This is why NITEL/M-TEL were licenced by the NCC and the two organizations also paid in full for their GSM frequencies and other licencees just like every other operator even when they were fully owned by government.
It is therefore in view of this clear understanding of both the provisions of the Policy and the Law that government did not consider it improper for the NCC to be represented on the Board of NigComSat. It is obvious that Government clearly did not intend NigComSat to be a fixed or mobile telecommunications services provider that will be in competition with other such licencees. The NCC has a duty to ensure a level playing field for all operators in line with the Act and international best practices. Lastly, How would NigComSat feel, if government allow another company to deploy the same satellite they had in Nigeria territory and allow them to compete with them, would they not want to run to government for Cover? The same regulatory body it is now fighting with both tooth and nail.

Happy Birthday - Papillo

Today is the birthday of my hero and my idol - Kanu Nwankwo. He to me must be the most highly-decorated African footballer in footballing history, with over 10 awards to boast of, including a UEFA Champions League medal, a UEFA Cup medal and two African Player of the Year awards. Between Arsenal's Double win in 2002, and Chelsea's FA Cup win in 2007, he was the only current Premiership player to have won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Premiership, FA Cup and Olympic Gold Medal.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Olusoji Fasuba rejects Nigeria Flag

Olusoji Fasuba create some mild drama after winning the gold medal in the 100m event at the just concluded 9th All Africa Games and some people think it was a shame to the nation. Fasuba was reported to have on two occasions rejected the Nigeria national flag for a victory run.
Eye witness at the stadium on that day narrated, Calistus Ebare of AIT threw the Nigerian flag to him as was the practised when an athlete won gold in major events, but the athlete did not picked the flag, this further prompted Frank Ilaboya of Sportville to take it to him on the tracks, which he still refused by making a gesture indicating he didn’t want the flag. Finally, his colleague, Uchenna Emedolu, collected the flag and hand it over to Fasuba again who again rejected the flag and continue the celebration without any flag.
We awaits his official reasons for this unpatriotic, shameful and disgraceful episodes. Meanwhile, that perhaps prompt me to pause and ponder whether that action is an indication that the athlete is about to dump the country or perhaps his own little way of protesting some lack of preparations on the part of officials of Team Nigeria. Like I said, earlier, we awaits his official reasons.

Darfur – Genocide or Conflict?

According to the United Nations, genocide is defined as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:"

• (a) Killing members of the group;
• (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
• (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
• (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
• (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Former U.S. President Clinton, chose to define the genocide in Kosovo with the euphemistic term "ethnic cleansing," since the term "genocide" might have implied an obligation for the United States to intervene. Perhaps, it is high time African should coined out another word to denote “Genocide” so that the crisis in Darfur be taken more seriously, if ‘Genocide’ is the only word recognized before action needs to be taken. An appropriate word like; Mini-genocide’ or ‘Multi-Genocide’ may be appropriate here.

The insurgency and counter-insurgency in Darfur began in 2003 which were driven by domestic tensions. On the one hand, there was a struggle for power within the political class in Sudan, with more marginal interests in the west (following those in the south and in the east) calling for reform at the centre. On the other, there was a community-level split inside Darfur, between nomads and settled farmers, who had earlier forged a way of sharing the use of semi-arid land in the dry season. With the drought that set in towards the late 1970s, co-operation turned into an intense struggle over diminishing resources.

As the insurgency took root among the prospering peasant tribes of Darfur, the government trained and armed the poorer nomads and formed a militia – the Janjawiid – that became the vanguard of the unfolding counter-insurgency. The worst violence came from the Janjawiid, but the insurgent movements were also accused of gross violations.

Since its onset, two official verdicts have been delivered on the violence, the first from the US, the second from the UN. The American verdict was unambiguous, that is a clear case of Genocide, but some people believe that since the US has no national interest in Sudan crisis, it can quickly rush to call the crisis a Genocide. The UN. found out that government forces and militias in Sudan conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement, throughout Darfur, but that these acts were conducted on a widespread and systematic basis, and therefore may amount to crimes against humanity, but it believed the atrocities committed does not amount to a policy of genocide, as the United States has alleged.

In September 2004, what could be termed the African Union definition of Genocide was made known when the Nigerian former President Olusegun Obasanjo, then the chair of the African Union, pronounce as to whether the crisis in Darfur was a Genocide. Hear him:
"Before you can say that this is genocide or ethnic cleansing, we will have to have a definite decision and plan and programme of a government to wipe out a particular group of people, then we will be talking about genocide, ethnic cleansing. What we know is not that. What we know is that there was an uprising, rebellion, and the government armed another group of people to stop that rebellion. That’s what we know. That does not amount to genocide from our own reckoning. It amounts to of course conflict. It amounts to violence."

The truth is Genocide is just a bigger term to entails the above definitions, isn’t it the right time that those responsible for legal definitions of Genocide re-emerge with another befitting one that befit the crisis in Darfur if “Genocide” is the only magic word that will spur the world to solve the crisis.

Please read more about the world opinion on whether the Crisis in Darfur is a Genocide or a mere conflicts?

