Reviving Our Reading Culture

NIGERIANS read for profit. Not for most Nigerians the studious attitude with which people read books and newspapers in countries.

The difference is not in the literacy level, as some are wont to suggest. Nigerians, except for a few, consider reading an unprofitable venture.

The attitude has infected schools. Our future leaders – our children – are growing up with even less attraction to books and serious reading. They like to watch television, especially the addictive cartoon channels. They surf the internet for “chatting”, social networking, various levels of entertainment and satisfaction of their other curiosities. Their “leisure” leaves them with little time to search for knowledge in books.

A nation whose young and old wallow in banalities, showing little quality interest in useful information and education is obviously doomed. Years ago under the Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, a ministerial nominee under-going Senate screening did not know that NEEDS stood for National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy.

NEEDS had just been launched as the administration’s roadmap to revive a private sector-driven economy. The nominee, an economist, said NEEDS meant the difference between human needs and human wants! He failed the screening.

Many people in high offices do not read and are uninformed about happenings around them. Yet they are decision-makers, and many of them confidently pontificate ill-digested concepts they want to impose on the society, mainly ideas already overtaken by current knowledge.

We must make conscious efforts to return our citizenry to reading. We must re-ignite interest in the search for knowledge over the race for material acquisitions. Those who cannot read should not lead. Those who cannot read, cannot write because there is no knowledge to pass on to others, and no intellectual equipment with which to transmit it. We must support the work of several private organisations, such as the Rainbow Book Club, which launched “Revive the Library” campaign and most recently realised the making of Port Harcourt the 2014 World Book capital.

The club has been able to draw the attention to their book reading activities to revamp the appetite of young people in books. We need more book clubs for the task ahead. Every support should be given to efforts to get our people to read. It starts with parents reading; the children would follow the example. Government, through policies, should ensure books are affordable.

A major challenge for younger readers is the distraction the internet serves. Rainbow Book Club should extend its campaign to online reading of books, and use of virtual libraries.

Knowledge is power. Those who are blindly chasing money today would one day discover that those who pursued knowledge through close contact with books would decide what happens to society.

Reviving Our Reading Culture

Posted by Sylvester No comments

NIGERIANS read for profit. Not for most Nigerians the studious attitude with which people read books and newspapers in countries.

The difference is not in the literacy level, as some are wont to suggest. Nigerians, except for a few, consider reading an unprofitable venture.

The attitude has infected schools. Our future leaders – our children – are growing up with even less attraction to books and serious reading. They like to watch television, especially the addictive cartoon channels. They surf the internet for “chatting”, social networking, various levels of entertainment and satisfaction of their other curiosities. Their “leisure” leaves them with little time to search for knowledge in books.

A nation whose young and old wallow in banalities, showing little quality interest in useful information and education is obviously doomed. Years ago under the Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, a ministerial nominee under-going Senate screening did not know that NEEDS stood for National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy.

NEEDS had just been launched as the administration’s roadmap to revive a private sector-driven economy. The nominee, an economist, said NEEDS meant the difference between human needs and human wants! He failed the screening.

Many people in high offices do not read and are uninformed about happenings around them. Yet they are decision-makers, and many of them confidently pontificate ill-digested concepts they want to impose on the society, mainly ideas already overtaken by current knowledge.

We must make conscious efforts to return our citizenry to reading. We must re-ignite interest in the search for knowledge over the race for material acquisitions. Those who cannot read should not lead. Those who cannot read, cannot write because there is no knowledge to pass on to others, and no intellectual equipment with which to transmit it. We must support the work of several private organisations, such as the Rainbow Book Club, which launched “Revive the Library” campaign and most recently realised the making of Port Harcourt the 2014 World Book capital.

The club has been able to draw the attention to their book reading activities to revamp the appetite of young people in books. We need more book clubs for the task ahead. Every support should be given to efforts to get our people to read. It starts with parents reading; the children would follow the example. Government, through policies, should ensure books are affordable.

A major challenge for younger readers is the distraction the internet serves. Rainbow Book Club should extend its campaign to online reading of books, and use of virtual libraries.

Knowledge is power. Those who are blindly chasing money today would one day discover that those who pursued knowledge through close contact with books would decide what happens to society.

Abducted Chibok Girl Found In Yola Carrying Four Months Old Pregnancy

While we are still celebrating the miraculous release of one of the Chibok girls, it has just been discovered that the terrorists men might have let her go after discovering that they’ve impregnated her.

Chairman of Chibok Community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea Abana told Daily Trust on Thursday.
The teenage Chibok girl found dumped near a police station in the Mubi area of Adamawa state is 4 months pregnant and she is seriously suffering from psychological trauma.

“She is actually one of our daughters abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok. She was found in Mubi where her abductors dumped her and was later taken to Yola, the girl is four months pregnant.”

A police source confirmed that the abducted girl was dumped there by insurgents. The girl has been moved to Adamawa State Police Headquarters in Yola.

Mr Abana said the girl is suffering from trauma and there are signs of physical abuses on her body, saying he believed the insurgents subjected their captives to horrible physical and s*xual abuses.

Sources at the Police Clinic in Yola confirmed that she was on admission at the clinic where she had received treatment but was taken to the Police headquarters in the morning.

A source said the girl might have been referred to a bigger hospital for advanced medical attention.

Abducted Chibok Girl Found In Yola Carrying Four Months Old Pregnancy

Posted by Sylvester No comments

While we are still celebrating the miraculous release of one of the Chibok girls, it has just been discovered that the terrorists men might have let her go after discovering that they’ve impregnated her.

Chairman of Chibok Community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea Abana told Daily Trust on Thursday.
The teenage Chibok girl found dumped near a police station in the Mubi area of Adamawa state is 4 months pregnant and she is seriously suffering from psychological trauma.

