AGAINST popular expectation, Ghollywood stars, Nadia Buari and Majid Michel opted for a late arrival at the star-studded premiere of two Royal Academy of Arts flicks which held last weekend at the Silverbird Cinemas. The Ghanian thespians who were supposed to be the main attraction at the red carpet failed to show up until the premiere had gotten underway. While Uche Jombo’s new flick, Holding Hope stars Nadia Buari, her counterpart, Majid Michel plays a lead role in Emem Isong’s Bursting Out.
In the build-up to the event, the attendance of the duo had generated frenzy and was subject of speculation following the row over working permit threatening the existing relationship between Ghanaian and Nigerian movie industry. It would be recalled that Ghanaian authorities had slammed a $1000 price work permit as a pre-condition for Nigerian actors willing to carry out any work in Ghana, while Nigeria had reciprocated through the Coalition of Nollywood Guild and Association of Nigeria (CONGA) with a $2000 fee.
It was not immediately established why both actors chose to arrive late . However, their lateness did not remove glam and glitz from the premiere which paraded A-list Nollywood stars and other celebrities. Some of them include Genevieve Nnaji, Uche Jombo, Stephanie Okere, Chidi Mokeme, Desmond Elliot, Monalisa Chinda, Omoni Oboli, Ufuoma Ejenobor, Ebube Nwagbo, Uche Iwuji, Ngozi Nwosu, Anita Hogan, Zizi Cardow.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Despite constant reports of 419 scam swindles in the media, people continue to be fooled. It should be noted that con artists have been perfecting their scams skills for decades. It may be hard to believe but this type of scam has been around since the 1920s when it was called the Spanish Prisoner Con.
Back then the letter requesting funds were mailed the old fashioned way rather than arriving via email. The schemes were somewhat different in that they involved breaking the heir of a wealthy family out of a Spanish prison. Large sums of money were usually promised to anyone willing to help finance an operation designed to smuggle the heir out of the jail. The plan was in place but money was needed to bribe the guards, provide a means of transportation or whatever else the scammers might dream up. Each attempt in this escape plan ordeal would end in failure but the next one was certain to succeed! , as usually promised by the artist.
The specific details of the fraud may differ but it’s essentially the same thing as every other 419 scam we see in recent days. Every year there is a new angle to play and it’s a sure bet that someone will take the bait.
Falling for such scam normally will leave the worst kind of taste in the victim’s mouth. Not only will you have been ripped off but you will have willingly allowed it to happen and been an active participant. At Codewit.com scam alert segment we will continue to expose the scammer’s techniques and we do advice that that get-rich-quick schemes don’t work instead, the victim usually is left with nothing but a hard lesson. Don’t be greedy. Don’t fall for such scam.
I am Anthony Claret and this is scam alert info for our visitors Visit us at Codewit.com for more advice on how to prevent yourself to be conned from internet scam perpetrators
Scam -Get rich quick proposals In this classic scam someone from another country needs your help. They claim to have an extraordinary amount of money that needs to be transferred to the country of origin.
For your trouble, you can keep a hefty percentage of the loot. To get the money into your account someone needs to be bribed. That’s where you come in. Once you send this advance fee the money will be deposited into your account. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work. In reality, you’ll never see a dime. Nigerian scams take many forms. The bottom line is that you need to send a little money to get a lot in return. One variation involves an internet lottery you never knew you entered. Another is a bid on your online auction for far more than your item is worth. They’ll pay with a money order that will be for more than the agreed on price. They will quickly realize their mistake and ask you to return the extra funds to them. If you decline the request will turn into demands or threats. They’ll want you to pay quickly because their initial payment will turn out to be a counterfeit money order. These scams are often easy to spot. Some are more elaborate. Just remember, no one in their right mind sends a stranger a large amount of money over the internet. Don’t be greedy. Don’t fall for such scam. Visit us at Codewit.com for more advice on how to prevent yourself to be conned from internet scam perpetrators
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The News flow Controversy: Evaluation of Imbalances, Inadequacies, distortions in International news flow and how it affects African development and democracy.