The Month of July

The month of July virtually come and go in my life, until I got married in 2004. From then on, it is always one event to celebrate or the other any time I witness the month of July.
For a start, I got married on 18th July 2004 precisely 3 years today, I guess today is the 3rd year anniversary of our marriage. As if that is not enough, my wife's birthday is also July 10th. I remember we tried as much as possible to hold our wedding on 10th July back then so that we would be celebrating two things together on 10th July, but tried as we did, the marriage could not hold on that day.
And lastly, our bundle of joy arrived on 28th of July making it another occasion to celebrate especially where birthday is concerned. I guess to save cost, we need to fix all the celebration till July 28th and make it 3 in 1. So far, I am the odd one out in the family as birth date is concerned, because I hold the same month with Nigeria Independence.
Ever ponder how some things are mere coincidence? I guess my family and the month of July is another coincidence.

The Fighting Flying Eagles Meet their Waterloo

Just like I predicted in my last post that the flying eagles will not get past the next stage, it did came to pass yesterday when they met their waterloo in Chile.
However, the attacking flying eagles did fought gallantly, and it took the assistance of the centre referee to help subdue their fighting spirit. The truth is, the first goal, offside as it looks like, was allow for a goal by the match officials, and that demoralise the eagles. They press on forward to equalise, and again the referee came to the rescue of the Chileans again, by allowing another offsides that resulted in penalty.
Having said all this, the attacking flying eagles did their best, at least they were not disgraced in a competition where the likes of US, Mexico were also sent packing. The next thing is for the football authorities to learn from what went wrong and move forward. Just like I said earlier on in my post, it is good we do not get past this stage, as it would send a wrong signal that all is well with our preparations.

The Attacking Flying Eagles wont go far

Mark my words, the flying eagles will not get pass the next stage of the competition. I had not seen any vision, I just felt they are not good enough for the trophy. Let truth be told, and let me set aside sentiments of being a Nigerian, the present flying eagles team lack what it takes to continue in the competition. The only thing good about this team is their attacking nature and ball possession, but they lack the experience and capacity of utilising such advantages.
The number 15 shirt - Ideye Brown who is the point striker lacks poor finishing, they hardly take shot at goals, and when they does, it is always at the wrong opportunity. The best among the team are number 6 shirt, Ambrose Efe, and the number 4 shirt. The goal tender is good too, and I wonder whether the injured first choice keeper can do better than him.
Just ponder over this, if we win our next match, we probably will reach the final, but I am quite sure we cant go beyond the quarter final stage, at least that will be a good commensurate to our poor preparation for the event, reaching the final will be like, everything is well with our football.

Chris Benoit - The WWE Wrestler's Tragedy

The wrestling world has suffered another blow. WWE sensation Chris Benoit was found dead, along with his wife and son. He was 40 years old.

Benoit, his wife Nancy and his 7-year-old son Daniel were found in their Georgia home on Monday. On Tuesday, authorities announced that Benoit had strangled his wife and smothered his son before hanging himself.

Also today, the CNN on Larry King LIVE also confirmed that Benoit actually killed his wife and son before killing himself.

From an investigation that had taken place since that time when the incident happened, and continued at the crime lab earlier, where autopsies were performed on all three subjects, the case was ruled as a double homicide-suicide. Evidence in the home leads us to believe that Mr. Benoit had, sometime - possibly Friday, had murdered his wife by asphyxiation. Sometime shortly after that, on the early part of the weekend, the same for his son, Daniel, and, then maybe later on Saturday evening, some time early Sunday, had committed suicide by hanging himself in the basement area. Further results from the crime lab are still being awaited, which will include toxicology reports which can take up to several weeks to get all of that information back.

The FIFA Ban of Flying Eagles Supporters in Canada

The news making round was that FIFA ban the flying eagles supporters club in Canada from drumming their trumpets, but it is not clear enough to me, because i had not been able to read it on the net where a reason was given as to why the ban was effected.
This is a sad development because drumming and singing had always been trademark of eagles supporters club. Is FIFA now saying, drumming in match venue is now outlawed? Or was there a particular law in the hosting country banning drumming or blowing trumpet? They have started another year of Ojoro, just like they did in the last edition of the competition all in the efforts of frustrating Nigeria in lifting the trophy.