“She is actually one of our daughters abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok. She was found in Mubi where her abductors dumped her and was later taken to Yola, the girl is four months pregnant.”

A police source confirmed that the abducted girl was dumped there by insurgents. The girl has been moved to Adamawa State Police Headquarters in Yola.

Mr Abana said the girl is suffering from trauma and there are signs of physical abuses on her body, saying he believed the insurgents subjected their captives to horrible physical and s*xual abuses.

Sources at the Police Clinic in Yola confirmed that she was on admission at the clinic where she had received treatment but was taken to the Police headquarters in the morning.

A source said the girl might have been referred to a bigger hospital for advanced medical attention.

Vísi Probita Effective Protein

Probíta is the most absorbable and effective protein in a chewable form. For a younger looking, healthier you...anytime, anywhere! Probíta lets you experience the lifestyle you've always wanted. At Vísi, we believe in getting better every day. And better is where you belong.

Vísi Probita Effective Protein

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Probíta is the most absorbable and effective protein in a chewable form. For a younger looking, healthier you...anytime, anywhere! Probíta lets you experience the lifestyle you've always wanted. At Vísi, we believe in getting better every day. And better is where you belong.

Investigations Have Shown That The US Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Owns” The Ebola Virus

Did US Invent The World's Deadliest Disease?

According to recent findings, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States of America has a patent on the Ebola virus; this means that the CDC “owns” the virus.

The US Center For Disease Control is said to have a patent on the Ebola virus while the US National Institute of Health has reportedly patented all Ebola vaccines. US President, Barack Obama (pictured) (politic365.com)

Natural News reports that the CDC “claims ownership over Ebola, meaning it can also claim royalties on the distribution and sale of Ebola vaccines.”

The report continues:

“The agency (CDC) apparently owns the patent not only on the original Ebola strain, as it was supposedly "discovered" back in the 1970s, but also on all future Ebola strains that might emerge in the future.”

The US National Institute of Health (NIH) is also said to hold all patents on Ebola vaccines. The NIH has reportedly “collaborated with the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a division of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Crucell, another vaccine developer, to commercialize an Ebola vaccine in the very near future.”

A patent is a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.

The question now is why would the United States of America want to make, use or sell the Ebola virus?

Investigations Have Shown That The US Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Owns” The Ebola Virus

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Did US Invent The World's Deadliest Disease?

According to recent findings, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States of America has a patent on the Ebola virus; this means that the CDC “owns” the virus.

The US Center For Disease Control is said to have a patent on the Ebola virus while the US National Institute of Health has reportedly patented all Ebola vaccines. US President, Barack Obama (pictured) (politic365.com)

Natural News reports that the CDC “claims ownership over Ebola, meaning it can also claim royalties on the distribution and sale of Ebola vaccines.”

The report continues:

“The agency (CDC) apparently owns the patent not only on the original Ebola strain, as it was supposedly "discovered" back in the 1970s, but also on all future Ebola strains that might emerge in the future.”

The US National Institute of Health (NIH) is also said to hold all patents on Ebola vaccines. The NIH has reportedly “collaborated with the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), a division of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Crucell, another vaccine developer, to commercialize an Ebola vaccine in the very near future.”

A patent is a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention.

The question now is why would the United States of America want to make, use or sell the Ebola virus?

Video of Interrogation of Boko Haram Leader Killed In Konduga Battle

The Nigerian army defeated Boko Haram at Konduga this September.

Another deadly squad leader was caught/killed in the Konduga battle; he was described as ruthless, a Caucasian/Arab complexioned man with long hair.

Video of Interrogation of Boko Haram Leader Killed In Konduga Battle

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Nigerian army defeated Boko Haram at Konduga this September.

Another deadly squad leader was caught/killed in the Konduga battle; he was described as ruthless, a Caucasian/Arab complexioned man with long hair.

Security Source Confirms Pastor Oritsejafor Was Involved In Botched Arms Deal:$9.3m Cash Transfer

Contrary to the denials of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), details have surfaced confirming he was involved in the movement of $9.3 million cash to South Africa, purportedly for the purchase of arms.

A security source revealed to DailyNews9ja that along with the pastor, President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, coordinated the movement of the cash, and that its original destination was Cyprus, not South Africa.

Ayo Oritsejafor

It would be recalled that the story and documents emanating from the Nigeria government are to the effect that the officials were going to use the money to buy arms from Tier One in South Africa. It turned out Tier One is not registered in that country to sell arms, and that it was going to buy them, somehow, from the ESD International Group Ltd in Cyprus. 

Trying to wash his hands of the sordid story, Pastor Oritsejafor had said he leased the jet to Eagle Air, in which he has an interest.  Eagle, in turn, said it leased it to Gold Coast Produce Limited. 

The source told our reporter that the web of so-called leases woven around the transaction was concocted in August to enable Pastor Oritsejafor deny knowledge of the deal.

Repeated efforts by DailyNews9ja to obtain from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) a copy of the so-called lease entered into by the pastor failed to yield any fruit, as officials there claim the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, was away.

Similarly, the Corporate Affairs Commission, where Pastor Oritsejafor registered the plane under “Eagle Air” Limited, claims that their server has been taken over by one of their server/service providers, and that they are therefore unable to access information concerning ownership of Eagle Air.

As previously revealed by  DailyNews9ja Pastor Oritsejafor’s Bombardier jet was seized in South Africa’s Lanserai airport on September 5 after law enforcement officials found that the jet had illegally ferried $9.3million cash into the country accompanied by an Isreali, Eyal Miseka and two Nigerians. The Nigerians are yet to be identified.  

As soon as the seizure took place, President Jonathan intervened with the South African authorities in order to get the aircraft released as a way of preventing the public from knowing that Pastor Oritsejafor’s jet was involved in the deal.

