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.

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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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.

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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!?

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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.

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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.

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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"

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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.

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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!

I'm reading: Joan Agabi of Big Brother Nigeria

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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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!!!!!!!

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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.

I'm reading: More Questions about the CBN New Naira Reforms

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.

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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

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!!!

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Still Gunners for Life?

Of course, it is still a shock to some of us Arsenal Fans that our talismanic Striker, the Igwe himself, the slippery forward and of course the goal scoring king of Arsenal has left our darling club to another club that play our pattern of free flowing football, Barcelona. No doubt we will all missed him. As he bade farewell to arsenal fans in his interview at arsenal website, I was close to tears when he said these lines of words: “Arsenal will be in my blood as well as my heart. I will always, always, always remember you guys. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner. The Club is in my heart and will remain in my heart forever."
So as he is leaving the club for Barcelona, I ponder aloud as to what become the fans that are mostly fans of Arsenal because of Thiery Henry? The news perhaps is not yet out, but, I foresee Arsene Wenger also leaving the club in a matter of days or month, it will indeed be a miracle if he stay to see the end of his contract which end next year.
That would make an exit too much if Wenger joined Henry in leaving Arsenal. So, to Arsenal fans out there, would the slogan still be Gunners for life? To give my own candid answer, my heart had always been with Arsenal despite the fact that my Idol i.e Kanu Nwankwo left the club, I dont think there would be a different still, if not, than to see that my heart is still with the club that serve Kanu Nwankwo very well, and of course the best foreign Player I had ever loved - Thierry Henry and of course the Coach that make them - Arsene Wenger.
So I said, Gooners for life!!!

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Promotion

I got promoted in the office this week, having been traumatised about the outcome of the promotion exercised for the past 5 months now. Where I work, which is a federal government parastatals, promotion is like going for a job interview. You have to sit for a written examination, then thereafter attend an oral interview.

The preparation for those two is traumatic in entirety because you need to prepare very well like someone going to sit for Cambridge Examination. Then on the day of the interview, more trauma ensues because we were not interview during the appointed time. The agony is more increased when you realised that, you may end up been asked to come the second day to finish the interview, when you already prepared to let go all that you have memorised to go with the appointed day of the interview. But alas, the interview was compoleted that day.

Now come the result, it was delayed for over 5 months, leaving room for manipulation. At a time I gave up that it has been swept under the carpet, until this week when I received my promotion letter, and realisation that 8 out of 15 in our category scale through the interview.

Truth is, this is the first major promotion I had gotten in my entire working career spanning 15 years in different establishment, so it calls for celebration, and indeed "I must wash am".

But the strike action took shine off the good tidings as everywhere seem paralysed as a result of the strike action, so I may have to postpone the "washing" till later after the strike. You are all cordially invited.

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Darfur Crisis and Mixing Politics with Sport

I read this in today's Nigeria Daily Guardian, and cannot but copy and paste it into my blog. So I pause and ponder, Can this actually have impact on Darfur Crisis? Please read on.

Necessary boycott of Beijing Olympics

Sir: In the wake of the Chinese president - Mr. Hu Jinao's visit to Nigeria last year, some of us Nigerian writers warned in our open letter (The Guardian on Sunday, April 30, 2006) that empowering China with oil prospecting licence must be done when China is willing to be responsible to global covenants on the environment and to the immediate stop of the genocide project in Darfur.

The gloomy sands of Darfur are a desolation of tears and blood. Lots of cries for help yet no big one is underway. Over 250,000 helpless black people have been murdered and over two million are in hellish refugee conditions. And yet in both cases still counting.

China with its oil interest is one of the very few countries the Sudanese government relies on for cash and guns which makes China morally culpable in the mass slaughter.

We call on the Nigerian government to rally all other African nations to boycott the Beijing Olympics next year should China still insist on its deadly intimacy with the Sudanese government. Frustrating this deadly intimacy is much more critical than the impact of UN or AU peacekeepers in Sudan.

We must act now!

Damola Awoyokun
London.

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Was Supreme Court Wrong?

‘THE decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the apex judicial body, delivered on Thursday, 14 June, 2007, extending the tenure of office of Mr. Peter Obi as governor of Anambra State is riddled with serious and fundamental constitutional error. It was a landmark judgement but one without constitutional jurisdiction,” Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, said yesterday.

Fawehinmi explained, in a press statement, that he unreservedly disagreed with the Supreme Court because by the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999, “I believe that the highest court of the land has no jurisdiction on the matter”.

According to him, the Court of Appeal is the final court in matters relating to gubernatorial election as provided for in section 246(3) of the 1999 constitution.
The background facts, as provided by the senior advocate, are as follows:

“The decision of the Supreme Court arose from the governorship election that was contested in Anambra State in 2003. In that election, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of that election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance contained in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution on 29th May, 2003.