Information is power and the most critically sought commodity in today’s world. Those that control the information are usually seemed to be the most powerful in our contemporary society. Therefore, for the past thirty years, there has been a controversy resulting from accusation and counter accusation of imbalance flow of information from the west to south. The purported victims which are the developing nations have been raging bitterly over the news coverage of events in their continent and have denounced western newspapers, journals, and television outlets for their alleged sensationalism and anti-development bias (Legum & Cornwell, 1978). Due to this controversy, on several accounts, developing nations have attempted to engage the western nations through different channels to address the issue of global information inequality. One that may readily come to mind is the UNESCO meetings in 1969 (Sean , Elie, Sergei , & Somavia, 1980), 1974 (Mowlana, 1985), 1976 (Bandopadhyay, 2006) and 1980 (Tokunbo, 2000) consecutively, where the UNESCO group of experts on mass communication and society noted in its disturbing but revealing report that: What has come to be known as the free flow of information at the present time is often in fact a one way rather than a true exchange of information.
In retaliation, western world has equally charged the developing world of seeking to obstruct the free flow of information and insist to make no change in the information flow which they regard as a threat to the freedom to report, to print, and to broadcast news (Legum & Cornwell, 1978). This charge and counter-charge is far from abating and in fact is gathering momentum as it persists in many developing countries as they are well aware of the value of information in speeding material development and in maintaining power. In this paper however, the author will be discussing the developing world perception of new world information order, seeking to find what changes they expect from it. The essay will also attempt to identify the positions taken by these disputants by closely looking at the exchange of charges and counter-charges between those demanding balance in the news and those demanding journalistic freedom. And finally we will explore the issues underlying the dispute and attempt to proffer solutions where necessary.
A Historical Perspective: News flow before World War II
The concept of imbalance in the media coverage and controversy over the international flow of news had been an important starting point in many of the deliberations concerning the national and international flow of information, culture and news. However, the significance of this controversy can be understood only be grasping the extent of the revolutionary changes that have been eroding the international system for the last thirty years.
Taking cognizance of the fact that in recent days, the world communication technology and the management of world information resources are clearly in the favor of the industrialized countries. (Legum & Cornwell, 1978), in their compiled report argues that western domination was actually the cause of disparity in both the economic and information order which they believed started after the World War II as described as the post imperial era. It was during this period that new ideas and forces took shape and power shift decisively to the west. They recounted that before the World War II , that western nations has no political power to impose their will on the non-western world and that the great power struggles of the European imperial era were all fought among the western nations themselves making it impossible for the west to dominate (Legum & Cornwell, 1978).
However, they believed that the industrial revolution had given the west a head start over the rest of the world in creating new wealth and accumulating great military power, which in turn resulted both in the expansion of European imperialism and in the rise of the United states, but one thing that stood very obvious within those period was also subsequent rapid growth of emerging powers like Soviet Union and China. These duos also become players in the center stage making the technological advances of the industrial revolution not remain exclusive to western possession.
News Flow after World War II
After the World War II, more events continue to unfold, developing countries began gradually to assume role in the central stage as major factor in world affairs. Suffice to note that the developing nation’s first encounter in dealing with the western world was recorded to be hostile, as they experienced the western domination on almost every international affairs which Roger Tatarian, former vice-president of United Press International (UPI), acknowledged then by stating that the imbalance in economic and information order is due to the military, economic and political power distribution in the western world. (Tokunbo, 2000). As things unfold, It becomes more clearer to the developing world that the western domination and control of information is not beneficial but later unhealthy to their growth given that this one- way flow of information inevitably reflects only the point of view, mentality, values and interests of these developed nations (Ochs, 1986).