Security Source Confirms Pastor Oritsejafor Was Involved In Botched Arms Deal:$9.3m Cash Transfer

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Contrary to the denials of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), details have surfaced confirming he was involved in the movement of $9.3 million cash to South Africa, purportedly for the purchase of arms.

A security source revealed to DailyNews9ja that along with the pastor, President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, coordinated the movement of the cash, and that its original destination was Cyprus, not South Africa.

Ayo Oritsejafor

It would be recalled that the story and documents emanating from the Nigeria government are to the effect that the officials were going to use the money to buy arms from Tier One in South Africa. It turned out Tier One is not registered in that country to sell arms, and that it was going to buy them, somehow, from the ESD International Group Ltd in Cyprus. 

Trying to wash his hands of the sordid story, Pastor Oritsejafor had said he leased the jet to Eagle Air, in which he has an interest.  Eagle, in turn, said it leased it to Gold Coast Produce Limited. 

The source told our reporter that the web of so-called leases woven around the transaction was concocted in August to enable Pastor Oritsejafor deny knowledge of the deal.

Repeated efforts by DailyNews9ja to obtain from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) a copy of the so-called lease entered into by the pastor failed to yield any fruit, as officials there claim the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, was away.

Similarly, the Corporate Affairs Commission, where Pastor Oritsejafor registered the plane under “Eagle Air” Limited, claims that their server has been taken over by one of their server/service providers, and that they are therefore unable to access information concerning ownership of Eagle Air.

As previously revealed by  DailyNews9ja Pastor Oritsejafor’s Bombardier jet was seized in South Africa’s Lanserai airport on September 5 after law enforcement officials found that the jet had illegally ferried $9.3million cash into the country accompanied by an Isreali, Eyal Miseka and two Nigerians. The Nigerians are yet to be identified.  

As soon as the seizure took place, President Jonathan intervened with the South African authorities in order to get the aircraft released as a way of preventing the public from knowing that Pastor Oritsejafor’s jet was involved in the deal.

Bungled Fresh Negotiations Led By Edwin-Clark And The Red Cross To Free Chibok Girls

Why did the high level negotiations between the Nigerian government team and Boko Haram insurgents, led by a former Minister of Information, Edwin Clark, to secure the release of 220 Chibok girls, crumble shortly before the Muslim Sallah holidays in Yola last July?

Chibok Girls

Knowledgeable sources to the negotiations, speaking to DailyNews9ja in Abuja, Yola, and Geneva, have offered rare insights into talks that have come closest yet to secure freedom for the abducted girls, and relieve President Goodluck Jonathan of perhaps the worst nightmares of his administration.
But the government bungled the process with its unnecessary exuberant display of enthusiasm and excessive show of force, insiders in the talks say.

Parties to the talks have refrained thus far from sharing thoughts on their negotiations because as some of them told this newspaper, “we all agreed to maintain a code of silence as a way of helping push the difficult process to a fruitful resolution and helping this country heal from the pains of this insurgency.”

It was the story of a 30-day intense and often dramatic negotiations that could have changed the history of the nation, involving two notable Nigerian civil rights leaders, Fred Eno, and Shehu Sani, along with Maiduguri-based lawyer, Mustapha Zanna, and PDP chieftain, Kaka Bolori, along with three top officials of the International Red Cross headquarters office in Geneva which served as the “interface” negotiators, and two field captains of the Boko Haram sect.

In terse responses to DailyNews9ja reporting on their negotiations, however, some of our sources have responded to confirm or deny aspects of questions posed to them, although it appears there is unanimity in their perception as to why the Clark Talks finally failed.

“It boils down, basically, to three key issues: inflexibility and lack of realism on the part of the insurgent forces; lack of support for a negotiated settlement to the insurgency on the part of security forces; and what appears to be government’s acceptance that the security forces were right,” highly placed officials close to the negotiation told DailyNews9ja.

Yola: The Elusive Prize:
There also appears to be agreement among most of the parties to the negotiation that the “Yola debacle” was the decisive point of failure in the talks.
After weeks of tough negotiations, the two sides finally accepted to what famously came to be dubbed the “prisoner swap” of the Chibok girls with some commanders of the Boko Haram fighting forces.

Insiders to the talk paid homage to Mr. Edwin Clark’s wisdom and staying power, saying he was deft at keeping sometimes difficult claims in perspective as the meetings wobbled on and on between contentious positions of both sides.

On prisoner swap for instance, our sources say, the insurgents were “initially modest in their demands, asking for just 10 of their field captains who appear to have a holding grip on the imagination of the fighting forces.” At this time, this was against the whole abducted girls.

While the security forces were combing detention centres,shopping for the 10 detainees, our sources say something strange happened, suggesting internal struggles in the camp of the insurgency forces. Our sources understood the “happening” to be a factional disagreement on the ethnic composition of the 10 names tabled for the swap. “They were all of Kanuri nationality and it appeared the Hausa/Fulani faction protested this.”
The result of this disagreement was about one week delay in the negotiations after which a “new list of 15 was tabled, and then it was increased to 16”.

The ICRC was then working with security forces to identify the names on the list. In this period, it wasn’t clear if security forces had all the names in demand, a situation that triggered a new frustration in the talks, according to our sources. Were they never captured or were they killed in battle or extra-judicially?

This development, according to one of our sources, led discussions along a frozen path. “We almost lost ten days again to this but after a meeting at the Kuje prisons, near Abuja, where Mustapha Umar, one of the commanders on the list was held, the government team saw a new ray of hope.”

However, distrust was now building and the team of two Boko Haram negotiators switched the terms of demand from 16 sect commanders for all the girls, to only 30 girls.

