Dele Agekameh - Lagos and the threat of Boko Haram!

In the book, The Olive Tree, Aldous Huxley, 1894 – 1936, an English writer, said: “The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings and that these individuals are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own.”

Going by Huxley’s submission, the current scourge of terrorism that is ravaging the entire globe could be attributed to politics of various colours and dimensions. In some places, it is religious rivalry; in others it could be the struggle for political control or domination. Whichever way it is viewed, human rivalries, over the years, have found expression in violence, be it terrorism, assassination, arson, outright war or any other despicable criminal activities.

In Nigeria, we have witnessed so many conflicts all over the place. When it is not tribal or ethnic rivalry, it is religion or politics. Today, the whole country has become one huge theatre of war. In Plateau state, it is both tribal and ethnic rivalry that has almost turned the place into modern-day George Orwell’s ‘animal farm’, where life is miserably short and brutish.

This internecine war has paralysed the socio-economic life of its once bustling capital city, Jos. Further North is the unrelenting carnage being unleashed on defenceless and innocent people, especially in the three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe by the Boko Haram insurgents. Not even a state of emergency declared on the three states since May last year has been able to restore law and order. The whole thing has degenerated into a sort of guerrilla warfare in which elements of Boko Haram now make occasional incursions into isolated villages and hamlets, leaving deaths and destruction in their trail.

Recently, new Service Chiefs were appointed to replace the former ones who had prosecuted the war against these terrorists without success. While taking over as the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on January 20, 2014, Alex Badeh, an Air Marshal, assured Nigerians that the military would bring the Boko Haram insurgency in the country to an end before April this year. The CDS said that this was possible if the military approached its security responsibilities cohesively. He told the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Kenneth Minimah, who is expected to coordinate the fight against the insurgents, that it was possible for his work to be concluded in a short time. Badeh also gave the assurance that the other service chiefs – Air-Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun and Rear Admiral Usman Jubrin, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff respectively, would give the requisite support to the Army chief in the prosecution of the campaign to end terrorism in the country.

From events that followed, it was obvious that Badeh was merely basking in the euphoria of the moment. The new CDS’ assurance was taken with a pinch of salt as various commentators on national affairs took him to task on the validity of his promise to end terrorism in the North-east in three months. When the commentaries became unbearable, the authorities of the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, rose to his defence. As if in a volte-face, Chris Olukolade, a Major-General and the Director of Defence Information, admitted that it was not possible for terrorism to be brought to an end anywhere in the world with a specific directive. He said that the CDS was aware of the complex nature of the problem of terrorism and was optimistic that the problem could be brought under control with the vigour and readiness of the new service chiefs when he made the statement.

The denial by the Defence Headquarters coincided with an alleged plot by the Boko Haram terrorist group to invade Lagos. The terrorists were said to be planning to infiltrate the state in vehicles painted with military colours. This is worrisome. Some months ago, a terrorist group allegedly conveyed weapons to Lagos inside some of the numerous fuel tankers that ply major roads to the country’s former capital and indeed the nation’s commercial nerve centre. A raid carried out some months ago by security agents saved residents of Lagos and Ogun states from possible attacks by the terrorists.

The joint raid led to the arrest of some suspects who are members of the Boko Haram sect.

Before the latest threat, security agents had uncovered and dismantled the plot by the alleged terrorists to plant cells in the western part of the country with Lagos as the headquarters. Security operatives, who later briefed the National Assembly leaders last year about the reality of the planned invasion of Lagos, told the federal legislators that indeed the attackers had planned to cripple the economy. The security chiefs told the federal legislators that some of the attackers captured had hinted that the plot was deliberate: to cripple the nerve centre of the country’s commerce and industry, a city that hosts the international air and seaports, so that the nation’s economy could collapse.

The federal legislators were thoroughly alarmed by the revelation about the sense of urgency of the insurgents to hit Lagos just to make Nigeria ungovernable. The implications of targeting the very strategic Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, the longest bridge in Africa, have been of major concern to authorities at all levels. The 11.8 km long bridge built by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was commissioned in 1990. The Bridge is the longest of the three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland. The other two are the Eko and Carter bridges. The bridge, which is a vital artery of the network of federal highways, commands high patronage.

