Northern elders warn against inciting comments!

The Northern Elders Council on Wednesday warned politicians against making inflammatory political statements.

President Goodluck Jonathan in a hand shake with some Northern elders

It said that such comments were capable of plunging the nation into chaos and that Nigeria’s unity should be paramount in the minds of all.

Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, at a media briefing in Abuja, said some people in the north had been threatening fire and brimstone as 2015 presidential election draws nearer.

Yakassai said the people making offensive statements were not representing the interest of the north and that it was wrong for anyone or group, no matter his grouse or its grievances, to heat up the polity with intent to destroy the country.

He said, “The security challenges in Boko Haram and other ethno-religious crisis in the North as well as violent crimes of kidnapping and armed robberies in other parts of the country pose a serious challenge to the nation, including wide spread poverty and unemployment.

“In an effort to find lasting solution to this national malaise, there have arisen mutual distrust and suspicions leading to utterances by some people capable of affecting the standing, respectability and unity of the North in particular and the country in general.

“The founding fathers of our nation manifested tact, wisdom, courage and moderation in their conduct of public affairs. They had tackled major challenges without inflammatory and inciting statements with wisdom and maturity.”

Yakasai said there was no way people could be leaders and elders when they promote hate, incitement, intolerance and violence in the country.

He added, “Our collective responsibility is to continue to build a united and prosperous nation. That is why it is necessary for all men of honour and goodwill to reject anybody purportedly speaking for and on our behalf, who makes inciting, divisive and provocative statements capable of undermining our national unity and democracy.

“We are also concerned that some politicians are making subterranean moves to drag our revered traditional rulers into political controversy. We would like to sound a word of caution against such acts.”

Source: PUNCH

Igbo Deportees Request For A Compensation of N1 Billion From Lagos State Government!

The suit filed by over 80 Igbo ‘deportees’ against the Lagos State Government came up on Thursday at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, with the plaintiffs demanding a compensation of 1 billion Naira (about 6.3 million dollars).

Seven plaintiffs filed the suit on behalf of 66 others and they are jointly seeking the compensation from the Lagos State government as general damages for breach of their rights. The seven plaintiffs are; Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu.

Joined as respondents are the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. When the case was mentioned in court, the counsel representing the plaintiffs, Mr Ugo Ugwunnadi, told the court that the case was coming up for the first time.

He informed the court that he had only been served with the processes from the first respondent, the Attorney General of Lagos and that the second respondent, the commissioner of police, was yet to serve his process.

The counsel, therefore, asked the court to give parties a date for the hearing of the matter by which time lawyers involved would have perfected their processes.

The Counsel representing the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Tayo Odupitan, told the court that he had filed a counter-affidavit, written address and an exhibit, all in response to the plaintiffs’ suit.

He, however, informed the court that the A-G Lagos State, Mr Ade Ipaye, had indicated his intention to defend the suit personally.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case to February 19 for further hearing.

They slaughtered people like rams- Bishop recounts last Sunday's attack on church!

The Bishop of Yola Diocese in Adamawa State, Stephen Dami Mamza, narrated the incident which took place in Waga Chakawa, Adamawa last Sunday said to perpetrated by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

“They closed the Church, stood by doors, and started throwing IEDs and shooting directly at the helpless worshipers,” said Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza.

The massacre which started on Sunday evening and lasted till the early hours of Monday, left 31 parishioners dead and 11 others  mutilated by knives and gun wounds. According to him: “The attack took place in our out-station Church on Sunday morning in a village called Waga Chakawa. The Church is under St. Dennis Catholic Church, Madagali in Adamawa State. They were about to finish Holy Mass with the Catechist when the suspected men arrived in Hilux vans and some on motorcycles.”

“Those that were escaping through the widow were being slaughtered like rams and others killed through their sophisticated guns.”

He added, “I have never seen this tragedy; it is a gradual elimination of people with impunity and desecration and sanctity of human lives.”

The Bishop said after the gang had finished with the helpless villagers inside the Church, the attackers went into the village and slaughtered about ten people of several Churches and escaped without any response.

Bishop Mamza had a plea for the Nigerian government, “I am begging in the name of God, government and security agencies should come to the aid of poor Nigerians irrespective of their religion, status or whatever and give them protection. We are mourning these children and adults whose innocent lives were brutally stuffed out of them unjustifiably.”

Source: Sahara Reporters

Justin Beiber turns himself in, charged w/ assaulting limo driver!

Justin Bieber has turned himself in after he was charged with assault for allegedly hitting a Toronto limousine driver several times in the back of the head last month, just hours after his attorney entered a separate not guilty plea in Florida to drunken-driving and other charges.

