Why I was arrested in Benin Republic – Asari Dokubo!

Niger Delta activist, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari said he was arrested by the Beninoise Police over an allegation that he was that he was a member of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

He also said the allegation of being a member of the terrorist group was made from Nigeria.

Dokubo-Asari, however, attributed his arrest in Benin as the handiwork of those opposed  to the 2015 re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The NDPVF boss who appeared unperturbed by the arrest also said the crises “has raised my profile in that country.”

Speaking with Journalists on Friday night during his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja he also described as lies, reports that President Jonathan sent a Presidential Jet to fly him into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin.

He said, “Crisis is normal, it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me. But if people alleged that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person.

“The allegation has much to do with 2015 because when your read comments on social media, you find out that somebody who is against President Goodluck Jonathan, said they should vilify me and make sure I die before 2015. But they are not going to succeed. I am not going to die. I will be present in 2015, and I will do what I am going to do to ensure that Jonathan wins in 2015. There is nothing they can do about it. This is their last fight and it is so unfortunate that the way and manner they are going with it shows how immature they are.”

He also denied that he was flown into Abuja in a Presidential Jet saying it is not true.

Asari said, “I just arrived from Cotonu. I drove in my car from Cotonu to Lagos Airport where I boarded Aero Contractors flight to Abuja. The report is not true. No presidential jet was sent to me.

“That report is an instigated falsehood. Most of the things that have always been written against President Goodluck Jonathan is also falsehood. A section of the press in Nigeria is manipulated and instigated.”

“I do business in Cotonu, and I have been living in Cotonu since 2008. Politically, people who are in Nigeria are trying to fabricate lies, which are not verifiable, and send it to the government of Republic of Benin. So I was taken for interrogation and they found that the allegations were false, and I was promptly released with over 20 of my staff who were also taken in.”

Asari also spoke on his meeting with officials of government of Republic of Benin after his interrogation.

“I have met with the top and powerful people in Republic of Benin, since I went to that country. I have never had any reason to meet with their government officials, but this crisis has made it possible for me to meet with all the top government functionaries of the Republic of Benin. The crises has raised my profile in that country”, he boasted.

Source: Punch News Papers

Paul Walker Shares Life Lesson: "Go With the Flow"!

It's no secret that Paul Walker made the most of every moment. 

While promoting the diver flick Into the Blue in 2005, the movie star shared his life philosophy. "By nature, I go with the flow. I just kind of let things roll," said the star, who would lose his life just eight years later in a tragic car accident. "Things happen when they're supposed to."

"Sometimes I'll get down on myself and be like, 'You know what? Maybe if you were a little more aggressive and tried to make things happen, a lot more would probably come around,'" he continued. "So I chase that angle, and sure enough, nothing happens. Five years later, it falls in my lap. So I'm like, 'Man, I'm just gonna be the way I am.'"

It's sound advice from a star whose famous friends would later describe him as "sweet and simple," "really nice" and "a  beautiful light in the world."

Walker died at age 40 on Nov. 30. The Skulls star is survived by daughter Meadow, 15.

Adieu.

Now that the Whistle has been blown, what next?!

With the 'two BMW armoured cars unauthorized purchase' saga that engulfed the nation which emerged from revelations, consequent to the Aviation Minister's infamous speech where she described the crash of Associated Airline's jet, an incident in which 13 persons were killed, while seven others survived and are currently receiving treatments at various hospitals; as 'an act of god'. 





A first time visitor to Nigeria (because majority of the citizens are no longer fooled ) would think that some disciplinary measures would be employed to ensure that loosed ends were tightened in activities not only in the Aviation Ministry, but in all governmental parastatals, to help put a check on some illegal activities that occurs on daily basis therein. 

More-so, that ministries were purged of frivolities and unnecessary expenditures from the nation's purse. 



Immediately after the 'whistle was blown' prominent individuals and groups called for the head of Princess Stella Oduah, The Aviation Minister, threatening fire and brimstone if her royal majesty was not removed from office with immediate effect.  As was expected, political opponents hinged on it to bring down the current administration. 

No day passed by without a dramatic head line in the dailies and on-line blogs in connection the story. 

Some of these headlines read: 

• "EFCC Moves to Probe Oduah’s N255m Armoured Car Deal", 
• "SHOCKING: Another aviation agency, FAAN, admits buying 4 armoured cars for Stella Oduah, MD", 
• "Senate Uncovers Illegal Purchase of Another 4 Armoured Vehicles for Stella Oduah, FAAN MD", 
• SHOCKING: Aviation Ministry Declares War on Man Who Exposed Stella Oduah's N225m Armoured Cars
• "Will Oduah survive these numerous probes by Reps, Senate?"
• Okonjo-Iweala screams again: " I didn't  grant waiver for Stella Oduah's armored cars
• Oduah's N225m car scandal: We're searcging for those who leaked story -FG
•  "255m car scandal: Senate suspends probe of Stella Oduah indefinitely"....