“Mr. Peter Obi of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) challenged Ngige’s election in the Election Tribunal sitting at Awka, Anambra State.
“On Friday, 12th August, 2005, close to three (3) years after the election, Mr. Peter Obi won the election petition and Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige lost.

“However, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige went on appeal to the Court of Appeal. There again, Mr. Peter Obi won on Wednesday, 15th March, 2006. And because the Court of Appeal is a final court in such matters as provided for in Section 246(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, that was the end of the matter. No further appeal could go to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. “Mr. Peter Obi took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on Friday, 17th March, 2006. “On Saturday, April 14, 2007, Anambra State Governorship Election was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Dr. Andy Ubah was declared the winner and on May 29, 2007, he took the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance under the Constitution. There were several petitions against the election of Dr. Andy Uba pending before the 2007 Election Tribunal in Awka”.

Asking whether the Supreme Court has the constitutional jurisdiction to determine the tenure of Obi, he stated: “The judicial institutions empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to determine whether the tenure of office of any person under the Constitution has expired or ceased are: (a) Election tribunals; and (b) The Court of Appeal if there is an appeal to that Court of Appeal from the Election Tribunals. “Under the 1999 Constitution, the decision of the Court of Appeal in that respect is final. The relevant constitutional provisions are Section 285(1) and 246(3).

“Section 285(1) provides:- “285. (1) There shall be established for the Federation one or more election tribunals to be known as the National Assembly Election Tribunals which shall, to the exclusion of any court or tribunal, have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether- (a) any person has been validly elected as a member of the National Assembly; (b) the term of office of any person under this Constitution has ceased; (c) the seat of a member of the Senate or a member of the House of Representatives has become vacant; and (d) a question or petition brought before the election tribunal has been properly or improperly brought.”

“Section 246(3) provides thus:- “246(3) The decisions of the Court of Appeal in respect of appeals arising from election petitions shall be final.” “I will start with Section 285. For emphasis, the pertinent subsection above is 285(1)(b) which provides as follows:- “285(1) There shall be established for the Federation one or more election tribunals to be known as the National Assembly Election Tribunals which shall, have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as to whether - (b) the term of office of any person under this Constitution has ceased”

Sounds convincing to me, does it mean the Supreme Court was actually wrong? Let us wait to replies from other learned lawyers in Nigeria and of course the full judgment of the Supreme Court coming up in July this year.

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Supreme Court Grants Obi Tenure Extension

In a landmark judgement this afternoon, the Supreme Court ruled that former governor Peter Obi of Anambra State should go back to the Government House as governor of the state till March 17, 2010. The court also ordered that the incumbent Governor, Cheif Andy Uba, should vacate office as he ceases to be governor as from today. In the lead judgement, Justice Katsina Alu said INEC erred in law by conducting election in Anambra State when Peter Obi has not served his four-year term.
The court ruled that the four year tenure of Obi commenced from the day he was sworn in and will terminate on 17 March 2010. All the six justices of the apex agreed with the lead judgement. They all agreed that a governor should only vacate office four years from the day of assuming office. They said Obi had not served the constitutionally stipulated four years in office. The Supreme Court justices said a fuller explanations of the judgement will be given on 13 July, 2007. Obi was not in court but his deputy Dame Virginia Etiaba was in court.

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Pause and Ponder on Chxta's world

This blog intends to commence a series of a cursory look at Nigerian bloggers at a glance in a form of statistics. I therefore commenced this edition with a look at Chxta's world. Come along and take a look.

BIRTH DATE:- 10 May (He gave the actual year, but I edited it)

E-MAIL ADDRESS :-

ZODIAC SIGN :- Taurus

CHILDHOOD NICKNAME :- Chxta

FAVOURITE FOOD :- Plantain with anything

FAVOURITE DRINK :- Lemon tea

FAVOURITE COLOUR :- Blue

FAVOURITE CAR :- Range Rover Sport

FAVOURITE BOOK :- Things Fall Apart

FAVOURITE SPORT:- Football

FAVOURITE NIGERIA MUSICIAN:- Resonance

FAVOURITE FOREIGN MUSICIAN:- Nino Rota

FAVOURITE FOREIGN MOVIE:- The Godfather

FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER:- The Guardian (UK)

FAVOURITE MAGAZINE:- PC World

UNCOMPROMISING HABIT:- None really

UNCONTROLLED WEAKNESS :- Lie in on waking up

PERSON I LOVE TO MEET AT THIS MOMENT:- My girlfriend

PERSON I DREAMT OF MEETING :- Ioseph Dzhugashvili

UNCOMPREHENSIBLE QUESTION:- Lots in this questionnaire

FAVOURITE MODE OF DRESSING:- Casual

FAVOURITE MAXIMS :- Si vis pace para bellum

MY GUIDING PRINCIPLES :- History repeats itself, so we have to be careful to prevent that happening