Since the eruption of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northern parts of the country some years ago, their activities have been concentrated in the North, where several lives and property have been lost. Though there have been some cases of arrest of suspected members in some states, the southern part of the country has not experienced or witnessed any attack by the sect members. Therefore, the recent alleged plot to attack Lagos by the terrorists has been raising serious concerns among the residents of the city and other Nigerians. This is in spite of assurances by the security agents and the state government that they were battle-ready to nip in the bud any attack by sect members.

Since he became Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola has been engaged in proactive measures against such attacks and other crimes in the city. The government recently launched the installation of 1,200 security cameras in the city. Already, the cameras have been deployed in critical locations. Though the Lagos State government is unrelenting in the fight against crime and criminalities in the state, deploying cameras all over Lagos is not enough.

Those who will man them at the control room are very vital to the success of the project. Besides, the state needs to go all out to enlighten the populace on the danger of harbouring criminals in their neighbourhoods. Again, Lagos residents must be educated about the importance of volunteering useful information on suspicious movements in their localities so as to put the terrorists in check. The security agencies too must treat such information with utmost confidentiality in order to win the confidence of the people.

Criminals are human beings; they are not spirits. In that case, with the support and cooperation of the people, they can be stopped in their tracks. Above all, our politicians or some of them that are in the habit of keeping criminals and other hoodlums as bodyguards who are usually let loose to commit all forms of atrocities on the society should desist from such ignoble practices and allow peace to reign. In the words of Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, in New York, on September 11, 2001: “This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of life, and we, the democracies of this world, are going to have to come together and fight it together and eradicate this evil completely from our world.”

U.S expresses concern against same sex marriage prohibition act in Nigeria!

As reactions trailed the recent signing into law of the prohibition of same sex relationships in Nigeria, the United States government is one country that has not hidden her reservations of the law. Below is a message released by the U.S Embassy Abuja, Nigeria:

"Since the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was signed, we have 

expressed concern as a friend of Nigeria that it might be used by some to 

justify violence against Nigerians based on their sexual orientation. Recent 

attacks in Abuja deepen our concern on this front. We hope that all Nigerians 

can agree that discrimination and violence against any fellow Nigerian is 

never justified".


Your comments on this please.

Cleric calls for a boycott of Disney Channel for promoting gay relationship!

Two weeks after the appearance of a lesbian couple in a Disney Channel program, a controversial ex-Navy chaplain has delivered what is perhaps the most stinging attack on the network to date, asserting the channel was “under the influence” of “demonic spirits” for including the couple in a popular show.



Disney received attention for the episode of “Good Luck Charlie,” which debuted Jan. 26. In it, couple Susan and Cheryl are seen dropping their daughter off for a play date with the main character. Though TV shows have featured gay characters for more than four decades, their inclusion in major roles as parents is new. Perhaps the most prominent is ABC’s “Modern Family,” which features a gay couple raising an adopted daughter.

Ex-Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt is having none of it.

“If you are a Christian or a moral-minded parent who wants to teach your children that homosexuality is aberrant and wrong behavior, for example, you don’t want to model sinful behavior as normative to your kids, your morality and faith, you child’s innocence are now being undermined by the Disney Corporation,” he said in an audio clip. 

“And that’s why we are inviting you to participate in boycott of the Disney Channel … Send a message to the Disney Channel: stop recruiting our children into an aberrant lifestyle!

“Don’t you want to have that blessing for your children, that their conscience will not be assaulted, their innocence will not be violated by the corporations who want to push a gay agenda upon your family?” he added. 

“I believe these tempters now at the Disney Corporation are being influenced by demonic spirits who want to recruit your children into sin … God bless the children, not just the ones who are actors in this show whose innocence is being violated, but also your children at home who may be having access to this kind of programming.”

culled

Popular Lagos Pastor Caught With A Married Woman On Bed!

A popular Lagos prophet was reportedly caught pants down with a female church member on her matrimonial bed. 