Most importantly, they saw also repressive act of the western world where the major western media tend to treat the cultures of the industrialized nations as superior and place them at the top of this imaginary hierarchy, while the cultures of the developing nations are placed at the bottom of the hierarchy (Einer, 1965). For instance, we always see the journalist lump together the 54 nations of African continent as one while the continent is often portrayed as a crocodile-infested dark continent where jungle life has perpetually eluded civilization (Tokunbo, 2000). These gross misrepresentations and imbalance in the inter-national news flow was a big concern to the developing countries, therefore there was a burning desire for a radical overhaul of the present international information system to a new information order where free flow of information will be equitable and balanced. They wanted the world communication system to reflect the diversity and equality of all human races more just and more beneficial to the whole community of mankind. It was on this background that the New World Information and communication order (NWICO) debate was born. It was the greatest debates in the field of international communication in the 1970s and 1980s (Tokunbo, 2000).
NWICO debate: Objective of NWICO debate
From documented report of several media experts, they all noted that the fundamental objective of NWICO debate was to seek for transnational flow of information, to resolve inequality in information resources, to promote cultural and commercial values of information and maintain fairness in the news distribution (Tokunbo, 2000). It was indeed a hot debate as summed up by different sources. According to one document complied by one German scholar on this NWICO debate, He wrote that there was a consensus from the participants resulting in adopting the resolution at the 19th General Conference of UNESCO in Nairobi in 1976 and at the 31st United Nations General Assembly which was aimed in promotion of the development of national communication systems in the developing countries (Kleinwachter, Nordenstreng, Gerbner, & Mowlana, 1993).
Outcomes of NWICO debate
From the documents emanating from the debate, we assume that the case of the developing world was well presented, noting that some major powers were complacent but not completely satisfied of the decision made in the meeting which we believe was among the reasons that made the realization of the demands a tall dream. Aside this unsatisfactorily disposition of the west, some other issues cast doubt on the realization of the decision for example, within the framework of the resolution, there were some questions unanswered. Firstly, there was no proper definition of how the implementation process of the NWICO debate was to be carried. Secondly, the censorship and media accountability clauses of the NWICO were too ambiguous. (Tokunbo, 2000), (Fore, 1982).
Furthermore, there was underground quibbles and grumbling among the attendants from the west that, the NWICO demands were seen as purely the sole views of Souths elites. Immediately after the release of the resolution to the public, U.S. press reacted with rage, panic and considerable bias. Even the U S. newspapers accused UNESCO of encouraging censorship, state control of the press, licensing of journalists by the state, and, in general, of being the arch-enemy of freedom of the press. (Fore, 1982).
This confusion reinvigorates the western nations suppressive desire to lead, who are already fearing that the hegemonic and monopolistic ownership and control of international communication systems and patterns of information flow were about to be destabilized and disestablished (Okigbo C. C., 1996). This fear prompted the infamous speech by Ronald Reagan the President of United States who spoke as quoted in the New York Times of September 22, 1987 saying that we cannot permit attempts to control the media and promote censorship under the ruse of a so-called new World Information Order, therefore confusion broke and Britain and the United States revoked their membership of the UNESCO and then walked out of the NWICO debate. Their withdrawal immediately weaken the organization political and financial strength as both countries are the largest financiers of the UNESCO.
On this account, the NWICO debate then suffered a big blow. Although UK later joined back to UNESCO in 1996 while US rejoined the organization in 2003, in a practical sense, some media expert claimed that the NWICO debate was a failure. But on paper, it was a success. Owning to the fact that all media outlets restored to status quo. Seeing this development, it was clear that it will not be acceptable by the developing countries. Therefore, the debate was far from over, considering the crystal evidence/facts that the Western media never deviated from their distortion of news and use of the pejorative adjectives and stereotypes when reporting news from developing world. (Fore, 1982).