But Mr. Clark, according to our sources, told them there was no realism in their demands and that if they so cherished their compatriots, the smartest deal for them was to release all the girls. At any rate, Mr. Clark reportedly argued that such a deal would put President Jonathan at the butt of a new wave of criticism and provide fodder for the opposition. So this was not acceptable, he reportedly insisted.

“Swap is not our idea but the idea of the government,“ the Boko Haram negotiators initially argued, trying to insist on the high road, but they later deferred to the age of Mr. Clark, according to our sources.

At this point also, the ICRC team clarified the terms of their engagement, insisting that before the swaps, they would need clear commitments from the abducted girls and the detained fighters. “Prisoners and the girls must offer consent before the deal can be closed” ICRC insisted. To get the consent of the girls the ICRC said they were prepared to risk going into the enclave of the insurgency.

The Boko Haram negotiators reportedly said they were comfortable with this, and that it will also help “dispel the claims that the girls were being maltreated or that they have been forced into marriage which will shock many people when the girls return.”

With the Abuja negotiations sealed, Yola, the Adamawa state capital, was agreed as the point of swap. Government negotiators favoured a discreet arrangement where they would sneak into Yola, the Red Cross would take custody of the girls, and in turn yield the Boko Haram detainees to them and conclude the swap.

The management of the Yola episode, according to our sources, put paid to the whole arrangement. The government, in an exuberant show of enthusiasm chartered a Boeing 737 jet to convey the girls to Abuja from Yola. What was thought to be a discreet arrangement turned into a fantasia and loud orchestra show. Moreover, “when we arrived Yola, half of the airport was covered with security forces” noted one of the insiders to the deal.

“Then they moved negotiators to the presidential lounge for a two-hour wait…then 48 hours in the hotel…but Yola had been infiltrated by these people and the security presence sent a wrong signal…clearly these people didn’t trust the arrangement and they never showed up.”

When contacted Wednesday, some of the principal actors in the collapsed negotiation declined to provide details, saying it’s still premature to divulge “sensitive details”.

“The whole thing is unfortunate, but hopefully we can revive the negotiations,” one of the negotiators, Fred Eno, told DailyNews9ja. “The president desperately wanted the girls released, but politics of positioning stood in the way of progress.”

The President of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, insisted he was not comfortable discussing the matter at this time, suggesting that it was irrelevant talking about what worked and what didn’t work at least until the girls are rescued.

Mr. Clark did not answer or return calls made to his telephone on Thursday morning. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.
Benoit Matsha-Carpentier, the Senior Media Officer for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, was also unavailable Thursday morning. He is yet to return calls made to him.

Spokespersons for the Nigerian presidency were also unavailable to provide insight regarding why the administration acted the way it did in the final minutes of the negotiation. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, as well as Doyin Okupe, the senior special assistant on Public Affairs, didn’t answer or return calls Thursday morning.

The over 200 girls, mostly teenagers, were kidnapped from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

Bungled Fresh Negotiations Led By Edwin-Clark And The Red Cross To Free Chibok Girls

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Why did the high level negotiations between the Nigerian government team and Boko Haram insurgents, led by a former Minister of Information, Edwin Clark, to secure the release of 220 Chibok girls, crumble shortly before the Muslim Sallah holidays in Yola last July?

Chibok Girls

Knowledgeable sources to the negotiations, speaking to DailyNews9ja in Abuja, Yola, and Geneva, have offered rare insights into talks that have come closest yet to secure freedom for the abducted girls, and relieve President Goodluck Jonathan of perhaps the worst nightmares of his administration.
But the government bungled the process with its unnecessary exuberant display of enthusiasm and excessive show of force, insiders in the talks say.

Parties to the talks have refrained thus far from sharing thoughts on their negotiations because as some of them told this newspaper, “we all agreed to maintain a code of silence as a way of helping push the difficult process to a fruitful resolution and helping this country heal from the pains of this insurgency.”

It was the story of a 30-day intense and often dramatic negotiations that could have changed the history of the nation, involving two notable Nigerian civil rights leaders, Fred Eno, and Shehu Sani, along with Maiduguri-based lawyer, Mustapha Zanna, and PDP chieftain, Kaka Bolori, along with three top officials of the International Red Cross headquarters office in Geneva which served as the “interface” negotiators, and two field captains of the Boko Haram sect.

In terse responses to DailyNews9ja reporting on their negotiations, however, some of our sources have responded to confirm or deny aspects of questions posed to them, although it appears there is unanimity in their perception as to why the Clark Talks finally failed.

“It boils down, basically, to three key issues: inflexibility and lack of realism on the part of the insurgent forces; lack of support for a negotiated settlement to the insurgency on the part of security forces; and what appears to be government’s acceptance that the security forces were right,” highly placed officials close to the negotiation told DailyNews9ja.

Yola: The Elusive Prize:
There also appears to be agreement among most of the parties to the negotiation that the “Yola debacle” was the decisive point of failure in the talks.
After weeks of tough negotiations, the two sides finally accepted to what famously came to be dubbed the “prisoner swap” of the Chibok girls with some commanders of the Boko Haram fighting forces.

Insiders to the talk paid homage to Mr. Edwin Clark’s wisdom and staying power, saying he was deft at keeping sometimes difficult claims in perspective as the meetings wobbled on and on between contentious positions of both sides.

On prisoner swap for instance, our sources say, the insurgents were “initially modest in their demands, asking for just 10 of their field captains who appear to have a holding grip on the imagination of the fighting forces.” At this time, this was against the whole abducted girls.

While the security forces were combing detention centres,shopping for the 10 detainees, our sources say something strange happened, suggesting internal struggles in the camp of the insurgency forces. Our sources understood the “happening” to be a factional disagreement on the ethnic composition of the 10 names tabled for the swap. “They were all of Kanuri nationality and it appeared the Hausa/Fulani faction protested this.”
The result of this disagreement was about one week delay in the negotiations after which a “new list of 15 was tabled, and then it was increased to 16”.