The prophet identified as I.T. Adewoye is one of the top spiritual leaders in Cherubim and Seraphim Church and things may turn out sour as a result of his alleged uncontrolled sexual appetite. Adewoye is alledged to be the spiritual father of an influential politician in Nigeria.

According to reports, Prophet Adewoye who is the founder of “Ayo Ni O” Cherubim and Seraphim Church located at the Idimu District in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, was caught by the husband of his mistress at her matrimonial home after months of suspicion and setting trap for the randy old man.

After he caught the prophet with his wife in action, the angry husband raised an alarm and took photos of the both of them naked, after which he dragged the prophet to a Police station at Idimu.

The banality of sex on St. Valentine’s day!

The prevailing wisdom in most media-saturated societies says; sex plus money equals the good life. This faulty equation is significantly changing the self-perception of many teenagers, their pursuit of happiness and envisioned future. If they are required to write on postage stamps their ultimate goals, different variants of this would appear: to outdo Cleopatra and make Croesus look poor. This aspiration is brazenly dramatised during Valentine’s season.

Valentine’s Day is increasingly taking on the defining character of a moral holiday. Raging passion largely shapes its observance.  Dating violence reaches all-time high.  In the spirit of the day, many teenagers will indulge in carefree sex.  Some will get involved in romance-induced brawls. Others will use illicit drugs for the first time. This is worrisome. Even ardent laissez-faire elite who promote sexually liberal views would agree that the moral health of society is gravely endangered when sex, drug, alcohol and gambling become “teens’ issues”.

Valentine’s Day has a peculiar moral tone, which in the name of love extols the do-whatsoever-you-like attitude and subjects reason to obsession. Also, it seemingly suspends conventional systems of thought and social conduct; thereby, making untested assumptions to set the ground rules of social activities.   Hence, at the drop of a hat, many would engage in sexual activities in front of a camera.  The “strong” in search of sluttish sex bullies the weak, exploits the vulnerable and commits outrageous obscenity. Society has a moral duty to save libido-driven teens from plunging into the vile world of violence.

President, Barack Obama, of the United States of America, when proclaiming February 2014 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, noted that “Each year, 1 in 10 American teenagers suffers physical violence at the hands of a boyfriend or girlfriend.” Since, we do not have reliable data, because we hardly report abuses, it is fair to say that many Nigerian teenagers face similar danger.

Dating violence causes many problems. It could predispose survivors to sex disorder, self-loathing, dependence on alcohol, illicit use of drugs and other antisocial habits. If not well managed, their academic performance and zest for life may decline. In fact, those molested today are likely to molest others tomorrow.

There are places where dating violence are likely to occur. Some examples are; secluded places and overly permissive moral context where pleasure trumps scruples.  Whenever moral environments are conditioned in ways that allow people’s mood to determine what is good, values become disposable, whims rule over principles and insanity becomes an evolving norm. Hormones will dictate rightness, particularly for adventure-seeking teens.  “Seek pleasure, avoid pain” will gain the status of an article of faith.  Unfortunately, those who follow the dictates of hormones eventually wallow in regret.

Valentine’s Day ought to rekindle the flames of love. But since, Hollywood spells love as sex, true love is becoming ghostlike, everyone extols its transformational virtues, however, very few experientially know what it is. This is mostly true of those who were raised in the era when television began to play the role of babysitter. Their working definition of hell is; love without sex.

Generally, in popular culture, chastity is depicted as a value of bygone repressive era.  Television, music and film are riddled with illusions about the magic of sex. Teenagers are led to see it as mere recreation, a way of lessening tension, forging wholesome bonds, a proof of love and spark of genius. Consequently, many young people are not skilled at cultivating life enriching platonic relationships. The satisfaction of libido is now central to their concept of an ideal girl-boy interaction.  This has made many teens to do “something sexual they didn’t really want to do.”