Allegations and counter allegations threaded, to the extent that no one talked about the fate of the crash survivors abandoned to their fate in the hospital.

In all, the President maintained a state of quietness; the Aviation minister on her part maintained her peace and carried on with her normal activities, embarking on religious trips with her colleagues, like one who would say "dare me, and i will tell what you also did last summer" while she waited the much dreaded summon by the Legislators. 

As usual, a panel was set up to look into the matter;  the Aviation minister was summoned, and several other questionable financial activities was reportedly uncovered.

But In the typical Nigerian mannerism, two months on, the case is fading off, but not after stake-holders  had hijacked and politicized it. One would think that with these evidences, some punitive actions would  be meted on perpetrators, if not for anything, to prove to the watching International communities that indeed, Nigeria is serious on her war against corruption.

My concern here is not to campaign for a re-visit into the case and crucify any one, but i wondered the necessity of going the extra mile of 'whistle blowing', when nothing was intended to be achieved with that. Or are they trying to tell Nigerians that they only wanted to make it known that certain top government officials have been busy helping themselves with the nation's purse, while neglecting their primary call to duty?, they din't need to let us in on that, we already know. 
As a matter of fact, this is what has come to be the 'un-written manifesto' of most government officials, "Operation cut as much piece as you can from the national cake, while you can"..... why rob it in our face?. 

Frankly speaking, I am not bought over by these gang of whistle blowers, i simply see them as the real criminals, because going by similar events that had played in the past, one will really begin to question their intentions. Were they targeted at sincerely exposing corrupt government officials, with the aim of bringing them to justice and sanitizing the nation?.

Do i perceive a genuine interest of the masses here?

Or is my instinct right in telling me that those acts were only revealed because these opposition groups were aggrieved, and probably had some scores to settle with the accused, who by the way they are not any better than?

Otherwise, why the sudden silence? have you been settled to keep mute?. 

Have you, as usual sold your birth right and that of your un-born children for a pot of porridge?. 

Or are the accused simply very powerful that they have become some sort of sacred cows to be called to order or brought to book?, are you meaning to tell us that some group of people are larger than Nigeria?. mmmmph!


Like i stated earlier, i don't have any personal issues with any of these parties, (the accused and the accusers), 

nah here i sidon dey do my own things when them blow whistle, I follow rush come out make i see watin go happen sef, but my people....... notin happen.


Howbeit, I have not lost hope for Divine intervention, because going by what i see, it will take only Divine intervention to redeem Nigeria from the clutches of certain elements, who think that due to some reasons best known to them, they owe it as a duty to rip this land of all she has got to offer her children. People who see them selves as called and anointed to shamelessly embezzle for themselves and theirs, the resources meant to cater for all generations of this nation. 

Individuals who feel that the nation's purse is their private purse where they can go to sign and withdraw ( under any disguise possible) and launder funds meant to be judiciously utilized for the benefit of all, while 95% of the populace bears the consequences in terms of:

•  Incessant Academic strikes by aggrieved teachers and lecturers who feel they have been marginalized and cheated for a very long time by those in the corridors of power, with the console to be patient and receive their reward in heaven, thereby keeping our children out of school with no option than for our girls to be forced into early marriages they weren't quite prepared for, or our youngsters being engaged in anti- social activities. Denying the average young Nigerian the right to receive quality education so that they can favorably compete with their peers out there, and since most parents and guardians fall into the category of unimaginable low income earners, they can hardly cater for their daily bread talk-less of sending these young ones abroad for proper education. These set of kids are left to fate.