Post NWICO debate
With the heat and attention generated by the NWICO debate, one may think that the western mass media may surrender to the pressure to at least engage the developing countries in a more acceptable standard, but on the contrary the Western media made no concrete effort to present the developing countries in its full flower. For example, we observed that the news of the Africa is still being infected with the prevailing wisdom of the 19th century. As re-cried by Tojo in his essay he opined that, it is quite disheartening to still see that at the dawn of the 21st century, the North and South are still living in Many Worlds, One Voice. The one voice is the one the industrially rich North has imposed through its claim to economic and technological superiority and hegemony. Thus, the new world order does not seem to guarantee economic rights, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, cultural pluralism, autonomy and sovereignty of the nations of the South. It is perhaps a new world order of military intimidation and bashing of the weaker nation states of the South (Sean , Elie, Sergei , & Somavia, 1980), (Fore, 1982).
Contemporary Perspective: What Next?
Is the demand for free flow of information by the developing world a legitimate one? Before rushing to a conclusion that the western mass media have indeed been above reproach in their handling of sensitive international issues, we would like to seek for more justification of the claim and know exactly what is meant when we talk about improving the free flow of information and what impact it could make in the developing world. Therefore it will be more logical to argue in the line of the importance of balance and free flow of information. On this ground, we should bear in mind that media has enormous influence in shaping the public perception and imagination of the situation in or around the world. So ignoring these facts will always cause a serious impediment to the international cooperation.
From many materials we have seen, we noticed that developing countries are not seeking for patronizing information to be disseminated about them but rather they seek for a balance and free flow of information where both good and bad sides of their stories are reflected in the information shared to the public. Since we have establish these fact, then it may be damaging to continue marrying developing nation with stories of economic degradation and political unrest which we believe will only continue to exacerbate the current mistrust and undermine the essence of professional journalism and inter-cultural communication that supposed to exist in professional journalism (Kleinwachter, Nordenstreng, Gerbner, & Mowlana, 1993).
Conclusion & Recommendation
It is a fact that the world’s communications system is dominated by western institutions. The reason for this imbalance as mentioned above is partly because those with greater power tend to exercise greater influence. Today, developing worlds are attempting to redress the balance in the flow of information. And the stronger the developing world grows, the greater will be its ability to achieve essential changes in the international communication system. But it is not enough to say the third world must wait patiently until it is strong enough to compel change. More serious attempt must be made to improve the situation without waiting for the balance in world power to change. Therefore, a more renewed effort should be in place to help redress the balance in the flow of information because the present system is unjust, and those who are champion of freedom must equally be champion of justice and therefore it becomes a necessity that they should lead in helping to reduce manifest inequalities in information flow.
Furthermore, it is obvious that we cannot afford to continue to ignore the fact that the present imbalance in the flow of information is a serious impediment to international harmony and cooperation so every effort must be made to see that these dispute is resolved in a manner that will be helpful to both participants.
Kleinwachter, W.;Nordenstreng, K.;Gerbner, G.;& Mowlana, H. (1993). Three Waves of the Debate” The Global Media Debate: Its rise, fall and renewal. Norwood New Jersey: Ablex Publishing Corporation.
Legum, C.;& Cornwell, J. (1978). A Free and Balanced Flow. Report of the 20th Century Fund Task Force on the International Flow of News. Massachusets: D C: Lexington Books.
Okigbo, C. C. (1996). International Information flow and the challenge of the 21st century to communication research.” North-South Information Culture: Trends in the Global Communications and Research Paradigms. Ed. Uche, L.U. Lagos: Longman.
Sean , M.;Elie, A.;Sergei , L.;& Somavia, J. (1980). Many Voices, One World. Towards a new more just and more efficient world information and communication order. Paris: The UNESCO.
Uche, L. U. (1996). North-South Information Culture: Trends in the Global Communications and Research Paradigms. Lagos: Longman.
About Author:
Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi is a Nigerian activist and blogger Onwutalobi Anthony-Claret discusses the Imbalances, Inadequacies, distortions in International news flow and how it affects African development and democracy.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
I suppose patriotism is not the sort of thing that excites a lot of us. In fact any talk of patriotism is likely to induce a yawn or suspicion about the motive of the person raising it.
But that is not the same as saying that Nigerians have no sense of pride.
To understand patriotism’s uneasy place in Nigeria, you have to go back to 1914 when the Southern and Northern protectorates and Lagos Colony were brought together to form a single country.