The baby-faced 19-year-old turned himself in to a Toronto police station Wednesday evening, arriving amid a crush of media and screaming fans. He was charged with one count of assault and is scheduled to appear in court in Toronto on March 10.

Police allege Bieber was one of six people who were picked up by a limousine from a nightclub in the early morning hours of Dec. 30, and there was an altercation while en route to a hotel.

Police said during the altercation one of the passengers hit the limo driver in the back of the head several times.

"The driver stopped the limousine, exited the vehicle and called police," a statement said. "The man who struck him left the scene before police arrived."

Babangida denies writing Jonathan!

Kassim Afegbua, the media aide to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has disowned a statement he purportedly issued on behalf of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida on Wednesday.

Mr. Afebgua, who was Mr. Babangida’s publicist before he joined the Edo State government, said the former president did not authorize any statement expressing worry over some recent happenings in the polity, including the arrest and detention of the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai.

The former president was also quoted in the purported statement as warning Mr. Jonathan to be careful with his advisers and sycophants, in and out of government, so that his focus, resilience, and perseverance would not be derailed.

“The happenings in the country in recent times call for worry if we must be sincere with ourselves,” Mr. Babangida, who ruled Nigeria between 1985 and 1993, was quoted as saying.

“Every day, the nation is treated with one form of political issue or the other. From security challenges to economic challenges, Nigerians are asking several questions that deserve responses from government at the various levels. Democracy is when it is a people-driven government with its fundamental principles of freedom of expression, freedom of association, rule of law, accountability, probity and equal representation amongst others.”

But Mr. Afegbua, in a statement on Wednesday evening, denied issuing any statement authorized by Mr. Babangida warning the president not to allow his aides mislead him.

The apparently furious aide to Mr. Oshiomhole described the attribution of the statement to him “as outright blackmail journalism and a sad commentary on journalism practice; a profession that I hold dear to my heart.”

“I wish to state unequivocally that I am currently working in Edo State as a Special Adviser to the Comrade Governor on Media and Public Affairs, a position which was expressly endorsed by my boss-for-life General IBB (Babangida).

“Let me also state without mincing words that I did not issue the said statement that is flying around the social media on behalf of IBB. Let me also declare with all the emphasis at my disposal that General IBB did not authorize anyone to issue any statement on his behalf let alone crediting same odious statement to me; Prince Kassim Afegbua,” he added.

Mr. Afegbua narrated that when his attention was drawn to the report, he called the local telephone number of the online publication that first published it, but did not get any response.

He said thereafter, he called its international line and a receiver on the other end, who refused to disclose his name, expressed shock at his complaint and assured that he would give instructions for the removal of the concocted lies from the site of the publication.

“When I called the local mobile telephone number of the online publication:08165076156, no one answered my several calls. In fact, the receiver from the other end was cutting my calls, Mr. Afegbua said.

“When I called the international number 00912407041545, a receiver from the other end who refused to disclose his name, expressed shock at my declaration. He did promise to instruct his co-conspirators to remove the tissue of concocted lies from their site. As at the time of writing this rebuttal, he has not done so,” Mr. Afegbua said

Read Mr. Babangida’s purported letter and Mr. Afegbua’s rebuttal below.

THE STATEMENT PURPORTEDLY AUTHRORISED BY IBRAHIM BABANGIDA

 “The happenings in the country in recent times call for worry if we must be sincere with ourselves.

“Every day, the nation is treated with one form of political issue or the other. From security challenges to economic challenges, Nigerians are asking several questions that deserve responses from government at the various levels. Democracy is when it is a people-driven government with its fundamental principles of freedom of expression, freedom of association, rule of law, accountability, probity and equal representation amongst others.

“I will like to advise President Goodluck Jonathan to tread cautiously so that those sycophants in, and out of government will not derail his focus, resilience and perseverance. He needs all the comportment, resilience, perseverance, introspection and determination to be able to take the right decisions for the good of the country. The arrest and release of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is a deliberate distraction which the President must run away from.

“He must avoid gambling with decisions and he must be willing to seek a third opinion on issues before he takes his decision. President Goodluck Jonathan must understand that there is a whole body of people out there who are not happy with happenings in the country. It is his responsibility as President of the country to reach out to them and make his mission understandable to the common man on the street so that they can buy into his government.

“If his body of advisers do not understand the temperament in the country and decide to embark on arresting and releasing people on very questionable allegations, they will be making enemies for the President instead of friends. The prerogative is that of the President and no one else.