The numbers of teenage parents in Nigeria are bound to increase in the months ahead, because of Valentine’s Day escapades. The implication is; many girls and boys will drop out of school and become streetwalkers, pocket pickers or unskilled labourers in sweatshops. Teen parents are vulnerable in many ways. The burden of raising children can hinder them from truly experiencing the deep joys of human flourishing. It is beyond contestation that parenting is an uphill task; it impedes growth in all facets of life when undertaken hastily. Hence, many teenage parents, particularly mothers hardly optimise their capacity for exceptional achievements. Likewise, their children’s growth is often retarded.

Again, post-Valentine weeks are marked by increased shotgun weddings. Those who consider having children outside wedlock as a stigma will do everything to ensure they get married. While those who are not financially endowed or see the foetus as mere body part may resort to abortion.

Given the health and social dangers fraught with teen sex, it is imperative for us to step up efforts at educating teenagers about refusal skills and the merits of delayed gratification. Refusal skills will enable them to deftly avoid participating in high-risk sexual activities, by enhancing their sensitivity to early warning signals of brewing romantic tragedy. Teens who can create escape exit are hardly victims of dating violence and unintended sex.

Parents need to lovingly stress and re-stress the values of continence.  Without the active support of parents, it is difficult for teens to truly appreciate sex for what it is and cultivate habits that facilitate lifelong happiness.

Similarly, school authorities should ensure that classrooms, playgrounds and so forth do not become hunting grounds for sex predators. This cannot be overemphasised, since; our collective future is largely hinged on the worldviews, habits, safety and happiness of our teenagers.

By  Omozuwa Gabriel

U.K Storms are clear sign of climate change, to get worse and would lead to conflict and war if not checked NOW- says Lord Stern

Leading environmental economist Lord Stern has said the ongoing storms in the UK are just a taste of things to come, warning that failing to tackle global warming could lead to war as hundreds of millions of people are forced to migrate.

The peer, author of a landmark 2006 report on climate change, said record rainfall and storm surges were “a clear sign that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change”.

He said that the dangers were greater now than in 2006 because greenhouse gas emissions have “increased sharply” and their effects are happening more quickly, such as the melting of Arctic sea ice.

“If we do not cut emissions, we face even more devastating consequences, as unchecked they could raise global average temperature to 4C or more above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century,” he wrote in The Guardian.

“The shift to such a world could cause mass migrations of hundreds of millions of people away from the worst-affected areas. That would lead to conflict and war, not peace and prosperity.”

He pointed to other parts of the world that have been experiencing “extreme weather events” in the past few months: heatwaves in Australia and Argentina, record rainfall and floods in Brazil, and Typhoon Haiyan – “the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall anywhere in the world” — which killed more than 5,700 people in the Philippines.

“This is a pattern of global change that it would be very unwise to ignore,” Lord Stern wrote.

“The upward trend in temperature is undeniable, despite the effects of natural variability in the climate which causes the rate of warming to temporarily accelerate or slow for short periods, as we have seen over the past 15 years.

“The risks are immense and can only be sensibly managed by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which will require a new low-carbon industrial revolution.”

He condemned the “lack of vision and political will” from politicians in the developed world, but said “fortunately poorer countries, such as China, are showing leadership and beginning to demonstrate to the world how to invest in low-carbon growth”.

And he argued the Government should resist calls to cut overseas aid to help pay for the flood response as it would be “deeply immoral to penalise the 1.2 billion people around the world who live in extreme poverty”.

“In fact, the UK should be increasing aid to poor countries to help them develop economically in a climate that is becoming more hostile largely because of past emissions by rich countries.”

Mavin records unveils AphroDija!

The M.D CEO mavin records donjazzy reveled in a twit this morning that the mavin organization added a new artiste to her collection.

The twitt below: 
"Guys pls welcome Mavin records new artist@AphroDija and visit mavinrecords dot com to download her first official single #Yaro . Thanks #Idja#mavins"

On her part, the newest artiste on the mavin record label aphrodija twitted: 



"it is time and I thank you all for your support. My best kept secret is now out. It's been a beautiful road of sweat and tears Without the Almighty and your undying love and support this would never have been possible! I AM A MAVIN and I hope you all are ready to follow me on this amazing journey with my new family".