In the process about 250 disparate groups – including the three major ones of Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba – were welded together in a “Tower of Babel” of sorts.
To this day, this uneasy coalition is still struggling to stay upright.
In fact, the story of Nigeria for the past 50 years seems to be characterised by a great deal of mutual distrust and suspicion between the various groups. And this state of affairs means that most Nigerians, consciously or not, see things from their tribal or factional perspective rather than from a common national point of view.
It appears that what many eminent Nigerians, including the celebrated writer Chinua Achebe, have referred to as the country’s “failure of leadership” has meant a weakening of the national commonwealth and subsequently a lack of patriotism among its citizens.
At the centre of this is the growing corruption of Nigeria’s elite which has given rise to anger and disillusionment throughout the country.
The fragility in the Nigerian project – or a lack of patriotism, call it what you will – is even visible online.
Raise any issue that mentions Nigeria in an internet forum and you are likely to see many comments which betray the ethnic, sectional or religious bias of the writer. In reference to the challenges that we face today, some still refer to what they call “the mistake of 1914”.
On a more serious scale, such perceptions have also fed into the muted separatist tendencies of organisations such as the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob).
This group came to prominence during Nigeria’s civil war 40 years ago and is still hankering after an independent Biafra state – home largely to the Igbo people. Although today Massob seems to be a fringe group, the sentiments it champions continue to resonate among a surprising number of Igbos.
Many feel that they are still marginalised because, in the years since the end of the civil war in 1970, they are yet to hold the presidency.
In the oil-producing Niger Delta region, an uneasy amnesty programme has eased some of the separatist innuendos of the former militants who, earlier this year, swapped their weapons for some skills training and a promise of jobs.
But with general elections around the corner, it is unclear if President Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of the Niger Delta who took the reins after the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, will be able to get an elected term on his own.
If he is fails, who knows what this could mean for national pride in the troubled region?
Patriotic awareness
But not all belief in a united Nigeria is lost.
You need look no further than sports competitions – especially football – for evidence of our patriotism. It is there that you will find Nigerians, irrespective of age, tribe or creed, enthusiastically cheering on the national team.
In fact, a growing trend in Nigeria’s major cities is the display of the country’s flag on vehicles whenever Nigeria appears in a tournament. That rare display of pride in something Nigerian is what many of the country’s leaders want to see in other areas.
As a result, many government programmes now promote patriotic awareness and zeal.
An example is the current rebranding campaigns to show the positive sides of Nigeria and efforts to get people to buy Made in Nigeria products. The problem is that these efforts have not produced many tangible results, apart from providing the country’s intrepid stand-up comedians with something to poke fun at.
While the comedians provoke mirth and laughter, it pains me to see the way we sometimes denigrate our national institutions in the process. A prime example is the army which, at the very least, has been making efforts to serve its civilian authority democratically.
But I am always proud as a Nigerian when at a gathering, everyone joins in rendering the national anthem without the aid of a recording. And when you go abroad you can always tell the Nigerian from other Africans judging by his self-confident, some would say cocky, way.
The biggest mistake a non-Nigerian can make is to try to criticise the country or to even innocently join the Nigerian pastime of self-condemnation. That is when you see that, in spite of all the negativity, Nigerians care for their country and still believe that one day its much talked about potential will be realised.
With the continent’s biggest population of over 150 million, almost a million square kilometres of mostly arable land, vast quantities of mineral resources – most of which remain untapped – and the can-do spirit of its people, it is difficult to see why not.
I believe that in the next 50 years, Nigeria is likely to confound those who have been telling tales of its fall. Better elections will help to strengthen democracy by producing leaders who are more likely to inspire others who believe that it is possible to have a Nigeria where differences in creed, tribe and tongue are no barrier to nationhood.
Are you in Nigeria? Do you feel patriotic about Nigeria, or should it be split into different countries? Will you be commemorating independence?
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ABUJA, Nigeria — Authorities in Nigeria say as many as 40,000 girls and women have been trafficked to nearby West African countries to serve as sex workers.