MY GUIDING SAYING:- Vox audita parit, litera scripta manet

MOST CHERISHED POSSESSIONS:- My hard drive

HAPPIEST MOMENT IN LIFE :- Feb 7, 2000

SADDEST MOMENT IN LIFE :- Feb 13, 2000

MODE OF RELAXATION:- Reading

MOST AMAZING TECHNOLOGY:- Linux

I'm reading: Pause and Ponder on Chxta's world

Police to ban Okada from Lagos streets

Commercial motorcyclists, known in local parlance as Okada, will soon be banned from some major streets in Lagos State, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashiru Azeez. Azeez said at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on Tuesday in Lagos that the ban was to restore dignity to the areas that would be affected and reduce the crime rate in the state. The commissioner said the Command had already discussed the proposed ban with the state government. He said the police had discovered that some robbers used motorcycles for their operations, especially during traffic jams, adding that many commercial motorcyclists also flouted traffic rules with impunity. Azeez said a task force had been set up to decongest traffic jams on some major roads to reduce robbery and alleviate the sufferings of motorists. He disclosed that the police recently gave four motorcycles to each Area Command in the state for security patrol during traffic jams. Azeez, who stressed that the state police command was committed to guaranteeing security of lives and property, also said the state Police Command would soon recruit more personnel to improve security.
Has anyone started to pause and ponder over the implications? Especially in Lagos of all places!!!

I'm reading: Police to ban Okada from Lagos streets

The Defiant of Okada Riders in Abuja

It isnt news that Commercial Motorcycle popularly called Okada was banned in Abuja last year, what is news is that the moment the Erstwhile Minister of Federal Capital vacated office as a result of the end of his tenure with the government of Obasanjo Administration, the Okada riders are back.
Most of them that were interviewed hinged their comback on the exit of former Minister, and of course the end of Obasanjo Administration. Of particular is the fact that, most of this okada riders believed that as long as Obasanjo and El-Rufai are no more holding forth in Office, the law banning their trade is no more enforceable.
This defiance caused the administration of Federal Capital to descend heavily on this and today, about 250 motorcycles had been impounded while a mobile court was set up to try offenders with over 20 already sentenced to 3 months imprisonment.
With the clampdown on them, one would have thought it will serve as deterrent, but some of them still remain defiant, choosing of course to operate early in the morning and of course in the evening when they know the task force would either not have resumed for work or had already closed for the day.
This defiance had caused this blogger to pause and ponder why they can subject themselves to such risk knowing fully well that they may be arrested and prosecuted. The truth however is that most of them are illiterates who does not believe that the law prohibiting their operations is still in force, other who are literate could not afford to leave the trade since it is a means of livelihood to them. One then ponders that there is indeed money in the business, no wonder some of the Okada riders does not own the Motorcycle, but are mere riders who are expected to deliver certain amount of money at the end of the day to the real owners. These types are the ones that remain defiant, believing that it is the Motorcycle who will suffer the consequences once it is impounded.
Despite the fact that it was only Abuja town that they were restrained from operating, they are however allowed to operate in Abuja town environs. One would have thought they will abide by this law, but they chose to remain defiant. Talk of New government, new sets of laws, at least, that is what the Okada Operators thinks.

I'm reading: The Defiant of Okada Riders in Abuja

Running Scared

We all must have experienced this one way or the other. But this particular one I am about to narrate happened to a friend, it was indeed 'running scared'
My friend had stayed in 6 different places in Abuja here and have each place demolished. He was so unlucky. Here in Abuja before Mallam El-Rufai came in as Minister, it is a common practice to see people building illegal mud houses. It is usually mud houses because the land itself was illegal, they bought the land for a meagre sum knowing fully well that the government can come at any time to demolish it. So my friend was unlucky to rent such houses on 6 different occasions and on each occasions, have his house demolished. The most painful aspect is that he ended up losing his rental fees on such scenarios.
I think he fell into such circumstances because he is a low income earner who cannot afford to rent those flats or self-contained room which goes for exorbitant amount. Now my friend live in the outskirt of Abuja and still scare that perhaps where he is resident could be subjected to another demolition even though it is in Nassarawa State. Now that is what I called 'Running Scared' . Can you blame him, the fear of 'Demolition' is the beginning of wisdom in Abuja.