The ICRC was then working with security forces to identify the names on the list. In this period, it wasn’t clear if security forces had all the names in demand, a situation that triggered a new frustration in the talks, according to our sources. Were they never captured or were they killed in battle or extra-judicially?

This development, according to one of our sources, led discussions along a frozen path. “We almost lost ten days again to this but after a meeting at the Kuje prisons, near Abuja, where Mustapha Umar, one of the commanders on the list was held, the government team saw a new ray of hope.”

However, distrust was now building and the team of two Boko Haram negotiators switched the terms of demand from 16 sect commanders for all the girls, to only 30 girls.

But Mr. Clark, according to our sources, told them there was no realism in their demands and that if they so cherished their compatriots, the smartest deal for them was to release all the girls. At any rate, Mr. Clark reportedly argued that such a deal would put President Jonathan at the butt of a new wave of criticism and provide fodder for the opposition. So this was not acceptable, he reportedly insisted.

“Swap is not our idea but the idea of the government,“ the Boko Haram negotiators initially argued, trying to insist on the high road, but they later deferred to the age of Mr. Clark, according to our sources.

At this point also, the ICRC team clarified the terms of their engagement, insisting that before the swaps, they would need clear commitments from the abducted girls and the detained fighters. “Prisoners and the girls must offer consent before the deal can be closed” ICRC insisted. To get the consent of the girls the ICRC said they were prepared to risk going into the enclave of the insurgency.

The Boko Haram negotiators reportedly said they were comfortable with this, and that it will also help “dispel the claims that the girls were being maltreated or that they have been forced into marriage which will shock many people when the girls return.”

With the Abuja negotiations sealed, Yola, the Adamawa state capital, was agreed as the point of swap. Government negotiators favoured a discreet arrangement where they would sneak into Yola, the Red Cross would take custody of the girls, and in turn yield the Boko Haram detainees to them and conclude the swap.

The management of the Yola episode, according to our sources, put paid to the whole arrangement. The government, in an exuberant show of enthusiasm chartered a Boeing 737 jet to convey the girls to Abuja from Yola. What was thought to be a discreet arrangement turned into a fantasia and loud orchestra show. Moreover, “when we arrived Yola, half of the airport was covered with security forces” noted one of the insiders to the deal.

“Then they moved negotiators to the presidential lounge for a two-hour wait…then 48 hours in the hotel…but Yola had been infiltrated by these people and the security presence sent a wrong signal…clearly these people didn’t trust the arrangement and they never showed up.”

When contacted Wednesday, some of the principal actors in the collapsed negotiation declined to provide details, saying it’s still premature to divulge “sensitive details”.

“The whole thing is unfortunate, but hopefully we can revive the negotiations,” one of the negotiators, Fred Eno, told DailyNews9ja. “The president desperately wanted the girls released, but politics of positioning stood in the way of progress.”

The President of the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress, Shehu Sani, insisted he was not comfortable discussing the matter at this time, suggesting that it was irrelevant talking about what worked and what didn’t work at least until the girls are rescued.

Mr. Clark did not answer or return calls made to his telephone on Thursday morning. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.
Benoit Matsha-Carpentier, the Senior Media Officer for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, was also unavailable Thursday morning. He is yet to return calls made to him.

Spokespersons for the Nigerian presidency were also unavailable to provide insight regarding why the administration acted the way it did in the final minutes of the negotiation. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, as well as Doyin Okupe, the senior special assistant on Public Affairs, didn’t answer or return calls Thursday morning.

The over 200 girls, mostly teenagers, were kidnapped from their secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14.

Why T.B. Joshua Should Be Arrested, Prosecuted

It is time the authorities in Nigeria did the right thing and arrest Mr. Temitope Balogun Joshua, the self-styled General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Here is why:

It is time the authorities in Nigeria did the right thing and arrest Mr. Temitope Balogun Joshua, the self-styled General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Here is why.

On Friday, September 12, 2014, a guest hostel located within the premises of Mr. Joshua’s sprawling church at Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, collapsed. The most recent media reports put the death toll from the calamity at 115. So far, rescuers have pulled out more than a hundred survivors from the rubble. Because Mr. Joshua’s church has always drawn an international audience, the continental profile of the list of victims is hardly surprising. For instance, at least 84 South Africans have been confirmed dead. There are also Nigerians and citizens of other African (and possible non-African) countries among the dead.

Mr. Joshua has done everything humanly possible to cover up the truth about this tragedy. First, in the first three days after the incident, he illegally barred officials of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) from accessing the site and rescuing survivors. Second, while this illegal interdiction was in effect, Mr. Joshua attempted to dictate the narrative and deflect possible culpability by blaming the incident on a mysterious ‘small plane’ which had purportedly hovered above his church complex moments before the collapse. Claiming that he and not his church building was the target of the alleged attack, he even released an ‘exclusive’ footage of the ‘strange’ plane. Third, as public anger mounted in South Africa, Mr. Joshua declared the dead ‘martyrs of faith’ and sought to change the subject by promising to ‘take his teachings’ to the country every month for the foreseeable future. Fourth, an audio recording has just emerged of Mr. Joshua paying a gathering of journalists N50, 000 each in exchange for suppressing the truth and privileging his version of events. The recording, whose authenticity has not been challenged, was released by Mr. Nicholas Ibekwe, a Premium Times correspondent who was present at the meeting.

Mr. Joshua obviously recognizes that the version of events he is seeking to promote is implausible, hence his latest attempt to manipulate public opinion by inducing journalists.

He should not be allowed to get away with it. His entire conduct since the tragic news broke has been that of a man who feels that he is accountable to no one, and who is too preoccupied with his image as a ‘man of God’ to worry about the many victims of this tragic incident, whether injured or dead. His attempts to somehow portray a collapse that most probably has to do with failure to comply with building regulations as a personal attack is an example of his self-promotion and is nothing short of callous.