Simon Egede said Wednesday that investigators from his National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons found slave camps full of Nigerian women and girls in Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger, Libya, Morocco and Cape Verde. He says he estimates that there are between 20,000 and 40,000 victims.
He says Malian officials are planning arrests soon, and that Nigerian authorities are working to shut down operations elsewhere and prosecute the Nigerian traffickers.
Human Rights Watch reported earlier this year that many Nigerian teenage girls, some as young as 15, had been trafficked to Ivory Coast.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Nigeria is 50 years old on 1 October 2010. This time in our history does not call for any celebrations. Nigeria used to be the giant and pride of Africa, but that was back in the day. Today, Nigeria’s economy and politics portray sad pictures. The educational system is so bad that Nigerian students are now trooping to Ghana for tutorship. Those who have looted, stole and destroyed the country have sent their children and family members abroad for education and comfort. Nigerians who have genuinely attained economic self-sufficiency also tend to prefer to obtain an education abroad.
It is not only the educational system in Nigeria that has suffered. Almost every aspect of our lives in Nigeria has suffered tremendous setback in such a way that the overall quality of life for the ordinary Nigerian is below an acceptable level for a human. In the Niger Delta, where most of Nigeria’s revenues are generated, life is far from being a beauty to behold. National and international conspiracies have transformed the rich oil fields into killing fields and a valley of death and despair.
Nigeria’s electricity generation is near nil. Millions of Nigerians and thousands of businesses depend on generators that generate toxic fumes and devastating noise. Nigerian businesses are growing and developing faster in Ghana than in Nigeria, while the Nigerian environment is now widely used in documentaries to demonstrate the impact of environmental disasters.
Health care has been so neglected that almost every Nigerian politician travels abroad to seek medical help. Where should ordinary people go? They have no money and still depend on the dilapidated health facilities scattered around the country.
There is a general breakdown in the provision and availability of other basic infrastructure. Water is scarce and Nigeria made the global news in August as a result of deaths related to cholera. Toilets are primitive in many localities and the level of sanitation is extremely low.
Malaria also remains a threat, especially for children under four and pregnant women. Nigeria is one of the last countries in the world with records of polio incidence. While the politicians and corrupt individuals continue to amass wealth, the majority of the masses – more than 70% – continue to live in poverty.
Mediocrity over merit
The politics of Nigeria is the source of our greatest national shame. Somewhere along the line we threw away merit and replaced it with mediocrity. Tribal politics rose to unassuming heights and corruption ate deep into the fabric of society. The concept of ‘politics of the belly’ and the complete absence of morality in public office ensured that Nigeria fell from grace to grass with lightening speed.
While the other nations of the world, including neighbouring countries like Ghana and Benin, made progress, Nigeria headed in the opposite direction. Development stagnated as some individuals made away with the country’s wealth. The military men and the politicians alike stole with impunity and to a degree never seen before. The most disheartening aspect of the looting of Nigeria is that almost everyone who stole has gotten away.
In 2011, Nigerians are faced with a presidential election that could be a catastrophe. Nigeria does not need elections in 2011, Nigeria needs the structures and institutions to deliver free and fair elections in accordance with international standards. The starting point is a valid forensics-based identity registration for every Nigerian.
Celebration of failures
Fifty years after independence Nigeria’s democracy remains in shambles. While the government of President Goodluck Jonathan will be wasting N17bn ($110m) on the independence party, millions of Nigerians will continue to live from hand to mouth, unsure of the next meal. The amount of funds planned for this ‘celebration of failures’ is unwarranted. It should have been low-key, a time for sober reflection. We should have used this golden moment to evaluate where things went wrong and write genuine blueprints of how to emerge from our present predicament. Moreover, this anniversary should have been dedicated to arresting and prosecuting all those living large as emperors with the nation’s stolen wealth.