“President Jonathan should as a matter of responsibility listens to voices of the opposition and or dissent, as he stands to gain experience and knowledge from their well-informed criticisms rather than build hostilities around them. He has to ensure that he minimizes and maximizes his discretionary powers in a manner that will not be subject of abuse.

“President Goodluck Jonathan must sit back, collect himself and carry out a critical self-appraisal before he takes his decisions. He is aware without mention, that the country is presently faced with several developmental challenges.

“Also, security agencies must avoid getting involved in political issues. Modern day security has evolved to a point where you do not require seeing gun-wielding Policemen on the streets. The ability to collate information and analyse same in a proactive manner will help improve the security situation in the country. We must carry out moral healing as well as political healing in the land.

“The President must make it a point of duty to reach out to people, groups and individuals with the sole purpose of selling his presidency. It is becoming instructive that the concept of winner-takes-all which has pervaded the system for so long may not flourish as such again.”

KASSIM AFEGBUA’S REBUTAL

OF STATEMENT CREDITED TO ME AND OTHER MATTERS.

My attention has just been drawn to a news story and statement purportedly credited to me with a blaring headline “Your Aides are misleading you; IBB warns Jonathan” published in one Global Village Extra, an online publication.

To state the least, this is outright blackmail journalism and a sad commentary on journalism practice; a profession that I hold dear to my heart.

I wish to state unequivocally that I am currently working in Edo State as a Special Adviser to the Comrade Governor on Media and Public Affairs, a position which was expressly endorsed by my boss-for-life General IBB. Let me also state without mincing words that I did not issue the said statement that is flying around the social media on behalf of IBB.

Let me also declare with all the emphasis at my disposal that General IBB did not authorize anyone to issue any statement on his behalf let alone crediting same odious statement to me; Prince Kassim Afegbua.

Even though General IBB has not officially appointed a Media Spokesman since I left, my acceptance of the offer of Special Adviser by my Governor automatically removes me from being General IBB’s Spokesman, a position I so cherished and a personality I so admire.

It is therefore bad journalism for one obscure, good-for-nothing, unprofessional platform such as the Global Villa Extra, to fabricate a statement and credit same to me, not only to mislead the public but cause disaffection amongst the personalities involved.

General IBB is a leader of leaders that I admire so much and one whose understanding of the delicate politics of the country is, in my honest view, unequalled.

I have been a very good student of his political school of thought since I met him till date and I will remain so till the end of time. It is not in his character to join issues with leaders in such pedestrian manner as reflected in the so-called statement credited to me.

This rebuttal becomes instructive to put the records straight and disabuse the minds of our numerous followers, friends and associates who may come across this statement in one way or the other.

It is also to remind the publisher[s] of Global Village Extra that journalism is a very serious profession that requires all the ethics, decorum and standard from all practitioners, but certainly not this category of naysayers, hirelings and journalistic-jobbers that are trying to mislead the public. When I called the local mobile telephone number of the online publication:08165076156, no one answered my several calls.

In fact, the receiver from the other end was cutting my calls.

When I called the international number 00912407041545, a receiver from the other end who refused to disclose his name, expressed shock at my declaration. He did promise to instruct his co-conspirators to remove the tissue of concocted lies from their site.

As at the time of writing this rebuttal, he has not done so.

I therefore wish to formally disown the said statement in part, whole and its entirety. It was neither authorized by me nor General IBB and should be so discountenanced. I wish to thank my reputable colleagues in the media who quickly saw through this statement as a piece of abhorrence and alerted me almost immediately.

May God continue to replenish your wisdom and deep sense of judgment.

THANK YOU.

PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA

SPECIAL ADVISER, MEDIA AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO THE EDO STATE GOVERNOR   

Could Helen Clark be the first woman to run the UN?!

In the course of a political career that has lasted over 30 years, helen Clark only thought of quitting once. With a personal poll rating of just 2% soon after becoming party leader in 1993, she asked a few close friends whether there was any point continuing. "They said, 'You've just got to keep standing there', which was the best advice. If you keep standing, actually very few will come after you."

Clark went on to become New Zealand's first elected female prime minister in 1999 – leading for three consecutive terms – and is now the most powerful woman at the United Nations, working her second term as head of the UN development program. She could well become the first woman to lead the organisation once the incumbent Ban Ki-Moon stands down in a few years.

En route to Davos, the alpine schmoozefest for powerbrokers, Clark was in London last week to deliver a lecture on leadership for the Women of the organization.  With so few female heads of state to act as a yardstick, she has been compared to Margaret Thatcher, despite her vastly different Labour party politics and incredibly impressive, no-nonsense support of other women.