Yet, if Mr. Joshua has comported himself as one above the law, it is precisely because the Nigerian state has offered him every license. In this wise, neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor Governor Babatunde Fashola has covered himself in glory. The president’s visit to the scene of the collapse in which he commiserated with Mr. Joshua was painful to watch. Why would the Nigerian president visit and express solidarity with the leader of a church who should be a person of interest in an ongoing police investigation? And is this the same president who does not know the way to Chibok? Whatever his motive, President Jonathan strengthened Mr. Joshua’s arm, gave him the assurance of presidential protection, and threw police investigations in jeopardy. In the same vein, the cloak and dagger nature of the meeting between Governor Fashola and Mr. Joshua can only have comforted the latter. Nigerians deserve to know what transpired during their meeting, and whatever assurances, if any, Mr. Fashola gave Mr. Joshua. That said, Mr. Fashola is putting at risk his own hard-earned reputation for transparency and legality. Simply put, should visits have taken place, they should have been to the hospitals where the injured are being treated and the homes of the deceased. The site should have been barricaded by the relevant authorities—the police, town planning, etc.— to secure evidence, given that the presumption ought to be that even if it is not immediately clear that a crime has been committed, something definitely has been remiss in the entire tragedy. Getting to the root of the matter should be the only concern next to solicitations for the welfare of the survivors.

We cannot resurrect the dead – we leave that to Mr. Joshua, who claims to have such powers – but it is a duty we owe to their memory that the truth of this matter is not buried with them. Therefore, it is important that the police and other investigative agencies be given the necessary backing (both financial and moral) in order to carry out their duties. Mr. Joshua is a person of interest, not for his callousness, but for his cynical and persistent attempts to obliterate the truth and pervert the course of justice.

The police should arrest him. Today. At a minimum, he should be declared a person of interest regarding a crime scene and be invited for a ‘chat’.

Signed:

Olufemi Taiwo, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Ebenezer Obadare, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Akin Adesokan, Indiana University, Bloomington

Wale Adebanwi, University of California, Davis

Tejumola Olaniyan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison

Why T.B. Joshua Should Be Arrested, Prosecuted

Posted by Sylvester No comments

It is time the authorities in Nigeria did the right thing and arrest Mr. Temitope Balogun Joshua, the self-styled General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Here is why:

It is time the authorities in Nigeria did the right thing and arrest Mr. Temitope Balogun Joshua, the self-styled General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Here is why.

On Friday, September 12, 2014, a guest hostel located within the premises of Mr. Joshua’s sprawling church at Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, collapsed. The most recent media reports put the death toll from the calamity at 115. So far, rescuers have pulled out more than a hundred survivors from the rubble. Because Mr. Joshua’s church has always drawn an international audience, the continental profile of the list of victims is hardly surprising. For instance, at least 84 South Africans have been confirmed dead. There are also Nigerians and citizens of other African (and possible non-African) countries among the dead.

Mr. Joshua has done everything humanly possible to cover up the truth about this tragedy. First, in the first three days after the incident, he illegally barred officials of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) from accessing the site and rescuing survivors. Second, while this illegal interdiction was in effect, Mr. Joshua attempted to dictate the narrative and deflect possible culpability by blaming the incident on a mysterious ‘small plane’ which had purportedly hovered above his church complex moments before the collapse. Claiming that he and not his church building was the target of the alleged attack, he even released an ‘exclusive’ footage of the ‘strange’ plane. Third, as public anger mounted in South Africa, Mr. Joshua declared the dead ‘martyrs of faith’ and sought to change the subject by promising to ‘take his teachings’ to the country every month for the foreseeable future. Fourth, an audio recording has just emerged of Mr. Joshua paying a gathering of journalists N50, 000 each in exchange for suppressing the truth and privileging his version of events. The recording, whose authenticity has not been challenged, was released by Mr. Nicholas Ibekwe, a Premium Times correspondent who was present at the meeting.

Mr. Joshua obviously recognizes that the version of events he is seeking to promote is implausible, hence his latest attempt to manipulate public opinion by inducing journalists.

He should not be allowed to get away with it. His entire conduct since the tragic news broke has been that of a man who feels that he is accountable to no one, and who is too preoccupied with his image as a ‘man of God’ to worry about the many victims of this tragic incident, whether injured or dead. His attempts to somehow portray a collapse that most probably has to do with failure to comply with building regulations as a personal attack is an example of his self-promotion and is nothing short of callous.

Yet, if Mr. Joshua has comported himself as one above the law, it is precisely because the Nigerian state has offered him every license. In this wise, neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor Governor Babatunde Fashola has covered himself in glory. The president’s visit to the scene of the collapse in which he commiserated with Mr. Joshua was painful to watch. Why would the Nigerian president visit and express solidarity with the leader of a church who should be a person of interest in an ongoing police investigation? And is this the same president who does not know the way to Chibok? Whatever his motive, President Jonathan strengthened Mr. Joshua’s arm, gave him the assurance of presidential protection, and threw police investigations in jeopardy. In the same vein, the cloak and dagger nature of the meeting between Governor Fashola and Mr. Joshua can only have comforted the latter. Nigerians deserve to know what transpired during their meeting, and whatever assurances, if any, Mr. Fashola gave Mr. Joshua. That said, Mr. Fashola is putting at risk his own hard-earned reputation for transparency and legality. Simply put, should visits have taken place, they should have been to the hospitals where the injured are being treated and the homes of the deceased. The site should have been barricaded by the relevant authorities—the police, town planning, etc.— to secure evidence, given that the presumption ought to be that even if it is not immediately clear that a crime has been committed, something definitely has been remiss in the entire tragedy. Getting to the root of the matter should be the only concern next to solicitations for the welfare of the survivors.