It is wrong for Nigeria to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence in an ostentatious manner because of the resounding failure of governments since 1960. Arguments against such a shameful charade fall on deaf ears. When President Jonathan planned independence celebrations with a budget of N10bn, people complained. They suggested that the money should be used to procure machines for Nigeria’s dilapidated hospitals. Former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who won the fraudulent 2007 elections, died of kidney and heart problems earlier this year. The government of Nigeria should consider the millions of Nigeria suffering and dying daily due to similar causes.
The men and women in the Nigerian House of Assembly confirmed the lack of probity in the Nigerian political space by calling for more money for the independence party. We forget so easily that we live in a country where scavengers make less than N200 a day and have families to feed. The party money is not a big deal to those who approved it.
These people who think and act foolishly owe us no apology and no accountability because we did not vote for them. Our politics is jungle politics, where the fittest survive and win everything. The weak and the losers lick their wound and beg for favours. Has anyone even thought of how much a N17bn education fund could avail if it is not looted?
Suffering will persist on the African continent and even elsewhere in the world until more people fight for social justice and true freedom. They say the best things in life are free. Social justice and freedom have not yet made the list. They are definitely not free. The oppressed must rise, fight and take what is theirs. For Nigerians, the days of true independence and liberation are still ahead.
Nigerian blogger Adeola Aderounmu says the country’s democracy is in a shambles and the N17bn for the independence celebrations is money ill-spent.
Adeola Omotayo Aderounmu is a Nigerian blogger, writer and teacher based in Stockholm, Sweden. Follow his blog here: http://aderinola.wordpress.com/
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda today left for Nigeria to attend that country’s 50th independence celebrations tomorrow.
And President Banda has said he was hopeful that a solution would be found to end the countrywide strike by the Resident Doctors as he travels.
His trip follows an invitation by the Nigerian leader Goodluck Jonathan to be his special guest at the ceremony.
The President left at exactly 09:00 hrs aboard the presidential Challenger plane.
President Banda was accompanied by other senior government officials.
An advance party, comprising of businessmen who are scheduled to meet their Nigerian counterparts left yesterday aboard a chartered plane.
And addressing journalists shortly before departure President Banda explained that he decided to reshuffle the Cabinet and particularly make a change at the Ministry of Agriculture because he felt that a change at the ministry would make operations more efficient.
“I just feel that I should realign my colleagues so that I put them in a more appropriate position, and as you know the issues of maize, maize payments and maize movements, safety is very important now. So my feeling is that a rearrangement will make it more efficient,†President Banda said.
Commenting on the strike action by the resident Doctors countrywide President Banda said that there were meetings being held among interested parties and that he was hopeful that a solution would be arrived at.
“They are having a meeting today. As a matter of fact I have just got a report from the Secretary to the Cabinet, they were meeting yesterday with the Ministry of Health. I am sure that matters will be resolved. We will sit down and find a solution. It’s better not to comment before they meet,†he said.
Meanwhile President Banda says that government was soon going to make a decision regarding the constitutional review process.
“The report has been presented to us the leaders of NCC and we are going to make a decision and we will let you know the way forward,†said President Banda.
Prior to his departure, President Banda took some time in the Presidential lounge at the airport to chat to his grandson, Anthony Banda, who had just returned from Spain where he has signed a professional contract with Spanish club Deportivo.
Anthony is a football player of the Zambia under 20 team and before his latest contract played a midfielder of Spanish 2nd division team Tontedra.
Anthony joined the Vice-President George Kunda, service chiefs and senior governmental official in seeing off the President.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
FRENCH police have listed Congolese rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide ‘Mopao Mokonzi’ on the catalog of Interpol’s wanted persons in that country following his alleged involvement in a sexually related case which is currently before the court in Paris.
And the 54-year-old multi-award winning performer is now being sought by his fellow countryman Kayembe Kaloji Wa Musongo, who promoted his latest shows in Lusaka last month.
After performing his show in Kitwe, Koffi was scheduled to proceed to South Africa for another show, but according to reputable sources, the singer avoided landing in an Interpol stronghold country owing to his sexual related offence case in Paris and instead decided to head back to Congo.