• Poor Electricity supply which has caused us pain and more deaths than a homicide situation, owing to environmental pollution from generator fumes, and fire outbreaks from candle lights in most poor homes. 
• Heartrending Medical facilities, how else am i supposed to best describe a situation where the average Nigerian who can not afford treatments outside the country is left to die in hospital wards due to the administrations of antiquated drugs, and also incessant strikes of medical practitioners who wants to be better appreciated.
• Death traps called high ways, depicted with pot holes and dangerous coveted spots caused by erosion, absence of good lights for night travelers thereby exposing them to hoodlums. Our high ways are infested with the presence of various identifiable and un-identifiable uniformed officers who resume there to collect their daily wages. Travelling by air is not the better alternative as we have lost many lives as a result of cut corners between air-line operators and licencing authorities who issues licences based on how much the operators were willing to part with for settlements, and not based on their credibility as regards to meeting up with the required criteria.
• Unemployment, a situation that leads to our human resources jetting out of the country through any means possible, out of frustration, to become illegal or second class citizens in foreign lands; engaging in menial job or some crime they otherwise would not do here in Nigeria in order to survive. The very lucky ones who can afford to,  go back to school over there, and manage to secure some employments. But my dear, going by tales from affected persons, It is never the best idea. 

The rest, you my readers can contributes from your observations and experiences.

These situations can be easily avoided if top governmental officials sincerely have the interest of our nation and that of the masses at heart, shun greed, shun covetousness and shun evil. 

If they would cease diverting the nation's resources and finance into private purses and interests. 

If the Education, Economic and Finance, Power and Steel, Aviation, Petroleum, Health Ministers etc, etc....

If Honorable members of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the federal and state levels....

If Heads of Government's Parastatals and Agencies....

If Governors and their Commissioners...

If Royal fathers.....

Would cease from engaging in collecting kick backs before they can be seen or award and approve the payments of contracts awarded to individuals and organizations who can deliver because it is in their line of expertise. For the DEVELOPMENT of OUR COUNTRY.

Not hording and dishing out contracts only to where they have stakes. 

If all the above mentioned can decide to simply do the work they were VOTED FOR to DO, if we all play our parts..... then my friends, we would have solved 95% of the challenges we face today.

God Bless Nigeria.

By Obianuju Mbanusi

 

How Jonathan pressured Benin Republic to release Dokubo-Asari!

Ex-Niger-Delta militant, Mujahid Asaro-Dokubo, who was arrested last week in Benin Republic, was released after the tiny West African country came “under pressure” from President Goodluck Jonathan, the Benin Foreign Affairs ministry have confirmed.

Spokesperson of the ministry, Benjamin Agon, told Reuters “It was under pressure from the Nigerian head of state that the authorities freed the rebel chief on Friday at around midday.”

Until the Dokubo-Asari case, Mr. Jonathan was not known to personally intervene whenever Nigerians are incarcerated abroad.

Mr. Dokubo-Asari is a staunch loyalist of the President, and has repeatedly threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable if Mr. Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015.

However, contrary to Mr. Dokubo-Asari claim that he was arrested after being suspected of being a member of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, Mr Agon suggested that Mr. Dokubo-Asari’s arrest was related to his business interest in the country.

Another diplomat told Reuters that Mr. Dokubo-Asari’ militant group, Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force is being investigated for aiding criminality in the Niger Delta.

Mr. Dokubo-Asari has various business interests in Benin which he recently adopted home.

In an interview with Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Dokubo-Asari, who was released after two days in detention, said he was arrested for being a member of Boko Haram. He also confirmed that Mr Jonathan intervened to get him released.

“Crisis is normal; it can also happen here in Nigeria, it can happen anywhere in the world. The people and government of Republic of Benin have no problem with me. But if people alleged that somebody is a leader of Boko Haram, the government of that country will investigate the person, he said.

“It is not just only President Jonathan that intervened, Nigerians generally intervened. The number of people that came into Cotonou the day I was taken in, and the following day, were over one thousand.” 

written by Nicholas Ibekwe.

Commuter Train Derails In Bronx Borough Of New York City, kills four!

A Metro-North commuter train has derailed in the Bronx borough of New York City early Sunday morning, killing four people on board and scattering railcars near the water's edge, authorities said.

The first four or five cars of the southbound diesel train derailed about 100 yards from the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx at about 7:30 a.m, on curve just outside the Spuyten Duyvil station.

Helicopter images show at least five of the seven cars of the Metro-North Railroad train derailed — at least two of them appear to be on their side. The first one came within feet of plunging into the Harlem River.

It was also revealed that the transit agency tells them the train left at 5:54 a.m. from Poughkeepsie and was due in Grand Central Terminal at 7:43 a.m. ET.

Reporters and eyewitness at the scene of the derailment report that there have been many injuries. They report first responders smashing the windows of the cars and extricating passengers in stretchers. 

The actual cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.

Some media agency reported that between 30 - 48 person were injured. 

A passenger told the station that he was able to get off the train on his own, but others were not that lucky and were being extricated by emergency workers.

A reporter on the site for the station, said he saw emergency workers smashing windows and removing passengers in stretchers.