We cannot resurrect the dead – we leave that to Mr. Joshua, who claims to have such powers – but it is a duty we owe to their memory that the truth of this matter is not buried with them. Therefore, it is important that the police and other investigative agencies be given the necessary backing (both financial and moral) in order to carry out their duties. Mr. Joshua is a person of interest, not for his callousness, but for his cynical and persistent attempts to obliterate the truth and pervert the course of justice.

The police should arrest him. Today. At a minimum, he should be declared a person of interest regarding a crime scene and be invited for a ‘chat’.

Signed:

Olufemi Taiwo, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Ebenezer Obadare, University of Kansas, Lawrence

Akin Adesokan, Indiana University, Bloomington

Wale Adebanwi, University of California, Davis

Tejumola Olaniyan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison

Nigerian Force ConfirmsThe Death Of Sha Boko Haram Leader

The Nigerian military have confirmed the death of one Mohammed Bashir, the man who poses as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, leader of terrorist insurgent group, Boko Haram.
In a statement released by the military and signed by Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen Chris Olukayode, the military confirmed that Shekau was killed in one of the major battles by the deadly terrorist group to penetrate and overtake Konduga, a town near Maiduguri, the capital city of North-Eastern Borno State.

The statement also reveals that the inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack etc. Confirming that he is indeed the dead man pictured in a tweet released earlier within the week.

Read the statement below.

Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North East part of the country. Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists in continuation of their campaign of terror were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri which is their prime target.

There was therefore the need to ensure that communities such as Konduga were protected. It is noteworthy that the terrorists made not less than four attempts between 12 and 17 September 2014 to violate the security and enter Konduga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation.

The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involves their top commanders, were fiercely engaged by the land and air forces. Several of the terrorists including some of their commanders lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about 5 hours each.

The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment. In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group died. Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.

On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack etc. Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.

Meanwhile, a total of 135 terrorists have yesterday evening surrendered along with equipment to troops around Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Bun – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices.

The Defence Headquarters applauds the gallantry of the Nigerian troops who have remained undaunted and professional in prosecuting this campaign against terror. The keen interest exhibited by our neighbours and allies is commendable and we appreciate them. All allies in the war against terrorism are hereby assured of the Nigerian military’s resolve to maintain momentum in the efforts to decimate and defeat terrorists. The invaluable efforts toward achieving sustainable peace and victory against the terrorists are highly appreciated.

Statement signed by Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen Chris Olukayode

Nigerian Force ConfirmsThe Death Of Sha Boko Haram Leader

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Nigerian military have confirmed the death of one Mohammed Bashir, the man who poses as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, leader of terrorist insurgent group, Boko Haram.
In a statement released by the military and signed by Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen Chris Olukayode, the military confirmed that Shekau was killed in one of the major battles by the deadly terrorist group to penetrate and overtake Konduga, a town near Maiduguri, the capital city of North-Eastern Borno State.

The statement also reveals that the inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack etc. Confirming that he is indeed the dead man pictured in a tweet released earlier within the week.

Read the statement below.

Nigerian troops have been conducting coordinated air and land operations in furtherance of efforts at containing the terrorists in the North East part of the country. Somehow, it became apparent that the terrorists in continuation of their campaign of terror were determined to take over communities around Maiduguri which is their prime target.

There was therefore the need to ensure that communities such as Konduga were protected. It is noteworthy that the terrorists made not less than four attempts between 12 and 17 September 2014 to violate the security and enter Konduga to perpetrate their atrocities. Air and land forces were subsequently deployed to handle the situation.

The convoy of combat vehicles typical of terrorists’ mission that involves their top commanders, were fiercely engaged by the land and air forces. Several of the terrorists including some of their commanders lost their lives in the encounters which lasted an average of about 5 hours each.

The troops captured some of the terrorists and their equipment. In the course of those encounters, one Mohammed Bashir who has been acting or posing on videos as the deceased Abubakar Shekau, the eccentric character known as leader of the group died. Since the name Shekau has become a brand name for the terrorists’ leader, the Nigerian military remains resolute to serve justice to anyone who assumes that designation or title as well as all terrorists that seek to violate the freedom and territory of Nigeria.

On restoring normalcy after the encounter, inhabitants of the community who were victims of terrorists activities corroborated information on the identity of Bashir Mohammed alias Abubakar Shekau, alias Abacha Abdullahi Geidam alias Damasack etc. Indeed, the recent devastation on the leadership of the insurgents is attributable to the renewed commitment to the mission of eradicating terrorism in our country.

Meanwhile, a total of 135 terrorists have yesterday evening surrendered along with equipment to troops around Biu Local Government Area. A group of 88 submitted themselves at Mairiga/Bun – Yadi while another group of 45 terrorists were taken in around Mubi – Michika. They are all being interrogated and processed in conformity with the dictates of standard best practices.

The Defence Headquarters applauds the gallantry of the Nigerian troops who have remained undaunted and professional in prosecuting this campaign against terror. The keen interest exhibited by our neighbours and allies is commendable and we appreciate them. All allies in the war against terrorism are hereby assured of the Nigerian military’s resolve to maintain momentum in the efforts to decimate and defeat terrorists. The invaluable efforts toward achieving sustainable peace and victory against the terrorists are highly appreciated.

Statement signed by Defence spokesperson, Maj. Gen Chris Olukayode

Jonathan Asks where is gwoza sef?

In a bizarre tale that illustrates how Nigeria is run, President Goodluck Jonathan arrived two weeks ago at a top secret meeting with the exiled Emir of Gwoza, the newly-named headquarters of Boko Haram’s so-called “Islamic Caliphate,” with no knowledge of the location of Gwoza, presidency sources at the meeting said.