However, the source explains that Koffi had already been given down payment for the show in South Africa including 19 Zambezi Airlines air tickets for his band and crew.
“After Koffi performed in Lusaka, Kayembe went ahead to prepare for Koffi’s show in South Africa while Koffi was having his last show in Kitwe. So the following day after the show Koffi told the local promoters that he had business to do in Congo and so he needed to go back to Congo,†the source said.
The source narrated that after believing his story, the local promoters who were aware of his schedule in South Africa released him only to be informed a few hours later that the singer was shying away from Interpol in South Africa.
“The problem was that Kayembe had already started selling tickets for his shows in South Africa and had also booked air tickets for the band, so he called the Zambian promoters and instructed them not to release him,†the source disclosed.
“So the Zambian promoters now panicked, went to his hotel and found he was gone. It’s like he told the sponsors of the show in Kitwe that Kayembe wanted to dupe him by forcing him to perform in South Africa without any payment.â€
The source said the sponsors of the Kitwe show bought the story and helped him with three motor vehicles, among them a mini-bus.
“After seeing that Koffi had left the hotel, the promoters informed police in Kitwe who made a strong chase on Koffi’s vehicles but it’s like their cars were moving very fast and the police couldn’t catch them, so they informed the immigration office at the Kasumbalesa border post to detain the singer.â€
“At the border, immigration officers managed to detain his dancers who were on one of the vehicles and waited for the singer who also signed a contract with Kayembe for a performance in South Africa,†the source narrated.
The source said Koffi got wind of the development at the border and using his contacts and managed to pass through the stitches of the police drag nets into Congo without having his passport stamped.
“His friends from the border told him of the situation and arranged for a motorbike for him which he rode through the forest into Congo. The police still managed to get him there but the man is powerful in that country and so he was out of police custody after some time,’ said the source.
The source explained that his band members were released from detention at the border on grounds that they did not sign a contract with Kayembe.
Meanwhile, kongotimes.info reports that Koffi has not returned to France following allegation that he smuggled into the country four of his ex-dancers who were under age at the time.
The paper reports that Koffi is alleged to have been involved in some sexually related offences involving the dancing girls in a flat he rented for them in the French Capital and that he fled that country after police started pursuing him.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The 19-year-old, who returned to action in July after an 11-month gender investigation, has been struggling with a back injury sustained in training, though her coach, Michael Seme, had dismissed the problem as a minor niggle.
“She had a slight pain in the back, but the issue has been blown slightly out of proportion,” said Seme.
“She’s going to be 100 per cent fit. We are training and will be there.”
But, hours later, Seme’s decision was overruled on the advice of the South African Olympic Committee doctor.
The Olympic Committee chief executive, Tubby Ready, said the scan “confirmed that she most certainly has a back problemâ€.
Semenya would have been the overwhelming favourite to add the Commonwealth Games 800m crown to the world title she won in Berlin last summer.
Her absence f will be another huge blow for the beleaguered organisers, who have bee
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Security officials at Nigerian airports are using perv scanners to ogle female passengers “for fun”, according to a report from This Day.
The 3D body imaging kit – installed in the wake of the Xmas Day Farouk AbdulMutallab (non-) exploding underpants outrage – protects the identity of the scanee by blurring the face.
However, machine operatives have devised a cunning method to cop an eyeful of unsuspecting females – simply nip outside the scanner monitoring room to clock the passenger queueing to enter the machine, then rush back in to admire her assets.
This Day observed in one airport how, just to make absolutely sure they’re kept entertained, operators shut down a conventional scanner to prompt passengers to pass through a perv scanner.
A “shocked” Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria official told the paper: “It is a breach of privacy. I will deal with it immediately I return to Lagos.â€
Nigeria currently has two functioning full-body scanners in Lagos airport, and one in Abuja. In the former, US-bound passengers travelling with Arik Air and Delta Air Lines are subjected to the e-strip, while it’s obligatory for all international passengers leaving Abuja
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