49 Sacked Unilorin Lecturers - The Real Issue

It is no more news that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called off their over 2 months old strike last Sunday and directed its members to report back to work, what is news is that among the agreement reached was that the 49 University of Ilorin lecturers sacked 6 years ago may get reprieved, because according to ASSU there is a firm signals emanating from the government to reinstate the 49 sacked lecturers.
In an earlier post by this blog, I stated that, government had not been known to reinstate sacked employees and I still maintain it. The sacked of the lecturers concerned is a forgone issue, most especially when the last administration had turn a deaf ear to all pleas to reinstate them. Having said this, I want to believe there is more to it than what the ASUU want to make us to believe as to reason why the 49 lecturers were not reinstated. The government on the other hand will never come out to tell the world the truth about why they can never reinstate them. This blog will attempt to unravel real reasons why the 49 lecturers may never be reinstated.
The 49 sacked lecturers comprises mostly (if not all of them) non indigene of Kwara State, the state where the University of Ilorin was located. The University itself is a federal universities which make it possible for the non indigene to dominate the Vice chancellorship of the University from inception. As a result of this, at a certain stage, the majority employees of the University were non indigene of Kwara state. This also affect admission quota for the indigene of the state housing the University. As a result of this, the Kwara State indigenes mostly the elites had been lobbying incoming government to correct the anomaly, but they had always not been successful. Respite however came when Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraham an indigene of Ilorin was appointed as the Vice Chancellor, he saw an opportunity to correct the anomaly as could be seen with the number of non indigenes of the state dominating the employee and admission quota of the university. I am sure the 49 sacked lecturers form a crop of those big wig among the top hierarchy of employees trying to see that the issue of correcting the anomaly never materialises. I want to further believe that this political bickering had been going on under like a cold war before ASUU embark on strike in 2001.
As usual, the Unilorin ASUU joined the strike, but the Vice Chancellor directed them to go back to work. The Unilorin ASUU refused, and the VC further threatened them that, whoever refused to go back to office shall be sacked and directed a strict monitoring of attendance. All other Academic Staff returned back to office and sign the attendance register except the 49 and they were subsequently sacked. The VC took the opportunity of the strike to get rid of the 49 lecturers to fulfill his mission The lecturer should have seen the handwriting on the wall by been wiser for it and return to office. All efforts to persuade the government to reinstate them since that time had proved unsuccessful, the Unilorin authorities does not help their matter either claiming that there is no more vacancy for their reinstatement even when Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraham tenure ended, the same scenario still persists.
The irony of the whole matter now is that, since that strike, the University of Ilorin has never joined ASUU strike, and in the recent past strike which lasted over 2 months, they had been attending classes and due to finish the semester exam any moment from now.
So from the above analysis, one would see that, it is only a lip service the government is giving to their return back to the University, reinstating them back to that University would be a miracle, aside that, the only respite that the 49 sacked lecturers could get from Yar'adua administration is a retirement with full benefit as against termination of appointment.

BOSO.ME - Check out his Vital Statistics

This series first commenced with chxta who had earlier on participates in this series by letting us into some of his vital statistics. Today, this blog try to bring out the vital statistics in BOSOME, I am sure you will love his responses to some of the statistical questions. Please read on.

BIRTH DATE:- 30^th October

E-MAIL ADDRESS :- me@boso.me.uk

ZODIAC SIGN :- Scorpio

CHILDHOOD NICKNAME :- Boso

FAVOURITE FOOD :- Beans and Dodo

FAVOURITE DRINK :- Fanta

FAVOURITE COLOUR :- Blue

FAVOURITE CAR :- Honda Accord

FAVOURITE COLOGNE :- Blue Water

FAVOURITE BOOK :- The Bible

FAVOURITE SPORT:- Soccer (Is there any other sport? Really?)

FAVOURITE NIGERIAN :- Wole Soyinka

FAVOURITE FOOTBALLER (MALE) :- Steve Gerrard

FAVOURITE SOCCER CLUB: Liverpool

FAVOURITE NIGERIAN FOOTBALLER (FEMALE) :-

FAVOURITE FOREIGN FOOTBALLER :- Steve Gerrard

FAVOURITE MUSIC (TRADITIONAL) :-

FAVOURITE MUSIC (FOREIGN) :- Blues

FAVOURITE NIGERIA MUSICIAN:- Big Lo

FAVOURITE FOREIGN MUSICIAN:- Ruben Studdard

FAVOURITE NIGERIA ACTOR (ENGLISH) :- Don’t watch Nigerian movies

FAVOURITE FOREIGN ACTOR:- Denzel Washington

FAVOURITE FOREIGN ACTRESS:- Sandra Bullock

FAVOURITE FOREIGN MOVIE:- Cool Runnings

FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER:- This Day

FAVOURITE MAGAZINE:- Don’t have one

FAVOURITE RELIGIOUS ARTISTE (MALE) :- Fred Hammond

FAVOURITE RELIGIOUS ARTISTE (FEMALE) Yolanda Adams

FAVOURITE GOSPEL SINGER:- Fred Hammond

UNCOMPROMISING HABIT:- Reading ANYTHING

UNCONTROLLED WEAKNESS :- Watch TV too much

PERSON I LOVE TO MEET AT THIS MOMENT:- Bill Gates

PERSON I DREAMT OF MEETING :- Bill Gates

FAVOURITE MODE OF DRESSING:- T shirt and jeans

FAVOURITE MAXIMS :- "You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle

MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES :- "No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness" Aristotle

MY GUIDING SAYING:- "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." Bill Shankly

GIFT OR TALENT:- singing

HAPPIEST MOMENT IN LIFE :- day my daughter was born

MOST ADMIRED POLITICIAN:- Tony Blair

MODE OF RELAXATION:- sleep

MOST AMAZING TECHNOLOGY:- radio. Wireless technology has changed our lives in so many ways