Suleiman Abba stands next to President Goodluck Jonathan on the scene of a deadly bus station bombing in Abuja

The Emir, Muhammed Timta, escaped after the militants invaded Gwoza on August 16 and took over his palace.

He arrived in Abuja after first making his way to Maiduguri to escape further attempts on his life. His father, Idrissa Timta, had died in a Boko Haram ambush on May 30, 2014 as Boko Haram ambushed his convoy on his way to the burial of the Emir of Gombe.

Shortly after Timta’s arrival in Abuja, President Jonathan sent for the Emir, who was accompanied to the meeting by a Borno Senator, Ali Ndume. However, to the utter shock of the Emir, President Jonathan did not know where Gwoza was located: Adamawa or Borno State.

Presidency sources said silence enveloped the room after the President, apparently lacking basic research or a briefing by his numerous aides and security agencies, asked in condescending pidgin, “Where’s Gwoza sef?”

Mr. Jonathan then promised to ‘liberate’ Gwoza after Senator Ndume told him Gwoza was his home town and that it is located in Borno State.

Gwoza remains under the control of Boko Haram after the sect took over the township in a raid and declared the town the headquarters of the “Islamic Caliphate” in the Northeast of Nigeria.

At least three attempts by Nigerian troops have been repelled by the militants. Several soldiers and innocent civilians were killed.

Jonathan Asks where is gwoza sef?

Posted by Sylvester No comments

In a bizarre tale that illustrates how Nigeria is run, President Goodluck Jonathan arrived two weeks ago at a top secret meeting with the exiled Emir of Gwoza, the newly-named headquarters of Boko Haram’s so-called “Islamic Caliphate,” with no knowledge of the location of Gwoza, presidency sources at the meeting said.

Suleiman Abba stands next to President Goodluck Jonathan on the scene of a deadly bus station bombing in Abuja

The Emir, Muhammed Timta, escaped after the militants invaded Gwoza on August 16 and took over his palace.

He arrived in Abuja after first making his way to Maiduguri to escape further attempts on his life. His father, Idrissa Timta, had died in a Boko Haram ambush on May 30, 2014 as Boko Haram ambushed his convoy on his way to the burial of the Emir of Gombe.

Shortly after Timta’s arrival in Abuja, President Jonathan sent for the Emir, who was accompanied to the meeting by a Borno Senator, Ali Ndume. However, to the utter shock of the Emir, President Jonathan did not know where Gwoza was located: Adamawa or Borno State.

Presidency sources said silence enveloped the room after the President, apparently lacking basic research or a briefing by his numerous aides and security agencies, asked in condescending pidgin, “Where’s Gwoza sef?”

Mr. Jonathan then promised to ‘liberate’ Gwoza after Senator Ndume told him Gwoza was his home town and that it is located in Borno State.

Gwoza remains under the control of Boko Haram after the sect took over the township in a raid and declared the town the headquarters of the “Islamic Caliphate” in the Northeast of Nigeria.

At least three attempts by Nigerian troops have been repelled by the militants. Several soldiers and innocent civilians were killed.

Boko Haram sect have reportedly taken over Bama, Borno state, according to eye witness.

This is coming after Nigerian Army, yesterday, Septemeber 1, repelled Boko Haram attack and killed over 50 memebers of the sect.

The militants reportedly returned in full force, which led to some of the soldiers fleeing the town. They joined large groups of civilians in order to avoid being killed. There are aslo reports of weapons being abandoned by the retreating troops. The number of fleeing soldiers was around 500.

According to an undisclosed source of Dailynews9ja Reporters, a jet fighter of the Nigerian Air Force sent to assist the ground troops. It bombed the Bama Barracks by mistake, causing casualties among the military men.

However, the DHQ debunked this allegation, confirmed that the Air Force was bombing terrorists, but denied the act of ‘friendly fire’.

The military also informed that all the wounded soldiers from Bama would receive help and treatment at a military hospital of Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri.

The Boko Haram sect, according to a resident, have taken complete control of Bama and hoisted its flag in the city center. Meanwhile, it was earlier reported today that the Defence Headquarters had announced that Bama was under serious attack, but it had been repelled. However, no update has been provided by the security operatives on the present situation in the troubled town. The only update which appeared on the official Twitter page of the DHQ in the morning of September 2, 2014, Tuesday, proclaimed ‘victory’. Though the context was not given and, probably it is too early for congratulations.

Boko Haram sect have reportedly taken over Bama, Borno state, according to eye witness.

Posted by Sylvester No comments

This is coming after Nigerian Army, yesterday, Septemeber 1, repelled Boko Haram attack and killed over 50 memebers of the sect.

The militants reportedly returned in full force, which led to some of the soldiers fleeing the town. They joined large groups of civilians in order to avoid being killed. There are aslo reports of weapons being abandoned by the retreating troops. The number of fleeing soldiers was around 500.

According to an undisclosed source of Dailynews9ja Reporters, a jet fighter of the Nigerian Air Force sent to assist the ground troops. It bombed the Bama Barracks by mistake, causing casualties among the military men.

However, the DHQ debunked this allegation, confirmed that the Air Force was bombing terrorists, but denied the act of ‘friendly fire’.

The military also informed that all the wounded soldiers from Bama would receive help and treatment at a military hospital of Maimalari Barracks in Maiduguri.

The Boko Haram sect, according to a resident, have taken complete control of Bama and hoisted its flag in the city center. Meanwhile, it was earlier reported today that the Defence Headquarters had announced that Bama was under serious attack, but it had been repelled. However, no update has been provided by the security operatives on the present situation in the troubled town. The only update which appeared on the official Twitter page of the DHQ in the morning of September 2, 2014, Tuesday, proclaimed ‘victory’. Though the context was not given and, probably it is too early for congratulations.