I'm reading: Running Scared

The Ceasefire that may not be honoured

The Niger Delta militant had again issued another ceasefire to incessant kidnapping of foreign national. In a statement issued yesterday, the joint militants group decided to recognise the government of Yar'Adua and decided to sheath their sword for another one month to allow dialogue. Amongst their demands is unconditional release of Mujahid Asari Dokubo, the leader of a militant group, release of Dieprieye Alamieseigha the former governor of Bayelsa State.
What this blog is particular about is the huge amount of money paid to this Militants as ransome. What happened to this large sum of money? who benefited from it, what was it used for and most importantly, can they actually stop this kidnapping in the event that ransom is involved and not more of proving of agitations.
What we are trying to say here is, at least some people have become rich as a result of this kidnappings, some large amount of arms have been procure with this ransom money and of course, it is becoming more of a quicker way to make money. If the above scenarios is wrong, then if eventually, the ceasefire is honoured and a truce was agreed upon, and the kidnapping stopped eventually, this blog is tempted to agreed that it was a political motivated unrest in the first place.
Truth is no matter the outcome of the ceasefire and truce with the federal government, this kidnapping has come to stay. Some people have seen this as a way of making it, and they will not want it to stopped. In all other places of the world where kidnapping is embark upon, it is always to agitate for a course, and mostly, where ransom demands is involved, it is not always a regular occurence as it is obtained in the Niger Delta.
However, let us give them the benefit of doubt, the ceasefire has already been declared, let us wait for the outcome of the truce and if indeed it happened, let us also wait whether the Militants will eventually make Kidnapping of foreign national a thing of the past.

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That Long Strike call by NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress has sound the drum of strike once again against the increase in fuel price and 10% VAT. In a statement issue yesterday, they warned that Nigerians should prepare for a long strike if the federal government refuse to play ball by reversing the VAT and Pump price of petrol back to its former position.
This blog wonder whether the strike can take effects at all. If indeed the ultimatum given by labour come to pass, it will be a testing ground by both the Federal Government and the Labour. This is because the Labour Union will be embarking on a strike first time after the erstwhile President Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has left the office, and also first time after the government has enacted a law making joint labour strike illegal. The labour will also want to test how this new government would handle labour strike compared to how it has been in Obasanjo era.
The federal government on the other hand would also want to test its newly enacted law banning strike by NLC and of course it will also be a test ground for how the new government and labour relations would be.
Whichever way, it is the masses that will suffer. Truth is, despite the hike in price of fuel, there is still some scarcity in certain areas making some people to buy pump price as high as 250 naira per litre. Some people believed, this is another way of government making the price to stay, since some people will argue that the price is still highly subsidised and that, that probably explained why it is still scarce.
This blog urge the labour to shelve its strike because it will still paralyse the economy. They should try and look for another avenue to make grievances known instead of strike. Strike, to me, should be the last resort after all available options have been exhausted. Using the joker of strike at any slightest opportunity by labour has beginning to make the strike action look old-fashioned, ineffectual and confrontational.

I'm reading: That Long Strike call by NLC

What to write?

For the past week, I had wanted to write, but always short of what to blog about. But, I think I had gotten over that, by just reviewing event of the country during the week.

The new president Umar Yar'adua jetted out of the country today, signaling his first official visit outside the country since his inauguration.

The Senate President is now Gen. David Mark, and the only thing the majority Nigerians remembered about him was his remark when he was Communication Minister during the past Military regime where he said "Telephone is not for the poor'

Nigeria also has its first female Speaker in Mrs Ette. She was also sworn in Yesterday. Remarks from his co-legislators indicates that she is very good for the job.

This blog however warn the principal officers to beware of the legendary "banana peels" especially in the senate that has characterise those who are first appointed on the first day of inauguration of Senate but never make it to till the end of their tenure.

There is more, but more gist later.

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A Fast one by Petrol Attendant

As if the increase in fuel prices is not enough, those Petrol Attendants would not stop trying to extort money from you by playing a fast one on you any time you are filing your tank at Petrol Filing Stations.
The computerised Pumping machine installed does not even detar them from pulling a fast one. One Petrol Attendant played a fast one on me today and actually got away with it, I discovered this because I paid for over 25 litre of fuel and yet my tank revealed he did actually play a fast one on me. He punch 2,000 naira worth of fuel on the computerised pumping machine quite alright, when the machine had dispensed 1,000 worth of fuel, I was carried away with the serene environment of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, and was distracted from monitoring the transaction. By the time I was jolted back to the transaction, the pumping machine merely read "preset" and I thot it has finished dispensing, since it will stop after the programmed input amount has been dispensed. It was when I enter my car that I knew he had play a fast one on me. Probably the machine stopped or he corniously tamper with it, the amount of fuel dispensed does not commensurate with the amount I paid.
Fellow bloggers shoud learn from this experience. Try and glue your eye to the pumping machine until the quantity of fuel you paid for is dispensed.
Has anyone pause to ponder that everyone has gone crazy with this get rich quick syndrome through this Oil money, even the petrol attendant are not exempted.

I'm reading: A Fast one by Petrol Attendant