Images taken from above the crash show 8 cars of the Metro-North train derailed. The first one came very close to hitting the water.

Justin Bieber debuts new tatto!

The tattoos just keeps coming in for Justin Bieber.

The "All That Matters" singer documented the latest inking process in a series of selfies on his Instagram account on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013.

The 19-year-old pop superstar, who is in Australia for his Believe World Tour, got an eagle on his already heavily tattooed left arm.

Following his performance in Sydney, the Canadian crooner jetted to the tattoo shop, tweeting "just got off stage bout to get tatted."

In the first snapshot, the Canadian crooner appears tired following his show, as he gazes straight into the camera with a dazed look. Bieber is shirtless, showing off his spectacular toned abs, while sporting low-cut light jeans and white boxers.

The artist is hard at work on the detailed design, and we are left to guess what Bieber could possibly be getting.

"Fresh new tat," Bieber captioned another pic, while flaunting his arm and posing for the photographer.

We finally get a clear glimpse of the ink, in a pic along with the simple message "eagle."

In the last pic of the series, Bieber shares a close-up of his arm and his watch bling, writing "yep."

Simpy Nigerian!

Weeks ago, I paid a visit to Dubai for the very 1st time. Dubai is everything Lagos is not. Dubai works; Lagos does not. Dubai is spotlessly clean, Lagos is filthy; Dubai is bathed in gleaming electricity, Lagos is shrouded in darkness; Dubai is organised, Lagos is disorganized; but after a few days in Dubai, I longed to be back in Lagos.




What is the attraction of Lagos relative to a city like Dubai?  The answer is actually very simple.  Lagos is the very best city in Nigeria; the very best country in the world.  I have travelled all over the world. 

I have been to the Far East, to the Middle East, to North and Latin America and to Europe.  I have been to over 30 African countries.  This qualifies me to make this assessment.  Nigeria is the very best country in the whole wide world.

Made-in-Nigeria:

There are too many things that make Nigeria exceptional and without equal.  If Nigeria were not so wonderful, there would not have been 170 million Nigerians.  Because Nigeria is such a great country, we are determined to give birth to as many children as possible so that even more people can partake of the pleasures of living here.  We manufacture babies by the thousands and the millions because we are in love with the country.  Nigerians don’t commit suicide.  Neither do Nigerians ever desert Nigeria.  The very worst thing that can happen to a Nigerian is to be exiled from the country.

Remember this: Nigeria is nobody’s colony.  We refuse to be subject to nobody.  We are not under the thumb of the British, the Americans or anyone else.  Nigeria is the one African country that can be said to be truly independent.  We have nationalized all the nationalize-ables.  We own the land.  There is no foreign settler-community in Nigeria that holds us captive.  We are the kings of our castles.  Our very best products are made in Nigeria.  We make our own mistakes; make our own choices and make our own beds.

We rig our own elections.  We forge our own passports.  We buy our own lies.  We deceive our own people.  We choose to live in the middle ages and not in the 21st century.  We choose to eat in “bukas” and not in restaurants.  We choose to eat with our hands and not with forks and knives.  We choose to walk rather than fly.

Organised chaos



Nigerians are natural-born revolutionaries.  We like to struggle.  We are always fighting something or someone.  We don’t like the easy life.  That is way too boring.  We thrive when there is chaos.  We make a profit, where there is confusion.  We rise up to the challenge, where everything is upside down.  If something is well-organised, our first assignment is to scatter it.  That gives us room to maneuver.  We can handle chaos, but order is another problem entirely.

Nigerians hate progress.  It does not agree with us.  Some smart Alec decided to introduce traffic-lights on our roads.  But when there are too many cars on the road, the last things you need are traffic-lights preventing people from going where they want.  Traffic-lights make drivers wait, when they should be going.  That is such a waste of time.  The same goes for traffic-wardens.  When you have them obstructing the roads, there are going to be tailbacks.  But if you want the traffic to flow, let it be a free for all.  Then you will see the ingenuity of Nigerians.  We will climb up any and every possible place, and convert it to super-highways.

Moreover, our roads are theaters where drama is always enacted.  That means passers-by don’t have to spend money buying tickets in order to watch our plays.  You can watch a very interesting TV series just by sitting on your balcony and watching Nigerians negotiate their way every day.  In one afternoon, you will see David killing Goliath.  You will see Mohammed Ali fighting Joe Frazier.  You will see Arnold Schwarzenegger terminating his opponents.  You have to admit this kind of free theater is not readily available abroad.