On the advice from close friends to keep on as party leader, she persisted. "They said: 'Don't give in.' It's not in my nature to give in anyway." She lambasts organisers at Davos for failing to increase the number of women and, on panels, happily discusses female representation in the same breath as her views on Syria or other affairs of state.

By the end of her nine years as prime minister in 2008, New Zealand's governor general, cabinet secretary, attorney general and speaker were all women. Meanwhile, opponents in her last unsuccessful election urged voters to "ditch the bitch".

Now 63, there can be few women better qualified to talk about the treatment of women in power. Clark decided early on to ignore much of the criticism of her sex, she says. "There was a lot of very gender-based criticism. You know, 'Your voice is too low, your teeth are too crooked'. They don't like your hairstyle, they don't like your clothes. In fact, they don't really like anything about you, and maybe this all adds up to [the notion] that they don't really like a woman doing what you're doing.

"But, you know, if you found all that hurtful then you're probably not going to be able to survive these jobs. You have to be able to dismiss it, and I seem to have developed a style, where [journalists] always knew that I'd get to a point and say 'move on', you know, 'get over it'."

But was she really not that bothered by patronising remarks? "Earlier on, it annoyed me, but then I got to the point in my career where I said: 'Look, who cares, it's irrelevant and if I comment on it, it's an issue, so let's move on.' I've got bigger things to do."

Given this attitude, her view of Julia Gillard, the former prime minister of Australia whose speech denouncing misogynists in parliament was a YouTube sensation, is less surprising. "Many women around the world saw this as incredible, but how did it play in Australia?" Clark asks. Gillard was, of course, subsequently oustered as leader of the Australian Labour party.

"I had no personal experience of it," Clark says of sexual harassment, "but, if there is one silver lining from all this, we need all these people coming forward ... Women are not prepared to suffer in silence. The lid is off and that has to be healthy."

She is also well aware of the double standards that mark a woman in power, pointing out the fact that "strength" in men is described as "toughness" in women and judged accordingly. But pondering why men are more likely to push themselves forward, she suggests that more women than men "want to balance a range of factors" when getting to the top. One of the biggest factors is childbirth.

Elected to parliament at 31, she has remained childless by choice. "It just would have been totally impractical without a spouse who was prepared to completely give up a career," she says. Her husband, sociologist Peter Davis, was on a fast-track university career, so she felt that wasn't an option. Asked if she ever regretted the decision, she says: "No, definitely not … It was absolutely right for me."

But women who want to combine motherhood with powerful positions should be able to, she says. "It really points to the need for a lot more discussion of families and of the role of boys and girls, women and men, so that the boys grow up with an expectation to be an equal in the household."

Clark was brought up on a farm in rural New Zealand, and her own mother gave up her career as a teacher as soon as she married. Clark, who kept her maiden name, never wanted to go down the same route. There's "some truth", she says, in the story that she cried on her wedding day. So why did she get married? "It was 1981. It wasn't that usual for people in public life [to be unmarried]. It still isn't." She doesn't seem to mind that this makes her marriage sound like political expediency – she is still happily married to the same man 34 years later.

She first became interested in politics because of international affairs – the death of JFK when she was a teenager, the war in Vietnam and the injustices of apartheid. Now her name is potentially in the frame for the top job at the UN, the first woman to lead the diverse group of 193 nations.

The election of a UN secretary-general is a process so complicated it takes years to go through, all of it behind closed doors. Clark has many points in her favour, not least her current job and the fact that New Zealand is part of the amusingly named Weog group (Western Europe and Other Group, but essentially it means the old developed countries). There hasn't been a secretary-general from Weog since Kurt Waldheim in the 1970s, which in the obtuse nature of UN affairs could mean it's about time another one got the job.

Asked if she wants the job, she refects on how being a woman would play out in that role. "There will be interest in whether the UN will have a first woman because they're looking like the last bastions, as it were." But it could also be a massive "turn-off" to others, she admits. She loves her job, she says, and laughs when I point out she hasn't answered my question. "If there's enough support for the style of leadership that I have, it will be interesting."

Back in New Zealand, there are fewer women in government than there were when she was prime minister. At the recent Davos meeting, only 15% of delegates were women, an even smaller number than last year. "These battles never go away," she says. "It shouldn't just depend on a group of exceptionally ambitious women. We need it to be in the culture of our societies, institutionalising it in the normal scheme of things. [Then] there will be a lot of women at the top."

culled

Paul Martinelli in Lagos!

It was an awesome time with the President John Maxwell team, Paul Martinelli last weekend at the Rock Cathedral Lekki - Lagos. 

Participants were taken on Ten effective steps to change our believe system. 

At the end, participant were fully charged to go out there and lead a highly impactful life.