Electricity  problem



Can you imagine a country where there is 24 hour electricity?  That is Nigeria’s worst nightmare.  For years, many nincompoops have tried to convince us to improve the electricity situation in the country, but we have wisely refused to be taken in by such deception.  Why would we want good electricity when most of what we do is done under the cloak of darkness?  Why should NEPA work when there are things that need to be hidden, including the rubbish that have taken over our roads.  Any right-thinking person knows there are serious criminal issues in Nigeria that should not be brought to light for the sake of national security.

Just think about it: 24 hour NEPA.  How boring that would be?  Nigerians would have nothing to talk about.  We would have nothing to complain about.  We would not be able to have tales by the moonlight.  We would spend too much time watching television.  The economy would suffer because generator sales would plummet.  Those of us making ends meet by selling diesel would be in trouble.  Generator repairmen, major  contributors to the economy, would go out of business.  Spare-parts sellers would not be able to sell even good spare-parts, how much more fake ones.  Let’s face it; should Goodluck Jonathan succeed in improving the problem of electricity in Nigeria, it will lose him the next election for sure.  He will not even be able to secure the nomination of PDP, which we all know is a party of diesel-sellers and generator repairmen.



Valuable corruption



There is so much talk about corruption.  But if there were no corruption in Nigeria, there would be social upheaval.  Can you imagine a corruption-free Nigeria?  Don’t even bother.  It would be disastrous.  Millions would die of starvation.  How can a man sustain his family if he cannot lie, cheat and steal?  As Nigerians, it is high time we come to terms with who we are, instead of pretending to be what we are not.

We are a corrupt people.  It is not just our leaders: we are all corrupt.  We are thieves.  We love to steal.  We celebrate thieves and give them national awards.  We recognize that stealing is an art.  To be a successful thief, you have to be skillful; you have to be ambitious; you have to be imaginative; and you have to be courageous.  We are criminals because we are smart.  We bring innovation to everything.

Nigerians know that successful thieves are men of destiny: renowned statesmen; famous politicians; erudite managing-directors.  Therefore we eulogise thieves.  We sing their praises.  We give them chieftaincy awards.  We give them our daughters as third wives and concubines.  We prefer them as our presidents, governors and legislators.  Who wants an honest man as his representative in Abuja?  That is a sure way to ensure you will not get your share of the national cake.

Had it not been for corruption, Nigeria would not have survived.  Corruption is the glue that holds the fabric of the country together.  It ensures that, one way or another, we get paid.  It provides a social security system.  Corruption helps us to redistribute wealth between the rich and the poor.  The rich steal from the government; the poor steal from the rich; and everyone is happy.  If there were no corruption, there would have been a violent revolution a long time ago.

You can pocket a few monies from work illegally because nobody in his right mind expects you to be able to afford even your transportation costs from your meager salary.  If you are caught and prosecuted, all you need to do is ask your mother to come to work to plea-bargain for you.  Thanks to corruption, we can put food on our tables.  We can send our children to school.  We can pay for the aso-ebi.  We can keep up with the fashion trends.


Traffic jams


There is one fundamental reason behind the traffic situation in Nigeria.  Nigerians are a wanted people.  Therefore, we are always on the run.  Somebody somewhere is after us and we need to make quick getaways.  We are on the run from our wives.  We are on the run from our children.  We need to get away from our extended families.  But even more urgently, we are on the run from the law.  We are on the run from the state government.  We don’t want to be caught by the friend we borrowed some money from last year.

Thank God for traffic jams.  Isn’t it wonderful that you can do all your shopping while driving on the road?  How many countries do you know where you have that kind of facility?  You can even get your car washed while on your way to work; without having to stop or park.  And if there is any problem with your car while you are on the road, you will be grateful that you are in Nigeria.  One out of every two Nigerian pedestrian is a London-trained mechanic.  In case you are wondering, there is London; and then there is Osapa-London.  You also don’t need any GPRS in Nigeria.  Every pedestrian knows exactly the way to where you are going.  So if you are lost, simply ask for directions and then you will really get lost.


Conclusion
All this explains why, in spite of everything, Nigerians are the happiest people in the world.  We are deliriously happy.  Don’t believe the lie.  Nigerians complain a lot about Nigeria.  But that does not mean we would have Nigeria any other way.  We complain because we love to complain.  If everything was alright about Nigeria, we would be miserable.  Let’s face it, Nigerians love Nigeria.  Nigeria is the way it is because Nigerians love it so.  If it were not so, we would have made amends in over 50 years of independence.

One last thing of the utmost importance: Nigeria is the very best country in the world because in Nigeria you will find Nigerians.

culled